Photo-Real Trend Dresses & Standout-From-The-Crowd Girls Fashions by KidCuteTure

Thank you to KidCuteTure for providing the girls' dresses featured below, as well as the prize for our reader giveaway.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I often wonder how my daughter turned out to be such a girly girl.  She spends most of her time with her two brothers, plays basketball with the boys at recess, and can break a board with her fist at Taekwondo.  Still, she is one of the daintiest girls I know, which is why I am not surprised how much she fell in love with these photo real dresses by KidCuteTure.

If you've never visited the KidCuteTure online children's boutique, then you are missing out. It's not everyday that you find couture artistry in kid-friendly designs.  By this I mean stand-out-from-the-crowd fashions in comfortable, age-appropriate styles designed with children in mind.

My daughter just loves that this dress has pockets, which made twirling in it particularly fun. As a parent, I loved the ease of caring for these dresses.  We machine washed them inside-out and hung them on a hanger to dry.

Today, you can see our 8 year old daughter in the lovely on-trend Fiona dress in the Rosebud photo-real print and the Kiwi photo-real print.  Realistic photo prints are currently all the rage and can be found on t-shirts, leggings, dresses, and more.  The floral images KidCuteTure chose for these two dresses are stunning.

Both the Rosebud and Kiwi Fiona dresses are vibrant and full of life for Spring and Summer.  To me the Rosebud dress is more fun and girly, while the Kiwi dress is more sweet and serene.  Which print do you like the best?

Visit KidCuteTureShop.com to view all the prints available in the Fiona dress, as well as the vast selection of tops, bottoms, sets, dresses, outerwear, and more infant/toddler and girls sizes.

Mismatched Shoes by Chooze Inspire Children to Be Different! {plus a #choozecreativity DIY Memory Box Craft}

Thank you to Chooze shoes for providing the girls footwear showcased in this children's fashion feature.  All opinions are solely my own.

May is the perfect month to introduce you to a business created by a mom who was inspired by her daughter's sense of style.  Chooze shoes, who was recently featured on the Today Show, is a line of stylish mismatched footwear for girls and boys sized for infants up to big kids.  These shoes are really works of art, from the coordinating fabric uppers to the rubber outer soles, and you're child will want to collect them all.  Mine certainly did, as she had quite a bit of difficulty narrowing down her choices.

Our 8 year old daughter ultimately selected the Move in Cherish sneaker and the Twist in Blink slip-ons.  Both styles feature a cotton lining, anti-microbial removable padded insoles, and are made with 100% vegan materials.

The Move is a slip-on style canvas sneaker with prints available to suit your child's many moods.  The Cherish print fits my daughter's girly, fun-loving side.  This shoe matches what my daughter looks for in a footwear perfectly.  They're stylish, comfortable, and playground-friendly.  After all, what good is looking fashionable if you can't outrun the boys at recess while doing it?

The Twist slip-on shoe also has a canvas upper, but is made in a silhouette that resembles a ballet flat.  I find this shoe to be more classic and graceful.  The crossover elasticized bands help to keep them in place whether my energetic daughter is running, jumping, twirling, or climbing.

Although our daughter loved all the prints available for the Twist, she went with Blink because this black-based floral print would match with so much in her wardrobe.

All Chooze rubber soles are comfortable and non-marking.  They allow my daughter to get where she wants to go, whether walking, running, or skipping, without the worry of slipping.

With the help of Chooze shoes, our daughter can complete her coordinated mismatched look!  She often wears two different socks or two different color earrings that coordinate with her outfit of the day.  She sometimes ventures into tastefully mixing prints with her clothes too.  I love that she is confident enough to be different!  Chooze also currently offers backpacks and lunchboxes, and our daughter is highly anticipating their upcoming line of children's apparel.  How does your child express creativity and confidence with his or her outfits?

Chooze shoe boxes are really "art boxes" made of recycled cardboard.  They are decorated with a fun print that any child, including my 8 year old daughter and 11 year old son, will fall in love with.  If you pick up a pair of Chooze shoes, be sure to help your child reuse the box to make something fun and creative.  This is what my children made with our Chooze art boxes . . .

Easy Craft:  DIY Duck Tape Memory Box

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Chooze shoe box

solid duck tape

coordinating patterned duct tape

thin markers

scissors

Step 1.  With the lid open, cover the front, back, left, and right sides of the shoe box with a solid colored duck tape.

Step 2.  With the lid still open, make a stripe that wraps around the four solid colored sides with a coordinating patterned duck tape.

Step 3.  Have your child color in the design on the shoe box lid with thin markers.  Your child can use whichever colors they like and color in as much of the design as they wish.  Additions of words and doodles are also encouraged.

Beyond coloring the box lid, your children can also add embellishments, such as gems, stickers, and glitter.  The more creative control your child has while decorating their art box, the more they'll cherish the finished product.  What would your child put inside their memory box?

To learn more about Chooze and their mission, visit www.choozeshoes.com.

Join Gymboree and KaBOOM! in Supporting Active Play for Kids #HopNRoll

We received a gift card to shop Gymboree's Hop 'N' Roll Spring line and was provided with another gift card to give away.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.

It took awhile, but Spring has finally sprung here in New England.  The joy on our children's faces to be able to play outside in the sun without a winter coat and snow boots was priceless.  We're lucky that our townhouse community has a vast courtyard and we live within walking distance of a park.  In fact, our town has more parks than I can count on one hand.  We are truly fortunate!

Active play is important for all children.  That's why Gymboree has partnered with KaBOOM! to build places to play for 10,000 kids this year.  This non-profit organization specializes in providing opportunities and places for children to enjoy active play, especially those in poverty-stricken communities.  In addition to providing programs and activities through their Play & Music centers, Gymboree also supports this cause by doing what they do best, which is to create playground-friendly, stylish, and fun clothing for children and tweens.

In early April, Gymboree launched its Hop 'N' Roll playwear line!  This line captures the spirit of Springtime play with it's colorful, fun, and comfortable mix and match pieces for both boys and girls.  Through May 31st, Gymboree will be donating a percentage of the proceeds from in-store and online sales of this fun-loving collection.

Your children will love picking out their fave Hop 'N' Roll pieces, while supporting a worthy cause!  Ours did . . . 

Featuring the Gymboree Hop 'n' Roll Flutter Sleeve Stripe Dress and Neon Leggings, the Hello Happy Canvas Tote Bag, and the Polar Pink Pom-Pom Heart Bracelet

Our daughter is quite the girly-girl despite having two brothers.  She loves to look stylish, but will only opt for clothing and shoes that won't get in the way of her jump roping, playground fun, and keeping up with the boys in a game of tag at recess.

Featuring the Gymboree Hop 'n' Roll Intergalactic Pizza Delivery Tee, Slate Grey Pull-on Shorts, and Marled Trim Pullover (shown in bottom photo)

For our two boys, it's all about cool graphics and comfort!  Gymboree's Hop 'N' Roll collection for boys offers a variety of graphic tees and easy-to-wear pull-on shorts.

Featuring the Gymboree Hop 'n' Roll Skateboard Rhino Tee and Slate Grey Pull-on Shorts

We did choose some pieces from other Gymboree collections to complete the look for my daughter's flutter tee and skirt outfit, such as bike shorts to make the skirt more monkey bar-friendly, an adorable canvas tote bag, and some cute bracelets that matched her outfit perfectly.  That's what I love about Gymboree!  You can mix and match between collections, between seasons, and even between years!

Featuring the Gymboree Hop 'n' Roll I'm a Cool Cat Flutter Tee and Neon Painted Dot Skirt, the Everyday Favorites White Bike Shorts (hidden), the Polar Pink Pom-Pom Heart Bracelet, and the Mod About Orange Striped Bead Bracelet

Shop the Hop 'N' Roll collection from now thru May 31st, 2015 to help Gymboree and KaBOOM! raise enough money to build play spaces for 10,000 deserving children in communities across the U.S.  Which Hop 'N' Roll item is your favorite?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S residents only. You must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Clean Out Your Closets to Support Your School . . . Fundraising Made Easy with Schoola!

Thank you to Schoola for sending us a gift code to sample the experience of shopping on this unique fundraising website.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I am not one to purchase many things that have been previously owned.  In the past, I've purchased cars, wooden furniture, and fine china that were pre-owned and just recently starting buying used books.  I have never purchased used clothing for myself or my children.  That is why I was a bit skeptical when I was invited to checkout the new fundraising site, Schoola.com.  In fact, I only took the time to visit the site because I know tons of moms who buy previously owned clothing for their children.  This fundraising idea had merit.

The concept behind Schoola is a smart one.  Look for clothes to donate that are gently used or new with tags (Yes! Schoola also sells new clothing) in your own closets and attic, and send them to Schoola in a postage paid polybag.  Then when the item sells on the website, your school will receive 40% of the sale price.  You can do this individually or organize a school-wide clothing drive.

Would this type of fundraiser be successful?  Well, I was able to shop on Schoola to see if I, an avid online shopper, would choose to shop on this website.  After all, in order for the fundraiser to be successful, people need to purchase the clothing you donate.

I must say that I was impressed by the variety of name brands and retailers represented in both the selection of girls clothing and boys clothing, such as The North Face, Columbia, The Gap, Shaun White, and more.  You can shop by gender, age group, or simply type in a brand or keyword search.

I ended up purchasing this Bongo graphic tee and camo hat set for my daughter at half off the retail price on the tag.  Was this the best deal ever? . . . No, but it was a great price and I felt good knowing that $5.40 from my purchase went to support an elementary school in California.  Yes, the product page includes a note stating the amount of money that will donated to a particular school if you buy the item.

My daughter ended up loving the tee and hat set, and insisted on wearing it for the first day of school since the weather was unseasonably warm.  I had also picked up an Old Navy striped long-sleeved tee for her twin brother, but it was too warm to wear just yet.

I've introduced Schoola as a fundraising option for our school.  The fundraising chairs may test it out as a way to raise money for the 5th grade class to fund their field trips, yearbook, and so forth.  I hope they decide to move forward with it because this is an innovative idea that does not solely depend on your own school's community to spend money.

To learn more about fundraising with Schoola, visit www.schoola.com.  Want to shop?  Use Schoola promo code: bestreaders25 to save 25% off your purchase through September 30th, 2014.

Find On-Trend Back-to-School Fashions, Sizes for Tweens, a Way to Help Local Kids & More at OshKosh! #OshKoshFirstDay

This post was written as part of a sponsored campaign for The Motherhood and their client OshKosh B'gosh, featuring back-to-school fashions for boys and girls.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Like with all my other shopping, I start my back-to-school shopping early.  I usually have 90% of the school supplies purchased from the lists sent home on the last day of school by mid-summer.  I also pick up clothing in the next size up throughout the year if I find something that's stylish for a great price.  I take a quick inventory 3 to 4 weeks before school resumes to see what's missing from my 3 children's fall wardrobes.  Then I make it my mission to fill in those gaps before school begins.

Now that my children are 7, 7, and 10, shopping isn't as easy as it used to be.  My children seemed to have developed stronger opinions about what styles and colors they want to wear.  Luckily for me, OshKosh.com had more than enough on-trend and age-appropriate children's fashions to please me, my two 2nd graders, and my 5th grader.  In fact, when I asked each of them to pick out one outfit each, they tried to convince me that they couldn't narrow it down, so I would just have to purchase 3 or 4 outfits . . . each.  Their efforts were commendable, but I stood my ground . . .

Layered OshKosh Original Graphic Tees + OshKosh Classic Denim:

Our 10 year old son lives in graphic tees and jeans.  Like with many boys, comfort is almost more important than style for him.  With the selection of clothes for tweens at OshKosh in sizes up to a 12, our son can have both.  Here he is in the Glow-in-the-Dark Space Tee layered on top of an OshKosh Originals Graphic Tee paired with the Mellow Medium Wash OshKosh Straight Jeans.  OshKosh is name synonymous with quality, especially in denim.  This is important to me, especially when it comes to clothing for my oldest son.  Nearly everything I purchase for him will get passed down to his younger brother, so it needs to last.

When it comes to clothing, our 7 year old daughter wants it all.  She demands style, comfort, functionality, and . . . sparkle!  Her clothes need to be cute, girly, but also playground-friendly.

Bold Graphic Tee + "Awesome" Neon Hoodie + OshKosh Jeggings:

Our daughter wanted glitter and she found it!  She fell in love immediately with this bold floral text-free OshKosh Originals sugar glitter graphic tee.  When she saw the Girl Power Hoodie with the glittery text in neon coral that coordinated with the graphic tee so well, she just had to have that too.  We both very much liked the inspirational, yet fun messages on these OshKosh yoga-inspired hoodies. Our daughter loves the look of denim, but prefers the comfort of leggings.  It was no surprise to me when she opted for the Shoreline Blue OshKosh Jeggings.  Finally, she always likes to finish off her outfits with a coordinating hair accessory or some type of jewelry (or both).  She ended up putting one of the bows from the 3-Pack Sparkle Bow Pony Holders in her hair and used the other two for bracelets!  Smart, huh?

Our 7 year old son is extremely easy going when it comes to his clothes.  As long as it's comfortable and fits, he's good with it.  That being said, when he is asked to choose his own clothes, he definitely has his own style.  In fact, his picks for his outfit from OshKosh were right in line with the top back-to-school trends for boys this season . . .

The first item our son chose was a pair of Camo 5-Pocket Pull-On Cargo Pants.  How did he know camouflage is a major trend this season?  His whole outfit revolved around these must-have pants.  Something else we're seeing a lot of is dino-themed graphic tees.  Well, our little man happened to pick the OshKosh Originals Dinosaur Hunter Graphic Tee to go with his camo bottoms.  His next pick truly surprised me.  I predicted that our little boy would have opted for a hoodie to go with his outfit, but he chose the Fleece Letter Jacket.  Our son loves this soft comfy jacket so much that he puts it on first thing when he gets up in the morning, even if it's 75 degrees outside!

Will your children be trendsetters this year at school?  Well, there are more ways than one to lead by example.  Your children could participate in the B'gosh Jeanius Campaign to help give local children a 'Leg Up!' this back-to-school season . . .

How can your family get involved?  Simply make a donation in the form of a pair of OshKosh blue jeans or a cash donation of $1, $3, $5, or $10 at your local OshKosh store.  Denim donations will be given to children in need in yours or a nearby community via K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers.  Cash donations will go to local schools in need who are signed up with DonorsChoose.org.  When your child tells his or her friends how they gave back to their community, maybe they'll inspire someone else to do the same!  Encourage your child to be a trendsetter this year!

Will you be heading to OshKosh to do some back-to-school shopping?  Be sure to print this OshKosh coupon to save 25% off your purchase of $40 or more through 9/13/14.  Shopping online?  You can save with OshKosh promo code SAVEON40 at OshKosh.com.

TO PRINT:  Make sure your printer is on and ready to to go.  Click on the image to enlarge.  Then right-click on the enlarged image and select print.  Use your browsers back arrow to return to this page.

Checkout the cool #OshKoshFirstDay back-to-school ideas below . . . 

Follow Karen Coutu's board Back-to-School with Oshkosh & More! on Pinterest.

3 Things to Do Before Going to See Planes #FireAndRescue in the Theater (plus a Bookmark Craft!) #MagicAtPlay #MC

I participated in an Ambassador campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kohl's. I received promotional items and product samples as a thank you for participating.

The long-anticipated sequel Planes: Fire & Rescue opens in theaters today!  Having heard from many parents that this will be their little one's first trip to the movies, I wanted to share some fun ways to make this important first a fun and memorable experience . . .

1.  If your child has not seen the original Planes movie, then you will definitely want to buy, rent, or stream it for him or her before going to see the sequel.  This will give your child a chance to get to know Dusty and the other characters, as well as understand what experiences have brought Dusty to this next point in his life.  If your child has already experienced the first film, they are likely anxious to watch it again before seeing the second movie, like all three of my children are.

2.  Dress your child for the occasion! The Kohl's Disney Jumping Beans line has expanded its Fire & Rescue collection quite a bit since it's unveiling last month.  The collection includes tees, shorts, long sleeve knits, fleece active pants, hoodies, and some exclusive limited edition styles, as well.  While shopping for the perfect outfit to wear for the movie, whether online or at your local Kohl's department store, take this opportunity to pick up some of these playground-friendly mix-and-match pieces for back-to-school!

When I took our 7 year old son to shop for his movie outfit, he had such a difficult time deciding.  In fact, he just started picking up one of everything!  When it comes to the styles, colors, and graphics for this line, Jumping Beans really hit the nail on the head as far as knowing what boys his age really like.

Exclusive Limited Edition Disney Planes Smokejumpers Parachute Tee by Jumping Beans®

As a Kohl's customer, you can bring your Planes Fire and Rescue movie ticket stub into Kohl's from 7/18/14-7/26/14 and receive $10 off your Kids Apparel purchase of $25 or more, in-store only. See below for details:

Full Disclaimer:
Offer valid for one-time use 7/18/14-7/26/14. In store only. One Kids apparel merchandise coupon per customer. $10 offer valid on a minimum $25 pre-tax purchase of Kids apparel merchandise. Dollar-off discounts applied prior to percent-off total purchase discounts. Offer cannot be redeemed for cash. No cash back. Offer not valid for price adjustments on prior purchases. Excludes sales tax. Photocopies or duplicates not accepted. Return value of merchandise purchased with $10 coupon will be subject to adjustment. See store for additional terms and details. Go to http://oak.ctx.ly/r/1d462 for more details on the promotion and http://oak.ctx.ly/r/1d45x for more information on Planes Fire + Rescue apparel.

3.  Pick up a Planes:  Fire & Rescue storybook or activity book to help build the excitement for your child until the big movie day arrives.  This will also give your child a chance to become familiar with some of the new characters introduced in this film.  It also is a perfect excuse to encourage your child to read by offering him or her a new book about a topic you already know they find to be fun and engaging.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After we got our Disney Jumping Beans Fire & Rescue apparel home, I noticed the super-cool Disney and Planes-themed tags that were on each item of clothing.  They were just too cool to throw away and that's how I came up with one of the easiest crafts ever.  When you get home with your Fire & Rescue items, be sure to hang onto your tags too!  (One cut-out Mickey tag and one Planes tag comes on each clothing item.)

Easy Craft:  Mickey Mouse and Planes Fire & Rescue Bookmarks

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Disney Jumping Beans Fire & Rescue retail tags

glue stick

washi tape

narrow ribbon or yarn

scissors

Step 1.  If you have two Planes size/price tags, apply glue to cover the entire orange side of one of the tags.  Then bring the two tags together, orange sides facing each other, with the holes carefully lined up.  Then press firmly until secure.  Allow the glue to dry for a few minutes.  (If you only have one Planes tag and one Mickey cutout tag, then skip to the bottom for alternate instructions.)

Step 2.  Carefully cover the size information at the bottom of the tag with a piece of washi tape (see image above).  Be sure to position the tape so that it is parallel with the bottom of the tag.  Then flip the tag over and do the same thing on the second side.

TIP #1:  If your washi tape is thin and you can still see the size information through the tape, then simply add a second layer of tape on both sides.

Step 3.  Using scissors, carefully trim off the excess tape, following the shape of the tag.

Step 4.  Fold a piece of ribbon or yarn (approximately 8 to 10 inches in length) in half and feed it through the hole at the top of the bookmark.  Then bring the two cut ends through the loop you've formed and pull tight to secure. Trim the ends with scissors to make them even.

TIP #2:  For added security, I tied an additional knot right on top of the bookmark.

Step 5.  To make bookmarks out of your cutout Mickey tags, simply follow the instructions in Step #4.

If you have an odd number of tags, meaning one cutout Mickey tag and one Planes tag, you can still make a great bookmark.  Simply color the orange side of the Planes tag black with a permanent marker or cover the majority of it by gluing black construction paper to it.  Then apply glue to the black side of the cutout Mickey tag and glue it to the once-orange side of the Planes tag.  Again, be sure to line up the holes before pressing the two sides together.  Then you can pick up the instructions at Step #2.  When you're done, you should have a fun bookmark with a Planes theme on one side and a Mickey silhouette on the other!


If you like this easy craft, be sure to Pin It for later . . . 

Have fun at the movies!

Take a Peek at the New Kohl's Disney Jumping Beans "Planes: Fire & Rescue" #MagicAtPlay Collection

I participated in an Ambassador campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kohl's. I received promotional items and product samples as a thank you for participating.

In case your little Disney fan hasn't alerted you already, the highly anticipated movie sequel, Disney Planes: Fire & Rescue, will be coming to theaters on July 18th!  Although the movie's release date is during mid-summer, Kohl's has what you need now . . . the exclusive Disney Jumping Beans "Planes: Fire & Rescue" collection for boys!  I am a huge fan of sporty orange and blues together, especially on boys.  I am loving that these colors have been included in so many pieces in this new playground-friendly clothing collection found at Kohl's.  It makes it so easy to mix and match!

3 reasons to shop the "Planes: Fire & Rescue" line at Kohl's . . .

1.  A fun trip to the movie theater!  If you're planning to take your little Disney Planes fan to see the sequel in July, then be sure he's dressed properly for the occasion.  My two boys wore Cars movie t-shirts to see Disney Pixar Cars 2 in the theaters and you can bet they will be decked out in Planes apparel to see Planes: Fire & Rescue.  Each time your little one wears that shirt or outfit thereafter, he will remember the fun time he spent with you at the movie.

2.  The 4th of July is right around the corner!  Red, white, and blue is a color scheme that can be found in at least half of the pieces in the "Planes: Fire & Rescue" collection.  These pieces would be perfect to wear to celebrate on the Fourth and any day throughout the summer (and even early fall) after that!

3.  Back-to-school shopping!  In some parts of the country, children are nearly halfway through their summer vacation already.  That means back-to-school shopping is not too far away.  This new Disney Jumping Beans collection also includes long-sleeved knits, long pants, and hoodies.  Mix and match to make these pieces last your child through summer and into fall!

To view the entire Disney Jumping Beans collection for boys and girls, stop in your local Kohl's store or visit Kohls.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.