Rubbermaid® FreshWorks™ Produce Savers Truly Saved My Produce

I am notorious for having produce go bad in my refrigerator. I buy it with every intent to eat it before it goes bad, but more often than not I end up throwing out as much, if not more, than my family manages to consume. I'm hoping that now that I've discovered Rubbermaid® FreshWorks™ Produce Saver containers all that will change.

I received a medium sized Rubbermaid® FreshWorks™ Produce Saver container from #Crowdtap and immediately put it to use. I pulled some blackberries out of the refrigerator and transferred them from their store packaging, where they had started to wilt and dry out, and put them in my new FreshWorks™ container. Once there, I was able to eat a few of them each day and they didn't go bad any faster than before, and maybe even aged slower than normal.

The next thing I needed to do was compare the same type of produce in both the store packaging and in the Rubbermaid® FreshWorks™ Produce Saver container so I could be sure that it really was prolonging the life of my produce. I chose mushrooms, because we eat a lot of them and it would be nice if I could keep more on hand. I purchased two packages, kept one of them in the store packaging and put the other one into the Rubbermaid® FreshWorks™ Produce Saver container, then let them sit in my refrigerator for a week to see what would happen. At the end of a week there wasn't a large visual difference, but there was a big difference when it came to texture. The mushrooms that were kept in the store packaging we soft and a little bit slimy, but the mushrooms that were kept in the Rubbermaid® FreshWorks™ Produce Saver container were firm and definitely fresher.

The next week my local grocery store had raspberries on sale. Raspberries are one of my favorite fruits and I love it when they go on sale, but I can generally only purchase a single package of them because they go bad so fast. This time I purchased two packages of raspberries and did the same thing with them. I kept one package in the store package and the other one in my Rubbermaid® FreshWorks™ Produce Saver container.  

This time the difference after a week in the refrigerator was a bit more obvious. I didn't notice any difference at all in the berries that were kept in the Rubbermaid® FreshWorks™ Produce Saver container. They stayed firm, fresh, and juicy and were just as delicious on Day 7 as they were on Day 1. The berries in the store packaging were a different matter. The berries on top had started to wilt, while the berries on the bottom had gone mushy and they had lost some of their yummy flavor. By this time I was hooked.

On my next trip to Wal-Mart I found the food storage aisle and was very pleased to find the Rubbermaid® FreshWorks™ Produce Saver products. I bought a package with three different sizes, brought them home and proceeded to move my produce from their store packaging so I could enjoy it longer.

Now, if you take a look in my refrigerator, you'll see my Rubbermaid® FreshWorks™ Produce Saver containers filled with a variety of produce, just waiting for me to add it to a recipe or just steal a piece or two for a yummy afternoon snack.

**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and Rubbermaid®.**

Pursuing My Passions thanks to Advil® Film-Coated

I first tried Advil® Film-Coated last December (for my review of the product click HERE), so this isn't as much my review of the product as it is a review of the things that Advil® Film-Coated helps me do. I know I'm not very old, but I'm not in very great shape either, so there are a lot of times when I overdo it and end up with aches and pains. These aches and pains are no fun at all, but  Advil® Film-Coated has helped me overcome them so I can find the things in life that I really love to do and then do them.

I currently have a couple of passions that help make me who I am and that bring joy to my life. First, I coach my son's soccer team. We have weekly practices where I have to demonstrate techniques and skills to the boys, and we have a game each Saturday - and at this age the coaches are the referees - so I'm out on the field, chasing the boys around for a good solid 40 minutes each game. This takes a lot of physical exertion that can leave me aching, but not for long thanks to  Advil® Film-Coated.

Second, I love the outdoors, and that includes both walking or hiking and working in the yard and garden. I live near a mountainside and whenever I can I like to hike it's trails and spend time enjoying the great outdoors. I also love to do the yard work at my house - I have my husband watch the kids so I can have "me time" while I do it - and I help my grandparents plant, maintain, and harvest their various flower and vegetable gardens. All these things bring me closer to nature and fuel my passion, but can leave me reaching for  Advil® Film-Coated to help keep me going when the aches try to stop me.

I also like to make sure that those who are visiting me don't have to suffer from aches or pains either.
So when I received another set of samples of this product from #Crowdtap, I stashed away a couple of samples for me (the sample packs are nice and convenient for my purse and glove box) and then I bundled the others with coupons to share with friends and family who might need pain relief while they're visiting my home. Thanks again Advil® for helping keep myself and my loved ones pain free so we can live life with a passion!


**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and Advil®.**

L’Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare - Extraordinary Oil Curls Product Line

Hair care is something I take seriously. For those of you who don't know, I have long, coarse, really thick hair. It is almost completely straight on top and near my neck (unless I've braided it and then those areas might have a little bit more wavy), super wavy in the middle (so wavy a flat iron doesn't completely straighten it), and prone to dryness and frizz. It's tricky to maintain it, so I'm always looking for products that will make my job a little bit easier. Through #Crowdtap and participation in the L'Oreal Paris Crowd I had an opportunity to try out the new L’Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil CURLS product line to see if these products could help me have #ExtraordinaryHair.

Here is how my hair looked before I started using these products. My ends were really dry and frizzy, and the rest of my hair was kind of shapeless and hard to manage. I started, as per the instructions given to me as part of my product sampling mission, with the Exraordinary Oil Curls Re-Nourish Mask. Following the instructions on the product, I got my hair wet, then worked the product through my hair from roots to ends. The product had an interesting texture, kind of like spreadable margarine, and I had a hard time getting it to work all the way the through my hair. But once I got it spread through, I put it up in a bun and then let it sit in my hair for about 20 minutes. After my time was up I hopped in the shower, rinsed out the mask - which took a while because I had coated my hair really well - and then continued on with the other two products.

After using the mask I used the Extraordinary Oil Curls Shampoo to wash my hair. This product was disappointing to me. It didn't want to lather very well (one of the traits I look for in a good shampoo) and it also didn't rinse out very well. I applied two batches of shampoo (this is normal for me, the first loosens up the oils on my scalp and the second seems to get my hair nice and clean), but even after the second batch my hair still didn't feel clean. I figured that the oils in the product weren't breaking down the oils in my scalp very well, but I figured I'd keep going and see how my hair reacted to this product over time.

Finally, I applied the Extraordinary Oil Curls Conditioner, combed it through my hair to spread it all the way to my ends, and then let it sit on my hair for a few minutes while I finished the rest of my shower. Then I rinsed it out. I was amazed at how it rinsed out well, but still kept my hair feeling moisturized. I then towel dried my hair and then styled it for my first "after" photo.

I then let my hair dry the rest of the way (over night and into the next afternoon - yeah, my thick hair takes forever to dry) and then took a second set of "after" photos. You can see that my ends are much smoother, my wavy hair is much more defined, and my hair isn't frizzy - without the aid of the leave-in treatment that I had to use when I took my "before" photo. I was able to go a normal amount of time before having to wash my hair again (about 5 days) and then I tried the L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil Curls Shampoo and Conditioner again.

This time, I was once again disappointed with the shampoo - I will not be using it again for my hair, it just doesn't clean my scalp and even triggered a dandruff breakout - but the conditioner worked great. I liked how smooth the ends of my hair were, and I was even able to try out some fun hair styles that I've been wanting to for a while because my hair was much more manageable than it has been for quite some time.

Overall, I like the concept of this product line, and I will probably use both the hair mask and the conditioner again. The shampoo would probably be fine for someone without an oily, dandruff prone scalp, so I would recommend the product to others if you have super dry hair and scalp. After using these products my hair was more manageable, my wavy hair was more wavy without being weighed down by leave-in treatments, and my frizz is gone, so for the most part, L'Oreal Paris' Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil products did their job and helped me have #ExtraordinaryHair!

**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and the L'Oreal Paris Crowd.**

Mr. Sketch® Scented Washable Markers: An Old Favorite Updated

These Mr. Sketch® Scented Washable Markers take me back - way back to 5th grade. I don't remember all the details, but I do remember the Mr. Sketch® scented markers that we used, more than we probably should have. I remember the scents, blueberry and cinnamon in particular, and I remember coloring everything I could with my favorites so my desk would smell just like the markers.

When this sample from #Crowdtap arrived, I got to share these memories with my kids through the updated, washable version of these classic makers. They wanted to try them out the very afternoon that they arrived.

Here are their first creations. My daughter thought that these bright colors were perfect for making a "rainbow" and my son just wanted to create a design with all of the colors so he could find out what they all smelled like. The markers leaked through the paper a little bit, but I was impressed with how easily the table came clean with just a damp rag. I was busy making dinner and couldn't sit down with them this time, but the next time we pulled out the markers I joined them.

I sat down and drew a little picture, featuring my favorite scent, cinnamon, as much as possible. My kids also created more pictures. We had fun talking, laughing, and creating together. I shared with them my memories from elementary school and they loved hearing stories about when Mommy was little. I personally was surprised how just smelling the markers as I colored brought back the memories of when I last colored with Mr. Sketch® markers. This made me appreciate them more, and I hope that they encourage my kids to create pictures and wonderful memories. Mr. Sketch® has officially become a generational product in my household!



**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and Mr. Sketch®.**

Simple Steps to Clearly Brighter Skin

Nobody likes having skin that is dry, dull or splotchy. These are all problems that I've battled with since I was a teenager - many years ago. Finally, now that I've passed the 30 year mark, I think that I have finally found some simple steps, that when done regularly, can help you maintain healthy skin that both looks and feels great.

This simple skin care system has three steps and requires a few simple ingredients. First, a gentle liquid cleanser for your face, I use baby shampoo since it's gentle on my sensitive skin, doesn't sting when it accidentally gets in your eyes, and because I have it on hand. Second, baking soda. Most people have this product in their homes, whether to use in baking or cleaning. Third, a simple face mask. I make my own with equal parts powdered Bentonite Clay and powdered milk and then add enough water to it to make enough for a single use, that way I don't have to refrigerate it due to the milk component. And fourth, Garnier Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer SPF15. 

The first step to better skin is to clean and nourish your face really well. I do this once or twice a month, depending on when it is needed. The first thing that I do is wash my face using the baby shampoo and baking soda. I put about a dime-sized dot of baking soda in the palm of my hand, add just enough baby shampoo to liquefy the baking soda and then gently apply this scrub to my face. I rub it in gentle circles to remove any dead skin cells and dirt. Then I rinse my face with warm water, pat it dry and apply my face mask.

To prepare my face mask, I liquefy about a quarter sized quantity of my face mask mix with warm water, spread it gently onto my face, and then sit back and let it dry for 15 - 20 minutes. The combination of the clay and the milk helps to dry out any blemishes that I may have, tighten my pores, and nourish my skin at the same time. Then I rinse it off of my face and apply my moisturizer.

Garnier Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer SPF15 is my moisturizer of choice. It does several things to help my face stay hydrated, protected, and healthy. It is specially formulated to help your skin stay smooth and bright by nourishing with antioxidants and vitamins, smoothing it with exfoliates, and protecting it with a gentle sunscreen. Several months ago, when I started using this product every morning, I saw results right away. My skin tone was uneven and my skin was a combination nightmare with some dry patches and some oily. After using this product for only a week, Garnier Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer SPF15 had already started changing my skin. My skin tone was more even and smooth, my dry patches were gone, and my skin had started regulating its healthy oils better. 

Now, three months later, my skin is much less blotchy, quite a bit smoother, I feel like my skin is protected when I leave my house each day.

So, by using my simple scrub and face mask a couple times a month and Garnier Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer SPF15 every morning, I have transformed my skin from troublesome to radiant. I like what I see in the mirror and I truly feel that I have Clearly Brighter Skin!

**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and Garnier.**

GoGo squeeZ® YogurtZ: Healthy Smile Makers

I always welcome the opportunity to use my kids as guinea pigs to try out new snacks. What better way for me to find out what they like and what new options are out there for them to try? This sample from #Crowdtap was a package of GoGo squeeZ® YogurtZ, strawberry flavored. This product is a shelf stable yogurt product that can be stored in your pantry instead of your fridge, but it's still yogurt. So for me that mean that my youngest daughter, who hates applesauce but loves yogurt, may have finally found a quick snack that I can get when I need one for on-the-go .

My little one first tried GoGo squeeZ® YogurtZ while she was both getting over a bad cold and cutting molars. I had been having a very hard time getting her to eat anything, and I was pretty sure that she would end up turning up her nose at this snack, and then I'd have to ask one of my older kids to try it. But to my surprise, she liked it immediately and downed it super quick. I then offered her one the next day when we were going to get Big Brother from school, and she was able to feed herself in the car while I drove, which was super nice.

Then came the next challenge, would she be willing to share this yummy snack? Well, her cousin came over for a play date a few days later and the sharing was successful! They both enjoyed their snack and since they each had their own pouch, they were fine with sharing.

However, when I went to my local Smith's grocery store to see if I could get some more for convenient snack times, this is what I encountered. Almost all of the GoGo squeeZ® products were pulled from the shelves because of a recent recall, and apparently they haven't started carrying the YogurtZ variety yet. But, since I like the portability of this snack and since my daughter really seems to love it, I will keep an eye open for the GoGo squeeZ® YogurtZ products to arrive on the shelves. I probably won't get them as an every-day kind of snack, but more as a special snack for play dates, or as a snack for when we go on road-trips to visit family. I may even let my other kids give them a try next time, and then I'll probably have three hands reaching for these yummy snacks that are "So Cool It Doesn’t Have To Be Cold."



**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and GoGo squeeZ.**

TIDE PODS®: #SmallButPowerful

This sampling from #Crowdtap at a very opportune time. Remember a few weeks ago, when I had a hair dying party? Well we got a whole bunch of towels dirty while dying our hair (better than getting our clothes dirty). Some were dirtier than others, and one in particular I thought would need to be thrown away after we were done. But, my TIDE PODS® sample came that morning, so after our fun evening of dying our hair, I took my large pile of towels down to the laundry room and got them ready for the wash.  

The instructions said that one TIDE POD® is good for a normal sized load of laundry, or for a normal quantity of dirt. My load of towels was going to be both a large load and a dirty one, so I started by adding two TIDE PODS® to my washer before adding the towels and starting the load.

Next I filled up the washer and started it.  Then I sat back and waited while my washer did the hard part. Finally, I transferred my towels to the dryer and got them nice and dry. Here were my results:

Here's one of my old dish towels that got stains from drying the raspberries we had for our refreshments. It was already stained before I started, but the prominent red berry stains were nowhere to be found.

Then there were my light blue towels that had black hair dye stains on them. They came out with no traces of black at all.

This towel was my deciding factor. Somehow, long, thick hair combined with three boxes of hair dye leads to a really big stain on this light colored towel. I was sure that it was going to be ruined, but surprise! The TIDE PODS® removed all but one tiny dot of the hair dye from this towel. I was amazed at how well they worked.

I was so impressed with how well the TIDE PODS® cleaned my towels that I chose my sister to share my other two samples with. She visited us for Easter this year, so I added her TIDE PODS® to her Easter basket for a nice little grown-up Easter surprise.

Ultimately, I was very impressed with how well this product works. The TIDE PODS® are formulated so that they contain a detergent, stain remover, and brightener in one tiny little package. They also are 90% cleaning agent, with very little water, unlike traditional liquid detergents. They are also made to be able to dissolve with any temperature of water, and they can work with HE machines as well. From my one experience with them I have a tendency to believe their product claims; however, when I looked at them at the store, I couldn't stomach the price. I know that my standard laundry detergent may not work as well, but it fits into my family's budget a whole lot better than these do.  So, TIDE PODS® may be the best product out there to tackle tough stains and keep your clothes looking brighter, but unfortunately, at this time they are not in the budget. So thank you Tide and Crowdtap for this sampling opportunity, but for now I'm afraid my dingy, stained clothes and I are going to have to sit and watch the greener grass on the other side.

**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and Tide.**

Goldfish® Baked with Whole Grain: Healthy Snacks for the Whole Family

Goldfish® crackers are my kids' favorite snack (and one of mine too). These yummy little fish-shaped crackers have long been a snacking staple at my home and I try to stock my cupboard with them every time they go on sale at the grocery store. So when #Crowdtap offered me a chance to try the new Goldfish® Crackers Baked with Whole Grain, my kids and I took this challenge and ran with it. They sent us a package of  Goldfish® Baked with Whole Grain Xtra Cheddar Crackers, and my son immediately wanted to help me get started on the challenges that came with this sampling mission.

Our first challenge was to pair the crackers with a fruit or vegetable for an afternoon snack. I let my son pick what he paired his crackers with, and he chose grapes. Not all of the grapes made it onto the plate (mom helped out with that one, I'm afraid), but here was his yummy and healthy afternoon snack:

Our next challenge was to incorporate Goldfish® crackers into a "game" as part of the monthly #GoldfishTalesPromotion challenge.  We took some Goldfish® Baked with Whole Grain Xtra Cheddar Crackers and some Goldfish® Colors Crackers and showed them playing a game of Chutes & Ladders in color based teams. Unfortunately the Xtra Cheddar crackers hit the big slide, which put the orange Colors crackers in the lead.

Next, we took the challenge to the next level and used a coupon to pick up another variety of Goldfish® Baked with Whole Grain. Since we couldn't decide which one to pick, we chose two: Honey Grahams and Pretzel.

Needless to say, with three kids these two bags of crackers didn't stick around very long. As a adult that has been eating Goldfish® crackers for a long time now, the texture of the Whole Grain varieties is a little bit different than the original, but the taste is the same and my kids didn't seem to notice the difference, they were just excited to be able to have Goldfish® for snacks. So, since my kids love snacking on Goldfish® for both the taste and the fun of eating little fish crackers, I decided to pull a healthy switch on them and add whole grain to their snack time. I think these yummy little snacks are going to become a healthy family tradition.

**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and the Goldfish® Crowd.**