Independence Day celebrates the birthday of the United States of America which was founded on July 4, 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence.   Did you know that it was not declared a legal holiday until 1941 and it wasn’t until 1961 that Uncle Sam was adopted as our national symbol?   

This year, America turns the ripe old age of 233! 

The 4th of July is a time for fireworks and celebration.  What better reason to dress the kids in red, white and blue?   I love to see little girls in their patriotic hair bows* and boys in their flag t-shirts as they watch the parade!

Independence day is a time for summer barbeques, pool parties and trips to the beach.  It’s fun on the boat, chilling at the cottage and hanging out in the backyard.

It’s a time to be thankful to our soldiers who have fought for the freedom we enjoy today.  It’s the perfect occasion to teach our kids what it means to be an American.  

Whatever your Independence day looks like this weekend, we hope it’s filled with lots of laughter, relaxation and family fun!  

                                           Have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!                                             

* Get free shipping on the hair bow at beebopsandlollipops.com by using web code: WeAreMoving

Retailers are thinking fall!

Take a  peek into Garnet Hill’s back to school dress rehearsal which will make an appearance online July 15.  Gap has Abbey Road for girls and new fall arrivals for boys on their website and abercrombie has a selection of vintage outerwear for girls ready for sale.  That means it’s time to clear out summer merchandise.

Here are some of the sales highlights today…

GapKids:  Additional 20% off sale (use code SALE20) & Free shipping on orders over $100.  (Good July 2 only)

CWD Kids:  End of the Season Sale.  Markdowns up to 80% off.

Boden USA: Great deals up to 50% off.  Shop quickly, they sell out fast.

Crewcuts: Final Sale Up to 60% off original prices.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Current Sales

Click link to Access >

*

Help us keep our information thorough and up-to-date.  If you have anything to add, please Comment, Share, and/or offer us a suggestion.   Would like to see a new store added to our list?  Let us know!

* Loobalee.com

Get on the list to join our upcoming LoobaLee Private Beta!   Buy and sell your children’s clothing on-line and outfit your kids for virtually free.

Do you like the Article? Please select one or more of our sharing options below to bookmark and share with others.

Here are the results to the last two polls posted on Loobalee…

When we asked how you celebrate Father’s Day: 50% let dad have the day to himself;  33% give dad a special gift or card;    17% do what ever the kids want to do and lucky for all that dad’s out there, no-one responded that it was just another day with no big celebration. 

$

Our next poll asked… 

%

We’re not surprised that one-piece swim suits won by a landslide.    Click here to check out the cute swim suits we have on Loobalee.

 %

Take our next Poll here > Does your child have an American flag shirt or patriotic outfit?

#

#

  Loobalee.com

Get on the list to join our upcoming LoobaLee Private Beta!!   Buy and sell your children’s clothing on-line and outfit your kids for virtually free.

Check out the Misadventures of Jennifer Pennifer,  the first book in a new series by Leslie Kuerbitz which illustates the importance of good communication between parents and kids.  Jennifer, a character inspired by the author’s own daughter, is a curious 5 1/2 year old whose creative imagination gets her into a little trouble with a roll of tape and some shiny pennies. 

$

Leslie, a licensed couselor with over 25 years of experience, specializes in positive parenting and stress/anger management.  Her professional career along with her own upbringing inspired her to create the series as a tool to assist parents and children to mutually love and respect one another.

“All children experience misadventures.  They should be taught appropriate behavior through love, discipline, and encouragement.  My goal in writing this book is healthier, happier homes and families.”

$

In addition to the cute story book, Leslie has created a blog with helpful tips from increasing self-esteem to reducing stress.  There’s even a spot for kids to start blogging about their own adventures.  Check out jenniferpennifer.com for the latest summertime special .    

  Tina for Loobalee.com

$

Get on the list to join our upcoming LoobaLee Private Beta! Buy and sell your children’s clothing on-line and outfit your kids for virtually free.

$

So, we’ve put together a great range of prizes and opportunities to both win and earn  — our personal thanks for your participation!  View the complete list of  Prizes.

You can earn free subscription time when we go public  (value of $3.99/month, $9.99/quarter, $29.99/year).  And, you can earn some great cards — You choose from our huge selection of $15, $25, adn $50 cards (such as Gymboree, Janie & Jack, Ralph Lauren, Baby Lulu, Pettiskirt Place, BabyGap, GapKids, Hanna Andersson, Lilly Pulitzer, and more!).

We’re also giving away prize, random drawing, from various Mompreneurs who weve met on Twitter and partnered with over the last several months:  Chic Tots, Kookie, Toni Tierney, Organic Beginings, and more!

I have been on an incredible journey with our amazing LoobaLee team to bring this new service to you.  My heart felt thanks for your interest and patience! And, now, the official countdown begins….

p.s.  If you haven’t requested your Private Beta code yet – hurry!  There’s still time.  Just visit our home page and select “Request a Code”, and we’ll get one out to you.

Warmly,

Suzanne, co-founder, LoobaLee.com

CWD Kids:  End of the Season Sale.  Markdowns up to 80% off.

(Nice selection of Americana items.)

Boden USA: Great deals up to 50% off.  Shop quickly, sizes are limited.

Hanna Andersson: Big Twice a Year Sale - Up to 60% off original prices.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Current Sales

Click link to Access >

*

Help us keep our information thorough and up-to-date.  If you have anything to add, please Comment, Share, and/or offer us a suggestion.   Would like to see a new store added to our list?  Let us know!

* Loobalee.com

Get on the list to join our upcoming LoobaLee Private Beta!   Buy and sell your children’s clothing on-line and outfit your kids for virtually free.

Do you like the Article? Please select one or more of our sharing options below to bookmark and share with others.

We’re adding to our menus weekly (from a very long list of brands we are researching).

If you have access to the site and see a brand that isn’t on our list, please let us know via this link > Recommend a Brand

Newly Added:

A. J. Morgan        Alexis        Baby Bunch

Baby Go Retro        Bella Bling        Busy Bee Bows

Dickies        Elegant Baby

My first stop was Gymboree on Facebook which has more goodies than Gymboree’s Twitter page.  On Facebook, they post promos and updates on the latest sales as well as store openings.  I especially enjoyed the fan photos and “celebrity sitings” section.  There is the “As seen in” post where Gymboree fashions have made an appearance in various magazines.  Too bad they don’t give away which magazines offer the latest coupons.  (The word on the street is they’re hiding in the June issues of Family Fun and Working Mother.) 

For those Gymbo addicts who can’t wait to see what’s next (myself included) they offer a “sneak peek” into their newest lines which will make an appearance on their website on Monday, June 29 and in stores  the following day.    Check out the pictures above for the new lines; Tea for Two for baby/kid girl - Stunt Man for baby/kid boy - Sweeter than Candy for newborn girls and Jr. Rock Star for newborn boys.

My next stop was Hanna Andersson on Facebook.  While Hanna is just getting started, you can upload a fan photo and take a peek at fall 2009.  In addition, Hanna’s page has tabs for Offers and Events to keep us up to date as well as a Discussion section to post  comments and questions.

Another noteworthy retailer to mention is Lilly Pulitzer on Facebook .  On Lilly’s page you can read the story behind the creator, discuss your favorite print, follow the 50th anniversary jeep and get Tweets  right from Facebook.   You can even pick up some cool Lilly inspired backgrounds for your desktop. 

With this new trend, there will be more than one way to get the inside scoop on what’s going on in children’s fashion and we’re just getting started! 

  Tina for Loobalee.com

$

Get on the list to join our upcoming LoobaLee Private Beta!  Buy and sell your children’s clothing on-line and outfit your kids for virtually free.

$

77kids: Summer Setting Sale.  Everything on cleareance is $7.77.

Pumpkin Patch USA: Great deals (10-50% off) on some adorable clothing for boys and girls - newborn to 11.

Hanna Andersson: Extra 20% off Big Sale prices - Up to 70% off original prices – Good through June 28.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Current Sales

Click link to Access >

*

Help us keep our information thorough and up-to-date.  If you have anything to add, please Comment, Share, and/or offer us a suggestion.   Would like to see a new store added to our list?  Let us know!

* Loobalee.com

Get on the list to join our upcoming LoobaLee Private Beta!   Buy and sell your children’s clothing on-line and outfit your kids for virtually free.

Do you like the Article? Please select one or more of our sharing options below to bookmark and share with others.

$

 When I asked my middle schoolers where they would like to shop, abercrombie is usually at the top of their list.  But as a parent, do I want to shop in a store that promotes kids looking like their older college aged counterparts with questionable images, pricey ripped jeans and tees with “Girl Bait” on them?  

While shopping in the store whose target buyer is the cool attractive all-American kid, music blares in the background as you purchase your $50 jeans and $38 moose logo polo shirt from a young “all-American” sales clerk doused in fragrance who you can’t hear just to make your child happy.  Which makes me ponder…. Am I mom of the year? or Does this chain have a brilliant marketing strategy?  After all, here I am buying and I really don’t want to be here.

 I also questioned how a store such as this was fairing in these tough economic conditions.  While their competitors are slashing prices to stay afloat, abercrombie is staying the course.  Come to find out, the teenage apparel chain has had some of the worst sales declines in the retailing industry.  In the last three months Abercrombie & Fitch lost $26.8 million, in contrast to a profit of $62.1 million a year ago.

$

Now what are they going to do?  Lower the volume in their stores?  (I so candidly was told to shop online instead.)   Will they change their images to appeal to a broader shopping base?  Highly unlikely since CEO, Mike Jeffries wants the stores to have an “emotional experience” which is exclusive to the “good-looking” crowd.    

So the last thing to do is offer up some promotions and discounts for their loyal customers, a tactic A&F refused in order to maintain their high end image until recently.  They have announced they will seek better deals from suppliers and pass the savings along to their customers with some more affordable merchandise.  In addition, they admitted to missing the trend mark this summer and will be offering more dresses rather than skirts and add colorful and patterned clothing to their lines.

Now, if we can just rally to lower the volume…

$$

Loobalee.com

Get on the list to join our upcoming LoobaLee Private Beta!   Buy and sell your children’s clothing on-line and outfit your kids for virtually free.