droolicious : holiday gift guides

Inexpensive Gift Pick: The Hess Truck

editors — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:33:00 GMT

It’s like there’s an alarm that goes off in every kid some time after the age of two and they must have trucks, trains and all things that go. My daughter saw the annual Hess Truck commercial and quickly declared, “I want it” as if in a trance. The best thing about this holiday standard is the price. At $22.99 you can afford the 2008 Hess Truck and Front End Loader for every truck lover on your list.

The Hess Toy Truck has working lights and "authentic" truck noises - you know, honking, ignition start-up and that back-up warning beep. It even comes with batteries to make all this magic happen.

Hess trucks are only sold on location and recommended for ages 3 and up. Go here to find out where you can find one on the highway near you. - April Peveteaux

Giant Hanna Andersson Sale!

Meredith Broussard — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Were you craving one of the adorable Hanna Andersson sweaters from our holiday gift guide? Good news! Today is the first day of the twice-yearly Hanna Andersson blowout sale. And by 'blowout,' I mean 'up to 70% off.' How's that for a holiday gift?

Sale includes the boys' version of the Up In The Cabin red sweater dress featured in the Babble holiday gift guide for just $19 (marked down from $49.50). Score! Also, outerwear is an additional 20% off today only.

More info: HannaAndersson.com

Estella: Of Teddy Bear Rugs & Other Cuteness

editors — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:02:00 GMT

Just because we’re not hunters doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate a good bear rug here at Babble. New York City shop Estella recently turned us on to some excellent gift ideas they carry inside their store, as well as online, and this faux bear rug had us all awwwing. Available in grizzly and polar, you can decorate your kiddo’s room a lá Sarah Palin for fifty-five buckaroos!

If your taste is more “liberal French” you’ll find this La Maison Des Boules made by Vilac a more satisfying option for your babes 12 months and up. Estella admits that they cannot stop playing with this house of balls, and our toddler tester could not either. It may be the bell at the bottom that makes this traditional toy so sweet and Pavlovian. Either way, these gifts will delight all political persuasions. - April Peveteaux

Get the Faux Bear Rug at Estella for $55.

Get the Vilac La Maison des Boules at Estella for $58.

Holiday Sale Alert! In addition to slashing prices up to 50% off, Estella is offering free ground shipping on items over $50. Use code "freeshipcoupon."

In the Nursery: Restoration Hardware's Play Tent

elizabeth leach — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Restoration Hardware Baby and Child has the most beautiful play tent and now it's on sale. At $99 for the sale price, this tent isn't cheap, but it's definitely a statement and would look gorgeous in a nursery or playroom. Tent can be personalized, too.

With round windows on the side to peek out and peek inside. Poles are completely concealed under fabric. Tent measures 60" sq and 71" H at peak. Find Play Tent here.

GeoAir High-Flyin' Airport + Awesome Fan Video

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:04:00 GMT

The GeoAir High-Flyin' Airport is the centerpiece of Fisher-Price's GeoTrax airline set, and like nearly everything else from GeoTrax, it's a cinch to put together and just as easy to keep in once piece (even if we're talking a 2-year-old pilot) once you've built it.

The only bummer is that the High-Flyin' Airport is but one piece of a larger, more expensive set -- I mean, sure, you're getting 10 feet of track and a cool figure-nine layout here, but have you seen what these suckers can do once they're all together?

$39.97 (regularly $54.99) from Amazon. [Clip via GeoTrax Train Blog]

Big Deal: Sweaters are 30% Off at What Every Baby Needs

elizabeth leach — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:29:00 GMT

What Every Baby Needs has the cutest assortment of sweaters and for today only take 30% off all sweaters plus an extra 10% off your entire order with our special code. (Get the code after the jump.)

The above Construction Sweater was $64 and is now $44.80. Shop What Every Baby Needs and get 10% your entire order with code: Turkey10.

Cyber Monday Deals: Huge Sale at Tea Collection

Meredith Broussard — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Have you been drooling over the Skjolden Ski Sweater from Tea Collection featured in the Babble Holiday Gift Guide? Now's your chance to get it-- and everything else at Tea Collection-- for 25% off.

Get 25% off at Tea Collection using coupon code GIFT08 through 12/03; free shipping on orders $100+.

Cyber Monday Deals: The Complete List of Online Discounts

Meredith Broussard — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:05:00 GMT

Ready with the credit card? Here's the ultimate wrap-up of Cyber Monday discounts on kids' toys and gear:

Land of Nod: free shipping on most purchases w/coupon code WINTER; get the adorable personalized stockings pictured above for $25 each.

Discovery Store: $10 off $50, free shipping over $75

Lego Store: free shipping over $99, $10 off orders over $100, $20 off orders over $200, $30 off orders over $300

Back to Basics Toys: 10% off everything w/coupon code EDISC84; free shipping over $85 w/coupon code EDISC83

The Scholastic Store: up to 75% off on sale items; free shipping on $39+ w/coupon code AFFTGS or coupon code SSTGS

PBS Shop: $10 off $50 w/coupon code PBSFRIDAY; $5 off bestselling titles; free shipping; $10 off $65+

Leapfrog: 25% off everything, free shipping over $50

KB Toys: $5 Off $100 w/coupon code LSGENQ48; free shipping on lots of toys; up to 50% off Fisher-Price toys

Toys R Us: free shipping over $25 on select items; free shipping on Mattel toys, including Barbie; buy a Star Wars Wii game, get 50% off any other Wii game; free shipping on lots of video games, plus $30 off Guitar Hero. Check the site for details.

eToys.com: up to 60% off and free shipping on select items

Gap: buy one, get one free on select holiday sweaters

Macy's: free shipping over $99 with promo code MERRY

Land's End: free shipping, daily St. Nick's Pick discount items (today: outerwear)

Overstock.com: free shipping

Target: free shipping on 5,000+ toys

eBay: $1 holiday doorbuster items hidden on the site, including a 65-inch Panasonic plasma HDTV and a 2009 Chevy Corvette; daily deals; occasional free shipping

PayPal: cash-back incentives and lots of online discounts from 5 percent to 30 percent off at various stores, including Toys R Us, eBags, and Overstock.com; free shipping on Elmo Live; free shipping on eBay items

If this isn't enough savings, check out Consumer Reports' blog for tips on where to find promotional codes, how to compare online deals, and how to save lots of cash this holiday season. Happy shopping!

Build-a-Booties Giveaway!

elizabeth leach — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:00:00 GMT

What could be better than soft-soled shoes with your baby's name on them? These Build-a-Booties also come with the option of fleece at the ankles, so they are perfect for cold weather! Details on how to win a pair of Build-a-Booties after the jump...

To win a pair of booties send an e-mail to babbledesign@gmail.com with "Build-a-Booties" as the subject and give me the information for your pair of booties. Find the information at Uncommonly Cute and don't forget to give me your address. I will choose the winner on December 1.

Build your booties at Uncommonly Cute.

Sage Creek Organics: Passionate about Your Baby

elizabeth leach — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:00:00 GMT

For those who are passionate about organic clothing or for those who love luxuriously soft baby clothing and bedding, Sage Creek Organics is what you want next to your baby’s skin. No pesticides or chemicles are used in the growing process or in manufacturing and they use only earth friendly dyes. Sage Creek offers pure and natural baby clothing, accessories and bedding that we can all feel good about. (And their stuff is adorable!)

I love the above ladybug playsuit, above photo, ($36) and check out the matching hat and blanket, too. Also, the organic, terry kimono set, below photo, is so snuggly and soft. ($43) Perfect for playing indoors this winter! Kimono set is available in several different color trim options. For sizes 0-24.

The below Bunny Bodysuit ($21) is so adorable. I love the simplicity of the design. For sizes 0-12 months.

Shop Sage Creek Organics.

Sugar Plum Dreams: Perfect for the Holidays

elizabeth leach — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Sugarplum Dreams is a new on-line boutique that sells the very best for babies and kids. Choose from a large selection of luxury bedding, decor, toys and accessories. The above bunny in a bassinet is one of my favorites from their toy collection. What little girl wouldn't swoon over a cute lamb in a brightly colored skirt with a matching bassinet?

Penelope Pea Pod's Nursery Rhymes Collection is beautifully made and full of possibilities for creative imaginations. Choose from the Bo Peep Lamb (above photo), Flopsy Mopsy Bunny, Miss Mittens Kitten and Theodora Bear for $45 each.

Shop Sugarplum Dreams. What better place to shop for the holidays?

Big Deal: 20% Garnet Hill Wool Slippers

elizabeth leach — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:20:00 GMT

These traditional German slippers, made from comfy boiled wool, are so whimsical and imaginative. With built in socks, they are perfect for cold, winter nights! Best of all, they are 20% off!

Purchase these Slipper Boots for $39.99 at Garnet Hill and take 20% off until November 24. For toddlers, little kids and big kids.

Meowwwwww!

elizabeth leach — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Is your little one a music lover, like mine is? How about an animal lover, too? Compose, record and play back your own songs with four instrument sounds, twenty tunes and (best of all) "meow" sounds. There's also seven funny cat songs because, after all, this is a kitty singing!

Find the Kitty Keyboard by Parents Toys at Target for $29.99.

Portable DVD Player Round-Up: 5 Ways to Survive Your Holiday Hellride

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:00:00 GMT

(Pictured above: the iLuv i155.) Sure, you can't throw a temper tantrum in a new family-size vehicle without triggering a preinstalled DVD player, but for the DVD-free minivan pilots (myself included) who calculate the annual holiday road trip to Grandma's in terms of mileage-to-suffering, there are still plenty of portable options players available. That noted, this DVD-player round-up is by no means definitive, or even budget-minded -- if all you want is a visual pacifier for the kids so you can concentrate on driving, lower-tier brands like Audiovox and Coby will suit you just fine. If, however, you're looking for something a bit sexier that'll suit your own portable watching, here are five solid picks for the back seat and beyond.

Toshiba SDP2900 ($299.99)
Screen Size: 10.2"
Cool Features: Powers through your car's cigarette lighter; runs for up to 6 hours on a rechargeable battery; plays music (including MP3 discs) as well as DVDs; includes memory-card reader for viewing JPEGs; has wider viewing area than most of the models featured here.
General Kid-Friendliness: Given that there's no headrest mount, I wouldn't advise handing it over to a younger kid for long-distance Dora viewing, but older kids--especially those familiar with iPod-style controls--will quickly take to this player and enjoy kicking back while they explore its various audio and video features, preferably under the cover of headphones.

Philips PET1030 ($279.99)
Screen Size: 10.2"
Cool Features: Includes car-mount kit; has wide, hi-res LCD viewing area; screen swivels 180 degrees; includes memory-card reader; packs solid stereo sound through headphones or built-in speakers; offers up to five hours' playback via a rechargeable battery.
General Kid-Friendliness: The car mount ensures that your younger kids will get high-quality widescreen viewing without being able to muck up the controls (not that they'd be able to figure them out, anyway), while the swivel screen and dual-headphone inputs give your older siblings no excuse for not sharing.

iLuv i1155 ($275)
Screen Size: 8.4"
Cool Features: Plays DVDs and CDs as well as MP3s and iPod video (doesn't support iPod Touch or Nano, though); charges iPod when docked; easily operated via remote or touch-sensitive keypad controls; looks awesome despite its relatively small viewing area.
General Kid-Friendliness: Little kids may have trouble operating it from the back seat--plus, would you really trust something this cool to a preschooler?--but their older siblings will clamor for control of the remote. Which, of course, may cause different problems altogether.

RCA DRC630N ($229.99)
Screen Size: 7"
Cool Features: Easily removable headrest attachments; dual screens connected by a single cable; dual headphone jacks; simple push-button controls; power cables (in other words, no battery to die midway through a movie); 30 built-in video games with accompanying gamepad.
General Kid-Friendliness: It's not the best-looking of the bunch, but with its dual screens, basic control scheme, bundled games and foul-language filter (an Internet-activated feature that mutes out offensive words during movie playback), RCA's player is definitely the most kid- and parent-sympathetic model here.

Sony DVP-FX810 ($189.99)
Screen Size: 8"
Cool Features: Screen rotates a full 360 degrees; car adapter and battery power (up to 5 1/2 hours of life when charged); remote control; easy-to-use button controls.
General Kid-Friendliness: Sony's entry gets points just because it doesn't immediately seem to have any parts a child could mangle--although that could change when your youngest decides to stress-test the rotating screen. Like other swiveling models, it's designed more for laptop use than for passive viewing from the back of a headrest (and not just because it doesn't include a car mount). Older kids will eat it up; little ones, however, need something you don't have to monitor every five seconds from the front seat.