droolicious : amazon

Baby Girl Two-Piece Swimsuit

AmandaHill — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The beautiful two-piece swimsuit by Greendog would be so cute on a little baby girl this summer. It's available in sizes ranging from 12-24 months. I can't get enough of the little flowers on the suit.

It's made from nylon/spandex and lined with polyster.

Click on over to Amazon to check it out.

Crochet Twist-front Shrug

AmandaHill — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT

This crochet twist-front shrug by Amy Byer is colorful and playful. It's great for your sweet girl. The shrug comes with the white shirt pictured.

Click on over to Amazon to check it out.

Bonding with Books: Llama Llama Misses Mama

AmandaHill — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Llama Llama Misses Mama is another installment in the Llama series by Anna Dewdney. In this book, Llama's first day of preschool. While Llama Llama misses his mama, he discovers the joys of school. This could be a great book for children going off to preschool soon.

Click on over to Amazon to check it out.

Kids Grill-and-Go Camp Stove

AmandaHill — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

This fun little Grill and Go Camp Stove is a great camping toy for young children. The grill makes fun pretend grilling and sizzling sounds and comes with all of the accessories seen above. It's like a tiny kitchen in a box.

Click on over to Amazon to check it out.

25 Outdoor Activities and Games for Kids & Families

AmandaHill — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT

If you don't live near the beach or a pool, sometimse finding outdoor activities that are fun for both kids and the family is difficult. I don't know about you, but our household gets a little cranky if we spend too much time indoors when the sun is shining. However, we don't have a pool and are hours away from the beach. So we improvise. This exciting list contains 25 different activities, products and games that can provide hours of outdoor fun for both kids and the family.

Click behind the fold to check it out!

This fun set is the Coleman Kids Explorer belt.It's a great item for your little explorer with a gloves, a water bottle, a safe shovel and much more. The handy belt also makes it easy to keep up with. This could keep your little explorer busy for quite sometime. Check it out at Amazon.

Even more fun is the Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars set. Back in my day, we called this a Jungle Gym. Having your own backyard Jungle Gym would be quite the outdoor activity. I'd probably climb on it myself if we had one. Click on over to Amazon to check it out.

Pictured above is an Alex Mini Golf set, yet another outdoor activity. Multiple children can play, and it helps with hand-eye coordination and movement. My daughter has a set and loves it. Check it out at Amazon.

The Backyard Soccer Set is fun for the family. Even the smallest of children could practice kicking or rolling the ball into the net, or it provide hours of family fun. Click here to find out more.

So the Rody Rocking Horses seen above mimic the rocking toys of the classic playground. Outdoor fun? I think so. Click here to find out more!

The Kettler Digger is a large ride on toy for kids to use to dig in the dirt or sand. If you're sensitive about your yard, it may not be the toy for your tot, but if not, I see endless outdoor hours spent digging around. Click over to Amazon to check it out.

This 8-handle Play Chute is great for both large and small numbers of children. They can take turns running under it and calling others to run to a certain color on the chute. Check it.

I'll be the first to admit that I've never played croquet, but I hear it's a blast. I mean, it was considered entertainment back before the television came out of the closet. Family croquet would be so fun during the warm weather. Check it on Amazon.

You say Teeter! I say Totter! Teeter! Totter! Teeter! Totter! Is this beauty not self-explanatory? I would have slayed dragons for a teeter-totter during outside play when I was a kid. Target has this one, which is awesome!

Ring Toss, the game seen above, is like a safe version of Horse Shoes for kids. You aim for the pole like in Horse Shoes, but with Ring Toss you don't have to worry about flying pieces of metal striking your kids in the head. That's a bonus, if you ask me. Click on over to Amazon to check it out.

Sack Racing is a fun outdoor activity for all ages. This cute Sack Racing set is available on Amazon. However, you could always hunt down a few Burlap sacks and try it the old fashioned way.

Moon Shoes are like wearing tiny trampolines on your feet. These are made for kids both small and large. They attach them to their shoes and start hopping away. They help develop balance and provide an anti-gravity effect. Check them out.

This might look like a tiny house, but it is actually the Backyard Cottage Playhouse from Toys'r'us. It would be a great addition to any backyard. I wouldn't mind having it for myself.

What is this, you ask? Why, it's Mookie Swingball; a fun game available from Toys'r'Us. It's a swingball set with a tethered tennis ball. It could be fun for one or more. Although I will admit that I would probably accidentally get hit in the face if I played with it.

What could be more outdoor fun than playing post office? It's a favorite game at our house and being able to take it outside makes the idea extra fun. The mailbox pictured above is the Step 2 Mailbox available at Wal-Mart.

The See Me Tee Pee would provide many an outdoor adventure. The bonus? You could also carry it inside when it gets chilly. Click on over to Amazon to further examine.

Blongo is all the rage these days. It could be great for a family game, a summer lawn party and you can even pack it up in the fall for tailgating entertainment. The set pictured above is from Toys'R'Us.

The Little Tikes Auto Pitch is a fun little machine to help your youngster have fun and start a little early on America's favorite past time. (No, I don't mean the internet). It's a batting trainer with all of the bells and whistles. A push of the foot switch gets the machine going. Check this one out at Toys'R'Us.

What's an outdoor activities list without a swing set? The one seen above is suitable for many children in any age range. However, it does pack the swank. It's available from Toys'R'Us. They also feature many affordable sets that are equally enticing.

My First Trampoline is a safe version of a trampoline for your tiny tot. It is sure to provide outdoor fun. The enclosure and foam padded poles are for extra protection. Check it out.

Tug-o-war can be a fun outdoor activity for both children and adults. The best part is that the ropes come in many sizes and styles according to the ages that will be playing. Amazon has a plethora of perfect ropes. Check out the one featured above. It's just right for younger children.

The Builder's Bay Sand & Water table is perfect for keeping younger ones content in the outdoors. It comes with semi trucks, bridges and ocean containers. Also, there is room for cars, digging and lots of play. This table is available from Amazon.

Relaxation outdoors is always great. This hammock is the Colorful Kids Hammock, which is perfect for the typical lazy afternoons that warm weather can bring. Check it out at Koo Koo Bear Kids.

The Jumbo Beach Ball by US Games, seen above, speaks for itself. It is 8' tall and wide. That's 8' of fun for the whole family. The ball weighs around 15 lbs and would be a great for a family push ball race and could even help with team building activities. Check it!

Last, but not least, on the list is the Banzai Sidewinder Inflatable Waterslide. The outdoor fun this could bring speaks for itself. It comes with an air blow motor to keep the slide active while it is being used. Click over to Amazon to check out more about it. If this slide isn't quite your fit, they have tons of others.

Little Kid/Big Kid Trail Shoes

AmandaHill — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT

These trail shoes from Teva have water resistant leather and a moisture wicking mesh lining that makes them very practical for outdoor play. They are about as attractive as this sort of trail shoe can be. They come in blue, green and pink.

Click on over to Amazon to check out Teva's trail shoes.

Amazon Buy 2 Get 1 Free DVD Sale

AmandaHill — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:00:00 GMT

It's no secret that Amazon has some of the best deals on the internet. Right now, they have a buy 2 DVDs or Blu-Rays and get one for free. With this great deal, you could easily click on over, order two for your kids and get one for yourself FOR FREE! You could, of course, get two for yourself and one for free for the kids.

Either way, click on over to Amazon and check out this sale. It's the sort where you just have to pick up something.

Kiddie Bling: Pink Evil Eye Bracelet

AmandaHill — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Kid size jewelry is pretty important in our house. My daughter loves to rock tiny bracelets. This really cute Tulumba Pink Evil Eye bracelet is particularly awesome. The little eyeballs on the blue beads are really unique.

However, if you have tiny tots around, it might pose somewhat of a choking hazard should it manage to come apart.

Check the Pink Evil Eye bracelet out on Amazon.

World Beat Goes Baby

Lisa Mulcahy — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:28:00 GMT

There are those parents that are against using TV as a learning tool, but I’m not one of them. My son is two and has been watching Baby Einstein and other educational videos since he was an infant. I think they’ve had a positive effect. Now there’s a new DVD that introduces babies to different cultures through world music.

I might pick this one up for the Easter basket. Baby Einstein’s World Music, introduces children to sites and sounds of the world. From banging a drum to shaking a maraca, little ones discover the different cultures of the world through the universal language of music. Given the cost of those Music Together and Musical Munchkins classes, $12.99, is a bargain and will probably suit your baby just as well. Get it here at Amazon.

Li'l Lewis Luggage Tag

AmandaHill — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:30:00 GMT

Even the tiniest suitcases need adorable luggage togs. The Li'l Lewis Doggy Suitcase tag would be a great pick. The luggage tag dog is named Digger, and Digger is quite cute, if you ask me.

Click on over to Amazon to check it out.

Trebimbi 3pc Flatware

AmandaHill — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As you can see, Trebimbi flatware is both adorable and handy. It's made of stainless steel, and it is dishwasher safe. Dishwasher safe are the two magically words, if you ask me.

Check out the 3pc.Trebimbi flatware set on Amazon.

Melamine Tumbler Set

AmandaHill — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

As soon as your child starts drinking from a regular cup, it seems as if you can never have too many. This set of six melamine tumblers are colorful and cute.

The set is by Zak Park Designs and available from Amazon.

Bunny Dinnerware Set

AmandaHill — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Dinnerware sets for kids are big theses days. The 3-piece dinnerware set above features an adorable little Bunny family. It's just right for the spring season, and it looks a tad bit retro.

Check it out at Amazon.

Bumble Bee Kid's Travel Pillow

AmandaHill — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The Bumble Bee seen above is of a special sort. It's a Bumble Bee Travel Pillow for your little one. I can't count the times that my daughter has fallen asleep in her car seat and needed something to hold up her sleeping head.

The Bumble Bee travel pillow would come in so handy on both long and short car trips. Check it out at Amazon.

Amazon Deal Alert: Epson Perfection V300 Scanner On Sale

Chris Ford — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Saving digital memories is a job for parents that (either thankfully or not) our parents never had to deal with. But what's the best way to save those non-digital memories, digitally? The Epson Perfection V300 Scanner is the same scanner I've used to convert many photos and negatives of my family's memories with great success - and it's on sale now at Amazon.com.

The Epson Perfection V300 Scanner is a basic flat-bed scanner that will scan any flat piece of paper (photo, kids' artwork, written document) as well as photo negatives and slides. It also comes with Epson's software that will take your scanned image, correct the color and remove dust and other imperfections. The software suite you get also comes with something called "optical character recognition" software, making any documents you scan readable and (more importantly perhaps) searchable by your computer.

In my experience it worked very well under all conditions. I was able to scan many, many negatives as well as photos without hardly any hiccup.

But the most important thing about this blog post is that it's available now from Amazon.com for only $93.24, which is 33% off the regular price. So if you've been putting off this chore, now might be the right time to start archiving. (Oh, and once you do, don't forget to back up your hard work - but that's another blog post.)

Epson Perfection V300 Photo Color Scanner, $93.24 from Amazon.com.

Honeydew Circle Swirl Dress

AmandaHill — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:00:00 GMT

The dress seen above is just one of many must-have dresses that I've seen for Spring. It would be perfect for Easter or any other Spring occasion. Not only are the swirls and circles appealing, the style is amazing too. It has a zipper closure and a self-bow waist.

The dress is made by Rare Editions and is available at Amazon.

Winter Clearance: Bonnie Jean Houndstooth Dress/Coat Set

AmandaHill — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

This time of the year is my favorite, because I can stock up on winter clothes for next year for my daughter. The end of the season clearance sales are absolutely great. I find the best pieces, especially the two piece Bonnie Jean Houndstooth set seen above. Behind the gorgeous coat is a dress that is equally fabulous. Click behind the fold to check it out.

I love the big buttons on the set (and the low price too). Click on over to Amazon to check it out.

25 Fabulous and Useful Baby Shower Favors

AmandaHill — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pregnancy seems to be in the air: Almost everyone I know is either pregnant or trying for their first baby. As a seasoned baby shower attendee, baby shower favors can go two ways: the fabulous or the terrible. My personal preference is fabulous. Something useful or edible is usually best, and there are great favors for all budgets. This list covers them all, and if you are throwing a baby shower in the future, you should be able to find nearly everything.

Click behind the fold to check out the awesome list of baby shower favors.

The first favor, pictured above, is the World's 'Gratest' Mom cheese grater. It's a stainless steel grater with three different hole sizes. The packaging makes the handle of the grater appear as the pregnant mommy's belly. Not only is it a unique favor, it's also useful in the kitchen. You can click on over to ABCFavors to check it out.

Next on the list is the 'Take A Note' Sticky Note Block. It looks like a typical baby block, but serves as your average block of sticky notes. It's both cute and useful. It would be a great favor to give to guest. It's multi-hued and crafted from heavy paper stock. Click on over to La Petite Favor Boutique to check it out.

The classic mini gum ball machine is a fun favor for everyone. They can easily be personalized with hanging tags or ribbons. They are cute and playful. If you aren't a gum person, I'm sure the gum could be easily replaced with jelly beans. Click on over to Beau Coup to check this favor out.

The 'Bun in the Oven' scented candle baby shower favor comes in a cute little box shaped like an oven. The scented candle could be useful in anyone's home. The candle has a nice cinnamon scent and comes with 'Bun in the Oven' written across the stove. Click on over to Amazon to check it out.

The Rocking Pony Book mark seen above would make a really useful favor. Everyone needs a bookmark, and the guests to the shower can remember the bundle of joy everytime they use their bookmark. Click on over to Amazon to check them out.

Wristlet Keychain holders are so handy. If you don't have one yet, you are missing out. They are particularly handy for mothers, because our hands are always full. So what better gift to give out at a baby shower? Everyone could use a wristlet keychain. They come in an array of gorgeous fabrics from the Jimmy Pickles Etsy shop.

I question the integrity of people who claim to dislike chocolate. Giving out decorated and personalized chocolate bars would be a great baby shower favor. Who doesn't love chocolate? They can be decorated according to your preferences. Check them out at Dizzee Lizzee's Etsy shop.

A monogrammed mirror compact would make a fantastic favor. You could easily have them monogrammed for guests that have RSVP'd, and you can keep a few blank ones on hand for those that didn't. A spare compact is always nice to have around, and it is quite the useful favor. Click on over to My Little Cuddle Bug's shop to check them out.

Personalized lip balm makes a great favor. The label can be personalized to fit the details of the shower. Not only are the lip balms sweet and useful, they are also the perfect size. Click on over to Tearrific Favors to check them out.

You can also have bath salts personalized for the shower. They would make a great addition to the tub, and as always, a useful party favor is appreciated. Click on over to ABC Favors to check them out.

Personalzied candy jars are another great Baby Shower favor idea. The lid can be personalized and a cute ribbon or tag added if necessary. They can be filled accordingly. The guests can later use them to hold more candy or paperclips or whatever they want to shove in the tiny, yet handy, jar. Click on over to Beau Coup to check them out. You could always fill them with the favorite childhoold candies the expecting mother.

Matchbook mints are a tiny gift that can go along way. Each matchbook contains mints to give as favors, the books can be personalized for the event. Matchbook mints make a useful and unique gift. Click on over to Lily Elle's Etsy shop to check them out.

The 5 piece "She'll see her feet soon" Pedicure set would make another fabulous favor. The comes in the adorable flip flop case with the attached Thank You tag. Click on over to ABC Favors to check them out.

This smart looking Chocolate Cake Towel Roll would make another great gift to give to the guests at any Baby Shower. The best part? It's a calorie free cake, and you get a nice towel to take home. Check them out at Coco Pastry.

The 'Baby is Brewing' Teapot timer is another cute Baby Shower favor. Cathy did a great feature on it earlier this week. The box says 'baby is brewing' and the tiny teapot serves as a timer for your kitchen. Click on over to ABC Favors to check this timer out.

If you don't want to go the way of traditional showers and give baby themed favors, this Stiletto bottle opener is always a great option. You can't ever have too many bottle openers. Not to mention the fact that the packaging is adorable. Click on over to ABC Favors to check them out.

Another possible favor is the 'A Star is Born' bottle stopper. The Bottle Stopper keeps the baby shower theme going with the 'A Star is Born' engraved into the star. It is another unique and useful gift to give shower guests. Click on over to Bellisimo Favors to check it out.

Monogrammed cosmetic bags are another shower favor that keeps giving. It's easy to have them monogrammed for guests that RSVP, and you can also keep a few blanks bags on hand for those that didn't. This would make a fantastic shower favor. Check them out at Avannabel Baby.

At first glance, this favor looks like a tiny baby bottle. It's actually a candle in disguise that could be quite useful for your guests. It is available in pink for impending girl or blue for the impending boy. Check this favor out at Avannabel Baby.

The 'Baby is Blooming' carriage above looks like a normal card or piece of paper. However, it is actually a template made with wildflower seeds. The shower guests can take this favor home and plant it. The pram comes in a lovely cream colored envelope. This great favor is available from Avannabel Baby.

The heart keychain above would be another great, useful Baby Shower favor. It can be engraved with a simple 'Thank You' for all of your guests. The silver finish makes the key chain lovely, and the guests would be sure to remember the nice time they had at the shower. Check this out from Favors Direct.

Another great choice for favors is seen above. Personalized muffin mix of the flavor of your choosing to send home as a favor. Muffin mix is definitely useful, and it is quite the memorable favor. You check this option out at Beau Coup.

Another great favor, if you aren't keeping with the baby theme but reaching outside of the box, is the purse valet. A purse valet is a perfect gift. They come in so handy at restaurants and even at the office. It would definitely be a unique and useful gift for shower guests. Check the Purse Valets out at Beau Coup.

The box of baby themed cookie cutters seen above is just another great unique and useful favor option. Cookie cutters are extremely handy and would make a fantastic favor. Check these out at Beau Coup.

Last, but certainly not least, on this list of fantastic Baby Shower favors is the two peas in a pod salt and shaker set. It comes in a cute box, and every guest leaves with something handy and cute. This favor and many others can be found at ABC favors.

Super Sale:Combi Pod Bouncer

AmandaHill — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The sleek and modern design of the Combi Pod Bouncer is quite appealing. The bouncing leg design with the slip-resistant feet makes the bouncer unique. The bouncer features rear controls for sound and vibrations, a hammock like seat, a removable collapsible canopy and even MP3 input for customized music.

The reviews for the bouncer are great, and it is on sale right now on Amazon.

Bonding with Books: Where is Baby's Valentine?

AmandaHill — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Karen Katz has an amazing series of books lift-the-flapt books. This particular book has a Valentine's theme. Baby searches for the Valentine she made for mommy. These books are great. From your little babies to your preschoolers, this book is truly enjoyable for everyone.

Find this one along with many other Karen Katz wonders on Amazon.

Fun for the Family: Playchute Parachute

AmandaHill — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:00:00 GMT

I remember playing with parachutes like the one seen above when I was young. When it was your turn, you ran under the parachute to the opposite side, and had to make it before the parachute came back down. It's great for groups of children or even for family time. Pacific Play Tents makes this 10' Playchute Parachute. It looks like great fun.

The Playchute Parachute is available from Amazon. It promotes cooperative play, and even helps build muscles.

Skuut Balance Bike

AmandaHill — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:00:00 GMT

The Skuut Balance Bike is a bike made for kids 2-5 years of age. Without pedals or training wheels, the idea is that children learn to walk to bike along and learn balance. As the children become more confident, they lift their feet up for more wheel time.

Click to read more.

I'm not sure how well my own daughter would do on a bike without petals, but it could be great for some children--especially those that are balance challenged. Click over to Amazon to check the bikes out, they currently have a great deal on Skuuts.

SiliconeZone Kid's Baking Set

AmandaHill — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:00:00 GMT

SiliconeZone has this great 10 piece baking set for children. It is oven safe up to 428 degrees and contains four baking pans, four cookie cutters and two wooden tools. If you enjoy letting your child help in the kitchen, this set could be a lot of fun. Even if they don't help in the kitchen, it could be a great set for a play kitchen.

Click behind the fold to read more.

The set is microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe. You can pick this neat set up at Amazon.

Amazon Deal Alert: Save Up To 20% On Britax Car Seats

Chris Ford — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Right now through February 15th, Amazon is having a massive sale on almost all of their Britax car seats. If you've got a baby on the way, or you're just now realizing your infant isn't going to be an infant much longer and will need a proper car seat soon, then you definitely want to check this out.

I've had a Britax Marathon car seat in my car for over four years now, and the thing is a workhorse. This sale doesn't happen often, so take advantage of it while you can.

Check out all of the seats from Britax on sale (some seats are $60 off) at Amazon.com.

Bonding with Books: The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.

AmandaHill — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore and Illustrated by Amy Wummer is a board book that uses around 200 words to describe the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. to young children. The beautiful illustrations capture vignettes of King's life. Click behind the fold to read more about this great book for children.

Using the simplest terms, the book explains the end of segregation in America to young children. If you are looking for a book that discusses Martin Luther King, Jr. for your children, this one has received fabulous reviews for both the stories and illustrations. Click on over to Amazon to order yours.