Twisted Orchid Mad Style Handbags & Accessories Review

When it comes to shopping for holiday gifts, I’ll admit that I don’t make things too easy for my husband. Although he continues to ask me what I want, I have a hard time coming up with something that is fun enough to suit me while also being practical enough that he’ll buy it. Where do you find something that combines personality and style with a budget?

Recently I’ve found that place and it offers everything from women’s handbags, clutches and purses to stunning fashion jewelry to scarves and hair accessories: Twisted Orchid. Available in specialty stores and online, this site features fabulous finds that are perfect for gifting that range from $5 to $70. Check out this small selection of things that you can find there…

Under $15

Under $30

Under $40

For me, I’m a big fan of handbags and when I saw that Twisted Orchid had combined their stylish fashion sense with a convenient, portable toiletry bag, I knew that the Black-White Traveler would be something that would come in handy for quite some time.

Measuring in at approximately 8″ tall, 8″ wide and 3″ deep, this cute little bag has one main pocket accessed by the curved zipper on the front…

…which features great slots on the inside of the flap for something thin like a toothbrush. On the back, there is one flat zippered pocket that provides even more storage.

Because of the small size, I won’t use this as my main toiletry bag for longer trips (but will bring it as a great case for accessories, hair clips for my girls, etc), however, it is perfect for a shorter, overnight jaunt. We often visit my in-laws’ house for the weekend, so being able to grab something small and portable like this is extremely convenient!

I love the lightweight feel to the Black-White Traveler as well as the smooth, satin fabric (which is washable with warm water and liquid soap) and the overall way that the stripes and polka dot patterns work for a cute, eye-catching look. Best of all, this bag retails for $9, making it a perfect stocking stuffer for anyone on your list that enjoys traveling. Add a few travel bottles and a small bar of soap inside and you’re set with a great gift!

Whether you’re looking for a chic purse, a trendy wallet, a pair of earring with bling, or a fashionable scarf, Twisted Orchid and their collection of Mad Style items are sure to please. Better yet, in addition to their free shipping within in the continental U.S., you can also receive a 20% discount on any purchase simply by entering the promo code TWISTED at checkout!

To view the full line of Mad Style products, visit the Twisted Orchid website and connect with them on Facebook.

This post was written for Mad Style who provided the complimentary item in exchange for my honest review.

Striiv Review: Get Fit. Give Back. Have Fun.

When it comes to fitness, I need all the help I can get.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I’m sitting around on the couch all day with a bag of potato chips not moving at all. It’s more that I find myself gravitating to the computer in my free time, which begins to add up to long stretches of time where I haven’t done any form of activity other than typing or more than walking 10 steps into the kitchen for a glass of water.

Lately, however, I’ve been recognizing that a lot more and making sure to get up and get my body moving thanks to my newest obsession: Striiv.

Taking a new approach to fitness, Striiv is a pedometer-type device that is half the size of a credit card, but extremely motivating and even more fun.

Whereas regular pedometers track the number of steps you take, how many miles you’ve walked, and how many calories you’ve burned, Striiv does all of that plus SO much more… and makes you want to go beyond your regular day’s worth of physical activity due to the games, challenges, and donation opportunities that this tiny gadget provides.

When my Striiv first arrived, I took one look at the unassuming little box and figured that it would possibly get me to take an extra stroll around the block once in a long while.

Opening it up and flipping through the manual, I could tell right away that this was going to be an easy device to use. Every aspect – from the game to the rewards to the tips and information – is accessible simply by using the touchscreen and clicking on the different icons. That’s sure simple enough for me!

Pulling out the Striiv itself, I was immediately struck with the small size and its convenience. Whether I want to carry it in a pocket or purse, on my key chain, or clipped to my belt, it is designed to do any and all of them. There is no excuse for me to leave this gadget at home!

After spending a minute entering in my name, height, weight, the date and the time, it was time to put the Striiv and I to work. Starting to stroll around, I watched as the Striiv gave me readings on standard things such as the number of steps I had taken and how many calories I had burned, as well as unique stats such as how much energy I had “earned.”

In no time at all, I had walked enough that it gave me my first trophy!

Although this was just a simple First Steps trophy signifying that I had taken 30 steps, I quickly found that the Striiv has an endless number of trophies and awards that it gives you based on goals specifically for you (e.g. beat your daily average steps) or on real-life distances and locations (e.g. walking the length of the Golden Gate Bridge or climbing the same number of steps as the Eiffel Tower). How cool!

So what does all of your activity and those trophies do for you? That’s the most innovative part of Striiv – instead of simply telling you that you’ve walked a mile, it translates into a donation to charity and an interactive game.

For every step you take, Striiv and other sponsors make donations on your behalf. Basically, the more you walk, the more you give. Simply choose between donating clean water to children in South America, a polio vaccine to a child in India, or conserving a parking-spot size area of rainforest in Tanzania for one year. It’s just that easy.

When you’ve reached the necessary amount of steps, the only thing you have to do is plug your Striiv in to your computer (with the provided USB cord) and the company will take care of the rest – at no cost to you. I LOVE the fact that just by clipping my Striiv on my belt or sticking it in my jacket pocket that I’m doing something so positive.

If helping a great charity wasn’t enough motivation for me to get moving, Striiv’s activity-based game, MyLand, resulted in my complete obsession with the device.

Instead of traditional time-based social games, this Striiv game is completely powered by physical activity. The first time I visited my enchanted island, there wasn’t much more there than a single island hut, a lit torch, and a flowering bush, each which had the power to add money to my bank at set intervals of time. However, the more I moved, the more energy I stored, meaning I could use my money to purchase buildings and plants and my energy to build them.

The game itself is not at all complicated, but the need to achieve in it swallows you whole. I quickly found myself realizing that I needed only so much more energy to be able to build my fountain… and was therefore speed walking around my living room or running up and down the stairs late at night. When my kids and I were meeting our play group recently, we were the first to arrive and while my girls began playing with toys, I walked laps around the room in an effort to complete Striiv challenges and gain enough energy to plant a tree.

Although my husband has teased me multiple times about playing with my Striiv, I couldn’t be happier to have such a great incentive to get up and get moving. From having an easy reminder about my activity level to donating to an amazing cause to getting great enjoyment from seeing a new exotic animal arrive on my island (and then finding out what it does when it “interacts” with you – the monkey dances!), this is one device that I plan on keeping as a part of my life permanently.

Retailing for $99, the Striiv costs a bit more than a traditional pedometer, but really, there’s no comparison. Nearly anyone is capable of using this gadget, as there is no set up required and there are tutorials and tips available right on it. You only have to connect it to your computer once in a while to upgrade new applications, charities, and games, or post updates to Facebook and I’ve found it only needs to be plugged in to the wall (or computer) to charge its battery about once a week for a very short time.

I’m not sure I could love the Striiv any more than I do! It keeps me motivated and has me up and moving much more than any other fitness device I’ve tried – this is one gift that is beneficial for your health as well as making a difference in the world. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll never want to “waste” another footstep again and you’ll be addicted to the positive reinforcement of it all! For much more information about Striiv and all that it can do, visit the website and connect with this innovative company on Twitter and Facebook.

This post was written for Striiv who provided the complimentary product in exchange for my honest review.

Cascades Boutique Eco-Friendly Recycled Cardboard Table and Chairs Review

As much as we love receiving the mail, a large percentage of the times that we break into a new package, my girls’ excitement lasts about as long as it takes me to remove the bubble wrap.

And then all they want is the empty cardboard box.

What’s a mom to do? Well, instead of fighting it, over the years I’ve learned to go with it and my kids and their friends have had a lot of fun with various cardboard playhouses, vehicles and a variety of other eco-friendly constructions. As much entertainment as those items have brought, at the end of the day sometimes kids want to take a break from constant playing and pretending and just have a seat. And maybe pull up a crayon or two.

Fortunately, Cascades Boutique has the solution that combines the green, recyclable aspects that I appreciate with the thrill of cardboard that my daughters love in their Children’s Cardboard Table and Children’s Cardboard Chairs.

Founded over 45 years ago, Cascades produces, markets and converts packaging products and tissue paper, composed mainly of recycled fibers. With products ranging from a Recycled Cardboard Briefcase to Cardboard Pet Homes to innovative and eco-safe Garden Accessories, Cascades is proud that they are able to offer consumers a way to leave a small environmental footprint.

I immediately loved the idea of giving my kids a work space where they could play games, express their creativity or simply take a load off in such a green way. When the long, thin boxes arrived, I was looking forward to putting each piece together in time for them to have some fun.

Turning the boxes over, I was surprised to see the assembly instructions printed right on the outside. A few of the steps looked slightly complicated, but I found that if I looked closely that I could match up the pieces that I had with the correct images in the directions.

After about a half hour for the table and another half hour or so for the chairs, we soon had our own child-friendly sitting, drawing, playing, reading area.

Both kids were immediately drawn to their new “work space” and, after admiring all of the cute mouse-themed decorations covering the table and chairs, they couldn’t wait to start customizing them for their very own.

Although I appreciate that Cascades sells their Cardboard Chairs in a pack of two to encourage play for more than one child, we unfortunately didn’t get to do much more than color on them. After a few uses, we were fans of the inclined seats, rounded corners, and child-size proportions, but the construction didn’t hold together.

Even though my 2-year-old is well under the 100-pound weight limit, her chair popped apart into its flat, un-assembled form while she was sitting on it and we soon moved them away from the table. The box that the Cardboard Chairs arrived in had been pretty badly beaten up (bent, torn, taped, etc) so that most likely affected the cardboard pieces inside and hopefully their chairs usually hold up much longer!

The Cardboard Table, on the other hand, has been great! From coloring…

…to playing the cute pre-printed Cat and Mouse game (think Chutes and Ladders)…

…to quickly attaching the fun Table Hockey top for a quick game of rolling, laughing fun…

…the table has provided quite a few hours of entertainment. I love that the tabletop is covered in varnish, which makes it resistant to everyday spills, not to mention how easy it is to fold and store the whole thing if needed.

The addition of the crayon organizers on either end are just right for storing art supplies, game pieces or any number of other small treasures that my kids carry around and were a thoughtful and smart addition from Cascades.

Made out of 84% recycled cardboard, the Cardboard Table and Chairs from Cascades are not only good for the environment when being constructed, but they are 100% recyclable for when your children have finally outgrown them for good. In the meantime, you’ll have made a choice that will provide learning, fun, comfort, convenience (these pieces are so lightweight and easily movable!), and will have made a difference for the earth. What a great combination!

Retailing for $30 for the set of 2 Cardboard Chairs and $35 for the Cardboard Table, I’m looking forward to seeing the endless possibilities unfold in the future for the decorating and playing that Cascades can provide. Although the chairs didn’t end up working out for us, the table has proven to be very high quality and the extra details and practicality of this fun furniture has been a big hit!

Visit Cascades for their full line of innovative products and be sure to connect with them on Twitter and Facebook as well.

This post was written for Cascades Boutique who provided the complimentary products in exchange for my honest review.

Sassi Momma Handbag Review

From the time I was pregnant with my first child until now, I’ve gone through a variety of bags.

From the large, bulky diaper bag that took up far too much space to the stylish small one that held nearly nothing, I’ve tried them all. And now, as I am on the tail end of needing a diaper bag, I can only look back and shake my head at the wasted money. Not only did I purchase multiple bags, but what am I left with? As I’m not going to carry a bag that looks like a diaper bag when I no longer need to, it means that my too-large collection is destined for friends, donations or my next yard sale.

Instead, it makes much more sense to select one. One unique, high quality, ultra-fashionable, extremely versatile handbag that can be used pre-baby, throughout childhood, and then beyond that essentially transforms to meet the needs of women through all of the stages of their life.

Does that exist? It does now thanks to Sassi Momma.

Focusing on their mission to improve the dreadful appearance of current diaper bags as well as alleviate handbag organizational difficulties for all women, Sassi Momma’s elegant, one-of-a-kind line of D’imorga Handbags are everything you need all in one place.

With the idea that I would be able to utilize a handbag as a diaper bag, an ordinary purse, a laptop bag, an overnight bag or more and still have it be this attractive, I couldn’t wait to see the Jordyn Bag in Tangerine in person.

Measuring in at 16.75″ x 16.75″ x 4.25,” this is a generously-sized handbag that includes every feature that I could possibly need. The genuine leather is soft and vibrant (it is also available in Sky Blue) and immediately as I removed it from the dust cover, it was evident that this was a very high quality bag.

Looking inside, I was amazed at the two large zippered compartments – not only because there was plenty of room to store all of my belongings (and those that I might need for my children), but at the sheer number of pockets. Sassi Momma had arrived to finally make my life organized!

As I looked in, I began to understand to why they had so thoughtfully included illustrations as a hint to what each compartment might be used for…

I have never been so amazed by the organizational possibilities of a handbag before, I really haven’t.

First, the side designed for mom:

The outer portion of this compartment features a key hook, cell phone pocket, wallet pocket, and a jewelry/accessory pocket and each one is exactly the size it needs to be. Instead of trying to cram my wallet in where it doesn’t really fit or slipping my cell phone into a pocket where it slides around, Sassi Momma found just the right measurements.

On the other side of this compartment, there is a small upper pocket where you could put change or keep the included Sassi Momma Signature Mirror safely tucked in, a sunglasses/eyewear pocket, and a makeup pocket.

Instead of having to dig into the depths of my purse to find my sunglasses when I need them, they now have their own pocket… and I can even pull out the perfect little Signature Mirror to check how I look in them! Just on “my” side alone, there is enough space so that I can easily have all of my items within reach and no matter if I’m going to dinner, for an overnight trip or traveling, the multifunctional aspects are great.

However, that’s just one side! The second compartment for baby (or just as bonus space) contains just as many innovative and convenient touches:

The outer portion of this compartment features a pacifier or iPod nano elastic pocket, a diapers or iPad/Kindle pocket, a wipes or coupons/receipts pocket, a covered, separated pocket for jars of baby food or small bottles of water, and two slots for baby utensils or pens and pencils.

Talk about organization! Of course if you don’t carry coupons or your iPad, you can use those pockets for just about anything, but the fact that they are there and make it possible to place your items into their own spots makes it so much less likely that you’ll be digging and digging when you are trying to find them.

The final side to this bag, the inner portion of the second compartment, features a pocket for baby clothes or a changing pad (the Jordyn Bag comes with a gorgeous genuine leather one) or an address book/calendar and two elastic pockets that are designed for toys, bottles, lotion or clothes or shoes for you.

The entire interior of this bag is made of waterproof nylon, so wiping up spills or liquid is a breeze and just being able to reach inside and know precisely things are located is nearly priceless.

The attached arm strap measures approximately 16″ and easily rests on my shoulder or in the crook of my elbow without problem…

…but for longer trips or when I just feel as though I need extra length, the detachable shoulder strap, which measures around 32,” allows the Jordyn Bag to hang comfortably over my shoulder or across my body as well.

I have yet to find something that the Jordyn Bag can’t do.

I don’t have to take my eyes off of the road to pull out a tissues for my daughter when we’re driving and when we’re at the park, it takes only a second to go straight to the pocket with the Band-Aids for her younger sister. When I’m packing up my laptop to leave the house, it slips right in the bag and I use the elastic pockets on the bonus side to hold my mouse and cord. This bag does it all!

I’ve seen handbags in the past that have claimed to be multifunctional, but Sassi Momma has created one that truly can transform to work for all of the different needs that women have and which role in our lives we are in. Although their bags cost more than what you might find in the store (the Jordyn Bag retails for $280), these aren’t just going to serve as a diaper bag or just as a laptop bag, the high quality of their items are going to last a lifetime and would make an absolutely amazing gift!

More information (and drool-worthy pictures) about Sassi Momma’s collection of bags (as well as their D’imorga Handbags, they have beautiful oversize clutch bags) can be found on their website. You can also connect with this innovative company on Facebook and Twitter.

This post was written for Sassi Momma who provided the complimentary product in exchange for my honest review.

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