Book Review: I Dated This Guy Once...

I was given the opportunity to review I Dated This guy Once... by Toni Rae through the website 20 Something Bloggers.  Here is a synopsis of the book:

In a book that is part-Eat, Pray, Love and part-Sex and the City, once young woman takes readers on her adventures in 21st century dating and shares all that she has learned along the way with plenty of laughter, wisdom, and points to ponder for the modern woman. 

After being laid-off from her job for the third time, Toni Rae found herself with a lot of extra time on her hands. Hungry for a new environment and potential adventures, she accepted a position teaching English in South Korea. Sitting by the ocean, thousands of miles away from all that she knew and loved, and with eight years’ worth of memorable dating experiences to her name, she began to write about these past relationships, and every inch of heartache and joy she had experienced, since the age of 18. The result is the wise, heart-warming and ever-so-relatable book, I Dated This Guy Once…., a story of life, love, traveling and spirituality, from a woman who has been through it all.

I wanted to like this book.  I really did.  I enjoy reading about others' life experiences, which is why I like to read blogs and lifestyle magazines, and why I blog myself.  But even more than the importance of the content I am reading is the quality of the writing itself.  Toni Rae's writing style in I Dated This Guy Once... did not work for me.  Her writing style was too colloquial for book; it would be better off read as a blog, and in short increments at a time.  In short, while I was amused by the stories she was telling, I didn't have any reason to care about reading hundreds of pages of them all at once.

However, the individual stories themselves, or "episodes" as they are referred to in the book, were entertaining.  Any young adult can see pieces of herself in the stories of others, so even though I could not relate on the relationship front, I did relate to the messages the stories tried to convey- the trying to figure out who you are, the desire for freedom but also some stability...those are all things young adults are trying to figure out, so those aspects resonated with me.

I think that for anyone who is thinking of reading I Dated This Guy Once... should plan to read it in short bursts and not sit down expecting to finish it in a couple of days like I tried to.  That being said, the messages were ones that any young adult can relate to and so I would recommend this book to other young women who enjoy reading lifestyle blogs or the like in general.  For more information, visit the book's website!

FTC Disclaimer:  I received this book for free in exchange for my review.  All opinions expressed are my own, and not influenced in any way by the author or the receipt of the item for free.

Book Review~ Falling Into Place: A Memoir of Overcoming

I was privileged to receive a copy of Falling into Place:  A Memoir of Overcoming, by Hattie Kauffman, for review.  It was released in paperback on April 1, 2014.  Hattie Kauffman was the first Native American to file a report on a national evening news broadcast, and went on to be a news anchor for ABC and the CBS.  She wrote this book while dealing with the emotions of going through a divorce, and explores how those feelings mirror ones she felt as a child, growing up poor and frightened and hungry.  The book is told in alternating passages from Hattie's childhood and her present day life.  Each chapter explores one theme or emotion, and the passages from each portion of her life reflect the parallels she sees.  These themes include reconciliation, home, overcoming, divorce, and faith.

Faith was a very prominent theme in this book, as through her divorce, Hattie explores religion and ultimately becomes a Christian.  Although it took her until late in life to really explore religion, there still were parallels with her childhood as she had an aunt who tried to teach her about Christianity.  While I found her story and journey interesting, this aspect of the book was also one that I had the most problem with.  The way that religion is written into the book increases dramatically at one point, and I had trouble following the story through all of the specifically religious things that punctuated (and ultimately overwhelmed) the text.  My perspective on this is as a non-Christian who is interested in learning about other religions; that is why I accepted this book for review.  But ultimately I felt as though this book was directed only at other Christians, and not at a broad audience like I was expecting.

Hattie does have a very interesting story and I think that certain parts of it will resonate with nearly any reader.  For example, the early part of her faith journey is something that I can relate to:  the sense of exploration and questions and discovery.  But there are so many components to her life that anyone can find something in this text that they also have experienced, whether it be family instability, divorce, friendships, hunger, or something else.  Hattie has not had an easy life- and that makes for both a compelling read, and a story that is very relatable.

Overall, I would say that the book is very well structured and written, but the content may turn off some readers who are not Christian due to the sheer amount of religious texts and analogies that are a large part of the last third of the book.

FTC Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher.  All opinions expressed are my own, and have not been influenced in any way.

Influenster Jolly Vox Box review

I was lucky enough to receive the Jolly Vox Box from Influenster!

Let's start from the beginning, in case you didn't understand that sentence ;-)  Jolly Vox Box?  Influenster?

Influenster is a fantastic website that allows users to share their opinion on products and brands that they use every day.  You can find out more here.  One of their trademarks is the Vox Box, which is a complementary (yes, free!) box of items- or sometimes, just one item- that they send to users to sample and review.  Often, the boxes are themed, so all of the products will relate to a holiday (such as Christmas or Valentine's Day), or a particular group of people (such as Moms or college students), or even other creative themes.  The Jolly Vox Box, as you might now imagine, was their winter holiday/Christmas-themed box and I am so happy to have received it because there were many great products inside that I'm sure will now always be found in my apartment.

If this has intrigued you, check out the Influenster site.  If you decide to join, come back here and comment or e-mail me with your e-mail address, and I will send you an invite!  I have 5 invites available, first come first served.  :)


The following products were in the Jolly Vox Box:

• Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer, in 101 Celestial
• NYC New York Color HD Color Trio Eye Shadow, in 781 Long Beach Sands
• Ducklings Mini Rolls, in Paint Splatter
• Puffs To Go
• Skinny Cow Candy, Divine Filled Chocolates in Peanut Butter Creme

I'll review each of them separately below.  The headers link to a product page on each item, where you can find out more about availability, pricing, and other colors/designs/flavors available for each item.

Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer, in 101 Celestial

This is a fairly bright pink colored lip color.  As Rimmel states, it's a cross between a lip gloss and a lipstick as the color is much more intense than a lip gloss would be, but the shine of the product is much closer to a lip gloss.  I didn't need much to achieve the look I wanted.  I wear makeup often but don't like it to be overwhelming, and one swipe noticeably colored my lips.  That being said, the color is great and long-lasting!  I've worn it twice so far- once for New Year's Eve and once on just a regular day- and I've been happy with it both times.  It's definitely a versatile product for any day use.

NYC New York Color HD Color Trio Eye Shadow, in 781 Long Beach Sands

To be honest, I had much higher hopes for this product than what was delivered.  I have brown eyes so all of my eyeshadows are in either the purple or brown/golden color families.  The Long Beach Sands palate contains a nude/pinkish shadow, a medium brown shadow, and a light brown shadow- colors that are close to what I typically wear.  However, these colors were not nearly as intense as I had hoped for and even after applying copious amounts of eye shadow, it was difficult to tell that I had applied any!  My skin is pretty fair, so this was somewhat of an accomplishment- though obviously not what I had hoped for.  I may continue to wear this eyeshadow on days when I want a light makeup application, but overall I'll probably stick to my usual eyeshadows instead of buying this again.

Ducklings Mini Rolls, in Paint Splatter

I haven't really tried this product yet, because I'm waiting to figure out exactly what to use it for.  That being said, I love the pattern of the tape I got.  It's cute and fun and as soon as I decide what I want to make or decorate with it, I will.  (I'm open to suggestions!)  I'm also sure that my little sister, who is super crafty, would love these and with her birthday coming up at the end of the month, I think a few Ducklings Mini Rolls would be a perfect component of her birthday present!  This product would be great for any crafty person.  For students who are looking to spice up their locker, notebooks, or backpack, I think this product would do a great job.  There are lots of designs to choose from!

Puffs To Go

I have a perpetual runny nose this winter (luckily it hasn't turned into a full-blown cold yet) and I've been carrying tissues with me everywhere!  Before I got these Puffs To Go, I'd just been folding up some tissues from a larger box and stuffing them into my purse, but that's always a pain because they get dusty or ripped or stuck in the zipper.  Also, I'm not brand-conscious about many things, but I am about tissues- I always use Puffs.  So I was very very happy to discover that this product combined two things that are important to me:  portability, and Puffs. There are only 10 tissues in each pack, which is the only downside to me, but I still plan on stocking up on more Puffs To Go the next time I'm at the store.

Skinny Cow Candy, Divine Filled Chocolates in Peanut Butter Creme

Yum!  That's the first word that comes to mind when I think about these candies.  Peanut butter and chocolate is one of my favorite candy combinations.  And what's even better?  There are six individual serving size packs in each box, and each pack contains 3 pieces of candy...and each pack is only 130 calories!  It's the one candy that makes me not feel guilty about snacking, and unlike most healthy foods, it still tastes delicious!  I didn't feel like I was missing anything compared to the normal peanut butter and chocolate candies I eat, and I know that it's better for me to eat the Skinny Cow Candy compared to those.  I also like the individual serving size packs because once it's gone I know I've eaten one serving and I'm not going to eat any more.


So overall, I was happy with 4/5 products from the Jolly Vox Box- not bad!  It was fun to try them all out.  With it being the new year, I'm definitely looking for new products to add into my routine, and the Jolly Vox Box helped me find a few!

I've been so happy with this Vox Box that I've been all over social media with it, too- check out my Jolly Vox Box Pinterest board, and my Instagram for some photos and videos of Jolly Vox Box products (with more on the way!).

Disclaimer:  I received these products free for review from Influenster.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own!

Review~ NYC Big Bold Lip Gloss

I was lucky enough to receive NYC Big Bold Lip Gloss for review from Influenster as part of the Varsity Vox Box.

This was a great product.  It definitely delivered what it promised- big, bold shine!  The color was very tame, which is what I prefer, yet the shine lasted most of the day.  I also really liked the brush.  It was wide, which made the gloss extremely easy to apply because it only required one pass over my lips to apply enough.

Here's a picture of me happy to be using NYC Big Bold Lip Gloss! ;-)

I've used this lip gloss almost every day since I got it!  Once it runs out I will definitely buy more.  I try to keep my makeup minimal when I go to class, and with this lip gloss the shine is great but it's really not overpowering if you balance it out with a little bit of mascara (which is the only other makeup I usually wear!).

Disclaimer:  I received this product free for review from Influenster.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own!

Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care ~ Review and Contest!

I received Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care for review from Purex Insiders.  I love getting products to try from them because they are always new, innovative ways to do things around the home that already need to get done- in this case, clean the toilet.  Now, at my house, that's my dad's job anyway ;-) but he hates it, so anything to make it easier on him would be nice.

Unfortunately, I really did not like the scent of this product.  I love smelly things- lotions, soaps, room sprays, etc.- but the smell of this toilet cleaner was overwhelming.  I could smell it through the box when it was delivered to my house.  It was really strong, and I couldn't imagine having that smell in my bathroom for weeks on end.  Because of that, I was not able to test this product for what it is supposed to do- clean the toilet.

The scent, Alpine Fresh, was very floral and very sweet.  If that's a scent you like, then it would be worth trying this new Soft Scrub product.  If you're put off by strong scents, though, stay far, far away!  That's not to say that Soft Scrub as a brand only makes overly scented products.  This is the first item of theirs that I've not been able to use.  So even if you don't like this toilet cleanser, still try their other products out.  The quality is good and they always get the job done.

And now, the CONTEST...!

Enter to win $1000 or free Soft Scrub!  At this link you can also download coupons for $1 off a lot of Soft Scrub varieties!

Bzz Campaign: Green Giant Veggie Snack Chips

I've blogged a lot about BzzAgent in the past, so click the "BzzAgent" tag in the left sidebar for more of an overview of what it's about. This time, I'm excited to write about a new product from Green Giant: veggie chips!

There are two delicious flavors- sweet potato chips with sea salt, and cheddar veggie tortilla chips. Both are yummy! I don't even like sweet potatoes, but I enjoyed these chips. They were mildly salty, and tasted like a healthier version of "normal" potato chips. They reminded me of baked chips, but they had a unique flavor from the addition of the sweet potatoes. As for the cheddar tortilla chips, they were reminiscent of Doritos, but were not as greasy or artificial-tasting. You could tell that these chips are healthier than most similar products on the market!

I like to snack, so I will definitely be buying these chips in the future! Since I'll eat chips anyway, I might as well make them better for me! Both varieties of Green Giant chips are packed with whole grains- about 25% of the daily value. Tasty and better for you!

Disclaimer: I received these products for free from BzzAgent. All opinions expressed are my own and are in no way influenced by the fact that I received free products.

Review: Garnier Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil

I am always looking for new products to use on my hair.  It's a frizzy mess, whether it's dry and windy out in the winter or hot and humid in the summer.  If I don't put product in my hair, I look like I'm being attacked by some sort of monster the moment my hair is not sopping wet.  I was recently introduced to oil-based hair products when I tried an oil creme (from Dove).  The product is great but the problem that I have with creme-based hair products is that then they get all over your hands, and it feels like no matter how much you scrub them, the product never entirely comes off.  That's why I was very excited to be afforded the opportunity to try Garnier Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil.  It's in a spray bottle, which means I can just spritz it onto my hair and not worry about getting it all over my hands.  Just a few sprays and my hair is tamed and shiny for the day!  And it's not a heavy oil, so my curls still show.  I've used it on both wet and dry hair and it works great on both.  Most other hair products are a mess on dry hair because they don't absorb well, and instead are left looking clumpy or greasy.  Not this oil!

The one problem that I had with this product (and the reason I am giving it 4, not 5, stars) is the bottle design.  It's very wide right at the place you'd naturally grip it, so it is hard to hold while you're reaching behind your head to spray it.  Sometimes I find myself holding the bottle with two hands in order to not drop it, which, as you might imagine, is pretty awkward.  I'm tempted to move the remainder of my oil into a narrower spray bottle, to avoid that problem in the future.

 

The scent of this oil is nice- it reminds me of the summer with its coconut-esque smell.  It is a little stronger than I would normally choose for a hair product but since it's currently snowing outside and it's freezing cold, the reminder of warmer summer days is very welcome!

I have not used this on my face or body even though it's designed to be a triple use product.  I don't like feeling like I have any product on my face, so I generally don't use a moisturizer there unless my skin is really, really dry- plus, extra oil on my face is never a good thing!  I might try it on my legs though, the next time I need a body moisturizer, to see how it compares to the lotions I usually use.

If you have frizzy, uncontrollable hair, Garnier Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil is the product you've been waiting for!  Just pick up an empty spray bottle (usually about $1 in the travel section) to make it easier to use.

Disclaimer:  I received a free product for review from BzzAgent.  All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way by Bzz Agent, Garnier, or the fact that I received the product for free.

Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends

I was lucky enough to receive a sample of new Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends to review.  This was new for me because I generally don't review food products.  However, the flavors in this cereal sounded like ones I enjoy, so I went for it, and am I glad I did!

Tropical Blends combines the flavors of mango and coconut into one delicious cereal.  The flakes taste like mango and the clusters taste like coconut.  But what I particularly liked was that there were also real mango and coconut pieces in the cereal!  The flavors were great and I also felt like I was eating something fresh instead of just processed cereal pieces.

I am not typically a breakfast eater- I much prefer to sleep late in the mornings!- but I enjoyed Tropical Blends as an afternoon snack.  It's sweet, but much healthier than cookies or anything else I tend to pick up.

On a slightly different note, I was happy to find a Honey Bunches of Oats cereal that does not include any nuts- most of their cereals have almonds in them.  I'm allergic to nuts so there are a lot of cereals that I can not eat.  I am so glad I can eat this one!

Overall, I would definitely recommend this cereal, whether you are a "breakfast person" or not. It's a great snack throughout the day!  Its unique flavors are unlike anything else I've seen in a cereal, but don't let that deter you.  This cereal was a big hit for me and my family.

Disclaimer:  I received Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends cereal for review from Purex Insiders.  All opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way by Purex Insiders, Post, or the fact that I received the product for free.

Purex Baby Laundry Detergent

I received a bottle of Purex's new Baby Detergent to review.  Unfortunately, I was not able to test the detergent out myself because I have so many open and partially used bottles of laundry detergent in my house and so I am trying to save the closed bottles I have until I really need them.  However, I will share with you some specs on this detergent to help you decide whether it is right for you and your family.

From the product information sheet:

"Purex Baby detergent delivers the same bright, white clean you've come to expect from Purex, yet is sensitive on baby's skin... The dermatologist-tested formula guarantees to remove stubborn stains without hurting delicate clothes, like those adorable little footie pajamas."

Purex Baby detergent is "hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, and delivers a bright, white clean with a gentle baby-inspired fragrance."

You can find Purex Baby detergent in 50 oz. bottles now, and 100 oz. bottles soon!

Like I said, I have not had the opportunity to use this product myself, but I wanted to share information on this new laundry detergent for any of my readers who might have little ones at home and could benefit from a safer detergent for their kids.

FTC Disclaimer:  I received free products from Purex Insiders in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way by Purex Insiders or my receipt of free products.

Dial Holiday Hand Soap

I was lucky enough to receive two of Dial's Holiday Hand Soaps for review.  These festive bottles combine Dial's delicious smelling antibacterial foaming hand soaps with fun holiday designs on the bottles.  There are four different bottle designs, and I received the candy cane and snowman ones.  There are also Santa and Christmas tree ("Holiday Scene") patterns available.  Even though the holidays are over, it's still winter and these soaps definitely add a festive flair to any bathroom.  They're fun to look at and they remind me of all the happiness this season brings.  I like having little touches of festiveness in my house year-round, and these soaps sure do bring that.  They are a lot more exciting than a boring bottle of hand soap with no pattern on the front!

The actual soap looks red in the bottle and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the soap smells like apples!  The scent is not overwhelming but it does smell a lot better than most foaming hand soaps.  I find that in general they have a more sour scent than many other types of soap.  If you can't stand any scented soaps (like my mom), then you might have a problem with these, but if you like something lightly scented, these soaps are perfect for you!

The one thing that I noticed was different about these soaps compared to other foaming hand soaps was that they recommend you pump the soap onto your hands while dry instead of wetting your hands first.  I didn't follow these instructions at first because it seemed strange, but the foam aspect of the soap deflates rather quickly if your hands are wet.

The four holiday soaps come in 7.5 oz bottles.

You can find out more about Dial at their website or Facebook page.

FTC Disclaimer:  I received free products from Purex Insiders in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way by Purex Insiders or my receipt of free products.

CONTEST~ Purex Laundry Detergent!

A quick contest that will run for the next 24 hours- win free Purex laundry detergent!  Here's what you have to do to enter:

Visit Purex's Let's Be Honest page or their Youtube feed and watch some of the Let's Be Honest videos.  Then, come back to this page and comment with what your favorite video was!  Simple!  For an additional entry, you can Like, Share, or Tweet about your favorite video, and then comment here that you did so.  One entry per method per person; contest ends 11:59 PM on Thursday, 7/19/2012.

Let's Be Honest is a campaign by Purex to convey simple, to-the-point messages about why Purex is a better laundry detergent for your family to use. From the website,

Whether it’s paying too much for “premium” detergent or uncovering the truth about skinny jeans, we’re shedding some light on everyday absurdities.

Visit the Let's Be Honest website for yourself to see why you should replace your other laundry detergent with Purex!  And, be sure to enter my contest to win free Purex for yourself by Thursday, 7/19!

FTC Disclaimer:  Purex provided me with coupons for free Purex laundry detergent in exchange for hosting this contest, and will provide me with additional coupons for myself after the contest ends.  All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

CONTEST! Dry Idea Deodorant

~It's time for a contest!~


I was lucky enough to be selected to sample Dry Idea AdvancedDry deodorant.  I always love to try new products, and with summer in full swing, I was especially glad to have this opportunity to try a new deodorant.  I work as a summer camp counselor outside in the woods, so my usual scented deodorant that I use the rest of the year is no good- it attracts mosquitoes with its sweet scent!  Dry Idea AdvancedDry deodorant is unscented, so I can wear it to camp.  And, I was very happy with how dry I stayed throughout the day, even with being outside in over 100 degree temperatures, running around, and even swimming!

Dry Idea AdvancedDry deodorant is available in roll-on, clear gel, and invisible solid styles.  Scents include unscented (which is what I sampled) as well as powder fresh, cotton dry, and cool burst; this varies depending on which style of deodorant you get.  You can find out more information about this deodorant at the Dry Idea website or at Dry Idea's Facebook page.


And now, for the contest:


I have coupons to give away for FREE Dry Idea AdvancedDry deodorant!


If I have 5 or less unique entrants, I will give away one coupon.  If I get more than 5 entrants, I'll give away two!


Here are your options for entering (please leave a comment for each entry you complete, and, if the entry includes a Facebook post, a Tweet, or a Pin on Pinterest, link to that in your comment):


1. like Dry Idea's Facebook page
2. post on Dry Idea's Facebook page that you were referred by Des Abdurdites (& leave a link to my blog in your post)
3. share this post on Facebook
4. share this post on Twitter and mention @desabsurdites
5. pin this post on Pinterest and tag @desabsurdites
6. Dry Idea is holding a sweepstakes with $1000 in prizes!  Enter through this link- good luck!
7. share my link to the Dry Idea sweepstakes on Facebook or Twitter (1 entry each)


That's 8 entries to my contest if you do everything- plus an entry to win Dry Idea's huge sweepstakes, too!


My contest ends at 11:59 pm EST on Wednesday, July 18, 2012.  The winner(s) will be selected randomly by Friday, July 20, 2012 and notified by e-mail.  The winner(s) will then provide me with a mailing address to which I will mail their prize.


FTC Disclaimer:  Dry Idea provided me with a free sample of AdvancedDry deodorant in exchange for an honest review.  Dry Idea provided me with coupons to use as prizes for a contest.  All opinions expressed in this post are my own.  Image courtesy of dryidea.com.

My review of BRAVE

BRAVE, Disney/Pixar's newest film, is coming to theaters in just two days (Friday, June 22)!  I was lucky enough to see an advanced screening of the movie earlier in June, and I am so excited to finally be able to share my thoughts on the film:


I loved it!


Disney/Pixar did a great job in creating characters you could come to care about in such a short amount of time.  The character development was thorough, and, for quite possibly the first time ever in a Disney film, the main character's (Merida's) entire family was present and important to the plot.  It was really nice to watch a movie in which the important relationship was the mother-daughter relationship, instead of the mother being dead or absent for the entire plot.  It really was a wholesome film that focused on the importance of being an individual while also staying true to your roots.  In the film, the question becomes, What is our fate and how can we reconcile this with our desires for our lives?  This is an important message, and I'm so glad that Disney/Pixar decided to focus on it for what is arguably one of their most advertised movies recently.


For the kids, because BRAVE is based on Gaelic lore, the film has a lot of fantastical elements to it, such as magic and witches.  Luckily, these are all presented in a humorous rather than scary fashion, so the movie stays upbeat and fun.  Merida's three younger brothers add another funny element to the story, because they act just like typical little kids who would rather eat sweets than dinner, and who play pranks on the rest of the family.


Don't worry, though- there are plenty of moments for adults to enjoy in BRAVE, too!  As in most Disney/Pixar movies, there are lines that will go over kids' heads, but make all the adults in the theater crack up.  In BRAVE, these moments are scattered throughout the film, and I noticed them especially in scenes where there is a lot of kids humor, too.


My overall review of BRAVE is, Go see it!


Here is one last clip I'll share with you before BRAVE hits theaters this Friday.  It's a behind-the-scenes look at the film.  Enjoy!

FTC Disclaimer:  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  I was given the opportunity to see an advanced screening of BRAVE in exchange for a review and publicity about the film on my blog.  All opinions expressed are my own.  All clips were provided to me by Disney.

Freebie Sites #2: ExpoTV

For my second post in this series, I want to highlight a site called ExpoTV.  This site is a little different than a lot of the "freebie sites" out there because it is not exculsively a site that gives away free things.  I've had a lot of fun participating in ExpoTV!  I'll talk a little bit about what the site is all about, and then why I've enjoyed it so much!

The slogan for ExpoTV is "Real People.  Authentic Opinions."  As a member of ExpoTV, you can create video reviews of products you use so you can share your opinion with other consumers and brands alike.  You can create a video review for any product you use.  For some products, you can earn points for submitting a video.  Sometimes, you earn points because a certain company wants video reviews made of their products.  Other times, there are not enough reviews available of a certain product, so ExpoTV offers extra points for submitting a review of these "most wanted" products.  The points can then be redeemed for a huge variety of items, from gift cards to electronics to appliances and more.  If you submit a review for a product that is not eligible for points, you are instead entered into a monthly sweepstakes for a prize (which changes each month).


I have to admit that for a long time after joining ExpoTV, I was wary of participating.  It seemed strange to me to make a video review of a product.  In addition, I really don't like public speaking, and it was difficult for me to record a cbohesive review when I so hated being on camera.  However, once I decided that it was worth putting up with my hatred for being on camera, I began to really enjoy participating in ExpoTV.  I now have a lot of fun talking about the products I use.  I also really trust reviews from other people that are posted on the site.  The points also add up very quickly if you submit those videos, and you can earn gift cards after only a couple of video submissions!


Maybe you're asking why I am including ExpoTV in a series about free things.  Well, ExpoTV also had a program called Tryology, where members can get sent products to sample and review.  Most of the time, these products have yet to be released to the public, so if you're lucky enough to get selected to participate in a Tryology program, you'll actually be one of the first people ever to sample the product!  You don't earn points for submitting your Tryology review, but you do get to keep all the products that are sent to you.  In my experience, they've always been full-sized product "samples".


I have participated in two Tryology programs so far- once for a Suave product, and once for Herbal Essences.  One of the products I decided not to use after receiving it, so my video review was about why I made that decision.  The other product I loved and have used practically every day since receiving it.  (Since I signed a confidentiality agreement before participating, I unfortunately can not say more about the products at the moment.)  The great thing about ExpoTV's Tryology program is that you can talk about your honest opinion of the product in your video.


If you have an outgoing personality and like to talk about products you use, I highly recommend participating in ExpoTV!  Whether you participate in Tryology or not, you can still earn great rewards with the points you earn!


If you're already a member of ExpoTV, let me know what you think of it!

FTC Disclaimer:  I am a member of ExpoTV.  I posted this review for the benefits of my site readers.  I was not asked to do so by ExpoTV, and I am receiving no compensation for this post.

Freebie Sites #1: BzzAgent

I tried to do a series like this last year and I failed miserably at it after the second week (oops!), but I am going to attempt (again) to write a series of posts on websites that send out free products to consumers.  The sites are all different in their goals for sending out products, so it's important to learn about each site before deciding whether to join and participate.  I will highlight a different site each Thursday!


The first site that I'd like to highlight is BzzAgent.  You may recognize this name from a number of other posts on my blog.  I've been a member of BzzAgent for about a year and 9 months, and it's been fantastic!  Before I tell you about my experience as a BzzAgent, though, here is some information about what the company's purpose is.


BzzAgent is a Word of Mouth (WOM) marketing site.  What this means is that in exchange for providing free products, the recipient is then expected to spread the word about the product to family and friends.  You are not expected to provide a positive review- just an honest one, whether you liked the product or not.  Companies (such as L'Oreal, Maybelline, Dunkin' Donuts, and Orbit) hire BzzAgent to start this WOM marketing process for them.  BzzAgent works with the company to target a certain demographic whom they think are the prime users of the product.  Then, people who fit this demographic are offered a Campaign- meaning, they are given the opportunity to request a sample of the product as well as either coupons or samples to pass along to others who they think may be interested in trying out the product.  In exchange for this, BzzAgent asks that people report back how they spread "bzz" about the product.  On the website, you submit a report detailing who you talked to, what you said, and how they reacted.  It really is not much to do in exchange for receiving free products!  In addition to that, you can create bzz through Facebook, Twitter, and blogging.


My experience with BzzAgent has only been fantastic!  Over the past year and a half plus, I've participated in 17 campaigns, 6 of which have been online/digital products or services, and 11 of which have been for physical products.  Though it's certainly fun to get "real" items in the mail, the online campaings have been fun too!  I love talking about all the things I get for free and getting friends and family to try the products out with me.  Even after Campaigns have ended, I still find myself bzzing about certain products.  In particular, I still talk about the Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm and the Amazon Kindle Keyboard that I got from BzzAgent!  (Check out my Kindle reviews here and here.)


If you love spreading the word about new products, then BzzAgent might be for you!  Check out the site for yourself!  If you join, make sure to fill out the surveys available to you.  Then, sit back and wait patiently (difficult, I know!) for a Campaign invite, which will be sent to you by e-mail.  hszIt could take months for this to happen, but trust me- it's worth the wait.)  If the product or service looks interesting to you, accept the Campaing offer and then get bzzing away!


Are you a member of BzzAgent?  What do you think of it?

FTC Disclaimer:  I am a member of BzzAgent.  However, I was not asked to write this post, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Free Sample Purex

Because of its success in the past, Purex has once again opened up their free sample website!  This time you can get a sample of Purex Triple Action laundry detergent.  (Check out my review of it here!)  If the site is not working, check back throughout the afternoon; it's just going live today and I don't know at exactly what time.  Once you've gotten your sample, stop back here and let me know whether you loved this detergent as much as I did!

FTC Disclaimer:  I received notice of this promotion through my participation in Purex Insiders.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Product Review: Purex UltraPacks laundry detergent

I was lucky enough to receive a sample of Purex UltraPacks laundry detergent for review.  I have used Purex detergent in the past, and I was eager to try the UltraPacks to see if they could really make doing laundry easier.

It was so convenient to just toss one UltraPack into the washing machine before adding my clothes.  No measuring detergent into a cap, no spilling liquid anywhere- the packs were super easy to just throw in to the machine.  The packs contain Purex's Triple Action detergent, which I've used the liquid form of before, in a 2x concentrated formula.  You get the same cleaning power in a much more convenient form!  Once the washing machine is turned on, the packs dissolve in the water and release the detergent inside.  The Purex UltraPacks can be used in any washing machine, including HE.

I used the Mountain Breeze scented UltraPacks.  I love this scent- whenever I use Purex detergent, it's what I choose.  My clothes come out smelling fresh, but not overly perfumey.  However, if you are not a fan of scented detergent, Purex UltraPacks are also available in Free & Clear (100% free of perfumes and dyes).

My only problem with the Purex UltraPacks was that each package only contains 18 packs.  Compared to a bottle of liquid detergent, this is significantly less loads of laundry that can be done.  When I use liquid detergent, I rarely use the recommended amount of detergent- I usually use less- so the bottle lasts even longer.  With a package of Purex UltraPacks, you can only do 18 loads, and there is no way to change that.

I love anything that makes doing laundry easier.  Being in college, I hate doing laundry because it takes up time that I could be doing other things, whether that is studying, sleeping, or hanging out with friends.  Purex UltraPacks make this tedious chore a little bit easier, because it saves me time and mess that comes with using liquid detergent.

Purex UltraPacks will be available for sale beginning in February!

FTC Disclaimer:  I am a member of Purex Insiders, and I received a sample of their UltraPacks liquid laundry detergent in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Product Review: Cutex Nail Polish Remover Pads

Swaggable is a new social marketing site that allows you to sample products, review them, and then share your review with your friends.  What's cool about Swaggable that sets it apart from other WOM marketing sites is that it is based upon your social circle.  The products you are given to sample are chosen based on things you or your friends have already shown an interest in, such as on Facebook.

I was lucky enough to be able to join Swaggable while it is still in Beta, and sample Cutex Nail Polish Remover Pads.

Here is the product description, courtesy of Swaggable:

Cutex® Nail Polish Remover Pads offer a handy way to quickly remove polish and condition nails and cuticles in one easy step. They're not only faster than any other brand, they also help strengthen and nourish your nails while moisturizing and softening your cuticles at the same time. These pads are perfect for travel! A single pad removes polish from ten nails, fingers or toes—even dark and hard-to-remove colors.

As the product description claims, I was able to remove the nail polish from all 10 of my fingernails with one pad. In that respect, the Nail Polish Remover Pads are very convenient, as I can use just one pad as opposed to multiple cotton balls with liquid remover. However, there were two things I did not particularly like about this product. First of all, the red dye from the felt pads got left behind on my nails. Secondly, my fingers felt dry and slightly sticky after using the product; I think this is again from the dye on the felt pads, although I can not be sure. I would be more likely to use this product in the future if it came with uncolored felt instead of red. However, the single-use packets and large pads did make this product very convenient to use; they fill a niche in the market that I only wish had been thought of sooner!

FTC Disclaimer:  I received a sample of Cutex Nail Polish Remover Pads from Swaggable for review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

This is how much I love my Kindle!

A while ago, I wrote a review of the Amazon Kindle Keyboard, which I received from BzzAgent.  My initial review mainly dealt with setting up the Kindle and using it for PDFs.  Now that I've had my Kindle for a few months, I've branched out to use it for many more purposes, and discovered some fun features that I'd like to talk about, too.

The best thing that the Kindle has done for me is allow me to read more often.  It's so light and slim that I just carry it around in my purse.  Whenever I have even a few minutes of down time, I pull out my Kindle and read a few pages or a chapter of the book I'm reading.  Because the Kindle automatically remembers the last page I read, there's no need for me to worry about remembering page numbers or finding something to use as a bookmark.  During my first three and a half years of college, I rarely read books for fun during the semesters- maybe one book a year, if that.  It was disappointing, because I love to read, but I just couldn't justify carrying around a heavy novel when I was already lugging notebooks and textbooks.  It wasn't worth the extra weight when I wasn't even sure if I would have time to read during the day.  I am so excited to be able to read more for fun now, and it is all because the Kindle is so easy to carry with me all day!

I also love that my local library (at home, not at school) has a fantastic program that allows you to check out Kindle books.  Though the lending period is shorter than for print books (two weeks instead of three), I have been able to find the majority of books I want to read using this system.  Even new releases are available for the Kindle, and overall there is less of a wait list for the e-books than print books!  This discovery has made having a Kindle simply fantastic!

On top of that, as many of my followers know, I review books on this blog.  Some of the books I receive are e-galleys, which I previously had to read on my computer using Adobe Digital Editions.  While the program itself is very useful, it hurts my eyes to read from a computer screen for too long.  So, it was taking me forever to finish books that I received in this format.  Now that I have a Kindle, I can upload my e-galleys to it, and read them much more quickly and in a way that is much easier on my eyes.

If I want to listen to a book instead of reading it, Kindle has a text-to-speech feature.  The voice is computerized, and therefore does not always catch nuances in pronunciation that a human would.  However, I have used this feature a few times and it is still nice to have when I want to continue with a story but either don't want to read (ie, if my eyes are tired), or if I can't (such as while driving).

These are just the reasons that I can think of off the top of my head for loving my Kindle.  (And for me, love is a strong word to use, since for the longest time I was convinced that I would hate using an e-reader.)  Sure, there are still reasons that I enjoy reading books in print, but I would not change having my Kindle for any reason.  If you're someone who loves reading but just doesn't want to carry around a heavy print book all the time, get a Kindle for yourself and rediscover your love of reading!

Do you have a Kindle, or another e-reader?  What's your favorite thing about it?

BOOK REVIEW - The Statsitcal Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Synopsis from Amazon:

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. 

I was a bit apprehensive about The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight before reading it.  Based on the synopsis, in my mind, I had classified it as being similar to Stephanie Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss.  Since I loved Anna, I just wasn't sure that any similar book would be able to compare.  To my surprise and delight, I was mistaken!

From the first chapter, I was intrigued by Hadley and Oliver's relationship and each of their lives.  Both of the characters seemed very realistic- they were not idealistic teenagers like characters sometimes are.  Just like "real live" teenagers, Hadley and Oliver each had struggles in their lives that they were dealing with, but each also managed to find something positive to help them through.  In the case of this story, that positive thing was each other.  Both Hadley and Oliver were very relatable characters, and it made the book a very easy read.

Towards the end of the story, Oliver reveals a secret to Hadley (and to the readers).  Smith also did a great job at hinting at Oliver's secret throughout the novel, so that it was not a complete surprise when it was finally revealed.  Once we did find out Oliver's secret, it made a lot of sense with respect to events earlier in the novel.  I thought that this scene was handled very well.  I hate when a surprise twist seems to come out of nowhere.  Luckily, though I did not predict this twist, it made sense and worked with the entire storyline.

I do have to say that the ending of the book made me cry.  The scene when Hadley mends her relationship with her father was so wonderfully written and so real.  I did not expect this book to be a tear-jerker as much as a chick flick, but I was actually happy with the emotions this book caused me.  It showed the power of Smith's writing and how well she created her characters.  While Hadley and Oliver's story has come to an end, I am eager to see what Smith writes next!

FTC Disclaimer:  I received an advance readers copy (ARC) of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight for review from Hip Scouts, a program of LB-Teens and Hachette Book Group.  All opinions expressed are my own.