Unboxing.....my #FrostyVoxBox from @Influenster!

I received my #FrostyVoxBox last week from @Influenster & I couldn't wait to open it to see what was in it. I quickly posted a preview of the products but now I'm ready to show you exactly what was in the box.

So here's a reminder of the preview:

My original plan was to video the unboxing, but now I have a cold & all I do is cough so it would be hard for me to get through the unboxing while coughing & hard for you all to understand what I was trying to say. So....moving on to Plan B: photos & product information about everything that I received.

There are 3 food items in the box:

1.  McCormick Gourmet All Natural Thyme in a .62 ounce glass container. Thyme is one of my favorite flavors so I'll be using this really soon.

2.  Fruit Vines Bites by Red Vines. I got the Cherry flavor which is great because my family loves just about anything that tastes like cherries!

3.  Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Green Tea. I can't wait to try this because I love hot teas that are the flavor of the season. 

The rest of the items in this box are beauty products:

4.  Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum. I've heard a lot about Boots products because we've got a lot of friends in the UK, but I've never tried them. Now is my chance!

5.  NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum. This looks like a color that I would choose so I'll be wearing it soon.

6.  Rimmel London Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner. I don't usually wear eyeliner because I'm just not very good at applying it, but I'll give this one a try.

7.  EcoTools Sleek + Shine Finisher hairbrush. This hairbrush is the shape that I already use but mine doesn't have the vents for faster drying. I'm looking forward to using this.
8.  Rimmel London Just Let It Go...Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. The label says that it even removes waterproof mascara so if this works, I'm going to love it.

My favorite products in this box are the McCormick Gourmet All Natural Thyme, the EcoTools Sleek + Shine Finisher hairbrush & the NYC Expert Last Lip Color. I really like everything, but these are what I'm looking forward to trying the most & I'll be trying them out first.

Once I've had a chance to try everything, I'll be back with product reviews.

I received these products for the purpose of testing & review. Regardless, I only recommend products that I use personally & believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own.

Look what I got....My #FrostyVoxBox from Influenster!

I was so excited when my mail carrier rang my doorbell & handed me a bright red box from Influenster. My #FrostyVoxBox had arrived!

I barely got the words "Thank you" and "Have a Merry Christmas" out of my mouth before I shut the door & sat down to open my box of treasures. Look at all of this!

There are 8 products in the box! Along with 5 beauty products there are also 3 food products. This is what I got:

1. Boots No. 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum + a coupon for $2 off at Target. I received a sachet-sized sample. Retail price: $29.99 for full-size.

2. NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum. Retail price: $1.99.

3. Rimmel London Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Retail price: $7.49.

4. Rimmel London Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner. Retail price: $4.49.

5. EcoTools Sleek + Shine Finisher Hairbrush. Retail price: $10.99.

6. Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea + coupon for $0.55 off of one box.

7. McCormick Gourmet Thyme. Retail price: $4.79.

8. RedVines Fruit Vines Bites. Retail price: $1.28 - $1.79.

I'm excited to try all of these products. Once I've had a chance to use each of them, I'll be back to let you know what I think.

If you would like to check out Influenster for your chance to receive great products like these, you can do that right here.

I received these products complimentary for the purpose of testing & reviewing. All of the opinions expressed above are 100% my own.

So. Here is what I think about....Camry EL10 Electronic Luggage Scale

We recently returned from a vacation in South Africa. About a month before we left, I started gathering up everything that we would need for our trip. One of the biggest chores when getting ready for a trip like this is packing. We knew that we only wanted to check one bag & that we would each have a carry-on plus our personal item to go in the overhead bins. We did not want to have to pay any overweight bag fees or risk that our carry-on luggage would weigh too much & have to be gate-checked, so I wanted to get a reliable luggage scale.

I started searching on Amazon. I checked out the Customer Reviews for several different luggage scales until I found the Camry luggage scale. It looked like exactly what I wanted & the price was right! So I ordered one.

When I opened the box I was happy to see that the scale seemed quite sturdy. I mean, it was going to have to hold at least 50 pounds (but hopefully less!) so it couldn't just be a piece of plastic junk. The company advertises that it will weigh luggage up to 110 pounds so this scale looked like it would do the trick.

So I opened the battery compartment to peel that little plastic strip off & turn it on. This scale does a lot more than just weigh my bags. It will show the weight in either pounds or kilograms.

And it will show the room temperature in either Centigrade or Farenheit! I've never owned a luggage scale before so I never knew that it would care if I was warm enough or not.

But the real test of this scale would only come once we had packed our bags, weighed them & then checked them at the airport to see what those scales read. So we packed our big bag that was going to be checked at the baggage counter & weighed it. The Camry scale showed that it weighed 44.3 pounds & when we got to the airport baggage check, their luggage scale showed that it weighed 44.7 pounds. Close enough for me!

So. Here is what I think about the Camry EL10 Electronic Luggage Scale: When the scale arrived, my only hope was that it would be accurate to within 5 pounds of what the airport luggage scale would read because my intent was to pack my bag at least 5 pounds lighter than the airline weight allowance. But I was very happy that this scale was actually accurate to within 4/10s of a pound. Or maybe that tag that the ticket agent attached to the handle of our bag weighed 4/10s of a pound. Either way, no overweight baggage fees for us!

So. Bottom line. If you need a luggage scale at a good price that is both sturdy & accurate, this is the one for you.  I definitely recommend this product.

I bought mine from Amazon.com right here.

So. Here is what I think about....Secret Outlast Completely Clean Clear Gel

We all use deodorant, or at least we all should use it! So when I received the Invite from BzzAgent to join the Campaign for Secret Outlast Completely Clean Clear Gel, I joined immediately. I have a couple of favorite deodorants that I use, but I'm always willing to try something new. I mean, how will you ever know if you like a new product if you don't try it? 

When my BzzKit arrived, I opened the box to find a full-sized tube of Secret Outlast plus coupons to share with my friends & family. There were 5 coupons for $1 off of one Gillette Clear Gel Deodorant for the guys & 5 coupons for $1 off of one Secret Outlast, Scent Expressions or Destinations Clear Gel Deodorant for the gals.

I've never used a gel deodorant before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I assumed that it would feel sticky when I applied it & take a long time to dry. I had been using Dove Advanced Care Cucumber & Green Tea and Suave Naturals Soothing Aloe Vera. Both of these products are solid deodorants. So the morning after I received my new product, I took a shower & opened the Secret Outlast to try it for the first time. I twisted until the product came through the holes in the top of the applicator. 

The first thing that I noticed was the scent. It smells really good but I thought it was kind of strong so I was worried that it would overpower any perfume that I might spray on after I got dressed. I applied the deodorant & was surprised that it dried with no stickiness in less than 30 seconds. After I got dressed, I no longer noticed the scent so it did not conflict with my perfume. 

Now to test this deodorant for real! I took it with me on our vacation to South Africa. It's Autumn here in the States, but it's Spring in South Africa so I knew that the warmer weather would be a better test for a deodorant product. I used it every day of our vacation & never had to worry about sweating. It kept me & my clothes dry all day, even when we had some close encounters on our Safari Tour! 

We visited a lot of friends & family while we were in Johannesburg & I told them all about BzzAgent & about my campaign for Secret Outlast. It is not a brand that they are familiar with but they can purchase all of our American brands online. Several of the women that I talked to expressed an interest in trying Secret Outlast & if they can order it on the Amazon website & have it shipped by FedEx or UPS, they would love to try it. If it has to be deliverered by their Postal Service, then they won't be able to order it because their Postal Service has been on strike since January & there has not been any mail service at all this year! And I thought that the USPS has bad customer service!

So. Here is what I think about Secret Outlast Completely Clean Clear Gel: This clear gel deodorant goes on smoothly & dries quickly without being sticky. I never had to worry about sweating & from the beginning of my day until time to go to bed, my clothes stayed dry. The scent is really nice without being overpowering. This product advertises "48 hour odor protection" but I never went that long without reapplying, so I can't confirm that. But it also says "no white marks" & that is true. I never had any deodorant stains or white marks on any of my clothes.

So. Bottom line. This is a great product that will not stain your clothes, will keep you dry all day & smells great. You need to try it. I'm sure you'll like it!

You can check out all of the Secret products HERE & you call follow them on both Facebook HERE & Twitter HERE so that you don't miss any promotions or coupons. Also be sure to check out their Pinterest page HERE & their YouTube Channel HERE.

I received this product free for the purpose of my review. Opinions are 100% my own.

So. Here is what I think about....Chobani Greek Yogurt Oats

I love yogurt but I've never tried the Greek yogurts that I see in my grocery dairy aisle. I had never heard of Chobani Greek Yogurt Oats, but I qualified to sample it for a BzzAgent campaign. I was not sure what to expect but was anxious to give it a try.

When my BzzKit arrived, it contained a coupon for a Free Chobani Oats, a coupon to share with a friend, a cute fold-out brochure & a fridge magnet.

I took my Free coupon when I went grocery shopping the next day. I found the Chobani Oats in the dairy case right next to the regular Chobani Greek yogurt. My store had three flavors so I used my coupon to get one free & then bought the other two so that I could try them all. The only flavor that I didn't find was Cranberry, which is the one that I really wanted to try so I'll continue looking for it.

The next morning I tried the Blueberry flavor. It took a bit of getting used to because I've never had to chew yogurt before! But the blueberry flavor comes through & is really good. Once I was used to the texture I really enjoyed the steel-cut oats in the yogurt. It tasted more like a filling breakfast than having just plain yogurt.

A couple of days later I tried the Apple Cinnamon. I knew I would like it because I love anything with cinnamon. It did not disappoint. It tastes just like a yummy baked apple & it has little bits of apple mixed in with the oats. It is seriously good!

Finally I tried the Banana Maple flavor. This one was awesome! I really like the maple flavor that comes through a bit stronger than the banana flavor. It was like eating a bowl of oatmeal mixed with bananas & drizzled with real maple syrup. I definitely saved the best for last because this flavor is my favorite!

These products are non-GMO, made with no artificial flavors or sweeteners, Gluten-free, no preservatives, Kosher certified, less than 5% lactose & vegetarian friendly. And it contains as much fiber as a packet of instant oatmeal. So this stuff is good for you & it tastes great!

So. Here is what I think about Chobani Greek Yogurt Oats: I love yogurt but had never tried Greek yogurt before. And I had never heard of Greek yogurt mixed with steel-cut oats. The texture was a bit odd at first, but I got used to it really quickly & I really do like it. It's like having yogurt & a bowl of oatmeal all together.My family loves it & my fridge is stocked!

So. Bottom line. This tastes really good & it's really good for you. If you love yogurt & you love oatmeal, then you should try this.

You can go to the Chobani website to see all of their great products, sign up for their newsletter & get recipes. And you can follow them on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & YouTube.

I received this product free for the purpose of my review. Opinions are 100% my own.

PS: I'm still looking for the Cranberry flavor. If any of you have found it, please leave a comment & let me know where. Thanks!

Get ready for the December Free Stuff Giveaways at Allure!

The December Free Stuff Giveaway at Allure starts on Monday! Here is what they're giving away:

Monday Dec. 1st:  Jane Satin Split Stick in Rockin' Red
Tuesday Dec. 2nd:  H2O+ Spa Sea Lavender Body Wash
Wednesday Dec 3rd:  Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Moisture Milk
Thursday Dec. 4th:  L'Oreal Paris Age Perfect Glow Renewal Facial Oil

If you've never entered these giveaways before, you should give it a try. The first 500 to sign up each day at Noon ET will win. I enter these every month & I've won some great beauty products.

Just go to the Allure website and then click on the Free Stuff tab. It will take you to the page where you will see all of the products up for grabs. At Noon ET, click on the product & the entry form will be live. Just fill in your information & submit it.

And then....you sit back & wait. You won't know if you've won anything until a wonderful surprise shows up in your mailbox! And keep in mind that it is the manufacturer who will ship your prize, not Allure. So if you win it might show up in a week or it might take several months. But I think that's part of the fun. I love surprises!

I'm ready! Who else is ready to win some cool stuff?

So. Here is what I think about....International Delight coffee creamers

One of my favorite things about mornings is my first cup of coffee. And I drink my coffee with flavored creamers. So I was really happy to be invited to the International Delight Creamers campaign with BzzAgent.

I knew that it would be really easy for me to spread the word about this product because I use it regularly. International Delight makes so many wonderful flavors & you can also get Fat Free, Sugar Free and Fat Free & Sugar Free options. So there is something for everyone.

There are a lot of flavors to choose from & International Delight lists them in 4 different categories on their website. First are the Classic flavors:

• French Vanilla
• Hazelnut
• Toasted Hazelnut
• Chocolate Almond Biscotti
• Salted Caramel Mocha
• Southern Butter Pecan
• White Chocolate Macadamia
• White Chocolate Raspberry

These are the Coffeehouse-Inspired flavors:

• Amaretto Cafe
• Caramel Macchiato
• Irish Creme Cafe
• Vanilla Caramel Creme
• White Chocolate Mocha

Next are the American Favorites:

• Cold Stone Creamery Sweet Cream
• Hershey's Chocolate Caramel
• Almond Joy
• Cinnabon
• Cold Stone Creamery Churro Caramel
• Cold Stone Creamery Founder's Favorite
• Cold Stone Creamery Hot for Cookie
• Heath
• York Peppermint Pattie

And if you're not already drooling over those flavors, here are the seasonal flavors:

• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Peppermint Chocolate Truffle
• Gingerbread Latte
• Sugar Cookie

I haven't been lucky enough to find all of the flavors, but the ones that I have tried are really really good. I love liquid creamers because they stir into my coffee easier than powder creamers. And I think the flavor is better too. The flavors of these ID creamers is just exactly what the labels advertise. If you buy Sugar Cookie, then you'll think you're eating a big yummy sugar cookie!

Since the seasonal creamers are some of my favorite flavors & I know they won't be available for long, I usually stock up & freeze them so I can enjoy them long past the holiday season.  In the middle of the hot summer I love to pull out a bottle of something like Peppermint Chocolate Truffle & think of cooler temps! I usually have at least 6 bottles of creamer in the freezer. In fact, you might say I have a slight obsession with flavored creamers!

So. Here is what I think about International Delight coffee creamers: I love that there are so many flavors to choose from. I never have the same flavor twice in a row. This really feeds my coffee creamer addiction! I love that they have seasonal flavors that add to my enjoyment of the holidays. And I love that they are sold in all of the stores where I shop. So go try them!

You can go here http://po.st/PPScoupon  to print a coupon for $2 off 3 bottles of ID creamer so you can stock your fridge with some awesome flavor!

So. Bottom line. You really need to try International Delight creamers. They really perk up a cup of coffee!

Go check out all of the products on their website at http://www.internationaldelight.com/. And while you're there, be sure to sign up for Member Delights where you will find coupons, giveaways & sweepstakes.

Be sure to follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/InternationalDelight & on Twitter at https://twitter.com/indelight. You can find inspiration on their Pinterest page http://www.pinterest.com/indelight/ & on Instagram http://instagram.com/indelight.

I received this product free for the purpose of my review. Opinions are 100% my own.

I'm Sampling....#ZepCleansters Cleaning Products

I was chosen by Crowdtap to participate in a sampling of Zep Commercial cleaning products. I have several Zep products in my home that we already use & are familiar with, so I was excited to try more.

When the package arrived, I opened it & was happy to see 5 sample-size bottles of 2 Zep cleaners that I've never tried before. In the box I found 3 small bottles of Zep All-Around Oxy Cleaner & Degreaser, 2 small bottles of Zep Quick Clean Disinfectant & a guide for sampling & sharing the products.

I took a look at the guide & then got ready to "clean like a pro"! I got my bright yellow cleaning gloves & my scrubber sponge out & I was ready to go to work.

I decided to try the Quick Clean Disinfectant first. It turned out that I didn't need my gloves or sponge to use this product. The instructions say to spray the surfaces to be disinfected until they are covered with the product & allow them to remain visibly wet for 2 minutes. After that, you can just let it air dry or wipe it with a clean cloth. I let the bowl of the sink air dry but I did wipe the faucet so that it wouldn't dry with spots. Since the sink is old & beige anyway, it didn't look much better than when I started but the faucet looked shiny & clean. At least I knew that everything was clean & disinfected even if it was hard to see.

Since that was so easy, I went straight into the kitchen to disinfect the sinks in there. Again, I sprayed the product to cover the sinks & the strainers, then let it work for at least 2 minutes. Because these sinks are stainless steel, I chose to wipe them dry with a clean cloth so that they would look better. I actually cleaned both sides of the sink but only took photos of the side that I cleaned first.

A few days later I decided to try the Zep All-Around Oxy Cleaner & Degreaser in the kitchen. When I have more help than I really want while cooking, my stove sometimes ends up looking like we had a food fight. So to clean the stovetop, the directions say to spray, wait 1 minute, wipe & rinse. So I sprayed thoroughly and then got my sponge. I had to scrub a little on some of the spots that were closer to the burners & were stuck on more, but the rest just wiped clean fairly easily. After I had wiped the whole stovetop, I went over it with a clean damp sponge & it looked great!

Then I decided to tackle the mess that I had been putting off the longest....the oven. I have been really lazy about cleaning it & it's been too hot this summer to use the automatic cleaning cycle, so I pulled the racks out & started spraying. This time I had to scrub more than I had with the stovetop, but it was still a lot easier to clean that I had anticipated. After scrubbing the whole oven & wiping it down with a clean wet sponge, I was happy that it looked so clean & shiny. I'll never let it get that bad again!

Today I decided to try the All-Around Oxy cleaner on some mystery stains that appear from time to time on our carpet. They aren't very big, but I just don't know what they are or where they come from. I took some photos but it's hard to really see them. I sprayed the spots with the Oxy cleaner & then let it work for about 5 minutes or so. Then I got a scrub brush & scrubbed each spot. I waited about 30 minutes to let the carpet dry, then I ran the vacuum cleaner over each area & there were no more spots.

Since cold weather has arrived sooner than we expected this year, I know that the Cold & Flu season has also arrived early. So I've been busy disinfecting any surface that we all touch regularly to try to keep germs to a minimum. Doorknobs, light switches, telephones, piano keys, faucets, toilet handle & the ice/water dispensers on the fridge are where I started. If it stood still long enough, it probably got sprayed!

I also shared a bottle of each of these cleaners with a friend & she has used them for the same jobs that I did. She was surprised that they didn't require a lot of scrubbing & cleaned so thoroughly & so quickly. Since using the samples, she has bought full-sized bottles of these products.

So. Here is what I think about these Zep Commercial cleaning products: I love that they don't have a strong odor like a lot of the cleaners that I've tried before. I like that the disinfectant can be left to air dry so there is less work. And cleaning my stove & oven has never been easier.

We already use Zep Air & Fabric Odor Eliminator, Zep Foaming Garbage Disposal Cleaner, Zep Pro Strength Drain Opener & Zep Root Kill & I will definitely be buying full-size bottles of these 2 products as well.

So. Bottom line. Zep cleaners will make your life easier. But don't take my word for it. Try them for yourself. I bet you'll love them! #TryZep

You can see the full line of Zep products on their website http://www.zepcommercial.com/. You can follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ZepCommercial & Twitter https://twitter.com/zepcommercial. You'll find a lot of great information on their YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ZepCommercial & on their Pinterest page http://www.pinterest.com/ZepCommercial/.

I received these products free for the purpose of my review. Opinions are 100% my own.

So. Here's what I think about....5-hour ENERGY Pink Lemonade

I've never tried any of the energy shots that are out there because I was afraid that they would just make me jittery instead of giving me the shot of energy that I would need to get through a day of cleaning or a project that I have been dreading. So when I qualified for the 5-hour ENERGY Mission for Smiley360 I thought I'd give it a try & see what these energy shots are all about.

My package arrived & it contained 2 of the pink ribbon bottles of 5-hour ENERGY Pink Lemonade flavor & the Smiley360 Mission guide.

I wasn't sure what to expect from the Pink Lemonade flavor. I had imagined that an energy shot would not taste good at all. So I was pleasantly surprised when I drank the 1st bottle & discovered that it really tastes good! I was doing a big cleanout of all of our closets & dressers to donate what we no longer use or wear, so I knew that I would need energy to keep me focused & make me power through that project until it was finished. This energy shot did not make me jittery at all & I felt that it did give me a nice boost to my energy level. I got through those closets & drawers before the end of the day & felt quite satisfied with myself for getting it done.

5-hour ENERGY is joining with Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a non-profit organization which supports & educates people about breast cancer. From now through the end of 2014, 5-hour ENERGY will donate 5 cents from every specially marked bottle of Pink Lemonade flavor to Living Beyond Breast Cancer. A minimum donation of $200,000 is guaranteed!

I consider myself very fortunate that I do not personally know anyone who has received the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer. So I raise my white bottle pink ribbon 5-hour ENERGY to all of the mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts & friends out there who are struggling through this terrible time in their lives. To all of the survivors and to all who are still fighting the battle, I pray for each & every one of you.

So. Here is what I think of 5-hour ENERGY Pink Lemonade: This was my first experience with an energy shot so I was skeptical at first, but the flavor was good & I really did feel more energetic & focused for the remainder of the day. And it just seemed to fade away gradually. I didn't fall down or feel the need to go to sleep or anything else that I had feared would happen when my energy was gone.

So. Bottom Line. I like this product. I don't have a need to use it every day but when I do need to be focused & energized, I will definitely use it again.

You can see all of their product on their website http://5hourenergy.com/#2014. They even offer Extra Strength & Decaf choices! Follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/5HourEnergyShot#2014 & on Twitter https://twitter.com/5hourenergy

I received this product free for the purpose of my review. Opinions are 100% my own.

So. Here is what I think about....TAZO® Chai

I qualified to test TAZO® Chai tea from Smiley360. I've never had the love of hot tea that my husband does. Being from the South, I drink iced tea. I've tried several varieties of hot tea but just never found one that I would want to drink again. But I had never tried chai tea so I was looking forward to this Mission.

I was excited to tear into the envelope when it arrived. I found 3 coupons for free boxes of any filterbag tea or latte concentrate. I will use one of these coupons to get a box of Tazo for myself & will share the other 2 with family or friends. I also found 3 filterbags: 1 classic, 1 chocolate & 1 vanilla caramel. There was also a Tasting Guide & a Smiley360 Sharing Guide.

I took the filterbags to the kitchen & decided to try the TAZO Classic chai tea first. I didn't want to wait for the kettle to boil so I used my Keurig. Instant gratification! While the filterbag steeped in my mug, I could smell the flavors. The most noticeable to me was the aroma of cloves & cardamom. The scent of cloves is one of my favorites! When I took my first sip I immediately tasted the cloves & a second later the taste of the black pepper hit my taste buds. I have never tasted tea like this before! I just might learn to love hot tea after all.

Within a few days, I had sampled the Vanilla Caramel & Chocolate flavors too. While the Vanilla Caramel was steeping, the aroma of caramel was prominent but when I tasted the tea, it was the flavor of vanilla that was stronger. The Chocolate aroma was strong while the boiling water was pouring into my mug. I expected a big chocolate taste but the cinnamon & cloves came through & then the hint of black pepper at the end.

Once I had sampled all 3 of the flavors that I received, I took my free coupon to the grocery store to check out all of the other flavors. There was a big selection! My photo doesn't even show them all because their were more on the top shelf along with the latte concentrates. But what I was really looking for was the Pumpkin Spice Latte since pumpkin is my favorite flavor this time of year. But my store didn't have it in stock so I went to another store looking for it.

Success! The second store that I tried had the TAZO Pumpkin Spice Latte in stock so I used my FREE coupon to get some. I also bought the Chocolate Latte and, because I didn't want my hubby to feel left out because he drinks hot tea almost every day, I decided to buy a box of the Awake English Breakfast tea for him.

I love sharing information about products that I haven't tried before with my friends & family. As well as telling them about this product & all of the choices available, I also got to share a coupon for a FREE product with 2 of my friends! It pays to stay on my good side.... just kidding!

So. Here is what I think about TAZO Chai: I wasn't sure what to expect when I took my first sip but it really was unlike any hot tea I had ever tried before. It was an unexpected pleasure! I have served it to friends & family & have gotten a lot of positive responses. I may have turned some more Southerners into hot tea lovers!

So. Bottom line. If you've never tried chai tea, you need to taste this. If you love chai tea, you need to try this brand. #SweetMeetsSpicy!

Go to the website to see all of the products http://www.tazo.com/chai. Be sure that you scroll to the bottom & click on the Get Coupon button. Enter your email address & you'll get a coupon for $2 off of any TAZO Chai product.

You can follow TAZO on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tazo & on Twitter https://twitter.com/Tazo. Their Pinterest page http://www.pinterest.com/tazotea/ & Instagram http://instagram.com/tazo will tempt you with product photos.

I received this product free for the purpose of my review. Opinions are 100% my own.

So. Here is what I think about....Kroger Brand Bath & Body Care

I've been shopping at Kroger for as long as I can remember. I buy almost all of my groceries there but have always gone to the big box stores for health & beauty products. I knew that Kroger had aisles of personal care products but I'd never paid much attention to them because I assumed that they would cost more than what I was paying at other stores. So when BzzAgent sent me an Invite to join the Kroger Bath & Body Care campaign, I didn't hesitate.

When my BzzKit arrived, I opened it right up & found a nice variety of products. They sent a package of Makeup Removing & Cleansing Cloths, a big purple bath pouf, a nail brush, a package of 2 Sea Foam Facial Sponges, 2 coupons for free Kroger bath & beauty products, coupons to share with my family & friends and my Official BzzGuide.

I took a look through the BzzGuide & was surprised to see the wide selection of products that Kroger offers for both men & women. I grabbed the 2 coupons for free products & headed straight to my Kroger store to see what they had!

As you can see, the Kroger brand products are displayed right beside the comparable name brand product. It makes it so easy to compare the ingredients, product size & price.

I had been using Dove Go Fresh Cucumber & Green Tea scent so I looked for that & found the Kroger Nourish Cool Care body wash in the same scent. It was the same body wash, same scent, same size but the Dove cost $5.39 & the Kroger equivalent was only $3.79. So I put one in my basket.

Then I moved over to the lotions. I usually use Vaseline Intensive Care so I found that on the shelf & right beside it I found Kroger Moisturize Replenishing Lotion for Dry Skin. Once again, it was the same lotion, same dry skin formula, same size but the Vaseline brand cost $6.79 & the Kroger equivalent was only $3.67.  So I put one of those in my basket too.

But now comes the real test. Actually trying these products & comparing them to what I had been using.

I tried the Kroger lotion as soon as I got home. It feels creamy & smells great! It absorbs into my skin quickly with no greasy feeling & it lasts a long time. This is the time of year when my skin starts feeling dry so I use lotion all the time. This one hydrates my skin & leaves it feeling smooth to the touch.

I used the Kroger body wash that night when I took my shower. It looks rich & creamy on my pretty purple bath pouf & makes a nice lather. It smells so good while I am using it, clean & fresh without being overbearing. It rinses off easily & there is no filmy soapy feeling on my skin. My skin feels smooth & clean after my shower.

I had 3 sets of these coupons that I shared with my friends & family so that they could also try some of the Kroger bath & beauty products. They always appreciate the chance to try new products & save a bit of money while doing so.

So. Here is what I think about Kroger brand bath & beauty products: I was thrilled to find such a wide variety of products. The 2 that I personally tried were just as good as their name brand equivalent but at a cost that is around half of what the name brand competitors cost.

There are many more products available that I have not tried yet & they also carry a nice selection of products for men that I need to get my husband to try.

So. Bottom line. I will definitely be buying the Kroger products again. For the price, you can't afford not to!

Check out Kroger's website https://www.kroger.com/. You will find their weekly sales ad as well as digital coupons that you can download to your Kroger Plus shoppers card & much more. You can follow Kroger on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Kroger?ref=br_tf & on Twitter https://twitter.com/kroger. You will find lots of great recipes on their YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/kroger & on their Pinterest page http://www.pinterest.com/krogerco/.

I received these products free for the purpose of my review. Opinions are 100% my own.

So. Are you a Tapper?

Have you discovered Crowdtap yet? I just found this awesome site around the end of August. This site is all about Brand Participation. You can influence brands by providing feedback, you might be chosen to test products & maybe you will win some awesome prizes!

Based on your profile, you will be connected to brands that are relevant to you & your family. Each Brand will have a variety of Actions that you can complete to earn entries into their Crowd Drawing at the end of each month. This is where you can win some great gift cards.

The fun part of this program is the variety of Actions offered on each Brand page.

• Quickhits are really easy to complete. They are questions that the Brand will ask you to answer. These could be Yes/No, multiple choice or you might be asked to watch a short video & then comment on the contents. You will earn points for these.
• Challenges can be either Text Challenges or Photo Challenges. Text Challenges usually want more detailed feedback about the product. Photo Challenges will want the product included in the photo & a caption. This is where you can show your creativity. These Challenges will be rated by your fellow Crowdtappers & you can earn Stars for a really great submission.
• Discussions will have a list of topics that you can respond to. You will also want to add comments to the responses left by other Crowdtappers.
• Samplings & Parties are the best! Brands will send products to selected Crowdtappers to test at home. First you will answer the preliminary survey questions & submit your application. Then, if you are one of the lucky ones, you'll get an email telling you to claim your spot in the Sampling or Party. The Brand will send products to you to try & you'll provide feedback through a Report where you can include your opinion & submit photos. 

You will earn points by completing these Brand Actions & even more points for each star that you earn. Your participation in the Brand Actions will give feedback & influence Brands & in return each Brand will reward that participation with drawings for Gift Cards at the end of each month. The points that you earn for completing Brand Actions will add up for entries into the drawings. For every 100 points that you earn, you will get 1 entry into the drawing. And if you are one of the Top 100 in points for a Brand at the end of the month, you will be rewarded with 500 more points for that Brand which means 5 more entries into their drawing. If you click on each Brand Page & scroll to the bottom, you'll see what prizes are being offered for that month. The drawings are completely random, but the more points you earn, the more entries you will get & the better your chance that you will win a prize! And getting into the Top 100 & earning more stars will give you a better chance of being chosen for Sampling & Party opportunities.

This site is a lot of fun & winning gift cards or the possibility of being chosen for a Sampling or to host a Party will just make you want to work harder to complete every Action that you can. And if we can influence popular Brands with our feedback & opinions, then we've done our job! 

You can sign up for Crowdtap at http://www.crowdtap.com & start joining the Brand Crowds that you want to influence. Be sure to follow Crowdtap on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Crowdtap?ref=br_tf & on Twitter https://twitter.com/crowdtappers, 

So. Are you ready to start Tapping?

So. Here is what I think about....Seventh Generation Natural Hand Wash

I qualified to try Seventh Generation Mandarin Orange & Grapefruit Natural Hand Wash free from Smiley360. I love products that are made with natural plant-based ingredients. I never have to worry when even our 3-year-old uses these products because I know it won't harm him or his tender skin.

When the box arrived I immediately took the bottle of hand wash into the kitchen to wash my hands. When I pumped a squirt of it onto my hand, it felt light & silky on my palm. The first thing that I noticed was the scent. It is amazing! I love the smell of oranges & this soap smells so good! It makes a nice lather & washes off cleanly with no sticky residue. After I dried my hands, I noticed that they felt really soft & that the wonderful scent lingered for a while. I kept smelling the back of my hands just to enjoy the scent a bit longer!

I really like the packaging of this hand wash as well. The liquid is a pretty pale orange & the mandarin oranges on the label make it look good enough to eat! It's a 12-ounce container so it will last a long time, unless the kids go crazy pumping too much into their hands when they wash while I'm not watching! The colors of this bottle match some of the colors in my kitchen so I keep it out on my sink where it is handy. If it was an ugly bottle, it would get stored in the cabinet underneath the sink. But I'm happy to look at this one every day!

Everyone in my family has used this hand wash & we all love it. Even my husband will use it because it doesn't smell too "girly" & it gets his hands clean even after working outside in the yard or in his tool shed.

So. Here is what I think about the Seventh Generation Natural Hand Wash:
It's a great product that is hypoallergenic & gentle on your skin. I love the scent & the way it makes my hands feel after I wash them. The packaging is attractive & looks really nice in my kitchen. I had never tried any of the Seventh Generation products before & I'm really glad that I got the opportunity to try this.

So. Bottom line. I have recommended this hand wash to all of my family & friends. And I recommend it to you too. This product really works. So look for it the next time you're shopping & give it a try. I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do!

Check out the full line of Seventh Generation products on their website http://www.seventhgeneration.com/.
Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SeventhGeneration & on Twitter https://twitter.com/SeventhGen. And be sure to take a look at their YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/SeventhGeneration & their Pinterest page http://www.pinterest.com/seventhgen/.

I received this product free for the purpose of my review. Opinions are 100% my own.