The Shopping Mama

Black Friday: Sales, Coupons, Discounts & News

by Kate on November 26th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Deal & News Roundup, Weekly Features

Happy Black Friday! As you know there are countless shopping deals and steals today. I am merely skimming the surface, but here are some great sales to check out today.

4 Tips for Online Black Friday Shopping from Savings.com

Your best bet is to check the Web at midnight on Thanksgiving to see if these deals have gone live. One important note about shopping Black Friday deals online: they work very much like traditional Black Friday shopping, i.e. these are one-day only sales with limited supply, just like the regular brick and mortar stores. Don’t just assume that because it’s online, you can be more leisurely about it. Many online Black Friday deals expire the day of.
Don’t go by percentage off. A larger percentage off at one store can actually be more than a lower percentage off at another. Have a calculator handy to see just how much you’re saving – and be certain to factor in shipping costs.
Look for a low-price guarantee. Though Black Friday has the reputation of having the lowest prices, don’t just assume that to be the case. Prices could go down in the future (especially if retailers get desperate). With a low price guarantee, you can get a refund on the difference of the future sale price.
Check newspaper/online ads about brick and mortar deals and compare those to the available website deals, factoring in shipping and coupon code discounts. Savings.com is no doubt vigilant about gathering together Black Friday deals, so check us out.

Black Friday Resources

ShopAtHome.com has a great list of Black Friday Sales and is offering extra cash back from many popular retailers.

Black Friday Sales

Old Navy Gobblepalooza: Open at 3 AM, Free LEGO Rockband with $20 purchase on Friday, Entire store on sale Saturday.
The Children’s Place: 12:01 AM until noon – $5, 6, 7, 8 Sale, plus entire store 25% off.
Gymboree: Save 30% off everything! Valid online NOW through 3 PM, in stores from opening to noon.
Bravado Designs: 25% off online order with code TH09-175. Expires November 30.
Baby Dipper Bowl: Purchase at Amazon.com. Use the code BLKFRI25 for 25% off up to 5 bowls in one purchase. Only valid November 27 from 12:01 AM to midnight.
Agoo Clothes for Active Kids: 30% off everything with code XMAS012.
Kushies: Save 25% off your purchase with code blackfriday.
Dittany Baby: Lots of great markdowns, including “Skid Pants” (leg warmers) for only $4.
Shop Amazon.com for Black Friday sales.

Coupon Codes

Blurb: 20% off purchase minimum of $39.95 with code BLURBJOY. Expires December 1.
Silikids: Use code OHBABY for 15% off your order. Expires December 31.
Piggy Paint: Great stocking stuffers! Save 15% off entire site with code THANKYOU15L through February 14, 2010.

Exclusive Discount Codes

Lillybit: Use the code SHO-452A9-82074 for 15% off your purchase of adorable baby gear, like the Uptown Diaper Clutch. Expires November 30.
Designs by Jessie: Get a generous 20% off your order with code SHOPPINGMAMA20OFF at www.designsbyjessie.com.
SleepyWrap.com: Use the code shoppingmama for 10% off your order of Boba Carriers and SleepyWraps.
Beba Bean: The Shopping Mama readers receive 20% off with code SM10/07/09.
Onaroo: Get $10 off your purchase of any two Onaroo products at American Innovations. (Learn more about the products in this Teach Me Time review.) Use the code MAMA at checkout.
The Studio: For $10 off your purchase use SHOPMAMA at check out.
Belle’s Biscuits: Get 10% off your purchase with the code BELLES10.

I’m Thankful

by Kate on November 26th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Life

Over on Facebook, a lot of my friends have been participating in a challenge to update their status daily with something they are thankful for. I didn’t participate, as I was afraid that a) I wouldn’t be able to come up with good (witty or thoughtful) things every day and b) it’d be so cheesy that I’m embarrass myself.

Well, here it is Thanksgiving and I’m feeling sappy. So here is a list of some of the things for which I am thankful.

I am thankful for my family. My healthy, beautiful children, who bring me joy and love every single day. My husband who works harder than anyone I know and loves me unconditionally. I am also grateful for our hilarious and thoughtful extended family.
I am thankful for my friends. I only wish we lived closer.
I am thankful for my husband’s career in the Air Force. Though his job takes him away from us and is extremely taxing, it is rewarding beyond belief and, frankly, in this day and age, I appreciate the job security.
I am thankful for the sacrifices of every military family, and for all the active duty military who serve our country.
I am thankful for my blog. It is such a unique outlet for me and I love that I can work from home and connect with other mamas while staying home with my kids. It has provided me and my family with some really amazing opportunities.
Finally, I am thankful for YOU. Thank you for reading, commenting and supporting me and the blog. It wouldn’t exist without readers and I wouldn’t enjoy it as much without getting to know you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you thankful for?

Growing Tree Toys: Great Source for Educational Toys

by Kate on November 26th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Reviews, Toys

I have a blast shopping for toys and games for my kids for the holidays. It’s a great excuse to get the latest and greatest for them. However, I do make an effort to mix in at least a few educational toys so they can learn while playing. Growing Tree Toys has an amazing selection of toys and games for your kids – and many of them look so fun that your wee ones won’t even realize they’re learning.

About Growing Tree Toys

GrowingTreeToys.com is more than just a toy website – it’s the perfect virtual representation of our store, offering customers the amazing service, wonderful toys and robust features they deserve while shopping online. Featuring a carefully chosen, well-rounded toy selection, unique product details and descriptions, great information on play, helpful suggestions for gift givers, the best gift finder available, and so much more, GrowingTreeToys.com is truly a specialty toy website with the health and happiness of children at heart.

Make Your Own Sock Puppets

We received the Make Your Own Sock Puppets Kit by Creativity for Kids from Growing Tree Toys. It’s a fun set that includes 3 super fuzzy and soft socks and lots and lots of self-adhesive accessories likes googly eyes, feathers, and felt shapes. The Make Your Own Sock Puppets activity has many developmental benefits: Physical, Logical, Spatial, Intrapersonal and Verbal. The finished product also encourages Creative, Dramatic and Manipulative play.

Toddler Boy had a great time making puppets with me and his grandmother. We did lots of silly, imaginative talking about our puppets when we were decorating them, which is good, because he’s not quite as into actually playing with them now that they’re finished. The accessories and decorations included in the Kit are great – very colorful and there were tons of them. Our puppets didn’t look quite as cute as those on the box, but we had fun nonetheless. I admit that I am not at all crafty so a Kit like this is perfect for me because it contains EVERYTHING you need to make your puppets.

: Toddler Boy hard at work making sock puppets with his “Memere.”

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… Shopping at GrowingTreeToys.com couldn’t be easier – you can shop by age group, type of toy or brand. And I love that each toy description includes information about its developmental benefits and the types of play it encourages. Not to mention the fact that many of the toys are very affordable.

Or Not to Buy… The only thing I don’t like about the Make Your Own Sock Puppet Kit is that once you decorate, you’re done decorating. And, obviously you can play with your puppets when you’re done, but since Toddler Boy prferred the decorating it would be fun to be able to do it over and over again.

Shop! If you want to throw some educational toys in the mix this holiday season, check out the amazing selection at Growing Tree Toys. The Make Your Own Puppet Kit is $17.95, and get FREE UPS SHIPPING on orders over $75. Plus, keep your eye on the Deal of the Day where one toy is 40 – 60% off every day.

The Fine Print: Thank you to Growing Tree Toys for providing a sample product for the purpose of this review. The opinions expressed in this review are mine and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.

Thursday Giveaway Linky

by Kate on November 26th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Giveaway Linky, Weekly Features

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope you have a wonderful day with lots of love, family and, of course, great food. Thanks for coming to link up your giveaways. Now, get back to your families!

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Extra Cash Back at ShopAtHome.com

by Kate on November 25th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Shopping

ShopAtHome.com is at it again! This time offering amazing bonus Cash Back so you can get some green for shopping online on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Check out the list of over 100 participating retailers this weekend: Black Friday Extra Cash Back and Cyber Monday Extra Cash Back.

Some highlights of this weekend’s Extra Cash Back Event:

Snapfish.com (order your holiday cards and the calendars will be a hit with grandparents) – 20% Cash Back
RedEnvelope.com (a great source for gifts for in laws any someone hard to buy for) – 20% Cash Back
Gap.com (find a little something special to wear for the holidays) – 20% Cash Back
BN.com, Barnes & Noble (I’m sure you have a book lover on your shopping list) – 14% Cash Back
Nordstrom.com (splurge on makeup or shoes for YOU) – 12% Cash Back

ShopAtHome.com has some great resources for your holiday shopping beyond this weekend. Check out the Free Shipping Guide and the Gift Card Guide so you can earn cash back when you buy gift cards.

New to ShopAtHome.com? It’s easy to get started. Register for free, and when you click through their site to shop at your favorite stores you automatically earn cash back at participating retailers. It’s a VERY easy way to get money for what you’re already doing anyway – holiday shopping!

And, while you’re visiting ShopAtHome, check out my latest guest post on the blog: How to Stay Sane Shopping on Black Friday.

Wordless Wednesday: Sweet Tooth

by Kate on November 24th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Weekly Features, Wordless Wednesday

If, like me, you have a sweet tooth you will find plenty to love aboard The Oasis of the Seas, including a Donut Shop and the adorable Cupcake Cupboard.

Oasis of the Seas Complimentary Donut Shop

I look forward to seeing your photos.

Adventure Ocean Theater

by Kate on November 23rd, 2009 | 5 Comments | Blogging, Life

I just finished a tour of the Children and Family facilities on The Oasis of the Seas and it was amazing! Lots more on that when I get home.

One of the coolest parts of the programs is the Adventure Ocean Theater – the only children’s theater on the ocean. In addition to creating and starring in their own programs, children can watch two productions.

Imagine Ocean

Do your kids watch Johnny & The Sprites? Well, the Tony-nominated star of that children’s show, John Tartaglia, created a black light puppet show about three fish friends. We saw a portion of the play today and it’s darling. Toddler Boy would love it. And, Johnny, er John, was there (sans Sprites) to introduce the production.

john tartaglia

Fisher Price Presents: Lil People Birthday Party

The other program in the theater features Fisher Price’s Little People, celebrating their 50th Birthday Party. And your little ones are invited to the party.

The Adventure Ocean Theater is just one small part of the programs and facilities geared towards little cruisers on The Oasis of the Seas.