How many times has your family been hungry and decided at the last minute to order pizza?  And then you wait….and wait….and wait some more.  By the time the pizza arrives, everyone is grouchy, tired and starving.  Sound familiar?

I hate to admit that this has happened in my home on more than one occasion.  Most of the time, it revolves around some sort of holiday or festivity like Halloween, Mardi Gras or Superbowl Sunday.  Instead of gambling on the pizza this year, we decided to get DiGiorno for our annual family get together during the Superbowl.  While our beloved New Orleans Saints were not in the game, we still needed to eat!
I headed to Walmart to get supplies for our party and was amazed at the varieties of DiGiorno available for purchase.  I had no idea that DiGiorno offered more than just pizza!  I purchased 3 of the cheese pizzas (the kids’ favorite) which came with breadsticks and dipping sauce for $5.95!  For the adults, I got the thin crust pepperoni and some supreme rising crust pizza.  And because this is New Orleans, we topped off this SuperBowl party with some King Cake.

To be honest, I was skeptical about frozen pizza for a party.  My kids almost never like frozen pizza, but I had heard good things about DiGoirno so we gave it a go.  As it cooked, the aroma filled the house!  To my surprise, the kids devoured the cheese pizzas.  The breadsticks with marinara dipping sauce was my favorite and I would definitely buy them again.  The adults loved the rising crust pizza which actually tasted like takeout!

For your next party, consider stocking up on DiGiorno Pizza and save yourself the stress (and money) of traditional delivery.  Head to Walmart and look for the DiGiorno Guide to Greatness for a Winning Line Up and great savings, too!

This post is the opinion of Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a sample product and compensation was provided to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.

In all honesty, the year 2012 has not been kind.  I am more than happy to start over and celebrate the Chinese New Year, which began January 23rd.  Much like my traditional New Year’s Eve celebration, the Chinese New Year begins with a reunion meal including family and friends.  Along with celebrating prosperity, peace, happiness and longevity, family and friends traditionally give red envelopes filled with gifts which symbolize good luck in the coming year (I could certainly use some good luck these days!).

From now through February 6th, you can celebrate the Chinese New Year at P.F. Chang’s China Bistro!  At the close of the meal, you will be given a red envelope with a special gift inside.  But, don’t open it!  Bring it back at your next visit and your server will open it to reveal meal discounts or even a free dessert.

If you are not up for a night on the town, you can enjoy the yumminess of P.F. Chang’s in the comfort of your own home!  The P.F. Chang’s Home Menu offers a wide variety of noodle entrees including Pepper Steak with Chow Fun Noodles, Grilled Chicken Teriyaki with Lo Mein Noodles, Garlic Chicken with Dan Dan Noodles, and Firecracker Shrimp with Yakisoba Noodles.  Tonight, we tried the Firecracker Shrimp and the Grilled Chicken Teriyaki.

The meals are very easy to prepare.  Simply open the bag and place the contents in a skillet. Heat for 10 minutes while stirring or until sauce thickens.  Immediately, the delicious smell filled our home.  In just under 15 minutes, my family and I were gathered around the table eating.  Even my two daughters loved the noodles!  It is important to realize that each bag serves only two, so we prepared two bags for our family of four and did not have any leftovers.

So if you choose to dine in or out, celebrate the Chinese New Year with P.F. Chang’s!  Don’t miss any news or special deals by “liking” P.F. Chang’s on Facebook!

The post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a sample and gift card was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.

In an effort to be ahead of the game, I was strolling down the Valentine’s aisle at my local store.  Looking over the selection of candies and cards was fun but everything was just….typical.  There were your average cards featuring today’s pop stars, Disney characters, and cute baby animals, but I really wanted something more personal for my daughters.

Recently, I had the opportunity to try out the selection of kids Valentine’s Day cards at Minted.com.  We have been honored to try Minted’s Holiday cards in the past and were very pleased with the results, so we have high hopes for this Season, too.  When I first opened the classroom Valentine’s Day card selection, I immediately feel in love!  The cards are bright, cheerful, personable and above all, UNIQUE.   You can select to personalize the cards with your child’s name, photo, or message which really makes the card special.

My daughter and I selected to try the Work of Art Classroom Valentines.  This card allows me to add a picture of my daughter and leaves plenty of room for my three year old to draw a special picture for her friends.  She absolutely LOVES the color and draw so this card definitely shows her personality.  I have placed my order (I got 25 cards for $21!) and am waiting for the shipment, but the proof is absolutely adorable, don’t you think?

If you are looking for unique personalized classroom Valentine’s Day cards, look no further.  Get your order in at Minted.com no later than February 7th to ensure Valentine’s Day delivery!

This post is the opinion of Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a product sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.

A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to visit the KRAFT kitchens as part of the BlogEats Blogger Conference.  One of the products we learned about, Fresh Take, was top secret…until NOW!  This January, KRAFT Fresh Take will make it’s way to your local grocery store and you do NOT want to miss it!

As a busy Mom, I tend to get stuck in the same meal plan week after week (the kids even know to look for Red Beans and Rice on Mondays).  So, I was excited to have KRAFT show me a Fresh Take on dinner.  The mix can be found in the refrigerated dairy section of your grocery store because it consists of one resealable plastic pouch separated into two compartmentalized sections (seasoned breadcrumbs on one side, blend of natural cheese on the other).

I had the opportunity to try the Italian Parmesan variety with my family tonight.  Before starting, you simply open the pouch and mix the breadcrumbs and cheese.  The pouch serves as the mixing bowl….no extra dishes to clean up!  Then you are ready to coat chicken, pork, fish or beef and bake.  Under five minutes of prep time! After baking for about 25 minutes, my Italian Parmesan chicken was ready which I decided to serve over pasta.  I have to say, I was pretty impressed with myself!  The chicken was crunchy, delicious and perfectly seasoned!  In fact, BOTH of my girls asked for seconds…that’s a first!

The KRAFT Fresh Take meal kit come in six varieties: Southwest Three Cheese, Italian Parmesan (delicious!), Rosemary & Roasted Garlic, Cheddar Jack & Bacon, Chili Lime & Panko and Savory Four Cheese.  The suggested retail price is $2.99.

Need some inspiration before you try the new KRAFT Fresh Take?  Check out the recipe below:

Pecan Pork Tenderloin

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Serves:	8
Prep time:	15 minutes
Cook time:	25 minutes
Total time:	40 minutes
Allergy:	Tree Nuts
Meal type:	Main Dish
Region:	Worldwide
Website:	Kraft Recipes

Ingredients

• 1 packet fresh take rosemary & roasted garlic recipe cheese breadcrumb mix ((pre-mixed))
• 1/2 cup planters pecans ((finely chopped))
• 2lb pork tenderloin ((trimmed))
• 2 teaspoons olive oil

Directions

Step 1	HEAT oven to 400°F.
Step 2	COMBINE cheese mixture and nuts. Brush meat with oil; coat evenly with nut mixture.
Step 3	PLACE tenderloins, side-by-side, in foil-lined 13x9-inch pan.
Step 4	BAKE 25 to 30 min. or until done (145ºF). Let stand 3 min. before slicing.

This post is the opinion of Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While I received product in order to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.

About a year ago, I was so excited to purchase my first iPad.  I think I got to play with it for all of ten minutes until my kids took over.  Now, I am lucky if I get to touch it on a daily basis!  Positive side?  There are some incredible apps for kids and I am happy to share a brand new series with you, Fingerprint Play.

Aimed at children ages 3-8, Fingerprint Play introduced the first ever mobile social learning and play network for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.  The first five apps released enable parents to communicate with their kids via the Mom Comm feature and see actual game play snapshots to keep an eye on your child’s progress.

The five apps include In Big Kid Life Fire Fighter, Big Kid Life Vet, Big Kid Life Fairy Princess, Play Maker, and DoReMi, 1-2-3.  My girls got to try out the Big Kid Life Fairy and Play Maker recently and I am happy to report that they loved them both!

• Big Kid Life Fairy Princess- OK, anything with the word “princess” in it is bound to be a hit with my girls, but I was happy to see that BOTH of my daughters were able to enjoy the app at their own level.  Kids ages 4-7 develop reading comprehension skills as they play through 15 magical adventures, creating their very own Fairy Princess story.  The easy level required minimal dexterity and asked general comprehension questions which were perfect for my almost 4 year old.  The higher levels require a little more skill and was great for my 1st grader who takes comprehension tests regularly.  I love that the kids can send me a note to tell me about their progress, and I automatically was notified via email when my kids “leveled up” in the game.

• Fingerprint Play Maker- Believe it or not, the girls liked this app MORE than the princess one!  Targeted for kids ages 4-8, this game focuses on math and spelling skills. The girls loved designing their character and recording their own personal messaged.  The higher levels involved addition skills which makes for great drills for my first grader, while the lower level required recognition of shapes perfect for my preschooler.

The Fingerprint games can be found for download in the Apple App Store for $2.99.  For a limited time, the apps are FREE!   Want to learn more?  Check out the video tutorial below:

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a sample product was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% my own.

Here in Southeast Louisiana, we are all confused.  Is it Spring?  Is it Winter?  The temperature has been so inconsistent that most of us are suffering from allergy symptoms that we normally do not see in January.  Even my azalea bushes are in bloom!  Despite the negative, we are thoroughly enjoying the warmer temperatures which are allowing us to get outside and be more active than we normally can this time of year.  In fact, it’s time for a picnic!

After our meal, the kids decided to play on our swingset, so I broke out our new reclining camp chair from Picnic Fun in order to enjoy the beautiful weather and relax in style! About the chair:

“The Reclining Camp Chair is no ordinary camp chair. It features a folding steel frame that can hold up to 300 lbs., padded seat and back rest covered in durable 600D polyester canvas, 3 seating positions, adjustable armrests, an insulated drink holder in the right armrest, a large zippered pocket on back of chair, and a matching storage tote with carrying strap.”

Not only does the chair look pretty cool, it is incredibly comfortable!  The reclining feature is pure genius.  While you do have to get out of the chair in order to adjust the incline, the reward is totally worth it.  I was worried that reclining would negate the use of the cupholder, but my cup stayed level in the holder (it’s even insulated!).  I also love that the back of the chair has a zippered pouch to store items such as your keys, phone or wallet (making dragging a purse to a sporting event or picnic unnecessary).  I can’t wait to take our new chair to the upcoming Mardi Gras parades!

If you are looking forward to the picnics of Spring, get prepared by checking out the accessories from Picnic Fun (the picnic baskets are great). You can purchase the reclining camp chair for just $62.95!

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions are 100% mine.

Since 2009, I have often joked that I have more children than I really do…specifically, daughters.   My daughter Emily, now 7, received her first American Girl Doll in ’09 and has played with her so much that she has become another member of the family.  Rebecca comes everywhere with us.  A year later, we added the 2010 Girl of the Year Lanie to her collection, and we are beyond thrilled to now have the 2012 Girl of the Year, McKenna Brooks!

McKenna has beautiful blue eyes!

McKenna stands at 18 inches tall and comes dressed in a sporty outfit for her on-the-go lifestyle as she is a terrific gymnast.  The McKenna paperback book accompanies her.  You will fall in love with her pretty blue eyes and long, silky, caramel-colored hair that will lend itself to many different hairstyles!  McKenna loves practicing and performing her gymnastics routines, her goldendoodle Cooper, and her teammates Toulane and Sierra.

Playing with her American Girl dolls is a daily routine for Em.  She adores setting them up to have tea, play school, or play with the many pets that are available.  She can’t get enough of the adorable outfits American Girl offers, and loves changing their clothes to suit where we are going!  Emily’s best friend has three American Girl dolls as well, and whenever she comes over they play for hours.  I love how the dolls offer a great avenue for creativity and imagination.  I also love how the books teach little girls wonderful life-lessons, such as how to overcome adversity and problem-solve.  No meek and mild girls here!  All of the American Girls are smart, resourceful, and excellent role models.

McKenna has a wide variety of outfits and accessories to suit her every need.  Emily had to check it out (with McKenna of course) to see what she might like to add next to her ever-growing collection.  The beam and bar are adorable and McKenna can really “grip” the bar to perform her practice routine!  Her outfits are adorable, my favorite being the school outfit that we HAVE to have, complete with rain gear, of course.  Last but not least, McKenna’s Loft Bed Set is like no other American Girl bed I’ve seen before!  The loft bed has a built-in desk, shelves, and a ribbon board to display keepsakes.  The bed set includes an adorable quilt and bedding, pet hamster, books, a gymnastics trophy, and much more.   In fact, Santa just came to our house and Emily already has the Loft Bed Set on her next Christmas list!

If your daughter doesn’t have an American Girl yet, 2012 is the time to start!  McKenna is simply beautiful and her collection is fabulous!  If your daughter has already started her American Girl collection, McKenna will be a great new friend for the dolls she already has!  American Girl has done it again with McKenna…..a beautiful, smart, and courageous Girl of the Year!

This post is the opinion of Jennifer of Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a product sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% honest.

When my daughter was very small, one of her preschool teachers asked her what her favorite thing to do with her Mom was.  Her answer:  Go to Target.  My children LOVE Target (and who are we kidding, so do I).  There are many, many reasons to love Target but one of the biggest is Archer Farms.

Archer Farms makes so many delicious snacks and meal staples you’ll wish every time of day was meal time.  We recently had the treat of sampling the popcorn!  We were able to try the Golden and Midnight Blend Kernels and the Buffalo, Kettle Corn, and White Cheddar seasonings during a recent family movie night!

Em had to have a bowl of popcorn all to herself! She loved it!

My children were fascinated to see “real” popcorn as we usually just toss it into the microwave, so that added to the fun.  The directions are easy to follow and we used the stovetop method since we don’t have a popcorn popper.  This method worked great and we were excited to see hot, fluffy popcorn after it finished popping.  After trying all the seasonings, my kids decided their fave was the Kettle Corn seasoning and hubby and I loved the Buffalo, which was a little spicy but gave the popcorn some real kick.

Archer Farms Products are a creative idea for a gift as well!   These popcorn products would be fantastic in a basket along with a DVD or two for family movie night!!  Tasty food at a tasty price is Archer Farms’ guarantee!  Happy popping!

We have a friend who bakes an insane amount of cookies each Christmas.  We are the joyful recipients each year of a tin full.  Last year, there was a new cookie in the mix, and we all agreed it was awesome.  We simply COULD NOT stop eating them.  I had to have the recipe so I called my friend and was shocked to learn they were cookies made with PRINGLES POTATO CHIPS.  WHAAAT?  Haven’t made them?  Trust me…..you can’t eat just one.

Pringles Potato Chip Cookies

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Serves:	30
Prep time:	20 minutes
Cook time:	15 minutes
Total time:	35 minutes
Meal type:	Dessert
Misc:	Child Friendly
Occasion:	Birthday Party, Christmas
Region:	Worldwide
Website:	AllRecipes

Delicious cookies made with Pringles Potato Chips

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cups original pringles (crushed)
• 1/2 cup pecans (ground)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions

Step 1	In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.
Step 2	Stir in potato chips and pecans.
Step 3	Add vanilla; mix well.
Step 4	Stir in flour just until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and forms a ball.
Step 5	Shape into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Flatten with a glass dipped in flour.
Step 6	Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
Step 7	Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

This post is the opinion of Jennifer of The Experimental Mommy.  While a product sample was received to facilitate this post, all opinions remain 100% honest.

This Christmas has been an awakening for me.  Long gone are the days of the “cutesy” toys for my son, who is almost 10.  He wants all things BOY.  100% testosterone.   The challenge has been finding things that are “cool” enough for him but safe enough for me!  One perfect solution is Air Zone Blasters from Prime Time Toys!

Ready....Aim....FIRE!

Sold exclusively this season at Toys R Us, these brightly colored foam blasters will catch everyone’s attention!  Affordably priced, Air Zone offers a variety of high-powered fun for your sharpshooters.  My son loved his Quickfire Twin Pack and had a ball recently in the backyard with a friend.  The foam darts mean that you can relax a little….they are soft enough to make play fun and safe, even indoors.  Best of all, the darts and clips in the Air Zone blasters are universal.  They will easily make the switch from one blaster to another.  This is a really cool feature as some other blasters have darts that only work in certain shooters, making organization somewhat difficult.  The bright colors mean they won’t get easily lost under the bed or in the bushes!

With two nephews that are close in age to my son, these will make perfect Christmas gifts for them too.  Each year it becomes more and more difficult not over-spend, and with many Air Zone blasters priced in the $20 range,  it’s easy to get a lot of bang for your buck!  Any boy on your list would love this fun gift!

This post is the opinion of Jennifer of The Experimental Mommy.  While a product was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% honest.