Bzz Campaign: Fiber One Protein Cereals

Disclosure: I am a BzzAgent and received these products from BzzAgent.com for review at no cost to me. I receive no monetary compensation for my open and unbiased review. 

I know I haven't been blogging in a while but I still want to share some products that I have received for free from Ganeral Mills and BzzAgent.  I love being a BzzAgent and, really, the only reason I haven't been blogging is because I have no where to set a photo 'studio' to take good pictures.  A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

I received two boxes of the new Fiber One Protein cereals.  One of each flavor: Cranberry Almond and Maple Brown Sugar.  One of my New Year resolutions was to eat healthier and lose some weight so this arrived at a very convenient time.  Breakfast sets the stage for the rest of the day for me.  If I eat a crappy meal, or nothing at all, for breakfast my whole day is shot eating wise.

My breakfast usually consists of a no sugar added or low sugar cereal like Cheerios or Raisin Bran, a piece of fruit (usually a banana), a boiled egg and sometimes some OJ.  Occasionally I'll change it up by having a microwavable breakfast sandwich or an egg scramble but honestly I don't really have time for that because I hit the snooze button one to many times.  Every. Morning.  *sigh*

These new cereals from Fiber One really had me excited because with all that protein I figured I could ditch the boiled egg for once.  I was right too.  This cereal was very filling!  It definitely kept me sated till lunch.  I eat breakfast around 7:30am and eat lunch at noon and I usually wanting at least a snack of some sort around 11am on my usual breakfast routine. 

Reading the nutrition info I was pleasantly surprised to see that it had 1 cup serving size.  This is a huge serving of a very filling cereal!  Then I noticed that beside the 1 cup was 55g in parentheses so I decided to weigh out my cereal.  It ended up being quite a bit less than 1 cup but still a very filling amount.  If your counting calories, like I am, I would always recommend WEIGHING your food.  I would have been consuming quite a few more calories if I had just used my measuring cup!

 

The cranberry almond cereal is also uber sweet.  There were very little cranberries or almonds in my box and my box of cereal had large clumps that were impossible to break up.  This cereal would taste so much better if it wasn't so hard and so sweet.  I will never buy this particular flavor of this cereal even with a very good cents off coupon!

Of both cereal flavors Maple Brown Sugar was the best.  I really hate maple flavored things so I was surprised to find out that I liked this one better but that was because it has no maple flavor what so ever!  When you open the box the maple smell is sickeningly overwhelming but pour it in a bowl and splash some milk over it and the smell dissipates and your left with sugary crunchy goodness.  It's not overly sweet but also not that flavorful which is fine by me because I have a heard time stomaching any food for breakfast sometimes. This cereal is filling and stays crunchy in milk so I might purchase another box when I finish this one but probably not.

I guess my final review boils down to:  this cereal is just okay.  It is super filling but the flavor and texture are disappointing.  I would find no enjoyment eating this cereal every morning.  If I wasn't the only one who eats cereal in the morning in my household and I could get through a box fast I probably wouldn't mind so much.  I do recommend buying a box and trying it out for yourself though because it's not that bad.  I really like some of the other Fiber One cereals better but this one is just so filling not to ignore. 

I did receive a few $1.00 off coupons.  If anyone is interested in trying out this cereal too just let me know here or on my facebook page!

BzzCampaign: Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Disclosure: I am a BzzAgent and received these products from BzzAgent.com for review at no cost to me. I receive no monetary compensation for my open and unbiased review. 

Hey everyone! Gotta another product from BzzAgent to try out and share.  They sent me a small bottle of  Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a magnet and some coupons to pass around.  It was like they knew that I was trying to eat healthier (and that I had just run out of olive oil!). 

If you head over to Filippo Berio's website you can even find a hand substitution chart that shows you how to sub olive oil for butter or margarine and recipes. I've always used olive oil when making bread and pizza dough but had no idea you could use it in a cake or other baked goods. 

They have a large collection of really awesome recipes, I made some Italian Herb Bread Dipping Oil from their website and was surprised at how awesome just olive oil can taste with just a few herbs.  It was addicting!

I would have shared more recipes but unfortunately I have almost used the entire bottle making dipping sauce and just cooking with it in general.  I love just sauteing some chicken and veggies usuing olive oil.  It so much lighter but still tastes as great as butter.  I also used it to make a lot of bread because fresh bread rocks and I had to have bread to dip doncha know!

Bzzagent Review: Nutrogena Hand Cream

My latest BzzKit: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula hand cream.    My kit was filled with one full size hand cream (unscented) and 6 mini/travel sized samples (original scent) to give out as samples.  As always, being a BzzAgent means I get free samples, coupons etc as long as I spread the word and my opinion about the product and I get to share the samples and the coupons with others.

One 2 oz (full size) bottle of this cream provides around 200 uses because all you need is a pea sized amount.  Nutrogena hand cream retails for around $4.99 a bottle and can help repair 7 signs of damage: dryness, chapping, splitting nails, dry cuticles, scaliness and roughness. 

Sounds like a pretty good lotion to use daily and after a d.i.y manicure to me!  I can't imagine paying someone to do my nails.  It's so easy to do yourself!  I would like to try that new gel nail stuff though.  I love to wear color on my nails but it usually chips that day and looks so ugly and I hear that get stuff lasts about two weeks.  True?  I have no clue, if you do leave me a comment will ya.

Anyways, first step to an at home manicure:  go get your stuff.  Don't want to be digging through drawers and bags looking for cotton balls in the middle of getting your nails done.  You'll need:  cuticle cream (if you don't have a small bowl with some warm soapy water), non-acetone nail polish remover, cotton balls, nail file, cuticle pusher and some Nutrogena hand cream.  Optional: clear nail polish ( I love OPI Nail Envy), cuticle oil, and a Sally Hansen nail white pencil.

Before removing your old polish or getting your hands wet, use an emery board or nail file, rounding the edges slightly. Always file in a single direction; if nails are thin or peel easily, angle the file so that it lies slightly under the nail.

Remove your old polish with a cotton ball dipped polish remover .  After removing your old polish, wash your hands and give your nails a good scrubbing with a nail brush. Make sure you completely remove the remnants of your previous manicure.

Apply cuticle cream to each nail and rub in, if you don't have any prepare a bowl with warm water and dish soap.  Soak your nails and cuticles for a couple minutes to soften them up.

Use a cuticle pusher or orange stick wrapped in cotton to remove cuticle overgrowth from the nail bed (pic #3); trim hangnails along the sides of the nail with a clipper. Never cut the cuticle! That's a good way to invite infection.  Gross!

If you have some cuticle oil (pics #1&2) now would be a good time to apply it.  If not, skip to the next step!  Just make sure to wipe your nail down with some more polish remover so your polish sticks to the nail good.

This step is also optional but makes for a pretty manicure.  Sally Hansen makes a nail whiting stick that you use under your nail to whiten the tips.  You just dip it in a little water, wipe off the excess and Viola!  instant french tips=)  

After applying the whitening stick to each tip I then use some clear polish to set my manicure.  Like I said before I really really love OPI Nail Envy.  It really helps strengthen the nail.

Your final step is to rub in some Nutrogena hand cream (or something similar).  I like lotioning up my hands before going to bed.  This hand cream is very fab.  It really does what it claims to do, my hands look awesome!  It does feel oily at first but quickly rubs in and really is fragrance free.  I also love that just a dab will do ya.  In the winter I can really go through the lotion, lol!

So if your looking to try out a new lotion and want to see results I give Nutrogena hand cream two thumbs up=)

Disclosure:  I am a BzzAgent and received these products from BzzAgent.com for review at no cost to me. I receive no monetary compensation for my open and unbiased review. All opinions are mine. 

Bzzagent Review: Stella Artois

Hello readers, Mr. Penguin aka The Husband here.  Today, I'm going to talk about one of my favorite things; beer.  Yes, beer.  Stella Artois beer, to be precise.  My wife was offered an opportunity via bzzagent.com to review the Stella Artois 9 Step Belgian Pouring Ritual and received a Stella Artois Chalice to use. Since she isn't much of a beer drinker, I nobly volunteered for the duty.  

Now, I'd never had Stella before, so I was looking forward to trying something new.  I'm normally into darker beers such as Guinness, which Stella definitely is not.  It's a lager beer, lighter than I usually like, but hey, it's beer!  I was also supposed to test whether their fancy-pants 'chalice' really has any effect on the flavor of the product.

The chalice itself is actually quite pretty, it's a crystal goblet-type glass, with a gold-edged rim and a fancy carving on the stem that supposedly helps leach body heat away from the glass itself, allowing the beer to stay cold longer.  I have no idea if that works or not, but it looks cool.  

The first thing I did was to open a bottle and drink it straight, no fancy glassware or other accoutrements, just to get a feel for the flavor.  The first thing I noticed was a decidedly odd smell; not unpleasant or skunky, mind you, just different.  The beer itself was pretty good, not my usual style but certainly drinkable.  Nothing really to set it apart from other similar pale lagers such as Heiniken.  

So the next step was to try out the chalice.  I poured my second beer according to the directions (yes, they give you directions on how to pour an ideal glass, to balance the head or some such jazz).  Now, I'll admit, I never had much use for the idea that the shape of a glass could have a profound impact on the flavor of a beverage, be it beer, wine, or anything else.  Imagine my surprise, then, when my first sip from the chalice actually tasted noticeably different!  Using the chalice definitely focused the aroma, just as the advertisements claimed. and since a significant portion of 'taste' is actually smell, it made for a noticeable improvement in the flavor.

My final judgement is that Stella Artois is a perfectly acceptable light lager, if you're into that style of beer. It's a bit pricier than most of its competitors, by about a dollar or so per six-pack, but not tremendously so. Personally, I don't think I'll be drinking it again, though. It's not that it's bad, it's just not my style. I'm definitely a convert to the idea of specialized glassware now; the chalice seems to do everything they claim it will, and it looks very attractive as well. Try it for yourself, and see what you think!

Disclosure:  I am a BzzAgent and received these products from BzzAgent.com for review at no cost to me. I receive no monetary compensation for my open and unbiased review. All opinions are mine.  

Bzzagent Review: Covergirl Blastflipstick & Giveaway

I've always liked Covergirl products.  My favorite product is their Clean Liquid Makeup and powder.  I think I've used them since the 9th grade!  I'll try new products occasionally but I always go back. They just work and I love the smell!

So it's no surprise that I immediately jumped at the chance to join this Bzz Campaign.  I'm more of a lip gloss kind of girl but only because it shimmers and is more sheer but mostly because it's easier to reapply without a mirror!  I also have a tendency to lose my lip color.  A lot. That gets expensive!

Stunner

Covergirl can't help me with my inability to hang on to my lip color but they can provide a customizable lip color.  Covergirl blasflipstick is  like getting multiple products in one.  Each lipstick is a creamy color on one end and a shimmery color on the other.  They can be worn separately or can be combined to create a unique look all your own.  

Vixen

I love this product!  It smells good, feels great and looks awesome.  I got many compliments when I wore my blasflipstick to work.  I was given 3 different colors to try out.  I really liked Stunner but I think it looks too orange-y on me.  Vixen matched my skin tone more. I gave my friend Kimberly the Minx colors to try out.  Doesn't the color look great on her?  I think so!

Minx

These colors also last awhile and do not have to be reapplied constantly. It isn't kiss-proof though.  I tested it out on my husband.  He looked silly with lipstick on his lips, lol!  Despite that, I'd still recommend it. You can Purchase Covergirl blastflipstick for a SRP $8.49 at most major retailers. There are 13 color duos available, so lots of color fun to be had. Check them out at covergirl.com.   

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Contest will run from today till January 15 11:59 pm EST. To enter, fill in the “easy entry” in the rafflecopter widget below. Then get your “like” on to earn additional entries. Please note, I will be verifying the winner has completed their entries. Open to US and Canada addresses only.  Winners will have 48 hours to claim their prize, so be sure to check back on the 16th to see if you my lucky winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  I am a BzzAgent and received these products from BzzAgent.com for review at no cost to me. I receive no monetary compensation for my open and unbiased review. All opinions are mine.

Bzzagent Review: Glade Expressions

One of my most favorite things to do is to smell all the things in the air freshener aisle at the grocery store. I love buying candles and wall plug-ins that will make my home smell wonderful. So getting to test out the Glade Expressions Collection is very exciting for me. I love being a Bzzagent! I received a coupon for a free oil diffuser and aerosol spray. I also received a lot of coupons to pass along to friends and family (or random strangers hanging out in the air freshener aisle smelling all the things. They are good coupons too! $4.00 off any oil diffuser starter kit and $2.00 off the fragrance mist starter kit. An awesome deal that I was happy to pass along.

Bzz Agent Review: Unreal Candy

This is the true story... of 3 chocolate lovers... picked to find out what happens...when candy stops being filled with junk... and gets unreal...

Unreal candy is a new product I was introduced to through Bzzagent. Unreal is all about no artificials, no corn syrup, no hydrogenated oils and less sugar. It's candy unjunked. A lot of people out there really care about that and don't want all that processed junk in their digestive track.
As a bzzagent I received a coupon for a free full sized Unreal candy product and several buy one get one free coupons to hand out to friends and family. Instead of using my freebie I decided to use a buy one get one so that I could try out more than one flavor.

Bzz Agent Review: Bic Soleil Savvy Razor

Recently Bzzagent sent me a nifty new razor to test out and review. I'm pretty habitual when it comes to what I buy to shave my legs. I have rarely switch razors and usually only when I receive a free sample. Before trying out this razor I used Bic Silky Touch disposable razors. They're cheap, disposable and do their job. No nonsense, just like me.

Garnier Fructis Bzz Agent Review

This past month I got to try out Garnier Fruictis Sleek & Shine shampoo and conditioner for free through Bzzagent.com.  My bzzkit arrived with full! sized bottles of the above named shampoos.  I already love Garnier Fructis shampoos but haven't bought any recently mostly because I'm a cheapskate and buy whats on sale.  It smells delicious (like apples) and definitely improves my hair's texture.  I have very thick wavy/curly hair that can pretty frizzy at times, especially if I don't use a good conditioner.

Fekkai (Bzzagent Sample Review)*

I was so excited to get my very first Bzzagent campaign box.  I love getting to try new products and I especially love to get snailmail!