Goodbye?

I have been trying so desperately to be heard, from posting videos on YouTube to writing posts here on Blogger. Yet, after years of yearning to have my voice listened to, I still feel like I'm not being heard. It is for this reason that I want to quit posting altogether on every social media outlet that I have (which is few, as I am not fond of them). So I am not sure if I will be deleting my blog or simply going on hiatus for now. Either way, I want to thank those who have read what I've posted.

Hibernating

Being that winter is creeping up on us, I wish I could be hibernating until spring. Winter is by far my least favorite season - and one of my least favorite things. It's no fun going out when it is so cold and bitter, and many days are dreary and gray. I'm over it. Here's to wishing I could just sleep this season away.

AGT Live Performances 3

The latest episode of America's Got Talent (AGT) really was amazing. It was inspirational and fantastic. The episode aired August 25, 2015 and was the third round of live performances for this season, AGT's 10th season. Almost every act I watched reminded me of the reason why I like this show and almost every act made me smile. It is when the act is inspirational, astounding, and emotive that my love for AGT is reinforced.


Just a few of my favorites:

Benjamin Yonattan's performance was beautiful and creative, it is inspiring that this 14-year-old boy, who is legally blind, dances so wonderfully and with such passion. Not only was his dance beautiful, but the background/set and music were, too. Everything went perfectly together, and I am shocked that he didn't make it through to the semi-finals. 





It will definitely be interesting seeing the live semi-finals. I have not yet decided who I think (or even who I want) will be in the top three. I do hope, however, that Benjamin decides to audition again for next year's season.

Songs That Make Me Cry (Or Really Sad)

There are only a handful of songs that I know of that make me really sad (and sometimes even tear up!). Here is that list, in no particular order:




1. Falling Slowly - By Any Artist. I first heard this song on Pandora and have since only heard it on Pandora by different artists. The song is so beautiful it is sad.








2. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri. This song was in the movie Breaking Dawn part 1 and the way it fit the movie so beautifully and emotionally, I associate this song with that scene each time I hear it. I think that is why it is so tear-inducing for me. The movie alone made me cry but the romantic scenes between Bella and Edward really made me emotional!







3. Night Changes - One Direction. I am not really a 1D fan, but this song is absolutely amazing. "We're only getting older baby... does it ever drive you crazy just how fast the night changes..." alone are enough to make me feel sad.








And that's my list up-to-date (and all I can remember right now). Thanks for reading!




(Edit on 8/25/2015):

Today I listened to One Republic's song "Say" and realized it is one of the songs I didn't remember when I was writing my list above, so I am adding it today.


4. Say (All I Need) - One Republic. I first heard this song over five years ago and even to this day, it still evokes sadness. It also is a beautiful song, though, and I like it.







(Edit on 9/1/2015):

I again thought of two additional songs that are on this list:



5. Come Home - One Republic. Yes, One Republic is appearing twice on my list of songs that make me really sad and/or cry. This song is also beautiful (so many of One Republic's songs are beautiful I think) but so sad because we all know the feeling of wanting someone to "come home". The way Ryan sings it sounds so sad and filled with emotion, I can't help but feel sad listening to his voice.






6. I Bruise Easily - Natasha Bedingfield. 

This song makes me very, truly sad sometimes to the point of tears for two different reasons. The first, main reason why is because this song is attached/associated with a really sad time in my past. The second reason is because it is hauntingly beautiful. Natasha's voice is absolutely beautiful and, again, her singing in this song is filled with so much passion and emotion. The music video is also amazing.

Still Lovin' Baby Lips

Even after years of Baby Lips being introduced to the cosmetic world, I still say it's the best lip product, hands down. Maybelline makes this lip balm in several different varieties, including neon colors and even a medicated Dr. Rescue, but my ultimate favorite since the very beginning is the classic Quenched. 

Not to mention the packaging is colorful and eye-catching. Quenched is my favorite packaging, as well. Soft blue and pink go so well together! I picked up this limited-edition Baby Lips packaging last week that I thought was cool that Maybelline is celebrating their 100 years. 

If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend at least trying Baby Lips out.. who knows, you might even find a favorite like I did. 

I'm Back

I can't believe it's actually been more than a year since I last wrote. It certainly doesn't feel like it has been that long. If anyone keeps up on my posts, then I apologize for the delayed post. I feel like no one really does keep up on my blog, though, so I'm sure no one will (or has) notice(d).

It's that time of year again.. AGT (America's Got Talent) is back, and it is their tenth season. I personally feel that the show is not getting any better, but that it is not bad. I feel that all the judges, except for Howard Stern, do not completely take their jobs seriously; they show the same enthusiasm for so many acts, that it is hard to extinguish whether or not they truly love the act or not.

But the acts, nonetheless, are just as fun to watch and just as talented. I heard that Howard Stern will be leaving after this season is completed, so I am curious as to who they will replace him with. I admit that I am upset that he is leaving. Like I said, I feel like he is the only judge that actually judges. I like Howie Mandel (he is one of my favorite celebrities) but I don't think he takes his job seriously.

I do like how Howie Mandel is the comic relief. For example, he made silly faces this season that had me laughing out loud.

Fiber One Protein Cereal

I am going to write just a quick blog post today on another BzzAgent campaign that I am in currently. The campaign is for both varieties of the Fiber One Protein Cereal. The two varieties available are Cranberry Almond and Maple Brown Sugar.

BzzKit

The BzzKit came with one full-sized Cranberry Almond cereal, one full-sized Maple Brown Sugar cereal, a BzzGuide, and coupons to pass out.

Cranberry Almond

Even though I don't like cranberries very much, I still enjoyed the Cranberry Almond cereal. The cereal is slightly sweet, with almonds, cranberry pieces, and sweetened granola. The cereal was also satisfying and filling. I felt full for a good amount of time, a lot longer compared to my typical cereal I eat for breakfast. 

This cereal had less of a whole-grain taste than the Maple Brown Sugar, so if you dislike the whole-grain taste, I would recommend the Cranberry Almond kind. I, personally, really like the whole-grain taste.

All-in-all, I would purchase this in the future. It was delicious, and, like I mentioned, I actually liked it despite the cranberries! 

Maple Brown Sugar

This kind was my favorite. It was, like the Cranberry Almond, slightly sweet. 

The taste was not overpowering, and the wholesome, whole-grain taste was yummy! 

The cereal has sweetened granola, pecans, and a maple brown sugar flavor.

I think the taste is similar to that of a granola bar, which makes sense since it is a granola cereal. 

Both cereals have 10 grams of protein, with milk. I would definitely purchase these cereals in the future, and I recommend them for anyone who want both fiber and protein in their breakfast. 

I received everything for free for being a BzzAgent. BzzAgent is a word-of-mouth company. As a BzzAgent, you fill out surveys to see which campaigns are right for you. When in a campaign, the more activities you complete, the higher your BzzScore, and the better chance you have of getting more campaigns in the future. For more information, visit www.bzzagent.com (or click here).

Oh Schick!

In a new campaign from BzzAgent, I recently tested out the Schick Hydro Silk Sensitive Care razor, along with the Skintimate Skin Therapy shave gel. Combined, they made for a smooth, close, and hydrated shave. 

I tested the razor and shave gel against my most currently used razor and gel, Gillette Venus Pro Skin MoistureRich cartridge (with the original Gillette Venus razor handle) and the Gillette Satin Care Sensitive Skin shave gel. Get the details below.

During my "test", I shaved my left leg with my original razor and shave gel, and I shaved my right leg with the new Schick/Skintimate products I received for free from BzzAgent. 

Gillette Venus Pro Skin & Satin Care 

Up first, my usual, most recent routine for shaving my legs: the Gillette Venus Pro Skin Moisture Rich cartridge, used with the original Gillette Venus razor handle, and the Gillette Satin Care Sensitive Skin shave gel. 

 While I do like the cartridge, I do not like the handle. Both the razor and handle are bulky, which I dislike, especially for storing in the shower. The bulkiness of the razor/cartridge make it difficult to hang anywhere in the shower (on the wall, on the shower caddy, etc.). 

What really makes this combination unique is the cartridge, which has 3 blades and MoistureRich Shave Gel bars. The gel bars make for an easy glide over skin, and can be used without shave gel.

However, the closeness of the shave was not as good as it was with the Schick/Skintimate shave. The leg shaved with my usual razor and gel was not nearly as soft as the leg shaved using the Schick and Skintimate combination. 

Schick Hydro Silk & Skintimate 

Up next was the new, free products sent from BzzAgent: the Schick Hydro Silk Sensitive Care razor/cartridge and the Skintimate Skin Therapy shave gel.                    

Although the cartridge was not as moisturizing as the Gillette cartridge, my legs still felt softer and more hydrated using the Schick/Skintimate combination than it did using my usual razor and gel combination. 

I really like the sleekness and design of the Schick Hydro Silk razor and cartridge. The thin design make it easy to hang up in the shower and to pack away if traveling. There was a grooved hold near the top of the handle designated specifically for a place to put your finger while shaving, which made a big difference; it was a lot easier to grip the handle and to shave. The handle didn't slip once out of my hand as it did with the Gillette handle. The little finger-placement area made an incredible difference!                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

The Handles & Cartridges

As you can see, the Gillette handle and cartridge both are bulkier than the Schick handle and cartridge.

The Winner

Schick and Skintimate are the winners!

The comfortable, sleek handle design, the close shave, the moisturizing from the shave gel and razor could not be beat in this competition! 

Miley's New Music Video

Miley Cyrus' newest music video, "Adore You", was released just about a week ago, but already has over 34 million views. I saw the video when it was released on December 26, 2013, and found that I really liked the song, but not the video. I think the song is beautiful and unique and shows Miley's beautiful singing voice, but the video, I thought, was...awkward. 

Just within the first few seconds of the video, Miley is shot biting her arm and running her hands down her face, causing her bottom lip to be pulled down, looking silly. By the end of the video, I was confused. Does Miley seriously think those actions were sexy or attractive? Or was she not being serious?

By the number of dislikes on her video, I think I'm not the only one who feels this way. As of right now, the video has 319,801 likes and a whopping 167,195 dislikes! 

Take a look at some of the "wtf" moments in her video down below and tell me if you agree or disagree with me.

Kroger Skillet Meals Campaign

 My latest campaign from BzzAgent that I currently am in is the Kroger Skillet Meals campaign. By participating in this campaign, I was able to enjoy an easy, 10-minute meal for free!

BzzKit

In my BzzKit, I received three coupons:

• One coupon for a FREE Kroger Skillet Meal (any variety)
• One coupon for a FREE Fresh Selections Salad Kit 
• One coupon for a FREE Kroger Garlic Bread (the frozen garlic bread)

I also received five sheets of coupons. Each sheet contained:

• One coupon to save $1.00 on one Kroger Skillet Meal
• One coupon to save 50 cents on one Fresh Selections Salad Kit
• One coupon to save 40 cents on one Kroger Garlic Bread

And, as with each BzzKit, a BzzGuide was included that provided important information for me to know and to share with those I talk to about this campaign.

Kroger Skillet Meal

The skillet meal I tried was the Penne With Grilled Chicken, which included roasted red peppers and yellow onions in a vodka sauce. I liked it, it was delicious, creamy, and good quality.

Kroger claims that the meal can be made in 10 minutes, and I agree with that. The meal was easy (just toss it into a big pan on the stove, stir a couple of times) and quick (took around 10 minutes).

The contents of the meal-the chicken, the peppers, the onions-were flavorful, juicy, tender, and of good quality.

My only complaint would be that the amount of product for the price. For $5.99, you get 24 ounces (1 lb 8 oz), or two servings. To me, it didn't seem like there was that much in the bag.

However, the meal, in addition to the bread and salad, was a good, filling meal.

Kroger Garlic Bread

The garlic bread, found in the freezer isle, was also quick and delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful the bread was. There was a perfect amount of garlic, salt, and butter. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the bread didn't crumble while it was being cut (as many off-brand breads do).

For $1.99 you get a good amount of bread (1 lb). I think this is a great deal, considering how easy and delicious is was. I have paid more money for less (and not-so-delicious) bread.

Fresh Selections Salad Kit

Last, but not least, the salad kit. The kind I tried was the House Salad with Bacon, which included a normal sized bag of lettuce, and in the bag, along with the lettuce, there was a packet of dressing, a packet of bacon pieces, and a packet of croutons. The price of the salad kits are around $3-$4 (priced at Dillons, they were $3.49-$3.99).

I think the idea of a salad "kit" is awesome. I know that salads are not that hard to prepare, but for those people who are in a hurry, only want to make one salad (not buy full size products to make only one salad), or even those people who like the convenience, this is a great idea.

I like that it is easy to just grab and go. Everything you need for a salad, right in one bag.

I was worried that the croutons would be soggy due to them being in a moist, cold bag of lettuce and dressing, but they weren't. The croutons were crunchy, big, and yummy. The dressing was good, I liked it. And the lettuce and bacon pieces were good, as well. The salad, as a whole and the individual products themselves, was good quality. 

The salad was light, scrumptious, and satisfying. Even my fiance, who is not one for salad, was eating it and commenting on how delicious it was. The only part of the salad that my fiance didn't like was the bacon pieces, he said he doesn't like bacon in salad (I actually enjoy it!). 

I do plan on purchasing the salad kit in the future because I want to try the other ones I have not had yet.

The Meal

The completed meal, with the bread, salad, and skillet meal, was great. Especially for being free! The completed meal was filling, but not heavy, and delicious. I would (and will) definitely purchase each item in the future.

Note: The garlic bread pictured here is not the frozen Kroger Garlic Bread.
It is the garlic bread from the bakery, which Dillon's (my Kroger store) substituted
since they were out of the frozen garlic bread.

Beef Stir Fry

A couple of nights ago, I tried another variety of the skillet meals. I tried the Beef Stir Fry, which had small, tender pieces of beef, carrots, sugar snap peas, water chestnuts, broccoli, celery, and red peppers. It was absolutely delicious, the sauce was great, and the vegetables were crisp and fresh. The quality of this skillet meal was also great, and I would definitely recommend it.

I purchased the Beef Stir Fry skillet meal myself, with no coupons, for $5.99. I would purchase it again, I really enjoyed it.

The sauce was just right. It was flavorful, yet not overpowering. With stir fry's I have tried in the past, the sauce was too strong. However, with this stir fry skillet meal, the sauce was right on point.

 I was surprised with how tender and juicy the beef was. Especially being a frozen meal, I thought the beef would be just okay, but it was beyond good.

BzzAgent

I received all of these items free for being a BzzAgent. BzzAgent is a company that provides products to people to test and try out for free and those people then give their honest feedback and spread the "bzz" to other people, spreading the word about the product.

All opinions expressed in this post, and on my blog, are my own.

To learn more about becoming a BzzAgent, visit www.bzzagent.com or click here.

Seventeen Magazine's September 2013 Freebies Codes

Visit www.seventeen.com/freebies (click here). Enter the code in ALL CAPS.

1. PEACH
2. PISTOL
3. MATTE
4. BITTY
5. PURPLE
6. FLOCK
7. PINK
8. TAFFETA
9. YELLOW
10. BLACK
11. FEATHER
12. GEM
13. NEON
14. GLITTER
15. PARTY
16. INDIGO
17. RED
18. SUGAR
19. SILVER
20. SCARLET
21. BLUE
22. MERMAID
23. GREEN
24. CRUSH
25. CAFE
26. SIX
27. TEENY
28. RAISIN
29. FUCHSIA
30. NAUTICAL

Seventeen Magazine's August Freebies Codes

Go to www.seventeen.com/freebies (click here) and enter the code for each day in August. Code words must be entered in ALL CAPS.

1. DARK
2. FUNKY
3. PURPLE
4. WORN
5. WIDE
6. SHRED
7. FADED
8. SKINNY
9. BUTTON
10. STUDS
11. DAISY
12. TRIBAL
13. GALAXY
14. IKAT
15. FLORAL
16. ELECTRIC
17. ACID
18. BOOTCUT
19. STRETCHY
20. BLUE
21. GRAY
22. BASIC
23. DISTRESSED
24. VERSATILE
25. WESTERN
26. BOYFRIEND
27. BLACK
28. MAROON
29. LOW
30. JEANS
31. CUFFED

Summer Grilling with Kroger

My newest BzzAgent campaign is the Summer Grilling with Kroger.

•BzzKit
In my BzzKit, I received the Official BzzGuide, five coupons for me, and two packs of coupons to pass out to friends, family, and anyone else interested in trying out Kroger.

My Coupons: 

(1) One Free Big K 12-pack soda

(1) 40 cents off one Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream

(1) One free package of Kroger hamburger, or sliders, buns

(1) One free package of Kroger Beef or Turkey Burgers

(1) One free package of Kroger potato chips

Coupons For Others:

(5) 40 cents off one Big K 12-pack soda

(5) 40 cents off one Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream or Potato Chips

•What I Got

With my coupons, I got the Ripples Cheddar & Sour Cream potato chips, Vanilla Cream Soda, Sliders Mini Beef Burgers, and the Sliders Enriched Mini Buns.







Ripples Cheddar & Sour Cream potato chips
I really liked the chips. They were delicious, thick and crispy, and didn't taste off-brand. I was impressed with the chips because I've tried store-brand chips before and didn't like them. The other store-brand chips I have tried were bland, thin, and not good quality. But these Kroger chips were the exact opposite! The only con, I would say, about the chips is that the amount you get in the bag. The bag was only half filled with chips. But, isn't that the way it is with any chip brand? More air than chips in the container?









Vanilla Cream Soda
Also very delicious. The vanilla flavoring was not overpowering, as it has been in other cream sodas I have tried in the past. I liked the creaminess of this soda as well as how refreshing it was. Between this and the Citrus Drop, these are my two favorite Big K sodas.

Sliders Mini Beef Burgers
There were no additives in the patties. It was just beef. I appreciated this because when I eat beef, I don't want additives, I just want pure beef. They were tasty. They cooked okay. I would recommend thawing before cooking, however, because when we grilled them frozen, they were still cold/raw in the middle, but almost blackened on the outside. In the BzzGuide, it states that the burgers cook "perfectly from frozen without thawing", which, obviously, didn't work out for me. Other than that, I liked these burgers. I really liked that there were two individually sealed packages of 10 patties in the bag, keeping the unused burgers fresh in the freezer and without freezer burn.

Sliders Enriched Mini Buns

The quality of the buns was okay. They were on the crumbly side (if you've ever bought off-brand bread, you know that sometimes the bread itself can be crumbly and of poor quality) but not bad. They weren't very thick, but not thin either. They were perfect size. I wanted to try the 100% Whole Wheat, but at the Dillon's where I picked up my items, they only had the white buns.














Overall, I would definitely purchase these items again in the future.



•Pictures

Disclaimer. I received all products free by being a BzzAgent. BzzAgent is a word-of-mouth company. The more activities you do, the better your BzzScore, and the better your chances of getting future campaign invites. Visit www.bzzagent.com to learn more, or click here.

Sally Hansen, Fuzzy Coat

  Sally Hansen has a new product: a nail polish called Fuzzy Coat. As the name gives away, the textured polish is intended to look fuzzy. On their website, it shows that they have 8 different shades. I purchased shade #500 Fuzz-Sea, which is a lime green and blue shade. 

  The company's description is this:

              The ultimate outfit for your nails! Sally Hansen continues to lead the nail category with new 3D, unique textures inspired by fashion. Fuzzy Coat transforms nails with a 3D textured, woven fiber effect.

They also list off the benefits of the product. They are:
• Dries quickly
• Unique Fiber Texture
• Provides a 3D look
• Multidimensional shades

I agree with their claims. Fuzzy Coat is definitely a unique product. I did notice that it dried quickly, even before I knew that it was one of the benefits. I am happy about this product. Nails, Inc. brand has a similar product, Brighton Feathers, that I have been wanting for a few months. I'm glad to have found a cheaper (Fuzzy Coat costs about $6 and Brighton Feathers costs $9.50), similar polish!

The directions for Sally Hansen's Fuzzy Coat are to shake gently and apply 2-3 coats. I would recommend doing at least 3 coats. The more the coats, the better the effect will be. I would also recommend applying a clear top coat (I used Essie's No Chips Ahead). 

Links below.

Sally Hansen's Fuzzy Coat
Nails, Inc.'s Brighton Feathers 

Creativity

In the past two weeks I have felt a... craving, I guess you could say, to be creative-to create something unique and great. However, I am not a creative person. I am more of a literal thinker. I envy those who are creative and can create beautiful works of art (be it songs, books, photos, etc). I honestly wish I had a unique and great talent.

A few days after I saw Tyler Perry's Temptation, I saw an episode of The Mindy Project called My Cool Christian Boyfriend. These are screenshots from the episode. I thought the banter between Mindy Lahiri (played by Mindy Kaling) and her brother, Rishi, was pretty funny.

Seventeen's May 2013 Daily Freebies

Seventeen magazine's May Freebies.

Click here to enter daily. Enter codes in ALL CAPS.

1. MOD
2. EDGY
3. SHARKS
4. TRIBAL
5. MAGENTA
6. SILVER
7. FRINGE
8. RAINBOW
9. RED
10. IKAT
11. DOTS
12. FLORAL
13. STUDS
14. GREEN
15. POLKA
16. PURPLE
17. YELLOW
18. STRIPES
19. RUFFLES
20. TROPICAL
21. BOLD
22. BLACK
23. BLUE
24. CORAL
25. BEACH
26. SNAKE
27. MULTI
28. FEATHER
29. PINK
30. PLAID
31. ZEBRA

The grand prize code is: BONGO

Seventeen Freebies April 2013

Go to seventeen.com/freebies to enter. April 2013 freebie codes (enter with ALL CAPS):

4/1 - HAIR
4/2 - VOLUME
4/3 - MASK
4/4 - SHAMPOO
4/5 - GEL
4/6 - CONDITIONER
4/7 - BRUSH
4/8 - CHAIN
4/9 - ELASTIC
4/10 - ROUND
4/11 - GLITTER
4/12 - FEATHER
4/13 - STARS
4/14 - SUAVE
4/15 - OIL
4/16 - SHINE
4/17 - MOROCCAN
4/18 - BOOST
4/19 - RAIN
4/20 - DRY
4/21 - AUSSIE
4/22 - SMOOTH
4/23 - HAIRSPRAY
4/24 - MOUSSE
4/25 - TAME
4/26 - WAVES
4/27 - CREAM
4/28 - BERRY
4/29 - CARROTS
4/30 - CUCUMBERS

Kroger's BzzAgent Campaign

My newest campaign I am participating in from BzzAgent is the Kroger Good-For-You campaign. In my BzzKit I received a $10 Kroger gift card to purchase Kroger Greek and CARBmaster yogurt as well as CARBmaster milk, coupons to pass to my friends and family, and a brief introductory card.

My BzzKit

Using the gift card. I made a few, separate purchases of the Kroger yogurts, but the first one I made was with the gift card, with which I got a few of the yogurts and the Vanilla CARBmaster milk.

CARBmaster Yogurt. They were my favorite. There is a great variety of delicious flavors! The consistency is better than the Greek yogurts. Some of the flavors, the texture was similar to the Greek yogurt (see below) but most of the CARBmaster yogurts were creamy, smooth, and not too thick/thin. Some of the flavors I have tried: Caramel Spice Cake, Strawberry Colada, Strawberry Pomegranate, Cherry, Cinnamon Roll.

Greek Yogurt. Will not purchase again. The consistency is gritty and chalky and thinner than what I expect Greek yogurt to be. The flavors weren't that good. And after eating the yogurt, I had a thin film covering my teeth and tongue. Some of the flavors I tried: Vanilla, Blueberry, Pineapple Mango. A note about the Greek Yogurts: mix well before consuming. The yogurt is chunky and visually unappealing when first opened (see picture below).

CARBmaster Vanilla Milk. Watery but delicious. Sweet but nutritious. I tried adding it to cereal, but the vanilla flavor didn't work with the cereal; however, the watery consistency was less noticeable with the cereal added to it. I am curious to try the regular, unflavored milk.

Bzzing 'bout it. I've talked with a few people. Out of those I spoke with, only a couple seemed interested. My sister was interested in trying the yogurts, but sounded disgusted when I told her what I thought of the milk ("ewww"). I actually got my mom and step dad to test out a few of the yogurts. My mom agreed with me about the texture/consistency of the Greek yogurts. She tried out the plain flavor of Greek and was unhappy about it, saying it was gross and that she didn't like the film on her teeth/tongue. I haven't handed out any of the coupons yet, but am planning on getting those passed out very soon.

 

*I am a BzzAgent (BzzAgent is a free, word-of-mouth company). I get to try and test out products/services for free. Click here for more information.