The Seattle-based trio of schoolteachers known as Recess Monkey has recently released their first DVD as a companion to their newest CD, ‘Field Trip.’ The ‘Field Trip‘ CD happens to be my kids’ current fave in the van (and one of mine, too, which is why it has stayed in there for a few months), so they were thrilled to receive a copy of the DVD.

It features several music videos based on songs from ‘Field Trip,’ live concert footage and a “wild and wacky array of segments” that are sure to entertain children of all ages. My 18 month old, my three year old and a visiting ten year old all danced and sang along and thoroughly enjoyed it…(and so did I, but shhhhhh!)

These guys teach preschool through grade two so they TOTALLY know who they’re catering to with their music – and it shows.

Win it! Want it? Leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, August 14, 2009. All giveaways held during this “TOP Music Week” will end on Friday at noon.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Ah, summer. Finally a chance to read a few books that aren’t professional or parenting in nature. Maybe. One can dream, anyway.

There’s no better gift for children than the gift of literacy, and books always make an awesome present for any occasion. It’s a gift that offers a slower pace and encourages the joy of imagination, and a book with a personal dedication will make it even more meaningful. Inscribe-it.com combines the timeless wonder of reading with the extra touch of a personalized written note and the addition of a favorite photo or image.

The selection of books is impressive. We chose a book with three Oz stories in it and had it personalized from our family to our school library so that it could be shared with many children over many years.

(I teach there, so my husband is very interested to see how many mustaches and other body decorations we’ve been defaced with in a few years!)

There are classics like The Wizard of Oz, Huckleberry Finn, and Black Beauty as well as a huge variety of new and old beauties for everyone from a baby to a centenarian who can still see to read. With an inscription that is uniquely theirs to treasure, any recipient is sure to love such a thoughtful gift.

GIVEAWAY MAY BE COMING – WATCH THIS SPACE!

My kids aren’t in school yet, but it’s bound to happen before long. I am the lunch-note writing type and often add a note to my husband’s napkin so I know I’ll want to include something special for my kids when they head off to school. I absolutely love the idea of PenPal Notes. They’re educational lunch notes that were created by parents looking to inspire reading and, I have to assume, wanting to connect with their child while they’re away at school.

Currently there are seven sets in the series. They follow Tej, a young panda, as he embarks on his many adventures of learning. Whether they’re interested in dinosaurs, food or travel, when you pack these cards into your child’s lunch box (with a personal note on the back, of course) they can accompany Tej across time and the globe. Each series contains 20-40 illustrated lunch notes and a set of fun stamp stickers. You can check out all of the sets and seen the contents up close here. They sell for ten bucks a set – a small investment for the amount of learning that will happen and the excitement you’ll hear in your child’s voice as they tell you about what they learned from Tej that day.

Win it! We’re giving away all of the great Pen Pal Notes to one lucky winner! To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, July 31, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

August is the month with the highest number of births according to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and plenty of soon-to-be mommies are busy “nesting” and preparing for their long-awaited bundles of joy.

In addition to all the pink or blue decorations, new parents have plenty of home safety precautions to check off their lists. A a reminder to all of you to check over your home for some very important & potentially lifesaving safety items (whether you’re having a baby or not!), we’re giving away a great “Security Blanket” kit from First Alert® that’s filled with essential tools to help you keep your family safe.

The winner will receive First Alert Tundra™ Fire Extinguishing Spray (this looks so cool! and way easier than an extinguisher!), a First Alert SA710 Photoelectric Sensor Smoke Alarm, a First Alert CO 400 Battery-operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm, a Cordzilla bungee-like stretch rope to secure items in closets or garages (super cool!) and a Crawford Duramount Multi-purpose Arm Hook to safely store strollers or other heavy objects in a storage room or garage.

To enter to win this kit valued at over $100, leave a comment on this post before noon this Friday (July 31, 2009).

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I recently received some samples of products from Seventh Generation, a Burlington, VT based company that is well known for their full line of non-toxic household products. Where in the past we’d have had to search far & wide to find such products, I can now get them in my local grocery store. (Only one of the ten stores in town, but at least they’re at one!) I have been using several 7th Gen products for a few years and was just as happy with the new (to me) ones I have been using for the past couple of weeks.

I was especially thrilled with the chlorine free diapers and wipes. I’d considered buying them when I fell off the cloth bandwagon but had concerns about their absorbency & comfort. I was pleasantly surprised by our experience with them. While they’re not quite as cushy as a chemical saturated diaper, they work wonderfully and the natural taupe colour is shockingly adorable.

Of all the cleaners I tried, the kitchen cleaner is my favourite. The wild orange & cedar spice scent is so mild it’s barely noticeable and it works great in all areas of the kitchen, including the sticky floors in a pinch. While I try to use Norwex cloths whenever possible, sometimes I am desperate or am cleaning something that I really don’t want on my cloths and I resort to paper towels and I’m digging the recycled & die free rolls from 7th Gen. It’s very green to be brown, you know.

Coupons for 7th Gen products are available here, and be sure to check out their awesome label reading guide (also available as a free iPhone app!)

Win it! We’ve got a bunch of 7th Gen products to give away, all packaged in a reusable shopping bag. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 31, 2009. If you’re so inclined, please share your favourite eco-friendly cleaning products, recipes and tips for all to enjoy!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Do you have a front loading washer? Why is it that they start to smell when left closed up more than a top loader does? Frankly, it’s a little gross. A stinky washing machine does not make the unpleasant task of laundry any nicer. You may not have noticed it yet, but go away for a few weeks and forget to leave the washer door ajar and you’ll soon know what I’m talking about.

I used all natural Smelly Washer in mine and the smell is completely gone. It only too a tablespoon so I have lots left for those rare monthly at least weekly times when I forget the laundry in the wash and it reeks by the time I get to it.

If you’re as forgetful as I am, you can get some helpful odor removal tips from Smelly Washer, and then order your own washer cleaner. The first load you leave in there too long will make it more than worth your while. Smelly Washer is fab for my front loader, but supposedly works just as well in top loading machines and can be used to maintain freshness too – no need to wait until it’s nasty!

Formerly Purewasher, the Smelly Washer company has removed all scents and dyes to conform with all natural product standards. It sells for $16.99 + $5.00 S&H from the Smelly Washer website.

Save 10% with the code theopinionatedparent.

Win it! We’re giving away two bottles of Smelly Washer! To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 28, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

If you’ve reached the point in your parenting where your kids ever leave your side for more than a few hours, whether it be to a childcare situation or to Grandma’s house, you know the ridiculous amount of stuff you have to pack for them. The more you send of their own things, the more secure they’ll feel. If you get your child a cool bag like the Kushies all-in-one “My Bag” overnight/daycare/travel bag they’ll be begging you to hit the road.

There’s a boy version and a girl version, and they each have a bunch of compartments and features including insulated snack and medicine boxes, clean and dirty clothes bags, a laundry bag and a comfy fleece pillow and blanket for naptime. The inside bags each have a space for a name, which is awesome for a daycare or camp situation, and there’s a hook for hanging the bag up on a hook. It’s actually large enough for two children to share if they’re just going for a day or overnight, and for one child it’s big enough to bring some toys along too!

The bag retails for $79 at Kushies Online, and you can save 10% on any order from Kushies with the code top10.

As you likely know, Kushies is a huge retailer and makes diapering products (we love their training pants!), clothing, bedding, bath products and more. The code top10 saves you 10% on ANY order from Kushies Online.

I’m a bona fide accessory addict and am just absolutely THRILLED with the selection of products from Itty Bitty Bowtique.

Denise is a work at home mom of two who loves her clips & bows to be “Sweet & Petite ~ Just Like Your Princess!” All of her bows and clippies measure 4 inches and under so your little one can make an entrance without her bow entering the room before she does. She uses only high quality ribbon and embellishments for all of her products, including genuine Swarovski crystals. All ribbons, buttons and other embellishments are mounted securely to the clip or barrette using a non-toxic adhesive. Her petite bows are hand-sewn in the center to allow for years of wear.

There are two things that I feel make Itty Bitty Bowtique stand out among the throngs of moms making bows these days. First of all, everything is made-to-order which allows Denise to add custom details that you won’t find at boutique stores. If you don’t see what you want, Denise will gladly make it or add it for you if she can! Second is her incredible selection. Look down the left hand side of her site and choose from over 20 categories! (Among them, we really love Bugs, Tuxedo Bows & Streamers, but I could really go on forever so you’d better go look for yourself! My own daughter and Nicole’s daughter (Nicole, the quintessential opinionated parent of T.O.P. fame who brings us all of these great finds) have been wearing Itty Bitty Bowtique bows for a couple of weeks and have been stopped by friends and strangers alike who want to know where we got the awesome accessories. I have bought several hand covered headbands in the past from local markets and have never seen any as well made as the headbands from Itty Bitty Bowtique. There are bows that match perfectly and the combination is cute enough to melt you on the spot. The bands are lined with a velcro strip to keep them in place and it works wonderfully & never wears out. All of the items at Itty Bitty Bowtique are very reasonably priced – I’d never be able to even make them for those prices with my lack-of-craftiness – and I highly recommend everything I’ve seen from this awesome store. - By Andrea M.

Win it! We’ve got a HUGE selection of products from Itty Bitty Bowtique to give to one winner, including bows from all of the categories and headbands with matching bows! To enter, visit Itty Bitty Bowtique and comment with your fave(s) before noon mst on July 24, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED.

As a mom of two young kids, I am well aware of the struggles parents face when out and about. When my kids reluctantly get in our double stroller, I struggle with places to put anything we purchase or need to pack along with us once the tiny basket is full. My new solution is the Mighty Buggy Hook from Think King which attaches easily and sturdily with strong velcro and features a strong and lightweight aluminum hook that won’t break, even when you hang as many heavy bags as you can fit on there and then your three year old hangs from them. Trust me on that one. It fits more bags than you’d think because the hook is a deep U shape, and because there’s no clip like the standard carabiner, they’re easy to get off with one hand when you need them. They’re nice and short so the bags are close to stroller and would have to be awfully long before they’d drag or get in the way.

Even more than on my stroller, I love my buggy hooks for grocery shopping. I have two kids that need to be contained, so they take up both the seat and the basket of the cart. There are only so many things you can tuck around them before they start to complain, so we were all thrilled when we discovered that my Buggy Hooks were a perfect fit for the sides of the cart and each easily hold a couple of large full bags of groceries. Thank you, King, for saving me an hour of listening to two children whining from under the vegetables each week.

Buggy Hooks come 2 in a pack and sell for $14.99 from the Think King site.

(We reviewed the other product from Think King, the amazing Buggy Cup here.)

Win it! We’re giving away a two pack of Buggy Hooks to one reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 22, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

It doesn’t matter how long I’ve had children of my own or a classroom full of toys. Every time I talk about “playing with your balls” I giggle like a twelve year old boy.

Cleaning up your balls just got easier and a lot better looking with the Ball Claw. For just over ten bucks, you can mount a basketball, volleyball, soccer ball or football just about anywhere – the garage wall, living room, the ceiling, a pole or even in your vehicle trunk, and it’s super easy to do with the included hardware. Whether you’re cleaning up your garage or displaying collectibles. the Ball Claw is a super cool, easy & convenient way to do it.

Win it! We’re giving away ONE ball claw – your choice – to one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post stating which one you want before noon mst this Friday, July 17, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

New moms and babies get an overwhelming number of gifts, and often the father is slightly neglected. While I’m sure they don’t mind, I can’t think of any new dad who wouldn’t want to receive a copy of Being Dad or Being Dad 2 from Seedsman Group (click through to see more awesome looking titles).

Being Dad features 40 regular dads and 6 experts who guide you through topics ranging from conception through birth and everything in between, including finance, sex, premature birth, labor and what not to say to your wife. It’s funny, emotional, and a great tool for helping dads (and moms) be better prepared, more relaxed and inspired about pregnancy, birth and parenthood.

Being Dad 2 brings back some of the same dads for a follow up that documents how their dynamic has changed since baby’s arrival. It covers many of the things we all know are going to happen but live in denial until they actually do – being left alone with your child, sleep deprivation, routines, returning to work, and even includes a few tips on what not to do. It includes a men’s take on breasts as milk bags, which is kind of entertaining for someone whose husband is rather a lactivist. In addition to all of that, Being Dad 2 also follows the stories of single fathers, a group of people who are endlessly fascinating to me for some reason. Single parents are heroic in many cases.

Either or both of these DVD’s would make great shower or “Congrats!” gifts for a daddy-to-be.

Win it! We’ve got a copy of each of these DVD’s for one randomly selected winner. To enter, just leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 20, 2009. Don’t forget – you can always get up to 4 additional entries!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I’ve had this gem sitting in my huge-and-ever-growing pile of review books for a few months and, though it wasn’t at the top yet, the colour caught my eye as I was choosing some new bedtime reading material. I’m glad it did! Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife: All the Dishes You’ll Need to Make from the Day You Say “I Do” Until Death (or Divorce) Do You Part by Nava Atlas is a quick read and it’s just the light & funny thing I needed this week.

With cool retro art and a lot of snark, it contains recipes like “Beans ‘n’ Weenies of Sexual Tension” and “Soufflé of Fallen Expectations” to entertain you. There are chapters full of Recipes for Accommodation, Recipes for Trouble, Recipes for Disaster and Recipes for Reconciliation and Romance. While this book may be funnier if you have a tense marriage or like to laugh at men rather than with them, any woman with a sense of humour would surely enjoy it. It ends a little happier, with A Fairly Satisfactory Family Stew and Happily-Ever-After Ambrosia. Hopefully you’re all leaning more toward the ‘happily ever after.’ At least, that’s our wish for you. That, and a good dose of snark once in a while.

Win it!We’re giving away a copy! To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 17, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

You don’t need to tell them you only paid five bucks for it.

Click here and then use the code SLEEP for an additional $15% off of the already amazing sale price.

The sale only lasts until July 13 so buy it now!

(And if you’re smart, you’ll stock up at that price! Those babies just keep on coming.)

Picaflor Kids is a company that I’d heard of here and there in a positive light, but had never really explored at all because they JUST expanded their website to include online sales. (I know! Can you imagine?) When my daughter’s beautiful coral knit Melissa Dress arrived in the mail, I was delighted to see that that positive light continues to shine, and may even have gotten brighter. The knit is super soft and drapes beautifully, even on an ever-moving child. The colour is vibrant and the style is adorable with the slight butterfly sleeves and rouched empire waist.

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Picaflor (“hummingbird” in Spanish) uses thoughtful fabrics and small-scale production to create a unique collection of knitwear that is designed for busy little wings. Nancy Coronado, founder and designer, has established a relationship with a family-owned clothing maker in her home country of Peru. Picaflor is strongly committed to fair-trade practices, and is proud to give back to a variety of organizations.

Picaflor is available for both boys and girls, in sizes Preemie through 7/8y.

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Save 10% with the code opinionatedparentfan at checkout time and Picaflor is also currently offering Free Shipping on all orders!

Win it! We’re giving away a Melissa dress, valued at $42, to one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 15, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Though I’ve been breastfeeding for three and a half years, I’ve never been much of a pumper. Mostly because neither of my kids has ever agreed to take a bottle, and a little because it sounds like work. I have huge admiration for pumping moms who can’t breastfeed for one reason or another but still give their child the gift of breastmilk. Now that’s dedication.

New-ish mama Jennifer tested out a new product for pumping moms for us:

Simple Wishes, a company run by four sisters, has recently introduced the Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier. While at first glance it’s kind of silly looking, it’s actually an affordable and quality alternative to (1) sitting in a chair and holding two cones on your boobs or (2) the highly unflattering and fidgety products of similar function that have been on the market for the past few years.

The design of the Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier is quite innovative, with adjustable straps and the option to be worn many different ways to ensure a flattering fit no matter how full a woman’s breasts are at any given time. The two front zippers allow you to move the breast shields closer together or further apart by 2 inches, and the velcro back panel allows you to adjust the ribcage band size by a full 10 inches, creating a perfect fit just for you. It’s designed with elastic reinforcement at the top for a secure & slip-free fit, and it comes with two straps which can be worn in halter, tank or racerback style. The Bustier can be worn on it’s own or slipped over your nursing bra with the flaps pulled down. When you’re done pumping, you can just pop some nursing pads in and wear the Bustier all day long. It’s machine washable too! - by Jennifer

Win it! We’re giving away a Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier valued at $35 to one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 14, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED (Congrats Ammie! It’s so rare we’ve had winner who blog lately I had to throw a link in for you!)

You make up just over 50% of our daily readership, and we hope you ALL have an amazing long weekend and enjoy your 4th of July celebrations.

I’m having a bbq at my house tomorrow in your honour!

(No fireworks though. Boo.)

No Starch is one of our favourite publishing companies – I think of them as publishers for geeks. (And that’s totally a compliment. I married one.)

Many of their books aren’t of the parenting variety and don’t really “fit” here, but are applicable to enough of our readers that we like to share them anyway. Two titles that we’d love to share with you today apply to anyone who shoots with a D-SLR camera and wants to learn to shoot in RAW, and for anyone who becomes an “accidental administrator” of a network, whether at home or at work.

The Art of RAW Conversion: How to Produce Art-Quality Photos with Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Leading RAW Converters by Uwe Steinmueller and Jürgen Gulbins is a practical and beautifully illustrated guide that explains the advantages of working with RAW files (the digital equivalent of film negatives) and then how to use RAW converters to create the best digital image from each shot. It covers all of today’s most popular and innovative RAW converters, such as Photoshop Camera RAW, RawShooter, Lightroom, and Aperture) and how to get the best results from each one. As an amateur photographer (aren’t we all?) who shoots in RAW aboult half the time, I am really enjoying this book. Rather than reading it cover to cover, I leave it by my computer and each time I work on a session I’ve shot in RAW I use it to gather new ideas and streamline my workflow. With D-SLR cameras being affordable for the average parent now, almost everyone has the ability to shoot in RAW but almost nobody knows what to do with the files once they’ve been created. Thanks to this great & easy to follow book, anyone who wants to work with RAW now can do so without too much effort.

Network Know-How: An Essential Guide for the Accidental Admin by John Ross is just awesome for parents whose family members have two or more computers, because it will show you step by step how to connect them together and to the internet. No matter which OS you use (Windows, Mac or Linux), you’ll learn how to implement network addressing, configure adapters, hubs, switches, and your router, share music, photos, and documents, automate household appliances and stream digital audio and video to your home entertainment center and troubleshoot network slowdowns and failures. Sound like Greek? It did to me too, until I read John’s book. If I can do it, so can you!

Win it! We’ve got copies of each of these books to give away. To enter, leave a comment on this post (a SEPARATE comment for each book, please, noting either NETWORK or RAW in your comment) before noon mst on July 9, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

It really is the best country on earth.

We just don’t brag about it loudly because we don’t want everyone to move here.

And also? We make the best beer. And hockey players.

(Source: “The best country in the world to live in,” according to the United Nations Human Development Index)