Look Forward to the Unveiling of a New Ellie Activewear Collection Every Month (Plus Save 20% Off!)

Thank you to Ellie for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I am not someone who has time to go to the gym.  When I workout, it's just me, my weighted gloves, and my virtual trainer. Looking good is not on the top of my list of concerns while I'm exercising, but being comfortable is.  Since I know that not all my readers are as short on time as I am, I wanted to try out the activewear offered by Ellie and report back to my readers about my experience.

If you don't know where to start, all you need to do is visit Ellie's "How It Works" section.  There, you will answer a few questions about your body type and style preferences.  Based on the information you provide, the website offers you suggestions about which pieces would likely be a good fit for you.  You can shop from the current month's collection as well as those from previous months.  Since I shopped from the first collection ever, my choices were much more limited back then than they would be today.

As someone who has not been able to get rid of the extra weight in the belly area after having carried twins, I was pretty nervous about choosing the right activewear.  When I saw the Peek A Boo Layering Tank, I knew that this was the top that was best-suited for me.  It was loose fitting and would camouflage my mid-section, but was not bulky at the same time.

Some of the preferences I had specified for bottoms were low-rise and capri length pants.  I ended up choosing the Kiss Me Capri bottoms, which have a band of fuchsia across the top.

Both pieces were very comfortable to workout in and both washed well.  I was a little concerned that all the Ellie tops and bottoms only come in sizes XS to L.  I usually wear a size Large on the bottom, so that was not a problem, but I do usually wear at least an X-large on top and had to settle for the size Large.  Luckily, the top I chose was loose fitting enough.  I was extremely happy to hear Ellie's latest announcement that all their new collections will include pieces in size X-Large.  After all, size XL women workout too, right?

Overall, I think Ellie would be a good place to slowly build your workout wardrobe.  Most of the pieces can coordinate with the others.  If you choose your favorite pieces each month, you will be on your way to building an extensive wardrobe for looking good every time you head to the gym.  You can view this month's and previous months' collections by visiting Ellie.com.  For a limited time, you can SAVE 20% OFF the Entire Collection!

Tea Collection's Playground-Friendly Summer Collection for Girls

Although in many parts of the country, school will be ending in a few weeks, here in Massachusetts, our children will be in school well-into June.  It is only April and we have already experienced some unseasonably warm weather.  After our last heat wave, I realized that I should have purchased more playground-friendly and school-appropriate warm weather clothes for my daughter.  When Tea Collection had their last big sale, I ordered several outfits for her to wear this coming fall, but now I need more summery clothes that still look nice enough for school.

Whether you are in the same situation as I am, needing warm weather clothing that will work for both school and summer vacation, or you are planning a family getaway, the many 5-piece sets offered by Tea Collection are a great place to start.  Not only are they stylish and comfortable, but they are well-coordinated and often comes with pieces that can be mixed and matched.  Rompers, shorts, capri pants, and knee-length dresses are the perfect thing, whether in school, on the playground, or on vacation, for an active preschooler like our daughter.


Tea Collection Dharma 5-Piece Set


Tea Collection Bali Love 5-Piece Set


Tea Collection Moon Orchid 5-Piece Set

Out of the four 5-piece sets shown here, I think my daughter would love the "Dharma" the most.  How could she resist the mermaid and a hoodie combination?

Remember to checkout the Tea Collection new arrivals for boys too.  Sometimes I have so much fun shopping for my daughter, I almost forget I have two fashion conscious sons.

New Disney's "Shake It Up" Dancewear Collection by ivivva athletica

Our daughter only began taking dance classes less than a year ago.  Although it is too soon to know if she will be an aspiring dancer someday, we can already tell that she is thoroughly enjoying it.  She has a natural grace (for a 5 year old) and she is not too timid to try new steps demonstrated by her instructor.  When she dances, even when her moves have yet to be perfected, she does so with confidence and a smile on her face.  That is the spirit captured by this new line of dancewear for girls.

This new dancewear collection by ivivva athletica, the girls' dance apparel division of the Canadian company lululemon athletica, was inspired by the hit Disney show "Shake It Up".  The video below shows a quick overview of the 2012 Spring Collection and will make you wonder what is to come for the upcoming Summer, Fall, and Winter seasons . . .




Although our daughter is just under the age group for the "Shake It Up" target audience, the Shake It Up dancewear is a huge hit as far as she is concerned.  We had received the Shrug It Up shrug the Tumblin' Tank II, and the Stretch It Up Tight tights to try out.  Although the clothing is fitted, it is in no way restrictive and the styles and prints are suitable for young girls and tweens.  Our daughter normally takes a size 5 or 5/6 and there is definitely room for her to grow in these size 6 ivivva pieces.

I especially like the feminine gathers on both the sleeves of the shrug and the legs of the tights.  Our daughter was just thrilled with the thumb holes on her sleeves.  They made her feel like a real dancer.  The shrug can also be worn by flipping the front hem behind the neck to look like a more traditional shrug.  This is perfect for wearing over her tank style leotards during the colder months since I prefer not to buy her different leotards for each season.  A cool feature about the tights, which our daughter can wear as leggings since they are a little large on her, is the hidden pocket in the waistband on the back.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

All three pieces came out of the washer and dryer looking as great as they went in.  I did not see any signs of shrinking either.  Most of the ivivva Shake It Up dancewear pieces are available in girls' sizes 4 to 14.  From our experience, these pieces seem to run true to size.  Visit www.ivivva.com and ivivva athletica on Facebook to view the entire Shake It Up Collection.  Overall, this collection would be perfect for girls who are dancers, gymnasts, cheerleaders, and other types of athletes.


Thank you to lululemon athletica for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon.

A Cozy Night In for My Family hosted by Nautica

By mid-January, we had already surpassed the amount of snowfall that we normally receive in an entire winter.  Our family of five has been cooped up inside for at least 6 weeks and needed some fun family time . . . something more than the same old toys and the usual television programs.  Thanks to Nautica, who invited me to plan a fun "Cozy Night In" for my family, we created some wonderful new memories for our children.

The first ingredient for our "Cozy Night In" was warm and comfy Nautica activewear for each member of my family.  Everyone was extremely happy with being all cuddly and cozy for our evening of a craft, pizza (pepperoni for the kids plus bacon, onions, and mushrooms for the adults), a movie, and popcorn!

The craft I planned was easy and mess-free because our twins have only just turned four.  I decided it would be fun to do a hanging mailbox craft since Valentine's Day is almost upon us.  We only needed hanging expandable file pockets, ribbon, and an assortment of stickers for this project.  Our 7 year old son needed very little help with his mailbox, but the twins needed assistance with spelling their names and peeling some of the stickers off the sheets.  Like always, our youngest son was the minimalist and finished his mailbox first and his twin sister took her time, was very thoughtful and deliberate with her project, and finished last.

Our pizzas were delivered soon after the craft project was completed.  We all ate in the living room while we watched the DVD How To Train a Dragon.  We did not get a chance to see this film in the theaters and it was truly amazing . . . even to the twins who normally have very short attention spans.

Once the pizza was done, we finished the movie while eating hot buttery popcorn.  Personally, I was far too stuffed to eat more than a small handful, but the rest of the family found room.

When the movie was done, so were my husband and I, but the children were still going strong.  They loved the DVD so much that they dug out all their dragon and dinosaur figures to act out scenarios inspired by the movie.

I have to thank Nautica for presenting me with this challenge.  We really had a fun and memorable evening at home, even though it is the same old place where we have been trapped during one snow day after another.


Thank you to Nautica for providing apparel and a gift card to use towards the activities discussed in this article.  Nautica is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this article.  All thoughts expressed are those of the author's and does not reflect the opinions of Nautica.  The Nautica apparel seen in the photos above can be purchased at Nautica.com (subject to availability).

List of Nautica activewear pieces I had selected for my family . . . 

Girls' Whitestone Fleece Hoodie

Girls' Whitestone Fleece Pant

Boy's Cranston Fleece Hoodie

Boys' Berkshire Pant

Brushed Fleece Knit Hoodie

Maria Yoga Pant

Cross-Sport Zip-Front Jacket

Brushed Fleece Pant

Holiday 2010 Review: "The Girls" Women's Activewear

The days of sweats being the uniform of the stay-at-home mom are over. Many women are opting for the more flattering yoga pant either in a capri or bootcut style. Those topped with a tank, tee, tunic, or hoodie create a more tailored look than a sweatshirt and sweatpants without sacrificing comfort.

When I received a pair of Tummy Control Bootcut Pants to try out from The Girls, a brand I recognize from fine department stores, as well as T.J.Maxx, I was a little skeptical. I have tested various shapewear products in the past and the few that were effective against my post-twin belly were far too uncomfortable. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by these pants.

The Blu-Tec Control System can be found in all tummy control clothing offered by The Girls. This band of nylon spandex mesh hit at just the right spot to make my tummy look flatter. Aside from being effective, there are two things that I love about these pants . . . the Blu-Tech Control System is invisible from the outside and these pants are so very comfortable. In fact, I would say that these pants are one of the most comfortable pairs I currently own. My belly is about the size of someone who is 3 or 4 months pregnant, so I think that even women who are pregnant in their first and second trimesters would find these pants to be super-comfortable.

To view their full line of women's activewear, including tops, bottoms, and jackets, visit TheGirlsApparel.com . You can also find The Girls on Facebook.

Thank you to The Girls for sending us a complimentary product sample to base this review upon.