Back to School Event #5: Tea Collection {Review & $100 Gift Certificate Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, James Cox!}

With a new school year upon us, I have been doing what parents everywhere have done for years: go through their kids' closets to assess their clothing situation.

Big Sister E seems to grow taller by the minute and I feel like I'm continually moving things from her room straight into her younger sister's so that she isn't wearing shirts that are too short or pants that are too tight. Plus, with Little Sister B heading off for her first introduction to preschool this fall, I want to be sure that her wardrobe has pieces that will provide comfort as well as style. A girl's gotta look good, right?

Fortunately, there isn't even a second thought for me to know where to turn to find the perfect combination of high quality, fashion, and utterly unique in the best way possible clothing: Tea Collection.

I've mentioned Tea Collection multiple times in the past, both for my daughters as well as myself, but when it comes to back to school shopping, there really is nowhere better to find fabulous children's clothing. With everything from adorable baby clothes to the cutest dresses, tops and bottoms for girls to rugged-but-hip boy's clothing, your pride and joy can head out the door dressed for success with ease.

As Tea bases their clothing off of the beauty that they discover from traveling and experiencing cultures from across the globe, the end products are are not only distinctive and beautiful, but can fit right into the lifestyle of the "little citizens of the world" for which they are designed.

With their newest line inspired by Modern Mexico, I couldn't help but be inspired by the bold colors and great graphic prints adorning every page of the Tea Collection catalog that appeared in my mailbox.

I haven't found time to read a book in ages, but the Tea catalog? Oh yes, I read that sucker cover to cover.

One of the features of Tea clothing that I have always loved is the versatility and the way that it offers mix-and-match possibilities that can easily go from playdate to dinner out without any problem.

So of course I knew that it would be perfect for Big Sister E and Little Sister B to head off to school... and, when a selection of items (ordered prior to all of the new Modern Mexico items being added to the site - darn!) for the two of them arrived, I knew I was right.

As always, as I looked at each item I impressed with the style, quality, durability and small details that Tea puts into each and every item that they sell. Although I had already been excited about them from their pictures, seeing them in person made them even cuter... and then seeing them actually worn topped it all!

First up was Little Sister B and the Flamenco Dot Drop-Waist Dress, Skinny Stretch Leggings, and Etched Print Ruffle Top (no longer available as a top but still available as a dress in very small sizes).

I love these three pieces! The great design on the Etched Print Ruffle Top gives it eye-catching appeal, the adorable polka dots and unique Orchard orange color of the Flamenco Dot Drop-Waist Dress is incredibly cute, and the high quality and flexibility of use of the Skinny Stretch Leggings ensures that they will be worn time and time again.

Little Sister B has worn the pieces together...

I love the little cap sleeves and the button detailing!

...as well as mixed with other items that she already owned and each time Tea has completed the look. And we've received compliment after compliment on just how adorable that look is!

Big Sister E is more of a tomboy, in that she favors t-shirts and sweatpants, but I knew that the Indigo Stripe Tee, French Terry Cargo Pants in Indigo (no longer available), Skinny Stretch Leggings, and Flamenco Dot Pocket Dress would be something that we both could agree on.

Is it evident that dark blue is her favorite color?

I made sure to order Big Sister E's clothes slightly larger than she currently wears to ensure that she would be able to wear them all year and was happy to find that even though they are slightly loose or long, they are still incredibly cute.

Whether she is matching pieces together and going for a more casual look...

...or being girly and wearing the Flamenco Dot Pocket Dress (with or without the Skinny Stretch Leggings)...

I'm not sure where the model pose came from.

...she has told me multiple times how much she loves her new clothes. Each piece (as well as all of Little Sister B's) have been washed and worn and the 100% cotton always remains extremely soft. As with any of our prior Tea apparel, they all come out of the dryer looking just as new as the day they arrived!

We've been able to use these clothes in the warmer weather days as summer comes to an end but I also know that the girls will be able to put on a long sleeve shirt underneath, a sweater on top, or their great leggings on and be ready for fall. The versatility and the cuteness just can't be beat!

Everything from the extra steps and small touches that Tea Collection is known for including to the ability to wear their clothing to just about any occasion and look great is something that I definitely appreciate. Their clothing is modern, colorful, high quality, unique and age appropriate for sizes 0-12 and, whether the child in your life is nervous for their first day of preschool or excited to be heading back to see old friends, they'll be confident and comfortable in Tea.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will be prepared to get some last-minute shopping done as well, because...

One lucky person will win a $100 gift certificate to Tea Collection!

Be sure to visit the Tea Collection giveaways on An Island Life, A Frugal Friend and Planes, Trains and Taxi Cabs as well for even more chances to win a great gift certificate!

To enter to win: Visit Tea Collection and tell me one (or more) adorable item that you might purchase if you win.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Tea Collection on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a $100 gift certificate to Tea Collection for style and fashion for all ages! http://bit.ly/qRyVLG @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if your put our Back To School button up on your blog (find the code over in the sidebar). Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on August 29th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Tea Collection for providing a gift certificate for me for review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.