Just when you think you’ve done all of your holiday shopping, you are unexpectedly gifted and in need of returning the gesture. The babysitter has been wonderful with the kids and your hairdresser just hooked you up. These are all people you cherish and would love to do a little something for during the holidays. Shopping for so many people can be a challenge when you’re on a strict budget and time crunch. Walmart offers inexpensive apparel items that make perfect gifts for swaps with coworkers, friends, and family. On a recent trip to Walmart, I found some great items under $10 that I thought would make great gifts in these situations.

In the juniors section, Walmart had great quality graphic tees on display for $7.50. Designs featured Angry Birds, Marilyn Monroe, Bob Marley, Hello Kitty, Wonder Woman and other favorites. I snatched up the Bob Marley because I’ve never seen Walmart carry Bob Marley merchandise. The shirt is so well made, you would never know that it was only $7.50. The cotton is thick, the print is heavy, and the shape of the shirt is designed to fit the curves of a woman. The shirt also features one of my favorite Bob Marley songs, “Satisfy My Soul”, and not the typical “One Love” which seems to always be printed on anything Bob Marley.

Also in the juniors section, I found a selection of No Boundaries sweaters for $9.88 each. There was also a selection of LEI sweaters under $10. I decided to go with the No Boundaries as they gave off the cozy/Winter vibe I was looking for. These sweaters are available in many different colors, and can easily be paired with a pair of socks or a scarf for a few more bucks.

Speaking of socks, Walmart had bins of festive and colorful socks for $2.97. The festive holiday themed socks were $2.97 a pair, and colorful No Boundaries socks were $2.97 for 2 pair. Of course I went with the better bargain of 2 pair which happened to match the No Boundaries sweater I chose.

Whether you’re looking to add fillers under the tree or needing a quick gift for someone special, Walmart has some great apparel gifts that won’t hurt the pocketbook. In addition to my gift selections, slippers and PJs are always a great choice :-).

I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart is compensating me for sharing these gift ideas. All words and opinions are my own.

It’s almost time to pick up those presents! If you’ve placed any items in Walmart layaway, remember that the last day to pick them up is December 14th! If the order is cancelled or not paid in full, the open fee is not refunded; however, no additional cancellation fee will be charged. When you pick up your layaway, you will be refunded your $5 fee in the form of a gift card. Layaway open fees and refunds may vary by state.

One of my readers mentioned that she puts her kids gifts in layaway to keep them from finding them around the house. What’s your favorite gift hiding spot? We hide gifts in the walk-in closet in our bedroom. Jayden has no idea what’s going on, but I predict that in the next few years, he’ll start catching on!

I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart is compensating me for sharing this announcement. All words and opinions are my own.

What’s a baby’s wardrobe without layette from Gerber? Our drawers are full of the brand. We were sent a package of various items from Gerber and they’ve been coming in handy. If you follow me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, you’ve seen Jaxon in at least one Gerber item almost every day after his birth. The mittens stay in rotation since his little claws nails grow so fast.

Gerber offers inexpensive basics that are must-haves for every baby as they are constantly going through clothing between spit-ups and changes. Gerber’s newest layette boys feature shades of blue, white, and orange, stripes, and truck prints/embroidery. I think their little gowns are adorable and love the built in cuffs to cover baby’s hands.

What I didn’t know is that Gerber also offers PJ separates up to size 5T. Jayden received a few pairs of lightweight thermals which are available in monkey, dino, sports, and firetruck prints. I love that they aren’t too thick as he sweats easily at night.

The boys look great in their Gerber gear. We will never tire of their practical apparel in fun prints we’ve all grown to love.

BUY IT: Walmart.com

I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart is compensating me for sharing my review. All words and opinions are my own.

Now that I have a little family of my own, I am all about creating traditions. One of the things I love doing during the holiday season is picking out our own ornaments to add to the tree each year. With the birth of Jaxon, I thought it would be cute for him to have his very own ornament on the tree. The baby in stocking ornament from Personal Creations was an absolute perfect fit for us. I picked one up for Jaxon and for Jayden as well since he didn’t have an ornament for his first Christmas.

^ How a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e are these little guys?! ^

The baby in stocking personalized Christmas ornaments are made of resin and hand painted with Jayden and Jaxon’s names, along with their birth years. The quality is amazing and I know they’ll last a lifetime.

I highly recommend Personal Creations to help create holiday traditions this year. They have some fabulous pieces to be enjoyed for years to come!

DISCOUNT: BLOGGER25 for 25% off
BUY IT: $14.99

Guidecraft is home to 850 educational toys and beautifully crafted wood furnishings, which allow children’s minds and imaginations room to truly wonder and grow. We are big fans of Guidecraft as all of their products live up to their mission and make playtime and learning fun!

We were able to get our hands on one of Guidecraft’s newest products; Magneatos Better Builders! Jayden absolutely loves building so these were right up his alley. Magneatos are magnet embedded rods and balls that help children discover principles of science, construction, and engineering while developing their creativity skills. Magneatos sets include an activity guide which explores magnet science and provides sample building models for all ages. Jayden loves flipping through the pages and recreating the examples. He gets so excited at his finished products. He’s always showing us his latest creations.

Magneatos are one toy that I don’t mind being all over the floor because cleanup is a breeze. I think I was most excited about this 0:-). Most of the rods and balls magnetize when gathering them all together, which make them easy to put back into the included storage bin. Guidecraft has done it again with another fantastic product. We are thrilled with Magneatos and foresee many more hours spent in our household creating with them!

Oppeheim Platinum Best Toy Award Winner
BUY IT: $159.95

I don’t have a problem when I say that I habitually shop. Really. I do love to shop, but only when the budget allows. And when the budget allows, I try to buy.all.the.things. for as low as possible, but without sacrificing quality. Enter Nomorerack.com.

Nomorerack offers deals on a broad selection of products span across multiple categories including; home, electronics, women, men and kids. Deals break every day at noon with about 700 products live on the site at any given time. Nomorerack has a great selection for the back-to-school crowd, from backpacks to software.

Nomorerack reminds me of one of my favorite stores that closed a few years ago. So imagine my excitement having a similar place to shop and I don’t even have to leave the house. When browsing, I found Seven For All Man Kind Jeans for $42! I almost bought them. Yes I did. I only withheld because I am pregnant and I won’t be able to get a true fit until after I have the baby.

But I did purchase a few things that I am happy with; 2 nautical hoodies, 1 pair of jeggings (very comfortable on the belly), and a tribal handbag. I got all of this for $50! Not a cent more. So how does a store offer prices so low? Nomorerack cuts out the middlemen to offer the lowest possible prices for their customers. Shipping is a flat $2 per item in the U.S. (can get tricky if you order a lot at once). Nomorerack offers a 30 day return policy and get this… customer service is available 24/7.

Nomorerack just gained another customer… just in time for the Holidays :-).

I like to listen to music while working. It motivates me and keeps me from getting restless. I don’t, however, listen to music as much as I’d like. I usually stream Pandora or iTunes from my laptop and plug in a clunky old speaker set that I purchased about 6 years ago (that actually looks like it belongs in the 90′s). The plug prongs are so thin that they don’t fit securely in the outlet, so I have to wiggle the plug and make sure I don’t bump it. Annoying!

Since I stream music from my laptop, doing so often gets in the way of the work I’m doing, and slows processes down. I’d rather just use another device for music. Oh yea, I can, but it still involves plugging up to those clunky speakers that can’t stay in the outlet. I’ve been in the market for a speaker system with Bluetooth capabilities and a few other bells and whistles. I had actually planned to treat myself for the holiday, but I had a little gem come my way. The Soundfreaq Sound Step Recharge. Score!

The Sound Step Recharge does some of everything. It uses Bluetooth to stream audio from any A2DP compatible device (iPhone, iPad, Android & more). It also has a dock to play music from (and charge) iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. The Sound Step Recharge also turns into a radio tuner which is controlled through the SoundFreaq Remote app for iOs and Android.

While I don’t use the dock much, I am partial to streaming through Bluetooth as it allows for more flexibility. I love streaming audio from my Galaxy S3 to the snazzy little speaker system. The audio quality is great on my phone, but of course the Sound Step Recharge gives it some serious umph using it’s UQ3 spatial sound enhancement. Nothing beats authentic, crisp audio.

The Sound Step Recharge can be controlled through built-in control panel, included remote, docked device or Bluetooth enabled device. Sound Step Recharge also includes an AC adapter and built-in rechargeable battery that lasts up to 8 hours unplugged and features a USB power port for universal charging of any USB compatible devices. Oh, and it has a built-in Aux input enabling it to be used with any audio source with a headphone jack.

The Sound Step Recharge is versatile, compact, and super easy to use. All I could ask for in a speaker system. I made a little video using my Galaxy S3 to give an idea of how great the audio quality is. Check it out below :-).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLS7qixayQc

BUY IT: $149.00 – Enter discount code “momblog” to receive a 10% discount on the Sound Step Recharge and all other products at the Soundfreaq e-store.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Soundfreaq and received a product sample to facilitate my review.

This review was also featured at She {hearts} It.

Today, I want to share with you a fabulous pair of earrings that I received from a company called Walleska Ecochicc. Walleska Ecochicc specializes in apparel, handbags, and accessories handmade from recycled aluminum pop top pull tabs! Their inventory just blows me away and their mission is incredible.

ECOCHICC stands for Ecologically Conscious Organization Celebrating Honoring Inspiring Creative Communities – products are produced from natural sustainable resources and recycled materials by artisans worldwide. Walleska Ecochicc is committed to giving back to all of their partnering communities by creating revenue and jobs through the practice of fair trade principles.

Walleska Ecochicc sent me a pair of their Crochet Earrings With Beads in mustard and I just LOVE them! They are BEAU-TI-FUL! How many ladies can say that they own a pair of earrings made from aluminium pop top pulls? The pearl-like beads are the perfect touch. They turn an industrial looking style into a very feminine piece. It doesn’t get any more creative than that! The Crochet Earrings With Beads are priced just right and are the perfect gift for eco-consicous ladies or general accessory lovers. Go grab a pair and turn heads while supporting a great cause!

BUY IT: $37.50

I adore big bags in vibrant, colorful fabrics. The Gigi Hill Helen Tote is all of that and more. In fact it is COLOSSAL, much larger than I thought it would be and would probably make a great diaper bag for TWINS. I recently had a maternity photoshoot and Helen tagged along with. She housed extra outfits for Jayden, Greg, and I as well as my DSLR, wallet, keys, and makeup with room to spare.

On the outside, Helen features pockets on the left and right, perfect for beverages or baby bottles. There is also a large zippered pocket on the front of the bag, perfect for easy-to-grab items such as a smartphone and small wallet. Inside, Helen features two more pockets secured with velcro on the left and right for small items, a small zippered pouch toward the back, and three clear pouches in the front for items needing to be in plain sight.

The Helen tote is great for any season and perfect for the beach, mall, or weekend getaway. The tote is very well-made, comfortable, and very durable. I think Helen and I will become good friends :-).

Measurements

Base: 14-1/2”W x 12”H x 8-1/2″D
Body: 23″W x 12″H x 8-1/2″D
Strap Drop: 10″

Gigi Hill is a flourishing direct sales company providing income opportunities and financial independence to women around the world. Just by looking at their product line, I imagine that the products probably sell themselves. I mean who can say “no” to treating themselves to beautiful new handbags and accessories? If you are interested in joining the Gigi Hill team as a Stylist, you can get started by visiting GigiHill.com.

BUY IT: $92.00

♫ Guess who’s back? Back again. Furby‘s back. Tell a friend. ♫

Yes, that’s right, our favorite fuzzy, robotic pal has returned in time for the holidays in 10 vibrant colors! I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited :-D. I had a pink Furby at the age of 13, and I’d love to pick on up for Jayden myself just for nostalgia’s sake! What I loved so much about Furby was that it was very much so like a pet. It was very realistic and adorable in a new, creative way. From what I have seen watching interactive videos, the new Furby is better than ever and will again be a hit in so many homes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAZ8QG8uz9I

Furby Features

You will be wowed when you meet Furby – the adorable new plush friend who learns, responds and changes personality the more you play.

- Tickle, feed, talk to and play music for your Furby

- Hug, pet and play nice and Furby may become a total sweetheart

- Shake, flip or pull Furby’s tail and you may have a little imp on your hands

- Animated LED eyes and silly, sassy, snarky, sweet voice responses let you know how Furby feels

- Furby speaks Furbish – and picks up English as you play

- Put Furby next to another Furby and watch them joke, flirt, dance and sing together.

Will you be picking up one of these little guys for the holidays?

I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart is compensating me for sharing this announcement. All words and opinions are my own.

BUY IT: $54.00