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Labor of Love Giveaway #16: Sweet Dreams Maternity

September 19, 2009 By 111 Comments

Every Mom-to-be wants to feel sexy, right?  On my search for flattering sleepwear, I found nothing but pajamas with loud floral prints and teddy bears…hardly a husband’s fantasy.  I wish I had found Sweet Dreams Maternity back then!

Labor of Love Giveaway #16:  Sweet Dreams Maternity

sweetdreams

From their website, “Sweet Dreams Maternity Wear (SDMW) was born out of the desire to continue to look and feel beautiful as well as desirable during pregnancy. While pregnant with her second daughter, designer and owner, Sandra Mayo, was shopping for just such an outfit but couldn’t find any. “I thought to myself, surely I can’t be the only woman out here feeling this way.” says Mayo. So, utilizing her degree in Fashion Merchandising and her many years in retail sales, Sweet Dreams Maternity Wear was born!”

Sweet Dreams Maternity carries some fabulous items including this adorable white cotton gown, loungewear, and even some items that would be perfect for that last “babymoon!”  Looking for a great gift for the Mom-to-Be this holiday season?  Check out the pampering kits!

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Sweet Dreams Maternity has generously offered one lucky Not-So-Blog reader this Purple Chiffon sleepwear.

Made of polyester, this chiffon 2 piece is made for the hot-mama in you! Top has adjustable straps and cups are trimmed with rosebud edging and satin drawstring bow. Full length bottom with mid-belly elastic waistband. Machine washable, Made in the USA.

How to enter:

1. Visit Sweet Dreams Maternity and tell me one other item you would love to try.

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter (@BridgetteLA) and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5. Favorite me in Technorati!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 10th.   Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: ,

Labor of Love Giveaway #15: Beaute de Maman

September 18, 2009 By 147 Comments

When you are pregnant, you will do just about anything to make sure your unborn child is safe!  I followed the instructions of my OB/GYN to a tee and even gave up my favorite skin care product.  Now, Beaute de Maman has developed a unique line of health and beauty products to treat problems specifically related to the physiological and hormonal changes experienced by women during pregnancy. Beauté de Maman utilizes only natural and herbal ingredients to ensure the safety of both mother-to-be and fetus.

Labor of Love Giveaway #15:  Beaute de Maman

beaute70The entire line of Beaute de Maman products contain only natural and herbal ingredients and have been extensively studied, evaluated and allergy tested.  The founder, Dr. Michele Brown, has used her medical training to guide her in the development of these unique products.  In delivering more than 3,000 babies, she has extensive knowledge in the problems faced by pregnant women.

Dr. Brown is a board-certified member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a member of the American Medical Association, the Fairfield County Medical Association, Yale Obstetrical and Gynecological Society and the Women’s Medical Association of Fairfield County.

Beaute de Maman has a great selection of products including stretch mark cream, face and body cream and nipple gel.  I had the opportunity to review the facial scrub.  While I am not pregnant, the facial scrub is for all skin types!  I loved the creamy texture of the scrub, how it felt on my skin, and how my skin looked after use.  I certainly would have used this skin product when I was pregnant (in fact, I plan to use it NOW!).  These products are available at Beaute de Maman, CVS and Target for fabulous prices!

This review is the opinion of The Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a different experience.  Thank you to Beaute de Maman for providing the product for review.

Beaute de Maman has generously offered THREE lucky Not-So-Blog readers a FREE Facial Scrub so you can try out the products for yourself!

How to enter:

1. Visit Beaute de Maman and tell me one other item you would love to try.

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter (@BridgetteLA) and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5. Favorite me in Technorati!

6.  Sign up for Beaute de Maman newsletter!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 6th.   Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

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Labor of Love Giveaway #14: Safety 1st

September 16, 2009 By 313 Comments

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I literally stalked the baby department in just about any store.  I could not WAIT to register for all the adorable baby products!  But when my time came, and the store employee handed me the list of “must-haves”, I was completely overwhelmed!  Of course I knew that I needed a crib, carseat, stroller and diapers, but I hadn’t even thought about the long list of little things.  Fortunately, my Mom was with me and helped me sort through the items.

Labor of Love Giveaway #14:  Safety 1st Deluxe Healthcare and Grooming Kit

Safety 1st has created the best kit that includes many of the “little things” you need before bringing home that new bundle of joy.  The Deluxe Healthcare and Grooming Kit can now be purchased at Targetgroomingkit for $19.49 and includes 25 essentials in a cute and durable carrying case.

The kit includes a 3-in-1 Digital Thermometer with Storage Case, Clear-Tip Nasal Aspirator, Gentle Care Brush & Comb, Pair of No-Scratch Mitts, Steady Grip Nail Clippers, Baby Scissors, 12 Emery Boards, Tweezers, Easy Fill Medicine Syringe, Easy-Fill Medicine Spoon and Toddler Toothbrush.  Having a kit with all these essentials in one place helped me stay organized and keep important items at my fingertips after the birth of my daughter.

How to enter:

1. Visit the Child Care section at Safety 1st and tell me one other item you would love to try.

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter (@BridgetteLA) and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5. Favorite me in Technorati!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 6th.   Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

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DOLE Bowl-A-Day Challenge!

September 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
I have two monsters in my house.  Snack monsters!  I know I pay for school lunches, and the teachers tell me that my daughters eat at school just fine, but they always come home FAMISHED!  We no sooner set one foot in the door and they are both (yes, even the 18 month old) banging on the pantry door for a snack.  Dinner is just a few minutes away, so I do not want to fill their bellies with sugary, unhealthy snacks, so I love keeping a few DOLE products in the pantry.
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DOLE is encouraging families to join the “Bowl-A-Day Challenge” to encourage healthy snacking!  A little about DOLE Fruit Bowls:

“DOLE Fruit Bowls are a nutritious snack that are fun to eat and perfect for on-the-go snacking— in kids’ lunchboxes, on family road trips or whenever you feel like having a satisfying fun fruit snack. As your kids get ready to go back to school, healthy snacks have never been easier to take with you! With DOLE Fruit Bowls, there are so many places and ways to enjoy a little fruit.  DOLE Fruit Bowls are 80 calories or fewer, rich in Vitamin C, naturally fat free, low in Sodium and received the ChefsBest Award since 2004.”

As a little incentive, if you register to explore the DOLE Kitchen, you have THREE chances to win some incredible prizes!

  • Want to win $300?  Give a tip on how YOU enjoy Dole Fruit Bowls to enter!
  • Want to win $1000?  Challenge YOUR friends to play along for another chance to win!
  • Want a FREE coupon?  Simply download it straight from the website! Everyone is a winner!

So, how is our Bowl-A-Day Challenge going?  Take a look at what Aubrie thinks of her DOLE Fruit Bowl!

003If you can’t tell, that is a HAPPY face!

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Labor of Love Giveaway #13: Alpha Sherpa Backpack from Baby Sherpa

September 15, 2009 By 373 Comments

hypothesis The rugged Alpha Sherpa Backpack from Baby Sherpa will be a great way to comfortably carry the items we need on outings while organizing everything for easy on-the-go access.

materialsOne Alpha Sherpa Backpack, diaper bag supplies, and an outing to the New Orleans Aquarium. About Baby Sherpa:

babysherpa

“Baby Sherpa’s mandate is to design, manufacture and sell a Diaper Bag Backpack bag to meet the needs of active parents. We value input from parents and will strive to keep being innovative in meeting parents’ needs for hauling the baby gear of their little ones.

Baby Sherpa® is a leading edge designer of gear-carrying solutions designed to simplify and help organize active families. They also manufacture Safe2Go”Kiddie Karacter” safety harnesses.  Founded in 2002, they have received various juvenile product awards for excellence and innovation.  Offices are located in Winfield, Illinois and Stony Mountain, Manitoba, Canada.”

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This summer, my husband and I have taken our two daughters on a few “Staycation” trips throughout the city of New Orleans.  While these are great fun, it takes a bit of planning!  Because we have an 18 month old, we still have to tote around diapers, wipes, clothes, pacifiers, sippy cups and finger foods while also carrying items for our 4 year old such as snacks, juice boxes and crayons.  Parking can be an issue, so we try to pack as light as possible because we will generally have to hike to our destination.  So, a sturdy diaper bag which allows us to organize the items (while being manly enough for my hubby to carry) is ideal.  We found all of these things in the new Alpha Sherpa by Baby Sherpa!

Alpha-Sherpa

Here’s a look at a few key features:
• A padded laptop compartment safely holds most 14” computers
• Soft-sided cooler compartment with capacity of 8 cans
• Rugged construction
• Video camera and DVD padded pouch
• Ergonomically designed with padded shoulder straps
• Padded air mesh back panel with ventilation channels for breathability
• Heavy duty lug handle
• Spacious main compartment

The Backpack was incredibly comfortable, even when stuffed with all of our gear.  I loved all of the separate compartments!  It was great to by able to separate Aubrie’s supplies from Lily’s.  We were able to fit all of our “essentials”  in this bag with no problem.  I also loved the soft-sided cooler compartment which kept Lily’s juice boxes cool even in the Southern heat.  It looks nothing like your typical diaper bag, so my husband carried it with no worries (he also loved the video camera padded pouch which kept our photo equipment safe without having to carry a separate bag).

summary

The Alpha Bag from Baby Sherpa was the perfect bag for our Aquarium visit!  We were able to stock up on our essentials for both girls, stay organized and comfortably carry the gender-neutral bag.  I would not only recommend this bag for new parents, but for anyone looking for a great way to carry their essentials (there is even a laptop compartment!).  Baby Sherpa is offering all Not-So-Blog readers $20 off the Alpha Sherpa with the code Blog20 as well as FREE SHIPPING on all of its diaper backpacks (expires Oct. 31, 2009)!

In addition, Baby Sherpa has offered one Not-So-Blog reader their very own Alpha Sherpa Backpack (ARV $119.00)!

How to enter:

1. Visit Baby Sherpa and tell me one other item you would love to try.

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter (@BridgetteLA) and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5. Favorite me in Technorati!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 6th.   Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have differing opinions or experiences. Thank you to Baby Sherpa for supplying the bag for review.
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Wordless Wednesday

September 15, 2009 By 27 Comments

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First Day of Dancing School!

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Labor of Love Giveaway #12: Kroger Gift Cards

September 15, 2009 By 755 Comments

After the birth of my second daughter, our grocery bill sky rocketed!  Diapers, wipes, lotions, soaps, and formula all added up quickly at the register.

Labor of Love Giveaway #12: Kroger Gift Cards

Kroger understands the expense of having a baby and has offered one Not-So-Blog reader $60 in gift cards to offset that grocery bill!

kroger logo

Kroger cares about families and earlier this month ran a wonderful savings event in their stores.  The Mega Savings Event allowed shoppers save $5.00 for every 10 participating items they bought while using the Kroger Shopper Card at check-out.  Several brands participated in the savings event including:  AMP Energy, Aquafina, Betty Crocker Baking Mixes, Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks, Cascadian Farms Cereals and Bars, Cap’n Crunch, Cheerios, Cheetos, Chex Mix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, CocoaPuffs, Dole Juices and Juice Drinks, Fiber One, Fritos, Gatorade, GoldenGrahams, Green Giant, Hamburger Helper, Life , Lipton Tea, NatureValley, Old El Paso, Pepsi family of 2 Liters, Pillsbury, Progresso, Propel, Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Quaker Chewy Bars, Starbucks, Sobe LifeWater, Totino’s, Trix, Tropicana, and Yoplait to name a few!

Although this event is over, did you know you could print money saving coupons online at Kroger?  Check out the great deals!

Now, Krogers is offering one lucky reader $60 in gift cards to help you save even more at the grocery.

How to enter:

1. Tell me one reason why you love your local Kroger store!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter (@BridgetteLA) and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5. Favorite me in Technorati!

6.  Sign up to receive your Kroger Weekly Ad via email!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on September 30th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This giveaway is brought to you by MyBlogSpark.

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New CBS series: The Good Wife

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I rarely get a chance to watch TV.  When our TV us on, the channel is usually playing some sort of cartoon or kids programming.  Sitting down to watch an adult drama or comedy is a treat and I am definitely planning on watching the new CBS series, The Good Wife!

This series, which begins September 22nd at 10pm EST, stars Julianna Margulies.  About The Good Wife:

“THE GOOD WIFE is a drama starring Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies as a wife and mother who boldly assumes full responsibility for her family and re-enters the workforce after her husband’s very public sex and political corruption scandal lands him in jail. Pushing aside the betrayal and public humiliation caused by her husband, Peter, Alicia Florrick starts over by pursuing her original career as a defense attorney. As a junior associate at a prestigious Chicago law firm, she joins her longtime friend, former law school classmate and firm partner Will Gardner, who is interested to see how Alicia will perform after 13 years out of the courtroom. Alicia is grateful the firm’s top litigator, Diane Lockhart, offers to mentor her but discovers the offer has conditions and realizes she’s going to need to succeed on her own merit. Alicia’s main competition among the firm’s 20-something new recruits is Cary, a recent Harvard grad who is affable on the surface, but is competitive to the core. Fortunately, Alicia finds an ally in Kalinda, the firm’s tough in-house investigator. Gaining confidence every day, Alicia transforms herself from embarrassed politician’s scorned wife to resilient career woman, especially for the sake of providing a stable home for her children, 14-year-old Zach and 13-year-old Grace. For the first time in years, Alicia trades in her identity as the “good wife” and takes charge of her own destiny.”

Check out what Julianna had to say about her new role:

Put the kids to bed, grab a snack and settle in for some great drama on CBS!

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Labor of Love Giveaway #11: Jazzy Toes

September 13, 2009 By 190 Comments

hypothesis Jazzy Toes will be an incredibly cute way to add some pizzaz to an otherwise ordinary outift for my 18 month old. 

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One set of Little Sunshine Flip Flops  (3 pairs of socks) in the 12-24 month size and an eager pair of 18 month old feet.   About Jazzy Toes:

jazzytoeslogo

“JazzyToes’ goal is to provide unique and stylish products for both boys and girls, while expanding the range and selection for boys.  Each design comes with a unique style for both boys and girls, so if you have twins, they can match well with the socks, for example wingtips for boys, and spectators for girls. All the socks come with a non-skid grip that helps baby to walk.   JazzyToes socks come in two sizes: 0-12 months and 12-24 months.  The Jazzy Toes collection includes 12 designs: 6 for boys and 6 for girls.  The boys design include Sandals, Wingtips, Sneakers, Cowboy Boots, Loafers, Deck Shoes; and the girls design include Sandals, Spectators, Sneakers, Cowgirl Boots, Loafers, and Mary Janes.

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 When the Little Sunshine Flip Flop set arrived, I had a pretty good laugh.  These socks instantly brought a smile to my face and I couldn’t wait to try them on Aubrie!  The design on the sock was precious.  The really look like flip flops complete with little painted toenails!  When Aubrie saw them for the first time, she exclaimed, “TOES” and immediately started trying to put them on.  The sock was soft, well made (with elasticized ankle) and included a non-skid grid on the bottom.  Aubrie was able to run around the house on our wood floors without the sock falling off or slipping. 

summary

Our experience with Jazzy Toes was wonderful!  The socks are so cute and arrived in a cute box which would be perfect for gift giving.  Jazzy Toes is now offering eco-friendly footwear as well.  You can purchase a set of  socks which range in price from $18-$29 directly from Jazzy Toes.  Free shipping is available for orders over $50!

Do you need to jazz up your baby’s toes?!?  Jazz Toes has generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader their choice of the following:

The Bamboo Collection 2 pack in Girls or Boys, sizes 6-12M or 12-24M; Flip Flop 3 pack in Girls or Boys, sizes 0-12M or 12-24M; Hamptons 6 pack in Girls or Boys, sizes 0-12M or 12-24M; or the Mary Jane Lacey Baby Tights, sizes 6-12M or 12-24M.

How to enter:

1. Visit Jazzy Toes and tell me what pair is your favorite!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter (@BridgetteLA) and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5. Favorite me in Technorati!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on September 30th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have differing opinions or experiences. Thank you to Jazzy Toes for supplying the product for review.
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Get Cool for School WINNERS

September 11, 2009 By 8 Comments

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Get Cool for School giveaway series!  We had wonderful sponsors and I hope you all enjoy your prizes!

Congratulations to all the winners!

Grand Prize: Jen G


College Bundle 1, Kolobags and Mimobot: Barbara L
PreSchool Bundle 1, Bumkins, Art Easel, and Paints: Rebekah A
Middle School Bundle 1, Kajeet, Free Realms, and Shred Sled: Lisa L

  • runner-up: Aurelia C

Grade School Bundle 1, Piggy Paint, Touch of Whimsy, Sparklehearts, and BabyLegs: Briann

  • runner ups: Rebekah A, Cori W, Beth M, Stefanie H, Shawn C, Heather M, and Briann N

High School Bundle 1, Casio, Educator.com, and Suzie Homemaker:Rebekah A

  • runner ups: Karen, Lea, Barbara, and Raji

Parents Bundle 1, POM, Arnold, and Bella Viva: Veronica G

  • runner ups: Lisa L, Joanne S, and Sylvia W

College Bundle 2, Divoga and Hip Fusion: Linda S
PreSchool Bundle 2, Ufadili, See Kai Run, Tag Jr, and BabyBox: Anne M

  • runner ups: Jennifer M and Rebekah A

DayCare Bundle 1, Kokopax, Cherry Hill, and Doodle and Goo: Rebekah A
Grade School Bundle 2, Melissa&Doug, Fancy Fortune Cookies, and Leapster 2: Marin O
Parents Bundle 2, LTDchix, organizer, and parenting book: Badger Momma

  • runner ups: Beth and Lee-Ann

Middle School Bundle 2, Carolina Pad, PakNaks, and Twist n Write: Sylvia

  • runner ups: Corin and Linda S

PreSchool Bundle 3, See Kai Run, Happy Green Bee, Stephen Joseph: Marlena U

  • 1st runner ups: Mary F, Ktanjatk and Lisa
  • 2nd runner ups: Ashley C, Dana, and Marin O

Grade School Bundle 3, Ufadili, Pediped, and Cherry Hill: Marin O

  • runner ups: Sylvia W, Amy P, and Rebekah A

PreSchool Bundle 4, Kushies, Lefty’s, and Doodle and Goo: Dana V
Parents Bundle 3, Jessie Steele, Baker’s Edge, and Envirosax: Karen M
College Bundle 3, Hip Fusion, Mini Bento, FeeFiFoto: Betty R

  • runner ups: Lily K

Grade School Bundle 4, Math Blaster and Plasma Car: Nadia P
High School Bundle 2, Just Jen, Envirosax, and Carolina Pad: Jen G

  • runner ups: Carrie Y, Kristy S, and Anita M

PreSchool Bundle 5, Radio Flyer, Safety Tats, and Bunnytail: Gena E

  • runner ups: Amy P and Erin S

Parents Bundle 4, Tastey Baker, Post, and Keurig: Rose A

  • runner ups: Jenine H, Dana V, and Renee C

College Bundle 4, Sumo Omni, Barbar, and Container Store: Sherry C
Middle School Bundle 2, Kids Coats, Leapfrog Didj, and Suzie Homemaker: Mary F

  • runner up: Jennifer G

Grade School Bundle 5, Tag Reader, Frecklebox, and Children’s Place: Kristy
PreSchool Bundle 6, Pet Rescue, Children’s Place, and Suzie Homemaker: Cynthia M

  • runner ups: Angel F and Stacie
Filed Under: Giveaway Winners Tagged With: ,
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