Get your Coupons! Get your FREE Coupons!

When’s the last time you spent hours cutting and organizing your coupons only to leave them on the kitchen counter on your way to the grocery store?  Unfortunately, I do this more frequently than I like to admit.  On a recent webinar with the Escalate Network, I learned about a great coupon service called Cellfire.  About the service:

Cellfire is the premier destination for valuable savings on groceries, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. Get access and use offers from your PC and/or mobile phone. This service is provided free of charge to all users.* Our retail partners sponsor the offers and discounts — at no cost or obligation to you. With Cellfire, you’ll never have to print, clip, or forget your coupons again!

You can find deals online or via your mobile phone with a downloadable application.  To redeem your coupons, you can have the coupon sent directly to your grocery savings card (you know that little keychain card you swipe at the grocery to receive discounts?  It can STORE coupons, too!) or simply show your phone to the cashier to redeem your code!  Genius!

Several stores accept Cellfire deals including:  Baker’s City Market, Dillons, Fry’s, Gerbes, Hilander, JayC, King, Soopers, Kroger, Owen’s, Pay Less, QFC, Ralphs, Scott’s, Smith’s, Carrs, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Pavilions, Randall’s, Safeway, Tom Thumb, Vons, and ShopRite.  I also found some great coupons for JCPenney and Sears!

Check out Cellfire and start saving today!!

I am a member of the Escalate Network.  I was not compensated in any way for this post, however, links used are affiliate links.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Have a “Date Night” this Friday!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 20th Century Fox. All opinions are 100% mine.

With two kids and a full time job (not to mention this little blog to run), it is hard to find quality time to spend with my husband.  One thing we have done in our *almost* 10 years of marriage, is schedule date nights once a month in order to have some adult conversation and remind ourselves why we fell in love.  Most of the time, we choose to have dinner together, but on occasion, we also treat ourselves to a movie (and maybe a milkshake).

In trying to decide what we will do for our next outing, I found out that this Friday, April 9th, is the premiere of Date Night Movie starring Tina Fey and Steve Carell.  My husband is a HUGE “Office” fan, so I know he is game to watch any movie with Steve Carell in it!  A little about the movie:

In “Date Night,” which opens Friday, a bored suburban couple played by Steve Carell and Tina Fey go on their weekly dinner date and find themselves thrown into a night of intrigue: there’s breaking and entering, a car chase, a shootout and a showdown with an underworld boss at a strip club. Husband and wife come out of the adventure with some scratches and also with their ardor renewed.

Want more?  Check out the trailer below!

Hubby and I can’t wait to see it!  Check you local movie times, get a sitter and schedule a “Date Night” this Friday!

Visit my sponsor: Date Night

Celebrate Earth Day with Land’s End!

With the 40th Anniversary of Land’s End around the corner, Land’s End plans to celebrate by joining forces with schools through the “Way to Grow:  Plant a Seed, Make a Difference” campaign.  This initiative connects kids, parents and schools through gardening and teaches that even the smallest steps make a difference in their communities!

Help your favorite school win $2,500 from Lands' End

 From April 5-May 14, you can enter your school to win funds to support a gardening project or science based initiative (and here at Experimental Mommy, we know the value of Science!). 

During this time, when you place an online order at Land’s End Kids, you will receive a packet of 100% organic Russian Mammoth Sunflower seeds! What a great way to Welcome Spring! 

Join Land’s End and Seeds of Change on April 14th from 7-9:00 pm CST for a Twitter Party featuring gardening tips and great giveaways!  Follow #landsend!

Wordless Wednesday

Our day in Jackson Square!

Our day in Jackson Square!

Calico Critters Card Game: Review and Giveaway

hypothesis “Who’s Missing” Calico Critters Card Game from International Playthings will provide a great indoor activity that will not only improve memory but provide entertainment, too!

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One pack of “Who’s Missing” Calico Critters Card Game, a rainy day and an excited 5 year old ready to play cards with Mom!  About Calico Critters “Who’s Missing”:

calicocritters“Great for rainy or cold days when outside play isn’t option, the “Who’s Missing” Calico Card Game brings Calico Critters popular line of favorite friends—like the Fisher Cats and Hopscotch Rabbits—to life in a new way!

For ages 3 and up, this classic card game involves memory, strategy, and of course, fun!  The dealer deals out 5 cards in a row.  Players hide their eyes while the dealer takes away a card.  Who can remember which critters are missing?  As the game is played, the row of cards grows, so the game becomes more challenging the longer you play.  Cards are also fun collector items for Calico Critters fans!”

results With the weather getting warmer, my girls want to play outside all day long!  So when it rains, it’s quite a challenge to brighten their day and find fun and entertaining activities without reaching for the television remote.  So when I was asked to review the “Who’s Missing” Calico Critters Card Game, I couldn’t wait to surprise Lily, my 5 year old with the new toy!

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The first rainy day, I pulled out the cards and we read through the various options.  Lily and I decided to play decided to play “No More Critters.”   This game is similar to UNO in that you have to match numbers or pictures in a race to empty your hand of cards first.  Lily really enjoyed the pictures of the Calico Critters and made this much more fun than traditional cards.  Her favorite was the Beagle Family (mainly because we have a beagle at home!).  I was impressed with how quickly Lily caught on to the game and she actually beat me twice!

The next rainy day, we plan to pull out the cards again and try out the other card games!

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International Playthings definitely came up with a winning toy in this card game!  Lily and I had a blast playing “Who’s Missing” Calico Critters.  The game did indeed provide lots of fun and quality time with my daughter and can be purchased for only $9.99!

Did you know that Calico Critters has a whole product line of adorable little animals?  Check out their newly redesigned website to discover plush animals and ready to play sets!

Do your children love the Calico Critters?  International Playthings has generously offered one reader a “Who’s Missing” card game of their very own!

How to enter:

1. Visit Calico Critters and tell me a product your child would love to own!

Additional entries:

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

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

7.  Sign up for International Playthings newsletter.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on April 21st. 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. Other may have a different experience with the product. I was not compensated for this review other than a product sample provided by International Playthings. All opinions are 100% mine.

Zillio Mini Mountian and 2-D Playground Review and Giveaway!

When I was pregnant with both children, first and foremost, I prayed they would be healthy, have their daddy’s long legs, and please God, do NOT let them have my brain that can’t do the math.  I struggled with math from 5th grade and beyond.  It seemed there was always just something I kept “missing.”  I still have nightmares about calculus and I haven’t been in school since graduating from college in the 90′s!    I have tried very hard not to instill my fear of math into my children, and instead have attempted to incorporate math into their lives in a positive way as much as possible.  When I was asked to review Zillio’s Mini Mountain and 2-D Playground, I was very excited as this was just one more way to help them learn!   It seems Zillo had me in mind when they designed their products!   From the website:

zillio“What truly sets Zillio apart from all the rest of educational games and math manipulatives is that Zillio provides the missing link necessary to succeed in critical thinking. The design behind this playful structure allows children to see, touch and systematically manipulate numbers to reveal the meaning behind math.”

As soon as our package arrived, it was a real attention-getter and my kids wanted to see how it worked.  As a teacher, I liked the bright, cheerful colors and of course the fact that the games are hands-on.  Anyone in the education field can tell you that almost every type of learner benefits from tactile experiences.  It doesn’t take an education degree to tell you kids like to touch and feel everything!  The Mini Mountain is inviting and instantly has kids asking, “What is that?”  The mountain and playground cover all the basics – counting, addition, and subtraction for your little guys, and multiplication, division, fractions, number lines, ratios, equivalency, and algebra for your bigger kids.

Just 'cause Mom is scared of math doesn't mean I have to be!

Just 'cause Mom is scared of math doesn't mean I have to be!

We played the Mountain Goat Scramble using the Mini Mountain and it was a snap to set up and easy to learn.  My 5 year old, Emily played with me as her partner but Nicolas, age 8, was ok on his own!  I didn’t find it too difficult for him to understand once we got the basics down and he enjoyed the challenge of figuring out what combinations he could come up with using the dice in order to move one of his “goats.”  As a teacher, I think the Mini-Mountain or Mega-Mountain would make a great addition to a classroom as part of small group centers.  Later, we used the 2-D Playground to play Homing Pigeons.  Again, Em needed a little of my help but Nicolas was a solo mathmetician and enjoyed playing.  The 2-D playground is perfect when you are limited on space but still want the benefits that the Mini Mountain offers.  Both the Mini Mountain and the 2-D playground come with guides giving you all the details on how the games work, and what I liked best was the listing of all the games from basic to most advanced, with a spreadsheet-style checklist of what skills are developed or practiced and you advance in your math skills.  Every summer I try to do a little bit with the kids each week to keep their school skills sharp without it feeling like “school.”  Zillio’s products are perfect for this!  I can’t wait to enjoy playing more Zillio games with my kids.

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Giveaway

I can’t let just the people in my house become Math Einsteins!  One lucky winner can choose from the Mini Mountain or the 2-D playground.

How to enter:

1. Visit Zillio Games and tell me the name of one game you can play with Zillio!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Zillio (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 Zillio on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on April 26th. 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. Other may have a different experience with the product. I was not compensated for this review other than a product sample provided by Zillio. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

 

 

YoPlait YoPlus Yogurt: First 50 visitors receive a FREE 4 pack!

“Can I have a snack?”  This sentence is spoke in my home at least 20 times a day.  My oldest daughter, Lily, would rather graze on snacks all day rather than sit down and eat a big meal.  Of course, I try to limit her snack intake and try to make sure healthy snack options are always available in our home.  One of the things both of my daughters love is yogurt, such as YoPlait YoPlus.

The new formula now includes 20 percent of the Daily Value of antioxidant vitamins A and E, a blend of special probiotic cultures and fiber for digestive health, as well as calcium and vitamin D for bone health.  YoPlus is available in many delicious flavors such as Blackberry Pomegranate, Blueberry Acai,  Strawberry, Vanilla, Peach and Cherry.

Want to try it out?  YoPlait will generously provide the first 50 readers who fill out the form below with a FREE 4 pack of YoPlait YoPlus!!  The form also includes a printable coupon for $1.00 of your next YoPlus purchase!

Click “Free Yogurt” on the below graphic!  Enjoy!!

You MUST complete the form below to receive your yogurt! (Comments on this post do not count!)


YoPlait is providing the free product and will handle shipment. I was not provided with a free sample or any other form of compensation for this post.

WINNERS!

Happy April! It’s time for the next round of lucky winners! If your name appears below, I will be emailing you shortly. Please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!

Olay Total Effects $10 Walmat card: Nicole G.

Curious George Prize Pack: Denise

Baby Bunch Egg Nests: Thao

Bella Tunno: Sylvia and Jennifer

Flexi 8 hair clips: Brandy B.

Congrats! Thanks to everyone who participated!

KidsCraft Playhouses: Review and Giveaway

hypothesis KidsCraft Playhouses will provide my two daughters with hours of creative and imaginative play.  The Creation Cottage will allow my kids to design their own little space to play.

materials

One Creation Cottage from KidsCraft, crayons, markers, stickers and two overly excited girls ready to play house!  About KidsCraft:

creationcottage“Kids Craft Playhouses was founded with a few basic goals in mind, to provide a high quality outlet for play to our children that will stimulate their imagination and foster creativity while maintaining a strict, eco-friendly awareness.

Months ago during a move to a new office we were left with an abundance of empty, broken down cardboard boxes. Kids being kids, they were naturally drawn to the boxes and wanted to rebuild and play in them. They also took out markers and crayons, drawing on them for what seemed to be hours on end. As with many great ideas, this one simply needed to be uncovered or seen from the proper perspective. We instantly knew our kids were onto something BIG and that we had to share it with others.

The pure enjoyment and creativity that they exhibited is ultimately what inspired us to start Kids Craft Playhouses. Having 4 young children between the two of us, we knew firsthand the value of encouraging children to be creative and imaginative. We also understand the importance of the future of our children’s environment, a consciousness even our kids have gained at an early age, which is why our product is 100% recyclable, and we have aligned ourselves with other eco-friendly companies for our components. And, to complete the spirit behind our “by children, for children” message, we give a portion of all proceeds to benefit children’s charities.”

results At Christmas, Santa was very good to my kids.  Both of my girls received way more toys than they knew what to do with at one time!  So, what did they play with first??  The big giant box in which Lily’s Barbie Dreamhouse was packaged!  Figures.

Apparently, the people at KidsCraft have had similar experiences and developed the solution….a gift that IS a box!  KidsCraft designed a cardboard box that is shaped like a cottage or a spaceship that requires no cutting or tape to assemble.  With the house laying flat, my girls colored, glittered and went crazy with stickers in order to make the space exactly what they have always dreamed of.  After assembling the house, which took less than 15 minutes, the girls had a great time coloring the inside to create a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.  The girls proceeded to decorate with their own pillows and blankets and even requested snacks be served in the house!

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The Creation Cottage did in fact provide hours of entertainment for both of my daughters without having to turn on the television or video games.  I loved watching my girls use their imaginations to create story lines and scenarios to act out in their own little pretend world.  Great toy!  No batteries required!

hypothesis

KidsCraft definitely hit a home run with this toy!  Both of my daughters loved decorating, assembling (with Mom’s help) and pretending in their new house.  As a Mom, I loved the fact that my daughters spent several hours using their artistic abilities and imaginations without the aid of electronic toys.  I thought the house was easy to assemble and was made of a good quality cardboard.

The Creation Cottage can be purchased for $59.95 and a Spaceship is also available for $69.95.

Are your kids ready to create?  KidsCraft has generously donates your choice of either the Creation Cottage or the Shuttle Imagination to one lucky reader!

How to enter:

1. Visit KidsCraft and tell me which product you would choose if you won!

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @KidsCraftUSA 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 KidsCraft on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on April 20th. 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. Other may have a different experience with the product. I was not compensated for this review other than a product sample provided by KidsCraft. All opinions are 100% mine.

Musselman’s Welcomes Spring: Review and Giveaway

I have had the great pleasure of working with Musselman’s several times here at Experimental Mommy and they never seem to disappoint. So when they approached me about new and exciting activities to welcome Spring, I knew it would be something my readers would be interested in learning more about.

This Spring, Musselman’s has come up with a healthy (but fun!) side dish for your Holiday table which I decided to try with my girls this evening. It’s incredibly easy:

1/2 cup Musselman’s Applesauce
1/2 cup Yogurt (any flavor, but I used “Apple Pie”)
Raisins (or any garnish you like such as jellybeans, etc.)
bunny ear and bow tie cut-outs (available on the Musselman’s Facebook page)

Simply mis the applesauce and yogurt to create a thick consistency. Make a cute bunny face with the raisins. Tape the bunny ears and bow tie to a bowl to create an adorable presentation. Serve!

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My girls loved coloring the bunny ears and bow ties and got a kick out of eating the dessert. They loved it and because I know the next few days will be filled with candy and chocolate, I was thrilled that this side dish was a healthy one. Want more Holiday crafts? Check out how to make bunny place cards with Applesauce and Cinnamon!

GIVEAWAY

Ready to make some applesauce fun with your kids?  Musselman’s has generously donated a Spring prize pack including two jars of applesauce, one jar of cinnamon and a Wilton bunny shaped cookie cutter to one lucky reader!

How to enter:

1. Visit the Musselman’s product page and tell me one 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 Musselman’s on Facebook.

5. Place my button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on April 17th. 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 Musselman’s who provided the product for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.