When I originally received the email requesting a review of something called a “Butt Bench” I was skeptical. When I clicked through, though, I saw what I thought was a pretty cool idea.

The Butt Bench is a sturdy, high-quality patent-pending bathtub seat made of natural wood. This tub seat supports your weight – use it to make shaving easier, or sit down, relax, and turn your shower into a sauna. Butt Bench is also a great bathtub storage ledge!

When the package arrived, I discovered it didn’t fit in any of the three bathtubs in my home because two have tub surrounds on them and one is a larger soaker tub. I gave the sample to a friend with an older house and it fit much better with the standard old tub with nothing but tile around it. Adjustable suction cups attach the back of the bench to the tile, and the bench simply sits on top of the left and right edges of the tub. It looks great and would make a perfect storage solution for large bottles, face cloths and such. I’m not convinced it’s sturdy enough for me to let my child sit on it (because you know they’d stand) and I’m not sure two suction cups give me enough confidence to recommend it to a frail senior citizen – suction cups don’t stick forever and it’s just barely perched on the edge of the tub and could slip very easily if you sat crooked or shifted your weight.

I love the look of the Butt Bench. The wood is lovely and is sealed water tight with beautiful stain (or painted, if that’s your choice). If I were to have one in my home, it would be reserved as a storage ledge unless I could find a way to secure it more safely, or I’d try to find some other creative use for it.

Win it! We are giving away two Butt Benches – one pink ($45.95) and one cedar ($52.95). If you’d like to give one a try, comment with your choice of colour by noon mst on February 14, 2012. Don’t forget your extra entries!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What?

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

Great concept, right? But do they work?

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

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

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

CONTEST CLOSED

Have you heard of bcharmed?

Neither had I!

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONTEST CLOSED – Congratulations to Janaye!

Seventh Generation has long been my go-to brand for dishwashing, laundry and home cleaning products, and when I had a child in diapers they were my disposable choice. Since becoming pregnant with my first babe, I have tried to be as “green” as possible in everything I do. There are some things (like two vehicles and paper towel!) that I’m not willing to sacrifice, but buying from a great company like 7th Gen is an easy way to make a big difference. I just can’t see polluting the earth that I am leaving to my babies, their babies and their babies after them.

For more than 20 years, it’s been Seventh Generation’s mission to help us (i.e. normal people on budgets!) protect our world with our naturally safe and effective household cleaning and personal care products. “Seventh Generation is the nation’s leading brand of household and personal care products that help protect human health and the environment. Established in 1988, the Burlington, Vermont based company remains an independent, privately-held company distributing products to natural food stores, supermarkets, mass merchants, and online retailers across the United States and Canada.” The name of the company comes from this statement: “…in our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” When I buy products with the Seventh Generation name on them, I know I’m doing the right thing – for the earth, for my family, and for the people who come after us wondering what the heck we did to jeopardize this amazing planet we call home.

You can like their facebook page for great tips and information,and join the 7th Gen Nation (it’s free!) for great coupons.

Win it! One lucky TOP reader will win a 100% organic cotton Seventh Gen Eco lunch bag as well as coupons for a FREE package of Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers, Free & Clear Baby Wipes and dish washing products. (The same goods that I was sent to try out for this review – most of which I used and loved before!) To enter, I’d love to hear your best tip on how to be more environmentally conscious (but, as always, any comment can enter, and you can also email in your entry to theopinionatedparent at gmail dot com for you non-bloggy folks who always love to enter!) Canadian residents only for this one, please.

Enter by noon mst on September 25th.

Affectionately known as “The Grateful Dead for kids,” Ben Rudnick & Friends have hit the mark with their soon-to-be-released CD Live in Lexington: Under the Copper Beech. As a bit of a closet dead head myself, I love the sound of these guys (and my kids did too, but whatever.) These are some mega-musically-talented dudes, and their style is really their own. It’s a fabulous addition to your kiddie music collection for sure.

The CD will be released on August 30th and you’ll find it at our affiliate, Amazon.

Win it! Win a copy of this CD! Just comment here before noon mst on August 25, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway!

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I have another new-to-me treasure to share with you.

In The Nick of Time (by Nick Deysher) is about to release the new CD “Making Silly Faces.” Geared toward kids aged 2-8, Making Silly Faces is an eclectic mix of fabulous creations like my son’s fave “Pirates Never Say Please,” my daughter’s fave “The Sun Is Up (And So Am I) and mine “You’ve Got To Have Patience.” You know your kids will love this one, because Nick is a preschool music specialst 5 days a week, and an after school music teacher too. Suddenly I feel the need to take music lessons!

Check it out at In The Nick of Time Music.

Win it! Win a copy of this CD! Just comment here before noon mst on August 25, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway!

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In just four days, Sing Along!, the new CD by Caspar Babypants, will be released. It’s as fantastic as his previous CDs and follows the same modus operandi – keep it simple, silly! Old favourites like Ring Around the Rosie and Ba Ba Black Sheep get a new twist, and many amazing guests artists that we have grown to love join Caspar to help out. Weird Al? Got him. Frances England? Yep. Eclectic, much? It’s pretty awesome.

Caspar says he makes music “to help families sing together and relax and open up and endure stressful times with humor and grace.” That, he does.

Pick it up on August 16th at our affiliate, Amazon.

Win it! Win a copy of this CD! Just comment here before noon mst on August 25, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway!

1. Readers get one entry for commenting or emailing their answer to the question posed in the post.

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I haven’t hear any of the previous tunes from the “Celebrate Earth” series, but this one is as unique as they come. I had no idea what to expect when I popped “Wild Child” into the stereo, but I didn’t expect what came booming out. It opens with ‘Earth Lullaby,’ a very calming piece with earthy undertones (well, duh). It brought my family to the living room from all around the house with it’s soothing beats, and they stayed for an African dance party for the next 13 tracks. It gave us a jumping off point for a great discussion about African animals and the at-risk environments in Africa and around the world. If ever a CD screamed African culture, this was it.

Check out Recess Music for this CD and more.

Win it! Win a copy of this CD! Just comment here before noon mst on August 25, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway!

1. Readers get one entry for commenting or emailing their answer to the question posed in the post.

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I’m a new Ted Jacobs fan, and a big one at that. He uses his tender voice to turn some of the world’s most beloved poetry into beautiful acoustic songs. Available at House At The Corner, Back to the Garden is a showcase of Ted Jacobs’ talent featuring some very cool pipes, the pennywhistle, accordion, and dulcimer among others. It’s a CD that I find hard to describe, but you won’t be sorry if you pick this one up. It would make a great baby gift with his soft Cat-Stevens-like voice that the parents will love, too.

Win it! Win a copy of this CD! Just comment here before noon mst on August 25, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway!

1. Readers get one entry for commenting or emailing their answer to the question posed in the post.

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Spark Story Starters are the newest addition to our car trips and family meal times, and we absolutely love them! Spark Your Imagination is a family-run, Canadian venture and Tamara Vukusic and her husband and two little boys came up with this deck of open-ended questions together to get them all talking and thinking outside the box.

We started reading the questions on the way home from the mailbox and the kids could hardly wait to get inside and read some more. When my husband came in and started listening to the conversations we were having, he was enthralled. Once we heard what came out of them, we sincerely regretted not videotaping their answers. Thankfully, the deck of story starters is here to stay and their answers are sure to get even more creative now that they know what kinds of wonderful things they get to imagine when we break out the cards.

I especially love that many of the cards get kids solving problems creatively so in addition to talking to me they’re stretching their brains and really thinking outside the box. Imagine asking your child how they’re going to sneak their new pet dragon into school. Just imagine the stories you’ll get – the different types of dragons, the creative names, the methods of actually getting their giant beast into the classroom – it’s amazing!

Spark Story Starters are available online from LearningToys.ca for $11.99, and there’s now an app version of Story Starters that’s exactly the same as the cards for iPhone ($1), iPad ($2) and Android ($2) – I can’t wait to check those out!

Win it! Spark Your Imagination is giving away 3 decks of cards, 3 iPhone apps and 3 iPad apps. To enter, simply comment below before noon mst on August 15, 2011. If you can think of a Canadian retailer that might be a good fit to carry Spark Story Starters, please share that in your comment. There are so many wonderful little neighborhood toy, gift and book stores in Canada that are hard to track down and Tamara would love your input! Let us know in your comment if you’d like cards, an app for your iPhone or iPad, or all three. Random.org will do the work and we’ll make sure you get something you can actually use if you’re selected.

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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The Mama Doni Band’s new CD Shabbat Shaboom delivers a fun, schmaltzy, toe-tapping good time for all. It’s a great Challah-Day celebration!

The CD focuses on Jewish shabbat themes, and is sure to entertain a broad audience with its universal song topics, like Mishpocha which is about a wonderful and quirky extended family. Who can’t relate to that?!

The award winning Mama Doni Band has a huge following and this CD is sure to be another of her hits. The songs are a fun mix of rock, pop, disco, bluegrass (or “Jewgrass” as Mama Doni calls it), klezmer, and tango. They are filled with zany and silly lyrics in songs such as A Grape Juice Break Dance, Synagoguersize, and Chicken A La Tango. The CD is also sprinkled with a few beautiful moments in songs like The Friday Night Blessings.

Shabbat Shaboom is sure to give parents a giggle and make their little ones wiggle!

The CD is available to order or download here.

-By Samara (TOP Guest Writer)

Win it! We are giving away a copy of Shabbat Shaboom!. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on May 31, 2011.

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

My husband and I have been fighting over our Stress Ease Comfort Reader Pillow for a month now and I thought it was time to tell you about it. (And give one away – keep reading!) The pillow was developed by James Maas, a psych. prof at Cornell who studies all things sleep. He’s also the author of this book which I have not read, but one of you is going to get a copy of it with your fabulous pillow!

The pillow, which we received from United Feather & Down and which is available from The Great Indoors for $50, is incredibly comfortable to read with (and to watch tv with, and yes I know that’s terrible for sleep, but I so it anyway…). It includes a quality, very comfortable & soft pillowcase with a built in pocket for the hot/cold pack that comes with it. The pack is made very cheaply and it exploded and leaked scalding hot goo the first time I heated it so I can’t speak to that, but I love the design and I may get make a rice bag of similar size. (The package recommends twice the time I heated it at, so it was not user error – be careful if you use this and I do not recommend that you let children use the hot pack.)

The pillow has a nice lumbar support that especially fits my tall husband very well. (At a foot shorter than him, it’s still great for me, but it’s rare for things to fit him well). The only thing I’d love to see added is some arm supports to make holding my book up a little easier on the arms at that angle, but those might be tricky to make ‘one size fits all.’

Win it! United Feather & Down is giving away a Stress Ease Comfort Reader Pillow and a copy of SLEEP FOR SUCCESS! Everything You Must Know About Sleep but Are Too Tired to Ask . To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on May 13, 2011.

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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The Little Big Book Of Life is the latest in Welcome Books’ successful Little Big Book series. This rather large little book is filled to the brim with with wisdom, advice, poetry, short stories, humorous quotes, songs, essays, graduation speeches, letters, and tips for a happy life. It is the perfect gift for a graduation, a birthday, or to celebrate any life-changing event. Combined with the same period art and book illustrations that have made previous Little Big Books so beloved and timeless, there is much to learn, inspire, and ponder.

The book includes 15 short stories and fictional excerpts from authors including Milan Kundera, Ernest Hemingway, Kurt Vonnegut, Joseph Heller and William Shakespeare; 20 poems from such poets as Maya Angelou, Rudyard Kipling, Robert Frost, Anne Sexton, and E.E. Cummings; 13 graduation speeches from everyone from John Grisham and Ken Burns to Jodi Foster and Russell Baker; 10 Letters full of wisdom and advice, including those from Anne Frank, John Steinbeck, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and F. Scott Fitzgerald; 13 songs, including James Taylor’s “The Secret Of Life” and Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World”; 12 comedy excerpts and essays from such comedians as Woody Allen, George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg, Anna Quindlen, and Jerry Seinfeld; 9 activity spreads, ranging from Feng Shui basics to how to keep a dream journal; Over 30 quotes & platitudes offering insight and advice on how to live your life.

Win it! We’re giving away a copy of The Little Big Book of Life. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on May 13, 2011.

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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I’m tired of silly bands for so many more reasons than the fact that they’re always in my washing machine, so I was super excited to see the return of the slap bracelets of the 80′s with SLAPlets. They’re the same, but better. Covered with silicone, they’re much softer and gentler than they used to be. My kids each received one to review (purple and blue) and they love them. My daughter loves it as an accessory; my son loves that he can slap people’s arms and not get in trouble. Each one came with three SLAPlinx on it – small silicone loops that slip easily on and off. I could see these being used as rewards – earn 10 linx and get 15 minutes of computer time! My kids just lost them within 3 hours of opening the package. Welcome to my world. The bracelets still look like new though, and are more fun than you’d think. Even for me.

“Made of 100% hypo-allergenic silicone, SLAPlets and SLAPlinx are customizable, tradeable fashion that will redefine friendship bracelets. There are currently 6 fun colors available with six more on the way. Each SLAPlet comes with three SLAPlinx and is $5.99.”

SLAPlets and SLAPlinx are currently available at SLAPlet.com, and beginning in April will be available at Michael’s craft stores.

Win it! One TOP reader will win three complete SLAPlets (each comes with 3 SLAPlinx), plus a 12-pack of SLAPlinx valued at $24. To enter, comment on this post before noon mst on April 17, 2011.

Your Baby Is Speaking To You: A Visual Guide to the Amazing Behaviors of Your Newborn and Growing Baby by Dr. Kevin Nugent is a brand spankin’ new release that is going to be added to my default baby gift list. It’s a great addition to the library of new parents. It’s tenderly written, easy to read and the photography is stunning.

Each two-page spread has a full-page photo of an infant smiling, sleeping, crying, holding a finger or gazing into space, with an eloquent and non-judgemental explanation of what the child is communicating to you non-verbally. As a new parent, it provides invaluable knowledge and just may keep you off the phone with your pediatrician or health-link nine times out of ten.

The book is divided into seven sections: Sleeping, Crying, Eating (The Sleeping Baby, Deep Sleep, Light Sleep, The Full Cry, Fussing, The Search Response, Feeding), The Amazing Newborn (The Fencer Response, Hand to Mouth, The Sleep Smile, First Steps, Hands, Pre-Reaching, The Smile of Discovery, Crawling, Feet, Yawning), Your Baby’s Senses (Responding to Sounds, Visual Exploration, Touch, Cuddliness, The Not Very Cuddly Baby), Settling In (Startles, Drowsiness, Overstimulation, Signs of Distress, Soothability, The Not Easily Settled Baby), The Social Newborn (Looking Into Your Eyes, Feeding and Communication, The Power of Your Voice, Imitation, Learning, Temperament, The Social Smile), The Growing Baby (Reaching Out, Exploring, Empathy, Learning to Love), Parent and Baby and the Lifelong Bond. It covers the first few months of life, after which those little beings get a lot easier to figure out.

Check out the book on YouTube too.

Buy it from our affiliate, Amazon.

Win it! We’re giving away a copy of Your Baby Is Speaking To You. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on March 12, 2011.

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

Disclaimer

Wall Candy Arts makes some cool stuff. I’m a vinyl addict and my home is covered in it, so it’s nice to branch out and be able to stick something else on my wall and know it will come off when I’m tired of it without doing any damage.

Perfect for any loving family is the chalkboard heart ($36) – a great place to write notes to those you love. The set includes 1 large chalkboard heart (22 1/4″ x 19″), 2 medium hearts (4 3/8″ x 3 3/4″), 5 small hearts and XOXO. Chalk is also included.

Also super cool, large stick-on whiteboard panels ($58) are perfect for listing long recipe steps on the backsplash above the stove, making large refrigerator doors a place for doodling, or creating a stretch of writing space in a home or office entryway. It comes with four 19″x24″ stick on white board panels that can be used separately or combined for a large 49″x38″ surface.

Win it! Enter to win a CHALKBOARD HEART set! Just comment here before noon mst on Mar. 11, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

Disclaimer

There are three of Putamayo’s latest that we are really loving both in my home and in my classroom.

Putamayo South Africa is a collection that celebrates the rich musical diversity of this unique country at the southern tip of Africa. With the soccer World Cup taking place for the first time on African soil last year, international attention was focused on South Africa and its postapartheid status as a democracy and economic powerhouse. What a great way to introduce your family to the wonder of Africa!

Putumayo Latin Party is perhaps their most diverse Latin release yet. The mesmerizing grooves and tantalizing rhythms of Latin music have been leading people to the dance floor for decades and this CD is no exception. You can’t help but start to move your hips when the music starts to play! It includes a mix of boogaloo, funk, cumbia, son, salsa, ska and dancehall.

Putumayo Yoga is Putumayo’s first CD release featuring songs selected to accompany yoga practice and serve as a relaxing soundtrack for daily life. It’s a perfect combination of relaxing and energizing.

Win it! Enter to win one of ALL THREE of these great Putumayo offerings! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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Uncle Rock’s fourth and newest CD, The Big Picture features twelve original songs (and two covers, including Carol Burnett’s theme song) is a tribute to his favourite artists – David Bowie, The Ramones, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash and more. To create the huge picture that is The Big Picture, Uncle Rock (AKA singer-songwriter, author & bassist Robert Burke Warren) collaborated with Dean Jones, the man behind another band we love – Dog On Fleas. They’ve created this fantastic collection of singalong songs that you’re going to want to add to your music collection asap.

Before he was fondly named Uncle Rock by his nephew, Robert Burke Warren performed as a bass player in some big rock and roll bands and spent a year portraying Buddy Holly in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story in London’s West End. He has also co-written songs for multi-Grammy winner Rosanne Cash and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Wanda Jackson. That’s some talent, right there.

Buy The Big Picture from Amazon.

Win it! Enter to win one of THREE copies of The Big Picture! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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With a song called “Mama Tooted” it should be obvious that I’d like this CD.

Keller Williams sings bluegrass, and after fifteen albums this is his first kids’ CD. He sings with his daughter on a few tracks, which my kids really enjoyed. They lyrics are catchy and simple to sing along to, and Oh! The goats on the cover – soooo cute! Kids. Ha!

Though it’s definitely G-rated, there are some great lyrics that will make the adults crack a smile. A great CD for a family with children under 10.

Win it! Enter to win a copy of Kids! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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The sound of Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem is pure joy; family style. I’ve been listening to their newest CD, Ranky Tanky, with my kids today, and we’re all diggin’ it. This groovy set from the New England-based quartet is the first I’ve heard of them but they’re certainly not new to the music scene. Their folksy style has been heard all around, but this is their first CD aimed directly at families. It is, in my opinion, best for the younger set…maybe 18 mos-5 years. It’s a bit childish for the older kids, but if they were feeling ultra silly I’m sure they’d enjoy it too.

Buy it from Amazon.

Win it! Enter to win a copy of Ranky Tanky! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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All I Want, pictured at right, is David Weinstone’s thirteenth ‘Music for Aardvarks’ production but the first I’ve ever heard of him. Apparently I’ve been living under a rock because in doing my research I see that he’s on tv all the time. Even before I listened to the CD, I read the press release. In it, David Weinstone says, “In a world where children are bombarded with external stimuli from screens of all sizes and classes of all manner at an increasingly younger age (baby yoga meditation class! — Is that even possible?), and parents are busier than ever just trying to make ends meet, the core needs of our children remain the same. What kids need and really want from parents is simple: time and attention.”

Thank goodness people like this are on tv, even if I missed him. That’s a message I want my children and people of all ages around the world receiving, and what better way to deliver it than through music.

I did listen to the CD though, and once the kids caught wind of it we listened to it a lot more than once. It’s pretty fabulous – quirky and a whole lot of fun.

Buy it from the Music for Aardvark shop after the March 8, 2011 release date.

Win it! Enter to win a copy of All I Want! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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When we reviewed Justin Roberts’ CD, Pop Fly we knew he’d continue to be a favourite for a while, but you have no idea how glad I was to receive a copy of Jungle Gym and switch it out. I love Justin’s music, but the same songs day in and day out can get to a mama so it’s great to be able to enjoy his sound with a bit more variety!

Jungle Gym was nominated for a 2011 Grammy, and it’s certainly worthy. It takes you through some great memories from your childhood – the parachute in gym class, snow days, and the fun of trick or treating – and encourages some great conversations with your kids about how childhood has changed between then and now.

Love this one!

Win it! Enter to win a copy of Jungle Gym! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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Again with the two-months-late-ten-months-early thing. It’s Santa Claus!, the holiday CD from Ben Rudnick & Friends, is a super high spirited CD that we loved for our Christmas parties this past Christmas season. My son actually still has it in his bedroom and rotates it into his CD player occasionally. Yes, even in February. I suppose that’s how you know it’s a great CD for kids, but the whole family enjoyed this one. I’m still a Kenny G fan, but Ben Rudnick & Friends are much more fun, if fun is what you’re looking for!

At the time of posting, -it’s less than $12 at Amazon! I guess that’s the benefit of shopping for Christmas music at the end of February.

Listen and buy it here. (affiliate link)

Win it! Enter to win a copy of It’s Santa Claus! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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Billy Kelly’s upcoming CD, his third, The Family Garden, (due to be released April 5, 2011) is the first of his I’ve heard and my family is happy to add him to our ever- growing collection of tunes. It’s incredibly upbeat and peppy, and features a wide array of musical stylings – country (not my fave) to ragtime to rock. Though country music is like nails on a chalkboard for me, the country-ish tunes on this CD are good enough to make me forget they’re country and I find myself singing along with the kids. For a family with a range of tastes, this CD would be a great addition to your collection. There’s something for all y’all.

It will be available from Billy’s store for $12 as of April 5.

Win it! Enter to win a copy of The Family Garden! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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When Didi Pop (Deborah Poppink) first visited Hawaii as a child, her family stayed at the Polynesian Cultural Center where she learned about Hawaiian culture. With DidiPop Goes to Hawaii, she shares what she has learned “in the Hawaiian way—through stories and song.” Going to Hawaii is crazy expensive, and now you and your whole family can go without leaving the comfort of your own home!

The 13 original tracks on DidiPop Goes to Hawaii will take your family to Maui (Wowie Gazowie!), encourage you to try mango, remind you not to sit under a coconut tree and so much more.

The CD plus the digital album is only $15 at her shop, or you can get any of her MP3s FREE! Yes, you read that right – totally and absolutely free!

Check out the video for “I Like Pigs” on YouTube – so cute!

Win it! Enter to win a copy of Didi Pop goes to Hawaii! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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This is our second Joanie Leeds CD and I’m thrilled to share with you that the kids love it as much as the first one (I’m a Rock Star!). It’s got a distinctly different sound than the last one did, but that’s not a bad thing. What I really love about Joanie’s music is that the adults don’t feel like they need to leave the room and let the kids enjoy it alone. It’s great for the whole family.

This CD has ten Joanie originals and four covers, each with their own style. She and her band, the Nightlights, share thought provoking and educational lyrics while still making the CD a ton of fun to listen to. “My Butterfly” teaches all about metamorphosis, “Sea Cow” and “Big Blue Whale” explore endangered species, and “Tofurky” emphasizes responsible eating. Other songs are just plain fun, but the cover of the Phish song “Possum” does let kids know what happens when you don’t look both ways when crossing the street!

01) All The Animals
02) Mosquitoes
03) Froggie Went A Courtin’ (Featuring Secret Agent 23 Skidoo)
04) Big Blue Whale
05) Happy As a Clam
06) Hummingbird
07) Sea Cow
08) Possum
09) Tofurky Song
10) If You Go
11) Animals in Concert
12) My Butterfly
13) Pony Boy
14) Wimoweh

The CD will be released April 12th (a great addition to your child’s Easter basket!) so be sure to pick up a copy as soon as you can. Or you can try to…

Win it! Enter to win a copy of of What A Zoo! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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Journey rocks.

Being able to listen to the music of your youth while soothing a newborn to sleep ROCKS!

Rocking is what Rockabye Baby! does best. They’ve remixed many of the bands from the good old rockin’ eighties (and more, but I’m an eighties girl so that’s what really matters to me) – punk, metal and classic rock – and made them soft enough to rock your babe to.

As they say, “making an album that’s gentle enough for sleeping babies but won’t bore Mom and Dad is trickier than it sounds.” They’ve done a heck of a good job.

I love that you can get a download card for less than $15 for any CD in their shop, and the new parents in question can pick whatever band reminds them of their youth – babified. The download card comes housed in a beautiful, eco-friendly package containing a digital download card good for one Rockabye Baby! album, an exclusive download code, and clear instructions for downloading, along with a healthy baby food recipe, paper dolls, a mini baby book , and Rockabye Baby! temporary tattoos.

Win it! Enter to win a Rockabye Baby! download card! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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Many Hands – Family Music for Haiti is a CD you’ll buy for the cause, but play over and over again because it’s awesome.

It’s not “Kids Music.” It’s “Family Music.”

Yes, there’s a difference.

Even you, the one who can already read this post fluently, will like it!

It’s a compilation that raises awareness of, and funds for, the continuing needs of the Haitian people after last year’s earthquake. It features tracks from Jonathan Coulton, They Might Be Giants, Dan Zanes, Elizabeth Mitchell, Lunch Money, Frances England, Secret Agent 23 Skiddoo, and many, many more.

Preview songs and buy it from our affiliate, Amazon for less than thirteen bucks!

Win it! Enter to win a copy of Family Music for Haiti! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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Recess Monkey rocks – we’ve never listened to one of their songs that we didn’t like, and the new release The Final Funktier is no different. They’re a group of teachers from Seattle who must be even more fun in the classroom than I am! The teachers, Jack Forman, Daron Henry, and Drew Holloway, have three distinct voices that melt together like good chocolate in a way that’s super entertaining for kids but not annoying in the least for parents.

This CD brings you Recess Monkey in outer space, which was a big hit in the mind of my almost-five year old who currently aspires to be an astronaut. Or a dentist in outer space who designs stuff. Whatever.

Jack notes: “We like to wordsmith and are big-time pun fans. On The Final Funktier there’s a song about how a booster seat is like a booster rocket, another song about what space elevator music might sound like, and even one about a ukulele-playing alien called Ukulalien. Laughter permeates our experiences with kids, in the classroom and out!” (~Amazon)

Listen and buy it from Amazon.

Win it! Enter to win a copy of The Final Funktier. Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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Princess Katie & Racer Steve have long been a favourite around our home – so much so that their faces adorn my son’s wall in poster format – and we’re always excited to receive a new CD of awesome.

Tiny Cool makes Princess Katie & Racer Steve three for three in the cool department. In fact, I’d like to suggest a renaming of this CD to “Super Hugely Fantastically Awesome.”

Is there something akin to the Grammy awards for kids’ tunes? Because I nominate this.

P.S. Fear not. There’s nothing princess-y about Princess Katie. She rocks, and hard.

Check out their YouTube channel.

Win it! Enter to win a copy of Tiny Cool! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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Jamie Broza’s soon to be released kids’ CD, I Want a Dog, is a fun addition to any child’s music collection. The CD has a Latin flair, and my son was thrilled to hear his friend’s language in one of the songs.

Both my children agree that the best song on the CD is “The No Game” and my husband and I are coerced into playing it (the game, and the song) daily now. They especially love the conversations between parent and child interspersed between the songs, and often mimic those conversations in their pretend play.

I Want A Dog! will be released March 15, 2011 and you’re going to want to pick up a copy. Check out Jamie’s website for more information.

Jamie credits his family’s rescue dog, Dusty, adopted from North Shore Animal League America, as his muse for I Want a Dog! Jamie will donate 20 percent of the profits from this album to North Shore Animal League America. Buy the CD, and then go adopt a dog!

Win it! Enter to win a copy of I Want A Dog! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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We love The Boogers.

Punk rock for kids? There’s truly nothing like it!

The Boogers’ newest CD, Let’s Go!, is just as awesome as their first, and my children just love it! I can’t imagine the punk folks I know listening to a classic version of Old Macdonald Had a Farm on repeat for three days straight, but they’d all certainly be able to tolerate and even learn to love the song if The Boogers performed it.

If you’re the kind of parent who yearns for their mosh pit days, The Boogers are for you! And if you’re not, they’re still for you. Trust me on this one. Everyone who is in our house when we play this CD comments on what a great alternative it is to traditional tunes for kids. Whether you’re punk or not (and I? am sooooo not.) you’ll dig it.

Pick it up from our affiliate, Amazon.

Win it! Enter to win one of THREE copies of Let’s Go! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway! Click here for details if you’re not familiar with them.

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I’ve reviewed a Monkey Monkey Music CD before (What Are The Odds?) and our children loved it, so imagine their excitement when they released a new DVD!

This is Merideth LeVande’s first DVD and, though the occasional lip syncing is a little, um…lip sync-y for me, the kids didn’t notice and simply loved the entire thing.

At $20, Monkey Monkey Music – The Videos is a great addition to your DVD collection for your littles. There’s great movement opportunities and some built-in learning that the kids have no idea is happening. I’d recommend it for the 18 month-5 year old set.

Check out one of my kids’ favourite songs:

Order your own from the MMM site.

Win it! Win a copy of the DVD for your best little peeps! Just comment here before noon mst on Feb. 26, 2011 to enter!

Multiple entries are available for every TOP giveaway!

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I spend pretty much every waking hour of every day with children, mine or those of others’, and I’ve yet to meet a kid who doesn’t love silly bands. Simple little silicone bands shaped like random things, and you can’t even tell what they are when you’re wearing them. It looks like they’re all wearing deformed elastics around their wrists. But, they love them!

Imagine their delight when they discover Piggyback Bandz – the bandz that stand.

Developed by fungrins, Piggyback Bandz are just like those little deformed elastics but with one extra cool feature that makes them make sense to people over the age of ten – a smaller replica of the band shape actually stands up off the wrist so you can see what you’re wearing. There are lots of fun and colorful sets to choose from including “Football,” “Groovy,” “Glam,” “Sealife,” “Cool Rides,” and the one I love most, “Alphabet Shapes” – a great way personalize name bracelets for your children and their friends!

Piggyback Bandz are available from their online shop and run 5 bucks for a pack of 25.

Win it! Win a four pack of Piggyback Bandz! Simply comment here by noon mst on January 23, 2011.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Brilliant in it’s simplicity, I Caught Santa can help you turn a typical Christmas morning into something spectacular. For less than $10 anyone can bring back the wonder of Christmas and be a hero to children by catching Santa “in the act.” In just three simple steps that anyone with an internet connection can do easily, you upload a photo of your tree or fireplace, choose and place your Santa, and download your unmarked jpg file which can be printed anywhere you like or just left right in the laptop that had the “Santa Cam” turned on all night!

Want Santa by the Christmas tree? Coming down the chimney? Eating milk and cookies? Sleeping on the sofa? Stealing a kiss from Mommy? Easy peasy lemon squeazy! Check out some examples of photos in this YouTube video.

Win it! We’re giving away TEN photos from I Caught Santa! If you’d like to surprise someone you love with this on Christmas morning, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on December 17, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

As an early years teacher I’ve seen my share of head lice, but when my own child’s preschool had a warning note posted earlier this year it still freaked me out. Have it in your classroom is one thing. Having it in your home is quite another entirely, so I was quite thankful for the timely opportunity to review the “Rosemary Repel” line of lice prevention products from Fairy Tales Hair Care.

There’s shampoo, conditioner, gel, leave in conditioner, and a spray & shield which are all made with natural rosemary extract as a repellant. During a lice outbreak, they recommend using at least 3-4 products to provide maximum protection, and to not shampoo everyday as lice like clean hair not dirty because it’s easier to attach to a squeaky clean hair shaft. For maintenance, they recommend shampooing every few days with the Rosemary Repel Shampoo and using the Rosemary Repel Leave-in Conditioning Spray each morning before school. Layering on the fragrant herbs are what help to keep the bugs away so these products do no smell sweet, but they don’t smell bad either. The products are not tear free, but the shampoo is very thick and doesn’t drip. Because they use herbs rather than harsh chemicals, they are safe to use on children but their eyes should be shielded. My daughter will attest to the fact that they sting nicely if they get in the eyes, but as a natural mama I wasn’t worried about what was leaching into her bloodstream at the same time. We’ve been using them now for a few weeks and haven’t brought any little bugs home, thank goodness. (…but I am scratching my head just typing about it!)

If we do, we’ll be using Fairy Tales all-natural, nontoxic, pesticide free, enzyme based Lice Be Gone -a great alternative to the cancer-in-a-bottle available at the local drug store that used to be our only commercial option.

There’s also a bed bug spray that I thankfully haven’t had the chance to use but I’m certainly keeping it handy and taking it when I travel!

Win it! We’ve got three separate Rosemary Repel packages to give away to three T.O.P. readers. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on December 17, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Waiting in line for half an hour at the mall to see a creepy Santa with hummus breath and then paying $15 for a crappy picture of my kids with him isn’t my idea of a great Christmas memory.

What is my idea of a great Christmas memory? Santa phoning my children each year and getting them so excited about his upcoming stop at their house and about the entire season that they can’t talk about anything else.

The calls range from 3-5 minutes (single call) to 8-10 minutes (extended call). I highly recommend the extended call if you have more than one child or one that either really likes to talk, like mine, or one that may take a few minutes to warm up. My children are 4 1/2 and nearly three and their call from Santa this year was, as always, the absolute highlight of their year. It is nothing short of amazing to watch them light up and tell Santa their Christmas wishes. Whether your child talks for 10 minutes non-stop or just sits & listens, the well trained & background checked Santa will fill the empty space with questions and comments about your child’s life that only Santa could know. Even the skeptics will have their hearts opened by a call from Santa Speaking. You can get an MP3 of your child’s call via email and/or a mini-CD ornament to both listen to and hang on your tree year after year. After hearing the children speak to Santa this year, we listened to the CDs of the calls from the last two years and were amazed by the change in the sound of their little voices. So incredibly precious.

The set up of the call is as simple as can be, and they’ve thought of everything in terms of ensuring that Santa knows a ton of information about your child. He knew the names of my children’s best friends, their activities and hobbies and so much more – all of which I was able to effortlessly enter online prior to the call.

Don’t forget that Norad is tracking Santa’s progress on Christmas Eve so be sure to check in with him, and check the weather at the North Pole. You can even have him call you four times throughout the day to update you on his progress. At SantaSpeaking.com, dance to Santa’s Groovy Hits, get the recipe to make Santa’s fave hot chocolate and so much more. Whether you’re purchasing a call or not, it’s a great site to visit. However, once you experience a call from Santa Speaking you’ll likely be ordering a call every year. From $20 – $50, there’s one that’s affordable for most families.

Santa Speaking is under new ownership and has undergone a re-design – now you can also get more great gifts, like a personalized letter from Santa!

Win it! We’ve got a pretty sweet hook up for three of our readers, and a little something for everyone!

One reader will win an extended call with CD ornament. ($52.90 value, including S&H)

Two additional readers will each win a set of Santa Speaking’s new pre-recorded Christmas Eve Messages. ($12.95 value, each)

To enter, simply comment on this post before noon mst on December 12th. The three winners will be notified by 5 pm mst that day to leave you enough time to book your call if you’re not the lucky one!

Everybody Wins! SAVE 10% on your call this year with the code TOP2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED – Merry Christmas!

Record-a-Story is one of the coolest gifts I’ve seen this year – at least of the ones in the inexpensive category. It’s only $20 from their website and we also saw it for $13.99 at our local Costco. These recordable storybooks were designed for children of all ages, and are a wonderful gift idea for out-of-town relatives, a parent who is away from home frequently, or someone in the military assigned to a faraway land. Or parents like me who just love awesome personalized heirloom gifts. There are several titles available but at this time of year there’s nothing like ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Children will delight in the sound of a loved one’s voice when they open this book. A recordable dedication page lets them know this is a story just for them, and each time they turn the page, Christmas music plays, and they hear the familiar voice of a loved one reading the classic holiday story. The personalized voice recording will be locked in these pages so your child can enjoy this book year after year. Such a special gift for such an awesome price is, well, pretty awesome.

Win it! We’re giving away a copy of the Record-a-Story ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas to a T.O.P. reader. To enter, comment here before noon mst on December 13, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I haven’t posted much about my OpenSky shop – partly because I’m ridiculously busy but mostly because I am just not a salesperson. I love to share the coolest of cool things with you but I don’t necessarily want to sell them myself. There are a few things, though, that I’m willling to toss into the shop to share with you because they’re just that good. Good enough for me to attach my name to.

The most recent addition is the Curiosity Cards set from Rebecca Plants. Rebecca Plants is a company dedicated to reminding us that happiness is just beyond our doorstep. Rebecca P. Cohen founded her company to develop simple, yet brilliant products and ideas that inspire all people – families in particular – to spend more time outside.

This set of 50 circular cards adds so much fun to family time & friendly get togethers and is a great portable pack to toss in your pocket when you’re headed out on a walk with your children. Flip open the deck and ask a question that will get you and your littles exploring and enjoying each other in the great outdoors.

Click here to buy it now for just $15. It makes a great stocking stuffer!

Win it! We’ve got one to give away to one randomly selected T.O.P. reader. Simply comment on this post before noon mst on December 1, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I am all for creative and open ended toys and activities. I am also an early years educator whose daily life focuses around literacy, so it goes without saying that I am THRILLED with Picture It Picture Books – the one and only book series that children illustrate themselves. Ontario authors Alicia Belvedere and Leanne Melich write the stories and leave out the illustrations, giving children a chance to set their imaginations free. The books focus on the environment, social responsibility, positive human interaction and creativity.

The most important part about Picture It Picture Books is that they don’t have any pictures, giving young readers the opportunity to illustrate their very own books. By visualizing the images to a story as it unfolds and then committing those images to paper, readers engage with our texts in a meaningful, physical way. This increases reading comprehension and encourages readers to apply what they’ve learned to their own lives.

These are some awesome books, and ones that – once completed – would be such special keepsakes. Imagine reading your grandchildren a book which was illustrated by their father when he was their age and the awesome memories that experience would bring to mind. I’m excited just thinking about it!

Picture It Picture books sell for $8 each and are available from Indigo.ca.

Win it! We’re giving away a copy of each of the Picture It Picture Books – one winner will receive all six pictured books! To enter, comment below before noon mst on December 1, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Milestones happen every day when you have children. All of those little things you never want to forget. Everything is a celebration when you’re new to this world, and there’s really nothing like it. When my first child started speaking “Mama!,” at his first food (homemade mashed sweet potatoes…inhaled what didn’t cover his grandpa!), stood on his own, started reading…they’re all engrained forever in my mind. Parenting is magical, and seeing everything through the eyes of a child is such a gift.

Many families use Cheerios as one of their child’s first finger foods. They’re whole grain, melt easily in puddles of drool and have a hole in the middle to reduce the risk of choking. It’s with this in mind that they launched their “Cheerios Milestones” contest. You can visit the Cheerios website where you’ll be able to upload a favourite picture and be entered for a chance to be one of 20 finalists to appear on a special edition Cheerios Box and win Cheerios for a year! PLUS one lucky grand prize winner will walk away with $10,000 towards an RESP from TD Canada Trust!

The Cheerioscontest closes December 15, 2010.

But…

I’m having my own “mini-milestones” giveaway right here right now courtesy of Mom Central! Simply leave me a comment sharing a story about one of your child’s milestones for an entry. One lucky reader will receive a Cheerios playbook, perfect for learning and fun! Contest closes October 29 at noon mst.

Disclosure – I am participating in the Cheerios Milestones program by Mom Central on behalf of General Mills. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

When there’s a lot of time-outs happening at your place, I suggest an alternative to losing your patience.

Take Time Out To Rock!

The Not Its are an up-tempo power-pop kiddie band out of Seattle and their new CD “Time Out To Rock” is perfect for the preschool & early school years set (aka, the kids I live with and the kids I teach, so yay!) It’s the type of CD that both the kids and I loved right away, and the kids at home and at school all start tapping their feet & hands just waiting for a chance to dance when they hear it.

Remember, a time out to rock is a time out for everyone – even the overworked, underpaid parents!

Win it! Leave a comment below before noon mst on October 31, 2010 to enter to win your own Time Out To Rock!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

It’s been a singy & dancy kind of week in the Opinionated household! We tore open the packages on a whole pile of CD’s that have been sitting on our counter for an embarrassingly long time, and we hit on some real winners. The Flannery Brothers: The New Explorers Club is one that we’ve added to our regular rotation. They are two real life brothers – Flannery brothers, actually – who create tunes that are absolutely ridiculously awesome. They’re hilarious, up beat and kids love them – sounds like a perfect CD to me! Check out the track listing to see what I’m talking about – what kid can’t related to these titles?

1. Big Kite
2. Swallowed a Bug
3. Hi 5 Dance
4. In The Middle
5. Pirate or Parrot?
6. Green Submarine
7. Sea Glass
8. Quiet Place
9. Kitchen Floor
10. Boots
11.Let’s Go!
12. The Elements
13. Best Adventures

The CD is due to be released mid-October and you can listen and pre-order it from their website.

Win it! Want a copy? Comment below before noon mst on October 31, 2010 to enter.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Frances England may have a mind of her own, but she’s got a heck of a lot of musical talent behind her in the production of her new album, Mind of My Own. She’s backed by a full band and a bunch of guest musicians make an appearance, including Doug Snyder from the Jellydots and the Mates of State. Even with all of that, the music still much resembles her individual sound from her first album and I love that it’s its still her own hand-cut artwork on the cover. Cute.

Mind of My Own is set to be released November 9th. You and your kids will love it.

Win it! We’ve got a copy ready to ship to one lucky T.O.P. reader. To enter, comment below before noon mst on October 31, 2010.

Matt Clark of Matt Clark Music recently sent our family his new CD, Funnier Little Fellas. It arrived just a few short days ago and I have the song “Tickle Bees” memorized word for word because my kids made me put it on repeat for a three hour drive. While my husband wanted to shoot himself after the fifth time (he’s not a kiddie tunes fan) I still like the song and played tickle bee with my kids after the trip

All of the songs are really good, though. Each one is like a little snippet of life with kids, and whether it deals with current dilemmas (to swing or to slide?) or things of the past like learning to use utensils & explore solid food, parents and children both can relate to each one.

A band-aid solves everything.
When nothing else works, tantrum.
All truths of childhood. And if you can sing along to them, it makes everything – including the tantrums – less painful.

Win it! We’ve got THREE copies of Funnier Little Fellas to give away! Comment below before noon mst on October 31, 2010 to enter.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERs EMAILED

How many young girls have you met who dream of clothes, who live to shop. Fashion divas and little princesses alike are sure to love Creativity for Kids new “Designed by You Special Occasion Fashions” ($39.99 – ages 9-99). From ball gowns to wedding gowns, this kit has it all and everything your little lady needs to design her own masterpieces is included in the kit.

* Mannequin and Satin Dress
* Assorted Fabrics
* Assorted Trims
* Spools of Thread
* Sewing Needles and Threader
* Thimble
* Pins
* Pin Cushion
* Scissors
* Tape Measure
* Fabric Swatches
* Sketch Book
* Pencils and Sharpener
* Iridescent Sparkle Accent
* Silver Sparkle Accent
* Satin Roses
* Satin Bows
* Tiaras
* Accessories Storage Bag
* Instructions and Ideas

Featuring even more supplies than the original award-winning Designed By You Fashion Studio, this deluxe version includes exceptional quality essentials that every couture fashion designer needs to inspire one-of-a-kind originals.

Check out the product trailer on YouTube to see it in action. It almost makes me wish I was a pre-teen again. Almost.

Win it! Three winners will each receive a Designed by You Special Occasion Fashions Activity Kit valued at $39.99. To enter, simply comment below before noon mst on October 16, 2010. Get your extra entries too!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

It’s no secret that I’m a photo lover. Obsessed might be a good word for it. I scrapbook, but since I have a small family photography business I also order myself the same canvases, albums and more that I can order for my customers and I tend to go a little crazy. Now I’ve got another option (thank you, with apologies to my Visa…) with Fracture.

I’d never heard of them or anything like them before a couple of months ago, and the process still eludes me a bit, but they are fabulous so my understanding – or lack thereof – really is a moot point.

Fractures are made of glass and the printed surface is inaccessible from the front so it’s virtually unscratchable. (Making up words? It’s my thing.) The colours are vibrant, rich and glossy and the surface is perfectly flat. Like glass. They’ve got the “HD-TV look, but for photos.” Because the entire frame is printed digitally, there are potentially limitless ways you can make your Fracture unique. If you don’t see what you want, I suggest you ask because their customer service team is fabulous.

When you want to create framed art for your home, a Fracture is the economical one step solution because when you buy a Fracture, you don’t need anything else – not even screws to mount it with. Sounds like it should cost s decent amount, right? Nope. Fractures range from just $8 – $25. Insanity! I’ll take ten.

Win it! Fracture is giving FIVE good looking TOP readers of their very own Fractures! To enter, comment on this post before noon mst on October 15, 2010. Any comment will do, but I’d love to know what you’d Fracture!

Remember to get your extra entries, and if more than one of your entries wins you get more than one Fracture!

Tegu Blocks, named after the place they’re made (Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras) are the wicked coolest wooden blocks on the planet, I’m pretty darn sure. Not only are they un-plastic, but they’re made of wood that’s sustainable sourced & FSC certified, and their production and each sale helps the Honduran people on their journey toward long term solutions to their poverty & hunger. The wood is coated in a safe, water-based laquer.

Now that people are hip to the wood, there are lots of wooden blocks available around the interweb, but there’s something else that makes Tegu blocks the coolest of cool – magnets placed inside each block (read: fully functional but completely inaccessible to little people!) encourage dimensional building in all directions while children learn about positive & negative polarity, attraction and repulsion, gravity and more.

While we’ve only used them as toys because we have children who love them, they would also make a great executive desk toy or designer gift for anyone. The “Discovery Set” includes 26 magnetic wooden blocks in three shapes: 12 Cubes, 10 Long Planks, and 4 Short Planks. The toys come in a natural finish. The magnetic connections between the blocks make for innovative play that defies gravity and increases a child’s creative freedom. Who knew toddlers & preschoolers could learn so much about science from one simple but brilliant toy?

These aren’t your Grandpa’s blocks, but they very well could be your great grandchildren’s. An “educational toy” that encourages open-ended and unscripted play, is heirloom quality, helps the earth and it’s people, and is so much fun even the adults in our home play with them after the kids go to bed…what more could you ask in a toy?

You can see the blocks in action on YouTube.

And because they’re so wicked cool? We’re offering them for sale in our OpenSky Shop!

That’s not something we take lightly here at TOP – nothing’s for sale that we haven’t tried ourselves and loved more than ice cream.

Buy Now (without even leaving our site!)

Also available in mahogany” and in the BIG original set and a mahogany original set.

Win it! Tegu is giving away TWO discovery kits! To enter, comment on this post before noon mst on Sept. 30, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED.

Monkey Monkey Music, lead by NYC based musician & educator Meredith LeVande, recently released its second children’s CD, What Are The Odds?. It’s a super fun collection of songs for the 2-7 set that the littles in your life are sure to love. Merideth’s voice & style are totally built for the young child to love, and the children who live in my home are no exception. Neither are their friends, actually. A living room full of kids grooving to “Air Guitar” is enough to make any mama’s heart swell, and now that they know that their air guitars are always with them they pull them out at the most hilarious of times!

Yet another great addition to our regular musical rotation!

Win it! We’re giving away a copy of this fabulous CD. To enter, comment before noon mst on 9/25/10.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED