Review: College Voxbox 2012 @Influenster

I've got to be honest, it's a very amazing thing - being an Influenster. You get to write reviews on a variety of products, answer questions that consumers might have about the products, and write blog posts. Did I mention that you get to collect badges and the badges you earn reflect upon which boxes you are chosen to receive. And then there are the perks....like this amazing perk.  I got chosen to be a College VoxBox reviewer.

I was excited to be selected to receive one of the few College Voxbox 2012. I reviewed the Love VoxBox earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I couldn’t wait for this one to arrive.

This box came with less products then the last, this one came with 5 items. Tropical Necco Wafers, Energy Sheets in Mint Boost, Broadway imPRESS Press On Nails, NYC New York Color Show Time Glitter Eyeliner (Black) & a Pentel Energel-X Pen.

The NYC Glitter Eyeliner

I loved how smoothly this went on. It’s definitely a plus to my other eyeliners, most of which have to be heated before they are put on. This one, I can just grab, line, and go. I love the micro-glitter particles in this. They stand out, but yet aren’t OVER the top.

I have worn this both day and night. It goes with everything (in my opinion) but I’m a black liner kind of girl. It looks great for the office during the day, a night on the town with the hubby or the girls, or even going to the store. It’s versatile and I love it.

It creates the perfect smoky looking eyes. It can be used by itself (as shown in the picture) or I can blend it with ANY color to give it a pop. I love both the formula and the staying power. I wore this all day and when I got home it was still there. It’s inexpensive and amazing for keeping in my purse for touch-ups if it does happen to wear off.

Pentel of America Energel-X Pen

Pentel pens are one of my favorite brands of pens, so I was excited to get another. Pentel always makes high quality products that seem to last forever. No smears, no smudges, no bubbles. I love that it writes really smooth and has a fine tipped point.

I write a lot, so I am always on the lookout for pens that write smoothly, are cheap, and don’t skip. Comfort is also something that means a lot to me. I hate when my hand starts cramping up with some pens, but this one has a fatter body- so I was able to securely grip the pen without any pains after awhile of writing.

Broadway imPRESS Press-On Manicure

These nails and the Glitter eye pencil were my absolute favorite thing in this box. I LOVED these nails. They are SO beautiful. I loved the pattern and the fact that I didn’t have to use nail glue. I don’t want to mention how many issues I’ve had with accidentally getting glue on my fingers or lip because I’d bite down on the nail to get it to stick.

These have the rubber like stickies already stuck to the inside of the nail. SO all you have to do is match them up with your nail sizes and stick them on. They said they were supposed to stay 5-7 days. I DID get them to stay 2-3 days, but some nails just didn’t want to stick properly.

I had some trouble getting my hair put up in a ponytail because my hair kept getting stuck in the nails. If you put these on, make sure you have someone else to do your hair. I really liked these, I just wish I could’ve washed my own hair.

I did end up lifting them up and squirting a tiny amount of glue to the nails so they would stick. I just didn’t want to give up the look of these quite yet. I LOVE the concept, just wish the rubber sticky stuff was more potent. ALSO, if you wash dishes or your hair- they WILL come off.

They are cheap though, and they have some very beautiful designs. I can’t wait to try the others. Even though they didn’t stay for the entire time they were supposed to, I still want more. I can always use a dab of glue under the sticky stuff that comes on it to give it more stick.

Energy Sheets in Mint Boost

This tasted just like a breath freshening strip, albeit the energy. It wasn’t overwhelming or burned like some mint flavored stuff does. The energy boost was mild, I wouldn’t say it compared to sipping a redbull or anything.

No headaches, jitters, or crashes. This would be perfect for someone who is sensitive to caffeine and can’t drink energy drinks or don’t like the taste of them.

Tropical Necco Wafers

These are really the only thing in the box that I don’t like. It isn’t the wafers, it’s just that I have NEVER liked candy like this. Wafers taste like stale tums to me, and I don’t even like tums. They are chalky and gross. Banana, lime, mango, passion fruit, coconut & strawberry are the new flavors.

Here's how you can connect with any of the brands mentioned above to learn more about the products.

Influenster

Facebook/Twitter

#influenster

Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-on Manicure
Facebook/Twitter

#impressmanicure

NYC New York Color Show Time Glitter Eyeliner
Facebook/Twitter

#ShowTimeEyes

Necco Tropical Wafe

Facebook/Twitter

#TropicalWafers

Sheets Energy Strips
Facebook/Twitter

#TakeASheet

Pentel EnerGel-

Facebook/Twitter

#EnerGel-X

Disclaimer: I received these products for free, but All opinions are my own and No money exchanged hands.  Thank you, Influenster!

 

Jessica Renee

Review & Giveaway: Gemoro 1.2 Complete Package Jewelry Cleaner

I LOVE every single piece of jewelry that I own. Most of the jewelry that I have has been passed down to me from my great-grandmother, grandmother, and mom.

This is just the rings on my left hand!

I have their engagement rings, wedding rings, and anniversary rings. These items are absolutely priceless to me. I want to be able to pass them down to my daughter, and if she has a daughter- she will be able to pass them down as well.

The only way to keep jewelry clean and sparkling, looking it’s best is to keep it clean. Keeping it clean isn’t hard, but it can be expensive. If you take your jewelry to a cleaner, it can cost up to $30 a piece of jewelry. I have 11 rings that I have to keep clean, so it could cost me $330 just to clean them every so often.

That’s not even counting the earrings and necklaces that I have. SO, when I got a chance to work with Sonics Online, I was absolutely THRILLED. They have the best of the best when it comes to cleaning jewelry.

They ended up sending me the Gemoro 1.2 Complete Package. It came with an AMAZING ultrasonic jewelry cleaning system. It has an adjustable digital timer, stainless steel tank, and a real piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer.

When I opened the package, I was stunned at how “professional” it looked. It didn’t look like your run of the mill jewelry cleaner. This is something that can be reused time and time again to keep jewelry looking absolutely priceless.

The timer lets you choose how much time is needed to clean the jewelry you stick in it. It tells you that Jewelry that has been worn everyday (like my rings) need to be cleaned for a longer period of time then rings that are only worn rarely or occasionally.

You plug it in to the wall, and then put your basket in the jewelry cleaner. It comes with the cleaning powder (AND the directions on how to dilute it with water). You add water to your machine (all the way up to the line inside the cleaner) and mix in a couple scoops of the cleaner. It comes with a basket for smaller items (so they don’t fall through the cracks of the plastic basket).

You can put larger items inside the plastic basket and smaller items in the metal basket. You press the sides together and the basket pops open for you to put your stuff in. (I put my earrings and necklace chains inside the basket).

You then set your timer (can be set from 90 seconds to 8 minutes) and then let your machine run it’s cycle. You can’t see the water moving or anything but you can hear the machine working it’s magic.

This is twice the size of other cleaners, which means that you can clean more jewelry at the same time. It saves time and money. I would much rather spend $140 on something that it actually going to save me money down the road. AND I can watch the cleaning process, and not end up getting stressed out that a cleaning person is going to lose my jewelry.

The best thing about this cleaner is that you don’t have to dump the cleaning solution and water out every single time. The solution can be reused until you see that it isn’t fit to reuse. This is amazing! As long as it’s sitting somewhere where you don’t have to worry about it getting knocked off and broken.

YOU NEVER NEVER want to start the cleaning process if there isn’t water in the machine. This can damage it, so make sure that you read the manual before you use it.

It’s very easy to use, looks amazing sitting in my office because it’s so modern and digitalized. I’ve even had people ask me to clean something of theirs to see how it worked.

THEY and I absolutely love how clean and sparkling the jewelry turns out. It beats using those little jars of jewelry cleaner that seem to take forever to clean anything. Now I don’t have to get out of my house to clean the jewelry, so there isn’t a chance of it becoming lost, broken, or stolen. (I worry about stuff like that CONSTANTLY).

When you end up running out of the cleaning concentrate, you can buy more for only $24.99 for 1 pound. Since you only have to use a couple scoops for each bucket of water you put in, you aren’t using very much at all. It is biodegradable and ammonia free!

BUY IT: You can buy the Gemoro 1.2 Complete Package for $139.99.

WIN IT: One Lucky Winner will win their very own Gemoro 1.2 Complete Package from SonicsOnline.com

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. The opinions in this post are completely honest and not influenced in any way.

 

Jessica Renee

Review: OASAP

 

Christmas will be here before you know it! What have YOU put on your wish list? I mostly have fashion items, craft items, and jewelry. I know, I know—stuff I don’t really need.

If you are looking for something to add to YOUR Christmas list, I would definitely recommend looking through and checking out OASAP. No matter what your price range is, it lets you shop within that range.

I love when companies offer shopping within your limits. I hate searching, poking, and prodding through stuff just to find something that I can afford. That’s why I love OASAP, because they give you options.

I also love that you can shop within your size (this one is for shoes) or whoever your shopping for. I hate clicking on a pair of shoes or boots that I want really bad just to find out that they aren’t in stock in my size! GRR! That’s no longer a problem with OASAP.

I have blogged for OASAP before, you might remember my Fashion Bag post. This time I chose something different. I ended up getting an amazing pair of high heels and a beautiful ring.

 

Oscar Fashion Chain and Jeweled Lips Detail Heeled Court Shoes are the shoes I ended up getting. They are amazingly priced at only $39. I have been wanting a pair of high heels for a very long time now. My others just didn’t look as great as these.

They have a choice between the beige (pictured above) or black. I ended up getting the black. I try and steer clear of white shoes and only get them on VERY rare occasions.

These look beautiful no matter what I wear them with. This is my “day at the office” look. The shoes fit so perfectly with any dress. It makes the longs look lean and strong because of the higher platform at the toe of the shoe.

I love that they are lightweight though, I didn’t want to feel like I was tripping over myself every time I took a step. They didn’t get caught in my “dress pants” which are a little longer than most of my pants or jeans.

I love that I can wear these with dresses, skirts, capri pants, dress pants, or skinny jeans and still look fabulous. If you’re looking for an amazing pair of high heels that can be worn with anything, you should definitely check these out!

Retro Distinctive Strap Ring is the second item I chose. I love that it looks so different from other rings. It’s more of a fashion ring then just to wear daily. It is one size, so I was extremely glad that it didn’t get stuck on my finger.

I love that it has a buckle on the top! How unique and pretty! There are two colors; copper and silver. I chose the silver ring, and I love it! It’s only $8, so it’s a great spend! It would be a great stocking stuffer for anybody on your list, whether it’s your daughter, best friend, or co-worker!

Disclosure: I received credits to purchase items to facilitate my review. Not other compensation was received. The opinions expressed are 100% my own. Your opinion may be different than mine.

Jessica Renee

 

Review: Romwe- Fashionable Clothing, Jewelry, & Accessories

Romwe is an amazing site filled with fashionable clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories. Christmas is right about the corner, and if you haven’t gotten around to getting the diva in your life something- you may want to look towards Romwe.

When I got a chance to work with Romwe on a review, I was excited. You all know how much of a fashionista I am. I LOVE clothes, shoes, and accessories. SO, I spent quite some time looking through the website to decide what I wanted. I had an amazing time looking at all items.

My most favorite part of their website is the jeans! I LOVE new jeans. If you looked at my closet, you’d think I was half crazy. I probably have an outfit for everyday of the year and still have clothes left over. I can’t help it, I love to have choices!

I ended up getting the Rivets Detailed Distressed Jeans, which were only $27.99. I usually wear these with boots, but decided to wear these today with a pair of stacked stilettos to see how they would pair together. They look better with a pair of kick ass boots. Nothing says punk rock like a pair of distressed jeans with sharp rivets sticking out of them.

I love that the holes in the jeans were so big. Usually distressed jeans are just tiny rips and tears throughout the jeans. This makes the jeans look really distressed. They aren’t blue underneath, I also got a pair of leggings (so I wore them underneath because it’s cold). There is mesh under the holes, so it isn’t just your skin shining through (the mesh also gives it a more edgy look).

The jeans are usually $55, so I was glad to see them 50% off. They fit European style, so I had to use the sizing chart. I ended up getting the 33-34 size, and they fit perfectly. If you don’t understand European sizing just click on the sizing chart. It’s always right beside “select a size”, so you can’t miss it.

I ordered a winter hat as well. The winter jacket I have doesn’t have a hood, so I wanted something that was going to keep me warm. The hat that I got sold quickly, so it isn’t on the website for purchase any longer.

It looks like a lumberjack hat and is EXTREMELY soft on the inside. It has the softest fur that you see on the brim, lined on the inside as well. I love the plaid mixture of grey & black, it looks so amazing with everything.

The hat was only $14-$15, I believe, so VERY reasonable for something so high in quality. The flap in the back can be turned up (like it is in the picture) or it can be turned down.

I also chose two pair of earrings, each pair uniquely different from each other! I love both pair, because of the quality and how cheaply priced they were.

I got the Asymmetric Spikes Earrings, which are only $11.99. These are asymmetric spike earrings that have 3 spike and a cuff on one earring and then one spike on the other.

I love that it has a aquamarine stud and then a turquoise rock between the stud and the spike. I have never seen earrings like this anywhere, so I was really excited to open them when they came!

There are two colors in these earrings, red and blue. I am more of a blue color person, so I chose those- but if you like red, they offer the variety.

I also got these awesome long elegant feather earrings with the bead and turquoise detail at the end. I am in LUST with these earrings. They are absolutely beautiful. They aren’t on the website any longer either, because they sold out so quickly.

They look amazing whether I wear them to the office, to a school meeting, or a date with my kids’ dad. I love that they are so versatile. I am really really hoping to add more of their jewelry to my collection.

There isn’t a minimum purchase required and they have free shipping worldwide.

Connect with Romwe online:

Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Tumblr

Youtube
Pinterest

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. The opinions in this post are completely honest and not influenced in any way.

 

Jessica Renee

Review: Campbell’s Skillet Sauces

I am not one of those Mother’s who love spending hours and hours in the kitchen. I already have to wash dishes 2-3 times a day, clean the house, take care of the kids, and everything else in between.

The less time I have to spend in the Kitchen is BETTER for me. More time to get some work done, prop my feet up, or play with the kids. I don’t like slaving over hot dishes for really long periods of time, so when I heard about the Campbell Skillet Sauces I was ecstatic.

I wanted something that I KNEW was going to be right the first time. I don’t have a ton of time to experiment with new recipes. These Campbell Skillet Sauces are cheap and ready within 15 minutes.

There are 6 different sauce flavorings.

• Creamy Chipotle with Roasted Corn & Black Beans
• Marsala with Mushrooms & Garlic
• Thai Green Curry with Lemongrass & Basil
• Toasted Sesame with Garlic & Ginger
• Fire Roasted Tomato with Red Bell Peppers & Chiles
• Scampi with White Wine & Garlic

For dinner tonight we ended up trying the Marsala with Mushrooms & Garlic.

Even though it was a hectic night because I had so MUCH stuff to check off my to-do list. I had been sick for 3 days straight and was basically laid up in the bed, so I missed out on A LOT.

I was HAPPY to be able to get dinner done and on the table within 15 minutes.

It’s VERY easy to do. You take a skillet, add a tablespoon of vegetable oil, and your chicken.

You cook it until it’s brown, and then add your sauce. You heat the sauce to a boil, and then reduce your heat to low. Cover and cook it for an additional 5 minutes or until your chicken is cooked all the way through.

I loved that there weren’t tons of additional ingredients to make. Everything that’s needed is in the pouch and some kind of meat (protein). You can make these with chicken or porkchops.

This is a picture of it from the Facebook page. It looks extremely delicious doesn’t it?

The sweetness of Marsala wine balanced with a blend of Portobello mushrooms and garlic, creating a savory sauce that delivers mouth-watering flavor in each bite.

Here are my kids’ bowls of this amazingly simple, high quality ready to cook sauce. Who knew it would be absolutely delicious to throw some oil and meat into a pan, simmer til brown, and add a sauce?

I’ve never been a fan of things that come “ready made” out of a bag, but this didn’t taste anything like a bag served sauce. It tasted amazing. Even my three year old ate all of hers and didn’t complain.

If you’d like to learn more about the Campbell’s Skillet Sauces check it out on

Facebook and Twitter

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. The opinions in this post are completely honest and not influenced in any way.

 

Jessica Renee

Review: PRK Products Sippy Cup Organization

Potty Training, Toys scattered everywhere, tantrums. Parents’ lives are hectic as it is. Throw in sippy cup/bottle parts everywhere and you practically have a tornado.

If you’re a mom than you already KNOW what I’m talking about. Sippy cups can become lost VERY quickly. I don’t know how many sippy cups we’ve lost through the 5 years with my son and daughter. Sippies and bottles can be quite expensive too.

So, I was excited to get the chance to review the PRK Products Sippy Cup Organizer. It has not only saved me time, but it’s saved my sanity and MONEY. This is white plastic tier that comes with a basket to store the tops and assorted parts in.

So, it’s best when you can keep everything together, that way nothing get’s lost. You will save money by not having to buy a ton of sippy cups, and you’ll spend less time looking for sippy cup parts. This makes for a happier mom and child!

It stores up to 12 sippy cups or bottles at a time, so it does hold quite a bit. It loads horizontally, and uses gravity to push another bottle or sippy towards the front when one is taken out. This is heaven. As soon as they are washed, you can just load them in.

The best thing about it is that it’s compatible with over 30 of the best baby bottles and sippy cup brands. So you aren’t sorting through trying to figure out what’s going to fit and what isn’t. Most DO, there isn’t any that I’ve found that don’t.

It is adjustable, so you won’t have to buy a new product when your baby outgrows a bottle. You can just pull it apart and wa-lah. Instantly bigger. It expands to three different sizes, accommodating bottles up to 7.25 inches tall

It not only keeps everything in one place, but it helps save space inside your home. It can be used in the freezer, refrigerator, or cabinet. No matter where you want to store it, it will fit! Easy to access, easy to find anything you need.

Click here for sippy cup brands the dispenser is compatible with

Click here for the best baby bottle brands the dispenser is compatible with

BUY IT: You can buy the Bottle/ Sippy Cup Organizer for $29.95

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. The opinions in this post are completely honest and not influenced in any way.

Jessica Renee

Review: Selma Valentine Jamrock Body Scrub & Sweet Sensations Whipped Body Butter

       The Amazing Body Scrub

I absolutely can’t resist a great body scrub! It is a downright shame that not ALL scrubs meet the standards I have for a scrub, though. Some are SUPER oily. So oily that not only my skin is left feeling oily, but my bathtub SHOWS how much oil is in the scrub.

What they say about their product line:
All of our products are handmade, paraben-free and use only the highest quality of premium ingredients. The best part about this product line is that it is 100% eco-friendly!

That’s why I was super excited to be able to test a scrub and body butter from Selma Valentine. I had the opportunity to test a small version of a body butter from my Green Grab Bag a couple months ago and LOVED it. It was a different scent then what I chose this time though.

So, when I got the Jamrock Body Scrub I immediately opened it. I SO wanted to smell it. OH heaven, did it smell absolutely wonderful. Imagine twisting off the cap and getting a whiff of coconuts mixed with citrus lime and Verbena.

I have used products that mixed coconut and lime before and LOVED them, but the verbana (which I had never heard of) added a nice little oomph to this that NO other tropical smelling scrub or lotion has managed.

I love that there aren’t any chemicals or dyes in any of their products. You can see the crystal like little beads when you open the container. No dyes! AND they are completely HANDMADE. Had me at Hello!

The scrub itself is absolutely divine! Buttery rich because it’s blended with cocoa butter, shea butter, and jojoba oil which gives the scrub it’s thick, creamy, and rich mixture. They also NATURALLY moisturize the skin without leaving my skin (or the bottom of my tub) with extra oil and gunk!

I also use this amazing scrub to shave my legs! YES I SAID IT! If you didn’t already know- the scrub softens the skin and moisturizes extremely well. I get a close shave that never has razor burn or dry skin afterwards! WIN for me!

Buy It: You can buy the Jamrock Body Scrub for $15.

The Delicious Smelling Body Butter

 

I’m pretty sure that I’ve mentioned hating dry skin and hands like a million times. I don’t like lotions or body butters that make my skin too greasy. I am usually writing, sewing, or crocheting- so I don’t need my hands so oily that they slip off my pen, crochet sticks, or sewing machine!

That’s the reason I love the Sweet Sensations Body Butter from Selma Valentine. It FEELS like any other body butter that I’ve EVER used. AND I have quite a few! I choose this over my Amber Romance from Victoria’s Secret! It feels like a whipped mousse, so it goes on perfectly.

This is whipped into complete and absolute perfection. It feels like rubbing little pearls of silk onto my skin. I’ve not only dropped this in my purse, but every time I head for the shower or bath, I DIG it out! I can’t live without this now!

It is free of chemicals, so I’ve been using it on my kids when they get out of their bath too. Now I don’t have to worry about them having chapped skin from the cold weather! AND they smell amazing (teehee). Unlike the regular baby lotions that aren’t detectable after an hour!

It has a wonderful cotton candy smell, but they’ve also added undertones of vanilla and sweet touch of musk to bring out the best in this body butter! Both the scrubs and the body butters are only $15 a piece and they last for a VERY long time.

If you’re thinking about gift baskets for the holidays- these are DEFINITELY two products that you’re going to put in it. They have other smells, so choose which ones you like and nobody could resist owning something so “spa-like” in their own home.

I am in LOVE with both of these products and will definitely be buying more from Selma Valentine. I LOVE what they stand for, that they are eco-friendly, and that all of their products are absolutely PERFECTION.

BUY IT: You can buy the Sweet Sensations Body Butter for $15.

Connect with Selma Valentine on

Facebook & Twitter

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. The opinions in this post are completely honest and not influenced in any way.

 

 

Jessica Renee