I fully intended to make my son’s baby food. It was part of my overall plan to raise a green baby. I completely ignored the fact that my husband does 95% of the cooking when I went to great lengths to buy the baby food mill and the Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook. Seriously, how difficult could a batch of organic peas really be? What started out as a simple project ended up being a broadway production. I will never understand why my gourmet peas didn’t look or apparently taste as good as the fresh and frozen baby food I ended up buying for him at Whole Foods. While my culinary adventures ended before the peas got cold, I’m happy to share that my son can get fresh, homemade meals and I don’t have to turn on the stove.

The first thing I noticed when we visited pomme’s bébé bar was how fresh the food looked. I was immediately struck by the deep, rich color of their apple-blueberry puree, one of my son’s new favorites. Since he is still struggling with textures, we stuck to the basics and blends. We tried the carrots, green peas, pears, sweet potatoes, and apple-blueberry puree. The fruit and vegetable purees surprisingly look and taste like their respective counterparts, only blended. I have yet to find a brand that matches their unique flavors and blends.

Jarred baby food undergoes high-heat processing to attain a shelf life up to 2 years. This process depletes food of it’s color, and more importantly the nutrients that are so vital to your child’s growth and development. pomme’s bébé’s fresh and frozen organic meals are prepared by hand in small batches and simmered slowly to retain the maximum amount of nutrients. Their meals are purely organic which means they are devoid of preservatives, fillers, artificial flavors/sweeteners, chemicals, hormones, or antibiotics. With gourmet variations uniquely formulated for each of your tots stages of development and prepared by five-star chef Laurent Brazier, your baby will probably be eating better than you do.

If you are in the area, stop by their fab bébé bar complete with ultra-chic fresco bloom high chairs and a cool tasting bar. Moms and babes alike can indulge their taste buds in fresh food samples. Check out their local, seasonal, and frequently updated menus. Can’t get there? Visit their online store or or place your order over the phone. They’ll flash freeze your organic meals to lock-in the freshness and ship them directly to your front door in environmentally-friendly insulated containers over dry ice. Note that pomme’s bébé’s organic meals must be consumed withing 3 days if fresh and 2-3 months if frozen. - Caryn (Who I am intensely envious of for living so close to Pomme that she could review it in person.)

If you have kids (which I assume you do if you’re a regular at T.O.P. - tell me if I’m wrong…) you have probably played the “uh-oh” game toys, sippy cups, cutlery and any number of other things. It may be cute at first (just may-be) but after the seven hundredth time it gets a little old.

Crafty mom Allison Conta of Ali Designs has created the Ali-Oops! Toy Clip just for you. It tethers your child’s toys, sippy cups, snack traps, and more directly to the stroller, carseat, or highchair.

Each toy clip is approximately 10 inches in length with heavy duty snaps on either end for attachment. They come in two different sizes and make a great present topper for a baby gift or first birthday gift.

Sippy cup - $4.99
Soother - $3.99
One parent saving another from the endless game of drop and retrieve - priceless.

Win it! Ali Designs is giving away two TOP readers a toy clip of their choice. To enter, leave a comment on this post stating which of these you would like if you’re one of the randomly selected winners. Contest closes at noon MST on May 21, 2008.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

If you’re a regular around here, you know I’m a sucker for handmade and a sucker for accessories for my daughter. Glamorous Girl combines both of these loves in a great Etsy shop. Shop owner Julie Grubb hand makes a variety of girlie and glam hair accessories including the clips and reversible bands pictured at right. The clips are made with alligator clips and she uses non-toxic glue. She’ll gladly add non-slip grips at your request to keep them in finer hair.

You’ll also find some way cool vintage and funky hair pins and ponies.

If you’ve got a daughter (with hair - that’s a prerequisite) I encourage you to shop Etsy and stop by Glamorous Girl on your travels!

Win it! One randomly selected winner can choose any item from the Glamorous Girl Shop!

To enter, leave a comment on this post indicating the specific item you’d choose if you win. Contest closes at noon MST on May 19/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

May all of you spend the day surrounded people you love and may they appreciate the sacrifices you make every day, just because you’re their Mom.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Great news - there’s been so much interest in our review of the Flipper toothbrush holder that the company is giving all of you a 20% discount!

Now no home needs to be without this great invention that keeps toothbrush germ sharing to a minimum.

Save 20% on your Flipper toothbrush holders with the code “opinionated parent”

If everyone else jumped off a bridge, we’d be right behind them.

Or something like that.

The Opinionated Parent is now on Facebook! Come join our group!

You’ll have chances for extra entries and occasionally special prizes just for group members.

See you on the flip side Facebook!

See that picture right over there?

That’s my two year old son’s debut at The Opinionated Parent.

As he’d say…”Ta dah!”

I’ve never posted any of my kids here before, but he just looked so cute in his stars birthday tee from Tote and Tee that I couldn’t resist!

The nifty tees at mom-owned Tote and Tee are so incredibly awesome I’m almost speechless. That could also be the cuteness of my kid rendering me so, but nevertheless…

Designer Amy Trusler hand makes each tee in her own home. They’re available in a huge variety of colours and styles and the amazing array of fabrics can be applied in any letter or number to suit the little people in your life. Too bad it’s not cool to advertise “32!” because I’d totally do it if I could get away with it. (I’d look good in this style!)

They also carry the cutest (and softest - -wow soft!) knee socks and tights I’ve ever seen. The socks have a slight roll down at the top so there’s no digging in but they’re just tight enough to stay up.

And these personalized lunchboxes? (The “tote” part of Tote and Tee.) To die for. Figuratively, of course. (I think this one would look great with my imaginary “32″ tee. Alright. I’ll stop now.)

Amy is currently holding her Biggest Sale Ever until the end of May with all socks and tees on sale!

Save a whopping 20% on your order (including sale items!) with the code oparent.
This code is also listed in the TOP Shops!

Win it! One lucky reader will win a $25 gift certificate to Tote and Tee. To enter, leave a comment telling us what you’d purchase with it! Contest closes at noon MST on May 16/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

The Opinionated Parent(s) have been testing out some soft soled leather shoes that are new-to-us but have been around for over ten years. Apparently we’ve all been living under a rock.

ShooShoos are incredibly soft and the price is definitely right at only $12.95 - $18.95. I know! I originally thought that was a typo. It certainly makes me regret what I’ve spent in the past.

My daughter is currently sporting these (pictured) and there’s nothing we don’t love about them. From the soft leather body to the non-slip soles to the turned over ankle seam to protect her soft newbie skin, Shooshoos are great shoes for a great price!

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Let me begin this by saying that my little man is just NOT a shoe guy….It takes a lot of effort to get a pair of socks and shoes on his little feet! However, I recently had the chance to review a pair of ShooShoos for him, and I must say that I was very impressed! From the first day, I could tell he was really comfy in them and being that they just slip right on, it was a much easier approach than what we were used to. He wore them the rest of the week, with no fussing or whining, and even brought them to me when I told him to go get his shoes…If you knew my little man, you would know that this was just short of a miracle!

ShooShoos was started in 1996 in South Africa to uplift disadvantaged communities and now sell internationally to over 20 countries. All the shoes are manufactured in Cape Town, South Africa and are Pediatrician Recommended. Impressive, huh? Their line boasts some super-cute styles….My favorites being the “Brown Suede Sports” for boys (pictured) and the “Fushia T Bar” for girls, just to name a few. They have so many great choices that it’s really hard to pick a favorite! Every pair of ShooShoos features an elasticized ankle, 100% napa leather construction, non-toxic dyes, non-slip soles (a big MUST for this Mommy!), no laces to trip over and all cotton thread and lining. They have sizing from 0-24 months for both boys and girls and ShooShoos pricing is much more economical than other comparable brands!

To sum things up, I just can’t say enough good things about ShooShoos….They are super-cute, super-comfy, and super-convenient! All the makings for a happy little boy around my house…I only wish I had found them much sooner! They also look to be very durable and though only time will tell, I have my bets on them holding up very well! Head on over to ShooShoos and check them out now…You’ll find some great summer styles and they have very fast shipping! - Sara

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My 16 month old son is growing up so fast that his shoes can’t quite catch up with him. I can’t ever seem to find shoes that are soft enough for his growing young feet and yet sturdy enough to withstand the vigorous action he subjects them to. This is why I jumped at the chance to review a pair of shoes from ShooShoos USA. Started in 1996 in Cape Town to uplift disadvantaged communities, ShooShoos has grown into a worldwide brand with sales in over 20 countries. Their shoes were designed with the help of pediatricians and sport shoe institutes to give young feet the healthiest start.

Since Kiddo loves trains, I picked the Blue Suede / Red Train Soft Soled Leather Baby Shoes from ShooShoos’ vast array of cute, well-designed shoes. They arrived beautifully packaged in a clear child-size plastic tote. Unlike traditional shoes, the gentle elasticized ankle on these soft and flexible navy leather shoes (with a cute little red train on them) made it a breeze to slip them on Kiddo’s feet and even his busy little fingers couldn’t take them off. Before long, Kiddo was careening around the house yelling “Choo Choo” (his favorite word second only to ‘no’) and I watched secure in the knowledge that these shoes made out of 100% Napa leather with their non-slip soles would keep him from slipping/falling. With their non-toxic dyes and all cotton thread and lining, they’re ideal for tender young skin. And when these shoes get dirty, I just toss them in the washer with like colors and voila! Clean (Shoo) Shoes!

I love them and so does my toddler. - Rashmi

Save 10% on your ShooShoos with the code top until May 31, 2008. That makes them…super cheap!

The above image (of three more awesome pairs of ShooShoos) will take you right to the ShooShoos USA site - you’ll love it there!

Win it! ShooShoos is giving away FIVE pairs of their fab shoes to five winners! To enter, leave a comment on this post by noon MST on May 15/08 indicating the style and size you’d like to win.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

If you have children and you have ever left the house with them, chances are you’ve been stuck waiting somewhere with the challenge of keeping the little rugrats occupied. Whether it’s in a waiting room, a restaurant, the car or boring Aunt Millie’s house, Think-ets are a wonderful and inexpensive addition to your “bag of tricks.” Actually…they are the bag of tricks.

Think-Ets is a mesh bag (with only a piece of recyclable cardboard as excess packaging - woo hoo!) filled with trinkets designed to encourage imaginative play and critical thinking. The company suggests a variety of games for two or more people that can be played with nothing but this little bag of goodies, but there are really an endless variety of things you could do that aren’t suggested there. They’re designed for ages 8-108+, yet younger kids like them too. Keep in mind, though, that they’re a bag full of choking hazards that need to be kept away from kids 3 and under. And perhaps 95 and older if Grandma’s gotten to the stage of thinking everything’s candy.

Aside from the pure genius of the product and the eco-friendly packaging, there are still more things begging to be mentioned. The toys are assembled by individuals with disabilities being paid a fair wage, which I love. If I ever was industrious enough to start a business, I’d totally do that. For now, though, I’ll support other people who do. The pieces are all lead-tested and hand made by fairly paid artisans in Mexico, Germany and elsewhere.

Buy Think-ets from their online store for just $9.99. Or, buy five and get free shipping. They’d make great birthday gifts and stocking stuffers (no, it’s not too early!) and I recommend keeping one stashed in purses and vehicles for those rare frequent times when you just need something to keep the kids busu so they don’t drive you insane.

Win it! We’re giving away a Think-ets to one winner. To enter, leave a comment on this post before May 13/08 at noon MST. Tell us some of your ideas for keeping kids occupied when you’re out and about or in the car.

Additional entries are always available. See contest entry information and rules.

In decades past, if you gave most mothers a piece of computer equipment for Mother’s Day you would have been in the doghouse for weeks. Not anymore.

We’ve got the perfect gift for the tech-savvy yet fashionable mama.

The Cruzer Gator is a flash drive adorned with stylish mock alligator skin. It’s available in three great colours and comes in 2 GB (pink), 4 GB (red) and 8 GB (black) capacities.

But what’s style without function? The Cruzer Gator has some fantastic features. I particularly love the password protected access control. Now we can safely store our data without worrying what someone may do with it should we misplace it.

Want to show off pictures of your kids at work? Take home videos to Grandma’s house? The Cruzer Gator is a suitcase of memories that fits in your purse and is lighter than your lipstick.

It also allows you to take your files plus U3™ compatible PC programs wherever you go, with no PC installation required. Never tried U3? You will love it! With a U3 smart drive - like the Cruzer Gator - you can plug your into any PC and work, play a game, message friends, send email, edit photos and more. A U3 smart drive makes any PC your own PC. And when you unplug it, it leaves no personal data behind. For a busy mom, that’s simply awesome.

Win it! We’re giving away a 2 GB pink and a 4 GB red Cruzer Gator to two winners. To enter, leave a comment with your favourite Mother’s Day memory. Contest closes on Mother’s Day - May 11, 2008.

Get up to three additional entries into this contest!

1. NOTE THE CHANGE FOR THIS CONTEST - On your own blog, post a picture that embodies Mother’s Day for you. Include, if you wish, the story behind the photo. Link to this contest using one of the top three images found here. Leave a comment with the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry) so that we can come check out your entry.

AND/OR

2.Subscribe to our RSS feed. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid email address so we can confirm your subscription.

AND/OR

3. Place our button in your sidebar or add us to your blogroll. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid url so we can confirm the addition.

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.theopinionatedparent.com"><img src="http://www.theopinionatedparent.com/images/topbutton.jpg" alt="The Opinionated Parent" /></a>

Maximum four entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED

I dig finding new & unique shops from which to clothe my kids, and I dig even more finding shops that are eco-friendly.

Pondür is a 100% organic and 100% stylin’ shop that started with a childhood passion. Owners Shanna and Christy are dedicated to inspiring the world, one tiny thought at a time. The Pondür shop features organic tees & onesies printed with thought-provoking and inspirational quotes.

My personal favourite and the one my daughter wears regularly - Take care of me, Take care of the world.

So true, my friends. So true.

Pondür’s unique, environmentally friendly baby apparel not only inspires the little one wearing it but also everyone who sees it.

With every purchase you make from Pondür, you’re making a difference for kids.

Save 20% at Pondür with the code TOP20.

Pondür is a proud member of the TOP Shops, where they and many others are giving you great deals just for being an Opinionated Parent!

Win it! Pondür is giving away a tee to one TOP reader in your choice of size, quote and colour. Value $23.

To enter, leave a comment on this post with your choice for all three - size, quote and colour - should you be the randomly chosen winner.

Contest closes May 14 @ noon MST.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules. Maximum 4 entries per person.

Parents know that the best shoes for baby are no shoes at all, but that doesn’t make it any easier to resist the gorgeous footwear options that abound from birth on up.

I’ve got some good news for parents who just can’t leave well enough alone. The brainchild of Winnie Liu,
Jazzy Toes™ are socks that replicate shoes. They’re available in ten styles for both boys and girls and are completely adorable - so much so that I’d recommend the variety pack, available in both boys and girls styles. Who needs shoes when there are socks that look like this?

Jazzy Toes socks have an elasticized ankle and non-skid grip on the bottom. They comes in a ready-to-mail gift box and are available in two sizes.

Win it! Winnie Liu is giving away a boxed set of Jazzy Toes to one lucky winner. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on May 12/08 stating which of all the boxed sets you’d choose, and in what size.

Additional entries are always available. See contest entry information and rules.

Once in a while, we’ll still place the information from that page within a post for your reference.

Here’s how to get those extra entries:

Get up to three additional entries into this contest!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here. Leave a comment with the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry).

AND/OR

2.Subscribe to our RSS feed. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid email address so we can confirm your subscription.

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3. Place our button in your sidebar or add us to your blogroll. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid url so we can confirm the addition.

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Maximum four entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED

Brothers-All-Natural is a company out of New York who sent some of their new freeze-dried Fruit Crisps and Potato Crisps for us to sample. They were pitched as a snack food that gives moms and kids a break from sugary fruit snacks and greasy potato chips.

If you shop at Whole Foods or Costco, you may have seen Brothers-All-Natural on the shelf, but they’re also available online from their site .

The Fruit Crisps and Potato Crisps are 100 percent all-natural, freeze-dried fruit and potatoes that come in single-serve packets that are easy to take in the car or pack in lunchboxes and are shelf-stable for one year. Each packet has between 30-70 calories.

They taste great and we love the concept.

But…

There are two very important things that we were not impressed with.

1. They’re not organic. While that’s okay for pineapples and potatoes, the pineapples, pears, strawberries and apples are extremely high in pesticides if they’re not organic. Giving these to kids would not be a good idea.

2. They’re made in China. Huh? A New York company with access to great organic North American foods and great North American factories has their “healthy” food made in China? I can’t think of any good reason for that. I’d pay a lot more for quality food (organic preferred) made anywhere BUT China.

Win it! If you’d like to try these out for yourself, we’ve got two prize packages to give away. Each contains 2 bags of fruit crisps and 2 bags of potato crisps. To enter, leave a comment on this post by noon MST on May 9/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED

I’m a baby wearer. (Is there an echo in here? I wonder how many times I’ve typed those words.)

It’s definitely an addiction. I love the closeness and the hands-free parenting while still parenting, and am always excited to find more great carriers to share with you.

Not every carrier works for every parent, but I love the wrap style carrier for the comfort level. It’s like sticking your child inside a t-shirt. The wrapping takes a few tries to become easy, but once you’ve got it, it’s like riding a bike. I am loving the baby wrap carrier from Picara. It’s the only one I’ve seen that’s made from ribbed cotton so it only stretches one way - comfortable, but it never sags! I was in shock when I clicked through from the reader email recommending it and it was only $45. That’s a steal, even without a discount! (But you get a discount, because you’re special.)

Save 15% at Picara when you shop through this link.

Snikiddy is “a new line of organic food products designed to embody and encourage a healthy lifestyle for children. Packaged with fun activities that promote physical and mental wellness, these organic foods are healthy snack alternatives that parents can feel good about giving to their children (or eating themselves!).” The name Snikiddy is a shortened form of the word persnickety, meaning choosy or picky - a trait that embodies childhood eating!

Founded by Janet Owings and Mary Schulman ~ a mother and daughter team ~ Snikiddy snacks are only snacks in that they’re easy and quick to eat. They’re completely contrary to what most of us think of when we thing of pre-packaged snack foods. My son loved them, but he didn’t get very many because I’m a bad mom and I ate them myself. Oops! The cookies were definitely my favourite, but he preferred the cheese puffs. They were good, but too messy for my liking.

Snikiddy are currently available in 6 flavours. Read on to see what some of our reviewers thought.

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Snikiddy…what can I say to do them justice? I’ll start by saying that my 9 year old daughter is begging for more. They lasted only 10 minutes from the time they arrived in the mail!

We tried out the Grilled Cheese Cheese Puffs (Gluten Free) and the Chocolate Chippers Cookies. They were both wonderful! My 7 year old is extremely picky and even she loved them! They have already asked that these snacks be added to our grocery list. Too bad we have to go so far to get them though. The nearest store that carries them is over an hour away from us. I’ll be glad when they are more widely known and we can get them in our town. For now, I’ll settle for ordering them online. To get a 100% Organic snack that my kids will actually eat is amazing! I do not currently buy snacks at all but these are worth getting! I can’t wait to try out their other flavors, especially the Pizza Pie Puffs and the Banana Nibbles! Yum!

Thank you Snikiddy for considering the health of our children and making your products taste so great! - Gina

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My 3 ½ year-old son, Jonas, helped me check out Snikiddy Snacks . I was a little worried because I have a great love of health food but my son has never been much of an eater. He has been this way his entire life. Really, he only likes marshmallows and would eat them all day if allowed. [Ed: wouldn't we all?]

I gave him a bag of the Snikiddy Chocolate Chippers while we were riding in the car. His response? “CHOCOLATE! When I get home, I can get another bag!” When I asked if I could taste one, he replied very sweetly, “No, thanks.” These cookies got the picky child seal of approval!

I did sneak a taste out of another bag when he wasn’t looking and they are very good. They don’t taste like something is missing as a lot of healthy prepared snacks do. I can usually pass on a packaged cookie, but I could definitely eat an entire bag of Snikiddy Snacks! And that would be okay, because the entire (.85 oz) bag only contains 5g of fat and 120 calories!

We also tried Snikiddy Grilled Cheese Puffs. You know how many puffed cheese snacks pale in comparison to the original? These are actually BETTER. They are the right density, have a good flavor, and don’t leave a greasy aftertaste. I have seen my child pass on processed cheese snacks after only a few bites, but he steadily munched on the Snikiddy Snacks until they were gone! I was also impressed that one (.06 oz) bag of Grilled Cheese Puffs contains only 3g of fat and 80 calories!
So while you can feel good about giving Snikiddy Snacks to your kids (and being sure that they will definitely eat it), Snikiddy Snacks are also good news to us snackin’ parents out there who need to watch our waist lines! - Candice

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When my daughter started eating table food I vowed she wasn’t going to be one of those kids who ate a lot of sugary snack foods; I was only going to offer her healthy choices. For the most part I’ve been pretty good about that. We don’t have a lot of sugar-loaded snacks in the house and she does like fruit. We have fallen into a “snack rut” with the same old stand-bys. Living in a small town with no health-food store, it’s hard to find snacks that don’t contain a lot of sugar, calories, or high fructose corn syrup.

I was excited to receive the samples from Snikiddy. My family tried the Chocolate Chippers and the Grilled Cheese Puffs. They put all of the good information right on the front of the package “low in sugar,” “no trans fats, no hydrogenated oils, no corn syrup, no preservatives” and “USDA Organic” - wow, these sound like a great, healthy snack!

The Chocolate Chippers are mini-cookies; perfect size for small hands to hold. One bag’s serving size contains only 2 grams of sugar. My husband and I don’t normally care for crunchy cookies, and these are crunchy, but they were very tasty and we both liked them. My daughter had her own bag to sample and she really liked these cookies. “Mmmmm” was all I heard from her!

I’ve never given my daughter Cheese Puffs; they just aren’t something we buy as neither my husband nor I like them…and I don’t like the orange powder that gets all over your hands. These cheese puffs are little round balls (great for practicing the pincer grasp!) and come in a nice size serving bag. The white powder does come off on your hands, but it brushes off easily and doesn’t leave a huge mess on your fingertips (unless your kid is like mine and can make a complete mess out of any food!) My husband still doesn’t like the texture of cheese puffs, but he said the flavor of these were actually pretty good - I agreed and I shared the bag with Kayla who thought they were pretty good too.
You CAN have a great-tasting, healthy snack food without high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, perservatives, and ingredients you can’t pronounce! - Michelle

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As a health-conscious mom, I am always scouring the market for new products that don’t contain nasty, unnatural ingredients. Not only are artificial and chemical additives suspected to cause hyperactivity in children (among other things), who knows what health problems they may be linked to in the future. I was uber-conscious about what went into my mouth during pregnancy, simply because I knew what I ate, baby ate, too. Why stop when baby’s born? Or even when baby’s done with pureed food? And why have to sacrifice flavor and convenient packaging just so be able to serve up natural snacks to your youngsters?

That’s why I was tickled to find out about Snikiddy Snacks. There are so many health foods for kids popping up…but I must say that this company’s approach, packaging, and philosophy really grabbed my attention.

The first thing my 3-year-old son said when I handed him his first packet of their Grilled Cheese Organic Cheese Puffs was, “I really like that cool boy on the bag!” This company knows that kids are visually driven and can be marketed to most easily by attractiveness and likability. First brownie point scored!

That was even before the bag was opened. Hands down, we all adore the cheese puffs. They are just as good as…no, better than…the unhealthy fat-laden varieties available for years, and they have no artificial colors. (Read: No fluorescent orange powder staining everything in sight!) Hooray for “fanatically clean moms” everywhere! These snacks are also gluten-free.

Their Organic Chocolate Chippers are also a big favorite around here. Both of my children are chocolate lovers. (Perhaps “chocoloate snobs” is a better title….just like their mother,) I knew these cookies had to be great in order to win them over. I have to admit I was a little skeptical of whole wheat flour being among the ingredients. I’ve had quite a few baking mishaps when I’ve tried to substitute some of this for regular flour. No worries! The cookies were melt-in-your-mouth delicious, smooth, and tasty….they didn’t even taste “healthy.” [Ed: I use 100% whole wheat flour in everything and have never had a problem!]

All of Snikiddy Snacks’ products are certified organic by Oregon Tilth. They have no GMOs, no hydrogenated oils, no high-fructose corn syrup, no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, and no preservatives. They are sweetened with evaporated cane juice (Rapadura), which unlike most sugar, is not separated from the molasses stream during the manufacturing process.

One of the best things about Snikiddy Snacks is their nifty packaging. Their snacks come in individual Snack Pack sizes (enough for one child), Adventure Packs (boxes of five Snack Packs), and Sharing Packs (four to five servings per container). Sharing Packs! How cute is that?

You owe it to your family to pick up some of these snacks next time you go shopping. “Delicious, Mom!” was my 3-year-old’s exuberant response to these tasty treats. I’m sure your kids would agree! - Meg

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We are not 100% organic or 100% healthy at our house but I try to give the kids have a good balance between yummy junk and healthy snacks. I make sure apples and other fruits are washed and ready to grab from a bowl they can reach in the fridge and I usually keep the less healthy temptations up out of sight so I have some control over when they eat them ( I say some control because occasionally I have little monkeys that climb up to the top cabinets). I do like to buy some prepackaged snacks for when we are in a rush to get to school and its hard to find a variety of healthy choices with those. We get pretzels usually because they are one of the better choices but every now and then I buy things I’m sure have some not so great ingredients. I can never pass up a free snack so I was happy to test out Snikiddy Snacks with the kids. I never buy store bought chocolate chip cookies (I make my own) so I wasn’t sure what the kids would think of Snikkidy’s Chocolate Chippers. I thought they tasted good with a nice crunch and so did Ben and Jamie (we downed 2 packs in minutes). Ethan, my pickiest kid, didn’t like them and only ate one cookie, but remember he is only used to homemade cookies. I didn’t think they tasted healthy and thats just what you want in a cookie BUT they are organic and have no hydrogenated oils, no corn syrup and no preservatives. Definitely a good choice for those mornings when I am in a rush to pack the kids snacks, although I’d give Ethan the Snikiddy Grilled Cheese Puffs instead. These were a big hit with all 3 of the kids and me too. They also boast a healthy label while still being yummy and the bonus is that they don’t leave little fingers gross and cheesy like regular cheese puffs. Both of these snacks come in handy single serve packs or bigger 4-5 serving sizes. I will definitely look for these in my store to take the guilt out of purchasing prepackaged treats. - Heather

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Finding nutritional (and yummy) snacks for my little man has been a real struggle since he was old enough to eat them. Every type of snack that is good for him, he hates…And I must admit, I’ve tried some of them and they are pretty bad! However, I think I have finally come up with a solution that pleases us both!

Snikiddy snacks are certified USDA organic, but have the same yummy taste as all those “bad for you” alternatives! They are made from original family recipes and the finest natural and organic ingredients available. Every Snikiddy treat is absolutely free of hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives! In my book, it doesn’t get much better than that!

We had the chance to try the Chocolate Chippers and the Grilled Cheese Puffs, and were very pleased with both. The Grilled Cheese Puffs taste very similar to a yummy grilled cheese sandwich, a favorite of my little man. So needless to say, they were gone in just seconds! They are gluten-free and are the only USDA certified organic puffs on the market. These were very yummy to everyone in our house! The Chocolate Chippers were a BIG hit as well for our family! They are the only commercially available cookies made without refined sugar. My little man has a sweet tooth, so I have to say that these were his favorite! I was able to snag one from him before he gobbled them up and I was impressed as well…They taste just as good as those “bad for you” snacks, and leave me feeling much less guilty!

Thanks, Snikiddy Snacks for introducing such an awesome “snack-time solution” for our family! I recommend these snacks to all families, but especially those who have picky toddlers! Snikiddys have really mastered a snack that is nutritional without losing great taste. My little man loves them, and I feel good in offering him a snack that is much better for him! - Sara

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When it comes to food, do you have persnickety kids? Are you looking for Certified Organic and Certified Kosher snacks that are delicious and healthy to feed those persnickety kids? If you are, then Snikiddy Snacks may be for you!

Snikiddy Snacks were started in 2005 by a mother and daughter team. The mom (now a grandmother) formulated the fantastic recipes in her kitchen, using only high quality, organic ingredients. Snikiddy offers sweet and savory varieties of their snacks to please even the most “snikiddy” of kids! My 2 year-old daughter and I tried the Chocolate Chippers and the Grilled Cheese Puffs.

The Chocolate Chippers were the perfect little bite size cookie for us! They are crispy and crunchy, yet their flavor is sweet but delicate. I wasn’t overwhelmed by the sugary sweetness that I find in most “store bought” cookies. By using organic Rapidura sugar in their recipe, Snikiddy is able to provide a rich sweetness with a hint of molasses flavor. I was in love the minute I popped one in my mouth. My toddler felt the same way. She was asking for cookies all night long!

The Grilled Cheese Puffs are yummy too! While they don’t appear to be overloaded with cheese, you can tell very quickly that they are addictive. My daughter and I ate the snack sized bag very quickly, eventually licking our fingers because we wanted more! She liked them because they were easy to chew and tasted very cheesy. I liked them because they were delicious and made with wholesome ingredients. I can’t wait to try the other flavors!

Check out the freebies that you can get by collecting UPCs to send in. You can get T-Shirts and Art Supplies for your little “Snikiddy Snacker”. - Christy

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As an experienced mother of two, I am fully aware of the extreme importance of bribes. When shopping or attempting finish any task having healthy snacks at my disposal is of the utmost importance. We put Snikiddy Snacks to rigorous testing and this is how our family graded them.

Taste - A-
Ingredients - A+
Packaging - C
Mess Factor - D+

Becca was very excited to try a new snack. As a preschooler she is forever hungry and loves “snack” food. The Organic Cookies disappeared very quickly (I helped!). We both agreed that they were really yummy! We tried the Organic Cheese Puffs and decided they were great but not as good as the cookies. Becca even chose to save some for her Dad, something she would not been able to do if they were more than good.

I really like the fact that the ingredients are organic, free of artificial colors and flavors. As a family we are trying to do our part in supporting organic foods and farmers, so knowing we can do that with these snacks makes me happy.

I am not a huge fan of individual packages. I like to control how much snack food the kids get. Plus if I buy one package then package it myself there is less waste as an end result. The individual packages are not recyclable.

These snacks were very messy. Not only was my preschooler coated with crumbs and chocolate, so was my coffee table and carpet! We both had to wash up once we finished our snack. This is not my ideal for an on-the-go snack. I would not allow either the Organic Cheese Puffs the Organic Cookies, in the car for example.

Overall, Snikiddy Snacks are a great concept, with a lot of potential. They taste great and my preschooler gobbled them up. They could create less waste and mess for this mom. I am not sure about availability, but I will be watching for them at my grocery store! - Chelle

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Snikiddy Snacks aren’t yet available in Canada (let’s get working on that Snikiddy!) so we hope our American readers enjoy them! And if anyone feels like sending me some cookies in a care package, I wouldn’t object.

When I bought (okay, my mother in law bought…) my first stroller, I was very concerned about the cup holders. Little did I know that no matter how many and how deep they were, they’d still spill their contents everywhere when we hit bumps and would fall off and even break when they were stuck in the back of my vehicle. I suppose it’s akin to buying a car for the great mirrors and lipstick holder. You do it once and learn your lesson.

Now that my stroller is adorned with the fabulous (reader recommended - thanks Katja!) Think King Soft Buggy Cup designed by King-Yee Man, I’ll never worry about cup holders again. It’s made of squishable but sturdy mesh and nylon and is large enough to hold both a drink and your keys/wallet/cell phone but small enough to be totally unobtrusive. It’s flat bottom and drawstring top keep the contents level and secure. I stick my necessities at the bottom and my drink on top and I’m ready to rock and roll.

The Think King Soft Buggy Cup is truly the first cup holder I’ve found that really works and is multi-purpose. It attaches easily with Velcro to almost anything (strollers, car seats, scooters, bikes…), is easy to clean and pulls of in seconds if you want to move it to another stroller or location.

Get 15% off on your purchase of 2 or more with the code buggycup-top for the next two weeks only! (Ends May 16/08.)

Trust me when I tell you that you’ll want to keep both for yourself. I’m ordering even more - one for each child to keep on the stroller, one for my regular dose of caffeine and necessities, two for hanging in the van so I can ditch those blasted carseat cup holders, four to live on our bikes…

Hmmm, get yours fast before I put them out of stock!

When it comes to window shopping, I have a gift. I usually have no problem looking at the cute stuff, drooling a little, and moving on. Not this time. As soon as I saw the new custom room products from Jennifer Talbot at b.delicious, I knew that I simply had to have a few for my little girl. Just look at this stuff!

Gorgeous, huh?

Each piece of the décor is handmade using 100% wool adhesive backed felt, ultra suede, boiled wood, and printed cotton which features a woodland theme and incorporates three dimensional birds, owls, and buckets of apples.

Select pieces of the room décor are currently available at Jennifer’s website, b.delicious (check out the cute clothes, too). You can also see some of Jennifer’s works in progress at her blog, cup of coco.

Just be warned, you’re going to want this stuff. Seriously. - Kelli

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See our year-ago review of b.delicious clothing here.

I’m always shocked when I clean our bathrooms thoroughly (not often enough, but that’s another story) and see the mung that lives in the bottom of the toothbrush holders. That’s some serious grossness. With everything I do to keep my family safe from harm, I’m letting them put that crap near their mouths?

I’m won’t be concerned for long because I’m switching them all out for Flipper toothbrush holders. These cute and sanitary individual toothbrush holders adhere to mirror or tile with suction cups and allow for completely hands free operation with no chance of cross-contamination from brush to brush. They’re super easy to use (see the product demo at the right side of the home page) and when they get dirty I just toss mine in the toddler basket in the dishwasher and it’s good for another 10,000 miles.

They make a great razor holder too!

Save 20% on your Flipper toothbrush holders with the code “opinionated parent”

Win it! We’ve got a cute little golden retriever Flipper (pictured) to give away. To enter, leave a comment on this post listing your favourite Flipper design that’s NOT mentioned in this post. Contest closes May 9/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED

My baby is now three months and I am just getting around to sending out thank you cards. We received so many fabulous gifts, I just haven’t gotten around to the thank you cards yet. It’ tough to find time with four little ones. Besides the lack of time, I have a hard time with thank you cards, my hand usually goes numb before I’m finished writing all of them. That is one of the many reasons I was thrilled to order my cards online this time.

Announcements Galore offers a huge selection of themes and designs for you to create your own personalized photo card. They are beautiful ~ like a little 4×6 scrapbook page. I would have loved to do a birth announcement, but thought I may have missed the boat on that one, and opted for a Thank You card instead. The process was so simple. I sent in a picture of my darling Aisha, chose the wording for the card, approved the proof, and voila! It’s that easy. A short while later, the small package of 20 cards arrived in my mailbox and I am sending them out as soon as I finish typing this. I’ll be sure to keep one for Aisha’s baby box though, it will make a great keepsake.

The online shop for Announcements Galore is very user-friendly. I really enjoyed looking at all the different designs, fonts, and colors to choose from. The customer service I received was great, and the prices are fantastic too! The price is definitely right for such a professional looking photo card. - Andrea

Win it! We’re giving away a $30 gift certificate to Announcements Galore. To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us what specific item(s) you’d spend it on! Contest closes on May 10/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED

I’m a labeling freak. There are labels everywhere in my house - even the bin that holds the labels is labeled!

Lovable Labels is a Canadian mom-run company that carries a large selection of customized labels as well as some cool stuff to help a mom around the house. Goodness knows I need all the help I can get.

My kids especially love their unique fun stickies that are shaped like butterflies and dinosaurs and are available in lots more cool shapes (pictured at right). Believe it or not, they’re less likely to leave their things lying around the park when they have their own special label on them. And for those days when they do, I’ve got a better chance of getting them back eventually!

Have a child with allergies or medical issues? Check out these cool vital ID wristbands. The kids I know would be much more comfortable wearing those than a metal bracelet. And while you’re looking for things that make your kids ecstatically happy? Personalized notecards and way cool books would be fantastic gifts. Is it too early to shop for stocking stuffers? I think not.

Mention that you heard about Lovable Labels through the The Opinionated Parent during the checkout process and receive 15 FREE Red Regular Sticker Bonus Labels with your purchase. One per family. Expires May 30, 2008.

When it comes to child safety, I tend to lean toward the ‘freakishly paranoid’ side of things. I was once given a tip by a friend to have children touch the car while you’re unlocking it or doing whatever you need to do before you buckle them in or take their hand to walk into a store. I (while hovering, of course) tried it once and my son kept his hand on the car while walking around the whole thing. That kid will bend the rules any way he can.

I love love LOVE his new Parking Pal Magnet. These things are some serious evidence of the brilliance of a desperate mother.

Parking Pal Magnets are brightly coloured circles with a handprint in the center that attaches magnetically to the side of your vehicle. When your child is outside your vehicle, they place their hand right on the handprint while they wait for you to buckle the younger child, load groceries, grab a cart or whatever else you need to do. Along with some education and good parenting, I can see these magnets being a great addition to every household with young children. They’re available in five bright patterns and are only $7.99 each.

Get free shipping with the code opin408.
You’ll also find this code among others in our TOP Shops!

Win it! We’re giving away four Parking Pal magnets to four winners. To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us which of these five styles you’d like to have if you win. Contest closes on May 6/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED

NOTE TO MY MOM - STOP READING THIS RIGHT NOW!

Seriously Mom - click away!

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(You’re not reading this, are you Mom?)










I had to tell you about this before Mother’s Day so you’d have a chance to order this reader recommended wonderful and inexpensive gift for your own moms (or yourself) but it’s at risk of giving away my own mom’s and mother in law’s gift that I do this. The things I do for you people…

The one of a kind, hand-stamped mother’s necklace from Ohana by Lea is a custom keepsake of the totally non-tacky variety. The photos on Lea’s Etsy site don’t do these necklaces justice. I’ve worn mine every day since I got it (Happy early Mother’s Day to me!) and have gotten more compliments on it than any other jewellery I own. The price is totally reasonable at around $25-$30 depending on how many discs and ‘danglies’ you want. Lea will work with you to create the awesome custom jewelery that every mom deserves.

Type “OPtake10” when convo’ing Lea through her Etsy shop and she’ll take 10% off when she creates your custom listing.

It’s no secret that we’re Robeez lovers around here. We’ve reviewed their apparel & basic shoes, tredz and tredz sandals, and we’re back again with the launch of the newest Robeez line - the Weekend Collection.

Similar to the classic Robeez style, the weekend collection are available in nine classic colours with sporty elastic detailing. They’ve got all the great things we love about Robeez - the buttery leather, soft soles, easy on and stay on elasticized ankles…if you have kids, you know why we love them - but they look more like a little old man loafer than any Robeez shoe that’s come before them. Seriously? These are the loafer you wish you had for yourself but in itty bitty little sizes.

Win it! We’re giving away two pairs of shoes from the Robeez Weekend Collection valued at $27.95 each. To enter, leave a comment on this post with the colour and size you’d choose if you win (from this page only.) Contest closes at noon MST on May 5.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

Once in a while, we’ll still place the information from that page within a post for your reference.
Here’s how to get those extra entries:

Get up to three additional entries into this contest!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here. Leave a comment with the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry).

AND/OR

2.Subscribe to our RSS feed. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid email address so we can confirm your subscription.

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Maximum four entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED

Now that I’ve got two children with tentative plans for more (did I just say that?) I have had to find ways to make this baby a lot more portable. While I’m a devoted baby wearer, it’s not always comfortable or convenient and sometimes my two year old just wants to have his mama all to himself. For those times, I am in love with the baby zabu™ from wagamama baby.

Whassa wagamama? (That’s exactly what my husband and my son both asked. Genetics much?) It means “spoiled rotten” in Japanese.

My own spoiled rotten baby now gets to enjoy the great outdoors and the living room floor alike in the zabu, a luxuriously soft mat with tie-up soft bumper walls that’s a playpen alternative for babies of the non-mobile variety and a playpen insert for when you need a little more security with added padding and cleanliness. Leave it untied for a great playmat too.

When you’re done, the baby zabu™ rolls up like a way cushy yoga mat and comes with a coordinating shoulder strap for travel or storage.

The baby zabu™ is currently available in two sizes and nine styles which include two eco-friendly bamboo options and range from $88 - $135.

Save 15% with the code TOP15 until 5/31/08.

I buy a lot of organic clothing for my kids. It’s just one small thing I can do to make a difference for the earth (and for the people working in cotton fields who aren’t being sprayed with pesticides and herbicides, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.)

BoobyDooby is one of my newer finds and I’m loving their style and their philosophy. A company that gives back and also makes great statements with their clothing is my kind of company.

My personal faves? For girls, I love the “Trust Your Inner Voice” tee pictured at right. What a great lesson for all humankind to learn, but it’s especially necessary for young women. It’s super soft with a great long body (adding the lesson “People don’t need to see your belly button” to the whole ‘inner voice’ thing.) For the guys, I love the Peace themed tee. And check out all of the awesomely soft destroyed black vintage tees for the ladies. I can’t even pick a fave from there, but can vouch for the buttery softness of these inspirational shirts.

BoobyDooby charges only $4 for shipping for all orders!

Win It! We’re giving away a Just Giggle organic onesie valued at $24. To enter, leave a comment before May 1 @ noon telling us your favourite BoobyDooby tee(s) not mentioned in this review.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED