Next Up from the Sugar & Spice Vox Box: Colgate Optic White

I can be a brand snob. There are some things that I am stubborn about and will not change my habits on said thing. One of these is toothpaste.

I grew up on Colgate. We were a Colgate family and never deviated from that routine. Toothbrushes were another matter: they came free from the dentist! Toothpaste was a choice, and that choice was always Colgate. When I saw there was a dental regime in the VoxBox, I was so pleased that it was from a brand I already have my heart set on, because it makes this task so much easier and pleasant!

The Colgate Optic White System

 The products I received included the Colgate Optic White toothpaste, Optic White oral rinse (mouthwash) and a special Optic White toothbrush.

Let's start with the toothpaste: It is plain ole' white toothpaste to the naked eye but if you look deeper it is packed with ultra-whitening peroxide and high levels of teeth protecting fluoride. It has a mild taste and instantly foams in the mouth. When I'm done brushing my mouth feels clean and not ravaged like some harsh whitening toothpastes tend to do.

The toothbrush has fancy polishing cups that complement the paste and is meant to speed the whitening process.  It has twice the whitening action by removing both deep and surface stains.  I have a small mouth and the brush is huge. Unfortunately, this was not a good match for me but I'm sure others will enjoy the brush. I wish they made it in a compact size for me so I could really give it a try and see if it lives up to the hype.

The Optic White mouthwash claims that the "dynamic foaming action reaches hard-to-brush places, helping to whiten teeth (by removing surface stains) and freshen breath." It is alcohol-free which is fantastic (no mouth-on-fire feeling!) and is gentle to the mouth. It is chock-full of peroxide to clean teeth and provide the fresh foamy feeling and it also tastes like it is full of peroxide. I liked the mouthwash but the taste was a little off-putting. I guess if I had to choose between slight chemical taste and mouth-on-fire, I choose the peroxide taste.

Overall, I enjoyed being able to try the new Optic White system from Colgate. The toothpaste is a keeper but the toothbrush was just not made for me and the mouthwash needs a little more flavor to make it a keeper in my bathroom. Thanks to Influenster for giving me the opportunity to have a beautifully whiter smile :) Check out more reviews at the Influenster Review Page!

Have you ever tried taking a photo of yourself in a mirror while brushing your teeth? Yeah, not so easy...or attractive.

Easter dinner... kinda sorta?

This year for Easter, we decided to invite my in-laws for dinner and have a simple-yet delicious- dinner. My MIL had a turkey in the freezer she was willing to part with, but I am so over turkey and the weather is quite warm here in Florida so I politely declined and suggested we grill out! It was going to be a beautiful day for a bbq so I prepped this tasty marinade the night before so the pork loin cuts would be deliciously juicy off the grill.

Asian inspired pork marinade

Combine all in a large freezer bag and marinade pork flat in fridge overnight, flipping bag over once:

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup raw honey
2tbsp olive oil
2tbsp thai sweet chili sauce
1tbsp ginger
1tbsp red curry powder (or any you have on hand)
1 clove garlic
3 green onions, minced
Sriracha sauce to taste
Splash of sesame oil (it is potent so a little goes a long way)

Cilantro would have been a tasty addition but I didn't have any on hand. Boo, me.

The next day, I prepped everything else for dinner and in the midst of it all, the youngest Brick came down with a wicked fever and all bets were off. Mr. Brick took half of the chops down to my MIL and we grilled ours later, sans in-laws, for dinner.  I meant to take an after photo, but sick babies trump all. We grilled them 3 minutes a side and then rested on low until internal was 145 on the meat thermometer.  Totally moist and full of flavor. This is one we will do again. Enjoy!