Influester VoxBox: Filippo Berio Olive Oil

There are few things I love more than getting free stuff!

So as always, I was thrilled to be chosen for another Influenster VoxBox program.  This time, I was sent a mailer containing a coupon for a FREE 16 oz. bottle of Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil or a Robusto flavor.

The mailer also included $2 off coupons for these two olive oil options, a butter to olive oil conversion chart magnet, a booklet with 101 ways to use olive oil, and a guide for hosting a tasting party.

Scott and I already use olive oil for all of our cooking/baking/frying needs.  We currently buy a large container of the Daily Chef brand when we shop at Sam's Club.  I was certainly willing to give another brand a try.

The first night I used this oil, I was making Quinoa Chili.  I used a tablespoon to saute some onions and garlic for the chili.

The bottle has a nice pour spout, I thought.  I didn't feel like I would accidentally dump it all over the place!  

When Scott and I make any kind of pasta, we always drizzle some olive oil over into the pot after dumping the pasta into the strainer.  Then we drizzle some more over the pasta and toss it to help it not to stick together.  I also gave this a try with Filippo Berio's Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

On Sunday, I made Kristin's Easy Pizza Dough Recipe, and this was the oil I used.  

I also used it to make some Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins for breakfast this week.  So far, everything has tasted great.

I can honestly say that I don't have any really knowledgeable, deep insight to share about this olive oil.  It doesn't really stand out, but it also doesn't seem to be different than the regular olive oil I use.  Both the regular Daily Chef Olive Oil and the Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil have the same nutritional facts, as well.  (I was always under the impression that EVOO was supposed to be healthier...?)  I also found that this brand is pretty expensive compared to the brand we usually purchase.  It was on sale when I bought mine, and it was still over $6 for a 16 oz. bottle.  If I didn't have a FREE coupon, I wouldn't have purchased it.  I may choose to use some of my $2 off coupons, but I will probably not buy it after that.

Have you ever used this brand of Olive Oil before?

I received this product free from Influenster and Filippo Berio.  All opinions are my own.

Influenster Sunshine VoxBox Review

I really do love Influenster!  What's more fun than getting a box of free products to try?  Not only do I get to try great products, but by performing easy tasks like snapping pictures and writing reviews, I can get a chance to win more products!  The magic word here is FREE, my friends.  (Therefore, also keep in mind that I will provide my honest reviews for each product.)

Needless to say, I was thrilled to qualify for another VoxBox.  This one is the #sunshinevoxbox, and it was packed with great stuff!  So here's what's in it:

1. Vaseline Intensive Care: Aloe Soothe Spray Moisturizer
I'll be honest, when I first saw the commercial for the spray moisturizer, I was a little skeptical.

It still doesn't work that fast, but it does save some time.  It's easy to spray on, and rub in.  The lotion absorbs quickly, and the aloe is helpful for those pesky summer sunburns.  I had a mild sunburn, and it was nice.  You don't have to rub it in as intensely as other moisturizers which means you spend less time torturing yourself, and you still get to moisturize like you need to!  I do recommend that if you are using this on a tile floor, that you put a towel down and stand on it because it can get a little slippery.  This is a great summer product, but for me, I don't think it would cut it in the winter.

2. Infusium 23 Moisture Replenisher Leave-in Smoothing Creme (Enhanced with Avocado and Olive Oil)

This leave-in conditioner has a nice scent to it.  As of yet, I have not seen a major difference in my hair.  I have used it after combing my hair out from my shower, and when my hair is dry.  I still notice frizz and flyways.  I have long, thick hair, and to be truthful, maybe I just haven't used enough of it yet.  I almost never dry my hair with a hair dryer (especially in summer), and I rarely even style it with heated products (curling iron, straightener) in the summer.  I'm going to say my final opinion on this one is TBD.

3. Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Refreshingly Clean Cleansing Cloths

I am lazy.  I wash my face in the morning with a skin care regimen, but at night, I use cleansing cloths to remove make up and clean my face.  Since I started using cleansing cloths, I have just used Equate ones (WalMart brand), and I like them a lot.  I really do like these, too.  They leave my face feeling clean and fresh, and while I don't use make up a lot during the summer, I have gotten to test them to take off make up, and they work great.  I've used them to remove make up after getting a shower, and without a shower.  They do not dry out my face.  They have a scent that I'm not thrilled with, but I've actually been getting used to it since I've been using them, and it really doesn't bother me any more.  Dickinson's products are available at WalMart and Walgreens, and since there were coupons for those included in the box, as well, I think I will pick up some more!

Sans make up, post shower, post cleaning

4. Blue Diamond Sriracha Almonds

As far as snacks go, nuts are supposed to be a big deal.  I've heard of the Blue Diamond company before, but I've never tried their products.  These almonds were actually pretty good.  I only tried a few bites, and they have just a bit of a kick, but it was nothing overwhelming.  While I can't say I would pick them up again, they were worth a try.  If you're into almonds and/or snacks with a little spice, I'd say these are for you.

5. SinfulColors Nail Polish- Ocean Side

There were a few colors going out in this VoxBox, and I'm thrilled with this one.  It is such a gorgeous shade of blue!  The color goes on smooth and thick.  I used a base coat, 1 coat of SinfulColors, and a top coat.  The first try, I did a mani with only Ocean Side.  (It had been awhile since I hadn't done an accent nail.)  After 5 days, my nails still looked decent:

     Before                                     After 5 Days

I just did this new mani today with an accent nail.  I'm pretty much obsessed with this color.  A friend suggested it would be great with a white anchor as an accent.  If I had that kind of talent, I would totally try that.  I'm lucky I can do that heart thing...

6. Coupon for barkTHINS

Oh my goodness.  These were SO good.  There were a couple of flavors that I could choose from.  I went with the Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt.  It took all of my will power to not eat the entire bag at once.  AHHH!  Just thinking about them makes my mouth water.  I have to say, I would definitely be interested in trying other flavors.  Do yourself a favor.  Go buy some of these.  I got mine at Target.

Did anyone else get this VoxBox?  What did you think?  What SinfulColors did you get?  Which barkTHINS did you try?

Influenster Vox Boxes

I've recently received two VoxBoxes from Influenster.  While it's always cool to get free products to try, these last ones have featured one product each, and frankly, they've been a little weird.

First, I was selected to try Carefree Acti-Fresh pantiliners.  I'm sorry, Influenster, but making a big deal on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media about pantiliners is just too much for me.  I mean, for goodness sake!  My DAD has Facebook.  I don't know, maybe at thirty-two-years-old talking about feminine hygiene products for the whole world to see shouldn't bother me.  But it does.  No one needs to know my business about my business.

The next VoxBox I received from Influenster featured Purina One Cat food.

I received a small bag of Purina One Smart Blend cat food: Chicken & Turkey flavor.  I also got some information about the food and a coupon for a free bag.  

Now, I find this VoxBox a little weird, because I am not a cat.  I am also not a pet psychic, so I'm not sure how well I can rate this product.  The idea is that you gradually incorporate this bag of cat food with your current cat food and make the #OneSwitch.  I did do this, but the problem is that I have two cats.  By the time I could use the entire bag, there still wasn't enough to fill their bowl, and I'm a busy person who hasn't had time to get the other bag yet!

So this is the best that I can do.  I was filling up Allie and Abbie's water and food bowls on the kitchen counter like I always do.  Immediately after I poured some of the Purina One into the bowl with the other food, Allie was into it.  Was she hungry?  Or was it just that irresistible?  I don't know.  But it does seem like both of them gobbled up the food much more quickly than usual throughout the week.

Now, will I make the complete #OneSwitch?  I don't know for sure.  My cats are pretty happy with most food that I give to them.  Brand name cat foods tend to be very expensive, and while I love my fur babies, if generic is good enough for me, it's good enough for them.  You know?

But I will certainly be willing to use my coupon and let them have another try!

Influenster VoxBox: Clearproof Acne System

It's been awhile since I've gotten a VoxBox from Influenster.  I was thrilled to get a chance to receive their Clear Proof VoxBox a few weeks ago!


I am 32 years old, and I still haven't found a skin care regimen that I love.  There's nothing out there that I can rave about, and I'm not a huge fan of needing to spend hundreds of dollars on skin care.  In may, I tried the Unblemish regimen from Rodan & Fields.  According to their skin care questionnaire, I qualified for Unblemish, but it left my skin SO dry and flaky, I was NOT happy.  I was even more unhappy that it cost me almost $200!

To be clear, again, I did not have to pay for the Clear Proof Acne System.  I received it from Influenster to test for 30 days.  I also do not have severe acne.  I have mild acne that results in an isolated blemish every couple of weeks.  I do have some spots from previous blemishes.

The Clear Proof Acne System is a skin care product from MaryKay.  The whole system includes Clear Proof Clarifying Cleansing Gel, Clear Proof Blemish Control Toner, Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel, and Clear Proof Oil-Free Moisturizer for Acne-Prone Skin.  I began using the skin care regimen on October 18th.  I only use it once a day in the morning.  At night, I use face wipes to remove make up and cleanse my face.  While this regimen is designed to clean make-up, I have found that nothing ever truly gets rid of eye make up without eye make-up remover (except my cleansing wipes).  I don't like having to use a separate product to remove my eye make up, and I REALLY hate to waste a face wipe by washing my face with a product AND using one to remove eye makeup.
Likes: ~Does not dry out my skin. ~Products (toner, treatment gel, moisturizer) do not take forever to dry between applications ~Lightened my dark spots from prior breakouts ~Effectively treated a blemish I had when beginning the regimen ~Have not had a blemish since beginning the regimen
Dislikes: ~The regimen doesn't have a day & night moisturizer. (I prefer to have two separate moisturizers- one for day with SPF and one for night.) ~There are no specific anti-aging properties to the regimen.
Overall, I would say that I feel this regimen is effective for me.  Unfortunately, I feel like I need so many pieces to effectively do all of the things I want.  I want a regimen that will effectively control my moderate acne, but at age 32, I do need anti-aging properties.
I would definitely recommend this product if you have mild acne and are looking for a skin care regimen.  My friend, Rebecca, recently became a MaryKay consultant.  If you would like to try the Clear Proof Acne System, you can purchase it directly from her page. 
In speaking with her, all of MaryKay's skin care products are designed to work together.  I'm also a fan of their TimeWise products.  This has a day serum (with SPF) and night serum.  They do not contain moisturizers.  So I could add these products to my regimen to supplement the anti-aging benefits I'm looking for!
Have you ever tried Clear Proof?  What did you think?

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Rose VoxBox Part Five {belVita Breakfast Biscuits}

Oh my goodness, I really do love Influenster.  It's been so fun participating in another VoxBox opportunity. 

Today, I'm reviewing the last product that I got to try in my Rose VoxBox....belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits.

Once again, here's what was inside:

Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara

Lindt Lindor Truffle

Kiss Gradation Polishes

Dr. Scholl's for Her Cozy Cushions

belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits

Vitabath Hydrating Lotion

 

I took these to work to try.  I eat breakfast between 6:45 and 7:00 AM.  Lunch for my 6th graders (and me!) isn't until 12:38.  Needless to say, I sometimes get a little hungry between breakfast and lunch.  I decided that these could be a perfect mid-morning snack if I was feeling particularly hungry before lunch.

 

Yes, I was correcting math papers while I snacked...

 

As you can see, despite the bubble wrap in the VoxBox, by the time I got these, they had broken a little.  But who cares?  Edible is edible whether or not it's broken! :) 

 

These belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits come in packages of 4.  I received the blueberry flavor, and they were really good.  I was worried that they would be really hard, but even though they were crunchy, they were easy to bite and chew.  I actually only ate two on this day.  I saved the other two for another time.

 

I don't know that I would buy these for a couple of reasons.  One, I'm a PopTart person.  I wish I could eat something else for breakfast sometimes because PopTarts aren't exactly healthy, but I love them, and that's that.  Two, these are a great snack, but when you're trying to watch your calories, that's just one more thing and these aren't exactly low on calories either.

 

Overall, if someone offered these to me as a snack, I certainly wouldn't turn them down!  It's just not a product that I have a real need for in my life. 

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
These are my opinions only. I am not compensated by Influenster or belVita for my thoughts on this product.

 

 

Rose VoxBox Part 4 {Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara}

I'm almost done sharing the items I received in my Rose VoxBox from Influenster! 

 

Here's what's inside:

 

Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara

Lindt Lindor Truffle

Kiss Gradation Polishes

Dr. Scholl's for Her Cozy Cushions

belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits

Vitabath Hydrating Lotion

 

I was glad to get a new mascara in this VoxBox....mostly because my current mascara was running out.  :)  

 

The mascara in this VoxBox is Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara.

 

 

 

 

As you can see, this is a hefty size tube of mascara.  Right away, you feel like you're getting more mascara than other companies offer, which would mean more value for the money!

 

This mascara also has a large applicator.

 

 

I liked this because I didn't feel like I had to keep applying mascara over and over to get the coverage I wanted.  I needed to use less to get the effect I was going for.

 

Before

 

At this point in my make up application, I had on eyes shadow and eyeliner, but no mascara.



After

 

I apologize for the pathetic quality of these iPhone photos.  I really need the iPhone 5 something or other.... :-p

 

Anyway, overall, I really liked this mascara.  It was easy to apply, and it made my lashes appear full and long (though it is kind of hard to tell the difference in the before and after photos). 

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
These are my opinions only. I am not compensated by Influenster or Rimmel London for my thoughts on this product.

 

I also have some exciting blog news!  I am getting a blog make-over from Jane at Poppiness Designs.  I really love reading Jane's blog, and I enjoy the work she has done for other bloggers!  Take a few moments to stop by her blog and/or check out her work!  She is currently offering 25% off full blog design orders WITH a free social media package through December 6th!

 

I am also changing my blog name to Rebeckann's Random Thoughts.  I haven't been sharing recipes as often as I would like.  Frankly, I just don't feel like cooking 90% of the time!  SO, I will still share new things I try in my kitchen, but it will be with all of the other random things I share here! 

 

I hope that you will all stay tuned for the changes! :)

 



Rose VoxBox: Part 3 {Dr. Scholl's For Her Cozy Cushions}

As you all know by now, I received another VoxBox from Influenster!  This one is the Rose VoxBox.

 

Here's what's inside:

 

Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara

Lindt Lindor Truffle

Kiss Gradation Polishes

Dr. Scholl's for Her Cozy Cushions

belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits

Vitabath Hydrating Lotion

 

Today, let's talk about Dr. Scholl's for Her Cozy Cushions.

 

 

These are fuzzy, cushiony, and thick.  They can be cut to match your shoe size.  I actually cut between the lines for 7 and 8 since I wear a 7.5.  They are NOT meant for these shoes:

 

 

 

Gorgeous as these babies are, they can be a tad uncomfortable by the end of a workday.  So I thought I'd tried my Cozy Cushions to make it through the day. 

 

BAD idea. 

 

Because the Cozy Cushions are thick, they take up room in the shoe that there isn't room for.  My toes were numb all day, and my feet hurt worse by the end of the day than normal!!  I suppose you're wondering why I didn't take them out.  I kept hoping that the shoes would stretch a bit.  They didn't. 

 

I'm not one to give up, though.  So I gave the Cozy Cushions a shot in a pair of already pretty comfortable boots.

 

 

Because these have a little extra room in them, the Cozy Cushions were wonderful.  They helped to keep my feet warm, as the product packaging claims.  They also made a pair of flat, comfortable boots even more comfortable. 

 

Have any of you tried Dr. Scholl's for Her Cozy Cushions?  Did you like them?  What shoes did you put yours in??

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
These are my opinions only. I am not compensated by Influenster or Dr. Scholl's for Her for my thoughts on this product.



Rose VoxBox: Part 3 {Lindt Lindor Truffles}

Getting a VoxBox from Influenster is so fun!  If you're not a member of Influenster, and you'd like to be, let me know!  I do have invitations I can send to you!

Here's my Rose VoxBox:

 

What's inside?

 

Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara

Lindt Lindor Truffle

Kiss Gradation Polishes

Dr. Scholl's for Her Cozy Cushions

belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits

Vitabath Hydrating Lotion

 

Today, let's talk chocolate.  More specifically, let's talk Lindt Lindor Truffles.  Ok?

 

 

This was the most amazing and delicious minute of my life.  Haha!  I took this delightful treat to work with my lunch last week.  It was a good thing, too, because I only had soup for lunch, and this was the little something extra I needed to make it through the day.

 

 

This little truffle was a milk chocolate one.  It was smooth, creamy, and oh so very good! 

 

 

I am so glad this was a part of my VoxBox.  It was a small treat, but it was worth it! 

 

P.S.  Did you know that Elizabeth from The Young Retiree is an advisor with Lindt Chocolate RSVP?  You should check out her shop!

 

P.S.S.  Thanks to Chantal from Scattered Seashells for posting this tutorial about how to watermark your photos.  :)

 

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
These are my opinions only. I am not compensated by Influenster or Lindt LINDOR Truffles for my thoughts on this product.

 

Rose VoxBox: Part 2 {Kiss Gradation Polishes}

As you know, I was lucky enough to get the Rose VoxBox from Influenster. 

Here's what's inside:

 

Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara

Lindt Lindor Truffle

Kiss Gradation Polishes

Dr. Scholl's for Her Cozy Cushions

belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits

Vitabath Hydrating Lotion

 

When I got my first VoxBox, I won a brand challenge with Kiss, and I received the Gradation Polishes in  gold.  For whatever reason, I've procrastinated trying it, and therefore, blogging about it.  (I also got false eyelashes and lash glue as part of my prize.  I don't wear them, so we'll see if I ever actually try those....)

 

Anyway, since I now had two different colors, I figured I'd better give this one a try!  (Especially since it's part of the VoxBox and brand challenges to do so.)  Now that I did, I'm excited to try the other one, too!

 

The color in the VoxBox is called Film Noir. 

 

 

I was worried that doing something like this would take forever.  It actually took me less time than it usually takes to paint my nails.  For starters, I didn't need a base coat since the step one polish is a light color.  It essentially serves as the base coat.  This polish also dries pretty quickly, which is good for someone as impatient as I am. 

 

It is recommended that you finish one hand at a time.  This recommendation is not necessary for step one, but it is essential for steps two and three.

 

Step 1: Paint all nails with the step one polish.  You need two coats.

 



 

Step 2: Use the step two polish and paint 1/3 of your nail.

 

Step 3: Immediately (aka before the step two polish dries) take the step three polish and paint 1/2 of your nail to blend the colors.

 

 

I did steps two and three one nail at a time.  I did my first two nails with step two and then step three, but I didn't think that worked quite as well.

 

I did use a top coat once the polish was completely dry. 

 

The only complaint I have about this polish was that the lids were difficult to open.  The step one polish was almost impossible.  Luckily the other two polishes weren't as difficult, but still! 

 

If you're looking to get in on the ombre nail trend, I would definitely recommend trying Kiss Gradation Polishes.  :)

 

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
These are my opinions only. I am not compensated by Influenster or Kiss for my thoughts on this product.

 



Rose VoxBox: Courtesy of Influenster

I am so excited that I got another VoxBox from Influenster!  This one is the Rose VoxBox.

Here's what's inside:

 

Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara

Lindt Lindor Truffle

Kiss Gradation Polishes

Dr. Scholl's for Her Cozy Cushions

belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits

Vitabath Hydrating Lotion

 

For this first post, I'm going to share my thoughts on the Vitabath Hydrating Lotion. 

 

 

I really enjoyed using this lotion.  It's the first Voxbox product I tried!  It has a nice, light rose scent.  Normally, I'm not a big fan of flowery scents.  Even though I love actual roses, rose scents sometimes smell...weird, for lack of a better word.  This is light enough that I enjoyed it.

 

It left my skin feeling soft, and it felt very luxurious.

 

Stay tuned for more of my Rose Voxbox product reviews!

 

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
These are my opinions only. I am not compensated by Influenster or Vitabath for my thoughts on this product.