One Day Shopping Deals!

In honor of Leap Day {not that Leap Day has much to do with shopping...at least, I don't think it does}, several retailers are offering one-day-only discounts online.  Thank goodness Banana Republic and Charlotte Russe did a "29% off" deal ~ no one else seemed to get the sticking-with-a-theme-is-cute memo!

All of these deals are online only and today only unless otherwise noted.


Banana Republic
29% off full-price items ~ use code BRLEAPYEAR at checkout

Barnes & Noble
25% off one item ~ use code LLDVWLK2KZVLA at checkout

BeautyMint
$20 off you purchase {first purchase only} ~ use code LEAP20 at checkout

Charlotte Russe
29% off any one item {sale items excluded} ~ use code LEAP29 at checkout

Children's Place
Free Shipping on every order; 25% off Spring Dressy {get those Easter outfits!} ~ no code necessary

Express
$25 off $75 or $50 off $150 through 3/4/12 ~ use code 1120 at checkout

Gap
15% off your purchase {some exclusions apply} ~ use code GAPGIFT at checkout

GW Little
20% off a purchase of $85 or more ~ use code LEAPSTER at checkout
12% off a purchase of $75 or more through 3/5/12 ~ use code XTRADAY at checkout

Old Navy
15% off your purchase {excludes Everyday Steals and Jeans} ~ use code ONSPRING at checkout

Petco
25% off sitewide ~ no code necessary

Sephora
Free shipping on orders over $29 ~ use code LEAPYEAR at checkout

Have fun saving!

xoxo
Bean

Polar Express Storytime - THIS Friday!

 

Looking for a no-cost way to entertain the youngin's and give them a jolt of holiday spirit?  {As far as I know, storytimes are still free}.  This Friday, December 9th, bundle up the kids in their cozy winter pj's and bring them down to your local Barnes & Noble for a special storytime featuring a reading of the beloved holiday classic, The Polar Express!  It appears that most {if not all} the participating locations are serving refreshments and start at 7 p.m..  However, click here and enter your ZIP code above the graphic to find a participating store near you and to read the details your local store has provided.

A cozy Christmas storytime + no cost to you  = happy parents and kids who "Believe" for that much longer!  {Some locations even mentioned gifting children with a free jingle bell, while supplies last!}


xoxo
Bean

{photo credit:  cincinnatilibrary.org}

Send Your Little Ones a Personalized Message from Santa!

You may have already heard of this site, but I wanted to pass along the info just in case some of you haven't.  Portable North Pole is a website that sends out personalized video messages from Santa Claus to anyone you'd like {child, friend, spouse, etc}.  You plug in the recipients name and spend a few minutes answering questions to really make it specific to them {where they live, what they did or didn't accomplish this year, whether they were 'naughty' or 'nice', a gift they want, etc}.  Santa's mouth is completely covered by his beard, so you can't see his lips forming words, which is perfect ~ it really looks like he's saying what ever name you plug in!  Your little ones will be amazed and enthralled to see a message from Santa directly to them!

As well as being an amazing thing to do for your child, Portable North Pole is great for adults too!  Last year I sent personalized messages to just about everyone I know, and had a ball doing it.  Young or old, who wouldn't love hearing a completely personalized Santa message?

Click here to see a sample video I made ~ I used the "nice child" format, since that's probably what most of you would select, but I plugged in my {grown-up} friend's info.  {There are also "naughty child", "nice adult" and "naughty adult" options ~ not that kind of naughty adult!  This is Santa!}.  Click here to head to the home page of Portable North Pole.

Merry, Merry!

xoxo
Jillian

{photo credit: thecentsiblefamily.com}

Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day!

It seems like there is a "day" for just about everything ~ Chocolate Cupcake Day, Hug a Left-Handed Person Day, Flip to the Cool Side of the Pillow Day...{I just made all those up, but I wouldn't be remotely surprised if they actually existed...in fact, I'm pretty sure Chocolate Cupcake Day is real, which I fully support}.  I just found out, not a moment too soon, that tomorrow is the second annual Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day!

Click here to visit the official website and see if there is a participating bookstore near you.  Even if there isn't, what a great excuse to get the kiddos out of the house, away from the TV and computer, and let them use their minds and imaginations for a bit.  Bookstores are closing left and right, as printed books get nudged out by their e-reader/tablet counterparts.  I still don't think that print is a completely dying art form, and there are no Nooks, Kindles, or such under my roof.  Even if you are an e-reader convert ~ do you really picture curling up in bed with your toddler to read to them from a tablet?  Probably not.  Books can be an endless source of entertainment for kids, tweens, and teens.

I've been reading since preschool.  I spent my entire childhood with a book in my hand ~ I read at the table {the better to ignore my brother with}, I read in the bath, I read in the pool and at the beach.  I read while walking to and from the bus stop, during the bus ride, and well after the lights were out for bedtime {God bless flashlights and nightlights}.  I always try to give books as part of Christmas or birthday presents to my nieces and nephews, in the hopes that they will develop a love of reading too.  My nine-year-old nephew loves reading, especially the Harry Potter series, and I couldn't be more thrilled.

So swing by a bookstore with your munchkins tomorrow.  You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain if they discover some books they can really lose themselves in.

And with the "Reading Rainbow" theme song playing loudly in my memory....

xoxo
Jillian

Chinese Conception Calendar

Have you heard of the Chinese conception calendar?  It's a chart that's allegedly 700 years old that can predict what your baby's gender will be, simply by using the mother's age at the time of conception, and the month of conception.

Now, it's really meant more for entertainment purposes ~ it's definitely not founded in modern medical beliefs.  However, when I discovered this chart years ago, my husband and I figured out what genders we were supposed to be according to the chart, along with our siblings, niece and nephews, friends, friends' kids {basically anyone we knew whose mother's age we were also aware of}.  We found this chart, among the people we had analyzed, had around an 80-90% accuracy rate ~ well over 50/50 odds.

So whether you want to time your pregnancies to aim for a specific gender, or if you want to just check it out and see how accurate it is for your family, click here to check out the chart on SheKnows.com.

Have you used the Chinese conception calendar to determine your baby's gender?  Did it work?


Happy charting!

xoxo
Bean

{photo credit:  chinesecalendarforpregnancy.com}

Turkey Cupcakes

Looking for a last-minute dessert idea for Thanksgiving?  Perhaps something to keep the kids entertained while you're busy in the kitchen?  Try this one from Family Fun on for size!  {Pulling this together super-last-minute?  Grab some already-frosted cupcakes in your supermarket's bakery section!}

 

Turkey Cupcakes

Ingredients 

24 frosted cupcakes

24 Nutter Butter cookies

2-3 Tbsp white frosting {or decorator's gel}

Mini chocolate chips

Fruit leather {various colors and flavors}

Toothpicks

Directions

• To make each turkey, press the lower portion of a Nutter Butter cookie into a frosted cupcake for the bird's head.
• Use tiny dabs of frosting to stick on mini-chocolate chip eyes and a red fruit leather wattle.
• For each turkey's tail, use a butter knife to cut out a dozen feather shapes {about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide} from fruit leather.
• Lay 6 of the feather shapes on a flat surface and place a wooden toothpick lengthwise atop each so that one end of the toothpick extends about an inch below the feather.  Layer another fruit leather layer atop each of the 6 shapes, sandwiching the toothpicks between them.
• Press the 2 layers together to make them stick, then fringe the edges of the feather with a butter knife.  Stick the colored feathers into the cupcake behind the cookie head.

Gobble, gobble folks!  Have a great Thanksgiving!

xoxo
Bean

{photo credit:  Family Fun}

Kids Table versus Grownups Table

Thought this comic from The Oatmeal was too funny ~ and too relatable! {Click here to check out the entire post ~ warning:  some "adult" language}.  Does anyone else find the grownups table so boring sometimes?  Sure, I like catching up with siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.  But if I wanted to sit around and discuss politics and current events, I'd join a CNN roundtable.  The kids table may be a whole lot noisier, and messier, but at least they chat about interesting, entertaining, and varied topics!

This Thanksgiving, I'll be at my dad's house.  No kids table and adults table there ~ we're all adults {sort of} and no one has started having kids, so we'll be at one long table together.  Luckily, we tend not to discuss politics and such anyway; we'll talk about what's going on in our lives, and seeing as how I have four brothers, a dad, and a husband, sports {another topic that would send me straight to the kids table to talk about dinosaurs, school, and iCarly, if I could}.

Will you be at the kids table or the adults table this Thanksgiving?  Which table do you prefer, and why?

Enjoy your holiday weekend, everybody!  Happy Thanksgiving!

xoxo
Bean

Pilgrim Cupcakes {P.S. ... Adorable!}

How precious are these Pilgrim Cupcakes from Tonya Staab?  They are adorable and festive, as well as being a great project for your little ones!  Wouldn't these treats make the perfect centerpiece for your dessert table on Thanksgiving Day?  And the best part is there's a lot of "semi-homemade" elements here ~ pre-made cookies, candies and icing are on the list, making it easier for you!  {Simplify even more by buying already-made, unfrosted cupcakes instead of making your own!}

Ingredients

• Plain vanilla cupcakes {even better -- in brown paper cupcake liners!}
• White icing
• Cocoa powder
• Chocolate for melting {I find mini-chips melt the easiest, at 30 second intervals}
• Large marshmallows
• Chocolate-coated cookies {like fudge-striped cookies}
• Wilton Sparkle Gel in white, yellow and black

plus

• Large round Wilton tip with a disposable piping bag
• Toothpicks {or narrow skewer}

Begin by making the Pilgrim hat.  Melt the chocolate in the microwave.  Using a pick to dip the marshmallow, coat each marshmallow in melted chocolate.  Place marshmallow carefully on top of an upside down cookie.  Repeat with the other marshmallows and cookies, and refrigerate until set.  Once chocolate has set, gently remove toothpick.  Using the sparkle gels, draw white bands and yellow buckle on the marshmallow and set aside.

Mix a small amount of cocoa powder with plain white icing, gradually adding cocoa until you have a color you are happy with {for your Pilgrim's "face"}.  Assemble frosting tip and bag and fill bag with icing.  Holding your hand steady, keep the tip just above the surface of the cupcake and pipe the "face" on {see middle picture below for how it should look at this point}.  Push down slightly while piping to get frosting to spread a bit and cover more of the cupcake.

Place the marshmallow/cookie hat on top of the icing face and use black sparkle gel to add facial features.

And there you go!  Easy, adorable, and fun!

xoxo
Jillian

{Photo credit:  tonyastaab.com}

25 Days of Christmas Schedule

ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas programming guide has been posted!  Click here to view and print a copy of the schedule.

Like most years, they have a mix of Christmas classics for all ages {The Polar Express, The Grinch, Christmas Vacation, The Santa Clause}, ABC Family originals {Holiday in Handcuffs, 12 Dates of Christmas}, and movies that have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas {a Harry Potter marathon again this year, ABC Family?}.  Many on the 25 Days of Christmas message board are already voicing their displeasure at the non-Christmas movies ~ and I agree, when I think "Happy Holidays", Disney-Pixar's Up is not the first {or second, tenth, or top 1000th} film that comes to mind.  However, there are plenty of traditional films available for viewing throughout the month of December.  Plus, don't most of us own our favorite Christmas movies anyway?  See below for a quick reference guide to when you should set your DVR for your faves...

The Santa Clause
Thursday December 1 7pm/6c
Wednesday December 21 8pm/7c

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Friday December 2 8pm/7c
Friday December 23 8pm/7c

The Polar Express
Monday December 5 8:30pm/7:30c
Tuesday December 20 9pm/8c
Sunday December 25 8pm/7c

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Wednesday December 7 9pm/8c
Monday December 12 9 pm/8c

That's just a sampling of the air times for some of the more popular Christmas movies.  Check the 25 Days of Christmas schedule for a complete list of their holiday programming {including their late-November "countdown" offerings}.  Surprisingly, there is no classic Rudolph listing ~ just an airing of Rudolph and the Island of the Misfit Toys.  Santa Clause 2 also slipped through the cracks, although parts 1 and 3 made the cut.  Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is featured several times in November and December, but there is nary an original Home Alone showing in sight.  Some strange choices by ABC Family, but I suppose the idea is to mix it up each year. 

If you're hoping to catch some traditional Christmas flicks that ABC Family doesn't have down on the schedule, you may be in luck ~ Saturday December 17 and Saturday December 24 are both listed as airing a "Holiday Classics Marathon" all day long.  Here's hoping for a little good old-fashioned, Burl Ives and psuedo-claymation Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer action!


Happy Holiday Viewing!

xoxo
Bean

Baby Girl Ballet Baby Shower Gift

Even when I don't try to, I often wind up with a "themed" gift, especially for things like baby showers, bridal showers, and housewarming parties.  {One of my favorite housewarming gifts, which I've put together a few times ~ a "chocolate"-themed gift basket of things to use around the house.  I've included things like chocolate-scented candles, chocolate-based cookbooks, chocolate-scented bath gels, and of course kitcheny goodies like chocolate cake mix, chocolate frosting, chocolate chips, brownie mix, a canister of cocoa, etc}.  This weekend I attended a baby shower for my soon-to-be-niece, and although it didn't start out intentionally, I wound up with a decidedly "ballet" themed gift.

The item that got the ballet-ball rolling was the picture.  My sister-in-law {actually, both of my sisters-in-law...sister-in-laws?} were actively involved in ballet growing up ~ they took ballet lessons throughout their childhood and got to dance in Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker several times.  Knowing that ballet was special to my SIL, I decided to see what was out there online for ballet-esque pictures.  I wound up on All Posters.com searching the "ballet dancer" category of posters.  I wanted something that wasn't too little-girlish {so it can grow with her if she wants}, but I didn't want something too grown-up either.  When I found this picture for $14.99, I knew it would be perfect.  I opted out of having the website frame it for me {starting at $44.99?!}, and instead selected a frame and a mat {which matches her purple nursery} at Michael's for a grand total of $9.98!  The poster is a slightly unusual shape, so I had to do a little behind-the-frame nipping, tucking, and taping ~ but I think the final result looks great!

 Next I added two Angelina Ballerina books.  I still wasn't really going for a "theme" ~ I love the Angelina Ballerina series for little girls, and I am a big, big proponent of gifting kids books that they can grow with while they're still young enough to not think that books are a lame gift.  Also, my SIL has wanted to name a daughter Angelina for a long, long time {and not because of Angelina Jolie}, although I think her hubby isn't on board with that name.  In any event, into my Amazon shopping cart went two Angelina books.

Lastly, I perused Old Navy's baby girl selection {I think I focused on the sale section}.  Once I saw the dance-oriented clothing available, I knew I was heading into theme territory.  I snagged this 3-6 month long-sleeved onesie and this 24-month "tutu cute" t-shirt {1. I like to give new parents bigger-sized baby clothes, even though the teeny-tiny newborn clothes are irresistible ~ I figure they get enough of those; 2. The t-shirt was sold out in smaller sizes.}  At about $7 each, they were a great price and pulled my whole gift together.

All wrapped up in pink-and-green polka-dots, my shower gift was complete! Sorry for the lousy picture ~ I forgot to take one of the finished look until I was at the shower.  The gift bag on the left and cleaning bottle on the right weren't part of my gift. :)  {The large box is a Diaper Genie off of the gift registry}.  I tend to spend more on close friends and close family than I would on acquaintances or family who I'm not really close to, but I also love to get a great deal.

There are lots of ways to center your gift around a "theme" and still stay on budget.  The Children's Place has a great selection of high-quality baby clothes, and you can get unbelievable deals on sale items.  It's free to get on their mailing list to receive coupons, and if you combine their great sales with a 20% off coupon, you can get clothes for literally a few dollars a piece.  Barnes and Noble frequently emails coupons to their "members" {again, free to sign up}.  And always remember to price-check things like movies and books at Amazon ~ sometimes you can get brand-new items for much lower than suggested retail price.  Go in on a group gift if that helps with budgeting, or adapt one of these themes to fit your criteria:

• Grab the baby tub off of their registry {most mamas register for one}, and add some bath items that they may have also registered  for ~ towels, washcloths, baby shampoo, bath toys, etc.  You may even be able to find an itsy-bitsy baby bath robe {guaranteed to draw awww's from shower attendees} for a great price at Children's Place or Macy's.  The most fun part of this gift?  The tub itself serves as the "gift basket" ~ pile the other items inside {wrapped or not}, wrap gauzy white tulle around it {you can buy tulle at Michael's or most Walmarts}, and tie at the top with a pretty ribbon.

• Try a "feeding time" themed gift ~ stick close to the registry for this one, as Mom will probably feel strongly about the brands baby is exposed to.  Depending on her plans, those gifts could include a breast pump, Boppy and burp cloths, or bottles and formula.

• One gift-theme that is sure to get lots and lots of use ~ "potty time"!  Think Diaper Genie or diaper pail, diapers, wipes, changing pad covers, and Desitin or Vaseline.  Again, stick close to the registry if Mama-to-Be has registered for these items ~ she probably is particular about which diapers and wipes will be touching baby's behind.

• There are lots of bedtime items on baby registries.  Pick from sheets, crib bumpers, mobiles, pajamas and sleeping gowns, nightlights, and baby monitors.  If it's on the registry, a humidifier would also fit into this theme. To personalize the gift a little more and include something that isn't on the registry, you could add some classic bedtime books {Goodnight Moon, anyone?}.

Just remember to gift Mama some things off of her registry ~ it's designed to let us know what she wants and needs, and to help avoid duplicates of gifts.  We want to personalize the gifts, of course, but remember that your taste and Mom's taste may not be the same.  I did take a bit of a risk buying my SIL the framed picture ~ it wasn't something she registered for, of course.  I know from knowing her that it wouldn't bother her that I had chosen something to hang on her baby's wall.  Also, I didn't choose something I liked {although I like it}, but something that I knew would have meaning for her.  Lastly, I made sure it would match the colors she was decorating the nursery in {which I determined from her registry}.  I give her credit ~ I think I would want complete control over decorating and wouldn't want people selecting decor items that I may not like.  It's certainly not a risk I would take with just about anyone else I know ~ I just knew she would be okay with it.

Moms out there ~ what were the "best"/most useful shower gifts you received at your baby showers?

xoxo
Bean

Keep a Lid on Your Kids' Candy Consumption - AND Give Back!

Well, it's November.  Trick-or-treat time is over, but if you've got little ones, the season for eating way. too. much. sugar has just begun!  With their treat bags brimming with Reese's cups, Kit-Kats, Snickers, and who knows what else, the unfortunate opportunity for your kids to be in a constant state of sugar overload is a very real possibility.  But with a little effort, you can limit their sweets intake {without being mean!} and even teach them about the joy of helping others.

First things first ~ ration out that candy!  Choose the number of pieces of candy that you're comfortable with them consuming daily {two?  three?  five?}.  Then have them ration out the candy into little treat bags, plastic baggies, or similar.  You could do two weeks worth, or maybe enough to last them through the month {again, depending on what you're comfortable with, and depending on how much candy they have}.  You could do the rationing for them if you'd like, but by having them do it themselves they can ensure they get their favorites, and they can start to understand the idea of controlling portion sizes.

Next, research Halloween Candy Buy Back programs in your area {click here for info}.  What's a Candy Buy Back program?  Dentists "buy back" your kids Halloween candy {or some of it}, in exchange for cash, coupons, toothbrushes, and more.  They then send the candy to troops overseas.  The link above allows you to search by zip code to find a dentist near you that participates, and also has lots of info about how the program works.  Act fast if you want to participate ~ many dentists will be hosting their Buy Back days within the next week.  {Thanks to my friends over at Six in the Suburbs for posting about this great cause!}

What a great way to not only teach your kids about not overindulging and how to enjoy correct portions of anything; but also to start teaching them at a young age about the importance and satisfaction of giving back and helping others ~ a timely holiday lesson!

Enjoy those sweets, sweets!

xoxo
Bean

{photo credit:  blisstree.com}

Design Inspiration: Celebrity Nurseries

Just because we don't all have celebrity-sized bank accounts doesn't mean we can't have homes that look like a million bucks.  I routinely tear out pictures of rooms I like from magazines to save in an inspiration binder for when I actually have a house.  {Well, in theory I save them in a binder ~ in reality, I save them in a pile somewhere, and I have a binder still in the Target bag from when I bought it}.  Sometimes the pictures I save feature celeb homes, and sometimes they're just pictures I come across in a Women's Day-type magazine.  The pictures may feature a piece of furniture I adore, a color scheme I'd like to copy, or a whole room set-up that I could draw inspiration from.  I like to think about how I'd design every room in my future house, but one of my favorite groups of pictures to save are the baby nurseries.

Baby nurseries of the rich and famous can range from over-the-top and opulent to simple and serene.  Most of them have at least a few elements you could duplicate in your own house.


Elegant
Luxe fabrics, grown-up worthy color palates, and decadent details

The nursery where Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's twins lay their little heads is actually not as extravagant as I would have expected from the diva, although I'm sure she selected the finest fabrics and furniture that money can buy.  Save for the chandelier and the almost life-sized giraffe, the room is actually kind of understated {by Mariah Carey standards, anyway} ~ creamy neutrals, sage greens, and baby pinks complete the whole color scheme.

Rascal Flatts singer Jay DeMarcus and wife Allison also decorated their daughter's nursery in beautiful neutrals ~ creams, tans, golds, and pinky-beiges.  Although the two crystal chandeliers and what appear to be crushed velvet golden-hued drapes might be a bit over-the-top, I do love the intricate, vintage-y carvings on baby Madeline's crib.

Unique
Anything goes ~ whimsical themes, bright colors, and special touches that no one else has

Back in 2008, Christina Aguilera took an eclectic approach to decorating baby Max's room ~ video game-style mural on the wall, lots of teddy bears, and an enormous "Man in the Moon" fixture {which was actually featured on stage during her tour the year before}.  Most of us can't ~ or won't ~ get our hands on a 10-foot scowling moon for baby's room, but the darling round white crib is definitely worth considering.

When Manny Ramirez played for the Red Sox, he decked out his son's room in their Boston condo with {what else} full-on baseball decor.  A hand-painted mural of Fenway Park under the lights ~ complete with a scoreboard, cheering fans in the stands, a twinkling dark blue sky, and the famous Citgo sign ~ covered the walls and ceiling.  A baseball-themed boys' room?  Perfect!

Traditional
Soft colors, comfortable furniture, child-friendly decor

Marcia Cross's twin daughters' nursery has a spa-like vibe to it, doesn't it?  Dusty purple walls + clean white furniture and detailing = a calming environment to bond in with your baby {with comfortable matching armchairs to slump in during those 3 a.m. feedings and all night scream-a-thons}.

The nursery Jessica Alba pulled together for new baby Haven is bright and breezy, with sporadic pops of color {note the multi-colored staggered picture frames and bright-blue bookshelves}.  With a sturdy woven area rug and decor that isn't too matchy-matchy, baby Haven's room could easily belong to any kid in the neighborhood.

The last two pictures show Brooke Burke's shabby chic nursery for daughter Heaven Rain.  A classic pink-and-white palette, wood-beamed ceiling, plush daybed for mom to rest in and Heaven to grow into, and plenty of country-chic details make this simple design scheme simply fabulous.
 

My Favorite
 A little bit of this and a little bit of that become a stunning, personalized space

As if Ali Landry, former beauty queen, wasn't perfect enough ~ she also created an amazing, enviable room for her baby girl Estela.  The room featured is actually Estela's playroom, but the plush, pretty decor could easily be used in a nursery.  Using pinks and yellows, stripes and florals, Ali makes the room flow by keeping everything in the same color family.  Overstuffed armchairs and comfy-looking pillows make the space inviting, and personal touches {framed original Barbie sketches; baby dresses worn by Ali and Estela hanging on the wall} personalize it.  Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.

And there you have it ~ a range of nurseries for the Hollywood set that run the gamut from completely classic to out-of-this-world.  While you and I may or may not be able to afford the exact furniture, linens, and interior designers that the stars can, with some creativity and resourcefulness, you can create the room of your dreams!  Pull inspiration from everywhere around you to create color palettes, themes and personal touches that make the room yours.

xoxo
Bean

{photo credits:  momfinds.com; people.com; hookedonhouses.net; boston.com; people.com; people.com; qualitybath.com; newarrivalsinc.com; people.com; people.com}

A Great Discount Shopping Site for the Whole Family

So by now we're all familiar with Groupon, right?  Groupon offers daily deals, via email and their website, and if a predetermined number of people want to buy the deal, they all get to purchase said deal at a fantastic price.  Do you use some of the other "daily deal" websites, though?  There are a ton of "invitation-only" sites that offer hugely discounted deals daily, like Groupon ~ but unlike Groupon, you aren't depending on a group of strangers to want to buy the same deal before you can purchase it too.  With these sites, if a deal is up, it's yours to purchase ~ and they offer anything from women's and men's clothing and accessories to travel packages around the world.  My favorite of these 'discount' sites is Rue La La.

Signing up for a Rue La La account is free, and once you sign up you have access to all their ever-changing deals and discounts.  Every deal has an expiration date {it's usually a few days}, and when you're signed in on the site you can preview what deals are on deck for the next few days {so you know when to sign back in and buy something fab, natch!}.  Rue La La sets up their deals in "boutiques" ~ for example, a Calvin Klein boutique or a Pottery Barn boutique {neither of which are listed right now ~ just an example}.  Instead of offering a particular style of pants, or a certain lamp or end table, for sale, there are a number of items in each boutique to choose from.  Their boutiques showcase big-name designers; as such, sometimes the deals are still a bit pricey.  A lot of times, though, they're absolute steals!  {Affordable Christmas shopping for the whole family, anyone?  I think yes!}

Want some examples of what Rue La La has to offer?  No problem!  Here we go...


Women
From top:  Gemma Grey Python silk top for $49.90 {reg $135}; Hype "Lyn" jade dot print silk blouse for $59.90 {reg $132}; Casadei heels {on left ~ Satin Peep-Toe Pump for $329.90, reg $850}

 Men
From top:  Briggs & Riley "Verb" expandable rolling case for $159.90 {reg $329}; Cullen Black wool-cashmere crewneck sweater for $69.90 {reg $175}; Peter Millar Alpine vest for $49.90 {reg $149.50}.

Living
From top: Canvas to Art custom sepia canvas for $49.90 - $119.90 {reg $74 - $205}; Company C "Fairfield" duvet and sham for $39.90 - $119.90 (reg $80 - $425}; Vera Wang "Love Knots" wine glass for $19.90 {reg $42.50}; Bartholomew Park Winery 3-bottle mixed set for $69.90 {reg $108}.

Travel
Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa 3-night or 7-night packages for one or two people for $1,799 - $8,949 {reg $2,785 - $12,230}

Kids
LittleMissMatched pink and purple mod trench for $39.90 {reg $72}; Pickles "Mac" 3-piece dinner set for $19.90 {reg $34.99}

Whew!  And those were just some of the deals available right this minute on Rue La La.  Remember, new deals pop up daily and they're only available for a limited time, so the merchandise may be completely different when you get a chance to look them up.  As you can see though, they have a wide range of products available, in a very wide price range. 

Interested in checking out Rue La La or signing up?  Click here!


Have fun browsing, girls!

xoxo
Bean

{photo credits:  all ruelala.com}

Halloween Entertainment Round-up!

 

I love a good Halloween special {not as much as I love a good Christmas special, but we're not quite there yet}.  When I was younger, I could watch a scary movie {or Unsolved Mysteries} in the dark, late at night, by myself...and love every second of it.  For some reason, the older I've gotten, the more of a scaredy-cat I've become ~ I haven't watched Scream in close to a decade, I haven't seen any of the Paranormal Activity flicks, and just the thought of Robert Stack's voice narrating those eerie Unsolved Mysteries sends chills up my spine.  But I still love some good, clean, family-friendly spooks ~ like the movies pictured above {well, admittedly, I haven't watched Double, Double, Toil and Trouble since the mid-90s ~ but it's still getting four- and five-star reviews on Amazon, so I guess the Olsen twins have still got it!}. I own Hocus Pocus and have watched it every single year since it came out; my heart skips a beat when any Charlie Brown seasonal special airs.  All of these DVDS, and more Halloween-y films for kids of all ages, are available on Amazon, some for only a few dollars.

If you don't feel like adding to your movie collection but still want to get into the spooky spirit of things, get ready to set your DVR.  Disney Channel's "Monstober" event has been going on all month, and includes Halloween specials of most of their hit shows and repeats from previous seasons ~ and Disney tends to air, and re-air, and re-air their shows, so catching a repeat of already-aired episodes shouldn't be a problem.  For the wee little ones,  Nick Jr's Halloween marathon starts on Monday October 24th at 9 a.m., with specials from Dora, Diego, Max & Ruby, and more.  And ABC Family's "13 Nights of Halloween" kicks off on October 19 and airs different features straight through Halloween night {see the line-up below}.

So rustle up some candy corn, fun-size chocolates, and any other ghoulish goods you can think of, and settle in for some eerie entertainment!

Boo! ;)

xoxo

Bean

Wednesday, October 19
Pretty Little Liars Marathon at 11a/10c - 8/7c
Pretty Little Liars Halloween Special at 8/7c

Thursday, October 20
Hocus Pocus at 9/8c

Friday, October 21
Beetlejuice at 9/8c

Saturday, October 22
The Addams Family at 8/7c

Sunday, October 23
Coraline Network Television Premiere at 8/7c

Monday, October 24
Melissa & Joey Halloween episode at 6/5c
Bewitched ABC Family Premiere at 6:30/5:30c

Tuesday, October 25
The Haunted Mansion at 7/6c

Wednesday, October 26
Disney/Pixar's Monsters Inc at 7/6c

Thursday, October 27
Scooby-Doo at 9/8c

Friday, October 28
The Addams Family at 7/6c

Saturday, October 29
Hocus Pocus at 8/7c

Sunday, October 30
Van Helsing at 8/7c

Monday, October 31
Casper at 7/6c

Is That a "Tick Tock" I Hear?

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.  ~ Anonymous

To have a baby, or not to have a baby?  And if so ~ how???

Not how how ~ but how on earth do all the logistics work out? The closer I get to 30, the closer I see the end of my childbearing years looming ahead, and the more pressure I feel to make a decision right this minute.  People I went to high school and college with are starting to procreate in full force.  Whenever I meet a new little bundle of joy, naturally my heart skips a beat and I think "Well, of course I want this in my life".  Whenever I come across a screaming toddler, or even just a normal toddler being a toddler, I think "Well, I probably don't need this in my life right now".

But soft, sweet-smelling newborn or sticky, tantruming toddler ~ how do so many people get all their ducks in a row before starting a family?  People always say you can't wait for the perfect time to have a baby, or you'll never end up having them.  This makes sense to me ~ it's never convenient to spend months {or years} on little sleep; to increase your household spending exponentially without increasing {or possibly with decreasing} your income; to deal with stomach bugs, potty training, temper tantrums and the like.  But people make it work.  I understand that, and I think I'm ready for those types of sacrifices.  But I am a planner, and although I'm a happy person, I am also a worrier.  And because of these traits, I cannot get around the fact that it doesn't seem like my husband and I will ever be prepared {financially, mostly} to start a family ~ at least not before we're also ready for retirement.  So how do people do it, and everyday no less?

I have always wanted kids.  I was barely out of diapers myself when I started demanding to hold the babies at every family function {lucky for me, I have three younger brothers and eight younger cousins}.  I carried my poor brothers around on my hip until they were practically school-aged, and I started babysitting in middle school.  In the past few years, however, I've realized that whenever I spend time with friends children, even just for a couple hours, I leave exhausted.  At 29, am I already depleted of the energy it takes to keep up with little ones?

I've also always wanted to have a big family ~ I am one of five, and God-willing I have always hoped that I would have more than one or two children.  I love the relationships I have with my brothers, and I think sibling relationships are completely unique than any other type of friendship or relationship you have with other people your age.  I want my kids to experience that as well.  Homes full of kids are also full of happy {most of the time} chaos, conversation, laughter, lessons, and love. But with big families come big expenses ~ how can anyone afford kids these days?  I want my children to be able to have the sports, dance and music lessons they want; to be able to afford a shirt or a pair of jeans from whatever the trendy store of the moment is at that time {fingers crossed that Hollister's time has passed by then}; to be able to receive the coveted toys of the year on Christmas morning.  I don't need to be wealthy enough to lavish my children with whatever they want; but I want to be able to give them some things without breaking the bank.

There are so many other questions I have about knowing if or when you should start a family {Buy a house in this economy?; What if my baby is colic?; Could we afford for me to stay at home with the kids, and would I want to?; What if I get postpartum depression?} but this could very quickly turn from a blog entry into a novella.  I know in my heart I do want children, and even though the logistics really don't add up to me, I'm sure when we're ready as we'll ever be, we'll "figure it out" like everybody else does.  My husband, who once stated "They're just kids ~ how hard can it be?" will perhaps have to figure a bit more out than most.  As Charles Osgood once said "Babies are always more trouble than you thought ~ and more wonderful".  I hope that someday, sooner rather than later, we are ready to experience that trouble and wonder.

xoxo
Bean


{photo credit: heidihope.com}

Junie B. Jones and the Unwarranted Reviews?

I decided I wanted to share the children's book series "Junie B. Jones" with you all, and went to Amazon to pull up an image and get an excerpt or two for you.  Junie B. books have been around since the early 1990's, and my stepmother and I began reading them to my younger brothers a few years later.  My brothers were probably between the ages of 5 to 8 {I think?} when we read them this series ~ old enough to be reading themselves, but young enough to still enjoy being read to sometimes.  It was also a series about a girl, which we were concerned might make them turn up their noses, but they were just as entertained as could be.  How great is it {especially nowadays} to have a child interested in reading a book or being read to, when there are countless overstimulating, electronic distractions available to them?  I think it's fantastic, which is why I was floored when I just went to Amazon and read negative review after negative review for Barbara Parks' series.

Junie B. is a spirited kindergartner, and the books are told from her point of view and in her voice ~ that is, the voice of a five-year-old.  This means words that don't exist but kids use anyway {bestest} and fragments/run-on sentences abound.  It also translates into laugh-out-loud one-liners from this fictional kid.  Junie B. is precocious, opinionated, and outspoken, and that's what makes her books so enjoyable for a parent {or older sister, or babysitter} to read.  She is sassy, she speaks her mind, and she gets into trouble ~ that's what creates an interesting plot line for the stories.  That is also what some parents seem to oppose to.  Some reviewers on Amazon cite Junie's "poor behavior", "atrocious manners" and "poor judgement", as well as "subject matter [that is] inappropriate" as reason to avoid the series.  Positive reviewers say that the Junie B. series has "propelled [their children] into the wonderful world of reading chapter books" and are essential for grade-school classrooms; one reviewer pointed out that they are "written to appeal to your child's sense of humor...and are not meant to be a Book of Virtues".  As of today, out of the 240 Amazon reviews on the first boxed set of Junie B. books, 105 are 5-star, 95 are 1-star, and 22 are 4-star reviews ~ a slight edge in the positive reviews department.

Now, disclaimer ~ I am not a parent.  I have been an actively-involved older sister {especially to my youngest brother, who is 13 years my junior}, a babysitter since the age of 10 or 11 {which is nuts now that I think about it}, and a nanny while I was in college.  But not a parent ~ and I fully appreciate that this means I don't know what it feels like to be a parent, and to make decisions day-to-day that will affect my child and may shape them into the person they're going to be.  That said ~ I don't think I would ever use a fictitious character {literary, cinematic, or otherwise} to teach my child what I feel they should know.  Like Dennis the Menace and Eloise before her, Junie B. Jones is a character intended to be entertaining and exaggerated, not an example of how a child should behave.  Show of hands ~ who here, as a child, watched the Dennis the Menace TV series {in syndication, of course} or '90s movie, and/or read about impish Eloise's exploits at New York's Plaza hotel?  What's that?  Just about everyone?  I thought so.  And did you turn out okay?  Yeah, I suspected as much. :)  {For the record, my brothers are currently upstanding citizens in their twenties, who never sassed their teachers or got into any amount of trouble that isn't normal for any child}.

So, what I intended to be a blog informing you about a children's book series you might enjoy sharing with your youngin's turned into more of an op-ed piece, but that's okay.  If Junie B. doesn't seem like the type of 5-year-old you'd like to introduce your grade-school age child to, that's okay {and younger than grade-school wouldn't be the right audience ~ the humor would go over their heads, and there are few pictures}.  And those parent reviewers have a good point ~ I would never use the Junie B. Jones books to teach my child proper grammar and sentence structure.  When I was growing up, our teachers actually taught us those things though {and also about poetic license, somewhere along the line}, and we just used books for entertainment.

But if you think your kids will get a kick out of Junie B.'s adventures and mishaps, and think they would enjoy reading silly stories about a kid going through the same things they are and, yes, learning from them in the end {First day of school?  New baby in the the house?}, you might want to give her a try.  Barbara Parks' series allowed my stepmom and I to spend quality time with my brothers at an age when they didn't "need" us quite so much any more, sharing belly laughs and forming memories that I still hold on to a good fifteen years later.

I'll leave you with an excerpt from Junie B. Jones' first book, "Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus".

My name is Junie B. Jones.  The B stands for Beatrice.  Except I don't like Beatrice. I just like B and that is all.

I'm almost six years old.

Almost six is when you get to go to kindergarten.  Kindergarten is where you go to meet new friends and not watch TV.

My kindergarten is the afternoon kind.

Today was my first day of school.  I'd been to my room before, though.  Last week Mother took me there to meet my teacher.

It was called Meet the Teacher Day.  My teacher was decorating the bulletin board with the letters of the alphabet.

"I already know all of those letters," I said.  "I can sing them.  Except I don't feel like it right now."

My teacher shook my hand.  Only our hands didn't fit together that good.

Her name was Mrs. - I can't remember the rest of it.  Mrs. said I looked cute.

"I know it," I said.  "That's because I have on my new shoes."

I held my foot way high in the air.

"See how shiny they are?  Before I put them on, I licked them."

Happy Reading!

xoxo
Bean


 

{photo credit: randomhouse.com}