Lands End Backpacks: Review

A backpack from Lands End will be the perfect way to send my daughter off to her very first day of Kindergarten.

One Girls’ Solid ClassMate SmallHaul backpack in pink, and one five year old who cannot wait to step into her new Kindergarten classroom.  About the backpack:

“ClassMate® SmallHaul is designed & tested to carry everything a younger grade-schooler needs for class and more. Features like two big compartments, a removable organizer pouch, and mesh water bottle pockets keep everything in their place. Plus, it has a durable 600-denier polyester body with 1200-denier base that will hold up to all the rigors of a long school year.
Other features include:

• Padded C-shaped shoulder straps are comfortable & fit better
• Padded back panel for comfort
• What it fits: binder, folder, textbook, 2 notebooks, snowpants, sweatshirt/jacket, hat, gloves, shoes
• Small exterior zippered pocket keeps extras handy”

My daughter attended her current school last year for preschool where she had to bring a school tote bag.  So this year as she enters kindergarten, she was so excited to learn that got to select her own backpack!  Because I already knew the quality of Lands End clothing from making several purchases in the past, I was excited to get the opportunity try the backpacks.

Lily and I sat down with the Lands End catalog.  I directed her to the section of backpacks specifically made for her age.  As a Mom, I love that the backpacks are sized for different ages and book loads.  Lily is small and having a huge high school book bag would just not work.  She quickly selected the ClassMate SmallHaul Solid, in pink of course (is there any other color, really?).

When it arrived, she could not wait to stuff it with her new school supplies.  We found the two pockets useful in order to separate her folders from her pencil case and glue.  She also found it amusing that she can carry at water bottle in the side mesh pockets.  She has been wearing her backpack to school for almost two weeks and is loving it!  I was a bit worried that she would ultimately think it was “uncool” because there was no cartoon character or princess on the front, but she feels like a big girl with this sturdy backpack and could not be happier.

If you are in the midst of back to school shopping, check out the great selection of boys and girls backpacks designed for kids ages 3 and up (the TinyTake packs are precious!).  The backpack we reviewed is now on sale for $19.95 and I am thinking or ordering a second one to keep for the future!  While your at Lands End, take a look at the Fall Collection, too!

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 Lands End. All opinions are 100% mine.

Happy Heads Review! (A Type-A Mom’s MUST read!)

I have a few fears in life.  Green peas, lizards, and being caught at the grocery without makeup are a few.  One of my biggest:  HEAD LICE.  As an elementary school teacher, lice (the word just kinds makes you itch, right?) is a common childhood experience…..that I’d rather not deal with.  For one, I am a germophobe personified, and two, EWWWW!  But, lice have no prejudice and prefer to live in the cleanest kid’s hair.  With my children’s fair hair, lice would be a nightmare in this house…or anyone’s for that matter.  A friend once dealt with lice with all three of her girls who had waist-length hair and a home that looked like a museum.  Think floor length drapes in every room and chi-chi expensive pillows everywhere.    She called it the most humbling experience of her life.   Getting rid of them takes serious work.

That’s why when I was asked to do the review for Happy Heads, I was a little confused because we have (knocking wood) never had lice.  Then I found out that Happy Heads was not only a lice treatment system, but a lice PREVENTION system as well.  I was in hair heaven when I heard this news!

From the website: “Melissa Gordon is the founder and owner of Happyheads Services, LLC. She personally understands the stress and anxiety of getting head lice. When her twins were in kindergarten, they brought head lice home and shared it with her. Her trials with the predicament were frustrating, confusing and exhausting. She found conflicting advice and information online. She was concerned about the chemicals she was using on her kids’ heads. And, just as she thought she had rid her children, herself and her home of lice, they were back.”

After that hair raising experience, Melissa worked to develop her line of FDA-Registered, Non-Toxic Happy Heads products.  I happily opened my box of Scootie Cootie Shampoo and Spray Leave-in conditioner.  These products, when used daily in combination with the Bye-Bye Lice Shampoo, can keep your child’s head free of those nasty little buggers the whole school year long.  The first thing that I noticed was the smell.  Since my brothers both had lice as kids (thankfully just once) I remember the smell of the shampoo my mom had to use on them.  This was totally different!  No chemical smell that makes you fear your child might wake up with a third eye, just a fresh, clean smell that lice happen to hate.  In fact, the smell was identical to the frou-frou shampoo at the frou-frou salon I used to go to until I came to my senses and realized I shouldn’t have to sell a kidney to get a haircut.  But I digress……

Em happily agreed to have her hair washed and had no side effects at all from the shampoo, other than excessive giggling while I took the picture.  Afterwards, the spray helped me to comb through her hair and left it smelling clean.  Once her hair was dry, it still had a light scent but not overpowering, and did not feel or appear coated or weighed down by the products.   I am sold!  I most definitely intend to keep using the Happy Heads products to prevent lice.  Too late for you?  Happy Heads has treatment products too!  Stay cootie free and you’ll have a Happy Head in your house too.

Mom’s Do it All: Calendar and Planner Review

My schedule is a crazy blend of school, soccer, gymnastics, meetings, the occasional date night or girl’s night out…the list goes on and on.  Without a calendar I would not survive.  I was thrilled to recently receive the line of “Mom’s Do it All” calendars from Caleb Gray Studio. Caleb Gray designs innovative fabrics and has now lent his talents to these adorable calendars.  From the Orange Circle Studios Website:  “Loaded with product enhancements, Mom’s will enjoy improved function with this calendar compared to other leading organizing calendars.”

I received the 2011 Mom’s Do It All Planner, which I am now having a love affair with.  First off, it’s spiral bound so the pages stay flat.  It’s got a sturdy cover so it can stand up to a juice box malfunction, and it’s a whopping 17 months long!  The best part is, it’s not whopping in size so I can toss it in my purse without weighing it down.  Along the way you have plenty of space to fill in your family members’ activities by either writing them in or using the adorable stickers provided. There are even tear out To Do and Grocery lists.  The planner starts in August (because that’s when school starts and Moms really kick into high gear) and goes week-by-week so you can get a feel for how crazy your life will be for the next 7 days.  Using this planner is so easy and makes your life look so nice and neat you might even be able to resist that urge to clone yourself so you can be at soccer, ballet, and the PTA meeting all at one time.

The bigger version of the planner is the Moms Do It All Calendar, with magnetic pages so that it hangs easily on “mission control” in the house….the fridge.  A clip-on pen makes things easy, along with fold out tabs so each family member gets his or her own space, and pockets so you can keep track of that plumber’s name you scrawled on the gum wrapper you found in your purse.   This calendar has stickers too so you can easily mark things like birthday parties, carpool, and dentist appointments without taking up extra space.   The colors are soft so it’s not an eyesore in your house like that freebie calendar you got from your insurance agent!

The Mom’s Do it All line is inexpensive and adorable, and available at Orange Circle Studios, Calendars.com,  and Barnes and Noble.  Best of all, their inexpensive price is hard to beat!  With these calendars, you CAN do it all!

PaperMate Plant-A-Pen: Review

So, you just read the title of this post and you are utterly confused.  Why on Earth would you plant a pen?  An ink pen?  I thought the same thing when I was asked to participate in the PaperMate Plant-A-Pen blog tour.  I guess I never really thought of what happens to pens and mechanical pencils after we throw them away, but it must be quite a mass of writing instruments!

PaperMate is doing it’s part to help the environment by coming out with a line of biodegradable products.  The line includes a pen and a mechanical pencil made up of corn based products.  The entire refill holder and the majority of the pen and pencil components will biodegrade in approximately one year when buried in soil or compost.

I thought this would be a great way to teach my girls about the little things we can do to help the environment!  Following the the instructions on the package, we disassembled the pen and threw away the inside parts.  I took them into the yard and we buried the outer casing while I talked to them about what it means to recycle.  They had a great time doing the outdoor activity!

If you are starting your back to school shopping, take a moment to consider the environment and try the new Paper Mate biodegradable pens and mechanical pencils!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Paper Mate and received the products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Nuo Tech Laptop Bag: Review

This year has been full of great opportunities for Experimental Mommy!  In June, I was invited to visit the P&G Headquarters in Cincinnati for Fabric Care University and I traveled to New York City just last week for BlogHer ’10.  Any traveling blogger knows that a laptop and fabulous (but functional) laptop bag is a necessity.  In November, I managed to buy myself a MacBook so the laptop part was taken care of, but I was still in need of a laptop case.  I decided that a rolling case was best for my needs and I began to search.

Fortunately, I came across the great designs from Nuo Tech!  The 2006 Project Runway winner, Chloe Dao, designed a new line for Nuo Tech focusing on today’s fashionistas and mobile professionals.  “I design for working men or women like myself – professionals who do not want to sacrifice style for function. The Dao Chloe Dao Collection has the best of both worlds,” commented Chloe Dao. “I am a woman that is always on the go, literally. It has been wonderful to be able to work with Nuo to design accessories that are functional and fashionable that help me navigate my busy life with style.”

Her collection includes pieces (which start at just $24.99) such as a slim laptop brief, a flip tote, a mini backpack, over the shoulder satchel, netbook clutch and my favorite, the rolling laptop brief.  From the website:

The Chloe Dao Rolling Laptop Brief “features a slim design that is up to 20% lighter than traditional rollers and a fully padded laptop compartment that fits most 15.6″ screen laptops. With it’s runway style bold designer print and signature silhouettes this beautiful bag stands out in a crowd!  Smooth rolling inset inline skate wheels and a ergonomic telescoping handle makes navigating through an airport, train terminal, or around town a breeze. This bag’s fashion forward style, smart organization compartments and ability to fit under most airline seats make it an ideal traveling companion.”

I took my new bag on both blog trips this summer and absolutely loved it.  The bag was lightweight and very easy to handle.  I was able to organize my travel accessories (iPod, headphones, cell phone, laptop, magazines, notebook and MacBook) so they were easily accessible on my flights.  Everything fit well and was thoroughly protected, but my favorite part was that the bag easily fit under the seat on the airplane.  I did not have to store the bag overhead, so all of my belongings were easy to reach throughout the flight.  Due to the bright geometrical pattern, my bag was easy to distinguish and also caught the eye of several other conference attendees.  At $119.00, I think this bag is completely worth the investment.  The quality is exceptional, the functionality is great and the versatility is unmatched.

This review is the opinion of The Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. Thank you to Nuo Tech for supplying the product for review.

Arm & Hammer Spinbrush My Way! Review

As my girls get older, they want to brush their teeth by themselves.  It’s hard for me to let go of that control, but they do need to learn to do it on their own.  I monitor their brushing and take over when necessary, but I have often thought that maybe a battery-operated toothbrush might make brushing easier.  So, when I was approached to try the Arm & Hammer Spinbrush My Way Electric Toothbrush, which is geared for girls ages 3-12, I couldn’t have been happier.

A few highlights of the toothbrush from the press release:

This review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  Thank you to Arm & Hammer for supplying a unit for review.  All opinions remain 100% mine.

The Organization of Moms: Avery Review

Can you believe that summer is just about over?  It’s time to start thinking about Back to School and to me, that means chaos!  I will admit that I love summer because my husband is a teacher and stays home with my girls during the summer months.  Things just seem more relaxed and organized when he is home!  The dreaded day where he goes back to school is quickly approaching which means Mom better get organized!

I am a major list maker.  Lists make me feel more in control of my life and give me a sense of accomplishment when I am able to cross things off.  And there is just something about writing lists on pretty paper with cute gadgets that makes my list seem less daunting.  Enter Avery and the Organization of Moms.

When I received a package of goodies from Avery, I didn’t know where to look first!  There were so many great things to help me get organized starting with an adorable tote bag.  From labels to sticky notes, Avery sent it all!  But, my favorite items are the ones shown in the picture below.

The sticky transparent envelopes called Avery PocketTabs are fa-bu-lous.  They are described as:

“Available in two sizes, Avery PocketTabs are perfect for storing CDs and DVDs, receipts, coupons, gift cards, library cards, tickets or even a little extra cash. The durable, repositionable pocket has a closeable flap to keep your stuff safe and sound.”

I am in the process of organizing a conference for review bloggers and many of these items will come in handy as I prepare packets for potential sponsors!  And the Avery NoteTabs have been a godsend for editing our documents and proposals!  So professional!  I am very excited about attending the Avery Social Luxe Lounge this week at BlogHer ’10 and learning about the new products to put to use.

Make sure you don’t miss any of Avery’s back to school tips!  Follow the Organization of Moms on Facebook and Twitter!

Wendy’s New Salads: Review

Because both my husband and I work full time, I find that we reach for fast food a few times a week for either lunch or dinner.  While it is certainly convenient, there isn’t much variety.  I often find myself tired of the traditional burger and longing for something different…..like a great salad.  However, ordering a salad at a fast food restaurant can be quite risky.  In my experience, these types of salads have included soggy lettuce with a presentation that looks like it’s been in the container for a week.

On my latest fast food crawl, I found myself at Wendy’s (it’s pretty close to my work).  On the window, I saw several new salads that peaked my curiosity.  Knowing that the actual product never looks like the picture, I was skeptical.  But, Wendy’s offered to have me come in and try one of the salads on them!  Nothing to lose, right?  On my next visit,  I chose the new Apple Pecan Chicken Salad which includes:

Lettuce (iceberg, romaine and spring mix), roasted pecans, Granny Smith and Red Apple slices, grilled chicken, sweet dried cranberries, crumbled blue cheese and an all-natural pomegranate vinaigrette dressing.

I will admit that I was pleasantly surprised when opening the salad….it looks delicious.  In a recent presentation done by Wendy’s, I learned that the lettuce is USA grown and goes from harvest to your store in 3-8 days.  To ensure your salad is never soggy, each store has it’s own salad spinner!  My lettuce was indeed crunchy and not soggy in the least.  My favorite part of the salad was the pecans!  Roasted with sea salt, cayenne pepper and sugar, they were divine!

Another reason I love Wendy’s new salad is that it allows for you to customize the ingredients to suit your dietary needs.  Watching your calories?  Don’t add the pecans (although that is a total waste of good pecans! LOL!) or use only one packet of dressing instead of two to remove some unwanted fat grams.

Next time you are in a hurry, but looking for something out of the ordinary, stop by Wendy’s for one of their new YUMMY salads!  Choose from Apple Pecan Chicken, Baja, Spicy Chicken Caesar, and BLT Cobb.  Don’t forget to follow Wendy’s on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with the latest news!

Need a Mealtime Makeover? E-Mealz Review and Coupon Code!

Like most people, I hate doing our yearly taxes, but one of the things I REALLY dread is when we take a long, hard look at exactly where our money goes, and how much of it.  One of the places we seem to always spend a lot is the grocery store.  Although we typically eat out on weekends, I cook every night for the family.   I am always looking for ways to save money at the grocery!  Recently, someone told me about E-Mealz and I was curious to try it out and see if it really worked.  What is E-Mealz?  From the website: “E-Mealz will help you to save time, money and make time for family with delicious weekly dinner menu plans everyone will love!”

How does it work?  For $5 a month (yes, you read that right…a mere $1.25 a week) you can register for one of 26 meal plans, published weekly, that are tailor-made for your family’s needs.  You choose the plan according to where you shop (menus are based on weekly specials and sales a particular store), dietary needs (Low-Carb, Low-Fat, and  Vegetarian are available), and your family’s size (anywhere from 2-6 people).  Registration is fast and easy and within minutes you print your weekly menu (complete with recipes) and grocery list!   If your particular grocery store isn’t on the list, you can even choose the “Any Store” plan that gives you an economical menu no matter where you shop.  The grocery list is incredibly easy to follow as the items are organized.  If you decide to eliminate a meal or two should your family choose to eat out, everything is coded so that you can easily scratch off whatever you don’t need to buy.

This week’s Wal-Mart meal plan total was under $80, which is far less than I usually spend.  I hit the store with my list in hand and was able to easily collect the things I needed.  There were a couple of things my store was out of, so I had to get a different brand, some of which were slightly higher priced, but my grocery total was not much over what E-Mealz anticipated and was still far less than I normally spend on dinner items.

This week’s menu included  Roasted Chicken with Cranberry Feta salad, Salsa Steak over Rice, and my kids’ favorite, Cinnamon Swirl French Toast.  (What is it about having breakfast for dinner that is so good?)  Other menu items were equally delicious and balanced, and I was happy to see we weren’t eating boxed macaroni and cheese in order to spend less at the grocery.   See a sample menu here. Recipes are super easy so you don’t have to be Emeril in order to put something delicious on the table for your family.

I would highly recommend E-Mealz to anyone looking to save time and money.  You can even give E-Mealz as a gift to someone you love.  Check out the FAQ page too so that you can get answers to commonly asked questions.  You can also check out E-Mealz on Facebook and Twitter and see what other money-saving cooks are saying.

Click on the above graphic to join!

COUPON CODE

I will be following E-Mealz for the next month and will post again at the end of the month for a wrap-up.  In the meantime, I am so excited to share that E-Mealz has very generously offered our readers a membership discount.  Any first-time subscribers can earn 10% off your membership by entering the code savemoney when prompted at registration.  E-Mealz also offers a referral incentive if you have friends sign up!  Incredible!  Let me know if you sign up and what you all think!  Thanks, E-Mealz!

This review is the opinion of Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a different experience with the product.  Emealz provided one month of service free of charge to facilitate this review, however all opinions remain 100% mine.

HABA’s Soft Doll Line: Lilli Review

One of the soft dolls from HABA will create a great bedtime friend for my oldest daughter who loves playing “Mommy” to all of her dolls.

One HABA soft doll named, Lilli, and my precious oldest daughter named, Lily!  About the new HABA soft doll line:

“Meet Fay Finja, Souri, Lotta, Amelie and Paola – each 15” of sweet smiles and outstretched arms. HABA’s soft doll collection features a padded body, chenille hair, cotton/polyester and velour dresses. Each doll is dressed in happy colors of the rainbow and carries an accessory that makes them special from a flower basket to a headband. And just in case, each doll is hand washable (but keep them away from the dryer).”

My oldest daughter who is five years old, has a growing love for her baby dolls.  It seems like each week, a new friend joins in her bedtime routine (there may not be room for my daughter in bed pretty soon!).  As she becomes more involved in pretend play, she also loves playing Mommy to her dolls and enjoys dressing and caring for them.  For these reasons, Lily loves dolls that have removable clothes and are easy to dress.  When I showed her the new soft doll line from HABA she immediately picked her namesake…Lilli!  Lilli is described as:

“Dressed in pink from head to toe, this girly-girl has several layers to her pretty dress that she wears with contrasting socks.”

When the doll arrived, Lily could not wait to open the box.  The doll comes in a nice sturdy package which would be ideal from gift giving.  Once removed, the first thing Lily did was start braiding Lilli’s soft pink hair. Shortly after, she started exploring the removable clothes and shoes.  The Lilli doll must have passed the test, because she has already joined the others in Lily’s bed tonight!

My daughter gave two thumbs up to her new Lilli HABA soft doll ($35).  With Christmas holidays fast approaching, I think some of the HABA accessories such as the Doll Carry Cot ($60) or Horse ($35) would make great gifts.

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience. A product was provided to facilitate this review, but all opinions remain 100% mine.

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