Putumayo World Music/Putumayo Kids is one of those companies who produces music that you just can’t go wrong with. We love exposing our family to the sounds of countries that they may never be able to visit. It would be nice to travel the world with them but unless we come into some cold, hard cash its not likely to happen. In this economy, we’re lucky to be able to drive an hour to go for a hike. Allow me to share with you what I think are the greatest new-ish releases from Putumayo. All of them can are available from Amazon.

Putumayo Presents: India, with mesmerizing voices and gentle beats, is one of my favourites for several reasons. First of all, I married into an Indian family so it’s important to me that my 1/4 Indian kids are exposed to at least a little bit of the culture. The food and the music can’t be beat. This cd showcases India’s rich musical variety, from traditional and acoustic music to Bollywood and electronica.

Putumayo Presents: Acoustic Arabia features the subtle, organic music of the Arabic world. Inspired by the region’s traditional music, it’s much more authentic, in my humble opinion, than the arabic pop & electronic commonly featured. A nice change from…everything we own!

Putumayo Presents: Acoustic France brings the romance and charm of Paris and the French countryside right to us in the not-so-charming-right-now snow covered western Canada. From the press release: “This collection features contemporary chanson and acoustic pop by established stars and up-andcoming artists from today’s thriving French music scene. Inspired by the classic styles of an earlier generation, young artists are borrowing from old-school lyric-driven composition, folk and Gypsy jazz to create an appealing modern sound. The music captures the ambiance of strolling along the Seine or sipping wine in a Parisian café on a beautiful summer day. Included in the liner notes is a signature recipe from 3 star Michelin French chef Michel Troisgros of La Maison Troisgros. Sifflets De Sole À La Banane Et Citron Vert (Banana and Lime Sole) is well-paired with the flavorful melodies served on this collection.” That says it so much better than I could. Thoroughly enjoyable, thoroughly authentic – a great addition to your (hopefully growing) world music collection. Also cool? A portion of the proceeds from Acoustic France will be donated to La Chaîne de l’Espoir (The Chain of Hope), an organization that provides children from developing countries access to health care and quality education.

Putumayo Presents: African Reggae is a great collection “featuring selections by outstanding African musicians who have built upon Jamaica’s “golden age of reggae” in the 1960s and 1970s by weaving together traditional and modern sounds into a vibrant musical fabric.” If ever there were an homage to Bob Marley’s powerful impact on African music, this would be it. Totally worth a listen or several. It’ll get you and the kids all up dancing!

Win it! We’re giving away all four of these CD’s to one lucky winner. To enter, leave a comment on this post before Friday, May 1 at noon mst.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Mother of two Lauren Busch Singer of ASAP Productions has produced a great new CD with the help of her 10 year old son Jake.

(How cool is that? Jake has got to be the coolest kid in school.)

FUNKY KIDZ features 12 of New Orleans’ finest artists (Nevilles, The Radiators, George Porter Jr., Theresa Andersson and more) doing crazy funked up covers of classic kids songs we all know and love. Think Zip a Dee Doo Dah, Yellow Submarine and the funkiest rendition of the Hokey Pokey you’ve ever heard. It’s danceable, even for me. It’s funky, it’s complex and it’s totally not kiddie crap. It’s as good as what I’d listen to if the kids weren’t with me, and that’s the kind of CD I want my kids to love. And love it they do.

A portion of the proceeds from this album go toward fostering music education in New Orleans. Check them out at funkykidzmusic.com.

Win it! Comment by noon mst on Friday, May 1 to enter to win your own copy of Funky Kidz.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

NAPPA and Parent Choice award-winning artist Jonathan Sprout’s latest release American Heroes #3 is, as one would presume, full of songs about American…um…heroes. Though I’m solidly Canadian, we actually learn a decent amount of American history up here. (In our igloo schools). The third in the American Heroes series, A.H.#3 is packed with fun & upbeat songs about some America’s finest. Like Pocahontas – I learned a lot listening to this CD. Music and a history lesson all rolled into one makes for kids who actually remember the content after the test. This would be great in a classroom! It’s not all serious though. Tunes like “Chocolate King” about Milton Hershey offer up some education and an equally large dose of entertainment. The songs all have great hooks that reel kids in & make the lyrics memorable. Think we can convince him to come north for a while and make one for us Canucks? Contrary to popular belief, we can actually be interesting!

Win it! We’ve got a copy to give away to one lucky reader who comments before noon mst on Friday, May 1, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

We spent the better part of this weekend grooving in our living room to the tunes of Recess Monkey. Seattle based band members Jack Forman, Drew Holloway, and Daron Henry have recently released a new CD, Field Trip, and is just as fantastic as all those that came before it. For a band that pumps out the CD’s like these guys, it’s amazing that the quality just keeps getting better and better.

The songs kept us laughing, and listening to see what they were actually saying as we made up goofy lyrics to go along with each of the titles.

Track Listing:

1. Fort
2. Marshmallow Farm
3. Sack Lunch
4. Knocktopus
5. New Shoes
6. Haven’t Got a Pet Yet
7. Hot Chocolate
8. Ice Pack
9. Tiny Telephone
10. Little Insects Crawling Everywhere (L.I.C.E.)
11. Something Happens in the Teens
12. Secret Agent Watch
13. Bubble Factory
14. Centipede Pirate
15. Firefly Lullaby
16. Waiting For Vanderslice

One quick look at the song titles and it’s evident that these guys have a sense of humour. The only thing better than that on a CD is the awesome musical talent that goes along with it.

Win it! To enter to win a copy of Recess Monkey’s new CD, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on May 1, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

It’s music week at T.O.P. and each day we’ll be featuring a new CD we’ve been sent to review that has made it into regular rotation in our homes and vehicles. Each one will be accompanied by the usual giveaway, with all of them closing at noon mst on Friday.

Enjoy, and happy dancing!

With Earth Day having just passed, there’s no better time than now to introduce you to the Etsy shop of Ruth Smith, a Winnipeg-based Canadian working mom of two, PeriwinkleDzyns. Ruth got tired of seeing all the obsolete electronic components go into the garbage at a local factory and was industrious enough to rescue them, combine them with her jewellery making skills and create her line of upcycled e-waste jewelery.

Her custom original geekery lanyard is the coolest geekiest. It’s 44″ total length (adjustable to your specification) and has a sterling plated chain around the back of the neck for comfort. It’s very sturdily made of new resistors (never in contact with solder or circuit boards) that have been rescued from going to the landfill. It comes equipped with a 0.75″ key ring for your keys, pass card or whatever you need to have within reach. She makes some cool jewelery that’s less function and more fashion as well. I love this one and this one.

Another cool find in Ruth’s shop are the vintage pinback 1.25″ buttons made by her daughter Kendra. She uses words from vintage dictionaries and thesauri to create these cute accessories which she sells for just $2 each, keeping the books out of the recycle bin, increasing her vocabulary and learning basic business skills all at the same time. What a great venture for an obviously smart little girl!

We love a find that allows you to have it all – shop online, support a mom, support a kid and protect the earth.

Win it! We’ve got BOTH of the pictured items up for grabs – a yellow geekery lanyard and a full set of Charlie Brown dictionary buttons. To enter, visit the PeriwinkleDzyns shop and come back to comment with your fave(s) that were not mentioned in this review. Contest closes at noon mst on May 1, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

With the influx of annoying gift guides in my inbox, it’s evident that Mother’s Day is coming.

You know what’s not annoying? Winning great stuff!

Remember Photofiddle?

They’ll fiddle your pictures into over over 50 art styles and print them in your choice of canvas or art prints, framed or not, from 8″x8″ to 6 feet by 20ft. The quality is second to none…and it could be yours.

They’re giving one of you a $50 gift certificate in honour of Mother’s Day!

Win it! To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us what you’d do with it (which product and for whom?) before noon mst on April 30, 2009.

Use the code TOP15 for 15% off until the end of May.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

The Perfect Baby Handbook: A Guide for Excessively Motivated Parents by Dale Hrabi (Harper Collins) is brilliantly funny – hands down the funniest I’ve read (and I just may have read them all). Addressing the phenomena of the over-the-top yuppy parent and spoofing the run of the mill how-to parenting book, Canadian born Hrabi pokes satirical fun at…well, everything about parenthood. He leaves no stone left unturned. Need help naming baby? Check IKEA’s product names. He’ll teach you how to babyproof the planet, perform an imbalance awareness drill, hire dead entertainers for your baby’s first birthday, adopt the ultimate schedule (down to the minute), induce “advanced slumber”, and colour code poop. The artwork is terrific – as funny as the text, perhaps – and the entire book makes me want to hang out with Dale and laugh and myself and everyone else who has ever spawned. If you know someone on bedrest awaiting their first child, this is THE book you need to buy for them. If it doesn’t make them laugh, they need some major therapy. Bedrest or not, I think this book would make an awesome addition to any baby gift.

If you need some more entertainment, check out the Perfect Baby blog.

And by the way – if you’re into competitive breastfeeding? I totally win.

Win it! We’ve got this very book just for you. Or you. Or maybe you. To enter, just leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, April 24, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Am I allowed to say in this venue that many nurseries make me want to puke?

Nary a teddy bear, ark or duck will ever been seen on the wall of my kids’ rooms. When I decorate, I insist that everything be easily changeable and that it be able to grow with my child. Nothing like an eight year old stuck with ABC teddy bears because they’re either stuck to the wall or too expensive to replace. I am in love with our new Nouvelle Images Home Stickers. They’re an awesome, non-toxic & affordable way to decorate a kid’s room in a way that reflects their ever-changing personal tastes. They apply to the wall in seconds and are incredibly low tack. You actually have to rub rather aggressively to get them to stay on. Once they’re on, they won’t fall off but are very easy to remove if you want to (and easy for a toddler to remove too, which is rather annoying) leaving absolutely no residue behind. They’re perfect for the style conscious parent who doesn’t want to force their child to commit to one design for any length of time. At just $30, you can change them annually with barely a dent in the budget.

Headquarters in Paris, Nouvelle Images is a huge company with over 350 employees in seven countries worldwide. Big companies doing awesome things? That’s good.

Win it! The “cute monsters” pack pictured above is up for grabs. To enter, visit Nouvelle Images (via Amazon link for full selection) and browse the Nouvelle Images Home Stickers. Come back and comment with your faves before noon mst on Monday, April 27, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

We have only owned our iPod Touch for 2 months, but are amazed by the quantity and quality of apps available. What has really impressed us is how great a device it is for children. The size and the touch interface are perfect for kids and easy for them to master.

Letters A to Z from True Learning is a flash card alphabet game for kids that runs on the iPod Touch and the iPhone. Each ‘card’ shows a large letter and a cute drawing.

The controls are simple:

* Intuitively scroll to the next letter with a flick of the finger.
* Tap the large letter to hear the name of the letter.
* Tap the object to play a fun animation and hear the phonetic sound as part of a word.

Our family had the perfect age ranges for testing this app. After showing the game to all 3 kids here’s what we found.
Ethan, 6, was at the older end of the target audience for this app. We liked practicing the letters with him, but it didn’t hold his interest. He knows there are other games on ‘daddy’s iPod’ and wanted to move on. We liked using it as flash cards to work on letters he’s had difficulty with.
Ben, 4, will go through the whole alphabet and likes seeing the animations.
Jamie, 2, loves this app. She will sit in my lap and loves going through the alphabet over and over again.

What I love about Letters A to Z is that it makes reviewing the alphabet with your children so easy and fun. We have the alphabet letters on the fridge, but if the kids aren’t using them as hockey pucks, the dogs are launching them across the room with their tails. We tried flashcards, but haven’t had the full deck since we opened them.

With Letters A to Z we not only have a complete flash deck available anywhere we go, but it is more engaging for our kids than traditional flash cards and letter games. Ethan and Ben understood the controls immediately, while Jamie needed some coaching. Once we had helped her through the first few cards she had a blast using the touch screen. At first she eagerly zipped from card to card, but now she is going through more slowly, playing the animations, and learning to identify the letters.

Overall, we couldn’t be happier with this app. With 3 kids in various levels of school, we had been working on letters on and off all year, but our efforts had stagnated. The addition of this game to our teaching tools gave us the boost we needed to keep teaching our kids and improving their letter comprehension and early reading skills.

Letters A to Z is available for 99 cents from the iTunes App Store. - by John

Win it! We’re giving away the Letters A to Z app AND an awesome jam-packed-with-educational-fun True Learning CD to one lucky winner. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, April 24, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

My children love music. In all my years of childcare and teaching, I don’t think I’ve ever met a child that doesn’t love music, actually. When we received the DVD Trebellina from The Cristofori Baby Company I was thrilled to have another to add to our collection, though I had no real idea what we were about to watch. I assumed it would teach the kids a little about music and I had no doubt they’d enjoy it since it’s musical, but that’s about it.

Trebellina, the cute little treble clef character shown at left, teaches preschool children to read music (yes, actually read music. I know. I was shocked too!) and helps develop their pitch. Trebellina’s patented method of teaching note reading and pitch is entertaining and engaging for children – an important quality if they’re to sit through it – and it’s quite effective. The Trebellina DVD also introduces instrument names and their sounds, and demonstrates how different instruments sound individually and collectively in a piece of music. Whether you’re just looking for an educational electro-babysitter or you actually want to jump start the musical education you intend to pursue once your child is older, at just $20 the Trebellina DVD is a worthwhile purchase. The learning of a new language (and music IS its own language) does wonderful things for the developing brain so anything that facilitates that is a great purchase in my opinion. Particularly when it costs a fraction of what a music class does each semester.

Win it! We’ve got a Trebellina DVD to give away to one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on April 23, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a natural body product collector. Not so much for myself as for my kids. I can’t resist a non-toxic, scent-free or delicious smelling product if I come across it at a craft fair. It was at a Southern Alberta crafters marketplace that I discovered the wonderful A Family Affair. Owned by a mother & daughter team and supported by a dozen or so more family members, A Family Affair is truly a…um…family affair! Family matriarch Betty’s lifelong love of creating soaps and eldest daughter Jenn’s love of crafting have come together to build a successful growing business that we’re proud to support.

Leaving the market armed with a large selection of reasonably priced goodies, I set off to test them out with my own family to see if they were worthy of sharing with you here. Let me tell you, these are some perfectly amazing products!

Just for kids, A Family Affair offers an awesome foaming hand soap (just $8 and in three great scents) that is a great way to entice kids to wash their hands. My own kids love to pump their own soap and the bottle lasts a surprisingly long time. The SLS free powdered bubble bath ($15, and only five ingredients!) is gentle on the skin, delightfully fragrant and produces a tub full of bubbles!

For my own bath, I dig the bubble bars which are a super cool take on creating a bath full of bubbles…so fun to crack off a piece and smush it under the running water. I’d use one tonight if the kids hadn’t used them all up! In fact, each time I am able to take the time to soak in the tub, I discover another bath product that I love. Mmmm, chocolate! In the shower, the whipped sugar scrubs are truly amazing. I use the Creamsicle scent which is wonderfully refreshing, but it’s not the scent that’s the best thing about it. It’s the thickest, most…scrubby scrub I’ve ever used. If you’re like me and you get annoyed with the sparse scrubbies in many products available, you’ll love the fact that every finger full you pull from the jar is completely saturated with sugary exfoliating goodness. It leaves my skin moist and smelling absolutely amazing, but the smell isn’t overpowering and doesn’t last very long. That’s a good thing.

The products that A Family Affair has created for your feet are all awesome. Having tried them all on myself and on my family, I intend to continue to use them. However, I must give special mention to the Callous Balm. When my Dad became sick a couple of years ago, his feet began to crack and he was no longer able to bend over and take care of them. When I went home to visit, I’d often give him a mini-pedicure and tried everything I could find to massage his heels and soothe his tired feet. When I finally discovered Callous Balm, the first product from A Family Affair that I’d discovered, we both knew we’d found a winner. It’s at once cooling, soothing and healing, and now that I no longer have my dad’s feet to rub I continue to use it on my own and my husband’s. If you know anyone with diabetes or even just tired feet in need of a little love, Callous Balm is for them. It makes a great stocking stuffer or gift addition! (What? You haven’t started stuffing stockings yet?)

Gift baskets are available for any occasion, and be sure to become a fan of their new facebook page. Currently, A Family Affair only ships to Canadian addresses.

Save 10% with the code TOP10. A Family Affair is the newest addition to our TOP Shops where they’ve purchased one of our new permanent image based spaces that save you money. Check it out!

Win it! We’ve got both of the fab baby gift baskets (valued at $30 each) to give away to two randomly selected winners. To enter, visit A Family Affair and take a look around. Come back to tell us some products or scents that you like that weren’t mentioned in this review, or give Betty & Jenn some suggestions for future products or scents you’d like to see them develop. Also be sure to let us know if you’d like to be entered for the blue or the pink basket. Worldwide entries are welcome! Contest closes at noon mst on April 22, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

When new parent discussions turn to baby carriers it is almost always the more modern pack-style baby carriers that first come to mind despite the great variety of baby carriers available today. There is no denying that pack-style baby carriers are one of the most popular options, and there are many reasons why parents opt to purchase a structured carrier.
Soft-structured baby carriers are essentially mei tai baby carriers with buckles. They consist of a main body and four straps that attach to the wearer and hold baby close. Rather than wrapping or tying the carrier to your body, quick-release buckles are used. Buckle carriers lack the versatility that wraps and mei tai’s offer as you are limited to strap and buckle placement when it comes to securing the carrier to your body, however the addition of buckles make for a very convenient option when it comes to a baby carrier.

As Many Unique Pack Carriers as There Are Babies

Unlike simple baby slings or wraparound baby carriers that have a very basic and similar construction between brand names, soft-structured baby carriers vary widely from one model to the next. There seems to be as many unique styles of structured carriers as there are babies, each with its own distinctive features. Differences between soft-structured baby carriers can be found in the number of carrying positions offered, whether or not a waist belt has been used for dispersing weight more ergonomically over the wearer, how a baby is suspended in the carrier, the angle at which buckles, belts and straps are placed as well as how much of your baby is supported by the body of the baby carrier itself, depending on the size of the panel.

This aspect of varying styles and features is important to keep in mind when selecting a buckle-style baby carrier. If one brand does not seem to be working well for you or your baby, you are experiencing discomfort, or a carrier lacks the versatility you are after in its design, there are many others to choose from that will fit and feel differently.

When selecting a soft-structured baby carrier one of the most important features to look for is a carrier that makes use of back-packing technology. Wider shoulder straps, padding in all the right places, and a supportive waist belt to help distribute baby’s weight to your hips and upper thighs for maximum comfort will aid in preventing strain on your neck, back and shoulders.

In-Arms Parenting – for Toddlers too!

Many parents are looking for a baby carrier to use with their older or heavier children. A soft-structured baby carrier is ideal for this. Because a structured baby carrier of the highest standards will adequately distribute a heavier child’s weight to the wearer’s hips and not put strain on the neck and shoulders, you can easily (and comfortably!) carry a child up to 40 or more pounds in many soft-pack carriers.

Advantages of Soft-Structured Baby Carriers:

• Easy for most parents to learn how to use as their concept is similar to that of a standard backpack.
• Ergonomic design in many carriers is more comfortable for wearers offering balanced weight distribution across both shoulders (choose brands carefully!).
• One of the best carriers for older babies & toddlers (40+ lbs), most parents find they can carry a baby the longest in a soft-structured carrier.
• Many can be worn on the front and back, with some brands offering more flexibility than others in carrying positions.
• An excellent option for the active parent that hikes or walks often or for longer periods of babywearing.
• Some carriers are designed primarily for “hip” carrying, a natural position for many parents when carrying an older, heavier baby or toddler.
• Convenient to put on and off quickly and easily.
• No wrapping, knots to tie or dragging fabric.
• A one-size fits most baby carrier, soft-structured carriers can easily be shared by different users.
• Mainstream look and ease of use is highly appealing to dads.
• These carriers usually have the highest resale value.

Disadvantages of Soft-Structured Baby Carriers:

• Buckles and the adjustment of belt straps have a learning curve many parents are unprepared for. Carrier may be uncomfortable if adjusted incorrectly.
• Not usually recommended for newborns without head control (less than 4 months old), although some carriers may have additional accessories to accommodate infants.
• Not the easiest or most discrete for nursing an infant. Some may require additional accessories for nursing.
• Structured baby carriers don’t offer the same “hug” or hold some other carriers are well known for, so they are less than ideal for cuddling with an infant or young baby.
• Usually these are the most expensive baby carriers due to the great deal of extra hardware and workmanship involved in manufacturing.
• Buckles make this a bulkier baby carrier so it’s not as compact for travel and may not fit in a diaper bag.

Because of their unique design and the ability to transfer most of a child’s weight to the hips, structured carriers are among the most comfortable baby carriers with even the heaviest of children. Parents that plan to use their baby carriers for a long walks, hiking, back-carrying, or for extended babywearing with an older baby or child, may find a soft-structured baby carrier suits their needs best.

Soft-structured baby carriers are comfortable, relatively simple to use and stylish with mainstream appeal. If you’re looking for a way to get started with babywearing but traditional baby carriers make you nervous, using a soft-structured baby carrier would be a great choice. With their longevity and easy back-carrying options, pack-style baby carries offer a value in a baby carrier that is hard to match. Pair this style of baby carrier with a popular infant option such as a baby sling or wraparound and you’ll have a perfect baby carrying combination from birth to toddler and beyond.

WIN IT! Parenting by Nature is giving one T.O.P. reader their choice of in stock soft-structured carriers from their site. Canada and US addresses only please. To enter, leave a comment on this post listing the carrier & fabric you’ll be choosing if you’re selected as the winner before noon mst on April 20, 2009.

This is part six and the final installment (so sad – we’ve loved them!) in a series of guest-written articles by Parenting By Nature’s founder and mother of two, Tamara Champion. For more articles and information visit Babywearing 101 on the Parenting By Nature website or browse their extensive baby carrier selection. You’re sure to find the right baby carrier to suit your individual needs, style and desires!

Thanks so much, Tamara, for your very educational articles and amazingly generous giveaways. All of us, readers and writers, have loved them and think you’re the bomb!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

*My husband and I sing to our children before their prayers every night and these were the new lyrics for tonight’s version of a completely made up Peter Cottontail. We only know one line and throw random crap in there to fill the rest of the time. We think we’re funny. You probably wouldn’t.

We’re taking a four day weekend around here to enjoy the gorgeous weather and the company of those we love. We sincerely hope you are all able to do the same. If not the four days off, then at least the time with the people who make you the happiest.

We’ll be back Tuesday.

In the meantime, I’ve just got to share my slight surprise (not that I didn’t know you were awesome, but…you know…) that we didn’t get flooded with nasty comments on this post.

Honestly, I’m a little bit of a shit disturber in real life and one sentence in particular in there I just threw in to see what would happen. I tend to do that, both in writing and in real life, because I think people getting their panties in a knot is really funny. Particularly when it’s about religion and politics. What I believe (and I do) is nobody’s business and I often pretend I believe a variety of things depending on the crowd just to see how people react. Try it some time…it’s entertaining!

However, there was just one educated and friendly-but-disagreeing-comment and just one asshat comment. Shocking! Neither of them were approved as they weren’t contest entries and I didn’t want them to dilute the entries of those of you who want the prize (and good luck to you!), but colour me impressed with the open mindedness of y’all.

On that note…

Happy Easter!

As an educated adult with degrees from a liberal education university, I know that there’s no denying evolution. Religion aside, it’s plain & simple science. No matter what, if any, higher power you believe in, you just can’t (or shouldn’t) blindly and moronically ignore science.

Charlie’s Playhouse was founded by scientist and mom Dr. Kate Miller and is packed with information, toys, and games introducing children to the ideas of Charles Darwin, evolution and natural selection in a very child-friendly way. The Giant Timeline (playmat $49; poster $29) is available in two forms: an 18 foot long play mat or 12 foot long folding poster, both covering 600 million years of history in short 20 million year steps. It’s an unequivocally huge hit with the kids around our place. What kid doesn’t love animals? And particularly dinosaurs. It features amazing creatures from the fossil record that are intelligently arranged on sea, land and sky. The poster is perfect for hanging at kids’ eye height in a hallway, and my kids love to walk on the play mat and act out evolution in their own highly creative and hugely inaccurate way. Educational for everyone, hilarious for the onlookers!

The Ancient Creature Cards ($20) feature every creature from the Giant Timeline on it’s own 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch card with a colourful illustration, fun facts and a size comparison figure such as the coin pictured on the top card above. While not as thrilling as the play mat for the younger kids, they’re great on their own or as an accompaniment. The images alone are enticing enough for a good 20 minutes of quiet pondering for my not-yet-reading child, and that’s worth way more than $20 most days.

Find more great Darwin-related activities & ideas at the Charlie’s Playhouse blog.

Happy (slightly belated, though I’m sure he won’t mind) 200th birthday, Charlie!

Win it! We’ve got a Giant Timeline Playmat to give away, valued at $49. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Thursday, April 16, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Like most people who own a computer, you likely have some type of anti-virus and anti-spyware software. The geeks among us know that’s not enough. Most of the popular protection suites available today have a major flaw in that they require constant updates and maintenance. Even for those of us who are on top of that stuff (and how many of us really are?), critical time passes between the moment a new threat is unleashed on the Internet and the moment your provider offers an effective response to it. Once there’s a quality fix, there’s far more time between that and the moment your security software is updated against this new threat. …If you remembered to activate the automatic updates.

Often there are several days or more that you and your personal information are completely unprotected.

I won’t be running my computer any more without Buffer Zone. No glove, no love. Or something like that.

“Go Anywhere, Download Anything, Stay Protected. Freedom to do whatever you want on the Internet.”

BufferZone’s patented “breakthrough virtualization technology” (available for XP & Vista but not Mac at this time) compliments your software by creating an “isolated zone” on your PC, effectively separating your operating system & data from unknown programs, downloads and files. It requires no updates at all – ever – and protects your entire PC against spyware, adware, and viruses – even new and yet unknown ones. When you use BufferZone your sensitive data and personal information are actually immune from theft or damage.
You can work with any program or downloaded content that you normally would, but the difference is that you’re protected against vulnerabilities from all sources, known or unknown, such as “external devices, Web browsing, P2P, email, instant messaging, network shares, and much more.”

From start to finish, installation took about two minutes plus a reboot, and it runs in the background without requiring any extra effort on my part. If only everything were so easy.

When you’re running BufferZone, you’ll notice a red border around any program running inside the protected zone, and that’s pretty much all you’ll ever see from it. Once in a while there’s something that won’t work inside the BufferZone (such as logging in to certain sites…I’m not sure why), but it takes just a second or two to unload it.

Protection like that for $40/year sounds like a great deal to me.

Save 10% with the code BZ001SG

Win it! We’ve got a copy of BufferZone Pro (valued at $40) to give to one reader in need of protection. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

If you love the versatility of a wrap-style baby carrier but find the actual art of “wrapping” to be too confusing, or more complex than you are ready for, you may find the perfect solution in a mei tai baby carrier (pronounced “may tie”). A simple, sleek baby carrier that is easy to use and beautiful to wear, it’s no wonder that the mei tai is quickly gaining in popularity among parents nationwide.

A mei tai baby carrier, also know as an Asian baby carrier (or ABC), is traditional to the Chinese culture and has only gained notice in North America since the early 2000′s. The design is simple – a rectangular piece of fabric (called the body) with four straps extending from each of it’s four corners. The design has been updated over the years and you will now find a large variety of mei tais with many features such as padded shoulders, straps of varying length and widths, and the addition of a headrest to support the head and neck of an infant or sleeping toddler.

The long straps, basic rectangular body and sash-style tying method remains the constant feature of all mei tai baby carriers.

The Perfect Combination of Ease & Versatility

We’re often asked if using a mei tai baby carrier is difficult. Securing the carrier involves only two “ties”, and so using a mei tai is as easy as (1) tying a sash around your waist, (2) holding baby in place with the body of the carrier, and (3) securing the two shoulder straps by tossing them over your shoulders and tying them around you and baby. It really can be as easy as 1, 2, 3! For many parents they will accomplish this with their first try, while others may need a bit more practice to feel confident when starting out with a mei tai. Before long, putting on and taking off a mei tai can be done in seconds.

A mei tai baby carrier offers the flexibility of unlimited carrying options, similar to that of wrap-style baby carriers with the added advantage of a baby carrier that can be tied on and taken off quickly and with ease. Your comfort & baby’s positioning can vary considerably, based on how your mei tai is tied. Suitable for front carrying (facing in and facing out), hip carrying and back carrying, a mei tai can truly be used from birth to toddler.

A mei tai is also one of the only baby carriers that offers complete head and neck support when carrying a very young baby on a caregiver’s back. This may be a very important feature for parents expecting baby #2. Successfully securing a young baby to your back makes life much easier while you are also chasing a toddler around all day. Tending to your older child’s needs when a new baby is on the scene is a breeze with a mei tai baby carrier.

You’ll find mei tai’s today in a wide variety of fabrics, colors and patterns, most of which are also reversible to solid colours. This is yet another reason why the mei tai appeals to both moms and dads alike!

Advantages of a Mei Tai Baby Carrier:
• Easy to use baby carrier with shallow learning curve.
• A favorite for back carrying, can also be used with a young baby on the back (especially helpful when there is a second child to attend to!).
• Unlimited number of carrying positions including front, hip and back carrying.
• Discreet and hands-free nursing.
• Suitable from infant to toddler (up to 40+ lbs).
• Baby’s weight is distributed across both shoulders & upper back so there is less neck & back strain.
• Less structured than a backpack carrier.
• No snaps, buckles, rings or clips to bother with or get in the way of you or baby.
• One-size fits most! Great for mom, dad & caregivers to share.
• A very lightweight, compact carrier, perfect for traveling or stashing in a diaper bag.

Disadvantages of a Mei Tai Baby Carrier:
• Hands-free nursing is in upright position only (can be tricky with a newborn).
• Not as heavily padded as most structured carrierS (but this can be an advantage for a parent that wants less “bulk!”).
• Straps are long and may drag on ground while learning to tie (can be messy in the rain or snow).

With the more mainstream appeal of a mei tai baby carrier and no limit in it’s flexibility, it is with a mei tai that many parents find babywearing bliss. As well, a mei tai baby carrier is enduringly practical and considering it’s longevity of use, a great value. With their ease of use, unlimited carrying positions, ability to use one carrier from birth to toddler and fabulous prints, with a mei tai baby carrier you really can have it all.

WIN IT! Parenting by Nature is giving one T.O.P. reader their choice of in stock Mei Tai Baby Carrier from their site. Canada and US addresses only please. To enter, leave a comment on this post listing the mei tai & fabric you’ll be choosing if you’re selected as the winner before noon mst on April 13, 2009.

This is part five in a series of guest-written articles by Parenting By Nature’s founder and mother of two, Tamara Champion. For more articles and information visit Babywearing 101 on the Parenting By Nature website or browse their extensive baby carrier selection. You’re sure to find the right baby carrier to suit your individual needs, style and desires! Be sure to come back next week for another of Tamara’s educational features and another chance to win!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

T.O.P. regulars know how much we love everything from Aden and Anais, and we love it even more when it’s cheap. Heh.

The Winter Warmth Swaddles are currently on sale for $29.95 (regularly $49.95) and the Dream Blankets are on sale for $39.95 (regularly $59.95).

Visit adenandanais.com and enter the code “wintersale”.

Win it! A pack of awesome winter weight blankets is up for grabs, valued at $49.95. To enter, leave a comment on this post with your fabric choice before noon mst on Friday, April 10, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

We frequently feature fab shoes around these parts, but they’re almost always for very little people. Most of the companies we’ve featured cater to the newbie through three years set, and it’s about time we dig up some more great finds for the older kids. They deserve comfortable shoes with great style too, and shouldn’t have to wear the stiff soles that we adults are often stuck in.

Two very famous people (or at least people we think should be famous) felt the same way we do, bringing a very happy ending to the sad story of the school aged child in Walmart shoes. Nancy Coronado of Picaflor Kids and Cause Haun of T.O.P. fave See Kai Run met and forged a friendship that led to the creation of Eleven Collection. With the same tradition of superior flexibility, perfect function and fashionable good looks as S.K.R., but for kids aged 3-8, Eleven shoes are the perfect extension to the baby & toddler shoes we all love.

The all-white summer sandal, Maya, (top) is perfect for every big girl and matches every outfit, dressy or casual. If you’re into pink, there’s never a shortage of options but the Laura (second from bottom) is irresistibly adorable!

It’s not too often we can say that the choices for boys are just as awesome as those for girls, but with Eleven (& SKR) that’s truly the case. My son looks super stylin’ in his Aubin’s (pictured second from the top), which are the boys’ version of the ‘matches everything’ shoe. For something with a bit more of a European look, I love the Carlo (bottom).

No matter your style preference, you’re sure to find something for your bigger kids from Eleven Collection that rivals the great stuff available for the smaller ones. Jumping one size shouldn’t mean losing access to comfortable, fashionable footwear. (Also see Eleven Collection at the SKR site.)

Win it! We’re giving one reader their choice of any pair of Eleven Collection shoes. Whoo hoo! To enter, leave a comment before noon mst on Friday, April 10, 2009 letting us know the style and size of your choice. (Please remember to follow the rules. We may not take the time to delete your comment but if your number is drawn and you didn’t do what we asked you to do, we’ll draw someone else.)

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

UPDATED!

For the first time ever (we hope the first of many!), we are bringing you a TOP Deal of the Day…a half price item with free shipping from a reputable company that we’ve checked out for you.

Today and tomorrow only,T.O.P. readers (and ME! I’m getting in on this!) get…

50% off all tote bags and free shipping worldwide with the order of any two items!

50% off for everyone…
Free shipping if you order at least two…

Just use the code TOP50.
(note the change in code if you saw this previously…)

This deal of the day is available for only 48 hours…place your order before midnight tomorrow!

Each of the tote bags features spots to display three of your favourite photos in pockets (allowing for easy & quick changes). The outside is made of durable canvas and the bags feature leather detailing with contrast stitching, a reinforced bottom and interior zipper pocket, as well as metal feet to protect the tote when you’re out and about. The bags measure 15″ x 7 1/4″ x 12 1/2″ high.

A perfect Mother’s Day gift, don’t you think? In order to have your order before Mother’s Day, you need to order by May 4th. Thanks to this great T.O.P. Deal of the Day, you’ll not only save a bundle but your shopping will be done over a month in advance!

Remember – TODAY and TOMORROW ONLY – 50% off all tote bags and free shipping worldwide with the code TOP50.

UPDATE: GigglyGear has extended this program just for you, to include 50% off ALL ITEMS until May 10, 2009. Whoo Hoo!

If you’d like to sponsor a Deal of the Day for T.O.P. readers with a 50% off item & free shipping to, at the very least, Canada & the US, email us to discuss!

My daughter is at the stage where her imagination is running wild. She is constantly coming up with stories, songs, games, and situations to reenact. Imagine her surprise when I introduced her to a CD with songs that are chock full of the same kind of wild imagery and ideas that she loves so dearly!

A Pink Whale and a Very Tall Tree is a CD that combines two of my daughter’s favorite things in the world, music and storytelling. Instead of irrelevant lyrics with no cohesive story, Shāna Barry has authored beautiful, weaving tales about an imaginary island inhabited by a family of fōfers (rhymes with gophers).

In case you were wondering (and how could you not?), a fōfer is a multi-colored furry creature that likes to ride bikes, explore the island, and climb trees.

Written and preformed by Shāna Barry, the musical stories of A Pink Whale and a Very Tall Tree inspired many conversations between my daughter and me. We sat at the computer, looking up pictures of the various animals that she mentioned, we talked about where those animals lived, and we learned what they liked to eat. And recently, she has incorporated those animals and concepts into her imaginary play!

While I would categorize this along the lines of folk music, it is by no means traditional. Reminiscent of acoustic Jewel, the soft guitar is all that is needed to provide a musical foundation for Barry to tell her creative stories. Barry’s hushed voice lends a peacefulness to the mix, while drawing in the attention of listeners. Listen to a sample track, A Pink Whale, here.

My daughter really enjoyed this CD. Her favorite track was Around the Island, which she now calls “The Animal Song.” And I must admit, the last track, The Peaceballs, is an incredibly relaxing instrumental number that I could easily use to melt tension on a high stress day! - by Christy

Win it! We’ve got a copy of A Pink Whale and a Very Tall Tree to give away. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on April 8, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED