Parents Look-at-Me Camera Review

It's no secret that I'm a bit obsessed with my camera. OK. Fine, cameras. I have the big one for good shots, the little one I keep in my bag, the one on my phone, and the Flip Mino that also lives in my bag. My girls constantly clamor to see the pictures on the computer, and C has now taken to running into the room to get me whenever Little L is doing something cute, naughty, or downright disgusting screaming "Mommy! Get your camera! Quick! Quick!" so I can be sure to capture the moment on film.

So, I'm sure you're not surprised to learn that both my girls are fascinated with cameras, especially Little L who knows that she is absolutely, under no circumstance, allowed to touch any of the cameras. (Except maybe the Flip, because there's very little she can do to that one.) But I found the perfect toy for her! The Parents Look-At-Me Camera.

Parents is well known for creating toys that uphold their "When the toy does less, the child does more." philosophy. The Look-At-Me Camera is no exception. It's utter simplicity, big shiny "lens," chunky body perfectly sized for little hands, and three buttons pushes the child to create the play instead of reacting to the toy.

Look-At-Me Camera Pros:
Little L loves pretending to take pictures like mommy. C loves hamming it up and seeing herself reflected in the lens, and the button that plays a funky little disco soundtrack gets them both dancing!
The fun little quips make the girls laugh and I love seeing their delight with the realistic sounds.

Look-At-Me Camera Con:
This is a cute and fun toy, but it's obviously just a toy so it's not doing anything to keep my kids from lusting after the real thing!

In conclusion:
For $15 the Look-At-Me Camera is a great little toddler toy that should be a part of every aspiring photographer's arsenal!

Country Bob's All Purpose Steak Sauce Giveaway Winner!

The big Country Bob's All Purpose Steak Sauce winner is....

Drum roll please!

L321!

Congratulations! I hope that you fall in love with the sauce... oh and that you eat it up fast because my husband might try to come steal it from you.

Bella Sara Review

When I was a kid we collected cards. They all came in little shiny packets with a stick of extremely stale gum. Remember that gum? It always crumbled and tasted terrible, but we always ate it, or at least I did, I'm not one to pass up candy of any kind.

Today kids collect cards that come with Internet codes; infinitely cooler than stale gum (and not as bad for your teeth) especially when the cards are Bella Sara cards and the code gives you access to brand new ponies and horses. No, not real horses, virtual horses, the kind you can brush, feed, clean up after, and play games with all from the safety and warmth of your home. I know! How crazy!

Bella Sara Pros:
- The Bella Sara horses come in all shapes and sizes from foals (babies) to flying magical beauties. The Bella Sara site is very nicely constructed and could bring many a little girl endless hours of pleasure. Girls are responsible for caring for their horses and can play games to win them extra "stuff." New games are introduced on a regular basis, so the playing never gets stale. (Unlike that gum that I can't stop thinking of.)
- Very fun engaging interactive site, with awards, and games, and glitter! Such fun for young girls!
- The site is 100% secure and does not offer a way for online interaction with other site users.
- The site has a parent section where you can check in and see how your child has been playing.
- Bella Sara cards (available for $2 or so per pack at most big box stores) open up more aspects of the site and grant you extra horses to care for, but children can start playing even before getting cards.
- Inspirational quotes! Need I say more?

Bella Sara Cons:
- At times the site runs a bit slow, but I was able to play a number of the games with no issues.

All in all this is a lovely game that I can see young girls enjoying online and in the schoolyard for a long time to come!

Buy Bella Sara cards here and play Bella Sara here. Have fun!

Country Bob's oh so good sauce - review & giveaway!

A while back I was asked to review Country Bob's All Purpose Steak sauce, and being a big steak lover I jumped at the chance. Then the sauce arrived and we went through a phase when we just didn't eat a ton of steak so I never got to try it and I might have maybe forgotten about it for a bit.

Then, one day, we had steak! And we had sauce! And I put them together, but not nearly for long enough, because as usual I didn't have time. And I wish I could say that the heavens sang and I was thrilled with the sauce, but the truth of the matter is that after marinating for five minutes in Country Bob's sauce the steaks weren't all that great. So I put the sauce aside and I decided to try it with hamburgers before writing the review.

Guess how long it took me to make hamburgers? That's right, weeks and weeks. And then, thank goodness, I did have hamburger meat, and I did mix it with Country Bob's sauce, and the heavens did sing, but I had trouble hearing them over M's Mmmming and groaning with delight.

Country Bob's All Purpose Steak Sauce Pros:
- This aromatic steak sauce is delicious mixed with hamburger meat. It makes juicy, tasty burgers that leave you licking your fingers clean.
- Very versatile sauce that can be used in a multitude of ways. Recipes are offered on the site.
- Country Bob's company is, ah, somewhat religious, which is a great thing if you're into that!
- You can get a personalized label and corporate gifts on the site!

Country Bob's All Purpose Steak Sauce Cons:
- If you marinate your steaks for all of five minutes and hope that slapping a ton of sauce on while they grill is going to help, you might be disappointed. The steak sauce didn't really do much for the steaks, though I have a hunch that overnight marinating might create a delightful dinner.
- Not available at my local grocery store, but I think that M would leave me if I didn't start ordering it regularly, so I'm going to get on that.

All in all Country Bob's All Purpose Steak Sauce was a great hit with us and I'm definitely turning it into a family staple. I highly recommend it, and if you're not convinced I I can just tape M's happy eating sounds next time I make some burgers, which, if this week is anything to go by, might be in a day or two.

Buy Country Bob's All Purpose Steak Sauce here. If you have a meat lover on your holiday shopping list, this is the perfect gift.

Country Bob's All Purpose Steak Sauce giveaway!
Not one but TWO of you fantastic readers are going to get to try Country Bob's for FREE! Yes! I'm know, you're excited, so hurry down to the comments section and tell me your favorite steak or hamburger memory to be entered for a chance to win. (Don't have one? Make one up!) Then, to get another chance to win, head over to Country Bob's site and check out the recipes. Come back and tell us which recipe is the one you're most excited to try. As always if you twitter, blog, or email friends about this giveaway come back and tell us to win even more entries. And as always, if you don't leave me a way to contact you I won't be able to tell you you won!
Givaway winners will be chosen on Tuesday, December 9 at 12PST.

Danika's Totally Terrible Toss Winner

Drum roll please!

The winner for Danika's Totally Terrible Toss - Secret Keeper girl book is... Charming Driver! Congratulations! It sounds like the book is going to make lots of happy kids! Maybe they'll even start their own Secret Keeper Club! (If they do you have to come back and tell us about it!)

Email me your address so I can mail out the book to you!

Danika's Totally Terrible Toss - Secret Keeper Girl Series - Review and Giveaway

My babies are most definitely not tween girls. In fact I'm hard pressed to think of them as anything other than babies. But when I was asked to review Danika's Totally Terrible Toss (Secret Keeper Girl), a book for young, pre-teen, girls I jumped at the chance. I figured I'd enjoy a cute story and maybe a little insight to the girls my children were bound to become.

I got the little red book in the mail and cracked it open. The funky purple pages were a vibrant reminder me that I wasn't exactly reading the same kind of literature that I usually explore, but the format, font, and cute little drawings drew me in. I started to read and I got pulled into the fun writing style and engaging story.

The characters in Danika's Totally Terrible Toss (Secret Keeper Girl) are very well developed, and though the description is at times a bit heavy on the adjectives, I realize that younger readers, especially those used to watching TV rather than reading, at times need a bit more help visualizing a scene than more mature readers.

The Secret Keeper Girl series is shelved in the mainstream/secular section of bookstores, but do have a Christian component. One of the reasons I was asked to review this book was to give the point of view of someone who falls way out of that target market. I was a bit worried at first that the symbolism and Bible talk would be overly prevalent, but it actually hardly figures in the story. The first, and possibly only Bible quote makes an appearance on pg 72 and is a valuable lesson that applies to anyone: "He who walks with the wise grows wise." I never once felt that my non Christian status was an issue as I read the book. And I don't think that someone who did not know about the author's background would be taken aback.

Through the telling of a touching and realistic story, Danika's Totally Terrible Toss (Secret Keeper Girl) teaches some valuable lessons on friendship. Most of the tween girls that I know would have no trouble relating to the girls in the story, and would probably enjoy getting to know the protagonist!

Danika's Totally Terrible Toss (Secret Keeper Girl)Pros:
- Well written story with a credible plot.
- Valuable life lessons taught in a discrete fun way.
- Might encourage real life girls to form their own friend club and to develop true friendships that can help them get through the tougher Middle School/High School years.
- Limited overt religious references throughout the text.
- Important words are highlighted by a different cutesy of hip font that helps with reading comprehension.
- The language is not dumbed down, which is so important for language development at this age.
- Secret Keeper Girl website that extends the experience by giving pertinent recipes and tips.

Danika's Totally Terrible Toss (Secret Keeper Girl) cons:
- Danika, the main character, makes a big deal of the fact that her family is extremely wealthy. Some girls might find this a turn off.
- I was sad to see that after a relatively religion free book the discussion questions were pretty heavily religious. Still, I think that a parent trying to focus more on the values and less on the deity would be able to modify the questions.

Overall I think that this was a sweet, smart book that could be a great conversation starter for tween girls and their parents. I think it teaches valuable lessons without being overbearing. I highly recommend the series for the young tween girl in your life.

Danika's Totally Terrible Toss (Secret Keeper Girl) giveaway!
I have one copy of this adorable book to share with you! To enter, leave me a comment below telling us a short story about your favorite tween and her best friend or about your own old childhood best friend.
Tweet, blog, or email three friends about this giveaway and come back and let me know in the comments for an extra chance to win!
I'll pick a winner at random at midnight Monday, November 24.

Vtech - KidiJamz Studio Review

It came in a big box and the boys tore into the packaging as soon as the children went to bed. Oh, yes, you read that right. My husband and the friend who was visiting sent the kids to bed and then played with their toy. And not just for five minutes!

I have to admit, the Vtech - KidiJamz Studio is ridiculously cool. It has a ton of neat sound effects and a great keyboard. Kids can record themselves singing and can save everything they play to a cute little MP3 player that comes off and can be carried around. See? Ridiculously cool!

Vtech - KidiJamz Studio pros:
- This toy obviously appeals to a broad range of ages. My husband, who happens to be a musician is still mesmerized by all the fun options, and both my girls (who were finally allowed to play with their toy!) had a blast making their own music.
- I'm not a huge fan of loud toys, but any toy that inspires creativity gets a big thumbs up in my book.
- The music quality is great and I have a hunch that M is going to be taking advantage of this toy to give C some basic musical instruction. Soon we'll have our very own band!

Vtech - KidiJamz Studio cons:
- It's not the smallest of toys, so if space is an issue you might want to take that into account. That said, it is smaller than a piano...

Retailing at around $59.99 the Vtech - KidiJamz Studio would make a great family gift if you happen to be looking for a group gift for a family or a great gift for that musical child in your life!

Shape Up Shoes Winner

Drum roll please!!!
The winner for the Shape Up Shoes is....

Terra Jones of The Jones' Journey and Musings from a Mom! Congratulations Terra. I'll be passing your info along to the wonderful people at Shape Up Shoes and they should be sending your prize along soon.

Shape Up Shoes Shaping you up!

Let me guess, you never have time to exercise. I know. Trust me, I know. I have two little kids and a fledgling freelance business. I know how exercise always takes a backseat to everything else. And then, one day, you go shopping and you wonder what the heck happened. Who is that person in the mirror? Why do those jeans feel so tight? What is going on?

I'm also willing to bet that you spend quite a bit of time standing around in your house. No? A minute here while the water boils, five minutes there while the kids eat, ten minutes way over there while you fold laundry? What if I told you that there was a way to harness all those minutes spent standing around your house and make them work for you? That in just 30 minutes a day you could get a lifted tush, stronger legs, and a tighter core?

Interested much?

Yeah, I thought so.

Shape Up Shoes has come up with a great way to get in shape while doing all the usual stuff you do at home. They work hardest when you're standing still, but even racing around the house after a busy toddler will help you get trimmer faster.

Shape Up Shoes Pros
I'm usually barefoot around the house so it's easy for me to slip into the Shape Up Shoe flip flops. I wear them as I'm feeding the kids and making dinner for M and me. Within a few minutes I can feel my leg muscles start to complain about the unexpected workout. It makes me feel great to be multitasking so efficiently!
After just a few weeks of trying out the shoes I swear my stomach is already a little flatter and tighter. Very exciting!

Shape Up Shoes Cons
I live in California so I can get away with being barefoot most of the year. But some nights it is COLD and I do not want to be barefoot. So, instead of wearing my super cool Shape Up Shoes I walk around in my socks, and my butt and thighs just don't get the same workout. If it's cold where you live you might want to consider investing in a pair of Shape Up clogs instead, even though they're rumored to not work quite as well.

Still don't believe me that this shoes are great? Fine, try them for yourself. I have one pair of shape up shoes to giveaway to a lucky reader. Take a spin around the Shape Up Shoes site and come tell me your size and favorite color*. Extra entries awarded to anyone who Tweets, blogs, or emails three friends about the giveaway. (Be sure to come back and leave a comment boasting about how you spread the word so I can be sure to give you credit! Please note, if you do not leave an email address in the appropriate field I will not be able to contact you if you are a winner and another person will be chosen. I do not share your contact information with anyone and no one other than me sees the information you list.) Contest ends on Sunday, November 9 at midnight Pacific time.

*Due to limited stock on certain colors, you might not get the color of your choice. If the color of your choice is not available Shape Up Shoes will send you a black pair. Very stylish.

Kid Kleen Bath Blizzard Review

My kids love bubbles. I mean, duh, right, what kid doesn't? So a while back when we discovered a bubble blower specifically designed for the tub we got very excited. It was terrible. Stopped working after two days.

So when we got the Kid Kleen Bath Blizzard we were a bit skeptical. What were the odds that this bath bubble blower would be any better? I pulled it out of the box and I put in batteries and dumped a ton of bubble solution into it, which gave us so so results. Then I read the instructions and I took out all the bubble solution, rinsed out the machine, followed the instructions, and presto! an avalanche of bubbles, just like the box promised!

Bath Blizzard Pros
- It was actually pretty cool. The bubbles poured out and filled the tub with a rich lather.
- The girls thought the avalanche was pretty.
- The bubble solution, when diluted properly, lasts a really long time.
- It's pretty quiet.
- And miracles of all miracles, after multiple uses the bubble blower is still going strong.

Bath Blizzard Cons
- This is my fault because I didn't read the box closely enough, but I was hoping for more bubbles flying through the air rather than cascading down into the tub.
- It is not the most exciting toy in the world and I can see how my kids would quickly lose their awe.

All in all a pretty neat toy that I would especially recommend for the younger set while they're still easily mesmerized by bubbles of any kind.

Aquadoodle Draw n' Doodle Review

In a houseful of little artists you can bet that I've had my eye on this toy for a long while. I kept not buying it and expecting someone to get it for C for a birthday or some other gifty type of event. And yet, the Aquadoodle never made it into the stash of gifts. So imagine my excitement when one arrived the other day for us to review. It was kinda hard to tell who was more excited to open the water drawing toy, C or me.

She grabbed the pen while I was busy opening the bag and we both hunkered down to doodle. Well, OK, I hunkered and doodled and C waited patiently as long as she could. Her "Mommy, it's my turn now!" shamed me just enough to hand over the funky water filled pen so she could get some coloring time.

The Aquadoodle Draw n' Doodle did not disapoint. I love the simplicity of the toy. No mess, no fuss, just add water and you're good to go!

Aquadoodle Pros
- Nothing could be simpler. Talk about plug and play. Open the box, roll out the mat, fill the pen with water, and presto! tons of fun for everyone.
- The mat is really big so C had a nice large space to color and doodle.
- The little drawings all around the border are really cute and easy to follow if you want to learn to draw a dog, house, sun, or even people.

Aquadoodle Cons
- I wish it dried a hair faster. C colors and colors and then the canvas is covered and she loses interest while it dries. If it dried a hair faster she'd play with it much longer.
- I wish it folded up a bit smaller. It's designed to roll up into one long tube, but if I could fold it and then roll it we'd take it with us when we visit friends or family.
- I wish it came with more than one pen so my girls would stop arguing over who gets to color next! Though I bet I can find one if I search a bit.

In conclusion this is a great toy especially for those budding artists who don't really get that markers and couches are not meant to be friends. (Not that my girls would ever do that...)

A winner and a bit of change

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to pick a winner for the Smashies giveaway. The big winner for the fun, tasty, and brilliantly packaged apple sauce is wksocmom of Not Just a Working Mom! WHOOT! Send me your contact info so I can get you your apple sauce!

As for the changes, it's all good, I promise! I have a host of great products to tell you about and I don't want you to miss anything. If you take a look on the sidebar over there I'm putting together a calendar of upcoming reviews. Keep an eye on that and make sure you come back to see what I have to say! Because, clearly, my words should never be missed. Heh.

My long term goal is to have as many giveaways as possible because, duh, is anything more fun than winning stuff? I'm already rounding up a few kick ass giveaways and I know I have more coming! In the next few weeks keep an eye out for shoes that let you tone up without actually moving (for realz!), and toys that you were already considering buying for your children (whoot!).

And now, without further adieu... back to reviews!

Smashies Apple Sauce - It's, well, smashing

One thing C is thrilled to discover in her lunchbox any day is apple sauce. She loves the taste, I love that it's healthy and easy. A win win if you ask me. So when I discovered that the lovely people at Luvli Foods, Inc. were repackaging apple sauce to make it even easier for everyone involved I was thrilled to give their new product a whirl.

Instead of little individual tubs of apple sauce which can't be closed once opened, which drive preschool teachers up the wall with the mess they cause, Smashies comes in handy little squeeze pouch, with, (get this!) a releasable top! I know! Brilliant!

Pros
- The apple sauce is delicious. No joke. Real apple taste, not too sweet, not too tart. I thought it was fantastic and both C and Little L scarfed them down.
- It's healthy - organic with no added sugar.
- Fun packaging that keeps lunchboxes and little hands clean.
- Resealable top so you can save leftovers for later, you know, if you have any.
- More flavors are coming!

Cons
- It's a brand new product so I foresee having to ask my local store to order it.
Sorry! I have nothing else, I really, really like this stuff!

Synopsis
This is a wonderful product and I can't wait to be able to get my hands on it regularly. I bet I'll always have a pouch in my bag and that C will eat lots and lots of it at school this year. In fact, after the way the preschool teachers reacted when she brought some last week I think many of her school friends will be getting some too.

Don't believe me? Well, you're in luck! You can either hurry over to the Smashies site and order a sampler pack right now for $14.99 (includes shipping) OR you can try to win a sampler pack right here.

Leave a comment below giving me an example of a situation when a pouch of apple sauce will come in handy. Tweet about the giveaway, blog about the giveaway, or tell three friends for an extra entry. Be sure to come back and mention what you did so I can give you credit! On Tuesday, October 21st at midnight I'll pick a lucky winner at random. Wheee.

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ModMum sling winner announced at the bottom of the previous post!

ModMum Sling Giveaway

Let me start by saying that I don't adhere to any specific "type" of parenting, unless "whatever the heck works today" is finally being heralded as the new hip method. That said, I'm a huge fan of baby wearing. Little L nursed pretty much for three months straight and if I hadn't had a sling or two to rely on I would either have gone mad or C would have gone hungry.

I started my sling wearing habit with a much loved handed-down ring sling which my sister sent my way when she learned of my predicament. But I graduated to a more stylish pouch style baby sling when Little L became a little bigger. If there's ever a next time around I'm skipping the ring sling all together.

From the day my ModMum Sling arrived it's been an essential item in my diaper bag. I might constantly need to hit my friends up for diapers, but I always have my sling. In fact, Little L loves the sling so much that it's now our preferred method of transportation, yes even over the stroller at times. When she's snugly riding my hip she's calm and content and if I let her she'd spend hours in there.

The ModMum baby slings are stylish and simple, two key elements for something you're going to rely on again and again. They fold up neatly and fit easily in any diaper bag. Even better, they're easy to care for and can be used no matter how young or old your baby might be. Not sure how to use your pouch sling? Check out the handy how to use a baby sling tutorials on the ModMum site.

Want to try one out for yourself? Here's your chance. The generous people at ModMum have given me one sling to give away to a lucky reader. All you have to do is head over to their site and come back here to let us know what sling you'd prefer and what size you need.
Want to put luck on your side? You get an extra entry if you email three friends about the giveaway, or if you blog about it, or link to it on Twitter. Be sure to link to both my site and the ModMum site, and of course come back to brag about your accomplishment so I know to give you extra chances.

Giveaway will run until Monday, October 13 at midnight. Come on now, don't you want your little munchkin to be this cozy?
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And the winner is.... Sharon! Thanks to all of you for entering and for talking up the giveaway. I used Random.org to generate the winner.
Sharon, email me your address and I'll be sending your request and your info to ModMum so they can send you your new sling.
Everyone else, stay tuned, more exciting giveaways coming soon!

The love child of K'NEX and Sesame Street looks an awful lot like Elmo

K'NEX, creator of the awesome construction system teamed up with Sesame Street to create a line targeting their youngest little builders yet. The fun chunky construction toys have taken on faces of the Sesame Street gang, allowing young kids from 2-5 to assemble their beloved TV land friends.

When I first heard about the new line of K'NEX toys I really thought it would be right up Little L's alley. She's just starting to find that kind of toy intriguing, and she's the perfect age to become a major Elmo fan. But once I actually got my hands on a set I realized that C would get a lot more out of the experience.

I'll admit that at first I really thought that for the 2-5 age group maybe partnering with Noggin or Sprout would have been a better bet. C seems to have left our friends on Sesame Street behind her in her quest for more face time with Diego and Handy Many, but in retrospect I think that the Sesame Street/K'NEX match is nothing short of brilliant.

The characters are inherently familiar and come with built in self esteem boosters. Any possible frustration that your preschooler might encounter while trying to build something maybe a little more challenging than the usual tower is mitigated by the familiar friendly face of Elmo or Grover smiling up at them.

With a wide range of characters and prices ($10.99 - $31.99) available these friendly and motivating little guys are sure to be on many a holiday gift list this year. I'm thinking we need to add a Cookie Monster set to the list, you know, so I can "help" him eat a few cookies. Visit knex.com/sesame-street-building-sets/ to see who you're going to add to your list!

Thumbs up for this fun and cute educational toy!

Mommy Rescue Guide - Toddler Meals

"What do you want for dinner?" I ask C and Little L in the car every night as we drive home from daycare.
"CHICKEN FRIES!" Is the answer, every night as we drive home from daycare. Well, that's not exactly true. Once in a blue moon she'll answer "Fish sticks!" or even maybe "I don't want any dinner." because she's grumpy or tired.

Then we get home and I open the freezer, sigh, and pull out the chicken fries, again. Now I'm not saying they eat those every night, but definitely a couple times a week. I'm not proud of it, but to be honest, at the end of a busy day I can't think of a single thing to throw together that will appeal to both C and Little L and won't take too long to cook. And so the chicken fries come out to play, or the fish sticks, or the grilled cheese sandwich.

That's where the Mommy Rescue Guide - Toddler Meals, well, comes to the rescue. It's chock full of easy, healthy, tasty recipes and tips for making food appealing to toddlers. The chapters are age targeted, starting with very first meals and moving all the way through toddlerhood. (They even have recipes for teething biscuits!) But the best part are that the recipes are appealing to grown-ups too. So if you're trying to save yourself some hassle and only cook one meal for the whole family you can still use this book.

Tonight I think we're trying the Fruity Chicken Casserole with a side of Nifty Broccoli and Cheese Nuggets. And for desert? First-Rate Rice Pudding. Unless Little L eats the book first...
Thumbs up for this nifty little book! And don't forget to check out the rest of the series if you need help with potty training, sleeping, or a whole slew of other issues.

The Women behind The Women - Dove documentary

So, you all know how Dove is taking the world by storm and revolutionizing the face of advertising? Literally. By showing real women instead of "ideal" women. (And by that I sure don't mean your ideal, or my ideal, but some weirdo pretend ideal that isn't really anyone's ideal, especially not someone who actually, you know, eats. But I digress.)

Well, they've taken it a step forward by creating an entire The Women behind The Women campaign. It's a movie about women directed by a woman. Not really novel, but sending a young reporter behind the scenes to see how it's all done was pretty neat. All the footage with original interviews and other choice tidbits are available for you to see at Dove.com/thewomen.

Check it out, I thought it was pretty cool. And now I'm thrilled to go see the movie. Tonight, with a girlfriend, because even if the movie got terrible reviews, at least now I know really neat stuff about the behind the scenes goings on and I can be that obnoxious person in the audience, except not really, because why would I ruin a perfectly good Girls Night Out? Right?

Go check out the footage and come back and tell me what you thought. And if you saw the movie I totally want your feedback on that too!

Parking Pal - Like a little assistant helping keep your kids safe

Do you know what your child hears when you say "Stay right there. Don't move a muscle."? They hear "I'm going to be busy for a second, so if you see something cool that you must absolutely explore then go for it!"

Well, OK, fine, I might be over exaggerating a bit, but it's definitely true that children react better to short, clear, direct instructions rather than vague ones that don't really have a tangible meaning for them. Which is why "Freeze" works better than "Stay there, don't move." Fewer words to process, fewer possible interpretations.

When you need to unload a younger child from the car or gather a day's worth of supplies (jackets, bags, sippy cups, dolls, etc, etc...) you need your child to stand still somewhere safe until you're all ready to move away from the car. You tell them to "Freeze," but sometimes that isn't good enough. That's when the Parking Pal comes in.

You know how sometimes the simplest solutions are the best? This product is proof that that's true. It's a cute round magnet with the sketch of a hand that sticks to the side of your car. When you want your child to stand safely by the car you tell them to put their hand on the hand and to stay put. Presto! Safe child.

I know that my kid is not the type to run out into the street anyway, but she does love to follow me around the car as I unload everything. I know that your child might not fall for this trick, but it's still worth a try. For us the novelty, and inherent simplicity of the Parking Pal is working like a charm. C jumps out of the car and puts her hand right on the hand and there she stays until I tell her to come with me. Sheer brilliance.

Thumbs up for the Parking Pal, cute and simple, like all good products should be.

Peek-a-who? Peek-a-Zoo!

We have a little thing about books in our house. They kind of cover every possible surface: bookshelves, coffee tables, dining room table, night stands, floor. You get the picture.

C has always been surrounded by books. By default so has Little L. We read to them and they read to themselves. OK. Fine, what they do is more akin to just looking at pictures and making up stories that go with them, but that totally counts.

Until I got a copy of the adorable Little Scholastic Peek-A-Zoo book Little L wasn't particular about her books. She'd sit for part of any story we were telling C then wander away to chew on some blocks. Or she'd pick up a book for a moment only to discard it a minute later. But then I pulled out this big colorful board book and sat her on my lap and we read it over and over and over again. She turned the pages and checked out each and every image. She patted the elephant and cooed at herself in the mirror. She said hi to the baby and poked her fingers through all the openings. And when she was done she did it all again.

Unlike many new toys the attraction for this book hasn't worn off. It's still her favorite way to spend a quiet few minutes and it's one of the only distractions that will quell a raging tantrum in the car. That makes it my favorite book in our extensive library.

Definitely a thumbs up for this fun little board book!

Cabbage Patch Kids - A little back to the future action

Were you a little girl in America in the early 80s? Did you have a Cabbage Patch Kid? Or two? Or three?

Yeah. Me too. I might have been born in a foreign land. I might have learned to speak English pretty late in the game. But by the time the Cabbage Patch Kid craze hit the States I was right there begging my parents for a 'Kid of my own.

Lucky for me my mom understood how crucial it was for me to own one of the much coveted dolls. In fact she got me two, one preemie and one with blond braids, just like me. Then she went out and found some Cabbage Patch Kid clothes patterns and made my babies some snazzy duds. My mom's cool like that.

Then I grew up, I know, so rude of me, and my dolls languished in my mother's attic in the heart of the Loire Valley in France, waiting for someone to come rescue them. They waited and waited, until finally my little girls were born and my mother came to their aid. My old, slightly moldy smelling friends took a little overseas trip and landed at our door where they were welcomed with squeals of delight.

And there I thought the story would end.

But the wonderful people at Cabbage Patch Kids didn't think that was right. You see, they know that all those little girls who once hankered for Cabbage Patch Kids all those years ago would want their own little girls to experience that love. And so they decided to recreate each and every one of those original dolls. Yup, the same dolls. Exactly the same. Limited Edition 25th Anniversary 'Kids.

Hitting store shelves any time now.

Now I don't know about you, but that kind of makes me want to rush out to the store to see if I can find the replica of my own two 'Kids. No? I mean, I still have them, but it would be pretty cool.

Do you still have your 'Kid? Do you have fond memories of that 'Kid? Hurry over to the Cabbage Patch Kid site and share your pictures and stories with other children of the 80s. Then check out your local toy store, you know, just in case they have the twin to your old friend.

Over here we're getting to know a new pal. I think it's going pretty well. Though we're definitely going to have to get a second new 'Kid or the squabbles are never going to end.

That Baby DVD and CD

A couple years ago my sister in law gave us a DVD that soon became one of our favorites to watch. Oy Baby was like Baby Einstein for Jews and we lapped up the great music and awesome visuals. C loved it all, the songs, the babies dancing, even the puppets. Sadly it wasn't exactly the baby gift we could get for all our friends. You know, because not everyone is Jewish or is really into the whole Judaica scene.

But the brilliant people who brought us the Oy Baby joy created another awesome CD/DVD combo that will appeal to the masses. That Baby CD is a collection of covers of popular songs. My personal favorites are the Happiness Runs/Circle Game medley and Springstein's Pony Boy. The DVD sets the songs to mesmerizing images and scenes of children playing, like Baby Einstein, but way better. Our 3 year old and 1 year old were both entranced.

So if you're looking for a unique baby gift or an original pre-schooler birthday gift, look no further. Trust me, you won't be sad you picked this up.

Special deal for my readers: Use JessicaSentMe as a coupon code and get 20% off. Now go forth and do even more rocking out!

Welcome back Banana Splits!

Remember that funky show with those huge singing and dancing animals from the 60s? Yeah, me neither, but that's OK! Because they're back and now we get to discover The Banana Splits right along with our beloved kiddos.

Starting September 2, The Banana Splits are going to star in their very own comedy shorts and music videos on Cartoon Network. Now I know you're thinking that the last thing we need is more grown-ups dressed in funky animal costumes singing and dancing around a stage. But trust me these guys are no Barney. The music is good and the shows are actually goofy funny. Well, funny if you're 5. But the music really is good! Honest!

You really don't believe me? Despite all the good kid music advice I've given you? Fine, be that way, but you can go hear them here for yourself on the as yet not launched site, you lucky dog. And take your kids with you because they have games, videos, and jokes that they are going to love.

Go forth and rock out. Or as C loves to say "Less talkin', more rockin'!"

Wishpot - The answer to all your wish list wants

Have you ever been in the middle of fixing up an Amazon wish list only to come across an item that's no longer sold on their site? I know, it's pretty rare, but it's so irritating when it does happen. How about discovering a product that's so new and innovative that it's only sold on the creator's website. How are you supposed to tell your pals that it's the perfect birthday present? A "check this out" email is sometimes a tad too obvious and obnoxious, but what's a girl to do?

Well now Wishpot is here to save the day. Wishpot is the ultimate wish list organizer. Download their handy "Add to Wishpot" button and "window"-shop to your heart's content. Whenever you see something you just have to have, tap the button and poof the item is in your wish list. Millions of stores, one list. Brilliant. You can create multiple lists: 'birthday', 'holidays', 'just because', 'in my wildest dreams', 'if you are seeking forgiveness', etc, etc...

And if you thought that it couldn't get better you were wrong! As if Wishpot weren't cool enough, today they are rolling out their Baby Registry option. Now new and expectant parents are no longer at the mercy of Babies R Us or Buy Buy Baby. Have I mentioned how brilliant this is? And yet there's even more. I know. I can't take it either. Since the brilliant people at Wishpot know just how stressful creating a baby registry can be. And since they don't want expectant parents' heads to spin they've rounded up an impressive panel of Mom Experts (and I'm not just saying that because I'm one of the lucky few) to create sample lists that anyone can peruse to get tips and ideas.

So what are you waiting for? Don't tell me there aren't a few things you've had your eye on for a while, I won't believe you. Wii anyone?

For the Kids - For all the bopping we do around the kitchen

In the Rose household we love to dance. Wait, let me rephrase that. In the Rose household we love to boogie in the kitchen while waiting for our dinner to cook. We pop in a CD and dance like maniacs until the giggles bring us to our knees. What can I say, I love to hear my kids laugh at me. Plus, some days it's the only exercise I get.

Our favorite CD, hands down, is For the Kids. It's a compilation of kid themed songs sung by awesome big shot artists: Five for Fighting, Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan to name a few. The songs are all brilliant, not a one needs to be skipped, and most should be on repeat. The themes may be kid friendly but the music is most definitely not dumbed down and won't make you want to rip your hair out after hearing it a couple times.

My personal faves are Willie the King by Dan Wilson; a touching take on how kids wish they could control the grown-up world and the Chantal/Raine Maida version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star which I guarantee you will still be humming days after you last heard it. Oh wait, I also really like Guster's I've Got to Be Clean and Dan Zanes' Wonderwheel. Oh! And! And! And you get the gist.

Definite thumbs up for this gem of a CD. Get it even if you don't have kids to enjoy it with.