Boxycharm

5 Stars

Boxycharm is one of my newer beauty boxes that I decided to try.  It is a little more expense at $21 per month but you get 5 full sized product instead of samples.  It definitely did not disappoint.  This one is definitely going to be a keeper.  You get 50 charms for every product in your box you review about.  100 charms = $1.  

September box...

Project Beauty Hairgurt - This is a heavy conditioner that you leave in after shampooing for 5-10 min and rinse out.  First off it smells amazing.  Second of all it conditioned my hair really well.  Value $11.00

butterLONDON - This is a brownish/tan nail polish.  I love getting nail polish in my boxes!  It covers well and lasts a long time. 

Value $ 15.00

PUR Cosmetics - This is a lip stick pen with a felt tip.  I really liked this as it was like having a lipstick with a lip-gloss style applicator.  You twist the bottom which releases the color onto the felt applicator.  It covers really well and does not bleed on your lips.  It was a little darker than I normally wear but I still liked it.  I am definitely interested in finding a lighter shade to buy! 

Value $22.00

Studio Makeup - This is a on the go eyeshadow palette.  It has 9 different shades of neutral eyeshadows.  This was why I joined boxycharm!  These are amazing.  They cover well and blend easy.  I love to play with the. 

Value $49.95

Hikari Cosmetics - This was a eyeliner.  I am very particular on my eyeliners.  I don't care for liquid eyeliners but that was not the case for this one.  This was a solid mechanical eyeliner.  It is a lot like the one I use everyday.  I loved it.  This was perfect.  Went on smooth and easy to apply. 

Value $ 13.00

Remember these were all full sized products.  So I spent $21 and the value of this box was $110.95!  I felt the $21 was completely worth it since I got full sized products and there wasn't one product that I did not like or would not use. 

Interested in Boxycharm?  Check it out here...Boxycharm

Amope Gel Active

Amope Gel Activ - free sample! 

I recently received my Amope Gel active free sample in the mail through crowdtap and wanted to take the chance to talk about it.

First off I am really enjoying the Crowdtap site!  I find the tasks really easy to do.  It's completely different than taking surveys and it seems like you take the same survey every time!  This is based on brands.   Not only do you get to do surveys but you get to learn about new products.  Also I find it extremely easy to acquire points in exchange for amazon gifts cards.  The points build up quickly.  Once I receive my sample those tasks were extremely easy to do as well. 

Now for the Amope sample.  I was so excited to get this as my first sample through Crowdtap.  I love trying new products.  I received a pair of the Gel Activ insoles for heels.  These are a new product and I think they are a great idea.  They cushion the ball of your foot and make it more comfortable to wear your heels longer.  After trying this product I am definitely going to be checking out what else they have to offer as I need a pair of insoles for my flats. 


Interested in joining Crowdtap?  Check it out here...Crowdtap

It's here!  I Receive the Wave by Spin Master through Bzzagent!  I was so excited to receive my new game in the mail this week.  It was really fun to test and play.  The kids also had a fun time using it.

The Wave - I call it a new age simon game.  It's similar to simon but hands free.  However it does provide more games to play unlike the original simon game.  There are 4 games an a music maker.  One of my favorites was the remember game which is like simon.  You need to remember the pattern.  The other is what I consider to be like whack a mole.  They give you a color and you need to tag only that color as other colors quickly pop up.  The game takes a little getting use to but the more you do the easier it gets.  It keeps core for you too.  It is also small enough to take with you on trips. 

BzzAgent - Once I received the game I needed to go back on BzzAgent and "BZZ" about it.  /but it was so easy.  All I needed to do is review this on Amazon and then review it on BzzAgent.  That's it!  I now have a free now game and it didn't take me any time to do!  I am hoping to get a new campaign soon.  The great thing is in the meantime there isn't anything I need to do.  I simply sit back and wait.

Check it out here... bzzagent

The wave by Spin Master

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My Influenster back 2 school voxbox has arrived!  I am so excited since I never thought I stood a chance at getting one!

So what came in the voxbox?

• A packet of tide pureclean detergent.  It said one load but I got 3 out of it!
• A $3 off coupon
• 2 G2 pens from Pilot
• A coupon for a free tub of Country Crock butter
• A recipe for make it yours cookies
• A coupon for a free Land O' Frost DeliSanackers
• 3 100% compostable pods of coffee (Chock full o' nuts, hills bros. and Kauai)
• $1 off coupons for the above coffees
• Kids and adults packs of Plackers Flossers

Detergent - I always love to get free detergent.  The detergent was great as a detergent with no harsh additives.  It was also made with 100% renewable electricity and the bottle was 100% recyclable.  I love that.  I tend to use these kinds since my husband is sensitive to detergents with dyes.  However I am starting to transition over to the pods though.  Detergent can be messy and a hassle.  If they don't sell them in pods it might be something for them to think about. 

Pilot Pens - Some people might think pens are silly.  But my husband and I write all day with these.  He actually came home and took my black one from me.  We both love writing with gel pens.  The great thing about these is they don't smear.  They seem to dry really fast.  And they are so smooth to write with.  I wisha coupon came for these as I want to get more!

Coupons - I love the coupons!  The delisnackers were great for the kids and I always need butter.  My family has used country crock for years.  I am trying to switch over to butter since they say it is actually better than margeaine.  However butter doesn't spread as well as my country crock.  I will always love country crock even if it may not be the healthiest choice!

Coffee - My Keurig just broke recently.  However my mom still has one so I was able to use hers.  It was good and the pods are 100% biodegradable which is great to see they started doing.  If I do get another Keurig I will make sure I but the biodegradable pods to buy.  Makes me feel like I am helping the environment.

Plackers Flossers - These were fun.  You could never have too many flossers.  I already use flossers.  My husband enjoys flossers where I prefer the old standard floss.  I like flossers for on the go.  When your out and about and have something stuck in your teeth.  The kids flossers were great though.  I didn't even know they made those.  The kids enjoyed them so that is definitely something I will be picking up from now on.  I wish they had those when I was a kid!

All in all I really enjoyed everything that came in the box.  It was fun getting a box in the mail not knowing what you were going to receive.  There were a lot of items.  Once you get the box you need to go back on Influenster and review the products.  They have tasks for each brand.  If you do all the tasks you unlock the that badge  They have a campaign for a Maybelline box which I am hoping I get as I love my beauty products.  Check out Influenster.  So far this is turning out to be a fun and easy site to use.

Check it out here... Influenster

Crowdtap

5 stars

What is it?  Crowdtap is a site that rewards you with points for viewing products.  You earn different scales of points depending on you task.  For every 1000 point you get a $5 amazon reward coupon.  Seem like a lot of points but they ass up fast.

How does it work?  They have brands and topics you can select from.  Each brand or topic has tasks.  They may ask you to watch a commercial and comment on it.  Or it may be a sort survey.  They may also ask you to submit a picture of something that pertains to that brand/topic.  You can do as few or as many as you like.

My experience?  I found this site really easy to use.   I have been doing it for 3 weeks now and I have accumulated $25 so far.  It's not something to quit my day job over but it's enough to give me some extra play cash to use.  I use it in conjunction with Amz Review Trader.   It takes a little more time to do but to me the reward is worth it in the end. 

Check it out here...Crowdtap

AMZ Review Trader

4 Stars

What is it?  AMZ Review Trader is a site where you can purchase products at a great discount or even free to review. 

How does it work?  First of all you need an Amazon account which is free to be able to be selected.  You simply pick the products you want to review and if the seller approves you they send you a discount code and you then purchase that item from Amazon. 

My experience?  It is not as easy to get approved for these items as I thought.  I have been trying for over a week now and only got approved for 2 items.  However the more items you review the more likely you are to get picked.  Also if you don't have amazon prime you will have to pay for shipping on some items.   Amazon offers their prime service as a 30 day trial.  So what I did was waited to get picked for an item and then signed up for prime.  I am going to give it 30 days to see if this site is worth it. 

Tips:  If you do the Crowdtap site they reward you with amazon gift cards.  So I use that reward to benefit this reward. 

Check it out here...AMZ Review Trader

Influenster

5 Stars

What is it?  Influenster is a site that sends you free products to review.  I consider it a cross between Pinterest and a review site.  You can create lists of product you use and review them.  They have tasks for you to do so you can win products.

How does it work?  You are scored on your level of social media impact.  You connect all your accounts (Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, etc) and they give you a score.  The higher you score the more likely you will get products to review.  They have what they call campaigns.  Campaigns are different boxes you can receive.  Each campaign has tasks to do.  Once you do those tasks you qualify for that box.  Once you receive your box you are expected to go back on Influenster and review the products.  They have tasks for each brand.  Once these are completed you receive a badge.  The more badges and social media score the better your chances of getting another box.

My experience?  My sister in law received the summer voxbox and about a week later I received the back 2 school voxbox.  So it does  work.  I am in the process of reviewing all the products and doing the challenges to get my badges.  So far this is a great site that works.  We will see if I get another box soon!

Check it out here...Influenster

My B2Svoxbox

BzzAgent

5 stars

If you are looking for a site that gives you completely free items to be review and is easy to use you found it!  I am really excited about this site.  I was very skeptical as who would send me free items to be reviewed.  They must be junk right?  Wrong! 

How it works?  You simply sign up take a handful of personal surverys and that's it you have applied to be a BzzAgent.  They start by sending you a magnet.  Once you get the magnet You need review the item.  Post on facebook, post on the sellers site, or simply just talk about it.  After that they start shipping you items which you will receive and do the same thing.  Review it!

What do you get?  My sister in law received a $200 Bluetooth toothbrush...no joke.  Before I even received a magnet I received a notice they were sending me a new electronic game called the wave.  Completely free and no I didn't have to pay shipping.  Here is the thing you might not always get something shiny and fancy.  You might get coupons, food items, or something as small like a razor and cream.  But hey it's free.! Also the items you receive are sporadic.  It might be a while in between items. 

Check it out here.... BzzAgent

1st Campaign

Birchbox

4 stars

I loved it so much I purchased 2 more boxes that same month.  This is another beauty subscription which you can purchase month to month or yearly.  They gave me a free full size eyeliner for signing up.  It cost $10 per month.  You receive 5 samples in a cute box.  The box is nice but for me useless.  I had to recently update this post as they changed their policy.  They no longer allow you to get points for reviewing items.  That was a huge plus for me. 

A perk to Birchbox that is different from other boxes is they allow you to pick one of the products each month.  They will give you 3 choices and you can either be surprised or pick one.  I like that I can have the choice. 

Their products are nice and it only costs $10 per month.  So if you are looking for a less expensive box to pick from this is a great choice.

Pros:

• Points can be used as money back.
• Shipped and received early in the month
• Allow you to pick a product.
• Great product choices personalized for you.

Cons:

• The box is pointless to me.  Maybe my kids can use it. 
• Removed the points system

Check it out here....BIRCHBOX

August box

September box

IPSY

4 stars

Ipsy is a beauty subscription that sends you 5 samples to try each month.  The price is only $10 each month.  You can pay month to month or yearly.  What I like about this is it comes in a cute bag that you can reuse.  The cons are it can come the 2nd, 3rd or 4th week of the month. 

I actually had every intention of cancelling this subscription.  My first bag was lost in the mail.  However when I notified them they sent me a replacement right away.  So as far as customer service they addressed my problem right away and said if the other bag was to show up I could keep it too.  Fingers crossed!!! 

What changed my mind?  I seriously thought the bag was going to be cheap.  I figured the zipper would be plastic and the bag material cheap.  But when I got it I was surprised.  It's a nice little bag!  The zipper was metal and the bag feels sturdy.  Also you eceive points for products reviewed.  You can use the point to purchase select items.

Pros:

• The products you receive are nice.
• The bag is adorable and reusable.
• Great customer service.
• The outer packaging is a shiny foil bag which I found pretty. 
• You can earn points for rating the products you receive.

Cons:

• You never know when it's coming.  You might not get it until the end of the month.
• The points are only redeemable certain products.

Click here to check out the site... IPSY

Ibotta

5 Stars

This one is a favorite of mine!  I have been using this for awhile now and I really enjoy it and it is so easy to use.  They are constantly updating and improving their app making it better each time. 

Ibotta is a coupon app.  They list coupons for different items and update them every week.  They have coupons for name brand items which you can earn more cash back for but they also have any brand items as well.  For example for just buying a gallon of milk (any brand) you get .25 back.  That doesn't seem like a lot but it adds up. 

How does it work?  All you need to do is upload the app to your phone.  Click on the coupons you want to unlock.  Then go shopping and purchase those items.  When you get home you can either take a picture of your receipt or you can upload your stores rewards card.  For example I uploaded my Giant Eagle advantage card to my profile.  So all I do is pick out the coupons and go shopping.  Within 48 hours after I purchase my items I get a notification of how much money I earned back.

How do you get your money?  Once you hit a certain limit ($20) you can cash it in for a gift card or even transfer it to a paypal account.

Pros:

• Allows you to upload your advantage card for ease of use.
• They are constantly updating the site.
• The app is well written and easy to use.
• You can get cash back just by shopping at certain stores.
• They offer any brand items.
• They reset the coupons and add more every week.

Cons:

• I would like to see more non food item coupons.
• I would also like to see a way of removing the coupons I don't want.

Check out the site here... Ibotta 

Hello, my name is Andrea.  You probably wondering who I am and what this blog is about. 

What is this blog about you ask?  Thanks to my sister in-law (someone has to be blamed) I started using beauty box sites and review sites that send you free items.  I wanted a way to get the word out there of which ones I tried, which ones are great, which ones I can live without, and the items I have received.  At first I was very skeptical of the free sites as nothing is free.  But slowly I am starting to be shipped items and I can't believe my eyes and I need to share them with someone! 

Who am I?  I am just your average girl who loves the outdoors, target shooting, and beauty products.  Yeah I know those don't sound like they go together.  My whole life I have struggled with being a tom boy and a girly girl all wrapped into one.  I grew up with boys as friends, I work for a trucking company, and I have no problem being tough and getting dirty.  But I also love to get dressed up and play with makeup and hair at the end of the day.  I am married with 2 step daughters and a yorkie.  So my house stays pretty busy.  So I enjoy sneaking away to the computer for some me time.  And if I am making money and getting free things on the side it's a bonus!

What with the blog name?  I created a food blog awhile back called Diary of an Italian Baker.  That name took me awhile to come up with.  The name was based of my great grandfather who was a pastry chef in Italy  He came over with my great grandmother to the USA when my grandmother was very young.  He opened up a bake shop here.  As a lot of my recipes were passed down from my grandmother I thought of him when I created that name.  So when I decided to create another blog I was feeling overwhelmed with trying to come up with yet another name no one else already had. So as I sit here putting in names and being rejected I looked down at my little yorkie sitting on my lap and I asked her who am I.  And I said right now I am just a girl talking to a dog trying to write a blog.  I laughed figured it was taken and to my surprise it wasn't.  BINGO I had my blog name.  It was perfect.  In the early hours of the morning or late hours of the evening when my kids and husband are asleep Harlee (my yorkie) and I sneak off to the computer and sit there trying to see what other products we can snag up for free.

So who is Harlee?  She would like to have an introduction as well.  Harlee is a 3 year old 4 lb yorkshire terrier. She is feisty and sweet all wrapped into one.  She can be just as much a brat as she is sweet.  Just like me!  She's a mama's girl.  She loves my lap and being by my side.  She is wonderful listener and keeps all my secrets!

This is Harlee wanting me to get off the computer and play!