If it hadn't been free... Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters

If it hadn't been free, I'd have never known...

Ok - so the folks @ MyBlogSpark sent me a box of full-sized samples of Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters to try out - and then share my opinions with you guys! Awesome, right? I wasn't sure what to expect from the product, I have always loved Nature Valley Granola - but am NOT a huge fan of nuts... Well, I'm sold! The Honey Roasted Peanut variety is salty and sweet, and pretty good. The Nut Lovers, Roasted Cashew, and Roasted Almond are AWESOME!!! Just the right blend of sweet - honey maybe? And they're not messy. They don't stick to your fingers - or your teeth -and are easy to eat at the computer, at my desk, in the car... The only thing that was missing (in my opinion) was some coupons to buy more! And I will...

But I've found some $1 off Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters printables!
IE or FF.

MyBlogSpark™ is a fun and exciting program that gives you access to exclusive offers, sampling opportunities, prizes to give away to your readers, surveys, and events where you can meet up with fellow bloggers.

If it hadn't been free...

I was recently the recipient of a free box of Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Bars, courtesy of the folks at Pssst & General Mills...

These bars are DELICIOUS. The flavor is great, they're sweet... chocolaty... just downright yummy. The Fiber One bars are just the right texture, chewy - but not too much so, and sweet too... They're also VERY filling... I was also sent a little stack of coupons for $1.35 off a box, which to me is just great...

9 grams of Fiber - and all you have to do is eat a little bit of chocolaty oooey gooey deliciousness? SOLD!!!


But here's where it gets - well... Kind of gross... and ultimately - funny...

These bars - wow. They give you the most OUTRAGEOUS gas. At times painful, but consistently SMELLY. I don't want to be too graphic, but I will say that I have never experienced flatulence of this magnitude in my LIFE. Sadly because the bars are SO delicious, and because I was ignorant to it's ultimate effect, I did eat 2 bars in one sitting, before heading out for the day with the husband.

Some research online indicates that I am NOT ALONE in the Fiber One Bar phenomenon. This blog post alone says it all... And honestly had me ROLLING... it's hilarious, and true. Apparently it's not the fiber that "gets you going" so much as it's the Chicory Root.

Dubbed "Granola Grenades" - this product - while definitely delicious - is a product I will have to avoid in the future --- if for no other reason than to keep my marriage intact!!!

If it hadn't been free...

Remember this post? Well my free sample 2pk arrived yesterday and I couldn't resist... I had to try it!!! And if I hadn't, I would have never known that it wasn't meant to work out between us.

It's a micro-ground coffee, instead of being freeze dried. So essentially that means that you're drinking ground coffee beans... The flavor is ok - I will say it's definitely a high quality product, although for me, it was kind of bitter... But it's the gritty texture that gets me, it leaves coffee bean remnants all over the inside of my mug. My husband always makes coffee that's so strong, and always has grounds in it, but it's just not how I like to drink coffee.

Starbucks, I love you... and Via? not so much...

If it hadn't been free...

If I hadn't gotten this free sample in the mail, I would have never known.

I've used Crest Whitestrips in the past, but never really cared too much for them. Yes, they always whitened the teeth up, but the strips just weren't fun...

My experience with the Original Crest Whitestrips product:

• Slippery during application, would always end up with product on my fingers - which hurts a little bit actually
  
• Whitening product tasted icky the entire time the strip was in my mouth
• The bottom strip would NEVER stay in place, and I'd end up gagging on it
• The top strip would slide around, resulting in the whitening product getting on my tongue
• The Whitening product slightly irritated my gums, and so as a result it would hurt during the process
• I couldn't handle the problems, and would never leave the strips on for the prescribed time
  

So because of those things, I can honestly say that I would RARELY use the product... Matter of fact, I haven't finished the box I bought a year+ ago. I had to resign myself to the reality that I would never be able to have those BLINGBLING teeth like Joe Biden.

Then along came the sample...

• Easy to apply the strip, and it stuck in place immediately - even felt kind of tight at times
• The strips (BOTH) didn't slip the ENTIRE time I had it on - which was about 40 minutes because I forgot I had it on and was watching Animal Precinct - if you can believe it.
• The taste is kind of gross, but I didn't really taste it until I removed the strip... so no worries
• Noticeable whitening of my teeth, which is great!
  

So all in all, I really LOVE this product. A coupon for $10 came along with it, in the mail... These sell for about $40'ish dollars, so I'll have to now be on the lookout for a deal. I just wanted to share!

If it hadn't been free...

Last week I got a package in the mail containing the L'Oréal Double Extend Lash Extension Effect Mascara. I'd seen it on TV and in magazines... even seen it on ECB special at the CVS but hadn't ever gotten it. I have short lashes, and they don't want to curl outward - no matter how hard I try... So I'd resigned myself to the fact that if I ever wanted those huge fan-like lashes, I'd have to get some falsies. Thinking that all mascaras would have the same net effect, I just never bothered to try anything new.

That was until I tried the L'Oreal product.

How this product works is that you apply the first step of the product, it's so weird! It's a white substance that you apply just like mascara. Since I threw away the packaging without ever reading the directions, it's by trial and error that I have realized to let it dry for a couple of minutes before step 2. You can't really tell at this point that your lashes are any different, since they're this white color. But then step 2 time - put on like normal mascara - although I find that I have to wiggle the wand a little to make sure that the white color is completely covered... But after that?!?! VOILA! I had long lashes, not clumpy, not thick... It was as if it was magical... it's amazing!!!

If this product hadn't been free, I would have never known that I could have long lashes.