Wordless Wednesday - Warm Destinations

My view of the other side of the beach in Labadee, Haiti
on our #FisherPriceOnRoyal trip (Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas).
Thank you so much Fisher-Price and Royal Caribbean!

If you aren't already, please make sure to follow my updates on Facebook or Twitter to keep up to date on all the exciting aspects of our family cruise.

Do you participate in Wordless Wednesday on your blog? Link up below! I'd love to hear what has been new and exciting for you this past week!  Or, feel free to add your links to your cruise or sunny destination posts!

EUC is on Vacation!

For those of you who are regular followers of Everything Up Close, you've probably noticed a lack of posts the past couple of weeks. That is because EUC is on vacation!

My husband and I are enjoying our honeymoon in Hawaii right now. While I'm gone, I won't be able to add updates to the blog or announce winners (sorry). I'll be starting to post again during the 2nd week of February.

In the meantime, here is a picture I took while in Hawaii (on the Big Island, Kona side - the first leg of our honeymoon). Needless to say, I'm not envious of the horrible weather currently hitting Canada and mainland USA right now and over the past week.

Note: This is a photograph I took.  Please do not use it without linking back and including an acknowledgment.  Thank you.

SlimPerfect Review & Giveaway! - ENDED

You've had the chance to hear me talk about SlimPerfect in the past (my original review can be located here).  But, since I was so happy with their products the first time around, SlimPerfect offered me the chance to review a few more pieces from their collection. 

For those of you who don't know, SlimPerfect makes products that fit women today's average sized woman (sizes 8-20). It is evident that SlimPerfect understands the needs and concerns of today's modern woman. SlimPerfect garments offer a number of designs with more coverage than traditional bathing suits and a selection that is sure to compliment all different body types.  SlimPerfect is proud to offer a range of products that will help build confidence and self-esteem!

SlimPerfect offers a majority of seperates, which allows you to mix and match.  SlimPerfect's seperates line includes bikini tops, skirts, skorts, dresses, sleeved dresses, tankinis, sleeved tankinis, and capris.  When you look through SlimPerfect's website, you will see just how verstile swimwear/active-wear can be when you purchase seperates! However, in order to meet everyone's desires, SlimPerfect also sells a number of SlimDresses, which are one piece outfits. 

Don't know which suit will compliment your body?  Then try SlimPerfect's online tool called ‘What Suits You?’, which is a survey that helps to narrow down your choices and provide you with the best option for your body shape and preferences.

Review
Casey Kurutz, President and Founder of SlimPerfect, sent me a few pieces from the SlimPerfect Line to try out.  First of all, I had the chance to review a black SlimDress with Sable Trim.  Since last time I did a review for SlimPerfect I only received separates, I was very happy to receive one of their one-piece options to try out.  Here is what SlimPerfect's website says about the SlimDress:

The SlimDress "features sewn in bike shorts for additional taming and coverage instead of a brief under the dress.  This versatile, SlimDress is sophisticated and chic and will definitely get compliments at the pool, gym or on the tennis courts. Our patent pending design gives the illusion of an hourglass figure. The SlimDress is a classic, modest swim suit or active wear garment. 

• -Removable molded gel-filled bra cups with pockets.  Enhances the bust.  Pockets may be used for post mastectomy forms as well.
• -All around elastic empire waist also enhances the support.
• -This shape wear garment includes a tummy tamer panel lined with powernet mesh for added control.
• -Features sewn in bike shorts for additional taming and coverage instead of a brief under the dress. This smooths out the thighs, inner leg and buttocks for a slimming look. This feature tames the bulges without moving them to other areas.
• -Longer length for more coverage. Approx 33” from shoulder to hem.
• -Nylon/Spandex. Hand wash.
• -Brazilian fabric
• -MADE IN THE USA"

So, what did I like about the SlimDress?  Well, I don't think there was anything I didn't like.  First of all, I really loved the sable trim on the suit; it made me look super sophisticated!  Another thing I really liked about the SlimDress was the fact that is was a one-piece.  Usually, I enjoy a one-piece better than separates.  I find that having a suit that is one-piece eliminates the worry of one or both pieces going up or down, which in turn can eliminate some pretty embarrassing moments.  Luckily, I haven't found the SlimPerfect two-pieces to be an issue but I still like to air on the side of caution. :)  Overall, I found that the SlimDress fit very well and held everything (my trouble spots) in as it should.

Next I had the chance to review SlimPerfect's black SlimCapri.  When I saw these on SlimPerfect's website for the first time, I thought they were very neat; I had never seen capris like these before!  Here is what SlimPerfect's website says about their capris:

"This versatile SlimCapri provides maximum coverage and control for the tummy, buttock and thigh area. It is lightweight and is designed to make you look longer and leaner. The SlimCapri can be worn at the pool, beach or gym. Our classic and modest capri can be worn for swim wear or active wear. 

• -Front tummy tamer panel lined with powernet mesh for added control.
• -Buttock and thigh tamer that is approx. 15” in length from the waist to smooth out trouble spots. This feature under the Capri is similar to a lightweight bike short. This feature tames and smooths the bulges without moving them to another area of the body.
• -This shape wear garment is approximately 23” length for more coverage.
• -Stretch
• -Nylon/Spandex
• -Brazilian fabric
• -MADE IN THE USA"

Overall, I really liked the idea of these capris.  The style is nice and modern, and the length is perfect for me.  After wearing the capris awhile, I realized that they were super comfortable because of the stretchy material and the flowiness of them.  Since I am not used to wearing something on my legs while swimming, I'll likely use the capris for working out instead of swimming, which works just as well for me!  In the future, if I was to order another pair of capris from SlimPerfect, I'd likely order them one size larger than I did this time.  Not because they aren't true to fit - they are; however, I'd like them to be a bit flowier (real word? no. Sounds good?  yes.). 

Finally, you may notice in my last review that I never included a picture of myself (I admit it - I was too chicken).  Well this time around, I am including a picture of myself in one of my lovely SlimPerfect suits.  The suit I'm wearing below is a two-piece, which is made up of a black SlimPerfect Tankini with Merlot Trim and a black SlimSkort.  Note: The sand that you see all over the suit does not come with any of the items ordered on the SlimPerfect website.  The sand is a special present that my nephew figured his Auntie Ilissa would look nice in! :)

Since my last review, another exciting thing has happened...SlimPerfect was featured by Oprah!  Straight from SlimPerfect's Press Page: "SlimPerfect was listed in an article in O Magazine at http://www.oprah.com/ titled "Best Bathing Suit for Any Body (Yes, We Mean Yours)" as "Best Brands" for "Sizes 12 & Up" and "To Take Inches Off."   Thank you Oprah team!"

What can you win? One lucky reader will win a $50 E-Gift Certificate for SlimPerfect's website.  Unfortunately, the gift certificate cannot be used to cover shipping and the winner will be responsible for shipping costs.

How to enter: Go to SlimPerfect's website and look around.  Then, come back here and tell me what you'd buy (including the exact name and color) if you won the $50 gift certificate. This question must be answered to gain an entry in the giveaway.

Each of the following will give you one extra entry in the giveaway (unless otherwise noted). Please make sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do. If a certain entry method is worth more than one entry, which will be indicated for methods worth more than one entry, please leave a comment to reflect each entry:
- Subscribing to my blog via email or RSS feed (Maximum of 1 entry - please tell me how you subscribe in your comment).

- Adding my button to your blog sidebar.  - IMPORTANT - If you've added it before, please add it again with the new code.  The button must point to http://www.everythingupclose.com for it to be counted as a valid entry.

- Following me on Twitter (@ihchicky) and Tweeting about this giveaway (with a link to this page). Please leave a link to your tweet or your twitter name. You can do this once a day.
-Following @SlimPerfect on Twitter.

- Following me on Blogger / Google Friends Connect (publicly).
- Entering one of my other giveaways.  Please indicate the name of the other giveaway you entered.

- Blogging about this giveaway on your blog. Please leave a link to your blog post in your comment.

- Talking about and linking to this giveaway in any public forum or on Facebook. If you do this, please leave your user-name and a link to the post.

-Donate a minimum of $1 to my BlogHer 2010 Fund using the ChipIn widget on the right hand side of my blog. Earn 2 entries for each dollar you donate! Please leave me your PayPal email address so I can verify your entry.

Important Entry Details:

The above entries (main and bonus) can only be submitted once per person (except for the tweet entry, which can be done daily). Please do not use more than one blogger account or add additional anonymous comments to gain extra entries. This is not fair to everyone else and this practice is strictly prohibited. If a person is found to be using more than one account to enter the same giveaway, they will be disqualified from that particular giveaway, as well as all future giveaways.

This giveaway will end on Saturday, January 9th at 11:59pm (Central Standard Time). After the giveaway has ended, the winner will be picked randomly using random.org. EMAIL RULES: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email only. Please make sure your blog profile includes your email address and make sure that it is visible. If you do not have a blogger account, please make sure you have included your email address in your post. If there is no email address provided, to contact the winner, another person will be chosen. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification with their complete mailing address (I will be forwarding all this information to the sponsor), If this information is not received within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the US only!

Good Luck!
 

Now is the perfect time to add some SlimPerfect pieces to your swim or workout wardrobe - especially if you are planning to travel to somewhere nice and warm this winter.  Now through January 1st, 2010, take 20% off your SlimPerfect order when you quote the coupon code Customer Appreciation.  Considering all of SlimPerfect's products are on sale to make way for the new 2010 line, you are sure to get a great deal!

*Disclaimer* In order to complete an accurate review of these products, SlimPerfect offered to send the above products to me free of charge (although, I agreed to pay for shipping).  This review is 100% of my own feedback and I did not receive any other sort of compensation for my opinion.

I'm Back!

I am guessing some of you wondered what happened to me after my last post, which happened to be the announcement of the winner from my giveaway. I bet some of you thought that I may have fallen off the face of the earth. Actually...I just got back from just over a week of vacation. Our vacation was focused on a tour of Western Manitoba. During our trip we stayed at four different campgrounds. It was a lot of fun. I was amazed by what beautiful scenery and different landscapes Manitoba has; so diverse. Where I live it is pretty flat and not at all like what we got to see on our trip. I am going to keep this post short but I just wanted to share a couple of pictures that we took during our trip (I am only including pictures that I took from the first three stops on our trip because our last stop was to camp with family. Plus, I didn't take too many pictures on our last stop).

Here are two pictures of our little visitors from night #2 (although they showed up both the 1st and 2nd night) at Sprucewoods Provincial Park. We are guessing that the first picture is the Daddy raccoon. The second picture shows the rest of this family! Sorry for the quality of the second picture. Because it was so dark I had to increase the brightness which decreased the quality of the picture. Luckily they weren't lucky enough to get ahold of our cooler! :)

Here is a picture from the next leg of our trip to Asessippi Provincial Park. This is a picture of the dam that you see as you come into the park.

Here is a picture that I took while driving around the Asessippi Parkland. In the background you can see the Asessippi Ski Hills. Isn't it beautiful!?

Once we got to Duck Mountain Provincial Park we decided to stay at Child's Lake Campground. While there we were lucky enough to have a few little visitors. We had 2 deer roam through the back of our site, which unfortunately I didn't get a good picture of. Also, we saw another deer that starred me down while we were taking a walk (He was about 15 feet away and so tame). Of course, that was the one time that I didn't have my camera with me. But, my boyfriend took a bunch of pictures of a cute little caterpillar that visited us. He named him Spike! Here is a picture that I thought was neat. It shows him climbing up one of the strings on our tent.

While on vacation, my boyfriend and I were experimenting with some macros. Here is a neat one my boyfriend took. Can you guess what it is?

Finally, here is a picture that I took from the top of a lookout tour on Baldy Mountain (the highest peak in Manitoba, located in Duck Mountain Provincial Park). This picture is taken from 2,730 feet above sea level!