My daughter has been lucky to test a new toy that will no doubt be one of the must-have toys of the holiday season: Let’s Rock Elmo. for a two year old does it get any better that Elmo + music? I didn’t think so.
Meet Let’s Rock Elmo
Dressed in a concert-style tee, Elmo takes the stage singing and making music – and preschoolers can too! Elmo comes with his very own microphone and two instruments – a tambourine and a drum set. Preschoolers can choose which instrument Elmo plays, and he “magically” recognizes which one you give him. Kids can also play along on Elmo’s instruments – they’re perfectly sized for little hands!
Make a Whole Band!
The coolest part about Elmo is that he interacts with Let’s Rock instruments that are sold separately: Guitar, Keyboard and Microphone. When the instruments are turned on the “Elmo” setting, Let’s Rock Elmo identifies the instrument and signs along. In the video sneak peek you can watch my daughter play the ABC’s on the Keyboard while Elmo sings along. And then she switches to the Guitar and rocks out to “Elmo’s World” with Elmo singing.
The recommended age for the toys is 18 months to 4 years and my kids proved that to be true. While my 2 and a half year old daughter cannot get enough, my 4 and a half year old son just isn’t that into them. The great part about having the interactive instruments, though, is that when they both want to play with Elmo, they can. They can each play an instrument, or one can be in charge of prepping Elmo (by pushing his foot, placing the drums or putting the microphone and tambourine in the red monster’s hands) and they both feel involved.
One of our favorite online boutiques is stocked and ready to celebrate fall and Halloween with personalized clothes for kids. The Funky Bee has the cutest collection of embroidered tees, smocked dresses and festive outfits to have fun with the season. Check out some of our favorites and read on for an exclusive discount code with proceeds going to a great cause!
Trust us when we say there is a lot more where that cuteness came from. For the best of the season, check out the Holiday Preorders and Holidays sections on The Funky Bee!
Shop! We are honored to partner with The Funky Bee to offer you an exclusive discount. Use code MAMA for 20% off your order and a portion of all purchases will go towards my Light the Night Walk to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Shopping with a steep discount for a cause? That, my friends, is winning. Shop now because the discount expires Wednesday at midnight.
I have a slight obsession with finding THE perfect stroller. Is it too much to ask that a stroller be able to be used from infancy until…whenever it is that kids don’t need strollers anymore, be lightweight and compact, handle rough sidewalks with ease, and look really, really nice while doing it all? The Bumbleride Flight Movement Edition certainly doesn’t seem to think so, but could it live up to it’s rep of lightweight do-it-all stroller? I was very excited to try it out, once Jack figured out how to put it together, of course.
Assembly
Out of the box this stroller is nearly ready to go. The above photo shows the included parts and it is a matter of minutes to snap on the wheels and attach the canopy, even with a helpful 18 month old. Once together, little man loved how easy it is to get into the stroller. More than once I’ve found him sitting in it waiting to go for a stroll. The shot below shows the stroller with the canopy attached, but unzipped from the seat. This option gives you maximum air flow with good sun coverage. Quickly zip the canopy to the seat for even better sun coverage and protection from the elements when it cools down.
Maneuverability and Handling
The stroller is incredibly easy to maneuver, in part because it’s only 19 inches wide and 13 pounds. The four caster wheels have independent suspension and turn easily and smoothly. Unlike strollers with similar looking tires, the Flite’s rubber like wheels provide a smooth ride over rough surfaces. This isn’t a stroller to take on a mountain biking trail or the deep sand, but it can easily handle grass, uneven sidewalks, etc. My neighborhood has crazy rough sidewalks and several places where I have to wheel across grass and the Flite had no problem with any of it.
Check out little man wheeling the mostly assembled stroller (it’s still missing the sun shade) around the house. He’s pushed around every stroller we own and this is the only one that doesn’t end up wedged against something while baby screams in frustration.
Specs
Ht: 39.5″
Wt: 13 pounds
Width: 19″
Reclined length: 32″
Folded length: 41.5″
Folded height: 9″
Folding
The Flite is a snap to open and fold, although both moves do require two hands, at least briefly. The fold is a quick 3 step move: (1) pull release handles on each side of the canopy (shown below without canopy installed) (2) kick up back wheel brace (Yes, you can do it barefoot or in sandals. I hate when it hurts to collapse strollers because I’m in sandals and I’m always in sandals.) and push up middle handlebar brace and (3) fold in half. The stroller locks itself in a closed position and has an easy to access handle for carrying. Opening is even easier. Pull on those same release handles and unfold. A quick nudge to lock the wheel brace or handle bar brace may be needed, depending on how enthusiastically you unfold the stroller. I tend to encourage everything into place with a quick shake.
Features and Accessories
The Flite is so jammed packed with great features it’s hard to be sure to include them all. Some of my favorites are the:
SPF 45 Sun Canopy with UV blocking mesh viewing window. Very important in our sunny state.
Infinite position sliding recline that goes flat enough for infants.
Adjustable leg rest with easy to adjust firm support.
The fabric is so beautiful and I love the red-orange accent. I feel like I’m showing it off every time I take it out.
The Optional Snack Tray and Included Infant Car Seat Adapter (shown with Peg Perego car seat) are great too. They are very easy to install. The only downside is you have to remove them before folding due to the Flite’s extremely compact fold. The snack tray is the most accessible tray we’ve used and is nice and deep for holding everything from a favorite toy to finger foods.
To Buy or Not to Buy
To Buy… The Flite could easily be your only stroller. Nearly every imaginable need for a stroller (short of jogging) is met by the Flite, plus it is incredibly light and portable. It doesn’t hurt that it is the best looking stroller in its class (in my opinion).
Or Not to Buy… My only complaint with this stroller is the small basket size and the fact that the basket can really only be reached from the front of the stroller. Fortunately it is sturdy enough to hand a diaper bag off the back when baby is sitting in the stroller. On quick trips to the grocery store I hang a reusable grocery bag from the handlebars and fill it as I shop. Ingenious, I know.
Shop! The Bumbleride Flite Movement Edition in Fog is $259.99 from Bumbleride and local authorized dealers.
Win! A Movement Edition Flite Stroller from Bumbleride.
How to Enter: Visit Bumbleride and leave a comment with your favorite Movement Edition feature and a Flite color(s) they should introduce next.
Earn Extra Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.
Follow Bumbleride AND The Shopping Mama on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave a comment when you share. Win the new Bumbleride Flite Movement Edition Stroller ARV $260 @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/nJRWne
Every season Tea Collection travels to a new destination to find inspiration for their kids clothes collection. For this fall, the team traveled to Mexico and created a colorful line called “Modern Mexico.” Despite the varied scenery, people and culture providing inspiration, there are some things you can expect from Tea Collection every season: high quality and great style.
Modern Mexico – Let’s Go!
We came back home ready to try our own hand at mixing contemporary kitsch with Mexican folk art and layering floral and plaid patterns and textures with embroidery. We took sarape patterns and brought them to life in striped splendor on ponchos and hoodies. The magic of Mexico came back with us in two-tone azul patterns, flower prints and colorful graphics with a Mayan and pop culture spirit. We know you’ll love how it comes to life in our back-to-school clothes.
Fall Pieces for Girls
Tea Collection pieces have become staples in my daughter’s wardrobe season after season. (For some examples, check out all the Tea on the 365 blog.) This fall will be no exception as she received some great dresses and a pair of leggings from the Modern Mexico collection.
A sure bet every season from Tea is the 100% cotton Daily Tea dresses. They are perfect to wear on their own and look fab with leggings in cooler weather. The Androna Yoke Dress ($30) is no exception. The style is super easy to wear and is perfect for school and play. I love the unique neckline on this dress and the detail of the single pocket on the skirt.
My daughter is always moving and needs her clothes to keep up with her. She likes to run everywhere and is as rough and tumble as you can imagine. But, she insists on wearing dresses everyday. I was nervous that the very pretty Flores de Calabaza Dress (eg. $55, on sale for $41) was too dainty to stand her lifestyle. The tie-belt and the notched neckline are sweet details that add to the pretty factor of this stylish dress.
But it held up perfectly well as she cheered on her brother at a soccer game. (Read: ran onto the field, joined the huddles and rolled around on the ground.)
It was a chilly morning so it was perfect paired with the Skinny Pointelle Leggings ($25) in Ochre. Available in five colors, the pointelle detail is just perfection. These are the kind of leggings you buy in several colors.
I was delighted to receive the Dia de Mercado Dress ($55) because it caught my eye the moment I saw it on the Tea Collection website. I just love the silhouette of this dress. It’s one of those that can easily be worn for years – first as a dress and then as a top with jeans or leggings. My daughter wore it for a big family day on the town (i.e. lunch and a children’s museum) and she’s worn it to school. The Pointelle Leggings would also be great with this dress.
To Buy or Not to Buy
To Buy… It’s no secret I adore Tea Collection, but I will continue to sing the praises of the clothes until, well, forever. This fall’s collection is colorful, unique and uber-stylish.
Or Not to Buy… I have to admit the boy’s Modern Mexico collection doesn’t wow me as much as the girl’s. But, there’s still plenty on the site to keep my credit card busy…
I love the look of handmade baby gifts, but I don’t usually have the time (or the skills) to actually make something. I used to work for an incredibly successful business woman who loves to buy baked goods from the local bakery and call them the working woman’s baking. I love that idea. Just because you don’t have the time to make something yourself doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the homemade feel. In that spirit, here’s a collection of homemade feeling baby gifts that are just too adorable. For those with the time or skills, I’ve included links to how-to instructions to make these gifts yourself.
Sew: There are a lot of options for headbands with flowers. This tutorial doesn’t include a knit flower, but easily could if you can find or make a knit flower. How to Make Floral Headbands.
There are many many more incredible homemade baby products on Etsy. Is giving homemade as good as making it yourself? Maybe not, but it’s good enough for me.
While I have no desire or ability to homeschool my children, like every mom, I do work with my children at home to teach them the basic building blocks they need to know. But, I’ll be the first to admit my daughter has gotten the short end of the mom-education-stick. I’m busier now than I was when I was home with only my son, and I’ve worried that I haven’t given my daughter enough one-on-one time. The Teach My learning system is a great way to not only teach my daughter the basics but also to make sure we spend quality time alone together every day.
About Teach My
Teach My, award-winning all-in-one learning kits for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. No need to spend hundreds of dollars going to stores buying individual teaching tools, Teach My learning kits provide everything necessary to teach your baby, toddler and preschooler the basics, all in one kit! Looking for a unique baby shower gift or to teach the alphabet or teach preschoolers to read, Teach My, all-in-one kits- just 20 minutes a day, fun educational, one-on-one time!
Teach My Toddler Review
The Teach My system is available in three sets – Teach My Infant (6 – 18 months), Teach My Toddler (18 months and up) and Teach My Preschooler (3 – 5 years). The Teach My Toddler set includes four subjects: alphabet, colors, numbers and shapes. Each area includes a poster, puzzle (two for alphabet – capital and lower case), book and flash cards. The set is contained in an expandable file-like carrying case with labels so you can keep the pack organized. The system also includes a short but very useful teaching guide for parents with great tips on how to get the most out of the set.
My daughter does not have a very long attention span for anything other than High School Musical 2 (don’t ask), so I wasn’t sure how she would embrace sitting at the table every day to learn with me. But, she was immediately interested in, well, everything. I quickly learned that we should focus on one subject a day (for now), which means I should take out the corresponding poster, puzzle, book and flash cards and hide the rest of it. The variation in the tasks helps to keep her interest because we can switch from thing to thing all while reinforcing the lesson.
One thing I didn’t expect was that my son would be so interested in the set. He already knows the lessons in the Teach My Toddler set, and it has been adorable to watch him “help” his sister. He loves helping her with the puzzles and doing flash cards with her. It’s really the cutest thing ever.
To Buy or Not to Buy
To Buy… I definitely recommend Teach My Toddler. I worried that my 2.5 year old might be bored with it, but turns out she still has plenty to learn (like letter recognition, letter sounds and more complex shapes). The set is very well organized and thorough. It feels really fool-proof for a non-educator mama like myself.
Or Not to Buy… The Teach My system recommends 20 minutes a day, which can feel like a big commitment to make before you start.
Shop! Each Teach My all-in-one learning system is $49.99.
We received a sample to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own.
byKateonSeptember 15th, 2011 | 5 Comments | Giveaway Linky
Happy Thursday! Thanks for stopping by to link up and browse some great giveaways. We have some great giveaways associated with our Baby Shopping Guide, including these:
Lets be honest, we all secretly want to give the gift that gets all the “oohs” and “ahhs” at the shower. The problem is, we are moms now and we know what mama really needs is a gallon of diaper cream and a lifetime supply of wipes. So we pick out our practical, but maybe less than exciting gift and content ourselves with the comments of the other veteran moms who nod their heads sagely and say things like, “Oh yes, trust me you have no idea how much you’ll value that economy sized tube of hemroid cream.” Or maybe you’ve just had your third child and as much as you would like to buy that $400 designer burp cloth your best friend registered for, it’s just not going to happen. Not to worry, we’ve put together a collection of inexpensive shower gifts that get noticed. Whether they are the icing on the top of a pricey, but worth it, gift, or something to pair with a few onesies or washcloths to keep you on budget, these gifts are sure to get the shower a buzzing.
Smart Mom Teething Pendants and other teething jewelry are stylish enough to wear as normal jewelry, yet made from soft, baby safe material perfect for little ones who want to put everything and anything in their mouths. These pendants are available in a variety of colors and patterns and can be found at AAFES military mamas. Shop! Teething Bling.
Puting shoes on a baby is just not fun and seldom worth it for the few seconds baby keeps them on. Plus it’s best for baby’s foot developement to not wear shoes until they are needed for walking on rough surfaces. Enter Trumpette Shoe Socks. They look like shoes, but are actually adorably printed socks. They come in a variety of styles for boys and girls that are sure to coordinate with any outfit. Shop! Trumpette Shoe Socks.
I have this drying rack and I just think it’s so much fun. It’s all cool and earthy and modern looking (can you be earthy and modern?) but also really practical. It keeps bottle nipples and other small, but important, baby objects clean while they dry and looks cool sitting on the counter. Shop! Boon Drying Rack.
Okay, okay, snot sucking isn’t glamorous, but the innovative NoseFrida Snotsucker is sure to get everyone talking. This product lets you get all the goo out of baby’s nose using a unique source of suction, you. How many times have you been frustrated with those hospital style squeeze bulbs that run out of suction before baby’s nose is clear and you have to pull it out, blow out the air (and snot) and convince baby to let you stick it back in her nose? Not an issue with NoseFida. And don’t worry, it has a filter so you don’t accidentally find yourself sucking in snot. Shop! NoseFrida Snotsucker.
Sophie is incredibly popular so if you’ve been in the baby world for more than a few seconds you’ve probably seen her around. She’s a great, all natural teether that nearly every baby loves and she looks great wrapped up as a baby shower gift. Even if your friend has heard of Sophie, chances are she doesn’t have one yet and everyone at the shower will enjoy checking her out and seeing if they should get one for their next baby. Shop! Sophie the Giraffe.
Clearly this is NOT a gift for everyone or every occasion. (Please do not bring it to Grandma’s high tea shower at the country club.) But it sure will get the party twittering. If you know the right person or the right occasion (couple’s shower?), this book is a hilarious look at real life bedtime. In case you were worried, you don’t read it to children, it’s just for mama and dada. Shop! Go the F to Sleep.
I’ll be on the lookout for new inexpensive and unique baby gifts at the ABC Kids Expo and will be sure to share what I find.
Happy linking!
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