Fun & Trendy RMLA Girls Fashions {plus 20% Off Sophia's Style Promo Code}

Thank you to Sophia's Style for providing a gift code for us to shop their site for girls summer fashions and for providing a 20% off promo code for my readers.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Have you and your daughter ever shopped on SophiasStyle.com? This online boutique offers everything from school uniforms to formal wear and everything in between for both boys and girls.  Be sure to set aside a chunk of time because your daughter will want to look at everything her favorite brands have to offer, such as KidCuteTure, Hello Kitty, Sophie Catalou, and more.  One brand our daughter owns quite a few dresses from is RMLA.  She loves them all because this brand adds a lot of special touches that make their clothes especially fun for girls to wear.

RMLA Colorful Kaleidoscope Knotted Top Hi-Low Sleeveless Dress

We spent quite a long time shopping on Sophia's Style.  Of the many things that were added and removed from our shopping bag, this RMLA Kaleidoscope Knotted Top Hi-Low Sleeveless Dress was the one item our daughter was not indecisive about.  It was love at first sight for her.

Our daughter wore this dress to a birthday party this summer.  It was a country-themed party with straw hats and mustaches.  This was really the perfect dress because the knotted denim top with the rhinestones on the faux flap chest pockets gives the dress a hint of country western style.  The high-low hemline and lightweight colorful printed fabric makes this dress ideal for summer.

RMLA Stripe Flower Lace Skirt Cardigan Top Outfit and Bixbee Pink Sparkalicious Girls Medium Duffle Bag

In addition to the RMLA dress, we ordered this super-cute and sporty RMLA Cobalt Blue Stripe Flower Lace Skirt Cardigan Top Outfit.  Lace overlay seems to be a huge trend this summer.  This outfit features a faux tie-front cardigan trimmed with lace at the sleeves and has built-in shorts underneath the skirt.  The floral applique on the striped top is also embellished with rhinestones.  This RMLA 2-piece set also comes in Pink, Purple, and Seafoam.  I was tempted to get one of each color because this is such a cute outfit and it's playground-friendly, making it perfect for back-to-school.

Oh, I can't forget to tell you about the Bixbee Pink Sparkalicious Medium Duffle Bag!  Can you guess what's inside?

Yes, this pink glittery duffle bag now houses our daughter's Taekwondo uniform for her to bring to and from class.  Just because she can break boards with her hands, elbows, and feet, doesn't mean she can't have a pretty Taekwondo bag, right?

Do you have a confident, colorful, girly-girl who would love RMLA fashions as much as my daughter?  Before you shop, grab SophiasStyle.com promo code: KARENSFRIENDS to save 20% off your entire purchase through 7/6/2015.

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?

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Shop RUUM American Kids Wear's Stylish Looks for the Playground! #MakeRUUM4Summer

Thank you to RUUM American Kids Wear for providing a gift card to facilitate this children's fashion Shop 'n' Share feature.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I know a lot of you are already thinking about summertime, but spring just really got started for us here.  These photos were taken less than 3 weeks ago on the first real no-jacket-required afternoon.  The truth is that we never know how long the spring weather will last around here.  Some years, it only last for two weeks and we suddenly find ourselves in shorts weather.  Also, our children still have a month and a half of school left.  I need to keep all these factors in mind when shopping for their warm-weather clothes.

One of the staples in my children's wardrobes are RUUM graphic tees.  The designs are extremely appealing to my 7, 7, and 10 year old, not to mention that they are soft, durable, and affordable.  These short sleeved graphic t-shirts follow our school's no-tank-tops dress code and will carry our children from the spring, through summertime, and into early fall.  They always each own several in their current size year-round.

Our children created their own outfits from RUUM American Kids Wear.  Take a look at what they each chose for themselves . . .

Luke is wearing the Big City Tee layered over the Short Sleeve Heather Crew in Washed Orange.  He paired those with the Washed Olive Cargo Pant and the CBlock Baseball Hat in Tin.

Makenzie fell in love with the Unicorn Graphic Tee.  To match this whimsical top, she chose the Super Soft Skinny rolled-cuff colored denim in Deep Mauve, the Purple Sequin Sneaker, and the Printed Metal Sunglasses in Island Pink.

Jake chose the "Unstoppable" Tie Dye Tee in Canteen layered over the Short Sleeve Heather Crew in Stone and paired with the Rugged Wash Skinny Straight Slim Rugged denim.  Our fedora-addict completed the outfit with the Washed Jeans Solid Fedora.

Although we are lucky enough to have a RUUM American Kids Wear store nearby, I shop on their website quite often.  They always have awesome sales and reduced or free shipping offers, plus I can browse the selection with one child at a time without having to keep track of what the other two are up to.  I love that all the clothes at RUUM are both kid-approved and parent-approved.  It makes shopping for clothes so much easier, especially as our children get older.

RUUM American Kids Wear offers clothing sized for children as young as newborns all the way up to early teens.  Be sure to sign up for their special offer emails at www.RUUM.com.

Kohl's Executive plus 4 Fashion Bloggers Reveal the Must-Have Fashion Items for Spring 2014! #SpringAtKohls #MC

I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Kohl’s. I received a gift card as a thank you for participating.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Whether spring has already sprung where you live or you're expecting yet another snowstorm, your mind is probably thinking about walking outside into the sunshine wearing your favorite sleeveless dress and peep-toe flats.  Before you start replenishing your spring wardrobe, find out what the prevalent trends are for the season by checking out the Kohl's Spring Fashion Google Hangout, where Kohl's Vice President of Trend, Sofia Wacksman, along with four popular fashion bloggers, reveal the must-have fashion items for Spring '14.

My three favorite spring fashion trends this year are the pink hues, rolled cuff denim, and feminine blouses.  Pink is one of my go-to colors for the warmer months and looks very flattering with most skintones, as well as most hair and eye coloring.  Although I have a few pairs of roll cuff denim already, I look forward to picking up one or two new pairs in fashion colors at Kohl's.  Lastly, relaxed feminine blouses are the perfect alternative to grabbing a t-shirt and hoodie for a slightly less casual look without sacrificing comfort.

For more fashion insights, watch the Kohl's Spring Fashion Google Hangout.  Also be sure to visit Kohl's on Facebook and these four savvy fashion blogs:

Looking Fly on a Dime

A Daily Dose of Toni

Thrifty and Chic Mom

Daily Curlz

Spring is in Full Swing with Brightly-Colored Fashions at Gymboree!

Thank you to Gymboree for providing a gift card for me to shop and share my experience with my readers and for providing an additional gift card for our contest prize. All opinions expressed are my own.

Spring has only just begun to show itself here in Massachusetts.  Our children are extremely excited about being able to wear short-sleeve tees (without a jacket), short pants, capris, skorts, and dresses.  They really could not wait to celebrate the warmer weather with new outfits from Gymboree, especially since I told them they could each choose their own outfits themselves.

Our 6 year old son loves wearing graphic tees and only ever objects to one thing . . . jeans.  He was the easiest to dress.  Once I showed him this cool looking Motorcycle Ringer Tee from the Summer Wheels Collection, he gave his full approval right away.  I then showed him how the ringer tee looked with the coordinating Dusty Blue Plaid Cargo Short.  Done!  He was off to sit in the children's waiting area in front of the TV, while I moved onto his slightly more difficult siblings.

I have to say that I love these Dusty Blue pieces accented with brown.  It's like a "big kid" version of the boutique baby blue and brown color combination.  Plus, I knew this outfit would look very smart with the brown canvas slip-on shoes he already owned.  A cool shirt and comfortable shorts was all that was needed to make this little guy happy.

Our 6 year old daughter takes after me . . . she just loves to shop!  I knew she would find lots of pieces that she liked and there would be some indecisiveness.  Overall, she seemed to be drawn to the corals and oranges, so that helped us narrow our search down to within the Surf Adventure Collection.  She really fell in love with the Embroidered Flower Chambray Capri Jeans.  I had to admit they were just adorable with the embroidered flowers down one leg and a little grosgrain bow at the waist.  I almost had to disappoint her because, when I held the capris up to her in her regular size, they looked huge at the waist.  Luckily for us, like many of Gymboree's pants, these came in "slim" and "plus size".  So we grabbed a pair in Size 6 Slim and began our search for a top.

Our daughter ended up choosing the Button Corsage Flower Ruffle Tank, which I was thrilled about because it was girly, but not too frilly.  She had also been eyeing the Sparkle Bead Ribbon Necklace and matching Sparkle Bead Bracelet.  I really did not feel that the outfit needed a necklace, but we did buy the bracelet plus the Ribbon Corsage Pony Holder.  This outfit fit our daughter's personality very well.  She wants to dress like a "big girl", but still likes to look girly and sweet.

While shopping with our 9 year old son, I learned something about him that I did not know . . . he is not crazy about plaid.  I found this out when I suggested several pairs of the plaid and madras shorts to him. He insisted that he wanted a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.  So I found a pair of Dark Wash Classic Jeans in Slim Fit for him.  He is currently in between sizes, so the jeans were a bit loose-fitting and longer than he is used to, but they still worked.  Besides, if he continues to grow at the same pace, we will be lucky if these jeans still fit him when fall arrives.

Jeans go with almost anything, so we began to look for a top our son would like.  He wanted no part of the polos or the button down wovens, but he did really like the sport-themed ringer tees.  He ended up choosing Soccer Player Tee from the Gone Surfin' Collection.  He also started eyeing the boys' sunglasses, but, when I looked at them, I noticed that the largest size offered is 4 and Up.  We lucked out though!  These Swim Sunglasses have straight and flexible sides, so our son found them to be very comfortable.

All 3 of our children and I were thrilled with the items we chose.  One thing I love about Gymboree clothing is that they last forever.  We washed all these pieces before we put them on our children.  There were no signs of shrinking, pilling, or fading.  From my past experience, Gymboree clothing will still look new (if my children manage not to stain them) by the time they have been outgrown by my children.  Our younger son always inherits his big brother's clothes and it's a good feeling to know that his Gymboree clothes do not look like hand-me-downs at all.  They are always the pieces I feel very comfortable handing down to the younger children in my circle of family and friends.  I am always so happy when there is a sale going on at Gymboree because I know I am getting top quality clothing at a great price.

To view all the Gymboree collections for Spring and Summer 2013, visit www.Gymboree.com.  Be sure to enroll in Gymboree Rewards, if you haven't already.  Also, if you shop right now, you can earn $25 in Gymbucks for every $50 you spend in-store or online, where you can get Free Standard Shipping on orders over $75.  As always, if you shop, be sure to come back and tell me what you bought!

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Cure Spring Fever with Tea Collection's Spring Holiday Dressing

Even though Spring will be arriving in just two days, we have not seen any signs of Spring here in Massachusetts.  In fact, it is snowing outside right at this very moment.  So, how do you cure Spring fever at your house?  I usually do so by adding items to my children's warm-weather wardrobe (and maybe one or two items to my own).  One of my favorite things about March is seeing all the adorable dressy Spring clothing for boys and girls to look their best on Easter and other Springtime holidays.

Pictured above is the Tea Collection Blooming Lily Shift Dress and the Sethunya Floral Dress for girls.  For the boys, we have the Dance Print Shirt and the Two Oceans Sweater Vest.  All adorable items that look both kid-friendly and easy to wear.  After all, being dressed up does not mean your children need to be uncomfortable.  Is it feeling more like Springtime yet?  To get a bigger taste of Spring, visit Tea Collection and save 10% off your order today!

uncomplicate. Your Life with J.Jill this Spring

 For some women, it is difficult to imagine looking put together, feminine, and confident while being completely comfortable . . . both in her own skin and her clothes.  The truth is that how complicated her outfit is directly affects how complicated her day will be.  What woman needs to add worrying about having something out of place, taking a less-than-graceful step in her high heels, and being uncomfortable to her already busy day?  Not this one!

For Spring 2013, J.Jill has gone all out to help women uncomplicate. their lives in two ways.  The first is through a new collection of separates, dresses, shoes, accessories, and jewelry all done in neutral and soft tones.  These pieces are easy to coordinate and make it very simple to create worry-free ensembles for work, home, and play.


The second way J.Jill is kicking off the uncomplicate. campaign is by partnering with More, Martha Stewart Living, and Real Simple Magazines to offer three incredible prizes for their Give the Gift of uncomplicate. Sweepstakes on Facebook . . .

• Grand Prize #1 is a dinner party courtesy of Martha Stewart Living plus a $500 J.Jill shopping spree. (Must enter before April 1st, 2013)
• Grand Prize #2 is a closet makeover with a Real Simple organization specialist plus a $1000 J.Jill shopping spree.  (Must enter before April 8th, 2013)
• Grand Prize #3 is a head-to-toe style makeover by More magazine plus a $1000 J.Jill shopping spree.  (Must enter before April 25th, 2013)

Enter to uncomplicate. the life of  a special woman you know by submitting her photo and telling J.Jill why she deserves one of those fantastic Grand Prizes.  Entries will be judged on creativity and relevance.  Go here to read the official contest rules.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about J.Jill's new uncomplicate. campaign.  Please remember to enter to win a $100 J.Jill gift card below.


Thank you to J.Jill for providing the images, information, and gift card for our contest prize and for giving me a gift card as a thank you for taking the time to participate in this contest.  All opinions expressed are my own.

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Shop 'n' Share: The Best Remedy for Spring Fever is a New Handbag!

We have had some very Spring-like and even summer weather here in Boston the past few days.  It was not like this a couple of weeks ago.  In fact, we had snow on the ground at the beginning of March (you can see it in my photos).  Even though I dreaded the thought of Springtime allergies, I was still suffering from a mild case of Spring fever.

During one of those rare moments when I found myself with an extra half an hour to kill, I wandered into our local T.J.Maxx and came upon this Nicole Lee Bedelia Foliage Tote in Mint for just $39.99.  As you can see on the designer's website, this bag retails for $90.  I have been wanting a bag in either a mint green, pale yellow, or coral this Spring and now I can cross that off my wishlist!

I do not often buy bags that are not a classic style because I tend to use ultra-trendy bags for a month and then in the closet they go, but I loved the color of this bag, the structured shape, the size of the double handles, and the hardware detail of the studs, rings, and grommets.  I will most likely use this bag without the removable shoulder strap.  So far, the best price I could find online for this bag is $76 plus shipping on Amazon.com, so I am extremely happy with my find.

(Below is just a random cat photo for your enjoyment.)

I purchased this product with my own funds and did not receive compensation for sharing my shopping experience with my readers.