Good Stuff Rox

Good Stuff for a Great Cause: Hanes tees in support of Komen for the Cure

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month draws to a close, it's an honor to point out a new partnership between Hanes and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  Hanes recently launched an online Design and Buy program that allows visitors to design their own T-shirts adorned with messages of hope, love and support for those affected by breast cancer.  Hanes donates 10 percent of the proceeds from all custom T-shirts through the Design and Buy program to Komen for the Cure.  Additionally, for the second year, Hanes will offer its “Pink Collection” of panties, bras, socks, and tees designed to create awareness for the cause.  As part of the collection, Hanes spokesperson and film star Melina Kanakaredes has designed three T-shirts meant to inspire and encourage others to join her in the fight against breast cancer.

Hanes sent me the tee pictured above featuring a white dove with a message "Soar for the Cure."  Wearing it around town, I've received a couple of comments, including one from a woman who told me of her daughter's battle with breast cancer.  She shared that every time she sees a shirt like mine, or a pink ribbon, she's reminded that her family is not alone in this fight.  With a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes, they are indeed not alone.  Thanks to the Komen Foundation's over $1.5 billion and counting, Hanes' commitment of $500,000 to Komen, and many more efforts, our hope for a cure is better than ever. 

However you do it, whether by designing a t-shirt, sporting a pink ribbon, donating to Komen or an organization like it, or holding a friend's hand as she prepares for a biopsy, please find a way to express your support for a cure to be found in our lifetime.  Nearly 500 women each day receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer is, needless to say, too many. 

Disclaimer: Hanes sent me information on their partnership with Komen and a Soar for a Cure tee.  I offered to post it here, as I believe that Good Stuff for a Great Cause rocks!  Please join Hanes, Komen, and me in the fight against breast cancer, a fight that must be won, and soon.

 

Yummie Tummies rock!

As I planned to attend BlogHer10 this year, a big part of my thoughts turned to wardrobe.  I was adequately attired at BlogHer09 but wanted to be a little more rock-and-roll this year -- to vamp it up a bit, if you will.  Thinking back on what looks I liked during BlogHer09, a lot of what caught my eye was daytime wear; and a lot of those who caught my eye among my friends were wearing "Yummie Tummie" tanks.  I checked out the website and thought about ordering one, but I was uncertain about sizing -- and, since they're not inexpensive, I was hesitant.  I remembered that my friend Stefania (CityMama) had some sort of association with Yummie Tummie, so I e-mailed her to ask some sizing, fit and care questions.

Stefania surprised me; I had a complimentary Yummie Tummie in my hands within days to try.  She thought I'd be a medium, which is my usual size, and that, indeed, fit.  That's me pictured above, wearing my Yummie Tummie "chiffon tier top" alongside Yummie Tummie founder Heather Thomson at BlogHer10 this year; Heather and her company were among the sponsors at this year's SocialLuxe Lounge.  So not only did I get to show my appreciation for the product to the company's founder, I also had the chance to score another complimentary Yummie Tummie.  This time, I chose the "Gwen racer back embellished tank," with its removable "bling." 

With regard to the chiffon tier top, it's really everything I hoped: it's a fitted top that helps to smooth out the "bump" of my tummy that my two kids left behind.  It fits like a glove, sucks in my waist a good bit without feeling overly snug -- it's like a hugging shirt, only with an underlayer that "hugs" while the overlayer (the chiffon) prevents it from looking skin-tight.  It washes very well and required only minimal ironing touch-ups after being unpacked from my suitcase.  The best part about it is that I can wear it with jeans and flats or with a skirt as evening wear, as I did for the SocialLuxe Lounge party. 

With regard to the Gwen tank, the jury's still out.  Like the chiffon, it has an underlayer and an overlayer; but the overlayer on this tank fits more snugly, and it didn't suck in my belly far enough for me to feel comfortable in it.  When I wore it, I put on my skinniest jeans over Spanx, and then it looked great -- just the rock-and-roll look I'm going for these days.  But with Spanx, and skinny jeans, and the top, I wasn't very comfortable -- and I'm big on comfort.  I can wear the highest heels all day without complaint, but I need room to eat.  I've been steadily losing weight and toning up, but there needs to always be room in my belly for a good steak -- without stretching my shirt.  I'm not quite there yet with the Gwen tank -- but, with that said, it is one. sexy. top.  In another month or two, it'll become a wardrobe staple.

With those thoughts, I share that I'm really happy that a couple of Yummie Tummies landed in my hands and on my body, and yes, I will order them on my own dime.  I'm thinking about adding a long-sleeved option to my wardrobe: either the "Chelsea classic button down" or the "turtleneck," probably the latter because I live in turtlenecks in the wintertime.  I confess, though, that the "Rhianna corset" has also caught my eye, though I'm wondering if I can pull it off at 37.  A few more months on the Pilates Reformer, and I don't think I'll care!  Perhaps you'll see me in that at BlogHer11.

Thanks to Yummie Tummie, to Stefania Pomponi Butler of CityMama and of the Clever Girls Collective, and to the SocialLuxe Lounge for the opportunity to try these beautiful tops.  While I was provided with both tops mentioned for free, I am not being compensated otherwise for this review and did not commit to reviewing the products positively.  That said, I truly do enjoy them and will buy some of my own accord -- so this is a product that I'm pleased to include here on Good Stuff Rox, where I only write about stuff that does, indeed, rock.