I enjoy shopping. I won’t lie. But I also enjoy couponing — big time. Because I love a bargain.

So flash sale sites are a natural draw for me. A chance to get stuff I want at a major discount? Sheesh! Sign me up!

But here’s what I’ve found out — flash sale sites are not always a good deal. Sure, they sell brand-name merchandise at a discount and sure you can score a rockin’ deal. But what happens when you buy one of those vouchers for a half-priced dinner and never use it?

You’ve just wasted money rather than saving it. So, before you spend money at a flash sale site, here are some things to consider:

Are you purchasing a product or a service? If you’re purchasing a physical product that will be shipped to your door, you’re far more likely to get a good deal. And here’s why: you wouldn’t order the product to have it just sit around your house. However, if you’re ordering a service (i.e. massage, hair cut, dinner out), you may find yourself holding a worthless voucher if you don’t get around to taking advantage of it before it expires. And frankly, I’m speaking from experience here.

What is the expiration date? While many deals have an expiration date that sits out nearly a year, some are not that generous (which is what happened to me). You have to check the expiration date before you buy. And I’m not talking strictly about large purchases either — like those vacation packages you can buy. I’m talking about the simple stuff like 2 movie tickets for $9 or a 3-course meal for 2 for $30. If it expires before you will be able to use it, you’d be better off putting that money in your Starbucks fund (or whatever your vice is).

Are you purchasing a vacation package? This is where the deals can get really tempting. Who doesn’t love to daydream about a warm vacation at a family-friendly all-inclusive resort? And really? Your whole family can go to this fabulous resort in Mexico for a week and it will only cost you $900? What a steal!

Not exactly. Is the resort deal a good price? Sure. But what about transportation to get there? Passports? These are all extra expenses. Here’s an example from one of my friends:

I decided it would be an awesome surprise for my husband if I booked a weekend in a cabin in North Carolina. I was so excited by how cheap it was, I didn’t even think about how we would get from Atlanta to North Carolina or what it would cost. How far was the cabin from the nearest airport? Would we need a rental car when we got there? Who was going to stay with our kids? In the end, the “deal” trip cost more than if I had just taken the time to plan it out and book it on my own. Without the planning in advance, I ended up doing a lot of planning last minute which cost extra.

In the end, you can get really great deals through flash sale sites. But the sites are called “flash sales” for a reason — the name alone implies the deal won’t be around forever and you’d better act fast or you might lose out. You’re compelled to make your purchase without thinking it through. Before you click “buy,” take 5 minutes and walk away. Consider what you’re buying and if you’re going to have the time to use it, and if you’re going to be negatively impacted if you don’t actually buy it.

Photo Courtesy of richmondsquarephotos/Flickr Creative Commons

Just after – and I mean literally just after – I bought my beautiful black faced watch (with black band, though you can change the bands easily) from J. Crew, I found out in this month’s Glamour Magazine that WHITE watches are the new it accessory. White. Figures.

White watches do, admittedly, look cool. (If you could only see how clenched my teeth are as I say that).

Two books on the new releases wall caught my eye: Art for Baby and Night, Night Little Pookie.

Art For Baby is a collection if black and white images by top modern artists like Keith Haring, Damien Hirst and Takashi Murakami. The drawings have been selected to enhance baby’s awareness of the world around them. If you are a contemporary art fan and have a new baby, then check out this book! I plan on getting it for my new little one once she pops out.

However, my 22 month old just LOVES Sandra Boynton. We have almost all of her books and I’m really stoked to see that she’s come out with yet another book, Night, Night Little Pookie. Pookie, I’m sure, has something in store for mom and daughter at bedtime – can’t wait to find out what it is.

This is me driving to the bookstore…or ordering from Amazon:

I stumbled upon a new website that seems specifically catered to me and I suspect to a number of you out there who want to give their kids quality products that are both good for your children and good for the environment. Oh, and that incorporate great design too!

Sparkability bills itself as offering better things for babies and kids and boy do they deliver. It all started when the founders became increasingly frustrated with the disposable, cheap products that flood the children’s market. Like some of us, they would dig and dig and find what they needed, but then they started to see the bigger picture.

Sparkability started offering a cohesive collection of things the founders, themselves, would buy. Essentially, they make it more efficient for you to find what you are looking for if you like quality products made with the environment in mind but still adhere to the principles of good design. It’s definitely worth a look.

These keepsake necklaces are both touching and lovely. It could be simply a cool silver pendant but it really is your baby’s fingerprint. Or the first letter of her name. Or even a quote that warms your heart. Call me corny, but I love these.

What appeals to me the most is their understated sentimentality – you, the wearer, know exactly what it is but it’s a bit mysterious, too.

A good friend of mine has a fingerprint pendant that she wears all the time. It’s just beautiful! She got hers at Personal Creations. The fingerprint necklace is from Imprint On My Heart. The hand stamped necklace I found on Etsy at E. Ria Designs.

Introducing what may be the weirdest baby invention of the year: the Peekaru! I can imagine the inventor of this thing sitting around with friends (drinking heavily) saying, “I need a new pull-over but what about the baby strapped to me? I know, instead of taking little Tommy OFF before dressing, I’ll just make a jacket with a HOLE in the front…for the baby!”

Who needs baby clothes when mommy and baby can wear the same clothes?!? Because, really, as a pregnant woman I haven’t had my fill of really large clothes with extra fabric for the baby in the past nine months…

You gotta see for the demonstration:

I stumbled on this website and couldn’t resist the pillows. I mean gorgeous. Lotta Helleberg at InLeafDesign.com uses non-toxic paints and dyes on natural fibers to
lovingly create the most soothing of leaf designs on pillows, bags, linens, wall art and sachets.

I’m wild about this pillow, though I’ll probably wait until my little girls are less, shall we say unaware, of the finer things before I buy it and display it on my couch. In the meantime, though, a beautiful bag may come in handy to keep in my diaper bag for that unscheduled – ahem – shopping trip. You always need another bag, right?

The Argington company was just brought to my attention and I wish I would have seen it two years ago when we were buying our nursery furniture. Not only is the furniture superb, but they are committed to sustainable design and having a minimal impact on the environment.

Since I’m now thinking about a “big girl room,” I love the Ayres Collection beds. Streamlined, yet comfy. The beds come in birch (shown above), ebony and white.

The company’s crib collections are also very cool. Shown above is the Sahara crib which has a sleek, modern feel with a fixed rail construction.

The Eiffel Book Case (see top) is similarly clean lined.

Plus, Argington’s bedding is among the best I’ve seen. Totally cute without being cutesy. You can check out the whole collection at the Argington website.

Clearly my daughter has not inherited the “shoe” gene! We went to Stride Right the other day (great back to school sale going on, BTW) to get her some new shoes. Her tiny feet aren’t so tiny any more. And boy do they grow fast…I’ve never seen feet grow so quickly.

We bought 2 pairs (one at full price, which was surprisingly reasonable, and the other at 1/2 off). Sophie even wore one pair out of the store! But as soon as we got home and she saw her “old shoes,” she wanted those back on her feet. Every time we say, “time to put your shoes on,” she runs to the closet shouting, “old shoes, old shoes!”

Her poor feet are crammed in to those old shoes but I can’t get her to switch over. I know, soon she will have to wear the new ones because the old ones simply won’t fit on to her feet, but by then I fear even the new shoes will be too small. Baby’s feet grow so fast!

Has anyone else felt so defeated by the whole constantly buying new shoes business? It’s just wearing me out…and wearing my wallet out!

photo credit jolien_vallins

I’ve been on a quest to find a modern toddler table that will grow with our little one but won’t break the bank. Since we don’t have a playroom separate from the main living area of our house, I wanted the table to at least be pleasing to look at and fit in with our sense of design. However, I didn’t want to spend a bundle of money because, while I wanted the table to be of use for years to come, that doesn’t mean it WILL be of use for years to come. What I really didn’t want is an expensive dust catcher stuffed away in the basement (or in our case, the black hole closet).

I’ve found some delightful tables at both zacandzoe.com and modernseed.com. My favorite among the many cool designs are:

1) The Anka Table set. It’s stylish without being fussy or overly designed. I like the natural finish on the birch wood, but it comes in honey and espresso, too. It seems perfect for little ones and can also support Mom or Dad, so you can join in with “tea time” or playing with trains or coloring. Priced at $199 ($249 for the honey and expresso), it was at the top of the list, though still a little pricey to end rejected in the closet.

2) Offi Nest Play table. Here’s a great idea – re-purposing that Nest bassinet that was only in use for roughly 3 months. My brother and sister-in-law have the bassinet and barely used it for those 3 months. Theirs now holds hats. But, Offi decided to make a conversion kit for the bassinet so it becomes a table and toy bin. Beautiful stuff! Only, at $599 for the conversion kit (plus the $999 for the bassinet you’ve already purchased) that makes for one expensive toddler table!

3) Softy Table by Paul Frank. Really cute mix of plywood and molded MDF, this table was also a top contender. The chili red chair that comes with is also very stylish and sturdy, able to support both toddlers and parents. Also priced at $199, it’s a good choice if you like simplicity with a little bit of contemporary quirk thrown in.

4) The Chalkboard table set with stools. I love the chalkboard finish for an activity table. Talk about a no worry surface. However, the chalkboard doesn’t seem like a meal friendly surface, so I’m not certain it can do the double duty we need it to. Again priced at $199 it’s a fun table but, if we’d have to buy yet another table for meals, it’s not what I’m looking for.

5) Ecotots Project table and Popsicle table. Totally cute and clean lined table with stools fit for any toddler’s developing sitting style. And, apparently, it is assembled with NO TOOLS! Yay! Can you imagine not having to whip out the allen wrench or screwdriver?!? The stools tuck under the table for easy storage. Made out of eco-friendly, formaldehyde free plywood, it could be a good choice especially for the “green” family. I can’t find a discernable difference between the two styles except the design on the legs of the stools and the price. The Project table ranges from $125 to $225 while the Popsicle table is $250.

6) Svala table at IKEA. Now I love IKEA for some things and hate them for others. Mainly I think that buying too much IKEA makes a room scream “IKEA!”, so I shy away from making big purchases there and stick to the small stuff. But, I must say their children’s section is quickly winning me over. This table set that comes with 2 chairs costs only $39.99 and is perfectly acceptable. It won’t win any design awards, surely, but it is simple and made of real wood. Plus, if it gets tossed aside I won’t be heartbroken.

Ultimately we decided to go with the Svala table and chairs from IKEA as it fit the bill for simple design at a reasonable cost. I do, at times, wish that it had more style. I’ve seen a number of the Anka tables in action and they do look great. So, there’s that. But, we bought it and we’re happy with it. Out little girl loves to color while sitting at the table and we do use it for meal time to great (most of the time) success. (also see post on eating at the toddler table).

OMG! When thinking about the whole idea of having a second child, my husband and I forgot a number of crucial data points, which, unfortunately, have now reared their ugly heads. First, exhaustion. I mean, our toddler (20 months, now) is so precocious – she’s in to everything.

It’s fun, at times, to catch her studying how a chip clip works for minutes upon minutes, and I realize the wonder that has yet to unfold before her. Then, when she decides to remove each and every item from the pantry while I’m loading the dishwasher, it’s not so fun.

Just when I think I’ve gotten the house straightened up, I turn around to find hurricane Sophie has blown through, leaving bits of paper, stuffed animals and books strewn about. Everywhere. Now, add to that the exhaustion that comes with breeding a baby and you see where things get tough.

I never guessed that toddler-hood would require so much of my waning energy when I thought about getting pregnant. I based my decision on the facts I had at the time – little, docile 14-15 month old teetering from couch to chair back to couch. That was fun to watch, and I could do it sitting down!

Then, let’s address the whole morning sickness cover-up. I mean, the first time I was pregnant I was sick straight through, morning till night. No relief. Of course, on looking back I *remembered* it as being not so bad. When I had to lay down, I did. When I had to take it slow, I did. When I had to run to the bathroom (or pick up the nearest bucket), I did.

Oh oh, not so lucky this time…hormones are a wonderful curse – they cause all sorts of memory loss that, let’s be frank, is the only reason humans have continued to reproduce. If we actually remembered the hell that is pregnancy and childbirth, we, as intelligent, liberated women would NEVER choose to do it again. But, magically, we forget. At least I did.

Now, when I have have to puke (read: all day long) I can’t just lay down and bury my head…I have to *play* with my little one. Granted, no one watching me do this would regard it as playing for either adult or child, more like mild torture for both parties. But, hey, I do my best to at least throw up discreetly into a plastic baggie behind my back.

There is more – trust me – there is more, but full on complaining won’t get me anywhere. Although, a little venting is always good for the soul. Suffice it to say, if I knew then (ok, remembered) what I know now, my daughter would be a happy, well attended only child. That’s not to say I’m not looking forward to this little baby arriving – I am only too happy to get the tiny little thing out of my body and safely in to this world…it’s just that sometimes I wish I could skip the whole pregnancy part.

image credit: wilpf.org

At less that two years old, my daughter, who sees me and my husband brushing our teeth each morning (she’s usually asleep by the time we do it at night) has taken a keen interest in the toothbrush.  On a recent playdate, she even convinced her friend to join in on the fun.

Since we’re all about Montessori in this house, I have taken her cue and begun teaching her about personal grooming habits: specifically brushing her teeth.  According to Maria Montessori, children learn best when they are ready to learn the lesson in front of them.  Their readiness is usually a sign that they feel some sense of control over what and how they will learn.  Or maybe it’s the control that leads to the readiness.  Children have, what Montessori termed, an “absorbent mind” and when the mind is ready, learning becomes more of an organic *knowing* rather than a chore.  Think of it as an exploratory environment.

We’ve been trying to get Sophie used to brushing for some time now, but only recently has she shown any real interest. I’d say she’s still *tolerant* of the nightly brushing but it’s during the day when she really just won’t let go of the thing.  I do hope this infatuation with the toothbrush stays with her.

The next lesson: potty training as her new favorite word is “poopy.”

Birthday parties are filled with activities, food and fun – what’s a better time to capture your little one’s precociousness on film? Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you’re following around the tiny tot’s with your camera:

1) always follow the cake (or cupcakes) – endless kodak moments pop up
2) get on their level – in order to show how they interact with their world, get down to their height to you can see what they see.
3) keep your eye on the background – the simpler the scene is behind your child, the more they will stand out of the picture
4) have fun and get your camera in there – people always want to see the photos, even if they don’t particularly like stopping what they are doing to pose for you
5) get unposed shots, too!