reviews

because i love you all. and i love purses.

Here's a coupon for an additional 20% off your purchase at Coach outlet through 2/28.

Go buy yourself a treat.

 

some deals this week

• Old Navy is having a huge sale on baby and kids clothes -- and there is a TON of cute stuff on sale!! Use the coupon code ONGET15 to get an additional 15% off your purchase.
  
• If you've been waiting to buy a Dyson, this week at Target all Dysons are on sale - about 20% off!
  
• Williams Sonoma has a 3.5-qt oval dutch oven on sale for only $130 -- that's $125 off!
  
• The circus is coming back to Philly next week and we're thrilled!!
  Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday shows, or receive $4 off weekend tickets by logging onto www.ComcastTix.com and entering the coupon code: MOM

super deals this weekend!

If you aren't stuck inside due to crazy snow, there are some killer deals out in stores this weekend!

I picked up this cute cap-sleeve cardigan and this adorable shirt for me. And these shirts for the  girls and this bathing suit for the boy. Gracie somehow talked me into buying her this headband as well. ("But, Mom, its on SALE!")

and LOFT, click here to download a 20% off regular price coupon or use code SPRING20 at checkout. Everything that's on sale is an ADDITIONAL 50% off in stores. I picked up tshirts for under $10 yesterday, as well as a pair of amazing jeans for only $14. Yes, you read that right: $14!!

GO!! SHOP!!!

cyber monday!

Go forth and shop!!

Take 20% off and get free shipping at Old Navy and the entire brand family (Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta, and Piperlime) all day today with coupon code MONDAY. The GapKids line is too cute this year!!

6pm.com has digital cameras for 75% off. If you can drag yourself away from the shoe deals.

Ann Taylor Loft is offering 30% off the store today and free shipping on orders over $100. I wear a small - feel free to add a little something for me.

Vera Bradley has The Vera and Large Duffel for $40!

Amazon has some amazing Cyber Monday Deals - check out the latest Bond on Blu-Ray for only $9.99! Don't forget free shipping on orders over $25! AND Apple iPod touch 8 GB for only $158 today only with free shipping!! That's 21% off on an apple product, people!! GO!! 

At DisneyStore.com use the code CYBERMONDAY to get 10% off $59+, 15% off $79+, 20% off $99+, or 25% off $149+. Get free shipping on orders $89+ with code SHIP89.

e.l.f  is offering 70% off all mineral make-up -- use coupon code EHCMM. I LOVE elf mineral makeup - the eyeshadow is amazing!!! Use it all the time! And their make up bags are 75% off - coupon code EH75CE

The Children’s Place is offering free shipping on all orders today with coupon code FSCM9, and has tons of $5, $6, $7, $8 deals.

Restoration Hardware has the coupon code RTGH119  to save $100 off every $500 spent. If you're planning on buying me a new dining room table, you might want to use that.

Ann Clark Ltd: The Cookie Cutter People from Vermont is offering Girlymama readers 10% off your purchases from now until the end of the year! Use coupon code BLGA4 at checkout. (If you buy four or more items, you get free shipping, so go crazy!)

Felix Doolittle stationary is offering Girlymama readers 15% off anything in the Doolittle Junior (check out the Play Date Cards!) line or the Seasonal collection, which features the brand new Correspondence Seals (LOVE these!)!! Use coupon code DoolittleJr when checking out.

Amenity Home  is offering Girlymama readers a generous 20% off site-wide (Muir Collection excluded).  Just use the discount code fall20.

Buy.com has some great deals too. Check out this Tissot watch for only $117 plus free shipping!

disney on broadway!

This past Sunday, we had the most amazing day. We went to New York City and, thanks to Mom Trends and Season of Savings, we got to see Mary Poppins on Broadway! (If you've never checked out Season of Savings, they have amazing deals - like up to 60% off deals.) Mom Trends hosted a giveaway and I won 2 tickets to Mary Poppins and a $100 gift card to Tony's di Napoli! We picked up two extra tickets (So cheap!! Seriously, check them out!) and treated the girls to a day in NYC!!

After leaving Penn Station, we immediately ran into a celebrity (Mark Hoppus from Blink-182!) outside Madison Square Garden. Then we walked up 5th Avenue and saw a parade. So we ate a traditional NYC lunch (hot dogs from a street vendor) while we watch the parade and window shopped. Because 5th Avenue is probably the best place to window shop in the entire world (drool....)


Saw some classic NYC landmarks:


Then we took the kids to one of the coolest places kids can go - FAO Schwarz!


Our dinner at Tony's Di Napoli was fantastic. Not only can the location not be beat (right in Times Square, two blocks from the theater) but the food was totally amazing. Perfect for dining with kids or a big group. We had the house salad, spaghetti with marinara and Tony's specialty, meatballs and sausage. It was sooo yummy - they girls chowed down like they hadn't eaten in weeks - and the portion sizes were ridiculous. We ended the meal with a hot fudge brownie sundae that the girls' declared was "The BEST dessert EVER!!"


Then came the highlight of the day. We headed over to the New Amsterdam Theater and saw Mary Poppins.

It was... incredible. Fantastic. Phenomenal. My girls' mouths were hanging open in amazement.  We've been dying to take the girls to see Mary Poppins since we first heard about it and we were NOT disappointed. We loved, loved, LOVED it. Oh, I wish I could show you a picture of Gracie's face when Mary Poppins FLEW over us in the audience. Priceless. It was truly a terrific show. If you have kids over 4, go see it. (The three-year-old sitting behind us fell asleep and began snoring during the second act. It was so adorable, but I'm sure her parents were annoyed at paying for a very expensive nap!) Its different from the movie, but they were so enthralled that they didn't seem to notice. Disney magic is real, people. And its on Broadway.

Thank you Mom Trends, Season of Savings & Tony's Di Napoli for a day we won't forget!! (Seriously, Ellie wants to move to New York City.)
I want to go back! Anyone want to see The Lion King?

nutrition iQ: eating smarter just got easier

This afternoon, I was able to visit my local Acme Market to get an exclusive preview of nutrition iQ , an exclusive program designed to make it easier for shoppers to make healthy choices while they shop - without having to travel to specialty stores or spend an excessive amount of money on groceries.

Healthy items throughout the store – of all types and price points – are tagged to call out health benefits ranging from high in fiber to low in sodium, so shoppers can select the nutrition iQ items that best fit their family’s needs. You've probably heard of other smart-choice-type programs before, but this one is different. Here's what impressed me the most:

• It was developed this program in collaboration with an independent panel of dietitians from Joslin Clinic, which is affiliated with Harvard Medical School.
•  Each product has gone through a rigorous selection process, but there are no sponsors or fees to be a part of this program. The products featured are truly the best choices - not the largest companies or those who can afford to buy the stamp of approval. Their goal is to be a trustworthy resource for shoppers - not advertising their sponsors! (See qualifying criteria here.)
• Phase two of the nutrition iQ program will focus on those of us who try to "shop the perimeter" of the grocery store and they adding the nutrition iQ tags to produce, meat and dairy! These healthiest foods are usually ignored by programs like this, as they focus on processed foods that you may not even use!
• Some has recognized that we want to make healthy choices for our families, but reading labels takes forever. Like most busy moms, I usually have at least two of my kids in the store with me. So my goal is to grab what I need fast! This program will make it easier and quicker to narrow down my options and make the healthy choice for my family!

We also got to chat with nutritionist Jenny Shea and got terrific tips on how to use nutrition iQ items to create healthy meals on a budget.  All of us were discussing our woes, trying to make healthy meals that our families actually want to eat :-) Colin at least was goggling up the yummy lunch they provided, so there's a good review right there!

It was a great event with some great people! Thanks to Acme for making it a bit easier to fit healthy foods into our super busy and hectic lives!

a new, easy way to save on groceries! **GIVEAWAY!**

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO Janet F! Enjoy your savings!!***

Everyone's trying to save money these days. Does anyone else  diligently clip coupons only to realize in the store that you forgot them at home? Its not just me, right?

I was recently found out that A&P and a new company called Zavers are introducing the Red Tag Online Savings Program, which allows customers to save time, money and paper through coupons that load to their existing store loyalty cards.

Here’s how it works:
1. Register: Customers go online and register their shopper card at www.apfreshonline.com, www.waldbaums.com, www.thefoodemporium.com or www.superfreshfood.com.
2. Save: Click on the coupons you want to ‘save’ to your online account
3. Shop: In the store, shoppers buy their favorite products, swipe their loyalty shopper card, and the savings are automatically deducted at the cash register. 

What I say about it:

Signing up was a piece of cake. I went to the store's website, opened an account with my savings card and was ready to go! The site is very user-friendly and easy to understand. Options are sorted by category (dairy, frozen) and by company (Breyers, Quaker). You just click on the coupons you want and they are added to your card. It took me less than 5 minutes from start to finish - including signing up!

There are lots of extra features as well - like shopping lists for the ultra organized and the option to access your coupons on your mobile phone.

There are not a ton of coupons, but as the program grows that will surely change. Most of the brands featured were the brands that I normally use. There were coupons for my favorite baby wipes, shampoo, soap, granola bars, tampons, etc. So - for me - the limited number of coupons was not an issue. And the coupons were great - not just 25 or 35 cents off. Many were $1 off coupons! Those add up really quickly!! 

At the store, I did my regular shopping, buying what I needed that week, and handed the cashier my card.  And I saved over $3! No clipping, no sorting. No trying to look through coupons at the store while my kids whine, fuss and try to destroy things I mean, wait patiently. Or realizing I forgot the coupons file at home.

My only complaints is that its hard to remember what the coupons are for. (Do I have to buy 2 boxes to get the $1 off?) But that can be solved by either noting that info on your shopping list or using the mobile feature Red Tag offers.

This is a fantastic program. I dearly hope that more grocery stores will be adding this to their websites in the future. It is so much quicker and easier than traditional coupon clipping. And much more environmentally friendly. If you're looking for a way to cut your grocery bill (who isn't?) check and see if your store offers a program like this.

One lucky readers will win a $25 gift cards to A&P, The Food Emporium, Super Fresh and Waldbaum’s stores!!  Here's the rules:

1. Contest ends Friday, August 28.
2. Entry #1: Leave a comment just saying you want to win.
3. Entry #2: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me your best tip for saving money on groceries.
4. Entry #3:  Leave another comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting about it on your blog, Tweeting about it, emailing  friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).
5. Winner will be selected by Random.org, announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions.

GOOD LUCK!!