Free Holiday Target Giftcard Printables

It’s that time of year when Target has fun sales with the holidays in mind. For today only, 12/3, Target giftcards are an extra 10% off

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As we all know, teachers, aides, bus drivers and everyone beyond seem to like gift cards vs. random tchotchkes. While a personalized note of gratitude ranks up there, I’ve learned from my many teacher friends and relatives that gift cards are the best gifts. 

And, thanks to Target, they have a little discount that comes in handy when you’re buying giftcards in bulk. The gift cards are varied in design and increments starting at $10. The discount applies to the gift cards in store and online, but I personally like ordering them online. I save money by ordering online and not buying $189 worth of stuff in the store that I didn’t know that I needed!

Free Target Giftcard Printables

I love Target beyond measure, so I’m all about sharing this love! Because of that, I created a free printable for the Target Giftcards!

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I made them four to a page so you can print them up for all the people in your life!

After printing out the printable on your desired paper (card stock worked well for me), cut out the cards on the gray lines. Take an Xacto knife or scissors and cut slits on the dotted lines to slide the giftcard through. I slid the card under the card so that the ends are sticking out. You can dress it up with a cute ribbon or some baking twine. Please note that some cards may be larger than the slit, so be sure to measure to avoid over cutting. In case you do over cut the slits or want to secure the card, be sure to tape the giftcard on the back of the printable.

 

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You can download the free Target Giftcard Printable here.

Enjoy and Happy Shopping!

 

Full disclosure: this post includes affiliate links. Affiliates and sponsored content help pay the bills, so thank you for your continued support.

Insider Tips for Shopping at The Mills at Jersey Gardens

My family has often joked that I shop like it’s my job. Well, friends, I’m here to tell you that dreams do come true! I’m so excited about my most recent partnership with one of my absolute favorite malls, The Mills at Jersey Gardens.

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Located just a few minutes outside of NYC in Elizabeth, NJ, The Mills at Jersey Gardens is an incredible shopping destination with over 200 stores, with many of them being outlets and factory stores. Just some of the featured stores include: Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Marshalls, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Michael Kors, Century 21 Department Store, Abercrombie & Fitch Outlet, Coach Outlet, Tommy Hilfiger, Uniqlo.

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I was tasked with doing some back to school and fall shopping for my family and sharing my experience. So, today, for Takeover Tuesday, I over on the Mills’ Instagram sharing some of my favorite adventures from this massive outlet mall. Head over to the Mills’ Instagram account and double tap for some of my fave stuff.

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And because I’ve been obsessively shopping here for well over 10 years, I know this mall like the back of my hand. Here are just a few of my favorite insider tips.

Savings Passport

Many of the stores at The Mills are outlets or factory stores of the brands that we know and love. If you grab one of the Savings Passport at the Information Desk, you can find a list of the stores who offer additional savings. IMG 7064 2 hese discounts can often be stacked with other sales within the stores. My favorite discounts found in the Savings Passport are from the Gap, Under Armour and H&M. The discounts found in the Passport can only be used once.

Spend the Day

The Mills at Jersey Gardens isn’t one of those Malls that you can just run in and run out. Well, it can be if you are on a mission.

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If you have the time, especially on big shopping trips or sale times, consider spending several hours at the mall. I always bring my preschooler’s stroller, which comes in handy when he gets tired and when I need a place to haul all of my bags. ha!

Prime Parking

On extremely busy shopping times, The Mills will get crowded. Best time for me is during the week without kids or when it first opens on the weekend. I recommend parking at Bed Bath and Beyond and going through the store. BBB is located upstairs and is next to many of my favorite shops. When leaving or if I have to drop bags off and go back to shop (this has happened many times) BBB is a central location. I love to pick up home essentials at this Bed Bath, which is perfect since I can grab it on my way out. Not to mention, Bed Bath and Beyond has a bathroom available for their shoppers which is located by the Registry area, somewhat close to the back door! It’s always quiet, there’s a changing table and rarely has a line. Perfect for families with littles!

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From our latest trip to The Mills, I grabbed a ton of basics and grabbed a few new fun accessories for myself! If you’re looking for a new bag or wallet, don’t forget to check out Michael Kors, the Coach Outlet and the newly opened Kate Spade downstairs. 

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As a sports mama, we go through athletic clothes, sneakers and cleats incessantly. Be sure to check out the massive Marshalls for cleats for kids and adults. I always save at least 50% on cleats at this location. This time around, I bought my big guy some new Nike football cleats for $20. I spotted the same ones at a big box sports store for $45! Score!

Don’t forget to catch me on The Mills at Jersey Gardens’ Instagram page!

Full disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received compensation to share my experience. 

Back to School Shopping Tips at The Mills at Jersey Gardens

I take my shopping very seriously, and that goes for our back-to-school shopping! So, imagine the elation when I learned that one of my blogging pals was going to be a featured speaker at a back-to-school luncheon hosted by my absolute favorite outlet mall in NJ. 10915046 10153528552209972 238288810995648385 o
Last week, The Mills at Jersey Gardens hosted a power lunch and featured lifestyle blogger and fashion trendspotter, Corine Ingrassia of Complicated Mama, and consumer and money-saving expert, Andrea Woroch. Together with several fellow NJ influencers, I got a guided tour and some Insider tips from The Mills at Jersey Gardens, as well as some great fashion and savings tips from the experts. 

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Since we’re all about spotting the hottest trends while saving some money, I thought I’d share some great insight from the experts.

 

 

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Back to School style tips from Corine Ingrassia:

 

Plan to layer- Think: cardigans paired with swing dresses, hoodies peeking through denim or leather moto jackets, crop tops over chambray button downs

Layering allows you to mix, match and stretch some of your kid’s favorite summer styles long into fall.

 

Choose quality over quantity

While we all love a good bargain—ultimately—with all the wear and tear kids give their clothes, we need them to last. Look for sales on brands you know will last the long haul.

 

Know your kid’s personal style

When kids are little we have more to say in what they wear, but as they reach the tween years, they develop their own sense of style (for better or for worse).

 

Top trends for 2015 BTS:

Mix and match prints

Jogger pants 

flannel, florals, moto/chunky ankle boots, just like the 90s!

Neon is still holding strong

Textures and prints

Slip-ons are top picks for kids: ballet flats, vans, Nike Roshe Runs, Bobs, ankle boots and moto boots

 

According to NRF’s Back-to-School Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, the average family with children in grades K-12 plans to spend $630.36 on electronics, apparel and other school needs, down from $669.28 last year. As for where consumers will finish their shopping, discount stores will see the most traffic (53.4%), while 46.8 percent will shop at department stores.

 

Money Saving Tips for BTS Shopping from Andrea Woroch

Andrea Woroch had some excellent tips on saving money while back to school shopping at The Mills at Jersey Gardens.

 

List and plan: always devise a plan when heading to any outlet mall. 

Research deals in advance

Hold out for Holidays: While outlet centers offer discounts of 30-40% on clothing throughout the year, the best time to shop for serious savings is over holiday weekends like upcoming Labor Day when you can expect deals to be as big as 70% off.

Look for coupons, including the coupon book that you can buy at the mall.
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Pay with cash

Buy off-season

Review the return policy

 

Tips for Shopping at The Mills at Jersey Gardens from an experienced (obsessed) shopper

Having been a loyal shopper of The Mills at Jersey Gardens even before I became a parent—or a blogger for that matter—I was quite thrilled to learn several things that I didn’t know about this mall. (I had no idea about the coupon book!) I do my major shopping trips here, such as back to school and my Christmas shopping because I get the best bang for my buck. Here in the northern NJ and the NYC area where retails stores are plentiful AND top dollar, maximizing your money on name brands is a big deal, and to me, so worth the few extra miles.

 

 

When shoe shopping goes awry. #4hrsofcrazy

A photo posted by Jen Rabulan-Bertram (@jenrab) onAug 29, 2013 at 11:41am PDT

 

Timing: Get there early on a weekday if you can swing it. Weekends can be crowded and overwhelming, even moreso at an outlet mall for BTS time. If possible plan to spend a long time at the mall. Bargain hunting takes time! Definitely don’t shop at this mall if you’re on a time crunch because you will be late! (speaking from experience!)

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Parking: I never park at a mall’s main entrance. I always park at larger store’s entrance and walk into the mall that way. I always park at Bed Bath and Beyond along the right side of The Mills. Parking doesn’t fill up as fast and it’s centrally located. I’ve been known to drop off bags to my car often because I buy so much here, so closer parking can be key!

Coupons: Like Andrea’s tips above state, be sure to look for coupons before shopping. Since I shop at this mall so often, I’m on mailing lists for most of my favorite stores. In addition to printing out coupons from online, make sure to grab those coupons from the mail. Also, check out your memberships for extra discounts. In my AAA newspaper, I found a coupon for 40% off at Reebok! Also, be sure to mark your digital coupons as favorites on your phone so you can pull it up when you check out. The mall has free wi-fi, so if you find yourself in a long line, Google “current coupons” for that store.

 

Discount stores: These stores have the best selection for name brands! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve scored deals upon deals for brands that we love at this Marshalls or Saks off Fifth Avenue. We’re big into surf and skate brands; considering the demographic and popularity of these items in northern Jersey, we tend to score them on clearance racks because they’re just not that popular here.

And speaking of deals, since I finished most of my boys’ schools shopping earlier this summer, I splurged on a few items for myself for our trip to Va!
 

 

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The Mills at Jersey Gardens is located at 651 Kapkowski Rd., Elizabeth, NJ 07201, a few minutes from Newark airport and right by the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.

Full disclosure: I received a generous gift card and gift bag as part of my partnership with The Mills at Jersey Gardens. As always, all opinions are my own. 

 

 

 

Town Shop Offers Great Selection of Maternity and Nursing Bras

I received compensation as part of my relationship with the Quality Blue Community.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Shopping in NYC is unlike any other experience. There’s a store for everything, and everything is always accessible. But with the prominence of big box stores, often the personalized shopping experience is sacrificed for the accessibility. 

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But something an NYC boutique gets right: an intimate and attentive shopping experience. Last week, I had the opportunity to visit the Upper West Side Institution, Town Shop. The lingerie and bra boutique that’s been family-owned for four generations capitalizes on its bra-fitting expertise, staying abreast on industry trends and their penchant for catering to their customers, whether its at their famed “bra bar” or one of the gorgeous fitting rooms.

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On the evening of my visit, I was greeted by the eye-catching fluorescent pink sign. The vertical sign, akin to a statement piece, has its own history, and one that current owner Danny Koch would tell me all about. Koch and his wife, Nicole, gave me a personal tour of the store. But before I had their undivided attention, Nicole attended to one of their last customers for the evening. Even minutes after the shop closed, Nicole carefully and charismatically assisted the customer, who had an urgency for a specific bra. Upon procuring THE bra for the customer, Nicole joined our conversation that outlined the storied history of Town Shop.

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In between the anecdotes that painted a picture of this unique boutique and its expansive selection of hosiery, bras and loungewear, Danny showed off the growing corner of maternity and nursing bras and garments. Several racks showcased everything from bras to nightgowns to loungewear, with many of my favorite specialty maternity brands in between. One bra in particular that caught my eye was the Cache Coeur, a French nursing bra that features a magnetic closure. Genius!

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Danny, who not only does the buying of merchandise for the store, works the floor alongside of the other fitters.  Danny detailed several other nursing bras and was able to tell me about each one and why he chose to sell it in Town Shop. All of the nursing bras were innovative and reflected the discerning taste of clientele that typically shops at Town Shop.

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In addition to the nursing bras, Town Shop has a great selection of pajamas and loungewear for pregnant and new moms. The maternity section boasted Belabumbum and Ingrid and Isabel cotton night gowns with nursing-friendly silhouettes and flattering cuts, among other maternity wear. I especially appreciated the stylish maternity swimwear, which is something quite difficult to find these days. The various bathing suits came in different cuts and in both one and two pieces.

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Beyond the nursing and maternity offerings, Town Shop touts an exceptional selection of undergarments of all colors, bathing suits and tights for all figures. I absolutely loved going around the store and learning about Nicole’s favorite things. The L.A.M.B. cami and Lysee tights were just a few of my favorites. (I’ve since added them to my Christmas List.) Not to be outdone by their selection or stellar customer service, Town Shop’s strength lies in their expertise for bra fitting.  As Danny and Nicole told me, they don’t use a measuring tape to fit their customers. Each bra, just like their customer, is different. Ultimately, the way a bra fits transcends a measurement. 

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I learned so much from Danny and Nicole Koch, but most importantly, I came away learning that bras have more than 30 moving parts, and that a good bra is a great investment. Town Shop has the knowledge and resources to help customers make educated decisions, especially when it comes to nursing and maternity wear.

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A big thank you to Danny and Nicole for taking the time to show me around Town Shop!

 

Free Shipping Day is Today

Haven’t finished your Christmas shopping yet? Yeah, me neither.  If you need to round out that shopping list and were hoping to avoid the crowds and madness at the malls by shopping online, there’s still time.  And lucky us, today, December 17th, is the third annual Free Shipping Day.

Free Shipping Day is a one-day event when consumers can shop online from their favorite brands and receive free shipping with delivery by Christmas Eve.

Free Shipping Day features hundreds of retailers and popular brands, making it a perfect reason to wrap up your Christmas shopping without leaving the house.  If you’re like me, and just have those last few people on your list to cross off AND already know what to get, Free Shipping Day was created for busy people (and procrastinators) alike.

Big retailers like Macy*s, Toys ‘R’ Us, JC Penney and Barnes and Noble are participating in Free Shipping Day, and smaller specialty stores are included in the list, too.  In many cases, today, December 17, is the last day that retailers can ship to get products out in time for Christmas, but be sure to pay attention to the fine print, as some stores require a minimum purchase.

To finish my shopping list and take advantage of free shipping, I have my eye on the Discovery Store, Tilly’s and The Big Toy Book.

Happy Free Shipping Day!

NKT Cyber Monday Top Picks

I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving!  I took an unexpected, but much needed hiatus to focus on our family and home, but it’s always great to get back into the swing of things.

Now that the turkey and leftovers are a fond memory, it’s time to start wrapping all of those Black Friday finds.  What? You didn’t make it out on Black Friday? You, too, can score great deals today, just like many of us crazies did in the wee hours of Black Friday.  And in some cases, the deals are comparable or even better, considering you don’t have to wake up at 3am to deal with crowds.

There are tons and tons of deals all over the web all day today, toys included, but here are NKT’s top Cyber Monday Picks:

  • DisneyStore.com has a great sale for Cyber Monday.  You can save up to 25% Extra + Free Shipping, and if you buy more, you can save more.  Take an extra 25% off $125+ orders, 20% off $100+ orders, 15% off $75+ orders or 10% off $50+ orders on Cyber Monday. Plus get free shipping on all orders with coupon code CYBER. These cool Toy Story 3 bookends, which weren’t on sale on Black Friday, are currently on my list for the kid’s playroom.  Not really a toy, but a unique, but functional way to fulfill a want for Toy Story fans.
  • Macys.com has one of the best big department Cyber Monday deals. For today only, they’re offering free shipping for purchases over $75.  Use the code CYBER
    Only caveat? As with all major sales, you have to act quick. My pick for a great Macy’s pick, is this boy’s 4-n-1 Jacket System from Hawke & Co. for just $35. I bought a similar jacket for a bargain at Marshall’s, but this online steal is a great deal. As of 11am, this jacket was still available.

 

  • Barnes and Noble has quite a selection of DVDs for super cheap right now. These oldies but goodies would make perfect stocking stuffers. Horton Hears a Who and an older version of Green Lantern for under $5
  • Game Stop has a lineup of games on sale for Cyber Monday, but my pick is Just Dance.  Of course, you can’t forget the ubiquitous video games. A big, big trend for this holiday season are the awesome dance games, which are perfect for family gifts.  At just $30, this highly-rated dance game is sure to pick a hot gift for the entire dancing crew.
  • Think Geek is, hands down, one of our family’s favorite novelty shops. These guys have a penchant for curating the most interesting geeky gadgets and gift. Who wouldn’t appreciate plush bacon or wifi detecting hats?  They’re offering free shipping to contiguous 48 states w/ the code, CYBERMONDAY10 or -$10 on $30+ orders w/ CYBERMONDAY10.
  • Amazon is expected to be one of the powerhouse online retailers for Cyber Monday. They’re offering all kinds of great deals, but the Crayola Glow Explosion for $15.98 is my top pick.

Beyond toys and media, the kids need clothes, too, right?

  • JanieandJack.com is offering 20% off until midnight.  Sweater dresses and leggings for the girlies.  Need I say more?
  • With 50% off of everything in-store, I scored big time on Black Friday at the Gap for, ahem, myself.  But, for Cyber Monday Gap has 10% off  the code CYBER10 and free shipping for purchases over $50.  My top picks are this animal print coat and this sparkly scalloped dress for baby girls are both half off.  Add that 10% off and free shipping for over $50, you can’t go wrong at Baby Gap.
  • Those sweater dresses and leggings need boots, too!  Piperlime is also offering 20% off for Cyber Monday.  Check out thse adorable purple boots.  I need a pair for me!  For 20% off at Piperlime, be sure to enter Lucky20
  • 77Kids, as I’ve said before, is my new g0-to retailer for boys clothes.  I dress my guy in classic clothes with an edge, and 77Kids certainly fits that style.  77Kids and their sister stores, ae.com, aerie.com, are offering 20% off with Discount Code 45838295
    Quality, but affordable snowboots for the boy have been on my must-buy list for the kid, so I’m hoping to scoop these Sorel boots today to take advantage of the Cyber Monday deals at 77Kids.  Whether you live in the city or country and you get a good amount of snow, good snowboots are something I highly recommend in investing.  Cold, frozen feet + kids are a soggy mix.
    And while you’re there, be sure to design your own snowflake for childrens’ hospitals. 
  • The teens on my list are usually the hardest to shop for these days. Aside from video games, electronics and money, what else do they ask for? Tough one, right?
    The teens in our family have their specific likes and wants, but for the most part, they all love music. Maybe Hot Topic isn’t a store for everyone, but you can’t beat the deal they have on music tees. Get two music tees for just $50. For today only, they’re offering free shipping on orders $50 or more. I’m loving this Rush tee for girls and Willie is always timeless.  Discounts for music tees and free shipping are automatically applied to the shopping cart.

Happy Shopping, everyone!

 

OnTray: next best thing to an extra set of hands

While shopping, some kids get bored, some get hungry and some just want what they can’t have.  So, for those of us who try to get in and out of stores as fast as possible to minimize the chance of a public meltdown, an extra set of hands would be a big help.

ontray_buyphotoAnd that’s where the OnTray would come in handy.  The  OnTray is the brainchild of Laura Hamrick, a mom who spent a harried grocery shopping trip handing out snacks one-by-one to her three small boys, while trying to look through coupons and fill the cart.  We’ve all been there.

Hamrick then devised a way to occupy her little guys with a small tray that would easily snap on and off, allowing her to shop and multi-task a bit easier.  The award-winning snap-on tray can also can be used to hold coupons, keys and cell phones, making it a helpful gadget for multi-tasking parents.  On the safety front, OnTray is manufactured in the U.S. of FDA-approved plastic, BPA-free and it meets all new requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

If you’re like us and consider your stroller the shopping cart and a second “vehicle” I discovered that the OnTray is a great alternative to those snack trap cups!  The OnTray snaps onto stroller handlebars, allowing toddlers to access snacks and toys easily.

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Baseball and Build-A-Bear

In honor of opening day, check out the fun selection of MLB-themed gear Build-A-Bear has to offer.  My fave, of course, is Curly Teddy in Mets gear.*

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Build-A-Bear Workshops has teamed up with MLB once again to offer a families another way to cheer for their favorite baseball teams with Build-A-Bear Workshop Day at various ballparks, in addition to new team-branded merchandise.  On Build-A-Bear Workshop Day at the Ballpark, fans will receive exclusive team-branded stuffed animals while supplies last. Each furry friend comes with a free virtual gift redeemable at buildabearville.com, the Build-A-Bear Workshop virtual world.


Check your favorite team’s website for dates and details, but here are a few scheduled Build-A-Bear Workshop Game Day Giveaways:

Pittsburgh Pirates
Sunday, May 17 at 1:35 p.m.
Sunday, September 20 at 1:35 p.m.
New York Mets
Saturday, August 1 at 7:10 p.m.
Kansas City Royals
Sunday, May 17 at 1:10 p.m.
St. Louis Cardinals
Sunday, August 2 at 1:15 p.m.
Chicago Cubs
Saturday, May 30 at 3:10 p.m.
Friday, July 24 at 1:20 p.m.
Cincinnati Reds
Sunday, August 30 at 1:10 p.m.
San Francisco Giants
Saturday, May 30 at 6:05 p.m.

Goodies:
Score your own Curly Teddy or get one for your little baseball fan with this $5 off coupon.  Expires April 19, 2009

(Fellow Mets fans:  the choking hazard warning to the right of Curly Teddy is referencing small pieces included with the toy–NOT the game 😉  It’s a brand new year, a brand new ballgame…and a brand new stadium!)

Umi: shoe shopping for Spring

While we haven’t quite packed up all the winter gear, I am, however, looking ahead to the sunny days by browsing around for the kid’s spring/summer gear. Specifically, we’re on the market for a few new pairs of shoes to last this size and season. Even though I consider myself a shoe snob because I tend to remain loyal to brands that I know and love, I decided to check out a few brands that I’ve eyed at the playground. Right now, I’m smitten with Umi, a brand that I see often at the playground, as well as online. They’re smart looking shoes that look as comfy as they are cute.

umiAt first look, Umi has a distinctive style to it; that’s because the company handcrafts their shoes using European designs for comfort and fit. The company, which focuses solely on children’s shoes, says they craft their shoes from high quality nappa and nubuck leather. Reading further about this company, I was pleased to read that they emphasized that they use only non-toxic materials that are built to last. Sustainability, in my book, is key! Even better on the eco-friendliness front: the company uses recycled materials for packaging, in addition to using environmentally sound practices to manage their waste.

In February, Umi unveiled their spring and summer line which has quite a few shoes that are now on my radar. The girls’ shoes are so adorable as well–I am in love with the sweet style of Lucy. As soon as we have a chance to try Umi shoes out, I’ll be sure to post a review.

Goodies

  • Umi can be found at various brick and mortar retailers, as well as online. You can even find Umi at Diapers.com and hello, they’re having a sale on what looks like some winter styles.
  • Until April 30, Umi is offering 20% off any purchase—a sweet deal to welcome Spring. When you purchase online from their site, just enter SPRING20 at checkout.
  • To receive more information about Umi and to get the latest deals and promos, be sure to check them out on Facebook