Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary from Influenster for purposes of testing and reviewing.
I’ve held off on getting my own Keurig for awhile now, but it was always something I thought I’d like to get eventually. So I was thrilled when Influenster told me I had been chosen to receive the Keurig VoxBox.
The K450 2.0 Brewing System looks as sleek as the other ones and comes complete with a 70 oz. water reservoir and a digital screen. It was easy to put together, and the touch screen is simple to use. I brewed my first cup of coffee with it and wasn’t disappointed.
One of the things that I’d always questioned about the Keurig was how long it would take to brew coffee for multiple people. Brewing time is short, but it seemed like it could be tedious to replace several cups and brew each cup individually. This system, however, comes with the ability to either brew a cup or a whole carafe of coffee using larger K-cups. Even on days I’m by myself but feel like really getting my coffee on (stretches of writing, reading, or hardcore knitting), I can make one full carafe and drink from it for awhile.
There is an option on the touch screen for hot cocoa or other and an option that allows you to pick “strong” for the brew of your coffee. I find many coffees to be strong already, so I might not use that option much, but I do have friends who like it thick. Plus, I like having the option for those super early mornings or those really late nights.
I’ll be using and testing my new gadget over the next few weeks and will have a full product review once I get to know the ins and outs of the 2.0. Stay tuned!
Remember the Worst Date Contest I published before my blog hiatus (which is still kind of happening since I haven’t been able to sit down and do any actual blogging with the craziness of the past week)? The contest was a success, and to follow up, Courtney is doing another one…the Worst Break-Up Ever Contest.
Courtney Hamilton’s “Worst Breakup Ever” Contest (International)
Courtney Hamilton is giving away a signed copy of her novel, Almost Royalty, to the top 2 winners! To enter, all you have to do is tell her:
What is your “Worst Breakup Ever” experience? Share your story in the comment section below.
After the contest has ended, Courtney will personally read every participant’s entry and pick the top 2 worst breakup stories. The winners will be announced through Courtney’s Facebook page, Twitter, and blog. This contest will also be hosted on various blogs, social media sites, and forums found in the “Participating Websites” section of this post.
Only 99¢
Enjoy the “Worst Break up Ever” contest and, for the first time, download your Kindle copy of Almost Royalty by Courtney Hamilton for only 99¢!
No purchase necessary to enter. Sponsored by Forrest Thompson Publishers. Giveaway ends August 5, 2014 at 11:59 PM (PST). Open Internationally. 18+ years of age. Void where prohibited. Winners will be announced on Courtney Hamilton’s blog at www.Ecochainofdating.com/blog, Eco-chain of Dating Facebook Page, and @ecochaindating. Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize once they are chosen, or their winnings will be forfeited. By entering the giveaway, you give Courtney Hamilton and Forrest Thompson Publishers permission to repost your story or recite it in a video for media purposes. Forrest Thompson Publishers reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this contest at any time without prior notice.
Participating Websites: The full list of participants in Courtney’s “Worst Breakup Ever” Contest is available on her blog at: http://ecochainofdating.com/blog/?p=1579
Let the Worst Breakup Stories Ever begin!
Much like the bad dating story, I’m limited in my bad break-up stories. I had one bad break-up, but to be honest, the actual relationship was worse than the break-up. I’m sure I didn’t think that at the time, but in hindsight, it was the best thing ever.
However, I know some of my followers have some good stories, so let’s get them out there! And read Courtney’s book!
Between moving and binge reading, I’ve done a little procrastinating on the review and blogging front, but I finally got the chance to try out my ProFoot products, sent to me from Influenster…complimentary, of course…for testing purposes.
Let’s start with the ProFoot Orthotic Insole. I’ve had some rotten luck with insoles in the past, so I tend not to use them. I’m always up for trying something new, though, and I have to say…these are by far the best one’s I’ve ever tried. They were super comfortable and I found a distinct lack of knee and back pain after walking with them a couple times. My favorite aspect? The fact that they don’t stretch all the way to the toe, which meant I had plenty of wiggle room.
Shoes meet ProFoot!
Because I’m not used to insoles, I did have a little bit of a fitting issue with them, but I have a weird size, and I think I could taylor them a little better in the future.
The second product was the ProFoot Pedi-Rock. First thing to note about this little guy…he’s squishy. I was expecting something a little firmer. However, he felt great on my feet when I gave myself my own personal foot massage.
A different kind of pumice stone.
The squishy part allows the rock to conform to the angles and curves of the foot. It made my feet super soft and just felt good on them. I highly recommend using this after a shower when you’re feet area already softened from the water, but you can use it on wet or dry skin.
These are good quality products and ones I plan on using and purchasing in the future. A huge thanks to ProFoot and Influenster for giving me the chance to try these out.
I made it out this morning to take my 5k walk despite being tired from getting to bed so late. Jon didn’t join me due to a sore throat and looming cold, so I made it to the track solo after grabbing breakfast and a bottle of water. It was a tough walk today. It’s warmer, and the sun made things a little more uncomfortable. Not complaining in general…I love the sun and I’m glad to see it might stick around for a season. But this means I need to invest in sunscreen and get in the habit of carrying a water bottle while I walk.
Even though I was tempted to stop after every lap, I didn’t. I made it around four times…which I think is more than the 5k distance at that track…and I maintained the hour and a half walk time. It was slightly longer due to stopping to take a phone call and to text Jon, but it was close.
I also got to break in my new shoes!
Pay no attention to the old school carpeting and the super baggy sweatpants.
The Most Comfortable Pair I’ve Ever Worn Adidas shoes I bought for five dollars at Goodwill were too worn in the sole to be able to walk and jog comfortably. I have another pair of Adidas, but they’re not as comfortable for wearing in general.
About a week ago, I received an email from Manhattan Running Company that reminded me of their free gait analysis. I figured it would be a good idea to try it out. Plus, I’d like to start supporting some of the city’s small businesses and keep my money local, so Jon and I went up there to see what they had.
They did a test to see where I put my weight when standing (on my toes, apparently), then they had me jog on the treadmill so they could record what my feet do when I’m running. The woman who helped me showed me my video alongside the video of a runner with an overpronation. It looked so weird…like his ankle was going to snap. I know part of it was an optical illusion…but it was a little unsettling, even though I know it’s common and one of those things that differ with people.
I learned two things with my analysis: I don’t have a pronation and I strike on my toes, not my heels. Apparently there’s no right or wrong way to do it. The woman mentioned that runners who strike with their toes have to work harder. However, word on the street is that that’s how barefoot runners run. And while I have no intentions of running barefoot, I figure I’m just going to stick with what’s comfortable for me, even if it is the less efficient way to do it.
I picked from a few different shoes and ended up with the blue ones based on fit, comfort, and price. They were on sale, and I can’t say no to a discount. Because I mentioned the email, I also got a free pair of socks,They may be the most comfortable socks I’ve ever worn (besides hand knitted socks, which aren’t ideal for exercise). They’re really lightweight and soft. I didn’t “get” it before, but I think I see why runners invest in more expensive socks.
Besides the gait analysis (which I think is a really cool thing) and my wanting to support a local small business, MRC is just a cool place in general. They have all sorts of running gear. We’d gone there before because they were the only place in town we could find armbands to fit our phones. The service was great too, and the woman who helped me was nice and patient in answering all my questions. There’s always that thought that a place is going to get weird when I tell them I want to run at my size, but I didn’t get a judgmental vibe at all from them. If you’re in MHK, I recommend this store. If you’re not, definitely check your local listings for a good small business running store. Keep it local, peeps…if you can, of course.
When Jon needs new shoes, I think we’ll head back up there and get him fitted and analyzed too. Hopefully they have his shoe size. Dude’s got big feet. Either way, I bet I’m buying more socks.
I only tried out the new shoes with walking, so tomorrow I’ll test how they feel when I run. Even though the walk itself was rough, the shoes felt awesome. Side note: during my test, I realized that jogging on a treadmill is actually easier than jogging on the track. Didn’t expect that one.
After the walk, I was pretty much out of commission for the rest of the day. I showered, did some stuff online, and watched some movies. Beside this blog, I tried to do some other things that required thought, but I just couldn’t. Every once in awhile, I just need to let everything rest, and this was one of those days.
Here’s to hoping I’m a little bit sharper tomorrow so I can check some stuff off the to-do list.
It’s another post! I know, not really that exciting, but I like reviewing products from Influenster, so it’s exciting for me. And let’s face it…I have a habit of making it all about me. This post is going to do triple duty: a review of Kiss Lashes, a mention of John Frieda Three Day Straight, and a tale of girly shenanigans on a Friday night. The two products were received complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions…and shenanigans…are my own.
I enlisted the help of my friend to help me try out some of my products and she was on board (she’s moving away next week, so girly things kept me from getting emotional and crying all over her and begging her to stay). The wine may have also helped with avoiding being weepy. I’m actually really happy for her, but good-byes are always sad.
The first thing we did was use the John Frieda Three Day Straight Spray and her flat iron to straighten my hair.
I haven’t had straight hair in a really long time, and I wasn’t sure if I’d actually like it, but the end result was actually cute…and more dramatic than I was expecting.
Before..and my regular look (no hair products, no curling…my hair just does this)The left half has been flat ironed. The right half has been washed and sprayed, but not ironed yet.After. All straight! And kind of cool looking!
I really liked the straight look, but I honestly don’t know if I’d have the time to flat iron it consistently. Also, I don’t have a flat iron, so that poses a problem. I’m tempted to look into a more permanent means of keeping it straight, but I don’t know if I’m ready to part with the curl…even temporarily (because even a permanent method would grow out eventually, right?). Still, it’s something to think about for a new look.
Next, we tried out the Kiss Lashes. I was originally going to let my friend try these. I have sensitive eyes, and I was afraid the glue would bother them. However, in the end, curiosity got the best of me, and I wanted to see how I’d look with eye falsies.
In hindsight, it would have been fun to take a video of the process of applying these, as I have a feeling we looked ridiculous. My friend did the application, and I focused on keeping my eyes from freaking out. Once they were on, they felt heavy and strange. It took us a couple tries to get them on so that they didn’t look super uneven, but once we did, the results were kind of cool.
Still a little uneven. Had a tough time getting them to adhere to the curve of my eyelid.Good lash angle and a show off of the straight hair.Getting a little goofy. Blame it on the moscato!
As much fun as we had with them, I’m not sure if they’re for me, at least not all the time. Maybe for a special occasion now and then if I can get them to stay on. The glue didn’t bother my eyes nearly as bad as I thought it would, but anytime something gets around my eye I tear up.
Also, they didn’t work so well with my glasses. They weren’t horrible, but they definitely felt a bit crowded behind the lenses.
Trying out the Kiss lashes made me want to try some things with mascara and possibly even give contacts a try again. The mascara might happen soon. I’m thinking of making a makeup run to Walgreens soon. The contacts? That will all depend on Jon’s work situation. But with my cafeteria plan, it’s definitely something I’m considering. It will take some practice, though, re: my eyes tear up when weird things come in contact with them.
I rarely end my posts with a question, but if anyone feels inclined to answer, does anyone out there use false lashes on a regular basis? If so, do they get easier and more natural to use with time?
Things are still quiet, though they’ve started to perk up a little bit. Which was what happened last March if I remember correctly. Maybe January and February are the slow months of the year? Either way, I’m planning on doing a regular update this weekend, but right now I’m hitting you with another product review from my Influenster J’Adore VoxBox (still getting some mileage out of this one). Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Before testing this product, the last time I used a face mask was back in high school. It was an apricot one that peeled off after it stiffened up on my face. It seemed like a lot of work, but I may have been even lazier in high school than I am now.
While I probably wouldn’t have bought a facial mask on my own, the sample reminded me that masks really are another viable skin care option. I was bad about skin care when I was young, so even though I try to keep it up now that I’m older, it’s hard to get into a regular routine. Since I’ve been sprucing things up a little bit lately (makeup, pierced ears, etc), I thought this might be another step in my quest to pamper myself a bit more.
The first time I tried the mask, I wasn’t prepared for the texture, the consistency, or how fast it was going to come out of the bottle. I ended up with a dark gray mess on the floor. Once I finally started applying it, I really wasn’t sure how much to use, or how thick it needed to be to do the trick. I tried to apply liberally, but it didn’t feel like enough, and my application was pretty elementary.
This is my swamp thing face.
As you can see, I left a lot of areas blank, but I was nervous about eating it or getting it in my eyes. The first time was a little iffy, but the next few uses got easier. There seems to be a learning curve for facial mask application.
1. Apply over the sink and be prepared to rinse the sink after use. It comes out of the bottle quickly.
2. What feels like a thin layer is actually a lot of clay. A thin layer seems to do things just as well as a thick layer.
3. It definitely dries and tightens in the ten minutes you leave it on. It might also make sensitive skin tingle.
4. Pair the mask experience with a good cleaner and moisturizer. I need to use face lotion after each application, but the combination makes for clean, smooth skin.
The burn I felt the first time I used it made me nervous, so I would definitely recommend spot testing this before just slathering it on. The burn/tingle went away after a few minutes, but I still used the lotion and have been pretty careful with each subsequent use.
As for long term clean, I feel a difference for several days afterwards. My face feels less oily. As far as looking better, I don’t honestly see a difference. Somedays are better than others when it comes to my complexion, and a lot of other factors seem to affect what my face does from day to day. For me, though, a lot of my confidence comes from how I feel, and not how I look.
Overall, I really like this mask, and I plan on continuing to use it. When it’s time to restock, I I may look into some of the other products by Boots. I’m kind of digging all this pampering.
If you’re following me on various social media outlets, you’ve already seen my mini-reviews on the Vaseline Men Spray Lotion I received complimentary from Influenster. Besides the fact that I’m not a man, I’m still digging on this lotion, and I wanted to give it the full review it deserves.
Sure, it says “Men,” but I’m an equal opportunity lotion user.
I currently have a whole basket of lotion (go ahead and make a Silence of the Lambs joke…I’ll wait), but a lot of it is just girly and smelly, and only some of it is actually good at handling dry skin, especially in the winter. I’m a very itchy person, so finding a lotion that smells good and takes care of the itchy skin is kind of a big deal.
I used this before Jon did, and I was sold right off the bat. The first thing I liked was the even spray. Ever went to spray something and you can’t get anything at first, and then all of a sudden you get way too much? I didn’t have that problem with this one. It sprayed evenly, and though it says it’s “fast absorbing,” I still had time to rub it in to the areas the spray didn’t hit.
The second thing I liked was the smell. It has a potent cologne smell, which isn’t for everyone, but I enjoyed it. Men’s scents tend to be stronger than women’s scents, and I like both. However, I have a lot of friends who can’t do strong scents, so while I want to recommend this to everyone, I can’t recommend to anyone who has a scent sensitivity. In fact, I always forget that Jon has a sensitivity, and it wasn’t until the second night of applying the Men Spray liberally that he mentioned it gave him a headache.
Finally, I liked that it did what it promised to do. It moisturized and kept my skin hydrated through the next day. Itchy skin was replaced with soft skin (and the smell mostly wore off overnight) . I’ve been a fan of the Vaseline hand lotion (I keep a big bottle on my desk at work) for awhile now, and I think I would have been surprised if this hadn’t met my standards.
Influenster also suggested I review Jon’s reaction to the product. I already mentioned that the smell bothered him when the product was over-applied, but when a light spray was used, it wasn’t as bad. He also found that the benefits were delivered as promised. In the future, I think he’ll want to find an unscented version.
I anticipate having a few more reviews from this VoxBox coming soon. I’ve been trying most of the products, though a few are still waiting for friend assistance. Just to reiterate, I did receive these for testing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
The Romance Factor 