Dino Lingo Learning Program for Kids Video Review

 

 

 

I just watched the French Dino Lingo preview video on www.dinolingo.com with my niece (who is seven years old). Dino Lingo offers many language learning programs for kids. Kids learn a different language through fun cartoons, dvds, cds, books, games, songs and flash cards.  There are 30 different free previews to choose from on www.dinolingo.com and to view the French Dino Lingo preview go to http://dinolingo.com/languages/french.html.

 

My niece and I chose the French Dino Lingo preview video. I thought the video was cute and I thought it was very clever for the video to start teaching the French language by starting with popular animals since most children love animals. My niece is no exception.. she has two dogs (chiens) and a fish (poisson) at home. She was immediately taken with the preview video and immediately wanted to watch the video . She liked it so much she wound up watching the video more times. She mastered all the animal names after watching the preview three times. (It helped a little that I already studied French for seven years).

 

I had never heard of this product before seeing it advertised on the Influenster website*. I have already finished buying Christmas presents for my niece but I am seriously considering getting her the French or Vietnamese system for her birthday in April. 

 

*I viewed this clip complimentary through Influenster.

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Influenster and the VoxBox Program

I joined the Influenster site in January of this year. I got lucky and only had to wait a month to get selected to receive my first VoxBox (the Love VoxBox). That was a great box as you can see from the pictures above. Recently, I got selected to receive my second box. My first box was pretty great but my second box.. Influenster really knocked it out of the park. This box was on a whole other level of greatness. I squealed like a kid on Christmas when I opened the box. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Influenster for letting me be part of this wonderful program. I look forward to the new opportnities to test, share and review products.

Recently, Influenster completely revamped their website giving members even more opportunities to receive VoxBoxes. The new site looks very fresh and modern. It takes a bit of time to find your way around the site (much more going on as opposed to the old site) but after a few visits I am pretty familiar with the site. It is a good idea to read the FAQ on the site before jumping into to earning badges, taking surveys, and doing reviews. I appreciate that your participation on the site will now be taken into consideration when they review who may qualify for a VoxBox. Every member of the site now has a Influenster score which will update daily and will reflect your level of participation on the Influenster website.

Do you like receiving, sharing, and reviewing products? If so, head over to Influnster.com and sign up today!

Nectresse

This product came along at just the right time. I have been pretty sick the past couple of weeks and have been drinking a lot of tea. I like sweetened tea.. so I was happy to test out nectresse. I was amazed at how much the product tasted like regular sugar. Tastes better than any other sweetener I have used in the past. I have already purchased additional packets at my supermarket. This product retails for 3.99 for 40 servings or 6.99 for 140 servings.*

For more information visit http://www.nectresse.com/.

*I received this product complimentary from Influenster.

GEODEO (Island Scent)

I had never heard of GEODEO deodorant prior to receiving this in my Influenster Naturals VoxBox. I was excited to try this brand new (to me) product. First off.. the Island scent is right up my alley. I love most fruit scented stuff and this smells really great! I love that this product is all-natural too. It worked well for me (I will admit that it hasn't been that hot here in MA, nor have I used it doing any hard labor). I got a family member to use the product too and they really liked it. I will continue to purchase this product. This product retails for 5.99 for a 2.3oz stick.*

For more information visit.. http://www.mygeodeo.com/


*I received this product complimentary from Influenster.

Country Life Maxi Hair supplement

Product info from the Influenster website..

Try Country Life® Maxi-Hair Maximized dietary supplement. This product has been coveted by loyal consumers for more than 20 years, and one of Country Life’s best-sellers. This supplement complex with focus on B-vitamins, biotin and MSM brings new meaning to beauty from the inside-out. Also available with higher biotin potency in MAXI-HAIR Plus.

Available at your local vitamin & supplement store that carries natural dietary supplements.
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My Review..

I have recently started painting my nails weekly (instead of just on special occasions) and my nails are not as healthy as when I didn't paint them. I was interested to see how these vitamins would help my nails and my hair. Almost immediately, (about four days after taking them) I noticed that my hair suffered less breakage and I didn't lose as much hair as I normally do. My hair has also been growing much faster than normal. Since I started taking the supplements, my nails grow twice as fast as before I take the supplements. My nails are noticeably healthier too. I have already purchased two additional bottles of these supplements on drugstore.com and will continue to purchase this product in the future. This is a great product and lives up to the great reviews it receives on Amazon.com. This product retails for 17.99 for 60 Tablets.  I purchased mine on drugstore.com but also found these supplements for sale at Whole Foods.*

For more information on this product visit.. http://www.country-life.com/.

*I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster.

EBOOST

I have been wanting to try EBOOST for a while now (I subscribe to Birchbox monthly subscription service and was disappointed the month they gave this product out and I didn't get a sample of this in my box).. so I was pretty excited to get this in my Influenster Naturals VoxBox. I take allergy pills daily that make me pretty drowsy so I really need a daily natural energy boost. I like that this is a natural alternative to the caffeinated soda I had been drinking in the morning along with my allergy pill. This product works great and you suffer no crash from drinking it. The taste is ok (could be improved a bit) but the taste is a vast improvement over the last product I bought. I am interested in trying the other flavors they offer. The Pink Lemonade one sounds really good. I really like the portability of the powder packets. I already bought a box of the orange powders and I will continue to purchase this product in the future. This product retails for 28.00 for a box of 20 powders.*

For more information visit.. http://www.eboost.com/

I received this product complimentary through Influenster.

LypSyl Intense Protection LypMoisturizer™

I was super excited to see this LypSyl Intense Protection Lypoisturizer upon opening my Naturals VoxBox. I have been eyeing this lip balm at my local Target for a while now but I was waiting to finish my other lip balms I had in my collection. This was the very first product I opened (You could say that I made a "bee-line" towards it). The packaging is really nice. You push up the lip balm by pushing on the bee on the side of the balm. This is the smoothest, longest lasting lip balm I have ever used (If I don't drink any beverages it lasts at least three hours at the minimum). I have been using this lip balm daily and from how much product is left I would say it lasts a pretty long time.  Really great product! I am glad that I got to try this product in time for the harsh fall/winter new England winter that lies ahead. My lips suffer horribly during the colder months. I definitely want to try the lip balm they offer with spf too. This product retails for 2.87-2.99.*

For more information about this product, visit http://www.lypsylhome.com/.

*I received this product complimentary through Influenster.

The Original™ Dish Drying Mat

This is the first time I have seen/heard of the The Original Dish Drying Mat. I was pretty excited to try this product because one of my pet peeves is how dirty the dish drainer gets.. no matter how hard I try to keep it clean. I was initially impressed to learn that this mat was machine washable. I can honestly say that I really love this mat. It is very absorbant and I don't have to clean any excess water off the counter (in the dish dry area) after I am finished washing the dishes. I will be buying another mat so I can switch the mats out while I wash one. This mat also comes in additional colors. It retails for 4.99 and is available at Bed Bath and Beyond exclusively.*

To learn more about the Mat visit.. http://www.the-original-co.com/default.html

*I received this product complimentary through Influenster.

CleanWell Natural Hand Sanitizer Wipes

I have used the CleanWell anti-bacterial spray in the past (and really liked it), so I was excited to try this CleanWell hand wipe. I was actually surprised to learn that these wipes are mild enough to be used on hands and faces. The best part about these wipes is that they have a nice mild citrus scent and they do not dry your hands out like other harsh anti-bac gels on the market. These wipes have all-natural ingredients that make them the perfect choice for young and old alike. I will be keeping a few of these wipes in my handbag from now on.

These wipes retail for 29.99 for 50 pouches. To learn more about these wipes go to www.cleanwelltoday.com. You can purchase these wipes right from this website.

*I received this product complimentary through Influenster.

Influenster Naturals VoxBox 2012

 

 



 

 

I was very excited that I got chosen to receive an Influenster Naturals 2012 VoxBox. Imagine my excitement when I opened my box to find this huge box of goodies for me to try out, share, and review. This is my second VoxBox I recieved (my first was the 2012 Love VoxBox) and I have to say that my initial impression upon seeing all the items was "Wow.. Influenster, you really outdid yourself this time!". I immediately spotted products I had been dying to try out. Here is what was included in my box.

The Original Dish Dry Mat
Lypsyl Intense Protection LypMoisturizer (Have wanted to try this for a while now!)
EBoost (Have wanted to try this for a while now!!)
Clean Well Individual Hand Sanitizer Wipes
GEODEO Natural Deodorant
Nectresse Sweetener

And Based on my Demographics.. I got the Country Life Maxi-Hair Maximized Supplements. (Of the four products you could have received, this was the one I would have chosen for myself!! :)

For those of you that haven't heard of Influenster.. You can sign up on Influenster.com, start earning badges and writing reviews which in turn will raise your influenster score and hopefully qualify you for free VoxBoxes. The more active you are the greater your chances for receiving a box. I have been really enjoying being part of the Influenster community.

Stay tuned for my reviews of all the products!

July 2012 Birchbox

This month's Birchbox was another hit for me. Here are the goods..

minteas- I got the ginger pear flavor. I liked the cute leaf shaped tin but the mints tasted a bit odd.  I ended up purchasing some lime mojito minteas off of the Birchbox site and they were a bit better but definitely not something I would purchase again.

Color Club Blue Ming nail polish- This is a great bluish green color. Perfect for summer or the warmer months. I love nail polish so I was pretty happy to get this sample.

eyeko Black Liquid Eyeliner- I don't use liquid eyeliner so I gifted this to a friend. This was a full-sized product which is always appreciated. My friend really liked the eyeliner!

Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum- I got two sample packets of this product. Each packet was good for 2 uses. I was expecting a clear serum and this serum actually looks like regular sunscreen (It had the same consistency as regular sunscreen too).  It sunk in well and didn't feel heavy under my makeup.

Harvey Prince Eau Flirt- I was a bit disappointed to get this since the picture on my Birchbox page showed the Harvey Prince Hello! perfume which would have been right up my alley (that is a citrus perfume). This one smelled of pumpkin and musk.. not my cup of tea.

Lifestyle Extra- Birchbox headphones- I loved these pink and green headphones! I was majorly disappointed that one of the headphones had a hole in the plastic on the earpiece. (I purchased an additional pair off the Birchbox website and got blue and pink ones. Not as cute as the pink and green combo but still nice).

Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer

I was picked to try this product as part of a SheSpeaks campaign (I received this product for free). I had previously purchase the Simple brand face wipes and I really liked them so I was excited to try this moisturizer. Here is my review of this product..

This is a great product and will now be my go-to summer moisturizer. It hydrates well but sinks in quickly so my skin is left feeling soft (not greasy at all). I would highly recommend this product for all skin types. I need a heavier moisturizer in the winter but this is the perfect warmer weather moisturizer for me. Unfortunately, this product is not as easy to find at my local Target and Wal-mart.  The only store in my area that carries this particular moisturizer is Walgreens.. although the Simple brand is carried at most stores (including Target and Walmart) in my area.

June 2012 Birchbox

This is the June 2012 "Jet Set" themed Birchbox. I apologize for the sideways pic... I took the picture on my phone and it refuses to be turned around. Here are the goods..

Comodynes Self- Tanning Intensive Towelettes- I received two towelette packets. Each packet is supposed to tan your entire body. I always like receieving tanning products and I had been wanting to try this brand out. Full size retails for 14.99 (for a pack of 8).

Masqueology Pore Minimizing Mask- This is a paper mask that is supposed to shrink pores. I can't tell any difference in my pore mask after one use but I liked that this was a hydrating mask that left my skin nice and soft. I would consider purchasing this product in the future. Fulll size of this product retails for 24 (not sure how many packets in a box).

Stila One Step Bronze- I received a full-sized of this product which is always quite nice. It is a three-n-one product that works as a bronzer, primer, and serum. From the Birchbox info card " It also keeps your skin's oil in check. I liked this product but it was a bit too glittery for everyday (perfect for an evening out though). Full size retails for 36.

theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen- This product can be use as a cheek or lip stain. This is my favorite sample in this month's box. It says on the Birchbox site that Beauty Queen is a dark pink color but it looks red to me. I like to use this product as a cheek stain but it does look really nice as a lip stain too. This sheer gel imparts a nice natural looking blush color when used on your cheeks. I immediately placed an order on the Birchbox site for a full size Stainiac in Beauty Queen as well as an additional Stainiac in Homecoming Queen (a peach stain). There is one more Stainiac color called Prom Queen which is a light pink stain. I will be purchasing that in my next Birchbox order. This product retails for 17.

Lifestyle Extra

tili bags- This cute printed zip bags are pretty cute. I alway carry my beauty products in boring ziploc bags and I thought these were a cute way to carry my makeup essentials. I have purchased a pack of these bags on the Birchbox website. A pack of nine, gallon-sized bags retails for 8.49 (larger size available also).

Birchbox Man Extra

John Varvatos Star USA- This perfume sample was included in honor of Father's Day (and to promote the Birchbox Man monthly box).  My dad liked the sample but said that this cologne's scent faded quickly. Full size cologne retails for 55-70.

May 2012 Gossip Girl Birchbox

For the month of May Birchbox teamed up with Gossip Girl to produce a Gossip Girl themed box. Here are the goods..

Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream- This was a very generous sample tub which I am saving to try on an upcoming trip. I am always happy to try out new moisturizers and I have been hearing good reviews of this brand.  Full size of this product retails for 94.

Dior Diorshow Extase Mascara- I don't really use Mascara so I will be gifting this sample to a friend. I would like to note that this is a decent sized sample. Full size of this product retails for 28.50.

Dior Miss Dior Eau de Parfum- The Birchbox info card says "Chic and feminine, this longtime favorite is a gorgeous bouquet of floral notes deepened by a touch of patchouli".  I dislike anything patchouli scented so this perfume just wasn't for me. I gifted the sample to my mom who really liked the scent. Retails for 62-102.

Kerastase Age Premium Bain Substanif- 1 oz shampoo. It says on the sample bottle that this shampoo is for "mature" hair. I really like the scent of this shampoo but it is quite pricey and I don't see myself shelling out 36 (retail) for shampoo.

Lifestyle Extras-

Kerastase Age Premium Masque Substantif- Came in a sample packet. I love to use hair masks weekly so I was pretty excited to try this out. This is a great conditioning hair mask which made my hair less frizzy and fairly smooth. I would consider purchasing this product again (although it is pretty pricey). The full-size retails for 60.

Notecard- which says XOXO.. I thought that this was a cute extra and tied in well to the Gossip Girl theme. I watch a lot of youtube videos where people complained about this extra but I really liked the card.

All in all, I thought this was a decent box even though I gave away a couple of the items. Not as good as the Teen Vogue collaboration in March but still pretty good.

Happy Summer Everyone!! :)

April 2012 Birchbox



This theme for the April 2012 Birchbox was Natural Wonders. As you can see from the picture above it was all about skincare and beauty products packed with natural ingredients. Here are the goods..

Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine- This is the perfume vial in the middle of the picture. The Birchbox info card says "It doesn't get any cheerier than this juicy scent. a pure blend of blood orange, jasmine, and sandalwood". I was already a fan of this citrus perfume prior to receiving this sample so I was happy to get a sample to carry in my purse or when I travel. You start off smelling the blood orange in this scent and the jasmine/sandalwood comes out after the perfume settles on your skin for a bit. This sample also came with a cute postcard with the pic of coffee (and misc products) on it. Full size of this perfume retails for 55- 150.

Befine Skincare Sampler- This generous sampler included three (large) packets of Daily Moisturizer with spf 15 and two (large) packets of Gentle Cleanser. The packets were labelled as single use but I am pretty sure I can get 2-3 uses out of each packet. I currently use Be Fine exfoliater so I will be happy to try these out on my next trip.

Olie Biologique 004 Huile Moderne- This was another very generous deluxe sample which came in a spray vial. From the Birchbox info card " This lightweight blend of five organic essentials oils including argan, rosehip, and bergamot-  can be used to face, body, and hair. This arrived right after I developed an allergic reaction to something on my face (face was red, had hives and was itchy). I used this on my face and found it very soothing to my face (it definitely helped with the itchiness). I liked this product so much I purchased a full size from the Birchbox site. Full size retails for 56.

Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm- (Full size!). Got this in Bronzed. This bronzing stick is similar to a Nars Multiple (although I like it better than the Nars Multiple I own). I love a multi-use product and it says that it can be used on the cheeks, lids and lips. I prefer to use it on my cheeks as it imparts a very nice natural looking tan to my cheeks. Full-size retails for 36.

Lifestyle Extra-  Le Palais des Thes tea bags (x2).. I gave the tea to my dad who said that he really liked the fig tea. This product retails for 12.50 (for 20 tea bags).


This box was a big hit with me! :) Looking forward to the May Birchbox. Birchbox is teaming up with Gossip Girl for May's box so I am very excited for that box.

April Favorites

Zoya Nail Polish in Arizona from the Zoya Beach Collection. This is a such a lovely shade of orange which is perfect for warmer weather manicure and pedicures. Retails for 8 on zoya.com.

Revlon Lip Butters.. I have been loving these lip butters for the past few months. From left to right the shades are Sugar Frosting, Cotton Candy, Creamsicle, Strawberry Shortcake, Gumdrop, Creme Brulee, and Sugar Plum. Although they appear dark in the picture, these butters go on like a tinted lip gloss. I apply them with a light hand and they all go on pretty sheer. These butters are really moisturizing. Sold at most drugstores, Target and Wal-mart.

March 2012 Birchbox

For the month of March Birchbox gave me the choice of choosing a TeenVogue Birchbox or receiving a regular Birchbox. I chose the TeenVogue box and I am so pleased that I did. Here are the products I received...

essie luxeffects nail polish in Set in Stones.. full size.. I really like this silver chunky glitter top coat. I was hoping for the pink version (in A Cut Above) but the silver one is quite nice too. This retails for 8.

tarte LipSurgence lip tint in Peaceful.. full size.. This is my favorite item in the box. It looks like a big crayon. This lip tint is a sheer nude (slightly orange) color. It is a very moisturizing lip balm/gloss that has scent of oranges. I will definitely be buying more of these lip glosses. Full size retails for 24.

Annick Goutal Petite Cherie perfume sample.. This is a blend of fresh, fruity notes and musk. Not my cup of tea but I passed the sample along to my mom who liked the scent. Full size bottle is 85.

Peter Thomas Roth Max Anti- Shine Mattifying Gel...25oz sample tube. I used this under my makeup and felt that it worked as a makeup primer plus mattifier. Great product that I would recommend. Full size retails for 35.

twistband hair tie.. These hairties are cute but my hair is too short to put up in a ponytail. Retails for $18 (for a 12 pack of bands).

Lifestyle Extra.. Modcloth discount card. I had never heard of this site and I went to check it out after I saw the discount card. I love the home and office stuff they had for sale on the website. This site sells a lot of the same fun items you would find at Urban Outfitters.

This was my best Birchbox to date (been a member since Jan). Can't wait to see what is in store for next month's box.

Kiss Nail Dress Product Review

Product Information from the Influenster website...

Kiss Nail Dress

Fashion That Sticks
Introducing Kiss Nail Dress, ultimate nail fashion for tips and toes! Just peel, apply, and shape for a manicure that lasts up to 10 days. On in minutes, off in seconds without remover. Nail Dress is available in 18 different styles, many of them featuring 3-dimensional jeweled designs. Check out Peplum, a deep black with multi-colored gems for a pop of color, or Babydoll, for a golden and glamorous jeweled look. Skip the topcoat, Nail Dress has it built in.

With 28 strips in each package, you can cut up your extras to create designs that can be used on top of polished or artificial nails. Nail Dress doesn’t dry out the way other polish strips can, so you can save them to use on your next DIY mani. A nail design booklet is included in each package, just in case you need a little inspiration.

And don’t forget about your feet! Nail Dress looks awesome on toes, too – just use the square side of the sticker for a perfect fit.

Where to Buy
Nail Dress’ suggested retail is $6.99 and is available in all major drug chains and mass retailers like WalMart, CVS and Walgreens.


Visit KissNailDress.com to learn more!

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Here is my review of Kiss Dress Nails that I received complimentary to test through Influenster's VoxBox program...

While I can't get away with using these nails on a daily basis, I do think that the fun prints are perfect for a girl's night out or for wearing on the weekend. I got the leopard print nails which were very easy to apply, even for this nail novice. I really like the black shatter Kiss Dress nails and I will look for them the next time I am at the store.

Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk Creamy Devotion Product Review

Product Information from the Influenster website...

Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk

Ghirardelli has introduced a new line of chocolate delivering an epicurean milk chocolate experience--Gourmet Milk^TM chocolate. The lineup has three decadently rich and creamy flavors: Gourmet Milk Creamy Devotion with rich and creamy 32% cacao chocolate, Gourmet Milk Sea Salt Escape with peaks of sea salt and roasted almonds and Gourmet Milk Coconut Rendezvous which features toasted coconut flakes. Finally, milk chocolate for the connoisseur.


Where to Buy
Ghirardelli can be found at Target, Walmart, Duane Reade, Safeway, Ralphs, Stop & Shop and www.ghirardelli.com. Coming soon to Walgreens, Ahold, Publix, HEB, Supervalu, A&P, Shoprite, Meijer, Wegmans, Tops, Market Basket and Roundys.

Gourmet Milk bars are available for $2.79 and bags are $3.99


Check out more on Ghirardelli's Gourmet Milk Bars and other indulgent treats from this brand at www.ghirardelli.com.

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Here is my review of the Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk Creamy Devotion Bar I received complimentary to test through Influenster's VoxBox program...

While I am usually a fan of dark chocolate, I do enjoy the occasional bar of milk chocolate too. Ghiaradelli makes a premium chocolate bar and this bar is no exception. It is a very smooth tasting chocolate and I would highly recommend this brand and product to all the choco-holics out there!

Stash Herbal Tea Sampler Review

Product Information from the Influenster Website..

Stash Herbal Tea Sampler (18 count tea bags)

This sampler features some of Stash Teas most popular herbal teas. Enjoy two tea bags each of the following flavors: acai berry, blueberry superfruit, chamomile, cinnamon apple chamomile, lemon ginger, licorice spice, mango passionfruit, peppermint, and wild raspberry hibiscus. All naturally caffeine free and made from 100% natural ingredients. Steep for 3-5 minutes at 190-209 degrees Fahrenheit.

Where to Buy:

Stash tea is sold at grocery stores, tea and coffee shops, club stores, mass merchandisers, natural foods stores, and online at www.stashtea.com

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Here is my review of the Stash Herbal Tea Sampler I received complimentary to test through Influenster's VoxBox program...

I will start off by saying that prior to trying Stash teas I was not a hot tea drinker. I do occasionally drink iced teas (like Snapple) but I usually only drink a bit of iced tea mixed with about 80% spring water. Despite not being a regular tea drinker, I was excited to try the teas in this sampler when I saw that their were fruit teas included in the box.

The first tea I tried was the mango passionfruit tea (a natural selection since I like all things mango flavored). I really enjoyed this one and I especially like that fact that Stash Teas are lighter in taste than teas I have sampled in the past. Out of this sampler box, I also really enjoyed the Blueberry Superfruit and the Wild Raspberry Hibiscus teas. I enjoyed these teas so much I already placed an order on www.stashtea.com.. which included a box each of the following Herbal teas.. Mango Passionfruit, Wild Raspberry Hibiscus, Blueberry Superfruit (my favorite of the bunch), and Meyer Lemon (which wasn't included in the sampler but strongly appealed to me anyway). Hand down, this was the best item in my VoxBox!!

Truvía® natural sweetener Product Review

Product Info from the Influenster website...

Truvía^® natural sweetener
Truvía^® natural sweetener is the first natural, great-tasting, zero-calorie sweetener born from the leaves of the stevia plant.


o One packet of Truvía^® natural sweetener provides the same sweetness as two teaspoons of sugar.
o Truvía^® natural sweetener is refreshingly uncomplicated. Add it to coffee and tea. Sprinkle it on fruit and cereal.
o Truvía^® natural sweetener is a great alternative for people with diabetes. It is also kosher certified.


Where to Buy
Truvía^® natural sweetener is available nationally at most major retailers and in package sizes of 40-count, 80-count, 140-count and a spoonable jar. Find a store here.


Discover great-tasting recipe ideas and more at truvia.com

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Here is my review of Truvia natural sweetener I received complimentary to test through Influenster's VoxBox program...

Let me start off by saying that in the past I did not have a use for sweeteners since I was not a coffee or tea drinker in the past. Since, I am now starting to enjoy tea (and like my tea a bit sweet).. I was happy to get to try this product out.

The first two times I tried this product, I used two packets in my tea. In my haste (and excitement) to use the product I did not read the brand page which clearly states that ONE packet of Truvia is equal to TWO packets of sugar. Those two cups of tea ended up tasting really bad (left a bad after-taste too) and I decided perhaps this product wasn't for me. This morning, after discovering my mistake, I decided to give this product another chance. I brewed my usual cup of tea and this time only added the one packet of Truvia to the cup. This time my tea tasted good and there was no after-taste like the time I had used the two packets of Truvia in one mug of tea. I have to say that I am very glad to discover this product at a time when I am also discovering how much I enjoy sweetened tea. I really appreciate that this product is all natural. My mom uses sweeteners in her coffee and I will be recommending this to her too and to everyone that enjoys a little sweetness in their hot beverages!

Venus & Olay Razor Review

Product Info from the Influenster website..

Venus & Olay Razor

For the first time ever, Gillette Venus, a global leader in female shaving, and Olay, a global leader in skincare, are coming together to deliver a gold standard in shaving with the new Gillette Venus & Olay razor. Venus’ best shaving technology works with Olay Moisture Bars, offering women best-of-both-worlds shaving and skin expertise. Olay Moisture Bars help lock-in moisture to your skin for less dryness, and with every smoothing stroke, Venus’ five blades shave you close.

Product Details

• Venus’ five-bladed razors shave you close and adjust to women’s curves for a smooth and comfortable shave, even over tricky shaving areas like knees and ankles.
• Olay Moisture Bars contain skin-enhancing elements found in Olay products: Petrolatum helps lock in skin’s moisture for less dryness and Glycerin helps offer that goddess glow! Just wet the razor to release a light lather – no separate shave cream required.
• As with most Venus razors, new Venus & Olay also features a rounded, pivoting head designed for women’s curves, and a soft-grip ergonomic handle for confident control, even in wet and soapy environment

Where to Buy

A refillable Venus & Olay with one replacement cartridge sells for approximately $8.99-$10.99. Packages of three replacement cartridges are available for about $14.99 - $19.49.
Venus & Olay will be available starting March 15, 2012 at food, drug, convenience and mass merchandise stores throughout the United States.

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Here is my review of the Venus and Olay razor I received complimentary to test through Influenster's VoxBox program...

First off, I have to say that of all the products in my Influenster VoxBox, I was most excited to try this product. I was already a huge fan of Olay products.While I really love the Olay moisture bars for keeping my legs smooth throughout the shaving process, I did find that the razor a bit awkward to use because the head of the razor was really quite large (as you can see in the picture above). This razor features a really great pivoting head though which makes it a bit easier to use. The moisture bars did work great at keeping my super dry legs moisturized and it is nice that you don't have to use shaving cream with the product. This is great for anyone that is in a rush to get ready any time of day. I think this would be a good product for the "gal on the go" and I could see this becoming my "go to" product when I travel (hotel rooms have a way of really drying my skin out).

Unfortunately, I did find that I didn't get as close a shave with this razor then with my usual razor from another company. I believe that Gillette makes a good product though (love the pivoting head which my current razor does not have) so I purchased a regular Gillette Venus Embrace razor at Wal-mart to test out. (This razor is almost the same as the Olay one just doesn't have the large moisture bars).

I would highly recommend this razor to people with very dry skin and I could see this razor becoming a staple for me when I travel (who wants to tote around a large shaving cream can?).

For more information on the product.. www.gillettevenus.com

Influenster Love VoxBox

Got my Influenster Love VoxBox in the mail today! :) Here is a picture of my goodies. Reviews to follow shortly..

For those of you that have never heard of Influenster VoxBoxes... These are themed product sample boxes sent to you free of charge. This month's theme was Love. When you get the boxes you are asked to test, evaluate and recommend the products. In order to qualify for a box, you must sign up at www.influenster.com and earn as many badges as you are interested in (by filling out a short survey).

February 2012 Bonus Vichy Birchbox

Received my Bonus Vichy BirchBox on Febraury 21st. I was selected to receive this free box in addition to my regular Birchbox.

Here are my reviews.. (Did not test the eye makeup remover or the Celludestock cellulite treatment)

Aqualia Thermal Cream- This is a really nice day cream. This cream has a very light fresh scent (all these products have a very light scent) and skins in well without feeling heavy/greasy. I normally have sensitive combination skin and this face cream worked well for me. It gave me the right amount of moisture (my skin tends to be dry during the winter months) and I had no bad reactions to this. I would highly recommend this cream. Would consider buying this product again in the future. This product retails for 29.95 for 1.7 oz.

Lifactiv Rhamnose Night Cream- I really liked this night cream. It is heavier than the day cream but it still sinks in well and doesn't leave my face feeling greasy. In the morning my skin was really soft. I would highly recommend this cream too. This product retails for 49 for 1.7 oz.

Purete Thermal 3-IN-1 One Step Cleanser- This product is supposed to act as a cleansing milk, toning lotion, and makeup remover in one. You dab it on with a cotton pad, or smooth it directly on your face and rinse with water. I thought this product worked well as a gentle face cleanser and makeup remover. This product retails for 19.50 for 6.7fl oz.

Purete Thermal Eye Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes- I don't wear eye makeup so I didn't test this product. This product retails for 16.50 for 5.1 oz.

Celludestock- Intensive Treatment for the Appearance or Cellulite- This is the packet sample shown. I did not test this sample. This product retails for 39.50 for 6.7 oz.

I was very impressed with the Vichy brand and the products I tried. I thought the samples were quite generous, worked well for me and I would hesitate to recommend this line to anyone. (I will be passing the eye makeup remover and the Celludestock samples on to a friend).

February 2012 Birchbox

This month's Birchbox was a bit disappointing after January's box. I did get picked to get an extra Vichy sponsored Birchbox this month so you won't hear too much complaining from me :) Here are the goods..

colorscience pro- glow and go Travel Puff- This is a travel puff with bronzing powder in it which can be used a few times. It says you can wash the puff after the powder is gone and re-use the puff too.  I am saving this for an upcoming trip, but I have used colorscience products in the past and I really like this brand.

Jouer- Luminizing Moisture Tint- I got a sample in Bronze. This is a nice tinted moisturizer which feels really light on. It has some very subtle shimmer in the product which is nice too.

Orofluido- Beauty Elixer- This is a hair treatment oil that came in a really nice glass bottle. It has an amber vanilla scent which I really don't like (I prefer fresh/clean or fruity scents).

WEI- Chinese Rose Foaming Cleanser- This was a nice cleanser with a nice light rose scent. It didn't strip my skin or leave it feeling dry. It didn't wow me enough to consider switching my regular face cleanser. I will be sticking to my current face cleansers.. Befine Almond Scrub and The Body Shop's Vitamin C daily cleanser (I alternate between the two).

Lifestyle Extra #1- Chuao Chocolatier- Spicy Maya Chocopod- I love the dark chocolate in this little treat but you are left with a strange aftertaste once you are done with the chocolate. I loved the dark chocolate so much I did order a couple of Chuao Panko Chocolate Bars from Birchbox.

Lifestyle Extra#2- Song Downloads from Green River Ordinance

I had seen a few lucky ladies get the Dermalogica Exfoliating Powder or a Beauty Blender in their boxes so I am hoping they might have a few extras lying around to put in future Birchboxes.. Next month, you have a choice of picking a Teen Vogue Sponsored Birchbox or sticking with the regular Birchbox. I decided to take a chance on the Teen Vogue Sponsored Box. I was sold on the Teen Vogue box once I heard Essie would have a product in the box.

January 2012 Birchbox

January 2012 was my first Birchbox. I couldn't have been happier with the samples I got. Here are the goods..

Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Birchbox Pink- This sample was a (very cute) mini tube lip gloss .06fl. oz.. The color was a shockingly bright pink color in the tube but goes on surprisingly sheer and gives you a very light wash of color. This is my first time trying this brand and I have to say I was pretty impressed. I normally like light/ more neutral gloss colors and I was pretty surprised at how much I liked this color. I have already purchased another mid-size gloss in this color (for $8) from the Birchbox site.

Juicy Couture- Juicy Couture- This sample came in a mini spray atomizer. I have tried a sample of this sweet floral perfume before and didn't really care for it so I gave the sample to my mom who really liked it. 

VMV Hypoallergenics- Re-Everything: Eye Serum- This was a super generous 12ml glass bottle sample! For me, this was the best sample in this month's box. This eye serum can also do double duty on any fine lines/wrinkles you have. The eye serum is the best eye cream/serum I have used but it is a bit pricey ($80 for 30ml). I might have to save up my birchbox points to use towards a full size bottle when I am done with my current eye cream.

Zoya- Nail Polish in Kristen- This was another very generous sample.. .25fl.oz.. I absolutely love the bluish gray color. It is part of Zoya's new Feel Collection. I would have probably bought a full-size of  this product had I seen it at my local Ulta. Love Zoya nail polishes!

Lifestyle Extra- Larabar (minibar)- I got a Cherry Pie one which was not my cup of tea.. but after reading about the brand I did go out and buy the brownie one which I highly recommend! Love the all natural ingredients in these bars.

So glad I took the plunge and subscribed to Birchbox! :)