Review and Giveaway: Pony Sisters Ponchos

Last week we got something in the mail that I was so so excited about. Pony Sisters Ponchos turned my sweet Little AG into the most adorable version of little red riding hood EVER! We got this awesome red fleece poncho for Little AG to try out and we just love it (and she loves how it flies behind her when she runs!). Even though the product was developed in Seattle (brrrrr) the fleece is actually the perfect material for our relatively warm weather year-round here in Louisiana. Rare is the day when we need something other than a light jacket (it's SO depressing, really) so this is the perfect way to keep her warm. She can't take it off, but it also doesn't bother her like a jacket would because it's not bulky and doesn't get in the way. Oh, and have I mentioned how irresistibly cute it is? I'm just sayin'.

Some cool things about Pony Sisters Ponchos that you should know: It is a mom-owned, mom-developed, and mom-run company (I love Mompreneurs!). The idea for their ponchos came about because the owner's daughter hated to wear jackets. Her mom sewed her a fleece poncho to wear to keep her warm, and they started getting stopped everywhere they went to ask where they got it. (Because, as I have already mentioned, it is so stinkin' cute!) It was one of those "ah ha!" moments, and the idea for Pony Sisters Ponchos was born.

Oh yeah, it even has pockets on the inside of the poncho to keep little hands warm. Even cooler, the pockets aren't visible from the outside of the poncho, so it makes you feel all secret-agent-like. Little AG has just recently discovered the joy of pockets, so this has provided lots of entertainment for us.

The ponchos are extremely well made and look very professional. I can say with 100% certainty that I know you will love these ponchos as much as we do. When Little AG grows out of her small, we are promptly buying a Medium, and then the rest of the sizes. I can already tell that this will be one of our wardrobe staples!

Ok, gush gush gush. Gushing is complete. How about winning one? Would you like that? I thought you might. Just follow these easy-peasy rules below to enter:

• Head over to Pony Sisters Ponchos and pick out your favorite poncho. Then come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me which one you would love to have for the little poncho-wearer in your life!
  
• 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 post.
• Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate post.
  
• Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati (there is a "Fave this Blog" button in my right sidebar) and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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

Oh, and psssst -- have you heard about our Pink Dyson Giveaway? There is still time to enter! You can also win a copy of the Naked Brothers Band Season 2, or a complete Holiday Card Package from Tiny Prints.

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 October 30th, 2008.

The Holidays are coming! Tiny Prints Giveaway

I love the Holiday Season -- everything about it makes me grin from ear to ear. I am in a the best mood for almost 2 months straight and am almost like a child again. Every year one of my favorite things to do yet one of my biggest challenges is to find the perfect Christmas card. Last year I drove hubby nuts with over 15 different screenshots of what different cards would look like personalized for our family before we chose one. It literally took me almost a week to make a decision. This year I'm getting a jump start on our Christmas cards by checking out all of the amazing stuff at Tiny Prints. Check out some of the great cards I found there -- and this is just scratching the surface!!


Tiny Prints has generously offered to give one lucky Chic Shopper Chick reader a complete Holiday Card package -- which will include 50 of a selected card of your choice, 72 address labels and 60 stamps with the matching card design. To enter to win, you need to follow the rules below. Please pay attention, because it is a little different than my previous contest rules!

Please check out the Tiny Prints Holiday Photo Cards and search for the holiday photo card with “slushy to chic” in the description. Hint: It's in the first two pages. Once you've identified the correct card, you should click “ask a friend” to share the card to my e-mail address (contests at chicshopperchick dot com) with your fun and creative greeting then click “Save in Favorites.” Then share that same greeting in the comments section of this post and you’re entered! The winner will be selected from those who chose the correct card and provided the most fun & creative greeting!

That's it! This contest is open to all participants throughout the world! So please, enter! This contest ends November 7, 2008.

Giveaway: Naked Brothers Band, Season 2

Real Brothers. Real Music. Not Really Naked.

When I read the tagline I have to admit I was a bit relieved! With the 3rd season of the Naked Brothers Band beginning to air on Nickelodeon comes the release of the 2nd season on DVD. The show that started it all with a movie has taken off among the pre-teen audience.

A little background on the show: "When two stars of the show, Nat and Alex were young, one day they announced, "We’re the Naked Brothers Band!" while dancing naked around their apartment after a bath. They formed a band in preschool with Nat's best friends." A band. In Preschool. Woah! These guys are truly talented.

All of the music on the show is written by kids (Nat and Alex) and is specifically for kids. The show is best suited for kids between the ages of 1 and nine -- but adults will jam out to this fun show too! You can pick up season 2 of the Naked Brothers Band on Amazon.

Win it! Would you like to win a copy of the Naked Brothers Band, Season 2? To enter, follow the easy peasy rules below!

• Leave a comment on this post - but a little effor would be nice. No "I wanna win" or "Enter me". kthxbai.
  
• 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 post.
• Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate post.
  
• Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati (there is a "Fave this Blog" button in my right sidebar) and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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 October 29th, 2008.

http://www.chicshopperchick.com/2008/10/naked-brothers-band-season-2.html

Win a Pink Dyson DC16!

I wanted to do something very special in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month here on Chic Shopper Chick. While I have never personally been touched by Breast Cancer, I am an avid supporter of finding a cure. You can support efforts by purchasing products that you normally already buy that are specially marked this month with a pink ribbon -- partial proceeds from those sales will go towards finding a cure.



Dyson has released the new handheld DC16 Root 6 in Pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, and they are committed to raising more than a million dollars to finding a cure this year. For every Pink Dyson vacuum cleaner that you buy, you will be helping to find a cure as $10 from each sale will be donated to the Foundation. These awesome vacuum cleaners are available exclusively at Target, but Dyson and Chic Shopper Chick have teamed up to give you the chance to win one here!

If you've never owned a Dyson product, you are certainly missing out. We personally own a Dyson Ball DC25 and we love it. My carpet is in need of a makeover, but since our DC25 has been around, it looks 10 times better, and that is no exaggeration. At least 2 visitors in the past month have commented on how good our carpet looks. About 2 months ago, Little AG knocked over a potted plant. I probably would have freaked out before owning the Dyson, but instead I had the sound mind to take pictures of it before I vacuumed.

Here are the pictures of it right after she knocked it over - please excuse the bags of clothing that I had by the door preparing to take to Goodwill. Next time she knocks a plant over, I'll remember to move that stuff before I take any photos.

And here are the after photos of my carpet. It took about 5 minutes and emptying the canister twice to make it look like this. I was really happy with the result.

The Dyson DC16 in Pink is just as amazing, I'm sure of it! As with all Dyson products, the DC16 doesn't lose suction, and with it's Root Cyclone Technology it separates dirt, fine dust and debris from the air to handle quick clean-up jobs. The Root Cyclone Technology gives it twice the power and suction of other handhelds and it's lithium ion battery enables it to charge three times faster too. You'll never have to buy a filter -- they are all washable and the DC16 is bagless. Are you in love yet? I am!

To enter to win your very own Pink Dyson DC16, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Visit Dyson's Website and come back here and tell me what your favorite product is from there (besides this one!)
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• Blog about this giveaway and BCA month and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate post.
  
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati (there is a "Fave this Blog" button in my right sidebar) and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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 October 31st, 2008.

<p></p><center><a href="http://www.chicshopperchick.com/2008/10/dyson-pink-dc16-giveaway.html"><img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b30/chanelpinkfashionista/Picture27.png" /></a></center><p></p>

CSC Review and Giveaway: FHI Heat

I look forward to my visits to my awesome stylist, Meggan, every two months. She pretty much rocks my hair, and I never leave disappointed. The only thing that ever stresses me at the salon is that nagging feeling that I'll never get my hair to look like it does when I leave there -- like I'm in a shampoo commercial. Last time I was there, trying to pick up on tips on how to make my hair look good, I said -- "Do you think it's my hair dryer? I mean, is a hair dryer just a blowdryer?"

She pretty much snorted and laughed and, after making sure everyone else had heard my (obviously ludicrous) question, she bent down closely to me and said loudly (because she was blowdrying my hair, she had to be loud and close, you know?) "No. A hair dryer is certainly not JUST a hair dryer." Then she proceeded to give me the specifics on a blowdryer that put my 15 dollar choice to shame.

So, recently I had the opportunity to try out a salon-quality hair dryer from FHI Heat. It certainly puts my little Target number to shame. It is really really light, but dries my hair faster than ever (and I have a LOT of hair). It is really powerful -- it has 3 heat settings and 2 speed settings, plus it has a button for a cool blast and a button for a heat boost. It pretty much rocks. After seeing what a difference this blow dryer makes, I will never purchase a non salon-quality hair dryer again. My hair is so smooth and in such better shape than it used to be just in the month that I've been using it. Plus it's pink. How cool is that? It does retail for $195, but when you think about how often you struggle to make your hair look just like you want it to, it suddenly seems VERY worth it.

The folks at FHI Heat are so sure that you are going to love their products that they are giving one lucky Chic Shopper Chick reader her very own "Technique" flat iron! This Flat Iron retails for $120 and is fantastic! Not only can you use it to make your hair sleek and smooth, you can also use it to make waves and curls! And, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it's PINK!

To enter to win, just follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Visit the FHI Heat website and tell me which of their products is your favorite.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• Blog about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati (there is a "Fave this Blog" button in my right sidebar) and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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

US and entries only, cannot ship to PO Boxes. 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 October 24th, 2008.

CSC Review and Giveaway: K'nex goes to Sesame Street

This contest is now CLOSED. Please see our Contests page for the latest giveaways on Chic Shopper Chick!

"Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Streeeeeettttttttt?" Oh I just used to LOVE to hear that song! I adored Sesame Street as a child, and I love that this educational program is one that is still around to educate MY daughter in the same way that I was. I loved Big Bird the most, but that was before the Elmo craze really hit. I've got to admit that even now, I love Elmo's voice. I know that it won't be long before Little AG discovers Sesame Street on TV, and it will be a show that I won't resist her watching because of it's fantastic educational component.

Oh, and I can't resist quickly sharing this photo of our local (but fantastic) meterologist who I just feels like resembles the Count. Every time he does the weather, I feel like he should say, "Tomorrow the temperature will be 79! 79! Aah! Aah!" (How great would that be?)


Ok, I'll be serious now. Well, I'll try, at least. Thanks to Team Mom, I recently got a blast from my Sesame Street past when my daughter received a Sesame Street Building Set to review! It is perfect for her because she falls at the lower end of the age range (2 to 5) and is just starting to show interest in putting things together and using more of her creative side. We were so excited to see that we had received the Elmo K'nex set -- and my daughter had a blast giggling with Elmo and this fun set. The best thing about it is that it includes three educational "Play & Learn" activity cards that are meant to be enjoyed by parent and child together. One side of the card features alternate building ideas; the other side includes fun facts and activity suggestions. Our set included 47 pieces, which would normally give me a headache, but thankfully K'nex included the storage container with the playset, which makes it easy to clean up the fun neatly when playtime is over.

The sets come in different options - there are the smaller sets for tiny builders that include 14-15 pieces each. They retail for $10.99. There is the Super Grover and Abby Cadabby set that include 30 parts and retail for $14.99. There are the 46 piece sets which include the Elmo's World Set and the Bert and Ernie Set that retail for $21.99. Lastly, there is the ultimate Sesame Street building experience -- the Cookie Monster and Hooper's Store Building Set which includes 80 pieces and retails for $31.99. All sets are being released for the first time this month -- just in time for Christmas!

I know your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews will love these great sets just as much as we do! That said, I'm excited to offer you a chance to win one of these sets for the Sesame Street lovers in your life! To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below.

• Visit the K'nex Website and let me know what you like best about these great new K'nex/Sesame Street sets.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• Blog about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati (there is a "Fave this Blog" button in my right sidebar) and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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

US and entries only, cannot ship to PO Boxes. 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 October 9th, 2008.

Swaddlers Sensitive Diapers (LIVE contest)

When Little AG was born, she was bathed and then, by default, placed into a comfy Pampers Swaddler Diaper. It was what the hospital used. Because they seemed to work well for her, it's what we used too (I figured the hospital had diapered more newborns than I had -- which was none, actually). When we came home, we bought the Swaddlers for her ourselves -- first in the Newborn size, then in size 1 and 2.

Swaddlers have come out with a new part of thier Swaddlers line -- called Swaddlers Sensitive. These diapers have a smart color-changing strip on the outside called a “Wetness Indicator”. It turns from yellow to blue when your baby is wet – pretty convenient for moms on the go! Swaddlers Sensitive are developed for the first five months of baby’s life and are designed to “swaddle” your baby while helping to protect their delicate and sensitive new skin. With a touch of aloe softness and Pampers’ patented Air Dry™ for ultra breathability, this new diaper takes the extra steps necessary to care for your baby during their most fragile months.

Some great features of the Swaddlers Sensitive Diapers include: the wetness indicator, an absorb-away liner to keep wetness and mess away, an umbilical cord notch (in the Newborn size), hypoallergenic, ultra breathable, and soft and stretchy sides.

Win It! Pampers has sent me 2 coupons for any size diapers or pants for your children! To win them, I'm going to do something a little fun and different!

This is a LIVE contest. The person who is comment number 554 will win both coupons for the Free Jumbo Packs of diapers. The only rules:

• You may not comment twice in a row.
• You may not post the same comment twice.
• All comments must be a complete sentence.

So go for it! The first one to 554 wins!

CSC Review and Giveaway: Munny Journey

This contest is now CLOSED. Please see our Contests page for the latest giveaways on Chic Shopper Chick!

Did you know that if you invest $1 a day in your child that you make them a millionaire at age 65? Or, if you make a one-time $5,000 deposit for your child will also make them a millionaire by age 65, with NO ADDITIONAL deposits?

If we follow the plan outlined in the keepsake book "Munny Journey", then Little AG will have $43,115 sitting in the bank by the time she's my age. If she left it alone until age 65, she could retire with $1,354,229 from our initial $5,000 deposit, without ever having contributed anything additional to it herself. At my age, to know I would have that kind of security down the road would feel quite good, I've got to say.



As it is, hubby and I do invest in our futures, but would it be nice if each one of us also had one of these as a back up plan? Unfortunately, it's too late for hubby and I now -- babies have the element of "time" on their side. The keepsake book "Munny Journey" shows you how to help give your children the financial boost they deserve, starting from birth. We all want to do everything we can for our children -- and helping them to prepare financially for the future is no different!

Munny Journey will also take you through steps like choosing a financial advisor, and keeping tabs on your baby's stock or mutual funds. If you're stuck or confused, the Munny Journey Website has additional ideas and tools for you to use.

This would make a great baby shower gift or new baby gift -- especially if you are always looking for that "special" gift. You can purchase Munny Journey through their website for $29.95. It also comes with an Audio CD!

Win It! The folks over at Munny Journey have graciously agreed to offer a copy of Munny Journey to one lucky Chic Shopper Chick reader! To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below:

• Visit the Munny Journey Website, and come back here and tell me what you "number" is! Also, I would love to know why you would like to win!
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• Blog about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati (there is a "Fave this Blog" button in my right sidebar) and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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

US and 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 October 2nd, 2008.

CSC Giveaway: Croco Fusion Flat Wallet

This contest is now CLOSED. Please see our Contests page for the latest giveaways on Chic Shopper Chick!

I recently discovered Bright and Bold - a great woman-owned online boutique that carries a variety of items including eco-friendly, jewelry, baby, kitchen, gifts, home, fashion and more. Several of the times they carry are handmade by indie artists and they also have several lines of exclusive products.

Some of my favorite products from the Bright and Bold website:

I love these Bamboo Kitchen Utensils. They dry very quickly, and you don't have to worry about BPA like you do with plastic, but you also don't have to worry about bacteria like you would with typical wood. $18.95 for the set.



I also love these fantastic Vinyl Chalkboard Decals. Completely re-positionable, these decals can help you make any space more organized. Set of 4 for $24.95.

And check out these fantastic new Envirosax for Kids -- great for bringing toys to Grandmas or for bringing books home from the library, all while being environmentally conscious. $11.95 each (or buy more than 2 and get them for $7.50 each).
Oh, and have you seen these Croco Fusion Flat wallets yet? Lately I feel like I'm seeing them everywhere -- they are adorable and come in a wide array of colors! $24.95 each.

Wanna check out Bright and Bold's other stuff? They are offering you a coupon code (GIVEAWAY) that will save you $5 off any purchase of $40 or more! Bright and Bold already offers free Priority Mail shipping, so the $5 will really make a difference in the cost of your purchase.

Win it! Bright and Bold has graciously offered to giveaway one of the Croco Fusion Flat Wallets like the one above to a lucky CSC reader. To enter, just follow the easy-peasy rules below:

• Visit the Bright and Bold website then come back here and tell me which product from their site (that WASN'T mentioned above) do you love most?
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• Blog about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati (there is a "Fave this Blog" button in my right sidebar) and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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

US and Canadian 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 September 19th, 2008.

CSC Review and Giveaway: My Friends Tigger and Pooh DVD

This contest is now closed. Please check out our contests and giveaways page for the most current giveaways here on Chic Shopper Chick!

Not sure if I've mentioned it before, but Little AG is pretty much in love with Tigger. It all started as an accident, when I brought home a stuffed Tigger one day when she was around 6 months old. She had tons of other stuffed animals, including lots of cutsey pink poodles, ducks, and bears (oh my!) but Tigger was the one that she clung to. We've now expanded our brood of Tiggers to include a wet Tigger (for the bathtub), a smaller beanbag tigger, a key chain tigger, a mini Tigger, a bouncing Tigger, a fuzzy Tigger, and of course, the ever-present original Tigger (and possibly the dirtiest one of them all). And that is the honest truth, no exaggerations. Our child can spot a Tigger from across a crowded room - she just loves that stripedy guy!

Last April we were flipping through the channels on the TV when we noticed a tv show called "My Friends Tigger and Pooh" on Playhouse Disney. When Little AG saw her favorite guy on TV, she danced, squeaked, squealed, and clapped. I had never seen her so excited. (In fact, she loved it so much, that when friends and family came over, we put the show on so that they could watch her reaction.) Fast forward to September, and as you can imagine, I can sing the entire theme song to the show (and frequently do - much to her delight!).

I'll admit it, it's a funny show. Often times I find myself watching and listening too, and I've even been known to rewind it to show hubby a funny part. The writing is clever and the lessons are good. The premise is that Tigger and Pooh, along with their friend Darby, solve various mysteries in the Hundred Acre Wood. The mysteries are things like, wanting to paint something purple and not having purple paint (they eventually mix colors), finding a lost dog, or how to cure Tigger's hiccups. The mystery-solving team is called the Super Sleuths, and they even have their own oath ("Anytime, any place, the Super Sleuths are on the case!").

Today we received a copy of the "My Friends Tigger and Pooh, Hundred Acre Haunt" DVD. It's just in time for our trip to Disney at the end of this month! It's also just in time to get you and your little ones excited about all the great fall holidays! The DVD has 3 complete episodes (a total of 6 storylines in all). I put in the DVD this morning, and Little AG cuddled up on the couch with one of her Tiggers and a stuffed Pooh, and watched one of the episodes. Ok, I'll admit, I watched too.

You can buy your very own copy of "My Friends Tigger and Pooh, Hundred Acre Haunt" on Amazon.com for $14.99.

Win it! Would you like to win your very own copy of this DVD? Follow the easy-peasy rules below to enter!

• Leave a comment telling me who this DVD is for and which Disney TV show or characters your children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews like best.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• Blog about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati. There is a button in my right sidebar, and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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 September 17th, 2008.

CSC Review and Giveaway: Nankeen Tote

This contest is now closed! Please check out our contests and giveaways page to see our current giveaways!

I'm a girl (had you already guessed? Hm, brownie points then...) and I'm a girly-girl at that. What does that mean? I love fashion. Bags, shoes, purses, SHOPPING (hence, the blog and blog name) -- you get the picture. Oh, and I also like art -- stick me in a museum and I can almost sound snobbish, I swear. So, really, what could be better to me than something that is both fashionable and a piece of art at the same time?

Presactly. (That would be precisley and exactly combined.)

Check out these awesome bags by Nankeen. The designs fuse 100% cotton, indigo dye, and exquisite patterns using a traditional Chinese art form that dates back to the Song Dynasty. (If all of that sounds too wordy to you, just suffice it to say that the fabric is created through a really cool process that developed a long, long time ago.)

From the website:

The term "blue nankeen" describes hand-dyed fabric of artistic refinement and primitive simplicity, which originated on the Silk Road over three thousand years ago. Hand-carved stencils, originally made from wood but now from heavy paper, are preapered and a mix of soya bean flour and slaked lime is applied through the openings of the stencil onto the 100% cotton fabric. The cotton undergoes an elaborate hand dying process before it is perfected and made into one of our unique designs.

These bags have been featured in both In Style and Lucky Magazine, and are creating quite a buzz among celebrities. I have the Savanna tote, and I just love it. It functions well as a diaper bag, over night bag, or airplane carry-on. I toted it all around Europe this summer as a more fashionable twist on the diaper bag, and I always got lots of compliments. It also fits my laptop quite perfectly, so it frequently doubles as a computer bag. Oh, and I'm ashamed to admit this, but I sort of left a banana in mine for a week or so and had to wash it -- and after following the instructions on the tag, it came out looking as good as new, and still in great shape.

Would you like to own your very own fashionable piece of art? The kind folks over at Nankeen have graciously offered to give one lucky CSC reader the opportunity to win one of their fantastic tote bags. That is as much as a $175 value! All you have to do to win is follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Visit Nankeen's Tote Section of their website and come back here and tell me which tote you would choose if you won.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• Blog about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati. There is a button in my right sidebar, and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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 September 18th, 2008.

CSC Review and Giveaway: Mabel's Labels

This contest is now closed. Please check out our contests page for the most recent contests and giveaways.


I took Little AG to play at an indoor playground the other day, and it was one of those places where you set your kid's shoes in one of those shoe holders right inside the door -- along with the other 100 pairs of shoes from the other kids. Well, Little AG rarely wears shoes anyway, so I actually managed to leave the place and go to lunch and never realize we were missing them. When I went back to look for them, they were easy to spot among the other 100, because the bright purple labels inside of them clearly had Little AG's name printed on them, along with a sweet little butterfly.

Don't start thinking that I'm all clever-like, and that I had developed a way to keep track of her stuff, or that I had purchased some sort of special shoes for her with her name in them. Nope, it's much more simple than that. Mabel's Labels, a great company out of Canada, had shipped us a bevy of labels for everything under the sun. We have the multi-purpose labels as well, which we stuck on her sippy cups so that they wouldn't get mixed up at playdates. They have been through the dishwasher multiple times, and they have really held up. I like to say that they "take a lickin' and keep on stickin'". But, that's just me. It's ok, I revel in my cheesyness.

Mabel's Sticky Labels and Skinny-Minis™ can be used for toys, dishes, bottles and more. Shoe Labels are extra tough and fit nicely on the insole of boots, shoes and more. Bag Tags are sturdy metal tags that are perfect for labeling school bags, diaper bags and other luggage. Their labels are designed to deliver maximum durability - they will withstand the dishwasher, microwave and UV rays for years to come.


Win It! Mabel's Labels has graciously offered one lucky CSC reader a chance to win the Ultimate Back-to-School Combo Pack - ($39.00 value!) for a pack of 40 Skinny-Minis™, 50 Tag-Mates™, 16 Shoe Labels, and 2 Bag Tags. The winner can choose their color combination - True Blue: berry blue, ocean blue, sky blue. Juicy Citrus: orange, lemon, lime. Tickled Pink. Pack in Black

To win, just follow the easy peasy rules below:

• Visit Mabel's Labels and come back here to leave a comment on this post telling me which of their other great products you think you would use the most.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• Blog about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati. There is a button in my right sidebar, and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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 September 11th, 2008.

CSC Review and Giveaway: Pooki and Co Backpack from Oompa Toys

This contest is now closed. Please check out our contests and giveaways page for our most recent goodies!

Oh la la -- check out these adorable backpacks for back to school with Oompa Toys. They are made by the the Paris company "Pooki and Co" but are loved the world over. Little AG has the Lola Garden Backpack with Green accents, and I love how it shimmers and shines. She is only 18 months old, but this backpack fits her -- it's a good size for her, and she loves walking around with it on her back like a big girl! I've taken to packing a few diapers, wipes, and toys in it and letting her use it as a diaper bag -- one less thing I have to carry!

The Lola Garden Backpack is very well made -- it has two padded shoulder straps (with a little bling-blingity shine thrown in) and a reinforced hanging strap. The outside and inside are both easy to clean with a damp cloth, and it seems very resilient (read: when Little AG throws it across the room or scrapes it along the cement, it still looks good.) The inside is roomy, with one interior pocket. It fits a coloring book and bag of markers, 3 diapers, a package of wipes, and a few small toys quite nicely.

These bags would be perfect for a new pre-schooler - it's functional and fashionable (if the 6 and under set can be considered fashionable). It's lightweight and comfy -- Little AG wants to wear it every time we leave the house now. It's really quite adorable.

You can buy the Lola Garden Backpack for $28.99 at Oompa Toys, or you can check out their great selection of backpacks for Back-To-School.

Win it! One lucky CSC Reader will win a Pooki and Co backpack of their choice from Oompa Toys. To win, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Visit Oompa Toys and come back here to leave a comment on this post telling me which Pooki and Co Backpack you would choose if you won.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• Blog about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati. There is a button in my right sidebar, and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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 September 2nd, 2008.

CSC Giveaway: Wiggle Giggle Learn

This contest is now closed. Thanks to all who entered.

I often find myself home with Little AG, wanting to help her learn and to expand her mind, but in all honesty, not knowing what things I can do to facilitate that. I often wished that someone would just give me a list of things to do so that I could do them with her and KNOW that what I was doing was helpful. Thankfully, there is a program out there called Wiggle Giggle Learn that does exactly that.

We recently received a learning program from Wiggle Giggle Learn for Little AG and I love it. It has lesson plans for each week of their life for 2 years! We received the 12-36 month CD, and though Little AG is already 18 months, when we run out of things to do, I dig back into the older lesson plans and we pull some of the activities from them. All of the activities can be done in less than 15 minutes per day, so even busy parents will get good use out of Wiggle Giggle Learn. We have already used so many of the activities, like keeping a stack of books in the car next to her car seat so that she can look through them as we drive along, or creating a box on the floor out of masking tape and teaching her the difference between "inside" and "outside" of the box. I love having the structure that Wiggle Giggle Learn provides, yet being able to pursue the curriculum at my own pace provides me with the flexibility to fit our schedule.

Wiggle Giggle Learn was developed by a Master Teacher (A Certified Teacher - much like you would be a board certified doctor, lawyer, etc) of early childhood education who has taught kindergarten for 15 years. Wiggle Giggle Learn was proud to be named as a top ten finalist (out of 5,500 applicants) for the Seeds for Success: Empowering women entrepreneurs grant given by Yahoo! Small business and Carolyn Kepcher’s (formerly Donald Trump’s assistant) new firm, Finding What Matters.

You can view sample plans on the Wiggle Giggle Learn Website. All of the activities are created so that they require very few materials beyond what is already in your home. The program also teaches you how and in what order babies and toddlers learn, so you have reasonable expectations for progress. My favorite part about Wiggle Giggle Learn is that it's not just about learning, it's about fostering a love of learning, which is a lifelong benefit to your child.

Wiggle Giggle Learn has different packages to fit each budget and each child. You can also purchase all of the Wiggle Giggle Learn products a la carte, if you so desire.

Oh, and who doesn't like FREE! Wiggle Giggle Learn offers free information and parenting tips on their site Learning Early Site so be sure to stop by and check it out! It's chock full of great ideas!

Win it! Tracey Stuckey, of Wiggle Giggle Learn has graciously offered to give away The Ultimate CD Package -- a $216 value -- to one lucky CSC reader! This package includes plans for each child in the family under 5 years old!

The Ultimate package:
Includes...
2 years of weekly activity plans
25 nursery rhymes
18 finger plays
60 vocabulary word cards
20 family field trip cards
9 behavior plan charts
30 reward tickets
Kindergarten readiness checklist
Early childhood teacher support at any time

To enter to win this package -- just follow the easy peasy rules below!

• Visit Learning Early and come back here to leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you learned or tip you'd like to share.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• Blog about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati. There is a button in my right sidebar, and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• 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 post!

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 September 5th, 2008.

CSC Giveaway: Kids Lunchbox Cards

This contest is now closed. Please check out our contests page for the latest giveaways at Chic Shopper Chick.

When I was a wee Shopping Chick, still working on the Chic, my mom used to pack me a lunch to bring to school. I used to love finding her yellow post-it notes in the bag, usually with a hand-drawn picture of an eye, then a heart, then the letter U. It always made me feel good, like she was thinking of me.

Well, Kids Fun Cards has taken that idea and brought it to the next level with their Kids Lunchbox Cards. It's a great way to provide a little lunchtime fun for your child, plus sending that valuable emotional boost by reminding them that you are thinking of them while they are away. The front of the cards always have a riddle or fun fact on them, sometimes with a place to scratch off the answer. The back of the card is blank and looks very much like a postcard, so you can still write a note to your child if you'd like, or draw an "eye heart u" like my mom did!

Each package of Lunchbox cards comes with 5 different cards on different topics, like "Looney Laws", "Gross but True", "Mystical Little People", "It's a Wacky World" and "Riddles". That is a weeks worth of cards in each pack! You can purchase Kids Lunchbox Cards online at their website for 4.95 per pack.

Win it! Kids Lunchbox Cards has graciously agreed to give 3 lucky Chic Shopper Chick readers a package of Lunchbox cards. To win, just follow the easy-peasy rules below:

• Leave a comment on this post telling me which package of Lunchbox cards you'd most like to have if you win.
  
• Please leave a valid email address if you would like to be contacted if you win. Otherwise, winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch.
• If the winner does not respond within 72 hours I will choose a different winner.
• US entries only please!!!
• Earn extra credit! Choose one of the following for ONE extra credit entry. Any further attempts to woo me will be disqualified!
• Write about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.

That's it! This contest will end at 11:59pm on August 22, 2008, and the winner will be drawn via random.org shortly thereafter. Good luck!

Note to Self

This contest is now CLOSED!

Ok, it's just a coincidence that I'm reviewing two books this week, but I just couldn't wait any longer to tell you about this book!

It's called Note to Self: On Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits and it is written with the kind of charm and poise that I only wish came across in my writing! Not only that, but it's written about writing.

This is the second book written by author Samara O'Shea, the first one being For the Love of Letters, a book about the seemingly long-lost art of letter writing. Note to Self, however, focuses on something a little closer to my heart -- writing journals and blogs. A "journalist" I am, so to speak, in the sense that I have kept a journal since I was little, writing down the slightest of things. I understand when O'Shea speaks of the pull, the draw of a brand new journal, and the pressure to write something incredibly profound on those first few pages. However, reading her journal entry from when she was a mere 16 puts all of my entries to shame. Don't let her fool you, she has always had a knack for writing, a thing for words.

There is a section here for bloggers, as blogging is the new-age form of journaling in a sense. As O'Shea says, blogging is more structured than a journal entry, but not quite an article. A blogger herself, she understands what it takes to be a blogger, and to be blogged about. It's nice to be recognized as something legitimate on paper, don't you think? But she also recognizes that blogging is a personal rush. To have your words unedited, changed by no one before they are published.

My favorite aspect of this book is that O'Shea encourages you to make mistakes. To play with words even if you know that grammatically it is not even close to being correct. To write in a stream of consciousness. Overall, she inspires you to be a better writer, for no one else but yourself. This is not a book you choose to read for professional reasons, but for those that are so personal, you dare not share them.

You can pick up a copy of Samara O'Shea's Note to Self on Amazon.com for $13.57

Win it! I have an extra copy of Note to Self that I'm willing to giveaway to one lucky reader! To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Leave a comment on this post telling me why you would like to have a copy of this book.
  
• Please leave a valid email address if you would like to be contacted if you win. Otherwise, winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch.
• If the winner does not respond within 72 hours I will choose a different winner.
• US entries only please!!!
• Earn extra credit! Choose one of the following for ONE extra credit entry. Any further attempts to woo me will be disqualified!
• Place my CSC button in your sidebar and tell me about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my homepage (http://www.chicshopperchick.com) and let me know about it in a separate post with your StumleUpon name too.

That's it! This contest will end at 11:59 pm on August 20th. Good luck!

CSC Review and Giveaway: Ju Ju Be "BeLight"

This contest has now ended. Please check out our contest page for our current contests and giveaways.

The search has ended. I've found IT. The queen of all diaper bags. The Big Kahuna. The whole enchilada. The...well, the other clever stuff I can't think of. You get the point.

This is it.

It's called the WannaBe, and frankly it's because all other diaper bags WannaBe just like it.

This is a diaper bag that seems like it is especially geared towards being at the beach or the pool, because it is totally summer inspired. There is a soft-lined iPod pocked with a little place for your headphones to stick out of without having to unzip the picket. There is a mini-cooler pocket that is fully insulated and is bigger than some those portable ice chests. There are two transparent zippered "mess shuttle" accessory bags to keep wet bathing suits in, and a pocket on the outside that is just perfect to carry a couple of magazines and a book.

You know, even if I didn't have a kiddo I would still rock this bag at the beach. It even has plush padded backpack straps (completely removable), a towel strap on the OUTSIDE of the bag (that way it doesn't take up precious interior room), plus, it has this really awesome Sand Trap™ at the bottom -- you unzip the solid bottom of the bag to reveal a second, mesh layered bottom where all of the sand (or cracker crumbs in our case) can fall through and be shaken out of the bottom WITHOUT having to take everything out.

That's my favorite part, actually. The Sand Trap. Wouldn't it be nice if every bag had those?

Is the WannaBe looking cool to you but maybe a bit too roomy? Check out the BeLight, the lightest diaper bag on the market -- weighing in at a mere 6.4 ounces. This is nice for those quick trips to a friends house or to a playdate where you don't need to bring the kitchen sink with you but still need a few important essentials. I especially like that the strap can be tied in different ways to make the bag longer or shorter depending on your preference. Don't worry though, at 6.4 ounces, it's still has it's own changing pad, a zippered pocket, a divided pocket, and is completely reversible!

These bags are both made by one of the coolest companies on the market, Ju Ju Be. They really make quality products (remember these really awesome stroller clips that I talked about in April?) that still have nice little touches. I love the rhinestones on the zipper pulls and on the buckles of the bag. As the expression goes, it's all in the details!

The WannaBe retails for $165 and the BeLight retails for $35.

Win it! Win your very own BeLight! To enter, follow the rules below!

(If you don't win the BeLight here on CSC, Ju Ju Be gives one away EACH week in their Pink Room, so head on over and check it out!)

• Go look at the different color options of the BeLight and come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me what color you would choose (OFFICIAL COLOR NAMES ONLY PLEASE)!
  
• Please leave a valid email address if you would like to be contacted if you win. Otherwise, winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch.
• If the winner does not respond within 72 hours I will choose a different winner.
• US entries only please!!!
• Earn extra credit! Choose one of the following for ONE extra credit entry. Any further attempts to woo me will be disqualified!
• Write about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post.
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.

That's it! This contest will end at 11:59 pm on August 12th. Good luck!