Check out the GORGEOUS Eliane et Lena Collection at bean sprout! {Review & Giveaway ~ Open to US & Canada}

Several months back, I wrote a review for a lovely online children's boutique called bean sprout. This online store is based in Toronto, Canada and they have some really gorgeous clothes and accessories for children. For the past review, I received a beautiful dress for my daughter and she wore it to my brother's wedding in June. EVERYONE complimented me on the dress and asked where I got it. I love it when my review products cause people to inquire as to their origin...it gives me the fantastic opportunity to let them know about the company and how I write reviews for companies. Well, as you can probably imagine, I was thrilled when Trish from bean sprout contacted me about another review of her lovely store.

To give you a bit more background, here is a bit more about Trish Haddad and her store, bean sprout...

I opened bean sprout as a bricks and mortar store in Toronto in 1995. I am proud to say that it was voted the best children's clothing shop in Toronto, was listed as one of Toronto's Top 200 stores by Toronto Life Magazine and appeared on The Mom Show. 

After 16 successful years I have transformed bean sprout into an on-line store to conveniently provide exciting brands, exemplary customer service, excellent quality and unique fashion for children ages newborn to 12 years. I am passionate about bright, colourful clothing and accessories for children and I personally select each item based on its style, quality, wear-ability and price. You can shop here with confidence at an on-line store you can trust.

One of the things that I LOVE about bean sprout is the fact that they have collections that include matching accessories. Sometimes you find a dress or outfit that you love and need a matching headband, sweater or other accessory and you just have a terrible time finding those things. Well, bean sprout carries everything you need to make an outfit just pop with color and I really do love that.

So, for this review I was asked to choose something from the Eliane et Lena Collection and this collection is SO bright and beautiful...perfect for summer! :) I chose to receive the Eliane et Lena Valeriana Dress. Trish also sent along the matching Eliane et Lena Chichita Headband. This particular dress and headband features spaghetti straps and bold, bright colors. 

My daughter loves dresses and new clothes so this was a nice surprise for her. Today, I had her model this dress and it looks perfect on her. :) Isn't she pretty? Her hair is a bit crazy in this picture...she is a typical 4 1/2 year old. :) The t-shirt is my idea...she typically wears shirts under dresses with spaghetti straps just so she looks a bit more modest. Now let's take a look at some of the features...

This maxi-length dress features a very full skirt that has a large ruffle around the bottom. It is hard to see in the picture but in person, it looks amazing! It is a wide ruffle and adds just a little bit of elegance. 

My daughter also loves the flower that is at the top of the dress. Again, it just adds a little bit of glamour to an already-pretty dress. She didn't notice it right away but when I pointed it out, she was tickled. :)

The straps are adjustable with sliders and this will keep the straps from slipping down over the shoulders. I got a dress in size 8 so it was a tad big. Once I adjusted the straps, the dress fit wonderfully. You can also see that there are three buttons in the back and this dress also comes with an extra button if you ever needed it. I love the look of the back of this dress...it is so pretty!

The head band really adds a nice finish the the look of this dress. It is scrunched and wide, giving it nice coverage over the head. It isn't super tight so it didn't bother Hannah when it was on her head. She can be picky about tight things on her head and this worked great for her. 

Of course, as with ANY dress, we had to make sure it was a good "spinny" dress. Hannah was VERY pleased with the performance of this dress and as you can see, she did a good job twirling in it. :) Right now, the Eliane et Lena Valeriana Dress is on sale for just $35.99 (normally it is $89.99) and you can accessorize with jackets, head bands of various colors and other things.

So, I am totally in love with the Eliane et Lena Collection at bean sprout. It is colorful, beautiful and so summery. Everything in the collection looks great and if you have a little girl, I would seriously recommend checking it out. 

Trish has offered to give a winner $100 off their order from bean sprout (your order plus shipping will equal $100)!  This is a fantastic giveaway...here are your entry options...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive free bean sprout products for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the bean sprout website and email. Prize is being provided by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

FOR LADIES ONLY...Maidenform $10 Bra Sale

I just wanted to throw this deal out there in case anyone was interested. I found out about this $10 bra sale through I Am That Lady's website. She is all about couponing, deals and money saving. Here is the info...

Maidenform is having another great deal for bras!! It is their $10.00 Bra Sale! This sale is on through 7/10!

When you use the code RETAILMENOT15, you will be able to take a 15% discount, taking each bra down to only $8.50! Oh yes, and when you use the code SLKDEALFS13, your order will ship for FREE!

The regular price on these bras range from $17.50 – $38.00!

I just ordered two and my order came to, well, check it out...

Whew! I am so glad to have found out about this deal as I have been needing some new bras. Check out this amazing sale today and don't spend any more than you have to on these!

A Stitch From Thyme Etsy Shop Review & Giveaway

So we are leaving the wintry weather behind and are beginning to FINALLY enjoy some warmer temperatures around here. My children were able to play outside today and it was so wonderful for them to finally be able to be outdoors after being cooped up all winter. In case you haven't noticed though, some days can still have a chill to them and so I still have a scarf on my coat in case of an extra chilly day that still may be hanging around.

Scarves are not just used for keeping the chill away anymore...they have become a necessary fashion accessory for every woman's closet and can be used for many different things. Today, I am going to introduce you to a very dear friend's Etsy Shop that she has just opened and would love for you to visit! A Stitch From Thyme is a shop that carries hand made scarves, crocheted ponchos, little girl's dresses and other small items. Each product that they carry is handmade with care and the quality is wonderful! Here is a bit more about this lovely shop...

There are three of us here in our little shop - Mother and two daughters... 

We all love to keep our hands busy - sewing, crocheting, etc. Since we were young, Momma taught us the crafts that we now occupy our spare time with - sewing, crocheting, and other various handcrafts. Hence the name of our shop ~ A Stitch from Thyme. (We also love homemade products such as soap, salve, lotions and such...)

We're more than willing to take custom orders; just let us know what you're looking for, and we'll see what we can do for you!

I have known Lauren and her family for several years now and have seen first hand their sewing capabilities. I was really excited when I learned that they had an Etsy shop and was even more excited when I saw that they made frilly scarves!!

So, for this review I was given a GORGEOUS frilly scarf! I first saw one of these around Christmas time when I was shopping. A clerk at store was wearing one and I immediately fell in love with the delicate, lacy and elegant style of the scarf. At that moment I told myself that I would get a frilly scarf one day.

This particular frilly scarf is made out of a yarn called Sashay and the color choice is called "Twist". I am a HUGE fan of blues, greens and turquoise and so this scarf is amazing in it's color combination.

What really amazes me is the intricacy of the design. This is not your ordinary yarn...this is quite a fancy yarn and it truly baffles my mind as to how it is made. I gave my mom one of these frilly scarves for her birthday and she absolutely loved it. She said it was very warm and was so pretty to wear. Lauren makes these scarves so they are 60 - 70 inches long when they are finished and that is a perfect length. Each scarf retails for $20 and there is a nice selection of colors from which to choose.

So, in my opinion...A Stitch From Thyme is a wonderful shop! I love the scarf I received for this review and think that the colors in it are just gorgeous. The fact that they sell modest girl's dresses is also nice as I am always looking for cute dresses for my daughter. I would definitely recommend this Etsy Shop to anyone who is into hand made accessories or is just looking for something pretty to dress up an outfit.

I am going to giveaway this beautiful Frilly Scarf to one of my readers! This giveaway is open to US residents only as I am shipping it out. Here are your entry options...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a Frilly Scarf from A Stitch From Thyme for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from A Stitch From Thyme's website and email. Prize is being mailed by myself. This blog is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen prizes and in this case, I am not responsible for replacing prizes under any circumstances.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Beautiful, Unique Clothing at bean sprout! Review & Giveaway {US & Canada}

 

I don't know if I told you all this or not but my brother is getting married in June! He has been friends with his fiancee' for YEARS (we're talking since they were toddlers) and they have always been good friends. Well, they finally decided that they really wanted to be forever friends and are getting married...which is so thrilling for my family and I. We are pretty excited. So, I have begun to look for an outfit for me to wear to the wedding. It will be an outdoor wedding so I want something that will be cooler and also pretty at the same time. Not only do I have to find an outfit for me, but I also need nice outfits for my children. The boys I am not too worried about because all they really need is a nice dress shirt, pants and a tie. My daughter on the other hand is a tad bit harder to find clothing for because...well...she's a girl. Girls need frills, lace, fancy and spin-worthy dresses. :) Especially my girl.

So, in my search for a dress for Hannah I came across a WONDERFUL company that is based in Toronto, Canada called bean sprout. They are a children's online clothing shop that carries gorgeous clothes for children ages newborn to 12 years and they also carry formal/special occasion clothing! After perusing their website, I fell in love with the styles and brands. bean sprout was founded by Trish Haddad in 1995 and here is more of her story...

I opened bean sprout as a bricks and mortar store in Toronto in 1995. I am proud to say that it was voted the best children's clothing shop in Toronto, was listed as one of Toronto's Top 200 stores by Toronto Life Magazine and appeared on The Mom Show. 

After 16 successful years I have transformed bean sprout into an on-line store to conveniently provide exciting brands, exemplary customer service, excellent quality and unique fashion for children ages newborn to 12 years. I am passionate about bright, colourful clothing and accessories for children and I personally select each item based on its style, quality, wear-ability and price. You can shop here with confidence at an on-line store you can trust.

There was one dress in particular that I was immediately drawn to and LOVED...so, when I contacted Trish about doing a review for her, I was ecstatic that she was interested in working with me!

So, for this review I was sent the Jolene Dress (teal color) in size 8. Hannah is wearing a size 6-7 right now and so I figured that if I got the dress in a size bigger than she needs, it would fit her perfectly for the wedding. Ok, so this dress is breathtaking to say the least. The material is 100% Polyester (hand washable) and looks iridescent in the light.

The color itself is teal and it is very shiny and glamorous looking. There are also stitched medallions of fabric sewn all over the skirt of this dress and that adds such a wonderful touch of elegance...I love it!

Around the waist, there is an over-sized waist band that features a lovely, removable flower. The waist band wraps around to the back of the dress, where it has long, elegant ribbons to tie into a big bow.

Another really beautiful feature on this dress is the sleeves. They are cap sleeves and are very light and puffy...truly princess quality sleeves! They aren't huge though and don't have a band around the arm...they are just poofed into the inside of the sleeve. 

So, when I showed Hannah this dress for the first time she was SO excited. She had to try it on right then and there. :) Doesn't she look beautiful? This dress is a size 8 and already it fits her wonderfully. It barely touches the floor so I think that by the time June arrives it will be the perfect length. 

As you can see, I have one happy little girl on my hands. And yes, this dress passed the "spinny dress" test. Every dress that Hannah tries on, she spins around in it. If the skirt billows out, it passes the test. This was definitely a good dress for spinning around in. :) It was hard to get her to give it up and hang it so it wouldn't get dirty...she loves it so much! The Jolene Dress typically retails for $114.99 but is currently on sale for only $39.99, which is a steal! I would say it is definitely worth buying. What a gorgeous dress!!

bean sprout carries clothing for both boys and girls, as well as infants too so if you have a really little one you can find something for them as well, which is great. You can find bean sprout online, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. 

So, in my opinion...bean sprout is a wonderful company! I love how prompt Trish was in her communications with me and her customer service skills are amazing. The products that bean sprout carries are high quality, gorgeous and well-made and I am so happy with the dress I received for this review. I am very much looking forward to the upcoming wedding and am relieved to say that I have found a gorgeous dress for my daughter. She will look wonderful and I will be telling everyone where the dress came from! I would definitely recommend bean sprout to anyone...wonderful company, fantastic products and superb customer service!

Trish has offered to give one of you a $100 gift certificate to her website! This giveaway is open to the US and also to my lovely Canadian fans! Here are your entry options...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive free bean sprout products for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the bean sprout website and email. Prize is being provided by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Customize Your Wardrobe With eShakti

  

I have always loved to shop for clothes. It seems that as I have become heavier it has become harder to find clothes in plus sizes. Every model out there looks like a Barbie doll and that is very intimidating to me. I am now starting to lose weight and am loving the fact that clothes are fitting me better. Now, I am beginning to shop around for new clothes to fit my thinner figure (and no, I am not skinny at all by the world's definition) and the place that I start to do that is the Internet. My love for clothes is evident by the boxes in my basement and my full closet. I typically find most of my clothing at thrift stores because so many people toss out brand new clothes and I can't see paying full price for something that I can easily find at a second-hand store. Whenever I go to buy something online or at a store though, it is a real treat for me!

Recently, I became acquainted with an online boutique that I have fallen in love with. The reason I love it so much is because you can look at any garment that they have for sale and modify it to fit you! That means you can totally customize ANYTHING to fit you perfectly!! eShakti is a company that makes customizeable, beautiful clothing to fit your style and body. Before I continue, here is a bit more about this company...

 eShakti began as a small website offering basic cottons and modestly embellished pieces. As we grew, we were tasked with providing design and fit solutions to meet our customers' needs. Today, we are an international fashion design company making custom clothing. Offering both style and fit customization for women Size 0 through 36 is the heart of our business. 

To simply put it, custom clothing does not have to be expensive. By keeping up with technology as it is advancing, we are able to provide customization at a modest cost. 

Our design teams are based in New York, California and India which gives us a diverse fashion perspective. Our clothing is made in India in our own factories and in local factories that produce some of the leading brands at retail. We do not stock any sizes. Since each style - whether standard sized, custom styled or custom sized - is cut to order, we do not have to warehouse our merchandise. 

Therefore, you will notice that every style requires your height measurement, whether you are customizing or not. This ensures you a 'truer' fit. We ship directly to you. That helps us to keep our fashion affordable.

The thing that really caught my eye was the fact that the cater to plus-sized women...like me! Finding clothes that fit is difficult enough, but finding clothes that also look beautiful is also a problem. This is why I was excited about reviewing eShakti.

So, for this review I received a custom-made Vintage Collared Top and it is stunning. I chose this particular shirt because it has a high neckline and has length to it. My standards are pretty high when it comes to my necklines and I am very picky. This top looked very promising!

My Vintage Collared Top arrived the other day and when I pulled the shirt out, I was sooo impressed! This is a very beautiful garment. There are tiny white butterflies all over this shirt and I just love the black and white contrasting colors. As you can see in the first picture I posted of this top (the stock photo), the sleeves are slightly capped. Well, I prefer more of a sleeve so when I customized this shirt for me, I had my choice of 5 different sleeve options: As Shown, Cap Sleeve, Short Puffed, Short Length, Sleeveless. I chose to get a short length sleeve.

One of the features I love about this top is the over-sized collar. It adds such a touch of elegance to the whole shirt. I am a fan of large collars so this was a nice touch for me. The collar is anchored by two large fabric-covered buttons that are off to the side of the collar.

I could also choose a length for the top and so I chose the hip-length because I don't like shirts riding up when I bend over. The waist of this top is beautifully gathered with elastic so it fits really nicely to my figure. Typically, I don't prefer fitted waists, but this is super comfortable and adds form to an otherwise straight top.

Friday was my birthday and hubby took me out to dinner. We haven't been on a date in months so this was a very special occasion. Because it was very cold outside, I didn't wear my new top but did put it on for a picture. Isn't it gorgeous? I was worried about the fit but was really pleased to see that it did fit me perfectly! It didn't feel snug at all and was super comfortable. 

I really REALLY felt dressed up when I wore this top...it is so feminine and elegant. I love the sleeve and top length and really would not have wanted either of them to be shorter. I ended up getting a size 22, which was perfect. The fact that I could customize this Vintage Collared Top (for FREE) was such a blessing. I ended up picking a top that I normally would not have picked due to the sleeves that were pictured in the stock photo on the website.

eShakti has set up a promotional code for you! Exclusively created for you, use MMMYSREVEW to get 20% OFF when you shop at eShakti - valid from 02/26/13 thru 03/10/13. Code has to be entered in the 'Promotional Code' box. No Minimum Order Value. The discount code is not case sensitive. The code can be used any number of times until the validity period. This code can be clubbed with any other gift coupon or gift card in the same order. This discount code is not applicable on the Overstock category. Not applicable on previous purchases.

The Vintage Collared Top retails for $59.95 and you can customize this and all other articles of clothing for free! Shipping was super fast as well and it was nice to get a beautiful shirt like this in such a short amount of time. You can visit eShakti on their website for all your wardrobe needs...whether you need a fancy blouse for a special occasion or dresses for your bridesmaids!  Also, you can keep up with them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Pinterest as well!

So, in my opinion...eShakti is a wonderful company. I am SO GLAD that I have found them and will be telling my family and friends all about them. Having a company that will customize clothing to fit me perfectly is a wonderful asset and I will surely be recommending eShakti to everyone! Check them out today and tell me what you think...you won't be disappointed that you took a minute to visit. 

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a free Vintage Collared Top from eShakti for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the eShakti website and email.   All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Baby Eczema Relief with Bamboo Bubby!

We here in our house have the worst problems with eczema...particularly baby eczema. I had my first experience with baby eczema when my first child was born and she had it really bad. When I showed a friend of mine, we were unsure if it was really eczema or ring worm but after a visit to the pediatrician, we confirmed that it was indeed eczema. There is nothing worse than watching your baby scratch and scratch with no relief in sight. I tried just about every cream and body wash out there but Hannah's skin was really tough to treat. She is just now starting to grow out of the eczema but now I have Isaac. He is presenting with very different eczema symptoms than Hannah...cracked and raw skin behind his ears, and horrible eczema on his neck, shoulders and wrists. It is AWFUL. One morning, he woke up and had crusty blood on his hands and under his fingernails. After examining him, I realized that the blood came from behind his ears. He had totally dug up the skin from scratching throughout the night. The itching seems to really bother him more so than it ever bothered Hannah. As a mom, that REALLY bothers me.

So in my desperation, I began to search the Internet for a solution. I knew that I would need to cover his hands in order to prevent him from scratching but how in the world do you cover a 9 month old baby's hands? My question was answered when I happened across the Bamboo Bubby website. This company is based in Southern Australia and they make a product called the Bamboo Bubby Bag and it is specifically designed for babies and toddlers with eczema. One of the secrets to the success of this bag is the fact that the material is made out of bamboo fabric. Until becoming acquainted with Bamboo Bubby, I had no idea that fabric made out of bamboo is hypoallergenic and antibacterial...makes total sense to have a product for sensitive skin made out of bamboo fabric!!

Here is a bit more about Bamboo Bubby and the owner of this company, Kelly Northey...

"Our baby's eczema was at its worse at the age where he outgrew sleepsuits with handcovers. He also started learning to roll at the same time, and could no longer be safely wrapped or swaddled. We were desperate for a solution to stop the damage and sleeplessness he was causing himself from constant scratching. A sleeping bag made of eczema-friendly fabric with adjustable handcovers that could grow with him was the ideal solution! " ~ Kelly Northey

After testing many different types of fabrics and prototypes, the Bamboo Bubby Bag™ has become a practical and popular choice amongst parents worldwide, minimising damage caused by scratching from eczema, dermatitis and even chicken pox as well as stop thumb sucking and even helping babies who would wake from cold hands. 

I was ecstatic to find this company. My Isaac was suffering terribly with the scratching and I was sincerely wanting to find a way to keep him from damaging his skin any further. Hannah never had issues bleeding with her eczema so this was new territory for me. Kelly was so sweet when I first emailed her...and has been such a blessing throughout this review. I am very pleased to introduce this company to you.

So, for this review I was sent a Bamboo Bubby Bag to try on Isaac. Ok, so this sleeping bag is H.U.G.E! It pretty much spans the whole 4 feet of the width of my dining room table. :) The reason for this is because you can use this bag on babies ages 0-2+ years. So if you are using this on an infant, it will be long but is totally adjustable in several ways, which I will show you.

The pictures above show the inside of the sleeves, right by the armpit area. There is a nice snap that basically adjusts the armhole size. If you have a small baby (like I do), then keep the button snapped and this will ensure that their arm will not be floating around in a huge hole. The picture on the right shows the snap undone.

I also love that the sleeves are adjustable. There is absolutely no way for babies hands to get out of these sleeves! All you do to adjust them is tuck the extra fabric inside and pull the cuff over. You want to be sure to smooth the fabric down on the inside of the sleeve so baby isn't dealing with alot of material bunching up in there.

Another feature that I am enjoying is the fact that there is a nice protector that covers the zipper and this cover actually wraps around the neck line so baby won't get scratched by any part of the zipper. I have also noticed the the neckline goes up on Isaac's neck so he really can't get to the skin on his neck. This is really REALLY nice. I will also note that the Bamboo Bubby Bag has a seat belt slot in it so your baby can wear it while in the stroller or car seat...which is also fantastic!!

To give you an idea of what I am dealing with, there is a picture of his ears. This is on a GOOD day. This area has never healed completely. Ever since he was a newborn, we have had issues with his ears and the eczema just splits the skin open. Obviously, scratching doesn't help.

Getting Isaac used to the Bamboo Bubby Bag was quite an interesting experience. I was scared at first to try it because he is a very "hands on" baby. He has a pacifier and can put it in his mouth by himself. He also has a cuddly blanket that he snuggles up to his face when he sleeps and I was worried the hand covers would hinder his self-soothing abilities. Kelly gently assured me that babies that use the Bamboo Bubby Bag do quite well at learning to use their hands even though they are covered. I was so happy to hear this!

So, I put the Bamboo Bubby on Isaac and we were ready to try it out! Ha ha...he had issues at first. :) Look at that face!! Because the garment is long, he stepped all over it when he first tried to stand up with it on.

Then, he finally figured it out. He was quite pleased with himself too, as you can see! :) He has been sleeping with the Bamboo Bubby Bag for a few nights now and I am very happy to report that he has not had any issues with bleeding. His eczema is also looking less red and inflamed, which is a sign that he has not been scratching. I was so nervous about his pacifier too, and he has managed quite well when it comes to maneuvering it back into his mouth. Our first few nights getting used to the Bamboo Bubby Bag were a bit rough but after that, he was sleeping like a champ again! I was so relieved when I saw him trying to scratch at his ears the other night while nursing because I knew he wasn't actually tearing up his skin. What a blessing!

The Bamboo Bubby Bag retails for $69.95 and is also available in a twin pack which retails for $130.00. You also have your choice of three colors: Turquoise Blue, Fuscia Pink and Sage Green. Also, Kelly has let me know that she now has two companies stocking Bamboo Bubby in the US! Click HERE to find out where you can order Bamboo Bubby in the US. The price for purchasing in the US is slightly more($79.95), however, Kelly will soon be raising the price in Australia to match the US price. If you are interested in keeping up with Bamboo Bubby on their social media sites, be sure to check them out on Facebook, Twitter and also Pinterest!

So, in my opinion...Bamboo Bubby is a fantastic company that makes a one-of-a-kind product...one which I have been searching for since Hannah was a baby! I am so thankful that I have discovered them and hope that this product will help many more parents out there that are just like me! Children deserve to be comfortable - day and night and Bamboo Bubby is the product that will be sure to keep them comfy and happy. I love how this has given me an all natural treatment for eczema! I would definitely recommend this product to ANYONE!

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive free Bamboo Bubby products for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Bamboo Bubby website and email. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.