My oldest child is 8 years old, and I cannot belive how far baby products have come since his birth.  One of the products we relied on countless times to keep him happy was the swing.  I can’t count the number of times the swing saved dinner at our house.  It helped  me have two hands available to get the job done while he swung to his heart’s content.  So, I am thrilled to share the swing evolution with the  Cradle and Sway Swing from Bright Start’s InGenuity Collection. This collection offers many options – the full size swing, a portable swing, play yard, and bouncer.

From the website:  The InGenuity™ Collection combines the latest innovations in technology with on-trend styling and plush fabrics to create the most soothing and attractive product offering possible. Each product is designed with unique technologies to provide parents the features that make life with baby even more enjoyable. From a bouncer that bounces by itself, to a swing that runs on one set of batteries for babies entire first year, this collection of innovative gear products raises the bar on feature and fashion.

The first thing I noticed about the swing is how the soft, neutral colors don’t clash with the rest of the house!  Doesn’t it seem like baby equipment not only takes over, but multiplies while  you are asleep?  The muted tones on this swing won’t be screaming at you from the next room!  The Cradle and Sway had simple, step-by-step directions that were easy to follow, even for this Mom.  I had it fully assembled in less than an hour.  I really love the toy anchors on the removeable tray and the choice of melodies or nature sounds to soothe or stimulate Baby while he or she is swinging.

How cute is this? Two soft, plush toys attach to the tray with anchors. Genius!

Even better:  the cushioned seat swivels so Baby can sway back and forth or side to side.  Of course, the seat cover is removeable and machine washable to keep it fresh and clean, and the Cradle and Sway offers 2 times the battery life of comprable swings.  This was good news, as the only thing I would change  about the swing would be that it had a plug-in adapter other than batteries….but with batteries that last that long, I don’t mind!  While the little one this swing is intended for hasn’t made her debut yet, I am certain she’ll be happily swinging as soon as she’s home!  The Cradle and Sway can safely be used for infants up to 25 pounds.  More features of the Cradle and Sway include:

• Tru-Speed Technology maintains 6 swing speeds even with baby’s growth.
• Whisper-quiet technology
• Comfort recline seat with 2 positions for Baby’s comfort
• Swing timer has 3 settings: 30, 45, or 60 minutes
• Headrest and Cushioned Bolster system for ultimate comfort
• 5 point harness to keep Baby safely in swing

Baby Bliss!

I would  highly recommend the Cradle and Sway Swing to any new Mom!  I am thoroughly impressed with so many of the swing’s features!  Thank you, Bright Start!

To purchase the Ingenuity line, check out the product locator.  This swing is currently listed at Amazon.com for $129.99. Now for the BEST news!  One of our readers will get to choose ANY product from Bright Start’s Ingenuity Line!  Choose from the swing featured here, the automatic bouncer, the portable swing or the playard.

How to enter:

1. Leave us a comment telling us the Best/Worst piece of advice given to you by a friend/family member about becoming a Mother!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog and Bright Start on Facebook.

5. Place my button on your sidebar.

6.  Submit your story to Make Mom Laugh (and get a coupon code, too!)!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on March 24th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited.  Winners must live within the online store shipping area: the forty-eight (48) Contiguous United States, Hawaii, and Alaska. Bright Starts does not ship orders to US Territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, etc. or Post Office (PO) boxes. We are proud, however, to ship to APO addresses.

This review is the opinion of The Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. Thank you to Bright Starts who provided the product for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product!

Are you an American Idol fan? I do watch the show from time to time, and will admit that I loved the 3rd runner up in 2008, Jason Castro. I was so sad when he got voted off, but past seasons had proven that being voted off the show didn’t mean the end of the road. And this American Idol contestant follows suit!

Jason Castro is now officially an Atlantic recording artist and will be releasing his self-titled debut album, “Jason Castro” on April 18th. “I feel like the album really captures my personality,” Jason says. “People got to know me a bit on the show, so I wanted to build on that by including all these songs I’ve written about my life. I wanted to share with people the things that are meaningful to me.”

The album will include 8 tracks, however he will be releasing a Deluxe version (available for preorder now) including a total of 14 songs later this year.  If you just can’t wait, Jason has already released his debut EP, The Love Uncompromised which quickly rose to the Top 5 albums on iTunes in January.

Jason Castro Deluxe Version Track List

1. Let’s Just Fall In Love Again
2. This Heart Of Mine
3. That’s What I’m Here For
4. Heart Of Stone
5. If I Were You
6. You Can Always Come Home (feat. Serena Ryder)
7. Love Uncompromised
8. Closer
9.  All Wrapped Up
10.  It Matters To Me
11. Hallelujah
12. Let’s Just Fall In Love Again (Acoustic Version)
13. Sweet Medicine
14. Over The Rainbow

Jason and his tourmate, Matt Hires (neither are hard on the eyes!) get to know each other in a series of webisodes.  I am excited to be the only site to host Episode Two!  Check out below and then head over to Jason’s site!

Thanks to everyone who entered these great giveaways!  The winners are:

Coffee for Less Senseo Pods: Joanna R.

Horizon Milk:   Nad and Shannon

FLOR:  Judith V.

Orient Watch:  Anthy

Baby Bunch:  Jaque

Sweatshirt Blanket:  Andrea V. and Annmarie W.

You will all be emailed shortly!  Please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!

It’s no secret that I am directionally challenged.  I have lived in New Orleans my entire life and I still get lost (in my defense the streets here have no rhyme or reason).  Unfortunately, my car is not equipped with a GPS unit, but I know it would be wonderful to have one in this City.  Much to my surprise, I learned that my new Verizon Palm Pre Plus can perform the function of a GPS unit!  Now I can have a GPS on me at all times, even when walking around the French Quarter!

After opening the launcher, simply click on the shortcut to Google Maps which will automatically use GPS to pinpoint exactly where you are located.  I have tried this at various points in the City and it is never more than two block off target.

From your starting point you can do several things:

1.  Map directions to your destination.  With the touch screen it is very easy to navigate around the map as well as zoom in for more detailed street names.

2.  Check on traffic.  Oh yes, this feature will tell you which areas on your route have traffic delays (marked in yellow) or are gridlocked (marked in red).  I used this feature this morning and it was pretty accurate on my morning commute to work.

3.  Find restaurants, shopping and gas.  The map not only contains street names, but locations of restaurants, malls and gas stations.  This would be very helpful while on vacation!

4.  Look at the satellite view.  Switching to satellite lets you see the street as it appears in reality.  While the image is several years old (I can tell because in satellite view my neighboorhood is full of FEMA trailers after Katrina which have since been removed), it still allows you to see what the area looks like.

5.  Get Public Transit and Walking Directions from your location.  This is very helpful as we have several methods of public transit here in New Orleans.

I doing some research on the Palm Pre, I have been hearing that people are looking forward to the addition of Google Latitude which will allow you to search for your friends!  This feature is not available at this time but sounds pretty neat!

I find that heavy Internet usage tends to drain the battery fairly quickly, but the GPS feature is wonderful and a definite plus to the Verizon Palm Pre!  It has been useful in my own hometown, so I can only imagine how we will rely on the GPS feature when we are out of town in an unfamiliar City!

Bon Voyage!

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience. Verizon Wireless supplied me with the Palm Pre Plus and one month of service for review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

My friends have had a baby boom recently so I have been on the lookout for some neat gift ideas.  In my search I came across Blueberry Babies, a wealth of cuteness for little ones.   Blueberry Babies has everything you need and the site is organized so well you can find anything you are looking for in a snap…..Bibs and Burp cloths, gorgeous blankets,  and my favorite thing to give, personalized gifts.   Blueberry Babies even offers sublime baby gifts in sterling silver for those extra-special babies in your life.   They also carry quite a few top-quality brands such as Rag and Bone, Butterscotch Blankets, and 3 Marthas!  Blueberry Babies was so kind to send me a hooded towel and onesie to try out!

I wish cameras could capture snuggle-quality. These are soooo soft!

The onesie is adorable and the hooded towel is far better than any infant towel I have ever used before.  It is super-soft and thick, perfect for snuggling up your little one after a bath to keep him or her warm and dry.  It washed well and held its shape easily.  This towel would make a perfect baby gift for anyone!  Baby towels and washcloths are the things you never seem to have enough of!  Blueberry babies offers a variety of towels for both boys and girls.  The ones by 3 Marthas are exceptionally precious.

Blueberry Babies has generously provided a coupon code for Not So Blog readers to recieve 10% off your order.  Use the code TNSB10 at checkout.  Additionally, readers who use the code and spend $60 or more will recieve an “I’m A Blueberry Baby” onesie in 3-6 Month or 6-12 Month size.  All you have to do is specify what size you want in the comments box when you place your order.  This offer is good while supplies last.   So shop away!  Every baby deserves to be a Blueberry Baby!

The weather this winter has wreaked complete havoc on my skin causing it to be abnormally dry and flakey. Couple that with the fact that I am about to turn 36 and you have one major need for skin revitalization! When My Blog Spark asked me to take a look at the new Olay Total Effects Body Wash, my skin was more than happy to oblige.

A little about the body wash:

“With jojoba butter and VitaNiacin, Olay Total Effects Body Wash – Deep Penetrating Moisture can help you get soft, smooth skin in one shower, improved elasticity in one week, and young-looking, radiant skin in one month. Proven effective in fighting multiple signs of aging, the exclusive VitaNiacin formula helps rejuvenate and beautify your skin while improving the condition of the skin´s moisture barrier. Also available is the Olay Total Effects Body Wash – Exfoliating and Replenish, which has micro-derm beads and VitaNiacin to help keep you looking and feeling young.”

Looking around the Olay site, I found a quiz you can take to determine your skin’s age.  To my surprise, this 36 year old has a “skin-age” of 24-33! YAY!  Nonetheless, it is never too early to take steps to protect your skin, right?  When first using the new body wash, I noticed how thick and creamy the body wash felt…. it just looks like it would nourish the skin.  The scent is also light and pleasant, definitely not overpowering and it lathers very well on my loofa.  After one week of using the body wash daily, I can actually feel a difference in my skin.  It is soft, smooth and appears less dry.

If your skin could use some nourishment, request a free sample and then enter to win a $10 Walmart gift card so you can purchase a full size bottle (suggested retail price is $7.99).

How to enter:

1. Tell me what you do to take care of your skin!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog and Olay on Facebook.

5. Place my button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on March 26th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion of The Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. Thank you to Olay and My Blog Spark who provided the product for review and gift card to giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

As a Mom Blogger, social networking has become a way of life.  It is important to the success of my blog to keep one eye on the happenings in the blogosphere and the other on the newest products and stories my readers depend on.  While the calendar feature of the Verizon Palm Pre Plus helps me stay organized while on the go, it is absolutely essential for me to stay connected!

The customer service representative at Verizon helped me set up my two email accounts on the Palm Pre Plus and I was ready to go in no time.  I am able to read and respond to review requests, advertising inquires and personal emails in a timely fashion which ensures that I won’t miss an excellent opportunity.  One of the features I missed about my Blackberry Curve was that it had a blinking indicator to alert me when a new email arrived.  However, during a recent software update, my Palm Pre Plus now blinks as well!  I also love how easy it is to delete unwanted emails from my smartphone…it only takes a simple swipe of my finger and it’s gone.  The slide out full keyboard is convenient, but I am having a hard time getting used to it.  I tend to type double letters and misspell more with this phone than any other in the past.

Web pages look like web pages!

Surfing the Internet with the Verizon Palm Pre Plus is a dream!  The HTML Web Browser allows to to see web pages as they actually appear on the Internet.  I absolutely love this feature.  My old phone only allowed me to see web pages in text form, so interacting on Twitter and Facebook were next to impossible.  The intuitive Palm WebOS allows you to keep multiple apps open at once making quickly promoting a new review or giveaway very easy and convenient.  Sending out a tweet, switching to Facebook and heading back to Twitter is completely seamless (you can even answer a phone call without disturbing your Internet session).

When a new text message or email arrives, a little notification summary shows up at the bottom of my screen.  I love getting this little “sneak peek” so I can decide if the message is urgent or able to be answered at a later time just by glancing at the screen.

If you use your phone for heavy Internet surfing, the Verizon Palm Pre Plus is a great phone for you!

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience. Verizon Wireless supplied me with the Palm Pre Plus and one month of service for review, but all opinions are 100% mine

Last month, I was fortunate enough to review some adorable Big Sis/Little Sis custom rhinestone shirts from Just Jen.  We still love our shirts (not one crystal has fallen off!) and am happy to promote this company once again.

On March 8th, Just Jen Bridal Hoodies and coordinating sweatpants were seen on ABC’s The Bachelor: Jason and Molly’s Wedding! The beautiful bride-to-be Molly, her maid of honor, and her four bride’s maids were all wearing Just Jen during the morning of the big day. Molly truly stood out dressed in her all white hoodie and matching pants . . . the perfect outfit for a morning at the spa. The bridal party was wearing matching Just Jen hoodies in black. It was the ideal combination of class and comfort for a busy morning of getting ready for the big event.  As a gift to Molly, Just Jen also sent her a green Mrs. bridal hoodie, which reads “Mrs. Mesnick”, and matching sweatpants to enjoy after the wedding.

Congrats to Just Jen for the National media coverage of their fabulous products!!

I created this post as a mandatory entry requirement to win a Just Jen Hoodie and a $100 gc to Amazon or Walmart. 

One of the first companies I worked with on The Not-So-Blog was Little MissMatched, and here I am almost 2 years later still talking about how much I love their products!  Over the past months, I have had the chance to sample many of their items, I have yet to find one that I don’t like, but my favorite item by far is the ANKLET SOCKS!

How cute are these?!??!

With the onset of spring, it’s time to put away the brown boots and mittens and bring out the bright and cheery outfits!  Little MissMatched is helping you ring in Spring with a great TWO DAY ONLY SALE!   From Thursday, March 11, 2010 to Friday, March 12, 2010 at 6 p.m. EST, customers will enjoy 25% off our best-selling category: ANKLETS! The Two Day sale will offer over 40 exciting styles perfect for stocking up.

Take a look at the great deal below:

Two Days only: Save 25% on anklet socks. Sale ends 3/12/10 at 6 p.m. EST