It doesn’t take long to figure out that chocolate is pretty much the way to win me over.  So it should come as no surprise that I *heart* Valentine’s Day!  Lucky for me, Hershey’s has got some great new ideas for celebrating this sweet holiday.  Whether you are baking for your spouse or make a special craft with your kids, Hershey’s has you covered!

I absolutely love the Hershey’s Kisses Brand Milk Chocolates Picture Box I received for review.  What a great idea for family members that may live far away!  The top of the box is a ready made frame to show off the latest picture of the kids.  Inside?  Chocolate!

Valentine’s Day is always a fun occasion at school.  My girls are already busy coming up with tons of creative ideas for their friends and teachers.  One great gift idea for teachers is Hershey’s Golden Apple!  Pair that with a gift card for a local coffee cafe and you have the perfect way to let the teacher know how much you appreciate them.  And for the friends?  Hershey’s Valentine’s Exchange variety bags which are already imprinted with gift tags are the perfect way to save time while providing a memorable treat.

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive one bag of Hershey’s Kisses and one bag of Hershey’s Hugs!

How to enter:

1. Tell me one of Hershey’s Valentine’s recipes you would love to make!

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 on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on February 14th. 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% mine.

How many times are you planning a party and you walk on the chip aisle and end up purchasing the same old greasy potato chips?  You get them home only to find the bag is half empty and most of the chips are broken. So this week when you are planning your Superbowl party you don’t have to resort to those same old boring chips.  Why not try Pirate Brands?  About the company:

“Pirate Brands, a leader and manufacturer of all-natural snacks, is located in Sea Cliff, NY and has been creating healthy treasures since 1987.  The company was founded on the belief that you shouldn’t have to “snackrifice” taste and fun for health.  Pirate Brands produces deliciously baked, all-natural, trans fat and gluten free snacks that include Pirate’s Booty, Smart Puffs, Potato Flyers, and Tings.  Pirate Brands’ snacks are free from fryers and ingredients you can’t pronounce, Arrrrrr.”

Score points with the home team this Big Game day by serving a family favorite – Pirate’s Booty!  This year, intercept regular chips with a healthier alternative like Pirate’s Booty, which has half the fat and less calories (130 calories for a one ounce serving) than greasy fried potato chips.  Pirate’s Booty is a deliciously baked, all-natural snack made from puffed rice and corn.  Pirate’s Booty is also trans-fat and gluten free and…fun!

I asked my son if he liked them and he told me more please, so I got my answer!  Once you start eating them you don’t want to put the bag down.  In fact, as I was holding the bag I decided to compare it to the brand we normally buy.   I read the ingredients and needed a dictionary to decipher the words, however when reading the back of Pirate’s Booty I knew each and every ingredient.

According to the Calorie Control Council and Snack Food Association an estimated 30 million pounds of snacks including potato chips, nuts and popcorn will be consumed on Superbowl Sunday.  As you root for your favorite team, you are consuming empty calories without even knowing it. I love that the puffs are now available in half ounce packs with only 65 calories to help you with portion control and stop you from nervous eating when your Team gets behind!  With Pirate’s Booty on your table you can cut your calories without cutting flavor and that’s a TOUCHDOWN in my home!  You can use the store locator feature on the Pirate Brands website or simply purchase any of the varieties online.

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive one case (12 four-ounce bags) of Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar!

How to enter:

1. Tell me another Pirate Brands product you can’t wait to try!

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 on Facebook and Pirate Brands on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on February 15th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This post is the opinion of Beth of 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.

One of my biggest downfalls in cooking is definitely side dishes.  It never seems to fail that I cook a nice meal for my family and 30 minutes before it is time to eat I remember I have nothing to go with the main dish I just prepared.  Alexia Foods has the perfect solution for all of your side dishes.  From their website:

“We love food as much as you. That’s why we make it exactly how you would: all-natural, gourmet-inspired, and absolutely delicious.

OUR BEGINNINGS: At Alexia, our creativity and passion for the highest quality side dishes runs deep in our roots. As a Manhattan chef, Alex always wondered why there weren’t quality side dishes that achieved the same discerning standard as the main entrée. He knew others would agree, and believed he could create distinctive and inspired convenient everyday side dishes that lived up to what he might create in his own Greenpoint kitchen. Alex started by hand selecting the finest all-natural ingredients and producing only small batches making Alexia a hard to find favorite. Whether seasoning his Beauregard Sweets and Yukon Gold Potatoes or baking the perfect artisan Ciabatta and Focaccia breads, Alex always used real ingredients and put quality and taste first.”

Never again will I have to settle for opening a can or cooking a side dish that comes in powder form.  The Alexia products were absolutely fabulous!  I felt like I was dining at a fancy restaurant instead of in my kitchen.  We received the Onion Rings, Sweet Potato Puffs, and Ciabatta Artisan Bread.  Each side item took less than 30 minutes from oven to table.  While we liked all of the products we received, by far the Sweet Potato Puffs were the biggest hit.  My husband and I like them and they were great for the kids, too.

The best part about the Alexia Foods is that everything tastes like it was cooked fresh, you would never imagine that the were from the freezer section!  Alexia has something for everyone from Sweet Potato Fries and Cheddar Bites to Vegetables and Breads.  The website also has several recipes from Tyler Florence for you to try that complement the side dishes.  Also visit their website to download $1 off coupon towards your next purchase and find out where Alexia Foods are available near you.

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive two coupons for a FREE Alexia Foods product!

How to enter:

1. Tell me which Alexia Food product you can’t wait to try!

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 on Facebook and Alexia Foods on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

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

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

With the unseasonably warm temperatures here in Southeast Louisiana, the frigid Arctic seems more than a world away.  But, polar bears, the inhabitants of the Arctic, are close to the heart of Coca-Cola as they represent the icy cold refreshment you enjoy as well as family togetherness.  This winter, Coca-Cola is partnering with the World Wildlife Fund to help the polar bear habitat preservation.

The “Arctic Home” project will help raise awareness and finds to create a safe haven for the polar bear.  Coca-Cola has made a commitment to donate $2 million and match customer donations (up to $1 million) through March of 2012.  How can you be involved?  Simply text the code on specially-marked Arctic Home packages to 357357 or make a donation online.  Each donation accompanied by a code from specially-marked packages will not only be matched, but a designated parcel of the virtual Arctic Home refuge will be donated in your name on the site.

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive an “Arctic Home” prize pack worth $100 including:

• Polar Bear Hat with attached paw mittens
• Polar Bear Stuffed Animal
• Polar Bear 3-D Puzzle
• Polar Bear  Shaped Pillow
• Ice Cube Tray – Bear Shapes
• Polar Bear Cookie Cutter
• Red Throw Blanket

How to enter:

1. Tell me why you love Coca-Cola!

Additional entries:

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @CocaCola on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway with hashtag #ArcticHome. 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 and Coca Cola on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on February 3rd. 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% mine.

Ok, let’s be real.  If you read this site, you know that I am not known for my cooking skills….or baking skills….or even boiling a good pot of water.  But this past June, KRAFT took a chance on me (it was a HUGE leap of Faith on their part) and asked me to create a regional sandwich to be featured in the KRAFT Outstandwich campaign.  I decided to go with a traditional New Orleans French Fry Po-boy…how can you mess that up, right?

Now, a few short months later, I found myself headed to the BlogEats conference at the KRAFT Kitchens in Chicago….O.M.G.  In fact, my husband laughed when he learned that I was invited.  I think his exact words were, “I hope then don’t expect you to cook something edible.“  Despite the lack of confidence on the homefront, I boarded a plane and left for BlogEats, a two day conference filled with cooking instruction, food photography tips, and product sampling.

The first night, I had a chance to meet up with the other 13 bloggers in attendance as well as the great people that made this event a reality.  We were treated to an excellent dinner at Maggiano’s which was wonderful (we even had chocolate covered bacon for dessert!) and then left to get some rest at the Doubletree.

After a delicious breakfast featuring Monkey Bread, the next day began with a recipe challenge in the KRAFT Kitchens.  My heart stopped instantly.  I have to create and make a dish right here in front of everyone?  I might die.  Thankfully, I learned that we would be broken into teams….AMEN!  My team was wonderful and I instantly volunteered to be the note-taker…I am good with a pencil.

While this challenge was a ton of fun (who knew?), my favorite part was learning about all of the new products coming down the line.  As a Mom who works outside of the home, I am all for easy meal solutions.  I was excited to learn about the KRAFT Sizzling Salads, a kit that comes with a sauce to cook your meat and a paired dressing for the salad.  We had the opportunity to try the Southwest Chicken variety and it was totally restaurant quality.  Delicious and Easy.

Another one of my favorite products is the Velveeta Cheesy Skillets.  We actually had the opportunity to make the Ultimate Cheeseburger Mac in the KRAFT Kitchens…and get this…..I did it (and yes, it was edible).  Four different varieties are available, but my kids’ favorite is the Nacho Supreme.  One meal, one skillet….what’s not to love?

I had an absolutely amazing time at the KRAFT BlogEats Conference.  I learned so much and walked away with a sense of kitchen confidence that I didn’t have before….and did I mention that I got to ride in the Weinermobile? SCORE!

GIVEAWAY

Want to try some of my favorite KRAFT products?  One winner will receive this HUGE prize pack:

Kraft Foods Food & Family Holiday 2011 Magazine, Chips Ahoy! Chewy Gooey fudge-filled cookies, Ritz Bits Kickin’ Cheddar sandwich crackers, Snackwell’s Fudge-drizzled Caramel Popcorn, Wheat Thins Smoky BBQ snacks, Wheat Thins Sweet Cinnamon snacks, VELVEETA Cheesy Skillets Dinner Kit, Kraft Sizzling Salads Chicken Caesar Dinner Kit, Planter’s Peanut Butter creamy and crunchy flavors, JELL-O Halloween Brain Mold, JELL-O Jigglers Halloween Mold, JELL-O Jigglers Holiday Mold, Assorted flavors of JELL-O gelatin dessert and JELL-O instant pudding including NEW Candy Cane and Gingerbread pudding flavors, JELL-O Halloween Recipe Booklet, JELL-O Holiday “Treat Explosion” Recipe Booklet, Holiday JELL-O Jigglers recipe, JELL-O Jiggle-It app download, Crystal Light mocktail drink mixes, Kool-Aid Scary Blackberry Ghoul-Aid drink mixes, Coupon for one (1) package of any OSCAR MAYER Selects Hot Dogs, Coupon for one (1) package of any OSCAR MAYER Carving Board Meats

Whoa….that’s a LOT!

How to Enter:

1. Tell me which KRAFT product in this prize pack you are most looking forward to receiving!

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! 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 November 25th. 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. Travel and hotel accommodations were provided by KRAFT but no additional compensation was received.

Gone are the days of watching the evening news in my home.  Most days, our television is tuned in to the Disney Channel!  Whether the girls are watching “Good Luck, Charlie” or “Imagination Movers”, I know it is age appropriate entertainment for my daughters.  Of course, my oldest is also a fan of “High School Musical” and couldn’t wait to see Ashley Tisdale in “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure.”

This movie was released on DVD/Blu-ray on April 19th and my daughter could not have been happier!  About the movie:

“From the original producers of High School Musical and the director of The Tooth Fairy, Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure is a witty comedy about pursuing your life-long dreams and believing in yourself. The films catchy tunes, Sharpay’s lavishly glittery “pink” outfits, and the adorable featured male co-stars – Austin Butler (“Life Unexpected,” “Ruby and the Rockits” and “Zoey 101”) and Bradley Steven Perry (“Good Luck Charlie”) – will be sure to keep viewers fully entertained and laughing throughout.”

Check out a special sneak peek clip below:

Can’t get enough of Sharpay?  Explore all of the behind the scenes info and messages from cast members on Twitter at @DisneySharpay and on Facebook, too!

Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure releases nationwide as a 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack Superset (Blu-ray + DVD+ Digital Copy) which includes a limited edition pink clutch purse, a 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD), and a 1-Disc DVD.  Hilarious bonus features include bloopers of Ashley Tisdale and cast, special footage shot on-set by actor Austin Butler, and, exlcusive to the Blu-ray disc, ”The  Evolution of the Sharpay,” a fun look back at the famous High School Musical character, Sharpay Evans.

We daughter loved the movie and is now singing the catchy tunes every where we go!  If your kids want to own this one, I found the 3-Disc Combo Pack for only $28.99 on Amazon!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader will win the 3 Disc Combo Pack of “Sharpay’s Fabulus Adventure!”

How to enter:

1. Tell me why you want to win this DVD!

Additional entries

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

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @DisneySharpay 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 Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure on Facebook.

5. Place my button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 23rd. 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. I received a product sample to facilitate this review but all opinions remain 100% mine.

With a busy lifestyle, we do have the occasional meal on the run.  However, we do not have an unlimited budget, so finding quality food for a decent price can sometimes be a challenge.  Like just about all kids, my daughters are huge fans of chicken nuggets.  Recently, Burger King has unveiled their all new “Tender 8″ chicken nuggets!

To celebrate, Burger King launched their “Tender 8″ Facebook application so new fans of the chicken nugget could help spread the word while enjoying an awesome coupon.  Visit the app and select your “Tender 8″ from your family and friends.  Each of those you select (plus you, of course) will receive a printable coupon for a FREE 8 piece box of Burger King Chicken Tenders when you buy an 8 piece box.

A good friend of mine, Sara from Momma Findings, gave me the chance to try the new Burger King item by selecting me to be a member of her “Tender 8″ crew (thanks, Sara!).  Tonight for dinner, I decided to give them a try.  I have had the old crown shaped tender from Burger King in the past, so I was curious to see the difference.  The new tenders appear larger than the old nuggets and were tasty.  The menu item comes in four, eight or twenty pieces to satisfy just about any appetite.

GIVEAWAY

Want to try the new Tender 8 at Burger King?  Five winners will each receive a $10 Burger King Gift Card!

How to enter:

1. Tell me one person you would include in your Tender 8!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Burger King (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 Burger King on Facebook.

5.  Place my banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 14th. 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.

After college, I entered Graduate School to pursue a Master’s Degree in Biology.  To what do I credit my success?  My determination? Nope. My study skills?  Nope.  My parents?  Well, maybe a little.  In all honesty, Coke helped me more than anything! I can’t even begin to count how many days were started with an ice cold can of Coke and ended with an equally yummy glass of Coke.  It kept me going through long nights of study groups, weekend research sessions and the dreaded exam day.

Coke is a staple here in the South.  In fact, we generally refer to any soda as “Coke.”  But did you know that you could cook with it, too?!?  In order to get families excited about coming together at the table, Coca-Cola recently launched the “Cooking With Coke” website as a place for fans to share recipes, stories and mealtime traditions.  Take a minute to browse through the recipes or upload one of your very own to share (Coke doesn’t even need to be an ingredient in order for you to share with the online community).  After looking through the site, I found some recipes I would love to try in my kitchen including the lemon and garlic hummus and the Easy Coca Cola BBQ (perfect for 4th of July!). If you find a bunch of recipes that you love, you can even compile and print your own custom cookbook or let two famous chefs inspire you to bring your family together and create lasting mealtime memories.

GIVEAWAY

In order to help you get cooking with Coke, one reader will receive an Ingrid Hoffmann 12qt Tamale Pot and Steamer with Lid by T-fal®” (value: $59.00)!  Ingrid is one of the chef’s featured on Cooking with Coke!

How to Enter:

1. Visit Cooking with Coke and tell me which recipe you would love to try!

Additional entries:

1.  Share a recipe of yours on the Cooking with Coke site and then share it in my comments, too! (5 entries)

2. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Cooking with Coke (10 extra entries).

3. 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.)

4. Subscribe to my blog.

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

6.  Place my banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 18th. 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.