I'm back!!

I'm back! I had to take a hiatus to rest due to a medical emergency but I'm back and ready to start posting again! I recently got accepted into the Bonita VoxBox so expect to see posts about that and any other items that might come my way!

Smiley360 Reviews: Randoms Candy

Randoms Candy!

So right now I'm on a sample campaign for Randoms Candy. Smiley260 sent me two bags, one large re-sealable bag and a smaller 5oz bag which is not re-sealable. When you first pick up the bags from the box they feel a bit heavy but I was pretty happy th
ey they are gummy candies since those are my favorites.

I won't lie, when I read that I was getting a candy called 'Randoms' I was kind of dreading it because I thought they meant Randoms in the sense that they gave randomly assorted candy in each bag. Something that may sound delightful, but trust me it isn't. Anyway, on the back of both bags of candy you'll find his message: 'Millions of gummy combinations in a variety of flavors, textures & shapes! Never get the same bag twice."  That's quite a boast to make! And I'm even more intrigued to open it now!

So I did. When first opened you get hit with a light fruity scent, and I'll add that the gummies comes in interesting shapes. I ate a couple that were shaped like a paintbrush, a flower, a cell phone and even a saxophone.

You can see some of the shapes the gummies have

The taste wasn't anything too special, they are yummy but they tasted just like gummy bears to me. I'll add though that my favorite gummy was the one with the filling in it. It caught me off guard but it was good! The gummies with filling are slightly transparent so you can actually see the filling inside the candy. I thought that was kinda cool.

Now as for any complaint about the candy.... Well I found it had a slight aftertaste. I guess the candies have some kind of additive so they they all stick together but I think they may have added a tad much. I want to taste fruity flavored gummies not whatever product they add so they won't clump together.

I think if my daughter were to have some she'd be elighted with them, but then again she might try to finish an entire bag in one sitting while trying to find all the different gummy shapes.

If you're interested in joining Smiley360 and recieving your own products for reviewing feel free to follow the link below and get started!

Smiley360

*These candies were provided  to me for free in exchange for my review/opinions. Any commentary made in the blog post is mine and mine alone. 

Influenster Reviews: YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara

YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara

I'm back! This time I'm reviewing a beauty product that seems to be getting positive reviews from everyone I've read from so far, that's pretty exciting. Anyhow, the product I'll be writing about today is Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara!! It can be found online for the price of $30-$32, at least according to Google Shop. According to the YSL Website you can buy it multiple colors which include: High Density Black, Extreme Blue, Burgundy, Rich Brown, Deep Night and Fascinating Violet.

Right off the bat I'll say I LOVE it. My lashes have never been anything to take a second look at and adding to that the fact that I wear glasses well I've never been one to really splurge on mascara. I've always figured why shell out for the good stuff if it'll be hidden anyways.

Yeah this mascara made me reconsider this.

FIRST IMPRESSION:

Right off the bat, when I took it out of it's package I was impressed by how it looks. As one friend put it, it reminds her of a wand which I agree. The mascara is thick and looks pretty promising when you first open it. It also has a lotion-like smell. You know how when you open up a tube it has that kind tell-tale scent that sometimes seems a bit medicine-ish? Well not this one, it was a pleasant and soft scent that I'm happy didn't bug me since sometimes fragrances like that bug me and/or give me headaches.

YSL Mascara out of the package

I played around with the tube for a bit and I don't know if anyone else would agree, but it felt a tad heavy. Not like I'm going to hurt someone if I drop it, but like it had some mass to it. I like that. Somehow it makes the tube feel reassuring and gives it a quality feel to it. At least this is my impression anyway.

The brush had a thick  coating of the mascara when I first opened it, I'm taking that a a good sign. Or at least as something promising.

FIRST APPLICATION: 

The moment of truth was when I put on that first coat. Again, it smelled pretty pleasant though I'm going to point out that the fragrance scent became a bit strong once I was wearing it but it was something that quickly passed thankfully. The first application didn't exactly 'WOW' me but you could definitely see it was present. My eyelashes weren't pooping out but they were present enough that I could see that they looked a bit thicker.

Me wearing the Mascara. Don't I look cute? 

Definitely more present with this mascara than my regular go-to. 

SECOND APPLICATION:

The second application is definitely my favorite. Thicker eyelashes but not so thick that they seem too over the top. In the picture that's me with two coats on. Now some people on FB weren't too pleased and argued that the second coat should be A LOT thicker but I disagree.  For me the first coat is me testing waters, and the second coat is me getting comfortable with this mascara. I love it, I think it flatters me like this and this is how I wear it now. Two coats. 

THIRD APPLICATION:

Applying a third coat of the stuff seemed pretty unlikely for me, but I figured I might as well try it and see if any difference. Well my eyelashes were significantly thicker by then, but also heavier. Like I caked on enough to make them feel heavy, not to mention this is when things started to get a but messy for me, I stained my glasses when I put them back on. At least with the first and second coat my glasses weren't affected by them. Coat #3 does give you nice full lashes though, so I'm assuming that might be perfect number of applications for some. 

AFTERTHOUGHT: 

Like I said in the beginning of the post, I loved it. It's so far my favorite mascara this year and I think I just might end up switching over to this as my regular. My only I guess complaint was the price tag, especially after I saw it was over $20, for that I was expecting to be wowed away on the first application but it still did a good job. I'm definitely interested in trying out the Blue and Violet colored mascaras to see just how much the color would pop out and/or if they'd compliment me. I am also worried that it might dry up quickly, but I won't know until it happens until then I am keeping track of how long I'll be using it before I need to replace it. 

If you're interested in buying yourself the YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara, I provided a link below which will take you the the YSL online store, you'll also be able to check out what other colors are available there. 

Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara

Hope you enjoyed my post and sorry if it was a bit winded but I wanted to be as thorough as a could be :)

*As always, Influenster provided me with a free sample in exchange for a review. Any opinions in this blog and/or post are mine alone. 

If you'd like to join Influenster and start reviewing your own products simply click below to get started!

Join Influenster!!

Influenster Reviews: Boots No7 Protect & Perfect ADVANCED Serum

I received a sample of  Boots No7 Protect & Perfect ADVANCED Serum from Influenster in the #FrostyVoxBox. Sadly though, the sample size I was given was too small for me to accurately review and post my thoughts on this product. From the sample I received though, I did notice it made my face smooth and while the product was very fragrant it wasn't strong enough to cause any discomfort. I'm not going to buy a full size of this product since I don't have a proper opinion of it and therefore I don't really justify buying something that all I know about is that it made my face soft. 

Influenster Reviews: Celestial Seasonings

Time for another Influenster review!

This time it's for Celestial Seasonings - Candy Cane Lane Holiday Decaf Green Tea! Another product that came in the #FrostyVoxBox, this tea is refreshing with just a hint of the minty candy flavor of candy canes! 

I received a packet of two tea bags but ended up going to walmart and buying myself a box because I liked it that much. I'm not much of a decaf drinker but if this is what all decaf teas taste like, then sign me up! 

I rank this while reading one of my favorite books which might have enhanced my momentary love for this tea but either way, it is a great tasting tea that you should try. Especially around the holiday seasons. This tea will just have you thinking of the Christmas spirit. If you are a green tea lover then you'll def want to check this one out! 

Influenster Reviews: Rimmel Products

So recently I received some Rimmel London products from Influenster to try and review. Today, this blog post is just for that. My thoughts and reviews on the two Rimmel London products:

Rimmel London Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

The first of two Rimmel London beauty products, the Rimmel London Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. I was very exceed when I first saw this as it came at a perfect time when I was between products, I figured this might be my best friend when it came to my nightly routine of makeup removal.

Nope. It's more like the friend who promises they'll never betray you but then leaves you wondering "Why??" Now jokes aside, let me be clear. It did a good job of removing my makeup.

In fact, like the bottle says it really is oil free and didn't leave my skin feeling like it had weird residue that required some scrubbing afterwards. My normal makeup came off just fine but it did kinda falter when it came to taking off waterproof makeup, which I'm surprised about because the bottle clearly read 'REMOVES WATERPROOF MAKEUP'.

Another issue I had with this was that despite saying GENTLE on the bottle, it was not gentle to my eyes at all. I had the misfortune of accidentally getting some in my left eye and let me tell you. It sucks. It wasn't gentle AT ALL. It actually hurt quite badly. Maybe I'm a sucker at dealing with pain, or maybe this product isn't as gentle as it wants you to think.

Another problem I had, and this one I consider a major one. You now how I said it didn't feel like it left my skin weird or sticky or anything? Well it might not leave your skin feeling weird but it did cause me to get a slight rash around my eyes. The area I used it on developed a slight pink tint and had a couple a of small pimples like the type you get during an allergic reaction or rash.

Don't let my experience deter you from trying it out to see if you'll like it though. Personally I found it was good for normal stuff, but waterproof I'd rather stick to something else. Also I'll stick to my usual because my usual doesn't give me a rash when I use it. Bummer, I wanted to love it.

Now, unto product #2!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner

Hands down, one of my favorite eyeliners to date! Easy to apply, long lasting and I love that it applies smoothly. No smudging when I use it. At first glance I thought this was a Twist-Up kind of pencil but turns out you sharpen it when you need to sharpen it . The quality is AWESOME on this, I just can't stop recommending it to my friends. I kind of almost swear by this pencil. If You're on the market for a new pencil, I really would ask you give this one a shot!

Influenster Reviews: FrostyVoxBox!

So I'm in a new Influenster campaign! This time, I'm in the #FrostyVoxBox! The items in this VoxBox are:

• Rimmel Gentle Eyes Makeup Remover
• Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner
• NYC New York Color Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum 
• Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea
• Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced 
• McCormick Gourmet All Natural Thyme
• Fruit Vines Bites Cherry Flavor candy
• EcoTools Sleek + Shine Finisher 

The candy was devoured almost instantly by my daughter but from the few bites that I managed to squirrel away from her it seemed yummy! I'm excited I have a new Lipstick to try as well a new hairbrush! The McCormick should be fun to cook with, I think I might challenge the Husband into a cook off to see who can whip up a tasty meal with it! 

Have you thought about joining Influenster?

Have you thought of joining Influenster?


 It's a great site and a great way for you to sample and review beauty products. It's also a great way to interact with other like minded individuals. 

Since joining I have had the opportunity to sample and review a great number of products ranging from items for my household, beauty items, children's products, food items and even the occasional movie! I've received VovBoxes and joined Twitter parties, which let me tell you can be fun and a bit on the crazy side lol. 

Influenster's VivaVoxbox

Ifluenster offers seasonal and themed VoxBoxes throughout the year, offering many chances to qualify and join in on the fun. On their website you'll see that they have different types on badges, for the different type of things one likes or to accommodate you lifestyle! 

If you stay active and keep reviewing items it keep the score of the badges high which in turn is good for making you available for a VoxBox. 

There is also an APP for those who prefer using the website on their phones (This was actually a LONG awaited item) a great tool for those of us who like doing our brand activities on the go! You can use it to complete activities, read and submit reviews, answer questions and check you Social Impact score.

The Rose VoxBox

Another perk that Influenster members can enjoy are 'VoxPerks'. Usually they are digital coupons for several retail web stores or services, my favorite was for a Cleaning Service, I'm still crossing my fingers for maybe a doggy day spa? I'd definitely love that! Usually I have up to seven different VoxPerks at a time though it might vary by the user. 

    Overall Influenster is a great way for anyone looking to sample free products to do so. It's free, the community is always helpful and friendly and the customer service has always been top notch for me.  Not to mention the feeling of belonging to great community of ladies and gentlemen. 

So have you decided yet? There's nothing to think about, join me and become an Influenster! Soon you'll be the one posting the awesome things you'll receive along with making yourself heard through the reviews. Sign up is easy and before you know it you'll have your very first VoxBox!

I'm back!

Sorry for the long period of inactivity I haven't stopped blogging...yet!

I've just had some family errands to attend to and with my daughter starting her first year of school I've been helping out at her classroom as often as I can but now I'm back! Hopefully we can get the ball rolling and I can start blogging again even if it's a couple of posts a month!

Smiley360 got a makeover!

Old Smiley360 Logo

Have you gone to the new and improved Smiley360? Now it looks like they made it more direct and user friendly. Looks like they're making everyone re-do their profile though, since I had to reconnect my social media account and I had to fill out some information I had already submitted before, I'm excited hopefully the new Smiley360 is an improvement. Though I am hoping that new Smiley won't be a headache like the new Influenster. 

So have you logged in yet? If not, do you want to join? Then just follow this link and sign up! Fill out your info, confirm your shipping address and get started!

To join, simply follow this link

BzzAgent Product Review: Crest Be Toothpaste

NOBODY PUTS CREST®  BE IN THE CORNER

Since the dawn of toothpaste, mint has been confined to slight variations like spearmint or peppermint. All that time, this reigning flavor of freshness was dreaming bigger, bolder and more delicious pairing. Oh, the places mint could take us if only we'd let it be free! Crest® Be has done just that!

So recently I had the pleasure of joining the latest Bzz Campaign which was for Crest Be Adventurous Toothpaste. 

Per the information on BzzAgent I would be receiving three different flavors: Mint Chocolate Trek, Vanilla Mint Spark and Lime Spearmint Zest. Now I don't know about you but when I first heard the name of the flavors I well. . . felt a bit icky. It sounded like they would be sending me candy-like hygiene items to try and well I wasn't too happy about that, especially right now that my toddler has gotten the hang of brushing her teeth.  

So my BzzKit finally arrived, and indeed it had three sample sized tubes of toothpaste.

The following is my thoughts and experience with all three toothpaste after trying them all out. 

• Lime Spearmint Zest- Not bad as far as the flavor goes. Felt candy-like. My problem with this though is that when I brush, I expect my mouth to feel clean and well, fresh? This flavor of toothpaste does not do that. I did not feel clean and refreshed after using this, if anything I felt the need to go brush my teeth which defeats the purpose of this product, no? I think this was something that might have sounded good as an idea but as an actual item, nope. Not worth buying for me. My Husband tried it as well and he ended up rinsing it out, he definitely did not like it. 

• Chocolate Mint Trek- I love chocolate, and I love chocolate mint. So when I was getting ready to try this flavor I figured 'Hey I bet this one will be better than yesterday's!' Again, nope. Not at all. If you give this to your kid as a way to incite them to brush up you might find someone who'll like this, but as an adult nope nope nope. Nothing quite like the feeling that I'm smearing a chocolate bar across my teeth. The flavor is ok, I mean they did an ok job at recreating it as a toothpaste but it's just not for me.

• Vanilla Mint Spark- The mellowest of the three. The vanilla comes in first followed by a faint taste of mint. I might consider this one the best of the three. It doesn't mean I'll be stockpiling it anytime soon, but as far as these three go it's good to know I at least liked one.

So what's my final verdict? 

Stick to your normal toothpaste. That's what I'll be doing. Good on Crest for trying something new, but sometimes not every idea will be a winner. 

*I received these products for free from BzzAgent for testing and/or reviewing purposes*

Orgullosa: Fiesta de Bellos Momentos.

Este es el kit que recibí de Orgullosa para la fiesta de "Bellos Momentos".  Fueron una variedad de productos que le encantaron a las invitadas de la fiesta!

Como pueden ver productos de Tide, Pampers y Vidal Sassoon fueron parte de este kit. Y por supuesto cupones que también regale!

Ology-Moms Meet

So this is the most recent package I've received from Moms Meet! Ology is a product sold exclusively at Walgreens and from what I've gathered is a natural product! The paper towels in the picture were not made from trees! 

How awesome is that?

The all-purpose cleaner had a nice fragrance to it, but I still like my Mrs.Meyers so probably won't be switching that out, sorry Ology! 

Now, the detergent I haven't had an opportunity to try because I'm waiting for my upcoming sampling!

Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths

I love my Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths, they do a good job of helping me feel refreshed and do not leave behind any residue when you use them. I use them usually when I want a quick touch up but am in a rush to properly wash my face.

They come in easy, resealable packs which are both convenient for use and perfect for carrying in bags. Each pack has 25 wipes, not bad.

Would I replace my usual skin cleaning routine with the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths? No, but they work fabulously in a pinch. I'm definitely keeping a pack in my purse for myself and to use on my toddler!

*This product was given to me for free for testing and reviewing purposes from Influenster.com for more information please check out their website*

BzzAgent Review: Children's Claritin

My daughter suffers from seasonal alergies so imagine my surprise and relief when I found out that I'd have an opportunity to test Children's Claritin in Grape flavoring.

When I first offered it to her she was a bit iffy because of the medicine smell but quickly overcame that problem. Taste wise, she had no complaints and was very cooperative with me!

Now, the medicine does  provide quick relief, an estimated 15mins before she had complete relief.  Children's Claritin does not however,  last 24 hours, and being a 24 hour medication she can't take another dose if she really needs to.

That was my only problem with this medicine. The longest it lasted for her was 5-6 hours maybe? Not bad I guess, but when someone advertises 24hrs you kind of assume it's safe to expect a full day of relief, but whatever.

*This product was given to me for free for testing purposes from BzzAgent.com

Party kit de Orgullosa

Hoy llegó mi party kit de Orgullosa! Estoy emocionada y lista!

Happy late new year!

Sorry I have not update in a long time, been very busy with home stuff and dealing with family things. The holidays were great, January has been ok so far. I'll update again soon!

Review For : Dr. Scholl's For Her Cozy Cushions Insoles

My Cozy Cushions Insoles (center) when I first received them in my RoseVoxBox 

"Dr. Scholls for her cozy cushions helps to keep feet warm and dry while providing all-day comfort. Their multi-layer design helps insulate the foot while two plush layers provide extra cushioning. Cozy Cushions help keep feet dry by absorbing perspiration and offer superior comfort."

Today I am reviewing the Dr. Scholl's For Her Cozy Cushions Insoles. Now let me first say that when I first saw them online I was a bit uncomfortable with the idea of wearing them. I mean something that seems so fluffy will surely make your feet uncomfortable and sweaty in no time wouldn't it? Not too mention they might be too thick for you to wear you shoes comfortably. 

So when I finally received them I tested them out for myself. This is the review :)

The back of the packaging for the insoles. 

Now, fresh out of the package you have to cut them to their appropriate sizing since they all come in a size 10. That was no hassle since I am. 9 so there was very little cutting. Now, in the back of the package it says that these insoles would be ideal with any shoe type you own. Rain boots, Winter Boots, Flats, Sneakers,  or Dress Boots.  I decided to try these out with my Sneakers, my Flats, my Dress Boots and my slippers. I wore them one different type of shoe a day for a total of four days in total. These were the results.

Flats- I wore my flats without socks and with the insole they were a very tight fit. I know it wasn't my shoe size that was a problem because I've worn them with socks before and that was never a comfort issue. So sorry,  no insoles for my flats. 

Sneakers- A wonderful fit. Wore them all day with no problems whatsoever. My feet did get a little too warm at one point of the day, but that's my fault. Our high was at 78° so I should of waited for a colder day. Other than that, no complaints. Perfect fit, support all day. They obviously did a good job of warming me up if I got too warm. I guess I'll use them in my sneakers, but only when going out at night to prevent sweaty feet. 

Slippers- Again, a good fit. Kept my feet warm and I was able to wear my slippers with and without socks on. I really like that. So definitely yes on the slippers. 

Dress Boots- Surprisingly, a okay fit. A teeny bit tight once I wore them through the day though. They started out nice and comfortable but by the end of my day, they weren't really bugging me but I felt my shoes a little tight.

All in all: 3 yes, 1 no. I'm mostly going to use them in the winter months for my sneakers though since I loved how well they supported me through the day. I'm a bit sad that the flats weren't a good fit, but hey you can't win them all.

*Influenster provided me with this product for testing and reviewing purposes. The opinions in this blog/blog post are mine and mine alone.

Nice surprise

This came in my mail today! I don't remember signing up for it but either way yay for random gift cards!

Thank you Vogue!

Review for: RimmelLondon Scandaleyes Mascara

   

I received my Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara in my Rose BoxBox compliments of Influenster* and I'm sad to say it does not impress. My lashes didn't even look coated and it does not build up well on itself either. I just kept coating and it looked like nothing was happening. No thickness added with this one sadly. I really expected more from RimmelLondon especially after it did so well with the foundation I reviewed earlier. 

My Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara that was included in the RoseVoxBox 

Even after I felt like it was doing nothing for me, I decided to keep it on for the.day anyway to see if it would hold up through a typical day.

It didn't even do that.

I had to reapply, and at one point it crumbled a bit so I had to dust off little remnants of dry mascara so they wouldn't get in my eyes. 

Me wearing the mascara, honestly by this time I couldn't even tell I was wearing any as it was flaking away

I'm sad to say this was not a hit with me, and honestly I won't be recommending it to my friends. Even in my picture posted above, you can't tell if I'm wearing any product! The only thing I'm glad about after this experience was that I didn't spend a dime to try this product, otherwise I think I would've been even more disappointed. 

Sorry Rimmel, guess you can't win them all.

*Influenster provided me with this product for reviewing and testing purposes. Any opinions in this blog are mine and mine alone.