Allow me to introduce you to a brand new mom-run company. It’s one of my favourite things to do.

Top Appeal brings a unique and fashionable headband & hair accessory product line to the market for young girls. Unlike traditional headbands which are primarily limited to a single fabric covering in a single colour, Top Appeal’s headband collection is specifically crafted to permit the removal/interchangeability of their creative design appliques called “Nuneez”.

Fabric covered headbands ($10) and Nuneez ($11 for a 5 pack) are sold separately allowing young girls to easily interchange the Nuneez designs on the headband colour of their choice. They’re also available in a set for $19.95.

Nuneez are super easy to use (click to see video) and the interchangeability is great for the fashion conscious child who wants their accessories to match their outfit.

We’re giving away a denim Top Appeal headband and a set of 5 red hot & blue Nuneez to one reader. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before 11:59 mst on October 14, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Every child loves to see their name in print and if there’s a way to make seeing your name in print more exciting, it is seeing your picture along side it. Proud Canadian company Mini Me Books has gotten it just right with their creation of The Octopus Book.

There are three available options, all of which are fantastic and only get better as you put a few more dollars into it. The first, with personalized text including the name of the child and their parents, sells for $32.99. For $39.99, you can personalize the names of the characters, and upload an image of your child. Finally, for $49.99 you can personalize text and photo for your child and 2 adults. My son has the $49.99 edition of The Octopus Book and I can tell you very honestly that it’s worth every penny and you will love it as much as your child will! The quality is second to none – better, in fact, than many of the thousands of books that fill my house and classroom from bookstores and other sources. The pages are thick and shiny and the paper is certified to the environmental and social standards of the Forest Stewardship Council. The binding is sturdy and tough, and the integration of the uploaded photographs is professional and…perfect. This does not look like a homemade book. It’s one that we have read daily since it arrived and will continue to read for many years.

Sure, it’s more than you’d spend on an average book at the store…but this is no average book. If you’re able to make the investment for your child, I assure you that you won’t regret it. I highly recommend it.

Save 10% on your Mini Me Book purchase with the code TOP10.

Win it! We’re giving away a personalized Mini Me Book valued at $49.99 to one lucky TOP reader! To enter, leave a comment on this post letting us know what little person in your life would be the lucky recipient before 11:59 mst on October 10, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Helmets for people under the age of 18 are the law in my neck of the woods, but it’s not that way everywhere. Even here, the law doesn’t always supersede stupidity. It doesn’t happen often on bikes but I regularly see kids on scooters, rollerblades & Ripstiks with their craniums bare for the smashing. With my background working with the brain-injured, it makes me cringe every time. (Wanna know what makes me cringe more? Helmet wearing kids bike riding with their soon-to-be-useless-bare-headed parents. Now I’ll step off my soapbox and tell you about a great solution for the raging stupidity!)

Tail Wags helmet covers are fun new accessory that has kids excited to wear their helmets! There are over 30 animal characters to choose from. From tigers and bears to turtles and dinosaurs, children love playing dress-up with Tail Wags helmet covers whether there’s a helmet around or not! My son wears his monkey on his head around the house, on his bike helmet and his hockey helmet and this winter we’ll be bringing it to the ski slopes as well because Tail Wags fit them all – even equestrian helmets!

Designed by Canadian mom Karyn Climans and made exclusively in Canada, Tail Wags not only encourage little ones to develop the helmet habit but they also help to increase the visibility of the wearer on the slopes, roads and skating rinks. Tail Wags are made from warm high quality fleece and are designed with a slit at the back to allow the wearer to access the helmet’s goggle clip. They’re made from top quality materials, are resistant to colour fading and tearing, and are sturdy enough to be worn under all kinds of conditions.

Check out the promotional video at the Tail Wags site or on YouTube.

Tail Wags helmet covers are available online and in retail stores worldwide for $40. Wouldn’t it make a great accompaniment to that new bike & helmet or skates & helmet that you’re buying? I think so.

Save 10% on your Tail Wags helmet cover order with the code opinion.

Win it! We’re giving away an adorable & gender neutral lion helmet cover from Tail Wags to one randomly selected winner. To enter, leave a comment on this post listing your two favourite animal characters from the Tail Wags line before midnight on September 9, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

From the time my first baby was born and the nurses hovered over us every 30 minutes taking his temperature and mine, I knew a child’s temperature was kind of a big deal. I also knew that my kid freaked out any time I approached with the evil silver stick – and that was just when I was headed for his armpit. Since I wasn’t about to take an anal temperature, I went for the digital ear thermometer, even though they’re slightly less accurate and not meant for kids under one year of age. I used it happily through two children until I discovered the Temporal Artery Scanner from Exergen. Good people, let me tell you – never spend a penny on another thermometer. I sure won’t. This thing is freaking awesome. Not only is it incredibly fun to use for both the taker and the take-ee (heh), it’s not at all invasive and it’s more accurate than any other thermometer on the market. With a simple scan from the center of the forehead to the hairline at the temple, you’ve got an accurate temp in just seconds.

(Watch this educational video if you want more info. Or just trust me – it’s cool and you want one. So do the people you’ll be buying baby gifts for.)

Check here to see where you can get yours in stores and online. FYI…in Canada, this product is called the AccuCare Temporal Artery Thermometer and it’s sold in Shoppers Drug Mart. (The Shoppers website is horrific so don’t bother looking for it on there. Just head to your local store and pick one up!)

Win it! We’re giving away a Temporal Artery Scanner (the US version, but anyone can win and they’re all the same save the name) to one reader! To enter, leave a comment on this post before midnight mst on September 8/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

A child’s name is usually the first and most important word they learn to print. When Canadian teacher and parent Lee-Ann O’Neill had a preschooler she, as we all do, was continually dotting out her name for tracing purposes. As an early childhood teacher and a mother, I spend more time dotting than I can keep track of.

Lee-Ann developed a stamp for her daughter and shares it with the rest of us via The Little Stamp Company. Her self-inking “signature stamp” features a large ‘dotted’ font so that children can stamp their own name on paper, colouring pages, artwork etc. and then trace the letters of their name. She offers three custom options for you to indicate your child’s name, select the ink colour, choose whether you would prefer ALL CAPS or Lower Case. (ECS teacher recommendation: Lower Case Please!) The ink Lee-Ann uses is edible and made entirely with FDA approved ingredients. It’s water based, child safe, washable, eco-friendly and lasts for thousands of impressions. My son has probably broken a thousand now (not all on paper so I can attest to the washability!) and his signature stamp is still going strong.

At $24.95, it might be a little more than you’d normally spend on a stamp but in my opinion as both a teacher and a parent, it’s totally worth it. They’ll love the sense of accomplishment & independence and it will save you hours of dotting time.

Save 15% on your signature stamps with the code TOP15.
This code is also among friends in the TOP Shops, where we feature exclusive online shopping discounts just for you!

Win it! Your child could win their own stamp from The Little Stamp Company! One winner will be randomly selected from all comments left on this post before August 29/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

At our house, getting two kids to bed at our house isn’t always a pleasure, but when my niece is here and we play the new Beddy-Bye Baby game from Briarpatch ($19.99) it makes putting baby to bed seem like, well, child’s play!

Anyone who has spent much time with little girls will tell you that taking care of a baby, real or pretend, is one of their favorite activities. Briarpatch has incorporated this nurturing play into a sweet, simple game that embraces a child’s love and fascination for baby.

Each Beddy-Bye Baby game comes with 48 playing cards including teddy bear, pajamas, baby bottle and Beddy-Bye illustrated cards, a game board, 4 baby carriage tokens and a die that sounds like a baby’s rattle when shaken. A booklet of complete game rules is also included.

To play, each player selects a baby and carriage in pink, blue, yellow, or green. When it’s their turn, players roll the die and move their carriages down the path toward bed while collecting jammies, a bottle and a teddy bear. Like real babies, players may encounter a baby that is fussy, sleepy or playful. The first player to enter the nursery with all three of baby’s things and tuck baby in to bed wins the game. No reading is required and up to 4 people can play. If you have older preschoolers and early school age kids, Beddy-Bye Baby would make an awesome addition to your family game nights!

Win it! We’re giving away a Beddy-Bye Baby game to one lucky winner. We’ll randomly select one person who comments on this post before August 28/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

The Chatterbox is a new game developed by Kim and David Maksymuik, Canadian parents who were stumped by a lack of resources available to parents to assist them when teaching their young twins valuable life skills. Their mission is to empower families to communicate, work together and master key life skills by providing them with tools and information that will help them learn in a quick, easy, fun and interesting way.

Each box comes with 140 cards covering topics in six life skills categories: family harmony, building character, developing people skills, goal planning, achievement skills and understanding money.

The Chatterbox provides age appropriate questions for children aged 3-6 years, 7-11 years and 12 years and up that are designed to stimulate conversation within the family. The Chatterbox also suggests fun games related to the subject matter addressed on each card and reinforcing tasks to be completed over the next week to facilitate retention and family fun and to ensure that families gain experience with real life skills in addition to the hypothetical ones. We’re sure looking forward to using The Chatterbox as a tool to facilitate our family dinner table conversations when our kids are older!

As of August 1/08, The Chatterbox is available online at Please Mum.com and, if you’re not an online shopper, just head to the local mall and pick yours up at any Please Mum store across Canada!

Win it! Enter to win a copy of this fabulous family game by leaving a comment on this post. Contest closes August 27/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Every family has their own values that they wish to impart on their children, and there are those that one would hope are universal. At When I Grow Up, those universal values come to light for all to see.

Bing Crosby in “Pennies from Heaven” said…

A long time ago, a million years BC, the best things in life were absolutely free. But no one appreciated a sky that was always blue and no one congratulated a moon that was always new.

Owner Kat Henderson asks us to take a quiet moment to remember what life was like when we were children…when we appreciated the sky and congratulated the moon. Then ask ourselves, “What do I value most in my life, what do I want to teach my children?”

When Kat thought about these things, she did more than just think. She created the fantastic value statement tees ($22) at When I Grow Up. Currently there are four designs to choose from and they’re all statements I’d be proud for my child to wear. The tees are all made from 100% certified organic cotton, made in the USA and printed with vividly coloured water-based ink.

They’re simple, they’re adorable, and they make some of the more perfect statements found on t-shirts anywhere. We love our compassion tee and get comments on it whenever my son wears it out. Wouldn’t it be nice to see more children in shirts like this?

Win it! Kat is giving one T.O.P. reader a value statement tee in your choice of statement and size. To enter, simply visit the shop to choose your tee and size and then come back to leave a comment letting us know your preferences. Contest closes on August 20/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Some of our very opinionated reviewers have been testing out Baby and Kidz Banz sunglasses. Read on to see what they thought of them and, of course, to enter a giveaway!

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We always love to test out new kid products and Kidz Banz since birth. My first born actually came home from the hospital in some cool black Baby Banz that I had purchased while pregnant. With starting that young, we never had issues with them being ripped off because the kids were used to having them on anytime they went outside. My baby has somehow become a big boy (what’s up with that?) and now loves wearing his Kid Banz when he’s out and about. They’re comfortable on his face and thanks to the comfortable & adjustable neoprene headband they stay on no matter how active he is. They’re even comfortable under his bike helmet, which is saying something. I have no hesitation recommending Banz if you’re looking to protect your kids’ eyes. – Nicole

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I was excited to try Baby Banz for my little girl because I know how dangerous the sun can be to young eyes. Until almost 10 years old, children have no natural filters in the eye to block UV light. I’ve read from several sources that you can actually do more harm to the eye if you put an inferior lens in front of it than putting nothing at all. Behind any tinted lens, the iris opens to allow more light into the eye. If the lens doesn’t protect properly, more UV light gets into the eye potentially causing severe damage. Banz lenses are rated UV400 and block out the entire spectrum of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays from the sun. I knew this was what I wanted for my toddler but had my doubts about the comfort of a hard plastic frame and whether she’d be willing to keep them on. Thankfully she thinks they’re “Cooh Dude!” and they now go with us everywhere. -Cindy

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As a parent of a special needs child, I was so excited to read that Baby and Kidz Banz sunglasses “are Rx-able and are capable of being cold fitted with a prescription lens up to +/ – 8 diopters.” I took the pair I received for review to my local option and, sure enough, my little darling now has cool looking prescription shades that actually stay on. Thanks, Banz, for making such a great product! -Andi

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I am a Banz convert. After reading the Banz site as research for this review, I will never buy a cheap pair of sunglasses again. Not that Banz are costly – they’re only $15 a pair – but the drugstore and dollar store shades just aren’t worth the few bucks you might save (and they might even be more!) Banz were originally designed in Australia for one of the world’s toughest UV environments and they’ve passed the most stringent standards on sunglasses in the world. They’re made of durable polycarbonate (don’t worry – they’re not in contact with food) and are almost indestructible. They’re all fitted with a Neoprene elastic strap that has side adjustable velcro allowing for years of wear as the child grows. My son has been wearing his day in and sometimes day out for the three or so weeks we’ve had them and they’re fabulous. I am here to tell you – don’t waste your money and protect your kids eyes with Banz. They’re the only eyes they have. - Krista

Win it! Banz is giving away a sunglasses & hat combo in the colour of the winner’s choice. To enter, leave a comment on this post letting us know the colour you’d choose if you win AND because we’re nosy, please tell us where you live. (Don’t post your address, please…just the city/state/country/whatever.) Contest closes August 19/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

With fall (too quickly) approaching, it’s time to start searching out some great personalized items for the kids to take back to school. We’re die hard Olive Kids lovers around here, and preschoolers and school aged kiddos alike will love all of the great personalized items from OK.

My son is an early reader and is loving his personalized bookmark ($9.99). It’s high quality and thick enough that even my dogs couldn’t completely destroy it (and believe me – they tried). My teething baby’s slobber didn’t penetrate it at all so the laminate is obviously well sealed! (Are you seeing a theme here? I live in a zoo, apparently.)

The Olive Kids placemats ($9.99) are a hit at our house too. These aren’t any old disposable placemats. They’re the same high quality as the bookmark and if they can make my crazy kid want to sit still and eat at the table they’ve got my vote!

When your kids head to school, off to daycare or just to a playdate with their backpack in tow, a personalized name tag ($7.99) is not only adorable but can help you get those packs home when they’re abandoned in favour of a good game of tag.

No matter how you feel about personalized goods, kids love them. When they’re high quality like these ones are, they’re sure to be a hit for a long, long time.

Win it! OK is giving away a prize pack valued at $28 including a personalized summer placemat of your choice, a personalized, bookmark of your choice and a name tag of your choice. To enter, visit OK and leave a comment letting us know the patterns you’d choose for each of your three items. Contest closes at 11:59 mst on August 15/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Everyone I know who’s ever been pregnant has experienced preggo-brain to some extent. Sadly, it only gets worse once the kid is out. My brain hasn’t been the same since conception, quite frankly.

As with any other part of our bodies, our brains need exercise. The sudoku craze has to be doing something great for our species, but what do you do if you aren’t a fan? Or can’t figure the damn things out?

Check out Brainiversity. It’s one of the best brain training games I’ve tried to date. Edison the talking light bulb accompanies you as you play, and he can be muted at any time (which can be a very good thing). There are a huge variety of games to play and more are unlocked as you progress. If you play daily, you’ll take a quiz each day composed of 4 tests which is recorded on your personal graph.

Many games in this genre are ridiculously easy for the intelligent among us (ahem) but this one is neither simple nor repetitive. It’s incredibly enjoyable, actually. It would be too easy for advanced brain trainers, but for kids, the average adult (particularly those with kids) or seniors, Brainiversity is fabulous! We talk a lot about baby shower gifts here, but I think this would make an awesome retirement gift.

Buy it for less than $20 at Amazon.

Win it! We’ve got a copy of Brainiversity to give away. To enter, leave a comment on this post by 11:59 mst tonight – August 7/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED AND WINNER EMAILED

We’re back from our Heritage Day long weekend. Our apologies to our American and overseas friends who were looking for us yesterday. It was a long weekend here and we didn’t think to check if everyone else had one too.

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The Opinionated Parents have been trying out Pop’rs, the newest way to get your kids to eat…anything!

Pop’rs come in one ounce shaker jars and are available in eight flavours and are incredibly versatile in their uses. Imagine the Pop Rocks of your youth with a variety of flavours and vitamins added. Some need to be added to food to taste good. Others, like the red Color Burst, taste exactly like Pop Rocks and if you’re anything like me your kids won’t get any and your tongue will be blue for a few hours. (Yes blue. I was confused too…)

Check out their blog for more information, and read on for our writers’ opinions and a reader
giveaway.

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With seven children I have faced more picky eaters than I would have ever liked to have seen. Normally, if you can just get them to TASTE the food you know they will like it, but getting that bite into their little clamped-shut mouths is nearly impossible. Until now!

Pop’rs are just the trick to get those mouths pried open and show those little ones that food DOES taste good. Pop’rs are like the candy Pop Rocks, they explode on your tongue. With 8 choices to choose from, any food can become a tasty, fun treat for your child. I was so happy to see great flavors for the adult child, too, such as Buffalo flavoring, which is amazing on pork.
Butter flavoring on veggies and potatoes may not seem exciting, but when the kids start hearing the crackling they just have to give it a taste, and their mouths a treat.
Across the board, my entire family enjoyed Pop’rs on nearly everything. Potatoes, meat, oatmeal, ice cream, vegetables; you name it, we sprinkled it! – Lisa

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Want a better way to jazz up vegetables than smothering them with cheese sauce? Would you like your kids to devour yogurt without it having to be in a squeezable tube or frozen on a stick? Would it be nice to make less-sugary and more-economical tub oatmeal just as jazzy as the individual packs? Enter: Pop’rs. Pop’rs is like nothing you’ve ever seen or heard of before — I guarantee it. It’s probably something you’ve never even dreamed about.

What are Pop’rs? Imagine Pop Rocks as a food topping. They’re not candy, though….they’re better than candy. They even have vitamins in them! Imagine carbonated, fizzy vitamin granules in a variety of flavors that your kids will love sprinkling on everything.

They currently manufacture eight flavors: Strawberry, Color Burst, Butter, Cocoa, Taco, Cinnamon, Buffalo, and Raspberry. We tried the Buffalo Pop’rs on our broccoli and chicken. Very authentic buffalo flavor, and an amazing, fizzy kick, for sure! Kids will delight in the fact that sizzling noises erupt from their plates before them, as well as within their mouths as they gobble up their meal!

There are a wealth of other ideas for Pop’rs: Butter Pop’rs over popcorn, Strawberry Pop’rs over cereal, even Cinnamon Pop’rs over stewed apples. The possibilities are endless!

-Meg

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I confess, when I was first asked to review Pop’rs®, I was confused. What is it exactly? Flavored sprinkles? How can sprinkles help encourage healthy eating? After trying all eight flavors, though, I’m a believer. Pop’rs sounded like Rice Krispies when added to milk and every flavor tastes like the old pop candy you remember from years ago.

Rachael Ray is also a fan. In her May 2008 magazine, she said Pop’rs “…add pop to anything! We like the cinnamon on buttered toast. FIZZ FACTOR: full fireworks …”

Pop’rs are available in EIGHT FLAVORS: strawberry, raspberry, color burst, cinnamon, cocoa, taco, buffalo and butter.

–Sprinkle Color Burst on any flavor of yogurt (and sprinkled on vanilla ice cream, it turns plain vanilla into something a lot like cotton candy)

–Chocolate’s a super flavor on top of pudding (my husband tried it on milk and we both laughed at how much it sounded like “Snap, Crackle and Pop!”)

–Introduce Strawberry to your kiddos’ cereal in the morning.

–Raspberry is a treat with yogurt & ice cream.

–Corn & other veggies take well to Butter (so does popcorn! Yum!)

–Taco can’t be beat on mashed potatoes.

–Buffalo (as in the seasoning used on wings) goes hand-in-hand with broccoli & its kindred spirits.

Like what you hear? Go here to purchase Pop’rs at some VERY reasonable prices and get to popping! -CPA Mom

Win it! We’re giving away a a complete box of Pop’rs – all eight flavors valued at $14.99 – to one lucky TOP reader! To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before 11:59 mst on August 12, 2008.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Not only did I lose all of my contacts and files, but I haven’t even been able to use the 15 minutes per day that my kids are both asleep to attempt to recover them because I’m totally addicted to Jishaku.

What’s that, you ask?

Don’t worry. So did I.

Jishak, the Japanese word for magnet, is a portable strategy game like chess or checkers that can be played anywhere. Unlike any other game, though, there is an element of surprise when the magnets jump out of position without warning.

All magnets have North and South poles. Jishaku magnets do too, but they aren’t marked. As you carefully place your magnet in a hole you can feel the tug of magnets all around the board. Skilled players (apparently…I’m not there yet) learn to use magnetic force in their favor- repelling the magnets closest to them without forcing them into other magnets.

Depending on which version of the game you choose to play, I’m Out, Roundup, or Elimination, your goal will vary. The suspense that you feel as you place your stones, though, never changes. Even when you play it all by yourself as I’ve been doing.

See it in action here and then tell me you don’t want to buy this game. Trust me. You do.

Save 10% through 7/31 with the code TOP100.

Win it!We’ve got a game of Jishaku for one randomly selected winner. To enter, simply comment on this post before 11:59 MST on August 4/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Frances England‘s newest release, Family Tree, is a welcome addition to the saturated genre of children’s tunes.

The folksy sound is reminiscent of a small town Lilith Fair, with a definite Sarah McLachlan influence and a few little voices interspersed throughout.

Our playgroup kidlets loved the simple lyrics that they could jam to even the first time it played through. I know my son would hop on the Fast Train to Grandma’s if he could, and we’ll certainly be doing our part to help our animal friends.

Since that wonderful morning that he spent dancing with his friends, my son has asked for “da new guitar cd” over and over again. Thankfully, Family Tree is enjoyable enough that I’m happy to oblige.

Win it! We’ve got a copy of Family Tree up for grabs, autographed and written to your child! To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before noon MST on Saturday, July 5/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

We’re taking the day off tomorrow to enjoy Canada Day with our families. In honour of Canada’s birthday we’re featuring a fantastic Canadian business from which you can acquire the wares of many others. Enjoy, and HAPPY CANADA DAY!

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You know when you read repeatedly of a shop but don’t take the time to click through and explore? Well, I did that and feel like a moron for not knowing about Apples n’ Oranges sooner.

Owned by Ottawa moms Lara and Vicky, Apples n’ Oranges carries only Canadian brands. I am ashamed to say that I had no idea we Canucks had such amazing style. The selection is fabulous. With 33 brands to choose from, and growing, there’s no need to pay customs fees anymore. My wallet thanks you, ladies!

Apples n’ Oranges is the exclusive online retailer for my newest love, Vancouver based Peekaboo Beans – a functional and fashionable line of playwear that’s perilously close to being too nice to be playwear.

Each piece meets a “no fuss dressing” mission and is easy for children to get on and off when potty training or learning to dress themselves. Every piece mixes, matches and layers with the others and they’re more versatile than any line I’ve seen before – pants become capris, tunics become tanks and skirts become dresses to lengthen their lifespan. They’re also reversible for the inevitable spills while on the go. Made with high quality materials and super comfortable fabrics, there’s extra strength and durability built into the construction and the pieces are pre-washed. The pants feature a wide, flat waistband for comfort and all pieces use flat, seamless stitching for itch free wearing. The shirts are A-shaped and are a longer length than standard to accommodate those adorable kid-bellies. Added safety features are included, such as reflective piping, chin guards, and ironed in personal identification labels.

Peekaboo Beans is everything you want in a kids clothing line – perfect for playdate, playground and playtime…but you’ll want to make time for an impromptu photo shoot before you leave the house. This stuff is just that nice.

Save 20% on your first purchase with the code firsttop.

Win it! Apples n’ Oranges is giving away a Peekaboo Beans top AND bottom of the winner’s choice. To enter, leave a comment on this post with your choice of outfit should you be the lucky winner. (Be specific. As always, you can’t win if you’re too lazy to click through to this awesome shop. It’s bad karma.) Contest closes at noon MST on July 5/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I am such a blanket snob since having children. I will admit that I’ve given many brand new blankets gifted to us to the local charity simply because there are better ones out there and why should my child snuggle with anything but the best? (I know, I’m horrible.)

My daughter sleeps under one of the great quilted fleece blankets from Designs by Mimi and Lola that was personalized for her and it surpasses even my blanket snob standards.

Made by a mother and daughter team, the non-pilling double layer premium polar fleece is the plushest of plush and the crafts(wo)manship is second to none. You know when you pick up an item and you can’t help but moan a little? A Mimi and Lola blanket just might make you moan twice.

They’re available in three sizes – baby (27″ x 36″), toddler (38″ x 49″) and kids (51″ x 59″) and they range from a very reasonable $43-$98. They’re machine wash & dry and my daughter’s blanket has yet to show even the slightest sign of wear. To order, see their order page. Matching pillows are also available for just $20-$25.

Save 10% on your order simply by mentioning that you’re a reader of The Opinionated Parent!

Win it! We’ve got a baby size blanket up for grabs, personalized with your child’s name and valued at $48. To enter, leave a comment on this post with your choice of either the awesome pre-designed blankets in their collection or the three colours you’d choose from the palette at the bottom of the collection page. Contest closes at noon MST on July 4/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

You’ve likely read in the news, a parenting mag or any number of other places over the last decade that family dinners are on the decrease and, conversely, that regular family dinners contribute to academic success, decrease the risk of our children becoming crack heads and keep families connected in ways that are very necessary. As crazy as they are, I love family dinners.

If you’ve ever sat at a table in silence and wondered how to get the conversation started, you’re not alone. You won’t have to hear “Nothing…Nowhere…Nobody…” from your child anymore with the addition of the new card game, Family Talk, to your dinner table. The concept behind Around the Table Games is simple brilliance. These games should not be necessary, but with the state of family dinners in our society today they really, really are. Available in three versions, Family Talk, Family Talk 2 and Grandparent Talk are inexpensive, portable cards games on carribiners (or available in cool jars) that encourage conversations between parents, children and relatives of all ages.

Around the Table Games aren’t just for dinner at your dining room table. “Our games are like taking the dinner time conversation with you, wherever you go,” explains Around the Table Games founder Beth Daniels, herself a working mom. “Because our games are made to be portable, the proverbial table discussions can now be held at the airport, during carpool, waiting in a long line or wherever people gather in the same place at the same time.” You can clip them to a backpack or purse and use them anywhere you might have a few minutes to chat.

Grandparent Talk would make a fantastic gift for your childrens’ grandparents, and it’s just as much a gift for your own childrens. Allowing them and encouraging them to really know their grandparents is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Connecting young people to their family and to their heritage is just one of the things that’s missing from many families today and I, for one, am going to do my damnedest to make sure that my family talks – really talks – and Around the Table Games will sure help!

Save 20% when you buy direct with the code TOPFMT

Win it! One TOP reader will win your choice of the three Around The Table Games! To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on July 2/08 with your choice of the three versions of the game and either a suggested question for a future game or a tip for the rest of us to keep our families connected.

Get up to three additional entries into this contest! (Today you get the expanded version…just in case you need a refresher.)

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CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED – Congratulations Jennifer!

Although there are many great reasons to have children, I have to admit one reason for me was having the opportunity to decorate a creative childrens’ space! My inner artist looked forward to painting beautiful murals that my children would gaze upon in awe and wonder.

I have moved four times since my not quite four year old was born. No beautiful paintings on the walls, no murals – just the basics that could be easily moved as we traveled the world. Add another kid into the mix and my days of painting murals have long passed – at least for now.

We have seen some cute wall decorations but when I saw WallaBabies, I squealed with delight! The designs are so retro adorable and NOT a licensed character from a television show! Just looking at the designs makes me (oh, and my kids) so happy. My daughter adores the bugs and my one year old keeps pointing at the bees … b…b…b. The designs are totally a hit!

Putting the wall graphics up was a snap, and took no time at all. In fact I did it myself. No need for my husband this time! The website has a great How To, that walks you through each step with no room for error. We have the Secret Garden Pack which consists of five 13″ x 14″ decal sheets. The perfect amount to decorate one wall beautifully or spread a little more sparsely throughout a whole room.

Now as my kids fall to sleep they are surrounded by clouds, flowers, insects and mushrooms and I can feel guilt-free for not painting them a mural! -Chelle

Win it! We’re giving away the same Secret Garden set that Chelle used and loved. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on June 19/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

We’re deep in the midst of a summer cold that’s ravaging it’s way through our house. It came seemingly out of nowhere and quickly spread to every member of our family. I thought we were out of the snotty woods with the end of winter, but I was wrong. I’m thanking my lucky stars I discovered Boogie Wipes before this latest infestation and had some at the ready.

With the snot that abounds, it doesn’t take long before little noses become red and raw and little people become crabby and run from the tissues. Thanks to Boogie Wipes, I’ve now got a two year old that simply shouts “Need a Boogie Wipe – got boogers!”

Perhaps the saddest part of this family cold is our almost-newborn who doesn’t understand why I’m constantly smothering her – or so it seems – in order to rid her precious face of the elevens (a teacher term for the double snots) or why she can’t breathe and breastfeed at the same time. While it doesn’t make it any less sad, I do feel a little less mean because with Boogie Wipes at least I know it doesn’t hurt (they’re alcohol free) and the leftover crusties are super easy to get off. Even in the morning after ten hours of boogeying in bed!

Boogie Wipes contain saline and moisturize while they clean with added chamomile, vitamin E and aloe.

Save 20% on your online order with the code “Boogie Time”

Win it! We’ve got a Boogie Mom’s gift basket to give away! You’ll get several full packs of Boogie Wipes, a ton of individual packets for your pockets and purses and a Boogie Mom tee. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on June 19/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Why are children so fascinated with marbles? There’s just something about them that never gets old. Mine all love to watch them roll!

My children currently have a wooden set of blocks that they often set up for a marble run, but they’re going in the donation bin after finding the Q-BA-MAZE Marble Run! This really sets the imagination into orbit!

Founded by architect Andrew Comfort, Q-BA-MAZE is a toy but so much more – it’s right-brained and left-brained, part art and part science. There are literally thousands of options for making marble runs. Children can build any shape their mind can fathom with these cool interlocking, durable polycarbonate pieces, or they can go online and choose a plan to build. Come up with a cool design of your own? You can submit it online to the guys at Q-BA-MAZE to see if it makes the cut to be added to their site. (Here’s the plan for the pictured design made with Q50 in red.)

Q-BA-MAZE sets come in 20 or 50 packs, and you can choose from Cool Colors (blue, green and clear) or Hot Colors (red, orange and clear). They also have a new Fish Five Set and a Dino One Set that comes with enough cubes and instructions to complete the chosen kit. Check out these cool videos of the Q-BA-MAZE in action.

Q-BA-MAZE is available online or in seleceted retail locations. Have fun designing and watching those marbles meander throughout your creation!
- Gina

Win it! We’re giving away a red 50 pack Q-BA-MAZE valued at $50 to one lucky winner. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on June 16/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED