Bzz Campaign: Kroger Spring Cleaning

I sign up for these campaigns, and I use the coupons, and then I forget entirely to post about them.

In this case, it was the Kroger Spring Cleaning BzzCampaign, and I received a number of coupons, good at Kroger, toward the purchase of cleaning products. I managed to get a good selection of things to give me a head start on cleaning, and only spent about $5 out of my own pocket.

The campaign was connected to their Fuel Points program, and for a limited period of time, you could earn extra fuel points for purchasing participating cleaning products at Kroger. I didn't earn many fuel points during this period, because the day I shopped for these items was the last time I went to Kroger, due to transportation issues.

I keep thinking I got one more thing that isn't in the pictures, but I can't remember what it is. :/ 

As you can see, I got two of the Kroger HomeSense products, as well as a Kroger brand of hand soap refill. The HomeSense cleaning wipes were/are wonderful. They cleaned up this mess...

...without requiring a whole lot of scrubbing, and they smell good into the bargain. They definitely made the bathroom smell nicer when I used them in there. I wish I had remembered to take an "after" picture, but I didn't, and the stove needs cleaning again, though not as badly as it did here. lol Without the coupon, I probably would never have tried these, and I'm really pleased with the way they clean and with the pleasant scent they leave behind. They compare quite favorably to the national brand.

I love the scent of the hand soap I got, Shea and Citrus, I think. It smells great, and doesn't dry my hands out. I wash my hands a LOT, and finding soap that doesn't leave my hands scaly and itchy is a great thing. I actually prefer this scent to any other I've been able to find in the national brand's refill selection.

The Oxi-Clean was a new thing for me. I've tried the little toss-in things before, and they've worked well, but in this case, some stains came out that I hadn't been able to get out before, and my clothes smell clean even after they've been put away a few days. It's been a long time since my clothes smelled fresh after I washed them, even though I run vinegar through the washer regularly.

I haven't had occasion to use the trash bags yet, since we've still got bags left in the previous box. The Glad containers were most welcome - I'd been trying to find a deal on some new freezable containers, and with the coupon, these were practically a steal. I've already put them to use several times freezing leftovers for later use.

Obviously, smell is a thing for me, more than it is for other people, and these products worked great for me. I was thrilled to be able to get these products at a deep discount. Thanks go to Kroger and BzzAgent for allowing me to participate.

Kroger was a great place to stock up on these things. They had a wide selection of products (I wasn't limited to only buying Kroger's store brand) from which to choose, and a number of things were also on sale on the day I shopped. Kroger frequently has good sales, both on grocery and non-grocery items.

I recommend checking out Kroger's HomeSense brand when you can find what you're looking for in their line-up. I think you'll be pleased with the products.

BzzCampaign: Kroger dairy blends and Greek yogurts

As a BzzAgent, I get coupons or free products to try in exchange for providing my honest opinion about the product.  In this case, I got coupons, which I will gladly share, and a $10 Kroger card to be used to purchase the product.

I got into this BzzCampaign for Kroger's new dairy blends and Greek yogurts and used the coupons and my Kroger card to stock up on different flavors.  So far, I've only tried the Black Forest Cake, and I have to say that I was not impressed.  This was a flavor of dairy blend, meaning it's not yogurt and not completely dairy.  It also doesn't taste very good.  Not bad, but not good, either.  I've got seven other flavors to try, so keep an eye here for more first impressions.  It's got a strange lumpy texture, whereas my usual Yoplait is always smooth, except for the fruit in it.

Yoplait Lactose Free yogurt coupon

I haven't tried this one yet, and I'm looking forward to it.  Yoplait is already my favorite yogurt, and I'd really like to try the lactose-free offerings.  In the meantime, here's a coupon, courtesy of MyBlogSpark.


Yoplait recently announced its new Yoplait® Lactose Free yogurt.  Inspired by the Yoplait yogurt we know and love, Lactose Free comes in four delicious flavors - Strawberry, Peach, French Vanilla and Cherry - and contains 50% of the recommended Daily Value of calcium, with vitamins A and D in every cup. Lactose Free contains NO artificial sweeteners and can be used in some of your favorite recipes - like chocolate crème brulee and strawberry cheesecake.

Lactose intolerant or know someone who is? You can visit http://bit.ly/IiJBKU to download a printable coupon for $0.30 when you buy any flavor of Yoplait Lactose Free yogurt cups. 

*The coupon offer for Yoplait Lactose Free yogurt is not valid in some states, including Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee.

BzzCampaign: Kroger Private Selection

I got into the Kroger Private Selection BzzCampaign and got my BzzKit last week.  I was finally able to get to the store yesterday.  This not having a car thing really sucks!  My BzzKit included coupons for three free items as well as several coupons for $2 off those same items.  With the $2 off coupons at my local store, this leaves these items under $2 each.  Great deal!

Anyway, I had never been to this Kroger before, since I've only been here in the house a couple of weeks.  It was a very unfamiliar layout. 

I did manage to find the PS frozen appetizers and the frozen desserts, but this store doesn't carry the PS frozen pizza.  The manager who helped me said that this was a small store and didn't carry everything.  (I thought it was a normal sized store, so I'm afraid to see a regular store by her standards.)  I picked out my few groceries and my Private Selection items - Northern Spy Apple Crisp, ice cream bars (look at lot like Dove bars), and little tiny quiches, plus a couple of other items.  

When I got to the register, the girl had trouble ringing the coupons, and it turns out that I could not use all my PS coupons in one trip.  Talk about annoying.  The same lady manager came to the register to help and she's the one who translated the couponspeak for me, and took back the items I had chosen for which I could not use coupons on this trip.

So, Kroger wants me to try their items and review them, but won't let me buy them all in on trip.  Not very useful, guys.  And grrrr.  We can't all just bop on down to the grocery store three times a week.

I got home with the quiches, the ice cream bars and the apple crisp.  The ice cream bars are wonderful!  The chocolate coating is the right thickness and very crunchy.  I love those, and plan to use another coupon next time I'm able to get to the store, though I might have to find another Kroger.

I have tried the PS ice cream before, the actual ice cream that comes in cartons, and found it tasty.  Not as good as my favorite, but a good alternative and much less expensive, particularly at Kroger.

The Private Selection items are packaged differently, in black, and look more elegant than the traditional Kroger store brand items.  I'd like to see the PS selection include some spices, maybe, the more unique ones, and maybe things like special dips or spreads, maybe even hummus.

I'll report more after I've had a chance to try the other items!

<img src="http://img.bzzagent.com/image/privateSelection.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=3221553847&Campaign=4752798868&Uid=143335&token=932a9633509ed2cd2457c6342aaced01" alt=""/>

Harlequin coupon for eBooks!

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Review: Bra

Leading Lady Cotton Front Hook Leisure Bra

Style: 20231

 

I can no longer reach behind me to connect a bra in back.  For months now, my daughter has been helping me with my bras anytime we had to go out.  But then, she traveled to San Antonio to spend a week with her husband, and I had appointments.  I HAD to go get a bra that closed in front.  I've always had good luck with the Hanes/Bali/etc outlet at Grapevine Mills mall, so I headed there.  The woman in the store was extremely helpful, and though she didn't have exactly what I was looking for, she found me something that would work well enough.

That was a Playtex bra, and I liked it well enough that I researched to find how much larger they came, since this one was a cup-size or two too small.  Imagine my surprise to find that the size I was wearing was as large as Playtex makes.

The hunt was on, so I researched and read reviews and researched some more.  Finally, I had my choices whittled down to two, and both were available in my price range on JustMySize.com.  I ordered one of one style, because I was pretty sure it would be too small but wanted to try it on, and two of the other.  The other was the subject of this review, the Leading Lady style number 20231.

This bra is so comfortable I forget I'm wearing a bra!  That is something I NEVER thought I would say.  I have large breasts, which get larger as I gain weight, so finding something that feels so comfortable is just amazing.  This bra is a cotton/spandex blend.  The straps do not adjust, but are slightly padded and feel great.  The one con for me is that something so comfortable provides almost NO support, so when I go out in public, my breasts jiggle, which I think is extremely unattractive, as well as unnecessary.  It's a price I'm willing to pay, for now, to have something comfortable to wear, which I can afford, which I can fasten by myself, which also keeps me from being completely braless in public.

http://www.justmysize.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product__11151_-1_11002_90670_27055

Got some things done yesterday

Sort of.  lol

I was awake a good part of the daylight hours yesterday, which is quite a switch from what has been the norm, lately.  I am, at 0751 on Saturday, still awake, from yesterday, so I'm less than hopeful that Saturday will be an awake during daylight kind of day.

I checked the mail, and got out of the house to use a coupon, because Mrs. Potatohead was still asleep and I was soooooo hungry.  I'd left it too late, and was unable to find any place open (that wasn't fast food), even on a Friday night.  Bummer.

I managed to forget the package I needed to mail, so it will have to go out today.

I spent a good bit of time in Mrs Potatohead's room, sorting laundry according to whom it belongs.  I think that'll make it easier to grab a basket or two and head to the in-laws for some quality laundry time.  That was quite some pile of laundry.  Five baskets worth, and two pillowcases full, not including the larger blanket items that Baby Potatohead has spit up on, or otherwise graced with his presence.  :D

Vacillated between listing my George Foreman grill on eBay or just freecycling it, and ended up freecycling it.  The new owner is supposed to come pick up the grill this morning, in about an hour.  I will be happy to have one more thing out of my house.

So many things run through my head - sell this thing? or freecycle it?  Package these items together by color and purpose, or just get rid of each thing individually?  I have so much stuff, and I'm feeling more overwhelmed every day by the prospect of divesting myself of nearly all my worldly goods by the end of April.   Doing it virtually unassisted makes me want to run away.

Time just flies.  In a smidge over 30 days, Mr Potatohead graduates from Air Force Basic Military Training, and in very short order, Mrs and Baby will join him at his new location.  I must have many of my belongings given away or sold by then, as I'll have no place to live at the end of April - family has been helping since June, and they are not willing to help when it's just me, so I must vacate the premises.  That's actually more than a little terrifying, and so I try to avoid thinking about what I will do when I have to leave this apartment.  Ignoring things has never really worked before, but I keep trying it, anyway.

I did find a job listed that sounds about perfect, and though I'm not confident that I can physically handle the stress of working, I'm applying anyway.  I can hope that if I am offered the position, they would be willing to make some accommodations for my increasing physical infirmity.  I would be indescribably glad to have some regular income, and it might make finding a room to let or some other roof-over-my-head easier.  I mean, who wants a moocher on their couch for months on end, right?

I'm hoping that I can manage to stay awake long enough to get Mrs and Baby and some laundry over to the in-laws, so that we can nap our way through a couple of loads of laundry, and come back with some clean clothes.  Clean sheets, in particular, feel so good, don't they?

Product Recommendation - Target Market Pantry

Where Target has Up and Up for its non-food items, their general-quality food items are packaged under the Market Pantry name.  Specialized foods are packaged as Archer Farms.

Today's item is Market Pantry ready-to-bake, break & bake, oatmeal, cranberry & walnut cookie dough.  I bought these on a whim, since I actually had a coupon for a different Market Pantry item.  I like oatmeal cookies, particularly oatmeal chocolate chip or oatmeal cranberry (I HATE raisins, just fyi).  I'm not necessarily a fan of walnuts, but I figured I could eat them in this combination.  They come in a flat package, much like other break & bake cookies in the refrigerated section.

The first few times I bought them, I ate them, one at a time, from the package, when I needed a 'sweets' fix.  Yes, I know, raw cookie dough is dangerous and sugar is bad for me.  Whatever.  I liked them like this, and bought a couple more packages.

On another whim tonight, I decided that I would go ahead and bake some, just to eat them the way Target intended.  I liked them better raw.  The cookies turned out a great brown color at about 25 minutes.  They stayed soft out of the oven a little too long, making me have to wait to put them on something that could go in the fridge, or put cookie pieces on the plate. 

When I eat oatmeal cookies, I like tasting the pieces of oatmeal in the cookie, and the texture those pieces give to the cookie.  These cookies don't have that texture, and I didn't taste any oatmeal pieces.  The cookies taste floury rather than oatmealy.  Though I do like them as a sweet fix in their raw state, I'll probably find something else now that I know the finished product doesn't taste like I want it to.

For a better oatmeal cookie product, try Nestle.  They make (or used to) an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie in a tube, that tasted good raw or baked into actual cookies. 

I bought these cookies myself and got nothing except the pleasure of eating them.

Product Review - Tropicana Trop50

This is another product for which I had a coupon.  I like juice, and like to try new ones, and in particular I like to try blueberry and pomegranate juice blends.  I tried the Pomegranate Blueberry version. 

Even with the coupon, I did not get my money's worth here.  The label claims 50% less sugar and calories, so even though it's juice, I should have expected lesser taste.  It does, in fact, taste like a low-calorie not-really-juice drink. 

Most of the juice contained in this blend is from juice concentrate, if that makes any difference to you, and it's sweetened with Reb A (Pure Via brand), whatever the heck that is.

I did not enjoy this drink, and will not be buying it again, even with a coupon.  The only positive was getting a nicely-designed carafe-type container with a wide mouth, which I can use repeatedly for making better-tasting juice from frozen.

I got nothing from this except the questionable pleasure of drinking something other than tap water.

Product Review - Archer Farms Traditional Bean Dip

I bought this on a whim.  I had a coupon for buying Target's store brand chips and salsa together.  I like their Archer Farms Organic Blue Corn Tortilla chips, and figured surely I could find a dip of some kind to try, and use my coupon all at the same time.

First, this is not the texture of any traditional bean dip I have ever had.  It's sort of a thick, chunky salsa in a bean base.  It's thick with five different kinds of peppers, and the medium is still a bit too hot for my taste. 

This particular dip comes in a 16 oz glass jar, and lasts through at least three chip sessions.  I'm down to nothing but bits of chips and still have some dip left in the fridge. 

This was pretty good, and I'll probably still skip in next time, in favor of something with a texture more like bean dip, or whatever I'm craving at the time.

If you like a thick, chunky, pepper-heavy dip, and don't favor making your own, I'd recommend you try this one.

I got nothing in return for this review, except the pleasure of eating my chips and dip.

Update: Kashi GoLean Crisp Toasted Berry Crumble

The cereal itself has an odd taste, not quite sweet, and it was mixed with bits of cranberries and blueberries.  Much of my little sample was crushed into dust.

I liked what wasn't crushed enough that I used my $3 coupon to get a full-size box - originally $3.99.  So, for 99 cents, I got a full box of cereal that I can really taste.

As I mentioned in the first post, I eat cereal dry, as a snack, or mixed with yogurt, the way most people eat cereal with milk.  The full-size box has many unbroken pieces, with more clumps, about the size of a large marble.  It's nice and crunchy, with a not-quite-sufficient quantity of berry pieces mixed into the clumps.  It's definitely a healthy alternative, with less sugar than say, Honey Nut Cheerios or Honey Nut Chex, both of which I love to snack on, and neither of which have berries.  I do love dried cranberries and blueberries, and that may have something to do with how much I like this cereal - I might not like it as much with another berry, or no berries at all.

On the down side, there is some kind of grit on the cereal that makes eating it with my hands messy, and leaves little mementos of itself on my bed, if I snack in my room.  This grit is unpleasant enough that I have to wipe my hands with a baby wipe fairly frequently, as it doesn't just lick off.

For the taste, Kashi GoLean Crisp Toasted Berry Crumble is a good buy with a coupon.  I wouldn't pay $3.99 for a regular size box of cereal, even the ones I love, like Apple Jacks and Froot Loops.  Did I mention I'm kind of a cheap girl?  lol  Anyway, as long as I can find coupons, I'll be happy to eat this.  I'm not going to go out of my way to find it, nor am I going to buy it without a coupon (at least not at that price).  However, it's filling and would make a great base for a homemade roadtrip trail mix.

Anybody want a coupon?  I have four for $1 off.

Vocal Point: In the mail

On Thursday, I got a sample in the mail from VocalPoint.

This time, it was Kashi GoLean Crisp! cereal, Toasted Berry Crumble flavor.

I have tried other Kashi food items before, and they've been hit or miss on my taste buds.  This cereal has a good ratio of dried berries in it, giving it a bit of chewy in among the cereal.  It's not the best cereal I've ever had, but it was good enough that I used a coupon to get more, so I could get a better idea whether or not I liked it.

I am lactose intolerant, at least when it comes to milk, and I eat my cereal in dry handfuls, as a snack, or mixed with yogurt in a bowl, so there is nothing but the cereal I'm tasting, in general.

Bottom line, give it a try.  I've even got a couple of coupons, if you want one.