My So-Called Life | Product Reviews by The Experimental Mommy

How to Save for a Disney Dream Vacation

March 25, 2013 By Bridgette Duplantis Leave a Comment

For many young families, a dream vacation means taking the kids to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, or to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Disney is all about entertaining children and families in a wholesome, safe and fun environment and people travel from all over the world to share the Disney experience with their families.

President’s Day, the period between Christmas and New Years, and the summer vacation months are traditionally the busiest times at Disney properties. And to make matters worse, these dates are usually blacked out from the special packages and deals. If you plan on taking the family to Disney and traveling during a busy season, be sure to check the fine print on all offers to make sure the promised money savings will be in effect during your visit, and be prepared for long wait times and bigger crowds at the parades and special events. On the upside, staying during the holidays mean special parades, shows and events (have you seen the holiday lights?) at the Disney parks in the United States.

Depending upon the dates of travel, the level of accommodations and amenities desired, making the most of packages and deals, and the cost of travel from your home to either Orlando or Anaheim, a family of four can enjoy a modest vacation of between 5 – 7 days at Disney for between $2,500 – $3,500 dollars. It is always a good idea to plan that type of expense in advance and adjust your monthly household budget to allow for saving money for your dream vacation at Disneyland or Disney World.

If you have a full year to plan for the vacation and expect to spend about $3,500 on the trip, start making that amount your goal and start looking for ways to shift about $300 each month toward the vacation fund. It is easier to not spend money if you don’t have it in your hands, so if you can afford to just redirect the vacation funds from your paycheck, check with your employer to see if they can deduct the designated amount from your check and deposit it directly into a dedicated savings account. If this is not available through your employer, consider opening a bank account with online access and transfer the funds yourself to that account every payday.

Not everyone can just redirect 10-15% of their paychecks to a vacation fund, so you might have to tighten the belt and make some changes to your spending habits to “find that money.” Household and discretionary expenses that typically have some flexibility to make adjustments include:

Food and Beverage – eat out less and make more food at home
Personal Care and Grooming – use less expensive products
Transportation – ride share and consolidate errands to make less trips
Entertainment- search for free family entertainment (check your local library)

If you get a windfall, such as a large tax refund, a bonus check at the holidays or a large commission check, put away a lump sum into a savings bond or certificate of deposit (CD) with a bank or credit union. Check with several banks to see who has the best interest rate cd and make sure that the CD is insured by the FDIC. Certificates of Deposit have different minimum amounts and varying lengths of time that you must commit to, so check around and find the plan that best meets your needs in the time frame you have.

Having your vacation paid for before you leave makes for a much more relaxing time! What do you plan to do for summer vacation this year and how to do you plan to save?

This post is brought to you by guest author, Jenna Smith.

Tips for Traveling with a Toddler

March 18, 2013 By Bridgette Duplantis Leave a Comment

My family and I are by no means considered jet-setters. But, we have made a few successful trips with our kids in recent years including several Hurricane evacuations with toddlers which required living in a hotel room or campground for several weeks.

Traveling as a family is not always an easy task. Whether it’s flying across the country or taking a road trip, toddlers have a hard time keeping their energy confined to a small space. While there’s no simple solution for plane delays or small seats (or the path of a devastating Hurricane), parents can make a world of difference by incorporating activity and healthy food into travel.

Eating fast food on the road may seem convenient, but for growing children, these meals won’t provide much-needed nutrition and energy to last the trip. For road trips, you can bring fresh fruit and snacks in the car. Traveling by plane is a little trickier with strict security on fruits and vegetables. Sprout baby foods has 3.17 ounce pouches of pureed fruit and vegetable recipes that can be brought through security. These pouches are re-sealable as well (so easy for car trips), so your little one can snack are their leisure without the mess. Here are some ways to incorporate fun and food into travels to make mom and dad’s job a whole lot easier:

1. Bring a variety of flavors so your toddler can decide what to eat. Toddlers love being independent and being able to choose their favorite snack allows them to be in charge and eat what they like from a variety of healthy choices.

2. Eat the rainbow. For a long travel day, challenge your little one to eat a food of each color of the rainbow. Bring along crayons so they can draw the healthy colorful snacks they’ve eaten throughout the day.

3. No-mess art projects. The portable DVD player will only keep your child occupied for so long and will actually make them more restless. Keep them busy and active by bringing along some colors and plenty of paper. I love the Crayola Color Wonders for a worry free art project. Creating with their hands and having quality attention from mom and dad will be a treat for your toddler.

4. Help your toddler learn a complicated card game. Teach them to play UNO or Slap Jack on the plane. These games are trickier to learn and there’s plenty of time while sitting in the car or waiting for a plane.

5. Fun geography. Whether you’re flying over or driving through, kids love learning about new places and saying that they’ve been to ‘new states’. Print out a blank map and let your child color in the state they’ve seen or visited. I recently bought my daughter an Atlas and she loves to locate the places we’ve been or plan future vacations.

Whether it’s a small jaunt or a long haul, keeping toddlers happy on a vacation is the key to success! What tips do you have for traveling with a toddler?

Cirque du Soliel’s Quidam Comes to New Orleans

February 26, 2013 By Bridgette Duplantis Leave a Comment

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved the circus. On my honeymoon to Walt Disney World, my new husband and I decided to check out what we thought was “just a circus” at Downtown Disney called La Nouba. What we witnessed was far from any circus I had ever seen and we were both mesmerized.

This Cirque du Soleil production was full of energy and magic without the dancing poodles and lion tamers. In fact, Cirque du Soleil didn’t have any animals at all. About the organization:

“From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents.”

I am so excited that Cirque du Soleil is coming to New Orleans with their production of Quidam which had its world premiere in Montreal under the Big Top in April 1996. Since that time, the production has toured on five continents and been experienced by millions of people. The international cast features 52 world-class acrobats, musicians, singers and characters.

If you would like to experience Quidam, it will be performed at the New Orleans Arena from March 13-17, 2013 (seven nights only!). Tickets for the general public are available on www.cirquedusoleil.com/quidam, by phone at 1 800 -745-3000 or in person at the New Orleans Arena Box Office.

Follow the action on Twitter using hashtag #quidam or on Facebook!

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. While tickets were received to facilitate this post, all opinions remain 100% mine.

Navigating Super Bowl XLVII with My HTC Windows 8X Phone #VZWA

January 29, 2013 By Bridgette Duplantis 5 Comments

As a Verizon Wireless Ambassador, I have been testing the new HTC Windows 8X phone for the past several weeks. With my hometown of New Orleans bracing for the craziness that is the Super Bowl, I thought I would share some of my favorite apps to help you navigate the event.

1. WWLTV App: This popular New Orleans based news station has an app that not only includes the most popular headlines of the day, but also an entire tab devoted to Super Bowl XLVII. And while you’re browsing the app, check out the NOLA weather to plan your day at the festivities.

2. NFL Mobile: Keep up to date with the latest videos, scores, team information and sports breaking news. Here in New Orleans, today was “media day” and this app already has many great clips of the event.

3. GMaps: Lucky enough to have a Super Bowl ticket? Make sure you know your way around the streets of New Orleans with Google Maps! Get directions, view maps and even find a nearby restaurant to experience our Cajun cuisine.

4. Super Bowl Clock: Can’t wait till the big game? This app will count down the days, hours, minutes and seconds till kickoff.

5. Epicurious: If you will be watching the game from the comfort of your own sofa, you can get some great Super Bowl Snack ideas and recipes from Epicurious!

While I am most disappointed that my New Orleans Saints won’t be marching in to the Superdome for the big game, the excitement surrounding the Super Bowl is infesting the City! Cameras, celebrities, media events and of course, Mardi Gras all make it worth your while to consider coming down for a visit. So grab your HTC Windows 8X phone, download a few apps and let the good times roll, y’all!

5 Great Odd Jobs for Teenagers

January 3, 2013 By Bridgette Duplantis 1 Comment

As your kids get older, an important part of teaching them responsibility is encouraging them to spend their time earning some extra money to pay for things that they want (rather than need) like trendy clothes, video games and maybe even some extracurricular activities. There are definitely some great opportunities out there for young people willing to put in some time and effort. Here are a few ideas:

Babysitting. You’d be surprised how many people are looking for babysitters and don’t know where to start. Just letting others know that your teen is interested will help. Once your teen has established a reputation as a reliable sitter, recommendations and word of mouth will help land more work.

Shoveling Snow/Lawn Work. Though snow shoveling (hopefully!) won’t be a consistent income year-round, when a big snowstorm hits, many people, particularly elderly neighbors, would love to hire someone to take care of this tricky job. If you’re lucky enough to avoid bad weather, your teen may still be able to find some work raking leaves or doing some gardening. It’s a great workout too!

Freelancing. If your teen is a good writer, help them build a portfolio of writing samples. Then check online for businesses willing to hire freelance writers to build content on their websites. This type of work will typically lead to more work through networking and is a great way to build a resume for jobs in and after college.

Tutoring. Is your teen a good student? There are plenty of parents out there who are looking for some extra help for their own kids and would be happy to pay. Try posting on Craigslist, putting an ad in the paper or hanging a flier at local schools. You’ll be sure to get some bites.

Anne Perkins is a freelance writer focused on how to live large on a little living. She writes about cash advances for YourCashLoans.co.uk and writes for her own blog, AnnieIdea.com. She enjoys taking any idea and making it easier or cheaper to complete.

This post is brought to you by guest author, David St. Pierre.

Zoe’s Kitchen Comes to Elmwood

December 27, 2012 By Bridgette Duplantis Leave a Comment

Well, the holidays are behind us. I hope you and yours had a great time surrounded by family and friends. Me? Not so lucky. Both of my daughters came down with a virus including high fever and lots of coughing. I am surprised that Santa was brave enough to enter my home! But, I am happy to report that both kids are feeling better and are quite a bit stir crazy. We need to get out of the house!

I heard that a new Mediterranean-inspired, fast-casual restaurant was opening in Elmwood (which has seen an incredible expansion of shopping and eateries in the past few months) and we decided to give it a try. This is the fifth location of Zoe’s Kitchen in Louisiana and 74th location nationwide serving savory dishes which are an extension of many home kitchens. The menu showcases entrees such as chicken kabobs and chicken roll-ups, fresh sides, yummy desserts, gluten-free options and even take home dinner packages for four. Zoe’s Kitchen focuses on fresh foods and there are no fryers or microwaves in any of the locations.

Ordering from the menu was so easy because there were many options from which to choose. I decided on the Chicken Roll-Up which consisted of grilled chicken, feta cheese, lettuce, caramelized onion and tomato rolled up in a crispy wrap with a side of salsa for dipping. A-MAZING. My hubby was thrilled to see an “Under 500″ section on the menu since he is watching his calorie intake. He ordered the Greek Chicken Pita which was feta, onions, mushrooms, chicken, and tomatoes stuffed in a pita bread while my sister-in-law opted for the Chicken Slaw pita which included grilled chicken, vinegar based coleslaw and cheese.

Zoe’s Kitchen also has a great kids menu featuring lots of healthy options for your little ones. My daughter got the chicken roll up with a side of marinara plus a fresh fruit cup. The fruit looked amazing and she gobbled it up in no time.

We loved it so much, we have already returned and are planning to visit again soon. Zoës Kitchen is located at 1208 S. Clearview Parkway, Suite D and is open from 11am-9pm. Check them out on Facebook, too!

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. While the meal was complimentary, all opinions remain 100% my own.

12 Days of My Favorite Things

December 7, 2012 By Bridgette Duplantis 1 Comment

Over the past year, I have been fortunate enough to be a Neutrogena Ambassador. I have learned lots of fun tips and tricks and had the opportunity to try out lots of their amazing products. To round out the year, Neutrogena has allowed me to select 12 of my absolute favorite things to share with my readers as giveaways! I had a blast putting the list together and could not wait to share it with you! Here is a sneak peek of what is in store:

Holiday Essentials plus $25 AMEX
Fits iPad Mini!
Your choice of Red, Green or Black!
Set of 7 Expandable Wire Bangles in Shiny Silver
Papaya, Glam Red or Teal!
$100 Gift Card!
Lots of skincare goodies plus $25 AMEX
Six Pieces!
Eight of the best Imperial Reserve Chinese teas!
In ANY pattern!
$100 Gift Card!
Best of the Best Neutrogena Basket plus $25 AMEX

Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Nonstick Essentials

Forbidden Kingdom Tea Collection from Teavana

Infinite Carousel jQuery by WOWSlider.com v2.7.1m

Don’t forget to come back on Monday for the first of twelve fantastic giveaways sponsored by Neutrogena!

Winter Sports Everyone Should Try

November 30, 2012 By Bridgette Duplantis 1 Comment

Winter is just around the corner and often it can signal a time of seclusion having to hang indoors waiting for the weather to clear so you can go out and have some fun again. But there are a lot of cold weather sports that individuals can participate in during the winter. Activities like ice skating, hockey, and snowboarding can be fun for anyone at any age level, or ability. It is something you can do on your own, with your family, or sometimes even with a league or community group.

Ice Skating is a really popular sport with kids and adults. One of the most important things in ice skating are the skates themselves. You can purchase a pair for yourself, or typically there are places to rent them at the local rinks, but you want to make sure they fit right and won’t hurt your feet. The blades need to be properly sharpened as well, because this is what helps you to glide and move on the ice. Another very important tip is making sure you lace your skates up tightly from the toes all the way up to the ankles, as this is your only means of support and will keep you from injuring your ankle as you skate.

Another fun sport on the ice is hockey. It can often be thought of as a boys sport but girls can have just as much fun and families too. When you’re playing hockey make sure you have good safety equipment, and you are in control of your stick. Two ways to do that is first by making sure your hands move in the direction of your goal. The other way is to get hockey tape for your stick and tape your blade so it sticks better and is easier to control.

If you want to get out of the ice rink and into the snow, then snowboarding is a fun and thrilling sport anyone can try out. Find a good snowboard shop to help outfit you, or rent a board from the ski lodge if you just want to try it out or save some money. You want to make sure whatever board you use is about as long as you are tall; this is best for maintaining control. And just like a surfboard, you need to find the right wax for it. Depending on what you will be doing on the slopes there are various waxes for different environments and boarding needs, make sure to check with the ski shop to know the right one to buy, and how to properly apply it.

All of these are fun sports an individual or family can do. Watch your local paper, or check with your local parks and recreation or ice rinks to see if there are any new leagues or community groups starting. These are all affordable, fun sports for anyone who doesn’t want to wait for summer to get out and have some fun!

This post is brought to you by guest author, Jenna Smith.

Decorating Your Home With Christmas Lights

November 27, 2012 By Bridgette Duplantis Leave a Comment

The holidays are right around the corner, and millions of Americans are starting to conjure up ways to make their homes the brightest on the block. Indeed, decorating with Christmas lights has become an American tradition that just about everyone who celebrates the holiday chooses to embrace. Some homes take things further than others, however, decorating their homes in ways that make them stand out from the crowd.

There are plenty of different ways to go about using lights to make your home both cheery and attractive this holiday season, and you can save money in the process if you take the right approach. With the following tips on your side, you can ensure that yours is the most festive home in the neighborhood.

Shop Online

The first thing you’ll want to do is figure out how you’re going to accumulate all of the lights you’ll need to decorate your home. Shopping for lights at big box stores is one of the most common approaches to take, but you’ll find that it’s possible to save a great deal of money by looking to the Internet for your materials. You can often buy bulk lights for a fraction of what you might spend by shopping locally, and many online stores offer free shipping on bulk orders.

It’s important to determine how many lights you’ll need, which comes down to what you’re trying to do. Are you simply trying to trim the tree, or do you want to add strands of lights throughout the interior and exterior of your home? Clearly, you’ll need extra lights in the latter scenario. Don’t be afraid to purchase more than you need, as you never know when that extra strand or two will come in handy.

Mix White Lights and Colored Lights

One of the decisions that most people have a hard time making is whether to go with white or colored lights when decorating for Christmas. While it can be tempting to take one approach or the other, there’s no reason why you can’t incorporate both white and colored lights into your home. Indeed, the two often look great when placed up against one another, and combining the two can help to create an element of contrast in your home that may not exist elsewhere in your neighborhood.

Create Shapes and Patterns

Instead of simply hanging lights in a haphazard manner, you might wish to create shapes and patterns with them. This is a great way to make your house stand out, as you can hang lights in a way so that they resemble wreathes, stars and other common Christmas shapes and images. While doing so can be time-consuming and tricky, the end result is more than worth working towards.

Decorating with lights is a tradition that just about everyone can get some enjoyment out of, and you don’t have to be wealthy to do so. If you take the time to outfit your home properly with lights this holiday season, you’ll no doubt have the warmest-looking house on the block.

This post is brought to you by guest author, Jenna Smith.

Family Fun This Christmas

November 26, 2012 By Bridgette Duplantis Leave a Comment

From late October through January most people are extremely busy. There’s lots of shopping to do and functions and events to attend. In the mist of all this it can be easy to lose track of your priorities. Although you carefully choose adorable girls and boys pajamas your kids will wear on Christmas, you may overlook a more important detail, which is planning fun family activities during the holiday season.

As the big day gets closer anticipation of holiday fun is growing for all. Taking the time to plan a few activities that include all ages can be rewarding. In the end you will have a good time with those you love and you will be creating memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Decorating Can Be a Family Event

Although you may insist on doing certain aspects of your holiday decorating yourself, including the family in the process can be a wonderful experience. You can consider things like making popcorn garland, adding glitter to pine cones to create ornaments, or even making snowmen out of Styrofoam balls. Use pipe cleaners to create reindeer and Santa Claus. Simple craft projects are easy to do and the outcome is a collection of holiday items that become keepsakes.

You can turn decorating into a time for a Christmas song sing-along. The experience can be even more special if you have some delicious holiday treats on hand. After the decorating is done you and your family members can relax with the treats and enjoy the new holiday décor. This may be the perfect time to watch a favorite holiday movie.

Letters to Santa

Writing letters to Santa is a traditional holiday activity that many families enjoy. Just gather your favorite craft supplies and get creative. A well-supplied craft box will have everything you need to make this experience fun and easy. Construction paper and pretty envelopes are ideal. Add some glitter and Christmas stickers and you have the start to a beautiful Santa letter.

One of the benefits of making this a family activity is that it is a great way to find out exactly what your kids want or expect at Christmas. As a parent you should have Santa’s address on hand. This helps keep the belief in the magic of Santa alive.

Other Activities

Traditional winter activities, like sled riding, ice skating, and drinking hot cocoa can help make the season special. Whether you choose to indulge in theses treats on a regular basis throughout the holidays or you save them as a way to celebrate Christmas Day, the time spent together with your family will be memorable.