Finally!  This week’s free fun idea is inspired by BabyBargain’s new obsession with car washes.  (Perhaps the toll winter has taken on our car is having deeper psychological issues than I’d first thought?)  Anywho, we’ve amassed quite a collection of little cars that could desperately use a little TLC.  Nothin’ like killing two birds with one stone, especially when one of those birds is cleaning.  Mama made an easy-peasy 3-step process for baby, with a bowl of dishsoapy-water, a clean bowl of water, and a (super-absorbant) towel.  We used a big spoon to transfer our cars from one step to the next (and our fine motor and sequencing skills!)  Ultimately every car got washed, but along the way we pretended that the cars were fish, that we were making car soup, that we were eating car soup (NOT recommended!), and generally had a lot of free fun!

Loyal TotBargainers will know that this isn’t Jacques’ first appearance on our blog.  His debut post featured this handsome little peacock for 33% off- a dandy of a deal at the time, because these Lamaze carrier toys rarely go on sale.  But my French feathered friend has found a way to dazzle us again with an even more handsome deal…50% off!  Just $7.49 from an original $15 at Amazon, so it’s also eligible for free shipping on orders over $25.  This is a great gift to stock up for baby showers- Jacques est toujours une bonne idée!  PS- I bought a Jacques when he was 33% off, and was so happy with him- he’s pretty big (check out the other Amazon pics!) and seems well made!

Okay, I totally owe you guys a Free Fun Friday, I know.  I should have taken a picture when we were actually doing the activity, but of course I didn’t think of it until after we had already made a great big mess.  And then I thought, oh I’ll just restage it later for a picture.  And now it’s Saturday.  Soo…tomorrow I’ll hit you with a double post, deal?  Today I bring you a lovely little chenille & satin pillow personalized with any name and date you choose- for 50% off!  And the original price was pretty reasonable to begin with.  This would make a sweet little gift for a new baby- or your own toddler, because I had no idea what type of pillow to use when it became “okay” to let BabyBargain sleep with a pillow.  I do like this one, and it’s only $9.98!

UPDATE: If my link doesn’t take you right to the pillow, just type “satin name pillow” into their searchbar!  Technical difficulties today!

I’m sure you’re all familiar with my Vera diaper bag affinity and I think I’ve restrained myself pretty well…so far.  Their sale
page is absolutely addictive.  I’ve been thinking outside the box with diaper bags since BabyBargain left the infant stage and am currently enjoying a fabulous bright pink patent leather purse that is about the size of a house.  I love it.  While you’re in the infant stage though, you definitely need a real diaper bag.  And it doesn’t get any more real than this Vera Bradley beauty because it’s machine washable.  I use every inch of my being protecting baby from the germs on those fold-down changing tables :shudder: -sometimes the bag isn’t going to make it.  No matter, take that puppy home and throw it in the wash!  The Mediterranean White color is on sale for just $58 from $97- 40% off!  I’m also really holding myself back from another crazy deal on this Vivian bag- just $35 from $90 and it is adorable.  PapaBargain, look the other way!!

I don’t care how big your kitchen is, there is never enough room for a highchair.  I almost lost a pinky toe to ours.  True story.  Alas, they are a necessary evil, because if it wasn’t a stubbed toe, it would be a broken ankle from the wide variety of slippery foods that would end up squarely on your floor.  At least you can avoid paying full price with this amazing deal at Sears- originally $80, this super-adorable Pooh bear high chair is now only $47.99!   You can even buy it online and pick it up in-store to avoid shipping charges.  While you’re at it, check out the bargain on these super-soft changing pad covers- originally $15, now just $5.99!

I have so many fond memories of BabyBargain’s tiny Trumpette socks.  He wore his little tennis-shoe-socks 24/7 his first year and we got compliments on them all the time!  Honestly, the purpose of shoes in the first 6 months is really only entertainment for us bystanders- why not entertain in something a little more comfortable?  Amazon has a few Trumpette sets(6 pairs) on sale for 35% off!  Pick up my favorite Pixies above for $19.23, the adorable unisex “Made in Heaven” set for $19.51, a Princess set for $19.19, or a “Fore” set for your little golfer for $19.43- all originally $30!

Toddlers are just nuts about airplanes, and the idea of piloting one themselves will make any tot scream with glee!  Just be sure to get your toes out of the way first.  (Seriously, I learned this the very hard painful way.)  Spin the propeller, turn the rudder, and save nearly 40% on Land of Nod’s
Wooden Toddler Airplane Ride-on.  Originally $89 and now just $49.95!

You’ve finally managed to get yourself, your baby, and your gear ready for a big trip to the mall.  You’re inching dangerously close to naptime, but couldn’t possibly have spent all that time preparing for a trip that will never happen.  You go for it, then discover baby asleep in the backseat not nearly halfway to your destination.  What to do?  Drive around for the duration of naptime?  Park your car outside and relentlessly text your friends until baby wakes up?  Or gently pick up your carseat, seamlessly place it in your stroller, and stroll the mall together in complete quiet while baby finishes his nap?   I cried the day BabyBargain outgrew his infant carrier, and my tears washed away any hope of ever walking around the mall peacefully again.  Enjoy every moment with your travel system, especially one that you saved $150 on.  Through 3/31, when you buy one of these selected Britax Chaperone carriers (cowmooflage, red mill, savannah, or moonstone) and one of these Chaperone strollers (cowmooflage, red mill, savannah, or moonstone), you’ll save $150 on your order!  The $ off will show at checkout, make sure it does!

Melissa & Doug puzzles are gorgeous, well-made and make great gifts.  Why not buy them at 40% off?  Amazon has a great selection of baby and toddler M&D puzzles on sale, including the 48-piece rainforest puzzle- originally $15 and now just $9.06!  See them all here!

Can’t pass up a great bargain but don’t need a new toy?

Consider donating a puzzle or two to your local children’s hospital!  It’s easy to do, just change the shipping address to the donation address listed on the hospital’s website.  If you need a suggestion, email me!

It’s negative 2 outside and yet still I find myself looking for reasons to get out of the house and do something.  Indoors, of course.  And free, thank you.  So the whole Bargain family packed it up and traveled to the big city last week, where we visited three world-class museums for the low, low price of $0 and saved about $120.  How?  Plenty of family-friendly establishments like these offer free admission once a month (or week,) or in our case, for an entire week.  Many of them are sponsored by Target, and you can see their whole list of museums across the country and their free days here.  Be sure to also check out the website of the museum you’d like to visit- sometimes the regularly scheduled free days are pretty popular, and going on an “off” free day will get you in crowd-free.  It worked for us!

A big thanks to TotBargainer Amy for sharing a great deal!  The Emma pattern of the Britax Marathon Click & Safe Convertible car seat is originally $300, but being closed out at diapers.com for just $199- 33% off, with free shipping!  If pink isn’t your thing, there’s quite a few others on closeout, see the whole Britax lineup here!

Oh man, another jackpot of sales!  Back to Basics Toys has an amazing selection of quality toys in their Sale section right now, including this awesome walker from EverEarth, an environmentally friendly company that manufactures their toys with wood from renewable forests and watercolor based paints.  One expects to pay more for that kind of quality (and I’d argue it’s worth it,) but this amazing walker is originally $75, and now 50% off at just $37.49!  I’ve never seen a sale on these and this is an amazing price!  I’m thinking of stocking up a few for baby showers!