Yummie Tummie Review/ $100 GC Giveaway!

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Back in July, I was watching the #blogher09 Twitter stream with a mix of interest and jealousy. I was kicking myself for not getting it together in time to attend BlogHer, the blogging conference for women. I noticed that tons of bloggers were raving about a brand of shapewear called Yummie Tummie. I had heard of the brand before and had actually entered a giveaway to win one. I really wanted to try it out, but I’m a bit leery of buying shapewear. Since giving birth to my son in ’07, I’ve tried tons of brands of girdles and body shapers and all of them were so uncomfortable. I’ve never managed to make it more than a couple of hours in one and so saved them for occasions when I wanted to look pulled in and was willing to suffer. However, all of the women bloggers were saying Yummie Tummie isn’t like that, it’s actually comfortable! I was dubious, but then when they tweeted a coupon code good for 50% off any purchase, I knew I needed to jump on that deal, so I ordered two strappy tanks, in black and brown leopard. (Full disclosure: Although I bought two Yummie Tummies with my own money, I did receive one for free at Blogalicious).

I am thrilled to report that the Yummie Tummie really does hold you in, give you a nice smooth silhouette and it’s NOT PAINFUL. I ordered a size L and a size M and both are comfortable, although the M is a bit more snug and I have to work a little harder to shimmy into it. I wear my Yummie Tummies every day to work and sometimes I’ll even run errands in my tank and a pair of jeans. The Yummie Tummie comes in plus size and long length. Although I’m short, I like the longer length because it goes down over my butt and the tank can be tucked into my pants. That way, I don’t have to worry about the Yummie Tummie creeping up.

I am so excited to be able to offer my readers a $100 gift card to Yummie Tummie to spend on whatever you’d like! Yummie Tummie does offer a tank specifically designed for post-partum nursing moms. This tank features a top that wicks away moisture to keep you dry and snaps down for easy access. While I’ve never tried the nursing tank, I have been assured that Heather Thomson designed this top specifically to be supportive, comfortable and appropriate for nursing moms. That means a soft cotton bra top, no underwire, and snap down bra panels designed for comfort and modesty. The nursing tank was designed to be used immediately post-partum. It's up to every woman to decide what feels comfortable, but my guess would be you may want to order a size up if you’re between sizes so the top is not too constricting across your breasts.

Now here are the giveaway rules: To enter, please leave a comment telling me why you’d like to win the Yummie Tummie. Since this is a biggie, I’m going to offer FOUR extra entries. You get an extra entry for

*Following me on Twitter (I’m @blacktating)

*Tweeting about the giveaway

*Blogging about the giveaway

*Becoming a fan of Blacktating on Facebook

So that is up to FIVE entries per person. Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each of your entries and a link when applicable. Also, please be sure to leave me a valid email address in your comment if it’s not public on your Google profile. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to pick a second winner because I had no way to contact the first person.

Giveaway ends on November 3 at 11:59 PM eastern time. Winner will be contacted via email and posted on the blog and will have 48 hours to respond before forfeiting the prize to another winner. Good luck!

Congratulations, Dee! You won the $100 gift card to Yummie Tummie!

Giveaway: $25 giftcard to Tiny Prints

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As you may know, I recently attended Blogalicious, the first conference for women of color bloggers. I had an amazing time and met some great women and received some great gifts. I got more swag than I could ever make use of myself, so I am pleased to be able to give away some fun stuff to my wonderful readers. First up is a $25 gift card to TinyPrints, the company that creates those adorable birth announcements, chic invitations for all occasions and now business cards, courtesy of the Clever Girls Collective! No matter what you're celebrating (a wedding, graduation, new baby, engagement, anniversary, Bar Mitzvah, etc) Tiny Prints has a card or invitation that is perfect for the occasion.

To win the gift certificate, simply leave me a comment here with the type of card you'd order with the $25 if you win. Want some extra entries? Follow me on Twitter, tweet about this contest, or become a fan of the Blacktating Blog on Facebook. That's a total of 4 entries per person, so please be sure to leave a separate comment for each of your entries.

Contest is open to residents of the US & Canada, 18 and older. Contest ends on Friday, October 23rd at midnight EST. Winner will be contacted via email and posted on the blog and will have 48 hours to respond before forfeiting the prize to another winner. Good luck!



Congratulations to entry #25, Xenia! You are the winner of the gift card!

Review: Tummy Tankz

I was recently sent a Tummy Tank maternity belly band to review on the blog. No, I don't have anything to tell you guys. I'm not expecting. But that's what makes this company and this product so unique: it's a belly band that can be used by pregnant women, nursing moms and those confident enough to rock a tube top. It's just a small bit of fabric, but it's so versatile. It's a nylon, spandex blend so it feels silky and stretches by 75% of its original size.

Photo by Lynn Dao

So how many different ways can you use Tummy Tankz? While pregnant, you can wear it at the hips to hide your unbuttoned pants or use for layering with tops. It's great for nursing. Wear it under your breasts and you can lift your shirt up, latch your baby on, and your tummy will be covered by the Tummy Tank while your baby covers your breast. Voila, no need for a silly nursing cover! And if you're bold enough, you can wear it as a tube top for a sexy look, or under a blazer with jeans. I personally wouldn't go around exposing my belly, but if you're a hot mama with the confidence, go for it!

What I Liked About The Product
First, this is a product created by a mom, for moms, and I love supporting women who've started their own businesses. I also love that the product can be used for years for many purposes, and that it can help women feel more confident nursing in public. The fact that this product is marketed as an alternative to impersonal nursing covers makes me giddy. AND it comes in plus sizes, so it can work for moms of all shapes and sizes. And you really can't beat the price: for $16.95 you're getting 3 products in one!

What I Didn't Like
There's not much to dislike about the Tummy Tank. Although I'm not pregnant, my Tummy Tank stretched nicely when I put it on, so I imagine it would grow with you during pregnancy. It was WAY too sexy for me to wear as a top alone, but I have pretty conservative taste in clothing. The size chart was accurate and I was pleased with the fit. The only thing I wasn't crazy about were the patterns available. I'd probably choose a neutral color like white or black, but I was sent the "patchwork" and wasn't crazy about the way the fabric looked when it arrived. I'd stick to the plain colors.

Want your own Tummy Tank? Order one here today for $16.95. Look out for deals on Tummy Tankz by following them on Twitter.




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