Shoes for Crews–Slip Resistant Footwear

I usually dread shoe shopping because I never know what size I should buy since I have a wide foot and I always end up with low quality shoes that split and break in less than a year.

I was offered a chance to try a pair of shoes from Shoes for Crews so I thought I’d try it as I’d never bought shoes online before. Shoes for Crews makes shoes designed for those who walk or stand a lot, especially for their job. For example teachers or medical professionals who don’t sit much during their work day.

Although I don’t have one of those types of jobs, I do walk a lot as I walk my kids to and from school each day, often multiple times per day. I’m also a Girl Guide leader and I do two units so I am pretty much standing from 5:00-9:00pm once a week and that’s not including all the standing I do before it starts as I make dinner and prepare to go.

My Choice: Eastside running shoe (because I’ve always wanted to try a slip on shoe)

I also ended up going to Toronto twice in one month for the She’s Connected Conference and a P&G Mom event so I was on my feet a lot then too. I think I tested them out well.

Why Shoes for Crews is Different

What makes Shoes for Crews shoes different is their patented SFC Mighty Grip Slip-Resistant Outsole. If you go to that link and view the first video, you will see what I mean. I’ve never seen a shoe with grip like this. I tried the shoe in many conditions, hardwood, ceramic, linoleum, cement, grass, asphalt, carpet and wood. I tried all those surfaces that can be outdoors while wet as well. I have not tried snow yet because we have not had any yet. I never slipped, not even once. I normally walk extra carefully when it is raining because I’ve slipped so many times. Now I have to train myself to walk normally again.

The shoe is also water resistant, made of genuine leather, has a padded collar, stitch-reinforced toe and a shock-absorbent outsole.

Types of Shoes

Shoes for Crews sells different types of shoes like athletic shoes, women’s slip-resistant footwear as well as clogs, steel-toed boots and dress shoes. You can also browse by industry.

What Impressed Me Most?

The shoes came with a little shoe cleaner. It looks like a little piece of of the bottom of the shoe with little picks coming out of it that you can run through the lines on the bottom of the shoe to get everything out of it.  I LOVE IT!

How It Performed

The shoe itself is designed beautifully and I'm sure they will last me a long time. I do wish however that I had NOT gone with slip-ons as I had a hard time deciding on shoe size even with their charts and they are a bit big on me. I had a blister for a while on my smaller foot although I'm fine now. I think if they had laces, I would have been able to tie them tighter and make them fit better. Part of my problem was that this shoe doesn’t come in a wide size and I have wide feet. So I really should have picked a shoe that came in wide.

If you know what size your shoes are or at least don’t have problems with them being quite different in size or one wider, I think you would be fine buying shoes online.  Despite this, I am happy with my shoes. I like that they are athletic shoes but look nice if I go out too since I HATE dress shoes.

Connect with Shoes for Crews

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shoesforcrews

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoesforcrews

*Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Chamilia Silver Snap Charm Bracelet (Holiday Gift Guide 2012)

Charm bracelets have come a long way from what I remember. If you had a charm bracelet as a girl and you want one now but don’t want dangly charms clicking together every time you move, the Chamilia Silver Snap Charm Bracelet may interest you.

Chamilia also sells necklaces and earrings. Jewellery comes in .925 sterling silver, 14K gold, leather and more. The charm beads are made from .925 sterling silver, 14K gold, Italian Murano glass and Swarovski Elements.

The charms are little beads that screw onto the bracelet so that they won’t fall off when the bracelet is unclasped.  There are tons of charms to choose from, including decorative ones as shown above and themed ones.

I did a short video review (2:10) to show how the bracelet works. If you don’t hear sound right away, turn it up a bit as my voice was low.

The silver snap bracelet is just one type of charm bracelet. There is also a bangle and a toggle bracelet. All kinds of bracelets take the same beads.

As I said there are tons of beads to choose from, here is just a SMALL sampling.

1 – Enchanting Spiral
2 – Nemo
3 – Basketball
4 – Christmas Tree
5 – Wine Glasses
6 – Aunt
7 – Box of Crayons
8 – Frog Yoga
9 – Birthstone

The website has instructions for measuring your wrist and you can specify the size you need when  your order. As stated in my video review, the only problem I had was my skin getting pinched by the bracelet which I think is from my arm hair so I wouldn’t recommend them if you have a lot of arm hair.

Since the jewellery is so well made, you will be looking at $40 – $1200 for the bracelet depending on what material it’s made of and $20-$420 for the charm beads.  There are starter kits as well that come with the bracelet and some beads.

*Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

World Vision Gifts–Gifts That Make a Difference (Holiday Gift Guide 2012)

The Gift That Makes a Difference

At this time of year, many families want to give gifts but are also aware of the many people without money or homes who don’t get gifts this holiday season. It can be  tough sometimes to justify the gifts you are buying when others are going hungry.

There IS a way to give a gift to a loved one AND help deserving families at the same time with World Vision Gifts.  Purchase a gift from World Vision Gifts and you receive a card to pass on that tells how they helped a poverty stricken family.

World Vision Gift Catalogue

There are more than 60 gifts to choose from. If you are in Canada, you can see what’s available at World Vision Canada, while those in the US will want to check out World Vision. There catalogues are slightly different but they idea is the same.

For example you can buy Two Hens and a Rooster for $50 or a Goat for $100 which will provide milk and an income as they can sell the goat manure and any offspring. Two mosquito nets is $30 or if you have lots to spare, you can buy a family a Ger which is like a warm tent like home for $900.

In fact, Burnbrae Farms is currently partnering with World Vision and will donate $10 to World Vision for each purchase of Two Hens and a Rooster through Nov. 30/2012 (so hurry!)

Recently added are some handcrafts gifts which help women. For example I was sent this Turquoise and Wood bracelet (see below) which was made by women and girls who have escaped exploitation and abuse in Thailand. A purchase of this gift helps support the women creating the jewellery.  You can also get a hand-woven scarf or a Haitian hand-beaded necklace.

The bracelet is beautifully crafted and I love sharing that it was made by women and girls in Thailand. It would be the perfect gift for the fashionista in your life.  It’s quite big so would fit a thicker arm and hang loosely on a thin arm.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.  - World Vision

*Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

REVIEW: Where Did You Get That Scarf? (Scarf Envy)

Scarf Envy is an on-line scarf shop located in the United Kingdom. They have scarves in seven fabrics, Alpaca, Cashmere, Chiffon, Cotton, Silk, Viscose and Wool. They offer ten different design categories, such as Animal, Flags, Maps, and Retro to name a few. Then there are plenty to choose from under those designs. There are various colors and textures, even scarves for men. Prices are from 7.49 ($11.63 US) to 34.99 ($54.36 US), very reasonable. They ship overseas for only 2.50 ($3.88 US) by airmail which takes 3 to 5 days.

I love scarves. My neck is always cold so scarves help with that as well as look stylish. I received the Birds Scarf, a flying black bird print on off white background in %100 wool. It came quickly and nicely wrapped in tissue paper with a personal note. The scarf is beautiful. I chose it for the color combination. I needed a black and white scarf.

Wool is a wonderful fabric and I know there are lots of people who love wool. I should have guessed that since I am irritated by lace that wool may do the same thing. But I love the scarf too much to not wear it. I’ll just wear it around a high necked top.

I can’t tell you how well it washes as it is dry clean only. It is the length I like at 180 cm long. They do come in different lengths and widths.

There are many way to wear a scarf. I only know a few so I REALLY like their How to Wear a Scarf page. You have to check out the 25 ways to wear a scarf in 4.5 minutes video! I’ll be back viewing it from time to time to get a new way too wear it.

Bottom line – I may very well order myself a few more!

*Disclosure: One of my reviewers received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

REVIEW: Dressing My Son as Robin from Wholesale Costume Club (Batman and Robin)

Halloween 2012 is almost here, do you have your child’s costume yet?

Batman Theme

Our family has never done a theme before but this year we are all going as characters from Batman and Robin comics and movies. Daddy is Batman, the girls are Catwoman and Batgirl and my son is Robin. I am still working on mine. My brother is hoping to go with us as The Riddler and our friend might go with us as Joker. 

My Son as Robin

For my son’s robin costume, we got on from Wholesale Costume Club. They have a good selection of Batman and Robin Costumes as well as costumes for just about everything you could think of.

They have two types of Robin costumes: Justice League and Teen Titan Robin. They basically look the same but the first comes in 0-6 and 6-12 months sizes while the Teen Titan comes in 2T-4T. 

If you have two sons, one being Batman and the other Robin would be an adorable idea.

How It Fits

I got a Toddler size for my 18 month old son which is listed as size 1-2 and it fits pretty well. It’s basically the 2T.  It’s baggy enough to fit over warm clothes. It’s a little long in the legs but we can easily pin it so it won’t go over his feet. The only problem is that the mask is too big, but what toddler keeps a mask on anyways? We will just paint a mask on his face for Halloween.

When buying clothing online, it’s often difficult to decide what size to buy. Each costume has a size chart with specific measurements so you can measure your child at home and match it up instead of relying on whether the size they say is the same as your child.

The cape is detachable and the mask is by itself, the rest is a one piece suit that closes in the back with a piece of Velcro. It’s made from flannel and can be hand washed.

I am impressed with the costume, it is good condition, looks like it will last pretty long and looks adorable on him. Add black face paint for a mask and shoes and it will be perfect.

I can’t wait to get the rest of our family’s costumes and see what we all look like together. I know it will be great!

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

REVIEW: Cleava–Snap to Bra Cami - Switch From Day Look to Night Look Seamlessly

The Cleava is a mock camisole, similar to a dickey but it attaches to your bra. It was designed by women, for women. It allows you to conceal or expose your cleavage, depending on the occasion, so you can use the same dress for work and for cocktails.

It gives you the layered look without the added layer. See more on the entire list of advantages.

I received one of these to review. It’s quite an inventive product. It is easily removable and small, so you can slip it into your bag.

It is advertised as “Easy as 1,2,3” to put on or take off. I found it is very easy. It snaps around your bra straps and fits under and over the middle of your bra. You can take it off without undressing and then just slip it into your bag.

It is also advertised as one size fits most. I tried it with two different types of bras and found it fits better with one over the other. It also seem to make a difference in the top you wear, it looked better with certain ones. I found it could use one more snap in the middle, at least for me. It felt comfortable but one of the side straps showed above the edge and needed adjusting.  Someone commented that viewed from above you could see the side straps. I wonder if it would work with the snaps being a bit lower?

It just so happens that I have a top really like that is low cut. I wore it one day to play group with my I charge and someone let me know that I was showing a bit too much when leaning over. So that is the top in the picture above.

The Cleava comes in different colors, some with lace and one with rhinestones. I received a white one. I’d recommend having at least black and white to goes with multiple outfits. They are machine washable and dryer safe. I did wash it with no problems.

Where to Buy

The basic Cleava sells for $19.95, more if they have lace or rhinestones. A fair price, I think. They are sold in a few stores in the USA and Australia and one store in Alberta Canada. Otherwise they are an on-line store. It shipped well. I received it in a thin envelope and it arrived promptly.


Bottom line – I think you’ll like it and with the Holiday season around the corner it would make a great gift for any reason or any season.

Free Shipping on Orders Over $50 Michelle De Sousa, the inventor of Cleava is so confident that you're going to love your Cleava that she is offering FREE SHIPPING on any orders over $50.00. You also have The 30 Day Guarantee. If for any reason you are not happy with your Cleava you can return it within 30 days. You’ve got nothing to lose click here to order or call 1-888-692-5328. The code expires Nov 1, 2012 - Use code: FSCR

*Disclosure: One of my reviewers received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

REVIEW: Clipa Handbag Helper / Purse Hook #gifts4mom

Introducing the Clipa.

I’ve never bothered with a purse hook/clip before because my mom had one and she always forgot to use it and when she did remember, it didn’t work on every type of table.

That all changed when I was offered the Clipa to try out. Honestly I figured I’d try it out and then probably never use it again. I was WRONG! I use it all the time and I find places to use it even when I don’t need to JUST to show everyone how cool it is.

Highlights:

• It goes ON the bag, not IN the bag so you won’t lose it and you can quickly move it from purse to purse if you are the kind of person who changes purses all the time (ahem… mom…)
• It doubles as a bracelet. Yup a bracelet. Go somewhere and forget your bling? Want to add another row to your bangles? Clipa works here too.
• Can be used almost anywhere: door, office cubicle walls, movie theaters, rails, walls, fences, sinks, shopping carts.
• Not just for purses! Use with your backpacks, diaper bags and more because….
• It holds up to 45lbs! I’m seriously thinking of having my 38lb daughter hang off of it to test it out.
• Tested for 10 YEARS of use.

What Do I Like The Best?

When you want to pick your purse up again, all you have to do is grab your purse and pull. The Clipa automatically comes off the surface and clips back onto your purse. I tested this MULTIPLE TIMES! (it’s fun!)

The Clipa comes in different colours and styles. I received the Chloe which is plain silver ($19) but there are also other choices including polished hematite, polished or brushed gold zirconium, iridescent multicolour titanium, black sparkle, ruby red and pink Clipa for a Cure.

10% of the sale of a Clipa for a Cure goes to The Breast Cancer Foundation.

You can also get them with crystals embedded in them for even more of a jewellery look.  (see first picture) Each Clipa comes packaged in a box as shown below which was a nice touch.

You can check out the Clipa Blog or follow on Twitter and Facebook. You can also enter to win one in my Mother's Day Giveaway which ends 5/18.

Check out the video to see it in action:

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

GIVEAWAY: Spring Fashionista - $100 CafePress.com - WW - 2/7 #FashionistaEVENTS

Welcome to the semi-annual Fashionista Events, ALL FASHION, ONLY FASHION, Giveaway Event.

This is the Largest Fashion giveaway event on the internet, with 105+ blogs offering over $20,000 in prizes, hosted by Still Blonde after all these YEARS with co-hosts The Socialites Closet and Modly Chic.

The Grand Prize for the Event is a $1200 (retail) Marc Jacobs bag via Bella Bag.

For every giveaway in the Spring Fashionista Event that an entrant enters, they gain one entry toward the Marc Jacobs Bag.

Cafepress is the sponsor for my giveaway. 

They have agreed to give one winner two $50 Giftcards to spend how they want at the CafePress store. That's a total of $100 to spend!

Lots to Choose from at Cafepress.com

I'm sure most people have heard of CafePress but if you haven't, it's a store that sells custom clothing and gift items. You can use your own photo or graphic to design your own or pick from the multitude of options they have there.

If you haven't been there to look around, you wouldn't believe the selection. Do you like wolves? Are you a nurse? Do you like the show Dexter? Show support for PETA? Want to see what you can customize?

Think of the possibilities! You could get a whole bunch of different shirts or one for each member of the family (they sell baby clothes too.)

Enter using the rafflecopter form below. If you don't know how to use it or have any questions or problems, leave a comment or email me callista83 AT cogeco DOT ca.

A copy of the giveaway rules are below and on the rafflecopter form. Entering the giveaway means you have read and agree to the rules.

GIVEAWAY RULES:
Giveaway open Worldwide 18+. Giveaway open until Mar 7, 2012 @ 11:59 PM EST. Odds of winning depend on number of valid entries received. Duplicate (accidental or not) entries will be deleted before a winner is picked and winner's entries WILL BE verified. Winners will be selected using rafflecopter's random.org on March 8, 2012 and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 3 days to claim their prize or their prize is forfeit and another winner will be chosen. Contest Void Where Prohibited. Still Blonde after all these YEARS , Fashionista Giveaway Events or the Fashionista Giveaway Event bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.
This giveaway is not associated, nor sponsored by Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability.

Click Read More if you can't see the widget.

REVIEW/GIVEAWAY: Milk Nursing Wear

It's possible to breastfeed in any shirt of course and with practice you can be pretty discreet when nursing but it's nice to have a shirt designed for nursing, at least for when you are will be nursing in public. Even if you are able to keep most of your breast covered during feeding, often your side is hanging out.

Milk Nursing Wear sells fashionable tops designed for nursing. The company was started when Elisa was looking for nursing wear and didn't like the unattractive styles that was available. The company prides itself on excellent customer service and dedication to moms and women entrepreneurs.

Their products are available in a few US States and a few other countries but as of yet isn't available in stores in Canada. However you can order online. See list of stores.

In addition to nursing shirts, Milk also sells nursing pajamas, nursing bras and some other fun accessories.

I received the Empire Scoop Neck Nursing Top to test out. It lifts up at the breast while a second layer slides down to allow access to the breast. Check out the photos to see how.

The shirt is comfortable. I don't usually wear fitted shirts, opting for box t-shirts. I felt very pretty in the shirt, and could see myself wearing it even when I'm done nursing. The thin layer is only on the breast section so the shirt wouldn't be to warm, even in the summer.

The colour didn't run when I washed it and the shirt didn't shrink (two common problems.)

Visit Fresh Milk: Blog, Milk on Facebook and Twitter.

GIVEAWAY

Milk Nursing Wear has offered one of my readers a $40 GC to use at the online store.

NOTE: Rafflecopter has changed how it's form works. You can log in via facebook or with your email so you won't have to enter your name and email each time. If you have any problems, let me know via comments or email callista83@cogeco.ca and I'll try to get it figured out.

A copy of the giveaway rules are below and on the rafflecopter form. Entering the giveaway means you have read and agree to the rules.

GIVEAWAY RULES:

One Person Per Household. Open Worldwide 18+. Giveaway open until December 30, 2011 @ 11:59 PM EST. Odds of winning depend on number of valid entries received. Duplicate (accidental or not) entries will be deleted before a winner is picked and winner's entries WILL BE verified. Winner will be selected using rafflecopter's random.org on December 31, 2011 and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 4 days (I'm giving you more since it's New Years) to claim their prize or their prize is forfeit and another winner will be chosen. Contest Void Where Prohibited. This giveaway is not associated, nor sponsored by Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability.

Click Read More if you can't see the widget.

REVIEW: Hand Vibes - Awesome Rings with Attitude!

Hand Vibes is hoping to be the next craze in collectibles. Currently available in the USA and hoping to come to Canada, Hand Vibes are colourful rubber rings with sayings on them such as Friend, LOL, True Dat, Love, and more.

Each pack comes with three rings, one of which is hidden from view. With nine different colours and 25 sayings and 5 rare emoticon designs, there are 235 unique rings to collect. There are two different size rings in each pack so they will fit different fingers (or toes!)


Make sure you check the mystery ring for one of the rare black, blue swirl or emoticon rings! They are in only 1 out of every 6 packs!

The package lists them as for ages 7 and up and I'd say they'd fit the average preteens fingers. My 14 year old niece found them a bit small so I'd say 7-12 or so. I could see these becoming popular, especially with plans for more series to come out with other sayings.

If you are Canadian and would like to Hand Vibes sold where you live, give a shout out in the comments!

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Sponsor Spotlight – Sophia Grace #CouponCabinHop

Be sure to come back November 1 for your chance to win a prize from this company during the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event. 

How many stained shirts do you have from food splatter while cooking? I have so many it's not even funny. I have an apron but it's black and boring and I forget to put it on most of the time.

Sophia Grace sells beautifully designed aprons for women, men and children. They are made in Canada too! They also sell laminated ones that are great for hair dressers, crafters or anyone who prefers a apron that can be wiped clean. They even carry some special aprons that would make great wedding gifts!

Now you can cook in style! Their motto is Be Fun Be Flirty Be Fabulous!

Follow Sophia Grace Aprons on Facebook and Twitter

Sophia Grace Aprons is donating one apron for the Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event.



 Buy It: Buy directly from the Sophia Grace website

Use the code "ilovecallista" to get $10 off AND free shipping! But hurry, this code is only good till Nov. 30.


*Disclosure: I will be receiving an apron to review this month. The company is sponsoring a giveaway during Coupon Cabin's 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Brand New Baby Sponsor Spotlight: Thyme Maternity

 

This is my third time breastfeeding and I've never used a nursing bra or nursing shirt. I just made do with sports bras or regular bras and lifting my shirt. Well I want to try a nursing bra! So I contacted Thyme Maternity and they agree to let me try out a nursing bra or shirt of my choice.

I haven't chosen yet but I will be doing a review of that item during this event.

Thyme Maternity clearly sells maternity clothes but they do sell nursing apparel as well. They also have a Reading Room with articles on pregnancy and breastfeeding. Be sure to check out their current contests too!

Connect!

Like Thyme Maternity on Facebook.

REVIEW: Disney's Belle Costume from Costume Super Center

I was recently able to review a costume from The Costume Super Center. It's your one stop spot for Halloween Costumes.

There are tons of different types of costumes to pick from in many different categories. I chose to look at Disney Costumes.

It was a tough decision with a 3 year old and 5 year old as we could only get one dress and they (of course) each wanted a different one. I ended up getting the Disney's Child Belle Costume pictured at left.

The girls were ecstatic that they were going to be able to play dress up but I must admit that the dress didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Pros:

• The Price. $20.00 for a costume is amazing.
• It shipped without incident
• You can choose to purchase matching accessories (wand, tiara, shoes etc.)

Cons:

• The sparkle overlay was an understatement. It was like opening a can of confetti as the sparkles were just EVERYWHERE for the first 4 days. 
• The front of the dress is longer than the back (which you don't see in the photo) which seems a little strange to me.
• The Belle brooch and pink bow that sits at the chest just flops downwards on the dress on both of my girls. It doesn't show as it does in the photograph. The skirt isn't as wide as the photo either. I think the photo was a bit misleading.
• It's not made for constant wearing. (see below.)

I think the costume would have been perfect for Halloween or a Disney party but doesn't seem to be made to be worn often as a dress up dress. My youngest daughter wore it every day for 4 weeks and it already has a rip in the sleeve. It's ripped at the bottom too but that's because she's short and she keeps stepping on it.  It's not made for a preschooler to wear it all day for days on end, only taking it off to eat or sleep. 

The Costume Super Center doesn't only have costumes for kids. There are adult costumes, "adult" costumes, teen costumes and all types of themed costumes (western, nurses, horror, dance girls, cowgirls, angels, from different decades, TV and movie, witch, tween, Super Heroes, Gothic, Animals and more.