Winners!

The lucky winner of a $50 AMEX gift card from AMDRO is...

The lucky winner of a Dollar General Procter & Gamble Prize Pack is...

The lucky winner of a Popar Toys Augmented Reality Storybook is...

Thank you to everyone who entered these fun giveaways! Have a great weekend!

Staying Perfectly Patriotic with Kohl's {4th of July Clothing, Decor and More!}

 

What are the first images that come to your mind when you think about the 4th of July? Fireworks? Parades? Barbeques? Honoring the men and women that have fought for our country over the years?

Whatever it is that pops into your head, there are plenty of great ways to celebrate our country's independence and spend time with family and friends. And, if you're one of those people that enjoy getting into the spirit of a holiday a little more by donning the clothes, cooking the meals or decorating your home, then all the better!

Fortunately, it is more than easy (and affordable) for you and your home to be perfectly patriotic for all of your holiday festivities this year thanks to the one and only Kohl's.

On a mission to be the leading family-focused, value-oriented, specialty department store offering quality exclusive and national brand merchandise to the customer in an environment that is convenient, friendly and exciting, Kohl's makes it easy to get everything for you, your family and your home, all designed to fit your personality and budget.

Whether you are shopping in store, online, on your mobile device or at a kiosk, Kohl's pretty much has absolutely anything and everything that you could be looking for. So, when it comes to finding just the right star-spangled options to outfit your family and home, Kohl's has options galore.

In fact, on our recent visit to Kohl's, there were so many great pieces that would work for the 4th of July (and beyond) that it almost makes it even more difficult to possibly choose! I, for one, would love to shine on the 4th in a great outfit that could then be worn again and again for future events or occasions.

For instance, the LC Lauren Conrad Pleated Ponte Dress (originally $60, on sale for $42), the ELLE Crochet Maxi Dress (originally $68, on sale for $47.60), the ELLE Floral Ruffle Dress (originally $50, on sale for $34.99) and the ELLE Polka-Dot Ruffle Dress (originally $50, on sale for $34.99) are all dresses that would fit easily into the red, white and blue theme of the holiday but could also work easily all summer long.

Or, if a dress doesn't fit with the plans for the day, I also love being able to add the pop of color with many of Kohl's other great options.

Just check out the SO Skater Skirt (originally $20, on sale for $12.99), ELLE Solid Chino Shorts, (originally $40, on sale for $27.99), Dana Buchman Sammy Tote (originally $79, on sale for $49.99) and the Croft and Barrow sole (sense)ability Dress Sandals - Women (originally $64.99, on sale for $39.99)!

Not to mention that the 4th of July probably wouldn't be complete without the huge selection of patriotic t-shirts that Kohl's is known for year after year. For only $4.99, it is beyond simple and affordable to support your country in comfortable, stylish red, white and blue!

There are plenty of men's shirt options as well (along with kids, of course) so that it truly is quick and fun for the whole family to look forward to a weekend of U.S.A. fun.

Or, if the man in your life is used to a little more style and pizazz in his wardrobe, I'm loving the great way that the Croft and Barrow Pocket Pique Polo (originally $26, on sale for only $9.99), the Urban Pipeline Plaid Cargo Shorts - Men (originally $44, on sale for $14.99) and the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Shoes - Unisex (originally $55, on sale for $49.99) can really bring a smile!

But when it truly comes to dressing up and bringing smiles, I have a hard time finding anything cuter than seeing kids, toddlers and babies of all ages sporting their stars and stripes for Independence Day.

There's just not much more adorable than the Sophie Rose Star Colorblock Sundress - Toddler (originally $24, on sale for $14.40), the Jumping Beans Stars and Stripes Scooter - Toddler (originally $14, on sale for $5.99), the Jumping Beans Star Colorblock Babydoll Tank - Girls 4-7 (originally $16, on sale for $6.99), the OshKosh B'gosh Plaid Poplin Bodysuit - Baby (originally $22, on sale for $13.20), the Urban Pipeline Uncle Sam Tux Tee - Boys 8-20 (originally $16, on sale for $7.99) and the Jumping Beans American Flag Flip-Flops - Girls (originally $10, on sale for $5)!

As cute as these options are in pictures, they are even more fun to see in person! Each one is just so bright, colorful and attractive that you can't help but feel proud of the U.S.A. while reveling in the charming details.

But of course Kohl's has much more than only clothes (really, is there anything that Kohl's doesn't have?) so it's easy to pick up great items to spruce up your home for the 4th of July as well.

From small touches to large decor changes, their trendy pieces and affordable prices (made even more affordable with their great sales!) continue to make Kohl's a staple for homes year after year and season after season.

This Independence Day, outfit your family and your home with the great options available from Kohl's! Find out more about their full collections available by visiting Kohls.com, connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter and, of course, visiting the Kohl's location near you.

How do you celebrate July 4th?

I was provided a gift card from Kohl's in order to facilitate this post, however, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

#TakeItToThePark with Coca-Cola’s America Is Your Park Campaign {$20 Subway Gift Card Giveaway}

 

This is a sponsored post on behalf of SheSpeaks and Coca-Cola

What are your favorite aspects about the neighborhood in which you live? The style of the houses? The proximity to stores? The super-friendly neighbors?

While I have long loved quite a bit about where we live, one of the reasons that has remained a positive over the years is the number of parks within walking distance. Smaller neighborhood parks; larger, multi-playground options at my daughters' elementary school; new, modern parks in new developments... they're all right here!

One location that has remained a constant favorite over the years is a park that has just about every attribute we could want all in one place: TONS of equipment and slides to play on, swings, a huge sandbox, a blacktop for bouncing balls, coloring with chalk or riding on roller skates, shade to relax in, picnic tables to eat at, and even a large pond with a boardwalk for plenty of nature walks and wildlife exploration.

Is this the very best park in America? Of course we might be a bit biased, but it does get my vote!

That's right, Coca-Cola is on the hunt for America’s Favorite Park as part of the fourth-annual America Is Your Park Campaign and at stake is up to $100,000 in recreation grants to be used for park improvements!

The challenge is simple: 'Take It To The Park,'' get active and vote to help your favorite park win a grant. Being active is not only fun, it is an important part of a healthy lifestyle... and what better place to get moving this summer than in the park!

This summer, Coca-Cola has even helped make this a little bit easier and a lot more fun with fitness-inspired events and activities taking place around the country — they set a goal to inspire as many as 3 million people to have fun and get active in parks, on beaches, in gyms and recreation centers around the country!

As a part of this campaign, there are many ways you can vote for your favorite park but it starts with getting active. Turn your favorite fitness activities into votes for national state and local parks this summer by checking in on Foursquare, logging your daily activities on MapMyFitness or clicking to vote online.

The park with the most votes will win a $100,000 recreation grant from Coca-Cola and the title of America's Favorite Park. Second- and third-place parks will win $50,000 and $25,000 grants, respectively. Another $15,000 grant will be awarded, at random, to a lucky park that comes in 4th to 25th on the leader board!

Talk about an incentive to get moving! We love heading to our favorite park anyway, but when we received a package of items making it perfect to get active and enjoy a tasty picnic, we were ready to head out the door right away.

The biggest question was where to even begin. Do we play catch with our new balls, toss around the Coca-Cola flying ring, show off Mom's old school skills with the jump rope or head to Subway for our delicious sandwiches?

As usual, hunger won out... so much so that we didn't even make it to the park before chowing down on our Subway lunch. Yum!

But the girls were still extremely excited to head to the park, so it wasn't long before we were there hanging out enjoying the sunshine and all sorts of ways to be active!

From playing on the equipment...

...to tossing around the Coca-Cola flying ring and beach ball (and playing a pseudo-volleyball game with it)...

...to practicing our jump rope and paddle ball skills...

...to bouncing the rubber balls and shooting some hoops.

I'm not sure which one of us was the most shocked that this shot of Big Sister E's actually went in!

Is there anything better than a gorgeous afternoon spent playing at the park?

We finished off our visit by checking out the pond and wildlife on the boardwalk, playing fetch with a friendly couple and their even friendlier dog, and kicking back in the shade before finally packing up and heading home. I'm telling you, best park in America!

Are you ready to get moving, vote daily and Take It To The Park? Head over to Coke.com/Parks to find out more (the full contest rules and FAQs can be found here) and connect with other park enthusiasts on Twitter at #TakeItToThePark.

Plus, thanks to the generosity of Coca-Cola, one person will be prepared to get outside and get active with their family for a day of fun, because...

One lucky person will win a
Coca-Cola beach ball and a $20 Subway gift card!

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A big thank you to Coca-Cola for providing a Subway gift card and outdoor items for me as well as a $20 Subway gift card and a Coca-Cola beach ball 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.

The Importance of Summer Meals and Nutrition for Kids

Approximately four days after school let out for the year, I was (lovingly) joking with some other moms about how long it would be until next September arrives. We all cherish and adore our children, of course, but the change in routine and schedule can really feel as though it alters reality a little bit, right?

But while I was focused on just what activities and events we were going to take part in to fill our every waking hour, one topic that didn't even cross my mind was nutrition. Eating well-balanced meals. The overall importance of staying healthy all summer long.

With summer schedules getting in the way of eating healthy meals and the fact that most kids don't eat the recommended servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains (and instead exceed the maximum daily intake of sodium), one thing I don't need is to add any more possibility of my kids experiencing the "summer slide" than they already have.

Which is why I was happy to have the opportunity to attend an online discussion led by child development expert Dr. Michele Borba (who has joined forces with the Walmart Foundation) to raise awareness about the importance of summer meals and nutrition and the impact that nutrition can have on a child’s development.

We all know that eating regular, nutritious meals benefits children's health and development and helps keep them focused, less stressed and more prone to learning, but do you take steps to ensure that this occurs over the summer?

Dr. Borba has some great tips to make sure that your kids continue to eat healthy while away from school:

• Preparation: Have children be a part of the meal-planning process. Work together to pick recipes for the week and talk to your kids about the ingredients needed, having them help make the grocery list. Then bring kids to the grocery store or visit a farmers' market or local farm to make purchases.

• Storage: Color-code foods. Assigning foods into three different color categories (Green for "eat all the time," yellow for "eat sometimes" and red for "eat once a week") cuts down on nagging or asking time and time again for unhealthy options. Make healthy snacks visible and easy to grab on the way out the door and the whole family can make great choices quickly and easily!

• Meal Time: Enjoy a fun, relaxed time together. Introduce new foods in quarter-sized portions for picky eaters and be sure to try new foods many times to give them a chance (it can take 7-15 times for taste buds to change). Most importantly, make meal time an unplugged time, turning off all devices and gadgets so that it can be spent focused on each other instead.

Along with the healthy eating and nutrition of my own children, however, it makes my heart hurt even more to think of the children who aren't as fortunate as mine. The millions of low-income children who benefit from lunch programs during the school year... who then go without access to meals during the summer. What are they supposed to do?

That's where the Walmart Foundation has stepped in to truly make a difference. By awarding $14 million in grants to five nonprofits, they will be helping provide 1.7 million children and families access to free meals and nutrition education programs.

These grants will end up expanding access to meals for children outside of school this summer and throughout the year, while also teaching families how to develop healthy, low-cost eating habits in more than 450 communities across the nation. Amazing, right? The five nonprofits include:

• Alliance for a Healthier Generation: Increase access to healthy food and nutrition education for children and parents outside of school in eight U.S. cities, including Little Rock, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Calif. and Washington D.C.

• Food Research and Action Center: Increase access, participation and awareness of nutrition programs that provide meals to children across the country during the school year and summer months.

• National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education and Families:Expand after school and summer nutrition initiatives and implement year-long feeding programs for more than 25,000 low-income children across the country.

• Texas Hunger Initiative: Expand sponsorship and locations for summer and after school meal programs throughout Texas, while increasing participation by 583,000 children.

• YMCA of the USA: Expand the YMCA’s Summer Food Program at more than 2,300 sites to provide children with access to meals outside of school year-round.

The grants are part of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s $2 billion commitment through 2015 to help fight hunger in America, and Walmart’s 2011 initiative to provide customers with healthier and more affordable food choices. To learn more about Walmart’s commitment to fighting hunger and providing nutrition education, visit foundation.walmart.com.

This summer, don't only have a great time splashing at the pool or hanging out at the park, be sure to help your own children retain the information that they learned during the school year and fill their plates with nutritious meals throughout the day.

At the same time, don't forget that there are many children will be without access to meals they would normally receive while in school, so a big thank you to Walmart and their summer giving programs. These programs directly benefit the children and families that need it most, as receiving healthy meals is an important
topic all year long.

I was compensated by Walmart and The Motherhood for my participation in this campaign, however, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Travel Smart this Summer with Balance Bar {Prize Pack Giveaway}

As much as I always hope that our summer days will be luxuriously relaxing, they instead seem to end up being a rush from activity to activity. Not only that, once we add in time spent visiting with friends, traveling for vacations near and far, and maybe getting some sleep in once in a while, the entire three months have passed in a whirlwind.

So, what does that all mean? That any way that I can find to help me stay more fit, eat healthier and keep more organized while on the road (locally or while away) this summer is a good thing.

Which is why it is easy to turn to the healthy nutrition, energy and convenience that comes along with the satisfying flavor and wholesome benefits of Balance Bar.

Founded in 1992 by a group of sports enthusiasts, scientists and people with a passion for life, Balance Bar was one of the originators of energy bars and the nutrition bar category.

As they have long crafted their products with the perfect balance of great taste, quality nutrition and lasting energy, it is easy to see why their 40-30-30 nutrition principle (40% of calories come from carbohydrates, 30% from quality protein and 30% from dietary fat) provides balanced energy... as opposed to a sugar rush and subsequent crash.

Add to that the many different flavors, styles and formats of energy bars that Balance Bar offers and there is no reason that nutrition can't be easy and delicious for everyone. These convenient bars can be eaten at home, work or on-the-go, so no matter if your day has you attending meetings, running errands, picking up the kids, squeezing in a workout or more, you can stay balanced and ready to keep up with it all.

The perfect grab-and-go option for summer, right?

Balance Bar wants to make it even easier to stay healthy and balanced all summer long by sharing tips, tricks and advice from their team of specialists, experts and bloggers. Join them today, June 26th, at 2pm EST at the #SummerBalance hashtag to find out more... and enter to win great prizes! Visit the Summer Travel Twitter Chat page for more and join in this afternoon!

I'm always a fan of the knowledge that Laurel House, a.k.a. Quickie Chick, has to share and her travel tips are no exception:

• Don't Forget Your Sneakers. Make a plan to work out on vacation by dedicating some of that valuable space in your luggage to your sneakers. Having them with you will be a great reminder to take a few minutes out of your day to go on a run.
  
  If you don't actually use them on your trip, you’ll be upset you used that precious space in your luggage for items you didn’t use (and guilty you didn’t work out)!

• Remember your Cs. Vitamin C doesn't just help support your immune system, it has also been shown to help fight cell-damaging free radicals. Make sure to pack a couple packets of vitamin C powder so that you have your on-the-go support plus a daily dose of antioxidants.

• Take Yourself on A Walking Tour. Familiarize yourself with a new city by power walking or running through it. You will have the opportunity to notice the details, talk to the people, and feel its beat much better while pounding the pavement instead of through the window of a car.

• Workout at the Airport (see Laurel's video on this tip here). The surprising fact is that you start racking up calories burned even before you arrive to your destination, especially if you do "carry-on only." Just the act of traveling can burn an average of 117 calories per hour.
  
  Want to burn some more calories? While killing time in the airport, try carry-on bag curls, terminal lunges, calf raises, or wall sits.

Armed with these great tips and the knowledge of what I need to do to stay healthy this summer, the only thing remaining was to stock up on delicious and nutritious bars from Balance Bar!

 
This handy travel cooler and awesome May Book from May Designs are just the travel accessories needed to ensure that I'm ready to hop in the car (or on a plane) and be prepared for just about anything.

And, as much as I was excited about my stylish new May Book and cooler, trying out these four great flavors of Balance Bar — Blueberry Acai, Double Chocolate Brownie, Sweet & Salty Chocolate Almond and Sweet & Salty Peanut Butter — definitely brought a smile to my face as well.

Each one is an excellent source of antioxidants and Vitamin D and contain a great deal of fiber and protein, so knowing that my family is getting lots of healthy vitamins and minerals while enjoying the delicious flavors makes them a major win-win!

Whether you are trying to meet your own weight loss goals or you simply know that it is better to eat healthy snacks throughout the day to stay fueled (and not starving!), Balance Bars are a delicious way to keep you on track throughout all of your summer travels... while giving your taste buds a treat at the same time.

To find out more about the HUGE variety of Balance Bars and the endless number of flavors available, visit them at Balance.com and on Facebook and Twitter. As well as keeping an eye out for these bars at your local grocery store and health food store, you can also find them at ShopBalance.com as well as on Amazon.

Plus, thanks to the generosity of Balance Bar, one person will be able to have a warm weather dose of healthy nutrition as well, because...

One lucky person will win an assortment of bars from Balance Bar, a travel cooler and an adorable notebook by May Book!

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A big thank you to Balance Bar for providing a prize pack for me 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.

Have a Seventh Generation #HealthyBaby and Healthy Family {Prize Pack Giveaway!}

There are a few current fads that I wouldn't mind if they quietly slipped away into the vault of What Were We Thinking? (which is currently filled with things like big bangs, stonewashed jeans and trucker hats).

For instance, when the fashion world opens their eyes and realizes that "jeggings" are 1. not attractive on anyone and 2. make you sound like a 12-year-old girl when you say the name, I won't be all that disappointed.

But a trend that is growing in popularity (and that's a good thing) is going green. As more and more companies have realized that consumers want to be eco-friendly and help out the environment, the number of products available in that category continue to rise.

After all, more and more parents everywhere have realized the staggering number of chemicals that all of us, especially children, are exposed to in our everyday lives and the detrimental effects that they cause. Scientific evidence has proven time and again that this exposure causes or contributes to the rise in childhood behavioral disorders and diseases.

Did you know that cancer is now the leading cause of child-related death in the U.S., exceeded only by injury? How can we ignore these stats and not do everything we can to protect our children?

Fortunately, I was recently able to attend a Seventh Generation Healthy Baby online presentation and it really opened my eyes to the effects and impact that our choices make on our children. If you need a major wake-up in your life, I urge you to watch this short video as well:


Amazing, isn't it? Why is it that there are more than 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the U.S., but comprehensive pre-market safety testing of these chemicals is not required under any federal law? Or that the primary U.S. law that regulates chemicals in everyday products hasn't been updated in more than 35 years?

Or, and this is what irks me the most, why is it that in the European Union, 1,328 chemicals have been banned for use in personal care products while in the U.S. only 11 chemicals have been banned or restricted by the FDA? How are we just okay with the other 1,317 chemicals?

As much as I'm not overly pleased with the idea of all of the chemical exposure to myself, it makes my stomach turn thinking about how kids are even more susceptible to the risks. With their smaller body size and rapid physical development, children are even more vulnerable to exposure to pesticide residues and other chemicals.

In fact, studies have shown that children begin environmental chemical exposure while still in the womb. In a study of 10 minority newborns, more than 232 chemicals were found in umbilical cord blood. And environmental chemical exposure persists throughout childhood — in a study of 10 children's face paints, all 10 tested positive for lead.

Wait. What? My kids adore having their face painted but all of this time it may have actually been harmful to them?

Unfortunately for many of us parents, it is hard to know where to even begin in lessening the chemical exposure that our families are receiving. However, Healthy Child, Healthy World offers five simple, affordable actions families can take daily at home (and more here):

• Take off your shoes at the door: 85% of the dirt in our homes is tracked inside on the bottom of our shoes. It’s not just dirt, but toxins like lead, pesticides, gasoline residue and more. Keep your home safer by taking off your shoes, as it is the public health equivalent of washing your hands.

• Buy safer body care: Children are exposed to an average of 27 care product ingredients on a daily basis that have not been found safe for developing bodies. Protect your family's health by avoiding products with ingredients like parabens, synthetic fragrances and triclosan.

• Open a window: People spend about 90%  of their time inside, but indoor air is typically far more polluted than outside. So, open those windows! Even a few minutes a day can improve indoor air quality.

• Eat more whole foods: Processed foods may be convenient, but they're also loaded with sweeteners, artificial flavors and colorings, and synthetic preservatives. These lack nutrients and many are also linked to health issues like ADHD and even cancer.

Stonyfield Organic offers an arrangement of foods for babies, kids and adults; pure, delicious organic yogurts, smoothies, soy yogurts, ice cream and milk. They are all made without synthetic hormones, toxic persistent pesticides, GMOs and artificial ingredients.

• Ban the can: Bisphenol-A (BPA), a hormone disruptor that has been linked to everything from obesity to cancer, is in the plastic resin that lines most canned goods — from soups to sodas. Look for foods packaged in glass or eat fresh, dried, and frozen options.

Want to take even more steps to eliminate hazards and take precautions that can help benefit us all? Here are even more great tips from Seventh Generation:

• Read labels to ensure that you are steering clear of harmful ingredients.

• Avoid vinyl. Vinyl is known as the "poison plastic," so if you can, choose a different tablecloth or shower curtain.

• Wash fruits and vegetables with water. Using a certain kind of food cleaner might actually be adding chemicals to the foods that you are about to eat.

• Have a safe home. Make sure your house doesn't have lead paint and that your radon level in your basement is acceptable.

• Urge Senators to strengthen and pass the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA). It's easy! Click here to find and message your senator.

• Find out more and host your own Healthy Baby Home Party to spread awareness of the dangers of chemicals among moms and caregivers (and print out a $1 e-coupon while you're there)!

I was able to see a Healthy Baby Home Party Kit in person and was beyond impressed with the way that it can empower moms with the resources and tools to educate friends and family on how to create the best environment for their baby.

The information, educational materials, party planning tools, and product samples make it easy to educate others on the importance of reducing chemicals of concern in our environment!

So what are you waiting for? Head over to Seventh Generation and Healthy Child, Healthy World to find out how you can better your world!

Plus, join in the Seventh Generation Healthy Baby Twitter Party, which brings Healthy Baby Home Parties online. The home parties were developed in partnership with Healthy Child Healthy World to give moms a platform to share parenting ideas and rally friends around topics that resonate deeply – like creating a healthy environment for our babies and kids.

So head over to the #HealthyBaby hashtag today, Tuesday, June 25th, at 1pm EST to learn great tips and advice for creating a toxin-free home environment for your kids, ingredients to avoid, recommended products and more. There will even be five prizes (of great Seventh Generation products) awarded throughout the party to participants who respond correctly to trivia questions!

Find out more details and RSVP at Twtvite and then I'll see you on Twitter today at 1pm EST!

Thanks to the generosity of Seventh Generation one person will be also be prepared to make a change for the better, because...

One lucky person will win a Seventh Generation Prize Pack*!

*Prize Pack includes (1) full-size sample of each of the following Seventh Generation products: diapers (size 3 or 4 randomly included), 64ct Baby Wipes, Facial Wipes and Bar Soap. Total ARV $26.46.

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I was compensated and provided product from Seventh Generation and The Motherhood for my participation in this campaign, however, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Summer Trends at The Children's Place {Review}

Now that the official first day of summer has come and gone, I think I can finally rest assured that winter is over. If you live in the Midwest, then you know that it's hard to ever be 100% sure that it won't randomly snow on the days that it isn't 85° and humid.

Why do we live here, again?

Either way, the sun is shining, the flowers are in full bloom, plenty of new bottles of sunscreen have been cracked open, and my girls' closets and dresses have been purged of all of the outgrown and winter clothing.

Instead, I love seeing all of the adorable and colorful fashions that they can choose from — a large number the stylish, trendy and fun options from one of our constant favorites, The Children's Place.

With all of the clothes, shoes, accessories and more for newborns through size 14, we've come to depend on The Children's Place for any number of things. It seems that no matter what I'm shopping for, I've been able to walk in the door or head to their website and find just the head-to-toe look (with a price tag that can't be beat) that makes us all happy.

When it comes to summer, I love that The Children's Place makes it easy to stock up on the fresh trends without breaking the bank. The chic and stylish options make preparing for the bright, sunny days ahead enjoyable, comfortable and fun and this year's collection is no exception.

Just check out these amazing options for boys and girls of all ages!

 

 

 

Can you get much cuter? I love the splashes of bold, bright colors and the way that everything from The Children's Place has the ability to be mixed-and-matched to always have a put-together, fashionable look.

Even better, with so many different options, there is always something to suit every child's tastes — proven yet again when items for Big Sister E and Little Sister B arrived and were completely and utterly perfect for each of them!

Definitely putting us in the mood for summer fun, the Tropical Print Romper and the Ruffle Lace Dress are both the perfect combination of colorful, casual, comfortable and adorably cute.

While Big Sister E nearly always shuns "girly" items, the Tropical Print Romper is just the right combination of rugged, easy-to-play-in comfort with the appeal of being stylishly ready to head to lunch that it made both of our eyes light up.

The 100% cotton jersey bodice and the 100% cotton poplin shorts come together at the elastic waistband, which is covered discreetly with a cute (removable) sash and bow. Simply pull the whole thing on and adjust the sliders on the shoulder straps to the correct length and the whole outfit just brings a smile to our faces!

Regularly retailing for $19.95 but on sale now for only $9.99, the Tropical Print Romper is also available in a plum/sky purple color option in sizes 4 - 14. I have no doubt that Big Sister E will be wearing this all throughout the summer, as it has the ability to go from playdates to errands to activities to sporting events and keep her stylish and cool.

In the meantime, Little Sister B's Ruffle Lace Dress features a chic, trendy combination of super soft pink 100% cotton jersey with fabric and lace ruffles all along the front. The asymmetrical design catches your eye right away and any girl who adores all things dressy and feminine will be enamored with the overall flair.

There's just no way that Little Sister B is going to stop wearing this dress all summer long as well as far into the fall and winter with leggings underneath it. In fact, I have no doubt that this will stay in her closet and be worn as a tunic tank top with pants for as long as she fits into it!

This is one size too big for her, as it is meant to be above-the-knee. But other than the top being a bit loose, we love it and just know that it will last even longer!

Also regularly retailing for $19.95, the Ruffle Lace Dress is on sale for only $9.49, a price that can hardly be beat for something so simple, sweet and very well-made!

Season after season, it truly is easy to fall in love with so many pieces that The Children's Place has to offer. Each one always has delicate (but durable) styling, great details throughout and the perfect amount of femininity that is age-appropriate.

Whether your little fashionista is a fan of sequins, rhinestones, ribbons and rosettes or prefers her wardrobe with fewer adornments, The Children's Place is going to provide her with many summer days filled with twirling and happiness! If you have boys in your life, there are plenty of great boy options that he's sure to love as well!

Summer will fly by before we know it, so don't wait to have a few great items from The Children's Place in your child's closet today. Their clothes have always been high quality, stylish and items that parents and kids both love.

Visit their website to see their great collections and find the store nearest you. You can also connect with The Children's Place on Facebook and Twitter.

(Other than the pieces that I received from The Children's Place to facilitate my review, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this company and their cute items.)