Category: Reviews

 

Last year for Christmas when Sophie was five, I got her her first real big girl baby doll from Target: an Our Generation doll named LilyAnna. I was nervous about whether or not she’d like it, because since she had been developmentally delayed, her interest in toys was also delayed, and she never got too interested in her baby dolls. However, at age five she was ready, and she loved LilyAnna and the book about her, her horseback riding outfit and her pretty red party dress and picnic set. Woohoo!

So, when the Our Generation team contacted me a few weeks ago asking if I’d like to review their “R.V. Seeing You Camper” for their dolls, I of course said yes. Sophie is almost more into doll accessories than she is into the dolls themselves, and about flipped her lid when she saw the camper. It is really a good size and has lots of accessories inside: a blanket, cushion, two stools, pot holders, dishes, canisters, and a dish rack. Sophie l-o-v-e-s it! I think it’s a great toy, however it is a bit tight if you put more than one doll inside. But, it’s pretty large and I can see why they wouldn’t want to make it much bigger.

Sophie’s had a wonderful time playing and pretending with the camper and is now d-y-i-n-g to have the jeep that goes along with it (well played, Our Generation, well played!) I’ve been pleased with it and will likely purchase more accessories from this line, since they are so much more affordable that that other doll line which shall not be named. Sophie’s also really jonesing for this tea set.

Have any of you tried the Our Generation dolls or accessories? What do you think of them?

Let me tell you something about myself…I am a SUCKER for a monogram! I loooove personalized things. So when the team at Kendra Phillip jewelry asked me to review their initial pendant, I was all “you had me at initial!!” They sent me the classic mini reversible initial pendant pictured above. Yes, I said reversible! One side is gold and one is silver. Genius, right? Here’s me wearing it on the other side:

Isn’t it elegant? I love this necklace! The pendant is very weighty. It has a lot of heft to it and I love that I can really feel it all day when I’m wearing it. It really stays put, too! It doesn’t flip-flop or travel around your neck to where it’s not supposed to be (which drives me bonkers).

If you’re looking for a quality jewelry gift this holiday, check out Kendra Phillip’s website! Their jewelers make beautiful earrings, cuffs, and necklaces that will be beloved by the recipient. I’m loving their heart stud earrings, those are going on my wish list!

You can check out all the pretty things at Kendra Phillip here. Happy shopping!

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Kendra Phillip provided me with a pendant to facilitate my review. All opinions about it are my own.

This year, for the first time in several years, my big kids needed new winter coats.  They had both worn their previous Lands’ End coats for two years and it was time. So of course I was thrilled when Lands’ End asked if we’d like to do an outerwear review this year! This time, I got my kids something I’d never tried  before – the Lands’ End 3-in-1 Squall Parka (girls here, boys here).

Aren’t they adorbs? But that’s beside the point! The point is, these coats are the flippin’ bee’s knees! They have an extra zip-out fleece liner that can be worn alone as a jacket on warmer days. They have grow-along adjustable sleeves, a waterproof and windproof exterior that keeps kiddos warm and dry and it’s temperature rated from -15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit! These coats are perfect for playing in the snow (especially when paired with the matching snow bibs, which I am really hoping my kids can use this year!) or waiting outside at the bus stop. And the Lands’ End quality will last and last. I expect Joshua and Sophie to be wearing these for another two years!

Next, I got to try out a coat for myself, woohoo!

I chose the Women’s Modern Down Jacket, and it is just gorgeous! (And seriously? Shouldn’t I be a coat model? I mean the coat covers up my body completely It’s great! Call me, Lands’ End!)  Not to mention soooo warm. When I tried it on inside my house, I was instantly HOT. This thing packs the heat. It is going to be great this winter, which I know is going to be brutal because last winter was mild.  It’s temperature rated from -15 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit! I love the finish on the fabric – it’s a matte fabric that is water-resistant. The hood is also adjustable AND removable as is the faux fur trim, so this coat is really customizable. I love the belt, too, it adds a nice bit of flair. I couldn’t be happier with this chic, cozy coat!

Oh hi, this is Emily now!
Like Jenny, I was thrilled to check out a Lands’ End coat for myself – unlike Jenny, however, I am not a huge fan of pictures of myself and I was totally going to take a picture of my gorgeous coat on a hanger and leave myself out of it all together… but the cut on this coat is amazing and it needed to be shown!

This is the Luxe Wool Pea Coat – isn’t it pretty? I have been lusting after the entire Luxe Wool collection since the first fall catalog came out, and if anything, I like the coat in person even better than I had expected.

Here’s the description from the website:
Woven in Italy, the fabric contains a luscious blend of rich wool and sumptuous cashmere for a refined appearance and wonderfully soft touch. The silhouette is a traditional double-breasted style with princess seams to flatter your figure. The tailoring is beautifully finished with careful attention to every detail, from the decorative pickstitching to the French envelope closure on the inside chest pocket. Among Pea Coats for women, we’ve found none finer!

Like I said, I really love the fit and the tailoring, and I also love the length – it hits me right below the hips, which will help a lot in keeping warm!

Lands’ End will also be keeping my kids warm this winter as well. Like Joshua and Sophie, Kate and Sam will be rockin’ the 3-in-1 Squall Parkas this winter – we found them on a year-end sale last spring and couldn’t pass them up! Lands’ End sent them some hats and gloves to match, so they’re all set.

Here’s Sam in his Squall gloves.

The Squall gloves have a waterproof nylon shell and PolarThin insulation to keep hands dry and warm. They’re nice and long, which will prevent the awful snow-between-gloves-and-coat-sleeves syndrome. Also, they’ve got adjustable SnowGuard cuffs to make sure they fit snugly. Lands’ End makes Squall gloves for the entire family – sounds like a nice addition to Christmas stockings to me!

Finally – there’s nothing more important for staying warm than a hat! Here’s Kate in her Northwest Passage Peruvian Hat.

This cute hat combines a vintage look with Lands’ End function and style. Its fleece lining and (freaking adorable) ear flaps add extra warmth. Love it!

Speaking of Lands’ End, we hope you’ll join us TONIGHT from 6-7 PM EST on twitter for the #LE12HRS Twitter party! It’s 12 hours of twitter all day long from 9-9, but we’ll be hosting and talking about holiday gifts from 6-7 PM. So join us for our usual brand of hilarious dialogue enhanced with awesome Lands’ End PRIZES and info about their great gift selections. See you then!

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Lands’ End provided us with outerwear items to facilitate our review. All opinions are our own.