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KRAVE Jerky Review && Giveaway

So what's the first thing I noticed about KRAVE Jerky? The incredible packaging!! I love the fun colors and fun illustrations! If I stumbled upon them in the store for the first time, I admit I would buy them just because of the package. Well that and because I love jerky of course.
KRAVE Jerky taught me a few things. Jerky can be more flavorful than just Original, Peppered, and Teriyaki. There's such a thing as Pork Jerky, and I am not a fan of Pork Jerky. It was a bit surprising when I opened the first bag without reading beyond Smoky Grilled Teriyaki to see that it was Pork Jerky and ate a large chunk.
Katie at KRAVE Jerky sent me a Sampler Box to try out and let you all know what I think. So here goes...

• Chili Lime Beef Jerky- This was Anthony's favorite jerky. He rated it a 4 out of 5. It was my second favorite. It tastes exactly how it sounds.

• Sweet Chipotle Beef Jerky- This might sound odd to you if you haven't tried it yet, but it tastes slightly like Chili. Ya know the stew. Not necessarily just the seasoning packet. That's probably because it is seasoned strips of beef though. Anthony rated this one a 2, but I would give it a 3. A 4 on a colder winter day when I'm missing my mom. She makes incredible Chili! 

• Garlic Chili Pepper- This one is my favorite. Anthony rated it a 3.7 so we'll round that up to four. He just wanted to make the point that he didn't like it as much as the Chili Lime Beef Jerky. I'm not usually a big fan of spicy things, and although this jerky isn't hot hot hot it has a kick! I like it a lot though so I just eat smaller pieces than I would a non kicking jerky. 

• Lemon Garlic Turkey Jerky- The Turkey Jerky was tougher than the others. I like my jerky tough so I enjoyed that, but it has a thick glaze on it which I wasn't a huge fan of. 

• Smoky Grilled Teriyaki Pork Jerky- You already know I discovered I'm not a fan of Pork Jerky. I am very glad I got to try it though. The Pork Jerky was much easier to pull apart and a softer texture than the Beef and Turkey Jerky. 

If you a jerky fan looking to take it to the next level I strongly suggest you try out KRAVE Jerky. Check out their online store at kravejerky.com. You can order a sampler box with 5 different varieties for $35 with free shipping. Individually sold the bags run at $7 each. If you discover you are in love and can never be without KRAVE Jerky again they have an awesome program called KRAVE Klub. Every month you can get your selection of 5 different KRAVE Jerky for $30 with free shipping. You can switch up your varieties every month if you want! 

Keep in touch with KRAVE Jerky through Facebook and Twitter.

Do I recommend this product? I recommend this product to anyone who is looking to break free from standard jerky and experience something new and exciting!
Would I purchase this product? If my local stores started stocking them I would purchase KRAVE Jerky, but I will have to have a strong Kraving ;) to order online.

Want to win your own KRAVE Jerky? KRAVE Jerky has generously offered to award a free KRAVE Jerky Sampler pack to a BeautifulBBLife Reviews reader! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received free product for the purpose of writing this review. All opinions expressed are 100% honest and 100% my own. 

True Citrus Review

Does your family drink to much pop or sugary juices? I enjoy a pop every now and then, but for the most part I'm pretty loyal to water and flavored water. When we go out to eat I always order water with a slice of lemon. Plain water gets a bit boring after a while, but I like to feel hydrated. That slice of lemon is usually enough flavor to conquer the boring. Sometimes I'm left feeling that I want a little more though.

I recently received the opportunity to sample products from True Citrus. True Citrus was started when David Schleider created True Lemon a 100% Natural and 100% Convenient product by crystallizing cold pressed lemon juice and lemon oils. Later True Lime, True Orange, True Grapefruit, and other True Citrus Drink mixes were born.

My sample box included:

• True Lemon, True Lime, and True Orange for Cooking, Baking, and Beverages
• True Grapefruit for your water
• True Lemon Raspberry Lemonade and True Lemon Original Lemonade Drink Mixes 

I am completely and totally head over heals in love with True Lemon Raspberry Lemonade Drink Mix. Pour one packet into 16 oz of water and shake or stir. It is so much better than other drink mixes I've tried, and at only 5 calories per packet I can feel great about loving it so much. I liked True Lemon Original Lemonade too, but it didn't hit my taste buds quite as perfectly as the Raspberry Lemonade. 

I love the idea of having Lime and Lemon for recipes packaged so naturally and pure, but not threatening to go bad before I get the chance to use it like fresh Limes and Lemon do. To help prove my point, I haven't gotten around to trying the Lemon, Orange, or Lime packets for baking or cooking purposes, but unlike real fruit these packets will wait around for as long as it takes. Although I wasn't able to try Lime in baking, I did sprinkle a packet onto some chips I was eating the other day. It was very good! I've tried all 3 flavors mixed into water. True Lemon tastes just like Lemon in water, True Lime tastes just like Lime in water, but True Orange tastes slightly like Tang in water. True Grapefruit in water was just as Grapefruity as I expected. :)

As we enter this very blustery and usually fluffy white season people, myself included, generally start to think about their health more often than usual. All of the products I was able to try offer 25% of your daily dose of Vitamin C per serving! These convenient packages can be stashed away in your bag or purse for that extra boost you might need to get through the day. You can easily send your child to school with a water bottle and a True Orange packet for a healthy and natural lunch time drink.  

There are a couple things I still want to try out. I think True Lime or Lemon might be great in my next can of Cola. Do you  think adding True Orange to Vanilla Ice Cream or Frosting will taste like an Orange Dream-Sickle? Hmmm.... :)

To learn more about True Citrus products you can visit their website, "LIKE" them on Facebook, and Follow them on Twitter.

Do I recommend this product? I do :)
Would I purchase this product? I would :)

CEDAR'S Pita Chips and Hommus Review

As a newbie to Hommus I wasn't sure what to expect when I dug my first Pita Chip into the Cedar's Garlic Lovers Hommus. I didn't really know anything about hommus including the fact that it is mashed up Chickpeas so I was surprised by the texture when I ate my first chip. The texture is a little....gritty isn't the right word because it's smoother than that, but it isn't completely smooth. I'm not sure what word to use to describe it. The texture was something to get used to. The girls were over when I tried Cedar's Pita Chips and Cedar's Hommus, and Amber, a hommus veteran, said the texture of Cedar's hommus was consistent with all other brands of hommus. Sarah, Amber, and I all agreed that the flavor was great! Stronger than expected, the flavor was surprisingly and amazingly delicious! 

Cedar's All Natural Baked Plain Pita Chips are thicker than other Pita Chips and Oh So Good! With a delightful crunch and simple (but tasty) flavor Cedar's Pita Chips are the perfect mate for dips and hommus! 

As an added bonus, a very rare occurrence, this combo are not only delicious, but also healthy! A serving size of 7 Pita Chips and 2 tbsp of Hommus carry only 140 calories and 4.5 grams of fat! 

Become a fan of Cedar's on Facebook and stay up to date with all of their products, recipes, and upcoming events! I hope to bring you many more Cedar's Reviews in the near future!

 

Do I recommend this product? I definitely do! :)

Would I purchase this product? I definitely will! :)

I received free product for the purpose of this review. Regardless the opinions are expressed are 100% honest, and 100% mine. 

Simply 7 Snacks Review

I was floored when my box of samples arrived from Simply 7 Snacks. They very generously shipped me 11 bags of Lentil, Hummus, and Pomegranate Chips. The girls and I got together this last weekend, and I had them try ten different Simply 7 chips. I had them rate the chips 1-5 with 5 being amazingly delicious. Amber rated 3 of the chips (Jalapeno Lentil Chips, Spicy Chili Pepper Hummus Chips, and Creamy Dill Lentil Chips) a 5! Sarah was a tougher judge, but she also rated the Creamy Dill Lentil Chips at a 5 saying they had just the right amount of Dill, not overpowering. 

There is something extra satisfying about eating all natural snacks. I'm not left with a greasy "fat" feeling when I'm done eating. The Simply 7 box included: Bruschetta Lentil Chips, Sea Salt Lentil Chips, Lentil Creamy Dill Chips, Jalapeno Lentil Chips, Sea Salt Hummus Chips, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Chips, Tomato Basil Hummus Chips, Spicy Chili Pepper Hummus Chips, Sea Salt Pomegranate, Black Pepper Pomegranate, and White Cheddar Pomegranate. The lentil chips were a similar texture to Puff Corn and very enjoyable! I also loved the crunch of the Hummus Chips. They were comparable to Bugles. I was less enthusiastic about the Pomegranate Chips. They had a fruity taste to them which I realize is a duh since they are "Pomegranate" chips. Sarah LOVED them though! Between the three of us there was not a chip that any of us hated. The flavors of each seasoned chip are strong enough that I don't eat more than a serving size (which are quite large). 
I might be Simply 7 Snacks newest biggest fan! You can find a local retailer that sells Simply 7 Snacks near you with their Store Locator. Check out all of the flavors here. 
Like Simply 7 Snacks on Facebook.
Follow Simply 7 Snacks on Twitter.  

Do I recommend this product? I do! I do! To all of the snack lovers out there! 
Would I purchase this product? Absolutely!!!! 

Healthy Surprise Review

Healthy Surprise is a monthly box subscription that brings you Natural & GMO Free, Vegan, Gluten Free, and Soy Free snacks right to your door. I was sent a Healthy Surprise box to review a few weeks ago. My box included 16 items. I'd only previous tried 3 of them. 

Home Free Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies .95 oz

PitayaPlus Dried Pitaya (Dragon Fruit) 1.5 oz

Apple Pie Coco-Roons 6 oz

Go Raw Lemon Super Cookies 3 oz

Bare Fruit Cinnamon Apple Crisps 1.69 oz

Hail Merry Orange Rosemary Pecans .88 oz

Sunbiotics Cheesy Almonds 1.5 oz

Gone Nuts Living Intentions White Chocolate Cashews, Almonds, and Cacoa Nibs 3 oz

Happy Hemp 2 oz

Thunderbird Energetica Almond Cookie Pow Wow 48 g

LARABAR Chocolate Chip Brownie .78

Oskri Mango Coconut Bar 1.9 oz

Apple and Mango That's It Bar 1.2 oz

Apple and Apricot That's It Bar 1.2 oz

Caramel Cocomocorn 1 oz (This was shipped 6 weeks past its Best By Date, and was stale. Healthy Surprise offered to replace it with a different product.)  

I loved the way it was packed. I opened the box to find a tissue paper wrapped bundle of goodies. Then, to my surprise, after I removed those snacks from the box there was another tissue wrapped set of treats. The value of all the the items in my box was approximately $47.89. A Starter box from Healthy Surprise costs $33 plus $6.99 for shipping. 

Do I recommend this product? I do recommend the Healthy Surprise Starter Box if you have the extra money, you are new to healthy snacking, and you are looking for a large variety of items to try.  

Would I purchase this product? I would not. Because the end savings was only $7.88 I would rather go to the organic store and pick out products that look appealing to me.

I received this product free for the purpose of this review. My opinions are 100% my own. 

Beanitos Review && Giveaway

I've said before that the hardest part of my Get Healthy plan is the snacking. Fortunately today I have the opportunity to introduce you to another of my new found edible friends: Beanitos Chips. Beanitos are Corn Free, Gluten Free, High Fiber, and have complete 6g Protein per single serve bag! "PurposeFULL Snacking for Human Beans" [Love that. :)] I was sent a sample assortment of 4 Beanitos varieties including Beanitos Pinto Bean & Flax Chips, Beanitos Cheddar Cheese Pinto Bean & Flax Chips, Beanitos Black Bean Chips, and Beanitos Chipotle BBQ Black Bean Chips. The first bag I tried was Chipotle BBQ Black Bean Chips. Those come with a bit of a kick! I'm not someone who likes spicy, and I did like the chips, but I mixed my bag with a bag of regular Black Bean Chips to even out the kick. It was fantastically tasty! A combo I would recommend to any other heartburn prone snack lovers out there. Alone the regular Black Bean Chips are slightly salty. A couple days later I tried the Cheddar Cheese Pinto Bean & Flax Chips. I didn't taste a strong Cheddar Cheese flavor, and felt like these chips were a little bland. This morning I had the regular Pinto Bean & Flax Chips as an early afternoon snack. I didn't have high hopes for this bag after the Cheddar Cheese chips, but I was pleasantly surprised. The regular Pinto Bean & Flax Chips are salty and satisfying! 
All of the Beanitos chips are crunchy like a tortilla chip. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the flavors of 3 out of the 4 varieties they all came with a unfavorable aftertaste. It is not horrible, just not great, but after a few drinks of water the aftertaste vanishes. After tasting all four varieties through out the week I've decided these will be becoming a regular part of my Get Healthy plan snacking menu. The single serve bags are new to Beanitos as of this year and are ideal for sticking in Anthony's work lunch, stashing in my purse for a healthy snack while I'm out and about, or packing in school lunches. 

Do I recommend this product? Yes, and I recommend it for your whole family!
Would I purchase this product? I would :)

The extremely generous people at Beanitos are offering a full case of Beanitos to a BeautifulBBLife Reviews follower! This giveaway is open to US and Canada. 



a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received free product for the purpose of this review. Regardless the opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Snack Pack Pudding Bakery Shop Review

Did you know Snack Pack Pudding has a Bakery Shop line? I buy pudding on a rather regular basis, but normally I stick to the standard Chocolate and Tapioca puddings. I just found out about the Bakery Shop collection and received a sample pack of Apple Pie A La Mode to try out. As you all know I am working on living a healthier life. With that said, if you know me personally you know that I love treats! I was raised on home made cookies. My mother is a wonderfully talented baker so I've been spoiled with deliciousness since the day I was born. While cookies and treats don't fit very well into being healthy, if I find myself craving Apple Pie I am happy to say I could reach for a Snack Pack Apple Pie A La Mode cup and be satisfied. The pudding tastes like a creamy piece of apple pie. Obviously it is not the same consistency, but the pudding tastes like a mix of apple and cream with the lingering hint of caramel. At only 3g of fat and 100 calories this fits perfectly into my healthier life style. 

I received a free sample for the purpose of this review. This review reflects 100% my honest opinion. 

Upcoming Product Review and Current Blogger Opportunity

I want to share this exciting review opportunity I am involved in with all of you. Especially those of you who might be interested in losing weight and joining my Get Healthy plan. Creative BioScience is hosting a 90 Day Challenge and has decided to sponsor me while I'm taking these steps to a healthier me. I was given the option to chose a 90 day supply of  the product I thought best fit my plan. I've spent a couple days reading through the Product Descriptions, Consumer Reviews, and FAQ connected to each product. After everything I've read on both their site and other retailers sites I have finally settled on Creative BioScience's Raspberry Ketone 1234. While I have read both favorable and unfavorable reviews on the product, I found many more good reviews than bad. Most of the cons I have found include people admitting they were not following the instructions correctly. That is not a fault of the supplement. Raspberry Ketone 1234 is a natural diet supplement designed to help prevent the formation of fat. I'm hoping that including it in my new diet and exercise plan will help me to reach my goals a little faster. As I've said before I'm not looking for an instant fix that will leave me thin in a couple weeks, but heavier in a few months. I am looking for long term results. 
For all of those Bloggers out there who might be interested in Creative BioScience's 90 Day Challenge I urge you to check out the information here. 
Don't worry if you aren't a Blogger. Once my challenge is completed Creative BioScience will be sponsoring a giveaway right here on BeautifulBBLife Reviews! 

Bare Fruit Cinnamon Apple Chips Review && Giveaway

I am happy to announce my first newly enjoyed tasty (and healthy) treat... Bare Fruit 100% Organic, Bake Dried Cinnamon Apple Chips made with Washington State Apples. The hardest part of my Get Healthy plan will be changing my snacking habits. I'm a sucker for a delicious snack to munch on while I'm watching my favorite TV show or a great DVD. Now that I've been introduced to Bare Fruit I believe changing my snacking habits wont be as hard as I once thought. I love fruit, but most of the time I buy it, forget about it, and then have to throw away the mushy remains making it a big waste of money. Bare Fruit Cinnamon Apple Chips are a fantastic alternative to buying fresh apples. The bag smells just like apple cider, the pieces crunch like kettle chips (my favorite), and the slices taste exactly like apple. Fresh apple I mean. Which makes sense considering the only ingredients are Organic Apples and Organic Cinnamon. Not only are the Cinnamon Apple Chips delicious, but the 14 oz resealable bag makes keeping them fresh so easy!

Do I recommend this product? Oh yes! Delicious, Healthy, and a resealable bag!
Would I purchase this product? I would :)

You can find Bare Fruit Snacks on Facebook, Twitter, or go directly to their website. 

The super exciting news for all of BeautifulBBLife Review's readers? Bare Fruit has generously offered to give one of you a case of Bare Fruit for free! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Although I received free product for the purpose of reviewing, all opinions on 100% honest and 100% mine. 

A Fresh Start

At 9:30 P.M. on Sunday night it is officially the end of the weekend. I hope you all spent your time doing the things you love. As a bit of an unofficial food addict I spent my weekend deciding what foods I needed to enjoy before starting my Get Healthy plan tomorrow. I had double dark chocolate cookies and a delicious steak from Applebee's with garlic mashed potatoes. Today I eased myself into healthier foods. I had a salad for lunch and have been snacking on a new found organic and tasty treat. [Review will be posted tomorrow, with a Giveaway :)] I haven't decided how I want to go about my first "workout" in the morning. I think I am going to let Netflix decide. Last time I checked there were plenty of workout shows available on XBox Live Netflix so I will leave my mind open, and give something new a chance. Wish me luck. 

Noxicare All Natural Pain Relief Review and Giveaway

I recently had the opportunity to try Noxicare Topical Cream an All Natural Pain Reliever. While I typically suffer from hip pain for about a week each month (which I believe I am still way to young for) I have not been forced to face that pain in the last couple weeks. So instead of putting the review off any longer I asked my Mom to help. My Mother is someone who has worked very hard at her jobs which have all been physically demanding, and because of that she now has the pains of a body that has lived. 
She applied the cream to her shoulder hoping to alleviate her pain. Unfortunately the pain was too strong, and after a while of seeing no results Mom took a pain relief pill. I applied the cream to my leg just to get a feel for the product. Mom and I both agree that it goes on just like a lotion. There is no unpleasant smell like most pain relief creams have, and my skin did not feel at all greasy. Although the cream did not work for her pain I will be testing it out on my hip pain once it returns. I'm well aware that what doesn't work for some can still work wonders for others. I love that the ingredients are all natural: Turmeric, Willow Bark, Ginger, Rosemary Extract, Holy Basil, Boswellia Extract, and Alpha Lipoic Acids. You can read all about Noxicare All Natural Pain Relief on their website.
Keep in touch with Noxicare on Twitter & Facebook. 
A large variety of Noxicare products are available to purchase at http://noxicare.myshopify.com/.

Do I recommend this product? I'd like to see how the cream works for me before I decide. I haven't lost my faith in the cream yet, but I am realistic.

Would I purchase this product? I would not, until I know it works for me. 

Now it could be your turn to test out Noxicare on your aches and pains. Noxicare is generously giving two BeautifulBBLife Reviews readers each a 3.5 oz tube and a tshirt! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

My Get Healthy! Plan

I am soo super excited! Starting next week October 15, 2012 I will be starting a Get Healthy plan. While weightloss is a big goal for me I also want to start eating better foods. Not just a diet, I want to maintain healthy eating so that I can maintain a healthy body. I'm not just looking for a quick solve that will leave me right where I am now again in another six month. I've gained 28lbs in the last 18 months since leaving a very physically demanding job. After leaving a housekeeping position my physical activity dropped significantly, but my diet did not change. I slowly gained and gained. I am not happy with where my health is now. I will be depending on my wonderful readers to hold me accountable to what I've said here. Remind me that I can not give up, and that I said I would do this so I need to follow through. 
I wont be selfish though. If you help keep me motivated I will share all of the great new products and tools I'll be using with you. Right now I have 8 confirmed product reviews that I hope will be both healthy and delicious, and a couple include giveaways that I can share with you! If you are also working on a weight loss,  fitness, or health goal please let me know! I would love to have a virtual workout buddy, or ten. 

My Goal: I want to lose 28lbs. I want to fit back into my size 8 American Eagle Jeans, I need to feel good about the way I look again. Most of all I want to enjoy the foods I am eating and the workouts I am doing. There is no point in being thin if I am miserable.  

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That's it! You have successfully entered this awesome giveaway! Winner will be chosen via Random.org and emailed no later than 48 hours after giveaway closes. The winner will have 48 hours to confirm or a new winner will be chosen. We'd like to recognize the following bloggers for this event: Joys Of Life, Chant3llo's Blog, Mail4Rosey, Sweeping The USA You can find official Terms and Conditions on the Madame Deals Media page. To inquire about becoming a sponsor for a giveaway like this one, please contact Amee or Dawn at madamedealsmedia@yahoo.com for details. Take a look Madame Deals Media to see what we have to offer. Are you a blogger that would like to be on the MDMedia Team? Find out how you can join us.

$100 Paypal Cash Giveaway!

Here is an awesome new giveaway brought to you by I Heart Giveaways and The Coffee Chic. This time, you can get a chance to win $100 Paypal Cash. The prize is sponsored by Emperola.

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If you host any kind of giveaway or contest feel free to submit your contest at Emperola for free.

This giveaway is co-hosted by: Chic Food Trips | To Sew with Love | What's Up - Giveaways, Promos and Deals | Science of Couponing | Moms Living Thrifty | The Law Chic

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spa Diggity Dog Neem & Aloe Shampoo Bar

If you follow my main blog or friend me on Facebook you know that Dylan (a boxer/lab mix) is my precious baby boy. He has more personality than most of the people I've met, and he knows our family is exactly where he belongs. My nephew and I picked him up when he was about 8 weeks old, and he and I have been together ever since. I would do anything to keep him happy and safe. I'm not crazy. I know that he is a dog, and I am a person. That doesn't change the fact that he completes my little family with Anthony, and it doesn't change the fact that I love him with my whole heart. 
Dylan has sensitive skin that can't handle the average Dog Shampoo. He only has a bath about once every couple of months unless he gets extra stinky in between, but if I use Dog Shampoo his skin is dry, itchy, and flaky for weeks afterward. About a year ago I read online from a few different sources that you could use all natural baby shampoo on dogs with sensitive skin so we gave that a try. While baby shampoo has worked pretty well for us up til now, Dylan isn't in love with the smell, and I know that dogs have a different PH than people. I just have such a hard time spending a lot of money on a shampoo he wont use a second time. 
Spa Diggity Dog very generously sent me a Neem & Aloe Shampoo Bar to try out. I know what you're probably thinking: "A Shampoo BAR?" I had my doubts about how well it would lather up too. Last night I ran Dylan a warm bath tub filled about half way up. He reluctantly climbed in and let me wet him down. 
I should mention Dylan isn't really a fan of bath time. He has no problem sneaking his way in to lay on the floor while I shower, but as soon as he hears the tub water running he's as far away as possible.
After he was pretty wet I grab the Spa Diggity Dog Shampoo Bar, dipped in in the bath water, then slid the bar across his back. I am so happy to report that it was instant lather! Not an excessive amount, but a good amount to get him clean. It took very little effort vs. squirting shampoo in my hand and then applying it to his coat since I would have to get more at least 3 times. Using the bar was much easier. I ran the bar along his back, his sides, his chest, legs, and tummy. He hates to have his face washed, but because I haven't washed his face in at least 2 bath times I had to do it last night. I used just the tiniest corner of the bar to get a little bit of soap on his face and washed it off right away. Dylan handled it quite well. I used a rinse pail to get the soap off of the rest of his body. Again, it took very little effort. I was shocked to feel how waxy his fur was after rinsing out the shampoo. After how much I loved how well it lathered up I was scared it was all for nothing. I thought I was going to have to put him through another bath just to get the waxiness off. Dylan got out of the tub and Anthony dried him off with a towel. We let him relax on a towel on the couch while he dried, and I waited. Once his fur was mostly dry I nervously went to feel his coat. It was wonderfully soft and not waxy like at all. 
I'm very impressed and happy to say that at no point last night did Dylan smell like a "wet dog." Anthony didn't seem to be a big fan of the scent the soap left behind last night, but I don't feel like it was an unpleasant smell. I can't pin point what it smelt like, but I've never smelt Neem before so perhaps that's what it is. That soap smells fresh and full of nature. This morning though Dylan doesn't smell like the soap at all. He just smells like a clean puppy. 
You can purchase a 5.3 oz 100% Natural Neem & Aloe Shampoo bar from SpaDiggityDog.com for $12.00. Something I will absolutely be doing in the future!

Do I recommend this product? YES! I love this shampoo so much that I will be bringing it over to my parents house so that they can use it on Bear. A chow/lab mix that has been a part of our family since I was in elementary school. She has very thick fur and unfortunately dry skin. Neem has skin-healing properties including the ability to alleviate some of the discomfort and itchiness she deals with everyday. 

Would I purchase this product? I've already stated above and will confirm here that I absolutely will! :)

Woolzies Dryer Balls

          Like almost everyone else, I'm definitely for "going green." Unfortunately living on a budget due to the economy and life in general sometimes makes that nearly impossible. Luckily there is an All Natural replacement for fabric softeners (sheets or liquid) that will allow you to Go Green and save money, in more ways than one!

1.       Each box of Woolzies Dryer Balls will last at least one full year or 500 loads of laundry (usually longer). At only $35.99 per box with free shipping anywhere in the USA or Canada, and only $6.95 to ship everywhere else in the world that's about $0.07 per load. 

2.       As the dryer balls bounce around with your clothes in the dryer they create more space for the hot air to circulate, automatically cut down on your energy costs. On the website Woolzies estimates your drying time will be reduced by about 25% for a large load and 35-40% for a small load. My percentage was slightly better than that. Normally I set the dryer at the Extra Heavy setting, and then we have to set it for a little longer before the clothes are completely dry if its a load with bulky items. To get the best comparison I washed a load of mostly sweatshirts and towels with just a few t-shirts and started them at only the Light setting. Just before the timer was about to go off I opened the door and felt around. Because the clothes were not yet dry I reset the dryer for a long time that would have been equal to starting the dryer at Medium in the beginning. Happily they were dry after that so I removed them from the dryer at about 50% reduced drying time. 
Since I was only able to compare with one load I asked my mom to use the Woolzies Dryer Balls with her clothes the next day. She did, and she reported that her clothes were a tiny bit damp after the Medium dryer setting with the 6 dryer ball. I would like to include in complete honesty that after completing another load of t-shirts and pants today without the dryer balls her clothes were still dry after the Medium time setting. 

          Mom and I both did experience a down side of using Woolzies. Not something bad enough for me to discontinue use, or to make me resist recommending the product. After removing the clothes from the dryer there was quite a bit of static. My clothes lost the static after a few hours of resting in a basket. (I do not fold and hang my clothes until we get to our apartment from my parent's house.)


         Here is the important part. Do I recommend this product? Yes. It's great for the planet and will save you money. That's a win win. Would I purchase this product? I would. Although the $35.99 seems like a large amount to spend all at once, if you compare it to the cost of repeatedly buying dryer sheets or liquid fabric softener you'll find you it's a very reasonable price. Plus think of the money you could save on your electric bill. That's another win win. 

$100 Cash Giveaway!

Here is an awesome new giveaway brought to you by I Heart Giveaways and The Coffee Chic. This time, you can get a chance to win $100 Paypal Cash. The prize is sponsored by Emperola.

Important details:The giveaway is open Worldwide. Simply complete the entries on the rafflecopter widget below for more chances of winning. The event will run from October 6 to 31, 2012. One winner will win $150 cash! Good luck.

About Emperola.com:Emperola.com was founded in summer 2012 in order to provide visitors with daily updated list of contests, giveaways, sweepstakes and deals. For now we are active in United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Enter your email here for a chance to win $500 in cash.

If you host any kind of giveaway or contest feel free to submit your contest at Emperola for free.

This giveaway is co-hosted by: Chic Food Trips | To Sew with Love | What's Up - Giveaways, Promos and Deals | Science of Couponing | Moms Living Thrifty | The Law Chic

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Opportunity for Bloggers!

Madame Deals will be giving away a Kindle Fire to the readers!! Just in time for Christmas! Event will run from 10/10-10/24 and prizes will also be awarded to a few of the bloggers also! Go here to sign up now! Let them know BeautifulBBLife Reviews sent you. :)

Venus Embrace VS Venus ProSkin

A Beauty Battle:

                             VS

When it comes to shaving I have had sensitive skin for as long as I can remember. When I first started shaving I was using cheaper razors mostly because I didn't realize I had less painful options. I would get razor burn on a weekly basis even while using shaving cream. My skin seems to cut itself when I'm shaving with almost all razors out there.

Once I had found Venus I was hooked. I started out with the Gillette Venus. Plain and simple, the original. If I am out of razors and another version of Venus is not on super sale I still go for the original. I very rarely get rebellious skin that randomly bleeds, and almost never get razor burn. I always use shaving cream. 

This post isn't about the original Venus though. This is a battle between Venus Embrace and Venus ProSkin razors.

Venus Embrace 

• Razor burn appears only when my skin was super dry before I shaved
• Very rarely do I get cuts
• The razor head never gets gloopy (for lack of a better word.)
• "Ribbon of Moisture" lasts for about 3 weeks if I shave about 3 times per week. 
• 4.5 out of 5 stars rating on GilletteVenus.com 
• $8.49 at Target for 1 Razor, 2 Cartridges and 1 Shower Pod

Venus ProSkin

• I occasionally get razor burn even without having dry skin
• Cuts appear about every other time I use Venus ProSkin
• After the first use, the razor head is Always gloopy
• Due to the gloopiness of the razor head, each cartridge only lasts about a week
• 2.8 out of 5 stars rating on GilletteVenus.com
• $9.99 at Target for 1 Razor, 2 Cartridges, and 1 Shower Pod

In my opinion, and on behalf of my sensitive skin, Venus Embrace is definitely the winner! <3

Are you a member of Influenster?

I am so exciting I might explode! My very first Vox Box is due to arrive this week from Influenster.com. I became an Influenster a few months ago, and have been dying to get hold of my first box of products to test out.  
So what exactly is Influenster? Lets let them tell you. Here is a quote from their website. 
"

Influenster [in-floo-uhn-ster]

noun

An exclusive online community where tastemakers and trendsetters (such as yourself) come to share the latest and greatest news, places, products, and reviews with each other. 2. The hotspot you just bookmarked on your web browser that turns your social influence into sweet rewards.

Basically, Influenster is a place for culture junkies to come together and share their unique opinions of products and experiences. Active members of Influenster get exclusive access to deals, promotions, and swag from brands that thrive off the input (the good, the bad, and the ugly -- they just want to know what's up)."

Keep in mind this website is NOT about getting free stuff. While you definitely might get your own Vox Box, Influenster is about sharing your thoughts about products. Let everyone know what worked or didn't work for you. Influenster is the place to go to learn about new products, how others liked their experience with items, and throw in your own input. 

If you think Influenster.com might be the right place for you sign up here. or ask me to send you an invite. :) I can't wait to see what you have to say!