Review: CafePress

Do you remember my fabulous Father's Day review for CafePress last month? Well, they were so pleased with my last review that they agreed to let me review another one of their awesome products and share it with my lovely readers!

Just in case you've been living under a rock, CafePress is an online shopping paradise. They have thousands upon thousands of unique and personalized gifts for family and friends. Whether you want a special coffee mug or a sassy t-shirt, odds are you'll find just what you're looking for at CafePress. You can even create your own designs by uploading your very own photo for CafePress to print!

It's always so hard to pick just one item since there is just so much to choose from, but I ultimately decided on the Mommy Blogger Beach Tote for my review. It arrived just in time for our weekend beach getaway.

The oversized canvas bag can easily hold two thick beach towels and a few beach toys with room to spare. It features a large, outer compartment with Velcro closure, perfect for a magazine or book, sunscreen or maybe a few extra swim diapers and packet of wipes. It also has a small inner pocket for easy access to a cell phone, keys and/or sunglasses. The thick, generous straps make it comfortable and easy to throw over your shoulder and go.

I love the bright, girly hot pink color and I was happy to proclaim that I am a "Mommy Blogger". I also love how roomy and practical the tote is. However, I was unaware that the words "Daddy Blogger" were also emblazoned on the back of the bag. My husband is not a blogger - and even if he were, he would never be caught dead with a pink beach bag - so this was not very fitting for us. If I had known this prior to ordering, I would have probably chosen another design. I'm sure I could return it but but since that side is mostly hidden and I really do love everything else about the bag, I plan to continue wearing it proudly.

If this had been my first experience with CafePress, I may have been disappointed. However, since I've had numerous positive experiences with them where my item was exactly what I had hoped for, I can't let one "so-so" experience deter me. I will definitely be back!

BUY IT: You can purchase the Mommy Blogger Beach Tote (ARV $28) and other personalized items exclusively at www.cafepress.com.

Disclaimer: I received the above beach tote from Allison at CafePress to facilitate my candid review. I was in no other way compensated for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are mine and mine alone. Your experience may differ.

Coming Soon: Patriotic Pillow Pet!

July 4th is coming up next Sunday and many of us will be traveling to BBQ's, beaches and get-togethers. What better Independence Day gift for your little one than a patriotic Pillow Pet?!

Made of soft, snuggly chenille, Pillow Pets are more than ordinary stuffed animals. They have a strap that closes underneath to transform the pillow into a friendly pet, making them an ideal travel companion or naptime pal. They are machine washable for easy maintenance and are available in 20 different animal styles, including jungle animals, farm critters and sea creatures, as well as the new Fourth of July dog:



Five dollars from every sale of this limited-edition pup will be donated to the organization, Scholarships for Military Children. The Scholarships for Military Children Program is primarily funded through the generosity of manufacturers and suppliers whose products are sold at military commissaries worldwide. Military families are encouraged to take advantage of their commissary benefits that not only provide a savings of more than 30% on the products purchased, but also support the military community through programs such as this scholarship.

BUY IT: Honor our military and purchase this sweet little guy online at www.MyPillowPetsGives.com (ARV $24.95 plus $6.95 S&H). There will only be 3,000 available so you'll want to snag one before they're gone!

And while I won't be able to post it before the holiday, stay tuned later this month for a special Pillow Pets review and giveaway!

Disclaimer: I will be receiving a Pillow Pet within the next few weeks to review. I was not compensated in any way for this post. I just wanted to share the time-sensitive info with my readers!

Review and Giveaway: Frecklebox CLOSED

I think anyone would agree that there's just something special about personalized gifts. That perfectly customized present never gets old and can never be outgrown. It belongs to and is made just for you and only you. Have you ever seen a child's eyes light up when they see something with their name or photo? It's magical. So when I want to give something truly unique to my son or nieces and nephews that will be cherished for years to come, I can now turn to Frecklebox.

Frecklebox is on a mission to educate and entertain. So we conceived this here web-based business to offer truly unique, personalized gifts for children at affordable prices. The site makes it quick and easy to customize each item so it prominently features the name of the child who will receive the gift. Our entertaining selection of personalized books, posters, growth charts, journal books, coloring books, stickers, placemats, puzzles, and other personalized items, are designed to delight your children and friends.

The assortment of personalized goodies over at Frecklebox will not leave you disappointed. Just take a look at these adorable offerings:

Their personalized lunchboxes are lead-free and have the cutest designs, like this "tweet" little polka-dot bird. They even have a chalkboard on the inside lid for writing notes to your little one. What a great idea!



Their laminated, personalized placemats would make any child run to the dinner table to claim their seat. Even those picky eaters!



And their selection of personalized coloring and picture books could keep children entertained for hours on end. Themes include everything from culture and environmental-friendliness to adoption and welcoming a sibling. For young children, seeing their name displayed on every page will help to reinforce self-awareness as it engages them in the story.



With many personalized products, you can only imagine how the finished product will look. But with Frecklebox, you get a preview of what your item will look like before you buy! You can also read the content of the books to determine which one is just right. No surprises whatsoever. What you see is what you get!

Since my son has a sailboat-themed nursery, we chose the Lighthouse Personalized Growth Chart to review.

With Frecklebox's excellent customer service, it was easy as pie to personalize and place my order. Just two or three clicks and Nate's chart was on its way! When the package arrived, it looked even better in person than on the preview. I was extremely happy with the quality and size. The canvas was thick and sturdy and the colors were vibrant. I love seeing my son's name right on the compass and I look forward to jotting his measurements as he grows. This would make a wonderful keepsake for any young boy (or girl!).



Bottom line: Instead of copping out with a gift card or purchasing a toy that will just be tossed aside after a few minutes, get a thoughtful token from Frecklebox. This is a great option for children with uncommon names or unique spellings, but is fun and affordable enough for all children of all ages.

BUY IT: You can purchase your own personalized growth chart (ARV $39.95) or other Frecklebox products exclusively at www.frecklebox.com.

WIN IT: The Frecklehead family is offering one lucky winner their choice of any personalized item!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Peek inside Frecklebox and tell me what product you would choose AND to whom you would gift it. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile to prevent disqualification!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count! Remember to leave one comment per entry.

1.) Follow my blog and/or subscribe via reader or email. If you already follow and/or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry each)

2.) Follow me and Frecklebox on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You can do this daily! You may use the tweet below or come up with your own:

Find the perfect present with a personalized gift from @Frecklebox! Win your choice of any item @kris10chumley http://bit.ly/9qOFHn

Just leave a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry per day max)

3.) Become a fan of Frecklebox on Facebook. (1 entry)

4.) Subscribe to the Frecklebox blog. (1 entry)

5.) Add my blog button and leave a comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on April 8, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. only. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: As mentioned above, I received a growth chart from Mark at Frecklebox to facilitate my candid review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are solely mine. Your experience may differ.

Take a Peep at Santa's Stash

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. We hosted two family get-togethers back to back so we are just now winding down from the craziness. What now remains is a house begging to be scrubbed from top to bottom and, of course, the massive loot that Santa left for all of us under our tree! So, as I procrastinate on the cleaning part (ha!), I thought I'd share with you the highlights of what we received in our stockings this year:

Nate

Radio Flyer Pathfinder Wagon: Every little boy needs a red wagon and this one more than fits the bill. Large enough for him and a friend, it will be perfect for outdoor strolls come spring and summertime. Thanks, Nana!

Sprig Toys Recycling Truck: I love that this little truck is eco-friendly (made with European Sprigwood) and has a fully functioning flip cab. What better way to instill good habits early?

Green Toys Dump Truck: Another eco-friendly truck option, this one is made from recycled milk cartons! How cool? I loved the retro look and think it will attract many sandbox pals come summer.

Melissa & Doug Toolbox: Nate is a budding engineer and loves to figure out how things work. This wooden tool set, complete with washers, nuts and bolts, looks just like Daddy's and can help him work on his fine motor skills.

Fisher Price Sesame Street Giggle Microwave: This adorable microwave has a turntable and play food that really "cooks"! Nate loves to press the buttons to hear his favorite Sesame Stree characters and watch the food spin around. Thanks, Grandma!

Dance Time Brobee: Nate's favorite TV show is by far Yo Gabba Gabba. So, my mom couldn't resist buying him this dancing Brobee doll for Christmas. Nate smiles when he laughs and has been carrying him around. I wish he sang more than just one song but so far it's a hit! It will be a great companion to his Yo Gabba Gabba DVD.

Sandra Boynton Board Books: I fell in love with Sandra Boynton after coming across one of her children's board books in our church nursery. Her stories and rhyming prose are hilariously fun and her whimsical characters are engaging to both toddlers and adults. So, I purchased a few of them to add to our library, including Pajama Time, Barnyard Dance and The Belly Button Book.

Discovery Kids Play Tent: Nate is forever crawling through the space between the sofa and the wall, so I figured a play tunnel was in order. This indoor/outdoor play tent includes a small tent along with the tunnel, all at an affordable price. The quality does leave something to be desired but Nate doesn't seem to mind so neither do I.

Fisher Price Go Diego Go Talking Rescue Pack: Another one of Nate's favorite shows is Go Diego Go and he smiles everytime the Rescue Pack song comes on. This gift from Nate's Aunt Kim will encourage imaginary play and allow him to rescue animals as if he were Diego.

Leapfrog Tag Junior: I love educational toys and was so excited that Nate received this book pal as a gift from his aunt. Each Tag Junior books teaches toddlers and preschoolers a certain skill and you can download audio so that each time your book pal touches the page, the book comes to life. I am hoping this will get Nate more involved in our daily storytime.

Crayola Tadoodles: These "first markers" were a gift from one of Nate's older cousins. Specially shaped for toddler hands, Nate can now partake in the fun of arts and crafts. Supervised, of course.

Dr. Sears Nibble Tray: This adorable 3-pc. feeding tray from world-reknowned author and pediatrician, Dr. Sears, and Zak Designs is perfect for little nibblers. The "pineapple" tray has divided sections, which allow little ones to explore a variety of different food groups, while the "leaf" section is for dips and sauces. The BPA-free set also comes with a lid for convenient travel. I'm loving this new feeding line from Dr. Sears and hope to purchase more soon!

Rob

Guitar Hero: World Tour Guitar Kit for Nintendo Wii: My husband can now fulfill his inner rock star with this addicting video game from the Guitar Hero series. The music is something all generations would recognize and the whole family can enjoy. I've even tapped into my inner rock goddess a few times and it really is a blast! I can totally see us hosting some parties and pulling this out to break the ice.

Me

Julie and Julia book with 2 Julia Child cookbooks: I've been pining for this book for about a year now and I'm so happy that my mother-in-law remembered and blessed me with it for Christmas! I wanted to read it before I saw the film (no spoilers, please!). But she also bought me Volumes 1 & 2 of Mastering the Art of French Cooking so I can make some of the dishes myself. So thoughtful! I can't wait to cook along with Julie and Julia :)

Wool-blend Bell Sleeve Coat: I saw this coat at Old Navy and told my husband I just had to have it. The bell sleeves are trendy and the 3-button placket is sweet and stylish. The camel color I decided on will go with almost anything and it can be dressed up or down. Perfection!

Coach bag and wallet: My husband splurged a little this year and surprised me with a much-needed new purse from Coach, along with a little matching wallet. I can't find the exact picture but it's the signature canvas shoulder bag in khaki/mahogany. Loves it!

Aero Garden: I received one of these from family and had no idea they existed until now! You can plant herbs and flowers indoors with aeroponic technology - no dirt and no mess! It's idiot-proof design even tells you when it needs water or nutrients. Now that's my kind of garden!

Oggi Stainless Steel Water Bottle: My husband knows my New Years resolution is to get healthy and get fit so in honor of this goal and our gradual move to all things "green", he got me a beautiful BPA-free, stainless steel bottle courtesy of Oggi. It is a colorful pink with whimsical flower designs and it will be perfect to accompany me on my walks and jaunts.

Snuggie: Yes, I asked Santa for one of these fad items and he delivered! Well, actually my sister-in-law did but who cares...I got a Snuggie! Now, I can read a book or write my blog posts late at night without a frostbitten torso. No matter how much my husband may laugh, I think this is a great idea and can't wait to open that box. As a matter of fact, I think I will right now!


What did your family receive this holiday? Did you get everything on your list?


Photo credit: Saroja25 via Photobucket