Get 20% off One Item at ToysRUs

You can get 20% off one regular-priced item from ToysRUs or BabiesRUs now through Saturday, April 13th.  The coupon is good in-store only.

Click here to get the coupon.

Happy Shopping!

Posted by Leslie

A Mommy's Best Ally: The Elf on the Shelf

If you haven't purchased an Elf on the Shelf by now for your kids, I must tell you that you are missing the boat.  I have seen many of the cute, silly, and sometimes inappropriate things Elfs on the Shelf can be found doing.  However, this mom loves how her Elf on the Shelf motivates the kids.

When our elf arrived back at our house, he wrote a letter for the kids letting them know how well-behaved they were last year and how he hopes they will behave the same way this year.  He also told them how he wished he could go to school and how he loves math.  This was especially timely since my son kept saying how he didn't want to go to school.  After reading this letter from our Elf, Ralphie, my son then wrote back a letter to him asking him if he knows any good math problems and he even told him a joke,  It was very sweet.  Definitely something we are going to save. 

A few days later, after having piano lessons, Ralphie told our kids how much he loved hearing them play the piano and how he wished they played more.  To my amazement, the kids went over and started playing a song for him.  They don't ever want to play a song for me, but when they heard our Elf wanted a song, they were very excited.

Bottom line, our Elf on a Shelf does add an extra excitement everyday leading up to Christmas and it is fun for the kids to have a friend from the North Pole!

Posted by Leslie

Target Gift Card Giveaway

It's simple...We L.O.V.E. Target (as Liz's post so clearly pointed out yesterday).  It is truly a happy place for so many people, especially moms.

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping coming up in just a week, wouldn't it be nice to be armed with a $50 Target Gift Card?

We think so!

Hooray!  It's a Giveaway!

(1) lucky HC&B reader will win a $50 Target Gift Card. Please use the Rafflecopter options below to enter.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fijit Friend Winner: Hooray for the Holidays Giveaway

Thank you to everyone who entered the Fijit Friend giveaway.

Congratulations go out to entry #86...One Fabulous Mom!  You won the Fijit Friend by Mattel giveaway!  One Fabulous Mom {wish I would have thought of that online name ;)}, you will be receiving an email shortly from us about claiming your prize!

And please don't forget to enter the Puj Unos Booties giveaway going on now...They are such cute booties and so parent-friendly!

Please stay tuned for more fun "Hooray for the Holidays" giveaways!

Hooray for the Holidays Giveaway: Fijit Friend

If you have ever watched Nickelodeon, then it is very likely you have seen a commercial for a Fijit Friend.  And if you haven't, your kids certainly have!

Fijit Friends are a must have gift for this holiday season.  My daughter was lucky enough to get one for her birthday and she absolutely loves it.  As we imagined, one of her favorite things to do with her Fijit Friend, Willa, is to dance (as seen in the video below).



But dancing isn't all they can do!  Fijit Friends can also tell you jokes, tell you about the weather and pretend to be asleep.  And the nice thing about this friend - she doesn't talk back!

Even though a Fijit Friend is recommended for kids 6 and up, my 4-year old daughter loves it.  And kids of all ages (1-11) have come over to our house and loved dancing and playing with Willa.

Hooray for the Holidays!  It's a Giveaway!

(1) lucky Houses, Couches and Babies reader is going to win a Fijit Friend!  Please see below the 10 different ways you can enter this giveaway.  (Only one is mandatory...the first option of leaving a comment on this post!)

I am so excited to try Rafflecopter for the first time with this giveaway.  (It should make entering the giveaway much easier. )  Choose one or all of the entry options.  It's up to you!  Good luck!

Little Tikes Secret Sale

I am not good at keeping a secret. I just received this email from Little Tikes about a secret sale.

Be sure to enter the promo code SCRT2010 to receive the following deals:

Giddyup N Go™ Pony As you bounce up and down, your ponys legs move and you really go for a ride. SECRET SALE SAVINGS OF $20 PLUS FREE SHIPPING Was $199.99, Now only $179.99

Jump 'n Slide Bouncer When it comes to large toys, our inflatable bouncer and slide equals big fun. Huge inflatable gym measures 9 x 12 x 6 feet. SECRET SALE SAVINGS OF $25 PLUS FREE SHIPPING Was $249.99, Now only $224.99

2-in-1 Scooter The Little Tikes 2-in-1 Scooter grows with your child! It begins as a foot-to-floor ride-on for younger riders that easily converts to a stand-up scooter as your child grows! SECRET SALE SAVINGS OF $6 PLUS FREE SHIPPING Was $39.99, Now only $33.99

Makin' Mud Pies™ Make a perfect mud pie every time with this amazing outdoor kitchen set. Hand-crank mud mixer. Mixer head pivots up and down just like Mom's! SECRET SALE SAVINGS OF $8 PLUS FREE SHIPPING Was $39.99, Now only $31.99

Happy Shopping!

Wii Made My Arm Sore

Santa was kind enough to bring our family a Wii game system this Christmas and this evening was the first time I played an entire game. My husband and I took on Toy Story Mania. The video game is a lot like the ride at California Adventure...except it made my arm sore. I am actually nervous I will wake up tomorrow in pain. I will have to warm up and stretch the next time I play. Even though my arm is sore, it was worth it. We had a great time.

Thanks, Santa!

Toy Safety 101

Toys are designed to be fun for kids, right? Well, not if they choke on them! (Captain Obvious told me to write that!)

Babies and young toddlers have narrow airways, and still a tendency to put just about everything into their mouth. This puts them at an especially high risk of choking.

Here are some safety tips to help prevent your child from choking on a toy:

• Follow the age recommendations on toy packaging. These guidelines are developed, in part, based on safety concerns.
• Be especially careful to keep balloons and broken balloon fragments away from small children. More children suffocate on uninflated balloons and balloon fragments than on any other type of toy.
• Inspect toys regularly. If a small part breaks off a toy, throw the toy away.
• Keep marbles, broken crayons, small balls, small magnetic letters, and other small magnets, beads, toys with small parts, and stuff toys that can be squeezed to fit entirely in a child's mouth off the floor and out of the reach of infants and young children.
• Teach older kids to keep hazardous toys away from younger siblings, including toys with batteries that could fall out.
• Make sure the eyes and noses of stuffed animals are firmly secured.
• don't give vending machine toys to young children. These toys often don't meet required safety regulations.

Have any safety tips you would like to share? Please comment below and pass along your toy safety wisdom.

On no! Curious George Recalled, Too!?!

Just when you thought all of your child's toys had been recalled, there is yet another to add to the list. About 175,000 Curious George dolls were recalled yesterday. The particular dolls were, naturally, made in China and were recalled because they contain unsafe amounts of lead.

The recalled dolls have a plastic face and are sold in five different models, including "birthday," "fireman," "sweet dreams," "tool time" and "tool time with a soft face." They were sold with Curious George story or activity books at toy and discount department stores nationwide from December 2005 through August 2007.

If you are concerned about a Curious George doll you have at home, you can contact Marvel Toys at 800-352-2064. For more information on this recall, you can also visit cpsc.gov.

Toy Recall Tips

Lately, it seems like too many toys are being recalled. In all the chaos and confusion, babycenter.com has put together some tips to help provide a clear direction for parents to take.

1. Check the product number.

2. Take away recalled toys immediately.

3. Throw out any broken or worn-out magnetic toys.

4. Buy toys that are locally made.

5. Look around for other lead hazards.

6. Get your child tested for lead exposure.
7. Keep abreast of future recalls.

Little Tikes Bouncers - Free Shipping!

These bouncers are so much fun for the kids and fairly easy to put up and take down. They are perfect for the summer, especially the Slam n' Slide (featured, top left).

Right now, Little Tikes is offering free shipping on selected bouncers - which is a huge savings. Shipping for large items like this can cost you up to $100.

But hurry, free shipping is only available until June 25.

Thomas the Train Toy Recall

Some of the wooden Thomas the Train and Friends toys have been voluntarily recalled. Please read the following information for more details on all the toys that have been recalled and steps to take.

Build it Up, Knock it Down

This weekend was full of festivities for my son's 2nd birthday party. Our family and friends came through as they always do with amazing gifts.

One gift that has kept my son busy all day (meaning, time to myself!) is the Deluxe Jumbo Cardboard Boxes . They are a fun way to learn about balance and building, and of course, my son loves knocking it down. In true wrecking ball fashion, he says, "Ready, GO!" Then he knocks them down. Again, hours of fun!

The great news, these bocks, made by Melissa and Doug, are half off at the BabyCenter Sale & Clearance Center ($14.99).

12 Days of Christmas...Elmo style!

If you or your child likes Elmo (or perhaps as in the case of my son, Elmo was his third word spoken), then you are going to love the 12 Days of Christmas Elmo from Fisher-Price. Elmo is dressed up as an adorable elf and has his own silly version of the holiday classic. Not only is it a fun toy and a great gift, but a cute holiday decoration for your child's room - or anywhere else in the house you want the furry red monster to sit!


Another fun option is the Very Merry Trio available at Hallmark. The smile these singing penguins and snowman bring to my son's face made it a worthwhile purchase, but the dance moves he displays with this trio makes it priceless. I will be honest, I thought this singing trio might get annoying very quickly, but watching the little penguin tail ring a bell makes it even comical for the hardest to please. And besides, in their TV commercial, this trio lifts everyone's spirits who are delayed at the airport...now if this trio could really do that...we should all be buying singing penguins and snowmen by the truckload. For now, I recommend just starting with one. (The Very Merry Trio is only $14.95 if you purchase 3 Hallmark cards.)