Everyone’s favorite sock brand Hanes announced the launch of its third annual Virtual Sock Drive to benefit The Salvation Army. For every person who visits Hanes on Facebook from Nov. 16 until Dec. 12, 2011, and clicks the “Donate Now” button, Hanes will donate a pair of socks toward the overall donation goal of 250,000 pairs – that’s a half a million individual socks!

The Virtual Sock Drive allows you to make a difference for those in need this holiday season with a simple click. Hanes is proud to continue its partnership with The Salvation Army and to make a meaningful donation to the organization that provides assistance for nearly 30 million Americans.

“We’re thrilled to receive this generous donation from Hanes again this year. Last year’s donation helped to keep many people warm and comfortable, especially during the winter season. Socks continue to be one of the most requested items at our shelters, so the Hanes donation could not come at a better time.”

said Major George Hood, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army.

Disclosure: I am part of Hanes Comfort Crew and if I will get the most donation clicks through my custom link in this post, Hanes will do a donation in my name. This would be a huge honor to me. If you like to support, please share this link http://www.facebook.com/hanes?sk=app_192683607478815&app_data=Katja_Presnal

In a world where shirts are as sparkly as jewelry, tops are pieced together with more than one fabric, and some patterns worn could stop traffic, everyone seems to have forgotten about the classic white t-shirt. You know, the little white t-shirt hidden at the bottom of your drawer? The one that you only wear when you feel you don’t have to look cute that day? Well, pull that little white t-shirt out of your drawer because not only is it comfortable but it is also a staple in every girl’s wardrobe.

White t-shirts can be dressed up in many ways that are already in your closet. A personal favorite white t-shirt of mine is the Hanes Tagless V-Neck t-shirt. It is cute, inexpensive, and not so mention super comfortable. The Hanes v-neck can be transformed to fit any look you want.

This first look features a white t-shirt worn with simple dark wash jeans. The patterned scarf adds a pop of color that makes the outfit a little more eye catching. Since the scarf is pretty powerful, the accessories can be more neutral. A simple watch and gold studs keep the outfit perfect for everyday use with a little pop of color in the ring to accent the scarf. Finally, chunky heel adds some sophistication finished off with a casual crossbody bag. This outfit is great for casual events and just for everyday wear.

The next look contains the same white v-neck shirt with a slimming black pencil skirt. By adding the belt to the pencil skirt it creates a distinct divide between the shirt and skirt while adding visual interest and defining a waist. To make a statement with this simple outfit, a red pump is shown to add a little bit of color. Since the outfit is pretty simple, a chunky neutral necklace is perfect without making the outfit look too over accessorized. The look is finished off with a simple black tote, studs, and a matching watch. Even though the top is just a t-shirt, this outfit is perfect for work or a professional setting.

The final look features not the white v-neck t-shirt, but a simple white tank top. Paired with the tank is an interesting pair of grey bow shorts. Since the top is so simple, pairing it with an unusual pair of shorts really makes the shorts the focus of the outfit. Adding a chunky long necklace adds a little sparkle to the otherwise plain top half of the outfit. The accessories are simple, with metallic gladiators, silver studs, and a clear watch. Adding a red handbag adds the color needed to complete this outfit. This look is easy to put together and so simple for summer style.

Even though a white t-shirt may seem boring, think of all the ways you can dress it up to make it your own. The options are endless and with the right accessories, it can be right for just about any occasion.

Disclosure: I received Hanes t-shirt to review, but I have been already using them for years, and all of my opinions are my own.

Free Hanes socks

Hanes is hosting a Toes Tuesday on their Facebook page today and next Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 and they are giving away total of 700 pairs of women’s socks!

Everyone needs basic white socks with tennis shoes, and our family has learned Hanes has the best basic socks. Another great thing about Hanes socks is that each size/style comes specifically marked; maybe it’s pink line or Hanes text in a specific spot, but it makes it super easy to match the socks, and in a family of five our sock mountain can be quite large sometimes, and this makes it so much easier to match the correct socks when folding laundry. I also recommend; whatever socks you buy, never just buy one pair, always buy at least 2-3 pairs, because when you lose a sock, you still have matching socks to go. Last time I checked the missing sock in the dryer mystery still hadn’t been solved, so remember, never buy just one pair of socks..

Hanes Back to School Sale

Now is the time to stock up for school year; Hanes Annual Back To School Sale is on! Shop for underwear, panties, hosiery, shapewear, socks and more at Hanes.com (Valid through 9.4.).

Disclosure: I am one of the Hanes Comfort Crew members, but this post was not compensated and all of my opinions are my own.

It’s time to do spring cleaning and this is the type of spring cleaning I like – get rid of old clothes and buy new ones! Hanes did a research about our clothing hoarding, and found some really interesting points. In result they want to inspire you to get rid of the clothes you don’t use and teamed up with Goodwill to promote donating unwanted clothing. And if you are looking to re-stock with new items, I pictured some comfy items from Hanes.com in this post.

“At Hanes, we’re always trying to better understand consumer behavior so we can deliver comfortable products that meet the everyday needs of the people who buy them,” said Sidney Falken, senior vice president, Hanes brand. “We’ve learned through research that many people experience anxiety when throwing things out, which results in keeping items that will never again be used. That’s why Hanes partnered with Goodwill to educate people about the benefits of donating items they no longer need, while making room for new updates of their favorite apparel items.”

Highlights of the Hanes research include:

Unused clothes are often pushed to the back or bottom of the drawer, where they remain forgotten for long periods of time.

Yes! Or they remain in a moving box a few years after you have moved. Or even worse – from move to another move.

More than one in five Americans keep a lone sock, hoping it’s missing mate will eventually appear.

What? They don’t?

Drawer rotation is uncommon; people tend to put clean laundry on top and grab what’s closest in the morning, which means they are actually only using a small percentage of what’s taking up space in the drawer

Yes! And you end up using the same stuff all over again and again!

When people took the time to purge, donate and replenish, it ultimately saved them time, made them feel calmer and led to more productive shopping experiences because they had a better sense of what they liked and what they actually needed.

I can totally testify this. I usually donate and get rid of clothes when we move, which we do every other year or so, but I need to start doing this a seasonal thing. Every season when you pack clothes away, you should really do an inventory of items to get rid of as well. And I am so over buying stuff that I see on sale and that never fits anything I have in my closet – I buy now selectively things when I need them!

Research shows that nearly everyone hoards innerwear and socks. In fact, people rarely clean out their drawers and only actually wear about 70 percent of the items they own.

I believe that, but ironically I probably have the least amount of underwear and socks… but I have way too many t-shirts that I never wear, because I keep wearing my favorites again and again!

Spring cleaning season is the perfect time to think about a yearly effort to clear out the clutter. Visit the Facebook.com/Hanes to stay in touch with the latest from Hanes!

Disclosure: I am one of the Hanes Comfort Crew members and have a working relationship with the brand but this post was not compensated.

Kids got haircuts today and are getting ready for their Hanes modeling trip on a Disney Cruise to Bahamas. Kris got a little excited and started singing when I asked him why he is getting a haircut… The next Disney Channel Star in making…?

We received their modeling schedule for the trip, and it includes posing with Mickey Mouse, island shots, having fun with flubber and dancing conga. Sounds like really tough work for kids, and poor hubby and me… We have to drink piña coladas go with them to supervise the kids.

Meet three new Hanes models: my kids!

I am part of the Hanes Comfort Crew and my family attended the Hanes Comfort Crew kick off trip to DisneyWorld earlier this year – and now my children were asked to be Hanes models for the summer ’10 catalog!

“It’s exciting and cool to try out being a model, maybe I’ll be in magazines and be famous one day”

The Hanes Comfort Crew is a network of social media influencers who interact with Hanes about clothing, comfort and online community. You too can interact with Hanes at their Social Mix Hub. There are amazing members in the group, and I don’t know how I got so lucky to be in the group. Maybe because I know how to chillax and be comfortable? Maybe because I have tried and tested (with three kids!) that their products last in use? Maybe because as a former clothing retailer I know a good brand and good quality when I see it?

The Hanes PR and brand people were able to meet my children this spring, and see in first person who they are, and now they offered all three an unique modeling opportunity!

“It’s gonna be awesome, I’m so excited, I want to be a model just like mama was when she was a teenager”.

My kids are getting an amazing opportunity to be in a Summer 2010 Hanes catalog. I am so proud, and yes, excited too! When I had my clothing store my kids used to model for my store, and they actually liked it. My two youngest ones auditioned for a movie this spring, and I think they have the same gene as their parents – they like to try out new exciting things. Now they are getting this opportunity to see what it is to be a model, have a professional photographer to take photos and what it really is. Who knows, maybe they are interested in pursuing modeling more after the trip – or just scratch it off as one of the things “I’ve done”.

“I’m excited to go because I know it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

We are leaving for a four day shooting trip on Saturday, and I’m already busy packing.

Can you guess where we are going…?

Yes! We are going for a Disney Cruise to Bahamas!

Ever since I did the Disney Cruise in January I have wanted to take kids for a cruise too. There is so much fun for kids and I sort of felt bad for going without kids. This time our whole family is going, so exciting!

$50 Hanes Gift Card Giveaway

I think this news requires a little giveaway, don’t you think? I decided to raffle one 50$ Hanes Gift Card for one Skimbaco Lifestyle reader.

Enter to win $50 Hanes Gift Card

1. Subscribe Skimbaco Lifestyle in your email box and leave a comment you are a subscriber.
OR
2. Post a picture of your little “Hanes model” (your kid) in your blog, and link back to this blog post and leave a comment with your link. I bet as one of the Comfort Crew members and all, I can ask Hanes to check out the posts… Just sayin’.

DEADLINE: September 27th midnight EST.

I am honored to be part of Hanes Comfort Crew social media program as Hanes comfort is part of our family’s every day life. I attended the trip in DisneyWorld last month to celebrate the partnership of Hanes and Disney Parks – as well as kicking off the Hanes Comfort Crew program. I am excited about being part of the program, and doing great things together with Hanes.

Hanes supported the Military BBQ I hosted two weeks ago by giving away apparel for the soldiers, and now I am excited to share more great Hanes news with you and share Hanes goodies with one of my readers – and I’m giving away one $50 Hanes Gift Card right on time for summer!

Hanes is the official 2009 Passionately Pink For The Cure® clothing sponsor and is making a $250,000 donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader in the fight against breast cancer. Hanes partnered with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Hanes pink apparel collection will be available on the end of the summer. I am thinking about walking the Komen Greater New York City Race for the Cure® on Sunday, September 13, 2009 but need friends to do it with me – are you in? Let me know if you are interested in walking for the cure together!

Hanes will also host very cool t-shirt design competition in August, can’t wait to design my own pink tee to support the cause!

Hanes makes not just the comfy summer tees, but the best bras for under the tees. The Hanes All Over Comfort Bra ($9.99-$14.00) was just featured on Oprah this month as a best buy! No wonder, it is my favorite bra as well, it’s fits just right (remember to get the right size!), it doesn’t wear out wash after wash and it doesn’t show through even your thinnest summer tee (remember to get it in nude color for white tees). And for around ten bucks – you just can’t beat the price!

$50 HANES GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a $50 Hanes gift card so you can get the ultra comfy tee and a bra or other Hanes favorites for the summer. Comment to win and remember to leave a comment if you would be interested in the Komen Greater New York City Race for the Cure® in September with me!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY – ONE WAY = ONE ENTRY = MANY WAYS TO WIN
1. Comment with your favorite Hanes product.
2. Join the Hanes Facebook page and leave a comment that you did. And while you are at Facebook – friend me too!
3. Share the giveaway on other sites like Twitter, your blog, or Stumble, Kirtsy etc the link and just leave a link per each entry. More often you do this, more chances to win.

DEADLINE: June 23rd, midnight EST, 2009.

Another chance to win!!!! Check out Mom Generations Mama Loves Giveaways.

Today was one of my favorite days as a blogger.

I co-hosted a BBQ hot dog lunch at the West Point Military Academy Flight Detachment helicopter hangar together with Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance at their First Annual Sikorsky Memorial Day BBQ. I was able to do this together with my husband, and enjoyed spending today with him while doing something good. My motto is to live life to the fullest, and thanks to great companies I have been working this spring, I was able to make this day a very special one – and serve the soldiers wieners and panties!

No, really – Oscar Mayer sponsored our party and we served their hot dogs and soldiers got Hanes socks, tees and yes – boxer briefs. I had no problem saying at the party “sir, I can’t throw a party without giving away free panties” without any shame. And I might have teased some that I needed some modeling with the new Hanes on, but for PR purposes I am not able to discuss this matter in more details. Let’s just say that everyone loved their Hanes and are looking forward coming to work and serving our country wearing comfortable undergarments.

We set up picnic tables inside the flight hangar, right between the planes and the helicopters, and the grill was right outside the hangar – next to the runway. Military personnel, some with their families, Sikorsky employees and even the state police from next door enjoyed a lunch and a break from their daily work.

We had 100 Oscar Mayer hot dogs and I overheard people saying “this is my sixth one” – it is easy to believe that Oscar Mayer Franks are the best tasting hot dogs according to national taste test. And if you haven’t tried the Jalopeno ones, make sure to taste those this summer, pilots from Army to Sikorsky to State Police went for seconds. My salads were so popular that I was encouraged to post the recipes (follow the link to get the recipes) up for everyone to find, and even the cupcakes with hand whipped whipped cream and fresh strawberries and blueberries were a hit.

Today truly was one of my highlights as a blogger, it felt so good to do this for people in our community. Soldiers shook my hand and thanked me before walking away from the hangar carrying their Hanes bags, and asked “when can we do this again”. After cleaning up I drove back home thinking “when can I do this again”.

Thanks to following companies for sponsoring our party
with donations, products and/or coupons:
Oscar Mayer, Hanes,
Frito-Lay’s Smart Food, Propel Fitness Water, Duncan Hines cake mixes

I am going through my DisneyWorld photos, and writing a blog post about our trip with Hanes Comfort Crew. Before even introducing all my crew members, I would like to take a moment of your time and introduce you to Noah Rideup.

Hanes and Disney provided us entertainment and head scratching with Noah Rideup, a “blogger from New York”, whose blog we couldn’t find online. Noah was such a sweetheart, always mingling around the Comfort Crew and taking care of the kids. The single ladies wanted to date him, and all of us moms wanted to adopt him. I would have been ready almost to fight with Mrs. Fussypants which one gets to hire Noah as a manny. Oh yeah, he was so good, and even my husband would have hired him.

We had no reason to suspect that Noah wasn’t just some overactive newbie blogger whom nobody had heard of before, well, I sort of felt that I was not on the top of the things, because I didn’t know him, he made it sound like everybody knows him. I think some might have pretended like they knew who he or his blog was.

Anyway, when Noah wasn’t around, felt like an essential piece of Comfort Crew was missing.

When we experienced the American Idol show at the Hollywood Studios, our own Noah was on the stage! But weirdly… they introduced him as Sean. Odd, but Noah of course had an explanation for that, he was just playing a character, a fictional American Idol host, Sean. But we started having that nasty feeling, that something isn’t just right. You know, nasty feeling like when you have wedgie. And when you want wedgie free, you turn into Hanes, right? The Hanes wedgie-free panties are proud to have NO RIDEUP… No rideup. Noah Rideup.

I wish I could say that I was the one who realized that Noah Rideup was a fictional character courtesy of Hanes and Disney, but Kelli of Totally Her put these two things together. Noah was just a fictional character, just like Mickey Mouse. At least I was able to bring a huge stuffed Mickey Mouse home in a new duffle bag, but I’m afraid Noah is gone forever. Just a DisneyWorld fling, that the Hanes crew will remember forever but never see again.

Hello from sunny Florida and DisneyWorld’s Boardwalk Resort. I am here with 10 fellow bloggers as part of Hanes Comfort Crew. My family is with me and our days are filled with comfortable fun with the folks of Hanes and DisneyWorld, so I keep it short and sweet this morning.

Can’t wait to tell you more details and share the Hanes comfort with you – including shopping sprees to Hanes.com.

One of the coolest stores at Main Street Disney- the new Hanes Design A Tee shop!