BzzPost! Glade Expressions make my house smell AWESOME!

In case you didn't already know from some of my previous blog posts - I am a BzzAgent. I am sent BzzKits of products to try out, share and talk about with friends, family, strangers, etc. I am given these items for free in exchange for my honest feedback and opinion of the products. It is an AWESOME program and I have been part of it for nearly 8 years now!! One of the latest campaigns that I am part of is for the new Glade Expressions Collection. I was so excited to be a part of this campaign. If you know me at all, you know that I love for my house to smell GOOD. I have a cat, and while I love my cat - I don't want my house to smell like I have a cat. I received coupons for a free Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser and Room Spray. Here is my diffuser (right in the middle):

See how nice is blends in with my other decor?! I love that - I didn't want some huge, gaudy piece of plastic sticking out in the middle of my bookcase. Also - I love that the oil is locked into the base, you actually click the large diffuser into the oil so I don't have to worry about spilling! And let me tell you - the smell is AWESOME. The scent I chose is Fuji Apple and Cardamom Spice. I love natural smells, but nothing too "foody" or else it just makes me want to eat haha. This smell totally fits in with how we live in our home.  Another great thing about these products is once you buy the starter kit, you only have to buy the refills which are cheaper and LESS WASTE for the garbage dump!  Win win!!

I had a party last weekend with about 11 other women in my home and more than once did someone mention how nice it smelled in my house.  It isn't overbearing but you can definitely notice it.

Does this sound like something you want to try?  Well guess what?!  BzzAgent always sends along ways to share the products with others and I have some GREAT coupons for the Oil Diffuser Starter Kit ($4.00 Off 1) and the Fragrance Mist Starter Kit ($2.00 Off 1).   If you would like to try these out and want me to send you out some coupons please leave a comment here!

Need to get back into blogging....

Hey everyone!  I know, I know... I tend to become a stranger in the blogging world.  I have SO MUCH going on that I want to share but when it comes down to actually setting aside time to do so... not so much.

BUT - I have things I want to talk about.  Sometimes I just need to get it OUT, on "paper", and I like to think others want to know what I have to say.  Maybe not... but humor me!

So much has gone on in the last year... so much to share, ask opinions of, scream about in frustration.  The list goes on and on. 

So - beware!  I am coming back!

Filippo Berio Olive Oil COUPONS!

I made my favorite appetizer the other night to go with our dinner - Fresh Italian bread with "Italian Butter" - olive oil (Used Filippo Berio OF COURSE!) with crushed herbs (I used a garlic garnish.... soooo yummy) and sometimes some balsamic vinegar as well. I have 5 COUPONS for $1.00 off ANY Filippo Berio to give away! These came in my Bzzkit from being an BzzAgent.  They also come with 6 recipe cards and a chart to help you replace butter with olive oil in your recipes. If you would like a coupon, first comment here and then e-mail me at maren.mckim at gmail dot com with your address. I only have 5 so first 5 people to comment that they want one gets them! Then, come back and let me know what you made with your Filippo Berio Olive Oil!

ANOTHER New BzzCampaign! Filippo Berio Olive Oil!

I am SO EXCITED!  I received yet ANOTHER BzzKit in the mail today!  It is for Filippo Berio Olive Oil!  I am so excited as I am always looking for great ingredients to cook with.

First of all - what a GREAT Bzzkit!  It had tons of fun goodies in it (some which I can share with YOU!).  In this kit I received:

• The product of course!  A SUPER CUTE 8.4oz bottle of Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  I even "squeed" a little as the bottle is so adorable!  I love "mini" sized things, even if this wasn't so mini!
• A GREAT brochure detailing the Mediterranean Diet
• Recipe Booklets to SHARE with coupons!!
• A magnetic Olive Oil Substitution chart that will come in handy with cooking!  (Sticking that on the fridge RIGHT NOW)
• A Filippo Berio Olive Oil Magic Grip Jar Opener!  LOVE these things and come in handy so much!

I have so many plans already for this BzzCampaign!  I cannot WAIT to start cooking with the Olive Oil and seeing what my friends/family think about it.

I am going to make one of my favorite snacks/appetizers ever with it!  "Italian Butter" with crusty Italian bread.  LOVE dipping fresh bread into olive oil with different seasonings, cheeses and even balsamic vinegar. OOh and I think I will make some bruschetta with it!  YUM!

I'll be giving away the coupons in the near future so stick around and I'll give you the heads up soon!

Can't wait to blog more about all the yummy food I can make with this!!

New Bzz Campaign - Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition!

I was so excited to receive my latest BzzKit in the mail the other day!  This campaign is for Garnier Fructis' new line of hair care.  Triple Nutrition Fortifying Shampoo and Conditioner. 

I was able to use it for the first time yesterday.  Here are a few of my initial reactions:

#1 - I LOVE the smell.  It isn't too overpowering to me and smells fresh and natural.  It is almost like a mango/apricot/passion fruit smell.  I actually cannot really pin point what the exact smell is but I like it! 

#2 - The shampoo is clear, and not too thick.  It is a bit runny so you need to pay attention.  A small amount lathered up quite nicely in my hair.

#3 - The conditioner is THICK.  I was actually kind of nervous about that.  Sometimes if it is so thick, it is hard to wash out.  BUT, that was not the case!  It rinsed out quite well and made my hair feel SO smooth.

#4 - The scent sticks with you!  I loved having just a faint smell of the shampoo in my hair for quite a few hours after washing.  To me, it wasn't too much that it annoyed me or bothered my senses.  I know some may not like that it lingers so long.  Not sure my husband would appreciate it!

I will report back after using it repeatedly to see how my hair reacts to it!

~Maren~

Smarterer

I am a BzzAgent and I received an invitation to a project for Smarterer


It is a quiz program that is designed to see how "smart" you are in various tech areas. The first quiz was designed for BzzAgents and I did so-so. There is a LOT of information to know about being a BzzAgent! There are also quizzes for Facebook, Twitter, Wordpress and EVEN Blogger!

I did the BzzAgent quiz and now I want to try the other quizzes just for fun. I love that their are even Achievements to earn!!

Here is my Smarterer link

I play lots of games....

And sometimes, I get lots of flack for it. It used to bother me. But you know what? It doesn't bother me anymore!!

You see, it takes all kinds of people to make our world what it is. Some people are very crafty (I wish...), some like to dig in the dirt and grow things (maybe someday, but no land for it now). Then there are people like my husband and I. Gamers.

It seems more socially appropriate for men to be gamers. Often times someone will ridicule a man for being a gamer. It seems like when people see a grown man who plays lots of games, they instantly label him as an "immature man who still lives in his parent's basement with no job and no girlfriend/wife."

I am very happy to say that my husband is none of the above! He is a gamer but he is also a full time employee (and a very successful one at that). He most certainly does NOT live in his parent's basement (actually they don't even have one anymore, but I digress). Gaming is his hobby. He enjoys gaming and I am happy to let him enjoy it. Now, if gaming were an issue between us then certainly we would have to place some boundaries. My husband will nearly always (99% of the time) set aside his games if I need him to do something. We don't plan our lives around games... most of the time. Sometimes he will plan on playing a game with a group of friends online and then we do schedule it, but it is not #1 priority in any means.

My husband is very lucky, however. He married a "gamer chick." That is what I am called in our geek circle. I not only let him play his games but I often times join him! For us, it is our form of entertainment. We don't go out a lot (maybe once a week to dinner), don't frequent bars or clubs, our families are pretty spread out so we only see them a few times a year (if that). We still do activities with our friends (Twins baseball games, Renaissance Festival, State Fair, etc) but often times we just like to relax at home, in our comfy clothes and play games.

In another post, I will talk about what games we play. All styles and types!

So people, before you place a negative label on us because we are "gamers" please understand, you can be a gamer and a responsible adult at the same time :D