Weekend Wishlist: Nautica, Despicable Me 2, Cashmere, Christmas in July Sale, and More!

 It's Friday!  That means I've been browsing the new sales on Zulily.  I love shopping on the weekends because I only pay shipping on my first order and get free shipping on everything else from Friday through midnight on Sunday.  Zulily is in the middle of a huge Christmas in July sale.  Since we just got over a massive heat wave, I welcome thoughts of the winter holidays.  I have already started my holiday gift shopping, but I still cannot seem to wrap my mind around Christmas decorations yet.  Maybe after we get past back-to-school season?  I did add one holiday-themed item to my wishlist though . . .

What's new on my Zulily wishlist today?

1.  Despicable Me Boys Blue ‘I Didn’t Do It’ Tee - $9.99 (Originally $16)

2.  Forte Cashmere Melon Fringe Shawl - $29.99 (Originally $66)

3.  Nautica Boys Gulf Blue Stripe Polo - $14.99 (Originally $37)

4.  Ositos Shoes Girls Gray Falisha Boot - $12.99 (Originally $30)

5.  Godinger Origami Swan Cheese Picks - Set of Six - $7.99 (Originally $12)

6.  Atomic9 Black Universal Headrest Tablet Mount - $11.99 (Originally $60)

7.  Iris Tyler Red Leather Zip Tote - $68.99 (Originally $118)

8.  Boston Warehouse Snowy Owls Platter - $12.99 (Originally $25)


If you haven't already, be sure to checkout my post "6 Tips for Shopping on Zulily"!  What's on your weekend wishlist from Zulily or somewhere else?

Weekend Wishlist: "You Decide How To Survive" Adventure Book, a Dry-Erase Lamp, Pet Bunk Beds, and More!

It's Friday!  That means I've been browsing the new sales on Zulily.  I love shopping on the weekends because I only pay shipping on my first order and get free shipping on everything else from Friday through midnight on Sunday.  I usually make my wishlist on Friday mornings and share it on 3G2S right away.  This morning, I made my wishlist, but other things needed my attention.  By the time I got back to my computer this evening to type up this post, several of the things I had on my wishlist had already sold out.  Luckily, I was able to find a few more things I liked to make my top 8 most wanted for this week.

What's new on my Zulily wishlist today?

1.  The Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Mars [Hardcover] - $8.99 (Originally $13)

2.  Stella Leather Ottoman - $79.99 (Originally $137)

3.  Silver Dry-Erase Lamp - $27.99 (Originally $40)

4.  Pink Floral-Trim Scarf - $19.99 (Originally $42)

5.  Black Floral Crinkle Maxi Skirt - $14.99 (Originally $28)

6.  Hush Puppies Dark Red Leather Sonnet Flat - Women - $34.99 (Originally $80)

7.  RocSoc Pink Stripe Flip-Flop - $7.99 (Originally $13)

8.  Fire Red Metropolitan Pet Bunk Bed Set - $220.99 (Originally $400)


If you haven't already, be sure to checkout my post "6 Tips for Shopping on Zulily"!  What's on your weekend wishlist from Zulily or somewhere else?

Get Geared Up For Back-to-School with "Twinkle Toes: The Movie" by Skechers

If you recall, I had previously shared the Twinkle Toes: The Movie trailer in June.  After much anticipation by our daughter, who is already mesmerized by the line of Twinkle Toes shoes by Skechers, the DVD was released at the end of last month.  With our daughter taking dance lessons, I just knew she would enjoy this movie.  Although, I think her two brothers would have enjoyed the movie also, we had a little girl time with just the two of us, watching the movie and doing our toes.

Twinkle Toes: The Movie would be the perfect thing to watch for any girl who is starting at a new school.  This is what our main character Grace Hastings had to do at the Performance Arts Academy, where she earned her nickname "Twinkle Toes".  After a humiliating first day plus a few more thereafter due to her being subject to stage fright, Twinkle Toes ultimately discovers the source of the problem, is able to overcome her stage fright, and saves the school from being closed down due to budget cuts.

This movie presents the topics of how it feels to start at a new school, dealing with bullies and harassment, the misuse of the Internet, a girl being raised by a single father, and friendship.  Our 5.5 year old daughter enjoyed the movie and loosely understood some of the real life topics illustrated in the storyline.  Overall, she was mainly focused on the dancing and the sparkly shoes.

You can find Twinkle Toes: The Movie on Amazon.com and most other major movie retailers.  My DVD included a $10 off coupon good at Skechers.com to use on a pair of shoes for either myself or one of my children, which was a nice surprise.  This DVD retails for $19.98, but is currently being offered on Amazon.com for $14.99 with Free Super Saver Shipping.


Thank you to Click-Communications for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Back to School 2011: Classic Mary Janes from Venettini Children's Shoes

As difficult as it is to believe that school will be starting up again in less than two months, I am looking forward to it.  Fall is my favorite season.  I love the weather and shopping for fall fashions is much more enjoyable to me than shopping for shorts.  If you end up purchasing only one pair of shoes for your little girl aside from athletic shoes, I highly recommend a pair of Mary Jane shoes.

This pair of Venettini Kids' Jazmin Mary Jane shoes in Lilac patent leather is one of the most versatile pair of shoes my daughter has ever owned.  Their classic styling allows them to be paired with a skirt, a dress, leggings, khakis, or denim.  I also love the neutral colors available for these shoes, proving that not everything needs to be pink to be girly.

I must admit that I was concerned that the moccasin-style stitching around the slightly narrow toe would be uncomfortable for my daughter.  She normally wears shoes with more rounded toes.  When she first put the shoes on, she thought they felt "funny," but after about 15 minutes, the soft leather turned out to be extremely comfortable for her.

One of the features I like very much about these shoes are the secure Velcro closure.  The Velcro spans the top of the foot and is not just a tiny tab on the side.  I also appreciate very much that the strap does not need to be threaded through the loop every time my daughter puts on these shoes.  That is a huge time-saver.

Two other features I love are the extra cushy ventilated arch supports built into the leather insoles and the bumpers on the back of the shoe.  Those little raised bumps are not just decorative, but they also help to prevent the back of the shoe from being scuffed up so easily.

The best feature about this shoe is the ultra-flexible rubber sole.  Not only is it super-comfortable, but it also ensures security for when our extremely active daughter is paying attention to everything besides the possibility of slipping.

My daughter did quite a bit of dancing and jumping in these shoes.  Comfort was definitely not an issue.  It has, however, been very hot and humid around here, which caused her to realize that the shoes made her feet too warm after awhile.  Of course, I do not expect this to be a problem during the fall season when the climate will be both cooler and drier, and she will be wearing socks or tights.

To learn more about Venettini luxury children's shoes, visit Venettini.com.  You can purchase Venettini shoes from major shoe retailers, such as Zappos.com, Shoes.com, Amazon.com, and SaksFifthAvenue.com.


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

Review: Girls Pediped Flex "Grace" Shoes for Spring 2011

My daughter was first introduced to pediped Flex shoes when she was only 2-1/2 years old with the Giselle sandals.  She just fell in love with them.  Then last fall she wore the Giselle leather Mary Janes for the first day of school.  Needless to say, we are huge fans of the pediped Flex Fit System.  We completely understand why pediped footwear has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance as a shoe that promotes healthy foot development in children.  Most recently, pediped received an endorsement by researches associated with Harvard Medical School and Boston's Children's Hospital in recognition of pediped shoes' roomy rounded toes, ultra-flexible soles, and extremely breathable designs.  This all proves what we already know about pediped, that a shoe can be cute and fun, while still giving our children the room, support, and flexibility that was once only associated with athletic shoes.

The pediped Flex shoes, aside from the sandals, all come with an extra pair of insoles, which give parents the option of purchasing a shoe in a half-size larger than their child currently needs.  Once the child grows into the shoe, then the parent can remove the extra insoles, making these shoes last months longer than an average pair of shoes.  We have always used the insoles in the past, but this time the Light Pink Sparkle Grace canvas Mary Jane fit my daughter perfectly, to her delight.

The pediped Foundation . . . 

In 2010, the pediped Foundation was established as a philanthropic entity to support children's charities.  Since it was founded, over $1,000,000 of funds and pediped products have been donated to better the lives of children, not just in the United States, but around the world.

Visit pediped.com to shop and view all the new arrivals in Originals (for children 0-24 months), Grip 'n' Go (for sizes 4 to 7), and the Flex Collection (for sizes 5 to 13.5).  You can also find out more information by visiting pediped on Facebook and Twitter.

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

Back to School 2010: pediped Flex Adjustable Fit Girl's Shoes

Just about a year ago, I had tried pediped children's shoes for the first time in the form of girl's leather sandals for my daughter. I was extremely impressed with the pediped Flex sole on those sandals then, but seeing the Flex sole combined with the custom fit feature of these Giselle leather mary jane shoes made me an even bigger fan of pediped.

The pediped Flex is the line of shoes especially designed for walkers in the pediped Footwear System. The Flex shoes are available for both boys and girls who are approximately ages 1 to 6. This line includes casual shoes, dress shoes, athletic shoes, and boots . . . everything your child needs for back-to-school.

Aside from the ultra-flexible sole and the supple leather upper, what impressed me the most about this shoe is the extra set of insoles that are included in the box.

These insoles are meant to be placed under the existing insole of the shoe. They not only provide an extra cushion for added comfort, but they extend the life of the shoe for your child. Our children go up a half size about every 3 or 4 months as far as shoes go. Adding an extra set of insoles to shoes normally make them 1/2 size smaller. So you can purchase shoes just slightly larger than your child needs and have them use the extra insoles until their feet grow a bit. When it is time, you can remove the extra set of insoles and for a roomier fit.

I am loving these Giselle shoes for fall! They will go well with everything from jeans to skirts to dresses. Plus it is wonderful to be able to have an option other than sneakers when looking for a really comfortable shoe. My daughter loved these so much the first time she put them on that she wore them in the house all day long. She would never do that if they bothered her feet at all.

The same style of the Giselle is also available in pediped's new Grip 'n' Go shoes collection designed for toddlers ages 9 months to 3 years old. Both styles of the Giselle retail for $45.

To view the new fall styles in children's shoes, visit pediped.com . You can order pediped shoes right on the website or use their store locator to find additional retailers. You can also find pediped on Facebook and on Twitter. For a limited time, you can receive Free Ground Shipping on orders of $75 or more when you use Code: 75Ship at checkout!

Thank you to pediped for sending us a sample pair of shoes free of charge to base this review upon.