HORRIBLE winter = need for O'Keefe's hand creme

My bffs at Smiley360 have sent me a much-needed sample for February.  O'Keefe's Working Hands creme is just what I need as we suffer through the worst New England winter EVAH!

Though I can't say this product healed my hands, it certainly moisturized them and took away that terribly dry, Velcro-hands feel I get this time of year.  Between cold weather, dry air, frequent hand washing to keep my beloved students' germs OFF me, and general dry skin any time of year, this stuff helps turn it all around.  It's not greasy, lasts through hand washings, and has been used by me, my husband, and my son alike.

Suffering from sandpapery hands?  Get O'Keefe's!

Remember, I got the sample for free from Smiley 360, but the opinions are truly my own. :)

You MUST get the Brookside Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters!

My peeps at Crowdtap came through today with one of the best samples I've ever tried - Brookside Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters!

I got the mail this AM (totally spaced it on Saturday!) and knew the little box was my latest freebie.  I took it in to work with me to try and share.  I've tried the regular Brookside candies, and they're ok.  Not fabulous, but ok.

OMG.  The combo of dark chocolate, fruity chewy cranberries, and crunchies were awesome!  I gave some to my coworkers, then brought them home (MINE!) for my son & hubby to try.  Everyone raved about the flavor and crispy goodness.  Delicious!

A sincere thank you to Crowdtap for sending me this free sample so I can give my honest opinion (which is YUM!).

December freebie - Boursin cheese!

What's better than a great holiday party, with fun, friends, and FOOD!  Of all the things on the snack table, a good cheese plate is one of my faves.  Boursin cheese is always a fave.

My pals at Smiley360 sent me a coupon for a free round of Boursin, just in time for Christmas.  Though it was meant for a cheese tray set-up, I couldn't wait and broke into it for a few snitches and to use as a spread on our chicken burgers one night.  SO YUMMY!  It gives a nice herby taste with a rich, creamy, cheesy base.  Can't beat it! I bought the traditional herb version, but was also debating the shallot version - will have to go back and try it!

Thanks again to Smiley360, who gives me chances to try out cool things in exchange for my unique, uncompensated opinion.  Happy holidays!!!

Softy Scotties

Hey all!  Latest freebie from Smiley360 was a box of Scotties tissues.  I always thought of them as thin and rough and usually only bought them to foist upon my tissue-wasting students!

Box had kittens on it.  White kittens.  Yes. Really.  But I digress (though to quote the mom from Everyone Loves Raymond, the design on the tissue boxes are a major part of a room's decor!)

Ok, ignore the kittens.  These tissues were soft, even softer that regular Kleenex.

And they were strong.  No going through, no soggy hand (blech!).  They hold up in my purse without getting shredded after a few days!

All in all, assuming I can find a non-kitten centered theme on their boxes, I WILL buy them again because of the quality.

Toss the tube!!

This week's product review is Scott's new tube-free toilet paper.  Yes, I'm writing about TP.  I was skeptical at first, since I've had an opinion of Scott as the thin, flimsy, rough stuff on that 1000 sheet paper-wrapped roll.  But I can honestly say it's TOTALLY different now!  The ridges make it more, well, effective, and it is strong (maybe too strong!...yes tmi...).

Pros: -no cardboard tube, therefore less paper used
-ridged
-strong
-lint-free (hate having fuzzies everywhere!)

Cons: -maybe a bit too rough?
-rolls unevenly on the holder, but this is not that big of a deal.  It may cause Boy to use less!
-sheets don't tear evenly on their perforations (at least not on the rolls I had)

Overall, I'm seeing a much more useful, cost-effective and environment friendly (except for the pastic wrapper) alternative to those costly Charmin packages! #tossthetube !

Tazo chai zen

Posts?  What posts?  Time to revive, if only to revamp and survive, in the blog world.

Today's post is bought to you by Tazo.  No, really, it is.  I'm a reviewer for Smiley360, which is an AWESOME site.  You receive coupons for absolutely FREE full-size real, useful products for yourself and your friends.  In return, you spread the word, in person and electronically, about that product's virtues.

Recently I received some free teabags and some coupons for free Tazo chai concentrate.  (Of course, I used my coupon before I saw the pumpkin version!  Curses!!!) I first tried the straight ahead chai tea bag, without reading the little blurb about adding milk (I take my tea straight, no chaser).  Even without the milk to soften it, it was super spicy and yummy.  I bought the concentrate at Stop & Shop, and it's almost gone!  I use it cold, and it is just perfectly balanced with a 50/50 mix/skim milk ratio.  Even hubby liked it a little (he's not a tea guy).

ONe bump in the road was the chocolate chai tea bag.  I already knew from a Starbucks ordeal that I didn't like those flavors together.  Same thing happened with this - just not good.  To my taste, pretty bad.  But that's just me.

Overall, the rating for regular chai flavor bags and concentrate = 5 yums up!  Can't wait to give out my other coupons and maybe try the pumpkin one with a friend.

more flashbacks

Last post got me thinking about when the audience began to exist. That got me thinking in terms of the few bits of memory I have chugging around my brain, the ones that really stick and come back at times.

-at some point, being picked on on the bus, probably 5th or 6th grade. Mike the bus driver saying, "someday people will see how beautiful you are". I truly appreciate him saying that 30 years ago and hope he is having a happy life.