Brookside Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters

As member of Crowdtap, I was given a free sample of Brookside Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters to try out. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm a grade-A chocolate snot. When I heard recently that Cadbury had changed out the chocolate used for their fabulous Creme Eggs, I was sorely, sorely disappointed. So in the interest of complete disclosure, I'll say that I didn't expect much from Brookeside's Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters.

Well, just like Taylor Swift was mad, mad, mad, I was wrong, wrong, wrong because these things are delicious. They come in a resealable bag, though they really don't need to because it's hard to stop eating them once you start. They're an excellent blend of good quality dark chocolate, crunch, and fruit. (Yes, dried fruit. But it's not at all gross! It really, really works!) The clusters are quite variable in size, with some the size of my palm and others itty bitty teeny weenie. (So keep the big ones for yourself and give the kids the smaller pieces.)

The only downside is that they're on the pricey side, but the flavor is All. There.

If I could recommend these twice, I would. So yeah... go buy some!

Campbell's New Products

As a member of Crowdtap, I was given free samples of Campbell's products to test and review. Views expressed are my own.

Skillet Sauces

I'll be honest: I was skeptical about Campbell's Skillet Sauces. How could something from a pouch possibly taste good? Isn't homemade better 100% of the time? But I gave the creamy parmesan sauce included in my Crowdtap sample package a spin. Per the package instructions, we cut up and cooked roughly one pound of chicken in a pan on the stove.

Once the chicken had browned a bit, we added the sauce. Again, when I squeezed every last bit of the product out of the packet, I still wasn't sure what to make of it. Honestly, it kind of looked a little like something I'd feed my cat. (Sorry, but the truth hurts sometimes.) It blended well with the chicken, and soon, it was ready to be plated.

It smelled fine, just like creamy parmesan cheese. So I took a bite, and wow, the flavor just exploded in my mouth: very cheesy, extremely bold and flavorful. Even my picky husband exclaimed --without me prompting him for a review-- "it's good! I like it!"

So that's what I'd say about the creamy parmesan skillet sauce: it's good! We like it! Try it!

Chunky Beer-N-Cheese Soup

I am, in general, a big fan of Campbell's Chunky Soups. I'm an even bigger fan of anything that involves cheesy goodness, so I was mega excited to try this soup. In fact, it was the first thing I opened when I received my box of products to try. I could. Not. Wait to pop open that can and suck it all down.

Well, as we all know, disappointment is part of life, and the best part of this soup was the can.

The beer flavor is overwhelming. I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of beer's flavor, but I figured the cheese would cut (haha, pun not intended, but we'll go with it) the taste a little. I was wrong. Totally, ugly wrong.

If you love love love beer, this may be the soup you're been waiting your entire life to try. I don't know. But for me, it's a fail. I'll stick with meaty, potatoey Chunky soups and be happy.

Folgers Flavors Coffee Enhancers

Disclaimer: As a member of Crowdtap, I was given free samples of this product to evaluate. All opinions are my own.

As a self-admitted coffee-holic, I was so thrilled to be chosen to sample one of Folgers' newest products: Folgers Flavors Coffee Enhancers. I'm always looking for new ways to flavor my coffee and I'm always up for trying out new products, so it was a total win-win from the get go.

Before my sample pack arrived, I had preconceived notions of what the four bottles would look like: I figured they'd be the size of normal coffee creamers and I figured they'd need to be refrigerated. Boy, was I ever wrong!

For one thing, they're tiny, as you can see from the bottle perched on my hat. I guess I didn't pay much attention when the documentation said each bottle would hold 1.62 ounces of product! They also don't need refrigeration, though you should try to use it all up within a month once a bottle is opened.

With all of that aside, let's get to the brass tacks.

* I received four bottles of product. Flavors included were Hazelnut, Caramel, Mocha, and Vanilla.

* The bottles may be mini, but yowza, they pack a serious punch! If you should happen to get some of the liquid on your finger, don't taste it! It'll be way stronger than you'd ever imagine. The Caramel one actually burned my tongue a wee bit (though it's totally fine in coffee, so no worries there!).

* Flavor preferences vary per person, of course, but I found that a gentle squeeze or two gave me more than enough flavoring. The bottle looks so small that you can't imagine it'll last long, but trust me: it will. That little bottle goes a long way. And be very careful when you squeeze: it shoots out like a rocket!

* I found the flavors to be true-to-life, eg, they taste how you'd expect them to taste. My personal favorite is the Hazelnut.

* It's not a creamy product, so if you like cream with your coffee, you'll need to add that separately. These are flavors ONLY.

* I LOVE that they're so tiny. They're super easy to store.

* I also love that there's no refrigeration required. It saves me much-needed fridge space!

All in all, I give these a thumbs up. Look for 'em at your local retailer!

Vichy Idealia Life Serum

Disclaimer: As a member of Crowdtap, I received free samples of Vichy Idealia Life Serum to test. All views expressed are my own.

I'll be honest: I was very skeptical that this product would make much of a difference at all for me. I've always had decent skin; I never had issues with acne as a teen. In fact, if anything, my skin is on the dry side. But given that I'm always keen to try out new skincare products and that I'm increasingly concerned about fine lines and wrinkles, I was pleased to accept this sample and share.

So here's the scoop from my perspective.

The Good.

* The texture. It's rich and creamy.

* The feel. It's surprisingly lightweight and goes on smooth. I could feel it slowly sinking into my skin and to me, that's a plus because I can FEEL something happening.

* The scent. Now others might have mixed feelings about the smell, but it worked for me. It's very strong and kind of perfume-y. I was surprised to find that I liked it since I usually run from any facial care products that are scented, but the scent is appealing. AND it doesn't make my nose itch.

The Not-as-Good.

* How to use it. Yep, you read that right: It doesn't appear to have any SPF (per the ingredient list), so I wasn't sure if I should use it before or after my facial sunscreen.

* No SPF. I neeeeed my facial care products to contain SPF. I'm a fair-skinned girl and need my sun protection!

* The Effects. So this is kind of a major issue, but I didn't see a huge difference after the eight-day trial ended. But again, my skin was in pretty good shape to begin with, so I can't expect miracles. It does give you a nice pinkish glow, so if you're into that, it's for you.

All in all, I like this stuff. I can't comment on the price since I didn't have to purchase it, but I'm guessing it's pricey. But if you get the chance to try it out, do it.

Cottonelle Fresh Care Flushable Cleansing Cloths

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of Cottonelle Fresh Care Flushable Cleansing Cloths via Crowdtap. Opinions expressed are my own.

I have kids so I understand the vital importance of having wipes on hand for, uh, unexpected bathroom emergencies. Since my youngest child recently potty trained and no longer uses diapers or Pull-Ups, I didn't realize how dependent we'd become on having wipes handy at all times until a recent potty accident with my 6-year old re-opened my eyes. How does anyone make it without pre-moistened wipes?! Sure, I could wet down some toilet paper, but a) we're living under serious drought restrictions and b) the TP falls apart almost every time!

So yeah. You could say I'm a fan of the Cottonelle Wipes. Why?

The Pros.

1. They smell surprisingly good. I wasn't expecting the light, fresh scent. It's not overwhelming; just pleasant and clean.
2. They're actually moist (at least, they are when you first put them in the dispenser). A lot of wipes aren't seem to lose their moisture before the package is even open. Not so here.
3. They're great for little, uh, clean-ups. Everyone has a need for these now and again, whether or not we want to admit it.
4. The dispenser rocks. They're easy to insert. I had a wee bit of trouble with them sliding back into the dispenser at times, but it was easy to just stick my fingers inside the rubber top and pull the next sheet on out.
5. They're a nice, reasonable size. Think a little larger than a few squares of toilet paper. Not huge, not tiny.
6. They're refreshing. Seriously. Try it. Aaaahhhh.

The Cons.

1. They're not free. I got mine to try out for free, but the dispenser with 42 cloths --a starter kit that works well for any bathroom surface-- runs about $5 at Target. (Yeah, I'm stretching a bit. I like these so it's hard to come up with cons!)
2. They don't do well with persistent rubbing. I used a few of these to wipe off my kids' feet after a fruit-picking excursion at a local orchard. After about five wipes, they tore down the middle. I doubt anyone would ever rub his or her bum quite as vigorously as I rubbed their little feeties (because man alive, they were dirty!), but just something I thought I'd throw out there.

All in all, I recommend these. They make a great addition to any bathroom.

Kleenex Brand On-the-Go Packs

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of Kleenex On-the-Go Packs to try out as a member of CrowdTap. All opinions expressed are my own.

I like Kleenex brand tissues. If I took a trip in the way-back machine to visit my childhood, I'd probably find my younger self wiping my schnoz with them. So I was pleased to get the chance to try the brand's next generation item, so to speak.

But that's neither here nor there when it comes to my current purposes. So I'll dive on in.

The Pros.

1 - The tissues still rock. Soft and smooth yet strong and they feel good against the nose.
2 - The packages are super cute. Mine (see photo) is a bright, bold floral print. A big style upgrade over the old crinkly clear plastic versions.
3 - The packages are surprisingly strong. No more wimpy plastic. Nope. This things are thicker, smoother plastic. And even better, they don't offend my often texture-sensitive fingertips.
4 - Yet more on the package! They open up and then actually close again with little to no effort, thanks to a strip of surprisingly effective sticky stuff! Score.

The Cons.

1 - There are only 10 lonely tissues in each pack. That's not many. I'd like a few more.
2 - The price tag. Generic tissues are still cheaper. The packages aren't as cool, but we are still talking about things we use to wipe away boogers.

All in all, I recommend these, especially if you can find a good coupon to bring the price down a bit. Quality is quality, and if you like quality, Kleenex is where it's at.

Coppertone ClearlySheer

Disclaimer: I received free samples of Coppertone ClearlySheer as a member of BzzAgent.

When I initially signed up for the Coppertone ClearlySheer BzzAgent campaign, I didn't expect much. My past experience had taught me a few "truths" about sun protection:

1. It smells like the beach.
2. Even the non-greasy formulations that promise not to clog my skin will still clog it.
3. The lotion will feel vaguely mask-like and uncomfortable on my face.

When I received the box in the mail, I pulled out two formulations --a yellow bottle designed for Sunny Days, and a blue bottle for the Beach and Pool. I popped open the bottle of Sunny Days lotion and took a whiff. And I was surprised --like, genuinely surprised-- to find that it actually didn't smell like your stereotypical sunscreen! Instead, it had a pleasant, light, floral aroma.

The next morning, I slathered some on my arms and legs and paused as I got to my face, remembering the breakouts and the uncomfortable sticky feelings of the past. But I pushed through, applied a small amount, and was again pleasantly surprised by the product. It has a barely-there, light-weight feeling. And even better, it didn't do a single thing to clog my pores. A few days passed by, and no pimples! But best of all, the broad spectrum SPF 30 protection effectively shielded my skin from all apparent sun damage.

All in all, I recommend this product. Visit the Coppertone website for more products details and coupons.