Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Baby Sample Kit

Salutations Cuppies,

Around the same time I received three samples of Free & Clear laundry detergent, I also received a fun little baby sample kit from Seventh Generation to give my honest opinion.

In my life I have pursued a career and education with children for six years plus I have learned a lot about the products that mothers and caregivers alike care about for their little ones. Learning more about Seventh Generation, I am excited to pass this information along and also keep in mind for when I am ready to start a family of my own.


The packaging of each of the three products I received are incredibly adorable and would definitely be something that would catch my eye. Although the packaging is adorable, it’s so much more than that. I was glad to learn about how each product is made, and how they not only keep your baby in mind, but also the parents and the environment.





The Free & Clear diaper is made for a baby’s sensitive skin, ultra-absorbent and contains zero percent lotions or fragrances. I received two pairs of size 1 diapers, and out the bag they are noticeably soft inside and out. I like the fact that the quilted liner inside expands with more surface area to catch everything. The liner is evidently well thought out with a quilted design and softer material for newborns up to size 2, and is also made with unbleached cotton. The tabs are large enough and easy to use. The best feature, in my opinion, is that each diaper is made with sustainable sourced materials (wood fluff pulp) meaning it’s natural, renewable and biodegradable. Thinking about how many diapers get dumped into a landfills in a year this is a step in the right direction to reduce waste.









I pleasantly surprised that the texture was silky smooth and great for a baby’s sensitive skin, and it spreads very easily. Just using a small dime size goes a long way and instantly my hand felt cool, hydrated and soft to touch. There is a very faint scent of coconut from the organic coconut oil. It’s made from sustainable ingredients that are plant-based so it’s great it contains NO sulfates, phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde donors, mineral oil or petrolatum. Overall, a lightweight, lightly scented moisturizer from a trusted brand.





I can’t even count how many wipes I have used in a day at the daycare, so I know the importance of how a good wipe handles any situation, from an unfortunate blowout to an icky nose. These wipes are labeled fragrance free and I truly don’t smell anything. I think it is unnecessary for wipes to have a fragrance anyways because it just adds useless chemicals. These are made for sensitive skin like most products from Seventh Generation. It’s very important to think about the ingredients because every time you wipe you are essentially applying it directly onto your baby’s delicate skin. What’s great about Seventh Generation, unlike other major brands, is that it does not contain Phenoxyethanol (a chemical compound that can be an irritant to the skin). With that said, it also removes other harmful chemicals such as alcohol and parabens. Out of the packaging the wipes are definitely thicker than most I have used, but I love the fact that you are able to clean up more with a single wipe and still have the softness factor.




Overall, I'm very satisfied and thankful try out the sample pack I received from Generation Good. It’s a brand that I now trust and will turn to when I do have little bundles of my own someday. I love the transparency and the effort Seventh Generation gives to its products, consumers and production of the materials with sustainability and safeness in mind.




#gotitfree #SeventhGeneration #Trustedbrand #Honest #Review #natural #baby #diaper 

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent



Happy Holiday's cuppies!!


I was fortunate enough to try Seventh Generation Free & Clear laundry detergent for free in 3 small fun packages for my honest review.

I love that Seventh Generation stands behind it's products that are made better not only for us as consumers, but for the environment overall. The Free & Clear detergent is all natural that contains no dyes, optical brighteners or synthetic fragrances. It's not only great for people with sensitivities, but for anyone really. All the ingredients are listed on the bottle (even the sample pack) as to inform the consumers what's in their detergent is safe. #comeclean

The ingredients are plant-based and USDA Certified 97%. To be honest I was a little skeptical about being all plant-based and being able to clean sufficiently, but I was pleasantly surprised after using the samples through different loads (types) of laundry. I decided to try the samples on colors, darks and whites to see if I would notice a difference in any load.

The sample size was just the right amount for a medium/large load of laundry. There is no scent to the product and the liquid detergent is clear in color. It's made for HE washer like ours, but will work just as well for regular washers.

I am impressed with the results from all 3 loads of laundry. There was a fresh neutral scent (not perfume) before loading into the dryer and I'm happy to say all my clothes came out clean and soft.  It's definitely a brand I will be switching over with trusted natural ingredients, a honest company and to help out the environment in the long run.














#Seventhgeneration #comeclean #detergent #liquiddetergent #eco #Natural #safe #effective #review #biobased #sensitiveskin #gentle #clean #naturalingredients #happyholidays 

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs

Hello Cuppies, 

Tis the cold season upon us! Perfect timing for Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs!



I started using Zicam cold remedy in Nasal Swab form for about a week now. Prior to receiving the box of Zicam Nasal Swabs free to review I had a minor cold coming on so it was perfect timing.


The packing is nicely done and if I were to see in store I would definitely stop and check it out just because I have never seen nasal swabs to help with a cold. Inside the box there are 20 medicated swabs. They don’t fill the entire box, in fact the box is larger than what it needs to be.


The nasal swabs are placed in a plastic tube (sort of like that of a flea tube for dogs) that you snap open to reveal the swab and medicine inside. Be sure to hold the tube between forefinger and thumb slightly upright before snapping off the cap. The directions are simple and easy to understand.

Using the swabs has helped me to see results after a week of only up two swabs a day. I feel like I am conscious of how many I use because it seems like you could go through these fairly easy. There is an immediate cooling sensation from the menthol and eucalyptus. I love the smell of menthol so it was not a problem for me. Essentially you are swabbing only ¼ inch into your nose, no further!

Overall I have started feeling better and I think the cold will be gone pretty soon here thanks to the nasal swabs. Working with children I always have to be on cautious side of catching anything! I found a quick trip to the bathroom I was able to swab and go back to work! Perfect for on the go.




Monday, December 5, 2016

#TastyVoxBox Review Influenster



Hello,

Hope everyone has enjoyed the past few weeks whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not. I like to try and remind myself to be thankful for 5 things everyday, because this life is short and precious.

Today I am thankful for the opportunity have tried and review tasty goods from Influenster from their #tastyvoxbox



The day I received the box it felt like Christmas morning and I eagerly opened to see all the goodies inside. The size and how much stuff in the box was more than I expected, so thank you #Influenster and all the brands that offered up the goodies. 

Tasty Goodies:

Yogi tea
Franks RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
French’s Crispy Fried Onions
Splenda Naturals
Kashi GoLean Shake
Country Crock
Smart Ones frozen meal





Yogi Tea


 

I received a sample pack of two different flavors from Yogi Tea that included Cinnamon Berry Probiotic Balance and Green Tea Kombucha. I seem to be hearing more and more about this tea so I was excited to try two very different teas.



The first I tried in the pack was the Cinnamon Berry Probiotic Balance and I found it intriguing and very different from what I normally drink in teas. It supports digestion by keeping a healthy balance in your digestive tract. The warming spices from the Chai and Cumin and Hawthorn Berry add a spice along with a fruity flavor. I normally don’t have digestive tract issues so unless that changes I will refer to buying this tea for a healthy option before going to medicine. I would recommend for anyone who needs to calm, relieve and promote healthy digestion.  




The second in the pack is the Green Tea Kombucha which I opened up on Black Friday after taking a small trip to one store and all its craziness I needed to feel some serenity. I absolutely love green teas and always get on a kick. There are so many benefits such as antioxidants and nutrients that help you relax and reduce weight. The taste is more than that of just a green tea and I loved that it was fruitier with the plum and passion fruit flavors.

A definite favorite. So I headed to the store to purchase more and I never realized how many flavors they had so it was hard choosing a box to settle on. 



Franks RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce



This would be the first time ever using Franks RedHot sauce and I very much enjoyed it. It’s made from cayenne peppers which add a little hint of spice to whatever you add. I decided to try it on some homemade cheesy potatoes. Yum! Gave it just a little extra flavor and kick. 
I usually can’t eat very spicy foods so I felt this was perfect for the mild lovers of sauces. I’m sure if you douse it in extra sauce you can build up the spicy-ness. For me a little went a long way. I liked it and will be trying it with new things like chicken nuggets and scrambled eggs.






French’s Crispy Fried Onions 



I was excited to receive French's Crispy Fried Onions because I already had planned on making green bean casserole for Thanksgiving. Having tried these before at family gatherings I knew they were going to be tasty. They are crispy right out of the container and taste great just on their own. The casserole turned out great and I loved the little extra crunchiness. What I didn’t know how versatile these onions actually were until I looked up other recipes. We had a little extra left so I will be trying them with my veggie burger next time.


Splenda Naturals



Having already received sample sizes of the Splenda Naturals I was thankful to have a little extra at home, but they won’t last long! I have enjoyed using the original Splenda for years, but after initially trying these I have already went out and bought a box to switch over. Mainly because I love the taste of the Naturals compared to the original and yes they do taste different! I also love the fact that they don’t have any bitter aftertaste whatsoever and it’s made from a more natural process.






Kashi Go Lean Dark Cocoa Power



#Shelfie
I decided I would give my complimentary Kashi Go Lean Dark Cocoa Power from Influenster a go after a hard workout. I was tired and had high expectations that this would relive my hunger and that the taste would be good. I was caught off guard however when I first tasted it. It literally tastes like cardboard. Knowing it was plant-based I was hoping the Dark Cocoa would be enough to counteract that. It is an acquired taste. I would recommend adding fruits, honey, and yogurt possibly with the powder to make a smoothie. I like that is very healthy and from a brand I trust, but I may be hesitant to actually buy this in the future. I do still have a lingering curiosity how it would taste in a smoothie so I may bite the bullet and buy more to get the added benefits of the protein. 





Country Crock (Calcium plus Vitamin D)



I can remember Country Crock being a staple in my household growing up. We never used any other brand except this one. Even the color of the containers are relatively the same tannish-brown. Growing up I have adapted this into my fridge as well. 

It’s great butter that works literally for everything from multi-grain bread to vegetables. The texture is smooth and spreads very easily over anything. The taste is great and this time around I decided to purchase the Calcium with Vitamin D. The sizes of the containers vary to whatever you need and are easily affordable. When I was younger we always got the large tub for our family of 5, but now with my little family we can get by for quite some time with 15 ounces.



The original Country Crock only contains 50 calories per tablespoon, so not as bad as most would think about butter. I like to use mine in moderation and it always tastes wonderful, especially on a piece of warm cornbread. Mmm!

I also made cookies with the Country Crock and they turned out delicious! I will leave a link here soon. 







Smart Ones Frozen Meal (Fettucini Alfredo)




#Shelfie
Sometimes you don't have time to make a five course meal.. wait who actually does that? I had the opportunity to choose a free Smart Ones meal and give my honest opinion. I would say it's pretty good for a frozen meal and the portions are just right. It wasn't as flavorful as I was hoping, but I did enjoy the taste. It's a simple Fettuccine Alfredo with large chunks of broccoli. I am not on the Weight Watchers program, but I do appreciate that it's only 250 calories.  However, the sodium level is a bit high. 


Overall I could see purchasing this in the future and possibly trying other meals from Smart Ones.














I received all products from Influenster for free for my honest opinions. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to try new foods, foods that I haven’t had in years and ones that I already implement in my life because they are so tasty! 



#influenster #yogi #yogitea #Voxbox #review #gotitfree #FranksRedHot #Frenchs #Kashi #KashiGoLean #Smartones #tea #food #foodie #Countrycrock