Friday, May 10, 2013

Sugar 'n Spice VoxBox Review



 Sugar 'n Spice VoxBox  Review

Hello again Sugar Critters, this may turn out to be a fairly long post. I was fortunate enough to receive the Sugar 'n Spice VoxBox compliments of influenster.com. If you aren't familiar with who they are you should defiantly go check check out my original post about influenster VoxBox. I'll do a brief break down of each item, and give you their social media links to help gain more information about each. 

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture:
  • Item size 6.5 oz can, Price value of $7.99. 
  • @VaselineBrand #SprayandGo
I was impressed with this product. It was very easy to apply, and absorbed quickly. It left no residue to ruin my favorite blouses or make my skin slick. It had a pleasant smell, and left my skin soft and well moisturized.

Rating A+
Nectresse
  • Item size 5.9 oz, 140 servings, serving size 1/4 tsp, zero calories per serving, 1g of sugar per serving.
  • Price value of $6.99
  • One recipe booklet
  • #NECTRESSE
I enjoyed this sweetner. It's made by Splenda and is made from Monk fruit. I enjoyed using this product implace of sugar in my baking. I have posted one of my favorite recipes meringue-cookies-with-nectresse.  

Rating A+

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes:
  •  Item size 20-count Box, Price value of $5.99
  • Five Coupons to save $2.00 off a Dickinson's Product
  • #DickinsonsWitchHazel
I wanted to be fair with this review. I saw so many positive reviews that I almost feel bad for admitting I am very displeased with it. I gave the towelettes several tries, in different situations. I used them before bed, after workouts, any time my face really needed refreshing. I did not however over use the product. I did experience an over abundance of oil production on my face. My skin is very picky, and this product is just not for me. I have never been prone to blemishes, but this product caused such an over production of oil that I had the worst break out of my life. I will not be purchasing it again. I am happy that I seem to be a very rare case in this situation. If you have normal, to dry skin perhaps this product could work well for you. I would cation anyone who has tricky skin issues to avoid it. 

Rating F

Colgate Optic White Regimen:
  • Toothpaste, item size 4 oz, Price value of $2.99
  • Mouthwash, item size 8 oz, Price value of $2.99
  • Toothbrush, quantity 1, Price value of $2.99
  • @OpticWhite #BrillantSmile
I was skeptical at first after reading that using these items together would give me a whiter smile in just five days. It did in fact take much longer. I am pleased to say that this regimen has given me a brighter, whiter, healthier looking smile in three weeks. I prefer the toothbrush over my electric spin brush hands down. It leaves my teeth with a dentist clean feeling. I'll continue to purchase this trio, and enjoy the bright smile it gives me. 
Rating A+

belVita Breakfast Biscuits:
  • Item size for trial, one package of four biscuits
  • Full size item equal to five packages of four biscuits
  • Price value of full size item $3.69
  • @belVita #BreakfastBiscuit
I love this biscuits, they make a great on the go breakfast. I exercise every morning, and it's important to eat before working out to ensure your body doesn't make a meal of your important lean muscle. These biscuits ensure that on those mornings I'm in a rush I still get that important meal in. They left me feeling full, and satisfied. I've purchased more since receiving my trial package, and will continue to do so.
Rating A+


As you can see this was a fantastic VoxBox. I was very pleased over all with the products I received, and look forward to more chances to review for Influenster. You ladies keep chasing those great deals, and I'll keep sharing my finds. 





Colgate Optic White Review

Colgate Optic White Review

Hello again, today I have a review on Colgate Optic White products that I received compliments of influenster.com. I'm going to try and make this a brief review due to the amount of posts I've made on behalf of my Influenster reviews this week.

Items received:

  • COW Toothpaste 4 oz, Price value of $2.99
  • COW Mouthwash 8 oz, Price value of $2.99
  • COW 360 Toothbrush, quantity 1, Price value of $2.99
All three items are suggested for combined use. It promises whiter teeth in as little as five days. I won't say my teeth were very noticeable whiter in that time frame. I've used this product for three weeks now, and there is a very noticeable change. I've had dental issues, and I'm an ex smoker. These things combined left me with a couple of stubborn stains that my normal dental routine hadn't corrected as of yet. With the Colgate Optic White Trio I'm happy to say I'm stain free. My favorite of the trio was the 360 toothbrush. I normally use an electric spin brush. I found the COW brush to do a much better job. It left my teeth feeling dentist clean. My biggest dislike was the mouthwash. Not because it didn't work well, but because of the initial discomfort. After multiple uses the unpleasant sensation it caused did subside however.I would give this an over all rating of an A+. I'll continue to use these products, and enjoy the brighter smile they give me.

Learn more about this product here or read reviews from other influensters here

Until the next sweet deal, I'll leave you to chase them on your own.


Meringue Cookies with Nectresse


NECTRESSE Recipe: Meringue Cookies

Hello Sugar Critters, I wanted to get extra sweet with you today and share my Nectresse sweetner recipe. Aren't my meringue cookies just adorable? Okay I'll stop fishing for compliments and get down to business. I received this product compliments of influenster.com. You can learn more about it at nectresse.com/faq , or see what other influensters had to say here.

What you'll need:
  • 3/4 cup Nectresse
  • 3 large Egg whites
  • 1/4 tsp Cream of tartar 
  • Measuring cup
  • Vanilla Extract or Flavored extracts (optional)
  • Whisk or Electric beater
  • Large bowl
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper or Aluminum foil
  • Timer
  • Air tight storage containers

Cooking Instructions:
  • Preheat oven to 200 degrees F
  • Bake for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours

Meringue Cookies are made with three ingredients: beaten egg whites, cream of tartar and sugar. To ensure the egg whites reach maximum volume, have your mixing bowl and wire whisk clean and free of grease. It is easier to separate your eggs while they are cold. Once separated, cover the egg whites and let them come to room temperature before using (about 30 minutes). Cover and refrigerate the egg yolks for another use. Superfine sugar makes the best meringues as it dissolves quickly and easily into the beaten egg whites. This makes nectresse a perfect substitute in my opinion. You'll need 3/4 cups of nectresse or 3 tablespoons equivalent to 18 packets.


There are a few things to keep in mind when making meringue cookies. The standard ratio when making hard meringues is 1/4 cup of  sugar for every egg white. This amount of sugar is needed to give the meringue its crispness. Adding the sugar gradually to the egg whites ensures that the sugar completely dissolves and does not produce a gritty meringue. Cream of tartar is used in the whipping of egg whites to stabilize them and allows them to reach maximum volume. Also, it is a good idea to use parchment paper or aluminum foil to line your baking sheets, not wax paper, as the meringue will sometimes stick to wax paper.

Baking the meringues in a slow oven allows for gradual evaporation of the moisture from the meringues.  If the oven temperature is too high, the outside of the meringue will dry and set too quickly. You will also notice that the outside of the meringue separates from the inside. Another indicator that your oven is too high is when the meringue starts to brown which causes the sugar to caramelize. If this happens, lower the temperature about 25 degrees F. If you decide to make meringues on a rainy or humid day, you will probably have to bake the meringues longer (could be up to 30 minutes more) than on a dry day. This is much like the process of making Divinity. It's not as easy during these conditions, but not impossible. Lastly, to prevent cracking of the meringues, do not open the oven door during the first half of the baking time.

Preheat oven to 200 degrees F  and place the rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You can form the cookies with a pastry bag fitted with a star tip, or  just use two spoons to make the cookies.


In the bowl , beat the egg whites on low-medium speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat the whites until they hold soft peaks. Add the sugar, a little at a time, and continue to beat, on medium-high speed, until the meringue holds very stiff peaks. Beat in the vanilla extract.

Note: The meringue is done when it holds stiff peaks and when you rub a little between your thumb and index finger it does not feel gritty. If it feels gritty the sugar has not fully dissolved so keep beating until it feels smooth between your fingers.

Transfer the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a tip. Pipe meringue rounds in rows on the prepared baking sheet. Or spoon mounds of meringue, using two spoons, onto the prepared sheets.

Bake the meringues for approximately 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours, rotating the baking sheet from front to back (about half way through) to ensure even baking. The meringues are done when they are pale in color and fairly crisp. (The meringues will release easily from the parchment paper.) Turn off the oven, open the door a crack, and leave the meringues in the oven to finish drying several hours or overnight. The meringues can be covered and stored at room temperature for several days.

Doubled Meringues
Cherry extract, and red coloring

Plain white meringue with caramel extract.

Example of cooking at proper heat level.

Example of cooking while heat is too high.
My choice of optional items.