When I started this blog last year, little did I know we’d be expecting a baby (GIRL!) in 2012.  We’re very excited about the addition of Brooke to our family, and have so much to do before she arrives! 

There are two main reasons I started Product Junkie. The primary purpose was to gain a deeper understanding of blogs, social media, Google Analytics, Google AdSense, etc because I work in marketing.  What better way to accomplish that than to create my own Website. And, of course, I love trying new things and sharing my thoughts with others.

While I hate to become another sobering blog statistic (the majority of blogs don’t last longer than one year), I really want to enjoy the next 5 months and prepare for the arrival of our baby girl without worrying about more on my to-do list! Also, I’m leading a committee for the Canton/Cleveland Goodwill to conduct a fashion show utilizing thrift store finds during Cleveland Fashion Week (yes, Cleveland suprisingly has the 3rd largest fashion week), so that will probably consume some of my time.

Thanks to everyone that has read my blog. I hope you enjoyed my reviews.

Always remember, the best things in life aren’t things.

xoxo

Sarah

Today’s review is of the new, limited edition McDonald’s Chicken McBites ($1.99 snack size). If you’re like me, you can’t resist a good chicken nugget. Sure, if you dissect the insides, they look pretty gross like chicken goo. But who cares when they are so gosh darn tasty! And please, no one send me the link of how McDonald’s Chicken Nuggests are manufactured. Ignorance is bliss.

See what our mini-panel thought of this product below. Note: my husband was supposed to be part of today’s panel, but he’s at the bar right now enjoying happy hour with his co-workers (hence the mini panel review). He loved the McBites and the extremely generous portion size!

Trendy Teacher - Likes to stay on trend without breaking the bank.

I am an avid chicken McNugget buyer and was more than thrilled when I heard of McDonald’s newest chicken concoction, the chicken McBites.  Are they popcorn chicken or simply miniature nuggets?  I was curious so I immediately made a trip to my local McDonalds to give them a try.  The McBites come in three sizes: snack size, regular and sharable.  I purchased the snack size McBites for 1.99 and was pleasantly surprised with the portion of McBites.  It was a hearty snack and definitely a good price for the quantity of food.   The McBites are similar to popcorn chicken; I like to refer to them as baby chicken selects (for those of you familiar with the McDonalds menu).  The packaging provides a place to hold dipping sauce, which is extremely convenient for enjoying McBites on the go.   I thoroughly enjoyed them and have been back several times to enjoy these tasty treats.  I personally recommend sweet & sour sauce (a personal favorite) and ranch as dipping sauces. Enjoy!

Product Junkie - Loves to shop, loves a bargain, but will pay good  money if something makes her look and feel good. 

I usually try to eat pretty healthy, but this pregnancy has turned me into a McDonald’s Chicken Nuggest and Chick-Fil-A fry addict. I have to admit, I’ve always liked the traditional McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets, especially since they started using all white meat a few years ago. So I was really anxious to see how the McBites would stack up! As previously mentioned, the McBites come in three sizes. The snack size is HUGE … more than enough for one person. I was pleasantly surprised by the portion size. The container comes with a convenient dipping sauce holder, which is great because you can actually dip while driving (sounds like a slogan, “don’t dip and drive”). The McBites are basically popcorn chicken. The chicken has more of a true chicken consistency versus their standard nuggets (goo previously mentioned). There’s a lot of breading on the chicken, and I got quite a few pieces that were all breading and no chicken. While I really enjoyed these, I’ll stick with regular nuggets.

I’m heading to Pittsburgh tomorrow for work (and making an IKEA detour on the way home to go nursery shopping!), so this week’s blog post is a day early.  Brows, brows, brows … what can I say other than they are the most neglected part of most faces. I’m pretty diligent about getting my brows waxed every 8 weeks, but had a little “incident” back in April. My go-to, amazing brow gal Kathy was out. I decided to go to another spa in town, and to my surprise, I was missing half my eyebrows when I left. I looked like a major tool … even my husband who doesn’t notice ANYTHING (hair cuts, color changes, new outfits) said they looked kind of “sharp.” Ekkk.

That’s when I went on the hunt for a great brow pencil. I’ve tried a few different brands  (pencils and powders) over the last 9 months, and have finally found one that looks pretty natural and enhances the overall look of my brows – the Anastasia Brow Whiz ($20).

The pencil is extremely small, so you can make small strokes that mimic the look of your own eyebrows. I only fill in the sparse areas to keep things looking as natural as possible. There’s a small mascara-like brush on the other end of the pencil you can use to shape the brows, and soften the overall look of the pencil. This brow pencil is a little pricey at $20, but it lasts a long time so I think it’s worth it.

By the way – if you live in NE Ohio and need a great brow wax, call Kathy at Stagelights 330-493-5000.

Coming next week: Panel review of the new McDonald’s Chicken McBites

Seems like such a long time since I wrote a somewhat negative blog post. I have a love-hate relationship with today’s product, the Bissell Little Green Machine ($79-99). On one hand, it’s a super convenient portable carpet cleaner that gets more use than the elliptical at our house. On the other hand, we’ve had our share of mechanical issues over the past two years.

I originally purchased the Bissell Little Green machine due to my frustration with standard carpet cleaning products like Resolve. Although they work well, they don’t suck all the dirt/mess/goop out of the carpet. So if you spill a bowl of soup, you still have soapy soup residue stuck in your carpet … yuck.

Here’s how the machine works. On one side of the machine you pour a mixture of water and the Bissell Little Green Machine cleaner. The other side of the machine has a tank that captures the dirty solution.  To use the machine, simply plug it in, push the heat button and wait for the red light to come on. Spray the carpet and let the solution soak in for a few minutes. Then, use the attachment to suck the solution and mess out of your carpet.

This carpet cleaner works really well. I am a total klutz and have spilt tomato soup, orange pop, etc on our carpet, and this machine has gotten everything out.

My only complaint is that I’m now on my 2^nd machine, as the first machine started leaking horribly out of the dirty solution tank. My 2^nd machine is working OK, but sometimes the cleaning solution doesn’t come out of the wand that well.

I hesitantly recommend this product because it works and it’s reasonably priced, but advise you to keep the receipt incase you experience any mechanical issues!

 Coming Thursday: Review of the Anastasia brow pencil

Nothing beats tortilla chips and dip, especially cheese dip.  My favorite is the yummy white cheese dip at Mexican restaurants, or Chili’s queso. However, I’ve never been a huge fan of jar cheese from the grocery store.  Every year on Christmas eve, my parents have an amazing smorgasboard of food including dips, pizza rolls, a taco bar, veggie pizza, etc. This year, my mom bought a new dip for us to try, the new Velveeta Salsa Con Queso (retails around $3.50).

This is the most amazing pre-packaged cheese dip I’ve ever tried. It’s slightly spicy (medium) and has great flavor and consistency. I think I ate half the jar (maybe because I’m preggo), but it’s so good! I highly recommend this dip, especially if you’re having company over and need to quickly prepare appetizers. You could even put this in the crockpot and pass for homemade!

Coming Thursday:  The Bissel Little Green Machine Review

This month’s panel reviewed the new MAC Skinsheen Leg Spray ($26.50), which comes in two colors Medium-Dark and Dark. Since it’s the middle of winter, it only seemed appropriate to review a tanning product so we can all get our gorgeous summer glow back. MAC describes this product as ”a smooth-on, gel-based bronzer that’s soft and mousse-like to apply yet provides sheer to low coverage with subtle sheen and radiance.”  Check out what our panel thought about this product.

Fashionably Fabulous – Loves to shop, but rarely buys things full price.  Lives
    by the motto “fashion over function” so is often spotted wearing heels that are
    too high, but look fabulous.

Polished Minimalist - Seeks a polished, fashionable, and pulled together
look, but likes to keep her product arsenal to a minimum.

 I should probably start off my review by saying I’m normally not a fan of tanning/bronzing lotions, foams, or sprays.  I find them to look very orange and unnatural.  Not to mention the streaking that normally follows so I was a little unsure when testing this product.    However, I love this tanning spray!!  The MAC spray is very easy to apply and looks like a natural tan.  This tanning spray is a bit more expensive than the lotions you can buy at a drug store but it is well worth the money if you’re looking for a natural tan that will last a few days.  The MAC spray is perfect to get a tan especially in the winter without continuous visits to the tanning bed. Overall, I would recommend this product to anyone, great find!

Product Junkie - Loves to shop, loves a bargain, but will pay good 
money if something makes her look and feel good. 

I love sunless tanners, but honestly, find myself too lazy to apply them on a regular basis.  I liked the idea of MAC Skinsheen Leg Spray because it’s a bronzer not a sunless tanner. This means I can quickly put it on, like lotion, as I’m heading out the door. I really love this tanning product. If I feel pasty in the morning, I’ll put it on my arms, neck and décolletage and it provides a nice, tan glow without rubbing off on my clothes. My only complaint is it takes a lot of work to rub it in. I usually rub it in, and then wipe a dry wash cloth over my skin to get any “high points” I may have missed. I agree with the first reviewer that it’s pretty expensive, but one bottle actually lasts a long time. There are several comparable products I plan to try such as Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs and Benefit Tantilizer, but I like the results of this product.

Coming Wednesday: Review of Velveeta’s new Salsa Con Queso

I don’t know about you, but I love getting facials. They make my skin super radiant, but the results only seem to last for a day or two. I’ve often wondered if there’s a way to replicate facial results at home. Recently, I was reading one of the 3-4 beauty and pop culture magazines I subscribe to, and I saw rave reviews from beauty editors on Benefit High Beam Facial Highlighter ($26). They claimed that this product gives that envious “lit from within” glow that all of the celebrities and models have as they grace the covers of magazines, or the red carpet. I wasn’t thrilled about the price, but knowing Sephora has a generous return policy, I decided to give it a try.

The facial highlighter is a pearlescent pink color. The instructions say it’s good on all skin tones (more on that later). The applicator is a small (nail polish like) brush. You’ll definitely want to buy a small contour brush to apply… not sure how you would apply with the brush provided. Here’s how I applied: 1) I put a small amount of the liquid on the surface of my hand, 2) I dabbed the contour brush in the highlighter, 3) I applied the highlighter OVER foundation on top of the apples of my cheeks, cheekbones and brow bone.

I really liked the results! I don’t use this product everyday, but definitely pull it out when I have extra time in my morning routine. It provided a nice dewy glow, without looking shiny.  The product is buildable, so if you don’t get enough “glow” when it’s initially applied, you can always apply more. I have very fair skin, so I’m not sure how this product would work on tan skin. Since it’s light pink,  I would almost think it would make more sense to apply under foundation on tan skin so it doesn’t look fake or pearly on top of your skin. Just a note of caution… you may want to try both application methods.

Coming Thursday: Panel Review of MAC Leg Sheen

PJ Editor Note: Today’s review was provded by my friend and reader, Becky. Thanks for sharing!

Being pregnant was amazing on so many levels! But what they say is true, your body changes during and after pregnancy. One thing that changed for me was my skin, pre-pregnancy I had horribly oily skin that gave me acne like I was in my teen years going through puberty. Once I got pregnant, the oiliness greatly decreased as did the acne (thank you, Gabriel J)!

Of course this caused my skin to now be drier which has lead to a dry scalp! I asked my stylist for some recommendations and he instantly recommended Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Moisture Mist! This can be used for both your hair and skin and it works fabulously! The dryness disappeared almost immediately, even on those days where I have ton of product in my hair! After my shower I spray all over my scalp and then I spray all over again right before I style my hair. It also has a light scent so it is not over powering at all!

Added benefit, you can use on your face after applying make-up and it helps prevent smudges throughout the day!

All-in-all another highly recommended product from me! To read my previous review, click here.

PS: I have found the best pricing from Famous Hair – 8.5 fl oz bottle for $8.29!

Coming Thursday: Review of Benefit High Beam facial highlighter

#1 on My Favorite Things list is my favorite product of 2011… and 2010… and 2009… and probably the last 10 years.  I’m not a makeup artist or a supermodel (stating the obvious), but the one thing I get asked about a lot is my eyelashes. People usually think they’re fake, but it’s really just L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara ($6.99) and the technique used to apply it.  If you’re going out tonight for New Year’s Eve, check it out and let me know what you think!You don’t have to spend a lot of money to  have beautiful lashes. There are a TON of $20-30 mascaras on the market, but this one really does the job for me. I prefer a thickening mascara over a lengthening mascara, and also don’t like mascaras with a silicone type formulation (those that form “tubes” around your lashes).  I find the silicone based formulas aren’t as buildable.

It’s really all about the application. If you only apply one coat, your lashes probably aren’t going to look any different.  If you want thick, long lashes you need to curl first, then apply MULTIPLE coats.  Now, I don’t advocate spider lashes, and that’s probably what you’re thinking right now. But this mascara is really buildable … I probably put 20 + consecutive coats (or more) on the top lashes without stopping to let them dry. I only do 1-2 coats on the bottom lashes. To demonstrate the technique I use, I found a great video by Bachelor alum Michelle Money on YouTube (love that show).  You’ll notice she applys many coats, and her lashes still look very natural. 

Note: I buy the regular black mascara with a curved brush. I don’t recommend the carbon black formulation if you have light coloring … it can look a little harsh.

Coming Thursday: Reader Review of Paul Mitchell Moisture Mist for Hair

I’ve been on the hunt for a great foundation for years. My list of requirements is pretty basic: the perfect color that evens out the skintone, medium coverage that looks natural, and one that doesn’t accentuate the fine lines around my eyes. You’d think this would be a fairly easy endeavor considering the thousands on the market today. But, I’ve found it challenging to find the perfect foundation until now. #2 on My Favorite Things list is Make-up Forever HD Foundation.

I discovered this foundation by reading beauty / celeb blogs, and through my bestie Kelly. This foundation is used by countless celebrities including Guiliana Rancic, Vanessa Minillo, Julia Roberts and even the last Bachelorette. My friend Kelly wore it for her wedding, and she looked absolutely gorgerous.

I decided to give it a try, and since the product is sold exclusively at Sephora, I went to the store to get color matched. I highly recommend this because there are more than 25 shades to choose from, and it’s hard to find the right color simply by looking at a swatch online. If you aren’t close to a Sephora though, they do have a great return policy so you could keep exchanging until you find the right shade.

Sephora color matched me with Shade 118 – flesh. I absolutely LOVE this foundation. It meets all my requirements, and makes my skin look its best. I wear a foundation primer underneath it for a smooth application. I still need some pressed powder on my t-zone because I’m oily (I like GloMinerals pressed base in Golden Medium).  I really don’t like the Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder that complements this product. If you want to try it, I’d recommend getting a sample before you buy.

This foundation is pricey at $40, but I really think it’s worth it. I wear foundation almost everyday. I would spend this on a shirt I’d wear once a month (or less), so why not invest in something like foundation? That’s my rationale anyway!

Coming Saturday: #1 on My Favorite Things list