Apps Lily likes and a trip to GOODWILL

I am really embarrassed to admit how many Apple products we own (at least nine, but I may be forgetting something). Hughes and I are SUPER frugal and were (still currently are) broke forever, but Hughes was an early Apple convert, and he has sold me on iEverything. In the long run, their products really are a better deal, because they are AMAZING and never break or get old. Honestly.

Yes, Lily has her own iPod (it is over 3 years old and was free but still works beautifully). She is a pro at it and never needs our help. She started using it at 19 months or so, and I know she will be using it for a long time. Lily is super careful and responsible, so it works great as a toy for her, because she would never throw it or lose it. Ever. I seriously think an iPod would be a perfect gift for a toddler, especially if you got a used or refurbished one. It IS an investment, because it is pricier than most kid toys, but this is one they will use for YEARS and will bring HOURS and HOURS of learning, entertainment to your kid and renewed sanity/shopping time/peaceful car rides to you.

Here are Lily's TOP favorite apps:

1. Tozzle (puzzles) ***Her FAVORITE ***

2. The Monster at the End of this Book (Old School Grover!)

3. Preschool Photo Touch Animals (Choose the correct animal. It is an AWESOME "first" app).

4. Preschool Memory Match (Old school Memory- 3 different levels) *other favorite*

5. Super Why (like the PBS show. I think there are 4 games in this one app)

6. My Play Home (it is an interactive dollhouse...the dolls can cook and take showers, etc...)

7. Weet Woo (they have videos from YouTube based on your kids' age. It is hard to explain, but it is AWESOME!!! They have a MUSIC channel (Wiggles, Fraggle Rock!!!!!, etc..), a LEARN channel (i.e. PBS shows, trucks, letters, books, poems, Reading Rainbow, etc...) and many others. It is REALLY amazing and they add new clips often. It basically filters YouTube clips and organizes them for kids. The videos are stored in a database, so you don't have to be on wi-fi to see the videos. I like it because it is usually just 2 or 3 minute clips and not a whole TV show.

8. All of the Sesame Street ones (the Count, a Grover farm thing, etc... just search Sesame Street)

9. The Dr. Seuss books (you just can't go wrong there)

FREE:

1. PBS Kids (awesome learning videos- PBS shows, obviously) *third favorite*

2. Hallmark Jingle (an ebook, decorate a Christmas tree, etc...)

3. Moody Monster (create a silly monster)

4. Humpty Dumpty (I think it is free): It is an ebook and it has a puzzle and some other things

I try to hunt promo codes and deals, so Lily does have quite a few apps. Starbucks has a Free App code once a month-ish, and some apps run specials with lower prices (to try and boost their rankings), so just be on the lookout. Although, I would rather spend $1.99 on a learning app that will last for months than on something that will just sit in her playroom, waiting for me to step on it.

Here is a link to Babble's 50 best iPhone/iPad apps: http://www.babble.com/products/kids-products/50-best-iphone-apps-for-kids/

Here is a link to Babble's 25 best Droid apps: http://www.babble.com/products/kids-products/android-apps-for-kids-2011/

Lily got a LEAP PAD from Santa, and we are actually loving it more and more every day. Once I stopped comparing it to an iPad, it really is pretty amazing. Plus, it is good for kids who aren't as cautious as Lily, because I think you can just stomp on it and throw it. Here are her two favorite Leap Pad apps so far:

1. Ozzie and Mack ebook (she just walks around quoting it)

2. Jewel Train

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I accidentally uploaded the pictures to this post and I am too lazy to re-upload, so GOODWILL is making this post, too. It is actually fitting, because we can only afford all of our iLuxuries BECAUSE of things like shopping at GoodWill.

(If only I had married a doctor or someone who made a lot of money).

:)

As mentioned before, WS is the most amazing place, ever (no traffic!). OF COURSE, it has the coolest GoodWill, ever which I just discovered today. I couldn't get a full shot, because of the glare (63 degrees in JANUARY), but the other side looks like this one and is the "Outlet Store."

(Aunt Paula, you KNOW I was thinking about you today!)

The Retail side is pretty nice for a GW: the people were very friendly, things were super organized, it didn't smell weird, etc...

I got some awesome deals (below)!

The Outlet side...Well, it was...an experience. It is just rows and rows of built in tables with...just STUFF (clothes, books, shoes, broken vacuums, stuffed animals) piled high. I think it was stuff that didn't make the cut for the actual Retail side. The best part: It is sold by the pound! 0-25 pounds is $1.39/lb! I am serious! I can't stop laughing. It went up to over 100 pounds, I think.

I will sum it up with Lily's comments when we walked in:

- "I think someone is yelling?"

- "Mama, let's leave."

It was totally safe, I promise! But, people were digging and getting excited about their finds, and the whole thing just felt chaotic. I will not be visiting the Outlet, again. (Please spare me the comments about being cheap or an awful mom. It was really an adventure, and we got some super cute stuff!). :)

My Finds:

Seven jeans ($3) and a 50 cent book.

All of this for Lily ($2 or $3 each). It is in better shape than stuff I buy at consignment sales- and better brands! Plus, please check out the ARIEL pajamas! For $2!!!!!!!!

We deserved a donut (after a sanitizer bath) after the adventure. (Did I mention I had a free donut coupon?)

**Also, I was just reading my sister's blog, and I was thinking about how funny it is, because we even sound the same on our blogs. Plus, there is a hilarious video of Lily and Anderson on it, and Melissa and I REALLY sound alike when we talk. It's creepy. Plus, my boy turns TWO tomorrow!

Her blog:

http://thegloverfamilyblog.blogspot.com/