GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

I have said again and again that inventions by parents are bound to be great products as 99% of the time, they work like a charm! Check out Parking Pal, the brainchild of mommy Denise Whitney, who was absolutely awesome about sending samples for me to review.

How Parking Pal Came About:

One mother residing in Virginia began to think of ways to keep her kids focused so the chance of them bolting or wondering in parking lots would be eliminated. She created the Parking Pal and IT WORKED. Austin, her 5-year old, and Aiden, her 3-year old, love the Parking Pal. When getting out of or coming back to the vehicle they go directly to it, put their hand on it, fiddle around with it and chat with each other while she gets her youngest into his stroller or back into his car seat. Until all vehicles are equipped with back-up cameras and all until all drivers remember to pay careful attention in parking lots, this is a great aid in keeping your child safer.

Those who have been following my parenting blog would know that both my kids are hyperactive. So, it is difficult to manage them if I need to go shopping with both of them tagging along. I put Parking Pal to the test when we went grocery shopping last week. Of course, I had towed the hubby along just in case. After grocery shopping, I put the two Parking Pals at the rear side of our car and told the kids to put their hands on them and play a game where the first person to take his/her hand away will be the loser. While the hubby and I were putting the bags of groceries into the car, we were also secretly watching out for them. To my surprise, my two kids were happily chatting away with each hand stuck on the Parking Pal and did not for one second move away from the car. WOW! We were both amazed. Parking Pal gave us about 5 minutes of freedom to load the things into the car without the need to run after bolting kids.

BUY IT: This amazing product only cost $7.99 (inclusive shipping) and you can also choose from a variety of designs. Everyone placing an order in the months of June and July will be put in a drawing to win a $50.00 Toys R Us gift card. Drawing will be held on Aug. 1st, 2008.

WIN IT HERE : Thanks to Denise Whitney who is kind enough to give our readers a chance to try out Parking Pal, Parent Reviewers will be giving away a Parking Pal of winner’s choice of design to two lucky readers. Please visit www.parkingpalmagnet.com and let us know in our comment, which is your favourite Parking Pal. Winners will be announced on 15th July 2008.

We (both the kids and I) love our Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten and Let’s Get Ready For 1st Grade books. For the first time, my kids did not fight over the products that we had to review because each had one to own And I owe my thanks to Stacey Kannenberg, co-author of these two award winning books , publisher, motivator, consultant, spokesperson, MOM as well as a successful blogger. I am full of praises for Stacey not only for her achievements but for the fact that during my course of communication with her, she is truly one of the nicest and most positive person that I’ve “met” online.

I gave my 4 year old daughter the Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten book  which was meant for the pre-school children (age 2-6) whereas Let’s Get Ready For 1st Grade is targetted at children from 6-8 years old. Naturally, my 8 year old son was assigned the ownership.

The first thing that attracted me (and the kids too) was the glossy and colourful cover as well as pages of both books. I can honestly say that if all children’s books were as colourful and made of the same material, they would definitely be more appealing to children. That’s another point to note if you want to buy books to instill the love of reading in your child!

Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten : by Linda Desimowich and Stacey Kannenberg - A 32 pages “dry erase” book which includes basic topics like the alphabets, pronouncing letter combinations, to colors and shapes, to learning numbers, basic money concepts, opposites, seasons, positional words, body parts and senses. I like the fact that Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten actually reinforces everything my boy had learned during his Kindergarten years. Instead of getting several books for each topic, this is an all-in-one book which serves as a good guide for any parent to assist their children in the learning process. I am proud to say my girl breezed through the alphabets (even with the alphabets being mixed up), colours, shapes and numbers but will need to concentrate on the other topics. Her favourite was of course being able to doodle on the book and not get scolded for doing that as it was erasable using a tissue!

Let’s Get Ready For 1st Grade : by Linda Desimowich and Stacey Kannenberg -This book  features 40 pages of brightly illustrated curriculum – covering simply everything a child needs to know in 1st Grade. My son was delighted with the comprehensive curriculum which included the solar system (his favourite!), addition, subtraction, vowel sounds, punctuations, measurement and more. This book is also ideal as a supplement for parents who are homeschooling their children.

BUY IT :  You can view the sample of the book pages here or purchase both books at www.cedarvalleypublishing.com or Amazon.com.

More Parent Reviewers Offer Their Opinion on Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten:

Lisa Reviews - These books are great. Even with Madison only being four, we are able to do activities out of both of these books. The first thing I love is that we can write with our felt tip pens on these books and then erase when we are done with the activities. The activities are also very age appropriate.

Just My Tots – The books starts with basic lessons that I am sure many parents are already doing with kids at this age- Alphabets and numbers. And then as you progress through the pages, there are introductions to slightly more complex subject such as autonyms (opposites) and science (seasons).

Some pages such as currency may be a bit difficult for the Malaysian children to relate to as they are in US currency. But having this page gives me an idea of what I can teach Bryan outside this book. I can always teach him the Malaysian denominations, right?

Laura Williams’ Musings – These books get an A+ from me!  Good for all students… public (or private) and homeschooled alike!  They got thumbs up from my 5 year old and 4 year old.

MommiBee – What I like best is the subject it covers ie from the basic lesson of learning the alphabets, shapes, colors, saying each word to numbers and counting. It is everything I would need in a book to teach my two year old at this stage. No longer do I have to refer to separate books for each individual topic.

Just My Rambling – When I first flip through the books, I really love the fact that the books are very colorful. Kids love colors, so that is a major plus for the books. I also love the fact that you can write on the pages with a dry erase marker and then erase it easily with a tissue. That means Lil’ C can redo the activities in the books as many times as she likes.

Rambling Moo – Darrius was very happy when he flipped through the ‘Green’ book which is Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten. He was so attracted by the alphabets, colors, shapes, the left and right hands which he refers to ‘Where is Thumbkin?‘ from one of the VCD he has been watching. When he saw the numbers he kept asking me and now he is able to recite from one to twenty.

Cheeks to Cheeks – Just so you know, these books are getting great reviews from the Parents and Educators. These books are approved by the State Department of California’s Social Compliance Review Board. That means any state school in California can get funding to purchase these books. With all these recognitions and awards, I’m sure it has met some kids’ stamp of approval.

Accidental Mommy – Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! presents all the subjects and skills listed above in a very colorful and engaging manner. The book is designed and laid out to help you interact with your child and help them learn and practice what they have learned. The illustrations are simple, eye catching and very appealing. Even my 6 1/2 month old daughter loves looking at the book. She squeals and coos at it as I turn the pages. Some of the information my son has mastered already, while others he’s just beginning to grasp but he still loves to go through the pages with me and interact with the book.

Val’s Views – This is the type of book that works for both teaching new skill concepts and reinforcing emerging skills. The stated age range for the Kindergarten book is 2-6, but it also works well with a developmentally delayed child like my son who doesn’t typically fit well within the advertised age span of most things. What I like the most about this book is that it’s structured so you can do what it says or you can make up your own activities.

Montessorimum -  One thing good is that it’s off good quality glossy paper, you can write on it with a marker and then erase off. Even if baby started chewing on the book, it won’t tear off so easily.

And here’s some insight into what other Parents feel about Let’s Get Ready For 1st Grade:

Mott’s Island – I found that he really enjoys the book very much, because of its illustrations and interesting learning facts. With Ms.Best’s help (the First Grade teacher), I managed to stay in focus with the subject. Till today, he’s still looking through the book as there is always something he misses.

Right Reads – A point of note is the subtle colouring for the vowels contained in the alphabet – a great way to know immediately if your child is colour blind. Provided he already knows vowels from consonants, the colour-blind child may not be able to tell you that they are a different shade from the rest of the letters.

I love the big, bold-coloured illustrations that accompany the learning of new words and concepts – they definitely make reading the book an appealing one.

Value Bookshop’s Reading Notes – This book makes learning flexible. If you don’t have much time or have a little waiting time, you can whip out this book and have a quick, short lessons. If you want to have a proper lesson, this book serves as a good opening exercise. Sort of like an appetizer before the main meal. Use your own imagination on how you can expand on the lesson.

Ang’s Chicken Coop – I am just in love with these little books and so is Melina. The first thing that I noticed when I opened them up is they are designed to be written in with a dry erase marker! That alone is a huge selling feature for me. When I opened both of the books I found them to be colorful and full of characters that appeal to little ones. Each book focuses on skills that a child will need to have before the enter that grade. These skills include money, time, alphabet, knowing how to write your name, colors, positional words, calendar skills, counting, basic math and the list goes on. Each lesson is condensed into one page so that it isn’t overwhelming to your child.

Quiver Full Family – This title is an excellent academic foundation, building more advanced reading, beginner writing skills, simple math etc. on which to build the foundation for a first grade curriculum if so desired.  It can also be used for preparatory work over the summer, or review work as well.

Almanac Queen – I was pleasantly surprised that these topics are already clearly covered in the same familiar glossy book that can be wiped clean with the white board marker. This brilliant method means I can let my daughter use the book again and again as kids learn most through repeat process effectively. I believe this book is very useful for all educators and parents to pick up interesting ideas for study and play in an alternative method. The illustrations and colours are vibrant and interesting. I see a lot of potential in this useful little book that can be entertaining for use in the car during long journeys too. A must buy!

Freaky Frugalite – Let’s Get Ready For First Grade is similar, and advances to the next step of development. Now that the child has learned numbers and letters, the child can advance to learning basic addition and subtraction, and learning the phonetic alphabet. I love that these books emphasize phonics for reading.

 Renaissance Cullinaire - Lets Get Ready For First Grade! really details first grade classwork. You will feel right at home teaching and following along with the book. There are also tips for fostering self esteem and proper ways to handle sensitive issues

I can honestly tell you that I was absolutely thrilled when I received Huddy Buddy’s T-shirt for my 4 year old girl. Celebrity babies are wearing Huddy Buddy Tees and my girl was going to be dressed in one too. How cool!  I chose the “Daddy’s Girl” T-shirt as her daddy is like her best friend and the T-shirt couldn’t have said it better! I was equally impressed by the softness of the Tee, which was made of 100% cotton. Even the little Huddy Buddy cartoon logo sewn to the back of the T-shirt (at the bottom) makes it look cute & unique.

About Huddy Buddy:

Huddy Buddy (the company) offers a new line of casual apparel for all the cool kids in the neighborhood. Inspired by Huddy and his pals – and designed by Daddy – our tees and onesies will have your little ones running around in style. With the arrival of Huddy’s “buddy” (a baby sister), we’ve added girly-tees and comfy pants to the line, so your infant or toddler won’t be left with nothing to wear.

We use only top-quality 100% cotton, ethically-made garments, hand screened in small batches with the finest inks. They’re sure to be a unique addition to your little one’s wardrobe, or a great gift.

Huddy Buddy designs are funny and cute and they not only have onesies and T-shirts under the category of boys and girls but also have one featuring twins and siblings. Check out the ones that say “I’m Part Of A Set“. Parents of twins can now stop saying “Yes, yes. They’re twins. Stop asking already.” LOL. Whether you are shopping for your little fashionista, the adorable little prince in your life or trying to help make the transition of getting a new brother or sister easier for your child, Huddy Buddy’s onesies and T-shirts are just right for it!

BUY IT : Huddy Buddy is giving Parent Reviewers’ readers 10% discount for normal priced merchandise by using Promo Code “PR10“. Sizes are available for babies 3 months to kids 8T depending on designs. From now until 30th June, part of the proceeds from sales of Huddy Buddy products will be donated to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation.

You really have to hear what other Parent Reviewers are raving about:

Atomic Mama – Huddy Buddy shirts are QUALITY shirts – this isn’t a shop that gets their stuff from some random online printer; the shirts are well made and really (really!) cute! You can find sibling tees (boys, girls, twins, etc.) and even a shirt that I REALLY like that says “I like my milk fresh from the source” – yeah! You will also find a “Potty Trained” shirt to celebrate that certain milestone! Seriously, check out the website – super cute stuff, and even photos of cute kids modeling!

From Dates To Diapers – Among all of the adorable tees found at Huddy Buddy, I was happy to find the sibling tees. These tees can be handpicked to match your kiddos’ birth order. They even have twins apparel.

MommiBee – Imagine my delight (and hubby’s too) when I finally found some “Daddy’s Girl” cool t-shirts at Huddy Buddy! The one I got is simple, cute and the quality is excellent, made from 100% soft top cotton material – perfect for my daughter’s sensitive skin.

Rambling Moo – The material is very soft and the size fit perfectly well on Darrius though it is a little long in length. Being only 2.5 years old, Darrius is wearing a size 4!

Cheeks To Cheeks – When comes to children clothes, I’m very picky. I prefer 100% cotton and I’m glad all the t-shirts from Huddy Buddy are 100% cotton. It makes hand-me-downs much easier. As some of you have already known my younger daughter has eczema. Any scratchy material will irritate her sensitive skin. Just so you know the t-shirt that we got from Huddy Buddy is amazingly soft.

De’ Moments – You can get this easily online from HuddyBuddy, where they also provide cute little shirts for siblings, little Chatterbox. You can even customized your own T-shirt by loading your own picture with your own message online.

Mott’s Island -  They’ve got really great stuff for twins and siblings! They have a sibling 2packs, which is too cute!!! Or you could buy them individually. I had not realise that they had a “Middle Child” tee! That would have been really cute on No.2!!!!

A Shopping Queen’s Blog - I was lucky to get a long sleeve pink t-shirt for my daughter and it has the words ”Potty Trained” on it.  My daughter has successfully stay dry throughout the day recently and this is certainly a huge achievement.  This lovely t-shirt is just perfect for her to mark this important milestone.  I am sure she will be getting a lot of comments when she wears it   What I like about this t-shirt is that it is soft and is just the right fit for my daughter.   There is also a cute white huddybuddy.com label at the back of the shirt, right at the bottom.

Quiver Full Family - Not only do they offer a line of onesies and tshirts for boys, girls, sibling sets and twins featuring snazzy sayings and retro designs in sizes 3 – 6 months to size 8; but all of their clothing is 100% cotton and made in the USA – no ethical concerns with these tees!

A Pregnant Pause – I loved that the tee arrived WITHOUT the usual strong, stinky smell of new t-shirts. Why? That’s because Huddy Buddy tees are hand screened in small batches using the finest inks.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Baby and Me Boutique is another mom-owned and operated online store which offers the finest products for baby, child and mom. You can choose from high end hand crafted baby furniture or accessories such as designer baby diaper bags, baby clothing, maternity clothing for moms, breast pumps, baby strollers, backpacks, car seats, high chairs, baby strollers and more. The variety of products are endless and like me, I believe many parents will appreciate the convenience of a one stop shop for baby products.

I enjoyed browsing through Baby and Me Boutique because they carry some of the coolest products from the finest brands like Baby Bjorn, Peg Perego, Petunia Picklebottom, Bratt Décor, Bugaboo, Fleurville, just to name a few. Trust me, this is one site you must bookmark for your online shopping.

To help you get started, Baby and Me Boutique is giving Parent Reviewers’ readers 10% off purchases upon checkout by using Promo Code “Previewers“. Shipping is also FREE within Continental US regardless of amount. If that’s not enough, hop over to visit Baby and Me Boutique and tell us in our comment section here, how you would spend a $25 worth of Gift Certificate if it were given to you. One lucky reader will get to win the $25 Gift Certificate on 15th July 2008.

I am a strong supporter of products created by moms and dads as 90% of these parentpreneurs market products that the average family would be able to use comfortably and safely. In most cases, their products are often the result of what they created for their children and family. This is also the case for Screen Inc.

Screen, Inc. was established in 2007 by two moms on a mission. After endless attempts to find a non-greasy facial sunscreen, they decided, “heck, why not concoct our own?” Lori Nauman provided the product development expertise, while Heather Neal brought sales and marketing skills to the table. A marvelous partnership was formed and the sunscreen industry has been given a run for its money.

Parent Reviewers is honoured to be able to review Screen Inc’s Sunscreen Collection which comprises of Teen Screen, Man Screen, Chic Screen and Tweeny Screen. As I love being out in the sun, I have tried many sunscreen products and I can vouch that most of these products are greasy when applied to the skin. Though I hated the feel, I had thought that it was a norm with sunscreen products until I tried out the samples from Sunscreen Inc.

When I first received the samples, I was a little disappointed that they were fomulated with SPF16 only, what with today’s market promoting sunscreen of up to SPF45. However, I discovered an interesting fact - An SPF 15 blocks 94% of UVB rays, while an SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays. The higher SPF’s merely provide 3% more protection, but many are filled with additional chemicals. These chemicals often make the sunscreen oily, irritating and sticky. So, SPF16 will do just fine for me.

I was pleasantly surprised when I use the Chic Screen as the cream was smooth, which made application easy and it also blended easily into my skin. There was none of those greasy feel too! Another fact which attracts me is the product is fragrance free, a must for someone like me, with sensitivity to fragrance and perfumes.

So hey, it’s really no wonder that even celebrities are keen to try out the products. Check out the following celebrities from the gift lounge celebrating the MTV Movie Awards and see whether you can identify who is who with their Screen Inc. Sunscreen products.

Parent Reviewers’ readers will enjoy 10% discount off purchase of Screen Inc’s range of products by using promo code “BLOGGER10“. So, why wait? Click here to purchase now.

I have not tried the rest of the samples as I am saving them for our trip to the pool this weekend. However,  many of our Parent Reviewers are giving them the thumbs up:

Quiver Full Family – My husband got to try the unscented Man Screen.  He didn’t mind volunteering his face (well, the upper portion, he has a large beard on his chin!) for the review, and noted that after the screen was applied he couldn’t even tell it was on.  I tried out the Chic Screen and Teen Screen (both unscented), and came to the same conclusion – this facial sunscreen is so easy to wear!  Just rub it on and forget it as the screen gets to work with it’s SPF 16 protection levels.  It is so light and spreadable – it feels like it absorbs right into your skin with no oily or greasy film.

It’s My Imagination – The last two samples, Teen Screen and Tweeny Screen were both used by my 12 year old daughter. Again, both of these formulas were found to be non-greasy and went on smooth. The Teen Screen is designed for acne-prone teen skin and is non-irritating. The Tweeny Screen is our favorite. It has all of the features of the other 3, but also has a wonderful tropical fruit fragrance. I could really smell pineapple in it. My daughter used both of these on several different occasions, including swimming and softball practice.

Mott’s Island – My verdict : It IS non-greasy and it really didn’t feel like I had any lotion on! There was a slight sunscreen smell, but after application, it dissipated. Overall, it was very light and very easy to apply.

My Two Girls – I love the non-greasy and smooth texture of the sunscreen, I don’t get a layer of white residue on my face after applying, and it doesn’t have any chemical smell that comes with most sunblock. It feels very much like wearing an expensive facial sun protection cream.

A Pregnant Pause – All in all, I love the texture of the creams - looks like the “Moms on a mission” have introduced an excellent alternative to popular brands like Coppertone and Banana Boat.

Just My Tots – I was surprised to see that it is actually endorsed by the Skin Cancer foundation. That speaks volume for a product that is just launched in the market.

I later tried all of them on top of my regular moisturizer and it feels great. No heavy feeling and works great under my makeup. It is definitely something that I will feel good using everyday.

Just Not Martha – I’m not much for scented products usually, with my allergies and everything so I avoided the Tweeny Screen, but the kids liked it. The other three don’t have any added fragrance to them, however there is scent that I’m guessing is from the natural ingredients of shea butter and avocado oil. Thanks to those same ingredients the sunscreens are definitely non-greasy just like they claim on the label. They feel more like a nice lotion than your typical sunblock.

Val’s Views – The entire line of products is dermatologist approved and has received the Seal of Recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation. They’re even ahead of FDA guidelines for testing and packaging, a welcome change from products that haven’t changed in ten years.

Crumley Family Blog – I tried the chicscreen and the tweenyscreen (since it had a different scent). Both products lived up to its non-greasy promise.

The big pull of Screen, Inc’s products in the idea found in their tag line: “make it your routine.” They want everyone to put on sunburn protection every day, every two hours or so, just as part of their daily routine. This is a great way to teach children (tweens and teens) the importance of keeping their skin healthy.

Lisa Reviews – The first kind I looked at is chicscreen.  Now, this is spf 16+, and you should be reapplying every two hours to keep the protection strong.  The nice thing is that you can apply this under your makeup.  I had to giggle a bit when I read the warnings on this.  The two things I found humorous was the warning that I was a smart gal so I shouldn’t eat it and that no boys are allowed to use it since this product is was designated for the feminine crowd.  This was not tested on animals.

Laura Williams’ Musings – I don’t know about you but I like the fact that the sunscreens are non-greasy.  I don’t like for my face to feel oily and heavy from sunscreen. The Chic Screen does not give my face that feeling. 

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

As parents, I am sure many of you wonder whether the first shoes you buy for your little ones are comfortable and promote healthy development of their feet. When you shop at See Kai Run, which has been awarded the prestigious Seal of Acceptance by the American Podiatric Medical Association, you can be assured that you will have a healthy fit for your babies and children.

See Kai Run’s urban footwear for babies and toddlers are made of soft leather with very flexible soles which are healthy for developing feet and has wide opening which can accommodate even the chubbiest little feet. The velcro closure is another plus point as it allows for adjustable fit and easy on and off. While emphasis is placed on the importance of the comfort of dainty feet, style is not sacrificed. From hip, urban styles in modern color palettes to bold designs and detailing, there’s definitely a pair which every parent will love.

Now, there’s more reason to shop at See Kai Run. For the month of June 2008, See Kai Run will match the sale of each shoe sold with a donation to Soles4Souls, an international charity dedicated to providing footwear to disadvantaged people around the world. I don’t know about you guys but here’s another great excuse for me to shop *grins*.

About See Kai Run

See Kai Run is a family-owned and operated business located outside of Seattle, Washington. The idea was born when owner Cause Haun was on a quest for the perfect first pair of shoes for her son, Kai. Unable to find shoes in fun styles that still promoted the healthy development of little feet, Cause and her husband created their own line of shoes that satisfied all of these needs. In just three and a half years, See Kai Run has seen sales expand from a few boutiques, mostly in the Seattle area, to stores all around the country and worldwide.

For this week’s giveaway, you will get a chance to pamper your baby or child’s feet with a pair of See Kai Run’s shoes. One priviledge reader will get to win a pair of shoe any size/style of the winner’s choice – limited to readers in the 50 U.S. states. All you need to do is head over to www.seekairun.com and tell us which pair of shoe is your favourite choice in our comment section here.

A winner will be announced on 1st July 2008.

PARENT REVIEWERS WISHES ALL DADDIES A HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.
~Mark Twain

Izzyprints is another one of our Parent Reviewers’ Approved site which caters to birth announcements, party invitations, holiday cards and more.

About Izzyprints

Izzyprints is a family-owned, family-oriented online business located in Southern California. The web site, Izzyprints.com, was started by Torrel and Stephanie Alexis with the intention of allowing the average home computer user to easily personalize distinctive party invitations and birth announcements and have them printed on high quality card stock. Izzyprints offers original, unique designs that range from birth announcements and baby shower invitations to birthday party invitations and holiday cards all at highly competitive prices.

What I love about Izzyprints is it gives the busy parents like me, easy access to their custom designs and the ability to personalize them with your own pictures and words. It is such a convenience as I can literally let my fingers do the running around for me without the hassle of leaving the house. Apart from that, customers are guaranteed quality service at affordable prices, while ensuring fast turnaround times.

Izzyprints is now offering 12% discount off any orders with coupon code “d22a7“. What are you waiting for? Check out Izzyprints and save on their lovely range of personalized cards now!

Need to hear more from other parents? Check out what they had to say:

Renaissance Culinaire – Do you value fast service? Most people would answer this question with a resounding yes. In an age when convenience is king, customer service sometimes gets left at the wayside. But apparently not at izzyprints.com. They will ready your invites within 2-3 days and ship them to you as fast as possible. If you find an error or have a problem with your order – they will go above and beyond to help rectify it and make sure your needs have been met.

Rambling Moo – Customers can pick the cards and choose the designs themselves since the application by Izzyprints is online. Therefore it is very easy and convenient.

Health Freak Mommy – What makes Izzyprints stand out from their competitors is that their cards are printed by state-of-the-art digital press machines, thus the quality of their cards are superior.

A Shopping Queen’s Blog – Birth announcements are a great way to let people who are close to you to take a sneak peak at the new addition to your family.  In order to find the perfect cards, just head over to Izzyprints.com. 

Mom Reviews – Now, thanks to sites like Izzyprints.com, expecting parents can choose from a wide variety of styles of birth announcements that are unique, stylish, and are as much of a gift as an announcement!

Freaky Frugalite – How about those adorable party invitations or cute little birth announcements that everybody seems to have now? Back in the “olden days,” we were completely at the mercy of Hallmark (and Hallmark’s prices, ick)! Look at this adorable birth announcement card– isn’t it the sweetest thing!?! It’s from Izzyprints.com.

Mama’s Bag of Tricks – Just imagine receiving a birth announcement like this. How cute is that? I’m sure every parent is eager to show off their little bundle of joy. Plus, friends always ask to see pictures of the cutie pie when you tell them that you’ve delivered.

Quiver Full Family – Izzyprints.com has a solution for us busy moms that is quick and easy, even when we have a newborn cradled in our arms! Not only is their answer to this dilemna ideal, but they also have the sweetest birth announcement designs available – much nicer than the generic cards at the grocery store.

Cass Knits – Izzy Prints is the go-to place for birth announcements and party invitations. The price is good for custom printing.

De Moments – Doesn’t the above card look cute? In fact, I would probably use the special announcement by creating them online with Izzyprint. It would be easier since there are lots of birth announcements designs and style to choose from their website. And it even saves me lots of time as I could just order the cards online from them and get them within 2-3 working days.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Susan Epstein’s Parenting Powers DVD set is definitely one of the items on my wish list for this Christmas. Afterall, how many of us parents can truly say we have kids that are not the least rebellious and will cooperate fully with us MOST of the time? I am the first to admit that my 8 year old and my 4 year old will create havoc whenever they are out together and nothing, I mean NOTHING can stop them. Not my scolding nor nagging when we reach home…..Not even my threat that wolfman will eat bad boys and girls. So, if you asked me if I needed to take back my Parenting Powers, the answer is definitely a YES!

What about you? Do the following sound familiar:

• Do you feel disrespected, unappreciated, or invisible?
• Do you ever feel resentful and angry that you get no help from your children at home?
• Do you keep giving them more stuff and more space and now you don’t know what is going on and you have lost total control?
• Are you left feeling perpetually exhausted, invisible, and not taking care of yourself?

If your answer is YES to even one of the above, it is time you listen to the expert. No matter What Age your Children Are and No Matter How Severe the Situation, Susan Epstein’s Home Study Program will  Help You Take Back Your Parenting Powers and Turn Your Child’s Behavior around in Less than 6 Hours!  Coupon code PP3233 gives all Parent Reviewers’ readers a 10% off the 5DVD Series of Home Parent Coaching Program. Click here to get your Parenting Help now!

Parenting Coach Susan Epstein is kind enough to sponsor one set of her 5DVD Series, so we have decided  to give it away to our readers in our Blog Giveaway for this week. All you need to do is tell us why you need to take back your Parenting Powers and we will select the most deserving parent to win the prize on 1st July 2008.

There’s no doubt about it, Uncommonly Cute they certainly are! I am referring to the hip and cool toddler and baby clothes from the online store, Uncommonly Cute.

Afterall, who knows better than a mom, how few fashion options exist for our little ones. That was of course, before mommy Allison Friedland came to the rescue with the birth of her store, Uncommonly Cute.

It is truly a delight to know that I now have such cool choices of T-shirts to dress my little girl in. How could anyone resist T-shirts that make statements like “I’m Kind Of A Big Deal” and “Miso Cute“? I’m definitely a sucker for such fun tees! The t-shirts and onesies not only reflect a sense of individual style but most important of all, are comfortable as well because each garment is made of 100% combed cotton. Thus, the clothes are super duper soft to the baby skin and definitely parent approved.

I love discovering great shopping sites and Uncommonly Cute is definitely one which I have bookmarked. If you are searching for that perfect baby shower gift or some cool baby clothes for the little cutie in your life, you know your search stops here. Use Promo Code PR508 and get 20% off your purchases on Uncommonly Cute.

Read what our parent reviewers are saying about Uncommonly Cute:

Atomic Mama – They have super cute (and tiny) shirts and onesies for little ones that say things like “New Kid on the Block” or “Elmo is My Homeboy” (*squee!*). Another one of my favorites is “Chick Magnet” because Xander (my 3 year old) is such a player (lol!). Cute baby clothes shopping and potentially saving a baby’s life – how can you go wrong?

Laura Williams’ Musings – If you have twins and you want a little whimsy to add to their clothing, check out the Twin Baby Clothes collection.  I had to giggle at the copy/paste tee set.  Those are so fun!

Lyricandariasmom – I personally love the newest styles they have available, something that would be worn by my 2 year old and 4 year old girls. Their sizes range from newborn up to a size 6, which is great because I can do all my shopping for some hip new shirts all in one spot!

Val’s Views – Part of what makes this line of childrens’ clothing different is that you decide how you want it to look. After selecting the design you can choose to put it on a onesie, short sleeve or long sleeve shirt and you can choose the color.

Redsoxmommy – If you’re the kind of mom who’s sick of trucks, ducks and puppies on all your kids clothes then Uncommonly Cute is the place for you. They have a “no ducks, trucks or puppies allowed” rule. So check them out and start letting your little ones express themselves.

Cheeks to Cheeks  - What I like about Uncommonly Cute clothes is their guarantee on using nothing but 100% combed cotton for each garment. 100% combed cotton is super duper soft and it does not irritate sensitive skin. Our younger child has super sensitive skin and I can rest assure if I buy anything from Uncommonly Cute it will be safe for her.

Just My Rambling – The fun thing at Uncommonly Cute is that you can customize your shirt. First you select a design, and then you select a style whether you prefer a onesie, a short-sleeve T-shirt or a long-sleeve T-shirt. For certain designs, you can also select the color and add a matching hat.

Renaissance Culinaire – I especially liked the newborn onsie that has “freshly baked” across the chest. For a baker such as myself, not only is it funny but very cute. Many a joke has been had at a pregnant girl’s expense referencing her “bun in the oven”. This simple statement is both endearing and laughable. Your child is an Artisan made creation, after all. Celebrate your handy work!

The Pond – Have you noticed how cute celebrities babies are dressed lately? That is because they have discovered the cutest baby clothing offered at Uncommonly Cute.

Mommy Daddy Blog – At Uncommonly Cute, you’ll find hip apparel that reflects children’s unique personalities. My favorites are the Local Celebrity and keepin’ it real… real cute! tees! I also find the my grandma rocks tee hilarious because I know that my mother and Daddy’s mother would feel super old if Jayden wore it! There’s a rocking chair printed on it.

My thoughts Ideas and Ramblings – Seriously, are these not some of the cutest shirts you’ve ever seen? They really have the best selection of shirts with really funny saying on it for little ones that I have ever seen, and a huge plus for me is that they are not rude (that seems to be the hit right now and I hate it).

Mom Reviews – Not only is each piece made of 100% super-soft combed cotton, they are also machine washable, safe, durable and made in sweatshop-free American studios. Your child will look great and be socially conscious, too!