Free Animal Cookies and Circus Train

I tied three animal cookie boxes to make a circus train for S.  I use to love pretending these boxes were circus trains when I was a child. 

You can get 2 boxes for FREE at Walmart with this $2/2 printable coupon. 

New Felt Board

Today I finally got around to making S's new felt board.  The cardboard triangular one didn't hold up too well under toddler usage.  I used a cheap frame from Ikea and put a sheet of white felt inside over the plexiglass.  I have it propped up against the wall of our play room, but you could hang it low as well. 

I also cut out three varying-sized hearts to work on the concept of size (big, medium, small).  We're not quite ready for sequencing them, but this is a start.  S also likes to count the three hearts. 

Anyone have a good Valentine's felt board rhyme? 

More Diaper Samples

Go here to request a sample of Huggies Pure and Natural diapers.  If you requested one a few months ago, it looks as though it may have been reset, so you can try again. 

You can also request a Pampers potty training kit that comes with coupons and a free sample of Easy Ups Trainers. 

Diaper samples are great for keeping in the car and they often arrive with coupons!

Free Avery Label Pad Sample

Get a free Avery Label Pad sample here.  I love labels!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Dot Letters

I have been wanting to print and try this activity with S for a long time now.  MakingLearningFun.com has printable letter magnet pages.  You are suppose to use them with little colored dot magnets, but I used them with our dot art markers.  S has completed "S is for school" and "V is for Valentines".  I plan to bind them together in a book when we finish all the letters.  I like that there are several choices per letter and they also have pages to go with Brown Bear, Brown Bear and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. 

Thanks, 1+1+1+=1!

My $12 Mall Trip

Children's Place (Monster Sale 50% off reduced merchandise)

Toddler Boys Cargo Pants (x2)

$3.50 each

= $7.00

Dillard's

Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Splash Away Foaming Cleanser (full size)

= free (mailer)

The Limited

women's tee

$19.50

- 15.00 (printable)

= $4.50

Godiva

truffle *not pictured ;)

= free piece of chocolate per month (Godiva Rewards Club)

Total OOP = about $12

3 Free Shutterfly Valentine's Day Cards

You can get 3 free 5x7 folded Valentine's Day photo cards from Shutterfly using the promo code 3FREECARDS.  You will have to pay $0.99 to ship them to yourself and another $0.08 for tax.  My total was $1.07 which is a lot cheaper than buying three greeting cards at the store.  You will have to enter the code into your account.  Freebies for Mom has good directions on how to do it.  These will be perfect for grandparents!

Free Baby Einstein Mozart Download

Baby Einstein is celebrating Mozart's birthday with a free Mozart download.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

CVS $4.84

Well, I spent more OOP than usual, but the Oust deal was a $2.00 money-maker and I earned 9 ECBs in the transaction:

Oust Air and Surface Sanitizer (x2)
$7.98 ($3.99 each)
- 3.99 (BOGO 1/13 SS)
= 3.99 for both and earned 6 ECBs

Cottonelle wipes tub and refill 84-ct combo pack
$5.98
- 0.50 (mailer)
= $5.48 and earned 3 ECBs

Used 5 ECBs

Total OOP = $4.84 and earned 9 ECBs

Baby and Toddler Computer Games

I understand if you are not interested in introducing your tot to the computer yet, but S caught me in a weak moment the other day and now there's no going back.  Babygamer.com has a collection of links to a variety of free baby/toddler internet "games."  They basically all work the same way - there is some type of response when any key on the keyboard is pushed.  I have convinced myself that they are good lessons in cause and effect, but there are some that are more educational (i.e when a key is pushed the next letter of the alphabet comes up). 

Also, we do not own an iPhone, but I have read/heard a lot of people talking about free and inexpensive applications for toddlers.  One of my favorite blogs 1+1+1=1 has a list of a few.

If you know of any others, please feel free to comment. 

Coloring Pages

My sister told me about http://www.thecolor.com/, an online coloring book.  The pages are broken down by theme and they have lots of themes to choose from.  You can "color" online, but you can also print out blank pages which is what I have done with S.  You could also print out a whole theme and staple them together to make a coloring book.  Here are my favorites:

• 
  
  Numbers
• 
  
  Alphabet
• 
  
  Aesop's Fables
• 
  
  Grimm's Fairy Tales
• 
  
  Nursery Rhymes
• 
  
  Valentine's Day

Thanks, Kelly!

$10 off $30 Borders

You can print a $10 off $30 Purchase coupon to Borders.  The coupon expires 1/18.  You need to be a Border's Rewards member to use it, but it's free to sign up if you aren't already.  Border's doesn't only have a great selection of children's books, but also educational toys (Melissa and Doug, Larui, Alex, etc.). 

Thanks, Saving with Shellie!

Free Sample of Gold Bond Hand Sanitizer Moisturizer

You can get a free sample of Gold Bond Hand Sanitizer Moisturizer here.  Sounds like it would be great to throw in the diaper bag. 

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

10 More Points

Go here and enter the code JUSTFOROURFANS1 for 10 more Pampers Gifts to Grow points!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Foam Sticker Sorting

This month we are learning about pets and since S has done such a great job with matching, I thought I would try sorting with him.  I found these foam stickers in the dollar bin at Target and placed one of each animal on a cup.  Then he can sort them by animal into the correct cup.  I used all blue stickers on the cup so that he wouldn't think it was color sorting and I only began with two cups when I introduced the activity (the fish and dog since they look very different).  I am keeping the activity on one of my new Oriental Trading Company trays so that S has access to the activity.  (Note:  These trays are so great for art/crafting, food, learning, playdough, setting up activities...)

I plan to follow the below progression with S to support early math concepts, but I came up with this on my own, so if anyone has a different suggestion or addition, please feel free to comment: 

• matching
• sorting
• sequencing (size)
• patterns

The stickers were also great for fine motor practice (peeling and sticking).   

Barbara's Bakery Cereal Sample

You can get a free sample of Barbara's Bakery organic cereal sample here.  I love free cereal samples to throw in my diaper bag for toddler snacks or to take on trips. 

Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom!

Yet Another Pampers Code

Here you go:  WELCOME2GTG2010 (10 points)

Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom!

Babies R Us Trip a 66% Savings!

I spent $15.93 today at Babies R Us and saved $32.20 (a 66% savings)!  Here's the trip:

Earth's Best Diapers (Jumbo packs) x3
$11.99
- 6.99 (on sale discount; limit 3)
- 2.00 (BRU printable; Note: you only need to print one and it will apply to all three packs)
- 1.50 (Earth's Best printable; Note: I was only able to print one and I think Earth's Best has now pulled the coupon)
= $1.50 for one pack and $3 each for the other 2

Gerber Graduates Utensils x2
$10.98 for both sets ($5.49 each)
- 2.44 (BOGO 50% off)
- 1.09 (20% off one item BRU mailer)
= $7.45 for both

Pampers Wipes travel pack
$1.39
- 1.39 (Free with any baby purchase coupon in BRU mailer)
= free