Rave & Review

Blue Nile Leaf Chandelier Earrings {Giveaway & Discount Code}

Oh, Mother’s Day, how I love you.  Not because I get presents {although I do love the things the kiddos pick out for me each year}, but because the stores I love have discounts for stuff I adore. 

For instance, Seattle's own Blue Nile jewelry.  Or rather, Blue Nile jewelry for 10% off using the coupon code MOMGIFT13.  You’re welcome for that.

It’s no secret that I have an immense love of jewelry.  I’ve been saving jewelry for my daughter since before she was even born and I was absolutely thrilled when I realized that I had passed this love of jewelry down to my daughter via genetics.  I was prepared to do subtle brain washing if need be and was happy to find it simply wasn’t necessary – my baby loves jewels. 

So, now that she’s older and can be trusted with nicer things, I’m dreaming of mother/daughter necklaces, rings and bracelets and I can’t help but get excited for all the fun with jewels in our future.  Maybe this is why I lost a few hours last week to BlueNile.com, searching out matching sets, ring guards {my anniversary is just around the corner}, and by shopping for my daughter’s newest obsession: earrings.

I should note that the kid doesn’t even have her ears pierced, she simply likes to pick out earrings for me to wear so she can admire them {cue the collective “awwww”}.  I knew right when I saw the Blue Nile Chandelier Leaf Earrings that they were going to be a big hit, and I was absolutely correct.

Her eyes lit up and she didn’t hesitate a moment before announcing that I needed them.  And, if you could have seen her face when the earrings arrived in their luxe blue box and I put them on the first time, you would have thought that it was her birthday, not just a random Saturday in May. 

Her excitement aside, the earrings are pretty amazing.  The earrings feature 7 leaf-like shapes out of sterling silver and are dainty and feminine but still fun and funky at the same time.  I personally love how lightweight they are, and the fact that they are designed to be flexible and move with you, which makes them catch light well and really sparkle, but without being blinding or too over-the-top. 

In fact, I wore them to two parties this weekend and both times got numerous compliments on them. The general consensus was that they were amazing and perfect for casual or fancy occasions, and everyone was shocked at the fact that they were not only gorgeous, but they were also reasonably priced, making it a Mother's Day present you could even pick up for yourself.  I mean, hey, you're worth it!

To buy: You can purchase the Blue Nile Sterling Silver Leaf Chandelier Earrings for $30 right now on sale, as well as using the 10% off code MOMGIFT13 for even more savings.

How would you like to win a pair of Blue Nile Leaf Chandelier Earrings for yourself?

To Enter: comment on this post with your favorite Mother's Day memory

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

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this awesome Blue Nile 10% off coupon and giveaway {http://bit.ly/11dZEtH} with extra credit if you tag Rave & Review

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

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet

1 Extra Entry - Like @RaveAndReview and @BlueNileDiamond on Twitter

1 Extra Entry - Comment love on any post, just leave a comment here as well.

On May 20th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Open to all, 18+ 

Upgrading my wardrobe with a Simon Malls shopping trip at Northgate Mall Seattle

A few months ago I realized that almost every single pair of jeans I wear was either badly worn or had a gaping hole on the right knee.  The exception to this rule was my two pairs of “good” jeans, which I only wear a few times a month.  But, my pile of holey jeans isn’t because I am really, really hard on my clothes, it’s because I have only gotten two new pairs of jeans in the past five years {AKA my “good” ones}.

Pretty awful, right?  Hence, this post that took place on Facebook {edited for length and with names removed, but with the jeaneology comment left in for humor's sake} :


This wouldn’t be a problem if I was a slacks and jackets kind of gal who only wore jeans on the weekend, but the problem lies in the fact that I wear jeans every day.  Whether I’m working, playing, lounging, digging in the garden, running after kiddos, or biking, I’m definitely wearing jeans.

Obviously, Nichole is correct, some serious shopping is definitely in order, and I knew just the place.  Remember a few months ago when the Northgate Mall saved my #SeattleBaby event I threw for expecting and new mom bloggers?  Well, now was the time to shop the stores for something other than kid stuff and hopefully get mama some new jeans. 

I will admit that I was giddy when I picked up the gift card from guest services at Northgate Mall, as I rarely do shopping for me these days.  I had been mentally planning my route all day long and knew just how I wanted to make my way to my favorite stores, so I was dying to get to the mall and make it happen.  If only I had known about the new Simon Malls shopping app, I would have simply planned my trip right on my phone for an even more detailed itinerary and shopping list.

Since jeans were the top priority and I have really good luck at Nordstrom, I decided I would start there and see what I could find.  One tour through their t.b.d. and Savvy departments and I found some really cute styles, but not exactly what I was looking for.  I ended up heading to Nordstrom Rack to check out their selection {yes, Northgate mall has both Nordstrom and The Rack… awesome, right?}   


At Nordstrom Rack I found not only an awesome pair of jeans, I also found these adorable BRIGHT YELLOW flats.  It’s almost as if they heard me complaining that all I own are boring black flats and they created these babies just for me.  Comfy, easy to run in, and hard-to-ignore, it was apparent as soon as I saw them that these yellow shoes were it. 


Now that I had my jeans and shoes, I was technically done with my jeans mission and then some.  But, after daydreaming about this shopping trip all day, I had my heart set on a few other stores, so I continued on with my shopping plan and headed to Macy’s for accessories. 


While Macy’s didn’t have the turquoise purse I have been dreaming of, they had a huge selection of name brand bags in the sale department and I found 6 that I loved.  After getting help from some ladies in the accessories department, I finally decided on this little number. 


Yes, I know, it’s black and I’m trying to get away from all the lack of color, but I couldn’t pass up the great deal and the fact that it has both a cross-body strap and shoulder straps.  I’ve been using it for a few weeks now and I adore it because it can go from handbag to cross-body bag quickly, it fits on the stroller handle nicely, and for the fact that the lining is a light blue so I can see what is inside. 

After my card was spent and I was positively giddy with excitement over my new jeans, shoes, and purse, I could have easily called it a day.  But, I still had extra time and there was a big huge mall in front of me, so how could I refuse browsing for a bit?  Besides, I still was looking for more color, and I knew the perfect place to find it: The Gap, Fuego, and Rue 21.

Once my shopping trip was complete, I almost had an entire new outfit to show for it.  Of course, each of the pieces can be worn alone on a daily basis, but there's just something fun about getting so many new things that look good alone and together. 

After I was all shopped out {which was mostly due to my large number of bags I was sick of carrying}, I decided to call it a night and meet the family to get some food and refuel for the ride home.  Luckily, Northgate Mall has a Red Robin, which just so happens to be the kiddos favorite restaurant, as well as a big Starbucks for hubby and I, because I think we all needed a break after our trip. 
I was so excited with all my purchases that I transferred purses on the way home, just so I could carry my new bag for the weekend when I debuted my new outfit.  And, once my old purse was empty, I happily ditched it once and for all in the donation pile. 

As happy of a feeling as it was to ditch a purse that no longer worked with my lifestyle, wearing my new outfit out to the island the next day was even more fun.  I love looking down and seeing a bright pop of yellow, I love the dark wash of the Kut from Kloth jeans, and I love that my new purse is perfect for my days out - with or without kids.  

So, what do you think of my new look?  Much better than the holey jeans, right?  I'd say it was a good upgrade for sure!

With Mother's Day just over a week away, I know many of you are desperately trying to think of something for the special moms in your life, and I would suggest a Simon Malls gift card.  I know gift cards aren't the most personal gifts you can give to the woman who gave you life, but when paired with a card that says simply, "For all you do for others, here's something just for you.  Spend it on a new purse, a new necklace, a salon day, or spend it on clothing - it's up to you, just spend it on yourself" it certainly doesn't feel like an impersonal gift.  In fact, I know quite a few moms who would love to get that present this year to give them a good excuse to splurge on something that will make them happy.  Because, you know, that's what it's all about, isn't it?

A big thank you to Simon Malls Northgate Mall for offering a gift card for me to get one new item.  I had so much fun and found so many bargains that I was able to get a few other things as well as quite a few that I bought that night.  As always, all opinions remain 100% ours. 

Freshen Up with Olay Fresh Effects {$25 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway}

Checklist for spring: spiff up the house, add some color to wardrobe, and enjoy the great outdoors.  There’s something about the change in temperature that makes me want to throw open all the windows, let a little sunshine in, and freshen up for spring. 

But there’s one more thing I found out I should put on my list for spring: start new skincare routine.  The change in temperatures with each season effects your skin in many ways and often what may be perfect in the cold of winter is too heavy for warmer months and ends up leaving your skin feeling greasy.  Not only that, but many beauty items expire just like food does, so fall and springtime are a great time to re-evaluate your beauty routine and purge.

I recently got a chance to review some products in the new Olay Fresh Effects skincare line that’s available at Walmart and was excited to see if it made a difference in the way my skin felt.  The entire Fresh Effects line is designed to mix and match to give you tons of different options for a customized skincare routine, and I was more than willing to check them out and find my favorites.   

I received the {Long Live Moisture!} Satin Finish Lotion, {BB Cream!} Skin Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15, {Bead Me Up!} Exfoliating Cleanser, {Shine, Shine Go Away!} Shine Minimizing Cleanser, {S'wipe Out!} Refreshing Make-up Removal Cloths, and the {Va-Va-Vivid!} Powered Contour Cleansing System all of which came with an adorable cardboard vanity that my daughter immediately claimed for herself.

After a few weeks of trying the new line, I can honestly say I was shocked at how much I liked it.  You see, I thought I already loved my skincare regimen, which is why I rarely ever changed it.  But, now I see that different temperature require different kinds of care, and the Fresh Effects line has some of my new favorite items – for any season. 

I especially love the BB Cream tinted moisturizer with SPF15 and it turns out it was just what I was looking for during the warmer weather.  Now that the chill of winter has passed, I like having a lighter moisturizer for daytime, and it’s a big bonus that it also has sun protection as well for my easy-to-burn skin. 

But, what I didn’t know I needed in a BB Cream was the tinted part that makes it so I can go without foundation during the hot weather.  With my ultra fair skin, I usually shy away from tinted anything because otherwise I end up looking kind of orange, so I was thrilled to get a chance to try this out first. And, after using it a few weeks, I am happy to report that the “light to medium” BB Cream blended in very nicely with my skintone and didn’t leave me orange at all, so I’d say this was a huge win. 

The other big surprise was how much I ended up loving the {Va-Va-Vivid!} Powered Contour Cleansing System.  Opening it up, I was originally dismayed at how small the system was {the handle of the Va-Va-Vivid is about the size of a tube of lipstick}, so I mistakenly thought it would be somewhat of a novelty item that was cute but not all that useful.  But, I was shocked at how much I loved having a bristle-less cleaning and exfoliating option that’s tiny enough to keep in the shower or take on vacation but really works magic on deep down cleansing.   

By using the Va-Va-Vivid with the {Shine, Shine Go Away!} Shine Minimizing Cleanser, I can do a deep clean morning or night without ending up with shiny skin I have to layer on makeup to hide.  My skin feels clean and light, and I’ve actually cleared up a little breakout that was starting before I began using the system, which is great. 

For the days that I don’t feel like using the Va-Va-Vivid powered system, I can simply us the {Bead Me Up!} Exfoliating Cleanser in the shower or at the sink and get almost as good results.  The Bead Me Up is very similar to another exfoliating scrub I have used for years, yet I found I ended up liking it better than what I’ve currently been buying.  Next time I’m at Walmart I will definitely be restocking the Bead Me Up instead so I can continue to use the Fresh Effects system together. 

In addition to selling all of the Fresh Effects line by itself, Walmart is also selling Fresh Effects bundles that you can customize on your own to mix and match while saving money.  If you’re just getting started in the Fresh Effects line, this is a great way to see which items they recommend together while getting your custom Fresh Effects skincare bundle.     

Want to win a $25 Walmart gift card so you can load up on the Olay Fresh Effects line?  You’ve come to the right place!

How would you like to win a $25 gift card to Walmart so you can do some Olay Fresh Effects shopping?

To Enter: tell me what Olay Fresh Effects product you are most excited to try

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

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this awesome $25 Walmart GC giveaway {bit.ly/108G6Go} with extra credit if you tag Rave & Review

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

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet

1 Extra Entry - Like @RaveAndReview on Twitter

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 on any post, just leave a comment here as well.

On May 17th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Open to all, 18+ 

A big thank you to Olay for sending the Fresh Effects line for review, information on the Fresh Effects line, and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours. 

Coordinating sibling clothes for everyday from Gymboree

I’m not a fan of sibling full-on matching outfits, unless there’s a special occasion or the kiddos specifically request it.  But, since I constantly have my camera out, I do love my kids to wear coordinating outfits most days so they don’t clash with each.  Crazy, I know.   

For this reason, I’m a huge fan of Gymboree’s mix and match collections that come out each season.  I love visiting one of the many Gymboree stores near me and grabbing a few things from the boys’ side, a few things from the girls’ side, and then adding in some basics for a wardrobe that makes it easy to keep them coordinated… but not matchy matchy. 

So, of course I said yes when they offered a gift card so I could do a little spring and summer shopping for the kidlets.  And, I *might* have gone a little crazy and went way over my gift card just because I love their clothes so much.  Oh, and their hats, and their shoes, and their purses...

Of course, Gymboree also has some great matching outfits in boys and girls, toddler and baby that I love for professional portraits and holidays.  But for everyday outfits, I love to keep the kids in the same general color scheme or color accents for when I’m taking pictures without worrying that everyone matches perfectly.

Because you never know when a moment like this will happen.

Or this.

Or this.

Or, even if I just want to blow up a few pictures of the spring and summer and want one coordinating color throughout the pieces, Gymboree mix and match is perfect.  By weaving some of the new orange and navy collection into multiple outfits or sporting the pastels all through summer, I’m going to have a file full of pictures to choose from come fall that would look great as a picture wall or picture book.   

And, I already know a few of the pieces we picked up this spring at Gymboree are bound to be favorites, like the blue striped shorts that just so happen to match a favorite baby doll’s outfit, the white button up shirt just like daddy, the pink flower purse perfect for girl necessities, Breezy Blossom dress that gets worn as soon as it comes out of the dryer, the Gem Flower white sandals that go with everything, and the orange headband that gets compliments whenever we leave the house.

It’s this reason that I love how well their clothing holds up to all kids can dish out – through multiple seasons and through multiple kids.  Our family passes around Gymboree clothing and they go through all the nieces and nephews, so I love when I see my younger nieces getting compliments on the dress or shirt that my daughter adored. 

It certainly makes it easy to justify a $100+ purchase knowing that it will clothe over 6 kids, and the bonus is that it also doesn't make it so sad when they grow out of the clothes so quick.  Note: Sorry, cousins, we're not going to be passing down this headband, though.  I think that's something that's going to grow with us for a while!  What's your favorite item in the new spring lines?  Do you love them as much as my kiddos do?

A big thank you to Gymboree for sending a gift card so we could check out the new spring collections. As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

Must Have Gear for Kiddos: First Ascent MicroTherm Down Jacket from Eddie Bauer

I’m a big believer in getting kids good, quality outdoor gear.  Whether it’s for hiking and biking or quick jaunts around town, quality outdoor gear just makes sense on many different levels.   

For one, I want kids that enjoy being outdoors, and I know that being comfortable is a big part of what will foster their love of nature.  This may mean that my kiddos miss out on having character themed jackets and backpacks, but in the end I feel they gain a lot more by having something weatherproof and lightweight that allows them to be… kids. 

For another, good quality gear just lasts.  Even if you buy big and your child wears it for two years straight, it’s still able to passed down to the next kid in line.  If you do the math, it actually makes good gear seem frugal in comparison to $35 a pop every year and then a new coat for each kid.

Knowing that we love pint sized outdoor gear, you can bet we were thrilled when we heard that Eddie Bauer had recently expanded their clothing and gear for kids, baby and toddler as well.  We had been hunting the kid’s line down locally and found that it was in select stores right now {for all of you Seattlites, you can currently find them consistently at U-Village and Redmond, and popping up in other stores occasionally} as well as online. 

And, once we saw the First Ascent MicroTherm down jacket for kids, we knew we had found the perfect grow-with-us coat.  Besides being absolutely adorable in that they look just like the grownup jackets but miniature, they also didn’t scrimp on features when they shrunk them down to kid’s sizes.  Packable, lightweight, and layer-able, these are the epitome of great gear for kids. 

With features such as StormRepel durable water-repellent (DWR) finish that sheds moisture, interior pockets for storing essentials, and cuffed sleeves to keep the elements out, this coat really does have it all.  I'm not sure if it's the fact that they match daddy, or if it's the fact that they really are gear connoisseurs at 2 and 4 years old, but my kiddos straight up adore these coats.

Instead of the on-off on-off routine, the MicroTherm coats are the first coats that our kids actually keep on and don’t complain of being too hot in as soon as we step inside.  But, not only do they keep them on indoors, they are still perfect temperature for the cold, wind, and rain of the Pacific Northwest year-round. 

One of the details that make this such an amazing all around jacket is that it isn’t the giant puffy coat you are picturing from your childhood.  Made with row after row of tiny baffles stuffed with 600 fill power premium European goose down, it is amazingly thin for how warm it is. 

Another part of what makes the MicroTherm jacket so thin is that it is made with a slim fitted design to keep you warm as well as for layering, but with stretch panels built into the sides to aid in flexibility, breathability and movement.  These details also make it perfect to buy large since it is more of a fitted coat it doesn’t look out of place a size too big. 

In fact, you might even be able to go two sizes bigger and really extend the life of the jacket.  Our kiddos are in sizes 5-6 and 3-4 for tops and they are currently both modeling a size 8 MicroTherm down jacket.  Admittedly, the coat looks like a dress on my son since the 21.25” length isn’t meant for toddlers, but I don’t want to be the one to break his heart. 

Speaking of heart breaking, when we do force the kiddos to take them off, I really love that the compressible down makes it easy to stuff away in the bottom of a stroller or an overnight bag, or even its own pocket.  But, this compressibility also means you can easily fold up the sleeves inside the cuffs if they happen to be too long, as was obviously the case for my son.

While I wouldn’t recommend buying 6 sizes too big for everyone, he certainly doesn’t look like he’s complaining now, does he?

Whether you are looking for an under layer for skiing and snowshoeing or you want a lightweight and compressible all-weather coat for your little one, I would highly recommend the MicroTherm Down Jacket from First Ascent as the perfect year-round coat.  It may not make a mountain climber out of your kiddo just by putting it on, but you will have better luck convincing them to try as well as keeping them comfortable no matter where their day takes them. 

The MicroTherm jackets for boys and girls are currently on clearance at EddieBauer.com and can be picked up for 50% off, which makes them a crazy good deal at $39.99 each.

A big thank you to Eddie Bauer for sending the MicroTherm jackets for the kiddos to adore... and never want to take off.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

One of a kind keepsake and handwriting jewelry from Lauren Nicole Gifts {Giveaway}

You know those adorable things your kiddos write or draw that make you think, “I wish I could preserve this forever”?  For me, that is every time my daughter writes a letter “E” as it has three extra adorable squiggles.  My dad tells me it’s because she’s so emphatic, and I can’t help but agree. 

Of course I save all of her sweet notes she signs with “love” with her emphatic E, but most of those are done on napkins or shreds of paper my daughter finds around the house.  This makes it hard to frame or display them in any functional way, which means they end up in a pile or in her scrapbook box, which makes them hard to actually enjoy. 

So, for Christmas I told my husband that all I wanted was her handwriting on a necklace, something I thought I was making up at the time.  But, as it turns out, handwriting jewelry is a very real thing and is one of my new obsessions. 

Lauren Nicole Gifts, the company my friends and I order our hand stamped jewelry from, makes a whole collection of handwriting jewelry and they are more gorgeous than I had imagined.  Seriously, just look at how gorgeous these handwriting jewelry pieces are.

When it came to the actual designing of my necklace, I knew I wanted my daughter writing “love” as the main feature that I could wear close to my heart.  But, what I didn’t expect was that she would bust out this beautiful masterpiece the week before we ordered:

I know, right?  Since 99% of the drawings my daughter does require paragraphs of explanation, I was thrilled that not only does this look just like a mama bird on her nest, it actually looks like something I would buy at a store.  I wasn’t even sure if Lauren Nicole Gifts could do children's artwork like this, but I thought it was worth a shot to email it to them and see what they could do. 

Imagine my surprise when the necklace came back to me with “love” on one side and the bird on the other.  Leave it to Lauren Nicole Gifts to wow me yet again and offer things I didn't even think could be done! 

Let me tell you, it was better than getting a fancy piece of jewelry, better than a custom piece of art, and better than receiving a sweet handwritten note from my little sweetheart, because it was all of those rolled into one.  How could I not melt when I get to look at this every single day?

And, it isn’t just sentiment that makes this my new favorite jewelry piece, the Lauren Nicole handwriting necklace is truly gorgeous in its own right.  Although it looks dainty and feminine, I was initially surprised by how thick and hefty the polished silver charm is.  This isn’t the type of thing you can simply pick up at a craft store and make your own jewelry out of, this is a thick and sturdy piece that can hold up to anything. 

Now I love macaroni necklaces as much as the next person, but being able to see the same glow of pride in my daughter’s eyes when I wear my Lauren Nicole charm that she designed is a much better deal for both of us.  Plus, it matches my style just a bit more, and as you might imagine it’s much more durable.  That's mother's jewelry I can really get behind. 

In addition to being a special necklace that means so much to my daughter and me, it’s also a great conversation starter and I get tons of compliments on it even before they know it’s my daughter’s art and handwritten “love”.  And, I love that I’m doing my part to further the handwriting jewelry trend as everyone that hears about or sees my special necklace now wants one of their own. 

Whether you want to show off your kid’s sweet first letters, a love note from your hubby, or a bit of inspiration from a beloved grandparent, handwriting jewelry is the way to do it.  What better way to preserve the sentiment and the person than with their own handwriting you can wear forever? 

With Valentine’s Day just a few weeks away, now is the perfect time to surprise a loved one with priceless one-of-a-kind jewelry from Lauren Nicole.  Whatever design you choose, it's sure to make their day, and will definitely be the first thing they reach for in their jewelry box. 

One lucky Rave & Review reader will win $50 to spend at Lauren Nicole Gifts so you can create your own one of a kind jewelry.

To Enter: simply like Lauren Nicole Gifts on Facebook and let me know in the comments below {mandatory}

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

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this awesome Lauren Nicole Gifts giveaway {http://tinyurl.com/a5wzqwo} with extra credit if you tag Lauren Nicole Gifts and Rave & Review

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.  Retweet this tweet

1 Extra Entry - Like @RaveAndReview and @LaurenNicoleLLC on Twitter

4 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 on any post, just leave a comment here as well.

On February 1st at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 24 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:

#147 Karen said...daily tweet:
https://twitter.com/raveandreview/status/292164706909696000
THanks, Karen

A big thank you to Lauren Nicole for creating a special piece just for me and offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers. As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

Learning the Fine #ArtofFashion with searsStyle

Every mom understands that an inevitable shift happens the moment you find out you’re pregnant and shopping for yourself takes a back seat to shopping for your little babe.  What happens is that your sense of style gets stuck in whatever year you saw that first faint positive.  For me, that was 2007, which was virtual eons ago in the fashion world.  Ever since then, my daily style consists of jeans and then black, black and more black. 

Recently, I had the chance to update my look to this decade and add some color to my wardrobe as part of the Art of Fashion campaign with searsStyle and I knew exactly what I wanted to start with – the basics.  I figure I can add some color punches here and there as I’m shopping for the littles, but the basics are much harder to justify spending some real cash on.

The basics for me during winter are a good pair of shoes, a nice wool coat, jeans, a sweater or two, colorful scarves, and a practical purse.  I found all of that and more at the searsStyle website that helps you find the latest trends that work for your lifestyle and allow you to shop directly from the site.  I really love that the searsStyle site is fully integrated with the main Sears site which saves you the headache of having to search again to find that awesome pair of jeans you fell in love with.

After I got an idea of what I was looking for, I went to my Shop Your Way page I set up earlier this year and created my “look” I was going for in a custom-made Art of Fashion catalog.  It’s similar to an online pin board where you can add things you like, comment on what you like about certain items, mark items you already own, get recommendation and deals as well as see other’s favorite picks for inspiration. 

You can filter your results by style, brand, color, price and more and it helps you find the exact style and price you’d like or you can simply check out other people’s catalogs to help break you out of your shopping rut.  I love that there were so many things to inspire me as I dreamt up a new closet for myself and it was easy to find exactly what I was looking for and more. 

I was mainly looking for some color infusion as I added to my Art of Fashion board to brighten up my dull black wardrobe.  I was dreaming of reds, turquoise, yellow, and black as my basic color scheme and then from there I could add little pops of other colors that caught my eye.  Starting from the bottom and working my way up, I began to add things to my catalog in a variety of styles ranging from tried-and-true classics to more daring fashions I would love to be able to pull off.

Once I had all of my inspiration, I was ready to hit the stores to see what I could find at my local Sears.  Since 'tis the season of shopping, I was able to pop into a few of the Sears around me while finishing up my Christmas shopping, which was perfect because I was able to shop for a variety of people on my list at the same time I updated my look. 

The first thing I found was some adorable red shoes with a small heel from Metaphor that I knew were perfect the moment I spotted them.  Even though I’m not traditionally a heels kind of gal, it was a low heel and it wasn’t unmanageable to walk in.  After I had the shoes I was dreaming of, I headed off to the jeans and was happy to see that they had the pair I had fallen in love with at the Lee Jeans Style Party in Seattle this fall.  

Next up was tops, and, armed with my smartphone that I could access my Shop Your Way catalog with,  I knew exactly what I wanted.  I was looking for some colorful cardigans to go over tanktops and I found a ton of great options, all the way from cashmere to cotton cardis.  I searched through the Kardashian Kollection, juniors and women's sections and found a ton of cute tops and sweaters that I loved {some of which I added to my catalog while shopping!}. I eventually settled on two colorful sweater choices that would be perfect for all the many gatherings coming up, I was all set. 

But, since winter can be long and cold here in the Pacific Northwest, I also needed a good wool coat that I could dress up or down.  I found the perfect short-waisted jacket from Bongo in the juniors section and loved that it had a little added flair to make it distinctive and fun, but not too much that it would be outdated in a few months.  Even better was the price – at $19.99, it was less than what I normally spend on shirts!

I could have stopped there and would have had some great new pieces to mix and match, but every woman knows that when we’re talking fashion, we are also talking about accessories, so I decided to spend a little time adding some color pops that can go with my new look.  I found an adorable scarf, some chunky beaded necklaces, and more that were perfect for my new look and then it was the moment I had been waiting for: purse shopping.   

Since most of my purses are black, I was thinking bold this time around, and that for me meant turquoise or red.  I wasn’t able to find any good turquoise styles, but I did find an awesome crossbody design from Covington that is as practical as it cute.  Since my purse typically ends up a makeshift diaper bag, I was happy the one I chose had 10 pockets built right in that can keep me organized and sane with two young kiddos. 

As an added bonus, my favorite feature of the bag is that the shoulder strap can be adjusted to sit crossbody or it can be tightened so you can wear it on one shoulder if you’d like.  Extra special bonus for my daughter is that I found out that there is a mini version of my purse and I had to track it down for her so I could wrap it up for Christmas.  My kid likes match-y match-y, so this is going to make her day when she realizes she has a purse just like mama's.   

Once my purse shopping was done and my shopping complete, I felt like a new woman.  My wardrobe was no longer colorless and dark, I had color infusion from head to toe!  The best part is that it revitalized my old wardrobe and my new accessories can now brighten up anything in my closet. 

With all the many shopping bags I brought home and all the different outfits I’ve been able to make, the most surprising thing is the low price I paid.  I would have expected this kind of transformation to cost hundreds of dollars if not thousands, but when paired with Sears holiday sales, coupons, and my Shop Your Way reward balance, I spent less than $100 on everything – wow, right? 

Want to create your own Art of Fashion board in time for the holidays?  Head on over to your Shop Your Way and you can create a catalog simply by hovering over an item until you see the option “add to catalog”.  From there you can create a board, a wishlist, or mark things you already own to help you shop or pass along to others who are shopping for you.  By connecting your Facebook account to the Shop Your Way site you can interact with friends and family or you can choose to keep your profile private if you’d like.

Don’t have a Shop Your Way rewards card yet?  Well, what are you waiting for?  It’s totally free and it gives you rewards on everything you buy as well as promotional points just for shopping on certain days.  They send periodic emails, including emailed receipts, but the emails are always relevant and are never spammy and you can control how many you receive by editing your email preferences.  I just signed up in June and have earned 55,608 points to date, which equates to a whopping $55.60 and a whole lot of free shopping. 

Want to see my entire shopping spree?  Check out my Google+ album to see why I'm heading to Sears next time I need a wardrobe fix.

Check out searsStyle.com and shopyourway.com for your fashion inspiration this year.  Like them on Facebook and follow on Twitter to find keep up to date on all their holiday deals.

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community.  This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and searsStyle.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.  #CBias #SocialFabric #ArtofFashion

Rio Soul Shoes Can Handle Anything... Beautifully {Review & Coupon Code} #HolidayGuide

A few days ago I got a wonderful surprise when a Rio Soul box arrived just for me.  I opened the box up to find these beauties, an early holiday present from Leanne. 

She knows full well that I am constantly in search of the perfect shoes that fit my personality but are still practical, comfortable and versatile and will not get in the way of my busy lifestyle.  And, Rio Soul shoes definitely fit this bill.

Having heard about the Rio Soul shoes in the awesome Party Blu Prints Holiday 2012 Celebrations eGuide, I was anxious to see them in person so it was a fun surprise to get them to check out just in time for all the holiday craziness. 

I was immediately impressed by how trendy they are without being too flashy.  They give just enough flare to my fun, casual look, which I love.  You can dress them up or down depending on your mood, and they look adorable no matter what you're doing.

And, can you believe they are even cuter in person?  After slipping them on, I was surprised by how great they felt.  I found I actually forgot I was even wearing shoes after a while.  It was like being allowed to wear a cozy pair of slippers to work every day.

Not only are these shoes cute and comfortable; they are also durable, light and flexible.  This is extremely important for me since I am a drummer and need the extra mobility and traction for the foot pedals when I’m jamming with my band.  They are also great for when I hit the gym really hard during my CrossFit training.

The minimalist design allows my foot to feel the ground so I can be more aware of my form for safer, weight lifting and more efficient running.  The design leaves me in control of my ankle foot and toes to maximize every movement with the most minimal interference. 

I love that I can wear these to the gym, to the mall while finishing my Christmas shopping, and even gracefully match them with sweaters for holiday parties.  These shoes really can do it all.

From all of my many travels I’ve learned to keep things simple, which is why I appreciate these sneakers so much.  Wearing shoes that can go anywhere and do anything really does help me keep things simple every day and make it so I'm up for whatever might come up throughout the day.

Although I do still like to wear my not-so-practical pumps and flats every now and again, I love that I can now easily stash my light-weight Rio Souls in my purse or a backpack for whatever might roll my way.  With no more added weight or bulk than a pair of flip flops and the comfort of a sneaker, there's no excuse for not having practical shoes anymore. 

And, these are probably the most impressively practical shoes I could ever own.  Not every shoe can keep up with me, and even fewer look this good while doing it.  Thank goodness I have a 20% off with free shipping coupon at RioSoul.com that I can use to buy some more in every color of the rainbow – hey a girl needs to be prepared, right?

Want to use my 20% off + free shipping coupon for yourself?  Simply enter R888SOUL at checkout to score a truly great deal just in time for the holidays. 



I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Rio Soul.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.  #CBias #SocialFabric #HolidayGuide

Shop Abe's Market for the Holidays {Twitter Party Invite}

When someone asks me what they can buy for my children, I’m always at a loss for something to tell them.  It’s not that they have everything {really, they don’t}, it’s just that the stuff they like is so hard to quantify or do a wish-list for.  Basically, we like stuff that is one of a kind, quirky, unique, or something you just don’t find everywhere else. 

Until I was introduced to Abe’s Market and found that they carry a great selection of toys that fit this description, whenever someone would ask what they would like I would just shrug and say, “honestly, I don’t know.”  But, now I can direct any friends and family searching for gifts the kiddos would go crazy about right to the Abe’s Market site and let them pick something they would like to wrap up.

Note to family and friends: don’t choose the Pure Play Kids wooden cash register if you’re shopping this holiday season.  We already have it, and it’s amazing. 

When I first saw the wooden cash register, I knew it was perfect for the kiddos.  With a rustic, handmade look to it that just calls out for you to play with it, it encourages literally hours of play.  Sure, it was a bit more expensive than the plastic cash registers you find at mass retailers, but for a very good reason. 

I paid the extra money for the fact that it doesn’t beep, doesn’t sound like it’s shattering when it gets knocked over, and doesn’t have drawers that stick only a day after you buy it.  While you’d think that a product like this would lose marks for not having pushable buttons, dinging drawers and an attached scanner, what I love most about it is all of these things. 

Instead of a built-in calculator, it has an abacus to encourage children to do the math on their own. Instead of a drawer that dings that you throw money into, it has coin-sized slots on the top to sort them by size.  And, instead of being a toy that was used twice and discarded, it has ended up one of the absolute favorite toys of the year.  

In the past few weeks I have witnessed my kids using it to play library, play toy shop owner, and play farmer’s market for hours on end and it’s absolutely heart-melting.  Seeing this has also confirmed that my inclination was correct: they didn’t need a grocery store scanner with conveyor belt and beeping wand, they needed an open-ended toy that could spark their amazing imaginations and become anything they want it to be. 

And, speaking of open-ended toys, Abe’s has the market cornered this holiday season.  We’ve ordered numerous things in the past from them and every time we are beyond thrilled with the quality and the craftsmanship, but even more so with the fact that they inspire play and fun.  Just look at this little wooden posable robot we got my son at Abe's Market to display on his map wall.  Adorable, no?

With tons of toys available from baby on up, it is easy to find something that’s perfect for every child on your list.  From baby clothing and supplies to room décor and organic and natural snacks, they could easily be a one-stop-shop for all your baby and child needs.  While I could spend hours raving about all the amazing things I’ve found just perusing their pages, instead I will just suggest you head there yourself to see what you can find for all the little ones in your life.

Not to worry if you’re not shopping for kids this holiday season because Abe’s Market has a huge selection for us adults as well.  I like to think of it as a farmer’s market online, minus the fresh fruit and veggies.  From handcrafted artisan products to small batch cosmetics and natural products from head to toe, it really is almost as fun shopping as it is receiving your package in the mail. 

Head on over to Abe’s Market and discover how easy it can be to be green.  From clothing to housewares to organic living, there’s a little something for everyone this holiday season. 

You're Invited: Abe's Market #NaturalLiving Twitter Party

Join me on Tuesday, October 30th from 8-9pm CST for the Abe's Market #NaturalLiving Twitter Party! We will be talking about natural living, simple changes we can make in our daily lives and our favorite Abe's Market products! You can follow along using the hashtag #NaturalLiving and the Tweetgrid for the party. RSVP below for your chance to Abe's Market gift cards! We will be giving away (2) $25, (1) $50, and a $100 Abe's Market gift card during the party. You must RSVP below to be eligible to win!

Twitter Party Details

WHEN: Tuesday, October 30th from 8-9pm EST HASHTAG: #NaturalLiving HOSTS: Follow @frugalgreenmama & @formulamom & @noisegirls CUSTOM TWEETGRID: http://tinyurl.com/8jlsoxh PRIZES: 4 Abe's Market Gift Cards: (2) $25, (1) $50, & (1) $100

RSVP to win!

To be eligible to win a prize, please RSVP using the linky below (enter the URL to your Twitter profile). Winners will be chosen randomly from the RSVP list. You must be present and participating during the party to be eligible to win a prize. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Open to US residents. Prizes will be given away every 15 minutes during the 1 hour party on 10/30/12. Prizes include LIST PRIZES. The grand prize of GRAND PRIZE will be given away at the end of the party to 1 grand prize winner. All winners will be chosen using random.org from the RSVP list. Winners must be participating in the party using the hashtag #NaturalLiving at the time that they are drawn as a winner. Winners will have 5 minutes to reply to claim their prize or a new winner will be drawn.

A big thank you to Abe's Market for providing a credit for us to apply towards the cost of the cash register.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

DIY Embroidery Hoop Hair Clip Holder (Tutorial}

I think I had 5 clips the entire time I was growing up.  My daughter has dozens.  While they are admittedly adorable, they also drive me crazy when I can’t find the one I’m looking for or when one lands on the floor and gets stepped on. 

So, a few years ago we got a single ribbon bow holder, which we love, and it holds many of the bigger bows nicely.  But pretty soon we grew out of that one and needed another, so we got a second, which we also love, and then we filled that one up in no time. 

In a cute little boutique near us they had a hair clip display done with ribbons crisscrossing a frame and it was then I decided I would simply make a bow holder myself that could hold more than a dozen clips at a time.  But, then I got to brainstorming and that’s when the DIY Embroidery Hoop Hair Clip Holder was born. 

Things you will need:
Embroidery hoop, any size
Fabric for backing that can cover your hoop and have a few inches of excess fabric around all the edges
Assorted ribbon
Fabric glue
Hot glue gun
Paint (optional)
Staple gun

I personally love embroidery hoops and have been dying to use one in a project ever since I saw Mandy from The Haps do Harper’s room reveal.  I did a little happy dance when I finally figured out how I could use one and where I would put it once it was finished, and then I did another one when our local fabric store had hoops on sale that same week.  Fate, I tell you. 

I picked the largest one they had, mostly because I’m hoping that I won’t have to make another one in just a few weeks, but you could really do this in any size.  It would actually be cute to do a few smaller hoops with different fabrics and ribbons as sort of an art fixture, but I will leave that for when we outgrow this one. 

After you have your hoop and supplies, the next step is assembling.  But, if you would like to paint your hoop, you should do so now.  I obviously skipped this step, but will definitely paint my next one.  Instead, I was so excited to get the project going that I just started assembling and then it was too late.  Don’t do what I did, kids.

Once your hoop is ready, you simply put your fabric in the embroidery hoop, pulling as taut as possible.  I worked at this step for a long time until it was perfectly stretched from every angle, but I’m not convinced it was entirely necessary and in retrospect, ironing would have been faster.  But, I would basically do anything to avoid ironing.  Clearly.

Once your fabric is taut, you simply trim your fabric around the hoop leaving approximately an inch of fabric.  Then you flip your hoop over and line the inside of the hoop with fabric glue or hot glue.  This is best to do a few inches at a time as the glue dries fast and it needs to hold tight. 

I used fabric glue and found that it worked quite well, but traditionally hot glue would have been used.  Whichever method you go with, know that you will get glue on your fingers.  In fact, I still have glue on my fingers.

Once the glue dries fully, you can carefully take the outer hoop off and add ribbon.  When you are cutting your ribbon, be sure and leave quite a bit overhanging as it will need to wrap around the hoop as well.  I decided to place my ribbons randomly over the hoop at different increments so I could accommodate clips of all sizes, but you could always measure if random bothers you.  As for me?  Random is how I live life.

Once you’re happy with placement, you can simply replace the outer hoop and then pull the ribbons taut. I started with my hoop loose for this step and then tightened the screw on the outer hoop to make sure they were as tight as possible and then repulled all of my ribbons again.  Once you’re sure they can’t get any tighter, you simply glue the ends of the ribbon to the inside of the hoop as you did the fabric earlier. 

Once my glue was dry I was still nervous it would pull out with even a tiny bit of force, so I convinced hubby to staple the ribbon ends to the hoop from the inside.  After that, my project was pretty much done, I just tied a ribbon to the top for color and then I tied a longer string to the inner screw of the hoop for hanging. 

The bow clip holder is going on the back of my daughter’s room {yay for unused wall space!} and I didn’t want to put a nail hole in the door, so I used a simple Command Hook and called it good.  Since I was putting it on a door, my biggest concern was that the hoop would hit the door each time it was opened or closed, but I’m happy to report that it doesn’t hit at all.

Because it’s hanging pretty loose off the ribbon and because the whole hoop, even full of ribbons, is so incredibly light, it almost catches air as the door is closed and lands without a sound.  I was really happy about that because it meant I didn’t have to felt the edges like I thought I would. 

I still am working on a few things with my design and figuring out a way to add loops to store headbands underneath the hoop, but overall I'm happy with the hair clip holder and think it adds a bit of fun to an otherwise overlooked area of her room.  So, there you have it, a hair bow solution that cost me less than $4 to complete because I already had the fabric, the ribbon, the staples and the glue.  Can’t beat that, right?