The TRUTH About Motherhood

Category: Fashion

Brian James is Where Sexy Meets Comfort
While in Chicago this past summer I discovered a new footwear company, Brian James Footwear. Never heard of them? Me neither. Where do I live? Under a rock? Maybe. The pair I have are a pair of gladiator sandals called the Angelle and they are gorgeous. They are soft, silky black suede with a padded foot bed, ankle support and a flexible sole. They were made for me.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for fashion but I am also a ginormous sissy when it comes to sore feet. My expiration in 3-inch or above heels is just around 5 hours and then my feet mutiny. Let’s just say they have been known to hyperextend and it usually happens at the most inopportune times like while celebrating my birthday on the dance floor in a club in downtown Chicago. I mean, I want to look cute while I’m celebrating but I have my limits. The Brian James sandals I have are extremely comfortable, so you can imagine how thrilled I am to try their new fall line.
Angela Edgeworth, founder of the award-winning kid’s shoe brand Pediped footwear, created the Brian James Brand. Over 2000 retailers in more than 50 countries sell Pediped. The brand is worldwide one of the top children’s brands, hands down mostly because they are so damn comfortable and supportive. Her biggest request has been when was she going to parlay the comfort of pedipeds into an adult line and she has in the Brian James line.
She named the company after her husband. Brian James has all of the core features of the Pediped line; comfort, quality and style but is sophisticated enough for an adult. At first, I wasn’t sure that I’d want a shoe made for me by a child’s brand designer. I mean after all, I am a grown woman. I didn’t want another Croc situation. I had nightmares of shoes in outrageous colors with dinosaur heads or tiaras but thankfully, I was wrong.
Instead the Brian James line is sleek and sophisticated and comfortable enough to wear all day but professional enough to be worn in the office. Brian James debuted its collection in the spring of 2013 and it did not disappoint. The shoes are comfortable and stylish. Made with leather uppers and linings, padded foot beds and soft, flexible soles. They are so comfortable that you will not want to take them off. As for your husbands, you can give them this comfortable yet stylish footwear from Filling Pieces.
I wore them around the streets of Chicago for a few hours and I thought for sure that I would have Charlie horses that night or sore feet and legs. I’d done the same route just the week before in a pair of similar sandals that were not Brian James and the results were vastly different. In the other shoes, my feet were so tired and sore that I could barely walk the next day. I was pleasantly surprised when I got home from wearing the Brian James Angelle sandals and my feet felt fine. In fact they felt better than fine, they were great.
I love my Angelle’s because not only do they look great with jeans and capris, they are also equally as attractive with dress shorts or dresses. These shoes are very versatile. I love my pair. I can’t wait to get my hands on a few pairs from the Brian James fall collection!
What is your favorite pair of comfortable yet fashionable shoes?

Disclaimer: I was provided a pair of Brian James sandals as swag at an event I attended and they were too cute and comfortable not to write a post about them.These shoes are great for conferences when you are on your feet all day long but still want to look cute.
2013/09/17
Back-to-School at Gordmans Earns You Cash Back
Gordmans, like life, always has something unexpected. I’ve shopped TJMaxx and Marshalls forever, because, I will admit it, I love a good bargain. I love nice clothes but the reality is that I live on a budget but I don’t want to dress like I live on a tight budget and neither do my kids. I shop a lot of sales and clearance racks so I can get the style I want for the girls and me without breaking the bank.
I can’t believe it, school starts back in less than a month; 3 weeks to be exact. I’m partially freaking out because this summer has gone too fast and partially thrilled because I miss our routine but that also means, one of our favorite times of year is fast approaching, back-to-school shopping.
It’s not terribly difficult to get my girls excited about back-to-school shopping; they are girls who love to shop. I do too. The only problem is that when you have children and tuitions and activities, things get expensive and you need to watch your budget. My girls have great taste; unfortunately, great taste usually translates into high price tags but not always, not at Gordmans.
My girls know that if you have $200 to spend you can spend it one of two ways, you can buy 4 full-priced items from a department store or you can go to Gordmans and buy an entire back-to-school wardrobe for a child. Smart little fashionistas choose Gordmans. There is just something so satisfying about a seeing the tag and realizing that if you’d bought it elsewhere you might have paid $100 for something that you only spent $40 on at Gordmans.
I love Gordmans because the store is clean, well-organized and you can get great brands for less than what you would pay at a department store in the mall. Same quality, same name brands, but for a much lower price. As if a huge selection of brand name fashions at incredibly low prices is not enough to get you in the door; Gordmans also has some of the friendlier associates to help you find just what you’re looking for.
Another thing I love about Gordmans is the “Gordmans giggles” area which is a children’s theatre with fun, colorful seating where kids may view children’s programming on a large-screen tv while you shop for sizes and styles, you can still keep an eye on them and they are not bored out of their minds. Honestly, it is the little things in customer service that make all the difference.
Fear not, there is also a place for your guys. “Gordmans Grandstand” is a comfortable seating area in the men’s department where guests may view sports-oriented programming. We all know most men hate to shop for clothes, but what if you could shop sizes and styles while he got to watch the game? Just think you could get his immediate response to if he’ll wear that button up oxford without having to lug it home and back to the store. What a time saver!
My absolute favorite thing about Gordmans is their loyalty program, gRewards. The new gRewards loyalty program is a free and easy way for guests to shop, earn and redeem! This is not a credit card, but a way to earn points on purchases for future rewards!The gRewards program allows you to earn one point for every dollar you spend and receive a $10 reward for every 200 points you earn; you can earn points faster if you are a Gordmans credit card holder. The gRewards card also gives you a special birthday discount of an additional 10% off your entire purchase. It’s like free money just for doing what I already had to do anyways, shop back-to-school. Talk about something unexpected!
Simply by commenting on this post you can be entered to win prizes from a Gordmans sweepstakes.
Official Rules
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Gordmans. The opinions and text are all mine.
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Gordmans.  The opinions and text are all mine.
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2013/07/22
Shabby Apple Giveaway~ Two Lucky Winners Will WIN a $100 Gift Certificate
It’s Friday, so I’m giving you some gorgeous fashion via ShabbyApple.com. Many of you know that ShabbyApple.com sells gorgeous, vintage style dresses that are feminine and playful, yet modest and sexy. Believe me, I spend most of my days dressed in uber casual sub par yoga wear so I get pretty excited about clothing that makes me feel like a woman and not a house frau.
I’ve featured Shabby Apple in the past and I am thrilled to be featuring them again today and giving away a $100 gift certificate provided by ShabbyApple.com to two of my lucky readers so that they purchase their favorite dress. Ladies, conference and wedding season is among us. Who doesn’t want a gorgeous dress to wear, especially one that is not your run of the mill off the rack dress that everyone else might be wearing type?
The three dresses I chose to highlight today are ones that I own myself; the Belle de jour, Hydrangea and, my absolute favorite, Meant to Be. All three dresses are fully lined which is important to me since I am not 21 anymore and like to keep my goodies veiled in a light lining.
The Belle de Jour is a beautiful orange cream A-line dress, designed exclusively for Shabby Apple by Kacey Kalmar. It actually looks a little closer to a very soft pumpkin color, which I think is fantastic because it can parlay into a fall dress if you pair it with a light blazer or sweater. The dress is fully pleated. I am not normally a big fan of pleats because I have full hips but these pleats lay pleasantly flat and don’t seem to add any extra width where I least want it. The dress is 100% polyester with a charming attached ribbon and bow detail at the waist that adds just the right amount of fun.

Kacey Kalmar also designs the Hydrangea dress. It is light hydrangea blue with a ruched waistband, an A-line skirt and is made with 100% cotton so it is very lightweight for warm spring and summer days but weighted enough so that it won’t fly up at the first gust of wind and leave you exposed. I hate when that happens. Hydrangea is made in the USA and machine washable, which is always a plus in my book. I don’t have free time for hand washing these days.
The last dress, Meant to be, is my favorite. It is a Tiffany blue A-line dress with a full skirt and bow detail at natural waist. It is made of Polyester and Spandex with a 100% nylon lace shell. I love the way the lace drapes over the liner; it is very soft (not itchy as some lace can be) and gives you a very feminine silhouette. Bonus: it is machine washable! This dress is absolutely perfect for wearing to a summer wedding. It’s fresh, clean and beautiful.
Also, if you are in the market for a swimsuit this summer, ShabbyApple.com has beautiful vintage swimsuits that are sexy without being too revealing, perfect for those of us who want to show a little bit of skin yet keep it classy. My favorite is the Twirl bathing suit.

So what is your favorite ShappyApple.com dress? To enter to win one of the two $100 gift certificates just follow the Rafflecopter instructions. The contest will end at midnight next Friday, June 22, 2013. Mandatory entries include leaving a comment telling me your favorite Shabby Apple item and subscribing to The TRUTH about Motherhood , but you are already doing that anyways, right? This contest is open to readers over the age of 18 in the United States. Good luck to you all.
At the Truth about Motherhood everyone’s a winner so even if you don’t win, here is a discount code for 10% off any ShabbyApple.com dress in their fan favorite section. The code is fanfavorite10off.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

All Photos courtesy of ShabbyApple.com

Disclaimer: ShabbyApple.com has provided me with items to review and giveaway but all thoughts and opinions are all my own.
2013/06/14
Happiness is a Sight to Behold

Sight or Sound, which would you choose? When I was young, and we’d play that game, would you rather, and I was asked, “Would you rather lose your sight or your hearing?” My answer was always, hands down; I’d rather lose my sight. Why you ask? I absolutely loved music. I know there is a soundtrack to everyone’s life but I need to hear mine. Music and my soundtrack make the movie of my life worth watching, or it did. Then I gave birth to my daughters.
Now, I cannot imagine not being able to see my children’s faces as they grow from newborns to grown women. I don’t want to miss a moment of it. Every ounce of enthusiasm that I put into music has been focused on photographing my girls. I want to remember it all and I want references for years to come.
I cannot imagine not being able to see their little faces when they do something for the first time or getting their knowing looks when they are scared, overwhelmed or sad. Those looks are ones that only a parent can decipher. How could I stand it if I missed a cue to swoop in and rescue them; to make it all better? I certainly can’t imagine a world where I couldn’t have seen their tiny, squished little faces when they were first born. Honestly, the thought of missing that moment is unthinkable.
I couldn’t be happy knowing that I was missing the most important moments of their lives; satisfaction when they dance on stage in the ballet, pride when they graduate or achieve a long sought after goal, happiness when they see their groom for the first time as they walk down the aisle or the overwhelming gratitude that will fill their hearts when they first set eyes on their own babies at birth. I can live without hearing these moments, though I prefer not to. I don’t know if I could survive not seeing them happen.
My sight is what commits the moments of their life to my memory like the memory that I have of when the girls were 5 and 3 and we went into the city for the day to see The Emperor’s New Clothes at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. I remember getting the girls dressed that morning and driving into the city. It was a beautiful June day and I could see the excitement in the girls’ faces as their eyes widened, as the skyscrapers got larger and larger as we approached them. The girls wore matching dresses and were talking a mile a minute on the drive. Their elation was palpable and contagious. The Big Guy and I smiled the entire drive into the city.
Father & Daughters, Sight of true love
We arrived at Navy Pier. The girls became even more excited when the Ferris wheel and all the people and hustle at Navy pier came into sight. It was their first trip to Navy Pier. My sister, her husband and my nephew met us to watch the show. It all felt so comfortable and normal and it was so nice to be sharing it with my sister. We watched the show. Well everyone else watched the theater production as I watched the girls’ faces as they smiled and giggled at the characters on stage. They were enthralled by the production and I was captivated by them.
The day went on and the memories just compiled; blue skies, the warm sun on our backs as we walked along the boardwalk. The belly aching laughter, lunch with my sister’s family in a familiar jaunt, the smell of the lake reaching up to meet the sweet smells of Garrets popcorn that permeated every square inch of the pier that day made it the perfect day.
I love sharing the places of my childhood with my children and seeing the wonder and excitement in their eyes that I share of the city I love. This was a day that I was grateful for my vision because without it, I would not have been able to see the looks on their faces. The happiness, the wonder and the magic would have been lost.
I received compensation to participate in a SocialMoms and Transitions Optical blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here.
If you are at the Taste of Chicago this year, stop by the Transitions both and have your vision checked for free so that you don’t miss out on the most cherished sights of your life.
What are the most cherished sights in your life?
2012/07/10
Fashion Friday~ Vintage Shopping with Crushworthy Moms
Vintage Shopping
Vintage Shopping with the most Crushworthy moms ~Today, I am honored to have the very awesome and super fabulous Fashionistas, Alison and Karina (She turned this into a job by working at Second Time Around and starring in Bravo’s “Fashion Hunters”) of CrushworthyMoms.com guest posting on Fashion Friday. You are in for a treat if you aren’t already familiar with these ladies. Alison and Karina are super fashionable, totally crushworthy and just happen to be vintage shopping queens. This is something that I have been wanting to learn how to do, as I am obsessed with Zooey Deschanel’s wardrobe on the New Girl but ‘m not a time traveler, nor do I have the budget of Zooey Deschanel’s costume designer. I do, however, have a few pieces of vintage royalty of my mom’s that I have rescued ( on more than one occasion) from ending up at the Goodwill and I want more. Lot’s more. Luckily for me, I have a gal ( or two) who is an expert, Alison and Karina. This is a new way to shop. It’s green, it’s affordable and it’s a good way to have a unique look and a one of a kind style. I’ll let Alison and Karina explain, they’re the experts. Go check them out at Crushworthymoms.com and for great conversation you can find Alison and Karina, tweeting @Crushworthymoms.
Crushworthy Moms take us Vintage Shopping
Let us introduce ourselves, we are Alison and Karina of Crushworthymoms and we have a confession. We are addicted to shopping at consignment stores. So addicted in fact that we both work at STA (Second Time Around) in Manhattan to support our habit and get first dibs at the merchandise. Karina even starred in Bravo’s Fashion Hunters, a show that is about consignment shopping and the art of the hunt. We get a rush combing the racks in the hopes of finding that perfect piece that our wardrobe is missing.
So when @Truthfulmommy asked us to do a fashion post (Oh all right, we asked to do a fashion post!) we wanted to make sure we had her style just right. So when she showed her appreciation for the style of Jess (Zooey Deschanel) from Fox’s New Girl, we knew we could incorporate our love of consignment shopping to find the perfect Jess-inspired outfits for our post.
When you shop consignment you have to go into the store with an open mind and have the time to go through each piece of clothing. It is all about patience and enjoying the hunt. You might find a one of a kind piece that you might never have thought you would have liked. Your clothes should make you stand out not blend in and look like everyone else. Your clothes should be a reflection of your personality and that is why people are so enamored with Jess’s style beause she wears what she loves. I guarantee you will find your favorite pieces in a consignment store because they will be conversation starters and not just clothes you bought in a department store.
Now on to the clothes (Disclaimer-We shopped at STA’s annual 50% off sale-Prices were extra LOW):
How can you dress like Jess or Zooey?
Just add a bow to your outfit!
Shoes by Marc Jacob $35
Shirt by Misty $25
Jess’s Day to Evening Look
Striped dress by Alice and Olivia $85
Marc Jacobs jacket $35
Trina Turk star dress $35
Green Manolo Blahnik $100
Yellow Dolce and Gabbana $45
Jess’s Evening Look
Jacket by DVF $125
Sparkly dress by Robert Rodriguez $100
Green bow dress by Zac Posen $375
Gold boots by United Nude $60
Silver heels by Sergio Rossi $110
Vintage Shopping at consignment shops is an art form, as shown by the finds Alison and Karina shared here. Thanks so much for guest posting and sharing your skills, ladies. Lesson #1, you can’t be afraid to get a little dirty and invest a little time into your vintage shopping excursions. I can’t wait to hit my local vintage shop and see what gems in the rough I find from a time gone by. Seems like with a little effort, you can find a treasure trove of vintage shopping gold!
Vintage Shopping at it’s Best
2012/02/10
Fashion Haul Friday ~ Shit Wine Drinkers Say and a Fashion Winner
Wine & Fashion go together like Love and Marriage
Wine Drinkers and Winners ~First, I’d like to say thank you to all of you who entered the Karen Kane $100 Gift Certificate giveaway. It was a great success and the winner is Anna Pry! Congratulations Anna! There is so many beuatiful pieces to choose from, I’m sure the hardest part will be trying to decide which one to use your gift certificate on.
If you didn’t win, I am sorry but remember Karen Kane has extended a 25% discount for all of The TRUTH about Motherhood readers; good from January 13, 2012 to February 13,2012. Just use the promo code TRUTHFULMOMMY! You know you want to.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I have been sick all week and, as such, have not had a chance to get my fashion on. Sure, I could have just pulled an amazing outfit off of Polyvore.com or Pinterest but I like to have hands on experience with the pieces before I tell you to love them. So, in lieu of fashion this week, I am sharing with you something that is always in fashion..WINE and the Shit Wine Drinkers Say. Besides, when you are holding a glass of wine in your hand, don't people just look infinitely cooler? I think it's the wine goggles. This video is Soooooooooo Good!
Shit Wine Drinkers Say
I think we should all pass this post around #wineparty tonight so that everyone can get a good chuckle. I promise, "Not that I'm a wine snob" but this video is spot on.
Wine is always in Fashion
*Remember, here at The TRUTH about Motherhood I love my wine but I don't advocate dangerous behaviors such as texting while driving ,texting while drinking, driving while drinking, dressing little girls like hookers, or playing with rabid dogs. So be cool, stay in school, drink your wine after the kids go to bed and not while driving.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
2012/01/27
Fashion Haul Friday ~ Karen Kane
Fashion Haul Friday ~ Karen Kane This week’s fashion find is a Reversible Faux Fur Vest by Karen Kane. If you’ve never heard of Karen Kane, you are missing out, mamas. Karen Kane is high quality, reasonably priced fashion. Forget the big stores we are used to frequenting, like Target and Kohls (not that I don’t love them but I want some place to shop for JUST me not the whole family), think boutique. Think being the hottest mom in the drop off, think Karen Kane!
How Hot is this Karen Kane Faux Fur Vest?
I received this in the mail and couldn’t wait to wear it but where to? I was over thinking it. But it was so beautiful that I didn’t want to wear it just anywhere.Then I remembered to live for today. It’s like fine China, you spend an entire lifetime looking at your China through the glass door of your China cabinet but wouldn’t it be more fun to actually use it? I decided that I wanted to wear this beautiful gray faux fur vest today and I did. I put it on with a well-fitted, long sleeved t-shirt, a pair of jeans and my sweater boots. I reported for room mother duties in my daughter’s classroom feeling put together and cute, instead of hiding behind a ponytail, dark sunglasses and yoga pants. That in itself was an awesome feeling. The vest is generously cut and if you are on the smaller built size you may want to actually purchase a size smaller than you usually wear. I happen to be very well endowed upfront and the vest closed perfectly. I also love the fact that it is reversible because you can change your entire demeanor with the switch of your vest. If you are feeling a little more rocker, switch it around so that the fur is on the outside’ pair it with the incredible turtle neck paired with the vest in the photo and a pair of well-fitting skinny jeans and of course a pair of hot 5 inch heels. This is definitely a piece to help rescue you from sweat pants purgatory.
Karen Kane; Redefining the Mom Uniform
Features:
A fabulous faux fur vest that can top off any outfit. Turn it inside out to completely change the look of the vest. You’ll love how easy it is to create so many outfits using one simple piece!Details include: • Faux Fur • Raw edges and seams • 95% Polyester 5% Spandex • Available in gray and ivory • Imported • Dry clean
I am currently in love with this vest. It is my new favorite piece. It’s warm, fuzzy and chic;perfect for the cold winter ahead. It’s also perfect for sipping wine by the fire with your favorite snuggle bunny. Not only has Karen Kane made my heart skip a beat with this collection, they will make you fall in love with them too because Karen Kane is generously offering a $100 gift certificate to one of my lucky subscribers to use on any piece you want on the Karen Kane website. What would you choose? Buy yourself something sexy to wear for Valentine’s Day. They are also extending a 25% discount for all of The TRUTH about Motherhood readers; good from January 13, 2012 to February 13,2012. Just use the promo code TRUTHFULMOMMY!
There are a few mandatory rules that you must adhere to enter the giveaway:
Mandatory: Leave a comment for EACH mode of entry you choose to employ for the Karen Kane #giveaway in the comments below the post
( you do NOT have to enter the number of entries each one is worth because Rafflecopter will figure that out. I.e. You only have to write one entry comment for writing a blog post about the giveaway).
*Important Mandatory entries
( if you don’t do these, you will NOT be entered)
1) MUST RSS or Email SUBSCRIBE TO The TRUTH About Motherhood ( GFC doesn’t count) 2) Must Like the TRUTH about Motherhood FB page 3) Must Like Karen Kane FB page. Fill out the rafflecopter survey below and it will guide you through all the various ways to enter. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclaimer: Karen Kane is providing the gorgeous prize for the giveaway and provided me with the product to review. The opinion expressed in this post about Karen Kane is my own honest review of the product.
Karen Kane; New Year, New You
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2012/01/13
Fashion Haul Friday ~ New Year’s Eve Edition
New Year’s Eve~ Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve and most of the world will be going out on the town with their significant other and toasting the new year at midnight. I used to do this. I waited all year to get dressed up for that night. Lately though, I’ve been opting to spend the New Year’s eve with my Big Guy and the little ones. We start with a pizza dinner, then we turn up the clocks to midnight ( around 8 pm) and celebrate with party hats, whistles, horns and champagne ( sparkling cider) toast followed by kisses and an impromptu dance party with rock band. We are wild over here. We started this last year and will be our tradition until the girls are sick of it. Then we snuggle the girls into bed with their heads all a blur from drinking too much sparkling cider. You heard me right. My husband told our then 5 year old that sparkling cider was champagne for little girls. She then proceeded to say that she had drank way too much and was feeling woosy. The Big Guy and I refer to it as the incident of 2010. We haven’t had the heart to break it to her that it’s only bubbly apple juice. It’s more likely that she was woosy from the arsenic poison ( bad Mommy). Either way, my girls danced the night away and went to bed looking forward to the following year and all the great things it promised to be. 2011, you’ve been good but 2012 will be better. I usually end up in my pajamas cuddled up on the couch with the Big Guy drinking wine, watching the New Year’s eve shows and reminiscing about our lives and all of our blessings. But if I were going out to some knock your socks off event, you can be sure this would be my first pick for awesomely hot Mom attire.
New Year’s Eve Edition
New Year’s Eve 2011: Behold, the Fitzgerald from Shabby Apple
This is one of my absolute favorite dresses from Shabby Apple. So cute yet sexy. The way it swings and falls is forgiving on most shapes and less confining then some of the other more fitted New Year’s eve choices.. The color palette is classy and chic. It’s also very affordable at $92.00 at Shabby Apple. I also adore the pairing of the creme colored fishnet stockings for a little extra flirtiness.
Also, Shabby Apple is offering a 10% off discount to all The TRUTH about Motherhood readers on all of your Shabby Apple shopping this holiday season. The code is Truthful10off and the code is valid until January 2,1012. I hope you will all take advantage of this code and get yourself a hot little party dress for this season; YOU DESERVE IT!

Tiers of tantalizing ruffles cascade down this flirtatious frock. A side zipper, cap sleeves and a black, grosgrain bow complete the dress. Made from a sumptuous poly-charmeuse, this dress is perfect for any party!
New Year’s Eve Shoe Hotness; The Madeline
I can’t even tell you how much I absolutely adore these peep toe heels. The ribbon makes then fun and flirty but the 5 inch heel makes them sexy as all get out and they only cost $59.95 at DSW! I adore DSW, especially for making my legs look so long all these years with their wild assortment of 5 inch heels.
New Year’s Eve; New Sexy Hair
I’m loving this hair because it is upswept and very sexy and doesn’t take a lot of work. It’s pretty much my Mommy hair, add to that a little teasing and a fancy head band and Mommy’s got some sass in her class. I hope, no matter where you celebrate tomorrow evening, you feel sexy, sassy and blessed. Happy New Year to you all.

2011/12/30
**WINNER ANNOUNCED**Fashion Haul Friday~ $100 Tea Collection Gift Certificate #Giveaway
Fashion Haul Friday ~ Tea Collection This week’s fashion find is an amazing Chica cable sweater by Tea Collection for women. I know that we all know and love tea collection for their kids clothes. We mom’s live for tea collection to have a sale for our back to school style and baby clothes. Tea collection is who we look to dress our children. Most of our children are outfitted in their awesome designer children’s clothes, but did you realize they bring the awesome in women’s clothes as well? I never even considered shopping there for myself, until now! I’m a Tea Collection convert.
Tea Collection for the Stylish Mom
I received this AWESOME Chica Cable sweater in phantom from Tea’s Modern Mexico collection, which is so appropriate because I just happen to be a little Modern Mexico myself. I ordered a large and it is very roomy. This worked out nicely for me because I am a little over gifted in the chest area and have issue finding clothing that fit appropriately in that area. If you are tiny, I suggest you get a size smaller than you normally wear since it fits so generously. It is made of the softest merino wool that I have ever felt but at the same time has some weight to it. I paired it over a long sleeve jersey shirt and it worked out as a light weight coat. I also added to the outfit a pair of cute jeans and some black UGGs. I took Mommy Chic to a whole new level. If you wanted to be more casual on the go Mom you could swap out jeans for leggings, if you’ve got the ass for it.You’ve been spinning, show off what you’ve done. Or if you want to dress it up a bit more, add some black dress boots or booties and pair the Chica Cable Sweater over something more feminine and flouncy! I may have to swap out my permanent seat in sweat pants purgatory for this Chica Cable Sweater, it is so comfy and soft. It’s like wearing one of those cuddly, warm baby blankets but with style and fashion minus the spit up and judgement.
Tea Collection; Mom Chic has never been so Fashionable
Features:
Hola chica, have you met your new cardi? Big geo cables, dolman sleeves, an oversize draped collar. A little bit Mexican and a lot modern. Surprise yourself with how chic it looks layered over something a bit more dressy. Imported.
- 100% Merino Wool
- Dry Clean
To recap, I LOVE this sweater and it has made me fall deeply in love with Tea Collection for women. Not only have they made me fall in love with them, they will make you fall in love with them too. Tea Collection is offering a $100 gift certificate to one of my lucky subscribers to use on anything you want. You can buy something for yourself ( which I highly recommend) or you can buy something for your little ones. All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter survey below and it will guide you through all the various ways to enter.*MANDATORY: Be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the post for EACH ( every single) entry in the comments section. Good Luck!Happy Holidays to you all.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
*Disclaimer: Tea Collection is providing the gorgeous prize for the giveaway and provided me with the product to review. The opinion expressed in this post is my own honest review of the product.
The Tea Collection: Making Women as well dressed as their children
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2011/12/24
Fashion Haul Friday Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway
The Winner of the Shabby Apple Lois Lane Dress giveaway is Jodie Walcutt. Congratulations, Jodie!
Fashion Haul Friday Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway and Review ~ This week’s Fashion Haul Friday find is a fabulous Shabby Apple dress. I’m pretty sure every woman with fashion sense knows what Shabby Apple is, so I am positive all of you already know of Shabby Apple boutique. If you are not familiar with Shabby Apple,let me tell you a little about them, they are an awesome company who makes chic vintage inspired clothing for women. The clothing has a very classy, feminine feel and is made to fit a woman’s body…a grown woman. A woman who has lived and had children and still has a lot of vivacious living to do, like you! Their vintage inspired dresses remind me a lot of the dresses women would wear in days gone by when silhouettes were more feminine and softer. The dresses are elegant and make any woman feel a little more beautiful. But the best part, aside from having loads of styles available, the price is affordable. Shabby Apple makes fashionable clothing and accessories affordable for every woman, including us Mommies who seldom get the chance to shop for ourselves and when we do dare shop for ourselves we are frugal and feel guilty if we spend too much on ourselves. Shabby Apple alleviates that guilt.
Shabby Apple does not disappoint
The dress that I chose to review was the Lois Lane. First of all, what images and ideas the very name Lois Lane invoke? Super savvy and intelligent, but remove the glasses and she is Superman’s super smokin hot leading lady. What more is there to know? There is just something about a fitted, flattering red dress that makes a woman feel sexy in her own skin. I know every girl needs a little black dress but this red dress packs a punch that you can’t pass up. You will certainly get double takes when you walk into the room. It fits generously but is curve flattering. The color is deep and looks beautiful on just about any skin color. I really love the fact that you can wear the collar down for day time or up at night time to give it a little more spunk. I prefer it up! The Lois Lane is shown here with black pumps, it would also look hot paired with those back leather boots or the 5 inch Steve Madden heels from our last Fashion Haul.
Shabby Apple Lois Lane Night Time

Shabby Apple Lois Lane Daytime
Features:
A tulip blossom collar adorned in ruffles tops the innovative and utterly provocative Lois Lane trench dress. Awash with delightful details Lois Lane’s french coat styling, with asymmetrical buttons running from hemline to left shoulder, ruffled tulip sleeves, cinched-and-sashed waist and flouncy hem is a show-stopper you cannot miss. Wear the collar up for greater drama or down for a sweeter look.
Dress fits generously.
I think this dress is gorgeous and I think many of you will too! And bonus, Shabby Apple has given me the chance to offer a Lois Lane dress to one of my readers. You know you want this! To enter to win is simple.
Mandatory Entry to win the Shabby Apple Lois Lane dress: Follow The TRUTH about Motherhood on Facebook and leave me a comment on my wall.
For more entries:
1) Follow Shabby Apple on Facebook (1 entry)

2) Email Subscribe to The TRUTH about Motherhood (+2 entry)
3) Tweet this giveaway by copying and pasting the following; Awesome #giveaway for @ShabbyApple Enter to win a sassy new dress @truthfulmommy https://motherhoodthetruth.com/?p=6783 Please RT {1 entry per daily tweet}
4) Stumble and like this post (+2 entries)
5) Add my blog to your blog roll ( +2 entries)
Leave a separate comment for each entry. The giveaway will be closed December 8,2011 Thursday night 11:59 pm EST and chosen randomly. The winner will be announced in next Friday’s Fashion Haul Friday post. Contest is open to U.S. residents only and you must be over 18 to enter.Winner will have 24 hours to respond, if not a new winner will be chosen. Good luck. I’m sure any of you would look gorgeous in the Lois Lane!I have one request and that is that whomever wins this gorgeous dress will take a photo of themselves and share it on The TRUTH about Motherhood Facebook page.
Also, Shabby Apple is offering a 10% off discount to all The TRUTH about Motherhood readers on all of your Shabby Apple shopping this holiday season. The code is Truthful10off and the code is valid until January 2,1012. I hope you will all take advantage of this code and get yourself a hot little party dress for this season; YOU DESERVE IT!
*Disclaimer: Shabby Apple is providing the gorgeous prize for the giveaway. The opinions expressed in this post are my own. I was in no way compensated for writing about the Shabby Apple company.
2011/12/11