Author: Emily

So here it is, mid-December already, and can you guess how much Christmas shopping I’ve done? NONE! Well, ok, very little. I have just about everything for my kids (although if Kate could ever nail down what she’s officially asking Santa for, I’d appreciate it), but other than that, I haven’t bought a thing. I have a plan, though. I am going to go to Marshalls and/or TJ Maxx, and not come out until I’ve gotten something for everyone on my list. It will be just like the time my dad did that at Burlington Coat Factory. But better.

This new plan took shape on Monday, when I attended Red Carpet Marshalls, an event designed to show a few of us bloggers what off-price shopping is all about. The event was in LA, a place I had never been before, so I was very excited to go. (As an aside, Jenny actually got the emailed invitation a few weeks ago, and she offered to let me go instead of her. Is she nice or what?) Marshalls brought in professional stylist and TV personality Alison Deyette to give us the scoop.

Here are a few things I learned:
— Marshalls and TJ Maxx stores are filled with clothing from this season, not last year’s leftovers, and they aren’t seconds or damaged items either. They’re the same things you’ll find at department stores, just cheaper. A lot cheaper.
— The reason they can offer the same products at reduced prices is that they get such good deals from the clothing designers themselves, and they guarantee the designers that they won’t return the unsold merchandise the way department stores do. That way, everyone wins.
— Marshalls stores focus more on the family – they’ve got larger selections of children’s clothing, toys, shoes, and household items. TJ Maxx is more about the clothing!
— You can search for store locations near you on their website, but pay particular attention to those marked with an “R” – that means those stores have a “Runway” section where they sell the high-end designer items. (I am determined to find the perfect Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress, btw.) Take a look at this video I took of Alison telling us about some of the great deals on designer outfits – you won’t believe the price differences between TJ Maxx and the mall for the exact same clothes!

After we toured the store, it was time to shop! Because I am cheap, I headed straight for the clearance racks. I was really impressed with the deals I found there! I tried on a pair of Seven jeans that were marked down to like $40 (tragically, they didn’t fit!). I also saw a blazer from Theory – the original Theory tags were still attached and showed a retail price of $385… at Marshall’s it was marked down to $30. I even saw one shirt marked down to 50 cents. That’s a garage sale price! I was also impressed with their section of housewares. They have all the brands you’d find at the mall at much lower prices.

I don’t know why I’ve not been a regular TJ Maxx/Marshalls shopper – when I’ve been there before I’ve found some great stuff, but I just never think to go there. Now, though, I’m going to hit those stores before the mall! I like that they have shopping carts to put the kiddos in as well – that makes it easier than schlepping around a stroller. They really have something for everyone. I’m serious when I say that I plan to do the bulk of my holiday shopping there this year! I’ll let you know what kind of great deals I score.

A big thanks to Marshalls and Rocket XL for inviting me (or actually, Jenny) to this fun event! Here are some pictures taken by Kate of The Shopping Mama:

Welcome to the final installment of our Holiday Gift Guide! If you haven’t already, make sure to check out our big kids, little kids, and moms editions!

Today we’re bringing you ideas for the babies and prospective parents in our lives. Since my BFF is currently pregnant, this edition is of particular interest to me!

aden + anais

These muslin swaddling blankets are so soft and cozy that I want to wrap myself up in them! Made from 100% organic cotton, they are the perfect way to comfort your newborn. Jenny and I are both big advocates of swaddling – it really made a difference for us in getting our babies to sleep and to nurse. I remember the first time I swaddled Kate – she slept for five hours straight, which was her longest stretch ever, and Andy and I felt like completely new people after getting that much sleep! Anyway, I really like these blankets in particular because they are big (47×47) and square, which is essential for good swaddling (and which are also features that oddly most baby blankets lack!). Also, because they are square, they’re perfect for swaddling but also for covering the stroller, throwing over your shoulder while nursing, tummy time, or anything. I love that the blankets are not just for swaddling, which means they will be used for years and years. And did I mention how soft they are?? Right now, aden + anais is running a holiday special so it’s a great time to buy! You can get 15% off any online purchase from www.adenandanais.com using the discount code ‘celebrate’ from Dec 3-18th!

Baby Eggi

I love, love, love this clothing line. These high-quality clothes feature designs from celebrity tattoo artist Mark Mahoney. They’re comfortable, stylish, and simply adorable. Sometimes I think it’s hard to find clothes for boys that don’t have… well, just lots of stuff on them, so I love the simplicity of the Baby Eggi line. In addition to just making great clothes, the people behind Baby Eggi are committed to making a better world for children, and donate 20% of their proceeds to children’s charities. Sam has the shirt pictured above, which is adorable with a pair of jeans. Love it!

Logitech Digital Video Security System

Ever wonder what goes on at your house when you’re not there? I know there are times when I’d love to be a fly on the wall – not in a creepy way, but just to see how the kids interact with each other and their sitter while we’re away. Logitch’s Digital Video Security System makes that possible by offering a way to monitor your home from any PC! Set up is super easy – load the software, plug in the cameras and you’re ready to go. The cameras provide high-resolution color video and digital motion detection, and you can even watch them from your cell phone. How cool is that? There’s an indoor camera, which is great for watching what goes on when you’re away from home, or even what’s going on in the basement if you’re upstairs (which is very handy for me!), and an outdoor camera, which is the perfect way to keep an eye on what your kids (or pets) are doing outside.

Funkoos Organic Baby Apparel

When my babies were born, I wanted to put them in the softest, most comfortable clothes possible. I wish I had know about Funkoos! This line of organic baby clothes is as cute as it is functional – don’t you love the flowers and the button-up front on the outfit pictured above? Better yet, the clothes are 100% organic and are completely free of chemicals and pesticides, and the price is right. These clothes would make great baby shower presents!

Bambino Wireless Internet Baby Monitor

(Hi, this is Jenny, butting in!) I must say that I adore this monitor! Even though Sophie isn’t a “baby” anymore, we’ve found this very useful. She loves to play upstairs in her room or in Joshua’s room, and now I can keep any eye on her from my laptop while I’m downstairs getting housework or blog work done! This would also be great for working parents, enabling them to see baby while they’re at work simply by logging on to the internet! It’s a totally awesome new parent gift!

DadGear Diaper Bag

Dads love carrying flowery diaper bags about as much as they like holding their wives’ purse. However, as we all know, having diapers handy is a necessity for parents of small children! The DadGear diaper bag is a great way to solve the problem – dads can carry everything they need to care for the baby while still looking awesome! I had the opportunity to try out the messenger-style bag pictured above, and I was very impressed with the quality structure. This bag will take a beating and still last for years, and it’s cool enough to be used as a carry-on or laptop bag long after potty training time. I like how the wipes are readily available just by lifting the top flap – that’s a feature I’ve not seen on any other diaper bag. I’ve already given one to the hippest dad-to-be that I know!

*****
We hope you’ve enjoyed our series of holiday gift guides. Stay tuned in the coming days, as tomorrow we’ll start giving away some of the fantastic products we’ve featured!