If I were a pet person I’d own a dog. We actually tried the puppy thing once but it only lasted about three months. (The first trimester of a pregnancy trumps puppy ownership. Sorry, Jack.) Though we don’t have any four-footed animals pattering around our home, I’m a sucker for those “free puppy” signs and have to steer clear or quickly get sucked in. Puppies are just so dang cute…just like the clothing line from Lucky Puppy.

Lucky Puppy is an “innovative lifestyle brand with a focus on children’s fashion” designed for dog lovers and enthusiasts. But the company isn’t just about cute clothing:

While Lucky Puppy is cute and adorable, the real heart of the brand is what makes it irresistible. Created with the idea of giving back, each online purchase of Lucky Puppy helps to rescue a homeless dog. Lucky Puppy is dedicated to matching strays with loving families and they succeed by partnering with various animal foundations on a local and national level.

Currently Lucky Puppy is donating 15% of the company’s online sales to Paws and Learn Humane Education Center. Super cute clothing that also supports a cause? Pretty “dog” gone terrific!

Lucky Puppy sent George their blue burnout tee with crest design and Livi their aqua heart paw tank dress. As you know I love to snap photos of the kids as they “review” products for the Daily Dish, but since we don’t live in Phoenix, it was a little chilly for Livi to try out the tank dress. And due to a laundry situation here at home (i.e., my avoidance of said laundry), I didn’t have a layering tee for George to throw on with his Lucky Puppy tee.

I will say, the tank is super cute and will be great for summer, especially as a fun swimsuit cover-up to and from the pool. And the burnout tee is seriously so dang cute! Even though it’s blue I’m looking forward to handing it down to Livi after George is done sporting it around town.

Lucky Puppy also offers hoodies, hats, onesies and a line for puppy-lovin’ adults. They even have a “Darling Doggie Contest” happening right now. Submit your photo of your super cute puppy or vote on your favorite canine.

Lucky Puppy clothing is about as hard to resist as those heart-stopping puppy dog eyes! –Emily

* Promotion! Lucky Puppy is offering Daily Dish readers 10% off their purchase! Simply enter code bcafe10 when checking out. Offer expires March 20, 2010; don’t wait! *

I don’t know about you but the whole multiple layers thing gets old. I still throw on a cami when a shirt’s length is too short, but usually when I wear a cap-sleeve tee under something it’s for the neckline and sleeves, not the midsection or length. And under some dresses a full-length cap-sleeve or cami gets all bunchy and bulky around my waist after only a short time. That’s where Halftees come in: cap-sleeve and long-sleeve layering tees that end at the bodice. They are basically “half the shirt” but with “all the style.”

Halftees sent me their cap-sleeve tee in black to review for our readers. Unfortunately the size I chose was a bit too small to wear comfortably so I passed it to my oldest daughter. She wore it under a cute v-neck babydoll style shirt the very next day. It looked great and she didn’t have to worry about the tee riding up in back. (That’s one thing that drives me crazy about multiple layers—the constant pulling down in back.)

For those of you who are expecting, Halftees are a wonderful option for layering. Clothing can get bulky enough when you’re pregnant, and adding a second layer bumps up your already warmer body temperature. With a design made to end just below the bodice, Halftees are the perfect option for expecting moms.

I did notice the band around the bottom of the tee is a bit wide, which means it’s more likely to be visible when layered under tighter fitting clothing. When my daughter wore it under her babydoll tee, I didn’t notice it but it was also a thicker fabric and the band of the babydoll tee coincided with the band of the Halftee. I will have to wait and see how it looks under a simple, thinner t-shirt. I do love that Halftees offers a long-sleeve option, which is great way to transition your tees from summer into fall.

You can buy Halftees online or visit their kiosk outside Victoria’s Secret in University Mall (Orem, UT).

*** Giveaway!!! Halftees is giving away one of their layering tees, 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 Hafltees.com and leave a comment telling us which style/color you’d choose.
•   Become a fan of Halftees on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
•   Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
•   Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL to your blog post.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: March 9, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Tees are the basics every gal needs.

Plain tees are nice but it’s always fun to spice up an outfit with a vibrant color or a cute content tee. Don’t get me wrong though… I’m not about to advertise myself with a shirt that yells out a brand on the chest or silly and ridiculous statements across the front.

That is why I like retroink tees. Their classy vintage content combines any look into a stylish statement. My fitted elephant tee is not only a hit in the classroom full of 1st graders but adults in the college classroom find my shirt very “cool!”

The cotton isn’t anything amazingly soft, but, with enough washes the shirt has become more worn in and more comfortable and seems to fit me better.

The tees are an affordable way to supplement your wardrobe with just a few pieces that could add variety and style to your closet.

Tees are available at retroink.com
-amber

Even at the age of thirty-something I find myself saying things like, “When I grow up I’ll travel all over the world,” or, “When I grow up I will drive something other than a ‘95 Odyssey.” I obviously have a lot of growing up to do if those are the grown-up things about which I’m most concerned. Don’t get me wrong–my parents taught me what’s important in life but somehow that gets lost somewhere in my grownup life. What I need is a little reminder, and thanks to When I Grow Up, I get one every time George wears his new Value Statement tee.

When I Grow Up offers a line of tees reminiscent of our childhood years when we found wonder in simple things like nature, make believe and laughter. With an emphasis on what’s most important no matter what stage of life you’re in, When I Grow Up’s Value Statement tees for children reinforce four strong core values using very simple phrases:

• “i will…plant a tree” (Earth)
• “i will…walk in someone else’s shoes” (Compassion)
• “i will…eat my vegetables” (Health)
• “i will…give” (Charity)

Who knew something so simple could be so powerful? The inspiration for the tees came from Randy Pausch’s Journeys lecture, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” Kat Henderson, the mom behind When I Grow Up:

In his lecture he talks about his childhood dreams, enabling the dreams of others and how we can do the same. Immediately, I thought how easy it is to go through everyday life without defining what matters most to us. Then, I thought of my son and my responsibility to be sure he grows up with strong core values.

It’s not surprising When I Grow Up is an environmentally friendly company. The clothing is certified 100% organic cotton and uses water-based inks, while all of the company’s paper products and shipping supplies use recyclable and recycled materials.

Though George enjoys wearing his Earth tee (I wanted to snap a photo but totally spaced it), I am probably the bigger fan. I love that it causes me to stop for a moment and think about the environment. I find myself more conscious about my recycling efforts that day and wondering if when I finally grow up I will be nicer to our earth than I am now. For George it’s all about literally planting a tree; for me it’s a reminder that I can make a difference…and should make a difference. Like it says on When I Grow Up’s site: “Wear it. Teach it. Live it.” George is going to wear it, I am going to teach it and we will both live it! –Emily

* Promotion!!! When I Grow Up is offering Daily Dish readers free shipping on their order. To receive the free shipping discount, email design name and size to info{at}whenigrowupiwill.com.

Not sure what or who Primo is? Let me fill you in: Primo is a kid with “an extraordinary spirit, a huge heart, and a zeal for life. … He’s wild, he’s fun, he’s spontaneous, he’s daring and he’s a real go-getter. … He may struggle, battle self-doubt, and nay sayers but he will persevere and defeat. If he believes it, he will achieve it.” So I ask you again, have you found your inner Primo?

If you answered yes then count yourself among the few. For most of us we are constantly looking for that inner Primo, and even when we find it’s a daily struggle to hold on to her. Our lives are full of nay-sayers and self-doubt, so what’s a girl or guy or kid to do? How about sporting a positive message so you and others can remember how to believe in themselves.

Primo Activewear is all about spreading the positive message of hard work, perseverance and self-confidence through their line of tees for men, women and children. From their “Persevere-Believe-Win” tee to their “Find Your Primo” tee, the company celebrates trying your hardest, doing your best and most importantly, believe in yourself.

Primo Activewear sent George and I coordinating “Persevere-Believe-Win” tees, mine in pink (a very happy, confidence-boosting color) and George’s in black (a very cool, sophisticated toddler color). Though George will need to grow into his tee (just in time for kindergarten when a kid can use a good confidence boost!), I have worn mine often and for two reasons: one, it’s extremely soft and extremely comfy; two, somehow the “believe” part of the tee works its magical powers and I find myself a bit more positive about life…even when it comes to moving from one home to the other. I wore that tee a few times during our move and week of furious unpacking and I tell you what, I persevered, worked hard and definitely found my inner Primo. The house was pretty much unpacked and we were settled in within about two weeks!

These days we could all use a little inspiration and Primo Activewear is one way to be inspired while inspiring others. Use them for team shirts, a winner’s tee (”First 1 Up Wins” is a perfect one for that!) or as the perfect tee for helping your little guy or gal find his or her inner Primo. At the age of three George finds his more often than not, but who knows that 4 and 5 will bring. I’m glad we have a Primo tee just in case he needs a little confidence! –Emily

*** Giveaway!!! Primo Activewear is giving away one t-shirt, 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:

• Visit PrimoActivewear.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite product.
• Become a fan of Primo Activewear on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you’re their newest fan.
• Follow Primo Activewear (@Primolady) 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.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL to your blog post.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: September 24, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Promotion! Primo Activewear is offering Daily Dish readers 20% off their order! Simply enter code BOUTIQUE17 when checking out. Now go and find your inner Primo!

* Congratulations to Dee, the winner of the Primo Activewear 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!

…or was so good for the environment! Rebel Green is a company all about eco-conscious fashion that is “chic, edgy, rebellious and eco-friendly” and their products are not only made in the USA but also “specifically designed to minimize waste and motivate a fundamental shift in thinking about our impact on the planet we share.” I love that last part—there’s a power behind the words “motivate a fundamental shift in thinking” and if any company can do it, and fashionably to boot, it’s Rebel Green.

Rebel Green’s product line includes apparel for men, women and children, reusable shopping and produce bags, reusable lunch bags, zipper totes and even a fruit and veggie wash. They offer a variety of designs that make becoming a “green” rebel a heck of a lot of fun! The company sent us a sampling of their tees and though the ones for George and Livi were a bit too big for them to wear, my girls and I have totally loved ours! I feel super cool going for runs while sporting my Peace Girl tank and Lauren’s Bubble Girl short-sleeve tee is now her favorite shirt. Even at her age I have to remind her to wash it once in a while—she wears it as often as she can!

For some of you school has already started and your school shopping is done, but is it ever really done? Did you check off “eco-friendly lunch bag” off the list? Waste-free lunch kits are the newest, greenest trend for school. It’s all about learning your letters and everyone should know about the three “R’s” (reduce, reuse, recycle). Rebel Green has taken the boring organic cotton lunch bag and made it super cool with designs that appeal to both kids and adults.

Did you know the average school age child generates more than 70 pounds of trash a year when he packs a disposable lunch? Each Rebel Green reusable lunch bag comes with a reusable, organic cotton napkin with a coordinating design that can be tucked into the bag’s outer pocket and the bag rolls up easily to fit in your child’s backpack when he’s done with lunch. And get this: all the designs are numbered so if you have a child who’s as into collecting as my daughter, you’ve just taken the cool factor up a notch! Throw in a couple Rebel Green organic cotton, small produce bags and you now have sustainable sandwich and snack bags.

Style has power and our goal is to get people to become fashionably eco-conscious. … Let’s start with the simple reusable shopping bag. We are not convinced the whole world wants cutsie bags with polka dots, hempy looking sacks with preachy green slogans, or worse, the dreaded polypropylene bag shouting ‘Buy Local’ though the inner tag says it’s made across the ocean. We wouldn’t carry any of those and we think we’re not alone. ~Ali Ruvin and Melina Marcus, Co-creators of Rebel Green

No, Rebel Green, you’re not alone. I believe there’s an eco-conscious rebel inside each of us and now we have a perfectly edgy, hip, cool way to let our greener side show. Being a rebel truly never looked so good! –Emily

** Giveaway! Rebel Green is giving away one lunch tote and 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:

• Visit RebelGreen.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite product.
• Join the I Love Rebel Green group on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL to your blog post.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: August 28, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Kristen C., the winner of the Rebel Green 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!

Before all you non-golfers out there see the headline and pass up this review because you don’t golf-STOP! This attire is not just for those that swing the irons.

Shi-golf is INSPIRED by golf to create a preppy apparel for all, but, the quality and classy threads can be worn on or off the greens.

Urban leisure at its best really. The sweaters are soft and form perfectly to your body. Sometimes with sweaters they are too bulky with wide lines, but, this collection has shapely cuts that have a great fit. They aren’t snug, yet, they shape you. Perhaps it is the tailored lines and amazing fabric that make the sweaters fit so well.
I like the vest sweater the best. It goes perfectly with t-shirts or button down shirts. The color is a beautiful muted color that can go with just about anything. It is a bit longer which makes it nice for comfort and style. It is nice knowing I won’t have to pull down my shirt to cover that 1 inch gap I always seem to have between shirt and pants. It gives me great comfort knowing I won’t have to tug it down all day. This vest sweater is great for casual or dress up– depending on what you wear underneath the vest.

The other sweater I tried was the 3/4 sleeve length black and white sweater with white piping down the side. This sweater can take you into all seasons with its basic black & white color and comfortable fabric. The dropped scoop neckline and 3/4 sleeve make it a very universal sweater. You can wear it alone during the warmer months, and then when the colder months hit just layer it up!

Both sweaters were easy to wash and kept their tailored lines wash after wash. Sometimes things stretch and don’t fit quite the same after you wash it, but, not here. Looks like the sweater was tailored just for my body. I was curious about the fit on someone else, so I had my sister try it on and though our bodies are different-it looked great on her too…looked like she had her own tailored made sweater as well. You too can have your own tailored fit sweater, just go to Shi-golf.com.

Now I think I’ll be taking up golf seriously, because now I look the part…and isn’t looking great on the greens half the fun?!-Amber