Sock ons

[ABOUT] Sock Ons are the inventors of clever little baby accessories that make parenting a little easier. Keeping socks on babies feet is no simple task. Little kick, tug at the toes and they’re off! Sock Ons are clever little things that keep those socks on. The garment is worn over the sock and ‘locks’ it into place with a patent pending design. Sock Ons have been awarded the baby industries most coveted prize for innovation. Sock Ons are an ingenious and trendy solution to a very annoying problem and are quickly becoming a necessary item that no baby (or sane parent) can do without! Sock Ons have been invented by a mum of five little boys who always lost their socks! Sock ons are a simple yet highly effective solution to the problem of keeping socks on! Resembling something like a ‘sock jacket’, Sock Ons slip on over the sock and ‘locks’ it into place. The design lies in the fact that if the sock is pulled from the toes, the sock gets locked into the hole around the heel, thus preventing it from slipping off.

[REVIEW] Sock Ons are AMAZING! My biggest frustrations with my twins was always them either yanking them off or falling off when they are crawling around. These should be tied on top of every baby gift for a new parent!

Shake It Up! 3-1 Handshake Game – Grandcamp Adventures

[ABOUT] Great times are in store as you play your way through these handshake games and create your own Grandparent/Grandchild secret handshake.   Turn the cards over and solve the floor puzzle picture from the Here We Go! storybook adventure.  Enjoy these fun games at home, on vacation, or anytime you’ve got a few minutes for GrandCamping.

  • Activity contains 24 Handshake/Puzzle cards
  • Pictures of Handshake gestures on one side
  • Other side of each card is a puzzle piece
  • 3 Levels of difficulty to ensure fun for all ages
  • Puzzle is a picture out of our Here We Go! storybook

Grandcamp Adventures is a company dedicated to delivering toys and activities that help kids have fun and maybe even strengthen their relationship with their family members, especially grandparents! WEBSITE

[REVIEW] This is such a cute idea for parents, siblings and grandparents to do with each other. It is playful and engaging and you get three activities in one. Grandparents will feel very hip and young when they have their special handshake with their grandchild.

GAIAM Fitness & Yoga DVD’s

[ABOUT] Gaiam is releasing three new DVD titles, featuring some of the most highly recognized names in fitness and yoga. I wanted to let you know about these new titles and offer you the chance to review these DVD’s and/or interview the high-profile talent featured on them before they hit shelves on December 6.

  • Gwen Lawrence’s Fit Body Yoga – In her first DVD with Gaiam, Gwen calls upon her extensive experience working with professional athletes to provide everyday yoga routines for women, with a focus on fitness. Fit Body Yoga blends traditional yoga practices with cutting edge training techniques to get women into shape. Known as the go-to yoga instructor for several New York sports teams, Gwen presents women with the same moves she uses to keep professional athletes fit and injury-free.
  • Seane Corn’s Detox Flow Yoga – Seane Corn, the internationally-recognized yoga instructor known for her holistic approach both on and off the mat, teamed up with Gaiam to provide a yoga experience that focuses on detoxifying the body and mind of physical and emotional toxins. Seane Corn’s Detox Flow Yoga introduces users to poses that improve circulation and digestion, build strength, and help lose weight. Throughout the DVD, Corn shares her extensive knowledge on how to integrate awareness of the body, breath, movement through the practice of yoga.
  • Trudie Styler’s Strengthen & Restore – This is the seventh DVD release and second mobile app in the mind-body fitness series featuring actress, producer and environmental activist, Trudie Styler, and celebrity trainer, James D’Silva. The DVD features three practices designed to strengthen the body while calming the mind, creating the ultimate balance in life. The Strengthen & Restore App will support the practices found on the DVD along with a photo gallery of images shot on Trudie and Stings’ farm in England.
  • WEBSITE

[REVIEW] coming soon…

Aubrey Organics

[ABOUT] Why use something synthetic when something natural works so much better? That’s the practical philosophy behind every Aubrey Organics® product. This simple idea has been the cornerstone of our pioneering company since the beginning. Read our labels. You’ll find only the finest herbals and plant extracts in their most natural form, and no synthetic additives or petrochemicals of any kind in any of our products.

  • Crème de la Shave – Pomegranate. Made with rich emollients and fruit extracts, this moisturizing shave cream pampers and protects your skin for a luxurious, ultra-smooth shave and legs so soft, you may not need a lotion after shaving. You’ll love its silky feel and exotic tropical scent.
  • Natural Baby & Kids Shampoo – Our natural soap base cleanses gently, while camomile and balm-mint soothe and hydrate baby’s hair and scalp. (Not a “no tears” formula.)

Book: Miracles Are Made – A Real-Life Guide to Autism

[ABOUT] Miracles Are Made is a real-life guide written from the happenings of real life. It is a How To on living with and healing autism. Lynette Louise began life’s journey first as an individual, then as a mother, and eventually as a grandmother reaching into the heart of this disorder and helping first herself and then her children to become independent. Lynette’s journey, challenging as it was, taught her many lessons on the very real possibilities and limitations buried within the diagnosis.In Miracles Are Made Lynette not only shares stories from her personal and professional life but also illuminates the whys and the wherefores of the social climate parents find themselves in when coping with autism. She does this by educating us on the history of science and social awareness in relation to this disorder. She then teaches us how to make the best of what is possible and recreate the healings she has been fortunate enough to facilitate. You will come away understanding how to understand autism.You will come away knowing what to do.  WEBSITE

[REVIEW] The surprisingly honest book was written by global autism expert and mother Lynette Louise. This book could not have been written so beautifully by any other.  As a global autism expert she is invited eagerly into homes around the world-from Beirut to India to Kansas and more- as she shares her unique blend of play therapy, family dynamics counseling and neurofeedback (biofeedback for the brain), effectively guiding parents comfortably into the role of expert in their family’s healing.

As a single mom (although often married, rarely co-parenting or co-bill paying) of eight now grown kids-six adopted, four of whom were on the spectrum of autism- she is non-judgmental, informed and quite hilarious.  She is also my mother. Because of this I hesitated in writing this review.  I figured people would read it as biased and maybe even self-serving.  Perhaps some people will read it that way.

The reality is, this review is quite possibly more valuable because of my relationship with the author.

Let’s all remember that our parents’ endeavors generally make us nervous.  Our fear regarding how it reflects on us (although not the gargantuan proportion it was as teenagers) is always present.  I was always nervous when my mom stepped on stage to sing or preform stand-up comedy.  My palms sweat when she was about to make a radio show appearance or otherwise share her vision with the world.  I suppose it didn’t help that until neurofeedback my mom herself was still struggling with social skills and face blindness.  So whenever she was in the spotlight I was scared.  I wanted her to succeed.  I wanted her to be ‘right’ or ‘smart’ or funny.  Sometimes, admittedly, I wanted her to shut up.

But with MIRACLES ARE MADE, she has shared with passion, humor and intelligence our lifetime of learning.  The therapies, struggles and mistakes made along the road to independence for three of my four autistic brothers have become a gift for other moms.  Other sisters.  Other families.   I don’t know if it is ‘smart’ or ‘right’, but I do know that it is beautiful and helpful.  And downright funny!

I have four sons of my own, my two youngest being almost autistic themselves and my highlighter was put to the test during my first, second and third reading of mom’s new book.  The overall attitude and narrative make the concrete parenting answers easily grasped, understood and remembered.

The sharing of miracles made and recognized by some of her clients from all over the world, invite a feeling of global understanding regarding autism and parenting in general.   They also remind us to see the miracles when they are made.  So many examples leave few readers and their unique situations feeling left out.  We are all represented in this book, and given concrete tools and understanding.

I love this book and sing its praise loudly.  I share with friends, teachers and strangers.  I carry a copy with me at all times and have given it proudly as a gift to struggling parents.  I am working as hard as I can to introduce my mom and her message to the world, proudly learning as she steps on stage, talks on the radio and appears on television. I love this book and recommend it to parents (not just of autism) everywhere. I love my mom and recommend her, too!

~Tsara Shelton

Book: Kate Kate The Fashion Plate

[ABOUT]Kate’s adventures are educational, inspirational and encourage girls to follow their dreams.  WEBSITE

[OVERVIEW] Kate has been busy designing dresses for Marie and Antoinette, her two little dogs.But now she has a chance to shine as a famous fashion designer, or so she thinks.   When Kate’s mom, a fashion icon and head of The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, arranges for Kate to help dress the mannequins at Bergs, New York’s fanciest department store, Kate is jumping for joy.  Kate has to promise her mother that she will dress in the latest style, “plain and simple” when she goes to Bergs, and not  in one of her own designs. But it seems Kate has a problem. Although she tries, she just can’t  look like everyone else. Even worse, the dresses she is given to put on the mannequins are so “booring” they make Kate feel sad. Bursting with ideas on how to give the dresses more sparkle and pizzazz, Kate gets carried away …. until Mrs. Blinker, the owner of Bergs walks in and sees what Kate is doing.  Now that Kate is in big trouble, what will happen to her dreams of being a fashion designer? Does Kate learn that she has to look like everyone else to be accepted?

[REVIEW] This is a wonderful new book series for young tweens [ages 6-10]. This will be our next mother-daughter Book Club pick. It was a fun, charming, and an easy read that kept my daughter engaged and entertained.

Husky: 45-Piece Stubby Combination Wrench and Socket Set

[ABOUT] Convenient set includes all of the most commonly used bits and sockets plus a ratcheting screwdriver that indexes up to 180 degrees

  • 45-piece set provides a generous collection of compatible tools for use on the job or at home
  • Includes a ratcheting screwdriver that is able to index up to 180 degrees and locks into 9 different positions to help make the job easier
  • Ratcheting Screwdriver and Ratchet features a rubber grip handle for comfortable and non-slip grip
  • Set includes 1/4 in. and 3/8 in. Ratchet, Stubby Wrench, and Ratcheting Screwdriver, plus 12 SAE sockets and 13 Metric sockets
  • Additional pieces include 1/4 x 3/8 adaptor, 15 screwdriver bits and a screwdriver adaptor
  • The screwdriver’s ratcheting feature and stubby size help get into tight spots
  • Useful set for household repairs and auto work
  • Comes in a compact and handy carry case for easy portability and storage
  • Backed by Husky’s Forever Guarantee
  • WEBSITE [available at Home Depot]

[REVIEW] Every household needs something this compact and convenient. This is an excellent stocking stuffer for any man in your life!

Banangrams Games

[ABOUT] Bananagrams is the first in the bunch, the game that started it all. Great portable word games for kids of all ages.

  • Bananagrams: The Anagram game that will drive you bananas. The award-winning word game that needs no pencil, paper, or board. Fast and fun. Players race against each other to build crossword grids and use all their letter tiles first. Great for travel. [players ages 7-97]
  • Pairsinpears: Fresh Fun comes in pears. Race to make pairs of connecting words in matching patterns. A great way for children to develop memory and cognitive skills while learning the alphabet, pattern recognition, vowels, vocabulary, rhyming, and more. Advanced players can use semi-palindromes and palindromes to win extra points. The pear-shaped pouch contains four full alphabet sets in four distinct patterns. [players ages six and up]
  • Appleletters: An Apple a day for us all to play. Create a continuous word snake by adding your word to the head or tail. Orginally designed with younger players in mind, APPLETTERS features three levels of play to amuse children and challenge adults. The free-standing tiles are easy to handle and can be used to play three different games. [players ages six and up]
  • Zip-It: The Twenty-second word race you can play anyplace. Take 12 cubes and race against your opponent to build a word grid. One hand can be played in as little as 20 seconds and everything you need is in the bag. An exhilarating, high-speed, two-player game with 24 letter cubes in a unique cloth pouch with colored scoring zippers.The ability to play on an airplane or train makes Zip-It the ultimate travel game. Each pouch includes a WEORDS dictonary of weird words that help win word games. [players ages seven and up]
  • Fruitominoes: Connect Fruit, instead of dots. Take turns matching six attractive fruit patterns. A fresh, fruity and colorful twist to the classic game of dominoes. Twenty-eight beautifully crafted dominoes in a compact pouch make this a great game for young and old. [players ages five and up]
  • WEBSITE

[REVIEWS] We LOVE these games. We bought our first set a year ago when we were traveling and they were a hit with the whole family and kids ranging from 6-13 years. It is faster and simpler than scrabble and it is completely engaging. It is easy to take with you and quick to set up so we keep one in the car.

Cupcaqe Muffin Meal

[ABOUT] A brand new bakeware accessory that makes cup-like holes in regular or large size muffins or cupcakes so that you can fill with your imagination.

  • Fits any regular or large size muffin or cupcake pan (any brand, make or model)
  • Easy adjustable cup locks into place to make shallow or deeper holes as desired and slides out effortlessly.
  • Fast and easy clean-up – dishwasher safe
  • FDA approved – high temperature sturdy plastic bakeware
  • Make your next muffin a meal and you will never have leftovers again.
  • Kids will love helping you bake with muffinmealTM.
  • Endless batter and filling combinations
  • You will never have a problem trying to get your kids to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner.
  • WEBSITE

RECIPES

  • Lemon Cupcakes Stuffed with Fruit
  • Carrot Cake with Baked Apples
  • Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes
  • Chili & Cornbread

[REVIEW] This bakeware accessory easily allowed us to make a fun, delicious meal without a lot of extra effort. We tested the muffinmeal ™ with cornbread and chili for an unique dinner. It’s easy to imagine making fancy cupcakes for birthday parties and Girls’ Nights. helping me be more creative in the kitchen than I really am.

Freaky Pets

[ABOUT] Cute ‘n’ cuddly one second, flips to cranky the next.  Freaky Pets are guaranteed to make life interesting no matter what planet you live on! Freaky Pets is a new interactive product from Abandon Interactive Entertainment that combines a unique line of transformable plush creatures with a browser-based 3D virtual world for kids (and adults) of all ages. Give it a try for FREE just by clicking on the new account button at www.freakypets.com. The first one is free, but to unlock any of the other Freaky Pets you will need to purchase a Freaky Pet reversible toy. Each pet comes with a secret code that brings it to life online. Freaky Pets are available at Hallmark stores and other fine retailers.  Freaky Pets are plush animals (monsters?) that are two pets in one. One pet is soft, sweet and cuddly. The other pet is mean and ugly.

[REVIEW] Our 6-11 year old reviewers gave Freaky Pets a thumbs up. They thought the stuffed animal was funny to switch back and forth. We told them The animals come to life with the online game and really kept the kids interest. This is a fun toy to put in the stockings this year.

We have one for a GIVEAWAY so enter our ParentClick.com Contest! Go to your community and click on the CHATTER page to find out the latest way to enter the contest.

Hess Toy Truck & Race Car

[ABOUT] This truck goes on sale NOVEMBER 11th! Following a long tradition of craftsmanship and innovation, this year’s truck has four-wheel spring suspension and a pull-out ramp that automatically activates a hydraulic sound. The truck cab features three more sound effects and flashing lights. The truck’s flatbed trailer carries a race car modeled after an American stock car that sports a pull-back racing motor and Hess Express logo. A push of the race car’s gas cap activates flashing lights and the sound of the car’s engine. The toy set’s full lineup of fun features includes:

Truck:

  • Pull-out ramp with automatic hydraulic sound
  • 3 additional sound effects activated by cab buttons (ignition, horn and back-up alert sounds)
  • 34 lights with all-on and flashing modes
  • Flashing light mode activated by cab button, chassis switch and ramp
  • Four-wheel spring suspension
  • Chrome-look detailing

Race Car:

  • Engine sound effect activated by gas cap button
  • 10 lights (all-on and flashing modes)
  • Flashing light mode activated by gas cap button
  • Pull-back racing motor

[REVIEW] This was an immediate hit with our kid testers! A fun truck and car that will keep kids entertained for hours with design elements that emphasize quality and encourage imaginative play.

Verbatim Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse

[ABOUT] Save even more room on your actual desktop with Verbatim’s Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard & Mouse. Designed with a piano black finish, this keyboard features low profile keys that provide a crisp, responsive feel when typing. Boasting a laptop-style keyboard configuration, this ultra-slim, ultra-narrow keyboard offers 2.4 Ghz wireless communication – eliminating delays between what you type and what you see on-screen. The included media console allows control of your favorite tunes directly from the keyboard. With its slim design, the freedom of a cordless interface, and a wireless mouse, this keyboard is a perfect space-saver.

  • Laptop-style keyboard features an ultra-slim and compact design, along with low profile keys that provide a crisp, responsive feel when typing
  • Wireless mouse helps to eliminate cord clutter
  • 2.4 Ghz wireless communication eliminates delays between what is typed and seen on-screen
  • Users can control their music directly from the keyboard’s built-in media console
  • Designed with a sleek piano black finish
  • Compatible with Windows XP, 2000 and Vista
  • WEBSITE

[REVIEW] This keyboard was easy to set-up and pair with my computer. I like the feeling of typing on this keyboard. The set is the perfect desktop space saver with a full-size, laptop-style keyboard that offers an ultra-slim and compact design,

Yummi Bears from Hero Nutritionals

[ABOUT]  Like all Hero Nutritional products, Yummi Bears® Vitamin C and Yummi Bears® Echinacea are allergen, GMO, casein and gluten-free, and have all-natural flavors and colors. Both contain 60 mg of Vitamin C, and Yummi Bears® Echinacea also contains Echinacea and Zinc. As they are taken in the form of a gummy bear, your tots won’t protest at having to take a large vitamin pill each morning!  Yummi Bears® Gummy Vitamins are available in fine health stores in the United States. www.heronutritionals.com

[REVIEW] Every fall I try to get back in the habit of doling out vitamins to ward off colds and the flu. My family is terrible about remembering to take vitamins on a regular basis especially when I purchase the chewables. However when they tried the Yummi Bears, I no longer had to bribe them since they felt as if they were getting more of a special treat every morning.  The box includes 15 packs of 3 gummy bears. The To-Go packs make it easy to keep extra packs in your car or your purse so you always have then on-hand.

Mommy Brings Home the Bacon

[ABOUT] “Mommy Brings Home the Bacon” is a heartwarming children’s book that explores the touching relationship between a young boy and his working mom.

Told from the young boy’s perspective, the whimsical narrative reflects a child’s imaginative interpretation of why mommy goes to work, and the beautiful bond that develops as a result.

Bringing simplicity and lightheartedness to an emotional topic, “Mommy Brings Home the Bacon” fosters a child’s appreciation for a working mother, while simultaneously easing the minds of moms who balance the difficult responsibilities of financially supporting their household and raising the children they so dearly love.

[AUTHOR] Nikki Mark

[REVIEW] Years ago this reviewer babysat for a spritely little girl who delighted in playing the parent role in a reenactment of “preschool drop off”. She would solemnly charge me, “Don’t be sad. I’ll be back soon,” give a cheery wave, and scoot off in her plastic convertible. Many years later, I have good-bye rituals with my own kids, special formulas meant to impart security for the time apart. “Mommy Brings Home the Bacon” captures the importance of how we explain these times of separation to our children.

A parent’s explanation is vital, helping children make sense of their world and understand the connection between love and the practical elements of care-taking. The book gently works through the thought life of a child processing his working mother’s words about the need, and enjoyment, of her work. There is tenderness written into every page, and a dash of humor as the young boy imagines his mother’s day at the office, and muses over the incredible quantities of unseen “bacon” being secured by working moms everywhere.

Any mom who has felt her heart contract when saying good-bye to her little one will read the short book with a lump in her throat. This would make a thoughtful gift for a working mom, or a great read for a child who needs to identify and explore their feelings on the subject. If “The Kissing Hand” is perfect for preschool age children, “Mommy Brings Home the Bacon” is a great companion read for slightly older children who are able to compare experiences, reflect on the meaning of words, and are learning to empathize.

Active Baby, Healthy Brain

[ABOUT] Active Baby, Healthy Brain by Margaret Sasse contains 135 infant-to-toddler exercises designed to build connections between your child’s physical and mental development. The activities are charmingly illustrated and organized by age group and area of brain development (vestibular, gross motor, etc). Sasse includes simple explanations of why and how these physical activities stimulate brain development, but they don’t get in the way of the most important part– the activities themselves.

[AUTHOR] Margaret Sasse

[REVIEW] When I was pregnant, my husband (the personal trainer) liked to joke about the baby exercises he would be putting our new son through. I would roll my eyes, picturing tiny foam dumbbells and babies in “downward dog” yoga positions. Little did I realize how important baby exercise could actually be!

The activities in Healthy Baby, Active Brain are simple enough to mix into our normal playtime. As a mom, it helps me to be more intentional about how I play with my baby, and it is easy to see progress when an originally challenging activity becomes easy. My son has particularly loved going through an obstacle course (for visual tracking and focusing), crawling on a raised surface (for visual depth perception), and playing “wheelbarrow” (for shoulder, arms, and hand strength).

This book would be a great gift for any new parent, parent with young children, preschool teacher or childcare provider, as well as anyone in the sensory development field.