The Shopping Mama

Big Style Bang for Your Buck: Baby Eggi Review

by Kate on November 17th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Clothes, Reviews

The best way I can describe Baby Eggi is that it offers unique, highly styled clothing like Tea Collection at a very affordable Old Navy price point. Each piece of the collection – for boys and girls from size 12 months to 5T – has fine details and looks like it costs well above the actual price. I feel like a kid (or mama) in a candy store checking out the website because I like each piece more than the previous, and I was super excited (and lucky) to receive several shirts for both Baby Girl and Toddler Boy to check out.

stylish and affordable toddler clothes

About Baby Eggi

Baby Eggi is a hip and stylish children’s clothing company that is committed to creating a better world for children to live and thrive. Baby Eggi donates 20% of its net proceeds to partnering children’s charities.
Eggi = Korean for baby.

Styles Featuring Mark Mahoney

Hollywood tattoo artist Mark Mahoney who’s inked the likes of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Courtney Cox is lending his talent to Baby Eggi, creating one of a kind designs to several shirts. Both the Peace Hoodie ($30) and Fall Tree ($26) shirts we received feature Mark Mahoney graphics. They’re edgy without being too adult and, frankly, I like that they don’t look like anything else in Toddler Boy’s closet.

baby eggi boys collection

Girl Goodness

I love the balance and blend of girlie girl and edgy rocker chick of the Girls Baby Eggi Collection. The Stripe Raglan ($28) is a straightforward cut in a basic stripe but the poof sleeves give it something special. The material is really soft 100% cotton and has a little stretch and give to it. And, I squealed when I saw the Tuxedo Thermal ($30) in person and again on Baby Girl. Oh my, it doesn’t get any cuter than this.

baby eggi girls collection

Affordable Style

Baby Eggi clothing is, as I mentioned, very affordable for the style and quality. And, right now they’re even better because lots of items are on sale. For example, this Blooming Lotus Hoodie is only $15! It’s so stinking cute I can’t even tell you. The photo of Baby Girl speaks for itself, but I will tell you the details are superb and the sleeves and back feature foil details. I love this with her jeans.

baby eggi lotus

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… I LOVE Baby Eggi and the shirts we have will be staples in my children’s winter wardrobe. In fact, I’ll probably get in on the current sale and get this adorable Soaring Plane tee for Toddler Boy. I really like the clothes aren’t babyish but they are definitely age appropriate – machine washable, comfortable and well-made. Not to mention the feelgood factor knowing that 20% off Baby Eggi’s proceeds are donated to charity – and when you buy you decide what charity.

Or Not to Buy… Baby Girl’s clothes are size 12 months and, like the website mentions, the fit is a bit small. Read the descriptions carefully and make sure to order up if you’re in doubt. I’d also love to see Baby Eggi expand the collection to include some pants.

Connect! Be the first to hear about special events and discounts – follow up with Baby Eggi on Twitter and Facebook.

Shop! Check out all the stylish and affordable toddler clothing at Baby Eggi. During the current sale, receive Free Shipping with your purchase of $50 or more.

The Fine Print: Thanks to Baby Eggi for providing sample products for the purpose of this review. The opinions here are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.

Online Tools to Help You Save Money – Guest Post

by Kate on November 16th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Blogging

There are tons of tools today, in the web 2.0 era, that help geeky moms to save money. Too bad most moms are too busy to just sit down and find those sites and apps to take advantage of them. Thus, the aim of this post is to offer a brief, easy-to-understand to online money-saving tools.

Tools That Help You Get Organized

Being a mom you most probably know that getting organized accounts for 50% of proper household management and budgeting. Our most common tool is a pen and a notebook, but you will be excited to know that the Internet offers much more fun when it comes to organizing yourself.

Online shopping lists can be a great way to organize your past, future and past purchases, whereas online to-do lists will help you manage your household duties. The benefits of using web-based tools for getting organized are quite clear:

You can access your lists from anywhere on the planet (no more risks yo left your notebook at home);
You can enjoy all the benefits of semi-automated tools (e.g. receive your daily alerts to your email or phone!)

Online wish lists

Tools That Help You Save

Online coupon tools and directories offer plenty of opportunities to spot a great timely deal and save. The only disadvantage here is that those coupon sites are plenty – it is too easy to get lost. Needless to say, we, moms, have too little time to try to figure them out. Thus I usually prefer to stick to just a couple of them. Here’s how I choose:

A coupon site should be clean and spam-free;
No obscenity or trolling please;
The community should be active enough;
The site should be updated daily to always have something new for my weekly shopping.

One of the sites I highly recommend here is Buxr which perfectly conform to the above criteria. Besides, it offers affiliate widgets and daily contests to help you earn a bit of money (if you are geeky enough).

Buxr

Research What Others Say

Today’s web is buzzing with real-time conversations. You can find out what people are buying now and why they are recommending something. You can also learn why you’d better stay away from some seller or store and what other people’s (negative) experience with some product is.

The best tool to listen to all those conversations is… you guessed it right! it’s Twitter.

Twitter Advanced search offers cool options you may want to try to see people talk about anything:

Find what people are asking about a product or a seller: use question mark (?) within the search query, e.g. [godaddy ?];
Find what people nearby are saying: sample search [near:"New York" within:15mi iphone];
Find dissatisfied people: use within the search query, e.g. [godaddy ].

Twitter negative reviews

The guest post is by Ann Smarty, a new mom, Internet geek and social media enthusiast. If you have a minute, feel free to check out her collection of funny screenshots or follow Ann on Twitter.

Anka Mini Furniture Giveaway

by Kate on November 16th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Giveaways

It’s time to celebrate Baby Girl’s first birthday with a bang! A giveaway of the perfect first birthday or holiday gift – the Anka Mini Furniture from Scandinavian Child. Equally perfect for girly tea parties and train tracks, Anka by Svan Mini Furniture includes a table, 3 chairs and 1 stool.

About Anka by Svan

For parents with an eye for style as well as value, Anka by Svan^® offers the perfect furnishings for babies and young children. A natural outgrowth of Swedish style pioneer Svan, Anka shares the same commitment to functionality, safety and design. With a clever blend of innovation and simplicity, Anka represents a clean and timeless look with a more economical price tag.

To read about our experience with Anka, check out The Shopping Mama’s Anka High Chair Review.

Mini Furniture Features

Quality – Made of solid birch wood, the five piece set is durable and built to withstand decades of fun and play
Stool for Adults - In addition to 3 backed chairs, the set includes a stool so parents can join in on the fun. The seats and stools can withstand 250 pounds.
Perfect Size for Play and Storage - The table is 23 3/4 inches round. When not in use, the chairs and stool stack to take up very little space.
Great Style – Though little in size, this furniture is high in style. The clean, classic Scandinavian design will look great in any home

If you’re looking for a great “wow” holiday gift, this is it! Can you imagine the hours of fun and family time you could enjoy at this table? I know both my little ones would get a lot of use out of the Mini Furniture, not to mention that I”d love to be able to have a designated kid place for art, board games and such.

Available in 3 finishes (Natural, Honey and Espresso), the Mini Furniture cleans easily with a damp cloth or sponge.

Shop! Scandinavian Child’s philosophy is “design without compromise” and it is the exclusive North American distributor of extraordinary children’s products including Svan, Anka, and Beaba. The Anka Mini Furniture set can be purchased from Scandinavian Child for $225. Search to find local and online retailers.

Win! Anka by Svan Mini Furniture from Scandinavian Child!

How to Enter: Visit Scandinavian Child and then leave a comment here with your favorite Anka Mini Furniture finish AND another Scandinavian Child product you’d like to own.

Bonus Entries – you must complete the first required entry before bonus entries are valid:
* Fan Scandinavian Child on Facebook
* Follow Scandinavian Child on Twitter
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and Tweet. You may do this once a day: Anka Mini Furniture Giveaway! $225 value – perfect holiday gift for toddlers @TheShopping Mama http://bit.ly/3xaRXE
* Add The Shopping Mama to your blog roll (use http://theshoppingmama.com/feed/ for blog address)
* Fan The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or a reader

The Fine Print: Giveaway ends December 4. Open to US mailing addresses only. Thanks to Scandinavian Child for providing the giveaway product.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

by Kate on November 16th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Life

I can’t believe my baby is ONE YEAR OLD!

She was born at 9:48 am on November 16, 2008. 6 pounds, 11 1/2 ounces 18 1/2 inches long. Beautiful.

baby girl

What a difference a year makes! We celebrated her big day today with iced Banana Muffins for breakfast.

first birthday

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl! I love you very much and am so lucky to be your mama.

Want to hear the birth story?

Of course you do, so here it is. So I was 38 weeks pregnant and we had friends in town for the weekend. Saturday afternoon we went to the mall and did a lot of walking and I remember having a contraction that literally stopped me in my tracks. But, I wasn’t that surprised as I’d been having contractions – at least one every hour or two – for 3 days. Saturday night (the 15th), we got a babysitter and went to dinner with our friends and then stopped by a party. Baby Girl was going nuts in my belly and moving and squirming all over the place. I got really discouraged thinking there was no way she was coming soon if she was still moving around that much. We went home and went to bed.

Around 3:30 in the morning I woke up to go to the bathroom and had a contraction. Again, I really didn’t think much of it because it was not unusual. I got back in bed and could.not.fall.asleep. It was awful. I was just laying there. I started daydreaming, thinking “Maybe I can’t fall asleep because I’m going to have a baby.” And then I’d remember I wasn’t having contractions.

After tossing and turning and resorting to reading a boring magazine to try and fall asleep I heard some strange noises coming from the monitor in my son’s room. I went to check on him and as soon as I opened his bedroom door I was hit with the stench of vomit. Yep, he’d thrown up all over himself and his bed. I brought him to the bathroom in our bedroom to clean him off because I didn’t want to wake our house guests. I”m pretty sure the minute I started bathing him I started having regular contractions. I told my husband to get out his trusty iPhone and start timing the contractions using the Labor App we’d been so excited to buy.

I continued contracting and Toddler Boy continued getting sick. It was comical, actually. I was hunched over on the floor having contractions, helping my son hunch over a barf bowl. I wanted to take a walk to see if the contractions were really labor if it was from the stress of my son getting sick. I was really trying to talk my husband into going on a walk to the grocery store, but luckily by the time I got my shoes on I looked at my husband and said, “I’m not going ANYWHERE!”

I don’t remember much, but at some point we had to wake our friends and say, “Um, we’re going to the hospital. Can you watch our kid? And, oh yea, he’s been barfing all morning.” By the time we got in the car it was 6:30 and my contractions were every 4 minutes. We checked in to the hospital at 6:58 am and I was 5 cm dilated.

I had high hopes of giving birth naturally without an epidural, but I just couldn’t tough it out. I got an epidural around 9 am. (I still blame Nurse Judy who at one point said, “She’s gonna need an epidural.” Bitch.) At 9:24 the doctor checked and I was 10 cm and ready to push.

Baby Girl’s heart rate wasn’t reacting well to the contractions and when my water broke there was meconium so on the 3rd pushing contraction the doctor used a vacuum to help bring my little one to the world at 9:48 am.

Moody Mamas for Target: Maternity Wardrobe Giveaway

by Kate on November 16th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Giveaways

Exactly one year ago today, I gave birth to my daughter. I would like to say that was the end of my maternity wear days, but I’d certainly be lying. Any mama (of normal genetic material) knows that the lifespan of a maternity wardrobe extends beyond birth. For most of us, it’s hard to get back to pre-baby body and clothes. A good maternity wardrobe can go a long way in helping you feel better about your pre and post-baby body. But, who wants to spend a fortune on maternity clothes when they are temporary? Good news for pregnant mamas – Moody Mamas in now available at Target.com.

About Moody Mamas

Just in time for the holidays, millions of moms-to-be across America can now follow in the footsteps of trend-setting celebrity moms HEIDI KLUM, JESSICA ALBA, ASHLEE SIMPSON, TORI SPELLING & LAILA ALI who are all fans of the ultra-popular high-fashion maternity line Moody Mamas by scooping up the brand new, affordable, capsule collection just debuted on Target.com.

Moody Mamas was created by 2 fashion-savvy young women in their 20’s,Marta Abrams and Elise Rosemarin, who are single and have never had children – admittedly an unlikely pair to design a maternity line – which is precisely why they have been so successful –throwing out the rulebook and shaking up the status quo by creating a bold, daring collection that has injected style and fashion flair back into the lives of expectant moms everywhere.

Win a Fall Maternity Wardrobe

To celebrate the launch of Moody Mamas for Target.com, Moody Mamas is giving away a fall wardrobe of 5 pieces worth nearly $200!

Ruffled Tunic Top – shown in Red – $34.99
Jersey Wrap with Ruffle Detail – shown in Grey – 39.99
Striped Nursing PJ Set – shown in Pink – $44.99
High Neck Top with Cascading Ruffle – shown in White – $27.99
Cowl Neck Dress – a best-seller – shown in Black – $39.99

The wardrobe is great because it has you covered from day to evening to sleep. The pieces are also pretty versatile and can be dressed up or dressed down. And, I just love the Cowl Neck Dress and I’m pretty sure I would wear that now.

Cowl Neck Dress - Black

Shop! Check out the stylish affordable maternity collection at Moody Mamas for Target.com, prices range from $19.99 to $59.99 (for an adorable dress – perfect for holiday parties).

Win! A five-piece fall wardrobe from Moody Mama for Target.com worth nearly $200.

How to Enter: Visit Moody Mamas at Target.com and tell me your favorite item.

Bonus Entries – you must complete the first required entry before bonus entries are valid:
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and Tweet. You may do this once a day: WIN a maternity wardrobe from Moody Mamas for Target worth nearly $200 @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/5s7rU
* Add The Shopping Mama to your blog roll (use http://theshoppingmama.com/feed/ for blog address)
* Fan The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or a reader

The Fine Print: Giveaway ends November 30. Open to US mailing addresses only. Thanks to Moody Mamas for providing the giveaway prizes.

Automoblox More Than the Average Toy Car: Review + Giveaway

by Kate on November 15th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Giveaways, Reviews, Toys

If you’re in the midst of holiday shopping and growing tired of the same old humdrum options, I have a fabulous toy suggestion for you. (And, if you happen to be finished holiday shopping, I really don’t want to be your friend.) Automoblox are a great gift for boys and girls alike. They manage to achieve that unique balance of educational and entertaining. They’re seriously fun! I promise you’ll want to play with them, too!

Automoblox Mission

Automoblox allows children to experience beneficial play with activities that provide limitless joy, imagination and creativity. We do this by offering a high-quality building system that will delight and inspire children while fostering the development of important skills and learning foundations.

Automoblox Features

Changeable Wheels & Tires – the realistically styled wheels and the unique tread tires from each car are interchangeable so you can mix and match to customize the look of your car.
Changeable Body Blocks – the body of the cars can be swapped and mixed with other cars using removeable connectors. (Our sedan car has four body blocks and the sports car has 3.) The body is made of solid wood with a lacquer finish.
Passengers – the bottom of each passenger is a basic geometric shape that fits into a corresponding shape in the car.
Interchangeable Roofs – the sleek aerodynamic roofs can be switched around to make a car all your own.

“Automoblox Slideshow“

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Our Experience

We received two cars from the Original collection: the S9 Sedan (blue) and the C9p Sports Car (pink). From the moment we opened the box, I was super impressed with the cars and Toddler Boy was excited to play with them. The attention to detail from start to finish cannot be ignored – from the unique VIN number on each car to the treads on the tires to the wood groove racing stripes.

If a fancy model car and a Lego had a baby it would be an Automoblox. The cars have the weight and quality you’d expect to find in an heirloom toy handed down for generations. But, I’m pretty sure you couldn’t take apart and rebuild your grandpa’s car with ease. The pieces that mix and match are very easy to use – my nearly 3 year old is able to build and put together the cars all by himself. The shapes are basic geometric shapes so there’s nothing too overwhelming about getting your car back to its original form if you take it apart or mix it with other cars.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… I’m very impressed by the quality of Automoblox. They are well-made and definitely built to last, and they’re really fun and can keep a kid’s attention for longer than your average toy. I consider it a very nice bonus that *I* have a great time playing with them – they’re seriously cool.

Or Not to Buy… The price tag might scare some buyers off initially. (Original full size cars like we received are $36.) But, the quality really can’t be beat and you’ll understand the price tag when you play with them.

Shop! Check out the Automoblox website, which has a great selection of full size and mini-cars including exclusive designs – like the uber-tough looking brand new T900 pictured above. Use the code ship60 for free shipping on a purchase over $60.

Win! One Original Full Size Car (C9, S9 or T9) OR C9, S9 or T9 Mini Three Pack.

How to Enter: Visit Automoblox and leave a comment telling me what car you’d love to own.

Bonus Entries – you must complete the first required entry before bonus entries are valid:
* Fan Automoblox on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and Tweet. You may do this once a day: Win an Automoblox Original Car or set of minis – great holiday gift! @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/47b1wj
* Add The Shopping Mama to your blog roll (use http://theshoppingmama.com/feed/ for blog address)
* Fan The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or a reader

The Fine Print: Giveaway ends November 30. Open to US mailing addresses only. Thanks to Automoblox for providing samples for the purpose of this review and a prize for the giveaway. Opinions in this review are mine and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.

The Almost Birthday Girl

by Kate on November 15th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Life

I can’t believe it. My baby girl will be ONE tomorrow.

almost birthday girl

My lovely 364 day old daughter.

So, here’s the real question, what should her blog nickname be? I’ve always referred to her as Baby Girl, but I’m not sure a one year old is really a baby. What do you think?

Little Moonjumper: Personalized Baby Blankets Review

by Kate on November 14th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Baby, Reviews

Little Moonjumper is an online boutique featuring top of the line personalized baby blankets. Created by a graphic artist and mom, Little Moonjumper blankets are the perfect combination of bold style and comfort. The blankets are made of vibrant colors of acrylic fleece. The designs are bold and very appealing to babies, toddlers and parents alike.

Little Moonjumper blankets are available in over 20 patterns in three sizes:

Crib blanket – at 29 inches by 40 inches, this generously sized blanket is perfect for hanging on a wall or baby tummy time.
Stroller – 28 inches square, the stroller blanket featuring signature scalloped edging.
Twin – ideal for the transition to the big kid bed

Little Moonjumper Personalized Blankets

Our Experience

We received the All-Star crib blanket to check out. Toddler Boy warmed up to the sports shapes immediately and demanded it accompany him to bed. The material isn’t quite as soft as a chamois, but even after washing it doesn’t seem to pill like many fleece materials. Like all Little Moonjumper blankets, the shapes and letters on the All-Star design are large – almost exaggerated – so they’re fun and eye-catching. The finishing is perfection and it’s clear the blanket is sewn to last.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… I’m a sucker for all things personalized and these blankets are a great and generous way to mark your little one’s territory. The patterns are beautiful and bright and very original. I think they are great beyond babyhood – definitely made to last – and the letters are very large and great for helping a toddler learn to spell and recognize letters. Make sure you check out the adorable Animal Face blankets!

Or Not to Buy… Due to the custom nature of the blankets, they are a tad pricey. (The crib blanket is $110.) But, I’ve never seen other blankets quite like Little Moonjumper so one would make a very special gift for a grandchild or new baby.

Connect! Follow Little Moonjumper on Facebook. And, check out the adorable Peanut Gallery to see images of babies and kids with their blankets.

Shop! Visit LittleMoonjumper.com to browse the adorable selection of blankets. As a special holiday treat to The Shopping Mama readers, use the code “mama15″ for 15% off your purchase through December 31!

Thank you to Little Moonjumper for providing a sample product for review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.