Crazy 8 Friends & Family Sale – Great Back to School Savings

by Kate on August 19th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Shopping

We’ve been sharing some great fall fashions for kids and another great place to check for Back to School clothes is Crazy 8. I love that you can always find some good deals on great basics at Crazy 8. Not to mention they have a really cute fall line out right now. It is very preppy and sophisticated, great for making that wonderful first impression in the first weeks of school.

About the 2010 Fall Collection

You will find an interesting mix of preppy, sweet, and hip in the latest looks from Crazy 8 this fall. Enjoy pairing a classic plaid blazer with a fun tulle skirt. The possibilities are endless, yet always adorable.

Preppy Plaid

Your little hipster will love these new twists on some old classic prints. I am pretty sure I had a plaid skirt of the same print 20 year ago, only not this cute!


Crown Sweater Vest ($19.75), Roll Cuff Oxford Top ($16.75), Argyle Sweater Dress ($28.75), Knit Skinny Pant ($19.75), Pleated Plaid Skort ($16.75), Over the Knee boots ($34.75),

Looks for Boys


Stripe Shirt ($16.75), Argyle Sweater Vest ($19.75), Corduroy Blazer ($34.75), Varsity Cardigan ($24.75)

I am imagining a little guy in layers of shirt, vest, blazer, and it looks adorable in my mind! Wouldn’t that be adorable?

Shop! Use Coupon Code c8friend and save 25% during the fall friends and family sale from August 19-21! You can also earn Crazy Cash and get a $20 certificate for every $40 you spend.

Does anything from Crazy 8 catch your eye for back to school shopping?

Dinosaur Train Under the Sea TV Special & DVD Giveaway

by Kate on August 19th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaways, Reviews

The Pteranodon family is always on an adventure and this Friday is no different. But, instead of traveling time and discovering new dinosaur species on land, the Dinosaur Train is heading underwater in a new special: Dinosaur Train Under the Sea! The one hour special will air Friday morning (August 20) during the PBS Kids Preschool Destination television block so check your local listings to make sure you don’t miss the fun.

Dinosaur Train Under the Sea TV Special

It’s no secret we’re Dinosaur Train fans. The show is such a smart program – not only does it combine trains and dinosaurs (always a winning combination), but it’s entertaining with bright colors and educational fun facts about dinosaurs. (That your child will repeat and make you feel silly for not knowing.) The Pteranodon family underwater adventures feature all the hallmarks of a great Dinosaur Train episode including original music, travel through the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic oceans. But, the episode also includes some new fun like a glass time tunnel and an aquacar for the undersea dinosaurs.

A Pteranodon family adventure wouldn’t be complete without new friends, and here’s a brief look at who they encounter Under the Sea:

  • Elmer Elasmosaurus: The Dinosaur Train’s new Aquacar gets its first passenger when the Pteranodon family helps transport Elmer back to his home in the ocean. This long-necked, giant marine reptile is a deep-sea diver with a special talent for holding his breath.
  • Carla Cretoxyrhina: On their underwater excursion, the Pteranodon family meets up with a young shark named Carla Cretoxyrhina, who turns out to be much nicer than her reputation suggests.
  • The Amazing Michelinoceras Brothers: Buddy and his family continue their underwater adventure by traveling deep underwater on the Dinosaur Train to view two backwards-bounding brothers named Max and Mitch Michelinoceras.
  • Paulie Pliosaurus: The Pteranodon family wrap up their Dinosaur Train underwater exploration with a visit to a marine reptile called Paulie Pliosaurus, a creature known as the “T. rex of the Ocean.”

As seasoned Dinosaur Train fans, we definitely rate the Under the Sea Special must-see-preschool-TV.

Dinosaur Train Under the Sea DVD

In conjunction with PBS Kids and the Jim Henson Company, Paramount Pictures is releasing the Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs Under the Sea DVD. The 120-minute DVD is $14.99 and includes eight stories – four from the Under the Sea television special and four others – as well as some other fun activities.

Adventures:

  • Elmer Elasmosaurus
  • Carla Cretoxyrhina
  • The Amazing Michelinoceras Brothers
  • Paulie Pliosaurus
  • Elmer Visits the Desert
  • Shiny’s Sea Shells
  • Jess Hesperornis
  • The Old Spinosaurus and the Sea

Special Features:

  • Games
  • Coloring Pages and Dinosaur Reference Guide
  • Parents’ Information

Watch & Shop! Watch the Dinosaur Train Under the Sea television special Friday, August 20 and order Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs Under the Sea for $14.99 (it’s currently on sale for $12.49).

Win! A Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs Under the Sea DVD!

How to Enter: Leave a comment telling me your little one’s (or your favorite) Dinosaur Train character or one you think you enjoy on the special.

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

Giveaway ends September 1. Open to US residents only.

Disclosure: We received a screener DVD to preview the television special; thanks to the PR company for providing a DVD for the giveaway prize. Opinions are my own.

Thursday Giveaway Linky

by Kate on August 18th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaway Linky, Weekly Features

Thanks for stopping by to link up and browse some great blog giveaways. While you’re here make sure to enter The Shopping Mama giveaways, including a couple that end soon.

Bumbo Baby Seat & Tray * pediped Shoes

Make sure you head over to Baby Loving Mama and link up there, too!

Get Organized for Back to School with Smead

by Kate on August 18th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  For Mama, Reviews

If back to school means anything, it’s an influx of papers and the need to get organized. If you’ve seen my house – and my awesomely messy “drawers” – then you know I need some help in the organization department. Smead has been helping people organize and get productive for over a hundred years and continues to create new products.

Smead Stadium File Folder System

The new Smead Stadium File™ is ideal for clearing clutter from your workspace or countertop. You can turn piles into files with this tiered expanding file that lets you see everything at a glance. Use with Smead SuperTab® folders for the ultimate desktop organization solution.

Smead Supertab® File Folders have nearly double the labeling area of standard folders! Larger labels or big printing makes those important files quick and easy to locate.

My Experience

Granted, my children are only in preschool so my paper load is nowhere near the families with multiple kids in grade through high school. So, I’ve set up the system but am waiting to really tackle it and put it to its full potential until we are planning and organizing our move from Florida to Ohio – and then when I’m in charge of all the paperwork when my husband is deployed.

For me, the best part about the Stadium File is its size. It essentially acts as a file cabinet in a fraction of the size (12 1/4 inches wide and 13 5/8 inches tall). The Stadium File is wide enough to easily hold the Supertab File Folders which means they don’t rub or tug and pull when you put them in and take them out. I also really like that it’s at varying levels (hence the name “stadium) so you can see 36 file tabs at a glance rather than having to flip through to find what you’re looking for.

I am years removed from my daily office interaction with file folders, but even I recognize that the SuperTab File Folders are different. The tab and area to label is noticeably larger than comparable file folders so you can really label with the information you need. Or, you can label in larger letters to help kids read and identify their papers. The extra size seems to be achieved by a taller tab, which is perfect for use with the Stadium File that doesn’t have a top.

Organizing Ideas from Smead

Smead has a wealth of information on Smead Organomics – a site with information to help you get organized including great articles, checklists, calculators,and the ability to login/save your favorite content as well as an organizing solution generator. It has content for organizing at home and at work. These topics are particularly useful for back to school organizing:

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… I love the idea of setting up the Stadium File as a family organizing center as you can easily place it up against the refrigerator or to the side on a desk and organize a bunch of paperwork in a small space. The products are very well constructed and definitely functional and useful.

Or Not to Buy… The Smead products feel a bit old fashioned and stuffy-office-worthy because of the traditional colors. I’d love to see some fun patterns or bright and bold colors for real family and mom appeal.

Connect! Keep up with Smead on Facebook and Twitter.

Shop! Smead products are available at Office Max. You can also find the Smead Stadium File on Amazon for $18.99 and the Supertab Folders for $11.99 (manila) and $17.99 (colored). Check out more Smead organizing products for back to school organizing at Amazon.

Disclosure: Thanks to Smead for providing the sample products for this review. In addition, I am receiving a small gift card to compensate me for my time. Others may have a different opinion.

Wordless Wednesday: Wedding Wonders

by Kate on August 17th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Weekly Features, Wordless Wednesday

We planned our current trip around the wedding of my lifelong family friend. It was a beautiful wedding. Unfortunately, the kids did NOT cooperate during the ceremony so I didn’t get to enjoy that. But, they partied it up at the reception. My son was completely infatuated with the bride and kept asking to dance with the “person in the white dress.” (Can you blame him? She was absolutely stunning!)

My kids chilling out with their cousin at the reception.

And then the dancing really started… and didn’t stop. My daughter was a dancing fool and had everyone in hysterical laughter. I’m not sure if it was her, um, interesting moves or her fabulous outfit that earned her the nickname “Little Gladiator Girl“.

Back to School iPhone Apps

by Kate on August 17th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Blogging

Big thanks to Jessica AKA That Tech Chick for this guest post.

It is that time of the year again when getting ready for the kids going to back to school consumes our every day and almost every thought. Don’t forget your iPhone or iPod can come in handy when looking for certain tools to use for school tasks. There are all types of apps available. Let me showcase 3 iPhone apps that can help with those back to school tasks and assignments.

Dictionary & Thesaurus

Wordbook English Dictionary and Thesaurus is a very in-depth dictionary and thesaurus reference app right on your iPhone or iPod touch. You can even see words of the day to help build your vocabulary or just utilize the app to complete your homework and write your papers. This app is available in the iTunes store for only $1.99 and it is well worth the purchase.

Make Your Own Flashcards

iFlipr Flashcards is a create your own flashcards app. Come up with your questions, upload them to your account, study from your iPhone, iPad touch, or iPad to study from anywhere anytime. Upload your kids spelling words to study in the car while running errands. The iFlipr Flashcard app is available in the Apple app store for jut $4.99.

Kid’s Calculator

Kid’s Calculator is a cool educational math game designed for children under y who are beginning to learn basic math principles. They add and subtract kid friendly animal images and hear cool sounds sounds. Kid’s Calculator will help reinforce your child’s counting skills while teaching him or her basic addition skills in a visual and intuitive way. This app is also available in the Apple app store for only $.99.

About Jessica: Among many things, Jessica is a mom that is addicted to all things technology. She is an internet junkie, gadget geek, iPhone totting, girly girl. She even has geeky kids. You won’t see her without my iPhone. Her goal is to help others with her knowledge of the apps I find and technology tips. She shares this information through her blog That Tech Chick. She also provides custom blog designs through her site iDesign.

Go Green At Lunch with Bebeloosh Mini Review + Giveaway

by Amy on August 17th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  For Mama, Giveaways, Reviews, Ten Dollar Tuesday, Weekly Features

Bebeloosh Mini reusable snack bags and lunch totes are a fun way for kids to go green at lunch and have fun doing it. Not only are they better for the environment than using plastic baggies, but you’ll save money using these in place of baggies, containers, and brown bags.

Construction of the Bags and Totes

Each Bebeloosh Mini bag and tote is constructed using 55% recycled hemp and 45% organic unbleached cotton and is beautifully decorated. The mix of hemp gives the sack enhanced durability and wearability. It features a velcro enclosure to keep small pieces inside. Finished size is approx. 7.5″x7.5″ for snack bags, and the totes are 8.5″ wide x 9″ tall.

Reusable Snack Bag Review

We received the adorable Blue Bird snack bag for review. There are two features that this bag possesses that set it apart from other handmade snack bags: Its generous size, and the outstanding quality of fabric of which it’s constructed. This bag easily fits a sandwich, but more importantly it fits lots and lots of crunchy snacks, even four medium-sized apples!

The design of the bag is clean and simple, featuring a single beautiful blue bird on the front. My older daughter was delighted to see the snack bag in her lunch on her first day at camp, and apparently her friends were, too. Any child would love to carry the Bebeloosh Mini lunch tote along with a coordinating snack bag!  Bebeloosh Mini offers all sorts of designs for both boys and girls from dinosaurs to butterflies, as well as plain snack bags and totes.


My experience with other handmade bags has been that they tend to unravel after weeks of washing, but the Bebeloosh Mini is still going strong after a full month of use. The velcro closure in still intact, and the overall construction of the bag is exactly as it was on day one. Our family could use about 5 of the Bebeloosh Mini snack bags to keep in rotation for school, days at the park, or to throw in my bag for an afternoon snack on-the-go.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… Each bag is organic, well-constructed, and the designs are completely adorable. A set of 5 would be perfect for back to school – you can’t go wrong with these!

Or Not to Buy… The designs at Bebeloosh Mini are simply beautiful, but I’m a sucker for anything personalized. I would love to have a few of these with my girls’ names on them.

Shop! The Bebeloosh Mini snack bags are affordably priced at $6.99 each, or save some dough and buy 3 for $19.50 or 5 for $30. The totes are $15.99.

Win! Your Choice of THREE Mix & Match Reusable Snack Bags by Bebeloosh Mini!

How to enter: Visit Bebeloosh Mini and tell us which three snack bag designs you would choose if you won.

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

Giveaway ends August 31 and is open to US mailing addresses only.

Disclosure: Thanks to Bebeloosh Mini for providing a sample product for the purpose of this review and the giveaway prize. Opinions here are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product.

Put Skin FIRST and Balance Exposure to the Sun (And Win a Goody Bag!)

by Kate on August 16th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaways

The focus of this month’s Eucerin SkinFirst Ambassador post is about balancing your exposure to the sun as a way of promoting overall health while protecting your skin.

Sun stroke and sunburn are immediate effects of too much sun, but as moms and grown women, we need to be aware of the cumulative effect of the sun’s damage on our skin. Up to 80 percent of our lifetime sun exposure is reached by the age of 20 – which is a reminder that we must be vigilant about protecting our children’s skin.  But as we get older, we have a naturally decreasing ability to repair the damage caused by sun exposure – meaning we need to take care to protect our skin.  We have to take additional steps to properly maintain our skin as it becomes increasingly easier for it to burn, wrinkle and develop cancers.

A couple weeks ago, I was reminded how serious skin cancer actually is. Coach Bill Cowher’s wife, Kaye, died of skin cancer at the age of 54. Motivated by the fear and reality of her premature death, my friend Greg at Telling Dad had some unusual skin spots checked and learned he has a Melanoma. Thankfully, he caught it early and his prognosis is good. But, honestly, until Greg shared his story and brought attention to Kaye Cowher’s death I was rather ignorant about how deadly skin cancer can be. I incorrectly assumed cancerous spots could be removed and that was that – like it was a surface disease only, rather than something that can actually kill.

Balancing Exposure to the Sun

While basking in the sun can feel replenishing and bring us a sense of both mental and physical renewal, the amount of vitamin D our bodies need on a daily basis can absorbed in just the first 15 minutes of our exposure to the sun. Understanding the factors affecting our skin’s reaction to the sun can help us plan our time in the sun.

  • FACTOR #1 – SUNLIGHT. The strength of sunlight is the main factor for the quantity of UV radiation your skin can be exposed to. Latitude, altitude, time of day, season and cloud coverage can all have a dramatic effect on the sun’s impact on our skin. Even reflected sunlight from windows, pavement, water, snow and sand can raise the risk of overexposure.
  • FACTOR #2 – SKIN COLOR. As skin color is determined by the amount of melanin present in the skin, ethnicity can also play a large role in sun exposure. Often a result of a group’s distance from the equator (and its stronger sunlight), darker skins are more resistant to the effects of sunlight than fairer skins. African-Americans, for example, are 20 times less likely to develop melanoma than those with white skin. Conversely, one study found that African-American women aged 15 to 49 have more than 20 times the risk of vitamin D deficiency than Caucasians. Different skin colors will react to UV rays at different speeds. So one should be mindful of her skin’s susceptibilities when considering her exposure time or adding protection.
  • FACTOR #3 – SUNSCREEN. The strength of sunscreen is determined by its Sun Protection Factor (SPF), a number that measures the amount of UV radiation required to sunburn with the sunscreen on, relative to the amount that would burn skin without it. For example, SPF-15 allows about 1/15 (about 6%) of the UV rays that would penetrate the skin without the sunscreen on. SPF-30 would allow 1/30 (about 3%) and so on.

Renew Our Collective Commitment to Healthy Skin

With the end of summer almost upon us, many of us look for ways to make sure the sense of freedom and relaxation we find outdoors stays with us in the coming months.  This makes August an ideal time to look for ways to enrich your whole self, physically and mentally.

Eucerin wants to help you do that.  The first step is to take the Skin FIRST pledge. Even if you’ve already taken it, you can do it again and enlist your friends in the Skin FIRST movement by having them take the pledge with you through our new Facebook application.  Visit http://facbeook.com/eucerinus today and take the pledge to put the health of your skin FIRST.

Shop! Make skin health part of your daily routine. You can find a wide selection of affordable Eucerin products, including Eucerin Everyday Protection Lotion in SPF 15 and 30 at many local retailers.

Win! Eucerin Gift Bag including a $50 Sunglass Hut gift card and Eucerin Everyday Protection Lotion in SPF 15 and 30.

How to Enter: Take the Eucerin Skin FIRST Pledge. (If you’ve already taken it, just leave a comment letting me know.)

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

Giveaway ends August 30 – open to US residents.

Disclosure: Thanks to Eucerin for providing me with a goody bag and one for the giveaway prizes. Others may have a different experience. Opinions are my own.
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