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Find your Make Up Match with Beautyfix: Review

May 19, 2010 By 1 Comment

hypothesis Beautyfix, an exclusive beauty club, will be a great way to keep my makeup fresh and updated with the season’s hottest looks plus give me a way to try out new products without breaking the bank.

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The Spring Kit from Beautyfix created especially for me by a team of beauty experts consisting of 8 products and a makeup bag.   About Beautyfix:

beautyfix“Finding the right beauty products can be just as hard as finding Mr. Right. Beautyfix.com is an exclusive beauty club dedicated to matching you with the perfect products. Each season, a panel of beauty experts separates the winners from the losers and then suggests the best product matches based on your profile. Your product matches will be divided into 2 categories: Must-Haves and Panel Faves. Must-Haves are products the panel has picked specifically for you. Panel Faves are more of the panelists’ favorites that you pick yourself! You’ll never cry over a broken beauty heart again.”

results Let’s face it, I am a Science geek.  I am very logical and detail oriented, but sadly have little artistic or creative ability which makes the selection and application of makeup a complete nightmare.  While I love browsing through stores and getting my make up done by professionals, I have no clue how to select products that are right for me.  So, when I was asked to review Beautyfix, I could not have been more excited.

See, Beautyfix has a panel of beauty experts that will select products for me based on my answers to a survey.  Their selections are separated into two categories:  Must Haves (products selected especially for me) and Panel Faves (products the panel think are worth trying).  I got to view my products and select 8 full sized products to be shipped directly to my home.  When my “beauty fix” arrived, I was so excited to try the products!  I received items ranging from eye liner to eye cream, and moisturizer to hair finishing gloss.  I was pleased to see that the products were indeed full sized products and not trial versions and that the products were nice name brand items and not generics. My absolute favorite product was the Rosie Jane eyeliner in Beech Tree!

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While this is a subscription service costing $49.95 quarterly, I like the idea of receiving season-appropriate make up hand picked for my skin type.  I also like being able to try new products without feeling like I am wasting my money.

hypothesis The Beautyfix service can be purchased for $49.95 quarterly.  Each quarter, you will be able to pick 8 new products from your list suggested by the panel.  Can’t wait to try it?  Use the coupon code BFIX30 and receive $30 off your first kit!  You can get all 8 products for just $19.95 and it’s FREE SHIPPING!

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 Beautyfix. All opinions are 100% mine.
Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With:

Wordless Wednesday

May 18, 2010 By 17 Comments
Maybe snoballs in the car wasn't the BEST idea ever.

Maybe snoballs in the car wasn't the BEST idea ever.

Filed Under: Wordless Wednesday

Sometimes, I crack myself up.

May 16, 2010 By 9 Comments

My husband is really a great Father.  Actually, one of the reasons I fell in love with him was that I just knew he would make an incredible Dad…and I was right.  On Mother’s Day, we took the girls to a local amusement park because I really wanted to spend some quality time together.  My loving hubby, because he knows I don’t like “spin yourself silly” rides, volunteered to take the girls on the little kiddie version of the spinning tea cups ride so I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of Mother’s Day feeling sick.  Nice guy, right?  So, how come everytime I see the picture of him on the ride………

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All I can think of is this………

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LOL!  I just CANNOT stop laughing.  I’m a horrible wife.

Filed Under: My So-Called Life Tagged With:

Review Policy

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

At Experimental Mommy, we love to test products and share the results with our readers….lab report style!  If you would like us to try out your product, please submit your request here.  A non-returnable product sample is required in order for us to put the product to the test.  Giveaways, in addition to a product review, return the best results here on Experimental Mommy.  Readers will be required to visit your webpage in order to gain entry to the contest.  Links to your company’s Twitter and/or Facebook page will be included in the post upon request.  If a giveaway is offered, the company is required to direct ship the product to the winner.

While every effort is made to get your product featured on Experimental Mommy within 4 weeks of receipt, I am a full time Mom who also works outside of the home and life does get in the way!  If your campaign requires an early or strict deadline, please let me know in your pitch.

We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our Web site. These companies may use aggregated information (not including your name, address, email address or telephone number) about your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, please see: http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp

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Winner Policy

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

All winners to the contests displayed in the “Giveaway” section of Experimental Mommy will be announced in a blog post entitled “WINNERS!”  Each winner will be emailed shortly after the announcement on the blog.  Each winner has 72 hours from the time the email was sent to claim their prize.  Winners must visit the most recent WINNERS post and respond to the email with the following information:

Prize Won:

Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

If your prize requires a color or size selection, please list it here:

Prizes not claimed within the 72 hour deadline will be forfeited.  No exceptions.  Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery for prize before you contact me to inquire its whereabouts.

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Sugar-Free Ring Pops: Review

May 16, 2010 By 2 Comments

hypothesis The new Sugar-Free Ring Pop by TOPPS will be a great candy as a reward for my kids while not filling them with sugary snacks and empty calories,

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Sugar-Free Ring Pops in three varieties (Blue Raspberry, Strawberry and Watermelon), and two kids who are about to be surprised with a treat that Mom usually bans from the house.  About the Sugar-Free Ring Pop:

ringpop“Ring Pop is the ideal treat for today’s active kids. It’s a candy kids can wear on their finger, so they never have to worry about dropping it! Now you can feel even better about giving Ring Pop to your kids because the new Sugar Free Ring Pop won’t cause cavities, has no fat, and has only 30 calories per great-tasting, long-lasting pop. It’s candy your kids will love and you won’t have to worry about giving it to them!  Sugar Free Ring Pop comes in three mouth-watering flavors: Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, and Strawberry! Look for it at Wal-Mart Stores nationwide.“

results To be honest, whenever someone hands my child a lollipop, I cringe.  The thought of the sticky mess on my furniture, their clothes and their teeth just makes me want to grab the sucker from them and head from the trash.  So, the idea of a sugar free lollipop definitely peaked my interest.  If this candy can offer the a less sugar while still making my girls happy, I’m totally game.

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When I received the Ring Pops in the mail, they instantly brought back memories of my childhood.  I loved wearing the big ring and pretending to be married!  And knowing now that they are sugar free (sweetened with Splenda) makes them even sweeter.  When I showed them to my girls, they went nuts!  They immediately put them on and started raving about how yummy they were.  And for once, I didn’t cringe.  At only 30 calories and 0 fat, I didn’t feel any guilt at all.  Both my girls loved them and I loved passing down a fond memory of my childhood years.

hypothesis The Sugar Free Ring Pop can be found in 3 flavors (Blue Raspberry, Watermelon and Strawberry) at Walmart stores near you.  The lollipops are sweetened with Splenda and pack only 30 calories. While I could tell a difference between the old and new Ring Pop, my girls were none the wiser and loved them.

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 Ring Pop. All opinions are 100% mine.
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The Spy Next Door DVD/Blu-Ray Combo: Review and Giveaway

May 16, 2010 By 201 Comments

Coming new to DVD this week from Lionsgate Entertainment is a side-splitting comedy starring martial-arts expert Jackie Chan.  The Spy Next Door offers fast-action stunts, exciting suspense, and of course, lots of scenes that will have you and your family laughing. From the director of Snow Dogs, the film features a superstar cast and grossed over $24 Million at the box office when it was released in January of this year.

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Also starring Amber Valetta, Billy Ray Cyrus, and George Lopez, Chan stars as Bob Ho, who is asked to babysit his neighbor’s wild children.  While taking care of them, they discover his secret by downloading top-secret information from his computer.  The secret is, their friendly neighbor is really a spy!  The children have to tag along with Bob as he takes them on an adventure that delivers action and laughter along the way.  Check out the trailer!

We watched the movie as a family this weekend and we all loved it.  It was entertaining enough to hold my husband’s and my attention, and its PG Rating was clean enough for the kids and kept them laughing.  My son says his favorite part was “When Bob got into the fight with the bad guy while he was on the bike.”

We are taking a few road trips this summer and The Spy Next Door will definitely be in the car for the ride.  The Blu-Ray Combo Pack/DVD will be available May 18 or you can pre-order here. The special features include “Jackie Chan: Stunt Master and Mentor” featurette, and another short piece on the Adventures in Acting starring the kids from The Spy Next Door.  My favorite part is always the blooper reel, and this is included as well.

Want to add The Spy Next Door to your video library?  Thanks to Lionsgate, we have one DVD/Blu-Ray Combo pack to give away to one lucky reader!

How to enter:

1. Visit The Spy Next Door film and tell me why you want to win this DVD!

Additional entries:

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

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 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. Other may have a different experience with the product. I was not compensated for this review other than a product sample provided by CoverBee. All opinions are 100% mine.
Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , ,

Gigi Swimwear: Review and Giveaway

May 15, 2010 By 360 Comments

hypothesis A swimsuit by Gigi will help make swimsuit shopping much easier this year and help me feel confident in my post-baby body….and that’s a TALL order!

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One swimsuit in black from Gigi and one nervous Experimental Mommy with a belly that just hasn’t been the same since the birth of my second daughter.  About Gigi:

gigilogo“Every girl’s been there. The cold dressing room, the terrible lighting, the myriad of suits in detestable prints, our white undies sticking out from under the leg elastic, our sun-starved appendages. It’s a sure recipe for self-loathing.
How hard can it be to come up with something flattering and stylish, I wondered. A bathing suit version of the little black dress? I decided I’d have to create it myself. And thus, GiGi was born.

Lucky for you, attention to detail is my forte. I’ve had a fabulous time creating a suit that truly complements almost every figure. My various sized female friends agree: GiGi is the most flattering bathing suit they’ve ever worn. If you don’t think so, just send it back. Enjoy your new GiGi suit. GiGi loves you!”

results Before kids, I was teaching dance about 4 days a week.  I was thin and while I never had a 6 pack abdomen, I was darn proud of my figure.  Fast forward about 5 years and my confidence in a bathing suit has shrunk to almost nothing.  I am only dancing one night a week, and while I am very active chasing my girls, I don’t get in as much toning time at all.  So, as you can imagine, the thought of trying on swimsuits makes me cringe.  Apparently, Gillian Gabriel, owner of GiGi swimwear, felt the same way and set out to design a suit every woman would love. So, when I got the chance to try one of these suits, I couldn’t wait for it to arrive!

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After searching the Gigi website, I will admit that I was quite skeptical after reading the statement, “No matter what your body type, GiGi is very likely the most flattering suit you’ll ever buy.”  Could it be true?  How can it flatter everyone?  After doing more reading, I found that Gillan uses six points to create her swimsuits in order to achieve her goal:

  • Fabric: Imported from Spain, higher nylon content and SPF 50
  • Style:  halter top and lower back to minimize B.S. (Backfat Spillage!)
  • Four-Way Stretch
  • Lining:  In my opinion, this is the best part.  The lining is cut 4 inches smaller than the suit to smooth out all of your little imperfections.  Genius!
  • Ruching:  helps disguise my post baby belly
  • Elastic and Thread:  Three types of elastic for a specialized fit

When trying on my suit for the first time, I was a bit nervous.  But the minute I looked in the mirror, I will admit that I actually didn’t cringe!  The material is soft, the plunge neckline flatters the smallest part of me, while the ruching definitely hides the parts I am my self-conscious about.  I followed the sizing chart online and my suit fits perfectly. I am sooooo ready for the beach!

hypothesis The Gigi swimsuit is like the “little black dress of swimwear!”  A one piece suit that has definitely been thought out and well designed flattered my post baby figure.  At just $98, this swimsuit comes in black, pink, white and brown.  I love mine so much, I am considering purchasing another one in pink!

Going to the beach this summer?  Want to look fabulous?  Gigi swimwear has generously offered one reader their choice of one swimsuit!

How to enter:

1. Visit Gigi and tell me what aspect of the suit you find the most flattering.

Additional entries:

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

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 31st. 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 Gigi. All opinions are 100% mine.

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , ,

CoverBee: Review and Giveaway

May 14, 2010 By 78 Comments

hypothesis A CoverBee MacBook Sleeve will be a great way to protect and disguise my MacBook while still showing off my sense of style!

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One MacBook sleeve in Pink Candy from CoverBee and my precious MacBook Pro!  About CoverBee:

coverbeelogo“CoverBee designs & manufactures stylish and funky laptop sleeves for women and men that are both functional and fashion led. CoverBee was founded because we believed that we were not the only ones looking to express our style with our laptop accessories. The range now includes all kinds of great laptop sleeves, iPhone sleeves, macbook sleeves, and netbook sleeves.”


results After battling with blogging on an old, slow Laptop, I finally got frustrated and purchased a Macbook Pro.  Let me tell you, I love love LOVE it.  I do most of my blogging in bed, so my laptop sits on my night table when not in use.  With little hands all over my home, sometimes this makes me nervous!  I never thought of getting a cover for it to disguise it from little eyes!  So, I was more than happy to try out a MacBook sleeve from CoverBee!

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As I searched the website to pick out my design, I noticed that they had several MacBook sleeves from which to choose.  From leopard to boa, there is something for every taste.  I finally settled on the Pink Candy design, which if you know me shouldn’t be much of a surprise.  The pink with white polka dots definitely suits my personality!

When the MacBook sleeve arrived, I was very impressed with the quality.  The inside was lined with a quilted white satin providing some padding to protect the computer.  I loved the vibrant color of the sleeve, too!

hypothesis The Pink Candy MacBook Sleeve from CoverBee definitely met my expectations.  I loved the pattern, quality and function.  Take a look at CoverBee and see all that they have to offer!  Not only do they have covers for your MacBook, but they also sell iPhone sleeves, laptop and netbook sleeves, too!

Have a new iPhone?  CoverBee has generously offered one lucky reader a free iPhone sleeve in any pattern!

How to enter:

1. Visit CoverBee and tell me which pattern you would choose!

Additional entries:

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

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 27th. 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 CoverBee. All opinions are 100% mine.

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , ,

Next Day Flyers: $25 Giveaway

May 13, 2010 By 53 Comments

Never thought you’d be in need of printing services, right?  Are you planning a birthday party?  Expecting a baby?  Going to BlogHer 2010?  Then you need to check out Next Day Flyers!  This online printing company delivers top notch products in an incredibly fast turn around time!

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If you are headed to BlogHer 2010 in New York City this summer (hope to see you there!), make sure you have enough business cards on hand to promote your brand.  It is very easy to upload the image you want to use, or design your card online, or choose from one of their predesigned templates.  And the price isn’t bad either at just $10.95 for 100 cards!

No need for business or marketing products?  Next Day Flyers still has a ton of products for your everyday needs.  What about using their door hangers printing service and create fun Block Party Invitations to hang on your neighbors’ doors?  Or creating a custom brochure as a wedding program for a friend?  The possibilities are endless!

GIVEAWAY

Want to see what you can create?  Next Day Flyers has generously offered one reader a $25 gift card!

How to enter:

1. Visit Next Day Flyers and tell me how you would spend your gift card!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Next Day Flyers (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.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 27th. 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 compensated for this post in conjunction with a sidebar ad.  All opinions are 100% mine.
Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: ,
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