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.

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

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

The Jambu Tokyo Mary Jane . . . a Sporty Shoe with a Little Edge

Over the past 8 months, I have slowly been converted from being a loyal full time wearer of heeled shoes to a part time wearer of flat-soled shoes. I know that I feel taller and more confident in heeled shoes, but the comfort that flat shoes offer sometimes make me forget about that.  These Sporty Wedge Designs Tokyo Mary Jane shoes by Jambu have renewed my faith in heeled shoes.

One thing that bothers me about sporty flat shoes, other than their making me feel short, is that they are too casual and are only a half a step dressier than sneakers.  I like to wear shoes that will look just as stylish with a pair of jeans as with a skirt.  I loved the look of the Quebec ankle strap shoe, but my size was out of stock.  The main things that drew me towards the Tokyo Mary Janes were the details of the side zipper and the red contrast stitching.  Nothing is better than a little hardware to give shoes a little touch of edginess.  The combination of brushed suede and vintage leather is right in line with the Fall 2011 trend of mixed media clothing, shoes, and handbags.

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Although I very much like the look of these shoes, the comfort of the memory foam footbed was what made me love them.  That combined with the cushy rubber outersole made these shoes surprisingly comfortable.  One thing I had been worried about was that the wedge bottom would be rocky and unsteady.  I own a pair of clogs with a similarly shaped bottom that never fail to cause me to sprain my ankle because my foot would tip too easily.  It turned out that the bottom of the Tokyo shoe was not tippy at all and were very secure to walk in.

Something Jambu footwear is known for is their efforts to use recycled materials.  The outersoles of these shoes are made of partially recycled rubber.  The shoebox these shoes came in is 100% recycled, recyclable, and reusable.  In fact, there is a message printed on the inside bottom of the box that reads "A Keepsake Box for You - 100% Reusable".

To view Jambu's full Fall 2011 line, including the Sporty Wedge Designs, Metro Designs, Bare Feet Designs, and more, visit Jambu.com.  The Tokyo shoes retails for $120 and is available in Black and Moss.  You can purchase these shoes at Athleta.com.


Thank you to Jambu for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Review: Fall 2011 Karen Kane Fashions

The signature "look" around here for busy moms is a zip-up hoodie paired with yoga pants.  It's difficult to say if that even qualifies as a look.  Karen Kane's Taming Topaz Collection for Fall 2011 allows busy women to be comfortable, but confident, by offering coordinates in neutral colors that can be mixed and matched to create a number of stylish outfits.

I received the grey Texture Stripe Sweater with Pockets, the medium wash Flare Leg Jean, and the Infinite Scarf in black to experience.  I chose the Texture Stripe Sweater because of its boxy hip-length cut.  I like to wear boxy tops because of my less than flat stomach and it is surprisingly difficult to find wider cut tops that are not a tunic length.  This shorter length eliminates the "frumpy factor".  I also love the longer sleeves, which always make me feel cozier, especially during the fall and winter months.  I actually rarely wear sweaters because I become overheated so easily.  This sweater is light and breathable.  I would recommend that you layer a tank or a tee underneath on colder days or if you happen to be sensitive to wool, which makes up 5% of the fiber content.

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I really have never worn scarves apart from warmwear.  After trying the Infinite Scarf by Karen Kane, I think I am going to start.  Not only do I love the look of it, but this scarf is perfect for a scarf-noobie like me.  It is one continuous piece, so I did not have to fuss with how the ends hung, tying the scarf, or securing it in place with a brooch.  Again, like with the longer sleeves on the sweater, this scarf adds to the coziness factor.

The Flare Leg Jeans were a perfect fit for me aside from the length.  I usually take a size 10 and these size 10 stretch jeans fit me perfectly.  They have a slightly low rise, which is what I prefer.  I am about 5'5" and these jeans were quite long on me even with heels on.  Depending on the brand, I normally take a short or a regular length.  I might just have to cut these and let them fray at the bottom.  These could easily be my new favorite pair of jeans because they look and fit so great!

To view the Karen Kane Fall 2011 line in its entirety, visit KarenKane.com.  You can look for Karen Kane fashions locally in fine department stores, such as Nordstrom, Macy's, Lord & Taylor, and Bloomingdale's.  Also, remember to visit Karen Kane on Facebook and on Twitter.


Thank you to Karen Kane for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon.

My Photos (W/E 11/6/10)

I attended a blog event for T.J.Maxx and Marshalls last week. I did not have time to take too many other photos, so I had to steal some from the event to share with you. I am actually still going through the many photos and video footage I took, so these are really a sneak peak.

I took these photos on the second day when the buyers presented the hottest trends for Fall 2010 and gave us a taste of what's to come for Spring 2011.

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I regret that I did not bring my digital SLR with me because I thought it would be too cumbersome. Although these photos came out decent, the ones I took at a distance were not so much. I am crossing my fingers that my Flip HD did not let me down, as well.

Thank you for taking the time to view my photos this week! If you'd like to play along or see more great photos, stop by to see Lotus a.k.a. Sarcastic Mom.

Holiday 2010 Giveaway: Macy's IMPULSE Fall Fashions ($50 GC) [CLOSED]

Fall is in full swing whether you are ready to give up your warm weather wardrobe or not. As we saw last season with Macy's IMPULSE Spring Collection, the IMPULSE department at Macy's always brings you the most current trends. So what looks are on the The Hot List for fall fashions? One thing to look for is military style jackets, shoes, hats, and jewelry. You will also be seeing skinny jeans and pants. Ruffles have not completely disappeared, but they may be paired with draped silhouettes.

If money is tight for you this year, then be sure to have some key pieces that can be mixed and matched for different looks. For example, choose a top that will look equally as good paired with a glittery skirt as it would with a pair of jeans.

Two must-haves for fall would be a pair of dark-wash skinny jeans and a pair of military style boots. Then just alternate tops to change the look to easily go from shopping at the mall to an evening holiday party.

To view all the latest trends, stop by the IMPULSE department at your local Macy's store.

Thank you to M80 for providing information and images on behalf of Macy's for me to share with my readers and for providing a gift card for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a $50 Macy's gift card.

Limitations:

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. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Leave a comment telling me what one item you would love to add to your fall/winter wardrobe. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2)

For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) For 10 extra entries, register to receive news about Macy's exclusive sales and events. Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments telling me you did so.

4)

For 1 extra entry each, if you are a Friend of mine on Facebook and/or if you have "liked" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 1 extra entry each, follow Macy's on Twitter and/or "Like" Macy's on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook profile.

6)

Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7)

Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8)

Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9)

Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10)

Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

<br /> <a href="http://www.3garnets2sapphires.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd206/Busymonkeez/Graphics4Me/NEWBlogButton125x125.jpg" /></a><br /> <br />

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, November 15th, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Shop 'n' Share: Steve Madden "Twist Knot" Tote from Overstock.com

I turned 37 today. That's almost halfway to 75! I had no idea what I wanted for my birthday. I do have a not-so-secret love for handbags and I truly adore my Tignanello Touchables Bright Light Large Tote in soft red leather that I found for half price at Macy's almost a year ago. Still I thought maybe I could use a change. So I found this faux leather Steve Madden "Twist Knot" Tote on Overstock.com. I was really drawn to it when I first saw it. It combines the two popular trends of bows and chains. I decided this could be my birthday present, since it was half off retail.

When the bag arrived, the chrome hardware was just a tad brighter than I had expected. I wondered if I could pull this bag off. In my late teens and early twenties, I wore my black leather biker jacket with everything. Is this just an attempt to recapture my youth? Perhaps, but I do think this bag has some sophistication with a little bit of edge. Will I carry it throughout the upcoming fall and winter? That remains to be seen.

(I also had my husband remove the permanently attached shoulder strap. The design is already slightly complicated, so I did not want that extra set of rings and long strap hanging off those corner grommets.)

This article was based on my own personal shopping experience and I did not receive product or compensation for sharing it with my readers.