Are wrinkles really a sin?

A few days ago I woke up, got dressed and ready for work like any other day. I was feeling pretty good this particular day, until my wife saw what I was wearing. It's cold in Massachusetts, so I thought it would be a great idea to wear a sweater over my dress shirt, wrinkled or not. I didn't even notice the wrinkles, until they were pointed out to me. If I didn't notice them, would anyone at work? I believe the exact words out of my wife's mouth were "I'm not suggesting you don't wear that sweater, I'm telling you...you cannot wear that! You look ridiculous!".

To her chagrin, I ignored the friendly advice and went to work anyways. No one said a word about it at work, and when I returned home that night, I told a little white lie that I was complimented at work on my sweater. She immediately saw through me so I fessed up that there were no compliments that day. But it made me wonder, do people really care if their clothing is wrinkled? Is it just that women are more offended by it than men? Let's face it, everyone has some wrinkles, but I guess sometimes there is a line that is crossed. I'm sure I crossed that line this week and hopefully my coworkers will forgive me.

What's In Your Bag?

Don't you just love a good bag, handbag that is? There's always so many styles and colors to choose from when shopping around for one. I can't get enough of them when I'm in a store, looking at a catalog or even on line. It's like a piece of chocolate calling my name out loud every time I look at one. I've practically run out of closet space to store all those seasonal bags, just for fun bags, it was on sale bag, couldn't live without bag, had to have one in that color too bag and let's not forget those designer look-a-likes we all know and love! What's a girl to do? It's not easy passing up all these great deals today and the quality bags you can now buy are just awesome for the price! At least that's how I justify my next splurge on a handbag, even though all true. It's doesn't get any easier either when I look at my Chadwicks catalog or on line and see all the great handbags being offered. It's a tough job but someone's got to do their part in this rough economy and buy a few good bags, right girls? Why not check out some of the Chadwicks handbags and treat yourself to a special holiday surprise or buy an extra one for gift giving. You simply can't go wrong with a great Chadwicks handbag this holiday season. That's what's in my bag!

Chadwicks featured on Good Morning America

Chadwicks was featured December 2^nd on Good Morning America when GMA and Glamour teamed up to do a segment called “Get Your Holiday Dresses for Less”. Our Sculpture Dress (originally $49.99 now $24.99!) was featured as a great alternative for the little black dress. Although this dress does come in black, GMA featured it in Forest Green. To view the video and article click here. To buy this dress click here.

Taking Better Care

Well, I’ve done it again. I sometimes try to do things the easiest and cheapest way and guess what— it just doesn’t work out the way I planned. Here’s the latest mistake that I made in the name of trying to out think the manufacturers that make the clothes.

I bought a down jacket that I was quite pleased with, especially cause I got it at such a great price. And all went well until it was time to get it cleaned. I looked at the tag and it said dry clean. Well, all of the other down jackets that I have ever bought were machine washable in a front loader and then dryable in the dryer. Why would I want to spend $$$$ on an expensive dry cleaning bill if I could do it just as easily in a regular washer?

The answer to that became apparent when I took the jacket out of the dryer. Did I mention that it had a cute faux-fur trimmed hood, emphasis on the word had. Apparently, the heat of the dryer is not a good thing to subject faux-fur to. What used to be long, flowing strands of faux fur, now resembled some kind of faux animal with a really bad perm. I did try to wet down the jacket again in a vain attempt to get the hood to go back to normal, but it stayed just as cooked and melted together as ever! I guess things might not have gone so badly if I had unzipped the hood and washed it by hand but I guess you live and learn.

So, now I have a good-looking jacket with a really bad-looking hood. And I’m ashamed to admit that it’s not the first item that I’ve destroyed in the washer, but more often in the dryer. You’d think I’d know better than to experiment with clothing care since I work with clothing; we actually have a testing specialist that works with the vendors to determine the best way to care for your clothes. And they know what they are talking about, so the next time I get a bright idea about how to wash/dry something that isn’t washable/dryable, I hope someone will stage an intervention on me and force me to read (and follow) the instructions on the tag.

Well, the bright side of all this is that I feel better about having my eye on a new jacket that’s in our catalog. And now I feel like I can buy it without feeling guilty. But, I would feel better about the whole experience if I knew I had company (misery does love company, you know) with an unfortunate washday experience. What have you done to mistreat your clothes lately?

AEL

Nude Lips

So, I have been admiring all of these famous celebrities with their gorgeous make-up and wondering how I could look like that without having 5 make-up artists touching up my make-up 3 times a day! My first step was to go to the web and see what I could find on make-up tutorials, and I found some really great stuff! YouTube offers a wide variety of eye make-up applications showing you how to have smoky eyes like Kim Kardashian or a more elegant look like Taylor Swift! It is really helpful and it gives step by step instructions to get the look you have always dreamed of! My latest tip was the nude lips that all the big celebrities are sporting these days. You basically white out your lips to have no color then put a gloss over them. It looks great with a dark and drastic eye make-up allowing all the focus to be on your eyes and not your lips. Simply use a concealer on your lips (not too much, making you look lipless), and then apply a shiny clear lip gloss. I tried it out last week and got so many compliments!!

by CoCo

Holiday Shopping

So did you all go out shopping on Black Friday? Not me...no way! I just don't understand why people get up in the middle of the night to get ready to go shopping at 4am or 5am on the day after Thanksgiving. There is no way you will ever catch me in a store at that hour. Why should I when I can sit at home all comfy cozy with my laptop and shop from the comfort of my couch. I don't have to get up early. I don't have to fight the crowds or traffic. I don't have to wait in line in the cold weather. And I can usually get it shipped right to my house for free! How can I go wrong? And I can do it anytime. If I want to sleep in, I can. Then when I get up, I have a cup of tea and go shopping. It's great! And seeing as it is Cyber Monday, I will be doing a bunch more shopping today. I think I'll start with chadwicks.com. Let's see... I need a sweater for my sister...
Happy shopping!!!

How To Dress For Special Occasions

Holiday Outfits Ideas

♥ Family Dinner Party ♥
It's a family gathering party and it's a dinner party, so it's very important to make sure that we have a semi-formal, right below knee dress that can keep us comfortable moving around in the house.















♥ Work Party ♥
Going out with colleagues, all we need is simply a professional outfit that doesn't show too much of our skin.















♥ Wedding ♥
A long, simple and elegant gown is a must for wedding. The dress will make you stand out and feel special without upstaging the bride!

(Early) Bah Humbug!

Just let me start off by saying, I cannot believe Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK! What happened to November?

I've read that retailers started skipping Halloween and Thanksgiving and moved right to Christmas to try to get people to open their wallets a little sooner this year. Every year, I keep saying "gotta start holiday shopping early, gotta get started early" but I'm definitely one of those last minute people freaking out at the malls; standing in the store trying to justify buying a activity kit for a 5-year old for my teenage sister or yet another pair of slippers for my mom. What can I say, without a tummy full of turkey, I just can't bring myself to start my holiday shopping!

Every year, I try to propose to my family to just enjoy the company of each other during the holidays, rather than waiting to rip open gifts - but I'm met with 20+ people laughing in my face (I've got a HUGE family). Whatever happened to Holiday Spirit? How do I buy gifts for that many people, WITHOUT breaking the bank? This year, I'm approaching my gift giving different, I'm going all sentimental (I recently took up photography) and giving all the adults a framed, artfully designed photo of their children (last year I bought them all lottery tickets)- hopefully they'll like it! The little kiddies will get toys and clothes, as usual and the teenagers will get money! Done and Done!

What are some of your gift ideas this year?

Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

The turkey may be the star at Thanksgiving dinner but great side dishes will make your Thanksgiving meal even better! Here are a few of our staff's favorite holiday recipes:

Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients

* 2 (15 ounce) cans cut green beans, drained
* 3/4 cup milk
* 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
* 1 (2.8 ounce) can French fried onions
* salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium casserole dish mix together green beans, milk, cream of mushroom soup, and 1/2 of the can of onions.
3. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until heated through and bubbly. Sprinkle remaining onions over the top, and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Mac and Cheese
Ingredients

* 4 cups cooked elbow macaroni, drained
* 2 cups grated Cheddar
* 3 eggs, beaten
* 1/2 cup sour cream
* 4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Once you have the macaroni cooked and drained, place in a large bowl and while still hot and add the cheddar. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and add to the macaroni mixture. Pour macaroni mixture into a casserole dish and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Top with additional cheese if desired.

Garlic Mashed Red Bliss Potatoes
* 3 pounds red bliss potatoes
* 4 cloves garlic
* 3 tablespoons butter, room temperature
* 1/2 to 1 cup heavy cream, room temperature
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper
* Special equipment: potato masher

Directions

In a large pot, cover potatoes and garlic with water by 1-inch. Bring to a boil, add salt and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain potatoes and garlic well. Put back in the pot and cook over low heat to evaporate the rest of the water. Mash in the butter. Add heavy cream in stages until desired consistency reached. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Butternut Squash
* 2 butternut squash, halved and seeded
* 1/2 cup margarine
* 1 cup light sour cream
* salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place squash halves cut side down in a medium baking dish with enough water to cover. Cover, and bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, until tender.
3. Scoop squash from skin into a medium bowl, and mix with margarine and light sour cream. Whip until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There's no gift-buying stress, no disposal of dying trees, no neighborhood competitions to decorate your house. Just food. Lots and lots and lots of food. Just thinking about it puts me in a gravy, turkey, potato and pie induced dream-like state. And I'm thankful to be able to have any food to eat at all and thankful for the friends and family that come together to share the meal.
This year I think I will also be thankful for the "borrow from your boyfriends closet/leggings go with anything" trends. These will definitely help keep me comfy when I insist on having "just one more taste" of 10 too many dishes. Is it wrong that I've been planning my outfit for a few days now? I'm deciding between slouchy boyfriend jeans with an oversized blazer or leggings with a comfy sweater. Any opinions? What's your most chic outfit that still gives you room to breathe?

Chadwicks Cares about Charity

This past weekend, we had a sample sale for all employees and their families and friends. Throughout the year we gather so many samples of product that are not for sale, just for sample purposes. It was an amazing turnout! It was nice to see the enthusiasm in family and friends with their great finds and at the same time to be helping charity. We were able to raise 11,000.00! What a great feeling with a tough economy to help out especially during a season for giving. The best part about it is that I had no idea until my mother-in-law went up to pay and she said "$26!" I feel like I'm stealing, and the person collecting the money said, "No mam, you are not stealing you are actually donating to charity". What a great feeling to know all of the proceeds were going to charity!

Chadwicks Cares

The fight is year-round (not just October)

Good morning! I'm Rob from the Marketing team and as many of you know, we started selling "Change" T-shirts in October. $5 from every sale is going straight to the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. They run in four sizes (S-XL), two colors (black & white) and six "Change" messages. The black shirts do not have the ACS logo on the back, but the white shirts do. Click here for details. (You can use a promotion code on these shirts too!)
Countless families have been effected by this disease whether directly, through a close friend, or someone in their community. Help us join the fight as our goal is to raise $25,000 for the cause by the end of 2009. Here's a picture of my two girls. They love these shirts (well... anything connected to Dad's work is fun for them)!

It's a Sweater Holiday!

Are you feeling the chill these days in your bones and wallet? I know all of us are and carefully watching our dollars and even pennies. It's that time of year again when you want to feel a warm and cozy sweater wrapped around you, who doesn't? There are so many styles now to choose from and the color selections are awesome this year. There literally is something for everyone whether you are buying for yourself (and why not) or looking for that perfect gift for a family member or a close friend. Sweaters are so versatile since they come in various fabric weights that they can be worn alone, over a cami, tee or blouse. They can be worn with jeans for a more casual and comfortable look or with a dress pant for an evening out. So many of today's sweaters even have easy to maintain care instructions such as machine wash, gentle cycle which will extend the life of your garment when followed faithfully. What's even better, now is the perfect time to start your holiday shopping with so many great deals just waiting for you. Chadwicks offers a great assortment of sweaters all at a really great value with comfort that can't be beat! Our Emma Cardigan comes in five colors and with it's puckered ribbon trim, I think that the red pepper color is perfect for the holidays (even into Valentine's Day - thinking ahead). So don't be left out in the cold this holiday season with your wallet empty. Take advantage of Chadwicks sweater deals now while they are hot!

Time Flies By!!!

Is it just me, or is anyone else in shock at how quickly the Holidays are approaching? I feel as I get older each week, month, and year go by so incredibly fast. It could also be because of the industry I work in and that we are constantly looking towards future seasons; but I am always amazed at how fast time flies by! I literally am looking at my calendar and am trying to map out my weekends for all of the upcoming holiday parties and most importantly holiday shopping. I need to strategize the gifts I will be purchasing for friends and family- and most importanly sticking to a budget! I think what I am most excited for is Thanksgiving- it has always been one of my favorite holiday's- but some of us at work have been doing a Biggest Loser contest and it will be done by the 24th- which means come Thanksgiving I can finally eat :) I won't have to worry about weighing in at work anymore..until of course after the holidays!!!

What is it about Purple?

The color purple is a leading color for fashion this winter. A popular color in the 1960’s- purple is back in style especially when it comes to shoes and accessories. Purple is being called the “it” color by many fashion editors and fashion bloggers this season. Luckily for you, Chadwicks is on top of the ball with their fashion trends and offers an array of purple accents that will suit your style including jewelry, gloves, shoes, hats, belts, and scarves. Check out our shoes and accessories page to see more.

the most wonderful time of the year...

So the holidays are right around the corner...before the last trick-or-treaters even have time to collect candy the stores are full of Christmas decorations and the holiday commercials on TV are getting Christmas carols stuck in our heads (and this is still 3 weeks before Thanksgiving!) I actually don't mind as much as other people, I love the holidays and like to plan my gift giving ahead. In fact I'm using this week to start my holiday shopping. I like to get a little head start so I can enjoy the weeks right before the holiday wrapping by the fireplace and enjoying time with family and friends.

This year, with everyone's budget being tight I am making it a Chadwicks Christmas! Every woman I know is getting a little bit of Chadwicks under the tree. Here is my shopping list...maybe it will give you some ideas. And if anyone has any other inexpensive, but awesome gift ideas, please send them my way!

Stylish picks for my mom:
The Down-Filled Coat (in Chocolate), The Isabella Blouse, and The Emma Cardigan (in Black)
A tee that gives back and a cozy outfit for my step mom:
the Chadwicks Change Tee, The Deluxe Flare-Leg Jeans, and the Bouclé Shawl-Collar Sweater (in Black Currant)



Fun accessories for my both of my step-sisters:
the Glossy Patent Bag, and the Ultra-Soft Wrap


And finally a collection of cardigans for my very best friend:
the Tweed Corsage Cardigan and the Garden Cardigan

The Further Adventures of Singledom

So when we last left our heroine, (that would be me), I was discussing how I was adjusting to the single life and how much I was enjoying it. I was also talking about some of the pitfalls of dating and one subject keeps coming up over and over. Texting.

I have a friend who went through a lot of her divorce at the same time I was going through mine and we helped each other slowly and painfully get through it. She has been dating and has gotten together recently with a really nice guy. Through the entire process the same subject keeps coming up. Do I text or don't I? Should I text him first? Should I answer him? Does it sound right? What did he mean by that?

It is unbelievable that 160 characters would cause that much anxiety. I know because I have gone through the same thing. It is very hard to word something so you don't come across as indifferent, angry, crazy or, worst of all, as a stalker. Then you sit and wait. If you don't get an answer in 5 minutes you start to wonder. Did I say something wrong? Does he not want to talk to me anymore? What if he's with someone else. And when he does answer you back, you start to dissect each word to see if there is some sort of hidden meaning. I'm telling you, I'm starting to miss the old days when you would just sit by the phone.

So, what do you think? To text or not to text? Let me know.

Halloween Contest!!

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween. Every year at Chadwicks we have a Halloween costume contest. Every year I try to get my department to dress up and every year my cheap co-worker Sara does not want to spend money on a costume so we end up not participating. This year we got creative and dressed up on a budget. We become the Boston Area General Hospital. Sara got to be a cardiothoracic surgeon for the day and I was the head of nursing. We made the finance intern dress up as a patient. We covered his face and arms with scabby looking blood and placed a latex compound fracture on his arm. He looked disgusting!!! There were seven of us who dressed up…three doctors, two nurses and two patients. We even put up X-rays and MRIs on the windows to give the full effect of a hospital. Today we found out that we came in third place in the contest! I was excited to win third place, but Dan who also dressed up with us quoted Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights and said “if you’re not first you’re last.” LOL! Oh well maybe next year!
Coco

Watch the calories during the Holidays

The holidays are approaching and you can do it while still watching your weight. Here are a few receipes to help you through the holidays.

Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without stuffing. But, as you know, butter-soaked bread cubes (aka stuffing) aren't exactly low in calories. And NO ONE (luckily, that includes you) should be stuffing-less on Turkey Day. Good news. It's not only insanely delicious, it's scary-low in calories and fat, too. WOW! OK, enough of our yapping -- here's the recipe...

Ingredients:
6 slices Wonder Light Bread, any variety (or another light bread)**
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped mushrooms
1 cup fat-free broth, chicken or vegetable; room temperature
1/4 cup Egg Beaters, Original
1 tbsp. LAND O LAKES Whipped Light Butter
2 cloves garlic; finely chopped
salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme

Directions:
For best results, leave bread uncovered for a night or two, until slightly stale. Otherwise, begin by lightly toasting bread. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut bread into 1/2-inch cubes. In a medium-sized pot, combine broth, celery and onion. Cook for 8 minutes at medium heat. Remove from heat and add mushrooms and garlic. Season mixture to taste with salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme. Spray a medium-sized baking dish with nonstick spray, and place bread cubes in it. Once veggie-broth mixture has cooled slightly, add Egg Beaters and butter. Pour mixture evenly on top of bread. Mix gently with a fork. Bread cubes should be moist, but not saturated. If necessary, add 1-2 tablespoons of water. Cover with foil and cook for 20 minutes. Remove foil and fluff/ rearrange stuffing. Return to oven (uncovered) for 10 - 15 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Serves 5.



Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 88
Fat: 1.5g
Sodium: 305mg
Carbs: 16g
Fiber: 4g
Sugars: 4g
Protein: 7g

* 1 Point! on weight watchers

**Nutritionals may vary depending on the bread you use.

The fat orange fruit (yes, it's technically a fruit 'cuz it has seeds!) Grab a can of pumpkin and your trusty box of Fiber One, and get busy! We

Ingredients:

For Crust 2 cups Fiber One bran cereal (original) 1/4 cup light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown); melted & mixed with 1 oz. water 3 tbsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, granulated 1 tsp. cinnamon

For Filling One 15-oz. can pure pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling) One 12-oz. can evaporated fat-free milk 3/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, granulated 1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters)1/4 cup sugar-free maple syrup 1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/8 tsp. salt Optional Topping: Fat Free Reddi-wip Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a blender or food processor, grind Fiber One to a breadcrumb-like consistency. Combine crumbs with all other crust ingredients. Stir until mixed well. In an oven-safe 9-inch pie dish sprayed lightly with nonstick spray, evenly distribute mixture, using your hands or a flat utensil to firmly press and form the crust. Press it into the edges and up along the sides of the dish. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for the filling. Mix well. Pour mixture into pie crust. (Filling may be taller than the crust -- trust us, this is okay!) Bake pie in the oven for 45 minutes, and then remove it and allow to cool. Chill in the fridge for several hours (for best results, chill overnight). Cut into 8 slices, and if you like, top with Reddi-wip before serving!

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

Serving Size: 1 slice Calories: 133 Fat: 3g Sodium: 236mg Carbs: 28g Fiber: 9g Sugars: 8g Protein: 6g POINTS® value 2*

Apple Crisp

POINTS® Value: 4Servings: 8Preparation Time: 15 minCooking Time: 75 minLevel of Difficulty: Easy

This dessert was devoured in minutes at our last recipe tasting. Great warm or cold. Even better with light vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients
4 large apple(s), peeled, cored, cut into 1/8-inch slices (6 cups sliced apples)
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar, divided
2 Tbsp Minute Tapioca, or other brand
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, or freshly grated nutmeg (fresh preferred)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Instructions
Preheat oven to 400ºF. Place rack in bottom third to middle of oven.
In a large bowl, toss together apple slices, lemon juice, 1/4 cup of sugar, tapioca, cinnamon and nutmeg; let stand for about 30 minutes.
Spoon apple mixture into an ungreased 9-inch square baking dish, or glass or ceramic pie plate; cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, to make topping, in a small bowl, combine flour with remaining 1/2 cup of sugar; mix until completely blended. Add melted butter; work in thoroughly with fingertips.
After pie has baked for 30 minutes, remove from oven and discard foil. Sprinkle topping over apples and bake, uncovered, until apples bubble and topping turns golden, about 35 to 45 minutes. Cool at least 2 hours before serving. Slice into 8 pieces and serve. Yields 1 slice per serving.

My favorite new accessory . . .

Over the weekend my husband convinced me to pick up a few fashion scarves to spruce up my wardrobe.  At first I was a bit skeptical.  Chadwick’s and metrostlye both accessorize with scarves throughout the catalogs and the models always look great.  However, would I look just as fashionable or just plain silly?  As I have mentioned before I am accessory challenged, but I have to say I love my new scarves.  They quickly and easily bring a bit of color and style to my wardrobe.  I received so many compliments from my co-workers, not to mention my husband, on how hip and adorable I looked.  It is amazing how such a small investment can update your whole look and give new life to your existing wardrobe.  Let’s be honest, we’re all trying to stretch our budget these days and a simple item such as a scarf or pin can help us to feel pretty without breaking the bank. I’ve already started to think about what great new accessory I can purchase next.  Will it be a great statement necklace, a shiny pin or a fun headband?  Let me know what your favorite accessories are and then be sure to check back to see what I picked. 

GG

Going to your 25 year High school Reunion

This weekend I went to my 25th High School Reunion. Yes, I am 43 years old.
How was it? Great!Many of my classmates I see on Facebook on a regular basis, but I prefer seeing people face to face.
If I were to report back who aged better...I am going to have to go with the Ladies!
Bottom line we know what to wear to make it work. What were the ladies wearing?
Some short casual skirts with sweaters, a couple dresses but mainly jeans.
I myself went with a great tweed sweater and skinny jeans tucked into my new tall black boots. I must say working for a Woman's Fashion Catalog definitely has its benefits. First I saw a few of the younger ladies around work wearing it, and then it was all over our catalog. Once I saw it in our catalog I knew exactly what I was going after. Ladies we may be getting older but lets face it, everyone likes to turn a head once in while. My motto, BE noticed, just don't stand out !
Don't be afraid to try a new look. Almost every trend can be worn in a Classy way.

Sweaters of the Season

Breast Cancer Awareness ♥ Share Your Story

As many of you may know we recently partnered with The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, currently selling shirts with $5 of each sale directly benefitting this cause. We would like to take it a step farther though, to show our support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are asking you to share your personal stories on Facebook.

Simply click here to go to our Breast Cancer Awareness discussion.

Dos and Don’ts when you’re pregnant

First of all, make your weekends available around your due date!
I was happy enough to coordinate a baby shower for my dear friend, but I am now regretting it. She is due January 15th and so a few of us started to talk about planning her baby shower back in July and thank goodness we did.
There are 7 of us who are participating in hosting this shower and so the most difficult part “I thought” would be finding a date we ALL could attend. Boy was I wrong! The most difficult part has been finding a date that the “soon to be mother” can actually attend. Can you believe this? Attend her own shower? She has had every weekend booked since September into November. We really wanted to do this before the holidays because Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are so crazy for everyone and we figured the “mother to be” would want some time to get everything settled before her new bundle of joy is delivered with the holidays and all. Wrong! She’s been so difficult that we told her husband to just have her pick a day and low and behold it’s 2 days after Thanksgiving. So just a word of advice if you’re pregnant, please be accommodating so people can plan your baby shower.

Pink Month!

As many of you know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here at Chadwicks we have banded together with the American Cancer Society and for every “change” tee we sell, $5 goes to the ACS. For more information and to purchase a shirt click here.

Here are some other ways breast cancer is being supported this month:

Pink showed up everywhere on the football field this past week, with NFL players sporting pink gloves, sweatbands, and sneakers, coaches wearing pink hats, and pink jerseys being sold to fans.

Yoplait yogurt is putting 10 cents toward Susan G. Komen for the Cure for every yogurt lid that is mailed back to them before December 31, 2009.

Celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Audrina Patridge are supporting breast cancer by purchasing the LOFT bracelet. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation receives $5 for every bracelet sold.

Hershey’s hosted a Tour de Pink-four day, 220 mile bike marathon from Hershey, PA to NYC on October 2^nd. Over 170 survivors and supporters attended. Hershey is also selling their Hershey Bliss Chocolate in a pink ribbon wrapper.

What are you doing this month to support breast cancer?

Pink Shoes

You know the feeling you get when you get home and there is a package sitting right in front of the door..and for a minute you think what is that? But then, all of a sudden you remember what you ordered! For me it is a combination of exhilaration and at the same time thinking ohhh how I hope this fits!! Well that feeling happened to me last night. I felt like a child in a candy store- I hurried inside and literally threw my bag and coat on the floor. I raced to get a pair of scissors to open the box..and there they were- my magenta/deep fuschia wedding shoes that I had just ordered on Saturday. I was beyond excited! I stared at them for a few minutes in complete awe. The rush suddenly stopped when I put them on my feet and they were too big! I was so unbelievably disappointed- I am a size 5 shoe, and these were way too big. People are always in amazement at how small my feet are, but I find it to be quite challenging. It is so difficult to find cute shoes in my size. Sometimes I feel like I am the only person that has small feet. Looks like I am back on the hunt for the perfect wedding shoes!

What's in a Name?

My wife and I welcomed our little guy, Benjamin, into our lives 5 weeks ago (time is flying!), and we couldn't be happier... a little sleep deprived, but that's another story. When we go out, we get the normal questions from strangers- How old is he? How much did he weight? How long was he? One question we get a lot that surprised me was the meaning behind his name. We picked the name because we both liked it, it's not a family name or anything like that, we just realized we'd better like a name we're going to repeat a million times over the years!

It got me thinking, do most people pick names out for their children because of a special meaning or because it's a family name, or is it based more on what you like? Or maybe a mix of both, between the first and middle names? How did you decide on the names of your children?

If It's Free...

I love live theater, though I seldom get to Broadway (too far and too expensive). The closest I get is ushering at the local little theater group near where I live. In that way, I’ve seen some pretty awesome plays, but they don’t seem to have the room to do any musicals. And I just love seeing singing and dancing so it seemed like seeing Mama Mia (wasn’t Meryl Streep just a hoot!) was going to have to tide me over until somebody in Hollywood got the nerve to revisit that genre. But after reading an article online about Break Out in Song, I’ve determined that I could afford to see a musical, or at least a part of one-especially when it’s free.

Break out in song is a public arts project that puts on live performances of songs from musicals in public places and springs them on their unsuspecting audiences with incredible results. And I just wish I could be around when they show up next to work their magic. And magic it is—just look at the faces in the crowd when they are performing! It just makes me want to transplant the whole thing to Boston. Now if I my talents for singing and dancing could just be improved…

According to their website, they are now looking for suggestions of which numbers to perform in the future, I’m all for Make Someone Happy from Do Re Mi. Which production number would you vote for?
AEL

Single Again

So, here I am, 42 years old and I'm single again. I was married for over 11 years and with my ex-husband for over 13 all together. Needless to say, I was a little nervous about being completely on my own. I'm finding I love it.

I have a new apartment that I got to completely decorate on my own. I'm learning to do a lot of little things for myself, like hang pictures or kill creepy crawlies. (I hate bugs.) I am always busy, between work, the gym and my friends. I took a vacation for the first time in 20 years and had a great time. I've gone to a Red Sox game, a bachelorette party, played poker (and won!) and a variety of other things that I never had a chance to do before.

I suppose the one thing that still confounds me is dating. The last time I dated there was no Email, Twitter, Facebook, or Internet dating. I didn't realize that texting and instant messaging are now considered dates to some people. I have met some very nice men, some of which have turned out to be really good friends. I have also met some very strange people. It truly amazes me what some people will try to get away with on a first date.

The natural continuation of dating is what to wear. I have recently lost a lot of weight and have no idea on how to dress. Thank heaven I have my style divas here at Chadwicks. (Thanks ladies!) They have been wonderful helping me pick things out that actually look good on me and helping me put a wardrobe together. They are teaching me the fine art of accessorising and even how to wear heels again.

How about you other recently single women? Any advice on clothes or dating?

What could go wrong at the gym?

NOW THAT FALL IS HERE, I DECIDED IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO JOIN A GYM. I’M NOT VERY DISCIPLINED, SO EXERCISING AT HOME DOESN’T WORK FOR ME. MY GYM HAS A POOL, ALL SORTS OF CLASSES, AND THREE EXERCISE ROOMS WITH EVERY TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IMAGINABLE. IN ADDITION TO ALL THESE AMENITIES, A GREAT INCENTIVE IS THAT I’M PAYING FOR IT. I’VE BEEN GOING AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES A WEEK FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW, AND I MUST ADMIT, I’M REALLY ENJOYING IT. I HAVE MORE ENERGY AND CAN SEE MY BODY CHANGING (WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT).

I’VE BEEN SPENDING ABOUT HALF OF MY GYM TIME ON THE TREADMILL. I’VE BEEN BUILDING UP MY SPEED SO THAT I’M COMFORTABLE DOING A FAST WALK/SLOW JOG. LAST WEEK I WAS FEELING REALLY GOOD. MY STRIDE WAS COMFORTABLE, MY HEARTRATE WAS WHERE I WANTED IT TO BE, I WAS MAKING GOOD TIME – LIFE WAS GOOD. SO I STARTED TO WATCH THE TELEVISION HANGING FROM THE CEILING IN FRONT OF ME. WHEEL OF FORTUNE WAS ON. THEY WERE TRYING TO GUESS A 4-WORD PHRASE. THE CONTESTANT CALLED OUT A LETTER AND THEN BOUGHT A VOWEL. IN LOOKING AT THE EMPTY BLOCKS, I STARTED TO THINK OF PHASES. MY PHRASE FIT INTO THE BLOCKS. I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. DID I GUESS THE PHRASE?

THE NEXT THING I KNEW, MY BRAIN WAS SAYING WAIT A MINUTE, YOU’RE ON YOUR KNEES. HOW DID I GET HERE?? THE TREADMILL WAS STILL GOING. I’M NOW IN SURVIVAL MODE – WHERE’S THE STOP BUTTON? BEFORE I COULD FIND IT, I HAD ROLLED OFF OF THE TREADMILL AND ONTO THE FLOOR.

WHY IS IT THAT WHEN YOU FALL, YOUR FIRST REACTION IS TO LOOK AROUND TO SEE IF ANYONE SAW YOU. SO I LOOKED AROUND, AND THEY DID, AND THEY WERE LAUGHING.

WHEN I GOT HOME AND TOLD MY SON WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO FIND A NEW GYM. I LIKE MY GYM. I’M GOING TO STAY. WHAT ELSE COULD HAPPEN?

Lights, Camera, Beautiful!

So, I just wanted to Blog about my latest make-up purchase that I am completely in love with. I recently made a trip the local make-up counter and purchased a make-up kit by Smashbox to make my face look camera ready! I was a little skeptical at first, considering my new laugh lines and age spots that I have received since hitting 30, but I figured I would give it a shot. There are 5 steps, which may seem like a lot but it is totally worth it. It comes with a cd that gives you tips and a tutorial on how to apply the make-up, and after that all you need is a little mascara (my favorite) to complete your look. I would totally recommend spending the money to anyone who thinks their face could use a little help!!

By Coco

What I'm Watching...

What am I watching you ask? A LOT of different shows! Because of DVR my life is now surrounded around the TV shows I am watching/DVRing. I like to watch for the pure enjoyment of each show, but I also like to take notice of all the latest trends that are shown. I like to watch Gossip Girl, 90210, Grey's Anatomy, Vampire Diaries...all the girlie stuff, but that's where they show the best clothes! Who could forget The Hills and The City! The list goes on! Just think of how much money the wardrobe of each show costs...that's what got me thinking...if I see it on tv, where can I get it at a much lower price? I'm sure Chadwick's has something comparable to what you're seeing on the screen. Remember, it doesn't always have to be exactly the same, take the style as an idea and make it your own! Just take a look at the examples!

Grey's Anatomy - Chadwicks

Gossip Girl - Chadwicks

90210 - Chadwicks

By LB

What are you watching?

Is it just me or does it seem like there are a ton of new shows this year? It is so hard to pick the ones we want to watch. Luckily we have a DVR so we can watch even more shows! We figured we would watch all the shows that we think look interesting and then start to weed out ones that we don't really like. But sometimes we are DVRing two shows at a time so we have a bunch to go through. And with being so busy with work, my free time is limited. So if I want to get my house cleaned, bills paid, laundry and yardwork done, etc. I really need to watch less TV!

So far the definite new shows we like are Flash Forward and Modern Family. And our favorite returning shows are Big Bang Theory, Brothers & Sisters, The Biggest Loser and Grey's Anatomy. What are you watching?