The Shopping Mama

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

by Kate on March 17th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Life, Shopping

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I couldn’t let the day go without sharing a photo of my little ones in their green garb.

Preschool Boy is wearing a green polo from The Gap, and unfortunately it was freaking cold today so he’s wearing a white shirt underneath. And, Toddler Girl is wearing the most adorable St. Patrick’s Day shirt from The Preppy Poppy.

After the Sunday Spotlight feature on The Preppy Poppy I ordered a Personalized Stainless Steel Mug for my husband for Valentine’s Day. (So romantic, right? He liked it and that’s all that matters.) Angela was incredibly kind and sent along the adorable tee as a thank you for the feature. The shirt is so freaking adorable. There was even a coordinating clover hair clip for my sweet lass. So cute, right? Check out the Applique Monogram Tee Shirts at The Preppy Poppy and customize one for your little one.

(I’m sorry about the photos… I got a new camera and am still getting used to it. It certainly doesn’t help that my little dude got a hold of it and there was some sort of smoodge of ick on the lens. Lovely.)

DreamInk Apparel Boutique Art Tees Review + Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on March 17th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Clothes, Giveaways, Reviews

It’s no secret I love finding great and original clothes for my kids. I mean, I chronicle what my kids wear every day, for crying out loud. It’s not surprising, then, that I am excited about DreamInk Apparel.

DreamInk Apparel is a great shop on Etsy featuring the artwork of Aisling Coyle. She sketches a design that is screenprinted on to tees for women and kids and various accessories. Some of the tees get a little extra bling in the form of beads and rhinestones.

1-2-3 Make a Wish

We received the simple and sweet 1-2-3 Make a Wish Tee in size 18 months. The size isn’t listed, but Aisling was happy to get the size in stock so she could make a tee for my little one. The shirt features a sketch of three dandelions with seeds blowing. The design is so perfect and it just looks great. It’s well placed on the shirt, too, so you can easily see the flowers. I’m so happy with it.

There are some details that you can’t see when being worn but add to the whole package. The tag is so cute – it’s almost a shame you can’t see it! The shirt is machine washable – obviously a must with my messy daughter – and it holds up well to wash and wear. Some of the designs also have delicate beads to add a little sparkle, but they are not included on designs for toddlers and infants (for obvious reasons).

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… DreamInk tees are unique and one of a kind, and the price tag is surprisingly reasonable considering they feature original illustrations and artwork.

Or Not to Buy… I can’t think of a reason. If you see a style you like, I definitely recommend DreamInk.

Shop! DreamInk Apparel tees are $17 for toddler size tees and $18 for girls and start at $21 for women’s shirts.

Win! A DreamInk Apparel Tee!

How to Enter: Visit DreamInk Apparel on Etsy and leave a comment here with your favorite design.

Bonus Entries – only valid after completing the mandatory entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do:

* Follow DreamInk Apparel on Twitter
* Fan DreamInk on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave a link every time you do: Win a DreamInk Apparel boutique art tee @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/ci9WAf
* Fan The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Be a Shopping Buddy, aka, follow in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or RSS
* Blog about this giveaway including a link to this post and DreamInk Apparel – leave 5 comments with your link
* Post the Spring into Spring button on your blog

Disclosure: This giveaway ends March 26. Thanks to DreamInk Apparel for providing a sample product for the purpose of this review and the giveaway prize. Opinions are uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.

Wordless Wednesday: Go Bucks!

by Kate on March 16th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Life, Weekly Features, Wordless Wednesday

It’s NCAA tournament time again! This used to be my favorite sports time of the year, but now I have kids. And it turns out you can’t sit in front of TV drinking beer and watching basketball for days straight when you have children to raise. Nonetheless, I do love the tournament and I love my Buckeyes even more. Check out the cover of Sports Illustrated featuring Ohio State star Evan Turner.

I may not be able to watch hours of basketball with the success of my brackets as my only care in the world. BUT, I can dress up my daughter like this:

(Photo originally on Day 72 of 365 Days of Children’s Clothes.)
I look forward to seeing your photos!

Ten Dollar Tuesday: Easter Basket Ideas

by Kate on March 16th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Ten Dollar Tuesday, Weekly Features

Easter is rapidly approaching so it’s time to get on the ball and get shopping for Easter basket goodies. Here are some sweet and affordable Easter basket treats that won’t rot your teeth.

Easter Chalk

Oh, how I love The Chalk Shop. It is “chock full” – ha! – of adorable chalk in fun shapes and colors for kids. Hopefully the weather will be warming up so you create some sidewalk art.

The Spring Chalk Set is 12 pieces of spring-themed shapes for $5.95. The pieces can fit into plastic eggs to make a great little surprise in the Easter basket.

The Easter Egg Chalk is 5 pieces for $5.95.

Little Felt Bunnies

Oh my word, are these not the cutest little things you’ve ever seen in your life? Little Green Fern makes these adorable little felt bunny characters. They are super popular – as I’ve been following over the past week they’ve nearly sold out! And for good reason, the little bunnies with accessories are less than $5! Because they’re little (one can fit in a little plastic egg), they are not intended for children under 3.

If you want to order a bunny by Easter, contact Little Green Fern by March 19 to place your order.

Felt Sweet Treats

You can stuff that basket full of sweets that look good enough to eat. But, I’m willing to bet these beautiful felt treats from BeckyM’s Etsy shop look better than they taste.

Every Easter basket needs a Chocolate Bunny. This felt one is $4 and will last longer than your Easter celebration.

Spread the love with this Mini Heart Pie.

Blinky Toothbrush

In my family, no Easter basket or Christmas stocking is complete without a toothbrush. It only makes sense to try and balance out the candy and chocolate that is a holiday staple. But, why settle for a boring toothbrush when you can get a Dr. Fresh Firefly Kid’s Lightup Toothbrush. We have one of these and it’s super fun. A little light in the tooth brush flashes for one minute so your little one knows how long to brush for a complete cleaning. A set of 2 is only$2.49 on Amazon and also available in local stores. (We bought one at Target.)

Happy Easter basket shopping!

National Napping Day

by Kate on March 15th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Life, Parenting

Today is National Napping Day. I don’t think they make cards for this “holiday”, but if they did the cards would most certainly include a photo like this:

In honor of today, my little man napped. On the couch.

Sadly, he’s pretty much given up a daily nap routine. Trying to get him to nap turned into such a struggle that by the time he fell asleep (if at all) it was when he should be waking up. I gave up pushing a daily nap about a month ago. The benefit is that he goes to bed easily at 7:30 most nights. The negative is that he is grumpy by the end of the day and I don’t get a good chunk of alone time during the day. It’s been hard to accept that he’s over napping and days like today tell me maybe he’s just not ready to be done napping.

When did your child stop taking a nap? How do you know when a child is ready to stop napping every day?

The Kia Sorento Got a Makeover. And You Can, Too! Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on March 15th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Giveaways

INTRO_SORENTO When I told my husband about the email to host a Kia Sorento makeover giveaway the first thing he did was say, “That car looks awesome.” And if you knew my husband you’d know that means a lot. He’s rather particular when it comes to cars and the more time I’ve spent looking at the Sorento I can understand why my husband has the hots for this car. It is awesome.

All-New Sorento

The Kia Sorento got a makeover for 2011. It’s truly “A departure from the expected.” Here are some key features about the all-new Sorento:

Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) priced starting at under 21k
State-of-the-art technology and sporty styling
Class-leading interior space
Comfortably fit up to seven passengers, offering more space and ride comfort than the previous-generation model
Proudly built in the USA at Kia Motors Manufacturing in West Point, Georgia

My first glance at the new Sorento was during the Super Bowl. Remember this ad?

Want to see more Kia Sorento? Check out the car specifications and build your own at www.kia.com. The base price for the Sorento is $19,995 – one or two payday loans should cover that!

. My husband and I played around and built our dream car to include some luxury features you might not initially associate with an affordable car (like a Kia) such as the rear-view back up camera, infinity premium sound system, in dash navigation with real time traffic and rear-seat DVD entertainment. I’m pretty sure our road trips (and day to day trips, for that matter) would be much improved!

“2011 Kia Sorento“

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Makeover Giveaway

The Sorento received a makeover and Kia thinks you deserve one, too.

Win! Amazing assortment of makeup and beauty products from Sephora worth $200.

mommy makeover from kia

Prize Details: Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash Mascara ($18), Sephora Collection Glamorous 360 Deluxe Palette ($36), Sephora by OPI – Digital Diva Collection ($45), Best of Bliss ($45), Lancome Spring Showers Juicy Tubes Gloss Set ($36), Pink Poppy Print Zip Around Bag ($20).

How to Enter: Check out the All-New 2011 Kia Sorento and leave a comment here with your favorite exterior color.

Bonus Entries – only valid after completing the mandatory entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do:
* Tell me your favorite feature or option on the Sorento
* Fan Kia Sorento on Facebook
* Follow Kia on Twitter
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave a link every time you do. Click the green ReTweet button or copy and paste the following: Kia Sorento got a makeover and you can too! Win $200 worth of makeup from Sephora @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/cQ9HQz
* Fan The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Be a Shopping Buddy, aka, follow in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or RSS
* Blog about this giveaway including a link to this post – leave 5 comments with your link
* Post the Spring into Spring button on your blog

Disclosure: This giveaway ends March 26. I was not compensated for this post. Thanks to Fanscape and Kia for the giveaway prize.

The Baby Bunch Baby Egg Nest Giveaway (2 winners!) (Closed)

by Kate on March 14th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Giveaways

The more I see from The Baby Bunch, the more I am convinced they offer the best practical AND adorable baby gifts. Just in time for Easter, I’m loving the Baby Egg Nest of baby socks. Featuring organic baby socks and a drawer sachet for mom, this gift set is adorable for a spring baby gift.

Baby Egg Nest

Go green and let baby leave a tiny footprint with this fresh new organic baby gift. Each organic Baby Egg Nest is wrapped in cellophane, tied with a ribbon and bears a bird shaped gift tag. Perfect to bring when visiting the new arrival at home or in the hospital or to present at a baby shower. We ship direct and can deliver your best wishes – add a personal message at no extra charge.

The Baby Egg Nest is available in pink or blue and contains 3 pairs of organic cotton socks (size 0 – 6 months) rolled to look like eggs and one bird-shaped lavender-scented drawer sachet inside a sweet little nest.

Easter Baby Gift

The Baby Egg Nest is a perfect gift for an Easter or spring baby. It comes all ready to gift with cellophane wrapping, a polka dot ribbon and bird-shaped gift tag.

baby nest egg baby gift As much as I prefer doing my shopping online, I am sometimes nervous to order a gift and have it sent directly to the recipient. I am nervous the packaging or presentation won’t live up to my expectations and will make a bad first impression. After Monica’s Baby Bunch review and receiving the Baby Egg Nest myself, I’d have no concerns ordering anything from The Baby Bunch. The presentation is so cute – and, really, that’s what makes Baby Bunch so great. It’s an adorable gift that will get the “ooohs” and “aaaahs” you’re after, but is also full of practical things a new mom can use because the quality is high and the materials are soft.

Shop! The Baby Egg Nest is $19.95 at The Baby Bunch.

Win! One reader will win a Pink Baby Nest Egg and one reader will win a Blue Baby Nest Egg.

How to Enter: Visit The Baby Bunch and leave a comment telling me another gift that you love AND whether you’d prefer the pink or blue Nest Egg.
(Your choice won’t affect your chance to win.)

Bonus Entries – please leave a separate entry for each you do:

* Follow The Baby Bunch on Twitter
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and Tweet – you may do this everyday, just leave a separate comment with your link. Use that green ReTweet button or copy and paste the following:
Two will win a Baby Bunch Nest Egg, the perfect spring baby gift, @TheShopping Mama http://bit.ly/9leLyv
* Fan The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Be a Shopping Buddy, aka, follow in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or a RSS
* Blog about this giveaway including a link to this post – leave 5 comments with your link
* Post the Spring into Spring button on your blog

Disclosure: This giveaway ends March 24 and is open to US mailing addresses only. Thanks to The Baby Bunch for providing the sample product to me and for this giveaway. Opinions are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.

CoffeeforLess.com – A Great Source for K-Cups

by Kate on March 13th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Shopping

coffee for less My morning routine has totally changed since I received a Keurig brewer last summer. After putting my contacts, the first thing I do every morning is head straight to the coffee machine, pick out a flavor K-Cup and pop it in the machine. My husband’s morning routine is pretty similar. Drinking our way through 14 K-Cups a week can get a little pricey so I’m always on the look out for good deals on K-Cups. I was recently introduced to CoffeeforLess.com and I’m pretty impressed with the price and selection.

About Coffee for Less

CoffeeForLess.com is a coffee retailer that specializes in Keurig K-Cups, Whole Coffee Beans and Gourmet Coffees. You can expect everyday low prices from us on K-Cup Coffee and coffee pod refills, including Green Mountain, Tully’s, Timothy’s, Caribou and Starbucks brand coffees. … Coffee For Less prides itself on being amongst the best online coffee stores by offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee on a variety of coffee and beverage systems that will undoubtedly meet the beverage needs of your home or office. Don’t forget to try our K-Cup Selector tool to help match you with the perfect cup of coffee.

Keurig K-Cups & More

coffee for less gloria jeans chai tea CoffeeForLess.com has an awesome selection of K-Cups. You can browse by brand, and if you’re not sure what you’re looking for you can use the K-Cup Selector tool and search by roast and flavor (among other things). I have my favorite coffee flavors but wanted to try something different so I received the Gloria Jeans Chai Tea K-Cups from CoffeeForLess.com ($11.75 for 24 count box). I think perhaps the best part about it is how freaking delicious it smells! I have a cup every once in a while in the afternoon when I get some quiet time to myself. (Or when I want to pretend I am by myself.)

I’m happy to report my ol’ stand by favorite flavors are also available at CoffeeForLess.com. Most mornings I have Green Mountain Coffee Caramel Vanilla Creme coffee ($11.75 for 24 count box). I also love Timothy’s Kahlua ($12.50 for 24 count box) and Gloria Jean’s Mudslide ($11.95 for 24 count box). My husband says I like coffee tastes like flavor and not coffee.

In addition to K-Cups, Keurig brewers and pods for other machines, Coffee for Less also sells coffee beans and ground coffee for traditional brewers.

Connect! Keep up with all the latest coffee buzz by checking in on the Coffee for Less blog and following Coffee for Less on Twitter.

Shop! CoffeeforLess.com has a large selection of K-Cups for $11.75. Stock up and receive FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50. (Save money tip: Click through ShopAtHome.com to earn 5% cash back on your purchase.)