DreamWalk in my Chinese Laundry Platforms

Recently, as a #BzzAgent, I #GotItFree and got to test drive a pair of Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles. What inspired me to participate in this campaign was the fact that I have had three separate foot surgeries on both my feet. For me, wearing a pair of shoes, other than flats, can pose a real issue.

Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles
[JaguarJulie sporting Pucci-licious Color Club Nail Polish]

When my package arrived from BzzAgent, I noticed that the package stated these fit women's shoes sizes 6 through 10. I was wondering if I would need to cut them. However, once I opened that package I saw that they weren't the complete length of the shoe. You can see that they are the palest of pink colors. I might have suggested a light nude, like skin, color instead.

Feeling the insoles, there is a nubby texture which is the wicking fabric which helps to wick the moisture away from your feet and keep them dry. That is a good thing since I don't wear panty hose and my feet do tend to perspire here in Jacksonville, Florida.

IN MY CHINESE LAUNDRY PLATFORMS

Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels

I dug in my closet to see what high heels I had left since I have been selling my shoes on eCrater and donating quite a few to Goodwill. Hmmm, when I pulled out the Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels, I didn't realize that I was going to be extremely trendy with my old pair of shoes. You see, the Miss USA Pageant outfitted all the contestants in Chinese Laundry metallic platform heels. Did you see that?

Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels
Sporting Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles

There you have it -- my pair of Chinese Laundry platforms with the DreamWalk insoles. Good thing the back of the insoles wasn't any wider -- it just fits in my heels!

Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels
Sporting Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles

Looking at the side of my platforms, you can see how well the insert fits this shoe. The shoes have a 1 inch platform with a bit over 4 inches of heel. Since the insoles are designed for heels 2 inches or higher, these are great for testing the product.

Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels
Sporting Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles

When you put the insoles into your heels, you peel off the plastic and place the sticky side down, aligning with the back of the shoe. I like how the insoles stay in place.

JaguarJulie in Chinese Laundry Silver Metallic Platform Heels
Sporting Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles

Ah, there I am in my Chinese Laundry platforms sporting Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk High Heel Insoles. Those insoles have an "ultra-soft gel arch" which cushions your foot and helps to shift all that pressure off the balls of your feet. Usually, in heels, you are pressing down quite a bit on the balls of your feet. Usually, after a long day on my feet, it is the balls of my feet which hurt the most.

The DreamWalk High Heel Insoles are "clinically proven to help prevent foot pain." That is a nice bonus for me because after a Morton's Neuroma surgery to my right foot, followed by a bunionectomy on the right and then another bunionectomy on the left, I know foot pain!! Another big challenge for me is fallen arches. I've gotten used to how my feet feel with no arches -- I surely have no idea how your foot would feel with arches! So, having an insole with a gel pad at the arch area, helps to cushion my step.

So? Where did I go with DreamWalk? I actually put on my shoes with those sporty insoles and headed for my local mall. I did my normal walk from one end to the other, stopping at Belk's, JC Penneys, Dillard's, and finally Sears ... and then back again.

Today, I got an email from BzzAgent -- they suggested "it’s time you pulled some fabulous pairs out of early retirement and hit the town." Well, I don't know if they knew that I myself have taken early retirement and don't usually hit the town on my social security income. However, I often go sightseeing at my local mall. It's a good opportunity to try out these insoles and get a little exercise too.

I survived the first go-around and I am contemplating a second visit to my mall in my DreamWalk high heel insoles. I've got another pair of black platforms which are similar in style to these -- I definitely would like another pair of the insoles to put in those shoes. I'd rather not pull the insoles from the Chinese Laundry platforms.

I must say that I did enjoy the cushion-like feel of the insoles. And, I'm glad I pulled those shoes out of early retirement to join me in my walk.

 Maybe some day, I will be dancing in them! A gal can dream ... first your walk, then you dance!

Ah, DreamWalk from Dr. Scholl's.

Kashi Hummus Crisps Sea Salt & Olive Oil

Thanks to BzzAgent, I just got to try a 4 ounce bag of delicious Kashi™ Hummus Crisps Sea Salt & Olive Oil for free. Yep, I #GotItFree from #bzzagent. So, nobody has paid me for this review or possible endorsement. I am telling you like it is, straight from the proverbial horse's mouth: mine!

I am pretty selective when it comes to chips and crisps. My usual complaint is that the flavor isn't quite right and that they are way too salty for my healthy tastebuds.

Kashi Hummus Crisps Sea Salt & Olive Oil in a Bowl

So, what a pleasant surprise when I chomped down on the first Kashi Hummus Crisp. Ah, all natural hummus crisps! There it is! Take a closer look.

Note the very round shape. That's what I noticed first. Then, the healthy tannish color. The thickness is pretty much spot-on - not too thin and not too thick. The crisps also have a nice texture with little bumps and ridges.

When I poured some of these into my bowl, I was noticing that there were a lot of perfect crisps; i.e., not too much breakage.

By the way, I didn't eat that whole bowl of crisps. However, I did have quite a few. Looking at the nutrition facts, 27 crisps is the recommended portion for one serving.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 120 - Calories from Fat: 30
Total Fat: 3.5g - 5%
   Saturated Fat - 0g
   Trans Fat - 0g
   Polyunsaturated Fat - 1g
   Monounsaturated Fat 2.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg - 0%
Sodium: 180mg - 8%
Potassium: 90mg - 3%
Total Carbohydrate: 21g - 7%
   Dietary Fiber - 4g
   Sugars less than 1g
Protein: 3g - 5%
Calcium: 2%    Iron: 4%

Kashi Hummus Crisps Sea Salt & Olive Oil
Campbell's Creamy Gouda Bisque with Chicken Soup

My second serving of Kashi Hummus Crisps was the next day for lunch. I had a bowl of Campbell's Creamy Gouda Bisque with Chicken Soup.

My favorite soups are in the orange color range. And, this particular soup was a perfect pairing with the hummus crisps.

In this picture, I show twelve individual crisps arranged around my bowl of soup - rather like the hour spots on a clock! That's kind of the message too; i.e., Kashi Hummus Crisps are perfect around the clock - either alone or paired with soup!

These crisps also come in Sundried Tomato, Basil and Feta along with Caramelized Onion. Both of the alternative versions would be great with this type of soup!

What makes these crisps so tasty? Well, they are made from chickpeas and whole grains. The seasoning really hits the spot with nutty extra virgin olive oil [the only kind I personally use], savory sea salt [I've been using more sea salt lately], and a healthy sprinkling of parsley! A positive for me is that Kashi left out the artificial ingredients and left in "the good-for-you goodness!" For a healthy snack, I fully expected them to have fiber; i.e. 4 grams of fiber; however, the 3 grams of protein is an added bonus!

Thanks BzzAgent!

Kashi Hummus Crisps Sea Salt & Olive Oil
Bzzkit: 4oz. package, 5 coupons, info card

Time flies when you are having fun! I've had a lot of fun with Bzzagent. I've been with them for over ten years! Holy moly, but that is longer than my last marriage.

Each time that I have received a Bzzkit, it's been a little like opening a present at Christmas. In this particular Bzzkit, I received the 4 ounce package of Kashi Hummus Crisps Sea Salt and Olive Oil. Included were 5 coupons to save $1.00 on any two Kashi All Natural Hummus Crisps.

For sure I will be using that first $1.00 coupon and sharing the others with 4 of my closest friends.

That Bzzkit info card says, "For those about to bzz, we salute you. Oh, and give you this awesome stuff. To keep the great products coming, get the conversations started on BzzAgent.com." And, so on and so forth! bzz bzz

Well, thanks to BzzAgent, I #GotItFree and I also added something nutritious to my snack menu! I will be working my way through the other flavors, but find it pretty hard to top the great taste of Sea Salt and Olive Oil.

Have you tried any of the Kashi Hummus Crisps yet? Which is your favorite healthy taste?

Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Pineapple and Mangosteen

I have been testing out the Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser in Pineapple and Mangosteen for about a week. As a BzzAgent, we are privileged to get to sample great products like these ... and then spread the word of mouth on the product to our friends and the world via social media and the internet.

This is my second recent experience with a Glade Expressions product. I've blogged previously about the Glade Expressions Collection Cotton and Italian Mandarin fragrance mist spray. I really am loving the fine quality of the Cotton and Italian Mandarin fragrance.

Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill
in Pineapple and Mangosteen

While I really do also love the Pineapple and Mangosteen fragrance smell, I am not wild about the presentation of this product. As you can see from the product image, I am testing only the refill and not the actual Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser unit. For the past 3 weeks, I looked in my local stores for the oil diffuser, but could not find the actual unit, only the refills. Using my coupon, I #GotItFree -- I got it free and found it at my local Publix grocery store.

Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill in Pineapple and Mangosteen
On my kitchen counter top next to my JOY !!

I don't believe the actual oil diffuser unit would change my opinion of this product. The Pineapple and Mangosteen fragrance is very fruity and true to life in regards to the quality of the actual pineapple smell. It works well in my kitchen where I placed it on my kitchen counter top next to my JOY angel candle holder. I wouldn't want to use that type of fruity smell in the other rooms of my house. Personally, this oil diffuser product doesn't appeal to me, and I doubt I would want to purchase it again.

Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill in Pineapple and Mangosteen
Glade White Tea and Lily Fragrance Spray
Glade Expressions Collection Cotton and Italian Mandarin Spray
Glade Holiday Evergreen Potpourri Spray

Check out the picture of the 4 different Glade fragrance products! You can see how the two newest products compare physically with two older Glade fragrance mist sprays. I really LOVE the fragrances of white tea and lily and the holiday evergreen potpourri. The Cotton and Italian Mandarin fragrance appeals to my senses as well. You see, I am more into fine florals than fruity smells. And, I really do appreciate the traditional fragrance mist sprays -- both in the traditional spray cans and in the newer Glade Expressions Collection mist sprays.

By the way, you can see that I added a pink ribbon to the Glade Expressions Collection Cotton and Italian Mandarin fragrance mist spray. I really feel that white container is a tad bit too white and needs a little dressing up. A pink ribbon seems like the appropriate thing to do for being "in the pink" during the month of October in celebration of my Cancer Awareness.

Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill Package
in Pineapple and Mangosteen

Checking the outer packaging of the Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill in Pineapple and Mangosteen, it says I should expect 30 days of fragrance on this refill. To activate the diffuser card, I pushed it into the bottle until I heard a click. The package shows that I have a goldish-brown tone diffuser base that is recommended to accompany this refill.

There is a caution that is important! It says "do not use in small, confined pet areas with adequate ventilation." That is good to know because I would think this item would be good for areas with pets.

P.S. BzzAgent has instructed us that we no longer are to use the Twitter hashtag of #imabzzagent for our buzz. Instead, we have a "brand new set of mandatory hash tags" to use: #GotItFree and #GotADiscount. Hey! I got that Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Refill in Pineapple and Mangosteen free!

Glade Expressions Collection Cotton and Italian Mandarin

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been enjoying a new fragrance sensation from Glade. It is the Glade Expressions^® Collection Cotton & Italian Mandarin fragrance mist spray.

It is described, by Glade quite artfully:

Escape into a relaxing Italian villa with the clean and refreshing fragrance Cotton & Italian Mandarin. A breezy blend of cotton, honeydew and sandalwood complemented by sparkling citrus creates a captivating fragrance that’s not to be missed.

Glade Expressions^® Collection Cotton & Italian Mandarin
The fragrance mist spray in container with product label skin.

In addition to Cotton & Italian Mandarin, the Glade Expressions^® Collection includes:

• Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice
• Lavender & Juniper Berry
• Pineapple & Mangosteen 

It is because of BzzAgent that I am able to sample this lovely fragrance mist spray for free. I have been a BzzAgent for over 8 years and have been privileged to spread the buzz and word of mouth on many fabulous products.

Glade Expressions^® Collection Cotton & Italian Mandarin
The fragrance mist spray with product label skin peeled away.

In my professional marketing career, I have worked for a company that created flavors and fragrances from terpenes derived from alpha-pinene and beta-pinene. I first had my sense of smell fine-tuned at Glidco Organics, later Millennium Specialty Chemicals. Because of my refined "tastes" and "sense of smell," I have an appreciation for fine fragrance smells.

I can tell you that Glade Expressions^® Collection Cotton & Italian Mandarin has a very fine floral fragrance that is quite appealing. This particular fragrance has quickly become one of my favorites as it almost reminds me of the type of celebrity fragrances that I like to wear. I've not tried the other 3 selections, but I would like to also try Lavender & Juniper Berry.

Glade Expressions^® Collection Cotton & Italian Mandarin
The fragrance mist spray in an attractively styled white container.

What I've noticed with the spray container that you have to squeeze a bit harder than I would like to activate the mist spray. However, this can be a good thing, as I need to exercise the grip on my right hand.

A suggestion that I would make to Glade is to provide the containers in something other than white plastic. I'd like to see skins of floral decorations to complement the actual fragrance. As you can see, from the three pictures I've included, the product labeling peels off like a skin to reveal the solid white container. I really like how the top side of the container is styled to reveal a peek at the fragrance refill that slips inside from the bottom.

Pretty cool to actually get to sample a new fragrance mist and then tell everybody about it. Have you tried the Glade Expressions^® Collection? I recommend the Cotton & Italian Mandarin. Personally, with my rather filled business and personal life, the thought of escaping to an Italian villa is quite appealing. I AM overdue for a vacation, you know?

P.S. BzzAgent has instructed us that we no longer are to use the Twitter hashtag of #imabzzagent for our buzz. Instead, we have a "brand new set of mandatory hash tags" to use: #GotItFree and #GotADiscount.