The Shopping Mama

Wordless Wednesday (for Karissa)

by Kate on January 12th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Weekly Features, Wordless Wednesday

flower

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden.
~ Claudia Ghandi

Ten Dollar Tuesday: Etsy Disney Finds

by Kate on January 12th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Ten Dollar Tuesday, Weekly Features

$10 tuesday Now that the family is going back to Disney World, let the mouse ears gear shopping commence! My first stop? Etsy, of course. Here are some of my favorite finds for girls – from head to toe – for under $10.

It might be the cold weather talking, but this Crochet Minnie Ears Beanie is just about the cutest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Only $10 for the baby size!

We’ve got the little head covered, and now for the tooties. KPCreations’ Ribbon Ruffle sock with Mickey embellishment is the perfect little accessory for your Disney fan.

If you can use an iron, you can handle the rhinestone transfers at Custom Bling Apparel. With a large assortment of Disney styles and customization options you can definitely find something for your little one. With prices starting at only $5.95, the hard part will be picking your favorite design.

Happy shopping!

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration – I’m Going

by Kate on January 11th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Blogging, Life

Actually, correction, WE’RE going. That’s right, the whole Shopping Mama gang is going to pile in the car and drive to Orlando next month for a family-friendly mom blog convention. The Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World is the hottest ticket in the blogosphere and is already sold out. I’m counting my lucky stars to be attending this amazing event.

About the Social Media Moms Celebration

The Walt Disney World Resort near beautiful Orlando, Florida is the setting for this first ever, family-friendly social media conference for moms. You’ll experience special events, conference sessions and private parties taking place across the 40-square mile entertainment complex. You’ll have a chance to experience the fun and fantasy of Walt Disney World while hearing from captivating speakers such as Guy Kawasaki, Maxine Clark, MaryEllen Hooper, and more.

Family-Friendly Blogger Event

Doesn’t it sound awesome?! I’m excited on so many levels, but here are the basics. I am grateful for the opportunity to travel to Walt Disney World for a very affordable conference package price. I am excited to meet other bloggers and can’t wait to learn from the best of the best. And, most importantly, I am thankful for a family-friendly setting so the four of us can enjoy the event together.

Sponsor The Shopping Mama

For me, the main focus of the event will be to learn and grow as a blogger and enjoy Disney with my family. However, if you have a product that is related to family travel, there are a limited number of sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact me for details.

Watch out, Disney! Here we come!

Saving Money At Drug Stores: New Year New Mama Guest Post

by Kate on January 11th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Guest Posts, New Year New Mama, Shopping

new year save money

What most people don’t realize is you can get a LOT of things cheap or even free at the drug store. Things you need everyday like shampoo, deodorant, makeup, paper products and even cereal and snacks for the kids lunches. No one says we need to buy everything in the food store. Yes, it does require stopping at two or more stores each week but if you plan ahead of time, you can stop when your in the neighborhood of the stores while you there for other reasons. For instance, if you have a doctor’s appointment and you know CVS is near there, then check out the CVS ad and see if there are some good deals and then stop on your way there. You may find that you don’t even have to go out of your way much most weeks.

If you save money on these basic items that we all use every day, then you will have extra money for the things that rarely go on sale or perhaps to go out to dinner once a month, if that’s what you like to do.

cvs pharmacy In order to get the most bang for you buck at the drug stores on these products, you will need to do some homework before hand. First you need to find out what’s on sale this week and what the best deals are. Then you need to locate the coupons that are available to maximize your savings. You also want to take advantage of the store discount programs. Each store does something different. CVS has Extra Care Bucks (ECB), Walgreen’s has Register Rewards (RR) and Rite Aid has Single Check Rebates (SCR).

Once you start finding all the great deals, you can begin to build a stock pile and then you’ll never pay full price for the items you and your family use everyday. Still not sure where to begin? Visit my blog and read this post which will explain it just a bit more.

Happy Saving!

Karen is a stay at home mom of 2 girls and she loves finding the best deals around and sharing them with her readers on her blog, Koupon Karen .

New Year, New Adventures! Coleman Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on January 11th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Giveaways, Giveaways, New Year New Mama

coleman giveaway The holiday season may be over, but the Coleman Twitter 50 days of giveaways continue! It’s the perfect time for this giveaway on The Shopping Mama, actually, because you might remember that one of my new year’s resolutions is to step away from the computer and get active with my family. Coleman is a great resource for all kinds of outdoor gear – from camping to tailgating to backyard adventures.

About Coleman

Our current catalog is thick with recently introduced products that make spending time outside a pleasure. There are coolers that keep food and drinks cold for several days. Airbeds that are comfortable and won’t deflate during the night. A complete line of LED lights that are really bright and last a long time. Portable grills that are powerful and cook with an authentic open-grill flame, and much, much more.

coleman giveaway basket You’ll also be delighted to know that I found something at Coleman just for shoppers, too! The Collapsible Basket is perfect to throw in your trunk and use for errands. I also found lots of great products for the home, including organization and storage products.

Shop! Visit Coleman.com for everything you need for your family’s adventures.

Coleman 50-Day Gift Card Giveaway on Twitter: Follow @ColemanCampfire on Twitter for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate every day. Just tweet this and you’re entered: If I #win today’s @colemancampfire $25 gift card #giveaway, I’ll buy…

Win! To celebrate the Twitter giveaways, Coleman is offering a $25 Gift Card to one lucky reader of The Shopping Mama.

How to Enter: Follow @ColemanCampfire on Twitter AND visit Coleman.com and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you’d love to own (and include your Twitter name).

Bonus Entries - Valid only after you complete the first entry above. Please leave a separate comment for each you do:
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and Tweet. You may do this once a day: Win a $25 Coleman gift card. It’s a new year for new adventures! @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/5PnrxN
* Fan The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Blog about this giveaway including a link to this post and Coleman.com (leave five comments including your link)
* Follow The Shopping Mama in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or a reader
* Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post on The Shopping Mama

The Fine Print & Disclosure: Giveaway ends January 22. Open to US mailing addresses only. Thanks to Coleman for providing the giveaway prize. The opinions expressed are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.

Project 365

by Kate on January 10th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Blogging, Life

Have you heard of the 365 Project? It’s an attempt to document your life in photos – One picture. Every day. One year. It’s quite the challenge, and I’m sure I’ll stumble at some point but I’m taking a stab. But, to keep myself motivated and interested (because my life really isn’t that interesting) I’m putting my own twist on the 365 Project. I am focusing on my kids’ clothes.

You read that right. Their clothes. Yep, every day I’ll share a picture of one or both of my kids and tell you a little something about what they’re wearing.

Shallow? Perhaps. But, let’s face it, my children have wardrobes that put mine to shame. They have some adorable stuff. Some of it they outgrow too fast, some days we never leave the house to show off their duds, and sometimes they make such a mess eating that an outfit doesn’t make it past breakfast. Because I can now share their outfits daily, the 365 Project is now my new justification for all their clothes. (Which reminds me, a big “thank you” to whoever invented this and gave me a new *grrreat* excuse.)

I have no idea how long I’ll be able to keep this up. But I do know my kids wear something every day. So I do have that going for me. I hope you’ll pop on over every now and then to check it out: The Shopping Mama presents… 365 Days of Children’s Clothes.

Do you have a Project 365 blog? Link up! I’d love to visit and check it out.

TGIF: Sales, Coupons, Discounts & News (1/8)

by Kate on January 8th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Deal & News Roundup, Weekly Features

Free JumpStart Membership

Children’s Orchard, a national franchise of children’s upscale-resale stores, is offering a free membership to JumpStart, an online virtual learning program, to kick off 2010!

Over the last 30 years, Children’s Orchard built a loyal following of M.O.M.S Club members who love to save thousands of dollars on their children’s wardrobes and gain access to exclusive promotions and discounts. Every M.O.M.S Club member will receive a free trial for JumpStart, where their child will experience an adventure-based 3D virtual world where they will learn critical math, reading, and thinking skills. Any mom who then becomes a JumpStart member will receive a five dollar gift card to Children’s Orchard. All you have to do have to do is sign up for Children’s Orchard’s M.O.M.S Club and you receive the free membership.

thredUp Invite Only Launch: You’re Invited!

thredUP kids is the new online kids clothing exchange community for moms (think: convenience of Netflix meets affordability of kids consignment). thredUP kids wants The Shopping Mama readers to participate in the February launch as founding members!

thredup With thredUP moms can easily exchange clothes that no longer fit their children for clothes that will. Through pre-paid mail and home delivery, thredUP is fun, affordable and incredibly easy.

Sales

BabyLegs: Celebrate the New Year with 30 – 50% off selected styles

See Kai Run: FREE SHIPPING with no minimum purchase ends tonight!

Exclusive Discounts

FlyeBaby: $10 off and FREE SHIPPING with code FB10. Expires 1/31/10.
The Crazy Dazy: 10% discount off your purchase with code SHOPPINGMAMA.
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.

Zoobie Pets Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on January 8th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Giveaways

Preschool Boy has his own Zoobie Pet and now a lucky kid in your life can own one, too. For a refresher on this super cool stuffed animal, pillow and blanket in one, check out The Shopping Mama’s Zoobie Pets Review.

In addition to being quite cute and cuddly, Zoobie Pets are well-made and feature great details and craftsmanship. Parents will appreciate all the functions in the compact package and kids will enjoy a fun, cuddly friend. zoobie pets giveaway

Shop! Visit Zoobies online store to purchase or find a retailer near you. Baby Zoobies start at $25, standard Zoobies are $32 and up.

Win! A Zoobies Pet!

How to Enter: Visit Zoobies and leave a comment here with your favorite furry friend.

Bonus Entries - Valid only after you complete the first entry above. Please leave a separate comment for each you do:
* Follow Zoobies Pets on Twitter
* Fan Zoobie Pets on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and Tweet. You may do this once a day: Win an adorable Zoobies Pet – the 3-in-1 plush animal, pillow & blanket! @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/7lPlp4
* Fan The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Blog about this giveaway including a link to this post and Zoobies.com (leave five comments including your link)
* Follow The Shopping Mama in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or a reader
* Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post on The Shopping Mama (the Zoobies review is a good one!)

The Fine Print & Disclosure: Giveaway ends January 22. Open to US mailing addresses only. Prize selection subject to availability. Thanks to Zoobie Pets for providing a sample product for the purposes of this review and the giveaway prize. The opinions expressed are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.