Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Snack Snapshot: Sahale Snacks

Sometimes a snack tastes great, but isn't good for you. And those healthy snacks? Forget it. You'll never get great flavor. I would say if this is your opinion, you'd be surprised that there are plenty of great tasting snacks that are also healthy for you. Meet Sahale Snacks.

I had the privilege of sampling a variety of Sahale Snacks products through Crowdtap and I can tell you that these products have great, bold flavors and plenty of protein packed in each product so you can go out on an adventure. The company doesn't use GMO ingredients in their products, is gluten-free and you can find a variety of organic ingredients in their products as well. Here is what I tried:

Almond Vanilla Latte Layered Nut Bar

By far this is the best product of the bunch. It has the kind of taste I love--a nutty, sweet flavor with just a hint of coffee. If I had to skip my morning coffee, I would use this as a replacement. It doesn't have the caffeine content of my morning latte, but it does have a great flavor that could power me through the morning. If you like almonds and vanilla, go to the store now to find one. You'll love it. I promise!

Salted Caramel Apple Pecan Layered Nut Bar



This variety of their layered nut bars is good too, though I think the name has an abundance of ingredients that don't all stand out in terms of flavor. When I bit into this bar, I could taste the chocolate, the salt and the pecans, but I wasn't sure where the apple flavor was hiding. It was still an enjoyable taste (although it may be too salty for those looking for a sweeter treat) and I will be eating these again.

Pomegranate Vanilla Cashews


This just sounds like a whole lotta yum, right? And believe me, it is! This is a great mix of flavors, especially for the winter months, because pomegranate somehow reminds me of snow. And the vanilla pairs well with the nutty cashew flavor.

Honey Almonds


Sweet honey, crunchy almonds--what's not to like? This is a another great flavor that works well as an anytime snack.

And I'm also going to point out that these glazed mixes come in the perfect snack-pack size. Along with good ingredients and healthy nutrition, the other main thing I'm looking for in any snack is easy portioning and portability. These mix packs (and the bars too) have all of that going for it. I will definitely be stocking up on these products.

Have you tried Sahale Snacks? What did you think about them?

Monday, June 29, 2015

Getting a Classic Look: L'Oreal Ultimate Straight Haircare System

I was recently chosen for another VoxBox from Influenster (yay!) and this time, it was all about getting that straight look for my hair. I was sent the L'OReal Ultimate Straight haircare system to try out. Now, if you have seen the photos of me on social media, you know that for the most part, I do have naturally straight hair. However, my hair does get a couple of weird waves (not cute at all) and frizzy on rainy days. So I thought that this system could help me achieve an even straighter look. Turns out, it did.



The haircare system includes four different products: shampoo, pre-conditioner, conditioner and straightening balm. You may be thinking, "Four products? Yeah, like I don't already spend enough time on my hair." But if you really think about it, it can save most people time. Since the products are helping to straighten your hair with Kera-tourmaline, you will need less time with a flat iron and less time with mousse, sprays and other things that claim to hold your hair the way you want it.

I loved how my hair turned out after just one use of these products, so if you are interested in ultimate straight hair, I highly recommend this product.

*I received these products free from Influenster for testing. All opinions are my own.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Cast Your Blues Away: the #RefrehVoxBox is Here!

I love getting free stuff. And with Influenster, it makes it so easy to try out great new products. I recently received the Refresh VoxBox and wanted to let you know all about the products inside.



SkinnyGirl Tasty Nutrition Bars
I love granola bars/nutrition bars as much as the next girl, but once you find a brand you like, it's kind of hard to convince yourself to try something new. I tried the SkinnyGirl nutrition bars and I fell in love with it. It was seriously good! I received the dark chocolate banana oatmeal flavor and it was great. I'm always wary about banana-flavored products because sometimes it doesn't taste as good as a fresh banana, but this product got it right. I would love to pick up some more of these bars and use them for breakfast on the go (you know, that nasty commute of about thirty steps all the way from the kitchen to the home office).

The problem? I checked their website for a list of retailers. My local retailers that were supposed to carry them didn't have them when I went to look for more, and I wasn't interested in a 40-minute round trip to Target to buy a few bars. Even though they are really, really good. 

Orgain Certified Organic Nutritional Shakes
Locally, this product is only available at Whole Foods, which is more than 20 miles away from my house. I don't have a really good reason to make a trip out that way aside from picking this up, so I haven't redeemed my coupon yet, but once I do, I'll update this post and let you know all about it!

Beanitos Chips

Influenster knew how to pick the food products for this box, because I totally fell in love with these chips! They are made from beans instead of potatoes, and there's a whole list of what they provide (or don't) on the back, such as being gluten-free, no trans fats, no added sugar, etc. The two flavors I tried were the nacho cheese and the seas salt, both made from white beans. The nachos tasted a lot like regular nachos. The only difference was in the texture of the chip itself. The sea salt chips reminded me of the taste of a really good taco salad shell at a Mexican restaurant. It too has a different texture that potato chips, but I'm really starting to like the difference. I tried to buy more of these, but many local stores aren't carrying them yet. Hey... Whole Foods has them. Maybe that's a good excuse to get there and get the Orgain shake too!

Listerine Pocketpaks

I am already familiar with this product because they were all the rage when I was still in high school. I love the convenience of it and since I recently developed a clicking jaw problem (doesn't hurt but it's still not fun!) I can't chew gum anymore. These are great for getting fresh breath quickly and you can slip it into any purse or bag you're carrying with you.

Dentek Comfort Clean Floss Picks and Fun Flossers
I know that daily flossing is important, but for me it's not something I can remember to do every time. With the Comfort Clean Floss Picks, I'm able to remember much easier and it's so quick to use. I like that it can fit tight teeth since I'm an average person without pretty, straight teeth. I also like that is can double as a tongue scraper, which is really important for breath and germs.

I didn't try the Fun Flossers myself, and since they are for kids I'm going to pass them on to someone who's more age appropriate for the product.

L'Occtaine Shea Butter Light Comforting Cream

This stuff is seriously good. It keeps my skin soft and smooth. Since it works well for combination skin, I don't have to worry about it giving my skin and oily sheen to it. The scent reminds me of baby powder and can be a little strong for those who are sensitive to fragrance.

I also love the fact that the company sources fair-trade shea butter--making a better world for everyone is important.







CoverGirl UltraSmooth Foundation

I love CoverGirl products, so when I heard about this one coming out, I was intrigued. It comes with an applicator that helps to smooth fine facial hair and also helps to blend and mask imperfections of all kinds on the face. While my facial hair is a little too far beyond the definition of 'fine' it still worked well for me in this respect.

What didn't work was the shade that Influenster sent me. Way too dark! I blame myself--I'm the one the chose the shade in the pre-survey. But all hope is not lost with this product. I just use the ever-convenient makeup hack of mixing face moisturizer with a little bit of the foundation to make it lighter. Once you find the right amount for the shade you want, it's simple!

Montagne Jeunesse Face Masques
I'll be the first to admit that I have no idea how to pronounce this brand name, but that's about the only problem I had with this product. The masque was easy to apply and took the full 20 minutes before it dried. I was skeptical about the ability to peel it off, but to my surprise it worked well! I did have a little trouble with getting it on my eyebrows, but it didn't pull the hair out, so everything is good. I loved that the product is made from a range of natural ingredients. I had the manuka honey variety, and I wasn't  thrilled with the strong smell, but I would still use it again because it left my face feeling great.

Overall, this was a great box! I'm a little miffed that I can't find some of the products in stores locally since trying them out, but I'm sure that they will pop up eventually. If not, there's always the online option. 

Thursday, February 26, 2015

There are So Many Reasons #INeedShea

Don't know if you have been following the news lately, but it's cold out there. I mean COLD.... that is, unless you live in California. Then you might be toasty warm. But for everyone else, the winter is wreaking havoc on everything--including our skin. I know that dry skin is more than just unsightly. It is itchy, uncomfortable and it doesn't need to be that way.



I'm very lucky to be able to try out a wide variety of products with Influenster, and in the latest VoxBox I received a great product that is helping to comfort my dry winter skin. I received L'Occitane Shea Butter Light Comforting Cream. this product is great for those who need to help comfort and heal their dry winter skin without adding to the greasiness of their skin, which can happen with oily or combination skin and a cheaper moisturizing product.

L'Occitane does a great job for combination skin, keeping it smooth and healthy without adding anything unnecessary. This brand is also known for sourcing its shea butter ingredients from fair-trade partnerships around the world, such as Burkina Faso. I know that this empowerment of women around the world is an important aspect of this product and I will continue to support it.

Would you try L'Occitane Shea Butter Light Comforting Cream for your dry winter skin?