..nordic ware review..

Nordic Ware is a leader in American-made kitchen products that was founded in 1946. They are known for quality bakeware, like their famous Bundt Pans invented in 1950, which can be handed down from generation to generation.

One of my earliest baking memories is watching my grandmother pour pound cake batter into her Bundt pan, and watching it come out a beautiful light golden brown. I always though that Bundt pans were a little magical.

Nordic Ware makes more than just cake pans. They also have an extensive line of baking sheets, frying and sauce pans, griddles and more.

I was lucky enough to receive two items for review from Nordic Ware. I received the Mini Pineapple Pan and the Platinum Shortcake Basket Pan.

The first thing you notice about Nordic Ware pans is the weight. The heaviness lets you know that these are quality, durable pieces. Another thing I love about them is the finish. Their light, silver platinum exterior ensures that you get even cooking, with no hot spots. Both pans have a great amount of detail, which translates beautifully in the finished baked product. I wondered if the leaves on the pineapple pan would indeed come out without breaking, and they did.

Overall I am very impressed with the Nordic Ware brand, and would definitely purchase more products. They even have a line of Microwave Cookware which I think would be neat to try.

Buy It:
~You can purchase items straight from Nordic Ware via their website
~You can also locate a retailer near you

..Meet the Moms Giveaway..

Welcome to the Growing Up and Doing it Yourself Blog Event sponsored by Mompact.com! There are several blogs around the web taking place, reviewing different items invented by moms! The even runs from today, May 28 - June 10.

 I was excited to receive the Baby Dipper Bowl! This is one of those inventions that have you saying, "Why in the world didn't I think of that?" It was invented by a mom named Barbara Schantz who has TWO sets of twins! She knows what it's like at mealtime when you can't use both hands to feed one baby or toddler. When you have more than one kid crying at once, you can't simply tell them to wait, lol. She, like me, needed something that would let her feed with only one hand. That's when she designed the Baby Dipper. It is definitely a product invented by a mom for moms. This bowl is unique in several ways:

First, it has a non-slip bottom. That was the big, "Why didn't I think of that?" point for me. This is so helpful when I'm feeding one of the girls, or when they're feeding themselves. They are becoming very independent and like to do things on their own. The non-slip bottom keeps them from chasing it around the table or highchair tray.

Second, the interior is sloped. Let me tell you why that matters.. It makes the food gravitate towards the lowest point of the bowl. It collects it there for you people! Like a little food slide!

Third, the lowest point of the bowl is the same shape as the spoon. Genius! It makes getting the food in the spoon so much easier, both for me and the girls.

So if mealtime is somewhat of a chore for you or your child, or if you see your child is becoming frustrated trying to self-feed, you might want to give this bowl a try. I could also see it being great for children with special needs, making it easier to feed.

Buy It:
You can purchase your own Baby Dipper (in either pink or blue!) from their website!
Cost: $9.99

Win It:
As part of the blog event, MomPact is giving away a prize package that has one of every item that is being reviewed! Here's how to enter:

*Follow the Baby Dipper Fan Page here (must be done for any other entries to count) and leave a comment telling me you did.

* For an extra entry, follow my blog publicly and leave a comment telling me you do.

Contest is now closed. Thank you for entering!

..carhartt review..

If you or someone in your household is a hunter, fisherman, or love to be outdoors, then chances are you own clothing by Carhartt. The Carhartt brand, founded in 1889, is synonymous with outdoor- and work-wear. They make lots of great and durable pants, coveralls and coats and shirts.

Carhartt recently sent me and the hubs some items to try out and review. They sent me the following items:

Women's Thermal-Lined Zip-Front Hooded Sweatshirt

Women’s Sandstone Mock-Neck Vest/Sherpa-Lined

 

And the Women's Sherpa Sweat Jacket

The first thing I noticed about the clothing is the weight. "Lightweight" is not how I would describe the items I received. They definitely feel like quality garments. Also, we had a very wet winter this year. In Alabama the high humidity makes it bitterly cold, so I was able to really put these items to the test. I have one major thing to say about all of them: WARM! When the wind blows the cold can feel like it just eats right through you. But I can honestly say that these are the warmest garments I have ever worn. Even with the wind, my legs and face would get cold, but my torso and hands (in the pockets!) stayed really warm. Carhartt absolutely knows how to make clothing. Also, the Sweat Jacket is very pretty. It can be dressed up or down, and still give you the warmth you might need. Overall, I am very, very impressed with the clothing, and I would definitely recommend the brand.

Here's what the hubs had to say about the items Carhartt sent to him:

Men's Sandstone Mock-Neck Vest

Wow. Carhartt nailed it! I love this vest.  I had to admit, I'm not much of a vest wearer, but I thought I'd give it a shot.  This vest is made from the quality durable outerwear we’ve come to demand from Carhartt, combined with a soft warm lining. Great number and placement of pockets and possibly the best feature is the extend tail to keep wind and cold off you're back. Great product!

Men’s Heavyweight Solid Flannel Shirt

I have been very pleased with the quality of this shirt, both in terms of material and craftsmanship. The flannel is nice and heavy,  and the cut is good-looking. I anticipate it will hold up well over the years and not fall apart like the thinner, flimsier flannel shirts which are the norm in retail shops. The color is a deep navy that goes well with light or dark pants. Because of the thick material, it goes better with loose or large-sleeved sweaters and would probably be difficult to layer under tighter clothes. On warmer days it can stand in for a jacket. I now see why people gravitate to the Carhartt brand.

Buy It: You can find these products and many more, including jeans, on the Carhartt website
Follow:
Carhartt on Twitter
Carhartt on Facebook

..ergo baby review & giveaway..

Babywearing isn't something that has just recently come about. Mothers have been "wearing" their children for a long, long time. Some people see it as a necessity, and I can tell you it definitely helps when you have twins. One of the leading names in babywearing is ERGObaby. The ERGObaby Carrier was born out of a personal desire for mobility and comfort allowing you to tackle life while maintaining a close & natural bond with your baby and toddler.

After the girls were born, ERGObaby sent me one of their Original Carriers with the optional Infant Insert.

Original Carrier

Carrier with Infant Insert attached

One thing that I like about ERGObaby is that they really are customer driven. Not only can you download user manuals and photos from their website, but they also have a very extensive FAQ section. I'm talking two pages of FAQs!

And this carrier isn't just for younger babies. ERGObaby recommends a weight limit of up to 40lbs. I love taking it with us on vacation because even though the girls do well in a stroller, they get antsy in there after a while. They love to ride in the carrier, and they stay happy and calm for much longer. Another great thing about this carrier is that it's actually comfortable to wear. I'm 5'7" and, well, let's say I'm not a petite girl, lol. And my husband is 6'2" and has 100lbs on me and we can both wear this carrier comfortable. I can definitely recommend the ERGObaby carrier.

Buy It: You can purchase an ERGObaby carrier from their website or at a retailer near you.

Win It: ERGObaby is offering one of my readers an Original Carrier with an Infant Insert. Each entry below is worth 1 entry, unless otherwise specified. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. PLEASE make sure your email address is in your post or your profile.

*Visit the ERGObaby website and tell me which color carrier is your favorite
*Follow my blog publicly
*Follow me on Twitter @hayatiggs
*Tweet this giveaway with a link back to this post (can be done 2x daily for 1 entry each)
*Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to where I can find it (2 entries)
*Post this giveaway on your Facebook page with a link here and tell me where I can find it (3 entries)
*Follow ERGObaby on Facebook and tell them Koala Fuzz sent you! (2 entries)
*Follow ERGObaby on Twitter
*Post the Blues Buster button on your blog and leave me a link showing me where to find it (3 entries)
*If you commented on this post, then you get 2 extra entries


This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to our winner!


 

..julep maven review & giveaway..

I have a confession to make. I'm a little bit obsessed with fingernail polish. More than a little bit actually. And what's even better is I have found a company that helps with that obsession. It's a company called Julep, and they have recently launched their Julep Maven program. When a beauty company comes up with new products, they make sure to send out previews to top beauty editors, trendsetters and magazines for review. Wouldn't you like to get ahold of one of those preview sets? Well, with the new Julep Maven program, now you can, and you can even have it personalized for your style! Here's what the beauty gurus at Julep has to say about their new program:

"We launched our new Julep Maven program to give all of our girlfriends access to the beauty editor Sneak Peek Box we create every month.  As a Julep Maven, you will have access to the hottest trends in nail color and the latest Mani Care and Pedi Care products - delivered right to your doorstep, just like the beauty editors do.  And you'll have access to these trends and products before anyone else.

We know that tailoring and customizing each editor delivery is critical to gaining her attention and enthusiasm, so every Sneak Peek Box we send you will be tailored to your needs and preferences.  Just take our fun and easy Julep Maven Style Quiz to help us understand your style profile.

Then each month, we'll send you an email to let you know what we've curated for you in your customized beauty editor Sneak Peek Box.  If you don't like what you see, you can try a new style."

For just $19.99 a month, you will receive more than double that amount in the newest trendsetting nail polish and cutting-edge beauty products from Julep Maven.

And Julep proudly donates $1 from the sale of every Julep Nail Vernis  to organizations that empower women.

Recently Julep sent me one of their great customized Julep Maven boxes. Inside I found two of their bottles of beautiful nail polishes, in colors Whitney and Nicole, and a bottle of their SPF 30 Hand Cream.

Besides the great color, another wonderful thing about Julep's nail polish is that they are developed without carcinogens such as formaldehyde or formaldehyde resin, toluene and DBP. The nail colors went on very smoothly. There is nothing worse than thin nail polish. I hate when it takes 4 coats to obtain the shade that you see in the bottle, and that is definitely not the case with Julep's polish. It coats very well and evenly. The Hand Cream was very nice also. It absorbs well, and has vitamin E which helps to strengthen my nails.

Try It: As a special just for my readers, Julep is offering your first Julep Maven box for just $5! Simply enter the code KOALAFUZZ at checkout. 

Win It: You have the chance to win a Julep Maven box of your very own! Each entry below is worth 1 entry, unless otherwise specified. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. PLEASE make sure your email address is in your post or your profile.

*Follow my blog publicly
*Follow me on Twitter @hayatiggs
*Tweet this giveaway with a link back to this post (can be done 2x daily for 1 entry each)
*Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to where I can find it (2 entries)
*Post this giveaway on your Facebook page with a link here and tell me where I can find it (3 entries)
*Follow Julep on Facebook and tell them Koala Fuzz sent you! (2 entries)
*Follow Julep on Twitter
*Post the Blues Buster button on your blog and leave me a link showing me where to find it (3 entries)
*If you commented on this post, then you get 2 extra entries
*Become a Julep Maven using the KOALAFUZZ code (5 entries)

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to our winner!


*I was sent products for review and was not monetarily compensated in any way*

..more to shop for at eden fantasys..

When you think of EdenFantasys, you may only think about intimate items for couples. But they have so much more than just that! Need something to spice up your wardrobe? They also have a lot of great choices for clothing and lingerie.

I really like this purple Rock top, especially the longer length. I think the shape would be really flattering if you were a size 2 or a size 12. I'm really into leggings this fall, and this would be perfect with a pair!

And this Splashy top is really cute too, I love the sleeves. I would wear it with jeans, but it's so cute with the white shorts.. very summery!

I'm not one who likes to show a lot of skin, so these are great for keeping covered, while still being a little flirty. They also have some really pretty gowns, and their sizes range from Small to XXLarge, so most everyone is sure to find something in a comfortable fit!

Want better news? EdenFantasys gives you a free gift with every order, and you can get free shipping with orders over $59.00. They even have a Wish List option, so you can pick out things you'd like, then drop a hint. Christmas is right around the corner you know!

..simple green review & giveaway..

**THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR ENTERING**

Recently I was sent a sample of Simple Green to try and review.

Simple Green is a non-toxic and biodegradable cleaner that comes in several strengths and variates, including those for every day household use, non-abrasive stone cleaner, pet stain & odor remover and more.

I was sent a bottle of concentrated Original Simple Green along with a dilution bottle and instructions so that I could choose the strength that I wanted to use. I mixed up a bottle of regular strength and went around looking for things that needed cleaning. Here's a short video of me cleaning the bathtub.

As you can see, it cleaned up that mess really easily. One day I went to get my Simple Green cleaner from the closet and it wasn't there. My husband had taken it and had been using it while he was working on his car. He had taken my bottle and amped it up to extra strength. He used it for everything from cleaning car parts to pouring it onto greasy spots on our driveway. My husband and I can now both recommend Simple Green. We definitely put it to the test ourselves and were very pleased with the results.

Giveaway
One person will win the same thing that I received, a 32oz. bottle of concentrated Original Simple Green, a dilution bottle and instructions.

How to Enter
-Visit the Simple Green website and tell me which cleaner you could use in your home. (1 entry)
-Be a follower with Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
-Follow me on Twitter @hayatiggs (1 entry)
-Follow Simple Green on Twitter (1 entry)
-Follow Simple Green on Facebook (1 entry)
-Tweet about this giveaway with a link back here (can be done 2x a day for 1 entry each)

Giveaway is open to US only. Entries must be received by Sunday, September 11, 2011.

*All photos courtesy of SimpleGreen.com. I received product for review and was not monetarily compensated in any way.

..costumes at eden fantasys..

I can't believe that it's almost Fall again. One of my favorite things about Fall is Halloween! Last year I didn't get to dress up because I had two newborn little bitties at home, but this year I can. I was browsing EdenFantasys and saw they had some cute (and sexy) costumes. Some of them are more revealing than others, and I haven't shed all of my baby weight yet, lol. But there were lots of them that had great coverage, like this Pirate Wench costume! I love the hat!

I also really like this Cougar Catsuit costume, and the Eskimo costume.

Even if you're not in the market for a costume, they have lots of other items too. I found some beeswax aromatherapy candles with a nutmeg scent that I bet smell amazing! And this Chemistry Bubble Bath set is just too cute!

Scents like Lemon Mint and Rose, yum! Give me the bubbles and the candles surrounding the tub, and don't disturb me for half an hour!! :) So check out EdenFantasys for all kinds of fun stuff, even if you're not Halloween shopping. They have so many different products that I'm sure you'll find something you like!




*All photos courtesy of EdenFantasys

..pureayre review..

Between my husband and the girls, there are LOTS of odors that can happen in my house. So I was really excited when I was contacted by the company PureAyre to do a review for their odor eliminating spray. PureAyre is different than other odor eliminating sprays because it contains no toxic chemicals or artificial fragrances, but instead is made with plant-derived enzymes. This was really important to me because I don't want toxic chemicals around my kids. Also, it doesn't just get rid of bad smells, it actually cleans the air at the same time, helping you to breathe easier.

PureAyre sent me their Odor Eliminator for Baby, and I was really excited to try it. I can tell you, I really put it to the test... diaper pails, burp cloths that had been spit up on, crib sheets and even the carpet in their bedroom. Knowing that PureAyre is enzymed-based, making it the only food-grade odor eliminator available, I had no reservations about using it around the girls. I was very, very happy with the results. It definitely got rid of the bad smells, and kept them away, it didn't just cover them up. Hours after spraying, the smell was still gone, and it never came back.

Another unexpected test came about when my husband accidentally spilled some gasoline in the back of his car. (ETA: He wanted me to put that it was 2-cycle weed-eater gas, because he said that is actually stinkier than regular gas) He was going to have to drive the girls around later that day, so he knew he needed to get the smell out of the car. He rolled down his windows, and blasted the air for a while. Then I suggested he try the PureAyre spray. He sprayed the carpet that the gas had spilled on, as well as the air inside the car. After a couple of hours he went back and could tell a huge difference in the smell. By the time he left with the girls, the smell was almost completely gone.

If you want to get your own PureAyre, then you can buy online, or find it in a few select retailers. You can also check them our on Twitter and Facebook!

*All photos courtesy of PureAyre.com. I was sent a sample for review purposes, and was not monetarily compensated in any way.

..t-shirt printing review..

Recently I had the opportunity to review a product from a cool company called TShirtPrinting.net. They're an online company based in the UK, and are all about, you guessed it, screen printing! They can take your logo and put it on a number of different t-shirts, long sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, camis, polos, hats, and much more. They can even embroider your logo as well!

TShirtPrinting.net sent me one of their printed t-shirts to wear and review. The first thing I noticed about the shirt when I put it on was the weight. This was not some thin, flimsy, feeling shirt. It was a quality weight without being so thick that it was hot or heavy. Another thing was that the shirt was soft, even before I washed it. The screen printing on the shirt was also really nice. The colors were vibrant.

So if you need printed shirts for work, sports, or even for a fashion line, then contact TShirtPrinting.net, and see what they can do for you!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

..spring fling blog event!..

It's almost Spring.. can you feel it? I can! It's getting warmer here, and the days are definitely longer. I love this time of year, so I wanted to do something special. This leads us to the...

Spring Fling Blog Event! I have teamed up with Rebecca from One More Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest to organize a great little event filled with lots of reviews and giveaways.

The Spring Fling Blog Event will run from April 3rd-16th here at Koala Fuzz and also over at One More Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. That means two places to win some great prizes. Just to get you excited, here's a few of our sponsors:

CSN Stores
Simple Green
Lana0Crystal 
Yummie Tummie
ERGObaby
My Baby Clothes Boutique
Born Free
& lots more.

Want to earn some extra entries in these giveaways? Then post our Spring Fling Blog Event button on your blog for the duration of the event, and leave me a link here! If you do this before the Blog Event starts, then you will get 5 extra entries in all of my giveaways. You will find the button and the code on the right side. So post away, and let's get ready for Spring!

..csn stores review & giveaway..

If you're a fan of one-stop shopping, then you would love CSN Stores. Started in 2002 as just one online shop, CSN Stores is now comprised of more than 200 different shopping sites. Most sites are named for their primary product offerings or the styles they provide. These include: Luggage.com, AllModern.com, WritingDesksAndMore.com, Cookware.com, and BedroomFurniture.com.

Here is what CSN Stores has to say about some of their products:

"Beyond stellar customer service, our 200+ sites at CSN Stores offer the largest selection of items for most home and office goods. And these items are priced right to be very competitive with other sites, providing our customers with strong savings, too. This combination of benefits is rare among online retailers and is what sets us apart.

Leading brands on CSN Stores' sites include: La-Z-Boy, Herman Miller, iittala, Kartell, LG, Rachael Ray, Sanyo, Diaper Dude and many, many others. The variety of products is also staggering, with some one million available.

CSN's product categories cover everything from cookware, ultra modern furniture, bunk bed-office combinations and fitness equipment to gaming chairs, grills, greenhouses and much more.

If it's a piece of furniture or an appliance that you need for your home or office, you should check for it at CSN Stores first, as there's a good chance we carry it and at a competitive price."

Recently, they sent me a Set of 2 Feather Bed Pillows from Sleep Line to review.

I can openly admit that I am somewhat of a pillow snob. I love feather pillows. They're the only thing I sleep on at home, and I carry them with me when I'm staying overnight in a hotel.. I'm also picky about the kinds of feather pillows I sleep on. Don't give me some little thin, flimsy thing. I need a big, fat feather pillow!

I've been sleeping on these for a couple of weeks now and they've been great. One thing that I'm really happy about is that they don't go flat. They hold their "poofiness" very well - tell me that's not the perfect description when talking about pillows! I do wish the cover was a little thicker to keep some of the feathers from poking through, but that's pretty much to be expected. Otherwise, they are really comfortable, and they don't get really hot at night. That's a big deal, since I sleep next to a heater of a husband.

CSN Stores had graciously given me a $40 gift certificate to send to one lucky winner. You can buy yourself some pillows like mine, or one of their thousands of other items in one of their 200+ shops. Here's how you enter..

MANDATORY: You must be a public follower of my blog to win. Your email must be visible in your profile or comment. If I can't contact you by email, you can't win.

Main Entry: Visit CSN Stores and tell me an item you might pick if you win.

Extra Entries: (Please leave a separate comment for each entry)

*Follow me on Twitter @hayatiggs. (2 entries)

*Follow CSN Stores on Twitter @CSNStores. (2 entries)

*Tweet about this giveaway with a link back here. Can be done once per day. (1 entry)

*Like CSN Stores on Facebook (2 entries)

*Blog about this giveaway, with a link back here. Leave a link to where I can find it in your comment. (5 entries)

*Grab my button and put it on your blog's front page. Leave me a link where I can find it. (5 entries)

Giveaway open to US and Canada, but please know that the International shipping taxes to Canada are not covered by the gift card.

Giveaway is open until Sunday, February 27. Good luck!

..equmen review..

So recently I was asked to do a review here on my website, but it was different... it wasn't for me. This review required my hubby :)

When you hear the word shapewear, most people think about it for women. But there's a new trend emerging.. shapewear for men. Men want to look good too, and Equmen is now helping to make that possible. Equmen enables men of the world to be at their best. Using the latest high performance athletic technologies, their precision-fit seamless compression wear is engineered to optimise and energise the body, from street to sport, work to weekend.

Designed with physiotherapy and ergonomic insights, Equmen products immediately improve health, well-being and visible appearance. It's about looking sharp and living smart. Every man, every day, every wear. In conjunction with a group of experts across the sport science, physiotherapy, and fashion industries, Equmen fused the physiological insights of advanced sportswear with modern styling to create patented undergarments that deliver against men's daily ergonomic needs. The result is a range of innovative products that truly advance the benefits men's underwear and can provide: improved posture, reduced back pain, a more stable core, and a visibly slimmer appearance.

*Photo courtesy of Equmen

The hubs was sent a Core Precision Undershirt to try out, and here is what he had to say..

When the undershirt arrived, I was excited to try it out. I wanted to see how it felt, more importantly, I wanted to see how it made me look. The wife was still skeptical about my ability to wear the garment for minutes, much less hours. I found the shirt to be quite a bit more “compression garment” than the base layers I currently wear. I ordered an XL and when I pulled the shirt out of the packaging I thought for sure they had sent a shirt intended for my wife rather than myself. This thing was small. Tiny. Itsy bitsy. “If it’s this small, it’s gonna squish my jiggly bits that much better,” I thought, so off to the bedroom to try it on, with my wife still giving me the “I’ve already told you so” eye. While putting the shirt on I realized, that while it was definitely going to be a tight fit, it looked like it was going to work. I put the shirt on and wore it for a little bit. It WAS tight. It almost felt at first like I was going to need an extra set of hands to pull the shirt over me, but I was able to get it on and once I got used to the feeling, the shirt was not that bad at all. After all, compression is the name of the game.

So how did it work? Well, the instantaneous change from chunky to less than chunky was not there. These shirts are not miracle workers. However, they are very effective. The shirt slimmed me down quite a bit and made a great noticeable difference in how I felt about my outward appearance. The wife was the first to see me in it and she mentioned that it was most definitely slimming. It didn’t slim me down 20lbs, but I think it easily slimmed me down 5-10lbs on looks alone. I tried on some shirts that were previously too snug for my current love handle situation and they felt great.

The shirt is definitely takes some getting used to. After wearing the shirt for several hours, I was not completely comfortable with the level of compression and had to take it off. It was just too much for me at the time. My wife had indeed, told me so. The shirt did it’s job, very well. I, as a host of the shirt however, did not hold up my end of the bargain. I wound up throwing it into the wash and it went into my dresser drawer and sat for quite a while.

After a few weeks in the drawer, I decided that I had given the shirt the proper opportunity and decided to try and give it another shot, maybe to even prove to the wife she was not 100% right. I decided to wear it out over the Thanksgiving weekend as a test to see who, if anyone, noticed my new look.

So, while dressing for the family Thanksgiving dinner with the inlaws, I quietly donned the shirt in an attempt to prevent my wife from knowing that I had put the shirt on, I also made sure I wore a shirt I had not worn in quite some time (since it was one of the love-handler snuggers I mentioned earlier) and prepared to leave the house.

Throughout the evening, I had a few “have you lost weight?” questions. “Ahh, I think it’s just my clothes” was the answer. I didn’t want to lie to anyone. The day went fine and I found myself more able to put up with the compression – maybe due to the fact that I was willing to give it a shot this time.

I have attempted to wear it a few more times and while I can usually put up with the compression for several hours, as the time passes, I begin to get more and more tired of wearing it. I believe this is more of a personal issue than a fault of the garment. So overall, I would recommend this product. Like I said, it won't slim you down 20lbs, but it can help.

Equmen Website here

Equmen Facebook page here

Equmen Twitter page here

..little teaser..

Just a little something to get you through to the new year! 2011 is going to mean some new things going on around here. One example being more new product reviews AND giveaways! :) Everyone likes free stuff, right? One review I'm excited about is from CSN Stores. CSN is comprised of over 200 websites to help you find whatever you might need, whether it's modern duvet covers, pool toys or Calphalon cookware!

Right now they've even got a bunch of items on Clearance. So if there's something on your "Got To Have" list, then check out CSN Stores. They just might have it! :)

..isabella oliver review..

So as my belly is getting bigger and bigger, it's getting harder and harder to find clothes to cover it, lol. Well, I happened to stumble upon a maternity clothing company called Isabella Oliver. They make some super cute clothes! Here's a little about them from their website:

Isabella Oliver was launched in 2003, and has since become home to two essential women's wear collections; Isabella Oliver Maternity and Isabella Oliver 365.

The brand was founded by Baukjen de Swaan Arons, Vanessa Knox-Brien and Geoff van Sonsbeeck; three passionate individuals whom aspired to create a clothing brand that women would love to wear.

Every Isabella Oliver piece exudes the brand's ethos; pregnancy style solutions for today's multitasking woman. Timeless classics are given a contemporary twist with ruche and wrap accents to create comfortable and stylish maternity essentials in easy, wearable fabrics. We aim to produce effortlessly chic collections; multifunctional must-haves that provide style confidence when you need it most.

And it's not just me that thinks they make cute clothes. They have clothed some of the most famous pregnant women out there! We're talking Angelina Jolie, Heidi Klum, Jessica Alba and Gwen Stefani just to name a few.

Isabella Oliver sent me their most popular item, the Wrap Around Top, to try out.

I'll have to admit, when I first took the Wrap Around Top out of the box, I thought there was no way it was going to cover all of me, because it comes as one piece that looks like this:

The two long "tails" are the pieces you wrap to completely cover your belly. Well, I tried it on anyway and started wrapping. Let me tell you, this is some seriously stretchy fabric! It just kept going and going! It covered all of my belly and tied into a cute little knot on the side.

So now you're probably wondering, if it's so stretchy, do you feel like you're all wrapped up in an ace bandage or something? Well that answer is nope! This is definitely one of the most comfortable tops I've ever worn. It is snug against the body, but not in a way that feels too tight or constricting. Best of all, after the girls are born, I can still wear this top! So bonus for the dual use! :)

So if you're in need of maternity clothes, and you're tired of the tops that make you look like you're wearing a tent, then check out Isabella Oliver. They carry more than just tops too, including dresses, jeans, bathing suits, and lots more!

Note: I received a complimentary top from Isabella Oliver for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received for my opinion.

*All photos courtesy of the Isabella Oliver website.