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

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

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

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

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

As a momma of prime breeding age (heh), my friends are popping out kids like there’s no tomorrow and I love buying baby gifts. I refuse to buy gifts at the local big box store so am always looking for new & unique parent-made items to have on hand in case of a new baby emergency.

My newest find? Reader recommended Tiny Tales. Developed by par.entrepreneur Lara Frankovitch, Tiny Tales are a set of specialized cards on which to record both the large and not so large milestones and the every day occurrences that we think we’ll always remember but soon realize that, sadly, that’s not the case.

It comes with two 4X6 notepads (more are available for a small cost) and themed dividers to keep the memories organized. It’s a baby book alternative for the mom who wants to record everything in style but doesn’t have the time or perhaps the inclination to scrapbook for hours on end. The sets come in a sturdy transparent box beautifully packaged and ready for gift giving.

Tiny Tales come in baby, toddler, personalized and expecting themes and start at $32.

Use the code OPINION for 20% off until April 15, 2008.

It’s Mabels Labels‘ 5th Birthday and to celebrate they’re giving YOU presents!

Orders placed between 12:00am and 11:59pm EDT today, Thursday March 27th will be shipped with a coupon for free sticky labels (valued at $18.50), their original product that started it all.

Happy Birthday/Anniversary Mabel and friends!

We’ve reviewed the complete line of Buttoned Up products here at T.O.P. in the past and have loved them all. They’re a company that strives to help women organize their lives by organizing less. As in, they have great products that take the work away from organizing and make it (almost) fun.

(Reviews are here, here, here, here and here.)

Apparently the fabulous folks behind the company liked us (and you!) too, because they’ve just sent us a whole case of CrossItOff.Lists to give away to our amazingly loyal, beautiful and intelligent readers. Twenty of you have the opportunity to win these great books valued at $9.95 each!

Since our previous reviews, Buttoned Up has started a blog so be sure to check that out as well.

To enter to be one of the 20 randomly selected winners, all you need to do is email us at theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with LIST in the subject line by midnight on 11/7/07 and tell us the dimensions of the book. Congratulations to all 20 winners!

Some kids need a little incentive to get excited about learning. The Learning Calendar from Fat Brain Toys is a fantastic “Back To School” gift that’s sure to get kids pumped!

It’s a 17 month (Aug. - Dec.) activity and trivia calendar that includes some very cool themes like ‘Holidays & Celebrations Around the World.’ Perhaps my favourite feature is new to the 2008 calendar and that’s the ‘Surprise Time Capsule’ assignments that guide children in gathering images, personal artwork & notes, documents and artifacts that, over the 12 fun tasks, create an irreplaceable collection of history from the year 2008!

We’ve got one to give away! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 9/19/07 with Learning Calendar in the subject line and tell us the retail price of it. Congratulations Allisa!

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I’m pretty sure most parents are a lot like me in my enjoyment of any toy that cleans itself up or encourages kids to do it. Zip Bins are a fantastic products for both kids and adults. They were recommended to us by a dedicated T.O.P. reader and once we checked out the website we knew they’d be a great fit!

They’re essentially just bins, available in four sizes, that unzip into a playmat and back into a bin when you’re done, but after we actually tried them we realized they’re so much more than that and I’m finding that the coolness factor is actually rather hard to describe! They also fold into small flat packets for storage when not in use.

The dinosaur mini ZipBin, my son’s favourite, is like all the others in that the four corners of the box fold & zip up & down from a storage bin for all those loose dino toys to a decorative playscape. Most homes with little boys (and often girls, too!) will have these plastic prehistoric creatures underfoot. That is until the ZipBin enters your house. They’ll still be there, but they’ll no longer be underfoot once the kids learn to zip them back into their bin when they’re done playing! And, being mini, it’s perfect for travel in cars & planes or for taking to daycare or to Grandma’s house.

Some of them, like the Small Town ZipBin, come with some accompanying toys. The Small Town also features a cool “parking garage” under the lid! (Yet it still folds flat - even with the cars inside. Like magic.

They don’t all zip into a flat sided box. For the pony lovers, the Country Stable set folds up into a barn for the ponies to sleep peacefully until their next play time.

For the family? A brilliant picnic basket turned placemat. For the hunter or fisherman? Camo. For the home? How about satin or one of the holiday options?

You can find retailers of the ZipBin here.

After you buy yours and see how much you love it, you can enter their Zip-Lify Your Life! ™ contest ~ check out some of the winners’ fabulous ideas (that I know I’ll be borrowing. These people are creative!)

We’re giving away the Unicorn Playscape! To be entered in the random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight on 7/17 with ZipBin in the subject line and include the answer to the question: What’s the name of the company behind the ZipBin products? Congratulations Thea!