The Shopping Mama

The Best Shirt for a New Dad

by Kate on April 2nd, 2012 | 5 Comments | Shopping

The first time I spotted this new dad and baby shirt set I knew I wanted to get it for my husband. The first time my husband saw it he said, “Will you get that for me as my ‘push present’?” What he pushed? I’m not sure. But it is seriously the most clever and fabulous shirt set ever.

The set is from the The Pecking Order on Etsy, the same store where I purchased the kids’ shirts we used to announce my pregnancy last summer.

Shop! The New Daddy Gift Set is $37.50 for an adult tee and baby shirt or onesie.

Tutu Pour Mon Deux: Design It Yourself Tutu Shirts {Discount Code}

by Kate on March 16th, 2012 | 5 Comments | Clothes, Reviews

We’ve been fans of Tutu Pour Mon Deux for years. In fact, it’s almost exactly two years since we first featured the awesome custom tutu shirts. (If you want a chuckle, pop over to our original Tutu Pour Mon Deux review to see my daughter wearing her custom tutu tank top. She looks so little!)

What is a Tutu Pour Mon Deux Tutu Shirt?

We’ve combined a band of tulle and colorful ribbon and attached it to the bottom of either a sleeveless or long sleeved shirt with a unique image ironed onto the bodice creating a one of a kind, little girl’s tutu shirt. Our tutu’s come in an array of eye-catching colors and come in sizes ranging from 18 months to 6T.

DIY {Design It Yourself} Tutu Shirt

The process of designing your Tutu Pour Mon Deux tutu shirt is really simple. You pick the style (tank top or long sleeve), size (from 18 months to 6T), shirt color, patch, tutu color and ribbon accent. One of my favorite features is that, in addition to the standard selection of patches, you can pick a custom letter or number patch. Wouldn’t this be a fabulous birthday shirt?

My daughter received a long sleeve pink shirt with monkey patch and brown tutu. The tutu material changed from organza to tulle and the result is a more sturdy tutu that seems to hold up to machine washing a little better. We know the shirts are great quality and will last – my daughter wore her first Tutu Pour Mon Deux shirt until I couldn’t squeeze her into it any longer. She’s wearing a size 4T which is a bit on the big side, but she doesn’t seem to notice.

How can you not smile while wearing this shirt?

Smile and dance…

To By or Not to Buy

To Buy… Tutu Pour Mon Deux shirts are adorable, unique, custom and completely fun. Whether you’re dressing a princess, ballerina or rocker there’s a tutu shirt just right for your little one. The quality is great and we love that you have complete creative control to design the perfect shirt. But perhaps the best part? One third of the proceeds of every shirt are donated to Children’s Hospital Boston.

Or Not to Buy… The shirts are pricey, but you’re paying for the custom made shirt and you can feel good knowing a large chunk of the proceeds are going to a great cause.

Shop! Design It Yourself Tutu Shirts from Tutu Pour Mon Deux are $44 for tank tops and $46 for long sleeve shirts. We are excited to offer an awesome 25% off discount code! Code shoppingmama is valid through April 30.

Thanks to Tutu Pour Mon Deux for providing a sample.

Meeting Baby Brother in Funky Monkey Threads Sibling Shirts {Review & Discount Code}

by Kate on March 13th, 2012 | 5 Comments | Clothes, Reviews

Just a few hours after Max was born, my mom helped my kids put on their Funky Monkey Threads sibling shirts and they headed to the hospital to meet their new brother.

They liked their shirts so much, they wore them to school the next day. I can’t say I blame them. They wanted to brag about their new brother and these shirts are the perfect way to do it.

The shirts arrived quickly after we ordered them and were great quality. Not surprisingly, since we’re dealing with two preschoolers, the shirts have already been washed a couple times and still look great. The colors have held their hue and have not faded at all.

When I was shopping around for shirts for the kids, the Funky Monkey Threads designs stuck out to me because of the modern look that clearly announces “Big Bro” and “Big Sis” while still allowing for the personalization of the kids’ names. There are lots of options out there, but the retro mod circles design was just what I was looking for. I couldn’t be more pleased with how they turned out!

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… The Funky Monkey Threads sibling shirts were the perfect way for my kids to welcome their baby brother. The personalization, quality and design are well worth the very reasonable price. I definitely recommend Funky Monkey Threads and I’ll definitely shop the shirts again.

Or Not to Buy… The shirts are screen printed so it’s a matter of preference versus personalized embroidered shirts.

Shop! Funky Monkey Threads on Etsy has a huge selection of personalized tees, including the fabulous sibling sets. The retro mod circles design shirts we have are $15.99 each. Make sure you check out the adorable collection of personalized Easter shirts (pictured below)! We are excited to share a discount code! Enter “The Shopping Mama” at checkout on Etsy to save 15% off your order. Code expires March 31.

Thanks to Funky Monkey Threads for providing samples.

{handmade} St. Patrick’s Day

by Amy on February 27th, 2012 | 5 Comments | Shopping

We’re less than a month away from St. Patrick’s day, and I’ve scoured Etsy to bring you some fabulously fun {handmade} finds!

Lime Pie Wrap Around Ruffle Diaper Cover by Raegun

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St. Patrick’s Day Cookies by Katie’s Creative Baking

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Photobooth Prop Shamrock Glasses On a Stick by Kitty Dune Cuts

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Lucky Shamrock Necklace by Polestar

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St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Initial T-Shirt & Leg Warmers by kakabaka

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St. Patrick’s Day Beer Labels by nancynikkodesign

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St. Patrick’s Day Emergency Case by ClosetCat

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Lucky Leprechaun Gnome Dolls by SewnNatural

Happy Shamrock Day!!

Funky Monkey Threads Big Brother & Big Sister Shirts {Discount Code}

by Kate on February 9th, 2012 | 5 Comments | Clothes, Getting Ready for Baby

In the process of preparing for and welcoming a new baby, a fun and important part of the getting ready involves older siblings. Not surprisingly, a lot of talk around our house lately has been focused on the upcoming arrival of a new little one. One thing I knew I wanted to get for my son and daughter was a set of “Big Brother” and “Big Sister” shirts. I found the perfect shirts at Funky Monkey Threads.

About Funky Monkey Threads

Funky Monkey Threads offers top quality baby onesies, toddler & kids tees with funny, clever designs, or can be personalized. These designs will get tons of attention and be the hit of any baby shower or birthday party!

Big Bro & Big Sis Shirts

I knew I wanted shirts for my son and daughter that coordinated, could be personalized with their names and their “titles” of Big Brother and Big Sister. I loved the simple and modern look of the retro mod circle design and knew they’d be the perfect shirts for my kids to wear when they meet their new sibling. The order and customization process was simple and the shirts arrived very quickly.

They turned out great, didn’t they?

The quality of the shirts are great and I can’t wait for my tots to wear them. At the moment, they’re packed in the kids’ mom-is-going-the-hospital-to-have-a-baby-bag just waiting for baby to arrive. I know my kids will be the hit of the Labor & Delivery ward when they show up to meet their little sibling. You know I’ll have lots of photos to share when the big day comes, so stay tuned to see Funky Monkey Threads tees in action.

Sibling Set Tees

Funky Monkey Threads has a great selection of Sibling Sets, including sets to include newborn little siblings. I love that the sets with infant onuses include a matching hat. I think a “Baby Sis” or “Baby Bro” shirt and hat may be in order after the little one arrives…

Shop! Funky Monkey Threads on Etsy has a huge selection of personalized tees, including the fabulous sibling sets. The retro mod circles design shirts we have are $15.99 each. We are excited to share a discount code! Enter “The Shopping Mama” at checkout on Etsy to save 15% off your order. Code expires March 31.

Thanks to Funky Monkey Threads for offering the shirts as review samples after I placed my order. : )

{handmade} Valentine’s Day

by Amy on January 18th, 2012 | 5 Comments | Shopping

Love is in the air! Here are some of my favorite picks for Valentine’s Day 2012…

Printable Valentines by Jackpot Designs

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LOVE shirt by KIDDY UP

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Mini Candy Bar Wrapper Printables by Love the Day

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Personalized Hoop Art by Anna Hailey

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Valentine’s Day Onesies by Antsy Pants

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Edible Cupcake Minis by Sweet Lavender Bake Shoppe

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Spread the love.
Happy {handmade} Valentine’s Day!!

Best of 2011: Children’s Clothes, Shoes & Accessories

by Kate on December 31st, 2011 | 5 Comments | Clothes, Reviews

It’s that time of year again… time for our annual Best of the Year lists on The Shopping Mama. We’ve reflected on the products we’ve tried, tested and abused and are sharing our very favorites. These are products we recommend without reservation, use often and generally really, really like. Here are The Shopping Mama’s Best of 2011 in Children’s Clothing, Shoes and Accessories – in other words, the goodies we stock in our children’s closets and dressers.

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Favorite Clothes: Tea Collection. For the second year in a row, Tea Collection tops our Best of 2011 children’s clothing list. There’s just no denying the style, quality or downright perfection of the clothes. We are particularly fond of the Wardrobe Sets – a great way to mix and match and get more wardrobe bang for your buck.

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Basics with Flair: American Apparel. When we first checked out American Apparel for Kids & Babies, we expected to find affordable basics in solid colors – a practical find, but nothing particularly exciting. We were wrong. The collection offers patterns, fun and loads of possibilities all at a very affordable price tag.

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Best Girly Girl: Kangacoo Designs. Ruffles, pinks and prettiness – oh my! Kangacoo Designs clothing offers a distinct aesthetic and look you won’t find anywhere else. The Footless Ruffle Tights and Summer Tank and Shorts sets are must haves for your girly girl.

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Organic Baby Clothes: Finn + Emma. Based on the idea that organic does not equal boring, Finn +Emma creates clothes that balance sustainability and and style. The company uses 100% organic cotton, eco-friendly dyes and provides collections with colors and whimsical design.

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Unexpectedly Perfect Shoes: Crocs. From the color-changing Chameleons to perfect for school Slip-Ons to totally wearable Winter Boots, Crocs has delighted our little feet over and over throughout the year. If you think Crocs is limited to summer shoes with lots of holes, think again. You’ll be pleasantly surprised like we are.

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Most Stylish Shoes: Venettini. Beloved by celebrity moms and us regular folk alike, Venettini shoes offer a modern, wearable twist on classic shoe styles like the Mary Jane. We adore the unique colors, fine quality construction and overall adorableness of these shoes. They are worth the splurge!

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Soft-Soled Shoes: ShooShoos. My kids have enjoyed wearing ShooShoos for years, but this year Malia and Laura’s children also got in on the action. We all agree – ShooShoos are fabulous soft soled baby shoes. They are easy to put on, actually stay on and there’s a great range of cute styles for boys and girls.

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Hair Accessories: lizzie, izzie & james. Handmade with love, lizzie, izzie & james headbands and hair clips pack a style punch in a sweet package. The pieces offer unmatched detail, a keen eye for lovely color combinations and we simply can’t get enough.

Nautica Well Wishes Photo Project {Nautica Discount & Sweater Giveaway}

by Kate on November 7th, 2011 | 5 Comments | Clothes, Giveaways

Starting today, November 7, Nautica is launching the Holiday Well Wishes Photo Project. Nautica is celebrating the holiday season by giving to a great cause and they want you to participate through the Well Wishes program on Facebook.

As part of the Holiday Well Wishes Photo Project, Nautica is donating $5,000 to charity: water to fund a project that will provide clean drinking water for a community. Charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. By joining the Photo Project, you can send “well” wishes to a community in need.

To join the Holiday Well Wishes Photo Project and show your support, simply upload a holiday photo of your family wearing Nautica to the Nautica Facebook wall and tell us how your family gives back during the holidays.

Our Nautica Family Photos

I’m participating in the Well Wishes project and have uploaded a family photo. Now, anyone with kids knows that getting a good family photo – with all kids smiling AT the camera – can be a challenge. This year was no different for us! While my kids may not have cooperated 100 percent, we ended up with some cute pictures. And, at least our clothes look great! We are dressed in coordinating button down tops from Nautica.

My very favorite

Nautica has great coordinating looks for the whole family like button downs, sweaters and polos. If you haven’t checked out the selection lately, I highly recommend it. The clothes are high quality, the selection is great and the price is right. Especially with our discount code…

Nautica & Hallmark.com Discount Codes

If you’re looking for something stylish and perfect for your family’s holiday photos, you can’t go wrong with the classic styles from Nautica. To help make your shopping more affordable, we have an awesome discount code. Use code BLOG30 to receive 30% off your entire order between November 7 and November 14.

And, we know you’re going to want to make a pretty little holiday card from those fab family photos and Hallmark.com is hooking you up! Use the code NAUTICA25 at checkout to receive 25% off your entire order. Discount code is valid through the end of the year.

Win! A Child or Adult Sweater from Nautica!

How to Enter: We think giving back is always in style. Tell us how your family gives back during the holiday season.

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

Like Nautica AND The Shopping Mama on Facebook.
Leave a comment on Nautica’s wall about the Holiday “Well” Wishes Photo Project and how your family gives back during the holidays. (For example, “Nautica style includes giving back – thanks for the Holiday “Well” Wishes Project. My family does X to give back during the holidays.” We’d love if you tag us or mention this post, too.)
Follow Nautica AND The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave a link when you do.
Giving back in style w/ @Nautica this holiday season. Join the #WellWishes campaign & #win @TheShoppingMama http://t.co/uHRvakaI
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