Busy Mom Reviews

Enjoy a virtual getaway with Lands' End. At The Island you can shop lots of different swimwear collections and share your finds through built-in share tools for Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Digg and email.

Also, TONIGHT May 12, 2009 at 8pm ET Fashion expert, swimsuit authority and Life & Style contributing editor Rachel Zalis and Lands’ End swim expert Michele Casper will answer all of your swimsuit-related questions via twitter.

* Follow @LEprAmanda, @LEprMichele, or @LandsEndPRKira to review discussions and comments on May 12 between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. EST OR join the chat by including the #getaway hashtag in your tweet

To celebrate the launch of The Island, Lands’ End is providing a promo code for free shipping starting Monday, May 4, and ending Monday, May 25. Simply enter the promo code and pin number below at http://www.landsend.com/ checkout and you will get receive free shipping off your entire order.

Promo Code = ISLAND
PIN = 5262

Don't forget to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win a real island getaway for four to the Barbados Island Experience!

Contest ends May 31, 2009.

Old Navy has long been a favorite brand of clothing around here. As a matter of fact, when Busy Girl was a baby, there wasn't one in town, and was known to travel around to go to one.

So, when I got the opportunity to be an Old Navy Enthusiast, I enthusiastically said, "Yes!". Actually, I was standing in Old Navy when I go the call. Now, I'm not exactly sure about what the year has in store, but I'm looking forward to it.

Please know that I'm not being paid to participate (though we will get some things gratis), nor is there a requirement to blog about the brand, I really do enjoy it, and that's why I accepted the invitation. That's all.

So, to kick off the season, we were treated to a back-to-school shopping spree. One evening last week, a big black SUV arrived and whisked us off to our neighborhood Old Navy:

We were greeted by Cory when we arrived and Old Navy has fixed up a very fancy dressing room complete with snacks for us:

All 3 kids were treated to personal service, even above and beyond the call of duty:

Actually, it wasn't until this very moment that I realized I didn't take any pictures of them in their new stuff, so I guess I'll have to turn in my blogger card somewhere.

At any rate, the kids got quite a few things for around $300 (total). All three kids needed jeans. Busy D. (age 7) surprised us with his preference for dark rinse jeans, while Busy Girl (age 15) declared her new skinny jeans the "best ones I've ever had".

Busy Boy's (age 13) wardrobe was in need of some upgrading to an "older" look now that he's in 8th grade. He is kind of between boy's and men's sizes, but he got a hoodie as well as Green Bay Packers and AC/DC graphic tees. His sister made him get a respectable button up shirt for dressier occasions.

Old Navy also has great boy's polo shirts as well as khakis and school uniforms.

Do check out Old Navy for kids' back-to-school fashions and accessories. We found some great values, and my kids of all ages were very pleased with their results:

A special thanks to Cory and the Old Navy staff, we had a blast!

I've said many a time that we are huge Lands' End fans. In fact, my mother was probably their number one customer, and I'm pretty sure she's running a Lands' End storefront somewhere in Heaven.

We have quite the collection of Squall jackets, in fact, the collection is something of a walk through Lands' End history. So, when I was asked to review the Kids' Sport Squall Parka, I was all over that.

The Sport Squall Parka has a windproof, nylon shell and is lined with fleece. It has a hood and reflective trim on it, important for those dark mornings waiting for the school bus. There are lots of pockets and it's generously sized and these coats last forever. We've been able to pass down older models through 3 kids several years apart.

My kids love these coats because they are warm, but not bulky (Or, "puffy" as they call it.) In fact, my 8th grader has proved you can get more than one of them in a school locker (see also: coats, learning to bring them home) and they are easy to maneuver with the car seat belt.

They're currently only $48.65, so now's a great time to pick some up for Christmas gifts.

No compensation other than the product sample as described about was received for this post. We think these jackets really are that good!