Don’t you love how some people try to make sweating sound all awesome – like they say you’re “dewey” or “glowing” instead of “jeez, you’ve got water pouring off of your forehead”. Don’t worry, I don’t buy the glamour of it all. Not in the least.

Of course, I’m not a big fan of working out in general. The idea of it pains me – I feel like it should be a lot easier than it is. I generally feel very accomplished when it’s over, but the whole process of getting in my gym clothes, putting on tennis shoes, and going to the gym is somewhat off-putting. It seems like 3 hours of work for a 1 hour workout. I write from home, people. I’m a BLOGGER. Getting dressed up and leaving the house reminds me just how agoraphobic I can be.

All of this to say that Walmart and Microsoft sent me an Xbox 360 with Kinect last week, plus a copy of Your Shape for the Kinect and I LOVE it.

Yoga in my pajamas? Yes, please.

Kickboxing at 2 am to blow off some steam and wind down? Yes, please.

Not counting every. single. calorie. burned because I’m having too much fun to care? Yes, please.

Sweating in the privacy of my own home, not next to a former student at the gym? YES, PLEASE.

Your Shape for the Xbox 360 with Kinect may have changed my life. If that sounds dramatic, then good. I meant it that way. It certainly helped me to drop those 2 extra pounds this week. 5 down, baby. 10 to go.

How are your 2011 fitness goals shaping up? Share with me in the comments!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Walmart as a part of my role in the Walmart Moms.All opinions are, and always have been, my own.

Read the original Getting In Shape With “Your Shape” Rocks. Seriously. on Chic Shopper Chick.

First of all, when we took it out of the box I was all but doing a happy dance at how soft our Smart-e-Dog was! No hard battery packs, and I actually had to squeeze the thing a few times to really understand it. I couldn’t believe the level of interaction that our Smart-E-Dog was capable of all the while still being so very squishy. Little AG immediately took it in her arms and fell onto the ground to give it a big Bear (Dog?) hug and started barking at him (yes, we just make animal noises in our house). Then, she discovered he could actually “play” with her. We played a few rounds of Simon Says, right out of the box, before we were able to even attempt to personalize it any further. Yes, you read that right — you can personalize your Smart-e-Bear to fit your child. That means, if you are all IF I HEAR ONE MORE ROUND OF ABCs I MIGHT JUST JUMP OUT THE WINDOW like I was then you can simply CHANGE it and add something different! Do you hear angels singing? I know I did.

Our Smart-E-Dog came with his very own USB cable so that we could plug him into our computer to personalize him. I kinda felt like I was setting up a really, really puffy iPod. We did have to register and download the software, but it was free, and very very simple (read: easy to do at 2 am Christmas morning!). Now our Smart-E-Dog actually says Little AG’s name, which she basically thinks is hilarious. Every time he says it, she looks at us like “Did you hear this guy? He totally just said my name!” We like that. The Smart-E-Bear software works kinda like iTunes — there are lots of great options. However, some options come with the bear, others you can purchase for 99 cents – which really is a steal in my opinion — because it means that it will be quite a while before Little AG outgrows this guy. In some ways, the toy can always be new!

Oh, and did I mention that the Smart-E-Dog will work with headphones? Yes, so even if you are sick of playing Simon Says, you won’t be tempted to hide him under a bed somewhere. I’m also thinking that this little guy will be great for longer car rides and flights. You can try out the Smart-e-Bear, Smart-e-Dog, or Smart-e-Cat online before you buy to see what you think, and I have to tell you that it’s identical to what our dog does, so it will really give you a good feel for what you’re getting yourself into. The perfect Christmas Gift for anyone ages 2-6 on your list! Oh, and I forgot the BIG plus for us — he will be able to speak French very soon — great for Little AG who is learning both English and French.

You can buy these awesome little guys on Amazon — the Smart-e-Dog is currently $81.43, the Smart-e-Cat is currently $73.81, but best of all, the original Smart-e-Bear is majorly on sale for $43.99! I know it can seem pricey, but I really think that the longevity of this toy will impress you, and you will definitely get your money’s worth. I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

Would you like to win a Smart-e-Bear, Smart-e-Dog, or Smart-e-Cat for a kiddo in your life? Follow the easy-peasy instructions below and they just might find one under the tree!

• Visit the Smart E Bear website and then come back here tell me your favorite feature of these little guys!
  
• 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.

Read the original Smart-e-Bear makes me Smil-e! (A giveaway!) on Chic Shopper Chick.

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

Read the original Christmas Gift Guide 2008: For Kids & Baby on Chic Shopper Chick.

Last year I was introduced to the great tradition of The Elf on the Shelf when someone gave it as a gift to my friend at her son’s birthday party. I had never heard of it, but being the Christmas crazed woman that I am, I just had to know more about it!

The Elf on the Shelf is a great family Christmas Tradition in a box! It is based on a tradition that Carol Aebersold began with her family in the 1970′s, and includes a children’s book that explains that Santa knows who is naughty or nice because he sends a “scout elf” to every home. During the Holiday Season, the Elf watches the children during the day and reports back to Santa each night. When

your kids wake up the next morning, the Elf has returned from the North Pole and can be found hiding in a different location, making it into a game that both you and your kids will love!

The Elf on the Shelf usually makes his debut at the beginning of the Holidays (we plan to start on Thanksgiving this year) and by the second or third day, your kids will be tearing out of their rooms to see where the Elf is hiding that morning! Plus, I just have to mention the fact that it really helps with behavior for kids during this really awesome yet really crazy time of the year! Each Tradition-in-a-Box™ comes with its very own scout elf, a hardbound, cleverly rhymed children’s book and a keepsake box for easy storage.

PS — need a little push to get into the Holiday Spirit? Visit the Elf on the Shelf Website — it is completely interactive and a blast to visit — you can even see the North pole!

You can buy the Elf on the Shelf on Amazon for $29.99. Hurry up and grab your Elf soon, so you can start this awesome family tradition this year!

Win it! One lucky CSC reader will win their very own Elf on the Shelf. To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Visit the North Pole and come back here and tell me what your favorite “section” is!
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
  • Blog about this giveaway and link back here, as well as to Elf on the Shelf. (1 entry)
    
  • Write a post about our Holiday gift guide, linking back here as well as to An Ordinary Life and From Dates to Diapers. (3 entries) Once you’re done, come back here and leave your three additional comments, with the link to your post in one of them.
    
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment. (1 entry)
    
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment. (1 entry)
    
  • 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! (1 entry)

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 contests ends at 11:59 pm CST on November 19th, 2008.

Read the original Elf on the Shelf: Review and Giveaway on Chic Shopper Chick.

The game works like this: “Each engine drops into a slot on the Great Race track, with the back of each slot open to receive “coal blocks.” For the youngest children, a parent or older sibling is designated as a helper to join in the fun and aid emerging readers. Players take turns selecting a card and answering a simple counting question based upon what they see on the card –for example, how many blue engines do you see?” The answer – ranging from one to three, depending on the card selected — appears on the back of each card in the form of a graphic that matches one of the blocks of coal. A correct answer is rewarded when a player picks up the matching block of coal and inserts it into the open slot behind his engine, powering it up the hill. Coal blocks are also different sizes and colors, adding to the drama and excitement of the race. Once the engines crest the hill, they roll across the finish line.”

This is a great game made for children ages 3 and up, and for 2 to 4 players. It is a very reasonable price ($24.99), and I think you will enjoy the educational aspect of it as much as we do. Plus, it really is a game that you can play WITH your child, and I love it when mommy can play too! You can purchase Thomas’ Great Race from the Briarpatch Website.
Win it! Briarpatch has graciously offered to giveaway Thomas’ Great Race to one very lucky CSC reader. To enter, just follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Head over to Briarpatch and pick out your other favorite game. Then come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me about it.
  
• 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.
  • Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati and let me know about it in a 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!
  • Get a gravatar! It looks so much nicer than a blank space, and I’d love to see your lovely face. It’s universally recognized, so you can use it more than just here on my site. Oh, and let me know about it. Kthxbai.
    

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 contests ends at 11:59 pm CST on November 15th, 2008.

Read the original Learn along with Thomas’ Great Race! on Chic Shopper Chick.