Last week, I finally dove into the world of Thrift and Consignment stores and boy what a discovery it has been! I mean, I’d been to our local Goodwill and Salvation Army stores on occasion but this time I checked out some local smaller thrift stores and a quite larger one a few miles away. Since I didn’t start my post with “I’ll never do that again or I was in shock!” you can guess that I had a fairly decent experience in thrift store shopping.

I went out this weekend without my husband or the kids to shop. And wow, I really need to do that more often. It was nice not to have to keep up with wandering children, feeling rushed as my husband stands around bored out of his mind, or my son trying to pull down my shirt to nurse in front of a crowd of people. My friend Lindsey and I had been wanting to start shopping for the kids next sizes and also for the spring and summer seasons way ahead of time. I think we are really just eager for the Spring to arrive. Living in Oregon where it rains for almost the entire Fall and Winter can be pretty taxing at times and is known to cause some real cabin fever!

The first consignment store that my friend I checked out is called The Red, White, and Blue.  And I really think I need to leave a review about it on Yelp because the ones on there are enough to make you not even check it out! We went on Saturday so we’d prepared ourselves for a crowd. I was only hopping I wouldn’t have to fight for items, get accused of eyeing somebodies merchandise in their carts, get jostled, and all the other scary things you can think up in crowded place to shop! It honestly wasn’t too bad and it was nice to be able to look around without constantly correcting my preschooler (stay at my side, don’t touch that, get off the floor, …the list goes on)  and making sure my baby didn’t grab or rip anything down while in his Ergo carrier since he’s at the perfect height for that while attached to me.

As we entered the store, I was pretty confident that I was going to find exactly what I was looking to get for my son and daughter but I was shockingly wrong! I could find almost nothing in my daughter or my sons size and I wasn’t being picky either, it just wasn’t there! One thing I really disliked was how the items in the store were organized, the clothes mainly. Instead of sorting them by size, they instead choose to group them in sections by color. And that was a pain to dig through. I was in shock to see a boys button down shirt for 3.95 with all the buttons missing! I mean I guess you could replace them yourself but it’s not worth the price of almost 4.00. I could easily get a brand new shirt off a clearance rack at Target for that much.

On a more positive note, I loved their toy/craft/book section! They had some awesome deals on toys and books that  I’ve actually seen on e-bay for much more in price! I have recently been looking to collect the Leap Frog fridge magnet sets and there was one there BUT my friend Lindsey got to it first! She was also looking to get these sets too. I let that one pass because I did have a Word Whammer coming in the mail and she saw/touched it first. No fighting among friends for toys or clothes. It’s funny though because we are both looking for similar things and the same sizes for our kids! I did happen to score a nice lot of five Preschool books for $1.95! One of the books is wipe-able so my daughter can practice writing her letters and numbers. I’m so happy with that find!

Honestly, I still can’t believe there was nothing there for my children clothing wise! I’ll have to check back when they restock and make sure the next time I go, it’s not on a weekend. It was pretty busy but at least the lines moved quickly to check out. I’ll have to always remember to keep cash on hand for spontaneous trips to that store because they don’t accept credit/debit cards. I did find their prices on used clothes to be a bit high at 8.00 for a ladies top and 10.00 and up for a pair of pants. After scoring an entire box of Ann Taylor clothes for 25.00 through Thred Up, I’ve become a bit picky at prices of used clothes!  So, after an almost unfruitful trip to the first thrift store, we headed to a much smaller thrift store in our area that is owned and run by a Christian family that I’ve visited by myself a few times now.

The Fit to Flatter guide is there to help customers find the right dress for their figure! I found this extremely easy to use and very helpful. What you do is answer 3 different questions about your body or you can browse the following categories to find your body shape: Hourglass, Apple, Pear, Pencil, Athletic, Womanly, Tall, and Short.  I found by using the fit to flatter section that dresses like the Polo, Cat’s Cradle, and the 90 Words Per Minute dress among others would flatter my figure. I own several of these and am pleased to say that their sizing was spot on!

I was recently given the opportunity to add yet another Shabby Apple dress to my wardrobe called the Ballerina. I’ve in the past week worn this to a work Christmas Party at a fancy hotel, to an intimate Christmas concert, and when attending my local church. I’m pleased to say this dress is very versatile for a wide range of activities and social gatherings.

The Ballerina dress welcomes a variety of body types including my own ranging in the fits generously size chart! I love the Plum color which makes it perfect for both Fall and Winter season. The top of the dress is V-neck which flatters nicely and it’s also perfect for when I am about and about nursing my son. Breastfeeding mommies like myself will love this added feature. The waist line on this dress is ruched from bust to hip meaning this is great for those who feel uncomfortable about their waistline. I may be petite but I’ve had two children and my stomach area is something that I’ve been working on.  There’s no need to wear a slip as the skirt part of this dress is fully lined. Did I mention it’s comfortable?

Overall the Ballerina from Shabby Apple  is very flattering dress that meets style and gives the comfort I so simply adore with my wardrobe. You don’t often get both sometimes. You can wear this dress in many ways depending how you accessorize with jewelery, fashion scarves, and more. I think at $62.00 though currently on sell for $40.00 this a dress that you shouldn’t pass up if it catches your eye.

**Apple Accolades: Shabby Apple has a great promotion called Apple Accolades, where Shabby Apple gives you a free gift (shipping included) for every $100 you spend at Shabby Apple. **

Win it!

How would you like to win a Purple Ballerina Dress for yourself?
Feel free to enter below letting me know another dress, skirt, or product from Shabby Apple that you’d love to own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was sent the above product mentioned for review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

LuLu Fitzgerald an Etsy Shop is one of my recent finds that I am more than happy to be able to share here on my blog. In this store you’ll find find fun hand puppets, afghans, charming bow ties, button jewelry, cute hair accessories, and simply darling dresses, jumpers, and button down shirts for children.

I was so happy to have been able to purchase a jumper from this shop for my three year old daughter to wear during the Autumn season!

The jumper itself is made extremely well and features such fun fabric of fall leaves and trees! It’s fully lined with a lightweight brown cotton fabric keeping it breathable but also giving it’s wearer the extra warmth they need during the Fall. I love the buttons chosen as they compliment the jumper perfectly and it makes for easier on and off when dressing your child. My daughter has worn short and long sleeved tops, leggings, boots, and different cardigans with this jumper. There’s so many ways to ways to mix it up! It’s making for lots of great photos and it’s my go to for our family Thanksgiving dinner this year!

I enjoyed getting to know the artist and mom behind LuLu Fitzgerald an Etsy Shop and hope you do to! Please do enjoy the interview questions I asked below.

1.Why did you decide to open shop and how long have you been? I love to sew, especially for my two kids. However, you can only make so many jumpers and bow ties before your little one has enough. That’s why I opened my shop in August 2010. The shop allows me to keep sewing even after my kids have everything they need.

2. What do you enjoy the most when creating your products? My favorite part about sewing and creating is seeing the final product. Since every item is handmade, they are all a little different. It’s fun to see all those little differences in the finished product, which makes each and every item unique.

3. Apart from creating things, what do you do? When I’m not sewing I am either working at my part time job doing public relations for a local school or spending lots of time with my two kids – ages 2 and 3.5. I also teach Sunday School to a rambunctious but loving group of 2-year olds at my non-denominational Christian church.

4. What inspires you? I find inspiration in my kids and quite often at the sewing store. There are so many beautiful fabrics – I find one I like and start picturing what it can become. I also think about what my kids like and what they need when looking for inspiration.

5.In five years you’d like to be…? In five years I’d like to be right where I am now, just five years older, with five more years experience under my belt! I want to be very involved in my children’s school activities and education. I want to be selling my items at more local craft shows. I want to turn my etsy shop into an official business. I might even want to have another child, but that is still up for debate ;o)

10-percent of all sales in my shop now go to the Cincinnati Teen Challenge: www.teenchallengecincinnati.org

Disclaimer: I was sent the above product mentioned for review at discount. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone.

Have a special event such as a family photo shoot coming up? How about that upcoming wedding, birthday party, or any other well known holiday that you’d prefer your child dressed up nicely at? If you are not sure where to look for decently priced fashionable high quality apparel for these special occasions you should look no further than My Baby Clothes Boutique.

I quite enjoyed browsing the boutique and welcomed how easy navigation really was on their site! I was able to search by gender, type of baby clothes, child size (0-4t), accessories such as baby headbands & hats, shoes, sweet little tutus and pettiskirts, and much more. And if you are needing any help they offer a live online help chat or call their toll free number.

I was able to have my pick of anything in their store under twenty five dollars. I chose to review the Floral Halter Dress in size 3t for the upcoming Easter holiday though it can be worn for more than just that day. I have to say that this dress fits my daughter perfectly! I was a little worried it might not fit because she’s pretty petite like me but it fits so well! I even bet she’ll be able to wear this dress next year too.

I like that the Floral Halter dress is fully lined underneath making it thick but not too heavy.  Some dresses that are white in color and have the tendency to be see-thru but that’s not the case at all with this one. The orange in this dress is actual a soft peach. The leaves sparkle and the large orange bow is the perfect accent! I also love the added ruffles around the neckline that add extra femininity. Overall this is a very lovely dress that I am sure anyone would really be taken with.

My hat is off to My Baby Clothes Boutique for having a “We Also Reccomend” section on each product page. For instance on the product page of the dress I’m reviewing they suggested two different pairs of matching sandals, and a very sweet headband! I just love the extra mile this company is going to help you find the perfect outfit for your children!

Overall, I will definitely be checking My Baby Clothes Boutique again!

-Get Connected-

Like them on Facebook | Follow them on Twitter | Subscribe to their Blog | Join their Newsletter

-Win It!-

To Enter: Visit My Baby Clothes Boutique and then leave a comment here telling me what you will use the $25 gift card for if you win!

Extra Entries:

1. Blog this giveaway, link back to this post. (2 extra)

2. Follow on Twitter @erinlowmaster & Tweet (daily entries available)

3. Post this giveaway on a Giveaway Linky/Site and let me know where!

4. Email a friend(s) about this giveaway. (Leave name of friend)

5. Subscribe to my blog by RSS or E-mail (Feed Burner) and let me know!

6. Become a Facebook Fan of Connected2Christ and leave me a comment there letting me know you are coming from this giveaway.

Giveaway running till 04/18/11 . Winners will be notified shortly afterward by email. Please respond within 48 hours or you forfeit your prize to another participant. USA only.

Disclaimer: I was given a 25.00 gift code for this review/giveaway promotion. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone.

This Mom’s Thoughts…

I was given the opportunity to review one of  Hello World’s smart zip sleepers for my upcoming bundle of blue due to arrive sometime in January.  First I must say how fun the names of each of the lines are! There’s Blue me Away (For Little Boys), Made Me Blush (For Little Girls), and Olive You More (Great for either boy or girl!).

I received a 0-3 month smart zip sleeper in Blue me Away! It’s long sleeved but shouldn’t over heat your baby at all. I love how trendy looking the sleeper is with it’s brown sleeves and matching non-slip brown footies!

This sleeper is very unique in it’s design as it can be zipped from the top or the bottom! This  fantastic two way zipper feature  is a God-send as you don’t have to completely undress your baby making him or her cold for diaper changes! Can we say genius?

This sleeper is safe for baby with the added traditional snap flap at the top by babies chin and a fabric cover at the bottom to prevent access from curious  little hands to the zipper.

I’ve been washing all the baby clothes lately and this sleeper went in the wash too! It came out perfectly with no shrinkage, no fading, and feeling as soft and comfortable as ever! The SmartZip Sleeper is 100% interlock cotton instead of ribbed. It’s  flexible and holds it’s shape making for no baggy knees or elbows.

I can’t till my little boy gets here so I can start using this great smart zip sleeper. And I only thinks is suitable to eventually invest in a pair of the smart zip pants that Hello World Clothing Company recently added to their line! This mom definitely gives these products two thumbs way up but don’t just take my word for it, read what other mom’s are saying too!

Hello World gives back.

…for every SmartZip Sleeper they sell on their website, Hello World® Clothing Company will donate one dollar to the Amani Children’s Foundation and New Life Home Trust.

Buy it!

You can purchase the SmartZip Sleeper on their website as well as the Simple Zip Pant and the Simply Sweet Bodysuit from 22.00-30.00! You can also find Hello World Products on a variety online retailers and select stores near you.

Get Connected!

Like Hello World on Facebook
Follow Hello World on Twitter

Visit Hello World and tell me: Color, and size you would choose, and who you would be winning the SmartZip for!

Like Hello World on Facebook
Follow Hello World on Twitter

Win it!

One winner receive a Smart Zip Sleeper of their size and color choice!

To Enter: Visit Hello World Clothing Company and tell me what color, and size you would choose, and who you would be winning the SmartZip for!

Extra Entries:

1. Blog this giveaway, link back to this post. (2 extra)

2. Follow on Twitter @erinlowmaster & Tweet (daily entries available)

3. Post this giveaway on a Giveaway Linky/Site and let me know where!

4. Email a friend(s) about this giveaway. (Leave name of friend)

5. Subscribe to my blog by RSS or E-mail (Feed Burner) and let me know!

6. Become a Facebook Fan of Connected2Christ and leave me a comment there letting me know you are coming from this giveaway.

7. Like Hello World on Facebook and let them know you are visiting from Connected2Christ

8. Follow Hello World on Twitter

Giveaway running till 11/20/10 . Winners will be notified shortly afterward by email. Please respond within 48 hours or you forfeit your prize to another participant. USA & Canada only.

DISCLAIMER: My thoughts are mine  own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for hosting this giveaway or review other than the sample above mentioned.

Mom created company, Smart Knit Kids socks is a favorite in our home! Anytime we look to clothe our feet their socks are always a first pick!

What are some reasons why we love these socks so much? Well first, they are seamless and offered in a variety of colors and styles. Smart Knits are started at the toe and worked up toward the ankle, this process insures a 100% seamless sock. Since it’s launch in 2003, Smart Knits Kids continues to grow and find new markets. Super Soft material and seam free design make it the most comfortable kids sock on the market.

Out of the generosity Smart Knit Kids my daughter and I were given the opportunity to review some of these socks! These socks come in several styles which include ankle, crew,and knee-high. Ranging in sizes from 1-4 toddler all the way up to a girls/boys size 5-8. The vast selection of colors ensure a pair to suit everyone child’s taste and personality!

I’m so impressed with Smart Knit Kids socks I was sent! I love that each pair of these socks have a non-binding Halo Top that fits comfortably without slipping down my daughter’s leg! Most socks usually have those elastic bands at the top that wear out rather quickly and can sometimes be to tight leaving a mark on your child’s leg.

Their is no heel on these socks so I don’t have to worry about running to the store so soon just to get socks that fit. Clearly as a parents I’ve learned that children’s feet grow exceptionally quickly.

High Tech fibers that wick are added that helps prevent moisture as well as working to keep your children’s feet dry, preventing stinky feet.

I recommend the socks to all, I believe your children will thank you for them! Each pair retails for around $6.95 or less! To find out where you can purchase these, visit http://www.smartknitkids.com/

Disclaimer: I was given a set of two socks from Smart Knit Kids to review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

Belly 9 Maternity T-shirts are fun, hip and flattering with something for every taste. Our Maternity T-shirts are made of soft, form fitted stretchy 100% cotton designed for growing bellies so it is never too early or too late to purchase our tees. We know that with our Belly 9 Maternity T-shirts, you’ll be showing your style for the whole 9 months.

Being pregnant a second time hasn’t been all that fun for me until just recently. I was feeling pretty yucky up to 16 weeks and now I am comfortably in my second trimester at 20 weeks and looking and feeling so much better.  I am now finally braving the outside world again whether it be heading to the park with my toddler, going to the store, or hanging with friends and all the while, I can’t ignore the cry from my middle section that it’s time for some stylish maternity wear.

A friend recently told me about Belly 9  and I’m glad she did!  Belly 9 offers some really cute maternity shirts, tanks and baby tees and hat sets all made in the USA. Shirts  feature fun designs perfect for the mom to be keeping score, for the mom that just had to know,  and more!

I was given the opportunity to review a tank top that reads ” Miracle Grow”. Very suitable as every little baby is such a miracle of life.  I found the Belly 9 tank top  soft, stretchy and very flattering offering full belly coverage with the extra length.  It’s very comfortable and so soft that I’ve found myself wanting to wear it all the time! This tank top I can totally see myself wearing clear until the end of my pregnancy and I can’t say that for a lot of the other maternity shirts that I have had considering my first pregnancy.

You can purchase Belly9 tank tops for $25.00 and with the autumn and winter season around the corner, long-sleeved tees for $36.00! These would make make great gifts for new moms to be  and those expecting!

Win It!

Belly 9 is  generously offering one of my blog readers a “Miracle Grow” maternity tank top!

To Enter: Visit Belly9 and let me know another shirt you like!

Extra Entries:

1. Blog this giveaway, link back to this post. (2 extra)

2. Follow on Twitter @erinlowmaster & Tweet (daily entries available)

3. Post this giveaway on a Giveaway Linky/Site and let me know where!

4. Email a friend(s) about this giveaway. (Leave name of friend)

5. Subscribe to my blog by RSS or E-mail (Feed Burner) and let me know!

Giveaway running till 09/18/10 . Winners will be notified shortly afterward by email. Please respond within 48 hours or you forfeit your prize to another participant. Giveaway is open to USA & Canada Only.

I received this product free of charge for review on my blog. No other compensation was received. The views and opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Two best friends, both being mom’s of eight daughter between them teamed up together and launched Matooka in 2009 with the mission of creating a line “…that would attract girls with its fun attention to detail, and comfortable fit, but also appeal to parents with its reasonable price-points and quality make.”

We were sent the Let Loose shirt and skirt in hot pink to review. This outfit is made extremely well and it’s very soft and smooth. The outfit is adorable and it’s true to size, fitting my daughter absolutely perfectly! I love this outfit! It fits my daughter’s personality like a glove!

Matooka offers many fashion forward pieces that are sure to delight any little girl. The spring line has so many fun styles and colors that I can hardly wait to see what they will be offering for the Fall 2010 line! Clothing sizes starting at 2t!

Matooka also gives back by donating 10% of all profits to research in infertility and to families undergoing costly assisted reproductive treatments.

Buy It: You can purchase Matooka Kids Couture girl’s clothing from a number of retail locations, including online at Peachandplum.com and Shopbabytrends.com.

You can also find Matooka on Facebook.

**The items for this review were provided at no cost by Matooka. This was not a paid post and my honest opinions have been given. The experiences and opinions of others may differ from my own**

Just Boys & Girls is a wonderful Etsy shop that offers a variety of adorable attire for both boys and girls. I enjoyed browsing this shop and feasting my eyes on the huge variety of styles and patterns listed for purchase. The girls area of the shop offered all sorts of outfits and dresses perfect for numerous type of events and occasions. I couldn’t help but think how cute the Baseball fun baby/toddler girls dress was! How cute would that dress be for a trip to the local ball field?

I was able to review the Summer Dress for my daughter’s second birthday from Just Boys & Girls! This adorable off the shoulder dress is full of various shades of browns and pinks, making it perfect to wear anytime of the year in my opinion. This dress features adorable ruffle sleeves and ties off the top with ribbon ties. I love that though this dress fits well, it gives my daughter plenty of room to continue to wear and grow for a little while longer. I also like the fact that this dress is available in sizes 12mos to size 7!

I enjoyed getting to know owner and creator of Just Girls and Boys through my Etsy meet and greet questions and I hope you do too!

1.Why did you decide to start doing this on Etsy and how long have you been?

I am Cheryl Ragan and originally from California, but currently living in Tennessee(my husband is from TN). I have been with ETSY since sept 2008, before that I was on ebay. I moved to ETSY because ebay did not afford me the opportunity to sell my clothes to the audience I wanted, ETSY has given me that opportunity.

2. What do you enjoy the most when creating your products?

The things I enjoy about my creations is my ability to mix and match colors and fabric types,as well as, being able to design clothing with a flare.

3. Apart from creating things, what do you do?

When I am not sewing(which is seldom), my husband and I do craft fairs. We are retired and we also enjoy the freedom retirement gives us by not having a defined regiment.

4. What inspires you?

My inspiration comes from my ability to see in my mind’s eye a dress design and how it will look finished.

5.In five years you’d like to be…?

Our future plans are to continue with my sewing and going to craft fairs and having a successful, but not overwhelming, business.

Overall thoughts…

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Just Boys & Girls! I again love the wide selection of styles and colors to choose from and can’t wait to see what else will be added in the future. The prices are reasonable and sometimes you can catch some great sells!

Win it!

Cheryl is offering one of my readers whether USA or Canada a 21.00 gift certificate to her store!

To Enter: Visit Just Boys & Girls and let me know what you might purchase if you won! (Please leave the link in your entry!)

Extras:

1. Add me to your blogroll or add my button.
2. Blog it, link back to this post. (2 extra)
3. Favorite my blog on Technorati
4. Subscribe by email/RSS. (2 extra)
5. Follow on Twitter @erinlowmaster & Tweet (daily entries available)
6. Email a friend about this giveaway. (Leave name of friend)

Tweet: (copy/paste)

RT: Win a 21.00 etsy gift certificate to Just Boys and Girls ! @erinlowmaster– Ends 6/12/10.

Giveaway running till 06/12/10 . Winners will be notified shortly afterward by email. Please respond within 48 hours or you forfeit your prize to another participant.

Disclaimer: I was sent a  product to review from Just Boys and Girls. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

I enjoyed getting to know Elizabeth and wanted to give my readers a chance to learn more about her too! Enjoy the Etsy meet a great questions and answers below!

1.Why  did you decide to start doing this on Etsy and how long have you been? I like the flexibility that Etsy provides. Being able to work on creative projects, manage my own shop, and raise my children at the same time is ideal, and would only be possible through an online sales vehicle. I have been selling on Etsy for about 8 months.

2.  What do you enjoy the most when creating your products?
I love being able to use my graphic design background to create something that will be worn and loved by someone else. Its fun to see children get excited about wearing my tees. I also enjoy having the opportunity to give back by donating proceeds from my fisherman design to a cancer charity.

3. Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I own a commercial graphic design firm, which is home based, and spend most of my time caring for my 2 young daughters. I also enjoy cooking and spending time outdoors.

4. What inspires you?
My children.

5.In five years you’d like to be…?
Still able to earn a living doing creative things!

Shop Now: The Elizabeth Horton short sleeved tees available for $13.00 a piece and long sleeved ones are $15.00, which is a real steal for the quality you are receiving! I love the fact she offers a fine selection for both boys and girls! I can’t wait to see what else Elizabeth Horton comes up with!

Special Promo: Use the code “C2C” when ordering throughout the month of May for free shipping on your order. (does not apply to custom orders)