The Shopping Mama

30 Days of Toys: Educo Rise ‘N Shine Coffee Maker

by Monica on November 22nd, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Educo Rise ‘N Shine Coffee Maker

Get It For: Your little helper who loves lending a hand while you are making your morning java. If you’re stocking a play kitchen, check out our suggestions for Play Kitchens in Every Budget.

Why We Like It: I absolutely love my coffee maker which uses K-Cups (you know the one)! Both of my kids love helping me put the K-Cup in the brewer every morning and hearing the brewing sound. When I saw this adorable wood version of the same thing, I just knew it would be a hit in our house! Simply open the lid, drop the coffee pod in like the grown-ups! Play appliance set includes six wood pieces, including coffee maker, mug, milk carton, sugar, spoon, and coffee pod. This Educo kitchen toy is made by Hape International, winner of Dr. Toys Best Green Company. The play set is made of birch plywood, rubberwood, and MDF and finished with non-toxic, water-based paint.

Shop! The Rise ‘N Shine Coffee Maker is available at a variety of retailers, but at a great price on Amazon for less than $25. Find this and many of our top toys for the holidays in The Shopping Mama’s 30 Days of Toys store.

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To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.

2011 Hess Toy Truck and Race Car {Holiday Toy Review}

by Malia on November 22nd, 2011 | 5 Comments | Holiday Toys, Reviews, Toys

Hess Corporation has just launched what I’m going to call THE MUST BUY TOY for little boys or mechanically minded girls for the 2011 Holiday season. The Hess 2011 Toy Truck and Race Car are the new favorite toy(s) in our house and would be the perfect toy to find under the tree this year.

Quality and Fun

This our first year experiencing a Hess product, but they have a long tradition of producing well crafted and innovative toys and the quality of their product is apparent. The truck was subjected to daddy’s poking and prodding and was quickly deemed of “solid construction” with an approving nod (he may have played with the sounds for a while too).

The truck has four-wheel spring suspension and a pull-out ramp that automatically activates a hydraulic sound on raising and lowering. A series of buttons on the truck’s cab activate 3 additional sounds and flashing lights. In the bed of the flat bed trailer rides a race car with its own set of sounds and flashing lights that are activated by pushing the gas cap. The full list of features is below:

Truck:

Pull-out ramp with automatic hydraulic sound
3 additional sound effects activated by cab buttons (ignition, horn and back-up alert sounds)
34 lights with all-on and flashing modes
Flashing light mode activated by cab button, chassis switch and ramp
Four-wheel spring suspension
Chrome-look detailing
2 Energizer^® ‘C’ batteries

Race Car:

Engine sound effect activated by gas cap button
10 lights (all-on and flashing modes)
Flashing light mode activated by gas cap button
Pull-back racing motor
Chrome-look detailing
2 Energizer^® ‘AA’ batteries

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy…This truck is an undisputed winner in our house. My 20 month old can easily activate all the features and has a blast pushing the buttons and raising and lowering the ramp. He even figured out that the car is supposed to go up the ramp and ride in the bed of the truck. He has played with the truck and or car nearly non-stop for the last 48 hours and asks where it is when he’s not actively playing with it. I can’t help thinking about how nice the blinking lights would look under the Christmas tree, but I may be a little sentimental about Christmas this year, what with being 9 months pregnant and little man being old enough to get what is going on for the first time.

Not to Buy…The blinking lights and noises freaked out our dog and she has to stay outside when my son is playing with the truck. Wait, did I say that was a downside? This toy is just win win for mama.

Shop! The Hess Toy Truck and Race Car is available for $26.99 plus tax (batteries included!) at exclusive Hess authorized locations. You can also find it at our affiliate Amazon for significantly more ($47.99 right now), but sometimes the convenience is worth the cost.

Thanks to Hess for the sample Toy Truck and Race Car set for the purpose of review.

Back to Work After Baby {Join the Conversation & Win}

by Kate on November 21st, 2011 | 5 Comments | Life

Babies sleep a lot so I’ll get work done at home at some point, right?

I’ll face a new challenge as a mom after the birth of this baby in the spring: balancing life with a newborn and working at home. I started The Shopping Mama a mere months after my daughter was born, but the commitments and expectations were minimal compared to what they are now. And, while I don’t work outside the home, the blog obviously creates demands on my time and energy. I have found good balance now with my children, but a newborn will clearly throw my schedule and routine completely out of whack. I know I won’t be able to keep up my current pace, but it’s hard to imagine NOT working on the blog (not to mention what will happen if I don’t). If you work at home, how have you balanced work and a newborn?

Breastfeeding can be a challenge whether you work at home or stay at home, but I’m lucky that I’ll still be with my baby 24 hours a day. I am relieved that I can continue to work without facing the additional challenge of pumping and storing breastmilk and all that comes with working outside the home and nursing. I know lots of women – like our very own Malia and Laura – manage it beautifully and for all those mamas I have nothing but admiration!

Join the Conversation & Win!

All of us mamas are working mamas whether we’re working a 9 – 5 job outside the home, working unorthodox hours from our kitchen table or caring for our families. Many of the challenges are the same and many are different – and there’s certainly lots to discuss and valuable tips to share. Join the conversation about returning to work at the Philips AVENT Mom Tribe – I know I could use some advice!

1. Returning to work can be a wonderful and difficult transition. At what point do you plan to go back? Did/do you feel ready? How will you ease the transition — especially if your baby is still breastfeeding?
2. You’re leaving the house and your baby’s tears start welling up – it can be so hard to say goodbye in the mornings! How have you made your workday “goodbyes” as painless as possible?
3. If you’re a working mom and breastfeeding, you know ALL about the challenges of pumping at work! How have you worked to make things as comfortable as possible? Any interesting stories to share?
4. Many moms find that getting a little help at home can ease some stress? Do you have a nanny or babysitter? How did you find the right fit for your family?

This week Philips AVENT is giving away more great prizes. This week three people will win an Infant Feeding Set and one person will win a Soft Spout Cup. To enter, simply join the conversation on the Philips AVENT Mom Tribe.

Like the Philips AVENT Facebook page
Tweet about the importance of a “mom tribe” using the #PhilipsAVENTMomTribe hashtag.

I am being compensated for my participation in the Philips AVENT Ambassador Program. As always, opinions are my own.

30 Days of Toys: Classic Magic Trick Set

by Monica on November 21st, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Classic Magic Trick Set

Get It For: Young ones ready to wow an audience and explore some new tricks!

Why We Like It: Sometimes it is hard to find toys for young boys that have nothing to do with cars, guns, truck, space, etc… you get the idea. This is a great set that will get even the shiest little guy to come out of his shell and take a turn at being in the spotlight for some pretty cool magic. The set includes classic magic tricks such as “Disappearing Ball,” “Vanishing Coin,” “Secret Silks,” “Money Maker,” “Cylinder Squeeze” and many more for your mini magician.

Shop! The Classic Magic Trick Set is available at The Land of Nod for $44. This and other picks are available in The Shopping Mama’s Amazon store.

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To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.

Cleaner Air with a Holmes Air Purifier & Aer1 System {Review}

by Amy on November 21st, 2011 | 5 Comments | Reviews

I’ve been meaning to get an air purifier for a few years now. In the last few years I’ve suffered from allergies, and we recently moved into a ‘new’ 101 year old house which means perpetual dusting. About a month ago, we received the Holmes^® HAP9424B-TUS Medium Room Air Purifier and the aer1 germ fighter replacement filter. In the few weeks that we’ve had the system running, there’s a noticEable difference in the air quality of our home.

About the Holmes^® HAP9424B-TUS Medium Room Air Purifier

HEPA-Type filtration

Slim design and integrated handle allow flexibility in placing the unit throughout the home

3 speed settings

Optional ionizer

Filter Service Indicator

Recommended for medium rooms, up to 165 sq ft

Our Experience

The Holmes Air Purifier required no assembly. I pulled it out of the box, checked to make sure the filters were in place, plugged it in, and turned it on. I decided to put this purifier in the living room/dining room area because this particular model is meant for medium/large areas, and because we spend most of our time there. The machine creates a soft, white noise that is barely noticeable when on the low setting. When placed on the highest setting, it is definitely noticeable, so I try to increase to that setting after we’ve gone to bed. As a side note, this purifier would work wonders in a nursery because the low hum would most definitely be soothing to baby at bedtime.

Perhaps as exciting as cleaner air quality in our home, is the fact that there is less dust circulating our home. Old houses produce a lot of dust, and though it seems excessive, I end up dusting every two or three days. Since we’ve used the Holmes Air Purifier system, I have noticed much less dust on surfaces where the purifier is located. YAY for less dusting!

In addition to the Holmes Air Purifier, we also received the aer1™ Germ Fighter Replacement Filter, which is perfect for this time of year with all of the colds going around. As moms we can’t do much about the germs out kids pick up at school, but we can create a healthy and hopefully germ-free environment for our kids at home. There are several types of Aer1 Replacement Filters, so you can select one that is perfect for your home. (For example, if you have pets you may want to try the Odor Eliminator filter.)

The aer1™ Germ Fighter Replacement Filter:

Infused with Silver technology- reduces airborne germs and bacteria known to cause cold or flu
True HEPA filtration removes up to 99.97% of air borne allergens from air passing through the filter
Compatible with all aer1 ready™ air purifiers

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… We’ve had this system now for a month, so obviously I haven’t had the system for an entire cold/flu season, but I do believe my kids have benefited from having it. We all got colds around Halloween (like we do every year), but we all seemed to ‘kick’ them faster than usual. I do think the Holmes Air Purifier & Aer1 System helped us make a speedy recovery. The sleek/slim design of the Holmes purifier stands easily and blends in with the room.

Or Not to Buy… The low hum that this machine produces is not noticeable once you become accustomed to it. When set on the lowest setting it is barely noticeable, though on the highest setting it sounds more like a fan. I can see how this may be a drawback for some people, but I also think this is a huge benefit in a nursery where parents often buy machines to produce this sort of soothing hum.

Shop! Save up to $20 on an aer1 ready air purifier by downloading this coupon: www.aer1filters.com. You can shop and purchase Holmes purifiers and aer1 filters here.

Do you currently use an air purifier? How has it effected the air quality in your home?

Disclosure: Thanks to Jarden Consumer Solutions for providing a sample product for the purpose of this review. Opinions here are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. http://cmp.ly/2

30 Days of Toys: 3D Play House Pink Rug

by Monica on November 20th, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Play House Pink Rug

Get It For: A future interior designer or architect who loves playing house with her tiny dolls and figurines, and has enjoyed playing with her brother’s car and road rug.

Why We Like It: There are many play mats and rugs out there with road or construction designs, but there aren’t too many out there for little ladies to play house in an open floor space. This one is particularly fun , as the details are raised in 3D so it gives it a homey and open feel. An added plus is this rug is hypo-allergenic, stain resistant, and made from all non-flammable materials.

Shop! The Play House Pink Rug is available at giggle for $150. It’s dimensions are 59″ x 39″ x 1″ so there is plenty of space for more than one child to play at a time .

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To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.

Mark Your Calendar: Best Buy Twitter Party #BlackFriday

by Kate on November 20th, 2011 | 5 Comments | Life

I’ve spent a lot of time in Best Buy over the past 7 years that I’ve been married to my husband. He’s slightly obsessed with the store. And when I say slightly. I mean totally.obsessed. Don’t tell my husband, but I actually don’t mind our frequent trips to the store because there’s plenty of stuff for me to browse. From the appliances to kids’ gadgets to camera equipment I find plenty of goodies to drool over. The holiday season is no different – I can literally find something for everyone on my list.

I’m excited to be working with Best Buy this holiday shopping season – and you will be, too, when we launch a great giveaway. In the meantime, make sure you join the Best Buy Twitter party on Tuesday.

About the BEST BUY Twitter Party

Topic: BLACK FRIDAY!

How will you tackle Black Friday? Expect us to be talking about what you shop for, special sales you wait all year for, if you go out at midnight, do you have goals when shopping, and do you shop with family members or friends? We will be dishing all the dirt on what we do during the most spectacular shopping day of the year!

Date: Tuesday, November 22^nd, 2011

Time: 8pm – 9 p.m. cst

Party hosts: Follow @MomDot, @WhatsthatSmell, and @BestBuy

Hashtag: #BlackFriday

How to enter for a chance to win: By joining the #BestBuyBF hour-long conversation, you have a chance to win some great prizes just in time for the holidays!

Prizes: $500 total in Best Buy Gift cards will be given out. (6) $50 cards and (1) $200 best buy card at the end.

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited, Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18 & older. Do not need to RSVP, just show up.

This post is part of a compensated program for Best Buy via Brandfluential.

30 Days of Toys: Magnetic Dress Up Dolls

by Kate on November 19th, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Melissa & Doug Magnetic Dress Up Dolls

Get It For: This magnetic set is easy for little hands to manipulate, but because of the small pieces it’s probably best for kids 3 and up. There are sets geared towards boys, girls and different hobbies so it’s a great gift for preschoolers with a variety of interests.

Why We Like It: Back in the day to accomplish the dress, undress and redress of this sort kids had to spend hours cutting clothes for paper dolls. Now, Melissa & Doug offers a great alternative that’s easy for young kids to enjoy, but still captures the full of paper dolls for grade school aged kids. This Nina Ballerina set is great for your little ballerina, but we also love Joey (a boy with superhero costumes), the best friends forever set (casual clothes), and Jack (sports costumes).

Shop! The Melissa & Doug Magnetic Dress Up Sets are available from about $10.50 with Free Shipping on Amazon. This and many of our other 30 Days of Toys picks is available in The Shopping Mama’s Store.

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To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.