I have a thing for woman-owned shops. Maybe it’s because I’m a woman, maybe it’s because I like to shop and women-owned boutiques are more my taste, or maybe it’s because I saw my sister’s husband leave her; a single-mom who had to raise four boys under the age of ten on her own. Then, maybe I watched as she scraped and struggled through that life-changing event all her way to a successful business. Maybe.

KyKy’s Treasures is a mother and daughter team who began by making simple, beaded bracelets and selling them at their yearly garage sale. They loved doing it so much that they decided to sell them online too. Not only are they woman-owned, they are woman-and-daughter-owned. That’s a bonus woman, right there…

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I have a thing for woman-owned shops. Maybe it’s because I’m a woman, maybe it’s because I like to shop and women-owned boutiques are more my taste, or maybe it’s because I saw my sister’s husband leave her; a single-mom who had to raise four boys under the age of ten on her own. Then, maybe I watched as she scraped and struggled through that life-changing event all her way to a successful business. Maybe.

KyKy’s Treasures is a mother and daughter team who began by making simple, beaded bracelets and selling them at their yearly garage sale. They loved doing it so much that they decided to sell them online too. Not only are they woman-owned, they are woman-and-daughter-owned. That’s a bonus woman, right there.

KyKy’s Treasures isn’t just a job for them; they love doing it and they especially enjoy creating custom items. All you have to do is ask and they will work closely with you to design the perfect piece! They sell their designs on Etsy and Luulla, but you can also like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter for shop info, promotional sales. and occasional coupon codes.

And, because this mother/daughter team is so awesome, they have decided to celebrate motherhood with one of you! A lucky reader will win this Mother’s Birthstone Necklace from their Mother’s Collection.  It is 18″ long and features three 6mm sterling silver satin birthstone beads with Swarovski crystals.  They are strung on a sterling silver, diamond cut, oval link chain which closes with a lobster claw clasp.

1. Leave a comment on this post and tell me which birthstone is your favorite.

2. For an additional entry, follow KyKy’s Treasures on Twitter, then leave a comment on this post with a link to your Twitter post (click on the timestamp in the tweet and it will show your tweet on a page of its own, with a unique URL).

3. For an additional entry, share this post on Facebook, then leave a comment on this post with a link to your Facebook post (click on the timestamp in the Facebook post and it will show your update with a unique URL.)

Entries are open to U.S. residents until April 17, 2013 at 10:00pm ET. Good luck and happy shopping!

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Dear Target,

Let me state from the outset that I love you. I love you so much that I visit at least twice a week and even if I only went in for paper towels, I give the cashier $75. Every time.

But, can we please talk about these ads for your Everyday Collection?

I’m all for edgy, but I find them downright bizarre. If you want to accurately portray a PTA mom, you should show her frazzled and running to the store at the last minute to buy pre-packaged cookies, IF she remembered the cookies at all. And trust me, she wouldn’t be wearing those heels.

And, how about this one?

Are women only about baking and changing diapers? Really? I don’t know about you, but it’s 2013 at my house. Show me a woman with a drill, free weights, or a car battery. Okay, I’m lying about the car battery, because I have NO CLUE how to change one of those. BUT I COULD FIGURE IT OUT IF I HAD TO.

Better yet, show me a man changing the diapers or baking a cake. That’s what I want to see. If you want to see a woman get excited about something, it’s having a man in your “Everyday” who flexes his muscles in the kitchen or while emptying the Diaper Genie. RAWR.

You’re better than this, Target. Continue to show that a woman can be strong and confident in her everyday life, but let’s give her a little credit so my 14 year old daughter knows that her future isn’t just about cake mix and baby bottoms.

And, if you’re going to have women portray moms while wearing all white I think it’s clear that the best thing to advertise would be a giant bottle of bleach.

Disclosure: I should have mentioned that Target is a customer of my employer BlogHer, Inc., but this opinion is my own; both the love of the brand and the critique of this particular ad.

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1. Amazon is awesome because they will have all of the last minute gifts you need and ship them to you for free!

2. Very sneaky, Amazon (said in the voice of the boy in the Connect Four commercial from 1981). Because a lot of your free-shipping items have bumped-up base prices.

3. Bath and Body Works scents are lovely on their own.

4. Bath and Body Works stores are instant headache-givers because they cause nostril overload.

5. The line at Dick’s Sporting Goods on a Monday afternoon, one week before Christmas, will rival any Black Friday line you’ve ever seen.

6. Dick’s Sporting Goods will be the only place that has the item you need. *shakes fist at major sportswear company*

7. Target, you’re a jerk.

8. Okay, not really. We love you. (But, just once, I would like to get away from your check-out counters without having spent $75 when all I really wanted was a roll of paper towels. Your nail polish is very strategically placed. I’m on to you.)

9. Whole Foods is a very dangerous place to walk into with a credit card.

10. It’s never too early in the day for rum and egg nog. And you should go ahead and give your husband a double before you tell him you went to Whole Foods.

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