For the love of Soapbox

First and foremost, I would like to disclose that I received these products for testing and sampling purposes free from influenster via their soapbox voxbox.  But all of the feelings and comments are wholly my own!

When I initially got the soapbox vox box I wasn't sure if I had really heard ohe company before, but then I kept thinking I knew I had seen them in a store before but could not quite put my finger on it.  So I went to the website and was like dang, I have seen it before, they sell it in target! Which is literally my favorite store!
So here's the skinny on soapbox soaps and why you support the company:
They don't just make shampoo, which I received, but they also make hand soaps, anti bacs, body soaps, and washes!  They are a small company, with big goals, and even bigger hearts.  For every soap box purchase, they will donate one bar of soap, fresh water, or vitamin supplements to a child in need.  Thats enough incentive for me, its great to see a company that legitimately wants to give back and help those in need!  Not to mention their shampoo was paraben and sulfate free!!  No damaging chemicals to the hair!

So I have been using this shampoo for about a month now and here's my thoughts.  First, the shampoo does not have a harsh smell, which is always a good thing, and also I have a sensitive scalp and some shampoos can at times literally burn my scalp and this did not do that.  It left my hair feeling light and refreshed, and not heavy, being bogged down with product like some other shampoos.  Overall I give it a B+.  I would give it an A, but I just personally am not a huge fan of coconuts.  I would definitely buy this product again, but in a different scent since they have a few options available.

An array of their products can be found at their site:  https://www.soapboxsoaps.com/

If there is not a target near you that carries the products, you are able to order online, and any orders 35 dollars or more have free shipping!

Secret Outlast

Time for another product review!!!


I work out on the daily, so it is hard to find a deodorant that I think is up to snuff, and boy let me tell you this Secret Outlast Gel has won me over.

Yes, I recieved the product free for sampling purposes, but I have stocked up to make sure I have plenty now after using it for over a month religiously!

My instagram account (@84blackballoons) is filled with sweat selfies because I am documenting my weight loss journey online, and let me tell you, these sweat selfies were not so pleasant before using secret outlast, I was downright stinky.  This deodorant is strong, and last long over the time you would expect it would, and has a fresh scent that is not too overpowering.

The only warning I have is if your bathroom gets cold like mine does when you go to slather some on in the morning you may get an unexpected jolt from the coldness of the gel, but you get used to it, and it isn't sticky and gross which is awesome.

So go ahead, show your old powder stick who's boss, and make the switch!

Arla Dofino

I am a part of Bzzagent, if you are not familiar with the site, get on it! On this site you are able to sample a variety of products and give honest feedback.  With that said, the bzzcampaign I am currently involved in is for Arla Dofino cheese.  I was apprehensive about this campaign at firt because I am not a huge cheese fan because I am lactose intolerant, and can only tolerate dairy products in minute doses, but my husband and son love cheese, so I was like what the heck, let me get in on it.

So in my area in Virginia, this product was not too easy to find.  I went to three grocery stores before I found it at my local Kroger.  Incidentally, they only carried one kind of the arla dofino brand, and that was the chipotle gouda, so thankfully everyone in my house likes spicy stuff.

The next afternoon, I told my husband I had some new cheese and let's be fancy pants and sample it! LOL.  So I cut up the cheese and little blocks, got some drinks and we plopped down for a sampling!

Umm.. oooo mmmmm ggggg.

This cheese was so creamy and rich and flavorful it was unbelievable.  Literally my husband's response was, we are not buying store cheese anymore, get this from now on hahaha. And by store cheese he means the store off brand.

So I ended up going and buying more and so far we have made scrambled eggs with this cheese, eaten it as a light snack and used it for crackers, and grated it for a chicken Parmesan type dish.  Kudos to Arla Dofino, you have won me over!!

Quick recipe top for the scrambled eggs, mix the grated arla dofino chipotle gouda with garlic powder and chipotle seasoning for an extra kick!!

I received this product for free as part of a sampling from Arla Dofino and Bzzagent.  I was not paid for this review.  I stand by my word, and trust me, if it was nasty, I would have told you all!!

Kleenex Brand Review

Hey guys! I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!  Anyhoo, I have another quick review.  Via crowdtap and Kleenex brand, I received a sample of Kleenex tissues.  This is my second tissue sample within a thirty day period so I didn't know if I would be wowed initially, but surprisingly I was pleased. Kleenex is truly a superior brand and made me remember why I tend to by this over any other name brand tissue in the first place. And I will let you know why in just a sec!  Here first, is what i received in the mail.

Now, the funny part is when I got this in the mail I was starting to feel a little sick, and within two days I had a full blown sinus infection.  So I went through these tissues pretty quick.  Usually by the end of a box of brand A as we will refer to them, my nose goes through two stages: stage one the greasy residue feeling from the lotion used in those tissues, then my nose becomes raw and dried out by the end on the skin right underneath my nose! Those with nasal issues surely know what I am referring to!
I was just thoroughly impressed, this box lasted longer than they usually last me when I am sick, and my nose was still in decent condition after the box was over, no raw nose syndrome!   This experience has truly made me a Kleenex brand believer and I will never again flip flop between this and Brand A just because Brand A may be on sale!

I love sugar, but if I use a sugar substitute, I will be using...

So I was chosen for a sample and share from sweet n low on crowdtap. This is what I got in the mail.

So there was a card with instructions on the sample and share.. samples to pass out (which I did, with mixed reviews) and a full size box of sweet n low, oh and recipe cards with drink ideas.  I honestly have not tried sweet n low in years. If I use a sugar substitute I generally use truvia since it comes from the stevia plant and seems to be more natural and not man made like many other artificial sweeteners.  I tried splenda when that came out on the market but that was literally the worst experience of my life, it unleashed hell on earth on my stomach. Never again.  Well anyhoo, so I planned to try sweet n low in my tea today, and it was ok at first, and now I am literally sitting here on my laptop with a tummy ache and a half full glass of tea.  Yeah, my tummy is not liking it.  So I will not be trying these recipes that were provided just for the simple fact my stomach hates this.  Sorry sweet n low, good try, but my sensitive stomach says next please.  Thanks for the sample though, I appreciate freebies in this case so I know if I can handle it or not.  BTW blogger fam, I have a lot of stomach issues that prevents me from eating certain things, so I am not being over dramatic, I just have a severely sensitive tummy.

Influenster TLC VoxBox

Hey guys! So today will be one of my review days!  If you haven't heard of influenster, then you need to get on it.  This is a website that offers you the opportunity to review products, earn some 'street cred' per say on the website, do some surveys and then you may qualify for options to test different products and scream from the rooftops whether you love or hate them!  And guess what, it is absolutely free. 
So I have only been on influenster for a little while and to my surprise I was selected for the TLC Vox Box. This Vo Box was aimed towards mommies, which of course I am so I was like saweeet!  This box included quite a few items: a bar of ivory soap, a full size avon anew reversalist creme, a puffs to go for the purse, a shell fuel rewards card, a neosporin neo to go which is also full size, and last but certainly not least, a coupon for a breyers gelato.  All of these items were great and I can definitely understand why they are aimed towards us mommies!  This box definitely had me experiencing some new things. its a rare occasion that I go to shell for gas, but now I have been going there to earn rewards.  Also I was able to use pinterest to get some fun ideas for different crafts to do with the ivory soap with my son.  Lastly, the gelato was absolutely fantastic! Although the cashier at the store I went to gave me a hard time about using the coupon.  Insert eyeroll here!!  I also tried the avon, but I really don't have a lot of wrinkles to begin with so I honestly have not seen a true difference.  The puffs and neo are still in my purse because those are definitely mommy essentials. 

I was provided all of these products free by influenster for product testing and review.

Yet another attempt at blogging for me, hopefully this time I will not fail.  A little about me, I am about to be 30 next month, been married since 2009 and had a beautiful baby boy in 2008.  I will probably talk about a lot of random things in this blog, so stay tuned.  I am passionate about many things. Jesus, my family, health and exercise, couponing, and trying new products!

I will write reviews from time to time on new products I receive via many different outlets that I use, so be on the lookout for those.

Also, I am currently on a weight loss journey, so I will be blogging about that as well.  I have currently lost 36 pounds but I am waaay off from my pre pregnancy weight.  I have yet to decide what my goal weight is, haha! Losing any is better than losing none for me!

I'll keep this short and sweet, it's late, but hopefully I will have time to blog more and be consistent this time!

Ciao Bellas!