ARM & HAMMER (TM) Sensitive Toothpaste Friends' Mission

ARM & HAMMER (TM) Sensitive Toothpaste Friends' Mission

Click on the link to take a survey that will enter you to win a $200 gift card.  How easy is that?  Also, join Smiley360 for your opportunity to test and review products.

Secret Outlast Clear Gel

My Spring VoxBox from Influenster included another new product for me...a complimentary bottle of Secret Outlast Clear Gel.  I have been a dedicated user of Dove deodorant for some time, and have not even tried gel deodorant in over a decade.  But now that I have tried this product, I do not know why it took me so long to realize the benefits of using clear gel.  If you are anything like me, this is what you usually look like when you get dressed in the morning.  But it doesn't have to be that way! Who knew?  Well now you know so I suggest you make the switch.

Summer is finally here and with that I am pulling out the tank tops and summer dresses.  This often means I have pesky white marks that are not so fabulous.  Secret Outlast Clear Gel protects you from those white marks, but also from odor and wetness for 48 hours.

I was recently in Kentucky and was surprised by the heat and humidity.  A busy weekend of bachelorette party activities meant long, sweaty hours in the Kentucky heat...most of which were spent outside.  My Secret Outlast Clear Gel protected me from the sticky Kentucky heat, even through swimming, dancing, and a night at the horse race.  A busy weekend in Kentucky was a good test for this product and it definitely passed the test.  You can purchase Secret Outlast Clear Gel for about $4.  The only downside is that, at 1.7 oz, it is kind of small.  I am not sure it will last very long, but for $4, no white marks, and 48 hour protection, I'll take it.

Tastykake® Kandy Bar Kakes

Tastykakes!  Have you tried them?  Have you even heard of them?  I tried my first Tastykake after receiving a complimentary S'Mores Kandy Bar Kake in my Spring VoxBox from Influenster for testing and reviewing purposes.

I wasn't even hungry when I tried it so I thought "I'll just have one bite and then I'll save the rest for dessert".  I was immediately impressed with how soft it was.  Usually this type of product is a good snack, but they tend to be somewhat hard and do not often taste fresh.  Tastykakes Bar was so soft it could have been fresh out of the oven.  In fact, next time I might microwave for just a few seconds and it will truly taste fresh.  A little ice cream on top will seal the deal!






So my first bite was impressive and I thought "just one more bite".  I mean look at it...you would have done the same.  Actually the picture does not really do it justice.  Trust me it was so good.  The cake is moist and fluffy with a perfect chocolate shell!  Is your mouth watering yet?  I'm looking forward to trying the other flavors soon.  Well needless to say...



                      ....I ate the whole thing.

Palmolive® soft touch™

Influenster is one of my favorites!  While I do not get picked very often for a VoxBox or to test products, it is very exciting when I do get picked.  Recently I got picked for not one, but TWO Influenster tasks.  The first of these is the Palmolive Soft Touch dish soap.  As usual I must say that I received these products for free from Influenster.com for testing and reviewing purposes, the reviews are my own opinion.  I am not being paid to give good reviews.  The products are free in exchange for an honest review.  So here it goes...

 As a person who does not own a dishwasher, and is forced to wash dishes by hand, I am excited and grateful to get a full-size bottle of Palmolive Soft Touch for free.  But...once again, I did not get just one bottle, but two full-size bottles!  One for me and one for a friend.  So which of my friends, and my many readers, wants to win a bottle of delicious smelling Coconut Butter Palmolive dish soap?  I decided to keep the Vitamin E for myself...though this was not an easy decision.  I very much want to try the Coconut Butter.  I suppose I can use one of my coupons to test it out.  So, Palmolive advertises that it is "Tough on grease, Soft on Hands".  Is it true?

After extensive testing I can say that it is.  My manicure stayed put, and my hands remained soft even after several loads of dishes.  Palmolive truly is soft where it should be and tough where it needs to be.  I am very pleased with the results and the subtle scent is really pleasant.  I love the smell!  If you don't believe me click here to read more reviews.  Palmolive Soft Touch can be purchased at your local Walmart.  So go buy it!!!

More reviews will follow for products in the Spring VoxBox.

Global Green USA Green School Makeover Competition Presented by Pureology

Have you heard of the Green School Makeover Competition being sponsored by Pureology?  I had not until I logged onto my Influenster account and saw a new challenge from Pureology, and I am glad I did.  What a great competition to help young kids and to help the environment!

I would say I consider myself to be as 'green' as I can.  One thing I have learned in my quest to reduce my carbon footprint is that being green is often very expensive!  I would love to do more, but being a recent graduate that continues to be underemployed, means I do the best I can with what I have.    

Schools across the country are dealing with the same issue, lacking the funds to create a healthy, green environment for the children.  Pureology is teaming up with Global Green USA for a school makeover competition.  I think that, like myself, most people/businesses/families/etc. are doing the best they can with the resources they have available.  Unfortunately, many schools do not have the resources or the funds to carry out much needed repairs or to be more green, and they are subjecting children to unhealthy classrooms, inefficient energy, lighting, poor ventilation, shall I go on?...

When a school goes green, the children benefit - as does the environment.  Everyone wins!  Research has shown that green schools lead to

•         improved school performance and attendance: test scores can improve as much as 20% when children learn in classrooms with natural daylight and non-toxic building materials
•         more funds for student resources such as textbooks, computers, etc: green upgrades can reduce energy costs as much as 40%
•         reduced carbon footprint: take that global warming!

Every child deserves a learning environment that's safe and free of harmful toxins.  Global Green USA is working hard to make this happen.  You can help by nominating a school of your choice for a Green School Makeover.  You can also learn more about other projects by signing up for Influenster and completing your own challenges.

Fortify Your Gut!

Do you take a daily probiotic?  Does your probiotic fortify your gut with healthy bacteria around the clock? Align^® is a probiotic that fortifies your digestive system with healthy bacteria 24/7 with continued use of just one capsule per day.  Probiotics are the good kind of bacteria and are essential for many vital body functions, including healthy digestive system.  Personally, I have never tried a probiotic but as a member of Vocalpoint (and a person who occasionally experiences irregularity) I agreed to try the probiotic supplement and share my opinion.  Have you tried one before?  What did you think?

   Join Vocalpoint now for an opportunity to test and review products for free.  All you have to do is log on and check under the Goodies section for new opportunities.  It's also a great community for ideas when it comes to cleaning, cooking, fashion, etc.  

Pass Me the Fair Trade!

I have always been a fan of Fair Trade products and what the Fair Trade movement does for the world. As a BzzAgent I was sent free samples of Green Mountain Fair Trade Coffee to sample and review, and was also asked to spread the word to increase awareness of Fair Trade Products...so here it goes!

Fair Trade is a nonprofit organization that helps people in developing countries work the free market to their advantage.  By purchasing Fair Trade products you are improving day-to-day lives just by purchasing products that you use on a daily basis.  Fair Trade allows farmers and other workers to receive a fair price for their harvest or other products.  The community is then able to use the funds and determine where those funds can best be used.  The goal is to create sustainable business that will help empower individuals and communities, and will transform global problems that affect the earth and the people.  Globally, Fair Trade certifies coffee, tea, herbs, cocoa, fresh fruit and vegetable, sugar, beans, grains, flowers, nuts, oils, butters, honey, spices, wine, apparel, and other products.  Wow!  Quite a list, right?  The movement also impacts 1.2 million farming families in 70 developing countries across Africa, Asian, and Latin America.

I love Fair Trade and everything it stands for.  My heart breaks when I hear about dangerous, unfair working conditions in developing countries.  Everyone should spread the word about Fair Trade products as they offer fair working conditions, fair prices and credit, direct trade, and even community development.  Green Mountain Coffee is promoting Fair Trade with Grace Potter and Michael Franti.  Check out the videos and live stream concerts of Grace Potter in Colombia, and Michael Franti in Sumatra on the Green Mountain Coffee Facebook page.

You should also check out these other Fair Trade Products that I found:

These bracelets

This basket

Tree pillows

This rug

Soap

I could keep going but I'll stop for now!