Savvy Sassy Moms

Creative Toys for Creative Kids

by savvysassymoms on August 25, 2010

“Quiet Creativity”
Two of my favorite words and they go so well together!

Before we go back to school, I would like to acknowledge some toys that kept my kids creative and quiet this summer. These were the go-to toys for “independent play”, a.k.a sibling seperation or mommy needs a time out. I am actually thinking about ordering all these just to have on hand for birthday parties this year.

Bristle Block Stackadoos

Enter the magical world of B You Toys “Just B. Just you. B. you.” – I’m addicted to their inspiring website! The color pallette is refreshing and the packaging is eco-conscience. My daughter made so many cities, castles and houses out of these – my favorite city she built so far ”China Town.”

Ages 2 and up, $14.99, You want it? Target has it

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Harumika “Style your Imagination”

I even love to play with this one! Create your own fashion designs using a variety of fabrics and accessories. Even the littlest fashionista can dream of being a fashion designer, boutique owner or stylist. The Fashion doesn’t stop there - Harumika Fashion has an interactive website to create even more fashion designs. You can set up your own boutique! My daughter’s store is named “Savvy Girl” (naturally)

Ages 6- 14 (4 & 5 yr olds too), $10.99, You want it? Toy R’ Us has it!

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Imaginarium Marble Run

My son LOVES his “marble thingy” he builds and contructs different runs and this independent play will last more than just 5 minutes! It’s easy to assemble one big track or a few smaller tracks and our family is a bit cometitive so we like to have marble races!

Ages 3- 7, $19.99, You want it? ToyR’ Us has it!

Orbeez

Orbeez are a bit strange yet magical – ity bity balls, and they will bounce everywhere if not contained properly. In direct sunlight they will dehydrate and return to their original size but you can just add more water to grow them again. They confuse me and they’re addicting to run your fingers through. Either your gonna love ’em or hate ‘em!

Ages 4 and up, $29.99, You Want it? Amazon has it
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When we got desperate we hit the The Apple Store – they have iPad’s to play on!

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Magnificent Moments of Mom

by savvysassymoms on August 23, 2010

Moms all have their crazy, stressed, happy, lazy, brilliant, silly, funny, resourceful, wacky, savvy, sassy, crabby, strong, helpful, emotional, and frustrating moments, just to name a few. We are extremely hard on ourselves and no matter how much we manage to accomplish in a day it never seems to be enough.

But let’s think positive here, we all have our “Magnificent Mom Moments” too. You know, those moments when you really shine and you look around hoping someone is watching to see what an amazing job you’re doing.

Here are my 3 Moments when I feel like a Magnificent Mom!

1. Traveling - Traveling with kids sounds like a nightmare to most and it’s a pretty intense operation, one that requires a very savvy and resourceful mom. I’m not saying I’ve perfected it, but making last minute reservations and packing up the kids comes easier to me than making dinner. I would much rather navigate an unfamiliar city and explore new places with the kids than navigate my way through a crowded theme park.

2. Parent Participation - Someone once gave me a note pad that reads” Stop me before I volunteer again!” This makes me giggle because it is so true, and I’m sure I am not alone. I always want to help and saying NO is so difficult because helping makes me feel so good! My children may not fully understand, but they see my involvemant and I feel this is one area where I lead by example.

3. Family Activities- I am quite savvy at sourcing fun things things to do on the weekends which I refer to as “Fellman Family Fun”. I like to find unique places to go and new activities for the kids to try. We don’t sit still for very long, I always want to know what is happening locally, what kid friendly events are within driving distance and what can we do? Lucky for us we live in Los Angeles so there is always plenty to do that we hardly do the same thing twice.

When do YOU feel like a Magnificant Mom?

“Fill the Backpack”
Over $300 value Backpack Giveaway!

How to Enter
1. Leave a Comment telling me about a “Magnificent Mom Moment”

Extra Entry
2. Like Ziploc on Facebook - they think you are magnificent!
3. Re-tweet this Giveaway on Twitter

(leave comment telling me you did so)

*This post was inspired by Ziploc, check out their ideas and recipes for quick and easy ways to get more out of the things you do for your family every day. They want to hear from YOU so visit them on Facebook and share your own magnificent moments with them.

What’s in the backpack?

FoxEntertainment is including both Diary of a Wimpy Kid & Marmaduke DVDs in our backpacks.
Popchipsdonated a variety pack of popchips & variety of coupons to each backpack.
Every backpack will include BitDefender, security software for your PC.
Orange Circle Studio is sending winners a “Do it all” planner & a family calendar.
The backpack will include a variety of notebooks, folders, and binders from Carolina Pad.
Rose Art is sending you back to school with glitter markers, dry erase board, and fun Color Blanks.
Every backpack will include a ClassWish.org $25 Credit! Perfect for helping your community’s schools!
DreamSakes is giving winners 20 free artwork scans! These are a great way to save or share your child’s masterpieces!
Sun and Earth is sending a sampler pack to each winner.
FamZoo, an online allowance management site, is including a year long membership
Simon & Schuster added a great book, “E is for Ethics,” that will have you and your kids thinking!
The backpack will contain either a LeapFrog Tag Reader with book set and US map, OR a LeapFrog
Explorer with 2 games! (Penguins of Madagascar and Toy Story 3)
Stonyfield Farms included coupons, awesome recycled plastic storage containers, & a few other surprises!
Silver Dolphin added the “Human Body” book, and “Facts to Annoy your Teacher” books. Both are for kids!
Sample tastes from Arizona Kids, Bear Naked, Cal Naturale Svelte, …

… and more to come! I’ll be adding to this list as more products are added by our sponsors

*This Contest will end September 5th at 11:59 pm
**This Contest is open to US Residents only

Disclosure: Fill the Backpack is sponsored by Ziploc and 20th Century Fox. Our sponsors have generously contributed to this campaign through products, monetary compensation and have made The Dream Classroom Contest possible, cash prizes to be awarded through ClassWish.org. Participating brands have contributed products to all 8 bloggers and within the 16 backpacks.

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Ford Flex Test Drive

by savvysassymoms on August 20, 2010

Price & Style
Those are the two things I care about when buying a car, period.

Sure I care about safety features and I look for other options like seating, DVD player, sunroof, how it drives, and navigation and I compare different models for over all value and shop around, but I wouldn’t call myslef a “car girl”. I know just know what I like and I know what I don’t like. I certainly don’t need the biggest vehicle on the raod, I don’t need a certain emblem on the hood, gas mileage doesn’t even matter to me (my husband and I both work from home). Do I look under the hood – Nope. I look at the aesthetics more than anything – I’m a visual person I can’t help it.

I look at the style in all directions, colors, dashboard and console style, leather interior color etc… a shiny wood panel that rubs me the wrong way could quite possibly be a deal breaker. For example a certain crossover SUV on the road has too much of a round backside that I described as a “bubble butt” so it was off my list. We almost didn’t buy my husbands Infiniti G37 because of the clock on the dashboard.

Which brings me to my next point, when we were shopping for my husbands car I had just as much input, if not a bit more. I buy everything for him so why would shopping for a car be any different? I am way more stylish then him and he trusts my Savvy Sassy opinion.

Price, yup then it comes down to price, darn it! What can we afford? We crunch the numbers and then “We get what we get and we don’t get upset!”

Watch my video review of the New Ford Flex!

What’s the conclusion?
I really liked it!! I had major Ford Flex withdrawls after they came and picked it up. Then I kept seeing them on the road as if they were following me! Every time I see one I think they are pretty sharp and I truly love their unique style. We better go crunch the numbers….

After visiting Ford in Detroit Michigan I had a new found respect for the Ford Motor Company read about my experience Made in America

We also packed up the kids and drove to Las Vegas for a road trip in the Ford Flex visit Have Kids Still Travel for where to stay with kids in Las Vegas.

Disclosure: I was given a Ford Flex to drive for 2 weeks that is all, nothing else was required from me. All my statements and opinions are my own.

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Back To School Messenger Bag

by savvysassymoms on August 19, 2010

Savvy Sassy Pick
Now, if I was going in the 3rd grade I would beg my Savvy Sassy Mom to buy me one of these.
I am loving these messanger bags for girls from Garnet Hill
$28.00

Just another Savvy Sassy Suggestion!

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Stylish Back to School Supplies for Mom!

by savvysassymoms on August 18, 2010

I have back to school envy! Everytime I see the isles of back-to-school supplies a part of me wishes I was going back to school or that I was a teacher preparing my classroom for the start of the new year. ( I don’t want to teach I just want to decorate) I love shiny new notebooks, bright folders and fresh binders.

As the chauffeur, facilities manager, and event coordinator of our home, I feel like I deserve some fun Savvy Sassy Mom supplies too! My office might be an old desk set up in the laundry room, a corner of the crowded dining room table, or the drawer of my very full nightstand, but it’s MY workspace and at the very least it deserves some fun colorful new supplies.

Some may believe that a notepad is just a notepad – but once you step into a Carolina Pad you won’t help but notice the stylish world of difference! Not only do they make notepads, binders, journals, planners, folders and desk accessories but they have some pretty fun laptop sleeves, totes and filing boxes too.