Comments (14)

By rebecca, April 19, 2012 1:04 am

I am participating in the Indigo Kids program by Mom Central Canada.  I received compensation for my participation in this campaign.  The opinions on this blog are my own. (This one’s also a giveaway!)

CONTEST CLOSED.

Colum’s class went on a field trip yesterday which meant I got to had to drop him off first thing in the morning and he would come home at the end of the school day. For this parent of a child in half-day kindergarten, this was nothing short of THE MOST WONDERFUL THING EVER. I still had a three year old and a baby to take care of, true, but now we had time to go places and do things.

My plan was to take the girls to an Indigo Kids location so they could pick out a birthday present for their brother. (Of course, when I say “they,” I mean Irene because Mary can barely even pick her nose. And by “Irene,” I mean Irene with my overbearing guidance.) I really wanted to go to the downtown location because I was craving some city action, but, you know, the parking. (Take the subway. What’s that? Take the highway? The subway. Take the subway. No thanks, I just ate.) My inner voice was trying to tell me something when I remembered that the Manulife Centre (where the downtown Indigo is) validates parking.  We were off.

This was going to be fun.

But just in case it wasn’t:

The kids section was really quite impressive. There was a large selection of games and toys and I very nearly broke the budget on a Radio Flyer scooter thanks to some merchandising mastermind who knew that all I ever wanted since I was a little girl was a scooter. Why could I never have a scooter?! Luckily, Irene was the one calling the shots.

How about this? Nothing says 6-year-old boy like a Blossom Bright Flashlight.

Ballerinas? Cupcakes? C’mon!

Okay, now. Let’s remember who we’re shopping for.

That’s much better because you can never have too many table hockey games. Or maybe the one we already have is enough.  Let’s move on to the books while we think it over.

There was a large selection of children’s books for kids of all ages laid out nicely. We poked around the activity books and science section for a bit before heading for the early readers. A friendly staff member approached us almost right away to see if we needed help. I did! Colum is a very, very good reader, I explained. Many of the early reading books geared at his age level seem too simple for him, but the stuff for older kids don’t seem appropriate either. He’s only just turning six. He still likes to look at pictures and he doesn’t like to be scared.

Here’s what she recommended:

And my favourite:

I love them all. Seriously, if you’re at the Indigo Kids in the Manulife Centre in Toronto, ask for Elizabeth. She’ll sort you out.

There was just one last thing to do before we left. I needed to get a little something for my special shopping helper, Irene. Inspired by the books I got for Colum, I vetoed anything based on a TV show. How about a colouring book? Then I had to outlaw anything princess and anything wedding themed. Yes! There were multiple colouring and activity books aimed at young girls based on some princess bride fantasy. What’s that all about?

Finally, I found just the thing for my little painter.

I can’t wait to find out how Colum likes his new books on his birthday on April 29. Unfortunately, neither can you. This campaign ends at the end of the month and I need to post this right away if we’re going to have time for our giveaway!

Enter to win a $35 Indigo gift card by leaving me a comment telling what you like (or think you would like) about Indigo Kids. Hint: they also do free gift wrapping which is perfect for that kiddie gift on the go. Hint hint: online shopping!

Contest closes at midnight on April 30th.

Indigo gift card winners from other blogs participating in the same campaign are not eligible.

Canada only.

CONTEST CLOSED.

Congrats to Margaret!

Comments Off

By rebecca, March 3, 2010 4:17 am

DAILY SNACK

A good children’s shoe store in the area is going out of business.

Which of course means,

Sale!

There was only one pair of running shoes left in Colum’s size,

By the time we made it there.

A very shiny black and red and gold pair of Reeboks,

That fit perfectly and seemed well-constructed.

A bit shiny for my taste,

But Colum liked them.

So, sold.

There was some confusion at the cash,

And the price seemed a bit higher than I thought it would be,

But doesn’t that always happen at sales?

Colum was tearing around the store,

And a well-meaning two-year old was all over Irene.

So I handed over my bank card and punched in my pin number.

I then took the small shoe box handed to me by the clerk,

And put it into the back of my stroller.

Fast forward an hour to when I suggest Colum try on his new shoes for my sister.

I open the box and find:

A size 7 pair of brown sandals?!

The sales woman gave me the wrong pair of shoes,

And nobody answered when I tried calling the store,

And who knows if they’ll still have the shoes that I thought I bought,

And they had better give me a full refund!

Poor Colum.

Poor me.