Product Reviews by The Experimental Mommy
Mom and Baby Product Review and Giveaway Blog
Time to announce some lucky winners! Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaways!
Tupperware Chain of Confidence: JoeyfromSC
Surf Sweets: Lori A.
The Studio by Danielson Designs: Kristy H.
Wanchai Ferry: Janet C.
Palmetto Kids: Shelly
PUR Water Pitcher: Barbara W.
CONGRATS to all the winners! You will all be emailed shortly. Please reply with the requested info within 72 hours to claim your prize!
I looked at the calendar today and realized there is just a little over 100 days to go until Christmas! ACK! Now that both of the kids are in school, this means lots more “little” gifts to be purchased for teachers, and that adds up fast! Both kids have 2 teachers, plus all the teachers they see for extra classes, like computer, music, etc. I am a teacher myself. At the risk of sounding terrible, DO NOT buy your child’s teacher another mug with an apple on it! Walk away from the apple mugs! Check out LoveIt Notepads instead!
LoveIt Notepads is NOT just a place to get teacher gifts, but dozens and dozens of other adorable choices for mom, kids, brides, shopping/to-do lists, and more! The best part is, for the same price as that apple mug that is going to become a dust collector, you can get something your child’s teacher will really use and enjoy! From the website: “We just LOVE notepads, so that is all we make! We mix modern and fresh designs with humor and creativity…..you can add your own humorous quotes, favorite taglines, Bible passages, wherever your creativity leads you!” Stephanie at LoveIt Notepads was so easy to work with and kindly sent me five different notepads to try out.
This one is my favorite! ADORABLE!
They are all fun, bright, cheerful, and functional. The kids loved theirs and immediately put them to use. Without any suggestion, my son left this on his daddy’s keyboard for him to find when he got home:
How cute is this? Can he stay little forever?
My absolute favorite (besides the Family Pad) are the stick figure notepads. These are completely customizable…you can change hair color, choose different faces to most closely resemble the members of your family, even adding glasses if needed! The options are whimsical, sweet, and endless. After getting my notepads from Stephanie, I immediately used one of the “From the Mom of” notes to let my son’s teacher know he was ready for his make-up test after missing a day of school. When she saw me she said, “I love those little notes you have!” Guess what she’s getting for Christmas? One hint: It’s not an apple mug! A few of my friends and I exchange gifts for Christmas and birthdays, not too pricey, and I think the notepads are perfect! LoveIt Notepads has lightning-fast processing time and sends you a proof to make sure everything is correct before they print. LoveIt Notepads offers precious options for kids too which I think make cute stocking stuffers or Easter basket fillers. I will most definitely be back for more LoveIt Notepads in the very near future.
All this paper-loving can’t be contained to just my household! LoveIt Notepads is currently offering a coupon code for Not So Blog readers for $10 off a $50 order. Enter “LOVEIT10″ at checkout. LoveIt Notepads is also offering FIVE (yes, FIVE) Not So Blog readers a free notepad! We are so excited that five of you get to experience the friendly service and terrific quality LoveIt Notepads has to offer.
How to enter:
1. Visit Loveit Notepads and tell me which notepad you would choose if you won!
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.
The My Bag by Kushies will be a great way to foster Lily’s independence by teaching her how to pack her own overnight bag for trips to Grandma’s house!
One My Bag by Kushies, supplies needed for an overnight stay at Grandma’s and a VERY excited 4 year old! About Kushies:
“In 1988, Sam Perez and Susan Malinowski purchased the assets of the doll company and assumed the roles of President / CEO and Vice-President. They started to look for additional market possibilities for the company to expand. The decision was made to concentrate efforts on the infant children’s market, with the initial product to be a re-useable form-fitted cloth diaper. The internationally trademarked name “Kooshies” was created for the new product line. As President, Sam Perez, explained, “It was a unique name easily pronounced in many languages, enabling the product to be marketed worldwide under one name”. After designing the revolutionary 100 per cent cotton, reusable diaper, “Kooshies” undertook a year of extensive testing and refinements, and went on to patent the “Kooshies” diaper.
Kushies Baby USA is now located in Niagara Falls, New York and the Stoney Creek Ontario location houses state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and over 200 staff. A meticulous inspection standard for the ever-expanding product lines, which currently stands at over 350 baby products, ensures the continuation of the company’s high quality standards and continuing popularity.”
When Lily’s My Bag arrived, I cannot tell you how excited she was to open the package. She unzipped each section (which was generally followed by a lot of “oooohhhhs”) and methodically sorted through each drawstring bag. Next thing I knew, Lily had half of her closet on the floor of her bedroom and was packing for what seemed like some sort of week long hike through Europe! LOL! Seriously, I love this bag because the smaller drawstring pouches (7 in all) feature pictures of the items that should go in that bag so my pre-reader could organize her belongings and make sure she had everything she needed ALL BY HERSELF! As a Mom, I love this bag because the My Bag was sturdy and obviously well made (not to mention incredibly cute). I also love that the bag also comes with it’s own blanket and pillow. Within about 30 minutes, Lily was packed and ready to go spend the night out. All she needs now is an invite!
The My Bag is not the only great thing you can find at Kushies! Check out the organic products, cloth diapers, and baby bedding. Found something you HAVE to purchase? Kushies has generously offered a 10% discount on all purchases when you us the code: nsb10
With the birth of my second daughter, I realized that only one thing would get me through the day….ORGANIZATION! If everything was easy to find and at my fingertips, the day ran much smoother which made for a very happy Mommy. For the Labor of Love giveaway #5, I am featuring an item that will help you do just that while pampering the new Mom. The incredible Butler Basics Organizer Bag from AVON will help the new Mom stay organized while showing off her style!
A good friend of mine, Isabella, has been selling AVON products with her husband since 2005 and quickly became a huge success! Her knowledge of the product and fast, friendly customer service has placed her in the Top 100 AVON Representatives every year since 2007.
Because Bella knows the AVON line like the back of her hand, I asked her to share a few of her favorites!
Skin So Soft Signature Silk Ultra Moisturizing Body Lotion (whew, that’s a long name!) – LOVE LOVE LOVE this body lotion. Its thick and rich and softly scented. My skin feels like absolute SILK after using this!!
Take advantage of Bella’s expertise and check out her AVON site! She has also generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader the Butler Basics Organizer Bag from AVON!
This organizer tote with five compartments can organize everything from your wallet to cosmetics. Vinyl. Fully lined, with zip pocket. Recessed zipper closure. Approx. 13 1/2″ L x 11″ H x 5 1/4″ D.
How to enter:
1. Register at Bella’s AVON site and tell me one other product you would love to own!
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.
Tiny Tongs will be a great way for Aubrie to gain more independence at mealtime while improving her hand eye coordination.
One pair of Tiny Tongs, a plate full of yummy food and my 17 month old daughter who is just learning how to use utensils. About Tiny Tongs:
“With three children under the age of five, I was looking for a way to make meal time less stressful, less messy and more enjoyable for our children. After watching more food land on the floor than in my children’s mouths, I knew there had to be a better way for them to eat.
We needed something to fill the gap between finger feeding and successfully eating with traditional utensils. I had seen my small children using tongs in their preschool to help develop their coordination for writing and thought it would be a great way to eat as well. My search for suitable tongs for children to eat with came up empty.
So…we began a year long journey to bring tinytongs to the dining table. I trust that tinytongs will bring as much enjoyment to your family meals as it has mine!”
With each passing day, Aubrie (17 months) is becoming more independent. She is one strong-willed child! “Aubrie do it!” is one of her favorite sentences and is oftentimes heard a
t the dinner table. Aubrie is also a great eater….if she can feed herself. When I attempt to help her eat with a fork, she gets angry and will not eat. I knew there had to be a better way! So, I was thrilled when I received Tiny Tongs to test! This product is a great way to transition between finger foods and using big girl utensils. The Tongs are BPA free, dishwasher safe, and easy for small hands to manipulate due to the non-slip grip.
Aubrie immediately was curious about the Tiny Tongs and started to experiment (wonder where she gets that from? LOL!) with her food. In about 5 minutes, she was a pro at picking up the food with her Tiny Tongs! She was much happier because more food landed in her mouth and Mommy had to help less.
Tiny Tongs can be purchased directly for $7.99 for a single pair or $24.99 for a set of four. Upon checkout, use the code nsb20 to receive 20% off your order!
Do you have a little one that wants a little more independence at the table? Tiny Tongs has generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader one pair of Tiny Tongs!
How to enter:
1. Visit Tiny Tongs and tell me which color you like the best!
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. Become a Fan of Tiny Tongs on Facebook.
5. Favorite me in Technorati!
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on September 23rd. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
My mother tells a story that we all laugh about now, but was so not funny at the time. I have two younger brothers, and Mom says she “never left the shoe store without Ryan in tears.” (Sorry Ryan, I am selling you out for the sake of the blog) The reason is that my parents, being careful about how and where they spent their money, refused to buy super-expensive shoes for him. Of course “all the other kids” were getting tennis shoes in the hundreds that were supposed to make you jump just as high as that famous basketball player. Yeah, except Mom and Dad didn’t have the salary of a Chicago Bulls point guard.
That was twenty-plus years ago. Today, I am so thankful for companies like Morgan and Milo! Morgan and Milo offers cool, fun, and funky options for your children’s feet at a budget-friendly price. From the website: “Morgan & Milo grew out of a desire to provide parents an alternative to high-priced European styles or inexpensive character-driven shoes. We are inspired by the simple, enduring qualities of the timeless brands of our childhood. Classic and comfortable, our footwear is well-suited for everyday wear.”
This statement couldn’t be more truthful! Have y’all ever had that moment when you hear yourself say something to your kids and realize you have become your mother? That was me in the shoe store last spring. Emily needed tennis shoes, so we went looking and she spotted a cute little pair of sparkly shoes that she HAD to have. No price on the shoe. So, she tries them on, falls in love, the lady rings me up, and I almost DIED when she gave me my total. So, the shoes stayed there, we left with Emily in tears and me with mom guilt, but I was NOT buying shoes for my three year old for that high a price tag. So, I went on a hunt to find something similar, and all peace was restored when the Easter Bunny arrived a few weeks later:
Can the bunny bring Momma some shoes next time?
See those cute shoes? Morgan and Milo’s Sparkle Mary Janes! They quickly became her favorite shoe and we couldn’t get them off her feet. I have been a die-hard fan ever since. I was thrilled to come home last week and find a box waiting from Morgan and Milo. They kindly sent us a pair of Boys’ LTT Slip Ons and Girls’ Ginger Floral to try out for the upcoming fall weather.
The kids LOVED their shoes. My son is seven and so of course his comment was “AWESOME! No laces!” Since I have to remind him a thousand times a week to tie his shoelaces, I thought this was pretty awesome too. My daughter is a shoe fanatic (like her Mom) and squealed when she saw the decorative flower. Here’s a better look at the detail on the side:
Morgan and Milo shoes are incredibly well made. The uppers are soft and pliable and all the stitching and detail work is extra secure. Both kids agree they are comfy and Em’s Sparkle Mary Janes from the Easter Bunny were still in perfect shape when she outgrew them. Morgan and Milo has tons of options for your kids’ toes and I promise you will love them as much as we do.
Don’t want to wait for the Easter Bunny to bring you some? Morgan and Milo is offering TWO lucky Not So Blog readers their own pair! We are giving away a pair of the LTT Slip Ons to one lucky boy, and one lucky girl can choose either the Sparkle Mary Jane or the Tessa Mary Jane. We are so excited about this giveaway so that two kids get to experience shoe bliss!
How to enter:
1. Visit Morgan and Milo and tell me another shoe you love! Also, make sure you tell me if you are entering for the GIRL shoes or the BOY shoes since this is two SEPARATE giveaways!
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 Morgan and Milo’s email list to receive an extra entry.
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on September 24th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
I was fortunate enough to successfully breastfeed both of my daughters. I had absolutely NO problems with my first daughter, so I thought breastfeeding would be a cinch with number two. Wrong! Aubrie had a much harder time learning what to do, and as a result, I was in a lot more pain. I will admit that I almost gave up a few times, but I stuck it out and was able to breastfeed for 8 months.
One of the products that made breastfeeding easier was the Bravado nursing tanks. I LIVED in my Bravado tanks while at home on Maternity Leave. I am telling you, these tanks are super comfy and the latches are easy to manipulate with one hand (not to mention they are cute, too!).
From the Bravado Designs website:
“From those small beginnings with an idea around a kitchen table, Bravado quickly built a strong reputation as having comfortable, stylish, and quality nursing bras. Lactation Consultants, Midwives, Childbirth Educators and others in the healthcare community quickly started recommending our products to their moms, and still do to this day.
Now, Bravado Designs’ products are worn and loved by moms worldwide, including celebrity moms like Angelina Jolie, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Garner and Jessica Alba. Although many things have changed since our beginnings all those years ago, one thing never will: our commitment to bolster and enhance the self-esteem of pregnant and nursing moms.”
This September, Bravado launched their new Allure Underwire Nursing Bra and Sublime Nursing Bra! The Allure combines style with good breast health and features three dimensional stretch in the cups, round wide wire which subtly distributes weight, full drop cups and Bravado B-clips for one handed access. And guess what? It’s PRETTY, too! The Allure bra is recommended for moms who have established nursing for at least 6-8 weeks.
The Sublime Nursing Bra has all the fabulous features of a Bravado Nursing Bra: full cup drop, Bravado B-clips, cotton lined cups and now soft, delicate lace to provide beautiful design elements. Just because you are nursing doesn’t mean you can’t have gorgeous lingerie!
I recommend Bravado Designs to all of my friends expecting a baby, so I am pleased to announce that Bravado is allowing one Not-So-Blog winner to choose either an Allure Nursing Tank and matching boy short, or Sublime Nursing Bra and matching panty set! Be one of the first to experience the new designs by Bravado!
How to enter:
1. Visit Bravado Designs and tell me if you would choose the Allure or the Sublime!
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 Bravado’s newsletter to receive an extra entry.
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on September 23rd. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
I hope y’all liked the last recipe for the Shrimp Pasta! I am still working on emptying the freezer because hurricane season lasts until November 1. And, we bought half a pig. Yeah, literally. Half a pig in my garage freezer. Not the whole pig….but a ton of bacon, pork chops, sausage, you get the idea. We have used most of it but I still have three gallon ziplocks full of hamhocks. Buying the pig was actually a pretty funny experience, but that’s another post for another day.
Red beans are a traditional New Orleans favorite and are usually served on Mondays, which is “Wash Day.” The beans require just about the entire day to cook so the idea is your Mama cooked the beans while she did the wash. Most restaurants around here serve them for the Monday lunch special. They freeze very well and I will usually do 2 pounds at a time because it’s just as easy to cook 2 pounds as it is to do one, you just need a big ol’ pot. There are a zillion different recipes and of course everyone says their Mama makes them the best. I don’t use a real “recipe” but I will explain in detail and you can take it from there!
A little bag full of New Orleans Heaven
You need:
1 pound dry red beans (Camellia brand is best if you can get that)
celery, maybe 1/2 bunch, chopped
1-2 green bell peppers, chopped
garlic, maybe 3-4 pods, minced
1 large onion, chopped[-
oil, just a little
salt
pepper
Tabasco sauce or cajun seasoning (or both, I like Tony Chachere’s cajun seasoning if you can get that)
Worcestershire sauce
2 Bay leaves
garlic powder
1/2 -1 pound ham, chopped into cubes (browned in skillet beforehand)
1 pound sausage, (browned with ham)
OK, the night before, rinse and sort beans, meaning, pick out any that are funny looking and/or any rocks or whatever that ended up in the bag by mistake. Cover with cold water, bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Kill heat and soak overnight. If you are in a hurry, soaking 30 minutes should do you just fine.
The next morning: in a big pot, saute chopped veggies in a little oil, not much, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 cup until soft. Drain beans and add them to the pot. Add enough water to completely cover beans plus maybe another inch. Give a few good shakes of W sauce (about 2 teaspoons or more if you like), a few good shakes of Tabasco (about 1-2 teaspoons), add Bay leaves, a few shakes of garlic powder. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer on low all day, stirring often to keep them from sticking. You cook until the beans are soft and the mixture is thick and creamy. One trick to make them creamier is to take about a cupful towards the end of cooking time, toss them in the blender (or mash them in the cup with a fork) and then add them back to the pot. Once they are pretty thick, you can doctor them up by adding more tabasco, salt and pepper, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, etc. About 1/2 way through cooking, add sliced sausage and ham that has been browned a little in a skillet (drain first). If you can get your hands on a smoked ham hock or ham bone, you can add that during cooking from the beginning and just take it out and toss it once they are done. Serve over white rice with either french bread of cornbread. YUM YUM.
Let me know how yours turn out! Have fun being a New Orleanian!
When I was pregnant for both my daughters, I was an obsessive list maker! I made lists for everything including books to read, places to register, questions for the Pediatrician, and baby gear to purchase. A good friend of mine recommended getting a baby bouncer to soothe our newborn. I am so glad we took her advice because our bouncer worked like a charm on both girls!
Oompa, founded in 2004, was a family held California corporation. Oompa Toys continues to carry a wonderful, ever expanding mix of wooden toys, baby toys, soft dolls, play food, ball tracks, play mats and other beautiful, high quality wooden toys. Now you can find some of the best baby gear around at Oompa!
Among the baby gear available at Oompa is this fabulous Svan Bouncer! From the website:
“The bentwood Svan Bouncer is the perfect seat for your baby from birth until they are ready for a high chair. The bouncer is fully adjustable, with a seat that allows your baby to lay down for naps, sit up to observe their surroundings, or lounge anywhere in between. Wonderful for rocking your child to sleep with a gentle tap of your foot or allow it to bounce with your child�s own movement. Folds up for easy storage or travel. Padded fabric seat is easily detachable for machine washing.”
Oompa has generously donated one Svan Bouncer in Natural/Baby Blue (similar to the one pictured above) to one lucky Not-So-Blog reader! Your baby will be bouncin’ in style! The Svan Bouncer retails for $119.00.
How to enter:
1. Visit Oompa and tell me another baby item (other than the bouncer) that you would love to own!
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 Oompa’s newsletter (look at the bottom on the right of their website).
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on September 30th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 2009, Bridgette co-founded a consultation service, Double Duty Divas, LLC in order to connect brands and bloggers. Expanding on this business, she will host the first blog conference geared towards product review bloggers, Reviewer's Retreat in May of 2010. [Read More …]
