Talk Back to the TV! Watch The View on ABC!

In the summer I have a lot more TV time for myself.   Once the kids are in bed, I like to unwind and check out what’s on the tube.  I love daytime TV but in the summer the kids and I are on the go, so the DVR is my best friend.  One of my can’t-miss shows these days is The View on ABC.   I tend to like talk shows that offer a variety of subjects and opinions, and The View fits that bill.   The View contrasts the experience and wisdom of legend Barbara Walters (although out on medical leave for the time being), Whoopi Goldberg, and Joy Behar, with the younger perspective of Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd.  All of the women have strong, intelligent opinions and have no problems letting everyone know them!

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Monday’s episode started out with general chit-chat, which is always fun to hear.  Today, “Dancing With the Stars” host Tom Bergeron and funny man Jay Mohr were pinch-hitting for Barbara and Whoopi, who is on vacation.  The male perspective shook things up a bit and that was a nice change.  While the group talked about what they did for Father’s Day weekend, the men offered quick-witted responses to the girls’ banter.  I was cracking up at Jay and Joy shooting barbs back and forth at each other.   Jay Mohr has flown under my radar for awhile, but he really is funny!  I would like to see more of him!

The View does a good job at bringing to the surface the “Hot Topics” making headlines and today was no different.   Close to my heart, the big topic I want to hear about these days is the BP oil spill off the Louisiana coastline.  The group discussed whether or not President Obama and BP exec Tony Hayward have any business spending time playing golf or racing a yacht with the Gulf waters in peril.  This was a hot-button issue for sure as right-winged Elisabeth gets fired up when it comes to the Democratic way of thinking.  While I do enjoy hearing varied opinions, sometimes the discussions between the ladies gets so heated that for one, you can’t discern what each of them are saying because they are all talking/yelling over each other, and two, you sometimes feel like you are intruding on a private conversation….kind of like watching an argument between your parents!   Either way, the back-and-forth verbal match is always cooled off in a few minutes, and does offer even the most staunch ideas a “tweak” of understanding as to how the other side thinks.  Differences make the world go ’round, right?  I know whether we are right or left, we can all agree that the Oil crisis is something that needs ALL of our immediate attention, and soon.

HawthorneBoxArt_200Today’s guest was Jada Pinkett-Smith, wife to one of my favorite actors, Will Smith.  Jada is a busy wife and mother these days, with her son starring in The Karate Kid and her own series, HawthoRNe, on TNT.  Jada talked about the balance between career and family, which is something we can all relate to on some level.  Jada recently posed for the cover of Essence magazine and looks beautiful, naturally.  She is adorable and seems so “real.”  I liked hearing what she had to say about her family and making sure to set aside quality time with her husband to keep things in good balance.

After Jada’s visit, A.J. Khubani, the CEO of Telebrands, stopped by to show off some of his latest products.  I laughed out loud as Sherri, Tom, and Jay demo-ed Crazy Critters, Neckline exerciser, Bare Lifts, and the Shake Weight.  This part of the show was much more relaxed and helped to end things on a funny and lighthearted note than a controversial discussion.   Sherri was hysterical ad-libbing some “risque” activity with the Neckline and Jay picked right up and brought the house down in laughter.

One thing is for sure, the women of The View are smart, funny, and enjoy each other’s company, despite their differences.  Coming up later this week are the hilarious David Spade and Chris Rock, and the talented Jeremy Piven.  Can’t wait to watch!  Tune in with me!

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Disclosure: As a “View Ambassador,” I was given financial compensation by ABC Daytime to write my opinions of the recent View episodes.  However, all opinions remain 100% my own.

Tell Tyson “Your Little Nugget” of Mealtime Wisdom and WIN!

The fact that I have two picky eaters is what my Mom would call “payback.”  I was (an admittedly still am) a picky eater, but I am trying to change that with my two daughters.  Mealtime is certainly a battle in my home and I take each nugget of advice and try to apply it to my table.  Luckily, some of the suggestions are working, but we have a long way to go.

Tyson and Robin Miller are trying to help Moms like me by launching the “Tell Us your Little Nugget” program.  From the press release:

nuggets“For most parents, finding ways to encourage their picky eaters to try and enjoy new foods is a top priority. In fact, a recent survey showed more than 68 percent of registered dietitians who counsel new parents frequently receive questions about getting finicky eaters to eat at mealtime. To help parents conquer mealtime battles, Tyson Foods and Robin Miller are teaming up to show how finger foods, like Tyson® 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets, can not only please picky eaters but also be fundamental in building a foundation of balanced eating habits.”

By simply sharing your mealtime tips, you will be entered into a random drawing to win prizes such as a $1,500 savings bond and a year’s supply of Tyson 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets to three lucky participants.  In addition, one Grand Prize winner will receive a $5,000 savings bond in addition to the year supply of nuggets.

One of the Tyson products that we have used successfully in our home is the Tyson Grilled and Ready whole breast fillets.  They are fully-cooked, lean, boneless, skinless recipe-ready chicken breasts. As an excellent source of protein and 98% fat-free, we love to add them to salads or just make the perfect chicken sandwich.  You can find some excellent recipes online as well (check out this Chicken Fajita Casserole!)

What are your little nuggets of mealtime wisdom?  Hurry over to Tyson and enter to win the great prizes!

GIVEAWAY

Experimental Mommy has FIVE coupons for FREE Grilled and Ready Chicken Breasts for one lucky reader!

How to enter:

1. Visit Tyson’s Grilled and Ready recipe page and tell me which one you can’t wait 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 button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on July 6th. 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 Tyson who provided the product for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

Portofino Island Day Four!

After a late night, all of the kids actually slept late (well, later than usual).  Bonus!  We started the morning with fresh bakedPhotobucket cinnamon rolls in the condo kitchen followed by a photo shoot with the Portofino Island’s photographer, Jordanna Marie.  She took us to several locations around the resort to take some pictures of our faPhotobucketmily (I never get to actually be IN the pictures, so I was thrilled!).  Jordan did a great job taking a few posed shots and then several action shots of the kids.  Guests can purchase a photography session which is 30 minutes long.  This is a great option if you are looking to get some fantastic shots of the entire family. Take a look at a few of the photos taken, courtesy of Jordanna Marie and the Portofino Photography staff:

After the photo shoot, we too the kids to the Lifestyle Center for a swim while my husband found a way to entertain himself at Portofino’s Adventure Cove located on Santa Rosa Sound.  This not only provided entertainment for himself, but for everyone watching.  LOL!  After he played for about an hour, he met us at the pool because he wore himself out.  Someone should tell him that he’s not 13 anymore!

After a quick lunch poolside, we took the kids back to the condo for naps.  Not a minute after my little one’s eyes opened, she put back on her swimsuit and begged to go back to the pool.  Who can resist those baby blue eyes?  So, off to the pool we went!  Today was really fun and very relaxing.  We are very sad that we have to leave tomorrow and have contemplated chaining ourselves to the room and refusing to go home….but that’s probably not a good idea!

But seriously, we have a had a wonderful time.  The staff of Portofino Island was extremely friendly, the condo was spacious and beautiful and the beaches were pristine. I will share a few more photos in a follow up post, but in the meantime, make sure you follow Portofino Island on Twitter so you don’t miss any special deals!

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience with the product.  Portofino Island has graciously reduced the rate to facilitate this review as well.

Portofino Island Day Three: Vincent Shoes $50 Gift Card Giveaway

IMG_1502My family and I love visiting the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, but they are missing one little things…. dolphins!  So, when we learned that Portofino Island offered dolphin cruises, my girls could not wait (and I will admit that I was a little excited, too!).  At 9:30 am, we boarded the 63-foot catamaran, the Portofino I, and headed into Santa Rosa Sound.  In only just a few minutes, it seemed like our boat was surrounded by dolphins!  The crew was fabulous and pointed out the pods of dolphins searching for food.  Some of the dolphins surfaced right next to our boat and the girls just shrieked with excitement!  The resort photographer, Jordan, captured some great shots of the dolphins and even some of our family!  Check out the Portofino Blog to see the amazing sites.  They also shared some dolphin facts, pointed out some Pensacola landmarks and gave the kids a chance to be Captain of the boat!  For two hours, we searched (and found!) many dolphins and also boated through Pensacola Pass before turning around and heading home.  This was a great excursion for my family!  My girls were thoroughly entertained, there was a potty on board (a must for my potty-training two year old) and drinks were available from an on board bar.

After landing back on shore, Renee and I got the family fed back at our condo and down for naps before we made our escape to the Portofino Spa for a little Mommy Time!  Renee enjoyed the mani/pedi service and I relaxed with an hour long Swedish Massage.  Both Renee and I enjoyed the experience and were glad we had the time to relax and rejuvenate before rejoining our families at the end of naptime.

For dinner, the crew of Portofino I recommended a family friendly restaurant called Flounders.  We decided to check it out and we loved it!  The restaurant has a covered patio which is next to a sandy play area.  After ordering, the kids got to run and play while we waited for our food.  The food quality was excellent and the prices were very reasonable.  This is definitely a great choice for families with little ones!

If you are considering a trip to Portofino Island in Pensacola but are worried due to the media coverage of the oil spill, I hope you reconsider.  The beaches are beautiful right now, but even if you wanted to be super cautious and avoid playing in the Gulf of Mexico, there are still many things to do here!  Since we arrived, we have only been on the beach for one hour and have managed to have a ton of fun taking advantage of the resort amenities (and we’re not done yet!).

GIVEAWAY

sandalsAs you know, I have two daughters and they MUST have cute beach shoes.  One of the places I love to shop for quality shoes for my girls is Vincent Shoes.  Actually, I just did a sandal review a month ago and we brought these sandals to the beach!  Vincent Shoes has a great selection of Summer Sandals and what’s even better is that they are currently running a sale!  Check out the shoes that are available for up to 75% off!

Do your kids need new summer shoes?  Vincent Shoes has generously donated a $50 gift card to one lucky reader!

How to enter:

1. Visit Vincent Shoes and tell me how you would spend your $50 gift card!

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and (@PortofinoIsland) and (@VincentShoes) 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 Portofino Island on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on July 1st. 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 with the product. I was not compensated for this review in any way other than a sample of Vincent Shoes to facilitate this review.  Portofino Island has graciously reduced the rate to facilitate this review as well.

Portofino Island Day 2: Sand Gone Giveaway

There is just something very peaceful and serene about sitting on a balcony, enjoying the Gulf breeze and enjoying my morning tea.  What a great way to start Day 2 of our family vacation at Portofino Island in Pensacola Beach, Florida (if you missed Day One, check it out here)!  After breakfast, we decided to get our swim gear ready and head to the white sandy beaches.  One of the amenities here at the resort is beach chairs (which recline!) and a beach umbrella.  It was a great place to set up shop and start applying sunscreen.  There isn’t a cloud in the sky here today!

IMG_1452I am sure you have all heard about the oil spill which is effecting the environment, livelihoods and tourism of many Gulf Coast states.  The people of Pensacola Beach are worried as well, but I can tell you from first hand experience that the beach is beautiful and we have not seen or smelled oil at all.  The kids dodged waves, made sandcastles and collected seashells before we decided to head upstairs for lunch.  We were exhausted and were so glad to find the Portofino Island Tram waiting for us at the edge of the beach.  While it is not a long walk, the tram ride back to our Tower was welcomed!  Our tram driver was so nice and the kids just loved riding “the train!”

Lunch was turkey sandwiches, chips and fruit cups served in our condo.  I just love that we are equipped with a full kitchen so we do not have to drag the kids to restaurants for every meal.  We could eat lunch together and the kids could still have a blast.  Perfect!IMG_1478

For dinner, we took the complimentary 63-foot catamaran, the Portofino I,  to The Boardwalk which features lots of unique shops, restaurants and ice cream.  It was a ton of fun for the kids and they even got to drive the boat (as you can see, Aubrie didn’t think we were going fast enough, so she wanted to step on it!)!  The captain and crew were very nice and the music on board made for a fun and relaxing trip.  We found a kid friendly restaurant called Flounders (it even had a playground!) which was very reasonable and yummy, too! Back at the condo, we are rounding out the evening by baking some cookies in the oven…..heaven!

Tomorrow after breakfast, we signed up for a dolphin cruise and I will be enjoying a relaxing massage in the afternoon.  I am sure we will head to the pool at some point as well as my kids haven’t stopped talking about it.  Totally looking forward to Day 3!

GIVEAWAY

IMG_1463To close out Day 2, I would love to offer my readers a giveaway of a product we found very useful at the beach today, Sand Gone!  With a two year old who isn’t quite sure what to think of all the sand, this product was a godsend.  It helped us to easily remove sand from her body without having to dunk in the Gulf and it smelled fabulous, too!!  The microfiber applicator is very soft (resembles a powder puff) and is machine washable.

About Sand Gone:

Sand Gone is a dry body powder, that when applied to sand covered skin, removes the sand and leaves the skin soft and smooth while feeling fresh and clean.

This product was great to get the sand off before we headed to board the Tram at Portofino Island.  There is nothing worse than tracking sand into a clean condo and Sand Gone definitely helped us keep the mess out!  Both myself and my daughters loved the coconut smell of the powder as well.  The 8oz screw cap jar was very easy to pack and kept the beach wetness out as well.  I highly recommend this product for any beach goer, but especially if you have little ones that aren’t a fan of being covered in sand.  Order Sand Gone here for only $12.00 plus shipping!

Headed to the beach?  Want to try Sand Gone?  One lucky reader will win their own 8oz. jar of Sand Gone!

How to enter:

1. Tell me why you need Sand Gone!

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and (@PortofinoIsland) and (@SandGone) 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 Portofino Island on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 30th. 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 with the product. I was not compensated for this review in any way other than a sample of Sand Gone to facilitate this review.  Portofino Island has graciously reduced the rate to facilitate this review as well.

Portofino Island Day 1: Flip Flop Giveaway

Last night, I could hardly sleep knowing we would be leaving for vacation in the morning.  Today, we arrived at Portofino Island in Pensacola Beach, Florida and I am already in heaven!  Driving down the beach, you can see the resort as it stands majestically nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and the Santa Rosa Sound.  With eight miles of white sandy beaches, we couldn’t wait to get started.

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Check in was a breeze and the staff was more than friendly.  We are staying in one of the five towers of Portofino Island which boasts it’s own heated pool and covered parking.  When we stepped into our three bedroom, three and a half condo, we were just speechless.  Renee from What Mommies Need and I ran around like kids in a candy store checking out our new home away from home!  The condo is bigger than my house!  The kitchen is gorgeous, and the balcony is breathtaking.  Our Master Bedroom opens onto the balcony which is equipped with a grill with tables and chairs!  Relaxation at it’s finest!

Since today was a travel day, we decided not to venture to the beach but take a swim in the pool with the family.  The area is beautiful, well kept and easily accessible from our room.  After our swim, the kids (and I) were starving, so we headed to the Lifestyle Center near Tower 4 which was only a short walk away.  With our Adventure Passes, kids eat free with a paying adult, so dinner was very reasonably priced and the food was good, too.

Tomorrow, Renee and I plan to hit the Spa for a relaxing massage and then we plan to explore the beaches with our families.  I soooooo need that massage!

GIVEAWAY

feelgoodzTo celebrate our Beach Bash, Renee and I planned a few great giveaways for you!  The first is a pair of flip flops from Feelgoodz!  This New Orleans based company (gotta love my homegrown companies!), sells eco-friendly, biodegradable flip flops made in Thailand from natural rubber.   The owner, Kyle Berner, set out on a mission to not only bring these extraordinarily comfortable shoes to the United States, but to help the Thai people as well.  With every sale, 3 percent of the profits are donated to three different charities that either directly or indirectly help by improving living conditions and business opportunities.

I had the opportunity to try a pair of these flip flops, the brown and pink ones called Ladyslipper, and have them with me here in Pensacola.  I can vouch for the fact that they are super comfortable!  I normally wear a size 6 and a half and the size 6-7 fits perfectly.  I would definitely purchase more shoes from Feelgoodz in the future.

Want your feet to Feel Good?  The great people at Feelgoodz want you to feel the comfort and will donate one pair of shoes to one reader!

How to enter:

1. Visit Feelgoodz and tell me which pair of flip flops you would choose if you won?

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and (@PortofinoIsland) and (@Feelgoodz) 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, Portofino Island and Feelgoodz on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 30th. 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 with the product. I was not compensated for this review in any way other than a pair of Feelgoodz to facilitate this review.  Portofino Island has graciously reduced the rate to facilitate this review as well.

Wordless Wednesday

Lily and I before our Dance Performance!

Lily and I before our Dance Performance!

WINNERS!

Here we go!  The latest winners at Experimental Mommy are:

Frito Lay:  Carol

Shrek:  Grand Prize (Beth), Runner up (Belinda) and Runner up (Steph)

Disney Family:  A Kruse

XprotectX:  R Hicks

Letters to Juliet: Liz

P&G with Target:  Vickie C.

Colorwheel:  Kim H.

Domino’s:  Nicole G.

Tukaiz:  Jill M.

Leapfrog:  Melissa C.

Aquafresh: Sharon

Congrats to all the winners!  You will all be emailed shortly.  Please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize and check out my winner’s policy.

HawthoRNe 1st Season Series DVD: Giveaway

HawthorneBoxArt_200As many of you know, I am a Mom who also works full time outside the home.  My busy schedule requires a delicate juggling act of my priorities which can certainly be stressful.  But, to me, the rewards greatly outweigh the drawbacks.  For this reason, I can definitely relate to Christina Hawthorne (played by Jada Pinkett Smith) in the TNT series, HawthoRNe.  A little about the series:

Juggling both family and career, recently-widowed nursing director and mother of a teenage girl, Christina Hawthorne (Jada Pinkett Smith) struggles to hold the middle ground in a battle between bureaucratic administrators, heartless doctors, and apathetic colleagues who are caught up in a system that’s forgotten whom it’s there to serve.

GIVEAWAY

The complete first season 3 DVD set has hit store shelves! But, you can win it right here on Experimental Mommy!

How to enter:

1. Tell me how you manage your priorities?  How do you “do it all?”  Can you relate to the main character of HawthoRNe?

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and HawthoRNe (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 June 29th. 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 with the product. I was not compensated for this review in any way.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Organize your life with Smead: Review

As a family with two parents who work outside the home and two daughters in two different schools, you can imagine the amount of paperwork that piles up on my desk. From bills to permission slips, book orders to pictures, you name it and it’s in a huge pile. This Summer, SMEAD is challenging you to go from piles to files with their new file system!

stadiumfileMy space is quite limited, so I was honestly skeptical about whether or not a file system on my desk would work for me. But, I was pleasantly surprised that this system does not take up much space at all. I was sent an expanding Stadium File that has enough room for 12 folders which are displayed in a tiered fashion so all the folders can be seen at once.  The Smead SuperTab file folders work great in the Stadium File System because they have nearly double the labeling space and three tab positions to increase their visibility.  The folders come in a wide variety of colors, too, so organizing is a snap!

Part of this new organizational line by Smead is the Viewables labeling system.  These printable labels make customizing your folders very easy and even includes software for flawless design.  While I prefer to hand write my labels, I think the printed labels look very nice and would be more professional in an office setting.

I created a color coded system for each family member so now I can easily file papers when they come home from school and find them again as a deadline approaches.  The new file system as definitely lowered my paperwork frustration!

Want to try the products for yourself?  Join Smead’s Twitter Party tomorrow, June 16th at 11am CST.  They will give away lots of organizational products, share tips and one participant will win a $50 AMEX gift card! Follow @hostrock and use #filefun to get in on all the action!

Don’t miss a thing!  Follow @SmeadOrganomics and Fan Smead on Facebook!

Smead provided products to facilitate this review and a $20 Target gift card to compensate for my time.  All opinions remain 100% mine.