Welcome to the week sans giveaways! (I know, that’s not exciting for you. For me, however, it means I don’t need to moderate 6000 comments when I have regular internet access again.)

Want to see some cute vintage cartoons from around the world? Then visit Bunny Ears!

Bunny Ears is a new Web TV station for young children aged 3+ that brings you an assortment of vintage and contemporary cartoons from all around the world.

Each cartoon is fairly short, about 5 minutes each, and are filled with simple animation and adorable stories! While there isn’t a huge selection up yet, they are planning to bring hundreds of cartoons, that are hard to find elsewhere, right to your computer screen!

Run out of Toronto, Ontario by mom Judy Blumstock, Bunny Ears is advertising free and free to watch. She founded it for her own daughter and now it’s available for everyone’s children.

While you may recognize some characters, such as Chapi and Chapo, there are many others that you and your children will quickly fall in love with!

I can’t help but to love Chapi and Chapo the most, but a close runner up is sweet little Bedtime Bear! Perfect for helping your preschooler with his or her bedtime routine!

Hop on over to Bunny Ears, cuddle up with your preschooler, and settle in for a sweet and funny story! -Gina

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.

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!

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

Since having children I, like many parents, have drastically reduced my usage of chemicals of all kinds. For me, that includes sunscreen. I do use it on every family member but I prefer to limit the amount of skin it’s on whenever I can and bathe or shower it off as soon as possible once we’re out of the sun’s rays.

Unprotected exposure to the sun in the first 15 years of life more than doubles the chances of getting skin cancer as an adult. Thanks to some fantastic products we’ve been using from Protect-A-Bub, we’ve been able to protect our little people from the risks of sun exposure a lot more naturally this year.

My two year old is perpetually outside (screaming wildly in his “outside boice,” but that’s beside the point) and is often sporting his UPF 50+ swim suit and hat. At less than $30, the Protect-A-Bub suits are comfortable and breathable and have the highest rating available for sun protection products. Available in sizes from 5 months to 5T and in a wide variety of one and two colour designs, there’s something there for everyone. The coordinating hat isn’t just a fashion statement. It looks adorable with the suit and alone and protects the vulnerable skin of the scalp to the same high degree that the suit does.

One often neglected area of little (and big) bodies are the lips. Our usual facial sunscreen applications do nothing for our vulnerable lip skin and non-SPF lip-stuff simply absorbs the sun and makes the problem worse. Now that my son is sporting his SPF 15 Lip Moisturizer we are a little more lenient about the time spent playing with the sun. It comes in three flavours and is only $2.25.

In addition to our enthusiastic un-sun-kissed two year old we’ve also got an amazing little five month old who is never left behind on our outdoor adventures. Being too young to wear any sunscreen at all, she can usually be found under one of the Protect-A-Bub sunshades. We absolutely love the inexpensive compact shade, but rarely use it on our stroller. (Though when we have, it works great as an extension of the canopy that’s already there.) We use the convenient ties to attach it to her bouncy chair on our deck and in our back yard every day. The shade rests on the toy bar and the ties keep it taut - it’s perfect and allows her to join us outside even in the hottest hours of the day.

With the increased awareness of both skin cancer and chemical exposure on the part of (we hope) all parents nowadays, we’re sure that Protect-A-Bub will be a welcome and awesome resource for parents who, you know, want to leave the house this summer.

Win it! Protect-A-Bub is giving away a compact stroller sunshade just like the one we love so much. To enter, visit the Protect-A-Bub site and browse their great selection. Come back and leave a comment on this post mentioning a product you think would be useful in your life before noon MST on July 1/08.

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

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED - Congrats Lori!

My two and a bit year old son is an incredible risk taker. Since he learned to log roll repeatedly and quickly at the way-too-early age of four months, much of my time has been spent keeping him from harm. Harm that he is inexplicably attracted to. Now that he is feeling the urge to be more than arms-length from me, it’s becoming more important to teach him listening skills, boundaries and to start a healthy fear of danger.

The Safety Tots software gift pack ($32) from Tick-A-Too is a great help in our quest to teach him what’s safe and what’s not. It’s intended for children 3-8 but my son is old enough to enjoy it with a lot of guidance. He knows the meaning of the words “danger” and “safe” and that’s really all he needs to begin the learning process. In this program, the cute little SafetyTots invite your child to join them as they learn how to safely react to situations that they may encounter. With the help of their “guardian angel”, Betsy The Butterfly, will squeal with delight as they explore the 35 scenarios which are fun and completely non-threatening. The software addresses many safety issues such as drowning prevention, poison control, stranger awareness, firearms safety, drug and alcohol prevention and fire prevention. Though I don’t want my children to go through life afraid, I think a healthy dose of safety education and a guidance toward listening to their conscience can only be good.

The gift pack also comes with 30 colourful accompanying flash cards that are an ideal visual aid for this or any safety related program. Perfect for at home or in the classroom, they depict potentially challenging situations for the SafetyTots (as seen in the software but there’s no need to have used the game to use the cards.) On the back of each card are questions for the adult to ask to help stimulate further discussion about the issue addressed, and like the software there are a wide variety of safety topics covered.

Tick-A-Too is a mom-run shop that guarantees the lowest total price. (Wow!) If you find an item cheaper elsewhere, just let Molly know and she’ll match or beat the price. She also offers free shipping or cheap shipping, which is a huge bonus for me!

Win it! Tick-A-Too is giving away a Safety Tots gift pack including the software and cards to one reader. To enter, visit the Tick-A-Too site and then come back and leave a comment on this post indicating what other items you think are cool. Contest closes at noon MST on June 24/08.

Get up to three additional entries into this contest!

1. Blog about this 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).

AND/OR

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

or

 Subscribe in a reader

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

AND/OR

3. Place our button in your sidebar or add us to your blogroll. Leave an additional comment 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.

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.theopinionatedparent.com"><img src="http://www.theopinionatedparent.com/images/topbutton.jpg" alt="The Opinionated Parent" /></a>

Maximum four entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED (Congrats Melanie!)

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

As much as I see kiddie backpacks around the malls and big box stores, I still haven’t seen anything there that I’d want to buy for my kids. The choices are generally licensed characters or…ugly. They’re also either too small, too large or the wrong shape.

I finally found exactly what I wanted in the dino little kid backpack ($35) from new TOP find GemGem. Designed by Dante Beatrix, this backpack is just the perfect size and shape for little backs. The dinosaur is awesome but not too cutesie, and I love that he (she? I’m totally not biased), along with the rest of the backpack, isn’t plastic. The handles and the back panel are padded for comfort, and the whole thing is easy to clean. (It might not be recommended, but I tossed my son’s in the washer and it was perfectly fine.)

Save 10% on your order at GemGem with the code OPIPARENT until 6/31/08.

Win it! GemGem is giving away the same great dino backpack my son has and loves! To enter, go check out the GemGem shop and leave a comment on this post listing a thing or two you’d like to have that are NOT mentioned in this post. Contest closes at noon MST on June 11/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

We love the Little Capers company (see our review here) so we were super excited to hear that they’ve released a line of Big Capes.

They’re available in five peaceful hero designs and are made of the same shiny way-cool fabric as the capes on their fabulous tees. Which, incidentally, my son adores. The big capes are sized for kids aged four and up and retail for $23.

Get 10% off at Little Capers with the code MAY10 until the end of May. You have just two days to take advantage of this special!

Win it! Enter to win a Little Capers Big Cape of your choice by leaving a comment on this post stating which of the five designs you’d like. Contest closes at noon MST on June 4/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

See that picture right over there?

That’s my two year old son’s debut at The Opinionated Parent.

As he’d say…”Ta dah!”

I’ve never posted any of my kids here before, but he just looked so cute in his stars birthday tee from Tote and Tee that I couldn’t resist!

The nifty tees at mom-owned Tote and Tee are so incredibly awesome I’m almost speechless. That could also be the cuteness of my kid rendering me so, but nevertheless…

Designer Amy Trusler hand makes each tee in her own home. They’re available in a huge variety of colours and styles and the amazing array of fabrics can be applied in any letter or number to suit the little people in your life. Too bad it’s not cool to advertise “32!” because I’d totally do it if I could get away with it. (I’d look good in this style!)

They also carry the cutest (and softest - -wow soft!) knee socks and tights I’ve ever seen. The socks have a slight roll down at the top so there’s no digging in but they’re just tight enough to stay up.

And these personalized lunchboxes? (The “tote” part of Tote and Tee.) To die for. Figuratively, of course. (I think this one would look great with my imaginary “32″ tee. Alright. I’ll stop now.)

Amy is currently holding her Biggest Sale Ever until the end of May with all socks and tees on sale!

Save a whopping 20% on your order (including sale items!) with the code oparent.
This code is also listed in the TOP Shops!

Win it! One lucky reader will win a $25 gift certificate to Tote and Tee. To enter, leave a comment telling us what you’d purchase with it! Contest closes at noon MST on May 16/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED - Congrats Krista Heidinger!

I’m always shocked when I clean our bathrooms thoroughly (not often enough, but that’s another story) and see the mung that lives in the bottom of the toothbrush holders. That’s some serious grossness. With everything I do to keep my family safe from harm, I’m letting them put that crap near their mouths?

I’m won’t be concerned for long because I’m switching them all out for Flipper toothbrush holders. These cute and sanitary individual toothbrush holders adhere to mirror or tile with suction cups and allow for completely hands free operation with no chance of cross-contamination from brush to brush. They’re super easy to use (see the product demo at the right side of the home page) and when they get dirty I just toss mine in the toddler basket in the dishwasher and it’s good for another 10,000 miles.

They make a great razor holder too!

Save 20% on your Flipper toothbrush holders with the code “opinionated parent”

Win it! We’ve got a cute little golden retriever Flipper (pictured) to give away. To enter, leave a comment on this post listing your favourite Flipper design that’s NOT mentioned in this post. Contest closes May 9/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED

I’m a labeling freak. There are labels everywhere in my house - even the bin that holds the labels is labeled!

Lovable Labels is a Canadian mom-run company that carries a large selection of customized labels as well as some cool stuff to help a mom around the house. Goodness knows I need all the help I can get.

My kids especially love their unique fun stickies that are shaped like butterflies and dinosaurs and are available in lots more cool shapes (pictured at right). Believe it or not, they’re less likely to leave their things lying around the park when they have their own special label on them. And for those days when they do, I’ve got a better chance of getting them back eventually!

Have a child with allergies or medical issues? Check out these cool vital ID wristbands. The kids I know would be much more comfortable wearing those than a metal bracelet. And while you’re looking for things that make your kids ecstatically happy? Personalized notecards and way cool books would be fantastic gifts. Is it too early to shop for stocking stuffers? I think not.

Mention that you heard about Lovable Labels through the The Opinionated Parent during the checkout process and receive 15 FREE Red Regular Sticker Bonus Labels with your purchase. One per family. Expires May 30, 2008.

Happy Earth Day, dear readers. Today, more than ever, we’re thinking about ways to include our children in all of our earth saving activities.

The great new book My Bag and Me (only $8.58 right now at Amazon via that link) is a fantastic addition to any home library.

It’s a rhyming story book that teaches lessons about reusing shopping bags to save the earth, and there’s a (cute!) reusable bag for your child built right in to the book. The story is very short and concise, but within those few pages addresses some great concepts - saving the land and sea, setting an example for others, reminding your parents to be earth-friendly, and that we can all make a difference. I love it, my son loves it, and thanks to this book and bag I’ve got a little helper that ensures I’ll never forget my bags in the car again. (I used to forget them 9 out of 10 times, so that’s great!)

Win it! We’re giving away a copy of My Bag and Me to one reader who leaves an Earth Day comment on this post. Entries must be received by midnight MST tonight to qualify!

CONTEST CLOSED

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

With a two year old and a newborn, a family trip is not my idea of a good time. Sure, we have fun once we get there, but travel is a nightmare and even when we’re there we’re still missing the comforts of home. Whether it’s an hour from home or a twelve hour flight, Little Jet Set has you covered with everything to keep kids well prepared for your next travel adventure. From travel games and art supplies, luggage and toiletries and everything in between, all of the products are all conducive to travel on the road or in the air.

Little Jet Set was founded by two well-traveled attorneys turned well-traveled moms. Hana Wolf & Nisha Cordero have “been there, done that” and have chosen only the best items in every category for their site.

I’m a huge fan of the nap pack (pictured), a 48″ long soft fleece blanket with attached 11×16″ pillow for nap time on the go. Great for planes and cars, and also perfect for nap time in hotels or at Great Aunt Martha’s place.

No matter what you choose from this great online shop, it’s sure to enhance your travels. A well prepared mom is a happy mom!

Win it! We’ve got both of the pictured nap packs (dino and pink spots) to give away!

To enter, leave a comment on this post by noon MST on April 22/08 with DINO or PINK SPOTS in the first line (not both - separate comments for separate contests please or your entry will be disqualified) and tell us what other product(s) (not mentioned in this review) from Little Jet Set you think are cool.

Get up to two additional entries into this contest!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Leave a comment with the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry).

AND/OR

Subscribe to our RSS feed. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid email address so we can confirm your new subscription. You may only enter one contest with this entry - only new subscriptions qualify.

Maximum three entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED

Started by crafty mom Hilary Seabolt in 2004 when her son asked what kind of food his new stuffed animals were supposed to eat, Lilly Bean Market creates what is by far the nicest and most solidly constructed felt play food I’ve seen to date. She works closely with a small group of Amish and a machine seamstress to ensure that her business remains solely based in the USA.

It’s so great to have an option for the ever popular kitchen play that doesn’t involve plastic, wood with potentially lead laden paint or spit soaked cardboard. It’s amazing - almost so nice that you’ll be tempted to not let your kids play with it because it looks so nice arranged among the toy dishes. But that would be silly. I had Granny’s Breakfast just this morning, and it’s delish. Or, as my son says, “Petend delisus!” (That’s “pretend delicious,” for you non-parental types.)

Lilly Bean Market play food is available individually or as meals. Having played with these myself…I mean, with the kids (ahem), I can tell you you’re going to want to go with at least a meal. Chances are, you’ll get your first order and end up going back for more. I know I will.

Keep an eye on the new items - there are sure to be more cool creations coming soon!

Win it! We’ve got a beautifully boxed brown bag lunch valued at $40 to give away! To enter, leave a comment on this post before April 21 @ noon MST with your favourite item(s) from Lilly Bean Market that are not mentioned in this post.

Get up to two additional entries into this contest!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Leave a comment with the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry).

AND/OR

Subscribe to our RSS feed. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid email address so we can confirm your new subscription. You may only enter one contest with this entry - only new subscriptions qualify.

Maximum three entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED

If you’ve ever given birth in a hospital then you’re familiar with the maternity gowns you’re given to wear…and in my experience they are, to put it nicely…well-worn.

I just had a baby 6 weeks ago and the first gown they gave me was missing a snap so I couldn’t even secure it on my shoulder; they had to go find me another one. I remember when I had my daughter I noticed some of the seam was coming apart and a small hole in the side of the gown. [Ed: If they've been worn by enough people to look like that, I don't even want to think about how many people have bled on them.] I don’t know if all maternity gowns are like this, but the ones that I wore have two slits in the front for breastfeeding. That’s convenient and all, but they don’t have any way to secure those slits. I know the gown has extra material on the front so it “gathers” and the slits are supposed to be “hidden” but it doesn’t work that way. My gown would gape open if I moved or sat a certain way. This made me self-conscious when I had visitors - I kept my arms crossed, or stayed under the
blankets, just in case my gown gaped open at the wrong time!

One mom has come up with her own solution to the hospital maternity gown - Girlie Gowns - they are a line of maternity hospital gowns for stylish mommies to be. After her first experience using a hospital maternity gown (much like what I’ve described) Kimberly Budd decided she was going to make her own gown for her next delivery.

I didn’t get a chance to wear one of these gowns as it was too large for me (they’ve since added a smaller size) but I did get to try it on and see how much nicer it would have been if that was in my hospital bag! For starters it would be nice to have a gown that no one else has worn [Ed: Or bled on] before! They come in 5 stylish prints (I like Sweet Swirls), the back is only open half way so there is easy access if you’re getting an epidural and the wrap around design in the front is secured with Velcro and ribbon ties. The material is thick cotton so it’s very comfortable to wear…a nice way to pamper yourself while you’re having a baby! [Ed: Remember, it's not all about baby. Mom's important too! A luxurious personalized gown would make a great pre-birth shower gift!]

By Michelle

Enter the code OP15 for 15% off your Girlie Gown!
You’ll find Girlie Gowns in the TOP Shops, where we feature exclusive and permanent discount just for opinionated parents like you!

Win it! We’re giving away a Girlie Gown in the winner’s choice of style (value $50). To enter, leave a comment on this post before April 15 telling us which of the five available prints you’d choose if you win.

Get up to two additional entries into this contest!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Leave a comment with the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry).

AND/OR

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

Maximum three entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED - Congrats Brit!

Many kids have never travelled outside their own city, let alone overseas. Now with the monumental new Compass KidZ line, children will be able to travel to the world and learn about it’s amazing history with the flip of a medallion. Compass KidZ inspires kids ages 8 to 12 to learn about the world and collect Passports and Medallions as they explore. Kids can explore the Compass KidZ website, communicate, earn and share SouvenirZ, trade with PenPalZ, express their opinions and share their experiences with kids just like them from around the world.

A child’s around-the-world adventure begins with their Compass KidZ Medallion Set available in either Italy, Spain or Mexico which retail for $14.99. Each set features an Ambassador, an 11-year-old representative of the featured country that kids can relate with. The Medallion set is their ticket to adventure and includes 2 CKidZ Medallions, a KidZ Passport and 2 FactZ Cards.

Visiting the company’s website lets kids join the CKidZ PenPalZ™ Club, Club Activities and Global ForumZ.

Let’s face it. You’re not going to get a less expensive or more educational trip around the world without having to leave your house.

Get a free Medallion for each Medallion Set purchased at www.learningtreegames.com with the code TOP-CKFREE.

CompassKidZ is listed in the TOP Shops!

Win a medallion set of your choice! To enter the random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with COMPASS KIDZ in the subject line before midnight MST on 2/15/08 and tell us the name of the company’s two founders. Include your full name and mailing address and the name of the company’s two founders.

Congratulations to winner Cindi H!

I’ve told you before about EcoBaby Canada and nothing has changed in regard to how excited I am that they exist. Naturally. In Alberta. It’s awesome!

I also directed you once before to the great selection of slings available from Ecobaby Canada and now am so excited to share with you the Child Size Hotsling! Available on the pouch sling page for just $18, your child can carry their own dolls, toys or a random selection of items from your back yard in their very own sling with the perfect fit. Kids love to copy their parents and kids also often get jealous of the attention that a young baby gets. When you’re slinging or nursing your own baby, how great would it be if your older children could simulate doing the same thing with their “babies?” This is a product that makes it easy and fun to do. Truly fabulous!

EcoBaby Canada is giving away a child size hotsling in the colour of your choice to one lucky Canuck T.O.P reader! (Please note that this one’s only open to Canadian readers.) To enter, send an email to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 1/10/08 with EcoBaby Kid Sling in the subject line and include which of the four available colours you’d choose for your prize as well as your full name and mailing address. Incomplete entries will not be eligible. Congratulations Angie!

An important note to all readers: Please remember to copy the subject line for our contests correctly as these are filtered automatically and if you make up your own title or submit a typo you may not be entered correctly.

Playaway is one of those ideas that made me wonder why it took so long for someone to invent it and, at the same time, incredibly glad that someone did!

So, what are they? Each Playaway is a pre-loaded digital audio player. They’re about half the size of a deck of cards and hold content that ranges from six to 40 hours of play time. They come ready to listen (with batteries, earbuds and a lanyard) and are completely portable. Kind of like a book on CD without the need for a CD player or a library (though they are in lots of libraries!) For us, they’ve become the ultimate in convenience. I’ve always been an audio book lover for car travel but rarely take time to get to the library & borrow them. Now I’ll be ordering my books from Playaway and sharing them after - since the units run off of AAA batteries & can be replaced as needed, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be used and used…and used!

Playaway has a selection of 700 audiobooks and there’s something for absolutely everyone! We listened to 100 Gross & Silly Songs which is awesome for kids and kids at heart, and we’re part way through Anne of Green Gables - still one of my favourite stories. I’m especially struck by the intelligent design of the Playaway. It remembers where I was and starts at the right spot ever time. No more flipping through tracks to try to find the right part of the right chapter. Praise the Playaway!

Receive 20% off your first order with the code OpinionatedParent20.

I highly suggest using this code today and giving yourself a reputation as the best gift giver in town! However…

Playaway is also listed in the TOP Shops, where we feature only the most fabulous online retailers offering discount codes exclusively for Opinionated Parents everywhere.

And put it in your super cool wallet!

I love the new wallets from the money-savvy ladies at Learning Cents. (We reviewed their bank in the spring.) The wallets have just been released on the website today (Sept. 5) and can be yours in green, pink or blue camo for only $9.99.

In relation to the other kids’ wallets I’ve seen (and as I teacher I see several on my classroom closet floor every day, usually with holes in them and money falling out) this one is incredibly well made. It’s a tri-fold that closes with a velcro strip that runs the whole width of the closure so it’s very secure, and there’s a sturdy carabiner attached so that when pockets are full of rocks, frogs and other finds the wallet can be attached to coats, belt loops or backpacks. The carabiner is attached to the wallet via a metal grommet so the wallet won’t rip. Obviously these women have real children who wreck stuff. This is one smart design! There’s a zipper pouch for coins inside and plenty of pockets for cards of all kinds as well as an ID card in a see through window just like an adult wallet.

Every child should have a place to keep their spending money when they go out, and this wallet’s the one my kids will have. Though I’d rather have something that’s not camo, the design trumps that and we’ll be putting them in stockings this year!

We’ve got a blue camo wallet to give away! Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com by midnight tonight with LC Wallet in the subject line and tell us the name of the two co-founders of the Learning Cents company. Congratulations Kristina!

New TOP find Fashion Angels has some really cool products for the tween girl set. There’s no trying to please both genders at this company. Everything’s purely girlie!

Check out this Jet Settin’ Make-Up Artist Sketch Book (pictured) for the fashion conscious young woman in your life. There’s also a larger version and a refill kit available, but I love the portability of the jet settin’ version. I don’t know of many tween girls who wouldn’t love this. And hey - the longer we can keep it on the paper and off their faces the better, right?

We’ve got the pictured kit as today’s featured giveaway. To be entered in the random drawing, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with MakeUp in the subject line and list another cool Fashion Angels product available on the site. Contest closes Thursday 7/26 at midnight MST. Congratulations Saundra!

I thought of my classroom when I first saw the Share Square from Moms On Edge. That’s probably because my second child won’t be born until Christmas. For those of you who are parents of more than one, though, I have a feeling this would be a pretty cool addition to your toyroom. It would also be great for a daycare or dayhome.

The Share Square is a colourful pillow with a timer enclosed that helps to stop the fighting over toys and easily teaches the my turn - your turn sharing philosophy. Just set the timer, drop the Share Square in the middle of the chaos and when the timer goes off swap the toy. Simple as that.

Want to reduce the chaos in your home? Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Share Square in the subject line and tell us the recommended age for this product as listed on the site. Contest closes 7/20/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Ryan S!

(This is the last of seven Moms On Edge reviews.
We’d like to thank them for sponsoring all of these great contests!)

Good Manners Placemats from one of our creative parenting faves Moms On Edge teach good manners and positive behaviour at a time when the family is (hopefully) together to practice. They come in a set of 6 and each placemat teaches a different lesson about good behavior including manners, sharing, safety and more. They’re regular “placemat material” (whatever that is) so they’re easy to clean and very durable. I love the idea of using these at a dayhome or in a home with multiple children and letting the kids teach each other about the lesson under their food and practice together.

We’ve got a 6 pack to give away! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with GOOD MANNERS in the subject line and tell us one of the other topics covered in the set. Contest closes Friday 7/6/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Betty!

After the fifth or sixth “get up” even the most patient parents is bound to lose it just a little. The brains behins Moms On Edge developed the Goodnight StopLight because they’ve been there and they feel your pain!

The Good Night Stoplight is a 19” tall felt “stoplight” with removable green & yellow lights and an attached red light. There’s a handle to hang on a doorknob, drawer handle, or wall hook.

Directions from the site: Explain to your child that he/she is allowed to get up from bed two times (i.e., to use the potty, get a drink of water, or have another kiss). Each time the child gets out of bed he must hand one of the two removable lights to a parent. Green means, “Go!” Yellow (last chance!) means, “Uh-Oh!” Parents should take each light and return the child back to bed quietly. Once the removable lights are used up the stoplight is Red, and that means “Bed!” Remind the child that he must now stay in bed: “The light is red, so you must stay in bed.” Sounds simple enough to make it worth a shot!

We’ve got one to give away! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Stop Light in the subject line and tell us what ages this product is recommended for. Contest closes at midnight MST on 7/5/07. Congratulations Maren!

The Naughty Spot time out mat from Moms On Edge is a great tool when you begin to introduce time outs as a discipline strategy.

It’s portable and comes with age-adjusted instructions, a traveling pouch and a digital timer. It’s very durable (important when your child is very angry) and is machine washable. I love the idea of an attached timer - the child can watch the clock count down and have a visual reminder of exactly how much time is left.

The time-out side has sad face and gets the message across quite clearly. After the time-out is over, your child can turn the mat over to see happy face and “I love you.” A great reminder to end all discipline on a positive note and a reminder that the behaviour may be bad but the child is not!

Take it to Grandma’s, send it to daycare & keep it consistent at home. Your child will see it coming and perhaps even shape up before you say a word!

We’ve got a Naughty Spot to give away! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Naughty Spot in the subject line and tell us the retail price of this item. Contest closes at midnight MST on 7/4/07. Congratulations Jaz!

Planning some summer travel?

Whether long or short, car trips can be the bane of your existence (”When will we geeeet theeeere?”) or, if you plan right, they can be the making of some great memories.

The Four Peas Mini Sports Fan Activity Pack from Mom4Life is a great addition to your vehicle.

Intended for children aged three and up, this way cool activity pack comes in a cool plastic case with easy to use sliders and a convenient handle for carrying. The kit includes a pad of coloured paper, an activity pad, silly putty, crayons, make-a-race car sticker sheet, assorted stickers, a mini porcupine ball, a pull back race car, a notepad, a squishy frog, and magic springs. Enough to keep even the most hard-to-entertain kid busy for a few hours. (The “Girly Girl” kit is similar but includes different ‘girly’ stickers, a bracelet, a stamper & linking shapes instead of the stereotypical boy-ish goods.)

Once your child has used all of the goodies that came with it, the case is perfect to refill with toys and other activities to keep your car stocked and ready for the next trip. Great for the car, in restaurants, while waiting for appointments and anywhere else you need a little kiddie entertainment. It’s also perfect for taking into Aunt Myrtle’s house so she doesn’t make the kids count Q-tips for ‘fun.’

Twenty dollars for some sanity in a tidy little box. Count me in.

Get 10% off any Four Peas activity pack order at Mom4Life. Enter “Opinionated Parent 10% off” in the customer comments area during checkout and your discount will be refunded when the order is processed.

As a new-ish mom, it’s been a while since I’ve carried a real purse. Everything gets tossed in my diaper bag and I just hope to be able to find something when I need it. The one item I consistently need and can never find is my cell phone. (Yes, I’m an addict. Admit it - you are too.)

The Bead Shop from Fashion Angels Enterprises makes these fabulous Ziplettes mini-purses that are perfect for my cell phone. (Actually, I need three because it’s also perfect for my iPod and as a grab n’ go credit card & lipstick holder.)

Ziplettes are available in 16 styles from white to black and everything in between. They’re a pretty cool concept - the Ziplette can be unzipped as much or as little as you need to store your stuff. If you unzip it all the way, it’s a super long zipper sewn into a coil (fascinating for even the coolest kids & parents!) The sequins & other funky trims are sewn in between the zippers so the zipping action is totally smooth.

Perhaps the best feature is that they easily clip to a diaper bag, a belt loop, your purse, backpack or really anywhere. Great for tweens & teens, and awesome for moms who need some bling for their ring.

Enter to win the white on white ziplette seen here. Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Ziplette in the subject line and tell us your favourite Ziplette style available from the website. Contest closes at midnight MST on 5/14/07. Congratulations Jonathon!

The Learning Tower from Little Partners Inc. is an indispensable piece of furniture once you’ve tried it. You know the type - one you may not have thought to purchase for yourself but once you have it you don’t know how you lived without it.

Kids love to help in the kitchen. Little boys and girls learn invaluable skills by helping an adult prepare meals, do crafts and bake treats, and it’s a lot easier if they can reach the counter with no fear of falling off that rickety old step stool. (For the sake of future wives everywhere, please PLEASE bring the boys in there too! And maybe they can use it to clean the bathroom?) There’s great joy to be found in cooking with kids, but there’s also great frustration and many tears (not just the kids) if you don’t have the right equipment.

The Learning Tower is so much more than a step stool. Designed for children ages two to six, the platform can be lowered as children grow to enable children at any stage to be at counter height and is easy & quick to adjust to accommodate different age children. The sturdy, non-tip construction makes it very safe for toddlers and young children. The platform has four sides for safety and is roomy enough for two kids to be comfortable (and, we hope, working together without fighting? Does it come with something for that?) It’s made of durable sturdy hardwood with a durable high gloss finish that just wipes clean.

It meets all safety standards for home playground equipment, which is nice when you have kids that resemble monkeys (in actions, not looks). It’s, admittedly, a large presence in the kitchen but it’s such an incredible sanity saver that it doesn’t take long to get used to moving around it. We tested The Learning Tower with four kids from 18 months to 4.5 years and there was not one child who didn’t ask their mom to buy them one when they got home. (Well, the 18 month old said “Mama, MINE!” and tried to take it home, but I’d say that’s pretty much the same thing!)

The optional but way cool playhouse kit transforms the learning tower into an imaginative play space like a puppet theater or fort. We took The Learning Tower to a local preschool full of at-risk kids and set it up as a playhouse. The kids fought for turns in it (which we quickly put to a stop, but you get my point) and the creative play that came out was amazing. So amazing, in fact, that we left it there forever.

One piece of furniture that keeps kids from falling, allows them to help so you can keep your eye on them and they’re not flushing your bra and gain valuable skills & independence and keeps them entertained for hours outside the kitchen? I’d say that’s a hit.

Find a retailer near you or online.

Summer is fast approaching and it’s the time of year when we start to apply sunscreen to our little ones to protect their delicate skin. But what about their eyes? They’re irreplaceable, and they can get sunburned too. In fact, according to the FRUBI SHADES site, “The human eye is ten times more sensitive to harmful UV rays than your skin. The lens of a child allows 70% more UV rays to reach the delicate retina than in an adult. Approximately half of the entire time we spend outdoors in our lifetime occurs in the first twenty years of our life.” Armed with that knowledge, we should all be picking up a pair or three of Frubi Shades!

Designed to fit kids from 6 months to 6 years of age (with a version for older kids coming soon) they’re made of a non-toxic, spongy, form fitting material that’s molded into one comfortable piece. (And I knew they were comfortable when my son actually forgot they were on!) They were originally invented to prevent early eye disease in babies and have grown into much more.

There are soft pads at each temple which add to the comfortable fit and also eliminate the need for the small parts [read:choking hazards] that are on many children’s sunglasses. The special nose piece prevents them from rubbing on the child’s eyelashes - a very important factor in comfort. The specially designed “Ultraguard” lens is non-shattering and extremely protective (from both the sun’s rays and foreign objects!). Frubi Shades are safe for water wear as well, and if they come off, they float. Sounds fun, but they’re not toys. They were designed by an ophthalmologist and are backed by some hard core science.

They’re only $15 for 1 pair or $30 for 3 at the FRUBI online store or at many other retailers (Prices are USD - currently about $17.30 & $34.60 CDN) - a steal of a deal for that much protection!

For eye protection tips, visit the Frubi blog.

Order yours via www.frubishades.com and get $2 off a 3 pack with the code FTOP07 (maximum of 3 packages) until August 31, 2007.

We’ve got a pair of Frubi Shades to give to one lucky TOP reader. To be entered in this random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with FRUBI in the subject header and submit the correct answer to the question “Where did the two inventers of Frubi Shades, Dr. Gary Hall and Renee Resler, meet?” Contest closes at midnight MST on 5/8/07. Congratulations Maia!