Chocolate: Girl's Kryptonite

If you have to get a gift for a girl this holiday season and have no idea what to get her, here's the solution: just get her a bag/box of chocolates! M&Ms does not count. Amp it up with delectable, premium chocolates like these by Lindt. These are very popular during this time and are the perfect way to make a good impression on the ladies.

Mini Stylus Pen

Ebay and Amazon are great sites for gift idea. I came across this pack of mini stylus pens on ebay. They are 10 of these for less than $5. These are great stocking stuffers for your tech friends who have touch screen devices. This particular model will work on any touchscreen. At the end of it you see a tiny black piece. That is inserted into the audio jack so it can be attached to your device (ex. smartphone) at all times so you don't lose it.

Evolution Man Conceal

If you've got a date or just heading out to meet up with a bunch of friends and noticed a big zit on your forehead right before heading out try this. This is the conceal 0.5oz tube from Evolution Man- Revolutionary Grooming for Men. This is great from blemishes on your face. It comes in three shades. It's small but will last you for a long time. Just squeeze a tiny amount on your finger or Q-tip and rub it over the zit. The company solely caters to men providing various products and they are all made without parabens, GMO, triclosan and synthetic fragrances.

Orbit Gum

Orbit gum has been a staple for me lately. I constantly chew gum throughout the day. Is it a stress reliever? I don't know. All I know is it tastes good and keeps my breathe fresh! This is pack of the Sweet Mint Orbit Gum. You can find other flavors from this brand here.

Samsung Galaxy SIII

This sexy phone beat the iPhone 5 on +CNET  best devices of 2012- Check out the link. http://www.cnet.com/8301-33506_1-57557848-306/galaxy-s3-beats-iphone-5-for-best-device-of-2012/
The +Samsung Mobile USA  Galaxy SIII is my first smartphone and I am in love with it. This phone is carried by all the major mobile phone retailers. There are tons of goodies packed inside this thin phone like 4.8 HD screen display, NFC share capability, 4G, WiFi, 8MP camera with Android IceCream platform but upgradeable to the new Android Jellybean. So glad I purchased this. The price for this phone has been going down. It was first introduced in March or April 2012. I'm sure the price is lower since then and will probably go lower into the new year. If you want an alternative to the iPhone, this is it.

Tea party

If you are not a coffee drinker but still need that liquid courage in the morning to get through your day I suggest tea as the alternative. I've been using Stash Tea for awhile now. I try to avoid coffee because it makes me jittery and it stains my teeth. Tea is great because it still has a little bit of caffeine and tastes great. Right now Stash tea is breaking out their holiday flavors and having a sale on their website. Click the word stash to head over to the site.

Speed Stick Power

The brand that I use to stay fresh all day. Speed stick is what I've been using since I was a smelly teenager. Its affordable and does the job. I am currently using the Speed stick Power Antiperspirant- Unscented. I am not a fan of wearing too many scents during the day. With the cologne, shampoo, bodywash and deodorant it becomes a bit overwhelming. I like to feature the cologne that I use and scented deodorants tend to mix with or mask the cologne. Great little stocking stuffer for the stinky guy in your life.

Yo-go 4 the Go-go

Need a quick breakfast before your early morning class? Grab a container of this guys. Chobani Greek Yogurt. The photo features 2 of the new Chobani flip cups- vanilla chocolate chip with Raspberry and honey with banana. These are perfect for those who want to control the amount of sweetness in their morning yogurt. Yogurt is a great addition to your morning routine because it's packed full of calcium and protein which will help feel full during your 8AM class. I am personally a big fan of greek yogurt in general because it sometimes has double the amount of protein compared to regular yogurt. I found these at Target for about $1.32.

Skull Candy Earbuds

Affordable yet functional earbuds are hard to find. If you are looking for decent headphones that won't pop out of your ear when you run or seeking one that will provide great audio to hear your music but don't want to break your bank then I suggest you look into Skull Candy. This pair of black earbuds were only $12 at Target. These can be found almost everywhere. These are more comfortable than my iPod earbuds.

Relax bro

It's that dreaded time again. All college students hate this time of year. FINAL EXAMS! >_< As exam dates are coming closer, I need to distress once in awhile but sometimes I just forget how to. That's why I refer to this book. A friend gave me this awhile ago before I started school. It's called Everyday Calm: Relaxing Rituals for Busy People by Darrin Zeer. It's light reading not another textbook to cram in. It's a reference guide for those who get too busy but don't know how to relax. It offers tips and tricks to get through the day- no matter what your schedule is.  I think this would be a great $10 gift for the busy person in your life. A really good read. Click the underlined book title to find this on Amazon.com.

Cyber Monday Haul: Express

Cyber Monday haul: This is the only shopping I did really on Black Friday weekend. I didn't need anything and the "sales" weren't that impressive. I've seen stores done better sales earlier in the Fall. I kept getting texts from Express to check out their sale so I finally did. Everything on +EXPRESS website was 40% off + I used a coupon code. All what you see here was under $25. 3 pairs of socks & 2 pairs of sports boxer briefs.

Gourmet Ginger Candy

One of the best gourmet candies I've ever come across. These are Chimes Ginger Chews. The chews come in a variety of flavors - original, orange, mango, peppermint and peanut butter. All of which still have the spicy gingerness. These are really good if you have an upset stomach. I keep a couple in my bookbag whenever I want some candy. They are great healthy alternatives to the regular candy that I would eat. If you are a fan of ginger, check out http://www.chimesgourmet.com/. The company specializes in gourmet food products using ginger as the main ingredient.

What time is it?

Watches. The only jewelry that I need. I'm not into chains, rings, ear studs. They're just not my thing. Watches though are the exception. They serve a purpose. They tell me the time! Below is what I own.

Brown leather cuff - Fossil

Gunmetal - Gruen

The one of the left is a brown leather cuff analog/digital by Fossil. The right one is a expandable gunmetal analog by Gruen from Kohls. When I am talking to people I always get compliments on the +Fossil. It's large and noticeable yet not heavy. I usually wear this during casual events. When I need to dress it up for certain events I switch it up with the Gruen gunmetal. The gunmetal finish is classic and safe to wear with anything. In my opinion, metal finishes are more appropriate in the workplace. The leather watch was purchased for $79 on ebay. The usual price for it is about $130. The Gruen gunmetal was purchased at Kohl's for $12! Both of these were excellent deals and best of all - they will still tell me the time even after my phone dies. Shop around for styles that fit your personality and prices that fit your budget.

Wet Skin Sunblock Spray

In addition to eyewear protection, skin protection is always essential in any type of weather. While on vacation I took Neutrogena's wet skin sunblock spray. This line of sunblock is hardcore because it has an spf protection of 85+! That's coverage. I really glad I bought this brand because the special formula stays on your skin even after going into the water or after a good run outside. This is also PABA-free and oil-free. Helpful suggestion: if you want to make sure your completely protected, spray some in your palm and then apply. It's hard to figure out if you covered every exposed area by just spraying directly. http://www.neutrogena.com/category/sun.do?nType=1

Ray-ban sunglasses

Ray-ban eyewear is so boss! This is my collection of sunglasses that I wore when I visited my family in the Carribbean. They're stylish but most importantly FUNCTIONAL. Always protect your eyes. Even I am no longer in the tropical weather doesn't mean I stopped wearing these. Even in snowy weather skiers wear sunglasses because of the sun's reflection on the snow is harmful. Definitely take a look at the frames that http://www.ray-ban.com/usa offers.

Gucci Pour Homme II

My signature cologne that I rock throughout the year? Gucci Pour Homme II by Gucci. I get so many compliments when I first tried it that I stuck to it. + as the person wearing the fragrance I really like the scent. It is not overwhelming at all. It's light masculine scent. Here are the notes:

Top fragrance notes: Violet leaves, bergamot
Heart fragrance notes: Cinnamon, red pimento peppers, black tea
Base fragrance notes: Tobacco leaves, musk, myrhh

 The sillage is weak but I am not wearing it to get noticed by everyone when I walk into a room. The scent is picked up by those who will stand next to you. It's almost a welcoming scent for people to start talking to you. One girl in my class asked me what I was wearing because she was going to get a gift for her brother but had no idea what to get for him. She had a bottle sent to him on his birthday and she told me after a couple of weeks that he really liked it. Mission accomplished. lol

As you can see, I used all of it. It's a blue juice which you might be able to see at the bottom. Basically its the same blue as the one on the box which is on the right side. Inside that is my newly purchased bottle. Retail value for this cologne is $79. However you can definitely find deals once in awhile on amazon, ebay or perfumania. http://www.gucci.com/us/category/m/fragrance is the official site to all Gucci fragrances for men.

Tropical Necco Wafers

If you haven't seen these in-stores yet you will. This is a photo of the NEW Tropical Necco Wafers. This company is known for its sweet concoctions. Influenster was cool enough to include a stick of this inside their 2012 College VoxBox. This was definitely my favorite item. I murdered this stick of candy within two days. I kept popping these wafers in my mouth during the day. They're small penny size candy bits in many flavors. Coconut which you see me holding. Other flavors include Passion fruit (my favorite), strawberry, lime, banana and mango. If you don't see these in-store checkout www.necco.com for these and any other sweets you might be interested in.

      Check out my quick review video

American Crew Hair Fiber

American Crew Hair Fiber. Where have you been all my life!? My college roommate introduced me to this brand. That whole semester I was using that  before classes. Before the holiday break he told me that next semester that I'd have to get my own cause I used all of his. hahaha.

I wish I was using this on my hair since the day I was born. I'm not one to put emphasis on my hair. I just combed it for the most part but when it came to styling my hair for special occasions I would use those $1 hair gels. BIG MISTAKE. I noticed strands of hair would fall out! Fiber by American Crew does not give me that problem. It thought it was actually helping my hair grow. Another reason why Fiber is better than hair gel is that it gives you the same style effect that you want but without the super shine. The fiber has a semi-soft texture that easy to apply to your hair. It has a very light scent. Not really noticeable. http://www.americancrew.com/products has other products similar to the Fiber. The only difference is the hold strengths and the shine levels.

 Here's the downside for this product, for me at least. Since I was upgrading from $1 hair gels the price was a bit of a shock to me. A 3oz container at Target costs 13.99. BUT BUT the amount that I needed to apply daily was very little and I have been able to use one container that lasted for the whole semester- 4 months. I have short hair though. If you have longer hair, 3oz would maybe last 3 months. That's still good. I am currently looking into American Crew's shaving products to see if they are good. I'll let you know if I try any of it

Paris for Men

Sounds like a woman but smells like a man. So I checked out the mall on Black Friday weekend and went into Bath and Body Works to see if they had any soap on sale to get for myself and for my parents. Someone gave me a bottle of the men's shower gel one time and I really liked it. So I was looking to grab a few for me and the old man. However I found out that this store sells these 10oz bottles for $11 dollars each. .....WTF? It's just soap that goes down the drain in seconds. Yeah it smells nice but still. Even with their sale that weekend I thought that was expensive. But one of the girls in the store directed me to this specific scent- Paris for Men. It was $5 that day. All the other scents for men were $11. I smelled it in the store and I thought it was alright. The name was a turn off though. Paris for Men? Paris Hilton? I have no idea. It was five bucks and it smelled good. Below are the notes of this scent.

Top Fragrance Notes: Lemon, Bergamot, Blood Orange, Mandarin, Watermelon
Mid Fragrance Notes: Lavender, Ginger, Calone, Touch of Violet
Dry Fragrance Notes: Cashmeran, Moss, Vetiver, Cedarwood, Musk

If you have to get a gift for the guys in your life I would suggest this or any of the other scents that www.bathandbodyworks.com sells. An even better idea is if you know the guy's favorite cologne then try to look if the manufacturer makes a shower gel with that fragrance.

Fearless Chocolate

If you've never tried these before check out your local organic grocery store and try one of these. These are Fearless Chocolate. These are soooo good! They're organic, gluten-free, soy-free, vegan. This company is also environmental-friendly. If you like dark chocolate you should definitely taste these guys. My favorite flavor is the  Matcha Green Tea & Peppermint (green one to the right). Thats 70% cacao. The close second would be the 70% Super Seed (right about the green one). Super Seed contains chia seeds, hemp seed and flax seed which are really good for you. Check out Fearless Chocolate to see more details about these guys. I stopped eating regular milk chocolate awhile ago. Dark chocolate is where its at. Even though you don't get that super sweetness from milk chocolate these guys are more savory and healthier!

Manly Lip Balm

It's that time of the year again. When our lips start getting dry, chapped and irritated. For guys we really don't consider taking care of our lips but this is the time when we feel more aware of what's going on below our nose. I have been using the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm. I started using it a month ago and it has been great. I came across this brand on youtube when I was searching for lip balms for men. I stopped using the classic Chapstick because it just wasn't doing the trick. A lot of youtubers were raving about this but they were mostly women....Jack Black is a product line for men though? But that just shows you how well this lip balm works. When you apply, it doesn't give me that shine as if I put on lip gloss. This gives you the matte look which is perfect. The added bonuses to this lip balm (if you really care) is there are no parabens and its SPF 25. It's enriched with shea butter and Vitamin E which are good for your lip's surface. Jack Black has a variety of scents for this lip balm. Yes scents not flavors. If you taste this it won't taste good it will taste like nothing actually but you get a sniff of it every time you open it. Two of the scents that I have are Black Tea & Blackberry and the other one is Grapefruit and Ginger. I definitely recommend this lip balm for men and women. I believe Sephora sells these for $7.50. Yes it's a bit pricey but the ingredients are on point. I sometimes peel my lips when I nervous and I noticed after using this, the heal very quicky. Give it a shot. Check out your local Sephora or the lip balm section of Jack Black.

Energy Sheets

Rocking out the morning with Sheets courtesy of Sheets and Influenster. I actually did not know that these even existed until they sent them to me. They also gave me a sticker AND a coupon to buy more! The sheets seem to work but it's a a brief fix. They don't last long like coffee which usually keeps me alert for 4-5 hours. These sheets I'd say 45-70 minutes. But 45-70 minutes are really helpful for a college student + the sheets did not make me feel jittery and I did not experience a crash which is stated on the box. The Energy sheets are mint-flavored which helps because mint is a natural stimulant- the menthol smell makes you more aware. These can be found at around $5.95 in your local drug store. They also have a sleeping version of this brand which helps you doze off.

College VoxBox 2012 from Influenster!

My 1st ever VoxBox from Influenster. Thanks guys. Specifically this is the College VoxBox 2012. This is what came inside that tiny little box in the back:

1) NYC New York Color Show Time Glitter Eyeliner

2) Necco Tropical Wafers

3) Sheets Energy Strips Sheets

4) Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-on Manicure


Product that was supposed to be in the box but were missing:

5) Pentel EnerGel-X Pentel of America OR Pentel RSVP Pentel of America

             Check out my unboxing video!
     
               

First Blog, First Post

First post! Hello everyone I am a college student who recently enrolled with the Influenster program. If you don't know what that is, its a program where consumers test out products that Influenster sends them...for FREE! Your only obligation though is to provide feedback on your experience with those products. On this page, I will be sharing my feedback/review on these Influenster-provided products as well as other products and services that I use. This also gives me an opportunity to play with my camera phone and post photos! Enjoy.