BIC 4-Color Instant Win Contest and Review

@Smiley360  #BIC4ColorPen 

I loved, loved, loved the BIC 4 color pen back when I was in school school and remember everybody had that familiar blue and white pen with the plastic ball on top in their school bag if they were really cool.  BIC has revised the BIC 4 color pen and now it is even better.  I was excited to receive not one but two of them through my relationship with Smiley360.  I was thrilled to share the fun with my teenage niece...I can't wait for her to share the joy of creating little projects with all the fun colors just like I have been doing! I love that the new version has a loop at the top so you can carry it on a cool handmade or store bought lanyard or maybe even a key chain.

I love to use my BIC 4 color pen to write my holiday cards and even to send my thank you notes for all the great gifts I received. Now I know it is 2012 but thank you notes are always in vogue and appreciated so use your BIC 4 color pen and let your friends and family know that you have some style and flair.

My little one loves to use the BIC 4 color pen to make fun art and also uses it for crafts! I like to stash it in my purse for those times you need something to keep the kiddos occupied..what a great opportunity for them to create something one if a kind and much healthier than more time on those iPhone games.

Don't forget to like BIC Pen Pals on Facebook and enter the BIC Write Your Holiday Wish Instant Win for a chance to win tons of great holiday prizes. There is no purchase necessary.  It is US only.  Hurry fast because the contest ends 12/28/12.  I love to follow my fave brands like BIC because you know they are always adding great promotions and information for their fave fans!

Goody QuikStyle Paddle Brush Review

@influenster  @GoodyHair  #QuikStyle

I recently received this new brush from Goody through my relationship with Influenster.  I love Goody products but I hadn't seen this one yet.  I noticed in the Influenster materials and on the Goody website that there is also a half round Styler as well.  I noticed those blue microfibers right away.  They are  in between each of the hard brush bristles.  The microfiber bristles are there to soak up the excess (up to 30%!!) water in your hair and can help to dry it faster. There are also vents on each side of the bursh to maximize the air flow. The front of the package actually points out that it helps reduce water by 30% to dry faster.  That is great news when you have really thick and frizzy curly hair like I do!

I'm always looking for faster ways to get my hair to dry.  I have tried lots of good brushes but nothing really made a difference.  I really did need this kind of good hairbrush! I used it a few times already with pretty good results.  After washing my hair I towel dried it once, then put the Goody QuikSTYLE to the test. It took a good amount of excess water from the hair.  There definitely was less water dripping from my hair and I noticed my bathrobe was not getting damp around the neck and upper back.  The Goody QuikSTYLE brush also untangled my hair very well.  I liked that QuikSTYLE is also pretty darn light so your arm doesn't get tired either.  I used the brush along with my blow dryer and it helped move the process along a lot faster than usual too. Don't forget to run a comb through the bristles every few times to clean it properly so it can continue to work optimally for you.  I would recommend it to you and I am happy Influenster introduced it to me. It retails for $11.99.

Disclaimer:  I received product complimentary for testing purposes through Influenster.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Quaker REAL MEDLEYS Summer Berry Oatmeal Review

@influenster #voxbox @Quaker #RealMedleys

Once again, Influenster has found me some new things to get excited about.  I received a new Quaker oatmeal the other day as part of my Holiday 2012 VoxBox. I was pretty surprised by the taste and texture of this new REAL MEDLEYS by Quaker. It’s radically different from most of the other ready-made oatmeal I tried before. The Summer Berry flavor included multi-grains, strawberries, raspberries, & blueberries. Quaker Real Medley’s come in four different flavors:  Apple Walnut, Summer Berry, Peach Almond and Cherry Pistachio.  They all sound pretty good to me, especially after being kind of impressed with the Summer Berry. All of the oatmeal varieties range from 250 -290 calories.  The ingredients are pretty simple and I like that they start with the oats and multi-grains. 

To cook you just add water and microwave for 45 seconds. I have to say though, I always add skim milk to my oatmeal instead of water. I think it adds more nutrition and bang for your buck. You could always sub soy milk or almond milk if you prefer too. Either way, you can’t get much easier than that! Quaker REAL MEDLEYS are tasty, satisfying and convenient.  I definitely think these are a great option for busy mornings. I love that you could eat them on the way to work if you commute by public transportation too. You can buy them for about $1.79 each which is pretty reasonable considering how convenient they are! I know they do cost more than a big container of oatmeal but you have to take into consideration the additional ingredients and pure convenience. Give them a try and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer:  I received product complimentary for testing purposes through Influenster.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Olay Total Effects Tone Correcting CC Cream #OlayCC

@Voguemagazine @OlayUS #OlayCC
I have been using Olay products for years now.  I know I can count on them for everything from cleansing to moisturizing and even a bit of color too.  My mom got me started when I was a teen and I credit my great skin to so many of the beauty innovations from Olay.

I just heard through the Vogue Influencer Network about the latest innovation from Olay.  It is Olay Total Effects Tone Correcting CC Cream.  It  treats seven signs of aging while providing instant color correction.  I love the combination of beauty and protection with a hint of color! The tinted formula comes in three shades and includes UV protection. Olay's CC Cream includes ingredients that treat skin over time delivering long-term benefits.   I didn't receive any samples on this product though I would have loved to get one.  I will just have to look for it at Rite Aid this week!