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Let Your Mom Know She’s Special with ProFlowers! {Giveaway}

April 17, 2011 By 473 Comments

Is it already the middle of April? Really? Where has the time gone? I feel like it was just Christmas! With Mardi Gras and Easter being much later this year, I feel like everything has been incredibly hectic. Before you know it, school will be out and Summer will be in full swing.  Consider this your warning that Mother’s Day is not far away!

Mother's Day FlowersThis year, Mother’s Day is May 8th. Have you decided how you would like to honor your Mother? ProFlowers has made it incredibly easy by providing products for every budget and style in their new Mother’s Day Collection.  You can get one dozen gorgeous long stemmed pink roses for only $39.99!  Or spoil Mom with a year of seeds to give her a continuous gift!

After looking through the enormous selection, I decided to treat myself to the Pretty & Precious Bouquet which featured some of my favorite flowers.  Guaranteed to last at least 7 days, the bouquet includes tulips, carnations, Pink Hyacinth, Peach Gerbera Daisies and Freesia.  The bouquet arrived quickly in a professionally packaged box.  The flowers were in excellent condition and instructions for care and arranging were included.  After cutting the tips, I arranged the bouquet and proudly displayed the flowers in my bedroom.  It has been 3 days since the bouquet arrived and the flowers are still gorgeous!

If you are looking to surprise your Mom, Grandmother, Aunt, Wife or special person this Mother’s Day, make sure you check out all that ProFlowers.com has to offer.

COUPON

If you “like” ProFlowers on Facebook, you will receive 20% off your order! Interested in more coupons?  Check out the ProFlowers Coupon Page for free vase, free weekday delivery and more!

GIVEAWAY

Want to send flowers to someone special this Mother’s Day?  One reader will receive

a $50 gift card code to ProFlowers.com!

How to Enter:

1. Visit ProFlowers.com 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 ProFlowers.com(10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @ProFlowers on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! No more than 10 tweets a day, please. (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for additional entries.)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog and ProFlowers on Facebook.

5.  Place my banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 2nd. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to continental U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion of  the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a different experience with the product.  A product was received to facilitate this review, but all opinions remain 100% honest.
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Nominate Your School for a Green Makeover from Pureology!

April 13, 2011 By 1 Comment

Many schools here in the New Orleans area were devastated by Hurricane Katrina either by destroying the actual buildings or depleting the student base.  Our City is faced with unique challenges and a wonderful opportunity to create a brand new school system from the ground up.

On April 22nd, we celebrate Earth Day.  A day to promote awareness and appreciation for the environment, it is a good opportunity to evaluate how you or your school could become more “green.”  As New Orleans is continually being rebuilt, there is a definite push for new structures, homes and schools to be built “green.”

In partnership with Global Green USA, Pureology (a line of natural-based products for colour-treated hair from Loreal) is presenting the chance to win a Green School Makeover.  The program will help your school implement practices such as recycling, healthy organic or local food in the cafeteria and using energy efficient lightbulbs.  Did you know that when kids learn in healthy classrooms (environments that promote learning), test scores can improve up to 25%? When looking through the possible improvements, I saw a biology pond….totally up my alley!  The pond is created by collecting rainwater from rooftops which provides an opportunity for the students to study biology.  I would have loved a biology pond at my school!

Think about nominating your school!  What programs would you want to implement to make your school more green?”  Get your Principal’s permission and follow all of the guidelines here.  The winning school will receive a complete green makeover, while four runner up schools will receive a $2500 prize for school improvements.

How do you promote green living in your life?

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  I was compensated for my time in writing this post however all opinions remain 100% mine.
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WINNERS!

April 13, 2011 By 3 Comments

Congrats to the winners of my recent giveaways! You will all be emailed shortly. Be sure to read the Winner’s Policy in order to claim your prize!

Hershey’s Easter Candy:  Debbiw W.

Pillow Pets:  Reggie M.

Easter Store Gift Card: JoeyfromSC

Tangled:  Maria M.

Kranky Krab:  Steph

Jason Kids: Charlene K., Rosa C., Amanda S., Meagain2, Amber

Just Jen: Marianna

Seasoned Selects: Lois

Last Bus Out:  Anne L.

Timmy Time:  Emily

Domino’s: Patty H.

RIO game: Lesli

Land’s End Man’s Polo: Wanda M.

CONGRATS!

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Wordless Wednesday: Sno-balls!

April 12, 2011 By 15 Comments
snoball

One of my favorite things about NOLA: Chocolate Snoballs with Condensed Milk!

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Kim and Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels: Review

April 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

With my busy lifestyle, I often find myself grabbing a quick snack in between meals while I run the kids to various activities.  Unfortunately, sometimes the snacks end up being the meal!  When I know time is of the essence and a sit down meal may not be possible, I try to grab a hearty snack to hold me over.

So, I was more than happy when I was approached by Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels to test out their products.  I have always loved the warm and soft pretzels you can buy at the mall, but never have found a variety I like to keep at home for “emergency” snacking….until now.  About Kim & Scott’s:

“Since 1995, Kim and Scott Holstein, co-founders of Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels, have grown their business from the kitchen in Kim’s studio apartment to a national presence selling millions of pretzels each week via grocery store chains like Albertsons, Target, Walmart and Whole Foods.  In addition, their pretzels can be found at Barnes & Noble, and via regular appearances on QVC, where they sold more than 150,000 pretzels in just 12 minutes when they debuted on the network.

Each one of our delicious pretzels is twisted by hand and made from scratch. Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels offer an assortment of amazing pretzels, using ALL-NATURAL and PREMIUM ingredients, like freshly shredded cheeses, hearty spices, unbleached flour and whole grains.”

We received one sample kit for review which included six boxes of pretzels (2 in each box) in the following varieties:

  • Grilled Cheese
  • Pizza
  • Apple Cinnamon
  • Chocolate Crumb
  • Cheddar Jalapeño
  • Spinach Feta

Being the choco-holic that I am, I immediately reached for the Chocolate Crumb stuffed pretzel!  After a few seconds in the microwave (we heated the frozen pretzel for 50 seconds on High), the gourmet pretzel was ready….so easy!  It was soft, delicious and addictive!  Both my husband and I immediately were fans!  Next, we tried the Grilled Cheese variety with my two daughters as a snack before dance class.  Both girls cleaned their plates, so I am taking that as a positive review!

Kim & Scott’s has a pretzel for every taste (even a gluten-free variety).  Personally, I have my eye on the Cinnamon Roll pretzel!  If you would like to try these gourmet stuffed pretzels, check out this $1.00 off coupon!  And don’t miss out on any sales or promotions; follow Kim & Scott’s on Twitter and Facebook!

This review is the opinion of  the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a different experience with the product.  A product was received to facilitate this review, but all opinions remain 100% honest.
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Switch to Silk: My Ten Day Challenge

April 12, 2011 By 1 Comment

Let’s face it, I love milk.  I love ice cream.  I love cheese.  I love dairy.  Fortunately, we do not have any allergies or intolerance to milk products in my home.  That being said, while milk is great for the body, too much milk can pack on the calories.  Skim milk is a great alternative for those looking to cut their calorie intake, but to me….it tastes like white water.  Blech.

Recently, I was asked to leave the milk in the fridge and switch to Silk Soy Milk for ten days.  My initial thoughts…..yikes!  TEN days!?  Are you kidding?  But the more I checked out the nutritional information and ways we could cook with Silk, I started to change my attitude.  A switch to silk could mean consuming less calories while upping my calcium intake!

For the next ten days, you will see how my family and I make the switch to Silk.  My fridge is stocked with several different varieties (did you know they had dark chocolate almond milk?) and my calendar is organized with ten ways we plan to integrate Silk into our everyday (and extremely hectic) lives. I will be tweeting using #SwitchtoSilk where you can follow my journey and you just may win some Silk of your very own!

Help me out!  Have you made the switch?  How do you use Silk in your home?

Products to facilitate the Ten Day Switch to Silk Challenge as well as a FlipCam for documentation were provided by Silk.  No monetary compensation was received.  All opinions remain 100% my own.
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With this Ring….

April 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

My hubby and I have known each other since 1986, when we were in 6th grade.  After dating throughout high school and college, we knew we wanted to be married when the time was right.  I started casually thumbing through wedding magazines and ripping out pages of gowns, flowers and rings that caught my eye…..you know, just in case.

One weekend, I accompanied my then boyfriend to a local gun show which happened to be in the same convention hall as a local jewelry show (somehow doesn’t seem right, but I am totally telling you the truth).  After suffering through the gun show, I made him walk through the jewelry show with me.  We both talked about what we would want for wedding rings and I even tried on some rings for fun.  Little did I know, he was making many mental notes.

The jewelry show only fueled the fire as I began to really start checking out engagement ring websites like Since 1910.com.  This site allows you to chose your favorite stone, specify the quality, choose a “Since 1910.com” custom setting, and see the finished product.  I had a ton of fun designing my perfect ring!

On our anniversary during a walk at the park, my hubby got down on one knee and proposed.  The ring he gave me was more beautiful and more perfect that I could have imaged.  Now, eleven years later, I am still in love with him and the ring!  Perhaps now it’s time to shop for Since 1910.com Eternity Bands!

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Vitamma for Women: Review and Giveaway

April 10, 2011 By

Unfortunately, my daughters seem to have inherited my lack of adventure when it comes to cuisine.  Because getting my girls to eat their veggies can be a battle, I make sure they get what they need from a daily multi-vitamin.  But what about me?  Moms often take care of the little ones, but forget to take care of themselves, too!

When I was pregnant with my daughters and throughout breastfeeding, I was vigilant about taking my prenatal vitamins.  But somewhere along the road (I guess as life with two got busier), I dropped my nightly vitamin from my routine.  So, when I was approached to do a review for Vitamma, I took it as a sign that it was time to start taking care of me!  About Vitamma’s Womens Multi:

“Our Women’s Multi is all about a balance. While some companies tout the sheer quantities they can pack into a multivitamin we strive for quality. That’s why we offer women a vitamin you can be confident is delivering the right amounts of the right nutrients, including:
  • Support for Healthy Skin with Vitamins A, C, Copper and Iron.
  • Breast Health support from Vitamin D3 (1000 IUs) – specifically from the preferred Vitamin D3.
  • Bone Strength with Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D.
  • Iron (18 mg) as is recommended for premenopausal women.
  • Heart Health with Vitamins B6, B12, C, E and Folic Acid.
  • Energy support from a blend of B Vitamins, including Niacin (B3), as well as Chromium.
  • Folic Acid as is recommended for women of childbearing age to guard against neural tube birth defects.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

The Women’s Multi comes in packs of 90 for just $14.99.  And by using code MOMS (or simply visiting www.vitamma.com/moms) at checkout, you will receive 15% off!  The best part of Vitamma?  It’s not only good for you, but for every product sold, three children will receive two years worth of Vitamin A through the efforts of Vitamin Angels.

GIVEAWAY

Is it time to take care of yourself?  One reader will receive their choice of a full size bottle of vitamins from Vitamma!

How to enter:

1. Visit Vitamma and tell me which bottle of vitamins you would choose if you won!

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @Vitamma on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! No more than 10 tweets a day, please. (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for additional entries.)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog and Vitamma on Facebook.

5.  Place my banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on April 25th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to continental U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion of  the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a different experience with the product.  A product was received to facilitate this review, but all opinions remain 100% honest. This product review was made possible by the Double Duty Divas.
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Another Fundraiser, Another Yo-Yo

April 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

With two daughters in private school and a husband who is a high school teacher, I am well aware how important school fundraisers are to create a successful learning environment.  That being said, I have to admit that I dread school fundraising.  We have sold everything from raffle tickets to chocolate candy, pizza kits to wrapping paper and done more than our share of donating time for the cause.  However, I feel horrible sending yet another email or facebook post letting our family and friends know that we are selling more “stuff.”

Fundraisers are so much easier when they are timely.  Big Event Fundraising has some great quality products that would be easy to pitch to your family such as wrapping paper for near the holidays (everyone needs wrapping paper, right?) and school spirit items at the start of a new school year.  The big problem in or area is that all of the local schools do the same fundraisers at the same time, so not only do we compete against classmates, but all local kids for a customer base.

While the incentive to help our school is certainly worthwhile and the main focus of fundraising, I find the prize programs to be rather insulting for the amount of work parents and students put in to the effort.  After spending nearly two weeks selling candy for a recent sale, my daughter came home with a plastic yo-yo.  Now, understand that she was immensely proud of the yo-yo, but she forgot about it after 5 minutes and it ended up in the trash.

Big Event Fundraising has come up with a brilliant idea in order to motivate the students!  The plastic yo-yos are being replaced with a fun and educational experience for the participating students at the school.  The school can choose between fun events such as a Super Splash Party including a live DJ and inflatable water slides or even a 60 minute reptile adventure assembly.  At the end of your fundraiser, students who sold the minimum amount of products can join the fun and take part in the Big Event.  Kids that sell more receive incentives such as front row seats to the show, a “fast-pass” to cut the line or even an iPod Shuffle!

I know we will have more fundraisers in which to participate next year and I hope our school looks for new school fundraising ideas that can be fun for the students as well.  I know both my daughters would love to have the opportunity to take part in one of the Big Events!

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Dove VisibleCare Creme Body Wash: Review and Giveaway

April 7, 2011 By

I am a bath product junkie.  I love all soaps, shampoos, conditioners…..to the point where my husband asks why there are always 50 bottles in the shower.  I might be exaggerating a little, but I am always willing to check out something new in my routine.  When I recently got the chance to try Dove Visible Care Body Wash, I was ready to go!  I have always loved Dove Beauty Bars and have bought them for everyone in the family for years as we all have sensitive skin.  Dove has so many great products, I knew the Visible Care Body Wash would be no exception.

Available in two formulas, Softening or Renewing, Dove promises a skin turnaround when used for 7 days.  From the website:  “Get Close-Up Ready in 1 Week!   This unique formula—with our highest concentration of NutriumMoisture™—contains skin-natural building blocks to help improve skin’s look over time and give you visible results in just 1 week.”

I tried the Softening and the first thing I noticed was the thickness of the product; it was more like lotion than soap.    It had a great smell and a little goes a long way!   After using it for 7 days, I can honestly say the skin on my body, especially my legs, was less dry and flaky.  I have very sensitive skin and it caused no issues for me at all.  In fact, my 6 year old daughter was using our shower one night and used it herself without me knowing.  She asked if I could buy her that soap all the time!  I am certain I will keep buying it for me….and I am not so certain I will share!

Dove has kindly offered to send a lucky reader a bottle of Visible Care Body Wash!  In addition, one lucky woman will get a once in a lifetime opportunity to appear on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars! Dove® is inviting real women everywhere to create a video up to 60-seconds in length sharing why they are ready for their close-up experience. The selected woman will receive a week long all-expense-paid trip to Los Angeles where she will get an authentic “Dancing with the Stars” experience including training with a performer from the show, confidence coaching by Garth and the ultimate opportunity: a “finale” of her own. She will get to show off her smooth moves and beautiful skin in front of America when she dances in a Dove-sponsored TV spot in the season finale of “Dancing with the Stars” Monday, May 23 (8:00 p.m. ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Have two left feet?  No worries!  You can still get involved online by:

  • Watching Jenny Garth’s video showing how she got ready for her own “Dancing with the Stars” experience
  • Play the Beautiful Difference game and test your skills at spotting visible differences
  • View behind-the-scenes photos and footage of Garth’s Dove shoot on Facebook.com/Dove

GIVEAWAY

Ready for your close-up?  One winner will receive a full size bottle of Dove VisibleCare Creme Body Wash!

How to enter:

1. Visit Dove and tell me if your skin needs the Renewing or Softening product!

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! No more than 10 tweets a day, please. (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for additional entries.)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog and Dove on Facebook.

5.  Place my banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on April 21st. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to continental U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion of Jennifer of Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a different experience with the product.  A product was received to facilitate this review, but all opinions remain 100% honest.
Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , ,
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