We spent one night celebrating American Girl’s newest historical character, Caroline Abbott, while learning about her home in Sackets Harbor, NY, and its role in the War of 1812. There were 1812 re-enactment actors from Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, which was recently designated as a historically significant site on New York State’s ‘Path Through History,’ dressed in period attire, there to educate us about the War of 1812.  I brought my husband and daughter along for the ride, and my husband enjoyed asking the actors their take on the British defeat.We celebrated the launch over dinner in their restaurant, an experience my daughter has not tired of yet.

On Saturday my daughter and I headed into NYC for an event at the Benefit Boutique in Soho.  It was coined a “Bonding Over Beauty” event for mothers and daughters.  We hopped on the train with her girlfriend and sped into town, all eager for a day of pampering. Who doesn’t deserve that? Even my daughter, at age 9, knows that she deserves one every now and then.  She learned that from me.

Back in the day, pre-marriage, I actually wore make-up and guess what brand it was….Benefit!  I remember taking a trip to the brand’s flag ship store in San Francisco and picking up a bottle of Benetint, which would quickly whip my cheeks into a rosy state.

I’ve always been attracted to to Benefit’s fun packaging. It’s very trendy, retro and speaks to the inner child inside me. Their cosmetics stand out in in the marketplace and spoke to a non-make-up wearer like me.

Since then, and please don’t ask me how many years it has been, I have gone to a very cosmetic-less state, so I was anxious for this event and excited to spend some  girly time with my oldest child and her friend.

The folks at Benefit put on a wonderful event(so did the folks at MamaDrama, although I am biased).  We were greeted by flutes of champagne (which I had several of) and yummy cupcakes and then whisked into the shop for make-overs.  My daughter loved the first-rate treatment and was glowing before, during and after her make-over.  I’d forgotten how terrific the brand is was reminded during my session.  Benetint, boi-ing (concealer), The Pore-fessional (pro-balm to minimize the appearance of pores, lord knows I need that),  They’re Real Mascara were all hits at the party.

I love the service at the Soho boutique.  The women and men who work there really want you to feel good.  When one whisked me aside to tint my eyebrows, I had no idea what that meant and left feeling like a changed woman. All tinting services are performed with a specialty dye designed to be used on brows and around the eyes. and there was no waxing or plucking involved.  Love that. Several women made appointments to return and I can’t blame them.  Maybe I will, too.

Disclosure: I was invited by MamaDrama, which happens to be my own company, and am posting on their behalf.  I was compensated to run a short campaign for Benefit but all opinions are my own.  

A totally new concept for me has come into my life: Indie stationary.  Made by a company called Minted, a design-your-own stationery site, these pieces of stationary are made by designers all over the world, in 43 countries.  Minted believes that great design lives and thrives in the hands of indie designers that people may not have access to through traditional retailers. Their goal is to use technology to allow our community to discover the work of great designers from all over the world. And at the same time, create a place where designers can get exposure and build their careers.  But they just don’t sell any design, they are selective and leave it up to the consumer to choose what they feature online.  And they’re not in the slightest stuffy.  Go figure.

Here’s how it works: Minted holds monthly design challenges for stationery, invitations, calendars, and other categories and all graphic designers are invited to enter. The Minted community selects the best designs in a highly competitive process, which gives us a top selection of the freshest, finest cards in the world. Winning designers earn cash prizes, a place in the Minted collection, and commissions on all sales of their designs.

They even turn some of the designs into prints you can hang on your wall.  Check some of them out:

Another very cool thing about Minted is that it was founded by a fellow mompreneur, Mariam Naficy. She started the business when her daughter was a few months old.  She wanted a place where designers could express their vision and have the chance to sell their designs.  She wanted to give voice to consumers and use the Internet as pure a meritocracy as possible.  So, she came up with a business plan, found a partner, raised funding and voila! launched her site.

Minted’s first design challenge was held in April 2008 and was a ‘save-the-date’ card competition with 66 entries. Tens of thousands of design entries later, they have expanded their crowd-sourced assortment to birth announcements, wedding stationery, photo calendars, personal stationery, and much more.

When I received my box of cards, I was very impressed by the quality of the paper.  Minted only carries brands that use fine paper stock, rich inks, and crisp printing methods.

Minted also sells business cards, journals, gifts, party invitations, and, as mentioned above, prints.  When you explore their web site, you’ll see from the feng shui look and feel that design comes first.

Head over to Minted.com to see what it’s all about.  Get involved in their voting process and watch some great design come to life.

Instead of heading to the drug store next time to pick up my cards, I’m heading to Minted.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I have partnered with Minted to promote their product this month on The Culture Mom.

So, when I received an offer from Tiny Prints to review their cards and services, I was eager to find a solution to holiday card chaos.

What they are:

Tiny Prints is a company that specializes in providing the best quality social stationary in unique, fun, and modern designs.  As their website states, “Tiny Prints was created by three friends who share a love of babies and an appreciation for giving and receiving good paper“. They offer personalized cards, announcements, invitations, stationary and associated accessories for all kinds of events, holidays and stages of life. Whether a flat postcard style or a more traditional folded card, they have a design and style to meet your needs.

The process was really simple.  They break down the holiday cards into specific categories.  Even though we celebrate Hanukkah, we wanted to get a more generic card, so I went right for the holiday cards.  The first picture I sent in was a photo of the four of us, much at my husband’s urging, but Tiny Prints promptly came back to me with news that it was a “grainy” image, so I replaced it with the image you see below.  It’s not my favorite photo and I could have used photos from our trip to Paris this summer that were fantastic, but both my kids are smiling and the picture kind of puts you in the holiday spirit, so voila!

Disclosure: I was provided with a set of 50 cards as a complimentary gift to facilitate the writing of this post, but all opinions expressed are my own.

We’re quite into family night, and the new game Brain Breaks by Cranium is quickly becoming one of our favorites. With more than 200 games that can be played in 60 seconds or less, families race to beat the timer using classic guessing, acting, sketching, sculpting and word-puzzling skills.  For 2 or more players.  Ages 8 and up. Retail: $12.99

Another new family night favorite is Jungle Speed by Asmodee.  In this game, you must rely on your keen sense of observation and quick reflexes. It requires a steady hand — which can be hard to maintain during the many fits of maniacal laughter,  which I can promise my family has had playing this game. Snatch it up and win the game.

We received a set of six jars of nail polish by Expressions Girl at an event a few weeks ago.  They’re scented and come in fruit scents: orange, lemon, blue raspberry, grape, green apple and strawberry.  My daughter loves playing a game where I close my eyes, she places the jar under my nose so I can guess the scent.  Of course, she also likes wearing the polish and it stays on very nicely.  Not for children under 3 years old.

VTech’s InnoTab is a multi-function educational tablet, billed for children 4-9, that combines interactive and animated reading, learning games, creative activities and a rich collection of applications. The InnoTab features a 5” color touch screen LCD, a tilt-sensor for motion game control, a stylus, as well as interfaces for USB, SD card, and a headphone jack, all housed in a compact design for easy portability.  My 7 year-old likes this better than my 8 year-old, who prefers the real thing. Retail: $79.99.

My kids love Hex Bugs. Their new Spider is no exception.   A remote control operated robotic spider – what more could a child want?  For $29.99 each, they come in multiple colors.  It walks in all directions and is a great compact toy to take on any trip.

Ickee Stikeez, tiny, squishy, collectible monster figures, have tiny suction cups for feet. Kids can stick them anywhere, or keep them in their round plastic pods. The ickeez make a great “popping” noise as they disengage from different surfaces – televisions, cellphones, tiles and more.  One three pack is priced at $10.95 and is for ages 4 and up, but I can tell you that my 8 year-old likes these more than my son.  It’s a girl’s thing.

If you are looking for a gift for a child age 18 months up, Swiggle Traks by Pocoyo is new on the market and a great first track set for a child. It’s got a moving bridge, musical motorized vehicle, swigging wheels, swiggle stunts and four different-colored tracks that are available in purple, green, yellow and blue. A battery-operated moving bridge provides even more excitement while the vehicle moves around the track.
Time to get shopping!

Disclosure: I was provided with samples of these toys to facilitate this post.

Who would have thought my inspiration to movewould arrive at my doorstep in a small box?

I was recently sent a digital fitness pedometer called Striiv, which I had heard about while at a BlogHer event hosted by my friends in the Blogging Angels a few months earlier, and I supposed I offered to be a early reviewer.  Now maybe now I wouldn’t just think about walking to my kids to school or taking the steps instead of the elevator into my doctor’s office. Now I would realize that even walking from one room to another burns calories, and that seeing the results in my hand on a device would actually inspire me, all with the help of a gadget you can git into the palm of your hand.  Using TruMotion technology based on an accelerometer and gyroscope, the gadget figures out whether you’re jogging, climbing stairs, dancing or doing some other type of exercise.  If you want to see what I’m talking about, watch this:

Striiv is challenging.  It inspires me to get up and move.  There are personal challenges, games and even donation opportunities based on how much exercise I get.  The more I move, the more I achieve.  I can play games and spend my points on trophies or badges (you have to see these to understand what I mean) and they push me to work harder.

But what I really like best about Striiv is that the more you walk or exercise, the device calculates your every move and donates to a charity on your behalf.  It’s very special. and very motivating.  Striiv, with the help of sponsors, has carefully chosen charities to donate to, including GlobalGiving which donates clean water to children in South America or a polio vaccine to children in India.

So, now when I am sitting at my desk, working or blogging, I sometimes still wear my gym clothes that I throw on when I work from home.  Only now, I grab my Striiv and head out the door, even if I have a short time period, feeling motivated to earn points to give back and shed some pounds. All while giving back.  How cool is that?

Striiv retails for $99 on the official Striiv website.

Disclosure: I was provided with a Striiv gadget to facilitate this review, but all opinions are my own.

So, you can only imagine my delight when we walked into a mini showroom, with thousands of dolls from their various collections lining the walls.  I do need to stop and tell here that as much as I adored dolls as a child, my daughter now?  Not so much.  For her, they are ornaments.  They sit on her bed.  They gather dust.  I urge her to use her imagination, I encourage doll parties like I used to have on my own as a child. I’d sit in my room alone with my dolls and treat them like human beings. We had tea parties, we talked about school.  My daughters? That’s not her thing, and you can only do so much convincing.  She’s not that way inclined and I can’t say that buying two American Girl Dolls are getting a lot of attention in her room.

But she came quite willingly to this event and became engrossed as soon as we walked in.  Britt Menzies, the author and another mom, stood behind a table full of dolls and explained the history behind the brand. It all started when her own daughter asked to be painted as a ballerina six years ago.  She conceptualized a multi-faceted brand that originated with the book, StinkyKids and the Runaway Scissors which featured 10 characters. The goal of the book was to teach children to learn from our choices and to remind them to be a “leader of good”.  Eventually they led to an adorable line of dolls, an app and even an off-Broadway show coming to NYC in Spring 2012.  There is a second book, StinkyKids See a Full Moon, that you can also order now.

The dolls are adorable.  You can order them at Target or from Madame Alexander.  These 12 inch soft dolls each have removable clothing, embroidered faces, and personalized tooshies, as well as their own interesting story.  You find out their hobbies, what they want to be when they grow up, special talents, favorite foods and more including what makes them a leader.  Your child, 10 and under, can discover their unique personalities, talents, and hobbies through their trading cards and bookmarks (included).

But what I really like about this brand is that a a portion of the proceeds from StinkyKids is donated directly to Books, Bears and Bonnets, a non-profit organization founded by Britt’s mother Merrily Ansell in memory of Britt’s aunt who died of uterine cancer. Books, Bears, and Bonnets provides whimsical gift boxes to courageous children and adults fighting cancer and other serious illnesses. Britt also organized the 1st Annual ‘Kids Cuts for Cancer’, speaks regularly at school career days, and continues to be the “best wife and mom I can be.” And as she reminds us, “Love Your StinkyKids!!!!…they’re so stinkin’ cute!!!!

Not that anyone needs to remind me of that, but I will tell you one thing.  My daughter was so enamored with these dolls that she came home, got down on the floor and played StinkyKids dolls with her brother.

Head over to their Facebook page to find out what they’re all about and check out the You Tube video I took of Britt herself talking more about the brand.  She told me she started everything six years ago.  I’m so impressed.

Disclosure: I was provided with dolls to facilitate this review, and a copy of the authors’s first book.

The wardrobe at More Magazine's offices

Last week I was invited to an event for MORE Magazine.  I was curious about what I would learn as I haven’t really checked out the magazine in the past.  I always envisioned it as a magazine for older women.  We gathered at their office in NYC and listened as Editor-in-Chief Lelsey Jane Seymour explained that the magazine is not quite what we think it is.  It’s about “reinventing your life at any age.”   While I thought the magazine was about entering the 2nd chapter of life, it’s really for all women like myself. After taking a look at the current issue, which graces Naomi Watts on the cover, one of my own role models, and checking out its content, I just might be a convert.  I’ll spend some time with the current issue and let you know.

Not only were we treated to a session with Seymour, but we also heard from Susan Avery, the magazine’s Digital Director. Beauty Director Genevieve Monsmo and as a special finale to the day, Nicole Williams from LinkedIn. Stay tuned to this page tomorrow for more details on that session.   She definitely opened my eyes to new ways I can start using this valuable social networking tool, in ways I haven’t used it before.

Tara Dolen, the magazine’s Market Editor, also gave us some fashion tips. She said that there are 5 staples you need in your wardrobe: a great blazer, a white buttoned shirt, a great pair of heels, great jeans and a striped shirt. Then you’re set.  It was really helpful as I set out to rehash my fall wardrobe which at the moment, lacks any sign of style.

But the fun didn’t stop there.  We were also invited into the magazine’s wardrobe.  We had a lovely lunch (magazine editors don’t eat, they nibble – no wonder they are skinny and I’m not).  We got free James Jeans in our goodie bags. The stylists from John Barrett’s braid bar fixed up our hair (well, not mine, there wasn’t enough time, but I can’t wait to take my daughter with our certificate for a free treatment), and we were given manicures. We also received these nifty items from a brand called Hollywood meant to fix us up like they do in Hollywood - lint removers, fashion tape, hem tape and more.  I’ve already used the lint remover on a sweater and it worked like magic.  I was just about to toss that sweater out, but this lovely pumice stone saved the day.

The best part about the day for me?  I got my eyebrows done by the amazing crew at Benefit.  I don’t just mean done, I mean DONE.  They looked pretty fabulous.  I also got a headshot.  I’ve been having trouble taking decent photographs since the kids were born.  It’s probably because I’ve gone up two clothing sizes since my wedding.  Whatever the reason, I always fret when I have to send in a photograph.  It helped that we had a quick make-over first and then Jennifer from Jelly Bean Pictures had me stand by a window to have my photo taken.  After the first shot, she realized she needed a new technique, so she had me laugh.  I couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that I can no longer photograph.  The results?  There were two usable photos, here is one:

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned items for free at the More Magazine event, but all opinions expressed are my own.

How Zuzee Works:

Girls bring their favorite photos and Zuzee provides the inspiration and tools they need to create their own personalized photo books, cards and more. Once designs are created, girls can share their photos and words with their friends in a secure environment. Zuzee keeps it fun and fresh with interactive quizzes, ongoing creative inspiration, new design concepts and virtual gifts that celebrate Zuzee friendships.

Why It’s Unique:

An inspirational place to create lasting memories

Zuzee.com is this generations’ record of their lives. Zuzee inspires with tools that let girls bring their photos to life in personalized books and cards. It enables girls to record precious memories and share them with friends!

A creative online community just for tween girls:

Tweens are creative from the core. They love to draw, design and share. Zuzee.com was designed just for them. It offers a safe community of their own where they can get creative as they share and collaborate with their own circle of friends.

A secure environment parents can feel good about:

Zuzee was designed with safety in mind. The site follows all online privacy guidelines and offers extensive controls enabling and empowering parents to monitor and control what their children do across the site. Friends can’t be added and designs can’t be shared without parent consent.

The Cost:

The basic Zuzee design experience is free but to get exclusive designs, gifts, icons, and save an unlimited number of designs, girls can get a Zuzee All-Access Z Pass for an annual subscription of $34.99 or $4.99 per month.

Founders:

The founders of Zuzee are parents, who wanted to design a place for girls to create and connect online in a safe and meaningful way.

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER:

The Zuzee All Access Pass Z Pass is absolutely free.  With the Z Pass, girls will get access to extra designs, special user icons, gifts and an unlimited catalogue of personal designs that they can save in their Zuzee account. After the introductory period, members can continue enjoying the all access Z Pass with an annual subscription for $39.95 or $4.99 per month.  (The Zuzee Basic membership is free!)

Learn more at www.zuzee.com, and follow the zuzee team on Twitter at @zuzeeparents or Facebook.

Disclosure: I was not compensated to write this review. 

In addition, I don’t have as much time to color coordinate my clothes, and I find myself spending less and less time trying to figure out what I’m wearing.  I generally always feel under-dressed, like I’m wearing the wrong thing, like I don’t have enough dressy clothes.  Now that I am re-entering the workforce in more full swing, I need to get my butt in gear and start dressing smarter.

Fortunately for me, my daughter has great taste.  Whenever I need fashion advice and have to buy something in particular, I bring her with me.  She tells me like it is.  I love buying her clothes and I dress her pretty well.  She’s always been obsessed with the color pink and is so much fun to shop for.  Thank god for her.  Really.  It’s funny how I can dress her better than I can dress myself, but I’m sure it’s the same for all moms.

So, when the fabulous Audrey McClelland of Mom Generations (pictured on left) invited me to her TJ Max/Marshall’s event in NYC, I was genuinely excited (and honored to be considered someone with “style”).

For one thing, I can always use fashion help. For another, I really respect Audrey’s opinion.  She has great fashion sense and has thousands and thousands of readers who come to her for it daily.  And of course, I’m a big budget shopper.  I typically wander into my local Marshall’s for a meander and come out with items I need for every member of my family.  I love a bargain and both stores have brand-named clothing for great prices.  I learned about these stores from my mother, who loves a good value.

Audrey explained that the buyers at these stores purchase a large quantity of items to get the lowest prices and work with over 10,000 vendors to bring the most up to date styles to the stores.

The event revolved around back-to-school which is right around the corner, if you haven’t noticed.  Both stores are terrific for back to school because of their selection designer brands at affordable prices.  They had a lovely fashion show with children and teens displaying just how fashionable you can get.  All you need is a little patience to search through the many items on the racks, and you can come up with treasures.

As for me, I brought home the most gorgeous wrap from the event in my swag bag.  It’s black – how did they know that I love black?!  And it’s exactly my look.  I need to spend more time scouring the shelves at TJ Maxx and Marshall’s.

Need to jump start your back to school shopping?  Win a $25 gift card to shop at either TJ Maxx or Marshall’s right here on The Culture Mom!

All you have to do to win is leave a comment below.  Please be sure to leave an email address or Twitter handle IN YOUR RESPONSE below (this is important!).

In order to be considered, you also need to send a tweet out on Twitter that says: “I hope I win the $25 gift card to Marshall’s/TJ Maxx from @theculturemom. http://bit.ly/robrrl”

Winners will be chosen at 9am on Friday, August 19th at noon.  The winner will have 24 hours to accept the prize or it will go to the runner-up.

Disclosure: Giveaway courtesy of  TJ Maxx/Marshall’s.  I was also provided with a $50 gift card to shop at TJ Maxx and Marshall’s, as well as a few items from the store, but all opinions expressed above are my own.