Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things

In the book Mr. Max: The Book of Lost Things Cynthia Voigt does a wonderful job making a fantastically like-able character in Mr. Max.  Mr. Max (aka Max Starling) is a twelve year old boy just trying to fit in to his family of overly dramatic actor parents.  When a curious situation arises with his parents he is forced to find himself and what he is good at.  As the job of problem solver falls into his lap he quickly discovers that it is something that he is good at and thoroughly enjoys.  Through his problem solving he meets many friends that also play a role in his solutions and quickly begins to make a name for himself.

This book was terrifically and wonderfully written!  I would definitely recommend this to anyone that enjoys mysteries.  As it is a children’s book I would highly recommend it for upper elementary and junior high students but also think that any teacher, librarian, or general lover of children’s books would find that this book makes them smile.  I wanted to keep reading this book and look forward to any sequels that come about: I want to know more about Mr. Max.

This title will be coming out on September 10, 2013.

I received this book free through NetGalley for my honest opinion and review of this book.

Pennington Smart Feed Sprayer System

I tried out the Pennington Smart Feed Sprayer System on my garden plants in our front yard.  I thought that the sprayer system was very creative and was excited to begin using it.  Unfortunately it left A LOT to be desired.  First of all the nossle leaked all over the place and left me soaked.  Luckily it was a nice warm day and I dried out quickly…although I would prefer not to get wet.  Secondly the fertilizing discs were used up incredibly quickly which was very surprising to me.  I was so worried that it would ruin my plants with using so much fertilizer so quickly but fortunately the plants all have seemed to be doing alright.  I did receive the 4 pack of refills also and decided not to use them until after I was certain that the plants that I originally used them on would survive.  I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone because to me it isn’t worth the money.  I do still LOVE the concept and hope that Pennington will improve the discs to dissolve more slowly and then it will be a force to be reckoned with.

I will have to disclaim first of all that I have never, ever used a fertilizing system before for my plants.  So maybe it is user error instead of the product itself.  I also received this product through BzzAgent for free in exchange for my honest opinion of this product.

Green Giant Veggie Chips

Green Giant is no longer just a brand that makes frozen veggies.  They now make chips too!!  I received the chance to try these new veggie chips.  The two flavors that I tried were Roasted Veggie Torilla Chips with Zesty Cheddar (these are like a healthier Doritos chip) and the Multigrain Sweet Potato Chip with Sea Salt (think of this like Sun Chips).  I really wanted to like since they are “healthier” than the other chip equivalents and I did at first, but then there was kind of a weird filmy after taste that I just couldn't get over.

Multigrain Sweet Potato Chip with Sea Salt:

I love that it is made with sea salt, that it has 40% less fat than regular potato chips, and 14 g of whole grains.  I thought that it was strange though that you couldn't taste sweet potato at all; it just tasted like a regular corn tortilla chip or closer to a Sun Chip.  This one left a filmy taste on the roof of my mouth after I had eaten about 3-4 chips.  The taste is good but I unfortunately couldn't get over the filminess.

Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips with Zesty Cheddar:

I love that this chip is made with vegetables and has 17g of whole grain.  However, it really didn't taste as good as I had hoped and in comparison to the very unhealthy Doritos chip it just doesn't compare.  Although, if I was to choose between the sweet potato and the roasted veggie from Green Giant, I would choose the roasted veggie.

Since I do not regularly eat chips and do so only on occasion, I think that unfortunately, I I am going to stick with my other brands.  So sad:-(

Garnier Skin Renew Clinical Dark Spot Overnight Peel

After I turned thirty and after having my second child, I noticed a dark spot appear just below the right temple on my face.  I had never had a dark spot before so I was a bit disappointed.  I thought maybe I just somehow managed to get more sun in one place, but after several months of it not “going away” on its own I resigned myself the fact that it was here to stay.  So saying, when I saw that BzzAgent was allowing people to try out Garnier’s Skin Renew Clinical Dark Spot Overnight Peel I was overjoyed!!  With my skin being so sensitive I decided to just use the peel directly on my dark spot and not on my entire face.  I had no allergic reaction to it and I have very sensitive skin.  I began applying it just when I remembered and I didn’t really see any results at all.  But, when I began using it consistently every night, as it is intended, I began seeing some results of my dark spot getting less noticeable.  I have only been using it consistently for about 3-weeks now so I can tell you that it does seem to be lightening my dark spot although I can still see it.  On the directions though it says that you can see a dramatic difference in dark spots in 4-weeks, so I have one more week to go.  I am so excited to see what happens and will keep you informed of my results after my one month of consistent use.  So far, after 3-weeks of nightly use, I would say that it is a good product and would recommend it to others.

Update:
So, after using the dark spot remover for 4-weeks I did not notice a difference:-(  I continued using it for another two weeks and after 6-weeks of use still nothing.   I was still only using it on the one specific dark spot and not on my entire face, so maybe that had something to do with it too.  So, I am still searching for a dark spot remover that will fade my spot completely.

Schick Hydro Silk Razor

I had the opportunity to try out Schick’s Hydro Silk razor.  I must admit first off that I am not used to a non-disposable razor as I usually use the cheapest 2-4 blade disposable razor that I can find.  So, with that said this was a special treat to use a fancy razor for a change and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it!! 

The Pros:

The Hydro Silk razor has 5 blades so it easily cuts the hair in one quick swipe without having to go over the same spot more than once.

It has water-activated moisturizing serum so you don’t have to add extra soap before you shave.  This actually gives you a nice amount of moisture too, which is not so with many of the other brands that claim that you don’t have to use any soap.  I didn't use soap and I didn't get razor burn:-)

The cartridges are easy to discard and put on a new one.

It is around the same price as other similar brands.

The handle is shaped nicely and easily fits in my hand and glides easily.

I didn't feel like I was going to cut myself when I was shaving.

The blades seem to last a long time.

The Cons:

Since there is an area above and below the razor blades for the moisturizing serum it is a bit bulky and doesn't easily get around my ankle or underarms.

The shave is not as close so I have to shave more often.

All-in-all I would recommend this razor to others as it does what it claims and is a good razor.

Thank you to Schick and BzzAgent for providing me with the opportunity to try this product for free in exchange for my honest review.

MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Patties

My family had the opportunity to weigh in on the MorningStar Farms brand and try one of their meatless products for free.  We were a little hesitant going about trying them because we don’t like mushrooms at all; but we decided that now was the best time to try.  We tried out their “Garden Veggie Patties”.  The way in which we used them was for breakfast on some buttered toast.  They come four in a box at a price around $3-4 a box (depending on the sale at the time); so it is relatively expensive to buy regularly.  Although, our normal breakfast food is cereal, toast and yogurt, bagels, and oatmeal so we don’t regularly purchase meat products for breakfast which are typically more expensive than what we are used to.  We surprisingly enjoyed the flavor of the patties, even with the mushrooms, and especially enjoyed that they are made with vegetables.  Because of this they only have 15g of fat which is 74% less than ground beef.  They are still a good source of protein and only 110 calories per serving making it a healthier alternative to many other breakfast foods.  These can be eaten any time of day making a good breakfast with toast, lunch in a sandwich, or dinner on a bun.  Check out their website’s recipe page (https://www.morningstarfarms.com/recipes) for other more creative ways to use these patties.  The only downside was the consistency of the patty.  Frequently there were large pieces of mushrooms and water chestnuts instead of the even consistency of all similar size pieces throughout.  After trying the first box we have continued to periodically buy these because we enjoy the flavor and health benefits of this over the ground beef alternative.  We would recommend these to a friend.  Thank you to MorningStar Farms and BzzAgent for allowing my family to try out a box for free in exchange for an honest product review.

Post Alpha-Bits Cereal

Having never tried the Post Alpha-Bits cereal before, my daughter and I really did enjoy it.  My three year old daughter first of all LOVES the Super Why cartoon and is also beginning to learn her alphabet letters.  With that said, she naturally liked the cereal too:-)  I would say that the flavor of the cereal has the consistency of a cheerio that is lightly sweetened with a marshmallow flavor (that is my best description).  The health factor of it was good and therefore I didn't mind her and I enjoying the cereal.  She asked for it almost every morning for breakfast so I know that she liked the flavor of it and not just the characters on the box; although it was the characters on the box that made her the most excited to eat it of course.  Now that the box of cereal is gone she has frequently asked me to buy it in the store again.  I would recommend this Post Alpha-Bits cereal to anyone that has a young child and wants them to eat well.  We will continue buying this cereal in the future.  A huge thank you to BzzAgent for giving me the opportunity to try this product for free in exchange for an honest product review.

Covergirl Blastflipstick

I was given the chance to try the new blastflipstick by Covergirl.  It gives you the opportunity to blend the lipstick to your desired shade.  Each blastflipstick comes with two shades, one creamy shade and one shimmer shade, on the same lipstick stick.  I really enjoyed the ability to mix the colors like I wanted to create the shade that was right for me.  It comes in thirteen different colors so you are bound to find the combination that works the best for you.  I was given three samples of the blastflipstick in the colors Vixen, Stunner, and Minx.  I only tried one of them, Vixen, because the other two are not my color of choice.  Vixen is a pink and mauve color.  I tried first using the blastflipstick as it is intended by first placing the creamy shade on my lips and then covering with the shimmer shade.  This look would be very nice for any dramatic night out.  Although, I preferred to just use the shimmer or creamy shade alone because I like a more natural look for everyday.  It also is a great moisturizer for lipstick, although it doesn't stay on for a very long time; as is with most lipsticks that I have found.  I would recommend this product for anyone that wants to change up their look by adding drama to their lips or just wants a more natural look with two separate shades on one lipstick stick.

I received these products for free from BzzAgent in exchange for my honest reviews.

Enfagrow Older Toddler Milk

I was given the chance, or rather my 2 ¾ year old daughter was given the chance, to review the Enfagrow Older Toddler drinks in both vanilla and natural milk flavorings.  We received four individual ready-to-drink cartons for each flavor.  My daughter was super excited that she got to try something out and tell me how she liked it.  We started off with the vanilla flavored one because she is the kind of kid that once she tries something she doesn’t like she will not be willing to try it again for a long time.  So, in hopes that she would like the vanilla flavor better then the natural milk flavor I stuck them in the refrigerator and once cooled I let her try one.   As it is a bit difficult to get an in-depth review from a 2 ¾ year old, I will do my best to give the opinion of the drinks by the way my daughter spoke about them and her actions. 

For the vanilla flavored Enfagrow Older Toddler drink she said that it was “yummy” and continued to drink it.  My daughter drank about half of it, the usual amount of any box drink that she can consume in one sitting.  The other portion went into the refrigerator and my daughter asked for it again when she sat down for a snack later in the afternoon.  She liked the taste of this!

For the natural milk flavored Enfagrow Older Toddler drink she said that it was good and drank about half of it. She couldn’t finish the whole carton in one meal sitting but she seemed to enjoy it well enough.  Believe me, I would have found out pretty quickly if she hadn’t liked it.  Having put the remainder of the unfinished milk in the refrigerator I was waiting for her to ask me again to drink it, but she did not.  Therefore, I would conclude that the flavor of the milk was to her liking but it wouldn’t be something that she would beg for me to give her.

In conclusion I would say that my toddler enjoyed the vanilla drink very much and somewhat enjoyed the natural milk flavored Enfagrow Older Toddler drink.  These are very convenient to take with the child and would be great to throw into a lunch bag or diaper bag when one the go.  I do wish that they would make ones that were a little smaller in volume because my toddler couldn’t consume that much in one sitting.  We will purchase these again.  A thank you to SheSpeaks for allowing me to review this product free of charge for an honest review.

Glade Expressions Collection

I received the opportunity to try the new line of Glade Expressions products.  I have three areas in my house that especially need an extra boost of good smelling fragrance: the laundry room with the cat box, the downstairs “guest” bathroom that sets the smell of my home from the moment you walk through the front door, and the upstairs kids’ bathroom complete with diaper smell.  I am always looking for a new product that will work to eliminate the smell of cat box, diapers, and overall bathroom stinkies. 

Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Review:

I tried the Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser starter kit in Pineapple and Mangosteen.  I absolutely love the look of the decorative diffuser; the wood color and leaf cutouts go nicely with the birdhouse theme in my downstairs “guest” bathroom.  The Pinapple and Mangosteen fragrance was alright.  I would have preferred a different fragrance but that was the only option at the Wal-Mart store that I purchased it at.  The fragrance is not over powering but it does the job of eliminating the smell which is especially important since it is right by the front door.  So anyone entering front the front door immediately gets their first smell impression of our house from the bathroom.  This oil diffuser didn’t seem to eliminate the odor as quickly as the Febreeze Set and Refresh air freshener that I had in there previously.  Although, it doesn't eliminate the odor as quickly I love the modern look, it does have a nice clean scent, and therefore, I might purchase this again.  If I purchased it again I probably wouldn't put it in the front bathroom but, rather a smaller bathroom where the Febreeze Set and Refresh would overpower the space.

Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist Review:

In addition to the oil diffuser I was also given a coupon to try the Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist starter kit.  In the Wal-Mart store that I shopped at there were about three different fragrance choices and I chose the Cotton & Italian Mandarin scent.  I really don’t understand the reason for having the re-usable mist container as I don’t see the point in leaving it out, especially since I have young children at home.  For most re-usable containers it is based on saving the environment by not creating so much waste but the refills are pretty large and, in my opinion, create more waste then less.  The scent lasts for a while and is subtle and not overpowering.  I have tried using the spray in the downstairs of the house before guests arrived, in the upstairs laundry room that has the cat box, and in the upstairs kids’ bathroom that has the dirty diaper smell.  It did quickly eliminate any odors from the house and leave it smelling fresh for a decent amount of time.  I would buy this product again to eliminate odors but not for visual or environmental appeal.

All-in-all I would maybe purchase these products again.  I have other products that I like better so I would probably only get them again if they were on a really good sale or my usual products were not available.

I received these products for free from BzzAgent in exchange for my honest reviews.

UNREAL Candy

I was thrilled when I got the opportunity through BzzAgent to review the UNREAL candy.  I absolutely love the concept of the candy being “UNJUNKED” by having no corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oil, artificial ingredients, preservatives, GMOs, and a low glycemic index.  No other candy out there offers all of that.  They have five candies on the market: Chocolate Candy Shell Peanuts (Equivalent to peanut M&Ms), Chocolate Candy Shell (equivalent to M&Ms), Chocolate Carmel Nougat (equivalent to Milkyway), Chocolate Caramel Peanuts Nougat (equivalent to Snickers), and Chocolate Peanut Butter (equivalent to Reese’s).

I decided to try three of the candies so that I could give a good enough review.  I was able to find these candies at CVS although they are more difficult to find then their popular name-brand equivalents because they are only at limited amount of locations.  The price is pretty comparable to the name brand equivalents.  I tried the Chocolate Candy Shell (equivalent to M&Ms), Chocolate Caramel Peanuts Nougat (equivalent to Snickers), and Chocolate Peanut Butter (equivalent to Reese’s). 

Chocolate Candy Shell (equivalent to M&Ms) Review:

I really didn’t care for the Chocolate Candy Shell and would definitely prefer the M&Ms over that.  The candy tasted fine at first but then it had a strange after taste to it that I didn’t care for.  Although, my two year old daughter did loved them.

Chocolate Caramel Peanuts Nougat (equivalent to Snickers) Review:

I absolutely LOVED the Chocolate Caramel Peanuts Nougat and would prefer it over the equivalent Snickers bar.  The chocolate on the candy was not as sweet as the Snickers bar and therefore it allowed all of the other flavors to shine through and combine nicely.

Chocolate Peanut Butter (equivalent to Reese’s) Review:

The Chocolate Peanut Butter candy pretty much tasted the same as a Reese’s.  Therefore, for the availability I would choose the Reese’s but for the nutritional quality I would choose the UNREAL version.

All-in-all the candy was good.  The biggest thing deterring me from purchasing this would be the ease of accessibility as it is not in very many stores yet, although I am sure that will change as it grows in popularity.  I will definitely purchase the Chocolate Carmel Peanuts Nougat again and would love to try the Chocolate Carmel Nougat the next time I purchase one of the UNREAL candy bars.

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of the UNREAL candy at no cost in exchange for an honest review of the product.

Dentyne Split2Fit

I was sent two packages of Dentyne’s new Split2Fit gum.  Each package came with three flavors: Peppermint, Spearmint, and Artic Chill.   The gum is absolutely phenomenal and lasts for a really long time.  I got tired of chewing on the gum before the flavor wore out; which usually never happens to me with gum.  The blister packs are nice to just pop out a piece of gum and get chewing eliminating the wrapper trash that inevitably ends up in the bottom of my purse.  The  Split2Fit packages is a good idea, although I really hadn’t ever felt the need to have a smaller section of gum because I do not put them in my pocket but in my oversized mommy purse.  My husband however, did find it more convenient to only have half of the bulk in his pocket when carrying around the gum; so maybe it is a better concept for men then for women who generally carry purses.  All-in-all I would buy this gum again for the long lasting and great flavor, but not really for the new split2fit package concept.  Thank you to BzzAgent for allowing me the opportunity to try this great product free of charge in exchange for an honest product review.

Fresh and Easy

I LOVE Fresh and Easy!!  I go there several times a month for my grocery shopping needs.  Here are some reasons why I love it: #1 It is so quick to get in and out of (with a 2-month old and a 2 ½ year old this is a huge plus).  #2 They have pre-made meals that taste like homemade meals and don’t contain all of the preservatives and artificialness that so many other stores have (Again, cooking time with two little ones is limited and knowing that I have a meal that is healthy and easy to prepare is GREAT!). #3 Their frozen pizza tastes WAY better then delivery, is cheaper, and is healthier.  #4 All of their products are reasonably priced compared to other grocery stores and generally have better nutritional value. #5 They always have a refrigerated section of food that will be soon expiring that is deeply discounted.  Most of the products can be put into the freezer for later use and come with frozen cooking directions too. #6 They always have a coupon in the weekly ad.  #7 In addition to the weekly ad coupon you can get points by becoming and using their “Friends” card.  You get one point per dollar spent and in the weekly ad and through their website you can see the products that will give you more points each week.  The points add up and are equivalent to $1 per 100 points.  It isn’t a ton of money back, but hey, it is something:-)

Now for the only downside: If you are looking for a specific brand item then they probably don’t have it.  They are very limited on name-brand items and tend to carry mostly their fresh and easy brand.  Although their brand is very good, I still do have to go to the regular grocery store the other two weeks out of the month just to load up on the everyday supplies and items that I can’t get at Fresh and Easy.  They also only have self-checkout which isn’t a bother to me as they always seem to have enough employees to handle the checkout and bagging issues but I also go during the middle of the day when it isn’t busy.  I am not sure how easy it is when it is at a more peek hour in the evening time.  A huge thank you to BzzAgent for allowing me to review the Fresh and Easy store during this buzz campaign.  I am glad that I got the chance to sing its praises.

I was given the chance to review The Hangman’s Daughter and the sequel, The Dark Monk by, Oliver Potzsch and translated by Lee Chadeayne.  The Hangman’s Daughter is what I would classify as a historical mystery novel.  It takes place in the era of the witch trials in Bavaria.  Jakob Kuisl is the town’s hangman.  Although he is highly needed for his work in the town, he is not well respected as a citizen of Schongau because everyone thinks that it is a curse to acknowledge him or his family.  He is not even allowed to live inside the city walls and hangmen’s children are not allowed to marry in the town.  Jakob on the side is also asked for his knowledge with healing remedies and is often sought out to help cure ailments.  Because of this the physician’s son Simon Fronwieser is enamored by the books and knowledge that Jakob has acquired and frequents his house to look through the books and gain more knowledge; and it doesn’t hurt that Magdalena, the hangman’s daughter is there also.  Simon’s father is the town’s physician and he himself has gone to the university to study as well.  He isn’t fond of his father’s old tactics of healing with bleeding patients and likes that Jakob’s knowledge of the human body goes deeper then the common practices.  After several children are found missing or dead the town quickly comes to the conclusion that a witch is among them and is even quicker to point a finger at the individual they think did it.  After the “witch” is locked up Jakob and Simon seek to find the true culprit of the crime.

This is a book that I didn’t want to put down.  It was beautifully written and translated into English.  I love historical fiction and this book added just a bit more and kept you guessing the whole time as to who had done it.  It was full of action, mystery, and history and I absolutely LOVED it.  I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves mystery, history, or both.

I have been able to start the beginning of The Dark Monk but have been unable to finish it with the limited time that I have to read.  I know that I am going to pick up my e-reader every chance that I get though and read the sequel.  I can’t wait to see who did the crime in this book and to further the story of Simon, Jakob, and Magdalena.


Thank you to BzzAgent for allowing me to review these books for free in exchange for an honest review.

"The Fiddler" by, Beverly Lewis

The book entitled “The Fiddler” by, Beverly Lewis is an Amish love story that the author is so famous for.  I have read several other Amish fiction stories by Beverly Lewis as well as other authors and have thoroughly enjoyed them.  This book did not disappoint.  It was a lighthearted story of two unexpected individuals falling in love.  Amilia Devries is a woman violinist that wants to be free from the chains of expectations that her family put on her to be a concert violinist.  She enjoys violin but also loves the upbeat fiddle music; but knows that it won’t be accepted by her family.  After a wrong turn in a daunting rainstorm, she finds herself lost on back roads and with a flat tire.  Luckily, she finds a cabin that is being occupied by Michael Hostetler.  Michael is an Amish man trying to find out his purpose in life.  He also feels pressure from his parents and community to become a member of the Amish Hickory Hollow community, although he feels a deeper calling to be part of the English world.  These two meets and instantly become friends like they had known each other their entire lives.

I really enjoyed this book as it is fun, easy to read, and lighthearted.  I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking to get a sense of Amish culture, loves romance stories, or is just looking for a good read.  I want to thank Bethany House Publishing for allowing me to receive this book for free in exchange for an unbiased and honest review of the book.

Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles

I received Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel Insoles through BzzAgent to try out and give my honest opinion.  I was so excited to get to try this campaign out because I have never used insoles before but had always wondered how comfortable they would be.  When I received my package in the mail I was a little concerned that the size of them was a woman’s size 6-10.  I am a size 5.5 in shoes and so I was nervous that they would not fit into my shoes.  You have to cut the insoles to fit into the size that you are anyways and so I just cut a little extra off and they fit perfectly into my black loafer shoes that I wear almost every day.  Being 9-months pregnant at the time of trial I was getting back pains, feet pains, and just generally uncomfortable at that point.  The insoles helped dramatically take away the foot pain and allowed me to walk around in comfort instead of pain.  This was particularly great because I have a 2 ½ year old that is constant movement and doesn’t slow down for anything.  These were even on me when I went into labor and up until I was about 9 ½ centimeters dilated.  I will have to say that although the rest of my body was crying out in pain, my feet weren’t.  I have continued wearing these insoles now with a newborn and busy 2 ½ year old and LOVE them!  Thank you to Dr. Scholl’s and BzzAgent for letting me be a part of this campaign.

"Thank You, God, For Blessing Me" by, Max Lucado

I received the opportunity through Booksneeze to review a digital copy of the book Thank You, God, For Blessing Me by, Max Lucado.  First of all, I have to say that I love any of Max Lucado’s books for kids.  I am sure that his Biblical studies books are excellent too, but I have a certain love for children’s books and therefore have read a lot of his books and have never been disappointed.  This book did not disappoint either.  When I first downloaded the book for my Kindle I thought that I had not gotten the entire book as it is VERY short; so don’t expect an average amount of pages.  It is meant as a board book style (minimal pages) and is formed in the way of a prayer for young children.  This book looks at the popular Hermie caterpillar character and follows his bedtime prayer as he prays for the many blessings that God has bestowed upon him.  The book kept my 2 year old daughter entertained with its rhyming nature and adorable illustrations.  I would recommend this book to anyone with young children or are beginning to teach a child to pray.  It will be a book that my daughter will love for a long time. I received a free copy of this book for an honest review through BookSneeze.com.

Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil

I was thrilled when I got the opportunity through BzzAgent to try and review the Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  It is 100% natural, high in monounsaturated fats (the “good fats”), has no trans fat, and no cholesterol.  It came with a substitution chart for butter/margarine and says that you can substitute it in most recipes for a healthier alternative (You can find the substitution chart at filippoberio.com).  As I am not an olive oil connoisseur, and honestly tend to get my olive oils on sale and the cheapest that I can find, my review will be from a novice olive oil perspective. 

Although I do not buy the most expensive brands out there I do use olive oil several times a week in my cooking.  I appreciate that it is healthier than butter and margarine and contains the “good fats”.  I  began using olive oil a lot when my daughter was an infant and the doctors were concerned that she was underweight.  One of the things that we did was to put olive oil onto her food because it gave her the “good fats” without changing the flavor of the food she was eating.  We tried the Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil on our steamed vegetables and using it for stir frying meat and veggies.  In both cases it turned out great!  It heated up nicely for the stir fry and didn’t give our steamed veggies a funny taste.  In the future I am looking forward to tying it for salad dressings and in marinades.  Thank you to BzzAgent and the  Filippo Berio company for allowing me to try this product for my honest review.

Neutrogena Cosmetics

I received five of the new line of Neutrogena make-up products to try out through Neutrogena and BzzAgent.  I tried the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector; Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner; and three of the Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balms in petal glow, sunny berry, and healthy blush.  I love Neutrogena because I have sensitive skin and have never had any problem with any of their products making my eyes puff up from an allergic reaction.

Being a mom of a two year old and 9 months pregnant sleep is sometimes hard to come by.  The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector really did the trick in reducing my dark eye circles and making me appear more awake then I a really am.  The only downside that I saw to this product was the applicator itself.  It took me a while to product to come out onto the brush end and would have preferred something that you just squeeze out because it is faster and with a busy mom, time is of the essence.  Once I got the product to come out it was easy to brush on, dab with my fingers, and get that smooth appearance without it looking like I was wearing under-eye make-up.  My normal mineral make-up went easily over the top of it and I was ready to go.

The second product that I tried was the Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner.  I don’t wear black eyeliner very often but was anxious to try it out.  I was going to a party, actually my own baby shower, and so I decided to try it for the special event.  My eyes looked great!  The eyeliner went on smoothly and stayed on the whole day.  Although I don’t wear this dark of eyeliner usually, I will continue wearing this product for special occasions when I really want my eyes to pop.

The last product that I tried was the Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm.  I received three of these in the colors of petal glow, sunny berry, and healthy blush.  The lip balm claims to transform your lips by making them softer, rosier, and more defined in just one week.  Although I really didn’t see any significant change to my lips in one week I did like the product.  The lip balm went on smoothly, was creamy, and was slightly colored to give my lips some added color.  I also like that it has an SPF 20 built in which comes in handy during the summer time in Southern California.  My favorite color was the sunny berry.

Thank you to Neutrogena and BzzAgent for allowing me to be invited to this campaign to try out free products in exchange for my Bzz and honest review of the products.

Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Shampoo and Conditioner

I was lucky enough to receive a free Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Shampoo and Conditioner to try.  I really love their products!  It has a bold citrus smell to it, it makes my hair look healthy, and makes it feel clean.  Although I like the shampoo just fine, the product that won me over is the conditioner.  The first time I used it I used the normal amount that I would with my typical brand of conditioner but it took me forever to rinse out of my hair.  I found that it is so creamy that I only need a little to go a long way.  Thank you BzzAgent and Garnier Fructis for allowing me to be part of this campaign and try this great new product free for posting an honest review.