The Shopping Mama

Tonka Chuck My Talking Truck Review

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

If you’re looking for a holiday gift for a toddler boy, look no further than Chuck My Talking Truck. He will be a hit with the preschool set, that’s for sure.

About Chuck

Returning ten years after its introduction and celebrating a decade of adventurous fun, CHUCK MY TALKING TRUCK toy is a preschool boy’s best buddy who always has something to say! This friendly truck featuring sound recognition technology is fully interactive and will roll forward when called! CHUCK is revving to go with over 40 onboard phrases to encourage play such as “We’ve got work to do!” Toddlers will enjoy rolling the brightly-colored dump truck across the floor, tilting back the dump bed to unload big hauls, and going on adventures with their fun loving pal CHUCK.

Video Review

Check out this video of Chuck in action to see how a toddler really plays with the talking truck. You can also get an idea for Chuck’s phrases, volume and rolling action, as well as an introduction to his features from Toddler Boy!

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… Chuck is a lot of fun. I like that he comes with a story book that encourages imaginative play and has a good message about working together. Toddler Boy likes that Chuck talks and is a rough and tumble truck.

Or Not to Buy… I”m sure my son would disagree, but I wish Chuck had a lower volume setting. It is possible to turn the talking off, but I’d like to have him talk a wee quieter. He’s very talkative so after a while it’s a bit much.

Shop! Chuck the Talking Truck is $36.99 and available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com. Don’t forget the batteries! Chuck requires three “C” batteries, not included.

Thank you to Litzky PR and Hasbro 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.

TGIF: Coupons, Sales, Discounts & News (11/13)

by Kate on November 13th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Deal & News Roundup, Weekly Features

Kmart Bluelight Special Holiday Sweepstakes

KmartVertical1 Kmart will offer over 40 great Bluelight Specials throughout the weekend in-store AND other great offers online at Kmart.com ONLY on Saturday and Sunday. To celebrate, KMart is giving away $1000 in gift certificates - the grand prize is $500 gift card and five will win $100 gift cards! If you want to get in on the fun, follow @KmartDealsnNews on Twitter. PLUS, you can enter a daily giveaway for $50 gift cards now through December 23 simply by tweeting using the hastag #KmartBLS.

To make it easy for you, here are two sample tweets to enter:

– Tweet #KmartBLS for a Chance to Win a $50 Kmart Gift Card Everyday from 11/12 – 12/23! For more info: http://tr.im/kmartbls @KmartDealsnNews
– Follow @KmartDealsnNews for a chance to win a $500 Kmart Shopping Spree! #KmartBLS For more info: http://tr.im/kmartbls

Coupon Codes & Sales

For Everyone

Gap, Old Navy & Banana Republic Give and Get Sale. Save 30% in stores only, includes Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory stores. PLUS, 5% of purchase amount goes to charity. Ends November 15. Email me for a coupon!
Snapfish Coupon Code: Save 20% off all gifts with code HOLIDAY09. Expires December 31.
SnapTotes Sale: 25% off Gigi Bag and 20% off pillows. Order by December 9 for Christmas delivery.
SkinCareRX Gift Certificate: Visit SkinCareRX to receive a $40 gift certificate to use on your purchase of $100 or more.

Just for Kids

Janie & Jack Friends and Family Coupon Code: Use JJENJOY for 25% off your purchase this weekend. Also receive free shipping on purchase of $75 or more.
Crazy 8 Friends & Family Sale: Save 25% off everything with code C8EMAIL, plus FREE SHIPPING. Ends November 15.
Robeez: 30% off select styles. Ends November 17.
Stride Rite Coupon Code: Save 20% with code FALL20. Expires November 15.
The Children’s Place: Take an extra 30% off Fall & Holiday styles.
RH Baby & Child Friends and Family Sale: 20% off everything. Enter code FFE0902 at online checkout. In store purchases require voucher – email me if you’d like one. Ends November 16.
Finny’s Greens: Thermals on sale for $21 while supplies last.
Piggy Paint: Great stocking stuffers! Save 15% off entire site with code THANKYOU15L through February 14, 2010.

Exclusive Discounts

* 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.

F-Secure LIVE GIVEAWAY (Closed)

by Kate on November 12th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Giveaways

F-Secure wants to help with your online holiday shopping this year with a computer safe from online hacking and generous gift certificate giveaways!

F-Secure Internet Security 2010 is a complete computer security system that protects your computer and your data. The 2010 version is redesigned to scan for viruses faster while using less computer memory while protecting again malware, spam e-mail and cyber criminals.

Automatic updates and advanced cloud computing technology ensure the fastest protection against new threats. The new Browsing Protection feature tells you which websites are safe to enter and which you should avoid. Harmful sites are blocked automatically to ensure safe surfing while renewed Parental Control keeps children safe from inappropriate web content. Extensive usability studies have helped us create a user experience that sets a new standard for safe PC use. Any problems are handled automatically, without disturbing the user. You are safe, whatever you do online.

To learn more, including how to download a free trial of Internet Security 2010 and tips for safe online shopping this holiday season, check out the F-Secure + Amazon.com Giveaway at The Shopping Mama.

LIVE GIVEAWAY PRIZES, courtesy of F-Secure:

First Prize – Comment #500 – Congratulations KATE!

$100 Target Gift Card
+ F-Secure Internet Security 2010

Second Prize – Selected by Random.org at the conclusion of the Live – #206 -
Congratulations shelly aka allysmama!

$50 Toys R Us Gift Card
+ F-Secure Internet Security 2010

How to Enter: Check out F-Secure Internet Security 2010 and leave a comment here with one thing you learned about it OR your favorite feature.

After your first entry, you may comment as much as you like, but please keep it relevant to holiday shopping online and internet security.

At a loss for words? Here are some ideas to help you out:

10 Ways to Protect Yourself While Holiday Shopping Online
What’s your favorite place to shop for the holidays?
What will you buy from Target.com or Toys R Us if you win?

The Fine Print: Open to US AND CANADIAN residents. Winners will be announced on this post and notified by email and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. Thank you F-Secure for providing the giveaway prizes.

Foogo Phases by Thermos Review: Awesome Cups Grow With Your Child

by Kate on November 12th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Reviews

You are probably familiar Thermos – the company has been making insulated products to keep food fresher, longer for over 100 years. Lucky for mamas and kiddos, Thermos recently launched a new line of cups geared towards meeting the changing needs of your little ones. The Foogo Phases interchangeable sippy cups are innovative and bring the best of Thermos to babies and toddlers.

About Foogo Phases

Each child develops their own unique feeding habits, whether she begins to teethe early or demands a larger capacity drink cup to tame her growing appetite. Foogo Phases drinkware features interchangeable parts that fit all other Phases cups including insulated stainless steel and plastic models. With interchangeable parts, Phases drinkware easily adapts to your child’s changing needs.

Interchangeable Foogo Products

The Foogo line features six cups and 3 tops that all work and fit together to make 24 possible cup combinations.

Phase 1 – 7 ounce plastic and stainless steel cups come with a soft spout sippy top and handles for babies 6 months and older.
Phase 2 – 11 ounce plastic and 10 ounce stainless steel cups topped with chew resistant sippy tops.
Phase 3 – 11 ounce plastic and 10 ounce stainless steel cups with pop up straw top.

We have the 7 ounce plastic sippy cup and the 10 ounce stainless steel sippy cup and I am really impressed. The cups are very solid and easy for both my kids to use. The plastic of the sippy cup doesn’t feel or look like a typical baby cup. It has the look of glass but the durability of plastic – trust me it can survive many a drop on the floor. The material is actually called “Eastman Tritan copolyester”, which sounds kind of intimidating but is quite safe for little ones – it’s BPA free. The stainless steel cups use Thermos’ double wall vacuum insulation, and are also BPA free and contain only FDA materials. Foogo Phases Thermos Cups

Drinks Stay Safer, Longer

The stainless steel cups use Thermos insulation technology to keep your kids’ drinks safer, longer. That is a huge plus in our house. The Department of Food & Science at Cornell University did a study to compare Foogo products to other sippy cups. You can see the summary here, but this is one snippet that caught my eye:

After spending 20 hours at room temperature, the milk sample in Foogo by Thermos had only 1,000 bacteria per teaspoon, while samples in competitor brands had as much as 2.5 to 5 million bacteria per teaspoon. In other words, the milk samples in the competitor brands contained up to 5,000 times more bacteria than the milk in the Foogo by Thermos.

foogo phases sippy cup

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… Our Foogo Phases cups are my favorite cups for the kiddos. I love that all the pieces are interchangeable so you can literally build a cup to suit your child’s needs. They are dishwasher safe and the leak-valve is easy to clean. And, of course, you can’t beat the Thermos reputation and insulation technology.

Or Not to Buy… My only complaint is that the tops of the cups leak a bit. It doesn’t leak out of the neck of the cup and the cup spouts don’t leak, but if any liquid makes it through the valve it drips quite easily because the top is wide.

Shop! Check the Thermos website for a list of retailers and purchase online at Amazon.com.

Thank you to Thermos for providing sample products for the purpose of this review. The opinions expressed here are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.

Thursday Giveaway Linky

by Kate on November 11th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Giveaway Linky, Weekly Features

giveaway linky Thanks so much for stopping by to link up and check out some great giveaways. Check the sidebar for the current giveaways at The Shopping Mama – there are some amazing prizes up for grabs right now, including a Complete Air Convertible Car Seat, Medela Freestyle Breastpump, and Playskool Walk ‘Ride Toy.

Come back tonight for a LIVE GIVEAWAY. The prizes are perfect for holiday shopping: a $100 Target Gift Card and a $50 Toys R Us Gift Card. Plus, each winner will also receive F-Secure Internet Security 2010 to protect your computer when you shop online this holiday season. Hope to see you tonight!

Now, get your link on!

Beauty is Love – Bloggers & Tiaras Mission 1

by Kate on November 11th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Blogging, Life

The Bloggers and Tiaras pageant is underway. Mission number 1: define mom beauty.

My daughter’s first birthday is a matter of days away. It’s impossible to imagine that one year ago she was still in my belly. As I’ve been reminiscing about the impending milestone, I have browsed our thousands of photos from the past year and images of mom beauty abound. Certainly not physical beauty. Between waking every couple hours with a young baby and struggling with potty training and fighting off cockroaches, I’ve looked everything but physically beautiful.

I am a mom; my priorities have shifted. I don’t have the time or energy to think about what *I* look like. I rarely make the effort to transform my physical appearance. Instead I put my time and energy into my children. Into helping cultivate their inner beauty.

But, back to me.

Mom beauty is growing and delivering two babies.

Mom beauty is my happy family.

Mom beauty is feeding my daughter – then and still.

Mom beauty is love for my children.

Love is beauty. And I am overflowing with love. I am, after all, a mother.

If you like this post, let me know with a quick comment. And, I’d really your vote for the People’s Choice Award - Bloggers and Tiaras Style. It only takes a second and you don’t need to register or anything.

Happy Veteran’s Day

by Kate on November 11th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Life

I have to admit that Veteran’s Day as a holiday wasn’t really on my radar until I married my husband. None of my close relatives or friends served in the military, so it was hard for me to relate to the significance of today. In the five years I’ve known my husband I’ve learned more about life in the military and the workings of the Air Force than I ever imagined possible. Not surprisingly, I’ve developed a greater appreciation for active duty military and veterans (and their families, of course).

On a day like today when my husband is out of town (again) for work, I am thankful he’s somewhere safe. I am grateful for all of those who are not safe and are working in areas of conflict. My heart aches for all the families of those servicemembers, familiar with how they worry day in and out about their loved ones’ well-being.

As my daughter’s first birthday approaches I’ve been going through our photos on the computer. These are some of my favorites of my husband and I – and they seem appropriate to share today. While I was pregnant with Toddler Boy, my husband spent several months away and these are from when he returned home. I still get teary looking at them – over three years later. I’ll never forget the absolute joy that I felt when I heard his jet approach and land, saw it pull up to the hangar and, finally, watched the canopy open to see his face.

My heartfelt thanks to all veterans – past, present and future.

Eat Creatively: Constructive Eating Review

by Kate on November 11th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Reviews

Why is meal time a struggle with toddlers? Seriously, if someone prepared food for me three times a day and made me sit down to relax and eat it… Can you just imagine how fabulous that would be? But, alas it IS often a battle to get Toddler Boy to sit down long enough to eat more than a couple bites. We’ve had a bit of luck with more pleasant meals lately when Toddler Boy gets to use his Constructive Eating Plate and Utensils.

Created after seeing their son bulldoze cheerios with his truck toys, the founders of Constructive Eating struck parenting gold – utensils and tablewear based on popular children’s construction toys.

constructive eating

About Constructive Eating

We are extremely excited to announce our commitment to the design and manufacture of construction based flatware for children. Our designs integrate the functional portions of construction equipment into the tines of a fork, scoop of a spoon, and blade of a pusher. Our products are perfect for pretending and eating. Constructive Eating currently offers three unique products: the fork lift fork, front loader spoon, and bulldozer pusher. We use true to life colors and shaping for our construction “machines”. All are rugged, light weight, and dishwasher safe. They are great when going out to eat, trying to extend productive eating time at the table, encouraging those not-so-favorite foods, or just for fun!

Functional Toys at the Table

In a recent Parents Magazine article about strategies to get your toddler to enjoy a family meal, an expert suggested allowing toys at the table. Laura Markham, PhD (a clinical psychologist) said, “It’s fine to let him have something to make him feel more comfortable at meals. Think about it. A table is somewhat alien to a toddler. It’s high up, and he’s told to sit still, which is against his nature.” Toys at the table is definitely something I’ve struggled with – and gone back and forth on. Constructive Eating Utensils kill two birds with one stone in that regard – they are “toys” because they’re fun dozers and pushers but they are utensils that actually contribute to eating (which is, after all, the reason for being at the table).

constructive eating utensils

Kid-Friendly Utensils and Plate

So my obvious favorite feature of the Constructive Eating products is that they keep Toddler Boy engaged and happy at the mealtime longer than usual. I love that that Utensil Set works with the Plate. The Plate has groves and slight inclines and divided food areas so that Toddler Boy can actually use his Fork Forklift to eat peas and his Bull Dozer Pusher to push rice onto his Front Loader Spoon. It’s like a whole construction set with food as the accessory. Ha. The Construction Plate also has non-skid material on the bottom to keep it in place during all the dozing and pushing.

Constructive Eating products are made with FDA approved materials. They contain no lead, no BpA, and no Phthalates.

To Buy Or Not to Buy

To Buy… Anything that makes my son eat more and stay at the dinner table longer is a winner in my book. He really enjoys the meals when he gets to use his special fork set and I do, too. I really like that the Utensil Set and Plate fit well together and actually encourage getting food on the fork or spoon and then into the mouth. And, I absolutely LOVE that the Utensil set is available in PINK.

Or Not to Buy… The Utensil Set is more expensive than I would usually spend on a set of flatware for my toddler. (But the price range is perfect for a gift and I think they’d make a great birthday or holiday gift.)

Shop! You can make your meals fun with the Constructive Eating Utensil Set – available in yellow or pink – for $19.99. The Construction Plate is $14.99. Purchase products at the Constructive Eating website.

Thank you to Constructive Eating for providing a sample product for the purpose of this review. The opinions expressed here are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.