Congratulations to the following winners:

1. Shushybe Books and CDs Giveaway

kathy pease

Janelle @ Brimful Curiosities

2. Father’s Day Giveaway From Nu Skin

JamericanSpice

3. Father’s Day Giveaway From VoiceQuilt

Lisa Taylor

The winner is required to do the following:

1. Submit your relevant info via the Winner’s Submission Form Below; AND
2. Leave a comment in this post to let us know you have submitted. 
3. If any winner does not claim her prize by the 3rd July 2009, we will do a second draw. 

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAD PARTICIPATED!

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GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

I had the opportunity to check out a cool personalized music CD by NameYourTune. My son is a music fiend like his parents (and grandma!) so it was no surprise that he LOVED this CD! When I first received it I was thinking that it would be a pain to listen to (like most “kids” music CD’s …) but it totally wasn’t. The CD has songs that are easy on the (adults) ears yet familiar to little ones. Plus – each song mentioned Xander’s name! It was like each song was written just for him; it was pretty cool!

Xander gets a HUGE kick out of hearing his name in the songs that he asks to listen to “his” music CD almost every day. This CD is so worth the price – and is something your kids can call their “own” for sure.

Here is the track listing:

• Hello, How Are You?
• If You’re Happy And You Know It
• Old MacDonald
• Oh How I Want to Go
• Wheels on the Bus
• Boom Boom, Ain’t It Great To Be YOU!
• Down By The Park
• The More We Get Together
• Head and Shoulders
• There are Seven Days
• Rainbow Song
• ABC Medley
• I Don’t Want To Live On The Moon
• Instrumental Lullaby

BUY IT: With over 4,200 recorded names available, you can get your child his/her own made to order and personalized CD at http://www.nameyourtune.com. A portion from the sale of each CD will be donated to Hear Here, the Toronto-based non-profit organization that provides hearing aids for children.

WIN IT : NameYourTune, an iParenting Media Award Winning site has generously sponsored a giveaway of one personalized CD on our site. Here’s how you can win this treasured keepsake:

• One mandatory entry – Visit www.nameyourtune.com and name another personalized product they have on their site
• Two additional entries – Tweet this giveaway (leave your Twitter id in our comment section)
• Three additional entries – Stumble this post (leave your SU id in our comment section)
• Entry is open to all shipping addresses.
• Giveaway closes on 6th July 2009 and a winner will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

I’ll be completely honest. I wasn’t bowled over by the Trebellina & Friends DVD. I just wasn’t taken by it’s simplistic graphical illustrations. I expected more! I expected pizzazz! I expected all the hype all the parents were talking about!

But guess what? Who am I to give an opinion, when my 2 younger kids, a 3 1/2 year old and 1 year old were completely enthralled by it. They (well, the elder one) insisted on watching over and over again. The baby actually enjoyed the show so much, at times I could hear him giggle! I suppose, the simpler the better? Kids aren’t complicated creatures…so, I suppose, they do appreciate the simple things in life, eh?

With Trebellina and her friends, they get serious with the notes, and then they have fun with the songs! Either way, both my younger kids really enjoy the various lessons. From learning about notes to learning about the names of musical instruments and the individual sounds they make.

Through this DVD, the parent will find it bridges the gap towards formal lessons. I mean, who would want to spend a mini fortune on lessons only to find that the child has absolutely no interest whatsoever in say, the piano, but prefers the guitar or the flute? So, yes.. I have grown very quickly to appreciate this wonderful discovery. I will now eat all my words *chomp chomp chomp gulp*.

BUY IT: At a very affordable price, I can very safely say, it is great value for money. Your child will insist on replaying this over and over again. They won’t get bored by it, as kids just love shouting out the next instrument that appears and they certainly love bouncing around to all the music! Don’t believe me? Check out what our panel of reviewers had to say.

For a limited time until September 30th, 2009, if you purchase $27.50 or more, you can use coupon code “SHIPFREE” for free shipping within US.

WIN IT : Now, Cristofori Baby Company is giving one very lucky reader a chance to win a Trebellina & Friends DVD here!

Here’s how you can do that :

• One entry – Name one of Trebellina’s friends in our comment section
• Three additional entries if you
• Three additional entries if you Subscribe in a reader
• If you qualify for additional entries, please comment separately and let us know which option you’ve used
• Giveaway is open to all and closes on 29th June 2009. A winner will be drawn using the Random.org number generator.
• We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

TO THE WINNERS OF:

SKUUT Giveaway

Amy Taylor

and

Exergen TemporalScanner Giveaway

1. rebekah arnold

2. Angie

Winners are required to do the following:

1. Submit your relevant info via the Winner’s Submission Form Below; AND
2. Leave a comment in this post to let us know you have submitted. 
3. If any winner does not claim her prize by the 25th June 2009, we will do a second draw. 

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!

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By Kathryn Marion

You’ve heard the term ‘helicopter parent.’ Maybe you’re one of them—parents who hover over their children and actively participate (maybe even orchestrate) every decision and activity their progeny undertake. This works well during the elementary and middle school years. But the strategy needs to change during the high school years and beyond.

If your ‘baby’ just graduated from college, it’s time to cut those apron strings. He or she worked hard on their own and survived their years in college. Now their time in that ‘final playpen’ has ended and life in the real world must begin—on their own. That means they need to be calling the shots for their own life. Sure, you know ‘better’ because of the experiences you’ve had and the struggles you’ve overcome, but your grown child needs to have experiences of their own and conquer their own struggles. Taking an active role in your grad’s life may seem like the loving thing to do—to help smooth the way for them during a rough patch in life—but it can become a hindrance to your child’s career and personal development if it goes too far.

So what is ‘too far’? Throughout the 100+ interviews I conducted as I researched my book for new graduates, counselors and hiring managers alike reiterated the same piece of advice: don’t make contact with potential employers on behalf of your child and, by all means, don’t accompany them to their interview! It’s the career ‘kiss of death.’

With the tremendous number of older, more experienced workers now vying for jobs traditionally sought after only by new college grads, managers who have positions to fill are being overwhelmed with applications and resumes. Hiring managers need to sort through the avalanche quickly to find the most qualified candidates. That means eliminating candidates early so they can spend their time concentrating on the most impressive ones. When a parent calls a target company to inquire about the job application process or to research the company, it’s essentially automatic—their child’s resume is headed straight to the wastebasket. If Mom or Dad (heaven forbid, both) insist on tagging along to the interview, go ahead and count it as good practice in answering interview questions, but don’t count on ever hearing from that company again! Employers are looking for individuals who demonstrate maturity, responsibility, and motivation—having parents in the picture gives the opposite impression of the young candidate.

If you feel you must participate somehow in your child’s job search, take a behind-the-scenes role: introduce your friends and colleagues to your bright rising star; proofread resumes and cover letters; let them practice articulating answers to interview questions; and help them invest in a properly-fitted, professional wardrobe. These few things will do much more to launch your child successfully into the professional world than all the hand-holding you’re tempted to do. They’re grown up now—let them fly!

About The Author

Kathryn Marion is the author of Grads: TAKE CHARGE of Your First Year After College! She coaches new grads and job seekers through important career transitions and tirelessly shares career advice on Twitter daily (@RealSolutions22). Learn more about the book at www.TakeChargeBookSeries.com.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

With Father’s Day fast approaching, you might be finding yourself on the search for wallet-friendly, yet wow-factor gifts for Dad. This means ideas like a set of new golf clubs, a box of nice cigars, or a new GPS “Dash Express” for his car is definitely out of reach.

Now, picture this….remember when you were little and he taught you how to throw a football just like John Elway, or when he left work early to make it to everyone of your little league games on time? Perhaps you might even recall how proud he was when you graduated, when he refuses to stop taking pictures during your convo? You’ve never told dad how much all these meant to you before but would like him to know how much you appreciate him now…..

GIFT IDEA : Here’s your chance to “express” your love to dad through VoiceQuilt. VoiceQuilt is a unique keepsake gift for all the special occasions in one’s life. The sound of your pre-recorded voice message conveys much more than a photo, letter or a store-bought gift. It will definitely be a memorable gift that will touch the heart of the recipient.

All you need to do is select a keepsake gift and pack it with voice-based memories by calling a toll-free number with messages, greetings and tributes. A VoiceQuilt keepsake with “best hit” voice recordings can then be shipped anywhere in the U.S. Or, you can instantly share an electronic VoiceQuilt for FREE. You can check out samples of such messages to provide you some inspirations.

GIVEAWAY : VoiceQuilt has partnered with us to giveaway one Audio Folio CD. This faux leather CD folio can be customized with two photos – a cameo on the front (2½ by 2½ inches) and a larger 4½ by 3¾ inch photo on the inside cover. The folio securely folds up with a magnetic close and arrives in an elegant 7 by 7½ by 1½ inch gift box. To enter for a chance to win this unique personalized keepsake, here’s what you need to do:

• One compulsory entry – Visit VoiceQuilt and  let us know in our comment section here, your preferred choice of colour for the audio folio CD.
• Three additional entries – If you subscribe via email (please leave your email add)
• Three additional entries – If you blog about this giveaway (please leave your post url)
• Giveaway is open to US shipping addresses only
• Giveaway closes on 23rd June 2009 and a winner will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

The winners for our May email subscriber draw are:

1. Andrea Hatfield – Votrevu’s SELF PRESERVATION Self Tanning Milk for Face
2. Jenna Gaskill – Votrevu’s SELF PRESERVATION Self Tanning Crème for Body

For the month of June, in conjunction with the launching of their new book, I SPY A to Z: A Book of Picture Riddles, our sponsor, Scholastic, is giving away five prizes to our email subscribers:

 Here’s a synopsis of the book:

Easy-to-read riddles by Jean Marzollo are paired with forty-six object-filled photographs by Walter Wick to create I Spy A to Z, the most engaging alphabet book ever! With more than thirty titles and 36 million books in print, the I Spy series continues to win the hearts and minds of parents and kids everywhere.

One (1) Grand Prize winner for the Grand Prize Pack including:
Wii Video Game ‘Ultimate I SPY’
Board Game ‘I SPY Memory Game’
I SPY A to Z: A Book of Picture Riddles
I SPY Treasure Hunt 

Grand Prize Pack valued at $85.99

Four (4) runner-up winners receive a copy of the new book
I SPY A to Z: A Book of Picture Riddles

Each book valued at $13.99

If you have not subscribed via email yet, wait no more! The button is on our top right side bar.

We are very pleased to announce two wonderful Parent Reviewers who will be joining our Editorial team!

They are no other than Jenn Walden of One House Schoolroom and Monica Brady of Mommy Brains! We are so pleased to have them onboard and have already started crackin’ the whips!

For those who have submitted their applications, we thank you, deeply from our hearts. It was a difficult, difficult, difficult choice!

So, let’s give them a warm welcome and wait for those reviews and giveaways!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

GIFT IDEA: This year for Father’s Day, forget the golf gadgets and barbeque gear and get Dad something tailor fit for his personality. Remind Dad how much he means to you by treating him to some great gift ideas from Nu Skin. 

Nu Skin, the premium skin treatment and personal care company, offers an array of products perfect for all budgets and all different kinds of Dads ~ the Dad who secretly loves to be pampered, the Dad who takes pride in his appearance and the Dad who seeks the perfect shave. 

GIVE AWAY : Thanks to Nu Skin, one lucky father will get to enjoy a set of Dividends® Complete Set worth $42.48.

The set includes DividendsTM Shave Cream which gently removes dirt and oil and optimizes razor glide for a clean, smooth shave that protects your skin from dryness, chaffing, minor nicks, and irritation and DividendsTM Aftershave Balm which makes facial hair softer, finer and less noticeable so you can skip a shave without people noticing. It also provides traditional benefits like preventing razor bumps, and cools and soothes the skin. The set also comes with DividendsTMAntiperspirant Deodorant which captures and eliminates existing and future odor molecules. This micro fine antiperspirant works overtime, delivering advanced wetness and odor protection.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY, HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

• One compulsory entry – Visit www.nuskinusa.com and name one favourite product from their skincare range (men or women)
• One additional entry – if you tweet this giveaway
• Three additional entries – if you blog about this giveaway and link back to this post
• Giveaway is open to everyone and closes on 19th June 2009 and a winner will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Oh my! I can’t believe how excited my 5 year old got when we put on the Shushybye’s music CDs, Shushybye Music (Snoozles Saves The Night) and Close Your Eyes. I was pleasantly suprised that the tracks on the CD did not comprise of typical children melodies but catchy and fun rock songs that even a parent like me would enjoy!

When I first saw my daughter prancing around to The Shushybye Theme Song,  I thought to myself, though the song was entertaining, it was too stimulating to put her to sleep. I decided to check out the Shushybye website and learnt that the rock music was meant to be played during daytime to encourage the children to look forward to sleep time, when parents play the lullabies from the Close Your Eyes CD. Sometimes, when this mommy is free, I will include a bonus during bedtime and read both my kids the Shushybye, Close Your Eyes Book. Instead of Leo and Leona, our story began with Ryan and Nicole….and they love the pretend play story! Most important of all, it was a lesser challenge getting my kids to sleep with the help of The Shushybye book and audio CD.

The Shushybye Theme Song, A Shushybye Lullabye and Feels Like Magic are currently our household favourites. We also make sure we bring the two CDs along whenever we go on long road trips as they work great to entertain my two hyperative kids.

Check out my brat jumpingdancing around to the Shushybye music:

About SHUSHYBYE:

SHUSHYBYE is a preschool entertainment and lifestyle brand designed to inspire children to look forward to sleep time and help parents prepare their children for sleep in a fun and loving way that encourages imagination. Importantly, SHUSHYBYE is designed to help create healthful sleep habits for toddlers and preschoolers.

BUY IT : Shushybye has launched a range of products which include its debut storybook SHUSHYBYE: CLOSE YOUR EYES comes with a Read Along audio CD, an acclaimed concert DVD entitled The Shushybye Dream Band Live On Tour as well as toys, plush dolls and sleepwear. My daughter is now such a huge fan of Snoozles, Dozie and Zeez, she’s pleading for us to get her all the Shushybe plush toys! You can get your Shushybye merchandise from Amazon.com or www.shushybye.com (but you have to call the Shushybye line at 866-748-7492 to order).

WIN THEM : We’ve teamed up with SHUSHYBYE to giveaway a SHUSHYBYE: SLEEPOVER SURPRISE Book and CD plus a CLOSE YOUR EYES music CD to two very lucky readers. To enter:

• One compulsory entry – Visit www.shushybye.com and tell us one fact about The Shushybye Dream Band
• One additional entry – Tweet this giveaway
• Three additional entries – Stumble this giveaway (please leave your SU id)
• Giveaway is open to everyone and closes on 22nd June 2009.  Two winners will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.