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Gillette Fusion ProGlide: Review and Giveaway

June 14, 2010 By 142 Comments

I recently had the chance to visit the P&G Headquarters in Cincinnati and was so impressed with how the brands were developed.  Technology and research is shared between departments to make each and every product better than it was before.  So, it was no shock to me to hear that Gillette, once acquired by P&G in 2005, has come out with it’s first new razor called the Gillette Fusion ProGlide.

What makes this razor better than it’s predecessors?  From the website:

gillette“The new Gillette® Fusion® ProGlide™ Power Razor has re-engineered blades with edges that are thinner than Fusion.  They are finished with Gillette’s most advanced low-resistance coating, which allows the blades to glide effortlessly through hair.  Providing incredible comfort, even if you shave everyday.

Even with thinner, finer blades, an enhanced lubrastrip and improved blade suspension system, you may not see all of the latest innovations on the NEW Gillette Fusion ProGlide and Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power Razors with the naked eye but after one shave, you’ll stop shaving and start gliding.”

The razor became available on June 6th and my husband had the opportunity to test it out for himself.  My husband has to shave on a daily basis and he literally despises it, so I knew the razor would be a hard sell.  But, when he got out of the shower, he ran to me and told me to feel his face.  He loved the way it made his skin feel and commented that shaving with the Gillette Fusion ProGlide was less irritating that his current razor.  He also loved the thermal scrub which is designed to work like a barber’s hot towel.  The best compliment is that he said he would definitely buy this product again.

GIVEAWAY

Need a great gift idea for Father’s Day?  Three lucky readers will win a Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor as well as coupons for Gillette products redeemable at Target stores!

How to enter:

1. If you win, who would get the Gillette Fusion ProGlide?

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @Gillette 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 Gillette on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 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 with the product. I was not compensated for this review other than a Gillette Fusion ProGlide to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.
Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , ,

De-stress with Caress Whipped Souffle Body Wash: Review

June 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you are anything like me, you are putting yourself last in your family.  I am always tending to the childrens’ appearance before my own.  By the time I have them dressed and presentable to go anywhere, I am on a time crunch to get myself ready.  Therefore, I am always looking for products that do double duty.  Caress Whipped Souffle Body Wash is a fantastic new product that I am so excited to tell you about!

BlackberryCream

From the website: “Only Caress has a blend of triple-silkening moisturizers with exquisite fragrance for beautiful soft, scented skin.  Because after all, when it comes to pampering your skin, a girl shouldn’t have to choose!”

When I opened my bottle of Blackberry Cream Whipped Souffle body wash the first thing I noticed is that it is more the consistency of lotion than soap.  The scent was clean and fresh without being overpowering.  The product made the perfect amount of suds and after finishing my shower and drying off, I saw a noticeable difference.  The skin on my legs is what usually stays dry, especially nowadays with the summer heat and chlorine from the pool.  After using Caress Body Wash, my skin felt softer and more moisturized than it does when I use regular soap.   This is great news for me since I am often trying to run out the door after a shower and don’t always have time to moisturize like I should.  Caress products are extra-effective thanks to Silky Fragrance Infusion, which give you both the benefits of great fragrance and moisturizing benefits at the same time.

You can follow Caress on Facebook or Twitter to find out all the latest news about the terrific products from Caress.  You can also check out their website for some tips from the adorable Julianne Hough from Dancing with the Stars.  I am thankful Caress can help make my skin look as good as hers!  Now, if they could only make me that thin!  :)

jensig

I was not compensated monetarily for this post and only received a sample product to facilitate this review.  All opinions remain 100% mine.
Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , ,

Learning Laundry at Tide’s Fabric Care University!

June 14, 2010 By 8 Comments

If you are a regular reader, you know a few things about me.  I am a self-proclaimed science geek, I don’t cook, and laundry is my nemesis.  Although I consider myself an educated woman, I confess that I know little about the proper way to do laundry. Fortunately, Tide figured I could use a little help and invited me to Fabric Care University!

Last Monday, I packed my bags and headed to the P&G Headquarters in Cincinnati to learn all about Tide, how they develop and test a line of products, and the proper way to use them….and did I mention Tim Gunn was there, too?

IMG_1372I am sure Tim knows all about fabric care, and welcomed a fabulous group of bloggers to participate in a mock Project Runway the first night we were there. We were presented with a white T-Shirt and a random bag of accessories and were told to “make it work!”

<insert blank stare here>

Create an innovative outfit? Huh? I must be in the wrong place. Despite my hesitation, my Team (Stacie from Divine Miss Mommy, Sarah from Blissfully Domestic and Felicia from Go Graham Go) and I managed to create a shirt which we labeled “Playground Elegance.” Just when I thought we were done, we had to present our concept to Tim Gunn.

<insert another blank stare here>

IMG_1371Somehow, I was elected spokesperson for Playground Elegance. That was a BIG mistake. LOL! But, I cannot stress enough how nice, genuine and friendly Tim was (yes, we are on a first name basis). He offered great suggestions and made us feel like we created a great design (although he was clearly lying through his teeth).

On Day Two, we hit the ground running and made our way to the labs, which is definitely more my speed. We were shown several presentations on how Tide is developed and tested. The Scientists were so passionate about their jobs that it made it hard not to get overly excited about doing laundry! At first glance, you think making detergent can’t be all that difficult, but you would be amazed at what goes in to making the products before hitting your laundry machine.

Did you know that your body creates 50 grams of soil A DAY?  Ewwww….I need that off my clothes and I want to buy the product that does it the best.  In the laboratories, Tide simulates the water quality from all over the WORLD in order to test their detergent. They wash clothes in all types of water and in all different types of machines to make sure that their product will work well in every condition imaginable. Fabric samples are even analyzed under an electron microscope in order to assess removal of soil in Tide versus other leading brands. I saw this first hand and I can tell you that I will only buy Tide after seeing the evidence.

IMG_1374Some of my Fabric Care University Classmates (from left to right): Felicia of Go Graham Go, Yours Truly, Toni of Just Stop Screaming, Laurie of Tip Junkie and Danielle of Extraordinary Mommy)

Much of Day Two was embargoed, so I cannot tell you about the new lines coming out soon from Tide and Downy, but I can say that they are un-freakin-believable. Thanks to Devries PR and the incredible employees at Tide who made this trip a learning experience I will never forget.

Don’t miss any of the action! Follow Tide on Facebook and TideLoadsofHope on Twitter!

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post.  Tide did cover my airfare, hotel and meals while on this business trip.  All opinions remain 100% mine.
Filed Under: Blog Conferences/Brand Events Tagged With: , , ,

I’m going on vacation to Portofino Island!

June 13, 2010 By 1 Comment

During the school year, Lily’s teacher asked her what was her favorite family vacation memory.  Her response?  Sleeping in a hotel in Monroe, Louisiana.  As you might guess, Monroe is not your typical vacation destination, in fact this is where we usually evacuate to flee a hurricane.  It was this conversation that made my husband and I realize that we deserve a REAL vacation!  I am happy to report that we will soon be traveling to the Portofino Island Resort on Pensacola Beach, Florida!  A little from their website:

portofino1“Portofino Island is the ultimate Gulf Coast getaway and Pensacola’s premier family-friendly resort destination.  It is situated on 28 beautiful acres in Pensacola Beach between the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the gentle shores of Santa Rosa Bay. It is also adjacent to the pristine Gulf Islands National Seashore. The land itself is called Santa Rosa Island; it is the world’s largest barrier island.

Portofino Island’s beautiful waterfront location, stunning accommodations, world-class resort amenities and customized service standards – make it a natural indulgence. No other resort is located on the Gulf of Mexico, the Santa Rosa Sound and the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The vast complimentary and discounted amenities make Portofino Island a great vacation value.”

We will be staying in a condo along with Renee from What Mommies Need and her family.  We plan to check out all of the amenities at the resort and report back to our readers about what worked and what didn’t work for our families (I plan to hit the spa first!).  We hope to take a dolphin cruise, play at the water park, swim in the pool, bask on the beach, and much more.  And to make it even more fun, we will both be hosting beach-themed giveaways to help you plan your own summer beach vacation! Make sure you follow Portofino Island on Twitter and Facebook so you don’t miss any details or savings this Season!

Have you taken a beach vacation with your little ones?  What did you pack?  What could you not live without?

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

Grill out with ConAgra Foods!

June 13, 2010 By 4 Comments

My husband and I both work full time, but because he is a teacher, he stays home with the kids in the Summer months.  I have to say that I love Summer!  With him home, life is much less stressful!  One of the things we love to do in the summer is grill.  Even the kids look forward to these dinners and my husband found a new barbeque recipe book that he his dying to try out.  Thanks to Mom Central and ConAgra Foods, we are able to put the finishing touches on our dinner!  From the press release:

hebrew“Made with premium cuts of beef and no fillers, by-products, artificial flavors or colors, Hebrew National hot dogs provide a great solution for summer dinners. Topped with Hunt’s 100% Natural Ketchup (made with no high fructose corn syrup) or Gulden’s spicy brown mustard, you have all the makings of a classic summer dinner.”

We were sent Hunt’s No High Fructose Corn Syrup Ketchup, Gulden’s Mustard, and coupons for Hebrew National Hot Dogs for review.  I placed the condiments on our table at our latest barbeque night.  My daughters LOVE ketchup and both immediately grabbed the bottle.  Neither child noticed a difference in the No High Fructose Corn Syrup version and the brand we normally use.  As a Mom, anytime I can reduce the amount of high fructose corn syrup in their diets, I am happy!

conagraHonestly, we don’t normally buy the Hebrew National brand of hotdogs, but gave them a try for this review.  My husband threw them on the grill and both kids (as well as my husband and myself) loved them.  We would definitely purchase these again!

Check out ConAgra products next time we are putting together a barbeque night for your family!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of ConAgra and received a picnic bag with samples of ConAgra products to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , ,

Celebrate Father’s Day with 1-800-Flowers! Giveaway!

June 13, 2010 By 305 Comments

When I ask my husband if he has anything in special in mind for Father’s Day (or any other holiday on the calendar), his response is always, “No.” What do you get the man that never wants anything special? One lace I have honestly never thought of to look is 1-800-Flowers, but I just found out that they have a whole bunch of great gifts for Dad! From the press release:

“The best way to celebrate someone special is with love. This Father’s Day show the man you love how much you appreciate him with a special gift from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM! With 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, you can select from a wide variety of gifts available in our Father’s Day collection including:

  • Sauza Tequila Grilling Steak Sauces: Spice up Dad’s grill and say Happy Father’s Day in a unique and tasty way with Sauza® Tequila Grilling Steak Sauces Gift Set.
  • Father’s Day Dish Garden: Add fresh summer style to Dad’s office or makeover his “man room” with our colorful, blooming Father’s Day dish garden. The handsome planter provides a touch of class, while the nifty “Dad” plaque makes his celebration extra-festive.
  • Cool Golf Bag Cooler with Snacks: Help Dad get his golf game on and sink a sudden snack attack with this cool golf bag cooler full of sweet and savory snacks.”

grilling2I decided to surprise my husband with the Grilling Steak Sauces.  Everybody loves to get surprise packages, right?  My husband was no exception!  He loved the grilling sauces and thought it was a unique spin on the traditional item you usually think of getting from 1800Flowers!  He plans of finding some great grilling recipes for us to try out soon with his new sauces…YUM!

GIVEAWAY
Need a unique gift for Dad? You can win a $40 gift card to 1-800-Flowers.com right here at Experimental Mommy!

How to enter:

1. Tell me how you would spend your 1-800-Flowers gift card!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and 1-800-Flowers.com (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 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. Others may have a different experience with the product. I was not compensated for this review other than a Grilling Gift Set to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.
Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , ,

I’m a Constructive Playthings Mom!

June 13, 2010 By 7 Comments

constructivemomsLast Christmas, I received many toy catalogs in the mail and one that really stood out was Constructive Playthings.  I ended up ordering quite a few things as gifts for not only my two daughters but my niece and nephew as well.  Because I was impressed with the quality, selection and customer service, I was so excited when Constructive Playthings announced the formation of a Mom Panel that will feature product reviews, giveaways and exclusive coupon codes!  I jumped at the chance to apply and am excited to tell you that I am now an Official Constructive Playthings Mom!

In the next few months, I will be able to bring you my first hand experiences with many toys featured on their site as well as awesome giveaways for my readers!  And rumor has it that I will be able to offer you a discount code, too!  Please help me welcome the great panel of Moms assembled by Lee from My Sentiment Exact Lee:

Lee @ My Sentiment Exactlee
Allie @ No Time for Flashcards
Karen @ 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires
Keri @ Toy Queen
Melissa @ Consumer Queen
Dwan @ Momma DJane
Jody @ Mommy Moment
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting
Gina @ Wrestling Addicted Mommy
Bridgette @ Not So Blog
Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Don’t miss any of the action!  Follow @ConstructiveMom on Twitter!

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

Easy Blueberry Muffins: Recipe

June 8, 2010 By 2 Comments

If you are lucky enough to have a blueberry farm close by, then you should consider spending some quality time with your children and going on a blueberry picking adventure!  The one by me opens Friday and I cannot WAIT to go with my kids.  I recently found a easy and GREAT recipe for blueberry muffins and I thought I would share it with y’all.  They are a nice break from the regular cereal or toaster waffles the kids usually eat.  Even better, they take about 10 minutes to mix up!  Let me know what you think!

Blueberry Sweet Muffins

Makes between 6-8 large muffins

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 large egg

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

2 Tablespoons sugar for sprinkling (but I use more, of course)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl.  Make a well in the center of the mixture.  Stir together milk, oil, and egg, and add to dry ingredients.  Stir just until moistened (batter will be very thick).  Fold in blueberries.  Spoon into greased or paper-lined muffin pans, filling about two-thirds full.  Sprinkle batter with 2 Tablespoons sugar.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden.  Remove from pans and cool on wire racks.  Enjoy!

Filed Under: My So-Called Life Tagged With:

Traveling this summer? Check out Residence Inn!

June 7, 2010 By 1 Comment

With two kids under age 5, traveling on vacation can be a lot of work and requires special planning.  Finding a family friendly hotel with enough space for naps can be a challenge, not to mention eating out every night can break your budget (not to mention your sanity).  If you are going on vacation this Summer, or plan on a more extended stay, you definitely want to check out the newly re-imagined Residence Inn!

residenceinn

Relax in a spacious suite equipped with a full kitchen, or catch up on business in the lobby with free Wi-Fi internet access.  Need to stay on your workout routine?  No problem!  Residence Inn boasts a wonderful on site gym and a complimentary breakfast to get your energy going.

Having a room with a kitchen is a dream come true to for families with small children.  Cook easy breakfasts, warm formula, and prepare healthy dinners without the hassle of making reservations.  And the best part?  Get groceries delivered to your room free of charge!  For my kids, keeping them on routine is crucial to a successful vacation and a kitchen definitely makes life easier.

Residence Inn has locations all over the U.S. as well as Canada and Costa Rica!  The longer you stay, the less you pay per night which makes long, luxurious vacations more affordable.  Make sure you check them out before deciding on lodging for you and your family this Summer!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Residence Inn by Marriott and received a chance to win a weekend stay at a Residence Inn to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Channellock VJ-1 Tool Gift Set: Review and Giveaway

June 6, 2010 By 274 Comments

hypothesis The VJ-1 Tool Gift Set from Channellock will make a great gift for my husband for Father’s Day because he has been needing a few tools to complete an outdoor project.

materials

One VJ-1 tool gift set including two popular tongue and groove pliers (422 and 412) and a procrastinated outdoor project.  About Channellock:

channellock“The bright CHANNELLOCK BLUE® Gripped tools are standard equipment in the tool belts, buckets and tool boxes of professional electricians, plumbers and mechanics all over the world. This is quality they know they can count on because any tool with CHANNELLOCK® on it is made to the highest standards as the pliers made here in Meadville, Pennsylvania since 1886.”

results Lots of products we receive here at Experimental Mommy are for the kids, so my husband and I love when we get a chance to review products for ourselves!  Channellock was nice enough to send my husband the VJ-1 Tool Gift Set which includes the following from the press release:

Two popular tongue & groove pliers, the 422 and the 412.The 412 V-Jaw Plier is the newest to the Channellock line — the perfect size for smaller jobs at 6.5 inches. Handy dads (and moms) will go nuts for this new tool, which is designed for access to smaller spaces. During the product launch, several DIY-savvy dads found an endless list of uses for the 412. And the 422 is a 9.5-inch V-Jaw tongue & groove plier, which completes the perfect set of tools for any Father.”

VJ-1My husband, being the handy one in the house, was the first to open the package and dive into finding project to use his new toys.  We purchased a swing set for our daughters last summer and they have enjoyed it!  However, we needed to make some adjustments to add accessories this year.  In order to install a two person glider on the swingset, my hubby used the 412 pliers to hold several nuts in place while driving a bolt with a 24 volt impact driver.  Even though he already knew the quality provided by Channellock, he was surprised that the smaller pliers did not slip given the large amount of torque supplied by the impact driver.

hypothesis

My husband absolutely loved the VJ-1 Tool Gift Set supplied by Channellock!  The pliers provided unlimited uses for project around the house and outdoors.  My husband loves the Channellock brand and found that these tools were no different.

Coupon Code

Use code CP3Q1 at checkout to receive 10% off the purchase of a VJ-1 Tool Set!

GIVEAWAY

Would your husband love this Channellock VJ-1 Tool Gift Set?  Win one right here at Experimental Mommy!

How to enter:

1. Visit Channellock and tell me one other product you love!

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @Channellock 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 Channellock on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 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 Channellock. All opinions are 100% mine.

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , ,
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