alexfranchuk
Member Since: September 24, 2015Reviews
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster
I really wanted to like this product as I have been looking for a collagen booster for my aging skin for some time now. This serum claims to be a powerful anti aging serum formulated with vitamin C and collagen that will help brighten and provide... +
I really wanted to like this product as I have been looking for a collagen booster for my aging skin for some time now. This serum claims to be a powerful anti aging serum formulated with vitamin C and collagen that will help brighten and provide all day hydration. I found my skin to be much smoother then it is without the serum, but the serum is rather uncomfortable. It is an orange color and has a chemically orange smell to it. It leaves my face feeling like it's hot and burning. I could not get passed the burning sensation and therefore wasn't able to use the product for the allotted 8 weeks in order to see results. My skin was more hydrated and smooth but I would not recommend this unless they change the formula to make it more comfortable on the skin. -
göt2b Fresh It Up Cocoa Brown Dry Shampoo
I was selected to try GÖT2B FRESH IT UP COCOA BROWN DRY SHAMPOO for free from Got2B and ChickAdvisor in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and I can honestly say that this product WOWED me. All it took was one use and I have already... +
I was selected to try GÖT2B FRESH IT UP COCOA BROWN DRY SHAMPOO for free from Got2B and ChickAdvisor in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and I can honestly say that this product WOWED me. All it took was one use and I have already replaced my cult favourite dry shampoo for this one. Dry shampoo is tricky for brunettes because I always find that you can see the residue on the scalp and no matter how hard I try to rub it in, my roots always end up looking white. Every. Darn. Time.
This product did the opposite! I have dark brown hair and this product, although not dark brown, did not leave any residue and blended right into my roots and hair color. It soaked up the oils quickly and there was hardly any waiting period before tousling my hair. The scent is a delicious cocoa smell that lasts almost all day which is a nice change up from the usual baby powder or floral scents that other dry shampoos have. The can is easy to use as well.. shake, spray in bursts, sit, and brush out. You have clean looking hair in under a minute. The oils do not come through later on during the day and hair remains refreshed and rejuvenated. When I redeemed my coupon the product was on sale for $3.99, however normal price is $6.99 - this is a great price for a great product that has good quality and effectiveness. It is actually cheaper then the other dry shampoos at the grocery store and is a couple dollars cheaper then my old favourite. I absolutely love this product and have already replaced my old products with it. I will recommend this to family and friends as it is a great bang for your buck and works far better then the alternatives!
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Mott's Mr & Mrs T Strawberry Daiquiri Cocktail Mix
I was selected to try MOTT'S MR & MRS T STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI COCKTAIL MIX from ChickAdvisor for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and it was so much better then I had even anticipated it to be! Daiquiri's are my favourite... +
I was selected to try MOTT'S MR & MRS T STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI COCKTAIL MIX from ChickAdvisor for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and it was so much better then I had even anticipated it to be! Daiquiri's are my favourite summertime drink and as much as I enjoy the taste of ones that are made from 'scratch'... sometimes on a hot day, simplicity is so much more convenient! I was excited to give this mix which is made from premium, quality ingredients a try and was not disappointed!
We had family dinner this weekend so I went and purchased some peaches and cranberry juice and decided to make us 'Peach-Berry Freeze Smoothies' (a recipe I found in the cocktail book also provided from ChickAdvisor!). It was so incredibly simple! I made virgin ones at first for the kids and then added some vodka in later for the adults. We all enjoyed every sip down to the last drop. It is not too sweet and there are no hints of artificial flavoring whatsoever! The product is made from real strawberry puree which is definitely noticeable. In the cocktail we made, you could taste a little strawberry and a lot of peach and the consistency was the perfect daiquiri. I love that only 6 oz is needed per 6 servings which means that the bottle is going to last for a long time! Nutritionally speaking, this product isn't great. But if you're whipping up a cocktail (virgin or not) I assume that this probably would not be concerning to you. As someone who has made them from scratch, I know that they contain TONS of sugar so I feel like purchasing the pre-made mix is actually better for you based on sugar content. The entire bottle (1L) is 190 calories and has 44g of sugar, that is awesome for a pre made cocktail mix!
Overall, I absolutely love this product and look forward to also purchasing the margarita and Mai Tai flavours! I have used pre made cocktail mixes in the past but this is by far the best one I have tasted yet. The 'Peach Berry Feeeze' was delicious and I can't wait to try out the lemonade and milkshake recipes. This is great for kids and adults alike and for $3.99 (on sale) and $6.99 regular price, you really can't go wrong! I have already recommended this to my family and friends!
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Voortman S'mores Wafers
My family and I were selected to try VOORTMAN S'MORES WAFERS from Family Rated in exchange for our honest thoughts and opinions. Even though they obviously aren't authentic campfire smores, they do come in as a close second! I used to eat these... +
My family and I were selected to try VOORTMAN S'MORES WAFERS from Family Rated in exchange for our honest thoughts and opinions. Even though they obviously aren't authentic campfire smores, they do come in as a close second! I used to eat these wafer type cookies when I was a kid and as soon as I saw the packaging my mouth literally started watering at the thought of the sweetness. I was so excited to share these with my family over our fire table before bed!
Upon opening the package all you can smell is a sweet combination between graham crackers, chocolate and faint hints of marshmallow. I HAVE to smell everything before I try it and I was not let down by the fragrance. They smell like delicious home cooked smores! I wish that they would have came in a more sectioned packaging however because I had a hard time not breaking cookies trying to get them out of the packaging. I wanted to save the bag for an easy reseal but found it hard because the cookies were so jam packed in the wrapper. The wafers are just like I remember and if you look closely, you can actually see the three layers of deliciousness sandwiched among the wafers!
They were absolutely delicious - kids and parents approved! No artificial colors or flavours, and NO high fructose corn syrup. We followed the tips on the packaging and tried some normally and then microwaved some for 10 seconds and tried them that way. Both ways hit the spot and definitely satisfied our sweet teeth! The chocolate flavour is more pronounced then the cookie or marshmallow but they are still there faint enough to get you dreaming of campfires, tents and family time! As with any dessert, the sugar content and nutritional value isn't the greatest but this is for a sweet treat and an indulgence. The fact that there is no high fructose corn syrup and that they are baked with real ingredients makes me much more inclined to purchase this product over other sugar filled alternatives. I haven't found them in the grocery store but the Voortman line runs around $2-$4 depending where I go which is fantastic for their quality!
Overall these were a huge hit in our household and I will be purchasing these again for the kids (and myself!) when we want a sweet treat and don't have access to a campfire! They taste delicious and are made with real ingredients that make me feel better about feeding them to my family. I would absolutely recommend this to family and friends!
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Bear Paws Dipped Caramel Granola
I purchased the BEAR PAWS DIPPED CARAMEL GRANOLA to try because they were on sale and caramel is my favourite flavour of ANYTHING! They are great size for snacking, especially for kids. I was not impressed and either were the kids. The cookie is... +
I purchased the BEAR PAWS DIPPED CARAMEL GRANOLA to try because they were on sale and caramel is my favourite flavour of ANYTHING! They are great size for snacking, especially for kids. I was not impressed and either were the kids. The cookie is very dry and almost hard to choke down. Its pretty much straight oatmeal with a thin covering of chocolate. I am not joking when I say you almost have to choke it down. The flavour is bland and the caramel is very artificial tasting. There is no actual caramel and I think the flavoring must just be in the oats. The nutritional value is terrible.. there are about 30 ingredients and numerous are foreign to me. For this small little cookie there is 9 grams of sugar. NINE! That is a tremendous amount for something with only a small layer of chocolate. Considering there is so much oatmeal I also expected a higher fibre count then 2g. Even though these were a great price (2$ for 6) I will not be purchasing them again. Kids did not like the flavour and I don't enjoy the ingredients and nutrition facts. -
Becel Avo Plus
My family and I were selected to try the BECEL AVO PLUS from Family Rated for free in exchange for our honest thoughts and opinions and we are in love! We use oil a lot more in cooking then we do butter or margarine but we find that it's hard to... +
My family and I were selected to try the BECEL AVO PLUS from Family Rated for free in exchange for our honest thoughts and opinions and we are in love! We use oil a lot more in cooking then we do butter or margarine but we find that it's hard to find a reasonably priced oil that is neutral tasting, with a high smoke point. Enter: Becel Avo Plus. It's everything we have been looking for and more!
The Becel Avo Plus is a blend of canola oil, avocado oil, and mid-oleic sunflower oil. It has a neutral taste and has a smoke point of a whopping 455 degrees F. I use oil for everything in cooking from sauteeing, to roasting, to salad dressings, to dip. I love that with this oil I am able to roast my vegetables or potatoes in the oven at higher than 400 degrees F with NO issues. Something I learned that has always stuck with me is that canola and sunflower oil usually have smoke points of 400 and are also usually less refined (which is why they burn at lower smoke points). The higher a smoke point the oil has, the less impurities there are in the oil and therefore the less inclined it is to burn when cooking! Anyone who cooks with oils that have a higher smoke point also know that they can be VERY expensive. So finding a great oil, with a high smoke point, suitable for all cooking is important!
I used the Becel Avo Plus for a variety of things over the past two weeks and I have zero complaints. I used it to sear steaks on a rainy day, in my homemade Greek dressing for Greek pasta salad, on oven roasted potatoes, and to saute my vegetables for chicken stir-fry. The taste of all our meals was incredible and was not compromised in the slightest. The smoke point stands true and my oil did not burn during the searing of the steaks or with the oven roasted potatoes. My favourite part is that there are ZERO trans fats and it is low in saturated fats.
Overall, this oil passed the test in my kitchen and will be added to my regular pantry lineup. It is neutral tasting and versatile and has a high smoke point! I could not find the price of the oil in stores or online but I saw a reviewer comment that they could find it for $7.99 which is more then reasonable for the size, quality and versatility of the product. I would recommend this to family and friends and will be purchasing this in the future when I am able to locate it in stores! :)
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Becel Sticks Unsalted
I was selected to try the BECEL STICKS UNSALTED from ChickAdvisor for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and I was pretty excited as I LOVE to cook and bake! Margarine is a staple in our household and I use it in most of my cooking... +
I was selected to try the BECEL STICKS UNSALTED from ChickAdvisor for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and I was pretty excited as I LOVE to cook and bake! Margarine is a staple in our household and I use it in most of my cooking instead of butter because butter is very expensive, especially in a small northern town. When it comes to baking, however, butter is a must! My cookies are always made with real unsalted butter and I have my family favourite recipes perfected and mastered to a T! I was super excited that these reasonably priced margarine sticks state on their label that they are great for baking, cooking and spreading. But better yet? They claim to replace butter 1:1 - I had to test this out! With 50% less saturated fat than butter, I knew this had to be too good to be true... it was.
I got out my recipe for my 'super soft and chewy soft baked chocolate chunk cookies' and as usual I followed the directions with the ONLY change being the addition of 3/4 cup of the Becel Unsalted Margarine Sticks instead of 3/4 cup of butter. I popped them in the oven, and my family and I waited the 13 minutes in anticipation of eating our favourite cookies! Long story short... it was a disaster. The cookies usually bake up thick and are non-greasy. The substitution of margarine made them the exact opposite. They were thin and had spread immensely and were SO greasy. Even after they had completely cooled on a wire cookie rack, they were a greasy mess. The next day after transferring them to an air tight container... still a greasy mess. The taste wasn't compromised too much, but the texture and consistency was not the same and I actually ended up just tossing them away.
Since my cookie nightmare I have used the margarine for sauteing mushrooms and peppers, on steak and as a spread for garlic bread and it worked awesome for all of those things! The taste was not compromised and the texture was soft and creamy. The package comes with four 1/2 cup sticks which is super convenient and easy to cut. There is no need to soften the margarine so it can cut down a little bit of time in the kitchen with meal prep. The only other con of the product is the fat content. Many margarine on the market contain between 1 and 1.5 g of saturated fats while this product has 2 grams. Many other margarine also contain 0 Trans fats while this contains 0.1g. I know that number is small, but I am sure you all know the dangers of trans fats and with 2 tsp of the Becel sticks containing 11% of your daily fat intake, is this really worth it?
Overall you can find these in the grocery store for a great price. They were on sale when I picked them up for $2.99 which is very reasonable. They do not substitute for baking like they claim but they do fare well in the cooking and spreading department. However, I would not choose this product over other margarine alternatives even at a better price, due to the saturated and trans fat percentages. Unfortunately I would not recommend this product to friends and family.
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Schweppes Blueberry Peach GingerAle
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the SCHWEPPES BLUEBERRY PEACH GINGER ALE! I am normally a fan of the competitor Ginger Ale and don't find myself usually picking up Schweppes when I want to satisfy my craving. This, however, was... +
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the SCHWEPPES BLUEBERRY PEACH GINGER ALE! I am normally a fan of the competitor Ginger Ale and don't find myself usually picking up Schweppes when I want to satisfy my craving. This, however, was delicious! It taste like a combination between a juice and a pop with the carbonation of a pop but the flavour of a juice. I picked it up on a whim after seeing it in the store and will be continuing to purchase this product again and again. I can't wait to perfect my summertime sangria with it! -
Mountain Dew Kickstart Mango Lime
I love the Mountain Dew Kickstart line and was super excited to see that they introduced a new flavour in the lineup - Mango Lime! I am not much of a lime person but I enjoy mango so I figured this would taste as great as the other flavours. Wrong... +
I love the Mountain Dew Kickstart line and was super excited to see that they introduced a new flavour in the lineup - Mango Lime! I am not much of a lime person but I enjoy mango so I figured this would taste as great as the other flavours. Wrong. I honestly could not finish the can. It is naturally and artificially flavored in which the latter is definitely more prominent. I am a caffeine drinker to the max and sometimes coffee can get boring. Every now and then I like to pick up a different way to consume my caffeine (especially in the summer months) and although the taste in this wasn't for me, the kick was there! It gave me tons of energy and actually made it difficult to sleep at night. I think I took it too late in the afternoon but it works very well. They are under $2 at my local convenience store so the price is worth the product. I would purchase again but only in a different flavor. -
Starbucks Doubleshot Energy + Coffee White Chocolate
I surprisingly really enjoyed the STARBUCKS DOUBLESHOT ENERGY + COFFEE WHITE CHOCOLATE fortified coffee drink. I have had the other doubleshot flavours before and was sadly disappointed, but this flavour was delicious! White chocolate mochas from... +
I surprisingly really enjoyed the STARBUCKS DOUBLESHOT ENERGY + COFFEE WHITE CHOCOLATE fortified coffee drink. I have had the other doubleshot flavours before and was sadly disappointed, but this flavour was delicious! White chocolate mochas from Starbucks are literally the only thing that I will purchase from Starbucks because the price is not justifiable to me. I found this product in my local convenience store and decided to give it a shot. The flavour is delicious and although it tastes more like coffee then anything white chocolate, I loved it. I was expecting the carbonation of an energy drink and that thankfully was not there! It goes down so smooth and is more like a creamy iced coffee then anything else. I did notice that it left a creamy film on the roof of my mouth which was weird, but otherwise I really enjoyed it. I don't think it gave me too much additional energy so I would not purchase it as any type of energy drink. The price is also quite steep at $4+ a can depending on where you purchase it. Much like many other Starbucks products, this too was over priced for my liking. It tastes great but unless a real, true, mad craving kicked in that could not be controlled... I would think twice about purchasing this again. -
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