Rave and Review

Something About Silver Hand Stamped Jewelry {Review, Giveaway & Coupon Code}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 22

Everyone close to me knows I’m a huge sucker for handmade, especially when we’re talking about jewelry.  I love the imperfections and character of items created by hand and I love that each purchase has a unique story behind it.  This, of course, means that I was enthralled with the Something About Silver website upon first glance.  They literally had everything I was dreaming of that I hadn’t found in stores near me and I was blown away by cuteness overload. 

As a mom, I can’t think of anything more special than handmade jewelry celebrating my kids, so I loved window shopping at the site and taking in all that cuteness.  Whether you are creating a custom jewelry piece from their extensive catalog of charms, tags, and baubles or you are buying a pre-designed piece that is ready for shipping, you are creating a silver keepsake sure to be cherished.

While I simply adore their bracelets, rings, ornaments, and charms, my favorite pieces are their hand stamped silver necklaces that I feel should be part of every girl’s jewelry box.  With stacked pieces, brag tags, wax seals, charm necklaces and more all personalized with initials, names, dates and even birthstones, their silver necklaces are the perfect gift for any woman in your life.  No matter what design you choose, you can be sure that it is destined to become the most beloved piece in her collection. 

We got to review the Little Petals hand stamped silver necklace this past month and I love it so much that it hasn’t been taken off since it arrived in its gorgeous linen packaging.  I’ve gotten so many compliments on the necklace and everyone has been raving about how unique and fun it is with its dainty flower shaped tag paired with a small circular tag.  I personally love the concave design of the charms which adds some dimension and interest as well as the dual shapes that make it unlike any other personalized pieces I have seen before. 

The Little Petals necklace is both fun and feminine at the same time, and I love that it goes with absolutely everything in my wardrobe.  Thank goodness it is so well made with rounded edges, smooth stamping, and gentle concave design that all make it completely comfortable for all day wear.  Unlike other necklaces I own that pinch, pull, or don’t lay quite right, the Little Petals necklace from Something About Silver is just perfect and I don’t even notice I’m wearing it until I get yet another compliment. 

But, not only do I love the beautiful and quality pieces you can find at Something About Silver, I also love that their designs are also completely affordable on any budget.  Whether you want to design a Mother’s Necklace, a family tree set, or you want to mix and match their various designs to create a one-of-a-kind custom piece, Something About Silver is the perfect place to really get creative.

If you’re looking for a personalized present for you or for a special someone, you should definitely check out Something About Silver and create a completely personal gift that is sure to wow.  While it’s too late to create a custom piece before the holidays, you can still order their other gorgeous pieces that are in stock and send them with rush shipping to make it here in time.  Or, better yet, create a little card that tells your recipient that you would like to design a custom piece from Something About Silver with them – that way you can be sure you get the exact right keepsake they've been dreaming of.  Bonus: use coupon code "raveandreview" for 10% off your jewelry and keepsake order when you do start creating!

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $40 gift certificate to Something About Silver!

To Enter: Let me know what you would most like to create in their extensive catalog

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Sign up for the Something About Silver Newsletter {left sidebar of website, half way down you will see the link to sign up}

1 Extra Entry - Like Something About Silver on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/feih7EZ1 } and tag Something About Silver and R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Dreaming of personalized keepsake jewelry this year. Would love to #win @SASJewelry GC #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/feih7EZ1

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On January 15th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: #38 kjasus said... i tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/raggammuffin/status/148027542857723904

A big thank you to Something About Silver for offering the giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Tea Collection Sleepwear for the Holidays

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 14

We have a tradition in our family of getting the kids new pajamas for the holidays.  Since this is the season of curling up by the fire with cocoa and tea, much of our evenings are spent in comfy PJs that are perfect for snuggling.  Besides being snuggly, it’s also adorable - Is there anything cuter than kiddos in pajamas?  The answer is yes, kiddos in matching pajamas from Tea Collection. 

We got to see this cuteness in person these past few weeks and let me tell you, it’s heart melting.  We’ve never really gotten the kids nice pajamas before, we typically buy them on the clearance rack or get them handed down, which is probably why our pajamas are rags by the time they go through the last child.  Feeling the softness and quality of the Tea Collection pajamas I already knew that these would not be the same way and would definitely last through multiple children. 

It seems a little silly when you think about how much time kids spend in their pajamas that we had taken them so much for granted, but not anymore we don’t.  After being spoiled with the super soft fabrics of the Tea Collection, I don’t think our kids will accept anything less.  And truthfully, after all this amazing snuggling we’ve been doing with the kids in their “cozy pajamas” from Tea, I don’t know if we can ever go back.

Beyond the high quality fabrics, the pajamas from Tea Collection also have the fun style that we love so much in all of their children’s clothing.  Inspired from and highlighting styles from around the world, Tea Collection is a great way to have clothing you won’t see everywhere while bringing different cultures into your kids’ world. 

As strange as that seems, it really does ring true.  We ordered boys pajamas in an Asian theme, with origami birds on one set and Koi fish on the other, both of which have started conversations with our very curious daughter.  It’s pretty crazy to end up spending half of our bedtime routine explaining what Koi are, then go into our experiences feeding them and how big and colorful they are, all from her curiosity of what the pretty fish on her clothes is.  Not to mention, now apparently we need to learn origami. 

If you are looking for adorable and quality made pajamas for your little one or perhaps a gift for someone else’s, look no further than Tea Collection.  With an unbeatable mix of style and culture and a bonus dose of super snuggly, they are the perfect pajamas for enjoying all that winter has to offer.  Tea Collection Pajamas come in sizes 6 month all the way to 12 years and the girls pajamas easily coordinate with the boys, which makes them perfect for matching PJs for siblings or cousins, even when there’s a large age gap.  From family movie night, decorating the tree, and even Christmas morning, wouldn’t your kids look cuter in matching pajamas from Tea Collection? 

Shop now at Tea Collection and find everything from sleepwear to activewear for your little one {and maybe even something for yourself, too... did you know they have women's clothing?  They do and it is awesome!}

A big thank you to Tea Collection for sending the matching pajamas for the little ones.  As you can see, they love them.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Naturalizer Footwear {Review & Giveaway}

Holiday Gift Guide - Day 2

In my busy days taking care of kids there’s really no excuse to not wear comfortable shoes.  I already know I’m going to be chasing toddlers, carting bags and strollers, and walking a good deal, so there’s really not much room in the schedule for uncomfortable footwear.  This is why my shoe collection looks like a teenager’s – tennis shoes, sneakers, flip flops, etc.

Or, rather, it used to.

My shoe collection just got a big makeover with the addition of the Naturalizer Arness boots that arrived earlier this month.  Perfect for fall with some tights and a skirt or with jeans for the perfect fall look, the Arness boots are not only cute, they are also incredibly comfortable.  So comfortable, in fact, that it prompted a trip to our local Naturalizer Store where I loaded up on some of the sale shoes, bags, and sandals this past weekend. 

I was incredibly excited about the range of styles available at the store as well as the colors and sizes they had in stock.  And, we’re not talking “grandma shoes” with tons of support and little style, Naturalizer really has a great range of footwear for women.  From heels and peep-toes to Dr. Scholls and sneakers, Naturalizer has it all.

At the Naturalizer sale, I scored two pairs of sandals, an adorable pair of flats, and some dressier heels for going out.  And although I really needed new shoes, I couldn’t pass up their amazing handbag sale that gave me a percentage off their already reduced prices, making their purses less that $15!  I left the store looking like a sponsored ad for the company and have ever since as I’ve been sporting my shoes and bags.
 
So now instead of a teenager’s shoe collection, I have an age-appropriate shoe wardrobe that can go from any of my daily activities, no matter what the weather.  You wouldn’t believe the compliments I get from the other moms in our play group as they admire my new footwear.  I love that the first question is always “are they really uncomfortable?” as if shoes have to pinch, rub, and chafe, and I love that I can tell other moms how unlike other shoes the Naturalizer collection is. 

If you’re looking for style and comfort, you should definitely check out Naturalizer to find the shoes, boots, sandals and bags that are hot this season.  Bonus – If you’re shopping for boots, you will be happy to note that there is an awesome boot sale going on right now so it’s a great time to get your fall and winter boots at a great price!

Want to try this comfort on your own? You're in luck because one lucky person will win their choice of shoes from Naturalizer!

To enter, simply visit Naturalizer and comment below with what shoes you would pick if you win

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!  Please leave a separate comment for each completed.

1 Extra Entry {per method} if you follow Naturalizer on Twitter and/or like them on Facebook.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Awesome Naturalizer #giveaway from @RaveAndReview and @NaturalizerShoe! http://t.co/2i47TJSM #win with #MyBlogSpark

2 Extra Entries {per follow method} - Follow Rave & Review!  Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll.

3 Extra Entries - Button Love. Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website with an active link to R&R

3 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On November 16th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

18 Beth Hill said... like naturalizer on facebook

A big thank you to Naturalizer and Brown Shoe Company (through MyBlogSpark) for providing shoes and information for me as well as a Naturalizer gift card for one lucky giveaway winner.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

dENiZeN Jeans from Levi’s {w/ Mystery Facebook Coupon}

Anyone who has ever met me knows how much I love jeans.  As a child of the 80s, I have seen my share of bad {ok, make that horrible} fashions, but the one thing that I’m always relieved about when I look back at my pictures?  The fact that I’m wearing jeans 99% of the time. 

While my style has changed quite a bit throughout the years and I’ve had a lot of fashion mistakes, it’s really hard to go wrong with a pair of classic denim jeans.  Laugh all you want, but I do feel some comfort that my 7th grade picture with the permed hair, plaid button up, and scrunchi was paired with Levi’s.  It’s the small comforts, really.

Those same jeans I’ve worn almost my entire life have just gotten a makeover in a big way with the introduction of the new dENiZEN jeans from Levi Strauss & Co.  Found exclusively at Target stores and at Target.com, dENiZen jeans are a reinventing of the classic blues that made Levi’s legendary.  New dENiZEN jeans are available for women, men, and girls and boys, and come in a variety of sizes, washes, cuts, and styles, which means there’s a dENiZEN for every member of your family. 

dENiZEN jeans just launched this summer and are quickly becoming a hot commodity as word spreads about how comfortable, cute, and cheap they are.  Ranging from $17.99 - $29.99, they may look like premium denim but they have a very reasonable price tag that I really appreciate.

I got to try out the dENiZen Women’s Mid-Rise Boot Cut jeans and was immediately impressed with the premium denim look and feel and couldn’t wait to try them on.  Once I tried them on I was really excited with how they felt: just the right amount of stretch and softness without feeling like I was wearing sweatpants.  Another thing I was really excited about?  I gave my measurements for the jeans a few weeks before I received them as I was working off the baby weight and by the time they arrived, I needed a smaller size.  Woo hoo!

Because I live in Target central, I decided to head out and try on the smaller size in store and what I found was that I could actually go down TWO jeans sizes.  While I picked up that smaller size in store because they were so inexpensive {especially with the Facebook coupon I printed}, I still kept the larger size so I could wear them when I just felt like comfort clothes but didn’t want to wear sweatpants.  Win-win. 

I’ve been wearing the jeans for two weeks now and the only thing I noticed that was on the larger size the tag in the back was kind of scratchy.  I think this is mainly because the tag rubbed against my skin because the pants are too loose, but luckily the fix was as easy as grabbing a pair of scissors.  Once the tag was gone, the dENiZEN jeans easily became my most comfortable pants in my closet with no break-in period required.  I love how the Mid-Rise fit and really love the slimming effect, especially in the smaller size jeans.  Needless to say, I will definitely be picking up more as I go down further in jeans sizes.

Want a chance at some FREE dENiZEN jeans?  For a limited time you can visit the dENiZEN Facebook page to get a mystery coupon that could possibly land you a complimentary pair!  Be sure to follow them on Twitter as well for more information and how to purchase!

A big thank you to Team Mom and dENiZEN jeans for sending a complimentary pair of jeans for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Holiday Shopping & Free Shipping with ShopRunner.com

In this day and age, I do nearly all of my shopping online for a variety of reasons.  Namely, 1) it’s easier than taking two little ones into a store and 2) I can usually score some really great deals by merely shopping around with a few clicks instead of having to visit numerous stores like I used to.

While at BlogHer, I was introduced to the new online shopping site, ShopRunner, at the flipflop wine party and was intrigued.  They offered me a free trial of the site and I jumped at the chance.  With holiday shopping right around the corner, I need all the help I can get in finding the best deals, every day. 

If you haven’t heard of ShopRunner in the past, you should check out their “how it works” section of their site to see how their legwork can save you time and money while shopping online.  Not only do they work with some really huge stores ranging from Toys R Us to drugstore.com and feature their highlighted deals right in one place, they also offer FREE 2 day shipping with no minimum purchase on top of each shop’s advertised discounts.

Some Benefits of ShopRunner:
•    Unlimited FREE 2-Day Shipping with no minimum order size from the best stores.
•    Unlimited free shipping on ShopRunner returns.
•    Shop our MarketPlace, where every item is eligible for FREE 2-Day Shipping.
•    Member-Only Deals.
•    FREE 30 day trial account!

If you are looking to do some online shopping this holiday season, I would recommend checking out ShopRunner.com so you can see how much you can save on shipping and with their exclusive deals.  While this is a paid service {after the 30 day trial, of course}, if you regularly purchase from any of their 50 {and growing} stores, you will save a ton on shipping alone by year end so it would be easy to justify paying their annual fee for membership. 

A big thank you to ShopRunner for the trial membership.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this review.

Get Ready for Fall with prAna Clothing and Activewear

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 33

Outdoorsy is not the first word that comes to mind when people think of me.  Yes, I do love being outside and enjoying nature, but I certainly don’t dress the part.  prAna is a company that was designed with me in mind, because although the clothing and accessories are very much real outdoorsy gear, you would never know it if you looked at them.

Instead of designing for functionality without considering fashion, prAna clothing is truly the best of both worlds.  One quick look at their website and I basically fell in love with nearly everything the company makes.  We’re talking flouncy skirts, flirty tops, heathered hoodies, stylish and edgy jackets, and more that all are begging for a world trip, a weekend away, or even just to wear to a bonfire.

As a Northwest native, I see more than my fair share of outdoorsy clothing each year, but rarely do I find a company like prAna that pulls together mountain retreat attire, travel comfort and sportswear without ever coming across as too casual for everyday wear.  Instead of the standard washed out cotton clothing typically marketed to women in outdoor shops, I was really surprised to find a whole catalogue of clothing that was truly stylish as well as still being functional and comfortable. 

In fact, the prAna website and catalogue looks nothing like an outdoor shop, but rather just looks like a popular women’s clothing catalogue.  The prAna line showcases a wide range of products from a huge variety of styles, and they just so happen to make really awesome outdoor-friendly clothing.  Since I do a lot of traveling in the summer and fall, I love that the prAna styles are perfect for at home or away.  Since most of their styles can either be dressed up or down, I found they are the perfect solution for when your day takes you from babies to meetings and back, and one of the main reasons they are my go-to line when I’m looking for something special for myself. 

Speaking of special things for myself, I was overjoyed when I got to try out the Mandie Hoodie and the Molly Skirt this past season.  I instantly fell in love with each for their simple, go anywhere designs that are as versatile as they are adorable.  I ended up wearing the hoodie and skirt all over Washington and California and I can’t even tell you how many compliments I got on them over the last few weeks.  Whether I was hanging out on an island or two, attending park play dates, biking, or even in business meetings, wearing the prAna clothing was always spot on. 

After trying these two prAna pieces, I am so lusting over their Toni jacket in black {see left}.  It’s a perfect combination of edgy and urban with outdoorsy and fun and I’ve got it on my wishlist this season.  Wouldn't it be absolutely perfect for chilly fall nights around town or weekends away with the family?

As much as I love prAna, what’s really surprising is that my husband and I both can shop there.  While he tends towards the more outdoorsy clothing and gear and I tend towards the urban clothing and accessories, prAna is our common  denominator.  He got to try out a prAna piece this season and he chose the Whiskey short sleeve button down because he loved the little details that made it stand out in his sea of plaid shirts.  It has also made it on numerous vacations with us throughout the summer and it still remains one of his favorite shirts into fall.       

Whether you are athletic and active or urban and chic, you are bound to find numerous items in the prAana line that are perfect for around town or  wherever your travels take you.  Shop prana.com as well as locally where you can take in all their adorable styles and get the perfect look for fall.  BONUS: If you are looking for a great discount on some great prAna clothing, you  can even check out TheClymb.com and see all the great deals going on right now!

Find out more at http://www.prana.com/ 

A big thank you to prAna for sending some of their line to be reviewed.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received for this very rave review.  We just love prAna!

J.L. Childs Dragon Tails Hybrid Sunglasses {Review and Q&A}

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 32

When my wife first told me she had a new pair of sunglasses for me to try out, I was pretty excited as I think most guys would be.  But if I’d known then what I was getting I would have been a lot more so.  You see, one of the aspects I love most about reviewing products is the chance to see the design and innovation in new products, but this is especially true when it comes to products that you would think are as advanced as they could be, like sunglasses.

With the Dragon Tails from J.L. Childs, first and foremost you get a great pair of sunglasses.  With UV400 rated lenses you will be sure to keep your eyes safe from the sun’s rays, and their wrap around shape means you have a full field of view. But the details beyond those are where it gets fun. 

Besides protecting you from the sun, those lenses are ANSI Z87.1 certified, which means you are protected from impacts as well.  I bet you {like me} hadn’t even thought of all the situations where that would be great to have.  For instance, hiking, biking, or rock climbing where branches or debris may be flying, as well as hunting, water skiing or other outdoor activities. 

But, even more practical is that you can wear them in situations where safety glasses are required, which is great on outdoor job sites for construction or industrial settings or even just doing yard work.  This has been great for me as I no longer have to switch back and forth from my sunglasses to safety glasses as I move around for work, especially since my safety glasses aren’t tinted at all and are horrible for bright and sunny days. 

At this point the skeptics are saying something about “sure, they would protect you... if they don’t just get knocked off,” and that is where some more innovation comes in.  The standard arms of the glasses can be easily removed and replaced with an adjustable elastic band, essentially turning them into goggles.  To keep this as comfortable as possible and to protect your eyes even more, the Dragon Tails come with a full surround cushion that snaps into place to complete this transition.  Of course, you can leave the padding on in sunglass form as well if you wish, but I typically remove it before wearing as sunglasses. 

Besides the lenses being super tough, the frames are made out of TR-90 plastic which is virtually indestructible, much to my son's dismay.  As someone who has broken a few pairs of glasses by forgetting they were in my pocket or stuffing them into my luggage at the airport, I can definitely appreciate that.

Here's a little Q&A that I did with John Child's this past week talking about the glasses, his vision, and the future of Dragon Tail Sunglasses:

1. How did Dragon Tails get its start?  It started from when I lost my eyewear climbing in Boulder Canyon and thought that I need climbing sunglasses that not only can protect my eyes but also will not fall off my face on my favorite climbs.
2. What makes your glasses unique?  Dragon Tails are safety rated, can transform to goggles for when you are skiing, and also have a unique design to wrap around your head for when you are doing activities like climbing or skiing.
3. Who are Dragon Tails Sunglasses for? The active, athletic individual who needs a durable, secure eyewear for their active lifestyle.
4. What do you see next for Dragon Tail?  A new design that incorporates some feedback I've gotten from customers.  Hopefully the second version will supercede the first!

Some cool facts about Dragon Tail Sunglasses:
•    Free Shipping and Free Returns if You Aren't Happy
•    100% Money Back Guarantee
•    10% Profits Donated to the World Wildlife Fund

Find out more at http://jlchildsoutfitters.com/ and at their Facebook and Twitter pages!  P.S. Show them some love on their social networking sites when you get a moment, they need some good followers and fans on both pages!

A big thank you to Dragon Tail Sunglasses for this review opportunity.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Tea Collection Clothing for Back-to-School Cute

I’ve told you before how much I absolutely adore Tea Collection, but their newest line inspired by modern Mexico is just too cute not to share.  Just recently, we got to check out a few of their pieces in person and, as always, we were incredibly impressed with their quality throughout.

The first time I saw Tea Collection clothing, I remember being absolutely blown away by the detail and finishing touches that go into each piece.  They are super soft, durable, and also incredibly adorable.  Now, whenever I am shopping I hold children’s clothing to a much higher standard as I compare them to the clothing my kids have well-loved from the Tea Collection line that still looks as beautiful as it did the day we purchased it.  And, it’s a good thing it’s such high quality stuff because when I’m getting them dressed in the morning, the Tea Collection clothing is the stuff we both gravitate to. 

We all know how cute girl’s clothes are, but when a company also offers the most adorable boy’s clothes I’ve ever seen, you can bet I’ll be a huge fan.  In my daughter’s first 12 months I saved a huge amount of her clothing – it was simply too cute to get rid of as she outgrew it.  In that “special” bin, you will find 6+ pieces from Tea Clothing mixed in which were some of my husband’s and my favorites.  By contrast, my son has a small shoe box full of “special” baby clothing, most of which is Tea Collection.

That is mostly thanks to the adorable Mix and Match Set we got him when he was first born, which were some of the most popular pieces for us to put him in for his first 8 months and we were so sad when we needed to pack up.  Thank goodness we have some new pieces from the new collections to replace them like the Pirata tee, which just might be the cutest top he has ever owned.

We also got the adorable Scribble Hoodie for him (which our daughter ended up stealing and actually looks quite cute on her) as well as a pair of the new Native shoes that are a wonderful cross between laid back tennis shoes and beach wear that our daughter loves.  She's worn them all over this past few weeks and I love that they are light enough to not get in her way, they go with everything, and they are so easy to clean.

If you’re buying for kids and babies and haven’t heard of Tea Collection children's clothing for ages 0-12, you should definitely head over to teacollection.com and oogle over all the adorable-ness. You can also find their collections in specialty and department stores throughout North America and Australia.  Stores include Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and numerous high-end children's boutiques.  You can also find Tea Collection on Facebook at facebook.com/teacollection.

Bonus: Have you heard of their Refer a Friend program? (scroll all the way down on the homepage and click on the link) It’s an awesome way to get a huge discount off your order… and save your friend some money, too!

This is a MamaBuzz Media review. A gift code was provided by Tea Collection for some great back-to-school and late summer clothing for our kiddos.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Naturalizer Rescues BlogHer '11 - will you be there?

Are you getting ready for BlogHer in August?  Want a tip that I wish someone had told me before my first blogging event?  Wear comfortable shoes!  You will be on your feet all day long, walking, standing, and yes, running, and you will be very appreciative if you have comfortable shoes.

If you know me, you know how much comfort decides my wardrobe.  And, if you looked into my closet right now, you would find only shoes designed for comfort.  With a baby, a toddler and a very active lifestyle, I just don’t have time for shoes that pinch, bind, or strain.  That being said, you also won’t find “grandma shoes” in my wardrobe, either. 

I have always been very choosy about my footwear and what makes the cut for casual events, work meetings, and for conferences and parties, which is why I love Naturalizer, a company that understands how important stylish comfort is.  If you remember, last spring I found Naturalizer N5 Comfort Elements shoes and was singing their praises in terms of comfort and style, and I can honestly say the honeymoon still isn’t over.  I wear my Naturalizer shoes at least a few times a week, and they have held up nicely as well as becoming even more comfortable.  Yes, it’s true, even MORE comfortable with wear – how is that possible?   

As if I needed yet another reason to love Naturalizer, I just heard about their brilliant plan that will endear themselves to every BlogHer attendee who doesn’t heed my advice and bring comfortable shoes to the conference.  By handing out an adorable pair of free Naturalizer shoes to those in need of a “shoe rescue” and those tweeting with the #Naturalizer hashtag on Twitter, they are sure to be the hit of the conference and make some life-long blogger fans.

As the badge above very loudly proclaims, I will be heading to BlogHer this August and of course will be sporting my Aurora Dress Sandals from Naturalizer {or maybe even these little beauties to the left} whether I’m wearing denim, dress plants, a cute summer dress, or a skirt, because, frankly, they both just go with everything!  So, when I heard they were looking for a blogger to help out at the event and help spread the Naturalizer love, I knew I was the perfect fit for representing the company. 

Who wouldn’t want to make dozens of attendee’s days and develop friendships with fellow bloggers by bonding over adorable footwear?  In addition to FREE SHOES, I would also be handing out some great coupons so you can load up on summer and fall styles even after the conference ends.  Yes, that’s the Leanne Trifecta for you – cute shoes, coupons, and meeting new people.  Can you say “perfect fit”?  

Want to meet up with me at BlogHer {even if I can’t get you a brand new pair of Naturalizer Shoes}?  I would love to meet you in the conference halls or at one of the many parties we'll be attending and chat about the future of blogging, mom style, and comfortable shoes, or anything, really, and meet some of you awesome bloggers in person!  In the meantime, be sure to “Like” Naturalizer on Facebook … a little birdie told me you can get a $10 off in-store or online coupon certificate to get your BlogHer shoes now!

This opportunity was presented to me by Naturalizer and the Brown Shoe Company, through MyBlogSpark, and this post serves as my entry to win a sponsorship for my attendance at the 2011 BlogHer Conference.

Milk Nursingwear {Review & Giveaway}

Have you shopped for nursing wear recently?  I have breastfed babies for 26 months in total and during that time I have owned exactly one cute nursing top.  One.  In 26 months.  This means that 99.9% of the time I am wearing my “mom uniform”, a tank top with a cardigan or hoodie, so I can breastfeed easily.  That’s over 2 years of drab-ness, if anyone is counting.

So, when Milk Nursingwear invited me to pick something out of their extensive catalog, I was like a kid in a candy store.  No, make that a baby in milk shoppe… er, something like that.  Somehow that analogy went way wrong, but either way, I was excited. 

When it came time to actually decide what I wanted most of all the things I was drooling over, I narrowed it down to their dresses.  With a summer vacation on the horizon and warm weather on my mind {but NOT on the forecast… oh, Washington… sigh}, I knew that I wanted to get something fun and cool for my warm weather wardrobe.  The moment I laid eyes on the Flirty Halter Dress from Milk Nursingwear in black, I knew it was it. 

And I was even more impressed upon seeing my LBND {little black nursing dress, naturally} in person.  It is made of super soft 95% cotton and 5% lycra which means it is machine washable and unwrinkles upon unfolding, making it perfect for parks or for dressier occasions.  After it was out of the package I immediately had to model it, and found that it was just as flattering as I had hoped.

One thing I loved right away was the adjustable tie that allows you to get the perfect fit, something which I hadn’t realized would be that important.  Because the dress is designed for pregnancy, nursing, and beyond, I really like that I can customize the fit as my shape changes.  Also, instead of  deep V that is a bit much while breastfeeding, the Flirty Halter has a crisscrossed V top that is less revealing but still fun and flirty. 

When wearing for nursing, the top layer of this empire top lifts up revealing a built-in shelf bra with access openings for discreet nursing.  What’s great about this is that it doesn’t look at all like a nursing top when in place, it just looks like a really cute empire waist dress! 

Because I love the fit and finish of the Flirty Nursing Halter Dress, I am looking forward to wearing my LBND for a long, long time, well after I have stopped lactating and have {hopefully} returned to my pre-pregnancy size for good.  For the price and the fact that it can easily be worn well after the babies are grown, I think it is a must-have for pregnant and nursing moms during the warm weather months.

Buy it: The Flirty Halter Dress retails for $49.00 from Milk Nursingwear.  When you purchase, you should join the Milk Money Rewards program and receive one rewards point for every dollar you spend on the site.  Rewards points can be redeemed for dollars off your next purchase at Milk!

http://www.milknursingwear.com/

One very lucky Rave and Review reader will win their favorite item at Milk Nursingwear!

To Enter: You must perform at least one of the following actions to be eligible for the prize drawing. Yes, you can earn 2 entries for doing both!

Tweet the following: "WOW the nursing wear by Milk Nursingwear is so pretty! http://www.milknursingwear.com" OR "Like" Milk Nursingwear on Facebook

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Visit the MilkNursingWear site and scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and click on "Like" {this is different than "Liking" them on Facebook!}

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Looking for adorable nursing wear? Enter to #win an item of choice from @MilkNursingWear & @raveandreview #giveaway http://bit.ly/l5FEJu

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (3 extra entries - just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries)

On July 26th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#100 Jason and Anna Pry said...

blogged it: http://freeindeedblogger.blogspot.com/2011/07/milk-nursingwear.html

Thank you to Milk Nursingwear for sending a sample dress for review and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.