Kids stuff — Page 11

How I Taught My Baby to Sign – Deal on Kit to Help YOU Learn too!

Baby Signs Potty Training Kit For Half Off!

We’ve been using the Baby Signing Time videos since Abby was about 4 months old – {I was super lucky to find a huge boxed set on Zulily and got them at a great price} – and I am completely amazed at how much she has learned. She’s 15 months now, and knows about 30 signs already. That means she can tell us if she is hungry, thirsty, tired, or wants to play. She tells us when she wants her shoes or coat, knows how to ask for her bear or her dolly, and can sign mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa. It’s really kind of incredible – I didn’t realize it was possible for her to learn such a big signing vocabulary – and to really know what the words mean too! When she runs out of snacks, she can sign “More Crackers Please.” Best investment I ever made was buying the video set.

Great Deal Today –

This set is from a different company than we’ve been using, but I hear great things about them too. Baby Signs put together this full Potty Training Kit, with everything that you need to encourage baby to learn to use the potty, making training easy and fun. I’m so excited to get this for Abby! Even if your little one hasn’t been doing any signing yet, trust me, you will be absolutely amazed at how quickly they pick it up and start using it. And it’s so wonderful for your baby to be able to communicate what they want, and really helps cut down on their frustration and tantrums.

What’s included in the kit:

Parent Guide– This straightforward guide from trusted child development experts will help you confidently lead your baby to potty success.
All Aboard the Potty Train DVD– With its catchy tunes, delightful animation and real kids, this exciting DVD will teach your baby five potty-time signs and reinforce each step of the potty routine.
All Aboard the Potty Train Lift-the-Flap Book– Your baby will love discovering the potty-time signs hidden under each flap in this fun and interactive board book featuring the DiaperDoodles”.
Job Well Done! Stickers– These colorful reward stickers feature fun images and positive messages such as “Good Job” and “I’m on the Potty Train!”
All Aboard the Potty Train Conductor’s Whistle– Whether to signal it’s time to go potty or to “sound the trumpet of success,” this fun-to-blow whistle will put a smile on your baby’s face when it’s potty time. (For adult use only. Whistle poses a choking hazard for very young children.)

Limited Time Deal:

This awesome deal on the DVD Kit is only valid until November 4th!

Buy Baby Signs Potty Training Kit for HALF OFF today!

I’m going to put together a video soon, to show you Abby doing her Baby Signing Time flash cards, so you can see that little one’s really can pick up signs at a really fast pace! Signing helps build vocabulary skills at a super young age, helps baby to communicate better, and can help them start talking earlier. Plus, honestly – I think it’s so much fun! I’ve picked up so many signs, and it’s become a habit to sign things like Please and Thank You. I really think that YOUR family will love it too!

How to Keep Kids Toys from Taking Over!

Busy Mom Solution: Toyconomy!

I’ve got a full house around here – My brother and my two nephews are living with me through the summer. That means that Abby will share the Master Bedroom with me for a while longer, until there’s space to put together her “big girl” room. Toddlers get bored with things really quickly, but I just don’t have a room to store a ton of toys. Plus, I hate spending money on new ones, not knowing if they’ll truly engage her and hold her attention, or get tossed back into the toy box and ignored within a week. If you totally know what I mean, then you will LOVE this new Busy Mom Solution – TOYconomy allows you to pick new toys to rent every single month, so that your little ones always have something new and fun to explore – but you don’t have to find space to store a ton of stuff. Perfect, right? So when I got the opportunity to try out this service for a review, I was pretty excited to see how it all works. It sounded like the perfect problem solver for my busy life.

How it Works:

First, decide whether you want to do a one-time shipment, or sign up as a TOYmember, for added benefits. You can learn more here – {How TOYconomy Works} Then, browse their huge selection of super fun toys, and add your favorites to your cart. They’ll deliver the toys right to your door – along with an amazing Scout Storage Tote for all TOYmembers. {I am in LOVE with this tote!} When it’s time to ship the toys back, you simple pack ’em back up in the same box, stick the shipping label on it, and schedule a pick-up! You keep the toys as long as you’d like, and sending them back is totally free – and so easy!

Abby LOVES her new TOYconomy toys!! This little wiggle dance is her stamp of approval….

Questions you might be asking:

Since these toys have been played with already, are they clean? Well, you can see in the picture above, they look like new when they arrive! They use hospital-grade cleaners to ensure that everything is totally safe and ready for your kiddo’s! This company is run by moms – and they understand how important this is. This was the biggest hesitation that I heard when I shared the Toyconomy info with my Mommy Group – but when I showed them the toys, every single mom was impressed by what perfect condition they were in.
What if my child LOVES a toy, and I don’t want to send it back? Simple – you can purchase it and keep it! Find details in the FAQ’s. You can also earn TOYbucks from trading in toys that your kiddo’s don’t play with anymore, and use those bucks towards rentals or purchases, making this an even better value. It’s such a great risk-free way to try new toys on a regular basis – and only buy the ones you know they’ll continue to enjoy.
What if a toys gets damaged, or we lose a piece? Well, this happened to us! The cute {but very bad!} puppy you see here is Abby’s best buddy in the world. She shares her toys with him all of the time – so he thought that running off with a puzzle piece was ok! I caught him with it, all chewed up – looking guilty as can be, lol. But – when you have TOYsurance, there are no worries! It’s only a super small fee to add it to each order, and if you have an accident like we did, you are totally covered. Read more in the FAQ’s.
Do they have a good selection? Um, YES! I didn’t choose our toys, we were just sent a package with an assortment to review. But Abby LOVED them all. I wouldn’t have thought that she was big enough to really enjoy the wooden puzzles, but she spent hours fitting those pieces in and out. I went online to learn more, and sign up for a paid subscription – and I was really impressed with what a wide variety of toys are available. They do a great job of choosing toys that are not just fun, but have value too – lots of cool educational choices. You’ll love it. And it’s easy to search – by type, age group, and more.

Spend Less, Play More!

Check out the amazing selection, and pick some cool new toys for your family – visit TOYconomy.com today!

Have you used Toyconomy?

If you’ve used Toyconomy, let me know what you thought of it – what was your favorite toy? Were you as impressed as I was with the condition of the toys? Did you have any problems? I love to hear from you guys!

{Disclaimer: I received a complimentary shipment from Toyconomy to review and share with you. All opinions, photos, video, and overuse of exclamation marks is totally my own!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 31, 2011 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 14 Comments

New Feature: Weekend Window Shopping! {Best of Today’s Deals!}

Weekend Window Shopping – Start your holiday gift shopping now!

Welcome to a new weekly feature – “Weekend Window Shopping!” I’ll bring you the best of all the daily deal sites in ONE post, easy peasy. Then you can shop the hottest products, at the lowest prices – in you pajama’s. Love it, right? These deal sites are a great way to start stocking up on Christmas gifts at a super low price! And always check to see if you can combine them with Cash Back on sites like Ebates, Inbox Dollars, or MyPoints too, for more savings. So let’s get started….

Weekend Window Shopping –

Totsy KidKraft Sale!

Ohmyheck, do I looove me some KidKraft toys!!! I’m really wanting to get the red play kitchen – but we don’t have room for it yet. And this play table is uh-MAY-zing! I got this for the boys last year, and it is the coolest thing ever. The top flips over to solid wood, so you can use it as a coffee table too – it is really high quality. Find this sale on Totsy today! All KidKraft toys are around 50% off – some more, and you can save over $100 on some of the big sets! SHOP TOTSY TODAY!!

Zulily – Plan Toys 60% off!

Another great sale to help you stock up on some really great quality, well-built toys for the kids for Christmas – check out the Plan Toys selection in the Zulily sale event today! “A green company with commitments to safety and child development, PlanToys proves that eco-friendly, socially responsible toys can be made with superior quality. Their goal is to create toys that inspire imaginations while promoting physical and intellectual development.” I love these toys, they really do last. SHOP ZULILY TODAY!

HomeSav ME – Modern Elements Sale!

Ok seriously, how cool are these?? There are around 20-30 styles to choose from, all very modern and super unique. They’re an eco-friendly spin on a fireplace – read more: Their fireplaces use bio-ethanol, a clean, renewable and environmentally friendly fuel. The combustion of ethanol results in a clean emission of heat, steam and a negligible amount of carbon dioxide, so there is no smoke.” SHOP HOMESAV TODAY!!

Open Sky – Tom Colicchio Sale!

I so love Open Sky… I find some of the most interesting products here that I never would’ve found on my own. You choose your favorite designers, chefs, and celebrities to follow, and get deep discounts on their picks each week! Today Tom Colicchio has this Crown Maple Syrup Trio at a great price – perfect for breakfast when you have holiday guests, right? This is the same syrup they use in their famous restaurants. Very cool. SHOP OPEN SKY TODAY!

Get Shopping!

Get some great deals at all of these sites, and check out the details on each one – you can earn credits for sharing YOUR favorite deals with your friends! Everyone loves a deal, right? Have a great weekend!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 29, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Deals and Coupon Codes | No Comments

LOVE IT! Save $100 on rockAbye Rockers for the Holidays!!

Super Fun Deal at Coupon Mob!

I have been SOOOO wanting one of these super fun rockAbye rockers!!! My little girl loooooves doggys. Her third word was dog. So I know that she would be over the moon with excitement to play on her pirate ship rocker with her pirate doggys!!!! LOVE this. I have enough Amazon credit from my Swag Bucks to get most of her Christmas presents – but this has been a big one on my “Please let me find it on a discount site before the holidays” wish list…. And I found it!!

A little More about Coupon Mob:

“CouponMob is the most comprehensive online source for high-quality coupons and daily deals. Mob Members can tap into discounts of up to 80 percent on these deals, as well as save on everyday coupons for more than 250 leading national brands!!”

You can find a ton of great deals every day on Coupon Mob – I subscribe to both the National Deal newsletter {which is where I found this rockAbye deal!} and my local Yakima deals. And if you sign up today – you’ll get $10 bucks in your account – totally free!! – to use on your first “Steal”.

rockAbye Deal Details:

These rockers are usually $169.00 – but with this Steal from Coupon Mob, you can get them for only $69.99!!! That’s almost $100 off!!! And you can see in the picture, there are a ton of really great options to choose from – love the airplane and ladybug too. So super cute. Heck, I love all of ’em! And these are seriously amazing quality… I’ve been wanting to get one forever!

Get YOUR rockAbye Deal today!!

Head over to the Coupon Mob site to see this deal in the National Deals section – and get an amazing holiday gift sure to make your kids squeal in excitement at a HUGE savings that will make your wallet squeal with excitement too! {What, your wallet never squeals in excitement and admiration at your sweet deals? Hmmm….. you’ve got the wrong wallet. I bet Coupon Mob has a deal on those too…. Lol.}

Do a lot of Online Shopping??

If so, make sure to sign up for a SUPER helpful new service, UPS My Choice! Get alerts before packages arrive, electronically authorize packages for drop-off, re-route to other locations, and many other options. With the holidays coming up, this is such a great service – you can get notice of gifts being delivered to you too!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 28, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping | No Comments

Free Case of Kids Squeezable Applesauce and More! #freebies #kids

Join Me at Survey Spot!

I told you guys before about how I maximize my earnings with survey sites – As I go through my email each day, I quickly move every survey invite into a special email folder. Then, once a day I try to take from 30 minutes to 1 hour to go through it, and fill out as many surveys as I can. Many I don’t qualify for – but there are tons that I do! And, my very favorite thing is getting FREE products to test – Like I just qualified for today at Survey Spot! We’re going to get a case of totally free squeezable kids applesauce packages to test out in our home – AND get paid for giving our opinion on it! This happens several times a week here. Super cool, right?

More about Survey Spot:

Frequent opportunities, average of 24 surveys a month. You’ll earn prize draw entries every time you participate in a survey for a chance to win up to $12,000! Click Here to do the quick sign up! You earn points for every survey – you can redeem them for gift cards of PayPal cash!

What I’ve tested lately:

I shared pictures with you guys of some of my recent test items – things like diapers, snack foods, dog food, laundry detergent, baby teething gel, salad dressing – and tons more. This is something that really makes a difference in my families budget – the free products mean I’m saving money, and the checks, PayPal cash, and free gift cards we earn help us pay bills or buy fun stuff.

Want to get started?

The link to sign up for Survey Spot is above – and if you’re a Survey Spot member already, make sure to check your account for this survey!! – and you can find tons more of my trusted Survey Sites too!

Love my frugal tips? Then I’d LOVE your help in making it to Round 2 in the Cheap Sally contest! I’m just one spot away from making it – so every single vote counts!! Thank you so much for your support in what I do!!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 25, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies, Product Testing | No Comments

{Act Fast!!} Crib Bedding only $14.99! Webkinz Set – Save $130!!

HUGE Savings on Crib Bedding!

I am such a big fan of Graveyard Mall! Since I’ve found them, I’ve bought their amazing “Mystery Boxes” every time they’re available, and have found a few other awesome deals too – like the one that they have running today! It’s a 3 piece, super adorable Circo crib bedding set featuring sweet ABC and 123 icons to engage baby’s active mind! This three-piece set includes a brightly colored fitted sheet, quilt and the bumper too. It’s 100% cotton and machine washable – which is a MUST with baby bedding!

The best part??

This Baby Crib Bedding Set is only $14.99!!! How crazy of a deal is that?? Huuuge savings.

More Deals!

There are loads more great deals for kids and babies right now too – Get a set of 11 Webkinz Plush for only $29.99, when the regular price to buy all 11 would be over $160 bucks!! Wow, right? Or, get a set of 5 of the larger sized Lubies – regular price is $99.99 – but you pay only $29.99!!

Holiday Shopping

There are seriously SO many great deals at Graveyard Mall – it’s a great place to start some early Christmas shopping…. The holidays will be here before you know it. How great would it feel to have all of your shopping done by the end of November, so you can just relax and enjoy the season? Wonderful. So check out these deals, and the rest of the cool stuff on this site, and find some great gifts for YOUR family!

Love my fantastic frugal finds? Please give me a vote today to help me get to Round 2 – one step closer to a job as a coupon blogger with Cheap Sally! I’m #6 in Washington – and only have until this weekend to get to the top 5!! I’d love your support! You guys rock!!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 25, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Deals and Coupon Codes | 1 Comment

Rafflecopter: JumpStart Games Review and Giveaway!

Award Winning Games!

JumpStart games have already won many awards – like the National Parenting Seal of Approval – and now they are nominated for another one! Every year, the SheKnows Parenting Awards program selects the leading products available to parents in a multitude of categories – from baby gear to eco-friendly gadgets, and everything in between. This year JumpStart.com has been honored as a nominee for the top “Website for Kids” in their entertainment category!

Want to learn why people LOVE JumpStart.com?

Well, I can tell you why WE love it – it is a perfect mixture of fun, learning, and “cool” – meaning, the kids ask to play it all the time! And while we’ve only been exploring the games on the site for about a week now, I can tell that this is something the boys can enjoy for a long time without getting bored – there is SO much to do in this online world. I’m incredibly impressed. And, the more that they explore, and the more activities they complete, the more points they get – which then unlocks even MORE great stuff. This gives them a fun incentive to keep playing and learning!

Some of our Favorite Features:

Little Guy: He just turned 5, and started kindergarten this year, and has some trouble figuring out how to play a lot of the educational games we’ve tried out – even when they’re targeted towards his age bracket. JumpStarts online world has a few areas for him – StoryLand, aimed at 3-5 year olds, plus AdventureLand and MarineLand, designed for kids in kindergarten to second grade. They are just perfect! He can play alone without help, doesn’t get stuck or frustrated – and giggles away like crazy while he explores around! One of his favorites right away was the silly monkeys – The activity gives you a number. Then the monkeys swing out of the trees with different numbers, and he clicks on the one that matches. He LOVES these types of games, and they are really helping to reinforce what he is learning in the classroom.

Big Guy: He is 8 years old, and a bit harder to impress, lol. He is a total video game junkie, and it is tough for me to drag him away from his beloved XBOX Live most afternoons. But – I was really surprised to find that he totally loves the JumpStart world of games too!! He plays the Enchanted Sanctuary land {3rd to 5th grades} where he gets to train his own dragon. I feel quite sneaky, knowing that he’s doing something educational, while he thinks he’s just playing a cool game. There is also a feature on JumpStart.com that you can set up, so that the kids can play with their friends – when you log into your account, you get a “Buddy Code” that you can share with your friends – and then they can add it to their own accounts, and the kids can do live chat and play together! {And I feel MUCH better about this, then when he asks to chat live on the XBOX, that is for SURE!}

What I Love:

I set up the JumpStart Connect, which connects the games with my Facebook page, and lets me stay updated on what the kids are up to while playing.
There are some really great printable worksheets, organized by age group, and categories like math or reading, and you have access to them all right from your site!
The combination of a very fun, upbeat learning environment, and cool features for older kids to enjoy – plus loads of cool app’s and extras. A subscription to this awesome online world is SO worth it for any family! Check it out, and try some of the games for free – I guarantee YOUR family will fall in love too!

Win a FREE 3-Month Membership for YOUR Family!

The regular subscription costs are:

$7.99 per month.
$74.99 for a full year.
$149.00 for a LIFETIME membership!

You can add up to 6 kids on each account, so the whole family can play for one low price. And you get access to the printable worksheets, the whole JumpStart.com online world of games, access to the MathBlaster.com site too, PLUS a bonus of 4 downloadable games! Awesome, right? And one lucky Sunshine and Sippy Cups fan will WIN a full 3-month subscription to all of this!!

Enter to Win:

Use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form to enter – and Good Luck! {Disclosure: I was provided with a JumpStart membership at no cost by Knowledge Adventure in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.}