Everyday Baby Steps

Great Deals on Plus Size Clothing at TJMaxx

marybabysteps — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:24:51 -0800

Let me share with you the great deals I got at TJMaxx recently. I asked my online friend, Victoria, who does PR for TJMaxx and Marshall's, what she could tell me about their plus size clothing.She did one better than just telling me; she sent me a $25 gift card for each of the stores. I don't have a Marshall's store nearby, but it turns out that they accept each other's cards.

I had a blast shopping the local TJMaxx store. I am a bit of an extreme bargain shopper, so I spent a great deal of time walking around the store trying to get the most for the money. It was sort of a challenge of sorts. I wanted to be able to show you just how far your money can go at TJMaxx and that we moms can afford to treat ourselves to nice things every once in a while. They had a wide selection of women's size clothing, so I had a lot to choose from. I think I did pretty good for $50. Here's what I got.

Lane Bryant Ribbed Sweater

This black ribbed sweater by Lane Bryant is so comfortable. I love it because it's so versatile and can be worn with everything. Pair it with jeans for everyday or wear it with a skirt or dress pants for a conference. Easy dressing; that's what I love! Guess how much it cost? Give up? I'll tell you. It was only $12.99. For Lane Bryant. I tried to take a picture of the tag, but it came out blurry. So just trust me. Better yet, go to TJMaxx to check it out for yourself!

Forever Sweater Wrap

My blogging pal, Audrey, talks about these sweater wraps constantly. So when I saw this chocolate brown one at TJMaxx in my size for $12.99, I had to try it. Yes, this sweater was also $12.99. Audrey is so right about these things. They're just cozy, and they can be worn so many ways. You can let the long ends of the wrap hang in the front for a dramatic look or tie them in the front for a casual feel. I've also seen Audrey and other smaller women wrap them around and tie them in the back. I couldn't do that with mine, but I was able to tie it nicely on the side. I like that look.

Quilted Vest

I fell in love with this vest at first sight. It was $19.99.That's a very reasonable price, but remember that I was trying to challenge myself to get as much as I could for $50. Look at the beautiful green color. Would you call that chartreuse or celery? I don't know. All I know is that it's gorgeous, comfortable, and warm. I wear it with everything. Jeans, khakis, t-shirts, sweaters, everything!

Scarf

Finally, I picked up this gorgeous green scarf that gradates from darkest to lightest. I see women wearing scarves everywhere. And for only $7.00, I couldn't resist picking this one up. It goes really well with the vest, and I didn't even do that on purpose. Scarves are great because you can wear them to accessorize or to keep warm. This one's also really cute!

So there you have it. I got four key pieces for only $50 at TJMaxx. There was tons of selection there for plus size women, and I also had a blast shopping their selection of boots, jewelry, perfume, beauty items, and hair care. TJMaxx has everything you can think of to treat yourself. Why not take the $50 challenge yourself? Even if you can only spare $10, you're sure to find something to make yourself happy at TJMaxx.

So how do you think I did? What's the best buy you've ever found at TJMaxx or Marshall's?

Fancast Is a New Way to Watch TV Online

marybabysteps — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:08:28 -0800

I've been seeing my blogging friends talk about this new site where you can watch your favorite television programs online. It's called Fancast. At first I didn'tthink I'd be very interested in Fancast because I don't watch very much TV. Then I realized that there's a reason I don't watch much TV. It's not that I don't enjoy TV, but I get so busy that I either don't have time to watch or I forget to turn on a program I was hoping to watch.

Fancast totally helps me with that problem; it's great for busy moms! I finally gave in and checked it out, and I found out that I really can benefit from all the great stuff Fancast has to offer. With Fancast, you can watch episodes of some of your favorite shows whenever you have the time. I'll be checking out Glee. Can you believe I've never seen it? My husband watched it once and hated it. So that means I'm sure to LOVE it! I also want to check out The Wanda Sykes Show. I love her.

I also think it's cool that Fancast offers news and gossip, as well as behind the scenes coverage. I enjoy that kind of thing. So I'll be exploring Fancast some more, especially at night when insomnia kicks in. How about you? Do you think this is a service you'd like? What would you watch? I need some more suggestions so I can catch up with the rest of the world!

L'Oreal Products You'll Want To Try

marybabysteps — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:48:20 -0800

L'Oreal is a trusted brand in cosmetics. They've been around forever. I've been a fan of their eye shadow for some time, but I've never really tried many of their other products. In fact, I never knew L'Oreal had such a wide range of products until they sent me a box of goodies to try after I put out a query to HARO about fall makeup. I was introduced to a wide range of products. They have hair care and color, skincare, cosmetics, even men's and kid's products. Here are my absolute favorites!

Collagen Filler Day/Night Cream

I have to be honest and tell you that I didn't think I'd be swayed by the skin care products. You see, I'm very dedicated to my Mary Kay. I admit it, I went in with a closed mind on this one. I've tried other skin care lines, and while it's fun to play and experiment, I always go back to my trusty standby. I've been using the L'Oreal Collagen Filler Day/Night Cream for well over a month now, and I love it.

The formula is creamy and thick. My skin feels so soft after using it. It looks plumper and smoother. It's been great now that dry skin weather is starting to set in. Though my skin is combination/oily, I tend to dry out once the furnace kicks on. I love massaging this cream into my skin and having no dry patches throughout the day. If you've got oily skin, you may like the Day Lotion better, rather than a thick cream. But I recommend switching to a creamy or dry skin formula for the winter months if your skin is at all prone to dryness.

Revitalift Deep Set Wrinkle Repair Eye

I've found over the years that eye cream is a must. Without it, the skin around my eyes looks crepey and feels dry. I like that this eye cream has a formula for both day and night, all in one tube. You know how I love multi-tasking products for moms! The best thing about these eye creams is how gentle they are. I have extremely sensitive eyes. I've used some eye products that make my eyes sting terribly if I get even a tiny bit in them. I haven't had that problem at all with this product. The only recommendation I have is to be careful when dispensing the product. If you're not, you end up with too much cream. No one wants to waste product!

Clean Artiste Waterproof and Long-Wearing Eye Makeup Remover

This is great stuff! Simply soak a cotton ball or sponge, and wipe away the day's eye makeup. Again, remember that my eyes are super sensitive. Not an issue with this product. It's strong enough to do its job, but it's gentle to even the most sensitive eyes. I genuinely recommend this eye makeup remover.

If you're like I was, and you aren't very familiar with what L'Oreal has to offer these days, you'll want to visit their website to check out all the amazing products they've come out with recently. You'll also find makeup tutorials from my new obsession, Project Runway. You may even want to become a fan of L'Oreal on Facebook.

Give Yourself a New Perspective for Free

marybabysteps — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:46:10 -0800

I've been feeling pretty stressed out lately. The kids have been sick with the flu, and any mother worries when her babies are ill.. The baby has hit the "18 month old I don't wanna sleep at night phase", and if Brady ain't sleepin', ain't NOBODY sleepin'. So needless to say, I've been super tired these days. All of this has led to the pile up of both a mess in my house and of blog posts in my brain. So this weekend, I decided to try to do something to get my life in order. Baby steps is my philosophy, right?

What I decided to do was to rearrange the furniture in our main living space. Sure, it may have been my attempt at procrastinating all the REAL work I should have been doing, but I'm glad I did it. It's really made a difference in the way I look at things and how I feel. Here's our living room before:

The play pen is still a permanent fixture in our living room. I use it to keep Brady safe on days when it becomes absolutely necessary for me to get a shower, and, lately, it's become his bed at night. Removing it is not an option at this time, so rearranging was kind of tricky. I realized I wanted to get that TV from out of the corner. When I last reorganized, it seemed like a good place, but I was getting tired of having it there. So here's what I ended up doing:

It feels so much more open now. The kids and I think the TV looks bigger, too. We like that. I can't even begin to tell you the difference this has made on my outlook. Being a work-at-home mom, my home can become absolutely stifling sometimes. This simple step made a world of difference. I feel refreshed and ready for change in all areas of my life. I highly recommended making just a small change like this if you're feeling stuck or in a rut. It's easy, and it's free.

On a side note, I recently read a post by Sandy, from Organize With Sandy, about how she rearranged her office. She mentioned using furniture sliders. I used those things this weekend, and I was able to do the whole job myself. No need for help from Bill, which may just have saved our marriage. Okay, not really, but it's probably safe to say that it was better to do it myself. Sandy and I both recommend these, so be sure to ask us if you're not sure what they are.

Good luck with your small change toward a whole new perspective. What will it be? Leave a comment!

Give Women a Cup of Confidence!

marybabysteps — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:38:28 -0700

Coffee-Mate and Dress for Success are working together to help women who are seeking work find inspiration and the resources they need to make it happen. Coffee-Mate has pledged to donate $50,000 to Dress For Success, but with our help, they're willing to give more! For every Cup of Confidence note we send, another fifty cents will be donated to the cause.

Coffee-Mate will donate up to $150,000 to support women through Dress For Success. At this time, they're up to $68.704! You can send a personal note of up to 125 characters to women job seekers by going to the Cup of Confidence website. It's easy! Post a badge to your Facebook page or website, and you'll help to raise another fifty cents.

So what are you waiting for? Get started now making a difference in another woman's life. You'll also find valuable coupons to help save you money. We could all use a Cup of Confidence!

Awesome Plus Size Accessories

marybabysteps — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:33:48 -0700

Yes, plus size accessories. I hadn't given it much thought until beginning my research for this series on plus size fashion, but there really is a lot to consider in buying accessories when you're full figured. I've had trouble in the past finding boots that fit my calves, and some necklaces are a bit too short on me. These are just a few of the issues that come up for plus size shoppers. Here are some solutions I hope you'll find helpful.

A. Jaron Fine Jewelry

A. Jaron Fine Jewelery offers a tremendous selection of jewelry in all price points. The designer, Amanda Jaron, makes high-end pieces sold exclusively in the finest of jewelry stores, and she sells a line on HSN that is accessible to everyone. I love that about her. What I also love is that she takes women's needs into consideration. She makes rings up to size 12, even larger by custom order. That's not something many companies have the foresight to do. My very favorite items on her site are the Soho Stackable Birthstone Rings. It appears they average about $100 apiece. I love the look of stack rings, and I think a set of three with my kids' birthstones would be the absolute perfect gift. (Hint, hint, Bill!)

Slimpressions

Shapewear by Slimpressions is the perfect confidence boosting accessory for plus size women. Most women tend to be a bit self-conscious about certain body parts, particularly in certain items of clothing. But who wants to wear a "girdle" or any kind of tight, uncomfortable shaping device that makes you miserable, especially if you're attending a special event? No one wants that, and I can tell that Slimpressions provides fabulous coverage and support without the tugging and pulling you find in some shapewear. Slimpressions provided me with a couple items to try out. I wore the Tanks a Little in nude underneath my dress at the Type-A Mom blogging conference, and I loved it. It really wasn't uncomfortable and didn't ride up at all. It gave me a sleeker profile and made me feel much more confident and relaxed about my appearance in a dress. I love that you can choose shapewear based on your assets as well. For example, The Tanks a Little is for us "have nots" in the bust area. They offer pieces just for "the haves" as well.

One Stop Plus

OneStopPlus.com is the place to find ALL your plus size needs, hence the name. They have a wide selection of tunics, jeans, and accessories. They even carry Halloween costumes in plus sizes. I love that! What really caught my eye was OneStopPlus.com's selection of wide calf boots. I've always had a tough time getting boots that fit my calves, even more so these days. Usually, I have to leave them unzipped about an inch from the top. But not with the wide calf boots from OneStopPlus.com! They sent me a pair to try out, and the fit is glorious. I got the Zoe wide calf fringe boots in khaki. They go around my calf comfortably and zip ALL THE WAY. They make me happy. They're light weight, but sturdy, and are so comfy. One thing I would recommend is going a size up. I was sent a size 10, thinking it might be a bit big, but it actually fit perfectly. Check out OneStopPlus.com if you need boots that fit.

This completes the first of my plus size fashion series, and I've had so much fun researching this and putting everything together. Thank you so much to the companies and PR representatives that helped me out. Look for more information on plus size clothing and accessories as I continue my quest for fabulous finds for plus size women.

Gorgeous Plus Size Dresses

marybabysteps — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:47:18 -0700

This is the third installment in my series on plus size fashion for fall. I've covered stylish pants and beautiful tops. Now let's talk about dresses. I love wearing dresses, if they're comfortable and flattering. As we know, that's a combination that can be hard to find, especially for us curvy women. I hate when dresses ride up or won't stay in place. Drives me crazy, so I often just find it easier to wear pants. But the right dress can make a woman feel so beautiful and really make a statement. Here are some dresses I've come across that I think will meet the needs of plus size women.

XCVI

XCVI is a clothing company based in Los Angeles that specializes in eclectic, cotton looks that are perfect for moms on the go. The company was founded in 1996, hence the name XCVI, the Roman numerals for the year. XCVI was very gracious and sent me a dress to try out and wear to the Type-A Mom Conference. Take a look.

Isn't it nice? The dress is simple, but it has some very nice details. It has a bit of a balloon hem, nothing over the top, just a beautiful detail that makes a big statement. The sleeves are also nicely detailed as well. They're capped with slight elastic around the bottom that makes the sleeves rouche a bit. You know what I really love about this dress? It's so comfortable. I plan to add a cardigan and wear it into the cool, fall weather for as long as I can. I'm very impressed with the quality of XCVI. Other items from XCVI can be found at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, and Zappos. Take a look at Nordstrom's plus size selection to get an idea of the kinds of pieces available from XCVI.

Shabby Apple

Have you heard of Shabby Apple? This company is all the rage in the blogosphere. I had seen some dresses by Shabby Apple worn by bloggers to conferences and featured on their sites, but I didn't realize Shabby Apple carried a plus size line until their publicist got in touch with me to let me know. So I had to go check out the site. Just look at the gorgeous plus size dresses they offer. This one's my favorite.

I love the retro feel of their dresses. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to try Shabby Apple personally, but I've spoken to friends who have and who truly love the apparel this line carries. I will definitely check them out for my next special event or blogging conference.

Igigi

I don't even know where I first read about this brand. I think it may have been on a fashion blog. What I do know is that after seeing their gorgeous clothing, especially the dresses, I couldn't forget them! I keep finding myself going back to their website and browsing. Okay, not browsing, drooling. What I love about Igigi is that they offer exclusively plus size clothes for women sizes 12 - 32. (Though I don't consider size 12 to be plus size) The designers strive to provide fashion that accentuates a woman's natural, beautiful shape. And did I mention that the designs are gorgeous? See for yourself.

I will own a piece of Igigi clothing eventually. I'm just holding out until after the holidays when I'm sure the kids have their Christmas. You can make purchases directly from the website, and they even offer a ShapeStylist calculator to help you determine your body shape for the best fit. Love that!

Let me know if you decide to try any of these plus size lines for your upcoming holiday parties. I'd love to see pictures! What other brands do you like for plus size dresses?

Moms, Use PicClick to Find Halloween Costumes!

marybabysteps — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:24:38 -0700

Have you gotten your kids' Halloween costumes yet? I have, only thanks to my dear husband who got the ball rolling when he had our daughter out running errands. If it weren't for that, I probably would just now be thinking about what costumes to get. One year, I waited until the absolute last possible minute. Don't ever do that. It's bad. Real bad.

I very recently learned about a new service associated with eBay, called PicClick, that makes finding the exact costume your kid's been whining about asking for a much easier task than ever before. I've bought costumes on eBay in the past and think it's a great way to get unique, well-made costumes at a fraction of the cost of buying new, but it can be hard to compare all of the available costumes and find the best price, from the most reputable seller.

That's where PicClick comes in. With this tool, you can see up to a hundred products on one page, compared with just a handful in a standard eBay view. Also, PicClick cuts out all the extra clutter of banner ads and such that run on eBay. Here's a screen shot.

There's still time left before Halloween.. If you haven't gotten your kids' (or your own!) costumes yet, give PicClick a try. I think this would be a great way to look for other things too, like the best bargain in high-end cosmetics, fashion, or jewelry. Yes, I've bought diamonds on eBay in the past. You can get great deals. Wish I'd had PicClick then!

Beautiful Tops For Plus Size Women

marybabysteps — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:19:23 -0700

I'd like to continue my series on plus size fashion, this time focusing on places to find tops. For me, finding a comfortable and stylish shirt or sweater isn't as hard as finding pants that fit, but I know it can be a real problem for other women, partiularly busty women or those with broad shoulders. So I want to focus on beautiful styles I've found in my search for plus size clothing.

Silk Threads

Silk Threads is a brand I found through my HARO search. Silk Threads is inspired by Indian and Pakistani fashion, and their tunics are just gorgeous. They offer sizes from XS up to 3X, so there's something for every woman. I know I apprecate that! With such a wide selection, there's something for every taste as well, from sophisticatedly undestated to bright and daring. Check out the tunic I wore to the Type-A Mom Conference.

Isn't it beautiful? This particuar top is actually two pieces, a black cami with a tunic overlay. I was afraid it might be uncomfortable with the two layers,but it wasn't. I loved wearing it and all the compliments I received. Silk Threads can only be found in certain boutiques across the country and can also be purchased oinline. A tunic from Silk Threads would be a fabulous, unique piece to add to your wardrobe for that special occasion or to set you apart from the everyday crowd. Thank you, Silk Threads, for helping me feel beautiful and confident at the conference; I appreciate it!

Jones New York

I love Jones New York clothing. I used to go to the Jones New York store all the time when I lived near our local outlet mall. I didn't know, however, that they have an exclusively plus size line, Jones New York Woman. Thankfully, the store's publicist got in tuch with me to share some plus size fashion tips, (which I will pass along to you in a later post), so I went to visit the website. I was not dsappointed! Just look at this blouse.

The selection of beautiful clothing was amazing! I loved nearly everything. Tops come in sizes 0X - 3X, and the prices range from moderate to the higher end. I know that Jones New York offers quality, as I've purchased clothing there in the past. Though I haven't tried the plus size line personally, I won't hesitate to check it out based on the positive experience I've had with Jones New York in the past. I'm so excited to see that such a trusted woman's clothing brand offers the same gorgeous quality and selection to their plus size customers.

Dress Barn

Yes, you read that correctly. Dress Barn. I hadn't thought about that store in ages, like since college. But Dress Barn made a presence at the Type-A Mom Conference, and they sponsored an incredible fashion show starring a handful of lucky bloggers. I was so impressed with all the beautiful clothing. Dress Barn provided the bloggers with everthing, down to the boots and handbag! I was particularly in love with the sweaters I saw on the models. Cardigans of every shape and color. There were long ones, chunky ones, and twin sets. I LOVE twin sets. Just gorgeous. I adore sweaters, and I was super excited to pick up a plus size Dress Barn catalog in the conference lobby. The woman's sizes are available from 14 - 24. I will definitely be checking out the Dress Barn at the outlet mall to pick up at least one sweater to treat myself with this winter!

What do you think? Did I do a good job of tracking down a wide variety of tops for plus size women? What would you add? I know there are probably a lot of other great choices. Please share what you've found!

Stylish, Comfortable Pants For Plus Size Women

marybabysteps — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:32:43 -0700

I've never been a small girl. That's just the way I'm made. Unfortunately, due to slipping away from my healthy eating routine of avoiding wheat and milk, I've gotten a bit larger as of late. I've always had a hard time finding clothes that fit well and are comfortable. Even in size 14 and 16, two very common sizes in this country, I've often found the selection to be limited. Since moving up a size (I refuse to say the number because I don't plan to be in it for long!), it's become even more difficult.

So I set out on mission to find cute, comfortable clothes for plus size women because if I'm having a tough time, it must be hard for women who are larger than me. I approached some companies on my own, and I sent a query to Help A Reporter Out (HARO). The response I received was tremendous. Some companies were able to send samples for me to try, while others were not. I'm thankful for everyone that helped me and for all that I learned. I'll share whatI learned with you, beginning with this post on great pants. The series will continue with posts on tops, dresses, and accessories.

Lee Jeans

I've worn Lee jeans ever since I was a teenager. They always fit my ample curves, especially my rear, with little back gap. The price and the comfort combined kept me coming back to Lee. (That, and the fact that my mom wouldn't buy me the expensve Guess and Limited jeans) I have to confess that I've gotten away from Lee in recent years, as I've discovered some other affordable options that I like. I was pretty excited when the folks from Lee offered to send me a pair.

Guess what? They're still incredibly comfortable! And the fit is still amazing. Lee even has a dedicated plus size line in sizes 16W - 30W. Lee sent me the Slender Secret 5-pocket jean, and I love them! Definitely not your mom's Lee jeans. I love Lee jeans. I'd recommend hippy, curvy women like me give them a try.

Just My Size Jeans and Khakis

Hanes is the maker of the plus size line, Just My Size, which offers such a wide array of clothing as well as undergarments. Just My Size sent me a couple pair of jeans, a boot cut style and a skinny jean, as well as a pair of casual khaki pants. The jeans were both stretchy and fit well over my curves. I appreciate that they sent me two different styles to try. I was surprised that I actually liked the classic fit, as I usually stick with boot cut or relaxed fit jeans. Unfortunately, both pair of jeans I receied fit a bit tightly, especially around my waist. (I just tried them on again and am happy to report that I was able to button them comfortably, so I've lost a little bit of weight!) I might recommend that you be sure to try on these jeans before buying them because they seem to run a bit small. But don't be afraid to go up a size because they do fit nicely and are comfortble, just a bit tight in the waist. I've learned that comfort and fit, with smooth lines, are so much more important that the size number.

The Just My Size khakis? Love them! They're soft and fit just right, even around the waist. I'm happy with the length as well. Sometimes I have to go up to a tall size in pants. At 5'7", I'm kind of in between regular and tall. I'm so happy with these pants and to have a pair of khakis that fits. After jeans, khaki are my live-in pants, and it's been a while since I've worn any since I've grown out of the ones in my closet. Just My Size offers fabulously reasonable prices and sizes that go up to 36. This brand is accessibe for EVERY woman!

Tummy Control Knit Pants From The Girls Apparel

I'm lucky to have been given the opportunity to try some great knit pants from a company called The Girls Apparel. Knit pants can really be a love/hate thing for me. I love the comfort, but I don't love the fact that you can see every little (and big) flaw when wearing them. The Girls uses a specially formulated Blu-Tec Control System, which combine just the right amounts of spandex and nylon to create a material that enhances your shape, rather than showing off flaws. I received the Tummy Control Snap-Bottom pant. I love the detail of the snaps at the bottom, so different. What I love most is the comfort and fit of these pants. They really do give you some support in the tummy area. While they don't work miracles, of course, they do provide a nice, smooth silhouette, and they don't accentuate your flaws. I usually don't feel comfortable in tight, stretchy knit pants, but I wear these often with a long cardigan or button down shirt. I'm a bt self-conscious of how they accentuate my fat knees, but I think that's just my own personal hang-up. Oveall, I give The Girls Tummy Control Pants a very favorable review. If you've always wanted to try stretchy pants, but have been too self-conscious, give these a try!

That's it for my report on stylish, comfy pants for plus size women. Are there any brands or styles that you've had good luck with or that you couldn't live without? Please share. I plan to cover plus size fshion more here are Everyday Baby Steps and would love your input!