The new photo scanner requires no PC to convert print photos into digital images. Users simply press a single button to scan photos as small as wallet-sized up to 8 ½ x 11, and the device is not a whole lot bigger than large tube of tooth paste, so I plan to keep it packed in my laptop bag.

This fun gadget was literally “plug and play.” I took it out of the box, inserted the small memory  SD card that came with it into the back, plugged it in, and began scanning photos from my kids’ baby books. Then, I used the USB cord and plugged it into my laptop, and transferred the photos onto my computer. But, if you want, you can insert the SD card loaded with full-color JPEG images into your computer to upload the photos to your favorite photo site like Snapfish, or  take the SD card to a Walgreens or CVS and have your photos printed directly from it — no PC or laptop required. You also can insert the card into a Pandigital digital photo frame to immediately view the images. (I wrote about my Pandigital photo frame here).

The best part about this Pandigital scanner is that it’s so FAST. My printer acts as a scanner, but it’s really slow. First, you scan the photo . . .slowly.  Yawn. Then it’s converted into a JPEG  image on the computer . .  yawn, then I find it . . . yawn. It’s a process. I scanned about 50 photos in about 20 minutes with this dealy. I’m going crazy.  First, I’m scanning all the photos from the childhood of my oldest kids. Then, I’m going to scan my photos from my early marriage, and then move my way backward to college, then high school. Facebook, look out!! I’m armed with an easy to use scanner. Here are some of my scans from this evening:

My oldest (now 15) with Santa

My middle child (now 12) getting the last of the soda.

Pandigital’s award-winning line of scanners have been acclaimed for their ease-of-use and excellent performance. The scanner does not require any expensive or confusing software and employs a new twin-roller feeding system to ensure that the photos are scanned evenly each time.  Further optimizing the quality, images are scanned at up to 600 optical dpi for resulting scans that have a crisp and clear 3800×7200 24-bit color depth resolution.  In addition to being able to scan images onto the included SD memory card, the scanner accepts other popular memory cards (SD, MS, MS Pro, MMS, XD) and can also be connected directly to either a Mac or PC computer via its mini-USB port.

The Pandigital Personal Photo Scanner/Converter weighs in at less than a pound at only 13.79 ounces and measures only 10.59(L) x 1.73(H) x 2.32(D) inches. It is available for now for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $149.99 here.

Try a random post.

• Getting Started Part 5 – Walgreens 101
• Family Holiday Getaway in Branson, MO
• You can feel good about drinking green water
• Wacky Wednesday Complaints
• Never Forget!

You can really find some great deals if you visit frequently, especially on the clearance section of the site.

You also can find some fantastic buys on furniture and bedding, such as duvet covers.

Right now, you can get free shipping on your first order if you’re a new customer, so what do you have to lose. Go check it out.

** See my disclosure policy link in the upper right corner of the homepage.

Posts like this

• Black Friday and Christmas in July Sales This Weekend
• Three Great Deals at Target this Week
• HUGE Sales on Shoes! I mean DEEP discounts, Ladies!
• My Favorite Money-Saving Magazine
• Getting Started Series Part 7 – Target Shopping 101

 If you have about 600 CDs and DVDs that you no longer want, then consider giving them to a company called ipodmeister.com in exchange for an iPad.

iPodMeister will exchange the 600 CDs and DVDs, with original sleeves and covers, for a new iPad with 16GB and Wi-Fi.  A little more than 1,000 CDs and DVDs (1,050 to be exact) will get you an iPad with 32 GB, Wi-Fi, and 3G.

Apparently, you can even opt to get the music and movies from you CDs and DVDs digitized and sent back to you so you can load them onto your new iPad (or iPod or whatever device you choose). And you can work out free shipping. All the details are below:

How many CDs do I need?
 
All iPods, iPads and iPhones are brand new, factory sealed, and come with all packaging and full warranty. They are exactly the same iPods, iPhones and iPads sold by Apple today. They are not last year’s model and they are not factory refurbished. Different models require different numbers of CDs or DVDs for the exchange. DVDs count like CDs. CDs and DVDs can be combined. Boxsets count by the number of discs in the set.

There are two exchange rates, depending on whether you require digitizing of your music or not. Digitizing is the conversion of a music CD so that it can be played on an iPod. Go here to look at the chart for specific numbers of CDs/DVDs needed to trade for specific Apple products.
 
 
* Digitizing –sometimes also referred to as “ripping”- is the conversion of the tracks on a music CD to mp3 files. We will provide these mp3 files on DVDs. We won’t load any music onto the iPod.
** Because the iPhones require activation and registration at the time of purchase we will send you a check for the price of the iPhone plus applicable sales tax.
8GB iPhone 3G = $107
16 GB iPhone 3G S = $217
32 GB iPhone 3G S = $326

The checks are regular corporate checks made out to the customer, i.e. the checks are not vouchers for the purchase of an iPhone only or Apple gift cards. The checks are regular bank checks that should be cashed by depositing them into a U.S. bank account. Non-US customers in Canada, the U.K. and continental Europe can request an international postal money order.
 
If you have more CDs than required for the iPod, we will buy them from you. We will include a check for these CDs along with your iPod. The check will be a corporate check made out to the customer.  If you have fewer discs than required you can make up for each missing item by paying $1 per item up to a maximum of 50 missing discs. Please include a check or money order made out to “iPodMeister” with your shipment. The turnaround time is very fast if you don’t want your CDs digitized. If you want your CDs digitized the turnaround time is usually 3 to 8 business days from the time we receive your CDs to the day we ship your iPod.
 
How does the FREE shipping work?
 
If you live in the NY Metro area you can drop off your CDs at our loading dock. If you live outside the NY Metro area or don’t want to come to us we will arrange FREE shipping by FedEx Ground. See “What about Non-U.S. customers?” below if you reside in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico or anywhere outside of the 48 contiguous states.
Prepare your CDs for shipping:
 
1.      Get the right size cardboard boxes. Each box should hold at least 200 and not more than 300 CDs. A box measuring 20” x 12” x 12” holds approximately 200 CDs. We don’t provide boxes. Sturdy cardboard boxes are available at office supply stores, moving companies, storage facilities, etc.
2.      Package the CDs tightly inside the box. The CDs should not be able to move. Stack them tightly. Only add cushioning material such as newspapers or bubble wrap if needed.
3.      In each package include a completed order form stating your name, address, e-mail, and phone number and the color and iPod/iPhone/iPad model you want. In case you opt for digitizing, indicate that clearly and check the compression format you want. The default are mp3 files at 256 KB. Specify whether you are using a Mac or a PC.
 
E-mail us with the following information to get your prepaid FedEx shipping labels:
 
1.      your first and last name and complete address;
2.      your phone number;
3.      the number of packages and the number of CDs in each box (that way we know the weight);
 
Locate the closest FedEx drop-off location:
 
1.      Tape the labels you have received from iPodMeister to the packages.
2.      If you have a regular FedEx pick-up at work use the labels to ship the packages from your office.
3.      Otherwise bring the packages to any FedEx drop-off location, for example to a Kinko’s copy store, a FedEx office, or to a participating business in your area.
4.      To find the closest FedEx drop-off location click this link:
a.       http://FedEx.com/Dropoff/start?locale=en_US
b.      Enter your Zip code and uncheck “Self-service” (drop boxes) under “Show Me These Types of Locations.” 
 
Which CDs are acceptable?
 
We accept all genres, i.e. Classical music, Opera, Jazz, Classic Rock, Latin, Pop, Indie, Alternative, Trance, books on CD, Spoken Word, etc. . We also accept older CDs from the 1980’s and 1990’s. We do not need a list of titles. We won’t cherry pick your collection. Boxsets containing more than one CD or DVD count depending on the number of items in the boxsetIn general, all CDs without scratches are acceptable, as long as they come with complete cover art, i.e. the booklet in the front and the play list in the back. We do not accept liquidation ware, penny CDs, bootlegs, or CDs in case logic binders. If you have bought your CDs in a record store you usually do not have to worry that we will not accept these CDs.
 
Here are the details and a list of exceptions:
 
1.      All CDs have to be in mint condition, i.e. without visible scratches.
2.      All CDs have to come with complete cover art in mint condition, both front and back.
3.      All CDs have to be in their original jewel case. Broken, cracked or dusty jewel cases are not a problem.
4.      Boxsets containing more than one CD count depending on the number of CDs in the boxset: a boxset with four CDs counts as four CDs. We do NOT accept incomplete boxsets.
5.      We don’t take CDs which have your initials written on the CD or the cover art.
6.      We do not take CDs which are stamped “Promotional” on the CD or which have a “promo” or “advance”-sticker or stamp on the jacket.
7.      We do accept CDs that have the bar cut scratched out or punched out. We also accept CDs that have drill holes or promo stickers on the jewel case.
8.      We do accept so-called Club CDs, issued by BMG or Columbia House. They count half. 
9.      We do NOT accept bootleg or blank CDs.
10.  We do NOT accept CD singles or radio edits.
11.  We do NOT accept compilations from stores such as the GAP, Victoria’s Secret, etc. but we do accept CDs released by Starbucks or Time Life.
12.  We do NOT accept foreign language CDs if all of the title is written in a non-Latin alphabet, e.g. Greek, Russian, or Korean because we cannot catalogue them.
13.  We do accept import CDs as long as the title and artist are written in the Latin alphabet, for example in Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Italian, etc.
14.  We usually only accept one CD per title, i.e. we do not accept a dozen unsold, shrink wrapped CDs of a local bar band. If you have several CDs of one popular title, e-mail us the title(s) and we will let you know whether we are interested.
15.  We reserve the right to refuse CDs from online merchants, wholesalers, record stores, or record labels who are trying to unload their low priced inventory. We will not be responsible for the shipping costs involved in returning these CDs.
16.  We don’t pay for returning CDs that we reject because of missing cover art, scratches, or because they are liquidation ware or penny CDs (CDs with a resale value below $1.00).
17.  DVDs count like CDs. DVDs and CDs can be combined.
18.  We only accept DVDs with region code 1 (United States, Canada, Bermuda) in the U.S. and region code 2 (Western and Central Europe, Japan) for shipments to our European collection points.
19.  We do not take adult DVD’s.
20.  We do not return unacceptable CDs.
 
 
What is “digitizing” and how do I get my music onto the iPod?
 
Digitizing is the compression and conversion of the data on a music CD into a file format that can be played on the iPod. Digitizing is also known as “ripping.”If you opt for the exchange without digitizing you simply send us your CDs and we will send you an iPod (see exchange rates in center column). If you don’t opt for digitizing you will not get back-up files of your music. 

If you opt for digitizing you will get the iPod plus a set of back-up DVDs (see exchange rates in right column). We do not load the digitized files directly onto the iPod because we don’t want to open the iPod before sending it to you. That way you know that the iPod is new. If you have a set of back-up DVDs in a safe place you won’t lose all your music even if you lose your iPod.

Connect the iPod through the USB-port to your computer and insert the back-up DVDs into the DVD drive. Then use iTunes to move your files. iTunes is pre-installed on most computers and can also be downloaded for free from Apple.com. iTunes will show you album information such as artist name, track titles, playing time, and more. Some smaller iPods might not hold all the albums you have sent us. Use iTunes and the back-up DVDs to decide which tracks you want to play on iPods with limited storage capacity. 
 
 
To reach iPodMeister.com, e-mail the company at promo@ipodmeister.com or call 877-ipod.cds or 877.476.3237.

Posts like this

• Dairy Queen Blizzard Deal April 19 – 25
• Coffee-lover Deal for $3

But as a Total Type A, I never feel quite organized enough, so I’m always looking for ways to better organize this or that area of my life or the lives of my family members (loud sighs and eye rolls by family members inserted here) or some aspect of our household. Take for example, cords and cables. They drive me nuts and they always look messy and unorganized! We’ve got phone charger cords and iPod chargers and iPod ear phones, and mouse cords and computer speaker cords and USB cords  and on and on!

Enter one of my favorite new companies –Cableorganizer.com. I am enamored with a few of their products (and their prices are something to love, too).

The Yin & Yang Cable Winder ($2.49)

This is a perfect device for taming extra-long mouse cords. It is a creatively designed cable winder that is easy to use: just insert the offending cord into the slot, then twist the top to spool up excess length. Reversing the process to let out some slack is just as simple: grab the cord on both sides and lightly tug to unwind however much you need. 

The Core ($3.99-$7.99)

This is my personal favorite — no more tangled iPod earbuds. The CORE is the simplest portable cord manager around — it can manage your iPod, cell phone, MP3 player and other digital devices cords. The CORE features two channels on both ends where cords are easily inserted. Simply wrap the cable around the CORE’s center, then lock it securely in place using the channels on each end.

The CordBone Cable Organizer ($6.99)

This simple, easy to use “bone-like” design allows you to wrap up excess cables.  It keeps cords and cables off of the floor and prevents tripping hazards.  Cables can be easily wound or unwound from either end and it makes cables easily identifiable and untangled. It’s ideal for use on computer cords, power tool cables, and cables from household appliances.

Cable Turtle (Mini and Small Sizes: $4.99 – $5.99)

This is a fun little gadget that we’re using for the iPod chargers and USB cords in our lives. It’s a sleek little Dutch import that features a convenient “flip open, snap shut” design that lets you wind excess cable length around its hidden core to prevent tangled cords and unwanted clutter. It’s simple to use, highly functional, and is so aesthetically pleasing that it’s actually joined the ranks of the Museum of Modern Art’s Design collection. The Cable Turtle is also available in a rainbow of colors, so you’ll never need to sacrifice self-expression for cable management. 

Come backSunday (3/14/10) for a great list of “Clever Spring Cleaning Tips” from Karen Eschebach, Clever Container co-founder. (She offers some “I gotta have it” products for any organization addict!)

Posts like this

• Organization and Spring Cleaning
• Free Personal Finance Newsletter for Women That’s Fun, Informative and Worth Reading!
• Meet the Double Duty Divas
• Home Safety for the Holidays

Acme Made, designer of chic carrying solutions for digital gear, has the answer for you.

Available nationwide in boutiques like Fred Segal, Sony Style and online, Acme Made was created in 2002 with the sole purpose of designing, manufacturing and selling well-designed products to protect computer and peripherals. From the chic Bowler camera bag to the sassy Smart Sleeve, Acme Made carrying solutions deliver form and function. 

I am now the proud owner of the Smart Sleeve, and I love the style and function of this laptop case. It’s ultra thin, but has enough padding and protection to protect the valuable assets it is carrying, and it has a removable shoulder strap.  It sports a designer-styled front panel and a highly water-resistant exterior, and while it is sleek and slender on the outside, it’s all business on the inside.  The Smart Laptop Sleeve boasts some heavy-duty protection with its ballistic nylon and premium tricot lining to its closed-cell foam padding. Available in two colors, white and black, and three sizes: 13” sleeve, 15” sleeve and 10” sleeve, it retails for $29.99 to $34.99.

The Kate is another smart and stylish design not only protects a laptop, but carries all the other must-have items as well.  From the contrasting trim and interior fabric, to the slanted front pockets, the Kate is the perfect bag for work, school, or play. For all the times we try and get our wallets, keys, cell phones and other necessities to fit in our laptop bags, the Kate is the solution. It is available in black and white and sells for $99.99.

So, go check out the many styles of laptop bags (and camera bags, cell phone cases, iPod holders, etc.) at Acme Made and if you end up sporting something really cool, send me a picture.

Posts like this

• Happy Hour Retail Style — Now THAT’S Therapy!
• Gap Coupon Codes for Back to School
• Students & Teachers Save 25 Percent at Old Navy
• Must-Have Wardrobe Staples for Every Frugal Fashionista’s Closet
• Getting Started Series Part 7 – Target Shopping 101

But do you know about the potential risks? Kids often don’t know how to use audio technology safely and they can harm their hearing as a result.  In fact, hearing loss among young people is reported to be on the rise and there are strong concerns that a generation of young people could end up with prevalent hearing loss. 

“For some time, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has warned that hearing loss in the United States could rise significantly due to the misuse of personal audio technology,” ASHA President Tommie L. Robinson, Jr. explains. “Unfortunately, a report released today by the Kaiser Family Foundationcites some alarming trends about excessive entertainment media consumption among our nation’s children, indirectly supporting ASHA’s concerns. This should be a warning to parents that they must regulate children’s exposure and fully understand the potential health threats associated with misuse and over exposure to such technologies.” 

 According to a 2004 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, children were reported as being exposed to six hours and 21 minutes of media (TV, music, internet, etc) per day. By 2009, this statistic had increased dramatically to seven hours and 38 minutes per day. When media multitasking is taken into account, this leaps to 10 hours and 45 minutes per day. This massive consumption of media has led to decreased grades in school and ASHA contends it puts kids at an increased risk of hearing loss. 

One thing that is clear from the study is that parents can be very positive influencers on how their children use entertainment media.

How You Can Help – Spread the Following Message

Whether your child received an MP3 player, gaming device, cell phone, laptop, or any other device with headphones, don’t overlook the important health threat of hearing loss.

Here are two simple ways to protect your children’s – and your own – hearing.

• Keep the volume down. A good guide is half volume.
• Limit listening time. Give your hearing ‘quiet breaks’.
• Consider upgrading from earbuds (which fit inside the ear) to sound-isolating earphones that go around the ear.

For more information, go the ASHA’s Web site, follow their Twitter feed or fan them on Facebook.

Find more information and statistics at ASHA’s website.  You can also follow their Twitter feed or fan them on Facebook to get real time updates on their work.

Posts like this

• Count Those Kids!
• Seven Wonders?
• What If You Didn’t Have a Family?
• Reminder – Children See, Children Do
• Great Selection of Halloween Costumes

We’ve had three deaths in our extended family since Jan. 2, my computer was eaten alive by a trojan virus and our furnace quit working on the same day the temperatures hit the teens and the windchill took the mercury below zero!

Now let’s back up the truck and I’ll give you more details.

My husband’s uncle died on Jan. 2 from injuries he received in a horrible car accident just after Christmas. He lived in Kentucky, so my husband and his parents made the eight-hour drive from St. Louis to Kentucky late Monday night, returning on Wednesday. It was particularly hard on my mother-in-law, who is close to all of her siblings.

My great uncle also died on Jan. 2 after being ill for some time. He lived in the St. Louis area, so I was able to attend his wake Tuesday night (Jan. 5), but only after arranging carpools for my older children and only with my toddler in tow. It was a challenge, but I’m glad I went for my Mom, who is very sad, and to see lots of family that I seldom see.

On the same day as the wake, my brother’s father-in-law died after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. I knew this man before I even knew his daughter, who became my sister-in-law, because he had been my boss at my first teenage job at the Florissant (MO) K-Mart. He was a kind man who my brother had come to love and who was loved dearly by his daughters. His wake and funeral this weekend will be very sad and it will be hard to watch his widow, my brother and sister-in-law and their boys grieve the loss.

Certainly less important, but significantly disruptive, has been the destruction of my computer by a trojan virus. (Remember, I’m a freelance writer/communications professional who MAKES A LIVING AT HOME WITH A FUNCTIONAL COMPUTER).  This happened Dec. 30 and my poor husband has spent countless hours attempting to salvage it (amid all this other craziness), but we finally gave up. It is my intention to save the money to buy a Macintosh — I AM DONE WITH PC’S. But, as a Band-aid (and after more than one three-hour conversation with Microsoft support professionals on the other side of the globe) we’ve purchased a new computer. Now, I’m waiting for my dear husband to get home from work and “make it so.” In other words, I want him to restore all the crap off the back-up external hard drive, and set up all the other systems and processes I need to work. I am tired of working on a slow laptop that doesn’t like me to answer work emails, open attachments, save anything to the hard drive, open more than two Internet windows, blog, update my site, etc. So, if you’ve noticed a lack of writing here, or a slowing of contests/giveaways, etc., please know that I hope to be back up to speed SOON!

In fact, I should have been back up and running YESTERDAY but the supplier from which we ordered my new computer failed to deliver it yesterday as was promised. We were told it was “backordered” and they could not tell us when it woudl arrive. Unacceptable. We canceled the order and began shopping elsewhere. While doing that, we noticed it suddenly felt very cold in our house. “No honey — that’s not ME being ICY because I’m mad about my computer not arriving. It really is cold in here.” Hhrummpf! Like I could be enough of a witch to lower the temperature of the house!

Anyway, that’s when we discovered that the furnace wasn’t working. Guess what? Heating and air conditioning dudes are really busy when it gets super cold outside and the weather guys are predicting six inches of snow! To spare you boring details — our furnace is “temporarily” fixed while we wait for a part to be ordered that is due next Tuesday. No guarantees it will keep heating the house until then. Just a “let’s hope so” from the furnace dude.

Surprisingly, I haven’t had a complete tantrum yet. I’ve had a few “almost tantrums,” but no complete tantrums. My Beth Moore Bible Study is helping — this week’s lesson was on waiting/patience, neither of which are my strong suits and both upon which I needed desperately to focus. I was reminded that God’s in control, not me. And THAT gives me some peace. So, I’ll stay on the merry-go-round of life and be grateful for it.

Posts like this

• Mean Girls

This game, by Ubisoft, lets players design the next big thing in fashion and travel the world to build the design into a worldwide fashion label. Players can launch their international brand, open boutiques around the world, and design the hottest, most wanted fashion in the world. The game lets you:

• Travel the World – Promote your fashion brand all over the world as you set up runway shows, photo shoots and celebrity endorsements.
• Open boutiques in iconic fashion cities, and promote your brand by taking part in local fashion events.
• Dress the hottest celebs in your designs and be seen on the red carpet.
• Design Your Brand – Create a fashion collection under your own label.
• Choose your brand name and customize your own logo from a variety of fonts, backgrounds, and colors.
• Design amazing collections of different themes.
• Go shopping to accessorize your designs, from shoes and jewelry to hats and purses.
• Become a fashion expert – Become a world-famous fashion trends expert as you travel the world looking for the hottest fashions. 
• Dress models all over the world!

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. And the company certainly gives back to the community, having recently announced the recipients of four $25,000 college scholarships. The Ubisoft  ”Imagine Your Future” sweepstakes, a month-long online sweepstakes that awarded more than $100,000 in prizes, including four $25,000 college scholarships to aspiring students, included winners ranging from an unborn child to a 16-year-old high school student.

The sweepstakes was created to commemorate October as “Imagine Month,” during which four brand new video games from Ubisoft’s wildly popular Imagine series became available at retail.

You can buy Imagine: Fashion Designer World Tour here but one lucky Lipstick to Crayons reader can win the game for free by entering the contest below.

Giveaway Guidelines:

Tell me in a comment below why you want to win the game.

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (you can tweet daily if you want, but make sure you leave a comment each time you do).
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
7. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook
   

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Jan. 11, 2010. Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Contest open to United States residents only. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by Jan. 13, 2009, he/she will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO MICHELE P., COMMENT #131.

Posts like this

• Maternity Dress Giveaway and Coupon Code
• $35 Snapfish Giveaway and Back to School Fun
• Win a Disney Vacation
• Sick Day Guidelines and Triaminic Giveaway
• Day 9 – 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway

Leapfrog has long been a leader in creating educational but FUN toys, and now they’ve gone and created one that even a two-year-old can enjoy. The Tag system makes it fun for toddlers to connect words with pictures and other thoughts. By pressing the Tag Junior Book Pal onto the pages of specially designed books, the words and pictures come to life.

 The Tag Jr. is easy for a toddler to use because all she has to do is touch the  book pal (which fits perfectly in a toddlers chubby little hand) anywhere on the page and she will be rewarded with a response. Each Tag Jr. book has a theme and focuses on a skill.

The Tag Jr. system is geared toward young preschoolers ages 2-4. Leapfrog
also lets you create an account at LeapFrog’s Learning  Path site where you can track your child’s learning progress online and download and print free activities to compliment your child’s Tag Jr. books.

LeapFrog toys are always fun-forward and engaging with educational benefits and skill-building fundamentals that last well beyond the holiday season. In other words, they’re invaluable.

Upsides:

• Easy for a toddler to use
• Great learning tool
• Encourages reading
• Portable – great toy for road trips and hotel stays
• Reasonably priced

 Downside:

• The process of downloading the audio from the Leapfrog site to your Tag Jr. Book Pal was a little tricky for me, but there is lots of online support on the site.

You can buy the Tag Junior here for $24.99 and it comes with a book. You can buy extra books here and here.

Also from Leapfrog is the Text & Learn. Tech-savvy preschoolers on your shopping list can imitate Mom and Dad (Big Sister in our house) with this durable, just-for-kids learning PDA.  Games focus on letter recognition, shape matching, and QWERTY keyboard skills, allowing preschoolers to exchange text messages with Scout, check Scout’s planner, and explore in a pretend browser mode. You can buy it  here for $21.99.

Posts like this

• LeapFrog Holiday Online Specials
• We’re Pleasantly Puzzled
• Getting Started Series Part 7 – Target Shopping 101
• Appropriate Reading Material?
• $50 Snapfish Giftcard Giveaway for Father’s Day – CLOSED

This kitchen has all the bells and whistles that would delight any kiddo — oven, microwave, refrigerator, sink with faucet and accessory set. It comes with frying and boiling sound effects and cabinet and drawer space. I think I might be spending some of my toddler’s Christmas gift money on this item from which I’m sure she’ll get plenty of years of play.

Walmart also is offering some other amazing online specials. Check them out:
Save on Amazing Online Specials at Walmart.com!

Huge Savings on Holiday Rollback Electronics at Walmart.com!

Holiday Rollbacks in Electronics, Toys and Video Games at Walmart.com!

Posts like this

• Nintendo DS Petz Nursery Game
• Great Deals on Crocs!
• We’re Pleasantly Puzzled
• Holiday Build-A-Bear Giveaway
• Fab Finds Friday