Hello!  Sorry I'm just now getting my Sugar & Spice VoxBox review.  I've had quite the health issue sneak up on me (I'll tell you about it in another post).  The positive thing is I've definitely had time to fully use and experience the products.  Let's get started:

Colgate Opti-White

• Product Claim: The collection of Colgate® Optic White® products whitens more than 3 shades* and results start in one week. With Colgate® Optic White®, the only accessory you need to look fabulous is your smile. *based on twice daily use for 4 weeks 
• What I loved:  I honestly LOVE these products!  I've even purchased several more toothbrushes for the family.  Now we're all using it!  The toothpaste I feel does a wonderful job at whitening (as much as an over the counter toothpaste can).  It's got a great minty taste that sticks with you for awhile for long lasting freshness. 
• What I didn't love:  I'm not a huge fan of the mouthwash.   I do use it, and love the way it works.  However, my issue lays with the "foaming action".  It foams so much it gags me.  It's not a pleasant experience for me, so I probably won't repurchase the mouthwash for myself.  I don't believe in waste though, so I will definitely finish the bottle.

Nectresse Natural Sweetener

• Product claim: NECTRESSE™ Sweetener has a rich sugar-like taste and is naturally zero calories per serving. How? We started with the deliciously sweet extract of monk fruit and combined it with the perfect blend of other natural sweeteners. It's 100% natural with nothing artificial. You're going to love the way it tastes. In our search to create the perfect sweetener, we turned to the place that does sweetness best: nature. We found our inspiration in the monk fruit. Hand-picked in remote mountain regions, monk fruit has been cultivated for hundreds of years and only recently re-discovered as a source of natural sweetness.
• What I loved:  I don't use many artificial sweeteners.  I pretty much stick to Truvia, and I don't even use it that often.  I have made myself become a black coffee and unsweetened tea drinker.  However, I do lightly sweeten my oatmeal with artifical sweetener.  While I did enjoy the sweetener, I didn't feel overly impressed or underwhelmed by it.  Nothing speical stuck out. 
• What I didn't love:  Again... I neither loved nor hated this product.  I know it seems odd to be completely apathetic about an articial sweetener, but I am. 

Belvita Breakfast Biscuits

• Product claim: belVita Breakfast Biscuits are made with delicious ingredients and carefully baked to release nutritious sustained energy, all morning long. They are a good source of Fiber and B-vitamins, contain no high fructose corn syrup, have 18-20 grams of whole grain per 50 gram serving and taste great, which makes belVita Breakfast Biscuits perfect for when you are on the go. Facts:• Nutritious sustained energy all morning• 18-20 grams of whole grains per 50 gram serving• A good source of both energy-releasing B-vitamins + fiber• No high fructose corn syrup• No artificial flavors or sweeteners. 
• What I loved:  Ack, here's another product I don't have a whole lot to say on.  It is not Gluten Free, so I was unable to test it myself.  I let my teenager test it.  He ate it all in about 2.5 seconds, and said it was good, then walked away to find more to eat ;) 
• What I didn't love: That it wasn't gluten free.

Dickinson's Oil Controlling Towelettes

• Product claim: New from Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel, Oil Controlling Towelettes. The first ever individually wrapped towelette with Original Witch Hazel to gently remove dirt, oil & impurities while eliminating shine – even on the go. Perfect for even the most sensitive skin, each towelette is touched with aloe to help restore essential moisture. The result is a clean, refreshed, and blemish free complexion anytime, anywhere. Oil Controlling Towelettes are conveniently wrapped for active lifestyles and perfectly sized for travel, complying with strict TSA requirements. Benefits of Oil Controlling Towelettes-Gentle spun lace cloth helps extract trapped dirt & oils, tones and protects skin-Original witch hazel is perfect for sensitive skin-Non-drying like many other oil removing products-Simple efficacious ingredients-The small size is convenient to travel with and bring anywhere – the home, office, beach, sporting events and gym-Cleans and conditions on the go .
• What I loved:  Ladies & Gents, I've been using Dickinson's witch hazel for years and years.  As an oily & acne prone person, witch hazel is a must for me.  I loved the convenience of the travel towelettes.  I've even used it to remove makeup in a pinch.  These are wonderful & I will definitely repurchase.
• What I didn't love:  N/A, loved everything about them!

Vaseline Spray & Go

• Product claim: • A convenient 360° continuous spray lotion that moisturizes deeply and absorbs in seconds (less than 10)• Skin feels instantly soft – not sticky or greasy• Contains multi-layer moisture complex and infuses moisture across all layers of skin* – at the top, the core and deep down• Fast to apply, quick to absorb, so women can put their clothes right on after moisturizing• Targeted spray (width of woman’s wrist) dispenses lotion quickly and evenly• To apply simply spray up one side of your body, switch hands, spray down the other side, and then rub in with a few quick rubs (“Up, Switch, Down, Rub”)• All over body coverage• Also comes in Total Moisture®, which contains pure oat extract and leaves skin feeling healthy and soft, Aloe Fresh which contains pure aloe and leaves skin feeling healthy and fresh and Cocoa Radiant™ which contains pure cocoa butter and leaves skin feeling healthy and glowing **Stratum corneum (multi-layer surface skin)
• What I loved: This product was interesting... I found that it was very easy to use and soaked right into the skin with minimal hand/lotion contact.  I use it out of the shower after shaving.  I hope out, dry off, spray it on, and by the time I'm ready to get dressed it has soaked into the skin.
• What I didn't love:  I wasn't crazy about the scent of the one that was sent to me.  However, I have seen more of these in the store with different scents.  So there's more options for you to try out.

All in all I'd say it was a very successful VoxBox!  Here are my product ratings:

• Colgate Optic-White~ A+
• Nutresse~ B
• Belvita~ A
• Dickinson's Towelettes~ A+
• Vaseline Spray & Go~ A

sample society [3.13]

Excuse the fingerprints on my box lol!  I have already played with some of the products while putting makeup on... I LOVE my sample society boxes!  I'm so excited every month to receive these.  To me they are way worth the $15 price, and I prefer them over any other box.  I haven't tried Glossy Box and may give it a shot some time, but for right now I'm more than satisfied with my Sample Society box, they've never let me down.  Ever.

When you open it, there's the product description card with the $15 off coupon for use on Beauty Bar on any product brand sent that month.  Then there's also a little Allure mini magazine with makeup & beauty tips.

This month's box was exceptionally awesome!  I love when they surprise you and give you a full size product (the Butter London nail polish).  

Contents:

• Oscar Blandi Pronto Wet Hair Care Conditioner 1.7oz (Full size is $24 for 8.4oz)
• Hollywood Fashion Tape 18 strips (Full size is $9.55 for 36 strips)
• Butter London 3 Free Lacquer in Diamond Geezer, this was full size and retails for $15
• Murad Essential-C Moisturizer SPF 30 .33oz (Full size is $60 for 1.7oz)
• Lashfood Nano-Peptide Natural Eyebrow Conditioner .05oz (Full size is $90 for .3oz)

I have tried all the products except the Fashion tape at least once.  I love the Butter London shade! 

The product I'm most obsessed with so far is the Murad Moisturizer.  I sure wish that product wasn't $60!  I may have to breakdown and get it...  It makes my face feel absolutely amazing.  I don't get impressed easily by moisturizers, but this one sure has me dreading the day I empty this sample size!

The conditioner was nice.  I didn't notice anything particularly spectacular about it though.  Maybe I will after a few more uses.  I'll let you know.  Same with the Lashfood.  I think that's one of those products that you notice the change over time.  I don't necessarily see myself spending $90 on brow conditioner though.  I do need growth in my brows since they are getting sparse in areas, but honestly I'd rather fill them in than spend $90 on a conditioner for them =)

influenster VoxBox! [Sugar N Spice]

If you're unfamiliar with VoxBox by Influenster, you can click the link HERE to learn more about it.

This is my first VoxBox ever, so I'm really excited to have received it and to share it with you today!  I was pleasantly surprised by everything inside.  

Here's the full contents of my box:

• Colgate Optic White Toothpaste 4oz 
• Colgate 360 Optic White Toothbrush
• Colgate Optic White Mouthwash 8oz
• Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer 6.5oz
• Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Towelettes 20ct
• Splenda's Nectresse 40ct
• Belvita Cinnamon Brown Sugar Breakfast Biscuits 1pkg (4ct)

Let me start by saying "WOW"!  These are all full size products!  What an awesome gift!  I'll go through each item as I use them and review them for you.  I'm very excited about all of it!  I won't be able to give my personal opinion on the Belvita, since I'm Gluten Free, but I'll have a family member try it out for me =)

february favorites [2013]

Can you believe it's already March!?  Seems like just yesterday we were Christmas shopping, but here it is time for February Favorites!

I can't tell you enough how much I LOVE this candle!  It's a Bath & Body Works candle in the fragrance London Calling [Tea & Lemon].  Let me tell you... it smells EXACTLY like a glass of tea with lemon.  It's amazing and smells so clean and fresh.  

This brush was featured in my recent Ulta Haul post.  It's by far the best foundation brush I've ever used.  I even like it more than my much more expensive Sigma foundation brush.  The bristles are soft & dense, which provides the perfect flawless coverage.  I can't believe how affordable this brush is for the quality.  You must try it.

Maybelline's The Rocket mascara was also featured in my recent Ulta Haul post.  After using for several weeks, I can definitely say I really like it.  I won't say it's the best mascara I've ever used, but it's a pretty great one.  

The winter weather has reeked havoc on my skin.  I'm loving the mark. whipped up body butter in the fragrance Jasmine Petal.  A wonderfully creamy texture that provides lots of moisture to the skin.  Plus, the fragrance adds a delightful touch of spring when the snow is coming down outside.

My other beauty winter rescue has been Moroccan Oil.  It has added moisture to my hair, and kept it so healthy and shiny.  This is obviously a stock photo, my bottle is a mess :)

.laundry room overhaul [dollar tree budget]

Okay you all know how much I LOVE the dollar tree.  Yes it's full of cheap looking junk, but it can also be an organizers candy shop!  More often than not there's flimsy containers and bins, but sometimes there's a diamond in the rough.  Lately, they've been stocked with wonderful bins.  I purchased all that my dollar tree had in the colors I needed.  My kitchen colors are red, black, white, && silver.  They had bins in a beautiful red color that matched my kitchen perfectly.  I also picked up every single Tiffany blue colored bin & basket they had.  They're adorable and such a gorgeous color.  Now, this is where my addiction comes in... I had no use for these bins planned when I purchased them but I had to have them ;)  This led to an overhaul of my laundry room which I'm going to share with you today!

Background: I live in a 3 bedroom, 3 bath "loft" style apartment.  It has exposed brick, corrugated aluminum, hardwood floors, and metal artwork built into the walls.  It's very artsy/industrial and I absolutely adore it.  I'm telling you this so you better understand the "laundry room" I have to work with.  My laundry room is built into my living room out of barn style wood with a sliding barn door.  It's small with very little storage space to work with.  Unfortunately, I got so excited about starting my project that I didn't take "before" pictures.  Let's get to it!

This is the entry to my laundry room just off of my living room.  That is the sliding door that is partly open.

The containers on my dryer are essential to me.  It might bother other people to have several things right on top of their dryer, but since I lack shelving, this works for me.  The tall bin in the back is what I use as a waste basket.  The wide shorter bin on the right is what I keep my cleaning rags in.  And the cute little tin on the left is for change that gets forgotten in pockets.  

This is the one shelf in my laundry room.  I lined my bins up in a row.  Each square bin holds extra cleaning solutions, spare laundry essentials, and the tall bin on the right hold my standard daily cleaning supplies.  This way I can grab the bin and do my cleaning and everything is contained into one carrier that I can take all around the apartment.  

Here's where I keep my detergent and fabric softener.  [The candle is lit cause I enjoy candles, and it made my organization project smell lovely.  I don't suggest leaving lit candles unattended especially in the laundry room.]

Inside my fabric softener bin, I have a cute matching basket.  This basket houses my mesh bags for delicate undergarments.  

There ya have it!  My organized laundry room all in Tiffany blue bins that cost a dollar each! <333

.my favorite health apps [android]

Our phones have become an additional appendage.  I know mine is!  I won't retrace my celiac story here, but you know I was diagnosed with it.  That has definitely required me to be more in tune with my body and what I eat.  I've been more aware of my health overall since my diagnosis.  Here is a list of my favorite health apps for Android && how I use them.

||1} Rawtarian is a FANTASTIC app full of raw recipes & information.  I'm not a rawtarian, but I do try to eat at least 50% raw each day.  

||2} RelaxMelodies app has literally been a life saver for me!  I suffer from insomnia and this app has helped tremendously!  It has a lot of different sounds that you can layer.  There's a timer, so your phone doesn't keep playing the app after you fall asleep.  I set mine for 30mins and I haven't been awake still when the timer turns the app off yet.  My favorite sounds that I have layered are: dryer, rain, city, cat purring

||3} OvuView is my favorite period tracker app.  I DO NOT use it for fertility [no more kiddos for this girl!]  I currently have menstrual issues, and have to keep a log for my doctor. [Boy this post sure makes me seem like I'm falling apart!]

||4} Bodybuilding.com I follow the Jamie Eason Live Fit weight training program.  When I'm in the gym, this app helps if I'm unsure of how to do a new lift.

||5} My Diet Diary I follow calories not to lose weight, but to make sure I am getting ENOUGH calories a day.  Eating 50% raw, clean, and gluten free means most of my diet is fruits & vegetables.  Some days I struggle to get all my calories in. 

||6} Food Diary I have a post about my food diary that I keep.  I only use the app version when I'm traveling or away from home and remember something that I need to add to my physical food diary.

||7} Fooducate is a wonderful app to help you when you are unsure of the ingredients of what you're eating/purchasing.  It also has a rating system that gives you an idea of how healthy or unhealthy to food is for you.  

Do you use any of these?  Use something not listed?  Please share!