Back from Florida!

Just got back from our trip to Florida.  Humid, but very fun lounging by the pool. 

Upon my return I was met with something I had ordered from Kohl's before I left. A Fisher-Price Soothe N' Play Safari bouncer.  

 

Emerson loves this thing.  He's always loved to bounce, and although he hasn't mastered bouncing himself, I can use my foot to bounce him, and he is fascinated by the yellow lion.  I got an awesome deal on it,  $15 down from $40.  

Activity Gyms

Activity gyms are one of the few toys that Emerson actually uses for more than ten minutes at a time.  We currently have two.

Tiny Love Gymini Monkey Island Activity Gym

I bought this gym primarily because I love the monkey theme. It has bright vibrant colors, and I was looking for a mat that had a light-up aspect. The mat itself has interactive components like the elephant ear is crinkly, there's a squeaky bit in the whale, and the cloud is a soft material. The arches are plush and have two positions, one that's perfect for tummytime. The toys that come with the gym are fun and colorful. The monkey and lights are a bit overstimulating for him right now, but I'm sure he'll like it later. It folds up pretty compactly which is good for storage.

Infantino Twist and Fold Activity Gym

I really like this playmat. I registered for it and received it at my baby shower. The colors are really fun, and it's super cushy and plush which I love. The whole retro vibe is cute and original. The fabric has some slide to it, kind of like a winter parka which is good for cleaning up any accidents that are bound to happen. The toys are really fun with bright colors and different textures, and you can move them around to different loops on the arches plus take them off and attach them to a carseat. He loves looking at himself in the mirror, and although he hates tummytime, the pillow and mirror combination helps him tolerate it a bit better. The fold up is great! It fits in the closet no problem and sets up super easily.

Deal A Day Sites

I'm always looking for a bargain, so I frequent several deal a day sites that heavily discount popular items.  They have saved me a ton and introduced me to some really neat products I might not have heard of otherwise.

Deal A Day Sites
Babysteals
Mamabargains (often has several deals every day)
Ecobabybuys
Green Baby Bargains
Baby Half Off
Big Baby Buy*
Baby Earth Gaga Deal (this site is great, they have a new deal every hour)
Kids Woot
Mini Bargainz
Olivia Place
Hippo Bargains
Baby Heist*

Invite only Sites
Btrendie
Zulily
Totsy
Mini Social
Gilt
Haute Look

*ships to Canada

I also really like Baby Cheapskate.  This blog alway alerts me to amazing deals on Amazon and other retail sites, as well as publishing a weekly rundown on all the diaper and formula deals. Follow them on facebook for the most up to date info.

Baby Banz Retro Banz Sunglasses

Impulse buy alert.  Babysteals is going to bankrupt me,  I just couldn't pass up on these adorable sunglasses.  To give myself a little credit, I had been looking for baby sized glasses at a reasonable price.  I had seen the regular Baby Banz  previously but wasn't thrilled with the whole wrap around sunglasses look.  The Retro Baby Banz are much cuter in my opinion and Emerson actually keeps them on his face!

They're a tad bit big on him right now, but he's growing so fast they'll fit in no time.  The strap is very sturdy with a pretty heavy gage velcro to make sure you get the perfect fit.  I have a baby who loves to look at bright lights, so it's good to know when I take him outside he'll have protection when he decides to look directly into the sun.  

American Apparel Baby

When I was pregnant I remember reading a blog entry about things mom's wish they knew before they gave birth.  One person said that they wished they had just bought a bunch of American Apparel karate pants, and t-shirts that they could mix and match.

I really am not a fan of the typical cutesy baby clothes that have a picture of a truck or a baseball emblazoned across the front, so this really stuck with me.  This past mothers day, American Apparel had a promotion where if you spent $50 on clothes for yourself, all baby clothes were 50% off.  Since I love AA for basics I jumped on it, and bought a ton of shirts, pants, and a sweatshirt for my son.   They are super cute and he looks adorably well put together when he wears them.

They have a great selection, of both cotton and organic cotton clothing, and everything mixes very well. It's all made in the USA which is also a positive.  Emerson always seems extremely comfortable when he wears them which is the most important thing.