reviews

a few fall fashion finds

I'm completely in love with this cropped sweater swing coat at Old Navy. And they are the item of the week this week for only $20! Don't get black. I know its hard, girls. We'll do this together. Say it with me: "I will stop buying everything in black." Don't wimp out on me and get charcoal grey. Go with this season's hot color, plum:

Can you just picture this with skinny jeans and a scarf? Or a pencil skirt and boots?

And wouldn't a pair of animal print ballet flats add a little zing to your typical jeans and a black sweater? And you can get these at Target for only $13. Not too shabby! But I won't dwell on shoes. I could go on all day!

 I recently discovered Recession Denim: premium denim that retails for under $100. (If you know about premium denim, you know how amazing that is!!) I've been on my 'perfect jeans' quest this fall and have been positively wincing at the prices of some premium denim lines. (Seriously, for $200 a pair, they'd better come with an iPod in the pocket.) I'm totally and completely in love with Recession's skinny jeans in Ink Blue. They are cropping up in my dreams, people. But these Marlboro jeans caught my eye as well:

Aren't they gorgeous? They have that perfect worn-in look - just like all the celebrities wear. I had a pair of distressed capris like this and I wore them practically every single day all summer.  An absolute wardrobe staple! Wouldn't those look amazing on me? I know, right?
Recession Denim hits Bloomingdales this week, so if you're at the mall, go check them out!

I may be a little bit in love with this dress from White House Black Market. Isn't it a great twist on the little black dress? (Yes, I realize I told you not to buy grey 8 seconds ago. Go with it.) Bonus - it was featured in the current issue of People's Style Watch!

And, finally, this tote bag is awesome because:
1. Its designed by Marimekko. (ultra hip!)
2. Its only $10.
3. $6.24 of each sale goes directly to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.
Just buy one. You can use it for yourself or give it as a gift to someone! Like me!

save the children: make a pledge

Today it was announced that one of my fav celebrity mamas, Jennifer Garner, is teaming up with Frigidaire to help support Save The Children.

Frigidaire is hoping you’ll give an hour towards kids in need before we reset the clocks on November 1st).  Check out this post at Mom Central, then go visit Frigidaire.com to pledge one hour of your time towards children in need, and be entered for a chance to win a brand new professional double oven. *drool*

Awesome, right? Everyone wins with this one! Click over and make a pledge!!!

disney on ice: 100 years of magic! *giveaway*

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Congratulations to comment #8 - Amy from Our Family in Phoenixville. See you there!!***

Join the celebration as 65 of Disney’s unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!

I have vivid memories of going to see Disney on Ice as a child. Now I cannot wait to take my own kids and watch them be as awed and excited as I was. They are going to DIE when they see all the Disney Princesses! And The Lion King, a current favorite in our house. Not to mention characters from Disney Pixar's Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Toy Story films and, of course, no Disney experience would be complete without classic characters like Mickey and Minnie!

Thanks to Mom Central and the Feld Family Activator Program my family will be there opening night for Disney on Ice. To say that my girls are super-dooper-crazy-excited would be the understatement of the year! They loved - LOVED - the circus this spring and now this! (I apologize in advance if you are sitting in front of us... you may no longer be able to hear because of their high-pitched little girl squeals at seeing their beloved Disney characters in real life!!)

If you have little people in your life, you don't want to miss this show! And Mom Central is offering a super discount: use the coupon code MOM at www.ComcastTix.com in the promotional box — for four tickets for $44 for Monday through Friday matinee shows, and $4 off Friday night and weekend shows.

Mom Central  is giving Girlymama readers a chance to win 4 tickets for your family to attend opening night in Philadelphia on October 14th at 7 PM! Here's how to enter:

1. Contest ends Friday, October 2.
2. Entry #1: Leave a comment just saying you want to win.
3. Entry #2: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me what Disney character your family will be most excited to see in the show.
4. Entry #3:  Leave another comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting about it on your blog, Tweeting about it, emailing  friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).
5. Winners will be selected by Random.org, announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions.

Good luck!!!

free museum day!

On Saturday, September 26th, Smithsonian magazine will providing free admission to select museums. Go here and find out what museums are participating near you.

nutrition iQ: eating smarter just got easier

This afternoon, I was able to visit my local Acme Market to get an exclusive preview of nutrition iQ , an exclusive program designed to make it easier for shoppers to make healthy choices while they shop - without having to travel to specialty stores or spend an excessive amount of money on groceries.

Healthy items throughout the store – of all types and price points – are tagged to call out health benefits ranging from high in fiber to low in sodium, so shoppers can select the nutrition iQ items that best fit their family’s needs. You've probably heard of other smart-choice-type programs before, but this one is different. Here's what impressed me the most:

• It was developed this program in collaboration with an independent panel of dietitians from Joslin Clinic, which is affiliated with Harvard Medical School.
•  Each product has gone through a rigorous selection process, but there are no sponsors or fees to be a part of this program. The products featured are truly the best choices - not the largest companies or those who can afford to buy the stamp of approval. Their goal is to be a trustworthy resource for shoppers - not advertising their sponsors! (See qualifying criteria here.)
• Phase two of the nutrition iQ program will focus on those of us who try to "shop the perimeter" of the grocery store and they adding the nutrition iQ tags to produce, meat and dairy! These healthiest foods are usually ignored by programs like this, as they focus on processed foods that you may not even use!
• Some has recognized that we want to make healthy choices for our families, but reading labels takes forever. Like most busy moms, I usually have at least two of my kids in the store with me. So my goal is to grab what I need fast! This program will make it easier and quicker to narrow down my options and make the healthy choice for my family!

We also got to chat with nutritionist Jenny Shea and got terrific tips on how to use nutrition iQ items to create healthy meals on a budget.  All of us were discussing our woes, trying to make healthy meals that our families actually want to eat :-) Colin at least was goggling up the yummy lunch they provided, so there's a good review right there!

It was a great event with some great people! Thanks to Acme for making it a bit easier to fit healthy foods into our super busy and hectic lives!

harry connick jr: your songs

I recently got to preview Harry Connick Jr's new cd, Your Songs. I adore Harry Connick Jr (and not just because of how adorable he was on Will & Grace). I love his classic sound of jazz with a modern twist. And his voice... sigh.

Anyway, his newest album comes out Tuesday, September 22 and it has Harry singing some classic songs you already love with a full jazz band and string orchestra. Songs like Elvis Presley's "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" and Frank Sinatra's "All The Way," Elton John's "Your Song" and Charlie Chaplin's "Smile."

Like most albums, it had some songs I liked better than others. Personally, my very favorites were "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You" and "Some Enchanted Evening." But all the songs are absolute classics - what's not to love?  Harry Connick Jr singing "The Way You Look Tonight??" Can you just hear it? Amazing.

This cd is perfect to put on as background music during a dinner party or a date night with your spouse.  The entire album was immediately uploaded on to my iPod and I added most of the songs to my "mellow," "dinner party" and "background" playlists. (Yes. My name is Melissa and I'm addicted to making playlists.) My mom walked in and said, "Wow - what is this?" Then I  passed it on to my sister, who is planning her wedding, with a note that said, "PERFECT for reception!!!!!" And it would be - listening to this romantic, sweet music made me want to slow dance!

Whether you're a long time fan of Harry's or new to jazz, go give it a listen. You will not be disappointed!

all join in! *giveaway!*

I recently got to preview a new album for kids called All Join In by Kelly Loggins. My kids totally loved it!! Its been in my cd player for two weeks and I'm not sick of it yet. (Which is pretty amazing for a kid's album, am I right, moms?) It has some terrific songs on it - and they are giving Girlymama readers a chance to download some songs from his new album for FREE!

This link below will direct you to a site that has a music player with 4 songs from the album on it to preview. 

 http://wdig.vo.llnwd.net/d1/walt_disney_records/Kenny_Loggins/Microsite%202/

After listening,  just answer a couple quick questions about your thoughts on the music and then an email gets sent to you with a link to download 4 FREE digital songs (MP3s) from "All Join In".

color match: shapewear that's truly invisible

I was just contacted about a new line of shapewear (a mom's secret weapon to not looking like a mom!) called Color Match. I don't know about you all, but the "nude" intimates are never even close to my skintone. So when you wear them with white tops, you can still see them! Frustrating!

Enter Color Match: the first line to be released from new shapewear brand Sliminizer. Its available in 10 different skin tone colors ranging from “Concha Pink” to “Choco Latte”  and aims to represent the diversity of true flesh tones found in our society. “There is so much diversity in our country, it is what makes us all unique and beautiful, but there has been a void in the shapewear market when it comes to representing its consumers, so I developed Sliminizer in an array of colors, as well as sizes, and at affordable prices,” said Katie Liegey, founder of Sliminizer. I got to try out the bralette.

What I liked:
I loved it. It was super comfortable - comfy enough even to sleep in. It was the very first bra that I could wear under my sheerest white t-shirt that was truly invisible. Not only did the color match my skintone perfectly, but it was completely seemless as well.
What I didn't like:
Not much. I would love if they would make a version with some padding to, well,  prevent cold weather immodesty, if you know what I mean.  But it wouldn't stop me from wearing this bra all the time! Did I mention how comfy it was?

Prices range from $8 to $28 and comes in sizes S to 3XL. Go check them out!

vera bradley sale!!

Did you hear me? VERA BRADLEY SALE!!!!!!!

Why are you still reading this? GO!!

chambord black raspberry liqueur: a little of fashion week at home!

I was recently contacted by the nice people at Chambord about trying out their black raspberry liqueur. I had never heard of it before, but when I was in Las Vegas last month I had a wildberry cosmo one night that was divine and I was so excited to try and replicate it at home with Chambord® Black Raspberry Liqueur.

Chambord - the official liqueur of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week - is crafted by the world's finest raspberries and blackberries, Madagascar vanilla, Moroccan citrus peel, honey and cognac to create a delicious, all-natural Raspberry Liqueur.

Check out these yummy recipes:

Chambord® French Martini
1 1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz Chambord
3 oz pineapple juice
Shake ingredients with ice
And strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.
 
Black Raspberry Margarita
1 1/2 oz Jack Daniels
1 oz Chambord
1 oz cranberry juice
2 oz sweet and sour mix
splash of sprite
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a tall glass.
 
Chambord® Cosmo
1 oz vodka
1/2 oz Chambord
1/2 oz orange liqueur
1 1/4 oz cranberry juice
1/4 oz fresh lime juice
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a tall glass.

I highly recommend the Chambord Cosmo - amazing. It's a cosmo with the volume turned way up. Super yummy. This is a great product to add to your bar that will add a bunch of new drinks to your repertoire and you'll be able to impress your friends with your fabulous gourmet bartending skills! If you're looking to try something new, check it out!