@Influenster Country Crock #MakeItYours VoxBox

I love being an Influenster.  VoxBoxes both introduce me to great new products as well as reminding me of classic products I love.

So this time around, it was an introduction to a great new product.   Country Crock.

Of course, we've all seen the TV commercials.  We've all seen it in grocery stores.  But I've never actually tried it.  I use what my mom used, and that's just the way it's been.

Until now.   I redeemed my VoxBox coupon for a free tub of Country Crock to test and sample.  Hello!  You want me to bake and sample cookies?  I'm so in!

And in we were.  The entire family took the challenge to #MakeItYours and we were off.  First up was the baking.  Country Crock was surprisingly smooth and creamy to bake with - you really couldn't tell a difference between it and my usual baking product - either another margerine or butter.  It was that good.  And then it baked up perfectly!  The cookies came out just right.  Nice and golden brown with great shape and texture.  But the taste was amazing!!  So much richer and smoother than anything I've ever baked with before.

Verdict:  Country Crock is my new must-have in my kitchen.  I can't wait to try it in all of my daily food preparation!

This is how my kids took the #MakeItYours challenge and truly make it theirs.

Thanks to Influenster and Country Crock for the free tester sample for review purposes.

Resources:
Hashtag: #MakeItYours
Facebook: Country Crock
Twitter: Country Crock 

@Influenster Ore-Ida Tater Tots Totchos #JingleVoxBox

I love being an Influenster.  VoxBoxes both introduce me to great new products as well as reminding me of classic products I love.

And this is what happened when I unboxed my #JingleVoxBox and discovered a coupon for Ore-Ida Tater Tots.  I have loved Tater Tots since I was a tater tot, but I've never had them like this!

I have now been introduced to Totchos.  What's a Totcho, you ask?  Well, I asked too.  It's Nachos + Tater Tots = Totchos.

After thinking back, I realized that I've never done anything else with my Tater Tots other than bake them and dip them in ketchup.  So I was in for a new experience.

My review?  They're fantastic!  I'm never going to look at a bag of Tater Tots the same again.  And the best part is that Totchos are easy to make, and easy to mess around with.  There is no right or wrong way to make a Totcho - just throw some cheesy goodness and toppings on to a pile of Tater Tots and go for it. 

This video explains it all:


So head to the store and pick up some Ore-Ida Tater Tots.  Make some Totchos and have a great time.

Thanks to Influenster and Ore-Ida for the free tester sample of Tater Tots for review purposes.

Resources:
Hashtag: #OreIdaTotchos
Facebook: Ore-Ida
Instagram:  Ore-Ida
Pinterest:  Ore-Ida Potatoes

@Influenster Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream #JingleVoxBox

I was so excited when I unboxed my Influenster #JingleVoxBox and peeked a sample of Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream.

My Mom has used Cetaphil faithfully for years, but I've never tried it.  I have terribly dry skin in the winter, and even though it hasn't been as typically cold this year, my skin is still suffering.

So the first thing I tested was the Cetaphil. My initial observation upon opening the container was the scent.  I don't have scent sensitivities, but my office mate does, so I'm always aware of  products I use that have a heavy scent.  And Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream has a very light yet totally fresh scent.  I dipped my finger in, and found that the cream is as light and fresh as the scent.  The skin on my face was soothed by the lightness, instead of feeling weighted down like with some lotions.  I didn't have to drag is around on my face - it applies so smoothly you can barely feel it.  My skin just drank in the cream and was left feeling refreshed.  No oily feeling, no residues or unabsorbed lotion. 

While I noticed immediate changes in my skin, after a few days I realized that my face was looking much less angry.  No more chapped cheeks.  Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream does exactly what I hoped it would do - it gave my skin the exact balance of moisture to refresh it, keep it healthy, and keep it happy.

My Mom knows what she's doing - Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream is the best lotion I've tried, and I'm going to keep with it.

Resources:
Hashtag: #Cheerphil
Facebook: Cetaphil US
Instagram:  Cetaphil US

@Influenster Club W #BellaVoxBox

I love being an Influenster - I get to try the newest and coolest products for free, and then share them with everyone I know!

Club W is an innovative approach to online shopping clubs that make recommendations from your likes and dislikes.  Instead of recommending shoes or nailpolish like some others do, they recommend wines.

Doesn't everyone want to sample wines?  Of course!  Can everyone afford to sample wines?  No way!

Well, now you can!  Club W has every different type of brand from a crazy wide variety of labels to try at affordable prices.

Offer! Join now and get a free bottle when you buy two using the code REFERME.

 Thanks again to Influenster and Club W for my complimentary product sample for testing purposes.

Resources:
Hashtag: #Spring4Wine
Facebook: Hello Club W
Twitter: @ClubW

@Influenster @NYMBrands Deja Vu Do Style Extender

I love being an Influenster!  It's amazing how they pick the perfect products to send out for testing.  It's not just about free stuff - it's more than that.  Don't get me wrong - free stuff is great, but how many of us have product samples that were free that are just sitting around gathering dust, never to be used?  Me!  I have a drawer full of shampoo samples, toothpaste samples and who only knows what else samples that I'll never use.

But I have used every single product Influenster has ever sent to me.  And not only do I love them, but they really do change my life.  In small ways, perhaps, but in ways that really make a difference.

Not Your Mother's Deja Vu Do Style Extender is just one of those products.  I have very fine hair.  It really doesn't have any body or take any style.  It just hangs and does what it does, and by the end of the day it's a mess - it's getting stringy and starting to look oily and greasy, even though it really isn't.

 

So when I pulled the tube of #NYMdjvd out of my #BellaVoxBox, I had mixed reactions.  I had previously tested a NYMBrands product - Beach Babe Texturizing Shampoo and Conditioner - in the #SurfsUpVoxBox and loved it, so had high hopes, but a Style Extender?  My hair doesn't have style.  It doesn't hold a style to save my life.  This was never going to work.

But the next morning, I boldly pulled the tube out, followed the application directions and went to work.

The first thing I noticed was the scent.  Red Apples & Berries?!  I'm in!  This is a great way to start a day!  A coin sized daub of product into my hands and mixed through towel dried damp hair.  Easy!  Now to blow dry.

Ok, can I just say that I don't know what miracle they have discovered over at Not Your Mother's brands, but they have an amazing ability to transform the texture of my hair.  It feels amazing!  It smells amazing!  This is off to a great start.

So as the day progressed, my hair continued to feel and smell great.  For being so fine, it felt full with volume.
And by the end of the day, my hair looked as good as it did at the start of the day.  Heck, it looked great!  Not even close to how it usually felt.  Not stringy, not greasy, not oily.

Truly amazing!

Thanks again to @Influenster and @NYMbrands for the complimentary product for testing and review purposes.

Resources:
Hashtag: #NYMdjvd
Facebook: Not Your Mother's
Twitter: Not Your Mother's 

#contest

@Influenster #BellaVoxBox

I love being an Influenster!  At first, I thought it was just cool to get complimentary products for testing purposes (yes, free stuff!) but after my first VoxBox (a box packed full of cool stuff) I have realized that it's much more than that.  It's about discovering new products and brands that change your day, your routine, or maybe your life.  

That may sound dramatic, but it's true.  For example, in the #FrostyVoxBox I received  EcoTools Styler & Smoother hairbrush.  I had never tried an EcoTools product, and have used the same hairbrush for the past 10 years.  Well, after testing this brush, I discovered two things - one, I love EcoTools as a company, and two, this brush has totally changed my morning routine!  All thanks to Influenster.

So when I found out I was receiving the #BellaVoxBox, I was thrilled.  I'd checked out the sneak peek on Influenster's YouTube channel, so I had an idea of what I was in for, but until that box arrives you really don't know how cool it is!

First out of the box is the EcoTools Complexion Collection Mattifying Finish Brush.  Yea!  Another EcoTools product, but in the make-up brush line.  My make-up brushes are way old but did the job fine ... or so I thought.  The moment I picked this brush up, I knew I was missing out on something amazing.  The bamboo handles make every EcoTools product a pleasure to hold - comfortable and lightweight.  And the bristles - so soft!  Made from cruelty-free bristles, this brush applies my powder so perfectly it looks like I'm not wearing any at all!  No clumps or bumps, no unhappy skin.  It's just perfect.  I had no idea make-up could be this luxurious!

I was so excited to peek a Not Your Mother's tube in the #BellaVoxBox!  I was first introduced to NYM in the #SurfsUpVoxBox last summer, and have loved it ever since.  So what did I find but the Deja Vu Do Style Extender.  Now, I have very fine hair.  Very fine.  It does nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  Except get icky by the end of the day.  Not greasy, not oily, but limp and shiny.  So, I had great hopes for this product, which, by description is set to be "a unique and lightweight primer and style extender that will block humidity and repel dirt and oil, all while being the perfect base for any styling items  adding body and flexible hold.  It's infused with the delicious scent of red apples and berries, and includes conditioners for long lasting frizz control, softness and shine."  Ok, I'm in.  I need all of that.  My frizzies are limited to the little fine baby hair at the roots, but are annoying nonetheless.  Humidity?  I live near the water.  Let's talk about humidity.  Adding body?  Well, I have none to start with so let's see where that goes.  And where did it go?  It went amazingly!  Plus it smells amazing!  NYM Brands knows exactly how to make scent count.  Deja Vu Do was a delight to use and worked great!  By the end of the day, my frizzies were controlled, my hair was glossy (not shiny!)  and as bouncy as I've ever seen it, and it felt so smooth and stilled smelled like apples!  Amazing!  I am totally in love with Not Your Mother's brands. #NYMdjvd

Peeking in again was so exciting!  Two great products from Rimmel London stared out at me.  

Scandaleyes Mascara by Kate Moss and Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss.  This is going to be great!  Another new product from a company I first met in my #FrostyVoxBox.  First up is the Scandaleyes Mascara by Kate Moss - the First mascara created by Kate Moss!.  This product is perfectly thought out - the brush tip is thin and curved to fit your eye ... in fact, it's the shape of a broken-heart and it gives lift that gives volume!  It only takes one clean stroke to get perfect coverage.  Thanks to one stroke application with this neat brush, I have no clumps and haven't had a smudge against my nose since I have switched to Scandaleyes from Rimmel London!  A small thing maybe, but very important to me.  It reaches my inner lashes perfectly, and that's huge!  Of course, it's dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested, which means it doesn't irritate the delicate skin around my eye or my eyes themselves - my contacts would rebel if it did!

The other great Rimmel London product?  Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick from Kate Moss - in Rossetto (no. 12).  If you are a Kate Moss fan, you know that she has a look that is iconically hers.  And this lipstick collection created by Kate Moss aptures all the flair, edge and timelessness of her look.  Plus it's Rimmel London Lasting Finish, which means it lasts up to 8 hours!  Perfect for me, because I work a full day and interact with the public, so I don't have time to freshen up my lip colour, and can't afford for it to be fading or wearing off.  But the Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick from Kate Moss did what it said, and then some.  I can go all day (including eating lunch!) without having to refresh my colour.  It stays bright and fresh all day, which makes me feel great about my appearance when facing the public.  I'm loving both the Kate Moss collection and the Rimmel London products - a great partnership! #rimmelbykate

What's that I see?  A Sally Hansen tube?  Airbrush Legs?  What's that all about?? Leg Makeup?  How cool!  How did Influenster and Sally Hansen know that I'm very fair skinned and avoid the sun at all costs ... but hate having pasty white legs??  Ok, let's crack this tube open and see what Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs is all about.   This lightweight formula feels great on my skin, and hides imperfections ... plus won't rub off on my clothes!  It gives me instant - and safe! - tanned legs.  You can't go wrong with this - especially with 5 shades to choose from!  #AirbrushPerfectLegs

Next out is the bag of DOVE Fruit.  Chocolate and Fruit?  Now this is something I can sink my teeth into.  A new product from a great company, DOVE Fruit features real fruit dipped in silky smooth DOVE Dark Chocolate, and comes in three varieties - cranberry, cherry and blueberry.  The #BellaVoxBox has the blueberry, and it was amazing!  I'm a huge chocolate lover, but not so much with dark chocolate.  It's been studied to be good for you, but I'm not big on the bitter taste.  Well, add a blueberry and the bitter taste is gone!  I threw them into a salad and it was amazing!  A few made it into a dish at a recent dinner party and the guests raved.  I sneaked a few to my fruit-reluctant boys and they gobbled them up.  Win!  DOVE Fruit really hits the mark, and is unique - fruit and chocolate?  My only complaint is that I need more!

The last two items in the #BellaVoxBox were offers to try some online services.

Club W is a wine club ... re-imagined, according to their claim.  They believe in quality wines at an affordable price.  My kind of club!  Upon signing up, you complete a survey about your tastes and likes, and they select wines that suit your palate.  Club W keeps your lifestyle and budget in mind, and even has an iPhone app to make it easy.  You can select from their recommendations or pick your own.  Their selections for me sound great - I can't wait to try the first bottle when it arrives!

The other offer is for EBay.  It's been a while since I browsed EBay to see what they might have for me, and who knew they had Guides?  EBay is much more than a shopping site now - there are tips and tricks tried and true from their members for everything you could imagine.  I could get lost exploring EBay these days ... and not just in the shopping area! 

And there it is.  The #BellaVoxBox.  Another amazing selection of products, hand-picked by the fantastic Influenster Team designed to introduce me to products and services that will really change my life.  In big ways, and small ways, but in ways that count.  And on top of that, I get to share each and every one of them with all of you!  Enjoy!

Thanks again to Influenster and the following companies for my free product sample for testing purposes.

Resources:

EcoTools Complexion Collection Mattfying Finish Brush:  Facebook  Twitter  #EcoToolsPerk

DOVE Fruit:  Facebook  Twitter  #DOVEWithRealFruit

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara created by Kate Moss

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate:  Facebook  Twitter  #Rimmel #rimmelbykate

Not Your Mother's Deja Vu Do Style Extender:  Facebook Twitter #NYMdjvd

Club W:  Facebook  Twitter  #Spring4Wine

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs:  Facebook  Twitter  #AirbrushPerfectLegs

@Influenster REVEAL Men Calvin Klein

I love being an Influenster - I get to try the newest and coolest products for free, and then share them with everyone I know!

I was really excited to get into the REVEAL Men Calvin Klein VoxBox - I've always loved scents from Calvin Klein and was thrilled to try their newest.  I find that their scents, whether for men or women and always very complex and have a multi layered  scent profile.  This gives each scent more than one smell - what the nose picks up shifts according to the wearer, the wearer's mood and the temperature conditions.  This is great because you never get tired of the scent - every day it's a different scent.

My man loves it, too.  He's not a big scent fan, but REVEAL is so subtle and natural, yet complimentary, that he enjoyed wearing it.  It isn't ovewhelming or annoying - it's just right :)

Thanks again to Influenster and Calvin Klein for my free product sample for testing purposes.

Resources:
Hashtag: #REVEALMORE
Facebook: Calvin Klein
Twitter: @CalvinKlein

@Influenster Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Serum #FrostyVoxBox

Influenster is the best - I get to try new products for free and then share it with everyone I know.

The Frosty Vox Box was full of fantastic products that made the holidays even more fun - and who thought that would be possible??  Well, they did it!!

Influenster teamed up with Boots cosmetics and included a sample of their Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum in the Frosty Vox Box.

It was the perfect addition to my holiday routine - and now my daily routine!  The holidays are so tiring, with long days and longer nights, holiday parties and wrapping and shopping and ...

after all of that, my skin was tired.  I was tired.  My tired skin made me look even more tired.

In comes the Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Serum.  It goes on smooth and evenly.  Doesn't feel oily or icky.  And my skin simply felt ... happy ... after I applied it.

And even better, my skin looked happy after I applied it.  And even happier as the days went on. 

I never thought that I was in need of a skin renewing serum - I can't be that old, can I??  But apparently you are never too old (or young!) to use a renewing serum, and Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Serum is the one to use.  Boots is a company that has been around for years, and it's easy to see why when you use their products. 

Thanks to Influenster for the free sample in my Frosty Vox Box, and the women in my family thank you too, because Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Serum turned up in their Christmas stockings ... a little Influenster Elf might have had something to do with that :)

@Influenster Rimmel London #FrostyVoxBox

Being an Influenster has been great - and getting a Vox Box is the most amazing experience.  Influenster experts pick the best products and put them together in unique ways - and this past Christmas I was lucky enough to get the Frosty Vox Box!  It was full of fun products that made my holidays much less stressful and way more fun!

Influenster knew that holidays mean holiday parties ... and they partnered up with Rimmel London to bring two cosmetic products into my hands and on to my face.

Rimmel London’s Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal Eyeliner was the right thing to make my holiday look just what I needed to make my mark on the party.  Applies smoothly and evenly with a light touch, and lasts all day (and night!) - it's my new eyeliner and I can't wait to try the other colours.

Influenster really thought of everything when they put together the Frosty Vox Box, because at the end of the evening I pulled out the Rimmel London Just Let It Go Gentle Make Up Remover.  It was exactly what my tired skin needed - a gentle, smooth formula that actually removed make up ... and not my skin!  My sensitive skin has never been so happy!

I can't wait to try every colour of the Scandaleyes eyeliner, and the Gentle Eyes Make Up Remover is going to become a staple in my cosmetic bag.  

Thanks Influenster!!

Resources:

Influenster  Facebook
Rimmel London Twitter

@Influenster Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Green Tea #FrostyVoxBox

Being an Influenster is the best - I get to try new products for free and then share it with everyone I know.

The Frosty Vox Box was full of fantastic products that made the holidays even more fun - and who thought that would be possible??  Well, they did it!!

I'm not a huge tea drinker, but am always up for trying something new, so when I spied the Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Green Tea in the Frosty Vox Box, I was pretty excited to try it.

I waited until the night I was up to all hours wrapping presents.  I've never tried Green Tea before, and certainly never a Candy Cane tea, so I knew this would be interesting.

The moment I poured the boiling water into the mug, the scent just flowed.  Nothing says Christmas more than candy canes, and suddenly my nose - and kitchen - was full of the smell.  It was delightful!

By the time the mug was empty, I was in the spirit and had all my wrapping done.  I loved the Green Tea, and loved the Candy Cane Lane.  Together it was perfection.

Needless to say, everyone got a box in their stockings on Christmas Morning :)

Thanks to Influenster for the free sample to try and test!

Resources:
Influenster Facebook
Celestial Seasonings Facebook

@Influenster #FrostyVoxBox

I am in love with being an Influenster, and even more so in my Frosty Vox Box!  There is not one item in this box of goodies that hasn't been perfect to help celebrate the holidays ... and beyond!

First up is the Fruit Vines.  Full of flavour and in bite sized pieces, I would never have made it through the long nights of gift wrapping without them by my side.  Each bite is perfect mouthfill - the best chewy without being too chewy, lasts just the right length but not too long.  Fruit Vines has it down.

After that came the Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Green Tea.  This tea is Christmas in a cup!  Another staple that got me through long nights of wrapping.  And the box I put in my Mom's stocking came in handy after we opened presents and were sitting around with family living well.

While the turkey was in the oven, I reached into the Frosty Vox Box and pulled out the bottle of McCormick Gourmet All Natural Thyme and started sprinkling it over the turkey and into the stuffing.  My Mom was flabbergasted - I'm not exactly what you would call handy in the kitchen, but here I was and they were all nervous.  But lo and behold, when dinner was ready, it was gourmet to the hilt and everyone was loving it.  The All Natural Thyme from McCormick was just what the turkey needed.

The FrostyVoxBox also had everything I needed to get ready for the holiday parties that come with the season.

First up was the hair, and the EcoTools Styler & Smoother hairbrush was right there for me.  After just a few minutes of drying and styling, I realized what an amazing product I had in my hand.  Lightweight and durable, the design allowed airflow so evenly that my hair dried much faster than usual, which means less damage to my locks!  Not only that, but it's made out of environmentally friendly materials - a bamboo handle, repurposed aluminum, recycled and recyclble paper packaging and by drying my hair 20% faster it saves electricity.  I was so happy to be able to get my hair into holiday party style so fast, and to be able to get rid of my other three hairbrushes that were cluttering up my counter!  Thanks Influenster!

Rimmel London’s Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal Eyeliner was the right thing to make my holiday look just what I needed to make my mark on the party.  Applies smoothly and evenly with a light touch, and lasts all day (and night!) - it's my new eyeliner and I can't wait to try the other colours.

To complete my look, I found NYC New York Color Sugar Plum Expert Last Lip Color tucked in my FrostyVoxBox.  This great colour was exactly what was needed to make my holiday look complete!  How did they know??  Clearly NYC New York Color knows what they are doing when it comes to their palettes.

Influenster really thought of everything when they put together the Frosty Vox Box, because at the end of the evening I pulled out the Rimmel London Just Let It Go Gentle Make Up Remover.  It was exactly what my tired skin needed - a gentle, smooth formula that actually removed make up ... and not my skin!  My sensitive skin has never been so happy!

To put an end on the evening, I smoothed on some Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum.  It went on smooth, absorbed evenly, and left my skin looking younger and much more relaxed.  

All in all, I'm in love with my FrostyVoxBox!  Influenster and all of these wonderful companies really came through, providing me with free samples of their products to test and review.  Thanks Influenster!

Some resources:

Rimmel London Twitter

New York Color Cosmetics Facebook  

Celestial Seasonings Facebook

Boots Beauty USA  Facebook

McCormick Gourmet  Facebook

Fruit Vines  Facebook

EcoTools web