At times in the Canadian prairies it’s tough to find those great natural & open ended toys that many of us believe in (toys that allow children to play…and learn…without getting overstimulated or ingesting nasty chemicals) without paying insane shipping charges and customs fees. We recently discovered a northern Albertan company, Play and Learn Toys, that solves that problem for parents all over Canada. Owner Narissa Singh, a UNB Business graduate, has lived in northern Alberta for nearly ten years and struggled to find Canadian sources for quality toys for her own children. She has chosen to offer a super array of products from some great manufacturers known for their quality & safety, and runs her business out of her home since her tiny town doesn’t have retail space for a store.

Play & Learn Toys carries many products that I’ve seen on European sites and been curious about, so I was thrilled to see that they’re available in Canada now – and being from a mom-run business makes it even better!

My children are absolutely loving their new Stepped Pyramid ($54.99) from Grimms. It consists of a square wooden base filled with blocks in a variety of colours, sizes and versatile shapes. With an open ended toy like this, the possibilities for learning are endless. We now use them daily for imaginative building play and they’ve been castles, rocketships, dragons, post offices, houses and so much more. That’s the thing with great toys – they don’t do the imagining or noisemaking for you, so they can be anything at any time. Grimms’ products are made in Germany of wood and non-toxic colourings.

Another super product the Play & Learn Toys carries is Contina by Bamboo ($29.99). This is not just another sets of blocks. Contina includes a rainbow of colors, black and natural finishes on 100 bamboo sticks which are small and lightweight for children 3 years and up. Combine colors, create a rainbow, stack lengthwise like dominos or pile them high for tons of creative fun. The possibilities are endless with Contina. It’s no wonder that Contina won the Best Toy award from Child’s Magazine.

Join Play & Learn Toys on Facebook.

Save 10% on your order with the code TOP10.

Win it! You can win a set of Contina by Bamboo from Play and Learn Toys. To enter, visit the Play & Learn Toys shop and comment here with another yet un-mentioned toy or item from the shop that you kinda dig. Contest closes at noon mst on February 9, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I have to admit when I found out I was pregnant again, part of me was so excited because I could shop for a baby again! There are so many amazing places to get the cutest of the cute, but Cutie and Patootie has it all!

Cutie and Patootie, whose tagline is “trendy apparel for the one you love” is truly a shopping haven! I absolutely love “window shopping” there. Not only do they carry some seriously cute clothing for babies, they also stock awesome goods for toddler and tweens! I absolutely adore the funky rockstar tees and hoodies!

Cutie and Patootie also carries the funkiest baby carriers! If only I did not have so many carriers, I would definitely be ordering one more (or two!)

With all the cuteness in the store, what really caught my eye was their selection for gifts. The totally amazing trunks full of baby spa gear make me swoon! I personally think it would be the perfect shower gift for any mom to be.

Cutie and Patootie was created by mom, Laura Minguzzi when she was expecting her daughter. Everything in the store has a funky, beautiful, fashionable edge. The patterns and styles are totally trendy yet still totally adorable for babies and kids.

The customer service was awesome. I received my package, beautifully wrapped in record time. If you are looking for that perfect gift (Even for yourself!) make sure you check out Cutie and Patootie! -by Chelle

Win it! We’re giving away a Bambini Spa Gift Valise in your choice of blue or pink, valued at $75. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on January 14, 2009 with your choice of blue or pink and one other item from the Cutie and Patootie site that you like.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

When we discovered our newest online addiction, we knew we had to share it with you. Stella Maternity is a fantastically hip shop. Though the name implies stuff for the expectant mom, they carry all kinds of goodies for dad, baby & nursery too.

Stella Maternity carries all of the hot designers. Sexy & hip for mom, cool & funky for baby ~ they’ve got you covered as pretty much a one stop shopping destination for great gifts. (It’s okay to buy gifts for yourself too! You deserve it.)

Check out the beautiful maternity wedding dresses and the great selection of swim & active wear. Those are two things that you don’t find at your average shop.

The choice of tees is almost overwhelming. From the trendy ibaby to the funky & the cute, I could spend hours just trying to decide. You all know how I love multi-purpose items and I’m digging this Japanese Weekend 3 in 1.

With all the fab mat-wear, it’d be easy to forget to shop for baby. Stella doesn’t just carry fabulous clothing but also things for mealtime & playtime too.

We always love a site with a permanent sale section. Check back regularly for some great specials!

The huge selection pretty much ensures you’ll find something to please everyone. Even Especially the uber opinionated.

Save 10% at Stella Maternity with the code TOP10.
You’ll find them in our TOP Shops, where we list exclusive discount codes for the best of the online shops just for you!

Stella Maternity is giving away a Motherlove Nurturing Life Gift Box, valued at $45.95 USD & pictured bottom right, to one lucky T.O.P. reader.

To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with STELLA in the subject line and tell us what this gift box contains.

Contest closes at midnight MST on Thursday, August 9, 2007. Congratulations Brittany!