droolicious : christmas

Win This...

editors — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:02:00 GMT

and this -

It's your last chance to win the Quinny Buzz 4 with fabulous accessories and the Maxi-Cosi Mico car seat. Simply join The Babble Playground, upload your Winter Wonderland pics and enter now! Hurry, contest ends December 31st, winner announced January 2nd. - April Peveteaux

Holiday Return Policies: The Good, the Bad and the (Mostly) Ugly

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Merry day-after-Christmas! As you survey the carnage from yesterday's festivities, you may already be thinking about what to do with those fugly polyester PJs from Grandma and the still-unopened Calico Critters and Playmobil playsets you simply don't have the energy to clean up anymore. None of which, of course, came with gift receipts.

Well, you're in luck, because in its annual survey of stores' ever-changing return policies, ConsumerWorld.org has everything you need to know about which stores will make it easy to take back your unloved unwrapables (Wal-Mart) and which are growing increasingly devious in their attempts to keep you from making an exchange (hey Target, where's my gift receipt?).

The site also includes a number of online retailers' return policies, too, so even if you got a bum gift from, say, Buy.com, there's still hope for a decent return on it.

ConsumerWorld.org: 2008 Holiday Return Policies [via Consumerist; image via Satan's Laundromat]

Last Minute Holiday Deals: Castle Bouncer

AmandaHill — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:00:00 GMT

Another great last minute Christmas deal, if you are about to go search your local stores over for a gift is this Castle Bouncer. Equipped to provide a great bounce, it can provide hours of entertainment. Additionally, it includes 24 balls to bounce around and toss. It is inflatable and has high walls for safety. The reviews for the product are great, and you can pick one up last minute at your local Wal-Mart for $44.99.

Last Minute Holiday Deals: Funny Onesies

AmandaHill — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

As far as last minute Christmas deals go, this long sleeved humor bodysuit for babies is a great one. As if the cute little graphic on the front wasn't enough, Old Navy is selling these dirt cheap right now for just $1.99. Yes, that's right. $1.99. So what are you waiting for? Hop on over to your local Old Navy and pick one up for your baby to wear tomorrow while you guys are ringing in Christmas, if you celebrate.

It’s a Christmas Stroller! And One to Give Away…

editors — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:10:00 GMT

Recently Quinny tapped Danish artiste Henrik Vibskov to create an alternative look for their strollers and accessories for the babies. Nicole reported on the new designs and we stopped by the show to declare that the avant-garde, yet festive “white raindrop” Zapp looks just like Christmas. See here:

If you’re not currently in the art market for a ride for your kiddo, check out the Quinny Buzz 4 stroller in regular (but still fabulous) colors. We’re giving that one away – for free! Along with the Dreami bassinet, foot muff, Quinny Box and Maxi-Cosi Mico car seat that goes along for the very smooth ride.

To get yourself entered to win simply join The Babble Playground and enter the Photo Contest: Winter Wonderland. The most winter-irific photo wins this prize package worth more than $1,000. Now, would Santa do that for you? - April Peveteaux

Get the Quinny Buzz 4 here.

Get the Maxi-Cosi Mico here.

Check out the artsy Quinny Vibskov designs here.

What to Buy the Jolie-Pitt Kids for Christmas

SunnyChanel — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:00:00 GMT

Christmas time must be pretty zany around the Jolie-Pitt household. Not only will they all be making each other hand crafted presents (see Angelina & Brad are Christmas Crafters) but you know there will an ample amount of presents for all six of their kids under the tree. To help in this the busy time, I’ve come up with a list of presents for each of the Jolie-Pitt brood, or for your own little Pax, Maddox or Shiloh.

For Maddox – 7 year old
Military Dress-Up set
Maddox has a fascination with all things to do with war, weapons and battle. This Military Dress-Up set that includes a jacket, pants, flak jacket and helmet would be perfect for those stealth missions in New Orleans, New York City or their villa in the French countryside. And it’s on sale for $7.99 (regularly $24.99) from JC Penney’s here.

For Pax – 5-years old
The Lego Creator Beach Set
He gives the presence of being calm, collected and with some of the down to earth qualities of Daddy Pitt. Following in Brad Pitt’s foot steps, he can build some houses just like his dad does in New Orleans. The Lego Creator Beach House set includes the blocks to create a house, apartment building or café. You can pick up one from Amazon here for $138.95. It is for ages 8-12 but Dad has experience helping build so he can lend a hand.

Zahara – 3 years old
Juicy Couture Purse
Zahara is quite the little lady. She has the demeanor of a world weary sophisticate. We’ve seen her out and about with her own little mini purses, once even with one that matched moms. A good gift for this gal on the go would be Juicy Go Go Girl Velour and Rhinestone kid sizes Tote. It’s chic but still a wee bit silly and perfect for this little jet setter. $125 from Saks.

Shiloh – 2
Peter Pan Book
According to papa Brad Pitt, Shiloh will only response to be called Jonathan or Michael, the names of the two brothers from the classic Peter Pan. A perfect gift for this kid who loves to visit Neverland would be this Peter Pan pop up book from Simon and Schuster. And really, who doesn’t love a pop up book? $20.99 from Barnes and Noble

Twins: Viviene and Knox
Thing 1 Thing 2 Set
There ought to be a rule that every twin should have some sort of Dr. Suess Thing 1 and Thing 2 branded something or other. Here Viviene and Know can totally Thing it up. This set comes with a bodysuits, footed sleepers, bibs and Thing 1 and Thing 2 plush toys. The hard part will be trying to figure out who’s Thing 1 and who’s Thing 2. $79.99 here.

Burlap Sacks Move Easily From Garden to Santa's Sleigh

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:30:00 GMT

These burlap sacks from Gardener's Supply Company are meant to hold large, weirdly shaped items that'd be a pain to wrap (say, a birdbath). Imagine, though, waking up Christmas morning to find your gifts bundled in a sack that looks like it's fresh off Santa's sleigh.

$7.99 to $9.99 (normally $22.95 to $29.95) from Gardeners.com, and expedited shipping options are still available. [Via The Green Head]

Let the Kids in the Holiday Kitchen

SunnyChanel — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:30:00 GMT

I can not wait until my daughter is old enough to do holiday crafts and cooking with me. I’m not talking about her adorable attempts at trying to draw Santa (which honestly looks more like a beached whale), or her indulgence in binging on the gingerbread house’s decorations. No, I can’t wait until she can join me in making Ice Cream Treewitches, Mrs. Clause’s Peppermint Wonders and Sweet and Crunchy Garland or some of the other delicious and delightful recipes and projects included in the book Kids in the Holiday Kitchen – Making, Baking, Giving.

It looks like next year will be the year for our family cooking and crafting, but if your kids are old enough, pick up this book for some festive holiday cheer. This year, we all need a little extra of that. Available from Chronicle Books here. ($16.95)

Etsy: Cool Gift Tags for Your Little Monkey

Erin Behan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:54:00 GMT

Aspire to the perfect wrap job? Then don't stop with the wrapping paper--you've gotta think all the way to the gift tags. And these Little Monkey tags ($7 for a set of 4) from Ouou's Etsy shop do the trick. While the cherry red color certainly works for Christmas, the Gocco screen printed design is good all year long, and a very sweet way to put the fnishing touches on a well wrapped gift.

Modern Take on the Keepsake Ornament

Erin Behan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:28:00 GMT

If you're a new mom or dad, you're probably already getting a few Baby's First Christmas-style ornaments, some of which may be of dubious taste (which is fine--hey, they're family), but maybe you want a pretty ornament to remember the milestone. Get yourself over to Paloma's Nest Etsy site and snap up one of these 2008 keepsake dove ornaments ($22). The piece is made of white clay, is fired, and has a protective treatment to keep it looking fresh.

A Sugar Free Gingerbread House!

SunnyChanel — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:52:00 GMT

The other day my toddler and I assembled a Gingerbread House. That is I assembled it as my daughter attempted to stuff as many of the candy decorations into her mouth that she could. Yes, I now realize the truth that toddlers are too young to be faced with the temptation of oodles of unwrapped candy.

This year I should have gotten the plush Gingerbread House designed in Denmark and handmade in Nepal. It’s cute, sugar free and international. It does cost $78 but think of what you’ll be saving in dentist bills. Interested? Go here.

Etsy: Even Stockings go Eco-Friendly

Erin Behan — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

It's stocking time! And why not go all eco-friendly on your stockings with these cute, inexpensive handmade Christmas stockings from Etsy. Designed by KatiePatatey, these 12-inch long Matryoshka lady stocking ($7) are made from Ecospun felt, a material spun from recycled glass bottles. KatiePatatey has a variety of designs on her site from which to choose.

Paper Gingerbread House Still Pretty Sweet

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:00:00 GMT

It may look good enough to eat, but there'll be no cavities or bellyaches following your assembly of this paper gingerbread house. The precut walls, roof and shingles are all made from recycled paper, and the kit also includes a bunch of incredible inedibles for putting on the finishing touches.

$22.95 from Paper Source. [Via Mighty Junior]

Deer Hunter Nutcracker or Brooklyn Hipster?

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:30:00 GMT

Take away the gun, and this deer hunter nutcracker looks like 80% of the male population of Williamsburg. Either way, we'll take him.

$29.95 from the What On Earth Catalog. [Via Nerd Approved]

Wheels for Less Than $15

Erin Behan — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:22:00 GMT

My go-to gift for kids fascinated by city life (whether they live in one or not) is this Vilac Mini Taxi ($12). The French-made toy boasts a heritage of beech wood and has soft, easy-rolling rubber wheels. Add Miroslav Sasek's classic This is New York ($12.21) for a lovely gift set that both kids and parents can enjoy.

Advent for Penguin Lovers

Erin Behan — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:46:00 GMT

I posted before about a more traditional advent calendar I liked, but here's one that's a little less traditional and a little more fun. The pop-up Penguin Advent Calendar ($16.99) by Joelle Jolivet will have you and your family counting the penguins behind each of the 24 die-cut widows. A miniature book comes with the calendar and gives door-by-door explanations in rhyme.

Modern Advent Calendar: Does it Exist?

Erin Behan — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:09:00 GMT

If you're not as crafty as flickr's modern cottage, you may have a hard time finding a modern-looking advent calendar (I did). The best selection of the best looking advent calendars that I could find, which coincidentally were also the best priced, all came from Target. My favorite for its minimal look and clean graphics is the above cream-colored advent calendar (on sale for $25). It's handpainted in a distressed white finish and the doors have a stay-closed locking system. See all of Target's advent calendars.

Discuss: Will You Cut Personal Spending to Buy Your Kids Toys?

Erin Behan — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:01:00 GMT

The New York Times has an interesting article that tracks the trend of mothers going without designer jeans so their children can have designer toys. Obviously, moms have always been ones to sacrifice for their families, and while the idea behind the article is sound, it still rings a bit shallow to me. If one really can't afford all the best toys, why not have a discussion with your kids about why the cut-backs have to happen (for the whole family)? What steps are you taking this year to help soften the financial blow of Christmas in a time of economic uncertainty? Discuss.

Photo of the Delux Toy Cash Register ($49.99) from Amazon

Charlie Harper Board Books at Old Navy

Erin Behan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:10:00 GMT

Interest in modern American wildlife artist Charlie Harper has seen a resurgence of late (death will do that for you), and now Old Navy has gotten into the picture with three beautiful board books that teach counting, the ABCs and coloring. The coloring book is only available at Oldnavy.com, and all are $9.50. I can't think of a better way to teach kids the basics and introduce them to a wonderful artist at the same time. This one's going to the top of my Christmas list.

Big Deal: 10-30% Off Kate Quinn Organics

Erin Behan — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:50:00 GMT

Remember that cute Kate Quinn bunting that I loved that a user said looked a bit like a baby Christmas costume (I'll give 'em that)? It's now on sale, along with other winter favorites at Kate Quinn. Originally $62, the organic sherpa baby bunting is now $55.80. You've gotta click around the site for the deals, but other good ones are the sweater pants, originally $52, now $36, and this sweater vest, originally$52, now $36.40.

Toys"R"Us Leaks Doorbusters for Next Week's Black Friday Sale

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:54:00 GMT

If you're holding out for the perfect deal on a new PS2, you might want to wait until next Friday. As part of Toys"R"Us' mammoth Black Friday "Doorbusters" event, you can score 6 free games, a free 21 DVD and a free PS2 DVD Remote when you buy the core system shown here.

Of course, this is just one of the 150 Doorbusters Toys"R"Us has planned for Black Friday -- and that's not counting the 50-plus unadvertised "Mystery Doorbusters" the truly hardcore shoppers among us will discover at midnight on Nov. 26.

From Toys"R"Us' recent press release, here's a sampling of the Doorbusters available during the regular Black Friday sale -- make sure you're an early riser, though, 'cause these are only valid while supplies last from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28:

   * FREE Play Station 2 Deal – 6 FREE Games, FREE “21” DVD and FREE Play Station 2 DVD Remote with the purchase of the Play Station 2 System
   * FREE $50 Toys“R”Us Gift Card with the purchase of a Black 16GB iPod nano^®
   * FREE Nintendo^® DS^™ accessory with the purchase of Nintendo^® DS^™ Brain Age Bundle or Nintendo^® DS^™ Super Mario Bros. Bundle
   * More than 80% off Xbox 360 Wired Guitar Hero Game Controller
   * 60% off TOYMAX EyeClops^® from JAKKS Pacific^®
   * 60% off Disney^®High School Musical 2 Figures 3-Pack
   * More than 50% off Littlest Pet Shop VIP Plush Pets from Hasbro^®
   * Up to 50% off Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle for Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360
   * 50% off Little Tikes^® Diggers
   * 50% off Jumbo Talking Elmo from Fisher-Price^®
   * 50% off Huffy^® Scooters (Power Rangers and Cinderella, sold separately)
   * 33% off V-Tech^® Learning Laptop
   * More than 30% off Thomas & Friends^®Train Sets (Thomas & Percy Wooden Starter Set and Great Race Take Along Set, sold separately)
   * $60 off iHome^® Portable iPod^® Docking Station (iPod^® sold separately)
   * $50 off Sony^®7.2MP Pink Cybershot Digital Camera

If you'd rather sleep in, Toys"R"Us is also having a ton of sales Friday, Nov. 28, and Saturday, Nov. 29, during which more than 150 additional items will be added to the list of bargains. From the same press release, here's just a sample of those deals:

   * FREE Smart Animals 2-Pack with the purchase of Smart Animals Scanopedia from Discovery Kids^®
   * FREE Spiral Train Set with the purchase of Arch Train Table from Imaginarium^®
   * More than 70% off Nick^®Scene It? and Pirates of the Caribbean Scene It?
   * More than 65% off Dance Dance Revolution DVD Game and Twister^®DVD Game
   * Up to 55% off Select Hasbro^® Games
   * 50% off Star Wars 10” Transformers Millennium Falcon from Hasbro^®
   * 50% off Barbie^®Princess 2-Pack Dolls from Mattel^®
   * 50% off Infrared Mini R/C Helicopter from Fast Lane
   * 50% off iPod^® Dock & Clock Radio (iPod^® sold separately)
   * $9.99 Sale on ALL Skateboards, Helmet & Pads from Channel One^®
   * $20 off Disney^®High School Musical Alarm Clock with iPod^® Dock (iPod^® sold separately)
   * More than $40 off Electric Guitar Pack from First Act^®
   * $70 off Woodland Climber from Step 2^®
   * $80 off Picnic on the Patio Playhouse from Little Tikes^®
   * $500 off Easton 7-foot 2-in-1 Swivel Combo Table

[BusinessWire via Gizmodo]

Scratch and Sniff Holiday Board Book

Erin Behan — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:59:00 GMT

Oh how I loved scratch and sniff stickers and books as a child, so I was delighted to find a Christmas-themed scratch and sniff board book for youngsters at Amazon ($7.95). The scents featured are the very holiday medley of gingerbread, pine, orange, chocolate and peppermint. Part of the First Holiday Board Book series, it's published by Kingfisher.

New Alessi Holiday Figurines Now Available At Unica Home

Chris Ford — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:01:00 GMT

Thanksgiving might not even be here yet, but if you're going to score some of the new Christmas figurines from Alessi for this holiday season, you better be quick. We told you about the 2007 collection as well as the modern nativity last year, but new in 2008 there is a red version (pictured) as well seven other brand new figurines.

My personal favorite is "Orson & Natalino" - a little Santa Claus on top of a giant bear, but there are other Santas, a wizard and even a cat and mouse. If you're looking for holiday decorations you can pass down to your children (that also reflect your style), the Alessi figurines are a good place to start.

And like I said last year, they are still way better than Snow Babies.

The Presepe Creche is $92 (limited stock - only 18 left), while the other figurines are $32 and $42. All are available from Unica Home.

Overalls in the Holiday Spirit

Erin Behan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:55:00 GMT

Looking for a way to make the little man look holiday appropriate without buying him that tacky sweater? These cotton/wool blend overalls, lined on the inside with cotton lawn, are $58 at Pottery Barn Kids. Sure it's pricey, but those holiday card photos last forever. Tack on $6.50 more for it to be initialed.

Amazon's Complete List of Frustration-Free Toy Packaging Options

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:30:00 GMT

Amazon's Frustration-Free Packaging Option, offered on a wide selection of toys this season, lets you opt to have your gifts shipped in a "recyclable, easy-to-open box that eliminates 4-color printing and minimizes the use of PVC windows, blister packs, fasteners, and 4-color inserts found in traditional packaging."

Sounds great, but where does all that excess packaging -- such as the colorful box, blister pack and fasteners normally found in the Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle shown here -- go?

Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle as boxed (left) and unboxed (right) with Frustration-Free Packaging.

According to Amazon's Frustration-Free Packaging FAQ, the company works directly with manufacturers to have toys shipped in the scaled-down, eco-friendly packages right off the assembly line. Sounds like a pretty cool feature, provided you're willing to give up the magic of presenting a gift in its obviously kid-appealing original box. Having shredded my hands on countless fasteners and plastic bubbles, I say bring on Frustration-Free Packaging for everything.

Complete List of Toys Shipped in Frustration-Free Packaging (Amazon.com)

Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle in Frustration-Free Packaging ($34.99; normally $44.99)