Spring Rings from Chamilia – Perfect for Your Valentine

February 9, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Looking for something for your Valentine? Perfect for the “big day”, or for anytime really- these new rings from Chamila are both beautiful and something that can be worn differently as she so chooses. Stacked, singly, or in combinations, these are beautiful and easy to wear with just about any outfit.

valentines day

Chamilia (www.chamilia.com), a Swarovski company, has introduced three new stackable rings. The entire Chamilia line is made from sterling silver or 14 karat gold and features genuine Swarovski Crystals and Swarovski Zirconia. The brand follows strict Swarovski guidelines for quality and aesthetic standards.

“Stackable rings have been a popular offering from Chamilia since their introduction,” said Chamilia Vice President, Global Merchandising and Marketing Catherine Ottaviano. “Each year we introduce new styles that integrate into existing Chamilia collections so that our customer can continue to feed her need to stack and coordinate with what she is already wearing.” 

Chamilia now has these three new stackable ring styles, including:

  • Latitude Points Ring—This bright sterling ring features an open band with Swarovski Pure Brilliance Zirconia set on each endpoint (U.S. MSRP $40).
  • Ornamental Drift Ring—This sterling silver band with bright finish features a pattern of meandering curls with Swarovski Pure Brilliance Zirconia detailing (U.S. MSRP $55).
  • Pavé Circle Ring—This sterling silver ring, features an open circle set with pavé Swarovski Pure Brilliance Zirconia at the top of the band (U.S. MSRP $45).

Items from Chamilia’s Spring 2018 collection are available now and will be sold at the brand’s more than 1,000 retail partners worldwide and on the Chamilia website. For more information, please go to www.chamilia.com.
Filed Under: fashion, holidays, review Tagged With: , , ,

Really Tall Man? Try TallOrder.com (And Enter to WIN! )

January 24, 2018 by 74 Comments

 

Got a really tall guy on your shopping list? TallOrder.com isan online fashion brand that caters to the big and tall market, provides socks for men with big feet, shoe sizes 12-20. It’s a category that has been severely underserviced – until now. Family, friends and significant others with tall men in their lives can gift them with an accessory that helps them express their personal style.

 These socks are soft and comfortable to wear, as well. Long enough to cover as much as you would want to, and fun themes and patterns to choose from. A portion of your purchases will also go to “Tuesday’s Children”, a nonprofit organization that helps children after traumatic events.

A little bit about the founders;

“Standing at 6’11” and 6’9”, twin entrepreneurs from Long Island, Mike and Dan Friedman, have been reaching new heights all their lives. Growing up, the brothers stood out for their size and were commonly referred to as the “Twin Towers.” Sadly, this nickname would take on a much different meaning when they were 11 years old and lost their father, Andrew Friedman, in the World Trade Center attacks.

The Friedmans were overwhelmed by the unwavering support and kindness they received from their community and several amazing charities, including “Tuesday’s Children,” an organization that played a vital role in their lives after 9/11 and supports youth, families, and communities impacted by terrorism and traumatic loss. While caring for the families of nearly 3,000 victims of 9/11 was truly a “Tall Order,” people went out of their way to show The Friedmans their love and generosity.

In this spirit and by recognizing a niche in the men’s market, Mike and Dan created TallOrder.com to offer their fellow “Tall-Stars” stylish socks for large-sized feet, while also giving back to “Tuesday’s Children,” an organization that has deeply impacted their lives. Ten percent of TallOrder.com’s profits will be donated to “Tuesday’s Children.”

You can view the entire collection here.

Customers who purchase Tall Order socks are also giving back – proceeds from TallOrder.com are donated to Tuesday’s Children, a nonprofit that offered support to co-founders Mike and Dan Friedman after losing their father on 9/11.

You can also enter to win here- feel free to enter using the RC form below.  Ends Feb. 8, 2018. Good luck.

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Ready for the Great Outdoors

January 24, 2018 by 1 Comment

While you may have promised yourself never to sound like your mother (or father), you might hear her in your voice when you shout “reminders” to your kids to put a coat on as they streak out the door, going this way or that.  Looking for something warm this winter season?

As a top layer, or for a good mid-weight jacket, the Xersion Midweight Puffer Jacket is one worth looking at. It’s got a “puffer” style chest or vest, and knit sleeves with thumb holes. Available in four color combinations, it’s got a layered look about it all on its own. It’s a good top layer, but you can also put it underneath a heavier coat if you are looking to add another layer for warmth. I know, I’m saying “layer” a lot, but it’s a fantastic jacket for (you guessed it!) layering. It’s also nice on it’s own in milder weather, like those early Spring days that will (hopefully) soon be poking their heads around the corner. Available at JCPenney for $64.

The ACTIVE PACKABLE JACKET is a full zip, color block patterned jacket that is ready for wind, rain, or snow- and is incredibly lightweight. It is part of the Perry Ellis 360 Performance Collection, and is finished with water-resistant fabric to keep the elements at bay. It also has performance stretch to keep you comfortable as you move about. Ready to take on the worst that nature can throw at you, it also thinks of the creature comforts we have come to desire- there is a headphone port in the shoulder, so you can access your music or phone anytime you’d like. We were surprised at how warm this very lightweight jacket was, as well as how comfortable. It’s a good jacket to travel with as well, as it takes up very little space. Available at PerryEllis.com for $185.

If you spend as much time running around town as you do exploring trails, take a look at the Kiwi Classic Thermic from Craghoppers. Waterproof on the outside with AquaDry materials to keep out the rain, sleet, and snow while keeping you snug and warm on the inside with plush, insulated lining. This coat is not only a good choice in winterwear, but one you will enjoy putting on. It has 7 pockets to keep all your belongings with you, which is helpful when you don’t necessarily want to carry out a backpack. This is a coat you will be glad you have in your closet. Available for $140 at https://www.craghoppers.com (on sale for $70 right now- there are site sales going on at the moment,it’s a great time to look around)

You’ll want to cover up your extremities in this weather, and some nice lightweight, easy to keep in the pockets of your coat are the Brooks Greenlight headband and gloves. These lightweight, stay in place items are perfect for activities like running, hiking, and more. The gloves come with tipped fingers so that you can use your phone, tablet, or other touchscreen without removing them. They also have pocket in the palm so that you can carry a key with you on your way, so you won’t need to weigh yourself down with extra bulk.  They have a little magnet in the wrists that keep them together in your pocket or in your drawer. The headband stays in place, keeping your ears warm and hair in place as you run from place to place- literally or figuratively. There is also reflective writing on it so that you are more visible.  Prices vary, $18 and up on http://www.brooksrunning.com

If you are heading out for a snowy weekend trip or family vacation, take a look at Dare 2b.  They have fun and functional ski apparel for everyone in the family, and the colors are bright and unique. There are ski pants and jackets for men, women and kid’s. Not only is the ski wear eye catching, but it’s pretty comfortable as well. Waterproof and breathable, it has four way stretch fabric to help keep your range of motion as flexible as possible. The sleeves and knees are articulated, and the tapered seams and underarm ventilation give you breathability as you make another run.  Maximum comfort, keeps you dry and warm (yet helps you stay cool if you start to build up a sweat from all your activity), and incredible range of motion, all with colors that are easy to spot. Prices vary, head to http://en.dare2b.com for more.

Filed Under: clothes and shoes, review

Abiie’s Huggs Contour Baby Carrier Review

January 23, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Carry your kiddo in style and comfort.

Nothing is more important than your baby’s health and having the ability to keep your little one close and safe is a wonderful thing. Abbie’s Huggs Contour Baby Carrier is an innovative carrier designed to prevent infant hip dysplasia while offering a booster seat that is comfortable for the carrier and carry-e.

This lightweight carrier, just 2.2 lbs (1.0 kg), is made of 100% cotton and 100% polyester mesh. The fabric feels strong and firm yet soft and smooth so it won’t irritate soft baby skin. It comes in two color options, a nice grey or neutral khaki. Either looks great and if you want to add some style you can always make it a craft project to individualize your Huggs. All of the buttons clip nicely and have a strong hold so the carrier feels secure.
The Abiie’s Huggs Contour’s is special in its design because it focuses on preventing hip dysplasia. This may be something you have heard discussed before for babies or adults, heck it is a common point of discussion amongst pet owners because it can effect us all. In hip dysplasia “the top of the thighbone doesn’t fit securely into the hip socket. This problem may affect one or both hip joints.” – WebMD  This is of course uncomfortable and can go so far as complete dislocation. So with that concern why not embrace a carrier that keeps the kiddo “ergonomically seated in a healthy hip position”?

The Abiie’s Huggs Contour comes with teething pads, an adjustable neck support, and sleeping hoods. It was comfortable for me strapping the carrier on my body. (I did need assistance to tighten the back strap)  The padded straps are ideal especially when in use for long periods of time, but for the rear facing position I felt they crowded the baby’s face a bit. This could have to do with my height, at 5’1″ most items that easily accommodate someone 5’10” take some adjusting. Overall once I was settled into my Huggs the fit was great. If you have a family like mine, my husband is 6′, you might want two carriers to save yourself readjusting straps. Or maybe now that I just have my Huggs Contour all set up I just don’t want to share…
There are a lot of ways to “use” the Huggs Contour. You might think you’re taking part in pairs iceskating with all of the carry options Huggs offers, Front-Inward; Front-Outward; Back Carry; Hip Carry: Front-Inward, Front-Outward. Master them all and the Parent Olympics are in your future! But really, it is great to have a versatile product as your preferences might change depending on activity and how big baby is.

 

Features We Love

  • The straps stay in place well despite the smooth material.
  • Almost all of the carrier is washable! – Cause lets face it things get messy out in the real world.
  • The Double-layer Center Panel – basically a flap to open on hot days and expose the mess lining for added breathability.

Downsides

  • The padded booster seat part of the carrier made it too large to easily fit in our diaper bag for convenient storage.
  • We are not sure that this product would work for larger parents. You might want to check out the waist band dimensions and other sizing details below.

The Abiie’s Huggs Contour is a great option when you are searching for a baby carrier. If you have any history of hip issues in your family or are concerned with them developing read up on all of the details on the Abiie’s website to learn more about the product and their design.

Learn more about Abiie’s products on their website – Abiie.com – or on Facebook

Abiie HUGGS Baby Carrier Hip Seat

Product Details Complete Carrier: 

  • Weight: 2.2 lb /1kg
  • Max-load: Up to 45 lb/20 kg.

Shoulder Strap Dimension:

(A ) Shoulder Straps Distance

  • Max-width: 13.5”(34 cm)
  • Min-width:  3.5” (9cm)

(B) Shoulder Strap to Waist Belt

  • Max-height: 20” (51 cm)
  • Min-height: 12.5” (32cm)

Waist Belt Dimension:
(C ) Height: 5” (13 cm)
(W) Waist Size

  • Max:  46” (118 cm)
  • Min: 27” (68.58 cm)

Seat dimension:

(S) Seat Size

  • Max-width: 8.6″ (22 cm)
  • Min-width: 7″ (18 cm)
  • Length: 6.69” (17 cm)
  • Height:  5.11” (13 cm)

Material. Chemical free, 100% cotton lining fabric, 100% polyester padding, and breathable air-flow mesh.

Abiie HUGGS Baby Carrier Hip Seat

 

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Reduce Stress and Relax this with The AiroSpa™ Pillow

January 11, 2018 by Leave a Comment

If you or someone you know has a hard time getting to sleep or staying asleep, you will love the relaxation and stress relief that comes with the AiroSpa™ Pillow, www.airospapillow.com.  My intended has a hard time sleeping, and has been battling insomnia for as long as I’ve known him, and he has really enjoyed the AiroSpa Pillow- we tend to use it before bed, as a massage pillow. It’s nice to lay on and makes it easy to reach all your back and neck, without having to turn this way or that, or getting a stiff neck in the process, and it also gives the extra relaxation benefit of the aromatherapy. He really likes the shape of it, but feels that the fan doesn’t put out enough scent- it’s so subtle that he can’t really smell it, and I agree. Maybe after many uses, it will start to produce more smell. The best part of the pillow is the back rub use- it really is perfect for that purpose.

It’s no secret that stress and its physical and emotional impact may be the nation’s #1 hidden health issue. A recent CBS News study found that more Americans than ever before are stressed and depressed. The study found a full 8.3 million or 3.4% of the entire population suffer from serious psychological distress. The AiroSpa™ Pillow is one of the simplest and most affordable solutions to the stress challenge, and it’s easy to use as well.

 The AiroSpa™ Pillow is a unique, simple to use, affordable, multi-purpose stress reliever and aromatherapy pillow that can be enjoyed at home and while traveling anywhere. With its built-in and patented fan, airflow vents and face-down angled construction, the AiroSpa™ Pillow can be used as a home/office/travel massage experience enhancer with a partner or all on its own for a calming and relaxing experience.

The AiroSpa™ Pillow and its patented fan disperses a relaxing aroma from each of the inclusive pure-essential oils that produces advantages ranging from calming stress relief to a reduction in neck and shoulder pain to improved posture. Other benefits include a reduction or resolution to snoring, and enhanced breathing. It also makes for a fantastic massage and aromatherapy experience.

“The face-down positioning of the AiroSpa™ Pillow definitely helps relieve neck and shoulder pressure. Combined with its relaxing aromas produced from the essential oils and dispersed by a clever internal fan system, that position helps keep the sinuses and breathing passageways clear. Overall, this produces a truly positive and relaxing feeling,” said Julie Danaher, Licensed Massage Therapist, West Palm Beach, FL. “It’s compact, portable and easy to use so it’s beneficial as a personal massage tool or simply for relaxation.”

The AiroSpa™ Pillow comes complete with a simple to inflate, padded, face-down pillow, a patented insertable fan to provide air flow and to disperse the pure-essential oils that all comes neatly packaged.

The entire set retails for $29.95 plus shipping and handling and includes three pure essential oils (Lavender, Chamomile, Geranium). For a limited time, the AiroSpa™ Pillow will come with three additional pure essential oils (Jasmine, Rose, Ylang-Ylang), normally a $30 value, at no extra charge.

Filed Under: health, home, review Tagged With: , , ,

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

January 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment

The weather has been all over the place this winter, and that means so has your wardrobe been. Shoes are the hardest part to figure out- no one likes wet, cold, uncomfortable feet- that makes for a long day. We are loving this footwear, and we thing you will, too.

winter shoes for men

 

Waldlaufer has a huge variety of women’s shoes- but did you know they offer mens, as well? It’s a great time to check them out. We have been wearing the Men’s Jack Hayo Waterproof Oxford Schiefer shoes for about two months now, and using them for everything from daily wear to hiking and even to the gym a few times- they remain sturdy, easy to wear for long days out and about, supportive, and they do keep your feet dry.  They are a bit heavier then your average shoe, but they are also pretty rugged since they offer so much protection.  This ankle high waterproof boot will protect your feet all winter long- and beyond.  You won’t be leaving these in your closet when the season changes.  Since it is made with a waterproof membrane, it prevents moisture from entering the shoe.  The soles have great traction and durability as well as a supportive footbed. Get yours at https://www.waldlaufer.com for $190.

Perfect for winter (or any season but summer, I’d say) are the water-resistant and insanely comfortable new Luana ankle boots from Arcopedico.  These have very fast become my favorite boots, and perhaps my favorite shoes in general. So soft, so comfortable- and ethical as well. Made entirely of vegan materials (that never hurts, a “good for the environment” choice) they are easy to pair with almost any outfit, or to dress up and dress down.  These look like suede, but are actually Lytech with a self-adjusting side elastic for a super comfortable fit. With rounded toes and a slight wedge heel, these are actually machine washable as well. Really. Three colors available, Black, Brown, or Burgundy. Get yours for $105 at http://arcopedicousa.com

For something a little different then boots yet still transitional, check out the Stripe ballerina type flat. With a satin and cotton fabric upper, a rounded toe, rubber sole, and it’s lighter than air weight, this is a shoe you can live in once the weather warms up (and if you get someplace warmer for your vacation!) $115, available in three striped color options- Blue/White, Beige/White, or Black/White.

The Yulia Bootie is easy on, easy to wear, and you won’t want to take them off- by Beartraps. This bootie is fun to wear with skirts or pants, and is lightweight as well as comfortable. Casual and fun, it has a low heel and slight ruching on the top. Cute details at the strap detailing is eye-catching and adds interest. Easy to zip on and off from the side, you will find yourself wearing these constantly. Available in three colors- black, grey, and mushroom, for $80- but on sale now for $50, go take a look! https://www.footwearunlimited.com

Perfect for this time of year, but great year round (because when is mud not a thing, after all) the Detour BUGrip GTX are the perfect hiking or running sneaker- no slipping, super supportive, and no laces.  Instead of laces, these tighten up with a Boa® Closure System, which “provides custom comfort with smooth, even closure and no pressure points”. It’s actually pretty cool- you turn the little knob like circle on the tongue of the shoe, and it clicks until you reach the setting you like. Pull it up to release. Very neat. The  waterproof GORE-TEX® membrane keeps the snow, slush, water, mud, etc out and your feet dry- what’s not to love about that. The carbide studded, BUGrip outsole is great for ice and snow, though has no issues on pavement, wood floors, or anything else we’ve tired them out on- although people WILL hear you coming, they are not sneaking up shoes, with their “crunching” steps. No, they will not scratch anything- they just add traction.  Grab yours at https://us-shop.icebug.com/ for $230.

Headed out into the great outdoors? In this weather Just kidding- why not? Just bring your Metro2 Classic BUGrip, these are the hiking boots you won’t want to take off. Comfortable, keeping your feet warm and dry, and like all Icebugs, slip resistant with carbide studded, BUGrip outsoles. Soft “collar” around the ankles keeps you comfortable as you trek, just pull them on and zip them up. Soft, oily nubuck on the outside, fleece lined, with supportive insoles, they will keep your feet warm in temperatures up to -4 (Fahrenheit).  Let me tell you- these are nice. You are going to love them. Pick them up at https://us-shop.icebug.com/ for $200.

 

Filed Under: clothes and shoes, fashion, review Tagged With: ,

Win Tickets to The Liberty Science Center #LSCStarShow

January 10, 2018 by 1 Comment

 

The Liberty Science Center in nearby Jersey City, NJ has a ton to do for kids and families. They recently opened the Largest Planetarium in the Western Hemisphere- not too shabby, ay?

 

“Its diameter is almost twice as long as a bowling alley lane. Its screen is taller than four giraffes. It offers a true 8K projection. Its lights produce trillions of colors. And it will provide breaking space and astronomy news and discoveries in real time.

It is Liberty Science Center’s greatest experience yet–the largest and most technologically advanced planetarium in the entire Western Hemisphere. The only three that are bigger are in Beijing, China, and Nagoya and Niihama, Japan.”

Liberty Science Center, the largest interactive science center in the NY-NJ metropolitan area, officially opened the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium on December 9, 2017.

The kids had an amazing time watching the live show in the domed theater. The seats we were in were pretty high up, but you can choose seats closer to the ground should you want to. The speaker used a laser pointer to show different stars and constellations in the sky, and made the sun rise and set as you watched in just a few seconds. He was also able to zoom in and out of very specific locations- one of which being the science center itself. You and your kids can see the stars at different times of the year as the speaker zooms around and gives explanations of each constellation.

“You can fit any other planetarium in the Western Hemisphere inside the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium,” said Hoffman. “Add in the state-of-the-art technology and you have a spectacular unique theater like none other in the world. Visitors will be able to fly through the universe, experience the grandness and vastness of space, roam planetary surfaces, navigate asteroid fields, and watch the latest full-dome movies.”

 

Other unique features of the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium include:

• A dome that has a diameter of 27 meters, or about 89 feet. That means if you made a straight line from one end of the dome to the other, it would be 1.5 times the length of a bowling alley lane.
• From the bottom of the theater to the top of the dome screen is 60 feet, the same height as 4 giraffes.
• 588 perforated aluminum panels are seamlessly joined together to form the domed screen with a surface area of 1,145 square meters, or 12,345 square feet. That’s a nice size four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in terms of area.
• The 10-projector system features an 8K resolution of 88 million pixels.
• The sophisticated software allows for downloads of the latest animations and images from NASA to keep up with breaking science news.
• The lighting system can produce over 281 trillion individual colors, which can allow the planetarium dome to look like the blue Earth daytime sky, the red sky of Mars, or a rapidly changing pattern to enhance laser shows. A human can see about 10 million colors, while a computer screen displays about 16.8 million colors for a “full-color” image.
• In addition to out-of-this-world planetarium experiences, guests will also enjoy immersive 8K films on the wraparound dome screen courtesy of a brand new digital projection system.

Find out more info here.

 

Also available is the new rotating exhibition, Star Trek: The Starfleet Academy Experience.

“In this interactive, immersive exhibition based on one of the world’s most popular sci-fi series, you’ll step into the shoes of a newly minted cadet in the 26th century. As you travel through nine different zones, you’ll receive the necessary science, engineering, medical, and command training to navigate your way from orientation through graduation.

Both Trekkies and non-Trekkies will be engaged by the science behind the science fiction. Learn how Star Trek paved the way for many of today’s cutting-edge technologies—such as a functional tricorder, NASA’s warp drive theory, and experiments involving phasers and teleporters—and even get a glimpse into the future of Star Trek science.”

star trek museum

Star Trek: The Starfleet Academy Experience will be at LSC through May 28, 2018.

If you would like to win a 4 pack of tickets, please just leave your name and email in the comments below. Ends Feb. 20, 2018. Thanks!
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Win All-New Squishmallows Stuffed Toys

January 5, 2018 by 138 Comments

”Squishy” Style, super cuddly, Japanese-Inspired Collectible plush toys are available and oh-so soft- You will never want to let them go.

Both my son and my intended like to sleep on the larger sizes- and I have to admit, they make a nice pillow.  The Squishmallows collectible plush toy line is available in four sizes. Clip-ons (3.5”), small (8”), medium (13”) and large (16”) sizes have a suggested retail price of $2.99, $6.99, $9.99 and $19.99, respectively. They are very, very soft and snuggly- this can not be overstated, honestly, and adults would like them as well. I know we do, and not sorry to admit it!

The all-new collectible Squishmallows squad is now available in eight styles and in four sizes, including pink and blue penguins, purple and grey owls, a cat, fox, frog and hedgehog. You can sign up for the email list at www.squishmallows.com get the first look at four special editions available later this year. The line will expand in 2018 with seasonal styles including Valentine’s Day and Easter.

“These collectible characters are as cuddly as they are cute. Not only will Squishmallows be on everyone’s ‘squishlist,’ but they will make great gifts any time of year. Squishy and comforting, Squishmallows make great couch pals, pillows, bedtime buddies and travel companions—take them anywhere on the go.”

The unique line is made of super soft spandex “EF” and polyester stuffing — similar to memory foam — for crazy, cuddly fun. Caring for Squishmallows is easy; give them lots of love, wash in warm water and tumble-dry on medium heat.

Join the squad online and follow @Squishmallows on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.

One of you can win a Squishmallows prize pack of your own. Please feel free to enter using the RC form below.  Ends Jan 20, 2018. Good luck!

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