Bedtime for a Whole New Generation of Sandra Boynton Fans {Giveaway}

by Kate on April 12th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaways, Reviews, Ten Dollar Tuesday

One of our favorite authors, Sandra Boynton, has teamed up with Loud Crow Interactive to form Boynton Moo Media. Boynton Moo Media is bringing Boynton’s stories to the iPad, iPhone, and iTouch with even more magic than in the originals. We had a chance to review their first offering, an interactive version of The Going to Bed Book, and I love it. My guy likes it too and I think he will like it even more as he gets older and stops pressing the “home” button constantly and starts learning to read.

The app has the option to have the big guy read it (British Rocker Billy J. Kramer) or “I want to read it myself.” The narrated version highlights each word as it is read so your child can read along. Both versions allow your child to tap the word to have it pronounced (Jack thought this was fun to do over and over and over).

Each page also has fun interactive features like taps that turn, clothes that can be scattered around the room, and even steam that clouds up the screen and has to be wiped off. You can see more at The Going To Bed Book YouTube Video or better yet, just download the app and start playing.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… This app is a lot of fun and if you like Sandra Boynton, you will not be disappointed.

Or Not to Buy…. the only reason I can think not to buy this app is if you don’t have an iThingy of some kind. (And really, why don’t your yet?)

Shop! The Going to Bed Book application is available for purchase in Apple’s App Store for $1.99 for iPhone/iTouch, and $2.99 for the iPad.

Win! A Copy of The Going to Bed Book Apple App!

How to Enter: Just tell us your favorite Sandra Boynton book (if you can pick just one, ours is Pajama Time or this new app) and you are entered to win!

Giveaway ends April 15.

Thanks to Boynton Moo Media for the sample app and giveaway prizes. As always, opinions are my own.

Partum Me?! His nest is finally ready!

by Laura on April 12th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Partum Me

Follow up to last week:  my high risk doc and my OB sat me down this week and explained the risk factors we were facing with a natural birth.  They suggested a scheduled c-section in the 39th week, but said the decision was up to us.  After a long talk, my husband and I decided to err on the side of caution and schedule the procedure, with the hope that he might come early.  The bad news is that it’s not really the way we wanted this to happen but the good news is that my next entry will probably be an introduction of our new son!

Knowing that we only have a week to go has made completing our pre-baby to-do list a little more urgent.  The hospital bag is packed, the house is clean (well, almost), and the biggest task on our list has finally been done: the nursery is ready!  It was really just a matter of hanging some things up on the wall, adding a few final touches, and getting all the tiny clothes washed and put away.  There’s more artwork to come, but here it is, in all its glory.

Crib and dresser are both IKEA.

I hadn’t originally wanted a theme for this room, other than “modern” and “bright,” but as we collected artwork for the room, I liked the idea of calling it “Little Boy in the City.”  All three of our favorite American cities are represented in the artwork we have so far, and I hope to add some pieces from our extensive screen-printed music poster collection to round things out.

The top picture is a shout out to NYC done on plywood, by Petit Collage, and the bottom piece is the Philly skyline by inktheprint on Etsy.

Just the other day, I found this last piece, a gigantic image of the Chicago skyline, in IKEA. My husband went to college there and we both love Chitown!

To save space in a small room, we made the top of the dresser into the changing table.  Hanging above it is the one baby-themed item we hung on the wall.  It was a gift that serves as a good distraction for babies who don’t enjoy being on the changing pad.  Each letter is a pocket that contains a little stuffed representation of something that begins with that letter.  Many of the items are very clever and I liked the simplicity of it.

His coming home outfit was laid out, here, and is now packed in the hospital bag!

The owl poking out of the "O" pocket is my favorite!

The piece de resistance of the nursery is my mother’s newly reupholstered reading chair.  She passed away when I was in college and it was important to me to have a piece of her in our son’s room.  This chair was taking up space in another room and the upholstery was in horrible condition.  We found out the frame and cushions were in need of repair, too.  So after a grand facelift, it fits perfectly into the space and aptly sits below the cross stitch sampler that my great great great grandmother made 178 years ago.  The fabric is Ikea on top of a layer of thick muslin.  We loved the animal-themed-but-still-modern print as well as the fact that the imagery represents the wildlife found around my family’s large lakehouse property in New Jersey, where our boy will spend alot of summer weekends with his cousins.

A close-up on the fabric print.

The Best Reason to Go to the Gym: LUG Cartwheel Fitness Bag Review + Giveaway

by Kate on April 12th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  For Mama, Giveaways, Reviews, Spring Into Spring

These days I’m so unmotivated to go to the gym that I need everything to be easy – one little hiccup or annoyance and I use that as my excuse to skip the workout. (I know, I know… I had such high hopes for getting in shape while my husband is gone but it’s… floundered.) In any case, the LUG Cartwheel Fitness Bag makes packing and going to the gym SUPER easy. The bag is unbelievably smart. The folks of LUG have literally thought of everything to make going to and from the gym seamless.

Cartwheel Fitness / Overnight Bag Features

  • Unique front patch for storing your yoga mat
  • Special ring holder inside the side pocket
  • Hidden exterior bottle holder
  • Two big cargo pockets and lots more little ones
  • Zipped pockets and soft-lined ones for gadgets
  • Removable key fob
  • Luggage strap
  • Light weight
  • Material specially treated with water-repellent finish
  • Ventilated compartment
  • Clear-coated bottom for easy cleaning?

The Perfect Yoga Bag

The Cartwheel Bag is full of tricks. When I started exploring the bag, I encountered bells and whistles unlike any I’d ever seen before. That little button strap inside the side pocket? It’s a ring holder, of course. The zippered pocket on the front that is separate from the rest of the bag? That’s for your dirty shoes. The water bottle holder that collapses and magnets shut when not is use? Separate bag for dirty clothes? And, the front pouch for storing a yoga mat? Yes, yes and yes.

The bag is made from water repellent material, and has a clear-coated bottom and knobs to keep it raised off the surface of the ground a bit. Even with all the pockets and fancy material the bag is still VERY lightweight even stuffed with all my gear. The Cartwheel measures 18 inches by 13.5 inches  by 6.5 inches, which means it’s plenty big for shoes, two changes of clothes, your wallet and all the must haves like your phone and keys that you would normally carry in a purse.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… This is my first exposure to LUG products, but it won’t be my last. I am very impressed with the thoughtful details and functionality, quality and the appearance, too. In spite of all the storage, the Cartwheel bag is still great looking and sleek – not bulky at all. For a big night sans kids, the Cartwheel bag is also a great overnight bag. (Which reminds me, I should probably go somewhere for a night to test this function…)

Or Not to Buy… The price is the only deterrent, but when you consider it’s something you’ll use four times a week (at least that’s MY gym goal!), it’s a good investment.

Shop! The LUG Cartwheel Fitness/Overnight Bag is available in nine solid colors for $95. LUG has a great selection of bags including laptop cases, totes and products for moms, kids and family. Make sure you read the LUG review (and giveaway) at Baby Loving Mama – she checked out the Gondola Tote, Double Back Flip Wallet and Cargo Packing Squares.

Win! A LUG Cartwheel Fitness/Overnight Bag!

How to Enter: Visit LUG and leave a comment with another product that catches your eye.

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

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Giveaway ends April 26. Open to US & Canadian mailing addresses.

Thanks to LUG for providing a sample and the giveaway prize. As always, opinions are my own.

Oeuf Introduces a Bunk Bed! Meet Perch.

by Kate on April 11th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Shopping

I’ve shopped around for bunk beds a bit and I can tell you one thing I noticed: they all look the same. Until now. Oeuf has put its unique minimalist modern style and created the ultimate bunk bed for urban families.

Meet the Oeuf Perch Bunk Bed

Elegant and striking, the new Perch bunk bed is the perfect centerpiece for any child’s bedroom. Oeuf’s designers created the Perch bunk with the needs of children firmly at the forefront of their minds. The bunk has a compact footprint to leave as much space as possible for play (or other furniture). Both beds are also lower than many other beds on the market, making them more accessible and safer. In addition, the ladder to the top bunk is angled for easier and safer climbing.

Versatile Bunk Bed

Perch can be used as a standard twin over twin bunk bed, and it can also be separated into a loft and twin bed.

The Perch bunk bed is constructed with a lower frame than conventional bunk beds – perfect for small urban apartments and also a bonus safety feature. It has solid frames on the top bunk and optional guard rail for the lower bunk will be available this summer. Like all Oeuf products, the bunk bed is made with eco-friendly standards. It’s made from Baltic birch plywood and FSC certified eco-MDF and finished with non-toxic, non-VOC materials.

Shop! The Oeuf Perch Bunk Bed is available in White / Birch or White / Walnut finish. And, get this, it’s priced at $1,490 – an amazing price point for the Oeuf quality, reputation and style.

The ride of your life. A Day in the Life of a Bumbleride Family Video

by Kate on April 11th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Life

The Shopping Mama loves Bumbleride and we’re excited to share with you this brand new lifestyle video from the stroller company called “The ride of your life.”

The video is a short work of beauty. It’s just lovely to watch, so take a moment and click over see it for yourself. But, consider yourself warned. If you don’t already covet a Bumbleride stroller, you certainly will after watching.

Want more information on Bumbleride? Check out our Indie Twin Review and Flite Stroller & Bassinet Review. And, make sure you subscribe to The Shopping Mama so you don’t miss our upcoming Flite Movement Edition review and giveaway.

Step2 Fun Farm Sand & Water Table Review + Giveaway

by Kate on April 11th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaways, Reviews, Reviews, Spring Into Spring, Toddler

You know that feeling you get when the kids are too quiet? I had that feeling two mornings ago while brushing my teeth. I have an electric toothbrush that times your brushing. I know I was not in the bathroom for more than three minutes. However, when I emerged I found preschool girl had fully opened the Step2 Sand & Water Fun Farm provided to The Shopping Mama for review. She and toddler boy were in full-on discovery mode.

You see, I had not opened the box because a sand and water table is an outdoor toy, right? Our weather has been unpredictable this past week and rain was forecasted – again. With their early morning rampage, it looked like I was going to assemble the table right then, no matter the weather outside.

Exploring the Fun Farm Table

To say that the kids enjoyed the Fun Farm as an indoor toy is an understatement. After the very easy assembly process, the kids played at the table and with the accessory toys for more than an hour. Obviously, I was beyond grateful for the solid hour entertainment the table provided.

The Step 2 Sand & Water Fun Farm is brand new for spring 2011 and comes equipped with:

  • a raised table with two basins for both sand and water (or pasta, rice, beans, etc for continued indoor play)
  • a tractor and two detachable carts for play on the table “tracks”
  • moveable barn that acts as a tunnel for the tractor
  • shovel/rake combination tool, farm animals and funnel for pouring fun

With the arrival of nicer weather, we moved the table outside and filled it. No surprise, the kids love it even more filled with water and sand. Toddler boy splashed and had fun while I worked with a malfunctioning camera. When I figured out my camera woes, he was busy concentrating on the tractor, farmer and animal accessories provided.

Clean Up (i.e. Mom’s Concern)

As it should be, the table was a mess at the end our outside play today. When assembling the table, I noticed neither side of the table had a drain or plug for easy cleaning and, although the basins are small, this feature would make maintenance and cleaning much easier. In order to clean the table, you have to scoop the water out of the basin. If you were turn the table on its side, you would lose the sand as well.

Tonight, the weather has turned again. Severe thunderstorms hit tonight, reminding me of another important feature missing from the Fun Farm – a cover. Because the table does not come with a cover, I had to find a covered storage area for the table so that it wouldn’t completely fill with water on both sides, again compromising the sand supply. And if you have neighborhood cats, rain is not the only threat to uncovered sand.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… With the arrival of summer, our thoughts turn to the beach. The Step 2 Sand & Water Fun Farm brings the beach to your home. Kids love the combination of materials and will be entertained for long periods. The farm theme is adorable and the accessory toys are fun for little hands both on and off the table. The table is designed to hold an accessory umbrella (sold separately) to shade sensitive skin during afternoon play. The table is made of recyclable plastic for responsible disposal.

Not to Buy… With the absence of a drain plug for water cleanup and a cover for storage, there is extra maintenance for mom and dad.

Shop! The Step2 Sand & Water Fun Farm retails for $59.99, but is available for a limited time at a 15% discount at the official Step 2  or on Amazon.com for $49.99.

Win! A Step2 Fun Farm Sand & Water Table!

How to Enter: Visit Step2 and check out the new products for spring 2011. Leave a comment with another product you’d enjoy this spring.

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

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Giveaway ends April 25. Open to US mailing addresses only.

We received a sample to facilitate this review. Thanks to Step2 for providing the giveaway prize.

Win a Life-Size Pony! National Geographic Baby Animals POP! Book

by Kate on April 10th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaways, Reviews

When a pop-up book promises you life-size images of animals, you assume it will feature pictures of kittens, mice and turtles. Not the National Geographic Little kids: Baby Animal POP! It delivers life-size images of five animals including a baby lamb and pony. Impressive!

After each amazingly clear, colorful pop-up image, another full-size spread features additional photos and information about each animal. As you would expect from National Geographic, descriptions are very thorough and cover a variety of topics including diet, anatomy, interesting facts and much more. With the combination of vibrant pop-up images and interesting facts, this book appealed to both my toddler boy and preschool girl, proving it’s a book that can grow with your child. With their three-year-gap in ages, it is rare to find a book that appeals to both of them, but this one does.

Toddler boy was a little perplexed by the “larger-than-life” images before him. Little does he know, they’re not larger-than-life, they’re life-size.

Toddler boy was excited by each of the large images and we spent a great deal of time together working on animal names and sounds.

Preschool girl was also excited by the large pop-up images, unlike any other book in our home library, but we spent most of our time discovering the tremendous amount of information provided for each animal. In true National Geographic fashion, this book features information to educate and entertain children (and moms!) in a wide range of ages. Preschool girl’s favorite part was learning about rabbits. I’m pretty sure she’s stockpiling information for “pet negotiations” in the very near future. My favorite was learning about famous sheep (there are more than you would think, even in recent history).

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… National Geographic Little kids: Baby Animal POP! is an eye-catching, interactive book that will entertain children through a variety of age ranges. Unlike some pop-ups, its pages and construction are solid and stand up to toddler excitement. This book, and the animals featured, is perfect for Easter baskets…well, large Easter baskets. This book has been a hit in our household and is very reasonably priced.

Or Not to Buy… I don’t have a “not to buy,” rather a “CAUTION: You cannot read this with your child in your lap. It is a truly interactive book and the very large pop-ups require floor space.” For us, that is a wonderful thing.

Shop! Baby Animal POP! is available at the National Geographic Store for $14.95. Right now, save 20% when you buy 3 or more kids’ books. It is also available on Amazon.com for $10.76 and is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping.

WIN! National Geographic Little Kids: Baby Animal POP! AND an Easter basket full of goodies to accompany it!

Prize details: The giveaway includes a copy of the book, an Easter container, an adorable stuffed bunny holding her baby, Easter eggs and jelly beans. The estimated value of the basket is $30.

How to Enter: Tell us a child (or adult!) who will enjoy reading Baby Animal POP!

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

Giveaway ends April 15. Open to US residents only.

We receive a sample book to facilitate this review.

Cranes for Kids & {Heart} Japan FREE Party Printables

by Kate on April 10th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Blogging, Party Planning

When I preparing the Cranes for Kids Origami Play Date I searched for printables to match the bright rainbow colors of the origami paper and paper goods. (See the tablescape and Target Spritz party in the original party post here.) I found the super cute Free Rainbow Party Printables from PaperGlitter and knew they were perfect. Only problem? They were birthday theme. Linnette at PaperGlitter was more than gracious in my request to alter the files to suit our Origami / {Heart} Japan Theme.

The complete collection of printables includes Invitations (& Envelopes), Party Circles, Cupcake Wrappers, Water Bottle Labels, Paper Hats, Mini Bunting, and Favor Bag Toppers! (Read on to download your own!)

There’s another version of the invitation if your party is for adults. Why should kids have all the paper folding fun? Throw the water bottle wrappers around some sake and Sapporo beer bottles and get your origami on.

The party circles have three designs – {heart} Japan, a cloud and Cranes for Kids.

Water bottle label, napkin ring, Sake bottle label.

The most adorable mini paper bunting ever. And “Thank you for coming” favor bag toppers.

Ready to have some fun and do some good at the same time? Thanks to PaperGlitter we have all the party printables you need for FREE.

Click on the name of the file you want to download, print it on white cardstock, cut and you’re good to go! (No, seriously. If I can do it, anyone can do it.)

Cranes for Kids Play Date Invitation

{Heart} Japan Get Together Invitation

Envelopes

Mini Flag Bunting

Set of 3 Party Circles

Water Bottle Wrappers

Cupcake Wrappers

Party Favor Bag Toppers

Party Hat

Thanks again to the amazing Linnette at PaperGlitter for preparing these party goodies – and with very short notice. Make sure you check out PaperGlitter on Etsy, Facebook, and Twitter. And, you’ll want to follow the PaperGlitter blog for more FREE printables like these.

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