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75% off Select Toys started today, for the future the last Thursday in July is when they do this mark down.

I was at my Target today and found Polly Pockets, Playmobile, Knex, Hot Wheels, Match Box, Action Figures like GI joes, and more!

I was looking on Amazon for some back-to-school snacks and things that were included on my daughter’s snack list for PreK.  One of the things is applesauce, and I’m thrilled to have found Santa Cruz Organic Apple Sauce, 6-Pack, 4-Ounce Cups (Pack of 4) for just $16 for 24 cups.

BUT, it gets even better, because you can sign up for the Subscribe & Save (you can always cancel – it’s very easy to do), and that brings the cost down to just $13.60.

THEN, you can Save ANOTHER 15% when you enter code KNUDS343 at checkout!! Plus, this ships FREE w/ Prime.

That means you can get 24 cups of Organic Applesauce for just $11.20… that’s just 46¢ per organic cup, which is cheaper than the non-organic cups of applesauce! I used my Swagbucks and ordered 3-24 packs!

I’m not sure if it’s official, but based on my body’s thermometer, this has been the hottest summer on record.  Back in my slacker teenager days, I would have welcomed this number of days in the 90′s and yes, even the 100′s.  An excuse to sleep in until 1:00 and then lounge around all day doing nothing?  Perfect!  But as a parent, I know that excessive heat can make the fun park playdates and bike riding afternoons of summer come to a screeching halt.  What’s a mom to do?

Rediscover Game Time

I have always loved playing board games and cards, and I fondly remember holidays playing Uno and Hawsey, a Pennsylvania Dutch card game.  Some of my favorite memories are of the time I spent playing Phase 10 and Parcheesi with my Great Aunt and her Aunt.   Now that my kids are four and six, we have finally begun to spend long periods of time playing both board and card games, and pulling out not only the old stand-by’s but some new games as well has gotten us through this very hot summer.  We’ve also made some great memories of our own.

Ready to turn your down time into game time?

1. Start with games that Don’t Take Too Long to Complete:  Keep in mind your child’s attention span when you purchase your first board game.  Even Candyland can begin to feel a little long for a three year old if players are constantly sent back to the gingerbread man or the candy cane.  And don’t even get me started on those stinkin’ chutes in Chutes and Ladders.  Look for games that can be played in rounds or those that you can easily walk away from and return to later when you’ve got more time.  Looking for fast and furious?  Try Hungry, Hungry Hippos from Milton Bradley.  For kids a little older who don’t want to commit an entire afternoon to one game, try the 12 Minute Game series from Gamewright!
2. Be Prepared to Modify Games: While my son surprised us at three with his ability to play Uno without assistance, the majority of the times that we’ve introduced new games we’ve had to alter them slightly for our kids’ ability levels.  For example, when we first played MindWare’s Qwirkle, we chose not to keep score and instead to focus on the concept.  It was months before we got out a pencil and paper and took the game to a new level.
3. No Cheating! It is tempting to giggle and look the other way when junior decides to move his person a couple squares more than he was supposed to, but it’s best to enforce from the beginning that you need to play by the rules.  While a little cheating might slide in the family, those habits will follow your kids to their time with friends, and no one likes to play a buddy who doesn’t follow the rules.
4. Don’t Forget the Favorites: We recently made a special trip to Target to pick up Parcheesi and ended up bringing home the Parker Brothers classic, Sorry, a favorite game of mine from my own childhood.  Sometimes all it takes to pass a boring afternoon is a peaceful game of checkers!
5. And Try Something New: I have been amazed at the number of new games each time I visit the toy section of my favorite store, and we especially love trying the interesting versions of the old standards.  Another trick we have is to try new stores, especially the locally owned toy store, for games that we might not find at Toys R’ Us or Target.

Resourceful Recommendations

We’ve been having an amazing month of family play time, and the whole resourceful family would like to share our current favorites!

• Sorry – This classic has basic rules that are simple for young children to understand.  With the instructions located right on the number cards, it’s easy for beginning readers to help other players move correctly.
• Say Cheese (product provided) – We reviewed this game earlier this summer, and we honestly cannot get enough of it.  You can learn more about Say Cheese at Gamewright.com.  Our tip is to use just one “photo” card at a time instead of two if you are playing with children under five.
• Wig Out – This was one of our first Gamewright games – a favorite company of ours and carried by our local independent toy store – and we’ve revisited it this summer.  We play it over and over again!
• Order’s Up (product provided) – This is a new game from Gamewright this summer, and we’re already hooked.  The game is beautifully made and both my four and six year old love it.
• Checkers – After much prodding, we taught the kids how to play checkers this summer and they play over and over again.  My six year old is also learning chess, but checkers remains the favorite.
• Take the Cake (product provided) – Again, this is a past Gamewright review, and probably my four year old son’s absolute favorite of the summer.
• Qwirkle – Qwirkle is like a blend of scrabble and dominoes and tons of fun.  My daughter received this game for her sixth birthday, and it is now a favorite for the two of us to play together…sans her pesky little brother.
• Mastermind, Children’s Edition – Both my four and six year old have played game after game of Mastermind for kids this summer, and they are even finding creative ways to make the game more challenging.  I think it’s time for the standard edition!
• Too Many Monkeys – This game from Gamewright reminds me very much of the card game for adults, Phase 10.  It’s fun to see how quickly the tide can turn from round to round.
• Rory’s Story Cubes (product provided) – Also new from Gamewright this summer, Story Cubes prompts players to create a story using images on a set of dice.  While my six year old is much better at this game, my four year old loves to play as well.
• Uno – Everyone remembers this card game favorite, and although there are now many different versions of Uno, we still love the original.

Pedipeds new collection has more than 70 new styles across Pediped footwear system’s three lines, Originals, Grip ‘n’ Go and Flex. With a range that includes 25 Originals styles, Four couture collection style offerings, 13 Grip ‘n’ Go styles and 39 Flex styles, parents have even more choices when it comes to finding the perfect pair of Pediped shoes for their child.

Originals – the best first shoe ever: Pediped Originals are the best first shoes for children and remain the best choice as children learn to walk. The soft flexible soles are recommended by pediatricians and podiatrists as they allow children to closely mimic barefoot walking.

The Originals Fall Winter line for girls features updates on classic styles, including Abigail purple and chocolate brown. Two adorable styles of faux fur boots are offered in the Giselle and Avery styles. PPediped uses sheepskin for the first time in the Isabella for girls and the Charlie for boys. The boy’s line also includes a variety of casual athletic styles like the Christopher and the Luke.

The Couture Collection was inspired by the American West with metallic cowboy boots and Mary Janes. The Originals collection will retail for $32 and is available for children 0-2 years. The Couture Collection styles will retail for $42.

Grip ‘n’ Go – the perfect shoe for the active toddler: Pediped Grip ‘n’ Go, are the perfect shoes for a toddler transitioning from early walking to walking with a more confident stride. Grip ‘n’ Go, are made with all the benefits of Originals but with thin, flexible rubber soles. The rounded edges mimic the natural shape of a child’s foot and the heel stability and soft toe box allow toddlers to feel and grip the floor. Grip ‘n’ Go is ideal for both indoor and outdoor wear.

The Grip ‘n’ Go Fall Winter line has classic Pediped styles like Alyssa, Giselle, Isabella and Jake. It also includes some exciting new styles like Ellie and Jamie. The Grip ‘n’ Go collection will retail for $44-$48 and is available for children 9 months to 3 years.

Flex - the ultimate shoe for confident walkers: Pediped Flex are the ultimate shoes for confident walkers who have developed a solid, natural stride.

The Fall Flex line has a fabulous array of boots for girls including the suede Elizabeth fashion boot, the red Carrie Cowboy boot and the Tonya riding boot. Fall also brings the expansion of athletic washable styles and ballet flats with Memory Foam Technology. Flex styles range in price from $34-$79 and are available in EU sizes 20-29 with select styles now offered in larger sizes going to EU 31.

All new styles in the Fall Winter collection will be available immediately with the exception of a few select boot styles will be available on August 15th.

A range of coordinating Pediped socks and hosiery, jewelry and hair clips by No Slippy Clippy are also offered to complete any and every fall and winter ensemble.

In addition to providing the perfect combination of style and comfort, all Pediped shoes are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for the promotion of healthy foot development. The Pediped footwear system has recently been endorsed by researches associated with Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital in Boston.

About Pediped:

Pediped footwear was launched in 2004 by Angela and Brian Edgeworth in their quest for the perfect soft-soled shoe for their first daughter. Exceptional quality, unsurpassed comfort and distinctive styling have made the award winning company the fastest-growing children’s footwear brand in the United States. Pediped footwear is sold in over 3000 stores in the United States and 40 countries worldwide with an offering of more than 120 designs for boys and girls between their three lines. Originals, Grip ‘n’ Go Flex. Originals (soft-soled shoes for newborns to age 2), Grip ‘n’ Go (thin rubber-soled shoes for children ages 9 months – 3 years) and Flex (rubber-soled shoes for children 1-6 years) are available in EU sizes ranging from 17 to 31.

I have been thrilled for my son to finally get to wear a pair of shoes by Pediped! He was sent the Adrian in White/Grey – Flex ($48). This pair of machine washable shoes
sells for $48. This style was a part of their spring line. Pediped shoes have flexible soles, are washable and have a memory foam.

This style came with a pair of DRYZ, a specially-formulated odor resistant insole that controls both moisture and temperature. A version of these insoles sell online for $15.99 but are included FREE in this pair – a great deal! We think every child needs Pediped footwear. If your child is in school, their shoes will be easier to keep clean, they will have maximum flexibility and support for their natural foot motion, and the additional insoles help to customize the fit. Who can go wrong in keeping their kids feet in exceptional quality, comfortable and stylish shoes. We’re so glad that my man was introduced to Pedipeds!

Machine Washable – These shoes are made with Clarino, a wash-and-wear fabric that’s virtually indestructible. Simply throw in the washing machine and air dry for perfectly clean shoes–how easy! That’s one of the main features I like about the shoes. We know it doesn’t take long for kids to get their shoes dirty. I needed those shoes when my son ran in the yard after a heavy rain.

Soft & Flexible – The shoe features exceptionally soft, flexible soles and uppers help to provide healthy foot development. Ultra flexible FLEX ZONES provide maximum flexibility and support natural foot motion.

Heel Cushion - The Shock absorbing cushions on each heel protect against impact and distribute pressure through-out the foot.

Flex Fit System – Pediped Flex offer a unique fit system. Each pair comes with an additional 2mm insole to customize the fit so it’s just right for each child. If the child starts with both insoles, as the child’s feet grow the additional insoles may be removed to extend the length of time the child can wear the shoes.

The product in this review was provided to the reviewer for keeps and the purpose of writing a review. This in no way effects the quality of the review provided. No monetary exchange occurred in exchange for the writing of the review. The views expressed in this review are strictly that of the reviewer. All reviews provided here are the work of the reviewer and remain completely unbiased.

Prize: One winner will receive a Cascade Ruffle Top by Fumblin’ Foe (a $118 value) from Excess Baggage.

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Entry Limit: Daily

Note: You can list bonus entries separately or all in one entry – your choice!

Silk sateen sleeveless top is adorned with flat cascading ruffles down the front. This top is glamorous, and very complimentary.

Excess Baggage is a multi-designer off price retailer that is offered both at an online and offline level. Our online store offers our customers the same great deals that you would get at any of our events. We offer our customers a different sale experience than they have ever had. As you know sample sales are generally very unorganized, dirty, chaotic disasters. Excess Baggage designer sale concept is a sophisticated social networking experience complete with cocktails, beauty services, gift bags, etc.

Silk Printed Coat by Biya $200 (Reg. $715)

Orange Sheila Clutch by Vieta $48 (Reg. $56)

American Buddha by Yogi $30 (Reg. $83)

Black Cutter Embellished Leaf Tank by One Grey Day $50 (Reg. $121)

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The giveaway will conclude August 15th.

Note: The winner will be randomly chosen through Random.org.

Winner must respond within 72 hours of notification.

Apparently this coupon is only good for Fort Worth & Dallas TX locations. So sorry about that!

Reader Lenka emailed last week to let me know about an awesome place to buy local restaurant gift certificates at a discounted price.  Since we all know (and love) Restaurant.com, this idea is pretty familiar and very much welcomed!

Unlike most of the Restaurant.com gift certificates, LocalDines.com’s gift certificates don’t seem to have as many limitations.  So, you can get a $30 gift certificate for $15 and it will usually cover any drinks, happy hour, etc.

AND, Lenka also let me know that they have a promotion right now:

OR use promo code: free5J to receive $5 discount on purchases over $15.  The promo code will expire Thursday at 9pm

Go HERE and sign up for FREE and keep checking for new restaurants to be added!

(Thanks Lenka!)

Here’s how to redeem the offer:

• Pick up the GNC promotional code at CouponHeaven.com
• Add merchandise to the shopping cart
• Enter the code in the box labeled, “Using a Promotional Code?” and click on the APPLY button

Most offers can not be combined with the GNC 20% Gold Card Discount. Hot Buy items do not count towards the any minimum purchase threshold.

Other coupon codes for Vitamins and Supplements are available.