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Get a #WakeUpCall from Monster.com {Giveaway}

June 17, 2013 By 24 Comments
This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  While a sample was received to facilitate this post, all opinions remain 100% mine.

After spending many years in school and obtaining my Master of Science in Biology, I landed a wonderful job that I adored for seventeen years.  Unfortunately, you never know what life will bring and I was laid off due to Federal budget cuts last year.  To say that I was in a state of shock would be an understatement.

From the very first day, I spent hours online on websites such as Monster.com searching for a new job.  After eight long months of unemployment, I finally found a new job which I hope will turn out to be even better than the last.  While it took being laid off to provide my Wake Up Call, many Americans are currently sitting in jobs they dislike or will never provide a sense of fulfillment.

On behalf of Monster.com, Brian Baumgartner from the TV series “The Office” provided a few unsuspecting hard working employees with their own #WakeUpCall.  Monster.com goes inside these offices setting up hidden cameras and horn traps in workstations.  The selected employees show up to work thinking it’s going to be a normal workday, but little do they know, they are in for quite the surprise!

Does your office need a shake up?  Film your own funny wake up call video and post on Monster.com’s Facebook page using the hashtag, #WakeUpCall.  They will repost the ones they think are the funniest on their Twitter and Facebook!  Then, head over to Monster.com to “find better” by getting the latest on job search advice, networking and cool jobs, and other tips and advice on managing your career.

To jump start your new career, one lucky reader will win a $50 VISA Gift Card and Monster.com swag including branded lunch cooler, duffle bag, backpack cinch bag, and snow globe.  Enter below:
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Endless Looks with Infinity Headbands {Giveaway}

June 16, 2013 By 10 Comments
This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  While a sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.

With two girls, ages 5 and 8, each with tons of beautiful hair, it should come as no surprise that our accessory drawer is overflowing.  My little fashionistas love to coordinate outfits and show their own personalities through their wardrobes.  And of course, every outfit must have a matching bow, headband or ribbon!

With their budding sense of styles, the accessories are starting to take over my bathroom.  So, I was thrilled to learn about Infinity Headbands and receive a few items to test out with my girls.

Infinity Headbands are a line of interchangeable fashion hair accessories. With just one headband, the user can create over 400 different looks by changing the ribbons and embellishments in moments, making one band do the work of many.

1.  All you need is a base headband ($7.00), any ribbon you choose ($4) and a coordinating embellishment ($6) and you can create lots of different looks.

2.  Slide the ribbon through the embellishment to the desired location.

3.  Attach the ribbon and embellishment to the headband easily with the installed Velcro.

 

Both of my girls LOVED their Infinity Headbands and cannot wait to get more ribbons and embellishments.  As a Mom, I love that I can detach the ribbon and wash it if it becomes dirty.  And the ribbons are so much easier to store than several headbands.  I am definitely going to be on the lookout for school colors for the Fall!

Would you like to try Infinity Headbands?  One lucky reader will win one headband, 2 ribbons and 2 embellishments.  Enter below:

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That Moment When You Became a Parent {Pampers Giveaway}

June 15, 2013 By 55 Comments
As a Pampers Baby Board Member, a sample was received to facilitate this review.  All opinions remain 100% mine.

After six month of trying to get pregnant with our first child, my husband and I could not have been more thrilled to learn we were expecting a baby in February 2005.  Once the initial excitement began to wear off, anxiety set in.

We were having a baby.  But more importantly, the baby was having us.

Would we know what to do?  What do we feed her?  How do we change a diaper?  What if she gets sick?  Getting answers to one question only brought up more questions.  But when the big day arrived and Lily Catherine entered the world on January 31, 2005, our anxiety disappeared and was replaced with complete unconditional love and a huge sense of protection over our new little miracle.

Lily spent the first two nights in the neonatal ICU and because I was extremely anemic, I had a hard time visiting.  But my husband was a rock.  Not only did he take care of me, but watched over Lily with such compassion, love and concern that there was no doubt in my mind that he had become a Father in every sense of the word.

Pampers recognizes the very important role that dads play in your little miracles’ lives each and every day and is taking time to celebrate Dad for Father’s Day with a very special giveaway right here on Experimental Mommy.  I would love to hear all about those very special moments when you first realized that your partner (and/or YOU) had become a Father.  Enter to win this prize pack below:

  • Cool diaper bag for Dads
  • Pampers diapers/wipes for baby
  • $100 gift card for Omaha Steaks delivery
  • Special toy for little miracle and dad to have fun with together
  • $100 gift card for MLB.com

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Travel Made Easy with Microsoft OneNote Travel Template {Giveaway}

June 13, 2013 By 12 Comments
This is a sponsored post from One2One Network and Microsoft Office 365. All opinions stated are my own.

School  is out for Summer and that means it is time to start planning some family fun!  This year, we plan to take two vacations both including various parts of our extended family.  As a compulsive list-maker, I generally find myself in charge of travel details, research and planning.  While I typically gravitate to a colorful notebook, pens and highlighters, I was thrilled to check out the new OneNote free travel template.

If you are not familiar with OneNote, it is part of the Office 365 Home Premium subscription along with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher and Access.  One license allows you to use the software on up to five devices in your household including tablets, PCs and Macs along with 20 GB of SkyDrive cloud storage (3 times more than a free account!).   With the automatic save to SkyDrive, your documents and personal settings are always available no matter where you are!

With Office 365 Home Premium and the new features in OneNote, planning your next trip is a breeze.  The new free travel notebook with expert tips from Travel + Leisure allows you to access all of your ideas, notes, reservations, confirmation numbers, directions, website links, and more virtually anywhere by saving on SkyDrive.

I downloaded the free OneNote travel template and started planning my upcoming trip to the blog conference, Reviewer’s Retreat at Callaway Gardens in Georgia.  My first impression was that it was bright, colorful and just plain fun!  I couldn’t wait to get started.

First, I started to input my Itinerary.  I love that I can highlight certain “don’t miss” appointments of change the colors and fonts.  You can also add or delete rows depending on our needs.  Notice the travel tips on the right?  Love!

Next, I decided to start my packing list.  I said I was a compulsive list-maker and I wasn’t kidding!  You can also add webpage snapshots and even handwritten notes (admittedly, I need more practice with handwriting using my mouse).

Now that my packing list is organized, I started getting all of my paperwork in order.  On the screen above, you can directly add flight itinerary, hotel info and confirmation numbers.  Never fumble through your bags for that confirmation number again!

Before, during and after the trip, there is even a spot to journal your thoughts, add pictures and even narrate with audio clips.  Adding audio brings the trip to life and lets you relive the moments even after the trip is over.

The OneNote travel template is great for planning a trip with family, too.  Simply give your friends and family access to your travel notebook on SkyDrive and let them add their own travel tips, ideas or suggestions.  You can even see where others make changes and revisions throughout your notebook with OneNote 2013 identity profiles. Each authors’ initials are marked next to their work for better collaboration!

Are you planning an upcoming family vacation? Ready to try OneNote and the free travel template?  One lucky reader will win a one year subscription of Office 365 Home Premium (US $99.99 value).

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