Back-to-School *GIVEAWAY* $50 Gift Card to Westfield North County and VIP Event

 

My favorite commercial will always be that old Staples one - you know, the father skipping through the aisles to the tune of "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" while the kids pout? Yup. It's that time of year again...

THEY ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!

While I know we have mixed feelings about this - the structure, making lunches, etc - all of us are happy to have a little more kid-free time in our day. And to celebrate this WONDERFUL time of the year, I'm teamed up with Westfield North County mall to give one lucky reader a $50 mall gift card and VIP passes to the Unlock the Fun event on August 25th at 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  

Do you have a Teen or Tween? Or maybe a kid that thinks they are? (raises hand) Then you can't miss this fun BTS event next week!

Westfield North County is welcoming the back-to-school season with its FREE, family-friendly ‘Unlock the Fun’ fashion event, helping teens and tweens “unlock” the hot styles and trends for the new school year. Four ‘Unlock the Fun’ stations will be located throughout the shopping mall:

Ask A Stylist- San Diego-based national style expert Jennifer Rosson, founder/owner of Style Your Life and an elite Stylist For Hire hand-picked by “What Not To Wear's” Stacy London, will be on-hand to offer her personal styling tips and share the hottest back-to-school trends for tweens and teens. (Located at: Level 2, near Nordstrom)

Braid Bar & Nail Art: Bellus Academy will host a Braid Bar offering back-to- school worthy do’s and mini-manis complete with colorful nail art. (Located at: Level 1, Target court)

Mini-Makeovers: Make-up artists from leading UK-based cult brand Boots Cosmetics, available at Target, will be giving shoppers glam mini- makeovers and sharing their expert beauty and skincare tips. (Located at: Level 1, Target court)

Locker Installation: Daily from Thursday, August 22nd to Sunday, August 25,th during mall hours, shoppers at WNC can text to receive a combination that may unlock one of five colorful, oversized interactive lockers featuring fabulous prizes including an iPad Mini, gift cards and concert tickets to some of the hottest acts in music today. (Located at: Level 1, center court).

Additionally, daily from Thursday, August 22nd to Sunday, August 25,th during mall hours, shoppers at WNC can text to receive a combination that may unlock one of five colorful, oversized interactive lockers featuring fabulous prizes from WNC’s retailers.

Texting one of the SMS phrases to 51515 will give shoppers the chance to receive the code to open a locker holding surprises like, Maroon 5 concert tickets, on-trend clothing, an iPad Mini, back to school supplies and giftcards

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will receive:

-  $50 Westfield North County gift card.

-  The opportunity to attend (along with one guest) the Unlock the Fun VIP

event on Sunday, August 25th at 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

This includes:

- Meet and greet with Style Expert Jennifer Rosson.

- Experience the four Unlock the Fun stations prior to the general public.

- Beverage and dessert reception. 

GOOD LUCK and Happy Shopping!

Get Ready For Valentine's Day! Giveaway: 50 cards and a Custom iPhone Case from Tiny Prints!

Okay, I may have a slight obsession with cards. 

I moved on quickly from obsessing over Holiday pictures and cards to obsessing over Valentine's Day cards and pictures. WHAT? You buy the Dora the Explorer fold-overs from the drugstore? FOR SHAME! 

When it comes to Valentine's Day cards, I love a custom card. Over the past few years I've stamped, cut and created some pretty cute cards. But this year, with both kids having upwards of 30 kids in their classes, I'm opting for an easier way out. But you know I'm not forgoing the cute-factor. 

So this year, I'm ordering cards from Tiny Prints. 

From superheroes to cupcakes to mustaches, the selection of classrooms cards is perfect for all ages and personalities. For Lucas we are going MUSTACHE with matching lollipops and for Zoe we are thinking **PINK SPARKLES** - since pink and sparkle are pretty much her middle names. 

tiny prints cards by hipmamab on Polyvore

 Also - if you are looking for a fun gift for the iPhone lover in your life, check out Tiny Print's new customized iPhone cases. 

How cute are these? 

You can make a collage of images, or even just use a fun design and add your name... 

I think I'm going with hot pink chevron and my "@HipMamaB" moniker... 

Now here's the fun part. 

I have a special Valentine's Day package to give away to you from Tiny Prints that includes 50 cards and 1 customizable iPhone case.

Here's whatcha' gotta do:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure: Prizes are offered from Tiny Prints. In return for hosting this giveaway I will be given Valentine's Day cards and a custom iPhone case. Opinions are my own. 

Who Wants BOOTS for Christmas? Win $150 to Country Outfitter! *Ends Wednesday*

Contest is now over: Congrats Candice @FashOrganized!

*****

Confession: I haven't worn cowboy boots in about 18 years. 

When I wore them last I was working at "Guess?" in my local mall. Jeans, oversized t-shirts tucked into blazers and cowboy boots were THE uniform of any proper "Guess Girl" of the early 1990's. But times changed, as did styles and I traded my Cowboy boots for high-heel sneakers. 

The past few Fall/Winter months I've been looking again at Cowboy boots and thinking about how cute, and comfortable, they are. I also love the look of boots and dresses in the summer. Then Everyday Mama Christine showed up to Zoe's 5th bday party in a gorgeous pair of brown cowboy boots.

Then THEY appeared as if out of heaven on Facebook stream. The stunning turquoise Corral boots who's image have lived on my side bar for the past few months. And I HAD to have them. 

HAD TO. As in didn't stop talking/thinking/looking at them online for weeks. 

And now they are mine. And I LOVE THEM. 

They are comfortable, have enough of a heel to give me some height and they are OH SO BEAUTIFUL. I wore them yesterday and no less than 5 different people stopped to ask me where I got them. They are simply perfect. 

And because I love you all so, I'm giving you a chance to rock your own pair of boots that will make you deliriously happy with a $150 gift certificate from Country Outfitter.

Will you chose my turquoise Corral babies or maybe a distressed black lizard? Maybe you want a always classic brown Ariat or put the GC to a sweet pair of fashionable knee highs? Whatever your style, just do me a favor and get yourself something, ok? Giving boots are fabulous gift, but I think YOU deserve a little something-something for yourself. Be selfish. It's okay.

(ok, you don't really HAVE to - I just really want you to)

To enter this contest you only have to do TWO things.

1) Leave a comment below telling me which boots are striking your fancy from the Country Outfitter website

2) CLICK HERE and enter your email

Bonus entry:

*Tweet and/Or Post on Facebook: 

"Woo Hoo! @HipMamaB is giving away $150 for BOOTS from Country Outfitter! http://bit.ly/QKKMwo"

then comment with the link to your post!

Contest runs thru December 19th

GOOD LUCK!

IMPORTANT: You must submit your email address to enter. Country Outfitter will occasionally send you marketing messages. You are welcome to opt out at any time. For an additional entry please leave a comment below letting me know you entered. Also, you must be a US Resident 18 years and older. Both the email entries and the comments are needed to qualify. 

*disclosure: CountryOutfitter, a retailer of Corral Boots sent me these turquoise cortez boots to review and this $150 gift certificate to giveaway. Opinions are my own. 

Adorable App Alert! Alexandra Rain SME: Friends to the Rescue

This is Zoe, age 5. 

She likes cake pops, Boo the Dog, Barbie, Disney "Tween"Comedies, knee socks, Top 40 Pop songs, sparkly shoes and dressing up. When you ask her to get dressed in the morning she actually sings while pulling clothes out of her closet, spinning around and looking at herself in the mirror. 

She has a style all her own, one that I allow her to own (to a point) and encourage her to WERK IT. 

She can also use an iPod/iPad like it's nobodies business. 

Ladies and Gentleman, THIS is what the graduating classes of the 2020s look like. 

That's why I was SO excited to be introduced to the app Alexandra Rain SME: Friends to the Rescue. 

Alexandra Rain teaches girls to be who they are! The Alexandra Rain App is the first in a series of digital books demonstrating the importance of character, strength, courage and love. She is a typical little girl who enjoys playing dress-up and has a fun fashion style. Most importantly, she focuses on her inner beauty and is always kind to others. 

This adorable interactive book is perfect for the modern girls of today. It blends important life lessons with music and fashion. And the follow along "karakoe narration" helps young readers with word recognition, while the interactive pages keep little fingers busy. Zoe loved getting "Alex" dressed for the story, and of course, singing along to Alex's new song. But the best part? Alex thinks her mom "totally rocks."  

I personally think this is an adorable app for the little fashionistas in your life. Additionally, it's now officially "Zoe Approved."

And to celebrate the launch of the app, I am helping to give away 1 of 10 purple sparkly Daisy Rock Guitars! Download the app today and enter to win one of these adorable guitars. 

Use the entry form below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

And if you are on Twitter, join the #AlexandraRain Twitter Party fun on Wednesday, November 14th at 10:00am for your chance at over $1000 in prizes. 

ROCK ON GIRLS!

For more information on the Alexandra Rain app and story please visit:

• Alexandra Rain website  http://alexandrarain.com
  
  
• Twitter:  @Alexandra_Rain
  
  
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraRainSeries

*disclosure: This is a sponsored post and I was given the app in addition to being compensated. All thoughts are my own.

Are You #PenReady? You NEED an Olympus PEN E-PL3 Camera & I Have 1 To Give! {GIVEAWAY!}

I've been posting a lot of pictures over the past few months. I've been inspired by views and images, both grand and simple, and thanks to my new Olympus PEN E-PL3 camera, I've been able to capture these moments with beauty and ease.

visions of NYC thru the eye of my Olympus PEN E-PL3 cameraI'm the annoying photographer that keeps stopping you on the street to take pictures of the minutia of life. FDNY shield on the street, an old lock set on a brightly colored door, or one of the many fabulous window displays lining 5th Ave. But to me, those are the moments of a trip. The sights that are burned into your brain. The images that make up your experiences. 

While NYC is a {wanna-be} photographers DREAM, think about all the amazing photo opportunities afoot now that it's FALL! Changing leaves, apple picking, Halloween and the holidays... all things you NEED a new amazing camera to capture.

Well - YAY! I have one for you. 

The nice people at Olympus want you to love this camera as much as I do, so they giving one HipMamaB reader their very own PEN E-PL3!

Valued at (aprox) $599, this 12 MP camera gives you the benefit of being smaller, but with the chance to have more artistic control of your images (if you so want). 

Olympus PEN Lite key specifications:

• 12MP Live MOS sensor
• 120 Hz 'Fast AF' focus system with 35-point area AF
• Clip-on flash (included)
• Built-in autofocus illuminator light
• 460,000 dot tilting LCD screen (16:9 aspect ratio)
• Dual-core TruePic VI processor
• 1080i60 movies in AVCHD format
• Shadow tone adjustment control
• Revised and expanded Art Filter mode (with quick preview option)

Let's be honest. This camera is just, plain, RAD.

And I get to give one away! Wheeee!!!

Contest is now closed - winner will be announced shortly 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

*disclosure: Olympus cameras gave me a PEN E-PL3 camera to have, and one to giveaway. Thoughts and feelings about the camera are my own.