$5 flat rate standard shipping on all orders and 15% off all purchases over $75 with code MSAT78.

Sleepytimestore Take 15% off everything in the store through Monday. Just use coupon code 4th15 during checkout.


Free shipping on orders over $100 with code SHIP4FREE, through July 7.
Also, take an additional 20% off already reduced prices with code EXTRA20.

Tags: clothing, shoes, toys

Sleepytimestore is my source for Barefoot Dreams and Little Giraffe blankets, which make great baby gifts. Take 20% off everything at through Sunday, using code Summer20. Free shipping for orders over $50.

Free ground shipping on orders of $50 or more at Kidsurplus.com, using code AFF50 at checkout. This offer ends on June 16, 2008. Regular shipping is a flat rate of $7.95.

Tags: gear, clothing, shoes, toys

Garnet Hill is having a big kids' sale and clearance event. I actually just placed an order from them (had a gift certificate to use) for these Ecco Alligator sandals (just in time for summer). The day they arrived, I received an email about this sale. I checked the site and noticed that the sandals were now on sale and discounted heavily (more than 50% off the regular price). A quick call resulted in a price adjustment (they have a 30-day policy) which is great news. In any case, they are well-made and have a nice, flexible sole (can't go wrong with Ecco).

As sandals go, I think they are fairly pricey even after the discount, but those of you who are familiar with the brand will recognize that this is a great price. My husband's shoe collection is slowly being replaced by only Ecco shoes - they are extremely comfortable shoes. I think they are pretty cute and am pretty sure the boys will like them as well.


Don't forget to check out their sale of the day, which tends to sell out pretty quickly.

Tags: shoes

The other day, I posted about Gap Inc. and their newly revamped shopping site, where you have one shopping bag and a flat $7 shipping fee.

Through May 31, use code 1CHECKOUT for free shipping on your order.

Tags: clothing, shoes

These are good deals on summer clothing, if you need to stock up. The Children's Place has good cotton play wear, perfect for daycare or preschool (things get lost, and these won't break the bank). We've stocked up on tank tops for the kids. Good prices on water shoes too.

Current offers:
$5 flat rate standard shipping on all orders
Spring sale - take an additional 50% off select items
15% off all orders with code S2A58 through 6/1/08
Mix and match tees, tanks and shorts (3 for $15)
Shorts starting at 2 for $15

Tags: clothing, shoes, toys

Memorial Day special at Babies R Us. It's a printable coupon, but will have a code to be used online as well. Expires May 26, 2008.

Tags: toys, diapers, clothing, shoes, gear

Gap Inc. just launched their newly revamped shopping site. You can now shop at Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Piperlime at the same place by using tabs. The best part is that you only need one shopping bag and one flat shipping price of $7 (if you only buy Piperlime products, shipping is free).

Pretty cool - saves time and shipping fees. I like it.

Tags: shoes, clothing

Free shipping, no minimum purchase, with code FREESHIP, through May 12, 2008.



For today only, save 20% and get free shipping for Mother's Day with code MOM2008. See site for restrictions.

Tags: clothing, toys, gear, shoes

They hold this sale once a month, and carry brands that my other online shoe source does not. It runs from 5am to midnight PST. I'm planning on picking up some sneakers for my active preschooler (nowadays, he doesn't outgrow them before they get worn out).

They also have another promotion going on right now (I'm pretty sure they can be used with the Saturday sale):
Use coupon code MAY50 to get $5 off any order of $50 or more while MAY100 will save $20 off any order of $100 or more (expires May 15, 2008).



You can always find more sales and coupons on my Shopping Resources page. Thanks for supporting my site!

Tags: shoes

Old Navy is offering a rare free shipping deal (usually only for those who are Old Navy credit card holders). Spend $50, and get free shipping using the code SHIP4FREE, through April 24, 2008. I just ordered 16 pairs of toddler socks (where do they all go?), a pair of pajamas for the fall, two toddler tank tops, a pair of toddler swim shoes, as well as a summer beachy shirt for my husband. I barely broke $50, and saved $5.95 on shipping and don't have to fight the crowds. You can check out other specials on my shopping resource page.

Tags: clothing, shoes

I recently posted about a sale at Shoebuy, where I bought a pair of next-size toddler shoes for about $22. They have a new promo now, where you save $10 off $30 with the code SPRINGFLING08, which is a terrific deal, especially if what you are buying is close to $30 (the shoes I bought were $31). I'm buying another pair (two sizes up) so I don't have to worry about not having appropriately-sized shoes this fall when I'll be a busy intern. Plus, we really like the Stride Rite Bailey shoes. With my recent-buyer discount and this coupon, the total price came to under $20, shipped to the door. Not bad, and we can skip the lines at the store.

Tags: shoes

Shoebuy.com is having a promotion where you can save 20% off your order (there are some brand restrictions) when you use the code MADNESS08. I just purchased a third pair of these Stride Rite Bailey sneakers (toddler feet grow fast). For some reason, they are labeled as infant girl shoes, even though I think they are very cute for boys. They are regularly about $31, but with the coupon (and my additional 10% off for a recent purchase in the last 60 days), the total came to about $22 shipped.

Tags: shoes

Hey, what's this?


What does this remind me of?


Why yes, it appears to go here!


Thanks mommy, I knew it looked familiar.

Tags: shoes, A, me

This Friday is "Black Friday," historically known as the biggest shopping day of the year. I've never been one to stand in line at 5am outside a big box store in order to score a great deal, and I'm not about to start now. I love great bargain but I don't have the luxury of time. Will I be awake? Probably. Perhaps making breakfast or unloading the dishwasher before the boys wake up.

If I find myself with some spare time, I might try to do some Christmas shopping online. I just got an email today from Amazon.com (marketing wizards those guys), reminding me to check out their great deals this Friday. It'd be great to get most of my shopping done early this year. I'm sure it'll be an interesting day!

Tags: toys, clothing, gear, books, shoes, Amazon, diapers

I recently placed an order for new shoes for M, and I've come across a new coupon for those of you who need to spend a bit more than $30. Shoebuy.com is currently offering a promotion where you can save $20 off $50 when you pay with Paypal. Certain restrictions apply, so see the site for more details.

Tags: shoes

I've added a new section of the site, called "Shopping Resource." It's also located in the right-hand column of this page for future access. These are links to online stores I have shopped at (often quite recently), with any current sales or promotions that I am aware of. I will add more stores soon and try to update as frequently as I can. Suggestions are always welcome.

While you're there, be sure to read the note about affiliation at the bottom of the page, as I'm offering a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate to one lucky reader this month, to thank you for the referrals. Good luck!

Tags: clothing, shoes, toys, gear, website

I haven't purchased shoes for the boys in a while, so M only has two pairs in circulation right now, and none in the next size. I was browsing through the children's shoe section in Nordstrom for the very first time yesterday and checked out their selection. They were supposed to be having a big sale, but everything still seemed pretty expensive, and none of the shoes I liked were on sale.

I think they work on commission there (tough job) since two salespeople approached me within 3 minutes of each other and proceeded to follow me around even though I said I was browsing (and you wonder why I shop online so much). In any case, I saw a pair of Merrell shoes that I thought would be great for the boys, but they were regularly priced at $36, which I think is a bit steep (at least for us) for shoes that will only be worn for a few months. They also only carried them in black, which I didn't want.

So, I just checked online at Shoebuy.com, which has great prices on shoes. They carry the Merrell Jungle Moc Junior for just under $35, but currently offer a promotion for $10 off $30 with the code BESTGIFT07. Since I have purchased from them within the last 60 days, I got another 10% for being a repeat customer, so the total came to $22. Not bad. I hope he likes them. I'm hoping that they'll be easy for him to put on himself.

Tags: shoes

Check out Kidsurplus.com. If you've never shopped here, be warned that you may end up spending a lot of time and money because the deals are so good. I just placed a large order of various toys and clothing from them, including some fantastic pricing on Stride Rite shoes. I picked up some cute sandals for $18 (priced at least $30 elsewhere in my comparison searches), as well as a bunch of toys and books. They even beat my usual favorite, Amazon.com, in terms of pricing, for many items. If I wanted to just buy one or two things, I'd still go with Amazon (fast, free shipping), but since I was picking up a lot of things, this deal worked out well for me. Also, they currently carry many items that Amazon does not (or that they do through third-party sellers, which can have high shipping rates), so I tried to stock up.

I have ordered from them once before and while there were a few things that ended up being out of stock, the experience was very positive. They even upgraded my shipping (for free, without prompting) to make it in time for Christmas, which I think is a nice touch. Their stuff goes quickly, so if you see something you like, you'll have to act fast. Shipping is a flat rate of $7.95, which, if you are placing a large order, is offset by the deep savings. However, two days after I placed my order, I got an email newsletter that had a free shipping code for orders over $75 (which mine easily was). The code is Little. I have since emailed them to ask if they can waive the charges, but I'm not holding my breath. It was still a great deal for me, and I am hoping to pass on the additional savings to another savvy shopper. The coupon expires on July 3.

Other items that I bought: Melissa & Doug Stacking Construction Vehicles, Elmo Swim Ring, several hard-to-find Woody Click Hape toys, a bunch of Priddy and DK books, and various other toys that I wanted to stock up on.

Whenever I have some extra time, I try to stock up on toys that I anticipate M and A being able to play with over the next several months, so that we'll always have something fun to pull out of the closet on those rainy or otherwise difficult days. I also like to have a bunch of small toys and books available for the boys to play with in the car, at friends' homes (if they don't have young children), or in restaurants. I never know when I'll have another chance to sit down and shop for toys again, so I tend to make a couple of larger toy purchases throughout the year and then store them away until we need them.



The site is packed with stuff and can take a long time to navigate because of the very broad categories and large inventory, but there is a good search function. So if you have any idea about what you're interested in buying, punch it a key word or two and see what you get. Otherwise, it might take over an hour or more to sufficiently browse the site.

Remember to use coupon code "Little" for free shipping on orders of $75 or more (Ends July 3). You may even get your Christmas shopping done really early this year!

Tags: clothing, toys, books, shoes, gear

We pretty much never put shoes on M until he started trying to walk (around one year). For his first shoes, we went with Robeez.



They were one of the original soft leather shoe brands for babies, and were pretty much what every baby at our daycare was wearing. Since then, a variety of soft-soled shoe brands have popped up and I recently started thinking about picking up a pair for A. Robeez are cute leather shoes with lots of cute designs, but they didn't really wash that well and came out kind of stiff and cracked. Functionally, they are still great, but I've started looking around for alternatives just to see what is out there. In my search, I found Pedipeds, and thought they'd be worth a try. They have velcro closures instead of the elastic that Robeez uses, which might be better for A since he has chubby feet. They are also very cute and comparable in price (most baby shoes are in the $20-30 range). We'll probably still try to reuse some of the old Robeez shoes that are in good shape, but I think it's nice for him to have some new shoes as well.

Our usual online shoe store (Shoebuy.com) carries Robeez but not Pedipeds, so I had to look elsewhere. I've recently purchased shoes and other items from Endless.com, which is an Amazon.com company and have been happy with their service. They offer free overnight shipping and free returns, and while their prices normally aren't better than Shoebuy.com, they are currently offering a promotion where you save $5 off every order, which is great for kids' shoes, and results in the best prices I could find on Pedipeds. I'm not sure if they have all the newest styles, but that's not really an issue for us and I picked out a pair of "Liam" loafers for A. After the promotion, the total came to under $24 shipped, which was a great deal for these shoes. We got them in the mail last week and I must say that I am quite impressed with the quality of shoes (and the box they come in for that matter). I'll definitely consider buying them as presents in the future, as they are very nice shoes indeed. A hasn't started wearing them yet (I bought them in a larger size) but they are as flexible as Robeez and very soft and well-made. I'll post a full review once he starts wearing them in the fall.

Tags: shoes

M is developing a good sense of humor these days. When I went to pick up A in the baby room at daycare (you have to remove your shoes to go in there), J went to get M from the toddler room. They saw my shoes outside the baby room and M thought it would be funny to wear my shoes instead of his. So when I opened the door, there he was walking around in my shoes, saying "My shoes, my shoes." Actually it was more like "Mine shoes, mine shoes." I pretended like his shoes were mine and tried to put them on (as best I could). M thought this was pretty amusing and started walking out of the daycare, giggling all the way. Eventually he did switch back with me (thank goodness) and we headed home for dinner.

Tags: shoes, M

Shoebuy.com is currently having a 20% off special when you use the code BLOWOUT06 at checkout. I previously posted about another special, which saves you $10 if you use the code SAVE10. Depending on if you spend over $50 or not, you can choose the better coupon to save you some money. We have had a terrific experience buying from Shoebuy.com, especially now that we have kids. They have a frequent customer program (it is automatic), where if you purchase shoes within 30 days of your last order, you save an additional 10%, even if the items are on sale or you used a coupon. We don't buy lots of shoes ourselves, but have found that we buy much more frequently for M (his little feet grow so fast!).

J's current everyday work shoes are getting so beat up that the originally black color is nearly undetectable (they are completely grey and the soles are entirely worn). Since he wears them so often, they need to be comfortable and lately, he's enjoyed Ecco brand shoes. They can be quite pricey though, and that's where Shoebuy is so great. I decided to get him these Ecco Casual Classic Slip-On shoes as a replacement for his old Clarks (not sure where we bought those). Luckily, it's been less than a month since we bought M's rain boots, so we were eligible for the additional 15% off. They retail at $130, but Shoebuy sells them for about $98. With the 20% coupon and the 15% discount, the total came to about $70 and change, nearly $30 off the web price and almost $60 off retail (that's another pair of shoes!). They have free standard shipping, no tax, and free return shipping as well, in case the shoes don't work out. Unless we need the shoes right away, we can't really go wrong buying here.

With the rainy season already here, J also mentioned it would be nice to have some rain shoes. Depending on my rotation schedule, he often drops off the kids at daycare, leaves the car there, and walks or Xootrs (more about that another time) to the hospital (~15 minute brisk walk). I decided to try to find him some warm shoes that could keep his feet dry. Turning back to Shoebuy, I found these Merrell Thermo Moc shoes. Priced at about $84, I ended up paying just over $60 for them.

I'll post an update when we receive both pairs of shoes. I'm not sure how long their 20% off sale is going on, so check it out soon if you need to get some shoes.

UPDATE: J loves his new Eccos, but thinks that the Merrells are a bit snug in the toe area. He's going to keep them anyway and hope that they stretch out with a few more wears.

Tags: shoes

The weather has been kind of dreary here, and it rained recently. I wanted to get M some rain boots so he could splash in the puddles and keep his feet dry. I ended up going with these cute Western Chief frog boots which have the pull-on handles to make it easier to put them on himself. They are listed at about $30 on our favorite online shoe retailer, Shoebuy.com. While there are a few sites that list these boots for less (~$24), I used the coupon SAVE10 to save $10 off. And since we had bought shoes there within the last 60 days, we saved an additional 10%. No shipping costs or tax (and free return shipping) made this a nice no-risk deal under $20. They seemed roomy (we ordered a size 7; he currently wears a pair each of 6 and 6.5 shoes), and we could easily tuck his pants into the boots. M liked them and loved stomping around in the puddles this weekend. I thought he might have trouble walking around in them but he didn't at all. I checked the coupon today and it still works, but I am not sure when it expires. There are a lot of other varieties of boots as well. I'm thinking of picking up a pair or two for Christmas gifts.

Tags: shoes, M

These were terrific first rubber-soled shoes for our son after he graduated from Robeez. Brief Review

Tags: shoes

Leave it to the power of blinking fire engines to convince my toddler to wear these shoes. Brief Review

Tags: shoes