Spring Fashion Pieces I’m Loving

Thanks to Couponbox for collaborating on this post.

We might still have snow in the forecast but that doesn’t stop me from dreaming of spring! I’ve already started shopping for warmer weather looks for the boys and I so today I wanted to share some women’s fashion pieces I’m loving. Also, check out the bottom of this post for a way to save money on clothes while shopping for your spring wardrobe!

Women’s Printed Rouched Waist Tank Dress (available at Target)

Lucky Brand Plus Size Ripped Boyfriend Jeans (available at Macy’s)

California Flutter Cold Shoulder Top (available at Kohl’s)

Washed Cotton Moto Jacket (available at Nordstrom)

Carissa Closed Toe Espadrille Wedge Sandals (available at Target)

Heart Print Chiffon & Knit Raglan Tee (available at Torrid)

Relaxed Cutout-Back Blouse for Women (available at Old Navy)

I love finding cute things to wear but you know what I love even more than that? Saving money on the fashions I find! One great website that helps you save money while shopping online is Couponbox. Couponbox is a place to find online coupons for all kinds of stores like Target, Kohl’s, and Michaels. Unlike other “coupon” websites though, these coupons will always work because they are tested by the Couponbox team. They also negotiate with stores for exclusive coupon codes and special offers so you can find coupons there that no other site has.

What fashions are you loving this spring? Make sure to check out Couponbox to see how much you can save at your favorite retailer.

My Fall Style

This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own. The ChapStick® product, information and gift have been provided by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.

I’ve been loving this cooler weather we’ve been having lately because it means that I can finally bring out my fall wardrobe! This is the first year since having children that I’ve decided that yoga pants are not going to be my every day outfit. I’m still going to dress comfy while I’m home but I’m making an effort to look more put together when I go out. I wanted to share some of the things I’m loving when it comes to fall fashion this year.

BOOTS

This year I finally bought some riding boots and I’ve been wearing them almost every day. I have such wide calves that I could never find a pair that fit me so when I found some at Payless that I could zip up I knew I had to get them. I also got some cute booties with fringe and a peep toe that are really trendy right now. I don’t know how much wear I will get out of them before the snow comes but I couldn’t pass them up.

PLAID

If there is a pattern that I equate with the fall and winter seasons, it’s plaid. I’ve worn different plaid styles in the past but this year I’m loving plaid scarfs and shirts.

CARDIGANS

Cardigans are one of my wardrobe staples. Light cardigans are perfect for fall but I’ve also invested in some heavier ones for the colder days. Recently I found a beautiful seafoam colored cable knit cardigan at Target and I’m obsessed with it. Paired with a rose gold necklace and a white shirt it’s gorgeous.

FOOTBALL GEAR

I can’t resist a new Chicago Bears shirt because they are great for game day. I’ve always worn oversized Bears shirts so I’m going for more fitted styles now. I also recently bought a cute fashion scarf that supports my favorite team without making me look frumpy.

LACE UP FLATS

As a busy mom, I’ve always preferred flat dress shoes over heels and I am in love with the new styles I’ve been seeing. I love the pointy toed lace up dress shoes because they go with everything from dressier outfits to denim.

DRESSES

For years I’ve worn maxi dresses but this year I had to add a couple shorter dresses to my closet. I found a really cute printed dress that will work over leggings or with my cute tan booties and I’m excited to get out of my plain dress rut.

SKINNY JEANS

For the first time ever, I am rocking skinny jeans. I always thought they wouldn’t look right on me because I am pear shaped but I am really liking how much more put together I feel in skinny jeans. Another bonus is that I can easily tuck in my jeans when I wear boots which was always difficult with wider leg pants.

An outfit wouldn’t be complete without a smile and one thing I count on to keep my lips nice and smooth is Chapstick. Chapstick is a must-have for any purse or school bag.

ChapStick is available in many varieties and now can also be purchased on Chapstick’s new online store! You’re never more than a click away from healthier looking lips.

What are your favorite fall styles this year?

Stylish Looks From OshKosh B’gosh {Giveaway}

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B’gosh; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. #BacktoBgosh

The kids are back in school and today is the unofficial end of the summer season which means we all know the cooler Autumn air will be here soon. With it comes the start of football, pumpkin spice lattes and apple picking, along with the need for new back to school clothes. It will soon be time to put away the shorts and sandals in favor of sweaters and boots.

Knowing this, I recently went shopping at OshKosh B’gosh for some stylish fall looks. It’s one of my favorite stores for kid’s fashion and I’ve been a customer ever since my boys were babies crawling around in their little overalls. Denim has been a staple in my kid’s wardrobe for years because it’s comfortable, stylish and versatile. OshKosh B’gosh is one of the few places I buy jeans for the kids because their pants have adjustable waistbands for my kids’ tiny waists.

Along with a pair of dark wash denim jeans I bought a light jacket and a number of long sleeve tops. I love that denim jeans go with just about anything- from t-shirts and athletic shoes to dress shirts and boots. All of the shirts I bought looked great with the jeans and I was able to create a number of outfits with the same pair of dark wash jeans.

I noticed that this year I was drawn to a lot of blue and orange combos when I was shopping. Perhaps because of my love for our Chicago football team? Or maybe it’s because these colors will brighten up any dreary fall day, especially when paired with a smile!

Want to do some back to school shopping of your own? I’m excited to be sharing a coupon code for OshKosh B’gosh and giving away a gift card to the store!

What stylish looks will you find for your kids?

To save 25% at OshKosh B’gosh use the coupon code Coupon Code OKBG3136 or print the coupon below.

GIVEAWAY:

One person will win a $50 Gift Card to OshKosh B’Gosh

HOW TO ENTER:

To enter the giveaway comment on this post letting me know why you want to win.

For an extra entry, share this post on social media and comment a second time with the link

The giveaway ends September 20, 2016 at 11:59pm CST. Must be a US resident and 21 or older to win.

P.S.- Does anyone else’s child dab? Jacob just had to do so during our little photo shoot. How could I not share these pictures? lol

 

 

Boy’s Sporty Looks {For Less!}

Thanks to Marshalls for sending me a gift card to do some back-to-school shopping.

When shorts weather came around a few months ago, Jacob began to ask if he could wear basketball shorts as opposed to the jean shorts and plaid shorts he normally wore. Almost every day this summer he wore athletic shorts with his camp shirt or another t-shirt. He loved how comfy they were and that he didn’t have to change in the afternoons for sports practices.

While shopping for back-to-school clothes, I decided to head to Marshalls to find him some more seasonal appropriate athletic wear now that the cooler weather was coming. Though he will probably wear jeans to school most days, I wanted to find some athletic looks that were nice enough for school and that he could easily wear to baseball or basketball practice.

I found some great pants, hoodies, light jackets, t-shirts and even gym shoes. I loved that the athletic brands were all available at a significant discount at Marshalls.

Don’t forget to look for a little something special for yourself, too, moms! I got myself a cute sweater and a pair of gym shoes :)

The LuLaRoe Obsession {Giveaway!}

Disclosure: I received a couple LuLaRoe pieces in return for posting.

I live in comfy pants so when I heard about LuLaRoe I was intrigued. Leggings that are comfortable but also stylish and fun? That is this girl’s dream! They get bonus points for being versatile because you can pair them with everything from tshirts to dress tops and flip flops to heels.

Though most well-known for their leggings, that are said to feel like “butter”, I quickly came to realize that LuLaRoe not only sold leggings but tops, dresses, cardigans and skirts as well. The great thing is that their designs are flattering on a variety of different body types.

The prints are what I think makes this company so exciting. New prints come out on a regular basis that if you were collecting them (and I know some people that do) you’d be able to wear a different patterned item every day for months and not repeat a print. There are literally that many to choose from! Up until recently I had stuck with black leggings because as much as I loved patterned leggings on everyone else, I wasn’t a fan of them on myself. I had to take a hard look at why and realized it was all a body image thing. I started to be bolder- getting navy and then gray and just this past week buying my first pair of patterned leggings. Aren’t they the cutest!?

Oh, and they also have kid’s clothes as well. They make leggings, dresses, skirts and tops (for girls and boys!) If I had a little girl I’d be broke. Check out the cuteness below!

LuLaRoe works a little differently than most companies when it comes to purchasing items. There are no LuLaRoe brick and mortar or online stores you can just shop at and purchase what you want, when you want. This is because all the items are sold by independent consultants and there are only a limited number of each print made. Most consultants have Facebook groups you can join and then items are usually listed individually, or all at once, and the first person to say “sold” gets the item. LuLaRoe’s fun prints are limited to 800-2,500 pieces so once they are out of a print, they are out. Solid colored items will usually be available again in the future but most print items will not be available once sold out (from what I understand). Consultants also hold “pop up” in-home parties and online parties where the hosts get free items and/or discounts depending on how many purchases are made at their party.

Want to get started with your LuLaRoe obsession or just want to join another group to have access to more fun prints?! Join Nancy Elizabeth’s Facebook group! She’s a new consultant in the Chicago area and has already had a ton of fun items up for sale in her group. She also shares a lot of pictures for inspiration so you can see how she, and others, style their LuLaRoe.

She’s also giving one of you a $25 gift certificate to spend on LuLaRoe items in her group! You can get a pair of leggings or use it towards the purchase of another item. So excited to share the LuLaRoe love with you all!

GIVEAWAY!

Entering to win is easy. Just leave a comment below telling me why you want to win.

(To leave a comment enter your comment and info below and click the pink “post comment” text)

For two additional entries you can do the following:

1) Join her Facebook group and leave a comment with the name of your FB account you joined with

(If you are already a member you can still leave a comment for the extra entry. Just let us know the name on your account.)

2) Share on Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) and share the link to your share in a comment below.

This giveaway ends July 1, 2016 at 11:59pm CST and is open to US residents ages 18 and older. Good luck!

Real Inspiration

Thanks to T.J.Maxx for sponsoring this post and creating this inspirational video.

“Real inspiration comes from real women.” That’s the basis for the new campaign from T.J.Maxx this Spring and I love it. As a blogger I try to be as open as possible because that’s what I like to see when I visit other blogs or talk with my mom friends. I love seeing “real” women in advertising because these women I can relate to, like I can my friends and fellow bloggers who share about even the not-so-perfect stuff.

T.J.Maxx is sharing real women’s stories about who inspires them and how they make life work every day. Watch the video, brought to you by T.J.Maxx, below to hear a bit of their stories.

Who inspires you? Is it your mom, your sister, your friend? Let me know in the comments below!

Step Into Spring {See Kai Run Shoes Giveaway}

I’m so excited to finally see high temperatures in the 70s coming up this weekend! I can finally put away the winter coats and boots (hopefully I didn’t just jinx myself!) and get the boy’s sandals and summer shoes out. We received some fun new styles courtesy of See Kai Run that I can’t wait for the boys to show off.

See Kai Run offers footwear for Babies, Toddlers and Big Kids. Their Babies line features Smaller Crib shoes, which are true crib booties for ages 0-18 months, and Smaller Steps, which feature a durable rubber sole designed for those taking their very first steps, sizes 3-6. Their Toddler shoes (See Kai Run) are for sizes 4-9, and come in leathers, sneakers and their washable Runners. Their Big Kids, (Kai) shoes come in whole and half sizes 8-3y and also come in leathers, sneakers and washable Runners.

The quality of these shoes is amazing. Their shoes are made with buttery-soft leather with breathable leather lining and feature flexible soles which are perfect for children’s growing feet. Most of the shoes are made with a durable rubber sole for outdoor play and their Runners feature water friendly materials and are made for aqua play. I love that most of the sandals have a closed toe which is perfect for camp and school since they don’t allow open toed shoes. The footbed of the shoe is molded to fit their feet well and wide openings and wide toe boxes accommodate even the chubbiest little feet. Hook and loop closures allows for adjustable fit and easy on and off.

GIVEAWAY:

One reader will win a gift certificate for a pair of shoes (winner’s choice) from See Kai Run

HOW TO ENTER:

Leave a comment telling me which pair is your favorite

For an extra entry, share this giveaway on social media and leave a comment with the link

Giveaway ends May 14, 2016 at 11:59pm CST. Must be 21 or older and a US resident to enter.

Holiday Looks From The Children’s Place

(Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.)

I love the Holiday season! I enjoy decorating the house, baking Christmas cookies, giving gifts and all the extra time spent with family. The holidays are also a time to get dressed up, whether it’s for Church on Christmas Eve, pictures with cousins, or Holiday parties.

One of my favorite stores to shop at for the boys is The Children’s Place. I get the majority of the boys clothes from this store, especially my favorite plaid and argyle prints for both Easter and Christmas. I love putting the boys in matching clothes but this year I also decided to do some coordinating outfits for them.

I shopped TCP online and bought a variety of pieces that I could mix and match. I chose three dress shirts (two plain and one plaid), a vest, a sweater, a plaid tie, and 3 pants (denim, burgundy red and gray). When the kids were younger I used to always put them in dress pants but now that they are older I normally pair their dressy shirts with dark denim jeans. I bought gray as an alternative to the normal black dress pant. Also, I love the idea of red pants for the holiday so that’s why I bought the burgundy pair. I figured it was a great shade of red that could be worn throughout the colder months and not just in December.

Here are the pieces I paired together:

Gray Dress Shirt Options

The gray dress shirt matches perfectly with the gray in the arygle sweater and also the tie. I loved the layered look with the sweater and then the tie underneath.

Plaid Dress Shirt Options

I love how the plaid shirt brings a pop of color to the basic black and gray pieces. The little vest is absolutely adorable and looks cute over the shirt by itself or paired with a blazer. I also pulled out the gray coat we bought at The Children’s Place last year which pairs perfectly with all of the outfits they will be wearing this holiday season.

White Dress Shirt Options

White shirts are classic and make the boys look so grown up, especially when paired with that festive tie!

Most of the shirts I chose go with the jeans or gray pants. The burgundy ones really didn’t match much of what I bought because the reds were different shades but I loved the pants with the white dress shirt. The gray vest and gray coat went well with the outfit, too.

Another thing I buy at The Children’s Place around the Holidays are matching pajamas. I absolutely LOVE the pair I bought this year. I don’t normally buy one piece pj’s for the kids but I just couldn’t resist these striped pajamas!

Gurnee Mills: Great Deals & Fun For Everyone {Giveaway}

(Disclosure: I received a gift card from Gurnee Mills but all thoughts are my own.)

A couple weekends ago the boys and I headed to Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall to do some shopping. What I love about Gurnee Mills is the great selection of stores with many of them having deep discounts on items. Being on a budget I really appreciate being able to keep my kids in the same brands they typically wear while being able to save money.

Shopping with kids is an experience as we always tend to get sidetracked. The first store we went into was The Disney Store and my little Toy Story lover found the Lotso bear that he’d been hunting for. I liked the price which was over $30 less than the only other Lotso bear I had previously found at a toy store. He also found a bunch of other little friends and with the buy 3 or more discounts (and armed with a gift card) we went a little crazy…. 

Lucas had the biggest smile on his face and kept thanking me and hugging his stuffed friends. Jacob on the other hand kept asking where the LEGO store was. I promised him we’d stop there after mommy got some clothes for them.

I shopped at Carter’s, Gymboree Outlet, OshKosh B’gosh and The Children’s Place Outlet which are all the stores I typically go to for kid’s clothes. I found so many great deals it was unbelievable. I typically find good prices at outlets but there seemed to be even more sales than normal. Here are a few of my favorite finds:

Apparently yellow and gray are popular colors this season :) I swear I bought plenty of colorful items including a few matching shirts for the boys. Don’t they look handsome in these blue shirts?

When we were done looking at clothes, I fulfilled my promise of stopping at the LEGO store so Jacob could pick something out. Both boys made a few custom minifigures which they loved doing. Jacob has really been into LEGOs recently and has told me that when he is an adult he is going to collect all the minifigures. They each picked out an Advent Calendar also which is something I had my eye on last year but never bought. When we went to check out we got four free gifts. Four! Each boy got a LEGO magazine and then we got a little LEGO Chima set and a LEGO Astronaut set.

After a busy afternoon of shopping we enjoyed an early dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. I’ve been to three locations and I have to say that their Gurnee Mills location was the nicest one. It wasn’t too busy which was nice. Lucas loved the kid’s macaroni and cheese which he said was “Heaven”. I’d never heard him describe food like that so you know it was good :)

As we were walking around we discovered there was a lot more to do at Gurnee Mills than shop. There was a movie theater, an arcade, golfing and even an ice skating rink! Though I’d been to Gurnee Mills before I’d never noticed all the fun things there were to do there.

After a long afternoon carrying numerous bags I was exhausted (note to moms everywhere: pull out the stroller…trust me….). We headed home and I listened to the boys talk about how much fun they had. Lucas played with Lotso and the Peas in a Pod and Jacob looked through his LEGO magazine and talked about minifigures. Before they drifted off to sleep Jacob asked me when we’d be going back again. Considering we’d spent most of our time in clothing stores I’d consider this a win :)

GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win a $50 American Express Gift Card

(Please note: If you win you will have to pick it up at Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall)

HOW TO ENTER:

Comment on this giveaway telling me why you want to win

For an extra entry, share this giveaway and leave the link in the comments below

Giveaway ends October 1, 2014 at 11:59pm CST.

Walking Around Chicago {$50 Aerosoles Gift Card Giveaway}

Sinisa and I got to go on a date this past weekend which was so nice because quality one-on-one time is so rare. AEROSOLES sent me a pair of shoes and gave me some spending money to go out so we headed to Chicago to enjoy the warm, sunny weather before Chicago turns into “Chiberia” again. There are so many things to do in the city and most of them we don’t get to experience with the kids so we took full advantage of the day and tried to cram as much as we could into our afternoon.

First we stopped for lunch at Da Lobsta. I had my first Lobster Roll in Boston back in July and I’ve been craving one ever since. If you love lobster this is a must-stop lunch place! We then decided to head over to Navy Pier.

Navy Pier seemed more crowded than normal since it’s under construction but I love how lively it is. You get a beautiful view of the city from the Pier and an even better view from the 150-foot high Ferris Wheel. I hadn’t been on the Ferris Wheel in years since I was nervous to take the kids on it but it’s a nice activity to do without the kids. It should be noted though, that if you have less than 4 people in your group they make you sit with other people which is a little uncomfortable at times (like if you are with a couple who seems to be getting engagement photos like we were!)

After we walked along the Pier we took a taxi over to Millenium Park. We walked along the path that went by the garden area, watched families splash in the huge fountain area and stopped at “the bean”. The park was pretty busy because there was a festival going on.

We ended up at The Park Grill’s outdoor patio where we enjoyed drinks and an appetizer. I had almost forgotten how nice it was to sit and just talk without being interrupted! It started getting late so we headed back to the Pier and home to pick up our babies. It’s amazing what half a day can do for a person and a relationship! I felt calmer and more connected.

All this walking and relationship building wouldn’t have happened without my AEROSOLES shoes! AEROSOLES designs women’s footwear featuring exclusive technologies that deliver the most comfortable shoes possible. They feature unique “Diamond-Flex” soles that absorb impact and disperse friction with every step and “Stitch ‘N’ Turn” technology which creates the MOST flexible and comfortable shoes possible; with no break-in time required. I really loved how comfortable they were. Many times when I wear flats, the bottoms of my feet hurt after a few hours, almost as if I’d been hitting the pavement barefoot. I didn’t feel like that at all with these shoes. My feet were well cushioned.

Want to try AEROSOLES yourself? Enter to win a $50 AEROSOLES gift card below!

 HOW TO ENTER:

{Do any or all of the following, leave a separate comment for each you do}

1) Comment on this giveaway with your favorite city to walk around in

2) Share this giveaway on a social network

3) Follow Aerosoles on Twitter

4) Follow me on Twitter

Giveaway ends September 20, 2014 at 11:59pm CST. Must be a US resident and 21 or over to enter.

Jake & Sofia Bring Magic To The Classroom

(Disclosure: I participated in an Ambassador campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kohl’s. I received promotional items and product samples as a thank you for participating.)

How is the back-to-school shopping going? I’ve bought all the supplies and new backpacks but still have to get their first day of school outfits and some new Fall clothes. Even if you have young ones not going to school yet, this is a great time to stock up on some clothes that will bring them into the next season. Kohl’s is helping kids take the magic of Disney into the classroom with Disney apparel by Jumping Beans. The third collection for the new collaboration allows boys to embody the adventurous spirit of Jake and the Never Land Pirates while girls will learn to be royal with Sofia the First character apparel.

Here are some of my favorite pieces in the Sofia the First collection:

Though I’m a huge fan of anything pink for girls (it is my favorite color after all- especially hot pink!) I have to say that I am loving the softness of the white and purple. The sweatshirt paired with the tulle skirt is adorable and I can just imagine a little girl wearing this and a pair of boots or sparkly shoes.

No girl here, just two little boys. I love the Jake & the Neverland Pirates collection (and so do they!) but Lucas is just one size too big for it since it’s only in toddler sizes. These are my favorite Jake pieces:

The Jake & the Neverland Pirates collection is so fun. I love the vivid reds and blues.The hoodie looks nice and warm and the whole collection makes me wish for the cooler days that will be here before we know it.

Which Disney Jumping Beans pieces are your favorite?

Jacob’s Summer Style

(Disclosure: This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.)

Before I had boys I assumed that the only ones with cute clothes were girls. Once I became pregnant and started shopping though, I realized that boys had a great selection of clothes as well. Now that I am a mom of two boys I love shopping for them and their closet is is proof!

Recently, I had the chance to shop online at Kidzbloom, a NYC boutique. Kidzbloom challenged me to put together an outfit for one of my kid’s using three items in their store. I chose a t-shirt, brightly colored shorts, and a long-sleeve collared shirt (worn with the sleeves rolled up).

Buy the look

Check out the Kidzbloom website, where my son and 7 other blogger’s kids are featured. You have a chance to vote for your favorite outfit! The voting begins today, July 14th. The winning blogger will receive $150 store credit and every person that voted for the winner’s outfit will each receive a 30% discount to be used at KidzBloom.

Since I had my camera out I figured I’d snap some other pictures of Jacob in his new outfit :)

 

 

New Disney Planes: Fire & Rescue Collection {$100 Kohl’s Gift Card Giveaway}

(Disclosure: I participated in an Ambassador campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kohl’s. I received promotional items and product samples as a thank you for participating.)

I love celebrating special occasions, even the littlest of ones, with special outfits. I do this when we go to events, have themed parties and when new movies come out. When we went to see Cars 2 in theaters, the boys had special Disney Cars shirts that they wore. With Disney Planes: Fire & Rescue coming out on July 18th what better way to celebrate than with special shirts and toys?

Kohl’s exclusive Disney apparel by Jumping Beans collection is in stores now! We found t-shirts, shorts, long sleeve shirts, pants, and hooded sweatshirts. The boys and I shopped the collection and Jacob and Lucas just loved all the items. Here are some of our favorites:

We are all ready for the new Planes movie now! We even got two of the character toys to play with while we wait patiently for the movie to come out. We found the toys on the same racks with the clothes.

Along with being a fun collection, I love that the clothes are well made. Since the boys are only one year apart (and both born in June), Luke can wear Jake’s hand-me-downs. I have confidence that these clothes will last a couple years. Kohl’s always has great deals as well- between weekly sales and Kohl’s cash. My kids look cute and I save money. What could be better?

Want a chance to shop the collection yourself? One lucky winner will win a $100 Kohl’s gift card! Easy entry and you can earn extra entries for sharing the giveaway!

HOW TO ENTER:

Comment below telling me what your favorite piece in the collection is

FOR AN EXTRA ENTRY:

Share this giveaway on a social network and comment below letting me know that you did so

Giveaway ends July 1, 2014 at 11:59pm CST. Must be 21 or older and a US resident to enter.

 

 

Patriotic Disney Clothes For Kids {$100 Kohl’s Gift Card Giveaway}

(Disclosure: I participated in an Ambassador campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kohl’s. I received promotional items and product samples as a thank you for participating.)

I love shopping at Kohl’s for myself and my family so I was really excited to be chosen as a Kohl’s Disney Jumping Beans Ambassador. Kohl’s has quality clothes at great prices (especially when it’s Kohl’s Cash time!) On top of that, they support their local communities through their Kohl’s Cares program which I love. This month, I received a mailer with two sample outfits from the new Jumping Beans collection at Kohl’s.

Yesterday, I headed to Kohl’s to check out the new collection which pairs Mickey and Minnie Mouse with American red, white, and blue colors. It was easy to find the clothes because of the huge “Magic at Play” ceiling fixture and all of the Mickey and Minnie characters around the shelves.

I secretly was wishing I had a little girl when I saw all the cute girl clothes…

Have a baby? This t-shirt is a must for Disney lovers!

Jacob loved all of the sports shirts and they will be perfect for summer time sports practices.

This “Americana” line is also great for the 4th of July. I’ve already picked out Jake and Luke’s outfits for when we are watching fireworks together!

Want to check out the collection yourself? Enter below to win a $100 Kohl’s Gift Card!

GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win a $100 gift card to Kohl’s

HOW TO ENTER:

{Do any or all of the following, leave a separate comment for each you do}

1) Leave a comment telling me why you want to win

2) Leave a comment telling me which Disney Jumping Beans “Americana” piece is your favorite

3) Share this giveaway on social media

4) Comment on another one of my blog posts

Giveaway ends May 3, 2014 at 11:59pm CST. Must be 21 or older and a US resident to enter.

8 Tips For Packing A Caribbean Cruise Wardrobe

(Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Kohl’s but all thoughts are my own.)

I just returned from my very first cruise. I struggled with packing for the week long trip but now that I have experienced it, I want to share some tips for packing in regards to your wardrobe. Many of these tips will also work for other travel plans, too!

1) Pack jewelry pieces that can work with a variety of outfits you are bringing. I brought a number of pieces, including this gold bracelet and long silver necklace from the daisy fuentes® collection at Kohl’s.

They fancy up simple black dresses.

2) Pack swimsuit coverups that can go from the pool to the beach to walking around the islands of a Caribbean cruise. I brought a cute little black one made of cotton that looked like a dress.

3) Bring dressy clothes. Many ships have “gala” nights. Some women were wearing fancy evening dresses but many on my ship were wearing dresses a little less fancier and fit in just fine. I don’t own any fancy dresses so I went shopping at Kohl’s and chose a black and white striped dress from the daisy fuentes® collection. I paired it with some black sandals that had gold embellishments for one of the gala evenings.

4) Look for wrinkle resistant fabrics since most cruises won’t have irons. I also packed a bottle of wrinkle releaser for those fabrics that got a little wrinkled during transit.

5) If you want to work out while you are on board, make sure to pack some clothes and gym shoes you can exercise in.

6) Bring layers. Even Caribbean nights can get a bit chilly when the wind is blowing. I brought a black cardigan that I could wear over my dresses in the restaurant and that worked with a tank top and jeans as well.

7) Shoes take up a lot of space in the suitcase. I try to keep my outfits in the same color groups so that I can limit how many shoes I bring. Almost all of the clothes I brought went with black shoes so I was able to mainly wear the same two pairs of sandals: a dressy pair and flip-flops. I brought a few extra pairs of sandals as well to be able to change things up a bit.

8) Don’t forget the waterproof sunscreen if you are going to the Caribbean and make sure to apply it frequently. That sun is HOT so you can’t go by what the bottle says regarding how often to reapply it. (Trust me…we learned this the hard way…) Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat are great as well.

What packing tips do you have?

Jewelry That Can Dress Up Jeans & T-Shirts

(Disclosure: I received a piece of jewelry from ShopVault.com but all thoughts are my own.)

I’ll be honest…I don’t dress up very often. Most days I’m wearing yoga pants and a comfy top that supports my favorite football team. My “dressed up” usually means jeans and a nice shirt so I wanted to check out ShopVault.com for some pieces of jewelry that can be paired with them.

Here are five cute pieces I’m loving:

Ocean Breeze Ombre Necklace

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Lace Earrings

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Faith Leather Wrap Bracelet

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CHRISTOPHER JASPER & GOLD FEATHER NECKLACE

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Gold & Crystal Hoop Earrings

ShopVault.com sent me these gold hoops and they are just what I wanted! They can work with a dress but also look great with jeans and a t-shirt.

What are your favorite pieces to pair with everyday outfits?

 

Trendy Looks And Soft Lips From Carmex {Giveaway}

(Disclosure: I received free products from Carmex but all thoughts are my own.)

Every woman has a style of her own. Some are more classic, some are edgier, and some are always showing off the latest trends. I used to be trendier but started to stick with a more classic look as I headed into my mid-twenties and beyond.

Carmex, wanting to help each woman embrace her own unique style, created a Limited Edition collection of lip balms. There are four designs: chic black & white, adventurous leopard print,  trendworthy purple, and a whimsical colorful print. There is a quiz online where you can discover which stick best aligns with your personal style. I took the quiz and got “chic”.

 GIVEAWAY:

One reader will win the collection of Moisture Plus lip balms

HOW TO ENTER:

{Do any or all of the following, leave a separate comment for each you do}

1) Tell me which design is your favorite

2) Share this giveaway on a social network

3) Comment on another one of my blog posts

Giveaway ends December 19, 2013 at 11:59pm Central time. Must be 18 or older and a US resident to enter.

Looks For Boys From OshKosh B’gosh {Coupon}

(Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for OshKosh B’gosh. I received a gift card to facilitate my shopping trip and to thank me for participating.)

Having multiple kids can be tough on the budget so as a mom of 2 I am often on the hunt for quality clothes that I can pass down from one child to the other. It really works out well for us because both boys were born in June so what Jacob wears one year, Lucas can wear the next.

I was excited to go shopping at OshKosh B’gosh this week to find some holiday clothes for the boys. I walked into the store and discovered a huge sale which made me happy because I could get more for my money. I find that when stores like OshKosh B’gosh have sales you get fabulous clothes for less than you’d pay at the big box stores or department stores. I ended up getting some clothes for Christmas and a variety of other clothes for school.

Here is what I was able to get for $150: 2 thick knit sweaters, 1 zip-down hooded sweatshirt, 1 hooded sweatshirt, 1 fleece jacket, 2 dress shirts, 4 long sleeve shirts, 1 t-shirt and 4 pairs of winter gloves. A couple of the shirts I got doubles of so the boys could wear them for holiday pictures (I will put them in matching clothes as long as they let me). If I had more time at the store I would have checked out the clearance racks more because they had t-shirts for $4 and shorts as well. The boys were getting antsy so I was trying to hurry.

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If you are headed to OshKosh B’gosh make sure to print out the coupon below to save 25% on your purchase (some exclusions apply). It can also be used online.

 

5 Fabulous Dresses For Holiday Parties

(Disclosure: This sponsored post was made possible by Double Duty Divas and DressFirst.com. I was compensated for my work on this campaign. All opinions are 100% mine.)

It’s hard to deny the fact that the holiday season is upon us. Less than 2 months remain until Christmas and I’m already in the holiday spirit. I was even listening to Christmas music the other day!

Other than purchasing gifts, the most time consuming “task” on my holiday to-do list is finding clothes for my family to wear. I spend hours online and at the stores to find the cutest outfits for my boys but, to be honest, when it comes to finding outfits for myself I don’t put much effort into it. I head to the closest store {kids in tow} and browse for something dressier than my yoga pants and sweatshirts. Once I find a few things I head to the dressing room and throw them on while bribing my kids to be quiet and keep the door closed while I’m indecent. Once I find something that doesn’t make me feel fat I put my comfy clothes back on and head to the checkout hoping that I have something at home that will help complete the outfit.

Does anyone else shop like this? I hate it because it’s stressful and I never end up with anything I really like. Enter online shopping. This is a mom’s dream. I love that I can sit on my couch {in my comfy clothes} and look at cute clothes in silence. I can think about what accessories I have that will match with them instead of just grabbing the first thing I find.

One website that is fun to browse is Dress First. It’s full of dresses that would be perfect for holiday parties, pictures, and Church during the Christmas season. Here are 5 of my favorite cocktail dresses for Christmas parties and events:

Love the little cap sleeves on this one!

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This is such a gorgeous color and the sparkle on the shoulders is a nice detail.

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I don’t know if I’d ever be bold enough to wear this one but I love how sparkly the top is!

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I love full skirts and this flowery one is extra cute.

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Had to add one that’s a little plain. This is the type of dress I usually wear :)

Check out the site and let me know which dress is your favorite! They also have a nice selection of prom dresses and bridesmaid dresses.

 

 

 

Target Revamps Their Baby Department In Select Stores {Giveaway}

I love Target. They have everything I need under one roof and the best part is they have a great selection, great clearance prices and unique designs. When I was asked to check out the revamped baby department at a local store and given a gift card to do some shopping I was so excited. I get a majority of my kid’s clothes there and have since they were infants.

Building off its “Expect More. Pay Less.” brand promise, Target has launched an enhanced baby experience program in 10 existing Chicago-area stores. The test program aims to create a more compelling shopping experience – with an emphasis on in-store service – through a redesigned layout, knowledgeable Baby Advisors and interactive digital content and expert advice in partnership with leading parenting resource BabyCenter.

I love Target’s new baby section. The past section tended to be crowded but I found everything was displayed nicely and easy to find in the new, larger layout. I also noticed that certain areas of the department were expanded to offer better choices to parents.

When it comes to clothes their selection is just as cute as it’s always been. Guests can find exclusive brands such as Circo and Just One You by Carter’s and all their national brand favorites.

Clothes are displayed at eye-level and coordinating pieces are presented together which makes creating outfits extremely easy (which is extra nice when you are sleep-deprived).

Having an expert to help new parents is also great. I remember when I was pregnant and shopping for “necessities”. I put everything on my list because I didn’t know what I needed, what I didn’t need (or at least didn’t need right away) and what items were best. I love that Target has partnered with Baby Center because it’s a website I trust.

The full list of Chicagoland stores that offer enhanced baby experience includes Bolingbrook, Lombard, Rosemont, Oswego, Homewood, Romeoville, Willowbrook, Chicago-Peterson Ave, Chicago McKinley Park and Highland in Indiana.

GIVEAWAY:

One reader will win a $25 Target gift card

{You don’t need to live in the Chicago area to win!}

HOW TO ENTER:

{Do any or all of the following, leave a separate comment for each you do}

1) Which part about Target’s new baby department is your favorite?

2) Share this giveaway on a social network

3) Follow Target on Twitter

4) Follow me on Twitter

5) Subscribe to this blog via email

Giveaway ends November 4, 2013 at 11:59pm Central time. Winner must be a US resident, 18 or older.

(Disclosure: As stated above I received a gift card for my time. All thoughts are my own.)

Keep Warm This Fall With Nike

(Disclosure: I receive free products from Nike but all thoughts are my own.)

Fall is the hardest season to dress kids for, in my opinion. When I send Lucas to school at 9:30am he’s wearing a coat but when I send Jacob to school at noon he is wearing a t-shirt and I’m considering shorts instead of jeans. We have the same issue in the evenings because the kids go to their sports practices in shorts and t-shirts and before we leave the park they have to slip on sweatshirts because the temperature has dropped so much.

Nike sent us this great hoodie and it’s been perfect for the weather we’ve been having. I love the bright neon color against the black and the fact that the hood has the neon lining in it. It’s also not really bulky which makes it easy to fit under coats.

This hooded sweatshirt will transition perfectly into winter because it is lined with Therma-FIT fabric. Therma-FIT is a double-brushed microfiber fleece that retains energy and resists heat loss. Therma-FIT provides maximum insulation from cold and wind with minimal weight and bulk. It is ideal for any cold weather activities that require insulation.

Find more great clothes for boys on Nike’s website!

Count Me Healthy Bracelets {Giveaway}

(Disclosure: I received a bracelet to review and compensation. Thoughts are my own.)

I love items that do double duty and the beautiful Count Me Healthy bracelet by Chelsea Charles is no exception. This bracelet acts as a functional health tool that helps women track daily goals because the bangles feature movable beads that can be used as counting tools.

There are different designs but I received the Galaxy Tri-Color Bracelet. The bracelet has 14k gold, 18k rose gold and 925 sterling all in one gorgeous bangle with new wave patterned beads and retails for $98.

 

Women use the bracelets to count daily glasses of water, fruit and vegetable servings, pounds lost, whole foods, number of workouts, etc. I chose to use my bracelet to count how much water I am drinking since I’ve been drinking way too much caffeine. I like that I’m able to have the reminder on my wrist so that every time I look down I remember to drink more water.

The bracelet is easy to use. You start with all of the beads to the one side of the bracelet. The bracelet is adjustable so once you have it on you can tighten or loosen it. After you choose a health goal you just move the beads to the other side of the bracelet, one at a time, throughout the day as you work towards the goal. At the end of the day you have a visual of how you are progressing towards your goal.

I think this bracelet would make a great gift for someone. If you want to purchase one you can go to the Chelsea Charles Jewelry website and use the code ‘COUNTHEALTHY30’ at check out to receive 30% off.

Want to win one? Participating blogs are giving away one Count Me Healthy Galaxy Tri-Color bracelet with a silver cuff. You can enter in the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Giveaway disclosure: This giveaway is not hosted or sponsored by me, I am simply sharing the entry form. There will be one winner between all of the blogs, not one per site. Making Time For Mommy is not responsible for prize fulfillment.)

Halloween Trends From The Children’s Place

(Disclosure: I wasn’t compensated for this post but have received gift cards from The Children’s Place before and I am a TCP mom.)

Kohl’s Fall Fashions For Girls & Tweens {Gift Card Giveaway}

 

I’ve been sharing all of the fabulous women’s Fall fashions and some teen fashions from Kohl’s but now it’s time to share some of the looks for the younger girls and tweens. Kohl’s sent me their 2013 back-to-school press kit and, as always, I was impressed at the variety of styles and great brands that they offered.

Here are some of the items they have for girls:

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Love the design on this denim!

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Check out the sparkles on these shoes!

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 This gray shirt looks so comfy! The cream one has cute lace detailing on the sides.

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This blue dress is so cute! It comes with a little belt, too.

Want to know what is in this Fall? Here’s Kohl’s Trend Report:

East Meets West – Drawing inspiration from global accents, Kohl’s offers apparel and accessories in a variety of prints and patterns that are sure to stand out this season. Combine prints and textures in unexpected ways, like topping a luxe tee or mix print dress with a faux fur trimmed vest.

Bold Basics – From the great black pant to the smart tailored blazer, Kohl’s has the whole family covered. Mix stripes with fun dots or pop art graphic prints to add a modern twist to classic pieces.

Ivy League – This back-to-school season, all-American style is back with a twist. Must-have oxford shirts are paired with fun intarsia sweaters and patterns that are “borrowed from the boys” like foulards and herringbones. The look can be casually fun or unexpectedly cool.

Back-to-the-Future – The Back-to-the-Future trend is playfully rebellious and Kohl’s has all the pieces to create this look. Mix soft atmospheric prints with studded embellishments and coated denim or top a galactic printed tee and colored skinny jeans with a distressed moto jacket.

Denim – Denim is a top trend this season and Kohl’s offers a wide selection – from chambray shirts and skinny jeans to the must-have denim jacket or vest. To mix the look, try a dark rinse skinny jean with a pretty feminine top and leather biker jacket or go bold and wear denim head to toe by mixing light and dark washes together.

Check out more great fashions at Kohl’s. You can even enter to win a gift card below!

GIVEAWAY:

One reader will win a $50 Kohl’s gift card

HOW TO ENTER:

{Do any or all of the following. Leave a separate comment for each you do.}

1) Leave a comment telling me what you’d go shopping for at Kohl’s

2) Share this giveaway on a social network

3) Follow Kohl’s on Twitter

4) Follow me on Twitter

5) Comment on another post here

Giveaway ends September 25, 2013 at 11:59pm central time. Must be 21 or older and a US resident to win.

(Disclosure: As stated above, I received a press kit from Kohl’s. All thoughts are my own.)

The Children’s Place Labor Day Deals

(Disclosure: As one of The Children’s Place Moms I work with TCP throughout the year. They didn’t ask me to share this but I thought this sale was too good not to share!)

Head over to The Children’s Place website to get a 15% off savings pass! My favorite items from TCP are their denim and their hoodies. Check out my Fall back to school post to see what we found when we went shopping there last month during their sneak peak event.

Hot Shoes From Rock & Republic

I shared recently about how I’d taken my sister out shopping courtesy of Kohl’s for some new back to school looks. She got 3 pairs of Rock & Republic jeans which were really cute on her. They don’t come in my size but I did discover that Rock & Republic has some great shoes that I could definitely “rock”. Check out two of my favorite pairs below:

The second pair might not be so practical but they’d be hot shoes for a night out. The first pair I think I’d get more use out of since they are a boot which I find easier to chase after my kids in :)

Which one is your favorite? Find more Rock & Republic shoe styles at Kohls.com.

(Disclosure: I am working with Kohl’s to share about their back to school and Fall styles. I received Rock & Republic Denim and gift cards to take my sister shopping.)

Cool In Converse

Jake was showing off another one of his back to school looks today! He wore his colorful printed logo Converse shirt {shout out to Converse for sending us this cool shirt}, plain ol’ jean shorts, and his slip-on “Chucks”.

Perusing the Converse website I discovered you can create your own shoes. How fun! And….

Image from converse.com

How awesome are those!? Which Chuck Taylor All Stars shoes would your child love to wear?

(Disclosure: We received a tshirt and shorts from Converse but all thoughts are my own. We had the shoes already.)

Buy Quality Used Clothes & Support A Local School

I love clothes shopping for the boys at large resales in my community but it’s not always easy to get some kid-free time to do so. I learned about a site called Schoola Stitch that just opened last week. It is an online consignment shop that gives 40% of every purchase to our schools.

Schoola Stitch sent me a $50 code to go shopping with. I found a lot of quality brands on their site. The condition of all items is listed on the site and most seemed to be in good to excellent condition. Shipping was free on orders over $50. Here is what I got for $52:

1 jacket

1 hooded sweatshirt

1 pair of jeans

1 sweater

4 long sleeve shirts

3 pairs of shorts

1 t-shirt

The GAP Kids sweatshirt is my favorite! Hoodies are definitely a must have for Fall.

Get 30% off your first order using my affiliate link. What will you find for your kids at Schoola Stitch?

(Disclosure: As stated above, I received a gift code to shop at Schoola Stitch. All thoughts are my own.)

Sevenly’s Weekly Cause: National Autism Association

I was so happy to see that Sevenly, a for-profit social good company that I love, is supporting another Autism related cause this week! $7 from every single item sold goes directly to the National Autism Association to provide behavioral therapy or communication tools to children with Autism. If you have a loved one with Autism this is a great way to support the cause both financially and with a conversation provoking shirt.

I want to get this fabulous shirt for Lucas:

And this is my favorite one I’d wear myself:

Totally cute, right!? Learn more about this week’s cause and/or purchase an item from Sevenly to support those with Autism here {but keep in mind that each week they change causes so hurry!}

Nike’s Back To School Clothing For Boys

Nike is a well-known athletic brand that’s been around for as long as I can remember with their cool shoes. They also make quality clothing for adults and children. We were sent a couple outfits to review.

The first outfit was perfect for my new little basketball player. He loved that the words on the shirt were printed to match a basketball. I loved the beautiful blue color of the shirt and the fact that I know these pieces are going to hold up well to pass them down to Lucas. Normally he wears preppier clothing to school but he wore this comfortable Nike look to school today {after practicing his dribbling skills while waiting for the bus} because they were having gym class today and he wanted to wear gym shoes and sports clothing.

Look #2 was a skater look which I was surprised to see. Jacob thought the guy on the front of the shirt was silly looking and laughed when I pulled it out of the box. I loved the thickness in the shorts. Sometimes material on boys clothing is so thin but this was definitely not. The cargo pockets on the shorts were a nice feature, too. Jacob loves to carry around all his little treasures so I can see him filling the pockets with all that is special to him.

Which look is your favorite?

(Disclosure: I received Nike clothing for review but all thoughts are my own.) 

More Than Shoes At Zappos.com

When I used to think of Zappos.com I always thought of shoes. I honestly didn’t know that they sold anything else so when I was offered a piece of jewelry to review I was quite surprised. Zappos.com sent me a beautiful necklace made by Dogeared Jewels.

I love “mom” themed jewelry. This necklace has a nice little message that comes along with it. I love the look of the gold dipping as well because it adds a shimmer to the necklace.

It is definitely on the small side (above is an image of it in my 5 year old’s hand) but I think it’s perfect for women who want something sentimental but aren’t big jewelry wearers.

Zappos.com has other jewelry available for all occasions and themes. There are state necklaces and necklaces that signify friendship, love, and faith. They also have bracelets, earrings and rings.

Checkout the great selection here! Which one is your favorite?

Fashionable Teen Looks From Rock & Republic And Kohl’s

The other day someone asked me what grade my little sister was going into and I couldn’t believe it when I figured out that she was going to be a Senior in high school! For some reason I had in my head that she was only going to be a Junior. Where does the time go?! Thanks to my partnership with Kohl’s I was able to take her shopping with gift cards from Kohl’s to get some great back-to-school looks.

We started with denim because that is a staple of any wardrobe. Morgan chose three of her favorite denim styles from Rock & Republic: Kashmiere Skinny Jeans, Kashmiere Coated Denim Leggings, and Kasandra Bootcut Jeans. Once we had the jeans it was time to get the shirts. Morgan also picked out a purse and pair of flats.

Here are the looks she chose:

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I think the denim she chose really adds variety to her wardrobe. Even paired with plain shirts they make a statement. The light colored pants are a beautiful blue color. Check out more of Rock & Republic’s denim styles by clicking the image below. Which is your favorite? Find them exclusively at Kohl’s!

(Disclosure: As stated above, I received the denim and gift cards from Kohl’s. All thoughts are my own.)

 

Walk The Halls In Style With Kohl’s

It’s back to school season and I’m sure most of you are busy preparing for school. When buying back to school fashions don’t forget the shoes! It’s been said that shoes make the outfit. Check out these cute looks from Kohl’s (disclosure: I am working with Kohl’s to promote their BTS looks):

 (Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post however I am working with Kohl’s on other posts at the moment.)

Neutral Fashions For Fall

Can you believe it’s already August? Where has the summer gone? I’ll be working with Kohl’s to share some back-to-school fashions for kids and teens soon {with a giveaway!!} but I wanted to remind all of you moms out there that you deserve a new outfit for Fall, too :) The neutral colored looks below can all be found at Kohl’s.

 

OUTFIT #1

Jennifer Lopez Wedge Sweater $54.00

Jennifer Lopez Ankle Trouser Pants $54.00

Jennifer Lopez Open Toe Blingy Heels $74.99

OUTFIT #2

Rock & Republic Sleeveless Studded Collar Shirt $44.00

Rock & Republic Coated Kashmere Leggings $88.00

Rock & Republic Mitchel Booties $84.99

 OUTFIT #3

Jennifer Lopez Embellished Top $54.00

Jennifer Lopez Embellished Skinny Jeans $60.00

OUTFIT #4

Rock & Republic Lazer Cutout Tee $44.00

Rock & Republic Kashmere Leggings $88.00

OUTFIT #5

Jennifer Lopez Studded Blouse $48.00

Jennifer Lopez Skinny Jeans $54.00

Jennifer Lopez Joanna Large Crossbody Bag $99.00

(Disclosure: As stated above, I am working with Kohl’s this back-to-school season. All thoughts are my own.)

Back To School With The Children’s Place

The boys start school in 2 weeks. There is so much to do before then but thankfully I crossed out “buy first day of school outfits” off my list before I headed to BlogHer last week. The Children’s Place invited me to shop their Fall collection and gave me a gift card to buy some of my favorite fashions. Here are some of the items I found:

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Have you done your back to school clothes shopping yet? Find all your Back to School styles at The Children’s Place! You can also see what some of my fellow bloggers found by checking out The Children’s Place Pinterest board.

(Disclosure: As stated above, I received a gift card to shop but all thoughts are my own.)

Colorful Fashions For Women At Kohl’s

(Disclosure: Kohl’s gave me gift cards to shop for my conference wardrobe but all thoughts are my own.)

I tend to wear a lot of neutral colors. Black, grey, white, and brown items fill my closet because I have always been drawn to how easy they are to match with other items. Lately I’ve tried to look for clothes that had some color to them. I shopped at Kohl’s for the conference I just went to and got so many compliments on my clothes that I think I will continue to add colorful pieces to my closet. I wanted to share a couple of the items I wore last week {sorry about the low quality cell phone pics!).

First thing I wore was black and white….

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The next shirt had some beautiful blue color in it. This was me experimenting with color {check out my lips, too! Hello red!}

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Doesn’t this shirt and necklace combo just scream summer? I loved the bright colors and flowers with the pops of yellow. I paired it with a white cardigan and some cute white sandals.

Do you tend to wear neutral tones or do you go for the bright colors in your clothes? If you usually don’t wear much color I’d encourage you to try adding a few colorful pieces here and there.

BlogHer Wardrobe Shopping {And Some Tips On What To Wear}

(Disclosure: I received gift cards from Kohl’s but all thoughts are my own. Honestly, I would have done most of my BlogHer shopping there anyways, even without the gift cards, since I love their selection.)

I’m headed to the BlogHer conference at the end of this month. It’s one of my favorite blogging events and one I know can bring anxiety about what to wear for those going for the first time. Having been to the conference back in 2010 {and many other blogging conferences since then} I have some tips on what to bring wardrobe-wise:

1) Wear comfy shoes. Those heals may look adorable but trust me, they won’t look so cute on someone who is limping around in pain.

2) Pack more than you plan to wear. At the last conference a friend spilled wine on my dress. Thankfully it was white wine so I was able to stick it out with the wet spot but you never know what could happen. You need to have a few extra outfits for accidents or change of plans.

3) Pack something warm. I live in the Chicago area and earlier this week we had one day that was a high of like 63 degrees. Even on hot days the city seems a bit cooler than other areas and conference rooms tend to be a little cold so pack a cardigan or light jacket just in case.

4) Pack a little purse and a larger tote like bag. Going around the conference and expo you will want a large bag to put business cards, pamphlets, and swag in. For the parties you will want something small to keep your cell phone, wallet, and lip gloss in.

5) It’s okay to wear items you already have. I’ve done some shopping for the conference but I plan to wear some clothes that I already have. Keep in mind that most of what you already have in your closet are clothes that none of us have seen so your “old” clothes will be new to us :)

With that said, if you are shopping for some new items I wanted to share some tips on what to look for at the store:

Cute accessories! I love this bracelet pack because these will go with a variety of different looks. I can wear them all together or separately.

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It’s all in the details! Look for cute prints and details on shirts. This is a flowy shirt that goes over a tank top and it has these buttons on the sleeve that make it a short sleeve top.

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Instead of regular old rubber flip flops (which I seem to live in during the summer), give your feet some bling.

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When looking for dresses, find one that works for your body type. I found this dress that has stripes in the skinniest part of my middle which slims me because the eye is drawn to that portion of my body.

What about you? Any tips for us all? Or if you are a “newbie”, any questions I can answer? Leave a comment or tweet me! @aliciamarie112

Vera Bradley Beach Giveaway

(Disclosure: I received a beach set from Vera Bradley but all thoughts are my own.)

I had never heard of Vera Bradley until a few years ago when I went on a mom’s retreat weekend. The other moms were so excited to go check out this store that had a large selection of Vera Bradley products so I tagged along.

What I discovered were brightly colored bags, scarfs, and other items in fun patterns. I didn’t buy anything that day but I remembered wishing that I could. I ended up buying a used Vera Bradley bag from a friend and using it is a diaper bag. That started my Vera Bradley collection.

When I was approached about offering a Vera Bradley beach themed giveaway to my readers I was so excited because that meant I could introduce all of you to this great brand. Along with having bright, beautiful patterns, the products are all high quality and made to last.

Right now the summer patterns are all on sale since the Fall patterns come out next week. It’s a great time to get a cute beach bag, pair of flip flops, or a beach towel.

GIVEAWAY:

One reader will win a Vera Bradley Beach towel, sarong and mesh beach tote.

HOW TO ENTER:

{Do any or all of the following, leave a separate comment for each you do}

1) Tell me where you’d rather use these items at, the beach or the pool?

2) Tell me what your favorite pattern is

3) Share this giveaway on a social network

4) Comment on another one of my posts

5) Follow me on Twitter

6) Follow Vera Bradley on Twitter

Giveaway ends July 28, 2013 at 11:59pm Central time. Entrants must be a US resident, 18 years or older. 

Women’s Spring & Summer Fashions From Kohl’s {Giveaway}

I am so excited to be going to Collective Bias’ very first blog conference, #SoFabCon, next week! As an employee of Collective Bias I want to look my very best while representing the company and I don’t think the comfy pajamas and sweats I wear while I work from home are going to cut it. I have tons of cute clothes but not much that is fitting me nowadays so I knew I would have to go buy some. Thankfully, Kohl’s sent me a gift card to do some shopping and check out their Spring and Summer fashions.

My favorite item of clothing {other than yoga pants} are tank tops because I can wear them year round so I wanted to pick up at least a couple while shopping. I wanted to find a dress and a shirt I could pair with black pants for a dressier event at an art gallery and for Friday of the conference. I also needed some cute shirts to pair with jeans. If I found any accessories or a Spring purse that would be amazing, too!

Here are some of the items I chose:

Not one to wear white or horizontal stripes but I just loved this dress!

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Loving the color of this shirt!

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Earrings! These hoops are gorgeous!

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One of two polka dot shirts I bought. I think I’ve owned one other polka dot thing in my life but I just thought these tiny polka dot tops would add a pattern to my otherwise plain wardrobe. This one has little cap sleeves. The other is a tank top like the blue-green one above.

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Everyone needs a little blue in their wardrobe! This top is nice and billowy and looks cute with black pants. With the accents of yellow in the flowers I can even wear my bright yellow flats with it.

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This Derek Lam dress is so fun. You can’t tell in the picture but it kind of bubbles a bit at the bottom. Still undecided on if I’m keeping this one or not because I’m not sure if I like how it looks on me.

I found a lot of great clothes and earned some Kohl’s cash just for shopping. I am going to use my Kohl’s cash to get some jewelry this week.

Need to do some shopping yourself? One lucky winner is going to win a gift card to Kohl’s. Think of all the cute items you can get!

GIVEAWAY:

One winner will win a $100 Kohl’s Gift Card

HOW TO ENTER:

{Do any or all of the following, leave a separate comment for each you do}

1) Tell me what you’d shop for at Kohl’s

2) Share this giveaway on a social network

3) Share a link to an item from the Kohl’s website that you like

4) Subscribe to this blog via email (look in upper right corner)

5) Comment on another blog post

6) Follow @Kohls on Twitter

7) Follow @aliciamarie112 on Twitter

Giveaway ends May 20, 2013 at 11:59pm Central time. US residents, 18 and older only.

(Disclosure: As stated above, I received a gift card from Kohl’s to shop and I am an employee of Collective Bias so I will be attending the conference courtesy of CB. All thoughts are my own.)

Autism Awareness Shirts From Sevenly

Each day during the month of April I feature something Autism related. Today I’d like to share about Sevenly and what they are doing to raise money for Autism Speaks this week. (Please note: I am not affiliated with Sevenly in any way.)

This week Sevenly is donating $7 from each purchase to Autism Speaks. Here is what will be done with that money according to Sevenly:

“Technology and sensory therapy play a critical role in helping children with autism develop communication skills. With your support, we will provide tools, resources and therapy to a child with autism. This week, we will provide the most precious gift to families of children with autism; the gift of communication.”

I love this shirt for myself:

buy it here

and this one I want to get for Lucas:

buy it here

Cute clothes for a great cause! They also have men’s shirts. Which one is your favorite?

Gift With Purchase At The Children’s Place {And Spring Fashions}

I love dressing my boys up in cute clothes so I’m really excited to announce that I am a Blogger Ambassador for The Children’s Place! This means I will be sharing great promotions, sales and giveaways with you this year!

With thoughts of shopping for Easter clothes coming up soon I thought I’d go back in time and share some of my favorite Spring looks from there modeled by my children over the past few years :)

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Apparently I love green and blue at Easter and argyle is my go-to look in Spring for the boys :) This last little outfit even had argyle socks with little linen pants. My kids just prefer to wear no clothes in the house apparently.

If you need to go shopping for some new clothes, The Children’s Place has some great promotions right now. The monster sale I talked about weeks ago is still going on–prices are up to 80% off! They have a Spring sale and a Valentine’s Day sale going on as well. {I love a good sale!}

One new promotion is a special gift with purchase. From today, January 22nd , to January 31st (while supplies last) if you make an in-store purchase of $75 or more you will get a free plush Bunny. How cute would this little bunny be in your child’s Easter basket?

(Disclosure: As an Ambassador I receive promotional items from The Children’s Place. All thoughts are my own.)

 

Monster Sale At The Children’s Place

If you all love The Children’s Place as much as I do you are going to want to check out the huge monster sale going on right now! TODAY ONLY you can get an extra 30% off using the code HAPPYNY30HP.

I shopped the sale on the 26th when I only had a 20% off coupon and found a lot of great deals and now they are even better!

Here are some of the things I bought for my kids:

Red sweaters for Valentine’s Day

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Birthday boy t-shirts for both boys {I got a 4 year old one for Lucas}

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Mint green dress shirts for Easter

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Warm sherpa lined hoodie

Overall my total ended up being a little over a $100 and for that amount I got:

5 long sleeve shirts

3 long sleeve dress shirts

1 hooded sweatshirt

4 sweaters

2 pairs of jeans

2 t-shirts

1 fleece zip-up

I thought that was a great deal especially given the wonderful quality of the clothing from The Children’s Place. My kids have been wearing clothes from there since they were newborns and I have never had an issue with any of the items they’ve worn.

I can’t wait to see their Spring fashions!

(Disclosure: I received a gift card to shop at The Children’s Place but all thoughts are my own.)

$50 Gift Card To Shabby Apple {Giveaway}

I’ve seen posts about Shabby Apple all over the internet for years and was so excited when they contacted me about hosting a giveaway because they have some seriously cute things! I figured I’d show you some of the adorable clothes and accessories that they have on their website….

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They have items for the little princesses, too!

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DISCOUNT CODE:

Get 10% off at Shabby Apple with the discount code “makingtimeformommy10off”. This coupon expires 12/26/2012.

GIVEAWAY:

One lucky reader will win a $50 gift card to Shabby Apple.

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Like Shabby Apple on Facebook and leave a comment below letting me know you did.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

{After you do the mandatory entry you can gain extra entries by doing any of the following and leaving a separate comment for each one that you do.}

1) Share this giveaway on a social network

2) Like Making Time For Mommy on Facebook

3) Tell me which item you’d purchase from Shabby Apple if you win

4) Subscribe to this blog via email {look in upper right corner}

Giveaway ends December 19, 2012 at 11:59pm Central time. US 18+ only.

(Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. This giveaway is not associated with Facebook in any way.)

Updating The Fall Wardrobe With Cookies Kids

My four year old is growing like a weed. While cleaning out Jake and Luke’s closet I realized that Jacob’s 3T pants were all way too short on him and it was time for him to move up to the next size. Most of the time I shop at a big box store but lately I’ve been so busy working that I don’t have time to get to the store. This is when online stores are ideal because I can shop at midnight when I finally stop working and taking care of the kids and I have a minute to sit and rest. It was one of these late evenings when I decided to shop at CookiesKids.com to get Jacob some new clothes.

I had shopped at Cookies Kids last year and loved the clothes that I ordered. They were really cute and the quality was wonderful enough that I was able to pass them down to Lucas when Jacob outgrew them. Looking at the site again  I remembered my favorite thing about Cookies Kids- the prices! There’s nothing better than finding stylish clothes at a great deal.

The online ordering process was pretty easy. I normally shy away from online shopping because I’m afraid of getting the wrong size but Cookies Kids has a new feature to help. The Alva Kids feature helped me choose the right sizes of each item with just a few steps.

When I went to pay I was excited to see that I had $30 in my account from referral credits I had earned in the past few months. Once I ordered everything I wanted I had it shipped to my house. About a week later the package arrived and I opened it to check out all the new clothes that I had bought for Jake.

I ordered three jean outfits, one sweats outfit, one hoodie, two pairs of pajamas and two pairs of long johns. With my referral credit, all that would have only cost around $60!

Outfit #1

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Outfit #2

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Outfit #3

I thought the clothes we got were great quality and Jacob felt very comfortable in them. The only thing I wished was different is that I would have liked to see the pants with waist adjusters in them since both my boys are pretty skinny and always need the waistbands of jeans tightened. Overall, I was happy with the clothes I had chosen and will definitely be shopping at Cookies Kids again.

Cookies Kids is amazing and gave me a unique code for all my readers to use so that you all can get 10% of Cookies Kids already low prices! Use the code “makingtimeformommy” for 10% off at CookiesKids.com! Code expires on 12/14/12.

You can see more pictures of my online shopping experience and the other clothes I ordered in my Google+ album. You can find Cookies Kids on Facebook and Twitter. If You are in New York, Cookies Kids have 7 stores in the NYC area in Bronx, Brooklyn and Jamaica.

(Disclosure: 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 CookiesKids.com #CBias #SocialFabric #CookiesKids )

StyleUnited Review

Do you love reading beauty and fashion articles? Finding out about the latest styles and the newest makeup products? I do. Many of the tips and trends I find on them don’t work for me though. The clothing style isn’t right for my body type, the lotions recommended don’t work with my combination oily/dry skin, and the makeup doesn’t work with my complexion.

With StyleUnited I can get product recommendations personalized for me and also customized fashion and beauty tips. I explored the site a little and took a few quizzes. The first quiz I took asked me six questions about my skin and after answering the questions I got a list of products that would be good for my skin type at my age. Next, I took a fashion quiz to find which silhouettes would flatter my shape the best. I really liked that part of the quiz asked for height, dress size, shoe size, and bust size so it was more than just asking what “shape” I was. I also got to look at fabric patterns, styles, and other fashion related items and had a chance to choose my favorite so that the program knew what kind of syles I liked. It also asked about my thoughts on price when it came to fashion so I am sure not to get items suggested with really high price points if I say that I like to find great fashions at great deals.

Other than having everything customized for me I really liked that I could ask my friends opinions on things and could share my favorite products and tips with my friends or on social media. Another great feature is that the site offers one on one beauty consultations via webcam. If you have a style or beauty question you can just ask one of the experts from StyleUnited. It’s like having your best gal pal in your computer!!

I think StyleUnited is a fabulous website for both style mavens and newbies alike. Nowhere else can you find personalized suggestions on any fashion or beauty subject you can think of. If you join make sure to also enter the “New View, New You” giveaway and enter to win one of two $500 gift cards to go on a shopping spree at Macy’s or Nordstrom.

(Disclosure: I am being compensated with beauty products in exchange for checking out the site and giving my honest opinion of it. All thoughts are my own.)

Puzzle Piece Jewelry {Autism Awareness Month}

Puzzle pieces are a well known symbol for Autism awareness. Here are a few of my favorite pieces of jewelry for the mother or grandmother of a child with Autism. {Click on the images to be taken to the websites they come from}

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HOT Shoes {Pretty On Pinterest}

Today’s Pretty On Pinterest theme over at Simply Stacie is “Hot”.

I decided to put together a post full of shoes that I think are HOT! :)

{Click pictures to be taken to the pins!}

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If You Thought Pinterest Was Addicting…. {Check Out Polyvore}

If you thought Pinterest was addicting and enjoy fashion I invite you to check out Polyvore. I discovered this site today and spent a ridiculous amount of time on it. Polyvore lets you put outfits together and then share them with others. I think it’s great that you can see the designer and prices and also click to purchase right there instead of having to go search the items out. Most of the items featured on the website are way beyond my budget but it’s fun to look and you can always find ideas and then put together cheaper versions of the look.

Here are a few of my favorite outfits:

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Enjoy your new addiction :)

Shop Avon For Gifts {Gift Basket Giveaway!}

I love Avon. So much in fact that I use to sell it {and I was my best client!} My friend, Donnell, now sells it and I’m excited to share with you because they have great gift ideas and she’s offering a fabulous giveaway to one lucky reader. Check out some of their great gift ideas:

For Her:

Knit Wrap With Flowers

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Expert Mega Palette

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Glimmer Accessory Sets

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For Him:

NFL Watch

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Urban Edge for Him 3-Piece Fragrance Collection

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Unisex Slippers With Memory Foam

For The Kids:

Mohawk Hat

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Rose Splendor Barbie Doll

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Avon Bath Bundle {Great idea for stocking stuffers!}

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Have a tween or teen?

Anything from Mark will be a hit!

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Find Donnell’s Avon on Facebook.

Visit her online shop.

If you want to place an order the last day to do so is December 12th.

Use code REPFLYER to get free shipping! :)

Avon Giveaway

GIVEAWAY:

 One reader will win the items in the above picture. {6 piece set from the Sugar Plum and Vanilla collection and a snowflake ornament in a holiday candy dish.}

HOW TO ENTER:

(Do any or all of the following, leave a comment for each you do)

1. Tell me which Avon product is your favorite

2) Share this giveaway on a social network

3) Subscribe to this blog via RSS or email (look in the upper right corner to do so)

4) Follow me on Twitter

5) Follow Donnell on Twitter

6) Write a blog post about this giveaway and include a link to this post

7) Enter another one of my giveaways and let me know which you entered

8) Tweet “Enter to win an Avon gift basket from @dfleish29 and @aliciamarie112 at www.makingtimeformommy.com

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Giveaway ends December 11, 2011 at 11:59pm Central time. US Only.

(Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post.)


How To Wear A Scarf {25 Ways!}

This Fall I bought some scarfs and wasn’t really sure how to wear them so I found two easy looks and stuck to them. When a friend posted on Facebook saying she used Pinterest to look for ways to wear a scarf I thought it was a genius idea! Here is an amazing video I found that shows many different ways to wear a scarf-25 to be exact! It’s perfect for moms because it can be watched on mute and is less than 5 minutes long!