We’re taking the day off tomorrow to enjoy Canada Day with our families. In honour of Canada’s birthday we’re featuring a fantastic Canadian business from which you can acquire the wares of many others. Enjoy, and HAPPY CANADA DAY!

You know when you read repeatedly of a shop but don’t take the time to click through and explore? Well, I did that and feel like a moron for not knowing about Apples n’ Oranges sooner.

Owned by Ottawa moms Lara and Vicky, Apples n’ Oranges carries only Canadian brands. I am ashamed to say that I had no idea we Canucks had such amazing style. The selection is fabulous. With 33 brands to choose from, and growing, there’s no need to pay customs fees anymore. My wallet thanks you, ladies!

Apples n’ Oranges is the exclusive online retailer for my newest love, Vancouver based Peekaboo Beans - a functional and fashionable line of playwear that’s perilously close to being too nice to be playwear.

Each piece meets a “no fuss dressing” mission and is easy for children to get on and off when potty training or learning to dress themselves. Every piece mixes, matches and layers with the others and they’re more versatile than any line I’ve seen before - pants become capris, tunics become tanks and skirts become dresses to lengthen their lifespan. They’re also reversible for the inevitable spills while on the go. Made with high quality materials and super comfortable fabrics, there’s extra strength and durability built into the construction and the pieces are pre-washed. The pants feature a wide, flat waistband for comfort and all pieces use flat, seamless stitching for itch free wearing. The shirts are A-shaped and are a longer length than standard to accommodate those adorable kid-bellies. Added safety features are included, such as reflective piping, chin guards, and ironed in personal identification labels.

Peekaboo Beans is everything you want in a kids clothing line - perfect for playdate, playground and playtime…but you’ll want to make time for an impromptu photo shoot before you leave the house. This stuff is just that nice.

Save 20% on your first purchase with the code firsttop.

Win it! Apples n’ Oranges is giving away a Peekaboo Beans top AND bottom of the winner’s choice. To enter, leave a comment on this post with your choice of outfit should you be the lucky winner. (Be specific. As always, you can’t win if you’re too lazy to click through to this awesome shop. It’s bad karma.) Contest closes at noon MST on July 5/08.

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

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

You’ve likely read in the news, a parenting mag or any number of other places over the last decade that family dinners are on the decrease and, conversely, that regular family dinners contribute to academic success, decrease the risk of our children becoming crack heads and keep families connected in ways that are very necessary. As crazy as they are, I love family dinners.

If you’ve ever sat at a table in silence and wondered how to get the conversation started, you’re not alone. You won’t have to hear “Nothing…Nowhere…Nobody…” from your child anymore with the addition of the new card game, Family Talk, to your dinner table. The concept behind Around the Table Games is simple brilliance. These games should not be necessary, but with the state of family dinners in our society today they really, really are. Available in three versions, Family Talk, Family Talk 2 and Grandparent Talk are inexpensive, portable cards games on carribiners (or available in cool jars) that encourage conversations between parents, children and relatives of all ages.

Around the Table Games aren’t just for dinner at your dining room table. “Our games are like taking the dinner time conversation with you, wherever you go,” explains Around the Table Games founder Beth Daniels, herself a working mom. “Because our games are made to be portable, the proverbial table discussions can now be held at the airport, during carpool, waiting in a long line or wherever people gather in the same place at the same time.” You can clip them to a backpack or purse and use them anywhere you might have a few minutes to chat.

Grandparent Talk would make a fantastic gift for your childrens’ grandparents, and it’s just as much a gift for your own childrens. Allowing them and encouraging them to really know their grandparents is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Connecting young people to their family and to their heritage is just one of the things that’s missing from many families today and I, for one, am going to do my damnedest to make sure that my family talks - really talks - and Around the Table Games will sure help!

Save 20% when you buy direct with the code TOPFMT

Win it! One TOP reader will win your choice of the three Around The Table Games! To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on July 2/08 with your choice of the three versions of the game and either a suggested question for a future game or a tip for the rest of us to keep our families connected.

Get up to three additional entries into this contest! (Today you get the expanded version…just in case you need a refresher.)

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.

or

 Subscribe in a reader

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? Another reader? Email? They all work!

AND/OR

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 - Congratulations Jennifer!

I am often asked what inspired me to start The Opinionated Parent (mostly by people who don’t know what a blog is) and here’s the answer:

I am opinionated. Very, very opinionated. I always have been. When my firstborn arrived, I realized that I also had strong opinions about all of the “stuff” that comes along with parenthood. When I received the nursing pillow to end all nursing pillows (after having tried every one that’s available in local stores, so I do know what I’m talking about) I told everyone who would listen about how great it was. When I couldn’t find anyone else to listen, I started a blog.

And there you have it.

If you won’t listen, somebody else will. I will be heard.

(And I’m always right. Just ask my husband.)

My first ever post at the site now known as The Opinionated Parent was about The Baby Buddy Nursing Pillow. I encourage you to go back and read this post about just how fantastic it is and all of the reasons why I love it. Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, holding a baby, are pregnant (in my second pregnancy my Baby Buddy was a lifesaver and the only reason I was comfortable enough to sleep many nights!) or are simply cuddled up with a good book, I have no doubt that you will love The Baby Buddy too.

TOP readers always save 10% on their orders from TheBabyBuddy.ca with the code top10.

Win it! As the newest addition to our premium sponsors in the right sidebar and an exclusive “TOP Pick” of The Opinionated Parent, The Baby Buddy Nursing Pillow is giving away one of these great pillows with the flannel or cotton pillowcase of the winner’s choice! To enter, visit TheBabyBuddy.ca to choose your favourite pillowcase fabric. Then come back and leave a comment on this post letting us know which one you’d choose if you’re the lucky winner. Contest closes at noon MST on June 26/08.

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

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Remember ShooShoos?

We heard from approximately a ton of you who were super excited that we had found a less expensive alternative in high quality leather shoes that are not outsourced to China for manufacturing. We were excited too. It excites us to excite you, and we mean that in the most unobtrusive of ways.

The great folks a ShooShoos also caught the wave of excitement and have jumped in to offer you, TOP readers, a 10% permanent discount at their online shop! They’re the newest addition to our fabulous TOP Shops page.

If you’re looking for a great baby gift or some ultra-soft high quality leather shoes for your own babies or toddlers, use the code top at ShooShoos to save 10% on their already fantastic prices.

A Giftventure is a personalized treasure hunt service where all of the materials are custom made and delivered to you! You simply choose an adventure, a character, and a hiding place for a gift that you provide. Enter the location where you have the hidden gift, some of the child’s personal interests, (such as a favorite game, or a local landmark), and you’re all set! Using the information you provide, they create and mail a series of letters and puzzles addressed to the child who must solve the puzzles and follow the clues in the letters to discover the location of your hidden gift.

Trust me when I tell you that Giftventure is as cool as it sounds, if not cooler.

There are currently seven adventures to choose from with more coming soon, and there are seven characters that guide your child along their giftventure.

Giftventure has been undergoing some changes in the past months. Now customers can purchase general Giftventures without having to personalize them first. This means you can purchase, as an example, 3 giftventures. After purchase, you get a confirmation email with an individual ID code for each of the 3 giftventures. You can choose to personalize one right then, keep one saved on your member account to use for another occasion later in the year, send the ID code to a friend or family member for them to redeem on the site and personalize their own giftventure (just like a gift card) or any combination of the three.

Three families including my own were the first crazy Canucks to try Giftventure. They’ve just launched their company in to Canada and I know that if we spread the word it’s going to be huge here. (Canadians have good taste, after all.)

I used my Giftventure for my 9 year old niece. She is all about adventure and imagination and still firmly believes in all of the mythical people and creatures that children should. She was so pumped when she received the first letter that she drove me crazy until the next one finally arrived. The entire experience was wonderful and I know she’ll never forget it!

Read on to see what TOP writers Andrea and Raechelle thought of their own Giftventures:

A child’s imagination is something pretty spectacular. Just last night my kiddos were talking about zombies as if they were actual and factual, it was quite cute. Sometimes I find it difficult to feed their creativity to the length that they desire, but when we started The Treasure Map Adventure from Giftventure I could tell that they would be at their imaginative peak for the next few days.

The ordering online was very easy, just pick a character, fill out a bit of information like the children’s names (you can name up to three), a location by your house, and something that your children enjoy doing. This allows Giftventure to totally personalize your treasure hunt! I was able to order in less than five minutes and the checkout process was super easy. It arrived in the mail about a week later.

Upon opening the package I could see that this would be something the children would enjoy. It contained three envelopes that looked like they were sent directly from “Gunther the Dragon” (the character I chose), and inside them were a story and directions on how to find the hidden present! I had purchased a small gift to use at the end of the hunt. The treasure hunt lasted over the time span of about a week, where Gunther would drop off a letter with a few more instructions each time.

My two older children, ages 5 and 7, took part in the hunt. They’re still at the age where they actually believe dragons exist and that there’s a magical place called Cloudstead up in the clouds. For that week of fun my children went to bed speaking of Gunther and the hunt, and they would wake up looking for letters from this magical dragon. It was great seeing them so excited for something that I really didn’t even have to put any effort in to. All I had to do was buy a small gift, than play along, and giftventure took care of the rest. And now we have to figure out what to do with all of the letters that the kiddos have written to Gunther! And I think I may have to order more adventures for their birthdays (and Christmas, and Easter, and maybe Halloween too)! - Andrea

When Dad leaves for business trips it is always tough on my kids. My preschooler pines for her Dad, and the special time they spend together. This time I wanted something special to distract her while he was away so we had a Giftventure delivered.

We began the adventure on the first day her Dad was gone. We went to check the mail to discover a special letter for her. Being an avid fan of mail, she was extremely excited to open it up and start her Giftventure. (You can have them all delivered to the parents in one package or have them individually delivered to the children. If you’d like to have the control, you can just stick them in your own mailbox for the kids on certain days!)

I had hidden a special gift in our hall closet and on the following days she received more clues in the mail to guide her way. She absolutely adored that a fairy was taking her on this Giftventure. The map was AWESOME and we are now drawing treasure maps on a daily basis.

Before we knew it, Daddy was home and she shared her amazing story of her Giftventure with him. I would not hesitate to have more Giftventures in the future - especially now with the great service and very reasonable shipping rates to Canada. -Raechelle

Save 10% on your Giftventure with the code TOP10CAN.
This code is the newest addition to the TOP Shops - the most fabulous collection of online shopping discounts anywhere on the web!

Win it! We’re giving away a Giftventure to one lucky T.O.P. reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post by noon MST on May 29/08. (Yes, any comment - even the lazy ones will get through this time!) ONE ADDITIONAL WINNER will be drawn from those that blog about this contest and get the word out about Giftventure!

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED - Congrats Wendy and Angela!

Stuffed animals are one of those things you should avoid thinking too deeply about. Not only are they generally made of conventional cotton (one of the most pesticide dependent crops and just what you don’t want your children chewing on and sleeping with) but they’re often covered in slobber and all sorts of unknown creepies and crawlies.

No matter what your opinion on stuffed toys, I virtually guarantee that you and your kids will both love the Kallisto organic stuffed horse (pictured) from one of my new favourite shops, Wild Dill. Not only is this horse absolutely adorable (I mean, just look at him!) but he’s made of 100% organic cotton and stuffed with 100% wool (read: pesticide and chemical free, therefore safely chew-able and snuggle-able). Whinny, as he’s called at our house, is hand made in Germany to the highest of standards. He’s delightfully soft and I’m so glad my son’s newest fur-iend is not only safe for him but one more step toward our earth-friendly home.

Wild Dill products are all organic, fair trade, sweatshop-free, natural and/or recycled. They help you be kind to the earth while caring for your little one and it’s just the kind of shop opinionated parents quickly fall in love with.

Save 10% at Wild Dill with the code op10.

This code is the newest addition to the TOP Shops - a list of discount codes for only the most amazing shops on the web!

Win it! Wild Dill is giving away a $35 gift certificate to their most fabulous shop! To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on May 28, 2008 telling us what product(s) other than our beloved Whinny you’d use your gift certificate for should you be the lucky winner.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED - CONGRATS JENNI!

I’m a baby wearer. (Is there an echo in here? I wonder how many times I’ve typed those words.)

It’s definitely an addiction. I love the closeness and the hands-free parenting while still parenting, and am always excited to find more great carriers to share with you.

Not every carrier works for every parent, but I love the wrap style carrier for the comfort level. It’s like sticking your child inside a t-shirt. The wrapping takes a few tries to become easy, but once you’ve got it, it’s like riding a bike. I am loving the baby wrap carrier from Picara. It’s the only one I’ve seen that’s made from ribbed cotton so it only stretches one way - comfortable, but it never sags! I was in shock when I clicked through from the reader email recommending it and it was only $45. That’s a steal, even without a discount! (But you get a discount, because you’re special.)

Save 15% at Picara when you shop through this link.

Long time T.O.P. readers know how we feel about wearing babies. We love it, and many of us are carrier connoisseurs and collectors.

We’ve featured and will continue to feature some fabulous standard carriers, but today we bring you one of the coolest and comfiest carriers we’ve seen in a long time.

My Baby Nest is a soft cotton carrier featuring the comfort of a wrap without any of the actual wrapping and tying - the very two features that often scare parents away from the fabulous wrap carrier.

My Baby Nest consists of two large cotton loops and an easy buckle belt, and is incredibly easy to wear in five different positions, with or without the accompanying belt. It’s incredibly easy to nurse in and is comfortable to carry children from newborn up to and beyond my big two year old. Each Baby Nest comes with a matching carry bag to keep it clean and convenient. The carrier is currently available in four colours, with four more available for pre-order.

If you’ve always wanted to try a wrap carrier but are a little or a lot scared of the actual wrapping, My Baby Nest is made for you.

My Baby Nest is available in several retail and online locations or directly from their online store.

Save 10% on your own Baby Nest with the code opinion.

You’ll find My Baby Nest in the TOP Shops!

Wooden letters are all the rage nowadays in children’s rooms. They’re in all of the magazines and you can buy them pretty much everywhere. I’ve looked around a little bit and everything I’ve found I either have to paint myself (no thanks) or is a flat (and therefore generic) paint colour that doesn’t quite match my kids’ rooms. So I’ve kept looking and until recently hadn’t found quite what I wanted.

The decorated letters from So Called Mommy’s Etsy shop fit the bill perfectly. At only $7 per letter maximum and super cheap shipping, they’re not only less than half the price of most I’ve seen but they’re far more beautiful and each one is personalized exactly the way you want it.

So Called Mommy Stephanie Paxman made my newborn daughter the letters of her name to match her new room and her taste is fantastic. They’re crafty but not country and are adorned with scrapbooking accessories like bows & buttons. Unless you like a simpler look. She aims to please! They match our nursery perfectly and have been complimented by everyone who has seen them. As an added bonus, my 22 month old son can now read his sister’s name and recognizes it in other places because he’s read it so many times on her wall!

I love everything about Etsy, and it’s because of people like Stephanie that it’s such a success. At these prices, I’m not only supporting another mom but am saving myself hours of work and getting something even nicer than I could have made and more personalized than I’d ever get from a larger store. What a lovely gift it would be to have these letters made for a baby’s shower to match his or her nursery!

When you place your order, mention The Opinionated Parent to get 10% off.

Be the first reader to place an order from So Called Mommy and mention The Opinionated Parent and you get one free wooden letter in addition to the discount on your order!

Given my love of shopping for kids clothing online, I was both delighted and a teeny bit sad to discover the wonderful gifts available from Gifted Grasshopper. Delighted because there is truly no better gift than the gift of literacy, and a little sad because now that I have these awesome gift bags bursting with books in my radar there’s bound to be a lot fewer clothing purchases when a new baby arrives.

Founded by two first grade teachers turned moms Laura and Jen, The Gifted Grasshopper “is the result of a lifetime love of children’s literature, a love for sharing wonderful stories with children and for watching their eyes sparkle as they discover a new favorite book or author.”

The gifts come in four sizes - petite, small, medium & large - to fit every budget and there’s a large selection under $25. The signature tote bags are stuffed with books sorted according to age level and come with Gifted Grasshopper Glasses (to help your child spot new letters or words or even give them special reading powers), a Gifted Grasshopper bookmark with parent tips on it, and the adorable Griffen the Grasshopper as a special reading buddy for the recipient child.

Looking for a special theme bag? Laura and Jen will create a custom bag just for you when you.

The Gifted Grasshopper gives away a $44.99 bag each month to those who sign up for their e-mail list AND a $24.99 bag each month tho those who comment on their blog.

Save 10% on purchases of $24.99 or more with the code PARENT10.

I absolutely love bright colourful clothing on kids. Pastels be gone, I say!

If you feel the same way then you are sure to love my newest find, Polkadot Patch Boutique! They carry baby clothes (3-24 mos) and gifts that are as funky as the kids you’re shopping for. Got bigger kids? They’ve got them covered too!

Dresses like the one pictured at left make my heart melt. And not in a mushy “Oooh, look at the baby imitating an Easter egg” kind of way. Nope, not at all. It’s more like an “Oh my God - I simply must find that dress for my child and do you think those tights come in my size?” kind of way.

Bright and funky clothes like those at the Polkadot Patch make me yearn to be a little girl again. Thankfully I’ve got a daughter to dress or I might be one of those rather scary eclectic women you see dancing down the street in her striped tights.

Seriously though, I’ve never seen a shop so full of such amazing clothing. Nary a khaki to be found, both the clothing for boys and girls is a true statement to what childhood should be. Bright, colourful and never-ending fun.

Save 10% at the Polkadot Patch Boutique with the code TOP10.

This code is one of many listed in the TOP Shops - why pay full price at the greatest online shops when you have the TOP Shops at your disposal?

I’ve got one of those children that you can’t turn your back on.

Like, ever.

Not even for a split second.

Thanks to Itzy Bitzy squeaky shoes that I received for review, though, I no longer freak out immediately if I can’t see her for a moment, because I can hear her! It’s a brilliant concept, really, but I’ve never seen a pair before that was so affordable and also such high quality. So many of the shoes with great features and/or great looks have either hard leather, hard soles, are hard to get on and off or some other negative quality. Or they’re $70/pair for shoes for a two year old. Not at Itzy Bitzy though! I’m totally going to be keeping this company in business buying shoes for my own kids and for gifts for the next several years. At just $14.99 per pair you just can’t go wrong.

We’ve got the Sydney style in hot pink (pictured) and it’s completely adorable. My daughter loves them and will no longer wear any other pair. They have great shoes for boys and lots of other styles for girls.

Save 15% on already amazingly priced shoes with the code OParent15.
You can find Itzy Bitzy in the TOP Shops, where we feature exclusive discounts from some of our favourite and most highly recommended online retailers.

Win a pair of Itzy Bitzy shoes of your choice! To enter the random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 1/15/08 with ITZY BITZY in the subject line and tell us how many children company founder Michelle has. (Hint: The answer is not two.) Congratulations Kent!

I’ve always wanted to buy a pair of squeaky shoes for my son but the ones I’ve seen in local stores have been way overpriced and looked ‘undercomfy.’

Enter Itzy Bitzy. They have amazingly cute squeaky baby/toddler shoes for just $14.99/pair. For that price, I wondered if they’d be comfortable but my son has worn them daily since we received them for review from The Opinionated Parent and loves every minute of running around and squeaking for everyone. (And they bring out the cutest dancing feet!) The leather is soft and supple, the soles are super soft and flexible and the squeaker is loud enough to catch a runaway without being completely irritating.

We’ve got the Scotty style (pictured) and it’s completely adorable, but they have great shoes for both boys and girls and they’re all just $14.99. (Forgive me, did I already mention that they’re only $14.99? Because they’re only $14.99. Wheee!)

Save 15% on already amazingly priced shoes with the code OParent15.
Itzy Bitzy is the newest addition to the TOP Shops, where we feature exclusive discounts from some of our favourite and most highly recommended online retaulers.

Win a pair of Itzy Bitzy shoes of your choice! To enter the random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 12/24/07 with ITZY BITZY in the subject line and tell us one of the two charities that Itzy Bitzy sales support. Congratulations Betty!

The Silly Wagon is a fabulous new online mom-run store (check out their funky website!) and they’re off to a great start! I love the name, love the colours, love the philosophy & love their stock.

Though I don’t have a girl, you can bet that if I ever do she’ll be the proud owner of several of these great darling pinafores from Pink Dixie. In fact, if this baby I’m currently growing is of the female persuasion, her closet just might be full of these by next summer!

The darling pinafore comes in six adorable but not cutesie fabrics and features comfortable thick tank straps and a flared style that I am in love with.

As parents, we all know that that there’s one necessity if it’s going to be worn more than once: It’s machine washable and dryer friendly. And I assure you that it will be worn at every available opportunity.

The Silly Wagon offers international shipping at very reasonable rates and even FREE with any order of $200 or more! The Silly Wagon is constantly adding new merchandise - check here for details! (And don’t forget the sales!)

Get 10% off at The Silly Wagon forever and ever using the code op10.

You’ll find The Silly Wagon in our TOP Shops, where we feature permanent and exclusive discounts at some of our favourite online shops just for you!

Win a wildflower darling pinafore in your choice of size. Simple email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with SILLY in the subject line and tell us the name of another fabric pattern that this truly darling pinafore is available in. Contest closes Wednesday night 8/1/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Kailani!

Looking for something different in a shirt? Sick & tired of your kid looking just like everyone else’s?

Nina and Tom Family Fashions to the rescue!
As a solely owned and operated husband and wife business, Nina and Tom are everything we’re looking for in a great t-shirt company. They design and screen-print all of the shirts themselves, which is pretty darn cool if you ask us. Nina and Tom shirts are of exceptional quality. They’re all 100% cotton and many are organic cotton, which all opinionated parents approve of since we’re all about responsibility and eco-conscious living. They also use low impact water-based inks. I think I’m in love.

Need more proof that these artists offer a quality product? They vary the image size relative to the garment size, which is something you won’t see very often. If you ask nicely, they’ll vary the colour combinations and even the language used just to make you happy. It’s reminiscent of the good old days when customer service was the norm.

At $19 - $23 they won’t break the bank. Sure, you could get a cheaper shirt at a big box store that shall not be named, but you would be supporting child labour and unethical business instead of a great husband and wife team like Nina and Tom!

And, like all the rest of the cool kids, they have a blog. You’re not surprised.

Save 20% at Nina & Tom with the code oparent.
You’ll find Nina & Tom in the TOP Shops too! If you’re bitten by the shopping bug, always check the TOP Shops first!

You could win a 12 month membership to the Onesie a Month club - valued at $250 USD! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Nina & Tom in the subject header and tell us your favourite of the Nina & Tom ‘cheeky’ tees. Contest closes at midnight MST on 4/19/07. Congratulations Betty!

Help Wanted.

I was seriously considering getting a sign for my front window until recently, when I discovered Mommy’s Helper Inc., where helping Mom is their only business.

Mommy’s Helper is an online wholesaler dedicated solely to carrying baby and child products that make a parent’s life easier. Isn’t that what we’re all looking for?

They carry a plethora of diaper bags, safety products and convenience products.

The Opinionated Parents have been reviewing three of Mommy’s Helper’s top items.

The Perfect Feeder is a cleverly designed feeding bowl with a comfort grip handle and a snap on temperature sensing spoon that changes color when the food is too hot. There are two divided compartments which can be used as a regular divided dish or simply snap on the lid and it securely holds two baby food jars for feeding on the go. We loved it for outings - it keeps the dish, food and spoon all together, and there’s room to tuck a cloth or two in the handle, too.

The Cushie Traveler is a comfortably padded folding potty seat to take with you on the go. It’s compact enough to fit in a diaper bag (inside the sanitary washable carry bag, of course) but comfortable enough to remind the potty training child of home. The hinges are designed so that little fingers and bottoms can’t get pinched (I tried, they really can’t) and the whole thing is easily cleaned with a wipe because there are no hidden crevices to hold germs. There are times when a portable potty is great, like in a vehicle or in those “side of the road emergencies.” I don’t know about you, but I’m not carrying a whole potty into the mall with me, just in case. That’s when I’ll be using my Cushie Traveler.

Last, but very far from least, we’ve reviewed the Stor-a-stroller. As an organizational addict, this is perhaps my favourite new gadget. Each package contains two Stor-a-stroller straps that allow you to store your umbrella stroller (or folding lawn chair!) in the cargo area of your van or SUV or in the trunk of your car allowing the stroller to be anchored securely and safely and creating, finally, some space in the trunk. It can also be attached to the garage wall to keep your umbrella stroller off the floor and out of reach from curious hands.

You can find Mommy’s Helper Inc. products at lots of great online retailers.

We have one of each of these great products to give away to three separate lucky TOP readers. If you’d like to enter more than one contest (yes, you can!), please send a separate email for each. Send your entry to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with MH-feeder, MH-traveler or MH-stor-a-stroller in the subject header and list one other Mommy’s Helper Inc. item that would make your life much easier. Contest closes at midnight MST on 3/31/07. Congratulations to Nancy, Lia & Betty!)

LillaBoo designer and owner Vanessa Kee is a mama success story to make us all proud. Having had many years of a successful career in psychology, she left the ‘biz’ after the birth of her second daughter to stay home. When she could no longer stifle the creative juices, she began to design and create for the world she knew best - kids!

She started in the world of beautiful baby blankets and then expanded into other functional items for parents in her signature style that we think is just perfectly modern and totally not vurp-inducing cute. The LillaBoo Bag-A-Diaper and Messy Boo bibs are the perfect combination for a day out on the town when you’re past the point of needing to carry spare clothes and what seems like everything but the proverbial kitchen sink. Opinionated Parents especially love the bright colours and the noticeable lack of patterns in the 2007 Tutti Frutti collection

At just $11, her new baby kul tees make an awesome gift. We’re loving the “suck my thumb’ tee. My sentiments exactly.

Save 15% at LillaBoo.com with the code lilla15.
You’ll find LillaBoo in the TOP Shops linked under our header
where we feature exclusive discount codes for TOP recommended online stores.
Bitten by the shopping bug? Hit the TOP Shops first!

Want to enter to win a LillaBoo bib in ‘kumquat’? Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with LillaBoo in the subject header and the correct answer to the question What’s another colour the LillaBoo bib comes in? Contest closes at midnight MST on 3/28/07. Congratulations Karen!

It didn’t take long for Stella Bella Boutique to become a favourite of The Opinionated Parents. Erin McCabe created her company based on the beautiful “blanquilts” that she was creating for all of her ‘new mommy’ friends.

Her blanquilts are what first drew us to Stella Bella Boutique, but now we can’t stay away!

The blanquilts are minky dot chenille on one side and a quilted mix of minky-chenille, chenille, satin, flannel, and cotton on the other. They’re available in lots of predesigned styles or you can design your own from a huge selection of gorgeous fabrics. Babies and children love cuddling up with these amazing hand-made quality blankets, and infants are endlessly entertained by the unique colours and textures.

The mommy & daddy daydreamer robes from Stella Bella Boutique are true luxury. The pictures on the site are lovely, but you won’t believe the amazing look and feel of these robes when you see them in person. They’re incredibly fluffy and luxuriously soft. The chenille has a slight stretch to it, making these verifiably the most comfortable robes in all the world.

Both the blanquilts and the robes are monogrammable. I can’t think of a more luxurious & beautiful mommy n’ me gift.

Also check out Stella Bella’s custom made crib bedding and made to order gift baskets.

Just wow.

Save 10% at Stella Bella Boutique with the code STELLA.

You’ll find Stella Bella Boutique in the TOP Shops, where we feature exclusive discounts for our favourite TOP recommended online stores.

Two separate TOP readers will be spoiled like royalty by Stella Bella Boutique. Enter to win your choice of a gorgeous daydreamer robe for mom/dad or a luscious blanquilt in snugglie, carriage or crib size. Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with your preference of SB robe or SB blanquilt in the subject header and tell us What’s one item from the Mommy n’ Me shop that you’d love to own for yourself. Contest closes March 28/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations to Carmen F & Betty W!

If it weren’t for humour, pregnancy & parenthood would be a complete tear-fest on a lot of days. What with all the sleepless nights, explosive poops and inconsolable crying (for mom and baby), I might have flipped the switch to certifiably insane without the constant laughter.

Friends and co-founders of Georgie Tees LeShan and Emily took humour into their own hands when they created their unique line of maternity tees for mom and onesies for baby.

All funny aside for a moment, these are some nice tees. Made of pre-shrunk 100% cotton, they’re as soft & comfy as they come. The onesies are available in sizes ranging from 3-24 months and the maternity tees are a roomy “one size fits most.”

Now, back to the funny. The funny is, after all, what makes Georgie Tees so unique in the huge to overflowing children’s clothing market. The infant tees are sure to make you laugh with sayings such as “I wasn’t born yesterday,” “I Scream” (with a pic of an ice cream cone) and “Bald is beautiful.” They also have some great sets for twins like “Good things come in pears” and “Can’t have one without the other” featuring cookies on one and milk on the other.

The maternity tees feature such witty slogans as “Does this shirt make me look fat?” “Bigger is Better” and “No longer childproof.” If you’re looking for a conversation starter or a little extra attention, just put on a Georgie Tee and head out of the house. Perfect strangers will laugh with you.

Georgie Tees plans to add a new maternity tee and onesie around Mother’s Day, so be sure to head back to their site around that time for new designs!

Save 10% at Georgie tees with the code “opinionated” in the comments section at checkout.
You’ll find Georgie Tees in the TOP Shops!

Want to win? Of course you do! We’ve got a Bigger is Better one size maternity tee and a Heavy Drinker infant onesie (6-12m) up for grabs. Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Georgie (big) or Georgie (little) in the subject line and tell us what’s one design from Georgie tees that you love that hasn’t been mentioned in this review? Contest closes 3/26/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Yolanda and Julia!

Every baby needs the basic, but the basics don’t need to be boring! That’s the motto of Bella Tunno, founded by Michelle Tunno Buelow and Todd Buelow.

Their commitment to that motto is evident in all of their products. Check out these great reversible bibs (no more ducks and trucks!) and my personal favourite - the laminated and 100% machine washable play smocks. I’m all about letting kids get dirty, but I’m also all about saving their clothes without subjecting them to dad’s old shirt.

Tired of the giant giraffe holding your child’s pacifier to their shirt? Check out the Bella Tunno binkers - a fashion forward alternative…finally.

Not much is better than shopping charitably. A portion of every Bella Tunno sale is donated to the Matt Tunno Memorial Fund. This fund was established in loving memory of Michelle Tunno Buelow’s late brother.

Save a whopping 20% at Bella Tunno with the code TOP.
Find Bella Tunno in the TOP Shops, featuring exclusive shopping discount codes for readers of The Opinionated Parent.
Bitten by the shopping bug? Check the TOP Shops first!

Enter to win a super star laminated play smock (pictured) by emailing theopinionatedparent@gmail.com. Please put Bella Tunno in the subject line and tell us one other product that’s available from their website. Contest closes at midnight MST on 3/26/07. Congratulations Lizanne!

When mom of two young children Jodi Crisp realized she had pushed her own dreams aside to care for her children, she began the soul-search for a creative business opportunity that she’d truly enjoy. She eventually came up with her own line of adorable children’s clothing and opened her store, Roslyn’s Closet.

Jodi hand-illustrates many of the items at Roslyn’s Closet, like this adorable brand new onesie. Does it get any cuter?

She also creates adorable circular text and monogram designs. I’m loving this big brother shirt ~ what a great way to announce an upcoming arrival to the family!

Roslyn’s Closet apparel is all 100% cotton, washes up wonderfully and has no itchy scratch tags. All of Jodi’s fun and timeless designs are available on onesies and t-shirts for only $14, and on baby hats for only $6. At those prices, I suggest buying in multiples. It never hurts to stock up on baby gifts!

Save 10% at Roslyn’s Closet with the code M2005.
You’ll find Roslyn’s Closet in the TOP Shops, where we feature permanent discounts exclusively for TOP readers.

Enter to win a ‘Cowboy’ T-shirt (size 18 mos) by emailing theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Roslyn’s Closet in the subject header and tell us What’s your fave design from Roslyn’s Closet? Contest closes March 23/07 at midnight MST.

The infant onesies & toddler T’s from Tomat Kids are like a flashback to the seventies. In a good way.

Par.entrepreneur and Tomat designer Efi Latief creates uber cool graphics reminiscent of the days before everything for the under five set was plastered in licensed characters. Ahhh, those were the days. If you’re not a cutesy frou frou type of parent, you’re sure to love Let’s Rock & Roll, Sugar High and my personal fave, Under The Influence.

Instill a sense of humour and a sense of style in your kids with Tomat tees.

Save 10% at Tomat Kids with the code TOP2007.
You’ll find Tomat Kids in the TOP Shops, where we feature permanent and exclusive discounts for TOP readers.

In the mood to win? We have a teal “almost famous” toddler tee in size 4T and it might be yours. Email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with Tomat in the subject line and the correct answer to the question Who is the inspiration for Tomat Kids designs? Contest closes at midnight on 3/22/07. Congratulations Laurie!

Par.entrepreneur and mother of two, Tanya Petruk, is the founder of the awesome Canadian online boutique Blue Blankie.

Blue Blankie launched in 2005 with the goal of carrying items that aren’t found in other online stores in Canada and a focus on high end gifts.

The gorgeous apparel is enough to make your ovaries ache. Check out the amazing Bizoux Bizoux fluffy set. Wow.

They also carry some fab diaper bags - even some especially for dad, and some of the coolest toys I ever did see. (Any chance this comes in my size?)

Looking for unique furniture? Look no further than Blue Blankie. I’m especially loving the soft chenille Maxi Plume chair as baby’s first bean bag chair.

Blue Blankie offers free shipping in Canada on orders over $49. Watch the Blue Blankie Boutique blog for new product information, sales and more!

Get 10% off your Blue Blankie Boutique order with the code PPBDSC94.
You’ll find Blue Blankie in the TOP Shops, where we feature permanent discounts from TOP approved stores for readers like you!

Win a beautiful signature satin trimmed blue blankie! Email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with Blue Blankie in the subject line and tell us “If it came in your size, which toy from Blue Blankie would you want?” Get your entries in by midnight MST on 3/19/07. Congrats Samantha!

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If you’ve ever left the house with your children, you know how much hassle traveling can be. Whether it’s to the mall, the next town or the next continent, in a car or on a plane, success is all about preparedness.

As the parents of big Madison & small Allie, Suzanne & Mellanie know that the pleasure of traveling with children can only be truly enjoyed if the kids are happily occupied. With that in mind, they created a children’s online travel store, Madallie.com, and have searched high and low to bring you some incredibly creative items to help keep your kids occupied (and keep you sane) whenever you’re on the road.

So ~ plan ahead with Madallie.com and surprise your big & small kids with gifts to treasure while you all spend some relaxing time together.

Get 10% off your Madallie.com purchase with the code TRAVEL.
You’ll find Madallie in our TOP Shops!

One lucky TOP reader will win a $50 Madallie.com gift card. Email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with Madallie in the subject line and the answer to the question “What is one item that Madallie carries that is not mentioned in this review?” Contest closes at midnight MST on Friday, March 16, 2007.

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Founded in 2006 by Canadian mother and teacher Kirsten Fantazir, Fantaztic Learning Store offers products selected by educators for educators (and parents!) that compliment Canadian curriculum and align with Canadian learner expectations. If you cannot find what you are looking for, just ask us and she will search her selection of over 24 000 products for you. If you’re a teacher or homeschooling parent planning a unit, just email Kirsten and she will provide a list of appropriate resources for you…free! Now that’s the kind of service opinionated parents (and teachers!) love.

As a parent, Kirsten appreciates the advantages of learning through play. We know that educational toys are one of the best ways to encourage explorational and discovery learning. For some great ideas, browse the Fantaztic educational toys section.

My personal favourite right now is the Play Foam. Squish it, shape it, save it….or smoosh it and start all over again! We tested out the PlayFoam as compared to similar brands on the market, and we love this stuff. It lasted a 3 and 5 year old well over an hour and they still weren’t bored. Best of all, when they were done and we went outside to play, we just left it on the table for later because it never dries out! It’s a lightweight, colorful foam sculpting material that won’t crumble and it doesn’t stick to skin or any surfaces that we tried. It’s one of those great ‘no cleanup required’ toys that encourages imaginary play and is stress-free for parents. When you’re done for the day, just toss it in a bag or a container and your PlayFoam will be just like new the next time you take it out. If that’s not enough, PlayFoam is non-toxic and, for those kids who tend to eat their sculpting materials, contains no gluten/protein ~ No worries!

Get 10% off your order with the code TOP07.
Find Fantaztic Learning Store in the TOP Shops!

You can win a 6 pack of fabulous Fantaztic Play Foam ~ simply email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with Fantazic in the subject line and the answer to the question “What 2 products would you be most likely to purchase in the next year from Fantaztic Learning?” Help Kirsten learn what catches the attention of opinionated parents like you, and have a chance to win in the process! Get your entries in by midnight MST on Friday, March 2, 2007. Congratulations, Louise!

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Big fashion for little people is what you’ll find at Urban Baby Runway. It’s a one stop shop - baby carriers, clothing, accessories and more. All carefully selected for funkiness.

My very favourite? The UBR limited editions.

The made-to-order baby jedi set, seen at left, made my ovaries hurt with its’ incredible cuteness!

And the smock dresses for little girls? So funky! Made from both vintage and modern fabrics, one size fits from 6 months to 2T and beyond (seen at right). A great investment, but at only $30, it’s not an investment price.

Check out Urban Baby Runway soon to take advantage of their sale on BabyLegs (buy 3, get 1 free). We have them and love them for crawling protection, preventing cold ankles and keeping socks on.
For information on specials and to see what’s new, check out the UBR blog.

TOP readers get 20% off your order until April 15, 2007. Enter the coupon code UBRTOP20.

Once this special is over, TOP readers will, forever and a day, receive FREE SHIPPING from Urban Baby Runway with the code UBRTOP. Find them on our TOP Shops page!

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I’m a sucker for kids clothes that don’t look like kids clothes [read: no pastel teddy bears allowed], yet don’t make them look like a walking Bratz doll or a miniature pimp.
The Harajuku lovers line, designed by Gwen Stefani, are one great option and they’re available at TOP favourite MalibooKids, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. MalibooKids carries 12 unique and non-pastel brands of cool kid-wear carrying the TOP seal of approval.
They also carry a cool selection of novelties. How tempting is it to send your child to school with a recess snack in a Chinese takeout bag?

MalibooKids donates $5 from every Haute Stuff Peace Tee purchase to www.warchild.ca. Now that’s a policy any Opinionated Parent can love.

One of my personal online shopping frustrations is when you find an awesome deal and it costs you more to ship it than the item is worth. Not with MalibooKids! They offer free shipping in Canada and the USA with orders of $40 or more. And all store prices are in Canadian funds, so Opinionated American parents pay even less than the already very reasonable list prices!

TOP readers get 10% off your orders with the promo code OPINION. Find Maliboo Kids on our TOP Shops page!

MalibooKids is offering two of our lucky readers $25 promotional codes to be used toward a purchase at their online store. To be entered in the random draw, send an email to theopinionatedparent [at] gmail [dot] com with MALIBOO in the subject heading and the answer to the question: What’s the one thing available at MalibooKids that you want most for your non-pastel adorned kid/grandkid/niece/nephew/neighbour…? Contest closes at midnight MST on Friday, February 9, 2007. The two winners will be contacted via email with your personalized promotional code. Congratulations to Frannie and Sarah!

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