v 2 issue 12: Casual Comfort

This issue is packed with items that are both comfortable and hip for your children. Always a favorite for kids style.



Cover by Toni Elmer







1 This Lucky brand Asian artwork tee is full of style and comfort. Adorned with an eagle soaring over the sea as well as the artist's stamp and characters. Tons of detail for -$32.

2 Who doesn't love the comfort and warmth of cords? These garment washed soft cords have pre-patched knees in a heart design. Even an elastic waist for total comfort around the belly. Available in brown up to size 12 at Mini Boden

3 We think this Flowers by Zoe peace love top and yoga pants set is totally far out! Wear this set lounging around the house, to the movies are just anywhere you want to feel stylish and comfortable. Available at LaBella Flora

4 This hoodie is great for those chilly evenings around the house. The North Face® microfleece Glacier Hoodie is super soft with a relaxed fit for everyday wear or layering. Available in black, brown, blue and pink.

5 Jump, run, kick... Eleven shoes are made to take it all! Eleven combines quality footwear with style and comfort. You kids will enjoy this comfort from the first moment they slip their feet into these trainers. These shoes combine the look of a tie sneaker with the ease of Velcro. Available in blue, orange and pink.

6 Now your Little Miss Muffet can have her very own "Tuffet" to sit on. These overstuffed 36" round floor pillows at Pixie Dust Décor are available in many whimsical fabric choices and edged with a coordinating fabric ruffle. Oh so cozy and comfy!

7 Schatzi tees are made of 100% ultra soft, pre-washed, ring-spun cotton for a feeling of total softness! The distressed edges and dragon screen print give it a super cool finishing touch! trust.love.dress...Schatzi.


This weeks Mom tips:

Cleaning Tip: Our readers gave us two great ideas for keeping jewelry tarnish-free. To prevent precious metals from tarnishing, place the items in small plastic bags (bag must be airtight). To keep costume jewelry from tarnishing, place a piece of chalk in your jewelry box. So much easier than polishing, eh?

Green Tip: This green tip is dedicated to ensuring you have a green thumb: use your cooled coffee grinds to fertilize your plants. Or if you prefer, use Starbuck's coffee grinds. Most Starbuck's locations have a bin of free used coffee grinds for customers.

Financial Tip: The Consumerist has come up with a list of ways you can save money that stores hope you don't know about:
1. Buy Loss Leaders and Leave – Loss leaders are products sold below cost to get customers into the store, such as items advertised in flyers (limit 5 per customer etc). Pick up these items, then leave.
2. Use Credit and Pay it Off on Time - Take advantage of credit offers such as '12 months, no interest, no payments" only if you can pay off the credit within that time period, otherwise you will have been tricked into paying a lot more for the item than if you had paid cash. Use the cash you would have used to pay for the items and put it in a high yield savings account until you need to pay off the credit.
3. Say No to the Extended Warranty - Instead, purchase your electronics with a credit card that offers Extended Warranty protection.
4. Activate Your Own Phone - Buy a used phone, (be sure it is unlocked) and then call your cell phone company of choice and activate it. This way, there is no contract required!
5. Shop in the Store but Buy Online – This way you get to see it, try it out, ask questions, and then save a lot of money by buying it online.
6. Buy 1 when the Deal is 2-for-$5 – Buying more than you need is never a good deal. And, 2-for-1 deals are usually on items the store simply has too many of.
7. Open a Store Credit Card then Cut it Up – If you have to spend a lot at one department store, it may be worth it to open a card and take advantage of the percentage off they offer to new members on their first purchase. But once you’ve paid it off, cancel the card so you don't have to pay interest and fees.
8. Use Websites to Track 30-Day Price Guarantees - Be sure to check for any special sales or price drops, and if you see one, go get your money!
9. Buy Seasonal Items at Clearance Prices - Take advantage of end of the season and end of holiday clearance sales. Retailers have to get rid of the items to make room for the next season's stuff, so stock up and save in the long term!
10 Buy “Accessories” on eBay and Avoid Big Markups - Whether its a cable for your xbox or a cell phone charger, these small item prices can wipe out the savings you thought you were getting on your big item. So price surf on ebay, TigerDirect.com etc and save!


Winter Exercise - Stay Motivated
You have worked all year to get in shape. When winter hits, the weather gets cold and gloomy. Learn to ignore the gloom and doom and stay on track to better health.

During the warmer weather, it is easy to get physical activity. We work in the garden, go for walks in the evening, bike ride with the family, and spend lots of time outdoors. When someone wants to go, we jump up and go. There seems to be more energy in our steps.

The main motivation is looking good in great clothes. There’s nothing wrong with that. We all want to look our best for as long as we can. The by-product of looking good is that we can achieve great health benefits. Unfortunately, when winter rolls around, all we desire is to curl up on the couch in big sweaters and slippers. It’s not cute but it’s comfortable.

But, that big sweater gives us a false sense of security. We can’t see how much damage we could potentially be doing by eating and maintaining a sedentary lifestyle. It is okay to want to slack off a bit on the exercise but totally dropping things is a no-no.

Here are a few tips to help you stay motivated during the winter months. To start, set a regular time to work out and stick to it. You may not feel like meeting a friend at the gym for a class but you can pop in a DVD or VHS tape and sweat at home. Instead of cranking up the car and braving the cold, you stayed comfortable and worked out anyway.

Maybe the business of the holidays had you skipping your workout sessions. Exercise is cumulative. Every little bit adds up. Fifteen minutes in the morning plus another fifteen minutes in the afternoon equals thirty minutes of physical activity that day.

Physical activity doesn’t have to be an hour of jumping up and down to a routine. It could be reading a magazine while walking on the treadmill. Dancing around the room, as you vacuum and clean, counts as exercise, also.

Make a lifestyle change that includes regular exercise as a part of your day, even in the winter.

Here are a few of our favorite at home fitness items that require little time with maximum benefits.

6-lb. Abs Ball Kit
Power-sculpt your core with this sure-grip, two-handled abs ball. Includes Abs Ball Workout DVD (35 minutes). Define your obliques and abs - beginner and advanced.

Total Body Cross Trainer
Includes fast-paced flow of yoga, Pilates, strength training, balance and cardio moves using a stability disk. 60-minute DVD features 20-minute segments for lower body, upper body and abs. Kit includes 13" stability disk and 66" resistance cord.

Fat Burning Workout with Toning Ball
Soft, easy to grip sculpting ball and Workout on DVD. Gives you a toning session based on The Firm's proven cardio plus strength-training foundation. Targeting your torso, abs and back.

Use CODE: AFSAV for $15 off $60 or more on all items at Mind-Body Fitness at Gaiam