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Cracker Barrel: Gift Basket Giveaway!

December 13, 2009 By 551 Comments

Whenever we go out of town on a family trip (or an evacuation), we almost always stop at a Cracker Barrel to eat. There is not a location near me, so it is always a special treat when we get to stop in for some country cookin’! The homemade biscuits are to die for!

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Another reason I love stopping in at the Cracker Barrel is the Old Country Store in the front which entices you with nostalgic gifts, housewares and handmade toys (not to mention the rocking chairs on the porch!). With all of the frenzy surrounding the limited supply of Zhu Zhu Pet this year, Cracker Barrel has its very own Hamusuta, The Happy Hamster, which would make a great alternative for a holiday gift! You can find this happy hamster at a Cracker Barrel location near you or at their online store.

Cracker Barrel wants you to experience the magic of their Old Country Store this holiday season, so they have put together a gift basket for one lucky Not-So-Blog reader!  This basket includes the following:

peggameThe Peg Game:  the game that challenges all families that dine at Cracker Barrel!

The Cracker Barrel Magnetic Game:  Your kids will enjoy hours of endless entertainment trying to figure out the famous peg game with this exclusive Cracker Barrel themed magnetic game. Just like the real thing, this game can be played in the tin or on any metal surface. Contains 98 pieces. (Choking hazard – not for children under 3 years)

alanjacksonAlan Jackson Exclusive CD:  Alan Jackson’s latest, Songs of Love and Heartache. This exclusive album features two previously unreleased tracks and some of Alan’s favorite songs, including ”Here In The Real World” and ”Remember When.” And this CD is available only at Cracker Barrel locations and online.

Zac Brown Band Exclusive CD: An exclusive new version of the Zac Brown Band’s CD The Foundation. In addition to featuring new artwork and two of Zac’s #1 hits, “Chicken Fried” and “Whatever It Is,” this disc includes three previously unreleased recordings, live versions of “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “I Lost It,” and “I Shall Be Released.”

Travel Checker Rug:  Youngsters of all ages have been playing checkers for as long as we can remember.  Remember this game when you’re planning your next trip.  Just roll up the board and take it along. Not recommended for ages 3 and under.

AND……

Hamusuta, The Happy Hamster!

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Don’t forget to shop at the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store for the perfect holiday gift or stocking stuffer!

How to enter:

1. Visit the Cracker Barrel online store and tell one item you would love in your stocking!

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 on Facebook.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on December 20th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

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Winners!

December 13, 2009 By 4 Comments

Here are the next round of winners!!

Paperspring $50 gift card:  Stacy

Madeline Doll: Dana

Bathtub Bling:  Laura

2010 Zhu Zhu Pet:  Susan

Yancy Christmas CD:  Erin

Congrats to all the winners and thank you to all the sponsors for providing some great prizes!

You will all be emailed shortly.  Please respond to the email within 72 hours to claim your prize!

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Sesame Street turns 40!

December 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I was born in July of 19 70-something.  Some of my earliest childhood memories are of watching Sesame Street (which was then in it’s earliest of Seasons) on our television with my younger brother.  My favorite character was Big Bird and my Mom even claims that I tried to talk to him through the speaker of the TV.  Sesame Street has certainly stood the test of time as it is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary!

Now, my children watch Sesame Street and I will admit that I love watching with them.  There is just something so familiar and comforting as I think back on my own childhood experiences and watch my daughters create their own fond memories of Big Bird and Elmo (Aubrie’s favorite).  While the premise is still the same, the skits and some cast members have changed through the years.  To celebrate the special anniversary, the gang at Sesame Street has compiled their favorites from the past 40 years of Sunny Days!  From the press release:

sesamestreet“For 40 years, sunny days have swept the clouds away and inspired preschoolers to learn, grow and achieve their highest potential.  Relive the best-of-the-best when SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS debuts as a two-disc DVD set November 10 from Vivendi Entertainment and Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street. Premiering on November 10, 1969, Sesame Street is the longest running children’s series and “…arguably, the most important children’s program in the history of television” (Newsweek.com). Featuring nearly six hours of everyone’s favorite Sesame Street stories, songs, Muppets™ and celebrity segments, the SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS collectible set spans the renowned show’s four decades, includes never-before-seen archival footage and a limited-edition hard covered commemorative book.”

Do you miss your old favorites?  Remember singing along to Ernie’s “Rubber Ducky” or Bert’s “Doing the Pigeon?”  See them all again and share the classics with your kids!  The DVD is available on Amazon for less than $30!

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Vitalicious Muffin Tops and Brownies: Review and Giveaway

December 11, 2009 By 369 Comments

hypothesis The muffin tops and brownies from Vitalicious Foods Inc. will satisfy my cravings for something sweet before bedtime and help me stay on my diet without sacrificing dessert!

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One Vitalicious SuperSampler Pack which includes an assortment of 100 calorie natural muffin tops and brownies.  The sampler pack includes the following varities:

4 Low Fat Deep & Velvety VitaBrownies, 2 Low Fat Chocolate Mint VitaTops, 2 Low Fat Banana Nut VitaTops, 2 Low Fat Double Chocolate Dream VitaTops, 2 Low Fat Deep Chocolate VitaTops, 2 Low Fat Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip VitaTops, 2 Low Fat Golden Corn VitaTops, 2 Low Fat CranBran VitaTops, 2 Low Fat AppleBerry VitaTops, 2 Low Fat MultiBran VitaTops, and 2 Low Fat BlueBran VitaTops.  About Vitalicious Foods Inc.:

vitalicious“Founded in 1999, Vitalicious Foods Inc. is the market leader of innovative “vital and delicious” baked goods that promote a healthy lifestyle without sacrificing taste. First to market with 100-calorie servings, Vitalicious continues to lead the way with a holistic approach that maximizes satisfaction with minimum calories. With products that are low fat, high in fiber and packed with nutrients, Vitalicious is the only company that provides a unique triangle of need-satisfaction (All-Natural ingredients + Nutraceuticals + Weight Management). Vitalicious creates and sells a variety of unique, healthy, value-added baked goods under the VitaMuffin™, VitaTops™, VitaBrownie™, VitaCake™ and VitaMuffin Mix™ trademarks. Vitalicious products are sold at stores nationwide and at www.vitalicious.com.


results It is no secret that I love chocolate in just about any form.  Chocolate chips, chocolate cake, chocolate cookies, chocolate milk….I love it ALL.  So, when I decided to join Weight Watchers this past September, the thought of giving up my nightly chocolate was almost overwhelming.  But after seeking the advice of a friend who had recently lost weight, and visiting the incredible website, Hungry Girl, I discovered Vitatops.  They certainly LOOKED yummy, but at just 100 calories, 5 g of fiber, less than 1.5 g of fat, no preservatives, no artificial sweeteners and 15 vitamins and minerals, they certainly couldn’t TASTE yummy, right?

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WRONG!  These things are like a little slice of heaven wrapped up in a low calorie, good for you package!  At just 1 Weight Watchers Point per Vitatop, they are the PERFECT nighttime snack.  Simply remove one from the freezer, toast or microwave and eat!  The size of the Vitatop and the quantity of fiber in each snack will leave you feeling full and satisfied.  Since I am a chocoholic, my favorite variety is the Deep Chocolate Vitatop followed by the Double Chocolate Dream.  However, I did share my sampler pack with a few friends and they loved the CranBran Vitatop as well.

Need a little something extra?  Check out the delicious recipes including a Double Trouble Chocolate Trifle!

hypothesis Vitalicious Foods Inc. is my new best friend.  Seriously.  Anybody who can make chocolate good for me and “legal” on my diet is the best.company.ever!  I absolutely love the SuperSampler Pack because I got the opportunity to try several varieties and select my favorites before committing to one muffin top exclusively.  Next time, I would love to purchase the Chocolate SuperSampler!  Since doing this review, I have found the Vitatops sold locally at Winn Dixie for a new low price!  I am stocking up!

Check out the Vitalicious Holiday Promotion where if you buy $99 worth of products from the Vitalicious website, you will receive a FREE 4 pack of MultiBran Vitatops!

Want to try the products for yourself?  Vitalicious Foods Inc. has generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader a SuperSampler pack of their very own (ARV $35.99)!

How to enter:

1. Visit Vitalicious and tell me which variety you are most excited 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 on Facebook.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on January 2nd. 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 Vitalicious who provided the product for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.
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Playskool Giveaway: More than Play!

December 10, 2009 By 168 Comments

If there is one thing my two daughters are good at, it is definitely playing!  When they are running through the house being louder than I typically would want, sometimes it is hard to remind myself that they are actually LEARNING through play.  Like all Moms, I want to make sure my kids are learning through safe activities and Playskool helps me achieve this goal.

Playskool has developed the “More than Play” campaign to remind parents that play is an essential part of learning.  From Playskool:

morethanplay“Play stimulates the senses, engages the imagination, encourages curiosity, and empowers children’s sense of self confidence by allowing them to discover the world at their own pace.

Play lays down important foundational skills needed for advanced learning like reading, writing, mathematics, critical problem solving, and conceptual thinking, to name just a handful.”

playskooltopPlayskool has highlighted some of their fabulous toys in order to show you how they encourage learning and child development through play.  For example, the Tumble ‘N Twirl Top teaches cause and effect, gross motor skills and pincer grip to name a few.This toy can be purchased directly from Playskool and sells for $20.  Pressing the plunger o this toy top causes the brightly colored balls to spin around and even roll out of the top.  Babies must chase after the balls and reload the top to continue play.  Check out this toy in action!

Playskool wants to help your chid get the most out of play by offering one lucky Not-So-Bog reader a Tumble ‘N Twirl Top  of their very own!

How to enter:
1. Visit the Featured Toys section of Playskool’s More Than Play website and tell me another toy your child would love!

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 on Facebook.
5. Favorite me in Technorati!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on December 28th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

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Ramblers Way: Re-imagine Wool!

December 10, 2009 By 1 Comment

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ramblers Way. All opinions are 100% mine.

Living in Southeast Louisiana, I never consider buying wool garments.  I can remember many Thanksgiving dinners and even Christmas parties attended in short sleeve t-shirts and shorts, so my winter wardrobe rarely consists of heavy sweaters. However I was recently introduced to Ramblers Way, a company that encourages you to “re-imagine wool as a next-to-skin, superfine fabric, that warms and comforts people of all ages and walks of life.  Ramblers Way  creates superfine worsted wool garments, while maintaining high standards of ecological responsibility, community involvement, and customer satisfaction.”

ramblersway

After searching their website, I learned some great things about wool!  Did you know that their garments are fully machine washable, repel odor, resist wrinkling, and are flame resistant?  Plus, their worsted wool warms and cools equally….wearable nearly all year long.  This is the perfect fabric for Moms on the go!  Check out this scoop neck short sleeve top for women!  This top is the perfect base layer for any activity because it is so smooth it can’t be seen under your clothes, or it can be worn alone at bedtime for super soft comfiness.

Looking for a “green” holiday gift?  Check out Ramblers Way to find the perfect holiday gift for the eco-conscienous person on your list!   The sheep are treated humanely and the products are non-sythetic, all natural and chemical free.  In addition, Ramblers Way donates 10% of their profits and 5% of their paid time back to the community.

Think wool isn’t for you?  Take the time to educate yourself at Ramblers Way and start re-imagining wool! SocialSpark Disclosure Badge

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WINNERS!

December 10, 2009 By 2 Comments

Ho!  Ho!  Ho!  More gifts for my readers!  Thanks for supporting my blog and the generous sponsors!

Klennex $50 VISA card:  Danielle E.

Musselman’s Applesauce:  Arla

Halls Refresh:  Miss Denise

Leapfrog Zippity:  Hollow Sins

Glade Candle:  Kristy

Congrats to all the winners!  You will be receiving an email shortly.  Please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!

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My Princess Party To Go: Holiday Giveaway

December 9, 2009 By 168 Comments

Back in October, I introduced you all to a one of my most favorite finds on the Internet….My Princess Party To Go!  This boutique remains bookmarked in my browser because both of my daughters love to play dress up and I am SURE at some point in the near future, we will be having a princess themed birthday party! Just to refresh your memory:

princesspartylogo“My Princess Party to Go is one of the country’s fastest growing suppliers of Princess Birthday Party supplies online.  The philosophy of our business is simple “ship people better quality products than they are expecting at amazingly affordable prices”.  Our site features complete princess themed party packages that include dress up, crafts, goodie bags, games and a “How to” guide.  We also ship party supplies separately, such as dresses, wands, tiaras, party favors and more.”

princesspartyIn order to help your little princess celebrate the holidays, My Princess Party to Go is giving away TWO Holiday Promo packages right here on The Not-So-Blog!  With six adorable choices, these packages are sold for just $8.99!  The package pictured includes a 1Pc. dress in soft poly satin with glitter tulle princess waist detail. The front bodice has a beautiful mesh insert, silver sequins, and elastic waist and Velcro closure. The set also comes with a tiara, boa and stuffed unicorn!

How to enter:

1. Visit  the Holiday Promo page at My Princess Party to Go and tell me which set you would choose if you won!

Additional entries

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and My Princess Party to Go (@MyPrincessParty) 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 My Princess Party to Go on Facebook.

5. Favorite me in Technorati!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on December 16th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

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Wordless Wednesday

December 8, 2009 By 20 Comments
Guess who did NOT enjoy singing "Jingle Bells" at their Christmas Performance?

Guess who did NOT enjoy singing "Jingle Bells" at their Christmas Performance?

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Hello Hanna Get-Set Placemats: Review

December 8, 2009 By 2 Comments

hypothesis The Get-Set Placemats from Hello Hanna will be a great way to entertain my daughters while we wait for our food at bogged down restaurants during the holidays.

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One variety pack of Get-Set Placemats including the Hello Me, Hello Jungle and Hello Robot sets.  About Hello Hanna:

placemats“Hello Hanna is the brain-child of two award winning graphic designers, Anne Schultz and Jina Choi. Their friendship and working relationship blossomed at Klutz, a publishing company that specializes in quirky children’s books, toys and products. After working on numerous projects together they found that they thoroughly enjoyed the endless deadlines, kid-crazed photo shoots and most of all, their half-pint clientele. Hello Hanna opened for business in September 2009 and will continue to create unique, one-of-a-kind products designed for children and adults.

results With our incredibly busy schedules, my family eats out more than I care to admit.  But, with Aubrie about to turn two, it is proving very difficult to keep her in the high chair for the entire meal and letting her out always proves disastrous.  So, when I was approached to try out the Get-Set Placemats from Hello Hanna, I saw the potential in this product!

These placemats are printed on heavyweight uncoated paper stock and come complete with a sheet of stickers.  Each set includes 2 each 4 different designs (8 placemats total) and you can choose between three different themes:  Hello Me, Hello Robot and Hello Jungle.

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Aubrie chose the Hello Jungle sample and immediately began decorating her placemat with the stickers.  She got a kick out of the pop-up hippo and then proceeded to grab colors and decorate some more!  While this product is recommended for ages 5 and over, it definitely kept Aubrie occupied.  My 4 year old daughter, Lily was able to write her name and loved how the placemat taught her how to set the table.

When our samples run out, I am definitely ordering more!  The sets are sold for $14.95 for 8 placemats which is WELL WORTH the quiet dinnertime!

hypothesis Hello Hanna has created one of the best restaurant toys I have seen!  The Get-Set Placemats allow your kids to be quietly creative and offered several different activities rolled into one product.  They loved decorating the pop-up character, coloring, setting the table and even practicing their writing skills.  The Get-Set Placemats would make a perfect gift for the holidays!

Hello Hanna will soon be expanding their line to include birthday party supplies!

This review is the opinion of The Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. Thank you to Pillow Pets who provided the product for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.
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