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!

An Update...

Hi, readers!

(I know there aren't that many of you...)

I've been very busy with school recently, but one of my goals for 2014 is to get back into blogging more often.  So, stay tuned for an update in January.  I'm considering either moving this blog to Wordpress or creating a brand new blog from scratch.  We'll see!

A.

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.

It's Not Just Calories that Count

Like the title of the post says- it's not just calories that count when you're selecting what foods to eat.  Specifically, I am going to address how this impacts looking at nutrition labels when choosing prepackaged meals such as frozen entrees.

Healthy frozen entrees are healthier than their unhealthier counterparts, but that doesn't mean they're good for you.  Nothing replaces eating fresh, unprocessed foods that have no additives.  Most, if not all, frozen entrees have a ton of added sodium that is used as a preservative.  However, all that added sodium can have negative effects on your health.  For example, it can lead to fluid retention and high blood pressure.  Adults should limit their sodium intake to between 1500-2300 mg per day, but about 90% of adults consume much more than that.

Take, for example, one of my favorites- Lean Cuisine Asian-Style Pot Stickers.  Based solely upon calorie count, the 230 in this dish seems like a great choice for a meal or a snack.  But take a look at the amount of sodium- a whopping 530 mg, between a quarter and a third of what you should be eating in an entire day!  Another Lean Cuisine entree, the Steak, Cheddar, & Mushroom Panini, has 340 calories, which seems great for a sandwich loaded with steak and cheese, but packs a whopping 640 mg of sodium.

Because most foods contain sodium (yes, even water and milk do!), this is another number that people need to become more aware of when selecting what to put into their bodies.

References:
http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/sodium/
http://www.leancuisine.com/Products/Details.aspx?ProductID=53
http://www.leancuisine.com/Products/Details.aspx?ProductID=10619

Being healthier in 2013!

Well first off, Happy New Year!  I definitely slacked on blogging towards the second half of 2012 but I want to get back more into it this year.  One thing I want to write about is my goal of getting healthier this year.  Ideally I would like to lose some weight as a result, but at the very least I want to feel better about myself and know that I am treating my body better.  So, I am going to do my best to post weekly about what I am doing in my life to achieve this goal.

The easiest way, I think, to start getting healthier is to change what you eat.  You don't even have to completely change your diet- just make small changes towards foods that are better for you.  Any little bit helps.  My post today will address some ideas for making your lunch healthier.

1) Swap out bread for vegetables.  Maybe you're thinking, 'how do you make a sandwich without bread?'  There are plenty of ways!  You can make a lettuce wrap.  Practically any cold cut tastes good in lettuce; simply use it instead of bread and make your sandwich the exact same way otherwise.  Another vegetable that you can use as a substitute for bread is cucumber.  Cut a section of cucumber in half lengthwise, then cut out some of the inside, creating a well (like in celery) but leaving enough around the edges so that the cucumber is still sturdy.  Then pile on your favorite cold cuts and toppings into each half.

2) Use better condiments.  Mayonnaise may taste great (believe me, it's my favorite sandwich spread!), but there are plenty of other condiments that pack a lot of flavor with a lot less calories and fat.  Mustard is one option, but there are also plenty of others that may not immediately come to mind.  Balsamic vinegar is one great alternative, and you can sometimes find flavored balsamic vinegars if you want a little bit different flavor.  You could also use other vinegars, like rice wine vinegar, depending on the taste you're going for.  Stay away from salad dressings or oil-based sauces.

3) Pick healthier sides.  Chips are easy, but other things are better for you.  If you want to stay with something salty, nuts are a great option.  They have protein that chips don't have.  Fruits and vegetables seem like an obvious side, but it still takes a conscious effort to pick those over less nutritious options.  If you pick applesauce, look for one with no added sugar or sweeteners.  And if you really can't give up your chips, go for a baked option instead of fried.

These are some of the tips I'm incorporating into my routine to get healthier this year.  Hopefully they can help you, too!  Let me know if you have any ideas you'd like me to share that have worked in your life.

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.

FUN SIZE movie!

The new movie FUN SIZE comes out this weekend.  I saw previews for it in theaters the last couple of times I went to see a movie, and it seems very funny!  I will definitely be going to see it after it is released this Friday, October 26!  It's a Halloween comedy about what happens when a little brother goes missing while trick-or-treating and his older sister has to go looking for him.

From IMDB:

Wren's Halloween plans go awry when she's made to babysit her brother, who disappears into a sea of trick-or-treaters. With her best friend and two nerds at her side, she needs to find her brother before her mom finds out he's missing.

I don't think this short summary really does the movie justice!  Here's a trailer for the movie, too:



This weekend, stars Victoria Justice and Thomas Mann, as well as Carly Rae Jepsen, hosted an event at the Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America to promote FUN SIZE.  Here are some photos from the event!

The stars look excited about their movie, and I know that I am, too!  FUN SIZE appears in theaters this Friday, 10/26- just in time for Halloween!

FTC Disclaimer:  Photos and information in this post were provided to me by Allied-THA, except for the movie synopsis from IMDB and the trailer from YouTube.  All opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way by Allied-THA, Nickelodeon, or any other entity.  I will be receiving compensation for writing an honest post about FUN SIZE.

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.

McCormick Grill Mates review

My family and I recently sampled a number of products from McCormick Grill Mates.  These are all great seasonings, marinades, and sauces to use during the summer grilling season!  Here are my thoughts on three of the products that my family and I had the strongest opinions about.

Grill Mates® Slow and Low Memphis Pit BBQ Rub:  This was spicy, but those of us who liked spicy foods enjoyed it!  We tried it on steak, and later on, I also mixed this rub into a burger.  Both were delicious (I love spicy foods)!  I could definitely taste the rub more on the steak, though; the burger had a lot of other flavors on it that masked some of the tanginess.

Steak (sandwich) with Memphis BBQ Pit Rub & Pineapple rings w/ Molasses Bacon Seasoning

Grill Mates® Molasses Bacon Seasoning Blend:  This was a surprising hit with my family- especially with my little sister, who puts bacon on everything!  She thought it was cool that there was bacon in the shaker :)  I tried this on chicken wings, and it was a delightfully sweet taste.

Chicken Wings with Molasses Bacon Seasoning

Grill Mates® Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ Sauce:  This sauce had a very strong alcohol taste from the bourbon.  We don't really drink in my house, and so this sauce was definitely not one of our favorite products.  We use a lot of barbecue sauce on a regular basis, so any new barbecue sauce has a lot to stand up to, and this did not make the cut.

Enjoying the food!

 There are many more than just these three products available from McCormick Grill Mates, so if none of these fit your grilling fancy, just check out your local grocery store to see what else is available.  There's something for everyone!

You can also visit GrillMates on Facebook and find tons of grilling tips for the summer.

FTC Disclaimer:  I was provided free samples of McCormick products by Crowdtap in exchange for hosting a Grill Mates party with family and friends.  All opinions expressed 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.

Product Review: Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles

As a BzzAgent, I often have the opportunity to sample new products in exchange for my honest opinion on them.  This time, I've been able to try Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles.  I was really excited for this campaign.  I have some problems with my feet/knees, and I'm always interested in new products that might help me with that.


I decided to put the Massaging Gel Insoles into an old pair of sneakers that I was hoping to "revamp".  The original insoles were getting flimsy from wearing the shoes for so long.  I was very pleased with how the new insoles made me feel like I was wearing new shoes again!  They fit perfectly into my shoe and gave me the support I needed.

My old sneakers with new Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles

The insoles are able to fit women's shoe sizes 6-10.  That means that if you have a shoe that's smaller than size 10, you have to trim the insole down.  I've been wary of products like that in the past, because I'm always afraid of messing up when I'm cutting and ruining the insole.  The Dr. Scholl's insoles were super easy to trim, though!  On the bottom of the insole is a guide telling you where to cut for each shoe size.  Despite that, I still measured them against the insoles I was replacing.  I was extremely pleased to find out that they lined up exactly with the size 8 guideline on the Dr. Scholl's insole!


I liked that I wasn't constantly thinking about the new insoles in my shoes while wearing them.  Sometimes, I find that replacement insoles don't fit the shoe well, or are too thick, and therefore interfere with day to day activities when you're wearing those shoes.  The Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles were nothing like those annoying other products!  They seemed to disappear, and while I could definitely tell that they were much more sturdy and supportive than the old insoles I'd replaced, that was the extent of my paying direct attention to them.  I was very comfortable walking around with the Massaging Gel insoles in!


Overall, I would give this product a 5/5 rating!  (I'm very surprised to be saying that, but I'm also very pleased!)  The insoles gave me the support I need because of my knee problems, fit my shoes perfectly, and were very comfortable to wear.


FTC Disclaimer:  I am a BzzAgent, and received free product samples in order to give my opinion.  This in no way influences what I say about the Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles.  The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Clips from Disney/Pixar's BRAVE

I had the amazing opportunity to see an advanced screening of Disney/Pixar's new movie BRAVE on Thursday night.  While I can't say anything about the movie just yet, I can share some clips and other goodies to get you excited for BRAVE, which hits theaters on June 22!


First, a trailer:

 


And a clip from the movie:





My review will be coming the week the film gets released...I can't wait to share my thoughts with you all!