Buy It Now! Open Sky shop coming soon to Experimental Mommy!

Each day here at Experimental Mommy, I love sharing my favorite products for baby, kids and Moms. At the end of each review, I usually point you in the correct direction to purchase these great finds. While increasing exposure and sales for these brands is a definite benefit, clicking away from my site just might make you miss something BIG! So, I am pleased to let you know that thanks to a new platform called Open Sky, you will be able to buy some of your favorite products right here without leaving Experimental Mommy!

Starting August 10th, Open Sky will allow me to sell products that I love directly on my site and allows small businesses a greater audience and potential sales. I will have total control of my store and will only be offering hand selected items to you. In fact, I had the opportunity to enjoy a sneak peak of the new platform and ordered a great product which promptly arrived on my doorstep! Buying from an Open Sky seller such as myself, will save you time and provide you with an open, honest review of the product before purchasing.

Are you interested in setting up your own Open Sky shop? Or perhaps selling your product through the Open Sky platform? Get in before the August 10th launch!

Talk Back to the T.V. Wrap-up! Watch The View!

It seems fitting that my last day to talk about The View with you is a “Day of Hot Topics!”  This is by far my favorite part of the show.  The Fab 4 (still missing Barbara Walters who plans to be back soon) were ready to roll today.  Sherri was thrilled to announce that she has gotten her dream role of playing a part in a Janet Evanovich movie that is nearing production!  Congrats Sherri!

Whoopi, still jetlagged and loopy from her flight in from Vienna, dove right into “Reality Show” fame.  Reports have surfaced that one of Tiger Woods’ mistresses will be starring in Celebrity Apprentice (gag) but recently checked into Celebrity Rehab.  Give. Me. A. Break.  So now you can contribute to a breakup of a marriage and that makes you a celebrity?  That makes me ill.  In that same vein, (or should I say “vain?”)  Spencer Pratt tells People magazine that he and wife Heidi Montag  have broken up because he wants fame and she does not.  Who else is sick of these two?  I put them in the same category as the cast of Jersey Shore, another prime example of pure garbage on TV earning more money than dedicated and hardworking teachers, research scientists looking to cure cancer, and other noble professionals who are trying to make a difference.  Can we just form some other planet where all these people can coexist without me having to look at them?

Kathy Griffin has gotten herself into hot water for some ugly comments about Senator Scott Brown.  Comments she made during her show “My Life on the D-List” included a crack about his daughters being prostitutes, which they are not.  Elisabeth said that politician’s kids are “off limits” and that if someone had made the same comments about President Obama’s daughters, people would be up in arms.  Joy shot back that things like this happen when politicians “parade” their children in front of the media.  While I agree that more exposure may put children at a bigger risk, it came off looking like Joy thinks it’s Senator Brown’s fault, WHICH IT IS NOT.  That’s like saying it’s a woman’s fault if she gets sexually assaulted for wearing a skirt that’s too short.  Wake up, Joy!  It’s all about RESPECT!

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Find out what it means to me!" (And Senator Brown's kids)

The next Hot Topic was something that really got my interest- a school in Massachusets is sending home “fat letters” to alert parents if their child’s Body Mass Index can mean future weight problems.  A lot of people took offense and the bottom line is, we are raising an unhealthy generation of kids.  P.E.  is often reduced or eliminated altogether, and it’s hard to keep the kids off the couch.  Whoopi made a good point that it’s a lot more expensive to shop for healthy foods like fruit and vegetables than it is to shop for junk, and that’s a fact.

We can’t have a day of Hot Topics without more dish on Mel Gibson!  His ex-wife has come out in his defense against the abuse allegations and says that despite Oksana Grigorieva’s claims, she did not experience any abuse at the hands of Mel.  Good to know…..I guess.  How much room is on this dream planet I want to exist?

Former CIA Agent,  Valerie Plame Wilson came to visit today to talk about how she became a spy.  Her identity was eventually revealed in 2003 and that ended her career in a firestorm of controversy.   Her story is very interesting and I can’t imagine having a lifestyle like hers, especially finding out she’s the mother of ten year old twins.  How she kept her secrets covered up with her close girlfriends I will never know…..I tell mine everything!  Valerie has a new documentary called “Countdown to Zero” that takes a long, hard look at nuclear weapons and the terrorists’ intent to use them.  It’s a terrifying thought.   The documentary looks incredibly thought-provoking and is in select theaters this Friday.

As this is my final post on The View, I would like to thank ABC Daytime for giving me the opportunity to be a View Ambassador.  I have really enjoyed being able to give my two cents on the shows every day and I hope you all have enjoyed reading them.  On that note, if ABC Primetime ever needs me to be a McDreamy Ambassador, look no further!  I am your woman for the job!

Please? Pretty please?

Once again, try to find some time in your schedule for The View!  Think of it as an hour to “get smart” and see what the view looks like in the world we live in!

Disclosure: As a “View Ambassador,” I was given financial compensation by ABC Daytime to write my opinions of the recent View episodes.  However, all opinions remain 100% my own.

Constructive Playthings New Toy Catalog Arrived!

A few days ago, the new Constructive Playthings catalog arrived!  I was excited to look through the pages to see what was new.  But before I could, my daughter ran through and saw the art supplies on the front cover and took off running with the catalog.  When she reappeared, the catalog had been inked up with gift suggestions for the next three Christmases and Birthdays!

Talk Back to the TV: Whoopi on the front lines!

Good Morning America’s weather anchor, Sam Champion and sports journalist Stephen A. Smith helped co-host today and the gang was 2 on 2, with just Whoopi and Joy at the table today from the original View crew.

Did anyone notice The View was the big news story on the Yahoo home page today?  It seems Whoopi Goldberg is catching flack for continuing to back Mel Gibson for his crazy behavior as of late.  While Whoopi agrees Mel is a “bonehead,” she does not think he is a racist.  It seems there has now been a 5th telephone recording leak to Radar Online, and the tapes have been tampered with.   Sam said there is obviously no clear winner here, and that is something I think we can all agree.  Stephen commented that Mel will have a harder time in the court of public opinion than in the regular court of justice, I think he is right!

More Hot Topics today included Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston, The Tea Party, charging big bucks on airlines for carry on bags, and the BP oil spill (a topic close to our region).  As of today, the cap was in place and working, thank God, so hopefully progress can be made in the Gulf, and fast.

Jennifer Love Hewitt was the guest today to talk about her new Lifetime movie, The Client List.  Jennifer says that in today’s economy, there are a lot of women turning to jobs of a sexual nature in order to support their families.  It’s a sad thought that in today’s world a conventional job isn’t enough to pay the bills.  Jennifer researched this role thoroughly and really devoted herself to getting it right.  The movie looks very interesting and Jennifer has certainly made a jump from her ultra wholesome days on Party of Five!  Jennifer has suffered through bad body-image publicity and she discussed how difficult that was for her.

The last guest on Thursday’s show was grown-up child star Joseph Gordon Levitt (formerly of 3rd Rock From the Sun) to talk about his new Sci-Fi movie Inception. Joseph is certainly all grown up and it’s nice to see a child star that didn’t end up going down the wrong path.  Inception has a great cast with Leonardo DeCaprio, Michael Caine, and Marion Cotilliard.  The movie looks great!  Check out Joseph now:

This week, The View has been chock-full and very interesting.  Can’t wait to tune in next week!

Disclosure: As a “View Ambassador,” I was given financial compensation by ABC Daytime to write my opinions of the recent View episodes.  However, all opinions remain 100% my own.

Talk Back to the T.V.! Watch The View with Clay Aiken!

Can we go back and change the name of Mel's blockbuster from Braveheart to Pottymouth?

Next up on Hot Topics was the recent controversy regarding the survey sent out to service men and women regarding openly gay soldiers and how you would feel about it.  The survey was put out by the Pentagon and has offended many.

Hey, only children out there!  Did you know a recent study by Time magazine shows that it’s a myth that only children are more selfish than those individuals with siblings who have to compete for parental attention?  I will say that although some days I would have paid someone to take my two younger brothers, I am glad I was not an only, and I hope and pray my two children feel the same way.  On the same note, a recent New York  Magazine article says that there are many parents out there that claim to love their kids but hate their life.  Ouch. I hope none of the moms I know feel that way, but I will say that we all know parenthood isn’t something to be entered into lightly, or something to do just because you feel like you’re “supposed to.”  Food for thought there, boys and girls!

Rock star Bret Michaels came to visit and discuss his recent health scare after a brain hemorrhage that almost ended his life.  After years of hard living, Bret is now taking precautions to ensure he will live a long time and will have another surgery in January.  Bret talked about the possibility of being the next judge on American Idol to replace Simon.  I would love to see that! Bret also sang a song from his new album Custom Built and sounded every bit as strong as he did back in his glory days.  Need a definition of “glory days?”  See below.

Does this picture make any of you laugh as hard as I do when I see it? Now for you youngsters, back in the day, this was considered HOT. Crikey.

Wrapping up today was adorable Lisa Lillien (aka The Hungry Girl) to show everyone some easy swaps to save calories on pigs in a blanket, hot wings, potstickers, mushroom tartlets, and even some favorite summer drinks that can be found in her new book, Hungry Girl Happy Hour.

Today’s show was a great one!  I always find something interesting to think about on The View.  I have found that the more I watch, the more I get used to the girls fighting for “talk time” over each other during Hot Topics!  It’s just like when my girlfriends and I get together….none of us can get a word in edgewise.  I have sort of felt sorry for the guest co-hosts…..none of them can compete with the chattiness!  If I were co-hosting I’d have to bring a talking stick or something!  Can’t wait to see who’s chatting tomorrow on The View!

Disclosure: As a “View Ambassador,” I was given financial compensation by ABC Daytime to write my opinions of the recent View episodes.  However, all opinions remain 100% my own.

Send a Smile with CardsDirect!

Can you believe that Christmas is only a little over 5 months away?  Each year it seems to sneak up on me and before I know it, the time has come for our annual family photo session (thanks, April!) for our Christmas card.  We generally take our picture in late October and select our card design no later than mid-November which is all closer than I want to think about right now!  Fortunately, I found a great site, Cards Direct, which features a HUGE selection of holiday cards!  About CardsDirect:

“CardsDirect is quite simply passionate about greeting cards. In our electronic world where millions of emails, texts, and instant messages are exchanged daily, we know that a traditional hand signed Greeting Card can grab someone’s attention unlike most other forms of communication. Think back to the last time you received an unexpected card from a friend or associate . . . the appreciation you felt that someone put the time and thought into sending you a card. CardsDirect knows that a quality card, professionally printed with your personal message or brand, at the best value, is an effective way to promote yourself or company with others.“

Looking around the site, I instantly fell in love with the unique Christmas card designs.  There is even a whole section dedicated to Professional holiday cards which are perfect for Doctors, Legal Offices and a ton of other professions!  My Mom is a Realtor and this one would be great for her clients (what do you think, Mom?).

In just a few weeks, my sister in law is expecting a baby girl, so I was checking out the birth announcements and photo cards.  How can you resist the sweet baby faces in these baby announcements?!?  I love the unique designs and the fact that you can order as little as 25 cards (envelopes are included).  And the price is great, too!  Many of the Christmas Photo Cards I have my eye on for this year are available as low as $0.84 a piece.  Not bad at all!

Before the holiday season sneaks up on you, check out CardsDirect for this year’s inspiration!

A stipend was received for this post from CardsDirect.  All opinions remain 100% mine.

Talk back to the TV! Watch The View…Barbara is back!

The View was back live today after last week’s vacation and the women were rested and ready to let it rip.  Hot Topics first congratulated Spain for winning their first World Cup.  I am happy for Spain but also happy that I don’t have to listen to the annoying vuvuzela any longer!  The first major Hot Topic discussed was LeBron James’ decision to play for Miami Heat after much speculation that he would stick with Cleveland, where he has been for 7 years.  Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert fired back with a scathing letter detailing his sour grapes.  Whoopi and Elisabeth agreed that the owner needed to relax, as business is business.  Joy speculated that maybe the Cavaliers were sore because of all the fanfare that surrounded LeBron while he made this choice.  After all, ESPN had a one hour “announcement” special for him to be interviewed and end the speculation.  Once he announced it, Cavaliers fans burned his jersey and have turned their backs on LeBron.   Yikes. Of course, most of y’all know Bridgette and I bleed black and gold for our beloved New Orleans Saints, and although business is business, I can imagine some of our crazed fans feeling the same way about my boyfriend Drew Brees if he decided to pull up roots and go play for the enemy Falcons.  I dare not even speak of it.

My boyfriend Drew. Have we mentioned here at The Not So Blog that the WHO DATS were the Superbowl champs? Sorry, getting off track........

Next up: Mel Gibson.  For those not in the know, Mel is embroiled in a heated verbal match with the mother of his 8th child.  Although not confirmed that it’s actually Mel, Oksana Grigorieva  (the mother of the baby) has leaked racial-slur laced phone conversations to the press.  Assuming it is Mel, I will just say this:  Mel, please stop talking.  Just stop.  You’re not studly Mad Max in the Thunderdome anymore.  You’re just coming off like a washed up old man who is slightly deranged.  Just be quiet.  No more bad words, ok?   Thanks! Whoopi claims to know Mel pretty well and insists that she is not happy with what he did, but knows he is not a racist.  I will say Whoopi is a lot more understanding than I would be!  Side note:  I had almost forgotten my beloved Tina Turner was in Mad Max!  Ahhh, the 80′s.  Good times.

Maybe Aunty Entity can explain to Mad Mel why it's not nice to use racial slurs? Just sayin'!

Barbara Walters was able to join in via Skype today to check in with the ladies for the first time since having heart surgery.  Barbara looks great 2 months post-surgery and is fully recovered!  Barbara thanked all the fans for their well wishes during her recovery.   When she described the procedure she had done, I was really in awe that she has made such progress in just two months.  Barbara says that all women need to urge their doctors to give them an EKG to screen for potential heart issues.   Thanks for the heads up Barbara!  I think we can agree that all women need to take control of their health and health care.

Next Hot Topic is Jake and Vienna.  I discussed these two crazies in a previous View post.  Did y’all see the breakup interview on last week’s Bachelor? Have mercy.  Elisabeth, like me, is “addicted” to The Bachelor and all the women agreed this drama was nauseating.  Maybe we can find some remote island for Mel, Jake, and Vienna?  Serenity, NOW!

Angie Harmon stopped in to visit today and talk about her new show Rizzoli and Isles. After a long stint on Law and Order, Angie has switched to TNT for her new show, which is getting great reviews.  Angie is married to adorable NY Giants star Jason Sehorn and they have 3 beautiful girls, all under the age of 6.  Needless to say, Angie stays busy and is planning on pulling up her roots in Los Angeles and heading down South to raise her girls in a more “down home” environment.  Welcome home, Angie!

American Idol winner Lee DeWyze visited The View to talk about his rags-to-riches story of how he went from paint salesman to playing to screaming crowds of on tour.  Lee seems to be getting his footing and is working on his album which is coming out in October.  Lee sang a beautiful rendition of Halleluja -definitely one to find on iTunes.

Clay Aiken is co-hosting Tuesday!  Watch The View with  me!

Disclosure: As a “View Ambassador,” I was given financial compensation by ABC Daytime to write my opinions of the recent View episodes.  However, all opinions remain 100% my own.

Pampers Celebrates Launch of new Series with Twitter Party!

Last month, I had the pleasure of visiting the Pampers Headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio to learn all about the people and science behind the new Dry Max Technology.  Now, Pampers is celebrating the July 5th launch of a new series of episodes on Pampers Village called, “Welcome to Parenthood.”  A little about the series:
“Capturing the real experiences and emotions behind three couple’s journeys through various stages of parenthood, Pampers® diapers, the world’s leading diaper brand, takes us along for an unforgettable ride in the honest and entertaining Web-based series, “Welcome to Parenthood, ” which will premier on Pampers.com and can also be viewed on the official Pampers Facebook page.

The 14-episode series, follows three sets of parents, all raising children at different ages and stages of development, as they experience the challenges, fears, excitement and joys that come with holding the title of Mom and Dad. Each five-to six minute episode is also filled with practical advice and key takeaways from the featured couple as they try to tackle different parenting milestones from baby proofing their homes to potty training their toddlers!”

Pampers is so excited about the new series and is ready to celebrate on Twitter with a “Welcome to Parenthood” viewing party!  The party will begin on Tuesday, July 13, at 8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT!  Join @PampersVillage and @mydfwmommy to win some great prizes including $50-$100 VISA gift cards!  Make sure you watch the first three episodes before July 13th and follow the fun at #PampersParenthood.  EVERY participant will walk away with a FREE gift! Check out one of the episodes on Facebook!

Have fun and Good Luck!

By promoting this contest, I have a chance to win a prize from Pampers as well.  However, all opinions remain 100% mine.

Talk Back to the TV! Watch The View!

The girls at The View are off enjoying some R&R this week so we are living in re-run city, but I thought I would share today’s show details as it was a good one, and still fairly recent.

The women started out by discussing what lengths Moms should go to in order to protect their kids from the day-to-day stuff that might happen to hurt them…..everything from smashing their fingers in a non-baby-proofed cabinet to getting kicked by a playground bully.  This is a constant part of my life.  As an elementary school teacher (with children the same age) I constantly walk that fine line between intervening when things get out of hand as opposed to letting kids fight their own battles so they can learn to fend for themselves.  It’s a very, very, tough call sometimes.  Most of the time, whatever decision I make, I always re-think later and wonder if I should have done it differently.  What’s your solution?  Do y’all step in, or stay out of it?

Karate Kid stars Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan visited the show to talk about their hit movie.  This is a movie we haven’t made it to yet, but want to.  I didn’t realize the new Karate Kid dealt with the topic of bullying and I am glad to hear that.  I think more movies and TV shows that appeal to kids should address bullying as much as possible to continually get the message out to children about the way they should treat others.   Jackie and Jaden really seemed to have a great rapport on the set and it sounds like the new Karate Kid movie will become as well loved as the original with Ralph Macchio.  (What happened to him, by the way?)  Jaden Smith (son of superstars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith) is one confident and funny kid for being so young.  I am sure his career will last a long time!

Kirsten Kemp Becker from TLC’s Property Ladder stopped by to talk about the ongoing property slump.  This is something that has hit my hometown pretty hard.  It’s a buyer’s market right now for sure with houses for sale everywhere!  The problem is, if you have to sell your house in order to buy another, you’re out of luck!  Very frustrating!  Kirsten showed houses in Tacoma, WA, Boulder, CO, and Pittsburg, PA, that provide a lot of bang for the buck.  Other areas where you can scoop up a lot of house for the money include several areas of Florida, Wilmington, NC, and Texas.  Also, if you have never seen Property Ladder, you need to check it out.  I love that show!

Style Expert Alison Deyette stopped by to talk about how to find designer labels for less by checking out your local T.J. Maxx and Marshall’s.  I will say I have found some ridiculously good buys at both places every time I go, I just have to psych myself up to go dig through it all!  All the outfits the models had one were cute!  In fact, I just went shopping yesterday and came home frustrated because I found nothing.  Might have to hit T.J. Maxx this weekend!  In the meantime, keep watching The View!

Disclosure: As a “View Ambassador,” I was given financial compensation by ABC Daytime to write my opinions of the recent View episodes.  However, all opinions remain 100% my own.

“Dig Around” at Your Garden Show!

One of my most favorite childhood memories is working in the garden with my Grandmother. My Grandparents grew a vegetable garden, rose garden and even raised chickens in their backyard. I remember picking tomatoes with my Granddad and trimming the rose bushes with my Grandma. Apparently, green thumbs are not an inherited trait and I have found myself to be very unskilled in the garden.  Unfortunately, I do not remember the skills I learned and have certainly not translated them into my own front yard. Now that my daughters are getting older, I would love to start a little kid-friendly garden in our front yard, but I really have no idea where to start.


I was recently introduced to a new website, Your Garden Show, which just may be my inspiration to begin “growing” my knowledge of gardening.  From the press release:

“An interactive online experience where gardeners of all levels can share videos, photos, ideas and inspiration, YourGardenShow.com brings gardeners together in a rewarding, fun way. With individual and group pages, how-to videos, garden planners and a rapidly growing audience for new garden bloggers, here you can share the wisdom you have “grown.”

“YourGardenShow.com features an expansive 6,000 vegetable database developed by Cornell University (778 varieties of tomatoes!) and a 5,900 ornamental database powered by Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the U.S.A. Uniting the 25,000 square miles of America’s gardens and beyond, YourGardenShow.com encourages passionate gardeners to “show and tell.”

I took the opportunity to begin my garden on Your Garden Show and see all they had to offer.  I quickly learned that this site is a great resource to the novice gardener!  One problem I have with starting my garden is that I have no idea what types of plants or flowers are appropriate for my space.  Fortunately, Your Garden Show has a searchable database where you answer questions on sun exposure, soil type, and moisture level and you are given some great options of plants that should thrive in your garden.  I found the gorgeous Iris “Beverly Sills” may be a good fit for my front yard! Isn’t it pretty?!?

I know that many of you have heard of a “vlog”, but did you know you could start a “glog” at Your Garden Show?  You can upload pictures and video to your “garden log” as well as enter the types of plants you are growing and keep detailed notes on garden observations.  I just had a great time looking through the numerous garden photos and found many that have inspired my future design! Go ahead and “dig around” at Your Garden Show and let me know what you find!

Don’t miss any of the action!  Follow Your Garden Show on Facebook and Twitter!

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