The Shopping Mama

Cards Stand Out with PictureItPostage Stamps (+ Discount Code)

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

PictureItPostage is an easy way to add a little personality and pizzazz to your family’s holiday cards or make your small business’s holiday mailing stand out from the crowd. As a USPS licensed vendor, PictureItPostage is a very easy and affordable way to make your envelopes a step above the rest.

The process is super simple:

Upload a Photo or Image
Edit the Design
Checkout – (a step improved only by a discount code! – see below)

The Shopping Mama Stamps

I decided to make postage stamps to use for blog holiday cards. Obviously, then, I needed to use my favorite “shopping lady” image. The stamps were designed and created in about two minutes. The website is so easy to use, easy my mom could do it. (Sorry, mom.) You can create portrait or landscape oriented stamps based on the photo you’re using. You can move the photo around and zoom to create just the look you want. My favorite feature is that you can click on your image to get a perfect match for the “background color” – that part across the top with the US Postage information.

My stamps arrived and they are perfect! Just what I expected based on the image I created online. I think our favorite shopping lady will get people’s attention and ensure that my holiday cards are opened!

The stamps turned out so well, that I think I might take advantage of the exclusive discount code and order some stamps to use on my family’s holiday cards. It’s so cute, right?

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy…The stamps are awesome and will honestly make your cards stand out. I know that I, for one, have noticed personalized stamps on mail I’ve received so I look forward to using that attention-grabbing technique on holiday cards I send for The Shopping Mama this year.

Or Not to Buy… Now, obviously you’re paying a premium to send your mail with PictureItPostage over standard USPS stamps. It’s more expensive so you need to decide if it’s worth it to you and your business.

Shop! A pack of 20 standard 44 cent stamps from PictureItPostage is $18.95. Enter the code MOTHERHOOD to save $4.00 on your order from PictureItPostage. Yay! Code expires January 31.

For more ideas on how to make your small business stand out this holiday season, check out the text TALK conversation on TheMotherhood.com featuring Barbara Cocoran.

This post is part a sponsored program with PictureItPostage facilitated by TheMotherhood.com.

Send the Best: Holiday Cards from SanLori Review + Giveaway

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

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s definitely time to think about holiday cards. As much as I rely on email day to day and recognize the environmental benefits of sending e-cards, there is just something wonderful about sending beautiful paper cards to celebrate the holidays. SanLori has a wonderful collection of holiday photo cards that will actually do your adorable family photo justice.

Send The Best

I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing SanLori paper products before and was thrilled to have the opportunity to personalize photo cards for the holidays. By far, the hardest part of this process was deciding which cards to send! I swear I spent three nights with a gazillion tabs open in my internet browser, a different card on every tab, flipping back and forth between them, trying to narrow down to my very favorite card. But, picking just the right card is important to me. Truthfully, the holiday card is the only mail I send to lots of friends and family all year long so the card has to be a good representation of my style, my family and the holiday sentiment.

Our Holiday Photo Card

After lots of internal debate, I picked the Prep in Time Photo Card with Ribbon. I liked the traditional patterns with a modern color palette. I opted for the version of this card that includes printed photos I attach to the card rather than photos digitally printed into the card. I also really liked this card because of the ribbon – adds a lovely touch, I think.

I chose a printed greeting, “Wishing you peace, love and laughter this holiday season” and included our names. My holiday cards arrived safely packed in a lovely SanLori box. The cards, envelopes and ribbon were wrapped separately and there was also adhesive to attach my photos to each card. There was also an assembled sample so I could see how to recreate the cards.

I love the final result! The cards look amazing and I am very pleased to be putting these in the mail to friends and family this holiday season.

But, that’s not all! I also received some coordinating address labels – and they are the perfect way to finish off my beautiful card. I appreciate that it saves me time from having to write our address over and over again, and, of course, that it creates a more finished look to the envelope.

Favorite Holiday Photo Cards

As I mentioned, I had a hard time deciding which cards to send this holiday season. Here are some of the other cards from SanLori that I love.

Motif Red Photo Card

Holiday Swiss Photo Card

Tropical Christmas Photo Card

Addison Photo Card

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… SanLori has a really fun selection of photo holiday cards, with personalization options including printed photo or attaching a photo, blank inside on folded card or printed message. I am very pleased with the quality of the cards – they turned out so, so well. And I can’t wait to hear what my friends and family think of our gorgeous cards.

Or Not to Buy… There’s really no reason not to buy from SanLori unless they don’t have a card you like. Which is kind of crazy because there’s so much to pick from!

Shop! The prices for cards at SanLori vary depending on personalization and printing options, but the Prep in Time Photo Cards in this review start at $15.75 for a set of 10 cards.

Win! 75 Personalized Holiday Photo Cards Professionally Printed from SanLori!

How to Enter: Visit SanLori and leave a comment here with your favorite Holiday Photo Card.

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

Follow SanLori on Twitter
Like SanLori on Facebook
Sign up for the SanLori newsletter
Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do.
Send the perfect holiday card! Win 75 professionally printed holiday photo cards from SanLori @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/dA0eqO
Like The Shopping Mama on Facebook? If you Share or Like this post on your Facebook, leave another comment.

Giveaway ends December 3. Open to US mailing addresses only.

Disclosure: Thanks to SanLori for providing sample products for the purpose of this review and the giveaway prizes. Opinions are my own.

Thursday Giveaway Linky

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

Happy Thursday! Thanks for stopping by to link up and browse giveaways. Hope you take a moment to check out the giveaways on The Shopping Mama before visiting all the great ones listed below.

These giveaways end soon:

Things Remembered Digital Key Chain * $30 to Shoes for Little Feet * Choice of Douglas Plush Toy

Don’t forget to link up your giveaways at Baby Loving Mama today, too. She has some great giveaways, including a gift certificate to Goblin Kids!

30 Days of Toys: Pedal Ride On Car

by Kate on November 18th, 2010 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys

Toy: Wooden Pedal Car Ride On

Buy It For: A classic kid who wants a classic ride. Recommended for ages three years and up.

Why We Like It: This Pedal Car is pure class. Just what every preschooler needs a little more of. Oh, and it can hold up to 110 pounds, which is great, but we’re bummed to be over the suggested weight limit because this looks fun! We love that it runs on kid power, has room for a passenger, rubber tires and a working steering wheel.

Shop! The Pedal Car Ride On Toy is currently $149 at The Land of Nod, marked down from $299. Get it while the getting’s good (and cheaper).

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You can see all the best toys for the holidays by clicking here.

Personalized Holiday Gifts from Olive Kids: Review + Giveaway

by Kate on November 17th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Giveaways, Reviews, Toddler

When you start (or near finish) shopping for kids this holiday season, it’s possible to take the easy way out and head to a big box store and grab big name toys and games. (And don’t get me wrong, that’s how I do some of my holiday shopping), but I also think it’s important to think outside the “big box” and get unique, personalized gifts – for everyone on your shopping list. Olive Kids has a great selection of gear and decor for the little people on your list – at a variety of prices to fit every budget.

About Olive Kids

I LOVE the story behind how Olive Kids came to be, as I can totally relate!

Ten years ago, while we were trying to decorate our daughters room, we discovered there was little, if any, coordinated, affordable kids bedding and room products that were not tied into some TV show or big budget movie. We enjoy these fun movies and characters but didn’t want them to infiltrate the core of our childs room!

So, we created Olive Kids to offer parents like us, and their kids, an affordable alternative to the character based entertainment licenses. Our emphasis is on color and fun, because we believe kids rooms should inspire creativity and play – not be an advertisement for a TV show or movie. Our kids bedding designs and coordinating room decor have a nostalgic quality yet are fresh and relevant. We aim our design at classic kids themes like transportation, pirates, outer space, tea parties, cowboys and more! We also pride ourselves on attention to detail. Our comforters have outline quilting, our shams have embroidery and soft plush, our cotton sheets have attached ribbon details – all this at a price that is affordable!

Olive Kids Duffel Bag

If you’re a mom, you know that taking kids anywhere, whether it’s to a play date, a night at grandma’s or a family vacation, means taking an unholy amount of STUFF. It’s unavoidable. And, since it must be done, you might as well get your little one in on the action with their own duffel bag. The Olive Kids Duffel Bag is just the right size for a weekend away – it can hold enough clothes with a little room for toys and other necessities but is small enough that your child can carry it on their own. The bag has two handles and an optional padded shoulder strap. There’s also an outside zippered pocket.

And, what’s an Olive Kids product without personalization? The Duffel Bag comes with a coordinating personalized name tag.

We have the Trains, Planes and Trucks transportation-theme Duffel Bag, which is bright blue and very colorful – so fun. It also comes in Wild Animals, Cowboy-theme, Mermaids and Space-theme. I do wish there were more girly or gender-neutral options, though the transportation is perfect for my little guy. Now that we live close to family, this will be his overnight bag when he gets to spend the night with grandma!

Holiday Gift Guide

The Olive Kids Holiday Gift Guide has so many great options! Here are a few favorites – from every price range.

Personalized Placemats ($10.99), Little Readers Kits ($24.99), Personalized Growth Charts ($49.99), Bee Lines Framed Prints ($45.99 – $74.99)

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… Olive Kids patterns and designs are bright and colorful and certainly kid-friendly. You can’t go wrong with a personalized present, and they have a lot of great options. The prices are very reasonable for the quality.

Or Not to Buy… I would love to see an expanded collection of designs in products like the Duffel Bag and kids bedding.

Shop! The Duffel Bag featured in this post is $29.50, and is an Olive Kids Holiday Gift Guide Pick. Now is the time to browse the Olive Kids Gift Guide as many of the picks are discounted, included some great gifts featured here!

Win! The Personalized Olive Kids Duffel Bag of Your Choice!

How to Enter: Visit the Olive Kids Gift Guide and leave a comment with another product you’d love to give this season.

Bonus Entries - valid only after completing one form of the required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

Like Olive Kids 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.
Check out the Olive Kids Gift Guide and win a personalized Duffel Bag @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/cB0KU1
“Like” The Shopping Mama on Facebook. Leave an extra comment if you Share or Like this post on your Facebook.
Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or RSS.
Sign up for the new The Shopping Mama Newsletter.

Giveaway ends December 3. Open to US mailing addresses.

Thanks to Olive Kids for providing the giveaway prize and sample product. Olive Kids is a sponsor of The Shopping Mama.

Great Holiday Gift for New Baby: Baby Bunch Giveaway

by Kate on November 17th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Giveaways

Looking for an adorable (and more useful) alternative to flowers for a new parent this holiday season? The Baby Bunch has your gift. As seen on The Martha Stewart Show, The Baby Bunch is “a blossoming selection of infant clothing presented as a bouquet of flowers that makes a unique gift for moms and dads in need of the essentials for baby.”

In addition to the beautiful bouquets, The Baby Bunch also offers cute cupcakes, crayon boxes and more. There are gift options for every price range from $10 and up.

The Winter Bunch

The Winter Bunch makes a great holiday gift and you could win one! The Winter Bunch is a Classic Baby Bunch filled with snowy white garments designed to keep a baby girl or boy toasty and warm. It includes one white bib, one white long sleeve one-piece, one white hat, one pair of white mitts, one white long sleeve romper suit, and two pairs of white socks, all gathered into a festive bouquet of baby clothes.

Shop! The Baby Bunch has many great options for Christmas baby gifts, including the Winter Bunch that is $59.95.

Win! A Winter Bunch ($59.95 value)!

How to Enter: Visit The Baby Bunch and tell us which product is your (other) favorite.

Bonus Entries - valid only after completing one form of the required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

Like The Baby Bunch 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 The Baby Bunch Winter Bunch – a great holiday season baby gift @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/d7o1pn
“Like” The Shopping Mama on Facebook. Leave an extra comment if you Share or Like this post on your Facebook.
Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or RSS.
Sign up for the new The Shopping Mama Newsletter.

Giveaway ends December 1. Open to US mailing addresses.

Disclosure: Thanks to The Baby Bunch for providing the giveaway prize.

30 Days of Toys: Grow a Frog

by Kate on November 17th, 2010 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys

Toy: Grow a Frog

Get It For: The child who is interested in the “how’s” and “why’s”, and loves discovering and exploring nature.

Why We Like It: Quick Disclaimer! This is a real tadpole who will hopefully grow into a real frog! So, not really a “toy” but a great fun gift that will keep giving day after day as you and your mini Bill Nye watch the metamorphosis from tadpole to frog! The coolest part? These little guys are transparent, so you and your child can see the heart beating and the life systems of the frog. Take a moment to read about why Grow A Frog is such a great lesson for you and your family and a cool way to teach so many science lessons. The teacher in me loves this!

Shop! The Original Grow a Frog kit is available on the company website for $19.95. I actually remember doing this as a child, and was really fascinated by it, and recently looked them up to try with my own kids. Even the packaging looks the same as it did over 20 years ago.

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You can see all the best toys for the holidays by clicking here.

Tea Collection – Free Shipping for 3 Days!

by Kate on November 17th, 2010 | 5 Comments | Shopping

Tea Collection is offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders from November 17 through midnight PST November 19. No code required, so get shopping! Here are some of our favorites for the holidays and winter season.