Chic Monkey Boutique {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, ruthhill74!}

When it comes to shopping for one-of-a-kind, high quality, stylish items for babies, kids and adults, there is something to be said for hopping in the car and driving to the posh boutique stores to see what trendy products they have to offer. But... that also means being dressed, putting kids in the car, driving through traffic, convincing aforementioned kids to not touch every single thing, having a limited selection and paying outrageous prices.

Or are those just my experiences? A few years ago I went into a baby boutique looking for a gift for a friend and her new little one and almost choked when the owner tried to sell me a $70 onesie. I sure never went back there again.

Instead, I'm always going to head to the one-stop site for everything fashionable, trendy and adorable at reasonable prices: Chic Monkey Boutique.

I've been extremely fortunate to work with Chic Monkey Boutique on two great reviews before, once on a Raspberry Sorbet Flower Beanie (adorable!) and once for their incredible Signature Minky Blankets (incredibly well-made and really, really cute!). Both times I was fully impressed with the whole process of ordering from Chic Monkey, everything from their stellar service to fast shipping to just how incredible the products were when they arrived.

But for this review, it was time for me to check out the "& Beyond" portion of Chic Monkey Boutique. As well as good-looking monogrammed decor, stylish handbags and purses and a great selection of gifts for her, they also carry something that every computer-loving, blogging mom like me desperately needs: Monogrammed Padded Laptop Bags.

When it came time to pack up for BlogHer, I knew that my laptop was coming with me to the conference - how could it not? What I didn't know, however, was just how perfect the Brown & White Polka Dot Laptop Bag was going to be for all of my needs and more. I could have even had my monogram embroidered right on the side for complete customization!

With a perfectly-sized main pocket that fit my computer like a glove, the high quality and sturdy padding, adjustable shoulder strap and pockets, pockets and more pockets, there wasn't much more that I could have asked for in a great laptop bag. I had plenty of room to toss in a notebook, business cards, pens and more and even had one side pocket designated solely for Energizer USBs.

All the while, this bag kept everything organized and within easy reach so that reaching in for my hectic BlogHer schedule or to pull out my laptop was fast and convenient. Plus, at a conference where I was being seen in person for the first time by so many of my peers, it didn't hurt to have something cute and stylish, right?

Now that I'm home, this Padded Laptop 15" Bag (Chic Monkey has 17" Laptop Bags available as well) is ready and waiting for the next time my laptop gets to leave the house. In the meantime, the selection of Monogrammed Bags at Chic Monkey has me wondering if there is a cute bag out there that they don't carry... and just how much my husband would complain if an Everything Tote suddenly appeared here. They are just so darn chic and fun!

However, he would probably be right in that I don't need another tote bag. But, what would be even more perfect would be one of the many items that are just right for back to school when the same old, same old just won't do for Big Sister E. With everything from stylish backpacks to amazing Monogrammed Designer Metal Lunch Boxes, Chic Monkey makes going back to class both practical and fashionable.

But if school isn't the hot topic in our household, that might because Halloween is what we're talking about instead. With October right around the corner, it's already time to start picking out the cutest of the cute costumes - and Chic Monkey has the infant/toddler costumes and kids/tween costumes that any child and parent will love. If I could squeeze Little Sister B into the Strawberry Baby Costume, I most definitely would!

With an ever-growing variety of fashionable items for the entire family at affordable prices, Chic Monkey Boutique offers a little something more than a typical baby website. Combine classy and unique things like Princess Couture Aprons or Tri-Level Layered Tutus (both of which I have never seen before) with exemplary customer service and high quality craftsmanship and you've got Chic Monkey Boutique.

Plus, thanks to the generosity of Dani, Chic Monkey's owner and operator (and grandmother! Who else knows about treating people well and spoiling them with wonderful things?), one person will get to shop for the perfect item or gift on their list, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 gift certificate to
Chic Monkey Boutique!

To enter to win: Visit Chic Monkey Boutique and tell me one of the adorable items that you love.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Chic Monkey Boutique on Twitter, follow the Chic Monkey Boutique blog with Google Friend Connect and/or become a Friend on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: I love Chic Monkey Boutique and just entered to win a $25 gift certificate at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/99OsEh
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a $25 Chic Monkey Boutique gift card for amazing items for babies, kids & beyond! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/99OsEh #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Chic Monkey Boutique. Please leave an address where it can be found.
5 Extra Entries if you enter the Chic Monkey Boutique September Give-a-way. Entering is easy and the prize is a really cute Zebra Pattern Market Tote!
5 Extra Entries if you make a purchase from Chic Monkey Boutique during the course of this giveaway. Let me know what adorable item(s) you chose!

Giveaway will end on October 1st at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

A big thank you to Chic Monkey Boutique for providing a Padded Laptop Case for review and a $25 gift certificate for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.