Bringing a Bit of That "Beach Feeling" Down Home Thanks to @Influenster and My #SurfsUpVoxBox!

WooHoo, this is my second VoxBox from Influenster.com, and this campaign's theme is, #SurfsUpVoxBox. I've been spending time out at the pool, so I was really ready for this:

...the unboxing...or unvoxing...or unvoxboxing...

(it's fun to be an Influenster from @Influenster)

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The wonderful goodies that I received in this box were:
 Coupons for Jamba Juice Smoothie Kits:

um...YUM!!!

I am so tickled, I want ALL the flavors! All you have to do is add juice and blend. Easy-Peasey. They are fat-free and gluten-free, you get 100% daily value of vitamin C AND they contain one FULL serving of fruit. BUT, the fun doesn't end there, they also have them in new dairy free Fruit and Veggie Smoothies, so that means even the lactose-intolerant folks don't have to miss out! Jamba Juice Smoothies, yippee and YUM!!! (#jambajuice for more info on Twitter, or go to facebook.com/jambaathomesmoothie)

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Next, Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration After Sun Lotion:

Soothing, smoothing summery-scented must-have after sun lotion!

First of all, this lotion smells AMAZING! The fragrance is listed as "Coconut Papaya" but even that doesn't describe how wonderful this Hawaiian Tropic elixir, I mean lotion is. I want to smell like this all the time, all year 'round! I already use Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Oil whenever I sun because I'm hooked on the formulas and scents, so this one is just another to add to my Hawaiian Tropic love-addiction! About the way the lotion feels on the skin: it goes on soooo smooth, and yet doesn't leave a greasy residue at all, just a soothing, moisturizing feel. It has aloe in it, and you will see "ribbons" of gel and lotion (some kind of magic, I suspect) that makes my skin feel happy and loved. 

(#EscapewithHT on Twitter or facebook.com/hawaiiantropic for more info)

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SinfulColors Professional Nail Polish (mine came in the shade, "Aqua")

(My daughter has prettier hands and longer nails than me, so I'm using her nails in this photo; thanks, hun!) Brushes on smoothly and well-pigmented at a great price!

  Don't let the name fool you! You can get this guilt-free for only around $1.99 as of this writing. Walgreen's carries it I know for sure, it's surprisingly good quality at a very affordable price. You know how you're in the store, you buy a color you like, you get it home, begin painting your nails and it either takes about 4 coats to get even close to the shade, or it just needs to stay in the bottle, because that's the only way it looks good? That's not the case with this Sinful Colors Professional Nail Polish, it is richly pigmented, and goes on smooth and full the first time, making a second coat optional. I always like to use 2 coats of nail polish, so in the photo above you see the results after just 2 coats. It's a winner, and between my daughters and I, I imagine we'll end up getting a bottle in every shade! It's a bargain! (#SinfulColors @SinfulColors_NP on Twitter or facebook.com/SinfulColors for more info)

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First Aid Shot Therapy

Works Fast!

This is an NSAID pain reliever in a liquid single dose (shot). The two main ingredients are 500mg of Choline Salicylate and 65mg of Caffeine. I was anxious to try this, because my shoulders and back have been bothering me a lot. I tried this, (the flavor is mildly sweet with a bit of medicine-y aftertaste but not bad) and within around 15 minutes, (it did work pretty FAST, and I like fast when it comes to pain-relief), it was as I was getting these photos gathered to upload to my blog, I realized that my pain wasn't distracting me like it can sometimes do. Instead, I felt only mildly aware of my soreness (I have chronic pain) but it wasn't the "in-yer-face" kind of pain anymore. For me, this was a success, and I now have a new formula that I can add to my pain-fighting small arsenal (which before consisted of only aspirin and extra strength acetaminophen, as prescription pain relievers scare me and I'd rather tough it out than worry about 15 different side effects from prescription pain meds!) I checked out their site, and you can get it at a number of places, including Amazon.com, Walgreens, 7-11 stores and several others. First Aid Shot Therapy Pain Relief is something I definitely want to keep on hand! (#FASTRelief #contest @firstaidshot #firstaidshot on Twitter and facebook.com/FirstAidShotTherapy for more info)
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Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Shampoo & Conditioner

Feel and smell like a "beach babe" after using this!

This stuff smells like the beach for real! It reminds me of all the suntan lotion smells, predominately fresh coconut, with that salty ocean smell on a soft warm breeze sort of beach trip. Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Shampoo and Conditioners are both Sulfate-free, with Sea Kelp Extract and Coconut Oil... It's a bunch easier to get those beachy, simpler to "scrunch" waves into your tousled and textured tresses, but with the added moisture that hair needs to stay healthy exposed to surf, sun, wind or whatever elements come your way while air-drying and scrunching...all of the great beachy atmosphere, except without the creepy 2-sizes-too-small-Speedo-wearing sketchy-actin' guy that keeps trying to move his towel closer to your's; yeah, you know the one I'm talkin' about! Anyway, getting texture and moisture is easier with NYM Beach Babe Shampoo and Conditioner! (#NYMBeachBabe and @NYMBrands on Twitter and facebook.com/NYMBrands for more info)

Hair says: Woah, bruh, we don't need no beach!!! (Yes, my hair is somewhat illiterate)

Just as I supposed I would, I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every product that was in my #SurfsUpVoxBox, which I received complimentary from Influenster.com for testing and reviewing purposes. I am never, ever, ever under any sort of obligation to give a favorable review for a product I do not like, all opinions are strictly my own based on my own experience with them. I simply have not received one thing yet from a VoxBox that I haven't liked and enjoyed very much. I am not shy with my opinions, and if I don't like something, I am not shy to say so ;P

~Finally, a BIG THANK YOU to the good folks at Influenster.com, @InfluensterVox , @Influenster for the awesome #SurfsUpVoxBox , and to Jamba Juice, Hawaiian Tropic, First Aid Shot Therapy, SinfulColors and NYMBrands for the opportunity to experience these pretty terrific products for myself! Thanks so much as well to you, the reader for giving me the chance to tell you about it!~
 

Have a question, comment or suggestion? I'd love to hear from you, leave a comment below!

Pampered and Glammed by Influenster and Mary Kay

One of the most exciting campaigns that I've gotten to participate in lately has been from Influenster.com, a fabulously fun program that is a word of mouth/social network base which sends boxes of happiness, also known as VoxBoxes, full of goodies that are themed items/products that members get to try (for free) and submit (via social networks) their honest opinions/reviews and associated media (such as photos/videos) based on their experience with the items. The latest campaign that I've done with Influenster was with Mary Kay products, the MKGlam VoxBox. This was my first Influenster campaign, so I nearly fell out when I opened up this package and found all of these (full-sized) luxurious items tucked away inside:

As you can see in the photo above, this was an amazing opportunity to try a wonderful, wide variety of Mary Kay cosmetics...

 It's not listed on the card above, but I had also received a luxuriously lush powder brush. Other than that, everything else sent in this most decadent box is listed on the above Mary Kay card...

 Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Color, "Shy Blush" gives my cheeks a natural, soft yet finely pigmented color, and blends so well into my skin tone...

 

 Mary Kay Bronzing Powder works wonderfully for even my fair skin, my face looks gently sun kissed, never orange or fake. I never knew a bronzer could look so natural!

 

 Mary Kay Powder Brush and Cream Eye Color/Concealer Brush are my new favorite brushes, so butter-soft!

 

 Mary Kay Cream Eye Color, "Apricot Twist" was my first experience with cream shadow, the color is so pretty and I love the way it glides on and stays on!

 

 Mary Kay Gel Eyeliner with expandable brush applicator, "Jet Black" has a lovely, rich pigment and draws as thin or thick a line as I want along my lash line, lasts like a dream!

 

 Mary Kay Translucent Loose Powder, oh, the luxury! I use this daily, it is finely milled and not only sets my makeup beautifully, but gives me a subtle, soft sheen that gives me a finished, flawless look and leaves me feeling pampered...

  

 Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara, "I Love Black" is deeply pigmented and rich. The color glides on my lashes and has never clumped or caked, fabulous!

 

 Mary Kay Nourishine Plus Lip Gloss, "Mango Tango" is amazing! I've tried LOTS of different lip glosses, but none have ever worked for me as well as this one. The gloss makes my lips feel incredibly smooth and supple, and so very pampered. It stays on without feeling gloppy, gooey or sticky, and I'm able to control just how much of this pretty color as I wish by applying only a little, or a couple of coats. I've put several of the colors on my wish list, I want them all!

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I was BLOWN AWAY by the MKGLAM VoxBox that I received, each and every product has been and continues to be an absolute pleasure to use. I now have a better understanding why some people love Mary Kay so much. I've learned that Mary Kay's products are of excellent quality, finely milled and highly pigmented, therefore they last much longer and thus are a better value than many cosmetics available at the local drugstore. I indeed feel "glam" and pampered applying and wearing these Mary Kay products, they have really given me such a lift in my daily makeup routine. I have a running list of items to order from Mary Kay now, I've gone from MKGlam to MKFan!

~~I received all of the above products complimentary (free, of no charge) in exchange for trying/testing and using these items and sharing my experiences and honest impressions opinions of these products. A special thank you to Influenster.com and Mary Kay for allowing me to participate in this program, this was such a treat for me and I have thoroughly been enjoying these products since the day I received them, what a treat!~~

Interested in becoming an Influenster and trying out great products for yourself? It's easy and painless, click here to find out more!

You Win This Time, Slick

Being a BzzAgent is Fun!"

Frankly, upon opening the package of the new Schick Hydro Silk Sensitive Care razor, I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of blades, FIVE in all. I wondered what I had signed up for, and wasn't sure if I'd survive the testing of this product. However, after reading (through my fearful tears) the accompanying literature printed on the outside and inside the box, I told my family I loved them, and with my newly acquired instrument of mass (hair only, I hoped) destruction, took the long walk to the shower, being the brave BzzAgent soldier that I am.
 

The BEST Shave I've Ever Had!"



One of the first things that I noticed, (other than the five glaringly shiny blades), was the handle. The handle has an almost squishy gel-like covering that gives me the most excellent grip in water, with a hole at the top of it before the blade-head, which I found is the perfect place to rest my forefinger for even more control. I found that to be a very nice touch and rather comforting given my present trepidation. After lathering up, I took my shaver down from the handy-dandy suction cupped shower razor holder, (which was included with the razor, also a fantastic feature), held my breath, and began shaving my leg. I was absolutely amazed (and relieved) at how smoothly this glided along, there was no drag or tugging sensation, no prickling or scraping, and best of all, no blood or pain! I thought maybe I had missed something, maybe there was a fine clear sheath of some sort covering the blades, and I had to touch my leg where i had shaved to see if it was actually shaving. I felt nothing but very smooth, slick, hairless, fully-intact skin, softer than it had felt in a long while, although I always shaved daily (but that other razor is only a mere 2 wimpy blades, reserved only for the scaredy-cats, beginners, or uninformed). I scoff at that razorling, bah!

Being neither a beginner or uninformed, and most certainly not a scaredy-cat (anymore), I don't see how I can possibly go back to a substandard, plain old skin-scraping two-bladed tired razor again. Shaving my legs (and underarms) was uneventful as far as nicks, scrapes or cuts, but hugely eventful in that it took less swipes with the razor (it got all the hair at each first stroke, no going back over a second time), gliding effortlessly leaving only silky, hairless skin pampered with the shaver's built-in hypoallergenic shea butter-infused serum strips at the top and bottom of the blade head. Elated to find my shaving experience to be the best I've had in (let's just say, a lot of) years, determined to never settle for anything less ever again, I realized the clever, clever way that Schick works. You see, they are out to rule the world, (shaving world, that is), by offering the best razor to be found, and once you try it -(it only takes one little time)- you will refuse to waste another precious minute using anything other than this wonderfully clean and close shaving little doozie. You win this time, Slick, this time...

~Um, call me, Schick Hydro Silk Razor Sensitive Care people-- I love you.~

Thank you to BzzAgent.com for providing (free of charge to me in exchange for using this product for myself and giving an honest evaluation and review of) this super-duper-fantastic Schick Hydro Silk Sensitive Care razor kit, including a voucher for a free bottle of Skintimate Shave Gel (which I have not yet gotten to go to the store to redeem) as well as coupons for $4 off the future purchase price of this most fabulous razor. The plan worked, I'm hooked.