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Boiron Homeopathic Children’s Products

October 15, 2009 By 2 Comments

There are many things I love about Fall and Winter: cool weather, warm sweaters, holiday parties, and hot chocolate to name a few. Cold and flu season? Not so much. Nobody likes to be sick or see their children feeling ill, so what are you doing to protect your family?

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With the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, I am being more vigilant in hand washing practices and using hand sanitizer whenever necessary. The news of the availability of the H1N1 vaccine has made me take a closer look at the outbreak and it’s severity in order to make an informed decision on whether or not to vaccinate my children.  I found some great information about the vaccine on the Center for Disease Control website.

Short of living in a bubble, I think it is nearly impossible to escape every cold or flu strain this season.  After following your Doctor’s advice, how do you help your children through these rough times?  Extra hugs?  Chicken Noodle Soup?  Ice cream?

3BANNERS.2_8.5X10One available option is the homeopathic products from Boiron. For more than 75 years, Boiron has been committed to funding scientific research and educating the public and healthcare professionals on homeopathic medicines. As a pharmaceutical company, Boiron maintains the highest standards in manufacturing, complying with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States and drug Good Manufacturing Practices.

New to help parents are Children’s Oscillococcinum to nip flu-like symptoms in the bud and Children’s Coldcalm Pellets, a multi-symptom cold reliever. Along with Children’s Chestal for all types of coughs, these homeopathic medicines work safely and naturally without causing side effects and they won’t interact with other medications. They do not contain any of the ingredients questioned by the FDA for use in young children. All three are sweet-tasting and kid-friendly. All three are from Boiron, world leader in homeopathy and maker of Oscillococcinum®, which has been relied upon by families around the world for more than 65 years.

While I hope you and your family escape the flu “bugs” this year, feel free to share with me your tips for keeping your family healthy and/or nursing them back to health.  Do you plan to vaccinate your child against H1N1 this year?  How did you make this decision?

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Sprout Baby: Giveaway

October 15, 2009 By 256 Comments

Life is busy.  My two young daughters, full time job, the blog, housework, and hubby all keep my schedule tight and me running ragged.  It’s not that I am against organic or “going green”, but it’s just that it isn’t always convenient.  Of course, I want what’s best for my babies as well as the environment, but I wish these items were more accessible.

Enter Sprout Baby!  From the website:

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“SproutBaby.com is the brainchild of parents and professionals that saw an unexplored area of parenting and shopping and wanted to bridge the gap between making healthy choices and making easy choices. We created SproutBaby.com because we care and are concerned for babies and their moms, their families and communities, and the planet in which we all share. As we grow to include more options to fit more needs, we will provide comprehensive, eco-conscious, e-commerce and social shopping which is centered around making it easy to make mindful decisions about the products parents choose to put on, in and around their children and families.”

Sprout Baby doesn’t believe that parents should have to sacrifice wholesome options on the account of accessibility or affordability. Do you notice that sometimes the organic products are more expensive?  Going green can be very expensive, but it doesn’t have to be!  Sprout Baby offers delicious food, products and books to help keep your family healthy and the planet happy.

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While looking around the Sprout Baby site, I found several products that peaked my interest.  With flu season upon us, I am using lots of hand sanitizer!  I would love to try this CleanWell Wipes and Hand Sanitizer!  And this To-Go Ware RePEaT utensil set would be great to keep at my desk for lunch (pink, of course!).  And due to the growing concern over plastic baby bottles, LifeFactory offers a great alternative in their line of glass baby bottles!

Would you like to try out the products at Sprout Baby?  They have generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader a $25 gift certificate!

How to enter:

1. Visit Sprout Baby and tell me how you would spend your $25 gift card!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and Sprout Baby on Twitter 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 and Sprout Baby on Facebook.

5. Favorite me in Technorati!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 29th.  Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

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Marshmallow Fun Company: Review and Giveaway

October 14, 2009 By 381 Comments

hypothesis My husband will become a kid again when his sets his sights on the Zebra Marshmallow Shooter.  As much as I hate to write this, I am sure I will become his intended target.  LOL!

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One Zebra Marshmallow Shooter, twenty five marshmallows, an excited husband and a wife trying to escape target practice.   About Marshmallow Fun Company:

marshmallowlogo “The Marshmallow Fun Company is proving that you can have fun with your food, especially when you can shoot marshmallows up to forty feet at unsuspecting targets. The company’s fun products are putting new meaning to the concept of “fast food.” The award-winning marshmallow shooters have been seen on Hannah Montana, Rachael Ray, Good Morning America, The Jay Leno Show, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

results One of my nightly routines for my blog is reading and responding to emails and PR pitches.  Generally, my husband is sitting next to me and I will oftentimes read the opportunities to him.  Because I have two daughters, I do get a lot of girly products to try, but this time was different!  As I read the information about Marshmallow Fun Company, his eyes lit up and he exclaimed, “FINALLY!  Something I can try out!”  LOL!  He chose the Zebra Marshmallow Shooter and was like a kid on Christmas morning when it arrived.  In a matter of seconds, he had the shooter loaded with 25 mini marshmallows and a twinkle in his eye.

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This shooter allows you to launch your edible ammo continuously due to the clever pump-action design.  Despite running around the house trying to avoid being “marshmallowed”, my husband, the kids and I had a true blast.  Even the dog got in on the action as she sniffed out (and ate) the ammo.  The shooter was easy to use and provided a solid hour of evening entertainment.

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Overall, my family enjoyed our Zebra Marshmallow Shooter!  It worked well, was easy to operate and very FUN!  Marshmallow Fun Company also has several other designs available including a Classic Bow and Mallow and an Executive Blaster.

Want to try it out?  Marshmallow Fun Company has generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader a Marshmallow Shooter of their very own!  The winner will be able to choose from Zebra, Daisy, Cheetah, Peace and Skull and Crossbone Shooters (ARV $26.95)

How to enter:

1. Visit Marshmallow Fun Company and tell me another product you would love to try!

Additional entries

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) on Twitter 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 and Trident on Facebook.

5. Favorite me in Technorati!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on November 4th.  Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion of The Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. Thank you to Marshmallow Fun Company for supplying the product for review.
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Stock up on Swimsuits!

October 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

It may officially be Fall, but down here in South Louisiana, there are several more days, or even weeks left for swimming!  It is not at all unusual for us to all sit down to a delicious Thanksgiving meal wearing T-shirts and shorts!  I usually take the opportunity to shop for swimsuits now in order to take advantage of the off-season pricing while still being able to use it today.

The only problem is that most department stores are decked out for the holidays and swimsuits are no where to be found!  What do you do if you are taking a vacation to escape the chilly weather?  Fortunately, Swimsuits For All has a huge selection of fabulous women’s swimwear 365 days a year!  A little about the company:

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“Taking inspirations from sun, sand, and sea, SwimsuitsForAll.com offers swimwear and related apparel & accessories that work for real women sizes 8 & up.  SwimsuitsForAll.com strives to offer quality swimwear that will fit your unique body, style, and budget and fashionably flatter your next escape.

As your swimwear oasis, SwimsuitsForAll.com sells swimwear 365 days a year and helps you get into the right swimsuit for your body & taste.  Shop confidently with our detailed images, sizing charts, and fit information on each product page.”

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As I searched through the website, I found some great deals on cute one piece swimsuits (which I am most comfortable in after having two babies!) and even deeper discounts in the Sale section (I found a few suits for $16).  Atheltic?  No problem!  Check out the bathing suits that are perfect for doing your daily laps! 

One of the great things about ordering swimsuits online is that you can try them on in the comfort of your own home!  If you are unsure of your size, or even which suit is best for your figure, take advantage of the FREE swimsuit fit consultation!  And while you are at Swimsuits for All, make sure you sign up for their newsletter to be entered to win a $100 Swimsuit For All gift certificate given away ecah week!

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Wordless Wednesday

October 13, 2009 By 23 Comments
My Little Lioness

My Little Lioness

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Falling into Fall Giveaway #8: A Wreath 4 All Seasons

October 13, 2009 By 310 Comments

I love the colors of Fall!  From browns, oranges, and an array of golden yellows, the color combination is incredibly soothing to me.  It’s October now, and even though it is still quite hot here in South Louisiana, I am breaking out the Fall decorations with the help of our next sponsor!

Falling into Fall Giveaway #9:  A Wreath 4 All Seasons

Searching for just the right home decor to finish off this year’s decorations, I ran across A Wreath 4 All Seasons and I knew I just had to share it with you all.  About the company:

“A Wreath 4 All Seasons is a family owned small business committed to offering our visitors high quality wreaths at discount prices and providing our customers with the very best in service and satisfaction. We have a wonderful selection of autumn wreaths, spring wreaths, summer wreaths, as well as, winter and Christmas wreaths that make perfect gifts for family and friends around the holidays or for any occasion.   At A Wreath 4 All Seasons we want to help you to give someone the warmth, fragrance and joy of the holidays or treat yourself to the perfect home decoration.”

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I was fortunate to be able to review the Autumn Wheat Wreath which measures about 22 inches across.  When opening the box, I immediately took in the aroma which reminded me of crisp Fall days. This wreath is made with a random selection of preserved, partially preserved and dried salal as well as multiple colors of boxwood and with Blackbeard wheat as the finishing touch. The wreath was so full and well made, that I knew it would look spectacular above my fireplace.

I have never ordered a wreath online before, so I was skeptical that it would be as beautiful as the ones I see at local craft fairs, but I can honestly say that I was blown away.  I decided to check out what else was available on A Wreath 4 All Seasons where I found some beautiful Christmas wreaths, Wedding wreaths and  even some fresh green wreaths!

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Need help decorating for Fall?  A Wreath 4 All Seasons has generously donated a Bud n Berry Wreath to one reader!  This gorgeous wreath features rich, warm colors and beautiful burgundy berries that make it a multi-seasonal must have!  This wreath measures 16″ across and would make a great addition to your home decor!

How to enter:

1. Visit A Wreath 4 All Seasons and tell me which wreath would look best in your home!

Additional entries:

1. Sign up for A Wreath 4 All Seasons Newsletter (look in the right sidebar).  You will also receive 20% off your first order by signing up!

2. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and A Wreath 4 All Seasons.

3. Follow me on Twitter 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!)

4. Subscribe to my blog.

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

6. Favorite me in Technorati!

7.  Enter at What Mommies Need and receive an extra entry here!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 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 a different experience.  Thank you to A Wreath 4 All Seasons for supplying the product for review.
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Bed Bouquet Review and Giveaway!

October 12, 2009 By 198 Comments

I am a scent junkie.  I buy cleaning products based on how they smell and avoid cooking stuff that will stink up the house.  Let’s face it, when you go to someone’s house one of the first things you notice is if it smells clean or not, right?  That’s why I was excited to review samples from Bed Bouquet!

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From the website:  “Remember when we all just loved those soft, white cotton beds sheets that mom used to tuck into our bed at night?  The general concept surrounding the creation of Bed Bouquet was to develop an apparatus that would be physically unnoticeable to the sleeper, yet, emit a soft fragrance throughout the bed sheets for weeks in order to eliminate the need for daily application.”

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Bed Bouquet kindly sent me two samples to try out.  I change all the sheets in the house on Mondays, but after one night they usually lose that “fresh from the dryer” smell…. and trust me, we are clean people!   Bed Bouquet was easy to apply, smelled great but not overpowering, and did a great job of keeping my linens smelling fresh and clean all week long.  It’s been over a week now, the sheets have been changed and Bed Bouquet still smells great!  I loved the Linen Fresh scent and I put the Citrus in my son’s bed.  I didn’t even say anything to him about it, but that night he asked me what smelled so good.   Because the product makes no contact with his skin I knew it was completely safe to use in his room!  Bed Bouquet’s website also offers tips on Bedroom decorating, Mattress cleaning, and more!

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Bed Bouquet has kindly offered to send TWO lucky Not So Blog readers two samples of Bed Bouquet to enjoy!

How to enter:

1. Visit Bed Bouquet and tell me which scent 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 26th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion of The Not-So-June. Others may have a different experience with the product. Thank you to Bed Bouquet for supplying the product for review.
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Need a Smile Makeover?

October 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

When I was younger, I had horrible teeth (combination of genetics and thumb sucking).  I was finally cleared to get braces to fix my severe overbite in just before 6th grade and they remained on my teeth for 5 years.  I know first hand what it means to hate your smile and what a difference having a great dentist, orthodontist or cosmetic dentist makes to a healthy, beautiful, and confident smile.

I have often thought about my own two daughters, and am relieved that neither of them sucks their thumb.  But, I am worried that Mom’s genetics will take over and they will both end up with dental “issues” that we cannot afford to fix.  Dental care can be expensive!  Do you have similar worries or concerns that you are currently dealing with?  Did you know that you can WIN a Smile Makeover from 1-800-DENTIST?

smilecontestA little about 1-800-Dentist:

“Since 1986, 1-800-DENTIST has been matching patients with the right dentists and advertising the importance of regular dental visits to millions of consumers nationwide. One thing that sets 1-800-DENTIST apart is the fact that we carefully match patients with pre-screened dentists. But people often ask us “What does ‘pre-screened’ dentist mean?”

First, let’s start with what pre-screened doesn’t mean. Pre-screened doesn’t mean that we judge the clinical skills of our dentists. We’re not qualified to do that. What we can do is use an objective pre-screening process to evaluate potential member dentists. And that’s exactly what we do.

Our pre-screening process includes:

  • Confirming state dental licenses and renewals
  • Reviewing any disciplinary action on record
  • Verifying specialty certificates and sedation permits
  • Monitoring malpractice insurance levels and renewals

Once a potential dentist successfully completes our pre-screening process, they are eligible to become a 1-800-DENTIST approved dentist.

In addition, to ensure that member dentists continue to meet our membership standards, our dedicated Quality Assurance team continually confirms dental licenses, reviews disciplinary records, monitors malpractice coverage and evaluates patient feedback throughout the duration of each dentist’s membership.”

I did some searching around the 1-800-DENTIST website and found that you can locate a dentist near you by using an easy search option, a great section full of information on infant and toddler dentistry, and information about the Smile Makeover contest.

You can win a $30,000 smile makeover by simply uploading a short 2 minute video explaining how your smile effects the way you feel and the problems you want to fix.  Make sure you show your teeth!  Videos are due by November 10th at noon PST, and voting will end on Decemeber 1st. You can also follow 1-800-DENTIST on Twitter for lots of great tips and contest updates!

Go get your smile on!  Good Luck!

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Trident Layers: Review and Giveaway

October 11, 2009 By 190 Comments

hypothesis I am a self-proclaimed gum-aholic, but I believe all gum should be minty.  Trident Layers will help open my eyes to the fruity side of gum.

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One pack of Sugar Free Trident Layers in the Wild Strawberry + Tangy Citrus flavor, one pack of Sugar Free Trident Layers in the Green Apple + Golden Pineapple flavor, and one apprehensive Experimental Mommy.   About Trident Layers:

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“Trident Layers™ is made with real fruit flavor for an unbelievable taste
experience!  It has three distinct and visible colored layers that make it
as great tasting as it is fun to look at.  There is no other gum like it!

Trident Layers™ offers an incredible and pleasurable chewing experience with
real fruit flavor and a unique combination of taste and texture.
Trident Layers™ offers an exciting taste experience with two distinct
flavors in each piece that you can see!”

results I love gum.  I go through tons of gum in one month, but I am loyal to mint flavored gum (occasionally branching out and reaching for a cinnamon stick).  So, for me to try a fruity gum is a huge step for me!  But, when I was asked to review the new Trident Layers, I will admit that I was curious.  At only 5 calories per stick, I wasn’t risking much to give it a try!  I have to say that Trident Layers is honestly the prettiest gum I have seen.  I tried the Wild Strawberry and Tangy Citrus first and discovered the 3 layers are distinct and provide an interesting burst of flavor.  The strawberry flavor was noticed immediately, but after a few seconds, the citrus flavor emerged.  It was definitely a tasty combination!

My husband tried the Green Apple and Golden Pineapple variety and he enjoyed it as well.  He felt like the apple flavor was prevalent as it is two of the three layers.

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While I am still a mint gum girl, Trident Layers definitely convinced me that fruit flavors have their place in the gum world.  The combination of fruit flavors was fun and the gum was soft and easy to chew.  Want to try Trident Layers?  Print a coupon for 75 cents off any single pack of Trident Layers!

Trident Layers has generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader 3 packs in each variety (6 packs total)!

How to enter:

1. Visit Trident and tell me another product you would love to try!

Additional entries

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) on Twitter 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 and Trident on Facebook.

5. Favorite me in Technorati!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 27th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion of The Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. Thank you to Trident for supplying the product for review.
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Happy, Healthy Family Gathering with Nestle: My Experience

October 10, 2009 By 6 Comments

As I made my way to the Nestle Happy, Healthy Family Gathering in Pasadena, California last week, I was so excited to be attending my very first blogger event!  I have read many “event round ups” from other gatherings such as General Mills and iRobot, and was always impressed with companies that wanted real opinions from real Moms and Dads.  But, I never anticipated the difference that a handful of bloggers can make to a huge corporation in a few short days.

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The night of my arrival, Nestle hosted a reception at our hotel so we could meet the Team and the other bloggers in attendance (I even got to meet the NESQUICK Bunny!).  The hotel surprised us with a kitchen tour and conversation with the head Chef of The Dining Room at The Langham, Michael Voltaggio from Top Chef!  It was great to meet the attendees and begin to learn what Nestle had in store for us.

The first day of the event was a busy one!  After a delicious breakfast featuring Nestle products (check out this Blue Monkey Smoothie), we were led to a beautiful conference room designed to resemble a living room complete with sofas and comfy chairs (I restrained myself from taking off my shoes and curling up in the big chair I chose!).  We were welcomed by the Nestle USA CEO, Brad Alford, who was more laid back and friendly than I pictured a CEO of such a large company.  He spent more time with us than expected as we had a very open and frank question and answer period where bloggers were encouraged to share ideas, suggestions and concerns with Nestle.

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It wasn’t long after this portion of the event that I started looking around for the CANDY!  I mean, I was at Nestle…where’s the chocolate?!?  Just in the nick of time, we were escorted to the Candy Lab where we learned about (and got to taste) some of the new Nestle initiatives including Cranberry Raisinets, a new and improved Crunch Bar and my favorite prototype….the Extroodler!  This machine makes chocolate ribbons dispensed into a dish similar to soft-serve ice cream!  I got to sample some chocolate and caramel chocolate “ribbon” and it was heavenly!  The Candy Lab also featured products by Wonka and as you can tell, I fit right in!

Off to the Nestle Kitchens for lunch!  I was on such a sugar high that protein was a welcomed addition to the days food intake! Chef Christine Garboski demonstrated some wonderful recipes (check out this Pumpkin and Black Bean soup that I LOVED) using Carnation Evaporated Milk and Libby’s Pumpkin.

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One thing that I took away from this event was that I may actually be able to do some of these recipes!  You all know that I am no whiz kid in the kitchen, but since arriving home from the Nestle event, I have been inspired to try some of the tips and techniques I learned.  For example, I made the “3 for 100″ mini pumpkin muffins today with my daughter, Lily.  We had a great time together and they came out REALLY good!  Because I am on the Weight Watchers program, I was relieved to find healthy, low calorie recipes during the event!

After lunch, we met with Nutritionists and the Team from Juicy Juice, Ovaltine and Boost Kid Essentials.  An informative meeting led to a productive question and answer session.  Did you know that Nestle partners with health professionals to provide tools for parents in order to help avoid obesity in children?  Or that Juicy Juice is developing juice in a can to appeal to older kids as an alternative to soda?

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Next we headed outside (this Louisiana girl is not used to the mountainous scenery of Glendale!) for an ice cream social with Edy’s and Skinny Cow.  If I were not married already, I would seriously marry a Skinny Cow Ice Cream Cone (only 3 points if you are on Weight Watchers)!  Check out the latest Skinny Cow product, the Truffle Bar!  This ice cream bar is drizzled in chocolate ribbons and only 100 calories!

Day Two began with the yummiest chocolate chip pancakes EVER!  Our first session taught us how Nestle gives back to the community (they are coming to New Orleans in 2010 to help the rebuilding effort!) followed by an expo-style session where we learned about several other divisions of Nestle including Jenny Craig, Purina, Haagen Daz and Nestle Waters.

All that talking made me hungry!  Fortunately, Stouffers served lunch and provided us with tips for making easy and nutritious meals.  One of the suggestions I loved was to “spice up” your mac and cheese by providing several condiments to add to your dish.  For example, adding bacon bits, bread crumbs or salsa will take your mac and cheese to the next level!

Unfortunately, I had to head to the airport after lunch and miss the last session.  I had such an incredible time not only learning about Nestle, but connecting with the amazing attendees.  The bloggers were a true inspiration and I am proud to say that I believe we made a difference!

Nestle provided airfare, hotel, meals and transportation for this event, however I was under no obligation to write this post.
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