Showing posts with label Product Review. Show all posts

Spread Possibilities with New Hershey's Spreads

*All products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Crowdtap. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so excited to be one of only 1000 given the chance to try the new Hershey's Spreads. I'm not sure if others who were given this opportunity got anything different, but the spread I received was Chocolate with Hazelnut.

Chocolate with Hazelnut Hershey's Spreads

As part of this sample there were various challenges to complete. I could create a video, but I'm not good at those. I could be daring and try to pair my Hershey's Spreads with something unusual, but some of the options for this (such as pickles) turned my stomach a little. So I went with the challenge of coming up with 5 pairings that I'm going to share with you.

I've said this in every food post but I always feel the need to point it out again. I am not a food blogger. I don't have the time or patience to come up with new recipes and do some fancy set up for pictures. That said, I like food, I love sharing it with you, and I do try my best with the pictures. I really hope you enjoy my fumbling attempts; I know I enjoyed eating/drinking them. :)



The first pairing I tried was hot chocolate. I love making my own hot chocolate with Hershey's powdered chocolate so I hoped this would work just as well. And it did! Better in the case that there was no extra chalky powder at the end of the cup. Though, I was really sad not to have some mini marshmallows in my cupboard but the rich, chocolate-y taste with a slight nutty flavor sated my chocolate craving and warmed me up after a horrible ice storm.


This hot chocolate is very simple (and quick) to make. Simply whisk 3 tablespoons of Hershey's Spread into one cup of milk over low heat - you don't want to scald the milk or burn the chocolate. You can add a pinch of cinnamon (or your favorite hot chocolate spice) for a more Christmas-y drink or take a trip back to your childhood and toss in some mini marshmallows or a scoop of marshmallow fluff.



For my second pairing ... walking down the snack aisle I saw some yummy looking chocolate covered pretzels. However, they were fancy and expensive. Given that the bag had only a handful of pretzels inside it really wasn't worth the price, but it gave me a horrible craving for chocolate pretzels. So, I walked further down the aisle and picked up a much cheaper, very full bag of simple pretzel sticks and satisfied my new-found craving by dipping them into the Hershey's Spread. It was the perfect snack!



I thought and thought and thought about my next pairing. All that thinking made me hungry so I snooped through my cupboards and came up with this sandwich pairing. I love peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and I occasionally love peanut butter, honey, and banana sandwiches. It was really a no-brainer to substitute the peanut butter for Hershey's Spreads.



It was like eating chocolate covered bananas dipped in honey. It was really yummy! I'm also really eager to try just the Hershey's Spreads with honey, and I'm already dreaming of grilling up some Hershey's Spreads with jelly much like I do with pb&j sandwiches.



So, I did snacks, drinks, and lunch with my last pairing ... what about other meals? Say ... breakfast?? How about some chocolate pancakes? I apologize, but I never learned how to make pretty pancakes lol. I just pour some batter into a small skillet and spread to the edges of the pan as best as possible - cook, turn, cook and eat. For this just use your favorite basic pancake recipe (I prefer quick and easy with the least amount of ingredients possible so I use Jiffy mix) and add a spoonful or two of Hershey's Spreads. 

What I also never learned to do is leave well enough alone! I just had to spice these pancakes up a bit. I drizzled on some of my favorite syrup - dark Karo syrup and then I added a scoop of cherry preserves. Oh sweet pancake gods above (or maybe below with how absolutely sinful these are)!! It was like eating chocolate covered cherries for breakfast. Almost tooth-ache inducing but too good to put down! I'm almost hoping a food blogger sees this and runs with the idea because these pancakes really deserve to look pretty!!



But ya know what? All that thinking and mixing and eating ... my all time favorite way to eat Hershey's Spreads is just with a spoon.



Or, since this is my own personal Hershey's Spreads, with my fingers. I have been caught many times just like this.

Want to try some of my pairings for yourself? The new Hershey's Spreads hit shelves December 6th so if you can't find them in your local shop yet keep looking!

*All products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Crowdtap. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Askruk46

September Wantable Box - Image Heavy

*All products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Wantable. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


Hello everyone! After jealously eyeing all the subscription boxes other bloggers have been posting about recently, I was so excited to be asked to share Wantable and the September Wantable Box with you!!



If you've never heard of Wantable before you really need to check it out. It is an amazing subscription box that costs $36 a month. Not ready for a subscription? That's fine too. Wantable thought of everything. You can order just one box for $40, just to see if you like it first. Sound a bit pricey? Well, think about this. Each box is packed with full-size products hand picked just for you based on your answers to their customer quiz. Answer the questions honestly and that's 4-6 full-size products that you know you're going to love! This values the boxes between $80 and $100! AND each box comes with tips and tricks on how to use these products to the best of their abilities. Still not sure? Take a look at my box and decide for yourself.



I kinda loved opening the box flap and seeing this. I don't know why, but it just struck a cord for me. Like opening up a whole new world of beauty, and I guess in a way I was.





The insert tells you all about the boxes. Wantable has the Makeup Box (seen in my review), an Accessories Box (with 3-4 boutique jewelry pieces), a new Intimates Box (said to have camis, panties, socks, and more), and if you hurry you can pre-order their limited edition Ultimate Halloween Makeup Box filled with tons of products from Cinema Secrets!



First looks. I never look at inserts until I've browsed the products first. What's inside the box? What's it gonna be??? I love the surprise! Let's find out!!



This is Taupeless from Be a ... Bombshell Cosmetics. I was oddly excited about this lip gloss and used it right away! I am a huge fan of lip gloss, but pretty much the most I can get away with is nude gloss. My lips are just naturally very red and tend to turn most colored lip glosses really odd colors. This was perfect. It went on nicely, added a hint of color and shine to my lips, and lasted a long time without getting sticky and tacky.



The next thing in the box in Manna Kadar Hi Def Mattifier. I was really excited to try this, and it exceeded my expectations ... which admittedly were rather low. I've tried to find a finishing powder like this many times but always seemed to come up with something with sparkle or glitter to it. This is exactly what I've been looking for - a very simple matte powder that leaves a nice and smooth overall finish.



This is the only thing I was unsure about in this box - the Michael Marcus Refillable Eyeshadow Compact in Flawless. While taking the quiz I said I loved the lighter, more nude shades of eyeshadow, but I didn't exactly mean this.



As you can see, this looks almost exactly like my current face powder. Trying it, it did blend completely with my skin tone, but left behind a flawless finish. With this in mind I may try using it as a concealing powder later.




The last full-size item in the box is Laqa & Co nail polish in Nookie!


Nookie is a stunning shade of hot pink. It's actually a bit darker in person than shown here. But the best thing?? This is one coat with NO top coat!! If the entire Laqa line of polish is like this I am seriously hooked!


The promo code they included in my box might just be getting some major use! The code is good for $10 off $30.



The only product included in the box that wasn't full size was this. The Lise Watier Ombre Souffle Supreme eyeshadow. The card shows all 6 shades available in the souffles. I got samples of Sunrise Peach and Vert enchante (exactly the shades I would have chosen for myself). These are pretty awesome and really are whipped like souffle. They are so easy to apply with your fingertips. A little different than I expected but this is neither good or bad ... just different.


The small amount I used mostly just left a really shimmery hint of color behind. This gives me the idea that this small sample will last a long time for me.








And finally, here is the insert we skipped earlier of everything in the box, the retail value of each item, and the tips and tricks by Wantable stylists.

Ready to see how I used the products in this box? Plus some of my own products ...



I'm not a makeup artist or a model ... but I like it! :)


Products Used:
Dickinson's Witch Hazel: used to clean my face before anything else!
Neutrogena Shine Control Primer
L'Oreal Infallible 24H Laquer Liner in Blackest Black: Yes, I use this before anything else (except my primer). I am far from an expert on liner, and I've been known to screw it up many times. It's just easier to clean up if I do screw up ... or use my eyeshadow to hide shaky lines.
Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Color in Golden Copper: This is my all time favorite blush (as if you couldn't tell by the scratched and scraped container). It also lasts forever since it's so highly pigmented. It only needs a very small amount on a brush to add a blush of color to my cheeks. More in the winter hides the splotchiness from the cold perfectly too!
Lise Watier in Sunrise Peach and Vert enchante
Michael Marcus in Flawless (not shown): I used this on my brow bone and to blend the edges of the Souffle eyeshadow.
Revlon Lash Potion
Be a ... Bombshell in Taupeless
Manna Kadar Hi-Def Powder

I hope you enjoyed this box as much as I did. Thanks Wantable! :)

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Not in the US? Wantable also ships to Canada and Australia!

*All products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Wantable. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Askruk46

Vacation Custom Hoodie REVIEW

We all love taking home a souvenir of our vacation, right?? I know it's not just my family or there wouldn't be so many nick-knack shops along the boardwalk!

While the kids go for key-chains and shark teeth necklaces the adults of my family usually pick up a t-shirt or a hoodie to take home.

After walking past a shop and seeing a paint splatter t-shirt on one of our first walks I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted a Virginia Beach paint splatter hoodie to take home ... and it had to be a zip-up! I always feel like I'm choking when I wear a regular hoodie. Sounds hard to find, right?

Yep, it was impossible! (Unless I wanted to pay almost $100 at one place) We walked the boardwalk going into every single clothing store until about 20th street. Our hotel was on 2nd street; that's a lot of walking! Everyone else came out with their souvenirs, and I thought it was a lost cause for me. I was sure I was going to come home disappointed. Then one of my nieces just had to pick up one last souvenir. Some friendship bracelets. They couldn't be just any friendship bracelets either. They had to be the ones she saw the other day at one specific store ... even though the ones found in other stores were identical!

Enter my saving grace!!

Image from Google Maps

If you've been to Virginia Beach and walked the boardwalk you've likely either passed this little shop by or gone in and browsed. If you're planning a trip to Virginia Beach Ocean Style must be a stop!

Like I said, it's just a little shop and it's about midway between 9th and 10th streets. It has a small selection of clothing and nick-knacks to browse through but along the wall you'll find custom printing. This is the true gem of this store! I saw exactly the image I wanted on my hoodie hanging there, printed on a t-shirt.

Sadly, a browse through their zip-ups showed only one black hoodie in an XXL. Yes, it had to be black and no, I don't wear an XXL! So I asked about picking up a hoodie elsewhere and bringing it back for custom printing. No problem!

Great, now where to pick up a zip-up that was un-printed in a town where everything is emblazoned with Virginia Beach logos ... and on our last day too?? A trip to Walmart or Kmart just wasn't possible. Thankfully, a shop on this street had one they were willing to sell un-printed for a good price.

By this point it was our very last day, nighttime, and pouring down rain. However, I didn't care! I was finally getting what I wanted and I could go home happy.

Except, I couldn't get what I wanted. I take back what I said, the girl behind the counter might actually have been the true gem of this shop. I'm sad to say I never got her name, but she was an absolute sweetheart! She explained what I wanted wasn't possible, even going so far as to print a shirt to show me.

A little tweaking of my idea and I finally had something I didn't know I wanted but was so beyond happy with!!


Instead of getting this image on the front like I wanted, but would have looked horrible, I got it printed on the back. It sits just under where the hood lays and looks amazing!!


Virginia Beach is printed down one sleeve in this really cool scratched up print. It did go on slightly more purple than the bright pink it first looked, but still matches well so I don't mind at all!


And paint splatter on the front! I specifically asked for this but thought I was likely to get turned down but ... the girl (absolute sweetheart!) helping me handed over another of the Life's A Beach images and a pair of scissors and told me to cut out the splatter I wanted.

And then to top it all off she didn't charge me anything and refused the tip I tried giving her! She just wanted to see it on me she said. She did accept the hug I just had to give her though!


All told, I paid less than $20 for this gorgeous custom hoodie, and I really couldn't love it more!!

Askruk46

Influenster May Wax VoxBox: VEET EasyWax Electrical Roll-On Kit REVIEW

*All products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Influenster. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I hate reviews like this, and always feel bad about giving them, but when I agree to try a product I give my word for an honest review. I'm not going to tell you, my lovely followers, to purchase something that I wouldn't repurchase for myself. I think I've been exceedingly lucky to be asked to review some really great products; it's not all bad, but the time has come for a review that isn't rainbows and puppy dogs.


I received this Veet EasyWax Electrical Roll-On Kit compliments of Influenster. I've tried waxes before, but only those that come in a pot that you stick in the microwave and zap for a few seconds to a few minutes, so I was really excited to try this one.

The first slight disappointment came upon reading the instructions and finding that instead of seconds or minutes it would take 30 minutes (or more) just to heat up!! That doesn't even take into consideration the amount of time it will take to actually wax.

I didn't time this step exactly, but I think it took closer to 45 minutes to a full hour to get the wax to roll out smoothly. That's fine; I didn't have anything else to do today, but for someone in a hurry that is definitely something that is off-putting.



Finally, the wax is heated up, and I have my supplies ready. I have washed and dried my legs completely as the instructions recommend. Having clean legs and leg hair will make the wax stick better. You can also dust your legs in baby powder for optimal hair removal. The baby powder acts as a barrier between your skin and the wax. This (supposedly) cuts down on irritation and makes it easier for the wax to grab just hair. I didn't use baby powder for this review, but I wish I had. Things may have gone more smoothly.

I was a little surprised at how hot the handheld wax warmer was to the touch. The wax inside was the perfect temperature, but the warmer did feel a lot hotter than I expected. Not 'burn your fingers off' hot but just hotter than I expected.

Things started out beautifully! The wax went on smoothly, the strips seemed to be of a better quality than other waxing kits, and while the first strip hurt slightly it really wasn't anything to scream about. I actually stopped after that first strip and raised an eyebrow. Very little in the way of pain and lots of hair on the strip?? That was definitely something to smile about.

Everything seemed to be going perfectly. However, my hands got sticky very quickly ... meaning the waxing system got very sticky very quickly. I also realized that the strips weren't grabbing all the hair. The instructions specifically stated not to wax the same area more than once. However, I was made to break the rules so going back over them even a few times didn't catch them. I even used different directions since I know some of my leg hair grows oddly. "Nope, not gonna happen," my leg hair screamed at me.

I was starting to get frustrated but refused to give up! I soldiered on; some hair removal was better than none, right?  Until I realized that the wax wasn't rolling on smoothly anymore. I had nowhere near an outlet to set up, so I had unplugged the unit and taken it with me. I trusted the directions when they said it would stay at the right temperature for 15 minutes. I say I only got about 5 minutes before I had to pause, still exceedingly sticky on both leg and hands, and plug the unit back in.

I let it sit and heat back up for a few minutes before I got back into position and started again. And again, I only got about 5 minutes before the wax started getting thick and tacky again, pulling uncomfortably on my skin. And again, I paused to plug it back in.

This continued on for nearly an hour as I wrestled with just one leg. I finally got the whole way around, cleaned up my sticky hands and leg with one of the provided wipes. They cleaned up the wax but left my hands so itchy!!

After cleaning up and seeing the finished product I decided that it wasn't even worth attempting my other leg. The wax had taken a lot of hair, but left nearly as much behind. In addition to having the prerequisite prickly, wiry hairs I have finer, slightly softer hairs. I'm blond, so while these can't be seen they can be felt. The wax had left all these behind.

My final thoughts: The wax took a lot of the wiry hairs, yes, but also left a lot behind. It also left behind all of my finer leg hair, leaving my legs just as touchably hairy as when I started. The red irritated bumps and sensitive skin left behind was expected, but is extra frustrating because I still need to shave!

*Update to final thoughts: That night my leg broke out in a horrible rash of irritated bumps and itchy red skin. Far worse than the expected bumps and irritation. You can see below a small pic of the irritation - it is actually much worse than the picture shows. The flash downed out most of the red. I don't have exceedingly sensitive skin, so I would be extremely hesitant about using this product if you have any doubts about the sensitivity of your own skin.




Would I recommend this product? I am very sorry Veet and Influenster, but no.

*All products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Influenster. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Askruk46

Glitter Mix Boutique: Part 4

*All products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Glitter Mix Boutique. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Welcome to Part 4 of my review of the Glitter Mix Boutique's glitter mixes. This is the one I've been most excited to share. This is my favorite, favorite glitter mix of the glitters I received for this review.



You saw Rainbow Graffiti in Part 1 now see why I love it so much!


Rainbow Graffiti has every color of the rainbow in square and hex as well as what looks like every size of black and white, including bar glitter!


I love bar glitter, but sparingly! In my opinion, you just can't go hog wild with bar glitter or your nails start to look like you stuck grass to them or that they've started to grow hair. That's what's so great about this mix. The bar glitter is an accent not the main focus.


Held close to the light there's not much shine from this one so you know it's going to be a great layering glitter!


Sorry for all the bubbles. This picture was taken just after I finished mixing; it hadn't had time to settle yet.


One coat over bare nail and one coat over Wet n Wild I Need A Refresh-Mint. Can you see why I love this glitter so much?? Maybe it's just me, but I think this is the most perfect mix EVER!

This is a glitter topper that everyone needs! Don't have suspension base? That's okay. A lot of the shops on Etsy sell small sample sizes of suspension base. You can pick one up while you're there buying Rainbow Graffiti from Glitter Mix Boutique. Of course, you can also use regular store bought clear polish. It will not suspend the glitter; the glitter will sink to the bottom but turn it upside down for a few minutes before you want to use it and it'll work fine.

Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GlitterMixBoutique
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/youmixcosmetics
You Mix: http://www.shopyoumix.com/

*All products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Glitter Mix Boutique. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Askruk46

Crowdtap & Old Navy In-Store Beach Party

Hey everyone! I recently received the opportunity from Crowdtap to snag some new beach essentials from Old Navy!



The really awesome thing? It wasn't just for me! I could bring 3 friends!


The coupons were for one swimsuit, a pair of flip-flops, a beach bag, and a towel for each of us. All the things you need for a day at the beach!!

I took my mom, my sister, and my niece. We arrived at the store and after informing the manager we headed right for the swim section ... and found ourselves pretty disappointed. I had 'window shopped' ahead of time at OldNavy.com. I had picked out a few suits I wanted to try and could find none of them in store. There were three of their control max one-piece suits that my mom and I prefer and one of them only had two sizes left (a medium and an x-large). Checking the other one-piece suits, the non-control suits, found about 3-4 of them.

I grabbed two of the control suits and two of their regular one-piece suits. I also picked up one of their tankinis. Everyone else grabbed their favorites and we headed to the dressing room.


Trying on the swimsuits presented problems immediately. I'm 5'3, my mom and sister are slightly shorter than me. We found that we were slightly too short in the torso to fill out most of the suits. The bottoms were saggy in ... well, in the bottom. If pulled up the bra part was slightly too high.


However, I did find these two beauties!! They are both control max. The black and white one had soft padding in the bra and side boning to help it stay up (which is really a must if you want to wear it into the ocean). The all black one even has a padded bra and underwire! While I preferred the all black one, I picked the black and white one simply because it fit the best from top to bottom.


While my mom and niece refused to be on camera my sister was ham enough to make up for them. She walked the 'runway' of the try on room! This is the suit she decided on for herself.



We were also allowed to pick up some classic flip-flops, a beach towel, and a really awesome straw bag. I LOVE this bag and plan to use it all summer long - not just take it to the beach! I would have been happy if the coupon just covered the bag honestly, but to get everything else free as well was so generous of Old Navy and Crowdtap!

Our cashier, Andrew, was great! He had never seen coupons like ours, but was more than willing to read through them and help us. He was really nice, and I'm not just saying that because he was cute ... which is always a plus on a girl's shopping trip. ;)

Sadly, he explained that my swimsuit was on clearance that day and  the coupon only covered items that were full price. I quickly ran back and grabbed the all black suit from the try on pictures ... only to find out it was on clearance too. What was I going to do?? I hadn't tried on anything else that I had like. I did the only thing I could do in a situation like this. I went back and picked a cute one at random, making sure to check the price tag this time, hoping all the while that it would fit once I got it home.



This is what I came home with. I'm not too terribly pleased with the stripes, but striped suits in different styles were all they had in full priced one-piece suits.



I don't know. I think it might just be the one that fit the best of all those I tried on. The bottom isn't saggy, the top isn't too high, and everything else sits comfortably. I do wish it was a control max, especially with the stripes, but that's mostly just to make myself feel comfortable and confident in all situations (like sitting down). But I feel no shame wearing this. And getting it free? Well that just makes it all the better!

So, many thanks to Crowdtap and Old Navy for upgrading my beach style!!!

Askruk46

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