Foxbrim Facial Toner & Seaweed Complex Lotion

Foxbrim sent me two of their products to try and review for you all!  As always, I am so thankful to the companies who are willing to send me their products in return for an unbiased review - that alone shows that they truly care about what their customers think!

First up is their Natural Facial Toner.  I recently had a facial done at my salon and loved the toner she had used on me during the process.  I made a mental note to myself that I had to find a toner that I loved to start using, as well!  When I was younger, I would always use the Seabreeze toner, but I feel that's just so harsh on your skin - which is why I was pumped about trying Foxbrim's all natural option!

I loved that this came in a spray bottle - it makes it so much easier to apply than when you have to wipe it on with a cotton ball.  I used the toner after I was done cleaning my face and neck, before applying any moisturizer or other products.  It feels light-weight and refreshing on my skin, giving it an extra boost of freshness.  However, because of the scent, I've had to stop using it.  I might be fussier about scents than others, but this smells like I am spraying the bath water after washing my cat onto my face.  After spraying, I'd walk around the house quickly, as to let the breeze dry the product as quickly as possible and hopefully leave the smell behind - but this was just too much of a hassle to continue using the product.

The next product that Foxbrim sent me was their Seaweed Complex Lotion.  I was also stoked about this one, as I have been looking for a new moisturizer ever since leaving my last favorite one with my mom!  I used this moisturizer both in the morning and at night before bed to try and combat the dry skin that winter has been causing around my nose.

The moisturizer went on smoothly, without any greasiness.  It absorbed into my skin quite quickly, allowing me to continue with my daily facial routine without needing to wait around.  I was surprised by the smell of this, as it was very strongly scented - at first it reminded me of a bar of soap, but after having a friend smell it, she made me realize that this smells like men's aftershave.  I am very surprised that something that is all natural can have this level of fragrance in it.

I will mention this one more time - I am very fussy about scents, and in this case, I just do not feel comfortable putting something so highly-fragranced onto my face.  I'm sure it's just fine, but after years and years of telling myself that fragrances don't go above my neck, this just goes against everything I know.  I really, really feel this would be an excellent product for a guy who needs a good moisturizer, but doesn't want to feel too "metro" about it.

The fantastic thing about Foxbrim is that they offer an amazing guarantee.  If for any reason you are unsatisfied with any of your purchase, they will refund all of your money.  No questions asked.  If you are less of a fussy-head than I am about your scents, I definitely recommend you give these two products a try!

Unboxing my ModaVoxBox

I was so excited when I received my #ModaVoxBox from Influenster - there were so many goodies to try!  After putting them to use over the past few weeks, I wanted to pass on my thoughts on each,

Rimmel London sent the most products, including their Moisture Renew Lipstick, Moisture Renew Lip Liner, and Scandaleyes Rockin' Curves Mascara.  At the moment, their Scandaleyes Retro Glam mascara is my all-time favorite go-to mascara, so I was pumped to give Rockin' Curves a try.

The wand on the Rockin' Curves is unlike any mascara I've ever seen before - almost "S" shaped.  I loved it for reaching the outer- and inner-most corners of my eyes, though - I feel I put mascara on lashes that have never felt mascara before!

Before & After Rimmel London Scandaleyes Rockin' Curves Mascara

Although it doesn't give me huge lashes like the Retro Glam does, the Rockin' Curves makes applying mascara to my lower lashes SO simple.  My new everyday makeup routine has me using Rockin' Curves on the bottom, while I use Retro Glam up top.  It's the best of both Scandaleyes worlds!

Next up was Puff's SoftPack.  I love, Love, LOVE having this SoftPack on my couch for whenever I might need a tissue.  It's soft, so I don't have to worry about leaning into it and getting a sharp corner in my side - and it's great to just toss across the room if anyone else needs a tissue.

Recently, Clairol released a new hair product line at Target called Hair Food.  While Influenster sent me their Moisture Hair Mask, I took my coupon straight to Target and also bought one of the shampoos (combined with cartwheel to save even more!)  I love how pure these products are, with none of the stuff that gunks up and stays on your hair, weighing it down.  I also love the salon-style pump on the shampoos, which makes using it in the shower a breeze.

When I first used my hair mask, however, I found my hair to feel super greasy and oily.  Afterwards, I spoke to my hair stylist about it, and she told me that when using any sort of conditioner or deep conditioning treatments, to always avoid applying it to the first few inches of hair near the scalp.  Unless you have a super dry scalp, your own natural oils do an awesome job themselves at keeping that immediate hair conditioned and healthy.  I had no idea, but it makes perfect sense!  Since then, I've only used the Hair Food Hair Mask on my bottom half of my head, and there has been no more greasiness!

Swiss Miss has came out with this new cocoa line called Simply Cocoa, and it is AMAZING.  I hate companies who think the more products they use, the better their final product will be.  I prefer purchasing natural, simple products so I know exactly what my family is eating.  Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa is just five ingredients - sugar, cocoa, nonfat milk, salt, and natural flavor.  Nothing artificial, nothing you can't pronounce, and it tastes fantastic!  The only slight downfall is that it must be made with milk, not water optional like most cocoas.  This was also on sale at Target, and paired with a coupon and cartwheel was only around 50 cents.

I also received Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer.  This stuff is rich and is definitely for dry, dry skin - and it leaves your skin feeling super nourished.  My issue was that it didn't fully absorb into my skin, so it made it near impossible to put on skinny jeans or leggings afterwards, because my legs were so sticky.  I've had to stick to using this lotion only before bedtime, so that it has all night to properly absorb!

Lastly, Influenster sent me a bottle of Resource Spring Water.  Nothing blew me away about this water - I still prefer bottled waters that have the spout cap to drink out of when I am going to the gym.  If you want to get your water delivered, however, right now they are offering up to 50% off your first delivery at http://www.polandspringdelivery.com/resource.cfm?utm_source=influenster

Want to receive free products in the mail in exchange for your unbiased review?  Comment below or send me your e-mail address and I will send you an invitation to Influenster!

Body Merry Products Review + a Giveaway!

I've been wanting to host a giveaway for quite some time, and recently Body Merry sent me FOUR of their products to review - so I decided to combine this all into a product review + giveaway!  After reading about my experiences with the Body Merry products, please feel free to enter the giveaway below. :)

First off, was their Stretch Marks & Scars Defense Cream.  This was the product that I was most excited about, as my two children have left me quite the collection of "tiger stripes".  Now, some of my stretch marks are over 8 years old - which means nothing short of cosmetic surgery is going to get rid of them, but I still figured this product couldn't hurt!

When I first opened the product, I noticed that it looked like some sort of cream cheese frosting - and that's exactly what it feels like!  The instructions suggest that you use the product twice daily, and to gently massage the cream onto the desired areas until fully absorbed.  Let me quickly explain that this product is organic cocoa butter, shea butter, vitamins e + c + b3 + b5, and pure plant oils.  Just judging from my past use of vitamin e, there's no way it's going to "fully absorb".  After applying, skin is left quite sticky and greasy, but nothing that can't be managed.

I definitely felt that this cream did an excellent job at hydrating my skin, leaving it feeling nourished.  Before and after photos of my stretch marks, however, really don't show too much (if any) improvement.  I am sure if I had used this 8 years ago, I probably would have had different results!  Thankfully, I am comfortable with my 'love marks' from my kids and have accepted that they will probably be there for the rest of my life ;)

Next up was the 2 . 5% Retinol Surge Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid.  Lately, I've noticed a lot of dry skin around my nose area, so I've been searching for a new moisturizer.  The product comes in a pretty large-sized pump container.  I loved the pump and the ability to control exactly how much product I used, without worrying about bacteria unnecessarily getting back in.

The moisturizer itself was non-greasy and absorbed into my skin within moments.  In the past, I've had to wait a few minutes after applying moisturizer before I could begin putting on my makeup, but not with this!  It absorbs into the skin almost instantly.  This product was amazing and cleared up my dry skin after just one use!

I took the Retinol Surge Moisturizer with me to my parents house while visiting during Thanksgiving, and made my mom try it.  She also loved it - and I ended up telling her to keep it, and I would purchase my own!  This is definitely a product that I will keep in my daily routine.

Body Merry also sent me their Age Defense Eye Cream to try out.  Much like the Retinol Surge Moisturizer, it was very non-greasy and absorbed instantly into my skin.  It was more light-weight than the Retinol Surge, and had a pleasant scent that reminded me of citrus.

If you're a mommy, you probably get 10+ hours of sleep every night just like I do, but this product is fantastic for those "rare" nights where you may have not gotten quite enough.  It does an excellent job at reducing swelling under the eyes and making those dark circles less noticeable!  Considering it's called 'Age Defense', I'd have to assume this product will also help me in the long run! ;)

The last product that was sent to me was the Body Merry Hyaluronic Acid.  Before receiving this product, I did not know much about Hyaluronic Acid, so I did a little research - as the word 'acid' kind of made me nervous to be putting on my skin.  Hyaluronic is an acid that is naturally occurring in the body, specifically in our eyes and joints.  It works as a lubricant in our joints, but also has been linked to healing wounds and burns on the skin.  Some have promoted Hyaluronic Acid as a "fountain of youth".  A little scary fact, is that most Hyaluronic Acid found in medicines is derived from the combs of roosters (yuck!), but Body Merry only uses plant-derived Hyaluronic Acid.  All of this information made me much more comfortable to put it on my skin!

Since I was already using the Retinol Surge Moisturizer and Age Defense Eye Cream during my morning routine, both of which already contain Hyaluronic Acid, I decided to save this product for my bedtime routine.  I loved the little glass bottle with dropper, which made it so simple to apply the product onto my face.  My skin just soaked this stuff up - I am not sure if that's normal, or if I am that much in need of hydration, but I barely got the chance to rub it in before it'd all be absorbed!

It definitely gave my skin a fresh and dewy appearance, without making it look greasy at all.  The only downfall is how much product I used each time - maybe I used too much but I can't see this bottle lasting me much longer than a few weeks.

The wonderful thing about Body Merry is that all of their products come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  If for any reason you aren't happy with the product or your results, just contact them and they will send you all of your money back!  There's no reason not to try them with that kind of assurance!

Now, onto the fun stuff!  I've been compiling quite the assortment of products to use in a giveaway.  This prize pack contains 2 travel sized tubes of L'Oreal's Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Eye Smoother, L'Oreal Color Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color in Rose Melody, Rimmel Scandaleyes Precision Micro Eyeliner in Black, Rimmel Show Off Lip Laquer in Big Bang, and a year subscription to Redbook - all of which courtesy of L'Oreal Paris, Rimmel London, and Redbook, respectively.  To enter, just follow the tasks in the Rafflecopter below! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Leather Nova Cleaner, Conditioner & Restorer Review

I was selected by Leather Nova to try their Leather Cleaner, Leather Conditioner & Restorer, AND Leather Conditioner & Cleaner.  I was so thankful to be chosen to review these products, because I never have really put much attention into my leather sofa and ottoman and I feel it shows.  When I got my furniture about 3 years ago, it came with a free little bottle of leather cleaner (that looks and smells like water) and that's all I've ever used to clean - and I've never conditioned them.  I knew my couch was in much need of some cleaning and conditioning!

When my package arrived, I was excited to see that each product comes with it's own applicator.  Since I received two different cleaning options, I decided to use the Cleaner followed by the Conditioner & Restorer on my couch and then just use the Conditioner & Cleaner on my ottoman.  This way, I would be able to compare the two processes and see if the 2-in-1 is just as good as the two step option.

Although my couch didn't have any specific stains that I was trying to remove, I was sure it could benefit from an all-over cleaning.  My first surprise was that you spray the cleaner directly onto the leather surface - in my past experience, the cleaner is always applied to your applicator first.  I went ahead and sprayed the entire couch generously with cleaner, and then used the provided microfiber towel to massage the cleaner into the leather to loosen any dirt.  After that was done, I went back with another dry cloth to wipe away any dirt and oil that was lifted to the surface.  My clean, white towel definitely came away with some dark marks from what was removed!

A freshly cleaned couch!

I allowed my couch to dry for awhile (while I tried the other product out on my ottoman), and then came back to finish up with the Conditioner & Restorer.  Surprise #2 came when I read the directions that stated, "You may also use your hand [to apply]"... This stuff is greasy, oily, and goopy.  There was no way I was putting it directly onto my hands!  However, it was nice to know that I had that option.

Like I mentioned before, I've never used any type of conditioner on my couch before - and boy, I think it needed it.  The leather just sucked this stuff up like crazy, I had to keep re-applying the product to the applicator every few inches, as it would go dry that quickly.  The good news is, after the entire couch was done, I only had used about 1/4 of the bottle - I assumed over half would be gone!

Wet and oily - but hopefully conditioned!

 Once all of the conditioner was applied, the couch was incredibly oily and wet looking.  The directions say to leave it sit for 1 hour, so I went back to working on my ottoman.  After the hour was up, I used a dry cloth to buff the entire surface of the couch - and wow, what a difference!

Before & After - Using Leather Nova Cleaner, Conditioner & Restorer

The couch officially looked cleaner and shinier!  It felt incredibly soft to the touch - something I continue to notice every time I sit on it.  The entire process took about 2 hours including drying time, but it's obvious that the products work!

It was then time to check out my ottoman...

Now, my ottoman did have a couple stains on it where it appears someone took a marker (wonder who could've done that?) plus, some leftover frosting or another food-like substance.  After applying the formula to the applicator pad and rubbing it thoroughly into the leather, I immediately noticed that some of the stains were lifted.

Stains - Before & After using Leather Nova Conditioner & Cleaner

I allowed the entire ottoman to dry for about 40 minutes, and then used a dry cloth to buff the surface.

Before & After using Leather Nova Conditioner & Cleaner

While the Before & After pictures for the Conditioner & Cleaner aren't as extreme as the 2-step process, I still noticed a difference in the shininess and softness of my ottoman - plus, this process took me less than half of the amount of time.

In the end, I was impressed with all of the products that I received - and I feel they all worked as claimed.  In the future, I will probably use the Conditioner & Cleaner when I need to quickly clean the furniture, as it doesn't take as long.  For dirtier situations, or for a more impressive result, I will definitely use the Leather Cleaner / Conditioner & Restorer Combo.  I plan on reapplying this to all of my leather furniture in another month or so to keep it all protected.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Terry Treetop Finds New Friends eBook Review

Our family was selected to read and review 'Terry Treetop Finds New Friends' in exchange for receiving the ebook free of charge.  After browsing the other reviews on Amazon, I feel many others here also received the book for free, and automatically gave it 5 stars because of it.

Tali Carmi seems to be a very passionate author who loves what she does.  Each book comes with a personal thank you note, telling you of her inspirations and dreams.  There just are some people who probably shouldn't be children's authors - myself included.

Immediately upon seeing the book, I was a little confused as to why Marie from 'The Artistocats' was on the cover.  Turns out, it's not Marie, but a kitten named Kitty.  The fact that the illustrator had to steal artwork from Disney is a little off-putting - they could have at least changed the color of the bow and collar in an effort to not directly copy it.

Once we started reading, the format was completely off in our e-reader.  Every other page is just a run-off of words, leaving my daughter bored and restless with nothing to look at.  Another immediate complaint was the fact the author has inserted links into the story to advertise her other books.  It just seemed gimmicky.

As we continued reading, I continually got caught up on the words - the way the sentences were put together were just awkward.  "Terry was so happy that he climbed that tree to go to his new house,"  or "He didn't want to be alone, so he decided to go on a journey to find new friends to invite to his tree house."  Not to mention, there was a sentence that began with "But."  I personally don't feel comfortable exposing my daughter to poor grammar if I don't need to.

The best part of this ebook is the author provides a free activity for the story on her site at http://www.thekidsbooks.com/terry_friends/card_game.pdf

Kirsten loved playing the card game, over and over. It was definitely the highlight of her experience.

My daughter sat through the story, but wasn't interested in talking about it or the prospect of reading it again.  At the end of the book, it advertised getting another Terry Treetop book for free.  This time, it was Terry Treetop and The Lost Egg.

Once again, reading this book was just awkward.  It's written in rhymes, which gave me hope that it would be an easier read - regrettably, the rhythm continued changing and extra words were added and removed each line, causing the flow to be off.  Also, attempts at rhyming words such as 'alligator' with 'water' left me stumped.

I am thankful that we received these ebooks for free, as it was nice, quality time spent with my daughter.  However, I do not plan on purchasing any of Tali Carmi's additional ebooks.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Bella Naturals Firming Cellulite Cream Review

About a month ago, Bella Naturals sent me a jar of their Firming Cellulite Cream to try.  They claim that this product will "smooth those lumpy bumpy cottage cheese thighs and firm that jiggly butt!"  Quite an interesting claim that I, for one, did not want to pass up!  Ironically, two different manufacturers sent me cellulite cream for review at the same time, so I used each on a different thigh to compare the results.  This was officially my "Left Thigh Cream".

Before even receiving the cream, I received an e-mail from the manufacturer with some hints and tips on how to use the product once I receive it.  I appreciated that they reached out like this and was already impressed with my experience.

Sticky and gooey - after 3 weeks, there was barely any left.

Upon first opening the product, I was surprised by a somewhat minty glue/paint scent.  Bella Naturals informs users that there might be a "menthol" type fragrance, which is the peppermint left extract and peppermint oil, used to reduce inflammation.

Much like the smell, the product also felt like glue.  It was gooey and slimy.  After application, it didn't seem to really soak into the skin - rather sit on top and leave a sticky residue.  I once tried to continue rubbing the product into my skin to see if it just took more "elbow grease" to make it absorb, but the product ended up drying and peeling off, leaving chunks of what looked like dried glue all over my legs.

Once dried, the product does show immediate (although I am sure temporary) results.  My thigh looked sleek and silky.  After three weeks of use, my skin definitely felt softer and smoother, but I was under the impression that this product was basically for immediate results and probably didn't do much long term.  However, I then compared at my before & after photos...

Before & After - look at the disappearance of the lumps and bumps!

I can't be sure of it's actual effects on my cellulite, but my gosh it sure looks like it helped!  In the after photo, my skin looks so much smoother and the lumps towards the front of my leg have almost disappeared!  (These photos also made it apparent to me that I need more sun!)

After 3 weeks of application, once per day, on only 1 thigh, I used up my entire jar.  Therefore, I would suspect a jar to last less than a week of the recommended, twice daily application.  At $20/jar, this could be quite costly.  I personally don't plan on re-purchasing any additional product.

(I received the product mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.)

Body Merry Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream Review

I was lucky enough to be selected by Body Merry to try out their Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream with Caffeine and Retinol for free!  Body Merry claims that this cream will "visibly reduce the appearance of unwanted bumps and lumps and [give you] skin that feels and looks tighter, smoother and younger!" Obviously I was skeptical, but I don't think many women would turn down the chance at getting those results!   Ironically, two different manufacturers sent me cellulite cream for review at the same time, so I used each on a different thigh to compare the results.  This was officially my "Right Thigh Cream".

Very hydrating, not greasy at all!

When I first opened the product, a strong minty smell overwhelmed me - quite similar to Vicks vapor rub.  The manufacturer describes this as a 100% natural mint - green tea - lime fragrance.  The scent didn't bother me, but it was something that I could see others having issue with.  As a bonus, I liked to tell myself that it was a great way to clear my sinuses every morning.

It's very difficult to describe the consistency of this product, and I feel "gel-cream" really does it the best.  It's not at all greasy and leaves absolutely no residue behind - everything absorbs into your skin almost immediately, leaving your skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Then, the magic begins!  I began feeling my leg get goosebumps because of it's cooling effects.  Then, without warning, the product began heating up - leaving my thigh tingly all over.  A word of caution - the first time I tried this product, I might have applied it carelessly and gotten it on some more "sensitive skin" areas.  It BURNS on sensitive skin.  I think anyone who has ever used IcyHot on an more sensitive area knows exactly what I am talking about!  Therefore, be very cautious about where the product is applied!

Then, after 3 weeks of application...

Before (Please, ignore the cat toy!) & After

My skin definitely felt noticeably softer and smoother!  I can't be sure of it's actual effects on my cellulite, because I had to pose my leg differently in the Before & After photos.  It sure looks like it helped, but who knows.  (It also made it apparent to me that I need more sun!)

After 3 weeks of application, once per day, on only 1 thigh, I have about 1/4 of the jar left.  Therefore, I would suspect a jar to last about 1 week of the recommended, twice daily application.  At $20/jar, this could be quite costly.  I personally don't plan on re-purchasing any additional product once this jar runs out.

The amazing thing is, Body Merry offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee - if you don't like the results you get, just contact them and they will give you all of your money back - you don't even need to return the product!  With that kind of customer service, there's no reason not to try this for yourself!

(I received the product mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.)

My "3 Day" Suja Essentials Juice Cleanse

Awhile back, I came across a delicious looking juice cleanse program over at Suja Essentials- I searched reviews and saw great feedback!  Although a little pricey, Suja Essentials takes all of the hassle out of juicing with their cold-pressed, organic juices.  They're packed full of healthy foods and natural nutrients.  I may love food, but this program looked like the perfect thing I would need to successfully do a juice cleanse.

The way it works is you have 6 juices that contain all of the vital nutrients you'll need throughout your day.  You drink 1 juice every 2 hours, ending the night with a yummy, creamy "dessert" juice.  This schedule worked perfectly for me, as I would be stuck at work the next few days and could always just have a juice on my desk and sip at my leisure.

I headed over to Whole Foods to pick up everything I'd need for a 3 day cleanse - plus, I also picked up their Master Cleanse juices, because it sounded delicious and I figured - if there was a chance I didn't like one of the juices, I could just sip on a Master Cleanse, instead!

Now, these juices aren't cheap.  At $9 a bottle, 7 bottles a day, that's almost $200 just to drink liquids for 3 days. Thankfully Whole Foods offers by-the-case pricing, so I did get a tad bit of a discount.  I went home and stocked my fridge and anxiously awaited the next morning!

My entire fridge shelf full of juices - so pretty!

Before starting the juices each day, Suja recommends sipping a glass of water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.  This helps alkalize your body and kick starts it into the cleansing process.  Once you start to feel hunger, it's onto Juice #1!  I read negative comments about this part, but I am accustomed to drinking apple cider vinegar in my water, so this isn't a problem at all for me.  Some other cleansers suggested just taking the tablespoon of apple cider vinegar as a "shot" to get it over with, but I preferred to sip as I got ready for work.  So far, so good.

Day #1, 10:30 am.  Juice #1: Glow

 

After the apple cider vinegar water, I don't start to feel hunger until around 10:30 am.  I break open my first juice, Glow.  It is made from 2 apples, 6 celery stalks, 1/2 cucumber, a handful of spinach, 3 collard leaves, 3 kale leaves, and a sprig of mint.  According to Suja, it is "perfect to start your day with."  Blegh.  It tastes like liquid celery.  I hate celery.  I decide that maybe I can substitute in another juice of my liking instead this one, and put this one back into the fridge.  Onto Juice #2...

Day #1, 11:00 am.  Juice #2: Fuel

This is what I am talking about!  Fuel is delicious.  Suja claims this is a "light, refreshing orange and pineapple blend" - I'd have to disagree and call it an overpowering carrot blend, but not undrinkable in the least.  It has 9 carrots, 1 orange, 1 apple, 1 slice of pineapple, 1/2 of a lemon, and an inch of turmeric.  If all of the juices taste like this, I could cleanse for weeks!  After the initial disappointment, I am back on track and re-excited for this cleanse!  Bring on Juice #3!

Day #1, 1:00 pm.  Juice #3: Purify

Purify is remarkably similar to Fuel, and a glance at the ingredients explains why - 7 carrots, 1 apple, 2 celery stalks, 1/4 of a cucumber, 1/2 of a beet, 1/2 of a lemon.  Lots of shared ingredients, but wow does that 1/2 of a beet really change the overall flavor.  Less fruits so it wasn't as sweet, but thankfully, I love beets and didn't mind drinking this drink, either.  At this point, I am feeling quite full of liquid and just take occasional sips.  Before I know it, it's already time for my next drink and I haven't even finished this one!  I decide to stretch it out a little, in case there's another juice in my future that doesn't appeal to me, and continue sipping on Purify for another hour.

Day #1, 4:00 pm.  Juice #4: Fiji

Oh, gross.  I am so glad I waited to open up this juice.  It's another blended celery drink.  They claim it contains 2 apples, 6 celery stalks, ½ of a cucumber, a handful of spinach, 3 collard greens, 3 kale leaves, a squeeze of lemon and a hint of ginger, but I am pretty sure it's just pure celery blended together.  Since I got a late start on my day, I decide to put this one back, as well, and go straight into the next...

Day #1, 4:30 pm.  Juice #5: Green Supreme

I was SO excited for this drink.  5 apples, a bunch of kale and 1/2 a lemon.  Basically apple juice with some yummy greens added in!  .... not sure what went wrong but this was just as bad as the celery drinks.  I took a big gulp and had to quickly choke it down before I almost gagged it back up.  You're supposed to finish your last drink at least 3 hours before bedtime to ensure proper digestion, which means I have to finish one more juice within the next 2 1/2 hours.  I might not be getting my proper daily nutrition for the day, but I decide to just drink the final juice of the night and plan on going back to Whole Foods the next day to get replacement drinks for the green ones - plus I still have the Master Cleanses waiting for me at home!  Onto my "dessert"!

Day #1, 4:30 pm.  Juice #6: Vanilla Cloud

From my prior research and reviews that I read, this was the drink I was waiting for all day.  The yummy, sweet dessert drink - the reward for a full day of cleansing.  1/2 a coconut’s meat, a spoonful of honey, 12 almonds, a pinch of cinnamon, a pinch of vanilla and a pinch nutmeg.  All delicious ingredients, nothing could go wrong with this drink, right?  Wrong.. oh, so wrong.  It's chunky.  You can't drink it, or you will choke on the bits of coconut and almond floating around.  You have to kind of chew it, which is difficult because it's a liquid.  And, for all of the sweet ingredients they use, it's not really that sweet.  I'm not a fan of coconut water, and that's really what this reminded me of.  Chewy, coconut water.  At this point, I am devastated.  Out of the 6 juices, I am only able to keep down 2.  There's no way I can find replacements for the other 4 drinks and continue on for another 2 days worth of a cleanse.

Day #1, 5:30 pm.  Bonus Juice: Master Cleanse

When I get home, I am starving.  I didn't even drink half of the juices that I was supposed to and my stomach needs nourishment.  I decide to give the Master Cleanse a try.  Lemon, Cayenne, and Maple Syrup.  Like a sweet, yet spicy lemonade.  I don't mind a little spice in my meals, and I hope the flavor will satisfy my hunger for the rest of the night.  I hold the first sip in my mouth, and it's sickly sweet.  Way, way too sweet.  As I swallow, I am met with a fierce, burning fire going all of the way down my throat.  I want to vomit it's so intense.  I run and grab a bottle of water and wash it all down, in defeat.

I decide to call up my friend and see if she wants to give it a try - she has a much different palate than I do, and I can definitely see her enjoying some of these drinks.  She LOVES anything spicy and doesn't mind the taste of celery.  Thankfully, I saved the open bottles so I bring them over to her house and let her have a try. 

   ... and she has the same disgust that I did for almost every drink.  She did enjoy the Glow, but hated Fuel.  She had the same reaction to Master Cleanse as I did, and we agreed it is completely undrinkable.  Suja claims this Fresh Start cleanse is perfect for first time juicers, but I have to disagree.  If you haven't juiced in the past, you'll probably have a lot of the same issues that I had during the cleanse.  However, everyone is different and we all have our own preferences!  I highly recommend, if you are going to try this cleanse, to only purchase 1 day to start with - and not get stuck with 2 more days of juice that no one will drink, like me!  And, if you're like me and can't stand celery, this is probably not the cleanse for you.

So, let me know - have you tried the Suja Fresh Start Juice Cleanse before?  What was your opinions of the juices?  Any other juice cleanse program that you'd recommend?  I'd love to find one that works for me!

Kiss Everlasting French Nails

Yesterday, I posted about how I was lucky enough to receive a Spring Vox Box from Influenster, full of fun products to review!  I decided the product that excited me the most deserved it's very own blog post.. the Kiss Everlasting French Nails.

When I first opened the box, I noticed the length of the nails was 'Real Short'.  I normally prefer my nails to be a little longer than this, but I was pleasantly surprised at how nice they looked once they all were on! They glue was fantastic at making them stick almost immediately - and the little tab helped so that I didn't accidentally get glue all over the fronts of the nails.

The most helpful hint I've ever received regarding applying fake nails is to file the lower part of the nail so that it perfectly matches the shape of your nail bed.  It might take a little extra time, but it makes the nails look SO much more natural and less fake!  The amazing thing about these nails - barely any filing was needed!

My biggest issue - which not everyone will have - is that my nail beds are incredibly flat. Normally when picking out false nails, I need to go with the ones that are specifically made for flat beds. Since these are quite rounded, they do pop off my nails more easily, just because there's not as much nail actually attached directly to my real nail. Still, I just carry a thing of glue in my purse and glue it right back on - no harm done! :) I'm loving these nails, look how amazing they look!

Spring Fling VoxBox

I am lucky enough to be able to call myself an Influenster!  Every once in awhile, I get products to test and give my feedback on - and I was stoked to receive my Spring Fling VoxBox!

 First off, I want to say that I also got a Labor Day Movie peach pie air freshener in my VoxBox, but it immediately went into my car before I even went into the house. (Yes, I was so excited that I opened my VoxBox at the mailbox!)  To be honest, the air freshener had no smell.  I was hoping that a few days in a hot car might activate it, but no luck.  Oh well - I'm not here to be giving feedback on a promotional air freshener :)  However!  If you're looking for a cute movie, you should check out the Labor Day Movie.  It just came out in January and looks like a really touching film.

Enough about onto that, let's get onto these products!  First I'm going to take a quick second to talk about the Playtex Sport Fresh Balance tampons.  I personally prefer my Diva/Lunette Cup over disposable products during "that time", but I always keep spare tampons on me, just in case of an emergency!  These are great, since they are the 'sport' style, they are a little bit thinner and more flexible than your ordinary tampon - which I prefer!  Once I find a brand I like, I am normally pretty loyal - and it's either Playtex Sport or Kotex U tampons for me!

Next off, we have the Rimmel Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara.  I'm one of those types that think 90% of drug store mascaras are the same.  However, I tried it, and WOW, this stuff works! You get amazing coverage after just one coat, and if you happen to do two coats - your eyes POP! This has became my go-to mascara because of how quickly I can achieve almost-false looking lashes. My only complaint is that this stuff is messy! I've never had a problem with mascaras in the past, but I have mascara EVERYWHERE by the time I am done applying it - on my cheeks, my eyelids, my fingertips - I've done everything I can think of to try and be a little neater, but I've come to accept that I just need to be prepared to clean myself up afterwards. Check out my before & after pic just to see how great this is after just 1 coat!

Last, I will be talking about Nivea's Body Skin Firming Moisturizer.  This lotion is excellent, because it leaves you feeling nice and moisturized, without any greasy leftover.  The scent is nice and fresh, barely there - but honestly, I like being able to layer my scents so I know I am smelling good all day long - so I mainly use this lotion before bedtime and save my "smelly" lotions for morning ;)  Right now, Nivea is giving out free samples for everyone to try!  Check out their page and figure out which product is right for you!

Some lucky VoxBoxers also got to try out the new Softlips cubes - which are absolutely adorable! - but, sadly I was not one of them.  Oh well, maybe next time!

As you can see in the top photo, I also received some Kiss Everlasting French Nails.  I'm actually going to set aside a-whole-nother blog post, just for this product!  Keep an eye out!

Do you wish you could receive free products in the mail to test, too?  You'll need to be invited by a current Influenster!  Just comment with your e-mail below - or send it to me in a private message - and I will send an invitation your way!

Free Yummy, Healthy Snacks - Delivered to Your Door!

Awhile back, a friend introduced me to graze and I fell in love.  I'm not sure who is more excited to get a box of healthy snacks in the mail each week, my kids or myself!  I am content in knowing that my kids are "grazing" on snacks that are healthier for them than the alternative chips and junk food.

Graze boxes are packed full of vitamins, minerals, whole grains, and more.  Each box is unique, and customized to your tastes!  After trying every box, you just log into your account and rate the snacks, Love It, Love It, Send Occasionally, or Never Send Again.  They use your preferences to determine which snacks you should enjoy!  So far, my favorite is Hot Cross Yum, but all of the flapjacks are phenomenal, as well!

I admit, I've loved about 95% of the snacks we have tried from graze.  A lot of them are things I wouldn't normally snack on, either!  Each box costs $6, including shipping all of the way from Europe!  Sadly, this site is by invitation only, so not everyone can join yet.  The good news is, graze has given me 1 free code to share - the first person who uses this code will get a FREE box of graze shipped to their house!  (Please comment below if you use the code so that I will know to remove it.)

Click here for your FREE box of graze!

... were you too late and the free box was already claimed?

Have no fear!  I recently found another snacking service just like graze!  Introducing...

nibblr!  Nibblr appears to be just like graze, only it is open to the public!  It is also $6 per box, including shipping - but the more you pay for upfront, the less your cost is.  (If you pay for 4 boxes at a time, it is only $23, instead of $24)  Do you want to try nibblr for free?  Just go to http://www.nibblrbox.com/ and use the referral code: FIRSTBOXFREE

And please, leave me a comment!  Have you ever tried graze or nibblr?  What are your favorite snacks from them?