Cooking Light Cravebox

I recently received the Cooking Light box from one of my favorite subscription companies, Cravebox!  The box was packed with lots of delicious treats my family is currently enjoying. Inside this fun box was:

Torani Sugar-Free Salted Caramel Syrup
Dole Fruit Crisps in Apple Pear, Apple Cinnamon, and Peach
Tully's Coffee
2 bottles of McCormick Salt Free Garlic and Herb seasoning
Nectresse sweetener

We also received coupons, a measure conversion magnet, a discount for Cooking Light magazine, and recipes for the goodies inside our box!

The first thing my family tried were the Dole Fruit Crisps for dessert.  Each package had two containers of the fruit crisps and we got three different flavors; apple pear, apple cinnamon, and peach.  The cup had the fruit with a thicker type sauce and granola topping.  I warmed them up for 20 seconds in the microwave and then added the granola topping.  They were all great but my favorite was the peach!  All the kids enjoyed them and I would definitely buy these again as a healthier option for dessert.

Next I tried the Torani Sugar-Free Salted Caramel Syrup and the Nectresse sweetener in my coffee.  I was definitely shocked at the large bottle we received and to learn that there are so many ways to use this syrup besides just in your coffee. The syrup definitely gave my coffee a nice flavor and the Nectresse helped sweeten it as well.  I know I'll be using these up in my coffee routine!

I have not tried the Tully's Coffee we were sent since I am instead giving it away as part of a coffee basket I'm making for a school fundraiser.  I have had Tully's brand coffee before and give it two thumbs up though.  I'm sure my basket will get great bids on it and someone else will enjoy it while also raising funds for the school!

I've also yet to try the McCormick Salt Free Garlic and Herb seasoning BUT I know my family will love it.  My husband and I are both big garlic fans so this is perfect for us.  I also don't use much salt in my cooking and hardly ever add it on my cooked food.  I think I will try making the chicken recipe that we received with my new McCormick seasoning.

I figure the value of the box to be over $30 and I paid $13 for this box (that included shipping).  All in all a fabulous deal for some neat products!

If you would like to start receiving your own Cravebox, you are in luck!  They have recently changed their program from a monthly subscription to a lottery style so there is no longer a wait list.  Each box will be in the form of a drawing.  If there is a box you are interested in (they don't tell you what is in each box but they are themed), you enter the drawing and cross you fingers you are selected.  You will need to have your credit card on file since they process it soon after the drawing is made.  This lottery system is a nice way to avoid getting certain boxes like the Dog box when you don't have a dog! 

I have been a Cravebox member for about a year and only once was I let down with a box.  I really recommend this program if you are looking for a treat for yourself once in a while!

*I was not paid nor did I receive any free products in exchange for this review. All opinions are 100% my own based off my experience with the product.

Influenster's new look

Hi all!  I know it's been some time since I've been here writing but thought I'd try again.  I'd like to regularly update with current products I'm testing and tell you all what I think.

Today I'll share with you a program I signed up with at the end of last year called Influenster.  Like other test product companies, they send you products to try and you in turn give your feedback on them.  I have gotten two boxes so far, a Palmolive dish soap package (that I also subsequently won a prize with and was shipped another box of goodies) and the Mom VoxBox this past summer.  It was packed full of fun items like nails, sweetner, soap, and a Quaker Oats cookie!

In just the last couple months, Influenster has updated their website.  It is much more user friendly and faster than before.  The only thing that I missed the first time I went to it was reading the about page and I wish I would have.  You can initially only unlock 5 badges until you earn rights to unlock more.  Had I known that, I would have unlocked more badges that better fit my profile instead of going down their list trying to unlock each one.  So heed that warning if you sign up and only select badges that best fit you first!

To read more about how the program works and sign up (why not, you get free stuff) go to Influenster now!  (and don't forget to read the about page before you start unlocking those badges!)

Cravebox

I know it's been a while since I posted on this blog but I had to share a fun new program I just signed up with! I'm going to start trying to post about products and programs I'm participating in so that my friends can get my opinion.

I have been a member of SheSpeaks for awhile now. SheSpeaks is a product testing company - they send you products to try, you give your opinion. I'm sure they are hoping you'll like the products and tell your friends and family. They also give feedback to the company so even if you don't like something, that company hears your real opinion and hopefully they make improvements in the product.

A month or so ago I received an email from SheSpeaks about a new opportunity coming up. It was Cravebox and for $10 a month they would send you 4-5 products to try and give your opinion (this includes the shipping cost). I already participate in a simliar program geared towards high end beauty products called Birchbox. While I've enjoyed Birchbox as well, I'm not huge on high end (read: expensive) beauty products, so when I heard Cravebox would offer a whole range of types of products to try, I decided I would check it out and then pick which program I liked best. Truth be told, I haven't picked yet and still am on both memberships (I'll have to pick soon, $10 I can justify, $20 is getting to be too much).

Anyway...I signed up and got my first Cravebox this past Friday. I was extremely pleased with the contents and felt the products were well worth the $10 investment. Here's what was included:

• 2 packs of Bic For Her pens (retails for around $3 a pack at Walmart)
• Baci chocolate truffles (approx. $1.24 value)
  
• Mereadesso Beautiful Body Balm ($54 value!!)
  
• OPI Nic's Sticks ($4.99 value)
  
• Perugina chocolate bar ($1.75 value)

I'm not normally a dark chocolate person but I really did like the Perugina bar. The almonds were "caramelized" and really gave great flavor to the chocolate. No opinion yet on the truffles since I'm waiting for a quiet time after I get a bunch of busy Christmas projects done to sit with a nice cup of coffee and no kids to enjoy them!

I like the smell of the lotion. It's not too thick, not too thin. I get super dry skin in the winter with the harsh MN air and after I applied this lotion, my skin was soft and moisturized.

On to the pens...I'm not really sure why they are called Bic for Her unless it's because they have a feminine look to them. I tried using them at first to write on the back of a photo but because they are gel ink, it didn't work. I did use them to address my Christmas letter envelopes and they worked fine. Nothing in particular made them stand out but I do love gel ink (except when trying to notate photos).

The OPI Nic Stick's is a new product to me. I've never used nail polish this way but, wow, how cool! I am totally sold on the Nic Stick's and how easy and less messy they are then the traditional nail polish bottle. I don't often wear nail polish (with 3 kids, one being a baby, who has time to apply it?) but this product could sway me. Since it's portable I could easily do my nails on the go or waiting for a kid to finish up an extracurricular activity or whenever there's a free moment to paint a few nails. Eventually I'd get them all done, right?

So my vote is if you're looking to pamper yourself, go sign up with Cravebox and for $10 a month you can take part in trying new products!

(I am not paid nor do I receive any type of credit for friends signing up for Cravebox. I just genuinely think it's a fun program and am recommending it)

Walgreens Shopping 5/2/11

My register rewards were expiring today so I had to hit up Walgreens! :) Here's a photo of today's haul:

• Puff's Plus tissues, $1.49 x 3 (used a Walgreens coupon that made them $0.99 each)
• Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor, on sale for $9.89 (used a $4/1 coupon and received a $5 register reward)
• Noxema disposable razors, 4 pack, on sale for $3.99 (used a $2/1 coupon and received a $3 register reward)
• Right Guard Total Defense 5 deodorant, on sale for $2.99 x 2 (used a BOGO coupon and received a $2 register reward)
• Renpure Organics shampoo, on sale for $5.99 (received a $4 register reward)
• Right Guard Defense 5 body wash, on sale for $4.49 x 2 and BOGO (used a BOGO coupon making these both free!)
• Tylenol Precise heat wraps, 3 pack, $7.99 (used $5/1 coupon and a $3/1 Walgreens coupon making this item free!)
• GUM flossers, on sale for $2 (received a $2 register reward)
• Scotch padded mailer, 3/$1.50 (used Walgreens coupon making them $0.39 each)
• Reese Peanut butter cups, on sale for $0.49 x 3

Total before coupons and register rewards: $54.87
Total after coupons and register rewards: $16.07
Total saved: $38.80 or 71%

Walgreens Shopping 4/18/11 *Part 2*

WHOA! Two posts in one day when I've neglected this blog for nearly a year?! :)

What can I say, those register rewards were burning a hole in my pocket. I sat down at the kid's nap time and went through a more in depth review of sales and decided I needed to head back today and "roll" my register rewards. Rolling rewards means you use current rewards you have to buy products that will in turn net you more register rewards. There's lots of rules that I won't go into on this post but if you're ever interested just ask me.

So here's what I picked up this evening:

Transaction 1

• Chocolate covered peeps, 2/$1 (used Walgreen's 2/$1 coupon, used $1/2 manufacturer coupon making these free!)
• Cadbury creme egg, 2/$1 x 2 (used Walgreen's 2/$1 coupon x 2)
• Lightening McQueen Easter egg, $0.99
  
• Gillette Deodorant, on sale for buy one get one 1/2 off, $4.99 each (used $1/1 x 2 manufacturer coupon plus the register took off $2.50 for the 1/2 price)
• Schick Hydro shave gel, on sale buy one get one free, $3.79 each (used $0.75/1 x 2 manufacturer coupon plus the register took off $3.79 for the bogo)
• Colgate 360 toothbrush and Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste, on sale 2/$6 (used $1/1 x 2 and received a $4 register reward)
• Reach Total Care toothbrush, $2.99 (used $1/1 manufacturer coupon and received a $2 register reward)
• Biore Pore Strips and Make Up removal towelettes, $7.49 and $8.49 (used buy a pore strips get a cleanser for FREE manufacturer coupon and received a $5 register reward)
• Skintimate shave gel, on sale 2/$4 (used $0.55/1 x 2 manufacturer coupon *I must have misread a blog post because I thought I would receive a $2 register reward but that didn't happen. I paid more than I usually would for shave gel*)

Total before coupons and register rewards: $56.59
Total after coupons and register rewards: $20.78
Total saved: $35.81 or 64%

Transaction 2

• Biore Pore Strips and Make Up removal towelettes, $7.49 and $8.49 (used buy a pore strips get a cleanser for FREE manufacturer coupon and received a $5 register reward)
• Dora Easter Egg, $0.99
• Mini Stickerbook, on sale 2/$1
• Reach Total Care floss, on sale for $2.99 (used $1/1 manufacturer coupon and received a $2 register reward

Total before coupons and register rewards: $22.94
Total after coupons and register rewards: $6.45
Total saved: $16.49 or 72%

By the way...I actually paid less than the totals listed BUT I never count my register rewards twice so the ones I earn on each trip, I always include them in my current purchase totals. Counting the ones I earned from my last shopping trip on top of the ones I earned this trip would be an inaccurate showing of true money spent.

Walgreens Shopping 4/18/11

It certainly has been a loooong time since I posted on this blog. I haven't been doing much of the Walgreens shopping but still use lots of coupons and try my best to save as much money as possible.

I did do some Walgreens shopping today though! With baby #3 on they way and rumored diaper price increases this summer, I've been trying to stockpile diapers. I'm not too picky on brand (except at night time, I only use Huggies or Pampers, storebrands are usually not good for overnights) and Huggies has had some awesome coupons out lately! So pair them with a sale at a store and you're really getting a good deal.

Here's what I ended up with today at Walgreens:


Transaction 1

• Goody Ouchless hair accessory, $3 (received a $3 register reward making this free!)
• Huggies diapers, on sale for $8.99, x 3 (used $3/1 x 3 manufacturer coupons, received a $5 register reward for purchasing $20 worth of product)
• Duracell AAA 10 pk with bonus screwdriver, on sale for $5.99 x 2 (used $1.50/1 x 2 manufacturer coupons, received a $3 register reward)
• Always liners, on sale for 2/$6 (used $0.50/1 x 2 manufacturer coupons, received $4 register reward for purchasing two of product)

Total before coupons and register rewards: $48.98
Total after coupons and register rewards: $20.98
Total saved: $28 or 57%


Transaction 2

• Huggies diapers, on sale for $8.99, x 3 (used $3/1 and $2/1 x 2 manufacturer coupons, received a $5 register reward for purchasing $20 worth of product)
• Goody Ouchless hair accessory, $3 (received a $3 register reward making this free!)

Total before coupons and register rewards: $30.18
Total after coupons and register rewards: $15.18
Total saved: $15 or 50%

Not the biggest deals I've ever gotten, but, diapers are NOT cheap and are only going to go up in price so getting 6 packs of diapers plus batteries, liners and hair accessories for a grand total of just $36.16 is still very good! Hoping there are some other great deals next week to use up these register rewards. Or, perhaps I can get some Easter basket things with them!

I have some other high dollar Huggies coupons that I hope to use at Target this week. My coupons are mostly $3.50 off a 60ct or larger and Target has a coupon in an insert that will give you a $5 gift card when you purchase 2 qualifying packages. Then I think I'll need to stop buying diapers until I evaluate how many of each size I have! (there's a stockpile in my basement right now too) :)

More Walgreen's Shopping

Here is today's score:

• Neutrogena soap x 3, $2.99 each (received a $10 Register Reward for purchasing 3 Neutrogena products which makes this a profit of $1.03!)
• Gillette Fusion Proglide razor, on sale for $9.89 (used a $4/1 manufacturer coupon and received a $5 Register Reward making this a total of $0.89)
• Planters Cashew nuts (not pictured), on sale for $3.49 (received a $1 Register Reward making this $2.49)
• Johnson's Cotton Swabs x 3, $2.49 each (used a Walgreen's coupon making them each $1.99 for a total of $5.97)
• Bengay Pain Relief and Massage Gel x 2, on sale for $4.99 each (used $5/1 x 2 manufacturer coupons making these both free!)
• Biore Porestrips x 2, $7.49 each (used $2/1 x 2 manufacturer coupons and received a $5 Register Reward for buying 2 Biore products making these a total of $5.98)

Total before coupons and Register Rewards (includes tax): $57.52
Total after coupons and Register Rewards (includes tax): $17.02
Total savings: $40.50 or 70%

I was very happy to get the Biore deal because I am almost out of those pore strips (they work awesome by the way)! And moments after taking the picture the Bengay got used on Damian's sore neck (he says it's a little better but he probably needs to go to the chiropractor). And the q-tips were a good deal too so I stocked up.