It’s hard to believe that Black Friday is just a few short days away.  This year, over 57 million shoppers are expected, which beats 2008 figures by 16%.  With that added competition, we thought we’d offer a few suggestions to maximize your holiday shopping. Many kids clothing stores will run Thanksgiving and Black Friday through Cyber Monday specials.  Watch for …

If you are a parent of two boys or two girls, passing clothing down the line is a snap.  But if you have one of each, sharing garments can be a bit more challenging.  The key is in the color and pattern choice.  While it’s easy for girls to sport red and blue, it’s a …

Only 9 days left until Halloween, which boils down to only 6 business days for Halloween shipping.  In light of that, we thought we’d forgo our normal sale post and highlight the last minute deals and shipping deadlines from some our favorite online kids costume and apparel retailers.  We still have a nice range of Halloween items right here on LoobaLee.  …

With parents holding on tighter to their pocketbooks, children’s retail stores are using creative strategies and incentives to entice shoppers to come back for more.  One such program is Gymboree’s successful Gymbucks program which has trickled down to their sister store, Crazy 8 who gives out Crazy Cash.   These incentives have helped the children’s retailer hold on in this economic …

Now that the kids are settling into their back to school routines,  it’s time to turn our attention to the end of October highlight, Halloween.  My kids have already started to scour the catalogs and peruse the stores for the perfect costume.  Some years they choose from our extensive personal costume collection that has accumulated over the years.  Other years, they must have something …

As a child, I can remember the pure excitement of back to school time.  I recall vividly the smell of my new leather Buster Brown shoes while holding onto my clean and shiny metal lunchbox (Yes, I’m an old timer who had a metal lunchbox).   The first day of school was typically a hot summer day but that didn’t stop me from wearing …

Finding style and quality at value prices for kids under 5 can be a challenge.  Little ones grow in and out of clothing faster than you can keep up but does that mean you should settle for discounted disposable clothing for your baby?  Baby Gap has always been the “go to” store for practical and fashionable baby clothing that will hold up from …

As you start thinking about hitting the stores for back to school supplies and clothing for your kids keep in mind the tax free weekend (or week) schedules offered by many states.  If you’re lucky enough to live in or near an area that offers a tax break you can save your hard earned pennies with …

It’s that time of year when marked down merchandise is hauled to the front of the store for quick sale.  It’s always fun to charge through the racks to find a great bargain but in order to maximize your savings, you need to shop wisely.  Whether you’re filling in your child’s summer wardrobe or you’re ready to …

Gymboree Gymbucks enthusiast?  I just found a 20% off coupon in the new June/July issue of Family Fun Magazine.  It’s good thru August 2, but consider using it before July 16 (start date of next Gymbucks Redemption period). MAJOR TIP:  To get the most leverage out of this coupon, use it during the Gymbucks EARNING …