Tres Chic Boutique // Put A Bow On It!

bow ring

There are a few things I love most in life, and one of those is bow jewelry. Maybe it’s the chic, Kate Spade-esque look of a bow, or my undeniable love of presents that has me swooning. I have necklaces, bracelets, earrings (that I wear daily and my sister hates because they are beginning to tarnish *insert sobbing here*) and now I have the most gorgeous little midi-ring thanks to my friends at Tres Chic Boutique! If you’ve never owned a midi ring, let me go ahead and answer the 2 questions I know you’re wondering about – 1. Yes, they’re comfortable. 2. No, they will not fall off your finger. If you have a toddler aged child, it will fit them like a standard ring fits you. My 3 year old thinks this ring is hers, despite my insisting it’s actually mine, because “…but Mom, it fits MY finger better!” :-)

Don’t be fooled by all my bow talk; Bows are not the only jewelry I’m swooning over from Tres Chic Boutique…I’d also take this, this, this, and these (which I find hilarious) in a hot minute!! They offer such great prices, especially on large statement necklaces.

Now for a fun little giveaway where EVERYONE WINS!! You will win either a $5, $10, or $15 gift card to Tres Chic Boutique, and entering is easy as pie!

Everybody Sparkles Giveaway Rules:

1. Sign Up Via E-mail Here

2. Follow @treschicny on Instagram

3. Leave a comment on MY (@playdatesandpearls) Instagram photo telling me which Tres Chic items are your favorite!

XO – Samantha

Product Review: Younique 3D Fiber Lash Mascara

Lets talk about a product that I wanted so badly to hate…NOT because I hate beautiful, long thick lashes. NOT because I’m opposed to paying a for a higher-end product. NOT because it requires an extra 3 minutes of my time to apply. I assumed, and quite honestly wanted to hate this product because it always came across as “kitchy”, and only sold by pushy and slimy sales people, and because those creepy eye pictures that you see on Instagram of the spider lashes straight up freak me out. Well folks, I tried it out for myself, and even the skeptic in me was a little wow’d!

Ready for that creepy eye picture? I’ll do you one better and add in my absolute best serial killer stare. Be afraid.

creepy lash selfie EEK!!

There is absolutely NO WAY to make that not weird. Trust me, I tried. *Face turns 18 shades of red*

On my right eye I’m wearing 1 coat of my Lash Blast waterproof mascara, and on my left eye I’m wearing 1 coat of the Younique 3D Fiber Lash mascara. (For full disclosure, I did tightline my left eye with black eyeliner) The mascara was easier to apply than I had anticipated; First you apply a thin coat of the transplanting gel, then you immediately brush on the fibers while the transplant gel is still wet, and then you seal the fibers with another thin coat of transplanting gel.

PROS: I found the mascara to be extremely effective, easy to use, a rich black color, and removed similarly to my waterproof mascaras (using Clinique Take The Day Off Balm – my everyday makeup remover)

CONS: This is not the cheapest mascara (retailing at $29), it does take slightly more effort than a traditional mascara, and because it sets similarly to a waterproof mascara it might be harder to remove if you’re used to traditional mascaras. Also, I think for many people the carrying case is an added benefit, but because I travel frequently I prefer minimal packaging and found this to be a little large and clunky. I ditched the box and just threw both tubes into my makeup bag. Camryn is currently using my box as a purse. :-)

TIPS: Do one eye at a time. To avoid getting clumpy spider lashes only apply a THIN layer of transplanting gel. If you find that you’re having fall-down of the fibers then you need to seal them better. Try applying two coats of the gel after applying your fibers. I also used a clean spooly brush to comb through my lashes at the end. If you curl your lashes, like me, you might find that as you build them up they touch your lid and transfer product. To solve this problem I busted out the good ol’ spoon and held it against my lid while applying the transplant gel (only if I was wearing eyeshadow, otherwise I just went to town applying the gel and used a makeup-remover-soaked q-tip to clean my lids after).

Here’s how the product arrives:

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Transplanting Gel

3D fiber lash

Fibers (yes, it’s weird putting fiber-glass-looking fibers so close to your eye the first time…you get over it!)

Ready for the best part about trying this mascara? If you hate it, you can send it back. Yes, seriously. They want you to love it or get your money back. You can also receive free shipping with all orders over $100. Oh, and did I mention the mascara is meant to last 3-4 months? MONTHS!! I loved hearing that because I’m a stay-at-home-mom, and I don’t exactly need pow-pow lashes on a daily basis, so knowing it will still be in good condition 2 weeks (or months) from now when I need it is a huge bonus!

If you’re interested in trying out this mascara, you can order here. I received mine from the absolute sweetest (and not at all pushy) younique rep, Kayla. She answered tons of my questions (like, “are you sure this shit is safe? It looks like fiberglass.” And “What am I doing wrong, I got the fiberglass stuff in my eye!” Hahaha Sorry Kayla, I was a newbie!) I am not receiving any compensation for telling you about her, nor will I receive any free merchandise or compensation from your purchases through her – I just genuinely like her and have had a good experience working with her. Kayla and I actually met initially on Instagram, so you can go stalk her there if you want too. She has a super cute little boy!! ;-)

If you’re interested in becoming a Younique consultant like Kayla be sure to contact her for additional information. The setup fee is $99, and there’s no monthly fee’s.

If you try this, it’s only fair that I get to see your serial killer eye selfies, so make sure you tag me!!

XO – Samantha

Laura Dro Designs

Good Morning!

I had so many questions about the floral print I featured on my Instagram a few weeks ago, and I’m so excited to finally be sharing about it, and the gorgeous lady who made it, with all of you! Meet Laura, the artist behind Laura Dro Designs. Laura’s art is very bright, fun, and energetic, and she clearly does not shy away from colors (a girl after my own heart!) All of her art is easily transitioned from room to room, and can be layered with other art to create the perfect gallery wall, or stand alone as the spotlight of that space. Laura also designs an amazing collection of lucite trays that have me swooning big time! You’re gonna wanna add one to your christmas list, trust me.

I met Laura through Lindsay from Hattan Home, and she graciously offered to send me one of her prints, and I immediately jumped at the opportunity to style (literally ANY of) her art! I decided on her 8×10 “Peony In Coral” print because it played well with the colors in Harper’s nursery where I was hoping to use it. It ended up being exactly what the room needed. I had geometric fabrics, “word art”, and quirky animal prints, and the florals really added the touch of feminine to the space that was missing.

Again, you all know how much I love beautiful packages, so when this arrived I was so stinkin’ excited!

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You may remember seeing this gorgeous print paired alongside the darling glass piggy from Hattan Home, but this is not its final home. I updated Harper’s nursery board for you to get a sneaky peek at where this print will live, but you’re gonna have to wait until the room is finished before seeing it in its entirety. :-)

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Art always seems to be the hardest thing for people to choose when decorating their homes, so I also designed a chic bedroom board as inspiration. Just because you’re using florals doesn’t mean the entire room has to scream “girly”. Pair the prints with blacks, whites, greys, and golds for a masculine touch, and cheeky pillows are always a fun touch! The best thing about this print is the vast color palette it allows you to design around. The print also comes in 2 sizes, so play with scale and decide which would be most fitting for your space – I would use the larger size over nightstands (you’ll typically have lamps on your nightstand, so consider their height when choosing), but smaller when pairing it with another piece of art, like in the nursery. The best thing about Laura’s prints are their affordability. You don’t have to break the bank to get the wow factor!
Screen Shot 2014-10-15 at 1.45.39 PM Where would you use this beauty?

Thank you again to Laura Dro Designs!!

XO – Samantha

Hillshire Snacks

As a wife and mom I often find myself so busy with the day-to-day needs of running my household, caring for my daughter, and putting healthy meal options on the table for her and my husband that I neglect to care for myself in the same high standard that I care for them. In a rush to get out the door in the morning, I’m lucky if I grab more than a handful of dry cereal. Lunch looks a lot like leftover cold pizza (or nothing!), and my snacking options are usually similar to what my toddlers eating…we’ve all fallen victim to those little orange fish crackers, haven’t we?! I’ve spent hours online researching the best organic squeeze pouches, and pinned hundreds of “quick and healthy snacks” to make for my daughter, but MY snacks always seem to either pack a punch of sugars in exchange for protein, or they lack protein all together and leave me hungry and grabbing for another gut busting bag of goodies.

Why is meat, which is typically synonymous with protein, missing from the snack aisle? Why are all the most common protein snacks resembling something more like a candy bar? Why are snacks always dehydrated, a carb, and never found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket?Thanks to Hillshire, that’s no longer the case.

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I’m so excited to be sharing this new, unique snack that I was recently introduced to. Hillshire has created snacking options that are both convenient, affordable, and delicious! Both of the snacks I tried offered more than 15g of protein and were less than $2.79. I grabbed both of these at my local Super Target, and chose between 8 available varieties, all offering at least 15g of protein per serving. They are all perfectly portioned, and great for at-home or on-the-go.

hillshire packaging

The peppered salami “small plate” was the standout for me, and if it came in a “large plate” size I’d be calling it dinner 3 out of every 7 nights. Y’all, it was so good. The crackers were thick cut, and the salami was perfectly peppered and offered a nice heat. My husband and I opened both snacks and taste tested together, and literally found ourselves trying to speed eat before the other person hogged it all. :-)

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hillshire meat & cheese

chicken

The chicken snack felt like much more of a snack to me. The portion size felt significantly smaller and is something I would grab if I wasn’t feeling overly hungry but needed a quick boost of energy to keep me going for the day. I would however pack this along with some bib lettuce, shredded carrots, and other veggies and make lettuce wraps for a healthy and easy lunch option. The mango habanero sauce was mmmhmmmm, and took me completely by surprise. It’s slightly sweet, leaves a good heat on the back of your tongue, and left me wanting to dip anything else I could find in it. My 3 year old would eat these every single day, and you moms know that’s really saying something!

chicken & dip

These snacks don’t make me feel guilty, break the bank, or require any of my precious time in prep or clean up, and the “cherry on top” is how delicious they are and how much protein they offer. They’ve become a staple in my home, and I absolutely give them my stamp of approval and recommend you give them a whirl if you’ve been searching for a better snack too!

Hillshire is hosting a huge giveaway and all you have to do to enter is tweet them @hillshiresnacks using hashtag #UNIQUEWAY and share something you do like no one else. There’s over 70 weekly prizes, some of which are vouchers for these snacks!

XO – Samantha

*As always, my opinions are my own, and I would honestly tell you if these snacks tasted horrible – they don’t, they’re the bomb – but I’m required to disclose a relationship between myself and Hillshire. This could include Hillshire providing me w/content, product, access or other forms of payment. *

Small Shop Love: Love Is Free

Good Morning! Thank you all for your kind words yesterday, and support while my husband underwent a minor procedure. Many of you have been asking what it was for, and although I’m not yet ready to answer questions, I will in a few weeks. To be quite honest, I can’t answer many questions because we still don’t know ourselves what’s going on, and yesterdays procedure was to hopefully clear up some of those unknowns for us. We live a very honest, open-book lifestyle, so you can bet that this won’t be the last time you hear me talk about it all…within his comfort level, of course. :-)

On with todays fun! I want to introduce you to my newest sponsor, Love Is Free! Shannon, the owner and creative mind behind the company, is a mom to her beautiful daughter Angelina who inspires her to create unique and modern children’s wear. Shannon is working to bring a childrens moccasin line to her shop in the coming weeks as well!

Many of you have already spied a few of these outfits over on my Instagram, as well as on @shoploveisfree and have been asking where you can score these awesome items – now you know!

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Love Is Free Arrow Leggings (similar), Kate & James “Ello Love” Raglan, Carly Megan Shop Scarf, Old Navy Vest, Target Boots

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Love is Free Black & Gold Arrow Headband, Carly Megan Bloomers, Little Big Dreamers Leg Warmers
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Grey Ham NYC “Milk De La Milk” Tee, Leiroux Knit Shoes

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Love Is Free Wild One Tee, Aruba Freshly Picked Moccs, Little Hip Squeaks Headband, Little Adi Co Harem Pants, Candy Kirby “Preppy Girl” Scarf
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Love Is Free Curly Hair Tee, Love Is Free Grey/White Stripe Headband, Candy Kirby Leggings

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Vonbon Scarf & Headband, Little Peeps Closet Skirt (detached from kitty cat “blouse”) SLIF7

Grey Stripe Headband

And this cutie loves her Love Is Free gear, and if you ask me, makes it look really stinkin’ cute!! She’s wearing the arrow leggings below, and the “Wild One” tee in the last photo.

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SLIF14 Phew! I spent hours and hours pulling clothes, styling, and photographing all those outfits so you could see these rad pieces in action. Nothing’s worse than seeing clothes without any outfit inspiration, amiright?! Totally worth it if you enjoyed, and I hope you’ll go check out Love Is Free and support Shannon and her growing store.

XO – Samantha

Bitty Bows

Happy Hump Day, Friends!

My daughter knocked us out with a flu-like bug this weekend, but I’m finally turning a corner and feeling human again, and I have a really fun shop (and maybe a giveaway ;-) ) to share with you today!

Welcome, Bitty Bow Shop!

Here’s what Alexis, the owner and creative mama behind Bitty Bows, had to say about Bitty Bow Shop:

“Bitty Bow Shop started when my baby girl was 2 months old. I had so much fun making headbands to match her outfits, that I decided to take the plunge on Etsy. I am so happy that I took a chance! It is so rewarding to see Bitty Bow Shops headbands and clips on precious little ladies all over the world. I was so excited when I sold my first headband on Etsy. A year later, I still get just as excited when someone purchases something that I create. All of my bows are handmade and because of that, each one is unique. I love using shabby flowers, fold over elastic, bright colors, and classic/whimsy color combinations. I’m a Behavior Analyst by day, Mama to Sophie, Wife, Crafting Addict and Instagram Lover. I would love for you to follow along @bittybowshop! I’m so thankful for this little shop!”

You guys know me, I love supporting creative, hardworking mamas, especially when their business was born out of their love for their baby! When I met Alexis, it was a no-brainer that I wanted to share her and her awesome shop with all of you. Here are a few of my favorite headbands that she offers:

How darling are all of those? Bitty Bow Shop offers a huge variety of headbands, bows, & clips, and they are all incredible priced ($6.50 or less for any of the above featured headbands). These would be especially beautiful for newborn photos. Alexis hadn’t opened Bitty Bows when my little lady was a baby, but I remember loving putting her in bows and playing dressup, and if Bitty Bows had existed at that time you can bet I would have been a customer sooner!

Just for fun, here’s Camryn rocking some bows as a baby…

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Gahhhhhh!! Have some babies, and buy some bows people. The cuteness factor just goes off the charts!!

Alexis is generously offering a $50 shop credit to one of you, so head on over to my Instagram to enter. No reposting necessary – entry is VERY easy.

A very special thank you to you, Alexis, for teaming up with me to put this post together and allowing me to host such an awesome giveaway!!

XO – Samantha

Small Shop Love: Hattan Home

I am so excited to introduce you all to a new shop that I’m loving – Hattan Home, an online boutique selling “treats for your home”. Let me let Lindsay, the owner, introduce herself (because I cannot possibly introduce her in a cuter way)!

Lindsay and I met on Instagram (I meet all the coolest people on IG) and she (very kindly!!) offered to send me a gift for my daughters room. Umm…yes, please!!

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I can’t possibly be the only person who appreciates really beautiful packaging. Getting mail is always exciting, but when a big white box arrives full of crinkled confetti paper, a black & white spotted wrapped box inside, and the cutest cards, a girl gets a little more excited!! I feel like it’s those details and level of customer care that make me purchase from a store over and over again.

When I opened the box I found this darling Piggy Bank in Glass. There was absolutely no question that this piggy would never see pennies; a pig this cute needed a filling much more deserving, like jelly beans. :-) Camryn and I decided that every good little sisters room contained a big sister treat jar. All those diaper changes, lullabies, and tip toeing around while little sister naps should earn a big sister something good, amiright?!

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How cute is his little snout plug? You can also see the slot on top for inserting coins…I dunno why you’d ever use him for coins though when he looks this cute filled with candy!!

He was so cute that as I continued moving things around, and re-styled Harpers nursery 100 times, he kept coming along for the ride. He is perfectly whimsical, and airy, and a great layering piece on shelves, coffee tables, or sitting perched atop a stack of books.

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I think I especially love him in front of this “Love Each Other” print! It’s the perfect reminder to Camryn to be a good big sister, and earn those jelly beans! If you’re eyeballing that gorgeous floral print, there will be more on that very soon!! ;-)

You can purchase your own (hand blown – whaaaat?!) glass piggy bank for just $24 at Hattan Home, along with tons and tons of other amazing home decor.

Thank you Lindsay!

XO – Samantha

Small Shop Love: FiFi Ruffles

I’m back with another small shop review for you – FiFi Riffles, a handmade boutique that was born after the birth of Kim’s first daughter Sophia (FiFi). After falling in love with designs by companies like Mud Pie, Kim decided to pursue her passion of owning her own retail space and creating a handmade line of girls clothing. In June 2013, Kim closed her brick and mortar store to focus her attention solely on raising FiFi and making her own line of clothing, as well as selling those items online on her website. Even in the few months that I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kim her designs and esthetics are changing, and it’s been so fun to watch her clothing evolve into what I consider more modern kid and less “ruffles”. She’s currently working on layering pieces for the fall/winter seasons, and separates, as you’ll see in my pictures.

My favorite item from her current collection is the black & white “paper bag skirt”, which you’ve probably already spotted all over my instagram feed. It literally goes with everything, and is so easy for Camryn to put on and off herself. It’s a staple, and did I mention it’s only TWELVE DOLLARS!! Run, don’t walk.

New Customers enjoy 20% off with coupon “Welcome20″

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We are also loving this rusty orange scalloped infinity scarf (long enough for mama or layered on littles) for fall, priced at just $14. fifiruffles6

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fifiruffles8 Kim also sent us this darling asymmetrical dress, which is so fun for transitioning from summer to fall by layering a simple sweater, belts, and boots.

fifidress I hope you’ll all go check out more of what Kim has to offer, and give her some love on Instagram. :-)

I’ve had a ton of interest in the brown boots Camryn is wearing – they are from Target, and I bought them during a back to school BOGO sale for $12. Craziness, I know. I wish I had bought them in every size because they are amazing!!

Hope you’re all having a great week! We’ve almost survived to see the weekend – Hallelujah! Camryn has skipped naps all week…I think she’s trying to torture me. Send tranquilizers!!!

XO – Samantha

We Love MiniMoc

 

You all know my love for handmade shops, and today I’m bringing you another great one to check out. Meet Minimoc, an ethically sourced, handmade moc company out of Vancouver. I met Amanda after seeing her mocs featured on a fellow bloggers Instagram account, and first fell in love with the color range she offered. I looked into minimoc and was so impressed with her story, and the obvious care she put into her mocs, and knew I had to try them out myself.

I chose the Robin’s Egg suede mocs in size 1 (they are teeny tiny and ADORABLE) for Harper’s first pair of mocs. I knew when the box arrived that they were going to be amazing because the packaging was so nice, and I was oh-so-right. They are velvety soft, a beautiful sea blue color, and incredibly high quality.
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minimoc2 All of the Minimoc moccasins feature a micro-suede sole for non-slip indoor and dry weather outdoor footwear. The sole is spongy, and soft, and is great for early walkers learning balance.

minimoc8 Every moccasin has an elastic opening which makes putting them on/off easy for young toddlers who must do everything themselves. (I know all about that!) The elastic opening also prevents the mocs from slipping off even the squirmiest of feet.

minimoc9 Aren’t they darling? Harper will be coming home from the hospital in these beauties. ;-) Here’s some fun outfit inspiration featuring Minimoc’s…

minimoc4 Sweater: H&M // Bloomers: J Crew // Purse: Target

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minimoc7 Sweater: H&M // Lemons Shirt: Kate & James Shop // Bloomers: J Crew // Spotted Fabric: Caitlin Wilson Textiles

Amanda currently offers 22 colors of moccasins (I’ve got my eye on ‘Piglet’), as well as leather bows, bowties, and apparel. Her moccasins are competitively priced, and you can buy with the confidence that she is sourcing from reputable tanneries with fairly treated employees.

XO – Samantha

The Mother of all mothers Giveaway!

Good morning friends, and happy monday! Don’t grump out on me yet, because I promise to make this a very happy monday for you too. :-)

My very sweet friend Jayme, one of the owners and creative ladies behind Kate & James, and I have been talking about hosting a giveaway together for quite awhile now. In the past we had put things on hold because we wanted to bring you all a giveaway that you’d remember; a giveaway worth telling your friends about. Well lucky you, that giveaway is here, and there are a whopping 15 shops bringing you some phenomenal prizes! Jayme & I did our homework on this one, and we rounded up 15 of our favorite mama & mini companies who have so graciously offered up prizes that we’re absolutely drooling over. We own many of these items and are here to tell you that they are amazing! These are the types of women that inspire me daily. I created this little blog so I could stand beside incredibly talented, hardworking women like them, and I’m just so honored to be in their presence. I hope you’re all as excited about this giveaway as I am, because it’s the #MotherOfAllMothers!

All of the images below are linked directly to the item, so feel free to click the image if you don’t want to test your luck and would rather purchase immediately.

Ready to meet the rad ladies behind all the brands? lemons tee Kate & James – Lemons Make Lemonade Tee.

Jayme, my giveaway co-host, is the owner of Kate & James. She and her friend Katie started K & J in 2014 and have been killing it ever since. You’ve seen them clogging my Instagram feed on the regular with adorable pictures of Camryn rocking her “Lemons” tee, and with the new arrivals of their baby size tees you can count on Harper rocking hers when she arrives too. Jayme is a personal friend of mine, and seeing her company becoming “big time” makes me so damn happy!! Go. Go follow these babes on IG, peep their awesome tees, and put your kids in them. You can thank me later. - @kateandjames_shop

Coral And Cloud – $30 Shop Credit.

Miko is the owner of Coral And Cloud, and creative mama behind these gorgeous hand-painted necklaces and mobiles. Her modern, colorful, geometric necklaces are the perfect accessory for any mom or hip kid. If you’re not a jewelry fanatic, her mobiles are sure to win you over. How amazing is the pink & gold mobile pictured above?! You better bet that will be hanging in Harper’s nursery! Go follow her on IG - @coralandcloud

Sophie & Lili – Flip Doll.

You’re already swooning over these adorable Sophie & Lili dolls, aren’t you? I mean, c’mon, a princess that transforms into a slumber party doll?! These incredibly creative dolls can be played with, snuggled, and (hallelujah for us moms) WASHED! They make the perfect best friend for every little lady. Follow along on IG to see more - @sophieandlili

minimoc Mini Moc – $40 Shop Credit.

Amanda, the creative lady behind Mini Moc, popped up on my radar recently after being featured alongside one of my favorite brands, Vonbon. Her beautifully made and ethically sourced mocs come in a huge variety of colors and offer a micro-suede sole for a non-slip indoor/outdoor footwear. Amanda started Mini Moc using leather scraps leftover from her husbands handmade grooms gifts. She is also pregnant and expecting a boy or girl (it’s a surprise!) by the end of the year, so be sure to go say hi and congratulate her! (I chose robins egg, shown above, for Harper’s first pair of mocs.) @minimoc

Whistle & Flute – $25 Shop Credit.

Miranda, the wife behind this husband and wife duo, knows how to design and style kick-ass kids clothes…excuse my french, but they’re that good. She makes “Fine clothes for dapper families”. Her unisex kids and adult apparel can be seen all over the hip kids of Instagram, whom are admittedly her muse when looking for design inspiration. These cool parents used to be in an indie pop band called The Paper Cranes – like I said, their cool factor is off the charts! Go check them out, if you’re not already a follower. @whistleandflute

Pixel Paper Hearts – $35 Shop Credit.

If there was a rule on Instagram that only allowed you to follow one person, it would be @pixelpaperhearts for me. She is, hands down, my favorite. Charisse is so incredibly funny, kind, and talented. When I was looking for art for Harper’s nursery I immediately went to her shop…and when the print I was dying for didn’t perfectly match my color scheme, she had one custom made for me in the color I wanted. She is good people. Go check her out, buy her hilarious shirts and mugs, and grab some art for yourself and your kids. You will not be disappointed.

Little Big Dreamers – $20 Shop Credit.

Keri, the beautiful mama behind @littlebigdreamers is not only one of my blog sponsors, but also a really sweet friend. Camryn became one of her brand reps over the summer and she has been such an awesome supporter of me, my blog, and my social platforms ever since. I’m grateful to have met her, to have watched as her business flourished, and to be able to support her by rocking her designs all day everyday! The little tiny cutie above (with the sucker) belongs to her, and if you go follow her instagram you can get nearly daily doses of that beautiful face – need I say more?

Kid + Kind – “I have a lot of feelings” tee.

And then there was Jackie. Oh, Jackie, how I love you so. Kid + Kind was a relatively new brand to me, introduced through Jayme (of Kate & James), and a company that I really had to do some research into. Well friends, that snooping around was worthwhile because I discovered that this company is really special. On her website, under the about me section, Jackie describes her journey to create Kid + Kind. She mentions her wealth of knowledge of the industry, and desire to branch out on her own. She talks about the final push she needed to do that, and it’s so powerful and represents such a passion that I have to share. “It was the birth of my daughter that sparked my inherent need to make her world as fun, beautiful, and as inspiring as possible.” It was her baby. If that’s not something we can all understand, feel in our bones, and want to help support than I don’t know what is. She’s pretty bomb.com in my books, and her designs are too! Go check her out - @kidandkind

House Of Mia – $25 Shop Credit.

If you’ve never heard of House of Mia then you’ve been living under a rock. This powerhouse of design is another mama after my own heart. HoM was started after the birth of her daughter Amelia (Mia), and her longtime passion to create. Made with 100% organic cotton, HoM offers leggings, knotted hats, and newborn essentials. They are staples in my house, and pair perfectly with pretty much everything. @house_of_mia

covered goods Covered Goods – Nursing Cover of winners choice.

@coveredgoods is a company that my friend Jenn introduced me to a few months ago after I announced that baby #2 was on her way. Have you ever been nursing in public, using a traditional cover, and had your baby pull it open or the wind blow it off? Oh, hey giant nipple!! Look, I’m all for public nursing, and I nursed Camryn for 18 months, but I know that on certain occasions I’d rather keep my lovely lady lumps under wrap. Creepy dude at Target, “eyes up here!”. Lady server at that expensive steakhouse, “Quit mean mugging me while my kid eats. I’m gonna tip. And yes, they’re real!” Y’all know what I mean?! All you gorgeous moms on IG posting your breastfeeding pics, I bow to you and your self confidence, and some days I am you…days that I’m not, I’ve got my Covered Goods nursing cover! Here’s why these are awesome, and a total must have: They cover front & back, so your squirmy kid can’t flash you. They aren’t ugly…we’ve all had the ugly nursing cover, amiright? They double as an infinity scarf or car seat cover, and they’re also super soft!

Sweet Kiddo Co – $25 Shop Credit.

Cherie is my homegirl! No, seriously, we share our home city Austin, TX! She makes gorgeous, vibrant, and modern leggings, skirts, and headbands. I absolutely love the statement these leggings make, and how easy they make dressing your babe. Grab a tee and some Mini Mocs and you’re out the door and looking oh-so-trendy! Go check her out on Instagram – give her a “hey y’all!” @sweetkiddoco

Little Sapling Toys – $20 Shop Credit.

This husband and wife team are doing so many things right! They started their business in 2008 and quickly became the top selling toy shop on Etsy. Say what?! They offer the classic wooden toys with a twist, using organic materials, and offering the largest selection of shapes. You can even have your toy customized – what an awesome gift! These do-gooders even plant a tree for every toy sold. I have my eye on about 30 of their toys…totally reasonable, no?! :-) @littlesaplingtoys

panda bandit

bandit print ADN Designs - Panda Bandit Print.

Anna, and “momma to the peej” as she fondly calls herself, is #1. The hottest mom, and #2. has one of the best Instagram feeds out there. I dare you to check out the hashtag #peejandme – it’s adorable overload of her ridiculously beautiful daughter and her, and it will melt even the coldest of hearts. She’s giving one lucky winner this rad “Panda Bandit” print that any kid would be stoked on. Camryn saw it while I was working on this post and nearly lost her $h!t. @adndesigns

Talia Handler Art – Custom Watercolor Portrait.

Where do I even begin with this beautiful lady? Talia and I connected early this year when she painted Camryn in her blue mustache, and have since become personal friends. Talia is so incredibly talented, and has the ability to turn a photo into a true work of art. I’ve since framed my crazy little mustache girl and smile everyday when I see her. This is one of the prizes that you will cherish for a lifetime, long after your little one has grown up, and outgrown everything. Go say Hi to Talia, and tell her what a babe she is. @taliahandlerart

Everly B – $35 Shop credit.

Another awesome shop started in honor of her kiddos. All of her awesome shirts are “mama designed” and her pants are “mama sewn”, which naturally means they’re made with tons of love! This Cali mom is really bringing it in the summer lovin’ department, and I’m seriously swooning over her trucker hat and striped onesie. She designs with comfort and function in mind, but with a trendy twist. She is ALSO 25 weeks pregnant, so again, give her some love and congrats! @everly_b

Are you still with me guys?! Phew!! What a group of ladies, and what a giveaway!! One of you is going to get really lucky…ready to find out how?

Head on over to my Instagram and follow me. You’ll find this photo:

giveaway

Go ahead and “like” it, because it’d be rude not to ;-) and then follow all the shops listed (which are all the ladies you just read about). Once you’ve followed all the shops, repost this photo using the hashtag #MotherOfAllMothersGiveaway Here’s a tip – click that hashtag before re-posting the photo and when you go to type it later it will auto populate the hashtag for you (so you don’t screw it up and miss a letter or anything…trust me, I’ve learned that the hard way!) Be sure to also tag me @playdatesandpearls. You must have a public account for the duration of the contest. You can post daily for additional entries. The contest will run for one week, 8/25 – 9/1, and closes at midnight. I will announce the winner on 9/2.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

XO – Samantha

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