After Christmas Sales & Deals! Target & CanvasPeople

Tis the season (yes, still) for SAVINGS!

Up to 65% off on clearance. So stock up now on Christmas goodies and other great buys at Target.com for next year! 

Got some cool photos of the family in their UGLY CHRISTMAS sweaters? Hee, Hee. Capture it on canvas with CanvasPeople's 50% OFF deal PLUS FREE Shipping!  I'm in!

Happy Holidays From McKinney Mommas (cough, hack, cough)

Well, it's a bit late, but heartfelt nonetheless.

All of our lovely holiday plans fell through the cracks here in McKinney Mommas' land since we all caught a nasty virus of some kind just before Christmas came around. 

Because of the sickies, we had to cancel:

• Visiting the "REALLY GOOD" Santa at the North Park Mall 
• Celebration of Lights at Watters Creek in Allen
• Holiday Exhibits at the Dallas Arboretum
• Horse Drawn Carriage Rides at Watters Creek

Instead, luckily Gamma & G-Pa were in town to offer some holiday fun indoors in the shape of:

• Baking and Decorating Christmas Cookies
• Learning an old family recipe of how to bake Maple Logs
• Brunch at Bonnie Ruth's in Frisco
• Living Room Christmas Dance Parties, complete with aweful lip-syncing 
• and the love of family being together, which is of course the most important part of the holidays.

We're still sniffling and coughing, but hope to be on the mend by the time New Year's Eve rolls around.


Sending lots of love from our family to yours this holiday season!

- Shiloh at McKinney Mommas

Coupon for StarKist Tuna= $.55 OFF

Tired of turkey and stuffing?

Here's a coupon for ya for $.55 off two StarKist Tuna Creations packages!

Print it out quick, because it expires on December 31, 2013!

Dr. Fischer Baby Hygiene Product Review + $75 Value Giveaway

I recently had the opportunity through Wendy's Bloggers, to check out some baby and adult product samples from Dr. Fischer - a world leader in baby and adult health care and hygiene products.

Dr. Fischer produces baby hygiene items like, moisturizing baby soap, baby bath oil, baby wipes and eye cleansing wipes. I was excited to receive a very functional baby diaper bag/backpack along with a healthy sample of products to try out with my family.

Keep reading to find out how to win your own Dr. Fischer Prize Package - worth $75!

Dr. Fischer EYE-CARE for Baby

If you've had any experience with babies, you know that "eye junk" is just part of the game. Even if it's not a full blown "pink-eye" or other virus newborn babies wake up with goop in or around their eyes and it's so hard to figure out how to take care of it carefully.

Dr. Fischer's Eye-Care Purified Cleansing Wipes, are perfect for the job of cleansing the delicate skin of the eye area and protecting any further spread of nasty eye issues. Each wipe is individually packed, so you have a very hygienic and tidy product - plus you can slip a few into your diaper bag for cleaning on the go!

    

Dr. Fischer Kamil Blue Soapless Soap for Baby

This baby bath product was created for babies and those with sensitive skin. With natural Chamomile to calm the skin and a natural pH of (5.5) it's made for soaping up the whole family from head to toe according to the company. 

Now, my daughter has incredibly sensitive skin and breaks out in derma-rashes all throughout the year and when I tried this product in her bath she didn't seem to have any significant breakouts that day. However, I used the product and felt like it was fairly drying. My skin after a bath felt tight and dry and I needed to moisturize right away. Also, I noticed the ingredients contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate - which is a foaming agent that I have found to have issue with in the past.

 

Dr. Fischer Sensitive Baby Wipes

 
Just right for cleaning your baby's bottom or hands, or face, these Sensitive Baby Wipes are labeled hypoallergenic, alcohol, color-free and a pH balance of 5.5. Packaged in a easy, to open and close container to keep the moisture in - perfect to throw in the car glove compartment for quick clean up needs. 

My daughters have both had issue with any baby wipes that have fragrance, and even though these are labeled Sensitive Baby Wipes, they do contain fragrance, so if your child reacts to perfumes, I'd say this may not be the best choice for you.

 

Dr. Fischer EMOL Baby Bath Oil

This Baby Bath Oil is great for dry skin care and is soap-free and alcohol-free. Great for use in your baby's bath to infuse extra needed moisture into their delicate skin. Just add a few pumps into the bath water, and the oil will do it's job. 

This product also contains a pleasant fragrance, so your baby should enjoy their bath as long as they haven't experienced issues with perfumes.  The product says it's hypoallergenic and dermatologist recommended!

Dr. Fischer EYE-CARE for Adults

 An exclusive professional ophthalmic solution that's tearless, rinse-free and fragrance-free. Individually packed cleansing towelettes that are textured to cleanse the adult eye area, and are perfect for removing makeup and other ocular secretions. 

I really liked this product, there's nothing more embarrassing than getting caught with "sleep in your eyes" and these towelettes are even safe for contact lens wearers. Great for removing a day's worth of makeup, so you don't have to wake up with those hideous raccoon eyes - plus a clean eyelid is a great feeling!

 

Enter to Win

(1)  Dr. Fischer's Prize Package, valued at $75! 

Including:

• Dr. Fischer EYE-CARE for Baby
• Dr. Fischer Kamil Blue Soapless Soap for Baby
• Dr. Fischer Sensitive Baby Wipes
• Dr. Fischer EMOL Baby Bath Oil
• Dr. Fischer EYE-CARE for Adults
• A limited-edition Dr. Fischer Mommy Bag
• Dr. Fischer Genesis Skin Care samples** of: 

Sebo Right

Age Control

Sensitive Probiotic

DETAILS:
Giveaway ends on January 3, 2014 at 11:59pm. One winner per household, email address or home address. If you have won this prize on another blog you are ineligible to win again. Winners must have a U.S.-based address to receive their prize.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I participated in this event on behalf of Wendy's Bloggers for Fischer Pharmaceuticals Ltd. I received Dr. Fischer products to facilitate my review. 

Holiday Trail of Lights - Heard Museum in McKinney, TX

The holiday spirit is alive and well in McKinney, Texas.

What's better? If you live in Collin County, or are visiting the DFW area, you have one more chance to go and celebrate family, outdoors and fun at the Heard Museum's Holiday Trail of Lights. 

On December, 20th and 21st, from 6:30-9:00pm, you can experience all the Heard Museum has to offer, plus a bonus of the nature trail and dinosaurs being lit up "Christmas-Style" in wreaths and Christmas lights!

Our family ventured out, braving the cold on the first day the Holiday Trail of Lights was open and had an awesome adventure.

We enjoyed live music being played in the amphitheater, hot cocoa, gingerbread men and other treats being served for purchase and of course the dinosaurs lit up in all their holiday glory.

We brought a picnic dinner to share after our nature walk, and spread out a blanket on the benches in the amphitheater to listen to Christmas carols, while munching on a healthy dinner.  

The weather was cold, like seriously cold in the 30's, but the kids still had a blast taking a flashlight lit walk through the Heard Museum Nature Preserve and gawking at the dinosaurs with their santa hats on and wreaths around their necks.  

So, if you're looking for a very unique holiday experience with the family, pack up your jogging (or all-terrain) stroller, throw some hot soup in a thermos and get down to the Holiday Trail of Lights to experience some Christmas Cheer - McKinney Style! 

McKinney Mommas Note: 

• Due to the weather we've been experiencing, the trail was quite muddy so please wear appropriate shoes and bring your best all-terrain stroller. 
• Since it's a dark, nature walk, I'd recommend this as a holiday event for your slightly older children. Mine are 1 and 2 - so while they had fun I think older kids would get a little more out of the adventure walk.

Ready-To-Serve Holiday Treats at Whole Foods Market

It's not too late to pick up some ready-to-serve delicious holiday treats for you and your holiday guests!

Whole Foods Market has a bunch of treats and goodies that are ready for munching, so you don't have to stress out, slaving over the oven or stove all day long.

The 365 Everyday Value® Drizzled Kettle Corn was a favorite of my husband and kiddos. Just the right balance of salty and sweet and no need to get that sticky caramel mess all over your stove, making it yourself. Perfect for setting on the table as your guests arrive and need a little tasty treat.

The Whole Foods Gingerbread Cookies are also super cute in holiday cut-out shapes like Christmas trees, bells, and Santa Claus. I'm sure Santa would be more than happy to have these sitting out for him with a tall class of cold milk on Christmas Eve, no?

If you're attending any holiday parties, and need a last minute hostess gift - check out the these gifts by L.I.F.E. that give back to the community (available at Whole Foods Market)!  

 

Hostess Gifts

• #1. L.I.F.E. Holiday Stocking (pictured above - red plaid w/ rhino)

•  #2. L.I.F.E. Jacket Coffee Sleeve

•  #3. L.I.F.E. Bands - handmade by Masai women - support community development in Kenya

• #4. L.I.F.E. Wine Bags - "Save The Wino" - reusable wine gift bag

Products from L.I.F.E. Line are totally gift-worthy plus proceeds from their sales go to Comfort the Children (CTC) a non-profit agency working in Kenya to provide for women and children in need. 

So, remember to stop by your local Whole Foods Market this week to stock up on last-minute hostess gifts and tasty holiday treats to serve your friends and family as the holidays approach! 

What holiday munchies are you excited to serve this season to your guests? Share them with me in a blog comment below!

Cool Gifts For Hard-To-Shop-For Men #OneBuyForAll

Who's the person you are dreading shopping for most this holiday?

I'd bet my savings (about $25 bucks, heh.) that it's one of the males in your life.  It's so hard to find cool gifts that dads, brothers, uncles and grandfathers would love to receive, right?  In my circle, my dad is probably the hardest person to shop for, since he says he has everything he needs, and if he wants something, he'll go buy it himself.

So, in honor of my dad, I decided to get a little holiday shopping inspiration at Best Buy Gift Center and create my own holiday gift guide for men that are hard to buy for!

I do a lot of my holiday shopping online, so I was dreading actually stepping foot in a mortar and brick store, for fear I would be attacked by sales people and forced to buy something I didn't want.

Luckily, I had a very pleasant experience in the showroom at Best Buy. Just the right amount of sales person interaction, "Are you finding everything okay?" and when I said "Yes, yes I am" they left me alone to hunt for the perfect gift for my dad.

Shopping in the Best Buy showroom gave me so many more ideas than I previously had when shopping online. 

There's just something about holding a camera in your hand or flipping through a stack of DVD's that creates an excitement that online shopping just doesn't bring. So, join me in my adventure at the Best Buy Gift Center, creating the perfect holiday gift guide for my dad, which may also work for one of the men in your life!

#1. Tablets

Starting as low as $60, this is a fantastic gift option for the traveling man in your life. When laptops are too cumbersome to lug around, your favorite guy could pack along his new tablet, like the Galaxy Note in his carry-on, instead.

Note: I just saw the #GALAXYNOTE is trending on Twitter, so it must be a hot gift item this year! Click here to see what other top ranking Best Buy gifts are trending right now!

 

  

 #2. Smart Phones

When I was in California visiting my dad recently, my phone had survived it's last toddler chew session, and the sound conked out. So, good ol' dad bought me the NEW iPhone 5, even though HE still had an older model. It would be nice of me to return the favor, no?

Note: If you're ready to trade in your current smartphone, Best Buy is offering a $50 Gift Card for you when you purchase an iPhone® 5c.

#3. Small Appliances

I don't know how my father would survive, if my mother wasn't around to cook for him. Old school, but true. So, when left to his own devices, he'll make microwave bean burritos and crack open a soda can for dinner. He's also a popcorn junkie when it comes to movie time, so some of these ideas for gifts are right up his alley:

A. SodaStream

B. Crock Pot - "Just press the button and it's done, dad!"

C. Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper

Note: I had no idea how many small gadgets and appliances Best Buy carries. They have everything from curling irons, to irons and electric toothbrushes!

                                     

#4. Gamer Gifts

My dad loves his video games, and I found that Best Buy is the perfect place to find holiday gifts for the gamer in your life. Everything from game guides, XBox, PS3 Game of the Year Bundle, special mouses just for gamers, and exciting video games.                 

Note: Current gamer gifts that are trending on Twitter and available at Best Buy are: #PS4, #DISNEYINFINITY, #FIFA14 and more!

#5. Personal Grooming

Hey, I've never used one, but the men in my life always seem to have an electric razor on their wish list during the holidays, and Best Buy has an incredible selection.  Did I mention, they have some cool looking electric toothbrushes as well - which my husband swears by. 

Note: The #NORELCO seems to be trending right now on Twitter as a popular electric razor, so I'd go in that direction if I were looking for an electric razor for dad.

#6. Stocking Stuffers

Yes, Virginia! They DO have a bunch of great stocking stuffers at Best Buy. I really had no idea that they were so stocked with candy and other little do-dads that are perfect for the stocking!

These are some of my picks for my dad's stocking:  

• Candy - he's got a serious sweet tooth for a grown up!
• Guitar Strings - still has that 40 year old acoustic guitar.
• Batteries - who ever has enough of these?
• Ear Buds - great for stashing a pair in your carry-on bag
• USB Chargers for the Car
  

 

#7. Gift Cards

And if all else fails....there's always a gift card that's sure to be a welcomed present from any man in your life.  iTunes or a Best Buy Gift Card are great picks, if all that inspiration from being the the showroom was just too overwhelming or you simply cannot nail down a decision. 

Hey, don't forget that between now and December 24th, 2013 for every $25 or more Best Buy gift card you purchase online or in store - gives you a chance to win one of the $50, $100, $500 or even $10,000 daily prizes!

To register to win, just visit Give It To Win It, and enter your gift card number or receipt information.

 
Now, if that didn't give you some solid ideas for gifting the man in your life, I'm not quite sure how else to help you. 

Oh, wait! Here's one last ditch effort:

Best Buy will be partnering with Google on December 17, 2013 for a Google+ Last Minute Deals : Best Buy Shoppable Hangout that you can join in on to get ideas for the "stragglers" on your shopping list.

 
Have Fun Shopping at Best Buy...I sure did! 
#OneBuyForAll

Do YOU have any great ideas for cool gifts for the men in YOUR life to share with us? I'd love to hear about them in a blog comment below!

$5 From Each Purchase Donated to The Global Fund for Children

I just love any opportunity I get to make a holiday purchase PLUS give back to the community or DO GOOD in some way!

Check out this deal:  All week long, the Tea Collection is donating $5 from every order to The Global Fund for Children (www.globalfundforchildren.org)

Thanks for doing GOOD, Tea Collection!

A Few of McKinney Mommas' Favorite Wintertime Products

The cold weather is here, I know you've heard me say it before.  In fact, we've been stuck at home, iced in (yes, ice, not snow...YUCK) here in McKinney, Texas for days!

So, I figured I'd round up some of my favorite products to have at arms reach when Jack Frost starts a knockin'.

Enjoy!

eos Tangerine Medicated Anti-Bacterial Lip Balm

You said it, anti-bacterial lip balm.  With all the cooties running around during the holidays, wouldn't you like an extra barrier between you and those pesky germs?

McKinney Mommas' Notes: I totally love this stuff!  With shea butter and jojoba oil, this lip balm doesn't dry out your lips like some chapsticks can. I'm totally into the sphere it comes in, it doesn't get lost in my diaper bag or purse.

Available at: Target, Rite Aid, Drugstore.com and Evolutionofsmooth.com

A to Z of Children's Health: A Parent’s Guide from Birth to 10 Years

The winter always seems to bring an extra onslaught of germs and unexplainable illnesses. Rather than rush the kids to the doctor at the first sign of a sniffle, this book is a great guide to rule out the common cold or clue you into more serious ailments.

McKinney Mommas' Notes: Why is this book better than a good ol' web search of your kid's symptoms? Well, you never know who's advice you're taking on the web, often it's not professionals and they might just steer you in the wrong direction. This book is written by a dozen of the top pediatricians at the Hospital for Sick Children (a.k.a. SickKids), which is known widely as one of the best children’s hospitals in the world!

Available at: Robert Rose (www.robertrose.ca) or Amazon.com

BubbleBum Inflatable Car Seat

If you're planning a trip to grandma and grandpa's for the holidays, or your car is snowed in and you have to call a taxi, the BubbleBum Inflatable Car Seat is the perfect, portable booster seat for your little one's hiney. This little booster passes all US Safety Standards, and has clips to ensure the safety belt is worn low and safely across your little guy or gal's lap.

McKinney Mommas' Notes:  This booster seat can likely fit in your purse, and inflates fast enough that you won't even get light-headed! No need to lug the whole car seat or heavy booster with you through the airport, just deflate and fold this little guy up in your carry on. Plus, I use it at home as a booster seat at my dining room table when we're not on the go!

Available at: BubbleBum (bubblebum.co/us/), Target, and Amazon.com




What are some of your "Go-To" products for travel during the wintertime?

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What do you have to do to get this awesome deal from Secret Clinical Strength? Just pay $4.99 for shipping and handling!  

Click on the link below to sign yourself up for this fun package of FREE stuff!

Premium NOVICA Gift Wrap #HANDMADE4LIFE + Giveaway

It's no secret that one of my favorite places to shop for gifts online is NOVICA.

Knowing that I'm helping artisans around the world care for their families and make a living for themselves, is an awesome bonus when I'm making a purchase.

And, there really is something for everyone on your holiday shopping list, from glassware, to unique jewelry, scarves, pottery, and sculptures - plus now, your gift can arrive in style with NOVICA's new Premium Gift Wrap service.

Everyone knows that a well wrapped gift sends a special message about how much the person you are giving to is appreciated and cared for.  Honestly,I have always been a little more excited to unwrap a gift under the tree that's had thoughtful wrapping applied.


NOVICA's new Premium Gift Wrap is a gift in itself with handmade elements, carefully crafted ribbons, shiny metal accent plates and more.


So, I decided to give this special packaging a try with a gift I purchased for my mother for Christmas. She's traveling here to Texas for the holidays, so I will get to see the Premium Gift Wrap myself and see her eyes sparkle when she gets to open it!

Plus, for my jewelry gift, the Premium Wrapping Box was only $3.95! Not too shabby, right!

Just choose, the option of Premium Gift Wrapping (shown above) on your checkout page, and you'll be certain your gift will arrive looking sparkling and ready to impress even the most hard to please giftee on your list. 

Happy Holidays, and Happy Shopping! 

Oh, did I forget to mention that YOU can win a $40 gift card to NOVICA to check out the Premium Wrapping for yourself?

Enter To Win 

(1) Winner will receive a $40 Gift Code to use at NOVICA.com

• Open to US Residents/ 18+
• Giveaway ends: December 20, 2013 at 11:59pm
• Leave a blog comment & complete easy Rafflecopter entry form below for your chance to win

a Rafflecopter giveaway

6 Common Surprises During a Move With Your Family

Are you planning a move in the near future?  Check out this article, written exclusively for McKinney Mommas by guest writer, Alyssa Howard at Moveboxer.com to prepare yourself for some common surprises you may encounter during your next move!

John Lennon wasn’t talking about relocation when he said, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” But considering how unpredictable a move can be, this oft-quoted sage wisdom easily applies to the exhausting process of moving. Although you won’t be able to anticipate every unexpected thing that comes up along the way, it’s good to get a lay of the land and understand possibilities. To help you get on board, here are six of the most common surprises you may encounter during a move with your family.

• Broken items

Unfortunately, moving vans aren’t the most surprising place that your belongings could break. While on the truck, family heirlooms could get jostled and maybe even broken. This is why it’s important to take the very important items with you and also purchase movers insurance, which will allow you to file a claim with the company in the case of a lost or damaged item.
 

• Additional fees

A lot of times, moving companies will try to hit you with extra charges at the end of a move. Unfortunately, this isn’t an uncommon surprise. To plan for this, ask up front if there will be extra charges and make sure you’re working with a reputable company. These will cut down your odds of having to deal with an unexpected hit to your wallet.

• Questions from the kids

Depending on the ages of your children, you will most likely deal with meltdowns and/or confusion about what exactly is going on. If these do come up, try to be as patient and positive as possible to help ease them through the transition.
 

• Spending more than

One age-old constant about moving seems to be that you’ll spend more than you were hoping to drop for relocation. But if you make a realistic budget from the get-go, you’ll be more likely to have fewer financial surprises along the way.

• House cleaning costs

If you’re leaving a rental, there are usually certain amounts of cleaning costs that you have to cover. But even if you owned the house you’re leaving, it’s courteous to give it a little cleanup before you leave for good.

• First meals

During your first meals in the new house, you’re likely not going to be able to cook for yourself – maybe the cooking utensils will be in some unknown location in the sea of boxes in your living room. So, for budgeting purposes, it’s probably a good idea to plan that your family will have at least a few other meals out.

Alyssa Howard is a writer for Moveboxer.com. Moveboxer makes moving easier. Moveboxer matches people up with reputable movers, provides a utility cancellation tool, helps people change their address, and connects people with mortgage, storage, boxes, supplies, and car transport.

My #26Acts Are Complete in Honor of Sandy Hook's Olivia Engel

Well, we're nearing on the anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy, and last year I pledged to do #26acts of kindness in honor of the young lives that were lost on that day - specifically in honor of Olivia Engel.  

Photo courtesy of: thedailybeast.com

It's not a lot, but here is the list of the #26acts I actually documented.

#1. Donated a bunch of clothing to charity.

#2. Bought a Christmas blanket for a cashier at the grocery store who needed some comfort.

#3. Surprised our mail carrier with some hot chocolate.

#4. Secretly added money to a piggy bank for a lucky shopper to find. 

#5. Gave a year's worth of water to a family in need through WaterAid.

#6-26. Donated hundreds of school supplies for 61 homeless children through #BagItForward.

There were other little good deeds sprinkled throughout the year here and there, but these are the ones I documented.

I'm proud of my family, that we actually carried through on this #26acts challenge to remember to do good and spread kindness to others in our community this year. I hope this post and others like it will inspire your family to do the same this year and every year after.

Happy Holidays! 

Did your family carry out any acts of kindness this year? I'd love to hear about them below!

Supportive Orthaheel Shoes For Slipped Disc - #VionicShoes

When I got the diagnosis of Spondylolisthesis (slipped disc) and Pars Fracture of my spine, I assumed that the only shoes that would give me the support I needed would be "ugly shoes." 

I'm not afraid to admit when I'm wrong....and....I was wrong!

(Please feel free to RE-PIN this image to your Pinterest Board with #VionicShoes) 

I could win a Shopping Spree for the most pins!

Photo Ornaments for Grandparents - 35% OFF - Dec 3rd

 
Whose grandparents wouldn't love to receive a personalized photo ornament like this, of the grandkids.

Heck, it would be great to order one each year for your own tree, to see the growth and changes of your own kids, right?

I have a secret to share.......Tiny Prints, will be offering 35% all Personalized Photo Ornaments tomorrow only with this exclusive coupon code:

STEAL1203

So, what are you waiting for?  Head to Tiny Prints and get those cuties framed for the tree today!  Click here to find your perfect photo ornament at Tiny Prints and be sure to use coupon code: STEAL1203 upon checkout to get 35% off your order!

PROMO DETAILS: Offer expires 12/3/13 at 11:59 pm (PT). Save 35% off all photo ornaments using the code STEAL1203 at checkout. There is no minimum purchase required for this promotion. This offer is not applicable to previously placed orders. Offer is only valid on Tiny Prints and is not applicable on treat.com, third party or partner websites. To prevent abuse, we reserve the right to discontinue or modify this offer at any time without notice. We reserve the right to cancel any order at any time.