Dockers Make Me Feel Fine

You know how some bloggers get to go to work in their pajamas? That’s not me. I have a full-time job that takes me out of my home every day, so I have to actually put on pants. However, finding pants that fit right and are comfortable can be a real challenge. I’ve only found a handful of brands that I will actually buy for myself and even fewer that my husband will buy. Actually, my husband only has one brand he will go out and buy when he needs work pants and that’s Dockers (I swear this is true and not a part of this review at all).

For this review, I was sent three different types of Dockers Pants, so I’m going to review them each separately because they truly are all different.

Hello Smooth by Dockers

Khakis have never been so kind. Introducing a pant uniquely designed to give you a flawless, flattering silhouette. With a discreet front mesh panel that smooths and flattens your tummy. Goodbye unsightly pocket lines and lumps. Hello Smooth.

Hello Smooth: The Pros

They absolutely live up to the description. Since they’ve got a higher waist than most pants today (thank goodness) they did a good job of flattening my tummy (as much as could be flattened anyway) without being uncomfortable. I love that the waistband has some give so the humongous lunch I ate yesterday didn’t turn my pants into a size 4, too. They’ve got just the right flair at the bottom to be flattering on my teeny tiny bird legs (such an odd shape, I have).

These are 100% cotton and definitely machine washable, so there’s a major plus! I also love that I didn’t have to iron them. They aren’t the most wrinkle-resistant pants I own, but they’re definitely good at keeping from getting too crazy wrinkly on my closet shelves. Nothing annoys me more than wrinkly pants. Except, of course, furbies, but that’s a whole different story.

Hello Smooth: The Cons

These pants catch dog hair like a magnet. To be fair, I did choose the black pair and I have a white dog and a yellow dog, so it was only to be expected. But, I can’t sit down at home before coming to work unless I want to lint roll my backside off.  That happens with pretty much every pair of black pants, though so don’t take it too far.

Hello Smooth: The Verdict

My favorite pair of pants out of the three, hands down. They are comfortable, adjustable and perfect for work. These Dockers pants for women are fantastic!

Metro by Dockers

A fan-favorite, and for good reason–it has a slimming effect and flatters your curves. Cubicle-chic style that’s smart enough for the office or after-work fun.

Metro: The Pros

These look very similar to the Hello Smooth collection, but they have some distinct differences. One of the major differences is their construction. The Hello Smooth collection is 100% cotton, while the Metro collection is made up of 60% cotton, 37% Polyester and 3% Spandex. Can you say “stretchy?” Good! These pants were so perfectly stretchy without being obvious stretch pants. The waistband didn’t give away that there was any give to them, but gave me plenty of room to move around. This is seriously a “pro.”

Again, these are machine washable and held their shape well. Plus, the bottom of the trouser is a wider leg than the Hello Smooth, so it worked out well when I was wearing my air cast boot (which I am now free of!). I love wide-legged pants, so these were great in that department.

Metro: The Cons

The Metro pants are still a bit higher waisted than most pants on the market, but not quite as high as the Hello Smooth collection. Hello Smooth sits just above the hip while the Metro sits right at the hip. It’s a minor alteration that makes a big difference. While this wouldn’t be a “con” for some, it doesn’t work out great for those of us with extra fluff in our tummy area. I found that the waistband tends to roll down on me if I’m not careful. That was something I didn’t have to worry about with the Hello Smooth collection. They are still comfortable, but not perfect in this area.

Metro: The Verdict

I wear these pants on a regular basis. They are comfortable and nice and stretchy for those days when I’m not feeling skinny. I like them, but I still like the Hello Smooth better.

Wearever Collection by Dockers

Standing by your word – manly. Looking good when you stand – essential. Refined, classic, dress-for-success work style every man must own.

This is one of the classic pants offered by Dockers for men. Just a warning, I asked my husband to write this part of the review and he’s not exactly a wordy fellow, so I’ll embelish a bit, but you get the idea. This perfectly shows the contrast between men and women and why shopping takes so much longer for women!

Wearever Collection: The Pros

Him – The material: It’s not too heavy, not too light. It’s durable. It’s comfortable.

Me – These pants are 100% cotton twill, so they can go in the wash with the rest of our dark pants. I also love that there is a permanent crease, so I don’t have to iron them to keep the crease looking good. The best part is when they come out, there are no wrinkles and no matter how long he’s sitting in them at work, they are still wrinkle-free when it’s time for him to be on the move again.

They really are great for work or going out for dinner, so they’re definitely versatile. He always looks good in these pants and he’s comfortable, too.

Wearever Collection: The Cons

Him: None, to be honest.

Me: I’m with him. Hey, if the man who wears the pants (ha!) can’t find any downsides, why should I?

Wearever Collection: The Verdict

The man loves his Dockers and these pants from the Wearever Collection are no exception to that rule. They are the perfect pants for him to wear whenever (hence the name)!

Want to check out these new collections for yourself? Make sure you get 15% Off $100 + Free Shipping at Dockers.com or you can use the code LINDSAY25 and get 25% off any purchase over $100 (through 12/31/2011)!!

I disclose.

Sound Asleep Room Darkening Curtains Review

I’m still having a good time decorating our new home. The walls are now gorgeous with paint and pictures and the only thing left are the window treatments. We mostly have blinds, but some windows just need more than that.

Now that the girls are starting to let us sleep in every once in a while, the last thing I want to be awakened by is sneaking sunlight. So, when I got the chance to review Sound Asleep Room Darkening Curtains, I jumped at the chance. The curtains have Thermaback coating applied to the fabric to create room darkening qualities.

The Thermaback technology reduces penetrating light which helps provide the “darkness” necessary for a better night’s sleep. The curtains also reduce outside noise and their thermal properties aid in reducing home heating and cooling costs.

Sound Asleep Room Darkening Curtains

The Pros

The curtains are nice and thick and really do lessen the noise I hear from the outside. Since we live right next to a major road, the noise can definitely make it difficult to find sleep. It’s nice to have the cars’ sounds lessened a bit. As for the room darkening capabilities, they really do work. Of course there is a bit of light that escapes the side and bottom of the curtains, but that’s the be expected with a curtain rod that isn’t perfectly flush with the wall. It’s not enough light sneaking in to disrupt my sleep or anything.

I love that these curtains are machine washable and can go in the dryer. That is a huge plus for me! Being able to easily clean them myself gets a major kudos to Sound Asleep for making my life easier.

I also really like that Sound Asleep really seems to care about my sleep health. Each curtain came with a National Sleep Foundation educational pamphlet called “Controlling Light for Better Sleep” to help me understand how managing exposure to light and darkness can regulate my sleep/wake cycle. They really take the time to teach me about healthy sleep habits and how to implement changes in my routine to make it happen.

The Cons

Coming out of the packaging, the curtains were heavily creased and wrinkled. I wish they were made of a no-wrinkle material, but I realize that’s asking a lot from a product that has to be heavy to perform it’s essential duties.

I almost wish I had more cons to make this a more balanced review, but I can’t think of anything else that I would consider a negative to the Sound Asleep Room Darkening Curtains. They do what they are intended to do and look nice doing it.

The Verdict

I would say this is a sound investment. The curtains are only $20 per panel on Amazon, which is really pretty reasonable for the quality. I am thinking of getting a few more panels to go in my daughter’s room since her window faces the street and it can get pretty noisy in there when the traffic is heavy. The last thing I need is her not getting a good night’s sleep and being a Grumposaurus Rex in the morning.

I am glad to give two thumbs up to the Sound Asleep Room Darkening Curtains!

I disclose.

Gourmet Gift Baskets Review

Gourmet Gift BasketsDon’t be jealous, but check out what I got in the mail a few days ago! Yep, that’s a Christmas gift basket from Gourmet Gift Baskets! It included so many yummy gourmet treats for me and the hubby chow down on share with the girls.

What’s Included

This basket is the Christmas Gift Basket Classic ($59.99) and includes:

· Almond Pecan-dy Crunch by Morley Candy Makers - 9.25 oz. – This ultra-luxurious candy crunch is made by covering gourmet popcorn and pecans in a rich, smooth caramel glaze.
· Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies by J&M Foods - 6 oz. – Made with only the finest of natural ingredients, these cookies will satisfy even the most discerning chocoholic.
· Dipping Pretzels by East Shore Specialty Foods - 6 oz. – These extraordinary pretzels are the perfect unsalted snack!
· Robert Rothschild Farm Raspberry Honey Mustard Pretzel Dip - 7.8 oz. – This gourmet raspberry honey mustard dip adds a flavorful zing to pretzels, and goes especially well with the East Shore Specialty Foods Dipping Pretzels that we have included in our Gift Baskets for Christmas.
· Salted Peanuts in Box by Feridie’s - 7 oz. – Only the finest peanuts, flavored with salt, these gourmet snacks are just as Mother Nature intended.
· Signature Dark Chocolate Bar by Lake Champlain - 3 oz. – This decadent and complex dark chocolate bar will satisfy the cravings of even the most discerning chocolate lover.
· Buttered Peanut Crunch by Old Dominion Peanut Company - 10 oz. – This flavorful peanut crunch is made with only top of the line gourmet peanuts, brown sugar, and “AA” grade butter. Taste them and you will understand that the best ingredients create the best peanut crunch!
· Metropolitan Trail Mix by GourmetGiftBaskets.com - 4 oz. – Our proprietary blend of nuts and dried fruit is a delicious and surprisingly healthy snack.
· Parmesan Artichoke & Garlic Cheese Biscuits by Salem Baking Company - 1.5 oz. – These crumbly biscuits will melt in your mouth leaving a trail of flavor to be savored.
· Chocolate Covered Cherries by Marich - 2.3 oz. – These indulgent gourmet chocolate covered cherries are one of the favorite snacks in our line of Holiday Gift Baskets.

The Pros

My hubby almost instantly walked off with the Buttered Peanut Crunch. I’m a huge fan of peanut brittle, but he was just faster than me. When I got to try some of it, it was delicious! The girls have loved eating up the Signature Dark Chocolate Bar (neither hubby or I are real big chocolate lovers – don’t hit me!). They get a square a day and treat it like a fine delicacy.

I’m pretty sure the hubby is also going to take off with the trail mix, peanuts and the Almond Pecan-dy Crunch. He’s going to have a fight on his hands for the Pecan-dy Crunch, though. I’m a sucker for some sweet stuff!

The Cons

I tried the Parmesan Artichoke & Garlic Cheese Biscuits and was not a big fan. At first, I thought it was a mix to make them because the package was small, but it’s really just some cookie-like items in a small pouch. They’re about the size of a quarter each and just not what I expected with all of the other yummy stuff in the basket. I would have been more than happy without them.

The only other thing I didn’t really like were the chocolate covered cherries. They are not what I would normally think of what I think of chocolate covered cherries. They are covered a candy-like chocolate coating. It was like eating a cherry M&M honestly. They’re just not my cup of tea.

The Verdict

Overall, I thought this was a great gift basket. Not only were most of the snacks tasty, but the gift basket came beautifully packaged, so I would be happy to send this to someone in the mail. See?

Gourmet Gift BasketsPlus, the basket is a great quality basket that I can re-use for another gift or as a decorate basket in my home. I would highly recommend checking out the selection of Christmas Gift Baskets that Gourmet Gift Baskets has to offer. They are perfect to send to family, friends, co-workers and definitely yourself!

I disclose.