Ho, ho, ho! There’s a reason my middle name really is “Ho”, y’know.

In honor of the fourth day ’til (of?) Christmas, I have a fun giveaway for you! A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted and asked if I would be willing to review V8’s newest products: V8 V-Fusion Smoothies. I really like regular V8 (despite having a less-than-stellar experience with the low-sodium kind — blech), so I was totally up for it.

They sent me a bottle of each of the three flavors: mango, strawberry banana, and wild berry. They tasted pretty good! You can’t taste the veggies and the smoothies were very fruity and sweet. Well, okay, I should elaborate: two of the three of them tasted good. I really liked the strawberry nanner, and the mango flavor was my favorite (Ben and Taylor both liked it as well), but I was NOT a fan of the wild berry. Then again, I’m not too into berry-flavored beverages in general. Ick.

While I do like the fact that these smoothies provide the whole “one full serving of vegetables and one full serving of fruit” thing that V8 offers, the nutritional stats aren’t perfect. There’s no fat, but each 8 oz. serving has 130 calories (Wild Berry has 120), with 21 grams of sugar. So this definitely isn’t the kind of thing that should be consumed with wild abandon. That said, the flavor of two of them was very nice, and the drink itself was substantial enough to take the place of breakfast one day last week when I was running late for work, hahaha.


Along with the three full-sized (!) containers of the V8 V-Fusion Smoothies, I was also sent a nice “smoothie bottle”, which is a glass bottle with a cute impact cover over it. I really like that it has measurement amounts listed on the side, so you know exactly how many ounces you’ll be drinking — especially since, as I mentioned, one serving is 8 ounces (which is standard), but the bottle holds 16 ounces. In addition to that, I also received…

A Vera Bradley tote! I was floored when I saw that this was part of the package. Back in college, every girl on campus carried one of these (VB tote + Northface jacket + Uggs = JMU girl uniform) and I swore never to own one… and then promptly bought one within a year of graduating. What can I say? I just couldn’t resist the pull of the paisley.

The pattern on the bag I was sent is admittedly a little bit flowery (literally, ha!) for my usual tastes, but I’ve been using it for the past week or so, and I love how BIG it is. So now it’s your turn to win one of your very own!

One reader will win the exact same package from V8: three full bottles of the smoothies (one of each flavor!), a smoothie bottle, and a Vera Bradley tote bag!
How to Enter:
1. Like Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! on Facebook.
2. Follow @shrinkinggretch on Twitter.
3. Blog, tweet or post on Facebook about this giveaway, mentioning my blog, Twitter handle, or Facebook page depending on the medium. Here’s some sample text for you to play with:
Win a Vera Bradley tote bag + 3 bottles of V8’s new smoothies via @shrinkinggretch/Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen!‘s sweet #giveaway! http://bit.ly/vBqlMJ
That’s up to 5 different ways to enter and win! As always, multiple entries are definitely allowed, just don’t forget to come back here and leave separate comments for each one. A winner will be randomly selected on Monday, December 26th — a belated Christmas present for one of you! 🙂
Holy give away!! I follow up on Twitter and like you on FB 🙂
what a great giveaway! I follow you on twitter (how i found out about it) and just ‘liked’ you on facebook
I would love to win this! I follow you on Twitter!
I like you on Facebook and I tweeted about this awesome giveaway!
I follow you on facebook and twitter and i tweeted about this fantastic giveaway! merry christmas gretchen!
I like you on FB!
I just started following you on twitter (I only just got twitter a few weeks ago, whoops!).
I just put a tweet out about your giveaway!
Nice giveaway!! I follow you on twitter and just liked you on FB!
I like you on facebook!
I follow you on twitter!
AND, AND, AND, I tweeted about YOU! and vera! and your giveaway! (all in ONE tweet!)
I kind of feel awesome since I already follow you on twitter. 🙂
And what do you know, I like you on facebook, too!
And, last, but certainly not least, I posted the link to this blog post on my facebook page. 🙂
Awesome giveaway!
I followed you on Twitter (@whitelambie)
And tweeted about it!
And “liked” your page on the book of Face
I also just wrote about your giveaway on my blog: http://chubbygf.blogspot.com/2011/12/december-21-holiday.html Wooo hooooo!
Awesome giveaway!
I follow you on twitter – just “liked” you on facebook (can’t believe I hadn’t done that before!) and tweeted about the giveaway.
Yay for almost Christmas!!
I like you on FB.
I follow you on Twitter.
Facebooked: http://www.facebook.com/#!/athena.russell/posts/311454752220605
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/GoddessFoodie/status/149497587769163776
Liked you on FB!
I liked you on Facebook!
Following you on Twitter! (DisneySarah23)
I already like you on Facebook!
I follow you on Twitter, too!
And, I tweeted about this contest!
I re-tweeted you!
I like you on fb!
And follow you on twitter!
I follow you on Twitter
Aaaaaaaand I blogged about your giveaway too! http://ohmygish.blogspot.com/2011/12/blogger-shout-out.html
The JMU girl uniform…one we know so well. Too bad I could never afford a Vera that big, real uggs (mine were 5 dollars from walmart) or a Northface (I just bought a look-a-like Northface from Aeropostale for 20 dollars and I’m happy).
I like you on facebook!
Aaaaaaand I follow your every waking thought on Twitter!
I followed you on Twitter! @laughsweatagain
I LOVE vera bradley!!!
you’re never gonna believe this, but i’ve been lusting over that bag AND water bottle for the past few months! it’s like fate!
I tweeted as well @laughsweatagain
and i follow you on facebook 🙂
AND i follow you on twitter! 🙂
and i tweeted the giveaway! i’m so psyched!
I definitely follow on twitter!
This is a great giveaway! I follow you on twitter and I just tweeted about the contest! Good luck to all!
I follow you on Facebook. 🙂
I follow you on Twitter, as Embrace of course 🙂
I’m obsessed with Vera Bradley bags! And that bottle/cover – adorable! I will literally jump up & down and squeal like a little girl at a Justin Bieber concert if I’m the lucky winner!
I just “liked” you on Facebook – how did I not know you had a FB page until now?
I like you on Facebook, of course!!!! I love this giveaway. Win win win win win!
…and I just Tweeted about the giveaway
I also follow you on Twitter already. 🙂
…AND I posted about the giveaway on Facebook!
I tweeted!! https://twitter.com/#!/JLoBug/status/149512899411447808
I tweeted.
https://twitter.com/#!/amiller534/status/149516118543966209
Shared on Facebook
I liked your facebook page.
I [email protected]
I follow you on twitter. @amiller534
I like you on Facebook 🙂
I already follow you on Twitter. 🙂
I like you on facebook and shared your post.. super EXCITED ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY! <3 the bag!
I follow you on Facebook.
I also follow you on Twitter.
I tweeted about this giveaway!
I like you on facebook!
I follow you on twitter!
I tweeted the link!
Finally, I posted about it on facebook….pant pant. Ok done. Your comment police didn’t like my speedy gonzales fashion.
I liked the blog on fb.
I totally follow you on twitter.
I facebooked @ Cortney Hoch.
I tweeted @vbace18.
I follow you on fb & I love Vera Bradley!!
I posted about your giveaway on Facebook!
I like you on Facebook
And I follow you on Twitter
This is a great giveaway! I just “liked” you on Facebook.
I Liked you on Facebook
I am now following you on Twitter
I tweeted your giveaway as well 🙂
Thanks for doing the giveaway!!!
I posted on Facebook as well about your giveawy.
Pick me, Pick me, Pick me!
Way cute bag! And I just love the smoothie bottle!
I “like” your page on Facebook 🙂
Currently following you on Twitter!
Liked your Facebook page – as a verb 🙂
liked, followed, twitted. 🙂
Thanks for the chance to win this!! I Like Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! on Facebook my username is AshleyGHatten
ashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
following @shrinkinggretch on Twitter my username is @shuggysmommy
ashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
I shared on fb https://www.facebook.com/ashleygatewood1985/posts/140540779390312
ashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/149570199358681088
shared on twitter!
ashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
thank u!
I Like Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! on Facebook. (jeannine drenchek-scavo)
follow you on twitter @mellanhead
https://twitter.com/#!/mellanhead/status/149571698864291840 tweeted
shared on facebook (jeannine drenchek-scavo) https://www.facebook.com/drenchekscavo/posts/157468751024487
I follow you on Twitter, and would recognize that JMU “Uniform” as the UNC female student “uniform” when I was a student, as well!!
I <3 the VB!!!! That's the new breast cancer pattern – double love!
I didn’t know that! I love that. 🙂
Liking you on faceboookkkk!
I tweeted!
I liked you on facebook!
I follow you on FB!
And Twitter!
AND I Tweeted! Woo hoo!
Wow this is a pretty awesome giveaway! That tote bag is adorable…i can’t resist the pull of paisleys either lol! I like you on facebook 🙂
I LOOOOVE V8 Fusion – wildberry flavor included! – and am swooning for that Vera Bradley bag. Fingers crossed! I like your blog on Facebook.
And I also follow you on Twitter. I’m @heysuburban.
What a great giveaway! I already follow you on fb. :-)I love those glass bottles and the bag is cute too.
Happy Holidays!
And follow you on Twitter @rrrrreba
and I tweeted about the contest!
https://twitter.com/#!/rrrrreba/status/149596876327485440
and posted on facebook! 🙂
http://www.facebook.com/HowTheCookiesCrumble
I liked your FB page
I reposted the giveaway on FB
Tweeted and shared on Facebook!
I like you on Facebook!
I follow you on Twitter!
like you on fb and follow on twitter 🙂
Vera Bradley and smoothies?! I tweeted!
liked on the book! love this!
I LIKE you on facebook!!
I follow you on twitter!
I tweeted
I follow
I like
I blogged!
(www.livealicialive.wordpress.com/weighinwednesday)
I tweeted! (@livingalicia)
I faceboooooked!
I like you on facebook 🙂
and follow you on twitter
And, I like you on facebook!
Liked you on FB. Happy Holidays!!!!!!!
I like you on Facebook! And I the the “uniform” comment, haha! I think that is standard attire for many places!
*get
and I follow you on Twitter too 🙂
Oh my goodness! This giveaway is amazing. 🙂 I followed you on Twitter!
daily tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/149826515931103233
I followed you on Twitter!
OMG I love that Vera bag, I havent seen that pattern beore—exciting!! I follow you on the twitter @tiffanynico
Thanks for hosting this great giveaway. I follow you on Twitter! 🙂
And tweeted about the giveaway @tiffanynico
I also like your page on FB!
I liked your fb
I followed you on twitter
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/coffeeckecardio/statuses/149877846670721026
I liked your FB Page!
And I’m following you on twitter! Whoop Whoop. @coffeeckecardio
I tweeted and forgot to comment saying that I did! so there.
Also- as we all know, i already follow you on twitter and like you on facebook so once again i’ll combine the two entries into one 🙂
I like you on FB!
I follow you on Twitter!
I tweeted about the giveaway!
I shared the giveaway on FB!
i like you on facebook!
annnddd i follow you!
I’m following you on twitter. I need a new Vera tote, mine is tore up!
I already liked on facebook!
I am following on twitter!
https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/150258441129181184
daily tweet
Like you on Facebook. (leann brandner voyer)
I follow you on Twitter @dancersmom69.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/dancersmom69/status/150295235010899968
LIKED your facebook page!
just tweeted 🙂
What an awesome giveaway. I just followed you on twitter and I’m a native of the Hampton Roads area so we are practically neighbors. 😉
I’m following on twitter. Thank you!
https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/150556174729756672
daily tweet
I follow you on Twitter (CeeVegNashville).
I tweeted here:
https://twitter.com/#!/CeeVegNashville/status/150590283652935680
I follow Gretchen on Twitter!
I tweeted the giveaway!
I shared your giveaway on Facebook!
aaaaand I liked you on Facebook!
https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/151004967770128385
daily tweet
Like Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! on Facebook (Kathryn Gatewood Costa) katbirdfl (at) gmail (dot) com
Following @shrinkinggretch on Twitter (@katbirdfl) katbirdfl (at) gmail (dot) com
Tweeted about this giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/katbirdfl/status/151049976275935234
katbirdfl (at) gmail (dot) com
I’ve like you on FB since the beginning!
Merry Christmas Gretchen! 🙂