I was so excited to get my new iPad 2 shortly after the release date. It was fun from the start, but I knew I was barely tapping into it’s potential. When I finally made time to read My New iPad 2 from publishing great No Starch Press I realized that there was far more to my cute & loveable little toy than I even imagined. It’s got all of the basics and some great tips for the more advanced techies too.

Best-selling author Wallace Wang’s patient, step-by-step instructions will have you using your new iPad to:

* Find your way using the Maps app and the iPad’s compass
* Get organized with the Notes, Calendar, and Contacts apps
* Set up your email accounts and browse the Web
* Listen to music, read ebooks, and take videos and photos
* Use FaceTime to talk face-to-face with distant friends and relatives
* Shop on iTunes and the App Store for the best new music, apps, movies, games, and books
* Set parental controls, use a secret passcode, and encrypt your backups for maximum privacy

And so much more. You’ll even learn top-secret touch gestures to help make the most of your iPad. Check out this book and discover the hundreds of amazing things your iPad2 can do. It’s $20 well spent.

Win it! We’re giving away a copy of My New iPad 2. Simply comment on this post before noon mst on December 15, 2011 to enter.

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway!

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Disclaimer

“Help your child’s early math skills take off and soar! In superhero proportions, this 320-page workbook builds early math skills, while the award-winning Flash Action software teaches essential facts in a flash! Combining traditional pencil and paper learning with high-tech computer methods makes this dynamic duo a Super Value.”

My son recently began working with this math book. As an early years teacher, I have extensive experience with teaching math and with countless worksheets and workbooks. School Zone products are always among my favourites, and this one does not disappoint. My (admittedly advanced) five year old is loving learning to read charts & graphs and is figuring out place value like a champ simply by reading the instructions and following along.

The Super Math Made Easy Workbook holds teacher-created content with attention-getting strategies geared toward multiple learning styles. The pages are packed with fun-filled exercises, colorful illustrations, and simple directions for hours of learning. The lessons focus on strengthening essential math skills, such as addition, subtraction, shapes, numerical order, time, money, fractions, estimation, measurement, graphing, and multiplication. The tear-out pages make great, take-anywhere individual worksheets!

The Flash Action Addition & Subtraction Software transforms your computer into a fast, fun, fact machine that makes learning addition and subtraction child’s play. Children can practice problems against the clock, challenge another player to a game of fast facts or test themselves for speed and accuracy. Set the program to practice addition, subtraction or mixed problems, and the difficulty will be adjusted based on your child’s score. Players can check their facts in the handy chart or print the chart for reference away from the computer. Learning is reinforced with a printed scorecard that reports progress and shows problems to practice. Audio guidance, colorful graphics, animated rewards, and positive reinforcement motivate learning.

The skills addressed in this set are addition and subtraction, sets, shapes, numerical order, time, money, fractions, estimation, measurement, graphing, multiplication, plane and solid figures, patterns, coordinate grids, skip counting, greater than/less than, place value, focus & concentration, eye-hand coordination and following directions.

Win it! We’ve got this fabulous set, valued at $20, to give away! Comment on this post before noon mst December 2, 2011 to enter.

My ‘old lady feet’ can’t walk much without my orthotics. Or, they couldn’t until I found Happy Feet insoles. They’re thin (like a quarter) glycerin filled bubbly little footpads that pop nicely into any shoe (including sandals if you can get them to stay in…depends on the design) and relieve foot pain and improve circulation. They’re made in not-China by American craftsmen and are warrantied for one year. The thing I notice most about them is that they absorb the impact that makes my feet hurt so quickly when I walk without my orthotics. Apparently these can be worn with orthotics but I haven’t tried that yet. I think they’re a perfect alternative to my orthotics when they’re in a pair of shoes that I’m too lazy to get them out of.

Happy Feet’s manufacturing process bonds a breathable, lightweight fabric to a high-strength bladder containing viscosity-controlled 100% glycerin to provide comfort and relief by distributing weight evenly, absorbing impact and massaging with every step. Most insoles that I tried in my pre-orthotic life didn’t do much of anything, so I’m please to give Happy Feet the TOP stamp of approval.

If you’re a woman with a smartphone, you may know what I’m talking about. Even if you don’t want to admit it to the internet.

I admit I have texted a quick “ok” and even opened my facebook with the tip of my nose on a cold winter day.

What?

It couldn’t be helped. I live in Canada and you can’t use a capacitive touch screen with gloves on. Or, you couldn’t until Agloves. Pictured at right (black is the new black!), Agloves are thin gloves made of silver-coated nylon. (Hence the Ag…bring back memories of high school chemistry?) Touch screens work because tiny amounts of moisture, salts and oils in your skin allow electrons to flow between you and your device. Agloves allow the bioelectricity from your palms to flow through the gloves to your fingertips, maintaining your connection whenever you need it.

Great concept, right? But do they work?

Yep! Almost perfectly. Or maybe perfectly. It’s my fingers that suck. I send the funniest texts, but it’s never on purpose, and I’m glad to say that my typing didn’t get any worse while wearing Agloves.

I love the science; I love the sleek black styling; I love not taking my gloves off in -30 temps to send a text. I love Agloves.

Win it! We’ve got a pair of agloves for one lucky TOP reader. To enter, simply comment on this post before noon mst on Nov. 30, 2011.

CONTEST CLOSED

Have you heard of bcharmed?

Neither had I!

This brand new company out of Utah has taken the bling world by storm with their handcrafted, totally unique and absolutely affordable jewelery line.

Jacquie Fleming, a stylist with bcharmed, has kindly provided me with my choice of bcharmed necklace to review. You’ll be thrilled to know I chose that one over there on the right, and it’s freaking amazing! It’s called the black pearl flower necklace ($35 – see? Affordable!) and I completely love it.

I have a LOT of bling (yep – a LOT…), and this one is unique. The fact that it’s black means it matches absolutely everything, and the triple strand really stands out but isn’t so big that my under-tall self can’t wear it. The flower is movable – and removable – making it an incredibly versatile piece. It is a simple safety pin on the back so can even be added to a sweater to spread the style around.

For this and other bcharmed bling, you can shop online at Jacquie’s store. There are bracelets, baubles, stamped charms, soldered charms, earrings and more – take a look!

Check out Jacquie’s bcharmed page or email her for more information. If you’re in Southern Alberta, consider hosting a boutique to earn your own free bling. No matter wear you live, you can join Jacquie’s team and make yourself some cold hard cash – and free jewelery too!

Jacquie’s bcharmed is giving away the pictured black pearl flower necklace valued at $35 to one lucky TOP reader. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before noon mst on November 30, 2011 and we’ll contact the winner to get it shipped for arrival in time for Christmas! Good luck!

CONTEST CLOSED – Congratulations to Janaye!

My family loves Prima Princessa, and my daughter was so excited to see a new DVD from them arrive in the mailbox! We had a few members of our review team take a look at their new Sleeping Beauty release, and here are some of the comments we received:

“My ballet is back! Yay!”

“This is my favourite ballet movie – I can do all of it!”

“I’m convinced. I’m putting her in ballet class next semester!”

“$6.99? Seriously? Why are there girls in the world without these shows? They’re little girl heaven!”

Join Prima Princessa on a fairy-dust-filled springtime adventure to see excerpts of The Sleeping Beauty performed live by The Royal Ballet in London, England. The animated Prima Princessa narrates the story, and between acts mini ballet demonstrations from students at the School of American Ballet are featured. After the ballet is over, the adventure continues with a magical tea party and fun floral crafts! Including Bonus Features: Tea Party, Acting on Stage, Fun Floral Crafts.

It’s as awesome as the previous Swan Lake and Nutcracker releases with even more features included. My daughter loved the bonus features just as much as she did the actual show. As a new ballerina at an actual studio, she had an extra interest in this one simply because she’s ‘living the dream’ on the weekends right now. It’s fantastic.

You should buy it for every little girl you know for Christmas.