Fancast is FANtastic

I enjoy unwinding by reading a book, watching TV, etc. but my biggest problem is always that there is nothing on TV that I am interested in watching at the time when I can actually watch it.  You know, like….at 3 am.  Usually I’m lucky to catch an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Can you sing all of the words to the opening song?  I can!) or maybe an episode of Friends.  That’s if I’m lucky.  Otherwise, I’m stuck with infomercials…which are neither entertaining or relaxing.

That’s where Fancast comes in.  It debuted in January 2008 and now has more than 10,000 hours of online video programming; with more than 60,000 videos available, including over 13,000 full-length shows.  That translates into “Erika can watch episodes of Glee at 3 am anytime she wants to.”  Squee!!  Also of note – tons of behind the scenes stuff, gossip, news on what shows are on the brink of cancellation, etc. I enjoy that stuff almost as much as I enjoy watching the shows themselves!

So, if you are looking for a place to catch an episode of one of your favorite shows, or if you are looking for something new to watch – check out Fancast!  Now, if you’ll excuse me…the cast of Glee is singing my name.

Crazy About Harry {A Giveaway!}

I’m not sure how it works in other cities across the United States and other parts of the world, but here in New Orleans we feel a fierce loyalty to our city.  That loyalty, by all means, extends to well-respected local individuals who have found considerable amounts of success in larger markets.  That’s basically a lot of fancy words to say that we adore the celebrities that were born in our city (and even the ones who have adopted us, like Brad Pitt).  We like to claim them all, but we are especially proud of the musicians that are from our city.  What can I say; we’ve got a thing for talent!

Everyone here has a story about how they know a local celebrity.  They sat on a plane next to Robin Roberts, or shopped alongside of Jamie-Lynn Spears in Walmart.  (Please, she counts, ok?)  My story is that my 3rd grade teacher was Harry Connick Jr.’s godmother.  Heck, my best friend Emily from elementary school even dated her son and got to meet him on several occasions, if my 3rd grade memory serves me correctly.

See, the thing is…I don’t really get that excited about Ms. Spears in Walmart, but I’m pretty crazy about Harry.  See how I did that, there?  The whole calling him by his first name thing?  Yeah, that’s how I roll.  I’m sure it wouldn’t creep him out at ALL.

I love him in movies and on TV, but my favorite thing that he does, by far, is make music.  Flat-out incredibly amazing music, if it’s even possible to use that many descriptive thingies in a sentence.

Told ya I was crazy about the guy…I mean, ahem, his music.

Harry (more first name basisness) has just released his newest album, Your Songs, which is a) one of the best collections of familiar songs that I’ve heard in a while and b) really, really good.  I just caught a segment of him on the local news, and he seemed to think this was his 24th album to be released.  TWENTY-FOURTH, PEOPLE.  How many other modern musicians are this prolific?  Not only does the guy sing the most amazing Christmas music that you’ve ever heard (sorry, Bing, it’s nothing personal) but with this album he proves that he sings the classics just as well!

Anyone from New Orleans will immediately hear the influence of the city on the CD, even in these very classic songs.  My favorite track on Your Songs is “Your Song” coincidentally, enough – though “And I Love Her”, “And The Way You Look Tonight” also make me swoon.  Aw heck, the entire album makes me swoon.

If you’re not crazy about Harry, you should be!  Thanks to One 2 One Network I had the opportunity to get a first listen of this album, and now you can too!  One lucky Chic Shopper Chick reader will win a copy of his new album, Your Songs.  To be entered to win, leave a comment below letting me know why you are or want to be crazy about Harry!  You may also tweet about this contest for an additional entry (by clicking the little button at the top of this page!)

PS – Already crazy about Harry?  Then go check out some of the behind the scenes stuff that led up to making this album!

Contest ends October 15th, 2009 at 11:59 pm CST.  Winner will be chosen at random and notified via email.

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.

Yanni Voices {Giveaway Closed}

Ok, ok ok…admit it – what do you think of when you hear “Yanni”?  Right.  I’m sure it’s the same reaction that my husband gave me when I said something about writing this post.  But um, Yanni Voices is SOOO different, seriously.  Yanni has discovered these 4, incredible, powerhouse singers who are young and fresh and will make your jaw drop – especially if you are a music afficionado (though you may say snob if you prefer) like me.  The songs are powerful and moving – the type of music that has the ability to fill you with emotion.  I know I sound all sappy and girly (probably because I am both of those things, and glad to be that way, actually) but the new Yanni Voices CD has become a favorite of mine during Little AG’s naptime or anytime I’m feeling mellow, really.

PBS is airing a special of this talented group of singers which was a process 2 years in the making.  Think of it as a sort of Making the Band, but um, with some serious talent and no emphasis on dancing.  You can check out the airdate for the special in your city, check out a short promo video, or find out if Yanni Voices will be on tour in a city near you.

Thanks to the One2One Network, I had the opportunity to preview the Yanni Voices CD and DVD – and as I said above I was really very impressed.  If this sounds like something you would like then it’s your lucky day, because I also have a copy of the CD and DVD to givaway to you, as well as some Godiva Chocolate Truffles to sweeten the deal.  Talk about your ultimate de-stress package!

Win it! To enter just leave me a comment below telling me why you would like to win this for yourself or someone else!  It’s that simple!  After that, every other (pertinent) comment left on this site on other posts from now through February 23rd will count as an extra entry each.  You don’t need to come back to this post and tell me you commented on another post, I can stalk track you via your email/ip address.   As usual, extra entries are also available for stumbling Chic Shopper Chick (leave your stumble name), subscribing to my site, following me on Twitter, and blogging about this giveaway with a link back here.  That’s it, so good luck!

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on February 23rd, 2009.

He’s Just Not That Into You – The Soundtrack {Giveaway Closed}

So, since I was JUST talking about music in my last post, I thought today would be a good time to gush over the new soundtrack that I have been listening to non-stop since late last week.  One2One Network sent me a copy of the “He’s Just Not That Into You” Soundtrack (and yes, I’m DYING to see the film too – the book was hilarious and oh-so-true) and I think this is one soundtrack that really just hits it out of the park.  Really, the book was great, the cast of the movie is phenomenal, so there could be no less than an amazing soundtrack to accompany it.

Don’t believe me? It’s got a great mix of going-out-with-my-girlfriends and rockin’ in the car tunes, mixed in with others that just make you want to sway a bit and sing along, mushed together with ones that make you want to bust out the hairbrush-microphone and pretend like you’re the opening act at the VMA’s.

What?!  Ok, well, maybe that last one is just me.  (But I would totally rock the VMA’s.  Totally.)

The song I keep hitting repeat on is Erin McCarley’s “Love Save the Empty”, though I’m also totally lovin’ Lily Allen’s “Smile”, as well as the great stuff by The Cure, Wilco, R.E.M, and Maroon 5.  Oh, and as an added treat – you can hear Scarlett Johansson sing “Last Goodbye”.  For the record, I am totally impressed with her deep soulful voice – I am a sound believer that actresses do not automatically equal singers/musicians – but in this case it was a good call.

Be sure to grab a copy of the He’s Just Not That Into You Soundtrack – it was just released this past Tuesday, Feb. 3rd and the movie will make it’s premiere tomorrow, February 6th!  (And give me a call if you’re going – I’m willing to bet this is one that hubby won’t want to go see with me!)

Win it! I have a copy of the soundtrack plus this super awesome hoodie to give away to one lucky CSC reader!  (And wow, I don’t think it will look like that on me…)  For your initial entry, leave a comment here on this post.   Something more than “I want to win” would be great!  After that, every other (pertinent) comment left on this site on other posts from now through February 13th will count as an extra entry each. As usual, extra entries are also available for stumbling Chic Shopper Chick (leave your stumble name), subscribing to my site, following me on Twitter, and blogging about this giveaway with a link back here.  Good luck!

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on February 15th, 2009.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

In case you can’t tell — I love movies.  My first ever job was at a movie theater and I started work on the day that I turned 15 — the first time I could legally work.  I at a lot of popcorn and M&M’s in my day, and I watched a lot of movies.  It was the perfect high school job — everyone went to the movies, so I could be social and make money at the same time.  I guess this love of movies (and of being social) has carried over to my adult life and my blog, hence the reason I am always sharing the latest movie and DVD releases with you!

You can return to the magical world of Narnia in the second installment of C.S. Lewis’ timeless epic The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian which was released on DVD on December 2nd, and it’s a must-own!  It is available on DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def, as well as a special two-disc Collectors Edition perfect for holiday giving. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian packaging also includes a special DisneyFile, a digital copy of the movie that can be viewed on a variety of portable devices for the whole family to enjoy anytime, anywhere.  I recently loaded Wall-E onto my MacBook and watched it from the comfort of my bedroom while I was waiting for my hubby to get home.  DigitalFile is a huge plus, in my opinion!

According to the press release, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian features even more groundbreaking special effects and breathtaking action than its predecessor. William Moseley, Georgie Henley, Anna Popplewell and Skandar Keynes return as Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, the Pevensie siblings, along with Academy Award® nominee Liam Neeson ( one of my ultimate favorite actors and a 1993 nominee for Best Actor, Schindler’s List) as Aslan the Lion and Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton (2008 winner for Best Supporting Actress, Michael Clayton) as the White Witch. They are joined by Ben Barnes (Stardust) as Caspian, heir to the Narnian throne, with Sergio Castellitto (Arthur and the Invisibles), Eddie Izzard (FX: The Riches), Warwick Davis (the Harry Potter films) and Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent) appearing as new residents of Narnia.  Whew!  That is quite the cast!

In The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the Pevensie children face a perilous mission and a greater test of their faith and courage. They find a world in which 1,300 years have passed. The White Witch is gone, the realm is ruled by a cruel tyrant and Aslan has been missing for over a thousand years. The four children embark on a remarkable journey to restore magic and glory to the land. Accompanied by Trumpkin, a valiant dwarf, Reepicheep the talking mouse and a suspicious Black Dwarf named Nikabrik, they raise an army of Narnians to rise up against the evil king Miraz.  Check out a clip from the movie below!

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, is now on DVD, Special Collectors Edition DVD, and Blu-Ray on Amazon — you have 4 days left to order things in time for Christmas while still qualifying for Free Shipping, so check it out!  If you have other Amazon shopping needs, please search for them through the search box in my sidebar – doing so will help to support this site!

Last Minute Christmas Gifts

Paramount Home Entertainment has completely simplified gift-giving for you last minute Holiday Shoppers!  With their wrapped and ready DVDs, you have 3 great options for gifts for this year, including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Iron Man, and Kung Fu Panda.  They come wrapped in adorable paper (that doesn’t give anything away) with a removable cardboard sleeve over the top.  When you are ready to “gift it” you can just take the sleeve off, stick a bow on it, and you’re ready to go!

You can order them now on Amazon, or, if you freak out on Christmas Eve and remember that you forgot to get a gift for someone, you can always stop by the store and grab one — you won’t need anything else!  I’m giving hubby his copy of Indiana Jones this year already wrapped and ready – it will be perfect for his stocking, and it saves me time wrapping gifts (because frankly, it’s a daunting task with a 22 month old wanting to “help”.)   What gifts do you wish were already wrapped for you?

Horton Hears a Who! (A Giveaway!)

I have always loved the book “Horton Hears A Who” by Dr. Seuss, because of it’s inspiring and uplifting message.  In case you are scratching your head thinking “Um, Dr. Seuss, inspirational?” you can take my word for it, I’m not confused.  My favorite line of all time is “A person is a person, no matter how small.”  For that reason, I could not wait to see it in theaters!  Unfortunately, I missed it at the theater, but this week I got a sneak preview of the DVD!  Horton is a lovable (and oftentimes absurd but in a good way) elephant, given his voice by Jim Carey, who is 100% faithful to all who need him!  The DVD and Blu-Ray Disc, to be released December 9th, are loaded with bonus features, big and small, including commentary with directors Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, eight featurettes, exclusive deleted footage and the debut of the Ice Age short “Surviving Sid.”

Horton hears a cry for help from a speck of dust, and spends his time trying to protect the tiny creatures who live on it (the inhabitants of Whoville).  Meanwhile, the other animals in the forest think their favorite pachyderm friend has lost it. Matters just get worse when the clover that Whoville is on is picked up and carried away by a Eagle!  This movie is really so fantastic, and we all loved it, from start to finish!

You can pre-order your copy of Horton Hears A Who! on DVD or Blu Ray Disc right now on Amazon!  It would make a great stocking stuffer for anyone in your family!

Win it! I have 2 copies of Horton Hears A Who to give away to 2 lucky Chic Shopper Chick readers.  Each winner will also receive a pair of these adorable Horton ears!  To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Leave a comment here telling me why you’d like to win.  A little effort please, no “Enter me” or “I wanna win” type of entries will be accepted.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
  
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 14th, 2008.

Christmas Gift Guide 2008: For Kids & Baby

Welcome to Day 4 of the Chic Shopper Chick Gift Guide!  Today we are going to focus on Kids and Baby stuff — but don’t forget to check out the other great items we’ve discussed so far!  Day One was all about Holiday Traditions, Day Two was about Entertaining and Hostess Gifts, and Day Three was all about finding the perfect Stocking Stuffers!  Today is about one of my favorites — things for kids!  Let’s jump in to some of my new faves for this Holiday, in no particular order!

Green Toys Tea Set – I am so so so so (did I mention so?) in love with this Tea Set from Green Toys!  Made entirely of recycled milk jugs, it makes me feel good to give Little AG something fun to play with that also supports the earth.  Check out my full review on the Green Toys Tea Set – I know you will love it too!  You can buy the Green Toys Tea Set from Amazon for just under 25 bucks, or if tea isn’t your thing, check out the Green Toys Cookware and Dining Set which might be a little more gender-neutral.  Stay tuned for a giveaway of the Green Toys Tea Set coming up really soon!

2008 Holiday Barbie – I couldn’t resist adding in this timeless classic to my guide this year.  A collectors item in her own right, the 2008 Holiday™ Barbie® Doll is gorgeous!  Not to mention, this is the 20th anniversary Holiday Barbie, so she is looking especially fantastic!  I especially love her gorgeous earrings, and if they weren’t Barbie-sized, I might snatch them for wear myself!  Barbie is decked out to look like a delicate snowflake, and I know when you see her you won’t be disappointed!

Water Babies – They’re back, and I swear they feel JUST like the real thing (ok, not JUST like it, but still, wow)!  If you remember the Water Babies from long ago, you won’t be disappointed.  Even I think that they are pretty darn cool, and well, I have a real baby and have no need for a baby doll.  However, Little AG started pointing and saying “BAAAAYYY BEEEE” the minute she saw it!  They Water Babies come in two sizes, 9 inch Water Baby and the 13 inch Water Baby.  They even come with a funnel to make filling easy, as well as a teddy bear, storybook, diaper, and bottle!

Hyper Dash – New for this season from Wild Planet, I am loving this awesome game.  Designed to keep kids moving and on their feet, Hyper Dash will have your kids running all over the place (in an organized matter) in no time!  The “tagger” is hand held, and calls out voice commands to the players to “tag” the targets that have certain numbers and colors.  One of my favorite parts about Wild Planet’s Hyper Dash is that your kids can play solo or compete against their friends (or you!) to get the highest score!  If the single tagger isn’t enough — you can always go for the Hyper Dash Double Dash that includes 2 taggers!

Barbie Care N Cure Wildlife Doctor – It has Barbie in the name, but there is really no Barbie involved at all!  This stuffed animal lights up in different areas that teach the child about the animals health, and responds to feeding, touch, care, etc.  With Little AG loving animals as much as she does, this was a must-buy for Christmas this year!  It’s also a great way to teach your kids about protecting and caring for Endangered Animals.  My favorite is the “Snow Leopard” Barbie Care ‘N Cure Wildlife Doctor – but you can also choose a Koala Bear or Polar Bear.

Rhino Rampage Game – This fun but simple game has players stacking up little birds with the goal of reaching the Rhino’s back.  You’ve go to be careful though, because you never know when the Rhino will go on a rampage!  (Ok, it’s really when you roll the Rhino on the dice and the player pulls the Rhino’s tail, but that didn’t sound nearly as cool!)  This game is simple enough for everyone to play, but a whole lot of fun for kids of all ages as well!  Little AG loves pulling the Rhino’s tail in this lots-o-fun Rhino Rampage Game!

Girl Tech Stylin’ Studio – This really really cool toy from Mattel makes me wish they had such a thing when I was a little girl, because I know I would have LOVED it!  (Seriously, I was the makeup and makeover queen!)  The Girl Tech Stylin Studio however, allows girls to create a digital makeover — meaning no messy makeup and lipstick fiascoes are in your future with this nifty gadget!  The Stylin’ Studio comes equipped with a touch pad and a built-in digital camera, so it makes things easy because everything you need is in one place!  My niece is getting one of these for Christmas and I know she is just going to love it!

Scene it?  Disney Channel Edition – Our new favorite channel here at home is the Disney channel (funny how quickly things change, isn’t it?) and this fun DVD game is a gem!  It has hundreds of trivia questions that will keep you on your toes for all things Disney Channel!  You can play fun games like spotting the difference between two difference scenes, identifying theme songs from ringtones and a bunch of other cool stuff!  If your kids love the Disney Channel, they’ll love playing the Scene It? Disney Channel Edition.

Imagination Movers:  Juice Box Heroes – This show on Playhouse Disney has quickly become a favorite in my house.  I have to admit that it’s my TV show of choice, mainly because I enjoy these very talented and fun guys and their awesome music as much as Little AG does.  This is the first CD that the Imagination Movers have released in cooperation with Disney (there were others prior to the Disney partnership) and it is some of their best music, tweaked and better than ever.  I can’t wait for Santa to bring this to Little AG this year, I know she is going to love it.  This is one CD that, when she gets out of the car, I will leave playing.  You can pick up a copy of Imagination Movers: Juice Box Heroes on Amazon.

Animal Scramble – Another home run from Wild Planet, this game works in a similar manner to Hyper Dash.  The base (the giraffe) calls out an animal (four choices — a monkey, parrot, tiger and elephant) and the child scrambles around the room to “tag” that animal with the giraffe.  Then, you are given the amount of time it took you to tag all four – with the idea being that you beat your time.  It also has options for team play, and the giraffe tells you when it should be passed to the next player.  However, this is another great activity that kids can play by themselves while still being active, which I love.  Wild Planet Animal Scramble even has a hide and seek feature, which is a lot of fun!  On sale on Amazon for 19.99.

Cherry Blossom Market – A part of the Playskool Dream Town collection, the Cherry Blossom Market is a great alternative to the much bigger Rose Petal Cottage (or the Rose Petal Cottage Mega Pack that comes complete with all the accessories one could ever even dream of!) for those of us that have limited play-space in our houses.  Little AG already loves to “help” mommy at the grocery store, so this is really quite perfect for her.  Don’t forget the accompanying accessories, like the Cherry Blossom Market Produce Stand, or the Scoop ‘N Smile Ice Cream Set.  Read my complete review of the Playskool Cherry Blossom Market and while you’re there, don’t forget to enter to win one too!

My Little Pony Scootaloo RC on the Go – For girls, this is a great “girly” alternative to the Remote Controlled Car.  Even the remote is shaped like a Butterfly!  The My Little Pony theme will bring back memories for little girls and their mothers!  I personally really love this toy — it works on carpet (which is good for snow/rain days) but works even better on our hard kitchen floor.  The remote control has three big buttons which are great for little hands, and Little AG quickly figured out what each one did (including the horn!).  I’m already a fan of the My Little Pony Scootaloo RC On The Go, and so is Little AG.

Fisher Price Kid Tough DVD Player – This SAVED my life last weekend!  We traveled 5 hours for my dad’s 50th Birthday party and this made the journey so much more bearable!  Bring a few of your kiddo’s favorite DVD’s and they can take this anywhere you go.  We travel a lot, so I can already foresee that it will get TONS of use (seriously, TONS).  Plus, it really does hold up to it’s name — Kid Tough.  It is build to survive drop after drop, which is nice because you don’t have to run behind them making sure nothing happens!  It has a 3.2 inch color screen and rechargable batteries that hang in there for a full two hours!  My favorite features:  the two big handles (for little hands!), kickstand in case they want to stand it up somewhere and not hold it in their laps, and the headphone jack.  Because the whole plane full of people does not want to hear the theme song for “My Friends Tigger and Pooh” over and over again.  You have two choices — to buy the Fisher-Price Kid Tough Portable DVD Player (in Blue) or you can opt for the Fisher-Price Kid Tough Portable DVD Player (In Pink).  Don’t forget to get the Kid-Tough DVD Player On-the-Go Kit (which includes a car charger for those long car rides) and the matching DVD Player Case in Blue or DVD Player Case in Pink!

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Smart Bounce & Spin Pony – With the exception of the really long title this is actually a really cool interactive toy for toddlers.  You set up the Pony with a wireless receiver and your toddler (12-24 months) can bounce and spin on the Pony to make actions happen on the screen.  You can choose levels of difficulty, so that the youngest of kids will learn about cause and effect (they bounce, the animal on the screen moves) and the older children can learn things like the alphabet and numbers.  The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Bounce & Spin Pony has 5 different learning sites:  A to Z Zoo; Count & Grow Farm; Colorful Home; Shapes at Shore; and Opposites Playground.  Bonus:  the toy works without being connected to a TV.  If you choose the stand alone option the Pony still plays music and interacts with your child!

Jeep 2-in-1 Baby Carrier — Even the smallest ones on your Christmas list need a gift, and what a better gift than something that will benefit both mom and baby?  I love the Jeep 2-in-1 Baby Carrier because it holds infants from 8 – 26 lbs, and Little AG was a big girl so I needed something that could support her even as she reached the upper end of that spectrum.  One of my favorite features is the roll-up mesh front which allows the air to circulate and kept Little AG cool in the stifling Louisiana heat.  I also love how the indicator on the latches turn red when they are snapped into place correctly, because it alleviated all stress that I felt about her being secure.  It comes in a variety of colors, and the price (under $45 bucks!) is extremely reasonable , especially when you compare it to some of the other baby carriers.

European Sleep Sacks from Violet’s Peapod — Another suggestion for your little ones, check out the high-quality European style sleep sacks from Violet’s Peapod.  Little AG has slept in a sleep sack from her earliest days and still sleeps in one even as she approaches 2 years old.  It’s a great way to make sure they stay warm, and you don’t have to worry about blankets being loose in the crib, because it places babies at a higher risk for SIDS.  These sleep sacks are San Francisco-made, made of 100% natural fibers (cotton with a wool filling), and absolutely adorable and unique!

Karito Kids — I love these dolls from Karito Kids that allow your kids to give 3% of the purchase price back to the charity of their choice.  Not only are these dolls teaching kids about giving back, they are also teaching kids the importance of understanding and appreciating the differences between cultures.  You can choose a doll from Italy, Australia, the United States, Mexico, China, and Kenya.  Each doll comes with her very own story book, and you can also purchase additional clothing for them.  These full-sized dolls are pricey, but are extremely well made and will be loved for years, and passed down through the generations.

Furreal Friends Tumbles, My Rollover Pup — Little AG is facinated by “puppies” and has been for as long as I remember.  The FurReal Friends Roll Over Pup makes her squeal with delight.  It rolls over and back, while barking and making cute puppy noises.  She watches it roll over and cracks up laughing!  It’s better than your typical stuffed animal becuase it actually moves and reacts when you pet it on the tummy, and she looks surprised each and every time.  The mechanism inside of it makes it kind of hard, so it’s not an animal to take to bed at night, but it certainly serves its purpose as a really fun toy!  We love it, and it comes highly recommended!

Little Mommy Gotta Go Doll — Did you know that pretending to be an adult is crucial to a child’s early development?  This doll, meant for girls ages 3 and older, allows them to step into the “mommy” role to help the doll use the potty.  It even comes with a sink so that “mommy” can help her wash her hands afterward, and a toothbrush to brush her teeth (complete with tooth-brushing sounds!)!  My favorite part about this toy is that it doesn’t use any water to create the effect — meaning it is a mess-free toy, which goes a long way in our house!  It’s a fun toy that will interact with your child – the doll sings little songs and says fun phrases too.  The Little Mommy Gotta Go Doll is perfect for little girls who are at the potty training age.

Sing & Learn Musical Mic — This little mic is really cool.  On top of actually working to amplify your voice when you talk into it (I might know this because I played with it for 10 minutes while Little AG waited impatiently!) the Sing & Learn Musical Mic lets you choose from jazz, classical and rock ‘n roll style music.  Our favorite quality though (because remember, I have a child that is pretty obsessed with animals) is that it also features 12 animals and fun animal sounds. All you have to do is turn the ring on top of the mic to hear each sound.  Lots of fun, and a great toy for the car!

Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker — I love the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker so much that I’m giving this to my niece for Christmas.  The Cupcake Maker comes with four cupcake flavor mixes and frosting. The cupcake flavors include red velvet, chocolate, yellow, and cinnamon sugar and the frosting flavors include chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and cream cheese. The mixes only require water and you can bake them in the microwave!  It comes with everything you need, including a mixing bowl, measuring spoon, spatula and water dropper.  Our favorite part was actually frosting the cupcakes with perfect little swirls.  Pick up the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker at Amazon where they are currently $10 off!  A great deal!

Face Off Frenzy — This really cool product for the Holiday Season is easy to put together and exceptionally quiet (with the exception of the squeals that will be coming from your kids!).  It requires no batteries, no electricity, and will work on carpet!  It’s like playing a little game of air hockey in your living room!  PowerBand Technology creates high-speed ricochet action without the need for air!  You will love it, and so will your kids! Face Off Frenzy is a great deal and is available for under $50 on Amazon!

Swaptop (Kitchen and Workbench) — These awesome, awesome toys are going to be the hit of Christmas this year!  The transformable Workbench or Kitchen also turns into a desk!  I love that it serves a dual purpose (especially when you are dealing with limited space as we are) and that kids will love playing with both.  When Little AG gets tired of the kitchen play, we quickly lower the top to create a desk and pull out one of the “drawers’ which becomes a little bench, and Voila! she is coloring quietly in no time.  It’s nice because it also has little drawers where we store her crayons and coloring books, and in the bottom are her teapots and “cookware”.   The one pictured here is the workbench swaptop, but if you click the link above you can see the kitchen too.

Zoobie Pets — A must-have for anyone traveling with a child!  A Zoobie Pet is a stuffed animal, a pillow, and a blanket all in one.  They are the most adorable things I have ever seen, and talk about mixing fun with function.  There are tons of different animals to choose from, and the detachable blankets have to be the SOFTEST things ever.  EVER.  Even I want to cuddle up with it, that is when Little AG isn’t shooting me curious looks for stealing it.  We have Tamara the Tortise in all of her full sized glory, and a Crocodile Zoobie Baby who is a smaller version, but with all of the same great perks.

Thanks for checking out my guide for Kids and Babies for Christmas 2008.  If you didn’t see what you were looking for above, please use the Amazon search box below to look around!  Don’t forget to check out From Dates to Diapers and An Ordinary Life to discover more great Christmas Gift ideas!

Swoon over Il Divo (I already did!)

I have an confession to make:  I’m a choir girl.  Yes, yours truly, in all of my chic glory is actually a very good 2nd Soprano.  I have been singing in a choir for as long as I can remember — I think my earliest memory is the 4th grade, but it may have started even before that.  I sang all through high school and auditioned for the Women’s Chorale in college, and was the lone French major in a room full of Music majors.  It was a blast, I loved it.  A good piece of music in 4 part harmony is enough to make me swoon.

When I opened my copies of Il Divo’s “The Promise” and “The Christmas Collection” I immediately swooned.  And no, I hadn’t even put the CD in the CD player yet.  Il Divo means “Divine Male” in Italian and divine they are…I’m just sayin’.  Being a Christmas music fanatic I immediately put the Christmas CD in and started listening.  It’s the kind of music that gives you chills it’s so good and so moving.  When we pulled up at the doctors office, Little AG was playing the drums on her legs and when I turned off the car, she looked at me and raised up both of her palms and shoulders like “Hey mom, where did it go?”

Their new CD, The Promise doesn’t disappoint either.  My ultimate favorites are “La Luna” and “Amazing Grace”.  Just like I said above, the music will give you chills.  So, for all of you singers out there (or singers at heart!) these are must-have CD’s for your collection.  We haven’t stopped listening since we got them!

Win it! You can win your very own copies of The Promise and The Christmas Collection.  To enter, just follow the easy peasy rules below!

• Leave a comment here telling me why you’d like to win.  A little effort please, no “Enter me” or “I wanna win” type entries will be accepted.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
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  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.
  • Add me to your blog roll. Not just my button in your sidebar, I’d love to be on your blog roll! Let me know about it in a separate comment!

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 8th, 2008.

My Friends Tigger and Pooh: Our Christmas Must-Haves

If you’ve read this site a bit in the past, you know that Little AG has a thing, a love, an OBSESSION with Tigger.  However, most everything involving the Playhouse Disney show “My Friends Tigger and Pooh” easily qualifies as well.  Along with the 9 tiggers that we already have living in our house, I wanted to highlight a few of the things that will be on our Christmas list for Santa this year, just in case you have a little Tigger fan at home, too.

Of course, we have to start with the My Friends Tigger & Pooh – Super Sleuth Christmas Movie.  Even though it’s not new this year, we have to have it as a part of our collection.  Plus, I am pretty much a Christmas fanatic, so I HAVE to have anything that is a “special Christmas edition”.  That being said, you can be sure we’re getting a copy of this ASAP!  (Look, I’m already listening to Christmas music, why not add in Tigger, Pooh, Darby, Roo, etc and make the kiddo happy at the same time?) You can snag it for $13.99 on Amazon.

Our next must-have is the Fisher-Price Super Sleuth Changing Tree.  Seriously, this was not an option to pass up this year (if you ever saw my daughter turn on the projector in our living room, hand me the remote to the TV, point at the wall and say “Grr peas?” {Tigger Please?} you would totally understand why).  This baby has hidden doors, slides and ramps (to launch them out of the Changing Tree on their scooters, of course) as well as lots of lights, sounds, and a total of 30 different missions.  It’s way cool!  I have been stalking it for a while, as Amazon wasn’t carrying it and it was about 70 bucks, but thankfully, now it’s down to $43.49, so grab it while you can!

I’m also lovin’ this My Friends Tigger & Pooh Wooden Puzzle with Sound — it has 5 large pieces and even plays a few sounds!  It’s perfect for Little AG’s little hands, even though I can see that we will probably always be missing one piece — isn’t that how it always works with puzzles?

Of course, Little AG’s Christmas will not be complete without the Fisher Price “Think Think Think” Darby – I can sing that song in my sleep.  Even seeing someone tap the side of their head 3 times makes me want to burst into song!  Darby is about a foot tall, and she not only sings the “Think Think Think” song, but she also has mysteries for us to solve!  Little AG spotted her in the store a while back, and I practically had to pry the thing out of her hands.  I’ve gotta say, it is pretty neat!  $34.99 at Amazon.

Lastly, I don’t think I can resist this Tigger Bounce Chair – it’s pretty inexpensive and I can almost picture Little AG tackling it when she sees it!  The chair has an inflatable seat that creates a “springy” effect, and he also says fun phrases and has 3D facial features.  Oh, and a big plus — the cover is removable and washable!  Plus, for $34.99, I’d like to think of it as a steal!

What about you?  Know any other Tigger must-haves for us for Christmas?  What character/toy/show does your child love the most?

Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season (Review and Giveaway!)

The show that shot teen star Miley Cyrus to fame has now released its first season on DVD!  This release marks the first time all 26 episodes from the first season are together in a four-disc Collectors Edition featuring commemorative packaging.  This box set has a total of 26 episodes, which includes 17 episodes that have never before been offered on DVD, as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette with Miley Cyrus and lots of other awesome and exclusive features, only found on this DVD set!

If you’ve never seen Hannah Montana, it really is very entertaining!  It stars Cyrus who, is a typical teenager, Miley Stewart, who goes to a local school.  However, she leads a double life, and when it’s show time, she becomes the glamorous and talented Hannah Montana!  Having it all proves to not always be easy for Miley/Hannah, and her attempts to keep her identity a secret results in Miley and her friends getting themselves into some rather hilarious situations!  Check

out the clip below to see some of the fun you can have with Miley and her friends!

This DVD gift set is the ultimate stocking stuffer!  It hits stores on November 18th, and I’m sure all of the young Miley/Hannah fans will be thrilled!  You can preorder your copy of Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season on Amazon for $26.99.

Win it! You can win a copy of Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season here on Chic Shopper Chick!  To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Leave a comment on this post telling me why you want to win!
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
  • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
    
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter!  www.twitter.com/chicshoppachick  — then come back and leave me a comment letting me know!
    
  • Add me to your blog roll. Not just my button in your sidebar, I’d love to be on your blog roll! Let me know about it in a separate comment!

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.  Don’t forget to check out all of the other great ideas for stocking stuffers I have for you here on Chic Shopper Chick!

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contests ends at 11:59 pm CST on November 22nd, 2008.

Christmas Gift Guide 2008: Traditions

Welcome to the first day of the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide here on Chic Shopper Chick!  To kick off the guide, today we are going to focus on family Holiday Traditions.  I am going to share a few of our Holiday traditions with you, and I hope you will leave some comments here telling me about the traditions in your homes!

For us, and I know for lots of families, the Christmas season is full of special family traditions that have been passed down for generations.  Or perhaps they haven’t been passed down for generations, but they are things that you started that your family now treasures and loves to do every year.  My family always loved to decorate the Christmas Tree together.  We would turn off all distractions, put on Christmas music, and my mom would give us all Egg Nog sprinkled with nutmeg.  It is a tradition that hubby and I still do, minus the Egg Nog, since I can’t get him anywhere near the stuff!  I know that Little AG will love this tradition too as she gets older!

Here are some great traditions that you can enjoy with your family!

Elf on the Shelf – Create a new Christmas tradition for your family by picking up a copy of Elf on the Shelf. The Elf shows up at the beginning of the Holiday season, usually around Thanksgiving, and moves to a different location each night to keep an “eye” on things for Santa.  Your kids will tear out of their rooms every morning to find out where the Elf has moved to for the day.  It also helps you with a little extra “control” for your kids around this blissfully magical but hectic time of the year, because your kids will know that the “Elf” is always watching!   To learn more read my post on “Elf on the Shelf” and enter for a chance to win a copy for your family!    Or, if you already know you love it, you can buy The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition on Amazon for $29.99 and free shipping!

The Flight Before Christmas – I love to watch Christmas movies with my family, it makes me feel all warm and cozy inside.  The Flight Before Christmas is a new DVD just released for this Christmas season, about a young reindeer named Niko who is determined to improve his flying skills in the hopes to be just as great as his father. But after wandering from Home Valley to practice, he catches the attention of the infamous Black Wolf who follows him back. In order to protect Santa and the other reindeer from the claws of Black Wolf, Niko must team up with the other forest animals to prevent any trouble that comes their way.  Read my post today on the Flight Before Christmas and enter to win a copy for your family!  You can also buy The Flight Before Christmas on DVD on Amazon for $14.99.

Family Christmas Pajamas – I always loved seeing all of the pictures of families in their matching pajamas on Christmas morning, and if I can convince hubby to do so, I would love to do that this year!  It just seems like one more great way to get in the Christmas spirit.  I know some families find new pajamas in their stockings on Christmas Eve and wear them to bed Christmas night.  It really does make for great pictures, not to mention great memories.  This year I am so excited to have found the most adorable family Christmas pajamas at Snug As A Bug, so head on over to read my post about Christmas Pajamas from Snug As A Bug and enter to win a set of pajamas for your entire family!

Cooking and Family Recipes – A lot of the traditions in my family seem to revolve around food, so today on my blog I posted my favorite recipe for a Bûche de Noël – the traditional French Yule Log or Christmas Cake.  It’s a dessert that comes with hundreds of years of history and has been a long-standing Christmas tradition in many families for ages.  Starting last year I devoted Christmas Eve to baking two of these scrumptious treats, and I’m hoping that Little AG will join me in the kitchen as she gets older!  I have the recipe for the best-tasting Bûche de Noël anywhere on the internet (I’ve tried roughly 30 different ones!), so head on over and check out my Bûche de Noël recipe and join in the fun with my family’s newest tradition!

Christmas Ornaments – At the very beginning of our relationship, I went to France for my first ever visit.  When I came back, I had a special gift for my then-boyfriend, now-husband — a Christmas ornament from Paris with Santa climbing up the Eiffel Tower.  That started our tradition and love of unique Christmas ornaments from all of the places that we travel to.  We have a Christmas tree decked out with ornaments from England, France, the Bahamas, and places from all over the US.  When you look at the ornaments on our tree, they truly represent who we are as a family.  Of course, we also have the traditional Our First Christmas and Baby’s First Christmas Ornaments as well.  That is why I really like Keepsake Ornaments, like the Hallmark My First Christmas Ornament for babies or the Lenox 2008 My First Christmas Ornament.  For new couples, you’ll also like the Lenox 2008 Our First Christmas Ornament and this gorgeous “Our First Christmas” Waterford Crystal Ornament.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaways that go along with today’s Christmas Traditions Guide!  You can win a copy of The Elf on the Shelf, a copy of the Flight Before Christmas DVD, and a set of matching Christmas Pajamas for the entire family!  Lastly, don’t forget to check out my feature on my blog today for making your very own Bûche de Noël!

Also, don’t forget to visit my fabulous fellow Christmas Gift Guide Bloggers, Kristin from An Ordinary Life and Christine over at From Dates to Diapers!  They both have some fantastic suggestions for you as far as Christmas traditions go as well, not to mention they are always giving great stuff away!

I’m glad you stopped by to read about the Christmas Traditions that we have in our household!  I love Christmas, and I’m always up for starting new traditions, so please leave me a comment and let me know about your most treasured Holiday Traditions!

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