As you know, Experimental Mommy (aka The Not-So-Blog) is a product review blog focusing on baby, kid and Mom based items. Through my site, women discover and experience the newest mom products and often look to my site for advice and information on “the next big thing.” With a reader base of 17,000 unique visitors a month, 3200 Twitter followers and 1200 Facebook Fans, Experimental Mommy has the capacity to reach thousands of Moms seeking information before making a purchasing decision.

I have been fortunate enough to travel quite a bit to connect with brands and bloggers while learning more about my craft.  My business partner, Cecelia from Cool Baby Kid and I began a network of mom bloggers called the Double Duty Divas which has now reached over 200 members.  We decided to harness the power of numbers and encourage collaboration instead of competition among our membership.  Together, we have helped women grow their readership, gain followers and provided a network of reputable review bloggers ready to connect with companies jumping into social media.

Cecelia and I have been asked to speak on a panel at BlogWorld Expo 2010 in Las Vegas the October on the topic of creating a blog network.  We are very excited and have accepted the invitation, but we are in need to sponsors to help get us there!

About BlogWorld Expo:

“This is the ONE and ONLY comprehensive event where you can meet face-to-face with the most influential new media-savvy customers including: Bloggers, Podcasters, Online TV & Radio Broadcasters, Social Media Experts, Internet Video Producers, Social Media Marketing Pro’s from small to large enterprise companies and more!

Thousands of attendees converge on this one comprehensive trade show featuring all the new media resources they need.  This is where the most influential New Media Consumers come to network, capture critical knowledge, find solutions, and make important business and purchase decisions. BlogWorld & New Media Expo is the one event you simply cannot afford to miss!”

Why should you sponsor me for BlogWorld Expo?

I have a reputable blog and online voice with an established readership.  I have attended conferences in the past and understand the importance of networking when trying to create buzz for a company or specific product.  For a sponsorship of $400, your company will receive:

1. A blog post on Experimental Mommy, Cool Baby Kid and Double Duty Divas announcing your sponsorship prior to the event. This post can include any SEO keywords or product images you desire. This post can include a product review and/or giveaway if you wish.

2. Cecelia (@coolbabykid) and I (@BridgetteLA) will tweet to our nearly 6,000 followers facts about your company and products before and during the Conference.

3. FREE sidebar advertising (125×125 banner ad) on Experimental Mommy, Cool Baby Kid and Double Duty Divas through December 2010.

4. Every blog post published on Experimental Mommy, Cool Baby Kid and Double Duty Divas during the Conference period (October 14-16) will include a tagline such as, “This post is sponsored by ###.” It will include a link to your company as well.

5. Double Duty Divas will waive the campaign fee and run a blog tour of your product on up to 5 of our networked blogs.

By sponsoring our trip to BlogWorld Expo 2010, we are looking to develop a much deeper relationship with you than just selling passive advertising. This means we are genuinely passionate about your products, and we want to communicate that passion at various times to our readers and partners.

If you are interested in this sponsorship opportunity or have any questions or suggestions on how we can work together, please contact me at notsoblog (at) gmail (dot) com!

My blog, Experimental Mommy, just passed it’s second birthday.  As the site grows, I have had the privilege of traveling with the purpose of meeting bloggers, connecting with brands and honing my skills.  Most of the round table discussions begin with each person in attendance standing up and stating their name, blog name and where they come from.  It generally goes something like this:

“Hi!  My name is Bridgette.  I blog at Experimental Mommy which is mainly a product review site with a scientific twist.  I am a Native New Orleanian and live with my husband and two daughters.”

And then it happens….I am answered with “the look.”  You know the look of which I am speaking….squinty sympathetic eyes, a meek smile, the head slightly cocked to the right, and a small nod as if to say, “Oh, I’m so sorry, honey.”  I have grown to become accustom to this look as I know the wearers mean no harm.  They are genuinely concerned for what happened to My City that fateful day nearly five years ago.  “The look” is almost always followed by “the question.”

“Are you still living in New Orleans?”

In my head, the answer goes something like this:

“Why yes, I do still live in New Orleans.  Why on Earth would I leave?  Where else could I sit outside while eating a beignet at midnight and listening to a lively brass band play “When the Saints Go Marching In?”  Where else could I take a steamboat ride on the Mississippi while sipping sweet tea and eating crawfish etouffee?  Where else could I walk down the street and see ten friends, three family members and our priest who all inquire “How’s your Mom and n’em’?”  Where else can I take my kids to a Mardi Gras parade, stand on the neutral ground and immerse them in the rich culture that is my City?”

But most of the time, I just smile and say, “Of course!  It’s great!  You should visit some time!”

Fleeing the Storm

My home, my place of business, my car and my city were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, but my spirit, my courage and my resilience were not.  Watching New Orleans fill with water from a hotel room in Shreveport, LA was no easy task.  Seeing my street on CNN was surreal.  But there was never a moment when my husband and I talked about not returning to our beloved city.  It was a matter of when we would return instead of if we would return.  Believe it or not, Hurricane Katrina brought out some good qualities in our city and it’s people.  I found strength within myself that I never knew existed.  I learned the generosity of friends, family and strangers could touch your soul.  I learned humility while standing in line for food stamps because we didn’t know when our next paycheck would arrive.  And I learned that the culture and history of New Orleans meant more to me than ever.  We just could not turn our back on the City.

I think Cowboy Mouth said it best in their song “The Avenue”

“And the marching bands will roll.  I’ll find my City in my Soul.  Because I plan on growing old on The Avenue.“

I stay because New Orleans is a part of me.  It is in my soul.  Saying that I am from Nashville, Houston, or Atlanta, just isn’t………right.  I’m a New Orleanian.  I am resilient.  I am proud.  My City, my family, my soul is worth fighting for….how could I abandon it?  As soon as we were allowed back, we rolled up our sleeves, made some sweet tea, checked on our neighbors and started to rebuild our City even better than before.

Hope remains.

Five years (and one oil spill) later, I am proud to report that New Orleans is open for business.  There is evidence of progress around every corner largely because of the spirit of the natives and generosity of volunteers.  I have been fortunate enough to work with one of those companies that truly has made a difference in our area, Tide.  A few short weeks after Hurricane Katrina sank our City, Tide rolled in with the Loads of Hope truck housing 32 energy-efficient washer and dryers.  Volunteers washed, dried and folded clothes (up to 300 loads a day!) for the victims of the Storm for FREE.  In a City where many people were suddenly homeless, this was a priceless service.  Since Katrina, Tide Loads of Hope has traveled the country to help people in need.  From the floods in Nashville to the Red River flooding in Fargo, from the path of Hurricane Ike to the fires in San Diego, Tide Loads of Hope has washed over 30,000 loads of laundry for victims of natural disasters.

I am happy to announce that Tide Loads of Hope will be celebrating their Fifth Anniversary here in New Orleans at the Mahalia Jackson Theater with a FREE concert by the new Tide Loads of Hope Ambassador, Faith Hill!  The concert will be held on Tuesday, August 24th at 8pm and tickets can be won on the following radio stations:

WNOE  -  (101.1  New Orleans), WLMG – (101.9  New Orleans), WYNK – (101.5  Baton Rouge), WYPY – (100.7  Baton Rouge), KRVE – (96.1  Baton Rouge), WTQT-FM  (94.9  Baton Rouge), KMDL – (97.3  Lafayette), WJKK – (98.7  Jackson), WUSJ –  (96.3  Jackson), WZKX – (107.9  Biloxi)

Do you have your own story of courage and resilience?  How have you dealt with and overcome tragedy in your own life?  What would you do if a natural disaster destroyed your life?  Share your thoughts at the Hope Remains blog carnival over at Story Bleed!

What a difference a year makes!  Last year at BlogHer ’09, I was the new kid on the block.  I wasn’t sure what to expect and just hoped to learn something valuable.  That conference turned out to be a turning point for me as I met another review blogger and started a wonderful partnership, the Double Duty Divas.  What began as a way to help moms who work outside the home network, quickly grew into a Review and Ad Network with over 200 members.

Fast-forward one year later to BlogHer ’10 and we were ready to hit the ground running.  Again, I hoped to learn valuable skills at the conference, but this time I knew it was more about the connections and relationships with other bloggers and brands.  And what’s the best way to network?  Party!  Cecelia, Renee and I tried to attend as many events as we could (and perhaps overscheduled ourselves!) in order to meet new friends, catch up with old ones and learn something in the process.

On the way to the Hallmark event!

The first stop was American Girl where we enjoyed a relaxing lunch in the Café with dolls…yes, grown women with dolls.  Don’t judge me.  It was fun.  After checking in at the hotel, we tried to catch a cab to the Social Luxe Lounge.  Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful and decided to try a Pedicab.  Never.Again.  I saw my life flash before my eyes, but we made it in one piece to the party.  We all had the opportunity to get our hair and nails done, enjoy a relaxing shoulder massage (which we needed after that PediCab ride), and check out the new products from Avery, Ghirardelli (the new luxe milk chocolate was to die for) and Yummie Tummie.  We ended the night by attending the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) party on the rooftop of the Empire Hotel where we learned all about safety in many common situations.  The setting was gorgeous and the atmosphere was truly relaxing (I even got to watch an outdoor ballet performance by Juilliard!).

Audrey (one of the founders of Getting Gorgeous) and I

Believe it or not, I managed to do all of that before BlogHer officially began!  On Friday, we started the day attending a meeting with my friend, Zachary from Coffee for Less.  If you own a single cup coffee machine like the Keurig, you should definitely check out Coffee for Less to supply your K-cups!  Because we were exhausted from the night before, we couldn’t wait to head to the Getting Gorgeous Event held by Audrey McClelland and Vera Sweeny where I found my most favorite “Swag” of the conference, the MiracleBody jeans.  I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and try the leggings….I am told that I can pull it off.

Now that I was feeling gorgeous, it was time to hit some sessions!  I attended a “Pitch Me” session that was absolutely fabulous!  I learned so much and intend to share it with you in another post.  After touring the expo hall (the P&G Home Away from Home was stunning), we were ready to devour some cupcakes at “Sweets in the City” hosted by Complicated Mama and The Big Toy Book.  It was here that I met Kelby Carr who was so nice and offered lots of great advice to Cecelia and I.

Renee, Cissy, Crystal, Kate and I at Robeez

After getting a sugar high, we ran to the Robeez (pronounced Rob-eez…who knew?) event and finally the Christmas in August party hosted by Hallmark.  The Hallmark event was certainly one of the highlights of the trip.  Entering the penthouse, I was overwhelmed with the smells of the Holiday season.  Here I discovered the Recordable Books from Hallmark and I just fell in love.  Lots of good food, decorating cookies, pictures with Santa and mingling with friends made this party a real joy.

Saturday, we got the chance to host our own meet-up at Starbucks with our Double Duty Diva network.  Coffee for Less and SnuggStuff provided the swag and everyone enjoyed their morning coffee while meeting the Divas.  We took our morning drinks on the road to Scholastic where we learned all about the new releases and literacy initiative.  I remember ordering books from the Scholastic catalog and now I love seeing the excitement in my daughter’s eyes when she comes home with her selections.

The Divas hit BlogHer '10!

After lunch, we managed to squeeze in another session on Monetization and then it was off to dinner with Tide.  For those of you who have read my blog for a while now know that Tide is one of my favorite brands.  For obvious reasons, the Tide Loads of Hope project is near and dear to my heart and I cannot wait to work with them later this month for the 5 year anniversary.

Honestly, I have no idea how I managed to fit all of this in one short weekend.  But looking back, I wouldn’t change one single thing.  I think BlogHer ’10 was a success for me personally and professionally and has made me excited about the future of Experimental Mommy and the Double Duty Divas!  Thanks again to Corky and Co. and Escalate Network for making my trip possible!

In July, I had the honor of being one of American Girl’s Parent Partners to help promote the “Shine on Now” project.  This charitable initiative “harnesses the collective power of girls to help others in need. Through Shine On Now, American Girl is calling on girls across the country to help the company give $1 million in clothes, books, dolls, and money to the following four organizations: Kids in Distressed Situations, Save the Children U.S.A., National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, and National Wildlife Federation.” I am pleased to announce that through the help of young girls and the Parent Partners, American Girl reached the goal!

Last week, I traveled to New York City for BlogHer 2010 and I was invited to the American Girl Cafe for lunch on Thursday and again to meet several other Parent Partners for brunch on Sunday.  Because I have never been to an American Girl store, I could not wait to see what it was all about, and I was NOT disappointed.

Walking in to the store, it is hard not to feel like a little girl.  I was immediately enchanted by the rooms of dolls, accessories and clothes.  As I explored the store, I stumbled upon the Doll Salon.  Did you know that you can bring your American Girl doll and actual hairstylists give your doll a brand new ‘do?  You can even get your doll’s ears pierced!  I absolutely HAVE to take my girls back!

As we ventured to the Cafe on the third floor (yes, THREE floors), I started to realize that visiting the store is more of an experience than “normal shopping.”  And when I entered the cafe, it was like stepping into my daughters’ dreams.  There was pink to the right, pink to the left, hair bows and flowers on the table, dolls to play with and lots of yummy treats.  Of course, I had to get the full experience and select a doll to sit with me.  Ok, I know I am NOT five, but you just can’t eat at the American Girl Cafe and NOT play with a doll, right?  I realize that we probably looked quite strange, but I had a blast.  Until…….

Cecelia’s doll had a little accident….oops…..

Thank you so much, American Girl, for hosting me at your wonderful store.  After meeting the dedicated professionals who represent your brand and the other Parent Partners, I am honored to be a part of your “family.”

I should be sleeping.  Renee comes to get me at 5:30am for the airport as we board a plane for BlogHer 2010 at 7:00am and leave the Big Easy for the Big Apple!  But, here I am, awake.  Frankly, I am too dang excited to sleep and I am going pay for it later (in retrospect, the large sweet tea at 10pm probably was not the best idea ever).

So, while I have a moment, I thought I would thank the sponsors that are helping me attend the conference.  First, Corky and Company Coats has been so kind as to sponsor both Cecelia and I, and we couldn’t be more pleased to represent such a great company.  Both my girls wear these coats and get compliments every.single.time we go out in them.  They are amazingly soft and cuddly! Secondly, I would like to thank Escalate Network for their generous sponsorship as well.  I recently joined this affiliate network and attend a webinar held by the owners.  I have honestly not been a part of an affiliate network that has been more personal that this one.  I have been able to chat with Escalate Network directly, been offered advice on how to best promote the deals and have been able to monetize my blog!  Check them out if you are interested in learning how to make money from your blog! Finally, I have to mention A Touch of Whimsy Designs who designed my business cards!  The owner, Gina, is amazingly talented and could not be nicer.  I look to her anytime I need party invites, gift tags or mommy cards.  You can find her on Twitter, too!

I will be meeting up with my fellow Double Duty Divas while at the conference and plan to announce some EXCITING NEWS!  If you are a review blogger, you do not want to miss what we have in store!  Follow us on Twitter and search the hashtag #DDDivas!

See you in New York!!

I have been fortunate enough to attend a few blogging conferences and meetups, but nothing EVER comes to my hometown, New Orleans….until NOW!  I was so excited that Bloggers on Bourbon chose to support my City and bring some tourism to the Gulf Coast.

On Friday, we began with dinner at Besh Steakhouse in Harrah’s Casino here in New Orleans.  Two words:  OH. MY.  The barbeque shrimp were to die for, the beef was incredibly tender and the cheesecake was divine!  Seriously one of the best meals I have ever eaten.  After dinner, we were given $10 of free play which I unfortunately did not turn into a million.  Following a short walk to Jackson Square, we began a Ghost Tour provided by LingerieDOTcom.  It is no secret that I am not a fan of the supernatural, but the tour was full of history and fun.  I guess if I live in one of the most haunted cities in the United States, I better learn to coexist, right? After the tour, we headed back to the suite for some cheesecake and laughs.

Saturday started with a little bus trip to the Houmas House, a sugar cane plantation located on the Mississippi River.  When we arrived, Shannon Lane, a travel blogger, greeted us with Mimosas.  The plantation was gorgeous and we had a great time learning the history of the home and it’s belongings (did you know that the furniture and decor is worth over $7 million alone?!?).  After lunch at the plantation, provided by Global Resort Homes, we had some free time to explore.  A few of us headed to the French Market for some shopping, but not before we got to check out a few street performers on Royal Street and a wedding at St. Louis Cathedral.

Dinner on Saturday was at Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, a five star restaurant.  This is one of my favorite places to eat in the City, so I couldn’t wait to see what everyone else thought of it.  We listened to presentations by Open Sky and Collective Bias (who both sponsored the fabulous dinner).  My steak was GINORMOUS (is that a word?) but was incredibly yummy.  My table companions were a freakin’ riot!  I don’t think I have laughed that hard in a long time (by the way, it’s pah-cawn…not pee-can)! The evening ended with a little rain (thanks to tropical depression Bonnie), but it did not dampen our spirits as we walked to Cat’s Meow in the French Quarter for some karaoke.

Thanks to MomDot and BookieBoo for putting on such a fun event!  I appreciate the hard work you put in and the great press it will bring to New Orleans!  I had a great time meeting up with old friends and making new ones!

As a new Mom in 2005, I wanted the very best for my baby.  I wanted the best performing diaper for my money.  As a self-proclaimed Science Geek, I tried several different brands of diapers and tried to analyze the value.  I finally decided on Pampers Swaddlers.  While a little more expensive, I had fewer blow-outs and leaks on my baby girl making Pampers my diaper of choice.  In 2008, upon arrival of my second baby girl, I immediately grabbed for Pampers on the grocery store shelf and have not looked back since. Have my girls ever had a diaper rash?  Yes.  Have I ever thought it was the diaper?  No.  Until now….

In January, I received a sample of the Pampers Cruisers in Size 4 with the new Dry Max Technology to try with my youngest daughter.  We used the diaper for two weeks before I wrote my assessment, and honestly we had no issues at all.  No leaks, no rashes, no burns, nothing….so I was surprised when I started getting comments from concerned Moms who believed the new Dry Max technology had harmed their babies.  I later learned that my link was shared on a Facebook page which was driving traffic to my site.  Many of the members of the Facebook group have experienced what they believe to be chemical burns or severe diaper rash from exposing their children to the Dry Max technology.  I took the time to read many comments on this Facebook page and try to understand the concerns of the parents.  After all, MY baby was wearing these diapers as well and if something was really wrong, I wanted to know.

Because of the attention my post received and the concerns I expressed to them, Pampers invited me to tour their facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio in early June.  Although, I had not experienced problems with the diapers myself, I had a vested interest in this problem because my daughter was wearing the diaper and I wanted to get to the root of the issue.  I took the time to read all I could on the issue, contacted my Pediatrician for advice, and formulated questions of my own to bring to Pampers.

Upon arriving at Pampers Headquarters, I was introduced to several faces of Pampers including Jodi Allen, the Vice President of North American Baby Care.  My first impression was that these were real people with real families.  These people poured their lives into the new Dry Max technology and genuinely feel like they are doing something great for babies and the environment.  One of the employees, Kerri Hailey, Associate Director of R&D, even tested these diapers on her own children while they were in development.  They all appeared concerned about the issue, and wanted to find a solution for these parents.  The difficult part is that they can’t find anything wrong with the diaper!  How do you fix a problem that doesn’t exist?

Did you know those tabs could stretch that far?

Needless to say, I was anxious to see the data and find out how it was collected.  To my delight, we began the next day with a tour of the Discovery Center and the Baby Care Headquarters.  At the Discovery Center, we had the opportunity to see how new ideas go from prototype to reality (and even saw four women handmake a size 4 Dry Max diaper).  At the Baby Care Headquarters we got to peak in on a research study in progress.  Honestly, I had no idea so much research could be done on a diaper!  I mean, it gets wet…it leaks or it doesn’t.  What else can you learn?  A LOT!  Local parents bring in their babies for a day of playing, eating and drinking in the Center (compensated with gift cards which is standard practice) while the researchers measure everything from load capacity to tab stretch ability, from sagging to bunching.  Some of the kids in the Center were even used as models to made molds which Scientists can diaper the mannequins and create 3D images in order to display exactly where your baby touches the diaper and how urine is received and distributed.  The diapers are also tested in various parts of the world as well, so differences in diet or size/shape of children are taken into account and included in the overall research conclusion.

Demonstrating the difference of Dry Max

After the tour, we had the chance to sit down with an Executive Panel which included Jodi Allen, Lisa Sanchez (Director of R&D), Leslie Hopkins (Associate Director of R&D), Brian McCleary (External Relations for P&G), and Kerri Hailey.  After being given some background, it was question and answer time!  The panel was very forthcoming with any information we wanted to know and believe me, many questions were asked among the ten bloggers in attendance.  Here are a few things I learned:

What makes Dry Max different?

• Dry Max is ten years in the making.  It is the most studied and researched change in Pampers history.
• The Dry Max technology is new in that less pulp is used in the diaper.  The actual materials used in the diaper are the same as the old ones.  No new chemicals are used and the absorbent gel is no closer to the skin than in the old Pampers.  The gel is not painted onto the pulp.
• None of the materials used in the diaper can cause a burn of any kind.  Not alone, not when mixed with diaper cream and not when mixed with urine or feces.  Burns are caused by strong acids or bases and there is no evidence of this in the diaper.

When did complaints begin?

• Pampers receives complaints every time something is changed, even when the placement or variety of cartoon characters are changed.  The difference is that this is the first major change in the “Facebook Era.”
• Over 2.4 billion diapers with dry max were distributed before the first claim of chemical burn (Dry Max diapers were distributed in old packaging for several months without incident).
• Even after the official launch, it was only after the media got involved did the complaints increase over what was expected.

How is Pampers responding?

• Pampers has increased the number of operators answering calls to the complaint line (1-800-PAMPERS).  The average time an operator spends with a customer is 15 minutes.
• The operator will take all of the relevant information and in some cases the customer has been called back by the staff in the R&D department.  Some customers have been asked to mail the diapers back so staff can assess the problem.  Customers will be offered the choice of coupons for new product or their money back.  No one is forced to take coupons.
• I was impressed to learn that Pampers has even offered to for the child to see a Pediatrician at their expense.  But, to date they have not seen medical evidence from a Pediatrician officially diagnosing “chemical burn.”
• When Pampers receives a complaint, they can track every diaper sold down to the plant it was made in and the crew that was on the line to determine if a specific lot has an issue.  To date their is no consistency in complaints.
• Pampers brought in Paul Sagel, Retired Research Fellow (he invented Bounce!) to investigate complaints.  He says that Pampers has allowed him to test the diaper to make sure nothing was missed.  After his tests, he feels the diaper is safe.
• We also met with Dr. Tom DeWitt, American Academy of Pediatrics Professor, and Dr. Kim Thompson, President of Kid Risk, Inc. and Associate Professor at Harvard School of Public Health who both investigated claims of chemical burns.  After examining the evidence, neither professional felt like the diapers were the cause of the diaper rash and/or chemical burns.
• Pampers voluntarily went to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), met in person, and turned over all of the raw data.  They are fully cooperating with all requests from the CPSC.

What can you do if you are concerned?

• Visit Pampers Village and check out the Dry Max page to get more information.
• Join the Pampers Facebook page to get more information or ask questions.
• Call 1-800-PAMPERS
• Call your Pediatrician if you suspect your child has a severe diaper rash or chemical burn.

After visiting Pampers Headquarters, I can honestly say that my fears have been alleviated.   After seeing all the evidence, I do not feel like this diaper is unsafe for my daughter.  This is a personal decision and I am in no way discrediting the beliefs of the parents who feel like Pampers is harmful to their babies.  If you have had a problem, please see your Pediatrician and then call 1-800-PAMPERS to tell them of your findings.

Please feel free to comment on this post, but personal attacks will not be allowed.

Monetary compensation or product samples were not received in return for this post.  As with any business trip, Pampers did pay for my airfare, lodging and food.   All opinions remain 100% mine.

After a late night, all of the kids actually slept late (well, later than usual).  Bonus!  We started the morning with fresh baked cinnamon rolls in the condo kitchen followed by a photo shoot with the Portofino Island’s photographer, Jordanna Marie.  She took us to several locations around the resort to take some pictures of our family (I never get to actually be IN the pictures, so I was thrilled!).  Jordan did a great job taking a few posed shots and then several action shots of the kids.  Guests can purchase a photography session which is 30 minutes long.  This is a great option if you are looking to get some fantastic shots of the entire family. Take a look at a few of the photos taken, courtesy of Jordanna Marie and the Portofino Photography staff:

After the photo shoot, we too the kids to the Lifestyle Center for a swim while my husband found a way to entertain himself at Portofino’s Adventure Cove located on Santa Rosa Sound.  This not only provided entertainment for himself, but for everyone watching.  LOL!  After he played for about an hour, he met us at the pool because he wore himself out.  Someone should tell him that he’s not 13 anymore!

After a quick lunch poolside, we took the kids back to the condo for naps.  Not a minute after my little one’s eyes opened, she put back on her swimsuit and begged to go back to the pool.  Who can resist those baby blue eyes?  So, off to the pool we went!  Today was really fun and very relaxing.  We are very sad that we have to leave tomorrow and have contemplated chaining ourselves to the room and refusing to go home….but that’s probably not a good idea!

But seriously, we have a had a wonderful time.  The staff of Portofino Island was extremely friendly, the condo was spacious and beautiful and the beaches were pristine. I will share a few more photos in a follow up post, but in the meantime, make sure you follow Portofino Island on Twitter so you don’t miss any special deals!

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience with the product.  Portofino Island has graciously reduced the rate to facilitate this review as well.

If you are a regular reader, you know a few things about me.  I am a self-proclaimed science geek, I don’t cook, and laundry is my nemesis.  Although I consider myself an educated woman, I confess that I know little about the proper way to do laundry. Fortunately, Tide figured I could use a little help and invited me to Fabric Care University!

Last Monday, I packed my bags and headed to the P&G Headquarters in Cincinnati to learn all about Tide, how they develop and test a line of products, and the proper way to use them….and did I mention Tim Gunn was there, too?

I am sure Tim knows all about fabric care, and welcomed a fabulous group of bloggers to participate in a mock Project Runway the first night we were there. We were presented with a white T-Shirt and a random bag of accessories and were told to “make it work!”

<insert blank stare here>

Create an innovative outfit? Huh? I must be in the wrong place. Despite my hesitation, my Team (Stacie from Divine Miss Mommy, Sarah from Blissfully Domestic and Felicia from Go Graham Go) and I managed to create a shirt which we labeled “Playground Elegance.” Just when I thought we were done, we had to present our concept to Tim Gunn.

<insert another blank stare here>

Somehow, I was elected spokesperson for Playground Elegance. That was a BIG mistake. LOL! But, I cannot stress enough how nice, genuine and friendly Tim was (yes, we are on a first name basis). He offered great suggestions and made us feel like we created a great design (although he was clearly lying through his teeth).

On Day Two, we hit the ground running and made our way to the labs, which is definitely more my speed. We were shown several presentations on how Tide is developed and tested. The Scientists were so passionate about their jobs that it made it hard not to get overly excited about doing laundry! At first glance, you think making detergent can’t be all that difficult, but you would be amazed at what goes in to making the products before hitting your laundry machine.

Did you know that your body creates 50 grams of soil A DAY?  Ewwww….I need that off my clothes and I want to buy the product that does it the best.  In the laboratories, Tide simulates the water quality from all over the WORLD in order to test their detergent. They wash clothes in all types of water and in all different types of machines to make sure that their product will work well in every condition imaginable. Fabric samples are even analyzed under an electron microscope in order to assess removal of soil in Tide versus other leading brands. I saw this first hand and I can tell you that I will only buy Tide after seeing the evidence.

Some of my Fabric Care University Classmates (from left to right): Felicia of Go Graham Go, Yours Truly, Toni of Just Stop Screaming, Laurie of Tip Junkie and Danielle of Extraordinary Mommy)

Much of Day Two was embargoed, so I cannot tell you about the new lines coming out soon from Tide and Downy, but I can say that they are un-freakin-believable. Thanks to Devries PR and the incredible employees at Tide who made this trip a learning experience I will never forget.

Don’t miss any of the action! Follow Tide on Facebook and TideLoadsofHope on Twitter!

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post.  Tide did cover my airfare, hotel and meals while on this business trip.  All opinions remain 100% mine.

During the school year, Lily’s teacher asked her what was her favorite family vacation memory.  Her response?  Sleeping in a hotel in Monroe, Louisiana.  As you might guess, Monroe is not your typical vacation destination, in fact this is where we usually evacuate to flee a hurricane.  It was this conversation that made my husband and I realize that we deserve a REAL vacation!  I am happy to report that we will soon be traveling to the Portofino Island Resort on Pensacola Beach, Florida!  A little from their website:

“Portofino Island is the ultimate Gulf Coast getaway and Pensacola’s premier family-friendly resort destination.  It is situated on 28 beautiful acres in Pensacola Beach between the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the gentle shores of Santa Rosa Bay. It is also adjacent to the pristine Gulf Islands National Seashore. The land itself is called Santa Rosa Island; it is the world’s largest barrier island.

Portofino Island’s beautiful waterfront location, stunning accommodations, world-class resort amenities and customized service standards – make it a natural indulgence. No other resort is located on the Gulf of Mexico, the Santa Rosa Sound and the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The vast complimentary and discounted amenities make Portofino Island a great vacation value.”

We will be staying in a condo along with Renee from What Mommies Need and her family.  We plan to check out all of the amenities at the resort and report back to our readers about what worked and what didn’t work for our families (I plan to hit the spa first!).  We hope to take a dolphin cruise, play at the water park, swim in the pool, bask on the beach, and much more.  And to make it even more fun, we will both be hosting beach-themed giveaways to help you plan your own summer beach vacation! Make sure you follow Portofino Island on Twitter and Facebook so you don’t miss any details or savings this Season!

Have you taken a beach vacation with your little ones?  What did you pack?  What could you not live without?