Kroger Fuel Points

If you don't already know about this great program by Kroger...believe me you will want to. Using your Kroger card to shop you will earn fuel points for every dollar to use on your next fuel purchase at designated fueling stations(note:most Kroger stores have their own fuel pumps).
For the month of December you can earn 4x the fuel points when you purchase a gift card at Kroger. So why not "kill 2 birds with 1 stone". Get that gift card to Lowes for Dad, or a gift card for sis to Michaels and get extra fuel points to use for the holiday road trip.

Check out at http://www.kroger.com
*Received coupons from Bzz Agent in exchange for my honest review

Mama Voxbox from Influenster

 

I was so excited when opening this box since it was my first from Influenster . Everything was packed neatly in a durable  box(that I plan to paint and recycle for use in my daughters hope chest). I received gel insoles from Dr. Scholls, microwave macaroni and cheese from Annies, soft baked bar from Belvita, and 2 different tinted BB creams from Ponds.

My kids immediately went for the Belvita soft baked, ( wait a sec, I thought this was a mama voxbox), well I got to taste a bite anyway. It was very soft and delicious. It was not dry like most bars but very moist and  full of chunks of fruit.

Annie's macaroni was next. Very comparable to other name brand microwave macaroni cups as far as ease of preparation. The taste was also very similar, nice and creamy and cheesy. The plus side, it was made from organic products.

Dr. Scholls gel shoe insoles where next. I decided to give them a good testing out on our trip to the pumpkin farm. These insoles fit perfectly into my tennis shoe. Because they had a slightly sticky surface to the bottom of the insole; there was no bunching up as I walked. Although, I imagined that the sticky would were off over time, I doubt there will be much movement to the insole because of the gel texture. Not only did the gel cushion my step it kept my feet nice and cool; key to visiting a pumpkin patch with 4 excited kids.

Last, I received Ponds BB cream. They sent 2 different shades to try; so I tried out the light shade. Because I am a busy mom of 4 kids, I loved the the fact that the cream included a moisturizer, spf and tint all in one. I used this cream in replacement of my normal foundation and used a little face powder on top of it. Loved how it went on; very smooth and light. This one is a keeper and a must to try out.

All in all, loved this first voxbox. Felt like a pampered mom; which is rare in this house. Nothing negative to say about any of these products.

*This box was sent to me by Influenster inexchange for my honest review.

I Just Joined Smiley360

I Just Joined Smiley360

TruMoo Milk

Although we choose not to participate in Halloween activities; TruMoo's Halloween campaign for their milk did not affect its great taste.
We tried the chocolate milk. The texture was very smooth and creamy. Some chocolate milks are too thick for our families taste, but TruMoo was just right. We are big milk drinkers and chocolate milk is usually a treat. All my kids enjoyed sipping their milk through their silly straws topped with whipped cream.
The only downfall, is that I had to go to several stores before I actually found this milk. If you go to Tru Moo  you can locate a store near you.
All in all, this milk is delicious and refreshing and comparable in price to other name brand milks.


*This product and/or coupons was sent to me by bzzagent in exchange for my honest review. 

Old El Paso

We absolutely love Mexican food around here; so I was more than excited to try Old El Paso's stand and stuff flour tortillas and their cooking sauces. I took some grilled chicken(on the outdoor grill is best) and mixed in a package of Old El Paso cooking sauce. We then paired this with some lettuce,  tomato and cheese and put them in the stand and stuff flour tortillas. This dinner was so easy to make; after grilling the chicken all I had to do was add the cooking sauce(all the Mexican spices and flavorings are already in there). The stand and stuff shells were much simpler to fill and eat than an ordinary flat tortilla. Even my boys had no problem and enjoyed putting there own dinner together. Very delicious, I only wish I would have made more!
These products are very high quality in taste...typical of  Old El Paso brand. They are easy to use and convenient on those nights when you need to make a meal quickly. They are affordable and can be found in any local grocery store.
We plan to definitely try these again....but this time I will get more!

*These products and/or coupons were sent to me by bzzagent  in exchange for my honest review.

Kroger Lunchbox Heroes

We definitely like to snack in our family with six. With 4 hungry children, 3 of them being boys, we definitely go through a lot of snacks. I like to find snacks that are inexpensive and convenient for them to grab for themselves; especially when we are on the go.

 

We had an opportunity to sample a few of these easy and affordable snacks from our  local Kroger store

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Kroger fruit snacks-  This was not our first time trying the Kroger brand of fruit snacks; so we weren't surprised . In my opinion these are not a high quality brand of fruit snacks. Although they are a little chewier and not as full of flavor as some name brand snacks; they are a great alternative if you are trying to save some money. I love the fact that they are a smaller package than most(less intake of sugar), but some might not feel the same way as I do.

 

Kroger peanut butter filled pretzels- I am not going to beat around the bush about these....they were disgusting. Everyone in my family felt they were too dry and crumbly and they tasted stale, and frankly were just plain...gross.  Definitely not a winner for our taste buds.

 

Kroger chewy granola bars - Another product we are familiar with and actually purchase quite often in this family. They are easy for us to take into the car, to appointments, soccer games etc. They are nice and chewy and chocolate chip is our family favorite. Can't go wrong with these.

 

Kroger double filled golden cookies- This product had a split opinion in my house. I think kids would eat any thing that has to do with the word cookie. So, you probably have guessed who didn't like it...yep....mom. If mom doesn't like it, it probably won't be bought again. These are a cheaper alternative to name brand cookies, but in my opinion, you get what you pay for, they were cheap tasting.

 

Kroger extreme fusion waters -  These were great. They were just the right size and definitely were a big hit with all 4 of my kids. Very comparable in taste to name brand drink pouches.  

 

*All of these products were sent to me by BzzAgent  in exchange for my honest review and can be purchased at your local Kroger affiliated stores.

 

Silk Fruit and Creamy

We are SO a yogurt loving family...we have probably tried every yogurt out there whether it is by the carton, drinkable, frozen or in a tube...and we have probably tried every brand as well.
I and my kids loved this Silk fruit and creamy yogurt. It had a smooth silky texture with not too chunky amounts of fruit in it. I loved the fact that it was made from soy milk( this provided extra protein needed for my vegetarian daughter).We tried the blueberry, peach and berry flavor. My favorite was the blueberry but my daughter adored the peach.
So good and so delicious and would definitely purchase again.

*Coupons for these products were provided by Bzz Agent in exchange for my honest opinion.

Cottonelle Fresh Care Flushable Cleansing Cloths

Flushable wipes are not just for toddlers or those potty training any more. These things come in handy for older kids as well as adults. Sometimes toilet paper just doesn't cut it and we need something that will make us feel cleaner and fresher.
Cottonelle's fresh care flushable cleansing cloths do just that. They are thick enough to not fall apart as you wipe but thin enough to break down as a flushable wipe would.
What I liked about them: Of course I love that they were flushable. Just use and flush(no messing with smelly trash--sorry to be grossly blunt). Even though my kids are no longer potty training toddlers, with special needs kids there can be bathroom issues. So these Cottonelle cleansing cloths are convenient and easy for them to use. The scent was not overwhelming and didn't irritate.
What I didn't like about them: The dispenser was an upright(see pic above); there were several times the wipes didn't come out and I would have to open the dispenser and manually push through. This made it very inconvenient especially for my kids. I am not saying this cannot happen with regular wipe dispensers but it does seem to happen less in my personal experience. I also received a Kroger coupon to try Cottonelle toilet tissue for free; but had to go to several Krogers before I found it. Other than the inconvenience both tissue and cleansing cloths were a great experience for our family.

*This product along with coupons was given to me from BzzAgent in exchange for my honest review.
    

Private Selection: Great American Summer

I shop at Krogers and definitely purchase Private Selection brand items. I had the opportunity to sample the following: Angus beef, artisan bread, preserves, rubs, dark amber maple syrup and panko bread crumbs.
Each was delicious as expected and affordable. The only complaint was the artisan bread; I personally would not describe it as artisan. It was dry and nothing special in taste. I also thought the price was a little high for the quality of the bread. On another note, I had to drive around to several Krogers before I found all the products.
Overall, I was not disappointed with the quality and affordability of each Private Selection product.
My family enjoyed the Angus roast and the preserves on the bread(which made it more tolerable). My daughter ate her waffles with the syrup(which we already purchase on a regular basis), and the rub and panko crumbs were an added benefit to our sides.
Check these and other Private Selections out at your nearby Krogers and other affiliated stores.

*I received these free coupon items and additional coupons from BzzAgent.

Centrum Flavor Burst Multivitamin Chews

I was excited to try these; mainly because they were chewable. I hate swallowing pills and always envied the kids gummy bear vitamins. So when I saw Centrum had adult vitamin chewables I was elated.
I tried the grape flavor and had to take only 2 that were about the size of a small gumball. They were easy to chew and at first tasted pretty good. When I reached the center there was a sharp sour taste then some kind of nasty after taste. Needless to say even though they are convenient to take, the taste was appalling to me.
I don't recommend these for the flavor but if you have a really hard time swallowing these would be great, if you don't mind the gross after taste.
Centrum Flavor Burst Multivitamin Chews

* A free sample was sent to me by Smiley 360 in exchange for my honest review

Ivory 2-in1 Hair and Body

 



Wouldn't it be easier if you could have a shampoo and body wash all in one bottle? Wouldn't it be easier if it could be used by your entire family? Wouldn't it be nice if it was an affordable brand? Well, I found it..... Ivory 2-in-1 Hair and Body is the perfect solution for any family trying to get an easy, effective and affordable product for the entire family. Not only can it be used by the entire family but it cleans your hair and body at the same time.

We used this product on our family of six ranging from ages 7-40. I know at my age it is very important for me to find a product that wont dry my hair out, my teenage daughter needs one that wont leave it feeling greasy, and my youngest with allergies needs a product with no dyes or heavy perfumes.  My family was very pleased with this product. It was easier to use, saved space in the shower and was most definitely cost effective to use only one bottle for the entire family.   Ivory 2-in-1 Hair and Body  is a definite product we will be buying in the near future.

 

*This product was sent to me by Influenster in exchange for my honest review.

Children's Claritin Allergy

Yes we are a family that suffers from allergies. My husband and 2 of my children have problems with this every year. Because my 7 year old has asthma related allergies I did not want to stop his regular medication to try Children's Claritin Allergy out. So my 13yr old gave it a go. She loved the fact that  Children's Claritin Allergy is chewable(she still doesn't like taking tablets) and the grape flavor was delicious. My daughter's allergies always include runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing. Children's Claritin Allergy relieves these symptoms including itching of the nose and throat. It is appropriate for children age 2 up to adults, and is for indoor and outdoor allergies.

My favorite feature is the non-drowsy and 24 hour relief. Children should never take anything that makes them drowsy(in my opinion...they don't function well doped up). I don't know about the rest of you, but I can never remember to take any medication on time...so I love that this is just 1-2 tablets (depending on age) only 1 time a day.

It worked well for my daughter and relieved her allergies....although I wouldn't say it provided a total of 24 hours of relief for her.  

 

*I received a sample box of Children's Claritin Allergy and coupons from BzzAgent in exchange for my honest review.

 

 

 

 

Kroger Spring Dinners

I was able to receive free coupons for an entire Kroger's Dinner. It included Kroger's cake mix, rich and creamy icing, crescent rolls, mashed potatoes and pork tenderloin.
Lets start with the pork. I used a recipe I received from my Aunt. Put pork tenderloin in crock pot, pour 1 can of coke over it. Let it cook on high 4-5 hours. Add Kroger's BBQ sauce and shred pork last 1/2 hour. It turned out gorgeous. Very juicy and delicious. The pork was not fatty or tough.
The rolls and mashed potatoes were a wonderful addition to the pork. I saw no difference between the Kroger brand and the pricier name brand.
I have always enjoyed Kroger cake mixes; so it was no surprise that I liked this one. Their cakes are always so rich and buttery and the icing was sweet and creamy.
My family enjoyed our Sunday dinner and we plan to definitely purchase these items again.

*I received free coupons for these items from Bzzagent in exchange for my honest review.

New Products from Quaker

 

 

I had the opportunity to try 3 of Quakers new products: Perfect Portions instant oatmeal, Big Chewy bars and Quaker Chocolate Chip Cookies.

 

Perfect Portions instant oatmeal- I have always loved Quaker oatmeal. I remember eating from those instant packages as a kid. I loved the multi flavor packs, because I could have something different every day. Quaker did not disappoint me. The taste of their perfect portions were the same great Quaker  taste I have come to love.

 

Big Chewy bars- What can I say but LOVED THEM. The texture was wonderful, so soft and chewy that my daughter(who has braces) could eat them with no trouble. The drizzle of milk chocolate across the top was an added bonus. These made great on the go snacks for my busy family of 6.

 

Chocolate Chip Cookies- These were my least favorite. Although they had a wonderful taste, the texture seemed grainy. The cookie was a little hard and dry and fell apart just trying to get them out of the package.(and if you have kids like mine...broken cookies are not acceptable) 

 

Overall wonderful new additions to Quaker and they can be found in your local stores.

 

*I received these products from Quaker through BzzAgent in exchange for my honest review.

Campbell's Slow Kettle Style Soups

My husband took Campbell's Slow Kettle Style Soup to work.  It was the Tuscan-style Chicken and White Bean. He loved the simple packaging and easy heatable container that he could eat right out of. There were huge chunks of meat and plenty of beans in the soup. The carrots, celery, spinach and tomato pieces were large; unlike the tiny pieces in most soups. The asiago cheese, thyme and rosemary gave the soup enough flavor that no additional seasonings were needed. The portion was very large and very satisfying.
Campbells offers 7 different flavors of these warm hearty soups. They are available in your local grocery stores. Don't forget to go to Campbells and download a coupon.
I have already bought several more flavors for my husband to try.

*This product was sent to me by Smiley360  in exchange for my honest review.

Simple Truth

 
Simple Truth products are put out by the Kroger Family Stores. Free From 101” artificial ingredients and preservatives these natural/or organic products are not new. This is a new name for the same Private Selection Organic and Naturally Preferred products.
I had the opportunity to try 2 products from Simple Truth: Cucumber Melon Sparkling Beverage and Fudge Graham Nutrition Bar. At first cucumber/melon water did not sound appealing, but it was delicious and refreshing; even my 10 year old boys enjoyed it and wanted more when we finished the bottle. The Fudge Graham was amazing.  I ate it as an afternoon snack and it was delightfully filling. The soy crisps gave it a nice inner texture and the milk chocolate coating on the outside was pleasing to the eye and the taste buds. I did contemplate what it would taste like covered in carob(since my youngest is allergic to chocolate, my thoughts do go there). 3 of my kids had a taste of the bar as well and loved it.
We try to eat healthier and more natural foods so these products are perfect for a healthy family and also one on a budget. You can pick up any of these products in any Kroger family store at an affordable price.
I recommend this product to anyone trying to make a healthier lifestyle for themselves or the ones they love.

*I received these Simple Truth products from BzzAgent in exchange for my honest review.