Skout Organic Trailbars Review!

Skout Organic Trailbars "were born in the lush Willamette Valley of Oregon. Made with delicious organic ingredients, they embody the rugged and energetic spirit of the region. Skout Organic Trailbars sustain those who seek, find, and embrace adventure to its fullest." These bars make for a healthy and very tasty snack! They are great to take along on a hike or bike ride, or you can stash a few in your desk drawer at work when you need a little extra energy and don't want to raid a vending machine or nearby candy dish. I'm very glad to have received some samples of these bars to review for you.

Here are some more cool specs for Skout Organic Trailbars (pictured below):

• Certified Organic
• Certified Gluten Free
• Non-GMO Project Verified
• Naturally Occurring Nutrients
• No Refined Sugar or Fillers
• Certified Kosher
• Vegan
• Dairy & Soy Free

I rate these bars a 9.5 of 10. I enjoyed all of the flavors, especially the chocolate and coconut and the blueberry and almond. These bars remind me of larabars, but aren't as sticky, which is something I appreciate. They are filling, made with quality ingredients, and very portable. I also love the packaging - it highlights the natural quality of the bars. :-)

Be sure to check out Skout Natural Foods on Facebook and Twitter! I also recommend trying these bars for yourself. You won't be disappointed!

QStick Review!

Do you have any unwanted facial hair? Do you wonder how you can remove it easily and for a low cost? I think the answer is the QStick! I was sent a complimentary QStick to review and am happy to share that review with you today.

According to their website, the QStick is:

• Convenient, easy & fast
• Safe for all skin types
• Finer hair re-growth
• Small enough to carry
• Hypo-Allergenic
• Environmentally friendly & reusable

I agree with all of these statements! I tried the QStick and was impressed at how quickly and easily I could remove unwanted facial hair. Did it hurt? To be honest, yes, it did hurt a bit, but primarily just around my mouth - a more sensitive area. While I've never waxed, I think you could compare it to that. This is much less messy though! I love that it's portable too, so you can bring it with you on longer trips.

Have you tried the QStick? Have you tried other ways to remove facial hair?

Redmond Clay, Bath Salts, Real Salt, Re-Lyte Electrolyte Replacement Capsules, and Earthpaste Review

Have you heard about Redmond? This company has some awesome products that are "simple, clean, and real - just the way nature intended." I was sent some Redmond product samples to review, which are pictured below. I sampled Redmond Clay Facial Mud, Earthpaste, Bath Salt, Real Salt, and Re-Lyte Electrolyte Replacement Capsules.

After trying the different products, I can honestly say that I'm happy with them all. My favorite was the Redmond Clay Facial Mud. I swear I could feel it cleansing my skin, and some of the redness/pimples on my face diminished after just one use! Earthpaste was my second favorite product. I've never tried natural toothpaste before, but I was happy to try this brand. While it took a little getting used to the different flavor and texture, I was happy that the paste left my mouth feeling fresh and clean sans artificial flavorings and iffy ingredients. The bath salts also worked wonderfully, and the real salt (a tasty natural sea salt!) was great for seasoning various dishes. I'm still working my way through the Re-Lyte Electrolyte Replacement Capsules, but I do think they are helpful for athletes. They contain important electrolytes and trace minerals that help prevent cramps - sounds good to me!

Fifth Third River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Today I ran my first 5K of the year! It was a great experience (aside from waking up before 6 AM on a Saturday). I love the atmosphere surrounding races. I feel like I'm at home, and I'm always brought back to my days as a high school runner at cross country and track meets. This event was the largest I've ever run in, and is in fact the largest 25K road race in the nation. There were over 5,000 runners in the 5K and over 6,000 in the 25K.

I finished 4th in my age group, which was much better than I expected. I do think the better runners in my age group went for the 25K though, so my goal is to run the 25K next year. I think that's a good goal, and I'm looking forward to preparing for it.



Image from: http://interactives.woodtv.com/photomojo/gallery/7343/1/53rd-river-bank-run-2013/53rd-river-bank-run/

Recharge and Detour Protein Bars Review

Are you in need of a quick pick-me-up during the afternoon or a low calorie, high-protein snack to fuel you after a workout? I have a couple options for you!

I was recently sent two different types of protein bars for review. The first was a Recharge sample pack, which is actually on sale right now for only $5 AND free shipping.

Raspberry + Apple: 9.5 of 10. The bar was firm, chewy, and a bit sticky. I loved how sweet and fruity it was. It also didn't taste like whey protein despite that being an ingredient. It was satisfying for a little bar! 

Chocolate + Caramel: 10 of 10! This was my favorite flavor! This bar was so delicious with a sweet chocolate coating and a gooey caramel inside that reminded me of a milky way (though it's been a very long time since I've had one!). I couldn't believe there was only 1g of sugar and whey protein in it since it didn't taste at all like a protein bar. I enjoyed recharging with this!

Caramel + Peanuts: 8 of 10. This bar had a nice chocolate coating and a sweet, gooey caramel inside with a little peanut pieces. I could taste the whey protein with this bar though, so it wasn't as reminiscent of a candy bar like the other flavors.

Detour Bars are another whey protein bar option for you. I was sent a complimentary sample of their new lower sugar neapolitan flavor pictured below.

Lower Sugar Neapolitan Detour Bar: 9 of 10. This bar has a lovely chocolate coating and a sweet combination of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. You can taste the whey protein in this bar, but I couldn't tell that it was low sugar. This bar definitely provides a nice amount of protein and can be a great post-workout snack or breakfast on the run.

What types of protein bars do you enjoy? There are so many options out there! I tend to enjoy a variety depending on how much protein I'm looking for, what flavors I enjoy, and so forth.

Inbru Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to all who entered my Inbru Giveaway! The lucky winner is # 3 - Karen!

Stay tuned for more reviews and giveaways! I have some neat products to share with you all.

Hope you're enjoying summer! This squirrel sure is - picnic lunch and all!

Inbru Review and Giveaway

Inbru is the sugar-free, fat-free, calorie-free, carb-free way to flavor your favorite coffee, and I am so happy to share it with you! "Simply select your favorite coffee - dark roast, light roast, decaf - and add Inbru to the ground coffee in the filter basket. Inbru releases its essential aromas during the brew process, creating a deeply aromatic and incredibly delicious flavored coffee experience. Each 24 gram jar of Inbru includes a handy measuring scoop and enough Inbru to flavor 80 servings of coffee at home or in the office."

I have an AeroPress, so I used Inbru with it AND it worked perfectly. I chose to review the Chocolate Fudge and Butterscotch Drop flavors from among 19 flavors total!

9.5 of 10 for both flavors. The chocolate fudge added just a hint of chocolate flavor to my coffee and made me smile. :-) The aroma is wonderful, and the butterscotch drop aroma was my favorite. Also, I did experiment and try adding a small scoop of Inbru to a smoothie once. It did add the flavor, but the little flakes weren't filtered out as they are with the coffee grounds. Still, I think they're safe to consume and the added flavor was tasty.

Interested? You can purchase your own jars here and for the month of April you'll get free shipping if you buy 6 or more jars!

Inbru Giveaway

Inbru is sponsoring a giveaway for 1 lucky reader! You'll win two jars of your choosing. In order to enter this giveaway, comment below with the two Inbru flavors you'd choose if you win. Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. 

For additional giveaway entries, tweet about the giveaway - Check out the @InbruCafe giveaway @cygirl88 http://foodfotosandfun.blogspot.com/2013/04/inbru-review-and-giveaway.html (leave link to tweet as comment), blog about this giveaway (leave link to post as comment) or follow my blog.

This giveaway will end on May 2, 2013. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator.

Best of luck!

* Inbru sent me two complimentary jars for review. My comments are my own.

Sibu Beauty Review

Sibu Beauty offers "premium skin care products made from the Himalayan sea buckthorn berry. Known as the “beauty berry” across Europe and Asia, sea buckthorn contains over 190 bioactive compounds that restore, revitalize, and protect youthful beauty – from the inside-out AND outside-in. These hardy berries help nourish skin, hair, and nails with powerful antioxidants and essential fatty acids." You should definitely check out their product line!

I was sent a complimentary Sea Buckthorn Face and Body Bar to review. Read more below!

Sea Buckthorn Face and Body Bar: 10 of 10! I love this bar! It has a very unique, strong, and pleasant aroma. It has a smooth texture except for the berries, which provide a soothing exfoliation experience. I really do feel like this bar revitalizes my skin cells. I also like that this bar is paraben-free and cruelty-free, and contains NO dairy, wheat, gluten, sodium, yeast or preservatives. This means that almost anyone should be able to and want to use it. :-)

Check out Sibu Beauty on twitter, facebook, pinterest, and their blog!

And now for some good news! The winners of The Skin Regime giveaway were Melissa and Christine! Thanks to all who entered!

The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin Review and Giveaway

Earlier this year I was sent a complimentary copy of Dana Ramos' The Skin Regime: Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin along with a sample Glycolic Acid Peel.

This book covers all you need to know about skin care. It's an easy read with straightforward directions. Dana recommends an affordable skin regime that actually works! I'm impressed with the results and am excited to continue following the book's recommendations. I especially loved the peel. I was a little nervous to try it since I've never done a facial peel before, but I followed the directions, and afterwards my face felt like a load had been lifted from it. It felt like new baby's skin, just like the book said. I also had no negative reactions like red skin, so I was especially pleased.

If you're sick of using a cabinet full of skin products with limited results or if you're at a loss for how to care for your skin, this is the book for you. It is a small book, but it is packed with great advice and information.

Still not convinced? Check out the first 30 pages for free here!

You can also check out The Skin Regime on Facebook and Twitter, and you can buy the book at Amazon.com.


And now.... for a Giveaway! Two lucky winners will receive a copy of The Skin Regime along with a sample Glycolic Acid Peel. Giveaway ends on March 31.

To enter this giveaway, email giveawaywinner007@gmail.com and state why you're interested in trying The Skin Regime.

For additional entries, comment below if you post about this giveaway on your blog, if you follow my blog, and/or if you add my blog to your blogroll.

Thanks and best of luck!

Wholesome Meal Snack Bites Giveaway Winner

Thank you to all who entered the Wholesome Meal Snack Bites Giveaway! Random.org has declared #1 the lucky winner, which is Vera! I'll be emailing you shortly!

Stay tuned for more reviews and giveaways!