December – 2013 – Frugal Novice

Kidoodle.TV

Note: I participated in a Blog Blast program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kidoodle.TV. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Kidoodle.TV is a great site – and app – to let kids pick entertainment in a safe environment that parents can choose specific settings for. Both the boys thought there were a TON of cool shows to pick from, and I loved the “Parents Room” where I could set what shows the boys are able to pick from. It’s great, too, because I could set profiles for each child, letting them see shows I feel are appropriate for their different ages.

Right now you can try Kidoodle.TV for FREE… and enter by December 31, 2013 to win 1 of 10 tablets or 1 of 10 Kidoodle.TV year-long subscriptions!
To enter the giveaway, go to Kidoodle.TV to sign up for a free trial. Follow the on-screen directions and submit!

Check out the Kidoodle.TV site, and follow Kidoodle on Twitter & Facebook, too!

Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Fiskars Fuse Creativity System

Note: We received a Fuse System to facilitate our review. All opinions are honest and are my own.

If you like crafting, you’re probably familiar with the Fiskars brand. They have a huge variety of crafting supplies available, and they’re well-known for their high-quality products. When I was browsing their site, I came across the Fuse Creativity System and I was instantly intrigued. This system lets you do both die cuts and letterpress work all in one pass, and it’s a unit that doesn’t require any electricity so you can use it anywhere.

One thing I noticed right off the bat was the fact that this pacts up nice and neatly into a briefcase shape, making it easy to pick up and take it with you, or store it away when it’s not in use. The Fuse IS heavy, but the handle makes it reasonable for a non-strong person like myself to carry it.

The Fuse is really easy to open; I just rotated the crank handle outward and pushed down the orange piece you see at the handle of the unit, and voila – it unfolds! You’ll notice in the photo above a grey compartment on the right. That’s the place that houses your accessories. The starter kit comes with several extra pieces:

You receive a cutting plate, a base plate, a die cut, and two letterpress options, along with an inking pad. This is all you need to get started on projects. You receive a great “thank you” plate with a sweet image of a bird and branches, and then a gift tag. With Christmas coming up, the tag was especially interesting to me, so I decided to give it a try.

All I had to do was run the inking pad over the tag plate, then put the plate into the die cut. I put my paper on top of the die, then put the cutting plate on top to form a sandwich. I turned the handle around several times to allow the “sandwich” to make one pass through the Fuse, and I had my finished product!

The Fuse Creativity System starter kit retails for $149.99. It isn’t cheap, but this is great quality and will provide a base to allow you to make all sorts of projects down the line. There are many accessory options you can purchase as well, which give the system even more versatility and make it a great gift option – you can get your loved one the starter kit, and then buy them other accessories to expand the gift down the road!

So, if you’ve got a crafter on your gift list this year, be sure to check out the Fiskars Fuse Creativity System. And while you’re on their site, take a look at all the other many items they carry! You’ll be as impressed as I was with what all they have to offer.

Holiday Gift Guide 2013: I See Me Personalized Books & Gifts {Giveaway}

Note: We received two I See Me Books. We were not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions are honest and are our own.

It can be difficult coming up with unique gift ideas for the kids in your life, but personalized items are a fun and definitely a special option. I See Me is a wonderful site that’s filled with all sorts of items for personalization, like puzzles, books, placemats and lunch boxes. Since our boys both really like books a lot, we chose to try out personalized books.

I’ve actually gotten a personalized book for J before in the past from another site, and I wasn’t impressed with the illustrations at all. The I See Me books are amazing. The illustrations are bright, cheerful and professional, and they integrate your child’s name in really fun ways to the various pages. You even get to include a special dedication message at the front of the book, so the recipient will have another personalized touch.

You can sign up for discount promos and company alerts HERE!

Make sure to connect with ISeeMe on their social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, P interest and Instagram!

And of course, don’t forget to enter the giveaway below – one winner will receive their choice of personalized puzzle, My Very Merry Christmas Board Book, personalized lunch box or 1-2-3 Blast Off With Me personalized book!

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Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Balboa Baby High Chair Cover {Giveaway}

When you’ve got an infant you’re acutely aware of all the germs that are out there, especially in stores and restaurants that are filled with hundreds or thousands of people on a daily basis. We’ve been a fan of Balboa Baby’s shopping cart cover for quite a while now, and now we’ve gotten to try out their high chair cover too. Both are great items for when you’re out and about – so practical and helpful to keep germs away from your little one! But of course, Balboa Baby goes above and beyond practicality – they also have beautiful prints to select from.

We got the Pink Camellia print, and as you can see it comes in a great bag to keep it all contained until you’re ready to use it:

Once you do have it out and in action, you can see an alternate print that really adds to the overall look of the cover:

This cover provides a little cushion for your baby in the hard wooden high chairs at most restaurants, it adds some style, it keeps them away from germs and it’s even machine washable and dryable for easy clean up!

Make sure to keep up with Balboa Baby on Facebook and Twitter!

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a high chair cover, shopping cart cover, or tote bag from Balboa Baby!

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Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Posh Play Provides Style for Necessities {Giveaway}

Note: We received a Posh Play Mat. We were not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions are honest and are our own.

As any parent to an infant knows, you’re inevitably going to be out in public and have to change your baby’s diaper. You’ve got to be well-supplied to make it through these sometimes messy situations, and Posh Play provides stylish necessities for diaper changes and other messes too.

Their eco-friendly, reversible, wipeable changing pad liner is made of PVC free faux leather, which is a stylish and earth-friendly alternative to disposable pads. If you don’t need a changing pad, you can use this as a place mat for your little one – it’s great to put out on restaurant tables! We’re going to use ours as a changing pad, and I love the case it comes in:

It’s a cute little case that allows room for a diaper or two and some wipes so we’re fully prepared for all diaper-changing occasions.

Posh Play products are durable, functional, and made to grow with your child(ren).

Make sure to connect with Posh Play Mat on Facebook!

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway below – the winner will get to select their choice of a Play Mat, Clutch Combo or Pads!

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Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Tiny Love Toys are Perfect Gifts for Little Ones {Giveaway}

Note: We received two toys from Tiny Love. We were not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions are honest and are our own.

When you’re looking for something colorful, fun, and versatile to give to the littlest people on your gift list, Tiny Love provides perfect options for you to pick from. If you ask me the best toy to give as a baby shower gift, my answer will unequivocally be their various Stroll toys. They are SO great for using on a bouncy seat, or a car seat, or a table, high chair, or stroller. We have loved ours and I’ll enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who asks!

Of course, they make other toys too, and have many that would make perfect holiday gifts or stocking stuffers, like the Crosby Clip-On Crab or Follow-Me Fiona: