Yay, it’s Halloween….

Wishing you a faboolous Halloween and hoping all of you will have a t-eerie-fic time Trick or Treating with the kids!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

I had the opportunity to check out some products from a great company called Born Free recently! Here are the wonderful items that I received:

• CoolFlow Pacifiers: These pacifiers are particular cool because they have an angled shape nipple, and the curved shield has holes that work as an air vent. They come in 2 stage sizes and feature attractive colors.
• Twist n’ Straw Cup: 14fl oz toddler cup with twist straw mouth is not only BPA free, but also spill free! It comes in blue, yellow, green and pink-perfect for all the kids headed to pre-school or hanging around the house!
• 5 oz. Glass Bottle with Sleeves: These bottles are essential for the diaper bag, they are the perfect size and the glass bottle is the safest feeding solution. The box comes with a level 1 nipple, and  travel cap.

I honestly have to say that I was most impressed with the glass bottle! There are a lot of worries right now surrounding plastic bottles with BPA which is a chemical used in polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers and in resin linings for cans. Research has shown that BPA can leach into food from these containers and cans. Because BPA appears to cause health problems in animal studies, some scientists are concerned about the risk BPA poses to humans. Glass bottles of course don’t have BPA – so it’s one less thing to worry about. Of course, all of the Born Free products (even the plastic items) are all BPA free anyway.

One thing off the website that I plan on ordering to go with my new Born Free bottle is a breast pump adapter because then I can pump directly from my pump into the Born Free bottles! That will make storing up some milk super easy. The breast pump adapter fits most standard size breast pumps – so I just have to make sure that it will fit mine).

BUY IT : You can purchase Born Free products directly from their website or at stores such as Babies R Us, Target, Whole Foods and CVS Pharmacy.

WIN THEM : Born Free has generously donated the same package of awesome products sent to me, to be given away to one lucky winner. This means the winner will get to win some CoolFlow pacifiers, a Twist n’ Straw Cup and a 5oz. Glass Bottle with sleeves. Sounds cool? Here’s how you can enter for a chance to win:

• One Mandatory Entry- go visit Born Free website and let us know what is your favourite product
• One Additional Entry- if you’re our subscriber! Easy! If you’re not a subscriber, click here to subscribe!
• Two Additional Entries- follow us on twitter and tweet this giveaway “Win Born Free products at Parentreviewers.com” with a link back to this post once a day. Leave an additional comment including your twitter id and the tweet url. You can tweet on a daily basis.
• Three Additional Entries- Share on Facebook about this great giveaway! It can be done on a daily basis too! Please leave your FB id.
• Giveaway is open to US  shipping addresses only.
• Giveaway ends on November 8th 2010. 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.

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/2

Whenever a child is missing and foul play suspected, stepmothers collectively breathe a sigh of concern, hoping that a stepmother is not involved. They worry that both the media and everyone else will immediately go to the default stereotype that stepmothers are evil and wicked, and responsible for the child’s disappearance.

The stereotype that stepmothers are wicked has existed for thousands of years, popularized by “Cinderella,” and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” fairy tales collected by the Grimm brothers. These folktales serve a greater function than merely entertain children; they reinforce the moral lessons that a society wants its members to learn. Unfortunately, the message that stepmothers are “the bad guys” still persists in the 21st century, despite the fact that there are approximately 15 million stepmothers with stepchildren under the age of 18 in the U.S. When adult children are included in these estimates, there may be as many as 36 million stepmothers. How can so many women be wicked?

Stepmothers come in all shapes and sizes, with different personalities. The vast majority of whom are loving, kind, and compassionate to their stepchildren yet the stereotype still persists. And, stereotypes matter. Unconsciously, they oftentimes influence us to hold beliefs and make decisions based on inaccurate information. If people believe stepmothers are wicked, they will treat them poorly. Too many stepmothers end up exhausted by, and depressed from trying to repair their misimpression others have of them. Here are a few tips to overcome the stepmother stereotype:

1. Focus on the young: The stepmother stereotype is inculcated in small children from the moment they can understand the stories being read to them. One way to overcome the stigma associated with stepmothers is if parents would take the time after reading Cinderella to their children to explain to them that most stepmothers are loving and kind. Even though Cinderella’s stepmother was cruel, not all stepmothers are bad. Parents might then give their children some examples of good stepmothers whom their children know to contrast Cinderella’s wicked one. This would balance out the negative image to a more neutral one.

2. Self examination: Do you perceive stepmothers in a negative light? Try an experiment to find out if you see stepmothers negatively by becoming conscious of the times you think of one. Are the adjectives you use negative (such as wicked, evil, mean, horrid), or positive (such as loving or kind)? If you are like most people, you will notice that you think of stepmothers negatively. What you think has a tremendous influence on your behavior and beliefs. By changing your negative view of stepmothers to either a positive one or a neutral one, you ensure that you do not prejudge stepmothers unfairly. Rather, you treat them fairly, something we all deserve.

3. Stop offensive stepmother remarks: It’s inappropriate for anyone to use a derogatory term for a member of any ethnic group. Jokes that poke fun at certain races or nationalities may seem harmless, but they covertly reinforce stereotypes that compartmentalize, and inaccurately define, who a person may be. This is true for stepmothers as well, so don’t allow others to use derogatory adjectives when describing stepmothers in your presence. Tolerating contemptuous and ignorant remarks about stepmothers is unacceptable, and can damage their self-esteem, even when the thoughts are expressed as a form of humor or endearment. You might consider saying, “I know you don’t mean any harm, but that comment is offensive to me because it perpetuates a stereotype about stepmothers.”

4. Eliminate over-functioning by stepmothers: Indoctrinated by the same cultural stigma as everyone else, many stepmothers try to compensate for the “wicked stepmother” stereotype by over-functioning. They take on greater responsibilities in their stepfamilies to make up for any deficiencies others may perceive. They work hard to prove that they are different, that negative stereotypes do not apply to them. When any of us try too hard to overcome a label attributed to us, we tend to become anxious which interferes with our efforts to succeed. In fact, they may even serve to perpetuate these stereotypes. Instead of wasting time and energy trying to prove to family members and friends they are kind and loving, stepmothers should breathe deeply, relax, and focus on accepting they are “good enough” exactly as they are.

5. Stand tall, stepmothers: To avoid being judged and criticized by others, too many stepmothers try to be invisible, and won’t share their frustrations with this most challenging role to family and friends. They end up feeling isolated and lonely even when surrounded by others. Stepmothers have nothing to be ashamed of. Their struggles are not personal; they are endemic to stepfamilies from the effects of divorce, and the insidious nature of the stepmother stereotype. Stepmothers can be helped by reaching out to others who are going through something similar by joining a stepmother support group, either in one’s community or online. Peer support groups provide guidance and encouragement to stepmothers, as well as serve another important function. They can be part of the process to overcome the stepmother stereotype. When stepmothers help each other improve their self-esteem, they can recognize and embrace their contribution to their stepfamilies. their pride can counteract the negativity of the stepmother stereotype. A collective voice is more powerful than a silent one, and can accomplish major changes.

Many other groups have succeeded to overcome the unfair stereotype attributed to them. Let’s all work together to finally banish the stepmother stereotype!

About The Author

Rachelle Katz, Ed.D. is a psychotherapist with 25 years in private practice in New York City. She is the author of The Happy Stepmother, self-help guide for stepmothers. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist as well as an addictions specialist, certified in alcoholism and substance abuse counseling. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Clark University, her M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology from Boston College, her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the New School for Social Research, and her doctorate in Family and Community Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Psychological Association and the American Counseling Association.

Since May 2004, Rachelle owns and moderates www.stepsforstepmothers.com, a website designed for stepmothers to provide support, advice, and encouragement to each other. She also leads a monthly support group for stepmothers in New York City. She has been married for 19 years, and has a 23-year-old stepdaughter.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill Remastered is a remake of the 1998 version of the game under the same title. This game celebrates the 80th anniversary of Nancy Drew’s book which debuted in 1930.

Meant for ages 10 up and available on PC as well as Mac, Secrets Can Kill Remastered is a point and click game which features Nancy Drew going back to school to investigate a murder. The game commences with the option to select the level of difficulty from “Junior” to “Senior”. The teen sleuth makes a visit to her Aunt Eloise in Florida and was asked to help solve the murder of a student who was mysteriously murdered the night before at the local high school. Nancy goes undercover as a transfer student to get to the bottom of things before the killer has a chance to strike again.

For parents who are worried about this game featuring a murder in the plot, have no fear as there are no gory scenes involved. Though there are some spooky music and scary sounds, the fear factor was pretty mild to me. My only caution to parents is to be aware that the game does make reference to drugs.

Comparing my earlier experience with Nancy Drew’s Trail of The Twister, I am pleased to see that there are no petty chores required to be done by our young sleuth. Instead, Nancy Drew gets to solve a number of pretty easy and straightforward puzzles in the game. This of course, is the point of view of an adult. I honestly doubt my 10 year old son have the capability to solve these puzzles by himself as some of the clues are harder to decipher, for example, the coded message which involved 18 steps. Thus, I would recommend this game for older kids.

Location wise, it was somewhat limited as the bulk of the game was played in the local high school, Maxine’s diner or Aunt Loise’s home. As for the story,  it is rather short but there are plenty of interesting turns to keep you on your toes. One thing’s for sure, you will definitely be surprised by the ending. It was absolutely brilliant how the mystery was solved. I don’t want to divulge more but trust me when I say it’s worth all your patience and effort *winks*.

As far as visual was concerned, I thought that HER Interactive did a wonderful job. This remastered edition of the game had beautiful graphics of the characters and environment. On top of that, the enhanced soundtrack was great and the voiceover was equally impressive.

Overall, I would recommend it to older kids of age 12 and above and for fans of Nancy Drew games, this is definitely a classic you would want to have in your collection.

BUY IT : Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill Remastered is available now at Target and Wal-Mart stores for a suggested retail price of $19.99. The game is also available to order online, or for those who can’t wait, as a digital download exclusively at www.HerInteractive.com. The game is a dual format disc, playable on both Windows PCs and Apple Mac computers. Secrets Can Kill Remastered is rated E10+ with Violence, Drug Reference.

WIN IT : Thanks to the good folks at www.HerInteractive.com, we are giving away a copy of Nancy Drew’s Secrets Can Kill Remastered DVD to a lucky reader. Here’s how you can enter for a chance to win:

Disclosure of material connection : http://cmp.ly/2

TO THE WINNERS OF

Crayon Rompers Giveaway

Steph #20

AND

“White Heat” By Brenda Novak Giveaway

Soha Molina #18

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 27th October 2010, we will do a second draw.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAD PARTICIPATED

Here are the winners of a copy of  “Chicken Soup : A Book of Miracles” each:

1. Tina Hicks

2. Laura Benjamin

3. Carissa Sutton

4. Shelia Stroh

5. Barbara Stewart

6. Pending for winner to revert back

Next up, we have Chicken Soup For The Soul : Think Positive to giveaway this month.

101 Inspirational Stories about Counting Your Blessings and Having a Positive Attitude

Every cloud has a silver lining. With its 101 stories of optimism, faith, and strength, this book will encourage readers to stay positive during challenging times and in their everyday lives. Readers will be inspired by these real-life stories from people just like them, taking a positive attitude to the ups and downs of life, and remembering to be grateful and count their blessings. This book continues Chicken Soup for the Soul’s focus on inspiration and hope and its stories remind us that each day holds something to be thankful for. A great start to the New Year.

If it sounds like a book you would like to win, all you need to do is subscribe to our feed via email. We have six copies to giveaway! What are you waiting for? Just sign up – button on the top of our right side bar.

*Prizes will be shipped within US only.

Disclosure : Giveaway copies of the above book are proudly sponsored by www.chickensoup.com.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

“Have you washed your hands?”, this is a question I ask, every single time they come around the dining table. Every single time. When I got the “Handwash Reminder”, I immediately fixed it up in our powder room. It was very easy to install, and where it was located, my boys had to pass by it to get to the toilet. If they walked off without washing their hands, the Handwash Reminder would remind them by saying, “Please..don’t forget to wash your hands!”. Well, even if they were right in front of it, washing their hands, it would remind them anyways! This is because it is motion sensor based, and would be activated within 30 seconds of a motion capture. Of course, since my kids run in and out of the toilet so fast, sometimes, there is a delayed reaction, but it is so audible, that they would turn around and wash their hands!

There is also a light sensor, that detects if light has been turned off. Of course, because it reminds my kids so often, they would often repeat it to me or their dad, “Please…don’t forget to wash your hands!”. Which of course, achieves this product’s objective of reminding people to wash their hands!

About the Handwash Reminder :

The Handwash Reminder was developed by Pratt Creative Ideas, LLC, through many years of research and development. It is constructed out of lightweight durable plastic and a custom designed motion sensor that works well in dim lighting for homes, as well as, schools, offices, hospitals, restaurants, Shopping Malls, Fitness Centres, just to name a few. It recently won a Silver Medal Award in the International INPEX Awards, USA, for recognition of innovative excellence.

Buy it! : It is available here at a great price of $29.99, until Oct 31st, 2010. After that, it will be sold at $39.99! This is a great buy, as the act of a simple handwash is the number 1 method of preventing the spread of germs by contact! Even 3 AA batteries are included! Which allows you to immediately install it, which is what I did, and this reminder will be reverberating around your home within seconds! Here is a video of the Handwash Reminder, and how it works.

Win It! : The generous people at Pratt Creative Ideas LLC, are giving away a chance to win 1 Handwash Reminder to one of our lucky readers. Will you be one of them?

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Recently, I had the chance to test out the “texthook“. This is a phone holder for your stroller, trolley or bicycle. As seen here, I tested out the texthook, with my cellphone and iPod touch. I use my stroller on a daily basis, as we walk alot here (to school, shops, etc) and the texthook does come in handy, as I can never hear my cellphone ring, whenever it’s in my bag.

It was very easy to install, with a velcro strap to the stroller handle, and inserting the mobile device wasn’t too difficult either. It fits most stroller handles, even though my stroller wasn’t listed in their list of strollers, it fitted well, as seen here.

And what about compatible phones? It fits most phones, and again, even though Nokias’ wasn’t in the list, as you can see, my Nokia had no problems fitting in. My iPod Touch has a cover, and I had no problems fitting it in. It was such a breeze! You can even swivel it 180degrees, if you needed a better view!

About texthook^TM:

The ultimate smartphone holder for your active lifestyle, texthook^TM allows you to stay in touch while on the go.

The patent-pending design tightly secures your smartphone while still providing access to the touchscreen or keyboard. With the touch of a finger, you can text, talk or e-mail, while exercising, shopping and more.

With an easy strap-on design, texthook^TM quickly fastens to the handlebar of your stroller, exercise equipment, shopping cart or bicycle. Lightweight and durable, the texthook^TM can remain strapped to one handlebar or can be attached and removed repeatedly throughout your busy day. Inserting and removing your smartphone is effortless with one simple sliding motion. The cradle rotates 180° so you can view your phone from any angle.

In a society that claims that we are “all created equal,” some folks have a hard time with differences, especially when others seem naturally better or better off than they are. There is a tendency to put down people who stand out in a crowd, achieve more, and are rewarded more-a desire to “bring the stars back down to earth” as it were. In Australia there is an expression for this practice: “cutting down the tall poppies.”

Children who are gifted and talented have to deal with poppy-cutters early in life. During middle school in particular, kids desperately want to feel ‘normal.’ They want to feel like they belong, and being different, smarter, or better in any way can feel to them like a disadvantage. Jeffrey did not want to boast about his high grades and he actually hid them from his friends. “It’s not cool to be really smart,” said Suzanna, “especially for girls.” She added, “but I don’t care,” with a tone of resignation about the anti-intellectual attitudes she had to battle every day.

It’s a sad situation when kids (or adults) are made to feel ashamed of their gifts. Discover how your child feels about being different, or about being around people who are different from him. Encourage him to feel secure about his differences. Teach him to separate cultural messages from his own self-worth.

Here are some strategies for protecting self-esteem that you can use and teach to your kids:

• Inquire. If someone insults you, ask “Is something wrong?” or “What do you mean by that?” This puts the responsibility back on the insult-giver and gives them the opportunity to express and clarify themselves.

• Confront. No one needs to “grin and bear it” or be martyr. If a put-down hurts, simply say, “Ouch,” and stand your ground. Letting the insult-giver know you have feelings might make him or her think twice about being mean.

• Withdraw. We don’t want to be around people who are nasty or cruel. It’s smart to get out of harm’s way; it might even save your life. But don’t get in the habit of running away from your problems.

• Consider the Source. Some people seem to wallow in negativity. Let them express whatever emotions they choose, remembering that those opinions have little or nothing to do with you.

• Don’t take it personally. People cut poppies to make themselves feel better, or at least better than you. Instead of reacting, you might try to figure out what’s underneath the barb. The put-down may have absolutely nothing to do with you!

• Humor. Many bright people have discovered that making others laugh is a good way to win them over. It’s also a wonderful skill for defusing tension. When teased about her coke-bottle glasses, for example, Helen would cheerfully reply, “Well, four eyes are better than none!” It always helps to think of a comeback before you need it so you don’t feel put on the spot.

• Make a Neutral Remark. When they finish their hurtful comment say, “Oh,” or “I see,” and leave it at that.

• Disagree. If someone called you a green kangaroo, would it hurt your feelings? Of course not, because you know that it isn’t true. What others say about you is just their opinion. You know the truth about yourself.

• Sift Through. There may be a grain of truth in what they’re saying, but they haven’t learned how to tactfully give you helpful feedback. For example, if someone calls you “slow poke,” explore that some more. You might actually need to speed things up a bit.

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If an insult gets to you, don’t dwell on it. Try the following:

• Talk to a Friend. Find someone who is a good listener. Talking about it can help you think it through; it can also help you get perspective and release negative feelings. That’s one reason people go to counselors and therapists.

• Use Positive Self-Talk. Repeat this phrase to yourself over and over: “No matter what you say or do to me, I am a worthwhile person.”

• Give Yourself a Hug. Give one to your child. Hugs are great for a send-off in the morning, a welcome home later on, or an affectionate goodnight ritual. Life goes better with hugs! Use your imagination to support yourself:

• Wear a Shield. Imagine yourself wrapped in an invisible bubble of protection or white light. Negativity that comes your way will bounce right off.

• “Wax Your Back.” Each morning, pretend to coat yourself with wax or Teflon so insults and negativity slide off you like water off a duck’s back.

• Talismans. A piece of jewelry or a “lucky” garment that has special meaning to you can be a source of personal strength and power. (Super heroes do this all the time.)

• Permission to Be Different. Teach your kids that there is no one like them in the whole world. They are unique and they should be proud of that. This attitude can help them deal with pressure to conform. Give them permission to be who they really are.

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Try these strategies and come up with new ones to protect self-esteem. You can even combine strategies. You don’t have to put up with put-downs. Practice the strategies with your children.

Above all else, increase the number of positive interactions you have, as well as the number of supportive people with whom you surround yourself. Bolster your self-esteem and self-worth on a daily basis. Just as enhancing the immune system can increase health and protect you from illness, enhancing self-esteem can increase well-being and protect you from social problems.

If all kids and parents could discover their abilities and find ways to express their gifts, the whole poppy field might stand a little taller and be more beautiful than ever!

Sign up for her free Positive Parenting Newsletter at http://www.drlouisehart.com.

Louise Hart is a community educator, and author of two books. The Winning Family and On the Wings of Self-Esteem have been translated into half a dozen languages. A professional speaker, she currently teaches Positive Psychology as it applies to parenting. Dr. Hart has a Doctorate of Education in Community Psychology, which deals with the relationships of the individual to family, communities and the wider society.

Copyright 2010 Dr. Louise Hart is a Community Psychologist, author, and Grandmother.