FREE Small Photo Book (Great Tool to Help Little Hands Learn!)

Through Wednesday (Oct. 6, 2010), you can get a FREE purse photo book from Walgreens (4.5"x6" with 20 pages). Use it to show off your beautiful monkies, or it could even make a great item for teaching your baby. Include photos of loved ones so she can learn their names--especially those she doesn't see often. Or include photos of items around your house to teach the words for each item, their colors, ABCs or numbers. For instance, take photos of common objects found around your house such as a chair, lamp, toy, and dog. To get the book free, use the code FOREVER at checkout ($2.99 shipping applies).

Fun at a Discount: Family Deal Sites

We're always looking for good deals on things to do with the little ones. Lately I've gotten into using various discount sites, and we've found some great deals on food and activities (at least 50% off). For instance, we got half-price tickets to the children's museum (saving those for a cold winter day!). So far, I've come across two sites specifically geared toward families:

Mamapedia Sweet Deal - includes deals for the following cities: Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, L.A., Miami, New York, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and St. Louis. When you make a purchase, 5% of it goes to the school or preschool of your choice.

Famgrab (click at the top to change the city) - includes deals for the following cities (all in the South): Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Louisville, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, St. Louis and Tampa. With Famgrab, 10% of the site's profits go to a different charity each month.

Each site has a different deal each day; if a certain number of deals are not sold (but you buy one), your credit card is not charged but the deal is also defunct. This seems to rarely happen. Usually there's plenty of interest in a deal--especially if it's a good one!

Tips:

• Be sure to check on the expiration dates. Sometimes you know you won't make it to a certain location before your discount expires. 
• Sign up to receive the daily deals in your e-mail. That way, you don't have to remember to check the site.
• If you find a deal you like, buy it! Remember, it won't last past the day and it may not last that long if it sells out first (many of the deals on these sites don't have a maximum number of deals, but it never hurts to be sure you have yours).
• Always carefully read all of the details to a deal. Some may have restrictions you can't work with. (However, generally, they're easy to use.)
• Keep other cities' sites in mind for when you'll be traveling. Then you can buy before you go as they come up and enjoy the discount when you're on vacation!

Know of any other family-deal sites?

Build a Bear...or Not...for Fun

The weather has been unbearably hot, and recently we were looking for something inside to do--but we had to get out of the house. At the time, Build-A-Bear Workshop was having a good sale, so we headed to the mall for a bear-making session. Figured it'd be a treat for A, and with the sale, it wouldn't be too costly.

Once we got there, A was definitely more into the accessories than the actual animals. We looked at each animal option, and while she got excited about a couple for a few seconds, overall she just wanted to check the place out. We even tried to talk her into choosing one (which isn't normal for us!), but she was just enjoying the experience. So we watched a few being made, checked out the clothes, and pretended to talk on a cell phone or two, and off we went. Money still in our pockets. So needless to say, if you, too, have a 2 year old, you might consider heading to Build-A-Bear just for the atmosphere! If the child's any older, you'll probably have to buy something. ;) So if you want to make a purchase, print this $5 off $25 purchase coupon on redplum.com for some savings. Just choose the "gifts" category to access the coupon.

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you all have a great day tomorrow (or a whole weekend!). If you're debating where to have your family treat you, check out my posts on Means to Eat for some food deals and freebies (including free TCBY and great lunch/dinner deals)--many of which are for both today and tomorrow.

And don't forget to enter the I Spy Bag giveaway! Ends on Monday at noon EDT. 

Cheerios Necklace: A Snack and Activity in One

Moms of older babies, toddlers and preschoolers often have plenty of Cheerios around. Turn them into a learning activity (but still a treat). For older kids, use a piece of string or non-flavored dental floss (they're floppy so harder to string); for the younger set, use pipe cleaners, which are stiffer. Tie or loop the first Cheerio to the end of the string so it acts as a stopper and won't allow the rest to fall off. Have your child string the rest of the Cheerios on to create a necklace or bracelet (or just slip them back off once they're tired of the activity. Stringing items will help develop their hand-eye coordination and give them a snack! You can use any o-shaped cereal and any flavor (fruit-flavored would give great color--plus, another color-learning opportunity). Some have larger holes, so see which works best for your child.

And if you'll be needing a new box of Cheerios soon, sign up for $4 in coupons!

Target: Printable Coupons for Toys, Games and More!

Target's website has some great store coupons up right now on kids' toys and games (a mix of items for younger and older kids). Great to use when the products are on sale--and even better when you find a manufacturer coupon to use too! Here's a roundup of what's available:

• $3 off select Hasbro games
• $3 off select Disney DVD or Blu-Ray Disc
• $10 off Schwinn bike
• $5 off select Lego toys
• $5 off select Fisher-Price Thomas & Friends items
• $5 off LeapFrog purchase of $30 or more
• $5 off Hot Wheels purchase of $25 or more

Plus, there are coupons for kids' apparel (Circo, Cherokee, Hanes, Gerber), diapers and kids' snacks.

Code for 20% Off Outlet Prices at Disneyoutlet.com

If your kids are into Disney characters, check out the Disney outlet online for discounted toys, games and clothes. Right now, you can apply a coupon code for an extra 20% off items. Use promo code OUTLET20. There appear to be some great deals to be had (and don't forget, Baby Einstein products are owned by Disney)!

Thanks, Common Sense With Money!

Kids Book Sale at Barnes & Noble This Weekend

Barnes & Noble is having a kids book sale this weekend (ends Sunday, March 7, 2010): Buy one children's book, get one 50% off. If you purchase via bn.com, use coupon code H4U9M3W at checkout. If you purchase in-store, you can use this coupon.

Baby Alive First for Me Doll $5 Coupon

For those of you looking for a first baby doll for your little girl, you can print a $5 coupon for the Baby Alive 1st for Me Sips & Cuddles doll. Expires April 15, 2010. This would be especially great if you find it on sale.

Member-Only Coupons for Babies/Toys R Us This Weekend

If you're a Babies R Us Rewards member, be on the lookout in your e-mail for a link to some member-only coupons good this weekend (through Feb. 28, 2010). If you're not yet a member, sign up to become one (it's free) and then you can print out and use the coupons.


Here are a few of the "entertainment" item coupon highlights:

• 20% off baby gear (such as entertainers, jumperoos, etc.)
• 20% off Step2 tables and slides (great for spring and summer) 
• Several for discounts on toys at Toys R Us.

Busy Ball Popper

A has gotten into her Busy Ball Popper in recent months. At first, when the music came on, she'd run the other way! But now she loves putting the balls in and chasing them around the room when they escape. This weekend, with the help of my mom, she discovered she could put a balloon over the air hole and it would dance around in the air above...and then she tried to stuff the balloon into the ball hole.

Right now, you can print a $5 coupon for the Busy Ball Popper on coupons.com (along with other toys and games).

Activities and Coupons from Publix for Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers

If you have a Publix grocery store near you and you have little ones (or are expecting), be sure to sign up for their Publix Baby Club and/or Publix Preschool Pals. I've been a Baby Club member since my daughter was born, and it's been great! We've received a booklet of coupons about every quarter, often with coupons for totally free stuff (especially with our first set). Coupons will range from $1 off produce, dairy, meat or deli products to free rubbing alcohol to BOGO Free pacifiers. Some are for national brands while others are for Publix brand.

With Preschool Pals, kids get prizes, an activity book at 2, and a CD-ROM at 3, plus more. Not sure what the coupon situation for this program is. There's no mention of them, but I'd be surprised if there weren't at least a few. My daughter's almost old enough for the Preschool Pals, but we can't register her until she's officially 2 (in May). Until then, we'll receive at least one more round of coupons from Baby Club for her, plus we'll start our new baby in it.

Toy and Game Coupons from Hasbro and Playskool

Right now, you can find quite a few great coupons for toys and games from Playskool and Hasbro for all ages at coupons.com. You can print these twice per computer. Print them now before they're gone!

Yoplait Smoothie Coupon

If your kids like smoothies, this $1.25/1 coupon on the frozen Yoplait Smoothies (comes with fruit, you add milk) might come in handy. I haven't bought any yet, but come a sale, I'll probably use the coupon to give them a whirl. These come in three flavors: Strawberry Banana, Strawberry Mango Pineapple, Triple Berry.