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Nestle Family Virtual Halloween Party: Spooktacular Baking Ideas

October 18, 2010 By

Here in New Orleans, the weather is still quite warm, so it is hard to believe that the Halloween is just around the corner.  In fact, I haven’t even purchased costumes or candy just yet!  Fortunately, Nestle Family asked me to be a part of their Virtual Halloween Party in order to get me in the “spirit” of the season.  Each day this week, visit the participating blogs to learn about great Halloween ideas and have the chance to win themed prize packs, too!

Nestlé Family Halloween Party

Today, Nestle Toll House wants to hear about your favorite Spooktacular Baking Ideas!  What have you created using Nestle Toll House products?  Your unique and creative idea could win you $2,500!  Submissions are being taken now through October 20th.  More info from their Facebook page:

“Create a Halloween-themed Baking Activity using NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Submit the name of your project, step-by-step instructions and a picture of your fun creation. Ten lucky finalists will be chosen by NESTLÉ. Votes from our NESTLÉ baking community will determine the winners.”

While it is no secret that I should not enter the contest because my baking skills are less than stellar, I did get a little adventurous and create a pumpkin cookie with my daughter using Nestle Toll House sugar cookie dough and a cookie cutter and decorating set from Copper Gifts.  We baked the cookies according to the package directions, let cool slightly and then cut the cookies with the pumpkin cutter.  Following a spread of icing and a sprinkle of orange edible glitter, we decorated with green icing for the finishing touches.  All in all, it was a great activity for my daughter and I (and I don’t think they came out too bad if I do say so myself!).

GIVEAWAY

Would you like to create a baking memory with your family?  Nestle Family has generously offered one reader a baking activities package from Toll House!  The package will include coupons for two free packages of Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough, a NESTLÉ Toll House apron and a $25 Target gift card to purchase additional baking essentials.

How to enter:

1. Check out the current entries in the Nestle Toll House Spooktacular Baking Activities contest and tell me which is your favorite?

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 Nestle Toll House on Facebook.

5. Place my button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on November 1st. 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. Nestle Family is compensating me for my time in generating five posts for this blog tour.
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Thanksgiving Pecan Pie (like Granny used to make!)

October 17, 2010 By 4 Comments

Down South, there are just certain things you MUST have for the holidays.  Most of my great recipes come courtesy of my Granny, who was a huge part of my life and taught me how to cook.  From the time I could stand, she would drag a chair up to the kitchen counter for me to stand on and let me do whatever my little hands could manage.  Granny rarely used a recipe. When I would ask her where her recipe was she would say nothing, and simply point to her temple (the best ones always came from in her head).   As I got older, I got smart and started paying attention and writing down her standbys because I knew one day, I would need to duplicate them.

Once the temperatures start dropping, my mouth starts watering because there were just certain things Granny made when it was cool outside and for the holidays.  One of them was Pecan Pie.

pecan pie

May I introduce you to heaven on a plate? from McCormick.com

Pecan Pie can be tricky, but this recipe is easy and if you follow the directions carefully, you won’t regret it.

Granny’s Pecan Pie (makes one 9 inch pie)

Ingredients:

4 eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup melted butter, and don’t even think about using margarine.

1 1/4 cups light corn syrup

1  1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar (light or dark, your preference.  I like light.)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust, deep dish if you can get it.  (you can cheat and use a premade one.  Even Granny did that!)

1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Beat eggs with a wire wisk or fork.  Add salt, butter, syrup, sugar, and vanilla.  Mix well.  Pour into pie crust and sprinkle with pecans.  Gently push pecans down a little so they get glazed with egg mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.

My advice:

  • You may have a little more egg mixture than you need.  Don’t overfill the crust.
  • I always slide a cookie sheet under my pie in the oven to catch drips because if it drips and burns in your oven you will be most unhappy.
  • About 15 minutes before the pie is done, I GENTLY lay a piece of aluminum foil on top of the pie.  Don’t press it down.  This is to keep the crust from getting too brown.
  • All ovens are different so your pie might need a little more time.  When it’s time to come out, gently wiggle the pie.  The middle should look like Jell-o that is almost ready.  Once it cools it will firm up.
  • Best eaten warm with vanilla ice cream on the side.  After you eat it, call your Granny up and tell her how much you love her.  I would if I could!

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Adorable Notecards from SanLori: Review and Giveaway

October 14, 2010 By

I am a paper junkie.  I love all kinds of stationery and cards.  My favorite part of planning events is picking out the invitations. My desk drawers overflow with notecards for me and the children.   I recently discovered SanLori and I am in love!  With the holidays right around the corner, SanLori is the perfect place to shop for Holiday Cards, Birth Announcements, Invitations, and Gifts!

SanLori kindly sent me a boxed set of personalized notecards and one of their Hot Chicks candles with the “Cosmo Compatible” scent.   The notecards were bright and cheerful and a nice weight.  The perfect thing to drop a note to a friend to say thank you or say a few words of encouragement.  The candle comes in an adorable gift box and has a great scent that is not too overpowering but noticeable enough!

I am already thinking about what to do for Holiday cards this year and if you are like me and want to get them done early you can surely find what you need at SanLori.  They have tons of options from classic to whimsical and it’s a breeze to upload your photo and customize your card.  My favorite is this one:

Don't you love this? Different and classically beautiful.

With the power of text, e mail, and fax, handwritten notes are unfortunately forgotten about.  But think about how you feel when you get something in the mail that’s personal and just for you?  I know you’re happy to get anything that’s not a bill, right!  :)   Make someone’s day with a note from SanLori!

GIVEAWAY

One Experimental Mommy reader will win a set of personalized notecards from SanLori!

How to enter:

1. Check out San Lori’s selection of holiday cards and tell me which is your favorite?

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @SanLori 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 November 1st. 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 San Lori who provided the product for review.  This post contains affiliate links.
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Emily Osment “Fight or Flight” Autographed CD Giveaway

October 12, 2010 By

My daughter is a huge Hannah Montana fan!  She faithfully watches the new episodes and can sing along to practically all of the songs.  While she loves Hannah, her favorite character on the show is Lilly because, well, my daughter’s name is Lily.  Oftentimes, during the commercials, Disney will air new songs and videos from other Disney stars such as Emily Osment (Lilly).

Her new album, Fight or Flight, will be released by Wind -up Records this Friday, October 15th (insert girly scream here)!  We were sent a copy of the new CD for advanced screening and my daughter danced herself silly.  The CD, produced by Nellee Hooper, contains 11 tracks including the following:

1. Lovesick
2. Get Yer Yah-Yah’s Out
3. 1-800 Clap Your Hands (The Water is Rising)
4. Marisol
5. The Cycle
6. All The Boys Want
7. Double Talk
8. Truth or Dare
9. Let’s Be Friends
10. You Get Me Through
11. Gotta Believe in Something

The songs, co-written by Emily herself, are quite catchy.  My daughter’s favorite was 1-800-Clap Your Hands which she wanted to listen to over…and over….and over.  Needless to say, the CD is definitely a hit in my home as was her debut EP All the Right Wrongs.

GIVEAWAY

Do you have an Emily Osment fan in your home?  Make their day by winning an AUTOGRAPHED copy of her new CD, Fight or Flight!

How to enter:

1. Listen to a few tracks of Fight Or Flight and tell me which is your favorite?

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @Emily Osment 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 Emily Osment on Facebook.

5.  Place my button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 31st. 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 Total Assault who provided the product for review.  This post contains affiliate links.
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Wordless Wednesday

October 12, 2010 By 7 Comments
Photobucket

My Pumpkin Princess!

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Incredible recipes from Mrs. Butterworth’s! Giveaway

October 9, 2010 By

My husband and I both work full time outside the home, so I will admit that breakfast needs to be fast and easy.  Yogurt, granola bars, raisins, toast or orange juice is generally in the rotation.  But, on weekend, we like to break the boredom by cooking up something fun.

Celebrity Chef Kevin Roberts (aka The Food Dude and host of the new show on TLC, BBQ Pitmasters) created several recipes that are fun AND easy.  I thought I would share my favorite with you:

Hawaiian Style French Toast

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon, Butter

2 EGGS, beaten

1 teaspoon, Cinnamon

4-8, Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, cut in half

1/2 cup, Mrs. Butterworth’s Sugar Free Syrup, warm

THE STEPS:

1: Heat butter in a large pan over medium-high heat.

2: In a large bowl mix eggs and cinnamon.

3: Dunk rolls into mixture and coat thoroughly.

4: Cook bread until golden brown on both sides about 3-5 minutes each side.

5: Warm your syrup in the microwave and pour over toast.

While we weren’t quite as adventurous at breakfast this morning, we decided to try the traditional pancake (which we rarely have).  Admittedly, I do not usually buy Mrs. Butterworth’s but I am not married to the brand I currently buy.  A little about Mrs. Butterworth’s:

“Mrs. Butterworth’s® distinctive shaped bottle has been making kids smile for over 40 years. Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup can be found in Original flavor, Sugar Free or Lite—all of which deliver that distinct thick, rich and buttery taste. In addition to syrup, Mrs. Butterworth’s also offers Complete Pancake and Waffle Mix, available in Buttermilk and Home-style flavors.”

We opened up the syrup this morning and my kids were immediately enamored with the bottle (who can resist Mrs. Butterworth, right?).  I was impressed with the consistency of the syrup (definitely thicker than my current brand).  We tried the “lite” syrup and I could not tell that it was lite at all.  Very yummy and the perfect topping to our warm pancake breakfast.

GIVEAWAY

Do you want to try some of the great new recipes?  Let me help you with the ingredients!  One winner will win two coupons for a FREE Mrs. Buterworth’s product!

How to enter:

1. Visit Mrs. Butterworth’s and tell me which is your favorite product?

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Mrs. Butterworth’s (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 October 25th. 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 Mrs. Butterworth’s who provided the product for review.
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Green Works Walk to School Challenge!

October 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Unfortunately, I can say that I have never walked to school.  Our house was always out of walking distance.  I did, however, walk home from school once in knee high water when the entire area flooded….not fun.  But, I always did envy the kids that got to walk home with their parents and I wish I could share that with my own daughters.  But again, it is just not possible.

I definitely see the value in walking to school not only for needed exercise but great quality time with your children.  I try to replicate that experience with my girls by turning off the radio on our morning drive and using the ten minute drive to talk about the upcoming day’s activities or whatever the mood brings.

Through the month of October, Green Works wants to encourage you to take the Walk to School Challenge with your children not only to spend precious minutes together, but to benefit your school as well!  Sign up on the Green Works Facebook page, log your footsteps and compete against other schools for the chance to win the $5,000 Green Grant! Your child can also win individual prizes for logging their walking or bicycling distances.

Spread the word around your school, get outside and start walking!  Good Luck!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Clorox Green Works and received a thank-you gift certificate.
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Announcing Reviewer’s Retreat Blog Conference!

October 8, 2010 By 3 Comments

Some of you may know that I also run, along with Cecelia from Cool Baby Kid, a network for review bloggers called the Double Duty Divas.  Since 2009, we have been working hard to connect bloggers who do product reviews and harness the power of numbers.  Now with over 250 members, we help each other promote posts, giveaways and have a few fun contests of our own!

After attending a few blog conferences and events, Cecelia and I noticed that topics that engage review bloggers were few and far between.  We had a hard time finding sessions that would directly apply to our genre.  With a unique oportunity to partner with Great Wolf Lodge in the Pocono Mountains, we have recently created the first blog conference specifically geared towards the product review blogger, Reviewer’s Retreat.

The blog conference will be held on May 15-17, 2011 and we are very excited about our developing agenda and speaker list!  We hope that the bloggers in attendance walk away feeling energized and inspired to move forward in their genre with the confidence to create mutually beneficial relationships with brands and PR representatives.   Head on over to our new blog conference website to learn more details!

Registration will open for Double Duty Diva members only on Monday, October 11th at 11:00am EST.  On November 15th, registration will open for the general public.  Tickets are limited as we plan to facilitate round table discussions and small break out sessions.   Don’t miss any updates by following us on Twitter using #RR11 and liking us on Facebook!

Hope to see you there!

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Aquaphor Wonder Set: Review and Giveaway

October 7, 2010 By

Living in New Orleans, the weather is usually quite humid during the Summer months.  But now that the weather is changing and the air is drying out, so is my five year old’s skin.  She is very prone to eczema and her skin is already becoming irritated causing her to itch.  Last Fall, we had to take her to the dermatologist because her condition worsened as the Winter approached, so I am hoping to intercept the eczema by protecting her skin before it kicks in to high gear.

I received a sample of Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment and after reading the ingredients, decided I would try it on my daughter’s skin.  The Healing Ointment is fragrance-free, preservative-free and non-irritating which should held to soothe her dry, cracking skin.  From the press release:

“Aquaphor is a multi-purpose ointment that helps heal and prevent dry, chapped or irritated skin.  It’s a gentle, effective formula that protects and supports the healing process.”

I have been using the Healing Ointment on my daughter for about two weeks now.  I can say that her skin is indeed looking better. The Ointment is thick in consistency, but goes on her skin smooth and spread easily without being sticky.  I plan to continue to use the ointment through the dry season and hope it helps to ease her condition preventing future flair ups.

In addition to the healing ointment, Aquaphor also makes a Baby Gentle Wash and Shampoo which is soap and tear-free!  This product is perfect for my two year old who still cannot hold still in the tub causing soap in the eyes on occasion.  While I did not get to try this product, I like the fact that it is supposed to lightly lather without irritating or drying out the scalp.  Finally, a product I would love to try for myself is the Aquaphor Lip Treatment which was just released this month!  While the dry weather wreaks havoc on my daughter’s skin, I tend to get cracked lips.  This product seals in moisture in order to reduce dryness and visibly improves the condition of your lips.  Sounds great!

GIVEAWAY

If you put all three products together, the Healing Ointment, the Baby Gentle Wash and Shampoo and the Lip Repair, you get one amazing Wonder Set!  Valued at $33, one winner will receive all three full size products!

How to enter:

1. Visit Aquaphor and tell me which product you need most!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Aquaphor (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 October 21st. 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 Aquaphor who provided the product for review.
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WINNERS!

October 7, 2010 By 3 Comments

And the winner is:

Innovative Kids:  Phxbne

Pure Zone: Lydia

Clif Snacks: Marci

Strawberry Shortcake: Vickie

Sonic: Erica B.

Tide and Downey:  Lynn

Congrats!  You will all be emailed shortly.  Please check out my winners policy to make sure you comply with the rules to claim your prize.  Thanks to all who participated!

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