Tantalize The Tastebuds Giveaway

*Giveaway now closed*

Congratulations, Kelly M!

Please check your email for instructions on receiving your prize!

I'm trying something new for this giveaway-it's going to be on Facebook.  Take a look at what we're giving away, and then click the link at the bottom of the page.

 (2) 6-packet containers of True lemon Iced Tea

(1) 8oz container Zatarain's Creole Seasoning

See you on the Freemples Facebook page to enter!

Items were received from Cravebox,

 but giveaway is being sponsored at my expense

. No compensation has been exchanged.

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A Few Things I've Liked...and a Giveaway!

Today seems like a good day to share a few of my recent experiences with Cravebox and a favorite product I've received from them lately.  Read closely; coming soon there will be a quiz (i.e. giveaway).

I originally told you about Cravebox as I was newly discovering how it works.  Enter a drawing, pay for shipping, and receive a beautiful box with full-sized products to try for yourself.  No further obligation.  I'm happy to report that after several months I am still pretty impressed.  I want to add these points, though, to what I've said before:

• Receiving a Cravebox is set up on a lottery drawing system, but as far as I can tell, that's just a formality.  I have received every box I signed up for.  
• There are far more opportunities than I had expected.  At least 2-3 opportunities per month to get a teal-colored box in the mail.  
• The products are indeed full-size, but some boxes I've received had quite a few items I had to buy myself with a coupon.  I understand that some items are perishable and won't ship, but having to add a search for that item at my grocery store takes a little bit away from the magic.
• Oftentimes the coupon items are fairly new products and I've had trouble several different times finding them available at my local shopping centers.  It makes me sad to have a coupon for a free item that I can't use.

Overall, I'm still very excited to be a part of the Cravebox community!  My last box, the Zatarains' Big Game box, even contained two of everything at no extra cost.  The Resolutions Cravebox contained one of my favorite new hair products:

Pantene Silky Moisture Whip

I have the blessing (or curse) of having naturally curly hair.  About a year ago I embarked on a Curly Hair Challenge to try getting my unruly mane under control.  The process involved trying all kinds of crazy hair treatments before settling on a routine that worked for me.  Part of that routine includes using a good leave-in conditioner and this new leave-in Whip product from Pantene fits the bill PERFECTLY!  It's lightweight and doesn't leave my hair feeling crispy or weighed down or heavy.  My hair felt soft and bouncy while I was using the bottle I received (in full disclosure, I did only receive a sample size of this, which was disappointing, but still worth it).  I will definitely be adding Pantene Silky Moisture Whip to my shelf of curly hair management products!

So, have you signed up for a Cravebox of your own?

If not, sign up now and watch for these upcoming boxes...

Beautiful By You crafting box

Book Lovers box

Bikini Ready box

Or check out the new "Instant Boxes" that are available immediately without waiting for a lottery drawing.

I'd love to hear your Cravebox thoughts...

All products mentioned in this blog post were 

provided by Cravebox with no compensation or obligation to review.  

The  thoughts and opinions are mine and shared just because I wanted to. :)

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Ultimate Thanksgiving from Cravebox

I have to admit my second Cravebox isn't as over-the-top thrilling as the first, but that doesn't make it bad.  What it does have going for it is being stuffed full of improved-for-convenience Thanksgiving staples.  The products this time around are things we'll all be needing in the next few days...

Ultimate Thanksgiving Cravebox

L to R:  Duncan Hines Frosting Creations, Brookside Smooth Dark Chocolate Covered Fruit,

 Knorr Homestyle Chicken Stock, (2) Del Monte Whole Green Beans  

Not Pictured:  Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits, $35 voucher Folded Words customizable cards by Walgreens,

 (2) McCormick Turkey Gravy Mix

Truly, the food items I've listed above will make your holiday preparations so much easier!  Especially the green beans which hold up so well in a classic creamy green bean casserole.  I've used the homestyle stock before with mixed results-sometimes it leaves a greasy coating on my tongue-but I tried it last night in a black bean soup and it tasted great!

What I'm really excited about are the Folded Words cards by Walgreens and the chocolate covered pomegranate candies.  I had twins in August and haven't sent out birth announcements yet, and of course it's also time for Christmas cards.  I think one of these designs will be perfect...




As for the candy...

...it's all gone!

Retail $ of box items: $57.99

-$14.00 shipping:

$43.99

Tell me, how do you make your

 Thanksgiving Day cooking a little easier?

All items mentioned in this box were provided for my review. 

 I was not compensated or influenced in writing my opinions.

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Super Simple Giveaway-Tully's Roasted Coffee!!

If you've been reading here and here, then you know I've been testing out the Cooking Light Selects Cravebox this week.  This was one of the items provided...

Tully's French Roast Black Coffee

Well, I am not a coffee drinker and my prudishness is going to be to your reward!  In an attempt to build a Freemples following and to share this great product, I give you the first Freemples giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Cooking Light Selects Cravebox

My first Cravebox has me SOOO excited for more to come!  Look at the amazing food that the mailman delivered to me...

L to R: (3) Fruit Crisp from Dole, Kitchen Measurements Conversion Magnet, (2) Perfect Pinch Salt Free Garlic & Herb Seasoning from McCormick, Torani Salted Caramel Syrup, Nectresse 100% natural sweetener, & Tully's French Roast Coffee.

Trying the things in this box has been a lot of fun for my family.  The Perfect Pinch made a really simple and fast chicken dinner over the weekend, and the Nectresse worked great to sweeten up my husband's late-night grapefruit snack.  Today, though, I want to focus on the two things in the Cooking Light Selects Cravebox that we absolutely loved!

Torani Salted Caramel Syrup

What can I say?  It's DELICIOUS!!!!  I tried it in apple cider on Friday and wasn't a huge fan, but have had it in hot chocolate every day since then and my mouth begins to water while I'm stirring it in!

If you looking for ideas on what to do with the Salted Caramel Syrup, or any other of the dozens of flavors Torani offers, you'll definitely want to check out their website.  It's packed full of great recipes and ideas.  A few that I want to try are:

Salted Caramel Steamer

Baked Praline Yams with Pecan Streusel 

Caramel Bread Pudding

Grilled Salmon with Pineapple Marinade

Zabaglione Cheesecake

Go look for your favorite flavors at Torani.com, or find them on Facebook at I.like.torani.

Dole Fruit Crisps

The new Dole Fruit Crisps are delightful!  30-seconds in the microwave, pour on the oatmeal topping, and you've got a warm tasty treat.  We tried the peach, apple cinnamon, and apple pear and liked each of them well enough.  The apples in the apple cinnamon are still crunchy, which was nice!  And what's great is that the box shown above includes two bowls of fruit crisp-that was a great surprise!  Take a look at my kid's reactions...

You can find more information at Dole.com or on Twitter @DoleFoods

For my first Cravebox, the item's I received from Cooking Light Selects definitely did not disappoint!  And since I'm not a coffee-drinker, I'm going to pass the excitement on to you.  Watch tomorrow for Freemples' first giveaway, a 12 oz. bag of Tully's french roast coffee!

Retail $ of box items: $33.89 

-$13.00 shipping=

$20.89

Be sure to check out my first post on Cravebox here

All items mentioned in this box were provided for my review. 

 I was not compensated or influenced in writing my opinions.

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Craving a Product Discovery Opportunity?

Isn't this box pretty?

Cravebox is a product discovery company and I received my first one this week!  What is a product discovery company?  One that gathers together the cream of the crop in products on the market and introduces them to consumers in a creative and exciting way.  Cravebox does a fabulous job of this and prides themselves on their presentation in a beautiful box!

My next post will reveal the amazing products waiting inside my first Cravebox, but today let me share why I think you'd love to get one of your own:

• Very low-to-no pressure.  There's no requirement to share with 50 of your closest friends or get 100 comments on an item 100 other bloggers are reviewing.  The products are yours to try and if you want to share with people you know, they don't mind.
• Full-size products, and a lot of them.  No sample-sizes here (at least not in my first box).  What you get is definitely worth your time and money.
• Variety.  Since I was approved and received my Cravebox a week ago, I've seen opportunities for 3 more completely different boxes being mailed out soon.  

My first Cravebox was full of food products!

What I want you to know up-front:

• There IS a cost to receive your Cravebox.  When you sign up you are asked to provide a form of payment that will cover the cost of shipping when you are chosen to receive a package.  I decided not to sign up the first time I heard about Cravebox because of that.  Now, though, I'll tell you I'm kicking myself for all the amazing stuff, I'm sure I've missed out on.  The box I received was hefty and the products inside were well worth the $13 I had to pay.  
• Cravebox recipients are chosen by random drawing.  They send out information each time a new box is ready and draw from the people who sign up.  There is a formula for better chances if you've shared about their company or your products in the past, but it is not a requirement!  Any person can sign up and have a chance at winning.

I'll reveal my Cooking Lights Cravebox products very soon.  I hope you'll come back to see. 

 And if you want your own, you can sign up on the Cravebox website.

(To whet your appetite...)

Retail $ of box items: $33.89 

-$13.00 shipping=

$20.89

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