Find Poppies, Stripes, Fashion Denim, and More for Fall at Gymboree

Thank you to Gymboree for sending us a gift card to shop for back-to-school fashions and for providing an additional gift card as our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Fall is by far my favorite season.  I love the cool crisp air and it means that the winter holidays will be coming soon.  Even though our children say they love summertime, I think they are excited for fall to come.  They get to see all their friends at school again and they get to start wearing their cuddly knit tops and much-missed jeans.  Although I still shop for my children without their being present frequently, now that they are older, I sometimes let them choose their favorite items (within reason) in a store or online.  When I am short on time, I find that shopping online with my children is much more efficient and that is how all 3 children picked out their new fall outfits from Gymboree.

Somehow our 6 year old son, who happens to be the pickiest dresser, was the easiest to shop for.  It is not so much the style he is particular about than the fabric.  He will not willingly put on a pair of jeans.  One of the first shirts he saw was this Stripe Rugby Shirt from the Camp Yosemite Collection.  He and I both agreed that the rugby stripes and the color combinations were very handsome, but mostly I think he chose this shirt because it looked very soft.

The next logical thing was to see what non-denim pants were available in the Camp Yosemite Collection.  Since all the pieces in each of Gymboree's collections are designed to be color coordinated, this made our search a very short one.  Right away, I found the Jersey Lined Cargo Active Pant and knew they were perfect for my son.  Being jersey lined, these pants were extremely soft inside, plus he just loves to wear cargo pants because of all the extra pockets.

Our son was very pleased with the comfort of his outfit and we both loved the look.  I'm not quite sure the outfit goes with his Star Wars sneakers, but maybe nobody will notice.

Our 6 year daughter was not quite as easy to shop for.  She changed her mind several times.  This is when shopping online comes in handy.  I can put as many things in my virtual shopping bag as I would like.  If we had been shopping in-store, I would have been carrying around 5 or 6 outfits while she was making up her mind.

Ultimately, my daughter decided she very much liked the poppies in the Brightest In Class Collection.  We ended up with the Poppy Stripe Tee and the Flower Cuff Jean.  She was just in love with these button-adorned jeans and would only consider tops that would coordinate well with them.  I suspect that she was so enamored with these jeans because she collects buttons.  I hope she's not thinking of adding these to her collection . . . at least, not until she's outgrown the jeans.

As a benefit of being a girl, our daughter was able to choose some accessories to go with her cute new outfit.  The Poppy Flower Bead Bracelet was a no-brainer.  I thought a floral hair accessory would just be one flower too many, so I chose the Big Curly Pony Holder in Gym Navy Stripe from the Friendship Camp Collection for her.  Did I mention that I love to mix and match items from the various collections?

Choosing a pair of shoes was a tough task.  There were so many pretty boots and ballet flats being offered by Gymboree for fall, but ultimately my daughter chose the Bow Slip-On Sneaker.  She liked them because they looked comfortable and playground-friendly.  I cannot tell you how many pairs of ballet flats she would not wear to school last year because the mulch from the playground kept getting inside her shoes.  She also loves that there are little bows on top of these maryjane-style sneakers and that the lining is covered in hearts.

Our 9 year old son definitely knows what he likes and what he does not like when it comes to fashion.  He really wanted a pair of skinny jeans, but that is not a cut that Gymboree offers for boys.  He was ultimately happy with a Straight Jean in the slim fit.

For a top, our son chose the Hooded Double Sleeve Racer Tee from the Ace Driver Collection.  He loves the layered look and is always drawn to anything with a hood.  He also prefers earthtone colors.  This outfit paired with his skater shoes made him one happy 4th grader.

Just like his younger siblings, our 9 year old son likes clothes that look good, but are also comfortable to wear.  Being able to move freely in his clothing is key for getting through a long school day, but especially recess and gym class.

Here are some great promotions being offered by Gymboree (for a limited time only) . . .

• 30% off all regular priced items
• Additional 20% off already reduced items
• Free Standard Shipping on online orders over $75

To keep up with the latest fashions, sales, and promotions, sign up to be a Rewards Member and follow Gymboree on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

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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 number 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 number will be drawn.

The Tea Collection Semi-Annual Sale is On! (Plus a Promo Code to Save an Extra 25% off Sale Items)

The Tea Collection Semi-Annual Sale is already underway and, to make this highly anticipated sale even sweeter, there is a promo code you can use to take an additional 25% off all sale items for babies, boys, girls, and women!

I think my favorite find from this sale is the adorable Venda Shoulder-Tie Tunic (shown above).  It's priced at $12.50 for this sale, so it will be just $9.38 after using the promo code!  I like this top because, in addition to being super-cute, the straps are adjustable.  This means you can probably buy one size up so that this top can be worn for two (or possibly three) summers.  All our Tea Collection pieces have washed extremely well, so they there is no doubt that this top can be washed and worn with proper care for years without wearing out.

To get your extra 25% off all the sale items in your order, checkout using Promo Code 25SAVE at TeaCollection.com by 6/29.  As always, if you shop, come back and tell me what bought!

Giveaway: Reflect Who I Am . . . Inspirational Mirror Image Shirts for Women & Girls [CLOSED]

One of the most challenging things about raising a daughter today is ensuring that she has confidence and a positive self-image.  I really think I lucked out in this category.  Although our daughter is a perfectionist and is hard on herself when she disappoints herself by not mastering something right away, she is well-rounded and is confident in most areas of her life.  Unfortunately, the reality is that not all parents are as lucky as my husband and I are, but instead are faced with the challenge of raising their daughter's self-esteem.

Reflect Who I Am is a brand of graphic tees for girls and adults that bear a positive message that can only be read while looking in a mirror.  That way, whenever the person looks in the mirror, she will be reminded of something wonderful.  The design my 6 year old daughter chose was the mirror image of the message "I am Loved."  She received it presented so nicely tied with a satin ribbon along with the Reflect Who I Am logo drawstring bag.

Our daughter currently wears a girls size 6, so we chose the Small (6-8).  The style of t-shirt is a baby doll style and is meant to be fitted.  It was only slightly too large on our daughter, even after we machine washed and dried the shirt.  It will easily last us another year or two before she outgrows it.

Having a shirt with a mirror image on it was an extremely cool concept to our daughter.  She could not wait to wear it to school so she could challenge everyone to read it.

The Reflect Who I Am logo is also screen printed onto the back of the shirt below the neckline.

Since you cannot be there to offer encouraging words each time your daughter looks in the mirror, it is great to know that she will receive that message anyways.  I especially like the "I am loved" design my daughter chose, as well as the one that reads, "I am beautiful."

What a wonderful gift a Reflect Who I Am t-shirt would make to a girl, tween, teen, or woman who needs that extra boost of self-esteem.  Tucked inside our package was a little note from the Reflect Who I Am Team addressing the recipient of the shirt.  The note reiterates the message on the shirt and reaffirms how true that message is.  If you give a shirt as a gift, be sure to include the note with it when presenting the gift.

To view all the Reflect Who I Am t-shirt designs available and to read more about this company's mission, visit www.ReflectWhoIAm.com.  The girls' shirts retail for just $20 each, the adults' for $23 each, and the logo drawstring bag for just $10.


Thank you to Reflect Who I Am for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing additional product for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

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Good luck in the drawing!

Back-to-School: 6 New Girls Dresses from Tea Collection's "10th Anniversary Collection"

It's no secret that I love the globally-inspired children's fashions offered by Tea Collection, who has been offering clothing for girls, boys, and women long before my first child was even born.  In fact, Tea Collection is currently celebrating a full decade of fashion with their Tenth Anniversary Collection.  My personal weakness is the many girls' dresses Tea Collection designs in such pretty prints.  Pairing them with leggings allows my daughter to wear these comfortable dresses without worrying about being active both in school and on the playground.  I especially like how these short-sleeved dresses can be layered with a long-sleeved layering tee and leggings in the fall and winter and can be worn alone, with bike shorts, or with capri leggings during the balmier months.


Here are the six new girls' dresses introduced in honor of Tea Collection's 10th Anniversary . . . 

Tea Collection Sumi Floral Dress - $35.00 Part of our special 10th anniversary collection. The Sumi Floral dress had its debut in the Japanese-inspired part of our Fall 2007 collection. Inspired by a brilliantly bold and graphic hand-crafted Japanese textile. We brought it back in a classic wrapneck knit style dress. You're sure to be a classic in it.

Tea Collection Butterfly Dot Dress - $29.00 Part of our special 10th anniversary collection. This flurry of red butterflies on a field of blue dots made its debut with our Fall 2009 Japan inspired collection. Brought back in a favorite flutter sleeve silhouette.

Tea Collection Hanji Floral Wrap Dress - $45.00 Part of our special 10th anniversary collection. The Hanji Floral dress debuted in Destination: Korea in Spring 2010. Inspired by handmade decorative Korean paper. We brought it back in its original printed poplin wrap style dress with side tie closure. Be an original!

Tea Collection Sanga Dress - $29.00 Part of our special 10th anniversary collection. The Sanga Dress first debuted in Destination: West Africa in Spring 2008. Inspired by Mali motifs and hand-dyed textiles, the dotted swirls print is sure to become a favorite all over again.

Tea Collection Floral Vine Dress - $29.00 Part of our special 10th anniversary collection. The Floral Vine Dress debuted in Spring 2007 in our Turkey-inspired collection. It was inspired by decorative sixteenth century Iznik pottery, named for the town in western Anatolia where it was made. Its delicate floral pattern comes to life in style and grace on this pretty printed knit dress in a favorite flutter sleeve silhouette.

Tea Collection Kasato Stripe Dress - $45.00 Part of our special 10th anniversary collection. The Kasato Stripe Dress first debuted in Destination: Brazil in Spring 2009. It has a nautical flavor and is named for the steamer ship that brought Japanese immigrants to Brazil in 1908.

Which dress is your favorite?  I especially like the Butterfly Dot Dress since I have a soft spot for the color red.

Review: Charming Boy's & Girl's Clothing by Tea Collection

The lifestyle of a child is usually casual and relaxed, but I do believe that looking good does contribute to a child's self-confidence.  Not wanting to fall into the trap of t-shirts and sweats 7 days a week, I usually shop for children's clothing that is comfortable, easy for the child to manage, but is also put together well.  This is true for all the pieces I have seen while browsing the Tea Collection website.

I was invited to shop for my family with a $100 gift certificate.  It was quite enjoyable to shop on TeaCollection.com and I had a tough time deciding on what to choose for my children.  I think selecting an outfit from the girl's clothing was the most difficult.  At first my daughter wanted a dress, but her size was not available in the one she liked best.  She ended up choosing the Flores Layer Sleeve Tee and then I chose the Stripe Skinny Leggings to match.  I really love the look of a dress layered with leggings underneath, so I think I will need to go back and check to see if the dress my daughter liked has her size in stock now.

From the Tea Collection's boy's clothing, I chose a motorcycle-themed long-sleeved tee paired with the French Terry Cargo Pants for our 4 year old son and the Long Sleeve Henley for our oldest.

All the pieces washed very well.  These photos were taken after the clothing had been through machine washing and drying.  As you can see, all our Tea Collection clothing still fit wonderfully and there was no pilling or fading.  My daughter's layered tee seemed to wrinkle easily, but all the other pieces came out of the dryer wrinkle-free.

In addition to shopping online, you can find Tea Collection clothing locally in fine stores, such as Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom.  Their children's clothing prices are competitive with stores like Gymboree, but the styles are influenced by art and cultures from around the globe.  They also offer $8 flat rate shipping for online shoppers.  You can learn more about this clothing line by visiting TeaCollection.com, the Tea Collection blog as well as Tea Collection on Facebook and Twitter.


Thank you to Tea Collection for providing a complimentary gift certificate to facilitate this review.

Review: Supergirl by Nastia Clothing & Dancewear for Girls

Now that my daughter is about to turn 4, she is turning into quite the diva.  Although she still likes "pretty" things, she is more drawn towards bold, glittery, eye-catching clothing than towards the soft and subtle.  This new line of girl's clothing and dancewear called Supergirl by Nastia (by five-time Olympic Gymnastics Medalist, Nastia Lukin) has pretty much encompassed what you would envision a young "super girl" to be . . . fun, bold, and powerful.

For New Year's Eve, the Supergirl Chain Screen Tee was my daughter's choice to top off a pair of black shirred leggings.  I had her layer it over a long-sleeved tee since it was pretty chilly here in New England.  My daughter is actually a size 4T, but she is wearing a size 6.  Since the shirt is fitted, it was not overly large on her and will last her at least another year.  This is after the shirt had been machine washed in cold water and dried on low heat.

I have to say how impressed I am that this line of Supergirl clothing is able to offer a rock 'n' roll glam look with out being overly revealing.  I am not conservative by any means, but I really do not care for young girls and tweens dressing in styles of clothing that were meant for older teens or adults.  Speaking of impressed, my daughter, who has two Superman-loving brothers and who even has her own Supergirl action figure, was thrilled to have clothing with the Supergirl logo on it.

You can find Supergirl by Nastia t-shirts, hoodies, matching sweatpants, leotards, tutus, and more exclusively at JCPenney and jcp.com .  The sizes from this line cover girls from approximately ages 4 to 12 years old.  The retail prices range from $20 to $38 and you know you can always count on JCPenney to have a good sale or online promotion.  To learn more about the Supergirl brand, visit the official Supergirl website, Supergirl on Facebook and Supergirl on Twitter.

Thank you to Supergirl by Nastia for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Back to School 2010 Giveaway: Personalized Hoodies for Girls & Boys [CLOSED]

Have you ever seen a piece of children's clothing and wished that the brand made the same thing in your size? Well, that's how I feel about the Angel Dear Classic Hoodie Jacket from Makaboo. It is so soft and cuddly. I would like to have all my clothing, bedding, and upholstery made out of the same material.

This personalized hoodie comes with free embroidery so you can add your child's first name or initials on the front. That's one less thing I'll be required to label when she starts preschool. Plus personalized items always make my children feel extra special.

This hoodie, which is available in a size 0-6mos up to a 4T, comes in six basic colors. Whether you are shopping for a boy or a girl, you should be able to find a color that would be suitable for your little one. The ordering process was very user-friendly and included the following . . .

• Free embroidery
• 5 embroidery colors to choose from
• 5 fonts to choose from
• A reminder to verify your spelling
• A gift message option

This hoodie arrived quickly and nicely presented. It is ready to throw into a gift bag and is also presentable enough to ship directly to a gift recipient.

(Click any image to enlarge)

This Angel Dear hoodie is made of 100% polyester and is extremely plush. If it were any plusher, I think the embroidery would get hidden in the depths of the nubby fabric. I love how the jacket gently hugs my daughter at the wrists, the hem, and around the edge of the hood. The two front pockets are perfect to keep her little hands warm. She is wearing a 4T, which is her true size. I also love how the zipper matches the jacket exactly and is completely hidden when the jacket is zipped up.

This hoodie would make a great jacket for early autumn. It also can be layered under a denim, fleece, or barn jacket for even brisker weather. The hood is not deep, but does cover my daughter's ears, which is what is important to me. I think a deeper hood might be too bulky in this thick material.

To view Makaboo's full selection of personalized baby, infant, and toddler gifts, visit Makaboo.com, where you can receive Free Ground Shipping on orders over $100. Join the Makaboo Mavens mailing list to receive 10% off your first purchase.

Thank you to Makaboo for sending us a sample hoodie free of charge to base this review upon and for providing a second hoodie for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive an Angel Dear Classic Hoodie Jacket in their choice of size, color, and personalization (subject to availability).

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:

Browse the selection of personalized gifts offered by Makaboo. Then leave a comment telling me the name of the item you would like most to give as a gift (aside from the item reviewed in this article). 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, sign up for the Makaboo Mavens Newsletter . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments telling me you did so. Please leave the email you used to sign up, if it is different than the one in your profile. I will be verifying these entries.

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 MakabooGifts on Twitter and/or "Like" Makaboo 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.

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


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, August 16th, 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!