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Making life easier for Moms: Purex 3-in-1

February 14, 2010 By 1 Comment

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

Let me give you a quick run down of my life this past week or so.  The Saints won the Superbowl, schools closed to celebrate, the Saints had a victory parade, I attended the Disney Social Media Conference for 4 days, today is Valentine’s Day, my Sister-in-law is visiting and Mardi Gras is Tuesday.  Oh, and I have a full time job, two kids and this little blog to run.  Whew.  I am tired just thinking about it.

I wish I could say that this is unusual, but life is hectic for this Mom just about everyday.  So, when a product comes along that can make my life easier, I stand up and take notice (and of course share it with you).  With four people in my home, laundry is a never-ending task.  The expense of buying detergent, fabric softener and a dryer sheet can certainly add up, not to mention leave plenty of room for error.  I have NO TIME to rewash clothes or scrub floors covered in liquid detergent goo.  Enter Purex 3-in-1 Laundry Sheet!

purexOne little Purex sheet contains an entire loads worth of detergent, softener, and anti-static. Simply place the sheet in your washing machine with your clothes, there is no liquid to measure!  During the wash cycle, the detergent is released.  After washing transfer the sheet to your dryer where a heat activated strip releases fabric softener and anti-static.  Done!  No stopping to grab additional products!

I loved the Purex 3-in-1 sheets!  It was incredibly easy to use, cost effective, and took up much less space in my laundry room.  This product would also be great for college students or hurricane evacuations!

Want to try it?  Visit Try Purex for a free sample!

Visit my sponsor: Purex 3-in-1 Laundry Sheet

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Disney Social Media Moms: Day 2

February 11, 2010 By 3 Comments

Day Two began at 6:30am with our wake up call.  After getting lost twice in our hotel (and having to follow a garbage truck in order to find our way out), we made it to our first event of the day, Breakfast with Guy Kawasaki, co-founder of Alltop.  He gave a charismatic and informative presentation on how to promote your brand with Twitter.  One of the tips I took to heart was to “never leave clicks on the table…don’t be afraid to repeat your tweets!”  I never do that.  So, I think I will….get ready.

IMG_0459Next we headed to the Family Volunteer Announcement in the World Showplace to honor families who have volunteered their time to better their communities.  The ceremony began with some Disney characters (including Kermit the Frog who actually said WHO DAT!) and Extreme Home Makeover’s Ty Pennington (YUM!) unveiling the World’s Largest Structure made entirely of non-perishables (over 115,000 cans donated by Publix)! It was time to roll up our sleeves and get to work!  We spent about an hour volunteering to fill boxes with peanut butter and jelly to donate to food pantries.  It felt really good to make a difference by volunteering our time.  Kids were also allowed to participate and could plant a tree with some of their favorite Disney Channel stars!

IMG_0479After the hard work, we were ready for some thrill rides!  We made our way to Soarin’ and Test Track which were both so much fun before heading to Downtown Disney for some shopping.  The night was rounded out with an evening celebration in EPCOT featuring some awesome food and entertainment.  The music started pumping and we were treated to a mini-concert of by Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato!  So cool!

Back at the hotel now, but not before we stopped to partake in a Kona Cone! Ice cream, waffle cone, chocolate syrup, cotton candy, M&M’s…what’s NOT to love?!?  Looking forward to Day 3, if I can manage to come down from this sugar high!

Good Night!

This post was sponsored by Doodlebug Dezigns.  Check out the precious photo birth announcements!

Filed Under: My So-Called Life Tagged With: ,

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration has begun!

February 10, 2010 By 2 Comments

Jennifer and I landed today in Orlando for the Disney Social Media Mom’s Conference.  The flight was great (we even got here 15 minutes early thanks to a hefty tailwind!) and Jennifer can finally say that she has ridden in an airplane!  After making our way to the Polynesian, we headed straight for the Magic Kingdom in search of lunch.  We ate a quick counter service meal, grabbed a map and navigated Main Street.  It’s a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain and Peter Pan were so much fun!  Did I mention that we were given Media Fast Passes that allows us to instantly ride any Fast Pass ride at Disney?  Sweet!

Which one is Goofy?

Which one is Goofy?

AquaduckFor dinner, we headed to ESPN’s Wide World of Sports for a “What’s New, What’s Next” presentation.  We listened to all the amazing new things Disney has planned for the future.  This Summer, Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade will be back to light up the night along with “Summer Nightastic” fireworks.  And the announcement that really got my attention is the launch of a new addition to the Disney Cruise line, the Disney Dream.  This ship will feature a waterslide on board called the Aquaduck which features a transparent tube which will give guests an incredible view of the Ocean.  This thing is un-freakin-believable.  Hey Disney, if you need someone to test out that new ship…I am your girl!

After the presentation, we were treated to a tailgating party complete with hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, cotton candy and more!  This tailgating party turned into a dance party!

Jennifer and I are now back in our room and EXHAUSTED, but looking forward to Day 2!

This post is sponsored by Doodlebug Dezigns.  Check out their unique line of adorable photo birth announcements!

While I paid for transportation, park tickets and accommodations were provided at a discounted rate.

Filed Under: My So-Called Life Tagged With: ,

Wordless Wednesday

February 9, 2010 By 19 Comments

drewdisneyI wish Drew could’ve waited just 48 more hours to ride in the Disney Parade!  I’m off to the Disney Social Media Moms Conference, so y’all don’t get in too much trouble while I’m gone!

Thanks to my sponsor, Doodlebug Dezigns!  Check out the adorable Valentine’s Photo Cards!

Filed Under: Wordless Wednesday Tagged With:

WINNERS!

February 9, 2010 By 4 Comments

Since I am heading to the Disney Social Media Moms Conference, I wanted to pull some winner before I left!  Here we go:

Beyond the Attractions:  KatKlaw77

Nowali Mocassins:  Jessica W.

Dentyne:  Grand Prize: Amanda B.  Runners up:  Nicholas N., Ellen B., Sue E.

Sucre King Cake:  BrendaLea

You will all be emailed shortly!  Please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!  Thanks for supporting The Not-So-Blog!

 

Filed Under: Giveaway Winners Tagged With: , , ,

Coffee for Less: February Giveaway!

February 9, 2010 By 191 Comments

I know many of you are experiencing record snowfall in your areas, so I know you will love this giveaway from Coffee for Less!  While we may not be getting snow down here, I bet the sale coffee has skyrocketed in the past few days.  In case you haven’t heard, my beloved New Orleans Saints won the Superbowl (still seems surreal)!  If New Orleans knows how to do one thing right, it’s PARTY!  Sunday night, the French Quarter was packed with die hard Saints fans celebrating our historic win by dancing in the streets and staying up WAY past their normal bedtime.  I can almost bet that they reached for a cup of coffee the next morning!

Some fans had to get out of bed, get in their cars and drive to their local coffee shop.  But those that are lucky enough to have single serve coffee machines could make gourmet coffee right in their own homes.  For times like these, it’s always great to make sure you have plenty of Keurig K-cups or Senseo Coffee Pods in your pantry.  Fortunately, Coffee for Less is back this February to help your panty stay stocked.  About Coffee For Less:

coffeeless“Coffee For Less.com is an Internet coffee shop for your home, office or restaurant. For the past 25 years Coffee Serv Inc. of Philadelphia has established the reputation of being the preeminent office and restaurant coffee provider in the Greater Delaware Valley. Founded as a family business by Jack and Lynn Kirshner, Coffeeserv Inc. has grown to become the largest Office Coffee Service provider in Philadelphia. Our coffee Blends include Millstone, Starbucks, Green Mountain, Barrie House and our own blend, just to name a few. We also carry the leading Tea brands in the country. Celestial Seasoning, Bigelow, Tazo and Tetley offer a wide variety of flavors and blends to meet any particular liking.”

VT_BlendThis time, Coffee for Less is offering one lucky Not-So-Blog reader one 24 count pack of the Green Mountain Vermont Country Blend K-Cups! “Green Mountain Vermont Country Blend is a medium roast coffee that is both brisk and smooth with a rich, aromatic, sweet toasty flavor. It is an ideal balance of light and dark beans that has a multifaceted intrigue that most everyone will enjoy!”  My husband LOVES it!

How to enter:

1. Visit Coffee For Less and tell me a flavor of coffee you would love to try!

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and Coffee For Less 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 Coffee For Less on Facebook.

5. Sign up for the Coffee For Less email newsletter.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on February 23rd. 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 Coffee For Less who provided the product for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.
Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , ,

Me and My Feet: Review, Giveaway, and Coupon Code!

February 8, 2010 By 385 Comments

feetlogo-1

Boys and Girls, I am in  Shoe Heaven! I mean, who doesn’t love shoes?   I have more pairs than I care to discuss and am passing along the same shoe love to my daughter.  A friend recently told me about a fabulous website to help feed your inner shoe monster and I am so thankful she did.   I know the Groundhog saw his shadow last week, but let’s ignore that for a minute and think about Spring anyway!  If you are like me and getting the Spring and Summer closets ready, you must check out Me and My Feet!

Me and My Feet carries endless options and offers some of the finest brands available for your little ones (and even you too, Moms) such as Bear Feet, Saltwaters, Wee Squeak, Primigi, and many more.   I especially love some of the options they have for boys. No cartoon characters or light-up bottoms here!   Just classic, stylish options for your little guys.  Me and My Feet graciously sent me a pair of Silver Sweetheart Saltwater Sandals for Em to try out.

Aren't these Shoe-licious?

Aren't these Shoe-licious?

I am a huge Saltwater Sandal fan and have purchased several pairs every summer for Emily for as long as I can remember.  They really are the perfect classic children’s sandal!  Even better?  They wear unbelieveably well.  Cute and indestructible?  The perfect shoe combo!  Saltwater Sandals are perfect for both boys and girls.  The first thing I noticed is that Me and My Feet carries EVERY color imaginable, including the hard to find Limited Edition gold and silver ones that are just so cute I could eat them right out of the box  (I told you I had a serious love of shoes).   They even have Saltwaters in Women’s Sizes, which I have never seen carried anywhere else.   The pair we recieved (lightning fast, by the way) were perfect and Emily was in shoe heaven the minute they were out of the box and on her toes.  It really is all about Me and My Feet!

jensig

Giveaway

All of this shoe cuteness cannot be enjoyed by me alone!  Me and My Feet is going to send a pair of  Saltwater Sandals in any size, including Womens, to a lucky Not So Blog reader!

Hurry up, Spring! I have shoes that NEED to be seen!

Hurry up, Spring! I have shoes that NEED to be seen!

Coupon Code

As a mother, I often wish I had more hands.  With the next thing I have to tell you, you will wish you had more feet!  That’s because until February 26, 2010, Me and My Feet is also offering the chance for you to save 20% off YOUR ENTIRE ORDER by using the code NOTSOBLOG at checkout.  This offer excludes Gold Sweetheart sandals, Gold or Silver Original Saltwater Sandals, and Toys.  The discount will be taken at checkout and cannot be combined with another promotion or sale.  Also, it is not valid on previous orders, previous preorders, or exchanges. With saving 20%, you don’t have to sacrifice a ton of money in order to have your little one’s feet looking sweet this year!

How to enter:

1. Visit Me and My Feet and tell me which Saltwater Sandals 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) 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 Me and My Feet on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

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

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience. Me and My Feet supplied me with a sample for review, but all opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway excludes the Gold Sweethearts or Gold Originals, is not valid with another offer or promotion, cannot be transferred to another product, and has no cash value.
Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , , ,

Caress Evenly Gorgeous: Review and Giveaway

February 5, 2010 By 176 Comments

hypothesis Caress Evenly Gorgeous body wash and beauty bar will be a great way to tame my dry skin by exfoliating and moisturizing in order to create a soft, silky, and Spring-ready look!

materials

One Caress Evenly Gorgeous body wash and one beauty bar with burnt brown sugar and karite butter, my extremely dry skin and a nice warm shower.  About the Caress Skinwear Collection:

EvenlyGorgeousBottle“Caress® makes skin the ultimate fashion statement with the introduction of the Caress Skinwear Collection®. Caress gives you gorgeous skin – right out of the shower – that you will want to flaunt just like the season’s hottest styles. Now you can shower on your look with Caress body washes and beauty bars for even toned, radiant or silky skin … and have the confidence to show it off!”

results Caress created the great Skinwear Collection in order to address many issues women face with their skin.  Their newest addition to the collection is the Evenly Gorgeous exfoliating body wash and beauty bar.  These products contain burnt brown sugar and karite butter which both exfoliates and moisturizes in order to give you an even skin tone.

Upon opening my body wash, I was immediately in love with the scent.  With a slightly vanilla aroma, I couldn’t wait to take a shower and try it out!  The weather has been so cold around here lately, that my Southern skin just cannot handle it.  I was in definitely need of some sugar scrub before heading to the warmer weather in Florida!  The body wash lathered well and gently exfoliated my legs leaving them silky smooth.

hypothesis

I would definitely recommend trying the Caress Evenly Gorgeous to get your skin ready for warm weather!  I would also love to try the Glowing Touch which can add a bit of radiance to your skin!  You can find these great products at Target!

Is your skin in need of some repair?  Caress has generously donated two free Evenly Goregous Beauty Bars to a lucky Not-So-Blog reader!

How to enter:

1. Visit Caress and click on The Collection.  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 on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on February 19th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience. Caress supplied me with a unit for review, but all opinions are 100% mine.
Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: ,

Executees: Review

February 4, 2010 By 1 Comment

hypothesisA logo tee by Executees will be a great fashion-forward way to showcase my new venture, Double Duty Divas, while at the Disney Social Media Moms Conference to be held next week.

materials

One black long sleeve tshirt with the Double Duty Divas logo centered in the front in rhinestones, an excited mom blogger, and a trip to Disney.  About Executees:

executeeslogo“Executees is the place to shop for Premium Quality Embellished T-Shirts, Apparel & Accessories. Executees uses LARGER sized Swarovski Crystals on our Apparel compared to our competitors. Our Tees stand out in a crowd and are a Piece of Jewelry. Executees does not space out our Crystal placement making them a constant flow of beautiful crystal designs without the big spacing that our competitors have for their garment designs.
Our Premium Tees can be used to replicate your corporate logos, company designs, organizational symbols, marketing slogans, group emblems, school teams, etc. We can crystallize your artwork to make a stunning T-Shirt.”

results

Recently, I have launched a brand new website, Double Duty Divas, with Cecelia from Cool Baby Kid.  We are venturing into the field of organizing successful blog campaigns and are trying to get the word out.   I will be attending the Disney Social Media Moms Conference next week and thought it would be a great venue to advertise our new business, but wanted to do something to get it noticed.

IMG_0322

I saw the eye-catching shirts from Executees and knew it would make a great presentation for the Divas!  After looking through their website, I learned that they not only create gorgeous bridal party tshirts, but can do custom crystal business logo tees!   After contacting Tracy (the mastermind behind Executees), I sent the Double Duty Diva logo to her via email and she created a beautiful crystal logo shirt for me to wear at the Disney Conference!  It is sure to get noticed!

The shirt arrived quickly, ran true to size, was very comfortable and well made.  The crystals have upheld two washings so far! I absolutely love it!  Check out the selection on their website including hoodies, flip flops and caps.

Thank you, Executees!  I can’t wait to get my new venture noticed in Disney!  To get the latest on Executees, make sure you follow them on Twitter!

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience. Executees supplied me with a shirt for review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Squiggle Game from Random Line: Review and Giveaway

February 3, 2010 By 139 Comments

My name is Jennifer and I hate coloring books.  There, I said it.  Every coloring book in my house has been purchased by someone else.  My reason for coloring book hatred?  What kind of imagination does it take to color?  I know, I sound like the meanest mother on Earth.  But, because of my encouragement to keep offering white paper and crayons as opposed to a coloring book, both kids love to draw and will sit at the table forever, using their imaginations while drawing anything and everything you can think of.  Therefore, Squiggle is right up their alley.

SQUIGGLE_Image

Squiggle from Random Line is not your ordinary board game….or should I say it’s not a “bored” game?  Your kids will LOVE using their imaginations to create a picture from the “squiggle” assigned to them during play.  After a 60-second time limit, the Squiggle Score Book is used to award points.  The amount of points awarded is based on the difficultly of the squiggle and the uniqueness of the picture created.  We played as a family after dinner this past weekend.

Hard at work on his Squiggle!

Hard at work on his Squiggle!

I was a little unsure of how my little one would do because the recommended age is 8 and up but she actually did pretty well, even at just 5 years old.  In fact, both kids loved the game (Hubby and I did too) and they had a great time playing.  Squiggle definetely made all of us use our imaginations and challenged us to come up with more difficult illustrations to try and get more points.

Some of our Squiggles. Aren't we talented?

Some of our Squiggles. Aren't we talented?

As soon as the game was over the kids wanted to play again.  The best part?  No one asked to watch TV!  In fact,

No Noise. No Batteries. Simply Imagination is RandomLine’s motto.

The creative minds at Random Line have a variety of mind-exercising Award-Winning games for your family.  There are alternate varieties of the original Squiggle game.  Going on a road trip?  Check out the Drawing Pads! I have several of them on my must-buy list before we load up the car to head anywhere this summer.

jensig

Can’t wait for a road trip?  Of course the wonderful people at Random Line have a little something to spark your imagination!  Here’s how to get yourself Squiggling!

How to enter:

1. Visit Random Line 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) and Random Line 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 Random Line on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on February 18th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience. Random Line supplied me with a sample for review, but all opinions are 100% mine.
Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , ,
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