tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89552058280831678432024-03-18T21:14:56.769-07:00Our Little ReviewsAshley // Our Little Apartmenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452050735921065657noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955205828083167843.post-76898203227858707532011-05-16T06:00:00.000-07:002011-05-16T16:49:04.531-07:00How Teething Robbed Us of Our Happiness.<div style="text-align: justify;"><script language="JavaScript1.1" src="http://oascentral.blogher.org/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/blogher.org/BabyOrajel_Apr11_Review_001/@x13">
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have a happy baby. I'm not sure if you know that.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIge2Hl4eLGHG45BVLqRc9BQiQZhx7ael5OpMDElahforRKfEK8PwwBAAr8gf2jgeh49QDyrHA-MSJk8Y-C6Af-Dwt8T6c27b5NTfNPoSBS7qXDkZ0FH7i8177GFseunnrLsZBtXvnlgg/s1600/OrajelBlog+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIge2Hl4eLGHG45BVLqRc9BQiQZhx7ael5OpMDElahforRKfEK8PwwBAAr8gf2jgeh49QDyrHA-MSJk8Y-C6Af-Dwt8T6c27b5NTfNPoSBS7qXDkZ0FH7i8177GFseunnrLsZBtXvnlgg/s640/OrajelBlog+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">He smiled when he was just a wee wisp of a person, and laughed before he was a month old.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I even made a <a href="http://vimeo.com/16297201">video</a> about him smiling when he was a month old.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">People comment all the time about what a good-natured, happy little guy he is.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kid. Is. Happy. (I'm not bragging, as we obviously just got lucky. We won the baby lottery.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, we were understandably so frustrated we wanted to rip our hair out when Gabe started</div><div style="text-align: justify;">teething a month ago. He suddenly wouldn't sleep, wouldn't smile, was grumbling, and wanted to</div><div style="text-align: justify;">gnaw our faces off. We were all, "Huh? Who? What? WHERE IS OUR HAPPY BABY!?"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">His normal bedtime routine results in him sleeping from about 7 until 11pm, then waking up and</div><div style="text-align: justify;">eating before we go to bed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While he was teething? He'd wake up FOUR TIMES before 11pm. FOUR. TIMES. (And then he</div><div style="text-align: justify;">pretended to be like a newborn and wake up all night long.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, I understandably felt the need to purchase every item related to teething pain relief there is. I</div><div style="text-align: justify;">mean, can you buy your baby's happiness back? I wanted to. Oh, yes I did. Teething was sucking</div><div style="text-align: justify;">the happiness out of my sweet baby, and as a result, ruining my life.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(Dramatic? What?)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When BlogHer sent an email about trying Baby Orajel® Naturals , I believe I might have scared</div><div style="text-align: justify;">them away with how eager I was, "YES PLEASE ZOMG, I NEED TO TRY EVERYTHING IN</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO GET MY BABY AND SANITY BACK."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5065/5576343925_6807c695ae.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5065/5576343925_6807c695ae.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this how you use it?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"> Plus, natural? That's sort of up my alley. I like that it is free of benzocaine, alcohol, and dye.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And I like that it had the potential to save my life. Or, make Gabe feel better. Same thing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I tried it first, just because I like to know how things taste/work before giving them to my baby.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just a tiny little dab. It wasn't super sweet and it definitely had the same numbing power as</div><div style="text-align: justify;">benzocaine. Win. I squeezed a little on a baby toothbrush (my secret weapon for successfully</div><div style="text-align: justify;">applying <a href="http://goo.gl/xkkSn">Baby Orajel® Naturals</a>), and stuck it on his gums. I don't know if you've ever given a baby</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Orajel<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">® </span>, but the faces they make are hilarious.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Happily, though, the Baby Orajel<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">® </span> Naturals provided poor little Gabe some relief and allowed me</div><div style="text-align: justify;">to get some sleep (a few hours, anyway. He is still a baby, after all).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We've finally pulled through teething and our happy little baby is back:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5307/5576924478_2e39e17dc4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5307/5576924478_2e39e17dc4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now, with teeth! Crooked teeth, oddly enough.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">To enter a drawing for a $100 BABIES “R” US giftcard (that's a whole lot of baby teething</div><div style="text-align: justify;">products you could buy!), answer me this:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>When it comes to teething, how do you naturally soothe your baby?? (I'm already gearing</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>up for his second set of teeth. And am already nervous about it. Eeep.)</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>OR, if you don't have a wee one, do you think baby smiles are cuter with a few teeth or just</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>toothess little gums?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Rules:</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The giveaway is open May 16th until <b>June 16th.</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">No duplicate comments.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post (with your email!) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post</div><div style="text-align: justify;">c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post</div><div style="text-align: justify;">d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of</div><div style="text-align: justify;">entry.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can also enter on other blogs <a href="http://goo.gl/VcNBN">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Official Rules are available <a href="http://www.blogher.com/baby-smiles-rules">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, I just need something to help with the crying and sleep loss that have resulted from Gabe's</div><div style="text-align: justify;">learning to crawl. Please?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5230/5576340859_e620379eab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5230/5576340859_e620379eab.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Ashley // Our Little Apartmenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452050735921065657noreply@blogger.com141tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955205828083167843.post-79916582094642011062011-01-02T19:40:00.000-08:002011-05-15T19:41:24.163-07:00líllébaby Eurotote Review<div style="text-align: left;">I am obsessed with infant carriers - I have a <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/ourlittleapartment-20/detail/B001ISJW4S">Moby wrap</a>, a <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/ourlittleapartment-20/detail/B001M0NRXY">Kelty infant carrier</a>, and a <a href="https://www.sevenslings.com/index.php/cart">Seven sling</a>. So when I had the opportunity to get a cradle infant carrier - the <a href="http://www.scichild.com/Home/Our-Brands/lillebaby-eurotote;jsessionid=wpnGMLyG1pbGTLdH5gVLHDyk9m6rnCMH3wv6y3sJcfBvh0T03K8cnTy4yvLw4TSr33hYQMywGq69LwpD7J9QjhTrtrMPZK5J9yRsGvDgC2h3k28JzPPJPkHD2kcPTLx2%21-1176562275">líllébaby Eurotote</a> - and review it, I was delighted! I'd never seen, or heard of, anything quite like it.</div>When I first got the carrier, it reminded me of a baby sleeping bag- cozy, cute, and warm. It has many uses:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176" height="265" src="http://mylittlereviews.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/picture-1.jpg" title="Picture-1" width="410" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was most excited to use the carrying option, since I have the most pathetic upper body strength in the free world. Really, it's just ridiculously pathetic. It's a sad sight, me heaving Gabe around in his infant carrier car seat. When I go to Target, I have to park near the carts, so I can just hoist his seat out of the car and into a shopping cart, instead of looking ridiculous trying to carry him into the store. I imagine this will only get worse as he gets older. (Every time I struggle to carry ONE baby into the store, I marvel that sometimes babies come two, or even three (!!) at a time. I just don't have the upper body strength for that. Please take note, uterus. No releasing multiple eggs a time, mmkay?)</div><div style="text-align: left;">I digress.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Since I couldn't imagine how this carrier worked before getting it, I wanted to make a short video demonstrating it so that anyone interested would get an idea of how it works:</div><div style="text-align: center;">[vimeo http://vimeo.com/17026815 w=600&h=480]</div><div style="text-align: left;">Gabe is obviously a BIG fan. ;)</div><div style="text-align: left;">After using it for a few weeks, here are my thoughts:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Yay!s (Pros): </b></div><br />
<ul><li>So, so soft and cozy - I wouldn't object to an adult version of this.</li>
<li>Easy to wash- Many uses - keep baby warm in stroller, carry baby, or a clean place for baby to nap</li>
<li>MUCH lighter than an infant car seat to tote baby around</li>
<li>Adorable</li>
<li>Easily adjustable</li>
<li>Can be used for older children as a stroller bunting - meaning you can use this for longer than most baby wraps, slings, and carriers</li>
</ul><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-171" height="739" src="http://mylittlereviews.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/img_1925.jpg?w=615" title="IMG_1925" width="492" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mmm, not so Yay!s (Cons):</b></div><br />
<ul><li>Can be hard to keep the baby level horizontally (again, this might just be a result of aforementioned pathetic upper-body strength.)</li>
<li>Not a common type of carrier, so people may look at you like you have your baby in a duffel bag (not so much of a con for you, but for silly, judgmental strangers)</li>
<li>A bit more than I'd usually spend on a carrier</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The bottom line?</b> It's wonderfully cozy and comfortable for baby, and much easier to tote baby around - especially nice in these cold months coming up!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-170" height="327" src="http://mylittlereviews.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/img_1924.jpg?w=615" title="IMG_1924" width="492" /></div><i>This review was made possible by <a href="http://momsparkmedia.com/">Mom Spark Media</a>. Thoughts are my own.</i>Ashley // Our Little Apartmenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452050735921065657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955205828083167843.post-9655339246816510082009-12-15T19:37:00.000-08:002011-05-15T19:42:46.153-07:00Win a Freakin' Laptop, Yo.I got an email asking if I'd like to give away a <a data-mce-href="http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/thinandlight/dm3.html" href="http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/thinandlight/dm3.html" target="_blank">HP dm3 notebook </a>and thought, "Eh, I'm a little busy to blog. Sorry, Potential Winner."<br />
Psych! (Helloo, 1992.)<br />
<strong>Someone is going to have a <em>very</em> merry Christmas this year! </strong>(Or happy Hanukkah, or a happy Winter Solstice, or a great Festivus.)<br />
That's right, I have an HP Pavillion dm3 Ultra-Thin Laptop to give away to one lucky reader.<br />
What exactly does this little guy look like?<br />
I'm so glad you asked!<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/ashleyapartment/dm3.jpg" height="446" src="http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/ashleyapartment/dm3.jpg" width="450" /></div><br />
<ul><li>Features like <span data-mce-style="color: #0000ff;" style="color: blue;"><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-mce-href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/snap" href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/snap">snap</a></span></span>, <span data-mce-style="color: #0000ff;" style="color: blue;"><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/pin.aspx" href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/pin.aspx">pin</a></span></span>, <span data-mce-style="color: #0000ff;" style="color: blue;"><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-mce-href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/aero-shake" href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/aero-shake">shake</a></span></span>, and <span data-mce-style="color: #0000ff;" style="color: blue;"><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-mce-href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/aero-peek" href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/aero-peek">peak</a></span></span> in Windows 7 make day-to-day tasks a breeze on dm3</li>
<li>Windows 7 also offers better ways to find and manage files like <span data-mce-style="color: #0000ff;" style="color: blue;"><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-mce-href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/jump-lists" href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/jump-lists">Jump Lists</a></span></span> and improved taskbar previews that help you speed through everyday tasks. To open a Jump List, just right-click a program icon on the Windows 7 taskbar.</li>
<li>Great features like <span data-mce-style="color: #0000ff;" style="color: blue;"><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-mce-href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/homegroup" href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/homegroup">HomeGroup</a></span></span> makes sharing music, pictures, videos, and document on home networks easy.</li>
<li>The dm3’s HP MediaSmart along with its BrightView LED display, SRS Premium Sound and Altec Lansing speakers with the option to connect to your HD TV via the HDMI port make the device ideal for experiencing music and video.</li>
<li>Ultra-low voltage processors and other features give the dm3 up to <strong>10 hours of battery life (!!)</strong>, letting users go where they need to without having to find a plug.</li>
<li>Windows 7 <span data-mce-style="color: #0000ff;" style="color: blue;"><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-mce-href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/power-management" href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/power-management">power management</a></span></span> contributes to battery longevity by running fewer background activities, automatic screen dimming, powering off unused ports and more.</li>
</ul><img alt="" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/ashleyapartment/dm3side-1.jpg" height="409" src="http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/ashleyapartment/dm3side-1.jpg" width="450" /><br />
<strong>To Enter: </strong><br />
This is a quick little contest, <strong>just FIVE days long</strong>, which means a shorter window and more chance to win a laptop of your very own. Woohoo!<br />
<strong>There are several ways to enter:</strong><br />
<strong>1.</strong> Comment on this post telling me why you need this laptop. (I'm partially to working in coffee shops, and thus "need" a laptop, so my definition of "need" is a bit flexible. ;))<br />
<strong>2.</strong> Blog about the contest and leave a comment with the link on this post. (Bonus points if it includes a video. Woo!)<br />
<strong>3.</strong> Tweet about the contest and leave a comment with the link on this post (use the hashtag "#MerryHPtoMe" so I can track the tweets).<br />
Oh, and there is NO LIMIT for any of these. So, enter away!<br />
<strong>The contest ends December 23rd at noon EST. </strong><br />
<strong>THE CONTEST IS CLOSED! Congrats, <a data-mce-href="http://marryingamedstudent.blogspot.com/" href="http://marryingamedstudent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tam</a>!</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong>Ashley // Our Little Apartmenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452050735921065657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955205828083167843.post-69544776136694516722009-11-09T19:36:00.000-08:002011-05-15T19:44:55.387-07:00Five Caffeinated People!<img alt="winners" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-151" data-mce-src="http://mylittlereviews.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/winners.jpg?w=615" height="410" src="http://mylittlereviews.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/winners.jpg?w=615" title="winners" width="615" /><br />
Thanks to Random.org and my lovely sister's help, we have some winners! (And exclamation points with hearts. Score.)<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://somewhatvoluble.com/" href="http://somewhatvoluble.com/" target="_blank">Megan</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://www.caffeinate-me.com/" href="http://www.caffeinate-me.com/">Andrea</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://yeahhonestly.blogspot.com/" href="http://yeahhonestly.blogspot.com/">Stefanie</a>, Shelly, and Amy L - congrats!Ashley // Our Little Apartmenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452050735921065657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955205828083167843.post-6981153095375365832009-11-02T19:36:00.000-08:002011-05-15T19:36:56.483-07:00Go-Go-Gadget Energy!<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4045055604_59ceb6dab4.jpg" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4045055604_59ceb6dab4.jpg" width="375" /></div>Starbucks Doubleshot® Energy+Coffee sent me a few cans of their elixir and on Wednesday, I was running late and had no time to make coffee, so I innocently grabbed a can of the vanilla flavor.<br />
Little did I know I was opening a can of AMAZING. I literally felt a <em>rush </em>of energy while I drank it. I was seized with the ability to focus and finally tackle my mess of a desk. (After which I incredulously tweeted <a data-mce-href="https://twitter.com/ashleymarie6/status/5045094441" href="https://twitter.com/ashleymarie6/status/5045094441" target="_blank">this</a>.)<br />
Now, let's get this out of the way right now - this doesn't taste like your average coffee. No, this has super powers, so it tastes a little less typical Starbucks iced coffee and a little more energy-y. If I'm going to drink an energy drink, you'd better believe I'm picking up one of these over nasty Red Bull (sorry, dude, but you tasted like carbonated lint-covered lollipops.<em> No bueno.</em>)<br />
If you've been reading my blog, you know I'm struggling to keep my head above water when it comes to my new job. (Cliff's Notes: <a data-mce-href="http://ourlittleapartment.blogspot.com/2009/10/wanted-work-life-balance.html" href="http://ourlittleapartment.blogspot.com/2009/10/wanted-work-life-balance.html">I work a lot</a> and <a data-mce-href="http://ourlittleapartment.blogspot.com/2009/09/guilty.html" href="http://ourlittleapartment.blogspot.com/2009/09/guilty.html" target="_blank">whine about it</a>.) These little babies really help me get going in the morning and squeeze more into my already-full day. Which is a major WIN.<br />
The only shortcoming I can find is that the cans are labeled as two servings. Ha. Funny, right? Silly Starbucks, don't you know I love caffeine?<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2451/4044206629_b6916d4969.jpg" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2451/4044206629_b6916d4969.jpg" width="500" /></div>Now, for the fun part: Time to giveaway some prizes!<br />
<strong>What's in it for you?</strong><br />
Um, coffee!<br />
Okay, how about this:<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/ashleyapartment/prizes.jpg" height="276" src="http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/ashleyapartment/prizes.jpg" width="500" /></div><div data-mce-style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: center;" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: x-small;" style="font-size: xx-small;">Five (5) STANDARD PRIZE PACKS (valued at $30 each): Stealth Switch™, $5 Starbucks</span></span><sup><span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: x-small;" style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span></span></sup><span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: x-small;" style="font-size: xx-small;"> Card, Starbucks Doubleshot</span></span><sup><span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: x-small;" style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span></span></sup><span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: x-small;" style="font-size: xx-small;"> Energy+Coffee coupons, Starbucks Doubleshot</span></span><sup><span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: x-small;" style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span></span></sup><span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: x-small;" style="font-size: xx-small;"> Energy+Coffee-branded white board. </span></span></div>That Stealth Switch? It's this awesome little doohickey that allows you to switch between windows on your computer so you can deftly avoid being caught browsing the internet/blogging/on Facebook/tweeting/stalking your ex-boyfriend/picking up a new outfit. Awesome, right? For more ways to feign productivity at work, check out <a data-mce-href="http://www.energypluscoffee.com/" href="http://www.energypluscoffee.com/" target="_blank">www.energypluscoffee.com</a>.<br />
<strong>What's in it for me?</strong><br />
There is a prize for the three bloggers who get the most comments. An <em>awesome </em>prize. And I'm not above begging for your comments. I promise. (Or taking photos like <a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/4044300697/in/photostream/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/4044300697/in/photostream/" target="_blank">this</a>.)<strong> </strong><br />
<strong><br />
Okay, how the heck do you enter?<br />
</strong><br />
Just leave a comment answering: <strong>Why do YOU need more energy? </strong>by Monday, Novemeber 9th at 9am EST.<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>UPDATE! For another entry: </strong>Tweet or blog about the contest and leave a comment with the URL.<br />
For yet <em>another </em>entry, load this badge in your sidebar:<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="../2009/10/26/starbucks/" href="http://mylittlereviews.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/starbucks/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2462/4046682759_c107575856_o.jpg" height="100" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2462/4046682759_c107575856_o.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><strong>Copy and paste this code into your sidebar:</strong> <a href="http://mylittlereviews.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/starbucks/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2462/4046682759_c107575856_o.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="badge" /></a><br />
Sorry, non-US-residents, I love you, but you can't enter.<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in; margin-bottom: 0;" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><img alt="" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/ashleyapartment/-2.jpg" height="206" src="http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/ashleyapartment/-2.jpg" width="153" /></div><strong>That's what she* said:</strong><br />
a. This promotion is solely sponsored by Ashley/Our Little Apartment and has not been endorsed or approved by North American Coffee Partnership. By entering, you agree to look solely to Ashley/Our Little Apartment for any claims in connection therewith, and not the North American Coffee Partnership”<br />
b.NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Subject to Contest guidelines. Open to U.S. residents only. Contest ends November 9th. Void where prohibited.<br />
c. All the opinions expressed here are mine.<br />
* "She" being the lawyer, of course.Ashley // Our Little Apartmenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452050735921065657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955205828083167843.post-35614795582284429232009-10-18T19:35:00.000-07:002011-05-15T19:35:47.777-07:00Drumroll, Please....At long, long last...<br />
So I kept meaning to pick winners, but then I got all busy and stuff and blah blah blah. When I stumbled across my free jeans gift cards in my crafting room yesterday, I knew it was time to finally spread the love that is Gap Born to Fit.<br />
(Seriously, you guys. I wear these jeans ALL. the. time. I only peel them off my body when they get dirty. Like, really dirty. It's hot.)<br />
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">Winner of a Free Pair of Jeans:<br />
</span><br />
<ol><li><a data-mce-href="http://heidirenee.blogspot.com/" href="http://heidirenee.blogspot.com/">Heidi Renee</a></li>
<li><a data-mce-href="http://craftyasparagus.livejournal.com/" href="http://craftyasparagus.livejournal.com/">Jen</a></li>
<li><a data-mce-href="http://fromatopink.wordpress.com/" href="http://fromatopink.wordpress.com/">From A to Pink</a></li>
<li><a data-mce-href="http://hellcatvintage.blogspot.com/" href="http://hellcatvintage.blogspot.com/">Cindy</a></li>
</ol>I constructed a fancy little Excel sheet then went to Random.org to ask it who should win. And it picked From A to Pink TWICE, but I told it only pair per person. I also want to mention that 3 of those winners (2, 3, and 4) won from their Twitter entry. So, let that be a lesson to all of us: never be too lazy to tweet about a contest. Hehe.<br />
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">Winner of $50 to Gap:</span><br />
<a data-mce-href="http://joyouslittlewife.blogspot.com/" href="http://joyouslittlewife.blogspot.com/">Talia</a>!<br />
(I'm super excited about this, because Talia is a young mother of three (3!) girls - so I think she deserves some pampering. And I guess Random.org agreed.)<br />
Congrats, winners and thanks to everyone for playing along.Ashley // Our Little Apartmenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452050735921065657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955205828083167843.post-33897230171435587602009-10-18T19:34:00.000-07:002011-05-15T19:36:03.874-07:00Born to Fit Party + A Giveaway = A Good Day.<span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">When I learned about throwing a Gap Born to Fit party, I was excited.</span><br />
Yes, because of the jeans. Yes, because I got to share them with my friends. Yes, because FREE! Gap! Yay!<br />
All those a very good things. But mostly because I have really awesome friends (and family who are friends) and I wanted the chance to get us together. We always promise each other, "We'll get together!" and agree, "We need to see each other more often!" But, as I'm sure many others find, with the busyness of life, those intentions often are forgotten - so I was delighted to have the chance to make good on my promise and share these awesome jeans with them.<br />
I held the gathering at my parents house, since our little place would be a bit crowded with fifteen people. My sisters helped me clean, cook, and set up. They are awesome sisters. <a data-mce-href="http://thosecorwins.com/" href="http://thosecorwins.com/">Steph</a> (unknowingly) provided the <span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><a data-mce-href="http://thosecorwins.com/2008/10/fondue-fun/" href="http://thosecorwins.com/2008/10/fondue-fun/">awesome fondue recipe</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://ktstephennewbeginnings.blogspot.com/" href="http://ktstephennewbeginnings.blogspot.com/">Katie</a> brought some cookies left over from her wedding....</span><br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><div data-mce-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844627027/" data-mce-style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844627027/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cookies. by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="Cookies." data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2448/3844627027_22469b7314.jpg" height="333" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2448/3844627027_22469b7314.jpg" width="500" /></a></span></div><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">Which our little guest, my 3-year-old cousin, loved.<br />
</span><br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">It was my aunt's birthday, so naturally, we made her a cake...</span></div><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><br />
<div data-mce-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><img alt="Jeans Cake." data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2483/3844628111_ea44d02b56.jpg" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2483/3844628111_ea44d02b56.jpg" width="333" /> </span></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">...shaped like a pair jeans.</span></div><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">We set up the jeans table and arranged the awesome (recycled!) tote bags:<br />
</span></div><div data-mce-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844614327/" data-mce-style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844614327/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="The Totes. by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="The Totes." data-mce-src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3429/3844614327_1376691400_b.jpg" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3429/3844614327_1376691400_b.jpg" width="332" /></a></span></div></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">Pillowcase around a dirty old bucket - are we creative or what?</span></div><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
With everything ready, we popped open the bubbly, but had a bit of difficulty with the wine:<br />
</span><br />
<div data-mce-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845407572/" data-mce-style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845407572/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Pregnant Lady Opens the Wine. by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="Pregnant Lady Opens the Wine." data-mce-src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/3845407572_68a0d6946a_b.jpg" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/3845407572_68a0d6946a_b.jpg" width="333" /></a></span></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">So my pretty pregnant aunt stepped in to save the day. Teehee.</span></span><br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">We spent the rest of the evening chatting, trying on jeans, giving each other feedback, and eating lots of food. I convinced them eating lots of food while trying on jeans was the right thing to do. I mean, you want to have a realistic idea of how they'll fit you, right? Right. It was basically like we brought the mall to our house - much more comfy, full of delicious food, and lots of girls around to help find the best pair of jeans. It was delightful.</div></div><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div data-mce-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845405072/" data-mce-style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845405072/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Megan Loves Jeans. by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="Megan Loves Jeans." data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2501/3845405072_fea2293caf_b.jpg" height="333" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2501/3845405072_fea2293caf_b.jpg" width="500" /></a></span></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">Megan finding her perfect fit. (Hint: It's probably short. Short girls unite!) (If you look closely, you can see my senior picture 8x10 in the background. Ha.)</span></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845416302/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845416302/" title="Happy Birthday! by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="Happy Birthday!" data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/3845416302_068a146513.jpg" height="331" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/3845416302_068a146513.jpg" width="497" /></a></span></span></div><br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">Aunt Nat making a wish for awesome jeans. (I totally made her wish come true.)</span></div><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><div data-mce-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844630827/" data-mce-style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844630827/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Born to Talk. by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="Born to Talk." data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/3844630827_c6dd3a7cbf.jpg" height="332" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/3844630827_c6dd3a7cbf.jpg" width="501" /></a></span></div></div><br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">Chatting in between rounds of squeezing into jeans.</span></div><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845415568/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845415568/" title="Born to Crochet. by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="Born to Crochet." data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3845415568_b5eb5ec2f4.jpg" height="332" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3845415568_b5eb5ec2f4.jpg" width="500" /></a></span></span></div><br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">Jenn is crocheting a shawl while rocking the Always Skinny jeans (aka: her date jeans.) I could not stop giggling at how tiny it is. A shawl! The tiniest miniature shawl ever right now.</span></div><br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845414714/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845414714/" title="Stylin' by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="Stylin'" data-mce-src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3845414714_200a01c661.jpg" height="501" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3845414714_200a01c661.jpg" width="334" /></a></span></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">We all erupted into laughter when he came out with these on. He quieted us with, "Guys! I have to tell you something!" Very seriously: "I think I need a belt."</span></span>I gave him a certificate to get some jeans in his size.</div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845413192/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3845413192/" title="Born to ALWAYS Look Good. by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="Born to ALWAYS Look Good." data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/3845413192_234ac7813b.jpg" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/3845413192_234ac7813b.jpg" width="332" /></a></span></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">I'm convinced that anything she wears will make her look adorable.</span></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844622209/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844622209/" title="Decisions. by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="Decisions." data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/3844622209_b2f38dd4a0.jpg" height="332" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/3844622209_b2f38dd4a0.jpg" width="500" /></a></span></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"> The jeans table started out so neat and organized - it got pretty ransacked by the end....DaYoung and Katie are picking through it to find their size.</span></div><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844619137/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844619137/" title="Date Jeans. by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="Date Jeans." data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/3844619137_aa32f859bc_b.jpg" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/3844619137_aa32f859bc_b.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
"They look SO good!"</span></span>Jenn had never own skinny jeans before - and we all agreed she looked amazing in these. She went on a date that night and kept them on. Gap jeans = hot date.<br />
<span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844619753/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40316085@N04/3844619753/" title="What do you think? by Gap Born To Fit, on Flickr"><img alt="What do you think?" data-mce-src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3423/3844619753_2cab0cacfd_b.jpg" height="332" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3423/3844619753_2cab0cacfd_b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Katie, Jamie, Amy, and April are deciding which styles to try out. Katie's butt looks so good, she can't help but grab it, apparently. I don't blame you, Katie. You're hot.</span></div><span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;">The girls loved the jeans. My aunt said, "You can tell Gap we LOVE them. We don't even have to pretend - these are just awesome." My friend Jamie was "This is the first pair of skinny jeans I've ever had. They never looked good on me before." (<a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhkNgvrm-vQ" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhkNgvrm-vQ">See for yourself.</a>)</span><br />
With my awesome new Flip video camera, I recorded some answers to Gap's question, "What were you born to do?" for their <a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/group/Gap1969" href="http://www.youtube.com/group/Gap1969">YouTube group</a>. Check them out and answer yourself to enter!<br />
<span data-mce-style="font-size: 100%;" style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">Want to try a pair of jeans from Gap for yourself? </span>I have four certificates for jeans to give away - FOUR! That's four chances to win. Just leave a comment telling me <span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">what you were born to do</span>, Tweet (leave URL in a separate comment), or blog (leave URL in a separate comment) about this and you'll get one entry for each. (I will only count entries that follow these rules, sorry!)</span><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">Deadline to enter: </span>Tuesday, September 1st at 9:01 am EST.<br />
<span data-mce-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic;">Certificate is only valid in stores, not on Gap.com.</span>Ashley // Our Little Apartmenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452050735921065657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955205828083167843.post-9347881858989439362009-10-18T19:33:00.000-07:002011-05-15T19:34:06.412-07:00I Love These Jeans So Much I'm Throwing a Contest.<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEST CLOSED. Thanks! :)</span></div><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/3799067549/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/3799067549/" title="My New Jeans. by joyful.star, on Flickr"><img alt="My New Jeans." class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2554/3799067549_4eb60a16e7.jpg" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2554/3799067549_4eb60a16e7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic;">Channeling Tyra in Gap's Always Skinny Jeans.</span><br />
When it comes to jeans, I'm a former cheapskate. In high school and college - I would never spend more than $20 for a pair of jeans. Then I tried on a pair of jeans that were a bit pricier and fate was sealed. They fit. I was cute. I was never buying the cheapest jeans possible again. (And by pricier? You know I mean, like, $40, right? Meh. Maybe I'm still a cheapskate.)<br />
I wear jeans a lot - so having a well fitting, attractive pair is important. And the latest jeans I got from Gap as a part of being a Brand Enthusiast for their Born To Fit campaign?<br />
Wear-them-three-days-in-a-row amazing. They fit me perfectly and are constructed so well. They are comfy - the band is lined with extra fabric for a really luxurious feel.<br />
In celebration and to kick off this little review blog- <span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">I'm giving away a $50 gift card to Gap to one lucky person</span>! (This is the first of several giveaways here, so get excited and stayed tuned.)<br />
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">To enter</span><span data-mce-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic;"> (one entry for each of the following)</span>: <span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">1) </span>Leave a comment with an email address and tell me a staple wardrobe item you think every girl should have. <span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">2) </span>Mention/link to the contest on your blog - leave the link in a comment. <span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">3)</span> Mention the contest on Twitter - leave the link in a comment.<br />
Good luck!<br />
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEST CLOSED. Thanks! :)</span>Ashley // Our Little Apartmenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452050735921065657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955205828083167843.post-37002320856455967462008-10-18T19:32:00.000-07:002011-05-15T19:32:53.964-07:00Selling My Soul To Gap and Grinning About It.<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">I feel like a rock star.No, I'm serious.<br />
Last week, I got an email that I nearly skipped over. I often get emails that mention my blog and some product being a great fit, or how I should use some networking website, or that I can look sexxy for le$$. I've grown wary of email. But this one was from a woman at Brand About Town, which I remembered hearing about on some other blogs - girls and their friends got free stuff for being awesome bloggers.<br />
Or something like that.<br />
I instantly freaked out and told my sister, my friend, and Mike about it. I believe my G-chat was something like, "OMG!)(#*@!!!!! GAP CLOTHES!!!!!!!!"<br />
So I did was any self-respecting sell out would and calmly replied, "That would be great!"<br />
Yesterday, I met with Justine, who was adorable and wonderful, by the way. After I stopped aplogizing for Cleveland's weather ("It's not usually this crappy! I promise!"), Justine bought me a mocha (Which: I work in the non-profit/community service world - I'm not used to people doing things like that, cue weird feeling of rock star-ness. Yes, I'm easily wooed.) and explained what being a Brand Enthusiast was all about.<br />
Basically, it's about being awesome and getting awesome stuff.<br />
We were about to leave the coffee shop, when Justine was all, "Right, well why don't we pop over to the Gap and have a look for a free outfit?" (Imagine this with her cute Australian accent. Continue the wooed-ness.)<br />
"Excuse me? Are you kidding? Seriously? WHAT?"<br />
Seriously.<br />
She walked me around Gap and helped me pick out clothes - she could tell my size just my looking at me, and said several times how "tiny" and "small" I am. I sort of wanted to kiss her on the lips. Plus, she was was like a personal shopper who BOUGHT ME CLOTHES. The Gap girls and Justine kept referring to me as a "blogger;" it was all so surreal. I felt a bit like a deer caught in headlights and like I was dreaming it. Justine was so fabulous though, that an hour after meeting her I felt comfortable enough with her to say things like, "My boobs are too small for this!"<br />
(The day I got the email, by the way, was the day I posted <a data-mce-href="http://ourlittleapartment.blogspot.com/2009/06/art-of-12-outfit.html" href="http://ourlittleapartment.blogspot.com/2009/06/art-of-12-outfit.html">this</a>. Ironic, eh? I must have been a pity-pick.)<br />
Of course, I had to show you what I got, because you know I love photo shoots with myself:</div><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/3641325582/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/3641325582/" title="The Shorts. by joyful.star, on Flickr"><img alt="The Shorts." data-mce-src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3641325582_b58ea5b23d.jpg" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3641325582_b58ea5b23d.jpg" width="372" /></a></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=26649&vid=1&pid=585650" href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=26649&vid=1&pid=585650">Shorts</a>: freaking adorable, cream and blue stripes, a bit longer than most of my shorts. LOVE.</div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/3641325696/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/3641325696/" title="The Dress. by joyful.star, on Flickr"><img alt="The Dress." data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2251/3641325696_8903cfa310_o.jpg" height="969" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2251/3641325696_8903cfa310_o.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">Can we talk about how adorable this dress is? And how it was actually cheap enough that I would have bought it myself? And how now I have a dress to wear to my cousin's wedding tomorrow? (I know - the pictures are awfully blurry. Oops. Anyone want to buy me a nice camera?)</div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/3640516241/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/3640516241/" title="The Tank. by joyful.star, on Flickr"><img alt="The Tank." data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2479/3640516241_bfd3f79d68.jpg" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2479/3640516241_bfd3f79d68.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=34611&vid=1&pid=648585" href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=34611&vid=1&pid=648585">Tank top</a> - it's cute and knit and adorable. But any ideas on how I can wear such a long top without adding 20 lbs to my hips? Try to ignore my face, okay?</div><div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/3641325566/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleymarie6/3641325566/" title="Cheesin' in My New Dress. by joyful.star, on Flickr"><img alt="Cheesin' in My New Dress." data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2439/3641325566_cdefcc2db0.jpg" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2439/3641325566_cdefcc2db0.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>Being cheesy in my dress. Seriously, though, HUGE thanks to Gap, Brand About Town, and Justine!<br />
After the best week ever (job! apartment! Gap clothes! street fair!) - I have an equally awesome weekend planned: my <a data-mce-href="http://www.switchfoot.com/" href="http://www.switchfoot.com/">favorite band</a>, my cousin's wedding, and a Father's Day brunch. I live a semi-charmed kind of life. Baby.Ashley // Our Little Apartmenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452050735921065657noreply@blogger.com0