GREAT toy sale going on right now on Totsy...get your holiday shopping done early!

GREAT toy sale going on right now on Totsy...get your holiday shopping done early! I love this butterfly puzzle from Imagiplay, helps kids learn their A,B,C's! When complete, she stands up to brighten any room. Hand-crafted from plantation-grown rubberwood, an environmentally-friendly hardwood. Recommended for ages 3+. Reg $37, on sale for $18.50. Lots and lots of great (and green!) toy options. Happy shopping!  http://totsy.com/join/annajulietbrown

Cloud B aromatherapy pillows on sale today for 45% off

Great holiday gift for toddlers...Finley loves hers.  Cloud B aromatherapy pillows on sale today for 45% off.  They are like a smaller version of a pillow pet in that they fold up into a sweet plush friend, but are the pediatrician recommended pillow size AND have a soothing lavender aromatherapy pouch inside to help soothe them to sleep, as well as a soft bamboo pillowcase.  $13.75, reg $25.  Comes in puppy, polar bear, turtle, ladybug & sea turtle.  https://www.ecobabybuys.com/

Toddler Clock Roundup

Came across this article on toddler clocks, some interesting options for those of you with little ones who don't like to stay in bed until a reasonable hour in the morning.  :)




My Tot Clock 

Pros: It has has customisable faces - Nine to choose from.
It also has five colours so you can set it for Bedtime, Wake time, Nap Time, Encourage (like picking up toys, potty training anything you want to time in a positive way) and finally red for time outs.  Plays lullabuys, and stories - and you can buy more of them.

Pros:      Options, options, options! Multi functional, portable.
Cons:     Runs on AC power, as well as batteries... I'm guessing it isn't dual voltage?!
Cost(s):  The clock is US$49.95 plus shipping.
               Custom face plates are $9.95each and
              Additional stories and lullabies "treasures" are $9.95 each

Click on the image to see the picture at its original size. 

It's about time Children's Clock

Uses 'colour' to let the little one know if they can wake up or not.
Pros:    Comes in pink and blue. It is inexpensive.
Cons:   It doesnt tell time. I don't think it's cute! 
Cost:    $28.99 + shipping on Overstock.com


Teach me time! Talking alarm clock and nightlight


An analog and digital clock, using colour to help tell time as well as ok to wake times.  It is a nightlight as well as letting kids know by changing colour when it is ok to wake clock. Has an interactive game. 

Pros:      Helps teaching time, grows with your child - can be set like a regular alarm clock with snooze function. 
Cons:       For ages 3+, it talks. Currently out of stock at Fat Brain Toys. AC and battery operated, again I guess it isn't dual voltage.
Cost:       $39.95 (plus shipping) from Fat Brain Toys

Ok to wake children's clock

Appears to be a different version of the one above.... it does slightly less but fares slightly higher in my liking!

Pros:      Has a nap timer, has either a bug or a flower bezel - included.
Cons:    Does not help to teach time, digital only.
Cost:     $29.95 (plus shipping) from Fat Brain Toys

KID’SLEEP

Three functions - sleepaid, night light and alarm clock.

Pros:     Is a cute night light. Comes in pink and blue.
Cons:    The clock face has no numbers or clock hands. It’s just the illuminated picture of a cute sleeping bunny.  Is just a a wake up clock, does not teach time.
Cost:    The cost is £35.00 including postage and packing. From Arft Kids
For customers in USA there is an extra cost of £6 to cover postage.

Also from Arf Kids...

Kidsleep Globtrotter

The Kidsleep Globtrotter is the travel version of the Kidsleep above. 

Kidsleep V Globetrotter functions

	Kidsleep	Globetrotter
Time indicator function	Yes	Yes
Alarm function	Yes	Yes
Battery powered	No	Yes
Mains powered	Yes	No
Changeable plaques	Yes	No
Diameter of display	12cm	9cm
Nightlight function	Yes	No
Price	£35	£25

Finally (because I am rapidly losing interest)...

The Good Nite Lite

It's a 6inch light that glows bright and sunny when it's ok to wake, and blue at night time.  The night light function dims after 1 hour.

Pros: Ships from the USA

Cons: It is just a light, doesn't grow with the child or help child to learn to tell time.

Cost: $34.99 plus $8.99 Shipping

Well... I think I like the first one! What do you think?

(From http://weeklyolive.blogspot.com/2010/06/toddler-clocks.html)

Cool rocker duds for little dudes, 50% off today.

Way cool duds for your little rocker on sale today for 50% off from Wild Mango.  Aviator hoodie $21.99, reg $44, sizes 6mos-10.  Lots of great shirts, hoodies, & cargo pants to pick from.  I don't often see boys' clothes that I think are different and cool, but these are edgy and fun.  

Fun coats for girls, 50% off!

Fun coats for girls, 50% off!  Pink plaid coat, $25.99, reg $52, sizes 3T-10, from Wild Mango.  http://www.zulily.com/referafriend/?42119 (link takes you to login if you are already a member).

Parenting.com's 25 top iPhone apps for kids

Downloaded some goodies!

http://www.parenting.com/gear-gallery/Gear/25-iPhone-Apps-for-Kids/

"Where the Wild Things Are" gifts, 50% off

Is your little one crazy for "Where the Wild Things Are?"  If so, snatch up these great puzzles from Mudpuppy...several versions (blocks, floor puzzle, etc), and all at least 50% off.  Block puzzle shown only $7, reg $14.  http://tinyurl.com/2uczzpr (link takes you to login if you are already a member)

25% off your entire purchase at Baby Gap & Gap Kids

Here is a coupon (print it out) for 25% off your entire purchase at any Baby Gap & Gap Kids store through 10/24.  Happy shopping!  

Wall decals on sale today

$20 for $40 worth of removable wall decals from Lot 26...lots of great options...owls, dots, trees, butterflies, flowers & more, for everything from nurseries to dorm rooms.  Immediate redecorating gratification!  http://www.zulily.com/referafriend/?42119 (link takes you to login if you are already a member).  

75% off Halloween decorations

Up to 75% off Halloween decorations, like these cute melamine plates, set of four for only $4 (reg $16).  No excuse not to make your house spooky this year!  http://www.wisteria.com/Halloween/products/1415/0/1

Sara's Prints PJs on sale

I'm told by a friend who's "in the know" that PJs from Sara's Prints are the bomb, and that they almost never ever go on sale. Well, today they are, so I think I'll have to dive in and grab a pair. Darling designs for toddlers, girls & boys from $17.99-$21.99, reg $28-$38. http://www.zulily.com/index.php/referafriend/?ref=71638 (Link takes you to login if you are already a member)

It’s Halloween! Pumpkin Patches in the Bay Area

Clayton Farm

Halloween is so much fun, we all wish it lasted longer than a day. One way to extend the spirit of the season (and build up anticipation to the 31st) is to dress up in costume and visit a pumpkin patch. Pumpkin patches are magical because they combine all the smells, tastes, sounds, and sites of the season in one place the entire family can enjoy. Here’s a selection of pumpkin patches from across the Bay Area, where you’re sure to meet the future Jack-o-Lantern of your nightmares!

The Arata Pumpkin Farm in Half Moon Bay has been growing pumpkins since 1932, making it the oldest working pumpkin farm in San Mateo County. Toddlers can enjoy pony and train rides (for children 70lbs and under), while older kids can get thrills in the haunted barn before joining their siblings for a farm animal meet-‘n’-greet at the petting zoo. Before leaving with armfuls of pumpkins, find your way out of the amazing 2.5-acre straw maze! Located at 185 Verde Rd, Half Moon Bay.

G&M Farms in Livermore boasts good old-fashioned fun for the whole family – so much fun it’s been featured twice on the David Letterman show for its twisting and turning cornfield maze. In addition offering pumpkins of all sizes, G&M Farms has lots of fall goodies: fresh produce, a smaller straw bale maze ($10 for adults, $9 for children, kids 5 years and younger are free) for little ones, farm animals, and a famous cow train ($4 and only on weekends). Located at 487 East Airway, Livermore.

At Ardenwood Historic Farms in Fremont, 12 kinds of organically grown pumpkins and squash are grown on the 70 acres. There is a produce stand at entrance of park, and kids can climb the giant hay pyramid, amble through a mini-hay maze, and enjoy a tractor-pulled hay ride. Located at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. (510) 791-0340. M-F, pumpkin patch is open after 1 p.m. for the general public. Free admission! On weekends, hay ride is $3 per person, and under 2 is free. No pumpkin give-aways on weekends. Admission to pumpkin patch is free.

Also open for the season, the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch in Petaluma offers over 50 different varieties of pumpkins and squash for cooking and carving. Enjoy your lunch in a covered snack area before tackling the Amazing Corn Maze, which is 4 acres long with 10-foot-tall cornstalk walls. The maze is also open for nighttime thrills until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (closes at 6 p.m. Sun.-Th). Located at 550 Stony Point Road, Petaluma.

**For a quieter Petaluma pumpkin farm, check out Peterson’s Farm at 636 Gossage Ave., voted Petaluma’s Best Local Farm in 2006 by Petaluma Magazine

San Franciscans, head on over to Clancy’s Pumpkin Patch, open yearly since 1979 and offering pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, along with gourds, corn stalks, and Indian corn. Halloween décor is in full swing, and you can even take a hay ride in the middle of San Francisco. Located at 1620 7th  Avenue. Open daily 9am- 10pm through Halloween.

Let’s not forget Contra Costa County, where Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm in Clayton is your pumpkin, squash, and gourd wonderland. Kids will have a daylong blast in the Plumkin Playland, crawling through a tunnel of straw and hitching a ride on the trackless Pumpkin Farm Express. Located at 1060 Pine Lane, Clayton.

Got a favorite patch where you like to wait for the Great Pumpkin? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Psst….Looking for more Halloween Fun? Check out our pick for best trick or treat spots in the Bay Area.

—Renee M. Rutledge

Bay Area Kids’ Weekend Events: October 15-17

We’ve got more activities this week to gear up the little ones for that holiday made in sugar heaven—Halloween! Costumes, craziness, and candy, candy, candy! What’s not to like? The Art and Pumpkin Festival in Half Moon Bay is where the Great Pumpkin goes to feel at home. And that annual good time, theGoblin Jamboree, is back with more tricks and treats for your little monsters. Only 19 more days ‘til mini-candy bar goodness.

East Bay

Food of the Americas Harvest FestivalIf you’re trying to feed your child a vegetable this month, or anything else not pertaining to the sugar utopia on the 31st, consider taking in the Harvest Festival at the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. They’re celebrating crops first husbanded by the peoples of North, Central, and South America—crops like tomatoes, corn, and quinoa. Come by for cooking demos and activities that will get your kids excited about food actually grown in the ground. Sun., 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Berkeley, garden admission $9/adults, $2/children 5 – 12, under 5 free. Event details.

East Bay School FestivalsThe Berkwood Hedge School in Berkeley is telling stories this weekend at their 4th annual Storytelling Festival. Bring the littles to soak in some tall tales and magic. Meanwhile, Roosevelt Elementary in San Leandro is celebrating the season with a Fall Festival. Look for carnival games and booths, eats, prizes, and experiments.Berkeley: Sat., 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., Berkeley, $8/adults, $4/under 18. Event details.San Leandro: Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., San Leandro. Event details.

Peninsula

St. Paul’s 31st Annual Halloween Fun Faire and Silent AuctionHalloween fun is everywhere, but it can be hard to find a non-scary good time. Luckily, the Halloween Fun Faire at St. Paul’s (for pre-schoolers and grade school kids) has a “no scare” policy. Take a ride on a train or get a spooktacular temporary tattoo. And while your kids are skimming the pumpkin patch and decorating cookies, you can bid on items in the silent auction and maybe win a new vacation for the fam. How’s that for a treat? Fri., 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., and Sat., 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Burlingame, free. Event details.

SilverpaloozaBoogie down at Silverpalooza, a fundraiser for Silverspot Nursery School in Brisbane. Get your stretch on for the limbo contest or practice your quick stop for the cakewalk. Few events can boast being both kid-friendly and having a full-bar. Sat., 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., Brisbane, $5 suggested donation. Event details.

Marin

Venetia Valley Fall CarnivalFundraise the fun way and support Venetia Valley School’s fall carnival. Kids can cake walk or jump around in the bouncy house. Take in some live music and enter the raffle for a shot at a Wii. Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., San Rafael, free. Event details.

BiketoberfestPutting a whole new spin on Oktoberfest, Biketoberfest encourages you to break out your two-wheelers and take a turn for the holiday. The Family Fun Zone features bouncy houses, face painting, a vintage bicycle show, and an obstacle course for the littles. Don’t miss a special Breakfast with Enzo show! Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Fairfax, free. Event details.

San Francisco

Potrero Hill Festival and Fiesta on the HillCelebrate two great SF neighborhoods this weekend. In one of SF’s sunnier hoods, the Potrero Hill Festival gets going on Saturday with a bouncy house, petting zoo, and pony rides. And on Sunday, Fiesta on the Hill in Bernal Heights raises funds and awareness for community programs focused on seniors and youth. Get down to live music while strolling the pumpkin patch and taking a turn on the pony rides. Potrero: Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., San Francisco, free. Event details. Bernal: Sun., 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., San Francisco, free. Event details.

Yerba Buena Neighborhood FairWoohoo, join the fair going on at Yerba Buena Gardens, always a hotspot of activity for the littles. Games and activities are just the tip of the iceberg here—look out for tasty eats, dance performances, acrobats, and free entry to SFMOMA and the California History Museum. Also, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, as part of its “Sesame Street” celebration, is showing “Jim Henson & Friends: Inside the Sesame Street Vault.” Check out this entertaining collection of rare clips and guest appearances of Sesame Street characters on a variety of shows. This whole event reeks of fun. Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., San Francisco, free. Event details. Film: Thurs., 7:30 p.m. and Sat., 2:00 p.m., San Francisco, see website for prices. Event details.

—Nicole Cooksey-Voytenko