An Optimistic Beauty

MiniStar Fur Boots Winner!

2009-11-08T21:19:00.001-08:00

Congrats to our lucky winner who will be bringing home their very own pair of MiniStar Fur Boots for their little one.

Congrats comment #49 Tylerpants who felt their son would look cute in the chocolate size M!

I will be in contact with you shortly to confirm acceptance of this amazing prize! If I haven’t received response from you within 48 hours a new winner will be selected.

Stay tuned for more awesome giveaways!

Flute Beat Boxing – Heard of It?

2009-11-08T16:08:00.001-08:00

As a former band geek I was thoroughly impressed when I came across the work of Flute Beat Boxer Greg Pattillo.

This is absolutely amazing!

Peter and the Wolf

2009-11-08T15:55:00.001-08:00

My favourite classical piece of all time is definitely Peter and the Wolf. I fell in love with the piece back in grade 8 band class, and have always carried a fondness for it. Quite to my delight so have my daughters!

I was surprised at how quickly the girls picked up on the March beat, and they were absolutely adorable this afternoon marching around to the music.

Enjoy!

Custom Photo Handbag only $11.99 shipped – Awesome Christmas Present!

2009-11-07T16:22:00.001-08:00

Just had to share this amazing deal on a Custom Photo Handbag courtesy of Artscow.com. I absolutely adore Artscow for their free w/shipping offers, and most recently discounting prices including shipping. Their specials make for amazing presents for friends and family at Christmas Time.

The Classic Photo Handbag retails for $24.99 (single sided), with shipping to Canada coming in at $9.99. Which means they’re offering a discount of $22.99.

This Photo Handbag is genuine leather with the photo being transferred onto Polyester Material. The zippered interior includes both a cellphone pocket, and privacy pocket. Available in both black and brown leather. Surely a gift that is bound of please for years to come!

Tala had a blast designing our bag, and we are both super excited for it to arrive. Miss Tala is insisting I can’t actually have it until Christmas though! We’ll see how long that lasts!

The reviews on the bag are great, which is the reason that I decided to take advantage of this awesome deal. At $11.99 its not a huge loss if I don’t absolutely love it, but I have a feeling I will!

Truth be told, you can never have enough handbags!

Use coupon code PBAG2009 until November 8th (that’s tomorrow guys – sorry!) to get your one sided Photo Hand Bag for only $11.99. Also applies to double sided Photo Hand Bags @ $14.99! Both prices include shipping so a great deal indeed!

If you aren’t already a member of artscow.com I would absolutely love to refer you!

Personal referral link here: http://www.artscow.com/?Ref=362776

I receive no compensation from Artscow for blogging about their products. I do so because I absolutely adore everything I have ever ordered from them. By signing up under my referral link I receive .5 credits towards free merchandise, with an extra .5 awarded if you make a purchase. I use my credits for fun photo gifts for friends and family at Christmas Time.

Uprinting Sticker Winner!

2009-11-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

Congrats to lucky #9 - Some Lucky Dog for your win in the UPrinting Sticker Giveaway!

I will contact you shortly to confirm acceptance of this awesome prize! Please be sure to respond asap so I can get your info onto the sponsor.

Uprinting Sticker Giveaway!

2009-10-28T19:52:00.001-07:00

Another awesome giveaway from Uprinting.com! This time around you can walk home with 250 (that’s right folks, an absolutely amazing 250!) customized stickers. Including free UPS shipping to US residents (Canadian friends will need to pay shipping if they win). How awesome is that? Up to a $65 value!

Giveaway is for:

250 Stickers/Labels for One (1) lucky winner
Sizes: 2” x 3.5”, 2” x 4”, or 3” x 3”
Paper: 70 lb Label Matte
Specifications: Full color front, blank back; 4 Business Day printing

Now…..what can you do with 250 Stickers? Well the possibilities are endless really. Make address labels, Christmas Gift Tags, Tags for your preserves, stickers that say Property of the Coolest Mom in the Whole World! Use your imagination and you’re sure to come up with something priceless!

My personal choice? Custom made labels to match this years Christmas Cards!

Quick and easy to design, and a great way to spiffy up your Christmas Card Mailings!

Unsure about the quality? Besure to visit all the awesome reviews on Uprinting products!

Excited? To receive your first entry simply leave me a comment letting me know your creative use for these Stickers!

Looking for more chances to win? Your wish is my command. Additional entries will be granted to each of the following that you complete (please be sure to leave an extra comment for each item to ensure that you receive all of your entries):

*~* Blog about this giveaway linking to both this post & UPrinting

*~* Subscribe to Optimistic Beauty Updates via Email!

*~* Follow the Optimistic Beauty Blog

*~* Post the Optimistic Beauty Button on your blog or webpage

*~* Follow The Optimistic Beauty on Twitter (bargainhunting)

*~* Tweet this giveaway (this can be done daily)

The lucky winner will be selected on November 1st, 2009 at 11:59 pm est. Winner must respond to their email within 24 hours or a new winner will be selected (this is a short one guys).

**Please be sure to leave your email address in your comment if it is not readily accessible in your blogger profile. If I cannot get ahold of you, you cannot win **

Giveaway is open to Canadian & US residents only!

A huge thank you goes out to UPrinting for making this giveaway possible. I am very excited to receive my very own 250 stickers in return for posting this giveaway.

UPrinting Winner!

2009-10-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

Congrats to the lucky winner of 100 postcards (including free shipping within the US)!

Congrats The Bragging Mommy! I will be in contact with you shortly to confirm acceptance of this awesome prize. If I haven't heard from you within 48 hours a new winner will be selected.

MiniStar Fur Boots Review & Giveaway

2009-10-25T12:17:00.001-07:00

Little feet get mighty cold come winter. Whether you’re out and about, or moving around inside the house on the cold floors you need something to keep tootsies warm.

And truth be told you can’t get any more posh than MiniStar Fur Boots! They are absolutely adorable, and so well designed. They come in the 3 colours featured above, in sizes Small, Medium, Large and X-Large. X-Large is intended for 18-24 months but I do find them to be on the larger side, as they fit my 3.5 year olds size 8 feet perfectly.

Miss Malie is absolutely in love with, and so proud of her pink booties. Since we live in an exceptionally wet climate it is impossible for her to wear her boots out of the house. Instead they have become her steadfast indoor shoes. Worn everywhere (trust me on this – she even tried to jump into the tub with them on).

Sturdy leather boots, with fur lining, and an awesome elastic enclosure that makes putting the boots on a breeze. The elastics pulls right it to make the boots stay firmly on little feet which is awesome. No worries about tripping from this Mommy!

Mini Star Boots are designed by BOBUX International and distributed by RT Nash Inc. No wonder these booties are so well designed! BOBUX has long been a favourite around this house.

Retailing for only $19.99 you cannot go wrong. When we received our package with our Ministar boots I could not believe that these retail for such a reasonable price. I am positive that you will feel the same way.

RT Nash Inc. is a small family run business with big dreams. You can pick up a pair for your little one @ Target or….. You can win a pair with the Optimistic Beauty!

To receive your first entry into this amazing giveaway let me know which colour boot and size you would select if you win (S 0-6 months, M 6-12 months, L 12-18 months, XL 18-24 months).

Looking for more chances to win? Can’t say I blame you! Additional entries will be granted for each of the following that you complete (please be sure to leave a separate comment for each one that you do):

*~* Blog about this giveaway

*~* Post the Optimistic Beauty Button on your blog or webpage

*~* Subscribe to the Optimistic Beauty’s Email Updates

*~* Follow the Optimistic Beauty

*~* Tweet about this giveaway (this can be done once daily)

**Please be sure to leave your email address in your comment if it isn’t easily accessible in your blogger profile! If I cannot get ahold of you, you can’t win!**

Giveaway will end on Sunday, November 8th @ 11:59 pm est. At which time one lucky winner will be selected via random.org. You will then have 48 hours to respond confirming acceptance of this amazing prize. If I haven’t heard from you within 48 hours a new winner will be selected.

Good luck!

A huge thank you to Kathy for making this giveaway happen!

KN Pink Ribbon Signature Pajama Giveaway @ Hip Mama’s Place

2009-10-25T11:40:00.001-07:00

Very excited for this one. You can win of 2 sets of gorgeous Pink Ribbon Signature Pajamas @ Hip Mama’s Place. Each set is a $78 value, and absolutely gorgeous for curling up with.

Giveaway ends October 27th @ 12 MN EST and is open to both Canadian & US residents. Hooray!

Check it out today!

http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2009/10/shop-for-cause-this-month-at-dillards.html

Do You Zoodle?

2009-10-24T19:12:00.001-07:00

Or more importantly do your children?

What is Zoodle’ing? Zoodles is a browser designed specifically with our children in mind. The huge benefit being that it presents them with age appropriate games and activities in a safe environment. The browser encompasses the entire screen, and limits where children can go. No more worries that younger siblings will accidentally navigate to a page their older siblings have been to that isn’t appropriate for young eyes.

Tala and Malie are absolutely ecstatic that Mommy now feels comfortable allowing them to have computer time on a daily basis. Now if we could just figure out a better time sharing method as they are equally enthralled with the opportunity!

Zoodles is exceptionally easy to navigate even for the youngest Zoodle’ers….my three year can fly around with ease. Even while using my laptop which isn’t exactly the most child friendly way to access the internet. There is an extensive assortment of activities for children up to age 10!

With a selection of the top games from sites like Treehouse, Disney, and PBSkids there is something for everyone.

One of my favourite parts of Zoodles is just how customizable it is for the different ages. My almost 5 year old has a set up that presents her with games that target math and reading skills. A huge plus!

Oh and did I mention that the actual browser is a free download????

The other absolutely amazing tool for parents? After customizing your child’s experience you can view what your child has been playing and the skills that they’ve been building when you subscribe to the Premium Membership which gives you the Parents Dashboard.

One thing that I would love to see added to the Zoodles line up in the near future is a program specifically designed for children enrolled in French Immersion. As an English speaking parent with a child learning French it would be nice to have some more positive reinforcement for Tala’s learning.

WIN IT

5 lucky Optimistic Beauty readers will win a free 3 month subscription to the Parents Dashboard (Premium Membership), a $23 value! To enter simply let me know that you’re interested by leaving a comment letting me know what intrigues you the most about Zoodles!

Looking for more chances to win? Your wish is my command. Additional entries will be granted for each of the following that you complete (please be sure to leave a separate comment for each item):

*~* Subscribe to the Optimistic Beauty Email Updates

*~* Follow the Optimistic Beauty Blog

*~* Blog about this giveaway with a direct link

*~* Post the Optimistic Beauty Button on your blog or webpage

The winners will be drawn on Saturday, November 7th at 9 pm pst! All winners will be contacted by email. You will then have 48 hours to respond confirming acceptance of this awesome prize. If I haven’t heard from you within 48 hours a new winner will be selected. **Please be sure to leave your email address in your comment, or easily accessible in your blogger profile. If I cannot get ahold of you, you cannot win!**

Check out all the Zoodles has to offer by visiting www.zoodles.com I know that you will love it as much as we do!

UPrinting Giveaway @ the Optimistic Beauty – Postcards Galore!

2009-10-17T21:02:00.001-07:00

** GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED **

One lucky Optimistic Beauty reader will be bringing home 100 Double Sided, full colour, postcards courtesy of UPrinting.com!

Postcards are wonderful things indeed. Not just for businesses to advertise upcoming sales. Infact they are quite useful for many more applications. Planning a wedding? Custom made postcards are the perfect fit. Birthday invitations, retirement parties. Another awesome idea? Design Family Stationary and use your postcards to send notes to friends and family. I know it always brightens my day to get a lovely card in the mail!

You can choose to design your own card by uploading your own image, or use one of their pre-designed templates for just about any industry.

My personal favourite creation? The choices for Holiday Greetings. It is a family tradition to have cards printed up for Christmas with our family photo included. Its a great way to keep family and friends up to date with our family, and adds an extra personal little touch.

WIN IT!

Interested in winning this awesome prize? Entering is super simple. Leave a comment letting me know what you will use your 100 Postcard Credit for. It really is that simple! ****Please be sure to ;eave your email address in your comment! If I can’t get ahold of you, you cannot win****

Giveaway is for 100 Postcards, 4x6 inches. Full colour both sides. Shipping is included for US residents, Canadian residents are responsible for shipping costs, and also any taxes. Giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents only!!!!

Winner will be selected on October 25th, 2009. Winner will have 48 hours to respond confirming acceptance of this amazing prize. If I haven’t heard from you within 48 hours a new winner will be selected.

Voucher code for the winner will be emailed on November 6th….so that leaves plenty of time to get your 2009 Christmas Card orders in!

I would like to thank UPrinting.com for sponsoring this giveaway, and also giving me the opportunity to create my very own 100 postcards in return for hosting this giveaway.

Hey Guys!

2009-10-17T20:33:00.001-07:00

It is I, returned from the land of the lost. Or so it seems. Things have been absolutely chaotic around the homestead lately, and some of the projects that I hold most dear have fallen by the wayside. Blogging being one of them.

For those of you who are curious, Miss Tala started Kindergarten, the girls had to move into a new daycare facility, I was moved into a new position at work, we moved, and we welcomed a new person into our family. No not a baby! But still someone equally important.

We also had an absolutely huge and exciting fundraiser at work in support of Breast Cancer Research that took up a lot of my time and energy for weeks on end. In the end we achieved more than 500% of our target which is truly amazing!

I am the pink boa’d one on the left hand side….. we had a blast putting the event on and can’t wait till next year!

Both girls are exceptionally active in dance classes on Saturdays. Tala is taking her 3rd level of Ballet, 1st level of Tap, while Miss Malie started her 1st level of Little Steps. So Saturday’s are definitely time consuming, and filled to the brim with activity. They’ll also be starting swim lessons Tuesdays and Thursdays in the coming weeks.

Things have definitely been hectic, I haven’t even had time to pick up a book, work on my knitting for more than a few minutes, let alone find time for a relaxing bath in the evening. I’m definitely hoping that things will slow down. With the busy Holiday season coming up I don’t know how much less hectic things can really get, but one can still hope right?

Halloween is rapidly approaching, and I am exceptionally happy about that. Halloween is definitely one of my faves. Malie is absolutely ecstatic to be going out dressed as Snow White. Tala and I battled out and went with a witch costume this year. Both girls look adorable, and we will be experimenting with black hairspray as both girls would love to look like Mommy for a day.

Stay tuned for 2 awesome giveaways coming soon!

Weekend Winners – Back to School Edition

2009-08-02T13:07:00.001-07:00

A special BC Day long weekend Weekend Winners Edition!

Congrats Dina on the awesome win!

Congrats to Kiki, justicecw, jceko77 & Bunggamom!

Congrats Shelly!

Pro-Active Parenting

Congrats Kim!

I will be in contact with all the lucky winners shortly. After which you will have 48 hours to respond accepting your prize. If I haven’t heard from you within 48 hours a new winner will be selected.

Check This Out

2009-07-31T21:26:00.001-07:00

So remember once upon a time I mentioned how I wanted to find an “artsy talent”. Well at long last I have discovered my true calling (okay so I am being a tad trenchant towards myself here).

Well anyway…. I found a super cool Hobby. Making feather hair accessories! Absolutely loving this.

Super cool if I do say so myself.

Last Chance to Enter

2009-07-29T22:39:00.001-07:00

Last chance to enter to win a great prize from these amazing sponsors! All giveaways close at 11:59 pm est on Friday, July 31st!

PakNak! 4 lucky winners will bring home their choice of 3 PakNak’s from their amazing selection!

Messykid.ca! Win an absolutely adorable paint smock from Messykid.ca!

Mabel’s Labels! Bring home a Camp/School Pack from Optimistic Beauty Favourite Mabel’s Labels.

Eleven Collection! Send your little one back to school in style with your choice of shoes from the Eleven Collection!

On your marks, get set, go!

Rock for Kids/MJ Tribute

2009-07-20T19:26:00.001-07:00

One thing that weighs heavily on my mind is the availability of programs for children who’s parents for one reason or another cannot afford the hefty price tag. I am so thankful that programs like Everybody Gets to Play exist up North here. Everybody Gets to Play enables children from one income families to have a portion of their sports fees covered by the program so that they can get out there and play.

Another interesting program that I was just introduced to is Rock for Kids. Rock for Kids provides free, year round music instruction for underserved children.

According to their website:

*Rock For Kids* positively impacts and celebrates young lives by offering access to safe and constructive learning experiences through which children may challenge themselves, build self-esteem and explore their own creative potential. www.rockforkids.org

*Rock For Kids* feels no child's future should be compromised academically, socially or emotionally simply because of economic disparity.

Such an amazing program, and such an amazing cause!

Currently a super awesome fundraising campaign is in the works to benefit Rock for Kids. This fundraising event will allow you to be part of the bigger picture. Intrigued?

Miss You MJ is a really cool initiative that allows you to purchase a section of a very special Michael Jackson tribute being created by the same artist who designed the tickets for his last tour.

Your photo and 9,999 others will be used to creative a Mosaik of Michael Jackson’s famous white glove. The finished product will be presented to Michael’s family, and all donators will receive a commemorative poster of the finished product.

So how do you get involved? Simple. A $25 donation will net you your very own plot in this amazing creation. Head on over to www.imissyoumj.com for further information, or to grab your very own plot!

Christmas is Right Around the Corner

2009-07-18T18:45:00.001-07:00

With Christmas right around the corner I am pleased to announce that the 2nd Annual Christmas Wishlist Extravaganza is coming! I am currently in the early stages of recruiting, the emails are flowing, the responses are coming back favourable and the excitement is starting to bubble around here!

Potential Sponsors: Have you received an email from the Optimistic Beauty Blog? This means that I’ve come across your shop or website and been exceptionally impressed with the products that you feature. Haven’t received an email yet? Fear not! As a single Mommy to 2 little girls my computer time isn’t all that it used to be. While I am diligently searching the web for the creme de la creme some amazing shops are bound to fall through the cracks. So if you have a product that you would like featured in the Christmas Wishlist Extravaganza email Jaime @ bargainhuntingmommyblog@gmail.com today!

Who can be featured in the Optimistic Family Blog? Pretty much anyone as long as the item falls within the family friendly category. I have a diverse group of readers so I strive to find sponsors that appeal to all.

Optimistic Beauty Readers: Mark your calendars for the start date of November 1st. Each day a new and exciting sponsor will be revealed. Each giveaway will run for one week, with the winners being announced each Sunday. You can expect to find a diverse group of sponsors, and great ideas for those hard to shop for people, your little princes and princesses, stocking stuffers, and maybe even something special for yourself (to name a few)!

Is there a product that you would love to see featured in the 2nd Annual Wishlist Extravaganza? Send me an email or respond to this post with your suggestion.

Have a wonderful weekend!

I Want an Artsy Talent

2009-07-11T21:44:00.001-07:00

I’ve been browsing Etsy this evening and I am so totally wanting to have an Artsy Talent. Sure repurposing shirts is cool, but aside from photography I don’t have any true artistic talent.

I absolutely adore the way my re-purposed shirt turned out for Malie, but it would be a pretty hard thing to market. Pretty much anyone so inspired to do so, with a pair of scissors and a couple hours on their hands could create one.

I would love to be able to create something unique, and so beautiful that people would clamber to add to their collection… but I’m drawing a major blank.

Any suggestions?

Photo Blanket Hooray!

2009-07-10T21:09:00.001-07:00

Today we have the mother of all Photo Gifts. Artscow never seems to disappoint, but yet I was a tad apprehensive when I ordered the Fleece Blanket currently on special for $14.99 US (shipped). I had no idea what to actually expect. I’ve always been exceptionally impressed with the quality of the products we received, but would the blanket be up to par?

My goodness is it ever. As I had anticipated Miss Malie (my blankie girl) has claimed the blanket for herself, and loves having pictures of us all on her blanket.

Cute or what? The clarity is absolutely amazing, and I love the added details I was able to add. The butterflies for one, there’s also a heart pattern added in. I ended up using 9 photos in total.

The blanket is surprisingly soft, and passed the laundry test. I washed and dried it immediately after receipt, and am pleased to report that the blanket is just as vibrant now as it was pre-wash!

If I had to pick out something that that I would change, the blanket is on the small side. Perfect for little ones, a car blanket. It would actually make a great stroller blanket, and good for picnicking. And I guess if you were so inclined you could hang it on the wall.

Check out artscow today for some awesome deals. The girls and I are huge advocates of the Photo Books, and their coupon deals just can’t be beat!

Current Coupon Codes:

1500PRINTS – use this code for 1000 free 4x6 prints, and 500 free 5x7 prints (awarded in increments) – valid thru July 31/09

8X10CANVAS799 – use this code to get 2 (that’s right 2) 8x10 Canvas prints for $7.99 shipped! What a great opportunity – valid thru July 31/09

1699CANVASB1F1 – use this code to 2 16x20 Canvas prints for only $16.99 shipped! Holy moly! Apprehensive about the potential quality of your prints when developed at this size? The 16x20 Canvases come with the option of using the Collage Editor to create custom design. I made one Canvas starring each girl and cannot wait for them to arrive! – valid thru July 31/09

Happy Photo’ing!

My personal artscow referral link is included in this post – I would love to refer you as I’m busy earning credits towards the printing of my 150 Days of photos photobook!

http://www.artscow.com/?Ref=362776

Pro-Active Parenting Giveaway

2009-07-09T23:24:00.001-07:00

So remember my post about Pro-Active parenting with the awesome article about making life more simple during those busy after dinner hours? Well they’re back!

Pro-Active is a wonderful resource for any of us with young children. Sharon provides you with real solutions to deal with the most commonly seen acts of defiance from our little ones as they become more independent. Not only that but Sharon shows us the point of view of our children. Its so easy for us to look at things in the adult way, without taking into consideration a younger point of view.

One of the biggest awakening moments for me was Sharon’s view on why it can be so difficult for our children to clean up their rooms. After listening to Pro-Active’s series clean up time has gotten so much easier. Giving them small jobs to complete one at a time makes it easier for them to follow along. Instead of overwhelming them with the entire job in one go, breaking it up into pieces has been a wonderful tool.

You can read more on my experience with Pro-Active Parenting and also a sample article here

One lucky Optimistic Beauty reader will bring home their very own The EveryDay Solution Series, Set of 10, valued at 149.95! What a great opportunity!

To enter simply let me know that you’re interested! Its that easy!

Additional entries will be given for each of the following that you complete. Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each item:

~*~ Which lesson featured here do you think that you would benefit from the most?

*~* What is your biggest parenting struggle?

*~* Blog about this giveaway with a direct link back here, and to Pro-Active Parenting!

*~* Post the Optimistic Beauty Blog Button on your site (current placements count)

*~* Subscribe to Optimistic Beauty Email Updates (current subscribers count too!)

That’s right, you can receive up to 6 entries into this amazing giveaway!

Giveaway ends July 25th at 9:00 pm est!

Giveaway open to all!

Good luck!

DAYthirty-four – 150 days of Photos

2009-07-06T23:36:00.001-07:00

Can it be so? A day without a picture or two (or three) of my kids? It was bound to happen eventually!

We’ve been having very unusual weather lately (well okay, its not really unusual for Rupert – though it is more extreme) and that has resulted in some amazing cloud formations in the sky.

See you tomorrow for DAYthirty-five!

Missing the 150 Days of Photos? Be sure to check out the Optimistic Family for more great photos!

Found… Creativity

2009-07-05T16:04:00.001-07:00

I have always left the creative stuff up to other people. Sure I could probably take the award of Craft Mommy with ease, but I usually let the kids have all the craft fun, and do the clean up afterwards. Until now that is.

In my younger days I destroyed quite the many tshirt creating new and exciting designs. But that got away from me as I grew older. When the girls received invites to a Rock Star Party I awoke the morning of inspired to create a Punk Rock shirt for Miss Malie. The finished punk rock version of Miss Malie! Insert totally proud Mommy here! The kids at the party all had their hair sprayed with coloured hairspray, and got rock star makeup done. Plus tattoos galore!

She was absolutely livid with me when I first started cutting, but quickly came around. Yay!

I started with a t-shirt that I had ordered from Rainbow Swirlz. I had ordered 2. One with a tree (as shown below) and the other with a Morning Monster Logo. The girls fought over the Tree one but neither wanted to take ownership of the scary monster. So its been sitting since before Christmas time. An example of the shirt I used for this project … its the exact same shirt just with a different design on the front.

I took my scissors to the sleeves first, and then Malie picked out her bead choices. Got em threaded, and then I decided to cut the neck off. So off it came.

My initial thought was that it would an off the shoulder t-shirt, but I didn’t like the finished look of it. So I ended up cutting it a little bit wider, and then I created straps out of the discarded shirt collar. Sewed the straps on with red thread to keep with the whole Punk Rock image.

The t-shirt still didn’t look quite finished. So I took my scissors to the shirt again and cut about 8 inches up each side of the shirt. I then tied the sides of the shirt together to make it more cropped, and fitted. Malie absolutely adores her shirt and I’m sure it will become a staple in her wardrobe! She had a blast modelling the shirt for me this morning, and especially when she realized that swirling around would make beads flare out around her. And so I guess that I do have a creative side to me, just waiting to claw its way out!

A huge thank you to Rainbow Swirlz who’s awesome design made my creation all that much more amazing. The Morning Monster Shirt was absolutely perfect!

Back to School Shopping Guide – Mabel’s Labels

2009-07-04T18:16:00.001-07:00

It can be trying to find your stuff in a sea of clothing, shoes and backpacks. Now imagine how hard it must be for your little one. Or for the teacher trying to dole out the items to the right person at the end of the day. Thank goodness for Mabel’s Labels who are making organization a breeze!

Mabel’s site is aptly titled, “Mabel’s Labels for the stuff kids lose”. And boy oh boy is that accurate. Kids can lose practically everything.

Mabel’s has a full collection of labels, shoe tags, bag tags, my 411 wristbands, and kitchen labels in an assortment of bright colourful designs. They are also Canadian owned and operated which is a huge plus to this Canadian Mommy!

Wish so many choices available how do you know which product is just for you? Well Mabel’s makes it easy to find the key attributes to each product.

The Traditional Sticky Labels and Skinny Mini’s are great great for products such as toys, dishes, and bottles.

Looking for a label you can attach to your children’s clothing, blankets, lunch sacks, diaper bags or backpack? Then be sure to check out to Iron-Ons or Tag Mates. Tag Mates may be the perfect solution if you prefer to not affix a label directly on the fabric. Either choice will make camp or school time a breeze!

I absolutely adore both the designs available and also the durable, high quality products that Mabel’s creates. Labels are UV resistant, dish washer, washing machine, and dryer safe.

Pictured above are the Teeny Tags, perfect for attaching to backpacks, and lunch sacks, plus luggage when travelling (these are cool enough for an adult to use too!)

Not quite sure what product is the best one for your family? Or looking for an assortment without paying full price on everything? Then a Combo pack is your best bet. Combo packs give you an assortment of the most popular products Mabel’s creates, at a fraction of the cost to purchase them separately.

Caitlin of Mabel’s Labels has generously offered one lucky Optimistic Beauty Reader the opportunity to bring home their very own Camp/School Pack pictured below. Pack is available in your choice of 3 sets of colours, and up to 20 characters printed. To enter, head on over to Mabel’s Labels and have a look around. Then come back here and let me know what product would fit your family the best (other than the Camp/School Pack of course).

Looking for more chances to win? Your wish is my command!

*~* Blog about this giveaway with a direct link back to this post

*~* Tweet about this giveaway, and post the link to your direct feed (you can do this daily)

*~* Put the Optimistic Beauty Button on your Blog and let me know where to find it (current placements count too!)

*~* Put the Optimistic Beauty’s Back to School Shopping Guide Button on your Blog and let me know where to find it (current placements count too!)

*~* Subscribe to Optimistic Beauty Email Updates (current subscribers count too)

*~* Follow the Optimistic Beauty Blog (current followers count too)

That’s right, you can receive 7+ entries into this giveaway!

This giveaway will run through till July 31st/2009 at 11:59 pm est. Winner will be announced August 1st. Giveaway is open to Canadian and US Residents.

Good luck!

On your mark, get set, Go!

Back to School Shopping Guide – Eleven Collection

2009-07-03T19:37:00.001-07:00

There is no denying the fact that the need for great shoes is of utmost importance for growing feet. The Eleven Collection is an absolutely amazing company creating high quality, gorgeous shoes for little feet.

You’ve seen Eleven Collection around the Optimistic Beauty Blog on numerous occasions so you all know just how much we adore these shoes. Every morning (even rainy mornings) Tala proudly puts on her Eleven Collection shoes and heads for the door. And on rainy mornings its a struggle to get her into her rainboots. Its too bad that the Eleven Collection doesn’t have an entire line of Gum Boots for those of us who live in a wet climate! But that’s not to say that Tala hasn’t gotten ample use out of her faves.

Not only does the Eleven Collection bring stylish shoes to the table, they are also exceptionally well designed. Complete with sturdy rubber soles, and all the little details that bring the Eleven Collection up to a whole new level in Kids Shoes. The line is constantly evolving to bring forward more designs for both Boys & Girls. Each season brings new designs to look forward to. I love the fact that Eleven Collection shoes are user friendly (meaning kid friendly). Easy to use velcro closures that stay done up are a huge plus for those gaining their independence by the day.

Melissa has once again offered one lucky Optimistic Beauty Reader the opportunity to bring home their very own pair of Eleven Collection shoes to welcome in the new school year!

To enter simply head on over to the Eleven Collection’s website and have a look at all the lovely goodies available. Then come back here and let me know what your favourite pair is. It’s that easy!