LiLiKiKs is a fabulous new-to-me company created by a mom of three active girls and based in Vancouver, BC (Go Canada!) that makes age-appropriate sportswear that girls actually want to wear.

Now, imagine that. Novel idea, no?

I was excited just browsing the website to see the clothes I buy for myself at conferences for fitness professionals (the most modest you can buy there!) in mini-versions for kids like mine who aren’t allowed to play with or dress like Bratz dolls. We received the Ragcap short sleeve tee, Langur capri and Teamster jacket for review, and I was more than excited – THRILLED – with every piece.

We haven’t had them long, but we’ve washed them now three times and my daughter has worn them twice, and they look just like new. That may not seem like long, but I am physically & mentally unable to wash clothes properly and she’s a rough & tumble (and messy) kid, so it’s good for us! The material is smooth, soft & supple, doesn’t ride up and is highly breathable.

Now that we’ve found LiLiKiKs for her, perhaps they’ll start making my size so I don’t have to wait until my next conference to get great workout clothes without paying Lululemon prices?

Adriana Berlanga, owner and president of Bersica Futurewear – a new high-tech children’s clothing line – sent my daughter one of their polo shirts to try out. They sell for under twenty bucks and make some pretty fantastic claims.

Bersica Futurewear is the first line of high-performance children’s clothing that redefines the meaning of “future” by combining the two things that will give us a better tomorrow—conservation and innovation. They use Swiss Schoeller fabric manufactured with NanoSphere® textile technology to create stylish, fun clothes for children that contain no harmful chemicals or dyes; are very soft and fully breathable; extremely liquid, stain, oil and dirt repellent; abrasion resistant; highly durable; quick-drying; self-cleaning; and environmentally friendly while also protecting children from harmful UV rays.

One important thing to note about Bersica Futurewear items are the washing instructions, which you must follow. They are machine washable in warm/cold water with mild liquid detergent with no fabric softeners or bleach. Tumble or hang dry and use a low heat dry iron (no steam) to smooth out wrinkles if necessary. Easy – that’s how I was all of my clothes.

The shirt is soft and my daughter says it’s comfortable, and it’s pink – which is the only colour she’ll currently wear, so that’s a bonus – but I wanted to put the features to the test. It’s easy to spill in our house – it takes no effort at all, in fact, since we come by it honestly. The first try gave us bright red spaghetti sauce, a big slop of yogurt and some milk. The milk literally rolled off the shirt with NO sign it had ever been there. The yogurt blobs and spaghetti sauce looked like they’d be more challenging. I took her shirt off, rinsed it under water and it looked, quite literally, just like new. Nothing left. At all. I was amazed!

I don’t really know what nano-technology is, but I like it.

Kids. Whether they’re on the autism spectrum, have a sensory processing disorder or are just kids easily annoyed by seams, they and everyone around them will be grateful for our find of SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Socks. They’re the first I’ve seen that are 100% truly seamless and they’re also form-fitting ensuring that there are no wrinkles or bunches. A form-fitting design hugs little feet and makes SmartKnitKIDS perfect for infant & toddler socks. No matter how wiggly the child, the socks don’t come off. SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Socks do not have a heel so they can easily and confidently be slipped on and allows them to worn until they’re worn out rather than outgrown. They’re made of smart fabric that’s both antimicrobial and moisture wicking for comfortable and less-stinky little feet.

SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Socks are available from TheraWear for about $6/pair.

Win it! We’re giving away three pairs of gender neutral SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Socks. To enter, simply comment on this post before noon mst on March 22, 2010.

COMMENTS CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

We live in the land of toboganning, snow angels and daily snowman creation, and not much ends a snow-play afternoon quicker than frozen fingers, snow in the sleeves or mittens buried in a snow pile. With our recent discovery of Smittens, from Canadian company January Baby, we no longer have that problem with our two year old. Smittens are no-escape mitten for children between 6 months and 2.5 years that they can’t take off. They come in 4 sizes and 7 different colour combinations. They’re made with soft, warm, Canadian-milled Blizzard brand polar fleece and are made in Canada for Canadian winters. Well, for any cold kid, really, but if they’re good in Canada they’re good anywhere, right?

So how do they work? You place your child’s hand into one pocket, wrap the Smitten around the child’s back and place the other hand in the other pocket. Then put on the child’s jacket or snowsuit, and that’s it! The pockets will come up to the child’s elbows so there is no way the child can pull them off, but an adult can easily pull one off and get it back on for snacking and nose-picking emergencies. Smittens are loved by parents all over North America, and are available online ($15) and in select baby boutiques.

Win it! We’ve got a selection of Smittens to give away to T.O.P. readers. To enter, comment with your choice before noon mst on January 19, 2009. Your choices are (1)size large primary, (2)size medium blue or (3) size small two-tone green.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

Chipoupine recently sent my daughter the new teddy sweater, pictured above. Inspired by the colourful macaroon candies in France that you see bottom right in the above collage, the sweater is 100% cotton microfibre and is ultra-soft and super warm, but lets skin breathe. In Canada, this sweater is perfect for so many reasons. In the summer it’s great for a post-swim warm up or an evening outside. In the spring and fall it’s an all day addition to any outfit, and in the winter it’s such a cozy top to put on your daughter when she comes in from toboganning or making snow angels. When I say ultra-soft, I really do mean ULTRA soft. The pile on the fleece is so thick that it just feels like a big hug. It’s lined in only the right places with a light cotton. There are many areas where the soft fleece is right on your child’s skin, and there are no scratchy seams like you feel on many lower quality fleece items.

Designed in Paris by an independent Dutch designer, Ghislaine, the Teddy sweater sells for 35 Euros but is available in North America sans probleme as Chipoupine has a North American office (and they’re searching for Canadian stores now – email your suggestions!)

The Teddy Sweater comes in red, blue and green, as pictured above, and the sizes range from 1 year to 7 years as below.

Size 1 = 81 cm / 32 inches (1 to 2 years)
Size 2 = 97 cm / 38 inches (2 to 3 years)
Size 3 = 107 cm / 42 inches (3 to 4 years)
Size 4 = 116 cm / 45 1/2 inches (6 to 7 years)

Get a free Chipoupine shirt (valued at 18 Euros) along with some fabric markers to decorate it when you purchase a Teddy Sweater before January 15, 2010. You can email Ghislaine directly to let her know the size you’d like your freebie in, and mention T.O.P. in the email.

Win it! The teddy sweater in your choice of colour & size is up for grabs. Just comment on this post before noon mst on December 21, 2009. Tell us what colour/flavour of macaroon you think is Ghislaine’s favourite. (No matter what your guess, you’ll be entered in the random draw…but her fave is visible in the photo and is on one of the shirts!)

You can become a Chipoupine fan on Facebook for an extra entry – comment separately.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

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

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

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

Chic Peek makes functional, fashionable.

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

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

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

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

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

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

Picaflor’s knits are 100% Rayon, a natural fiber made from recycled wood pulp. Not only is it environmentally friendly, it’s soft and comfortable on the skin. Rayon is hypoallergenic, incredibly absorbent and wicks moisture away, making it great for year round weather. Our rayon has a superb drape and retains brilliant colors, making it the perfect material for Picaflor’s innovative, fresh designs. All of our clothing is machine washable and dryer friendly.

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

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

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

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Being children of a chemist, my kids are bound to have more exposure to science than most. They already hang out with their Dad at his lab and office when they get a chance.

You can imagine my excitement when we received our Careertoon Store T-Shirts! Not only are the Careertoon Store t-shirts high quality, they are also totally cute! I really like that the Careertoon Store t-shirts are gender specific. Women tend to be under-represented in the sciences, however we want our daughters to know that they can have any career they desire. There are plenty of t-shirts on the market with negative messages. Having a positive message that encourages education and self-esteem in all children is awesome.

When my daughter wears her Future Scientist shirt, almost everyone stops to read it. My husband’s co-workers especially got a kick of it. I love that she can proudly wear a unique, fun and positive shirt.

When the Careertoon Store package arrived, I was thoroughly impressed. All the items were packaged well and with great care. Careertoon Store was a concept created by a mother and daughter team; talk about inspiring! I was so enchanted by the illustrations created by the daughter when she was eight years old! When I started writing this review, I was impressed with the product in itself. Then I read the forces behind Careertoon Store. The whole reason for the company is the love and belief of a mother in her daughter. Supporting a company that so strongly believes in the children of the future leaves me with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Not only does the Careertoon Store carry some fun, inspiring, quality t-shirts, the same messages and great quality can be found on greeting cards, magnets and key chains. I look forward to sending Grandparents a Future Scientist greeting card and I admire our Future Scientist magnet every time I head to the fridge.

What does your child aspire to be when they grow up?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to show your support of their dreams with a t-shirt? – by Chelle

Win it! To win your choice of Careertoon Store tee, comment before noon mst on June 8, 2009 with your choice of logo and size.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I live in a drought ridden area of Canada, but have a lot of family & friends on the coasts where the rain is so prevalent and so heavy that it’s not only depressing but also keeps people inside when they should be out playing. We love to visit, but it’s always so nice to get away from the rain when we leave.

Some people can’t just fly home to dry off, though. For those, thank goodness for Raindrops Baby Gear, a company based in the small & rainy community of Pitt Meadows, BC. Owner and designer Corri Seers has created some awesome designer style baby & toddler rain hats without the accompanying designer prices. Both of my children wore a Raindrops hat in our last (relatively rare so always exciting) rain and not only did they love being able to play out in the rain without a cumbersome hood restraining their movements and restricting their vision, but I loved that they looked far cuter than really should be legal. The wide brims actually kept water off the children’s faces, unlike their hoods, and the velcro straps kept the hats on while they puddle jumped with an insane amount of energy. If you’re looking for a fashionable way to get your kids out in the rain, you’ll find it at Raindrops for under $30.

Corri uses 100% designer cottons that have been coated with polyurethane to make them waterproof. The hats are lined with either soft bamboo cotton or bamboo fleece. All of her products are both designed and manufactured in Canada, and Raindrops Baby Gear uses sustainable products wherever possible. Sizes XS – XL are available, covering newbies to school aged kids.

Win it! Raindrops Baby Gear is giving away a hat to one randomly selected T.O.P. reader. To enter, visit the Raindrops site to choose your style and size and then leave a comment letting us know your choice before noon mst on March 31, 2009.

(Thanks for the emails about the link issue. It’s now fixed, and fyi you can click on the image in any post to be taken directly to the reviewed site.)

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

You know the point in your pregnancy where your regular pants don’t fit but you feel goofy in your huge mat pants? You know the point at the end of your pregnancy when even your maternity pants don’t fit anymore and you start shopping for flattering tents? You know the first time you want to leave the house with your new baby and you feel goofy in your maternity pants (since it’s kind of obvious that you’ve already had your baby) but they’re the only things you can get done up? (Man, we put our bodies through a lot for those little people, don’t we?)

Enter Ingrid & Isabel, the company behind the BellaBand. Worn at the waistline, it’s a stretchy, seamless band that helps mamas wear their pre-pregnancy favorites longer and fit into cute maternity styles sooner. For those of us who take more than a week to get back into our skinny jeans, the BellaBand can also be used post-partum to transition back into our old favorites. Once you own one, you’ll see that it’s an essential maternity accessory. One of those things you didn’t know you needed until you had it. The BellaBand is available in everyday, everyday lace and seasonal colours and is worth every cent of the $35 – $50 they retail for. During my first pregnancy I had something similar custom made by a talented local seamstress for about 1/3 that price, and I can tell you now that I’ve tried both that I’d rather have one BellaBand than the 4 others I had. It’s seam free and I have no idea how it can be so supportive while being so soft.

If you’re like me and need a little, um, extra support in the boobage, the Ingrid & Isabel Everyday Cami is utterly (and ‘udderly’ – heh) awesome. The Everyday Cami is a seamless-knit camisole with a crêpe finish that’s perfect for wearing with absolutely everything. Like the BellaBand, it’s ultra soft and is cut long to keep your belly covered throughout your entire pregnancy. They were tested to ensure the fabric would resist pilling, fading and losing its elasticity with frequent washing and wearing and it passed with flying colours. My “real mom test” was equally successful. I love this thing! You will too, because it will hug your growing belly, create a smooth silhouette under your cute new maternity tops, and cover your belly under your favorite pre-pregnancy tops. Even if your youngest baby is a year old. ‘Not that I’d know.

Win it! We’ve got a size 2 BellaBand and a size 2 Everyday Cami in white to give away to one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on March 6, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

And he got it from Appaman.

We know you’re always looking for great duds for your littles that you can’t find at that horrendous place that rhymes with Mall Fart, and we won’t let you down.

Appaman is ‘inspired by, and named after, the childhood companion of founder and designer Harald Husum. While growing up in Norway, Husum befriended a corduroy ape named Appaman. Together they traveled the fields and fjords of their native land, sharing many fantastic adventures. Appaman relects the whimsical spirit of those youthful times and celebrates the unbreakable bond between a boy and his ape.’

The spring/summer ’09 collection is hip & whimsical. The boys line is freaking adorable. Check out that track suit over there. How cute (but not one bit “cutesie”) is that? My son sports the monkey tee in a gorgeous sage-y green and and it’s pretty awesome. We dig the simple ape design and he digs the thick, soft cotton. It’s thicker than any other tee in his wardrobe and feels blankety soft even after washing.

Like many good things, it’s only available for a limited time so pick up what you want now before the fall/winter collection makes it’s debut.

Give your kid some street cred – Give him Appaman.

Win it! We’ve got an Appaman monkey tee in size 4 for one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on March 6, 2009.

Remember. you can get a bunch of extra entries in every T.O.P. giveaway…

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CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

When it comes to dressing children, different is good. It’s a rare day when you’ll find our smalls in some mass-produced (by Chinese children – ahem) crap you can find at a big box store. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to dress them in a way that they don’t look like every neighbour kid does.

Hiho Batik, designed by Miami mom Julia Silver Gordon, is a great option for the cool parent. The ancient art of batik – using wax and dyes to create an image – is inherently one of a kind. Each 100% cotton piece is hand waxed & died individually in the USA, and is as unique as the kid that wears it.

The Hiho Batik label features items ranging from tanks & tees to yoga pants & tote bags. My daughter wore a Hiho shirt to a local gathering of parents & kids and most of the comments she received were “You must have gotten that online.” It’s obvious when you have well dressed kids who break the norm, and if you’re that kind of parent you’ll love anything you pick up from Hiho.

The tops range from $32 (baby) – $38 (adult) and are available from the Hiho Batik online shop. They’re casual enough to look great with denim or yoga pants, and they actually insist that you toss them in the dryer and don’t hang them up to dry. For someone like me who does laundry by the armful and never remembers to hang anything, those are instructions I can actually follow!

Incidentally, my daughter’s tee is the same one as Sasha Obama wears. Not that we care about that.

Win it! We’re giving away a boys’ skateboard tee in a size 6. To enter, visit the Hiho Batik site and comment here with your fave(s) that are not mentioned in this post. Contest closes at noon mst on March 2, 2009.

Extra big thanks to those of you who emailed to let me know I copied and pasted the only word that I spelled wrong when typing this at 2 am!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I’ve always wanted a tutu. < / embarrassing confession >

The tutus from Janie Dale’s Baby Cha Cha Boutique fit the bill perfectly if you’re looking for a sassy tutu for your little girl. (Or for you – she can custom make anything so I’m sure a 30″ waist wouldn’t be a problem.) They’re all elasticized to grow with your little girl and made with a metric tonne of soft-ish tulle so they’re super fluffy & full as a tutu should be.

The standard sizes run from newborn to seven years. The newborn (0-12 months) sample we received was too small for my daughter at 10 months (which, quite literally, broke her heart because it’s so darn cute) so I recommend buying a size up if you have a child with any sort of belly going on. (Mine is very long & lean but has a nice solid Buddha thing going on which makes the elastic too tight. It would have fit her as a newborn, though. Just something to keep in mind when you’re ordering.)

You’ll also find some longer halter style tutu gowns in the Baby Cha Cha Boutique that I know would be a huge hit with any little girl. She also makes adorable hats, headbands, bows, onesies, flip flops and some wall decor for baby’s room – all of which are equally adorable and sassy.

Win it! We’ve got a white crochet headband with a red rosette attached to give away to one randomly selected reader. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before noon mst on February 11, 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 Canadian winter thus far has been less than enjoyable. With decimeters of snow (that’s kind of like feet everywhere in the world but in the US) and a wind chill hitting -50 C we don’t go anywhere without our skin covered. No matter the weather, though, a new baby loses a lot of heat through their head and needs it covered in all but the warmest of climates. When I had my first child, I had a lot of outfits with accompanying hats at the ready, but none of the hats fit. Luckily it was late spring so I was alright without one since he was tucked in a sling most of the time, but had it been any time between September and April I’d have been desperate for some Wee Hats.

Developed by Paige Brown, a mom of two, when she brought her second child home from the hospital like her brother before here with nothing to bedazzle her head but the tiny hospital toque, the Wee Hat fits a newborn noggin perfectly, is warm and has no scratchy interior seams or tags. They’re super soft, made of a cashmere-like 100% cotton sweater yarn and the colours & style are totally cute & stylish. The chocolate brown that comes in each set is too cute for words. Each set of three hats sells for $35 and is available from the Wee Hats site. They come in lovely gift packaging and would make an awesome pre-birth shower gift. I, for one, am pumped that my next child won’t don a hospital hat knit by well-meaning eighty year old women for more than the few moments that it takes for us to change him or her into a Wee Hat.

Win it! We’re giving away your choice of a Wee Hat three pack. To enter, leave a comment on this post with your colour choice before noon mst on January 12, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

This year has been a tricky year for a lot of families. With Canada and the United States in a recession, many families are scaling back this holiday season. Our family just bought our first home, so I knew in advance that I had to balance a great Christmas within a tight budget. I have been known to go a little overboard in years past. We have moved a lot and I was constantly wrapped up in trying to make up for that. With the best intentions in mind, I went overboard on spending.

This year I was determined to make Christmas mean more and ultimately cost less. I purchased the children a few select items that I knew they would adore then began working on simpler, more creative ways to make the celebration wondrous. Did I mention we just moved? This goal of mine was getting complicated. How do I keep it simple, inexpensive and wonderful all at the same time?

I have had wonderful opportunities to sew up awesome aprons and a tutu from YouCanMakeThis.com before and knew that I could count on them for the perfect pattern. I chose the “Easy-Fit” Pants – Girls & Boys! Sizes 1-10 (Doll sizes, too!) pattern and got down to work. I wanted a pattern that I could use over and over for all the kids, knowing that each time I sewed with it I would come up with better results. The pattern is detailed and easy to work with. Since I was under time constraints it was awesome to whip through a pair of pajama bottoms in an evening (even with distractions from the kids!)

I made these matching PJ’s (pictured) for under $30 (including the pattern from YouCanMakeThis.com that I totally plan on reusing)! I know the kids are going to love the penguins in Santa hats and totally dig that they are matching. Extra bonus … totally adorable Christmas morning pictures of the kids in their ‘made with love’ PJ bottoms!

If you are looking for inspiration this Christmas that is not only cute but also thrifty, be sure to check out the YouCanMakeThis.Com blog where they hosted the “Thrifty Under 50” Challenge – encouraging a handmade holiday for under $50. The projects that the 50 participants came up with are absolutely fabulous. Next year, I am totally going to make even more of an effort to make more, spend less and enjoy the celebration with my family. By Chelle

Save 10% at YouCanMakeThis.com with the code MakeGifts until 12/31/08.

Win it! Two randomly selected winners will receive an eBook of their choice with a maximum value of $20 each. To enter, visit YouCanMakeThis.com and then leave a comment on this post letting us know which pattern to send you if your number is drawn. Contest closes at noon mst on December 18, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

My children, it seems, were fortunate to inherit my husband’s long, lean figure. It’s wonderful…until their pants fall down. My son, in particular, loses his drawers with astounding frequency.

That is, he did. Until I found Dapper Snappers. The adjustable waist on all his pants don’t adjust enough to fit him well because of the size he needs to accommodate his height. Invented by a mom of two skinny toddlers, Dapper Snappers attach to the belt loops on the back of a child’s pants and cinch them tighter without the dreaded belt. The last thing potty training or gotta-go-right-now youngsters need is a belt to fiddle with.

If you’ve got a slimline kiddo in your midst, I highly recommend the Dapper Snappers rather than a belt – you won’t be sorry when you’re not undoing & redoing a belt multiple times a day. They’re just the right size for a stocking stuffer, too. They’re available online from ToddlerTech USA for only 9 bucks or buy big in a three pack for $24 or a six pack for $40. For girls, the cutesie Snapcessory collection is stepped up a notch for $13. Totally worth it for something as necessary as keeping your pants on. (Unfortunately, I don’t have that problem. I just can’t get them on in the first place.)

Win it! We’re giving away two original Dapper Snappers to two separate winners. To enter, visit the shop to choose your favourite colour. Contest closes at noon mst on December 16, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

With Halloween quickly approaching, a lot of us are scrambling to put together a cute and practical costume together for our little ones. The folks over at You Can Make This have gathered up some awesome ideas and tutorials for costumes.

I had the opportunity to sew up The Fancy Filled Tutu. I was a little intimidated at first not having sewn with Tulle before, however once I dived into the project it was fun and fast! I had the Tutu completed in a couple hours. I would recommend having someone watch the kids as you work on this project for the first time, if you are easily distracted like I am. I had to look over the instructions a few times to make sure I was on the right track, after numerous distractions from the kids.

The Fancy Filled Tutu turned out so well! I am absolutely thrilled with the result! My daughter picked out the colours for the tulle, then I went to the dollar store to find the filling. I figured since it would be inside the Tutu it would be safe (although the instructions do note to not place small items in the tutu if it is meant for a child under the age of three). Once completed, you start imagining all the other Tutus you could make!

My daughter absolutely adores it! The filling jingles as she twirls and jumps which is totally an added bonus!

You Can Make This has a lot of other projects for your little goblins, here are a few that you can find on their site:

– by Chelle

Win it! We’re giving away the Halloween pattern of your choice from You Can Make This. To enter, visit the site and check out their Halloween items. Come back and leave a comment with the one you’d like to win just in time for Halloween. Contest closes at noon mst on October 28/08.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I have the creativity gene when it comes to organizing, scrapbooking and cooking, and maybe even a few other things, but give me a needle and thread and I’ll all but run in the other direction. Thank goodness for companies like The Sweet Line – gotta love shared creativity! The Sweet Line owner, Victoria, hand embroiders custom work on organic cotton onesies, dresses, tees, totes and more. You choose the colour, word(s), image(s) and your sweet items arrive on your doorstep 7-10 days later. I’d say it doesn’t get much better than that, but actually…it does – The Sweet Line offers free shipping on all packages!

Because my kids get enough stuff with having grandparents, aunties and friends always doting on them, I am digging my organic cotton tote hand-embroidered with “The Opinionated Parent.” Carrying it makes shopping slightly less painful, and it even gains me points at my local organic grocery store to use toward free goodies, because I am saving them a plastic bag. However, those of you who are a little less selfish than I are sure to enjoy the adorable personalized clothing. The long sleeved dress is stunning.

Win it! One randomly selected T.O.P. reader will win their own “The Opinionated Parent” hand embroidered organic tote. To enter, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 mst on October 6, 2008.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Gumdrop Lane is an online store that I was delighted to stumble upon because owner Erin Ruane hand selects some of the cutest clothing from the greatest brands available and puts it all together in a shop with fantastic customer service and very reasonable prices. Gumdrop Lane offers both new and used clothes for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers from newborn to 4T. Yep! Erin has done your used clothing shopping for you by selecting only the very best. Be sure to check out the outlet where you’ll find some great pics for just a dollar. What a great time & money saver!

She carries a wide variety of brands and they’ve all got something special about them. (Search by brand in the drop down menu at left after clicking on “all finds”).

T-o-o-o Cute is a brand that was new to me. I checked out the adorable bubble suit (the top of which you see at right) and was hugely impressed with the softness of the fabric and quality of construction and it’s an absolutely adorable summer style.

T-o-o-o Cute’s layette and loungewear is made of only the softest 100% pima cotton in the sweetest of colors. Each piece showcases one of a world of whimsical characters, either intricately embroidered or beautifully heat transferred. As Erin says, “the entire collection is designed for your wee one’s comfort and for your continuous delight.” So true – it’s almost T-o-o-o Cute for words! (But not quite.)

You may also like to check out Erin’s used finds for some great deals on great quality clothing that just happens to have been pre-loved.

Save 15% store wide (even on sale & used items!) with the code TOP. Woo hoo!

Win it! Leave a comment here after visiting Gumdrop Lane and choosing your favorite T-O-O-O Cute outfit and you could win it! Leave your comment by midnight on September 10/08 and follow the rules (i.e. No “I want to win – anything will do.” because you won’t win…) and one winner will be randomly drawn to receive their choice. Good luck!

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Be sure to treat yourselves too, Mom. Buy fashionable wholesale clothing at an affordable price.

Jennifer Talbot of b.delicious is an incredibly talented designer. Contributing writer Kelli recently wrote about her new room design line. It’s been such a hit that she’s phasing out her awesome t-shirts (reviewed here) at 75% off the retail price. That brings them down to about $7.00 per shirt! They’re great for back to school, baby gifts, birthdays, job well done rewards, stocking stuffers, valentine gifts, easter basket fillers or “just because” gifts.

Go to www.bdelicious.com to shop and enter coupon code CLOSEOUT at check out for 75% off your entire purchase (of shirts only). Get yours before they’re gone!

Every family has their own values that they wish to impart on their children, and there are those that one would hope are universal. At When I Grow Up, those universal values come to light for all to see.

Bing Crosby in “Pennies from Heaven” said…

A long time ago, a million years BC, the best things in life were absolutely free. But no one appreciated a sky that was always blue and no one congratulated a moon that was always new.

Owner Kat Henderson asks us to take a quiet moment to remember what life was like when we were children…when we appreciated the sky and congratulated the moon. Then ask ourselves, “What do I value most in my life, what do I want to teach my children?”

When Kat thought about these things, she did more than just think. She created the fantastic value statement tees ($22) at When I Grow Up. Currently there are four designs to choose from and they’re all statements I’d be proud for my child to wear. The tees are all made from 100% certified organic cotton, made in the USA and printed with vividly coloured water-based ink.

They’re simple, they’re adorable, and they make some of the more perfect statements found on t-shirts anywhere. We love our compassion tee and get comments on it whenever my son wears it out. Wouldn’t it be nice to see more children in shirts like this?

Win it! Kat is giving one T.O.P. reader a value statement tee in your choice of statement and size. To enter, simply visit the shop to choose your tee and size and then come back to leave a comment letting us know your preferences. Contest closes on August 20/08.

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

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

A very wise teacher, Meri Zeiff, is the brains and the brawn behind verimeri.com, a children’s clothing company created by kids for kids. As a first grade teacher in Hollywood, California, Meri asked the children on the playground during recess each day “If you could have anything you want written on a shirt, what would it say?” A list of over 100 ideas was created and after a series of votes and kid think-tanks, verymeri was born.

There are currently 13 kid-designs available in the shop and some cool matching tattoos too!

My son received a Be Buddies Not Bullies tee (pictured) from verimeri and, though he’s young, it was a great starting off point for our first discussion of bullying. I love that he’s making such an important statement right on his chest and I hope that if we can get more kids wearing tees like this they’ll be a gentle reminder for the other kids on the playground (and their parents) to be a little nicer to each other. Hey, it’s gotta be better than a skull. And him calling his friends “Buddy” as he takes their hand in emulation of the image on his shirt is the cutest thing I’ve seen all month.

Your child’s own school can work with verimeri as a fundraiser – if you’re on the PTA, check it out!

Win it! You just might be the lucky winner of a “Be Buddies Not Bullies” tee in your choice of size. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 31/08.

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).

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Maximum four entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED – Congrats Gina!

2Chix (previously reviewed here) has added some sizzling hot burnout tees to their already smokin’ collection. The thin, super-soft, weathered tees, which are all the rage this season whether you’re expecting or not, look equally fab paired with a skirt and strappy heels or designer jeans and your most comfortable flats. (Or, in my humble non-metro opinion, yoga capris and Birks…but whatever.)

This tee, which comes in both v-neck and crew neck, is form-fitting, long enough to cover a full-term belly, super-soft and generally just perfect for forty-two weeks of sexy comfort. If, like me, even your arms get pregnant, you’ll love the sleeves on this tee that accentuate the best and hide the rest. At $44, it’s a little more than the tee you’ll pick up at Old Navy but after the initial pinch you won’t regret it. These tees are incredibly comfy and aren’t so ‘maternity’ that you couldn’t get away with wearing them for a long time after that cute bebe is in your arms instead of your belly.

Save 10% on anything from 2Chix with the code TOP10 through September 30, 2008.

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!

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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

With all of the toys and clothes out there posing as child-appropriate, [Bratz...ahem], it’s refreshing to find items that are really, truly childish.

If there’s one thing that’s really reserved just for little girls, it’s butt ruffles.

Parentrepreneur Amber Schaub created Rufflebutts to bring back the ruffled diaper cover of her own childhood. They’re fun, they’re frilly, and there’s no way you’d ever see a prostitute wearing one. (What does it say about our society that my criteria for appropriate children’s clothing has become so low?)

In addition to the most adorable diaper cover, Amber has designed an entire clothing line of 100% cotton tops, pants & dresses that are all priced under $50 and are all absolutely to-die-for cute. Just looking at the images of the Rufflebutts creations makes me smile. If you’re buying for my daughter, she’ll have this one because I just don’t think it gets any cuter.

Check out the Rufflebutts Spring 2008 slideshow here.

Win it! A bloomer in the size and colour of the winner’s choice is up for grabs. To enter, leave a comment on this post with the product colour & size you’d like to arrive in the mail if you’re the winner. Contest closes at noon MST on July 3/08.

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

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Since having children I, like many parents, have drastically reduced my usage of chemicals of all kinds. For me, that includes sunscreen. I do use it on every family member but I prefer to limit the amount of skin it’s on whenever I can and bathe or shower it off as soon as possible once we’re out of the sun’s rays.

Unprotected exposure to the sun in the first 15 years of life more than doubles the chances of getting skin cancer as an adult. Thanks to some fantastic products we’ve been using from Protect-A-Bub, we’ve been able to protect our little people from the risks of sun exposure a lot more naturally this year.

My two year old is perpetually outside (screaming wildly in his “outside boice,” but that’s beside the point) and is often sporting his UPF 50+ swim suit and hat. At less than $30, the Protect-A-Bub suits are comfortable and breathable and have the highest rating available for sun protection products. Available in sizes from 5 months to 5T and in a wide variety of one and two colour designs, there’s something there for everyone. The coordinating hat isn’t just a fashion statement. It looks adorable with the suit and alone and protects the vulnerable skin of the scalp to the same high degree that the suit does.

One often neglected area of little (and big) bodies are the lips. Our usual facial sunscreen applications do nothing for our vulnerable lip skin and non-SPF lip-stuff simply absorbs the sun and makes the problem worse. Now that my son is sporting his SPF 15 Lip Moisturizer we are a little more lenient about the time spent playing with the sun. It comes in three flavours and is only $2.25.

In addition to our enthusiastic un-sun-kissed two year old we’ve also got an amazing little five month old who is never left behind on our outdoor adventures. Being too young to wear any sunscreen at all, she can usually be found under one of the Protect-A-Bub sunshades. We absolutely love the inexpensive compact shade, but rarely use it on our stroller. (Though when we have, it works great as an extension of the canopy that’s already there.) We use the convenient ties to attach it to her bouncy chair on our deck and in our back yard every day. The shade rests on the toy bar and the ties keep it taut – it’s perfect and allows her to join us outside even in the hottest hours of the day.

With the increased awareness of both skin cancer and chemical exposure on the part of (we hope) all parents nowadays, we’re sure that Protect-A-Bub will be a welcome and awesome resource for parents who, you know, want to leave the house this summer.

Win it! Protect-A-Bub is giving away a compact stroller sunshade just like the one we love so much. To enter, visit the Protect-A-Bub site and browse their great selection. Come back and leave a comment on this post mentioning a product you think would be useful in your life before noon MST on July 1/08.

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

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED – Congrats Lori!

We reviewed Stuk On U velcro sleepers just last week.

I know what you were thinking…

What? No giveaway?

I can read your mind.

Are you scared now?

Well, you can relax.

About the giveaway thing, I mean. I still might be able to read your mind – I’m not telling.

Jeanine has offered to give one of you the sleeper of your choice!

(Oh yeah, I’m supposed to type Win it! for all you skimmers, right?)

To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on June 8/08 stating which of the seven styles and five sizes you’d like from the Stuk On U shop. (And remember what I said about the sizing.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

We love the Little Capers company (see our review here) so we were super excited to hear that they’ve released a line of Big Capes.

They’re available in five peaceful hero designs and are made of the same shiny way-cool fabric as the capes on their fabulous tees. Which, incidentally, my son adores. The big capes are sized for kids aged four and up and retail for $23.

Get 10% off at Little Capers with the code MAY10 until the end of May. You have just two days to take advantage of this special!

Win it! Enter to win a Little Capers Big Cape of your choice by leaving a comment on this post stating which of the five designs you’d like. Contest closes at noon MST on June 4/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

When Jeanine Altreche had her baby boy, she developed a severe case of carpal tunnel syndrome in her hand – so severe that it was painful even to snap up his cute little jammies. With the sheer volume of diaper changes that are necessary with a baby, Jeanine decided to create her own solution to alleviate the pain, and Stuk On U was born.

Whether you have medical troubles or not, chances are you’ve been frustrated by missed snaps or woken a baby when you’ve had to zip open the entire sleeper and expose their chest just to change a diaper. Jeanine uses a patent-pending design of soft (and nearly silent!) Velcro down the chest and legs so you can open and close just the areas you need. The Velcro is sewn in such a way that it never touches baby, and it completely eliminates the risk of pinching delicate skin in a zipper.

Stuk On U rompers are tagless and the available in sizes 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 and 18 months. They fit on the small size so order up if in doubt. (9-12 months fit my average size 4 month old perfectly.)

At just $11.99 (cotton) and $18.99 (fleece), a Stuk On U romper is a great alternative to snaps and zippers.

Save 10% with the code Oparent until December 31, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

See that picture right over there?

That’s my two year old son’s debut at The Opinionated Parent.

As he’d say…”Ta dah!”

I’ve never posted any of my kids here before, but he just looked so cute in his stars birthday tee from Tote and Tee that I couldn’t resist!

The nifty tees at mom-owned Tote and Tee are so incredibly awesome I’m almost speechless. That could also be the cuteness of my kid rendering me so, but nevertheless…

Designer Amy Trusler hand makes each tee in her own home. They’re available in a huge variety of colours and styles and the amazing array of fabrics can be applied in any letter or number to suit the little people in your life. Too bad it’s not cool to advertise “32!” because I’d totally do it if I could get away with it. (I’d look good in this style!)

They also carry the cutest (and softest – -wow soft!) knee socks and tights I’ve ever seen. The socks have a slight roll down at the top so there’s no digging in but they’re just tight enough to stay up.

And these personalized lunchboxes? (The “tote” part of Tote and Tee.) To die for. Figuratively, of course. (I think this one would look great with my imaginary “32″ tee. Alright. I’ll stop now.)

Amy is currently holding her Biggest Sale Ever until the end of May with all socks and tees on sale!

Save a whopping 20% on your order (including sale items!) with the code oparent.
This code is also listed in the TOP Shops!

Win it! One lucky reader will win a $25 gift certificate to Tote and Tee. To enter, leave a comment telling us what you’d purchase with it! Contest closes at noon MST on May 16/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED – Congrats Krista Heidinger!

I dig finding new & unique shops from which to clothe my kids, and I dig even more finding shops that are eco-friendly.

Pondür is a 100% organic and 100% stylin’ shop that started with a childhood passion. Owners Shanna and Christy are dedicated to inspiring the world, one tiny thought at a time. The Pondür shop features organic tees & onesies printed with thought-provoking and inspirational quotes.

My personal favourite and the one my daughter wears regularly – Take care of me, Take care of the world.

So true, my friends. So true.

Pondür’s unique, environmentally friendly baby apparel not only inspires the little one wearing it but also everyone who sees it.

With every purchase you make from Pondür, you’re making a difference for kids.

Save 20% at Pondür with the code TOP20.

Pondür is a proud member of the TOP Shops, where they and many others are giving you great deals just for being an Opinionated Parent!

Win it! Pondür is giving away a tee to one TOP reader in your choice of size, quote and colour. Value $23.

To enter, leave a comment on this post with your choice for all three – size, quote and colour – should you be the randomly chosen winner.

Contest closes May 14 @ noon MST.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules. Maximum 4 entries per person.

CONTEST CLOSED

Parents know that the best shoes for baby are no shoes at all, but that doesn’t make it any easier to resist the gorgeous footwear options that abound from birth on up.

I’ve got some good news for parents who just can’t leave well enough alone. The brainchild of Winnie Liu,
Jazzy Toes™ are socks that replicate shoes. They’re available in ten styles for both boys and girls and are completely adorable – so much so that I’d recommend the variety pack, available in both boys and girls styles. Who needs shoes when there are socks that look like this?

Jazzy Toes socks have an elasticized ankle and non-skid grip on the bottom. They comes in a ready-to-mail gift box and are available in two sizes.

Win it! Winnie Liu is giving away a boxed set of Jazzy Toes to one lucky winner. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on May 12/08 stating which of all the boxed sets you’d choose, and in what size.

Additional entries are always available. See contest entry information and rules.

Once in a while, we’ll still place the information from that page within a post for your reference.

Here’s how to get those extra entries:

Get up to three additional entries into this contest!

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.Subscribe to our RSS feed. 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.

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Maximum four entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED

I buy a lot of organic clothing for my kids. It’s just one small thing I can do to make a difference for the earth (and for the people working in cotton fields who aren’t being sprayed with pesticides and herbicides, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.)

BoobyDooby is one of my newer finds and I’m loving their style and their philosophy. A company that gives back and also makes great statements with their clothing is my kind of company.

My personal faves? For girls, I love the “Trust Your Inner Voice” tee pictured at right. What a great lesson for all humankind to learn, but it’s especially necessary for young women. It’s super soft with a great long body (adding the lesson “People don’t need to see your belly button” to the whole ‘inner voice’ thing.) For the guys, I love the Peace themed tee. And check out all of the awesomely soft destroyed black vintage tees for the ladies. I can’t even pick a fave from there, but can vouch for the buttery softness of these inspirational shirts.

BoobyDooby charges only $4 for shipping for all orders!

Win It! We’re giving away a Just Giggle organic onesie valued at $24. To enter, leave a comment before May 1 @ noon telling us your favourite BoobyDooby tee(s) not mentioned in this review.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED

What little girl doesn’t love to spin around in ways that would make her parents vomit? The exhilaration of twirling is made better only by wearing a dress that rises in that perfect circular fashion.

A twirling dress is something that no little girl should be without, and I’ve found the perfect one. The reversible dresses from the aptly named Twirly Girl Shop are fabulously light and airy, made from the softest of fabrics and, of course, just the right amount of twirl. Just flip it over for a completely different style.

My personal fave, the mermaid dress, is super-fun in person – even more so than in the images – and it’s not just a coincidence that mom and par-entrepreneur Cynthia Jamin also makes coordinating superfun clothing. She makes suggestions for perfect matches for each dress at the bottom of their individual pages.

The dresses retail for $70 and the coordinating pants are $37, leggings are $24 and shirts are $20-$22.

Save 10% at the Twirly Girl Shop with the code “TOP”

Twirly Girl Shop has joined the ranks of some of the best online shops for moms and kids offering exclusive discounts to opinionated readers in the TOP Shops!

Win it! Any available dress from the Twirly Girl Shop could be yours!
(Does not include the super awesome “create your own” option.)

To enter, leave a comment on this post with a valid email address and tell us which dress and size you’d choose if you win. (Check the size chart before you enter to be sure you get the right size if you’re the lucky winner!)

The randomly selected winner will be contacted via email for their mailing address and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. You must leave a valid email address and all required information or you will not be entered in the draw. Comment approval is always at our discretion. If your comment gets through without the requested info and is chosen, your entry will be considered invalid and a new winner will be chosen, so read carefully.

< rant >“I like it” and “Wow” are not valid entries and comments like that are deleted. You must visit the Twirly Girl site and make the appropriate choices. Don’t be lazy! < /rant >

Contest closes March 14, 2008.

Get an additional entry into this contest by blogging about it!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Leave a comment on this post containing the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry) or send a trackback to receive your second entry. If you don’t know how to do this, just email us for help!

Draw complete – New dresses being added March 21!

Every family eventually reaches the stage when kids start to express strong opinions about what and when, if ever, they’re going to wear certain items of clothing.

When they start to refuse coats in the often-iffy weather, po po’s ponchos has your answer. The un-coat coat the kids will actually wear!

Po po’s ponchos are proudly Canadian made in Vancouver, BC by par-entrepreneur Karen Stark. They’ve got some fab features that I was very impressed with.

1. The main fabric is lush & soft – your choice of micro fleece or CVC fleece, just like your favourite hoodie.
2. The cotton lining is printed and matches the trim.
3. There’s a snap closure at the neckline to keep the chills away. This also helps it fit a smaller child and makes the same size last even longer!
4. There are clever snaps at each side to create arm holes if you wish. They’re not overly noticeable at all and can be left open without looking undone but create a tighter and more secure “coat” when that’s what your little one is in the mood for. (Because you know darn well that you’ve got no say in it, right?)
5. The front muff pocket is lined & cozy and the perfect size for two hands and a few treasures picked up along the way.

The images in the po po’s shop don’t do these ponchos justice. They’re so much cuter & softer in person!

Hurry ~ there’s a sale on select items right now!

Enter to win the poncho of your choice from po po’s!

To enter, leave a comment on this post with with a valid email address and tell us which poncho you’d choose if you win and what size. (It must be one that’s currently available on the po po’s site and not sold out.)

The randomly selected winner will be contacted via email for their mailing address and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. You must leave a valid email address and all required information or you will not be entered in the draw. Comment approval is always at our discretion.
Contest closes March 13, 2008 at noon MST.

Get an additional entry into this contest by blogging about it!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Leave a comment on this post containing the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry) or send a trackback to receive your second entry. If you don’t know how to do this, just email us for help!

Congratulations to Betty,who said “I would choose Smartie Sundae in size 4.”

By Andrea, Contributing Opinionated Parent and owner of EcoBaby Canada

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It’s 4:00am and my 3 week old is somewhat fussy. She’s decided she doesn’t want to sleep, eat, nor does she need a change. Like many other good intentioned parents, I reach for a pacifier and slowly put it in her mouth. This sends her in to a fit of rage as she rejects the soother with all she’s got. She can’t speak, but I know exactly what she’s saying. “Get this thing out of my mouth!”.

When I received the shirt from Revo Baby with the anti-soother emblem and the bold lettering spelling out, “I WILL NOT be pacified” I immediately knew this shirt was made for my daughters. Not necessarily because I am against the soother, but mainly because they are. Both of them rejected the soother as infants. My boys on the other hand, now that’s another story, but after looking at Revo Baby’s website I found a number of shirts that would suit them as well.

Revo Baby’s line of infant apparel is well suited for the activist parent and the protester baby alike. Although your baby may not be able to speak a word, the clothing speaks volumes! There are a variety of shirts for everyone, whether you’ve got a beef with bottles, soothers, and cribs, or you just want to show your support for the rights of children. And to top it off, the shirts are made of a 100% cotton that is super soft for your baby’s delicate skin, plus the shirt washes great without removing the print.

They are very cute, very controversial, very revolutionary!

Win It! Revo Baby is giving away the tee of your choice to one winner. To enter, leave a comment (yep, another comment!) with the design and size of shirt you’d choose from the Revo Baby product catalog. Choose carefully because this is what you’ll get if you win! The randomly selected winner will be contacted via email for their mailing address and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. You must leave a valid email address and all required information or you will not be entered in the draw. Comment approval is always at the blog owner’s discretion. Contest closes March 10, 2008.

Get an additional entry into this contest by blogging about it!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Leave a comment on this post (in a separate comment from your other entry) or send a trackback to receive your second entry.

Congratulations to Chelle who said “Ooo that T is too cute!!!”

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?

Guest review by TOP reader Sara.

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As a proud mother, I know how frustrating it can be to find clothes that really represent your child. It seems as if most clothes are just made generally, with no regard to your region or culture. That is until I became aware of a great new company called Regionz Kidz! They specialize in clothes with a wide range of cultural and regional diversity! With over 100 designs and 4 ethnicities, you are bound to find one to fit your child. They appeal to everyone: Armed Forces, Sports Fans, Farmers, and Firefighters….just to name a few! They offer a wide variety of sizes and colors for their tees as well.

From the moment I opened my package from Regionz Kidz, I had a feeling I was going to love it! I pulled the shirt out and it instantly put a smile on my face! There, on the front, was an adorable little boy all ready to play baseball…And he really resembled my little man! The cotton fabric is SO soft…softer, even, than any shirt currently hanging in his closet! The black sleeves of the shirt give it a funky, fun look that is really hard to find for kids his size. The character on the front is super-cute and very unique! My son took immediate notice and kept pointing at it and saying “Baby”….Too sweet! The tags in the back are satin and soft, which as any mom knows is almost crucial! Scratchy Tags=Fussy Toddlers…So I was very happy to not have to bother with that! And after a day of toddler wear and tear, which can get pretty messy, the shirt washed great and didn’t shrink a bit. Very impressive!

In addition to these cute tees, Regionz Kidz also offer a variety of other products including Matching Mama Teez (how cute!), books, games and flashcards. You can also have their on-staff artist design a customized character based on a picture of your infant or toddler…How neat is that?

I think it is so great that Regionz Kidz celebrates diversity in such a cute and unique way! I can’t say enough great things about Regionz Kidz and I encourage every parent to check them out…You’ll be glad you did!

It’s been a rough winter in western Canada with many days reaching close to -50 with the windchill. That’s -58 for those of you in the US. Either way, it’s freaking cold and it’s pretty hard to look good when you’re bundled up with your eyes peeking through the only openings in your winter wear. However, nothing makes you appreciate cold weather like great knits!

Jenifer Selos is a work at home mom who owns Love Bug Knits. In honour of Valentines Day, Jenifer hand-knit my daughter the gorgeous Valentine Stripe Hat pictured at right and, if possible, it’s even cuter in person! It’s soft and thick and just absolutely perfectly hand crafted.

In addition to hats, Jenifer makes mittens, scarves, and even mini-backpacks! All Love Bug Knits products are her original designs and she’ll custom make something just for you if you don’t see what you like. All items are hand knit to order with 100% organic yarn. Her pre-made items are available from her Etsy shop.

Win a Love Bug Knits hat in your choice of size & style! To enter, go visit LoveBugKnits.com to check out the awesome hats and email your faves (good luck picking!) to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 2/22/07 with Love Bug Knits in the subject line.

Congratulations to winner Betty!

Remember when we reviewed the fabulous t-shirt capes from Little Capers? Well, they’re still as awesome as ever for your miniature super heroes and now’s the time to get a great deal and maybe stock up on a few gifts.

Through February 14th you can save up to 35% on the following styles while supplies last:

Flower Hero
Purple Star Hero
Green Earth Hero
Pink Earth Hero
Peace Hero
All Infant Styles

Where it says promotional code, enter secret code SSS35 for each sale style you wish to purchase.

If you read T.O.P. daily (if you don’t, you’re missing out on some great stuff!) then you know how much we love all things natural, safe and soft. And so it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to my newest find, BabyBam Collection.

Eco-friendly babies and parents alike will love the unparalleled softness that BabyBam offers in their bamboo & organic cotton combination. This fabulous mixture is hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and thermal regulating. All of the BabyBam apparel is natural in color, using no bleaches or dyes, and the silkscreens and tagless tags use low impact dye.

Currently the clothing line includes a onesiea, pants and a sleeper style pajama, both of which are amazingly soft & silky and just the thing I’d recommend putting against your new baby’s delicate skin. After washing I’d swear that they get even softer!

They also have a new line of bamboo body products in their bath time line including the best bum cream I’ve ever tried. Seriously? I’d use it on my own butt if I could get away with it.

Also part of their bath time line, BabyBam has recently added a brand new hooded towel & washcloth set to their collection. It’s incredibly absorbent and fast drying and is completely free of pesticides and chemical treatments so there’s no concern about skin allergies and irritations. Bamboo is also naturally anti-bacterial and odour free which is great for the wet environments in which you’d generally need a towel.

All of these fabulous products are available for purchase at the BabyBam Collection online shop and select stores.

Founded by mom of two Jody Graziano Jonas, BabyBam Collection is the kind of company we really like to get behind. Watch for upcoming guest posts on the subject of raising a green baby written by Jody and cross-posted from her own blog. As part of her environmentally responsible policies, she packages all of the BabyBam products in recycled, re-used, or recyclable packaging – everything from the tissue paper to the ribbon to the box it is shipped in. In addition, BabyBam regularly makes contributions to The Arbor Day Foundation and the Sierra Club. Love it!

You can win a onesie and pant set from BabyBam Collection with your choice of pink, blue or green heart on the pants. To enter the random draw, send one email to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with BABYBAM (copied exactly) in the subject line and tell us which of the gift sets is your favourite. (Go to the BabyBam site, click through to the “online store” and click on “gift sets.”)
You must include both the answer and your complete mailing address in your email to qualify for the draw.
Contest closes at midnight MST on Friday, February 8, 2008. The winner will be contacted via email. Congratulations Danielle M.!

Peas On Earth is a fab new company featuring awesome environmental tees for babies and kids that are all designed and hand drawn by founder Victoria McGowen.

The Peas on Earth designs inspire kids that they too can aspire to make a difference in anything they dream to become. All of Victoria’s images have a wonderful child-like quality and a focus on dreaming green – both things that opinionated parents can easily get behind.

I love all of her designs but especially dig the aspiring humanitarian tee, pictured, and the aspiring environmentalist design, and…oh, who am I kidding? I love them all!

T.O.P. readers get VIP FREE SHIPPING with the code top.

Peas On Earth is the newest addition to the TOP Shops, where we feature non-expiring exclusive discounts for our readers. Check it out for some awesome deals! (Seriously? Why would you ever subject yourself to the mall when these great online deals are available just for you?)

Pregnancy can be funny. Long, arduous, and uncomfortable? Yep. Especially at what seems like four months overdue, which is where I am right now. But funny too.

When you’re in need of a little funny, check out the new Denver-based baby&momma. Launched just this past fall, baby&momma offers a line of amusing & supersoft maternity tees that fit even through those last belly-rific weeks. (Trust me on that.) They bear expressions such as “I’m with my inner child,” “Sugarmomma” and “Who’s your mommy?”

Once baby arrives there’s no reason to ditch your sense of humour. Baby&momma has you covered in the onesie arena too with great lines like “Mom: Got Milk?” “Patent Pending” and the one that we certainly could have used around here with our firstborn – “Clone.”

We’ve got a 0-3mos “Are you really my relatives?” onesie to give away! To enter, send an email to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with BABY & MOMMA copied and pasted into the subject line and tell us one available expression that was not mentioned in this review. Contest closes at midnight MST on January 11, 2008. Please include your full (real) name and mailing address with your entry. Incomplete entries are not eligible to win. Congratulations Bren!

Merry Christmas Eve! Between waiting for a baby to arrive and entertaining both side of my family (with a lot of help) I’m hoping to be able to continue to pump out a few reviews and contests over the holidays so be sure to check your RSS readers or pop in each day to see what great things we’ve got to share with you!

If you get something great over the holidays, be sure to send us your guest reviews so we can help make you famous. Or not, but we’ll definitely do our best!

Merry Christmas, from all of us to all of you. Enjoy the most precious people in your life this holidays season!

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Silikids is a company run by two moms that specializes in cool silicone products for kids. So far there are four products in their line up, each of which are equally cool.

Whether you put breastmilk or a substitute in to a bottle, you’ve got to be concerned about all of the chemicals from plastic that we now know without a doubt leach into the liquid and are linked to all kids of horrible illnesses. We know that glass bottles are the best if you choose to use a bottle but, though they’re thick and safer in many ways than plastics, it’s still a little scary to put glass in the hands of a child. Especially once they learn to throw.

Siliskins, pictures at right, come in 4oz. & 8 oz. sizes and are translucent silicone ‘bottle condoms,’ for lack of a better term, that are microwave safe, hypo-allergenic and dishwasher friendly. They allow you to easily see how much is in the bottle, make it easy & safe to hold and also protect it if it should fall. As a test, we dropped one from a height of 5 feet onto both a carpeted and a linoleum floor and there was absolutely no damage to the bottle or the skin.

Some bottle covers can only be used with a proprietary bottle but Siliskins are designed to fit the Evenflo glass nurser which is easy to find across the continent. The 8 oz. retails for $12 and the 4 oz. for $10, and both include one bottle.

If you’ve got a little crawler, check out these awesome Silipads – silicone knee pads. If you’ve tried it with your kids, you are well aware that crawling can hurt! Silipads are super cute and available in four hip & bright colour combos (seen at left), easy to get on and off and machine washable. Now that’s what I’m talking about!

Last but not least in the Silikids lineup is the Silibib – a food grade silicone bib that lies completely flat against the chest and didn’t even stain when we used it at a spaghetti dinner. Miraculous? I’d say. It wipes clean easily with a wet cloth or you can just toss it in with the dishes for a thorough cleaning.

I think I’m in love with silicone and, therefore, with Silikids.

We’ve got one 4 oz. and one 8 oz. bottle in Siliskins to give to one lucky reader. To enter the random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Silikids in the subject line by midnight MST on 12/31/07 and tell us one good reason to use silicone (from the website, please). Congratulations Lucinda!

Please include your full name and mailing address with your entry, and a blog link if applicable so we can link you up if you win. Entries without a mailing address are invalid. (Please note that these are deleted after the draws and are never sold or given to anyone.)

“You should never sacrifice style just because you happen to drool.”

That’s the very true motto of Canadian par.entrepreneur Sarah Howard and her company Febe Bebe.

Febe Bebe bibs and droolers (a smaller version of the bibs) are 100% vinyl free and are individually handmade in Canada. They incorporate fine fabrics and a sophisticated style while still being quite appropriate for the folks in your life that drool. And no teddy bears or ducks. Hooray!

They wash beautifully and are pre-shrunk so there’s no shrinkage at all. (Very important for the washing impaired such as myself.) All of the seams are double stitched for durability and the quality of crafts(wo)manship is evident even at first glance.

Enter to win a bib & drooler set from Febe Bebe valued at $36 with a simple email entry — email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with FEBE BEBE in the subject line by midnight MST on 12/17/07 and tell us which of the 13 available fabrics you’d choose.

Include your full name and mailing address. (And if you have a blog for us to link to if you win, include that too!)

One winner will be selected at random from all qualifying entries

Congratulations Grenda!

If you have ever had a baby, you know how frustrating it is when they go from the “sleep anywhere any time no matter what” newborn phase to the “blackout blinds no movement no anything” picky sleeper phase. Par.entrepreneur Andrea Verity knows that transition all too well but she was smart enough to do something about it. She developed the Downtime Sleepy Hat when her son made that unwelcome transition.

The hat is made of soft & luxurious organic cotton and looks like a normal hat – until you flip down the flap over baby’s eyes. As you can see in the picture at right, the hat becomes an effective visual stimulation & light blocker once flipped down and is also outwardly expressive. As in, it tells those little ladies who insist on touching your kid that it’s not an appropriate time. In addition to the company’s great low impact policies and the downright brilliant idea, I love the safety aspect of the Downtime Sleepy Hat – unlike masks made for older folks it has no strings or other hazards that could be dangerous to baby.

Here’s to all of us getting some sleep!

Win a Downtime Sleep Hat of your choice! (The contest is only available to readers in Canada & the US – sorry!) To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com by midnight MST on 12/11/07 with DOWNTIME in the subject line and tell us one of the four things that the company does to reduce their impact on the environment. (See: Our Story) Please include your full name and mailing address with your entry. Congratulations Megan!

Naturally, I get excited when I discover a Canadian business that I can recommend here at T.O.P., and I get even more excited when the business offers natural & earth loving products that are often hard to find for your average Canuck parent who is not interested in paying shipping from the US or overseas. For that reason and more, I’m excited to present EcoBaby Canada, a Lethbridge, Alberta based business run by parentrepreneur Andrea Johnson.

EcoBaby Canada’s shop carries a large assortment of earth-friendly (we love that!) products for mom, baby and the two together. A proponent of the attachment parenting philosophy, she has a great selection of slings. (If you’re not a slinging parent, you need to be – trust me!)

As a Canadian mother with winter sneaking up on me, I am absolutely loving the Australian made Huggalugs available in her accessories shop. The adorable cool and not at all cutesie skull pattern seen below comes in pink and black, and I also love the ‘Cool Spirit’ pattern (at right) for a more funky look. They’re great on both arms and legs on kids of any age and are only $13. I tried them on myself and they could easily be worn as mid-calf length leg warmers by teens & adults as well. With 1 washing, they returned to their original size and fit my little guy.

Shipping information is available here and she allows for free pick-up of local orders.

Win a pair of Huggalugs of your choice from EcoBaby Canada! Just look around the site and then email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with EcoBaby Canada in the subject line and send us the url and name of your favourite product. Just choose one – I know it’s hard but you can do it! Contest closes at midnight MST on 11/12/07. Congratulations Angela & Connor!

I love Georgie Tees for so many reasons.

(Yep, we’ve reviewed their stuff before and they’re back with more!)

They’ve added a new onesie, “freshly baked,” to their already fab line. It’s only available in newborn sizes and is the perfect baby shower gift! As with all Georgie Tees, the onesie is tagless and super-soft. And funny! Because Georgie Tees are always all about the funny. (Check out the 50% off onesies too!)

The gals from Georgie Tees have always had great maternity novelty tees but have recently added a new artistic line offering a more creative take on pregnancy. The tees are custom-made with enough stretch for the perfect fit before, during and after pregnancy. I love this tee not only for the great design that’s appropriate during pregnancy and forever after as a mama, but for the awesome fit and amazing stretch. It’s snug without being grossly revealing and pops right back to it’s original shape. Another bonus? It’s long enough to cover the tall gal’s pregnant belly and gathers nicely on the non-prego figure. You won’t believe how soft it is until you touch it yourself!

Check out the freshly baked blog too.

Save 15% at Georgie tees with the code “opinionated” in the comments section at checkout.
You’ll find Georgie Tees in the TOP Shops where we feature permanent & exclusive online shopping discounts for T.O.P. readers.

We’re giving them away! Enter to win a “freshly baked” onesie (0-3 months) or a “mama lisa” maternity tee (one size). Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com by midnight tonight with Georgie-fresh OR Georgie-mama in the subject line and tell us where the name georgie tees™ came from. (Hint – check the ‘not so’ faq.) Please remember to specify which contest you’d like to enter within the subject line for your entry to be valid. One winner for each contest will be selected at random and contacted via email by mid-week. Congrats to Glennia & Jack!