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Showing posts with the label REVIEWS (FASHION)

Chonky Boys: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches that Scream Summer!

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Featuring my thick and nuggy Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookies, these ice cream sandwiches are the stuff that summer dreams are made of.  If you've ever had the Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich at Disneyland , you are going to LOVE these!  These big and bold chocolate chip cookies are based on a recipe from my culinary school studies at Auguste Escoffier, but with a few modifications to give them that Jennuine touch.  They make the perfectas book for a fat slice of real vanilla bean ice cream.  And those mini chips?  You just gotta have that extra cronch! Thank goodness this recipe only makes 8 sandwiches, otherwise I would be eating them for breakfast lunch and dinner.  This way, my big family can help save me from my inner child diet-saboteur.   Print With Image Without Image Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches Yield: 8 Author: Jenn Erickson Loaded with chocolate chips and buttery, brown-sugary vanilla flavor, these mall-sized cookies form a perfect partnership with a

Gift Guide: Hello Kitty Let's Play Dress Up
{An interactive shopping experience with the KuKee App}

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This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and KuKee, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #KuKeeapp  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO . One of the  fun features of this line are the velcro-backed dress-up pieces that allow your child  to change Hello Kitty's attire, right on their own clothes. For my two girls, gone are the days of big hair bows, ruffled pockets, and cute-as-can-be character appliques.  They've traded in the frills and fancies of early childhood for the designer jeans and trendy sweatshirts of pre-teendom.  Each stage has its joys, but I must admit, I sometimes miss the dress-up fun the girls and I used to have when they were little.  So, it was with no uncertain glee that I greeted the news that my 3-year old niece had fallen head over heels for Hello Kitty!  I was thrilled to have the opportunity, this past weekend, to spend some girl-time with my sweet little niece, shopping at Macy's for t

Summer Fashion Grand Slam with Cookie's Kids

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At the pace my girls outgrow their clothes and shoes, it doesn't make sense to spend a fortune on their wardrobe.  When it comes to shopping, I'm thinking " Frugal " and my girls are all about " Fashion ".  It's nice when you can find a place where the two converge.   That's why I'm happy to be sharing an online store for kids with style and 'tude and the parents who outfit them -- #Cookie's Kids .  I love a company with a great story, don't you? In 1972, a young man named Cookie and his brother Marvin went into business together. They rented a 1600 square foot store in Jamaica, Queens, fixed it up, bought inventory and Summer and Fall, and opened a day after Thanksgiving with a full stock of holiday toys. The toys were a success and they put the extra money toward buying children's clothing for the next season. When that did well, they bought more clothing. The business was on it's way.   In the late '

The Perfect Summer Dress~
The SUNSHINE Dress from Fresh Produce

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A girl can dream, right? I love fashion, but have a hard time finding clothes that fit my cakesmithing curves.  As a mother of two, I like my clothes to be chic but versatile, easy to care for and comfortable without being frumpy.  I long for perfectly fitting frocks that can go from a walk on the beach with girlfriends, to chauffeuring kids to after-school-activities, to sipping a glass of wine at sunset in an outdoor bistro with grace.  Sometimes, dreams come true...   It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to review the Sunshine Dress from Fresh Produce .  This dress is made from super-soft 100% cotton. It has a flattering empire waist and scoop neckline, raw edge detailing and a double flounce hem -- the perfect flutter of feminine detail!    The Sunshine Dress comes in more than a dozen colors and is available in standard and plus sizes.  The soft yet heavy cotton swings, rather than clings so it's flattering to both those with curves and

Macy's Heart of Haiti ~ A Mother's Day Gift Supporting "Trade, Not Aid"

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  This Mother's Day, I'm working with Clever Girls in support of Macy's Heart of Haiti to shine a light on the " Trade, Not Aid " program, which provides sustainable income to Haitian artisans struggling to rebuild their lives and support their families after the 2010 earthquake. Photo source:  Macy's What is Macy’s Heart of Haiti ? Heart of Haiti is a “ Trade, Not Aid ” initiative launched by artist and social entrepreneur, Willa Shalit, The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Macy’s.   Already, Heart of Haiti has led to employment of 750 artists in Haiti, providing financial benefits for an estimated 8,500 people in the country.  Photo source:  Macy's Each item is a one-of-a-kind design and handmade by a Haitian master artisan from raw materials such as recycled oil drums, wrought iron, papier-mâché and stone. The collection features more than 40 home decor items including quilts, metalwork, ceramics, jewelry and paintings and is made

Jewelry Giveaway from EcoChic Designs ~
3 Months of the Earrings-of-the-Month Club

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Jewelry Sterling Silver Gemstones & Recycled Glass Artisan Made Sound good so far? How about the opportunity to win not one, but 3 pairs of handmade earrings from EcoChic Designs ? I am so pleased to be introducing you today to my real-life-friend and fellow Cal gal, Camilla, the artist behind EcoChic Designs and the culinary mastermind behind Culinary Adventures With Camilla . Everything Camilla does, she does with style, quality, originality, heart and incredible talent. I admire her ethics, her energy, and how humble she is despite her extreme awesomeness. Being around Camilla, you can't help but feel inspired! In her own words, here's a little about Camilla and the origins of EcoChic Designs : "Eco-Chick...I never really considered myself an eco-chick, but right after I got married, we drove to meet my in-laws at Marine World. Stepping out of the car, I looked at the sign, in horror, and demanded: Is this the place where they

Shabby Apple November Giveaway Winner

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You can still get 20% off at Shabby Apple, plus FREE shipping through November 30. A tremendous thanks to my friends, my readers, both old and new who threw their name into the hat for the Shabby Apple giveaway. If you didn't win in this go-round, I hope you'll feel encouraged to stick around. Here are a few reasons why.... As a "follower" of Rook No. 17, you're just a Facebook "like" for Mikarose away from your entry to win a $50 Shopping Spree to Mikarose.com, HERE . As a "follower" of Rook No. 17 and a fan of Shabby Apple on Facebook, you'll be just a quick comment away from an entry the next time I have the pleasure of hosting a Shabby Apple Giveaway. I'm in the process of lining up more exceptional giveaways for December! Plus, you're part of a creative community where ideas for delicious, inspired, and meaningful living are shared EVERY DAY! ---------------------------------- and now,

Win the Perfect Holiday Dress from Shabby Apple

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*GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED* Looking for the perfect holiday dress?  Bombarded by excessive shimmer, glimmer and fluffpuffery in the malls, this is one annual tradition that typically gives me a serious case of  the "bah-humbugs".   Why is it so hard to find a chic little dress that is well made, affordable and versatile enough to outlive the mistletoe and the expiration date on the eggnog? Well, truth be told, it's not.  And you don't even have to brave the crowds and at the mall.  Shabby Apple is an online boutique offering beautiful, classic, quality and affordable women's dresses.   Their vintage-inspired designs capture the elegance and sophistication of bygone eras ~ smartly updated and fit to flatter. The Sunset Boulevard Dress from the " Tinsel Town " Collection The Black Oak Dress from the " Yosemite Collection " The Freshwater Pearl Dress from the " South Pacific " Collection Whether you&#