Truvía® natural sweetener Product Review

I received a small box of Truvia Natural Sweetener as part of  Influenster's LoveVoxBox program.  While I did receive my Truvia as a complimentary item from this program, it is not the first time I have tried Truvia.  I have actually been using this brand for about a year now.  I tried Truvia as a sample about a year ago and instantly found it to be a better alternative to other sweeteners I had been using.  The taste is superb.  A little is all you need to add a little sweetness to drinks and foods.  I use it daily in my coffee.  I also keep a stash of Truvia in my car for coffee stops while I am out and about.  My favorite treat is Iced Coffee from McDonalds.  I add 2 packets of Truvia to a large plain iced coffee and it is a guilt-free treat!

I have found coupons for Truvia at my local store right by the product.  They also occasionally have coupons in the Sunday inserts and also through Saving Star which makes buying it an even sweeter deal!

More info can be found at their website:  www.truvia.com

My Cravebox - A Review of EBoost

Just a friendly reminder that my reviews for my Cravebox items are all my own.  I paid $10 to receive my box of goodies, and my reviews are genuine.  I have nothing to gain by giving a good review, just as as negative review offers me no benefit.

One of the lovely items in my box was the EBoost Daily Health Booster.  Energy drinks scare me.  I don't like the high levels of caffeine in them, and the amount of sugar can be staggering.  Eboost is different.  There are only 5 calories in the packet, and it is sweetened with my new love - Stevia.  The caffeine comes from Green Tea, which is a more natural and beneficial source. I am a big reader of labels, and the first thing that pops out to me is the number of nutrients this stuff has.  I live in Montana and therefore must get my sunshine in a Vitamin D supplement.  One packet of the Eboost has 1,000 mg of Vitamin D - the exact amount my doctor advised me to take on a daily basis.  There are also high levels of Vitamin C and Vitamin B12 which is known to be an energy booster.

Enough of label reading.  I have tasted and dumped vitamin packet drinks before.  The fizz combined with the metallic taste has made me ill.  Eboost is not a drink I would crave, but it is very drinkable.  One packet mixed with 8 oz. of water is all it takes to give my energy level a boost.  I wake up daily at 4:45 to get to the gym so I can work out with the ladies.  I love starting the day with exercise - it sets me up for energy throughout the day, or at least until 2:00 in the afternoon.  2:00 is the time when I start to wind down, and I usually grab a cup of coffee to get me going again and sometimes that chocolate chip cookie too.  I replaced my cup-of-joe afternoon habit with one of the Eboost packets.  Not only did I get some energy, but I also lost that desire for a sweet treat.

I must make a note that I did get a little jittery after drinking the supplement.  I think next time I will use only half of the packet.  I also wouldn't drink this supplement within several hours of my bedtime.  The caffeine could prevent a good night's sleep.  I will definitely enjoy these next week after daylight savings time kicks in.  I expect the Eboost will be my answer for making it through Monday!

My Cravebox : Amore Pacific

What I love about the Amore Pacific samples that were sent to me by Cravebox is the simplicity of the product.  The scents are light and refreshing.  I feel pampered using them, and they represent what I expect from a quality skin care line.  The first item I received is the Moisture Bound Skin Hydration Delivery System.  Sounds fancy - right?  It is easier defined as a little bit of moisture that you spray on your face.  It is super refreshing, and I can picture myself out and about in the summer using it to a face dry with summer sun.  I will be taking this with me when we go to Lake Powell this summer.  I can also see someone using this to freshen their skin on a day trip to the zoo, amusement park, or baseball game.

The next Amore Pacific item I used was the Treatment Cleansing Foam.  I have never cleansed my face with anything like this!  I put a dime size amount on my palm, added water, and presto - I had an ultra foamy cleansing experience!  This cleanser felt smooth to use, and left my face clean yet not dry.  I think I will use a pea sized amount next time as it doesn't take much to do the trick.

Overall, I am really impressed with the Amore Pacific items.  I hope to look into other products they have in their skin care line.

Cravebox: Think Thin Protein Bars

In my February Cravebox I received 2 Think Thin bars.  I ate the Cream Peanut Butter bar yesterday, and oh my was it filling.  This bar has an amazing label - 0g sugar, 20g protein, and gluten free.  I work out often, but still have 15 lbs. of baby weight to lose, and the higher protein diets work better for me than the low fat types.  I do eat these types of nutrition bars often as a replacement for lunch when I am on the go.

I found the Think Thin Creamy Peanut Butter bar to taste very similar to the Atkins Peanut Butter Bar.  It kept me full for hours, but I needed a huge glass of water to wash it down.  I was not a fan of this variety as it was almost too much to take in at one time.  I look forward to trying the other option they sent - Chocolate Dipped with Mixed Nuts.  This bar has less protein at 10g, but I hope to pair it with an orange and green salad for lunch today.  I think it is a better option to use the bar as a protein source along with fresh fruits and vegetables.  I will let you know!

My Cravebox

February was the first month for me to receive a Cravebox.  I must say I am SO impressed with Cravebox.  Not only are the products they send amazing, but they also have a great team putting the boxes together and dealing with the multitude of questions from people like me.

I was invited to participate via a Twitter message, and within minutes I was signed up.  A great thing about Cravebox is once you are signed up, the boxes automatically come to you each month.  I signed up, but didn't get a box sent to me with the first group.  I sent a message to the Cravebox people, and they got one in the mail to me right away.  You pay $10 for a box each month, enough to cover shipping for them, and you get a bunch of goodies.  You don't know what will be in the box until it arrives - unless you cheat first and see what others are saying about the boxes on Facebook.  I look forward to reviewing the products each day this week.

Cravebox is still in the Beta phase, and I know it is getting more coveted by its followers each month.  The Twitter Parties are really fun to participate in.  Not only do you get a chance to win great prizes, but you also get great discount codes to use on items that come in your box.  It really is a win-win program.  Companies get to find new customers to fall in love with their products, and we get to share our thoughts on these fun new products - our honest opinions!  Here we go!

Here is what I got - Some great Bic Pens, products by Amore Pacific, Downy Wrinkle Releaser, Think Thin Bars, and Eboost Health Boosters.  I am so excited to try these!

For today, I will talk about the Bic Mark It Pens.  They are Permanent Markers, fine tip, and they come in some really fun colors.  I am thinking I am going to pass these on to my 12-year old daughter.  She loves to draw.  I plan on putting a bow around each one and putting one in her school lunch every day for a week.  I can't wait to see the fun art projects she uses them on.  I might keep one for myself :)

More tomorrow.  Thanks to Cravebox for letting me give my thoughts on the box, and thanks for reading my post.  I am not paid for my reviews and they are my honest thoughts.


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The Power of Blog

An update on my issues with NoMoreRack.com.  It seems writing a blog about being unhappy with a purchase set the team at NoMoreRack.com in motion.  My money was returned to my PayPal account within 12 hours of my previous post being published.  I do appreciate the quick response.

I personally do not plan on making future purchases on this site.   I would urge people to make purchases only if they are certain about a product and don't mind a little correspondence with the company if something goes wrong.  They have had some tempting deals in the past.  Buyer beware! 

A Bad Review - Really?

I love to read blogs.  One thing I have noticed though, is the ones I read tend to follow a trend.  I read a lot by other women - they tend to be like me.  Once thing about us girls, is we love to share a "good thing."  I know I sure do.  Of course, many times there are perks for sharing that good thing, but that is a discussion for another day.


I recently learned about a website called NoMoreRack.com.  It sounds like a cool concept.  Daily at noon EST they have a bunch of things you can buy at deeply discounted prices.  I signed up for their emails and started checking out the deals.  Last week I found something I wanted - a sheet set with a super-high count thread count for $29.  I jumped on it and ordered the set.  Later I looked at my confirmation email and noticed that I ordered the King instead of the Queen.  


Okay, I thought.  I can just send them a quick email to cancel the order.  The next day I get an apology email saying that they cannot cancel a placed order.  Really?  If something hasn't shipped yet, then I should be able to cancel an order, but they do have fine print.  They were within their rights according to their fine print continue my order, and I accept that.  The problem occurred on the next day.


I get another email saying that "We are extremely disappointed to bring you some bad news, unfortunately our supplier was unable to deliver a product that you had ordered."  I thought - well isn't that the luck!  I looked in my PayPal account (how I originally paid) and no refund.  Hmmm.  I gave them a few days and then sent an email to the company wondering what happened to my money.

Just today I got a reply  "We are sorry to hear that you would like to cancel your order but we can go ahead and cancel it for you. This refund was issued as a ready to use in store credit. You may use this credit on any future Nomorerack purchase." Cancel my order?  Did I miss something?  Did they even look into what actually happened?  Now I am getting a little upset.  Does a company have a right to admit they were wrong, cancel an order, and then keep your money for a future purchase option?  I tell you, I have no desire to buy from this company.  In each of my emails they state that customer service is a priority.  However, holding onto my money for another purchase when they made an error is a bit on the shady side.  All I want is my money deposited back into my account for an error that they made.  

I have now contacted PayPal and asked them to look into the issue.  I hate writing bad reviews, but I feel I have to let others know that NoMoreRack.com puts its profits ahead of its customers.