Business 2 Blogger: Heelys Campaign

This is my first project with Business 2 Blogger, a site that matches businesses with bloggers. Heelys are wheeled shoes that come in several different sneaker styles. I decided on the Sassy, a light purple glitter and stud, Converse style shoe.

I love how these shoes look, but I am absolutely dreadful when it comes to rolling in them. The Heelys site has several videos on the tricks one can do while wearing their shoes, but the only feat I have been able to accomplish is propelling myself forward while clinging to the kitchen counters in an attempt not to fall backward and slam my head on the floor. When I'm not attempting to roll, I just stomp around like a sparkly-footed elephant. Heelys are for all ages, but it is a pity that coordination is not included. I would even pay extra. Thankfully, taking the wheels in and out is a snap, so I will be wearing these shoes sans wheels. On a side note, these shoes are as safe as roller skates, so a helmet and adult supervision are both good ideas when it comes to kids in Heelys.

Besides my lack of skill, my only complaint is the sizing. I found the website a little confusing, and ended up ordering the wrong size the first time. The shoes, also, run a little wide, so my shoes are starting to crease in spots. As for style, these shoes may be a bit over the top, but that's what I love about them.

The Sassy

Just for girls…glitter, glitz and gingham

Pearlized synthetic leather

Heelys Wave Comfort Heel Bracket provides comfort and stability

Gum rubber Ninja Star outsole

Fats low profile wheels with ABEC 1 bearings

Heelys is running a Labor Day special where you can buy any pair of Heelys and get a second pair of equal or lesser value for only $30!

Shoes provided by Heelys. Opinions provided by me.

Things i LOVE Thursday

Baking Cookies

This week I made a version of the wheat-free oatmeal cookies from Cookie Swap! I highly recommend the recipe.

Remembering how amazing life really is

I may have posted this before, but I couldn't resist sharing the video again.

Hearting these fabulous shoes

I am quite taken with these green satin loafers. Wouldn't they look fabulous with a leather pencil skirt?

Watching movies

While The Adjustment Bureau wasn't quite as action packed as I was expecting, the movie was still very good and raised interesting questions about making your own destiny.

Looking forward to fall shopping

It's the first of September, and my closet is begging for some new autumn clothes. I love the colors in this silk wrap dress from Topshop.

What are you loving this week?

The Good, the Bad, and the Giveaway - Is it worth it?

Wearing a dress I won from Shabby Apple last year.

First, let me say that this post does not feature a giveaway. I love hosting and entering giveaways, but lately, I've noticed that giveaways are becoming a liability and are no longer the asset they once were. Instead of rewarding loyal followers and creating goodwill between readers and a brand, giveaways increasingly create frustration, anger, and disappointment. As I posted earlier this year, sometimes the prize does not live up to expectations. Hosting giveaways on The Fashion Planner is my way of thanking readers as well as working to attract new followers, so it is frustrating when a prize I give away is a disappointment to the winner.

Giveaways can, also, be misleading. Companies hosting giveaways on facebook are a prime example of building hype only to incite anger when they cannot deliver the goods to their 20,000 new fans. I have seen several companies promise a "surprise" or a giveaway that gets followers in a frenzy only to fail to meet the demand or to offer a shamefully small discount. The sheer hatred that this creates between consumers and brands is astounding. While disappointed consumers may be suffering from disproportionate rage, companies do themselves no favors by enraging consumers and doing nothing to pacify the people they were trying to court.

Finally, I must confess my own giveaway disappointment. Yesterday, I checked my email to see that I had won a bag from a fashion site I liked. Needless to say, I was excited until I saw that I had been sent another message saying that if I did not respond in an hour they would be picking a new winner. Since I checked my email two or three hours after the last message was sent, I lost the bag. I have never heard of a winner being given three hours to respond to a message, and the distaste I felt for the fashion site was extreme, especially since I recently mentioned this site as a favorite. While one can argue that it is the site's right to run giveaways the way they choose, I have to wonder about the rational behind a system built to disappoint their giveaway winners. After all, how many winners were contacted before me and were just as unlucky to have not checked their email in that narrow time frame?

While I am still planning on hosting a few more giveaways this year, I am wondering about your thoughts on giveaways:

Do you like entering giveaways?

Do giveaways distract from the content of a blog?

What are your experiences (good or bad) with giveaways?

Top 10 Fashion Sites

picture via Pinterest

Over the last few years, blogs have gradually replaced my many magazine subscriptions. Sure, I still subscribe to a few, but with so much content online, it is much more economical to get my fashion fix on the web. For this week's IFB Project, bloggers are asked to list their top ten fashion sites. Here are my favorites in no particular order:

Magazines

• Lucky - giveaways, street style, and shopping
• Glamour - got to love The Girls in the Beauty Dept.

Fashion and Style Sites

• Fashionista - not always safe for work but a great way to stay up to date on the fashion world
• Style.com - my favorite site for fashion show coverage
• Glitter Guide - fashion and lifestyle ideas for a world full of sparkle

Blogs

• Olsens Anonymous - tons of pictures featuring the fashionable duo
• Gala Darling - a positive take on life and fashion
• The Man Repeller - her posts make me lol
• What Kate Wore - classic, ladylike dressing
• Sea of Shoes - shoes!... and some pretty fabulous outfits

What are some of your favorite sites?

Things i LOVE Thursday

Receiving the September issue of Vogue

Fall can now begin. Plus, I just love the cover.

Listening to "Lighters" by Bad Meets Evil with Bruno Mars

The beat is catchy, and Bruno Mars mixing it up with the bad boys is irresistible.

Wanting the Dolce Vita Jemma Platform Boot

I've seen this boot on several blogs and love the shape and color. Also, it would look awesome worn with a matching pair of red jeans...

Reading The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Ann Collins

The novel picks up where Pride and Prejudice left off while weaving in social and political events of nineteenth century England.

Watching Jane Eyre

This new version is moody and beautiful with breathtaking sets and costumes and haunting music, but I think the 2006 version is still my favorite.

What are you loving?

Fall Fashion Wish List

I can't believe that fall is right around the corner. Where has this year gone? While I'm looking forward to eating copious amounts of apple doughnuts, apple pie, and apple cider while watching the leaves change colors, my favorite part of fall is back to school shopping. Even though I am not in school anymore, I still like to stock up on new pens, notebooks, and of course, new clothes.

Pleated Midi Skirt

ASOS Pleated Midi Skirt

Combining two of my favorite trends from spring - pleats and midi skirts - the pleated midi skirt is just right for transitioning into cooler weather.

Colored Denim

River Island Red Skinny Jean

I love the colored denim that has been popping up on celebrities. A pair of red jeans is at the top of my list, but I'm, also, loving this salmon colored pair from Rag & Bone.

Capes

Kookai Hooded Cape

This fall the cape is calling my name. I must have one... So, I'll be keeping an eye on ebay and etsy in the hopes of discovering my dream cape.

Leather Clutch

Clare Vivier Foldover

A leather clutch is a great way to go from day (perhaps stuffed in a tote) to night (the only bag you need). I love the look of the clutches at Clare Vivier, but American Apparel offers a more budget friendly selection.

Heeled Loafers

Sullivan Moccasin Platform Loafers

A ladylike twist on the classic school girl shoes, heeled loafers look great during the weekend as well as at the office.

What's on your fall fashion wish list?

My Blogging Tool Kit

This week's IFB Project asks bloggers to share what is in their blogging tool kit. I've never given much thought to the tools I use for blogging. A computer and a camera would seem to sum up the tools of the trade, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that my tool kit consists of more than what I thought.

The most basic tool for any blogger is a computer. I am a proud owner of a MacBook. This is my second one, so I like to think of myself as a dedicated user, although I know there are still plenty of functions I don't utilize.

While an SLR camera is on my wish list, my current camera is the Canon PowerShot SD780IS. I like it because it is small and red and has pretty good zoom capabilities.

My Blackberry Curve may not be as smart as the new phones on the market (how I wish I had an iphone), but it is great for checking email and updating twitter and facebook, which is all I do anyways...

I bought a Flip Mino HD a few years ago with the intent of making fashion videos documenting outfits and such. Sadly, this hasn't happened yet, but the camera did come in handy for my cousin's wedding.

I am including products to review in my tool kit because I love reviewing products on my blog - especially beauty products. A Lime Crime lipstick and an Orly nail lacquer stand next to my laptop.

A notebook and pen are helpful for keeping track of ideas and posts. I like inexpensive spiral bound notebooks because they are flexible and are not too precious to rip pages out of them. I've taken to calling my notebook my "blog log".

Finally, books and magazines are a constant source of inspiration. Whether I am thumbing through an issue of Lula or perusing The Fashion File, I am constantly on the lookout for something to blog about.

What makes up your blogging tool kit?