January Starbox Review

As anyone who is a regular follower of my blog knows, I LOVE Starbox. For the past 3 months(Oct, Nov, Dec) I have been reviewing Starbox, and every month I am amazed by the quality and value of the items.

Of course January is not exception. This box was incredible.

This box was packed full of items. Three Full-Size Makeup items, One professional Makeup Brush and a Surprise which was a super cute bracelet.


Blush in Cutie Peach:

I love this blush. It is such a beautiful color. Pinky-Peach with a hint is shimmer. It really looks naturally beautiful and makes your face glow. I goes on smooth and easy and feels light as air. It never looks or feels cakey or overdone.

This is one of the best blushes I have ever tried.



Diamondline Eye Pencil in Fancy:

Such a bright deep color. Sometimes with colors like this, they go on somewhat translucent because they are too sheer, but this goes on vibrant and bold.

It glides on with the greatest of ease and comfort. It lasts all day without even the slightest flaw. It really makes your eyes POP!. The color is so unique.
This can be worn as a liner obviously, but also as a shadow, and works wonderfully as either.

I love this liner. The consistency and the color. I would normally not seek out a color like this for myself, but I am super glad that Starbox is smarter than I am in this department and always sends me hidden treasures.

Eye Pencil In Brown:

This is just a classic brown eye liner, only better quality than most. I have tons of eye pencils(no browns until now actually though), and my Starlooks ones are my favorites. They are just so silky smooth. They stay in place all day, never feel dry, sticky, cakey, or greasy.

I love this color too. As I mentioned, I did not own any brown liners prior to this, and I like they was it looks. I tend to go for black or colored liners, but this looked really good, more natural.

It really goes well with the "Fancy" Diamondline pencil.

Small Done Fluff Brush:

This brush is so nice. The bristles are so soft and gentle, but the brush it firm enough to keep its shape and not bend and crush when used.

It really blends well(liner pencils and such) and it also is wonderful for applying shadow. It holds the shadow very well so you don't end up with dust all over and it applies it seamlessly for a super sleek finish.

This also seems like it would be great for applying/blending concealer and things like that.

Wonderful quality brush, probably the best one I own.

Surprise- Beautiful Green Wrap Bracelet:

This bracelet is so fun and stylish. And not only can you use it as a bracelet, but you can also use it in your hair(as you will see later on). It was such a great addition to an already perfect box.


This box is so wonderful. But don't just take my word for it. Check out how lovely these products are in action.

Now I also did a complete look to show how I would actually wear this al together. So I did add lip gloss and a touch of mascara to the finished look.

Doesn't that blush look incredible? So rosy and natural. I hate looking like I put blush on, I want to look natural in that area, and this certainly does. I call this Natural Plus.

Now check out how that awesome bracelet can change the look completely.

It can be a bracelet obviously, and adds the pop of color and sparkle to really pull the look together.

It can be work with a scrunchie to bring a little dazzle to your hair and put the focus even more toward your face/head instead of to your wrist.

And last but not least, my favorite way, it can be wrapped around a bun to give you a super elegant style.

I love the bun like this, and plan to wear it a lot. I did not even secure this with anything besides the bracelet. So simple yet stylish. And since I never do my heair, I live how easy this makes it to switch it up and make it look like I actually worked on it.

Such a wonderful box. I am extremely pleased with my January Starbox just as I have been with all of the past three. I an just sorry I did not find Starbox sooner. And you will be worry too if you continue to miss out because you did not subscribe.


For just $15 a month(plus like $2 shipping) you can have Starbox delivering all these fabulous goodies right to your door too. The value of this box was $63. $63 for $17, I'll take than any day of the week. I know a good deal when I see one, and Starbox is one of the best deals I have come across, and certianly the best monthly box(the value you get for the money) I've seen.

If you've been seeing my Starbox reviews and have not subscribed yet, seriously, just do it. It'll be the best $17 you'll ever spend. For me, just the excitement of seeing what's inside each month is worth it.

AWESOME GIVEAWAY- Vonny Los Angeles Fashion Food Carriers

My friend Lori over at A Day In Motherhood has a really awesome giveaway going right now. Since it's something I'd love to win, I knew you all would want a chance too. Check out her review and enter the giveaway below. Remember commenting is mandatory for this giveaway. Good luck.

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I think we have all been there. We've created some wonderful treat for our children's class, a dinner with friends or a holiday dinner and then we have no way to get it there! At least no fun, festive, elegant way to get it there.

I WISH I had my Vonny's Fashion Food Carriers a few weeks ago when I took my daughter's preschool class breakfast! Instead I stumbled in with the flimsy tin foil trays praying they would not fold and crumble on me! I could have easily put my makings in one of Vonny's high quality, easy to carry product and made my life a lot easier! Plus, I know the food would have stayed warmer too! I was so lucky to receive the Sweet Tea Casserole Carrier, the the Sweet Pie Carrier and the Deviled Egg Carrier! Each one has something unique and functional about them that I would not have thought of and and all of them are made to last.

The Deviled Egg carrier comes with a sized to fit, sturdy deviled egg tray. It is encased in a hard shell meant to protect from the trials of traveling with delicate eggs! Carry it with it's reinforced handle feeling confident that those slippery little eggs won't fall out and make a big mess inside the carrier! Just open up the carrier and display your deviled eggs for all to enjoy! The Pie Carrier is so cute and cool and chic and sure to draw oohs and ahhs when you open it up to reveal your favorite pie! With an easy to open double zipper and a lid that stays up, instead of slamming down on your pie, you can serve in style on the go! Also, the bottom of the carrier is reinforced to absorb the bumpiness of your car as you drive your prize to the get together everyone will remember! I love the Casserole Carrier as well and can not wait for the next teacher's lunch at school! Just place your casserole on the carrier, zip it up, flip the handles up and carry with ease. There is even an outside pocket for utensils or other needs for the meal! Add to that a pocket inside to house a recipe to share or even napkins and this all in one carrier will be your stylish go to any time you want to make an impact!

I truly love this line and will use these carriers for everything from Holiday get together's to heading to the neighbors for the Super Bowl! You can get your vonny los angeles carriers in a varity of colors and styles at www.vonny.com! These would also make the perfect hostess gifts! Because we all love to impress with more than our recipes and because our hard work deserves to arrive at it's destination in tact and beautifully, one (1) of our readers will WIN the following vonny los angeles fashion food carrier prize pack! Just enter below and be sure to leave a comment on this blog! Commenting is mandatory so we can't wait to see what you think of these awesome products! One will win the following:

 

Andrea's World is not responsible for prize distribution. Open to US Residents, 18+. All entries will be verified.

GOOD LUCK!!

Brothers-All-Natural Video Review

If you read my other review, then you already know that I love Brothers-All-Natural. But I love them so much, that I had to make this video proclamation of love as well.

I hope you enjoy the video.

Don't forget to check out Brothers-All-Natural's website to see all of their wonderful products. And like them on Facebook and Twitter to stay informed about all thinks delicious.

Borax Soap GIVEAWAY!

I know how much you all love giveaway, especially for practical(necessity) items, so I want to share this awesome review/giveaway from my friend Lori with ADayinMotherhood.com. Enjoy!

Have you ever heard of Borax? I really had not. But now, I am a true believer and will have it in my house all the time! 20 Mule Team Borax is 100% natural mineral from the Earth. It is removed from the ground, washed, dried and boxed. There are no additives, no phosphates and no chlorine or chemicals added! It is used in laundry to help reduce the affects of hard water - which I deal with a lot - and it helps keep stains from redepositing onto clothes while washing.

I used it with my Purex detergent the other day while doing laundry. Curious to see if adding 1/2 a cup of 20 Mule Team Borax to every load would make a difference in the softness and cleanliness of my clothes. Something that is super important with kids! So I tossed in some soiled clothing from the sandbox, added the Borax and washed the load. Now, I will say, I could not tell the difference right away but the dirt stained knees of my kids jeans were gone and the clothes smelled soft and clean! So far, I am liking this additive to my laundry! And I like that I can use it in my kitchen and bathroom too to help clean and deodorize! Now, onto the Borax - Fresh Year, Fresher Laundry Facebook Sweepstakes! By clicking that link you can enter to WIN $1,500 from Borax or 171 FREE BORAX COUPONS!! Yes, the prizes total $2,013. Get it? The contest ends February 22, 2013! So CLICK THIS LINK NOW for the super easy entry form!

Three (3) of our readers will have a shot to win their own FREE Borax Product coupon just by entering below. Lori with ADayinMotherhood.com will be responsible for mailing these out to the winners! This giveaway ends February 22, 2013 also! Enter for your chance below and GOOD LUCK!

**I received these products to review as a Purex Insider. All opinions and writings are my own. Please see my Disclosure Statement for more information.**

ViSalus 90-Day Challenge Week 1 Review. PLUS GIVEAWAY!!!

I have been needing to lose weight for a long time. Especially after my daughter was born, and I had kept the baby weight and then gained more.

I am way to ashamed to say what I actually weigh or what size I wear, but it was definitely unacceptable for me.

I knew I had to do something, but nothing I have done before ever worked.

I think most of that was due to the fact that I was trying to create my own plan, and I didn't really understand what I needed to do, I ended up cutting fat way down, but eating too many calories(or so I think).

All I know is that I might loose a bit, but I would also gain a bit. I was always starving and just felt totally deprived, and it was as much mental as anything. For one reason or another(usually lack of results in a reasonably quick time) I always quit.

Since I have heard so many success Stories about ViSalus, I really wanted to give it a try, just to see if it would be something that I could do and see results.

One if the first things that really stood about to me is the total confidence that the ViSalus owner have in their products. Just the fact that I am doing this review for them shows that. They knew it would work for me, before I did.

They are really nice and made sure any questions I had were answered quickly and completely.
The products shipped super fast, and I got everything I could possibly need to succeed.

In addition to some extras, I got 3 of the Transformation Kits(90 day supply total). These kits supply everything you need to lose weight. Each kit is a 30 day supply and contains:

2  Bags Vi-Shape Nutritional Shake Mix(60 servings per bag)

This is your staple. Vi-Shape is the main component to the 90-Day Challenge since this is used to make shakes for your breakfast and lunch meals.

Thank goodness it tasted fantastic or that would be difficult, but they taste unbelievably good.

You just mix 2 scoops of powder with 8-12oz of Skim Milk or Soy Milk(I use about 10oz Skim), and add in some ice to make it cold and thick(and a larger portion). You can mix in most anything(calorie friendly in mind) else you want too, for an even more exciting experience.

I have found that instant coffee is a great add in. Does not add fat or calories and gives it a really nice flavor. Since I had t give up my high fat/calorie iced coffee, this makes a wonderful substitute.

I also love adding in Vanilla Extract, which is very low in calories. I want to try peppermint extract as well, I love mint flavor.

Get creative and enjoy it. These really fill you up and satisfy much more than I expected. It's not hard to stick with, an that is they key. Add a Vi-Slim packet(mentioned below) and really bust that hunger for hours.

1 Bottle Vi-Slim Metab-Awake Tablets. (30 servings)

Boosting metabolism is so important for not only loosing weight, but especially for keeping it off. I have a horrible metabolism, and if these help, that is amazing.

I obviously have no way of actually knowing what my metabolism is like except for the results I am getting, and everything is great in that component, so I give these a huge thumbs up.

These are not even difficult to take(and I despise pills). You can take more than one a day if you want, but I want to make them last the full 90 days, so I only take one and that seems to be great. I imagine 2 would be really great.

1 Box Vi-Trim Clear Control Drink Mix(30 packets)

These little packets are miracle hunger crushers. Seriously one of these added to my breakfast shake keeps me full until my lunch shake or even makes me fine with just a small snack fo fruit or veggies(and not even need my second shake).

It is so powerful, but it does not make you feel like you have taken anything to stop hunger, you just don't get hungry it's incredible.

When mixed in the Vi-Shape, you cannot even taste them(I have not tried them with other beverages)


10 packets of Shape-Up Health Flavor Mix-Ins(10 servings)

These are so awesome. Perfect for those just beginning before they come up with their own add-ins.

They come in 5 awesome flavors: Strawberry, Banana, Orange, Peach and Chocolate. The best thing is you can mix them together to make awesome combinations(chocolate-banana anyone?)


They all taste great. I think the peach may be my favorite but I love them all.

1 Bottle of Omega Vitals(30 servings)

These are great. I have wanted to try Omegas, but the horrible taste and smell put me off from other kinds. These are not like that at all, and are easy to take, even for me. I think they are helping with my focus too, which is a huge plus.

2 Boxes(15 packets each) ViSalus NEURO Smart Energy Drink Mix(30 servings)

These are so yummy. Perfect for on the go since you can just add them to any bottle(or glass) of water. I like the raspberry best, but they are both great(and really good mixed together).

The really cool thing about these is they can also be mixed into your Vi-Shape Shake to add favlor and energy to any Shake Meal.

A great way to give you the boost you need to get going in the morning.


While these products are all you really need to have, the other ones are really great and I am so glad that I got to try them out as well.

My favorite of these extras, or course, is the Nutra-Cookie

As you can see, they come in 3 fantastic flavors. Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Raisin.
All 3 varieties are DELICIOUS!

I was shocked my how yummy these are, and even more blown away by that fact that for a meal you can eat 2 of these(most other plans only give you one[not very tasty] cookie as a meal replacement). You can also have one cookie with Vi-Shape shake mixed with water(instead of milk) as a meal, or one cookie as a snack between meals.

These cookies are just as good as any junk food cookie, but more filling and so much better for you.
It's a great way to get your "junk food" so you don't feel deprived, but also without cheating on your diet. These only have 150 calories and 5g of fat each. A not so guilty pleasure if I ever tasted one.

I also got the ViSalus GO Instant Energy

These come in a box of 15 energy shots. What is really awesome(an unique) about these energy shots is that you can drink them as a shot, or you can mix them with water to create a flavored energy drink.

These are Grape flavor and while I am not a big fan of grape flavored things, in comparison to other grape, this is great.

I like to just drink them plain so it get's into me faster, but my hubby tried a couple in his water for at work and he loves it that way.

And last but certainly not least, Vi-Pak Supplements

Now I am not going to lie and say I love taking vitamins and supplements, because in fact it is quite the opposite. I usually refuse t take anything I don't "need"(like cold medicine).

With that being said, I expected to not even keep taking these, however, they are not nearly as bad as I thought they would be.

I love love love the single serve(morning/night) packets. Each one has all the pills you need for either Am or Pm, and you take one of each per day. It is so simple having everything in one place, and knowing exactly what to take and when to take it.


I know what you are thinking, "All this is great, but it means nothing unless it is effective for weight loss". Well you are right and that is why I am so very pleased to tell you...

THIS REALLY WORKS!!

I started one week ago today, doing the ViSalus shakes(2 per day in place of breakfast and lunch) and began eating small, healthy(fruit, veggies, fat free cottage cheese) snacks, maybe once or twice daily as well as a healthy Low Fat, Low Calorie Dinner.

I kept my Calories under 1000 per day when possible, but the average was under 1200 per day.

And now for the results *drum-roll please*

After only one week I lost 7.8 pounds!!!!!

 

These results are so much more than I imagined. I am so happy. Seeing that this is really working is keeping me on track and making me more determined than I ever have been. I am going to do it, and it is all because of ViSalus!

I cannot recommend this any more strongly. If you want to lose weight, feel full and satisfied and just feel healthy and energetic, you HAVE to give ViSalus a shot. 

I was one of those people that always said, "Nothing works for me". But until you try everything(or find something that works and stop), you can't say that honestly. So try ViSalus and see that there is something that will work for you, just like it is for me.

Be sure to check out ViSalus on Facebook to see other stories and to be in the loop on everything.

Also check out the Challenge Timeline. I just found this and I am loving it.

And just because ViSalus is so incredible,  They are allowing me to offer you all this unbelievable giveaway.

One of you super lucky fans will win a Transformation Kit!!!

For your chance to in this fantastic prize, just enter below. Be sure to share with all your friends so they have a chance for this life changing prize too.

Corset Chick Review and GIVEAWAY!!

I have always loved corsets. From 17th Century themed clothing to Gothic style corset and everything in between, I love them all. Corsets are just so beautiful.

Oddly enough, as much as I adore corsets, until now I have never even worn one.

I am not really sure why exactly, but I think much of it had to do with not being able to find a good place to get one. Good selection, quality and price are all huge factors for buying anything, but especially something like a corset.

Thankfully, I found Corset Chick.

Corset chick is such a great site. They have an enormous selection of not only Corset Tops, but of Corset Dresses, Skirts, Shoes, Sleepwear, Hose, Plus Size Corsets and more.

The have a wide variety of styles, something for everyone and then some. And they have tons of sizes, and larger sizes than many places offer(read the size chart to see the measurement for each size as they run small)

The fact that they sell more than corsets is wonderful. Being able to get shoes, skirts, hose and etc all in the same place as your corset it so awesome.

I had the pleasure of trying one of their gorgeous corsets and one of their fabulous skirts(which when worn together t make a corset dress, or can be worn separately).

I Chose the gorgeous Black Gothic Corset:

 

and the beautiful Gothic Skirt:

                        

The corset is so wonderful. It has hook and eye fastenings all down the front(not visible) and laces down the back to create not only the perfect fit, but to make it so much easier to put it on without help. It fits wonderfully without feeling too stiff or poking or anything.

I could have done with one size smaller as this closed completely without having to compress, but I know that this corset would have held everything in beautifully had it been smaller.

Like I said, it was easy to put on all by myself and it is surprisingly comfortable.

The skirt is wonderful. It is 15 inches long and features an elastic waist to make it fit almost any size perfectly. If fits underneath the corset so nicely that is really does look like a dress.

The skirt it so comfortable. I love that is is light and breathable without being to light or too sheer). I also really love that it is not too short. I would not wear a really short shirt, nor would one look decent on me.

I love how well these 2 items compliment each other, but I also love how versatile each piece is, to be paired with other items too.

I know I don't do this amazing outfit justice, but I love this "dress". It is everything I have always wanted and I feel so special when I wear it. It is just so much fun to play dress up in such a pretty corset.

Every corset that Corset Chick offers is gorgeous, and I would love to have them all. I know this will certainly not be my last corset from them.

If you are looking for a corset, then Corset Chick is THE place to go. You will find something perfect for a really great price, get super quick shipping and great service.

Anything from Corset Chick would make a perfect gift for yourself or that special someone this Valentine's Day.

And as a sweet(pun intended) gift for all of you, Corset Chick and Andrea's World are giving away one of these beauties. One winner will receive any corset of their choice (under $30, which is most every corset). Just enter below for your chance to win. Good luck.

KOL Foods Whole Duckling Review

Are you tired of always cooking the same boring meals? Wish you could make gourmet quality dishes at home? Well thanks to KOL Foods, you can have the best quality, free range, 100% Grass-fed Kosher meats delivered right to your door.

I recently had the pleasure of trying one of of the many wonderful products from KOL Foods.


 I tried this fabulous Whole Duckling.

KOL Ducks are unlike any other. They are the ONLY organic-fed, glatt-kosher, pastured duck in the USA.

 All KOL Ducks are:

• 100% pastured after brooding
• Raised on non-industrial family owned farms
• Free to eat grasses, seeds, grubs, bugs or feed supplement
• Feed supplement is organic, certified GMO-free, all-natural, all-vegetarian, locally grown & milled
• Free of added arsenic
• Free antibiotics or added hormones
• OU & CHK kosher
• Shechita techniques and "green" certifications

The health and quality benefits alone set this duck far above all others.

As great as the duck is on paper, so to speak, I was really worried that it would be hard to cook and/or come out too dry or not very tasty.

But actually it really wasn't very hard at all. All I did was make a few slits in the skin, season it with (kosher)salt and pepper and roast it. 45 minutes breast side up, 45 minutes breas side down, and another 45 breast side up.

It came out FANTASTIC.

The skin was so crispy and incredibly delicious. The meat was Juicy and tender, and had the most succulent, rich flavor. I could not believe that I made it myself. It tasted just as good as any restaurant food I have ever tried.


And although duck is a fatty meat, free range, grass-fed meats are naturally leaner than grocery store meats.

When you choose KOL Foods, you know you are getting the very best. You can fell good about eating them and feeding them to your family.

Kol Foods can may any meal a special one, and make any special occasion even more special.

With Valentine's Day coming up, KOL Foods is the perfect place to get exactly what you need to make your date night even more special. Going out to dinner is nice, but you don't really know exactly what you are getting, and you cannot really customize the seasoning to exactly your tastes. Plus, being around a bunch of strangers is no the most romantic thing you can do.

What could be more special than cooking a wonderful, restaurant quality meal for the person you love, and enjoying it by candlelight just the two of you?

Men especially. Women love a man who cooks, and if you make your sweetheart one of these lovely ducklings, she will just melt(I know I would).

And it just so happens that there is going to be a Valentine's discount available on these very soon. So make sure you take advantage of that.

No matter what product you choose, KOL Foods will be the best quality you've ever had, trust me.

Happy eating.

Pizza Fit'n Free Review and GIVEAWAY!

As some of you may already know, I started a diet on Monday. This diet covers breakfast and luch, so any snacks and dinner are my responsibility.

I have tried to diet on my own and somehow always ate the wrong things(or portions), and ended up not seeing any results. So I was really worried that I would sabotage my diet with my dinner choices.

Snacks are fairly simple. I can have some fruit or veggies, maybe some Fat free cottage cheese or yogurt, and that should be fine.

But dinners are more tricky. You have to either make a recipe taking into account the nutritional information for each items and try to figure out how much you can have and what the total fat and calorie content ends up as.

And since my husband is not dieting, I would have to cook 2 meals and that is such a hassle.

As a busy mom of 2(and blogger), I needed something quick and easy. The quandary it also has to taste good so I don't feel deprived(which will make me break the diet).

When I first stumbled on Pizza Fit'n Free, I was immediately drawn to the idea of a Fat Free, Sugar Free pizza with under 250 calories, but I was skeptical that it would taste decent too.

I figured I would give it a try and at least it would be healthy and something to eat, but I did not expect a great tasting pizza.

When I cooked it, it smelled great. I became hopeful that it would taste ok. Well it tasted so much better than ok. It was FANTASTIC!!!! I swear I could not even believe this was a diet(let alone fat free) pizza. I mean obviously the portion not being huge shows that it is portion controlled, but just going by taste you would seriously never know this was so good for you. It's insane.

 
 The crust comes out so crispy and fantastic(better than any other frozen pizza I have tried). The cheese actually melts(unlike some fat free cheese), the sauce is so yummy, and the cheese really has flavor(which I was not expecting). I cannot stress enough how great this tastes.

And not only that, but it is actually a pretty decent size. I am used to eating like a pig, so obviously this is not a normal portion for me, but  I added some raw carrot sticks, and took my time eating, and it was actually a pretty good meal. I was full afterward, which really surprised me.

As good as it tastes I could have easily eaten 2(or maybe more) as a meal, but I did not have to and that was wonderful. This little baby has 14g of Protein, which I really love.

It is so easy to make too. It takes like 8 minutes(or less) to cook. They arrive frozen in dry ice, and you keep them in the freezer. Thaw(preferably) before cooking and cook. So simple.

This is the perfect go to for me for dinner now. I am so hooked. I look forward to it all day, and it is so worth the wait.

If you like pizza, you will love this. Diet or not. this is perfect for every pizza lover. You can even add toppings veggies for us dieters and meats and such for everyone else.


I think that everyone should give Pizza Fit'n Free a try. And one lucky follower will be able to for free. Pizza Fit'n Free and Andrea's World are giving away one six pack of Pizzas. Just enter below for your chance to win. Good luck.