GAP Outlet Sale and Contest: High Fashion and Affordability

This picture is one of my favorite outfits EG has ever had in her wardrobe, in fact, I actually used it in another post talking about great fashion. The reason I mention it and posted again is because it came from Gap Outlet, one of my very stores for adorable clothing paired with fantastic prices! I speak from experience when I say that Gap clothes are meant to last, and you can see that they are precious. It is apparent that I am in love with clothes for EG, and it actually works out really nice that children grow so fast because I can buy clothes all the time...LOL. But, on a more serious note, it can definitely not be friendly on the wallet having to buy a new wardrobe every season. The way I plan for each season is to only shop sales and hit the outlet malls. Every awesome outlet mall I know has a Gap Outlet, and that's always my first stop. Truly. Another great tip for clothes shopping is that I sign up for the e-mail lists of all my favorite stores so that I can be first to know of any coupons or great sales they will have going on. I actually save a lot this way. Shopping for toddlers is so much fun and EG is at the age where she kind of enjoys it too. We'll go through a store and she loves to pick things up and say, "this cute Mommy". Adorable! I always go in with a budget in mind, and at stores like Gap Outlet you can really stretch your dollar a long way. Outlet stores not only have low prices to begin with, but also have great sales. A lot of times they are on current season items too. Ready to get shopping for your little one? Then Twittermoms has an awesome opportunity for you! Check out the contest information here, check out the Gap Outlet Semiannual Baby Sale with the new widget on my sidebar, and this link to Gap Outlet/Twittermoms for an extra 10% discount...wow! So many great, easy ways to get your child's wardrobe started off right! Happy shopping!

Practical and Fun Character Clothing and Accessories from Bella Love Boutique {Review and Giveaway} **CLOSED**

Congratulations to the winner, Brea's Mommy!

Result: 30 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

My favorite Disney character by far has always been Cinderella. I was never much for princesses in general, but who can resist such a sweet fairy tale as Cinderella? On our trip to Disney World I am most looking forward to the character meet and greets and character dining experiences, and of course that will include Cinderella. We've been trying to introduce EG to some of the chracters she may encounter on our trip, and I can't wait to see her face light up when she gets to see them in person (she may not want them to touch her, but I think she'll enjoy at least seeing them!). Naturally, these magical experiences will also create some really special photo opportunities. With all of these things in mind, I wanted a few special outfits that are character inspired for just these occasions. I am so thrilled that I was able to find many adorable outfits that fit the bill perfectly!

One such outfit is this gorgeous Cinderella dress from Bella Love Boutique. Designed to be strikingly similar to Cinderella's own light blue ball gown, as well as comfortable, it is an ideal outfit for wearing to Walt Disney World.

My plan for this particular dress is for EG to wear it to the parks and to our Cinderella's Happily Ever After character dinner. So excited!! I can't wait to get a picture of my little Cinderella with the "real" Cinderella.

Now as for this precious little dress...Kellie at Bella Love Boutique custom designs and makes each of her items just for you using your provided measurements. The fit is perfect! On the Cinderella dress, the light blue fabric is made of a lightweight cotton, and the accents are a white satin. The waist is elastic for comfort - no ties to keep tying all day or to be uncomfortable for little ones in the stroller, but still provides for a great fit. In my case, I wanted the outfit to fit more like a dress on EG, so I ordered it a little longer. It can be made to your specifications and can certainly be shorter to fit more like a top. Great versatility there. It is beautifully made, unlike many character costumes and outfits that, frankly, are not deisnged to last. This gorgeous dress/top is certainly made to last, as are the other items that Bella Love Boutique offers. It would be perfect for anything at Disney World whether it be shopping, dining, strolling the parks, riding rides, etc. as well as perfect for parties, dress up, or just for fun! I will definitely post a picture of my little one wtih Cinderella because this dress is designed to be a mini likeness.

Though simple and comfortable in design, all of the features that make Cinderella's dress truly "Cinderella" are unmistakable and are included in the design of this dress. The colors are spot on, the puffy sleeves, and peplums (fluffy parts on the hips...lol) are all part of the design.

And if Cinderella isn't your favorite princess, or you just can't get enough of these character tops, Bella Love Boutique also offers other beautiful tops to resemble the most popular dresses of Snow White and Belle. Your little princess lover would not be disappointed! The dress is beautiful and, as I've already said, I just can't wait for EG to wear it on our trip! In addition to the beautiful tops, Bella Love also offers other great items including these handy Mickey and Minnie drawstring backpacks. There is no cuter way to tote around all of your park necessities than in one of these. The backpacks come in either pink or red polka dots and feature either Minnie (with bow) or Mickey. They can also be personalized with a name or initial.

I opted for the initial so that my child's whole name wouldn't be visible for a stranger to see and call her (Heaven forbid something like that would happen, but better safe than sorry). The bags are nicely made and cute as can be. And at $10 it's a cheap and practical way to add a little Disney fun to your park supplies! Another great thing about these bags?

Their use doesn't have to end when you leave Walt Disney World. You can use them for sleepovers, dance accessories, baby dolls...whatever! There is always a use for a bag. Enter to win one of these adorable bags below...and be sure to check out Bella Love Boutique for some adorable custom items for your little ones!

To enter this giveaway follow the rules and entry guidelines below (US ONLY):

1. REQUIRED: Visit Bella Love Boutique, check out the shop, then leave me a comment telling me your favorite product.

To earn extra entries you may do one or more of the following and leave me additional comment here telling me which you have done:

2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet (be sure to leave me your Twitter name and a link).

3. Blog about this contest and leave the link.

4. Follow.

5. Subscribe.

6. Grab my button and let me know where I can find it on your site.

7. Become a fan of Mommy Works on Facebook.

**Be sure to leave me your e-mail address, if there is not a visible one in your profile, so that I can contact you in the event that you are the winner. This contest will end at 11:59 PM CST on Sunday, September 13. The winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond after being notified of win or another winner will be chosen.**

Hit the Resorts in Style with these Adorable Loungers from Baskets of Beauty {Review and Giveaway} **CLOSED**

Result: 38 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations to the winner, Vanessa!

What better way to lounge around the amazing Disney resorts than in a cute pair of Mickey loungers? I honestly can't think of one. I am in love with everything comfortable and know that EG is too. Honestly, who isn't? If I could wear my pjs all day I certainly would, and, if given the choice, I don't know too many people wouldn't. Moving along...I've heard nonstop since we've told people we are heading to Disney World that it is A LOT of walking. Knowing this fact (which I actually did know before everyone told me...lol), I figured we'd definitely be taking breaks and enjoying some of the resort amenities throughout our trip. Wanting my little one to be comfortable and stylish, of course, I set out to find some cute loungewear for EG. When I stumbled across these cute loungers from Abigail's Boutique Designs I knew they would be perfect. A pajama like pant in an adorable print that is cute enough to wear outside of the resort room. The fun Mickey print definitely caught my eye for our trip, but the style is actually what I fell in love with. The wide leg pant with it's elastic waist (no ties...love it), sweet bow, and button was a perfect look and fits great. The loungers come in sizes 3 months to 6 and are so cute on! They are very nicely made to your specifications and with quality materials. I love that the pants have a wide elastic waistband and no ties to deal with, but they still have the bow that is the only feature I like with a tie waist. It's the perfect accent for little girl's pants! The fit is so cute and, though long, very lightweight and breathable enough for hot weather. These will most certainly be comfortable for anything we decide to do without sacrificing any style. I'm so glad I stumbled across these loungers and that they come in so many different fabrics to suit anyone's tastes. Check them out for yourself by ordering a pair from Abigail's Boutique Designs. Even better? You can win a pair of your choice by following the directions below! Lounge pants not your thing? Then check out the plethora of other items offered in the Abigail's Boutique Designs shop from more cute clothing to homemade soaps to bows to other bath goodies and even more! She has TONS of items to look through and enjoy. Thanks to Robyn of Abigail's Boutique Designs for a great little shop and giveaway!!

To enter this giveaway follow the rules and entry guidelines below (US ONLY):

1. REQUIRED: Visit Abigail's Boutique Designs, check out the shop, then leave me a comment telling me your favorite product and which loungers you'll choose if you win.

To earn extra entries you may do one or more of the following and leave me additional comment here telling me which you have done:

2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet (be sure to leave me your Twitter name and a link).
3. Blog about this contest and leave the link.
4. Follow.
5. Subscribe.
6. Grab my button and let me know where I can find it on your site.
7. Become a fan of Mommy Works on Facebook.

**Be sure to leave me your e-mail address, if there is not a visible one in your profile, so that I can contact you in the event that you are the winner. This contest will end at 11:59 PM CST on Saturday, September 5. The winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond after being notified of win or another winner will be chosen.**

Adorable Disney Attire and Accessories from Head 2 Toe Designs {Review and Giveaway}

Result: 2 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations to the winner, Candy!

I was able to review three different, and equally wonderful, Disney inspired products from Head 2 Toe Designs. No Disney trip would be complete without some character inspired attire and the iconic mouse ears. In searching for these items, at the top of my list were cute mouse ears that EG might actually keep on. I knew that she would never keep on the traditional mouse ears hat so popular at the Disney parks, but that she definitely needed an alternative! So what initially brought me to Head 2 Toe Designs in the first place was the adorable mouse ear "bows", though once I looked through the site I learned there was so much more! I received the Minnie Mouse Lotsa Dots ear set, polka dot ruffle capris, and Snow White top to review. All items were of excellent quality and carefully constructed. I'll start with the ears...totally adorable, genius design, and stay put like a charm. These precious little mouse ears are sewn onto a metal barrette so that they can be clipped onto pigtails, perfectly positioned, and make any little one into their favorite mouse. The sweet bow added to one ear is the final touch. These definitely scream "Disney" and I am sure we will get more than a few comments about them when we go on our trip. Head 2 Toe offers the already made ear sets in two different sizes as well as the instructions on how to make your own. How cool is that?

Another awesome item I received is this beautiful Snow White top. It is lightweight and comfortable enough for wearing to the park while having all of the elements that make it unmistakably Snow White, including the red and blue striped sleeves. I can't wait for EG to meet her in person and get a picture of them together. I love that I can let her wear this top to the park without having to worry about her being uncomfortable or stuffy because the materials are all breathable and the top is designed for little ones in mind. Another great "park wear" item? These super cute ruffled capris. I love that you can pair them with the Minnie Mouse ears and/or a character top and make them totally Disney, but they would also be adorable every day with a cute white tee. They are, again, comfy cotton and very nicely made. I am thrilled to have been able to try out several items from one shop as that allows me to truly make broad statements about the quality of the products they offer. I would absolutely buy from Head 2 Toe Designs again and would urge you to check out the shop as well. There are so many cute items to make your Disney trip extra special. Want to get a head start? Then check out the details below for info on how to win $25 towards the item(s) of your choice from Head 2 Toe Designs!

To enter this giveaway follow the rules and entry guidelines below (US ONLY):

1. REQUIRED: Visit Head 2 Toe Designs, check out the shop, then leave me a comment telling me your favorite item and how you would spend your $25.To earn extra entries you may do one or more of the following and leave me additional comment here telling me which you have done:

2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet (be sure to leave me your Twitter name and a link).
3. Blog about this contest and leave the link.
4. Follow.
5. Subscribe.
6. Grab my button and let me know where I can find it on your site.
7. Become a fan of Mommy Works on Facebook.

**Be sure to leave me your e-mail address, if there is not a visible one in your profile, so that I can contact you in the event that you are the winner. This contest will end at 11:59 PM CST on Saturday, September 5. The winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond after being notified of win or another winner will be chosen.**

Create Beautiful Vacation Keepsakes in a Flash with Pre-Made Disney Scrapbooks by Jan {Review and Giveaway}

Congratulations to the winner, Abby!

Result:26Powered by RANDOM.ORG

One thing I really wish I had more time for is scrapbooking. I have a room full of supplies and no time to use them! I feel confident that they won't go to waste and some day I will be able to use them again, but right now there's just no time. By the time I get everything out and begin, EG is waking up from a nap, already tired of me scrapbooking, trying to "help" me (LOL), etc. One solution I have found for this problem is the wonderful world of digital scrapbooking. I don't have to pull out my supplies or cut out the shapes I need, etc. I can just sit at the computer, work a little while, and save. But to me, though I have become quite fond of digital scrapbooking, there is just nothing like your traditional scrapbooks. I love the embellishments, the 3- D quality, and the fact that it just looks so "handmade" like you spent hours and hours on making it look just right (as you probably did!). I'm behind on scrapbooking as it is, but I knew I wanted something special for our trip to Disney World. Knowing I would probably not get to actually making a scrapbook until EG is in college (LOL), I began looking for alternatives. Thus, how I stumbled across Jan's Etsy shop, Sweet Southern Belle, and her beautiful pre-made Disney scrapbooks.

I am so thrilled that she agreed to do the review and giveaway, and even more thrilled that my Disney scrapbook is nearly ready to go...and we haven't even left yet!!

I was able to review one of the 12x12

scrapbooks (2 pages pictured above), and I am so pleased with how nice it is. Jan uses well known, very nice scrapbook papers and embellishments (also many that are hand created!) to create some really beautiful pages. All I will have to do is add pictures and, voila, a beautiful Disney scrapbook to document our vacation! Jan has included many different aspects of a Disney trip including various characters (including a special page for my Ariel lover :), park specific pages, pages for different rides, etc. All of the Disney embellishments used are licensed products and stamps (hand painted by Jan), and all supplies are acid free. It is obvious that she puts a lot of time and effort into making these scrapbooks, just as she would her own. No two scrapbooks are alike, and they can be personalized if you have any special requests! The idea of a pre-made scrapbook is genius, especially for those of us who aren't so creatively inclined, and those of us who always seem to run short on time (probably most of us!). Another great thing about Jan's scrapbooks is that they allow you the ability to add extra elements and information if you want to (though you certainly wouldn't need to!). "Pre-made" doesn't necessarily mean that you can't put your own spin on it. Jan simply gives you a really nice head start! Basically, she does most of the work for you and puts it all together in a beautiful scrapbook that your family will treasure for years to come.

She makes gorgeous Disney scrapbooks in all sizes from 6x6 to 12x12 (which means there are a variety of prices as well), and also offers them in different styles such as acrylic, what she calls "eclectic" (clear with lots of fun embellishments!), and even decoupaged (like the one you can win!). I think all of the scrapbooks in Jan's shop are beautiful, and you can tell that a lot of time and effort went into their creation. I find that you will often see pre-made scrapbooks where it is obvious that the minimum amount of effort went into it. Not the case with these, and one reader will be so lucky as to win a beautiful 8x8 Disney scrapbook of their own! So whether you have already been to Disney or plan to go in the future, this would be an awesome way to display some of the pictures from your trip. No Disney pictures to scrapbook? Sweet Southern Belle also offers other beautiful scrapbooks and items including pregnancy scrapbooks, princess scrapbooks, hand made cards, board books, and autograph books. Go check out Sweet Southern Belle now, and be delighted by the wonderful surprises you will find (and pick what you like best so you can enter the giveaway for a Disney 8x8 scrapbook :)!

To enter this giveaway follow the rules and entry guidelines below (US ONLY):

1. REQUIRED: Visit Sweet Southern Belle, check out the shop, then leave me a comment telling me your favorite items in her shop.

To earn extra entries you may do one or more of the following and leave me additional comment here telling me which you have done:

2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet (be sure to leave me your Twitter name and a link).
3. Blog about this contest and leave the link.
4. Follow.
5. Subscribe.

6. Grab my button and let me know where I can find it on your site.

7. Become a fan of Mommy Works on Facebook.

**Be sure to leave me your e-mail address, if there is not a visible one in your profile, so that I can contact you in the event that you are the winner. This contest will end at 11:59 PM CST on Tuesday, August 18. The winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and notified on or around Wednesday, August 19.**

Unique Children's Lovables, Huggables, and Wearables from babybeenos {Review and Giveaway} **CLOSED**

Congratulations to the winner, ReggieMann!

Result:47Powered by RANDOM.ORG

**Edited to open giveaway to Canada also!!**

I love, love, love "traditional" children's clothing styles and fabrics. There is absolutely no doubt about that! But I also adore new, fresh styles that are totally cute and still made just for little ones...exactly like the styles offered by Marni at babybeenos. I feel like everything at babybeenos will absolutely stand out in a crowd while still being one of the most comfortable things your child will wear. Marni prides herself on using only the finest quality products to produce her creations, and hand crafts everything in her shop herself. Babybeenos offers many different styles including short and long sleeved (for Fall) peasant dresses, ruffle tank dresses, ruffle hem capris (super cute denim ones too!), peasant top/capri sets, hoodies, and more. In addition to the clothing, they also have adorable dolls and other children's items. I love that everything is kid sized and kid friendly, but the fabrics and designs still have a little bit of sophistication to them. I am particularly in love with the new Rowan sash dress for Fall! Lucky for me (and you too...details below), I was able to review my favorite summer outfit - the Bella ruffle tank dress and matching ruffle capris.

There is not a negative thing that I can say about this outfit or about babybeenos! I was so excited to receive the dress and capris, because it was so adorable online...and we all know that most things are even cuter in person. This was totally the case with both the dress and capris. Just by unfolding and looking at the outfit I could tell that it was of very high quality and extremely well crafted. This is certainly an outfit to pass down to future children! The fabrics and colors are beautiful.

Of course, there are many other colors to choose from if you don't particularly care for these. The styling of both pieces is gorgeous and unique as well. The ruffle tank dress has elastic in the wide straps which helps it to fit very nicely, and also makes for an extremely cute look. The straps and hem of the dress are in a coordinating fabric to the main body of the dress. The capris are made of a very fine lightweight corduroy and the ruffles at the bottom are made in the same coordinating fabric as the dress. Too cute! A side note...I was very impressed with the way the ruffles "stayed put" wash after wash without my having to iron them to straighten them out :).

Everything fit EG very well and was obviously super cute on. I have washed this outfit more times than I can count because I want EG to wear it all the time. Every time it comes out of the wash it looks just as beautiful as when it went in - no shrinking, fading, fraying, nothing! The labeling on the dress and capris was very professional - there is a leather logo/care label on the inside of the dress, and both pieces have a babybeenos leather label on the outside. It adds a nice "boutique quality" to me. I would absolutely (and will absolutely!) purchase more clothing from babybeenos as I have seen firsthand what excellent quality clothing it is. And for the awesome quality, customization options, and unique styles you can't beat the prices either. The outfit I reviewed comes out to $42 (the pieces are sold separately!). And, really it is more than just one outfit - the dress can be worn alone or with other pants, and you can certainly put another top with the cute capris.

Both of these items can be purchased right now at the babybeenos shop, as well as other cute summer outfits and adorable items for Fall. Some of my favorites are the Tuscany peasant dress/beanie set for fall (pictured - $45), the sweet Rylie pillowcase dress (only $20!), and the adorable and versatile Soho dark wash denim capris (only $20 - and my next purchase!). And did I mention that babybeenos also makes adorable dolls, blankets, and other fun stuff?? You can't go wrong in any season with these awesome clothes. Check out babybeenos today to purchase anything listed here and much, much more. Love the ruffle tank dress as much as I do? Then see details below on how you can win one of your own! Thanks to Marni at babybeenos for helping our children look even more beautiful and stylish and for an awesome giveaway!

TO BUY: Click here to check out babybeenos and purchase any of the cute items above. Be sure to tell Marni that you saw her shop on Mommy Works!

TO WIN: Visit babybeenos, pick out your favorite outfit, then come back here and tell me what it is and why.

To enter this giveaway follow the rules and entry guidelines below (US and CANADA ONLY):

1. REQUIRED: Visit babybeenos, pick out your favorite product(s), then leave a comment telling me your favorite items AND why they are your favorite/who will wear them.

To earn extra entries you may do one or more of the following and leave me additional comment here telling me which you have done:

2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet (be sure to leave me your Twitter name and a link).
3. Blog about this contest and leave the link.
4. Follow.
5. Subscribe.
6. Grab my button and let me know where I can find it on your site.

**Be sure to leave me your e-mail address, if there is not a visible one in your profile, so that I can contact you in the event that you are the winner. This contest will end at 11:59 PM CST on Thursday, August 6. The winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and notified on or around Friday, August 7.**

Adorable, Comfortable, Custom Clothing from Livi Stitches {Review and Giveaway} **CLOSED**

Result:54Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations to the winner, Swaddle Babies!

How many times have you said to yourself, "I LOVE that outfit, but I wish it we're in a different fabric"? I run into that problem all the time and have found Etsy to be an answer to many of my clothing woes. Many sellers offer a plethora of fabrics to choose from and recreate outfits you love in a fabric you love just as much. However, the problem I run into sometimes is that maybe I don't know exactly the fabric I WOULD like...I need some choices! I am horrible at describing to someone my tastes when they ask me what I like. Thus, when someone says, "I have tons of fabrics, just tell me what you like" I have a difficult time, and it honestly adds too many extra steps to buying an outfit. When I stumbled across Livi Stitches, I was immediately drawn to the adorable, toddler friendly outfits. She had many different styles of clothing (dresses, lounge sets, etc.) and many with various fabric and applique styles...and everything just looked so comfy. I was particularly drawn to the lounge sets for their comfort and practicality. And, to my delight, when you click on the item you want, all of the fabric and applique choices are right there in the listing and noticeably labeled so you can pick exactly what you want and communicate it easily at checkout. What a grand idea! When I contacted Livi Stitches about the review, Jennifer told to me to pick a listing and let her know what I wanted. All I had to tell her was that I wanted a size 2 contrast ruffle trim lounge set, with applique A4, fabric FC10, and the initial "e" (all information I found with ONE click to the listing). All of the choices were right there! Super simple and extraordinarily convenient! The way she has her shop set up is extremely buyer friendly, is very easy to follow, and makes for a super speedy checkout. Unlike many sellers, there is actually no need to contact her and ask her any questions before ordering. Piece of cake!

Now on to the outfits...it's no secret that they are adorable. Just look through the Livi Stitches shop and it is quite apparent that everything is adorable. But add to that high quality, designer fabrics and professional sewing, and you'll see that her clothing is made to last as well. We were lucky to be able to review the lounge set of our choice and chose the applique top and contrast ruffle capri set (I'll have you know that you can also order a lounge set without the ruffle, with the pants and ruffle in the same pattern, with an applique tank instead of tee, and the shirts and pants by themselves...just in case you were wondering!). The ruffle capri set that we received is the perfect outfit for an active toddler. It is so cute that it'd look great anywhere, yet it is plenty comfortable enough for play! The lightweight cotton capris have an elastic waist and a cute ruffle on the bottom for that girly touch I love. And the top is a white cotton t-shirt with a beautiful applique to match the pants. I love the different applique designs that Livi Stitches offers. They are so different from others I have seen, and are the perfect complement to the pants. Both the top and bottom have the Livi Stitches label and these outfits could easily be found on boutique store shelves. Everything together is just precious!

I would definitely buy from Livi Stitches again, especially considering the prices for a completely custom outfit, and the awesome customer service! The exact set we reviewed retails for $40, with other items ranging from $8 (bibs) to $75 (3 pc. set - dress, applique shirt, and lounge pants), and every price in between. All of the clothing items in Jennifer's shop have unbelievable customization options so that you can have exactly what you are looking for. Some of my other favorite items she has are this beautiful knot dress ($45), the shoulder knot aline dress ($35), and this adorable boy's jon jon ($40). I believe that Livi Stitches has something for everyone, and I can't wait for you to check out the shop! Be sure to figure out what your favorite item is so that you can come back and let me know what you'd spend your money on if you won the $25 Livi Stitches is giving away! See entry details below and happy shopping!

TO BUY: To buy any of the beautiful clothing featured here, and much more, simply visit Livi Stitches and shop to your hearts content! Be sure to tell her that Mommy Works sent you!

TO WIN: Visit Livi Stitches and figure out the item(s) you'd most love to have and why. Then come back here and post a comment letting me know how you'd spend your $25 gift certificate if you won!

To enter this giveaway follow the rules and entry guidelines below (US ONLY):

1. REQUIRED: Visit Livi Stitches, pick out your favorite product(s), then leave a comment telling me your favorite items AND why they are your favorite/who will wear them.

To earn extra entries you may do one or more of the following and leave me additional comment here telling me which you have done:

2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet (be sure to leave me your Twitter name and a link).
3. Blog about this contest and leave the link.
4. Follow.
5. Subscribe.
6. Grab my button and let me know where I can find it on your site.

**Be sure to leave me your e-mail address, if there is not a visible one in your profile, so that I can contact you in the event that you are the winner. This contest will end at 11:59 PM CST on Friday July 31. The winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and notified on or around Saturday, August 1.**

Your Little One will find their Happy Place in this Luxurious Beanbag by Happy Plop {Review and Giveaway}

My journey to find the Happy Plop started with my daughter's love for our dog, Maddy's, bed. As soon as EG started crawling I would often turn around and find her curled up in all the dog hair and slobber (okay so it wasn't that bad but that's what I immediately thought of...lol). I guess it was just that comfy...but it grossed me out and I had to find a way to keep her out of it! Our first solution was to but EG a dog bed of her own. That worked awesome for a while and then Maddy realized that there were two "dog" beds and she wanted both. Well, I guess I should have figured a dog isn't really able to tell one dog bed from another. EG's bed quickly became dog hair, slobber bed number two. This was certainly not a solution so I had to find something else that EG could curl up, snuggle, and just be comfortable in. I searched all of the local stores and everywhere online, and there just wasn't anything that would do the trick. Traditional beanbags aren't nearly as plush and comfortable, and they lose their shape way too easily. I was afraid a big pillow wouldn't really deter Maddy from thinking that it was also hers. But I had to find something. Luckily I stumbled across the Happy Plop website while searching online again one day. I immediately loved the name; who wouldn't? It just sounds so kid friendly and, well, happy. After browsing around the site some more, I knew I had to try it. Some reasons I fell in love...it is mom-created and designed specifically with babies and toddlers in mind. The Happy Plop is the one and only cotton ball beanbag, and supposedly the most luxurious baby seat available. They come in a variety of fabrics that are machine washable AND super cute. What's not to love about it right? It seemed like the perfect solution, and it has turned out to be! Here is a little more information about the Happy Plop and it's creator, Tina:

"Having a newborn every two years, Tina Trumeter experimented with all available baby seats trying to find a product that was appropriately appointed for comfort and design. Each baby would present a new dilemma, until she placed her youngest son in a convenient beanbag. While the beanbag was an instant satisfier, its lackluster composition with synthetic flattening pellets and less than luxurious fabrics was unsuitable for a baby. Thus, Happy Plop was created to perfect the beanbag chair and offer a natural and posh baby lounger.

Happy Plop is patent pending as the one and only cotton ball beanbag. Each Happy Plop is custom made and Austin Authentic guaranteed to stay fluffy and snuggle your baby through the toddler years."

Everything advertised about the Happy Plop has turned out to be true. We were provided a Lovely Leopard Happy Plop to review, and it has thrilled EG since the moment it arrived on our doorstep. It truly is quite fluffy and incredibly soft. The cheetah print is adorable, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that the cover can be thrown into the washing machine! As for the size, it is perfect also. EG is almost two and it is plenty big enough for her to lounge around in. However, it's a little too small for our dog, and sits up quite a bit higher than her beds (watch out for small dogs though, they'd love it...haha). Thus, Maddy pretty much stays away from it. The cotton balls inside the Happy Plop help it to maintain its shape and we can fluff it and "mold" it however we like. Sometimes EG likes to use it like a chair and we kind of scoop out a little "seat" and fluff up the back. Other times she kind of flattens it out and snuggles up in it (and often falls asleep). And, lately her favorite thing has been to sit in my lap and fall backwards into it (probably not the best thing, but oh well)...she affectionately calls this "popping" (plopping). She always wants to sit in her "pop", and to be honest I sometimes wish it was big enough for me! It definitely lives up to its name as it has brought nothing but happiness to EG. I think that with a little baby, this would be an excellent seat also. They would snuggle right in and feel so secure. The cotton balls also add enough loft so that a baby would not sink in so far that they would be in danger (of course you watch your child at all times anyway). This would definitely not be the case with a traditional beanbag! We've had so much fun with our Happy Plop and it is definitely well loved in our home. I know EG will enjoy it for a long time! If you'd like to enjoy your own Happy Plop, you can purchase directly from their site. They have tons to choose from and most are $145 (down from $185). Organic Happy Plops are also one their way very soon!

We love the Happy Plop so much that I asked Tina if she would be willing to do a giveaway to one of the Mommy Works readers. She so generously agreed to host a contest for a free Happy Plop, and also offered a great way to help the St. Jude Children's Hospital, a charity we decided upon together. It is obvious that Tina has a caring and giving heart as she has offered a special code that will donate $25 to St. Jude for each Happy Plop that is purchased with the code "MWB09". Thank you so much Tina! See details below for more information on how to purchase your Happy Plop and enter to WIN one!

TO BUY: Go to the Happy Plop website and purchase using the code MWB09. For every Happy Plop purchased with that code $25 will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Definitely share the code with your friends; it's for a great cause!

TO WIN: Follow the contest guidelines below. Best of luck!

Contest Details:

To enter to win the Happy Plop you simply have to comment and answer the following questions:

1. If you win, who would be the recipient of the Happy Plop (i.e. a friend, sister, your little one, etc.) and why?

2. What makes you (or your intended recipient) interested in the Happy Plop?

3. Why should you be the winner!?

All entries will be judged on creativity and the most creative entry will win, as judged by Tina and myself! I know others of you out there have to have a "dog bed-like" story! Share it!

***The contest will end at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, July 22 and the winner will be posted soon after, after all entries have been reviewed and judged. Winner will receive a Happy Plop of Tina's choice and will be required to "tweet" about their Happy Plop on Twitter after receiving it. All Happy Plops come with Twitter instructions and all owners are encouraged to tweet!***

Gorgeous Sun Protection for Every Day: Giggle Garden Floppy Sunhat {Review and Giveaway} **CLOSED**

Congratulations to the winner, TopHat!

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A beautiful hat is the perfect accessory to complete any summertime outfit. The only problem is that it is hard to find a gorgeous hat that is also practical and versatile. Case in point...we buy hats all the time in name brand stores, but they are meant to go with a specific collection and just don't go with much else. What's up with that? That stinks, because a hat is a must have just about every day to protect EG from the burning sun in steamy Alabama!

And we can't buy a hat for every single outfit, so we sometimes just have to go with whatever we have (and by now you all should know that it just irks me when EG doesn't match...lol). When buying hats we are pretty much left with a few choices: buy one for every outfit, don't worry about matching, or buy a boring, neutral hat that matches everything. None of those choices are really optimal, especially buying several hats considering money and the time it takes to find the right hat (at least in our house!) as you're trying to run out the door to go to work or wherever. Luckily for all of us hat lovers, Giggle Garden Boutique has come up with an excellent solution to our hat troubles - a GORGEOUS, versatile, practical hat - just like I thought didn't exist.

Giggle Garden's solution is their Floppy Sun Hat - a solid white sun hat with a beautiful detachable, oversized flower bloom that makes it simply stunning and easily interchangeable with just about any other clippie or bow (they have those too!) you can buy or, better yet, already have. What a fabulous idea! Their hat comes in a variety of sizes to fit your little one just perfect, and the bows and blooms are absolutely spectacular. Giggle Garden provided me with a variety of different flowers and clips to try out with the hat, and I was amazed at how such a simple change of clip completely changed the look to match just about anything.

I was lucky to receive this before we took our beach trip, so we were able to try it out there - where a hat is an absolute necessity for little ones. As you can see in the pictures, not only did it look fabulous, but it did the most important job of keeping EG's face and shoulders protected from the sun's harmful rays.

A side note...I have to say that, at first, I wasn't a huge fan of the strap around the hat. I thought that it would drive EG crazy and entice her to pull and yank at it. But, while at the beach, I quickly learned the value of it! With the constant breeze, the hat came off several times (especially while we were in the water), and the strap caught it every single time...so nice! And, if EG decided she wanted to take it off, she could do so without the hat getting lost in the Gulf of Mexico before I could catch it...lol.

Enough about that though. The pictures show just how beautiful the actual flower clips and bows are (although they still don't really do them justice).

The large bloom, that is one option when you purchase the hat (there are a few to choose from), is an oversized pink flower with a large rhinestone in the center - by far the one we received the most compliments on. And, the fact that it is a solid color makes that bloom alone able to match a lot of little girls clothes. But, we all know that everything isn't pink, so the option of changing out the flower to whatever you want is wonderful. I know most moms of girls already have tons of bows laying around the house, so it would be so easy to customize this hat. Even if you don't have tons of bows, it so much cheaper to buy a new bow than a new hat for every occasion. And, that way, you have the bow to wear by itself too. That is exactly what we did on the way to the beach. EG had a cute ladybug dress and Giggle Garden provided me with a cute ladybug bow to go on the hat. Well, she didn't need a hat in the car, so we just used the bow by itself. You can't get much more practical than that (oh wait, you can throw it in the washer too!), and the Floppy Sun Hat is cuter than any other sunhat you will find!

Giggle Garden offers several choices of hats including the pink bloom pictured, a ladybug bow hat, red/white/blue stripe bow hat, and more - at $22 you wont find a better deal on such a versatile accessory anywhere.

They also offer the bows and blooms that you can purchase separately, including their super cute oversize korkers (that also look precious on the hats...and only $6). Other coordinating products Giggle Garden Boutique creates are headbands, crochet beanies, hairbow holders, and, another favorite, their flower Giggle Flops. Just looking through their shop will put a smile on your face! Check out their shop today and see details below on how you can win your own Giggle Garden Floppy Sun Hat! Thanks to Giggle Garden for allowing me to review such a terrific product and for offering the giveaway!

TO BUY: Visit Giggle Garden Boutique where you can purchase all of the products mentioned above, plus more!! Be sure to mention you found them from Mommy Works.

TO WIN: To enter the Floppy Sun Hat giveaway, visit Giggle Garden Boutique and figure out the top product you'd love to have, and which hat you would choose if you won. Then leave a comment below indicating your favorites!

To enter this giveaway follow the rules and entry guidelines below (US ONLY):

1. REQUIRED: Visit Giggle Garden Boutique, pick your fav product, and leave me a comment below telling me what it is! Also be sure to tell me which hat you would choose if you win!

To earn extra entries you may do one or more of the following and leave me additional comments here telling me which you have done:

2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet (be sure to leave me the link and your Twitter name).
3. Blog about this contest and leave me the link.
4. Follow Mommy Works
5. Subscribe to Mommy Works via reader/e-mail

6. Grab my button, place it on your site, and leave me the link where I can find it.

**Be sure to leave me your e-mail address, if there is not a visible one in your profile, so that I can contact you if you win. This contest will end at 11:59 PM CST on Monday, July 20. The winner will be randomly chosen via Random.org and notified on or around Tuesday, July 21.**

Comfort, Style, and Quality All Wrapped in to Two Little Shoes: Vincent Shoes {Review}

We love shoes in our house just about as much a we love clothes. And when I see awesome shoes like these I get so excited! I mean, what good is a great outfit without the proper shoes to complement it? I was offered a pair of Vincent Shoes of my choice to try out and review. After browsing around their site (several times!) I finally decided on this adorable pair of Bettys. It was an extremely tough choice as there are so many cute styles! Close seconds were the Oskar and Olivia styles. I love that the Oskar is a sandal, but is still very supportive and protective like a sneaker with a closed toe. And, despite its name, the Oskar sandals come in a variety of colors and would be perfect for boys or girls. I also love the more "open" sandal styling of the Olivia also with the benefit of a closed toe for added toe protection. But, nothing could beat the adorable, flower-adorned, leather mary janes called Betty. I instantly fell in love with the style, and I knew pink would perfectly match most everything in EG's wardrobe. They are available right now in purple and white (and right now they are on SALE along with several other pairs!). Another feature I knew I would love even before receiving the shoes is the rubber toe guard on the end. One thing that irritates me the most about a lot of shoes is that one fall on concrete is the kiss of death for the toes! Who doesn't think of these things when creating shoes for infants, toddlers, and kids? When they're still crawling, their toes rub the floor. When they're toddlers they're still "toddling" (hence the name :) and fall all the time. And we all know how much any kid runs, jumps, and plays and how that will inevitably end up with the occasional accident. Thus, the toe guard is definitely needed! After having chosen the pair of shoes to try, I was eagerly anticipating their arrival and trying them on EG.

I must say that I was immediately impressed with the look of the shoe, and the obvious attention to quality and detail.

It was easy to see that they were very well made, and the fact that they were adorable didn't hurt! We used the sizing guide on the Vincent website to figure the size we needed, and the shoes fit perfectly. EG seemed very comfortable in them. They are extremely supportive to her little feet and are perfect for wearing anywhere! The only place I wouldn't let her wear them is somewhere I thought they might get filthy (way too cute to mess up!).

Although, the leather on the shoe wipes clean very easily. EG has worn this pair of shoes more than any others she has, and I can't wait to try out another pair of Vincents when she outgrows these.

My favorite feature about the Bettys in particular (and several of their other styles) is that they have the rubber toe guard at the end. Though EG walks very well she still stumbles sometimes, and, when she's playing, the last thing she's concerned about is not messing up the toe of her shoes. The toe guard has prevented scratched up shoes and I love it! We will definitely purchase Vincent shoes in the future, and I invite you to take a look at them as well. They have supremely cute styles for boys and girls of all ages! I can't wait to see what they've got in store for Fall!

TO BUY: Click this link to check out all of the styles from Vincent Shoes, and shop to your heart's content!

Put Your Fashion Foot Forward with these Unique Styles from Zaza Couture {Review}

Words cannot describe how much you and your little fashionistas are going to love this next brand of clothing that I was able to review! I contacted Zaza Couture after stumbling across their clothing in an online boutique. It immediately stood out as super fun and totally unique! I always love to see interesting and different combinations of beautiful colors and fabrics, and that’s what Zaza Couture is all about. They have some of the most beautiful color collections that I have seen, and use fabrics and designs you wont see anywhere else. Tereze, owner and designer for Zaza, truly has a gift and a passion for creating stylish and unique children’s clothing. She stays up on what the hottest trends are, and comes up with these beautiful children’s creations. I absolutely love that during each season there are multiple collections to choose from which include a different pattern/color palette, but similar outfit styles. So, no matter what your taste, there is sure to be something to please you! Zaza also offers all types of outfits (i.e. dresses, pants, capris, tops, etc.), and I think it’s safe to say that they can all be worn for special occasions or for every day play. Don’t play too hard, though, because you would hate to mess up these beauties! Since receiving our outfits for review, we have washed and worn them at least five times, and they still look brand new.

I know which outfits to run to if we’re going somewhere special and I need EG to look super cute and be comfortable all at the same time. I also go straight to these outfits for something comfortable to wear around town. We’ll definitely be sad when she grows out of them...but I guess that just means we’ll have to buy more! One of the outfits we reviewed is a dress from the Zaza Couture Spring 2009 Raspberry collection and the top/capri set is from the Zaza Bebe collection (sizes up to 24 months). Two totally different styles, but we love them both!

The Zaza Bebe outfit is a cotton top and capri set. It quickly became a favorite outfit of mine, and EG’s too. As soon as I put it on her, I couldn’t believe just how cute it was! Just a simple outfit change made her look so “special”, though since it was made of cotton, I knew it had to be comfortable too. She could run and jump and play and do just about anything in that outfit, yet when we were done playing we could have gone anywhere. The details on this outfit really helped make it stand out as well. The sweet ruffles on the top are made of a tissue weight cotton and have little satin ribbon accents too. Both the top and pants are adorned with sewn circle details in contrasting colors. No detail was left out, and everything put together makes for a beautiful outfit. The whole design is just darling, and the colors are absolutely gorgeous. The quality is impeccable and every single stitch has survived multiple washes and wears. It still looks brand new! Every little outfit at Zaza has something special to offer, including little details that you wont find anywhere else. Just look through the collections that they offer and you'll find something extra in every piece of clothing they make.

The dress that we reviewed is from the original Zaza Couture line of clothing Spring/Summer 2009 Raspberry collection. One thing I noticed immediately was that the dress was a "slip on" and had no buttons, zippers, or ties. This makes dressing so much easier with a toddler! Anything that you can literally just throw on is fabulous in my eyes. Though a simple slip on dress, it is anything but "simple" or plain. The beautiful floral design features beautiful "non-traditional" colors of mostly neutrals, taupe and a rich raspberry color (hence the name for the collection). The hem of the dress features ribbon detailing that is that little extra something special I mentioned above. The stiff ribbon detailing gives the otherwise simple style of the dress a very nice, girly shape. The fabric on the dress also made it "bounce" so cutely when EG walked or ran! Just adorable and, again, comfortable.

Everything Zaza Couture creates is absolutely beautiful in its own way! I truly believe that they make an outfit for everyone. With the variety of colors, fabrics, and designs there is something to appeal to everyone. And, no matter which outfit you choose, your daughter is sure to feel special every time she wears anything from Zaza. But, be forewarned, every person that you talk to will ask you where you got the outfit and how they can get one. And to tell you how unique Zaza clothing really is, I had one lady at a local shop ask me if EG was wearing Zaza. It really does stand out and people know quality when they see it. I would recommend Zaza Couture to anyone I know!

If you or someone you know has a little girl, then be sure to inform them about these beautiful clothes!

They would make an awesome gift for birthdays, showers, or any special occasion.

I am so thrilled that I was able to try out these clothes and actually talk with the designer and owner. Tereze, thank you for a gorgeous line of clothing and I hope that you continue making them for years to come!

TO BUY: You can find Zaza Couture clothes in many high end boutiques throughout the country. Also, a simple search on the internet will identify online boutiques that carry them. Check out the Zaza Couture website to check out all of the upcoming collections and to learn more information about how to buy. Be sure to take note of the Fall/Winter 2009 clothing (two collections are pictured)!