My kids love a good story, and usually it’s their father whose sharing them, but last night we popped in Bill Harley’s High Dive and Other Things That Could Have Happened into the CD player as we headed to a school function and by dang if that CD didn’t have us all smiling. Heck, we even laughed out loud a few times!

I really shouldn’t be surprised. We loved Harley’s The Best Candy in the Whole World CD. (You can read my review of that CD here.) And I’m not a big fan of “books on tape,” but Harley has made me a believer.

We were sent a copy of Harley’s High Dive but had yet to listen to it. I wasn’t sure if my kids would sit through 12-minute and even 20+-minute stories, but they totally did. In fact, they wanted to sit in the car when we  pulled into the garage just so they could finish hearing the end of “Field Trip.”

Entertainment Weekly has called Harley “the Mark Twain of contemporary children’s music,” and I believe that to be true. His “High Dive” had us all laughing and giggling through the entire story and a certain line about a certain goat in “Field Trip” had Nathan chuckling long after Harley had moved on with his story.

Comments heard from the back seat:

“That is the awesomest!” ~ George

“No, that is super fun!” ~ Olivia

“My cheeks hurt from smiling so much!” ~ Lauren

My cheeks totally hurt—I was smiling for the 15-minute drive to and from the school event. We finished up the CD the next day and George asked to play it again from the very beginning. Sadly, we had just pulled into the garage and I’m unsure of the van’s battery life. We’ll just have to go on another family drive!

Bill Harley’s High Dive and Other Things That Could Have Happened is available starting February 14th. You can read more about it here and check out Bill Harley’s on Facebook too.

Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about when I say “ribbon barrette.” You’re totally picturing metal barrettes with multicolored ribbon woven through them and long strands accented with beads.

You know. Kind of like this:

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That’s my Lauren sporting a ribbon barrette she made using the new My Ribbon Barrette Maker by Choose Friendship Co., the makers of the original My Friendship Bracelet Maker.

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The kit comes with everything you need to get started: ribbons, barrettes, beads and of course the actual ribbon barrette maker. The company sent us one of the kits so the girls could take it for a test drive.

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After reading a few instructions, Lauren was well on her way making that green and purple barrette pictured above.

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And then she had to make one for Livi—in pink, of course!

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Lauren totally loved the My Ribbon Barrette Maker and can’t wait to make more for her friends. (I’m kind of wishing I had long hair so I could revisit the 80s for a moment.) I think what I like best is it’s one of those projects that keeps your child busy—and quiet—for a good stretch of time. I’m always a fan of kits that provide hours of educational entertainment. And I’m a fan of craft kits that store all their parts in nice, little compartments and can be put away easily. MRBM scores major points for that too!...

And now you can provide your daughter with her own fun and productive quiet time!

Choose Friendship Co. is giving away one (1) winner’s choice of either My Friendship Bracelet Maker or My Ribbon Barrette Maker!

To enter, leave a comment telling us you’re favorite thing about the 80s. Was it the acid wash jeans? The super high bangs? Do tell!

Additional entries: You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:
• “Like” My Ribbon Barrette Maker on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
• “Like” Boutique Cafe on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
• Mention this giveaway on Twitter (with @BoutiqueCafe in the tweet) and leave a comment with the URL.
• Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway and leave a comment telling us you did so.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: February 3rd (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

I am re-posting this ZAGGfolio review on the Daily Dish because this case really is that cool. Trust me! Plus, the review is good for a laugh. You can tell I wasn’t cut out to be a tech gadget vlogger! Original review posted on isthisREALLYmylife.com.

Believe you me, this is about as far from a geeky technologically savvy review of the ZAGGfolio for iPad 2 as you can get. Not only did the video file of the final—and best—take go all corrupt and shut down my computer, I had to record the review in my bedroom for two reasons:

• It was the furthest removed from the kids who were watching Mulan on full volume in the family room. (They were also fighting about something but I chose to ignore them as usual.)


• My bedroom had more light than the office because Nathan had Scotch taped the light switch in the “off” position. Apparently it was powering his hard drive and if we flipped it, Armageddon would ensue.

Trust me, you don’t want to mess with the light switch when it’s controlling something in his half of the office. Been there; done that; barely survived.

It’s all quite sad because this beautiful red beauty…

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...and its accompanying wireless keyboard…
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...should get a shout-out equal to their awesomeoness.

If I had it my way, my video review would look something like this (except those would be my hands and the fingernails would be painted in OPI’s “Yodel Me on My Cell”):

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Instead of a marketing team and a professional studio, I had a 14-year-old videographer, a badly lit bedroom (but not so badly lit as the office in which I’m currently straining to see the keyboard) and not nearly enough caffeine and chocolate.

You’ll also notice I could’ve used a bit more practice sliding the ZAGG wireless Bluetooth keyboard into the ZAGGfolio case. I find it easier to leave it in the case—just slip in the iPad 2 and go—so I rarely remove it…except for the occasional video review. Madison got it right on the first try; obviously I have issues. It truly IS simple to slide it in and out of the case no matter how I make it look on the video.

Again, not enough practice (and not enough caffeine).

Also, I’m an idiot.

Speaking of my video review of the ZAGGfolio for iPad 2, here it is in all its non-scripted glory. Hopefully you can see past me and catch how cool this case really is. Because it’s really, really, REALLY cool.

Yeah, good luck with that.

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Yep, I said “criminey.” I was channeling my grandfather. Sadly he knows even less than I do about sliding a wireless keyboard into the case.

And I just realized the link at the end of the review is wrong. Let’s hope those watching the video review over on YouTube are smart enough to search my site once they that “404: Page Not Found” error pops up. sigh

You can check out the ZAGGfolio for iPad 2 keyboard case and all its colorful options on ZAGG.com. You’ll also find all those super techy specs I failed to mention in my review.

At $99, which includes the wireless Bluetooth iPad 2 keyboard, it’s a steal.

Just don’t steal mine. After the night I’ve had, I will hunt you down and make you watch Mulan with my kids.

P.S. I’ve checked out “real” reviews on the ZAGGfolio and it’s received some seriously high marks including quite a few “Best of” product awards.

P.P.S. Buy one. Your iPad 2 will thank you.

P.P.P.S. Couldn’t resist including this super short gag reel. Enjoy. (I promise I won’t be doing any more video tech reviews any time soon.)

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Disclaimer: I received the ZAGGfolio in exchange for this review. All opinions, thoughts, videos and their accompanying subtitles are mine. I totally claim ownership of it all (except for the official ZAGG video, of course).

Jennifer Paganelli and I have teamed up to bring you some fun Valentine Day Ideas using her “Girls World” book and patterns. If you’re thinking that a sewing project is in order for your special little girl for Valentine’s Day Jennifer has put together a beautiful book filled with 21 sewing projects for little girls. Utilizing your own sense of style and choices of fabrics you can make and remake these projects to suit any season, including Valentine’s Day.

What I love about Girl’s World is how Jennifer has designed patterns for every aspect of a girls world – fashion, accessories, decor…it’s all in here! Published by Chronicle Books, it’s a gorgeous feast for the eyes and is guaranteed to get those creative juices flowing just by cracking the spine. All patterns are enclosed and ready to go, inside the inner front cover pocket. The rest is an indulgent glimpse into the beautiful world of a little girl, and how you can recreate that in your own homes.

Now to Valentine’s Day – I would love to suggest a few projects that would be great bets to create for Cupid Day.

Sophie Glittered Apron

This simple tulle apron, would make a darling project for your little girl’s Valentine’s Day. Surprise her by creating this tulle apron with glitter ribbon. Then have her wear it over a sweet solid dress, the apron will totally jazz it up and look amazing! Don’t forget that you can always embellish with a simple heart pocket for a cute Valentine’s effect.

Gigi Ruffled Pillow
Check out the Gigi ruffled pillow! Isn’t it gorgeous as a throw pillow for a bed, or as an accent pillow? Perfect for the little girl who loves to cuddle up on her bed and tell you about the cute little boy she likes at school.

Valentine’s Day Banner
Project No.21 in the book is a Happy Birthday banner, but this project is so versatile you can easily work your magic and create a Valentine’s Day banner in a snap. Using pre-made felt letters you can mix it up and create a banner for any occasion or any name in your family!

Chloe Paper Doll Overnight Bag
This overnight sack is such a sweet way to say I love You to your little girl. If slumber parties are on the horizon, this would be a darling unique present that she can take along and know how much you love her. So sweet!

There is so much more that I can’t show you in one post (memory boards, pin wheels, canopy’s and dresses), you’ll have to run out and grab a copy to cherish. You can pick one up on Amazon.com too!

*** Giveaway! Jennifer Paganelli is giving one winner a copy of her book “Girls World”!!

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:
• “Like” Sis Boom on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
• Visit Sisboom.com and leave a comment telling us what inspires you most from Jennifers collection of fabrics, patterns and books.
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
• Post in the SisBoom Facebook group and tell them you saw the review on Boutique Cafe!

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: Feb 3rd, 2012 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Big News! One of the most anticipated girls clothing lines in my world has finally launched and selling on www.servanebarrau.com. The girls clothing line is called LOLA (a name dear to my heart, as my daughter bears the same beautiful name). But the adoration is doubled by the fact that Servane was originally inspired by my own little daughter Lola to name her new collection and the results are adorable! What a thrilling thing to be able to tell my Lola as she grows up, that her little face inspired a collection of gorgeous clothes for girls around the globe. Pinch me please!

Click to view the Lola Pink Collection>>

When describing Lola Pink Servane says:

“The Lola line offers us this season bold colors, beautiful floral motifs, versatile designs and lightweight fabrics. This is also a partnership with a well known shoes Designer: Bear Feet Shoes. For this collection I took my inspiration from Asia, more precisely from Japan. All our unique and trademarked patterns/graphics are taken from nature or Kawaii inspired…”

Other elements used in Lola Pink include The Kokeshi dolls, which are wooden dolls from Japan. As well as the “Cuteness” aspect, which is a prominent part of the Japanese culture right now, from the noun kawaisa meaning “lovability”, “cuteness” or “adorableness”.

Express Yourself! Think Cute! Think Pink!

The Lola lineup will be rolling out in 4 collections – First on the agenda is the LOLA PINK Collection available right now on the website! Subsequent collections (ie: Lola Blue, Lola Exclusives, and Lola Essentials) will all mix’n match with each other as always, that’s one of the things Servane Barrau is known for. Be sure to watch Boutique Cafe over the coming weeks as each new collection launches, we’ll be sharing the details and offering great opportunities to WIN special pieces from this collection for your little darlings.

*** Giveaway! Servane Barrau Designs is giving one winner an adorable “Dotsy Dress” from the Lola Pink Collection!!

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:
• “Like” Servane Barrau Designs on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did. **This step is critical in order to win!

Additional entries:
• Visit ServaneBarrauDesigns.com and leave a comment telling us which item from the Lola Pink Collection is your favorite.
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
• Post in the Servane Barrau Facebook group and tell them you saw the review on Boutique Cafe!

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: January 31st (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Any time someone wants me to review a children’s book, I’m all over it. We are definitely bookworms in this family and enjoy any opportunity to add a new one to the collection…especially if it’s one my kids love reading over and over again. And that’s what happened when we were sent a copy of How Do You Feed a Hungry Giant? by Caitlin Friedman (illustrated by Shaw Nielsen).

We have read this book multiple times in the few days we’ve had it. George and Livi love it and it’s easy to see why. The illustrations are fun and colorful, the writing is clever (“You’re seriously not going to believe it.”) and the addition of lift-the-flap-style fun seals the deal.

The book includes 8 fun recipes perfect for feeding a hungry giant, including the popular Pizza-Sized Cookie. We’re anxious to try the Ginormous Blueberry Muffin. (Perhaps that will be our Christmas morning treat!)

I love this Q & A with the author. If you’re still wondering if you should buy How Do You Feed a Hungry Giant, this will help you place it in your shopping cart.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the story?
A: Well…I would have to say my kids. They were six when I wrote this story…the age of the priceless questions. You know what I’m talking about…do your toes ever stop growing? Why do chickens have wings if they don’t fly? I am sure that there was some Saturday morning that Declan (Oscar in the book) asked me how much food a giant would eat.
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Q: How can parents use Hungry Giant to talk to their children about the importance of charity?
A: The story is about a little boy helping to feed a lonely, hungry giant he finds sitting in his backyard. Oscar has a big heart and so does his mother…and at no point are they scared by the giant’s size. I used this story and Oscar’s instinct to help to talk to my kids about the opportunities they have in their day to help those around them. I also talked to them about thinking a little bigger…yes, you can help the boy in your class pour his milk AND you can help a boy you have never met by donating a can of food. If you are lucky enough to have what you need then you have a responsibility to help those that don’t.
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Q: In what ways can families incorporate philanthropy into their {holiday} traditions?
A: Take a moment to talk to your children about the issue of hunger, take a moment to teach your children to be grateful for the food in front of them and the family around them. If you are lucky enough to have what you need then you have a responsibility to help those that don’t. You could even have your children start their own food drive. Little kids LOVE looking through cabinets and finding things to donate. If they feel a part of it and like what they are doing is making a difference they will experience the joy of helping others.

We love giving the kids books at Christmas time. In fact, each child will receive one book from us this year. How Do You Feed a Hungry Giant would make the perfect addition to your current collection of children’s books. The best part? You won’t mind reading it over and over again, which is a good thing because you’ll find yourself doing just that!

We are huge fans of Gamewright games in our home. (For past reviews of Gamewright games, click here.) My favorite thing about these games is they’re fun for everyone to play. I can find Chutes & Ladders and Candyland a bit tedious, but I rarely tire of Dweebies and Take the Cake. The same goes for our latest two favorites, GUBS and City Square Off.

GUBS was definitely a game for 10 and up. It had a lot of different types of cards, and we had to refer to the guide quite a bit throughout the game. I’m not sure we’ll ever have everything memorized, but once we got the hang of it, we enjoyed the strategy and scheming. It’s definitely hard keeping those little GUBS safe!

As for City Square Off, this was by FAR our most favorite game…probably are most favorite game of Gamewright’s to date. Even George, our six-year-old, loved it! Granted, he didn’t quite of the strategic forethought as the older kids, but he totally understood how to play. Think of it as Tetris meets urban planning. We played this one constantly over Thanksgiving break. It’s definitely a must-have for the kids.

Both games are award-winning (as usual for Gamewright) and both are extremely fun to play. And both need to be under your Christmas tree this year. (At least make sure City Square Off is!)—Emily

Our Annual Holiday Gift Guide is just about ready to make it’s Grand Appearance once again! We love hosting this guide each holiday shopping season for our eager shoppers as well as offering this venue to sell for our outstanding friends in business. If you have a shop or website that would like to be included in the Gift Guide this year please email me directly at: daria@boutiquecafe.com for details and put “Holiday Gift Guide” in the subject line. You can pay quickly and easily but scanning our QR code on your smartphone and pay directly – we will then email you the remainder of information you need to get your ad up in our Holiday Gift Guide.

We make inclusion easy, affordable and fun for small business owners! After all, that’s what we love more than anything at Boutique Cafe, helping businesses get noticed and doing so shouldn’t cost a fortune. We’re here to help and we love supporting you.

Let’s make it an outstanding year once again! – Daria

And by a vintage poster I mean the darling ones from the online store by the same name.

We’ve lived in our home for over three years and I still have blank walls. With this home I’ve been a bit pickier about how I decorate, choosing pieces that have meaning or make me happy. (Don’t worry…there are pictures of the kids here and there.)

When A Vintage Poster asked if I would be interested in reviewing a couple of their posters, I checked out their website before replying. I wanted to make sure their collection had something I would want in our home. Funny thing is, I found a few things. The simple designs and beautiful colors were perfect and I had a hard time narrowing down my choices…such a hard time, in fact, they were nice enough to send me two for review: Star Struck and Bookworm.

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Star Struck is the perfect fit for our basement home theater and Bookworm is going to look just right next to our large black bookshelf in the office!

I was going to wait to write the review until I’d found the perfect frames but again, I am picky and it would’ve taken me way too long. With the holidays around the corner, I wanted to spread the word about A Vintage Poster because they have a poster for everyone on your list, including yourself.

Here are a couple of my other favorites:

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Along with illustrated and quotable posters, A Vintage Poster offers custom designs. You can put your children’s names, family name, child’s name with birth info (birth date, weight, etc.) or whatever your heart desires (as long as it fits on the poster).

And fit it should because size isn’t problem. They offer 8×10 ($12), 11×14 ($14) and 18×24 ($28) sizes (pricing is only a titch more for custom designs). With those sizes, the variety of colors and the amount of designs, the possibilities are pretty much endless!

Just think what a great gift this would be this holiday season! You’d definitely be the favorite if you aren’t already!

*** Giveaway! A Vintage Poster is giving one winner her choice of three (3) posters in 8×10- or 11×14-inch size! ***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

•   Visit AVintagePoster.com and leave a comment telling us which poster is your favorite.
•   “Like” A Vintage Poster on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•   Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: November 23, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Oh those tiny little toes! Nothing is more delicate and adorable than your newborn baby’s feet. As a new Mommy, you have the brief opportunity to kiss those little toes and dress them up in the cutest shoes.

Chelsea Baby has the answer to cute feet couture, with their adorable high end baby booties. This is an eco-friendly line of luxury mini footwear sized 0-6 months and 6-12 months. Eco-friendly that is, because of the use of Sensuede, a beautiful stain resistant material that is “100 per cent green in the milling process”.

I personally had the delight of receiving a pair of their “Bucky” shoes pictured above. They came beautifully packaged in a clear plastic box perfect for gifting right away, but that’s not all…not by a long shot. The Chelsea Baby shoes are incredibly plush and soft, featuring cotton fabric on the toe and with a unique snap on bouquet for girls and a snap on bow tie for boys.

At Chelsea Baby the styling of each tiny shoe is an irresistible indulgence! You can follow the lady who started it all, Chelsea Geenen herself on Twitter to learn about promotions, deals and the latest from this fab entrepreneur.

For your next baby shower, wow your new Mommy friend with luxury and style for the tiniest of toes. – Daria

PROMOTION
Chelsea Baby currently is running a 20% off promotion on their website for a limited time. Visit Chelsea Baby and click on the “DEAL” button at the side of their page – then share the promo on Facebook for your 20% off code. Sweet Deal!!

We don’t drink a ton of soda but we do keep our outside fridge stocked so we always have access to some in case of emergency (e.g., last-minute BBQ, movie night). Plus, you gotta have root beer with your pizza and a carbonated, caffeinated beverage around 11pm when writing product reviews. Those are givens!

I’ve been intrigued by the SodaStream home soda system ever since I first heard my sister-in-law rave about it, but I wondered if it really was worth the investment in the system, bottles and flavorings. Yes, it’s more environmentally friendly than cans, but if that’s it’s only selling point, I’m not sold. (Sorry, it’s true.) It would have to make really good soda—and a lot of it at a reasonable price—for me to place one on my kitchen counter.

Guess what? I now totally have one on my kitchen counter and we absolutely LOVE it!

SodaStream sent us their Genesis Soda Starter Kit plus a selection of their flavorings to see if they could win us over…and win us they did. Here’s a video of us giving our SodaStream Genesis a test run. Yes, it’s about 10 minutes long but every minute is worth it because you’ll see:

• Me trying to figure out how to put the thing together.


• Me being a smarta** to Nathan.


• Madison learning how NOT to shake a SodaStream liter bottle to mix the flavoring.


• Madison and I learning just what the “buzz” sounds like when pressing the button.


• Me trying to figure out how to open the single serving packet of root beer flavoring.


• George equating his tasting the root beer to “living in heaven” or some such craziness.

The video had me laughing out loud when I watched it (and wondering why Nathan didn’t tell me my shirt was all tucked up in back). He’s never going to be a professional videographer at this rate!

Since our first test run, we’ve sampled quite a few flavors from the variety pack and enjoyed every one. I have yet to give the diet cola flavor a taste test, but Diet Coke is a hard habit to break. Of course the fact that SodaStream diet flavors don’t have aspartame helps. (They use Splenda.)

SodaStream offers 30 regular, diet and caffeine-free flavors. Oh, and their regular flavors contain no high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The lack of HFCS and aspartame makes me feel better about giving my kids diet soda for sure. Other benefits? No heavy cans or large 2-liter bottles to store in my fridge. (That means more room for string cheese, Slim Fast and yogurt.) This image pretty much says it all:

While we may not make the switch completely to SodaStream (I like my Diet Vanilla Coke Zero…what can I say?), we will definitely keep our Genesis home soda system cranking out carbonated beverages for family night, pizza night, movie night, had a great day at school night—whatever the special occasion!

And by work I mean driving four kids from Utah to California with a very sunny, very long stretch of Nevada between the two states. By play I mean long stretches of fun in the local pool. No matter the activity, my new go-to sunglasses for extended anything are from Ryders Eyewear.

Ryders has been around since 1986 when Brent Martin, on his way to becoming the first Canadian Mountain Bike Champion, wanted a pair of high-performance sunglasses at a budget-friendly price. Ryders Eyewear was the result, and Brent’s been making stylish, sporty, sport-friendly eyewear ever since.

We make performance glasses for human powered activities that get your heart racing. Fun stuff like mountain biking, trail running, hiking, road cycling. If you want to wear your Ryders for other heart pumping activities like rollerblading with your pals, streaking the quad or naked bike riding – please be our guests (and send photos!)

You gotta love an eyewear company with a sense of humor! My favorite thing they do? This:

Making sunglasses is not sending rockets to the moon. What we do is keep it simple, get out of the way of the sunglasses and let them do their job. We make great sunglasses at a great price so that our customers can get outside and perform at their best.

Ryders Eyewear sent me their women’s Solace sunglasses, a sleek, lightweight pair of sunglasses that combine sport and casual…a hybrid of sorts.

With shatterproof, polarized lenses to reduce glare plus UV protection and a scratch-resistant coating combined with a thermoplastic frame making them durable, flexible and light, you can see why I love these sunglasses for the pool. And the 11-hour car ride. (Flying objects are not unheard of somewhere between the Nevada and California state lines.)

I’ve already mentioned one of my two biggest reasons for loving these glasses (they’re super lightweight). The other reason is the superior coverage. The lenses on the Solace sunglasses are nice and big without being too big. There’s no errant sunlight making it’s way into my eyeballs; my entire view is polarized and shaded and I love it!

Ryders Eyewear has an awesome selection of women’s sunglasses, from the Drill and Nitrous to the more casual Duchess and Fray designs. Love them all!

As for price, they are right on target with Brent’s vision to design high-performance, stylish, durable sunglasses at a reasonable price. The Solace sunglasses are under $70—a great price for all the benefits this pair offers. You’ll find styles for under $40 all the way up to just under $90. Can’t beat that!

Now if Ryders Eyewear could cut out as much noise as they do glare, the 11-hour drive would be even less painful!—Emily

I don’t know about you, but I’m all for beach life meeting everyday life, especially when you live in a landlocked state like Utah. That’s why I love the look of Fresh Produce clothing and was super excited when they approached me about a review on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish.

First a bit about Fresh Produce:

It’s a long way from Long Beach, California to Boulder, Colorado… or is it? Fresh Produce first sprouted in 1984 in Long Beach, selling silk-screened t-shirts in bright graphics and custom jewelry at the ‘84 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in the parking lot across the street from the coliseum. The concept then is the same as now – to bring the emotions, the colors, the sensations, the leisure of beach life to everyday life through fashion.

Known and loved by women ages 6 months to 60-plus for lush colors, year-round sensibility, simply inspired design and coastal comfort, Fresh Produce continues to delight customers around the globe.

The company sent me the Rio Crescent Moon Tunic in haystack and the Swing Capri in white. First I laundered the clothing according to the instructions to see how well they washed and wore. Check on that one! I will say I didn’t love ironing the tunic. (The pants didn’t need any ironing.) The sleeves made it a little tricky and even after a few attempts, I couldn’t get them looking right.

Apparently I didn’t sport the tunic quite right. I tied it rather than letting it the ties hang loose and I have to admit, I like the more casual look better. Here’s a photo from the site:

And here’s my take on it:

The Swing Capri was super soft and super comfortable. It could be due to the 92% Rayon, 8% Lycra fabric or the nice, wide leg. Or both. Whatever it is, it works and makes for the most comfortable pair of pants you could own. The Rio Crescent Moon Tunic is also comfortable but not as “cool” as I thought it would be. Though it’s 100% cotton and on the thinner side, I still got a little toasty in it, but it would make for a great transitional shirt for summer to fall or spring to summer. And it is flowy and airy, though I think I prefer the more bright, “beachy” colors better like seaglass and sunrise.

Some of my other faves from the site:

Impromptu Dress

Girl’s Koi Pond Jersey Knit Dress

Coastal Wrap Cardigan

Cute, right? The only thing not super cute is the price, but I’m not one who usually buys loungewear-style clothing. Looking at other women’s apparel similar to Fresh Produce found at stores like Nordstrom, the pricing is right on par with other collections. That being said, I’m pretty sure Fresh Produce is a lot more fun and a heck of a lot more comfortable (and travel friendly)!—Emily

And I’m not talking about the X-Men character, though I kinda think he’s a bit of a hottie. I’m actually talking about Wolverine shoes...and their hiking shoes to be more exact.

First, a bit about Wolverine:

The footwear, apparel and gear reflects the values of the craftsmen whose pride in their work has made Wolverine the gold standard for comfort, quality and performance. Wolverine products are among the finest to be found anywhere in the world, with advanced technologies that add unparalleled safety, durability, and especially comfort. Wolverine will handle the toughest days and keep coming back for more. They are RELENTLESS BY NATURE.

Wolverine sent us two pairs of their women’s waterproof hiking shoes. I kinda liked how pretty they were fresh out of the box:

Then I noticed this diagram on the inside of the lid:

And found this cute little dial under the sock liner:

So apparently these hiking shoes are awesome inside and out. They have this customized comfort system with four settings: I for enhanced inner support; O for increased outer support; F for firming things up; and C for added cushion. You remove the liner, choose your setting, set both disks the same and replace the liner. How great is that?

Question is, could these shoes hold up to a 13-year-old at a week-long camp for girls? And an 11-year-old who knows how to beat up a pair of shoes? I gave one pair to Madison and one to Lauren so they could test drive the Wolverines. Here’s what they had to say.

Madison
“Hi everybody! This is Madison. My mom asked me to write a review on the shoes Wolverine. I took them to Oakcrest {a five-day camp for girls} and used them for hiking. They were SUPER comfy and didn’t give me blisters on the first time I wore them! I love the design on the shoe. I had to use them on a three and a half hour hike and my feet didn’t hurt one bit. I heard people complaining about their feet, but I didn’t! They were even good in the mud and rain. When we were hiking down, lots of people were slipping. I didn’t fall because of the great traction on the bottom of the sole. These shoes were the best!”

Lauren
“Hey people! This is Lauren and I am writing a review on the shoes I used. The first time I used them I walked to and back from the school and my feet didn’t hurt only my legs did. The second time I used them was when we went on the alpine slide and while on that I slipped! {Clarification: The shoes had nothing to do with her flipping her sled. She was going way too fast around a turn. The end result? Fiberglass burns and a gash on her knee that need over 11 stitches!} The shoes looked great with blood-red inside and little dots only on the right shoe! Just kidding. They were my favorite tennis shoes and still are and the red came right out”

—————
Yes, I totally washed them in the washing machine in cold water on gentle cycle and then air dried them. I hesitated to do so due to the leather but she had really bloodied up the inside of the one shoe. They washed up perfectly and are good as new! I was super impressed! Both girls raved about how comfortable they were. I’m kinda sad I gave both pairs away. Dang.

Wolverine shoes are not super cheap, but if I were an avid hiker or outdoorswoman, I would make the investment. These babies survived camp with nary a blister; a trip down the Alpine slide before rolling around in fiberglass, rocks and dirt; and being washed in the washing machine. If they can survive all that, they will definitely last years and years. And years!—Emily

Let me start out by saying we are NOT campers. Camping for me is a Super 8 or Motel 6. Or a tent in the backyard. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy s’mores over a campfire (in my backyard) or Dutch oven peach cobbler (yay for church girls camp!). And the gadgets are kinda fun too. We actually have some camping gear, though it needs a good dusting once I actually locate it in the garage.

One thing I don’t have to locate is the Coghlan’s Bug-Eye Headlight my kids received so we could review it for the Daily Dish. I always know where it is: either on George’s or Livi’s head or on the kitchen desk when not on George’s or Livi’s head.

The kids LOVED this headlamp the minute they put it on…which was the minute I opened the package.

The Bug-Eye Headlight is compact, lightweight and designed just for kids. Powered by a bright white LED – that never needs replacing. Comfortable elastic head strap. Perfect for kids who love the outdoors!

I consider the backyard outdoors, and George and Livi have loved sporting this headlamp while looking for bugs (and lost toys) in the evening. They’ve also sported it inside a homemade fort in the great indoors. It’s comfortable and stays securely attached to their little heads.

I’m thinking we’ll be packing it for our trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa in August because there’s always some serious backyard camping when we go! I’ll probably need a second one so I don’t have to keep an eye on the timer as George and Livi share. (At less than $9, it’s a no-brainer!) I like to limit the number of battles and they’ve had a couple over Coghlan’s Bug-Eye Headlight. Can’t blame them!—Emily

I am a fair-weather cyclist. In other words, it has to be at least 70 degrees if I’m cycling outdoors. And I also hit spin class 2 to 3 times a week…and it gets pretty hot in that spin room even with 5 fans going full blast. Because of the heat both outside and in, I pair my Pearl Izumi bike shorts (thank you, Pearl outlet in Park City!) with a tank top. (I’d go nearly naked if I had that kind of self-confidence…and if the rec center allowed it.)

When I was sent Pearl Izumi’s women’s Fly Top from their P.R.O. line, I was all over giving this baby a test drive—or ride.

The top features Pearl Izumi’s In-R-Cool fabric technology “that cools the body for optimal comfort.” The fabric also:

• Provides optimal moisture transfer with a “superior hand feel” (yay for super lightweight, super soft fabric!)


• Flatlock seams (yay for no chafing!)


• Reflective elements for low-light visibility (yay for not getting hit!)


• Sublimated graphics (yay for something that sounds super cool!)

Yes, it’s part of their running collection, but I’m way okay with mixing and matching! Can you tell how lightweight and breathable this fabric is? Just look at it lying on the table—it’s nearly paper thin (or at least cardstock thin)!

You can even see my fingers (and ring) through the fabric:

Because of the everlasting winter here in Utah, I didn’t get to try the Fly Top until the Goldillocks ride in May. But it was the perfect weather—and event—to do so. It was a 42-miler that started out when the weather was still a bit nippy but ended up in the pleasant 70s. Though I survived my first long ride, Pear Izumi’s Fly Top did more than survived; it performed beautifully! It was almost like wearing nothing at all, which is nice if you’re into that sort of thing.

Unlike wearing nothing, the Fly Top does provide you with sun protection. The body has a UPF of 40+ and the mesh a UPF of 30+. I just wish I’d had sunscreen with 50+ between the end of the cap sleeves and the top of my arm warmers!

Available in black, red and white, Pear Izumi’s P.R.O. Fly Top is a must for runners and cyclists alike…especially those who only cycle (or run) in fair weather.—Emily

After I reviewed and loved Hushamok’s hammock and I eager to also test out their MySeat. And I’m not disappointed! It’s a really great cushy seat perfect for your alert and interactive infant and you can begin using it once baby reaches around 12 weeks. It’s not a swing, but it’s natural movement is great and calming.

The MySeat can be used for infants, toddlers and young children. The weight limit is up to 50 lbs so both my almost-2-year-old and my 4-month old can take advantage of this nifty seat. The MySeat has a great natural look and I think it looks especially great with the Okoa stand. It’s not too tricky to figure out. My one complaint is that the shoulder straps aren’t adjustable in terms of length. They’re adjustable in terms of height but I’d like to be able to tighten/loosen them. I found a solution for it as you can see in my video, but I’m much prefer having adjustable shoulder straps. The crotch strap does adjust. The MySeat sits low enough to the ground that I’m quite confident that my toddler will be able to quickly catch on to getting in and out of it without any trouble.

The MySeat feels exceptionally durable and I trust that it will last a long, long time. If you’re in the market for a piece of baby furniture that will last more than 6 months you’ve found it! I love that I can keep on using my stand and I can fairly easily switch between the MySeat and the hammock. – Katie

...and switching and swapping and flipping! We are already fans of Gamewright games thanks to their Take the Cake and Dweebies games, so when they asked us to review their new FlipOut game, we said, “Heck, yes!”

FlipOut, which has already won six awards including the iParenting Media Award, Parents’ Choice Gold and Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence Award, is geared for children ages 8 and older and can handle 2 to 5 players. The object of the game is to get at least four of the same cards in a row by switching, swapping and flipping cards (your own and those of your opponent(s)). It gets a little tricky because each card is double sided, so what you see isn’t necessarily what your opponents see, and they may take the exact card you were hoping to keep!

The game claims “easy-to-learn rules,” but I will say the first time my girls took it out to play, they gave up after only getting through half the directions. Fortunately I don’t give up that easily when it comes to board games, so we gave it one more shot, this time with me reading through the rules with them. And I will admit, it took me a couple run-throughs to understand all the different options (aka “actions”) you could do each turn and how the whole process worked. But once we got going (and reread as we played), we finally got the hang of it and had a really great time thwarting each other’s efforts to line up four of a kind.

Don’t let our little struggle with the directions make you shy away from Gamewright’s new FlipOut. It really is a fun game and I love that children and adults can play together (kind of like Dweebies!), plus it teaches children visual discrimination, strategic thinking (my favorite part) and color identification. That’s a Gamewright game for you: learning and fun all wrapped into one!—Emily

*** Giveaway! Gamewright is giving away one copy of FlipOut! ***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

•    Visit Gamewright.com and leave a comment telling us which other games you’d love to try.
•     “Like” Gamewright on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•    Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
•    Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway and leave a comment telling us you did.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: June 28, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

As a spin class enthusiast and cycling newbie, I’m all over staying hydrated. You’ll often find me with dual water bottles clipped to my bike, one filled with ice water and the other with nuun. Though I am partial to Camelbak’s Podium water bottles, I was more than willing to give Hydrapak’s PureBot bottle a try. I mean, what’s not to like about a plastic water bottle that free of EA chemicals like BPA and pthalates?

EA stands for Estrogenic Activity. Any chemical that either blocks or mimics the natural estrogen in the human body is an EA chemical. Chemicals like BPA and Phtalates are just a few EA chemicals that can be found in certain plastics.

For their PureBot bottle, Hydrapak partnered with Plastipure and created the first plastic water bottle certified EA free. It is a great option of you’re like me and don’t dig the slightly metallic taste those other water bottles have.

When the PureBot arrived, I was drawn to its transparency.

I’d never seen a water bottle with a see-through top!

I also loved its simple, slim design. But how would it hold up in spin class? I filled it with ice water…

...and headed to the gym. The first thing I noticed was the lack of an aftertaste. No metal, no plastic, nothing but crystal clear, pure-tasting water. That was my favorite part! The PureBot also kept my water fairly cold during those 50 minutes, but it didn’t have the staying (chilling) power of my Camelbak bottles, and that was a little disappointing. I could see me using the PureBot bottle around the house, but I wouldn’t be taking it to my endurance spin class or on outdoor rides. I like my water super cold and the PureBot can’t do that for me.

But it can keep me a bit safer from those EA chemicals—and at a great price (less than $8). I’m thinking the PureBot water bottle a good option for my two oldest kids as they participate in summer camps and sports this summer. As growing girls, I’d like to keep them as far away from EA chemicals as I can!

*** GIVEAWAY! Hydrapak is giving away one PureBot water bottle! ***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

•    Leave a comment telling us what you’d use your PureBot water bottle for.
•   “Like” Hydrapak on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•   Follow Hydrapak on Twitter and leave a comment telling is you’re their newest follower.
•    Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: June 23rd, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Quagmire’s new state of the art technology is the coolest thing in fashion. ColorFusion shirts change with heat…so it’s two in one. My shirt started off as purple but when I warmed up it changed to a shade of pink.

As the ColorFusion shirt altered from periwinkle to a vibrant rose it startled those I was with and caused quite a stir to those that claimed they were losing their minds. A few favorite comments received: “I swear your shirt was purple earlier.” “Is it just me or is your shirt turning into a tie-dye fabric?” “Ahh. What’s going on? Your shirt is turning Pink!”

The entire shirt switched colors almost simultaneously. When the shirt reaches 68 degrees or 20F it changes color. This cool line is also available in pint-size. Quagmire kids shirts will undoubtedly be your little tike’s favorite piece of clothing. Any child will be obsessed with the “magic” demonstrated right before their eyes. The changing of colors is really the coolest thing to observe.

I have to admit, I was so skeptical about this product. Two reasons. My first inclination of the ColorFusion shirt was cheesy and crazy “technology” that probably only works in the armpits. Wrong. So wrong! It is really the coolest article of clothing I own. Besides the real “magic” technology works everywhere. It is high fashion with a cut that is perfect in every area. The length is just right. Sleeve size is ideal and it’s not a boxy golf shirt, but a perfect tailored yet relaxed fit. It is made of soft fabric that washes well.

It’s two in one with ColorFusion. Two colors. Two purposes—fashion and fun.- Amber

Buy it online and I highly suggest checking out all their other adorable active apparel visit www.quagmirestyles.com.

Need some help motivating a youngster to play outside and exercise? Read Steve Ettinger’s darling picture book for children titled “Wallie Exercises.”

This book tells the story of a lazy dog that prefers staying inside and sleeping rather than playing outside (the situation sounds oh so familiar) and exploring. Wallie’s clothes begin to be too small for him because of his lazy ways (again…another great parallel). An exercising elephant helps this lazy dog get fit. This book teaches about hydration, warming up and working out.

The book ends with suggestions and fun games that Wallie did that your child can do too. The Wallie Wiggle Wag Walks and Relay Race and Silly Shark Squats are some of the exercises that your kids will love.

The writer behind this book has credentials that make it effective exercises you know are safe and legit. Steve Ettinger, the author is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist. The illustrator, Pete Proctor is a former teacher who knows what kids like to read. His adorable illustrations of the characters make this a visually stimulating book anyone can enjoy.-Amber

This book is available online at wallieexercises.com.

****DAILY DISH GIVEWAWAY***
Go to wallieexercises.com and leave us a comment on daily dish telling us the award this book received from Mom’s Choice Awards. One random selection winner will receive an autographed book.

AB Golf Designs—the market leader for attention-grabbing specialty head covers and accessories produces their new retro styled “Throwback Collection” with polyester fibers made from recycled plastic bottles that look and feel like wool (this manufacturing process helps diminish dependence on oil and minimize waste, in turn limiting toxic emissions from incinerators and reducing air, water and soil contamination.) I love a company that embraces new environmentally friendly manufacturing options. I am impressed with AB Golf Designs commitment to keep the greens—green.

This cover goes onto the club and shaft easily by expanding in the right places, yet keeping its form. Easy to get on and easy to pull off make it a critical component for me because it can be a real annoyance when you need your driver and the head cover won’t come off!

Their line is a huge hit with PGA and LPGA Tour players and a novice golfer from Salt Lake City. Me. I’m not a regular on the course, nor do I have stellar form or a swing that gets noticed, but my gear gets the attention because it is colorful and expressive.

I tested the “numero uno” driver head cover from the company’s “Bling” line. It matches my eye-catching golf bag from keri bag and looks good in the bag. The cherry-red cover is embossed with the image “1” with small diamond-looking studs. It is a bit more expensive than most head covers, but the diamond-looking embellishment makes a sassy statement for a more individualistic look on the course.-Amber

Available online here.

I was so excited to actually use my new Rosebloom Keri Sport bag by Adams Golf. It had been sitting pretty in my garage waiting for the bleak weather to turn to Spring. The one time I braved the storm and went golfing in the freezing temperatures my cute golf bag got noticed because it was a pick me up for everyone on the course. It’s cheerful fabric charmed its way to many conversations that day.

As the weather warmed up I was able to hit up the range more frequently. The comments about my cute golf bag consistently came my way. I have never heard the word “cute” uttered more from men. Now, if the men like it…women will adore it.

Women, of course know exactly what classifies something to be cute. So, what makes it so cute? The pink rosebloom print on the white bag is a unique pattern designed by Keri Murschell that you typically don’t see on a golf bag, which makes me think of my golf bag as an oversized purse. It is the perfect accessory.

Rare is it to find a golf bag that you actually want to lug around. The first chance to put the bag down is usually how it goes, but with this lightweight fashionable golf bag I wanted it strapped to me all day. The padded double-strap allowed perfect balance and prevented any one shoulder stress from overuse. It was comfortable and when I did set it down the legs easily came out each time, making it a sturdy stand bag. Only a few good bags actually stand up with ease, as you grab your club. This stand feature took no effort at all.

Behind the beauty of this bag lies a durable, functional bag that integrates pockets of every size for every purpose. This good looking get up offers plenty of storage in the sleeve and zippered pockets for all my golf gear and the 8-way full-length dividers keep my clubs nicely separated.

My favorite feature is the insulated pocket to keep beverages cold. This accommodation allows me to keep myself well hydrated so that by hole 15 I’m not lagging.

If you’re a golf pro or a novice this bag is for you. Don’t you want to hear the word cute said by men? Buy the bag and see what happens on the greens.

This bag – and other bags designed by Keri for Adams Golf – are also available in sets that include the bag, matching head covers and clubs! What’s more, is they’re available at different price points depending on the budget. Adams Golf is the market leader for women’s equipment.
-Amber

Available here or at adamsgolf.com.

I am all about packing my kids a healthy lunch (or rather, giving them the tools to pack themselves a healthy lunch), but sometimes the prep work involved as far as fruits and vegetables is a bit daunting. And my kids can only eat baby carrots so many times as a side dish before they’re ready to start throwing them at me.

Thanks to Revolution Foods and their organic fruit Mashups, my kids can have a serving of fruit—and multiple fruits at that—without the washing, peeling, slicing and dicing. I know, fresh is best, but when you’re going on 5 hours of sleep a night, fresh isn’t always an option at 7am.

What are Mashups? Mashups are 100% organic fruit purees without any added sugar. They also don’t contain any trans fats, HFC or artificial ingredients. Mashups come in squeezable packs with a kid-safe, resealable cap, so they’re perfect for lunches and on-the-go snacks. Mashups are available in four flavors: Grape, Berry, Tropical and Strawberry Banana.

Revolution Foods sent us a sampling of the Mashups for the kids to try. My 13- and 11-year-olds weren’t brave enough (or cool enough) to give them a test run, but George and Livi did. Note: One of the flavors was a carrot one, which I don’t see offered on the site yet. Perhaps it will be offered soon, as these are super new! (By the way, iIt was George’s least favorite.)

Here’s what the kids thought of the Mashups. This video is one of my favorites—gotta love the honest of kids!

George actually really loved the Mashups in his oatmeal. For a few days straight he had me make him a bowl of oatmeal and then he doctored it up with the berry and strawberry banana Mashups. You could even add the Mashups to yogurt, smoothies or probably even as a substitute for oil in some recipes. You can buy them online and in select grocery stores. They’ll run you just over $1 a piece, so I’m not sure I’d use them in my kids’ daily lunches, but I would totally consider them a great option for food storage and our emergency food supply. My kids would rather eat these than reconstituted applesauce any day!—Emily

*** Giveaway! Revolution Foods is giving away a gift box of Mashups samples and a Revolution Foods t-shirt! ***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

•Visit RevolutionFoods.com and leave a comment telling us which of their products you think your kids would like the most.
•“Like” Revolution Foods on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•Follow Revolution Foods on Twitter and leave a comment telling is you’re their newest follower.
•Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: June 2, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

A sock company that has a blister-free guarantee is pretty much the most compelling thing to get me to buy a pair of socks.

KENTWOOL Golf Socks created an enhanced cushioning system at strategic micro-stress points along the foot to maximize comfort, reduce the risk of injury and boost on-course performance. The blend of fine merino wool and high-tech fibers protects feet from chafing. All their high-tech experience with textiles (they’ve been around since 1848—it is the nation’s longest-running textile company) it would be an easy guarantee to produce a high performance pair of socks.

Now I was skeptical about its claim because I am one that gets blisters easily. Seems that my bitty size 5 foot is often overtaken by redness and blisters after extensive time in any pair of shoes I wear. So, who knew it was all in the socks? I was spending too much money replacing my shoes where I should have been replacing my socks! I had no idea specialized socks really worked, but, they do.

Don’t let the title KENTWOOL Golf Socks fool you—you don’t need to have a set of irons to wear these. In fact, I tested the low profile skinny when I was running, biking and yes, golfing. Initially I tried them on the greens and was so impressed with its wicking ability. Here in Utah, Spring has turned more like a second winter with cold rain and sleet, so of course I loved the warmth the socks offered me while playing golf, but would they be too warm without the cold air? I decided to take my test to the gym and wear my “golf” socks running. I worked out hard on the treadmill. I sweat everywhere, including my feet, yet my feet were dry at the end of the workout and there was no odor. The moisture management technology did a great job keeping my feet dry, but, they were a bit too warm for my liking. The socks did a great job wicking sweat away, controlling odor and maximizing comfort with cushioning but they are best for outdoor activities where there is a chill in the air.

KENTWOOL’s claim is accurate. Blister-free socks—they are. The days I wear these socks are the days there are no signs of irritation on my heels, toes or arches. My purple low profile skinny socks will be so worn out because I literally wear them every other day. So, my suggestion would be—stock up. I’ve experienced no loosening of the seams with its constant washing, but, stock up because your feet will thank you.-Amber

Ever want to chuck your makeup bag out the window because you just can’t find the right shade for your skin color? Or have you ever wished you could go from day to night makeup with the same compact? I think that’s the main reason Hissyfit was created: to save women like us from royal makeup tantrums!

With beautiful fragrances, gorgeous colors and advanced botanical extracts, our products deliver the ultimate level of protection for super smart women who want to protect, renew and perfect their skin every day. Hissyfit products are proudly Australian made using the finest ingredients, including powerful botanical extracts. ...

Their most ingenious product is the Hissyfit Clockpots by Reggie Wells. These portable, easy-to-use compacts feature “expert-picked” color combos for every skin tone. Available for Face (foundation and highlight plus four contouring powders), Eye (primer plus four eye-shadow trios) and Cheek (sponge applicator plus four color duos), the Clockpots claim to make it easy to create a professional look at home.

Hissyfit sent me the Face, Eye and Cheek Clockpots plus their Saving Face Foundation (SPF of 50) and Saving Face Buffing Powder. I tried the foundation first, but unfortunately it was the wrong color to give it a day-long review. I could tell it had a really nice texture and consistency for an SPF of 50, and had it been in my right shade, I would have totally worn it. It has green tea, pomegranate, jojoba and aloe—ingredients I love!

Next up is the Saving Face Buffing Powder—a hit! I love a good finishing powder that keeps my skin more matte than shiny yet feels lightweight. This one totally did that. It kept my makeup looking good all day long and felt really good on my skin. Perhaps it’s due to all the bontanicals inside (aspen bark extract, green and white tea extracts, jojoba and aloe).

Last are the Clockpots, and here’s where I tell you I can’t really tell you much about them. The shades sent for review weren’t right for me, so I didn’t dare apply them. (I have a hard enough time trying to make my makeup look good!) And for me, the Clockpots were a bit overwhelming. I kept reading the directions so I’d know which shades were for which time of day, and I thought the compact a bit large. i couldn’t imagine packing that for travel OR throwing it in my handbag for makeup touch-up later in the day. Out of the three products sent, this was probably my least favorite, but perhaps someone with a bit more confidence in her makeup skills (and a much larger makeup bag) would do just fine!

Overall, I loved the creaminess and high SPF of the Saving Face Foundation (even if the color was wrong) and the effectiveness of the Saving Face Buffing Powder, but I’m still not convinced on the Hissyfit Clockpots. If any of you have tried them, let me know! I’d love to hear your take!—Emily

Did you know acne is the #1 indications seen by dermatologists? And nearly 75% of Americans report using acne products. Oh, and 50% of women and 25% of men suffer from acne? So basically, if you suffer from the occasional—or not-so-occasional—blemish, you’re not alone.

I’ve tried more than my fair share of products claiming to reduce the occurrence of acne and/or treat blemishes. So far I love the Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser, but as far as post-cleansing, I have yet to find a product that truly seems to work…and I’ve tried quite a few including the knock-off version of ProActiv. (Now all I have are nicely bleached towels.)

No surprise I was totally game to try La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Duo, a dual action acne treatment “clinically proven to treat acne as effectively as the leading prescription” with results in only 3 days and “minimum irritation.” Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Here’s why it’s supposed to be so nifty:

• Key ingredients of 5.5% micronized benzoyl peroxide acne medication (reduces inflammation while minimizing irritation) and 0.4% micro-exfoliation LHA (precise cell-by-cell exfoliation).


• Non-drying, non-comedogenic, oil-free, paraben-free.


• Dermatologist tested on all skin types, even the most sensitive. Test on mult-ethnic skin.

Crazy thing is, this little tube of Effaclar Duo holds a truly “big” and effective acne treatment. And I’m not the only one who can attest to that. I used it on my chin area where I tend to get the tiniest bumps and then on the occasional zit that would hit my cheek once a month. It smoothed and cleared in those three days. I did find twice a day was too much for my skin and it started to dry out a bit, but once a day was perfect.

The other person who loves this little tube is Madison, my 13-year-old daughter. For the past few months she’s been showing the signs of that whole puberty thing with a collection of the tiniest acne on her nose. I had her try the Effaclar Duo and within those allotted 3 days, it had cleared up in a major way. (I would have done before and after pics, but she so wasn’t going for that.) For her, two applications a day also started drying out her skin (we do live in Utah after all), but once a day has been perfect for managing it. And she couldn’t be happier!

Priced at around $35, I am here to tell you it’s totally worth it. TOTALLY. Now the only problem is figuring out whose bathroom currently has the tube of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo cream. Oh, and this go-round, no bleached towels or sheets!—Emily

Though my love of shoes leans heavily on stilettos, I am a fan of any pair that combines comfort, durability and style. If it combines all those things with a charitable cause, even better.

Ahnu offers footwear for men and women who enjoy an active lifestyle—and, of course, some serious style too:

Whether designed for hiking on trails through the Big Sur Mountains or taking a run through Golden Gate Park, we infuse technology that keeps us centered, balanced, and ultimately comfortable for miles on end. And while our passions drive us to create great performance products, our values guide us to be responsible throughout all of our environmental and social encounters.

So if we can inspire a more balanced life that begins with getting outside, then we’re making the connections that influenced us to start this brand.

Back to that charitable cause. Ahnu footwear recently announced their breast cancer prevention initiative: For each pair of women’s Numentum™ performance shoes sold in April and May 2011, the brand will donate $5 to the Breast Cancer Fund. The initiative is taking place in more than 150 doors nationwide, and online at www.onlineshoes.com.

I was lucky enough to test out a pair of Ahnu Montara hiking shoes for Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish.

Once I had the correct size (definitely order a half size up), I found they fit perfectly the moment I put them on…and by perfectly, I mean no break-in time needed (i.e., no blisters). Though I didn’t get to take them hiking in the mountains due to our super long winter and super late spring (I’m talking frigid temps earlier this week), I did wear them as actively as possible at the park and around town. No blisters, no hot spots and super lightweight on the feet. Honestly, I couldn’t believe how light these hiking shoes were—and comfy to boot (pun intended).

Me taking the Montaras for a test drive. Super cute AND super comfy! I even took a quick run to the car and they felt great!

I’m thinking the comfiness is due to that Numentum™ Technology, “a neutral positioning system engineered to encourage the foot’s natural biomechanics.” It sounds all techie but it sure feels good! Though I have the Montara in Coffee Bean, I adore the Ruby Wine, a delicious red. I also love the Rockridge II and Nicasio styles.

Ahnu has already contributed more than $20,000 to the Breast Cancer Fund and expects to donate a total of $30,000 before the end of 2011. How awesome is that?

Check out Ahnu’s entire collection of Numentum™ Technology women’s footwear here. And remember, for every pair purchased, the company will donate $5 to the Breast Cancer Fund.—Emily

P.S. You can find Ahnu on Facebook and Twitter!

I don’t know which is more praiseworthy—the fact that the yoga mat stays in place and doesn’t have a funky stench after its use or that the makers of the yoga mat, Natural Fitness have made it with planet friendly products? Either way, this eco-chic company deserves some praise. Namaste.

The eco-smart yoga mat is made from Polymer Environmental Resin. This material is safer for our health (most mats are made from PVC foam which contain harmful toxic chemicals) and the environment. This material is very durable. Non-stick and lightweight makes practicing poses a breeze. Measuring at 24” by 69” by 6 mm I tried the Burgundy/Mustard mat. It was a crowd pleaser at the gym. Receiving multiple comments from strangers about the cute design on my mat had me notice just how decorative it is and definitely a stand out in the sea of solid purple and blue mats.

The price is right at just $29.95. Makes me feel better about spending money on something that preserves our environment as well.

Now, the yoga mat is great but what I really loved was what I carried my yoga mat in—the reconstructed yoga tote. It’s a one-of-a-kind piece of art draped on your shoulder. It is so eye-catching and completely unique. No two bags are the same because the bags are constructed from old banners and tents. The waterproof material is slick. The tote is nice because you can roll your mat up, stash it and seal the bag up with the velcro clasp. The inner-zip pocket is another unexpected feature that is perfect for keys and a cell phone. Same price as the mat $29.95.

Shop green and while you’re at their website, check out Project C.A.R.E.
I like a committed company that is methodical in their approach to preserve our earth.
I also like a company that keeps yoga essentials at a minimum price. Just under $30 for each item.—Amber

What makes cyclists endure a sore backside on a century ride or trek up a mountain only to risk life and limb on the ride back down? Is it the feel of the wind around helmet-adorned hair or a view that beats the passenger seat of a car? Whatever it is, Cyclelogical seems to “get” cyclists. Their collection of men’s and women’s bicycle gear is some of the most fun I’ve seen, and if you love to hop on a bike and ride, you’ll love Cyclelogical.

First, a bit about Cyclelogical:

Cyclelogical exists to bring the best travel and bike commuter gear to the market. Our gear will get you to and from your destination, be it the office or the grocery store, with all the right equipment and just the right amount of options, no more….no less. Cyclelogical will get you there safely and totally in style! Our gear is made with the highest quality and most durable materials. We know, because we have researched them and tried them out.

That whole thing about style is so true! Cyclelogical sent me the women’s Bike Me and Cycling Is Off the Chain tees to test for our Daily Dish readers.

Both tees had a bit of a longer length and more narrow fit, which I liked, but they did seem to run a bit small. The Bike Me tee had the softest fabric but was a titch shorter in length. The Cycling Is Off the Chain tee had a really nice length but a little less stretch. Both are washable in cold water BUT the directions say “lay flat to dry.” Guess who didn’t read that part and assumed drying them on low would work? That would be me. Though they didn’t seem to shrink too much, they did shrink just enough to make me wish I’d gone with a large rather than medium. So be sure and order one size up in those tees, especially if you’re going to forget to dry them correctly!

Madison absolutely LOVED the Bike Me tee and I loved the Off the Chain one. It makes me feel kinda cool to sport a fun, eye-catching tee that lets people know I love cycling. I’m actually considering buying the Chain Flower Hoody with its super cute design on the back!

Their men’s collection is awesome as well. My faves are Bike Power Retro and City Fixie tees. Cyclelogical also has some fun gear like their Minima and Townie Rust packs. And if you find you’re riding early in the morning or later at night, you’ll want to invest in a pack of reflective Chopspokes. No, they won’t make a cool noise like those plastic spoke beads, but they will keep you a heck of a lot safer.

Along with cool tees, Cyclelogical also has a super cool mission “to help the environment by keeping gasoline consumption down, sustaining a healthy mind and body, and keeping the world we live in safe for bicycle commuting everywhere.” I like a company that likes the environment and likes keeping me safe.

If you have a cycling family member or friend and want to give them something other than a month’s supply of energy gel or a new insulated water bottle, give them a Cyclelogical tee. They will love it and you will love being her new favorite!—Emily

*** Giveaway! Cyclelogical is giving away one tee, winner’s choice! ***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

•  Visit CyclelogicalGear.com and leave a comment telling us which tee you’d choose.
•  “Like” Cyclelogical on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•  Follow Cyclelogical on Twitter and leave a comment telling is you’re their newest follower.
•  Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: May 20, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

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