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Looking for an Incredible Mother’s Day Gift? Try CruiseWise!

May 8, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Still not sure what you are getting mom for Mother’s Day? How about a vacation! I know what you’re thinking: planning a family vacation is expensive and even after you purchase the flight and hotel, you’ve got food and entertainment to worry about. Then there’s the matter of getting everyone to agree on a single activity, which can be a lot like asking kids to share the same toy. I’m exhausted already! And as patient as one may be, a vacation with a handful of unsatisfied children probably isn’t mom’s idea of “getting away.” A cruise, however, is all-inclusive and makes a great alternative to a Mother’s Day gift the whole family can enjoy!

CruiseWise is featuring a Mother’s Day special deal: Use promo code ILOVEMOM and get $50 in onboard credit plus flowers and a bottle of wine delivered to your stateroom. Travel over any future date, but this special deal expires on May 14, 2012. What a great way to pamper Mom!
So, before you decide to get her another bottle of perfume, treat mom to a vacation the whole family will love or send her and her friends on the retreat she deserves. With the onboard credit, it is easy to turn a short cruise into a rejuvenating spa weekend at sea or a chance for her to let down her hair and dance the night away without having to be home before bedtime!

Here’s a few of my favorite cruise getaways perfect for Mom that are available on CruiseWise!

5-Night Caribbean Cruise on Carnival Ecstasy starting at $209

7-Night Cruise to Mexico on Carnival Splendor starting at $369

7-Night Cruise to Alaska on the Coral Princess starting at $479

6-Night Mediterranean Cruise on the Grandeur of the Seas starting at $308

4-Night Cruise to Canada on the Carnival Glory starting at $299

Happy Mother’s Day!

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. While I was compensated for my time and effort, all opinions remain 100% mine.

Filed Under: Promotions Tagged With: CruiseWise, Mother's Day

Take the Jennie-O Make the Switch Challenge and Make a Difference!

May 7, 2012 By admin 3 Comments

Sunday is grocery day in my home! After clipping the latest coupons, meal planning and making a list, we head to our local Super Walmart to restock the pantry for the week. While I try to keep the family on track, it is easy to deviate from our list. Impulse buys are one of our vices, especially when the kids are along for the trip. What was supposed to be a simple grocery run can easily turn into a full basket, half of which we didn’t really need.

What if you gave up one thing in your basket each week and saved the money to make a difference for a child in need? This week, as I looked over our purchases, there were many things I knew we could live without…namely, OREOs. Oh yes, I love the white creamy filling, but the money saved could be used to donate healthy items to those who need it most.

After Hurricane Katrina took our home and entire City, I found myself in a place I never thought I would be…the food stamp line. It was an incredibly humbling experience which has instilled a sense of charity in me forever. My oldest child was just 6 months old at the time, so she has no recollection of our post-Katrina lives, so I try to convey to her the importance of giving back. Today, I am introducing the “Jennie-O Make The Switch Challenge!”

Jennie-O is working with Champions for Kids to challenge families to give up one purchase this month and use the saved money to donate a healthy item to a local charity. Champions for Kids wants to mobilize one MILLION people by the year 2020 to make a difference in the life of a child! Our family has decided to give up our beloved OREOs for the month of May. With our savings, we will be purchasing some non-perishable food items and delivering them to Second Harvesters Food Bank in New Orleans who has done so much to help this City.

Because we are giving up a sugary snack, I decided to see how we could make other “healthy switches” with Jennie-O. Admittedly, my family loves bacon…and there is definitely no shortage of bacon options at our local Walmart. Jennie-O offers turkey bacon, so I am making the switch and will be trying it soon. In fact, did you know that turkey is a great source of protein providing more protein per gram that both chicken and beef? Huh. If all goes well, I may even be inspired to switch our ground beef for Jennie-O ground turkey on our next Taco Tuesday!

Check out my entire path to purchase shopping experience on Google +!

Will you take the Jennie-O Make the Switch Challenge? What could your family give up this month in order to make a difference? Let me know by tweeting with the hashtag #JennieOCFK! Follow @Champions4Kids on Twitter and Champions for Kids on Facebook to learn more ways to get involved.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. All opinions are my own. #CBias #SocialFabric

Filed Under: Promotions Tagged With: #JennieoCFK, Champions for Kids, healthy kids, Jennie-O, Jennie-O Champions for Kids, Make the Switch Challenge, SIMPLE service project, Walmart

We’re Going to Disney World: Telling the Kids!

May 6, 2012 By admin 11 Comments

My husband and I honeymooned in Disney World twelve years ago (the Honeymoon Suite at the Wilderness Lodge is A-Mazing). We have long wanted to take the kids to see the Mouse, but it never seemed like the right time. We didn’t want to have to pack diapers, baby food or bottles, so we agreed to wait until these items were no longer necessary. Now is THE time! My girls are the perfect ages, 4 and 7, to get swept up in the magic (are you ever really too old for some pixie dust?) so we wanted to tell them in a magical way.

We bought five balloons (two red, two white and one black) and attached one post card at the bottom of each balloon. When lined up correctly, the balloons would spell out, “Lily and Aubrie, we’re going to Disney World!” We stuffed the balloons inside a large storage box and called in the kids. Below is their reaction to the news:

As you can tell, we couldn’t be more excited! I cannot wait to see their faces as we stroll down Main Street for the very first time. Stay tuned for many more posts on planning for the vacation of a life time!

Filed Under: My So-Called Life Tagged With: telling the kids about Disney World, vacation, Walt Disney World

Deliver Mom a Gift this Mother’s Day from ProFlowers {Giveaway}

May 3, 2012 By admin 422 Comments

When I was younger, I used to think that getting flowers delivered to your home or office was a total waste of money. But now that I am a wife and Mother, I will admit that I love getting flowers. There is just something about receiving a bouquet that makes my heart smile knowing that my family thought of me.

This year, I am going to make my grandmother’s day by sending her a Pink Rose Plant for Mother’s Day from ProFlowers. I have fond memories of playing in her garden as she worked to grow beautiful rose bushes in the yard. While she can no longer garden, I think she would love to have this basket of roses in her room to remind her of the memories. Better yet? You can even upgrade to include chocolate covered strawberries!

In fact, ProFlowers has lots of great gift ideas for Mother’s Day. From beautiful wreaths to lilies (did you know that they have 185 fresh cut varieties from eight different countries around the world?), cookies to cake pops, I found a ton of fun options I know I would love to receive (hint hint). Can’t decide on a gift? You can shower Mom for several days with ProFlowers’ Multi-Day gifts! You can choose a package which includes several gifts that will be delivered to your Mom (or loved one) for days in a row. How fun!

Mothers Day is a little over a week away, but there is still time to order flowers for Mom!

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive a $50 gift code to ProFlowers!

How to Enter:

1. Visit ProFlowers and tell me how you would spend your $50 gift code!

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Limited to 10 a day, please. (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 button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 18th. 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 ProFlowers for supplying the product for review. All opinions remain 100% mine.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: giveaway, Mother's Day Gift Ideas, ProFlowers

Gifts for Mom from Personal Creations {Giveaway}

May 2, 2012 By admin 298 Comments

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I have been searching for the perfect gift for my own Mom. For the past several years, I have gotten my Mom a gift certificate to get her nails done which she enjoys, but this year I am looking for something more personal. Because I have purchased from Personal Creations in the past, I knew just where to look!

My Mom is the proud Mother of two and even more proud Grandmother of five. So this year, I thought I would look for something that she could display proudly and that would remind her of the family. Personal Creations has a huge selection of personalized Mother’s Day gifts such as this Metal Frame Family Tree (which reminds me of something similar my own Great-Grandmother had when I was little).

MOM: STOP READING HERE

For my own Mom (who reads this blog, so seriously Mom, stop reading now!), I decided to go with a gardening theme because she loves getting outside in her garden. I found a few garden decorations from Personal Creations that are perfect…and I am totally not going to show because I am sure my Mom is still reading this (she is a stubborn as I am). To round out my gardening theme, I got her a personalized tumbler for her to take outside on hot days. I think it came out cute!

If you are still on the hunt for a creative and personal gift for Mom, make sure you stop by Personal Creations soon. There is still a little time to order before Mother’s Day!

GIVEAWAY

One reader will receive a $50 Gift Code to Personal Creations!

How to Enter:

1. Visit Personal Creations and tell me how you would spend your $50 gift code!

Additional entries:

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

3. Subscribe to my blog.

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

5. Place my blog button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 17th. 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 Personal Creations for supplying the product for review. All opinions remain 100% mine.

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: gift card, giveaway, Personal Creations, personalized gifts for Mom

Easy and Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps {Recipe}

April 30, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

I am bored. Tired of eating the same things over and over again…and so is my family. In an effort to spice up dinner, I took to my new favorite playground, Pinterest, and found an incredible, delicious and easy Southwestern recipe. It was a huge hit tonight as the kids even asked for seconds so I knew I had to share. Enjoy!

What you will need:

1 cup cooked rice
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken (we used rotisserie)
1 green onion, finely sliced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 cups shredded cheese
Low fat Sour cream
6 flour tortillas

How to Make It:

We used the Boil in Bag Rice and boiled according to the directions while we chopped the seasoning (by the way, the seasoning smells incredible when it’s all mixed together!). When the rice is ready and drained, mix in the chili powder, cumin and garlic salt. When completely mixed, add remaining ingredients except for the cheese and sour cream.

Time to assemble the wrap! We chose to assemble on a large baking sheet for easy preparation. Lay out two tortillas and sprinkle with cheese leaving 1/2-inch border around edges. Add a dollop of sour cream to the center of each tortilla and then arrange chicken and rice mixture down the center. Roll the stuffed tortillas tightly and spray all over with cooking spray.

Pre-heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Arrange the 2 completed wraps, seam-side down, in the pan and cook until golden brown and crisp which took about 2 minutes per side. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream for dipping! Delicious!

This recipe made 7 chicken wraps and took less that 30 minutes from start to finish! Enjoy!

Filed Under: My So-Called Life Tagged With: recipe, Southwest Chicken Wraps

Dancing Ribbons from CP Toys {Review and Giveaway}

April 29, 2012 By admin 188 Comments

In my home, I have two dancing princesses. Ballet, tap, jazz and tumbling are all part of our weekly routine. In fact, when we are not at the dance studio, the girls are choreographing their own routines complete with imaginary students and kid’s toys turned creative props.

I knew when I saw the Dancing Ribbons at CP Toys, my daughters would love to have them as props for future dance routines! The red easy hold plastic are adorned with twelve brightly colored 3 foot long vinyl ribbons. For $35.99, you get a set of six.

The weather has been so nice here in Southeast Louisiana and my daughters could not wait to get outside for their special “dance class.” It was so much fun to watch them use their imaginations and creativity to construct a dance routine with their new props. After the dance was complete, they continued to play with the dancing ribbons getting some exercise running around the yard. The ribbons are well made and will stand up to many months of play!

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive the a set of six dancing ribbons!

How to Enter:

1. Tell me another product your child would love from Constructive Playthings!

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @C P Toys on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Limited to 10 a day, please. (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 CP Toys on Facebook.

5. Place my blog button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 10th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a differing opinion of the product. While a sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% honest.

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: Constructive Playthings, CP Toys, Dancing Ribbons, giveaway

Great Gift Ideas for Mom from Red Envelope {$75 Giveaway}

April 28, 2012 By admin 361 Comments

Heads Up! Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13th…just two short weeks away. Do you have a gift for your Mom? Don’t get stuck buying something impersonal from a local convenient store. Check out the thoughtful and unique selection of gift ideas for Mothers Day from Red Envelope.

I have been a long time customer of Red Envelope and have honestly loved every piece I have received. For this review, I selected the silver crescent and pearl earrings as a Mother’s Day treat for myself! About the product:

“Suggesting a new moon and its embracing gesture, the shape of these artisan-inspired earrings provides both nurturing comfort and style. Each silver crescent drops from a simple hook and surrounds an iridescent mother-of-pearl disc. Exclusively from RedEnvelope.“

The earrings arrived today in a beautiful red box with white ribbon. I immediately knew they would be perfect for my anniversary dinner with my husband, so out of the box they came! I was a little afraid that the earrings would be too heavy, but they were quite comfortable.

If you are looking for great gift ideas for Mom, check out the customized birthstone jewelry or even the personalized hand stamped necklaces. I have never been disappointed by any item ordered from Red Envelope! The silver crescent and pearl earrings pictured here can be purchased for $89.95.

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive a $75 gift code to Red Envelope!

How to Enter:

1. Visit Red Envelope and tell me how you would spend your $75 gift code!

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @RedEnvelope on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Limited to 10 a day, please. (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 Red Envelope on Facebook.

5. Place my blog button on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 16th. 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 Red Envelope for supplying the product for review. All opinions remain 100% mine.

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: earrings, gift card, giveaway, Mother's Day, Red Envelope

Protect Little Eyes with Eyes Cream Shades {Review}

April 25, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

With the arrival of 90 degree temperatures here in NOLA, Summer is definitely upon us. We are starting to line up our vacation (or staycation) plans and my mind immediately starts thinking about what to pack. Shorts, tshirts, sandals, bathing suits, beach towels, hats and sunscreen…check. As a Mom, I strive to make sure my little ones enjoy the sun without getting burned, but sometimes forget to protect their little eyes, too.

My first year of blogging, I was introduced to a company who is known for providing quality sunglasses for kids ages 6 months and up, Eyes Cream Shades. I did a review of their sunglasses with my oldest daughter and absolutely loved them. Better yet? The same pair of sunglasses are now being worn by my youngest. They are so durable! So, I was thrilled to learn that Eyes Cream Shades is re-launching with a brand new line of eye wear.

With the same durability of quality frames and lenses, Eyes Cream Shades provide 100% UVA and UVB protection. The polycarbonate lenses (which are shatter resistant) are surrounded by some of the cutest frames I have ever seen! My oldest fell in love with the large frames of the Deliciously Diva Choco Grape, while the smaller Iced Flavors Strawberry Grape is perfect for my youngest.

The shades can be purchased for $39.95 with free shipping. Be prepared for Summer and don’t miss any news or sales by following Eyes Cream Shades on Twitter and Facebook.

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

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: eyes cream shades, review, sunglasses

Pointers for Perfect Portraits!

April 24, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

When I was a kid, I felt like time crawled. I couldn’t wait to be 10, 11, or 12 and certainly couldn’t wait for Summer. But now that I have kids of my own, time flies! If I so much as blink, it seems like the kids grown an inch or even two. In an effort to capture these precious moments, I take pictures…and lots of them! Over the years, I have learned a thing or two about how to create some wall-worthy photos and thought I would share them with you.

1. Color Coordinate! If you are taking a group pictures, choose colors that compliment each other and aren’t too loud or busy. Because my girls are three years apart, the older does NOT watch to wear matching outfits with little sister. I try to find outfits that compliment but aren’t too matchy matchy.

2. Lights, Camera, ACTION! There is nothing like natural light to make a great photo. I love candid shots of the girls playing and showing off their personalities which most often happens during play.

3. Give Your Pictures Some Props! I love incorporating props to show off the season but that don’t overwhelm the photo. I still want the eye to be drawn to my child and use the prop only to enhance the scene or explain the season.

Looking for more portrait tips? Check out my Pinterest board where I highlight some of the best ideas I found from JC Penney Portrait Studio. If you are overdue for some family pictures, take advantage of the April promotion at JC Penney where you can get 6 traditional portrait sheets for just $20 AND they will waive the $9 sitting fee! Find a JC Penney Portrait Studio near you by using the location finder.