They sent me their I Am the Frosting shirt for review, simply perfect for my young daughter, as we both share a love of cupcakes.  (You can read the story behind this particular tee right here).  The company was born from a mom’s desire to have organic clothing for her daughter, with artful designs.  Combining her art background, creativity and love for her daughter, a wonderful line of children’s clothing (baby through 6T) was born.

This particular t-shirt runs $24, which, while it might sound a little pricey at the onset, it really is in line with organic clothing.  It is extremely soft, something we have found to be consistent amongst items made from organic cotton, and is a nice a roomy size.  It hasn’t shrunk in the wash and has really held up well to the trials and tribulations of a two-year-old.  Beyond t-shirts, the line also includes onesies and baby hats, so it’s a great place to look if you’re searching for a gift for a special someone, something they can’t pick up at their local big box retailer.

A number of the designs and phrases have been inspired by the creator’s own little girl, and you’re sure to find something that tickles your fancy.  And your love for the non-overtly cute.  Happy shopping!

We met Spike for the first time Christmas morning. I had him wrapped up in such a way that when I pressed the buttons on the remote, he stomped and roared and tore right out of the paper! At first my daughter was a little scared. He does have a larger-than-life presence. He was very loud and she wouldn’t play with him for about 2 weeks!

Spike has this super awesome volume switch to make him much quieter. This is so great for the smaller kids. He has a hard plastic remote controller. He can move forward, right and left. I only wish he had reverse! He opens his mouth and closes it. He can even stand on his hind legs! Spike comes with two plastic rocks and a plastic bone.

Overall, we really enjoy playing with Spike the ULTRA DINOSAUR. I know he’ll be fun for years to come for my 3 year old. You can get him at Amazon for $120.00.

When my husband was out shopping for gifts for the boys and came across a good deal on this one, I relented and told him to grab it.  After the gift was opened, I read the directions and found that with some supervision it was not going to be as bad as I thought.  The Martian Mud is actually like Play Doh and the Lunar Lava is easily controlled with older children.  I also learned quickly, that a timer is a necessity with this toy as you don’t want to try to take out the alien before 5 minutes have passed… or you will have a gooey alien.  The kids like it, but they don’t last long enough to play with if they are gooey.

The set we got has a “spaceship” which encourages them to use their imagination after they have made their aliens.  It also acts as a storage station for all of the supplies.  They keep their “aliens” in small plastic containers that I gave them to use since exposure to air for too long makes them dry up.  They will last about 3-4 weeks or until they decide to “disect” them with the tools that come with the set.

Overall, my boys and their friends have had a great time with Martian Matter and I know I’ll be purchasing refills of the Lunar Lava to ensure that we get plenty of fun out of this toy.  I imagine that they will be wanting to give this set to friends as gifts at upcoming birthday parties, and at around $17.99 it’s reasonably priced.

Patsy Kreitman also writes a personal blog, Family, Friends and Food.

So when we got home, we checked this toy out to see where we could find it and put it on the wish list for the upcoming holidays.  As luck would have it (and a huge hint provided to their Aunt),  they received the 125 piece set of Zoob as a gift this year.  The moment the package was opened, they were both digging in and putting pieces together and coming up with different creations.

Here’s a description of what the pieces are like from Amazon:

“The design of award winning Zoob is based on a living & natural system; the 5 nucleic acids that are the building blocks of life. Its mobility mirrors the natural movement of people, animals, and machines. A multitude of benefits. Using Zoob, children view movement of biological, anatomical & mechanical parts (joints rotate, limbs extend, axles spin.)”

The set comes with an instruction booklet that can be used to build specific designs, or used as inspiration for whatever your kids can come up with, that’s what I love about it.  It really allows the kids to come up with their own creations and with the way the pieces can move the options seem limitless.

The pieces are not terribly small, but the recommended age for this building toy is 6 and up.  The set comes in a sturdy plastic storage box, which we find helpful when it’s time to clean-up as they know exactly where those pieces should go.  They also have sets that are designed to build specific creations such as the ZOOBMobile Car Designer Set, which I believe my boys will be requesting the next time we are getting close to a birthday!

Photo courtesy of Amazon.

Patsy Kreitman also writes for her personal blog, Family, Friends and Food.

Malley’s has a wide selection for chocolate lovers everywhere. I love the chocolate covered pretzels and peanut butter royals (my FAVORITE). They have chocolate covered strawberries and grapes around the holidays. They have some nice holiday baskets put together that would make great gifts for anyone on your list. 

There are stores spread out in North Eastern Ohio, but if you’re not local, you can order on their website and have discounted shipping right now. 

Merry Christmas everyone and may your holiday be sweet!

When it comes time to gift-giving, whether for Christmas or any other special occasion, I like to give personal pictures.  I am virtually never without my camera, snapping photos, both posed and candid, all year long.  Some of the very best ones I save for an upcoming celebration where a present makes sense.  Who doesn’t love receiving a framed picture of their loved one?  Or a fun time?  Or a sneaky shot you didn’t even know I took?

But of course, every good picture must have the perfect frame.  When it comes to frames, I have a few go-to sources that I hit to try and find the ideal match.  Stores like TJ Maxx and HomeGoods are treasure troves for a wide variety of frames at very reasonable prices.  I might have, um, bought seven there yesterday as a matter of fact. There are a number of great online retailers that offer creative framing solutions as well, and Giggles & Grins Designs is one of them.

These handcrafted decoupage frames are colorful, unique and lively, and perfect for a fun picture.  The frames are made one-by-one with great care and attention to detail.  The team at Giggles & Grins recently sent us their Safari Animals frame, and it was the perfect addition to my daughter’s dresser.  The colors are vibrant, without being too in-your-face, and this one in particular has a smattering of glitter lightly sprinkled over the shape to give it a sparkly sheen.  I love that.

Next time you’re on the hunt for just the right frame, you might want to check out the selection at Giggles and Grins.  They have everything from holiday selections to funky stuff for your teenager.  Happy shopping!

When it comes to the holidays, we still want to treat the teachers and give the kids a good holiday. But how can we do that and adhere to the nut-free standard?

Enter Vermont Nut Free.

This company produces chocolates in plants that never see any nuts. That means they are completely safe for any chocolate-loving person. They were kind enough to send me a few samples to try out their peppermint bark and holiday-themed chocolates. They were fantastic.

So, what would make a good gift?

• Christmas and Hanukkah Miniatures – These bite-sized chocolates come in holiday-themed festive shapes. Available in either milk or dark chocolate ($5.95 – 8.95), they are rich and creamy. This is one gift that is certain not to last long.
• Peppermint Crunch Bark – Peppermint bark is to the holiday season as red, white and blue are to Independence Day. Layers of rich dark chocolate and white chocolate are sprinkled with crushed peppermint ($19.75) and it all comes in a nice holiday tin with a sparkly ribbon. And the portion in the tin? Very generous.
• Holiday Greetings Gift Pack – This is a nice sampler of chocolate treats. It includes an 8 oz Peppermint Fudge, 4.5oz Solid Chocolate Santa, 5.75oz Christmas Bells and a 6.5oz Large Chocolate Bar ($29.95). And it’s all packed up in a red foil gift box. Tis the season!
• Christmas or Hanukkah Gift Towers – Like the gift pack, this is a sampler. It includes larger portions of truffles, fudge and peppermint bark in a tower of treats  ($55.95). Delish.

This year nearly 52 million households will be buying toys. But with this rough economy, do we have to spend money to buy that special gift for our children? Or can we do something instead which is sincere and from our heart, that will touch their little hearts even more?

My brother once took my daughter on a special outing to the Chicago Art Museum and taught her to look at pointillism with squinted eyes. It was a moment of a lifetime for my daughter that has and will stay with her, forever.

In a similar act of genuine love, my daughter once made me a birthday presentation on her computer with all my favorite family members and my favorite movie stars set to my favorite song. It was the most precious gift I could have ever received.

With these priceless gifts in mind, here are ten things you can do (FREE) this holiday:

1. Free day at local attraction with a twist
Find out when your local museum or local attraction has a free day. Now make it a personal trip by going online and researching your favorite exhibit. When your family visits the museum, educate each other and make it a private museum tour.
The Extra Yard: Dress up in the theme of the exhibit.

2. Make a family movie
There are many sites that let you upload photos of friends and family members to an animated, holiday themed online greeting card. This will be a step above typical online greeting cards with a great personal touch. Check-out this site to create yours.
The Extra Yard: Once you become an expert, show your neighbors how you did it.

3. Take the movies indoors
Instead of spending $10 a ticket to take the family to the movies, plus the cost of popcorn, soda, and candy, watch your favorite holiday movie at home and start a family tradition. If your movie selection at home is deficient, consider borrowing a DVD from the library.
The Extra Yard: Be creative. If you are watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas, dress up as “Whoville” citizens and eat “roast beast” for dinner.

4. Board game championship
Announce your family’s annual scrabble or charades (or other board game) bowl game for the holidays. Make the championship real by printing rules, game brackets, certificates for winners, and play “home” and “away” games where each family member can host a game in their own room. Just think, a “home” game gives children a reason to clean the room.
The Extra Yard: The winner gets to plan next year’s event.

5. Bake Holiday Cookies and take to neighbors
Find your favorite holiday cookie recipe and tweak it a little to make it your family’s own secret recipe. Bake cookies together, where every person has a role, e.g. the measurer, the mixer, the baker, the quality-controller, and the packer. Then take cookies to your neighbors and see them smile.
The Extra Yard: At the end of the evening, write down the secret recipe and hide it in a special place in the house.

6. Dress up dinner at home
Eating out can be special, but do we have to go out to have a special meal? Why not dress up for a special night at home? Print the menu, light some candles, and make dinner special with everyone sitting around the table.
The Extra Yard: Tip the chef by telling them the thing you love most about them.

7. Take old clothes to the local thrift store
Spend an evening helping every family member find one of two things to take to the neighborhood thrift store. Giving together as a family makes the holiday special.
The Extra Yard: Take your family’s secret cookie recipe and hot chocolate in a flask and sip as you drive to the thrift store. Take the long way home and enjoy the lights.

8. Plan a day with grandparents or at a local elderly home
Holidays become special when you create a memory for someone else. Why not plan a day with your grandparents? Drive them around and enjoy the evening listening to old time family stories. And if your grandparents are not in town, visit the local elderly homes and spread cheers by singing carols.
The Extra Yard: Take pictures of your evening together and frame it for their holiday gift.

9. Plan a Family treasure hunt
There’s nothing quite like a good treasure hunt inside the house. Have each family member hide something special and write down a clue for the rest of the family. As the evening unfolds, you will see the competitiveness overflow.
The Extra Yard: When the game is over, ask each other about your clues and laugh when you hear the reasons behind them.

10. Take a day off and give the gift of time to your child
Finally, the best gift you can give is that of time. Take a day off, turn off your cell-phone, and spend the entire day with your child. No plans, just total enjoyment.
The Extra Yard: Take lots of pictures and view them before you go to bed. You’ll have a smile on your face guaranteed.

—————-
Arjun Sen is first and foremost a dad. He is also the author of Raising a Father: Memoirs of a dad, challenged by his daughter to live for today’s special moments, the president and founder of ZenMango marketing consulting firm, and a professor at the University of Boulder. For more information visit www.raisingafather.com.

Nudo, a group of Italian artisans, has an Adopt an Olive Tree program where purchasers (or whomever they gift it to) actually sponsor an olive tree for a year. In return, the recipient gets around two litres (that’s roughly one-half of a gallon) of extra virgin olive oil packed in tins. Additionally, they will receive three tins of infused extra virgin olive oil. And if you want to visit the tree, you can.

Isn’t that a cool idea? I certainly would love something like this.

Now, you are probably wondering: Does the olive oil come straight from the sponsored tree? Sort of. The tree is processed as part of a grove, and whatever is received comes from the specific grove where the sponsored tree resides.

When adopting, you have the option of choosing the grove you adopt from or letting Nudo choose. The cost? $105 for the year-long adoption.

So, how is this olive oil?

I really liked it. Nudo was kind enough to send me a tin of their extra virgin olive oil to try. In order to get a good feel for how it compares to other oils, I tastetested it against a typical grocery store extra virgin olive oil, using the same roll broken into pieces for both.

The Nudo olive oil was very good. Full of nuanced flavors, it was slightly sweet, earthy and smooth all at once. The biggest difference that I noticed between the Nudo olive oil and the one I had on hand? The finish. The Nudo olive oil had a pleasant, simple, smooth finish, whereas the the olive oil I compared it against had a bitter finish.

To learn more about the Adopt an Olive Tree program, click here.

It’s super easy to upload photos to use for the products available on their site. After you upload a photo, just drag and drop them to the empty boxes. To adjust the picture, just click on it and you can center and crop the photo however you like.

I like that it flags text for possible spelling errors and photos for possible size printing issues. The books come in high quality paper and the photos turn out great! There are many options for backgrounds and framing. You even select the backgrounds for the covers and binding.

Shutterfly offers calendars, greeting cards, posters, pendants and many  more!  Order now so your gifts are in before the holidays! Follow @Shutterfly on Twitter for up-to-date promotions!