Novica Review & $75 Gift Card Giveaway

***Closed: Congrats to Eryn at HomeSchooledYear.com***

When it comes to buying gifts, I definitely struggle. My problem is, I want to find the perfect thing for the recipient.

I was recently introduced to Novica, a shopping site, in association with National Geographic, that offers a huge array of unique gifts. I'm not exaggerating when I say they have a huge selection. When picking out an item to review, I literally spent hours trying to decide.At Novica, they "want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity," and they "want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow."

One thing I love about the site is the gift finder feature. You can browse by recipient, occasion, or through various sections, like corporate gifts or green gifts. I seemed to have gotten lost browsing through their jewelery and apparel section. There are so many beautiful items.

After much debate, I choose the Modal skirt. To be honest, I have very few skirts in my closet, though I've been wearing them more often in the heat this summer. The versatility of the Modal skirt drew me in. It can be worn as a long skirt, folded over as a shorter skirt, or as a dress.
I thought this was too much to ask from any one piece of clothing, but after wearing the skirt, I can say, it's true. It works well long or short, and can be dressed up or down. Plus, I was impressed at the quality of the skirt. It's a perfect addition to my closet.

The skirt was designed by Janet Molloy and made of Modal, a natural fiber, that makes the skirt basically wrinkle free. The skirt arrived, beautifully wrapped, with a card about the artist, and a small post card featuring a Balinese dancer.Win It: One lucky reader will win a $75 gift certificate to Novica

To enter: Visit Novica and tell me what you would buy if you win! (You can change your mind later.)

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Giveaway ends 7/12 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.

Product was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

***Due to a Blogger glitch, many comments are not appearing. They are however being emailed to me, so all entries are being recorded. Hopefully Blogger will have the issue fixed shortly, but please don't stress if you don't see your comments.***

More From Just Jen

Not long ago, I told you about the custom shirts from Just Jen. I'm thrilled with the Loved tee I received and have worn it several times since it arrived. Even after many washes, the color has held fast and the Swarovski crystals sparkle just as well as the first day it arrived.

I had so much fun deciding on how I wanted my custom tee to look the first time around. If you remember, at Just Jen, you can create your own custom rhinestone t-shirt online with text and symbols in 22 crystal colors, on front and back. With so many choices, I would love to design another tee.

So what will be my next pick?

I'd love to use the Pink and White 3/4 sleeve Raglan tee and have my name printed on the front, like on the Personalized Name and Initial Tee.

Very cute!

This post is an entry for the Just Jen $100 GC Blogging Contest hosted on ABlogOfGoodies.com. (Which ends tomorrow, so you still have time to enter!)

Working Out with N-Fini: Review & Giveaway

Over the past month, I've been getting myself back into shape. I started right before New Year's Day, but I've tried to focus on this being a goal, not a resolution. I know that it's just a term, but for me, having goals makes me work harder.

My workouts usually consist of a variety of activities, from jogging and dancing to kick boxing and pilates. I'm willing to try just about anything. One of my favorite activities (and Little Man's) is jumping on our newly acquired trampoline.

Since I mostly workout at home, I can easily get away with a pair of sweats and a tee shirt. However, I did quickly realize that I haven't bought a sports bra since high school. (Yikes!)

Luckily, N-Fini Shapewear came to the rescue. They offer a variety of shapewear made with Lycra freshFX fabric, designed for moisture management, and Lycra fiber for shape and comfort.

About N-Fini, from the company:
Say goodbye to your grandmother’s girdle, suffocating spandex, and old-fashioned corset bras! From the thigh, buttocks and waist to the torso, chest and upper arm, N-fini has a shapewear solution for every problem area of the body, providing for the utmost lift, shape, support and comfort for its wearer. The line offers ultra-flattering styles, ranging from strapless, tank, , and cami styles to shaper bras, bustiers, torso trimmers and long-sleeve tops. For the lower half of the body, thigh shorts, capris and leggings come available in both regular and hi-waisted styles.

Innovative features such as Non-Invasive Micro-Fiber Elastic Trim, Diamond Support Panels, Anti-Curl Comfort Hem with Serpentine Gel, Breathable Upper-Arm Plush Adjustable Straps, Vented Upper-Arm Trim Shapers, 4-Way Stretch Comfort Gussets and more can be found throughout the collection. Made with LYCRA freshFX fabric for dry, comfortable shaping, each style comes available in S/M, M/L, L/2XL, 2XL/3XL and 3XL/4XL to fit every body type, in black and nude to be worn unnoticed under any garment. Practicing quality production techniques, N-fini is proud to manufacture all products in the USA, in-house at the brand’s Tampa Bay, Florida plant. Pieces retail from $55 - $130 in numerous specialty stores, boutiques and online retailers throughout the United States, including www.classicshapewear.com.
I've been lucky enough to work out in one of the sports bra from N-Fini's 2009 Sports Bra collection over the last few weeks. Not only is it comfortable and supportive, it also has adjustable straps, making for a great fit.

At first I was worried that the N-Fini Sports Bra wouldn't offer enough support, as it's designed with spaghetti straps versus the typical wide straps. However, I was surprised at just how supportive it is to work out in. Even the trampoline is no match for N-Fini. I also love the bright colors. It comes in red, lilac, blue, pick, and of course, black.

Buy It:
You can purchase the N-Fini Sports Bra for $24.95.

Discount:
Use the code save10 for 10% off your N-Fini purchases now through March 31st, 2010.

Win It:
One lucky reader will win a $50 gift certificate to N-Fini.

To enter: Visit www.n-finishape.com and tell us which shapewear item is a must for your wardrobe!

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

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Giveaway ends 2/5 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.

Thanks to N-Fini for providing the product for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Valentine's Shirts from Just Jen: Review

I love being festive. Most of February, you'll find me in red or pink. Call me a nerd, but I really do love it! Most of my Valentine's-colored shirts are very basic, just plain tees or sweaters.

I recently learned about Just Jen, the online source for custom Swarovski Crystal rhinestone clothing, and was thrilled to pick one of their Valentine's t-shirts to add to my wardrobe. Just Jen offers many choices for the upcoming holiday, from their Conversation Heart shirt to the His Girl shirt. Both of which are very cute.

However, the Loved tee caught my eye right away. I love the simple, straight-forward design and the message it conveys. Created with the new 14 facet Swarovski crystals that "out-sparkle all others," the tee is classy and fun.
With Just Jen, you are able to create truly custom t-shirts. When deciding on my tee, I picked the shirt style and color, as well as the crystal color, and I was surprised to see that most orders ship within 1 to 3 days.

After it arrived, I was impressed with the quality. Far too often, I have ordered shirts and found out they were incredibly thin and see-through once it was too late. I didn't have that problem with my Just Jen shirt. The Loved Tee, which I received in the fitted short-sleeve style, is a high-quality 100% cotton tee.
Along with Valentine's shirts, Just Jen offers a huge array of custom tees, from bridal and birthday shirts to holiday and cheerleading tees.

Thanks to Just Jen for providing a custom tee for my review. All opinions are my own.

eShakti Discount Code

Earlier this week, I introduced you to eShakti, an amazing online retailer selling custom sized clothes for women. I'm so in love with my top, that I've added several of their items to my wish list this year.

I would love the Tulle Rose Cutwork Top or the Faux-wrap embroidered maxi dress:

Lucky for you, they have offered a discount. Get $20 off your first purchase by entering the code: SQAWER2

During checkout, on the Billing Address page, enter this code where it says "Enter Gift Certificate Code."

Valid until 12/25/2009.

Happy shopping!

eShakti Review

I know I've mentioned it before, but here it goes again...I hate shopping! More than that, I hate trying on clothes. I hate it with such a passion that I rarely try clothes on in the store. I buy them, and find out too late that they don't fit properly or don't flatter my body.

eShakti is an online clothes retailer offering custom fit apparel. There mission is to make every customer look her absolute best by providing amazing drape and always carrying any size she wants, and by letting her change the style too to suit herself.

I can easily say, I've never seen another store or website where you can enter your measurements instead of simply choosing a size (or at least I've never seen any that offer custom sizes at a reasonable price). Not only are the clothes sized to fit your body, you can also change the sleeves, length, or neckline to a look that most flatters you.

However, if you prefer, eShakti does offer it's clothing in a full range of sizes from 0 to 26W. They carry a huge array of blouses, jackets, dresses, skirts, pants, and accessories.

I received a kimono style top in barn red from eShakti. The ordering process was simple. All I had to do was enter my measurements and preferences on sleeve, length, and neckline. The hardest part of the process? Picking out which shirt to order!

Within a week (a holiday week, at that), my custom fit blouse had arrived. I was shocked to see how fast eShakti is able to complete order requests.The top fits perfectly. It follows my body line and is incredibly comfortable. The color is bright but not overpowering, the material is high quality 100% cotton, and I love the look of the pattern. The shirt is very versatile too. It can be worn day-to-day with a pair of jeans or I can dress it up with some nice black pants.Buy It:
Tops at eSkakti start at about $34.95. Become a fan on Facebook to stay up to date on sales and promotions or follow them on Twitter.

Thanks to eShakti for providing the product for review.

Admiral Road Review & Giveaway

***Giveaway Closed: Congrats to Nicole***

As the weather turns colder and colder, I have to add more layers to the little one's outfits. He's not happy about that at all. He thinks he'll be perfectly fine going to school in a hoodie alone, even when it's only 40 degrees outside.

Needless to say, momma disagrees. Being a mean mom, I force him to wear a sweatshirt, a coat, and {gasp} even a hat some mornings. However, I've found that when the outerwear looks fun, he's more likely to wear it without complaint.

Fortunately for us, we were recently introduced to Admiral Road. Admiral Road offers a variety of products, including blankets, tees, and scarves.

Their fleece blankets for babies and kids (also available for teens, adults, and pets) which can be personalized, all look absolutely adorable. The kids selection offers rocket ships, animals, sports, and flowers in their designs. All the blankets are handmade in Canada from 100% polyester, non-pill fleece, and can be machine washed and dried.
Admiral Road also carries fun, funky Treasure Tees from Aardvark. Each tee features a vinyl toy sewn into the design. They easily look like tees that would become a favorite of any child. Treasure Tees are made in North America and can be machine washed.The scarves at Admiral Road also come in very fun patterns. We had the chance to try out a few of the designs, and my son has been happily wearing them outside on chilly days. I can very honestly say he's in love with the Space Scarf. It's both warm and comfortable.
The scarves retail for $12 and are well worth it in my opinion. Anything that makes getting ready in the mornings easier is a huge bonus in my book. And with designs including animals, cupcakes, crayons, and flowers, there is something for every kid (big or little).
Win It
Admiral Road has generously offered a collection of scarves to one lucky reader.

To enter: Visit Admiral Road tell me your favorite product. (Please leave the specific name)

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

• Become a fan of Admiral Road on Facebook
• Follow Admiral Road on Twitter
• Visit the Admiral Road blog and leave them a comment (Tell me what post you commented on)
  
• Follow me on Blogger
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Giveaway ends 11/20 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US & Canada only.

Thanks to Admiral Road for providing the product for the review & giveaway. While the product was provided, the opinions are all ours.

My Kid Wears Sweats

Yes, my kid wears sweatpants.

In fact, he wears them almost every day.

He's 5. He likes to run around. He likes to play. And the last thing he worries about is what his clothes look like.

Now this isn't to say he doesn't dress nicely for school. His clothes match and are clean, but he's also comfortable.

The other day at work, someone said they had been given a few bags of clothes from a friend, but that they were "all sweats. Stuff my kids wouldn't wear out."

Wearing sweats doesn't define a person. Last I checked, we as adults should be teaching our kids not to judge others, and definitely not to judge them by what they're wearing. I have never been one to stress over who's wearing what. I'm happy if my kid is dressed on time to get to the bus, and I'm ecstatic if it's in something without grass stains.

I guess it's all about priorities, seeing as how the same person was going on and on about a $2200 purse. Seriously? It's a bag to carry your stuff. And if it's anything like mine, it'll have a fruit snack stuck to the bottom and be filled with random Legos, crayons, and baby wipes in no time. Seems if I had $2200 just laying around, I'd find something much more useful to spend it on. But that's just me.

My Deal of the Week

There's a huge consignment sale in our area this weekend. (As in over 40,000 items in kid's clothing alone.) Since I finally decided to sell some of Little Man's old clothes, I was able to go in as an early shopper. And the place was full of some great deals.After 45 minutes of digging through the racks, I left with 2 sweatshirts, 2 sweaters, 5 pants, and 2 pairs of shorts. Including some from Land's End, Gap, Polo, TCP, and Osh Gosh. All for $37.

Even better, after the first night, my consignor page is showing my sales at $119. Two days left, and $80 to meet my goal.

Find a steal this week? They want to hear about it over at Steals and Deals.

My Steal of the Week

I've been on the search for a cute jacket for fall and winter. But, I'm a very cheap frugal shopper. So finding something I love that fits in my budget has been tough.

Then I stumbled upon this gray peacoat from Gap at the thrift store:

And the price?

Did you get any good deals this week?
Be sure to link up over at Steals and Deals.

Kick Off to Kindergarten: Trendy Tadpole Review

On our quest to find some of the cutest back to school clothes out there, I discovered The Trendy Tadpole. They carry a variety of kids tees, each with something witty, hip, or trendy, but all with quite a bit of personality.

I love when I can dress my son in clothes that really show what he's all about. I know we go through school learning not to judge on appearances, but I think clothes give us an opportunity to extend our personality. To put it all out there.

We were lucky enough to receive the Oh Snap! tee from The Trendy Tadpole. On more than one occasion, I've heard my son utter that phrase. Although I have no idea where he heard it from. The tee definitely exudes personality, and we've gotten lots of comments on it while we're out and about.Little Man told me the tee was "sooo comfy." And he absolutely loves the frog on the front. It's been washed over and over and the graphic and tee itself have held up exceptionally.
The tees do run small, as emphasized on the site. Be sure to order up a size.

Little man just told me the King of the Playground tee should be the next one we get. Definitely seems like another one that would fit him well.

Kick off to Kindergarten: Lesruba Designs Giveaway

When searching for fun clothes to start kindergarten, I stumbled upon Lesruba Designs. Lesruba Designs carries a little of everything, from apparel and bags to decor and gifts. The site is set up so that you can easily shop by occasion, interests, holidays, or recipient.

Lesruba Designs carries a huge assortment of products geared towards kindergartners, including tees, totes, journals, and pillows. The designs are fun and whimiscal, with bright art adorning the front of each item and sayings like Off to Kindergarten, Kindergarten Rocks, and Kindergarten Kid. What a fun way to celebrate the beginning of school!

The tees are standard fit, 100% cotton, and pre-shrunk.

Win It:
One lucky reader will recieve the Kindergarten Rocks tee (shown above) in a child's small (6-8).

To enter:
Visit Lesruba Designs and tell me one other item you love.

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

• Follow me on Blogger
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Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 8/31 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.

Kick off to Kindergarten: Baby Rock Apparel Review & Discount

With back to school shopping, I've been hunting for stores that carry cute, unique clothes for boys. Not an easy feat. My 5 year old loves to "look cool." So needless to say, shopping lately has been interesting.

I was excited when I stumbled on Rock Baby Apparel. They have a huge selection of clothing for infants up to 8T. They also carry bottles and pacifiers that make a statement, as well as belts and blankets.

From the site:
Rock Baby Apparel carries a unique assortment of stylish baby clothes, trendy toddler clothing, as well as, casual boys apparel edgy hip baby gifts & punk clothes for children... Our punk clothing for newborns and toddlers is turning heads in celebrity parents circles from LA to New York, so if you haven't seen them in a boutique in your city you will soon. Kids Rule wearing our clothing!

We received the Random Acts of Craziness tee. (I'm looking out for his teacher here and passing along a little message.) I love the design on the front of the tee, and so does my 5 year old. He wanted to wear it the second it arrived.
With several trips through the washing machine, the shirt has held up very well. It still looks brand new. And it's incredibly soft, as it's made from 100% ribbed cotton. The sizes do run on the small side, so be sure to order up a size (as they mention on the site). My 5 year old comfortably wears their 8T.

Discount Code:
Baby Rock Apparel has offered 15 % off any item on their site. Just use the code: mommasgone before 9/5/09.

Happy school shopping!

*This is part of my Kick off to Kindergarten Party. Be on the look out for more posts, reviews & giveaways throughout the week!

Stuck.

I was so excited today to find the cutest shirt at the thrift store. It was trendy and just my size.

We get home, toss it in the wash, and I decide to try it on. Easily goes over my head, but I notice the sleeves are a little tight. Hmmm, the shoulders are really tight. And with that, I'm stuck.

I tugged and pulled and struggled. And nothing. Still Stuck.

I stood in the bathroom, eying my predicament in the mirror. Tried wiggling, tried anything I could think of. Finally I had to call in hubby. He found it absolutely hilarious.

After a few moments of laughing, he pulled me free, my shoulders aching.

The shirt went straight to the trash.

Mom Works Inc. Review & Giveaway

Being a mom entails so much. It seems that the responsibilities are never-ending some days. And while it's all worth it, some days we just wonder if we'll make it through to the next. (At least I don't think I'm the only one feeling that way.)

Over at Mom Works Inc., they have the philosophy that "being a Mom is serious business, one where we often have to put humor to work on a daily basis." So true. If I didn't laugh some days, I think I'd cry.

I had the chance to try out one of their tees-the Mom Works Short Sleeve tee in Chocolate. The first thing I noticed was how soft it was. The tees are made from pre-shrunk 100% ringspun cotton. They feel like your favorite tee-the one worn and washed so often that it is perfectly soft.I loved the design and cut as well. The tees are true to size and didn't shrink at all. The graphic held up perfectly in the wash too. You can't even tell that it's gone through the laundry several times already.

Buy It: Mom Works Inc. offers tees in a variety of designs and colors, as well as bags, hats, and other products on their site.

Win It: Mom Works has generously offered a tee of your choice to one lucky reader.

How to enter: Visit Mom Works Inc. and tell me your favorite item (and a way to contact you)

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

• Follow me on Blogger
• Grab my button
• Add me to your blog roll
• Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
• Tweet this giveaway (Leave link)

Giveaway ends 7/29 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.

Dapper Snapper Review

My 4 year old is such an active kid. Like any 4 year old, he runs, and runs, and runs. But, he's so tall and skinny that he has to deal with his drawers drooping constantly.

I tell him twenty times a day to pull up his pants. And every now and then, his pants drooping has even caused him to fall. (I never did said grace ran in my family.)

Dapper Snappers, invented by a fellow mom, have come to the rescue. They arrived a few weeks ago, and have gotten constant use. Dapper Snappers are designed to solve the droopy drawer dilemma.
To use, you simply loop the Dapper Snapper through the back three belt loops and snap the outer two snaps. It eliminates belt struggles when my son flies off to the potty at the last second, and it allows him to wear pants that are comfortable and stay sitting at his waist.

I love the simplicity of the Dapper Snapper, it was holding up my little one's drawers within seconds, no struggling, so hassle. They are recommended for age 9 months to 5 years. My son is big for a 4 year (and wears size 6), but he thought the Dapper Snapper was comfortable. After it was on, he completely forgot it was there.

We are thrilled with the Dapper Snapper. It's now become part of our daily wardrobe.

If you are interested in buying your own, be sure to check out Dapper Snapper or order at Toddler Tech USA.

Mommy Confessions

I confess that I usually spend all day in my pajamas. Right before hubby comes home, I pull on a pair of jeans and throw on a little makeup. That way I never have to hear, "didn't you even get out of your pjs today?"

Seriously, if they made jeans a little more comfy, I'd be happy to wear them all day long. But for now, I'll hold on to my obsession for lounge pants and pure comfort.

Have something you need to confess? Head over to Life Starring Ellie and Eve.

Shrunk

I'm starting to wonder if the hubby is secretly doing laundry behind my back. Because that sounds just like him, huh? Well, obviously, someone has managed to shrink 99% of the jeans I own.

Being at home most of the week, I live in yoga pants. We recently started wearing jeans to work, meaning I needed to find a pair in my closet appropriate for work. I tried on all 32 pairs, and 4 fit.

I admit, I've had a lot of them since I was in high school, only a handful have been bought in the last 5 years since being pregnant. Hubby says I need to stop buying juniors pants. But (in the voice of the little one), I don't wanna! I want to fit in my skinny jeans-the ones I haven't squeezed into since I was 18. I want to be able to grab any pair of pants from the closet and have them fit.

Oh, and I just have to mention that I forced hubby to clean his closet, and he had 3 pairs that fit. So take that hubby. At least if I feel fat and miserable, he can feel fat and miserable with me.

I feel a diet coming on.

Contests of the Week

Over at MomDot, they have a bunch of great contests going on.

They have a shirt up for grabs from Nanniboos from Tongue-in-Cheek, LLC. These shirts are adorable and so unique. They feature little monsters with big messages. You can check out their profiles over at Nanniboos. Jan, owner of the site, explains a bit about her monster creations, "They stick their tongues out and say Nanni Nanni Boo Boo to kids’ fears. Each character has a special power that helps kids get over their common fears."

You can go here to enter. Go quick, it ends 9/25.

MomDot also has a eco-friendly starter kit from Idbids. Waverly the Water Drop is my favorite, but they all have definite personality, as well as a message of conservation to pass on to little ones. What better way to instill eco-friendly ideas in your kids than with a fun little friend.

Enter the giveaway here by 9/26!

This one has me so excited. Teddy Ruxpin has returned and MomDot is giving one away along with a year subscription to Teddy's internet portal for kids, The Airship. There's puzzles, games, and stories, along with a ton of other things to keep the rugrat entertained, and safe! I love Teddy Ruxpin, and actually bought the DVDs just last week. Can't wait to watch those with GM, and it would be fun for him to watch them alongside his very own Teddy Ruxpin. Want to try your luck too?

Enter the giveaway at MomDot, by 10/1.

Rock Out!

Over at MomDot, they are giving away any item between $25 and $50 of the winner's choice from Crib Rock Couture. To enter to win one of these adorable shirts, you just need to show your kids rocking out.

Here's Little GM showing his inner punk rocker (and being very happy about it):

Rock on!