The Jimmies rocked my House

I get requests to review kiddie music All. The. Time. But because the blog is called Berrie Sweet Picks and not Berrie Sucky Picks, I call my therapist after having endured the mind-numbing stuff I wouldn't force on my own child, let alone yours, and then wait patiently for something that doesn't suck to show up in my mail box.

And instead of having to try to figure out a nice way to tell a PR person and/or musician that I, um, didn't think their music was a "good fit" for my audience, I am instead trying to figure out how many times I can call The Jimmies "like, you know, totally cool" without sounding like a valley girl because they are just that good.

Here's the deal: We got to check out The Jimmies' brand-spankin' new DVD Trying Funny Stuff and their kickin' CD Make Your Own Someday. First off, the titles are catchy and fun. Second, I squealed a little too loudly when Buttercup asked for her new "Muskik Cho" to play again. Third, The Husband thinks they are "cool." And fourth, I get a lot of stuff for free and would more than gladly pay my own bucks to stock up Buttercup's musical collection with all things "Jimmies."

The group, fronted by mastermind and uber-cool Ashley Albert, is getting rave reviews from blogging parents who are as picky as I am and wining awards left and right. The collection features real songs that parents and kids will find themselves singing together, a 45-minute DVD that I may have liked more than Buttercup (and she liked it a LOT), a bonus live CD, and a "Film 101" behind-the-scenes documentary on how the videos were made.

And of course, there are always the lessons. It's kiddie stuff, so it's a given that they'd be part of the package. But it takes a genius to incorporate them in such a fun way that they kids don't realize they are actually learning. With the musical cherry on top of the proverbial sundae, The Jimmies are in the process of being immortalized in my Zune playlist and Buttercup's iTunes "Play Time" list. I can't do much about the DVD, since Buttercup thought it was so much fun she actually ran off with it and shoved it into her toy box so her toys and "Jimmies" could get to know each other.

And that my friends, is the highest compliment any two-year-old can bestow.

Fun with Charlie

Buttercup might be all about princesses and butterflies right now, but the girly-girl in her can't seem to resist the universal call of dinosaurs that seems to attract all kids from the age of two on up.

And while she may be too young to question how she got here or where the dinosaurs went, she is not too young to enjoy learning as she grows and having fun with both every day.

Enter Charlie's Playhouse: A super-smart company with the aim to provide children and educators with fun learning tools to help teach children about evolution. Buttercup and I were treated to the Giant Timeline Floormat ($49) which she fell in love with as soon as she realized her "Dinos!" were a primary focus. This illustrated, walk-on play mat is one smart toy. Kids ages 4-10 can sit and read it like a book, stand it up like a fort, and spread it across the living room floor for an 18 foot lesson spanning 600 million years!

The Giant Timeline Floormat is printed on enviromentally-friendly and durable synthetic paper, can be cleaned with a damp cloth, and is printed in the USA. What's not to love?

It's time to Potty!

You'll be seeing a lot of potty training related posts in the next litthe while since we are deep in the midst of Buttercup's PT University.

I've had a potty chair in the bathroom for almost a year now just so she could sit when she wanted and get used to it being there. I waited until she turned 2 to get busy after taking a minute to make sure she was showing signs of readiness.

One nifty little contraption is the Potty Watch from One Step Ahead. It's cheap (10 bucks!), cute (I got the pink one!), and makes it fun for kids with musical reminders for when it's time to try and potty. We set ours for every 30 minutes right now, and it's working a lot better than the battle of wills that ensues every time I asked if she wanted to try going potty. Just make sure to save the directions. I've had to refer to them a few times to refresh my memory on how to access the different modes available.

Need a time out from time outs? Try this!

You know I live me some boon inc., so it goes without saying I heart the Time out Pad from Keen Distribution.

I never imagined myself the Time Out type, but they work wonders for curbing Buttercup's bad behavior. All I do is pop her little butt on the Time Out Pad, set the timer, and walk away. The smart little pressure pad sets off an alarm if she gets up before she's supposed to, and rewards her with a happy little jingle when she waits out her whole Time Out.

I use the "one minute per child's age" rule, so Buttercup gets two minutes on the pad, and I get two minutes to have a shouting match in my head. When it's all over, we hug, she apologizes, and I'm ready to do the Mommy-thing again.

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

Want prime time summer fun? Try Prime Time toys!

Coming from Michigan, it's a whole new world here with Arizona summers. "Cool" is 90 degrees! So when I was asked to take a look at the new Prime Time Toys Water Toys, I had to say yes.

Prime Time offers four new styles for different age groups: The original Max Liquidator, the Critter Blaster, the Monster Blaster, and the Blaster Board, as well as a variety of other styles. After looking over the recommended age ranges, I decided to try out the Critter Blaster for some friends with older kids. J and G were more than happy to cool off in the name of a good product review, and their mom Jill reports that the Critter Blasters are a perfect way to burn off some energy and beat the heat!

I'm hoping Prime Time still has this one available (or even a newer version!) when Buttercup hits the recommended age of four years and up. And as a mom who wants to teach her child to respect the difference between real and pretend weapons, I'm extremely pleased that the company got creative with their product naming and avoided the word "gun" in their titles.

The Critter Blasters are nicely priced at $5.99 a piece, and come in fun designs like a dolphin or a hermit crab. I'm thinking I may order a few of these as birthday gifts for the summer parties Buttercup already has on her social calendar.

My only complaint is that in order to view the company's online catalog, you need to sign up for a password and wait 24 to 48 hours in order to get going. But a quick look on Amazon and you've got every imaginable way to help a good old-fashioned water fight get going right at your fingertips.

Wanna make a splash? Check out Prime Time Toys!

Personalize it with Oliver's Labels

Kids loose stuff. It's part of the genetic make-up. And piles of shoes at friend's houses, forgotten jackets on the school bus, and mixed-up toys at every playdate just add to the confusion---especially if you bring a toy to share that the host already owns (like we did at our last playdate!)

But thanks to one motivated and loving auntie to one cute little guy named Oliver, the Land of the Lost is a little easier to navigate now with Oliver's Labels. Not only can you label everything from crayons to sippy cups to clothes and shoes, you can also count on the smart Found-It tracking system, an online lost-and-found tracking system that doesn't use your personal information, to reunite with misplaced items!

Oliver's Labels sent us a sample pack of labels (with Buttercup's secret identity, of course!). Our sample pack included a few mini and shoe labels in the sweet Fantasy pattern and (my favorite) a few original labels with the super practical No Gluten design to help alert those not currently in the know that Buttercup's on a gluten-free diet.

We've been happily labeling her crayons, her favorite sandals, her sippy cups, and anything else that comes to mind. I've even popped a few of her labeled sippys into the dishwasher and am happy to report they came out looking as good as new!

In fact, Oliver's Labels are totally durable, and can withstand a variety of climates, and are strong enough to be placed on dishes that go into the microwave, and the freezer.

The company also just introduced a new no-iron clothing label, called Stick-eez(TM), that help keep tabs on your child's clothing. Take a look at the company site, sit down with your child, and let them pick out a label design they like!

Oliver's Labels is offering one lucky reader the chance at a $20 online gift card for use on their site. To enter, please visit their site and then stop on back here with a comment on your favorite label design.

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 June 3, 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 "Oliver's Labels giveaway at Berrie Sweet Picks! Great for kids!"
* 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, Labeleverything (all one word!), which gets you 10 percent off your order through June 31, 2009.

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!

Buttercup has a new music box

Buttercup just got a new music box and she's absolutely in love with it. But this isn't just any ol' music box...it's a new CD from Maine musician Mary Kaye, and it's been a non-stop request from my music loving toddler since the folksy collection arrived in our mail box.

Mary Kaye's vocals are surprisingly deep and rich, and hooked Buttercup right from the start. And with the lyrics to each song reading more like the pages of a much-loved and dog-eared book, it's no surprise Buttercup keeps asking for me to play, "Bok, mamma!" (That's "Buttercup" for "Box!")

Music Box is slated for an official release date of July 2, and will be available at CD Baby and Amazon. The indie children's recording artist has received rave reviews from Parenting Magazine, The Los Angeles Daily News, Booklist, and many more.

Five lucky winners also get the chance to each win one copy of Mary Kaye's Music Box CD for their own child's enjoyment, thaks to Mary Kaye herself, before you can actually buy it! To enter, please click here and leave me a comment telling me which other CD you and your kids would like to have 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 20, 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? ;)

Trebellina is a Berrie Sweet Pick!

I know that every parent has dreams of greatness for their children, and I am no exception. Since the moment she was born, I have sworn that Buttercup is going to be a broadway star. (Feel free to skip to the review ad contest portion of thos post, because I'm about to go all "braggin' mama" on all of you.)

This child came out with the most amazing set of lungs I have ever heard on a baby. And she didn't just cry...she screamed. As in mommy bought earplugs to keep her sanity horror-movie-heroine worthy pitches. (Another note-worthy moment would be when she met her uncle for the first time. The first impression resulted in him comparing my precious princess to a baby velicaptor. True story.)

Buttercup's been humming "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" to herself since she was ten-months old, but I know she is way too youg for formal music lessons. So I was super excited when the Cristofi Baby Company asked me to review a copy of "Introducing Trebellina." Created just for babies, toddlers, and pe-schoolers, Trebellina is the perfect way to introduce your child to music. It's fun, cute, and most definitely caught Buttercup's attention! (She keeps asking to watch "Alina," which is how she pronounces "Trebellina" right now. So flippin' cute!)

Having a bit of music in my background with seven years of flute and percussion experience in my background, I can vouch for the patented method of teaching note reading and pitch in an engaging anf effective manner. Kids get the full gambit here with introductions to various instruments and their names and sounds, shown both individually and collectively as a piece of music. And at only $19.95, it's a small investment in helping instill a lifelong love of music in your child.

Thanks to the Cristofor Baby Company, I have one copy of the Trebellina DVD and one adult shirt for one lucky reader up for grabs. To enter, please just leave me a comment telling me why you'd love to win the DVD for your Make sure to include your email so I cachild. Make sure to leave your email address so i can contact you if you are selected the winner. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, on May 18, 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? ;)

Berries was there! Were you?

My day started at 7 a.m. and really got going when I piled Buttercup, my mom, and sister into the mini van and drove 2.5 hours to Pheonix for the American Baby & Family Expo. Yeah, I know...crazy, huh?

But I couldn't turn down an invite from Boon Inc. Marketing Director Kate Benjamin to check out the fun.

I've been in Tucson for a month now and know my way around the area pretty well...after all, you can't really get lost when you live in an area with one interstate. ;) But today my good luck ran out and our trip there and back took over 3 hours each due to shut down freeways and detours that led a line of frustrated drivers in endless circles.

But all the swearing under my breath is behind me now and I can sit down for a minute and focus on the fun, the vendors, and the incredible products I got a chance to look at today.

Like this Awesome onsie from Bubby Baby Boutique!

Bubby Baby Boutique has plenty of other sweet stuff for both boys and girls and I am so in love with the fact that this stuff has ATTITUDE! (A onsie that says "Elmo is my Homeboy? A Punk Rock Diva dress? A flippin' Wonder Woman Tee? Come on!)



And with Birthday on the Brain, I had to check out the Maddycakes booth.

For those in the Pheonix area, this is definetely the place to go for the perfectly planned themed party for your little ones.

Michelle's got plenty of experience making birthdays extra sweet, and I only wish she was close enough to help me plan Buttercup's 2d birthday bash! (Hmmmm...I wonder if an Elmo/Princess party would work...)



I can't forget about the Peanut Posh display. Talk about cute! Kickin' ties for your little man and the coolest interchangeable bottle cap barretts I have EVER seen. I can't wait to do a review and contest!











And then of course, there was boon! We had tons of fun with Buttercup trying out the Flair High Chair that a few lucky readers have won here at Berrie Sweet Picks (and I am so jealous...this thing is too cool for words!), and just oohing and ahhhing over the mod baby and kid stuff that I know we all love. (Seriously now...do you all keep coming back for my offbeat sense of humor and gripping writing style or to see what else boon is giving away on my blog? Or do I really want the answer to that? hmmmm....)







It's almost 1 a.m. here and I am exhausted (and I still have a vlog to put together!) but my looking like a newborn kicked my butt tomorrow morning was so worth the fun I had today.

So let me get back to work here and I promise to be back tomorrow with another great contest. Sweet dreams!

Oh and Kate? Buttercup says "thank oooo" to you and boon for your generosity. ;)

boon, splat, scrubble!

Buttercup loves staying in the tub until her little toes prune up, and thanks to the new toys from boon I'm having one heck of a time getting her out of the tub now.

I really can't complain, though. I love boon products, and am relieved to have bath toys options that are safe for my baby girl to play with since each of the new line of boon goodies is BPA, PVC, and Pthtlate-free!

Check out the video of Buttercup getting her splash on with her new favorite splash time toys!



*Scrubbles are just cute and the name makes me all happy cuz I'm easily amused like that. For $9.99 you get three interchangable bulbs witgh tectured attachments that kids can fill with water and then squeeze it out to their hearts content. And the best part? Yeah....they're dishwasher safe. Rock on.

*Splat is just $7.99 and is the most adorable take on a bath time ring toss game I have ever seen. You get one floating post and three fun rings.

*Water bugs also run $7.99 and are as simplistic as they are genius. Three colorful little critters glide across the water until your happy kid scoops them up with the mesh net.

Now, get ready for the drumroll because I have my first contest since my moving craziness took over! The cool peeps at Boon want me to picks three winners and each will get their choice of one of the three toys I reviewed. Entries are limited to U.S. and Canada, please.

To enter the contest, please leave a comment telling me how much you missed me and that your world is now a better place because I am blogging again. (no, really!) Or you can just leave me a comment telling me which boon toy reviewed here that you would like (by name!) to win if your comment is chosen! It's simple, really... just don't forget to leave your email address in the comment or your entry will not count.

Entries will be accepted until midnight (mountain time!), April 7, 2009 and the winners 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 Berrie Sweet Picks on Facebook
* Become a fan of boon 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 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? ;)

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.

Forget envy! Turn green with pride!

So are you "green?" Do you try to do your part to help protect our planet for future generations by preserving its natural resources?

Yes and yes? Sweet!

Now, take a look in the closest mirror and see if you have actually turned green as a way to show the world that you are doing your part! (Yes, I'm kidding...you can put the compact down now.)

But seriously, though, wouldn't the concept of turning green be a great way to help bring home the point of conserving natural resources for our kids? A new book series from The Little Environmentalists does just that, and from a kid's point of view, to boot.

"I'm Turning Green" shows how the little things we do, like turning off the water as we brush our teeth, can make a big diference! Check out Buttercup enjoying the story for the first time as her Abuela reads it to her!

I love this story, and I am pretty impressed that 18 mth-old Buttercup not only sat through the whole book, but eagerly requested a second reading (and sat through that one, too!)

And in case you're wondering, Little Environemtalists are a company worth promoting. It's refreshing to see a such a positive for kids reinforce the importance of "going green" with their dedication to producing environmentally-friendly products. All books are printed using 100 percent recycled paper that is 1200 percent post-consumer waste and chloring free. And if that wasn't enough, the ink is eco-friendly, too.

Can it get any better than that? Retailing for $7.95, "I’m Turning Green" can be found at The Little Environmentalists and Amazon.

So who wants to "go green" with their kids? One lucky U.S. winner will get the chance to bring the "green" home by leaving a comment on this post.

To enter, ask your children for their best eco-friendly tip and share it with my readers here! Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, December 29 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. What a perfect way to bring in the New Year!

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? ;)

Functional and cute: Babylegs

I have to say that since Buttercup has been born, I have never been a fan of tights. In my opinion, it's just too much of a pain to have to deal with that extra layer when it's time for a diaper change.

That's one of the reasons I am so in love with the alternative options, including Babylegs. They're cute, they're affordable, they're easier to deal with for diapered and EC babies, and you have so many more options available to you!
(I happen to love these for turning a summer dress into a stylish winter outfit, complete with a long-sleeved onsie or even another a pair of Babylegs and boots!)

Babylegs come in a variety of designs and patterns, and can be used from newborn to as far as your imagination can take you with your kids. Some suggested uses from Honeychunks are:

*Baby legs
*Kid legs
*Kid arms
*Adult arms
*Adult legs
*Soccer layer
*Football layer
*And more!

My only complaint with Babylegs is that they tend to run shorter than other brands out there, so for long-legged kiddos like Buttercup, so you lose out on a bit of leg coverage. But the variety of options cancels out that one little complaint. In fact, now that her legs are so long, I prefer to use them on her arms with a pair of Skid Pants to cover her legs from top to bottom. (For newborns, though, these are a great option!)

Babylegs are available for $12.00 per pair at Honeychunks.

Honeychunks, my favorite little online boutique (run by a waork-at-home Mom), is offering one lucky reader their choice of one pair of Babylegs (everyone say "Thank you!") For a girl, might I suggest the "tickled pink" pattern? Sooo cute!

To enter, visit Honeychunks and leave me a comment describing one item OTHER than babylegs you would like to see reviewed from her store AND which babylegs you would prefer if your comment is selected the winner. Comments must contain both in order to be considered valid.

Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, December 28 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? ;)

A new boon in sweet toys

You all know I love me some boon, right? I swear that my blog is sometimes a continuous commercial for their stuff, but I can't help it: nine times out of ten, it's just awesome stuff!

And here's a secret: It's about to get even awesom-er....and yes, I have declared "awesome-er" as the official word of the day.

I just got word that boon is offering a sneak peak on their new bath products which, by the way, are so new that they aren't even on the boon site yet! Check out the boon Facebook group and tell me what you think of the new goodies!

PKRS: Rocking it out for the Holidays

I want to be a little kid again. In a princess gown, bopping to the funky beat at a PKRS concert, to be precise. (But I'd settle for a PKRS concert in town so I could take Buttercup and pretend to be enjoying the music solely for her benefit.)

For those of you wondering what I am rambling about, PKRS is short for Princess Katie and Racer Steve, the coolest, hippest, funkiest, swingiest (it's a word, people...at least for this blog post), sweetest kid rock band in the history of rock bands with princesses and race car drivers who happen to, in a word, rock.

Buttercup and I got to check out their Fast & Feisty CD a while back, and I am not ashamed to admit that I "Woot Woot"-ed with glee when I opened the most recent delivery, containing the "Princess Katie & Racer Steve Live! Revved Up & Ready to Rock" DVD! I was wearing my last clean shirt, the dishes were about to topple out of the sink, and my vaccuum was wondering when, if ever, it was going to feel useful again, but I forgot about all of it and immediately swooped Buttercup up and ran to the TV with the PKRS DVD in hand.

And wow.

You've got drop-dead incredible singing. real musicianship dressed up in whimsical and fun costumes that appeal to their fan-base, tons of laughs, and enough audience participation to make me feel like we were really there.

We LOVED the live concert DVD, and Buttercup (who happens to be a princess in training) certainly had her share of bopping in her 18-mth-old-signature style while Mommy sang along to most of the songs and danced alongside her.

If you are wondering what to get your kids or are searching for a stocking stuffer, I really, really, REALLY recommend this DVD. Even if it is your first introduction to the rockin' world of PKRS, you will not be disappointed. Instead, you and your kids will be coming back for more.

Because until we get a chance at a live, in-the-flesh, PKRS concert, Buttercup and I will be wearing this DVD out.

Oh, and before I forget, stop by and check out Princess Katie's blog!

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? ;)

Building character with Life's Building Blocks

Remember how effective the ideals of Jiminy Cricket were in helping us distinguish right from wrong when we were kids? Well, today's kids have a ficticious friend to help guide them-their own little angel on their shoulder.

Thanks to the award-winning company,Life's Building Blocks, Buttercup and I have spent the last few days playing with Zaki, the character chameleon. He's cute,he sings songs and tells stories about character and making the right choices, and speaks in an Australian accent that sure got Buttercup's attention.

Zaki also has color-changing fins on his back which help kids, ages 3-6, determine when they should stop, slow down and think, or just go for it!

Buttercup loves her Zaki, and trust me when I say that I have listened to his rhyming stories and character-building fables so many times in the past few days that I have them memorized now.

Zaki retails for $30 and Buttercup approved for Christmas-gift giving!

Life's Building Blocks also offers other age-appropriate products for older kids with stories and activity books about a group of friends in the thirs grade known as The Spruce Street Six. With stories and activities about the common ethical issue that kids face everyday-like why telling the truth is so important-the Spruce Street Six and Zaki are a great way for connecting with kids and helping them make better decisions for themselves.

With characters like Honest Jake, Jessica the Brave, Calm Carlos, Lauren Never Wuits. Jarrett the Just, and Kind Shawnie, it's easy to set a good example for our kids to follow.

Spruce Street Six books, geared for kids ages 6-10, retail for $5.99 and activity books, for ages 6-9, go for $5.99.

Now for the really cool part. I have three great contests to announce in just this post alone! Thanks to Life's Building Blocks, I am offering up one Zaki, one set of Spruce Street Six Chapter Books, and one set of activity books! I will be selecting one winner for each, so make sure your comment indicates which you would prefer if selected the winner.

To enter, visit Life's Building Blocks and then let me know why you think this would make a great gift for your child. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, December 12 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 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? ;)