Adventures of a Mini Van Mom: July 2011

Megan L. - My Profile Photo on Crowdtap

www.Crowdtap.com

The most significant experience that I’ve had on Crowdtap has been being a member of the Old Navy Style Council and the opportunities to sample and review merchandise. I feel priviledged and proud to be a member. I have been lucky to be selected for the Ankle Jeans, Spring Dresses, Spring Accessory Party and most recently the In-Store Summer ShortsParty.

I joined Crowdtap in February this year. Shortly after I was excited to be chosen for the Old Navy Ankle Jeans sample share. I couldn’t believe that I would be able to go to Old Navy and get something for free – and not only for myself, but for three of my friends as well! There were a couple glitches such as shorter coupon redemption dates, and confusion from employees never hearing of Crowdtap and also unsure of which jeans qualified. But overall, it was really great! I like to think I played a small part, through feedback and Old Navy discussions on Crowdtap, to helping shape the future sample shares. The moderators really listened to our feedback and suggestions and every sample share since has been even better and more amazing!

The Old Navy Spring Dress sample share came just in time for Easter. Me & three friends were able to find just the perfect dress to wear for Easter Sunday. And the Old Navy Spring Accessory party was a blast! I hosted a spring party at my house with fresh flowers from my garden. I told my friends about Crowdtap and being a member of the Old Navy Style Council. We played games like “Name that Accessory” and finding items in your purse the started with each letter of Old Navy. I gave away most of the goodies from my party kit as door prizes including a fedora, two spring scarves, a pair of sunglasses, saddle bag, and five totes.

Goodies from the Spring Accessory Party Kit!

My Table Setting for the Accessory Party

The In-Store Summer Shorts Party was the most fun to date! I was selected to host an in store party and received coupons for myself and three of my friends not just for one item this time, but for an entire outfit – a pair of shorts, a top of our choice, and an accessory (summer hat, belt, scarf, bag, sunglasses, jewelry, or shoes)!! After choosing our perfect outfits, my friends and I hit the isles in our fabulous new clothes looking for that perfect accessory to complete our outfit. We felt like celebrities and thought video cameras should be following us around. We had fun posing and taking photos. By far my most memorable and favorite experience thus far here on Crowdtap!!

It is fun to to tell my friends about it on Facebook & Twitter as well! I also love that not only do I receive coupons for myself for free merchandise, but also for three of my friends each time. That makes it even that much more enjoyable! I also have a few friends that have joined Crowdtap after I've told them about it and have been chosen for sample shares as well. It’s fun to share in their excitement.

I think part of the reason why these sample shares have been so significant for me is in light of my life a year ago. February 2010, only one year after having our oldest son Levi, our youngest son Wyatt was born. Without any warning of impending complications, he was flown to a hospital two hours away. My husband and I spent the next 6 weeks along side him fighting for his life. It is all a bit of a blur and even though he is perfectly healthy now and life is back to normal, well as normal as it can be with two boys (Levi-2 ½ ;Wyatt-1 ½ ), last year took its toll on me. 2010 was about survival. So when we rang in 2011, my resolution was to Live & Enjoy Life!

I have always enjoyed shopping and love Old Navy’s clothes. They fit me well and are durable, affordable, adorable and comfortable! Which are all something this mom-on-the-go needs!! So being able to take a little time for myself and enjoy shopping with my friends, for FREE clothes, has been amazing! Thank You Crowdtap& Old Navy for playing a part in helping me Live & Enjoy Life this year!!

I LOVE Old Navy's Shorts!!!!

I have bought them season after season and the sizes seem to always run true. I love that. Some brands seem to shrink or change their fit so I have to try on so many different styles/sizes. With Old Navy’s clothes, I am typically the same size - or just between two different ones which makes it easy if I’m in a hurry to try on to grab a couple pairs, try on and go!

I especially like the Bermuda shorts! I have long, curvy legs so they seem to the best look for me! And as a mom of two small toddlers, they are the perfect length for bending over or crouching down. I like denim a lot because it still neutral but a little less easily stain-able with four little gooey hands coming at me ready to stain mommy's new clothes. :) I would say that I enjoy wearing shorts mostly around the house but I like to be wearing something that is comfortable yet easy to transition to running errands with my boys at the grocery store or taking them to the park. I don't want to look like a mom who doesn't care how she looks but also don't want to wear something that I have to worry about getting ruined.
Old Navy has the perfect combination!

COMFORTABLE, DURABLE, ADORABLE & AFFORDABLE!

My Old Navy In-Store Summer Shorts Party

As a member of the Old Navy Style Council through Crowdtap, I was so excited to be selected for an incredible merchandise sampling opportunity. It was the first In-Store Old Navy Summer Shorts Party. What this means is I, along with three of my friends, received coupons for an entirely free outfit including one pair of shorts, one top, and one accessory (either a pair of shoes, a bag or purse, hat, belt, sunglasses, jewelry or a scarf)!! Wowzers, Right?!! Me & my friends have been so excited!!!!

There are times in our lives that we hear about something and think “This just sounds too good to be true?” But I can assure you, this was true! This is my fourth sampling with Old Navy – first the ankle jeans, next the Spring Dresses, then an at home Spring Accessory Party, and finally this Shorts Party. I have to say that this one was my favorite. My friends and I felt like we were celebrities. Given a shopping spree and chance to try on different outfits, find our favorites, and then mosey around the store wearing those outfits to find just the right accessory to complete our look. I have literally been dreaming about it for days. And when we arrived, one of my friends commented that it felt a bit like we were on a reality show and should have cameras following us around!!

Our Amazing Day

The closest Old Navy is about an hour drive away, so my mom watched the kids and us ladies piled into the minivan, drove through and grabbed a coffee at Dutch Bros (which I had a full punch card so my medium iced caramel kicker was FREE! Yay!) and we headed on our way! We jammed out to “Baby” by Justin Bieber, and “The Climb” and “Seven Things” by Miley Cyrus on the way!

When we arrived at the store, I asked to speak with the manager and told the associate there wasn’t a problem but that I needed to explain who I was and what I would be doing. The manager, Ashley, whom I have talked to on previous sampling shopping trips, was really great about it. She read through the letter & looked at the coupons and booklet I brought with me. She smiled and said, “Have Fun! And let us know if you need help with anything!” She was super nice and so were all the employees!!

Once we got the go ahead and the employees knew what we were doing, the girls and I browsed through the store picking up items that caught our eye. We focused on finding a few pairs of shorts to try on and a few tops as well.

There were so many different styles of shorts to choose from at Old Navy – Zip Pocket Linen shorts, Cuffed Khaki Shorts, Distressed Denim, Comfy Sweat Shorts, Plaid Shorts, Black, Blue & White Twill Shorts, and Denim Bermuda Shorts!!!! They also had Denim Skirts which I have been looking for everywhere!!

I had researched on oldnavy.com and already knew I was looking for the Denim Bermuda shorts. When I couldn’t find them at first, I saw Ashley and she directed me to the center of the store. I grabbed a light wash and dark wash. And a good thing, because I got the dark wash as my Free pair and the light wash in one of my Buy 2, Get 1 Free purchases because I loved the fit so much!

The Bermudas are perfect for me! They didn’t have my size in stock for the blue Twill Bermudas (pictured above), but I was able to order those online when I got home! I love that the Old Navy Perfect Bermudas tag says: “You found it! The same perfect fit that you know and love, in a variety of styles that will take you everywhere. Comfortable, flattering, and super soft – it’s perfect!”

We had so much fun trying different clothing and combinations on in the dressing room. Lots of giggles, and "Yes, I love that!" Or "Um, I think that’s not quite you!" After choosing our favorites and getting approvals from one another, we stayed in our outfits, folded up our street clothes in Old Navy tote bags and began our search throughout the store for that perfect accessory to complete our look!

ACCESSORIZING!!!!

At first, my friends & I felt a little funny walking around in clothes that we hadn’t purchased yet. But that wore off quickly and everyone really got into it. We tried on flip flops, sandals, and hats. Browsed through the belts, bags and purses. Our store doesn’t carry jewelry otherwise I know we would have been picking through that for sure! We had so much fun posing in our outfits with different fabulous Old Navy accessories.

Posing Pretty!!!

I want a wall like this in my house! Flip Flops in Every Color!


A Tote that Doubles as a Cooler! How Cool! ;)

Purses

Adorable Bags!!

Me & My Girls!!

BELTS!!


Me & My Favorite Bag! This one won out!

When several of the Old Navy associates asked me how I got to be part of this, I enjoyed telling them about Crowdtap and about being a member of the Old Navy Style Council. I told them to tell their friends as well!! They were all really helpful and nice. We even recruited one to take a couple group photos of us girls. We posed for a group photo with the mannequins each with different summer shades and a different color of the same style of purse.

In the end, Mindy, Melissa, and I chose bags as our accessory. I had a tough time narrowing it down to just one as you can see. Jenny chose a white pair of shades and purchased a pair of pink flip flops which matched her free outfit perfectly. I had fun Tweeting about it as well!

After we found our outfits and got our street clothes back on, we spent close to another hour looking through clearance and pairing up items for the Buy 2, Get 1 Free Deal. I got an even more amazing deal as I had purchased two different Groupon promotions where I got $20 for $10.

So all in all, I came out with some sweet deals! We spent over 2 ½ hours total at Old Navy we were famished and decided to get some food in the mall to recharge. We pretty much Shopped Until We Dropped! We had a blast!!!