Gorgeous Clothing for Both Mother and Daughter from @MatildaJane435 #FashionistaEvents

Denise DeMarchis is founder and CEO of Matilda Jane Clothing (MJC). MJC started as a kitchen table startup that grew quickly into a national children's clothing business. Denise has held a passion for art and design from a very young age and has spent a decade showcasing her clothing line at regional art fairs before launching MJC.

In building MJC, Denise wanted to be able to help connect people though her designs – colorful, timeless, and playful ensembles that are age-appropriate and help reflect the personality of the child. And that connection shows in the designs MJC carries.

MJC loves to give back and is extremely generous with their random acts of kindness. As an extension of MJC’s desire to give back (such as to various children’s charities and orphanages, or the company’s pledge with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a deserving family), the company also actively involves its customers in ongoing charitable giving efforts.

Most recently, MJC asked customers where to donate in its “Spread the Love” initiative. The annual campaign involved surprise giveaways to 100+ deserving families, as well as smaller giveaways to 300 individuals, a $50,000 expression of MJC’s heartfelt thanks to its loyal customer base.

Despite MJC’s strong online presence – nearly 60,000 Facebook fans, a thriving blog, and a website that attracts more than 70,000 unique visitors monthly, the company has bucked the trend and chosen not to have an e-commerce store. MJC sales are made directly though a Trunk Keeper, a representative who gets to know her customers personally.

The exclusive sale of clothing by Trunk Keepers is a wonderful direct selling model through which Denise is able to pay forward business opportunities for entrepreneurial women driven by creativity and relationship building.

Stay tuned for my review of the gorgeous outfits pictured in this post at the beginning of next week!

The Matilda Jane Lookbook changes every few weeks or whenever the collection is updated. Feel free to review the most current one at: http://www.matildajaneclothing.com/the-lookbook.php

And to stay up to date on the latest styles, sales, and more, check out Matilda Jane Clothing on Facebook and follow Matilda Jane on Twitter at @MatildaJane435.

Getting Shipshape with Shabby Apple's Highclere Castle Line #FashionistaEvents

Do you love getting dressed up as much as I do? The excitement of the event, the gorgeous dress or skirt, and the time and effort put into makeup and hair? As much as I love my sweats, I love the excuse to get all pretty and wear high heels.

So when I received a package from Shabby Apple the other day I just had to get all dressed up and try on my new skirt. Trouble was my husband wouldn't be home till after dark and no one was home to take photos of me in my new, pretty skirt. Enter my 3 year old son... turned photographer.

And out of the 30 or so photos he got one good one. It might not be the best shot and might not include the fact that I did my hair and makeup before taking photos but it shows off the skirt and my son felt like a superstar for being in charge of Mommy's special camera (my DSLR).

This skirt is absolutely gorgeous! Black lace on top of tan satin fabric and it can be worn so many different ways. Since I didn't have a chance to go shopping for a shirt yet I simply pulled out a black shirt from my dresser drawer and tucked it in. I slipped on a pair of tan heels and I was set.

I plan on wearing this skirt for an upcoming wedding so I'll be shopping for a shirt that's a bit more dressy and upscale for the event. And while this skirt does not hide my larger belly, a bit of spanx covers up the little bit of jiggle I have. And why not show off the figure I have, right?

This gorgeous Shipshape skirt is from Shabby Apple's latest Highclere Castle line. And the pieces they have included in this line are absolutely gorgeous. I had quite a hard time choosing what skirt or dress I wanted to wear to the wedding I'm attending. I was very close to grabbing the Connoisseur or the High Tea Skirt.

When I received my skirt the first thing I noticed was the tag on it. There was a little note letting me know who made it and how purchasing this skirt supports the fight against global poverty. By partnering with Accion, a non-profit organization, with the mission of giving people the financial tools they need to work their way out of poverty, Shabby Apple donates 5% of its net sales to support work with 62 microfinance institutions in 31 countries throughout the world.

Shabby Apple is helping women worldwide. And I'm so excited to be part of it. If I'm spending money for a quality item, I want to know that my purchase is going towards a greater good.

Be sure to head over and check out Shabby Apple on Facebook and follow them on twitter at @ShabbyApple to keep up on the latest styles and collections.

The Simmworks Family Blog will be participating in the Fall Fashionista Giveaway Event, the web's exclusive "All Fashion Only Fashion event this October.

Shabby Apple has offered to giveaway a Shipshape Skirt in the Simmworks Family Blog prize package (an $86 value). So remember to head back on October 11th to enter to win!




Disclaimer: I received a Shipshape skirt from Shabby Apple for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

2012 Fall Fashionista #Giveaway Event {Valued at $245} October 11th - 17th #FashionistaEvents

Welcome to the Fall Fashionista event hosted by Still Blonde After All These Years and co-hosted by Modly Chic and K Squared Glamour! This event will run from October 11th through the 17th. Each participating blog features at least one prize package valued at $120 or more. This event will cover everything fashion from mom to baby to dad and everything in between!

The Simmworks Family Blog is giving away one prize package valued at $245!!

One thing I don't have enough time for these days is my hair. It's either thrown up in a pony tail or a haphazard bun because when I finally realize I need to do something with my hair we're already 20 minutes late. Luckily I found this amazing Flexi clip from Lilla Rose consultant, Holly Noble.  Now I can make quite a few hair styles with just one clip!

For more information, read my review here.

 

One thing I'm starting to realize as I get older is the importance of making smart purchases. Really researching and thinking about what I'm buying and why.

Recently I heard about Heart of Haiti at Macys. Our local Macys Home store carried a beautiful selection of home goods that were hand crafted by Haitian artists who, instead of receiving handouts from aid organizations, have started to trade goods for income and support. This has not only kept their artistry alive by continuing to create beautiful pieces, they've also started to teach future generations their trades.

I also learned of the gorgeous selection of handmade jewelry from the Heart of Haiti. From necklaces to bracelets to rings, these items are absolutely stunning!

For more information, read my review here.

For my kids, I love simple, bold colors and styles. The clothing at Wee Urban is just that. And it's well made too! I absolutely love how Wee Urban differs from everything else out there. And my daughter loves her long-sleeved giraffe onesie. You'll love what you see as well when you check out what Wee Urban has to offer.

For more information, read my review here.

Shabby Apple is at it again and has launched an amazing new line of dresses and skirts called Highclere Castle and I am in love with a few of their pieces! Pictured above is their Shipshape skirt and I'm in love. This is the perfect skirt for going out and it could be yours if you enter to win below!

For more information, read my review here.

Review Coming Soon.

The Grand Prize for the Event is a $1200 value Louis Vuitton Red Leather Epi Speedy 25 via Bella Bag and is open worldwide!. For every giveaway in the Fall Fashionista Event that an entrant enters, they gain one entry toward the Louis Vuitton Bag. But you have to enter here to win.

Enter the Grand Prize Giveaway Here

Comfort and Style for Toddlers with Wee Urban #FashionistaEvents

 While attending BlogHer'12, I received a gorgeous modern organic onesie for my daughter from a company I wasn't too familiar with. As soon as I got home I immediately looked up Wee Urban and my jaw dropped. Omg. How cute are these clothes?

Now I have an issue with shopping on sites. There are just too many patterns, styles, and colors to choose from. Wee Urban is totally different and I love it. Not only do they have simple and chic designs, they also have a limited number of pieces each season. So if you want something, you need to get it!

Our long sleeved onesie was a little to warm for our higher temperatures lately so as soon as we started to feel the crisp Fall air outside, we tried it on. And the 18-24 month size fit my daughter perfectly.

This giraffe patterned brown onesie is made with 100% organic cotton interlock and is uber soft. Their rich colors and one of a kind designs appeal to a simpler style. I love that i can pair this onesie with just about anything in my daughter's closet and she still looks super cute.

Because of the stretch of the cotton, I am pretty sure that my daughter will be fitting into this onesie for quite some time. That means this will more than likely be our go-to shirt this winter. I can already see the layering outfits we can create!

Not only is Wee Urban's giraffe collection cute, they also have an adorable owl print and monkeys right now! Check out their shop for gorgeous clothes and blankets. And they'll be adding some great gift sets soon.

Ranging from newborn sizes to toddlers, there's sure to be a perfect piece for your cutie! I know I'm eyeing the giraffe dress for my daughter and cannot wait to see what's next for Wee Urban.

Check out Wee Urban on Facebook or follow them on twitter at @WeeUrban to keep up with the latest styles and selections. 

The Simmworks Family Blog will be participating in the Fall Fashionista Giveaway Event, the web's exclusive "All Fashion Only Fashion event this October.

Wee Urban has offered to giveaway the winner's choice of a Wee Urban Dress or Romper into the Simmworks Family Blog prize package (up to $38 value). So remember to head back on October 11th to enter to win!




Disclaimer: I received a Wee Urban onesie for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

2012 Fall Fashionista Events Lookbook is Here! + $500 Mountain Khakis Gift Certificate Giveaway

The time is here!

Time to fall in love with new styles, designs, and pieces from this Fall's hottest fashion-related companies with the Largest Fashion Event on the Internet. And that's not it! In just a few days you will have the chance to WIN all of these fabulous items in the Fall Fashionista Giveaway Event hosted by Still Blonde After All These Years with co-hosts Katy Rose of ModlyChic and Kristyn of the K Squared Glamour.

Mark your calendars for October 11-17. It’s going to be Epic!

The Simmworks Family Blog is excited to announce our Fall Fashionista sponsors:

• Shabby Apple 
• Matilda Jane
• Wee Urban
• Macy's Heart of Haiti
• Lilla Rose

To see all of the fabulous items featured on the participating Fall Fashionista bloggers' blogs check out the Fall Fashionista Lookbook below:

Open publication - Free publishing - More clothes

And because we want to start off this party with a bang we're giving away a few items from this year's lookbook sponsor, Mountain Khakis!

A Night Out on the Town with @eShakti

Last Friday my husband surprised me. Like a HUGE surprise.

I woke up to flowers on the kitchen counter with a note explaining that we would be going out that night. And not only did I need prepare myself for dinner, I also needed to pack an overnight bag. When you get a note like this, your promptly cancel all plans and get ready for the night!

This change of events was welcomed.

As soon as he got home from work, we headed out to drop off my son and daughter for the night and headed downtown. He had booked us a hotel a few blocks away from my favorite restaurant (where he had made reservations). As soon as we got there we got ready.

And I was lucky enough to have the perfect dress for the occasion!

I received a gorgeous black eShakti Ruffled Safari Twill Dress in the mail a few days before and couldn't wait to wear it out! As soon as I put it on I was in love. The dress did feel a bit tight even though I ordered the next size up per their measurement guide but it's nothing a few weeks at the gym can't take care of! 

I loved the look and flow of this dress. Not only did the cut flatter my larger belly, it also made me feel good wearing it.

I paired the dress with a gorgeous bracelet from Macy's Heart of Haiti collection and pulled my hair back into a simple side ponytail. Once I had the dress on, applied my make up and jewelry, and slipped on my shoes we were ready to go!

The dress is beautifully made and I felt gorgeous in it. I loved that I had the option of changing up a few options on the dress before making my final decision. With most of the dresses you can decide the sleeve length, length of the hemline, and the shape of the neckline. How amazing is that? And what you receive is a quality, beautiful dress that is bound to turn heads! 

Enter to WIN a dress for each season this year 

plus much more!

To read more about the other dresses available and see them in action, check out these amazing reviews from fellow bloggers: