You know you are a mom when you get all excited about a new winter coat for your 5 year old. However, this Lands’ End’s Kids Sport Squall Parka is Madison’s new winter coat and we couldn’t be happier! First of all, it is windproof with a  3-ply nylon shell with a DriOff™ finish.  For us here in Chicago, this means it keeps the kid dry and warm.  We’ve had plenty of icky weather so far, and this coat has passed that test!  I love the adjustable cuffs (which you can’t really see on this picture that they really are adjusted for her arms.  It’s a great way to keep the cold finding it’s way in.  I do like that the trim is reflective.  It makes it easier for her to be seen when we are in the parking lot (like at school for drop off and pick up.  I can only imagine I’ll be dropping her off in the dark come winter!)  A feature we don’t use but is on there is a MP3 player pocket with a cord port.  The waist also cinches so make the coat fit better and be warmer.  I can see us getting (hopefully) two years wear out of this.  The first day I had Madison wear this to school, her teacher complimented her on such a nice coat! The Lands’ End’s Kids Sport Squall Parka is available in 12 colors (differing for boys and girls) and come in youth sizes S, M, L and XL.  Your kids definitely want one of these for this winter!

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/2

I live in Chicago where we have crappy winters. Really, we do. We have lots of snow and lots of cold here.  That being said, to get through a Chicago winter you need a great quality boot.  Sorel fits that bill.  They make their boots for purpose first.  I have admit I loved all the women’s boots.  It was really hard for me to decide which boot I wanted to go with.  I love the high boots, but my legs are short and they tend to look dorky on me.  These boots aren’t high, but are perfect for me instead.  I love that they have handles for my to pull on (with two kids I really hate having to tie anything).  They are super comfortable and warm too!  They also don’t make my feet look fat (all you women out there know what I mean about how winter boots can sometimes make your feet look a lot bigger than they are).  I love that they are fashionable too!  These will be the boots I pick Madison up from school with once the snow falls.

I love that Sorel gets that boots can be fashionable and serve a purpose too!  I can’t wait for it to snow!

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/2

ZeroWater is the first and only filtration system that can eliminate ALL the contaminants from your water.  In Chicago, I luck out that we have some of best water in the nation (knocking on wood here), but we always didn’t live here.  Even though we have some of the best water, there still are contaminants in my water.  As a mom, you only want to give your children pure things to put in their body. Along with the pitcher, ZeroWater even provides you with a water tester that will help you check the quality of your water every time you want.  (Our tap water tested out at 200 which is pretty good for tap water.  However, once you use this filtered pitcher, your water will test out at 0) The revolutionary ion exchange filter that this pitcher has is the only gravity fed filtration system that meets the FDA standard for purified bottled water.

It is pretty easy to work.  You literally just put the filter in and add water.  That’s it!  We also love the spout on the back so you don’t even have to remove the pitcher from your fridge to get a glass of pure water.  If you are looking for better water quality in your house, I highly recommend the ZeroWater pitcher!

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/2

This giveaway is over. The winner is thegamblinggirl. Congrats!

Now that we are hitting the hundreds in Chicago, it is time to get our swimsuits. If you are like me, it is a scary time. I normally hate shopping for swimsuits. I bought my last swimsuit before Madison was born (and she’ll be 6 in January).  It’s a two piece and I hate it.  However, Lands End made it easy for me this year. It wasn’t a horrible experience, and I can say I will order from Lands End again.

This is the first time I have not tried on a suit before I got it. I used Lands End sizing guide, measured myself, and I ordered it.  I am amazed how it fits!  Lands’ End wants to make sure women of all body types feel fabulous in their swimsuits, and they definitely did that!  My new suit (see picture above — Madison took it for me, so I’m sorry she didn’t get more of it in it) makes me look better.  I am not thin (as you can see ), and the suit definitely compliments me.  The suit fits well and actually does make me feel better about myself.  If you have problem areas, you definitely need to watch this video:

If you check out their channel on YouTube, you can really figure out what suit you should be looking at for your problem areas.  I know we all think we have problem areas, so these are truly helpful.

Now, I want all of you to be happy with your swimsuit this summer, so I have arranged for one of my lucky readers to get a $100 gift card to Lands End so you can be happy with your swimsuit this summer too!  Here’s what you need to do:

Leave a comment on this post. Check out the Lands End site and tell me what swimsuit you’d like to spend the gift card on.

Each of these gives you one additional entry:

1. Twitter about this contest. Please leave me your username so I can verify. Or use something like this:

RT @blm03 is giving away a $100 Lands End gift card!  http://lisareviews.com/2009/06/23/lands-end-swimsuits-review-and-giveaway

2. Stumble this post and add this post to other social media sites like Digg, Kirtsy, Blogging Zoom, Reddit, Propeller, Etc. (1 entry for each social network).

Each of these gives you 5 additional entries:

1. Blog about this on your blog. Please give me the URL, so I can verify.

2. Add this to any forums you belong too. Please give me the URL, so I can verify.

3. Subscribe to this blog using either my email or RSS feed

4. Add my badge to your sidebar:

<a href="http://lisareviews.com"><img src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/blm03_photos/125ad-1.png" alt="Lisa Reviews" border="0"></a>

If this isn’t working, please let me know. For some reason, Wordpress seems to be eating the code up when I post. Each of these will give you 10 additional entries:

1. Join my Spark E Crew at Social Spark. Click here to find out how to sign up. If you are on my crew, please leave your social spark ID, so I can verify it.

2. Sign up for my free newsletter!

This contest will end at July 7rd at noon CST! Good Luck!!

This giveaway is now over. The winner is she. Congrats!

Greenheart Shop is Chicago’s only nonprofit eco friendly, fair trade store.  It supports local, social enterprises, and global fair trade partnerships, and brings your attention to quality items.  The Greenheart Shop is a branch of the global Greenheart Initiative – an environmental and social initiative of the Center for Cultural Interchange, a nonprofit cultural exchange organization.

I bring this to your attention, because they really do offer great quality items.  For example, I own the wallet to the left here.  These wallets are made by disadvantaged people working in a cooperative in Cambodia.  I personally love mine!  As a mom of a younger child, I am often stuck carrying a diaper bag.  However, when I go out without my kids, I really don’t need a huge purse.  I had been on the lookout for a something that was small and would also hold my wallet, some business cards, and my phone.  That’s all I really carry.  This wallet definitely fits that bill.  It is super lightweight and is great when you go to an event that you don’t want to be stuck holding your purse all night.  I also love knowing that my purchase of this helps other women make a better life for themselves.

Since I love my so much, I’d also love to give one of these wallets to one of my readers (the one you’ll be getting is red).  Here’s what you need to do:

Leave a comment on this entry.  I want you to check out the Greenheart site and tell me something else you’d like to get off there.

Each of these gives you one additional entry:

1. Twitter about this contest.  Please leave me your username so I can verify.  Or use something like this:

RT @blm03 is giving away a Greenheart wallet! http://urlbrief.com/450110

2. Stumble this post.

3. Add this post to other social media sites like Digg, Kirtsy, Blogging Zoom, Reddit, Propeller, Etc. (1 entry for each social network).

Each of these gives you 5 additional entries:

1.  Blog about this on your blog.  Please give me the URL, so I can verify.
2.  Add this to any forums you belong too. Please give me the URL, so I can verify.
3. Subscribe to this blog using either my email or RSS feed
4.  Add my badge to your sidebar:

<a href="http://lisareviews.com"><img src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/blm03_photos/125ad-1.png" alt="Lisa Reviews" border="0"></a>

If this isn’t working, please let me know.  For some reason, Wordpress seems to be eating the code up when I post.  This contest is for US residents and will end at May 8th at noon CST and is for everyone!  Good Luck!!!