Category Archives: Shopping

Everything Else, Shopping, Style

Best cardigan ever is back at Costco! Barefoot Dreams Knock Off Cardigan

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This post contains amazon referral links for your convenience.

The Barefoot Dreams Knock-off Cardigan has been one of my most popular posts to date, which is why I’m super excited to update it YET AGAIN!  In my opinion, these are an excellent dupe for the Barefoot Dreams Cardigan and I would definitely consider them a wardrobe must-have. Click here to check out this awesome copycat Cardigan by Max & Mia on Amazon. (Please note these are still the 2020 stock, keep reading for current styles)

This week I spotted the Max & Mia Barefoot Dreams Knock-off Cardigans in new colors! Black, a light beige, and a cooler red (compared to the rusty red from the last run).

Quite a few years ago, I read about the Barefoot Dreams Cardigan from a blog. They are pretty pricey (click here for the Barefoot Dreams Cardigan) but I was able to hunt down a gently used one on Ebay and I absolutely loved it. Until I ruined it in an unfortunate laundry disaster (not my first one, either). So sad.

Ever since then, I had been watching for a deal on the real thing, but it was just really out of my budget (although having owned one, I do kind of think they are worth it). I had recently even been googling “Barefoot Dreams knock-off cardigan” hoping to find something similar at a lower price point. I never got lucky enough to find it, a few years ago I stumbled across exactly what I was looking for completely by accident.

This week 12/8/22 at my Costco!

This Travel Cardigan by Max & Mia is a perfect dupe for the Barefoot Dreams  Circle Cardi and Costco’s version is only $25!  I can’t believe how similar they are and after owning them forever, I can tell you that they hold up really well!


Click to shop the Costco version online!

Pro Tip:  I do feel that the sizing is a little inconsistent across the colors. I have not tried this year’s version because as much as I love cardigans, I have plenty and the only ones I have been wearing are my Wool ones. I have pretty much switched my wardrobe completely over to wool as a matter of fact. I still think these are absolutely fabulous cardigans, a great winter layer, and a perfect Christmas present also!

The only difference I want to point out is that the Costco cardigan is recommended to be hand wash rather than machine wash. That’s kind of a bummer, if you ask me, but not a deal breaker. I have machine washed mine cold and gentle, letting them hang dry which seems to have worked just fine.

Have you seen these at your Costco yet! Check out my previous post for fit details! Looking for more styling posts and clothing reviews? Click over to my Wool tab!

Deal Alert, Favorites, Shopping, Style, Women, Wool

Woolx Lola Joggers Mini-Review + Coupon Code!

So continues my obsession with Wool Clothing. The more I try, the more I LOVE! Scroll to the bottom of the post for links to more of my favorites.

Save 22% with my code WXJOGGERS
(Should work on anything on the site)

The coupon code is no longer available, but if you sign up for texts, there are lots of sales!
I went back and forth about ordering the WOMEN’S MERINO FLEX® LOLA JOGGER because I just wasn’t sure if they would be flattering or if they would work for my wardrobe. They are really expensive, to be honest, so I needed them to pair with a LOT of my wardrobe and become a real workhouse. Also, I don’t wear much in athletic wear. I was looking for some pants that were comfortable like leggings but would work in a more church/office casual type vibe since my style is pretty girly. I wanted these to be sort of a multipurpose travel pant that would go with anything, and I could wear from shopping to travel to church to a casual dinner out any time of year.

These Woolx Lola Joggers totally surpassed my hopes and are going to be awesome in my wardrobe. Just as chic as they are comfortable and flattering! I think they can totally pass for office casual. I will definitely wear them to church. I think they could work with heels but I’m not a heel girl, so I don’t have any to try. I might try some wedge booties though.

I’m getting these in grey and olive for Christmas but until then I’ll be wearing these black #woolxlolajoggers a ton! #woolx #woolxaffiliate #woollove #magicofwool #woolxlola #wooljoggers #momstyle #winterstyle #businesscasual #capsulewardrobe #christmasgiftidea #discountcode #savings #wishlist #minimalistwardrobe

Thanks for checking out all my Wool Reviews!
Wool& Camellia & Axis Legging Review
Wool& Stella Review
Wool& Mara Review
Building a Sustainable Wardrobe
How to Save Money on Wool& Dresses
How to Choose a Wool& Color

Everything Else, Favorites, Shopping, Style, Women, Wool

Wool& Camellia & Axis Cropped Leggings Review & Photo Shoot

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I waited so long for this dress by Wool&! I was looking for a classic, basic, soft, and comfortable black tank dress that would really stand up to my busy summer lifestyle and the Camellia by Wool& turned out to be the perfect solution. Besides the comfort factor, this dress relies on a blend of merino wool & nylon which means it has all the MAGIC of wool including durability, odor-resistance, temperature-regulating, and sustainable awesomeness! I truly love my Mara dress, so I couldn’t wait to try a warm-weather option.

If you’d like to check these products out in detail, I appreciate you using my affiliate links:

Click here to check out the whole selection from Wool& (Wooland). 
Want to jump right to the Camellia? Click here!
Don’t forget to grab your Wool& Axis Cropped Leggings. 

If you make a purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I loved this dress from the moment I tried it on! I am 5’5.5″ and about 160 lbs. I decided to size DOWN and go with a Small Long. I wanted this dress comfortably long and it fits me just how I hoped!

Let’s get the elephant out of the room. For some one who typically shops at thrift stores, this dress is quite an investment at $128, I admit it. Here are my reasons for sharing a product that is on the high end with my followers:

  1. Durability. Did you know that hundreds of women have worn Wool& dresses for 100 days in a row? It’s such a cool challenge and really proves that these dresses are super durable. If you are going to invest in a pricier clothing item, make sure it will last!
  2. Versatility. Many of us stick to lower end purchases for every day wear, but might “splash out” on a special occasion dress or outfit for a night out. I’m starting to think the exact opposite! Let’s invest in versatile pieces that can fit into our daily lifestyle year round and find deals on the one-wear items that we won’t be re-wearing again and again.
  3. Wonderful Woolly-ness. Back to the first paragraph in this post, remember all those features that make wool magical? Sustainability, Temperature-regulating, Easy-care, Odor-resistant, breathable and soft? Yes, those features are what make wool worth the investment and will make these items last so much longer!

I love the way the Camellia fits, looks, and feels! It’s a great every day look for my closet, and I think I could safely dress it up for a night out with some heals and the right accessories! Want to see it a little better? Check out my video review here. 

The best part about this dress is that I know it can be worn all year round! I plan to layer it up with sweaters, and boots, but for now I love pairing it with my favorite jean jacket. 

Many thanks to Wool& for sending me the dress and leggings for my review. I love working with small companies and this one is truly a gem!


Have you tried Wool yet? I’d love to hear your experience!

Stella Tee Review: https://youtu.be/AeU1rzWVw88
Wool& Mara Dress Review: https://youtu.be/4Kutkja7KHw

My outfits include Birkenstock Mayari, Birkenstock Pappillio Namica, and Buffalo Jean Jacket. My blue kimono and druzy necklace were thrifted. My fedora hat is from Shoppe 3130.

Thanks for shopping with me!

Everything Else, Fashion, Minimalism, Shopping, Style

Building a Sustainable Wardrobe

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You guys know that I’m a thrifter at heart. I was raised by thrifty parents and I just love the thrill of the hunt when it comes to shopping.  I’m a pretty easy size to fit (right in the middle of the road) so I tend to build my wardrobe with new pieces almost from scratch each year (with some exceptions of course). It’s worked well for me, but I have been wanting to be more deliberate about my wardrobe and choose pieces that will stand the test of time rather than serving me for just a season. In addition, I have been learning more about sustainable brands and have really wanted to focus on a middle ground between sustainability/quality/affordability. That spot will often fall at the thrift store for me, but I’m also exploring brands that stand out with sustainability as a core value.

Before we go any further, let’s define sustainability! What is it and why should we use it as a guide when buying clothing?

In my own words, sustainable fashion focuses on measured and deliberate movement towards more eco-friendly and socially-responsible practices within the entire framework of the business, from manufacturing, to production, to distribution and sales. Want more ideas on moving towards sustainability in your closet? Click here to read up on the topic!

Fast fashion hurts the earth and hurts people. There’s really no two ways about it. Sustainable fashion, on the other hand, seeks to right those wrongs and take the process in a more positive sustainable direction. So we should all be happy to see more steps taken in that direction, right? The problem is, sometimes we aren’t quite willing (or able) to pay for it, which I 100% understand since our budget for clothing is pretty low. Which is why shopping second hand kills about three birds with one stone (without bringing animal cruelty into the mix). You are saving money, saving the earth, and preventing over-consumption by not feeding the fast fashion monster.

At the same time, second-hand shopping can be hit-or-miss, time-consuming or simply unavailable depending on location. I’m also aware that many sizes are difficult if not impossible to purchase second hand. Online options for second hand clothing are becoming more and more prevalent (thredup, poshmark, ebay), but second-hand shopping still won’t solve all of our clothing needs all the time.

Fortunately, there are more sustainable brands stepping into the clothing arena, giving us more options for high quality clothing that won’t wind up in the landfill (at least any time soon). Higher standards for materials, packaging, labor and advertising will give us better options going forward. My next post will be a review of one of those brands that I’m really excited to share about! (Click here to read it!)

 

Everything Else, Fashion, Shopping, Style, Women

Stitch Fix Review, Tips, and Coupon Code!

I was excited to try Stitch Fix for the first time a few months ago when a friend passed along an awesome $75 credit. It seems like that kind of discount is fairly rare (and they expire quickly), so I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to try an online Stylist.

Want to try Stitch Fix? Here’s a $25 credit to get you started! It will give me $25 too, so thanks in advance for helping me earn free clothes!

I have received two boxes so far, and for the most part I have really been impressed with them. Of the 10 items I’ve received, everything has been something that fits well, flatters me, and is a style I like and would choose for myself (keep in mind that one was a necklace, as I discuss in my video).

Click here for my video review of my recent box, along with tips on getting clothes you love from Stitch Fix!

In my first Stitch Fix box, I received a dress, a cardigan, a necklace, jeans and a jean jacket. I liked every single item in the box. I decided the jean jacket and the cardigan were too similar to items in my closet and I didn’t really need any jewelry, so I kept the jeans and the dress. I really love both of those items and was amazed at how great they fit me!

For my second box, I received a pair of herringbone jeggings, a floral swing tank, a purple tank, a long kimono, and a cap sleeve mixed media floral shirt. I liked all of the items but decided to stick with keeping only the pants and the mixed media floral shirt. If I really needed to build a wardrobe, I would probably have kept 4/5 or even all 5 pieces. Since I am really just looking for a few boosts to my closet, I chose the two items that I liked the very best from the bunch, shown in the top photo on this post!

I’m including photos of the other items I was sent. I really did like everything! Another fun thing about Stitch Fix is that now you can order different colors in the items that you end up loving. I’m considering ordering another dress like the one I received because it fit me really well.

Have you tried Stitch Fix? Let me know what you think in the comments!

Deal Alert, Favorites, Shopping

Cheaper than Hanna Andersson: Matching Holiday Pajamas for the Family

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The Holiday Season is quickly approaching and one of our favorite ways to enjoy the cozy colder months is with matching holiday pajamas. Traditionally, we have invested in Hanna Andersson pajamas because they are incredible quality that really lasts from year to year (through child after child) but if you can’t find a deal they can be really pricey! Last year I found Christmas pajamas on a great sale in January or February but this year I’m scrambling in November.

The great thing is, more companies now make cotton pjs in family sizes and Amazon has a great selection right now, making them more affordable with our favorite 2-day-shipping. I really appreciate you clicking through my Amazon links which will help cover some of my family’s Christmas purchases (at no extra cost to you). 

So let me share what I’ve found! I’m only sharing pajamas that seem to have great reviews and most are also 100% cotton because we are obsessed with the softness and durability of our favorite Hannas!

Holiday Pajama Deals

First up, these Shelry Cotton Holiday PJs, in tons of sizes starting at only $12.99. There are traditional green white stripes, plus several festive prints including a really adorable Christmas Tree Truck style!

If you just need children’s sizes, these Shelry Striped Pajamas are the cheapest I could find for the traditional red and white or green and white striped sets in sizes 18 months through Kids 14. All sizes are only $11.99-$14.99 so these are a great deal! 

 

Hoping for a Red & Green option (with no stain-tempting white)? Here’s what I found from Leveret! This brand is a little pricier but I have found they have great quality and similar thickness to our favorite Hannas. (And still beat them price-wise).

Looking for something a little less traditional? I love this black and white Sykooria Christmas Family option with prices starting at only $16.59. There aren’t baby sizes for this style but this might be more fun for families with older kids like mine, since the style is a little more “cool”. 

I know a lot of families would abosolutely adore this PajamaGram Star Wars pattern! The pants for thsese are polyesther but seriously check out the cute pattern and these are priced starting at only $14.99.

Back to Red & White again, these Gold Treasure PJs are crazy affordable at only $9.90 each with limited sizing.  

This Yallet Christmas Family PJ listing starts at only $14.99 and includes lots of sizes. I love the plaid!

There are so many Christmas holiday pjs available on Amazon, with really affordable and unique styles. Click here to check out the whole selection and get ready for a cozy family holiday season!

This post uses affiliate links. Thank you for supporting ChasingSantee! 

 

 

Shopping, Style

Favorite Summer Shoes! FitFlops!

This post is going to be short & sweet, but I just wanted to quickly share these shoes that I LOVE.

Over the last year or so I’ve realized that I have plantar fasciitis and it’s so annoying! Shoes that I’ve loved in the past are totally not working any more. The strange thing about PF pain, is that even shoes that feel comfy when I’m wearing them, wind up causing pain later on. Even stranger, oftentimes my feet start hurting more when I am sitting or laying down then they did when I walked around all day. If you have pain in your heel, or pain that is worse when you are off your feet like I just described, you might have PF. Something easy you can do to alleviate the pain is to freeze a bottle of water and roll it under your foot. It works!

I have tried so many shoes lately and most of them have failed the test, but these FitFlops have quickly become my feet’s BFFs. I love how they feel when I walk, sit, stand and even later when I lay down to go to bed, my feet don’t hurt! It’s amazing!

Click here for the FitFlop Flare Slides!

There are so many styles to choose from and I can’t wait to replace more of my shoes with FitFlops! Click here for their entire collection on Amazon.

In case you didn’t realize, Fitflops makes more than just flip flops! There are some really cute flats and clogs also that I would love to get for Fall. Have you found shoes that help your Plantar Fasciitis? Please let me know what works for you!

This post contains affiliate links. 

Everything Else, Recipes, Shopping

SnoSpice Review!

As a blogger, I get a lot of comments and solicitation to my email address, but sometimes I get really cool start-up companies offering to send free stuff. And when those products involve ice cream, you know it’s going to be good. Thank you Brett from SnoSpice for sending us these yummy flavors for free and giving us a chance to review them!

SnoSpice Ice Cream Infusions were created to add fresh flavors to vanilla ice cream. All natural, no sugars, and vegan and lactose free; these are perfect for so many diets and best of all, Made in the USA (yes!!!)!

Directions: Sprinkle on ice cream, Stir and Enjoy! Ya’ll know recently I’ve been working on minimalism and one of the concepts I have really tried to adopt is carefully choosing products that are high quality and also serve multiple purposes. That means limiting spices and condiments as well for the sake of simplicity and space. So at first I thought perhaps these specialty ice cream spices wouldn’t quite fit into my cupboard. However, after testing them out I have found great uses for recipes far beyond ice cream. Yep, these flavor mix-ins are keepers for sure. Here are just a few of my ideas for spicing up your diet with SnoSpice!

*Homemade Banana Cream: This is a recipe my kids adore and it is amazing how deliciously smooth and creamy it is with only two ingredients: frozen bananas and milk! I can’t wait to try SnoSpice as an extra little kick to give us some different flavor options!

*Smoothies: We make smoothies ALL the time in our Vitamix and absolutely love trying different flavors. SnoSpices will be perfect for adding a little extra “something” to these healthy combos, especially since we try to keep added sugar very low.

*Gourmet Oatmeal: I’ve talked before about how much we love our oatmeal (check out one of my favorite recipes of all time here). I buy a HUGE carton at Costco and keep our pantry stocked at all times. The secret is adding a nice scoop of butter and whole milk; I promise you will never feel the same about oatmeal again. At this very moment, my Instant Pot is full of raisin oatmeal that my son flavored using Cinnamon for Optimists. We will definitely be using the other SnoSpice flavors in the future for our breakfasts!

Dairy-free Desserts: When I was breast-feeding my son, I had to cut out dairy, soy, grains and eggs. For awhile it felt like fruit and veggies were all I was eating and boy did I miss ice cream. I did finally find delicious coconut ice cream but the flavors were super limited. SnoSpice would have been perfect to “spice up” the vanilla and add some variety to an already pared down diet!

Fried Apples: I happened to be making this delicious copy cat recipe of Cracker Barrel’s fried apples (totally recommend, by the way). Instead of plain cinnamon, I added Cinnamon for Optimists as well as a few shakes of Lemon+Basil. These apples were a huge hit for the whole family and my husband told me to ditch my apple pie recipe and just use this dessert as filling in my homemade crust!

*Coffee stir-ins: Confession: I am addicted to coffee and am trying to break my equally strong addiction to coffee creamers. In effort to simplify my diet and cut out extra chemicals, I have been sticking with sugar and half & half. It turns out I absolutely love the Pumpkin Carriage SnoSpice for coffee! I am not usually a huge pumpkin fan but this is delicious without having that artificial taste and it helps me cut back on calories by adding less sugar.

*Soups: last week I made Meatball Tortellini Soup from Great Food Fast in our Instant Pot. I used homemade bone broth from a good ole’ Costco rotisserie chicken and seasoned it with Lemon+Basil SnoSpice. Let me just say, this was the best version of this recipe we’ve made and it just might be because of the SnoSpice.

*Ice Cream: My entire family (four year old, ten year olds, hubby and me) really enjoyed stirring these flavors into vanilla ice cream. The children all loved Pumpkin Carriage the best, but surprisingly enough Lemon+Basil was my favorite! It’s the best of citrus plus sweet plus a little something else (obviously, the basil!). It’s nothing I ever would have thought to try but I can’t wait to taste it again. My husband preferred the Cinnamon for Optimists. Honestly, Turmeric’d was the only we tried that wasn’t a big hit for us, however, I am still very interested in using it in different recipes to take advantage of the health value I keep hearing about!

SnoSpice sent me their products to try out for free,  but this review is 100% honest and written by me. Thanks, SnoSpice!

Deal Alert, Shopping

Stuff we love: Get it in time for Christmas!

Today is the last day to order Prime items for Christmas delivery! I wanted to share some of our very favorite items in a quick list (in no particular order). Many of these I have mentioned before, so I won’t elaborate on WHY I love them in this post. Remember, I am an Amazon affiliate so if you choose to purchase I receive a very small commission.

Please, be sure to check each item in your cart to ensure it is still available in time for Christmas. As we all know, Amazon changes by the hour!

Thanks for reading & Merry Christmas!

 

  1. Essential Oil Diffuser
  2. Favorite EO blends: Germ Fighter, Relax Synergy Roll on (not Prime), Let it Go Synergy. I am a big fan of Plant Therapy! I especially love that they have a Kid-Safe line of oils.
  3. Instant Pot
  4. Vitamix Blender
  5. Boogie Board
  6. Marpac Sound Machine
  7. Himalayan Sea Salt Lamp (I love my lamp but I do not know the brand, so I am linking to one that has high reviews)
  8. Blokus Family Game (won’t arrive before Christmas)
  9. Kids’ Sonicare Toothbrush (great price at $29.99 after clipping coupon)
  10. Adult Sonicare Toothbrush (great price at $29.99 after clipping coupon)
  11. Monopoly Deal
  12. Chi Hair Straightener
  13. Chi Hair Dryer (can’t seem to find my particular dryer, so linking to the options)
  14. PlayMags Magnetic Blocks
  15. Crocs Olivia Leopard Print Flats
  16. Ugg Classic Boots
  17. Sneaky Snacky Squirrel (great price but won’t arrive before Christmas)
  18. Boon Grass
  19. Contigo Mugs
  20. Yeti Mug
  21. Klean Kanteens
  22. 5 Minute Marvel Stories
  23. Trixie Belden Mystery Series (Twin Tween Seal of Approval)
  24. Fridge Menu Board
  25. Le Creuset Dutch Oven
  26. Mini Kick Scooter
  27. Ipod Shuffle (Twin Tween Seal of Approval)
  28. The More of Less (I know, ironic in my long list of “stuff”)
  29. Imaginext Super Heroes (picky preschooler seal of approval)
  30. Kindle and Kindle Fire

Everything Else, Favorites, Health, Review, Shopping, Women

Just for Women: Part 2

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I mentioned in Part 1 that I have become a loyal convert to reusable feminine care solutions. I am so much happier dealing with “that time of the month” since I switched from disposable products. My first menstrual cup was the Diva Cup and it was revolutionary for me. However, recently I have been searching for something that would work a little better for me, and I am excited to share about it now!

FemmyCycle was kind enough to send me a free reusable cup to test and honestly review. I did not receive any compensation for this review, nor did I commit to writing anything other than my honest opinion about the product. Luckily, my honest review turns out to be very positive!

Here’s why I was really excited to try the Femmy Cycle. It has the largest capacity of any cup I could find. Also, it comes in three different sizes which includes a low cervix version. Finally, it has a unique leak proof design that no other cup offers. A few other things that make it different from the others: it’s softer, cleaning instructions do not suggest boiling, and it’s suggested lifespan is only two years.

Down to the details:

Is it comfortable? YES. I found it more comfortable by far than others I have used.

Is it easy to use? After practice, sure. Like most products in this category, it does have a learning curve.

Is it effective? For me, VERY. Performance was better for me than anything else I have used. Keep in mind that every woman is different, so results may vary.

Does the spill-proof feature work? To my amazement, YES.

I really like the FemmyCycle and will continue using it. I do think that the design makes it a little trickier to learn for a first-timer, but I think it’s a great option for those who have trouble with other cups or just need better protection. I’m not sure why it would need to be replaced every two years, when other cups’ suggested life span are closer to a decade. It’s slightly pricey compared to other versions on the market, but most of us can overlook the cost which is minimal over the life of the product. Women should be aware of all their options, and FemmyCycle is a great one!

FemmyCycle was kind enough to send me a free reusable cup to test and honestly review. I did not receive any compensation for this review, nor did I commit to writing anything other than my honest opinion about the product. Luckily, my honest review turns out to be very positive!

Everything Else, Family, Reflections, Shopping

Dear Target,

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Dear Target,

Yep, it’s me, your old friend Leah. I remember shopping at your store when I was a little girl, before you got your makeover and became the trendy discount alternative that you are today. When I got married, I registered at Target. When I had babies, I registered at Target. My Target card is the only store credit card I own. The cartwheel App is on my IPhone and I share Target deals on Facebook frequently. When I was a bleary-eyed mama to baby twins and could barely put one foot in front of the other, I clicked their Graco carseats (from Target) into their stroller (from Target) and I went to Target. My fussy babies seemed distracted by the bright colors and friendly voices. Somehow I felt like my life would go back to normal, as I did something normal with all the other normal folks pushing their red carts from aisle to aisle.

Target

It became a joke on the weekends that my husband just knew he would end up having to go with me there for one thing or the other. I have reviewed and raved about your store brands (your baby wipes are the only ones I will use), I have blogged about my love for your company and I’ve snapped selfies of myself as I enjoy a blissful child-free trip to your store. Your store associates know me, my house is full of white and red handled bags, and my children can navigate your toy department better than some of the employees. And all that was before you added a Starbucks.

I am not alone. Target has become the retail home away from home for many enthusiastic shoppers, and a particular favorite for moms. I constantly run into friends at Target. I have always felt catered to, appreciated, and included at your store. I love you, Target!

When I saw your announcement about the bathroom policy this week, I felt like I had been slapped in the face. Slapped in the face by a friend, no less. A place I had felt welcomed, a place beloved and familiar had just made a change that would alienate thousands of their loyal customers. This has nothing to do with politics or even religion. It is just about common decency, common sense, and public safety. I have no problem sharing a bathroom with a transgender woman. I’ll pass her the paper towels just like I will for any other woman. But opening the bathroom door to male or female regardless of biological sex based on their claim of identity is dangerous.

I had just started letting my nine year old girls go together into some bathrooms, but I am still nervous. Strangers are strangers after all, male or female. With the protected opportunity of entering a female public restroom you are giving a gift to the community; the predator community, which is sadly much larger than the transgender community. Now every customer is vulnerable. Any crime that is committed in a Target dressing room or bathroom will be clouded with confusion because the space is now virtually unisex. There is no way of gauging a person’s motives or thoughts and now it will be harder to prove the guilt of any man because he has been invited to a space where women and children are most vulnerable.  The countless women who have been sexually assaulted and abused by men will now feel like they are being victimized all over again during a simple shopping trip. In effort to show compassion and inclusion to a few, you have alienated a huge group of parents and women. I hope it’s worth it.

I have never participated in a boycott and I didn’t expect to, but this issue is too big, too dangerous to ignore. I will be going to Target today. I will be returning the merchandise that I have at home brand new and unused. I will be deleting my cartwheel app. I will be cutting up my RedCard. I will have to explain to my children why we may be shopping at Walmart, which none of us will enjoy.

Dear Target, I love you. I will even forgive you. But I can’t be around you when you are making such dangerous life choices. Please write if you change your mind.

Sincerely,

Leah Prescott

Everything Else, Review, Shopping, Women

Just for Women: Part 1

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In the interest of full disclosure, please realize that I have become an Amazon partner, so I will receive a small (really, minuscule) compensation for any items purchased through the following affiliate links. As ya’ll know I have been shamelessly raving about my favorite things for years, so I just thought I would finally try to get a little cash flow from my role as consumer enabler. Thanks for taking a look at my recommendations!


TMI ahead: If you are a guy, or squeamish, or not open to, well, open-ness, you might want to stop here. WARNING: THIS POST IS NOT ABOUT CHOCOLATE. (The truth is, I crave chocolate all month long, not just at that “particular time”, but there is a traditional association with chocolate and a women’s menstrual cycle so I went with it.) You have been duly warned.

I have always had a miserable time with my period. The medical consensus is that I probably have endometriosis or a similar condition that causes severe and extended symptoms. It’s not a fun time (and it lasts a long time). I decided years ago that I was going to find the absolute best menstrual solutions. I stubbornly believe women (or any consumer really) shouldn’t be satisfied with sub-par products simply because they are mainstream. So if there was something better out there, in the name of Aunt Flo, I wanted to know about it!

I’m here to tell you, over the last decade I have tried it all: multiple brands and types of disposable pads and tampons, disposable menstrual cups, several different reusable menstrual cups, and multiple brands of reusable pads. Now, every woman is different and we all have different needs. But my experience has been that reusable options are DRAMATICALLY better than their disposable counterparts.

Years ago, I switched to a reusable menstrual cup and I would never, ever go back. It’s more comfortable, convenient and reliable. It offers substantial financial savings and less risk of TSS. It’s easier to store and travel with (one small item rather than a big box of supplies). It’s a wonderful choice from an environmental perspective. There have been many concerns about traditional disposable products and I have decided I am much more comfortable with medical grade silicone than bleached cotton blends that could cause irritation or even encourage bleeding. There are truly more benefits than I have time to list. The only negatives that I can think of are 1) there is a learning curve and it may require some practice and 2) you sometimes have to shop around to find the right product, which can be pricey. You will still be saving a ton, though! Check out this post at Bargain Babe that talks about the possible financial savings of reusable feminine care products!

I want all of my friends to know about ALL of the options and I am happy to answer any questions you may have; just email me at [email protected]. I am happy to point you toward resources that will give more info about the different products available. In Part 2, I will share a review of a product I am so excited to share with you. I have been given a FemmyCycle Cup for testing and review and I can’t wait to tell you about my experience. It has all the benefits I love plus some innovative features and options that are brilliant!