Monkey Business Sports E-Z Bat {Review & Choice of Item Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Erika!}

My loving, caring, passionate, strong-willed Big Sister E excels at many things, but (and this is difficult for her naturally athletic mother to admit) she's just not all that coordinated. She tries hard at whatever sport we might be casually playing, but the skills just don't come all that easy to her.

But as some activities aren't difficult to explain, there are others that are harder and more aggravating to try to learn... with baseball and softball right up there near the top of the list. Even starting with the basics of t-ball, we haven't worked on Big Sister E's hand-eye coordination nearly enough for her to be able to hit the ball with a good swing instead of just happening to knock it off of the stand.

Since something she did inherit from me is my lack of patience and high frustration level, it seemed pretty clear that sports requiring a ball and a bat just weren't ones that would be played all too much around here.

And then we were introduced to Monkey Business Sports and their E-Z Bat and suddenly baseball didn't seem like such a huge feat anymore.

A simple but unique invention, the E-Z Bat is made up of an extremely light, foam-covered bat with a movable stopper and two foam balls with holes in the middle. After sliding one (or both) of the balls onto the bat, your child winds up and swings the same way that they would if they were standing on a baseball diamond.

The force of the swing causes the donut-shaped ball to fly off - and the distance it will go depends on how fast or hard the bat is swung. Essentially, your child can get great practice at being a home run slugger without having to deal with the coordination or timing hassles that usually come along with it.

And being able to succeed every single time? Well, that just makes for a plain old great time out in the yard.

After about three tries with the E-Z Bat, Big Sister E turned to me and said, "This is fun! I like baseball!" while I nodded and laughed. Seeing her so proud of herself and her ability to succeed every time made playing with this a great experience for both of us. In fact, even Little Sister B got in on the action by running out to get the balls and bringing them back for her sister to take another swing. Yay for teamwork!

Plus, as we continued to play I could see Big Sister E's technique of holding and swinging the bat improving. With the E-Z Bat itself reinforcing good habits (i.e. the better the swing, the further the ball sails) I like the way that this bat does all the instruction on its own. And once your child perfects their swing, simply remove the stopper from the E-Z Bat and pitch the balls just like traditional baseball - this bat really grows with your child!

A major innovator in active play toys, Monkey Business Sports has a full collection of creative and unique products for indoors, outdoors or the tabletop that kids and adults are sure to enjoy. For items that go back to simple play -no technology or electricity required- you'll find page after page of great items for all ages, with many under $10!

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will get to have a swinging, throwing or shooting good time of their own, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of E-Z Bat, FoamStrike SwitchBlade or FoamStrike PocketShot from Monkey Business Sports!

To enter to win: Visit Monkey Business Sports and tell me which of their great products is your favorite.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you subscribe to the Monkey Business Sports YouTube Channel and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: Monkey Business Sports has such unique and fun products! I just entered to win my choice of E-Z Bat, FoamStrike SwitchBlade or FoamStrike Pocket Shot at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/9ChmwD
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

#WIN your choice of Monkey Business Sports' E-Z Bat or FoamStrike products for active fun! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/9ChmwD #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Monkey Business Sports. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on October 22nd at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, as I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Monkey Business Sports for providing an E-Z Bat for me to review as well as the choice of select products for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker {Review}

Sometimes it's funny what sounds my kids will dance to. If the radio is on and actual music is playing, they might just just look at me like I've lost my mind. On the other hand, they'll hear a tiny part of a jingle from a television ad and they're jumping and shaking to the beat with the best of them.

However, one thing that they'll always dance along with is our copy of Prima Princessa Presents Swan Lake that we reviewed earlier this year. A DVD filled with segments of Swan Lake, ballet instruction, little girls twirling and a cute fairy narrating the whole thing? What's not to love?

And now, just in time for holiday shopping, there is more love to go around with the recently released Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker.

The second DVD by mompreneurs Mary Kate Mellow and Stephanie Troeller, Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker continues on with the Prima Princessa mission to bring the beauty and magic of ballet to young children everywhere.

In this 60-minute ballet-themed DVD aimed at ages 3 - 7, viewers are able to see a mix of dancers, beginning with England's famed Birmingham Royal Ballet performing The Nutcracker, the classic Christmas show filled with snow fairies, waltzing flowers and toy soldiers. Prima Princessa, an animated fairy ballerina, narrates along with the ballet to ensure that the audience doesn't have any problems following the storyline.

Then, for a fun interactive experience for young children, in between acts of The Nutcracker this DVD also features dance lesson montages with students from New York City Ballet's School of American Ballet as well as cute kids in tutus performing the moves.

Having warned Big Sister E and Little Sister B that this was going to be a DVD about dancing, they were both excited for the show to begin. But then when the opening scenes from The Nutcracker came on the screen, time seemed to slow down and they were both frozen watching the ballet.

Staying mesmerized in same positions throughout the entire first act, it was only when the ballet students and children came on the screen that my daughters were snapped out of their trance and were anxious to take part in the action.

Racing into their playroom for the dress-up bin, when they returned it was time for my ballerinas to fully participate in the fun.

If you have a ballet fan in your life, this DVD is a unique way to bring both entertainment and cultural enrichment to their life. Even though they didn't learn the exact steps, my girls had a great time dancing along with the kids and watching the professional ballerinas and that's really all that mattered.

As a fun surprise, we also enjoyed the extra features on Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker. After viewing ballet arm positions, there was a Holiday Party (showing cookie decorating), Holiday Freeze Dancing (twirling and dancing until the music stops) and Holiday Crafts (paper snowflakes, a paper chain and folded paper fans) all set to holiday music. Now we're definitely ready for December!

For more information on Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker or to view a clip of the show, visit their website. You'll also find great printable ballerina coloring sheets, ballerina princess dress up games, a ballet dictionary and more. Available at select retailers across the country and online at places like Amazon, this DVD is a bargain at only $6.99. Just make sure you have a tutu handy!

(Other than the copy of Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker that I was sent from Prima Princessa, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this DVD.)

Crafty Kids Eco-friendly Playhouses {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Megan!}

Sometimes I look at the toys in my girls' play room and wonder if they would notice if half of them disappeared. They're fun and all, but some of them just seem to end up sitting on the shelf or only getting played with once in a while.

On the other hand, I wouldn't dare touch the Shuttle Imagination Playhouse that has had a permanent place in our home ever since our Crafty Kids (formerly KidsCraft) review back in June. There is hardly a day that goes by that my children don't play in there, turning it into everything from a house to a rocket to a bus to just a fun place to hang out and play.

And throughout the hundreds of times that a multitude of kids have gone in and out of our Shuttle, colored on it, and in general loved it (not always in the most gentle way), it has held up wonderfully. There's not really anything that I would consider changing that would make this a more entertaining, eco-friendly, all-around fun item to have...

Except maybe give it a friend.

After receiving a tremendously positive response to their Shuttle Imagination and Creation Cottage, Crafty Kids has now come out with model versions that are 1/3 the size. Still featuring the same easy-to-assemble, high quality, detailed 100% recycled blank cardboard pieces as their full-size counterparts, the Mini Craft Models are just the right size for dolls or stuffed animals.

Plus, they're just so darn cute, you know?

What is it about things being small that just makes me want to say, "Awwwwww"?

Already familiar with the ease of putting together the slots and flaps of Crafty Kids products, this Shuttle Imagination Craft Model was fully constructed and ready to be decorated in a matter of minutes, if that. I definitely didn't have to tell Big Sister E and Little Sister B twice, they went right to work at personalizing this as their own.

Weighing in at only three pounds and standing just under two feet tall, this Shuttle can easily be moved from the floor to the tabletop without any problem and I love the way that my kids can easily customize it at their own pace.

If they feel like pulling out the crayons or markers (each Craft Model actually comes with its own set of six washable, non-toxic, jumbo markers) then they can, but if they just want to whittle away the hours sending their stuffed animals and baby dolls on imaginative adventures, then they can do that as well.

With their full and mini-sized exceptional Playhouses, Crafty Kids has turned a universally-adored toy (the cardboard box) into an award-winning, creativity-inspiring product. Whether two feet tall or six feet tall, the Shuttle Imagination and Creation Cottage combine great design, quality construction and imaginary play into an inventive, eco-friendly pleasure for kids of all ages.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will find out how much fun a Craft Model from Crafty Kids can really be, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of a Shuttle Imagination Craft Model (ARV $24.95) or Creation Cottage Craft Model (ARV $22.95)!

To enter to win: Visit Crafty Kids and tell me another of the great products that they sell.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Crafty Kids on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: Crafty Kids Craft Models provide endless imaginative fun! I just entered to win my choice of Shuttle Imagination or Creation Cottage Craft Model at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/aXnfWK
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

#WIN a Crafty Kids Shuttle Imagination or Creation Cottage Craft Model! Kids love them! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/aXnfWK #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Crafty Kids. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on October 22nd at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, as I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Crafty Kids for providing a Shuttle Imagination Craft Model for me to review as well as the choice of Craft Model for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Douglas Cuddle Toys {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Kristy!}

There is something about stuffed animals that all children love. Whether it is their plush, soft cuddliness, their ability to be there for unconditional hugs and snuggling or the way that they can provide security and friendship all through the night, a great stuffed animal can find a place in a child's heart and stay there indefinitely.

But let's face it: there are a lot of stuffed animals out there these days and, unfortunately, many of them aren't so great. Big ones that fall apart, small ones that have pieces falling off, brands that are recalled due to poor craftsmanship... sigh. It's enough to make me want to avoid stuffed animals altogether sometimes.

That is, however, until I was introduced to one of top names in high quality, unique, endearing plush animals around: Douglas Toys.

From the most adorable stuffed dogs to the softest toy dinosaurs to the most adorable baby plush toys, Douglas Toys has been committed to making safe and quality toys for over 50 years. Whether you're looking for cute or realistic, you'll find all shapes, sizes and colors available that, with their sweet expressions, have a way of just being a step above a regular stuffed animal.

As I browsed the huge variety of kids' toys over at Douglas, I knew I had found the right thing for Big Sister E when I came upon the toy purses. Bright, colorful and available in seven different styles (horse, dog, butterfly, dachshund, guitar, cat and owl), they combine two things that every girl I know loves: purses and stuffed animals.

And when the Pink Calliope Horse Purse arrived, Big Sister E and I couldn't get over the utter cuteness.

I have to admit that, for a minute, I wondered how silly I would look out in public carrying a girls' toy purse. It's just that cute! The combination of the great fabrics and the fun features like the braided tail and the ruffle mane really give this horse a huge dose of added charm and appeal.

Plus, the strong construction and the zippered inner compartment really do make this a functional purse, which just makes it even more fun to give or receive it as a gift. How could you not want to head straight to Douglas Toys when you know that the reaction is going to be such a happy one?

Big Sister E would barely stand still, she was so excited about wearing this purse!

If you're looking for a darling plush item for babies, Douglas Toys has them all (some rattle or squeak for added effect) and you won't have to think twice about whether they are the highest quality. Or, if you're looking for a unique new cuddly pal for an older child, Douglas Toys has those, too - and they even have a great selection of stuffed animals that boys will like as well.

Available right on their website or at retailers across North America, Douglas Toys is definitely one of the top names in adorable, plush pals of all kinds. Giving one of these cuddle toys as a gift is one that you know will last through a lifetime of love. Thanks to their generosity, one person will get to find out just how great Douglas Toys are as well, because...

One lucky person will win the plush item of their choice
(up to $40) from Douglas Toys!

To enter to win: Visit Douglas Toys and tell me which of their adorable cuddle toys you might select if you are the winner.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Douglas Toys on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: Douglas Toys has the most adorable plush toys! I just entered to win my choice of cuddle toy at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/bxqlBd
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

#WIN the Douglas Toys cuddly plush toy of choice (ARV $40) and give your child a new pal! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/bxqlBd #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Douglas Toys. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on October 22nd at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, as I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Douglas Toys for providing a Pink Calliope Horse Purse for me to review as well as the item of choice for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Follow Me Back Tuesday {I'm a guest host!}

When I can actually find the time, I love to browse my way through the blogosphere to see what the rest of the online world is up to. You're all just so darn interesting that it's hard to make it everywhere because I continually get sidetracked finding out updates on your family or reading about products you've tried or the projects you've made or the end tables that you refinished... I think I could spend days blog reading and not make it everywhere that I'd like to go!

One of the places that I make an effort to stop by is the blog hop Follow Me Back Tuesday, hosted by Survey Junkie, Little Yaya's, Review Retreat and Boobies, Babies And A Blog. Who doesn't want to take a break at the beginning of the week and find some new friends and blogs to read?

To make things even more fun, I received an email that I was randomly selected as the guest host this week (in order to be selected all you have to do is follow the four hosts and link up), so here I am! If you're visiting through FMBT and this is your first time here, welcome! Or, if you're a regular reader and want to join a fun blog hop, here's your chance! Here's what you need to know:

• Do not link your giveaways, this is not a giveaway link up. All links not linked to your FMBT post or your homepage will be deleted

• Follow all 4 hosts & the Guest Host in spots 1-5 and leave us a comment with your blog URL so that we can follow you back (only leave a comment that you follow if you actually follow)

• Snag our button to add to your FMBT post and then post it on your blog

• Add your blog to the list using the link from your blog post (not your blog hop or giveaways, please. These entries will be deleted)

• Follow as many blogs as you would like and make sure you leave them a comment so that they know you stopped by. Then follow back everyone that follows you and comments

• You can link up every Tuesday at 12:00 am est

Thanks for stopping by, have a great Tuesday!

Olivia 2-in-1 Playset and Plush {Review}

With Big Sister E's love of books from a very early age (Little Sister B is already following in her footsteps), we have read what feels like every children's book out there.

One series that we have all always enjoyed is Olivia, written by Ian Falconer. A piglet who knows her own mind, is brimming with confidence and has a limitless imagination, Olivia inspires children everywhere to think boldly and follow their dreams. Cute, right? Clearly we're not the only ones who think so - the Olivia books have sold six million copies worldwide in 20 languages. That's a whole lot of piglet cuteness to go around.

But now hit toy makers, Spin Master, has taken Olivia's bold personality and extraordinary imagination and turned it into a collection of fun and creative toys for children ages 4 and up. Meet the Olivia 8" Plush collection and the Olivia 2-in-1 Transforming Playset.

Available in four different versions, the Olivia Plush Dolls are available as an Artist, Opera Singer, Cow and Outfits (her everyday red dress). This super-soft and extra cute Olivia was a hit with Little Sister B the moment that she saw it. "Pig! PIG!" She cried, hardly waiting for me to get the packaging off.

It was instant friendship for everyone.

The details included on Olivia the Artist are really cute, as she comes complete with a beret, paintbrush, palette and paint splashes on her apron. But it was mostly her large, friendly smile and big floppy ears that led to the amount of hugging and kissing that she has received ever since her arrival.

The Olivia 2-in-1 Transforming Playset is definitely made for older children, as it comes with a variety of small parts and pieces that could easily be lost (or swallowed). However, the uniqueness of this toy really is something that any Olivia fan can really get into - from the outside, it appears to be a regular house, complete with a handle on top for easy carrying.

But open the front and you instantly have the inside of Olivia's house, complete with a living room, two bedrooms and a kitchen. However, if you open the house from the back, you instead magically have a pirate ship ready for adventure!

Even without the included sticker sheet and 23 accessories, the details on this Playset are really cute. Each room or part of the pirate ship is already decorated and illustrated on its own, but then adding in things like the couch, table, chairs and a bed in the house or a pirate hat, parrot or eye patch for the ship make it even more fun.

Big Sister E loved the way there were miniature plates to go on the table that could be filled with imaginary food from the refrigerator. Then turning over to the other side, the movable steering wheel and lookout pole were just the things to make sailing the high seas fun for everyone.

With a different adventure and story each time, this Playset is a great item to pull out for imaginary play at home or on the road. The ease of folding this back up and storing the pieces inside makes it great to bring along for any travels. We did find the clasp holding the back of the house together needed a little extra maneuvering to get it to completely grasp on, but nothing that we couldn't handle in order to have portable Olivia fun.

Available at Toys R Us, Target or Kmart, these Plush Dolls and 2-in-1 Transforming Playset are a great way to bring the imaginative creativity of Olivia home. Visit Spin Master for more information and a list of their other entertaining brands and toys as well.

(Other than the Olivia the Artist and Olivia 2-in-1 Transforming Playset that I was sent from Spin Master in conjunction with my membership to Team Mom, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of these products.)

T.J. Maxx & Marshalls {Review & Giveaway} Brand name fashions for less!

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Jessica!}

Bargain-hunting is in my blood, it really is. I can remember searching for deals and steals all the way through my childhood (whether for clothing, furnishings, food, you name it) and it's something that has carried over into my adult life.

Even though my friends sometimes tease me about being thrifty, I'm proud of it. Why in the world would I spend more money than I have to for the same item? It just doesn't make any sense.

But that doesn't mean that I don't still like nice things, it's in fact just the opposite. What it does mean is that I spend my time in department stores doing a lot of browsing... and then head to Marshalls and T.J. Maxx to make my purchases.

I am a longtime fan of both T.J. Maxx and Marshalls and even though I have been shopping at both for years, the thrill of going inside and not knowing what I'll find is still there every time I pull up. I'm fortunate to have both stores close to where I live, but with Marshalls barely more than a five minute drive, I tend to frequent there more often.

So what's so great about shopping at these stores? Let's start with the fact that 10,000 new items arrive in every store across the country each week, making it seem like a different place each time you come to shop. Follow that with the way that buyers for T.J. Maxx and Marshalls travel all around the world for 40 weeks a year to meet with 12,000 different vendors, allowing them to bring home the hottest in-season trends at low, low prices - up to 60% less than department stores.

Instead of paying sky-high department store prices, you end up with high quality, designer merchandise for less money. Really the question isn't what's so great about shopping at these stores but more why in the world wouldn't you shop there? Brand names and top designers for less money - who doesn't want that?

During my recent visit to Marshalls, I noticed two things. One, the racks and shelves were filled with completely different items than what had been there the last time I had shopped. And two, and I'm not making this up, everywhere I turned I overheard people conversing about the low prices they were finding.

Starting off over in the Shoe MegaShop (can you go wrong in a department with that name?) I felt like I could have spent forever browsing the designer footwear options for the entire family. I have always liked the format Marshalls uses, with low shelving and easy-to-peruse displays that make browsing convenient and quick.

The prices! The low prices! I thought the Capelli rain boots (shown above) would be so much fun for the slushy fall weather that is going to be here soon - and they were marked $24.99 as compared to the $50 they would have been elsewhere. I then walked down another aisle and heard a mother and daughter admiring the selection of great back-to-school shoes and how much less they cost here rather than anywhere else they had looked.

But my eye caught on a pair of BCBG sandals that were exactly what I was looking for to fill the void in my closet between comfy flip flops and dressy heels. After trying them on and loving both the style and the comfort, it was time for the price.

With a retail value of $78+, these shoes were marked at Marshalls for $39.99. With the end of summer markdowns going on throughout the store, they were on clearance for a whopping $20 - these were definitely coming home with me. Later on I searched for these sandals online and found them anywhere from $50 and up, making me even happier about the deal that I had found.

Walking around the rest of the store, there were bargains left and right, not to mention more shoppers discussing them. "Look at this shirt, it's cute right?" One woman was saying to the next. "And, what? It's only $14.99!" Her friend leaned over for a peek, "Wow, that is cute. Are you sure it's $14.99?"

But they were right to be amazed, the deals were pretty great.

That gorgeous Kenneth Cole pea coat, which would be perfect throughout fall and winter was marked $59.99, down from the original price of $120 and that classic white button up shirt from The Limited would cost $28 if you bought it there... but only $14.99 at Marshalls.

As well as great clothing for the entire family, from infants through adults, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls has everything you could need for your home. From kitchen gadgets to bedding sets to top-of-the-line towels (we love getting top-of-the-line, extra-plush towels there at a discount), you'll find it there for less. Are you looking to decorate for Halloween or to celebrate Fall? The variety is amazing and starts at only a few dollars!

Or, for the lucky child or children on your list this upcoming holiday season, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls have huge toy sections with all of the brand name books, toys, games and more that are sure to delight. Plus, with the amount of money that you'll save, you can afford to get a few extra!

You'll find everything from this fall's must-have trends to professional office attire to pretty dresses to work-out gear at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls at affordable prices. Looking for a hot new purse or pair of boots? A new set of sheets? Artwork for your walls? Stylish sunglasses or a great new piece of jewelry? There's just no need to spend more when T.J. Maxx and Marshalls has designer labels for less!

Walking out after my successful shopping trip, I noticed a sign in the window of Marshalls that said it all:

"Don't pass up fabulous... just pay less for it." Exactly! Thanks to the generosity of their parent company, TJX, one person will get to find a great deal to look fashionable this fall, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 gift card to T.J. Maxx and Marshalls!

To enter to win: Tell me if you have shopped at T.J. Maxx or Marshalls before and what you might purchase there with this gift card.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow T.J. Maxx on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: T.J. Maxx is where fashionistas become maxxinistas! I just entered to win a $25 gift card to T.J. Maxx at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/djtCX6
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Marshalls on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: Marshalls has the hottest styles for fall! I just entered to win a $25 gift card to Marshalls at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/djtCX6
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Let's shop! #WIN a $25 gift card to @TJMaxx or @Marshalls for hot fall fashion for less! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/djtCX6 #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and either T.J. Maxx or Marshalls (whichever is your favorite)! Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on October 22nd at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to TJX for providing a gift card for me to review Marshalls and T.J. Maxx as well as a $25 gift card for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

I am a Guidecraft Mom! And here is another chance for you to win Magneatos!

Do you ever have one of those days where something out-of-the-ordinary happens that leaves you thinking, "Wow, that was cool. Really, really cool."?

That's how I felt earlier this month when an email showed up in my inbox saying that I had been hand-picked to be a part of a select number of bloggers making up Guidecraft's newest group, Guidecraft Moms. Me? After reading more, my response was: sign me up!

So, who is Guidecraft and what do the Guidecraft Moms do?

First of all, if you don't know Guidecraft, you're missing out. For over 40 years their educational toys, arts & crafts and furniture have brought joy to children and parents across the globe. Now available directly on the Guidecraft website, many other online retailers or in stores across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, you'll find everything from developmental toys to building blocks that encourage open-ended educational play.

Our first introduction to Guidecraft was with the Magneatos giveaway that Big Sister E, Little Sister B and I were lucky enough to post earlier this month - which we loved. And, for those of you who entered and had the chance to visit and browse over at Guidecraft know, there are also about a million other things on their website that look incredible.

Which brings me back to the Guidecraft Moms. This group of eight mom bloggers have been brought together to bring you honest reviews on Guidecraft's toys and furniture each month for the next year. Yes, I said year. Now you understand my excitement the day when the email showed up inviting me to be a part of the group.

For the next 12 months you'll find out about amazing new products and, of course, have a chance to win some for yourself! Each month all of the Guidecraft Moms will review the same product and one blog (it will rotate every time) will host a giveaway, so not only can you visit the different sites to get all eight opinions, you can stop off at the selected blog each month and enter to win.

So what is the first great product up for review and giveaway? None other than our favorite Magneatos!

If it wasn't clear from my review, we really do love Magneatos. They're so incredibly easy to build with that young children can do it, yet the magnetic force that holds them together is fascinating enough that older kids (and adults) can't help but want to construct with them.

The large, plastic pieces are just right for small hands and using the balls as connectors means you can create angles of all degrees. Best of all, while secretly being educationally appropriate, Magneatos are simply a blast to play with. Every time they are brought out is a different experience and, for us, so far every time has been entertaining and fun.

Now here's a second chance for you to win these great, award-winning toys! The giveaway this month is being held over on Homeschool Creations, so head over there and enter for your chance to take home the Magneatos 36 Piece Set AND the Magneatos 24 Piece Jumbo Curves, how cool is that?

But wait, there's more!

Guidecraft is kicking off this great program with a Back to School Twitter Party this Tuesday, September 28th from 8 - 9 pm EST!

There won't just be a few prizes given away, we're talking well over $1,000 worth of amazing Guidecraft goodies, including two $500 gift certificates (to be given to an accredited/licensed school, daycare, nursery, homeschool, etc), Magneatos, an All In One Play Kitchen and much more! Yowza, you don't want to miss this!

Click on this cute image for all of the #GuidecraftParty details!

Whew! That's an awful lot of great info. Let's recap.

• Guidecraft = awesome.

• Guidecraft Moms = bringing you the awesome for the next year.

• Enter to win two sets of really cool Magneatos because, well, why wouldn't you?

• Don't miss an incredible, prize-filled Guidecraft Twitter Party on Tuesday night! We love Guidecraft!

(I was provided with two sets of Magneatos to help facilitate this review as part of my participation as a Guidecraft Mom. I was not compensated or enticed or to do this review in any way and this post is solely my honest opinion of this website, the products and how much we love them.)