Dress Shopping with eShakti FX

This is a sponsored post.  This post may contains affiliate links. 

It's no secret that I like eShakti!  I love how they give you the ability to customize your clothes.  It's possible that I even suggested to my sister that she check out eShakti when she was looking for dresses for her wedding.  She did ultimately decide on a dress from eShakti for her bridesmaids, which was awesome because we were all able to chose a neckline, sleeve length, and overall length that best suited us individually.

The Chelsea Knit Dress has been on my wish list for a while.  I love the ease of a knit dress. Now, earlier I mentioned how I loved the ability to customize the clothes from eShakti, but they now have a new feature on their website that shows exactly how the customizations that you make will look!  This is called the eShakti FX.  When you see the little FX in the top right of an image that means that you can use this handy feature!  (Not quite all of the clothes have this option, but so many of them do!)

Here are some of the awesome customizations that you could make using my favorite, the Chelsea Knit Dress:

This shorter skirt could be really cute for a night out!

This length would work perfectly with some tall boots.

This is such a classic winter weather dress! 

Here's another great dress for winter weather!  (It's that time of the year here!)

This version (cap sleeves, boatneck, and floor length with heels) would be great for Christmas! It's so elegant!

And that's not even all the possibilities!  You really can make the dress perfect for you!  After all, you know what will work best for you!



I've just been having so much fun with the FX feature, I just have to show you a few more!

Both of the black dresses below start with the same base, the Cotton Knit Maxi Wrap Dress, but look how different they are!

Here's another great Christmas dress!  This one is the Floral Print Dupioni Belted Dress.  One dress, two very different looks!  (And there are so many more possibilities!)

I'm not sure when you'd need to order to have a dress from eShakti in time for Christmas, but I'm sure it's soon!  Even if you don't get a Christmas dress there are literally thousands of options for the rest of the year!

Which dress catches your eye?  

What options do you like?

Best Little Yarn Shops (Gift Guide) 2018

This post contains affiliate links.  If you click on a link and then make a purchase I will receive a small commission. 

A few years ago I put together a Best Little Yarn Shop Gift Guide, and while much of it is still accurate, I thought I'd put together an updated version for 2018!

These are some of the Best Little Yarn Shops that I've stumbled upon.  I've personally used yarns from these shops and absolutely loved them.  You can click through to my free patterns and reviews to read more about the yarns and the shops.

Be sure to check out the shops' social media, because most of these places will be having sales for Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and just general pre-Christmas shopping!

Expression Fiber Arts

Shop 

Facebook

My Review

Check the specials page for the latest deals and coupons.

Kimaries Knit Knacks
Website
Etsy
Facebook
Instagram
My pattern: Sterling Unicorn

Quaere
Etsy
My Projects: Snowman Scarf

String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn

Shop

Facebook
My Projects: In Threes Sweater, Cherry Twist Hat

The Violet Valentine

Shop 

Instagram 

Facebook

My Project: Perfectly Pink Puff Hat

Purple Lamb

Etsy 

Facebook

I have not finished any projects with the yarn that I purchased from Purple Lamb, but the yarn itself is absolutely lovely.  Carla, the shop owner, is a wonderful person and I found our correspondence delightful.  (Here's my box of goodies on Instagram.)

Is this an exhaustive list of the Best Little Yarn Shops out there? Of course not!  These are simply the best ones that I personally can recommend based upon my experiences with them. 

What about you?  What would you consider the Best Little Yarn Shop?  Whose yarn or customer service stood out to you this year?  Let me know in the comments! 

Step2 Giveaway (Ends 11/9) US

It's officially less than 2 months until Christmas - have you started shopping yet? Every year, Step2 adds a number of fresh and exciting toys to their award-winning lineup and this year's new additions do NOT disappoint! Today I'm excited to tell you about 2 of their newest toys & give you the chance to win them too: the All Around Easel and the My First Advent Calendar!

Step2 All Around Easel Details

Unleash the creative genius in your kids with the sturdy, two-sided easel for two! Together, mini Picassos can now draw and write to their heart’s content on a variety of backgrounds, including a chalkboard on one side and a magnetized dry erase board on the other, which also features a clip to hold paper in place. As any true artist will appreciate, all art supplies (not included) can be kept right within a short arm’s reach either in the spacious center tray or in the two outer storage bins that remove for easy clean-up. Art has never been more fun!

• Recommended age: 3+ years
• Encourages creativity
• Helps develop writing skills
• Assembled Dimensions: 41.5” x 22.2” x 20”
• Weight: 10.75 lbs
• Adult assembly required
• No tools required
• Art supplies not included
• Warranty: 3 years
• Made in U.S.A. of some imported parts

 The All Around Easel itself is not necessarily new to the Step2 lineup of toys, but it was just released in an exclusive color combo available only at Costco (both online and in stores). Don't you just love the shades of blue in this easel?! And, as you'd expect at Costco, the value on the All Around Easel cannot be beaten! It is priced at just $29.99 and is available both online and in store.

This weekend only (October 26-28) the All Around Easel will be on sale at Costco and at Costco.com for just $19.99! It's the perfect time to get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping!

Step2 My First Advent Calendar Details

And then there's the brand new Step2 My First Advent Calendar. This calendar is just absolutely darling and perfect to use year after year!

Counting down the days ’til Christmas with kids is always incredibly fun and exciting. But now you can take it up an even higher notch with the new Step2 My First Advent Calendar! Hide 25 cute little toys, gifts, candies, or treasures (not included) in each bin to surprise and delight your little ones. What a great way to start a family tradition that will last for years to come! Bonus: It’s also a great way to teach your child numbers, the concept of time, and even the art of patience.

The Step2 My First Advent Calendar was just released and is an Amazon exclusive. Get yours now so you'll be ready to start on December 1st!

I've teamed up with a few other great bloggers to give one lucky person a prize package containing the Costco-exclusive Step2 All Around Easel, the Step2 My First Advent Calendar, plus a $50 Costco Cash Card. Don't have a Costco membership, don't worry - you can use the cash card without a membership AND you can shop online with it! If you'd like a chance to win, just enter using the Giveaway Tools entry form below. This giveaway will end on November 9th at 11:59pm EST. It is open to the lower 48 US states. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Thrifty Nifty Mommy and the participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Images and item description are courtesy of Step2. One winner will be randomly selected using the Giveaway Tools random selector and notified via email. Once notified, the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The winner must choose 3 different products from the 10 items mentioned above. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or Google. Void where prohibited. Please contact thriftyniftymommy {at}yahoo.com with any questions about this giveaway.

ACT/SAT Prep & Amazon GC Giveaway (Ends 11/) US

This post contains affiliate links.

About the Sponsor: With the ACT just around the corner, and the SAT not far behind, you can consider Winward Academy your private tutor. Dr. Jennifer Winward has graciously offered her award winning Game Changer, SAT, and ACT study packages for this giveaway! Additionally, there will be three $25 Amazon gift card winners!

 The Game Changer is designed to give students strategies for the ACT or the SAT over the course of several months. All lessons are listed in order based on the frequency of testing, enabling students to begin with lessons that will most dramatically impact their score.

There will be three winners for this giveaway:

• 1st: Game Changer is 499.99 & $25 Amazon Gift Card 
• 2nd: ACT Crunch Time is 249.99 $25 Amazon Gift Card 
• 3rd: SAT Crunch Time is 249.99 $25 Amazon Gift Card 

To learn more about the benefits of Winward Academy or tips and tricks related to the ACT and SAT follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  For your chance to win, simply enter the Rafflecopter below. GOOD LUCK!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Philosopher's Wife is not responsible for prize fulfilment or shipment.  Void where prohibited.

$25 Amazon GC Giveaway (Ends 10/7) FOUR WINNERS

This post contains affiliate links.  This means that I will earn a small commission if you purchase something after clicking through my links.  This does not change the price of the item that you are purchasing. 

The Philosopher's Wife is happy to be partnering with several other bloggers to bring you this giveaway!


About this giveaway's sponsor: Pharmacist Dr. Henry Dunklau created Dr. Henry’s Prenatal Plus Vitamins in order to provide his patients with a high-quality supplement that contains all of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to support pregnancy and lactation. The ingredients include methylfolate, considered to be the highest quality form of folic acid. Their carefully formulated blend includes a vegetable digestive enzyme complex, making it gentle on the stomach while ensuring maximum absorption. Prenatal Plus only contains the highest quality 100% natural and organic ingredients. The formulation is non-GMO and hypoallergenic, making it a great choice for those who have allergies and sensitivities. Additionally, it is a gluten-free product and meets the requirements of a vegan or vegetarian diet. For more information, visit the Dr. Henry’s website, or you can visit Mom Blog Society to read her review.

Interested in giving Dr. Henry’s a try? Save 25% off your purchase of Dr. Henry’s Prenatal Plus Vitamins on Amazon! Use the code 25henrys at checkout.

GIVEAWAY

Dr. Henry’s is giving away four (4) $25 Amazon gift cards to some of our lucky readers! Enter below!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Philosopher's Wife is not responsible for prize fulfilment or shipment.  The Philosopher's Wife is also not responsible for contacting the winners.  Social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., are not affiliated with this giveaway.  Void where prohibited.  Must be 18+ to enter.

What Can I Do At Disney's Animal Kingdom With Little Kids and Babies?

This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commision if you purchase something after clicking through the links.  The price for you is the same whether you use my links or not. 

Animal Kingdom is a fantastic park.  If I had to rank the Walt Disney World Parks, I would put it at number two, second only to Magic Kingdom (which simply has to be first!).  This park has three amazing rides, although two of them the little ones can't do: Flights of Passage (the best Disney ride, hands down), Expedition Everest (my favorite Disney coaster), and Kilimanjaro Safaris (simply an amazing animal experience).

Can I bring my little one on rides at Disney's Animal Kingdom?

Ride options for little ones at Animal Kingdom are somewhat limited.  The following rides do not have a height restriction:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• TriceraTop Spin
• Na’vi River Journey
• Wildlife Express Train

Since it's one of my favorite Disney things, I just have to say that the Safari is an amazing experience for the whole family.  It's not a short ride either, it lasts roughly 22 minutes and you will see a large variety of animals on the journey.  It's one of my favorite Disney experiences.  (I should note that the seats aren't particular soft and that the terrain is purposefully bumpy, so just keep that in mind.)  My Instagram account has a couple pictures of the Safari, including this one of a giraffe!

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Here are some of my Amazon recommendations for Animal Kingdom: get in the Disney spirit with a fun shirt and matching socks, don't forget snacks for you and the children in a small cooler, which you can easily store in your lightweight stroller! 

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What can't my little kids and babies ride?

Here are the rides for taller riders with their height requirements:

• Kali River Rapids -- 38 inches
• DINOSAUR -- 40 inches
• Expedition Everest -- 44 inches
• Primeval Whirl -- 48 inches
• Avatar Flight of Passage -- 44 inches

Are the shows appropriate for all ages?

Yes!  My little ones both were mesmerized by Lion King and Nemo in particular.  These, like Beauty and the Beast at Hollywood Studios, really are in a class above the others.

• It's Tough to be a Bug! (Does have some some slightly scary effects -- darkness, loud noises, and fake spiders)
• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo - The Musical
• Up! A Great Bird Adventure

What characters should we see while at Animal Kingdom?

There are a couple of characters that can be seen in the "traditional" meet and greet format exclusively at Animal Kingdom.  These currently include: Dug and Russel, Timon, Pocahontas, Scrooge McDuck, and Launchpad.  Below Alexander and I were having fun with Chip and Dale during Donald's Dino-Bash!

What else is there for little kids to do at Animal Kingdom?

• The Boneyard (playground with climbing nets and slides)
• Rafiki’s Planet Watch (closing October 2018)
• Wilderness Explorers
• Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
• Rivers of Light (night show)
• Animal stations

Keep in mind that things at Walt Disney World are constantly changing.  Something that might be there today might not be there tomorrow.  Something that is there today might not have been there yesterday.  If you notice something on this page that needs updating please leave me a comment.  This post was updated September 2018.

Be sure to check out the rest of the posts in this series!

What can I do at Magic Kingdom with Little Kids and Babies?

What can I do at Hollywood Studios with Little Kids and Babies?
What can I do at EPCOT with Little Kids and Babies?
and
Disney with Two Little Kids and One Adult

7 (plus 1) of Our (Current) Favorite Family Games

This post contains affiliate links.

We enjoy board games in our house.  A lot.  I'm not sure how many we own at this point.  There are games in the cabinet in the library, in the trunks in the living room, in the closets, and probably more that I'm forgetting about!  Family game night . . . or afternoon . . . or morning . . . is a common activity.  Both Catherine, age 8, and Dominic, age 4, enjoy all eight of these games with us.  (I should note, that while our youngest player is a mere four years old he has somewhat shockingly advanced game skills.)  Sometimes we adjust, or bend, the rules for the kids, but not always! 


1. Ticket to Ride

I'm a huge Ticket to Ride fan.  It might be a little silly, but I own the majority of the series.  The concept is simple enough for young players.  Some of the versions are a little more challenging and there's enough strategy to fully engage everyone. 

2. Ticket to Ride App

Yes, I know this is a rehash of #1; however, Dominic and I play the Ticket to Ride app almost daily so it seemed like it deserved a place of its own.  When it's just the two of us it's nice to not have to set the game board up, plus I find it easier to play while nursing, cuddling, holding, and playing with the baby.  The app is also a great way to play with far away family members.  My Dad, who lives several states away, is able to play with us!

3. Blokus

We lucked into this game at a thrift store.  The concept is simple.  It's easy to learn but (somewhat) difficult to win.

4. Spot It

My husband spotted this one at a community yard sale.  It's so much fun!  It's a quick paced game.  Do you only have three minutes?  This is the game for you!  When the kids were first learning how to play I would challenge myself by having to (silently) find their match before finding my own.

5. Splendor

In our family we've had the youngest player (while three years old) be the "gatherer" for one of the parents.  This has worked out really well for us.  Now that he's four he plays independently.  We tried giving him a handicap (extra resources at the start of the game) but then he won handedly, so that had to stop!

6. Karuba

There are a few ways to make this "addictive tile laying game" a family game for everyone.  We've played this successfully as a family for over a year now.  At first, we had the youngest player simply line up his tiles in numerical order (since every player has his own board this won't affect anyone else's game play!) 

8. Settlers of Catan

Ok, I know, it has officially been rebranded to just "Catan".  But . . . they're wrong.  If you absolutely must shorten it, then it should be "Settlers".  C'mon.  All that aside, this is simply a great family game.  We've had some shockingly tight four player games.

There's one more game that I'd like to add as a +1. It's not quite the same caliber as the above games, but we've had lots of great family fun with it!

8. Pictopia: Disney Edition

This was yet another yard sale find!  The questions are pretty easy, I would say too easy, but maybe that's just me.  (As you might have noticed, I am a bit of a Disney fan girl, as it pops up every so often her on the blog.)  The kids love being able to answer trivia questions, and it never gets too frustrating for them since so many questions are answered as a team.

What are games are your (current) family favorites?  Do you adjust the rules to make it easier for younger kids to join the fun? 

$50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway & Tub O' Towels (Ends 8/14) US

This post contains affiliate links. 

A little about our sponsor: Founded in 1915, Federal Process Corporation began with just one product - Gasoila (pronounced Gas-oil-ah) Hard Set Sealant. In 1994, a product was created for the industrial business to remove sealant, now known as Tub O' Towels. However, once it was discovered that this strong wipe had thousands of uses outside of the industrial space, it was introduced to the retail market in 2011. Now, seven years later, Tub O' Towels Heavy Duty Cleaning Wipes is a staple in auto body shops and garages across the US. Tub O' Towels is not just for greasy outdoor projects. Tub O' Towels is also great for cleaning the daily messes that all of us deal with. These heavy-duty wipes can be used on strollers, car seats, car interiors, carpets, floors, walls, and so much more! Made in the USA, these 100% solution-soaked cleaning wipes lift and dissolve dirt so it can easily be wiped away. Its quilted design offers cushioning and surface texture (non-abrasive), which provides more scrubbing power for the effort, while staying gentle on your hands and surfaces. Tub O' Towels Heavy Duty cleaning wipes come in a 40-count or 90-count tub and single usage packs for on-the-go messes, perfect to tuck into your diaper bag and glove compartment). Tub O' Towels are available at Amazon, Walmart (in the auto aisle), The Home Depot, Lowe's, hardware stores like Ace and True Value, and automotive stores (O'Reilly's, Advance Auto, Auto Zone).

 Today over at Thrifty Nifty Mommy, Janessa is sharing a recipe for King Tut's Treasure Slime plus talking about how Tub O' Towels solves the huge mess that making and playing with slime can create!  I've teamed up with Janessa and a few other bloggers to bring you a great giveaway featuring Tub O' Towels! 

One lucky person will win a prize package featuring a 90-count, 40-count, and 12 single on-the-go packs of Tub O' Towels PLUS a $50 Amazon gift card! 

This giveaway is open to residents of the US only and ends August 14th, 2018. Enter using the Giveaway Tools entry form below. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by Tub O' Towels. Tub O' Towels is responsible for prize fulfillment. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest. All opinions are my own.

The Day Michaels Almost Lost Me As A Customer

This post contains affiliate links.

Just kidding.


But still.


Oh, Michaels.


Just no.

For those of you who have no idea what's going on in the above screenshot, let me explain.  I was browsing the virtual aisles of  Michael's new fabric inventory (Hancock's isn't gone folks!).  I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of moderately inexpensive Disney cotton wovens when I saw the "Star Wars" category tag.  Of course, I simply had to see what they stocked, so I clicked on it.  There was one lone fabric on the page.  A Star Trek fabric.  Trek.  Not Wars.  Sigh.  

My Library Bag #6

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We read.  We read a lot.  I haven't done one of these Our Library Bag posts in a while, but it is time for another! As of this moment I have 77 books, and one DVD, checked out on my library card.  Here's a sampling of what is in our bag this week!

100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson
This is one of current read alouds.  I'm not sure who's enjoying this book more, Catherine or me.  Mysterious.  Intriguing.  Engaging.  It's really well written and I'm absolutely loving it.

Since I am enjoying this book so much I decided that it would be the focus of my questions for the "What Are You Reading Wednesday" link up.

Why did you decide to pick up this book - cover or content?  Well, I'm going to be un-original here.  Remember last week, when I said I was reading The False Prince based on a Read Aloud Revival recommendation?  Well . . . this was another one of Sarah's picks.  I suppose that means content?

Who is your favorite character so far, and why?  I'm going for the obvious answer here, Henry.  At this point, it is his story and everyone else just isn't fleshed out enough.  (Uncle Frank gives me some pause though, he seems like he's a lot deeper than we might expect.  I'm really hoping to see that developed!)  However, Catherine says that Henrietta is her favorite because she's a girl and in on the action.

Will you finish this one?  Of course.  And judging from what we've read so far, we will also pick up the rest of the series.

Finish the sentence: This book reminds me of... Right now?  I am seeing echoes of Narnia: the mystery behind closed doors.

What type of read is this one? A great read aloud!

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Such a great read.  I really enjoyed this one.  I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! (This is the book I mentioned in WIPS: Yarn and Books.)  I have a feeling this series will get a blog post all of its own once I'm finished!

17th Suspect by James Patterson
Well, there's not much to say here.  It's the next book in a long line of unoriginal-just-barely-interesting enough crime mysteries.  But for some reason I keep picking them up.  I liken these books to the multitude of CSI: Name Your City available on TV these days: mildly entertaining and easily accessible.  There's also the fact that these are page turners.  I mean, quite literally, page turners.  With huge margins, extremely short chapters, and generous spacing there are barely any words on a page!

Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (And Everything in Between) by Lauren Graham
What can I say?  I'm a Gilmore Girls fan.  Haven't finished it yet . . . however, thus far the overall feel of the book is exactly as it should be, or at least what I want as a GG fan girl.  It just feels like Lorelai.

The Ultimate Dick and Jane Storybook Collection
Dominic has enthusiastically been reading this book aloud to anyone who will listen for the past week or two.  He has read every page on his own.  I'm so proud of him!

General Relativity for Babies (etc.) by Chris Ferrie
When I stumbled across the books, not just this one, but ALL of them, quite by accident, at the library I was super excited.  I don't generally borrow board books from the library but these quickly made their way into my bag.  (Although, they seem brand new, we might be the first people to check them out.) In a nutshell, they are totally awesome.  I highly recommend them!

Lea Dives In by Lisa Yee
Catherine wanted to include this book as a notable read for this week.  She really enjoyed it.  I knew she did, since it was started and finished in less than 24 hours.

Mr. Popper's Penguins Richard Atwater
Technically, this isn't a library bag book.  I picked this up (for FREE!) from a homeschool curriculum swap.  It's a hilarious classic and I'm happy to add it to our shelves.  And again, Catherine devoured it.  I loved that she would read the amusing bits aloud to the family.

I think that's enough for now!  I hope that you find some time to cuddle up with a good book this week!