I’m not one for baby shower games or bridal shower games or even getting-to-know-you games (unless they involve M&Ms), but when I heard about Penny Stones I was intrigued. The glass stones, which are printed with a variety of questions, help “spark meaningful conversations, create lasting memories and improve conversation skills.” It was that meaningful conversation part in which I was most interested, as the conversation around our dinner table could use a little more meaning!
Penny Stones are actually available in five sets: Original, Faith Based, Love and Marriage, New Parents and Slumber Party. The sets are perfect for families, game nights, reunions, road trips to those reunions, party favors and even corporate trainings. We received the original set, which came packaged in a cute little vinyl bag with satin drawstring. They sat on our counter for far too long until I finally broke them open—not at home but at our recent church Cinco de Mayo adult party!
We had round tables set up all around the room for dinner with a centerpiece complete with glass vase, daisies, wooden maracas and even tiny boxes of Chiclet gum. I took a few Penny Stones, about three per table, and placed them around the centerpiece. Their glass design was a beautiful finishing touch! As friends and soon-to-be-better friends sat and ate their dinner they chose a Penny Stone, asked the question and everyone took a turn answering. Our table had questions like who’s the most influential person in your life to what year you’d most like to travel back in time and revisit.
When the party was over I had more than a few people tell me how much they loved the Penny Stones and what a great idea it was for the party. Believe it or not I have yet to pull them out at dinner time (probably because we seem to always eat in shifts) but I’ll for sure be pulling them out at the next party!—Emily
*** GiveawayPenny Stones is giving away one set of their fabulous conversation stones! Please leave a comment answering the question, “What superpower would you most like to have?” Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: June 8, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
Congratulations to Gina S., the winner of the Penny Stones giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!
Ben Rudnick & Friends have been creating and playing family-friendly, danceable, singable music since the release of their first CD Emily Songs in 2000. “Boasting a high level of adventurous musicianship their award winning recordings contain a unique acoustic sound ranging from light folk to bluegrass, calypso, and rock.” I was trying my best to come up with a way to describe the music found on A Frog Named Sam but that pretty much summed it up for me!
A Frog Named Sam is Ben Rudnick & Friends’ 7th CD and is filled with some serious energy, not to mention some mad musical skills. The first song on the CD, which is also the title track, is about a country frog named Sam who likes to “sing real low” and leaves his little pond for the big city where he puts together a band and performs for large audiences. But as the story often goes, Sam misses his friends and returns to sing to them from his own little pond.
The rest of the songs on the CD are just as fun and just as energetic! Being a fan of Celtic and Irish dance music, “Ben’s Jig” and “John’s Jig” are my two faves though “Race Car” gets my legs bouncing and feet moving every time!
With all the summer travel you’ll be doing, and that includes frequent trips to the pool, you’ll want children’s music that entertains the kids yet doesn’t drive the parents crazy. A Frog Named Sam is a great addition to your current collection, which should also include Robbert Bobbert & the Bubble Machine and Pop Fly.—Emily
*** Giveaway! Ben Rudnick & Friends is giving away 3 copies of A Frog Named Sam! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winners from the comments and contact them via email. Deadline: June 5, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
Congratulations to Laureen M., Lisa C., and Cynthia V., the winners of the CD! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!
What is the CPSIA? is a new website with a simple yet powerful purpose: “Explaining the Facts and Dispelling the Myths about the CPSIA.” For many of us who own small businesses with products aimed at children up to age 12, the CPSIA has been a thorn in our side ever since we finally became aware of it six or so months ago. Yes, the original stay was granted but now we have labeling issues to worry about and the ever-present requirement for testing, which is—gasp!—just around the corner.
I love that the site is super easy to navigate with the most important issues/questions smack-dab on the homepage in an eye-catching, bolded blue font:
What is the CPSIA?
What can I do about the CPSIA?
Where can I find a list of compliant products?
Can I sell current inventory on-hand?
I make OOAK items, what options do I have besides destructive testing?
...and the list goes on. I think I’ll be researching whether third-party certification will be good enough come the next CPSIA deadline.
What is the CPSIA? also has left-hand-side links important for all of us to browse, from activism sites to apparel & fashion to information for resellers. And most importantly, the site welcomes questions from readers. The more questions, the more answers; the more answers the better prepared we are to understand the CPSIA; the better we understand this law the more effective we can be at working to change it.
Whether or not you’re a seller or reseller of handmade children’s goods What is the CPSIA? is a must-read for all of us as it effects everyone. Not convinced it effects you? Check out the slideshow of affected products below.—Emily
P.S. You can follow @whatiscpsia for tweets about the newest blog posts and other relevant CPSIA info.
A while back I wrote a review about Little First Act Discovery’s Xander Xylophone and in the process discovered another of First Act’s product lines, First Act Discovery. First Act Discovery basically offers scaled-down versions of the company’s musical instruments so little hands can have an easier time strumming their strings.
The line includes guitars, from acoustic to electric, drums, tambourines, a grand piano and even an accordion! George received First Act Discovery’s 30” Mini Acoustic with a natural finish (pictured above on the right). This particular guitar is especially sized for younger musicians: “The classic dreadnought-shaped hardwood body is thin and comfortable with great sound and projection, while the hardwood neck features a zero fret to ensure low string height and excellent playability.” It also has steel strings, string post covers with handy little stickers and these little Learn-a-Chord cards, which you can slip under the strings as a sort of cheat sheet for learning chords.
The guitar was a big hit the minute it arrived. When George wasn’t walking all over the house with the guitar and practically sleeping with it I would catch my husband strumming away (see photo as evidence) and my 11-year-old daughter even taught herself a song. It held up fairly well to the abuse my three-year-old put it through, which included carrying it horizontally while walking down our narrow hallway no matter how many times I showed him a better way to do so. The guitar’s pick guard did start to peel away from the body and we did have to restring a couple strings, but considering what this baby went through, that’s not half bad.
I really love the idea behind the First Act Discovery line since I’m a big fan of music at an early age, but usually that means piano or violin or some other string instrument. It’s not often you find things like a “real” drum set, electric guitar or a super cool accordion sized for mini musicians! A 30” Mini Acoustic Guitar from First Act Discovery? $30. Watching George rock out to the Imagination Movers? Priceless!—Emily
Now you can share your love of Boutique Cafe right on your own website, blog, facebook, myspace and more!! Use our content to enhance your website, inspire other’s with our product reviews, podcasts etc.
Simply click at the bottom of our widget, copy and paste into your sidebar. You look SO Chic! XO!
Are you one of those shoppers who browses the latest styles and fashions online but prefers to check out the item in person at a brick-and-mortar store before buying? Or are you like me and get frustrated when a local store doesn’t carry the item you want in the style you need and wish you’d known that before you hauled all four kids to the mall? If you can relate to either scenario then you’ll definitely want to check out NearbyNow.com, a free online service providing shoppers an innovative way to save time and money. ... ...
Looking for a specific pair of Steve Madden heels or Quiksilver board shorts? NearbyNow.com will tell you which local store has your item, tell you what’s on sale and even place a hold on it. You’ll also get directions to the stores carrying what you’re looking for and if you’re lucky, the name of a helpful clerk. Plus there’s nothing like checking out that J. Crew dress in person and trying it on before buying. Think of all the money you’ll save on return shipping! Here’s a little more about NearbyNow.com:
By combining unique inventory search tools plus customer service associates who connect consumers with trusted retailers, NearbyNow.com eliminates the uncertainty of Internet shopping, as well as the sheer frustration that often results when local stores don’t carry specific items and shoppers end up searching all over town.
Let me tell you, searching all over town gets really old with two toddlers in tow! Whether you love to browse online and shop in-store or want to save some time and money will looking for that perfect summer outfit, NearbyNow.com is the way to go. You better believe I’ll be using it; I’ve single-handedly kept the US Postal Service in business with all my online returns!—Emily
To quote the famous nanny: “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and ‘snap,’ the job’s a game.” Though I have yet to find the element of fun in scrubbing toilets and mowing the lawn on a hot summer day, there is something to be said for making your children’s household jobs fun. The Chore Board: A Helping-Around-the-House Game from Chronicle Books takes Mary Poppins’ wisdom to heart—and to your fridge:
Even the most reluctant household helpers will be clamoring to clean with The Chore Board. Parents just pick a reward for each child, and then every well-done job moves the helper one step closer to the desired prize. A little motivation goes a long way!
The Chore Board set includes a magnetic board about 15 inches long by 9 inches high, 8 playing pieces (my favorite is the Dust Princess) and a dry-erase marker so you can change out the list of jobs and the rewards. The kids excitement upon receiving The Chore Board was a good omen—maybe, just maybe they would actually want to help around the house so Mom wouldn’t have to play the martyr for the rest of her life! ... ...
We quickly read through the directions and set up our Chore Board. You’d think Mary Poppins’ spirit were hovering in our home with how excited the kids were to do an odd job or two (we limited it to two a day) so they could move another space toward their goal. The girls had jobs that worked well for their ages (tending the little ones, vacuuming, dusting, doing dishes on Mom’s dish night), while George had “jobs” best for his age (brushing teeth before bed, taking a nap, cleaning up his toys). George made it to the end and was able to pick out a toy (dang that super-cheap light saber!), Madison made it and picked out her flower seeds for her planter and Lauren eventually crossed the finish line for her daddy-daughter date, which Dad still has to make good on. ... ...
The second time around The Chore Board has lost a bit of its “newness” and those little magnetic playing pieces are moving at a snail’s pace, but the authors mention this might happen. The trick is to put the Chore Board away for a while and then bring it out for another round. That’s probably what I’ll do once they cross the finish line. (This trick works well for toys, too!)
For those of us who can’t afford Mary Poppins and are out of ideas for encouraging our children to help around the house, The Chore Board is a wonderful way to turn grumbling into gaming!—Emily
*** Giveaway Chronicle Books is giving away one copy of The Chore Board! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: May 26, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
Congratulations to Melissa S., the winner of The Chore Board giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!
My obsession continues. The hunt for swimwear for the season.
Layersclothing.com is a site I have known to have great clothing, so I thought perhaps their swimwear is worth trying out. I was sent the Maisie tankini suit which for both the top and bottom costs $68.00.
Worth the money? Definitely.
It covers the right places. Isn’t that worth the money?!
The length on the top is what I like most. No excess material to make you look bulky, yet it doesn’t cut you off with a lovely 2-3 inch love handle gap which so many tankinis do. The cut looks like a one piecer but has the functionality of a tankini—making bathroom visits a breeze.
The top has a double string strap on both sides that customizes the suit to your body perfectly. You can pull up or loosen the straps to fit your frame. Being petite I like this option to make sure the suit stays in place up top. I also like the fact the eye is drawn to the top rather than the bottom. The top has a yellow paisley print on the bust region with a bright cobalt color on the straps, stomach and bottoms. The placement of print was very strategic in drawing eyes to the bust…not down south to see the jiggle.
This suit has function to do laps in. Style to lay out in and the price is hard to beat.-Amber
From jewelry to picture frames the Daily Dish has had plenty of reviews featuring personalized products, but until today we had yet to review a personalized food item—and I’m not talking about those giant frosted cookes from Mrs. Fields. This one is tasty, my friends…oh, so tasty! And like the title of this review, when it comes to MixMyGranola I can’t help but channel KC & The Sunshine Band.
Ever browsed the granola bins at Whole Foods or the granola shelves at your local supermarket? Though both offer a wonderful variety of mixes have you ever wished you could add a little dried pineapple to one or remove the cashews in another? That’s how MixMyGranola was started—three friends all describing their perfect granola mix. MixMyGranola was started in 2008 and is taking the granola world by storm, one personalized mix at a time. Why is it so popular? Three reasons: it’s easy; it’s super yummy; and it’s all about you.
Easy: Here’s how easy it is (and I know because I’ve created two mixes already). Simply choose a healthy granola base and add your favorite ingredients (good luck keeping it under five when you’re offered dried blackberries, macadamia nuts and pomegranate cordials). That’s it. MixMyGranola will then mix your order and ship it anywhere in the U.S. You get the can, pop the lid and pour either directly into your mouth (tried that one) or into a cereal bowl, yogurt cup, or other “traditional” container. The possibilities—like the mixes—are endless!
Tasty: I can state for a fact the ingredients are yummy. MixMyGranola let me create two mixes, which I named Low-fat Choco Cranberry and Choco Fruity Vanilla. I wanted to try the low-fat granola and it didn’t disappoint. Of course the addition of mini chocolate chips helped. Yum! And my Choco Fruity Vanilla had the hugest chunks of sweet, dried pineapple EVER. My only regret was not ordering twice as much! I’ve already emptied the can of Choco Fruity Vanilla and am almost out of the other. You better believe I’ll be ordering more! My favorite snack is now a container of low-fat yogurt mixed with 1/4 cup of granola (see image at left). I’m addicted!
All about you: Self-explanatory. You choose the base, you choose the ingredients. Enough said.
I’d tell you what my family thought of MixMyGranola but unfortunately for them I didn’t share any. I’m hoping I can be a little less selfish the next time around but I highly doubt it. I take my personalized granola very seriously. I can’t do MixMyGranola’s ginormous ingredients list justice; you’ll have to create your own mix and check it out yourself! Believe me, you’ll be channeling KC & The Sunshine Band before you’re through.—Emily
*** Giveaway! MixMyGranola is giving away a $20 gift certificate to one lucky Daily Dish reader! Please visit MixMyGranola.com and start creating a mix, then leave a comment on this post telling us which granola base and ingredient(s) you chose. Include a valid email address for the drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: May 21, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
* For an extra entry, mention this giveaway on Twitter and leave a separate comment with the URL to your tweet! (To find your URL simply click on the timestamp from your tweet.)
Congratulations to Sandra, the winner of the MixMyGranola giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!
Lizzy Anne is at it again – she’s giving away this GORGEOUS “Pink-a-Boo” quilt made with Tanya Whelan’s “Darla” line of fabrics. To enter visit her blog and discover several ways to increase your chances of winning!!
In addition to the sweet as can be baby quilt, you can win a pattern from Tanya Whelan herself. Don’t miss out on this terrific Team-Up! Get cozy with your Lizzy Anne Original – Good Luck everyone!
“Unique and fashionable bite-sized shoes for the little ones in your life.” Sound yummy? Foxpaws Shoes are that and then some! These little treats for tiny toes are quite possibly the most stylish shoes my little fashionista owns. (Even at 1 1/2 she loves jewelry, shoes and sunglasses so yes, she’s a fashionista already!)
Foxpaws Shoes are designed using the highest quality materials and “luxury comfort soles” so fashion beautifully meets function for little feet. The effect is the perfect accessory for any outfit, whether it’s his favorite jeans and t-shirt or her favorite party dress. You can bet no other tot will be sporting the same pair of shoes, and while that may not matter as much as later in life, it’s never to early to make a fashion statement.
My little Livi received the Classic Giraffe shoes in size 6 (18-24 months). When I opened the box I swear I’d never seen such a fabulous pair of infant shoes in my life! Though a loafer style they reminded me of one of my favorite pairs of heels: black patent leather stiletto with a patch of leopard print over the toe. Before I know it Livi will be borrowing those heels, but until then she can strut around town in her Foxpaws. They are a little big for her now so we haven’t had any photo opps yet, but believe me, when she finally fits into them we’ll be snapping pics left and right!
What I love about Foxpaws Shoes is each one is truly one of a kind because of the authentic and unique real leather hides used in their construction. And though the website gives you a good idea as to the superior craftsmanship, it is best appreciated up close and personal. Trust me, these shoes are going to last many play dates and parties and will be passed down to the next lucky little girl.
Foxpaws Shoes carries a couple styles for boys but it’s the Cheetah Peek-A-Boo and Sleek Snake Boot that have me wishing they came in sizes larger than 24 months! What makes the company—and the shoes—even cooler in my book is their efforts to help abandoned and disadvantaged children in South America through the Orphanage Support Services Organization (OSSO). Foxpaws sends private donations to OSSO with each order to help sponsor children and orphanages in need. Foxpaws Shoes isn’t just another pretty shoe; it’s a shoe with style and substance!—Emily
* Promotion!Foxpaws Shoes is currently offering customers $10 off their order plus free shipping! Use code foxpaws09 when checking out. Hurry! This offer is for a limited time only!
The preppy golf shirt with a little man on a horse has been replaced with a black lab insignia and its causing quite a stir with all. Southern Proper polo is the must have this season and it looks good on everyone! The adorable new golf shirts designed by preppy polo makers, Southern Proper have something for everyone.
Southern Proper has taken a classic and revamped it a bit to make it a current must-have. Ralph Lauren started the Polo shirt craze and I can remember it well! The polo paired with Girbaud jeans was the look everyone sported. This time around Southern Proper has designed a polo that has a flattering more narrow shape, but, still has room for those food baby days. The polo is a classic that looks adorable paired with just about anything.
I tried out my new green polo with a denim skirt and one of their equally cute headbands and set out for the day. It is always nice to receive unsolicited compliments from strangers and that is what this ensemble did for me! The post office teller told me she loved my bright grassy green polo. Then, to the grocery store and the bagger complimented on my cute new headband. Seriously…this does not happen!! Two unsolicited compliments within the hour?! What is unbelievable is that I then ran into a neighbor and first comment out of her mouth…”Where did you get that cute shirt?” O.k. with 3 compliments down and a big head b/c I now think I look pretty cute in this preppy attire I give all my praise to Southern Proper.
The golf shirts come in a wide array of colors and they also make Mens. The quality is superb. I love the fit. Sometimes a fitted polo ends up being too tight under the armpits which make me sweat—creating some lovely sweat circles..but not here. Adequate room to breath. The length is perfect as well. Not short, but, not too long. Just right.
The headbands were a bit too big for my head. I have a smaller head but I was disappointed with the fit. There was a little gap between my head and the band that I didn’t like and the headband kept sliding down, but again just may be my pinhead!-Amber
Yes, Mother’s Day is this weekend and yes, if you’re shopping online you should have done your shopping by now. But I know a few of you out there are still on the hunt for the perfect Mother’s Day gift and may have a forgiving mom like mine who’s okay with a gift that’s a few days late (as long as she gets a card, chocolate and an IOU on Mother’s Day). If that’s the case then you need to check out the fabulous products from CreatedByMom.com.
And that’s the main reason I waited until today to feature this site—it is PERFECT for Mother’s Day because everything on CreatedByMom.com is made by moms. The site carries over 50 lines all designed by moms and boasts over 400 unique products with the offerings growing daily. (This is where I should probably disclose that georgie tees is one of CreatedByMom.com’s vendors so I am a little biased.) But even if we weren’t on her site I would still love the product selection and more importantly the story behind the site:
The CreatedByMom.com Chic Boutique was created by a mom to support moms everywhere, creating what they love and succeeding, selling their products in a mom-friendly environment.
CreatedByMom.com began with the perfect recipe of 50% inspiration and 50% desperation. After watching many friends make fabulous products and then start their own businesses Quinn Curtis had a brilliant idea: open an online store that makes it easier for moms to sell and buy each other’s products, making a one-stop shop for consumers to also support moms and their creations.
This site has everything from yummy lip balm to stunning jewelry to gorgeous handbags to one of my favorites, the Boot Scoot Bike. I love the Scribbly Tee pictured here and apparently the handmade tutus are a big hit!
CreatedByMom.com works using drop-ship accounts and quite possibly has the lowest fees and commission around. I remember going to pay the commission, thinking it was one amount, and having Quinn correct me telling it was another—almost half of what I was going to pay! One of the best perks about working with CreatedByMom.com is the 20% discount mom vendors receive on all other CreatedByMom.com products! Gotta love a good—no, great—discount!
Quinn doesn’t stop at providing a site for moms to showcase their products. She is all about empowering creativity and helping moms turn their dreams into reality. This July CreatedByMom.com is launching the first annual Moms Who Make It conference! The theme of the conference is “empowering creativity in life & business” and is an event you won’t want to miss. With our very own Daria form Boutique Cafe and Kim from YouCanMakeThis.com as keynote speakers, a variety of timely classes from blogging and social media to how to get press for your product and an awesome panel, you’ll be counting down the days until July 16th (around 68)! The Moms Who Make It conference will be held in South Jordan, Utah on Thursday, July 16th. Tickets will be on sale soon and you can visit MomsWhoMakeIt.com for more information.
Interested in keeping up with the latest happenings at CreatedByMom.com? You can connect with the LinkedIn group here, follow CBM on Twitter (@createdbymom) or visit the Facebook page here. This Mother’s Day it’s all about moms…and mom-made products!—Emily
*** Giveaway! In honor of Mother’s Day I am giving away a SoYoung Mother diaper bag in chocolate! (Read my review about this fabulous diaper bag here.) To enter visit CreatedByMom.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite mom-made product other than the ones I’ve already mentioned. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: May 15, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
* For an extra entry tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with the link to your tweet below!
Congratulations to Clara M., the winner of the SoYoung Mother giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!
Though it’s been 30+ years since my sole method of travel was on all fours I sometimes find myself crawling around chasing after my little ones (usually emitting some sort of growl while they burst into fits of giggles). After following them around for only a few minutes my knees start to complain, and while I swear little kids are made of rubber I can only imagine how tired their little knees get especially when exploring our entry and kitchen area, which is covered in a sort of marble tile. That’s where Bruz Wear comes in and saves the day!
The day after he was born, our son Nicholas was diagnosed with Severe Hemophilia A, a bleeding disorder caused by a lack of clotting protein. Watching him crawl in discomfort with black and blue knees sparked the idea of a padded clothing line.
The minute to minute emotional roller coaster that is hemophilia is accompanied by an amazing community of people who have perservered against unspeakable odds. Meeting and talking to these people inspired us to take the next step to make Bruz Wear a reality.
The Bruz Wear line consists of super cool pants with hidden pads in the knees. You’d never know they were there because they’re hidden behind fun, colorful “patches.” (Check out the blue pants with butterfly knee pads!) I thought the padding was there simply to make crawling more comfortable but there’s more to it:
We believe in the importance of play and we believe that baby and toddler pants should be built to encourage kids to crawl, play and get dirty. During this development phase, a child’s knees are no stranger to cuts and bruises. Bruz Wear pants, with their machine-washable knee pads, give children the confidence to take that next step while, of course, looking cool.
So really you’re helping inspire confidence in your child by making playing, exploration and even those falls a lot less painful!
George received the metal kids pants with terra knee pads, and while they’re still a little big (this kid has no butt to hold anything up!) they look really cool and he was super disappointed they wouldn’t stay up. He was rarin’ and ready to play! The foam pads are machine washable and the pants come with a drawstring waist. (Sadly that drawstring still wasn’t enough to keep George clothed.) The high-quality fabric looked and felt durable enough to outlast even the most adventurous explorer and the knee pads have enough foam to save the knees without being bulky—it’s amazing they’re even there! If only they came in adult sizes so I could slip a pair on when it’s my turn to be the super scary monster…
...
The owners, ever conscious of those in need, hope to someday provide every child diagnosed with Hemophilia a Bruz Wear gift set. Until then you can show your support by purchasing Bruz Wear for your little ones. (Sizes range from nine months to size 6 toddler.) Their knees will thank you!
Visit Bruz Wear’s MySpace page for more information on how you can help support their cause. Their MySpace page also has a more in-depth version of the family’s story. Take some time to read it—it’s inspiring!—Emily
* Promotion!Bruz Wear is offering Daily Dish readers $10 off their purchase! To receive your VIP discount use the following link to shop Bruz Wear’s line: http://home.comcast.net/~bruzwear/2009vip.html. Offer expires May 30, 2009.
Time to spike that hair and get groovin’! If you have a little Rocker in your family, they deserve to wear some of the most hip and funky threads available. For this reason I suggest clothing and pajamas from Hip on Sunset, a company who cater to tots who like edgy, trendy stylings.
I contacted Hip on Sunset to review some happening clothing for my little rockers. What I discovered was superior quality, along with the funky vibe I was looking for. You’ll treasure these tattoo inspired designs, as well as the cozy softness of each 100% cotton piece. Each item is hand screen printed, and has an original rock design, with a related message on the back such as: “i will float with butterflies” and “someday i’ll have my own rock show”
An additional plus of dealing with Hip on Sunset is the option for gift wrapping. And you can rest easy knowing that Hip On Sunset clothing is Certified CPSIA Compliant as well.
Your little darlings will be Hip On Sunset, or any street they walk down! Rock on Little Babies, Rock On! – Daria GIVEAWAY!! – Hip on Sunset is generously giving away a pair of pajamas (winners choice!) to one lucky Daily Dish reader! Simply comment on this post in order to qualify. Winner will be drawn on May 12, 2009 at midnight. We will contact the winner via email. The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
Along with my jacket/coat addiction I have a swimwear addiction. Not so much do I love to wear them as much as I am obsessed with trying to find the perfect suit! I have my swimsuits for swimming. Then I have my suits for water-skiing. Then I have my collection of suits for laying out. And then there is a bundle for hot tubbing and the list goes on.
With summer approaching, my swimwear search begins. Awhile back there was a standout suit to me I discovered on limericki.com. The eliza one piecer. The cut was something reminiscent of the 40’s, yet, the suit has distinctive updates that make it a real modern retro swimsuit. The cut is lower on the legs, like back in the day, but, the straps are a new design that give the suit some serious style. The olive green patterned material looks very Anthro-ish but 1/2 the cost you’d find there.
I put the Eliza one piecer to the test. I went hot tubbing with some of my closest friends and without soliciting comments…they made their own. They raved about the flattering cut. It really is a line that seems to flatter all areas. They loved the pattern and colors. They couldn’t get over that it was a modern fashionable looking one piecer—so hard to find! The only complaint…the embellishment on the strap that resembles a pretzel. However, nothing that a set of pliers can’t take care of! I quickly removed the buckle embellishment and the look definitely suits me better without the extra accessory. This suit is easily my new fave. It’s got a very flattering cut that is a modest suit that hides all that junk in the trunk and is fashion forward. So often the bikinis are the only option for a suit with cute material or modern looking, but, the eliza swimsuit is the new retro one piecer that definitely will be turning heads.-Amber
** PromotionLimericki is giving 10% off on any purchase to all Daily Dish readers. Please visit limericki’s website and use the code DAILYDISH to receive 10% off your order.
What woman doesn’t love jewelry on Mother’s Day? Okay, so maybe I prefer dark chocolate once in a while, but I still can’t resist something silver and shiny, especially if it’s been engraved with something meaningful.
I have enjoyed purchasing gifts from Things Remembered in the past, including a family ornament and necklaces for my daughter and her best friend, so I was excited when I heard about the company’s new line of charms. Charm Story is a new line of 50 exclusive silver-plated engravable charms designed specifically with personalization in mind. They offer “space to engrave a name, date or special message to make each charm a unique reflection of mom.” For example, if your mom is a runner give her a charm symbolizing her first marathon and engrave the name, date and finishing time of the race. If you’d rather tell her how she’s your strength, add a charm representing the Chinese symbol for strength and engrave the date of a moment she most inspired you.
Things Remembered sent me a sample charm bracelet and it is absolutely beautiful! (Yes, it’s even better than dark chocolate.) I chose the Clover Wax Seal charm and had them engrave one of my favorite quotes on the back: “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” They also added a few other fun charms, including the Wax Seal Mom charm with “Live, Laugh, Love,” the Purse charm engraved with Boutique Cafe’s tagline (I’m a sucker for a great pair of heels!) and the August Birthstone Heart charm. You can see the photos of this gorgeous bracelet in this review. I’m already wondering which charm I’ll add next—maybe three more birthstone charms for my other three children!
Charm Story offers assorted mom and grandma charms, photo charms, cause charms, hobby charms, travel charms and even pet charms. Each charm, charm bracelet and necklace retails for just $20. However, Things Remembered is offering the bracelet or necklace with one “First Chapter” starter charm—heart, circle, star or dog-tag-shaped charm—for just $30. (Engraving is a small, additional cost.) I love a gift that is truly unique and tailored to the recipient. Things Remembered truly has mom in mind this Mother’s Day. A beautiful piece of jewelry from Charm Story by Things Remembered combined with your thoughtfulness and a little personalization will definitely make her Mother’s Day. (If you really want to be the “favorite,” pair it with some chocolate!)—Emily
*** Giveaway Things Remembered is giving away one charm bracelet and charm, winner’s choice! Please visit the Charm Story page on the Things Remembered website. Leave a comment on telling us which charm you like best and what you would engrave on the back. (Please include a valid email address.)
*** For an extra entry, follow Things Remembered on Twitter! Send a DM to tremembered letting them know you signed on as a follower thanks to this post. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and the list of new followers provided by Things Remembered. We will contact the winner via email. Deadline: May 11, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
Congratulations to Bing Y., the winner of the Things Remembered giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!
Hi! I'm Daria, Owner Host and Producer for Boutique Cafe! I am passionate about helping mompreneurs succeed in following their dreams. I love to connect people, create, and network. I'm a social media addict and love anything fashionable, girly, DIY, vintage, handmade and fabulous. If you're a mompreneur and are looking for a cheerleader, you've come to the right place! I am one of several sweet contributors on Boutique Cafe - Meet Emily, Katie and the whole team here.
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