Thursday, June 16, 2016

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: 







Friday, June 10, 2016

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:

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: