UPDATE: The winner of this giveaway is #64, Rosey!

You know how they say that if you dress all pretty that you’ll then feel pretty? I have to agree with that anecdote. And it works in the kitchen, even. Really.

See, you could say that I’m not in love with cooking. I do love baking, and using the Cuisinart Elite food processor I gave myself for Christmas. Its lovely and divine.

Its the whole, nothing-is-defrosted-mom-I’m-hungry-hurry-up-and-eat-cause-we-have-to-run-out-the-door-in-10-minutes that I hate…who doesn’t?

But Im convinced with the right tools, time in the kitchen can be more productive, more efficient and more enjoyable.

I could tell you all about some of my favorite Pampered Chef tools, my method (when I use it…) of meal planning, my love of Bountiful Baskets, or more about my Cuisinart (did I mention its divine??), but I’m focusing today on something just as important…fashion…because a girl’s got to look good, no?

Apron Warehouse not only keeps you looking chic and well-dressed for any job, they actually equip the busy mom, wait staff and salon staff for the task at hand…

This would be perfect for the man of the house (aka: The Only One Who BBQs in our house)…

They even have kids craft/school aprons

The Apron Warehouse website is easy to navigate, with every apron in stock searchable by color or category. Im pretty sure you could search the entire site and not see everything they have to offer in one sitting. There’s just a plethora of aprons!

I love their Vintage line…

Cute or what?

This one would make a great gift for Valentine’s Day (hint hint…men!)…

To get a feel for the quality of their products and navigating their website, Apron Warehouse kindly sent me one to try for myself. I chose the French Toile Betty by Jessie Steele. Reason? Look at  it…its adorable.

Also, Im constantly throwing a towel over my shoulder in the kitchen (do you do that?). I loved how this one came with a little towel that buttons right on to the front.

Love.

Prices are reasonable and shipping was lightening fast, even the week before Christmas. Apron Warehouse also offers logo embroidery and bulk orders, so they’re great for everyone from the large restaurant to us working moms (see the mom in top pic??) and everyone in between.

WIN IT! One randomly drawn entry will win the apron of their choice from Apron Warehouse! Enter below by doing any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each):

• After visiting Apron Warehouse, leave a comment telling me which apron you would pick if you won
• Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page
• Like The Pixel Boutique on Facebook
• Like Apron Warehouse on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway using the hash tag #apronwarehousegiveaway up to once a day. Need a suggestion? Tweet this: “Feel pretty as a picture in the kitchen! @pixeldesigngal is giving away an apron of your choice from apronwarehouse.com http://is.gd/Ok6Wk3”

Giveaway ends January 25  at 11:59 pm MST.

I was compensated with product for this review. Opinions, as always, are solely my own.

I wouldn’t consider myself a fashionista, but I do love me some clothes. I always have. I still love lounging around in my stretch pants I must admit, but since working at home doesn’t require me to dress up (…or…get dressed at all, truth be told…), I look forward to days that I get to put on a little somethin’ somethin’. I like to feel pretty…who doesnt?

You know from before, that I’ve just recently discovered the DownEast Basics line. There is a new store here in Tucson (albeit on the other side of the world from me, 45 minutes away), at the Tucson Mall. But the style of clothing they offer is right down my alley. Cute…modest…modern…affordable.

I just recently ordered this online (because its so much easier for me…)

Its the Roundabout Cardi. It comes in Ginger Spice and Kangaroo. I got the Kangaroo…

The thing I love about it is you can dress it up for a night out or holiday party…

…or down for just running around.

(sorry for the fuzzy pictures…it was dusk when I finally got around to taking them)

I love how soft and girly and flowy it is. It retails for $36.99, but its on sale right now for $31.99. Great value, if you ask me.

And right now (as in…ends tomorrow…) there is an in-store sale for 40% off any one piece of clothing. So hurry…go there now!

Oh, where did I get that flower pin I’m wearing? Well, it just so happens I made it and its for sale in my Etsy shop. Thanks for asking!

Happy holiday dress-up!

I received the cardigan I am wearing in exchange for this review post. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Home.

Such a simple yet profound and important word. Its a place and a state of mind. Its bricks and mortar, wood and glass. Its also acceptance and warmth, memories and safety.

This holiday will be spent at “home” and all the trimmings are coming together. The tree is up, the stockings hung, the lights outside are on timer.

Its a bit of a construction zone outside as we’re still building walls and planting trees and dreaming of future additions (and hoping for a swimming pool before it gets to be 1000 degrees again…). But we’ve got plenty of time since we plan on dying in this house.

Inside (a.k.a. My Domain),  I’ve been having fun pulling out decorations I havent seen for two years since we spent the holidays in Northern California last year.

One of my favorite places to get my creative on is the island in my kitchen. Not to brag or nothin’ but its enormous and beautiful and I love it to pieces. Its one of the features of this house that I fell in love with the first time I saw it.

I love to change out the “centerpiece” with different seasonal items to accompany the resident fruit bowl.

I was thrilled to find this birdcage (as in a real bird cage with a hinged top and small door). I got it from DownEast Basics Home and just filled it with some pinecones and frosted decorative fruit I had. Did you know DownEast Basics have a whole home decor store in addition to they’re fabulous clothing line? I didn’t, until recently.

The details are lovely and for $16.99 it was a great value, as are most things I saw in the catalog. I also bought this fun pinecone and bead garland to go with it…

(I had the white one already and just twisted them together)

I also had my eye on these…

DownEast Basics Home is hosting a “Spruce Up Your Home for the Holidays” sweeps on their Facebook page between now and Dec 9 and givng away a $500 holiday home makeover to one lucky winner! I entered because I think I could enjoy spending $500 (on my bedroom, mainly) on decor. Yep, pretty sure I could do that.

You should enter too. Go now…its really easy. Just a 1 question survey.

Happy holiday decorating…I’ll be back in a few weeks with more photos (as a part of The Nester’s 2011 Christmas Tour of Homes!).

UPDATE: The winner of this giveaway is #10, Niecey!
Do you remember these?

This is a friendship bracelet I made as a middle schooler a trillion too many just a few years ago. Its now faded and smashed in the pages of an old scrapbook.

But how fun were those to make? I had forgotten the “technique” until I tried it again on the My Friendship Bracelet Maker. In the Olden Days, we did it by hand. But girls these days, they are so sophisticated…

My Friendship Bracelet Maker came into being when David Crorey, an inventor in Michigan watched his granddaughters making friendship bracelets. David’s philosophy was “Give me an everyday problem and I’ll invent a solution”. So he did.

There’s also a Ribbon Barrette Maker (made plenty of those too, back in the day…)

And the fun isnt just for girls either. Boys can get into the fun with the less “girly” Clip Board…

My Friendship Bracelet Maker retails for $19.99 and is intended for children 6 and up. The MyFBM.com website has great video tutorials and oodles of patterns (they’ve come a long way since my day…). You’ll find them at Michaels, Toys R Us and Hobby Lobby among other places nationwide.

WIN IT! One lucky winner will receive their product of choice from the MyFBM.com website. Enter below by doing any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each):

• Visit MyFBM.com and tell me your favorite product.
• Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page
• Like The Pixel Boutique on Facebook
• Like Movies On Demand on Facebook
• Follow My Friendship Bracelet Maker on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway using the hash tag #myfbmgiveaway up to once a day
  Need a suggestion? Tweet this: “A perfect gift for the crafty girl on your list…http://is.gd/OlaHoT #myfbmgiveaway”

Giveaway ends December 12  at 11:59 pm MST.

You may remember a while back when I shared our Friday night tradition. Well, its still alive and well and still something our family looks forward to most weeks.

We’ve tried all the popular movie venues (besides paying eleventy billion dollars to go to the actual movie theatre). For us, waiting a few months for a movie to be released to video is a small price to pay in exchange for some nice savings. We’ve done Netflix, Redbox and even the local library. But by far the most convenient and fastest way to view the new releases we’re waiting for is with Movies on Demand.

With just a couple of clicks through the robust library, we have the movie of our choice for $4.99. And I love how I have it for 24 hours from the time I order it. A few movies on our wish list?

• Conan The Barbarian (available 11/22)
• Cars 2 (available now)
• Super 8 (available 11/22)
•  The Help (available not soon enough)

Movies on Demand has two Facebook apps for your entertainment as well…List It (where you can list your weekly top 5 movie choices and enter to win a $5 daily credit or a 43″ 3D TV) and my favorite, Click Your Flick where you can have your friends help you decide which movie to watch next.

WIN IT! Enter to win a movie prize pack… a $25 Visa Card, a Fast Five T-Shirt, and a Movies on Demand tote bag! (US entries only). Enter below by doing any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each):

• Leave a comment telling me what new movie you’re waiting to see.
• Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page
• Like The Pixel Boutique on Facebook
• Like Movies On Demand on Facebook
• Follow Movies On Demand on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway using the hash tag #moviesondemand up to once a day
  Need a suggestion? Tweet this: “Win a Movies On Demand movie pack (includes a $25 Visa card) http://is.gd/VWJmTy #moviesondemand”

Giveaway ends December 4  at 11:59 pm MST.

Disclosure: This promotional sponsored post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I was compensated for my time investment and work on this campaign. Thoughts are my own.

The winner of this giveaway is number #12, Sylvia!

It’s the last week of October and as we speak I type, it’s a cool 91 degrees here in the Old Pueblo. I’m so ready for the temperature to finally turn and the sun to release it’s furry.

But that’s part of life in the desert, I guess. Sometimes it’s late November before we can pull out our flannel sheets and sweaters and gloves.

You may remember last year when I shared with you about Isotoner’s® smarTouch gloves, specifically designed for use with touch screen devices. No more pulling off your right ( or left as the case may be…) to text or make a phone call.

Designed with Isotoner® stretch fabrics for proper fingertip fit, these gloves use a conductive thread embroidered on the index fingers and thumbs that sends an electrical impulse to touchscreen devices – allowing uninterrupted typing and texting in the cold.

I love mine. When I get to use them…ahem.

Well this year, Isotoner® has added new fabrics, sizes and colors to the smarTouch line.

Because proper fit is so important, Isotoner® has launched the Ultimate Misfit Gift contest. Submit a misfit gift you’ve received in the past, whether it’s an ugly sweater in the wrong size or a CD of a band you despise, and you could win big prizes, including gloves, iPads and a $5,000 holiday shopping spree. Simply upload a photo of your ultimate misfit gift and ask your friends to vote between now and December 5, 2011.

SmarTouch gloves retail from $14 to $42 and make a great gift for the holidays.

WIN IT! You can also enter here to win your own pair of smarTouch gloves, just in time for winter. Enter below by doing any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each):

• Leave a comment telling me what device(s) you would use the smarTouch gloves for?
  
• Enter the Ultimate Misfit Gift Contest and post your link in a comment
• Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page
• Like The Pixel Boutique on Facebook
• Like Isotoner® on Facebook
• Follow Isotoner® on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway using the hash tag #totesisotoner up to once a day
  Need a suggestion? Tweet this: “Don’t leave your touchscreen device in the cold! Enter to win SmartTouch Gloves by @totesisotoner http://is.gd/wkG2bY #totesisotoner”

Saturday we had the privilege of attending the Disney on Ice Toy Story 3 show here in Tucson.

It was colorful…

entertaining…

and fun for all ages…

The first half of the show seemed to focus more on the general Toy Story movie series. Then in the second half, there were more of the Toy Story 3 specific characters and elements. It was really interesting to see how the producers translated the story from big screen to ice. There were flying army men, fireworks and laser lights to boot.

Our seats weren’t anything to write home about but they got the job done. There was a wide age range in attendance but the toddlers were representin’ for sure. Although, I my 10-15 year olds thoroughly enjoyed the show and picked up on the subtleties.

After the show we enjoyed some In n Out with Becca and Chelsea and their too-cute kids. The consensus seemed to be the same…enjoyed be all. If you liked the movie, you’ll like the on-ice show. I’d recommend catching the show if it comes to your town!

I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to this show. All opinions, as always, are my own.