Greetings from Camp ~ Be Prepared with Label Daddy

"Hello Mudder, hello fodder, greetings from camp I-Don’t-Wanna…”
Mosquito bites and gooey marshmallows, hikes and ticks, leaky tents and creepy campfire tales.
Camp season is just around the corner and despite all the fun and personal development, memories and irreplaceable moments there are always the inevitable worries and irritations. Ironically children are far more adaptable than parents and the lion’s share of worries are those of parental units such as us! Label Daddy can’t relieve all the worries of camp parents. They can’t protect the well-being of your children but Label Daddy can protect their personal belongings!

My son, Gabriel is an avid little boy scout. His favourite Cubs' activity? Camp!! Winter camp with its chilly temperatures, snowshoeing and skiing or Spring and Summer camps’ filled with hiking and campfires my son is thrilled by his personal journey to experienced outdoors man! Sleeping bag, rubber boots, toiletries, dishes, and clothing, camping success is all about the gear! But when a group of boys hit the trails the last thing they think about is whose undies are whose. Label Daddy’s camp labels are the ideal solution to preventing the loss of the scattered items of untidy young campers.
Colourful and eye catching, these laminated sunscreen proof, wash proof and waterproof labels stay stuck and announce to my son without a doubt “these are my undies”! Okay I know typically having your name in your underwear is not cool but when you can choose from 40 different very cool icons including your favourite Disney characters, 17 colours, and even a variety of fonts your one up on campers with their John Hancock scribbled on tags with permanent marker. The Label Daddy Camp Pack includes six different sized labels, a total of 152, enough for all your child‘s camp gear with perhaps a few to spare:
4 luggage bag labels
60 extra small labels
40 small labels
16 medium labels
10 shoe labels
22 mini-shoe labels
In minutes with a quick peel and stick I had all Gabriel’s camp gear labeled and ready to go! His choice of icon? The dinosaur from Disney’s Toy Story as his career goal currently is to become a paleontologist. Because Cub camp is just for a weekend here and a weekend there the plethora of camp labels meant I had far more than I needed and I can use the extra labels for Gabriel’s other belongings including his school items in the fall.
I’d say this is a sign of good value!

$50 may seem like a lot to some but often you spend your hard earned money for your children’s belongings why not use some of that money to protect those valuables. If you do the math each label costs you 33 cents….not bad right?

Prepare your little campers before they head out into the wilderness. Pack their Kleenex and teddy, that extra blankie and secret stash of goodies but remember to seal their pack with hugs and kisses and label everything with Label Daddy!

"It's All Too Much!" ~ De-clutter your home and your life!

I am going to release some skeletons from my family closet! Yes, I come from a long line of hoarding, clutter bugs on my father’s side…well, perhaps it is not a long line and sorry dad , but perhaps I only inherited a partial gene for clutter. If anyone has seen my parents’ garage they will know my family’s dirty little secret. To my organized mom’s embarrassment and chagrin my dad must crawl over seemingly insurmountable mountains of stuff to actually enter his large two car garage. "It’s all too much!"

I have not inherited this extreme and almost compulsive attachment to stuff but I must admit to a bit of a hoarding inclination. I have difficulty parting with keepsakes and mementos especially those pertaining to my children. I adore photos, décor items, and books. I often have difficulty weeding out old items because well, you never know when you may need them even if they haven’t seen the light of day for years…am I right? Every time I move I realize the reproductive nature of stuff. The accumulation is unbelievable and daunting. I am preparing for another possible move this spring and I decided it was time to once more to de-clutter our home and our lives because as I dig through closets, drawers, and cupboards, bins and baskets “It’s All Too Much!”

"It’s All Too Much!" is Peter Walsh’s DVD based on the New York Times best-seller. You may remember Peter Walsh from the hit show “Clean Sweep” in which people’s homes and lives were transformed through a bit of organization know how, some tough love, and a big push in the right direction! Walsh has turned this formula into more than just organizational theory but therapeutic life changing step-by-step process to healthier clutter free living! I’ve decided to take some of Peter Walsh’s advice and though I don’t believe my family of five will allow me to follow this program in its totality I discovered a great many ways to tackle my hodgepodge and give new life and respect to the keepsakes gathering dust hidden away in old boxes in back closets.

Peter Walsh begins the de-cluttering process by asking that you bring no new items into the house for 3-6 months, then it’s time for what he calls the “Trash bag Tango”. Take ten minutes or so each day and carry two trash bags around the house, one for the garbage/recycling that you accumulate and the other for items to donate or sell. If two people collect two bags a day that’s 28 bags of stuff to go!

My favourite ideas from "It’s All Too Much!" is how to deal with my favored items, such as photos, children’s artwork, and family keepsakes. Walsh suggests taking photos of your children’s artwork and creating a bound photo book like so many photo shops now create. These beautiful volumes will be fit to display as you would a fine art coffee table book. Already this will eliminate boxes and scrapbooks I have struggled with for several years.

Out of sight is out of mind and while I have often stashed important mementos and keepsakes away in boxes for safe keeping this is no way to honour such consequential items. Peter Walsh’s solution, narrow down these items to those that evoke the memory you wish to hold on to and then display them in a way that shows them the proper honour and respect they are due using shadowboxes and cases for example.

It’s my children’s things which often become the biggest issue in our home. Limits and routines are Walsh’s answer to the issue of toys. A rule of thumb the toys must fit in the space provided. If there is an overflow or a new item is introduced when the space is full it is time to remove old items for donation or sale, label and find a home for everything using the old adage “a place for everything and everything in its place”.



Peter Walsh will lead you through your entire home, from the kitchen to the bedroom, the office to the garage, with specific storage and de-cluttering solutions. He wants to help people find a deeper quality of life over an accumulation of stuff. When I began this process preparing for our imminent move it was all too much but now that I am incorporating several of Peter Walsh’s suggestions what seemed an overwhelming task is far less daunting and is a freeing experience!
{And I think I may just pass this on to my dad!}


I have also received Peter Walsh’s book “It’s All too Much, So Get iI Together” for young adults which I will be writing more about in the future! But in the meantime one Northern Mama reader will receive Peter Walsh’s “It’s All Too Much!" DVD and his book "It's All Too Much, so get it together"!
To Enter:

• Tell me what needs de-cluttering in your life {Required}
• non-bloggers remember to leave me your email address.

Extra Entries:

• Follow Northern Mama {Google Friends Connect}
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Giveaway open to Canadian and US residents ! Giveaway closes February 17th, 2010, 10:00pm CT. Please read Giveaway Rules for further details.

I.D. Me Labels ~ Organize and Personalize! ~ Review and Giveaway

If your children are anything like mine {and I’m taking a wild guess that they are} then I’m sure you are often pulling your hair out in frustration over lost items! I.D. Me Labels understands this frustration and the struggle to hang on to the items you have spent your hard earned money purchasing. With bright and colorful I.D. Me Labels you and your child can easily identify what is theirs and the variety of stylish designs make them fun for kids!

I have reviewed for several label companies in the past and admittedly all are very good and have some very similar products but what I find makes I.D. Me Labels unique are their exclusive Photo I.D. Me Labels which feature your child’s photo with their name. Adorable! The Binky and Bib Buttons, also exclusive to ID Me Labels, are designed to fit on the end of baby’s pacifier and will help eliminate binky confusion forever!
I.D. Me Labels are ideal for daycare, school, and camp or even at home with multiple children to help distinguish whose-is-whose! I received the All-purpose ID Me Labels for my daughter Emma and found them durable as well as cute, adorned with the fairy icon she selected. They have not worn off even after washing and maintained their colour and legibility. With dozens of icons to choose from or your own child’s photo it’s easy to find something that appeals to everyone. The choice of various fonts and colours makes the possibilities endless.


I.D. Me Labels produce All-Purpose Icon Labels, Binky & Bib Buttons, Photo ID Me Labels, Streamline Labels featuring a name only, Clothing Labels and Sole Mate Labels for shoes, Bag Tags, and even Allergy Labels to alert or remind others of your child’s specific dietary issues! I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a complete selection of labels from one company and like other label company’s ID Me Labels offers Combo Packs for Daycare, school, and camp that provide the consumer with variety and savings! Also, if you are an organizationally insane mommy like me, you will love I.D. Me Labels' assortment of Household Labels which will make even your garage look meticulous and orderly!

No longer experience the frustration of lost items and the “whose is whose” confusion which can stress your day to day life. Purchase ID Me Labels or win a package of ID Me All Purpose Icon Labels here at Northern Mama!

To Enter:

• Visit ID Me Labels and tell me which labels you like most. {Required}
• non-bloggers remember to leave your email address with your comment

Extra Entries:

• Be a Northern Mama follower {Google Friends Connect}
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• Follow me on Twitter @Northernmama35 and Tweet (RT 1xdaily) about this giveaway
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Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes February 8th, 2010, 10:00pm CT. Please read Giveaway Rules for further information.

Earth Dream Lullabies ~ Inspire your Children to Grow up Green

Like Melita I was a student of anthropology, unlike her however I am by no means a musician. Taking piano lessons as a child I was mediocre and I am left more qualified to listen then participate. Melita Doostan had a different experience with music. She started piano at the age of 4, song writing at 9, and the clarinet at 10. She taught herself to play the guitar as a teen and made her first recording.

Melita’s music became more than outward ruminating sound, it inspired within her a spirituality and an elemental connection to nature. Her music is a reflection of this spiritual awareness of the natural world and Earth Dream Lullabies: Soothing Songs for an Awakening Generation is a compilation of English, Hebrew, and Yiddish traditionals, folk favourites, pagan chants, and original composition.

This lullaby CD is unlike others I’ve heard and blends the restfulness of lullabies with uplifting natural rhythms and content which heightens awareness. Melodic and soothing, Melita’s voice is mystic and dreamlike and harmonic vocals combine with ancient acoustic instruments produce a sound reminiscent of humanity’s ancient connectiveness to the environment and the abundance of earth’s bounty.

“Earth Dream Lullabies is perfect for parents who want their children to grow up green,” shares Melita. “The wonder of the natural world is all too often forgotten in our fast-paced Western way of life. I created ‘Earth Dream Lullabies' to inspire in children of all ages a sense of sacred in nature and evoke a feeling of awe for the mystery of the universe and our place in it.” I admit my love for world fusion music and folksy natural sound, entiltes me with the belief that adults can benefit from lullabies too. The moment I placed this CD in the stereo my home became an environment of calm, a peaceful safe haven from the rushing, stress inducing society in which we now find ourselves immersed.

My families’ favourite Earth Dream Lullabies include an adaptation of Peter, Paul, and Mary’s folk song “Bamboo”, a Pagan Chant entitled “Ocean” emphasizing life’s watery origins, a Yiddish traditional lullaby “Raisins and Almonds”, and the flute-filled, melodic modern traditional “Round and Round”. My children were buoyed by Melita’s original composition “Animals”--a folksy song telling the story of sharing the planet and living in partnership and harmony with animals including reference to those facing endangerment.

Joined by her musically talented husband, David Doostan, and daughter, Leilah--as well as an entourage of immensely talented musicians--accompanied by bamboo flute, African xylophone, tablas, mandolin, and classic guitar, Melita has created an album of pure natural wonder! A true tribute to Gaia and her earthly delights!

Purchase this collection of “Eco-lullabies" online through iTunes, CD Baby, or MelitaMusic.com. Environmentally-conscious boutiques as A Toy Garden and The Ark Toy Company also carry Earth Dream Lullabies.

Win a copy of Melita’s "Earth Dream Lullabies" here at Northern Mama!
To Enter:

• Visit Melitamusic and tell me your favourite sample song from any of her CDs. {Required}
• non-bloggers please leave your email address with your comment.

Extra Entries:

• Be a Northern Mama Follower {Google Friends connect}
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Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes January 30, 2010 10:00pm CT. Read Giveaway Rules for details.

Runt Farm ~ A Refreshing Children's Book Series you'll love ~ Review and Giveaway!

I love an early chapter book for children which entertains my children but also myself! I've often slogged through reading books to my children that I felt were dull, unimaginative, perhaps even patronizing and find myself wondering why children are thought to be so unintelligent and dull! I have always been a firm believer a a parent and a teacher that children should not be talked down to. Children learn extensive vocabularies easily and readily if only they are exposed to language and one takes the time to explain the meanings of words to them.

Nichole and I were talking about this recently! We are both often bombarded with comments about the extensive vocabularies of our children. Many are amazed at the words our children toss out in regular conversation. The explanation of our children's mature vocabulary and diction is a simple one: We don't and have never talked down to our children. No "baby talk", cheater words, just the words I would use in regular conversation with explanations thrown in for the meaning of words they may not yet understand!

I believe the best children's chapter book authors use this very same technique in their writing! Amanda Lorenzo, author of the Runt Farm series does just that. Runt Farm is adorable, intelligent, and thoroughly entertaining for both children and parents. Emphasizing diversity, alternative families, and harmony within humanity without even the hint of a preachy, overt agenda, Runt Farm instills important values through a diverse array of endearing animal characters with distinct and quirky personalities.

Our story begins in Runt Farm: Under New Management when Kitten discovers he has been abandoned by farm owners the Brunts. He is decidedly happy about having the farm to himself until he stumbles upon a hatching egg and the emerging new "Peep" becomes a very important and special part of his new life.

"It was like that all day long. Whenever he heard Peep, peep, peep! Kitten seemed to know exactly what The Peep meant to say.

Peep, peep, peep meant "I'm hungry. When do we eat?"

Peep, peep, peep also meant "I'm sleepy. Where's my nesting box?"...

At the end of the day, The Peep stood next to Kitten and nuzzled his fur. "Peep, peep, peep," he said. And this time it meant "I love you."

"Aw, dude!" Kitten chuckled. "You're a doofy little guy, aren't ya?"" (Lorenzo 2009: 8-9)

While a kitten and a duck seem a strange family what happen when two freakishly intelligent former research mice, Cletus and Tooth, are added to the mix? The amazing transformation of a haphazardly bunch of seemingly diverse and ill-suited animals into a true found family makes this tale humourous and heartwarming! With ingenuity, fun, and love Lorenzo's characters create a real home on Runt Farm!

Amanda Lorenzo continues the inspiring Runt Farm series with Runt Farm: Beatrice and Blossom. Some families are never truly complete and the Runt Farm always welcomes those looking for the love and security of family. Cletus and Tooth save an injured bunny named beatrice, bounced off a market truck. Beatrice is a bounding "hyperactive" delight, inquisitive, brimming with questions! She is happy to have a new home and soon she too pulls off a rescue of her own saving a soggy squirrel, Blossom, who soon becomes a brother and a bit of a rival!

""Double rainbows and steelies," Beatrice called. She drew two arcs, one inside the next, and made another great shot which ricocheted around the ring, knocking all of the remaining marbles out. "Oh look, I got all the marbles, and I win!"

"You are a stinky rat and a cheater and I'm going to tell Tooth!" Blossom shouted, close to tears. He grabbed his now empty Excellent Bag and raced off toward the barn." (Lorenzo 2009: 87)

Learning lessons of sharing, and fair play the characters of Runt Farm represent a true family regardless of their diverse backgrounds. Runt Farm is a testament to all "Found Families" and non-traditional families we encounter in our society today and to the unconditional love all families are meant to provide!

P.s. BooktiMookti Press, publisher of the Runt Farm series is dedicated to preserving forests. BooktiMookti Press printed Runt Farm using 30% post consumer recycled paper and processed chlorine free!

Written for ages 6 and up, your children will find a place in their hearts for all the loveable Runt Farm personalities who will soon be adopted by your family! Win a copy of both Runt Farm: Under New Management and Runt Farm: Beatrice and Blossom here at Northern Mama and look for the latest Runt Farm volume Runt Farm: Clovis Escapes!
To Enter:

• Visit the Runt Farm site and Meet the Runt Farm Characters. Tell me which one you find most charming {Required}
• non-bloggers please leave your email address with your comment

Extra Entries:

• Follow Northern Mama {via Google friends connect}
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Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes January 25, 2010 10:00pm CT. Please read Giveaway rules for further details.

Baby Snazz has Organic Leg Huggers...because everybody loves hugs! ~ Review and Giveaway!

I have two darling dancing divas in my household. And though they absolutely love tapping their way into people's hearts those little dance costumes and performance tights are not exactly created for their insulating, thermal value. I hated for my girls to be shivering in a spacious community hall waiting to become warmed with increasing movements. I remembered the "leg-warmers" of my youth and knew Baby Snazz would have the perfect solution to my daughters' dancing woes--Leg Huggers!

Baby Snazz has all the stylish gear you need for your little ones from baby slings and bags to bibs and legwarmers you will be amazed at the selection! Looking for the major brands including the eco-friendly? Baby Snazz should be your destination!

Leg Huggers are innovative, and eco-friendly accessories for legs. Ideal for babies still crawling on perhaps cold and hard surfaces, an excellent alternative to those sagging, drooping, and hard to pull up tights during potty training, and of course a stylish hug for the chilled arms and legs of little girls.

My daughters adore the funky, cool patterns and I am excited they are created from bamboo--a material my followers have heard me herald time and time again! Bamboo, the dream material, grows quickly, requires no chemicals and pesticides, is biodegradable, and has natural antibacterial and odor resistant qualities. The added bonus is the luxurious softness and comfort of bamboo fabrics!

My daughters immediately slipped into the Leg Huggers we received and to be honest my youngest daughter Bronwynn wore hers all that night. She loved the softness and warmth of Leg Hugger hugs! My eldest daughter Emma, the fashion forward girl that she is, was impressed by the variety of fabulous styles and colours. We chose the wild "Pink Leopard" and "Retro Bulleyes"! Now Emma and Bronwynn glow in comfort and warmth and beam with pride at their fashion-forward style while they master their dance routines. I only wish we had Leg Huggers when my children were babies. Diaper changes and potty training would have been far easier tasks and crawling around in any home or venue would have been far less worrisome.


Leg Huggers are now introducing patterns for boys so they too can enjoy the comfort and warmth of this innovative product. Created by Canadian children's apparel company Agoo, Leg Huggers breathable, moisture wicking and sustainable bamboo fibres make Leg Huggers special! They are ideal for sensitive skin and their one size fits all I'd say suits most legs up to age 7--though I would love to see them develop some which are slightly bigger for the older crowd. With their functionality and versatility, some young fashionistas may also wish to be creative by warming Leg Huggers on their arms and wrists.

Functional, fashionable, and fun Leg Huggers..."because everybody loves hugs!"

Does your special little one need a hug from Leg Huggers from Baby Snazz? Win Leg Huggers here at Northern Mama!
To Enter:

• Visit Baby Snazz and tell me your favourite legwarmers brand and pattern {Required}
• non-bloggers please leave your email address with your comment
  

Extra Entries:

• Follow Northern Mama {via Google friends connect}
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Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes January 26, 2010 10:00pm CT. Please read Giveaway rules for further details.

Leap into Reading with the Leap Frog Tag Junior Reading System

You have heard me sing the praises of the Tag Reading System and all it has to offer your child's literacy development however literacy skills should be developed at a very young age and the Tag may not suit the needs of a book exploring two, three, or even four year old. Educators and parents have known for decades the significance of early introduction to books and book publishers--who have been publishing children's literature since the 15th century--also know this to be significant and have created children's board books knowing little busy hands require graspable and durable tomes!

Leap Frog wants the exciting benefits and enjoyment of the Tag system to be available to these blossoming little readers and accordingly created the Tag Junior. Again my admiration for this company's forethought and consideration of the needs of children of various ages and skill levels must be duly noted. Leap Frog is a company which continues to evolve and improve on their ideas! As a parent and educator I respect their efforts Leap Frog expends to create Fun well thought out learning toys.

The Tag Junior is a durably constructed, "person" shaped unit developed to be easily grasped a toddler's hands which are not yet adept at fine motor movement. Unlike the Tag, Tag junior requires less exact movements on book pages. A toddler need only stamp the page with the Tag Junior for reading, songs, and other auditory surprises to be activated. The Tag Junior also corresponds with children's board books rather than traditional paper paged volumes which means you need not worry over drool soaked, torn pages, or paper cuts on precious toddler hands.

Just as the Tag Reading System, the Tag Junior connects to your computer via USB so you can add the audio for various books you purchase and to allow you to track your child's learning progress. Tag Junior can also be programed to greet your child with his/her own name!

The gift of reading is a gift that last for a lifetime and Leap Frog's Tag Junior is a wonderful tool to start any child on this magical literary journey! One Northern Mama reader will win the quality Leap Frog Tag Junior Reading System {includes the tag junior reader and one book} and a Tag Junior Board Book {pre-selected}!

To Enter:

• Visit Leap Frog and tell me your favourite Tag Junior book title {Required}
• non-bloggers please leave your email address with your comment.

Extra Entries:

• Be a Northern Mama Follower {via Google Friends Connect}
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• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {please leave me a link to your post}

Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes January 17th, 2010 10:00pm CT. Read Giveaway Rules for details.

my Virtual Tutor makes the Nintendo DS Learning Fun!

In a world of video games it's exciting to find a game that teaches children to read in an interactive, and exciting new way! My Virtual Tutor, developed by 1st Playable Productions and Mentor Interactive, combines a young child's new found love of the Nintendo DS system with educational games parents desire and the fun of play kids appreciate.

My Virtual Tutor - Reading has been tested with over 1200 students and was determined on average to increase reading scores 50% over those not using this software. my virtual tutor concentrates on five reading skill areas--Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Comprehension, Fluency, and Vocabulary--and includes four modes of play--Read to Me {including 6-8 interactive books}, I Can Read {featuring word-based activities}, Interactive {clickable animation, and quizzes}, and Paint {creativity and illustration}. The different modes and exercises advance along with the player creating an individualized literacy program perfect for the user. My Virtual Tutor also provides a parent mode to make it easier for parents to track their child's progress!

It is Mentor Interactive's goal "to provide a digital solution to children's literacy around the globe." Sound boring? It's not! My 5 year old daughter Bronwynn played this new game for days on the DS excited by her progress and thoroughly enjoying the vocabulary and word based activities. It's funny how just using the right format can add a new dimension of enthusiasm to learning! my virtual tutor games matches curriculum for Pre-Kindergarten to second grade-- the most influential time in a child's life for reading development. Bronwynn received the my virtual tutor for Kindergarten to first grade which focuses on sound blends, rhyme, patterns, and vowel recognition. Bronwynn's favourite activity was unscrambling letters to form words.

I am a parent but I am also an educator and I believe the educational programming of my virtual tutor, a teaching system developed at the University of Colorado Boulder Center for Spoken Language Research, is excellent and effective but the aspect of my virtual tutor I found most impressive was the encouraging and supportive nature of the virtual tutor instructor! Guided through the games by an animated tutor a child receives encouraging words, and repeated information when needed. Unlike some learning games which seem too critical causing frustration to bubble up inside a child, my virtual tutor's supportive tone and positive reinforcement provides a relaxed, safe, and "warm and fuzzy", on-the-go learning environment while providing substantial reading results!

My Virtual Tutor - Reading was recently the recipient of the honoured "Dr. Toy's Best Picks" award ! Dr. Toy is a Child Development Specialist and toy industry professional who focuses of high quality, creative, educational products which are safe, socially responsible, priced affordably and first and foremost designed with the needs of children in mind. My Virtual Tutor meets this criteria to the letter! It is the perfect addition to your child's DS library and a fabulous gift idea. Give the gift of reading fun to a special child in your life!

You can purchase my virtual tutor - Reading at game retailers throughout North America for the suggested retail price of $29.99. One Northern Mama reader can also win a my virtual tutor game here!
To Enter:

• Visit My Virtual Tutor and tell me your favourite feature and which My Virtual Tutor level you would choose if you won {Required}
• non-bloggers please leave your email address with your comment

Extra Entries:

• Follow Northern Mama {via Goggle Friends Connect
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• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {please leave me a link to your post}

Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes January 14th, 2010 10:00pm CT. Please read Giveaway Rules for further details.

Reporting For Duty: A Day at the White House ~ A Children's Activity Book Package Review and Giveaway!

Last week as I watched Oprah's White House Christmas special I was struck by the utter magic and fascinating history embedded in the walls and foundation of the U.S. presidential residence. Though I am Canadian I believe it is a significant benefit that children be given the opportunity to learn what they can about other countries, their histories, and their political and government systems. Washington DC is rich in history! I remember visiting the White House during a high school trip to Washington and I can still recall the awe it inspired.

Bo is not the only dog in the White House...oh no, there is also Barkley Reporting for Duty! H.K. Gilbert has dreamed of writing children's books and she has now written the wonderfully interactive activity book "Reporting For Duty: A Day in the White House" about a secret service dog named Barkley. Barkley has been assigned the daunting task of guarding the White House and protecting the American first family!

Barkley leads children through the busy life of the White House, and provides children with a tour of the inside workings of the White House! Filled with fun facts and history, Reporting for Duty miraculously makes learning important historical information entertaining, exciting and enjoyable. It is often rare to find a book which can hold the interest of all my children with their ages ranging from 5-9 but Gilbert has a gift. Gilbert has the gift of creating a story which weaves factual information with a lovable and exciting character attractive to children and provides children with colouring and drawing activity breaks avoiding long narratives!

H.K. Gilbert is an advocate for literacy and a strong believer, as I am in the power of reading with your children everyday whether it be 5 minutes or an hour the combination of bonding and exposure to print is irreplaceable! "Reporting for Duty" is the perfect sit-down-together activity book for parents and children or could be utilized as a fabulous classroom resource. I truly enjoyed sitting down with my children to read Barkley's story and work through the activities. I learned along side my children and we chuckled together at Barkley's canine references and antics.

"Next we have the Oval Office. This room is not only my favourite shape, but is also a very important room."

"I enjoy reporting for duty in this room because it's the coziest room in the White House. When I've had a "ruff" day, I like to end my secret service duties by shedding my coat and curling up by the fire." (Gilbert 2009: 16)

"The next room, which cats love, is the Fish Room. This room has also been called the Roosevelt Room because President Franklin Roosevelt displayed fishing mementos and an aquarium in here... I carefully count each and every fish to make sure they're still in the aquarium, but I must say, counting the fish sure does make a secret service dog thirsty! I also make sure the most important rule of all is followed: NO CATS ALLOWED." (Gilbert 2009:17)

Care to visit the White House with your children? H.K. Gilbert is offering one Northern Mama reader a book basket filled with a copy of Reporting for Duty, Free box of crayons, and other fun filled surprises that all have to do with the White House! But what you will really be winning is an activity that will create a special moment in time and learning between yourself and your child!
To Enter:

• Tell me your favourite book to read with your child/a child special to you {Required}
• non-bloggers please leave me your email address with your comment

Extra Entries:

• Be a Northern Mama Follower
• Be a Northern Mama Facebook Fan
• Subcribe via email
• Follow me on Twitter @Northernmama35 and tweet about this giveaway
• Follow H.K. Gilbert on Twitter @hkgilbert7
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {please leave me the link to your post}
  
  
  

Giveaway open to all! Giveaway closes January 5th 2010, 10:00pm CT. Read Giveaway Rules for further details.

Leap Frog Fun at the Leap Frog Play Date!!

Leap Frog believes so highly in their products that they know all it takes to win customers is to let them know about the fabulous new products they have to offer! A benefit of being a Leap Frog mom is I have the opportunity to spread the joy of Leap Frog in so many ways including hosting a Leap Frog Play Date for neighbours, and friends this past weekend!

Leap Frog provided toys for all the children in attendance! From My Pal Scout to the Tag Reading System, the Text and Learn to Tag Junior, parents and children alike were thrilled at the opportunity to try the newest Leap Frog products first hand and take them home. What's not to love? Being able to continue the Leap Frog playing and learning experience at home, what a great early holiday gift!

12 children were able to attend this exciting event! And at a bone chilling minus 50 degrees Celsius, Saturday was the perfect day to spend indoors discovering the joy of Leap Frog! Ranging in ages from 13 months to 8 years all the children found age appropriate toys which met their developmental needs and their need for Fun!
At 13 months old little Kamryn found My Pal Scout engaging and endearing! Made for ages 6 months and up My Pal Scout and My Pal Violet are chenille soft and Kamryn found Scout's collar mesmerizing! With 14 built in activities and 30 songs My Pal Scout provides children with an interactive basic skills learning experience as well as providing the comfort of a stuffed friend! Kamryn's mom was eager to hook Scout up to her home computer to personalize Scout with Kamryn's name and her favourite things. I am anxious to hear how she reacts when her new friend Scout actually uses her name while conversing with her. Parents can also personally select and download songs for Scout to play. My Pal Scout introduces skills such as first words, daily routines, and counting! My Pal Scout was a hit with his soft cuddly body and his light up buttons to discovery!
I have talked at length about the Leap Frog Tag Reading System. Be sure to refer to my Tag Reader Review for more details. The children in attendance who received the Tag Reading System also received their choice of book from a variety of exciting Tag book titles. The favourites for the boys Spiderman and Spongebob, and the girls Tinkerbell and Olivia. Leap Frog provides a great variety of Tag reading material on their site and in stores including both popular character titles and children's classics! The Tag reader comes with one book and the audio of other books you purchase for the system can be easily downloaded. From emergent readers like my daughter Bronwynn and her friend Dayne to more experienced readers like my daughter and her friends Hunter and Faith the Tag Reading System is a fun and innovative way to motivate young readers and quiz them to develop their comprehension skills.

Your child isn't quite ready for the Tag Reader? Why not try Tag Junior like little Madison did this weekend? The Tag Junior like the Tag Reader uses a unique infrared camera technology to read the specially designed dot-matrix Tag pages. Tag Junior was created with 2 to 4 year olds in mind. The toddler-sized book explorer allows children the opportunity to explore and discover books and develop an early interest in them. Three year old Maddie beamed smiles when Tag Junior read the chunky and colourful board book included but was excited about taking it home to read the Curious George book she had also chosen to accompany her Tag Junior. Her mom promised Maddie she would download the audio for Curious George as soon as they arrived home. Stamp the Tag Junior anywhere on a page and it reads blocks of text stamp it onto pictures to hear sounds and songs embedded in the illustrations! Like the Tag there is a wide variety of titles available in the toddler-friendly board books and the audio can be downloaded to the Tag Junior easily on your home computer whether it be a MAC or PC.

Another great new Leap Frog toy which I will be reviewing shortly is the Text and Learn! This is the perfect handheld learning game PDA for three year olds! Busy three-year olds will love to “play” like their parents do! The Text and Learn games focus on letter recognition and QWERTY Keyboard skills. Preschoolers can text with Leap Frog character Scout and check his planner. Designed to mimic PDAs children not only learn basic skills but also stretch their imagination muscles by feeling a little like their grownup role models, mom and dad! Watch for my upcoming Text and Learn review!
As I waved goodbye to moms and kids I was filled with the satisfaction a successful social event can bring. I took pleasure in knowing all the children had a wonderful time exploring new toys and books, socializing with friends and learning without even realizing it! Play is the best for of learning for children Leap Frog understands this and its with this in mind that they create amazing toys for amazing kids!

Zoodles~An online adventure for young children and peace of mind for parents!

This is a new age! Never have computers been so accessible and prevalent in our society and their use extends far beyond the adult world and perhaps are more comprehensible to children than anyone ever could have imagined. It was when my children started arriving home from school asking "Can I Google kittens" or "My friend Timmy googled cow poop" that I knew internet safety was going to play a crucial role in our parenting.

We do everything right: we keep the computer in a common, and visible area of the house so we can easily observe the computer activities of our children, we also have certain parental controls set on our computer {but will be looking for better programs for such controls as time goes on}. One of the most frustrating problems with Internet however are those less-than-family-oriented ads which often find there way onto even sites appealing to children, and those unexpected things which pop-up through accidental clicking! Younger children especially find themselves clicking in and out of things accidentally due to their less developed fine motor skills. Zoodles is a solution to all of those unwelcome "extras". Zoodles is an internet browser specifically designed with kids in mind!

Zoodles is a National Parenting Publications Award winning site and you would be amazed at the fabulous web content Zoodles provides for your children with the safety that allows parents peace of mind. The Zoodles browser can only visit web pages that have been pre-approved by the Zoodles team of educational experts. And as parents, when you use the Zoodles parental controls you may choose from a list of characters and site content you feel comfortable with your child accessing. The acceptable links for your child's age are then accessible through their Zoodles online "Toybox".

Zoodles' dedication to the safety of your children online goes one step further with its ad blocker! Zoodles believes advertising to children is not okay under any circumstances and therefore has created a tool to strip out all ads. The Zoodles browser covers your entire screen when activated which means those accidental wayward clicks are no longer to be feared!

My children absolutely love the content they have encountered on Zoodles. Engaging, fun, and popular web content brings my children back to Zoodles time and time again. My 5 and 7 year old daughters no longer ask to use any other online gaming sites. Nick Jr., Disney, Scholastic, School Time Games are just some of the many great sites Zoodles accesses. Their educational experts have done the hard work for you, scouring the internet for great content which provides education and enjoyment! They've done an incredible job! When you set up your child's account you are asked to include basic information such as age and certain skill level questions to determine what content is appropriate for him or her.

Zoodles is free for kids but the creators of Zoodles have not forgotten parents and their need to keep tabs on their children and track their development and progress. Zoodles offers a free trial of the Parental features but you can purchase the Zoodles Premium Membership {$7.95 per month} for continued access to the Parental Dashboard which enables parents to not only monitor their children's activities but also adjust the controls to focus their child's time online on specific educational areas, like math and reading. Zoodles will even graph the amount of time your child spends on each selected subject area! You can purchase a Zoodles Premium Membership by choosing from a number of pricing options: $7.95 per month, $39.95 for 6 months, or $59.95 for the entire year! This makes Zoodles the perfect gift for you and your child this holiday season!
Zoodles wants to give the gift of Internet Fun to 5 Lucky Northern Mama readers by giving away 5 Zoodles Premium 3 month Membership Subscriptions!
To Enter:

• Visit Zoodles and tell me your favourite feature {Required}
• non-bloggers please leave me your email address with your comment

Extra Entries:

• Follow Northern Mama
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Giveaway open to all. Giveaway closes December 27th, 2009 10:00pm CT. Read Giveaway Rules for details.