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Take the SUBWAY #smartNsaucy Challenge! {Giveaway}

May 16, 2013 By 56 Comments

With my husband and I trying to watch what we eat (hubby has lost nearly 60 pounds!), we have visited SUBWAY quite a bit ordering from their Fresh Fit menu.  Most recently, we tried the Tuscan Chicken Sandwich and had such a great experience, we couldn’t wait to try the new limited-time only addition to the Fresh Fit menu.  Fortunately, SUBWAY sent us a gift card to try the new offerings!

The Smokehouse BBQ Chicken Sandwich from SUBWAY is made with tender, slow-cooked pulled chicken smothered in an irresistible sweet and smoky BBQ sauce.  This sandwich is BIG on flavor, but surprisingly low-fat!  Put in on wheat bread and top with spinach, tomato and red onion for a delicious sandwich that won’t ruin your waistline.

We are fortunate enough to have a SUBWAY within walking distance of our home, so we tend to stop there often with our busy lifestyle.  Hubby could not wait to try the new sandwich while my girls stuck with the traditional turkey and cheese kids’ meals.  He was impressed with the sandwich (although he wished there was more chicken) and thought the sauce was a perfect blend of sweet and tangy.

What is your favorite SUBWAY sandwich?  Don’t miss any new offerings by following SUBWAY on Facebook and Twitter!  Are you ready to take the “Smart and Saucy” Challenge?  Enter to win a $25 SUBWAY gift card below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  While a gift card was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.

 

Enjoying Huckleberry’s as Part of Restaurant.com’s #ReviewCrew

May 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“Honey, let’s eat out for dinner tonight!” is a sentence that is music to my ears.  After a long day at work, I love trying out new restaurants with my family and in New Orleans, there is certainly no shortage of restaurants to test.  For this reason, I was thrilled to be chosen to be a part of the Restaurant.com Review Crew.

Restaurant.com enables local restaurants and small businesses to give diners the best deal on every meal. We help diners find and use local restaurants, driving new customers and bringing back old ones, providing great value to the diner, and strengthening local economies.

On Restaurant.com, you can purchase gift cards to participating restaurants for a discounted price making eating out much more affordable.  In addition, you can also purchase a Restaurant.com gift card to give as a present so your special someone can choose their own restaurant at which to dine.

As a Review Crew Member, we were given a Restaurant.com gift card which we chose to use to buy a gift card to a local restaurant, Huckleberry’s.  With two small children, it is important for a restaurant to be family-friendly, affordable and have a good kids’ menu.  We found all of that and more at Huckleberry’s.

At first glance, I liked the way the outside of the restaurant looked.  Parking was ample and the building looked well maintained.  Upon entering, I loved the hardwood floors and large windows.  My youngest immediately spotted the ship wheel an doodle pad play area which kept her entertained until dinner arrived.

Hubby and I decided to try the thin cut onion rings as an appetizer which were A-MAZING.  No kidding….best onion rings I have ever tried.  Lightly battered and seasoned well, it was pure perfection.

The menu offers traditional New Orleans fare with featuring seafood, po-boys and salads.  Hubby and I both went for fresh grilled chicken salads.  The chicken was delish and the salad was a nice size without being over-filling.  Even though the kids’ menu was nice, my daughter was intrigued by the cheese grits and gobbled them up!

The staff was incredibly friendly and talked directly to my daughter which she just loved.  Our food arrived quickly and hot and the waitress was very attentive.  Honestly, we enjoyed it and will definitely return in the future.

Thanks to Restaurant.com, my family and I got try a new gem right in our own neighborhood which will hopefully become a regular spot for family dinners.  Don’t miss any of my fellow Review Crew members reviews by following hashtag #ReviewCrew and Restaurant.com on Twitter!

This post is written by the Experimental Mommy.  While a gift card was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.

Maddyloo’s Mini Heart Boxes Make Perfect Gifts!

May 12, 2013 By 6 Comments

With two young girls with thick heads of hair, our morning routine can get quite hectic.  After using detangler to comb through their hair, my girls start to contemplate their style of choice for the day.  Almost always, the younger will choose whatever her older sister decides upon so we have two of everything to eliminate arguments.

Hair accessories fill our bathroom cabinets but when my daughters find a style they like and works for their active lifestyle, they become obsessive!  We were recently sent some Maddyloo no-crease hair ties to try out and I can already tell they are hooked.

The Maddyloo no-crease hair ties are the cutest solution for pulling your hair back with enough elastic to keep a ponytail in place, but wide enough to not leave a dent. From camouflage and metallic to rhinestone and tie dyed, Maddyloo has found a way to marry function with beautiful eye (or wrist) candy.  Available in fourteen different color themes, each adorable heart-shaped box contains seven hair ties guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat.

My daughters were so excited when they received the heart shaped container full of glittery hair ties.  In fact, if asked their favorite color they will both say, “GLITTER!”  From pink to silver to black, they loved them all.  Lily’s hair is quite thick so we used two ties in her hair.  While it does secure her hair for daily activities it is not enough for dance class.  To solve the problem, we used a regular ponytail holder and added sparkle with the Maddyloo ties.

The Maddyloos Mini Heart Box is available for only $15 and would make perfect End of the School Year or Dance recital gifts!  Learn more about Maddyloo products by checking out their website or following them on Twitter and Facebook.

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  While a sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.

Breathing Easier this Spring with Airocide

May 11, 2013 By 3 Comments

My favorite season is Spring, although admittedly it only lasts for a week or two here in Southeast Louisiana.  But for a week, the temperature is mild and the humidity is low…perfect to get outside and enjoy a picnic in the park with my girls.  But with the warming temperatures comes the blooming of flowers, grass and trees that love to annoy my sensitive allergies.

In an attempt to stay one step ahead of the itchy eyes, sneezing and congestion, I have started my daily regimen of allergy pills.  However, I was thrilled when I was contacted by Airocide to try out their new NASA technology air purification system.  While I have been put off by other purification systems because of the need to either clean them and/or buy new filters (which can be pricey), I was intrigued by Airocide because there is absolutely no maintenance involved.

If there is no filter, how does it work?  Airocide actually draws in harmful airborne pathogens (VOC’s, allergens, pet dander, etc.) and forces them into a densely packed matrix which destroys them on contact rather than trapping them in a filter.  In my head, it seems like a bug zapper for allergens, viruses and dander!  They just simply cease to exist.  Watch the video below to see more about the technology which is FDA approved below:

The company has spent more than a decade testing and retesting Airocide, and has found that typical Airocide users feel all-around better between four and six weeks.  It was also found that the Airocide Air Purifier was virtually 100% effective in destroying “bad stuff”emitted by products found in your home such as cleaning and hobby supplies, paint and pesticides.  But it really peaked my interest when I heard that this air purification system also eliminated pollen, dust mites, viruses and bacteria.  The Airocide Air Purifier was found so effective that it was introduced into hospitals, clinics, and daycare centers in order to help stop the spread of infectious disease in 2003.

Upon the company recommendation, our new Airocide Air Purifier was placed between 1 and 8 feet off the ground in our bedroom (to be more specific we placed it on the headboard of our bed).  The design of the purifier is non-intrusive and doesn’t stand out in our room.  The set up was pretty much non-existent.  Simply plug it in and it’s ready to go!

The default setting is “high” which is the optimal setting.  However, it is a bit on the loud side for me.  It does create a nice white noise effect but for a light sleeper it may be to noisy.  I was thrilled when I realized that you can lower the intensity with the simple touch of a button and there is even an “auto” setting.  With the Auto setting, the Airocide Air Purifier will operate in the “high” mode in daylight but will automatically lower itself reducing the noise level when the lights go out.  Great feature!  After using the system for six weeks now, I can say that I am waking up much less congested in the morning.  Such a great feeling to be able to take a deep breath without wheezing as soon as I wake!

The Airocide Air Purification System retails for $799.  To learn more, please visit their website or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  While a sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.

My Sentiments Exactly!

May 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment
This post is brought to you by Signazon.com.

It’s safe to say we now live in the age of social technology.  Wifi is everywhere, abbreviations like “lol” are used in face to face conversations, and hash tags are all over social media.  Google Glass has made augmented reality a hit and people are making it a habit to Instagram their meals before they take their first bite.  But are these activities really making people more social? It doesn’t sound like it when the name “Face-down generation” is being used to describe people.  It has gotten to the point that even picking up the phone to call someone is something that seems to dictate an emergency to the younger generation – especially when unlimited texting is available.

Although these are all great advancements in social technology, what ever happened to the personal touch?  This may sound corny, but giving gifts that touch the heart has become even more important. It is increasingly easier to see if someone actually tried to buy you a gift that means something to you nowadays. A gift card is just another gift card at the end of the day, and everyone goes to Things Remembered store when they can’t think of anything original.  Lastly, saying happy birthday to someone on Facebook or sending them a birthday text just won’t cut it if you want to make it count.

Product Picture provided by Signazon.com

So how do you tell them that they are special to you without spending a ton of money?  The answer is adding sentimental value!  Try designing a personalized calendar made just for them.  Does your friend or significant other have a particular affinity towards baby pugs?  Have any inside jokes you would like to include? And the no-brainer: Have you taken pictures with them? These are all great ideas for adding sentimental value to your gift and showing that you genuinely care about them. Also, people check calendars pretty frequently, so why not have them be reminded you gave them that gift every day?

Prepare Dinner with Less Fat and Time with the Ninja Frying System {Giveaway}

May 9, 2013 By 54 Comments

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to test the Ninja Cooking System in my home.  I could have written the entire review with one word: LOVE.  This slow cooker/stove/oven combo has revolutionized how we prepare dinner.  So when Ninja contacted me again to send along the new Ninja Frying System, I was all over it!

The Ninja Frying System ($99 MSRP) allows you to prepare your favorite fried dishes with 30% less fat and 40% faster due to its revolutionary heat combination that keeps cooking oil at a uniform temperature, so foods cook to light, crispy perfection – with less oil absorption. Ninja’s patent-pending basket lid keeps food fully submerged in oil so food is cooked evenly through without having to be flipped or turned in the fryer.

In the past, I have chosen not to prepare fried dishes in my home.  For starters, it makes a mess and frankly I am scared of getting burned!  But the Ninja Cooking System s self contained and on first glance appeared to be much neater than other traditional fryers.

We decided to try boneless chicken tenders as our first experiment with the new fryer.  After filling with vegetable oil, we set the temperature to 350 degrees.  Within about 7 minutes, the oil was hot enough to begin frying.  We coated the chicken with Zatarain’s Crispy Southern Chicken Fry Mix and following the directions on the box, lowered into the oil for 8 minutes.

The Ninja frying basket has a lid that kept the chicken submerged in the oil for more even frying.  I loved the big window that allowed for easy viewing of the progress. We noticed that neither the basket handle or the exterior of the fryer became hot during frying which is a great safety feature.

After 8 minutes (which is easy to set on the digital LCD display), we lifted the chicken and allowed to drain for a few seconds.  The chicken came out golden brown (not burnt at all) and crispy.  With two picky children, it is the best compliment to say that they BOTH cleaned their plates.

For me, the worst part of frying is the clean up.  But, the Ninja Frying System made it incredibly easy and fast.  The Cool Zone technology keeps the oil clean for a longer period of time so reusing the oil is no problem at all.  Possibly my favorite feature is the included oil spout which attaches to the removable enamel oil reservoir which allows for easy pouring of the oil back into the storage container (did I mention these pieces are also dishwasher safe?).

Our dinner was absolutely delicious and surprisingly easy to prepare and clean up.  Having my kids eat everything on their plate makes me incredibly happy, too.  The chicken was a success and we are looking forward to trying some catfish and even beignets next week!

For more information about the Ninja Frying System and additional Euro-pro products, please visit NinjaFryingSystem.com. You can also learn more on Facebook and Twitter.  Can’t wait to get started?  Enter to win a Ninja Frying System below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  While a sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.

Help the Amercian Cancer Society #FinishTheFight!

May 8, 2013 By 3 Comments
This is a sponsored conversation from The Motherhood written by Bridgette of Experimental Mommy.  All opinions remain 100% my own.

While in college and starting to plan my career path, I decided to major in Biology.  Most of my classmates were going on to apply to Medical or Nursing School, but I knew that wasn’t the path for me.  I wanted to contribute to research to help cure the diseases the patients were fighting.  More specifically, I wanted to help cure cancer.  Admittedly, this was a lofty goal but I felt ready for the challenge.

I completed not only my Bachelor of Science in Biology but continued to receive my Master of Science in Molecular Biology while also taking classes at LSU Health Sciences Center.  What I learned in these courses and also by watching a good friend of mine successfully complete Medical School while taking on cancer related research was inspiring.

Ultimately, my career in research led me down a different path to contribute to my New Orleans community but I am fortunate to have seen first hand the difference scientific knowledge can make in fighting cancer.

Better research=more cancer survivors

That is a simple equation.  Research is at the heart of the mission of the American Cancer Society which has been finding answers that save lives.  In fact, no single nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization in the United States has invested more to find the causes and cures of cancer.  One hundred years ago, this organization began the fight of a lifetime – the fight to end cancer – and they are determined to Finish the Fight to give people more birthdays and more time to accomplish their “Life Lists.”

We want to give people everywhere more of life’s special moments – more proud accomplishments, dreams come true, and birthdays celebrated.

The American Cancer Society would like you to create your own Life List and share it with your family and friends.  It takes less than 5 minutes by following these easy steps:

  • Visit facebook.com/AmericanCancerSociety
  • Add Your Accomplishments – Things you’ve done
  • Add Your Aspirations – What you still want to accomplish
  • Add your hope for the future of cancer
  • Add your photo – Use your Facebook profile photo, or upload another
  • Display your life list proudly, share it with your friends, and MAKE SOME NOISE!

 What’s on your life list?  What accomplishments are you proud of and what legacy do you want to leave behind?

I’m an Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Pro!

May 7, 2013 By 2 Comments

Recently, I had the honor of attending Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Academy, to learn all about the pretzel experience. I was more than happy to stand in for Bridgette, especially since pretzel tasting was involved. And, while I have always loved the sweet cinnamon sugar pretzel sticks that Auntie Anne’s has to offer, I will admit that I did not know a lot about the company.

 

 

Founded by Anne Beiler, Auntie Anne’s started as a stand in a farmer’s market where they were raising money to help counsel families in need.  And, as they say the rest is history!  Following Anne’s motto: ”Give, to Get Back, to Give Again” the company continues to grow and partner with great causes, such as Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

 

While in Lancaster, PA, home of Auntie Anne’s, I learned all about the pretzel making process and what makes their pretzels stand above the rest. From the special dough, which is shipped directly to the franchise stores, to the variety of pretzels offerings, Auntie Anne’s is like no other. They serve only the freshest pretzels, which are guaranteed to be fresh out of the oven, within 30 minutes of serving them.  And, this can be seen by how fast they are growing as they are now the world’s largest hand-rolled soft chain with more than 1,330 stores in more than 25 countries and 46 states!

I did learn the pretzel making process and now know that it is no easy task. The dough must take time to rise and then is hand rolled into that special shape we all know and love. I also was taught how to roll a pretzel from Anne herself, which was just a little intimidating! (brag moment) But, I must have learned well, since I won the pretzel rolling contest!

The best thing that I learned, is that I have a new favorite pretzel, which is the Almond Pretzel with caramel sauce! Super yummy!! Be sure to follow Auntie Anne’s on Facebook and Twitter, and keep checking back here on Experimental Mommy to keep up to date on all things pretzel.

This post was written by Renee of What Mommies Need.  Auntie Anne’s covered travel expenses for this trip but all opinions remain 100% honest.

Celebrate May with a Maytag Giveaway from h.h. gregg

May 6, 2013 By 5 Comments
This post is written by Experimental Mommy.  While a gift card was received to facilitate this post, all opinions remain 100% mine.

With the birth of my first child (who unfortunately had a reflux disorder), stains were not uncommon.  Then came the birth of my second child (who we affectionately call Godzilla), and the stains increased exponentially.  As time passes, I have grown to understand the importance of a reliable washer and dryer.  In all honesty, a washer and dryer that removes stains is worth it’s weight in gold!

If you are not in love with your current washer and dryer, head over to the Maytag You’re It Sweepstakes in partnership with h.h. gregg.  Every day….yes EVERY DAY…in the month of May, h.h. gregg is giving away one Maytag washer and dryer set.  You can enter up to three times daily to win either a Maytag Front Load set or a Top Load Set and gain extra entries by sharing the video below on either Facebook or Twitter.

Don’t miss any news of future opportunities to win by following h.h. gregg on Facebook and Twitter!  To get your May started off on the right foot, you can enter to win a $100 h.h. gregg gift card right here at Experimental Mommy. The gift card is good for in store purchases only and cannot be used online.  Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Rayovac Improves Coin Cell Battery Packaging to Promote Safety

May 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
I am a Rayovac Power Blogger and this is a sponsored post.  All opinions remain 100% mine.

When my two girls were in the crawling stage, I was so nervous that they would find something interesting (aka shiny) on the floor which would almost always go in their mouths.  I would vacuum daily and do my best to keep harmful things out of reach.  My child’s safety was my top priority!

As a Rayovac Power Blogger, I was pleased to learn that Rayovac takes the safety of children very seriously as well.  In fact, they are tackling this priority head on by developing new coin cell packaging that aims to decrease the likelihood of accidental battery ingestion.

 

With 500 cases of ingestion of the coin cell battery each year, Rayovac is doing everything it can to reduce this number.  When a child swallows the battery, it can lead to chemical burns and even death in as little as two hours!  Products in your home that may contain these batteries are a weight scale, a watch or even a small remote among other things.

“Efforts to enhance our packaging structure have made it far less likely that our coin cell batteries will end up in the hands of children,” said Jim Heidenreich, Rayovac General Manager, North American Batteries. “Taking the time to increase safety measures and raise awareness of the hazards of lithium coin cells is something we take pride in.”

Rayovac is making tangible changes to it’s packaging which include updated warnings on the front and back side of the battery pack, an updated warning icon and improved warning copy, and later in 2013 Rayovac will start shipping batteries that are physically imprinted with a child safety warning.  Knowing is half the battle!

Learn more about Rayovac’s efforts by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

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