Morning Star Farms Veggie Burger Review

*bzzagent is a word-of-mouth media channel that helps connect consumers with brands, companies and marketers to harness the power of honest opinions. In most cases, I have received a free product to try and give my honest opinion about. I received the products I'll be talking about from bzzagent.

Another fun campaign from bzzagent. First, let's talk about veggie burgers.
I. don't. like. them.
Haha! People say they taste like cardboard. I don't know if I would describe them that way but they definitely don't taste right.
So, I'm not a vegetarian, and I don't like veggie burgers. But...I decided to join the campaign anyway, and here's what I've learned.

I received a coupon from bzzagent for a free product from MorningStar Farms. There were quite a few different flavors to choose from at my local Fry's including a "Chik'n" and breakfast line. I picked the Mediterranean Chickpea Burgers. On sale for $3.49 for a box of 4.

(Looking back, I wish I would have included a ruler in the pic to show you how thin these are.) 110 calories and 4.5g of fat per patty is pretty good, but keep in mind that if you have a hearty appetite you're gonna need two of these babies. Even with two patties, the calories are low, but the fat is creeping up into a high zone, especially considering that you'll be eating other things (like a bun) with these burgers.

The recommended cooking instructions say to microwave, pan-fry, or bake. So I put them on the grill. lol Such a rebel!
I grilled them straight from frozen for a few minutes on each side at medium heat. I got some nice looking grill marks and also a bit of a crispness to the outside. You can see all of the texture in these burgers in this pic.

I was in a hurry to make dinner on this particular night so I just grilled some organic carrots and threw some brown rice in the rice cooker. I also made a simple tzatziki sauce for the burger since it had already had a Greek flair.

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe:Peel, seed, and chop 2 cucumbers and put in a food processor with 1-2 containers of plain Greek yogurt, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 the juice from a lemon, 1 tbsp fresh dill, 3 cloves garlic. Blend until smooth-ish. Refrigerate for about an hour.

Now let's talk about taste. Personally, I noticed the texture more than the flavor of this burger. The texture was very interesting, it was almost like the inside of a processed chicken nugget but with a whole chickpea every once in a while. I make it sound bad but it was actually pretty good. I didn't think that the patty itself had a whole lot of flavor but I only had one on my bun and I told you earlier that these are thin. My husband had a double patty and he like the flavor a lot.
I think that if I were a vegetarian I would love these as an alternative to meat. They have a unique flavor and awesome texture. Personally, I doubt I'll buy them again, I'd rather have a good chicken or portobello burger.
But that's just me...

Burt's Bees Skin Care Line

*bzzagent is a word-of-mouth media channel that helps connect consumers with brands, companies and marketers to harness the power of honest opinions. In most cases, I have received a free product to try and give my honest opinion about. I received the products I'll be talking about from bzzagent.

I was so excited when I landed this campaign, I love Burt's Bees!





The bzzkit was great, as is the norm from my beloved bzzagent. :)

The products that I received are from the Intense Hydration line. There are several products in this line ranging from $9.99 to $17.99.

The Facts:
Clinically proven to hydrate
Reduces appearance of lines and wrinkles
Dermatologist tested and noncomedogenic
99% natural
probiotic technology
Can be found just about anywhere


As far as my personal experience, I should start by letting you know that my skin is unpredictable and pretty sensitive. Even B.B. cream makes me break out!
That being said, the products did feel a bit heavy on my face and, after about a week of use, I had a lot more congestion (blackheads), especially on the upper part of my cheeks. My skin felt greasy to the touch, not a good thing.
Keep in mind though, my skin is weird. I have several friends who use these products and love them.
I have 9 samples left from the pic above. If you'd like me to mail you one, just leave a comment below and email me with your address. After you've tried it, come back and let me know what you think.

Miss Aprril's Secret List of Freebies!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE free stuff! When I open my mailbox and a pile of little packages come tumbling out, my heart skips a beat! I've been compiling a list of my very favorite "free stuff" sites and here are just a few:

(Click the blue text for the link)

BzzAgent
I've been an active member of BzzAgent since 2008! This site allows you to join "campaigns" where they will send you free, full-sized products to try in exchange for your opinion and feedback. They also want you to spread your opinion about the product,(whether good or bad), and report back. You earn a score based on how active you are. This is by far my favorite site for free stuff. Bzzagent goes above and beyond when sending out "bzzkits". If you check out my "product reviews" link. You can see just a couple of the bzzkits that I've received.
Bzzagent is also connected to MyPoints which is a site that gives you points for online purchases and things. Bzzagent gives you points whenever you complete certain tasks. It may take some time, but these points eventually add up to gift cards and things like that.




Target Samples
Target doesn't have a ton of samples but one reason that this site made my list is their Summer Beauty Bag.
Right around Summertime Target offers a version of this little goodie bag:

Don't get me wrong, they offer samples all year long, just keep checking back.


Walmart Samples
Same deal as Target, check often for new samples.

All You Samples
They post a sample a day, every day. You can click the calendar to go back through the ones you missed. Sign up for their email list to get it sent directly to your inbox.

House Party
I just found this site recently. You sign up to host a party pertaining to a certain product line and they'll send you a big ol' party pack with a bunch of free stuff to host your party. Definitely not for everyone, but if you like to have get-togethers check it out.

Centsless Deals
Awesome site that tells you about the latest freebies as well as smokin' deals on the web and in the grocery stores. You can sign up for their email list too.

Free Kindle Books
Offers free kindle books from up and coming authors. Some good stuff here, and super-easy to use.

e-rewards
Yes, this is a survey website. No, this is not a referral link. Haha. Seriously though, I normally can't stand survey sites but this one has been pretty great! They've sent me products to sample and take surveys on and I've already earned almost $90 (in e-rewards, which can be used for gift cards). The surveys are simple and pay well.

Cravebox
Last but not least, Cravebox. Ok, in all fairness, this is not a freebies site. It's a subscription site that gives you 5-6 products a month for a flat $10. There are two reasons I'm adding this to my list:
1. Their Limited Edition Boxes are an amazing deal for $10. When you sign up you can choose which limited-edition boxes you are interested in and they will notify you when the box is available. You can then choose if you want to be in the drawing. The boxes that I have received so far are, to me, valued much higher than what you spend. In fact, sometimes I wonder how they can be making money at all since the 10 bucks includes shipping. The boxes are themes like Spring Cleaning, Summer Beauty, Dog Lover's, Coffee Lover's, New Mom's, etc.
2. The 2nd reason I love this site is their AMAZING customer service! When their Back to School box shipped late, they sent out an apology email and gave everyone a refund. We still got the box! When they sent me chocolate (to AZ, in the summer) I sent an email telling them they were melted and they responded the same day and gave me free stuff! I can't say enough about the CS at this company.

So there you have it. This list is by no means all-inclusive but it should give you a good start if you want to get free things in the mail nearly everyday.
What are your favorite freebie sites?

Unreal Candy Review

*bzzagent is a word-of-mouth media channel that helps connect consumers with brands, companies and marketers to harness the power of honest opinions. In most cases, I have received a free product to try and give my honest opinion about.


I can honestly say that I'd never even heard about "Unreal Candy" until Bzzagent offered to let me try it. I did some research about the products and it's actually a pretty cool concept.
The basic idea is that "the worst parts of candy (like hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives) aren’t there to make it taste good. They’re there to make it cheaper to produce."
The company decided to take all of that extra stuff out of candy to make it healthier for us and possibly make it taste better. They use things like cacao, real caramel (not corn syrup dyed to look like caramel), more peanuts, protein, and fiber.
There are, by no means, meant to be a "diet" food. They're just a healthier version of well-known candy products.

Now on to the review:



My local Walgreen's had 5 different varieties of this candy, but I actually had to ask an employee where they were because they had their own display rack and weren't with the other candy. They were 89 cents each which isn't too bad even though they're a little smaller than the brand they copy.
Anyway, the five different flavors were a version of; peanut m&m's, regular m&m's, peanut butter cups, Snickers, and Milky Way.
I set out a mini candy buffet after dinner and we dug in. The first thing that I noticed, (probably the 1st thing you noticed), is that the m&m's are funky colors. They're very muted and dull which didn't bother me too much because I knew that the company used natural things to color their candy.

You shouldn't be under the impression that these taste just like the popular brand. They don't. They resemble them closely but there are definitely distinct differences.
One main difference is the taste of the chocolate. It's not as sweet and has a bit of an aftertaste, although, not a bad aftertaste.

The peanut flavored filling was pretty flaky, or crumbly. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, just different.

I'm not big on candy bars so I probably wouldn't buy these for myself, (unless they come out with a Twix version), but the kids and hubster really liked all of them and I would feel a lot better buying the Unreal version than the regular candy bars.
I think that people are so accustomed to the way that candy tastes now, their initial reaction might be to dislike Unreal. You would need to try it a few times to decided if you like it or not. Think of all the benefits of switching.

"Unjunk Your Candy"

The Private Selection Brand

*bzzagent is a word-of-mouth media channel that helps connect consumers with brands, companies and marketers to harness the power of honest opinions. In most cases, I have received a free product to try and give my honest opinion about.

I receive so many fun things to try through bzzagent and this campaign was no exception.
I have tried the Private Selection brand at Kroger in the past, (again through bzzagent), but they seem to be coming out with more and more products.

Private Selection is unique because, although it's a store brand, they are trying to also be "high end". I agree that in a lot of cases their products are superior, however, in some cases, the price is also almost ridiculous. You be the judge.

Here's what I got:

A two pack of Angus hamburgers on sale for $3.99lb. This package was $4.75 meaning that these were over 1/2 pounders.

Let's take a little looksie at these burgers compared to another store brand's pre-made patties...

Yeah I like mine rare.

So overall the PS Angus beef was much better in taste and size, price was comparable per lb, but you do get many more burgers with the other store brand.

I also received a free apple pie. These are in the bakery dept. The crust was delicious but the apples were pretty sour. It was a good sized pie, but for $7.99 not sure I would buy it. Call me a cheapskate!

Bzz also sent me a coupon for $1.50 off of a pint of the PS ice cream or sorbet. Lucky for me these were on sale 2/$3. I love FREE!

What impressed me was the variety of flavors that this brand had to offer in pint size. (Almost) every one of them sounded delicious and were unique. I chose the Blood Orange Sorbet, and will shamefully tell you that it was gone by the end of the night. So delicious!

Last but not least, bzz sent me a bag of PS Sea Salt & Black Pepper Kettle Chips. I'm not a big chip fan so I'm not exactly sure what "kettle chips" are supposed to taste like but these were really crunchy, (like tear up the roof of your mouth crunchy), which could be a good thing because that way you are forced not to eat too many! The flavor was good.

I especially LOVE their frozen White Wine and Garlic Mussels and they are normally on sale for around $3. Now that's a deal!


Needless to say, I like the Private Selection Brand for the most part. Kudos to them for their selection and quality ingredients.

Neutrogena Cosmetics

I was pretty happy when I received my Neutrogena BzzKit from Bzzagent* a couple of weeks ago. They really outdid themselves this time with the amount of product I received to try. Here is a 30 something's opinion after a straight week and a half of daily usage:


1. Revitalizing Lip Balm in three shades.

From the website:

"Revitalizing Lip Balm helps make lips softer, rosier and healthier-looking, even after you take it off! This sheer tinted balm with exclusive ion2complex™ instantly moisturizes lips, leaving them looking fuller and more defined. In just one week, it helps improve lips' texture and restores the look of rosiness. SPF 20 helps protect lips and keeps them looking healthy."

I have to admit that this stuff works pretty well. I've always had a hard time with lipsticks and even lip gloss because my lips tend to get dry and yucky and I get peeling. It's been a huge problem for me. I've hardly gotten these symptoms with constant wear of this lip balm. I've also noticed that my lips do feel softer and smoother. The $7 price tag scares me a bit because this is about the shape and size of a chapstick. I'll see how I feel about it after I run out.

2. Brightening Eye Perfector

From the website:

"Discover a do-it-all product that not only brightens and conceals with a patented blend of anti-oxidants including Vitamin E, wild chamomile and soy, but is also clinically shown to de-puff and treat the appearance of dark under eye circles. A flow-through brush perfectly applies the Brightening Eye Perfector for on-the-go flawless coverage anytime."

I have mixed feelings about this one. At first, I had no idea what to even do with this stuff. I read the directions, turned the little knob and a big glob of product came out onto the brush. I tried to brush it on around my eyes but it just made a mess. Haha! I figured out, after several attempts, that the best way for me to apply this product is to turn the knob, dab on each eyelid and under each eye, and blend with my finger. This product does a good job of brightening up around your eyes, especially if you have dark circles. What I don't like about it is that it tends to get very dry and sort of separate in the corner. It also makes my eyes water sometimes. I would definitely shop around at other brands instead of buying this for $9.

3. Nourishing Eye Liner

From the website:

Neutrogena® Nourishing Eyeliner defines and brightens eyes with luminous color. Subtle light diffusers make the whites of eyes appear whiter, while rich color nourishes skin with Olive Oil and Rainforest Shea Butter. The built-in sharpener gives precise definition and the contoured smudger softens and blends for a variety of looks.

This was another product that I was initially unsure about. The liner seemed very greasy and a little hard to put on straight because it was so soft. The smudger works great. I figured out that the liner sets after you put it on and then it's good for the rest of the day although it still seems like it smears more than a traditional pencil liner. Not a bad deal at around $6.

Overall, this line of products has great potential and I love that they are making makeup that not only looks great but is also good for your skin.

*bzzagent is a word-of-mouth media channel that helps connect consumers with brands, companies and marketers to harness the power of honest opinions. In most cases, I have received a free product to try and give my honest opinion about.

PHILIPS NORELCO POWERTOUCH WITH AQUATEC

I was lucky enough to receive the Powertouch for free through bzzagent to give to one of my teens to try.

Features:
Can use wet or dry
Rechargeable
Built in sideburn trimmer
Easy to clean
Completely waterproof
Can get for under $60

I was so excited! When it finally came, I couldn't open it fast enough and made my 16 year old try it that day. The first time he used it, he used it dry just like the booklet says that you can. It gave him horrible razor burn and even caused some little scabs and bleeding.
I figured that maybe he wasn't doing it right so I cleaned it really well and asked my hubby to try it, (after all, he had much more experience). Pretty close to the same result. Razor burn, especially the neck area. Not a close shave.
Well, my husband has sensitive skin so I figured I'd have my 17 year old try it, with shaving gel, in the shower. Better results. Some burning, not as close as a razor. The booklet does say to take the "21 day challenge". It says that your skin has to get used to it so we'll see.
I did try it once dry on my legs and it didn't cause any irritation at all, again, not a close shave. I also tried it bikini area and armpits...YEOOWWWW!!! Worst razor burn of my life. PLEASE DO NOT USE IN THESE AREAS!! lol I couldn't sit or put my arms down for a week!

April Beauty Army Box

I received my first Beauty Army sample box last week and I have to tell you that I am so obsessed with this whole idea of beautiful little boxes full of surprises and fun! You can sign up here and for 12 bucks a month you can pick up to 6 nice-sized samples of exquisite beauty products to try. The thing I like about Beauty Army is that you know what's coming in the mail.
So here's a quick rundown of what I got and how I liked it:

1. Aquolina Pink Sugar Eau De Toillette
My favorite thing in the box! It smells sweet and fresh and delicious. This smells exactly like Sugar from Scentsy. I ordered a bottle from amazon two days after I tried it.

2. Karuna Brightening Treatment MaskKaruna
This is a nice soft cloth mask that is full of gooey goodness. It was kind of a pain to get this over my face without getting it in my eyes, but once I got it on it felt pretty good. I didn't notice any dramatic results after using so even though it felt nice and smelled good, I probably won't spend the $28 for 4 masks.

3. MyFace Cosmetics Mymix Foundation (Fair 02)
Tried this a couple of times and didn't really care for it. My B.B. Cream has more coverage than this stuff. It's very light weight and probably better for people who already have pretty great skin.

4. Mama Mio Boob Tube
I was pretty skeptical of this product based on what it says it can do. I mean, really? A lotion that you rub on your boobs to make them stop sagging? lol Anyways, I've been using this once a day for four days and although I haven't noticed a difference in sag, (one of my girls points a little more South than the other), I did notice a difference in the feel of my skin and the stuff smells really good. I'll keep using it for a while and see what happens.

5. MAD Skincare Redness Rescue
Didn't have a real need for this one but it's supposed to help people who get redness or blotchiness from things like rosacea (sp) or excema or whatever. I do get some redness on my chest and I tried it there and it seemed to work ok. There are great reviews about it online.

Freeman Beauty Pssssst Instant Dry Shampoo
Didn't get to use this one because you have to spray it on then brush it out which I normally can't do because I have super curly hair and if I brushed it out it would be a giant afro! I will try it on day 2 after flat ironing and we'll see. It got pretty great reviews though. Also, I noticed that the brand makes this for curly hair that doesn't need to be brushed out...I wonder why they didn't send me that one??

All in all, great box! I'm already looking forward to May. It's a good thing I get a BirchBox every month too! :)

GARNIER MIRACLE SKIN PERFECTOR B.B. CREAM

I got B.B. Cream for free through bzzagent, (a word of mouth, product review company). First let's talk about the facts:

HOW IT WORKS
A combination of Hyaluronic Acid, Lipidure Microspheres + Glycerin retains water in the skin, allowing it to maintain superior moisture levels and improve softness and suppleness of skin for 24hours.

Vitamin C provides antioxidant properties, boosts radiance and luminosity of skin.

Mineral Pigments delicately and immediately beautiful skin. The rich pigments instantly melt and spread flawlessly over skin.

Available in 2 shades : Light/Medium & Medium/Deep

WHAT IT CLAIMS TO DO
Instantly: Skin looks naturally more even, radiant and smooth.
After just one use:
96% of women reported instantly smoothed skin upon application
90% noticed a more even complexion
93% said that their skin had a healthy glow after use

So I've been using this stuff for about three weeks now and I LOVE IT! No, I don't get anything for saying that lol! (You'll see in one of my next posts that I don't love all of the products that I review.)
Anyway, It's almost like putting lotion on your face. It took me a couple of times to really figure out how much to put on to get the right coverage. It makes my skin glow and look almost dewey. It protects my skin from the sun and it covers all of those broken blood vessels around my nose.

What is the difference between this and a good foundation, you ask? Well, it's noncomedogenic so it's not going to block your pores or cause ugly blemishes if you forget to take it off before bed. Also, it's a moisturizer and I've noticed that it doesn't give you that cake-y look that some foundations do.
Overall, it's a great product and although it may seem a little pricey at around 10 bucks a bottle, that little bottle will last you a very long time. Mine is still 3/4 full after three weeks.