Product Review: Glade Plugins Scented Oil Customizables

I love being a BzzAgent.  They always have cool campaigns going on, including this one I was able to join for Glade PlugIns Scented Oil Customizables & Wax Melts.  The sent me a coupon for a  free starter kit for the PlugIns and a package of the wax melts, along with a bunch of dollar-off coupons for both items to give out.  Here today I have a review of the Scented Oil Customizables PlugIn product for you.

I've been using Glade plug-in scented oil warmers for a while now-Glade has some of the best scents out there, and the oils usually last at least a month per container so it's a low-cost way to make your home smell nice.  With the Customizables, it comes with a cover that hangs in front of the unit to help it blend in around your furniture so it doesn't look as much like a plug-in fragrance unit as it would normally.  Here's a pic of it at our place:

Glade PlugIns Scented Oil Customizables unit

And a close-up:

Now, for us we don't really have an out-of-the-way place to plug in, or any outlet near furniture so ours is still pretty obvious on the wall-but, at least you can't see the bottles of oil.  Yes, I said bottles as in plural-it holds two of them, and alternates scents-that where the "customizable" comes into play.  The unit I got had Hawaiian Breeze (always a favorite scent) and Vanilla Passion Fruit included.  That was back in February and it's still going strong here at the end of March.  Once the oils run out, you can actually customize the scents however you want, just get two of your favorites-you can use two of the same or two different ones, whichever you like.

The scents are not overpowering, for our place it easily handles our living/dining area.  Glade always has great scents available-fruity, floral, clean, spicy, seasonal-so you're bound to find one you like.  Since it holds two, you can go quite a long time-up to 60 days-without having to change out the oil refills.  I would have liked to see it come in a white or off-white cover as well since that would have matched our decor better, but this still looks fine and is better than just seeing the oil cartridges.

I also got a package of the wax melts to try, but unfortunately haven't been able to try them out yet.  You need a wax melt warmer (which I do have, just haven't gotten around to pulling it out) that holds a candle under the melt bowl to use them.  I'll be trying that out soon.

I do still have several coupons left to give out-$2 off coupons for the Glade PlugIns Scented Oil Customizables starter kits and $1 off of two Glade Wax Melts (does NOT include warmer).  You can contact me and I'll send you one of each (US only), just check out the Contact Me page here on the blog.  The coupons are good thru the end of April.

Do you use scented oil plug-in units?  Have you tried Glade ones before, and if so, what did you think?

Blog changes

So, you've probably noticed I haven't posted much for a while.  Or maybe you haven't.  Anyway, to keep you up to date...

While I still am working on Making it Happen (weight loss and participating in endurance events), I've been spending a lot of time doing a couple of my other favorite things-working on my other blog (The Disney World Files), my still mostly new-ish business (independent travel agent specializing in Disney Destinations), and my all-time favorite extracurricular activity-reading.  The roller coaster of weight loss is still going strong-unfortunately with more ups than I'd like-and while I'm not race-crazy like I was in the beginning, I do have this year's Expedition Everest Challenge and next January's Disney Half Marathon coming up.

Since my personal focus has changed somewhat...and this is my blog ;-)...I'm going to be making some changes to what I'll be posting here.  You'll still see personal updates, race/running/fitness stuff and the occasional product reviews (one coming up tonight after this post!), but now I'm going to be adding posts about books and authors including reviews, upcoming releases and such...maybe even throw in some giveaways for my favorite books while I'm at it.

In the last year an a half, the number of books I've been reading has exploded...I'm actually averaging about 3, sometimes 4 books a week (sometimes even more, sometimes less).  There's just something about getting lost in a story that is extremely appealing.  I read many genres-YA contemporary, YA paranormal, new adult romance, adult contemporary romance, adult paranormal/paranormal romance, sometimes YA sci-fi romance...and I'm one of those gals who loves a happy ending where the girl gets the guy and they live happily ever after (HEA).

So, you'll probably see some of those posts start to go up soon.  I also have a twitter handle specifically for my book activities, @CarraBookLover so feel free to come follow me there-my Goodreads reviews post there (and if you want to friend me on Goodreads or follow my reviews there, click HERE), plus I share links to giveaways I find for books, Amazon gift cards, etc...as well as personal book-related tweets.

Lastly, I have a Facebook page for Making it Happen where I'll share the links to new blog posts here as well as other tidbits and maybe even some giveaways from time to time.  Come on over and "like" the page HERE if you'd like to keep up with me on Facebook.

For now, I need to head off to write up my latest product review...but I'll be seeing you soon with some new stuff (yes, no worries, training updates are coming!).

Popping In and Product Review-FAGE Total Split Cups Yogurt

I know.  Don't say it.  We'll just pretend I was here the whole time posting witty, interesting stuff, okay?  I have some time for a quick product review post and to say howdy, then I'll be back again in about a week and a half, maybe two weeks all right?  I told y'all to poke me if I disappeared ;-)

So, the wonderful people at BzzAgent sent me an invitation to one of their latest campaigns, this one for FAGE Total Split Cups Yogurt.  I had to think about this one before accepting...why the heck did I have to think, you ask?  Well, because it's Greek yogurt.  And the one other time I'd tried Greek yogurt I thought it was disgusting and nasty.  But that was many years ago so I thought I'd give it another try-especially when I would get to choose from so many interesting flavors.  First, some info about the Split Cups...

So, that's a pic of the yogurt cups.  Notice there's a main compartment with a smaller one attached to it?  The main part has the yogurt (plain) and the smaller part contains the flavor you choose.  They've got lots to choose from:

FAGE TOTAL 0%:

-Honey

-Strawberry

-Cherry

-Peach

-Blueberry

-Raspberry

-Strawberry Goji

-Cherry Pomegranate

-Mango Guanabana

-Blueberry Acai

-Apple Cinnamon Raisins

-Orange Cinnamon

-Passion Fruit Clementine

FAGE TOTAL 2% AND CLASSIC:

-Honey

-Strawberry

-Cherry

-Peach

-Blueberry

I received several coupons from BzzAgent for free cups of yogurt, 2 for me and the rest to pass on to friends, so I used my two to get the 2% Honey and 0% Strawberry.  Now, I'm normally a Yoplait Light yogurt person so I'm used to a sweet yogurt.  So I figured I'd start with the Honey in the 2% version since I thought it would be closer to what I was used to.  These are the 5.3oz split cups. 

Unfortunately, I was wrong.  And no, I didn't think it was better.  Sorry all you Greek yogurt lovers out there...I just don't get it.

I did try a tiny portion of the plain yogurt first without the honey just to see what it would taste like...and it was just like the first time I tried Greek yogurt...blech.  So I tried it with the honey, tilting up the smaller compartment to let it all drain on top of the yogurt.  Now, any spoonful that I tried that was totally coated in honey was...well, not necessarily better, but tolerable as long as I wasn't "actively" tasting it--meaning I was just spooning and swallowing the yogurt (I was fine with the thicker texture, it was the taste I couldn't stand).  Any little bit that didn't have honey actually kind of turned my stomach.  I tried really hard to get through the whole cup, but only managed about 2/3 of the cup before I couldn't take anymore.

I really wanted to like this product since I know so many friends who love it (well, Greek yogurt in general, not sure about brands) and I know it's packed with protein-which I have a hard time meeting my daily goals for protein consumption.  There's also not a huge list of ingredients on the package-FAGE Total yogurt actually only has 2 or 3 ingredients--milk & live active cultures or milk, live active cultures and cream.  But I don't like it.  As far as the strawberry flavor, I might be brave and try it tomorrow.  But when the 2% with honey has me making my yucky-face, I don't know if I can make myself try it.

Now, please realize--I am a super-picky eater.  And maybe I've been spoiled by the "sweet stuff" that most major-brand yogurts put out.  But Greek yogurt is just not for me.  I do appreciate BzzAgent giving me the chance to try it though.  And for those of you who keep calling it Fage (rhyming with sage), FYI it's actually pronounced "fa-yeh".  Please don't let my opinion scare you away from trying this product though.

And as for the other two coupons I have left, if you'd like to try FAGE Total Split Cups Yogurt for yourself...the first two people who contact me with your name & mailing address before Saturday 12/14/13 who live in the United States, I'll mail them out first thing in the morning to you as they expire at the end of this year (click here or use the Contact Me tab at the top of this page).  The coupon is good for a FREE 5.3 oz split cup Any Variety FAGE Total Yogurt.  As you can see from the flavors lists I posted above, there's lots to choose from assuming your local supermarket has them all.

So, that's my honest review of FAGE Total Split Cups yogurt.  Have you tried any of the flavors before, and if you have, what did you think?  Let me know in the comments section below!

Product Review-Luster Premium White Teeth Whitening System

So many of you know I'm signed up with BzzAgent.com, a fantastic Word of Mouth social marketing company.  Other companies go to them with their products so people like me can try them out, then tell others what we think.  It's a really cool website and program, so you should check it out when you have a chance.

Luster Premium White-Distinctly White Teeth Whitening System

Recently, I was offered the opportunity to try out a product called Luster Premium White.  It is a teeth whitening system that consists of a mouth wash that's supposed to prep your teeth for whitening and a gel that you apply to the teeth being whitened.  Normally I don't bother with products like these as I've tried a couple and never really seen any big difference.  Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I'll tell you that I'm a tetracycline kid...meaning as a kid I was prescribed tetracycline which stained my permanent teeth way back then (the docs apparently didn't realize this side effect would occur when someone was kept on it past a certain length of time).  I try not to let it bother me, though from time to time that self-conscious feeling creeps in and I try to smile without showing my teeth.  Here's the before pic so you can see why:

And here's the after pic:

Um, if you think you're not seeing a difference, well some of that is due to the photos (sorry, I'm not real good at taking selfies).  But there is a bit of change-in the first pic, the color is a bit more spotty while the second one it's more uniform.  But also, you can barely see in the bottom teeth in the first pic there's some darker coloring between the teeth (especially closer to the gums)...which seems to now be gone.  This is from the tea and soda staining I'm pretty sure.  Not that I'm going to give up drinking tea or the occasional soda so I know it will come back, but still-it did remove something.

I really wasn't setting my expectations too high considering tetracycline staining happens while a child's teeth are developing and not as a result of things you eat, drink, etc.  But I did see some changes...though I don't believe for me it would be worth the time, effort or cost normally.  If you're interested in purchasing the product, Amazon does have it available at this link: Distinctly White Dual Action Whitening System for $12.99 plus shipping ($4.99, it's thru one of their sellers).  You may also be able to find it at one of your local stores.  I do have 5 sets of coupons that I can send out to the first five people to request them; the coupon sets include 4 coupons, 1 for the system I tried and 3 for their other products...you can use the Contact Me page to see where to send your request.  I was also sent 5 packets of their NOW! Instant Whitening Toothpaste, but I didn't get around to trying it unfortunately...but that means that I can send them out to those who contact me for the coupons :-)

Likes: Fairly simple to use-you rinse with the mouth wash for 10 seconds, then use the gel brush to "paint" the gel onto your teeth.  It stays on for 10 minutes, then you're done.  I always rinsed well afterward.  Here's pics of the mouth wash and gel brush:

Dislikes: One of the things the instructions tell you is not to get the gel on your tongue, lips or gums.  Unfortunately, it's kind of hard for it not to get on your gums with your bottom teeth...and when it comes in contact, it's kind of a faint stinging sensation.  For those who've ever had their hair permed, especially years ago-you know how it felt when the solution got on your forehead by accident or was left on just a little too long?  That's kind of the feeling.  I also didn't care for having to keep my mouth basically open for the ten minutes since if I tried to close it, my lips would inevitably touch my teeth.

Overall, for me I most likely wouldn't consider using this in the future...but again, my situation is a bit different since the majority of my teeth discoloration is from medicine that stained my teeth as a child while my permanent teeth were still developing--those of you who like those tasty coffee, tea and soda beverages or who are smokers would probably have better luck and see more of a difference (presumably).

So there you have it...and let me say, I was really debating on whether I would post my experience or not.  Not because of the product itself, but I never thought I'd be brave enough to put pictures of my teeth on here.  It's kinda weird, ya know?  I feel very self conscious about certain aspects of my appearance so here I am, being brave!  So for a better reason to smile, I'll direct you instead to my other blog, The Disney World Files, where I've got my October Disney Prize Pack Giveaway going on.  I'd smile really big if I won a Disney giveaway, wouldn't you?

Have you ever tried any teeth whitening products?  If so, how did they work for you?

Keeping busy and other ramblings plus a giveaway on my FB page

Let me tell you...keeping up with a website, 2 blogs (yes, I know I've been on my Disney one a lot more than this one, apologies and that'll be changing soon), multiple Facebook pages, Twitter...plus trainings for my TA business (travel agent)...in addition to regular life stuff like my regular Mon-Fri job...I get sleepy just thinking about all that.  There's a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on for all the web and social media stuff-not just the tech things, but learning how to do the tech things too.  It can make your brain spin.  But I'm learning a lot for sure ;-)

The weight loss is going slow.  Like turtle through quicksand slow.  The last several weeks it's been down 0.2, down 0.2, down 0.2.  At this rate I might meet my goal by the time I retire.  I'm hoping as I add back in my workouts as my marathon training starts to pick up that it'll kick start something.  See, that huge 4.2 lb loss at the beginning was just a tease--I must have freaked my body out or something.  I'm thinking I might add hill training at a local park once a week to help change things up.  But at least the trend is still downward...much better than the alternative.

Before I forget ('cuz ya know, if I don't write things down they just totally fly out of my mind), my TA Facebook page is co-sponsoring a $100 Disney Gift Card giveaway with a bunch of other Disney-themed pages, so if you're interested (of course you are, who doesn't love free Disney money???), head over my Facebook page and check out the giveaway tab...liking my page will get you 2 entries to the giveaway--just make sure after liking my page that you log your entry on the Rafflecopter form on the giveaway tab.

And to celebrate my one-year anniversary as a TA, I'll be doing a separate giveaway on my other blog, The Disney World Files starting next week...it'll be a good one with several fun items going to the winner, so keep an eye out for it-I'll post it here once the giveaway is live.

That's it for now...be back in a couple days, I promise :-)