I love Christmas.

I love Christmas cards.

I love sending them and I love receiving them.

Growing up with a military Daddy, I have friends from all over the world and receive some pretty spectacular cards. I’ve always thought my cards were pretty nice too, until I got my order from Blue Whale Invitations this year. They’re in a completely different league than anything I’ve ever bought, made for myself or reviewed in the past.

Owner & artist Melissa Aird leaves no stone left unturned when she’s working with you to custom design your card. She has a great selection of pre-designed Christmas greetings on her site ranging from $2.25 – $2.75 per card, but if you don’t see exactly what you want she will literally do anything to ensure you get what’s perfect for you at no extra cost. The process begins with Melissa asking some simple questions about your style & preferences. From there, she designs several cards and mails you a completed sample of each one complete with envelopes and a price for each one should you choose to order some. You make your choice(s), let her know of any editing you’d like and WHAM. Gorgeous, custom-designed and hand made cards appear in your mailbox.

Pictured at right are one of the two sets she designed for our family – a gorgeous double figure skate with our picture attached. They feature shining silver grommets and quality satin ribbon, and look truly stunning . We also got some of the negative film strip cards that are listed on her website, and just had her change the text and font for us and include our pictures.

The single figure skate on the Blue Whale Invitations website sells for $3.75, and our custom designed double ones sell for close to $8 each. Steep? Yes. I don’t recommend you order 100 of those, but they’re just perfect for the extra special people in your life. That dude you haven’t seen since high school can have the one you had printed at Costco.

Blue Whale Invitations isn’t just Christmas cards. In fact, that’s the least of what Melissa does. If you need a mailed greeting, she can make it. And make it well. I’d highly recommend her for any occasion, but you’ve still got time to order your Christmas cards!

Win it! Blue Whale Invitations is giving away a set of 20 mailed greetings – custom or not – it’s up to you! To enter, simply comment on this post with your favourite item from her site or email theopinionatedparent at gmail dot com with BLUE WHALE in the subject line & put your fave in the body of the email before noon mst on Monday, November 23, 2009.

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!

While it’s cute and all, and we decorate and dress up and have a bunch of fun, Halloween in my house is just a signal to get the Christmas bins out because the tree’s going up November 1st!

The Christmas Almanac from Welcome Books is a great gift for the Christmas lovers among us. It’s lavishly illustrated with 300 vintage images on 240 gilt-edged pages, and includes pretty much everything imaginable. If it’s Christmas, it’s in there. It’s part reference, part anthology, part cookbook, part history book, part songbook, part shopping guide, part crafts, and part trivia book. Inside the cover are eight chapters which include classic stories and poems, recipes, history & traditions, carols & games, gift & card ideas and shopping tips, Christmas facts & trivia, entertainment, crafts, Christmas ornaments, information on volunteering and tips on everything from how to have a “green” Christmas and more.

All that sells for under $20 at Amazon. But really…having this on your family’s bookshelf is priceless.

Win it! We’ve got two copies to give away – just comment before noon mst on October 23, 2009 to enter.

You can get FIVE entries in this and every contest – click here to discover how!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED – (mailing today – 10/28 – sorry for the delay!)

Every so often, a book comes along that I have to write about as soon as I finish it. It’s not often, because book reviews are honestly not my favourite things to write, but Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby hooked me from page one (to the annoyance of my husband who had to listen to me in bed every night going on about my plans for this book in my classroom and at home.)

Secrets of a Christmas Box is a fantasy novel like no other that invites the reader into the enchanting nighttime world of the decorations on a family’s Christmas tree. Each year when they’re brought out from the Christmas box, they greet their friends from past years (in the dark, of course, after their human family has gone to bed and the army lights illuminate the tree) and meet any newcomers. Sadly, there are always one or two that don’t make it back to the tree each year and as Larry the snowman discovers by the end of this book, the reason for their disappearance is not what they had always thought.

And that’s all I’m going to say about the plot line. If you have children, are a teacher or just love the spirit of Christmas, you need to read it. For us it will surely become a family tradition to read it daily each December and I can hardly wait to read it to my students in a couple of months. It’s recommended for ages 9-12 but as soon as my kids are in school I’m going to be reading this every year. And what’s with that twelve? I’m 33 and I’m totally not too old for it.

Win it! We’ve got two signed copies of Secrets of a Christmas Box in beautiful red sacks up for grabs. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on October 9, 2009. If you win, you’ll have it in lots time to start at the beginning of December, and if you don’t you’ve got time to place your order!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

I recently received a copy of the new Milkshake CD, Great Day. I have loved everything I’ve ever listened to from Milkshake in the past, so was excited to listen to this one.

Here’s what the band has to say about this fabulous disc:

In keeping with the Milkshake belief that one never stops evolving/growing, we present Great Day.

This is the first Milkshake album that is actually Milkshake the Band. It’s not just Lisa and Mikel and a bunch of studio musicians. Play! featured the guys singing, but we still used outside musicians, and we all played our parts at different times. On Great Day, it’s the band playing in one big room at the same time, except for vocal and guitar overdubs. And we have a few special guests — our friends Grammy-Award winners Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer and Rodney Henry of the Glenmont Popes.

We tracked Great Day in six twelve-hour days, and it was a lot of fun. Lots of different musical styles here, as on past albums, but the subjects are a little deeper, the guys are singing a little sweeter and everyone was trying new things, thanks in part to Tor Hyams’ intense, encouraging production style, and in part to everyone really being…well…a band, which is a lot like a family. Enjoy…and have a great day!

Here’s what my kids have to say about it:

“Let’s put Milkshake in again, Mommy!”

Don’t forget to bring Milkshake in the van!”

And because, in the usual Milkshake style, it’s actually really good music that’s easily enjoyed by kids and parents alike, I always oblige.

Win it! One commenter will win a copy of Great Day. To enter, comment before noon mst on September 28th.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I was recently sent a sample of an exercise program, Shapely Secrets, that claims to provide a full body workout without any running, jumping or harmful impact. “Simply standing still and following the program sculpts the entire body with Motionless Exercise™. The seven minute exercise can be done nearly anywhere, including at work while at your desk, with zero impact. The complete Shapely Secrets program provides visible results in two weeks.”

Sounds like something that would be pretty appealing to any busy mom, so I decided to give it a test run for you. Background: I am a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor who runs for fun, and it sounds kind of bogus to me. My first thoughts before trying it? Anything’s better than nothing, so if this is someone’s draw into the world of exercise then that’s great, and perhaps it would be great for someone who’s on bedrest or wheelchair bound. The founder, “world-renowned fitness expert Greer Childers” (of whom I have never heard even though I’m in the field) is, quite frankly, slightly plastic looking. She’s orange too, which is a little scary. However, given that it has the potential to be a success for bedrest mamas and the older and differently-abled population, I’ll certainly give it a try.

Thought I’d better get that typed out before I try the system. Back in two weeks!

I’m back. Did you miss me?

So, Shapely Secrets uses Diametric Resistance™ techniques to work muscle against muscle. “This means the simple act of tightening and releasing the muscles in your arms, legs, buns and thighs (either while standing up, sitting or lying down) actually gives you a full body workout and, combined with a healthy diet, helps shed inches—without using weights or cumbersome gym equipment.”

This is true – it’s actually known as isometric or static muscle contraction. Imagine trying to lift something really heavy that you can’t budge. Your muscles contract and you’re pulling, but no movement is happening. That’s the type of “exercise” that this system is based on. I say “exercise” in quotes because I don’t want you to think that this is all you need. Isometric contractions do, actually, work to increase strength without bulk but do not burn enough calories to encourage weight loss on their own and do nothing to increase your cardiovascular fitness.

I tried the workout several times so as to be able to give you a (hopefully) objective review. Admittedly, I’m negatively biased against anything that lures people into thinking losing weight is easy, but I’ll do my best to be fair.

The workout is, indeed, seven minutes long. I don’t care who you are – you have seven minutes to dedicate to yourself. For that alone, this program may be great for some busy parent who would otherwise do no exercise at all. Combine it with a fast walk with your children or alone and you’ve got an easy & decent workout.

The program comes with Greer’s “7 Secrets to Being Thin and Shapely” pamphlet as well as a DVD of the program and a cheap little case to keep it all together. The case itself makes me angry. It’s cheap piece of made-in-China crap that they’re selling separately for twenty bucks. You could find a similar one at any dollar store, so don’t fall for it. Take it if you get it free with the program, but don’t pay for it.

The workout is easy, and would be great for someone who has no home equipment or is housebound. New mom, perhaps? However, it’s not something I can recommend you go and buy right now. It’s just a little too “infomercial” for my liking, and we all know how those things tend to work out. (Except the PedEgg – that rocks!) I’m not saying it wouldn’t work for you. I’m just saying it’s not “the” answer. “The” answer isn’t actually a secret. Eat less and exercise more. The program itself is certainly decent if you’re looking for something simple, quick & easy. It’s the fact that they promote a pamphlet and a cheap bag as being something special that ticks me off.

Shapely Secrets is available online for $43. If you want to give it a try, there’s a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. So if it sounds like something you want to try, you’ve really go nothing to lose!

Win it! Shapely Secrets is giving FIVE winners a chance to try out the system. To enter to win, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, September 25, 2009.

Wow, I am seriously slow. But CONTEST CLOSED AND WINNERS FINALLY EMAILED!

Ditch it – it’s a Cinch!

The Cinch by Anew is a much more beautiful and more cleverly designed tummy wrap like the docs used in the good old days. It comes in two sizes, 26-34” or 33-42”. It uses dual front panels and double side wings for all around cinching, yet is comfortable enough to be work all day or night long. The panels are adjustable so it shrinks as you shrink, and your shrinkage (heh) is easy to see with the inner measuring tape. It looks at first like it would be a little claustrophobic & sweaty but it’s not at all – it’s got a moisture absorbent and breathable inner lining with Anion to promote better circulation.

The Cinch features a front inner pocket feature to fit a warm/cold pack insert, and a side zipper allows for ease of wear. There are some ugly tummy wraps on the market, but that’s not something that’s even on the radar for the Cinch. It’s absolutely gorgeous! Starting at the packaging, no detail was excluded. It comes on a hanger as pictured at right, which is draped in a stylish silver satin bag. When you get it all unwrapped and opened, the Cinch itself is very pretty. It comes in two greys – a light and a dark – and pink and sells for $86 at the Cinch site.

Though I haven’t seen them first hand, Anew appears to have some potentially great clothing too. A shirt that sucks in my stomach for me? I’ll give that a shot!

Win it! A cinch in your choice of size & colour is up for grabs. To enter, choose your specs here and comment before noon mst on September 26, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED – Congrats Michelle!

Let’s just say that we’re HUGE music fans around here. Whether that means me trying to play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on the piano with four little hands banging on the keys, or whether it means listening to a new CD…whatever it is, if it’s music we’ll most likely love it! Our most recent find is the Dreyer Family Band CD. The story behind this CD is great – twin brothers with their wives and kids having a dream and coming up with a fabulous kid-friendly and family friendly set of songs. All the songs are original and are composed by the family themselves. And of course they are all sung and accompanied by the moms, dads, or kids. Family time is so important so what a great way smack together two of the most important things – family and music! Although the style of music wasn’t exactly my favorite…my kids still loved it though! However, I loved all the lyrics and the fact that the songs were so fun and so family oriented. That outweighs the style of music for me by far. And there’s no doubt about it that the Dreyer Family Band knows how to have fun (just check out the photos on their website).The Dreyer Family Band’s first CD – Family Photograph is great for a road trip or for listening to at home. Check it out here. – by Andrea

Win it! We’re giving away a copy to one randomly selected reader. Just comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, September 11, 2009 and you’re entered.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

The folks from Welcome Books recently sent us advance reading copies of their four new books; THE BIG BOOK FOR TODDLERS, THE LITTLE BIG BOOK FOR GRANDMOTHERS, THE BOOK OF ME, and THE LITTLE BIG BOOK FOR DADS.

THE BIG BOOK FOR TODDLERS ($25) is a book for all the little tykes in the world. It celebrates the wonder of youth and is filled with material guaranteed to occupy, fascinate, and delight little ones of all backgrounds and interests and parents will be reminded of the songs they sang and games they played with their own parents many years ago. There are activities (like Hand Puppets, Bubbles, Paper Dolls, and Finger Games), fairy tales (like The Three Little Pigs and The Ugly Duckling), nursery rhymes (like One, Two, Buckle My Shoe and Old Mother Hubbard), songs, games, and jokes. The Big Book for Toddlers is destined to become a well-thumbed classic in no time at all. This is one sample we won’t be donating because my kids and I use it literally every day.

THE LITTLE BIG BOOK FOR GRANDMOTHERS ($25) is a book devoted to grandmothers and all that they mean to a grandchild’s life. It’s packed with enchanting vintage artwork that illuminates a broad selection of grandmother stories, fairy tales, nursery rhymes, poems, songs, old-fashioned games, activities, and recipes. This book would make an awesome gift from the grandkids for any occasion – including “Hey, you’re going to be a Grandma!” day.

THE BOOK OF ME ($19) is a classic baby book that’s taken a little bit further. There’s a spot for each adorable smile and an inspiring quote for each memorable moment; the perfect place to record all the essentials about Baby’s arrival, family tree, milestones, and accomplishments. Unlike many other baby books on the market, this one extends itself further to capture the simple, everyday moments as well. Record the silly things that make Baby giggle in “That’s Funny” with pictures of wide-open smiles. Capture the dreams and thoughts Dad or Mom has as he or she stares in wonder at peacefully sleeping Baby in “Sweet Dreams.” And don’t forget that not all memorable moments are sweet ones, so whatever gets Baby really going can be remembered in “I’m Mad!” Since we all know you won’t have time to scrapbook, I’d suggest this as a more feasible option.

THE LITTLE BIG BOOK FOR DADS ($22) is a great piece full of stories, fairy tales, poetry, activities, recipes, and songs – all selected with the dad in mind. Featuring text by authors such as Bill Cosby, Shel Silverstein, Ogden Nash, and Dr. Seuss, The Little Big Book for Dads makes for a special reading experience to be shared between dad and a little one. It’s filled with activities to while away the hours together, including making sandcastles and identification games; jokes, riddles, and great tongue twisters to laugh over; and even some fun (albeit junky) stuff to try in the kitchen with the kids. All in all, it’s a book any daddy would love to receive – especially if it was received as a gift from their child.

Win it! We’re giving away ALL FOUR of these books to TWO readers. Every baby needs a baby book; and we hope that each one has a dad and at least one grandma and each child eventually turns into a toddler, so why not make it all or nothing? To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, September 4, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

If you are a mom, you have stories. Big stories, little stories…but you are most definitely full of stories. The very, very first story emits from the first time you see the two pink lines on the pregnancy test (or hear your physician say, “You’re pregnant.”). See? Every mom has a story!

I have stories and memories resounding and reverberating in my head all day long. Instances are brought to mind several times each day, springing up to consciousness in the midst of my daily duties. The problem is this: How to stream all of these memories, stories, scenarios? How to channel them into cohesiveness and get it down on paper for posterity? Therein lies the problem.

Whether you don’t have time or you aren’t sure how, recording your motherhood-based stories may seem impossible and impractical. For you and me, though, there’s help….thanks to Cori Howard and her Momoir Project.

The Momoir Project is the brainchild of Howard, an award-winning journalist whose passion for writing goes beyond her past profession. She formerly published Between Interruptions: Thirty Women Tell the Truth About Motherhood, an anthology of stories by moms and about all-things-motherhood. The Momoir Project is an extension of that effort….a way to help all moms out there figure out how to write down their lives, how to record their experiences (from the mundane to the extraordinary).

Howard offers actual writing classes for moms, as well as online seminars. Brand new, however, is a condensed e-book, The Momoir Workbook, that can be purchased and printed out. It allows you to learn and work independently at your “momoir,” setting your own pace and exploring at your own leisure the writing yet to bloom from your experiences.

The workbook teaches the importance of carrying around a notebook at all times, how to realize what your own unique story really is, and reminds you to remember who your audience is. It goes back to the basics and teaches you how to brainstorm anecdotes, write leads, composes theses, formulate the body, and close your story neatly in a bound ending.

Every chapter in the e-book offers a writing prompt that will set your creativity and memory bank ablaze. There’s also a call to record in writing the random conversations (or Q&As) you have with your children. I found this especially endearing, since I am consistently trying to write down (or email, or text, or Twitter) my children’s quizzical ponderings or hilarious realizations that they frequently vocalize.

Last but not least, great tips for actually finding time for writing and keeping up with it once you’ve begun wrap up this instructional, inspiration e-book.

You can purchase The Memoir Workbook (in PDF format) directly from The Momoir Project’s website. The cost is $32.95 in US dollars and $34.95 in Canadian Dollars. This book is certainly an investment in the things that matter most — penning and remembering these precious days with our little ones, the angst, trials, and decision-making along the way, and as moms, recording our hopes and dreams for the future (both ours and theirs).

Win it! We’re giving away a copy to one reader who comments before noon mst on September 4, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

This summer, Hallmark is focused on helping people spread encouragement to both moms and to children. I don’t know about you, but there are many days when receiving one of these cards from a friend would have the ability to change my day. Maybe even week.

As mothers, we experience many moments that can only be fully appreciated by other moms. To help encourage moms through the day-to-day challenges of motherhood – and give a few laughs along the way – Hallmark has introduced a new line of humor cards called “Edge of Motherhood.” These new, edgy humor cards can help moms share a laugh, connect with one another and celebrate motherhood — and they start at just 99 cents. Some styles of the “Edge of Motherhood” cards are available online at hallmark.com, but the full collection is only in stores.

For kids, Hallmark’s new collection of encouragement cards are designed to help parents provide an extra boost of confidence for kids as they experience “everyday” moments – whether it’s the first day of school, trying out for a team or even just because they’re loved. They’re cute & funny and include heartfelt messages to help adults show support and pride, and give a special child a boost of confidence. Some of the cards include originally recorded sound clips too, which play when a child opens the card. These cards also start at 99 cents, and the ones with sound are $2.99.

Both collections of cards are available at select Hallmark Gold Crown stores and other retailers where Hallmark cards are sold.

Win it! FIVE winners will receive five of the Edge of Motherhood cards and five of the kid encouragement cards (with sound). To enter, just leave a comment on this post before noon mst on September 1, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Confession: I’ve never been able to wear a pouch sling. They just don’t fit me right. Something about there not being enough room for both a baby and my boobs. I love me a ring sling, though, and have found another great one to share with you.

Baby Bean is a mom-run business out of Hong Kong that makes some super cool jewelery that we can’t get it we’re not in Hong Kong and the Bean Pod sling that’s available worldwide. I was sent the the orange and brown dots for review and love it. Not only is it super cute, but it’s SO light & airy. 100% cotton is the way to go if you’re carrying a child in the heat. It’s 30+ degrees here right now and there’s no sweating. Well, no extra carrier-induced sweating, anyway.

They’re padded on the shoulder to cushion the weight of the baby and reduce the strain on the carrier’s shoulder, and even with my 25 lb kids it’s pretty darn comfortable. One side of the sling is sewn in green thread to make it easy to know which side to pull/release in order to adjust the tension of the sling. It comes in a pouch which is equipped with a clip that can be easily hooked on the rings or the eye inside the shoulder pad for easy access of keys, wallets, or soothers. Quite brilliant, I’d say! The rings are no-weld constructed solid aluminum and are tested to hold up to 250 pounds. If you’re carrying someone that heavy, you’ve got bigger problems than your carrier holding.

Win it! Choose your sling and leave a comment before noon mst on Aug 31, 2009 to enter.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Just in time for back to school, the 30+ degree weather has finally hit. It’s time to put away the rain hats and pull out the oh-so-cute summer bonnet from Alberta based Chic Peek.

Echo Wells, a Medicine Hat mama, designer & entrepreneur, designed these hats with both function and fashion in mind. They cover the child’s entire head and many have a large extended bonnet-style peak that provides shade for their delicate face. The sample bonnet we received (pictured) makes my daughter look like a little pioneer girl! (We’ll be donating it, as we do with 90% of our samples, to a deserving child at our local shelter or another charity.)

There are currently twenty-four styles available and they vary in pattern and style. There are some awesome boy patterns, which are often hard to find, and some decidedly non-pioneer styles for the girls too.They’re sized from newborn to four years, and retail for $28.99.

Chic Peek makes functional, fashionable.

Mention T.O.P. for a 10% refund on any order from Chic Peek.
Beautiful tutus, chic nursing covers, clips, hats, headbands, chic legwarmers, carseat covers, the best Buggie Hugs ever (for two kids!) and so much more.

This code is just one of many in our infamous TOP Shops, where you’ll find exclusive discount codes for some pretty darn awesome online shops.

Win it! Chic Peek is giving one T.O.P. reader their choice of summer bonnet. To enter, just take your pick and leave a comment before noon mst on August 31, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

TOP fave EcoBaby Canada isn’t just for eco-babies. Canadian mama of four, Andrea, carries a large selection of products for the green-leaning mom as well. Andrea is running for the Savvy Mom Entrepreneur of the Year and I happen to think she totally deserves it!

I’ve been checking out the LunaPads intro kit (Canadian made too!) It’s an introductory kit that allows you to try both pads (for light and average flow) and pantyliners (for daily needs or very light flow). It contains 1 Maxi Pad, 1 Maxi Liner, 1 Maxi Wing Liner, 1 Mini Pad, 1 Mini Liner, 1 Mini Wing Liner, 1 Mini Pantyliner and 1 Teeny Pantyliner in assorted colours. It sells for $57.99 and can save both you and the earth in the long run. Just think of the money you spend on feminine hygiene products between the teen years and menopause, and how much of it ends up in our landfills and sewers. If we get our young women started with eco-friendly products like those available from EcoBaby Canada, so much of that could be prevented.

I’ll admit I was a little leery of using these (and I’m still terrified of the Diva Cup!) but actually they’re pretty darn awesome! They can just go in with the regular laundry (not your cloth diapers – Andera says the flannel can make them pill) and come out just as good as new. If the thought grosses you out, be flexible – a little goes a long way when it comes to being green. Use a LunaPads liner with a regular tampon or Diva Cup, or even just use them on light flow days. Every little bit helps!

We’re giving a Luna Pads intro kit away to one reader (worldwide) courtesy of Eco Baby Canada. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on August 31, 2009.

CANADIAN residents, get TWO extra entries! Please go VOTE for Andrea in the Savvy Mom Entrepreneur of the Year contest – leave your email address (the one you voted with) in the form with your second comment and you’re entered two more times.

Additional entries are always available in T.O.P. contests. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

We love paint programs. From the time my children could grasp a mouse (or their daddy’s PDA stylus), they’ve been asking to “draw pictures on the computer.” I realize that drawing on a computer screen is significantly different than drawing with pencil and paper. Different motor skills are necessary, and there is a different type of steadiness and patience required. But video games can be a great learning tool when you find the right one.

What happens when an easy-to-maneuver paint program becomes integrated with a problem-solving, creative challenge on top of an early reading practice tool? ItzaBitza happens, that’s what!

We were asked to review ItzaBitza by Sabi and jumped at the chance. Just one glance through at their website had me convinced. What I wasn’t expecting was how jovial and fun the music is, how utterly loveable the girl and boy characters (“Sketchies”) are, and how interactive (and smart) the game is!

The first time my son tested out ItzaBitza was right before bedtime (in lieu of a story one night). He caught on to the game rules immediately — and was amazed at how incredibly FUN it was! He giggled over little things (like how he could click on the mailbox to make letters come flying out). It was nearly impossible to convince him to put it away until the next morning, then settle down and go to sleep. Long after I left his room, I could hear himself talking to himself and laughing about what he’d seen in the game. I smiled. I really, really like ItzaBitza. And believe me, so does he.

With “living ink” technology, the simple shapes your child draws on the “paper” screen fill in and become “alive.” When asked to draw a house, your child draws a square and a triangle, then the Sketchy comes over to ask where are the windows and doors. Brilliant! It teaches simple following of directions while allowing for the flexibility of creativity and whimsy.

(And if your child draws something that doesn’t quite fit into place or isn’t quite was asked for, the line(s) simply cut up into pieces and fall away.)

The words that the Sketchies say to your child show up in speech bubbles. When your child mouses over the words, the Sketchy says them aloud. Early reading skills are thus sharpened in an unoffensive, gentle way.

Each time your child completes a task, a star appears. Click on the star to receive more challenges, which increases problem solving skills and divergent thinking abilities.

ItzaBitza is available for download onto your Windows XP or Vista computer. At only $19.99, it’s an absolute steal. For the price (and even a higher one), in my opinion, there aren’t many finer educational (all the while fun) games out there for preschoolers and early elementary-aged children.

ItzaBitza gets two enthusiastic thumbs up from our family! - By Meg

Win it! We’re giving Itza Bitza to one lucky family. Comment here before Friday 8/21/09 noon to enter!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Another newcomer to the fabulous Putumayo Kids Playground series, European Playground is a collection of 15 songs that takes the listener on a musical tour through Europe. With the rich cultural variety of this expansive continent, (almost 50 countries, each with its own unique culture, history, traditions, food and music), the range of music on this CD is not-surprisingly pretty awesome. The songs are multi-genre and multilingual songs, easy to sing and dance along to, and just a whole lot of fun.

From Putumayo: “The song themes speak to children’s interests and spark their imaginations. The Swiss tune by Roland Zoss is about a magical land where teddy bears come to life. Sås & Kopp sing in Swedish about jumping on a trampoline with friends in the backyard, and German favorite Alex Schmeisser celebrates the friendship between a big cow and a little mouse. Alain Le Lait highlights the French love of good food while London-based Herbie Treehead explores a universal theme in a fresh new way with his “Change Song,” noting, “We all have to change sometimes!””

Nothing less than what I’ve come to expect from Putumayo & Putumayo Kids.

Win it! Want it? Leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, August 14, 2009. All giveaways held during this “TOP Music Week” will end on Friday at noon.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

We love every CD from Putumayo that we’ve ever heard, whether for kids or not, but the kids Playground series is extra super awesome for children.

Picnic Playground “provides a veritable feast of international songs about food, cooking and healthy eating in a global gumbo of musical styles and languages.” The first track, “Eat Like a Rainbow” introduces the same idea we reinforce at our house – eat every colour and a variey of flavours every day – and it’s followed by a selection of fun & upbeat & utterly danceable songs from Cuba, Denmark, Oz, France, Germany, Trinidad and even Canada! “The artists sing so joyously about delicious food that you can almost taste it.” Whether you’re craving a “Bowl of Cherries,” “Ice Cream” , or cookies (“Let’s Bake Cookies”), there’s something on this album for every palate. (quotes all from Putumayo)

Win it! Want it? Leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, August 14, 2009. All giveaways held during this “TOP Music Week” will end on Friday at noon.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

When the CD Robot Dance from Mr. Leebot showed up in my mailbox to review, all I could think of was Styx for weeks every time I walked by the CD sitting in my entryway awaiting it’s turn in the stereo. (Seriously, if you were a child of the 80′s, you must click.)

Anyhoo…once Mr. Leebot‘s ROBOT DANCE (currently out of stock at Amazon) but available from CD Baby) finally made it into a player, I forgot all about that awesome decade and…started dancing like a robot. Yes, you read that right. I looked like an idiot, but I couldn’t stop. Soon both of my kids were doing makeshift robotics alongside me and we were all cracking up. It’s just as you’d imagine it would be – electro-pop with an undeniable 80′s flair. It’s completely different than anything else we own. Perhaps the missing genre of kids music?

So thank you very much (English translation of “domo arigato”), Mr. Leebot, for a very enjoyable CD!

Win it! Want it? Leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, August 14, 2009. All giveaways held during this “TOP Music Week” will end on Friday at noon.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

That’s how Hullabaloo describes themselves, and it’s perfect. I’d just add the word “Cowboy” in there somewhere. Their new CD, High Roller, is one of my kids’ new favourites. It’s a brand new release and doesn’t seem to be available for purchase quite yet, but you can get a listen here at watch for it at CD Baby or Amazon if you like what you hear. It’s so new that I couldn’t even track down a picture. For shame!

The music on High Roller is definitely folky, which I love, but a little too twangy country for my taste…however, my kids love it and all of my country loving friends love it too and convinced me to share it with you. They drew inspiration from Woody Guthrie and Johnny Cash, but don’t let that turn you off. Even my country music hating self was dancing right along with the kids by the third track. With classics like “Oh, Susanna!” and “This Land is Your Land” as well as some awesome originals like the title track “High Roller,” if you’re a country music fan this CD is one that you’ll find yourself pulling out of the case and actually suggesting to your kids. Unlike the Wiggles one.

Win it! Want it? Leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, August 14, 2009. All giveaways held during this “TOP Music Week” will end on Friday at noon.

We love classic wooden toys and, though our house is still overrun by plastic, we try our best to find and buy as many non-toxic items as we can.

Our latest fave is the Maple Landmark Spinny Speller from Canadian company Go Green Baby. It consists of three four-sided blocks that spin to make 3 dozen simple consonant-vowel-consonant words. It’s great for developing and challenging early reading skills, is constructed of hardwood construction and is 5″ long. It’s recommended for children aged 3 and up. My three year old son digs his, and though he can easily read all of the word sit makes he still has fun creating rhyming words and is trying to teach his sister how easy it is to sound out words and create word families – that alone is worth the price! It’s only $9 so makes an easy & inexpensive addition to your preschooler’s toybox, and a great addition to a birthday or Christmas gift.

The Spinny Speller and so many more cool things are available from Ontario based Go Green Baby.

Win it! We’re giving away a Spinny Speller to a randomly selected reader. To enter, visit Go Green Baby and let us know one or two of your favourite items or things you’d like to see reviewed before noon mst on August 19, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Since we got our Wii & Wii Fit, we haven’t played them nearly as much as we thought we would. In fact, it just might have an embarrassing layer of dust on it. I blame it on having small children who aren’t allowed to touch expensive electronics. However, we recently received a few cool items to go along with our Wii that have brought it back in to our repertoire.

The NERF Sports Pack ($19.99) includes add-ons for Baseball, Golf, and Tennis that are coated in that great & well loved NERF material that protects both your head and your big screen tv. I love that these games actually came with our Wii so we could play with them right away without buying anything else. All of these games are way more fun when you have the right equipment instead of just a Wii-mote. Who knew? The NERF Racing Wheel (only $9.99) makes driving super fun and much safer. It actually inspired me to let the three year old drive, which means we no longer have to wait until after bedtime to break out the games! I would never have played or bought Mario Kart if I didn’t have to try out this wheel, and now it’s my fave!

Energizer Power & Play Wii 4X Charger ($39.99) offers Wii users the ability to charge up to 4 Wii-motes with or without the wrist-strap via conduction technology. If you have more than two remotes, you MUST get one of these! It’s pretty awesome to know you’ll all be able to play together with fully charged remotes any time. It comes with 4 rechargeable battery packs, 4 battery covers and a power cord. If you’ve only got two remotes, check out the very cool Energizer Power & Play Wii Induction Charger ($49.99). It charges 2 Wii-motes at once without removing the silicone jacket or your Wii Motion Plus attachment and comes with 2 rechargeable battery packs, 2 battery covers and a power cord.

Performance Designed Products (PDP) is an industry leader in designing and manufacturing products for all major video game platforms including the Sony PS2, PS3, PSP, Nintendo Wii, GameCube, Nintendo DS, Microsoft XBOX and XBOX 360. The company has been supplying video game accessories to the U.S. market for more than a decade. PDP sells products under a variety of brands, with sales in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and throughout Europe. For more information on PDP and its products, visit www.pdp.com.

Win it! We’re giving away all FOUR of these great products for the Wii to one T.O.P. reader! To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on August (holy crap! August?) 19, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

The Seattle-based trio of schoolteachers known as Recess Monkey has recently released their first DVD as a companion to their newest CD, ‘Field Trip.’ The ‘Field Trip‘ CD happens to be my kids’ current fave in the van (and one of mine, too, which is why it has stayed in there for a few months), so they were thrilled to receive a copy of the DVD.

It features several music videos based on songs from ‘Field Trip,’ live concert footage and a “wild and wacky array of segments” that are sure to entertain children of all ages. My 18 month old, my three year old and a visiting ten year old all danced and sang along and thoroughly enjoyed it…(and so did I, but shhhhhh!)

These guys teach preschool through grade two so they TOTALLY know who they’re catering to with their music – and it shows.

Win it! Want it? Leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, August 14, 2009. All giveaways held during this “TOP Music Week” will end on Friday at noon.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

My kids aren’t in school yet, but it’s bound to happen before long. I am the lunch-note writing type and often add a note to my husband’s napkin so I know I’ll want to include something special for my kids when they head off to school. I absolutely love the idea of PenPal Notes. They’re educational lunch notes that were created by parents looking to inspire reading and, I have to assume, wanting to connect with their child while they’re away at school.

Currently there are seven sets in the series. They follow Tej, a young panda, as he embarks on his many adventures of learning. Whether they’re interested in dinosaurs, food or travel, when you pack these cards into your child’s lunch box (with a personal note on the back, of course) they can accompany Tej across time and the globe. Each series contains 20-40 illustrated lunch notes and a set of fun stamp stickers. You can check out all of the sets and seen the contents up close here. They sell for ten bucks a set – a small investment for the amount of learning that will happen and the excitement you’ll hear in your child’s voice as they tell you about what they learned from Tej that day.

Win it! We’re giving away all of the great Pen Pal Notes to one lucky winner! To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on Friday, July 31, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

August is the month with the highest number of births according to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and plenty of soon-to-be mommies are busy “nesting” and preparing for their long-awaited bundles of joy.

In addition to all the pink or blue decorations, new parents have plenty of home safety precautions to check off their lists. A a reminder to all of you to check over your home for some very important & potentially lifesaving safety items (whether you’re having a baby or not!), we’re giving away a great “Security Blanket” kit from First Alert® that’s filled with essential tools to help you keep your family safe.

The winner will receive First Alert Tundra™ Fire Extinguishing Spray (this looks so cool! and way easier than an extinguisher!), a First Alert SA710 Photoelectric Sensor Smoke Alarm, a First Alert CO 400 Battery-operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm, a Cordzilla bungee-like stretch rope to secure items in closets or garages (super cool!) and a Crawford Duramount Multi-purpose Arm Hook to safely store strollers or other heavy objects in a storage room or garage.

To enter to win this kit valued at over $100, leave a comment on this post before noon this Friday (July 31, 2009).

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I recently received some samples of products from Seventh Generation, a Burlington, VT based company that is well known for their full line of non-toxic household products. Where in the past we’d have had to search far & wide to find such products, I can now get them in my local grocery store. (Only one of the ten stores in town, but at least they’re at one!) I have been using several 7th Gen products for a few years and was just as happy with the new (to me) ones I have been using for the past couple of weeks.

I was especially thrilled with the chlorine free diapers and wipes. I’d considered buying them when I fell off the cloth bandwagon but had concerns about their absorbency & comfort. I was pleasantly surprised by our experience with them. While they’re not quite as cushy as a chemical saturated diaper, they work wonderfully and the natural taupe colour is shockingly adorable.

Of all the cleaners I tried, the kitchen cleaner is my favourite. The wild orange & cedar spice scent is so mild it’s barely noticeable and it works great in all areas of the kitchen, including the sticky floors in a pinch. While I try to use Norwex cloths whenever possible, sometimes I am desperate or am cleaning something that I really don’t want on my cloths and I resort to paper towels and I’m digging the recycled & die free rolls from 7th Gen. It’s very green to be brown, you know.

Coupons for 7th Gen products are available here, and be sure to check out their awesome label reading guide (also available as a free iPhone app!)

Win it! We’ve got a bunch of 7th Gen products to give away, all packaged in a reusable shopping bag. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 31, 2009. If you’re so inclined, please share your favourite eco-friendly cleaning products, recipes and tips for all to enjoy!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Do you have a front loading washer? Why is it that they start to smell when left closed up more than a top loader does? Frankly, it’s a little gross. A stinky washing machine does not make the unpleasant task of laundry any nicer. You may not have noticed it yet, but go away for a few weeks and forget to leave the washer door ajar and you’ll soon know what I’m talking about.

I used all natural Smelly Washer in mine and the smell is completely gone. It only too a tablespoon so I have lots left for those rare monthly at least weekly times when I forget the laundry in the wash and it reeks by the time I get to it.

If you’re as forgetful as I am, you can get some helpful odor removal tips from Smelly Washer, and then order your own washer cleaner. The first load you leave in there too long will make it more than worth your while. Smelly Washer is fab for my front loader, but supposedly works just as well in top loading machines and can be used to maintain freshness too – no need to wait until it’s nasty!

Formerly Purewasher, the Smelly Washer company has removed all scents and dyes to conform with all natural product standards. It sells for $16.99 + $5.00 S&H from the Smelly Washer website.

Save 10% with the code theopinionatedparent.

Win it! We’re giving away two bottles of Smelly Washer! To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 28, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

I’m a bona fide accessory addict and am just absolutely THRILLED with the selection of products from Itty Bitty Bowtique.

Denise is a work at home mom of two who loves her clips & bows to be “Sweet & Petite ~ Just Like Your Princess!” All of her bows and clippies measure 4 inches and under so your little one can make an entrance without her bow entering the room before she does. She uses only high quality ribbon and embellishments for all of her products, including genuine Swarovski crystals. All ribbons, buttons and other embellishments are mounted securely to the clip or barrette using a non-toxic adhesive. Her petite bows are hand-sewn in the center to allow for years of wear.

There are two things that I feel make Itty Bitty Bowtique stand out among the throngs of moms making bows these days. First of all, everything is made-to-order which allows Denise to add custom details that you won’t find at boutique stores. If you don’t see what you want, Denise will gladly make it or add it for you if she can! Second is her incredible selection. Look down the left hand side of her site and choose from over 20 categories! (Among them, we really love Bugs, Tuxedo Bows & Streamers, but I could really go on forever so you’d better go look for yourself! My own daughter and Nicole’s daughter (Nicole, the quintessential opinionated parent of T.O.P. fame who brings us all of these great finds) have been wearing Itty Bitty Bowtique bows for a couple of weeks and have been stopped by friends and strangers alike who want to know where we got the awesome accessories. I have bought several hand covered headbands in the past from local markets and have never seen any as well made as the headbands from Itty Bitty Bowtique. There are bows that match perfectly and the combination is cute enough to melt you on the spot. The bands are lined with a velcro strip to keep them in place and it works wonderfully & never wears out. All of the items at Itty Bitty Bowtique are very reasonably priced – I’d never be able to even make them for those prices with my lack-of-craftiness – and I highly recommend everything I’ve seen from this awesome store. - By Andrea M.

Win it! We’ve got a HUGE selection of products from Itty Bitty Bowtique to give to one winner, including bows from all of the categories and headbands with matching bows! To enter, visit Itty Bitty Bowtique and comment with your fave(s) before noon mst on July 24, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED.

As a mom of two young kids, I am well aware of the struggles parents face when out and about. When my kids reluctantly get in our double stroller, I struggle with places to put anything we purchase or need to pack along with us once the tiny basket is full. My new solution is the Mighty Buggy Hook from Think King which attaches easily and sturdily with strong velcro and features a strong and lightweight aluminum hook that won’t break, even when you hang as many heavy bags as you can fit on there and then your three year old hangs from them. Trust me on that one. It fits more bags than you’d think because the hook is a deep U shape, and because there’s no clip like the standard carabiner, they’re easy to get off with one hand when you need them. They’re nice and short so the bags are close to stroller and would have to be awfully long before they’d drag or get in the way.

Even more than on my stroller, I love my buggy hooks for grocery shopping. I have two kids that need to be contained, so they take up both the seat and the basket of the cart. There are only so many things you can tuck around them before they start to complain, so we were all thrilled when we discovered that my Buggy Hooks were a perfect fit for the sides of the cart and each easily hold a couple of large full bags of groceries. Thank you, King, for saving me an hour of listening to two children whining from under the vegetables each week.

Buggy Hooks come 2 in a pack and sell for $14.99 from the Think King site.

(We reviewed the other product from Think King, the amazing Buggy Cup here.)

Win it! We’re giving away a two pack of Buggy Hooks to one reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 22, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

It doesn’t matter how long I’ve had children of my own or a classroom full of toys. Every time I talk about “playing with your balls” I giggle like a twelve year old boy.

Cleaning up your balls just got easier and a lot better looking with the Ball Claw. For just over ten bucks, you can mount a basketball, volleyball, soccer ball or football just about anywhere – the garage wall, living room, the ceiling, a pole or even in your vehicle trunk, and it’s super easy to do with the included hardware. Whether you’re cleaning up your garage or displaying collectibles. the Ball Claw is a super cool, easy & convenient way to do it.

Win it! We’re giving away ONE ball claw – your choice – to one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post stating which one you want before noon mst this Friday, July 17, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

New moms and babies get an overwhelming number of gifts, and often the father is slightly neglected. While I’m sure they don’t mind, I can’t think of any new dad who wouldn’t want to receive a copy of Being Dad or Being Dad 2 from Seedsman Group (click through to see more awesome looking titles).

Being Dad features 40 regular dads and 6 experts who guide you through topics ranging from conception through birth and everything in between, including finance, sex, premature birth, labor and what not to say to your wife. It’s funny, emotional, and a great tool for helping dads (and moms) be better prepared, more relaxed and inspired about pregnancy, birth and parenthood.

Being Dad 2 brings back some of the same dads for a follow up that documents how their dynamic has changed since baby’s arrival. It covers many of the things we all know are going to happen but live in denial until they actually do – being left alone with your child, sleep deprivation, routines, returning to work, and even includes a few tips on what not to do. It includes a men’s take on breasts as milk bags, which is kind of entertaining for someone whose husband is rather a lactivist. In addition to all of that, Being Dad 2 also follows the stories of single fathers, a group of people who are endlessly fascinating to me for some reason. Single parents are heroic in many cases.

Either or both of these DVD’s would make great shower or “Congrats!” gifts for a daddy-to-be.

Win it! We’ve got a copy of each of these DVD’s for one randomly selected winner. To enter, just leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 20, 2009. Don’t forget – you can always get up to 4 additional entries!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I’ve had this gem sitting in my huge-and-ever-growing pile of review books for a few months and, though it wasn’t at the top yet, the colour caught my eye as I was choosing some new bedtime reading material. I’m glad it did! Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife: All the Dishes You’ll Need to Make from the Day You Say “I Do” Until Death (or Divorce) Do You Part by Nava Atlas is a quick read and it’s just the light & funny thing I needed this week.

With cool retro art and a lot of snark, it contains recipes like “Beans ‘n’ Weenies of Sexual Tension” and “Soufflé of Fallen Expectations” to entertain you. There are chapters full of Recipes for Accommodation, Recipes for Trouble, Recipes for Disaster and Recipes for Reconciliation and Romance. While this book may be funnier if you have a tense marriage or like to laugh at men rather than with them, any woman with a sense of humour would surely enjoy it. It ends a little happier, with A Fairly Satisfactory Family Stew and Happily-Ever-After Ambrosia. Hopefully you’re all leaning more toward the ‘happily ever after.’ At least, that’s our wish for you. That, and a good dose of snark once in a while.

Win it!We’re giving away a copy! To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 17, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Picaflor Kids is a company that I’d heard of here and there in a positive light, but had never really explored at all because they JUST expanded their website to include online sales. (I know! Can you imagine?) When my daughter’s beautiful coral knit Melissa Dress arrived in the mail, I was delighted to see that that positive light continues to shine, and may even have gotten brighter. The knit is super soft and drapes beautifully, even on an ever-moving child. The colour is vibrant and the style is adorable with the slight butterfly sleeves and rouched empire waist.

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Picaflor (“hummingbird” in Spanish) uses thoughtful fabrics and small-scale production to create a unique collection of knitwear that is designed for busy little wings. Nancy Coronado, founder and designer, has established a relationship with a family-owned clothing maker in her home country of Peru. Picaflor is strongly committed to fair-trade practices, and is proud to give back to a variety of organizations.

Picaflor is available for both boys and girls, in sizes Preemie through 7/8y.

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Save 10% with the code opinionatedparentfan at checkout time and Picaflor is also currently offering Free Shipping on all orders!

Win it! We’re giving away a Melissa dress, valued at $42, to one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 15, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Though I’ve been breastfeeding for three and a half years, I’ve never been much of a pumper. Mostly because neither of my kids has ever agreed to take a bottle, and a little because it sounds like work. I have huge admiration for pumping moms who can’t breastfeed for one reason or another but still give their child the gift of breastmilk. Now that’s dedication.

New-ish mama Jennifer tested out a new product for pumping moms for us:

Simple Wishes, a company run by four sisters, has recently introduced the Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier. While at first glance it’s kind of silly looking, it’s actually an affordable and quality alternative to (1) sitting in a chair and holding two cones on your boobs or (2) the highly unflattering and fidgety products of similar function that have been on the market for the past few years.

The design of the Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier is quite innovative, with adjustable straps and the option to be worn many different ways to ensure a flattering fit no matter how full a woman’s breasts are at any given time. The two front zippers allow you to move the breast shields closer together or further apart by 2 inches, and the velcro back panel allows you to adjust the ribcage band size by a full 10 inches, creating a perfect fit just for you. It’s designed with elastic reinforcement at the top for a secure & slip-free fit, and it comes with two straps which can be worn in halter, tank or racerback style. The Bustier can be worn on it’s own or slipped over your nursing bra with the flaps pulled down. When you’re done pumping, you can just pop some nursing pads in and wear the Bustier all day long. It’s machine washable too! - by Jennifer

Win it! We’re giving away a Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier valued at $35 to one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 14, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED (Congrats Ammie! It’s so rare we’ve had winner who blog lately I had to throw a link in for you!)

No Starch is one of our favourite publishing companies – I think of them as publishers for geeks. (And that’s totally a compliment. I married one.)

Many of their books aren’t of the parenting variety and don’t really “fit” here, but are applicable to enough of our readers that we like to share them anyway. Two titles that we’d love to share with you today apply to anyone who shoots with a D-SLR camera and wants to learn to shoot in RAW, and for anyone who becomes an “accidental administrator” of a network, whether at home or at work.

The Art of RAW Conversion: How to Produce Art-Quality Photos with Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Leading RAW Converters by Uwe Steinmueller and Jürgen Gulbins is a practical and beautifully illustrated guide that explains the advantages of working with RAW files (the digital equivalent of film negatives) and then how to use RAW converters to create the best digital image from each shot. It covers all of today’s most popular and innovative RAW converters, such as Photoshop Camera RAW, RawShooter, Lightroom, and Aperture) and how to get the best results from each one. As an amateur photographer (aren’t we all?) who shoots in RAW aboult half the time, I am really enjoying this book. Rather than reading it cover to cover, I leave it by my computer and each time I work on a session I’ve shot in RAW I use it to gather new ideas and streamline my workflow. With D-SLR cameras being affordable for the average parent now, almost everyone has the ability to shoot in RAW but almost nobody knows what to do with the files once they’ve been created. Thanks to this great & easy to follow book, anyone who wants to work with RAW now can do so without too much effort.

Network Know-How: An Essential Guide for the Accidental Admin by John Ross is just awesome for parents whose family members have two or more computers, because it will show you step by step how to connect them together and to the internet. No matter which OS you use (Windows, Mac or Linux), you’ll learn how to implement network addressing, configure adapters, hubs, switches, and your router, share music, photos, and documents, automate household appliances and stream digital audio and video to your home entertainment center and troubleshoot network slowdowns and failures. Sound like Greek? It did to me too, until I read John’s book. If I can do it, so can you!

Win it! We’ve got copies of each of these books to give away. To enter, leave a comment on this post (a SEPARATE comment for each book, please, noting either NETWORK or RAW in your comment) before noon mst on July 9, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I admit to feeling a lot of envy toward people who live in the same location as their parents. I’d love for my kids to see their grandparents more often, but I count my blessings that the times they do have are fun and filled with tons of love. Being only a few hours away, we never have to go more than a month or two even during the busiest times of year – thank goodness. Whether children see their grandparents once a day or once a year, everyone wants those times to be memorable and positive.

The new book Super Granny: Great Stuff To Do With Your Grandkids (Sterling, March 2009), author and grandmother Sally Wendkos Olds presents a treasure trove of activities and ideas that help grandmothers connect and communicate with any grandchild. (Sorry Gramps, maybe your book is coming?) The book is a compilation of stories from real-life grandparents about what they do with their grandchildren to create memories on ordinary and extraordinary days. While there is the requisite chapter on knitting, it’s overshadowed by chapters on skiing, email and so many more ways to create those special connections with the generation once removed.

If you’re a grandmother, whether you’re babysitting to give parents a break, texting the grandkids from hundreds of miles away, or keeping them for a week at a time, this book has an idea or two for you. From infancy to adolescence, with something for the most computer-savvy granny and kid and also some more traditional projects, Super Granny has it all, and many of the ideas are free or practically free. It’s perfect for this economy!

I love the way the book compares grandmothering to mothering. According to Sally, grandmothers can concentrate on a child on child in an almost Zen way that mothers cannot. I’m pretty sure that’s because they know they’re giving them back before the witching hour hits.

Win it! We’ve got a copy to give away to one reader who comments before noon mst on July 6, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Nozin is a new all-natural, cold and flu prevention product. It’s a homeopathic “nasal sanitizer” (ugh, right?) that’s been clinically proven to fight germs for up to eight hours and can help reduce the risk of infection by cold and flu germs at the site where it is most prevalent – the nose.

It’s used by swabbing a few drops of the Nozin antiseptic on the inside of your or your child’s nostrils before you go somewhere germ ridden or to a playdate with some snot nosed kids. It’s like a bubble that keeps the germs out of your nose, but without the actual bubble. The solution is made of pharmaceutical grade ethyl alcohol and natural, plant based compounds rich in antioxidants and with antimicrobial properties. Despite the alcohol, it smells more like citrus than vodka (but I still recommend you be very cautious with use on or around children since so much of what goes on our skin is absorbed into the bloodstream).

My daughter happens to have a nasty cold right now and she never fails to share her colds with me, so I decided to try using Nozin for a couple of weeks. So far, no cold! My son hasn’t caught it either, and he hasn’t been using Nozin because I’m not comfortable putting alcohol in the nose of a three year old, but she does share a lot more snot with me than she does with him. Either way, I don’t have a cold and I’m very happy about that. I think Nozin would be wonderful for people who travel via airplane or other congested forms of public transportation, and I’m looking forward to using it to fight off the colds & flus that my students always give me when we head back to the classrooms this fall.

A box of Nozin containing 60+ doses and 30 swabs sells for $14.95 at the Nozin site. Q-tips work fine to finish off the bottle.

Win it! We’re giving away a box of Nozin to one reader who leaves a comment on this post before noon mst on July 3, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

When I’m sent CD’s to review, I always feel horrible because they take me forever. No matter how much my kids and/or I love the music, I just don’t feel like writing about music very often and I don’t feel that it’s exactly my forte. However, I just couldn’t wait to tell you about The Boogers. When their front man, Crusty Booger, emailed me about their debut CD Road to Rock, there was no way I was turning him down. I mean, Crusty Booger and his buddies Greenie Booger and Sticky Booger? Wouldn’t you want to invite them into your home?

Crusty Booger is actually developmental psychologist and musician Paul Crowe, who was a “real” punk musician for more than a decade before becoming a husband and father and adapting his style to mesh the two.

The Boogers have been described as “The Ramones meet Mother Goose” and after reading that, I couldn’t come up with anything better. That’s absolutely & totally what they sound like, and I LOVE the Ramones. Check out their version of The Wheels On The Bus (and a few more tunes) on their music page. There’s nothing like it. It’s freaking awesome.

Win it! To enter to win one of the FIVE copies of this CD we’re giving away, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 1, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

I’m not much into celebrity worship. I have no idea what they’re wearing, with whom they’re fornicating or, in many cases, what their names are. They’re just people, after all, and are no more special than you or I. They just have different jobs. I just read a new book, though, that reminded me that they really, really are just like us – including their struggles with confidence & self esteem. All that money to pay for surgery and maids doesn’t change that.

Exactly As I Am: Celebrated Women Share Candid Advice with Today’s Girls on What It Takes to Believe in Yourself was written by Emmy Award winning journalist and weekend co-host for “Access Hollywood” Shaun Robinson. She includes such women as Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Queen Latifah, Martina Navratilova, Diane Sawyer, Oprah Winfrey and more, who share their own struggles with self-esteem and body image. Through short & readable interviews with these women and many average young girls too, Exactly as I Am shows young women how to achieve a balance between accepting how they look and appreciating who they are on the inside. Shaun talks about her own journey of self-esteem, the pressures women everywhere face every day—even women at the height of their professions and fame, how to seize every opportunity to build confidence and learn to be comfortable in your own skin and how, no matter what happens, every female (and yes, male, but they can get their own book) can and should reach for their goals, no matter what they are.

It was a great read for me, but I think I’m pretty confident and don’t struggle much with self esteem – mostly thanks to having great parents, a great childhood and now a great husband. Almost everyone Shaun talked to for her book mentions the impact of their families on their confidence and self-esteem. The responsibility we bear as we raise children is huge. Magnificent, even. Larger than most of us even know. This book was great for me, yes, but I think it would be even better for a young girl. Any young girl. Perhaps EVERY young girl. My own copy will be set aside for my toddler daughter to read as she approaches those dreaded tween years. For a young girl to read the words of these people she sees airbrushed in magazines and to know that they feel or have felt exactly they way that she does on her worst day is an awesome gift. To be cherished exactly as you are by the people who are entrusted raising you is even more awesome. Go hug your daughters and tell them they’re stunningly beautiful inside and out, and that you love them exactly as they are.

Win it! To enter to win a copy of Shaun’s book, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 1, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

A birthing book is an appropriate next step following Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein’s groundbreaking movie, “The Business of Being Born”. The movie was an eye opener, it left you with your jaw wide open and I think it had a tendency to attract “birth junkies”. That is a phrase that Ricki Lake used to describe herself in “Your Best Birth”. As soon as I read “birth junkie” I knew I found a fabulous book that was written by someone who shared my passion.

Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein’s book, “Your Best Birth” is a must have for all expectant mothers. Its pages are full of heartwarming and empowering stories about real life “Birth Goddesses” including Cindy Crawford and Melissa Joan Hart just to name a couple. They present information from a variety of highly regarded experts in the field of birthing, including Dr. Michel Odent, Penny Simkin and my personal idol, Ina May Gaskin. You’ll find everything you need to know about the decisions that you may have to make, including birth location, labor support, interventions and postpartum support.

The book includes a wealth of information that many of the more mainstream books neglect to address. Included is a great section on fear surrounding childbirth, a section on routine newborn procedures, and even a portion dedicated to c-sections and vbac (vaginal birth after cesarean). I was thrilled to read about midwifery, homebirths, and doulas right alongside the information on hospital procedures. It’s great to see a book that has it all!

Lake and Epstein are not afraid to tell it like it is about birth and how you can make your experience an empowering one. It took me three births to finally get that empowered feeling that I read about in “Your Best Birth”, I can only imagine how things may have been if this book was available 9 ½ years ago. It was a pleasurable read and I will recommend the book to everyone I know! – by Andrea

Being pregnant with my third child, I was very eager to read “Your Best Birth” written by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein. I haven’t had the opportunity to see their film “The Business of Being Born” yet, but totally want to view it soon.

As a Canadian, with access to universal health care, a lot of the book’s focus does not pertain to me. Our options for child birth are not as vast, due to smaller populations and our system. We are tax payers rather than a pure consumer, so we cannot shop around to the same extent.

That being said I learned so much from this book. Many misconceptions and things that we take for granted as women truly jeopardize our ideal birth situations. The book is definitely slanted, favouring home births, however the authors do present hospitals in good light under the right conditions.

I absolutely love reading other women’s experiences and birth stories. I feel we have so much to learn from each other. The birth stories in “Your Best Birth” were awesome and inspiring. In fact the entire book is written to be empowering, so as women we can take back control of our birth experiences.

The book allowed for extreme cases in which medical intervention was necessary and I respected that. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of judgment that is passed on women when it comes to birth choices. Ultimately knowledge is power and “Your Best Birth” is full of traditional, midwife and medical knowledge to help you and your partner make the best decisions for you and your baby.

There was one part in the book that discussed the baby entry into the world form the baby’s perspective. I really enjoyed that, all too often we think in terms of the mother’s condition and fail to think of the baby. For 40 odd weeks that little bean has been all tucked inside you, perfectly maintained in the perfect womb. The transition from that to the world has to be a rough one!

“Your Best Birth” by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein is a must read for pregnant women and their partners! – by Chelle

Win it! We’re giving away FIVE copies of this book! To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on June 30, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

I recently received a CD by a 13 year old artist named Casey Jame. Having been told that Casey’s music is very positive and very safe for kids, I figured it would be the usual kids’ CD.

Let me tell you, it’s not. It’s wonderful, and really is positive and safe, but it’s also really, really good. I put it on while I was working & the kids were playing, and I actually forgot it was playing because it sounds like, well, real music! There are only five tracks, but that’s five more than 99.9% of thirteen year old have got.

Show your support for a teenager living out her dream. Check out Casey’s MySpace page and buy her stuff from CD Baby

Win it! We’ve got 5 copies of Casey’s CD to give away. To enter, just leave a comment on this post before noon mst on June 29, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

How’s that for a title?

Robin Sax is a parent and a prosecutor of people who commit sex crimes against children. Read that again. Sex crimes against children. If that doesn’t make you throw up in your mouth a little bit, you’re probably dead.

Robin’s newest book, Predators and Child Molesters: What Every Parent Needs to Know to Keep Kids Safe takes the form of a Q&A session. Robin answers 100 of the most asked questions about child molesters and the processes involved in what they do and in what we do to get them off the streets from the perspective of a Los Angeles sex crimes D.A. who is a mother herself. While I wouldn’t call it an enjoyable read, that’s not a reflection of the quality of the book. It’s well written, succinct and a very easy read. It’s just a very unpleasant topic. However unpleasant, it needs to be added to the required reading list for all parents and everyone who works with/cares for/loves children.

The book is organized into six sections: Recognizing predators: molesters, pedophiles, and opportunists; Talking to kids about risks and identifying potential problems; Recognizing abuse; Reporting sexual abuse; Going to court; and Healing and moving on. She teaches that the job of protecting our children begins with parents in the home. “Parents must view protecting children from the potential of sexual assault as a priority. Teaching children preventive measures should be viewed as important as teaching kids how to dial 9-1-1.” It makes you think, that’s for sure.

One of Robin’s tips that we’ve implemented in our home (before I read this book, but I was glad to see I was right) was to teach them that they, and only they, own their bodies and they can say ‘no’ to anyone. If they say no tickling, there’s no tickling. If they don’t want a hug, there’s no hug. Of course, usually they want all of the above from us, but it’s important thaw we empower them and stop if they test those waters by asking us to stop.

In short: Read this book as soon as you can get your hands on a copy. Twelve bucks could help you save the innocence of a child.

Win it! We’re giving away a copy of Robin’s book to one reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on June 26, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Sick and tired of playing “find the soother” when your baby is screaming? Or maybe you’re not so fond of the “I throw it, you pick up eleventy gajillion times” game? Sure, it’s cute at first, but it gets old fast. Especially when you’re outside and the surfaces onto which things are thrown are absolutely repulsive.

Momtrepreneurs Michal Prevor and Irit Maor have developed a stylish & affordable solution to this problem. Through their company, Tutim NYC, Michal and Irit developed their Paci Sitter and Toy sitter in an astounding array of colours & patterns that have been stylistically influenced by the inventors’ international upbringing.

The Tutim NYC sitters prevent children’s pacifiers & toys from getting dirty, lost or swapped with the local booger-factory. They can attach to any outfit, stroller, car seat, carrier or high
chair. The clip on the Paci sitter is plastic covered which greatly reduces any marking of clothing, and the loops on the Toy sitter are adjustable in size – perfect even for the clunkiest of strollers.

At only $10-$12, one of each makes a great small gift and a super add on to a nice shower gift. With their huge selection of trendy matching fabrics, there’s something every parent will love.

Win it! We’re giving away a set of the Paci & Toy sitter to TEN winners! To enter, simply choose your fave fabric patterns from Tutim NYC & comment with one or two of them before noon mst on June 25, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

“Too old for toys, but too young for boys.” That’s what newly launched company Mia My has to say about tweens today. They need support as they deal with physical and emotional changes, and they need their voices to be heard. They also need to express themselves in ways that those of use who aren’t in their headspace find difficult to understand. Mia MY’s mission is to positively influence the lives of girls by creating stylish products that reinforce positive messages:education, creativity, empowerment, friendship, cooperation, and self-confidence.

The first product launched by Mia MY is their signature Mia MY jacket – a white jacket that comes with a package of write-on-wash-off markers so that your daughter can express themselves in their own way. As girls are wont to do, if they change their minds just toss it in the wash and start all over again! The jacket is made in the USA and is 97% cotton with just enough spandex for easy care and comfort. It comes in sizes 4-14 and sells for $49.99 at Mia MY dot com.

We gave a Mia MY jacket to a local grade one student to check out for us and here’s what she had to say (with her newly literate spelling left intact – I love it!):

Thank you very very very very very very mush for my awsum new jacket from Mia MY. It was a reelly nice jacket before I dezined it and it’s comfy but after I drew on it it was the nicest jacket in my hole scool. I did flowers and butterflies and my name ALL over it. Then my Mom washed it and now I’m going to write a message for my teacher on my back to surprise her on the last day of school. My friends can write on it too. I loooooooooove it!

So, there you go. Nicest jacket in the school, and certainly the most unique! She’s not even a tween and loved being able to express herself on her clothing, so imagine what that would do for an eleven year old? Wicked cool.

Win it! We’re giving away a Mia MY jacket to one of you! Comment with who you’d give it to (and what size you need) before noon mst on June 24, 2009 to be entered.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Well, maybe not swaddle. That might be a little too straight-jacket-ish for me, but I’d certainly like to be draped in the stuff. Unfortunately, Aden + Anais doesn’t make muslin wraps or sleep sacks in my size so I’m stuck with regular old sheets & blankets, but your baby is in luck!

I happen to love and use my muslins all year long, even in the great white north, but it’s in the summer that I am particularly thankful for them. They’re perfect for keeping the children covered and protected without making them sweat. We totally dig our sleep sack ($30). As soon as the thermometer hits about +20, it’s time to pack away the thick winter Grobag and pull out the muslin. It’s one of the great signs of summer, and the sizes range from newborn through the toddler years which is absolutely awesome for those kids who move so much they wake up crying because they’re uncovered & cold. Cursed air conditioning.

For those of you who perhaps don’t want to invest in a package of Aden + Anais’ fab (truly! fab!) wraps, Aden + Anais has just introduced a new single wrap that’s available in both conventional ($20) and organic ($35) muslin.

Celebrate those summer babies with some awesome muslin baby gifts – you’ll be the star of the baby shower, I promise.

Win it! Aden + Anais is giving away one winner’s choice of both a sleep sack ($30) and organic or regular single wrap valued at $50-$65. To enter, choose your sack & blanket from the links in this block and let us know what to send if you win! (Yes, you actually have to choose. No, “anything will do” will not do, actually. But nice try.) Comment before noon mst on June 23, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Over two years ago (stone age in the blog world) we reviewed the Your Baby Can Read early literacy system.

We enjoyed it then, and my children are still enjoying it now. (Disclosure: Me? I find it highly annoying after over two years, but I have very little input into what the daily dvd is.)

We probably get more emails about this program than any other review we’ve done in well over three years.

Wanna try it?

Win it! Your Baby Can Read is giving one of our fab readers a complete YBCR system valued at $200! To enter, just leave a comment on this post before noon mst on June 22, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Not that the people we love aren’t worth several hours of folding, drawing and colouring, but sometimes that’s why they get an impersonal dollar store card instead of a handmade one – it either takes too long or the kid can’t draw much more than a stick figure independently. With the ingenious KidCards, any child can quickly & easily create a card for any occasion that’s perfect for their own skill level.

Volume 1 is perfect for my kids who are 1 and 3. There are 20 cards with envelopes for a variety of occasions (birthday, thank you, get well, congrats & friendship) and they’re ready to colour & decorate. Even if you have a kid who just does a little scribble, the recipient is sure to appreciate the gesture, and the child learns the concept of card giving and kindness from a young age. Volume two also contains 20 cards with envelopes in the same variety, but only features a themed frame on the front, leaving much more room for creativity for the older child. Also available are a special edition Christmas set and three sets just for teachers (Mother’s Day, Father’s Day & thank you) with a card & envelope for each child in the class. I just happen to be an early childhood educator in “real life” and these cards are just perfect for a class of K-2ish kids to quickly create an occasion card that doesn’t tie up an entire double art period. If you have an extra large class, the cards are easily double-side copied (they’re just black line masters, really). They remind me a lot of the cards we teachers create all the time in MS Publisher, but now we no longer have to spend the time doing that. They even come pre-scored for easy & straight folding – a huge bonus if you want the card from your three year old to fit in the envelope.

At just $15/book, they beat even the dollar store prices and mean a heck of a lot more to the person receiving them.

Win it! Your choice of volume 1 or volume 2 is up for grabs. To enter, let us know which one you’d like via comment before noon mst on June 17, 2009. Canada & US only please.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

About this time last year, we reviewed the first three games from the awesome Around the Table Games. They’ve since developed two new games, Buddy Talk and Teen Talk, which are designed for school aged children to use with their friends.

Buddy Talk is intended for kids aged 7+ and is perfect right through the tween years. It would be an awesome gift for a group of girls for a sleepover night, and I can just imagine giggle little girls making a tradition of pulling out their cards each sleepover night as the parents head off to bed and the kids are just beginning. Teen Talk is, obviously, for teens, and is a great way for them to really get to know the people they talk to all the time. With “deeper” questions, these cards actually make kids think while they’re hanging out – a much better alternative than the latest version of Grand Theft Auto.

Both of these games were created BY kids FOR kids, and would make awesome, unique and very affordable (only $8!) birthday gifts for your children’s friends.

Win it! We’re giving away one of each of these games to one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on June 15, 2009.

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
2.

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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. Current subscriptions count too! Just let us know how you subscribe…Bloglines? Google reader? Email? They all work.

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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. If we’ve been there all along, that counts too!

Maximum four entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

[This is a guest post from Travis Peterson of the fab No Starch Press. I haven't read the book so I couldn't honestly review it, but knew you'd want in on it anyway!]

You finally did it—you bought the gizmo that everyone’s talking about. Maybe you’ve already figured out how to play music or make phone calls, but then what?

How does the voicemail work? And that keyboard? What about all of those cool apps—which ones do you need, and how do you get them? You need a book like My New iPhone to make everything easy.

San Francisco’s No Starch Press has posted a big chunk of its My New iPhone book on Scribd for free, plus is selling it cheap-like-borscht as a PDF.

No Starch has a new version of Wang’s iPhone book coming out with the release of iPhone OS 3.0 this summer. In the meantime, the publisher is making about 50% of the current version of the book available for free. As a special deal, they are offering this PDF for free when you preorder a copy of My New iPhone through the No Starch Site—you’ll get the free PDF emailed to you right away and get the book—covering all of the latest and greatest 3.0 features—when it comes out this summer. You can preorder the book and get your free PDF here. Or you can view a chunk of the book on Scribd here.

Win it! No Starch is giving away a No Starch Press prize package to one randomly selected commenter that includes copies of the books My new iPhone and My New Mac, a No Starch Press t-shirt, shot glass, and mug, as well as stickers! The prize package will be mailed when My New iPhone is published this summer. Leave your comment before noon mst on June 4, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Generations of children have frustrated their parents by playing with the box more than the costly toy that came inside it. Color Me House, founded by April McCray, offers a genius solution that makes kids happy, saves parents money, and encourages unlimited creativity.

The Color Me line of products is made of strong, sturdy, 100% recyclable 2 ply cardboard that’s safe for kids of all ages with no staples or sharp corners. (Provided they won’t eat it – it won’t necessarily hurt them but it’s not vitamin-packed either.)

There are currently two products available – The house sells for $40 and the rocket will set you back a mere $50. A small price to pay for hours and hours of creative entertainment. If you grew up making forts from cardboard boxes, you’ll love sharing Color Me House with your kids. Simply open & assemble (a few minutes, tops) and set the kids free with their choice of creative paraphernalia – crayons, paints, markers, glitter glue, wallpaper, stickers or anything else that makes a mark.

We’ve had a bit of a strange spring here in the great white north, and we’ve been loving the Color Me House & Color Me Rocket for those snowy (wth?) May days. We leave them inside on the sunny days (though they can be taken outside if you have a dry location) so they’re a great novelty for the times when we trade in the swimsuits for the snowboots. The next one I order will be an awesome addition to our mid-January forced-to-stay-inside birthday party.

Order yours from Color Me House or find a location near you.

Win it! We’re giving away a Color Me House or Color Me Rocket – your choice – to one lucky USA-based (sorry ’bout that!) reader. To enter, leave a comment letting us know which one you want and your state on this post before noon mst on June 3, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

A a now-verified natural kid-product collector, I often wonder what my peeps will think – particularly my girls – when their friends are buying cool looking & chemical filled drugstore crap and I make them use the brown & boring safe stuff. After discovering Sparklehearts, I’m no longer worried.

The line currently consists of five yuck-free ‘skinemy’-free products, each of which sell for $12.49. (It’s a flash site. Grrr. Sorry, but I can’t link to individual products. Great products – poor site design.)

My children are using the Shine Shampoo which “repairs and protects hair, leaving it remarkably radiant. Pansy extract protects hair from sun damage, violet extract and aloe soothes and softens hair, rosemary rejuvenates dull hair and natural coconut and sugar make fabulous foam for super shiny, clean results” and the Rainbow Soft Conditioner which “repairs damage and restores shine, bounce and beauty” and contains “vitamin b5, Shea butter, jojoba and wheat protein combine to give hair a healthy, shiny bounce.” We love them both. The smell is deliciously (and not at all grossly) sweet, and the shampoo bubbles last forever in the tub. (We use it as bubble bath on the non-shampooing days.)

Also available are Peace Out No Knots Hair Detangler, Bubbling Blooms Body Wash, and Sweet Hearts Sparkly Body Lotion.

You can also visit Sparklehearts on Facebook.

Win it! We’ve got a shampoo & conditioner to give away, a $25 value. To enter to win, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on June 2, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

It was almost exactly a year ago that we shared a great Canadian company with you – a company whose new products are so fab we’ve brought them back again! Clippopotamus (Clippo for short) isn’t just clips anymore. T.O.P. contributor Susan shares with you three new products from Clippo:

Soother Clippo:

If you have a child that uses a soother you will agree those things are like gold. The soother clippo could be your saviour. The material they use for the tether is made from fully washable grosgrain ribbons and the clips are stainless steel with plastic teeth that won’t ruin fabrics.

I only wish my daughter’s soother had something I could clip on it… however, I used the soother clippo as a toy leash as they recommend on the Clippo website. I’m sure many of you can relate when I say if I had a dollar for every time my daughter threw something out of her stroller I would be a rich woman. Of course I know it is just a game she loves to play and generally I don’t mind… except when we are in a disgustingly dirty public washroom and she decides to launch her teething toys or worse yet her “surface wash only” plush teddy bear, eeeew. So, needless to say I was thrilled to put the Clippo to the test. And I am impressed. My daughter who is also very strong and determined was not able to pull her toy off the stroller thanks to the Soother Clippo.

Bib Clippo:

This is the coolest design ever! In case you haven’t guessed my daughter is also one of those kids that hates to wear a bib. She reefs on the Velcro bibs I have for her, tears them off, swings them around, and throws them on the ground. So, we tried the Bib Clippo while we were away this weekend, and I love it. I got the idea from the Clippopotamus website because I wasn’t sure how to use the bib clippo… but when they talked about being caught someplace without a bib and trying to stuff a napkin in a child’s collar, I laughed because I am totally guilty of that, and yes it was a bust. This is obviously one of those brilliant mom inventions. Just carry your bib clippo in the diaper bag and you’ve got yourself a disposable bib-on-the-go.

Honestly, I think my grandmother, who was 93 when she passed away, would have appreciated this product. She lived in a care facility where they had adult bibs, just what you would put on a baby only larger. If they had the bib clippo they could use napkins or paper towels attached to these sophisticated tethers. I definitely would have bought her one of these.
The other great thing about the bib clippo is because of the adjustable size moms can use it to make a quick and easy nursing cover. Now I would say I am middle of the road liberal/modest when it comes to nursing in public. Generally I have no problem whipping it out to feed my baby, however I was once stuck in the middle of a very busy mall on a Saturday in an unfamiliar city and was trying to cover up some with a blanket… well my daughter would not have this, so over and over again would try to pull it off her head and expose me for all to see. The bib clippo will keep your receiving blanket in place!

Blanket Clippo:

I don’t have a little one in a bucket car seat anymore but if I did I would want a blanket clippo. See their website for a visual. With the wind gusts we get here in Southern Alberta, the Clippo’s fierce bite is crucial. The blanket clippo straps on to the carseat or stroller and ensures your child’s blanket stays put. It is a nice alternative to those car seat covers. We were caught in a hail storm this weekend while at a park, and the Blanket Clippo came in very handy to keep my daughter’s blanket in place on the stroller. I have been known to run over a few blankets in my day… it’s extra special when the stroller wheels are nice and muddy.

What fantastic products from a fine company that prides themselves on giving back to the Canadian community. Four dollars from the sale of selectively designed soother clippos goes to the charity SickKids in Toronto.

Speaking of designs, did I mention the amazing variety of patterns to choose from? Very trendy, and there’s something for everyone’s taste.

Win it! We’re giving away one of each of the featured Clippos to one randomly selected T.O.P. reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on May 26, 2009 including your favourite fabric(s) form the Clippopotamus

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED