I'd be lying if I said that I didn't find this toy super cool and...possibly played with it more than the kids in my life! This set was the ultimate throwback to the innovative and interesting toys that came out in the early to mid 90s - it reminded... +
I'd be lying if I said that I didn't find this toy super cool and...possibly played with it more than the kids in my life! This set was the ultimate throwback to the innovative and interesting toys that came out in the early to mid 90s - it reminded me so much of the cool Barbie sets that had all kinds of neat features. This set is dubbed the "craft-a-riffic" Gabby, which is a bit misleading. This is more of an artist Gabby, which comes with a special "magic" paintbrush. After dipping the brush in water, you can "paint" on this special insert. When the insert dries, the painting disappears - "rinse" and repeat! It also comes with a decently sized and sturdy Gabby doll and a Baby Box Cat figuring. The girls and I had a great time playing around with this and even if the novelty of the paint/easel wears off, these are two well-made figures for playing everything else with. All in all, a great find and I think it would make a very unique and well-received gift, as well!
I #gotitfree to try through the Family Rated Club.
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My family is made up of long-time Chapman's customers - we're loyal to our brands and Chapman's is one that I am proud to support for a number of reasons, including the fact that they're a Canadian, quasi-local company and a strong competitor to... +
My family is made up of long-time Chapman's customers - we're loyal to our brands and Chapman's is one that I am proud to support for a number of reasons, including the fact that they're a Canadian, quasi-local company and a strong competitor to other ice-cream companies that are a part of larger conglomerates. There's something about supporting a business that continues to be family-run and has strong business ethics. All that aside, their ice cream is also the best in the game! Long gone are the days of the black cardboard Chapman's ice-cream boxes. They've really branched out over the past few years and are now the only brand that my family will buy, with the perfect trade-off of taste, quality, and price. I usually buy their frozen yogurt in chocolate, but have been veering into more fruit flavours lately. The peaches & cream did not disappoint. Not only was this flavour great on its own, it was also the PERFECT complement to pie, baked crumbles, etc. The pairing of cinnamon flavours in baked goods with the sweetness of the peaches was to die for. I also found that the flavour was really authentic - not at all artificial like so many fruit-flavoured frozen treats. Finally, the fact that this is frozen yogurt! I am 100% behind this! You don't notice any difference versus regular full-fat ice-cream and there is no chance I am ever going back to that. This froyo is win-win-win all around.
I #gotitfree to try through the Product Review Club.
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This little bottle proved that it can really do it all! When I say little, I’m only referring to its plastic bottle footprint – its volume still manages to come in at a whopping 177 mL, totally comparable to most of my other face washes, but the... +
This little bottle proved that it can really do it all! When I say little, I’m only referring to its plastic bottle footprint – its volume still manages to come in at a whopping 177 mL, totally comparable to most of my other face washes, but the tiny and compact bottle cuts down on plastic packaging and makes it easier to pack for a weekend away or short trip. This cleanser is really all you need to bring for a few days away. Since it’s unscented, my husband had no hesitation using it. He also suffers from severe eczema and we didn’t find that this exacerbated things – it was very gentle on his face. As for me, this did a great job of wiping away my makeup of the day. It was a welcome change from gel or oil cleansers, as this reminded me of a more traditional face wash, the sort that’s really effective at doing just that – cleansing. I was also happy to see the clean formulation and the complete absence of fragrance, dyes, and sulfates (among other unwelcome ingredients). The price point was absolutely fantastic and it’s so difficult to find something that meets the needs of the entire household, but this did the trick. -
I typically use another store-brand fluoride-free toothpaste that I pick up from a well-known and loved natural food store in the States. Since I haven't had a chance to trek over there in...oh, roughly 2 years...I was looking forward to trying this... +
I typically use another store-brand fluoride-free toothpaste that I pick up from a well-known and loved natural food store in the States. Since I haven't had a chance to trek over there in...oh, roughly 2 years...I was looking forward to trying this whitening toothpaste from Tom's. Tom's is a tried and tested natural brand that I've turned to in the past for other products. While I'm not keen on using fluoride-free toothpaste all year round, I do turn to this sort of product once in a while when I'm looking for a break and my contact dermatitis is flaring up (there are theories that this can be related to fluoride use). Also, as a result of working from home and picking up a daily latte habit in my kitchen each morning, my teeth have been looking a little more yellowed than usual and I'm looking to get things gleaming white again before my impending return to the office. So, this toothpaste fit the bill! The peppermint flavour was absolutely outstanding and a far cry from the artificial taste of regular toothpaste. This cut my awful morning breath dramatically and left my mouth with a fresh, tingly-clean sensation. It's difficult to say how aggressive it is on plaque - I don't generally get dramatic plaque build-up and I haven't been to the dentist since I started using it. I will say that my teeth look a little whiter since starting daily use....I can never be sure if it's in my head and reference before/after photos are only as good as their lighting. If I at the very least believe it's doing something, that's good enough for me, for now. The amazing sensation of clean that this leaves me with is alone well-worth its continued use.
I #gotitfree to try through the Product Review Club.
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I'll preface this review by saying that I'm a huge fan of water-gel type creams, primarily Laneige. This water cream from CoverGirl is an amazing contender, at a fraction of the price! For (I believe) CoverGirl's first foray into skincare, this is a... +
I'll preface this review by saying that I'm a huge fan of water-gel type creams, primarily Laneige. This water cream from CoverGirl is an amazing contender, at a fraction of the price! For (I believe) CoverGirl's first foray into skincare, this is a homerun. I'll admit I was hesitant to try this at first because I didn't think it would be any good and assumed it would have a lot of nasty chemicals. But I'm now blown away. With its first two ingredients being water and glycerin, this gets the job done! I can see myself turning to this in the spring and summer, when I'm looking for a lighter moisturizer. My preference is also to use this during the day and essentially use it as a sort of primer - I've been applying it as the first step in my makeup routine and it has kept my skin looking moisturized and fresh all day. Also love the fact that this has 90% naturally derived ingredients, including cactus water, and hyaluronic acid. I'm converted to CG skincare!
I #gotitfree to try though the Product Review Club.
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I almost exclusively use Dove deodorants and anti-perspirants - both stick and dry sprays - and always feel uneasy tossing away my finished product in the recycling. It seems like a lot of waste for such a small amount of product (and something that... +
I almost exclusively use Dove deodorants and anti-perspirants - both stick and dry sprays - and always feel uneasy tossing away my finished product in the recycling. It seems like a lot of waste for such a small amount of product (and something that is used so regularly that you can find yourself tossing a container nearly every 2 months, with regular use). I've noticed a lot of brands hopping on the refillable container scene, so it was great to see Dove, a brand I actually use every day, do the same. The scent of the Coconut + Pink Jasmine refill was divine - totally in line with all the other Dove scents I've bought before. The refill was a bit soft, however - the best way to describe it was...melty. This made it very easy to wear down the sides of it in weird ways and even snap off chunks from the main piece. Perhaps something needs to be added to make the actual deodorant stick a little stiffer. Otherwise, I thought the idea of this kit was genius and generally well-executed. I really liked how sleek and discreet the case was - this makes it excellent not only for travel packing, but also for stowing away in your purse for day-to-day. The only other downside I will mention is that the refills seem to be difficult to find in stores at this time and when you do, they're quite expensive. Considering that the refills should cost less to manufacture than a brand new regular Dove deodorant (owing to the significantly lesser amount of packaging), I was surprised to see them priced higher. This isn't really conducive to its eco-aimed mission and to maintaining a client base over the long term, where the environmentally-friendly option is more out of reach than otherwise for no apparent reason. If I find the refills on sale, I may repurchase but otherwise I cannot see myself spending more for this.
I #gotitfree to try through the Product Review Club.
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I always feel bad when my husband or I have to toss away a finished deodorant package. We always put them in our recycling bin, but I often wondered how much of it actually gets recycled (or if any). Enter Dove and their brilliant new product line... +
I always feel bad when my husband or I have to toss away a finished deodorant package. We always put them in our recycling bin, but I often wondered how much of it actually gets recycled (or if any). Enter Dove and their brilliant new product line which features reusable deodorant casings! All you have to do is buy refills of the actual "filling", i.e. the deodorant itself. I've seen a lot of other brands do this recently for everything right down to lipsticks. The scent of this one - 'Clean Touch' - was perfectly in line with every other Dove brand deodorant I've tried - subtle and masculine, without making my husband smell like a teenage boy. The revolutionary part of this kit is really the ability to refill and maintain the same casing, which is all-metal with a chrome bottom. The small size of the outer case also makes it a lot easier to travel with (for whenever we resume doing that) - it's much more compact than a bulky full-size deodorant. The only downside is one that I think others have mentioned - because there is no encasement around the body of the deodorant refill, it's more prone to early breakage and you'll then have to come up with a quick fix to get it all to stay stuck together. If perhaps the refill was made to be a bit more stiff, or the casing made a little taller, I think this issue is resolvable.
I #gotitfree to try through the Product Review Club.
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I'm always a sucker for trying out new products at the grocery store that can possibly save me time when I'm off work and on a hangry rampage. I was looking forward to trying the Greek-inspired lemon dill flavour of this new plant-based side dish... +
I'm always a sucker for trying out new products at the grocery store that can possibly save me time when I'm off work and on a hangry rampage. I was looking forward to trying the Greek-inspired lemon dill flavour of this new plant-based side dish. The only trick was finding the right main dish to pair this with. I ended up going for a fish-based meal, but this would be just as at home beside souvlaki (to really complete the Greek theme) or any other more "bare" meat entree. This was super easy to prep - we don't have a microwave, so I followed the instructions to heat it up on the stovetop. The pouch is 100% ready to serve, so all you're doing is getting it to your preferred temperature. One thing I have to note, however, is the smell. While I was pouring it out and heating it up, the smell was...not as appetizing as one would hope for something that's about to be consumed. Thankfully, the flavour was totally different from the way it smelled, but it's just an unpleasant part of the process. The flavouring itself was light and not overpowering (could maybe have used more, to be honest), though I don't know if I would describe this as quite as Mediterranean as I was hoping. The texture was nice and soft, and I loved the fact that it was protein-packed (which you don't usually get in a side-dish) and made with all-natural ingredients and supergrains. All in all, I can see this being a convenient item to have stocked in my pantry for emergencies but not necessarily a regular purchase.
I #gotitfree to try in exchange for my honest review through the ChickAdvisor Product Review Club.
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As a big fan of all Dr. Oetker products, I was looking forward to giving the new Momenti pizzas a try. I had been hesitant to pick one up previously due to the relatively higher price. The taste was just what I have come to expect from Dr. Oetker -... +
As a big fan of all Dr. Oetker products, I was looking forward to giving the new Momenti pizzas a try. I had been hesitant to pick one up previously due to the relatively higher price. The taste was just what I have come to expect from Dr. Oetker - rich and flavourful - but the crust on this product was definitely the standout star. The crust is flakier and fluffier than that found in the regular Dr. Oetker pizzas (Ristorante and Casa di Mama lines), despite appearing thicker. Initially, I wasn't keen on eating that much bread, but one bite and it quickly collapsed into flaky goodness. The flavour combination on this one was also great, though I'm not sure why they aren't pushing the inclusion of pesto a little more. This is listed as a tomato/mozzarella, but if I wasn't paying attention to know that there were pesto bubbles, I may otherwise take a pass on this (tomato/mozzarella on its own is a little bland for me otherwise, and I'm not a vegetarian). The only real issue with this is the price - I find it priced too high and as I was eating it, I actually wondered who this was targeted towards. Even when I'm eating pizza on my own, I usually just split a regular-sized Dr. Oetker and put the other half in the freezer for later, so I'm not sure I would ever spend even more than the regular pizza for just a single serving.
I #gotitfree to try in exchange for my honest review.
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As a big fan of all Dr. Oetker products, I was looking forward to giving the new Momenti pizzas a try. I had been hesitant to pick one up previously due to the relatively higher price. The taste was just what I have come to expect from Dr. Oetker -... +
As a big fan of all Dr. Oetker products, I was looking forward to giving the new Momenti pizzas a try. I had been hesitant to pick one up previously due to the relatively higher price. The taste was just what I have come to expect from Dr. Oetker - rich and flavourful - but the crust on this product was definitely the standout star. The crust is flakier and fluffier than that found in the regular Dr. Oetker pizzas (Ristorante and Casa di Mama lines), despite appearing thicker. Initially, I wasn't keen on eating that much bread, but one bite and it quickly collapsed into flaky goodness. The flavour combination on this one was also great, though I'm not sure why they aren't pushing the inclusion of pesto a little more. This is listed as a tomato/mozzarella, but if I wasn't paying attention to know that there were pesto bubbles, I may otherwise take a pass on this (tomato/mozzarella on its own is a little bland for me otherwise, and I'm not a vegetarian). The only real issue with this is the price - I find it priced too high and as I was eating it, I actually wondered who this was targeted towards. Even when I'm eating pizza on my own, I usually just split a regular-sized Dr. Oetker and put the other half in the freezer for later, so I'm not sure I would ever spend even more than the regular pizza for just a single serving.
I #gotitfree to try in exchange for my honest review.
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