Earth Day 2010

Success Through Play's Top 10 Tips in honor of Earth Day 2010

1. Replace your plastic water bottles with re-usable stainless steel. Use a Brita Water filter to purify tap water and fill your own re-usable stainless steel bottles. Kleen Kanteen offer a line of fun containers for the family.

2. Save money and the environment by bringing your own lunch to work in a re-usable container. We love the Thermos Range.

3. Bring your own re-usable bags when you go shopping. Many stores are now offering discounts if your bring your own bag.

4. When in the market for new appliances, look for ones which are rated A for Energy Efficiency. You will save money and help save energy.

5. Disposable diapers can take up to 500 years to decompose in landfills in ideal circumstances. Using Cloth Diapers is one option and the cloth diapers can be re-used for additional children, which is a great money saver. To learn more about cloth diapering, participate in the Regal Lager/Bambino Mio's first ever Twitter Party! The Twitter Party will be on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 11 AM - 12 Noon. There will be 10 giveaways (and 20 percent discount to Twitter party participants through Regal Lager's co-sponsor and retailer). Everybody can take part - to win prizes you have to live in the United States or Canada.

Click below to find out more

Cloth Diapering Twitter Party.

6. Wash clothes in cold water when possible and hang your laundry out to dry on a clothes rack or clothes line when the weather permits. You will be saving energy and preserving your clothing at the same time.

7. Take public transport and or bicycle to work. You will improve your health and reduce gas emissions. If this isn't possible, consider car pooling. Better yet, find out if you can tele-commute, even if it is a few days a week.

8. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and watch your energy bill plummet.

9. Unplug appliances when you are not using them. Turn off the lights when you are not in the room and consider switching to solar lamps for the night. We like the Sunnan Solar Lamp from IKEA.

10. Consider a flow flush toilet and install a low-flush shower head to save money and water resources.

To learn more about Earth Day, please visit the Official Earth Day Campaign.

Kariza Designs Mother's Day Giveaway

Kariza Designs is a division of InGear Fashions, Inc. The woman behind the famous Kariza Wrap Skirt and the full range of sexy, stylish dresses and tops is Kariza. Kariza has always had a love for fashion and an entrepreneurial spirit. After attending college for Fashion Design in Brazil Kariza moved to Miami where she had several jobs in the fashion industry but still felt a lack of fulfilment. In December 2005, she started co-working with Boaz Dekel, a fashion consultant originally from Israel, responsible for manufacturing the Kariza Vintage wraps. At the end of 2005 Kariza decided to go on a trip to Hawaii. She left with only the idea of celebrating the New Year in North shore. During this trip, Kariza encountered breath taking spiritual places and people that inspired her. She showed all the wraps to people she met and every person’s reaction was the same. They were amazed by the unique array of colorful fabrics of the vintage wraps. While in Hawaii, Kariza decided to visit a few boutiques in Haleiwa and make a presentation with the wraps to the store’s owners and employees. They were really thrilled with the versatility of the garment and the uniqueness of the fabrics. From the very moment Kariza got everyone’s reactions from the presentations she did in Hawaii, she was driven to design, sketch and develop different ways to wear the wraps. As she returned to Miami, Boaz and Kariza designed 50 ways to wear the vintage wraps. Every day a different style was born. They started wholesaling the wraps in Hawaii, Miami Beach, South Carolina and in the Keys. They provided each customer a brochure with step-by-step procedures in order to instruct the final customer on how to wear the garment. Boaz and Kariza partnered with In Gear Fashions in May, 2006. And since then, the company has undoubtedly increased to include a full range of dresses and tops in addition to the Kariza Wraps.

Kariza Star line

Left: The sexy shirt dress is the new little black dress and paired with strappy sandals or heels is perfect for a night out with the hubby. Pair with leggings or jeans for a chic day look.

Right: Halle Berry rocked drop waist styles and now you can too! Although strictly not a maternity dress, it will work well for the early months and post-partum as well.



Left: From the beach to a night on the town, this halter neck transitions from day to night with a change of shoes and accessories. The beautiful print will draw many compliments.

Right: Paired with leggings for a tunic style or on its own for a great versatile summer dress.

The dresses from the Vintage Star line need to be dry cleaned. Do not hand wash or machine wash because the colors will run and ruin the dress.


Left: This sweet and sexy babydoll dress is flattering on all shapes and sizes. The dual pockets add to the casual chic. Our pick for Summer 2010 from the Vintage Star line, Kariza Designs.

GIVEAWAY:

Congratulations to Karen G.

PURCHASING

Online ordering is available here. Click on the "Vintage Star" line.

For additional information, please visit www.KarizaDesigns.com. Click on "catalog" to see the full range.

Lisa Leonard Designs - The perfect Mother's Day Gift

Lisa Leonard is a talented artisan, photographer, wife and mom to two boys. Lisa creates beautiful, unique handmade jewelry which will make the perfect gift for Mother's Day.

Lisa draws her inspiration from her family nature, music, food and more and skilfully offers traditional designs with a modern edge. Each piece is hand-cut, hammered, antiqued and polished sterling silver. The range includes Custom Necklaces, Inspired Necklaces, Bracelets, items for Men and Additional Pieces. Readers can browse the designs for offer on the user friendly website, www.LisaLeonardDesigns.com and view close ups of the designs and as well as how they look on the wearer. If you are having a difficult time deciding what to buy, consider purchasing a gift certificate and allowing the recipient to select for themselves.

Order by April 28th, 2010 for a Mother's Day Delivery.


Here are our favorite picks for Mother's Day 2010 from Lisa Leonard Designs:

Mama Necklace

A limited edition, and so so sweet! The 1 1/4" sterling disc is hand-stamped with the words 'hand holder. dream soother. love giver. mama'. Strung from adjustable 16-18" fine, large link chain with freshwater pearl detail at the back of the neck. prefer a word other than mama, maybe nana, mommy, auntie or gramma? Choose a different word up to 6 characters.




Heartstrings Necklace

Those who have our deepest affections hold the string that is forever bound to our hearts. The new heartstrings necklace is a simple, organic expression of deep feeling. A 1 1/4" sterling disc is customized with two, three or four heartstrings. around the edge, options to hand-stamp names, words, or a date of your choice. Absolutely filled with meaning.




Double Heart Cuff

A thick sterling tag (3/4" wide by 2" long) is sweetened with two hammered hearts and words of your choice. Finished with thick sterling chain sturdy, sterling lobster clasp, and a cream freshwater pearl. A gorgeous cuff for everyday!!





Sterling Ring

The updated sterling ring now features a thicker, slightly wider band. Available in sizes 6, 7 or 8. Choose up to 20 hand-stamped characters per ring. Perfect for your kids' names, a special date or meaningful phrase!







You're the cream in my coffee

Inspired by the Nat King Cole song {and Lisa's extreme love of coffee}, this necklace is the perfect way to capture your loved ones and keep them close to your heart. The exclusive coffee cup is hand-stamped on a hand cast sterling pendant, paired with a custom tag and topped off with a freshwater pearl. add additional tags if you wish!




Vintage Frames Necklace

The exclusive, hand-drawn vintage frames are a little funky and a lot of fun! Wear a single charm or layer the charms ($22 for each add'l charm) for a casual, up-to-date look. Lightweight sterling charms are strung from sterling chain and sweetened with a cream, freshwater pearl. Customize each frame with the initial of your choice.

This gorgeous vintage frame necklace is the perfect juxtaposition between traditional and modern and is sure to draw many compliments. The lightweight charms ensure that the necklace remains light and comfortable to wear, as you proceed through your day. The cream, freshwater pearl beautifully compliments the classic vintage frame design, making the wearer feel very special. This necklace will make a terrific gift for the special Mom in your life.

Shining Star Necklace in Honor of Ethan.

Lisa designed this lovely Shiny Star Necklace, in honor of her friend's son, Ethan, who lost his life to Neuroblastoma. A sterling oval is layered with sterling stars (request the shining star design). Options for customization include hand-stamping your names or a phrase around the edge. Lisa Leonard Designs will be donating 20% of the proceeds of the sale of this necklace towards Neuroblastoma research.



Giveaway:

Congratulations to Mia P.


For additional information, please visit: Lisa Leonard Designs

All images copyright Lisa Leonard Designs.

Boob Design Mother's Day 2010 Spotlight - Spring Summer 2010 Collection

Boob Design is the designer line of Maternity and Nursing Apparel from Sweden that will change the way that you think of maternity and nursing clothing forever. Gone are the bulky, uncomfortable and frumpish maternity and nursing outfits that hide the bump (maternity) and are difficult to access and scream to the world that you are nursing. Boob® boasts a gorgeous line of designer apparel that just happen to be maternity and nursing wear!

Commitment to the environment:

"We keep all of our production in Europe, in factories where we know that the employees are treated well and are decently paid. Keeping production in Europe is also a way of guaranteeing that the product in Europe is as environmentally sound as possible. All our jersey is certified with the OEKO-TEX Standard 100. This certification is a guarantee for clothes that are completely free of toxins that can be harmful to you. Clothes that are kind to your skin as well as nature. Our goal is to you materials that are environmentally optimal."

Boob Design's® Maternity line is cut to accent and flatter your new curvy figure. The gorgeous eco-fabrics, the fresh simplicity and the playful details make the trademark of Boob® . The soft and comfortable fabrics will fit like a dream - all the way from bump to big belly!

Boob® Nursing tops are brilliantly designed and feature a double layer of fabric over the bust so that an overlapping opening is formed. The opening is simply pushed aside with one hand, making nursing comfortable and discreet.

Boob Design doesn't disappoint with their Spring/Summer 2010 Collection.

Maternity Collection:





The Maternity Collection has something for every occasion from tanks and jeans to flattering dresses to celebrate the warmer weather.





Nursing Collection:






With romantic smocked tunics and dresses, you will feel confident and stylish enough to nurse anywhere this summer.







Quality:

Our parent panel consistently report that wash after wash, wear after wear, the Boob Design Garments maintain their color, stitching and shape, making each piece a good investment.

Value:






Several of the designs in the Spring/Summer 2010 Collection can be worn for both pregnancy and nursing, making them great value.


























New for 2010

Baby Collection:




Boob Design has expanded their range to include gorgeous apparel for your baby. European styling with modern prints; your baby will be the center of attention this season.


PURCHASING:

Treat the special mom in your life this Mother's Day or spoil yourself with a well deserved shopping spree. Visit www.BoobDesign.com to locate a retailer in your area. Readers who live in the EU will soon be able to shop online at www.boobdesign.com.

All images copyright Boob Design.