According to a national survey, granite countertops are the number one way to make your home feel luxurious, but cleaning them with everyday products may be doing more harm than good. Particularly if you’re like me and clean with vinegar. If you have stone in your home, I highly suggest you get yourself some DuPont™ Stone Care products to protect, clean and enhance the beautiful handiwork that you put a significant investment in to.

“Although they seem like extremely hard surfaces, granite, marble, travertine, slate and other types of natural stone commonly used in homes are extremely porous,” said Steve Wolf, general manager – DuPont™ Stone Care. “A stone’s polished shine doesn’t mean it is sealed, allowing substances like juice, wine, ink and perfume to seep in, causing irreparable damage. Homeowners are shocked when they see how quickly 10 cents worth of olive oil can destroy their $10,000 countertop. Properly sealing and cleaning natural stone surfaces is like an insurance policy against stains and spills, protecting its value, beauty and style.”

DuPont™ Stone Care products address the needs of budget-conscious homeowners today with cost-effective, correctly formulated, protecting, enhancing and cleaning products designed for everyday use. “Many homeowners don’t ask for advice until after the damage has been done and expensive restoration is necessary,” said Wolf. “With just a few simple steps and regular cleaning using the correct products, countertops and floors will look new for a lifetime.”

The DuPont stone care system I received to review consists of three products, and I think DuPont can explain their purposes better than I can:

PROTECT: Stones have different porosity because of their mineral composition and geological formation, but all natural stone is porous. Within seconds, a renegade splash of anything from ketchup to cosmetics can sink deep into stone, often penetrating all the way through to the other side, forever leaving an unsightly spot behind. The best way to prevent stains on natural stone and grout lines is to treat its surface with a sealer to offer protection and keep it looking new. While many stones are pre-sealed or sealed during installation, these sealers often wear away from everyday use and certain all-purpose cleaners. Depending on the amount of use, a countertop or floor can become susceptible to stain penetration within one year, with most sealers fading away after five years. DuPont™ Stone Care sealers protect natural stone and include DuPont™ Granite & Marble Countertop Sealer, DuPont™ Premium Stone Sealer and DuPont™ Grout Sealer.

ENHANCE: Whether daily use has dulled the stone, or a shinier “wet” look is desired, the use of an enhancer can restore the luster to polished stone and tile, or bring out the surface’s color, depth and beauty. DuPont™ Stone Care has many specially formulated enhancing products to treat most natural stone and tile surfaces, with or without shine, including DuPont™ Granite & Marble Countertop Polish and DuPont™ Stone Sealer & Enhancer.

I have a granite countertop in my new home and was very VERY pleased with the results of all three of them. I’ll gladly be purchasing more of the same products when they’re used it, and I’m so glad to know that these lovely counters will look great for years to come.

DuPont stone care products are available in a variety of sizes & packages and your local home improvement store. ~by Andi

Win it! Comment on this post before noon mst on September 13, 2010 to enter to win a DuPont stone care kit. Don’t forget to get your extra entries too!

ETA: Apparently the one item we were so excited to open with is out of stock! Dang! Will update when someone tells us it’s back. Grrrr…

Two years ago, I reviewed a magnetic calendar for preschoolers & school aged kids my family is still using to this day and just love. For that reason, I’ve made it the first item for sale in our new OpenSky Shop!

Now, with two preschool aged children, the magnetic weekly calendar from 2fishkids is even more a part of our day. It’s such a great visual organizer for little people, and a sanity saver for this mama. It’s well organized, colourful and personalized to my children and their incredibly busy weeks. It teaches about the days of the week, seasons, weather and more.

The fully magnetic calendar measures 13 1/8” x 8 1/8” and comes with 58 activity, season and weather magnets, a dry erase marker and a storage bag. Because of the smallish magnets, it’s recommended for ages 3+. This indispensable preschool tool retails for just $20 and you can now buy it right from us without leaving our site!

Our OpenSky shop is small – one item only at this time – because of our promise to test out each and every item we sell and only sell things that we love. From each sale, we will make a small amount (~$1-$3) but you pay no more than you would if you had to do all of the shopping around on your own and purchased the same item from their own or any other third-party site. We do all of the work for you, and hope you love shopping with your trusted friends at T.O.P!

I just finished reading the newly released book based on blog: My Formerly Hot Life: Dispatches from Just the Other Side of Young, all about the ups and downs of aging out of young.

Honestly, when I read the first few pages I wondered if I’d like it. I assumed it would be something written by your stereotypical real housewives type who is still way hotter than I was even at 21 and I’d just find her annoying. I’m glad to admit I was wrong! (Don’t tell my husband I said that.) It’s inspiring and humorous, and each chapter gave me some insight into either my own life or the lives & heads of my friends. It’s a lighthearted & easy read, and yet is a profoundly revealing at where I’ve been (I had no idea I was formerly anything other than formerly childless!) and am going along with millions of other women around the world whose boobs are beginning to sag and whose crows feet are getting deeper every year.

Buy it at our affiliate, Amazon for less than 15 bucks. I vote for one or two of your circle of friends to buy it, share it around and then have a ladies night with plenty of wine to talk about how wonderfully freeing it is to be a ‘formerly’ who knows what she wants and how blessed she is to be alive.

Check out Stephanie’s YouTube channel – she’s hilarious!

Win it! Enter to win a copy of My Formerly Hot Life: Dispatches from Just the Other Side of Young by commenting on this post before noon mst on September 1, 2010.

We’re taking a screen-free ten days with our children starting tomorrow. See you in ten days!

Children who have never experienced missing one or both of their parents are few & far between these days. Parents work, travel for fun without their children, get deployed, get sick…there are so many things that take parents from their children, and Cuddletunes aims to make those times a little easier on everyone. Cuddletunes began when five year old Olivia missed her daddy. Olivia’s parents, Cuddletunes cofounders David and Cherie, were tucking their daughter in for bed the day before David left on a business trip to New York.

“I’m going to miss you so much honey. You know how much I love you right?” David kissed his daughter on the forehead and she nodded.

“I wish you could tell me that when you’re gone and I’m going to sleep at night. I wish I had a daddy doll so I could hear your voice when I miss you.” This gave Cherie and David the idea that eventually led to Cuddletunes. They talked to their friends Denise and Mike, also parents, who came on board as cofounders. Four years later, in 2007, Olivia’s idea has been transformed and they’re selling bears, but their focus is the same: helping families stay close.

When it comes to comforting a child, there is nothing quite like a good old-fashioned teddy bear. The Cuddletunes Social Networking Bear is a hybrid: she is just as cuddly and sweet as the teddy bear you loved as a child, but is also equipped with a built-in MP3 player. Parents, grandparents, and loved ones can record a story, song, or message from anywhere and upload it to the Cuddletunes site and it is in turn downloaded onto the MP3 player inside the bear via a USB connection. She’s called a social networking bear because in conjunction with their website she’s helping families stay connected more than ever before. Each bear also includes five lullabies sung by professional singers and customized with the child’s name.

My daughter received a Cuddletunes bear and it’s utterly awesome. You can’t feel the mp3 player at all – the bear really is as soft as any other good quality teddy bear – and the quality of the recordings are fabulous. Setting it up online for her was ridiculously easy – her name was available in the professionally pre-recorded songs so I simply had to type in her name, and then I recorded myself reading her a personalized story using the built in mic on my camera (fully guided by Cuddletunes – I’m not that creative!) The Cuddle Tunes Bear with pre-loaded player retails for $59.95.

Win it! Enter to win your own Cuddletunes bear with a comment (or up to five comments!) on this post before noon mst on August 14, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED (Congrats Betty!)

Parents in the know are all aware that iPhones are a lifesaver when it comes to preventing meltdowns in public. Hand the kid a phone with a great app and you’re golden for another 15 minutes of shopping!

The My Living Stories digital storybook apps combine beautiful artwork, narration and interactive features in an easy to use platform that is perfect for preschoolers to read along all on their own, without any help. My Living Stories are a great solution for entertaining on-the-go or as an aid for teaching children to read at home. The apps allow for your child to read along with English or French narration or read the stories themselves. Interactive sounds and animation bring stories to life. Another great feature is the ability to record your own voice to go along with the story (this feature requires an iPhone or iPod Touch with microphone capabilities). My Living Story classic stories include Princess & the Pea, King Midas, The Tortoise & the Hare, Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks and the Three Bears – fairy tales you’d want your children to know anyway.

Story apps are some of my faves, because I don’t feel like I’m contributing to my kids’ future video game addictions but rather to their literacy & tech-savvy…ness. Unfortunately because our server was in the (flooded) basement and that’s where my iTunes folder is, I haven’t been able to play with My Living Stories yet, but they’re there waiting for me whenever my *^$!ing basement is done!

Win it! Canadians only: Enter to win a $25 iTunes card! Just leave a comment on this post before Friday August 6 at midnight mst telling me which My Living Stories story you would like the most.

For extra entries:

1. Tweet about the contest @opinionated with the hashtag #MyLivingStories and leave an extra comment when you do so.
2. Blog about the contest and leave an extra comment when you do so.

…and all of the usual extra entries apply too!

Contest is unfortunately, only open to Canadians. You may enter this contest on multiple blogs, but are only eligible to win one iTunes gift card as part of the My Living Stories contest.

Disclosure – I am participating in the My Living Stories program by Mom Central on behalf of Decode Entertainment. I received 3 free apps and a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

It’s a long weekend here in Canada so we’ll be enjoying the day as a family.

We’ll be back tomorrow with another fabulous review & giveaway!

You may or may not have heard of CSN Stores. Admittedly, I hadn’t before they contacted me about doing reviews for them. There are 200+ stores under one virtual roof, where you’ll find anything from couches to dinnerware to dog beds to spices! Pure insanity in the online shopping world, I tell you!

Perhaps the best part? The shipping is free, and Canada is included!

Starting August 10th, we’re opening an OpenSky shop!

See that countdown clock over there to the right?

Yes, that one! Once my shop opens, the clock will switch to a link to the shop.

Here’s how it works: When we feature items we love, we’ll check to see if OpenSky has a relationship with the company. If they do, we’ll be able to put a “Buy Now” button within the review post so you can buy the item directly from us without being directed to a third party website. It’s like shopping with a friend! You can also, once it’s open, just browse the shop as you can any other online store, but the only things you’ll see there are things that the TOP review team have personally used and approved! OpenSky is simply a platform. An amazing platform, but just a platform. The shop will be ours and under our full control so you’ll only see items we truly love & believe in!

I’ve shopped from OpenSky shops in the past & loved it, which is what prompted me to check in to offering something similar at TOP. We’ll make a small dividend from each sale, as will OpenSky, but the markup will be very small. Currently they only ship within the USA but they’re working on adding Canada. OpenSky is a new company (just a one year old baby!) so they’re still growing. If you are a small business owner, contact OpenSky to start your relationship and let people like us help get your product out there!

We’ll actually be on holidays on opening day, but once we’re back and the shop is rockin’ & rollin’ I’ll let you know!

A few little girls were granted the chance to review the beautiful new hardcover book from Prima Princessa, Prima Princessa’s Ballet for Beginners: Featuring the School of American Ballet [Hardcover]. Here’s what they had to say:

Kamryn (7) says: “I really like this book. It is easy to understand because there are really nice pictures, and I can read lots of the words too. I like to copy the pictures in front of the mirror in my bedroom. I like the hard cover too, so my sister probably won’t wreck it.”

Emelia (3) says, with the help of her mom: “I love my ballet class and I love everything pink. This book is great for any girl who loves ballet, from toddlers right on up to pre-teens. It’s an easy read for mom, too, so I can help her learn more which makes her class easier for her.”

Ashley (10) says: “Even though I’m kind of over pink, I still love ballet and this book is a great review for anyone who’s taken a few years of classes already. It has some definitions in it that I didn’t know before so that was neat. I think every beginning dancer should get a book like this before they start ballet!

Maren (4) says: “I love love love my new ballet book! I have both of the Prima Princessa DVD’s and have loved them forever, so I was really excited to get this book. The pictures are really nice and easy to copy, even if you can’t read the text without help.”

Buy it for under $11 at Amazon.

Win it! Comment on this post before noon mst on August 4, 2010 to win a copy of your own.

Three dimensional movies are way cool, but the glasses that the theatres hand out are, um, questionable. RealD, a leading global licensor of stereoscopic (three-dimensional), or 3D, technologies, sent my children some ReadD kid-size 3D glasses of their very own with which to watch Toy Story 3.

They’re designed to fit kids 8 & under, and all theatres showing the 3D version of Toy Story 3 have received shipments of these little guys so be sure to ask for them. Bonus: they’re new so you don’t have to worry about the questionable cleaning methods of the recycled ones! (Tip: keep them and clean them yourself for re-use.) They’re made to the same high quality standards as the adult RealD 3D glasses for a bright & immersive 3D experience.

Win it! Want your kids to have their own sanitary, child-sized pair of realD 3D glasses? FIVE randomly selected commenters will each win TWO pairs! Comment on this post before noon mst on August 4 to be entered.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

Scoop food. Lift food. Dump 90% of food on lap. Lick spoon. Repeat.

If you’ve watched a toddler learn to feed themselves with utensils, you know it’s almost laughably ridiculous. Laughable if you aren’t the one that has to remove the stains from their clothing.

Thanks to a cool new toddler eating utensil, Mount St. Laundry just got a little bit less difficult to conquer. Little Grips for Little Hands were designed with your toddler in mind.

It has a no–choke safety handle that fits easily in the palm of your child’s hands and allows them to use their arms and wrists for better control. Other utensils require finer finger controls that are still undeveloped, creating a frustrating experience for your child. And you. The ergonomic design that takes advantage of a toddler’s stronger grasping and overall hand–movement skills, while still allowing them to learn proper feeding motions.

Kid feels better. Laundry gets easier. It’s a win-win!

Little Grips sell for $11 at the Little Grips for Little Hands website.

Win it! Comment on this post before noon mst on August 3, 2010 to be entered to win a set of Little Grips for Little Hands. Don’t forget you can get up to 5 entries in every TOP giveaway!

Since we’ve had a rather extended hiatus thanks to my flooded house giving us no access to our review items & press kits, I thought it might be wise to remind you of our contest information & rules.

You can get up to four additional entries in our contests, unless we state otherwise in the post.

1. You always get one entry for simply commenting.

2. Blog about the 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).

3.

or

 Subscribe in a reader

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

4. Place our button in your sidebar or add us to your blogroll. Leave an additional comment or send an additional email 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. If we’ve been in your sidebar forever, it still counts!

For your convenience, here is the button code (also found here)

5. Tweet about the giveaway and let us know @opinionated. Be sure to let us know you tweeted in a separate comment to get your entry.

EACH entry must leave a separate comment…one comment = one number for the random integer generator.

Anything else you want to know? Just ask!

I love to read, and always have at least 3 books on the go. Something fiction, something non-fiction, and something parenting. I also always have a stack of at least 30 (and sadly, I’m not exaggerating) books in my “waiting their turn” pile. The Green Guide for Families: The Complete Reference for Eco-Friendly Parents from National Geographic Books sat in that pile for a long time because it just kept getting buried. The poor thing. There were just so many series that came up in the meantime that I just had to finish. (Millennium trilogy, anyone? Begin with ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ and see if you get any parenting books read before you finish all three!)

Now that I’ve finally read it cover to cover, I’m recommending it to everyone I know with a family. It’s extremely well organized and is filled with practical advice and great ideas. It addresses all of the key environmental issues faced by parents of young children today, and takes a straightforward approach to things like lead-painted toys; vaccinations, antibiotics, vitamins, plastics, managing food allergies, avoiding fat and sugar filled snacks and SO much more. It’s just an awesome book that is sure to become dog eared as you reference it for years to come.

The author, trained scientist, seasoned writer, and mother of two small children Catherine Zandonella combines both knowledge and experience as she helps parents guide their children through a society that doesn’t always make green lifestyle choices easy and offers advice on raising children to “think green” from the start.

Win it! We’re giving away THREE copies of “The Green Guide for Families” to three randomly selected readers. To enter, comment on this post before noon mst on July 31, 2010.

You know pomegranates are a super food right? But if you probably also know what a pain in the butt they are to eat and to wash out of your family’s clothing after they’ve been squirted and wiped all over everything.

Solution? POM Wonderful.

Six different varieties of juice, teas, coffee, pills, bars…if it’s pomegranate, it’s there.

We’ve tried all of their juices now, thanks to some coupons they sent us to pick up free samples at our local grocer. I prefer the straight POM, but for those who like it cut there’s blueberry, kiwi, nectarine, cherry & mango as well.

Check it out – get your superfood & get hydrated too!

There are many joys, big and small, for a mama with a little girl. One of the small joys that I adore is choosing new hair bows & clips to match every outfit. I have no time for crafts, so luckily there are a ton of shops online selling fabulous products at reasonable prices, like fromalicebows.com

The variety is great – check out their signature collection – and the prices range from a very reasonable & demure $4 to a gorgeous, layered & fancy $15.

Win it! We’re giving away a selection of 5 “pretties” valued at $40. Visit From, Alice and comment on this post with one of your faves before noon mst on July 31, 2010 to be entered to win!

Am I the only one who has those moments?

Sometimes I feel like a Kindermusik superstar. At other times I sing the ABC’s and the days of the week and tuck them in.

To avoid those “drawing a blank” moments, I highly recommend The Goodnight Book for Moms and Little Ones from Welcome Books. (It’s great for dads too, but isn’t named for them…yet.)

The Goodnight Book for Moms and Little Ones includes:
Literary Excerpts: Ten excerpts relating to sleep, stars, and dreams from beloved children’s classics. In Charlotte’s Web, Charlotte sings Wilbur to sleep; in Mary Poppins, Mary glues stars to the sky; and in James and the Giant Peach, James falls asleep in the web hammock under the soft light of a glowworm.
Tales & Legends: Fourteen stories from Sleeping Beauty and Rip Van Winkle to creation tales of the moon and stars from different cultures.
Songs: Ten songs and lullabies, including “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “Goodnight” by Lennon and McCartney, and “Hush, Little Baby.”
Poetry: Fourteen poems, including “The Land of Nod” by Robert Louis Stevenson, “Is the Moon Tired?” by Christina Rossetti, and “Afraid of the Dark” by Shel Silverstein.
Activities: Twenty activities to make bedtime easier (sleep-inducing sachets, clothespin guardian angels, relaxation exercises) and enjoyable (glow-in-the-dark sleep shirt, galactic mobile, hibernating beanbag bear).
Recipes: Twelve recipes combining soothing ingredients for dinners and before bedtime snacks as well as dreamy sweets like Full Moon Cookies, Overnight Surprise Cookies, and Soothing Smoothies.
Prayers: Ten bedtime prayers from various cultures and faiths.

What a wonderful baby gift this book would be for a new mama!

The book hits the shelves this September.

Win it! Welcome Enterprises is giving a copy to one lucky TOP reader. To enter to win, simply comment on this post before noon mst on July 31, 2010.

We’re holding out hope that the drywallers will get here and done this week. Everything we own, including everything for this site, is in a giant mouseproof & waterproof steel box. Gah.

We’ve picked & paid for the floor (Ouch. Have you any idea how much flooring costs?)

On the upside, I hated the couch that got wrecked and now I get a new one.

My basement is flooded. Everything was/is down there. Back asap. Be sure to use a feed reader so you don’t miss the awesome giveaways that are coming as soon as I can access the stuff!

This post is sponsored by Mom Central Canada, but aside from the idea it’s 100% me.

SMARTloveoflearning.com is a community of people who share a passion for learning. From the teachers who make lessons come alive to the students who are eager to learn more and every parent, friend, aunt, and neighbor in between, there are many who share SMART® Technologies love of learning. After all, every good idea in the world exists only because somewhere along the line, someone cared enough to teach and someone was engaged enough to learn.

I’m a teacher. I’m a mom first and foremost, but I am and will always be a teacher. Before I had a B.Ed I was a teacher. It’s just the way I was made. Some people just are.

I remember very little about my “favourite teacher.” I place those words in quotes because I’ve had many great (and rather poor) teachers but she’s the one I really remember. She was my kindergarten teacher, now retired and going by a different name after a divorce, and it was her influence that inspired me to teach at just five years old.

I could read when I started kindergarten, and she did what not many would or could do. She put me into a grade one classroom for reading and math, and worked with the grade one teacher to have me put into grade two after kindergarten. That just doesn’t happen around here anymore, and it was the perfect arrangement for me. I remember her a a kind & gentle woman who really took the time to get to know me as a person, and as a learner. I remember singing with her on the carpet – The Farmer in the Dell, specifically. I remember my special cubbyhole. Everyone had one, but I sure thought mine was the best one. I remember bringing her homemade baked treats and watching them sit on her desk until Friday – the one day she allowed herself to eat junk food. I remember details like I don’t remember about any other year of school (and there were 20 including preschool and university, so that’s saying something) and when I think of her, I smile.

It wasn’t the curriculum I learned – though I’m sure she did a great job of that even if I don’t remember. It was how she made me feel that I could be anything I wanted to be. What I wanted to be was just like her. The ultimate compliment for a teacher.

That was decades before SMART Boards became commonplace in all public school classrooms. I can’t live without mine and use it all day long. I can just imagine what we could have done as students if we’d had them. It would have been magical! (video link) SMART Love of Learning has a Facebook group you can check out. Join and you can enter to WIN a SMART Board interactive whiteboard for your child’s school or a school of your choice! Simply click on the ‘Win’ tab to enter. If you’re a parent or teacher interested in raising money for a SMART Board interactive whiteboard for a school in your area, click on the ‘Toolkit’ tab.

What better way to encourage literacy amongst the population than welcoming babies into the world and women into motherhood with books.

THE LITTLE BIG BOOK FOR MOMS is a magic wand for new mothers. It instantly provides in one silver gilt-edge book a treasury of fairy tales, nursery rhymes, songs, games, and activities for new moms to do and read with their children. I recalls when my oldest child was a baby asking readers of my personal blog what I could sing to him other than the alphabet. I could have really used this book! I now keep one on a table close to where we read bedtime stories every night and it’s an awesome resource – the perfect book for every mom who doesn’t want her little ones to miss out on the classic tale of Princess and the Pea, or wants to be reminded of the words to Rub-a-Dub-Dub, play I’m a Little Teapot and Itsy, Bitsy Spider, learn how to create shadow puppets and who wants to make recipes that are especially yummy like Frozen Chocolate Bananas. In other words, this is a book for moms who want to be special moms and who want to bring memorable activities to their little ones. And, when everyone has finally gone to sleep at night, there are essays just for Mom by Anne Lamott, Susan Cheever, and Amy Herrick.

THE ULTIMATE ORGANIZER FOR MOMS is a one-stop, indispensable resource to encourage communication between parent and child. It goes from pregnancy through year five, and is a perfect gift for every new mom and mother-to-be. It will make her life easier with great organizational tools & places to record things like her child’s medical records, birthday parties, playmates, teachers, favorite toys, baby sitters, and those all-so-important “firsts” but it will also give her bragging rights to say “Yes! I’ve kept a baby book for my child.” The Ultimate Organizer for Moms comes with a front and a back pocket and is held snugly together by an elastic band.

What a charming gift the combination of these books would make for an expectant or new mother!

Win it! We’re giving away both! To enter, comment before noon mst on May 21, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

LiLiKiKs is a fabulous new-to-me company created by a mom of three active girls and based in Vancouver, BC (Go Canada!) that makes age-appropriate sportswear that girls actually want to wear.

Now, imagine that. Novel idea, no?

I was excited just browsing the website to see the clothes I buy for myself at conferences for fitness professionals (the most modest you can buy there!) in mini-versions for kids like mine who aren’t allowed to play with or dress like Bratz dolls. We received the Ragcap short sleeve tee, Langur capri and Teamster jacket for review, and I was more than excited – THRILLED – with every piece.

We haven’t had them long, but we’ve washed them now three times and my daughter has worn them twice, and they look just like new. That may not seem like long, but I am physically & mentally unable to wash clothes properly and she’s a rough & tumble (and messy) kid, so it’s good for us! The material is smooth, soft & supple, doesn’t ride up and is highly breathable.

Now that we’ve found LiLiKiKs for her, perhaps they’ll start making my size so I don’t have to wait until my next conference to get great workout clothes without paying Lululemon prices?

Have you any doubt what I’m going to talk about after reading that title?

The Huggies marketing team is brilliant. Create a dance and a song that gets stuck in the heads of parents and children everywhere when they see it on commercials, put it on DVD so the kids can beg to watch it, then team up with Mom Central Canada for a blog tour and get mom’s around the country doing the dance with their children and their friends. I’m one of those moms, and I was given the opportunity to host a Potty Dance get together with some friends, which was great because we host playdates all the time and we got to have one with decorations and the food paid for by Huggies! We had a group of the kids’ friends over for our usual playdate (but with decorations! Pretty!) and somewhere in the middle we pulled out the potty dance mat and played the DVD for the kids (and mom, natch) to do the dance. It was hilarious, and since we always talk about poop anyway it was also quite appropriate.

Both of my children are potty trained, except when sleeping for the 2 year old, and both trained relatively easily, thank goodness for the state of my mind, but I can see how this would be extra helpful for a child who was struggle with learning to use the potty. With my son, being my first time, I started out by giving him a chocolate chip for peeing and two for pooping, making up a big sticker chart, and pretty much every silly little trick I’d ever heard of. Little did I know, not crapping your pants should really be enough reward in and of itself. When I stopped giving them to him, I just told him he didn’t need them anymore and he was fine with that. One thing he really did love was when I occasionally brought a washable marker in to the bathroom with me and I’d sit in front of him and write what he was doing all over his legs along with a bunch of doodles. “Fart!” “Poop!” “Pee!” All surrounded by pictures of flowers and puppies. We started with a potty timer, putting him on every 20 minutes. I recall one day when we were starting that he peed every single time. Eighteen pees in a day. Sheesh. We slowly increased the time between visits until he began to go on his own or tell us he had to go. With my daughter, we just told her when she turned two that she was old enough to not be in diapers anymore. There were a few accidents, but not many, and we put her on the potty at regular increments until she began to tell us when she needed to go. That’s it – that’s all. I was determined that it would be stress-free and child-led, and it was.

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Watch a couple of Canadian public figures do the potty dance here and here.

Music for Little People recently sent us a couple of discs to check out, and they made the cut for sharing here with you.

Pickin’ & Grinnin’: Great Folk Songs for Kids is full of spirited performances of some of the greatest American folk singers singing their favorite tunes especially for children.

Love & Peace is full of music that parents and children can enjoy together. It includes some of the most magical musical moments from Music for Little People’s rich musical history with unique performances such as Brian Johnson (AC/DC) performing “If I had a Hammer” with award winning kids singers, Faith Hill singing a heartfelt ballad to her daughter and Willie Nelson joining a bunch of friends to cover Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land”. It begins with a classic from my own childhood, “Baby Beluga” by Raffi, followed by one of my personal faves “On The Good Ship Lollipop” by Maria Muldaur. “The diversity and spirit in this historical tribute to the wonderful world of children’s music contribute to a musical experience that your family won’t want to miss!”

These are the first two of a selection of CD’s that will be released throughout 2010 to celebrate their 25th anniversary. They’re awesome, but you know what else is awesome? They’re only nine bucks right now!

Win them! Enter to win a copy of each of these fab CD’s with a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, May 7, 2010.

I’m thrilled to introduce you to Funky Mama‘s new album, “Sing!” We reviewed her Moo Juice album (glowingly) a year and a half ago-ish, and this one is just as fantastic. Check out the title track on YouTube. I’ll wait.

See? Awesome, no?

Krista always gets my kids rockin’ – even when they’re strapped in to 5 point harnesses, which is saying something.

Take a little sneak listen to more of the CD here.

Win it! Enter to win a copy of Sing! by commenting on this post before noon mst on Friday, May 7, 2010.

This CD, Flute Sweet & Tickletoon in Green Golly & Her Golden Flute is truly like nothing I’ve shared with you before. It’s intended for ages 4-10, and is 57 minutes of awesome.

Flute Sweet & Tickletoon introduces kids to the wonder of classical music using an embellishment of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel called “Green Golly & Her Golden Flute.” It’s in two parts – the first a narrative graced with flute and flute-guitar renditions of several classical selections, and the second flute recital by Barbara Siesel accompanied by pianist Jessica Krash which allows children to enjoy in greater depth the selections performed during the narration.

This CD will be release on May 11, but you can win it sooner!

Win it! Comment by noon on Friday, May 7, 2010 to enter.

Another newcomer to the fabulous Putumayo Kids Playground series, Jazz Playground is a collection of international jazz songs for children. “From bebop and swing to Latin and African jazz, this multicultural CD celebrates the vibrant diversity and global influence of jazz and will get the whole family grooving!”

I am a big jazz lover (with absolutely no knowledge…just a simple love of listening) so I was thrilled to share this with my own children and more thrilled to see how much they loved it. Check out a couple of videos with your kids…and then buy it!

or…Win it! Comment here before noon on Friday, May 7, 2010 to be entered to win a copy.

NYC-based singer/songwriter Joanie Leeds’ new CD, I’m a Rock Star, was released just a month ago and it’s already entered “van rotation.” Joanie has a voice that is very appealing to adults.

According to her publicist, “Joanie’s soulful, “rock solid” voice – plus a remarkable ability to connect with kids through her songwriting – won her a 2008 Parents’ Choice Award for her debut children’s album, City Kid. Parents’ Choice reviewer Lynne Heffley praised Joanie’s “vivacious soprano and gentle rock ‘n roll approach.” Joanie’s music dances across a constellation of musical genres, ranging from indie & classic rock to hip-hop, from folk to jazz, from R & B to cartoon.”

“I’m a Rock Star” has catchy lyrics and songs that are short enough to keep even my 2 year old interested until the end. Joanie’s voice is awesome – not what many people expect from a children’s performer.

Win it! Comment here before noon on Friday, May 7, 2010 to be entered to win a copy.

Gray Matter Matters. Trust me on that one.

Parents’ Choice® Gold winning kids’ musician Roger Day’s “brainy” new CD, Why Does Gray Matter? … And Other Brainy Songs for Kids! is one of the newest albums in what we lovingly refer to as “van rotation” right now. If a CD leaves the kids’ rooms and makes it to the van, it’s good. It’s about the wonders and mysteries of the human brain, and is geared to kids ages 5 – 11.

As I’ve mentioned many times, I am not a music reviewer and don’t consider myself necessarily very good at it, but I am certainly opinionated, as are my children. I feel qualified to tell you that this is a great CD that my kids love. The music PR people in my virtual life are much better at actually writing about the tunes. So let’s let them do it, right?

In the spirit of Schoolhouse Rock and Bill Nye, the Science Guy, Why Does Gray Matter? includes “Brain Food – Eat it Up!” which uses omega 3, lypocene and green tea in a B-52s inspired rocker about the best foods for brain health. The “Left Brain/Right Brain” song illustrates the different functions of each side of the brain: the left brain is a Bach-inspired baroque string quartet and the right brain – naturally – is a bad British punk rock band. Roger Day co-wrote “The Brain Train” with Dr. John Paul Bouffard, Chief Neuropathologist at Overlook Hospital in New Jersey; the song takes a peek inside Ringo Starr’s brain during that nanosecond from Ringo’s first thought about playing the drums to showtime at Shea Stadium. Roger says, “I’m confident this is the first – and probably last — children’s song that uses words like ‘corpus callosum’ and ‘deep basal ganglia’ in the lyrics.”

There wasn’t a song on this CD that I didn’t like. My son has actually learned a lot about the brain by listening to it and it’s spurred some awesome discussions & teachable moments. My daughter just boogies along as we chat because the music is as good as the content. It’s good stuff – particularly if you’re a science buff.

Win it! Comment here before noon on Friday, May 7, 2010 to be entered to win a copy.

It’s music week again here 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!

Let me tell you about some hippos.

Some very Hip Hippos.

The Hip Hippos in the pictured book and their friends the Sad Mad Glad Hippos and the One Hippo (who) Hops and some of my children’s favourite animals. We’ve had these books for a while now and though they’re nothing exciting for my husband and I, both of our children LOVE them – even the one who is way above their reading level.

Seriously, I don’t even know what it is. It’s obvious these books weren’t written for educated women in their mid-thirties, but are perfect for babies, toddlers & preschoolers. They’re sturdy board books that babies can chew on and they’ll still be solid & in one piece when the preschooler gets home to actually read them.

I’d seen Majesta paper products before on the shelves at several local stores. Having never heard of the brand, I assumed it was just some crappy no-name product that would be scratchy and cheap feeling. Boy, was I wrong – and on so many levels.

They make toilet paper, facial tissue & paper towel, all of which I was sent (by Mom Central Canada) to test out. To be honest, there’s very little difference between Majesta products and the higher priced ones that I usually use. In feeling anyway – we did the cheek test (the cheeks on our faces!) and the Majesta toilet paper may have even been a tad softer than the luxury one I buy.

We were provided with a sample of Charmin and two water bottles to do a “shake test” and it was the neatest thing. When shaken in water, the Charmin stayed whole and the Majesta disintegrated – it’s biodegradable and even safe for R.Vs! I’m going to switch Majesta in to be next big grocery shop and see if my family even notices. I’m thinking they won’t.

Majesta has created a new movement – it’s the movement to plant more trees. Tree.spon.si.ble™, which is “the act of responsibly caring for today’s forests while planting trees for the future” is noble indeed. In 2010, Majesta hopes to plant 1 MILLION Trees and you can help by purchasing Majesta products (Three trees are planted for every one that is used to produce the products), attending Majesta tree planting events or visiting majesta.com and dedicate a tree through the Trees by the Shore program. How appropriate for Earth Day.

As part of the celebration of the Treesponsible™ movement, Majesta is hosting a fantastic giveaway. This Spring you can enter for the chance to win $15,000 towards a Green Makeover for your home. The prize can go towards any ‘green’ home project, for example, landscaping, new energy efficient appliances or simply replacing those leaky faucets. The promotion is open until June 27th and you may enter daily and receive additional ballots by letting your friends know about the promotion. Check it out – that’s a LOT of money!

We recently received some samples of a new drink-ish concoction called Minichill – the latest in the ever expanding market of energy drinks, elixirs, potions and whatever other liquid alchemy is hitting the shelves these days. I’ve never tried Red Bull or anything like it, and honestly didn’t really want to sample Minichill either. It’s pegged as “the two-ounce anti-energy shot – the only doctor-formulated, clinically proven relaxation shot on the market.” They say it doesn’t cause drowsiness so can be consumed at any time of the day or night. But – it’s got “Relarian” in it – their name for their patented blend of herbs including Valerian root, which is what I took in university to get to sleep and it knocked me right out. And it also has Sucralose in it – an artificial sweetener. One of our family policies, for lack of a better term, is that we don’t eat fake food. I have to admit that I was too chicken to even taste a Minichill, but I did give it to several friends to try who aren’t as opposed to consuming chemicals as we are. Their response was that it may have relaxed them a little bit but it tastes “strange.” The strangeness likely comes from the Sucralose – fake food tastes funny.

This product was marketed to us as something that would be great for stressed out parents who need some relaxation. While I’m sure that’s just because it’s very obvious that we’re parents, I feel I need to warn you that if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding you should NOT consume this or anything else with medicinal herbs, artificial sweeteners or “fake foods” in it.

My advice? If you’re stressed, go for a walk, run or bike ride and then come home and crack open a nice bottle of red wine.

Don’t forget to sign up & join us Thursday night for a free parenting webinar.

No more nagging, reminding, yelling…Awesome stuff!

Go here to sign up!

Got a preschooler in the house?

Check out the Skip Hop zoo pack which is twenty bucks well spent. They are just the cutest things. They’re BPA, pthalate and PVC free, natch, and have the cutest little whimsical details. The monkey backpack, the newest addition to the line, has bananas for zipper pulls. These packs are just the perfect size for the 2-6 year old set, hold a Laptop Lunch container and some extra goodies perfectly, and each one has a front pocket the perfect size for a few toys or a small book.

A great preschool backpack is hard to find. Or, at least it used to be.

Rockabye Baby is a record label that has released a line of CDs which turn popular rock bands into lullaby music for babies and parents. They have lullaby renditions of 25 artists including The Beatles, Nirvana and a new release of Lullaby Renditions of Aerosmith which features liner notes by Steven Tyler. Most recently they’re launched a Journey album, which is just as awesome as every Journey album is, but totally safe for the nursery. They also have a new download card available which is a super cool baby gift for someone whose musical tastes you’re unsure of.

You can hear clips, find more info and purchase at Rockabye Baby

Save 20% until 5/9/10 with the code MOMDAY2010

Win it! Want to win a download card? Comment on this post before noon mst on April 26, 2010.

Next week = Music week!

Adriana Berlanga, owner and president of Bersica Futurewear – a new high-tech children’s clothing line – sent my daughter one of their polo shirts to try out. They sell for under twenty bucks and make some pretty fantastic claims.

Bersica Futurewear is the first line of high-performance children’s clothing that redefines the meaning of “future” by combining the two things that will give us a better tomorrow—conservation and innovation. They use Swiss Schoeller fabric manufactured with NanoSphere® textile technology to create stylish, fun clothes for children that contain no harmful chemicals or dyes; are very soft and fully breathable; extremely liquid, stain, oil and dirt repellent; abrasion resistant; highly durable; quick-drying; self-cleaning; and environmentally friendly while also protecting children from harmful UV rays.

One important thing to note about Bersica Futurewear items are the washing instructions, which you must follow. They are machine washable in warm/cold water with mild liquid detergent with no fabric softeners or bleach. Tumble or hang dry and use a low heat dry iron (no steam) to smooth out wrinkles if necessary. Easy – that’s how I was all of my clothes.

The shirt is soft and my daughter says it’s comfortable, and it’s pink – which is the only colour she’ll currently wear, so that’s a bonus – but I wanted to put the features to the test. It’s easy to spill in our house – it takes no effort at all, in fact, since we come by it honestly. The first try gave us bright red spaghetti sauce, a big slop of yogurt and some milk. The milk literally rolled off the shirt with NO sign it had ever been there. The yogurt blobs and spaghetti sauce looked like they’d be more challenging. I took her shirt off, rinsed it under water and it looked, quite literally, just like new. Nothing left. At all. I was amazed!

I don’t really know what nano-technology is, but I like it.

The Day That is a company out of the United Kingdom that has just launched here in North America. They offer a very unique gifting opportunity – their photographers rise at dawn each day and capture an image of the dawn skies over the Chesapeakes, and the image is crafted into a work of authenticated art; mounted framed and hand-inscribed as a permanent reminder of a memorable day. A birth, christening, wedding…the list of possibilities is endless.

Being that we’re opinionated “parents” specifically, I am loving this as a baby gift. Their images go back to 2005 so it would also make an awesome birthday gift for the child who has everything (and who is five or under). The mat is inscribed with a personal message from the photographer saying whatever you like. “Juliette’s first day ~ May 1, 2010″

The images are beautiful and the gift captures all the emotions and significance of a truly special day. Being a practical mama, I was especially impressed with the beautiful, archival quality frame and the packaging/shipping. It arrived in just a few days, and was packed so securely that it would have taken a bomb to damage it.

Win it!The Day That is giving a T.O.P. reader one of their wonderful & unique framed images. To enter, simply comment on this post before noon mst on April 21, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

You may recall when I reviewed the Positive Parenting Solutions online breakthrough course back in October.

In a nutshell, it was freaking awesome. Still is, actually. I use what I learned from it every day.

It was so great that we’re sponsoring a free webinar for parents world wide to share one of the most requested topics…

Correcting misbehaviour without nagging, reminding or yelling.

Yep, that means it applies to EVERY parent I’ve ever met! And it’s FREE! For you!

Register at:http://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/the-opinionated-parent

Amy McCready, Founder of Positive Parenting Solutions will present a strategy-packed, interactive, live online webinar designed to teach you…

* the real reasons behind why your child misbehaves
* how your personality can encourage and even escalate misbehaviors
* why you need to know the difference between punishment and consequences
* the proven formula for holding kids accountable for behavior without YOU being the bad guy
* how to structure effective consequences that you can use immediately

You’ll also discover new resources to reduce parenting stress as you correct misbehaviors and communication and get everyone on the same page.

And, you will be able to join in on the discussion via text chat.

Access: All you need is a computer with a speaker to hear the presentation. We’ll send you the log in instructions.

How It Works: Just take a minute to register here
and you’ll receive an email confirmation with the link to access the webinar. When you “enter” the webinar, you’ll see the session slides on your screen as well as a video box to see the presenter – but we won’t be able to see you! You can use the chat box to type questions or make comments. Print the note taking guide from the registration page so you can follow along and get the most out of the webinar.

Cost: FREE!

If you’re ready to eliminate the misbehaviors that have you feeling tired, frazzled and stressed, sign up today.

Date: Thursday, April 22, 2010

Time: 9:30 PM Eastern/8:30 PM Central/7:30 PM Mountain/6:30 PM Pacific

Register at: http://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/the-opinionated-parent

Hope to talk to you then!

I recently received a great product from Mom Central for review – if you’ve got a newborn or even just a really booger-filled kid, this one’s for you.

I’ll never forget the days when my children were babies and had stuffy noses. It’s so horrible watching them gasp for air as they’re nursing, and elevating their cribs did not a darn thing to help them (or me) sleep better at night. I wish I would have had this product back then – I would have tried pretty much anything that wasn’t drugs, and even that was tempting!

The hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator and its filters were developed with pediatricians, as a gentle and safe way to relieve your baby’s nasal congestion quickly and effectively. It helps to maintain clear breathing and to facilitate eating and sleeping. Its soft nasal tip is specifically designed for babies’ delicate noses and its transparent design allows for you to see the amount and type of mucus that is being removed. hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator has a protective single-use filter that traps excess mucus, providing hygienic aspiration. The tip and base of the aspirator are easily removable for effective cleaning after each use. Unlike squeezable nasal aspirators, the hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator allows you to control the strength of the suction with your aspiration.

For best results, and to liquefy mucus prior to aspiration, use hydraSense® Easydose® or hydraSense®Ultra-Gentle Mist with Comfort Tip, a nasal solution composed of isotonic, undiluted, sterile, 100% natural-source desalinated seawater. hydraSense® contains more than 70 trace elements and minerals naturally occurring in seawater and is preservative free.

I don’t have a baby right now, but my preschooler son was pumped to try this out on himself. He didn’t let me help much so it didn’t really do the trick, but it was sure funny!

Visit the hydraSense® site by April 10, 2010 to sign up for the Dolphins Club. Once you sign up and log back into your account, enter the code MC2010 under the online coupons tab, in order to get an $8 off coupon (over 50% off!) to be used towards the purchase of your hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator (coupon itself expires December 31, 2010).

Check out this video on You Tube for more info as well.

Blankets make great gifts for all ages, from newborns to grandparents, but there’s a definite quality discrepancy out there. If you or your child has ever been the recipient of a high end blanket that didn’t come from a big box store, you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, you should. There’s nothing like it.

Fill in the Blankie (by Sonya Bebeblankee) blankets are uber-personalized blankets that are perfect for giving as baby, christening, birthday or just because gifts. Fill in the Blankie blankets are the kind you keep forever; not the kind that goes in your garage sale bin.

Fill In The Blankie recently sent a blanket for a school-aged child we know who’s in and out of the hospital right now. The “As Good As It Gets” blanket consists of two panels of 400 thread count Italian Frette sheeting (Frette produces some of the finest linens in the world) sewn together and wrapped with a 2″ wide satin binding. The result is one of the softest, most understated, yet elegant blankets I’ve ever seen. The 32×32 size ($123) would be perfect for a baby but is a little small to cover this child in her hospital bed. The 36×54 ($165) would have been better for this situation, but for a newborn or toddler gift the mid-size is just peachy.

The Fill In The Blankie company was launched in 2004 and is unique in many ways. While many shops, online and brick & mortar, offer personalization, it’s usually just a monogram or 20ish characters and takes at least a few weeks to reach the recipient. Fill In The Blankie blankets offer up to 200 characters per blankie and a 3-7 day turn-around. The FITB website is also brutally honest about what you’re getting when you choose a blanket with ratings on a scale of 1-10 for the cuddle factor and the quality of material and construction and lists the blanket weight (light, medium, heavy) and size. There are no shocks when you work with a company like Fill in the Blankie – except the shocked look on the recipient’s face when they realize the amount of thought you put in to finding the perfect gift.

Order your Fill in the Blankie here – select your favourite style, choose a blanket color and click on “personalize & check out.” They’ll run you anywhere from $39 – $123 for baby/toddler sizes and every penny will be well spent. Prices include complete ultra-personalization.

Win it! Email theopinionatedparent at gmail dot come with FITB in the subject line and your fave blankie in the body before noon mst on March 26, 2010 for a chance to win it!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Kids. Whether they’re on the autism spectrum, have a sensory processing disorder or are just kids easily annoyed by seams, they and everyone around them will be grateful for our find of SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Socks. They’re the first I’ve seen that are 100% truly seamless and they’re also form-fitting ensuring that there are no wrinkles or bunches. A form-fitting design hugs little feet and makes SmartKnitKIDS perfect for infant & toddler socks. No matter how wiggly the child, the socks don’t come off. SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Socks do not have a heel so they can easily and confidently be slipped on and allows them to worn until they’re worn out rather than outgrown. They’re made of smart fabric that’s both antimicrobial and moisture wicking for comfortable and less-stinky little feet.

SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Socks are available from TheraWear for about $6/pair.

Win it! We’re giving away three pairs of gender neutral SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Socks. To enter, simply comment on this post before noon mst on March 22, 2010.

COMMENTS CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

Indiginous Crafts From Bolivia is a company started by Sue Berlove when following her dream of connecting with an artisan group from a developing country, purchasing their crafts and selling them in Canada. The idea appealed to her because it seemed practical, tangible and achievable; a way to combine her enterprising skills and helping values. In 2004 she travelled to Bolivia with a small group of Canadian women where she was able to make those connections. She returned with suitcases full of the crafts she had purchased and launched my new business.

One of her main products carried on Sue’s site are 3 Bags Full finger puppet pouches. Each set includes 8 animal finger puppets which snap into the painted scene on the front of a lovely knit carrying pouch. They area available in six themes— Arctic, Farm, Garden, Jungle, Ocean, Woods —and each theme’s pouch is specific to that habitat. These sets are appropriate for independent play for children 3 and up and are a great interactive educational resource for professionals and parents to use with children from birth to 6. Finger puppets are ideal for story telling, dramatic play, singing, language development and promoting early literacy and are great for home use as well as in daycares & dayhomes, and classrooms.

We checked out the Jungle theme, which came with a crocodile, elephant, giraffe, lion, monkey, parrot, tiger, and zebra. The puppets are very well made and the pouch is stunning in design and quality. They fit both a child’s and an adult’s finger well, and the designs are just perfect for free play and early literacy use. They retail for $40/set.

Ministar brand shoes have been sold in Target Stores for the past few years, and are a cute, slightly less expensive spinoff of Bobux designed shoes. The Ministar boots come in 3 colors, as shown. Sizes available are small (0-6 mos.), medium (6-12 mos.), large (12-18 mos.) and extra-large (18-24 mos.) They retail for just $20 which is much more affordable than most leather baby boots.

(Ministar is distributed by RT Nash, Inc. who also distributes Bobux USA & Canada and Silly Billyz USA & Canada. Bobux International ONLY provides the designs for the Ministar shoes. The Ministar brand is made in China – hence the lower price.)

For my daughter’s birthday invitations this year, we went a bit of a different route than usual. Rather than spend hours custom designing a card in photoshop, she and I created a caricature of her using PosePrints and we were both thrilled with the results. For just two bucks a card and fifteen fun minutes of your time, you too can have some awesome & unique personalized stationery.

PosePrints is comprised of a mother-daughter team. Denise (mother & business guru) and Jen (daughter and creative genius) have worked together to create this unique business. There’s a large selection of products, designs & poses available on the site now, but if you don’t see what you want Jen can do custom art work as well.

PosePrints offer everything from invitations for any occasion to baby stationery to magnets, notepads and even personalized recipe cards. (Ooh, I want some!)

In 2008 several of our review team checked out the first DVD from Prima Princessa and loved it so we were thrilled to hear they’d released a new one featuring the classic Nutcracker.

From the DVD creators:This Magic Christmas movie is the perfect Christmas gift for girls! Prima Princessa’s Family Holiday DVD is filled with snow fairies, toy soldiers, presents, sugar plum fairies, tutus, fairy princesses and more!!!

“Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker” is our first Christmas DVD and is the second show in the Prima Princessa Presents series, which is designed by two mom-entrepreneurs on a mission to bring the beauty and magic of ballet into the lives of children everywhere.

Our 40 minute Christmas movie is the perfect Holiday Gift for children ages 3 to 7. Join Prima Princessa, the adorable cartoon fairy ballerina princess, as she takes you on an amazing holiday Christmas adventure. Get on your pretty tutu and get ready to dance with the San Francisco Ballet as they perform excerpts from their world famous “Nutcracker.” Between acts your kids will get up off the couch and dance along as they learn real ballet steps demonstrated by students from the School of American Ballet, the official academy of the New York City Ballet, plus contagiously adorable tutu-clad children!

Buy it for only $6.99 at Amazon!

My kids are of the rare type who have never tried ranch dressing, as dip or otherwise. I’ve not yet attempted to make my own, and I don’t feed my family chemicals in a bottle so they’ve just never had it. We use hummus and a variety of other bean dips when we feel the need for dip. Honestly, I could eat a good hummus with a spoon so I wasn’t hard to convince when I was contacted to do a review for Tribe Hummus.

Tribe Hummus has no artificial preservatives, is free of saturated fats, free of trans fats, free of hydrogenated oils & free of cholesterol, is non-dairy, vegan friendly, and certified kosher.

But does it taste good?

Heck yes!

The classic and the garlic roasted are pretty plain, which is great for some but not to my personal taste, but the roasted red pepper is fabulously sweet and my daughter’s favourite and the 40 spices is mildly spicy & flavourful & absolutely delicious.

The Tribe Hummus rep sent along three recipe ideas for cooking with kids that I’d love to share with you.

Hummus and Veggie Pizza: Give each child a tortilla on a plate. Place Tribe Garlic Roasted Hummus, low fat mozzarella cheese and precut vegetables in bowls in the middle of the table. Let the kids spread the hummus on the tortilla with the back of a spoon and top with cheese and arrange vegetables into faces or fun shapes. Adults can place hummus pizza in a 350 degree oven until cheese is melted and edges are golden brown. After pizza cools kids can enjoy their personal pizzas!

Kangaroo Pouches: Whole wheat pita bread halves pose as empty kangaroo pouches that need filling. Set out a variety of ingredients and ask the kids to fill their kangaroo’s pouch for a tasty snack or lunch. Try Roasted Red Pepper Tribe Hummus, lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and cheese, or cream cheese, peanut butter and sliced bananas. Let the kids help prepare the ingredients too. (As a non-hummus aside, my children LOVE natural peanut butter and sliced fresh strawberries in a pouch.)

Foods From Many Lands: Find out what country or region is your child studying in school and browse through cookbooks, websites, and magazines with your child to find recipes from that area to make for the family. Create a theme night around a specific country such as Israel to learn more about their rich history with hummus. It’s a tasty and fun way to reinforce what’s being learned at school!

No matter how you use hummus in your household, it’s a super healthy addition to your diet and an awesome and fast snack/spread/dip for your whole family.

Tribe has just released four flavours of certified organic hummus that I can’t wait to try!

Win it! One randomly selected winner will receive two VIP coupons for free Tribe Hummus. Comment on this post before noon mst on March 5 to enter.

COMMENTS CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Ordering eyeglasses on the internet is something I never thought I’d do. I figured it was just too risky.

Then I got an email from Glasses USA requesting a review and jumped on the chance to let them prove me wrong. We had recently gotten new prescriptions, so got my very poorly sighted husband some titanium (read: hopefully child resistant) specs in the Air Black style. He has been wearing prescription glasses since he was a small boy, and was very impressed by not only the range of styles available but also the fabulous prices. The style he chose was only $80 including the lenses, and he’s never had a pair under $350 in the past. When the glasses arrived, I immediately opened them even though the rightful owner wasn’t home because I am a curious cat. They looked great, and look equally great on my husband. The only complaint is that what were supposed to be super thin lenses are actually rather thick and thicker than any he’s ever had which makes them slightly less clear than they should be. He won’t drive in them because of that, but if I’m driving or if we’re hanging out at home he wears them regularly.

My other concern about ordering eyeglass frames online was that I wouldn’t like them or they wouldn’t fit and then I’d be stuck with them. Glasses USA offers a satisfaction guarantee. If, even after you check the very specific measurements that they provide, they don’t fit or even if you just don’t like the style you can just send them back for your choice of a refund or a replacement. There’s really nothing to lose! Though there was the lens thickness concern with our review pair, we didn’t return them because, well, they were free. And they work. And they look great!

Win it! A free pair of glasses with single vision lenses is up for grabs! Simply comment below before noon mst on February 28 to enter. Become a Glasses USA fan on Facebook or follow them on Twitter for additional entries (comment separately for each entry, please.) These are in addition to the 5 entries you can get in every TOP giveaway.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Remember Sade?

I barely did. Soldier of Love is only the sixth studio album the band Sade have released during their 25 year career, and the first since Lovers Rock in 2000. For Sade herself, as the lynchpin of the group’s songwriting effort, it’s a simple matter of integrity and authenticity. “I only make records when I feel I have something to say. I’m not interested in releasing music just for the sake of selling something. Sade is not a brand.”

Soldier of Love was released last week, just in time for Valentine’s Day. It contains ten tracks that all flow together seamlessly. It’s beautiful music through and though, carrying the theme that love can and does conquer all. You can listen to a couple of tracks that are streaming at inmusic.ca.

Buy it in the USA or Canada
from Amazon.

Win it! We’re giving away two copies of Sade’s Soldier of Love. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on February 22, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED