A favorite activity, as evidenced here and here. This time we've got new trucks.

Tags: A, M, toys

$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

Now, through June 18th, save 25-50% on select Transformers, Spider-man and summer outdoor toys, and more at Amazon.com.

Tags: toys, Amazon

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

What is there to say about this set, except get it (especially if you have a picky toddler). Read more

Tags: toys, food

Tags: M, A, toys

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

Amazon.com has Pixar Collector's and Special Edition 2-disk DVD sets on sale for under $13 each. This is a great deal. I am completing our collection right now (my husband and I have seen them all, but the kids haven't). They also make great gifts. The boys really love "Cars" and "Finding Nemo," so I am sure they'll love the rest of them. We'll have plenty of options on those rainy days.

Click on the images below to be linked to the Amazon product pages.

Tags: video, Amazon, toys

Tags: M, toys

On the last morning of our trip to Hawaii, we wanted to take it easy with the kids, but at the same time, let them burn some energy before boarding the plane for the flight home. This was successfully accomplished with some inexpensive bubble-blowing toys we had purchased while we were there.

Despite only costing a few dollars (~$3 each), these things were pretty awesome. Sometimes it can be hard for my kids to adequately blow bubbles with those little wands than come in the bottles of soap solution. Powered with a single AA battery (included with the toy), these blowers provided plenty of energy to blow hundreds of bubbles in a fairly short period of time.

Tags: A, M, toys, travel

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

I just got to the local library, where I need to work on some research, and guess what I found in my bag (in addition to what I meant to bring)? A plush rocket (from the Little Einsteins), a small toy airplane, and a small airport truck. I have no idea how I managed to miss seeing a stuffed rocket in my bag when I slid my laptop in there, but the sight of it made me smile. Must be productive!

Tags: toys

Sleepytimestore has been having several coupons ove the last few weeks, and their current one is for Barefoot Dreams products (a Mother's Day promotion). My girlfriends and I got this robe for our good friend LG (for her baby shower), and it really looked comfortable and luxurious. I know I wasn't the only one who was thinking I'd eventually have to get one for myself one day.

Through May 4, 2008, use the coupon code mom for 15% off any Barefoot Dreams purchase. They offer free shipping for orders over $50.

Tags: clothing, gear, toys

Sleepytimestore is my main source for Barefoot Dreams (just got a new hoodie zip-up) and Little Giraffe blankets, which make great baby gifts. For one day only, save 15% on your purchase with code earth15 (ends Wednesday, April 23th, at midnight EST).

Tags: clothing, gear, toys

Tags: M, A, toys

Tags: A, toys

I don't have time to write a review on this right now, but I wanted to post it in case anyone was interested (their sale prices can fluctuate quickly, so don't be surprised if it is back up to $70 tomorrow). We bought a second-hand one for $25 from another family a while ago, and it's a great little walker wagon. Briefly, it has a solid wood body with removable wooden sides, as well as molded tires with grip tread and front bumper. It also has a "resist push" feature, which helps to prevent falls.

And right now, Amazon is selling it (shipped) for $50, which is a pretty good price. It's pretty much about $75 everywhere else. Once I am done with my exam, I'll be posting some more reviews as well as more information about medical school (rotation experiences, choosing my career path, etc.).

Tags: Amazon, toys

Sorry I've been slow to post photos (we have a huge card to download onto the computer). But here's one of A from a few weeks ago. He's definitely big enough to ride this now, and loves it, as you can see.

Tags: A, toys

This one always cracks me up.

Tags: M, toys

There certainly are a lot of engines pulling that train! The drawbridge was a Christmas gift, which was an instant hit. The first thing M said was I'm going to bring it for Share Day!

Tags: M, toys, holiday

Before the new year, I posted about this recall for the eeBoo Tot Tower nesting block set. I just received an email from them today (it took just over a week for them to reply) which directed me back to the eeBoo site, where they have since set up an electronic form for people to fill out regarding the replacement (it'll take them 2-3 days to respond to your submission). Rather than returning it back to the store where I bought it (online at babystyle.com), I have the option of shipping it (prepaid) directly back to eeBoo for a replacement and a small gift for my cooperation.

I just filled out the e-form, and will update again once I hear back. I think they will email me a prepaid UPS form to send it back. It's nice that they provide the shipping label, as it is totally a pain (and can be quite costly) to ship toys back when they are recalled. In many cases, it's not even worth it, and you pretty much have to toss the toy in the trash/recycling bin.

One thing kind of irks me about this replacement process. I bought the eeBoo blocks for $19 (full price I believe - the horror!), and the replacement is a matching game that retails at $12. I think that the replacement item should be comparable to (or even valued at more than) the recalled item. Just a courtesy and fairness thing, you know?

Tags: toys, safety

Okay, I know this is a totally expensive tricycle, but if you are looking for a good price on a Kettler, this is your chance. I was just checking the links on my old post and randomly noticed the sale pricing. They rarely go on sale, and FAO Schwarz is offering free standard shipping (there is a $10 surcharge for size, plus tax), but the sale price is $120 (it's nearly $200 elsewhere, so this is a 40% drop). This is a fantastic deal on a very high quality tricycle and the best price I have seen anywhere. There are many Kettler models, but this one has air-filled rubber tires, a rear basket, and pushbar.

I mentioned before that we bought ours locally with a rare coupon, so we paid about $150, which is generally unheard of. This deal would come out to less, and it'd be shipped to the door (I wish we needed to buy one now! I'm nuts, I know). I plan to review the tricycle and the tandem insert in more detail soon, but I wanted to post this before it expired. I highly recommend it if you want a very high-quality, durable tricycle and are willing to pay a premium price, at least as tricycles go. It's very sturdy and doesn't tip over like many others we've seen and tried. It also has a great turning radius and is built like a rock. For us, we know it'll last through both kids and we should be able to sell locally it to recover some of the cost once they've outgrown it.

Tags: toys

As promised, here's a photo of the boys on the newly modified tricycle (the tandem seat is the red one that M is sitting on). Of note, FAO Schwarz came through and shipped my order before Christmas, even though it was scheduled for January. I'm impressed! I'll be reviewing the tricycle and tandem attachment soon. The watch is fancy looking, and I haven't given it to M yet, so I'll post once I do. The short version is that it was a great purchase experience and both items were of very high quality. The tandem was pretty simple to install, but took some elbow grease to turn the screws (it took about 15 minutes to set up).

The boys love it. I was worried that M might feel sad that we altered his tricycle but he loves having A ride along with him. And A loves riding along, though I do worry about him falling off (we have yet to install the seat belt, but I will do that this week). He likes to stand up on the pedals, and often takes his hands off the handlebars to point and airplanes and such. So we're running alongside right now, keeping an eye on them while they ride (and saying Hang on A! Hang on!).

Tags: M, A, toys

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with eeBoo, issued a voluntary recall of the popular Tot Tower toy blocks because the plastic covering can detach from the blocks and can be a choking hazard.

We have these blocks (the ABC ones), but fortunately the boys haven't chewed on them much. In any case, I just sent an email to eeBoo and will update once they write back. I think you have to return them to the store or send them back to eeBoo (which is a pain). Recalls should be made easier for consumers, especially with the recent frequency.

You can contact them by phone or email (safety@eeboo.com)
(800) 791-5619 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday

More details can be found on the CPSC recall page.

Tags: toys, safety

I'm not a huge fan of battery-operated toys, but The Playskool Busy Ball Popper is one of the few exceptions. It's a pretty well-designed, fun toy. Read more (and check out some new photos of the boys while you're there).

Tags: toys, A, M, Amazon

Apparently, there was a friends and family sale a while back where they offered 30% off, but that's over and FAO Schwarz is currently offering 25% off sitewide, with free ground shipping through December 17. Free return shipping as well, through January 2008. This is the third time I have ordered from them in the last several years (I don't shop there regularly, but they have incredible sales and hard-to-find toys). Unfortunately, both items I bought won't arrive until after Christmas, but I don't mind at all.

I purchased the Kettler tandem insert for M's tricycle. Many parents of toddlers will agree, Kettler products hardly ever go on sale, and they are a top-quality German company (is it a lifetime warranty?), though pretty pricey. We are lucky to have purchased M's tricycle with a rare coupon at a local toy store a while ago, knowing that we'd eventually buy the tandem insert for our next child. It retails at about $60, and I got it for $45. It's estimated to arrive on December 26. I'll be sure to post photos once it's built. I can't wait for the boys to try it.

I also purchased this watch for M (I went with blue, figuring maybe the white background might be easier to read, but who knows). Lately, he's really been trying to tell the time, and while he can figure out what hour it is, he hasn't gotten the hang of reading minutes (I don't expect him to, it's a tough concept to understand, especially for a three-year-old). This particular watch apparently speaks the time when you push a button. I hope it's not annoying and that it works well. This was kind of an impulse buy and is also quite pricey in my opinion ($29.25 after discount), but if it works like it's advertised, it'd be perfect for M. It's made by Tourneau, a respectable watchmaker. I'll post a review once he's used it for a while. It's backordered with an estimated arrival of January 5. I'm thinking this would make a great fourth birthday present (though I don't think I will wait that long to give it to him). I'll probably give it to him to cheer him up on a tough day. Random surprises are pretty fun.

Tags: toys

We got this Big Bobby car for A on his first birthday, and can't say enough great things about it. Read more

Tags: M, A, Costco, toys

A long time ago, I reviewed the Fisher Price Triple Hit Baseball set, which we pulled out again after a short stint in backyard storage. As expected, the boys loved it. M attempted to use the bat to hit the balls and A enjoyed retrieving the balls and putting them back in the machine. I can't wait until they are old enough to play catch (reliably) and go to baseball games. But it is pretty hilarious watching them play now, so I take that back. I'd like to stop time now.

Tags: M, A, toys

I have been eyeing this toy for A (though there is no doubt M will enjoy it as well) for the last few weeks, and it is up for only $10 today at Amazon (Just perfect for our first gift certificate winner!). The next lowest price I have seen anywhere is $18.

I'll try to review it after Christmas, but I wanted to post this in case anyone else might want to get in on this great deal. It would make a great gift as well (recommended age: 9 months - 3 years), so I am picking up an extra one for a cousin.



And I also noticed that this toy, the LeapFrog Phonics Bus, is on sale as well, for $12. We have this toy and it is great! It's on my list of things to review as well but I wanted to post it since Amazon's sale prices change so quickly.

Tags: Amazon, toys

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

A few days ago, I posted about the Deluxe Baby Keepsake Kit at Redenvelope. While the free personalization offer has expired, they are now offering free shipping through through November 26, 2007. Use code PFXSHIP at checkout.

Tags: toys, clothing, gear, photography

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've posted about sleepytimestore.com before. They have sales a few times a year on great gift items that are hard to find deals on. The most current one is for 10% off all purchases made between today and midnight on Sunday, November 18th. Just use the coupon code save10. Or, if you are spending over $200 in a single purchase (which is not hard to do if you are doing some Christmas shopping), use the code save15 to take 15% off your entire purchase. M and A love their Little Giraffe blankets, and they make excellent gifts as well.

Tags: gear, clothing, toys

Amazon is having a promotion on baby items through October 13, 2007. You automatically get 10% off orders of $75 or more, which is not bad. I wouldn't go looking for something to buy, but if you've got something in mind, now might be a good time to get it. Some restrictions apply, so read the fine print.

Tags: Amazon, gear, toys

There have been many toy recalls this year, especially with all the concerns about lead in products from China. I have a hunch that many more toys are contaminated with high levels of lead (and have been for years), but have just not been appropriately tested.

In any case, we don't have these blocks, but I do know several families who do. Apparently, it's the blue block that is the culprit. You can find more details here and check to see if your product is affected here. I'm trying to be extra careful about what A puts in his mouth these days, since I really have no idea which toys are actually safe. He's much better now than he was a few months ago (he was practically tasting everything in sight), thank goodness.

Tags: toys, health, safety

Do you guys remember that song?

I got a pop-up swimming pool online at Linens N Things a while ago, during the off season. It ended up costing $12, which included shipping. Unfortunately, it is no longer offered, or else I'd post it here (I don't like to post about things until after I've used them so that I don't accidentally recommend purchasing stuff that turns out to be crappy for whatever reason). In any case, I was planning to use it on one of the hotter California summer days, and for a while, I thought we weren't going to have one anytime soon. But this past week was scorching hot, and we're on a very long weekend (with both Labor Day and two daycare inservice days), so it was definitely the right time to fill it up. The boys had a great time, and I think we'll probably use it again tomorrow, if it continues to be this warm.



The pool is offered at Amazon, though for just over $20. It's totally worth it if you are looking for a larger kiddie pool. Last summer, we had a tiny inflatable one, which took forever to inflate, not to mention it was pretty wimpy and barely held any water. You do still need to inflate the ring around this one, but it felt like a real wading pool for the boys.



Happy September! Don't forget to submit your ERAS applications, for those of you who are applying for the match this spring. I haven't yet, but am planning to in the next week or so.

Tags: M, A, J, toys, gear

I'm thinking about starting a page with current shopping deals, so that you don't have to wade through the blog posts to find all the sale entries. Until I have a chance to do that, here are two new promotions that are going on that I am considering jumping in on:

Save 15% through September 7 at sleepytimestore.com (originally posted about here). Use code "laborday15"

Save an additional 25% on all sale merchandise at childrensplace.com through September 3. Also, heads up on their Fall sale, which begins September 5th, where fall merchandise will be 40% off.

Lastly, don't forget about Amazon's promotion on Horizon and Silk milk boxes, ending today. M is thrilled with my recent purchase and I am going to order two more boxes today.

Tags: clothing, toys, gear, Amazon, food

Mattel just recalled a bunch of plastic preschool toys due to potential lead toxicity. The toys include products from their Elmo, Dora, and Diego lines (so if you have a toddler, there is a good chance you own one of these). Recalled products have a specific production date, and there is a tool online to help you figure out if your toys are affected (by purchase date). We have one of them (Elmo Giggle Doodler), but I can't quite remember when I bought it. In any case, they must be getting a bunch of inquiries, since the site server has been busy and I haven't been able to request additional recall information.

With the recent uproar about toys with toxic lead levels (particularly those made in China), it's hard not to wonder if we own many more toys with lead-based paint. I did buy some lead test kits recently, but I haven't had a chance to use