This spring, the new Chambana-based fashion blog Closet Hacks will launch, authored by Chambanamoms contributor Erin Nieto, also known as the Househunting Mom, and longtime blogger, photographer and townie Sheila Daniels.

For the coming weeks before their launch, the Closet Hacks will team up to provide a series of articles here at Chambanamoms.com that will start the journey. Their mission: Find wonderful shining examples of fashion among the faces and places of Champaign-Urbana and deconstruct the magic for themselves (and you!). Is it possible for two moms in the Midwest?  They aim to find out.

In the meantime, they would like to introduce themselves by way of how their “fashion pasts” are informing their current fashion conundrums:

Erin:

Closet Hacks stylewatcher and Chambanamoms contributor Erin Nieto, circa 1986.

For me, I think it was much easier to play with fashion when I was in my teens and 20s (I’m 41 now, so I’m speaking with nostalgia about the ’80s and ’90s here).

And play I did.  Clothes provided a spark. I loved the feeling of being excited about clothes, about what they looked like, what they might look like on me (or what they might look like on fire), and how they could shape my identity.  Through clothes, I could play at being what I wanted to be and still have the freedom to change my mind and try something different.

I loved observing the interplay between what I wore, how I felt about myself, and what others thought of me.  Daring to step just over the line sometimes, into uncharted territory: multicolored hairdo, spiked wristband and Doc Marten boots here, Swept updo with little elegant vintage black cocktail dress there.

And I had the best fashion role model a girl could dream of: A Very Stylish Mama with a degree in fashion design and a similar appetite for the fun in clothes.  Above all, she taught me that great fashion can (and does) come from anywhere: from a pattern and the sewing machine, from the thrift store, from the Golden Mile.  She has excellent intuition about fashion, and her intuition was to let me play to the fullest with this stuff.  What an excellent gift that was.

Erin Nieto today.

So it wasn’t really until my 30s that I began to let the “what others think” observation drive the bus.  I was career minded; working at the university and trying to be a role model to the students who populated my classrooms.  My preconceived notions of what an instructor should look like governed what I bought and what I wore and how I did (or didn’t do) my hair.  That clothing spark was dying a slow and painful death.

And now, today, sitting here as a chronically exhausted mom of two young boys under 5, self-employed and starting to think again after a handful years what kinds of things I should have in my wardrobe for when spring arrives (oh, the joy of finally parting with maternity clothes!), I would love to re-ignite the spark.

But I’m kinda lost.

—–

Sheila:

Closet Hacks stylewatcher Sheila Daniels, circa 1986.

My earliest memories of fashion were of Lucile Ball. I remember watching “Here’s Lucy” and swooning over the pointy-toed pumps worn with a pencil skirt. I loved her bright lipstick paired with pedal pushers and fitted blouse for a casual outfit. This was my vision of femininity as a young girl, and it had a profound influence on what I thought I should be wearing as an adult.

By the time I was a tween (which is before there were ‘tweens) I was poring over the fall “Vogue” magazine, shopping at yard sales and thrift stores in search of understanding. What I really wanted was a path to reconcile the Ideal (capital “I”) with the reality of an awkward and strange kid trying to fit in.

I found my way by breaking the rules. If dresses were popular, I wore pants. If long hair with feathered bangs were “it,” mine was cut short like a boy’s. I knew I couldn’t fit it, so I had no interest in even trying. In that rebellion I found total freedom. Sometimes I was a punk, other times, a hippy. It really depended on my mood. Clothing was a costume that I wore that expressed how I felt to the world. It also defined how the world felt about me and I liked that. I had control.

Sheila Daniels today.

When I became an adult, mom of two, working, wife, and all that social and personal expectation, I was stripped bare of all that had come before. Had I forgotten who I was or was I just not the same person? It doesn’t really matter. I’ve been starting fresh. Different body. New interests. Confidence.

Having fun is just the cherry on top.

——

We hope that you’ll join us in our journey to root out the best of what Chambana has to offer, through its shops and through its fashionable people — looking for the eye catching, the innovative, the exciting, the good fit, the flattering, the classic, the dressy, the casual — all right here in the place where we live.  We have cameras, and we’re not afraid to use them.  But we’ll need your help.

Can moms in Chambana be fashionable? Like us on Facebook, follow our tweets, and read our coming articles on Chambanamoms. We’d love to hear from you!

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My husband and I are both products of public school. I guess I’ll go the extra step and say that we’re happy products of public school, although we both had our issues with bullying and the like — which, of course, can happen in any school setting.

We think the Champaign school system seems great. Really, we do. Still, we have chosen to send our kids to a local private school. We’re happy with this decision, but it’s good to perennially pause and reflect on our kids’ experience in light of the path we didn’t choose: public school.

School uniforms narrow the outfit choices and diminish what-to-wear arguments. Credit: Flickr, Mr Moss

If we’re happy with our decision, then why should we pause and reflect, you might ask? Because the nagging thought that we’re paying for something twice rankles a bit. How necessary is it for us to fund the local public schools through our taxes and pay hundreds of dollars a month for private school? I’m still not sure about that. But, I’ll tease out some of the issues, one at a time, in this series.

Issue one: School uniforms.

I have to be honest, I thought I’d hate school uniforms. Or, more accurately, I thought I’d hate the daily battles my kids would mount over having to wear them.

Turns out, those fights never really came to pass, and I L-O-V-E school uniforms.

There are no fights over endless outfit choices, no “You can’t wear your favorite shirt because it’s dirty,” no line-drawing about what is and isn’t appropriate to wear. The uniform is the uniform.

A surprising upside to wearing uniforms, I think, is the fact that as long as the components remain relatively unsoiled, a child can wear the exact same clothes two days in a row without any social backlash. No one is the wiser, no one cares. Oh, how I love the uniform.

And did I mention the uniform closet? At our school, parents donate outgrown uniforms to a communal take-what-you-need closet. This means that I’ve been able to outfit my kids for less than what would have been our public school clothing budget.

Finally, I like how tidy and formal my kiddos look when they leave in the morning. Jack, who a year ago wouldn’t let me put anything with buttons or a collar over his head, looks quite the dapper little gentleman now. And Kate in her “jumper”? Priceless.

People are always quick to point out, too, that uniforms are the great equalizer. No one is able to stand out — for better or for worse — because of his or her clothing if the school espouses uniforms. I suppose that is as true as it could possibly be (which is to say, it’s sort of true).

The upshot? Uniforms = score one for the private school.

Next issue: choice of daily schedules (or, lack thereof).

What has been your experience with/without school uniforms? Share in the comments!

Rachael McMillan just took part-time job number 5,482: teaching sixth- and seventh-grade history at Campus Middle School for girls. She also tutors at The Reading Group and serves as the education coordinator for Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer in downtown Champaign. She is totally in love with her Chambana life, which she shares with husband Scott, kindergartner Kate, and first-grader Jack.

Related posts:

1. Public School vs. Private School, Round 4: A Winner is Named (Sort of)
2. Public School vs. Private School, Round 3: A Safe Environment
3. Public School vs. Private School, Round 2: Schedules

The season of the road trip has begun. If for you this means you’ll be on the receiving end of some couch-flopping friends/relatives, right now you might be wondering where to take them during their visit.

Rest assured, fun will be had by all. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: The great thing about living here is that C-U has the amenities of a larger city coupled with the charm of a rural setting. There’s a little something for everyone.

The sculptures at Urbana's Meadowbrook Park are entertainment all their own. Credit: Flickr, Vlad & Marina Butsky

This got me thinking about the whole city cousin/country cousin cliché, as in where to take a city cousin to showcase the charming small-town aspects of central Illinois life, and vice-versa for a country cousin. So, I’ll be dividing my advice along those lines: First, I’ll list some places to take a city cousin to demonstrate the ample charms of life on the Grand Prairie. Then, I’ll dish out tips for giving a country cousin a dose of city life.

Of course, you should feel free to mix and match ideas from Columns A and B. And, you should most DEFINITELY feel free to add suggestions of your own.

City Cousin

Deduct points for creativity if you must, but you can’t go wrong by kicking off a guest’s visit with a trip to the Market at the Square in Urbana. This is a multi-tasker, really: You can enjoy a nice breakfast (my family goes for the sausage and/or egg items at Fryer Tuck’s and sweets from The Muffin Man) while you pick up amazing fresh ingredients to cook with during the visit. Your city cousin may have regular access to McCormick & Schmick’s, but I doubt she’s ever tasted anything like one of Triple S Farms’ rib eye steaks cooked on your grill.

After the market, I would suggest heading south for a swing through Arthur so that cuz can get a taste of sharing the road with horse-pulled buggies. While there, you can visit the Great Pumpkin Patch (if open for the season) or quaint Rockome Gardens in nearby Arcola, get some yummies from The Homestead Bakery, or swing by Beachy’s Bulk Foods for a Wilbur Buds chocolate fix.

Continue south for a tasty fast food lunch at The Burger King in Mattoon — no, not the home of the Whopper — and then on to nearby Lerna (via Charleston) for a true Lincoln-slept-here experience at the Lincoln Log Cabin and museum. Our family went there last summer on a whim, and we were all surprised by how enjoyable the experience was. The interpreters blew our minds. My kids still think they time traveled somehow.

More ideas along these lines: take your guest to pick your own fruits and veggies at one of our local farms/orchards, stroll through restored prairie at Meadowbrook Park, enjoy the critters at Prairie Farm, join a sky-watching event led by the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society, or attend a fun fair or festival.

Country Cousin

Shopping, dining, nightlife, museums, fabulous spa treatments — so much awaits your rural relations when they come to hang out in C-U for a spell.

Again, I suggest starting out with breakfast. This time, though, take your gang to downtown Champaign for a yummy meal with a side of people watching. If your cousin is a diner person, try Sam’s Café or Merry Ann’s for tried-and-true local breakfast favorites. If she’s more a pastries-and-fancy-coffee type, Café Kopi, Aroma Café, and/or Pekara should strike her fancy.

Stick around downtown to shop at locally-owned stores such as Carrie’s, Circles Boutique, The Dandelion, Copasetic Consignments, and (my own beloved employer) Ten Thousand Villages. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to shopping locally in the C-U area; consult this list for other places to visit.

To give Country Cousin a taste — literally — of the variety our slightly-urban setting affords, consider taking her to World Harvest (especially on a Saturday between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when free samples are available), Strawberry Fields or Common Ground for exotic, local, and/or organic eats.

As for dining, ahhh, where to begin. There are as many choices for having a fine, fun or fancy meal in this town as there are potential cravings.

For a truly top-tier dining experience, you may want to book a sitter and head to Bacaro (to settle this debate once and for all, according to chef/owner Thad Morrow it’s pronounced “bach-a-row”), where guests feel like Top Chef judges. It’s not going to be a cheap meal, but it should be a memorable one.

Of course, this is just a starting point. The options are endless. Blogger Lisa Morgan has done her best to chronicle all of the culinary choices available to us in the area — complete with fabulous high-color illustrations — so I’ll just direct you to her hyper-adequate blog Champaign Taste to help you decide where to eat during your guest’s visit.

Similarly, look to the217.com to get the scoop on happenings in bars, clubs and theaters around town. For me, it took one visit to The Embassy (R.I.P.) to fall hopelessly in love with this area. I’d say the odds are good that your guest will be similarly enamored of one of our local venues.

When it comes to museums, both Krannert Art Museum (which will reopen on Aug. 23 after building renovations) and Spurlock Museum hold their own as excellent places to view art and artifacts. But there are also a number of smaller area museums with more specific focuses, any of which could charm an out-of-towner.

And when it’s time to visit the spa, let me just say this: Yes, Spa Envy is one of our sponsors. However, I can honestly give them my heartiest personal endorsement. I’ve had a facial and a massage there, and both rank among the best of those types of treatments I’ve ever had.

Let’s see, what am I forgetting? Where have you taken out-of-town guests to make them super-jealous of you for living here?

Rachael McMillan is a former high school teacher, social worker, cake decorator and just about any other profession you can think of do-er. In addition to writing, tutoring and giving talks about fair trade, she is currently staying home with the highly entertaining Jack and Kate.

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Kerris Lee is a born entrepreneur, a musician and a proud dad. Born and raised in California, he moved to North Carolina for his high school years. While there, he and a friend founded a clothing company that attracted investment from NFL star Torry Holt, and marketed its line to clients in Japan, London and New York. The company was eventually sold, but Lee hasn’t lost the entrepreneur bug.  Today, Lee works for IT start-up Cazoodle, which has offices in the Research Park at the University of Illinois. He and his wife, Lucy,  have two boys; 3-year-old Avery and 1-year-old Oliver.

Kerris Lee. Photo provided

See why we think Kerris Lee is a Chambana dad to know.

You work for a start-up at the Research Park and you genuinely enjoy going to work everyday. What’s your secret?
I, for one, enjoy working for a start-up because I have the opportunity to be a part of the ground-level stage of the company. What keeps me happy is having the ability to make a positive impact to our company each day.

You were a young entrepreneur, starting your own clothing line at 14. Do you have any ideas for how we can teach our kids to be more entrepreneurial?
Yes, spending time with your kids on family chores can really facilitate certain skill sets that can help kids in the business world. Family projects, like mowing the lawn or painting the fence, can teach a kid about hard work and quality management. This is instrumental for kids as mowing neighbor’s yards can turn into a landscaping business for that kid down the road. For your kid to be more entrepreneurial, you have to let the kid know that his/her work matters in the world. Then, they will know what success looks like.

Is your kid the best-dressed kid in town?
Although my kid is very fashionable, I would have to say, he is the best dressed in our home!

You also play in a band. Tell us about your music and where can we see you play.
Our music is a blend of rock and roll, jazz and blues. My friends and I are spontaneous when we play music. Most time we end up making some cool sounds when we just planned on watching a basketball game on TV. Right now we are booking venues in people’s garage and social events such as barbecues. So, I guess you can say that we have a while before you can see us at the Sweetcorn Festival or on tour in London, but we love to play and play for people that like new and fun music wherever that might be. (So, let us know.)

Father’s Day is coming up. What would be an ideal Father’s Day for you?
My ideal Father’s Day would be to go out to the park with my family. I love seeing my boys laughing and playing with other kids. It is as if there is not a care in the world. That centers me from whatever obstacles or uncertainties that come about. It teaches me each time that sometimes you just have to laugh and have fun, and that is what is ideal for Father’s Day for me.

What does fatherhood mean to you?
Fatherhood, is the most challenging and the best honor I could have in my life. It means that I am there to console my kids when they are hurt, discipline them when they are wrong, and love them always. Fatherhood is a test of all your experiences and inexperiences on how to pass it on to your kids.

Send your Chambana Mom/Dad to Know to editor@chambanamoms.com or leave a nomination.

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1. Chambana Mom And Dad To Know: Jessie and Jarrod Scheunemann
2. Chambana Dad to Know: Nate Mast

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I’d be fibbing if I told you that my 18 months of infertility left me overweight. That is about as true as telling you that it also left me vertically challenged. I was already both. Now, I am short, fat AND pregnant. Despite the fact that the average American woman is 5’4” and size 14, this trifecta of special sizes brings a woman to a whole new pit of insecurity.

After the largest pair of maternity pants in stock at Target barely cleared my knees, I was first downtrodden, questioning whether I would have to wear a muumuu all summer. Then I got belligerent. I am a fashion-conscious plus-size woman and there HAS to be some maternity clothes out there for me.

Traffic-stopping white legs (not shown) will not prevent me from finding a great comfort zone in knit dresses. Photo by Jennifer Wilson

Thou Shalt Not Wear a Muumuu

I’ve searched as wide as Champaign-Urbana’s borders allow and I’m feeling optimistic that I won’t have to go naked this summer.

Bergner’s: I’m not quite sure this is even worth mentioning. Tucked away in a corner (and not the one labeled maternity), the two racks of maternity clothes were very disappointing and did not appear to be comfortable or of a nice quality.

JCPenney: The local store hosts just a few racks of fairly basic, solid-colored tops, some jeans and a few trousers. The XLs I tried on were very snug/small. JCPenney does carry some plus sizes online and returns can be made in-store.

Kohl’s: I generally like Kohl’s for their well-priced, on-trend apparel. While the local maternity section is quite small, the options are cute and worth checking out for additional options. Tops go up to XL.

Motherhood Maternity: This is the only all-maternity store in our area (and in many others). Fortunately, it does not disappoint. With great sales and options from casual to dressy, I am thankful for Motherhood. They carry plus sizes both in-store and online, including petite lengths.

Old Navy: I was surprised that our local store actually had a small maternity section. Pieces (in-store and online) tend to be on the very casual side, but also very affordable. I expect to head to ON for fun summer dresses. Carries plus sizes online.

Target: While I have not returned since the the aforementioned episode, Target is one of my favorite options for super cheap tops. I know their bottoms won’t fit my awesomely sized lower half, but I’m hoping to find some cute summer shirts later on. Tops go up to XXL.

Additional Online Options

Forever 21: Seriously? This is not an episode of 16 and Pregnant. If you’re interested though, the Michigan Ave store does carry the line.

A Pea in the Pod: Either my wallet has shrunk or this store has changed in the past decade. A Pea in the Pod caters to higher-end customers, with $100+ tees.

Ann Taylor Loft: Hosts a small online collection of office-appropriate tailored tops, pants and dresses in the $40 and up range. Tops go up to XXL.

Gap: While our Gap does not carry the maternity line, the online shop boasts an array of simple, classic pieces on the more affordable side of expensive. Tops go up to XXL.

H&M: While they don’t host an online store, if you happen to find yourself in a big city, some stores do carry maternity fashions.

Sears: Maternity wear here is a touch more fashion-forward than other budget-conscious stores. While I was able to find a few maternity racks in an out-of-state store, I didn’t see any at ours. Tops go up to XL.

I would buy stock in Lane Bryant if they re-launched a maternity line, but for now (for better or worse) these are the options. Tops in particular won’t be too difficult to come by (a lot of blousier non-maternity tops will even work for a while) and Motherhood Maternity carries my size (and length) of pants in the store. While I’ve never shopped resale before, I even hear there are good options at local resale and consignment shops. I won’t have to go naked or wear a muumuu, and I might even look darn cute.

I would love to know, have I missed your favorite local or online maternity store?

Jennifer Wilson is not a fan of the Bella Band because her unbuttoned pants still fall down. Proud (95% of the time) to be a hot plus-sized mama, you can look for her over the next 6 months in belly-skimming tees and tanks. Jennifer writes “31 and Pregnant,” a column about navigating first-time pregnancy in Champaign-Urbana.

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by Rachael McMillan

My closet is one sweater away from experiencing a clothing avalanche. Half of our garage has been overtaken by storage bins and garbage bags spilling over with baby/child clothing. To say that now would be a good time to start consigning is putting it mildly.

As I’m a complete newcomer to the world of consignment–from the selling end of things, anyway–I don’t have a whole lot of sage advice to offer on the subject. Instead, I’ll pass along a few tips from Lisa Cook, co-owner of Frogs and Fairies in Urbana.

Turn those gently-used clothes and shoes into cash. Credit: SierraTierra on flickr

Technically, Frogs and Fairies is a resale (as opposed to consignment) store, which means that they will pay cash up front for gently-used, brand name kid’s and maternity clothing. However, Lisa’s tips certainly apply to consignment sales as well.

1. Bring in items in good condition. Stains, flaws, holes, etc., tend to stand out more in the store than they do at your house because of the difference in lighting. Frogs and Fairies turns away a lot of items that seemed fine at home for this very reason (and Lisa asks that customers please not be offended when this happens). Consignment stores may still put these items out for you in hopes that they’ll sell, but the odds of making a sale are likely better if your stuff is in great shape.

2. No trash bags. I found this tip interesting and pressed Lisa for a reason; she replied that putting clothing in trash bags is a good way to lose track of all of the pieces that go together, cultivate wrinkles, and even attract dirt, spills, etc. because of how loosely the bags tend to flop around. “We never know what we’re going to find when we put our hands in a garbage bag,” Lisa reports. Instead, she recommends that customers use plastic storage bins or tote bags to transport their neatly-assembled items.

3. Do your research. Each store has different policies; often they are clearly posted on a business’ website. Certainly, any place that might resell or consign your goods will be happy to talk with you over the phone about their preferences. In any case, investigate BEFORE you bring items in; this will maximize your selling success.

Of course, clothing is not all that can be resold; check out the businesses listed below and the types of items they’ll take. Again, each store’s policies are slightly different, so check with each one before bringing your items in. And, of course, keep them in mind for your shopping needs as well. Buying re-sold goods is a great way to save money and the environment.

Kids, Maternity, and More

• All Things Kids, Champaign. Baby and children’s clothing, accessories, toys, and maternity items.
• Briella’s, Savoy. Adult, bridal, baby, and children’s clothing and accessories.
• Bulldog Kids, Mahomet (309)310-0872. Baby and children’s clothing, accessories, toys, and maternity items.
• Frogs and Fairies, Urbana. Baby/children’s clothing, accessories, and maternity items.
• Mudpies ‘n’ Fireflies, Homer. Baby/children’s consignment clothing, baby items, toys and maternity.
• Strictly Kids, Gibson City. Baby/childrens’ clothing and accessories.
• Village Wardrobe, Monticello. Baby/children’s clothing, accessories, some toys and furniture, and maternity items.

Adult

• Briella’s, Savoy. Women’s, bridal, baby, and children’s clothing and accessories.
• Clothes Encounters, Monticello. Men’s, women’s, and junior’s clothing and accessories.
• Ella’s, Urbana. Women’s clothing and accessories and furniture/home decor.
• Karen’s Kloset, Champaign. Adult (mostly women’s) clothing and accessories.
• New and Again, Gibson City. Adult and junior’s women’s clothing and accessories.
• Plato’s Closet, Champaign. Teens and young adult (men’s and women’s) clothing and accessories.

Home

• Classic Home Consignment, Champaign. Furniture and home decor.
• Copasetic Consignment, Champaign. Furniture and home decor.
• Ella’s, Urbana. Women’s clothing and accessories and furniture/home decor.
• Simply Irresistible Home Consignment, Monticello. Furniture and home decor.

Yearly Consignment Events

• Belle of the Ball: Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana. Prom dresses (dates for drop-off have already passed for 2011).
• One Week Boutique: Mattis Avenue Free Methodist Church, Champaign. Baby/children’s and maternity clothing and accessories.
• Divine Consign: Champaign. Women’s clothing and accessories, including maternity.

Do you have consignment tips? Add them below!

Rachael McMillan is a former high school teacher, social worker, cake decorator, and just about any other profession you can think of do-er. In addition to writing, tutoring, and giving talks about fair trade, she is currently staying home with the highly entertaining Jack and Kate.

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by Rachael McMillan

See—what did I tell you? These October weeks have flown by, and Trick or Treat time is now upon us.

Did you forget to buy a costume for your child? Never fear; you probably have the makings of a really clever get-up lying around your house. So, save your pennies (and the environment) by re-using what you’ve already got to deck out your little treat-seeking monkey.

These costumes should take little to no time to come together, so your child could even be ready to show off at the Downtown Champaign Trick-or-Treat on Saturday, Oct. 30 (participating businesses will hand out goodies between 12 and 6 p.m.) or at any of these other local Halloween happenings.

This is just a jumping off point, folks. Your ideas make the list complete, so be sure to add them!

Gardener
Put an apron over your child’s clothes (be sure to tape seed packets so they are visible coming out of a pocket, and/or stash a few safe-to-carry tools). If you’ve got a short hose or one that has run its course and can be cut smaller, add it as a sash. A floppy hat, gloves, and a clean watering can-turned treat bucket complete the look. Additional touches include fake flowers sticking from a pocket, dirt rubbed on the face, and so on. Use your imagination to come up with chef and handyman variations.

Business Person/CIA Agent
If you’ve recently purchased a suit for your son’s first communion/cousin’s wedding/insert-formal-event-here, get some extra mileage out of it by having him wear it to be a secret agent (add sunglasses, a badge, a walkie-talkie, etc.). Sweater dresses are all the rage these days, and girls could do the same thing. Or, have him/her wear your old bluetooth, use makeup (give him an eyeliner goatee and her a grown-up look), and have him/her use mom or dad’s briefcase as a candy tote to be a wheelin’ dealin’ businessman/woman. Look around town for free copies of Central Illinois Business magazine’s “Forty Under Forty” list for to carry.

Your child doesn't have a costume yet? Don't worry, we're here to help! Photo by papofatticus on flickr

Miss Something-Or-Other
Your daughter may be happy to put on one of her super-pretty frocks and get all dolled up (to the degree with which you are comfortable…) to be a contestant in a beauty pageant. The key to this costume is the sash, which you may need to purchase: You’ll need a wide, stiff piece of ribbon you can write on to indicate what her claim to fame is. She can dress with an international flair and you can write the name of her country on the sash (glitter/puff paint are good for this—writing in cursive helps give it a professional look). Or, you can add some corn stalks to her outfit and declare her Miss Illinois, or write something silly on the sash like “Best Knock-Knock Jokes” and arm her with a few good ones. Possibilities abound here.

Twisted Sister or Mister
If your little one insists on doing something a little spooky, suggest this: Put an oversized button-down shirt on him or her backwards, attach gloves to the ends of the sleeves, and stuff the sleeves and gloves to make it look as if something has gone monstrously wrong. Putting the pants on backwards is optional; if you do that, you’ll have to do something about the shoes (eh…or not). Wild hair and ghoulish make-up are also optional. A suggestion for the treat bag: hot glue the handles to the glove “hands” to help give the impression that something is amiss.

Winner!
Do you have one of those gigantic, red plastic holiday bows lying around somewhere? Unravel it, and it can become the “finish line” for your little marathoner. Have him/her wear sweats, tennis shoes, a headband, etc., and print out a runner’s number card to pin to the shirt. You can add the name of the race, such as the “Monster Marathon.” Attach the finish line tape to the front of the shirt (be sure that it’s not tripping length) and borrow someone’s finisher’s medal to complete the look.

Rachael McMillan is a former high school teacher, social worker, cake decorator, and just about any other profession you can think of do-er. In addition to writing, tutoring, and giving talks about fair trade, she is currently staying home with the highly entertaining Jack and Kate.

No related posts.

Photo courtesy of PlanetShoes

When chambanamoms.com sponsor PlanetShoes offered our readers the chance to try and review five pairs of shoes for free, we said “yes, please!” This week our cadre of reviewers and self-proclaimed footwear fanatics are sharing their thoughts on the Clarks Wave Cruise:

Jessica: I.  Love.  These.  Shoes.  The Clarks Wave Cruise felt and looked great right out of the box.  Casual but easily dressed up; stylish yet practical; soft but structured — this shoe truly has it all.

The pewter-colored leather has a slight metallic finish and is a great neutral shade.  I have yet to find a color that they don’t look fabulous with.  But it’s not all about looks, right?  Not to worry, the Wave Cruise feels just as good as it looks.  These shoes feel as soft and comfy as your favorite tennies right from the start, but also have enough structure to properly support the foot through a long day of walking.

This is a shoe that easily goes from work to playdate to Ladies’ Night Out and, thanks to chambanamoms.com and sponsor Planetshoes, has already become a staple in this Chambana mom’s wardrobe.

Julia: About a month ago, my second little box from PlanetShoes arrived in the mail.  To my surprise, it contained another pair of Mary Janes — Clark’s Wave Cruise walking shoes.  From the first, I loved these shoes.

The Clark’s Wave Cruise really is just my style.  They have a great look.  When I slipped them on they felt soft and bouncy.  I noticed that the sole of the Clark’s Wave is slightly curved, just like your foot would be in mid-step, so the leather upper doesn’t get that crease after you’ve walked in it for a while.   The construction is mesh and leather, so I can wear them without socks even on hot summer days.

And trust me, I’ve walked miles in mine since I got them.

In fact, I like this shoe so much it became my go-to shoe for work.  The first week I wore them to school, my fellow teachers remarked on how nice they looked and my students loved the cool pewter color (which, I have to say, was an easy match for *everything* in my wardrobe.)  Even after a month of wear, these shoes look and feel terrific. They have retained that “new shoe bounce” that keeps my legs and feet energized, even on days when I feel like I’ve been running my legs off.

Without reservation, I highly recommend these shoes.  They are super-comfortable and look terrific.  If there is one down-side, it’s that they are a bit on the pricey side.  But, for me, their style, comfort, and durability make them a ‘best buy’ for Moms.

Jodee: The Clarks Wave Cruise was the shoe I was most excited about receiving as part of PlanetShoes special promotion with chambanamoms.com, but little did I know they were going to be even better than I had hoped! See, I thought I was going to be getting them in black, which would have been cool enough, but when the package arrived, I opened them up to find a pair of cute pewter leather walking shoes. I’m a magpie girl, always drawn to shiny things, and the color of these shoes is perfect for me. The “pewter” is actually a dark goldish color, just shiny enough to thrill me but still muted enough to be classy and tasteful.

I wore the Clarks Wave Cruise around for a few days and found them to be extremely comfortable—they are designed specifically as walking shoes and so are engineered for comfort and support—but since it’s summer I was wearing them without socks and found them rather roomy. I didn’t get blisters or sore soles, but my feet did slip around in them while walking. I also found them a bit too bulky-looking for wearing with shorts or capris, but with jeans they look great, and with socks they fit much better, so these will be going back into my closet until fall, when I plan to pull them out and wear them every single day

Annalea: I am super glad PlanetShoes decided to send us the Clarks Wave Cruise as the second pair in this promotion with chambanamoms.com. Free shoes are nice and all, but free, comfortable and cute shoes are great.

And these are seriously so great. These are my new go-to shoes for running errands, taking walks with the kiddos, and even long stretches standing on the hard tile floors during kitchen clean-up. I must say it often, because my 5 year old calls them my “walking on pillows” shoes. Any of my friends who wear a size 9/9.5 have been forced asked to try them on, and marvel at their comfort (which is readily given after a test run). They are soft, flexible, lightweight, roomy, and cushion-y – which are key factors when it comes to my fibromyalgia foot pain. Better yet, I prefer to wear mary janes without socks and have had no blisters from my Clarks. Bonus!

Aren’t these fun and sporty? These are definitely too casual for dressing up, but really, how often is that my concern? I dig the pewter color. It is really versatile. Oh, and these wipe up nicely (which I wouldn’t at all know because my 6 month old spit up all over them).

I give these a big two thumbs up. So if you are looking to walk on pillows, go get yourself a pair!

Leighann: My husband has a pair of Clarks that he wears when he dresses up. He’s had them for years and was actually at the local shoe store last week looking for a replacement pair. I have a pair of black Clarks Mary Janes that I purchased to wear to a blogger outreach trip. They are great because they can be dressed up or down.

This pair of Mary Janes has a similar fit and feel as my other pair and were instantly comfortable.

You may ask what “pewter” really means. Are they silver? Bronze? Well, they are sort of in between. You know those outfits that you have that you just can’t figure out if black or brown shoes would look better? Well these are that perfect in between color. And with the black soles you could wear them with either.

I wear a lot of khakis to work and these are the perfect shade! They also look great with capris, shorts, or skirts.

And if you have wanted to try out the metallic trend, but just don’t want to wear gold (raises hand), these are a great way to wear metallic without being gaudy.

For comfort and styling, I give the Clarks Wave Cruise an A.

Jennifer: I am a fan of combining comfort with style and Clarks, is known for doing this well. Unfortunately I’d never previously met a pair of Clarks that actually worked for me in practice. There are so many positive attributes to the Clarks Wave Cruise shoe that its hard to say I didn’t love them (but I didn’t).

To start with the aesthetics; these are cute not-too-sporty Mary Janes, sent to me by PlanetShoes. All the little design details make fairly wide shoes not seem clunky at all. These are definitely less bulky than the Earth Simplista with enough support to feel secure. I was a little disappointed that the pictured color is not quite true to life. This “pewter” has a touch of gold/bronze, making the shoes a lot less silver than the photo.

At first sliding these on, I appreciated how easy they were to velcro and the immediate cushy feel reminiscient of Nine West’s dearly departed Cloud 9 line. First impressions are a good thing. All that cush and just the right amount of arch support made me really want to love these shoes.

Oddly enough the first issue I had was the width. This is not odd in that I tend to veer towards wide width shoes and that Clarks are almost certainly always too narrow. It is odd in that I felt these were almost too wide. No matter how tightly I pulled the velcro, the sides seemed to slouch as I stepped. Is all that cush providing too much give in the structure?

The main issue, however, was the way the back hit very high on my heels. (To be fair with my review, I even went and tried on the next smaller size in the store.) The backs of these shoes are curved inward at the top, making the entire heel more concave that my heel is convex. I know my heels are narrow and bony, but the Clarks Wave Cruise went above and beyond in banging them up with only a 10 minute walk.

This shoe, sadly, receives a “cute but I’ll pass” rating. Your mileage (and heel dimensions) may vary.

Amy: I get weird about my shoes. I latch on to a pair, and then I wear them until I am forced to throw them out, as I was with my all-time favorite Celtic green Chuck Taylor low-tops. But now … oh, now! I have found the shoe that finally made me forget about my beloved Chucks.

Enter the Clarks Wave Cruise.

I love these shoes. I love them so much I would marry them. As Annalea said above, it is like wearing a pair of pillows strapped to your feet. My active toddler is no match for me when I wear my Clarks Wave Cruise, and I wear them with just about every outfit you can imagine. When we first arrived in Chambana I bought a pair of orange Keens in the Mary Jane style, and those have been my daily shoe for almost four years.

Now? They have been ousted. I even convinced my mom to buy a pair of her own, and I cannot rave enough about the comfort and support in this shoe. I have psoriatic arthritis in all of my joints, but my hips, knees and pelvis are among my chief complainers. So these shoes make standing on my feet for hours so much easier on my body. I also love that this doesn’t have the orthopedic look of so many comfort shoes. The style and color are, in a word, adorable.

PlanetShoes, the Clarks Wave Cruise was a hit!

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Show us a woman who doesn’t love shoes and we’ll show you … well. It doesn’t matter, does it? Because every woman loves shoes. So when chambanamoms.com sponsor PlanetShoes offered us the chance to give six of our readers a chance to wear and review five pairs of shoes we said yes, please!

Over the next several weeks you’ll get to know Jennifer, Jessica, Annalea, Leighann, Jodee and Julia, and you’ll also find out what they thought of the footwear PlanetShoes.com sent them to review. Amy was also lucky enough to participate, and you’ll get her take, too.

Photo courtesy of PlanetShoes.com

This week we’re bringing you the women’s reviews of the Earth Simplista:

Jessica’s Take: When chambanamoms.com chose me as one of the lucky moms out there to review five FREE pairs of shoes (courtesy of planetshoes.com), they had no idea what they were getting themselves into.  Not only am I a shoe fanatic, but I also worked for seven years at a comfort shoe store in downtown Urbana.  This gives me the distinction of being not only a lover of shoes in general, but a connoisseur of expensive, comfortable shoes.

First pair up for scrutiny is the Earth brand Simplista, a classic Mary Jane in black leather.  They look great.  The finish on the leather is nice—shiny, but not TOO shiny.  Anyone not familiar with the look of Earth footwear may be taken aback by their square toes.  Earth has done a great job, though, of designing a square-toed shoe that has a more tailored, less boxy look than other comfort brands.

The most notable feature of Earth footwear is its negative-heel technology.  This means that the heel of the shoe sits lower than the forefoot area.  Initially marketed as a way to promote better posture, it seems as though now Earth is using this technology to jump on the “burn more calories while you walk!” bandwagon.  Regardless of its purpose, it just feels plain weird at first.  One major disadvantage to the negative heel is that people with certain foot types simply cannot wear them.  (The only way to know if you fall into this unfortunate group is to try a pair; you’ll know fairly immediately if they’re going to work for you or not.)

So even though my ridiculously flat foot would never allow me to wear Earth as my primary footwear, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could wear them comfortably for longer periods of time than I expected.  The only discomfort I suffered was a blister on my right heel due to stiff leather and the fact that the strap is, in my opinion, too close to the ankle, thereby restricting the natural up-and-down movement of the heel.  My advice would be to break them in wearing socks or tights until the leather softens up a bit.

***

Julia’s Take: My first impression was positive.  Everything from Earth shoes was designed to be re-usable with minimal packaging.  The shoes came in little hemp bags with tags explaining the company’s use of environmentally-conscious alternative materials – from 70 percent recycled soles to water-based adhesive to reduce harmful chemical runoff.  My first thought was, “Wow.  A shoe company making an effort…” I was intrigued.

When I looked at the shoe itself, the styling was surprising. Earth shoes’ design – with the heel slightly lower than the toe – engages more muscles in your leg as you walk, thereby burning more calories through everyday wear.  At first, it was difficult to get used to the appearance of a higher toe than heel. They do have a chunky look, but when I tried them on the raised toe was less noticeable.  The leather was soft and I liked the adjustable hook-and-loop closure on the strap.  Better yet, the Simplistas were surprisingly supportive – especially in the arch.  And unlike most of the shoes I own, they didn’t pinch my toes.

I decided to give them the preschool teacher workout.   After singing and dancing my way through the morning, I found that my feet and legs felt great.  Three hours after we returned home that first day, my daughter pointed out that I still had my pretty shoes on.  I hadn’t even noticed.  They are that comfortable.  In the past month, these shoes have gotten their fair share of wear and are holding up great.

As for the calorie-burning claim, I won’t say ‘the pounds melt away like magic’ when I wear my Earth Simplistas.  But they do make my feet and legs feel great and would be a cute, fun addition to any Mom’s wardrobe.

***

Annalea’s Take: Ever heard of negative heel technology? Neither had I until a free pair of these Earth Simplista Mary Janes arrived on my doorstep from PlanetShoes.com.

When I first opened the box, I was worried about the clunk factor. They are not the daintiest of shoes, but the design is still sleek – lovin’ the pleated toe – and they look less clunky when paired with a cute pair of jeans.

Now back to that negative heel technology. Basically, the toes are raised higher than the heels to help strengthen and tone your body. This took a few days for my feet to get used to. It was just weird to have my feet angled like that. But I gradually have come to love the way these feel. My ankles, knees and back hurt less after wearing. And who doesn’t like a little extra toning?

My biggest complaint about this shoe is the heel rubbing. Man, I hate blisters. I was sporting one on each heel after the first wearing. Granted I wore these without socks, because I prefer the look and feel with the warmer temps. There were no problems when I wore socks however, so these will be more of a cool weather choice.

As a fibromyalgia sufferer, I have to be super careful of what I put on my feet. I will continue to wear these shoes with hopes of less pain. I even have my eye on some Earth sandals. I think they would be great for summer – thinkin’ of long days at the zoo or in museums.

***

Jodee’s Take: When I pulled my new pair of Earth Simplistas out of the box, I admit my first response was less than enthusiastic. I received the shoes for free from chambanamoms.com sponsor PlanetShoes.com, as part of a special promotion, and while I’m normally all about a nice black Mary Jane, I wasn’t crazy about the look of these.

I didn’t like the asymmetrical, boxy toes, and I didn’t care for the soles, which are lower at the heel than at the toe. But despite my reservations, I decided to take them (that is, wear them) on a test run, and what better place to try out environmentally conscious shoes than at the opening day of the Urbana Market at the Square?

My family and I strolled around the market for over an hour, and to my pleasant surprise, my new shoes were extremely comfortable and required no breaking in whatsoever. No rubbing or pinching, no sore toes or aching soles. And I even wore them without socks! The only very minor discomfort I had was caused by the placement of the mary jane strap, which hits right across the top of my ankle.  I found the shoes to be sturdy but not stiff, easy to walk in, with good support. The unusual shape of the sole (kind of a reverse mini-wedge) is supposed to help you burn more calories—I don’t know if this really works, but if it does, bonus!

After wearing these a few times, the look has grown on me—I still feel a little duck-footed when I look down and see the splay of the toes, but I do like wearing these to work with jeans or casual pants. For someone looking for a really comfortable shoe that isn’t too sporty, I’d recommend these.

***

Jennifer’s Take: As a lover of comfort and previous owner of several Earth shoes, I was excited to try out this Mary Jane style. I will preface this review to say that I’m a little difficult to fit. My feet are different sizes (by a full half size) and to cap it off, my heels are very narrow and bony. Blisters and I are *likethis*.

I found the Simplista to be quite comfortable from the get-go, with the right amount of arch support for my flat-ish feet and a good wide bed.  I think Earth has done a lot to reduce the break-in time and unlike in the past, I had little to no shin pain from the negative heel technology. This same technology makes the shoes alter your posture, very much grounding you, but also starting you off a little awkwardly.

These shoes fit my left foot perfectly with no rubbing or discomfort. The strap could be a little wider, but didn’t dig or leave a mark against my foot. Like Birkenstocks, Earth’s  footbed will conform to the wearer’s feet over time. Stepping into these shoes is a little like walking on the beach, very soft on the step but definitely working some extra muscles. I did get a blister on my right foot. I think a heel insert is in order to make that stubborn runt foot fit a little better, which I will definitely try.

Quality goes without saying when it comes to the premium comfort footwear brands like Earth. While the style of the Simplista is a little chunky and boxy, the extra details in the leather make the shoe not look at all frumpy. While this isn’t formalwear, I appreciate how it is a shoe that can be dressed up or down. The Earth Simplista is as appropriate for the more casual office as it is for running about town.

***

Leighann’s Take: As with other moms, my kids usually come first. That means that shopping for myself is usually an afterthought. But there is one thing that I always buy myself: good shoes. In fact sometimes I choose my outfit around my shoes!

I want shoes that not only appeal stylistically to me but are also good quality. When chambanamoms.com and PlanetShoes.com asked if I would like a few pairs of shoes to review and then mentioned the brands it only took me about two seconds to exclaim, yes!

The first pair of shoes that I received was the Earth shoes Mary Jane in black. I have not tried Earth shoes before, but I have several friends who swear by them. In fact one friend wore them through two pregnancies because they were the only shoes that didn’t hurt her back.

What makes Earth different is the Kalso® Negative Heel Technology® which positions the toes 3.7º higher than the heels. This shifts the weight to the heels. It felt odd at first as I’ve never had a pair of shoes like this before. The only negative is that they take a little getting used to. But after wearing them a few times I kind of forgot about it and think they are quite comfortable.

I’m quite picky when it comes to fit. I ordered the 8.5 hoping for the best and they fit well. I like how they feel on my arch and the toe box was wide enough for my feet (thanks pregnancy for flattening my feet!).

So the best part?

How cute are they? I have been reaching for them every time I put on capris and have gotten a ton of compliments! They would also look great with jeans and dresses.

***

Amy’s Take: I spend the better part of my day on my feet, chasing my toddler around the house. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I get up around 7 a.m. and then, on days when I’m not writing and working on chambanamoms.com, I finally sit down around 8:30 p.m.

So when PlanetShoes.com sent me my Earth Simplistas, I was totally psyched — that negative-heel technology was going to help me burn calories while I went about my daily routine. Finally! A way to lose weight just by walking around my house!

I admit I was skepical when I saw the shoes — they are definitely boxy, and my relationship with premium comfort shoes has been limited to Keens, which generally have a sporty feel to them. These are definitely clunkier, but after awhile it dawned on me that they reminded me, in a lot of ways, of my old Doc Martens.

The shoes have a good feel to them, and while I felt off-balance for a bit, I eventually did get used to the negative heel. I have a bad back, and so it was a little challenging for me to wear them for a long period of time. Eventually, thought, I got used to the new posture and was able to comfortably keep them on all day.

I don’t think the Earth shoes Simplista will be my first go-to shoe, but they are a welcome addition to my collection of footwear.

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