4 Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Tweens

Thank you to Mixbook for sponsoring this post about thoughtful gift ideas for tweens. All opinions expressed are my own.

We have not one, but two tweens in our house!  Our twins turn 10 this January, and are growing increasingly difficult to shop for when it comes to gifts.  It's such a tough age because they are no longer little kids, but they are not yet teens.  Here are some ideas for thoughtful gifts you may consider for your tween . . .

1.  Custom Poster - If it's time to take down the little kid posters from their room, a cool custom poster would make the perfect gift.  Choose a special photo of a person, place, or thing, and have it printed on a large poster that fits that empty wall space.  Regular posters work fine, but an acrylic or metal poster print would look super-cool on your child's wall, not to mention they would be more durable than the standard poster.  Some fun subjects for a poster would be your child and his or her BFF, your family pet, or a special place that holds wonderful memories for your child.

2.  6" Tablet - If your child is too young for a smartphone, but finds a full-size tablet to be too cumbersome to carry around, then a smaller 6" tablet might be the solution.  A tablet, like the Fire HD 6, is about the size of a large smartphone, making it super-portable.  With an Android OS, your child will have a plethora of apps to choose from without having access to a smartphone.  Be sure to include a tablet case with your gift.  Most are quite inexpensive, so it's a no-brainer to add that extra protection.

3.  Experience Gift Card - A gift card is always a safe gift for anybody on your list, but what about giving a gift card or gift certificate for something your child can experience?  How much fun would it be for your child (along with a friend or sibling) to create a painting, paint pottery, take a cooking class, experience Taekwondo classes, learn about archery, etc . . . ?  The possibilities are endless, and the memories made from experiencing something new will last forever.

4.  Photo Calendar - If you like our idea of a custom poster, but are having trouble narrowing down the subject matter to just one, a custom photo calendar is a smart solution.  A calendar is the perfect gift for your tween because he or she is starting to have 'plans' to keep track of.  Having a place to record play dates, study dates, team games and practices, dance recitals, and friends' birthdays will also help your tween to feel more organized.  When the year is over, you can frame each photo from your calendar to make a photo wall in your child's room.

Mixbook Affiliate Exclusive Offer:
Buy More Save More 40% Off, 50% Off $100+, . . .

Have a fun and thoughtful gift idea for tweens?  Share it with us in a comment here.

Fun & Trendy RMLA Girls Fashions {plus 20% Off Sophia's Style Promo Code}

Thank you to Sophia's Style for providing a gift code for us to shop their site for girls summer fashions and for providing a 20% off promo code for my readers.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Have you and your daughter ever shopped on SophiasStyle.com? This online boutique offers everything from school uniforms to formal wear and everything in between for both boys and girls.  Be sure to set aside a chunk of time because your daughter will want to look at everything her favorite brands have to offer, such as KidCuteTure, Hello Kitty, Sophie Catalou, and more.  One brand our daughter owns quite a few dresses from is RMLA.  She loves them all because this brand adds a lot of special touches that make their clothes especially fun for girls to wear.

RMLA Colorful Kaleidoscope Knotted Top Hi-Low Sleeveless Dress

We spent quite a long time shopping on Sophia's Style.  Of the many things that were added and removed from our shopping bag, this RMLA Kaleidoscope Knotted Top Hi-Low Sleeveless Dress was the one item our daughter was not indecisive about.  It was love at first sight for her.

Our daughter wore this dress to a birthday party this summer.  It was a country-themed party with straw hats and mustaches.  This was really the perfect dress because the knotted denim top with the rhinestones on the faux flap chest pockets gives the dress a hint of country western style.  The high-low hemline and lightweight colorful printed fabric makes this dress ideal for summer.

RMLA Stripe Flower Lace Skirt Cardigan Top Outfit and Bixbee Pink Sparkalicious Girls Medium Duffle Bag

In addition to the RMLA dress, we ordered this super-cute and sporty RMLA Cobalt Blue Stripe Flower Lace Skirt Cardigan Top Outfit.  Lace overlay seems to be a huge trend this summer.  This outfit features a faux tie-front cardigan trimmed with lace at the sleeves and has built-in shorts underneath the skirt.  The floral applique on the striped top is also embellished with rhinestones.  This RMLA 2-piece set also comes in Pink, Purple, and Seafoam.  I was tempted to get one of each color because this is such a cute outfit and it's playground-friendly, making it perfect for back-to-school.

Oh, I can't forget to tell you about the Bixbee Pink Sparkalicious Medium Duffle Bag!  Can you guess what's inside?

Yes, this pink glittery duffle bag now houses our daughter's Taekwondo uniform for her to bring to and from class.  Just because she can break boards with her hands, elbows, and feet, doesn't mean she can't have a pretty Taekwondo bag, right?

Do you have a confident, colorful, girly-girl who would love RMLA fashions as much as my daughter?  Before you shop, grab SophiasStyle.com promo code: KARENSFRIENDS to save 20% off your entire purchase through 7/6/2015.

The Ultimate Gift Idea for Young Artists . . . Bring Children's Artwork to Life with #Budsies!

Thank you to Budsies for providing complimentary custom stuffed animals samples for us to base this review upon.  All opinions express are our own.

If you have a child who has a deep love of drawing, this gift idea will surely be a cherished one.  We have two such children in our house and they were over the moon about the idea of bringing their artwork to life in the form of a custom plush toy.  It didn't take them very long to decide what to draw, but what then?  That's where Budsies came in . . .

On Budsies.com, you can submit a scan or a digital photo of your child's artwork to have a Budsies designer create a 16" plush toy in the artwork's likeness.  Our two children, who submitted artwork, are 10 and 7 years old and were able to follow the tips I gave them quite well . . .

Tips for Designing Your Budsies Creation:

1.  Try your best to show the entire subject on the page without having parts cut off at the edges.

2.  Use solid blocks of color when coloring in your subject.

3.  Try to assign a color to every party of your drawing.

4.  Keep your background white or another solid color.

5.  Don't worry if any parts are a little abstract.

6.  Have fun with it!

Even if you just do one or two of the above or your artwork was drawn for another occasion, you will be amazed at what the designers at Budsies can do.  Visit Budsies on Instagram for some wonderful examples!  All the materials that go into making each one-of-a-kind creation are hypoallergenic, so they are safe even for the youngest artists.  If your child needs a little inspiration, he or she can take a look at the Budsies templates.

I have to say that the whole process of ordering from Budsies could not be more simple.  When you submit your image, you will have the opportunity to include some characteristics about the subject to help the designers really capture its spirit.  The hardest part was waiting for the custom plush to be crafted.  It takes approximately 5 weeks from the time you submit your child's artwork to the time your child's new plush friend gets delivered to you.  My children asked me at least once a week about when their cat and owl would be arriving.

When the cat and owl finally arrived, I was pretty darn impressed.  In fact, I shared a photo of the plush toys next to the drawings on Facebook and everyone was amazed.  My daughter was thrilled with how her cat came out and would not stop hugging it.  My son loved his owl, but wished it was a tiny bit pudgier.  Both the likeness and the workmanship looked incredible to me.

Need more reasons to be impressed?  Budsies gives back by partnering regularly with children's charities, such as Easter Seals and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to bring smiles to children who don't have many things to smile about.  Learn more about how to get involved or suggest your favorite children's charity to Budsies!

Thinking about ordering a new plush friend for your child from Budsies.com?  Now is the time!  Budsies is offering a special online price of $69 (Reg. $99) per plush, plus 3G2S readers can save an additional 10% off when you checkout using Budsies promo code: 3G2S10. Remember to plan ahead because it takes up to 5 weeks to have your custom plush made.

5 Mother's Day Gift Ideas for the New Mom in Your Life

This Mother's Day gifts post has been written as part of a compensated campaign for Coupons.com.  All opinions expressed are my own.

This year, Mother's Day falls on May 11th, a date that is quickly sneaking up on us!  If you need to shop for a new mom this year, my advice is to give her a thoughtful gift that you picked out with solely her in mind.  Since the majority (if not all) of the the gifts that have come into her home for the past year or so has likely been for the new baby, she will greatly appreciate a gift that was truly picked out for her.

Having been a new mom more than once, here are a few suggestions for Mother's Day gifts for new moms that I came across on BabiesRUs.com that I would have loved to receive during those exhausting periods of my life . . .

1.  If you're considering gifting a glider and ottoman, the Stork Craft Custom Tuscany Glider and Ottoman ($229.99) might be a fine choice.  Not only does it come in 6 wood finishes and 4 different upholstery choices, it has been highly rated by other customers for comfort.  I cannot tell you how many times I had fallen asleep while nursing in the middle of the night and woke up wishing I had a more comfortable place to doze off while still securely cradling my baby.

2.  In addition to dealing with the logistics of nursing away from home, many moms have still not returned to their pre-baby clothing size.  Why not treat her to a few stylish nursing tops, such as this Thyme Maternity Sleeveless Nursing Top (on sale for $8.70).  It might make a huge difference in her outlook on days she needs to go out and about while feeling run-down and sleep-deprived.

3.  Like many new moms, I gave up carrying a handbag and just threw my keys, phone, and wallet in a diaper bag.  That is a huge deal for any woman who has a love of stylish handbags.  If this sounds like the new mom in your life, how about gifting her a stylish diaper bag disguised as a handbag like this JP Lizzy Satchel ($59.99)?  This bag looks like a fashion-forward handbag, but it comes with a changing pad and there are pockets inside for diapers, wipes, bottles, and more.

4.  Other than having other people coming in to help, there are not too many ways to reduce the amount of household chores that need to be done.  Having a new baby increases the number of chores, but reduces the amount of time and energy available to dedicate to these tasks.  A robotic vacuum, like the Neato XV Signature Vacuum ($449.99), would be a welcomed gift for any new mom.  Not only does this gift allow for hands-free vacuuming, it might also be handy for soothing babies that are partial to the hum of a vacuum.

5.  Although new moms don't have much free time, it is a treat to fit a little pampering in here and there.  The Susan Brown's Just for Mom Ultimate Gift Basket ($95.00) or any selection of Susan Brown's body products would make a wonderful gift for a new mom.  Some of the products include a Dead Sea Salt Foot Soak, Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer, and Botanical Body & Massage Oil.

Before you shop for Mother's Day gifts at Babies R Us, be sure to check for Coupons.com Babies R Us coupon codes to maximize your budget.  This is great advice to follow for any online retailer.  As an avid online shopper, I never complete my order anywhere without checking for promo codes first.

What other ideas do you have for great gifts for new moms?


PLEASE NOTE:  This is a multi-blog giveaway.  Please read the entry requirements carefully, as they will differ than what you would normally see on 3G2S.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

Exclusive Items, Low Price Guarantee, and More Reasons to Shop at Best Buy for Holiday Gifts! @BestBuyWOLF #bbyHoliday13

This reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.  All opinions expressed are my own.

If you've learned anything from reading my blog, it's that mine is a very tech-oriented family and that I just LOVE to shop!  Put those two things together and I would say I spend as much time shopping for tech items as I do for clothes for the five of us.  My husband and I have been shopping at Best Buy for at least 15 years and we continue to do so for many reasons, including excellent customer service, a vast selection of products (including Best Buy exclusives), their low price guarantee, great service plans, their many free shipping offers, and the ability to order online and pick-up in the store.

Although I am an avid online shopper, sometimes you just want to experience a tech item before you buy it.  For instance, I'm in the market for a Windows Intel tablet.  That is not something I would ever buy without trying it out for myself.  Best Buy is not just a store . . . it's a showroom.  There are also times when you may need advice about which of the hottest competing brands of tablets, phones, or gaming systems would suit your needs or the needs of someone on your Holiday shopping list.  A Blue Shirt is the perfect person to help with that.  I've found that Best Buy only hires people who are knowledgeable and passionate about their products and will give you their honest opinion because they do not work on commission.  Another reason why Best Buy is one of our top places to shop for tech items is because they do not wipe their hands of you after you've made your purchase.  If you have an issue with a product, you can bring it into the store for assistance from customer service or the Geek Squad.  Many other places require you to pay to ship your product back, even if it's under warranty, and I have not the time nor the interest in doing that.

So, what's on your shopping list this year for tech and gadgets?  How about the Digital Barbie Makeover Kit, the Jawbone UP, or some cordless headphones?  Well, Best Buy wants to help you save money on some of their most popular brands, such as Mattel, Fisher-Price, Logitech, and more with these two special offers that can be used in-store or online . . .

• Save 15% off Health & Fitness Products, Fisher-Price, and Mattel Toys from 12/1/13 to 1/18/14 when you checkout using Code: bloggers15off or print the coupon to shop at your local Best Buy store.
• Save 10% off Headphones and Portable Speakers (excluding Beats. Bose, and Sony products) from 12/1/13 to 1/18/14 when you checkout using Code: bloggers10off or print the coupon to shop in-store. 

For more great gift ideas in all price ranges, be sure to visit the Best Buy Holiday Gift Center!

6 Super Duper Gift Ideas for Children Who Love to Have Fun While Learning (plus a 15% off Promo Code!)

Thank you to Super Duper Publications for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Holidays are upon us, and Super Duper Publications wants to be your go-to place for holiday gifts. Their new, fun and educational items are perfect gifts for any age of child and you are sure to find something they will love.

Teaching children to tell time can be a daunting task, but the MagneTalk Telling Time Game makes learning this skill fun. Kids can learn to tell time both on the traditional clock and a digital clock, so they will have this skill mastered in no time. There are even “sentence makers” so you can have your new time-teller practicing their reading and story-telling skills. We’ve always had good experiences with the MagneTalk products and this one doesn’t disappoint either. Using this has really improved my 6 year old’s clock-reading abilities and it’s been done in a fun way. This product retails for $21.95.

We’ve used Super Duper’s Yogarilla products for a while, so when we saw the MagneTalk Yogarilla Exercises Game, we knew we would love it. In this game, kids copy the magnetic pictures posted on the board by Yogarilla Otis. This helps improve posture and balance, builds proprioceptive input, and more. We all love using our Yogarilla board every day. This product also retails for $21.95.

Word Joggers for Categories is a game that puts a spin on regular BINGO. Each card features items in one of the following categories: animals, food, clothing, home, school, and transportation. Players then take turns drawing from the corresponding decks to get clues as to which animal they should cover with their chips. This builds their vocabulary and causes them to think in another way. The game is fun and has variations for different levels of children. It contains 30 boards and 396 cards and retails for $64.95.

In the Go For the Dough Board Game, kids take turns finding answers to problems based on categories, synonyms, multiple meanings, opposites, rhyming words, and definitions. On their turn, kids read the word on their colorful dollar and then come up with a word that fits their category. If they give a correct answer, they put their dollar in the center and advance according to the dice. Once they deliver their pizzas, they collect the loot in the middle. This game can be played quickly or can be played for a long time. It is fun and fairly fast-paced and is both my children’s favorites of the lot. This one retails for $49.95.

The Hopping Frogs Language Game builds articulation by having children say certain words based on their sound. They use the most commonly mispronounced sounds, P, B, T, D, K, G, and F, and use them in the beginning, middle, and ends of words. Once the child produces their sound or word correctly, they can “hop” the corresponding number (according to their card) of frogs onto their lily pad. The player at the end with the most frogs on their pad wins. As with most of Super Duper’s games, this has variations for more advanced players. The pronunciation portion of this game is not my son’s favorite, but the frog hopping part more than makes up for it, according to him. He loves playing this game and I’m glad we have it. This game retails for $49.95.

Finally, if you’re in need of stocking stuffers, the Electronic Spinner might be a great one to consider. This spinner has a 3-inch diameter and features both numbers and colors (6 total) and lights with optional sound. It is sure to add a flair to any game night with family and friends. This one retails for $10.95.

Super Duper Publications. is one of my favorite sites on the web and these kinds of games are why. Their games are all fun, well made, creative, unique, and almost always have variations based on learning level, so they are great for any age or stage of child. Super Duper Publications has also been kind enough to offer 3G2S readers a 15% off coupon code through December 20th with the Super Duper promo code D39A3S7R. Shipping is also free on all orders of $20 or more for anywhere in the US and Canada.  To shop, visit www.SuperDuperInc.com.

A Dragon Warrior Ninja Costume for Our Ninja-Obsessed Son

Thank you to Halloween Adventure for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.

While much of the nation is currently obsessed with zombies, our 9 year old son is obsessed with ninjas.  He even has several ninja-themed t-shirts to prove it.  In fact, he told me he wanted to dress up as ninja for this Halloween while he was taking off his Star Wars costume last Halloween.

When I started looking for a ninja costume for our son over the summer, I could not believe how many different varieties there were.  There were some that were all black, which I believe our son needed if he wanted to be truly stealthy and undetectable, and some that were brightly colored, which were very un-ninja-like if you ask me.  My son was partial to one ninja costume we saw that was trimmed in bright (almost neon) red.  Luckily, we found this Dragon Warrior Ninja Costume at Halloween Adventure that we both liked.

The gold accented "armor" on this costume was ornate enough to please my son and subtle enough to satisfy me.  It turned out to be extremely comfortable to wear.  He did not mind the plastic mask, which fits seamlessly over the hood of the jumpsuit and the foam armor was very lightweight.  I had ordered a Size Large and everything fit well, except the inseam was a bit long for my son.  I fixed this easily by pulling the jumpsuit up at the waist, securing it with paperclips, and hiding the extra fabric under the belt.  Our son also said that the opening of the hood that went around the top of his head and under his chin was very snug, but he insists that it is wearable since the fabric has some give to it.

Since none were included, we added our own ninja gloves and ninja sword to the costume.  When we went outside to take a few photos, several of the neighbor's children told our son how cool his costume was, which pleased our son immensely.  He cannot wait to wear this ninja costume trick-or-treating this year!

This Children's Dragon Warrior Ninja Costume sells for $24.99 on HalloweenAdventure.com, but you can currently save an additional 20% off all their costumes with the promo code SPOOKY20.

The Tea Collection Semi-Annual Sale is On! (Plus a Promo Code to Save an Extra 25% off Sale Items)

The Tea Collection Semi-Annual Sale is already underway and, to make this highly anticipated sale even sweeter, there is a promo code you can use to take an additional 25% off all sale items for babies, boys, girls, and women!

I think my favorite find from this sale is the adorable Venda Shoulder-Tie Tunic (shown above).  It's priced at $12.50 for this sale, so it will be just $9.38 after using the promo code!  I like this top because, in addition to being super-cute, the straps are adjustable.  This means you can probably buy one size up so that this top can be worn for two (or possibly three) summers.  All our Tea Collection pieces have washed extremely well, so they there is no doubt that this top can be washed and worn with proper care for years without wearing out.

To get your extra 25% off all the sale items in your order, checkout using Promo Code 25SAVE at TeaCollection.com by 6/29.  As always, if you shop, come back and tell me what bought!

Get Your iPhone Summer-Ready with One of the 1700+ iPhone Cases Offered by Best Buy

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

The first day of summer will soon be upon us.  What does that mean for us parents?  It means more frequent trips to the park, to the beach, to the mall, and to play dates.  In turn, what does this mean for our mobile phones, who have spent the last 3 seasons snug as a bug in our handbags and jacket pockets?  They will have to become accustomed to being moved from diaper bags to beach bags to back pockets to sitting on a park bench.  Worst of all, they will be constantly fought over by children who will be asking 10 times daily if they can use them to play their favorite games.  What's a parent to do?

Instead of holding your breath each time your child has your phone in their possession this summer, why not checkout the vast assortment of phone cases at Best Buy?  For iPhone cases alone, Best Buy offers over 1700 styles, which include some cool ones like the mophie Juice Pack Air Charging Case for the iPhone 5, the LifeProof Belt Clip for iPhone 5, and the Rocketfish Mobile Arm Band with Molded iPhone Case.  In addition to those popular brands, you will also find cases from Belkin to OtterBox to Case-Mate and everything in between.

To help you get your iPhone summer-ready, through June 28th, you can save an extra 10% off selected mophie iPhone cases.  To take advantage of this BestBuy.com exclusive offer, add one of the participating mophie iPhone cases to your shopping cart and checkout using Promo Code: mophie10.

Which iPhone case is your favorite?

As a Man, Hair Loss is Important to Me, But . . .

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Viviscal. I received product samples and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

There was a time when I never worried about losing my hair. On my mother's side, hair was not an issue.  My grandfather in fact had a full head of hair into his nineties. Even though my dad had a bald spot on the top of his head in his thirties, I always assumed my mother's genes would prevail. Now that I am in my forties, I am starting to realize my mother's genes have only offered me partial protection. My hairline is slowly receding.

Still, I am not nuts over keeping my hair. Sure, I would love to have the thick mane I enjoyed as a younger man, but I would much prefer to gracefully go bald than to try all those crazy, and often silly looking, things men do to keep their hair. Heck, I would rather just shave my head! Of course, if I do that, I will need to start working out . . . but that's a completely different topic.

Having said all of that, I would always be up for some sort of topical or oral supplement, like Viviscal Man, that could actually strengthen my real hair and promote existing hair growth. I know there are many products on the market, but I am still skeptical about many of them. I also would not spend a ton of money on anything that is not real and clinically proven to work.

Hair loss is important to me, but it is not such a big deal that I would go to any extremes to address it. Now if could just control where my hair grew....

How do the men in your life face the prospect of hair loss?  Are they on the fence like I am or are they especially proactive about using preventative or restorative measures?

If you know of a man who would like to try Viviscal products, through July 31st, he can save 10% off on Viviscal Man and Viviscal Hair Filler Fibers at Walgreens.com by checking out with Promo Code: VIVISCALMAN.

An Original and Affordable End-of-the-Year Teacher's Gift Idea from the Whole Class!

I have several friends who are teachers and have heard it from the source about what teachers love (and what they don't love) to receive for Holiday and end-of-the-year gifts.  How many mugs, magnets, and bottles of scented body products can one person use, right?  Gift cards are always a great way to go, but if you feel they are just too impersonal, here is an idea for a teacher's gift from the whole class that will truly be a cherished keepsake.  In fact, the same teacher could receive this gift every year and would still love it because no two will ever be alike!

I'm talking about a School Photo Book from Blurb.com.  Each student in this year's class could have one or two pages devoted to him or her.  All you need is for each parent to contribute one or more photos of their child and a few dollars to go towards the cost of the book.  Blurb books start at just $12.99 plus the cost of shipping, so one classroom of 20+ students could make a beautiful book for just $2 or $3 from each student's family.  To make it even more special, you can have each child contribute a quote about their favorite school memory from this year.

Through 5/31/13, you can receive 15% off a School Photo Book when you checkout using Promo Code: MYSCHOOLBOOK on Blurb.com.

Save 50% off Everything During the Amy Adele Birthday Sale (Today Only!)

 Just a few weeks ago, I shared with you the customized t-shirt Amy Adele had sent to my daughter for a product review.  Just in case you were thinking of shopping on AmyAdele.com for a cute t-shirt for a child in your life, I wanted to share this awesome one-day sale with 3G2S readers.

Today is Amy's birthday and, to celebrate, Amy Adele is offering a promo code for 50% off everything with a minimum order of $25!  This sale not only includes the children's t-shirts, but also the Amy Adele personalized children's stationary, invitations, labels, thank you notes, calling cards, bag tags, and more.  To take advantage of this deal, you must checkout today on AmyAdele.com using Promo Code: HappyBday2013.

As always, if you shop, remember to come back to share with me what you purchased!

Puppet Monsters . . . Plush Puppets that Double as Cuddly Hats

Every child loves fun accessories and the new Puppet Monsters are just such an item. Puppet Monsters are a line of new, fun hats that children can wear on their heads. They can also make the arms move and change their puppet’s look with the optional accessory kits. This fun and unique hat is warm and cozy, but not boring like most other hats.

Quinn received the red “Dizzy Antlers” Monster Puppet and he loves it! He says the monster is silly, funny, and super cool! The hat is made out of fairly durable material that will hold up awhile if properly cared for. As a parent, I think this toy could be constructed of better materials, but it could also be far worse for a product in this price category.

We didn’t receive an accessory kit, but if we had, the features would unbutton from inside and the new ones would button on in their place. As it is, Quinn has fun moving his monster’s features around to give him silly looks. He loves wearing it out as a warm hat and really loves playing with it as a puppet. He has also gotten many looks from people when he’s worn it in public.  Adults think it’s adorable and kids are completely envious. We’ve had to tell many people about the Puppet Monsters site already. If you have any children in your family, they will likely love Puppet Monsters too.

Puppet Monsters come in six varieties and can be purchased on their website, BuyPuppetMonsters.com for $19.95 + S/H and that price comes with your choice of one of the six accessory kits. 3G2S readers can get $5 off by using the coupon code PUPPET at checkout.


Thank you to Puppet Monsters for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Tech Tip: Save Money By Building Your Own PC

There are so many ways to save money these days, but so many are overlooked. I work in IT and I am always amazed at how easy it is to build a computer from scratch . . . so amazed that I truly believe that ANYBODY could build their own PC from scratch with just a little instruction, and more importantly: with very few tools! Building your own PC will also save you a fair chunk of money.


There are two major benefits to building a PC yourself:

1. You can build your machine cheaper than any pre built machine by as much as 30% (or more).

or

2. You can spend your entire budget and build a PC far more powerful than what the same money would buy you off the shelf.


Possibly the most unbelievable fact is that the parts you use to build your own machine are all top quality name brand parts (you can't always be assured of that with an off the shelf machine).

As far as choosing the parts are concerned, it is really not that hard. Many parts retailers offer all the information you need to pair up your components so everything works together. There are countless websites and forums out there that provide step-by-step instructions on choosing your hardware and assembling everything once you are ready. I think most people would be surprised just how few parts make up the insides of an average PC tower.

Once you have chosen your components, the assembly only takes about one to two hours depending on the complexity of the build. For most builds, the only tool required is a Philips head screwdriver! Many PC cases are “tool less” and you may not need to use your screwdriver that much at all. You will not need to solder anything, in fact, so long as you work in a static free location you really do not need to worry about much at all.

Another benefit of building your own PC is the fact that it increases your understanding of your PC, arguably one of the most important tools in our lives right now. The more you understand about the inner working of your PC the less you will need to pay somebody else for repairs if something goes wrong in the future.

Not only can you save money by assembling your PC on your own, you can also save a bunch of money on the individual parts. Many retailers have daily deals and sales that can dramatically add to your savings. One of the most popular parts sites on the web is Newegg.com. I use it personally, and at the office as well, for nearly every part I need.

In addition to the retailers themselves offering deals and sales on parts, some services can optimize your shopping with extra savings and promo codes like this 10% off Newegg coupon.

I truly feel anybody can build their own PC with a little time and patience (very little!). In addition to saving a bunch of money you can be proud of an achievement that many will never enjoy themselves. You know what feels the very best (other than the savings)? The best feeling is when somebody you know decides to build their own and asks you for help!

Visit a few sites like Tom’s Hardware, Newegg, and Youtube and do some preliminary research. Once you see how easy it is, check online for any available promo codes.

If you choose to build your own PC, don't hesitate to post here and ask me some specific questions, I promise to answer them all. I would be happy to rate your parts selection before you buy.


This post was provided by Save1, a family owned coupon site that feeds malnourished children. All opinions expressed are my own.

AAall

Ring Bling . . . a Crazy Fun New Game for the Whole Family

Teaching children to follow directions is always a good thing and the new game, Ring Bling, from Super Duper, Inc. helps to reinforce this positive lesson.

Ring Bling is a simple game in which children take turns choosing a “Happy Hand” for which to place their rings on. They then choose a card, follow its instructions, and spin the spinner to get one or two rings or possibly even give away a ring to their friend. The cards have simple, imaginative instructions like, “Kiss a slimy frog” or more complex, outlandish ones like, “Before you play the drums, play the guitar with your teeth.” Teaching children to follow these abstract directions gets them working many different parts of brain and gets those imaginations turning as well.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

I have to say that my whole family really liked this game. The fun, crazy instructions were fun for us all to act out and we had a blast laughing and pretending together. My kids were especially thrilled with it because it’s unlike any game we have ever owned. It is simple yet fun, unique yet entertaining. We highly recommend it.

Ring Bling can be purchased at www.superduperinc.com for $29.95. You can browse the Super Duper Inc. eCatalog to view their full selection of learning and developmental poducts.  Also, Super Duper, Inc. is giving 3G2S readers an exclusive coupon code for 15% off their purchase when used on their website. Please use coupon code KSBLOG1323 to take advantage of this deal. Coupon expires March 31, 2013.


Thank you to Super Duper Inc. for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing a gift certificate for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!