The oil may have stopped flowing into the Gulf Coast (for now), but there is no end in sight to the environmental and economic impact of the Horizon disaster. Etsy sellers have teamed up to create a specific Etsy shop to benefit charities helping the Gulf Coast. Help The Gulf Coast includes donated handmade goods of all kinds and sale proceeds go to the National Wildlife Federation and OxFam America. So far, Help The Gulf Coast has donated $4,000 to OxFam and $4,000 to the National Wildlife Federation!
Vibrant Trains is back with another awesome giveaway of custom alphabet name trains painted by hand to reflect exactly what you’d like. We like these so much they are included in the Birthday Present Shopping Guide as a top pick for personalized gift option.
About Custom Vibrant Trains
Vibrant Trains TM provides a wide variety of custom hand painted alphabet name trains to choose from. The sky is the limit as to what I can create for you and your loved ones. Each train comes complete with an Engine and Caboose along with your choice of letters. (Hearts, stars, Zambonie and ice chests are also available.)
Completely Custom Trains
Some popular themes or ideas to get your creative juices flowing include:
Made to Match Room Decor – match colors, fabric, patterns, etc;
Theme Trains such as animals, flowers, nature, hobbies;
Image Trains depict an image along the length of the entire train;
Character Trains feature characters from movies, cartoons, or books;
Signature Trains include a variety of free form patterns, stripes, dots and hearts;
Multi-Sport Trains are designed to include images of a selected sport such as soccer, hockey, baseball, etc.;
Sports Trains include images common to one sport across the entire length of the train
Logo Trains feature any team or club logo and graphics you provide.
Shop! Vibrant Trains start at $24 for a four segment train – that’s two letters with an engine and caboose – and prices go up depending on the number of letters. You can custom order trains on Etsy and Vibrant Trains are also sold on Zoolu!
Win! A Four-Segment Train from Vibrant Trains!
How to Enter: Visit Vibrant Trains and then leave a comment here with your favorite train in the shop (colors or theme or team, etc).
Bonus Entries - Valid only after completing first mandatory entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.
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Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this everyday, just leave the link when you do. Win a custom handpainted name train from Vibrant Train @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/bwBXyt
Last week I was so giddy about my son’s swim lesson breakthrough that I shared several pictures of him enjoying the pool. My daughter doesn’t want to be left out of the fun so here are some pictures from lessons with a 20 month old.
If you’re looking for a cute and affordable way to decorate your child’s birthday party, PaperGlitter is for you. The printable party kits include everything from invitations, thanks yous, party hats, goodie bags, even placeholder cards, water bottle wrappers and a menu sign… You name it, it’s included!
A little bit about PaperGlitter
The philosophy of paperglitter is to offer adorable graphics and easy paper crafting projects combined with high quality & affordable PDF files, that allow the users to have instant gratification with low complexity templates.
PaperGlitter Party Kits
There are a few details that make PaperGlitter kits extra special. The kits come with the option to upgrade to a personalized custom kit, so you’re able to include child’s name, age and party info in the appropriate spots. In addition, some of the kits, such as the Paris Party, are available as a non-birthday kit. You will receive everything you need to print a fabulous party!
Shop! You can purchase all of these too-cute kits and other fun printables at the PaperGlitter shop on Etsy. Current promotion: Purchase the Red ladybug Love Party Kit and get any other party kit free! Be sure to check out the PaperGlitter blog for lots of free printables.
Win! THREE lucky winners will receive their choice of PaperGlitter Party Kit!
How to enter: Visit PaperGlitter and tell us which kit you would choose if you won.
Bonus Entries - Valid only after completing first mandatory entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.
Share this post on your Facebook. Just click the blue Share button below.
Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this everyday, just leave the link when you do. Win a PaperGlitter Party Kit of your choice @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/aKj9vC
It’s pretty easy to tell if a toy is going to be a hit around here in the first couple minutes we open the box. I had my doubts about Pop On Pals by Spin Master and wasn’t really sure it would garner the attention of either kid – but both were immediately into the Amusement Park Playset and have continued to play with it frequently ever since we got it.
About Pop On Pals
Pop on Pals encourages development skill building in children 2-4 years old.
Imaginative and creative role playing
Object recognition and vocabulary building
Category sorting
Develops Palmar arches
Pop On Pals Amusement Park Playset
Pop On Pals are round, pudgy little figures that are the perfect size for little toddler hands. The pals come with interchangeable rings that act as simple costumes to change the personality of the little pal. The Amusement Park is a colorful and active playground for your kids to explore through the Pals. The Amusement Park Playset comes with one Pal, three theme rings and the Park itself.
As I mentioned, both of my kids really took to the Pop On Pals right away. They literally fought over the Playset. Mostly because this set only comes with ONE figure. There are nine spots for the figures to explore including a strong man striker, milk toss game, dragon swing, Ferris wheel, and roller coaster. It’s a lot to do, with only one figure. I really think the Set would make more sense if it came with two Pals. (You can buy them separately – and I will probably add to our Set.)
To Buy or Not to Buy
To Buy… Both my 3.5 year old and 20 month old really enjoy this toy. My son likes to make the Ferris wheel spin and switch the Pop-on rings and act out different scenes. My daughter likes to put the little Pals in a spot and take it out and put it in a different spot (over and over). If their experience, I think Pop On Pals will be a big hit with toddlers and young preschoolers.
Or Not to Buy… The Amusement Park Playset really should come with more than one Pal.
Shop! The Amusement Park Playset is $34.99. It and other Pop On Pals, including Airplane and School Bus Vehicles and Mix & Match Pal Sets, can be purchased at stores nationwide like Toys R Us, Target and online at Amazon.
Disclosure: Thanks to Team Mom for facilitating this review and Pop On Pals/Spin Master for providing a sample. Others may have a different experience. Opinions are my own.
The Shopping Mama favorite baby gear for sleep, the Nap Nanny, has been recalled. The product is a baby recliner that creates a soft, inclined place for babies to sleep and play but was recalled due to entrapment, suffocation and fall hazards.
From the Consumer Products Safety Commission Press Release
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Baby Matters LLC, of Berwyn, Pa., is announcing the voluntary recall of 30,000 Nap Nanny® portable baby recliners. CPSC is investigating a report of a 4-month-old girl from Royal Oak, Mich. who died in a Nap Nanny® that was being used in a crib. According to preliminary reports, the infant was in her harness and found hanging over the side of the product, caught between the Nap Nanny® and the crib bumper.
The primary issue is with First Generation Nap Nanny baby recliners and the fact that they do not have “D”-rings to secure baby and prevent them from falling over the side of the product. The CSPC instructs consumers with first generation Nap Nanny models to stop using the product and contact Nap Nanny to get a coupon to get the newer model Nap Nanny.
Nap Nanny Safety Tips
Check out this Nap Nanny safety video for information on how to correctly and safely use the product.
Here are the basic tips to keep in mind when using the Nap Nanny:
Do not use Nap Nanny® in cribs, play yards, or near any other adjacent entrapment surface
Only use Nap Nanny® on the floor away from other products
Secure Velcro straps through the “D”-rings every time cover is replaced
When we lived in Germany several years ago, my son was barely walking but we knew a cool kid product when we saw one. We noticed lots of preschool aged kids in our village zooming around on awesome wood bikes without pedals called a LIKEaBIKE. When I started researching balance bikes, I was thrilled to see the bikes we loved in Germany are available in the States – and that the quality and safety features are top notch.
About LIKEaBIKE
The LIKEaBIKE is a unique toy vehicle for children between the ages of two and five. Riding a LIKEaBIKE is incredible fun for kids! At the same time, it’s highly beneficial for the development of their motor skills and sense of balance. Mastering how to ride a LIKEaBIKE will give your child a huge boost in confidence.
Mountain Model LIKEaBIKE
The Mountain is the most popular model LIKEaBIKE – and for good reason. The design is simple and sweet and perfect for active young kids who want to get moving. The Mountain weighs just 7.7 pounds and comes nearly completely assembled. All you have to do to get it road-ready is screw in the handlebars and twist on the rubber handle grips. It’s impossible to overstate the quality construction and materials on the Mountain. The body and majority of the bike – including the wheels – is made of solid birch. The 12 inch tires are rugged and can handle rough terrain as easily as smooth streets.
LIKEaBIKE Safety Features
There are eight different LIKEaBIKE balance bikes that are all structurally very similar and all have thoughtful safety features.
As a mom, obviously the safety features are of the utmost importance. The LIKEaBIKE has no sharp edges to prevent cuts and scrapes (at least those caused by the bike itself). There’s felt between the frame of the bike and the fork that holds the front wheel to prevent pinched fingers and avoid turning the wheel too sharply. My son is a bit on the cautious side and started slow with the bike, but even after he gained more confidence he hasn’t been hurt once. Seriously. He has fallen a little a few times but you’d never know it; he has no scrapes from the bike, no pinched fingers.
LIKEaBIKE Mountain in Action
A balance bike is a great way to to help kiddos who are too young for a pedaled bike learn some of the basic skills required for a big-kid bike. My son started slow on his LIKEaBIKE, by getting used to the seat and the position it requires. He would walk gingerly and get used to picking his feet up and keeping his bottom on the seat. As his comfort level grew, so did his speed. Before we knew it, he was running and striding on his balance bike. He even started “cruising” – by picking up his feet to just enjoy the ride.
Why LIKEaBIKE?
After growing popular in recent years, there are a number of balance bikes on the market in the States, so what sets LIKEaBIKE apart? From my experience in a neighborhood with a few other kids and their balance bikes, I think the LIKEaBIKE material and construction is better than other competitors I’ve checked out. For peace of mind, all LIKEaBIKEs come with a two year warranty. LIKEaBIKE has been around since 1997 and are popular worldwide.
Another thing that really sets LIKEaBIKE apart is the range of accessories to transform and upgrade your balance bike. How adorable is the Hopper a storage basket that sits on the front handlebars? The Trailer is perfect for moving toys and dirt. And, the rocker converts the Mountain or Mini into a rocking horse for indoor play!
To Buy or Not to Buy
To Buy… The LIKEaBIKE Mountain is extremely high quality, beautifully constructed and loads of fun for an active kid. Recommended for use by kids between 2 and 5, I am confident it will last well beyond those three years (and for the price, it should). After watching her big brother happily zoom around, my daughter is already itching to use the LIKEaBIKE and after she outgrows it, we’ll pass it down to a cousin – this is something worth keeping in the family!
Or Not to Buy… My only concern about the Mountain is the price tag. It’s hefty and more expensive than competitors.
Shop! The LIKEaBIKE Mountain is $315 and can be ordered at www.likeabikeusa.com or you can search for a local retailer. You can also check out and learn about other model LIKEaBIKEs and order all the accessories online.
Win! A LIKEaBIKE Mountain Balance Bike!
How to Enter: Visit LIKEaBIKE and check out all the accessories and bikes. Leave a comment with your favorite style LIKEaBIKE and accessory.
Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.
Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do. Win a LIKEaBIKE Balance Bike ($315 value) @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/ds4zRU
Share this post on your Facebook. Just click the blue Share button below.
Giveaway ends August 16 and is open to US residents only.
Disclosure: Thank you to LIKEaBIKE USA for providing a sample product for the purpose of this review and a giveaway prize. Opinions are my own. Others may have a different experience.
Kathy from A Mom’s Impression shared her son’s first monkey themed birthday party! I love how she incorporated the iconic sock monkey in modern touches like cupcake toppers, and other fun monkey images in everything from the invitation to her son’s birthday shirt.
Kathy found inspiration for the monkey cupcakes from Wilton but modified the directions a little to use ready make icing for the mouth, cheeks and eyes.
The baskets for the party favors were purchased during Easter at Target and filled with little monkey goodies including books, tissues, a little stuffed monkey and the Barrel of Monkeys game.
Kathy found Sock Monkeys in the classic Fisher Price toy area of Target and used them to decorate her home.
The birthday boy looked adorable in his birthday onesie from Stitcheroos.
If you’re looking for a cute and affordable way to decorate your child’s birthday party, 
There are a few details that make PaperGlitter kits extra special. The kits come with the option to upgrade to a personalized custom kit, so you’re able to include child’s name, age and party info in the appropriate spots. In addition, some of the kits, such as the 
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, tissues, a little stuffed monkey and the 
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