Rivet and Sway Review

I've worn glasses off and on since I was in the fifth grade.  Thanks to Rivet and Sway, I'm wearing them all the time now.  But before now?  Yep, off and on.  I had glasses for awhile because I thought they were cool - nifty cotton candy pink ones, if I recall correctly.  Then I didn't wear them for awhile, and eventually I got contacts around high school.

I'd wear them sometimes but not all the time because I'm that odd person who has one near sighted eye and one far sighted eye.  It sort of balances out, so I can get away with not wearing them.  Periodically, I'll get a new prescription and glasses, but I think the last time I did was almost three years ago.  Remember when I wrote about losing my sunglasses not too long after getting them and miraculously finding them a year and a half later?  Yeah.

When I was offered the chance to be a Rivet and Sway Original at BlogHer and get some new, fashionable glasses, I was all over it.  Rivet and Sway is different from my local optometrist in that the glasses are mail order.  Yikes, right?  How do you know if you're even going to like them?  And at $199, you'd better like the glasses you're getting.  Rivet and Sway has figured out the answers to all this.

First, you can order try on kits with blank lenses so you can try on up to three different eyeglasses at a time at home for free.  With the oh so awesome tool on the website that helps you select the right lenses for your face - including both your face shape and whether you need narrow or wide frames for your head - you've got a pretty good shot at success right there.

I ordered my three frames, and they arrived two days later via FedEx.  I loved not having to wait a long time.  Rivet and Sway estimates that the whole process takes 13 days from start to finish if you order your glasses the third day you have your try on pairs, and that's not bad!  I loved the packaging the frames arrived in, and I appreciated knowing that any glasses I ordered would arrive safe and sound.

I have to admit the glasses were a lot nicer than the ones I had to choose from the last time I bought glasses.  The Je Ne Sais Quoi lenses were unfortunately not a good fit for my head, but I took the other two pairs on the rounds with my friends to get their opinions.  What do you think?

I will be honest that I liked the middle pair's shape the best.  The little flair up from the middle was great, but the color wasn't quite right.  While most glasses - including the Tusk- offer multiple frame colors, the black and white or galapagos green weren't really a good fit for me personally.  The blue and grey of the "ripcurl" colored The Little Voice glasses - the photo on the right - ultimately won out.

Once I had my glasses chosen, I simply peeled off the preprinted postage paid return sticker and resealed the box the glasses arrived in - a matter of merely pulling off the top of a sticky - and stuck them in my mailbox.  I typed in the information from my new prescription, something this review opportunity inspired me to do, and waited for my glasses to arrive.  I was lucky that my optometrist gave me a very clearly written prescription that had everything I needed.  If I needed help, I could have either scanned my prescription for Rivet and Sway or had them contact my optometrist directly.  Can you say convenient?

The only downside is that some frames only accept prescriptions up to a certain level.  If you have a stronger prescription, make sure the glasses you order will work with your prescription - fortunately not an issue for me.  At this point, Rivet and Sway doesn't offer progressive or bifocal lenses, either, which is somewhat limiting.  The other thing I'd love to see offered that they don't currently provide is prescription sunglasses.  I have very sensitive eyes and cannot go outside even on a cloudy day without them.

As for my specific experience, the glasses arrived in the same style of very cute cardboard box used for the try on pairs.  Inside was also a little bag to keep my glasses safe and unscratched, which I appreciate.  When I tried on my glasses, even just the little change in my prescription was apparent.  I loved the glasses.  And so has everyone else.  I've gotten more compliments on my new glasses than I ever dreamed I would, from the friends who knew they were new to the owner of the tae kwon do dojo where Mister Man goes.

The glasses are a high quality, which I would expect for $199 (including shipping and lenses).  They are polycarbonate lenses, with scratch resistant and glare free 100% UV protection coatings.  That results in thin and lightweight lenses, making them easier to wear.

I have had my glasses adjusted slightly, which is something my local optometrist can easily do (you can see them sliding down my nose a bit in the picture above).  They fit beautifully, and I love them.  Even if that weren't the case, all is not lost.  Rivet and Sway will allow you to return your glasses or any reason in the first 60 days and either credit your card or send you a new pair.  How can you possibly lose?

I can make it a little more tempting for you, actually.  I have a code that will give you 20% off a pair of Rivet and Sway glasses.  Note that the code expires on August 26, 2012, so get your act in gear.  You can order your try on pairs now and get your prescription together at a later date, as you need that only to order your final pair.

Discount code for 20% off Rivet and Sway: CWHOUB017D894C

C'mon, you know you need new glasses right?  Did you know your prescription expires after two years?  And that it's recommended that you get your eyes tested every year?  Which pair(s) would you choose?

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a pair of Rivet and Sway glasses for review purposes.  I was not compensated as part of this campaign.  As always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Glad Feeds My Family During BlogHer

I'm headed out to BlogHer in New York, and I have to admit, my expectations for what happens at home while I'm gone always sinks. And not by just a little.  The math pages the wee ones are supposed to do I know won't be looked at.  There will be clothes strewn about the house, both dirty and clean somehow.  And who knows what my husband will be feeding them, but I always come home to plenty of restaurant charges on my credit card.

This time around, I am doing my best to counteract this just a little bit.  I got sneaky and prepared food for everyone.  I stocked up on the lunchmeat.  I made more zucchini bread than any family should have in the house at one time.  And Glad sent me the fixings for some chicken enchiladas.

I'm not going to say that my husband is lazy, but if the food isn't prepped for him, the likelihood that it gets used isn't that great.  In fact, I can almost guarantee that the two mangos that were just about ripe when I leave will be still sitting in the fruit bowl, just more ripe.  Rather than rely on my husband to put everything together for the enchiladas, I did it for him.  I didn't just buy the rotisserie chicken; I removed the meat from the carcass and cut it up for him.  I put all the ingredients he'll need into a pile on the kitchen counter with the recipe stacked nearby - the corn tortillas, peppers, and enchilada sauce provided by MomSelect and Glad, as well as the onion and spices I'm providing.  The cut up chicken went into a Glad Ware container that will keep the meat fresh until he is ready to use it, with the cheese and salsa sitting right next to it in the fridge, so my husband can't possibly miss it, right?

Ok, this is my husband.  He may miss it, and there might be a phone call coming my way.  That said, I feel a whole lot better that I've got some meals prepped for him.  Even if they don't do their homework or keep the house clean, there's a chance that they're eating the way I would want them to.  

And once he's cooked the meal and there are leftovers - and in our house, it seems like there are always leftovers - he'll have the storage containers to put them in, as Glad included 2 large containers for us that go from fridge to freezer.  My personal favorite part is that the containers now resist cracking when you have them in the freezer and they - oh, I don't know - fall out.  I have more than one storage container I've lost that way.

But the Glad Ware containers have gotten better. Know what's really cool now? They're BPA free. I can feel more confident storing my leftovers in these containers without worrying that BPA will be leaching into their foods. I'm still not going to microwave anything in plastic, but the storage issue goes away.

Oh. And did I mention that Glad is a Labels for Education partner? Yep, that code gets cut out and returned to school, and that's another five points towards something on a teacher wish list!

So what do you do to try to keep your family healthy when you aren't around?

In the interest of full disclosure, I was sent a 2 pack of large Glad Freezer Ware containers, along with some of the ingredients to make chicken enchiladas while I was attending BlogHer.  I was not compensated, but I have been entered to win a gift card.  As always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Get Your Rock Star On at BlogHer!

I officially head to San Diego for BlogHer tomorrow morning. In fact, my plane will be taking off in ten or so hours. Am I ready? Absolutely not. In fact, instead of packing - like I probably should do soon! - I am just now finalizing my schedule for BlogHer and catching up on things at home before I head out.

Am I panicked? Nope, not in the least. This is my third year attending BlogHer, and it is funny how so many of the things I used to worry about: am I bringing enough clothes, what will I wear, will I find someone to talk to, how does this whole Expo thing work, what is an Expo, OMG what if I don't get into the "good" parties - all that has completely melted away. I know I'm going to have fun. I've simply decided that I will, and I have had fun every single year that I've attended. It's as simple as that.

No one cares what I'm wearing. And if they do, well... I have better things to do with my time than worry about that. I'm dressing in what's comfortable for me, which means resort casual (oh how I love that term). It's polished enough to have conversations with brands, and I'm comfortable enough to walk miles and miles and miles every day I'm in San Diego.

There are 3,000 women. Twitter has been a great way to find people I want to meet up with, and I've yet to run into a situation where I strike up a conversation and am completely rebuffed. People just aren't that icky. I've made awesome friendships every year, and there are so many women that I am so excited to catch up with again this year.

And the parties. Ohhhh the parties. I have to admit that I'm a little saddened by people. I've seen so much whining by so many people over who is invited to what parties and oh pleeeeaasse let me in because no one wants to be left out. Trust me. You won't be. There are so many parties that it's impossible to attend them all, and I know I have much more fun if I find something I enjoy and hang out there rather than racing from place to place to try to fit it all in. They're parties. You may not be invited to them all. I know I'm certainly not, but I have a calendar that's plenty full, and I'm planning to take advantage of it - and the down time. Some of the most fun is hanging out at the hotel with new and old friends just by ourselves where we've found a little corner or outside a party in a hallway. Plus, there are 3,000 women at BlogHer this year. Everyone's gotta share, right? It's alll good.

So ummm please. Please? Pretty pretty please? If you're not on the invite list to the Clever Rock Stars party on Thursday night, don't beg and plead with the people working the door to get in (ummm yes, I'm one of them, and I can't let you in, sorry!). People working the doors of the parties are doing their very best to get everyone in who's supposed to be in the parties as quickly as possible. Don't make it harder for them by putting them in an awkward position - but hey, you wouldn't do that anyway, would you?

My only issue right now is packing. I've already decided that I'm not checking any bags on the way to BlogHer. Yes, I'm that good a packer. Being a management consultant and on the road for three straight years does that to a person. I refuse to take swag just for the sake of taking it. If it isn't something I really want, it isn't coming home with me. My challenge now is deciding whether to just ship things home (less than the cost of baggage each way, I've figured out based on a 45 pound box being shipped to my house - and who needs more than that or even that?) or packing a duffel bag meaning I'll need to check a bag on the way home. But somehow it'll work out, and I'm just not that stressed about it. Which is why I have nine and a half hours before my plane leaves and I've yet to start packing.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go practice my Smurfy dance moves. I've heard there's a dance off at the Clever Rock Stars party, and I have to defend my title after the shocking Type A Conference win by Team Maxi Dress. Packing, schmacking.

Come find me at BlogHer. Tweet me @honestandtruly to find out where I'm at this week!

In the interest of full disclosure, I am receiving compensation from Clever Girls Collective in the form of a partial sponsorship to BlogHer. I was requested to write a post before and after BlogHer, but the topics were up to me. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Review: HomeGoods

I love searching for gifts. Between teachers and family and friends - and my babysitting co-op - there is always the need for a gift here or there, especially this time of year. I actually haven't counted up the number of gifts I need this year, as it's a little daunting. Fortunately, I figured out what I'm doing for most people this year - homemade truffles.

That said, I still have some hunting to do. BlogHer challenged me to go shopping for gifts with a $25 HomeGoods gift certificate. That's the kind of challenge I love. I only wish I'd had more time to wander through the store, as I only had the time to fully peruse about a third of the store. The rest of it I had to quickly flit down the aisles before running to get Mister Man for his therapy session.

Part of the reason it took me so long is that I kept finding things. I started out looking for something for my babysitting co-op's Christmas white elephant gift that needed to be under $10. My goal is to have a gift that people trade for during the process. I was hoping I could find something at HomeGoods that would fit the bill.

I didn't.

I found too many things. I literally would pick up something and put it in my cart then find something else I wanted for the co-op. Then I'd decide that the previous thing would make a great gift for a therapist or school teacher. It's possible I ended up spending a little more than my $25 gift card, but check out everything I got.

These four reindeer mugs are adorable, aren't they? They were one of the first things I put in my cart. For $7.99 (compared to $25 elsewhere per the tag), they were going to be my co-op gift. They are now going to be divided into single mugs, filled with my truffles and given to bus drivers, gymnastics coaches, etc.

I also found these awesome vases in a ton of different colors and patterns. I can't believe that they were only $7.99 for a handmade heavy glass vase (compared to $15 elsewhere per the tag). It took me awhile to decide on the pattern. And once I saw something else, I decide on this vase to go in my new bathroom. I think. It would be perfect to hold bath salts on my new little niche.

Next up was the three piece prep bowl set. They nest and came in different colors, and the detail around the top edge of the bowls is a great accent. This was going to be the co-op gift for $6.99 (compared to $15 elsewhere per tag), but once again I found something else. Instead, this is also going to be broken into three separate gifts filled with truffles for the music teacher, Spanish teacher, and art teacher.

In the end, I found an absolutely gorgeous much larger vase, again hand made and with such gorgeous colors and details. You can't see it, but the blue swirls around the vase are textured, as well. This one was mysteriously in the clearance area for $5 (originally $14.99, compared to $28 elsewhere per the tag). I know this will make a positive impression, and I'm going to donate an additional $5 towards our charity endeavor instead.

All told, those gifts were $25.97. Can you say "Score!" with me?

I didn't stop there though. As I kept looking around, I found more things that were perfect for ... more people. It's possible that I was included in this for more than that gorgeous vase for my bath salts.

I found the perfect Christmas gift for my sister, who is notoriously hard for me to shop for. She is currently in vet school, and she has collected snow globes and music boxes for years. I found something that combines all three. This adorable snowglobe with five dogs decorating a doghouse with lights plays Jingle Bells. At $12.99 ($24 elsewhere per the tag), I think I'm doing pretty good with a gift for her that she'll love.

And for me? I love to entertain and have people over. I do a lot of appetizer and dessert type get togethers, and I never have enough serving dishes. My "casual" servingware is white squared off and fairly simple. In fact, for my birthday, I even got the start of a new set of everyday dishes in the same format (my dishes are from 15 years ago and are slowly - or not so slowly - being broken). I found a bunch of serving dishes that would fit beautifully in my collection. With all the different shapes and sizes, it was hard to narrow down what I was going to purchase, but I finally decided on two trays in sizes and shapes very different from what I owned. Those trays were $3.99 ($8 elsewhere per the tag) and $5.99 ($15 elsewhere per the tag).

I walked out of there spending a total of $50.94, with my most expensive purchase being the $12.99 snow globe. I was beyond thrilled, and you can bet I'm heading back there the next time I'm looking for something special - no matter who it's for!

Oh, and before I forget, BlogHer is also giving away one $100 gift card and 20 $25 gift cards to HomeGoods here. Go, try to win one for yourself!

In the interest of full disclosure, I was provided with a $25 gift card to HomeGoods for review purposes from BlogHer. I received no compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

BlogHer Is Upon Us

In the interest of full disclosure, Feld Entertainment providing a partial sponsorship for my BlogHer '10 conference with a stipend. All opinions expressed are my own.

I can't believe that BlogHer '10 is almost here. Somehow the days and weeks have slipped by, and I will shortly be on a plane to BlogHer. Feld Entertainment has generously provided me with a stipend which makes attending so much easier to justify to my family.

But I'm just excited to go. I love working with Feld, as they have such neat shows that are truly family friendly and age appropriate for the wee ones. Mister Man who is growing up too fast and is convinced he's a big boy is reduced to oooos and wide eyes when he sees the magic of Disney on Ice appear or Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus appear before him.

The fact that Feld can so easily recapture the joy and innocence of youth gets them big props in my book. And they're sensitive to the fact that little kids are in attendance, ensuring that there's nothing too scary and that the villains are portrayed in a fun and non-threatening manner. It makes it easy and fun to represent them while I'm at BlogHer this year.

BlogHer will be a whirlwind. I land at 9am on a Wednesday and begin my siteseeing. The first event is at 4pm that day, and it goes pretty much nonstop until I head back to the airport on Sunday afternoon.

There are so many sessions I want to attend, and I know I'm going to have to listen to some of them via podcast later. I love the speed dating and can't wait to meet so many wonderful bloggers. Once I'm done there, I'm off to the MomSpark meetup to network with more great women. The ability to meet so many wonderful and inspiring people is my favorite part about BlogHer. I came away last year with such great ideas, and I can't wait to do the same again this year.

I will be on the lookout for influential Chicago area bloggers to bring into the Feld Entertainment fold, so if you happen to be interested in learning more, make sure you find me!

Feld has also sent me some fun items to share - outside the conference space! - for those who are interested. I have coloring books, toy monster trucks, clown noses, and more. I'm happy to share for those who find me during the conference, as I'll have the items in my room.

I'm most excited about all the learning to do. I haven't been to New York in several years, and we've got some great time to do site seeing before the conference begins. We're walking across the Broolyn Bridge and heading to ChinaTown. We're visiting Dylan's Candy Bar and having dinner at Serendipity. I'm already exhausted, but coffee will make a big difference.

And did I mention that I'm doing my very first 5K? I am ready to run, and my training is complete. At 6:15am on Friday, I will be heading out to Central Park to run for over three miles - hopefully without stopping - in support of Tutus for Tanner.

This year, there are parties galore. I've been invited to a few, although it's rather intimidating to look at the full lists of some of the parties that are out there. They are great opportunities to meet more people in a relaxed session and see other places in New York that I otherwise wouldn't. I've heard more than one person say that they can sleep when they're dead, and I think that's the perfect motto for this conference.

We're even keeping alive the tradition of the Seamen party in "Room L" this year, with bubbles. It's a great low key way to finish up the conference reminiscing with friends made and relax before we start to pack everything for the return trip where we'll digest what we learned and reflect on how we've changed yet again. And then we write.

And thanks to Feld, I'll soon be posting some more giveaways. Wish me luck at BlogHer! For now, I'm off to bed before my early morning flight.

Feld Entertainment Sends Me To BlogHer

In the interest of full disclosure, Feld Entertainment providing a partial sponsorship for my BlogHer '10 conference with a stipend. All opinions expressed are my own.

I worked with Feld Entertainment several times in the past year. They produce the Disney on Ice shows, Disney Live, as well as Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, and Feld Motor Sports (e.g., Monster Truck Jam and others). They change up the shows every year to keep it fresh, and all the shows I've seen so far have been great.

This year promises no different.

Disney Live is presenting the Rockin' Road Show and Mickey's Magic Show. Mickey's Magic Show will be coming to the Rosemont Theater at the end of October. While Mickey's Rockin' Road Show doesn't come to Chicago, it will be in Milwaukee among lots and lots of other cities.

Disney on Ice this year features Toy Story 3, as well as Princess Wishes, Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey, and Princess Classics. Princess Classics is coming to Chicago's United Center September 8-12, and we can't wait! Toy Story 3 comes to both Allstate and the UC in January/February, and I know we're going to have to get tickets for that, too.

Ringling Brothers is a circus classic, and the wee ones are fascinated with it. The Funundrum Tour arrives in Chicago in its traditional November timeslot, playing again at both the Allstate Arena and the United Center.

Monster Jam will also arrive at Allstate in February - just after Disney on Ice's Toy Story 3 leaves - for a fun (and loud!) weekend. The shows are action packed, and I know the crowd really gets into them.

So why should you care? Well, keep an eye peeled here because I will be hosting giveaways to the Chicago shows! I can't wait!

Giveaway: $200 Visa Gift Card

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Sprint

I received $75 in compensation in exchange for sharing my (I hope) funny story about a holiday road trip.


Want to win a $200 Visa Gift Card? Read on for my story, and share yours for a chance to win. Plus, seven other bloggers and BlogHer are giving away additional $200 Gift Cards. Visit the BlogHer.com special offers page - you've got 9 chances to win a $200 Visa Gift Card!

***

Everyone always wants to go home for the holidays, especially the recent college grads who like to pretend their independent and above it all but really just want some home cooking and laundry and comfort.

The first Christmas after I graduated college, I was living in Chicago in an apartment by myself. My family was in Minnesota, and I was thrilled to be flying home. Me being the cheap me that I am, I flew out of Midway because it saved me a good $30 on the ticket.

I took the orange line out to Midway and waited for my flight to take off. Silly Chicagoans, they canceled my flight due to the heavy snow falling. And they canceled the rest of the flights heading out of Chicago to Minnesota that day, too. Since it was Christmas Eve (it’s cheaper to fly then, ya know), I sort of needed to get home.

When I asked what I could do, the lovely gate attendants offered to book me on a flight out of O’Hare – the other airport in Chicago – as they hadn’t canceled flights. I’d have to get there on my own, and the flight left in three hours, but it was doable.

I hopped in a cab and was on my way to my second airport of the day. Taking the el back to the city and then out to O’Hare was cutting it a little close for my flight. Of course, since it was snowing heavily, traffic wasn’t exactly moving.

Almost two hours into the drive, I realized I wasn’t going to make that flight no matter what I did. We were still on the highway and not exactly close to O’Hare. It was about then that I looked at the cabbie’s meter.

It was at $78. And this cab didn’t take cash. And I’m not one to carry a ton of cash on me (I’m still not, in case you’re thinking about mugging me someday). I quickly opened my purse and fished out my wallet to discover that I had exactly $80 on me.

Eek!

I quickly asked the cabbie to drop me off at the closest bus station, which fortunately was at the next exit. He took all my money, and he wasn’t nice about it either.

By this point, I was starting to get a little panicky. Everything that could go wrong was, and all I wanted to do was just make it home. This being back in the age of the dinosaurs before everyone had cell phones, so I picked up a payphone and called my parents collect.

After reassuring them that I was alive, I decided that I’d play the brave, strong woman. I told me parents that I wouldn’t be able to make it home for Christmas this year. Instead, I’d head down to Holy Family Cathedral in downtown Chicago to go to Christmas Eve midnight mass by myself. It would all be ok.

I hung up the phone and pulled my fare card out of my wallet – I could at least afford to take the el back to my apartment! – and started the journey back to my apartment, spinning tales in my head about how sad the situation was and how tragic a figure I made. I cried silently to myself as I walked through my door.

It was about then that I realized I didn’t know where Holy Family was, and walking there (since I had no cash, remember) for midnight mass was probably not going to happen. I wish I could remember what I ate for dinner that night, as I’m sure it only adds to my comic tragedy. I have to assume it was something like macaroni and cheese. From a box. This was in the days before I really knew how to cook well.

Around 2 in the morning, my parents called. They had driven down from Minnesota to pick me up. They picked up my suitcase that was still packed, and we all climbed into my parents’ car to drive home in time to celebrate Christmas morning at my parents house. Or at least what I remember of it.

But hey – every story has to have a happy ending, right? Fortunately, I learned all the appropriate lessons from that trip, and knock on wood, I’ve managed to avoid so many woes trying to get home ever since then.

So what’s your funniest holiday road trip story? Share your story in the comments below, and you can win a $200 Visa Gift Card.

This contest is open until December 31. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Please see the official rules here: Official rules

Mandatory Entry: You must leave me your best holiday road trip story in the comments below or none of your entries will count - or you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below.

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry):
1) Earn one additional entry for Tweeting this contest (leave a link to your tweet as your comment).
2) Earn one additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link to your post in the comments.
3) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog.
4) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly!

Good luck – and I can’t wait to read those road trip stories!