Influenster: Mayfield VoxBox

There is no better way my family could have celebrated National Ice Cream month this July than with the Mayfield VoxBox from Influenster! This VoxBox came with two coupons for our choice of Mayfield ice cream and an ice cream scoop. An added bonus is that when I got to Harris Teeter to select our flavors they were having a buy one get one free sale on Mayfield so my family was able to try 4 flavors free instead of two. As my six year old daughter says, "It's the best day ever"! 

The flavors were kind of picked over since the sale was going on so we ended up getting two at one store and then visiting a different store the next day for better pickings. I wanted to try something other than just plain vanilla and I don't prefer butter pecan but I'm sure they both taste great. We ended up with Brown Cow, Cookies & Cream, Extreme Moose Tracks and Yellow Brick Road. So now let's go over how great each flavor is....

Brown Cow

Brown Cow is made up of a mixture of vanilla and chocolate ice cream with huge swirls of chocolate fudge throughout. The fudge is so good. This flavor is perfect for those who like both chocolate and vanilla but have trouble deciding between the two. My husband selected this flavor to try and I'm really digging it too!

Cookies & Cream

I picked Cookies & Cream with my two year old daughter Aria in mind. Cookies are her favorite! This is a sweet cream flavor ice cream with chunks of perfect sized chocolate cookies throughout. I may have to say this is one of my favorite flavors! 

Yellow Brick Road

Yellow Brick Road is a limited edition flavor. I'm not sure how long it will be around but it is scrumptious! This ice cream taste like a sweet cream and has chocolatey, peanut butter candy throughout. The candy kind of reminds me of Butterfingers, which I love! 

Extreme Moose Tracks

I selected this flavor for my husband who is a chocolate freak! This ice cream is definitely chocolate galore. Extreme Moose Tracks is milk chocolate ice cream with ribbons of fudge and fudge filled chocolate candy pieces. This is perfect for the chocolate lover in your life! 

My family had an awesome time trying all these flavors from Mayfield. Thanks to them we got to celebrate National Ice Cream Month with some of the best ice cream I've tried in awhile. There was something great about all the flavors we tried. I'm also happy that I now have the perfect ice cream scoop! 

Seventh Generation: Lavender & Blue Eucalyptus Natural Laundry Detergent

I am a Generation Good member and from time to time I am sent Seventh Generation products to test and review. This go round I recieved a coupon for a free Seventh Generation laundry detergent of my choosing. I took my coupon to my favorite place that I buy Seventh Generation products and that place is Target. Target offers an awesome selection of this particular brand. For my detergent I choose the Lavender & Blue Eucalyptus since I usually buy the free and clear detergent from Seventh Generation. I figure I would try something different for a change and I really liked my choice!!!

The Lavendar & Blue Eucalyptus scent isn't overpowering and my clothes smell fresh after washing. This detergent worked great for cleaning and ridding stains from our clothing. My daughters have sensitive skin and this detergent caused them no irritations. I reccommend giving this detergent a try and plan to continue using this product in the future.

Influenster: Sprout VoxBox

I was chosen by Influenster to participate in the Sprout VoxBox Campaign. This box has a variety of items from shampoo to laundry detergent as well as tasty snacks. So let's dive into this box and see what we got....

Eat Smart Snacks

So this tortilla chip is just WOW!!!! I was surprised at how well this taste and my whole family agreed. I made the mistake of opening this bag and sitting down with the family for a taste test. Before I knew it we had practically devoured the whole bag. The chip is thin and has the right amount of crunch. Ask my husband, chips are my weakness and I'm happy to have found something so tasty that is a healthier alternative. This chip is made with pinto, navy and black beans. The garlic hummus seasoning is just perfect. It offers the consumer 14 grams of whole grains per serving along with 2 grams of protein. It is also non-GMO and gluten free. I like that when I look at the ingredient label on the packaging I can recognize what I see. I also like that this product is distributed by my home state of NC. I would definitely recommend giving this snack a try!

ECOS Laundry Detergent: Magnolia & Lily

This is my first time trying ECOS brand laundry detergent. Actually I never heard of it till recieving this sample. I love the thought of the scent Magnolia & Lily. This is made with essential oils and natural fragrances so it is gentle on the sniffer! It is also hypoallergic which is great for my sensitive skinned family. This detergent works great with cold water laundry as that is the only way I wash. This product also has a built in fabric softner. I tried this out on a load of my daughter Jillian's clothes. The detergent had perfect sudsing power, cleaned her clothes and didn't irritate her skin as some detergents will. I like this brand and am comtemplating purchasing a bottle to explore further.

Clairol Hair Food: Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner Infused with Honey and Apricot Fragrance

This product in this scent smells to die for! The shampoo is silcone free. Both shampoo and conditioner is paraben free and mineral oil free. This formula is designed to moisturize the hair and revitalize dry, dull lifeless locks. There wasn't quite enough conditioner in this sampling for my taste. My hair did seem more manageable and less tangled between washes. I'm curious to see how well this product would suit my needs using it for a longer period of time.

Curate Dark & Tempting Balsamic Fig & Hazelnut

I must be honest. I was afraid to try this because I do not like vinegar. But I bit the bullet and gave it a whirl since it didn't smell vinegary. I really liked this snack and my two year old loved it. With the fig in this it definitely reminded of the filling in a Fig Newton. This is an awesome snack that is non GMO, gluten free and soy free. It contains a good source of fiber and 6 grams of protein. Also great because it does not contain any artificial flavors or colors. That is something I have become more aware of when feeding myself and my family. There is definitely nothing boring about this bar as it comes packed with balsamic vinegar, mission figs, hazelnuts, sunflower kernels, quinoa and orange. I haven't had a chance to explore other flavors made by this company but the package says this is recipe 9. I'm curious as to what other combos they have crafted!!!

Orgain Organic Protein Powder in Vanilla Bean

I really enjoyed this sample of protein powder and I'm happy it included a coupon for $5 off. I was able to try this in Vanilla Bean which has a pretty good taste and the power blends well. This also comes in chocolate. The directions suggest using almond milk. Since I didn't have any on hand I blended mine with 1% milk and ice cubes. I throw in the ice just because I prefer that consistency in my shakes. This powder can be mixed with fruits and veggies as well. The possibilities are endless. My mom is having surgery soon and will have to adhere to a liquid diet for awhile. Protein shakes are on her approved list and this will make a good meal replacement for her. This powder have 21 grams of protein per serving making it great to use before or after a workout. I blended my shake after a workout in the hot sun. I was left worn out and ragged. This shake helped me to feel tons better. There are just so much good things say about this powder and the Orgain line!!!

VICHY LIFTACTIV Supreme & LIFTACTIV Serum 10 Supreme

I have been using the LIFTACTIV Supreme which is a very lightweight creme for a couple of days now. I use this in the morning after washing my face. It doesn't take much of the product to do the trick. I just apply all over my face. I can tell a noticeable difference as my skin appears brighter which makes my face glow! I like that this product is paraben-free and works well with sensitive skin, which I have. This product feels great on the skin and isn't a greasy mess. It is perfect to wear under makeup or sunblock. This product claims to over time smooth deep wrinkles and provide skin with a firmer appearance. So far I like my experience with this product and could see myself purchasing from this line in the future. I haven't had a chance to try out the serum yet. Guess I'm saving it for a rainy day. This product is promoted as Vichy's best seller. It claims to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles. I like that it works to help forehead wrinkles as that is where I have my biggest concern. In 10 days consumers of this serum should have visibly plumped, tighter skin. Sounds like a win to me!

So this is the conclusion of my Influenster VoxBox. As always it has been fun. Can't wait to see what Influenster has in store for me next!

If you are interested in trying new products. You can join Influenster here: 

www.influenster.com/r/1472684

Review: Kaleidoscope

I was given the opportunity to review the children's album Kaleidoscope. I was interested in this album because I have two girls, ages 2 and 6. We often listen to songs and the girls dance along, which is great because it is an activity away from the television.

This album is by musician and teacher Alice Pringle, also featuring Enrique Feldman and Samantha Feldman. The genre is listed as Children's Folk but it definitely brings more to the table than that. No song sounded alike which is great and I love all the different mixes of instruments. There was a little blues, some lullabies, an orchestra and even a rap or two. There are 19 tracks in all. We were able to understand every word of each song clearly. I found these songs to be very educational and my oldest daughter and I had a discussion about each after listening. She is in love with the 1st track, Badoo, which is great for learning about insects. My personal favorite is track 15, Little Butterfly, I just really get into the vibe of the music.

I would recommend this children's album to any family. It has a little something for every taste. I truly believe music is life! This album is a great educational tool making it perfect for the classroom and daycare. It has helped my little family get up and move by dancing along to all the wonderful songs. This has truly been a pleasant listening experience!

I was able to preview this album free for review purposes. All opinions are completely honest and 100% my own.

If you are interested in purchasing Kaleidoscope you can find it here:

cdbaby.com/cd/alicepringle

Review: 28 LEDs Dimmable Patio Umbrella Light

#UmbrellaLight

I was fortunate to have a chance to review this Outdoor Patio Umbrella Light via seller listing on Tomoson. I received this item free for testing purposes. This product couldn't have made a better entrance into our life when it did because we just purchased new furniture and an umbrella for our deck area. I was interested in this light because I figured it would help with night time entertaining or allow us to enjoy our outdoor sanctuary in the evening. This light is made of plastic and contains a total of 28 LED lights. The lights have three functions which is dim, medium and high. The dim function which utilizes only the four inner lights didn't quite suit our taste but the other two settings are great! Medium functions off 24 lights and High is all 28.

This light functions off 4 AA batteries that are housed on the back of the unit. The batteries are easy to install. This unit is water resistant but because of the batteries not considered water proof. It is suggested by the maker to place this in a dry are to prolong the life of this product.

On the side of the light is a lever. This lever is for opening and securing closed the light. It is super easy to operate.

Also on the side of the light is an on/off switch. Simply push the button for use and it will take you through all three light strengths and then to off. My husband isn't so tall and found it kind of tricky to locate the switch once up on the umbrella. I don't know what the big deal was with that because it is the only switch on the light and it sticks out! My only suggestion for the maker if they wanted to improve this item in the future would be to offer a remote option. Regardless of that minor hiccup, per my husband, I still like this light!

This light is so easy to install on your umbrella. You just open the lever and secure around the umbrella and close. There are adjustable plastic prongs on the inside that hug the umbrella pole and you can move the light up and down if needed. There is also little metal brackets that can be used to hang this light from two hooks. 

This light works great for night time entertaining. It could be suitable for other means besides a patio umbrella. This would work out great on a camping trip. It would also be an easy go to during a power outage. This light would make a perfect gift on Father's Day for those dad's who take their barbecuing seriously!

If you are interested in this Outdoor Patio Umbrella Light it can be found on Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.com/Umbrella-Outdoor-Emergency-Wireless-Operated/dp/B01FWHI3KO

Review: Prime Natural Good Night Essential Oil Blend

I had a chance to review this sleepy time essential oil blend and jumped at it. I'm evolving in the world of essential oils and love it. My goal is to use these oils in place of taking medications if at all possible. I have weaned myself of all my prescription drugs so far and only take 3 mg of Melatonin at night to help induce sleep. 

I was interested in this essential oil blend because I have been cursed with multiple sleep disorders. One disorder makes it very hard for me to fall asleep. I don't have insomnia but my sleep rhythm is disrupted. This is my first time using a Prime Natural oil and I really liked it. I have never used Doterra oils which this one is supposedly comparable to and I know the Doterra brand is very popular. This blend contains a few oils I have worked with before like Lavender Bulgaria, Clary Sage and Chamomile. This is my first time working with Balsam and Marjoram. The blend has a nice herbal scent and I can't really pick out one oil over the other. I like that this oil is 100% Natural, GMO free and contains no  synthetic chemicals. 

Normally I would place this type oil in a diffuser within the bedroom. I tried a little something different and placed one drop of oil in my CPAP water tank. I was able to inhale the oil through my mask. This helped me to calm the anxiety I have about sleep and settle down as well as fall asleep quicker. I think this essential oil blend worked great along with my CPAP therapy to get a more productive and restorative nights rest. I plan to use this often to help with sleep.

I received this item at a discount for the purpose of my review. All opinions are completely honest and 100% my own. As a reminder I encourage everyone using essential oils to research any precautions or warning associated with each oil. Some oils may conflict with certain medications or health problems.

If you are interested in learning more about the Good Night Essential Oil Blend you can find it on Amazon at:

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Night-Essential-Blend-0-33oz/dp/B00YWHZG8S

Review: Oakleaf Copper Wire String Lights

I was selected via Tomoson to review the Oakleaf Copper Wire String Lights. I have been interested in this type of light for awhile now. A close friend of mine has some comparable to this set and I just loved how she decorated her bedroom with them. This is a two light set in warm white. OakLeaf carries multiple color options. I seen red, blue, green and purple just to name a few. 

This light is easy to work with. You can shape the copper wire to your taste. I like it best in a glass jar. The set comes already installed with a battery. The battery pack has an on/off switch. 

I had just purchased some mason type jars in red, white and blue before receiving this light set. I knew that the lights would be great for the jars. I enjoy being festive around each holiday. I now have the perfect Memorial Day decor and can also use on July 4th. I haven't decided what I will do with the lights after the summer holidays roll around. I think I will search for a round ball shape glass and use for decor in my bedroom.

This product is available on Amazon. If you are interested in checking it out or seeing what other colors there are to offer you can find it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Copper-String-Wedding-Centerpiece-Decorations/dp/B01CG1LJ7I

Review: eShopMind Universal Cell Phone Clip Holder and Desktop Stand

#CellPhoneHolderStand

I was in serious need of a product that could help me out when it came time to record videos. As a member of Influenster you guys know we always sent on a mission to record an unboxing of our products. I kept finding myself leaning my phone on random things so I could record hands free. When I seen this product I thought it would work out perfect for my dilemma. I also am in love with the "bonus" desktop stand that comes with this product! 

I view a lot of recipes online and this stand is perfect for me to use in the kitchen while cooking. The case I'm currently using is a little bulky so doesn't fit down into the lip of the stand all the way. It still works great for my needs though as I just prop my phone on the stand. I use this item daily as I also place my phone on the stand while listening to iTunes while I wash dishes and such.

As far as the cell phone holder goes it is great for viewing videos and really helps when filming videos as well. The bracket clips easily on to my kitchen table and stays secure. The adjustable arm is so easy to maneuver. The clip that holds the phone works perfectly with my phone case. I am now able to film videos hands free for YouTube at my kitchen table. 

These two items have really came in handy. I feel they are great accessories to have to accommodate your cellphone. I did receive this item for free for the purpose of my review. As always my opinion is completely honest and 100% my own. 

This item is available on Amazon at :

http://www.amazon.com/eShopMind-Universal-Bracket-Flexible-Bathroom/dp/B014N69OH6

Review: SHIKSHOOK Premium Cocktail Shaker Set

#SHIKSHOOK

Shake Your Life

I was invited to review the SHIKSHOOK Premium Cocktail Shaker Set for free. I was interested in this product because I have many stainless steel items in my kitchen and this set matches perfectly. With the weather warming up this will be awesome for entertaining family and guest. This set appears to be of top notch quality. It is dishwasher safe making it very easy to maintain. The stainless steel is just gorgeous and this product comes with a Lifetime Warranty. I like that each item included in this set was individually wrapped with plastic to prevent scratching before use. So let's see what's in the box!

This set comes packed in a black velour bag making it great for gift giving. I have a wedding reception coming soon and I noticed on one of the wedding registries they are wishing for a cocktail shaker set. I may just have to purchase another one of these sets for my dear friend because this one is great! The velour bag also makes the set great for travel or easy storage. 

The Cocktail Shaker holds 25 ounces. The lid is equipped with a built in strainer and stamped with the brand name. If you have every made a drink before you know that the built in strainer is golden! The cap has engraved lines surrounding it and the SHIKSHOOK logo is embossed on top. This shaker works well and keeps the waste of liquid to a minimum. 

This set includes a Duble Jigger. One side measures out 1/2 an ounce and just turn over to use the 1 ounce. This helps to make the perfect drink because you are able to measure out the correct amount of liquor for any recipe. This Jigger is also stamped with the brand name. 

I know some don't care for measuring but love to eyeball so this set also includes two pourers which are also stamped with the brand name SHIKSHOOK. These fit both alcohol bottles and mixers helping to easily pour into the shaker, making the perfect cocktail. 

Last the set also includes an ebook containing 100 cocktail recipes. I haven't had a chance to check it out but I'm sure it's awesome. There are also 3 recipes located on the side of the box this set comes in. I am in love with this set as it makes a great addition to my stainless steel cookware and kitchen gadgets. SHIKSHOOK offers a lifetime guarantee on their product. In order to receive your ebook and warranty all you have to do is register as a VIP member. Registered customers also receive a monthly gift. I will have to update this post in a month's time to share with you my gift.

This item is available on Amazon at:

http://www.amazon.com/Cocktail-Shaker-Premium-Bartender-Luxury/dp/B01C0RCOHM

You can also follow on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/shikshookpage 

Also visit them on the website:

www.shikshook.com

#SHIKSHOOK

Skahe Your Life

Review: Witches Protection Agency

#WPP

I received the book Witches Protection Agency for free for reviewing purposes. This was my first time reading a book by author, Michael Phillip Cash. I really liked his writing style as I felt this story included multiple genre's making this suitable for different taste. Completely entertained, I was able to finish this book in a couple of days. That says a lot coming from me who has an adventurous two year old running around.

This story starts out with main character Wes Rockville failing at his career in law enforcement unlike his father and brother before him. Rockville, unable to carry out a so called simple arrest of a little old lady was given a last chance effort to prove himself. His father known as Harris, placed him in a secret 232 year old organization called the Witches Protection Program making this his only chance to save his career. Wes Rockville was partnered with tough agent Alastair Verne. Wes was told about the secret life of witches and how they lived among the world unnoticed. He also learned that wicthes were separated into the good  known as Davina's and the bad known as the Willa's. His first gig as witch protector was protecting Morgan Pendragon, heir to Pendragon Cosmetics. This tale takes you on twist and turns as Morgan learns that Pendragon Cosmetics has plans for world domination being carried out by her beloved aunt and caretaker, Bernadette Pendragon. This is all I will divulge of this entertaining tale. You must read the rest!!!  

I enjoyed this book and loved how the author incorporated different genre's. It had a little supernatural,  some suspense, comedy and even a tid bit of romance. I'm in my 30's and this was a easy, fast read for me. I think this would also appeal to the young adults. I have a feeling this isn't the last we will hear of witch protector, Wes Rockville. I can see this character being part of a series. I recommend this book to anyone interested in tales of the supernatural! I also look forward to reading other titles by Michael Phillip Cash.

If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can find it on Amazon at: 

http://www.amazon.com/Witches-Protection-Program-Michael-Phillip/dp/1511411341

You can also connect with the author, Michael Phillip Cash at:

Facebook: facebook.com/michaelphillipcash

Twitter: twitter.com/michaelpcash

Web: www.michaelphillipcash.com

#WPP