ML Interest Tag: hunt

Poshmark Is about to Make Back-to-School Shopping Even Easier

by Erica Loop

It’s that time of year again! The kiddos are headed back to school and they need notebooks, binders, new shoes and a list of school supplies you never saw coming.

Forget about carting the kids off to the mall in your minivan and spending a would-be pool day hunting down bargains. Poshmark wants to take away those back-to-school shopping woes and simplify your life.

So, how does Poshmark plan to make the back-to-school buying rush easier? The social shopping app, which is already used by 50 million people, is launching a School Market. This online shop is a one-stop place to get everything from notebooks and journals to pencil cases and planners.

If you still have some last-minute school supplies to pick up or your kiddo needs a new first day outfit, Poshmark’s School Market opens Aug. 13!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Poshmark via Instagram

 

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How to Trade In Your Toys”R”Us Gift Cards at Bed Bath & Beyond

by Keiko Zoll

With the demise of one of America’s most-recognizable brick-and-mortar toy stores, the forthcoming closing of nearly 1,800 Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores throughout the United States has left plenty of toy-hunting parents in a bind. Thankfully, there’s some good news: you can trade in your Toys”R”Us gift cards at Bed Bath & Beyond stores. Here’s the 411 on everything you need to know about exchanging your Toys”R”Us gift card for a Bed Bath & Beyond gift card.

One of the biggest challenges for customers of the closing stores has been what they should do with gift registries and Toys”R”Us store gift cards. Some retailers have stepped in to fill the void left behind by Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us. buybuyBABY is “saving” now-stranded Babies”R”Us baby registries—and now Bed Bath & Beyond is stepping up in a big way for customers, too. But before you trade in your Toys”R”Us gift card for a BB&B card, here’s what you need to know.

How do you exchange a Toys”R”Us gift card for a Bed Bath & Beyond gift card?

According to a Facebook post by the home goods retailer, Bed Bath & Beyond has partnered with CardCash, one of the largest gift card exchange sites online. If you have a Babies”R”Us or Toys”R”Us gift card, you can exchange it for a Bed Bath & Beyond gift card through CardCash’s dedicated Toys”R”Us for Bed Bath & Beyond gift card exchange site.

Can I exchange my Toys”R”Us gift card at my local Bed Bath & Beyond?

The gift card exchanges can only be made online and not in Bed Bath & Beyond stores.

What will exchanging my Toys”R”Us gift card get me in return?

You’ll receive a Bed Bath & Beyond eGift Card via email within 1 business day of completing your Toys”R”Us gift card exchange online. eGift Cards can be used in Bed Bath & Beyond stores and on the store website.

In addition to trading in your Toys”R”Us gift cards, CardCash also exchanges gift cards from more than 200 other merchants for BB&B cards, according to its website.

How many gift cards can I exchange?

CardCash doesn’t list a specific upper limit on how many Toys”R”Us cards you can exchange for Bed Bath & Beyond eGift cards, but you do have the option to process more than one exchange.

Does it cost anything to exchange my Toys”R”Us gift card online?

Yes and no: if you’re expecting to a get a dollar-for-dollar match on your Toys”R”Us gift cards, you’re not going to. CardCash buys back cards at a discounted price using its own proprietary valuation method to determine how much your gift card is worth to them.

According to comments on BB&B’s Facebook post, one customer went to exchange her $25 Toys”R”Us gift card and only got a little over $16 for it—so just be aware that you will not get the full face value for your Toys”R”Us gift card. (A bummer, yes—but it’s better than nothing.)

For how long will Bed Bath & Beyond exchange Toys”R”Us gift cards?

You need to act, pronto. Customers have until Thursday, Apr. 5 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern to exchange any Toys”R”Us gift cards for Bed Bath & Beyond gift cards online. After that, you’re out of luck.

https://twitter.com/LouGraiff/status/975072091815972864

What else do I need to know about trading in my Toys”R”Us gift card?

Only Toys”R”Us gift cards with a balance of more than $20 can be exchanged online. If you have a Toys”R”Us gift card with anything less than $20, your best bet is to head to your local TRU and buy what you can with it.

Also, the exchange only applies to Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us gift cards and not to store merchandise credits. Again, in that situation, get thee to your local TRU or BRU store and use it towards something while you still can. Toys”R”Us will stop accepting all gift card benefits on Apr. 15, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Do you have Toys”R”Us gift cards piled up that you’ll need to trade in? Share your gift card exchange stories in the comments.

—Keiko Zoll

Featured photo: Mike Mozart via Flickr 

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14 Hilarious Parenting Tweets About Pokémon Go!

by Red Tricycle

Pokémon Go is the latest mobile game that has families addicted both their screen and going outside. Who knew a game could do that!? Parents and kiddos alike are trying to be the best Pokémon trainer “like no one ever was.” Here are the best reactions from parents on Twitter about this cultural craze. Gotta read em all… Pokémon!

https://twitter.com/philyuck/status/752937290448576512

https://twitter.com/Kelsma99/status/752523860285665281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/Stancheta/status/752905318577745920

https://twitter.com/hannahrapp_/status/752533588994842624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/Mr_Kapowski/status/751897617462734848

https://twitter.com/joeysulipeck/status/751082056743026688

Are you playing Pokémon Go? Let us know in the comments below!

 

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Why You’ll Dig Geocaching (& 14 Stunning Destinations to Get Your Start)

by Christal Y.

Okay, so maybe there aren’t any snake pits or rolling boulders but Geocaching—a GPS stash hunting activity—isn’t your average game of hide and seek, either. Set your crew up for “missions” including on-site word games and coordinates needing to be decrypted, all in hopes of finding tiny treasures at the end. From bat caves to fun historical and scientific facts, don your leather hat à la Indiana Jones and discover the most engaging, all-natural geocache spots below.

Original Stash Tribute Plaque – Oregon, USA

What’s more exciting than finding the first and original geocache ever published? Stumble through a farm (get permission first) to find a plaque that commemorates this special location. The first ever geocache contained: a Delorme Topo USA, 2 CD Roms, a cassette recorder, a "George of the Jungle" VHS tape, a Ross Perot book, 4 $1 bills, a slingshot handle and a pretty notorious can of beans. What a find!

Online: geocaching.com

photo: kietcallies via flickr

Want to know more?

Sneak an insider peek into the world of Geocaching. 

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How to Play Farmers Market BINGO

by Erin Feher

 

Next time you hit up the farmers market, bring your little eagle-eyed fruit and veggie hunters along for the ride. This super cute game of Farmers Market BINGO from Live Simply will whet their appetites and work their brains at the same time. Make sampling new items part of the game for a fun activity that comes with its own snack!

Photo: Live Simply

  1. Print out Live Simply’s super cute bingo cards here. For a reusable game, we recommend laminating the cards and buying a few dry-erase markers.
  2. Start shopping! The farmers market is the perfect locale for this game, because all the food isn’t stocked together in the same section like at the grocery store. Hunting, and even asking questions to your local vendors, is required.
  3. Each time your kiddo spots a item on their card, have them shout out the items name and mark their BINGO card.
  4. The first one with a full row filled out yells BINGO!
  5. Free spaces can be filled by trying a sample or snack of a something new at the market.

For an alternative version that can be played at home, check out Live Simply’s original post here.

Do you have any other cute ideas for making shopping trips extra fun? Let us know in the comments below! 

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Sunday Funday at the San Diego Swap Meet

by Nikki Walsh

Not sure how to spend your next weekend in San Diego? If you’re looking for some family fun that’s just off the beaten path, spend a day at the famous Kobey’s Swap Meet. Swap meets are a fun way to treasure hunt with your cuties, and a great chance to teach about recycling, reusing and handling money (if they are old enough), all while feeling the thrill of a scavenger hunt and the score of a deal.

Kobey’s Swap Meet
Kobey’s is the ultimate stop for swap meet swag. It has many pint-sized bargain-hunting treasures. Scour the tables and bins for LEGO, Polly Pocket dolls and accessories, Barbies and more. There are both swap meet and garage-sale style booths for your little ones to explore. Set an amount they can spend (let them learn to budget), then send the little pirates off to scour the terrain for their bountiful loot (with mom or dad’s supervision, of course).

Sweet Treats
If the little swashbucklers need a bite to eat, there are lots of places to take a bit. Traditional hamburgers and hot dogs are available (a little on the expensive and greasy side). But we recommend saving the money and appetites for the other treats. Popcorn is a hit with the pint-sized type and snow cones are big and fun to eat (especially on hot summer days). There’s also a mini-donut stand where kids can watch them make the sweet treats.

Savvy Swap Meet Tips

  • Sunblock is key. Even on overcast days, be prepared to spray and wear a hate. Brining a bottle of water is also recommended.
  • Vendors don’t take credit cards. So bring cash. Smaller bills will be appreciated.
  • Bring your own canvas bag to stash all your goodies.
  • While the swap meet is open all weekend, Sunday is the best day to score treasures.
  • Go online and print a coupon for $1 off adult admission.
  • You can rent a single stroller ($6) or a double cool cart ($7) to wheel your little munchkins around.
  • The bathrooms are located at the back of the meet near the food stand. While they are porta-potties, there is an attendant on duty and a place to wash hands.
  • Parking is free!

Hours: Fri. – Sun., 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Cost: Fri.: $1/Adults; Sat. & Sun., $2/Adults; Free/Kids under 11

3500 Sports Arena Blvd.
San Diego, Ca 92110
Online: Kobeys.com

— Monique Walsh (photos too)

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Just Opened: Mapamundi Kids

by Erin Feher

What do you get when you cross an artist, a fashion executive and a beloved kids store in idyllic Noe Valley? You get Mapamundi Kids: A boutique bursting with coolness and creativity. Husband-and-wife team Lorena Siminovich (Petit Collage founder and CEO) and Esteban Kerner (former vice president at Gap Inc.) took over Peekaboutique late last year, revealing their updated vision for the family favorite just a few weeks ago. The colorful, light-filled shop is stocked with books, toys, clothes and accessories for lucky kids and their design-minded parents.

Global Goods
Lorena and Esteban were both born in Argentina, but have lived in Noe Valley for more than ten years—giving them both global vision and local cred. As a result, the shelves are filled with beautiful things from around the world that can’t be found anywhere else: Toys from Vilac and Moulin Roty (France), Seedling (New Zealand), Grimms (Germany), Tegu (Honduras), Kukkia (Japan); nursery and other home pieces from Ferm Living (Denmark), David Fussenegger (Austria), Bla Bla (Peru); and clothing from Kom (Argentina), and Marimekko kids (Sweden). Kids can explore even further in the sizable book section in the back, where they can browse books from around the world and even cozy up in the reading nook. Even the store’s name is a nod to the well-traveled life: Mapamundi means map of the world in Spanish.

Homegrown Favorites
In addition to goods sourced from around the globe, Mapamundi Kids also carries the complete line of whimsical Petit Collage books, toys, décor and create-it-yourself projects. Lorena, an artist, founded Petit Collage in 2006, and she has since authored (and illustrated and designed) more than 20 books, not mention creating countless other kids’ items, from dolls to nursery mobiles to games and puzzles. The brand combines an artist’s creativity with the keen eye of a modern-design lover. And all the pieces are designed right here in San Francisco.

A Place to Play
So if you are looking for a unique gift, hunting for something fresh and fun for your own nursery of just strolling the streets with your curious kiddos, drop in to Mapamundi Kids to check out what’s new. Although the displays may be pretty as a picture, the owners welcome little ones who want to test out the newest toys, thumb through the books or join them for one of the many craft workshops and author-led story times they have planned for the spot.

1306 Castro St.
San Francisco, Ca
Online: mapamundikids.com

Have you been to the new Mapamundi Kids? What do you think? Tell us in the comments below! 

—Erin Feher

photo: Mapamundi Kids

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Build Your Library! 25 Board Books Every Baby Needs

by Julie Seguss

Want to inspire your little sidekick to enjoy a lifetime of reading? Start building her library now. Flip through our photo album to discover our 25 favorite beginner books, from gotta-have-’em classics like Goodnight Moon to newer, need-to-know titles like Hello, Bugs.

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Written in 1976, this yarn about a little overall-wearing bear is still a favorite. It follows the teddy on a button-hunting adventure through a department store and into his new home.

Available at amazon.com, $8.63.

What books are in your baby’s library? Let us know in the comments section below.

— Julie Seguss

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Cover photo: César Rincón via Flickr creative commons

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Follow in the Footsteps of a Beloved Children’s Author

by Katie Kavulla

Your kids may not be old enough yet to appreciate the silly antics of Ramona or the crazy adventures of Ribsy, but it’s likely that these book characters hold a special place in your heart. It just so happens that beloved children’s author, Beverly Cleary, was born and raised in Portland. She spent her childhood exploring her own Northeast Portland neighborhood, which later became the home to many of her book’s characters, including the adventures of Ramona and her friends. Embark on a scavenger hunt with your little adventurers to discover all the cool places that author Beverly Cleary immortalized in her work. It’s a great way to play tourist in your own town, and to find out a little more about this cherished author and her love for our fair city.

Your first stop on your tour should be Grant Park (at Northeast 33rd Avenue, Portland), where the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden for Children is located. The three sculptures – one of Ribsy, who is playing in the water, one of Henry Huggins and one of Ramona. The Ramona and Ribsy sculptures are also both water features, which are turned on during the warmer months for kids to splash and play in. To find the sculptures at Grant Park, head into the park via the entrance on Northeast 33rd Avenue, between Knott Street and Broadway, then find the playground. The sculpture garden is just behind the playground, on the south side.

True Beverly Cleary fans will be quite familiar with the places that the author uses over and over again in her books – Klickitat Street, Tillamook Street and more. And, these actual streets exist in Portland! Stop by the Hollywood Library (4040 Northeast Tillamook Street, Portland) to view the Beverly Cleary Neighborhood Map, and then set off into the surrounding blocks to find the home where Beverly Cleary lived as a child (which is currently for sale, for those who want to truly live like Cleary’s characters), Ramona’s house, Henry Huggins’ paper route and more.

Continue your Beverly Cleary exploring with a trip to the Gresham Library (385 Northwest Miller Avenue, Gresham, OR), located about 30-minutes away. This library is home to two special Terracotta Ramona Statues – one of a cheerful Ramona and one of an arms-crossed, pouting Ramona (as she often was found in her books!) – each with a special passage to go along with it. While you’re here, do some hunting in the library to find the section with Beverly Cleary books and sit down with your kids and read a few chapters aloud or check one out to bring home!

Take some advice from Ramona who said it best, “She was not a slowpoke grownup. She was a girl who could not wait. Life was so interesting that she had to find out what happened next.”

Get out into Portland to do some Beverly Cleary exploring and find out what happens!

What’s your favorite stop along this little Beverly Cleary tour?

— Katie Kavulla

photo credit: bananadan via flickr, Dwell Realty via Oregon Live, nothingdream.blogspot.com, walkscore.com.

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Nordstrom Rack Opens at Westlake Center

by Erin Lem

Remember the days when we went shopping and actually bought something for ourselves? Well, thanks to our friends at Nordstrom Rack, you can experience the joys of those pre-kid shopping sprees, which right now, seem like a distant memory.

On March 15, 2012, Nordstrom Rack, everyone’s fave hub for fabulous discounted garb, is opening a new location in the Westlake Center. Nordstrom Rack’s super chic designer wear and affordability is probably the best fusions since peanut butter and chocolate.

And, it gets better…The grand opening will include a “Race through the rack” drawing. The winner gets 90 seconds to “rack up” $2,000 of gorgeous designer merch. To top it all off, no purchase is required to enter the drawing. But we all know that no one can walk out of Nordstrom Rack without something. Doors open at 9:00 am and the store will be open all day for bargain-hunting mamas.

Seattle, Washington Westlake Center
400 Pine St.
Seattle, Wa 98101
Online: Nordstrom.com

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