Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Crowdtap and Old Navy Chapter 3

This year I have taken an interest into the world of try and tells.  There are so many programs out there waiting for you to get in and help...then they reward you with wonderful opportunities!!  Crowdtap has been the ultimate thus far and I will proudly admit that I check in with them daily.  You never know what they have up their sleeve.

Right now if you logged into my account you would see so much going on.  The most recent 'action' I had completed was the Old Navy shorts sample and share.  I signed up, answered a few questions and patiently waited to hear if I was what they were looking for.  Yup!  Few weeks later I got my very anticipated, 'YOU have been ACCEPTED email' and it was as easy as logging in and it was a go.

Shortly after a package arrived containing a welcome letter and 2 rare coupons.  One for me and when for me to share with a friend.  It was to be a date!! FREE AND FREE. One of the coupons was faulty so they sent a replacement sent straight away then suggested I use the other 'good one' to make it for 3 of us.  How generous!!??

Since it was for three people to participate, I met up with my mother and sister.  We are the quite different shapes and ages so I thought this would be an opportunity to really give some true opinions.
They both really didn't get the whole....'we don't have to pay anything?' idea so it was funny.

The section and selection was impressive.  Loved the available styles and colors but my first thought was that there would be no way I could pull off the short styles and no way my mother would even attempt them.  I ran around and gathered most every style and headed to the dressing room. My mother tried on the longer Bermuda styles and liked the plain cut khaki ones.  Originally her heart was set on the cuffed army green pair but the fit was horrible on both her and I.  She is tiny and I'm size four so I was a little surprised.  Both my sister and I tried on a bunch of the short styles because the plaids and surfer prints were just fantastic BUT again the shorts were just inappropriately short.  My sister had her heart set on a particular pair she saw online and couldn't find them either.  For a young girl of 21 I was very surprised that she couldn't find a thing except for a pair of black shorts.
Now, I love Old Navy and this is not my first share.  I had done a workout active wear one last fall that was absolutely amazing AND recently a dress extravaganza that was also so great I couldn't even pick just one....THEN went back and bought more dresses I was so pleased.  THIS share and try had been my least favorite.  Although, we all did find a pair I think it left us to leave a little disappointed that the shorts are not tailored towards 'everyday' women.

Overall it was a pretty good experience.  I am always so grateful to Crowdtap for keeping us people involved and providing such awesome opportunities for regular old people like me.  I was also pleased as always with the staff at the Old Navy we frequent.  I have never met an unpleasant worker.  It makes me want to shop there even more.  We left the store with new shorts, me , I was actually excited to sport my comfy black linen shorts the following day.

If you think about the target group for Old Navy, I don't think this particular line meets their needs.  I'd think it should target the female more curvy woman.... Teens are in the abercrombie and aero phase.  The women of today who shop for their young kids themselves and husbands/boyfriends are the folks who make the money for Old Navy.  It would have been more successful for them if they had taken this into consideration.  I think some real morals on modestly need to be addressed as well.  So, I enjoyed trying but it left me with more than a pair of shorts...I left thinking how we could better dress our families and our own bodies.


Mom in her khaki Bermuda Shorts.

My sister sporting her super comfy and plattering black cotton shorts

My pair of choice was a relaxed linen short with belt.  A tad longer than the majority of shorts we tried on.

Monday, May 28, 2012

May...in the nick of time

The month just came and went.  Hours use to do that, then weeks, now its months going by like the snap of the fingers.  Life has just been so ridiculously busy but equally enjoyable.   The old Jenny would refuse to let this go and blog my little heart out but I just cant go there.  I will settle for a sweet recap and move forward from here.

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May was the end of the dance year for Addy.  Her recital was on the 4th and Nana and Grampa came to cheer her on with us.  It was easier to watch this year without all the water works.  Years past I had been a blubbering mess. Watching her move and exude confidence swelled my heart but it was more with pride then with sadness at time lost. She is growing into such a wonderful little person.  I am truly enjoying being there to witness each new day with her.

 Proud Nana and Grampa.
 Miss Karen, whom Addy dearly loves, has made dance a truly enjoyable experience for her.
Not many photos were taken but this is one seriously proud Mommy.
The screen introducing her groups number.  Addys name in lights!!

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We ventured out for dinner at Papa and Grammys home for the first time with the boys. Addy has been so many times but we were too scared to bring them..lol. They did so awesome.  I was nervous they would wreck the place and beocme so busy it was no longer enjoyable for us but I was so very surprised at how relaxing it was.  We needed that!!







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Addison also started her first year of  T-ball.  She said she didnt want to do it and insisted she not but the first moment on the field it was like a light bulb went off in her head....like, woah....this is what I was made to do.  We will never make her do anything she doesnt want to but we want her to give it all a try.  This is the perfect example of why.

 First hit EVER!
 Looking ready to go. SO focused, its quite amazing for her.
Bend and scoop.  She was having so much fun!
Here she is ready to hit it out of the park.  It was her first real baseball game.  I was so proud!!  Mom, Dad, George and Drew were on the sidelines cheering on our little slugger.

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Addy is nearing the end of the school year.  She continues to dress herself and enjoy an interesting sense of style.


The boys continue to keep up with their status as ' double trouble'.  Its one thing to the next around here.  With them there is abolutely no interest in what they are doing, just in the reaction that they get from the beahvior.  Oh Lord....grant me patience!!!  hahaha

 Mom....George did it.  I mean Addy did it.  I mean.....I dont know what I mean.

 Second computer that is on the fritz thanks to two very cute little smiley boys.

 On . Off.  On. Off.  Plllleeeaaaaeeeeee.

The second Mom of the house helps keep a watchful eye.  She has a little naughty streak of her own but without her the boys would probably get loose.

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Mid month I turned 34.  Its hard to understand sometimes that I jumped from young and carefree, 18 and my whole life ahead of me.  It doesnt seem possible really.  Its true and beautiful at the same time.  Here I am, happy as a clam in life.  A devoted husband, beautiful home, love filled life and 3 healthy and happy babies.  Heres to AT LEAST another 34 years with these fantastic people.

Thank you for coming over Papa and Grammy and making Moms birthday so special.  We love dipping pizza!
...and we are obsessed with jelly beans.

 After dinner we broke into a delicousCarvel ice cream cake.
George takes a moment to flirt with grammy and pay her in smiles.
 This is so great!!
More ice cream Mom...this Koo Koo Kala aint ready yet!
Love.  Thank you for loving us.  Thank you for loving me.

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So there you have it...some of it at least.  There was more to the lovely month but youre just gonna have to wait for it.  This Mom is up too late and needs to curl up beside the best snuggle baby there ever was, Ms. Addy Lee.

It is surely a blessed life we lead. 

"For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."
Isaiah 55:12