Sag To Swag!

Influenster recently chose me to participate in their Pampers Cruisers Sag To Swag campaign! I was really excited about this one because diapers are expensive and we have two kids in diapers! They sent me a Vox Box with three size 5 Pampers Cruisers.

Jack is size five so he got to use them! I love these diapers! They were snug yet flexible and Jack stayed drier longer. He was able to run around and climb all over the furniture without the diapers coming loose or getting moved around. I really liked the Cruisers, although I wish they were fragrance free. Jack has sensitive skin and the fragrance free diapers tend to work better and he has diaper rash less often. Other than that I really liked them! Pampers is a great brand and I enjoyed testing and reviewing the diapers. If you have a toddler you should definitely try Pampers Cruisers!

Blossom VoxBox Review!

I just tested the last item in my Blossom VoxBox from Influenster, and now it's time to review all the items! This is the first time I've received a VoxBox with more than one item in it, so I was very excited!

The first product I tested and reviewed was Australian Gold Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30. 

We were already planning on going to the beach the day the VoxBox arrived so it was perfect timing! I really liked it! It didn't feel greasy on my skin and it smells like coconuts and pineapples. Also, I'm basically a vampire and I burn easily. Yes, my back got burned that day but that's because I couldn't reach every part of my back and didn't ask for help. The rest of my skin didn't burn, except for a few patches here and there on my legs but I think that is because I went into the water too soon. I will probably stick to my regular brand of sunscreen, but I did really like Australian Gold, too.

The next product I tested and reviewed was Clairol's Hair Food Root Cleansing Shampoo.

I absolutely adore this product! It smells amazing and it completely cleansed my hair. I only needed to use a small amount to get a good lather going and my hair is pretty long. Afterwards my hair felt light and clean. I will definitely recommend this product to my friends! I took a selfie of my hair after I washed it with Hair Food and styled it.

The next product I tested and reviewed was Bear Naked Granola. 

I absolutely loved both flavors that they sent me! The first one I tried was the Coconut Almond Curry. I mixed it with strawberry flavored yogurt

It was very yummy! The coconut adds a sweet, tropical flavor and the curry adds a bite that isn't overwhelming. I definitely recommend this granola and the pairing! The following morning I tried the other flavor they sent me, which was Sea Salt Caramel Apple.

It was amazing and definitely my favorite flavor out of the two! I will be purchasing more of this one. The caramel apple was sweet and the sea salt added just enough salt to taste good but not overwhelming.

The next product I tested and reviewed was Beanitos Black Bean chips.

They sent me two bags, one was flavored Chipotle BBQ Black Bean, and the other was original Black Bean flavor. I will admit, I wasn't sure about Black Bean chips. It seems like an odd flavor to use in chips. However, it tasted better than I thought! The original with sea salt was good, although I thought there wasn't enough sea salt flavor, I could barely taste it. The Chipotle BBQ was had a good, strong flavor! 

The next product I tested and reviewed was NYC New York Color City Proof 24 Hour Eyeshadow.

I was nervous about testing this product because I use Mary Kay exclusively and I wanted to give it a fair review. After using it and looking at other reviews on Influenster I see that I'm not the only one that feels the way I do about this product. First, the pros. I like that it is waterproof. I also like the shade, I think it's pretty. However, the texture was too creamy for me. By the end of the day it creased in a few places and made me look like a cheap hooker. ;) So no, I wouldn't purchase this product, even if I weren't using another brand exclusively. I did take a selfie of me wearing the eye shadow right after I put it on.

The next product I tested and reviewed was Sally Hanson Airbrush Legs Leg Makeup.

It comes in different strengths depending on your skin tone. Since I am basically a vampire, I got it in light. I have used sunless tanning lotion in the past (sometimes successfully, sometimes disastrously) but I have never tried something like this product. It is water resistant, but the directions say it is also easily removed with warm, soapy water. I really like that because if I overdo it or put it on uneven, I can just start over! I gave it a try today. It looked a little dark when I put it on, but it blended in nicely and gave my legs a light tan that didn't look too orange. And when I showered it did come off easily with soap and water. If I decide I want to have tan legs on a date with my hubby, I will definitely use this product! You can find this in the nail care aisle with other Sally Hansen products.

I took a couple photos of my legs after apply it. In the first one, it's just my legs with the leg makeup. In the second one, I pulled my shorts back so you can see the difference between my natural skin tone and the leg makeup.

The last product I tested and reviewed was Nasoya Pasta Zero Shirataki Spaghetti noodles.

I decided to make the Spaghetti with marinara sauce recipe that they feature on their website. It only took a few minutes to prepare and cook and it turned out great! It was delicious! One package of Nasoya Pasta Zero noodles makes enough spaghetti to feed two people.

All in all, I really enjoyed all of the products I received to test and review complimentary from Influenster! I found some new products to purchase in the future! Thanks, Influenster!

Nasoya Pasta Zero Fettuccini with Basil and Brie

Included in the Blossom Vox Box from Influenster was a package of Nasoya Pasta Zero! One of the instructions was to come up with a summer pasta recipe. I have used different versions of this recipe before and it tastes especially yummy during the summer. So I modified it a bit to include Nasoya Pasta Zero Fettuccini. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 package Nasoya Pasta Zero Fettuccini
4 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 1/2 cups cubed Brie cheese
3/4 cup chopped fresh Basil
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese.

Directions

1) Drain and rinse pasta. Saute over medium-high heat in a dry pan for 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

2) In a large bowl combine chopped tomatoes, minced garlic, brie, chopped basil, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix well. Cover and let stand at room temperature to marinate for 1 to 2 hours.\

3) Toss the pasta with the sauce. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

NYC City Proof Eyeshadow Stick

I recently received the Blossom Vox Box from Influenster. Included in the box was NYC New York Color City Proof 24 Hour Waterproof Eyeshadow. Before I write this review I need to disclose that I exclusively use Mary Kay cosmetics. However, I did my very best to try this product and review it objectively.

Now, having said that, here is my review. I must admit that when I saw that it is an eyeshadow crayon instead of traditional pressed powder, I was skeptical. I've never used an eyeshadow crayon before. I applied it and discovered that I like the color! I also really like that it is waterproof. I took some photos after I applied it - 

As I said, I like the shade and I like how it looks on me. However, I noticed as the day wore on that it was a little too creamy and it creased a lot. It could be that I am used to mineral pressed powder eyeshadow. It came off easily tonight, I used oil free eye makeup remover. Unfortunately, I would not want to purchase this product due to the creamy texture and the creases. But for women that prefer creamier eyeshadow, I think this would be a good fit. They might want to adds some powder over it to prevent creases, though.

Live The Gold Life!

I was lucky enough to be chosen to receive Influenster's Blossom Vox Box! I am very excited because this Vox Box includes ten full-size samples for me to test and review. One of those products is Australian Gold Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30. When I first found out I was receiving this Vox Box, I wasn't sure when I would have a chance to really test the sunscreen. But it arrived an hour before we left for the beach! We went to Sandbridge in Virginia Beach. I applied the sunscreen and was immediately impressed that it didn't feel greasy on my skin! It felt light, I didn't really feel like I was wearing sunscreen. It also smells amazing, like coconuts and pineapples. Now, I was stupid and tried to put it on my back myself instead of asking my mother-in-law for help. So yes, my back got sunburned, But the rest of my skin didn't! That is impressive because I am so pale I could be mistaken for a vampire. No, seriously! And I normally use SPF 50. I am very happy with this product and I definitely recommend it!

Reese's Spreads

It's time for more Influenster fun!

I was sent a full-sized sample of Reese's Spreads for testing and reviewing purposes. 

I really like Reese's Spreads! To me Nutella is too sweet, but Reese's Spreads have just enough peanut butter mixed in to not make it too sweet. And at the same time, I am not overwhelmed by the peanut butter. It is a perfect mix! 

The first time I tried it by the spoonful. It tasted great! Just like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Then I decided to pair it with a snack. I decided to spread it on a couple of croissants.

First I cut the croissants in half, then I put the spread on one half of the croissant, then I put them back together.

This creation was absolutely delicious! The combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and the buttery croissants was amazing. I am glad I paired them together and I will definitely do it again.

For my second creation I decided to spread it on good old fashioned toast.

I shared this creation with my husband. He thought it was a little too sweet for his taste, but then again he is not big into dessert. I personally thought it tasted great! All in all, I really liked Reese's Spreads. I will definitely buy this in the store and I highly recommend it to my family and friends.