Kids' Stuff
the Discount Diva
Kids' Stuff
Save Big on the Hottest Kids Toys of the Year
Wal-Mart just announced it's offering an added incentive for checking off our gift lists early - more money in our wallets!
Below is Wal-Mart's list of the "Top 12 Toys of Christmas," whose prices will drop a little each week (or "rollback") in an aggressive move to help us save money on some of the most coveted kids toys.
My personal favorite: The Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader game from Hasbro. Santa, are you reading this?
Top 12 Toys of Christmas
· Kid Tough Digital Camera from Fisher Price (Ages 3 & up) A real digital camera that's tough enough-and easy enough-for kids to use.
· Smart Cycle from Fisher Price (Ages 3-6) It's a stationary bike, a learning center, and an arcade game system-all rolled into one!
· Air Hogs Havoc Heli by Spinmaster (Ages 8 & up) An amazingly small, infrared, remote control helicopter, the Air Hogs Havoc features a durable, EPP foam body and a flashing Blue LED for night flying.
· Spider-Man 3 Movie Action Figure from Hasbro (Ages 3-7) Both in his classic red and blue gear and now new black costume, Spider-Man will continue to be a hero that saves the day, specially with his new web accessories.
· Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Doll from Mattel (Ages 18 months & up) Girls will love playing mommy with this sweet baby doll-she's perfect for your child's first doll.
· New Elmo from Fisher Price (Ages 18 months & up) He's back on the list to tickle your funny bone. Find out why and what's new in November!
· Littlest Pet Shop Paws Off Electronic Diary from Hasbro (Ages 6 & up) Keep all your written secrets locked inside this voice-activated, electronic diary!
· Razor Ripstik Caster Board (Ages 6 & up) A cross between a skateboard and a snowboard, this high-action new sport is taking the streets by storm!
· Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader game from Hasbro (Ages 8 & up) Based on the popular game show, this enjoyable diversion features Jeff Foxworthy and five students putting ordinary adults to the test by having them answer real questions from the 5th-grade curriculum.
· Aqua Dots Super Studio from Spin Master (Ages 6 & up) Aqua Dots combine creativity and crafting to create multiple designs - just add water!
· Power Tour Electric Guitar by Hasbro (Ages 10 & up) Be the rock star and learn to play six different rock classics. Connect to your MP3 player and strum along, or rock out solo and compose your own anthem.
· FurReal Squawkers Parrot from Hasbro (Ages 5-7) Talk about cool! Squawkers McCaw is a talkin', squawkin' and totally unpredictable play pal.
Better Late Than Never
This past weekend one of the streets in my neighborhood hosted a stoop sale block party, where residents pulled out all of their unwanted wares to hawk on their stoops or front lawns. A whopping 30 houses on the block participated and I was ready to shop! The plan was to get up early, run a few errands and then be the first one there.
Of course, my plan completely backfired -- I woke up late and I didn't finish my errands until 4pm (the sale was ending at 5pm!). I managed to make it there just as most of the stoop sellers were packing up.
Being late turned out to be a good thing. As I sulked and gave puppy-dog eyes to the stoop sellers packing up their leftovers, I stumbled over a pair of Steve Madden black slingbacks sitting on the sidewalk with a sign that read "FREE" beside them. I picked them up to check out the size. Eight and a half -- that's my size! I shoved them in my bag and kept walking, with a little more pep in my step now. Then I came upon a corner house. The stoop seller was busy packing up, but I noticed there was one little table he hadn't gotten to yet and on it was a bunch of costume jewelry -- rings, chunky bracelets, and necklaces. The sign said $1, but when the homeowner saw me looking he yelled, "They're a penny now!" Score! I bought them all and it only cost me $0.50.
The moral of the story is this: A sale is not over until it's over.
Back-to-School Bargains
I don't have any kids but I do remember being a kid and getting ready for the first day back at school. The outfit had to be perfect; the school supplies had to be fresh and neatly packed into my brand new backpack; and I had to have a cool, colorful lock for my locker (which I had to save my own money for because mom was only buying the standard silver lock...hot pink? Forget about it!). Back-to-school was expensive -- and it still is. That's why I've round up a list of sites offering A+ deals on everything from pens to print tees.
Office Depot Hot Deals (special offers through 9/22/07)
Staples Back to School Bonanza (new deals every Sunday)
JC Penney (save 20-50% on school uniforms)
CompUSA Clearance Store (save $100's on laptops)
Britannica Back-to-School Sale (save up to 60%)
Drugstore.com Clearance Blowout (save up to 70%)
Toys R Us Back to School Clearance Blowout (free shipping and deep discounts)
Raymond Geddes The School Authority (weekly specials)
P.S. If you can wait until after September to go school shopping, do it. That's when most mass retailers drop prices to clear out shelves for holiday.
Free Flicks for Families
My husband and I LOVE cartoons. Happy Feet? We saw it twice! Ratatouille? Hilarious. Charlotte's Web? A classic. I guess you could say we're like big kids in adult bodies when it comes to our beloved cartoons.
It's during the summer when we both wish we really were kids again! Aside from the whole sleeping in aspect of a kid's carefree summer vacation, there are a ton of movie theaters across the country now offering FREE (or $1) flicks for families WITH KIDS throughout the summer months.
Hmmm...anyone want to adopt a couple of REALLY BIG kids for, ohhh, let's just say...90 minutes? We'll buy our own popcorn...
Where the free movies are:
» Clearview Cinemas
» AMC Theaters
» Regal Cinemas
» United Artists
» Edward Cinemas
» Classic Cinemas
» Cinemark Cinemas
» Dickinson Theaters
The Best Book EVER For First Time Parents
My best buddy is expecting her first baby in August. She is ecstatic to say the least -- she's even looking forward to 2am feedings! Crazy, I know. But she does admit that she isn't too thrilled about all of the requisite gear the baby will require once born-- strollers, blankets, clothes, furniture, etc. Sure, she'll get a lot of these things as gifts at her baby shower, but not all of it.
I plan on getting her this great book, Baby Bargains Secrets, by Denise and Alan Fields (available at Amazon.com), which gives thrifty ideas and product reviews to help her save up to 50% on all of that "stuff" her bundle of joy will need.
I was sold after I read this quote from the book: "Babies don't care if they're wearing designer clothes or sleeping on designer sheets." Amen!
about the blogger
Ayren
Ayren Jackson-Cannady has yet to find a bargain or sale she didn’t like. It’s a good relationship for her wallet, but not so much for the dwindling closet space in the apartment that she shares with her husband, John and her cat, Shiny in Brooklyn, NY.
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