The Shopping Mama

Spring into Spring Winners

by Kate on April 27th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Giveaway Winners, Giveaway Winners

Congrats to all the lucky winners. I will update this post as new winners are announced. If you’re looking for it in the future, check the Spring into Spring tab or the Giveaway tab for “Spring into Spring Winners.” As usual, all winners are emailed and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected.

All winners are selected using random.org. For big ticket items, a screen shot of the random.org pick is on the original giveaway post.

Elizabeth Horton Tee: Tabathia B

Affordable Scarves: Keita & Michelle C

KidsCraft Creation Cottage: Laura

VTech Kidizoom Camera: Madeliene

Hey Rabbit Book and Artwork: Rebecca O

Little Tikes Backyard BBQ & School Bus Activity Gym: Cory

DownEast Basics New Arrivals: Nad

Outdoor Playhouse from Hayneedle: Susan B

PeaPod Travel Bed: Lacey H

Sandra Magsamen Bedding: Rebecca G

QuickZip Sheet Starter Set: Andrea P

Carolina Pad Mother’s Day Bundles: Tabathia B

Marshalls: Cynthia

See Kai Run: Tracy P

Citrus: Rebecca O

SwaddleDesigns: Melanie B

Duncan Hines: Lauren

Martha Stewart Collection: Jan

La La B Jewelry: Lori H

Walltat: Colleen T

Kemps: Rachel M

aden + anais & NUK: Karissa W

Casio Exilim: Tiffany S

Guidecraft Puppet Theater: Eileen R

The Land of Nod Shopping Cart: Teresa

Savvycents Wallet: Donna W

FantasyJewelryBox: Kim H

Mr Clean: Amy D

Just Jen Rhinestone Tee: Tara V

jill-e designs Camera Bag: Susan

Wilton: Jill K

Everything Spring book: Eileen, Kate & Bethany

Play-Doh Fun Factory & FurReal Snuggimal: Alisha

Creativity for Kids: Karen R

Bravado Bliss: Donna W

iplay Aquarium:Kelly

boon Animal Bag: Tabathia

yubo Lunchbox: Debbie S

KODAK Camera: Cynthia M

DownEast Basics Swim: Jodi R

Wishes & Kisses: Kim P

líllébaby EveryWear: Richelle F

Banzai Jurassic Chomp Pool: Jill

Step2 Double Slide Climber: Ellerman Fan

Namaste: Andrea

aden + anais & NUK: Baby Spring Prize Pack Giveaway

by Kate on April 26th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Giveaways, Giveaways, Spring Into Spring

aden + anais and NUK are leading names in baby products: NUK is the number one selling brand of pacifiers in North America and aden + anais is well-known for the popular muslin swaddling blankets. Take my word for it, if you have a baby you will come to know (and rely on) NUK and aden + anais products. This spring giveaway is for two basics that will make baby (and mama) happy – a set of NUK pacifiers and a pair of Issie Security Blankets.

NUK Orthodontic Pacifiers

Neither of my kids developed a serious pacifier habit, but the only pacifiers my son did use when he was young were NUK. He even had the Blue Silicone Orthodontic Pacifier available in this giveaway – only we bought it in a German baby store! Yes, NUK pacifiers are not only popular with mamas in the States, but around the world.

Sold in packs of two perfectly springy designs and available in Rose or Blue, NUK pacifiers have lots of great features.

NUK® pacifiers are based on the shape of a mother’s nipple while breastfeeding and are therefore optimally adapted to the baby’s oral cavity
The NUK® AIR SYSTEM® releases air and allows the nipple to remain soft and keep its shape
The orthodontic design gently exercises tongue, palate and jaw, and encourages the correct development of your child’s teeth

These pacifiers are available in several sizes based on the age of your little one and are BPA-free.

aden + anais issie

The magical feel of a security blanket is a wonderful part of any child’s life, bringing comforting thoughts and sweet dreams to newborns and toddlers alike. We are sure our soft, breathable issie will become one of your child’s most cherished simple pleasures. Issie’s are made from aden + anais’ signature fabric – natural cotton muslin – and playfully designed in our exclusive, modern prints.

We have an aden + anais Cozy Sleeping Bag made of muslin and it is surprisingly soft. Well, surprising to me because I didn’t expect it, but it’s perfect for a security blanket because it’s so breathable. At 16 by 16 inches, the Issie is just the right size for your little one – so smart. I also love that it comes in a pack of two identical blankets so you always have a spare. Like all aden + anais products, the patterns are bold and modern but perfectly childlike.

Shop! A two-pack of NUK Pacifiers is $4.99. Available in nine modern patterns, a two-pack of aden + anais Issies is 19.95.

Win! Your Choice of Boy or Girl Baby Prize Pack including a set of NUK pacifiers and aden + anais Issie Security Blankets!

How to Enter: Visit aden + anais and tell me the name of your favorite Issie pattern.

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

* Spring into Spring! Enter the Sandra Magsamen apparel and gifts giveaway at Baby Loving Mama and let me know you did.
* Fan / Like NUK on Facebook
* Fan / Like aden + anais on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do.
Enter to win a perfectly spring baby prize pack of NUK pacifiers and aden + anais security blankets @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/avNDhp
* Fan / Like 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: Giveaway ends May 11. Open to US residents only. Thanks to NUK and aden + anais for providing the giveaway prizes. Others may have a different experience. Opinions are 100% my own.

Make Mama Feel Like a Queen – The Body Shop Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on April 26th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Giveaways

The Body Shop has been one of my favorite mama-time stores for as long as I can remember. Well, actually since long before I needed mama-time. I could even get my fix when we lived in Germany as there was a store in the big city nearby. But I digress. This post isn’t about me, it’s about the great Mother’s Day gift ideas from The Body Shop.

“What’s Your Mom the Queen Of?” Quiz

In honor of Mother’s Day, The Body Shop has created the “What is Your Mom the Queen Of?” quiz to give you some great gift ideas based on your mom’s (or anyone who is worth of the crown) personality.

I took the quiz with my mom in mind and found her to be the “Queen of Wisdom.” (I could have told you that.) Based on the 8 quick and easy multiple choice questions I answered about my mom, The Body Shop suggests eleven different gifts from foot soak to oil burner to a bath pillow.

By the way, I won’t tattle on you if you take the quiz to get some fun ideas about how you can pamper yourself.

Spa Wisdom Collection

The Spa Wisdom Collection at The Body Shop has everything you need to relax and pamper at home. The Spa Wisdom Japan Collection, featured in this giveaway, will “Transform your bathroom into a soothing spa with products inspired by sublime Japanese rituals.” Spa Wisdom Japan includes Yuzu & Rice Body Milk, Adzuki Bean & Rice Washing Grains, Green Tea Bathing Salts, Apricot & Rice Finishing Mist and Adzuki Rice & Bean Shower Gel. (And it sounds more like a menu than a line of beauty products! ) I can only imagine how fab it smells and how good it feels.

Shop! Visit The Body Shop to take the “What’s Your Mom the Queen Of?” quiz and to browse and purchase Mother’s Day gifts that pamper. For a limited time, everything in the Spa Wisdom Collection is Buy One, Get One 50% off.
(Extra savings tip: Click through ShopAtHome.com for 10% cash back on your purchase!)

Win! The Complete Spa Wisdom, Japan Collection worth $106!

How to Enter: Take the quick and easy “What’s Your Mom the Queen Of?” quiz at The Body Shop and tell me what your mom is the queen of – or, what YOU are the queen of. (Hey, I said I wouldn’t tell if you took it for yourself, and I won’t even mind if you keep the prize to pamper yourself.)

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

* Follow The Body Shop on Twitter
* Like The Body Shop on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do.
Pamper yourself – or a mama you love – with Spa Wisdom from The Body Shop. Win the $106 collection @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/c1gIUm
* Like The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Be a Shopping Buddy, aka, follow in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or RSS

Details & Disclosure: Giveaway ends May 3 and is open to US residents only. Thanks to The Body Shop for providing the giveaway prize.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

by Kate on April 26th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Blogging, Shopping

I am so excited to unveil The Shopping Mama’s 2010 Mother’s Day Gift Guide. It’s divided by personality and includes gifts ranging in price from $12 to $400 so you can easily find something for every mama.

To easily find my Mother’s Day gift ideas, check the “Mama’s Picks” link at the very top menu bar and you’ll see “Mother’s Day Gift Guide.”

While the suggestions do cover a wide range of ideas and some awesome suggestions, if I do say so myself, I can’t promise that I won’t update it. So, next time you’re thinking about a good birthday present for a friend or thank you gift for your mom or something special for yourself, check The Shopping Mama’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide for some great ideas. I can honestly say I’d be psyched to receive any single one of them. (Yes, every. single. one.)

Happy shopping!

Kemps Fro-Zing Review + Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on April 26th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Giveaways, Giveaways, Reviews, Reviews, Spring Into Spring

If I haven’t already made it clear, let me go ahead and say it again: I have a sweet tooth. I love sweets of all kind; however, my waistline and the scale do not. Finding a healthy(ish) way to feed my craving is not always easy – especially in the summer when it’s hot and, well, ice cream sounds fabulous all the time. Just in time for summer, Kemps has launched Fro-Zing, a refreshingly delicious low-fat frozen yogurt.

About Fro-Zing

Kemps Fro-Zing is a whole new taste sensation. So smooth and creamy, with a Zing of delicious fruit flavor. It’s truly Frozen Tangy Amazingness.

Nutritional information: 1/2 cup serving size has 1 gram of fat and 110 calories.

Kemps Fro-Zing

The folks at Kemps were very generous to send me two containers of Fro-Zing all the way down here in Florida. And I’m glad they did! We received the Blueberry Fro-Zing and Raspberry Vanilla Fro-Zing, but I saved a good portion of it for myself and didn’t share until recently. I had to test it and make sure it’s delicious, you know? Or I just wanted to keep it all to myself. In any case, this is very different from your average frozen yogurt. It’s creamy and thick like ice cream but it is tangy like yogurt. It definitely has a zing to it that sets it apart from other yogurt.

My son is a very picky eater, but he likes yogurt so I was hopeful he would like Fro-Zing. But, the picky part of him outweighed every thing else and it was too tangy for him. I think the taste might be more appealing to adults because it does have a little zip to it. My daughter, on the other hand, who is not at all picky, really liked the Blueberry Fro-Zing.

To Eat or Not to Eat

To Eat… Fro-Zing is a perfect summer treat – it’s very refreshing, healthy and tasty. It’s creamy like yogurt, but there’s no mistaking it’s yogurt.

Or Not to Eat… Sadly, Kemps products are only sold in the Upper Midwest, so for now if you’re not in that area you’ll have to visit to get your Kemps eat on.

Shop! Located in Minnesota, Kemps dairy products, including Fro-Zing, are available in grocery stores in that area of the country. Sorry for the tease, everyone else!

Win! Kemps Product Coupons worth $100!

Prize details: Product coupons for Kemps products like FroZing, Ice Cream, Milk and Sundae Cones. This giveaway is open to Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin residents only!

How to Enter: Visit Kemps and tell me the flavor Fro-Zing or one other dairy product you’d like to try.

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

* Spring into Spring! Enter the Kemps Fro-Zing giveaway at Baby Loving Mama and let me know you did.
* Follow Kemps on Twitter
* Sign up for the Kemps monthly newsletter
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do.
Yum, ice cream! Enter to win $100 is product coupons for Kemps @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/9nx2v7 (open to select states only)
* Fan / Like 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: Giveaway ends May 10. Open to Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin mailing addresses only. Thanks to Kemps for providing samples for the purpose of this review and the giveaway prize. Others may have a different experience. Opinions are 100% my own.

Walltat Wall Decals Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on April 25th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Giveaways, Giveaways, Spring Into Spring

Nothing changes the look of a room like a graphic art wall decal. Walltat wall decals are bold, modern and very cool. With a huge selection of wall decals for every room in your home and every style, you’re sure to find something to decorate your walls.

About Walltat

Wall Decals by Walltat are the newest alternative for wall and surface finishing. It provides the freedom to enhance accent areas with style and DIY ease. Walltat offers self-adhesive wall decals or “tats” as we like to call them. These wall decals easy enough to install yourself, and even more fun to install with a friend! Walltat is the perfect alternative for faux finishes and messy wallpaper glue. Cancel the painters, throw away the stencils, Walltat has arrived! Our artists have created exclusive designs that are sure to fit any theme or design genre. With a quick peel and stick application, you’re on your way to transforming those areas with potential into visual delights!

Wall Decor for Kids

Like a true mama, the first place I checked out when browsing Walltat was the Kids Wall Decals. And true to Wall Tat style , the wall decals are large and bold. And I love them. My absolute favorite is the Kids on Swings. Available in 40 inches square all the way up to 199 inches square – the Kids on Swings wall decal will definitely change the look of a room. There are lots of wall decal color choices, so you can easily match your decor.

I think all the Kids Wall Decals are great for bedrooms and playrooms. I just love the sweet Girls Name and the Princess Castle.

And, of course, there’s great stuff for boy rooms, too. My son would flip for the Dinosaur Variety Pack and the Choo-Choo Train Set is great for a nursery and older boys.

Bring Style to Your Walls

In addition to great options for kids, Walltat has awesome wall decals for adults, too. I love, love the Branches and Blossoms wall decal. It’s subtle and feminine and really beautiful. And, if you want a different look, you can change the colors – like black branches and gray flowers – which would just so happen to look awesome in our master bedroom. Although, I have to admit in the light brown and pink, it would be pretty adorable in a girl’s nursery.

I also love the set of coordinating square nature decals.

Walltat Wallpaper

Walltat wallpaper is not your mama’s wallpaper. It’s a huge piece of lightweight polyester cloth, printed with eco-friendly inks with a matte finish to eliminate glare. I’ve used wall decals before and love them, but I’ve never seen wall decor like the wall paper. The Red Anemone Flower Wallpaper is $75, which might sound like a lot but is well below what artwork of that size (44 by 30 inches) would cost.

Shop! Wall decals by Walltat are available in over 400 designs with more than 30 different colors. The prices start at $39 and go up depending on the size off the decal. Walltat now offers FREE shipping on all orders!

Win! A $100 Walltat Gift Certificate!

How to Enter: Visit Walltat and check out the wall decals and wallpaper. Leave a comment telling me what you’d like to decorate a wall in your home.

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

* Spring into Spring! Enter the Outfit Additions giveaway at Baby Loving Mama and let me know you did.
* Follow Walltat on Twitter
* Like Walltat on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do.
Wall decals with style – win a $100 to spend at Walltat @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/bcQnKB
* Fan / Like 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 www.walltat.com – leave 5 comments with your link
* Post the Spring into Spring button on your blog

Disclosure: Giveaway ends May 9. Open to US mailing addresses only. Thanks to Walltat for providing the giveaway prize. I was compensated for hosting this giveaway; but, as always, opinions here are 100% my own.

Chic Sweetness at Chic Baby Rose

by Kate on April 24th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Shopping

Please welcome Amy, The Shopping Mama’s first official contributing author! She will be our new Etsy insider with great tips on finding the best of the best handmade goodies as well as sharing her favorite finds. I think you’ll agree she started with a bang with the fabulous Chic Baby Rose. – Kate

I am so excited to share my most favorite Etsy finds with you!

If you have a little girl, or are looking for a completely adorable gift for a little girl in your life, look no further than Chic Baby Rose.

Kristyn, founder of this adorable girly shop, creates her items on the upper floor of an old opera house in Historic Folsom, CA. How’s that for inspiring? I first came across her shop while looking for retro cupcake-themed invitations and such for my daughter’s first birthday party. I’ve since purchased some of her sweet clips and am always looking for excuses to buy more!

One of her most popular items is the Chic Baby Rose Pettiskirt, perfect for a celebration, photos, or dress up.

A few of my personal favorites include the Five Wool Felt Clips for $20, and the Pettiromper.

Check out Chic Baby Rose… you’re sure to find something super chic for your little girly girl!

Send an fCard, Win an iPad

by Kate on April 23rd, 2010 | 5 Comments | Blogging

My mom is always, always asking for new photos of the kids so I’m always looking for new ways to keep her and the family up to date on our latest adventures. I was recently introduced to an App that makes sharing iPhone pictures fun – and for a limited time you can download it for FREE. (Gotta love free. But, hurry, because it’s only free until April 29!) You can find the fCards App in the iTunes store or search “fCards” in the App Store on your iPhone.

About fCards

fCards is a stylish, minimalistic, and seriously cool virtual postcard App for iPhone/iPod/iPad with Facebook compatibility. Select a photograph from amongst the impeccable images we’ve included in the App (or use one of your own photographs!), position your greeting (using one of the five typefaces included) where it looks best on the front, and then flip the card over to write a personal message to send via Email or share on Facebook. fCards features fantastic images in all of the most common greeting card-related categories (think birthdays, holidays, love, etc.) and is perfect for staying in touch and sending updates when you’re traveling or on vacation.

How to Make an fCard

The fCards app is very simple and user friendly – so much so that you’ll never email a regular picture from your iPhone again. First, you select a picture either from your Camera Roll or from the beautiful fCards images. The images are coordinated with holidays so you can pick the type of card you want to send and use an appropriate photo. I personalized the photo suggested for Birthday with the words “Happy Day.” You can change the font, move the text around and change it between black and white. It’s really super easy.

After you finish the front of your post card, you personalize the back. Write a message and enter the email information and you’re done!

Not only can you email your fCard, you can also share it on Facebook and spread the love with your Facebook friends right from the App. I shared this card with my friends.

Get fCard for FREE

Download the fCards App FREE in the iTunes store or search “fCards” in the App Store on your iPhone. Free download only available until April 29.

Win an iPad

fStop is so excited for you to use the fCards App that they are giving away an iPad. You know, so you have another way to send awesome e-postcards. Here’s how to enter – you can do one or all methods of entry.

Send an fCard to two friends, in addition to fcards[at]fstopimages.com, and/or
Post an fCard to your Facebook wall, and then become a fan of fCards on Facebook, and/or
Send an fCard to your Twitter account via Twitpic, then Tweet the URL for this anouncement: http://tinyurl.com/y47k6z7

A winner will be announced on Twitter by @fstopimages on May 1. Visit fStop for all the iPad giveaway details. Good luck!

Happy fCard-ing!