NYDealGal

So of all the samplings I am a part of, at this time of the year I love the ones where I receive foods to sample because I am always looking for that new and upcoming item to brag about! I have always found meat and cheese platters to be an easy way of entertaining, especially at the last minute.  Growing up Italian, we were never without some sorts of dried meats, salamis, sausages and various cheeses and crackers in the fridge and pantry. This week after Christmas, when the craziness started to settle and we were entertaining neighbors on Saturday night, I thought I would do something different from traditional cookies and coffee which we do all the time.  So I figured why not do a savory instead of a sweet visit? Paired with a nice light wine because none of us were driving it seemed the right thing to do. I removed the Boursin Cheese from the box and wrapper and noted that it had the consistency of a cream cheese. I placed it in the center of my platter and the...

The Litter Genie is a genius product.  I'm not just saying that to be catchy or kitschy as the case may be.  This product is a must for cat owners!  I have had cats for a few years and always disliked the task of cleaning the litter box because there was always a lingering odor in the small space of the box no matter what. The Litter Genie is a very simple yet wonderful product that works to hold the odor in a confined space and trap it for up to 14 days. You basically scoop as usual and drop the clumps in the Litter Genie, close the lid, pull the trap door and voila - odor trapped until you dispose of it. Disposal is easy also.  Just open the bottom of the pail, cut the bag off with the built-in cutter, seal and dispose.  Then you pull down the plastic, knot at the bottom and you are ready for the next time you need to scoop the box. This Litter Genie works and is not oversized so you could easily fit it in a small corner or under a pedestal sink so ...

Okay folks, another product from our friends at Crowdtap.  This one is even good for the environment.  Your bathroom environment and our earthly one. Scott Naturals tubeless toilet paper.  Tubeless you say?  Yes, nothing but the toilet tissue.  I received the package and thought that not having the tube was going to make the toilet paper squishy and not sturdy enough and I really don't like flattened out toilet tissue.  Boy, was I wrong.  The toilet paper out of the package was just as sturdy to me as any others that have the tube. I was able to store it in my extra roll holder and use it on my toilet roll dispenser and in all the usage the roll never once flatten out while in use or storage. No tube, no additional waste.  It is a win-win situation. I would really recommend this product if you are considering making a change to go greener in your life and your house! #TossTheTube #sponsored I'm a member of Crowdtap, where I qualify t...

  This was definitely a banner month for Crowdtap and I. I have become a secret coffee junkie.  Yes that's right..me, the teetotaler. I could never get enough tea.  Herbals, fruits, plain, with milk, with lemon etc.  I never got enough.  Until now. Don't get me wrong, teas still have their place more so at night when I need to wind down but coffee gets me going now.  I find that I prefer a cup on Monday mornings after a weekend to get me situated for my long commute and keeps me alert and aware as I arrive to my desk loaded with to-dos. However, plain coffee still left a bitter taste in my mouth, literally.  I found that I had to have something extra like vanilla or caramel to help. Well, along comes my old friend Crowdtap and a very trusted brand like Folgers to the rescue.  Folgers Flavors coffee enhancers.  They are not a creamer and do not change the color of the coffee if you prefer it black. They come in 4 flavors, Van...

I love these sample and shares I receive from Crowdtap when they allow me to try something new from a trusted brand. This newest one is a Film-Coated Advil which is their fastest acting Advil yet.  The day I got my samples they were such a relief because it was my birthday and I had a major headache coming on and I was supposed to go out with my friends that night for dinner.  The way I was feeling I did not think I was going to make it and that would have been disappointing as we were trying out a new restaurant too. I took one of the 2-count samples I received and figured it could not hurt to see if it would help relieve the pain.  I took them and note that I usually have a hard time swallowing pills but I am guessing the coating on the Advil helps them go down smoother and easier.  There was no aftertaste from the pills and I closed my eyes and waited for them to kick in.  Now just so you know I time everything I take to see how effective it is by how...

The Salon Secret Professionals Want to Keep A Secret BzzAgent is awesome! I was so happy to get into this campaign for eSalon Okay, I color my hair. I am 44 and I look older when my hair shows gray. Most of my gray is in front and on top. I have been 'home coloring' for about 10 years now. I have tried probably every in-store brand of box coloring known out there and have been completely satisfied by very few of them.  Not only because the color results I achieved were so far off from what I either expected or what the brand promised, but for the quick fades on what was supposedly called permanent color and the cost of doing it every three to 4 months. Professional coloring on the other hand, is a route I tried once or twice in the case of super special occasions and of course is even more expensive than attempting it yourself.  I think for the $500.00 I spent in professional salons I should have taken a weekend away and had some serious fun. So, when BzzAgent s...

Crowdtap has done it once again for this year! Another awesome product sampling and with samples to give to my friends although I really want to keep these all for myself because they are so awesome! I received a 4 pack of Cottonelle Clean Care Toilet Paper and a full size Cottonelle Fresh Care  Flushable Cleansing Cloth Dispenser to sample. Yes, I know you really do not want to hear about my bathroom routine so I will keep it light and fresh. I have always used other cleansing cloths or baby wipes to keep myself fresh after using the facilities.  Its not always an option though due to non-portability of a product to keep clean with. Well, this sampling came with portable packs of flushable cleansing cloths, 2 to give to friends and 1 to keep for myself. I love them!!!!! I was able to use dry then wet then dry again and stay feeling fresh and clean especially during the days we have high humidity here in the NorthEast. I drink so much water in the summer that I...

Crowdtap, Kleenex who knew you could put the 2 together and come up with another brand sampling for an everyday item such as tissues. Well, that's exactly what this one is about.  I received a full size box of Kleenex everyday tissues just like the one in the picture at the top of the blog.  Now, yes I will agree it is summer and allergy season and it never hurts to have 4 or 5 boxes of tissues scattered in various places around the house other than the bathroom.  However, the type, the brand, the design of the box...these are all just as important as the quantity.  Then lastly, there is the quality of the tissue itself and whether or not it can stand up to its intended purpose and if there is even the slightest chance you could use it for other things. Kleenex is a trusted name in my household.  I use the products faithfully.I have always come up with other uses that I didnt think of previously. Recently, I started keeping a to go pack in...

  Another CrowdTap Challenge!  Try and Share Sweet'N Low zero calorie sweetener and write about it.   Since I am strictly a tea totaler and do not really consume alcohol especially in the heat of the summer, the best ways for me to try and share are in lemonade and iced tea. I am usually strictly tart and unsweetened (my drinks that is!)  When I was asked to try this sweetener in comparison to other items I have used I said I would and see if I liked the differences it made for me.  I decided to try it first in my iced tea and if I liked it then would try it in other non-carbonated drinks.   I note that a friend of mine has always made what we call 'free' lemonade in the diners for years by requesting a glass of seltzer or club soda, a slice of lemon and a packet of Sweet'N Low brand sweetener and she always claimed it was like carbonated lemonade which always sounded awful until I actually tried it myself.   Overall, the...

CROWDTAP - SAMPLING - BODY WASH ##TheHerbalistas #Crowdtap  Another fun sampling from the folks over at CrowdTap! This time a body wash by herbal essences is the root of my clean obsession!  I have used so many body washes over the years and eventually stopped trying new ones.  Until now that is! When I received word I was accepted into this sample share I was excited because all the samplings I have participated in have been cool. The first thing I did when I received the sample was to smell it and see if I liked the overall scent. It was very pleasing and not at all overpowering.  When I used the product, I found it did not lather well on terrycloth, however on a bath poof it lathered very well. The product went on smooth, felt like silk and cleaned really well.  There was no drying after effect and the scent remained on my person for a very short while which made for a relaxing after-shower feeling. Will definitely try to buy in a different v...

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. When I was a child and had the beginnings of a scratchy throat or dust cough, I remember my mother handing me a Pine Bros Honey or Cherry Softish Throat drop. They were a balm to my throat and a memory made to cherish.  My mother was the only person who knew what to give me when I had these little non serious ailments. Upon popping the drop in my mouth I would let it slowly dissolve and it felt like the melting drop was coating my throat with something to stop the tickle or scratch and it was way better than those nasty throat sprays or prescriptions by the dreaded doctors. The honey flavored were actually my favorite because to me the taste was like fresh honey from the jar just in a manageable drop without the stickiness and mess of jar honey.  I could really savor the flavor and even the aroma was like honeysuckle flowers!  The cherry ones were also good but more tart rather than sweet which made the p...

CROWDTAP - SAMPLING - CHOCOLATE #spreadpossibilities #Crowdtap Need I say more? Well I have lots more to say.  I received a jar of Hershey's spreads in chocolate flavor to sample and share with friends.  I love love love chocolate so I knew this was going to be a no brainer. I loved the fact that I was going to get to try a new product by an extremely trusted brand!

Support Defeat Diabetes Foundation with Wearever Purchases this December I received socks and a bed pad from Wearever to test. I am therefore going to write separate paragraphs for each product review so you can understand the full dimension of my testing for this review.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. It Works! I have arthritis in my hips and knees and have since I was 19 (for those of you who do not know me personally). I am immune to so many topical pain relievers and really do not like pills, nor the overpowering odors of existing creams, gels and powders. The doctors have suggested the "S" word (surgery) several times and I will do whatever I can to avoid it! Over the counter remedies, lotions and potions will work for a time but then you just get used to it (like over use of antibiotics and they just stop working). Physical Therapy and more doctors are expensive. When I received Noxicare to try I was expecting the same old same old. Instead, I got a cream made with all natural ingredients, that had a pleasant odor which dissipates after a few minutes. The cream goes on smoothly, absorbs quickly and worked fairly quickly. In my case I only had to apply the cream 2X a day (once when I got up and once...