Mom Gift Guide and Teething Bling Giveaway!

Are you looking for some creative gift ideas to buy the new mom in your life?  I have a couple of fantastic products for you to consider this Christmas.

Charlee Kat*z creates a line of handmade, high end, chenille hats and scarves that would make the perfect gift  for babies, children, and Moms this Christmas.  Her hats are especially adorable!  I love the Mommy and Me set of matching hats and scarves.  The Mommy and Me set is on sale right now just in time for the holidays.  All of the hats and scarves come in beautiful colors such as petal pink, bluebell and many more.   My favorite is chocolate.  You can also accessorize your hat with a lovely broach.   I don’t have a little girl myself, but I know moms who do have daughters would love to receive a special gift like this.  Charlee Kat*z designs are well made and long lasting as well as trendy. You get what you pay for and the hats are a bit pricey, but they are made of chenille and I think worth the price as a special gift.   You can purchase them at www.charleekatz.com

Another BRILLIANT invention is Smart Mom Jewelry.  I absolutely LOVE this idea!  I am jealous I didn’t come up with it myself.  Ha.  Smart Mom Jewelry is a line of trendy and lovely jewelry that also functions as a teething ring for your baby.  The jewelry is the perfect thing to keep your teething baby busy while they are sitting in your lap.   They tug and teethe on your jewelry anyway, so why not wear something that is not only safe for them but cute for you.  The necklaces are long enough for your baby to grab and not choke you either!  The line is called Teething Bling.  The jewelry was created by two moms who were inspired by their babies.  They use only the highest-quality, phthalate-free, federally approved silicone in the Teething Bling™ line. The material is non-toxic, latex-free, food–safe, and even dishwasher-friendly! It is the same silicone used in many other popular teething products and SGS test reports are available upon request. Although we stress that this is adult jewelry not intended for children to wear, all of their pendants come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety feature.  Teething Bling is all the rage with new moms in Hollywood too.  The line includes donut and heart shaped pendants in metallic or patterns.  You can also purchase matching bangles and key chains.  They also have Teething Bling gift sets that would be perfect for Christmas. The price of Teething Bling is very reasonable ranging from $12-25.   Teething Bling is available at www.smartmomjewelry.com and various retailers which you can look up on their website.

 

Smart Mom Jewelry wants to provide one of my readers with an early Christmas gift of an adorable Teething Bling Necklace!  HOW COOL IS THAT!

 

FOR ONE ENTRY: Go to This Holiday post and tell me what gift you would think about purchasing this Christmas.  Thank you so much for looking! It means alot not only to me but to children around the world.

 

FOR SECOND ENTRY: STUMBLE, TWITTER OR SUBSCRIBE AND LINK IT BACK HERE IN A SEPARATE ENTRY.

 

This contest will end at midnight on December 2^nd. I will e-mail the random lucky winner!  Good Luck and don’t forget about my other giveaways and please check back tomorrow for another giveaway too!

World Vision Gift Catalog

Giving to families in need can be one of the most fulfilling things people do at Christmas time. There are many wonderful charities and organizations that can use our support. It is worth it to our family to choose not to purchase that extra toy that will end up at the bottom of the toy box in a few weeks anyway. We are going to spend that money on a life changing gift for a child in need from a different country. Best of all we will teach our children about the importance of giving and sacrifice. World Vision has a gift catalog that is quite a bit different than the one you may receive from Toys R Us. For instance, the number one seller for World Vision is a goat for $75. The goat is a life changing gift for a family. The early-morning bleating of a dairy goat is a happy sound for children in countries like Haiti and Kenya — they know it’s ready to be milked. A goat nourishes a family with protein-rich milk, cheese, and yogurt, and can offer a much-needed income boost by providing offspring and extra dairy products for sale at the market. World Vision makes a promise to honor your generosity and use your donation in the most effective way possible.!

The gift catalog enables you to visually show your children what the gifts are and you can explain to them how the gift will impact that child and their family. There is a wide range of gifts and prices and some suggestions of gifts that you can purchase with your children are:

- Clothing for children living in poverty in the United States. ($25
provides $325 worth of clothing)

- Soccer balls for children to replace makeshift balls made of trash. ($16
for two soccer balls)

- Safe water for school children ($50 delivers enough water treatment
tablets to provide safe water for up to 250 children for one year)

- Improved seeds for a nourshing harvest ($17)

- A bicycle to help a young girl travel safely to work and school ($85)

For each World Vision gift, the giver can make the purchase in the name of a friend, family member, or business associate. World Vision then sends special cards to those individuals, describing the gifts and their impact. In the following year, the gift itself or intervention reaches the child or family in need. World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. World Vision assists millions of people in nearly 100 countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, and in the United States. Please consider World Vision Gifts this year for Christmas. To purchase from the gift catalog please visit www.worldvision.org.

I am Now Publishing on AddsYou.com

http://www.addsyou.com
username=MjAwOC0xMS0yOSAyMjowMzoyOQ==

Children’s Gift Guide and Giveaway!

Do you remember the Furby craze?  Well, parents get ready for a new one with Huru Humi’s.  Huru Humi’s are a line of electronic toys.  Each Huru Humi has its own personality with different interests ranging from sports to journalism.  Huru Humi can chat or play games with you, and also chat with up to three other Huru Humi. It is easy to understand from the concept and the instructions how it could become an instant craze.  Soon children across the nation will be carrying them around in their pocket and bringing them out to converse with each other.

With different characters available, you can appeal to girls and guys, jocks and nerds, “in” crowds and outcasts.  With interchangeable hair and clothes you aren’t stuck with the same look the whole time as well.  When playing with Lindsay and Jake, it was fun to watch them speak to each other but they did get confused.  When that happens you just have to start them over by saying “nervermind.”   I had fun playing Guess the Number game and Funny Faces with Lindsey.  The games and chats will keep your children entertained for hours.  You may have to help them out some to learn that the Huru Humi do have a mind of their own and require some patience.  The Huru Humi will make a unique and fun Christmas gift.  Huru Humi are available all over for $29.99 at Walmart, Target, Kmart and Toys R Us.  For more information you can go their website at www.huruhumi.com

I have an early Christmas present for one of my readers!  One person will win a Huru  Humi  along with a t-shirt and stickers. Yeah!

TO ENTER: GO TO THE HURU HUMI WEBSITE AND COME BACK HERE TO LET ME KNOW WHICH ONE YOU LIKE.

FOR A SECOND ENTRY: STUMBLE, TWITTER OR SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE THE LINK BACK HERE IN A SEPARATE COMMENT.

THE CONTEST WILL END AT MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 1^ST U.S. AND CANADA ONLY AND I WILL DRAW ONE RANDOM WINNER AND E-MAIL THEM.  GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!  DON’T FORGET TO ENTER MY OTHER GIVEAWAYS AND COME BACK TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER ONE!

Gadget Holiday Guide

 

The MiJam line is a series of musical instruments that work along with digital music players such as the iPod so that the listener can participate and “jam along” with the music. You can buy all of the Mijam products at major toy and electronic retailers and at www.b2stuf.com or www.blueboxtoys.com

New MiJam products include:

A fun invention by miJam is the PC Gizmo. He is a perfect companion to kids and teenagers who use computers. PC Gizmo is not only easy and fun to play with, it is also very useful as it helps you to manage your communication applications on your computer such as email, instant messengers, and Skype call. The PC Gizmo will light up whenever you receive an e-mail, call or instant message. He is adorable and a fun accessory for your office. My four year old and I had tons of fun watching him . He spins around and his ears light up whenever I receive and e-mail from my computer. It’s so much fun to get e-mails now! He is like a little pet and you can program him to do all sorts of things, even laugh!  Best of all you don’t have to feed him!  The Gizmo is a unique gift idea for anyone who enjoys gadgets.  The PC Gizmo retails for $29.99.

Looking for an iPod dock with a little extra? The Mijam Laser Light Show is an exciting new twist to listening to music.  This product doubles as a sleek, good quality stand-alone speaker but also plays music while projecting an illuminating laser light show on your wall or ceiling. The effects of the light sync with your music!  With the miJam Laser Light Show kids of all ages can dance and sing along with the perfect entertainment accessory for sleepovers, birthday parties, or star in the their very own show One critique, don’t expect the lights to expand to a whole room, but they are still entertaining, just smaller than I expected.  The miJam Laser Light Show retails for $49.99 The laser patterns move in sync with the music and when you adjust the sound levels, the patterns will grow or shrink in size.  If the party runs out of steam, the laser can be turned off and act as a regular iPod dock.

Highlights:

• Stereo Speaker with excellent sound quality
• Laser light show effects syncs with your music
• Adjustable stand to project light show to wall or ceiling
• Safe laser light: conforms to all applicable standards for safety
• Audio-in jack
• Retractable audio-in cable
• Can be used with the AC adaptor provided or 4xAA batteries
• Two modes: Audio only and Audio with Laser Light Show

Mom, what do you do when your child asks for a drum kit for Christmas? Good newsI The people from Mi jam have a fun and inexpensive alternative for you! The miJam Pro Air Drummer are wireless drums which simulates a full drum set. The Pro Air passed the test with our teenager! His words were “It was cool.”(He’s not big with words.) He said it took a while to get the hang of it, but once he did it was lots of fun. He especially liked the fact he can use it with the songs he likes from his iPod. I like it because of the low cost and the fact it encourages musicality. Also, mom’s this is a great alternative to an expensive and bulky drum kit. The Pro Air sounds just as authentic and is a great gift idea for your teenager or teen-at-heart to find under the tree. Here are the details:

Includes 2 wireless, multi-functional drumsticks, a wireless foot pedal for bass drum realism, and a speaker you can connect to your iPod or any MP3 player (using the headphone jack) to play along with your favorite music.  You can also choose from 6 built in rhythms. Features include crash cymbal ride cymbal, tom tom, and floor tom.  The drumsticks also have a follow button, allowing for a true drum roll.  Best of all, they are air drums requiring no tapping. The miJam Pro Air Drummer retails for $39.99. . The MiJam Pro Air Drummer set comes equipped with a bass-simulation pedal, a speaker that possesses the capability to connect to any MP3 player and two wireless drumsticks.

For children who are captivated solely by the drumsticks, you have the option of purchasing the MiJam Drummer, which is a pair of motion activated air drumsticks that are compatible with your MP3 music player and iPod.

The miJam Studio Mike, is a microphone that lets you sing along with your digital music player and that also works along with other MiJam devices. ($19.99); You can sing like a star to your favorite music!   I wish I would have had one of these when I was a teenager! I had to use a hairbrush and sing over the record. This is so much fun and I can’t believe the low cost! If you are thinking about getting an expensive Karaoke machine, you should try the Studio Mike first. You will save money and have just as much fun. Just plug in your i-pod with your favorite songs and sing your heart out! Best of all, you can push the applause button and feel like Madonna.  Here are the details:

• When you activate the function, Studio Mike automatically masks out original vocals of your favorite music pieces and blends your voice into the background music. You will begin to sing like a pro.

• With Studio Mike, you can choose from 5 built-in mood enhancing sound effects to liven up your singing. Just press a button Take Studio Mike with you wherever you go. If you desire background music to accompany your singing, all you need is an iPod or a MP3 player. Just plug it in and sing. By using the line-out jack and cable provided, you can output your songs to earphones and speakers. Alternatively, you can make a recording of your singing in a computer with recording facilities and listen to your own performance later.

IL DIVO TWO CD GIVEAWAY!

Il Divo are back refreshed, reinvigorated and ready to remind the world in 2008 just what they have been missing. Four of the greatest operatic voices in the world come together again to create their unique signature sound to re-interpret popular romantic songs. The Promise features 12 songs once again produced by Steve Mac (Il Divo, The Christmas Collection, Ancora, Siempre). The Promise is Il Divo’s first release in two years. Il Divo have become an international sensation bringing the sound of opera to the world of popular music since their debut in 2002. Il Divo has sold over 22 million albums worldwide.

I first heard of Il Divo a couple years ago when I watched them on Oprah.  I was instantly in love with their voices, not to mention their good looks!  Their brand new album, The Promise, is amazing.   My personal favorite is Amazing Grace.  But I do love their version of the ABBA classic “The Winner Takes it All.”   Their is nothing better than listening to beautiful music.  Their Christmas album will put you in the mood for the Holidays  These four guys are so talented and both new albums combined together will make the perfect Christmas gift.  You can buy their new album on Amazon and major retail stores and view their website at www.ildivo.com

<!    The Power Of Love (La Fuerza Mayor)
2. La Promessa
3. Adagio
4. Hallelujah (Aleluya)
5. I Knew I Loved You (L’Alba Del Mondo)
6. Enamorado
7. Angelina
8. The Winner Takes It All (Va Todo Al Ganador)
9. La Luna
10. She
11. Amazing Grace

One 2 One Network and Sony Records are providing me with an extra copy of The Promise CD/DVD plus their Christmas Collection CD to give away to one lucky reader!  SERIOUSLY!

FOR ONE ENTRY:  GO TO MY HOLIDAY GADGET POST AND COMMENT THERE WHICH GADGETS YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN FOR CHRISTMAS.

FOR SECOND ENTRY: STUMBLE, TWITTER OR SUBSCRIBE AND LINK IT BACK HERE IN A SEPARATE ENTRY.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!  THIS CONTEST WILL END AT MIDNIGHT NOVEMBER 30^TH AND I WILL E-MAIL THE RANDOM WINNER!  DON’T FORGET TO ENTER MY OTHER GIVEAWAYS AND COME BACK TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER ONE!

Holiday Gadget Guide and Gadget Giveaway!

 

Just about everyone has an iPod by now. Sometimes I wish I could listen to all of my music outside of headphones. I had no idea that I could until I found out about iPort docks! I set mine up in the kitchen and I love it! Now I don’t have to worry about not hearing the kids while I’m listening to my iPod. Here is how it works. The iPort FS-2 connects your iPod to any stereo or entertainment center and to your computer. You can share your music, photos and video with others, and connect to iTunes with the touch of a button and transfer music and video to your iPod. The included power supply charges your iPod while it’s docked. The FS-2 works with iPod mini, iPod nano (adapter included), and iPod, iPod with color display and iPod with video. What a great idea for Christmas! IPort sells five different models and there is a dealer list on their website www.iportmusic.com.

If you want to take your iPod on the go and still listen to it without headphones, iHome has solved that problem too! They have a fantastic line of portable audio products for everyone for Christmas. I especially love the portable speaker case. It is functional as well trendy. This portable trendy water-resistant sport case speaker fits into anyone’s lifestyle. Securely holds your iPod in a lightweight zippered case so taking it with you to the beach, picnic or party is a breeze. Also charges the iPod and incorporates a full function built-in remote control, so you can use your iPod while it’s fully protected in your sports case. It has a cute little chain to carry it and the pink camouflage is really cute. They do have lots of other colors too, including ones for boys. This is a great gift idea for the teenage girl or her mom on your list. iHome Sound Systems are the designers of Portable Audio Products for iPod, iPhone and MP3 Players. Their products are available at www.ihomeaudio.com, the Apple Store, Best Buy, Target and nationwide at major electronics and mass retailers.

 

The iGo everywhere is great gift idea for the on-the-go moms and dads who want to power their electronic devices without the tangled charger mess. With interchangeable tips, users can plug a tip that matches their mobile device into the everywhere to: charge cell phones or PDAs to stay in contact with friends and family while on the go power gaming devices and iPods to stay entertained for hours during long car rides or flights power GPS systems to avoid getting lost capture matchless memories with their fully charged camera

The iGo really goes everywhere. It includes interchangeable wall (AC) and car (DC) chargers and a travel organizer. The everywhere also comes with a convenient five-inch retractable cord, which I love! At $39.99, the iGo is a pretty good deal, even though you have to buy the interchangeable tips. For instance I have an iPod mini and a Verizon phone, so I would need two tips. It is still less cost than buying both chargers. Best of all it fits easily in your purse and you will have the ease of mind. You can buy iGo adapters online at www.iGo.com

 

Another gadget gift idea for someone on the go is the Wi-Fire. The Wi-Fire is a small, but powerful USB adapter for anyone who want to reach out to those weak Wi-Fi signals from troublesome WiFi networks, distant local hotspots or muni Wi-FI to get a good Wi-Fi connection when it would normally be out of range. Users benefit from the increased mobility and greater range with faster speeds in comparison to other standard WiFi adapters and works with any 802.11 b/g access point. It multiplies the effectiveness of wireless networks by allowing users to connect to a WiFi network from up to 1,000 feet – more than three times the range of standard adapters – often at significantly higher speeds, and even in locations where no wireless signal could be detected previously. Wi-Fire, only 3 inches by 4 inches and a sleek 3/8-inch thick, is small, easy-to-use, and folds up with its mounting device and USB cable for portability. We tried it at our local Starbucks and it worked incredible. We are traveling for Christmas and will be putting it to a lot of use and it will be nice to know we are using a secure internet connection with our Wi-Fi. Retail price for Wi-Fire is $79.00 and is available now at www.hfield.com and participating retailers.

I feel like I live on my computer, but sometimes I get frustrated with it.  Even though it is fairly new since last summer I am already having issues with it. All the whirring and unexpected shut downs often have a cause (other than orneriness); incorrect settings, fragmented hard drives, and unused, bulky programs slow down computer performance until you’re practically pulling your hair out. Just as our cars need regular tune-ups and oil changes, so, it turns out, do our computers.

Luckily, Norton by Symantec has created one elegant solution. Norton Premium Services allows Norton experts to connect with you one-on-one, listen to the problems your encountering, and then directly access your computer via the Internet so they can run diagnostic tests and fix the problems while you sit back and watch. In addition to making your PC run like new, they can also help with killing viruses, eliminating spyware, and installing Norton software, just to name a few.

 

Helps if your computer:

• Takes a long time to start up
• Slows down when you open multiple programs

What we do:

• Full scan to evaluate issues affecting performance
• Fine-tune key areas to improve speed and stability
• Assess and ensure comprehensive protection and security
• Recommend steps to ensure top performance

Guess What? The wonderful people at Norton want to give THREE of my readers a FREE tune-up. The tune-up is valued at $69.99. How awesome it that!

ENTRY ONE: I invite you to surf any of the gadget websites listed above and come back and tell me which gadgets you would like to buy.

ENTRY TWO: STUMBLE, TWITTER OR SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER (NEW ONLY) AND LEAVE ME THE LINK IN A SEPARATE ENTRY. U.S. AND CANADA ENTRIES ONLY. THE DEADLINE TO ENTER IS MIDNIGHT NOVEMBER 29^TH. I WILL E-MAIL THE THREE WINNERS! GOOD LUCK! COME BACK TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER GIVEAWAY AND DON’T FORGET TO ENTER MY OTHER GIVEAWAYS! THANKS TO MOMCENTRAL.COM!

Gadget Holiday Guide and PS2 Giveaway!

Are you looking for a fun and different gadget for Christmas? RadioShack is selling this cool radio controlled DragonFly. WowWee introduces the world’s first radio controlled flying insect! This amazing FlyTech flyer flaps its wings like a real dragonfly for unique flying action. Thanks to the lightweight construction, the Dragonfly can flutter, soar, dive-bomb and glide. Plus, the durable carbon-fiber structure and flexible wings stand up to crashes and rough landings. I can attest to it surviving crash landings because we crashed it a lot before we got the hang of it. The DragonFly is so much fun for a child or adult to play with. And don’t worry if it’s cold and snowy, this toy flies indoors too! Don’t forget to buy the batteries!  One downfall my husband wanted me to warn,  it is a bit tough to put together.  Patience is required.

• Capable of maneuvering in tight spaces, you can even fly it indoors
• Light-up LED eyes alert you of it’s status by blinking, pulsing or shining bright
• Lightweight and durable for versatile, long-lasting fun
• 2 skill levels for beginners and experts: includes a tail stabilizer for additional control

You can purchase the DragonFly at your local RadioShack or online at www.radioshack.com

Do you have someone in your life who love Science? Or someone you want to get interested in Science. This mini digital microscope, the Zorb, would be the perfect gift. The Zorb is a digital microscope with a camera built in that enables you to take images of anything and display the magnified image on you computer screen. We had so much fun looking at bugs close up on the computer. The Zorb was easy to hold for my four year old and it is a great opportunity to discuss Science with your kids. Here is the product information:

Carson’s zOrb is a digital microscope with an integrated camera that displays the magnified image right on your computer screen.  The impressive 35x magnification (14″ monitor) allows you to see details of ordinary objects you never knew existed!  The built-in internal illuminator ensures a clear and bright image. The zOrb comes in 3 colors: Surf Blue, Safari Green, and Lava Orange. Capture an image to keep using the built-in 640 x 480 resolution digital camera.

You can purchase the Zorb at www.bhphotovideo.com. or www.opticsplanet.com

It seems like everyone has an iPhone or iPod Touch nowadays. I have the perfect gift idea for iPhone addicts that is affordable and one they will definitely thank you for. It is difficult to use the screen stubby fingers, so the geniuses behind the Pogo iPhone Stylus have magically solved this problem by making a stylus that somehow tricks the iPhone into thinking it’s really a finger. What’s more, the tip of the stylus is a soft felt like material that has the added benefit of keeping your screen clean while you tap away. There is a clip too so they won’t ever lose it. Pogo’s come is four stylish colors. In fact you probably will want to pick one up for yourself too! You can buy the Pogo Stylus at www.thinkgeek.com

Need a gift for the teen on your Holiday list? Cygnett GrooveAtomic Earbuds are stylish enough for them and also a great price for you. Lose yourself in the quality sound and comfort of GrooveAtomic Earbuds. They are light and made with titanium so they will last. They are ergonomically designed to form fit in your ear and are designed to fit with any ipod or mp3 player. They come in two fun colors of pink and orange.  I was pleasantly surprised at the sound quality for such a great price.  My teenage son immediately grabbed them for himself, so I will have to buy another pair! You can purchase GrooveAtomic Earbuds at various online stores. The list is available at www.cygnett.com

Kids love to find video games under the Christmas tree. They also love to play video games based on movies. PlayStation 2 has come out with the new game, Speed Racer. Speed Racer was a popular animated movie release this late summer/early fall, now boasts a video tie-in game counterpart as well.  Released on September 16th, the PS2 game allows video game fans to participate in the clever animated racing story.

<!-Play as Speed racer or more than 15 other characters from the film

<!-High-speed action at over 350 MPH as you race through amazing stadium tracks featuring loops, corkscrews, jumps and more

Smash, jump, flip and spin with massive “car-fu” combat

Split-screen multi-player racing lets you take on…or take out…your friends!

This is the true film experience in your control. Race at top speeds a battle for the WRL cup as you take on your opponents with “car fu”!

The game has an E rating (appropriate for everyone)

 

———————————————————————-

Speed Racer PS2 Video Game Giveaway

I am excited to offer a giveaway of THREE copies of Speed Racer for the PS2. As part of highlighting great movie related gift ideas for Christmas, you can now get a free copy of Speed Racer for the PS2.  Entry is simple!

FOR ONE ENTRY: READ THE GADGET GIFT GUIDE ABOVE AND COMMENT HERE WHICH GADGET YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BUYING.

FOR SECOND ENTRY: STUMBLE, TWITTER OR SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER (NEW ONLY) AND IN A SEPARATE ENTRY LINK IT BACK HERE. U.S.AND CANADA ONLY THE LAST DAY TO ENTER WILL BE MIDNIGHT NOVEMBER 29^TH. I WILL E-MAIL THE WINNERS THE NEXT DAY. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! DON’T FORGET TO ENTER MY OTHER GIVEAWAYS AND COME BACK TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!

Toddler Tote Review

Educational toys that are fun are my favorite buys for Christmas. The Toddler Tote is one of those toys. It encourages children to work on their eye and hand coordination, learn colors and shapes, and increasing fine motor development. The Toddler Tote includes large and small geometric shape puzzles with a 9″ square carrying case. The carrying case is an added bonus so you can take the toys anywhere to keep the kids busy. This product says it is geared toward ages 2-5 years old and that would be my only critique, I think the activities are geared for more for 2 or 3 year olds. NMC Toys have a great selection of toys that are American and European made. They also are committed to making toys with the highest quality and standard. The Toddler Tote retails for $16.99, and can be found on the NMC Toys Website.  They currently have a coupon code for an 8% savings. Use the code SAVE8. Thanks to Parent Reviewers for sending this great toy.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR HOME

Have you heard of kitchen mats made with Gel?  I think they are one of the coolest inventions.  I have one in front of my laundry washer and I could stand there all day now.  I love the feel of the mat and it is the most comfortable mat I have ever stood on!  GelPro Mats would make a great Holiday gift for moms and dads!  And they are attractive and available in many different styles and colors. Here is what they say from their website.

Millions of people who love to cook experience pain in their feet and back from standing on hard, unforgiving kitchen flooring for extended periods of time. GelPro has solved this ergonomic problem with a line of stylish anti-fatigue floor mats manufactured with a soft, shock-absorbing gel core. The unique properties of the GelPro gel enable GelPro mats to provide the most comfortable surface to stand on, regardless of the type of hard flooring you have in your home. Whether you use it as a kitchen floor mat, a laundry room mat, a bathroom mat, or even as a utility mat in your garage, we are confident that after one try you will agree that GelPro has created the world’s most comfortable and attractive anti-fatigue floor mat.  You can purchase GelPro Mats on their website at www.gelpro.com.

Dabney Lee Woglom, the stationer known for her “happy, snappy, preppy” motto, is out with a new home collection.  The fun and preppy patterns that the company and designer are known for include grace lucite trays, playing cards, disposable placemats and coasters, recipe card boxes, mousepads and to-do lists, file folders, and a desktop calendar.

Everything is custom, so you can have fun creating your completely personal design from the 18 patterns, 12 colors, and 15 monogram styles available. My favorite designs are the Happy Tile and The Flirt!  And, your new items will ship within 10 days! It is so much fun to choose from the adorable patterns and colors  With Dabney Lee’s reasonable prices ($30-$120), these cheery items are irresistible gift options for anyone, including yourself!  You can order them on the website www.dabneyleeathome.com.

The Bosch MIXXO^TM Cordless Handheld Blender is a revolutionary cordless handheld blender that can be used to prepare tasty food and refreshing drinks without the hassle of cords or plugs. The unit utilizes cutting-edge lithium battery technology – the first among kitchen appliances – to provide twenty minutes of continuous powerful blending that lasts nearly twice as long as other handheld blenders.

The Mixxo is lightweight and we tested it out by making smoothies.  It was powerful enough to blend the ice and fruit easily.  What else I liked is the fact it is detatchable and dishwasher safe, so I didn’t have to wasted time cleaning it.  Parents who blend a lot of their food, especially baby food, would love to see the Mixxo under the Christmas tree.  You can buy the Mixxo and other Bosch Products all major department stores.  www.boschappliances.com has a the list of stores in your area on their website.

I discovered Pillowgrams and I absolutely love this idea for Christmas gifts.  A Pillowgram is a unique pillowcase that you can order for a loved one and it will be delivered in a special gift box that resembles a pillow with a telegram containing a personal message from you.  They have so many great designs to choose from.  Something for everyone including, sports, Holiday, animals, religious, and many more!  You can find one style that fits the personality of your loved one.   Once you have picked the design then they will then stitch the name of the person on the pillowcase like the picture above.  They are such a special gift because what else does someone use every night?  And when they go to sleep they will think of you and how special and personal this gift is!  You can order PillowGrams at www.pillowcasegram.com.  To ensure Christmas and Hanukkah delivery, the deadline for ordering is December 10th.  Any orders after that may be delivered late, but they will still make a nice gift.

Have you heard the benefits of using Ceramics?  This new line of home and kitchen ceramic tools were designed by Karim. They are lightweight and ergonomic so they are easy to hold and use.  The ceramic blade stays sharp, never rusts and won’t brown food.  Ceramics lasts longer than steel and have a lightweight non-slip finish.I am amazed at the difference!  Best of all the prices are affordable starting at only $5.99 to $14.99.  The new line includes the safety cutter, letter opener, precision cutter, veggie peeler, y-peeler and grater. All in all, slice™ ceramic is a whole lot better than your average metal blade — for a lot of reasons:

slice™ ceramic: • Extremely hard • Ergonomic design • Ultra-sharp • No metallic or food after-taste (and stays that way) • Won’t brown food • Won’t rust • Resists germs, acids & oils • Won’t stain • Lasts many times longer than steel • Won’t dull • Remains sharp for years • Resists wear and tear • Ultra-light • Easy to clean • Non-stick • Easy to use • Well balanced • Lightweight • Reduces fatigue

Metal blades: • Rust • Stain • Bend • Pit • Dull • Scratch • Wear out quickly • Susceptible to chemical corrosion • Hazardous to use • Leave metallic taste in food

slice™ is committed to simple, sharp, and safe (while we keep you colorful, cool, and cutting edge). You can purchase slice™ at fine retailers nationwide, and a portion of all slice™ product sales helps fund autism research. By purchasing our products, you’re helping to find a cure for the millions of children and their families who live with autism every day.  Ceramics products are available at leading retail stores and the list on the website www.slicehome.com.

If you are like me, you need all the help you can get for making cookies.  I found this great place called Chic Cookies, where everything you need to bake cookies for the holidays comes in one fabulous kit.  All you have to do is buy the ingredients and follow the instructions, and you will look like a professional baker for the holidays.  Here is what comes in the kit:

Chic Cookies simplifies the art of cookie decorating by confining all the hard-to-find supplies in one box. Cookie rookies need not fear, as the kits offer simple, step-by-step instructions. But even expert decorators will be treated to unique, new designs such as a sassy dress, a swanky martini, and a spicy chili pepper. Chic Cookies’ kits are perfect for parties, gifts, or just for fun. And the skills learned will last beyond the kit into the big, wide, less scary world of cookie decorating.

Each full-size Chic Cookies kit will make dozens, if not hundreds, of cookies and contains: 2 to 3 themed cookie cutters, 6 frosting bags, 6 decorating tips, 6 couplers, 6 rubber bands, 1 cookie scraper and 5 bottles of chef’s quality gel paste coloring (the best you can use). A few of the kits include sprinkles, too. Invaluable to the kit are the printed materials: “the guidebook” (a guide with recipes, tips on making frosting colors and bags, a color chart and decorating techniques), “the specifics” (one-page photograph cards with instructions for decorating your themed cookies), and “the short version: an at-a-glance guide” (a one-page summary card). The picture above shows you what each of these things looks like.

You can buy the kits at their website at www.chiccookiekits.com, not only for the holidays, but for all different occasions.  They come in an adorable box.  These kits will make a great gift for a friend, loved one or yourself.

Next Page »