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! 

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.

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.

BzzAgent Glade Expressions

As of right now, I have 25 days left in my Glade Expressions BzzAgent campaign. This campaign has been fun and great-smelling! In my BzzKit, I received the introduction letter explaining the campaign, coupons to pass onto others, and two coupons for myself: one for a free Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser starter kit and one for a free Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist starter kit.

My choice for the free Oil Diffuser was the Pineapple & Mangosteen. My choice for the free Fragrance Mist was the Cotton & Italian Mandarin. Both of these scents are nice, subtle, and I really like them. The Pineapple & Mangtosteen smells like fresh fruit--delicious! The Cotton & Italian Mandarin smells fresh and like clean laundry. 

The Oil Diffuser is my favorite of the two for a couple of reasons. I like the easy, simple steps to get the diffuser set up. The design and look of the holder is modern and chic and can fit into a lot of decor. I don't have to remember to light a candle or spray a mist--I just set it up and go. However, the scent did not last long and was not strong enough to be smelled from further than a few feet away. This is my main complaint with the Oil Diffuser and a reason I would not by likely to purchase this product in the future. 

I personally do not like fragrance mists/sprays because when I spray them, they end up on furniture and the floor and me, no matter how high I position my spraying angle. So, needless to say, I am not a fan of the Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist. However, I really do like the scent that my free starter kit came with (the Cotton & Italian Mandarin). 

As far as the main attraction, the scent, of these Glade Expressions products, I am please and really like the options available (except for the Lavender & Juniper Berry). They smell great and vibrant!

Glade Expressions Facts

Fragrances Available:

• Pineapple & Mangosteen

• Lavender & Juniper Berry

• Apple & Cardamom 

• Cotton & Italian Mandarin

Where to Purchase:

Well-known and widely-available stores like Wal-Mart and Target and Walgreens.

To Learn More:

Click here. 

Photos

Coupons included in BzzKit

*BzzAgent is a word-of-mouth program. Everything I received for this campaign was free and from BzzAgent. 

This Candy is Unreal

UNREAL Candy

Recently I was able to try UNREAL as part of a new BzzAgent campaign. In my BzzKit, I received coupons--one being for a free bar/bag and some being for BOGO free. Because of these coupons, I was able to try each variety of UNREAL candy. My personal opinion is that they are delicious. I very much enjoyed this candy, especially being a chocolate lover. My favorite was the peanut butter cups and then the chocolate covered peanuts. 

About UNREAL

UNREAL is a healthier option when it comes to candy. On the website, under the FAQs, they write "what we've done is give people a better choice, so that when they go looking for candy, they have the option to avoid the junk (the artificial ingredients, flavors, and colors, for example)". They have five different types of candy, each being their own version of already made and much liked candy. 

>> UNREAL #54: Chocolate, candy shell peanuts (their version of Peanut M&M's). 

>> UNREAL #41: Chocolates with candy shells (their version of plain M&M's).

>> UNREAL #5: Chocolate, caramel, and nougat (their version of Milky Way).

>> UNREAL #8: Chocolate, caramel, nougat, and peanuts (their version of Snicker's).

>> UNREAL #77: Chocolate peanut butter cups (their version of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups).

Where to Buy

UNREAL is available at CVS, Michael's, Staple's, Walgreen's, Food 4 Less, and Ralph's, just to name a few. In October, UNREAL will also be available at Target. 

Taste

To me, the taste of UNREAL is delicious, light (not heavy/bloating), and satisfying. When I signed up for the BzzAgent campaign, I expected UNREAL candy to taste gross and raw and unappealing. I was shocked when I tasted the candy for the first time. I was wrong. The taste is not gross, it is delicious and appealing. The candy is appealing and I enjoyed the candy not just the first time, but every time I ate it afterward. 

One thing that I really like is that there is no aftertaste (nasty or not). With the popular M&M's, Snickers, and Milky Way, I am used to an aftertaste--a nasty aftertaste, at that. The aftertastes of these brands are unpleasant and can only be washed away with eating or drinking something with a different flavor. With UNREAL, I noticed no aftertaste whatsoever. Definitely satisfying. 

UNREAL #77 Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Price

I was unable to find a set price range. When I bought UNREAL at CVS, they were on sale for .69 cents. On the website, they state that UNREAL candy is about the same price as other candies.

UNREAL #54 Chocolate, candy shell peanuts

Overall, I am very happy with my experience in this campaign. I will definitely purchase UNREAL candy in the future. I am hoping that it will soon be available at Wal-Mart!

Visit UNREAL on the web. UNREAL

BIC Soleil Savvy

Yesterday was my first time using the BIC Soleil Savvy razor that I received in my BzzKit. What this BzzKit included was one (1) BIC Soleil Savvy Razor package: one (1) handle and four (4) disposable cartridges, a BzzGuide, coupons, and a letter filling me in on this campaign.

BIC Soleil Savvy

There are several things that I liked about this razor and a few that I did not like.The BIC Soleil Savvy package has a retail value of $7.49 and that includes one handle and four cartridges. Both the handle and the cartridges are disposable. When all four cartridges are used, just throw away the handle and buy a new package. This is convenient, but can also be wasteful when compared to regular cartridge systems that do not have a disposable handle (where just the cartridges are disposable). 

Razor Cartridges

Compared with my previous razors, the $7.49 is quite a value. My previous razor was a disposable cartridge system (but not a disposable handle). For the cartridges -- I believe four came in them -- it cost around $15. For about half the price, I can get a new disposable handle and four disposable cartridges. Which is a great deal!


However, I do not know yet if I will be switching out my previous razor for the BIC Soleil Savvy razor because of mainly one reason: the pivoting head has little range. The BIC Soleil Savvy razor package says that it "hugs" women's curves. But there were several curves on my legs that the razor did not hug. My previous razor pivoted in a wide range and hugged all of my curves. The BIC Soleil Savvy razor head pivots very little. This is one big dislike I have with the razor.

Onto the handle. The handle is very comfortable and one of my favorite handles I have felt/used before. It is big, easy to hold, and comfortable. There are rubber grips to have a better grip on the handle itself. I like the girly glittery color of the handle, too.
I did notice there was a rattling coming from the top part of the handle where the cartridges click into place. Other than that, the razor cartridge refills and the handle seem durable. 


Clicking in the cartridge refill onto the handle was a little difficult at first, but I finally got the hang of it. The BIC Soleil Savvy razor refills do not click on as easily as my previous razors, however, and is another dislike I have. 






The razor refills have three (3) blades and moisturizing strips. I wish that it was four (4) blades and not just three. This was another small dislike I had when using the razor. 

Coupons I received in BzzKit

*BzzAgent is a word-of-mouth program. Everything that I received in my BzzKit was absolutely free to me, sent to me from BzzAgent to review & spread word of mouth about the product. Sign up at www.bzzagent.com

Still Bzzing About Garnier Fructis

It has been a couple of weeks since I first used the Triple Nutrition Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner. My original thoughts on the shampoo are about the same now as they were in the beginning. I have spread some informative buzz, I have washed and re-washed again and again my hair with the Triple Nutrition shampoo and conditioner, and I have even printed out the coupon provided from BzzAgent and bought myself a different Garnier Fructis shampoo (one that is made more specifically for my hair type) and I am excited to try that out! 


From the people I have spread word to about the Garnier Fructis campaign, I think my mother was the most excited. Garnier Fructis is a very high step up from her dollar-a-bottle shampoo and conditioner. I gave my mother a good amount of shampoo and conditioner in two separate baggies for her to take home and try herself. After she washed her hair with the Triple Nutrition shampoo and conditioner, she immediately told me how wonderful she thought the products were! My mother was both pleased and surprised at how well the Triple Nutrition worked on her hair. My mother's hair is a good example of damaged hair. She has dyed her hair several times, she has used hair-dryers for a majority of her life. Needless to say, my mother's hair was in need of some serious nutrition. I now have a coupon I printed off from coupons.com for $1 off Garnier Fructis that I am waiting to give to her so she can stock up on the Triple Nutrition!


The Triple Nutrition conditioner, in my opinion, is better than the Triple Nutrition shampoo. I like many things about the conditioner: the creamy, rich texture and consistency, the scent, and the way it makes my hair feel-even after hours have passed, my hair still feels soft to the touch and luxurious. I definitely would buy the Triple Nutrition conditioner again. I could not help but keep touching my hair after each use of the conditioner. I have been using my regular shampoo and then following it with the Triple Nutrition conditioner, and I am very pleased with that.

Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Conditioner.

Thank you BzzAgent for the great campaign, tools, and information you provided for me to spread the buzz. I enjoyed trying out Garnier Fructis and giving my feedback on the products. 

I received the Triple Nutrition shampoo and conditioner free from BzzAgent (bzzagent.com) as part of a campaign. 

The Verdict

After-Buzz

Garnier Fructis BzzKit contents.

I received my Garnier Fructis BzzKit in the mail yesterday! The BzzKit came with one full-size bottle of shampoo and conditioner, both being the Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition. 

What is different with these bottles, you may ask? The difference is the new Eco-Fructis bottles, which contain 30% recycled plastic! I honestly love that Garnier Fructis has become greener and it positively affects my decision on buying their products in the future. I like to buy/support brands that care about our planet. Way to go, Garnier!

Back label of Garnier Fructis bottle.

The Scent

I didn't think that the Triple Nutrition shampoo and conditioner smelled as good as I remember (when I tried Garnier the first time), but it was not bad. The smell was not overpowering, but light. The scent is not as strong as it used to be. 


There was less of a fruity smell, and more of a, well, shampoo smell. After using it, as my hair began to dry, there was a nice leftover scent that lingered in my hair; it was also not overpowering. 

Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition shampoo.

The Texture

The shampoo was runny, almost watery. When using the shampoo, I felt I had to use more in order to completely and thoroughly wash all of my thick hair. Because of this, I did not like the texture of the shampoo. The conditioner had a better texture. Unlike the usual conditioners I have tried before, the Garnier Frutis Triple Nutrition conditioner was not slippery and too thick/heavy. The consistency of the conditioner was great and I enjoyed using it. 






The lather of the shampoo was a bit weak. It seemed I had to keep adding water to the lather for it to build to a nice, workable lather. Again, I felt like I had to use more than I wanted to.
What I really liked was that both the shampoo and conditioner were light and easy-and-clean-rinsing. I liked that the shampoo and conditioner weren't heavy and did not weigh my hair down.




Conclusion


I enjoyed trying the Triple Nutrition shampoo and conditioner from Garnier Fructis. I like the new take that Garnier is taking to a greener shampoo. From the natural and active ingredients in their products to the eco-friendly bottles, I think they made a great business decision.


This was the first wash in which I am reporting about. I will post my updated opinions after additional use.











This campaign was through BzzAgent (bzzagent.com). I received the Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner from BzzAgent. I am a BzzAgent!