Homemade is perfect with Kidcards!

Since starting Berrie Sweet Picks, I've had the wonderful opportunity to come across a variety of incredible products for children. Sometimes, though, I'm just floored with the ingenuity of a particular product. There are a few stars that shine a little brighter in my opinion, and this little gem is definitely one of them.

I was recently provided with a set of KidCards, which of course, were invented by a very smart Ohio mom named Melissa Mara. So what is it (aside from super awesome?) KidCards are the very reason I'm no longer buying my Thank you cards, birthday cards, or even Christmas cards in the pharmacy Hallmark section anymore. Sure, it might take me 30 minutes to choose "just the right" card for the recipient, but anything I buy in the store is going to pale in comparison to the creative genius that Buttercup throws into coloring a card instead.

Sure, the item description says that the younger card set is recommended for ages three and up, but my two-year-old LOVES to color, and I see no problem with sitting by her and her art supplies while her face lights up at the chance to "make a pretty" for a loved one.

Recently, a friend of ours was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and my first instinct was to run out to the store and buy a "Thinking of You" card. With keys in hand, I was ready to run out the door. But then I remembered the KidCards, and turned right around and walked back into the kitchen. Buttercup had a chance to get creative, and our friend was ever-so-thankful when he called to let us know that he had received Buttercup's artwork in the mail.

It's really a great idea. For about $18, you get a spiral-bound notebook with pre-drawn greeting cards. All your little artist needs to do is grab their markers, crayons, or paint set and go to town.

What's really smart is the included envelope set, making it super easy to stick a stamp on it and throw it in the mail box!

Take a look and seriously order a set! Your kids will love it and so will each and every person you receives one of these sweet cards in the mail.

For more information visit www.kidcards.org or call the company at 216-570-5019

Happy feet and happy memories

Since they showed up in the mail, Buttercup has officially decided that her new Nowali Mocassins are her new favorite article of clothing. Forget the other million pairs of shoes and sandals and slippers she owns. Oh no. This little girl has an opinion and when I say it's time for "zapatos" (which is spanish for "shoes") she stomps her little feet and says, "No, mama! Socks!"

So far, I have succeeded in convincing her that her Nowali's are for indoors only, thank heavens! She wears them everywehere but the bath tub, and I'm loving the idea of a flexible, non-skid sole, mocassin that stays on and allows her to toddle about our two-story home (including the stairs!) without having to worry about her losing her footing while asserting her independence.

My mother's first comment when we opened the Nowali's was, "I remember when you kids had these!" And sure enough, so do I. These tried-and-true Swedish favorites have been around since 1950. And it's no wonder! They're fun, practical, and have been known to be outgrown before being worn out!

We received the Pink Confetti for Buttercup's ever-growing feet, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Nowali Mocassins fit fantastically with plenty of room to spare!

And as those of you who check back here often already know, I'm a big fan of products free of harmful chemicals, especially for my little girl. So it's nice to know that yarns and foxings used in Nowali mocassins comply with the Öko-Tex Standard 100, an "eco" standard which simply means that they contain no harmful dyes or substances.

I can't wait for the Fall/Winter collection to make its debut in early July! I've already been taking a peek trying to decide which pair to buy for Buttercup and her cousins so I can put them away for Christmas presents!

To sneek a peek at the new collection and take advantage of the sizing chart (complete with US and Euro sizes, ages, and heel-to-toe measurements) click here. (How else are you going to know which size and design to request if you win the contest I'm about to mention!)

Nowali is offering one of my readers the opportunity to select a pair of mocassins in their style and size of choice. To enter, click on this link and then stop on back here with a comment on your favorite style.

If you are on twitter, simply leave me your twitter ID with your comment so that I can notify you if you are selected the winner. Otherwise, make sure to include your email so I can contact you. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, on May 27, 2009 and winners have four days to respond or an alternate will be selected. You must be 18 years or older to enter.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* Become a fan of Berrie Sweet Picks on Facebook
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest by saying "Nowali mocassin giveaway at Berrie Sweet Picks! Which would you choose if you won?"
* Vlog about the contest and post at www.newbaby.com!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address (or a valid Twitter ID) to be considered for the drawing!

Oh, and I can't forget to mention the super sweet discount code, HAPPYFEET, which gets you 10 percent off orders of $40 or more, PLUS free shipping! Happy shopping!

Peekaru! I see you!

Before I begin this review, I'd like to thank Parenting By Nature for their patience in getting this one up! You all know I've been trying to recover from my recent cross-country move, and this particular review item was one I had to hunt for once I arrived in Arizona thanks to the movers mistakingly packing it up just a few days after I received it.

Now, it might seem out of season at this point, but trust me...it isn't. Parenting By Nature sent me and Buttercup the Peekaru Vest to try out, and we couldn't be happier with the product. Sure, I'm dealing with 100 degree weather right now, but I know for a fact that there are plenty of other states (like Michigan!) where Moms and their babies would get tons of year-round use for chilly evening walks and early morning outings.

The Peekaru is defintely one of the coolest and sweetest products I have had a chance to try out. It's a definite must-have for any baby-wearing parent, allowing you to keep you AND your child warmer without the hastle of trying to work around traditional jackets or extra blankets. Made from 85 percent Malden fleece, the Peekaru is also an eco-conscious parent's dream. Each 150 Peekaru's made save about a barrel of oil, with about 25 two-liter plastic bottles used to create each one. And what can be better than a product made in the USA under fair labor conditions supporting work-at-home moms?

I tried the Peekaru out with Buttercup hanging out in her Ergo, both front and back facing, and we both loved it. We also gave it a shot in her Baby K'tan, and were equally pleased. There's plenty of room under the vest for me to add a jacket for when it gets cooler, and with Buttercup at 27 pounds, I have no doubt this vest will last me as long as the Ergo!

The Peekaru comes in a variety of colors to suit your taste, and fit wonderfully. This is definitely one item I will be packing for family visits in Michigan!

Also check out Parenting by Nature for their great selection of cloth diapers, baby carriers and slings, and gift services, and more. It's the perfect online one-stop shopping destination for parents. And the site os mom-owned and operated!

Thanks to Parenting By Nature, I have one Peekaru Vest in choice of size and color for one lucky reader up for grabs. To enter, please visit their site and leave me a comment telling me what other item you'd love to see reviewed on Berrie Sweet Picks! Make sure to include your email so I can contact you if you are selected the winner. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, on May 13, 2009. Please note that the contest is limited to the United States and Canada, only.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* Become a fan of Berrie Sweet Picks on Facebook
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest and leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!
* Vlog about the contest and post at www.newbaby.com!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Berrie's Travel Must-Haves: gogo Kidz Travelmate

I've been doing a lot of traveling lately, and most of it has been solo trips on planes. (And by solo, I of course, mean me, Buttercup, her Britax car seat, one big suitcase, my purse, her diaper bag, and a carry-on for each of us. Trust me on this...it wasn't pretty.)

According to airline regulations, I didn't need to bring the mammoth car seat with me with Buttercup still under two years of age. And if I had traveled with her as a lap child, it would have saved me the cost of her ticket and a whole lot of frustration manuvering all that shhhhtuff on and off the plane on my own. But I did my research (as usual) and made my own decision, based on safety factors, to buy Buttercup a ticket.

So how was I going to handle it all?

Two items, one previously reviewed on my blog, saved my sanity on the three trips I took with Buttercup in the last few months. One is the ergo, which allowed me to get on and off the plane with Buttercup on my back as I manuevered everything else with my (thankfully free) hands.

The other item is one I had laughed at before actually having to put it into practice. The gogo Kidz Travelmate is now defintely at the top of my travel must-have list and should be at the top of yours, too! Why? Let me count the ways:

1) It's a little tricky to put together but it is not impossible, and with a little patience you'll have yourself a sweet little contraption that will enable you to turn your bulky car seat into a wheeled stroller for easy airport manuevering.

2) Two screws secure a variety of car seats to the gogo Kidz TravelMate (check the website to see if yours is compatible) and make it a cinch to set up and take apart when necessary. We did a test run in the house the night before our first trip and then placed the Travelmate in the back of the mini van with our suitcases. When we arrived, it took a minute (because the screws are LONG) to reassemble, and then we were on our way.

3)The Travelmate busts open the options door for handling a load of luggage and a toddler, especially if doing so alone. Either pop the kid in the ergo like I did and use the Travelmate to cart your carry-ons from security to the gate or use the Travelmate for its intended use and buckle the kid in and make it a fun ride in their new "stroller." (I went with option number two when I had an extra set of hands on one of my trips. Buttercup loved it.)

4) Once it's time to board, you can either undo the whole set up(Check out the website though for details on a new quick release feature I would have LOVED) and store the Travelmate, or do as I did and just slide the handle down before buckling the car seat in as is. Doing so does push the car seat up just a bit and reduces leg room (and the possibility of a toddler kicking the seat in front of them) but it worked for us just fine.

5) The Travelmate weighs just five pounds and is worth every ounce in gold. Not only did i keep me from going any crazier than I already am, it saved me the cost of having to rent a car seat when I got to where I was going while granting me the security of allowing my baby to fly safely.

Expert nap tips from parenting expert Elizabeth Pantley

Did you know that studies have proven healthy sleep habits for your child now can directly impact their health for the rest of their lives? Or that a child not wanting a nap and not needing a nap are not one in the same?

But let's get real: While our intentions may be great, real life doesn't always allow for step-by-step approaches to getting our kids the daytime rest they need (and the sorely needed breaks we get while they nap!). Crabby kids, relatives popping in unannounced right before nap time, teething, upset bellies, that doctor appointment you can't miss, that 15 minute car nap that ruined little Johnny's afternoon siesta that led to an even more difficult bed time fight because he was so overtired...we've all been there, done that, and were all ready to pull out hair out by the end of the day.

Best-selling author and parenting expert Elizabeth Pantley recently shared with me her newest book, The No-Cry Nap Solution: Guaranteed Gentle Ways to Solve All Your Naptime Problems (Pantley), and I can't recommend this book enough.

There's a lot of great information in this book for parents of newborns through toddlerhood, and I made plenty of notes while I read. And there was also plenty of information that did not apply to our situation, some of which I skipped entirely and some of which I just skimmed (because I do plan on having another baby eventually!). But that is what is so great about Pantley's book: it's not a one-size-fit-all solution. Whether you co-sleep, nurse-to-sleep, stick to a by-the-clock schedule, or fly by the seat of your pants (like I do), you and your nap-fighting child will benefit greatly from the little bit of time it will take to sit down and read!

A few very important lessons I learned while reading Pantley's book included:

* Buttercup needs 12 hours of sleep a night and 1 to 2 hours of nap time per day for 13 to 14 hours of sleep total. Oops! I had been cutting her short by about 2 hours. We have been working on remedying that situation and I am already noticing improvements.

* Night time sleep can help make up for naps but naps cannot make up for night time sleep.

* No matter what ANYONE tells you, newborns cannot be spoiled. So baby-wear, cuddle, and hug to your hearts content.

* I am not the worst mother in the world.

* What works for us is fine. A parenting expert says so. So if Buttercup and I are happy with our she-holds-my-hand-until-she -falls-asleep-for-every-nap-and-bedtime situation, then so be it. It doesn't mean I am spoiling her and it doesn' mean I did something wrong. It just means that this is what is right for us. (I'm not sure why I needed an expert to tell me this to make me feel better, but thank you, Elizabeth. You don't know how much better this makes me feel.

I should also point out that I actually read the book. As in cover to cover. And that is a big flippin' deal because I haven't read a book since before I gave birth. This one mattered. And I think you'll agree.

Elizabeth Pantley's The No-Cry Nap Solution: Guaranteed Gentle Ways to Solve All Your Naptime Problems (Pantley) is available at Amazon.com.

One sweet music player for your little pea

Funny story: Once upon a time a mommy-to-be had her own 30 gig iPod and was happy. But once the baby came, the little princess took over the iPod in the nursery for nightime lullabies on the mommy's iHome2go.

For months, the mommy left the iPod in the little princess's room for naps and bedtime on the appropriate "Buttercup's lullabies" playlist. Although the little princess loved her sleepy-time tunes, the mommy was REALLY missing her iPod.
That's when she discovered the SweetPea3 mp3 player for kids. And the mommy rejoiced.

This award-winning little baby is seriously AWESOME! The Sweetpea Toy Company was kind enough to send one for Buttercup to try out for our trips to see her daddy who is working out of state, and I can already promise my future unborn children that I will by each of them a sweetpea3 of their own because it is that cool.

The sweetpea3 itself is the brain-child of a small Canadian start-up designed for kids ages 0-6. Yep, you read that right. But before you freak out, no one is talking about sticking nickel-sized headphones into your little prince's or princess's ears. Instead, the player is designed to play with our without headphones, and has a jack for older kids to listen to their chosen tunes in peace. The littlest music lovers can enjoy naptime lullabies in their nurseries with the sweetpea3 shushing them to dreamland while perched safely on a dresser or shelf.

The design itself is pretty smart. It's small enough to throw in a diaper bag for happier car rides and made of a durable enough rubber that it survived Buttercup's baptismal spike onto the floor from a shopping cart the day we got it. Add the fact that it's easy for little hands to carry around and it's one smart kiddie mp3.

Other bonuses are the easy-to-use kiddie controls with three buttons which allow kids to go forward, backward, or stop a song. Hidden parental controls allow for saavy parents to set the volume, play time (you can have it auto shut off after a few minutes or let it play for a few hours), select the playlist (you have three you can choose from to easily separate boisturous play time music from gentle night lullabies), and set the volume to your desired level.

The Sweetpea3 holds up to 16 hours of music and easy to get going with the included USB chord. You can load it up with mp3 and WMA files, but save yourself the trouble of even trying to get any of your iTunes music on this little player. It won't work. Ninety percent of my iTunes playlist is from my own personal CD collection, including Buttercup's tunes, and I wasted a good chunk of time trying to load it with music it basically just rejected.

This really is my only major complaint as I have about 5 gig of music for Buttercup on the iPod that I have no chance of letting her listen to on the Sweetpea3.
And as far as complaints go, I also have one minor one: Buttercup listens to the Sweetpea3 all day long and no battery can outlast her. And when you add in the 8 hours of uninterrupted nighttime serenades, we use up AA batteries pretty quickly. The Sweetpea3's $60 price tag would be much more attractive to me if it included the AC adapter, which currently sells as an optional accessory for $10.

If you are looking at purchasing this for your child for plane trips, keep in mind that unless your child is old enough for safe headphone use, you will only be able to use the sweetpea3 while waiting to board the plane. But it's a great buy for long car rides and even longer layovers in boring airports.

All in all, I think this is a great option for mjusic-loving kiddos and parents wishing to reclaim their own prized electronics. You can get your own sweetpea3 from the Sweetpea Toy Company.

***Post edited on March 3 to include a message from the Sweetpea Toy company***

Hi Pauline,

Thanks for the review.

FYI, you can use iTunes to copy your CD collection but first you have to change the setting from AAC format to MP3 format (see http://sweetpeatoyco.com/SupportTroubleshooting.cfm#6 for details). Also, 40 hours on one AA battery is exceptionally good. I get many comments about how long the battery lasts. About 1/3 of customers purchase the adapter. Separating the adapter from the package allows me to lower the price for 2/3 of my customers who don't actually want or need the adapter.

I'm pleased to offer you a promotional code that you can distribute to your readers. They enter the code on the order page of my website and it knocks $10 off the purchase price of a SweetPea3. It would be wonderful if you could let your readers know. Your promo code is 24WWW.

Thanks so much,
Dan Lemay
SweetPea Toy Company Ltd.

Pretty in Pink!

I love me some boon and I know you do, too!

And do I have a boon for you! I'm sure you are aware that the boon Flair High Chair is now available in a sweet pink design from Amazon for the little princess in your life.

Aside from the updated boost of color, all the flair that makes the Flair the rockin; high chair that it is are the same:
* a chemical resistant, waterproof pad that removes easily for cleaning
* a five-point harness
* a sturdy pedestal that slides easily under tables without scratching floors (and makes it look just plain awesome)
* a pneumatic lift allowing for height adjustment
* and it's free of all that bad stuff like BPA, Phthalatets and PVC. (And this is seriously the most important consideration, in my opinion.)

So you want one right? In pink and white? Or perhaps blue and white? Or would you prefer the boon signature orange and white?

You tell me...Boon is generously offering one lucky reader a Flair High Chair in the color of their choice to celebrate the new Pretty in Pink chair now available.

To enter, just leave me a comment telling me what color your would prefer if you won!

Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, March 3, 2009 and the winner will have four business days from the announcement date to contact me with their information or an alternate will be selected.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* Become a fan of boon on Facebook
* Become a fan of Berrie Sweet Picks on Facebook
* If you are already a facebook fan of either group, let me know in a comment on my fans page for your extra entry for this contest.
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Follow boon on twitter (Nickname: booninc)
* Tweet the contest leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

What a boon! We got a potty bench!

Boon is offering one of my winners the chance to win a Boon Potty Bench
for themselves! To enter, visit the boon web site and leave a comment telling me which item you are most interested in seeing reviewed next. (Get an automatic extra entry if you mention a boon item I have not yet reviewed!)

Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, Jan. 31, 2009 and the winner will have four business days from the announcement date to contact me with their information or an alternate will be selected.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* Become a fan of boon on Facebook
* Become a fan of Berrie Sweet Picks on Facebook
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Follow boon on twitter (Nickname: booninc)
* Tweet the contest leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

My Little Seat: My Newest Travel Must-Have

Who knew that planning a vacation with a toddler would be so tough? I'm getting ready to see my hubby for the first time in over a month (he's currently working in another state) and Buttercup is coming along for the plane ride and long weekend. This, of course, means extra planning and extra creativity to stretch our packing experience to the maximum, what with all the restrictions placed on what we can bring with us. So I decided to contact various businesses in a search for what I call "Travel Must Haves" for parents.

One item I came across is My Little Seat, an ingenious travel high chair sling that allows parents to turn any chair into a high chair for your child. And it's so small and easy to pack! Check out my vlog review, which I also posted at NewBaby!



I love this thing and highly recommend it to anyone interested in an easily portable high chair that takes up next to no space at all in a diaper bag carry-on! It's also a great idea for saving space, and money, in your own home or just a simple trip to a friend's house who doesn't have kids. You can get your own My Little Seat here or at Amazon.com.

Don't pack up the summer dresses! Just add Skid Pants!

Buttercup and I absolutely love our skid pants from Honeychunks! It's a great accessory to pair with a summer dress or a pair of shorts for a cute and practrical winter outfit!

Get Excited about Books!

Everyone is asking me what to get buttercup for Christmas and I have two set answers: Clothes and books.

"Okay," said one of my sisters. "What books do you want for her?

Well, I wasn't expecting to have to provide specific answers, so I pointed my sister to Excite Books and told her she could buy Buttercup a monthly membership. I'll have to wait until Christmas morning to find out if she took my advice, and can honestly say that I am really hoping she did.

So what's Excite Books? It's the brainchild of a pilot-turned-business man that combines the thrill kids get out of mail addressed just to them with the love of reading a new set of books each and every month. You sign up for one, two, or three age-appropriate books to be shipped to your door each month, and then when your kids tire of the books or their interests just change, the books can be donated to a needy library with Excite Books pre-addressed and pre-paid envelopes! Donate some or all of the books, or keep them if you wish--the point is to spread and keep the love of reading alive in our children.


Talk about a win-win situation (and a gift you can really feel good about giving for Christmas!)

Monthly prices are $4.99 for one book, $9.99 for two, and $15.99 for three and shipping and handling is $4.95 no matter what package you decide on.


Buttercup is too young to know what who Blake Michael, the 11-yr-old host of Cartoon Network's Fried Dynamite is, but older children will certainly relate to Excite Books celebrity spokeskid! He appears on the Excite Books site wearing a large exclamation point to signify the excitement of reading books.


The Excite Books introductory package offers 3 excite books, 1 educational activity, and 8 free gifts. And except for the $4.95 shipping, it's all free! You can choose a package for infants to teens, plus puzzle and cookbooks for all ages. And you can chart your child's reading progress with Excite Books reading completion stickers in their own Reading Progress Calendar!


Buttercup is an avid little reader, so this is all perfect for her and a great way for me to keep her busy and stimulated. We got to try out the toddler introductory package, and Buttercup received a matching items book, a bath-time book, and a book with the characters from Monsters Inc.


Her favorite right now, of course, is the bath-time book. Check out how the book is already helping her grasp the concept of colors!

So...anyone else wants to get their kids excited about reading? Excite Books is offering one of my lucky readers the chance at an introductory package with three free books in the age-group of your choice plus the eight free gifts!

To enter, visit Excite Books and leave me a berrie telling me what you think about the program. why you think Your entry also must include the age group you'd like your prize to be for, if your comment is selected the winner. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, December 13 and the winner will have four business days from the announcement date to contact me with their information or an alternate will be selected. US entries only, please.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:

* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Joobles...the Fairest of them all

Joobles.

Just the word itself makes me giggle like a little kid.

But the story behind it makes me one proud momma knowing that Buttercup is cuddling with a 100 percent organic knit-toy whose purchase benefits fair trade.

The founders of Fair Indigo have a new line of soft and squeezable pals for your little ones-just in time for the holidays! Meet Mel the Monkey (Buttercup already did. You can see our vlog below!) and his sweet little playmates, all of which are handcrafted in Peru where artisans have hand crafted a menagerie of stuffed animals under fair trade conditions. The company tagline-Responsible, Sustainable, Adorable-is proven time and time again in the environmentally-friendly dyes and organic cotton grown right in Peru!

And if that isn't enough to warm your little green heart, the Joobles are made with cotton grown free of pesticides, insecticidess, herbicides, fertilizers, or other harmful chemicals; workers are paid fair wages; and free breakfasts and school supplies are donated to workers' children!

I mean, really, did you ever imagine that one toy could make such a difference in the lives of so many?

And as I look around our house, I see exactly what I promised myself would not happen: Too much junk. Too many overpriced and forgotten toys and stuffed animals I will gladly give away to charity when the time comes.

But sweet little Mel the Monkey here with his friendly little heart-shaped face and adorable blue limbs and tail? Oh no,...he's staying for as long as I can help it. And I hope to explain to Buttercup why he's so important when she gets old enough to understand.

Joobles retail for $29 each and can be found online at Fair Indigo or at Oompa Toys.

(You can stop holding your breath now because we do have a contest!)

To enter, visit Fair Indigo and click on the Fair Trade button (look for it-it is there!). Your entry will consist of leaving me a comment about what you have learned about the concept and why it is so important to patronize businesses who practice it. You must also include your first and second choice Jooble in your entry for it to be considered valid. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, December 10 and the winner will have four business days from the announcement date to contact me with their information or analternate will be selected. US entries only, please.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest using the term "fair trade" leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

See Buttercup fall in love with Kai

I love shoes. And I have a major addiction to baby shoes.

Seriously, Buttercup has had more shoes in her short life than I probably have purchase in the last 10 years! And while I was totally devoted to a certain brand who shall remain nameless until a short while ago, I am now a total convert to the See Kai Run line of shoes for little feet.

These shoes really are the cutest, most modern, most flexible, and highest quality I have come by in my 18 months of devoted research. And it certainly helps that I love the story of Mom Creates Hip Namesake to Meet Needs Even Hipper Son. Just two years after getting the company up and running, See Kai Run was a hit in children's boutiques across the country and continues to win over parents and tots alike when they try them for themselves.

I hate spending full price on anything clothing-wise for Buttercup, and many of her clothes are hand-me-downs or bargain-basement specials. But I won't skimp on her shoes. It's too important to me to ensure her little feet are given the flexibility essential right now, and See Kai Run shoes are honestly so easy to flex I can bend the shoe in half with one hand without any effort at all! the soles, which are made from an extremely flexible rubber, are perfect for outdoor use allowing for little feet to flex in all the right places, and Buttercup loves the easy on velcro-straps.

For our review, Buttercup and I got to try the beaut-ee-us Elaine Mary Janes ($40), which are absolutely adorable with their mismatched line of silver stars on each shoe. These are perfect for the holidays, and go with everything.

I've had them since October, and so far have used them for family pictures in early November and then again on Thanksgiving. Buttercup will wear them again for Christmas, and then all bets are off and she can use them anytime her little heart desires.

We also got to take a look at the new Smaller line of soft-soled booties made specifically for babies 0-18 months. The Mazi style ($32)arrived on our doorstep and was a perfect choice for my nine-month old nephew, and will fit him for quite a while. My sister loves that her little man has a kickin' pair of shoes with a major dash of style and I love that little Aiden's feet are just as flexible as if he wasn't wearing a thing!

And perhaps my favorite feature of all the See Kai Run shoes is the butter-soft leather used in their design. It looks classy, expensive even, and yet they are priced no higher than many of their competitors who use lesser materials.

Bottom line? I heart See Kai Run. And I know you will, too.

Thanks to my new fave shoe company, I've got a great contest for two winners to win ONE PAIR each of either the regular See Kai Run line and the Smaller line. And it['s winners choice on style and size! To enter, visit See Kai Run and leave me a berrie (read: comment) telling me what style and size you would prefer if selected a winner. And remember, this is a two-in-one contest for one winner each for the two styles I just reviewed! Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, on December 8 and will ONLY be considered if they include a valid email address. Winner has 4 days to contact me after the announcement has been made, and please-U.S. entries only.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest and leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

(Oh, and PLEASE forgive the awkward positioning of the photos above. Blogger would not cooperare with me today and I was running out of patience. :-)

Smart-e-Bear and pals are perfect for Christmas!

We love the UPS man over here, and his latest delivery is now one of Buttercup's all-time favorite toys. And for those of you with kids ages 2 and up, take me advice and keep reading. You won't be disappointed.

Let me start with the fact that I love my iPod. But since Buttercup has come along, it has kind of been taken over by her playtime and bedtime play lists. I don't even remember the last time I downloaded anything that wasn't made just for kids! And like any kid, Buttercup also loves stuffed animals. The bigger and softer to cuddle with, the better.

So what does that have to do with anything, you ask? Well, what if I told you there was a great new kid's product that basically combined the best of the iPod world with the best of stuffed animals (and got mommy her iPod back?)? That's where Smart-e-Bear (and his friends Smart-e-Cat and Smart-e-Dog) come into the picture.

This award-winning, technology-friendly from Intellitoys is amazing, and I highly recommend one for any savvy kiddos. Moms (and Dads) just connect the Smart-e-Bear and friends to your computer, click for uploading your choice of "playdate" and then hand over for fun and cuddling!

Smart-e-Bear and friends are designed for non-reading 2-6 year-olds, and I really can see the appeal. First of all, you can actually set up your Smart-e-pal of choice to greet your child BY NAME when you turn him on for playtime. I was shocked beyond belief to see my daughter's real name in the selection, and Buttercup just cracks up with a big ol' smile every time her Smart-e-Dog says "Hola!" and invites her to play in Spanish! (also a very appreciated option for this bilingual mommy blogger!)

Her faves? Singing along to "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes," and bopping along to "Five Little Monkeys." She's also enjoying playing games, hearing stories, and interacting with her super smart dog! And the best thing is that Buttercup's interests change, I only have to hook back up with the USB and change up her listening options, guaranteeing that this is a toy that will truly grow with her.

Check out our vlog of Buttercup and Daddy playing with her new Smart-e-Dog:

Smart-e-Bear and friends retail for $79.99 and are available at Toys R Us, Target, and Amazon, as well as specialty toy stores. stores. But before you go out and buy one, why not try to win one here?

I am so happy to offer my readers the chance at one Smart-e-pal of choice! To enter, click here and then click "Learn More" to take a tour that explains Smart-e-Bear, and then leave me a berrie (read: comment) telling me what feature interests you most. You also can enter by checking out the "Musical Artists, Games, and Stories" section and telling me what you'd download if you had Smart-e-Bear home right now. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, on December 8 and will ONLY be considered if they include a valid email address. Winner has 4 days to contact me after the announcement has been made, and please-U.S. entries only.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:

* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.

* Blog about contest and link to this post.

* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!

* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!

* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)

* Tweet the contest and leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

With boon, at least the plate Stays Put!

Check out this great new toddler plate from boon! This mod little saucer is the Stay Put Divided Plate, and Buttercup and I love it. Check out our vlog review!



The Saucer has a nifty little edgeless design which prevents the kiddos from throwin it lifting it off the table. And the slip-resistant base keeps it in place. Add the fact that the divided sections keep foods separared for picky little Buttercups toddlers, and we've got another winner from boon.

And at just $5.99, I'm buying tree more so I can keep one at my mom's and mother-in-laws, and so I can always have one clean here at home. So who wants one? Boon is giving one lucky winner the chance at one of these babies, and I am more than happy to help get it in your hands.

To enter the contest, just visit the boon site and let me know which product you want reviewed here next (and offered up for a contest, of course.!) Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, on Dec. 5 and the winner has four days from the announcement date to contact me with their information, or alternate winners will be drawn. U.S. and Canada entries only, please.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest and leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"! Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Rockin' the 80's look

They're cute. They're funky. And their good from baby all the way up to about eight-years-old.

Welcome to the height of functional fashion in baby care with the totally cool Skid Pants by Dittany Baby, available at The Cocoa Monkey online boutique.

Think Olivia Newton-John and those oh-so-funky leg-warmers, only imagine them on your baby's chubby little legs or on your 6 year-old's arms to help add a layer of warmth (and fashion) for the colder months. Or just match it up with a cute onsie like I did when Buttercup was seven months old and you've got yourself a complete outfit!

Other creative uses include protection for baby's sensitive knees as they learn to crawl and walk. And they are great for keeping little legs (and arms) warm when baby is in the sling or stroller. Still not sure if you want to try a pair? Just put a pair of your baby's tights on with a cute dress and try to change the diaper. Not fun. See where I'm going with this?

Oh, and I can't forget to mention the plus for baby-wearing mommas like me. Any time you place your kiddo in the sling you end up with pants, dresses, and skirts riding up, right? That leads to chilly baby legs, right? Not so if you've got a pair of Skid Pants on for back up!

These little cuties make diaper change a breeze! Solids and patterns are available for boys, girls, and in neutral options, as well. But don't wait! These little cuties are currently on sale for $9.99 per pair.

Say it with me now: MUFF-ah-TEES

Since the moment she was born, Buttercup has soothed herself by sucking on her two middle fingers on her right hand. So cute. So sweet. And a major pain in the duff when it came to trying to keep her hands warm last winter.

Mittens and gloves were out or all hell would break loose the moment she got a mouthful of fuzzy material instead of her teeny little fingers. So when I got a pair of Muffatees(MUFF-ah-TEES) from Go Baby for her to try this year, I was beyond ecstatic.

Muffatees are ultra-soft fingerless gloves made of luxurious baby alpaca wool and are designed to cover the gap between your jacket sleeves and the tops of your gloves or mittens. And on the not-so-cold days, they are perfect to wear alone.

I love these things. They are cute. They are warm. They are oh-so-practical. And they have the most adorable sounding name, to boot! That, and who can argue with a product hand-knit in Peru by a women's collective?

Go Baby offers muffattees in toddlers, children's, and women's sizes, and I was lucky enough to get a pair to try for myself. Buttercup and I donned our new matching gear at a recent outdoor family party that went far into the evening, and I pretty much fell in love. Oh, and Buttercup approves. When she got sleepy and her fingers went into her mouth, her hands and wrists stayed warm while she got cozy and fell asleep in the baby carrier.

Heaven!

Go Baby also has matching hats and scarves in toddler and children's sizes and Buttercup looked freaking adorable in her little get-up.



The whole line is great with fun prints and beautiful details. Who wouldn't want to keep their little ones warm in this stuff? I know, I know...you've already got the credit card out so you can order. And that's cool, but why not try to win a Mommy and Me set first? Go Baby has generously offered one lucky winner the chance to walk away with a set of muffatees for mom and a hat, scarf, and muffatees set for her child!

So who wants to win a Mommy and Me Muffatees set in Green stripe? One lucky winner will get a set of muffatees, a scarf, and a hat for their child and a pair of muffatees for themselves! To enter, visit the Go Baby site and leave me a berrie (read: comment telling me what pattern of muffatees is your favorite. Contest ends at midnight, EST, on November 10 and is open to US and Canada only. The Winner will have four days from the announcement date to contact me or a new winner will be selected.

As always, extra entries will be available for those who:

* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest and leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

And that's it! Good luck to everyone who enters.

Away in a manger...

It's November 1, the day after Halloween, and the official start of the crazed Holiday season. Gone is the boring old elevator music piped into the malls. It's been replaced with endless rendtitions of "Jingle Bells" and enough Old Navy jingles to drive a sane woman off the deep end.

But amidst all the hustle and bustle remains a solid core of treasured memories of childhood Christmases with tons of presents and lots of laughter.

My four sisters and I may have been spoiled rotten, but we were spoiled with a true sense of respect for what the holiday actually stands for.

My family has always begun our Christmas celebrations on the eve of the holiday with a family dinner and then a round of birthday cake for me, my sister, and my cousin (all with birthdays swallowed up in the days before and after Christmas). Then it was hours of movie-watching, hide-and-seek, naps, and getting ready for the passing out of gifts at when the clock struck twelve.


The piles of presents spilling out from under the tree may have called to us, but thanks to a strong family faith instilled into each one of us by my parents and our large enxtended family all scrunched into the same room, we knew that Christmas was really about baby Jesus. And because it was his birthday we we all celebrating, his delicate little body had to be placed in the manger to signify his birth.

Then a prayer was said. And the gift giving would begin.

As the oldest, I was lucky enough to be allowed to handle my Tia and Tio's (aunt and uncle's) delicate Nativity set which they had brought with them from Mexico. And I cherish my own set, which was also brought back for me on one of their recent vacations.

And while it is important to me to teach the same respect for the holiday to Buttercup, you can bet she isn't touching my breakable nativity set for years and years and, well, years!


This is why I was so thrilled to review the Deluxe Nativity Set from Leaps and Bounds. It's gorgeous and definite heirloom quality, but I won't be having heart palpitions each time Buttercup gets into a 20 foot range of it.

It's all made of wood, so there's no screaming "Don't Touch!" And I can breathe easy while I pass my own family traditions on and create a new set of memories for Buttercup. With this set, she can play and learn the Christmas story, and I couldn't be happier!

The Deluxe Nativity set comes in a keepsake wooden storage box either personalized for $44.95 or plain for $39.95. Seriously, people, just grab your credit cards and buy it! It is that beautiful!

You really have a week to think about it, since that is how long the contest is going for! One lucky readers gets to walk away with her own Deluxe Nativity set! To enter, just visit the Leaps and Bounds site and leave me a berrie (read: comment) telling me what other item you'd love to see reviewed on my blog. Comments will be accepted until midnight, EST, Nov. 8 and the winner will have four days from the announcement date to contact me or an alternate winner will be selected.

As always, extra entries will be available for those who:

* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest. To be eligible, you must use "Berrie Sweet Picks" in your tweet and leave me a comment.

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Snug as a bug for Halloween

It doesn't matter where you live: Fall means colder weather for everyone. And winter in the Midwest means it's pretty much time to pull out the parkas.

I distinctly remember everyone telling me that I would need one of those little snow-bunting thingies for Buttercup to get us through the winter. After all, if I was bundled up from head to toe (thanks to said parka) then she should be, too, right?

Well, yes...and no.

See, I do the baby-wearing thing and with all of the no-fuss that I love about not having to worry about a stroller when I can just pop her in and out of my carriers, I really didn't want to make life harder by involving a bunting that I was going to have to put on and take off each time I got her in or out of my carrier.

That, and I really am not a patient person. So I was not interested in spending 20 minutes bundling her up to have to just reverse the whole process five minutes later when we arrived at our destination.

And heck-before we even get to the snowy stuff, what was I going to do on Halloween? She was only 4 months old for her first one and I got the most adorable tu-tu for her to wear, so did I really want to cover that up with a bulky coat?

Of course not!

And of course, that's wear my Snugabug Warmsie same in. This little cutie takes the place of the standard onsie for the colder months, wicking away moisture and keeping baby warm with a comfortable thermal base layer of 100 percent TempRite polyester. The $36 price covers the Warmsie onsie and pants, made of a solid body and cute (and practical)contrasting ankle and wrist bands to keep the warmth in. Best of all, the roomy seat was made with Baby's diaper in mind (and you all know that Buttercup wears cloth!)

But don't stop reading if your kids are past toddlerhood. Snugabug just expanded their product line to include the Snugz sizes from 3-10. They have also introduced their White Warmth line, a basic choice in white, perfect for layering under anything, anytime. Prices range from $30 for an infant toddler set to $22-$24 for individual kids' pieces.

This is definitely one product I highly recommend for parka-free trick-or-treating, and every other fave outdoor activity from trips to the apple orchard to building snow men.

Little girls, ballerinas, and fairies...Oh My!

Okay, if you aren't new here, you already known that Buttercup loves music and is just learning how to bop to the music. She's almost 16 months, and I would bet my life that music is going to be a BIG part of hers when she is older.

I was a little skeptical of the Prima Princessa presents Swan Lake DVD that was sent to me, only because I wasn't sure if it was going to actually hold Buttercup's attention. But then I popped it in, and just because I wanted to amuse myself I also put a tutu on her, and we sat down to learn about Swan Lake.

Prima Princessa is a fairy ballerina (the best kind, right?) who transports a group of pre-school girls to see Swan Lake, as performed by the Paris Opera Ballet. Not only does Prima Princessa narrate the story, she also magically transports the girls back home in between acts so they can dress up in their own tutus and learn simple ballet steps. What you see is really a group of little girls having a lot of fun pretending, but that's really the point, isn't it?

First, let me tell you that the moms behind this little number are absolute geniuses! The DVD was created to help introduce 2-6 yr olds to the world of Ballet in a fun and educational way, and they hit their mark. The bonus is that by watching it with Buttercup, now I actually understand what's going on!

I love ballet, mind you, but I was about as educated on the difference between a plie and a jette as I was on the difference between Odelle and Odette! Now that I know, it all makes a whole lot more sense.

Now, Buttercup is younger than the recommended age, but she did dance to the music and always stopped what she was doing to see the little girls practicing the steps they learned while giggling like crazy. I can see already that this DVD is going to have a very long lifespan in out house and am looking forward to watching this single DVD blossom into a very successful series.

Prima Princessa presents Swan Lake is available here at Amazon.com for $17.99. But if you'd like to try to win your own copy first, just visit the Prima Princessa site or its Amazon page and leave me a comment telling me why you think this DVD would be perfect for your little fairy ballerina!

Extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about the contest and link to the giveaway.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my button and place it on your sidebar, linking to Berrie Sweet Picks. (I'll check!)
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* You also can earn 1 extra entry per $1 donated FOR THIS CONTEST ONLY to my DonorsChoose.org Blogger Challenge. Just click on the widget at the top right of my blog page and select the project you'd like to help sponsor and then leave me a comment telling me how much you donated.
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

I'll pick one name at midnight (EST) on October 16 and will email the winner to let them know they won! The winner has 4 days to respond, or an alternate will be chosen. Good luck!