Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake, Agoura
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CityPass is a ticket book containing admission tickets to some of the country's most popular attractions - New York for example: Guggenheim Museum, MoMA, Metropolitan Museum of Art & The Cloisters, Museum of Natural History & Rose Center, Empire State Building, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise or Statue of Liberty.
CityPass.com features booklets for 11 cities in North America: Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Hollywood, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California, Toronto
It's a great tool for sophisticated parents! With CityPass, parents can nurture the art of exploration - picking a few featured items at each venue and creating a family scavenger hunt amongst fine art, dinosaur skeletons and meteorites. Also, with CityPass most attraction lines are bypassed - vital it is to keep things moving with kiddos in tow. The passes are valid for nine days, and even if you only choose to go to three spots, you are still saving money - important in times like these.
Perfect for travelers as well as locals looking for a "staycation" to enjoy the area's cultural attractions - and to draw people throughout the city, to witness its unique neighborhoods, streetscapes and energy.
If you are traveling to one of the many cities they cover, you will not be disappointed with these passes that get you into multiple museums and attractions.
Matchbox Construction Claw now boys are right in the middle of the action. Boys can use the working construction claw to grab items or dig in the dirt. Easy to use and attaches directly to the boys arm and features realistic Matchbox styling. 4 years plus
Price Range: $24.99 Purchase: Online & Toy StoresThis is a great toy for the beach or the backyard... it attaches directly to your child's arm and makes all the construction noises of a real crane as you dig and grab. Our kids loved it. You will want more than one to avoid the "it's my turn" if you have more than one child.
These are great artistic, creative products for little ones to use. All are non-toxic and safe.
Eco-dough: Eco-dough is an all natural alternative. Made with plant, fruit and veggie extracts! No chemicals, artificial dyes or metals. The containers are made from cornstarch and 100% compostable. Also it doesn't dry out like name brands. If it's left out overnight just add a few drops of olive oil and it comes right back! Great for party favors! Comes in a tube with 6, 3 oz. containers.
Website Price Range: 3.99-19.99 CAD Purchase: http://www.organicallyhatched.comGreat idea for little ones. No more worrying if they decide to taste their finished creation. The kids loved it.
Fizz 'n Find are palm-sized tablets that, when dropped into a bowl of warm water, instantly fizz and dissolve to reveal a fun collectable character. Kids watch in suspense, eager to catch the first glimpse of what was hiding inside their tablet. Valentine's Day Fizz 'n Find tablets contain different adorable kittens.
The tablet is packaged in a red and pink heart-themed wrapping. These retail exclusively at Target for $4.99, and are for kids ages 4+. Fizz 'n Find is a great gift for budget-conscious families who want to give their children something more substantial than a homemade Valentine's card but don't want to break the bank.
"Can I try it?" was the first response we received from our kid testers. A fun, simple and affordable Valentine's gift for kids.
Star in a TV show and compete through a series of challenges to show the world that you are the best young fashion designer! Express your creativity in numerous workshops, including Hair, Makeup, Clothing and Accessories. Use the Wii Remote? and Nunchuck? as scissors, hair brushes, makeup applicator and any other tools you need. Make all the right moves with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck as you model your designs in front of a fierce panel of judges. Also compatible with the Wii Balance Board? accessory! Design your fashions in Creation mode, then compete in the Fashion Reality Show. For even more fun, challenge a friend in all-new fashion design mini-games!
Website Price Range: $29.99 Purchase: Target, Wal-Mart, GameStop, Toys R UsYour daughter along with all her friends will have a blast rising to fashion stardom as the hottest new designers! They will want to spend hours creating the perfect outfit before they go before the judges.
Mud Pie Princess Tea Time for Two Tea Set (Packaged in a lovely heart shaped hatbox!) This set will make every tea party special! Seventeen piece ceramic tea set includes teapot with lid, creamer and sugar bowl, teacups, saucers, plates, forks and spoons in fun pastel colors and polka dots. For ages 5 and up. Visit www.mud-pie.com.
Website Price Range: $35 Purchase: Online Barnes and NobleThe perfect gift for your girly-girl. She will love this set for playtime with her friends or perhaps tea with her teddy bears. It is whimsical and fun.
Music Ace Deluxe combines 36 of the highly-engaging music lessons from the award-winning Music Ace and Music Ace 2 products into a single, carefully sequenced product.
Designed by music education professionals, Music Ace Deluxe is a comprehensive series of music lessons and games that teach beginning music students of all ages the basics of music theory, rhythm, pitch, note reading, listening, and the keyboard. No previous musical experience or instrument is required.
Under the guidance of animated tutor Maestro Max, students are led through a carefully sequenced series of music lessons. Used alone or as a complement to traditional music lessons, this program will challenge, engage and motivate music students and help them succeed by mastering important music concepts and skills.
Music Ace Deluxe also includes the creative Music Doodle Pad that allows beginners to easily compose and hear their own musical creations. The Music Doodle Pad alone provides many hours of fun and learning.
Website Price Range: $69.95 Purchase: Online
Learn music on your computer for ages 8 and up... Your animated tutor, Maestro Max will introduce your child to the basics of music theory, note reading and more.
Shimmer 'N Splash is the coolest water park ever! Polly can take a dolphin ride, cruise down the slide and make a splash with the dunk bucket and pool. When Polly hits the cold water, her hair changes from blonde to pink streaks. Now how cool is that? The playset also includes an ocean turtle friend to swim and splash along with Polly, a beach chair for catching some rays and a yummy tropical fruit smoothie for Polly to enjoy. It's a perfect playset for indoor or outdoor water play fun, to take to the beach or to play with by the pool.
Website Price Range: $18.49 Purchase: Toys R UsAlthough moms may find these small pieces frustrating to keep track of, girls 4-7 will be delighted with the latest Polly Pocket. Our testers loved that they could take it outside and fill it up with water and put Polly on the slide.
The Scrabble Valentine's Day Edition is available exclusively for the holiday and comes in a heart-shaped game box. Send out a special message using the card kit and game tiles contained inside the game box, such as "L-o-v-e, Y-o-u, F-o-r-e-v-e-r." With the leftover tiles, enjoy the classic cross-words game during a Valentine's Day night-in. The Scrabble Valentine's Day Edition is available at all mass retail stores for an approximate retail price of $9.99.
Website Price Range: $9.99 Purchase: Retail Stores and Online
This is the perfect Valentine Card and game all in one for that special someone. Kids would have fun with it as well since it is a small version of Scrabble with extra tiles included.
Kid-Tested Projects for Simple Sewing!
Website Price Range: $16.95 Purchase: Online
This is a super book for children aged 7 and upwards with projects to sew by hand or machine using clear illustrated instructions. It's bright and fun and packed with puzzles, games and jokes to make learning fun! The projects include board games, pillows, quilts, placemats and greeting cards which use a variety of threads, ribbon, fabric and felt, but best of all they are colourful and child-friendly which means they'll actually want to make them.
Parents interested in a Valentine's Day "stay at-home date night" after the kids have gone to bed should know about Stop & Kiss: A Card Game for Couples, which I created. Stop & Kiss is a fun way for busy couples (especially parents!) to take time out of their lives and celebrate their relationship.
Stop & Kiss features a number of different card categories, from "Relationship Rev-Up" and "Connection" cards, to "Complete the Thought." Each category directs the players to participate in an active conversation about a particular topic or to ask or answer questions about themselves and each other. There's even a "Wild" card in the deck, inviting couples to go wild and show how much they love each other. And, there are plenty of opportunities to Stop & Kiss!
They are steamy and romantic. These cards are wonderful because they help you go down memory lane as you bring the romance back with lots of great topics.
The Fisher-Price Deluxe Turbo Fill Blasters set features a one-stop, fast-fill water station that is easy, quick and fun. The unique, easy-fill water base automatically fills and pressurizes a Blaster in 15 seconds or less! The water blasters shoot water up to 30 feet and require no pumping action, making them easy for preschoolers to use.
Price Range: $34.99 Purchase: Online & Toy StoresAre you ready to get wet? This large water gun is lots of fun but it needs to be level when you shoot the water in order for it to work. It does not hold a ton of water but it is easy to refill.
This is a great gift but a bit pricey. If you are getting it for your own kids, you may want to grab a few extra spray bottles to fill with water so everyone has something to use.
Baby Massage: Soothing Strokes For Healthy Growth is a fun how-to for parents, families and primary caregivers of infants. It is presented in an easy-to-read spiral bound, flip-chart style format that allows the reader to learn hands-free while practicing the hands-on approach to baby massage.
Talk to Me - Happy Tunes for Healthy Growth is the perfect companion to her book, Baby Massage - Soothing Strokes for Healthy Growth. The songs underline key elements of healthy parent-infant bonding. The lyrics are an expression of our love and commitment to our children. The songs are meant to be validating, reassuring and a celebration. Each song has a message, and it is my hope that you and your child will carry these messages of love and admiration for one another throughout life. It is a basic human need to feel loved, wanted, understood and a part of something greater than ourselves. Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 A wonderful book and CD for a new parent. The book makes it simple to do massage with your infant with the great visuals. Their website is also terrific with a lot of great facts and some demos. You can also listen to excerpts from their CD.
custom made baby ring slings for only $17.99. adjusts to fit mama or dada. holds baby in nearly every position - made for newborn to toddlers (up to 35 lbs).
WebsiteI recently bought a papoose sling! It was such a great price! I love it and it is made very well!!!
Cap Trappers are perfect for just about anyone. The versatile material allows it to fit any cap size from skinny to fat. Use a Cap Trapper to organize all your pens and markers, you'll probably never buy crayons again! Sort your flip chart markers from your dry erase markers by using a black and white Cap Trapper. You can eliminate wasted time looking for the right marker. Price: $5.99 Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 These are great for moms, teachers and even the office to store your pens. What a treat... you no longer have to worry about lost caps. What we loved is how simple it is to throw a few pens in your purse for your kids to use. What a lifesaver. You can buy a set for each of the kids to keep their own pens and they hold thin and thick pens. We love these mom-invented products.
Mobile study and test preparation tool Cram, allows students to study on the go, on their mobile device. With Cram, students and teachers can create, share, and study test material for regular class exams, quizzes, and standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT. Cram has features that allow the student receive a grade instantly after taking a test and share a test with classmates on a related subject. The Cram grade reports detail the exact errors made during the test for each test question and shows the student the correct answer after test completion. With Cram, students get a free web portal, that allows them to create custom tests (besides the ability to create online) and distribute them to their classmates or teachers. $9.99 Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 The concept is simple but you do need a cell phone to take advantage of it. There is also a great website portal where students can interact. Kids can literally study on the go by downloading software that will challenge them with questions and test material so that they can prepare sitting in a dentist office or waiting at the bus stop.
Creative College by Elaina Loveland aims to... Help students choose the right college to fit their unique needs as a student actor, artist, dancer, musician or writers; Aid students in understanding the important differences between BA and BFA programs and an education at a college, university or conservatory; Determine students' career path by focusing solely on the arts or choosing a double major; and Teach insider tips for the creative component of the admissions process -- an audition or portfolio. More than 125 art, drama, dance, music, and creative writing programs in arts conservatories, liberal arts colleges, and universities are profiled with information that is critical to making the best college choice, such as degrees offered, concentrations, faculty information, cost of attendance, scholarship availability, and alumni accomplishments. An appendix lists books, Web sites, and magazines that students might find useful in finding the right program for them. Price: $19.95 Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 This is a terrific book for "creative" high school students wanting to explore their college options. It is a starting point for those students that are looking for a school with an emphasis on acting, art, dance, music and writing. It gives a list of schools, tips for going to auditions, writing resumes and doing essays.
The world's most curious monkey investigates new words in this lively picture dictionary for young children.
Curious George's Dictionary is an engaging picture dictionary specially designed for children from preschool through first grade. Both entertaining and educationally sound, it features charming illustrations and reflects recent research in early childhood literacy, setting it apart from other picture dictionaries.
The main part of the dictionary is an A-Z section containing approximately six hundred words, six words to a page. Each word is illustrated with a full-color drawing, most of which have been created for this book by the popular illustrator Mary O'Keefe Young. More than half the illustrations include a sample sentence that puts the word in a familiar context.
A four-page illustrated story at the front of the book shows George learning how to look up words in his dictionary, drawing children in while introducing them to dictionary skills. At the end of the book, seven one- to two-page illustrations present groups of words related by simple themes such as colors, shapes, and numbers. Price: $12.95 Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 This is the cutest dictionary for young children (ages 4-6). Who doesn't like Curious George? The images that go with each word are fun and some extra features include teaching kids about calendars, shapes and colors.
The six new and updated titles in the Everything You Need to Know About...Homework series are the must-have information resources for successfully completing schoolwork at home. These handy guides contain the facts and processes fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders need to complete assignments, write reports, and prepare for tests. Researched in accordance with school curriculum and current textbooks, and created in collaboration with subject experts, these titles answer kids' most frequently asked homework questions. Price: $8.95 Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 A favorite with the parents because these books have so many great facts to assist kids with homework and everyday questions. Some of us are challenged by the homework our kids bring home after reaching 4th grade so even parents can use the extra assistance. There are different reference guides... History, Math, English, etc. geared towards 4th-6th graders.
The Rule is that all Kids must memorize the basic adding and subtracting facts but because kids are allowed to use calculators, they have unfortunately easily ignored the memorizing rule. The Memory Wizard Cards are fun, easy and fast. They write on it, self-check on it and it's erasable. Better results than using flashcards.
There is also a Kids Memory Wizard Game Gift Set that includes the Memory Wizard Card, achievement award, gold stars, pencil, eraser and wrapping paper. For kids, 6 to 12 years old, the Kids Memory Wizard, makes an exciting, fun, Learning Game Birthday gift. $14.95/Gift Box Set $6.99/Single Wizard Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 It took us a few minutes to figure out what we were reviewing but once we did, we were impressed. It is a very simple tool to master your math facts. There is an addition/subtraction card and a multipication/division card. Kids can work on them independently writing down their answers on an erasable card. We love how portable the cards are... you can keep them in your car for them to practice when you are out doing errands. We think this would be a terrific gift to a teacher for a classroom since they can be ordered in bulk. What a great tool for each student to have at their desk.
Give your locker a design makeover with Decorate Your Locker! This fully photographic book is packed with simple ideas for personalizing any locker with your own one-of-a-kind style. Cool pre-printed magnets make instant decorating easy, while peel-and-stick magnetic sheets can make almost any lightweight thing into a magnet. Price $9.95 Purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Games, Toys & Book Reviews - Fall 2008 A fun book for any tween or teen that has a school locker. Filled with magnets and ideas on how to create a "cool locker" at school. It gives you the opportunity to create a home away from home.
2 Plastic, double-sided, hand-held white boards with integrated marker holder, 2 sm. markers & erasers. Two-sided Dry Erase Paddle Sets. Created by a Teacher & Proven in the Classroom -- Cleans easily with soap and water; Includes low-odor, non-toxic markers; Made of durable plastic that holds up under frequent use; Promotes active learning across subjects in all grades; Saves paper. Price: $14.99 Purchase: You can purchase online or click here for retail locations.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 Fun for kids and useful for everyone! This could be used for so many purposes and our young testers are still testing on a daily basis because they think they are so great. There are lines on 1 side to practice printing. This is a great tool for a classroom (and they sell them in large batches). It is a fun idea for parents to donate to a class. Kids can use them to work out math problems, practice for quizes and it is more eco-friendly than using a lot of paper. It would be a great activity for someone stuck in a hospital bed. The only concern from our parent testers was the durabilty of the dry erase after consistent use.
Little learners love the sense of accomplishment when they learn to print their names. Our ‘Signature' self inking stamps, with a large 'dotted' font, promote printing in a engaging and interactive way. Each personalized stamp uses child safe washable ink to keep those little hands mess free while they enjoy printing their names on artwork, colouring pages, cards etc. Our educational products help the children in your lives develop early literacy skills while having fun! Price: $24.95 Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 A great gift for any 3-6 year old that educates them without them knowing. What a fun way to teach kids to spell their names especially because parents do not have to sit there and write it out over and over! Our testers loved it and kept on stampin' because they saw it as a fun activity. The Little Stamp Company also offers a fundraising option where kids can sell these at school and raise money.
Head back to school in style with this officially licensed National Design NBA back-to-school kit! The kit includes a 7-piece Skinz sticker set, an 8-in x 10½-in spiral notebook with 60 lined sheets, a 12-in ruler, and a grip pen. The set also comes with a 3-piece wood pencil set, a 10-piece marker set, and a 3-in x 5-in flip pad with lined paper. The set is packaged in a 9-in x 12-in school portfolio. Price: $14.99 You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 Sports lovers will of course enjoy these fun back to school products for their desks. A fun gift to give any child basketball fan.
Create your own custom digital flashcards specific to your curriculum! Students learn better when lessons are repeated. To help facilitate learning, Hamilton Electronics has introduced the Study Buddy, an electronic, interactive and customizable learning system. Study Buddy helps students from pre-K through high school create their own talking flash cards using visual and auditory cues to reinforce learning.
Study Buddy also allows teachers to create original, customized curriculum materials for their classrooms. Create a lesson or activity in minutes that meets the needs of individuals or small groups of students. Using dry-erase pens, photographs, graphics and/or original artwork that is prepared on reusable electronic cards, teachers can record an accompanying voice instruction that is unique for each card. By combining voice and graphics, student learners can work independently with the card sets on a variety of topics. Card reader kit - Includes 1 audio card reader/recorder & 36 re-usable, laminated double sided cards. (Max memory: 72 cards.) Price: $69.75 Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 Technology can even make learning fun with a talking flashcard. We thought this was a great tool but also found that it takes a bit of time to get it set up for kids. For younger kids it is nice because they can hear their parents voice on the recorder when they are checking their answers. For older kids, it is a great tool for preparing for tests and memorization because they can set it up themselves. Once they have conquered the lesson, they can erase everything and start fresh.
The best dictionary for back-to-school comes in an all-new fabulous fashion design. Compact and portable, it is perfect for home and school. Clear, concise definitions of the words students need to know make this an invaluable reference they will use every day. You have 2 options for covers in a dictionary, thesaurus, or Spanish/English dictionary. Price: $3.99 Purchase: Online or K-Mart, Target or Borders
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 When did dictionaries become cool? These are stylish, compact and perfect for any backpack.
The Messenger Laptop Bag comes in several colors and patterns and has a fully padded zipper back pocket for laptop; spacious interior compartment; divider pockets under the flap for pens and small items; flat open pocket on the back for magazines/papers; removable adjustable padded shoulder strap. Fits up to 15.4" laptops. Dimensions: 14x12x4 Price: $135 Purchase: You can purchase online or click here for retail locations.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 We loved this bag! It is hip, fun, stylish and all around great for any woman. I love the way the laptop fits into the back pocket leaving you plenty of room for papers in the interior compartment. My old bag only fit my laptop and I always had to carry an additional purse to hold a wallet and sunglasses. I took it out for a little test drive and received several comliments. A little pricey but a bag that you will want to use often. You will want to check out their site to see all their products including laptop cases, carry-on luggage and gadget accessories. Another item that looks great is their iPod/Camera case that could also hold a cell phone. Perfect for when you are out with the kids and don't want to carry a purse.
Our personalized children's lunchboxes make carrying food more fun! These individually crafted lunchboxes feature a personalized name or initial and what child doesn't love seeing their name monogrammed? So let them eat up in style with these children's lunchboxes! The lunchbox is 8"X7"X4", lead-free, food safe and the designs are water-resistant. Price: $30 Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 These old fashioned lunchboxes are adorable and the only problem you will have is deciding on which fun pattern to choose. The young girls we tested them on loved them. The moms felt they would make great gifts and work well as a place to hold art supplies. It is hard to imagine them working well as an actual lunchbox since there is no insulation to keep food items cold.
Designer Sleeve Laptop Cases are a fun yet functional way to protect your laptop computer. Designer Sleeves Laptop Cases are composed of thick, durable neoprene rubber that cushions your laptop for maximum protection. The sleek design safely slides in and out of your backpack, briefcase or luggage with ease. They are perfect for life on campus, business travel, everyday work, or vacation. Best of all, the natural rubberized feel of the wet suit material is fun and functional, while providing natural moisture, shock and scratch protection. Exterior zippered pocket. Several styles and sizes for all laptops. Large variety of designs or you have the option to brand sleeves with a logo or message for businesses or schools. Price: $35+ Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 These sleeves are a great gift idea for kids and teens (and adults) to protect your laptop. There is a huge selection of designs to meet everyone's needs and styles. The neoprene fabric makes it sporty and also has the added benefit of being water resistant. The outer pocket is handy for carrying papers. Their larger professional sleeves come with a shoulder strap.
Eastsport has a new backpack, called "Air Pack," that addresses safety concerns with kids carrying heavy bags.
Air Pack backpack: Has a built-in, adjustable air pillow in the lower back to relieve pressure from heavy contents. It was designed with today's youth in mind, knowing they carry bags stuffed with school books, sports gear, computers and more. The Air Pack is super light-weight and durable. Price: $19.88.
Another new bag collection by Eastport, called "Natural," appeals to parents and families interested in eco-friendly products, bags are 100% biodegradable. The Natural collection: Totes, messengers, duffels and more are 100% biodegradable, made with 100% biodegradable materials - fabric, hardware and dyes. Eastsport is not interested in the claim "organic," as that has no set standards, but in being truly 100% natural and eco-friendly. Even the hang tags are "natural" - plant them and wildflowers will grow! Price: $40-60. Purchase: You can purchase online or click here for retail locations.
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ParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 The "air pack" is a great idea for kids although it is hard to tell how durable the little air pouch is. The size works better for older kids and teens. The ability to store your skateboard on some of the styles is a nice feature and you cannot beat the prices!
Although the Eastsport Natural Collection totes were spacious, we were not impressed with the expensive price for such a basic bag. We know that often you pay more to go organic but there really were no unique features to these "natural" duffels and totes. They would work well as diaper bags or a catch-all bag for travelling.
My son uses his backpack and loves it. It has been great when we go on the airlines since it keeps everything together and he can strap on his skateboard. [John 10/02/08]
The Jimi wallet is a compact, colorful, and water resistant answer to the stodgy outdated leather wallet. It's designed to slip into your front pocket, purse, or around your neck on a lanyard. If you like cash, JimiX forgoes the internal money clip for a higher capacity and more robust external money clip. And what to do with those pesky, easy-to-lose memory cards? Try an SD card clip for your Jimi wallet or a Jimi Multi Media memory card case, which holds a whole range of different memory card sizes. And just launched the Jimi Game Shell. A compact, attachable case that carries DS, PSP games and Sony memory sticks. Purchase: You can purchase online or click here for retail locations.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 An interesting idea. We tested it with kids, dads and moms. This recyclable wallet is great for the person who hates wallet. Compact so it can be great for sports activities. The popular item with the kids was the Jimi Game Shell case that can hold DS & Wii cards which is excellent for travelling.
Waste-Free Lunch Kit - Reusable, waste-free lunch kit includes recycled cotton sack, cloth napkin, 16 oz. stainless steel beverage bottle, food kozy, and two stainless steel food containers. $40 Purchase: You can purchase online.
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ParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 This is a nice option for a lunch box with proportional containters. It is great looking and will instantly make you feel environmentally responsible. The food kozy is interesting and is meant to replace plastic wrap - you simply fold the koz around your sandwich and then wash it off at night. The only negative is not having an insulated bag to keep the food cool. At $40, it is also an expenisve lunch kit.
I love the stainless steel containers, and the food kozy is ingenious. The kits are great! My kids love them! They are teaching me on how to REUSE. [Christy 12/22/08 Parent]
From Kristine Accessories, the original flat wallet is a functional and inexpensive gift to give for Valentines Day. Voted as one of the best fashion accessories in '07 by Gift Beat Magazine, the flat wallet is sized 7 inches wide 4.5 inches deep and one-quarter inch high, the wallet resemembles a thin clutch but opens to reveal a zipper pouch for change, along with pockets for credit cards, id, and cash. Wallets also come in a larger clutch style and include pen, paper and room for checkbook. There are several patterns including a tooled patent in red, black and green (pictured) as well as many more styles and colors to choose from.
Website Price Range: $22-$32 Purchase: http://www.blackcatplus.comIt's hip, stylish and fun. Practical? We are not sure... great for a night out or a quick run to the store because you can use with or without a purse. The negative we found is that with the hard case it may not be ideal for that mom on the go that does not have time to keep it organized. We do think it would be a fun gift to receive.
The product line is a complete range of handbags, travel bags, totes, messenger bags, backpacks, attaches and accessories. The Collection's trademarks are sporty American styling, a wide color and print assortment and lightweight functionality with high performance fabrics and hardware. The LeSportsac Basic Backpack includes a zipped main closure, padded back and bottom, side pocket with zipped closure, front pocket with zipped closure, and an adjustable padded shoulder straps Price: $50 Purchase: You can purchase online or in retail stores (Macy's).
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 Le Sportsac has a huge selection of bags and takes me back to being a kid since these seem never to go out of style. We tested out hte Basic Backpack with the Meow print and our young testers though it was terrific. There are several styles and lots of fun prints. Although moms loved this fun and lightweight backpack, they found the price a drawback. $80 can be a bit steep for a school bag. We did not get a chance to test but we did think the men's bags were impressive and would be great for dads with the the styles ranging from messenger bags to duffles.
Modeez bags are designed to protect and organize your tampons, pads, and panty liners - stylishly, of course! Moodeez will hold 4-5 tampons. Just add a couple of panty liners or a pad, and you are good to go! Price: $14.99 Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 These are fabulous for teens and moms. They are the perfect little gift when your daughter first starts her period. A discreet yet hip way to take those little unmentionables to school or work. I would buy these as a gift for every woman I know. Check out the site to see all the fun designs.
Good things come in little packages. Like our small but mighty bottle of All Natural Shaving Oil. Made from essential oils, this tiny miracle (with up to 100 shaves in a half-ounce bottle) works wonders for both men and women on even the most sensitive skin. All Natural Shaving Oil offers a consistently smooth shave, reduces nicks and razor burn, and leaves your skin conditioned and moisturized. TSA travel sizes make traveling with it a breeze.
Shaving is no way to give blood. Let's face it - nicks are an inevitable consequence of shaving. Now you can stop the bleeding right away with this small but mighty Nick Stick. And with vitamins A & E and Aloe, it will help promote healing and soothe your skin, too.
Website Price Range: $6.95 - $22.95 Purchase: Online and select retailersGreat natural products for men that use a razor to shave. It is especially handle for the traveling man with the small sized containers.
Show your locks some love with ARROJO product! Brought to you by Nick Arrojo, the hairstyling host from TLC's popular makeover show What Not To Wear. The ARROJO revitalizing kit includes: moisturizing shampoo, moisturizing conditioner and detangling foam. This trio cleanses, hydrates and detangles all hair types, leaving hair silky, lustrous and ultra manageable - making styling easy.
Website Price Range: $38.00 Purchase: Online
This Valentine's Day, fall in love all over again with Essie's True Love Collection, featuring six of the brand's most romantic colors. Sweep him of his feet with passionately polished tips in one of six sexy colors; including Limo-Scene, Vanity Fairest, Fishnet Stockings, Bordeaux and Decadent Diva.
Website Price Range: $8/bottle Purchase: OnlineSo our first choice would always be going to a nail salon for a professional pedicure and sitting in those comfy chairs while our feet are massage and pampered. The reality with kids is that we are just happy to get nail polish on our toes at 10pm after the kids are in bed. These polishes are sassy and fun so brush it on and then slip on those heels for a night out.
Pediatrician-recommended MEDERMA for Kids is the FIRST and ONLY scar product for kids with a unique color changing formulation designed to involve kids in their scar treatment process. It reduces the appearance of OLD and NEW scars resulting from cuts, scrapes, stitches, burns, bug bites and surgery.
MEDERMA for Kids is greaseless, non-toxic and non-staining*. It's also easy to use, pleasant smelling and fun for kids. Just apply a thin coat to the scar, and gently massage it in three times daily. Use for eight weeks on new scars and three to six months on existing scars. MEDERMA for Kids is available in a 20g tube that lasts about three months on scars up to three inches long.
WebsiteI think every household can use a tube. How many scrapes do your children have each day with scooters, bikes and skateboards? Our kids and parents were all in favor of this scar cream. The kids liked the color and the smell. We did not test long enough to see it reduce the appearance of the scars. We would purchase the Mederma for Kids.
I liked this product. My son had 14 stitches and an ugly scar on his neck. After using this product, his scar didn't go away completely but it is hardly noticable now. I would definitely recommend. The only thing I didn't like was the expensive price for such a small tube. [Jillian Azevedo, Ventura, CA. 11/16/08 Parent]
Say "I love you" with Remi-D -- a new, all-natural, non-alcoholic hand sanitizer. Perfect for parents, teachers and kids who want to stamp out the germs that cause colds and flus. Remi-D dispenses with alcohol, which can dry out hands and ignite near flame. Its spray formula is also free of mess.
Website Price Range: $3-4 Purchase: Retail Stores and OnlineWe know it seems awfully practical for a Valentine's gift however during flu season it is really a great idea for keeping your loved ones healthy. It is a perfect size for purses and backpacks.
I gave Remi-D to the people I love most -- my wife, nanny and kids. They love it, and the kids do, too. It's not messy or sticky. The scents are subtle. And my wife and I don't have to worry about either germs OR alcohol content. [Billy, Raleigh, NC. 02/01/09]
Sharon Bolton luxurious scents capture the essence of the Polynesian Islands fresh and exotic lifestyle and the breezy seaside town of Santa Barbara reflecting a sense of luxury and intimacy it's known for. Our essential oil perfumes are a lush blend of pure natural essential oils and exotic perfume essences. These pure scents are alcohol free providing long lasting wear. Luv, Soul, Truth and now Dream are all heady, alluring tropical concoctions to be worn alone or layered; day or night. These exotic scents all contain notes providing uplifting, harmonizing elements for body and soul. We take great pride in the fact that our quality products are made in the USA including our soy candles, hand poured by master candle makers. All products are cruelty free and our packaging is 100% recyclable. We are conscious of the earth, children and animals and foster passion and creativity. Our product line includes Perfume Oil, Perfumed Body Lotion, Perfumed Shower Cream and Soy Candles.
Website Price Range: $26-$42 Purchase: Online and RetailersA beautiful line of products that will make you feel luxurious. Fill up the tub, dim the lights, light a candle and enjoy a night off while you pamper yourself with these products.
Treat Beauty turns bath time into a sweet indulgence of healing waters with new Organic Cocoa Butter Bath Bon Bons. These gourmet chocolate truffle shaped confections melt in warm bath water to soften and soothe dry skin.
Website Price Range: $14 Purchase: amazon.comFabulous and moisturizing!
Remember when life was all about killing your dinner, protecting your family, and finding a good cave for the winter?
The 28 WEbook authors of 101 Things Every Man Should Know How to Do don't either.
But when it comes to modern manly must-knows-like growing a beard, bribing the cable guy, and looking good in a Speedo-they've got you covered. This new manthology teaches men everywhere how to escape an alien abduction, fight a bear, and interact with crackheads. For friends, loved ones, and colleagues, this is the one-stop reference for man-tastic advice in a mundane world.
Website Price Range: $12.99 Purchase: Online
Guys will have fun reading this book and wives may want to read it over their shoulder. More ideal for the younger man who is still dating and figuring out life but there are tips that every man can learn from.
September 2008 New Release - Baby Loves Salsa: Salsa para los gatitos y perritos (Salsa for Kittens and Puppies) - a band of cats and dogs that create the ultimate special sauce (salsa especial). this is a musical treat produced by grammy winning producer aaron levinson (salsa album of the year 2006) and performed by an all-star band. with lessons in spanish, and music that your kids (and you) will love, baby loves salsa is a tasty treat that you'll be excited to meet. (Ages 2-6 years) Purchase: You can purchase online.
WebsiteParentClick Games, Toys & Book Reviews - Fall 2008 Kids will have some fun rockin' to salsa with to this CD and learning some Spanish at the same time with a picture board book to go along.
This NEW second book in the Daddy's Heroes series tells how the New York Mets pulled off one of baseball's most unbelievable comebacks in the Game 6 of the 1986 World Series against the Boston Red Sox. The Mets, including players like Mookie Wilson, Gary "The Kid" Carter and Ray Knight, sent Bill Buckner and the Red Sox fans home in disbelief as they wondered if they will ever be able to break "The Curse of the Bambino."
Book 1:
Daddy's Heroes: Gibby's Homer, 1988 World Series
A children's picture book celebrating Kirk Gibson's homerun in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series and the Los Angeles Dodgers' miraculous victory over the Oakland A's. Check out www.daddysheroes.com or Amazon.com
WebsiteA great book to encourage dads to read to the kids
By: Sandman Records
Original lullabies guaranteed NOT to drive parents crazy! Volume 2 features former Mercury Records artist, Gene Miller (you've heard him in "The Lion King II").
Winner of 7 children's music awards.
Available in Santa Barbara at Borders Books, Due Maternity, and In a Nutshell (at the Waldorf School), and online at www.DreamWithMeTonight.com.
Over 4,000 years of relationship/marriage success are documented in the elegant coffee-table book "Everlasting Matrimony: Pearls Of Wisdom From Couples Married 50 Years Or More." 75 couples married 50+ years, the voices of experience, give "real-life advice" on creating and keeping a lasting, loving union. Husbands and wives are interviewed separately. Sprinkled with nostalgic and years-later photographs. Hard cover. 160 pages
Website Price Range: $39.95 Purchase: www.EverlastingMatrimony.comWhat a romantic and special gift to look through. When you see these photos of more than 75 couples from when they were first starting out to 50 years later in their marriage. We enjoyed the wonderful reminders of what is important to focus on in your marriage... "Friendly...enjoy life, make each other laugh." or "Courteous... to each other, and especially among other friends." It is basics that we hope for on our wedding day when we think of growing old together but often forget once the honeymoon is over.
The book Monster Spray can help your child deal with and overcome the common childhood fear of monsters. When children start remembering their dreams they often have a hard time separating dreams from reality. It is important to give your child a concrete way of combating those fears. The character in the story was able to get rid of the monster by spraying it with secret monster spray. Not only will your child relate to the character, but they will also be able to use monster spray to get rid of their own monsters. This is a lighthearted story that portrays monsters to be annoying rather than scary which will also help to relieve your child's fears.
This is a great book! I wish I had it when my kids were younger and facing these fears. The best part is that there is a monster spray bottle that parents & kids can use to keep those monsters away. The book has fun illustrations. Just the thing every child needs to get over the fear of monsters under the bed or in the closet.
Moon (Jump Into Science) - A charming cat and his firefly pal take young readers on a delightful romp to learn all about the Earth's moon. Through the use of simple yet engaging text and exuberant artwork, the book shows children how the moon interacts with the sun, how it seems to change shape in the sky, and how it glows. During their colorful, guided tour, kids also will learn about humans' first trip to the moon and what we found there. There's even a fun experiment at the end of the book that shows young scientists how to make craters and understand more clearly how they formed on the moon.
National Geographic Bee Official Study Guide, 3rd edition (ages 9-12) has been created to help kids prepare to compete in the Society's annual geography competition. Featuring maps, photos, graphs, a variety of questions actually used in past Bees, plus an extensive resource section, the guide not only reviews geographic facts but also helps readers recognize themes, identify relationships, and understand how geographers think. In this updated edition all statistics have been revised to reflect the most up-to-date figures. New question rounds have been added, as well as new tips from Bee winners on how to study. Resources have been reviewed to ensure the most current offerings.
National Geographic Little Kids Magazine - Today we're proud to introduce a brand-new magazine to help you enrich your preschooler's early learning adventures. This innovative magazine is full of learning and fun for youngsters (ages 3 to 6) and their parents. Bursting with lively photographs, engaging stories, and interactive picture games, each issue supplies you with fresh and imaginative teaching tools brought to you by National Geographic. Features rich content, large text, and fun activities. Captivating stories and interactive games-covering amazing animals, cool science, families around the world-encourage children to read, learn, and explore. Plus each issue comes with Wild-animal Cards! One year subscription of 6 colorful issues for just $15
WebsiteParentClick Back to School Product Reviews - Fall 2008 The National Geographic KIDS books are great for both a home library and teacher classrooms. Perfect gift to give a child or a teacher. Animals, nature, science and space... every subject is covered and the books are fun, visual and comprehensive. Kids from 4 years through high school can find something that appeals to them. One of our favorites is their magazine for kids. Click on their site to see the many choices.
A book, printed on and bound by recycled paper, that has a different quote by peaceful leader Mahatma Gandhi on every page. (Imported from India.) most appropriate for teenagers and parents. I design and retail high end women's clothing, but was so taken by the value of this book that I incorporated it into the offerings of my New York City boutique. It is such a great product that I almost forget that it is printed on recycled paper. It gets extra points for that!
Website Price Range: $24 Purchase: OnlineIt's a wonderful gift to for a young person who is beginning to philosophize about life and the world.
"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."
If words could describe parenthood, these by Elizabeth Stone may just sum up the experience for many parents.
Meanwhile, Playwright George Bernard Shaw has given us the much broader observation that, "Perhaps the greatest social service that can be rendered to the country and to mankind is to bring up a family."
Perhaps as much has been said about being a parent as there are drops in the ocean but one thing is certain - one can not really know what it is like being a parent
until one actually becomes, themselves, a parent.
Compiled from the wisdom of 3000 years of living and life, this book seeks to personify the joys and experiences common to all parents and to celebrate the bond between
children and their parents.
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