Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Photo Freebie

Shutterfly is offering 3 free 5x7 folded cards. Simply add the code SUMMERCARDS to your account (do this by logging in, then go to the bottom of the page and click on "Enter Special Offer Code"). This Freebie expires Sept. 1 - so you have some time to design your cards!! Thanks to Freebies4Mom for the heads up.

Travel Tuesday: Passports and Car Seats

Last week, I booked my trip to Germany! The whole family is going - including Jake. The more I think about it, the more apprehensive I get... we are bringing a 15 month old on an 8 hr flight! How are we going to lug his car seat, stroller diaper bag - and him - through the airport along with all of our carry on stuff! Oh boy, this should be interesting...

In lieu of my newest dilemma, I decided to dedicate today's blog to Travel Tuesday - traveling with a toddler.

Any age child needs a passport to travel internationally. Thankfully, the cost of passport fee is smaller for a child ;) The fun part though - is getting the passport picture taken! If Jake was a little guy, it certainly would've been easier. But since he is into EVERYTHING, he refused to sit still, look at the camera or anything else we asked him to do. Here are a few tips, we learned from our two times trying to get his pictures taken:

1. Bring more than one adult. One person can hold him while other one tries to get his attention toward the camera.
2. Bring a toy he loves or something that usually grabs his attention. Hold it behind the camera to get him to look that way.
3. Know the passport picture requirements. It seems that Walgreens didn't know the accurate picture requirements (looking at camera, no shadow, certain size, etc) because we had to re-take them at the passport center.

And I did some research to figure out how to transport all the baby gear - stroller, car seat, diaper bag, etc. I knew about the Travelmate, but didn't want to pay that much (approx $80). I stumbled across these car seat straps. For $14.99, they claim to strap your car seat to your carry on luggage - and the baby can sit in it! The reviews are pretty high (mostly 5 stars), and the low ones sound like people who were traveling along (thank God I'm not...). I'll let you all know how it works once I try it, but my hopes are high!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Christmas In July, Free Photobook + Books & Toys on clearance!

Happy Thursday everyone!!

Babies R Us is having a Christmas in July Sale!! On Friday they are doing an early black Friday sale and on Monday an early Cyber Monday sale. Sneak peek here - http://tinyurl.com/2v3nwwn.

Melissa & Doug toys are up to 50% off at Amazon. I LOVE these toys - and usually they are just so expensive. Great time to stock up - and look for the ones that offer Free Super Saver shipping on $25 or more - to save even more!!

Do you have a CVS card? If yes, on Sunday you can get a free photobook. Buy one for $7.99 and get 7.99 back in extra care bucks!!

Summer Warehouse clearance at Barnes & Noble - up to 90% off!!

Free Nexxus sample from Walmart available too!

Monday, July 19, 2010

I love the library!


Well now that Jake's birthday party is over, I have a little more time to fun things like scrapbook and blog :) His party went really well. He's super social and loved having everyone over - I, of course, went overboard! But hey, your first born only turns one once!


My newest thrifty advice is the local library. I'm just now learning how it works here in Volusia County (and suggest everyone find out how there's works). It's awesome. I had a list of cookbooks I was thinking about buying - but wanted to check them out first. The public library has most of them. I simply had to type in the title into the library search engine (from home) and it told me which branch in the county had it. And better yet, I can reserve the book - to the library closest to me, with a click of the computer! To top it off, I was able to create a saved list of all the books that interest me - so that I can just reserve them whenever I am ready for them.

They had a huge selection - everything I was looking for - from scrapbooking to photography and of course TONS of cookbooks. Too cool. I wish I would've realized this months ago!!
I also like to rent audio books when I have a road trip - I feel like I've accomplished something when I can say I "read" a book during my drive. And since I drive to Amelia Island at least once a month for work - that's a lot of books!!