Checking Our List Finale: Britax Frontier 85 Car Seat {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Amie!}

Although I've been known to try to save a dollar here or there when I'm out shopping for children's items (particularly at garage sales), there is one area that I have never even considered purchasing anything less than the very, very best: my kids' safety.

No matter how careful of a driver I might be, there is no way for me to fully eliminate the possibility of us being in a car accident any time that we head out on the road. Knowing that I would never be able to live with myself if something happened to my kids that could have been prevented had I just spent a little extra money, I began researching to find the top name in high quality and safe car seats before Big Sister E was even born.

Time and time again, it seemed that every book, website or mom confirmed the same thing: that title belonged to Britax. With their commitment to providing children a safe and secure ride with their easy to install, simple to use and continually-tested car seats, there just isn't any other that can compare.

Speaking from years of experience, I can say that I'm continually impressed with the great lengths that Britax goes to in order to ensure that their car seats (and strollers) are both comfortable and extremely safe. So, when their newest release, the Frontier 85, showed up, I knew that it would demonstrate nothing less than excellence.

Heck, even their boxes are comfortable to sit on!

Does it seem like there are more and more car seat choices every time you go to the store? It does to me. Infant seats, convertible seats, booster seats with backs or booster seats without... I get a little overwhelmed just looking down the car seat aisle. Is Big Sister E old enough? Tall enough? Heavy enough? Not to mention will she easily accept the transition from one seat to a completely different one?

The Britax Frontier 85 is the solution to all of my worries and makes it extremely easy to make one purchase and then be done. This Combination Harness-2-Booster can be used in its forward-facing, 5-point harness mode when a child turns two and weighs at least 25 pounds all the way up to 85 pounds (and is between 30" and 57" tall). It then converts to a belt-positioning booster and can accommodate a child from 40 pounds all the way to 120 pounds and 5'5" tall!

I mentioned this was the last car seat you would need to purchase, right?

With an increased harness height, cup holders, armrests, three seat buckle positions and so much more, checking out the features of the Frontier 85 is like running through a list of all the things that a mom could ask for:


Pretty nice, isn't it? I'm really trying to come up with something that the Frontier 85 doesn't have... but I'm drawing a blank.

As much as Big Sister E loves those cup holders, armrests and just how cushioned the entire seat is, it doesn't compare to how thrilled I am with all of the safety features and how long we will be able to use this car seat.

Starting with the True Side Impact Protection in the seat as well as in the adjustable head restraint that distributes the force of a crash and will protect her head, neck and entire body in position to reduce injury as much as possible. Then there is the EPS Foam Liner and Energy-Absorbing Base, both designed to absorb even more force and impact, and the Versa-Tether and Harness Ultra Guard System to resist any forward movement.

So, as far as safety is concerned, Britax has definitely proven itself to me once again. As opposed to just being effective in certain types of crashes, I know that Big Sister E is going to be as safe as possible from 360° no matter what happens on the road.

And then there's the convenience. My husband barely glanced at the Frontier 85 before having it clicked in and installed in minutes. The Premium Lower LATCH Connectors and push-button system make putting this in or taking it out simple enough for anyone to do it.

But that's nothing compared to the adaptability; the range of height and weight limits for the Frontier 85 really are amazing. Whereas most convertible car seats go up to around 40 pounds, this seat allows a child to remain harnessed all the way up to 85 pounds... and then swapped into a belt-positioning booster seat for children to 120 pounds.

Plus, even though I'm only 5'4" I somehow have ended up with tall children, so the 10 harness-height positions have ensured that Big Sister E won't ever have to hunch over or feel scrunched down by straps or padding anywhere on this seat. I like being able to adjust the head restraint with one hand using the lever on the back and I really like not having to disassemble and re-thread the entire harness.

To top it all off, if you're concerned that there are too many numbers or instructions that might need to be remembered to have this correctly installed and adjusted for your child, Britax makes it easy by laying it all out on both sides of the seat itself:

What more could there be? The Britax Frontier 85 is the complete package for a child over two years old and this car seat has managed to fit in comfort, convenience, adaptability and safety into one stylish package. With seven great fabric options to choose from, this is seat that you'll use and enjoy for years to come... in fact, with such an age, weight and height range, the Frontier 85 has an expiration date of nine years instead of the traditional six.

Considering a certain someone around here just turned two, Little Sister B didn't even want to wait for me to lower the headrest to her height before excitedly showing how comfortable she would be in a Frontier 85 as well...

Retailing for $279.99, the Britax Frontier 85 would be more than just a holiday gift for your family, it would be an investment in what matters most: your children or your grandchildren. Now that's what the holidays are all about.

Thanks to the wonderful generosity of Britax, one person will have the gift that keeps on giving for a long time to come, because...

One lucky person will win a Frontier 85 Combination Harness-2-Booster from Britax!

To enter to win: Visit Britax and tell me which of their amazing products is your favorite INCLUDING the fabric option you like best for it.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win a Britax B-SCENE stroller! ARV $399.99!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Britax on Twitter and/or become a fan on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Checking Our List Finale: WIN a Britax Frontier 85 Harness-2-Booster Seat (ARV $280)! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/gCgO96 #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Britax. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 14th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

A big thank you to Britax for providing a Frontier 85 for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Checking Our List: Dirt Devil Gator 15.6V Cordless Hand Vacuum with Brushroll {Review}

As my kids have gotten older, it's hard to believe that I already have a difficult time remembering some of the aspects and occurrences from when they were babies. Where did that time go?

However, one of the things that I won't be sad about if it drifts from my memory is the amount of time that I've spent cleaning up after them both. From the small messes to the large ones, it seems like every time I turn around there is another one waiting.

Fortunately, there are fast, easy and convenient ways to suck up dirt and debris at the touch of a button. And when they are from one of the most well-known and largest selling names, Dirt Devil, you know that the Gator 15.6V Cordless Hand Vacuum with Brushroll is going to be one that you turn to time and time again.

With over 15 volts of suction, this is one hand vacuum cleaner that is designed to work great for quick and easy cleaning of a variety of messes and dry spills... which is pretty much exactly what I need on a daily basis. Pulling the Gator out of the box, I was extremely glad to see that it was completely assembled and ready to use almost immediately.

As this vacuum comes uncharged, the first thing I had to do was simply plug the charger directly into the back and find an outlet - foolproof!

After leaving the Gator sit for a while, I came back to test it out and see just how well it would perform. Sliding the power switch right on top, things came to life (without too loud of a noise) and the fact that this is a cordless vacuum made me instantly a fan. I hate having to deal with the mess of a cord getting tangled and winding around everywhere, particularly for handheld vacuums.

Running the tip along the floor and furniture, the strong suction was immediately evident and I was glad to see the dirt being sucked right up. Suddenly realizing that there was a built-in crevice tool that extended easily, pulling it out made the Gator just right for hard-to-reach places.

Heading in between our couch cushions, along the baseboards and in the cracks of Little Sister B's booster seat (which is always in need of cleaning), I was happy to see just how well the crevice tool could get into tight spaces.

Considering this vacuum only weighs 3.85 pounds, it was extremely easy to carry from room to room and use both in high and low places. And, when it came time to clean up the extensive amount of crumbs on the floor and off of the couch, the included motorized brushroll was the perfect thing to slide right onto the end.

After sufficiently cleaning up the current messes spread throughout our dining and living rooms, it was (unfortunately) easy to see the large amount that the Gator had sucked up from multiple locations into the transparent holder. When I went to empty the dirt out, the reason behind this vacuum being named Gator became clear.

Simply slide the tabs on either side forward...

And the result is:

Snap!

The flip open cup makes for extremely easy emptying, as you just dump the dirt into the garbage without having to touch anything or get your hands messy. Without any need for bags, you not only save time but there is no money wasted on having to continually purchase replacements.

As the internal filter is also removable and can be rinsed with water, your initial purchase really is just about all that is needed. As for that price tag? A reasonable $49.99 for a sleek, balanced hand vacuum that is perfect for both large and small jobs. From dirt tracked in by the front door to the smashed Cheerios that are underfoot in the kitchen, the lightweight, compact size (barely over a foot long) and powerful suction that Dirt Devil has included make this an affordable solution for any household.

Plus, with a three-year parts-and-motor warranty, you can rest assured that you can have a quick way to clean for a long time to come with the Gator 15.6V Cordless Hand Vacuum. You can't go wrong! Want to hear more? Head over to A Mom's Balancing Act to find out how Dirt Devil has helped keep things clean with a Gator over there as well!

(Other than the Gator 15.6V Cordless Hand Vacuum that I was sent by Dirt Devil, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this company and their products.)

Checking Our List #41: dB Logic Headphones {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Nickolay!}

Lately I've noticed that the majority of the music that I listen to seems to be sung by an animated character or, if they happen to be real, someone who wears bright clothes, a big grin and carries a guitar. But that's okay. The kids and I have fun cranking up the tunes and dancing around (or just bobbing along if we're in the car) and sometimes it's hard to say no to the "turn it UP, Mama!" requests when we're having so much fun.

However, as my daughters get older I know that it is inevitable that the days when listening to the music that Mom listens to is just going to be so uncool. Instead of singing along with me, they're going to be staring out the window in utter embarrassment or, just as likely, not hearing me anyway due to the music that they'll be playing on their own MP3 player.

That thought not only makes me dread the teenage years, but worries me about the possibility of hearing damage. With so many kids listening to MP3 players from a young age, I know I'm not the only parent that wants to help prevent anything from happening to my children's hearing (and my own)... which is exactly where dB Logic and their innovative Headphones and Earphones come in.

According to a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, one in five teenagers today is already experiencing significant hearing loss - a number that's much too high. So, with a mission to provide consumers of all ages with the ultimate personal audio experience without fear of long-term damage to their hearing, dB Logic's products are the solution.

By manufacturing headphones and earphones based on Sound Pressure Level Limiting (SPL2) technology (while still keeping in mind style, superior sound and maximum comfort), it ensures great quality while preventing hearing loss. Basically, dB Logic uses SPL2 to place a tiny monitoring circuit between the MP3 player and the ear piece that regulates the volume and keeps it from going into the dangerous "too high" range.

But, as SPL2 doesn't change the actual sound wave, all you hear is a crisp, clear sound without any sort of distortion or warping. And, as it is all done without batteries, all you have to do is plug in these stylish headphones or earphones and rock on just like normal... knowing all the while that you're doing it safely.

When a pair of dB Logic Headphones in Quick Silver arrived, I was interested to check out what kind of sound they would provide in combination with their comfort and design.

Right away I thought that these were modern and attractive and, as soon as I picked them up, the flexible and swivel design was easy to hold and adjust. Checking out the padding, I was impressed with just how soft the earpieces are and how cushioned they feel once you put them on.

Plus, with just how easy it is to slide the headband to make these almost any size, they were easy to fit on everyone around here...

After retrieving my Headphones from the kids, I plugged them into my laptop to give them a try. What I found was that they sound great! The padding from the ear cups not only feels nice but muffles some of the outside noises, making it even easier to enjoy the clear sound of the music. No matter what genre I tried, I didn't feel as though I was compromising at all in order to hear the music while knowing that it was at a safe listening level no matter what.

I also really appreciated how compactly these dB Logic Headphones fold up, making them extremely portable and perfect for putting into a bag or backpack for any sort of traveling. Who doesn't want their tunes on the go?

For a battery-free, cool and stylish way to enjoy great sound, dB Logic Headphones and Earphones are a great gift idea for any music-lover on your list this holiday season or all year round. The overall great sound quality, appearance and, most importantly, ear protection would make them a hit for children, teens and adults alike.

Available soon in multiple fun color options and retailing for $29.99 to $39.99 dB Logic has something for everyone with their Headphones and Earphones. They are even coming out with a line of Sound Sheriff (headphones) just for kids with fun prints and patterns as well as a padded headband, so the whole family can really listen to music safely!

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will be able to listen to and enjoy their favorite music in this innovative and healthy way, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of Headphones from dB Logic!

To enter to win: Visit dB Logic and tell me the name of the color Headphones you would choose if you win.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win a pair of dB Logic Headphones or Earphones over there as well!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow dB Logic on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Checking Our List 41: WIN dB Logic Headphones for style, comfort and safety (ARV $40)! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/hpkvqa #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and dB Logic. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 7th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to dB Logic for providing Quick Silver Headphones for me as well as the choice of Headphones or Earphones for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Checking Our List: philosophy Skin, Bath and Beauty Products {Review}

Let's be honest here for a minute. No matter how much you love the holidays, you're a tiny bit relieved when it's all over, right? Sure, it's wonderful to spend time with family and friends and celebrate the merriment of the season, but... the hustle and bustle that begins in November and just continues to build straight through until January is just plain exhausting.

Personally, I find it difficult to make time for everyone and everything else going on in my life during the holidays, let alone find a little time for me. This year, however, I've been introduced to the company that not only reminds its customers to take care of their inner and outer beauty, but to nurture their entire well-being: philosophy.

Started in 1996, philosophy was created so that women everywhere could personally access leading skin care technologies and be inspired to live better lives by being better to themselves. Basing their products on a rich, scientific heritage combined with inspirational messaging, you not only end up feeling beautiful on the surface, but within as well.

One of the best ways I know to relax and pamper yourself at home is to run a big bubble bath and take a nice long soak in the tub. Therefore, when the gingerbread man, a combination foaming bubble bath and shower gel, arrived, I took one look at the cute, sparkly box and was ready for some me time.

As much as I was enjoying the packaging, it was time to pull out the 16 ounce bottle and see what it was that all of the fans of the gingerbread man were raving about.

The philosophy behind the gingerbread man is that it's wonderful when a guy doesn't say, "just relax," but rather, "let me help you relax," which is exactly what this warm, creamy formula does.

Whether using this as bubble bath or shower gel, I love the way the ginger spice scent and thick lather leave my skin feeling clean and soft. As I had been expecting more of a cookie or baked goods scent, I was actually extremely pleased to find that the gingerbread man is more of a ginger spice scent, just clean and refreshing without being sugary sweet.

At the end of a long soak or a hot shower, I like that I can still smell a hint of the gel (again, not too overpowering) and it makes me look forward to the next time I can take another relaxing break. Also, seeing as both the bottle and the scent are gender neutral, I don't worry that my husband will roll his eyes at another girly bottle in the bathroom... instead I just have to keep my eye on him to not use it up himself.

Devoted to caring for your skin, philosophy is known for some of the finest, most innovative skin care, fragrance, body care and color cosmetics available. Giving a gift like the gingerbread man (there is actually a huge collection of all kinds of amazing holiday gifts) is a wonderful way to not only save you time (you saw the very cute, already-packaged-for-gifting house this came in, right?) but will help nurture your recipient's well-being as well.

Find all of philosophy's items to make you and your loved ones feel well and live joyously on their website (free shipping until December 19th!) or at a retail location near you. Then, continue to lift your spirits by connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter and head over to A Mom's Balancing Act to find out Jenna's thoughts on the gingerbread man as well!

(Other than the 16 ounce bottle of the gingerbread man that I was sent by philosophy, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this company and their products.)

Checking Our List #40: CSN Stores $75 Gift Certificate {Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Julie A!}

Here are two shopping options to think about:

1. You find the item, let's say a TV stand, that you want in a store's ad. So you get all bundled up and, if you have kids, have to get them all bundled up, and you all head out in the cold. You fight traffic, you navigate a packed parking lot and, once inside, you have to push your way through the crowds of people milling around... only to find that the TV stand that you came for is out of stock.

2. You sit back in your pajamas on the computer at 10 am or at 2 pm or at 4 am (whichever you prefer) and casually click through the 200+ CSN Stores and find every TV stand that you could imagine, many with free shipping, and have just the perfect one sent right to your door - or, if it is going to be a gift, to the door of your lucky family and friends that are going to love it.

What do you think? Pretty much unless you're fond of hoards of people, it's not really all that hard of a decision. CSN.com is, and has been since 2002, one of the easiest and most convenient ways to shop for all of the products that you could ask for.

Having been featured on The Today Show, in The New York Times, on The Rachael Ray Show and on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, just to name a few, CSN Stores gives you the ability to buy items for every room of your house... and I mean EVERY room. From BedroomFurniture.com to EveryHammock.com to RideOnVehicles.com, there are categories upon categories within their huge collection of sites to help you to find exactly the item to fit your need.

After having worked with and written about CSN Stores multiple times in the past, it has been easy for me to see the clear reasons why shopping at these sites just makes sense:

First, their selection is outstanding. Really, whatever it is that you're looking for, I find it hard to believe that they wouldn't have it - and it's highly likely that it will have free shipping!

Second, the low prices. CSN searches the web to make sure they are offering you the lowest possible price and if you find something lower just let them know and they will get you a better deal almost every time.

Third, their stellar service. The CSN team is knowledgeable and available to help you with any aspect, whether placing an order or after you have made a purchase.

Fourth, they ensure quality and your complete satisfaction. CSN stands behind the quality of the items that they sell and guarantees your absolute satisfaction 100% of the time. That's something that every consumer can appreciate!

Overall, CSN Stores is great site to visit for all of your shopping needs... after all, with over a million products for sale, it is a one-stop browsing and buying experience that will provide you with all of the items for yourself or as gifts for family and friends in one place. What are you waiting for? Well, how about a shopping spree to kick off 2011? Thanks to the generosity of CSN Stores, one person will be able to do just that, because...

One lucky person will win a $75 gift certificate to CSN Stores!

To enter to win: Visit CSN.com and tell me the name of one of their vast selection of items you might purchase with this gift certificate.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win a $75 gift certificate to CSN Stores there, too!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow CSN Stores on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook and/or sign up for their email newsletter (found near the bottom of their homepage).
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Checking Our List 40: WIN a $75 gift certificate to CSN Stores for great shopping! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/hqpr0M #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and CSN Stores. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 7th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

A big thank you to CSN Stores for providing a $75 gift certificate for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Checking Our List #39: Build-A-Bear Workshop {Review & $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, aSpoonfulOsugar!}

There are a lot of places that my kids enjoy visiting because they know they'll always have a good time: Grandma's house, the Splash Park near our house, the zoo, etc.

If you asked Big Sister E right now, however, everywhere else just might pale in comparison to the eye-opening fun, laughter and incredibly good time she had in her very first visit to Build-A-Bear Workshop. I'm pretty sure that in her dreams, when she is imagining wherever in the world she could possibly be, she looks up and sees this:

How could you not have an amazing time in a place that looks like that? Just mention the name Build-A-Bear Workshop and the excitement for kids everywhere begins to build. The place where they can not only choose their own best friend but actually create it, this is one store that knows how to treat their customers of all ages.

Although I had been trying to keep the store and trip a surprise for as long as possible, Big Sister E had overheard me saying enough things that she had the general concept... or at least she knew that making bears was involved. But when we stepped inside, I think her eyes didn't know where to go first and the level of entertainment became much more clear.

After a warm greeting from a friendly Bear Builder Associate, we set off to accomplish what ended up being the most difficult task of the entire trip: choosing which furry friend to make. With more than 30 animals to pick from (starting at only $10), it didn't take Big Sister E long to decide on a cute dog... while Little Sister B took a while longer checking out each soft character before finally picking a bunny.

Seeing that we had made our choices, the Bear Builder Associate stepped back in and helped us through the next step in the process: adding sound.

A completely optional add-on, we couldn't pass up listening to some of the fun options ("I love you," different animal noises, record-your-own, etc) and including barking into Big Sister E's dog and a giggle into Little Sister B's bunny.

Next up was the large and impressive Stuff Me station.

Both girls were in awe of the spinning stuffing and Big Sister E was thrilled to be able to help by stepping on a floor pedal to make it fill up her dog. She even got to help twice, as Little Sister B wasn't sure about the vacuum-sounding noise that the machine makes when it is in use.

Before having their animals sewn up, Big Sister E and Little Sister B participated in a Build-A-Bear Workshop tradition of picking out and preparing a heart for their furry friend. Big Sister E followed along perfectly, rubbing the heart in her hands to warm it up, on her forehead to make her dog smart, on her heart to make it loving... even closing her eyes tight to make a wish for her new friend before placing it inside.

After our new pals were all stitched up and ready to go, we moved over to the Fluff Me station so that they could be "washed," fluffed and ready to get dressed. Little Sister B was a little scared by the noise of the machine as it blew air (I think she also didn't want to put down her bunny) but Big Sister E told me just how much she liked being able to brush and prepare her dog.

Then it was the clothes; the many, many clothes. With outfit options ranging from simple (shorts and a t-shirt) to elaborate (full ball gowns and tuxedos), there isn't an apparel or accessory item that Build-A-Bear Workshop has overlooked. I couldn't believe all of the adorable little sunglasses, hair bows, types of shoes, bow ties, pajamas... there were even strollers made for a child to push their bear or a little wheelchair for stuffed friends who needed one.

Unsurprisingly, when Big Sister E caught sight of the familiar white and green of her favorite Buzz Lightyear, her decision was made. This cute miniature costume had everything she needed - from the soft helmet down to the shoes - so her shopping was done... although she still had a good time browsing.

Not being as particular, Little Sister B helped look at the collection of clothing options, sometimes stopping to examine a pair or shorts or a baseball cap. There was even a clearance rack of various pieces, some that were from past holidays and some that must just have been going out of style, that provided a great bargain or two.

Stopping at a Dressing Station to get our new friends prepared to go home, we had a good time putting on and off a few items and trying on the provided colorful wigs just for fun.

Then it seemed that all we needed to do was stop to admire the finished look and the immediate love that had been formed.

However, before it was time to leave, we stopped at the computer stations to customize a birth certificate for our new friends. Build-A-Bear Workshop gives you options of including as much or as little personal information as you are comfortable with, as well as signing up for their newsletter and more.

I definitely appreciated the fact that, due to the barcode that was placed inside my girls' animals before they were sewn, Build-A-Bear Workshop can now send me an email if our buddies are ever lost and turned in to any store location. What a great feature!

Build-A-Bear Workshop makes it possible for everyone to leave happy, no matter how much time or what size budget you have. The adorable smallfrys collection of 7" stuffed friends are only $5 per animal or complete outfit and are the perfect thing to put in a stocking or wrap for under the tree. Or, for quick full-size gifts, Build-A-Bear Workshop has a great selection of classic ideas boxed and ready to go - just add wrapping paper!

From gift cards to birthday parties (something I'm going to be looking into for Big Sister E for next year) to a visit just to make a day special, Build-A-Bear Workshop really does provide kids with a magical experience. We were fortunate that the store was nearly empty on our trip but I know that we would have still had a wonderful time even had there been more people around. The girls couldn't wait to get their animals home!

There just isn't any comparison to making your own best friend! Build-A-Bear Workshop provides a unique and entertaining time for kids of all ages (although Little Sister B was slightly on the young side at just 2) and our dog and bunny have been a huge hit at home due to the connection that the girls feel to them.

In fact, Big Sister E was so excited about her dog wearing a Buzz Lightyear costume that as soon as we were back in the house she went right upstairs...

Buzz Lightyear made Little Sister B think of Halloween, in which she wore her monkey costume. Not exactly a match to the bunny, but cute, nonetheless!

Build-A-Bear Workshop definitely received an A+ from all of us and I have no doubt that we will be back again and again... and with so many locations across the country (and the world!) I'm sure we'll stop in to others as we come across them while on vacations for years to come. It has been an instant favorite for any time of year!

Thanks to the generosity of Build-A-Bear Workshop, one person will have the opportunity to have a blast making their own new furry friend (or pick one out online) as well, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 gift card to Build-A-Bear
Workshop (in-store or online)!

To enter to win: Visit Build-A-Bear Workshop and tell me the location of a store near you. I'd also love to hear if you and your child/grandchild have ever been there and how much fun they had!

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win a $25 gift card to Build-A-Bear Workshop over there as well!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you sign up for the Build-A-Bear Workshop email newsletter, follow them on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Checking Our List 39: #WIN a $25 gift card to Build-A-Bear Workshop! Kids ♥ @buildabear! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/gUytce #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Build-A-Bear Workshop. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 7th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Build-A-Bear Workshop for providing a $25 gift card for me as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.