Holiday Giveaway for Kansas City Locals

  Hello, hello and happy holidays! I hope you are enjoying the season as best possible this very different year we're living in. I am still trying to get a bit more into the spirit, but Oak Park Mall is making it a bit easier!  
Oak Park Mall and I have teamed up to give one Kansas City local reader* a holiday gift package of FIVE different items, total value of $240!
*These holiday gifts are for local pick up only, thus local reader, however if you know someone else in KC area who can pick it up for you - enter away!
To Enter: 
Head to my Instagram account @ChasingDavies to find this giveaway post. You must be following my IG account + tag 2 friends in separate comments who might want to enter themselves (good time to tell your KC area friends).
I will announce a winner on Thursday 12/17 for pick up Friday 12/18.

Giveaway Items:

NEW Ugg style, Mini Bailey Bow II Boot (retail $160), Chestnut color, size 9

Why I love these boots: They are super comfortable, easy to slip on and off, and keep my feet toasty warm (even without socks!) in this chilling weather!

Discovery 2-in-1 Space and Planetarium Toy Projector, Age 6+ (retail $25)

Why I love this toy for my kids: We love learning about the stars and planets in the sky, and get such a kick out of spotting planets with our bare eyes!  This will be such a family fun toy to bring the sky indoors to us.

Altar'd State 'Take a Nap' mug (retail $20)
Why I love this mug: It's a deep one to hold a real full cup of coffee or cocoa, and fun staying on the mug lets everyone know how you are feeling.

Abercrombie & Fitch red beanie with pom (retail $18)

Why I love this beanie: I love how warm it is, the festive color and the fun pom on top!

Harry Potter insulated lunch box (retail $16)
Why I love this lunch bag: My son is very into Harry Potter right now and he loves anything related!  Such a fun bag for your lunch, or in this current time we're in (never leaving the house ever), use as a bag for other collectibles. 
Now head on over to my Instagram post to enter!
For more gifting ideas, you can check out Oak Park Mall's gift guide from the plethora of stores they have here + their COVID procedures here.
And check out my other gift guides:
Stocking Stuffers
Etsy Gifts to shop small
Gadgets & Gizmos for everyone
Gifts for keeping kids busy
Gifts for the year 2020

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Kids' Activity Trackers Review + GIVEAWAY!

  One of the gifts from the holiday my kids were not quite sure about when they opened, but are certainly loving now are Garmin's vivofit jr 2 with Disney characters. These activity trackers come with either a stretchy, slip on band or adjustable, buckle band - and the best part is they have a 1-year battery, so no having to charge.  The kids loved their character selections - Liam got BB8 and Nora got Minnie Mouse - and they've been wearing them very since!

As for me, I didn't know how much I'd love knowing how they were sleeping or their activity levels - especially during the times I'm not with them (like during school).  It syncs with a free app for the parents to manage, and even offers alerts. 
Liam loves to compare his steps with me (as I also got a new Garmin smartwatch for Christmas, too!) - he's usually always beating me in steps. And he likes the instant reward of watching his steps increase as he's running around or the badges he gets when he's hit a new level. He's not too concentrated on it, but he'll get in kicks where it'll get him up and moving - which is usually also needed, so it works out.

Right now, it's motivating enough to reach their goals, but eventually, reaching their goals could be used to earn extra rewards like TV time or going out to dinner. We love celebrating things by going to some of our favorite restaurants, like our neighborhood pizza gem, 1889 Pizza (beautiful space and yummy pizza).   
Last weekend we celebrated Liam's first half of Kindergarten and good grades there - and they even got chocolate milk because they had met their goals with the activity trackers. Needless to say, they were happy campers. ;)

You can even change out the bands later if your kids change their preferences later on (you know, kids... ;) or you need to upgrade to an adjustable band.  They have Star Wars, Minnie Mouse and Marvel Disney options.

And you should enter to win one below! I'm partnering with Garmin to give one lucky reader a Vivofit Jr 2 (choice of design). Enter in below Rafflecopter!

--- GIVEAWAY ---

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to Garmin for sending us these cute Vivofit Jr trackers and for giving away a 3rd one! 

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Mama & Mini Style Collective: Fall Layers & Leggings (+ a GIVEAWAY)

 
  Last weekend it FINALLY got cool enough for layers, leggings and jackets! We rejoiced by spending Sunday outside as much as possible, doing all kinds of fun things around Kansas City.  I seriously love this time of year.  It is so crazy how important good weather is for to truly enjoy my surroundings.  We started the morning out by doing brunch at the Homesteader Cafe in downtown Kansas City. It's one of my favorite spots for brunch (and lunch!). See our last trip to this spot by way of the streetcar here!
Nora's 3-piece outfit was the perfect pick for our day, and the cooling weather.  I love how sporty, but also sweet and feminine it is - and honestly, I wish that dress came in my size.  She accented her navy outfit with kitty cat shoes by morning and then pink mary janes by evening (which I think might have been because I was wearing my pink shoes). We both wore our longer top layers over leggings - which is the way to go on a weekend running around town.
{Outfit Details:  MAMA - Long Slip, White Blouse, Leggings, Pink Sneakers, Purse;  NORA - Jacket, Dress & Leggings c/o Egg by Susan Lazar, Purple Rose Bow - part of the October collection, Kitty Cat Shoes c/o & Pink Shoes c/o}

After brunch, it started to drizzle a bit, so we (along with the rest of the city so it seemed) took the kids to the Nelson Atkins Museum, inside for the first time!  We love going to the lawn for picnics, running around and seeing their outdoor sculptures, and Liam had been asking to go inside for a couple of months now.  I wasn't sure how'd they do - especially Nora - but they did a great job looking at everything, and really seemed to enjoy it. 

We went home, just for a few hours to squeeze in naps - then woke up and rushed down to the Plaza for the last hour of the annual Plaza Art Fair.  Greg and I had gone Friday with friends and a night out, but we also love taking the kids, too.  Lots of are for these kiddos this day. :)  

Nora was so into it - strutting down the street in her fuzzy jacket, which got so many people asking about it and where it was from.  As she was window shopping and checking out the art, I felt she looked so old!

 During the last 15 or so minutes of the Art Fair, the food vendors started slashing their prices, and the kids were hungry for a snack (before we were going to head home for dinner).  Nora wanted meatballs - and for only $3, we got the biggest bowl full! Pretty sure it fed 3 of us, but she definitely looked the cutest eating them!

 This month, the Mama & Mini Style Collective has an awesome giveaway for you guys - especially those with younger kiddos!  We are giving away a Pacapod diaper/baby bag.  This is literally the most functional bag I own.  My kids are now both potty trained, so I need less of a baby bag, and more of a "in case of life" bag.  We have used it for picnics, soccer games, traveling and even to hold all those toddler needs...  

Mine is the 'Madison' Leather Diaper Bag - and has 2 different mini bags inside - perfect for food, diapers and other random things, but totally customizable.  It also comes with a changing pad, which I removed now that I don't need it!  Make sure to enter in the below Rafflecopter for your chance to win a Pacapod bag of winner's choice!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure to check out Sandy, Laura and Carly's blogs, too to see how they're prepping for fall!

Lipgloss & Crayons | Sandy a la Mode | Chasing Davies | Walking in Memphis in High Heels

You can see past post Mama Style posts from this series right here!

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5 Magical Beauty Products (+ a Giveaway!)

When it comes to beauty products, I'll try it.  I'll try it all!  But rarely will I buy it again - unless I LOVE it. Because if I don't love it, I'm off to try the next thing.  So, I'm sharing 5 products (some that are newer to me and it was love it first use, and some I've been using for awhile) that are like magic! These products have either stuck around for years, or have quickly replaced other products
 I'm also curious what are some of YOUR magical beauty products are, so make sure to share in the comments or on social media.
Ok, let's jump right in.

1. Laura Geller Beauty 'Baked Gelato' Swirl Illuminator in Gilded Honey: This is an anywhere you want it kind of product. My favorite kinds of products are versatile - more bang for your buck!  I have been wearing Laura Geller's Illuminator in Gilded Honey as eye shadow and in the corner of my eyes to look alive awake, and when I want to elevate my look, I use it as highlighter on my cheek bones. I only got this product a month or so ago, but have worn it almost daily ever since.  It's subtle, but oh-so-pretty.  Many people have stopped to ask me about it, so I'm excited to share it here today!

2. Supergoop Spf 37 Anti-Aging Eye Cream With Oat Peptide: This is a new love of mine. I bought it at my Beauty Brands event a few weeks ago when this brand was demoing all their products, and this one in particular flew off the shelf (sold out, and I snagged the last one during the party).  It's the first thing I grab to apply after washing my face each morning!  
This eye cream protects your skin from sun and aging, plus de-puffs (so great for the morning) and provides a subtle shimmering base to help reflect the light away from dark circles to make you look like you slept a full night.  Magical product, indeed!  You should check out all the rest of Supergoop's products (I know I am).  If you are local to Kansas City, head to Beauty Brands on the Plaza to try them out!

3. LipSense Color + Gloss Duo: You guys, this might be a game changer when it comes to lipstick.  I LOVE my lip color - always up for a bold bright and even love those pinky nudes. But my biggest issue with lipstick, is that it makes me paranoid that I have it on my teeth (many times I do!), or leaving marks on my drinking glass, etc.  So, when I saw LipSense being demoed and how after it was applied, it stayed put no matter what, I was intrigued.  You can see in the photos above how the bright red lip color doesn't come off on the gloss applicator, nor my hand! You can also see a quick video here.
I was intrigued enough to buy a starter kit (one color, one gloss and a remover), plus an additional color + matte gloss.  If you follow me on Snapchat (ChasingDavies), you saw me apply both the Blu Red with the Glossy Gloss on top (shown above) and a lighter pinky nude (Apple Cider) with a Matte Gloss on top live this weekend.  Let me know if you're interested in a Facebook demo or something!  If you are interested in ordering, learn more & place order here!

 {one eye with the lash primer, one eye without!}

4. Laura Geller Beauty 'Fortifying Lashes' Lash Primer: Okay, so I love love love (maybe even more that lipstick... but maybe not, that's a hard one) mascara. One magical addition to the best mascaras you could possibly find is a proper mascara primer that lengthens and defines your lashes first.  
This lash primer is so good, I often wear it alone on casual days, like weekends (shown above). But when I layer my favorite (of the moment) mascara on top - wow!  I'll have a separate post on a few favorite mascara reviews for you soon. I'm always on the hunt for good mascara, and now is a great time to try a new one!  Beauty Brands is having their annual Lash Bash where all mascara is $10.99 (regular prices $20-$28)!

5. The Original Make Up Eraser: Sometimes magical products are the ones that can easily remove all the beauty products we pile on.  At the end of each day, I wash my face and am left with smudgy eyes.  I use this make up eraser towel to easily wipe the remnants away.  It's more than just a towel, it is super soft and picks up the make up with just water added to the cloth (or left over on your face, like shown above).  Throw it in the washing machine to get it as good as new (or get the black one so you don't even have to see the make up).
I received mine almost two years ago as a gift, and have been using it since! Beauty Brands was kind enough to send me one, too, so I want to give that one (still in the box!) away to one of you since I love it so (and am still good with my current one!).  
Giveaway: The Original Make Up Eraser 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Products included in this post + LipSense:

Now let me know your magical beauty products!!

Disclaimer: Some of the above products were gifted to me, but this is not a sponsored post, nor was I required to include any products shared here today. I truly love them all! 

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Virtual Baby Shower: Huge Giveaway!

Hey guys! I've partnered up with some of my favorite mama-bloggers to bring to you some of the best baby brands for a Virtual Baby Shower! Each year a few of us mamas team up with our favorite brands to share our favorite new mama must haves, and to give one lucky mom to be a stellar gift.  Yup, one of you will win ALL of these items! 
What are our new mommy staples?   

1. HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper LUXE: The newest arrival to its family of safe sleep products – the HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper LUXE, which includes a soothing center with night light, 3 lullabies, 3 soothing sounds, 2 levels of vibration, a nursing timer and a coordinating storage caddy that provides additional space to keep baby’s essentials right at your fingertips. It also features a new floor light to help you see without disturbing your baby or your partner - ideal for helping you see the floor when getting in and out of bed. The HALO Bassinest has a unique dual-swivel design, which allows baby to sleep as close as Mom wants - even right next to her in bed, but it allows baby to sleep in his own separate sleep area, reducing the risks associated with bed-sharing. I SO wish I had this with my two babies!

2. BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier One Air: The new Baby Carrier One is the very latest baby carrier from BABYBJÖRN, recently updated in fall of 2015 to create a more comfortable and ergonomic carrying experience for both you and your child! Acknowledged as a a hip-healthy baby carrier by International Hip Dysplasia Institute, the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier One allows you to switch between four ergonomic carrying positions: newborn facing-in (no infant insert needed!), older baby facing-in, older baby facing-out and back-carrying. The Baby Carrier One is equipped with an extra sturdy waist belt for added pressure relief, allowing you to support your child's weight on your hips, and avoid potential back and shoulder discomfort. BABYBJÖRN also significantly increased the padding in the form-fitting shoulder straps to help you comfortably and safely carry a growing child from newborn up to the age of three years. The carrier is made of a super soft and airy 3D mesh fabric that allows you and your child to enjoy your all-important closeness while staying comfortably cool – perfect for getting around during the hot summer months! Other improvements, such as lock-in-place zippers, will make for an overall better babywearing experience.

3. Quinny Buzz Xtra: With its robust design and tough wheels, the Buzz Xtra will smoothly take on any terrain beyond the city limits and across the globe. Thanks to a special patented design, the practical and functional Buzz Xtra unfolds automatically within seconds with the single push of a button. In addition, an extra-large canopy and extra padding provide comfort and protection for those all-day adventures.  We LOVE this brand for strollers (see here and here!).

4. Maxi Cosi Pria 70: Praised equally for safety and comfort, the latest generation of the Pria 70 is a cut above the rest. The Pria 70 is known for advanced safety utilizing FlexTech™ for multi-directional crash energy management and Air Protect® for advanced side impact protection. Fully equipped with new premium self-wicking fabric that deodorizes and draws liquids away from the skin to help keep baby dry and comfortable, the Pria 70 truly provides the ultimate comfort for children and convenience for parents.

5. Ollie Swaddle: The award-winning Ollie Swaddle is a totally unique swaddle that’s made better, feels better and helps your baby sleep better. The Ollie is named after and invented for a baby boy named Oliver—a foster baby that wasn’t thriving until Ollie Swaddle founder (and his foster mom) Hindi developed it. It helps improve the quality and duration of sleep for all babies (including preemies and high risk) and helps baby self-calm. The Ollie Swaddle has been shown to reduce fussiness/colic and help babies sleep. Not only does it reduce stress in preemies and high-risk infants, but it also helps keep baby in a safe, supine sleeping position and prevents sudden jerky arm and leg movements that wake babies up. The elasticity allows for freedom of movement while the opening at the bottom makes it easy to change diapers. The new Nature Collection features four new colors—Lavender, Sky, Nest and Stone— which are soothing, calming, and sleep-inducing. Certain colors and patterns can be over-stimulating to your little one’s eyes and consequently could have the opposite effect of soothing. The new colors will make baby feel calm, comforted and at peace. Retails for $59.

Make sure to check out all the mamas throwing this party!

 / Lipgloss & Crayons / Sandy a la Mode / Dearest Lou / Walking in Memphis in High Heels / Lauren McBride Blog / It's Erin Morris / Kendall Rayburn / Still Being Molly / Lynzy + Co. / Chasing Davies /

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Mama/Daughter Style Series: Dressing a Tomboy & a Transitional Bag + GIVEAWAY

Nora has a big brother, so maybe it should come to no surprise, but I think I'm raising a tomboy.  It's been a slow transition from me getting to dress my little girl into whatever I wanted, into her being SUPER opinionated on what she wears. And much to the horror of her closet full of adorable dresses and hair stand full of bows and headbands - she likes to dress like her brother.
I've struggled between letting her be her (letting her wear whatever she wants) and picking out her outfits from the closet of cute things to play up her femininity and forcing her dressed.  I've landed on letting her be her, but showing her she can like all kinds of things (play with the boys and be girly).

So my solution?  It's all in the art of positioning. She gets to pick out certain elements of her outfit (depending on the temperature - but usually a shirt and/or socks and/or leggings), and I can add something to it to bring it together so those that lay their lucky little eyes on her don't think her mother is blind.
She will wear dresses if they are over the base outfit that she picked out and it feels more like an additional layer than paired with uncomfortable tights.  So I get to layer those adorable dresses over the items she feels comfortable in + I only get well-made dresses that are comfortable (come warmer weather, she'll don alone).  I love this Silly Me Baby dress that Nora can play in the mud in AND wear for Easter.
And finally, she gets to wear her favorite sneakers with everything - hightop twinkle toe sneaks are her jam.  But they are kind of girly, too, and this pair actually looks pretty cute with this dress!  The last pair were actually my favorite (gold high-tops), and will get them again, in the next size up.

And I guess if all else fails... at least I get to still dress up my own look, right?  And part of that look is a bag that carries all my kid-crap + gets me to work with all my work stuff + travels me to Austin and all around that town.  
This Lily Jade bag is actually a baby bag that is way more than that - it evolves with you and your lifestyle, and that is something I can get behind.  Check out there site to see a peek inside (b/c it comes with an awesome removable insert perfect for organizing all that baby or work or life stuff).  You can also check out another bag I love from them as worn here.
!!!!GIVEAWAY!!!! So guess what!  One of you lucky readers can win a bag of your choice (that's in stock) - and you have FOUR chances.  Because my Style Series babes (Sandy, Carly and Laura are also giving one away!!).  Just enter via the Rafflecopter below! Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Our Outfit Details: MAMA - Long White Blouse, White Long Cami (under blouse), Grey Jeans c/o, Leopard Lace-Up Heels, Red Bag/Baby Bag c/o, Lips (new fav color!), Sunnies - Streets of Austin (similar options); NORA - Dress c/o, Sneakers c/o}

Shop these looks here:

Make sure to check out the other mama's to see how they styled their striped shirts and what their littles are wearing for from Viva Boho Kids: Carly, Sandy and Laura!  And don't forget to check out the #MamaDaughterStyleSeries on Instagram and play along by posting your own picture of your own favorite looks, use the hashtag and tag me (@ChasingDavies) so I can check it out!

You can see past posts from this series right here!

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