“Zoobooks” — the #1 Kids Magazine about animals — is for kids ages 4-12. Full of great photos and illustrations, it can be a great addition to your at-home learning materials.

Kids love to get their own mail — especially when their mail could contain anything from a wild-eyed tiger to a cuddly koala. Each and every month, watch your budding animal-lover turn away from the television and eagerly curl up on the couch to make new discoveries about another exciting animal. Be prepared for a lot of “Mom, Dad — did you know…?”

Each Issue spotlights a different animal. Brilliantly photographed, simply written, advertising-free. Interactive games in each issue to make learning stick. Endless subjects for school reports for all grades, all ages.

No ads, free issue, this is a great deal.

How to Subscribe

Just fill out their simple online form — you can pay now or pay later. Makes a great gift too. They also have a magazine called “Zootles” for kids ages 2-6, so there really is something for everyone.

Do you enjoy finding the perfect face wash, amazing eye shadow primer, or soothing bath salts? Have you been wondering if there are stores online to help you find the best beauty products? Here are some I’ve found which offer that little “something extra” you’ve been looking for.

» LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

Yummy Bath Bombs, Bubble Bars, Soap, Shower Gel, Hair Care, Skin Care, Fragrance — you can’t go wrong here.

» Beauty.com

Great selection of big names in cosmetics, plus they share a shopping cart with Drugstore.com so it is easy to qualify for free shipping. And you also get to choose three free samples with every order.

» The Body Shop

They have fabulously scented products and so much more. And shop by February 17th and get up to 75% off plus Free Shipping on orders over $60.

If you’re one of the ga-zillions of people who vowed that 2008 would be the year they finally got their bills organized and under control, have I got the tool for you.

You’ve probably heard of Quicken and think of it as something used by small businesses or extra-organized Type-A folks. While that may be true, there’s now a version of Quicken that’s right for just about anyone: Quicken Online.

Quicken Online is not a monster of a workhorse designed to help you run a company or streamline your family trust fund accounting. Instead, it’s an easy-to-use web version of the classic Quicken software. You don’t need to be Bill Gates to get your family finances organized once and for all.

They even have my favorite feature: a 30-day Free Trial. No risk! Just sign up for free and see if it works for you.

Unfortunately, my resident LEGO-maniac is not even 6 yet, otherwise we would absolutely be the proud owners of this amazing new LEGO set.

When completed, it stands THREE AND A HALF FEET TALL. Oh my. I can’t let Mike hear about this until he’s at least 10. And I finally get around to building him his own LEGO-wing on the house…

Do you have a LEGO-obsessed kid in your house? Let the grandparents know about this for the next birthday gift idea. It looks like a blast to build!

Every time I inch the thermostat up a degree, my husband gives me a dirty look. Heat is expensive no matter where you live, but the cold weather is here in most parts of the country.

Instead of turning up the heat in your house, how about you get a great deal on toasty warm throw blankets?

Buy one, get a second one 50% off — and they start at just $19.99, so this is a great deal.

Plus, if you order by January 31 you also get $5 off by using coupon code D8A5AFF

I. Heart. Target. And I also love free shipping, so imagine my excitement when I’m able to combine the two.

Between now and February 2nd, you can get Free Shipping on select items in kitchen, appliances, and health items.

Have you heard that four major networks have cancelled the remainder of their TV seasons in the face of the writer’s strike? Not thrilled at the prospect of watching endless Fear Factor clones? I have the solution for you: Netflix.

At our house we’ve been using Netflix to catch up on tons of TV series we missed out in their first runs, like Veronica Mars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, Lost, Friday Night Lights, and tons more. It’s easy to browse their site to see if they have shows you want to watch. With the recent turn of events we plan on using Netflix even more, and so should you if you enjoy relaxing in front of the boob tube after the kids are in bed.

It’s easy. Just sign up, make a list of movies and TV shows you want to watch, and wait for them to arrive at your door. Keep them as long as you like, and mail them back in the postage-paid envelope and wait for your next shows to arrive. No late fees, free shipping both ways, no pressure, just a huge selection of great titles. I don’t know how we got along without it!

And the best part? No risk. Just Sign up for your Netflix Free Trial and if you like it, you pay as little as $4.99 per month. Sweet!

When I turned 12, my mother and I went to the bank and opened a checking account in my name. She taught me how to balance my checkbook and the importance of always knowing how much money was in there, and every month she would deposit money sufficient to keep me in clothes and modest entertainment.

She never had to hear me ask her for money for a movie or other weekend activities. Other than large items like winter coats, she didn’t have to suffer through my teen years with me begging for every single new and trendy outift.

I knew that if I had enough money, I could buy it, and if I didn’t, I should consider saving up for it. My allowance wasn’t extravagant — probably equivalent to the change at the bottom of Paris Hilton’s purse — but it was plenty for me start to understand the value of delayed gratification.

By the time I got to college, I was able to keep my checkbook balanced, pay my rent on time, and still have enough left to purchase my college staples. You know, like ramen and mac and cheese. (Good times, good times.)

Well, enter the 21st Century, and now you have a slightly more sophisticated way to introduce your kids to the power of budgeting and saving: the Pay Jr Visa Buxx Card. That is just a long name for a product which will simplify your life as the parent of a tween or teen.

Pay Jr has two different cards for kids depending on their ages.

They make it easy to track your kid’s chores and any other conditions on their allowance. For older children, they offer a debit card fully controlled and trackable by you. You see the statements, you add the money if and when you deem it appropriate.

PAYjr is an online allowance and chore system for kids. The program is designed to act as a tool for parents to help manage the age old activity of managing chore charts and allowances with kids. Once a child turns 13, we offer the optional PAYjr Visa Buxx Card, which allows parents to electronically move money to their teen with the click of a button.

In addition, we provide parents with complete visibility into card activity, giving parents an important peace of mind. Teens love the PAYjr Visa Buxx Card because they finally gain the independence and ability to shop online without borrowing their parent’s credit card.

In addition, the PAYjr Visa Buxx Card is the only card that allows teens to upload pictures and art to create their very own card design..a feature teens really love!

PAYjr has been featured on the Today Show, the CBS Early Morning Show, ABC World News, and in the Wallstreet Journal and Parenting Magazine.

It is really easy to sign up and get started helping your kids learn about money. I’m pretty sure that if this had been around when I was a kid, my mom would have signed me up too :)

I turned out OK — see if it can help your kids!

Pay Jr Visa Buxx Card

Are you looking for a new car seat? You’re in luck! Evenflo has recently released a new model which aims to solve many difficulties with current car seat systems.

The Triumph Advance hit stores just months ago with first-to-market features that make safety and installation easier than ever before. The seat features an exclusive Infinite Slide Harness Adjustment system that makes it simple to find the proper harness placement as the child grows. Changing the harness height has never been easier.

Triumph Advance Deluxe Convertible Car Seat

• Increased! Rear Facing for infants 5 to 35 lbs.
• Increased! Forward Facing for infants 20 to 50 lbs.
• New! Infinite Slide Harness adjustment system
• Removable body and infant head support pillows
• Multi-position ReclineRight base
• Exclusive! TensionRight knob tightens harness easily from the side
• New! EPP, energy absorbing foam liner
• Fold-down cup holder for easy access to drinks and folds out of the way when not in use
• Removable, washable pads
• 2 buckle strap positions accommodate growing child
• Meets or exceeds all applicable U.S. safety standards

I love the large weight range which means you’ll be able to use it for a long time, and the easy-adjusting straps just might not make you wish your child would just stop growing! (Can you tell I really don’t like adjusting car seat straps? :) This looks like a very well thought out seat, and I think it should go on your short list when you go shopping.

You can get this seat at Amazon for $149 or at Target for $129.