ShoppingByMail is a shopping blog with a focus on unique goods from quality mail order sources.
ShoppingByMail.com is the online spot to find exciting or unusual products and unique gift ideas. We’re always searching the web for items that spark our interest and make us say, "I want that!" We post our best finds - the most unique, boutique, high-quality products available for purchase online.
Simply put, LEGOs are cool. I think they're one of the only toys you never really outgrow. I mean, who can honestly resist the urge to build a castle?
The LEGO Castle Tower Raid doesn't appeal as much to my feminine sensibilities but even I can admit that building a castle and rolling siege tower with trolls and knights is pretty awesome.
This playset is recommended for ages 7 and up and contains 364 pieces.
It's been a while since I've scoped out any LEGO sets, but the Castle Tower Raid is way cooler than I remember them being. Or perhaps I've simply come to appreciate a break from adult life - even if it is in the form of plastic building sets!
This is a great choice for the kids this holiday season. Don't worry, no one here will judge you if you want to play with the LEGOs, too.
$29.99 from LEGO
The Jenda voice calendar and family message center just might revolutionize how families keep track of daily schedules and recurring events.
Jenda sticks to your refrigerator with a magnet and records your appointments and to-do items with the press of a button.
Just press the month, day and hold to record to enter an appointment. When something is scheduled, Jenda reminds you that morning with a flashing "today" button.
Recurring events only have to be programmed once, and you can easily record chores or other reminders that aren't date specific.
Jenda works for recordings in both English and Spanish and is easy enough for anyone in the family to use.
$39.95 from Jenda
If your kids are begging you for a scooter this holiday season, check out the Fuzion Electron from NextSport.
The Fuzion Electron is a portable, ultra-light freestyle scooter with four wheels.
Many scooters only have two wheels but along with the stabilizing Fusion Steering Technology system, the Electron is one of the safest of its kind on the market.
The Electron has an aluminum frame and compact folding design that makes it easy to transport and store.
The scooter is designed for children ages 7 and up and can support a maximum weight of 130 pounds.
With its 360-degree hanger rotation, the Fuzion Electron can be used for tricks and freestyle maneuvers.
Scooters have become widely popular among young action sports enthusiasts, but the Fuzion Electron provides a safer and more stable ride than other brands.
The Fuzion Electron is available in blue, green or silver.
$59.99 from Amazon.com
Get organized for 2009 with a simple, stylish weekly planner from Sarah Pinto.
The Tapestry 2009 Weekly Planner is made in San Francisco from recycled paper and soy-based ink.
The planner is spiral bound with a silver metal spiral and the interior pages are printed in chocolate brown.
Both eco-friendly and stylish, the Tapestry planner is perfect for any woman on-the-go.
A portion of the proceeds goes to California Pacific Medical Center Pediatric Cardiology.
$25 from Sarah Pinto
Author Don Hoffman and illustrator Todd Dakins have a brand new children's book to celebrate the season - A Very Special Snowflake.
A Very Special Snowflake tells the tale of Jeff, Veronica and their new puppy Snowflake. After playing outside in the snow, Snowflake disappears and Jeff and Veronica search the neighborhood for her.
Hoffman is an Emmy award-winning children's book author and Dakins' colorful and endearing illustrations are quite memorable.
Your little ones will be thrilled to snuggle up with a copy of A Very Special Snowflake this winter.
$3.99 from Amazon.com
Engage your children's interest in learning to print with a personalized Signature Stamp from The Little Stamp Company.
With this simple self-inking stamp, your little one can learn to print his or her own name by connecting the dots.
The Signature Stamp is an all-in-one stamp with child-safe ink that can be customized with up to 9 characters.
You can select all caps (i.e. ERIKA) or proper case (i.e. Erika). You also get your choice of ink color - blue, purple or green.
The ink is non-toxic, water based and washable, made from FDA-approved ingredients.
Definitely an educational and interactive stocking stuffer for the little ones this holiday season!
$24.95 Canadian from The Little Stamp Company
Dry, cold weather can really take a toll on your feet. Luckily, CalleX Ointment is one of the few foot care products that actually does what it says.
CalleX Ointment exfoliates and softens the dry, cracked skin that develops on your heels and feet. It uses natural enzymes to get through the tough exterior on your feet and slough off dead, dry skin.
CalleX uses peppermint oil for natural fragrance and petrolatum to moisturize your feet, and it contains no chemicals, acids, parabens or lanolin. Best yet, it's not tested on animals, either.
CalleX has also been tested as diabetic-friendly.
With daily use, complete exfoliation and/or softening takes between 2 and 4 weeks, depending on the amount of dry or thickened skin on your foot.
I've always been skeptical of these types of products. I'm the kind of person who walks around barefoot constantly, and boy do my feet show it. But, after using CalleX for a few weeks, I'm noticing some improvement.
If you're hoping for better looking feet for the spring, start now with CalleX Ointment.
$14.95 from Xenna Corporation
Dogs tend to be rough with their toys - that's why you want toys that are designed to be rugged and last.
The Tugeez Twisted T-Shirt Toy from ReTeez is an eco-friendly and tough chew toy for dogs of all sizes.
The Tugeez is made from recycled T-shirt bottom hems that are tightly braided and sewn by machine.
This toy is especially great because when it gets too gross for your liking (as all dog toys inevitably do), you can safely toss it in the wash.
The Tugeez comes in two sizes; one is for smaller dogs and extends to 14" and the larger version stretches to 24" in length.
$10 and $15 from ReTeez
All first-time parents are bound to have questions about what to expect when the baby arrives.
There are plenty of formal parenting books on the market, but what if you're just looking for tips and tricks from moms and dads who have been through what you're going through?
What Haven't They Told Me? Practical Tips for Surviving and Thriving During Baby's First Year does precisely that.
Author Lorraine Fisher has compiled quick and easy hints from experienced parents - all provided in an easy-to-comprehend format.
This little softcover book guides you through preparing for the baby's arrival through feeding, diapering and everything in between.
This book is filled with practical advice and is perfect for parents who don't have the time to read through tomes on child rearing.
What Haven't They Told Me? is fun, colorful and not even a little intimidating - the perfect gift for new parents.
$14.95 from Off Ramp Publishing
Looking for a great gift for an expecting mom? Try the Tummy Honey 3-Pack from Bella B Body Care.
Specially formulated for new and expecting mothers, the skin care products in the Tummy Honey 3-Pack are designed to combat the battle scars of child bearing: stretch marks.
The 3-Pack includes Tummy Honey Butter for stretch mark prevention, Tummy Honey Cream for stretch mark fading and the Tummy Honey Stick, an easy-apply stretch mark prevention formula.
All of these are hypo-allergenic, contain no petroleum or lanolin (which comes from sheep's wool), plus they include anti-itch ingredients.
Their formulas include cocoa butter, shea butter, wheat germ oil, aloe vera, vitamins A, D and E and more.
Tummy Honey products won't leave behind sticky or greasy residues. They go on smoothly and provide instant itch relief.
The best part is they don't have an overwhelming floral or sweet scent - just a natural, mild fragrance that won't compete with your perfume.
The Tummy Honey 3-Pack comes in a gift-ready gingham-lined zipper bag and lasts about three or four months.
$57.95 from Learning Curve
