Tide and Downy: Lifting up Laundry (Giveaway)
Five years ago today, I sat in a hotel room in Shreveport, Louisiana awaiting the fate on my City while Hurricane Katrina unleashed her wrath. We packed for a typical three day Hurricane evacuation (or “Hurrication” as we loving joke), but had no clue that those clothes would have to last us over three weeks.
Watching the news was painful as we learned of the water pouring into our City and homes. But out of the dark, always comes a light, right (at least Gloria Estefan always said so)? One of the great things that happened to New Orleans post Katrina was the overwhelming sense of volunteerism. One of the companies that darted to the South to help out was Tide. Creating the Tide Loads of Hope program was a true blessing to the citizens of New Orleans. A truck housing 30 washers and dryers and staffed with volunteers to wash your clothes for FREE was refreshing!
We were in the third row!!
Tide is celebrating five years of their Loads of Hope program which has now washed over 36,000 loads of clothes across the Country. To commemorate the milestone, Tide put together a fabulous FREE concert with Faith Hill and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band for the residents of the Gulf Coast. I had such a blast letting go of the stress of the week and dancing along with Faith and my friends!
I have been fortunate to enough to visit the P&G Headquarters in Cincinnati and see first hand what a great group of people work at Tide. I got to venture into the labs (which was totally up my alley) to see what the brand has been working on. Upon viewing the Tide with Acti-Lift demonstration, I could not wait to share it with my readers. If you have little ones at daycare like I do, you know that just about every outfit comes home with stains and some are nearly impossible to release. Tide with Acti-Lift can break up even dried on stains and lift them away from your clothes. Honestly, I have never seen anything like it!
Another great P&G product is the new Ultra Downy April Fresh! Don’t you just love the way clean sheets make you feel? Do you feel like you sleep better on fresh sheets? Now you can have that feeling all week long! The new Ultra Downy April Fresh stays smelling and feeling fresh for seven…yes, SEVEN….whole days with the Renewing Scent Pearl Technology! I have had the opportunity to try this fabric softener after I received a sample at BlogHer 2010, and I can say that my sheets did feel clean longer than with my traditional softener.
GIVEAWAY
Instead of reliving the horrible events of Hurricane Katrina five years ago, I have tried to remain focused on the positive. And thanks to Tide and Downy, I get to share this sense of renewal with one of my lucky readers! One of you will win and ENTIRE YEAR of both Tide with Acti-Lift and Ultra Downy (12 coupons for FREE Tide and 12 coupons for FREE Downy)!!
How to enter:
1. Visit Tide and tell me another product you would love to try!
Additional entries
1. Blog about this giveaway and link to Experimental Mommy and Tide (10 extra entries).
2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @Tide 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 Tide on Facebook.
5. Place my button on your sidebar!
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on September 20th. 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 Tide and Downy for supplying a product for review. All opinions remain 100% mine.
Scentsy Plug-In: Review and Giveaway
A Scentsy Candle Warmer Plug In with scented wax bars will be a great way to make our home smell sweet and last longer than the traditional plug in.
One Turquoise plug in, three Scentsy bars in French Kiss, Coconut Lemongrass and Pumpkin Roll, and my main bathroom which could use a fresh scent for Summer! About Scentsy:
“Scentsy is a direct selling, wickless candle company headquartered in Meridian, Idaho. The company is owned by Orville and Heidi Thompson and sells its products through a field sales force of 40,000 independent sales representatives known as Independent Scentsy Consultants, who market and sell Scentsy products through home parties.
Scentsy sells wickless candles, ceramic warmers and home-fragrance products. A wickless candle, called a Scentsy Bar or a Scentsy Brick, is a highly fragrant wax bar that is warmed to release fragrance into the air. Because the wax is gently warmed rather than burned, it can hold more fragrance oil than a traditional candle. And, because there is no flame, there is no smoke, soot or lead. Scentsy wickless candles are a safer alternative to traditional candles.”
Recently, I have had the opportunity to try the full size Scentsy candle warmers and absolutely fell in love. When the wax melts, the scent fills my home and lasts longer than my regular wicked candles. So, I had high hopes for the plug-in version when I was approached for a review by Scentsy Consultant, Beverly Gaona.
I decided to try one that would match the decor of my bathroom. The Dandy Turquoise Plug-In matched my chocolate brown walls and I decided to try a few scents that are beyond my comfort zone. I don’t generally go for romantic scents, but I decided to try French Kiss which is a mix of sweet fig, cedar and coconut. The other two scents I chose were Coconut Lemongrass for summer and Pumpkin Roll for a holiday feel.
Setting up the plug-in was a breeze and I placed one section of the scented brick in the warmer. Within seconds, the wax was melted by the included lightbulb and the bathroom was filled with fabulous smells. The plug I chose to use is high enough to be out of reach of my pet and my two daughters, so I was confident no one would play with the warmer. The design of the plug-in is so elegant and classy….much better than those grocery store plug-ins!
Because of my recent review, I already knew I was a fan of the Scentsy system, quality and service. But, I was anxious to try the Plug-in system for my bathroom. I was pleased to see that the same great quality of the full size warmers translated into the Plug-In system as well. The style fit well with my decor and the scents filled my bathroom almost instantly. At just $13.50, I think this would make a great Housewarming gift!
Beverly Gaona, a great Scentsy representative, will generously supply one lucky reader with one Plug-In of their choice and three scents.
How to enter:
1. Visit Scentsy and tell me which warmer would match your home decor!
Additional entries:
1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Scentsy (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.
6. Subscribe to my Feed.
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on September 9th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. I was not compensated for this review other than a product sample provided by Scentsy. All opinions are 100% mine.
Meet the Divas (Round Two) and Win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
Aside from Experimental Mommy, I am co-founder of a mom blog network called the Double Duty Divas. In the short year that we have been in existence, we have grown to over 200 members who support each other with collaboration instead of competition. In addition to providing a network of reputable review bloggers ready to connect with brands looking to engage customers through social media, we also support bloggers in our network by coordinating fun activities to promote our sites!
For Round Two of “Meet the Divas“, we are helping our members find new followers through Twitter! Not only do you find great blogs to follow, you can also enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card! On September 3rd, the entries will be pooled across participating Diva sites and one winner will be selected! U.S. Only.
How to Enter:
1. Follow the participating Divas on Twitter with just one click! Come back here and let me know that you “clicked” and leave your Twitter handle for verification.
Additional entries:
1. Send out a tweet to your own followers letting them know about the upcoming Double Duty Diva twitter party with the following text:
The #DDDivas and PaperMate are rolling out the Red Carpet on 8/29 at 7-9pm EST. Join us for Emmy chat and swag! RSVP http://bit.ly/aNq57H
Interested in becoming a Diva? Fill out our application and Follow us on Twitter!
Nature Valley Granola Thins: Review and Giveaway
Every night around 7:30pm, my oldest daughter starts begging for a snack before bedtime. If she has eaten a good dinner, I generally comply. She happily skips to the pantry and almost always comes out with gummy snacks or cookies and I always send her back to the pantry. We struggle at night to find a snack that both her and I can agree upon.
My daughter is a granola fan and will reach for a granola bar at breakfast. So, I was thrilled to see than Nature Valley came out with a granola snack that I think she will love. The new Nature Valley Granola Thins are described as:
“…delicate squares of granola with a unique, delightfully crispy texture. Each thin is paired with a delicious melt-in-your-mouth Dark Chocolate flavor. Granola Thins are 100 percent natural, individually packaged and, at 80 calories per square, a perfect pick-me-up you can feel good about eating.”
We received a pack of the dark chocolate as well as the peanut butter varieties to test. Both my daughter and my husband couldn’t wait to snack! And the consensus was good! Both varieties were a hit in my home. The crispiness of the granola combined with the sweetness of the chocolate or the creaminess of the peanut butter was the perfect match. The size of the snack was perfect for my daughter, but my husband wanted more.
I am happy that we found a delicious snack that my whole family can agree upon. I am much happier providing my daughter with a natural snack before bed that isn’t loaded with calories or fat.
GIVEAWAY
Wanna snack? Nature Valley has generously offered one lucky reader a prize pack including one pack of both the Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter varieties!
How to enter:
1. Visit Nature Valley and tell me another product you would love to try.
Additional entries:
1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Nature Valley (10 extra entries).
2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @Nature_Valley 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 Nature Valley on Facebook.
5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.
6. Subscribe to my Feed.
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on September 4th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience with the product. A product sample was provided by Nature Valley to facilitate this review, however all opinions are 100% mine.
WINNERS!
August 20, 2010 by admin
Filed under Giveaway Winners
Congrats to this round of winners! You will all receive an email shortly. Please see my Winner’s Policy for instructions and guidelines!
Thanks to everyone who entered!
Bordens: Valancia
Voskos: Jackie
Hasbro Card Games: Tiffany
Step Stool: Kara P.
SnuggStuff: Chris T.
Constructive Playthings Interactive Map: Debbie S.
Infiniti by Conair: Nikki D.
Little Looster: Audra
First Impressions: Sara
Good Earth: Donna B.
My Baby Clothes Boutique: Tara V.
Green Party Goods: A Kruse
Patriotic Pillow Pet: Jana
Please claim your prize within 72 hours of receiving the email. Prizes will be foreited after the deadline.
Dominos Extreme Delivery: $20 Giveaway
When you pick up the phone to order your favorite Domino’s pizza, about 30 minutes later you expect to hear a car pull up in your driveway and a knock at your front door, right? Did you ever expect to hear a helicopter hover over your home? Or how about your pizza being delivered by a skydiver?
Domino’s is pushing the envelope to connect with consumers by holding a contest to decide on the most “extreme” delivery option. Now through August 30th, Facebook users who visit Domino’s Facebook Page or visit the poll directly can vote on one of the following extreme delivery options:
- The first weightless pizza delivery in a zero gravity airplane
- A high-wire delivery by daredevil Jade Kindar-Martin
- Dan “SpiderDan” Goodwin climbing the Campanile Tower at The Venetian® Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas
- Hitting terminal velocity with a skydiving delivery
- Plunging to earth with BASE jumpers at Bridge Day 2010
While you’re voting, you can also enter to win a $1,000 Domino’s Pizza gift card (that’s some serious pizza!). Make sure you get your vote in soon because Domino’s actually plans on executing the winning choice!
Giveaway
Want more incentive to play along? Domino’s has generously offered one lucky reader a $20 Domino’s gift card to satisfy all of your pizza cravings!
How to enter:
1. Visit the Domino’s Facebook page and vote for one of the Extreme Deliveries! Let me know which one you voted for!
Additional entries:
1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Domino’s (10 extra entries).
2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @Dominos 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 Dominos on Facebook.
5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.
6. Subscribe to my Feed.
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on September 1st. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience with the product. I was not compensated for this review in any way. All opinions are 100% mine.
Dove Men + Care: Review and Giveaway
I have known my husband since we were in the 6th grade (about 24 years now). We have been together through his journey from a boy to a teenager and from a young adult to a husband. But the day he became a father was such a transformation. I always knew he would be a great Daddy, but he has far exceeded my expectations. Our two girls are so fortunate to have a father that is so comfortable with who he is that he has no problem hiding his masculinity and playing princess or getting his toenails painted. With each passing day, I fall in love with him more and more as he becomes even more comfortable in his own skin.
Now, new Dove Men + Care is celebrating the unsung moments when a man is comfortable with himself. As part of this campaign, three major league baseball players, beginning with Albert Pujols, tell the story of their “Journey to Comfort” to which every man can relate. Check out the first video:
Dove recognizes that men need to literally be comfortable in their own skin, so they came up with their first ever line of products designed specifically to meet the needs for men. The Dove Body and Face Wash as well as the Dove Body and Face Wash are clinically proven to fight dryness without irritation or tightness. It is formulated with ultra-light MICROMOISTURE technology, a unique gel technology that activates on skin during lather to guard skin against discomfort.
My husband had the opportunity to try out the Body and Face Wash. I will admit that it took a little convincing to get him to used to the idea of using a loofa (which Dove cleverly renamed a scrubber), but now I don’t think he will go back. He liked the way it smelled, the amount of lather and the way it made his skin feel.
GIVEAWAY
Do you know a man that is comfortable in his own skin? Treat him to his own Dove Men + Care prize pack including a Body and Face Wash, Body and Face Bar and a Scrubber!
How to enter:
1. Visit Dove Men + Care and tell me why you want to win this product?
Additional entries:
1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Dove Men + Care (10 extra entries).
2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway with the hashtag #dovemencare. 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 button on your sidebar.
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on August 31st. 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 Dove Men + Care for supplying the product for review.
Go Back to School with Studio C by Carolina Pad: Giveaway
The new collections from Studio C by Carolina Pad will make boring back to school supplies fun, interesting and a great way to express your individuality!
Several items from various collections from Studio C including a 1-subject notebook, 2-pkt folder, 1” Binder, Composition book, Ideal Book and Journal. About Carolina Pad:
“Our products rock – at least that’s what our consumers tell us! With trendy design and great function, Carolina Pad notebooks, binders, and other school and office products stand out from the crowd. You might also catch a glimpse of our fashion collections, with catchy names like Hot Chocolate and Pattern Play, on hit shows like 90210, Greek, and Gossip Girl.
The secret to our design success: passion, research, and attention to detail. We sweat the small stuff because we know that it’s the little things that count. Our team of talented designers, led by Signature Designer (and Carolina Pad’s first designer) Jacqueline Savage McFee, stays on top of fashion trends and makes sure each product detail is perfect. From concept to prototype, innovation team managers use the latest research to develop school and office supplies that consumers love.”
I remember when I was young (more years ago than I care to admit) that I loved going school supply shopping. There was just something about clean, crisp paper and fresh ink pens that got me excited to start a new school year. Browsing the aisles with my Mom, the choices were quite simple: red, blue or green folder, one or two subject notebooks and black or blue pens. But now….it’s like a color explosion on the stationary aisle!
Last year, I was fortunate enough to review some products from Carolina Pad, a leader in fashion school supplies. I fell in love with their bright colors, bold patterns and unbeatable functionality. So, I was thrilled to see what they have in store for the upcoming school year.
This year, Carolina Pad has unveiled the Studio C collections including Hot Chocolate, Techno, Royal Twist, Zensational, Sasquatch, and Dreamsicle. My favorite is the Royal Twist pattern! The fun colors and feminine design make this the perfect notebook to jot down my dance choreography. The paper quality is great and I love the sturdiness of the front and back covers.
I am so glad I discovered Carolina Pad. It certainly lets me add a little fun into otherwise boring school supplies. You can find the Studio C collection at WalMart, Target and Staples.
GIVEAWAY
Could your school supplies use a little upgrade? Carolina Pad has generously offered one reader each and every product that I reviewed in this article!
How to enter:
1. Visit Studio C by Carolina Pad and tell me which pattern is your favorite!
Additional entries:
1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Carolina Pad (10 extra entries).
2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and (@carolinapad) 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, Carolina Pad and Studio C on Facebook.
5. Place my blog button on your sidebar.
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on August 31st. 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 Carolina Pad for supplying the product for review.
Sesame Street Goes Digital! Review and Giveaway
I remember watching Sesame Street as a child. I would run to the TV when I heard the Sunny Days theme song and happily laugh along with Big Bird and Grover. Of course, this was back before Tivo, DVDs or even remote controls (gasp!). Now, kids can get their daily dose of Sesame Street just about any time they wish and thanks to the new Sesame Street Video USB, it doesn’t even have to be on the television! From the press release:
“ATP Electronics recently created a partnership with Sesame Street to bring Sesame Street movies in an exciting and dynamic new format – Sesame Street Video USB drives with additional storage space! Each character driven USB drive features a full length movie, storage space for 400 photos, 400 songs or a virtually unlimited amount of written content. These unique USB drives are easy to use for children of all ages – plug into your computer and a simple one screen, one touch process allows access to the movie, storage space and even connects directly to the Sesame Street website.”
There are so many characters to choose from and my daughter instantly chose her favorite, Sesame Street Abby Cadabby Video USB 
The Sesame Street Video USB drives can be purchased for only $24.99 at Walmart and Amazon.com.
GIVEAWAY
Does your toddler like Sesame Street? One lucky reader will win their choice of any Sesame Street Video USB!
How to enter:
1. Tell me which Sesame Street USB you would want to receive.
Additional entries:
1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog (10 extra entries).
2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @SesameStreetUSB 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 Sesame Street USB Videos on Facebook.
5. Place my blog button on your sidebar.
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on August 25th. 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 Sesame Street for supplying the product for review.
O-Cedar ProMist Floor Cleaning System: Review and Giveaway
The O-Cedar ProMist Wet or Dry Floor Cleaning System will be a great way to speed up my cleaning time by providing two options in one handy tool.
One O-Cedar ProMist, two daughters who like to make a mess and one Mom who has little time to clean it. About the O-Cedar ProMist:
“The ProMist includes two types of reusable microfiber pads: a durable pad which can be washed up to 100 times and a semi-disposable pad that can be washed or tossed—great for messy spills! The mop has a refillable bottle that allows users the choice to use their favorite cleaning solution or water only. The benefits are that:
a) It offers a thorough, convenient clean every time.
b) The reusable microfiber pads lift and trap dirt and grime. Since they are reusable, it helps save money and is more eco-friendly.
c) It is safer for moms and pet owners to clean due to the refillable bottle—choose your own cleaner!”
Cleaning in my house is a necessary evil. It is no secret that I despise it, so any product that I feel can help me do the job right in the least amount of time with little hassle is the one for me! So, trying the new O-Cedar ProMist Wet or Dry Cleaning System sounded right up my alley. After all, mopping is right up there with cleaning out the fridge in my list of most hated chores.
When I first unpacked the ProMist, I was happy with it’s weight. Not too heavy to lug around, but not too flimsy either. I love that you can fill the attached bottle with any cleaning solution you desire which means I don’t have to run to ten different stores looking for THE solution for the system. I decided to try the wet mopping first with the microfiber reusable pad. It did well on my laminate floors and allowed me to quickly finish the job without soaking the floors.
Of course during dinner, my two year old spilled her drink which allowed me to try out the ProMist with the dry disposable pad. It helped me soak up the liquid, quickly dispose of the mess and then clean up the stickiness with the wet reusable pad. Perfection! We have washed the reusable pad about 5 times so far and it has held it’s shape nicely.
Overall, I enjoyed my experience with the O-Cedar Pro-Mist cleaning system. I think the convenience of having a wet or dry option in one tool is great. The advantage of being able to use my favorite cleaning solution is an added bonus! The O-Cedar ProMist is available at Target and Walmart.
GIVEAWAY
Would you like to try the O-Cedar ProMist? Two lucky readers will win their very own ProMist Cleaning System!
How to enter:
1. Visit O-Cedar ProMist and tell me why you could use this in your home.
Additional entries:
1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and O-Cedar ProMist (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 button on your sidebar.
Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on August 25th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
