Fun Bites are a fun, easy and kid-safe way of cutting food into small pieces.

You may think “Can’t a knife do that?”

Well, yes. But after the hundredth time you’ve cut something ‘just so’ for your picky little eater, you’d pay in gold for these things! I love that they have no metal parts so the kids can grab them and cut away. They’re much more likely to eat the food you serve if they play a part in the preparation – and Fun Bites are so easy to use that even a two year old can do it!

Win it! We’ve got one set – as pictured – to give away. To enter, comment on this post before noon mst on February 20, 2012. Don’t forget your extra entries!

My ‘old lady feet’ can’t walk much without my orthotics. Or, they couldn’t until I found Happy Feet insoles. They’re thin (like a quarter) glycerin filled bubbly little footpads that pop nicely into any shoe (including sandals if you can get them to stay in…depends on the design) and relieve foot pain and improve circulation. They’re made in not-China by American craftsmen and are warrantied for one year. The thing I notice most about them is that they absorb the impact that makes my feet hurt so quickly when I walk without my orthotics. Apparently these can be worn with orthotics but I haven’t tried that yet. I think they’re a perfect alternative to my orthotics when they’re in a pair of shoes that I’m too lazy to get them out of.

Happy Feet’s manufacturing process bonds a breathable, lightweight fabric to a high-strength bladder containing viscosity-controlled 100% glycerin to provide comfort and relief by distributing weight evenly, absorbing impact and massaging with every step. Most insoles that I tried in my pre-orthotic life didn’t do much of anything, so I’m please to give Happy Feet the TOP stamp of approval.

As both a parent and an early childhood educator, I love School Zone Publishing so I was thrilled to hear they’d released some great new iPad apps shortly before my own iPad arrived. School Zone is has provided 30 years of superior educational content that is designed for ease-of-use and makes learning fun for children while teaching essential skills. My classroom and home are full of my “old favourite” workbooks, games and flashcards from School Zone, and I’m so excited to be able to use these great resources while integrating technology at the same time.

My children, my grade one students and I have been using some of School Zone’s newer iPad apps over the past two months and, with a backlog of 25+ reviews this is the first one I’m sharing with you – because they are AWESOME. They appeal easily to kids because they’re colourful, provide instant gratification and encouragement and they’re learning with current technology. The other reason I share these with you at this particular time is because it drives teachers nuts when kids come back to school in the fall and they’re where they were the previous February because they’ve done nothing to stimulate their brains all summer. It doesn’t take much, really…read daily bedtime stories (you’re doing that, right?), build reading time into every day, use math skills in your daily life (cook together, subtract popsicles eaten from the box…), write letters to Grandma, and play some great games like these once in a while.

The ones we tried range from $99 cents to $9.99. Prior to trying these, I never would have paid more than a few dollars for an app for my kids but these are worth every penny. I’ve listed & linked the ones we tried below, and I’d recommend you check out these and the many other School Zone apps that are available because you’re sure to find something that your child will not only love to play but that will target their specific learning needs and make school a little bit easier come September.

Multiplication & Division Flash Action ($5)

Spelling 1-2 ($10) was my favourite of all the apps I tried for the 7-8 year olds – it allows them to enter their own spelling lists each week to play with and is pure awesome.

Alphabet & Numbers 1-100 Flash Action ($5) Basic early literacy & numeracy skills with School Zone flair.

Phonics Made Easy Flash Action ($5) Just as it says – nothing beats phonics for early reading instruction.

Colors, Shapes & More Flash Action ($5) Easy peasy colourful app to teach and reinforce basic concepts for toddlers and preschoolers.

Time, Money & Fractions On-Track ($10) Perfect for those accelerated learners in K-1…a great challenge! Also great supporting curriculum for any grade two child.

Memory Match Game ($1) This is a fave for a certain three year old I know!

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

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

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

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

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

Disclaimer

I have shopped at several of the over 200 CSN Stores and have been very very pleased with everything I’ve gotten. My kids have a great chair set in their reading corner, and the personalized bookshelf also came from a CSN Store. Tonight I’ve been checking out the modern office furniture from yet another CSN Store (two hundred is a lot of stores…there’s a lot of browsing to be done!) and came across something that I knew would interest some of you. Right now, Allmodern.com has an incredible contest going on – you can enter for a chance to win a $25,000 modern living room makeover with Celebrity TV Designer John Gidding as the grand prize. Second and third place will receive $2,000 and $1,000 in modern accessories. That’s not pocket change! Everyone that enters will receive a 10% discount on their next purchase from www.allmodern.com. To enter the contest, go to www.allmodern.com/chic and briefly describe how a modern update a to your living room will help unleash your chic side! Contest ends April 15th, 2011!

‘Tis the season to get your papers organized. I’ve never had very complicated taxes, and I’m broke, so there’s not much to file in that regard and a regular file folder will do. Just this week, though, I was sent the SMEAD tax organizer and played around with getting a few things organized in there. Though I don’t have much, it certainly made it easier to visualize using this sectioned folder, and with only six sections it’s not overwhelming at all.

SMEAD also sent me the SMEAD monthly organizer, and having it to stash all of my receipts in has been excellent for my budget. Just knowing I have to file the receipt when I get home makes me think a little harder before buying, and going through the receipts each month (okay, every few months, which make the file folder all the more valuable) gives me a great overview of what we’re spending and where we’re spending it.

SMEAD products are available at pretty much every office supply store.

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

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

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

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

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

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

According to a national survey, granite countertops are the number one way to make your home feel luxurious, but cleaning them with everyday products may be doing more harm than good. Particularly if you’re like me and clean with vinegar. If you have stone in your home, I highly suggest you get yourself some DuPont™ Stone Care products to protect, clean and enhance the beautiful handiwork that you put a significant investment in to.

“Although they seem like extremely hard surfaces, granite, marble, travertine, slate and other types of natural stone commonly used in homes are extremely porous,” said Steve Wolf, general manager – DuPont™ Stone Care. “A stone’s polished shine doesn’t mean it is sealed, allowing substances like juice, wine, ink and perfume to seep in, causing irreparable damage. Homeowners are shocked when they see how quickly 10 cents worth of olive oil can destroy their $10,000 countertop. Properly sealing and cleaning natural stone surfaces is like an insurance policy against stains and spills, protecting its value, beauty and style.”

DuPont™ Stone Care products address the needs of budget-conscious homeowners today with cost-effective, correctly formulated, protecting, enhancing and cleaning products designed for everyday use. “Many homeowners don’t ask for advice until after the damage has been done and expensive restoration is necessary,” said Wolf. “With just a few simple steps and regular cleaning using the correct products, countertops and floors will look new for a lifetime.”

The DuPont stone care system I received to review consists of three products, and I think DuPont can explain their purposes better than I can:

PROTECT: Stones have different porosity because of their mineral composition and geological formation, but all natural stone is porous. Within seconds, a renegade splash of anything from ketchup to cosmetics can sink deep into stone, often penetrating all the way through to the other side, forever leaving an unsightly spot behind. The best way to prevent stains on natural stone and grout lines is to treat its surface with a sealer to offer protection and keep it looking new. While many stones are pre-sealed or sealed during installation, these sealers often wear away from everyday use and certain all-purpose cleaners. Depending on the amount of use, a countertop or floor can become susceptible to stain penetration within one year, with most sealers fading away after five years. DuPont™ Stone Care sealers protect natural stone and include DuPont™ Granite & Marble Countertop Sealer, DuPont™ Premium Stone Sealer and DuPont™ Grout Sealer.

ENHANCE: Whether daily use has dulled the stone, or a shinier “wet” look is desired, the use of an enhancer can restore the luster to polished stone and tile, or bring out the surface’s color, depth and beauty. DuPont™ Stone Care has many specially formulated enhancing products to treat most natural stone and tile surfaces, with or without shine, including DuPont™ Granite & Marble Countertop Polish and DuPont™ Stone Sealer & Enhancer.

I have a granite countertop in my new home and was very VERY pleased with the results of all three of them. I’ll gladly be purchasing more of the same products when they’re used it, and I’m so glad to know that these lovely counters will look great for years to come.

DuPont stone care products are available in a variety of sizes & packages and your local home improvement store. ~by Andi

Win it! Comment on this post before noon mst on September 13, 2010 to enter to win a DuPont stone care kit. Don’t forget to get your extra entries too!

CONTEST CLOSED. WINNER EMAILED. CONGRATS PAM!

We’re holding out hope that the drywallers will get here and done this week. Everything we own, including everything for this site, is in a giant mouseproof & waterproof steel box. Gah.

We’ve picked & paid for the floor (Ouch. Have you any idea how much flooring costs?)

On the upside, I hated the couch that got wrecked and now I get a new one.

This post is sponsored by Mom Central Canada, but aside from the idea it’s 100% me.

SMARTloveoflearning.com is a community of people who share a passion for learning. From the teachers who make lessons come alive to the students who are eager to learn more and every parent, friend, aunt, and neighbor in between, there are many who share SMART® Technologies love of learning. After all, every good idea in the world exists only because somewhere along the line, someone cared enough to teach and someone was engaged enough to learn.

I’m a teacher. I’m a mom first and foremost, but I am and will always be a teacher. Before I had a B.Ed I was a teacher. It’s just the way I was made. Some people just are.

I remember very little about my “favourite teacher.” I place those words in quotes because I’ve had many great (and rather poor) teachers but she’s the one I really remember. She was my kindergarten teacher, now retired and going by a different name after a divorce, and it was her influence that inspired me to teach at just five years old.

I could read when I started kindergarten, and she did what not many would or could do. She put me into a grade one classroom for reading and math, and worked with the grade one teacher to have me put into grade two after kindergarten. That just doesn’t happen around here anymore, and it was the perfect arrangement for me. I remember her a a kind & gentle woman who really took the time to get to know me as a person, and as a learner. I remember singing with her on the carpet – The Farmer in the Dell, specifically. I remember my special cubbyhole. Everyone had one, but I sure thought mine was the best one. I remember bringing her homemade baked treats and watching them sit on her desk until Friday – the one day she allowed herself to eat junk food. I remember details like I don’t remember about any other year of school (and there were 20 including preschool and university, so that’s saying something) and when I think of her, I smile.

It wasn’t the curriculum I learned – though I’m sure she did a great job of that even if I don’t remember. It was how she made me feel that I could be anything I wanted to be. What I wanted to be was just like her. The ultimate compliment for a teacher.

That was decades before SMART Boards became commonplace in all public school classrooms. I can’t live without mine and use it all day long. I can just imagine what we could have done as students if we’d had them. It would have been magical! (video link) SMART Love of Learning has a Facebook group you can check out. Join and you can enter to WIN a SMART Board interactive whiteboard for your child’s school or a school of your choice! Simply click on the ‘Win’ tab to enter. If you’re a parent or teacher interested in raising money for a SMART Board interactive whiteboard for a school in your area, click on the ‘Toolkit’ tab.

Don’t forget to sign up & join us Thursday night for a free parenting webinar.

No more nagging, reminding, yelling…Awesome stuff!

Go here to sign up!

I recently received a great product from Mom Central for review – if you’ve got a newborn or even just a really booger-filled kid, this one’s for you.

I’ll never forget the days when my children were babies and had stuffy noses. It’s so horrible watching them gasp for air as they’re nursing, and elevating their cribs did not a darn thing to help them (or me) sleep better at night. I wish I would have had this product back then – I would have tried pretty much anything that wasn’t drugs, and even that was tempting!

The hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator and its filters were developed with pediatricians, as a gentle and safe way to relieve your baby’s nasal congestion quickly and effectively. It helps to maintain clear breathing and to facilitate eating and sleeping. Its soft nasal tip is specifically designed for babies’ delicate noses and its transparent design allows for you to see the amount and type of mucus that is being removed. hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator has a protective single-use filter that traps excess mucus, providing hygienic aspiration. The tip and base of the aspirator are easily removable for effective cleaning after each use. Unlike squeezable nasal aspirators, the hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator allows you to control the strength of the suction with your aspiration.

For best results, and to liquefy mucus prior to aspiration, use hydraSense® Easydose® or hydraSense®Ultra-Gentle Mist with Comfort Tip, a nasal solution composed of isotonic, undiluted, sterile, 100% natural-source desalinated seawater. hydraSense® contains more than 70 trace elements and minerals naturally occurring in seawater and is preservative free.

I don’t have a baby right now, but my preschooler son was pumped to try this out on himself. He didn’t let me help much so it didn’t really do the trick, but it was sure funny!

Visit the hydraSense® site by April 10, 2010 to sign up for the Dolphins Club. Once you sign up and log back into your account, enter the code MC2010 under the online coupons tab, in order to get an $8 off coupon (over 50% off!) to be used towards the purchase of your hydraSense® Nasal Aspirator (coupon itself expires December 31, 2010).

Check out this video on You Tube for more info as well.

Victoria Dixon, of the Orkney Islands, North Scotland is an incredibly talented artist who was able to put her talents to good use with the creation of her work-from-home business Enhance Me. She provides restoration and enhancement services for your photographs.

TOP contributor Michelle reviewed Enhance Me in 2007 and now we’ve brought her back with her new Valentine’s Gallery. Brew a love potion, take a ride in the love boat or become the cutest little Cupid – Victoria can turn your child in to pretty much anything. The image you see above is my two favourite people. The original image I sent her was not so great – kids just out of the bath in their jammies with wet hair…nothing I’d have edited for printing, that’s for sure, but they had great smiles. Victoria said she’d work with it, and you can see what she came up with. Magical.

Victoria’s talent impresses even the Photoshop savvy of us, because it’s not easy to digitally cut out individual curls of hair. At least, it’s not for me. She can take your child of any age and plunk them seamlessly into any setting. Princess castle, Spiderman, the North Pole, the Wild West…the possibilities are endless.

Enhance Me art makes a great grandparent gift and an awesome personalized children’s gift that doesn’t collect dust for any occasion.

Save 10% on your order with the code OPBG10.
This code is the newest addition to our TOP Shops, where you can find exclusive and permanent discount codes just for TOP readers from some of the great companies we’ve featured.

Win it! Victoria is giving away one custom enhancement to a T.O.P. reader. To enter, visit her site and comment with your fave(s). Due to technical issues, we’ve extended this contest to close at noon mst on FEB 24, 2010.

NYC-based singer/songwriter Bari Koral’s new CD, Rock and Roll Garden gets top ratings from my children. It’s taken top spot in our musical rotation since it’s arrival and the kids have even been taking it to their dayhome for their dance parties.

My husband and I have been heard calling to each other with “Hey duckies!” and replying “Hey, What?”

Get the CD and you’ll start too – you won’t be able to help it.

Dubbed the “Sheryl Crow for kids” by the NY Post, Bari Koral is just the perfect mix of kiddie & folksy that makes everyone want to sing along. For days and days after they last hear the CD.

This CD’s getting played so much here that I’m going to rip it to my iTunes before it gets wrecked – if that happens there will be two very unhappy campers.

Win it! Comment here before noon mst on Feb. 8/10 to enter to win a copy of this super CD!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I’m scared that my son is going to choose hockey as his sport of choice. Not only because it runs many Canadian parents upwards of $5000-10 000/season but because the obsession and competition appears very unhealthy to me. Not on the part of the kids – they just want to play the game – but on the part of the adults involved. Game On: How the Pressure to Win at All Costs Endangers Youth Sports and What Parents Can Do About It (now available in paperback for just ten bucks) is an educational book that aims to protect children in the world of sport. The author, award-winning ESPN reporter Tom Farrey, explores both the causes and the consequences of this unhealthy and un-sportsmanlike attitude. It’s a must-read for coaches and parents of athletes everywhere.

Not THE common cold. Not the one that involves lots of snot and ears that feel like they’ve been stuffed with cotton.

The Nuddle cures cold – like the thermometer dipping kind of cold. The Canadian kind of cold, even.

The Nuddle Blanket (nap + cuddle = nuddle) is a truly luxurious blanket. Whether you have the adult version ($68), the kids version ($48) or the baby version ($38), you’ll be amazed when you feel the fabric. Just pure ultra-plush heaven. It has holes for your arms, a foot pocket and an outer hand pouch like a muff. The arm openings are just the perfect size – not large enough to let a bunch of cold air in but large enough to fit pretty much anyone’s arm.

The Nuddle Kids blanket (which my two fight over constantly – “It’s MINE!” “No, it’s MINE!”- comes in three delicious colours: cherry, fudge, & blueberry, and is the perfect size for children from about 2-12 after which they’d likely be ready for an adult Nuddle. (Though it says 4 and above, my daughter who will be 2 in a week or so would fight you on that and she’d win. She always does. I have no idea where she gets that from. Heh.)

The Nuddle Baby (available in neutral oatmeal, bubblegum pink & cloud blue) is the newest Nuddle product and it’s intended for use in the stroller. It measures 24″ x 32″ and has the classic Nuddle foot pocket and holes for the five-point safety harness on your stroller. While I no longer have a baby who rides in a stroller (sniff) I asked a local new mama to test the Nuddle Baby for us and her words follow: “Wow, this is an amazing stroller blanket! It’s impossible to get it to fall off, even in our crazy winds, and it’s SO soft! The foot pocket is fantastic and keeps my little guy snuggly no matter how long our walks are. What a great product!”

Sure, they’re not as cheap as a Snuggie, but have you felt a Snuggie? They’re only worth the $10-$20 you’ll pay for them and not a penny more. It’s like comparing a Lamborghini to a Kia, so don’t bother. (If you’re desperate for sleeves, which you needn’t be, then shun the Snuggie and get a Slanket. Trust me.) < /ramble > If you want a quality blanket that washes well over and over again, that keeps you & your babies warm & cozy and may prevent you from leaving the house because you’re just to darn cozy, then you need a Nuddle.

Win it! We’ve got a Nuddle Kids in fudge and a Nuddle Baby in oatmeal to give away to one very lucky T.O.P. reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on January 15, 2010.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED!

Cowboy & Wills by Monica Holloway is a new memoir of a boy who is diagnosed with autism (asd) at the age of three. Wills is incredibly high functioning but is bothered by certain textures and loud noises. Stopping at nothing to help their child succeed and convinced that the unconditional love of a pet would help him, they finally found Cowboy, a female golden pup, for Christmas when he was in kindergarten.

This honest memoir will make your heart ache. At once you’ll cry for her as a fellow mother and want to choke her for being such a twit. It’s an easy read that will make you laugh, make you cry and leave you full of hope.

Win it! We’re giving away a signed copy of Cowboy & Wills to one reader who comments before noon mst on December 31, 2009. Happy New Year reading!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I am often asked if my young preschooler can read because I’m a teacher, and if my toddler speaks prolifically because my profession is early childhood education. Also, I’m often asked if I think I’m a better parent than people who aren’t teachers.

Um, no. Emphatically no.

My children were born with the gifts they were given and I have had the good fortune to be able to expose them to things and play with them in ways that nourished the growth of those gifts, but am I a better parent? Hardly. It’s a heck of a lot easier with a group of 20 kids that aren’t yours than with one or two that you sprung from your loins. I have the same struggles as every other mother on the planet. I have moments when I’m very proud of my parenting, and moments when I call myself “Yelly Mom” and find myself apologizing and feeling like a big turd.

I was offered a chance to review “The Breakthrough Course” online from Positive Parenting Solutions and decided to give it a shot, though I’ve never much liked any of the other courses I’ve tried. Anything’s worth a shot when it comes to my children.

And this course? I love it.

It is a “One of a kind, Web 2.0 format online parenting course that teaches parents how to correct misbehaviors in children ages 1-17. The misbehaviors addressed include not listening, backtalk, temper tantrums, dawdling, sibling rivalry, power struggles, the terrible two behaviors and much more.”

It teaches parents “WHY children misbehave, how their own personality plays a role in the misbehaviors and how many “intuitive” strategies (such as “time out”) that parents typically use make behaviors worse. Parents…learn over 20 tools to address misbehaviors in the moment and how to correct the behaviors permanently. Parents report how the misbehaviors begin to disappear almost immediately after implementing the first tool in the Tool Box.

The online course can be accessed 24/7 and is delivered via 42 high quality, HD videos broken down into easy to follow and understand sessions supported by a printable guide. Additional information is provided via supplemental readings and easy and fun interactive learning experiences. Parents rave how their lives are changed dramatically because their relationship with their children is improved, their stress is reduced and their relationship with their spouse has improved.”

That’s what Amy McCready, the founder of Positive Parenting Solutions Inc, says about the course, and I can completely authenticate her claims. The videos aren’t too long and Amy is a great teacher – very easy to listen to and not at all pretentious. I captured some of my faves with flashgot (one of my favourite Firefox add ons) so I can watch them again when I need a little parenting kick in the pants. It would never have occurred to me to pay to take an online parenting course when there’s so much out there for free, but this course is worth every penny of the $199 enrollment fee. It’s full of time-tested techniques that go against the grain of some popular “knowledge” (time-out, anyone?) and each video you watch or exercise you do will give you something you can use right away to make your life and your child’s life easier and more positive. There are also interactive learning modules to allow you to practice what you’ve learned, supplemental readings, tons of FAQ’s at your fingertips and free (FREE!) email and phone support from Amy herself. The weekly emails are awesome pearls of wisdom, but more than that they were a great reminder to me to stay on track, watch the next video and be a better mom.

I’m lucky to have children without major behavioural problems (but they’re totally normal – don’t get me wrong) and a great marriage (also totally normal, though) and the Breakthrough Course has made me much more aware of my parenting and co-parenting at all times throughout the day – particularly the times when I used to be “Yelly Mom.” I’m still not perfect, but I’m better thanks to Positive Parenting!

Save 10% on your enrollment with the code opinionated.

The first 20 that enroll using that discount code will be upgraded to lifetime access for free. Just choose one of the four payment/access options other than the “lifetime” option and Amy will upgrade it to lifetime manually.

Win it! We’re giving away 1 free lifetime enrollment in The Breakthrough Course (valued at $225) to one T.O.P. reader. To enter, just leave a comment on this post before noon mst on October 16, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED – Congratulations Susan!

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

You make up just over 50% of our daily readership, and we hope you ALL have an amazing long weekend and enjoy your 4th of July celebrations.

I’m having a bbq at my house tomorrow in your honour!

(No fireworks though. Boo.)

It’s music week at T.O.P. and each day we’ll be featuring a new CD we’ve been sent to review that has made it into regular rotation in our homes and vehicles. Each one will be accompanied by the usual giveaway, with all of them closing at noon mst on Friday.

Enjoy, and happy dancing!

We love to travel with our kids and whether it be a 20 minute drive or a 20 hour drive there are times when we would have given our right arms to have our Exersaucer in the van so we could put our baby down without the fear of her (a) crawling away or (b) touching or, heaven forbid, eating something really gross when we just weren’t able to wear her any longer. Thanks to the amazing PopATot we’re now free to rock and roll with the kids anywhere the wind carries us. Folding into an impressively small carry bag (picture a folding camping chair) it’s the most portable piece of completely necessary baby equipment we’ve yet to find. Except, you know – the baby.

Created by mom Stacy Ellsworth, it’s simply a portable baby activity center that packs away in its own carrying case. Just take it out of the bag, pull it open, secure two clips, plop the kid inside, and she can safely play with whatever goodies you clip to the five toy hooks on top. Each order comes with a free set of Sassy Lively Links to get you started – not that you don’t already have eleventy bazillion things lying around the house that you could attach, but the ones that come with the PopATot aren’t previously chewed; a nice bonus for a second child for sure. The PopATot features two cupholders and a built in canvas floor to protect the babe from sand & grass. It’s light enough to easily tote around – particularly if you’re used to toting camp chairs – but sturdy enough to stand up to my big boy and his buddies climbing in and all over it.

For a limited time you get a $10 rebate making the PopATot just $50 with free shipping. For international orders (that’s us Canadians, though we certainly don’t feel international) you’ll need to contact Stacy directly as her site doesn’t accommodate international orders at this time.

Win it! We’ve got a PopATot to give away. To enter, check out the PopATot site and then come back and leave a comment on this post before noon mst on February 23, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

While fashion certainly wasn’t at the top of my mind, I’ll never forget the ‘outfit’ that I was forced to wear when I had my first baby simply because I didn’t know there were other options. I am absolutely in love with the gorgeous labor gowns from Labor Looks. The 100% cotton and fully machine washable gowns have adjustable ties for full coverage in the back whether you’re walking, sitting or lying down in a compromising position, and there’s even a pocket for your camera or cell phone…for the early stages of labour, of course. The sleeve unsnap for easy nursing and IV access.
There are two sizes, S/M for pre-pregnant 0-6 and L/XL for pre-pregnant 8-12) and there are more sizes coming soon.

Labor Looks is the brain child of sisters Ashley and Brittani, a L&D nurse and certified nurse midwife. And moms. Obviously they know what they’re talking about. I tried one of their gowns – the Erin Blush – during my most recent labour, and especially appreciate the side ties. Nobody saw my butt that didn’t have my express permission, and that was a nice change!

The Labor Looks gowns are perfect for those first post-birth photos, and are affordable for most moms at less than $50. Shipping is only $5 to the US and $10 to Canada, AK and HI. Check out their blog, too.

Save 20% with the code opinionatedparent

Win it! We’re giving away your choice of Labor Looks gown to one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on February 9, 2009 letting us know which style and size to send if you win.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED – Congrats Chelle!

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently urged Americans to take extra fire safety precautions this winter in the wake of several recent multiple fatality fires: “These recent tragic fires have painfully underscored that we are right in the middle of the peak season for home fires,” said NFPA President Jim Shannon.

According to NFPA, December, January and February are the leading months for home fires. In 2007 there were an estimated 399,000 home fires resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths. Cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries. Smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths. Heating ranks second in home fire deaths overall, but in one- or two-family dwellings it is the leading cause.

Among other tips, the NFPA recommends the following key fire safety tips:

Watch your cooking Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
Have a home fire escape plan Make a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year.
Install and test smoke alarms Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Interconnect smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound. Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace batteries once a year or when the alarm “chirps” to tell you the battery is low. Replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old.
Install carbon monoxide alarms Install CO alarms in a central location outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home.
Install sprinklers If you are building or remodeling your home, install residential fire sprinklers. Sprinklers can contain, and may even extinguish, a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive.

Are you following these simple safety tips? Do you have a plan for fire safety in your home? Do you have a working smoke detector and a fire extinguisher on hand? If not, you owe it to yourself to visit Kidde, the world’s largest manufacturer of fire safety products. On Kidde’s website, not only can you learn about their products, you can read all about Fire Safety and Carbon Monoxide Safety . They even have a online product support page!

We were sent three Kidde products to review – I can highly recommend all of them.

The first was the Kidde FX210R Living Area Fire Extinguisher – White:  There are four classes of fire extinguishers (see link for details). The minimum recommendation for the home from the National Fire Protection Association is to have an ABC extinguisher in your home (living area) and your garage. According to my husband (a fire academy grad), this one from Kidde fits the bill perfectly.  Product Description: White Finish Living Area Fire Extinguisher, Fights Fires Common To The Home Living Areas Such As Wood, Fabrics, Furnishings & Drapes, Meets NFPA Recommendations For Primary Home Protection, 10 Year Warranty, Features Bilingual Name Plate & Carton, Features Include Pressure Gauge, Easy To Pull Safety Pin, Rust & Impact Resistant Nylon Handle, UL Rated 2A10BC.

Next up, the Kidde KN-COSM-B Battery-Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm with Talking Alarm (3 AA batteries are required and are included!) Studies show that more than two in three children will sleep through the sound of a regular smoke alarm but will wake up to the sound of their parent’s voice. With two small children, I was excited to get this alarm. And what a great feature that the smoke alarm is combined with a carbon monoxide detector – now we have one on both levels of the house. Did you know that carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in North America? And because it is odorless, tasteless and invisible, a detector is the only way you have of knowing it’s in your house. And don’t worry about the alarm going off and trying to figure out what the alarm has detected because the voice warning system announces “Fire, Carbon Monoxide, Low Battery or Smart Hush Activation” – eliminating any confusion and clearly warns you and your family of a smoke or carbon monoxide danger, or if your battery is in need of replacement.

Finally we installed the Kidde KN-COPP-B Front Load Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Digital Display (3 AA batteries are required and are included!) in our kitchen. Product Description The Kidde 900-0146 battery-operated carbon monoxide (CO) alarm uses the patented Nighthawk electrochemical CO sensor to help protect you and your family from the dangers of CO. Easy to install, the 900-0146’s backlit digital display shows CO levels in parts per million and updates every 15 seconds. When the unit is operating properly and hazardous CO levels are not detected, its green LED flashes every 30 seconds. In a CO emergency, the red LED pulses and an 85 db horn sounds at specific intervals until the CO threat is eliminated. Because it’s powered by 3 AA batteries, the 900-0146 is able to provide continuous monitoring of CO levels, even during power outages. – by CPA Mom

Win it! We’re giving away a fire safety kit valued at $100 from Kidde which includes all three of the above mentioned items. Our apologies…US readers only because of the chemical content. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on February 2, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED – Congrats to Madeline – another winner with a blog!

I understand that for many people, custom hand castings are out of range financially – believe me, I understand. That doesn’t mean that we all don’t want & deserve a permanent memory of our children’s precious little bits that’s more than a tempera paint handprint on paper.

Child to Cherish offers a large selection of very affordable & unique yet functional children’s keepsakes and gifts designed to capture precious moments in time.

The Child to Cherish collection includes timeless treasures such as their popular Block to Grow On ($20.99) and Handprint Tower of Time ($24.99). We have the tower of time for our daughter and love it. It retails for just $24.99 and includes a tin for each year (1-5) filled with nontoxic plaster to mix & create a lasting impression of your child’s handprint, super easy instructions and a decorative ribbon to press into the base of each print if you choose. The tower stacks sturdily and takes up very little space for such a great memento of childhood. If you’re looking for a more recession-friendly way to remember those little hands, I highly encourage you to check out
Child to Cherish and the Handprint Tower of Time.

Save 10% on any order from www.childtocherish.com with the code top10.

Win it! We’re giving away a tower of time handprint set in your choice of style to one lucky reader. To enter, let us know which one you’d like and also another item from the Child to Cherish site that you like. Contest closes at noon mst on January 6, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Robeez has launched its fourth annual Season of Giving campaign, a charitable initiative to donate shoes to infants in-need during the holiday season.

For every free e-card sent from the Season of Giving website, Robeez will make a $5 product donation via its charitable partner, Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.).

It’s easy: one card = $5 worth of Robeez footwear; 10 cards = $50 worth of Robeez footwear, and on and on! I’ve sent mine – won’t you? It takes but a moment, is completely free and helps kids in need. Does it get much better?

For taking the time (literally, just a minute) to send an e-card, Robeez is also offering you a chance to win one of seven new Shoes and Socks Gift Sets. I’ve seen them – they’re worth WAY more than a minute of your time.

Robeez’ goal is to send a $250,000 product donation this holiday season, and they’re over half way there! Let’s all head over and help them out.

The campaign ends December 20. You can send an e-card from seasonofgiving.robeez.com.

Thank you for the 127 emails I got today mentioning that the T.O.P. site was goofing up. We were upgrading our blogging platform and it’s all good now.

Scroll down to check for five valid contests!

It’s no secret the we love See Kai Run in all forms.

Well, now you have the chance to see if you love them as much as we do.

We’re giving away THREE pairs of SKR shoes!

The three pairs pictured at right are up for grabs.

1. The Julie girls boot in limited edition pink! Size 7. Value $46.

2. The Brian boys shoe. Size 9. Value $40.

3. The Paul boys shoe in limited edition blue! Size 3. Value $40.

Sizing information is available here.

To enter, leave a comment on this post listing the style you’d like to be entered for. Closes Oct. 4.

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

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED.

As a green-ish primarily organic mama, it’s often hard for me to find exactly what I need locally. My next turn is always the internet but I refuse to pay shipping from another country unless I absolutely can’t find it here. (Also, there’s almost always a free shipping code somewhere. Check here.)

Now that I’ve discovered the Canadian online shop Nayla Natural Care I can find almost anything I need in one place and support a Canadian family at the same time.

The TruKid products available at Nayla Natural Care are some of my new favourites and they’re all available at Nayla Natural Care for very reasonable prices. (And when you spend $150 they ship for free. You could fill your whole family’s stockings in one fell swoop!)

The Hero Stick is the newest permanent addition to my arsenal. It’s a soothing stick for bumps & boo boos packed with herbal remedies that have been used for centuries to nourish the skin & fix owies. I can officially sell my stock in Spiderman bandaids. Hero Stick to the rescue!

Happy Face & Body Lotion is a very lightly fruit scented lotion that’s perfect for toddlers. The scent is attractive enough to get them to sit still for an application but not strong enough to repel the parent that’s putting it on. It’s thick enough to be moisturizing but light enough to be used any time of the day or night.

The Spiffy Spearmint Lip Balm is a great before bed lip soother for these windy fall days. It’s enhanced with spearmint essential oil which is slightly cooling and also contains Stevia so it’s sweet enough to make the mint attractive to the little guys. As opposed to bubblegum – ew.

Win it! We’re giving away one of each of these great products to one randomly selected winner. To enter, visit the Nayla Natural Care site leave a comment on this post mentioning at least one other item you like before noon mst on November 5, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

My family has been reviewing the eebee’s Adventures series of baby books from every baby. I’ve got to tell you – when I heard the name eebee, I was pretty sure they’d be incredibly stupid. Because, come on. eebee?

But honestly, these are some really super great baby books! Available at Barnes & Noble for $15 each, they are the perfect addition to a baby gift, first birthday gift, a Christmas package or your own bookshelf.

There are three single books and a two book package, all of which are much more than your average soft book. They’re interactive in ways that are engaging for infants and entertaining for toddlers, too.

A little blurb on each from the press release:

eebee’s Having a Ball Adventures: Babies will play around with some big ideas in this adventure: up, down, over, under, in, out . . . and my turn—your turn. This interactive book includes a soft, tethered ball, inviting babies to exercise social, motor, language, and thinking skills in games from catch with eebee to basketball.

eebee’s Laundry Time Adventures: Babies will explore words, sounds, and textures; exercise fine-motor skills; play imaginatively . . . and get the laundry done. Interactive play activities include taking towels out of the laundry bag and putting them “into the washer”; spinning the peek-a-boo washing-machine wheel; hanging eebee’s pajamas on the line; and putting them away in the drawers.

eebee’s Peek-a-Boo Adventures: Where’s eebee? On the cover of this book, open and close the curtains. Inside the book, look for eebee behind a silky purple scarf, inside a big, shiny raincoat, and behind a movable stack of soft blocks. From exploring textures to anticipating outcomes, there’s no hiding the opportunities for playful skill-building in this exciting search.

eebee’s Hug and Splash Adventures is a two-book set in which each book is also a game. All About Me & You is all about eebee’s body, and a baby’s body too. Fold-out the book-sized mirror to “look and play” along with eebee. Exercise your baby’s social, motor, language, and thinking skills, exploring the body from head to toe! Eebee’s Bath Time Adventure is sure to float a baby’s boat. Open the book and place it cover-up in the tub. Watch eebee float! Submerge the book to fill the squirter and then squeeze it for a gentle spray. Press eebee’s tummy—squeak—eebee’s all clean. As eebee takes a bath, every baby will play and learn with water.

My two year old has claimed the Bath Time Adventure book for himself and delights in squirting his baby sister in the tub and then trying to keep it away from her until he gets a chance to do it again! Both children love the other books and I love that they’re entertaining enough to give me an occasional few minutes of uninterrupted latte drinking.

Save 10% on purchases made on www.eebee.com with the code eebee.

Win it! Three readers will each win a copy of eebee’s Laundry Time Adventures. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on November 4, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

My kids love applesauce. Don’t they all, really? From first foods through the childhood years, applesauce is a great food. We buy huge glass jars of organic sauce to avoid plastic and other nasties (and to avoid having to make it myself too often – ugh) and then we deal with the consequences of messy shirts and flinging spoons. At least, we used to. Smashies are Smashies are the first organic squeezy apple sauce pouches for kids with no added sugar or HFCS. They’re certified USDA organic, kosher, gluten free and contain no animal bi-products. I actually wasn’t able to taste the samples that we received because my son wouldn’t let me. I’d say that’s a good sign. He loves the taste. I love the convenience, the lack of plastic, sugar, HFCS & pesticides. We all love Smashies!

Sadly, they’re not in stores yet but if you pay shipping & handling they’ll send you some for free! I sure hope they end up in Canadian grocery stores sooner than later because my two year old asks for them regularly.

Win it! A ten pack could be landing on your doorstep. To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us your favourite easy, healthy kid snack or meal. Contest closes at noon mst on November 3/08.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Some of our long time readers may remember my review of the Wrap N Mat from February 2007. With the shift toward green living becoming larger (yay!) every day, it’s time to revisit this great invention which is now available from the new-ish Vancouver-based Canadian boutique Lavish and Lime.

Lavish and Lime carries only the Wrap-N-Mats with the phthalate-free LDPE lining (the same material as plastic sandwich bags but a thicker grade to ensure re-usability) and carries a selection of the nicest available fabrics. I’m especially digging the dots fabric (pictured at right) for it’s decidedly not bright and ugly style. These fabulously green reusable sandwich wraps are not only great for sandwiches but also for muffins, crackers and other snacks. When opened they provide a clean place to eat that can be brought home, washed in warm water and re-used for an entire school year. At a price of $7.50, you’ll not only be doing your part to save the earth but you may even be saving money if you’re not buying as many costly ziploc bags.

Save 10% at Lavish and Lime with the code TOP