Congrats to the winners of the recent giveaways here at Experimental Mommy!  You will all be emailed shortly.  Please take a look at my winner’s policy to ensure you claim your prize correctly.  Thanks for supporting the blog!

Constructive Playthings Laundry Day:  Judy B.

Me and My Feet: Michelle C

Jimmy Dean D-Lights: Twila K.

Green Town Toys: trixx

Dove VisibleCare: Cathy W

Switch to Silk: Jessie C.

Outback steakhouse: Just Coupons

Modern Light: kittycardero

Nancy August: Laura D.

CONGRATS!

I am a bath product junkie.  I love all soaps, shampoos, conditioners…..to the point where my husband asks why there are always 50 bottles in the shower.  I might be exaggerating a little, but I am always willing to check out something new in my routine.  When I recently got the chance to try Dove Visible Care Body Wash, I was ready to go!  I have always loved Dove Beauty Bars and have bought them for everyone in the family for years as we all have sensitive skin.  Dove has so many great products, I knew the Visible Care Body Wash would be no exception.

Available in two formulas, Softening or Renewing, Dove promises a skin turnaround when used for 7 days.  From the website:  “Get Close-Up Ready in 1 Week!   This unique formula—with our highest concentration of NutriumMoisture^™—contains skin-natural building blocks to help improve skin’s look over time and give you visible results in just 1 week.”

I tried the Softening and the first thing I noticed was the thickness of the product; it was more like lotion than soap.    It had a great smell and a little goes a long way!   After using it for 7 days, I can honestly say the skin on my body, especially my legs, was less dry and flaky.  I have very sensitive skin and it caused no issues for me at all.  In fact, my 6 year old daughter was using our shower one night and used it herself without me knowing.  She asked if I could buy her that soap all the time!  I am certain I will keep buying it for me….and I am not so certain I will share!

Dove has kindly offered to send a lucky reader a bottle of Visible Care Body Wash!  In addition, one lucky woman will get a once in a lifetime opportunity to appear on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars! Dove® is inviting real women everywhere to create a video up to 60-seconds in length sharing why they are ready for their close-up experience. The selected woman will receive a week long all-expense-paid trip to Los Angeles where she will get an authentic “Dancing with the Stars” experience including training with a performer from the show, confidence coaching by Garth and the ultimate opportunity: a “finale” of her own. She will get to show off her smooth moves and beautiful skin in front of America when she dances in a Dove-sponsored TV spot in the season finale of “Dancing with the Stars” Monday, May 23 (8:00 p.m. ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Have two left feet?  No worries!  You can still get involved online by:

• Watching Jenny Garth’s video showing how she got ready for her own “Dancing with the Stars” experience
• Play the Beautiful Difference game and test your skills at spotting visible differences
• View behind-the-scenes photos and footage of Garth’s Dove shoot on Facebook.com/Dove

GIVEAWAY

Ready for your close-up?  One winner will receive a full size bottle of Dove VisibleCare Creme Body Wash!

How to enter:

1. Visit Dove and tell me if your skin needs the Renewing or Softening product!

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! No more than 10 tweets a day, please. (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for additional entries.)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

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

5.  Place my banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on April 21st. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to continental U.S. Residents only.

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

As a Mom of two young girls, self confidence issues are definitely on my radar.  I want to ensure that I foster a sense of self worth, self love and trust between my daughters and I.  While they are only 2 and 5, I feel that it is never too early to start.  So, I was thrilled to learn of Dove’s Movement for Self Esteem.  From their website:

“Imagine a world where every girl grows up with the self-esteem she needs to reach her full potential, and where every woman enjoys feeling confident in her own beauty. Imagine the world of possibilities we can open up by helping to build self-esteem in the people we love most.

Our movement is building a world where women everywhere have the tools to inspire each other and the girls in their lives.

We’ll give you opportunities to mentor the girls in your own life, as part of a community of women from all over the world. We’ll alert you when important news on real beauty and self-esteem issues arise, and give you concrete ways to make a difference for the women and girls in your life.”

What do you wish that you knew at 13?  What advice would you give your 13 year old self?  When I think back to that age, I was in 8th grade and full of self doubt.  I wish that I would have known that being smart was actually something to be proud of!  I would tell myself to keep my head high and reach for the stars no matter what the popular decision might be.

After looking through the activities provided on Dove’s Movement for Self Esteem, I found a great one to suggest to my daughter’s Girl Scout Daisy leaders!  In this activity, the girls decorate a turtle shell with things that make them strong.  They are taught that confidence is made up of your strong suits and can be like the shell of a turtle to give you courage in the face of adversity.  The girls stand up and present their shells to the troop and discuss the strengths of their fellow Daisies.

Dove’s Movement for Self Esteem definitely made me think about continuing this discussion with my girls and the importance of being a good role model.  Join the movement and promote self confidence with Dove!

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  I received a free Dove product in compensation however all opinions remain 100% mine.

I’ve received lots of great information about some programs and initiatives that I wanted to pass along to you all.  Here are a few excerpts from the press releases:

Dove’s “Thank You for Making a Difference” campaign

Dove wants you to submit a 30 second video of your daughter explaining what makes them beautiful to the Dove Self Esteem Fund Facebook page no later than 11/20/09. In addition, Dove invites you to show the difference self esteem makes in your family AND support local self esteem building programs. Post a comment on THIS POST telling me that you  uploaded a video.  The top 5 sites with most videos (including the #1 site) will receive a $1000 donation from Dove in their site’s name to the local chapter of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Plus, your Dove purchase also helps build self esteem. Enter your Dove UPC on Facebook here and select a charity. Dove will donate $1 to inspiring self-esteem programs including the Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Girls Inc.

Big Apple Circus

Bello is Back! under the Big Apple Big Top performing breathtaking feats of humor in the theatrical focus of one ring with no seat more than 50 feet away!  Catch a performance now through January 18, 2010 at cities along the East Coast. In addition to providing the finest in live family entertainment, the Big Apple Circus is also a not–for–profit performing arts and outreach institution committed to invigorating the communities they serve with the joy and wonder of classical circus. You can purchase discounted tickets online by submitting the code POP10 in the Promotional Code box, or calling 888-541-3750 and mentioning code POP10. You may also purchase discount tickets in person at the Big Top Box Office 10AM–6PM daily by bringing a copy of this blog post to the box office. This promo code can save you up to $30 per ticket to Lincoln Center performances with the readers of The Not-So-Blog. For more info, make sure to check out the Big Apple Circus on Facebook and Twitter

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eDivvy

The holidays are upon us and the economy is still having an impact on our gift giving traditions. According to the National Retail Federation, group gifting is on the rise this year and expected to be one of the top 10 trends of the 2009 holiday season. There are many benefits to group gifting, the main being that friends and family can give more and spend less by teaming up and splitting the cost of one or a bundle of special gifts for their loved one. The group gifting website, eDivvy.com, makes it fast easy and affordable. Friends and family can sign on to the site and pay their portion separately, eliminating the hassle for one person to collect cash. The website is linked to a variety of top retailers like Amazon, Apple, Macys and many more. The site also provides experts who can suggest ideas for those you may have trouble gifting. eDivvy.com has also recently announced the launch of a business to business application that will allow merchants to use the group gifting option straight from their own websites. This is sure to make one of the biggest holiday trends of the year easier and more accessible for online shoppers.

Land of Nod

The holiday season is upon us!   The Land of Nod has everything you need from decorations to gifts. Not only do they have a great selection of holiday gifts but are also offering free shipping on Holiday Decor! From tree skirts to advent calendars, stockings to Hanukkah calendars, you won’t believe the selection! Check out the Shop by Personality feature to find the perfect gift for every person on your list!  

IBW Books

The Not So Blog readers can help their school (or another favorite group) make $2 to $5 on every sale deposited into the group’s account the same day as sales. With IBW books, nonprofit organizations such as PTA/PTSO… youth sports… church groups… arts programs… and more… sell an innovative product that no one else has – which encourages community support and their drive’s success! As a bonus, when a nonprofit uses the Fundraising with IBW Books program because of The Not So Blog reader’s referral, that reader earns 5% of the organization’s total book sales as a finder’s fee. For example, if a PTA sells $1,000 in books, the reader who referred them makes $50. If a group sells $5,000 in books, the finder’s fee is $250, and so on.

Feel lucky?   It’s time to pull winners for contests that have recently ended on The Not-So-Blog!  Thank you to everyone who participated! 

Atterdag Kids:  Susan S.

Dove Body Wash:  Angie

Edwards Singles:  Barbara L.

Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes:  Andrea V.

Play-Doh:  Betty N.

Internet Password Organizer:  Diane

Medela Freestyle:  Ethel

Blue Turtle Kids:  Ashley

Oompa Lunchkit:  Xenia

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

If you did not win this time, please check out our fabulous contests going on RIGHT NOW!  Lots of great baby, newborn and maternity items up for grabs!

Thanks for your support!