Bouncin’ Baby Bargains

Since I did a post all about some sweet summer sales I found for the women and fashionistas in our lives, I thought it might be cool if I also did one on Baby Bargains that are out there, and perhaps one for men/technology stuffs!  However, like I said, this post is all about the baby!  Check out this Fisher-Price Miracles & Milestones Musical Activity Dashboard that is on sale (with free shipping no less!) for $9.98.  Little AG has ALWAYS been difficult to occupy in the car, but she loves to “pretend” to drive, so this would have been (and I’m wondering if it still could be) perfect for her.  Activities on this cool toy include; a mirror for baby to gaze into, a tethered phone with crinkle, a beeping horn, and a car key allows mom to attach other toys to change up the play. In Baby Mode, baby is encouraged to interact with the Dashboard by setting off sound effects, melodies and lights by beeping the horn. In Mommy Mode, mom can use the included remote to activate 30-40 seconds of music and lights or a shorter 8-10 second sequence of music and lights.  So cute — and if you don’t have a baby this age this would be a great shower gift!

If you are a even slightly paranoid parent like I am, (ok, ok, so I’m a bit over the top at times — so sue me!) you hate putting your child to bed with fever.  I do especially because I hate not knowing if her temperature is going up, staying even, if her fever is broken, etc.  So, while I’ve never personally tried it, I think that the BebeSounds Fever Monitor sounds like an awesome invention – and at $4.99 I’m hard-pressed to find a reason NOT to try it.  This small, non-invasive reader clips right on to a diaper or pajama bottom. Once it detects a 1 degree rise in temperature (or loses contact with skin), a beep will let you know.  How cool is that? Even if you’re in another room, a baby monitor will pick up on the alarm.

Lastly, I noticed that the Disney Store is having a huge sale right now, and I fell in love with these personalized Pima cotton polo shirts for babies — you may remember that Little AG has an affinity for all things Tigger, so the ability to put a Tigger on a PINK shirt (why is Tigger ALWAYS marketed to boys?!) with her name makes me a very, very happy mommy.  They are on sale for only $10 – which also makes me a happy mommy!  They have lots of other great deals of course, including Halloween products, etc. so now would be a good time to stock up!

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post as a part of an on-going relationship that I have with DealTaker.com.  However, it is my promise to you that I will never write about things that I don’t like or wouldn’t actually use or buy.  To find out more, you can read my disclosure policy.

Sweet Summer Sales

Today I was bopping around and found some sweet summer sales that you have to check out for yourself!  If you are a fashionista on a budget, much like myself, you have to be a savvy shopper and grab sales when you see ‘em. For instance, you can grab this adorable pink train case with metal studded accents for $5.99.  I have 2 train cases (two different sizes!) and I use them all of the time!  I keep my makeup the smaller one and I use the larger one for toiletries when I travel. Available through Avon via Dealtaker.

I’m also dying to grab a cute white bag for summer, but I have yet to find one that is quite up to my standards.  I’m quite picky and I want something cute and roomy, but not just something that looks like two pieces of fabric mushed together.   So, it really says something that I’m really loving this bag on sale at PacSun for $15 – half off the normal price of $30.

And I know, I know, I’m addicted to bags, but check out this adorable Nine West Hobo bag on sale for $24 down from $69.  Seriously, I know I may be a label snob, but this is a Nine West bag for under $25 bucks.  That is a serious steal, and I love the color – I think it can easily carry you from summer into fall!

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post as a part of an on-going relationship that I have with DealTaker.com.  However, it is my promise to you that I will never write about things that I don’t like or wouldn’t actually use or buy.  To find out more, you can read my disclosure policy.

Major Men’s Markdowns!

Check out the great Dockers Sale — so many things are already on sale plus you get an additional 25% off this week!  Check out this awesome patterned work shirt that is on sale for $13.99 plus the additional 25% off!  I love shirts like this because they are perfect for work, but also for play.  Dress it up with a blazer and a pair of jeans, or wear it open over a black crew-neck shirt, or you can tuck it in a wear it “properly” with a pair of dress pants.  Seriously, has it always been this easy for men to look chic?  It’s SO not fair!

I’m a flip flop freak already, but I find a beach-bum looking guy in a pair of rumpled cargo shorts, a white t-shirt, and a nice pair of flip flops to be amazingly sexy – especially if he is sporting that nice after-beach glow!  As you know, not all flip flops are created equal, and there are definitely some that are much nicer than others.  I spotted these Long Brothers “Ocean Minded” flip flops on sale for $9.99 – down from $50.  That is literally a major steal – so snatch up a pair or two for the men in your life.  Oh, and free shipping!

Lastly, to complete our manly-chic ensembles, check out this great deal on these great-looking Wrangler polos -  made of fade-resistant materials so that they last longer! These are perfect for everyday wear. Again, easy with a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts and hey, you can even throw on the Ocean Minded Flip Flops with them!  Best of all, these polos normally go for $20 but are on sale for $2.95!

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post as a part of an on-going relationship that I have with DealTaker.com.  However, it is my promise to you that I will never write about things that I don’t like or wouldn’t actually use or buy.  To find out more, you can read my disclosure policy.

Disney Family.com Travel Kit {Giveaway CLOSED!}

It’s summer time, and that means one of my favorite things — TRAVEL!  We travel so often with Little AG that she has gotten used to our travel routine – and she loves it almost as much as we do.  However, most of us know that traveling with a child is nothing if not challenging, so I’m really excited to be giving away a Travel Kit to make your summer travels even easier.

Disney Family.com is offering an “On the Road With Family.com”  kit to one lucky CSC reader! The kit promises to keep children well entertained during car or plane trips this summer and will put an end to the dreaded “Are we there yet?” questions while allowing families to share their favorite family vacation destinations.

Also, make sure to visit Disney Family.com Travel to help with all your vacation planning needs as the site provides a unique resource for parents providing a combination of expert reviews, parent recommendations, and age-appropriate points of interest for family-friendly destinations on any budget.

One of the many great features on the site is a list of “Cities on a Shoestring” where parents can find inexpensive or free activities to do in cities around the country. The site also includes tips for hassle free air travel, videos of popular family destinations, and safety travel tips.

The travel kit includes a plush kid size travel pillow, a copy of Dr. Seuss’s There’s a Map in My Lap, a travel game kit, notepad and pen and adorable tote bag (a $30 value).  To enter, please leave a comment below sharing your favorite family vacation destination spot; a winner will be chosen at random.  This contest will run through July 2nd, 2009 at 5 pm CST.

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A big thank you to the wonderful women over at Mom Generations for offering Chic Shopper Chick readers this awesome giveaway!

Mutsy Grow-Up!

I remember when we first bought Little AG a high-chair.  It was one of the items I didn’t receive at my baby shower, and it didn’t feel like it was that pressing of a purchase to make since I much preferred to feed her while she was sitting in my lap.  We did eventually take the plunge and purchase one, and I’ll never forget how excited she was just to have the independence to sit on her own and watch us.  I took a coupla stabs at cooking while Little AG sat in her high chair and munched on a teething biscuit, watching me with unmasked curiosity (wondering why she’d never seen me cook before, I’m guessing…).  Sadly, those days are long gone, and by that I mean my attempts at cooking.

Oh, ok.  The days of me trying to coax her to sit in a high chair are long gone as well.

Every time I try to sit her in the highchair, I hear loud protests of “Mommy, ouff!  Ouff!” (Translation: Out…or off.  I’m not sure, but I know it means she’s not happy in there!)  I figured out pretty quickly that our highchair days were over – it was time for a big girl seat.  When I began my quest for a booster seat, I discovered that not all boosters are created equal.  I mean, they all have the same basic functions, but you know — some of them are just not that cute.  Apart from safety and functionality, I’ll just be honest in saying that the aesthetics of things are important to me.  If it’s not cute, I’m probably not buying it.  Just sayin’.

Mutsy was kind enough to send Little AG a Mutsy Grow-Up Booster – and I couldn’t get it out of the box fast enough.  It straps down safely to any “grownup” chair, and has a really cool harness that goes over the shoulders as well as around the waist to keep my squirmy worm of a daughter securely in place.  You can use the Grow-Up as soon as your child can sit unaided – which means you can skip the highchair altogether and just buy a booster.  I wish I had realized that before I purchased our highchair, since our love affair with it is clearly over!  Plus um, did I mention how COOL it looks?  My favorite part, apart from the fact that it looks like a booster seat you would have found the Jetson’s using, is that the molded seat is soft and squishy, and very comfortable.  And yes, I do know this firsthand.  Curiousity killed the cat, and almost broke the booster, because I sat in it myself!  Ok, it didn’t seem like it was breaking, but considering that it’s for use only for kids up to 4 years of age…well…I’m sure it wasn’t meant for my adult frame.  But, like I said…very comfy!

Mutsy makes some really cool products, all of which I find asthetically pleasing.  The Mutsy Grow-Up retails for $60, and you can get 10% off any Mutsy order if you use the code “cscmu”.

Some Affordable “Choos”

Label snobs unite!  For those of us who have always dreamed of owning a pair of “Choos” but couldn’t stomach the high price-tag – our day has finally come!  Jimmy Choo has partnered with H&M to launch a line of shoes, bags, and accessories for both men and women on November 14th.  The collaboration of the famous British accessories brand with H&M has also inspired a women’s clothing line that will be specifically designed to compliment the accessories.  That’s how I like to shop — find the best shoes and accessories first, then create an outfit around them!

The collection will only be featured in 250 of H&M’s stores worldwide, but chances are that you’ll be able to snag some Choo swag at an H&M near you.  Can’t wait until the fall to see this much-anticipated collection?  I’ve got a sneak peek for you below!

Baby Needs Kidneybeenz! {Giveaway CLOSED}

Well hello once again Chic Shopper Chick Readers! It’s Sarah from over at Bio Girl back with a review for a great new baby item. I had our sweet Henry four weeks ago and I am finally getting my feet under me enough to have time to do important things like going shopping and writing product reviews for CSC! So, I am here today to tell you about my new love; the Kidneybeenz burp cloths. They have quickly become one of my very favorite and most used baby items!

The Kidneybeenz are the genius creation of Jillian over at Kustom Baby Stuff. They are 100% cotton burp cloths which are perfectly shaped to sit right up against your neck and still cover the most area under the baby as possible. They are covered on one side with a fabric of your choice, and her selection is HUGE! The other side is a plush white chenille, which makes the clothes both soft on your baby’s skin and super absorbent. They are the only burp clothes I use. Seriously. I actually started out with three, and then got three more so I have plenty for the rotation of feedings. I have washed mine a ton (man babies go through a lot of laundry!) and they are holding up great.

They are really reasonably priced and always adorable. Jillian will do gift sets and wrap them up as a set of three, which make them perfect for shower gifts or a gift set for a new mom. If you have a theme in mind and she doesn’t have a fabric to match, she will find something to work for you! She put together two kidneybeenz for me that have owls on them. SUPER CUTE! She made us a UK wildcat one because they are our home team. She can do anything! I am telling you, they are great.

While you are at her site, check out some of the other great items Jillian has made. If you have a personalized item in mind, she is the girl to talk to. She is amazingly easy to work with and always comes out with great products! We have a pillow she made Henry which is incredible (you can see it on her site!). Just let her know what you are looking for and I am sure she can make it happen!

Jillian is offering a 10% to all Chic Shopper Chick Readers. Just let her know you heard about her over here at CSC and you will be set to go!

Win It! Jillian has generously offered to give away a set of three Kidneybeenz to one lucky CSC reader! To enter, visit Kidneybeenz and then come back here and let me know which pattern you like the most.  Blog about this with a link back here and to Kidneybeenz for an extra entry, or tweet about this contest, subscribe to CSC, or stumble CSC – all for extra entries.  Be sure to come back and leave an extra comment for each one!  That’s it, good luck!  This contest ends June 25th, 2009 at 11:59pm CST.

Confessions of a Shopaholic {Giveaway CLOSED}

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that one of my favorite all-time book series was “Confessions of a Shopaholic”.  I devoured each new addition to the series as it was released, and laughed right alongside of Becky Bloomwood’s hopeless shopping and spending habits — especially since they so often mimicked my own.  (Don’t laugh at me or pity me, I’ve since gotten them under control!  But it’s true, I was once a constant impulsive spender!)  I suppose it was a couple of years ago now that I heard they were making a movie out of the book series, and I eagerly awaited it’s movie theater debut.  Of course, with a 2 year old, things don’t always go as planned, and I never did manage to see it in the theater…

For the rest of you with rowdy 2 year olds or simply not enough time on your hands to catch this movie in theaters, CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC is being released on June 23rd on Blu-ray and DVD! If you aren’t familiar with the movie, the main character Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) takes a job for the less-than-glamorous Successful Saving in order to support her out-of-control spending habit. Hilarity ensues and romance blossoms with an amazing supporting cast including Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, Kristin Scott Thomas, John Lithgow, Krysten Ritter, and John Goodman! Bonus material includes bloopers, deleted scenes, a music video, and much much more!  I’ve been told it was hilarious, and I can’t wait to see it!

Check out the trailer from the film, and a bonus bloopers reel from the film below!

Win It! I’m so excited to have partnered with Touchstone Home Entertainment to provide one of my readers with her very own copy of the Blu-Ray Disc of Confessions of a Shopaholic! Leave a comment here to be entered to win. One runner-up will win a copy of the DVD as well! That’s two chances to win! Leave a comment here, and stumble, subscribe, or blog about this contest with a link back here for additional entries. This contest ends June 21st, 2009. US entries only, must be 18 or older to enter, no purchase necessary to win.

Calling All Digital Moms! {Photobook Giveaway!}

I’ve been taking pictures and video like a crazy woman since Little AG was born – I’m actually borderline obsessive with the “document every moment” stuff.  When she was a couple of months old, I attempted to figure out the best way to organize and share all of these little tidbits of multimedia with our families – some of whom lived hundreds of miles away.  I eventually settled on creating a website for her, which was fine until I used up all of my allotted space.  Sheesh.  You’d be surprised at how much room a few pictures and a couple of videos takes up!  So I went back to the old way of doing things – photos to Walgreens, videos on YouTube, etc.  Sure, I was still able to share it all, but not in the neat little package I had imagined.

Recently I discovered Multiply which is a social networking site that also includes a beginning to end media solution, where moms (and dads!) can quickly and easily store, share and discuss their media, as well as order a full spectrum of print products, with just a few clicks.  It serves as an online backup and permanent storage of your original resolution files, which is extremely helpful if your computer ever crashes.  For me, that is a scary and all-too-real possibility that became reality for me last summer – my computer crashed and there was a possibility that all of the photos from the first year and a half of Little AG’s life were lost.  Thankfully I was able to recover them, but I learned my lesson in the meantime!

The social networking aspect of the Multiply allows family members to join and connect with you as well, so they can see your most recent videos, photos, etc.  Even better, if I decide to create and order something on Multiply, my family members can order it too, or they can actually use the photos and other media that I upload to make their own products.  So, if I create a photo book from Little AG’s birthday party, my family members can order a duplicate copy of the one I created, or they can use Multiply’s editor to include the photos they would most like to have in their book.  You can also add notes to your profile, keep up with your calendar, and import your blog and photo feeds from various services, so you truly can have everything in one place.

Win it! Multiply has generously offered to give away 3 custom-designed photo books, valued at $29.99 each, just in time for Father’s Day!  To enter to win, visit Multiply and take a look around then come back here and tell me something interesting about the site that I didn’t mention in this post, or expand on something not mentioned here.  Bonus entries available for signing up for the site and coming back here and telling me (I will verify this should you win), blogging about this contest with a link back here and to Multiply , stumbling my site, subscribing to my feed, or tweeting about this!  US entries only, contest ends June 18th, 2009 at 11:59 pm CST.  Good Luck!

Go Wild With the Dyson Animal!

I am by no means a domestic goddess.  I’ve freely admitted that I’m far from being a neat freak, choose not to share my culinary skills with the world, and am just generally unskilled in that area.  However, for some reason I seem to have an unnatural obsession with vacuum cleaners.  I know, it’s strange…it’s just that for some reason I get an enormous sense of satisfaction from those lines that a good vacuum cleaner will make on carpet.  Not to mention that since Little AG was born, we all tend to spend a good bit of time on the floor (check out the proof) playing, sitting, and yes, even napping.  Having two dogs works against my efforts to keep the carpet in perfect condition too, so having a vacuum cleaner that really works on all of my floors and doesn’t lose suction is so important to me.

I’m already a fan of Dyson vacuums, and have sung the praises of their products on many occasions (check out this post from October when Little AG knocked over a plant in my living room! The Dyson DC16 saved my life – and my carpet – I have pictures!).  This week the brand new Dyson DC28 Animal was released – with brand new Airmuscle technology that was 3 years in the making.  Engineers at Dyson have created a vacuum that works on every surface in your house without sacrificing the powerful suction that they are famous for.  I have owned vacuum cleaners in the past (names omitted to protect the guilty) that claimed to function on hard surfaces as well as they did on carpet – however I never found it to actually be true.  It seemed to either not clean the hard floor well enough OR it was too hard to push on the carpet.  I’m won’t go into all of the technology and science behind WHY it works, but trust me when I say that I tested it out myself, and it’s true.  The Dyson DC28 Animal made the transition from a thick rug to a hardwood floor, and then onto ceramic tile with ease — and it even managed to suck up all of the garlic powder that Little AG had so kindly sprinkled around the kitchen for me — you know, to test out the new vacuum.  What can I say…she’s mommy’s little helper!!!

The new DC28 Animal makes it’s debut this week, and be warned, it comes with a hefty $599 price tag. However, if you want a vacuum that works like it’s supposed to and STAYS in working condition this is a worthwhile investment.  For me, having pets and a toddler makes it a smart investment – hands down.  Have you ever used Dyson products before?  What do you think of them?

My Style Obsession, My Style Icon

I’m not sure when it started exactly, but I think it was around 9 years ago when I fell in love with the iconic brand that is known simply as “Chanel“.  It’s interesting, really, why people fall in love with the brands they do — there is no rhyme or reason for it.  To me, Chanel is classy, timeless, and stylish all in one – an almost impossible combination and one that I hope to emulate daily — even without a designer label.  Chanel appeals to the eternal feminist in me, subscribing to my idea that clothes and accessories should accentuate a woman’s best features and not detract from them.

Around the same time, I discovered French actress Audrey Tautou while watching what is now one of my all-time-favorite movies, Amélie.  Tautou quickly became my style icon, I love the way she can wear even the most simple ensembles and make them look like a million bucks.  Remniscent of another famous Audrey, she carries herself with incredible amounts of style and grace.  Just like my pull towards Chanel, I’m not sure exactly what it is about her style that draws me to her, but it is an undeniable cross of class, simplicity, and sensuality.

Much to my excitement, the two have actually collided head-on, with Tautou starring in the new French feature film “Coco avant Chanel” – or, in English – “Coco before Chanel”.  The film was released in France in April, but here in the States we have to wait until September to see it.  Not only that, but Tautou has stepped in to be the new face of Chanel No. 5 – following in the footsteps of iconic women such as Catherine Deneuve, Marilyn Monroe, and most recently, Nicole Kidman.  I’m sure you remember the short film for Chanel No. 5 that starred Nicole Kidman and was directed Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann.  Taking a similar step in that direction, the newest Chanel No. 5 short film reunites star Audrey Tautou with Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the director who jump-started her career with Amélie.

I love the new short film, it is done in a style very similar to Amélie, and fans of the film will notice it immediately.  It’s less than 2.5 minutes long, and is definitely worth watching — I love it.  As always, Tautou looks impeccable.  I know you’ll love it as much as I do.  Let me know what you think in the comments!

Sur La Table

Looking for some fun ways to beat the heat indoors this summer?  Try some of these fun kitchen projects and tools from Sur La Table (french translation:  On The Table) that I stumbled across today.  I’m thinking this will make for great summer fun, and Little AG is so excited about helping mommy to “cook” that I’m pretty sure any of these things would cause that adorable little grin that I love to spread across her sweet face.

I love these fun cookie making kits – the wizard version and the princess version.  Both sell for $16.99.

How adorable are these fun kitchen utensils? They’re sure to make any kiddo giggle uncontrollably!  Called “Head Chef” – they retail for $10 each.

And how perfect is this Sous Chef Baking Kit – perfect for any of the budding culinary professionals in your life!  This 25 piece set retails for $30.

Pretty Pretty Princess

I was in Target yesterday and I wandered past this adorable princess bedding set in the kids section.  Little AG has recently made the transition to a toddler bed, so it’s got me thinking about her next round of bedding.  Though I swore I’d never make my little girl into a princess, I couldn’t resist this adorable set.  My favorite was the tuffed pink quilt with strategically-placed rhinestones.  I also love the pillow with the crown on it in rhinestones.  I can’t help it, if I was a little girl, I’d covet this set for myself.  Too bad I have to act like a grown up. *pout*

All of these pieces are actually reasonable priced, and some of them are actually on sale this weekend.  Isn’t that chandelier nightlight adorable? Oh, and that bedskirt is tulle — how sweet is that? I’m so tempted to go back and buy the set for when Little AG finally transitions to a real big girl bed, but by then — who knows.  She may be vocal enough to tell me just how much she doesn’t like it – and I’d be fine with that.  But until she can say such things?  I really like it.

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