Minted Gift Tags: Give your holiday presents an extra special touch with Minted Gift Tags

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You know how babies and kids sometimes end up loving the big cardboard box that their present came in more than the present itself? It's not so different with grown-ups -- a beautifully wrapped present can generate as many oohs and ahhs as the present itself.   Bright wrapping paper, a cascade of curling ribbons, a luxurious bow, a teeny gift charm or an original gift tag -- all of those little extra special touches can go a long way towards showing your gift recipient that he or she is special to you.

For me, personalization is key. I love personalized gift tags as much as I love personalized holiday cards; not only are they ultra-convenient, they look so finished and classy-- as long as they're printed by the right company, of course.


That's why I was so delighted to discover Minted's collection of personalized holiday gift tags.  They're hanging gift tags, with a hole on one end so you can thread a ribbon through and tie it to a gift bag handle or a ribbon on a boxed present.  These are the first hanging gift tags I've seen from ANY stationery company!  I've seen (and ordered) personalized sticker gift tags as well as personalized card gift tags (with envelopes), but these hanging gift tags are so much cuter.  

Minted invited me to personalize and order any of their stationery products, and since the holidays are just around the corner, I ordered gift tags in a variety of designs.  


Honestly, the hardest part was choosing a design.  I blame Minted's community of thousands of designers; as with all of Minted's stationery products, the design options for the gift tags are unparalleled.   They run the whole range of styles, from rustic to whimsical to funny to vintage to classic and more.



The level of personalization is impressive.  These gift tags really let your personality shine!  All designs come in 2 or more color schemes.  All designs let you add your name.  Some designs let you alter some or all of the text: a holiday message, the year, etc...  Some let you upload photos. Some are square. Some are rectangular.  Hopefully they'll add circular tags soon.



You can also choose from a variety of options for the back of the gift tag.  You can opt for a patterned back (which varies by design), a solid color, plain white, or you can upload a photo or logo.  It all adds up to a gift tag that's as special and unique as you are.

My gift tags have just arrived, and I couldn't be more pleased.  Everything from the paper to the printing is superb.


Just 2 things I'm bummed about: first, ribbons are not included so you have to get your own, and second, practically all the gift tags are holiday themed.   I need more non-holiday designs. -- do you know how many birthday parties my 3 kids attend each year? That's a LOT of presents to wrap and tag! Oh well -- at least I can rest easy knowing that I'll have the cutest gift cards and most eye-catching presents this holiday season.


Disclosure: Minted supplied  me with a gift card to review the holiday stationery product of my choosing.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Responsible (and safe) holiday shopping for kids with Virtual Piggy

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During the holiday season, when everyone seems to be spending with abandon, it can be challenging for parents to teach kids about responsible financial behavior, especially when the urge to spend -- on presents, decor, lavish parties, rich food -- is so tempting for us as well.  You want to buy everything for your child, but you don't want to give in to (or show your child that you condone) unrestrained spending or being overly materialistic.  You want to teach your child financial responsibility but you're reluctant to give them too much financial freedom.

Enter Virtual Piggy, a new service that can help parents give kids a safe, easy way to save, spend and give online.   It's perfect for today's ecommerce world; parents do so much of their shopping and spending online, so why should kids be any different?  And why shouldn't their allowances be managed online as well?

With Virtual Piggy, parents can create a parent account and set up preferred shipping and payment methods (credit cards or even PayPal).  Kids don't have access to any payment information, and nothing is charged or deducted unless your child actually makes a purchase.

After parents create a parent account, they establish accounts for each child.  They can specify controls for each child's account:  allowance amounts, spending limits, monthly saving accounts, approved merchants, parental notifications.  You control how much money your child can spend, when and where he spends it.

Kids can use the balance in their Virtual Piggy accounts to shop at online sites with a special Virtual Piggy payment button.  Over 80 online sites have signed up, and Virtual Piggy is working hard to get the Virtual Piggy payment button up and running on all of them (head to Virtual Piggy's website to see their list of merchants).  Current sites that support the Virtual Piggy payment button are K'nex, O'Neill, Super Sprowts, MusicSkins and Blee Inara.   Kids can also use the balance in their Virtual Piggy accounts to purchase gift cards to popular retailers or sites, such as Barnes & Noble, Sephora, Zappos, American Eagle Outfitters, even Domino's or Papa John's Pizza. (hey, how else will they be able to treat the gang to lunch?).  If the purchase meets parental guidelines, it's approved.    What a great way to give kids the freedom to spend money online, within parent-approved limits, while protecting them from unsafe online transactions!


This holiday season, families can also use Virtual Piggy to manage their kids' holiday wishlists.  Kids with a Virtual Piggy account can create a Wishlist and add the products they want to either save up for, or receive as gifts.  Parents can view their kids' Wishlists and share it with extended family and friends.  Virtual Piggy even has discounts with their online partners, exclusively for Virtual Piggy account holders, just for the holidays (All discounts will end by January 15th).  You can see the list of merchants and the holiday discounts on the  Virtual Piggy Member Value Program page -- but you won't see the promo codes unless you've logged into your Virtual Piggy account!


Here's another great reason to create a Wishlist with Virtual Piggy:  Virtual Piggy will be selecting ten lucky children to win the contents of their Wishlist, up to a value of $500!  Their Win Your Wishlist contest is open till December 7, so hurry up and create that Virtual Piggy account and Wishlist ASAP.

Happy holidays, and happy spending and saving!



Disclosure: I received compensation from Virtual Piggy (via Splash Creative Media) to try the service and write this post.The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- list your giveaways here

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Welcome to Bonggamom's Friday Finds! If you've found your way to this page, I'm guessing you love giveaways as much as I do. Whether entering or hosting a giveaway, there's something for you here! You can leave a link to your own giveaway, or check out all the giveaways listed here and enter the ones that catch your eye.

And while I'm on the subject of giveaways, don't forget to enter my 2012 Holiday Gift Guide giveaways!  I've got one giveaway for each gift guide post:


Babies and Toddlers Gift GuidePreschoolers Gift GuideElementary Schoolers Gift GuidePreteen Gift GuidePersonalized GiftsGifts that Keep on Giving
American Girl Gifts
So feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. And don't forget to get cracking and enter everyone else's, too!




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Daily Lemon: That's Silly

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Ah, babies. They're so cute, right!? I mean, who could resist a cute widdle face like this????

Sorry, wrong picture.
(shuffling through pictures)
Ah, yes. Here it is. 
        Nope, still wrong one. 
Maybe this is it!!!!

No?
Fine, I give up. Maybe they're not so cute.
Especially when they start playing with inflatable sex toys.

Or practicing their kung fu on you.

Or . . . you get the idea.

 (old person impression) Stupid kids.

Yo Gabba Gabba Live!: There's a Party in My City DVD Review & Giveaway

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*To view the Rafflecopter form and enter giveaway, please click on actual blog post link.*
Hailee & I are both fans of Yo Gabba Gabba, last year we attended There's a Party in My City Live. It was a blast. NCircle Entertainment send us the DVD Yo Gabba Gabba Live!: There's a Party in My City. It was great to watch and remember the fun time we had at the live show. I love singing along to. Yo Gabba Gabba has some weird characters but teaches kids great things. I'm always catching myself singing even when the show isn't on.

Join D.J. Lance Rock, Brobee, Toodee, Foofa, Plex, Muno and all of our favorite Yo Gabba Gabba! friends for their first-ever live concert! It is a non-stop musical extravaganza.  Get up on your feet to sing and dance along over ten Gabba favorites, including: “There’s a Party in My Tummy,” “Name Game” and “Get The Sillies Out.” 

This full-length concert is packed with special guests including beatboxing legend Biz Markie performing Biz’s Beat of the Day, the incomparable Leslie Hall & DO IT teaching a Dancey Dance, and Super Music Friends Show guest The Aquabats performing everyone’s favorite, “Pool Party.”  Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!: There’s a Party in My City! will get the whole family dancing and singing no matter what city you’re in! 

•   Studio:  NCircle Entertainment•   Run Time:  110 minutes with bonus content•   SRP: $9.99
•   Available at a retailer near you including Walmart, Kmart, Target, Toys R Us or www.NCircleEntertainment.com 

Along with the DVD we were also sent a copy of It's Okay to Try Again! Hailee loves to read this book! It teaches kids a great lesson! I love that the book is a board book, although Hailee knows better and treats books with respect the book will last so much longer!

Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who sometimes get a little bit frustrated when things don't go their way, this book teaches them that it's okay to try, try, try again. Based on one of the top-rated and most-popular Gabba songs "It's Okay, Try Again."

a Rafflecopter giveaway
















The items featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

TEN THINGS TUESDAY: Valentine's Edition

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Just one week until Valentine's Day so you know that that means - today I'm sharing a round up of love-ly ideas I'm loving for February 14th!

Valentines Breakfast I'm Loving:  Start their day off with a little love fest by making these heart pancakes from Living Locurto!



Valentines Lunch I'm Loving:  Bento Mama hows you how to send an edible love note in their lunch box!  


Valentines Snack I'm Loving:  Parents knows that not all sweet treats have to be candy - adorable heart fruit kabobs are just as sweet.


Valentines Dinner Idea I'm Loving:  If the way to someone's heart is through their stomach, then these heart-shaped potato skins from Make the Best of Everything should do the trick!



Bling-tastic Valentine I'm Loving, Part 1:  Mom on Timeout has a great how-to for valentines who want to put a ring on it.



Bling-tastic Valentine I'm Loving, Part 1:  I love this simple idea from Modern Moments Design - just add a tag to a candy necklace and you've got a super sweet accessory! 



Boy-Friendly Valentine I'm Loving, Part 1:  These Rollo Rockets from Skip To My Lou come with free printables - talk about out of this world!



Boy-Friendly Valentine I'm Loving, Part 2:  If your little guy doesn't love this homemade heart-shaped slime from It's Gravy Baby, he won't love anything Valentines!



Valentines for Grown Ups I'm Loving, Part 1:  Send a little love to your girlfriends with these free heartthrob printables from Design Editor. 



Valentines for Grown Ups I'm Loving, Part 2:  Nothing says "Thank you for being a friend" like these printable Golden Girls Valentines from Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century!



Teacher's Valentine Gift Idea I'm Loving:  Simple DIY chalkboard mugs from Hi Sugarplum will surely show your child's teacher some love.

So there you have some of my fave Valentines finds.  To see more cupid-worthy ideas, visit my VDay Pinterest Board or check out my daily round ups over at Nickelodeon Parents Connect where you can also enter to win some fab prizes.
And I'd love to hear about the things you're loving right now!  Share the app, movie, book, craft idea, TV show, whatever that's got you giddy in the comments and your picks might be included in next week's TEN ON TUESDAY feature.  And for more of my favorite things, check out my Pinterest boards!
Please note that this list is made up of things I actually use, read, watch, try, etc. and truly enjoy.  These opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way to share them here.

PARTY PEEKS WEDNESDAY: Valentine's Spa Party

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With less than a week until Valentine's Day, I wanted to share a fun party that's perfect for little ladies who want to celebrate on February 14th or at any old sleepover!


I love this fab fete from Itsy Belle featuring Moodylicious Children's Spa products.  After all, what girl doesn't love to be pampered?


All of the guests were given Moodylicious products at the mani/pedi station.


And then they got to work beautifying each other.

In addition to spa treatments, there were plenty of treats too!


These spa "sundaes" made from loofahs and bath beads are too cute.


There were marshmallow sugar scrubbers.


And the lip straw toppers are a great touch.


It doesn't get much sweeter - well, except with some chocolate face frosting!


I don't know about you, but this post is making me want to get my spa on!

You can get more details and see more pictures over on Itsy Belle and the spa products you see here are available from Moodylicious Children's Spa.  For more fun celebration inspiration, follow my Party Ideas board on Pinterest.
Images: Itsy Belle

FUNDAY MONDAY: I'm Back with Thirty-One! {GIVEAWAY & DISCOUNT}

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I know, I know - I've been completely MIA for, oh, a month or so now.  I have a good reason - my "real" job has been crazy busy! - but it's not a great excuse so I figure what better way to apologize than by having a fun giveaway?

I've been hearing lots of talk about Thirty-One but had never seen their products in person until my friend Brooke offered to send me some to preview.  A few days later, this terrific Organizing Utility Tote arrived at my doorstep:


I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love it!  Not only is the Awesome Blossom pattern adorable but the bag itself is so useable.  It's made from double-laminated nylon and has seven exterior pockets.  What could be more perfect for a mom of twin toddlers who's constantly lugging around diapers, wipes, sippies and snack cups but refuses to carry a diaper bag anymore?  Now I don't have to worry about things spilling and have enough storage for all of the girls' crap, er, goodies.  And I look cute to boot!

Brooke also sent along two of these super cute Ruffled Cinch Sacs for Gabrielle and Alaina and let me tell you, between the sassy color and the frilly ruffles, they fell in love at first sight!


I really like how lightweight they are - I know we'll be filling them with beach toys this summer so the girls can finally lug their own.

Thirty-One has a huge line of products designed to make life easier, and going through their catalog, there was something I wanted on every page.  Like the Hang-Up Home Organizer:


This would SO help with the clutter in my kitchen!  And I totally need one of these Flat-Iron Cases before all of the trips we have scheduled this summer:

A few of these Basket Liners will make my linen closet look Martha Stewart-worthy.


And I can't imagine hitting the beach this summer without these two handy numbers - the Cinch-It-Up Thermal Tote (look at how much it holds!):


And the About Town Blanket, which opens up to 60" x 38"!
I could go on and on - oh, wait, I already have! - but you get the gist.  Just one last thing to love about Thirty-One - everything comes in a variety of fun patterns and you can have almost all of the items personalized, allowing you to create exactly what you want!

To place your order from Thirty-One, just click on the My Events tab here and you'll see one set up for readers of AFOMFT.  There's a great special for April too - if you spend $31 this month, you get 50% off any handbag!


And here's the best part!  All readers will get 10% off their orders (not including shipping and handling) through Sunday, April 8th!  You don't need a code and the 10% off won't show in your cart, but will applied when your order is processed.   What are you waiting for?  Get shopping!  

And no, I didn't forget about that giveaway I mentioned!  My friend Brooke has graciously offered to give away one of the Organizing Utility Totes she sent to me to a lucky AFOMFT reader!  The winner will even be able to pick the pattern.  To enter to win, visit the Thirty-One catalog and post a comment here telling me which of their products you like best (this is mandatory). For additional entries:

• "Like" AFOMFT on Facebook
• Follow AFOMFT on Twitter (@AFOMFT) and tweet the following: Enter to win the perfect summer tote from Thirty-One at @AFOMFT! http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT
• Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post. Comments on Facebook will not count as entries. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends April 9th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on April 10th. If the winner does not contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!