Mom and baby product reviews on The Mommy Insider

My Name Is Chicken Joe (Book/CD Set)

Madelyn turned 3 this weekend and her favorite gifts were books.  She loves books.  One of her favorite books right now is My Name is Chicken Joe.   We read it every night.  The story is about a cat named Chicken Joe and other animals whose names don't quite fit.  Featuring whimsical illustrations and an easy to remember 'chorus', it's nearly impossible for me to not to start singing the story.

My Name is Chicken Joe is a book/cd set and is a fun book for beginning readers and equally as fun for toddlers being read to.  Both of my kids love the 11-song CD which I consider to be a mashup of folk, rock, and country style music. This CD will be one that we listen to on our road trips this summer.  Trout Fishing in America has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, Parents Choice Gold, American Library Awards, and others.  Trout Fishing in America have earned widespread critical praise from USA Today, Billboard and The Los Angeles Times.

You can buy the My Name is Chicken Joe book/cd set on the Trout Fishing in America website here.

Enjoy!

WAT-AAH!

Do kids ever WANT to drink water?  When WAT-AAH!'s available mine do.  That could be because we don't have juice in our fridge very often, so the options are water and milk.  But, 9 times out of 10, both of my kids chose milk - pre WAT-AAH!. 

When I put WAT-AAH! in the fridge in cluster of milk, regular bottled water, and apple juice, Sebastian chose WAT-AAH!.  The first time he chose WAT-AAH!, he said it was out of curiosity but he enjoyed it.  I caught his enjoyment on video but for some reason I can't get some of my videos to upload onto my new computer.  Just a little while later he chose WAT-AAH! again, over apple juice.  When I asked why he chose WAT-AAH! over the apple juice, he said it was "because the bottle is cool and looks fun".   I asked him about the lack of flavor and if he felt like his thirst was quenched and he replied with a simple "It's water mom.  Water doesn't have flavor and I'm not thirsty right now, I just drank some water". That was a bit of a smart-alic answer but he was being truthful.  It is in fact water, and after drinking about 1/3rd of the bottle of WAT-AHH! he wasn't thirst anymore.

There are currently four 'flavors' (unflavored) of WAT-AHH!; Brain, Body, Energy, and Bones.  You can learn more about WAT-AHH! here.

Bratz - Spring Activities from Dancing to Swimming

Madelyn is a little young to play with Bratz but believe me, she would if she could.  Bratz dolls are vibrant, stylish, and come with lots of accessories to occupy and entertain little girls for hours.
Bratz's new spring line is made up of Bratz expressing their individual style and interests from   sports themes to team activities giving girls the opportunity to express their own interests through their favorite Bratz dolls. 

The new Bratz Dance Crewz line has Yasmin™, Cloe™, Jade™ and Sasha™ showing off their individual style as they bring their talents to the dance stage.  The Bratz World® line expands this season with additions to each doll’s house, and the introduction of Cloe’s mom, Polita.  If I remember right, my sister and I used to fight over who was the mom when we played dolls. If you're reading, correct me if I'm wrong!  There is even a Swimmin’ Mermaid whose tail changes color when she swims in water.

Go to the Bratz website to see all of the products, watch Bratz TV, and listen to Bratz tunes.  Check out these and other Bratz on the Bratz page on the Toys R' Us website.

Bella Sara Treasures & Miniatures collections

Why do boys get to have all the trading card fun?  They don't.. silly me.  Now with Bella Sara collectible trading cards and miniature velvety horses, girls ages 8-12 will spend hours trading and playing with the magical world of Bella Sara.  

Bella Sara trading cards were introduced a while ago and the addition of these adorable miniature horses make for amazing fun for girls.  The Miniatures collection is the first time Bella Sara collectors get the chance to collect actual figurines of the Bella Sara horses.

When I received my Bella Sara package from Team Mom I didn't realize that two of the packages held beautiful miniature horses.  Madelyn was there when I opened the first package and her face lit and she immediately took the horse to her doll house and welcomed her into her dollhouse family.  The horses fit in the palm of your hand and there are 20 velvety horses and bonus codes to collect in all.  Imagine the fun girls will have with these along with the Bella Sara trading cards. Bonus codes are used on the Bella Sara website which is a place where girls can play games and collect and care for horses.  Girls get their own cottage upon signing up for a free Bella Sara account.

More about Bella Sara

• Girls can have even more fun on the interactive Bella Sara game website

• 20 collectible horses

• 20 bonus codes to use on the website

• 8 series of trading cards

• Trading card game

• Bella Sara books

  
  

Solaroo UV Blocking Sun Clothing from SunFriendlyProducts.com

I received two Solaroo UV blocking suits last summer and failed to write the review and now I can't find the photographs of the kids wearing the suits to post in this review.  Anyway.. I am giving you the heads up now that Solaroo's UV blocking sun clothing is a must have this coming spring and summer. 

Both of my kids loved their suits last summer.  Sebastian felt cool in his surfer style blue shirt and Madelyn looked adorable in her pretty pink one piece suit.
My kids were outside a lot last spring and summer and Sebastian wore his Solaroo shirt when playing with his friends outside and helping me in the garden.  I am paranoid about sunburn and UV damage and love knowing that the kids Solaroo UV blocking sun clothes protect them from UV rays and I never forget to cover the rest of their bodies with super spf sunscreen.  It's not worth it to skip the sunscreen or UV blocking clothes if you have them!  I just wish I had a Solaroo shirt and Extreme Performance Hat for when I'm out in the yard or playing with the kids.

Solaroo UV blocking sun clothing is lightweight, dries quickly, and keep 98% of the UV rays out.  Available in kids sizes 0 months to 8 years, womens sizes up to 18 and mens sizes up to XX-Large with varying prices.

Go to SunFriendlyProducts.com to see their huge selection of UV Blocking Sun Clothing and accessories for babies, kids, and adults.

Build-A-Bear Workshop offers even more animals before for just $10

I'm determined to show some holiday spirit this year, at least inside our house.  Our excuse the last few years has been that we (Tim and I) have been so busy with the kids, work, etc. that we didn't have time to get up in the attic to get the holiday decorations down and then put them out.  Check back in a couple of weeks and I'll let you know how holiday decorating is going this year.

I got a cute little Build-A-Bear Workshop animal for review a couple of weeks ago and that's when I realized that I don't have to crawl around the attic to find decorative holiday stuff.   Adding a touch of holiday spirit can be as easy as putting a cute holiday spirited stuffed animal on a chair.  That's easy enough.  I'll try to do more but dressing up a stuffed animal in red and green and calling him Rudolph.. for a few weeks at least will make me feel better.

Build-A-Bear Workshop has a huge selection of animals, including the moose you see here, and tons of adorable dress up outfits and accessories.  The animals are super cute with faces full of personality and have exquisitely soft fur.

Buying a Build-A-Bear Workshop bear is easy.  Here's how you can do it:

• Go to the Build-A-Bear Workshop website
• Choose an animal 
• Choose an outfit 
• Choose a sound 
• Choose accessories 
• Order your animal and it will arrive at your doorstep in a Cub Condo® carrying case.

  
Have Fun!

Danika's Totally Terrible Toss: The Legend of the Purple Flurp

This book is part of the Secret Keeper Girl book series.  If you have a tween girl or know one, this is the perfect book to add to her collection.  The Legend of the Purple Flurp is a book about a 12 year old girl, Danika who gets in trouble for accidentally tossing 'purple flurp' at the lunch lady.  Consequently Danika gets into trouble which puts a major kink in her plans of winning the title of Miss Teeny Pop at Marion, Ohio’s Annual Popcorn Festival. 
Although the incident is an unfortunate accident Danika is given detention and meets three girls who help her gain new insight into what life is about.  Before accidentally throwing purple flurp (you have to read the book to learn what it is!) at a lunch lady Danika had the mindset that life was about what she had rather than who she is.  You know... fancy clothes, a big house, nice cars, all that stuff.

Danika's Totally Terrible Toss: The Legend of the Purple Flurp is full of humor, real life situations, and activities for moms and daughters to do together.  The book is addictive.  I read it with my nine year old the first day I got it for review and he actually read it in bed that night!  Don't tell!!  We made sure to read the book in such a way that it didn't seem so girly and he wouldn't feel like he was reading a girly book.  I told him not to mind the pink cover. 

The Secret Keeper Girl series of books opens a door for moms and daughters to communicate about situations that tween girls go through.  There are currently three books in the Secret Keeper Girl series and are available individually or in bundles.

You will find Danika's Totally Terrible Toss (Secret Keeper Girl) at Amazon.com for about $10.

Personalized painted baby onesie's and tee's - Hip Kids Shop

If you are a regular reader, you know that I love personalized clothes and gifts. 
Madelyn has personalized pacifier clips, clothes, and piggy banks. 

A great online store for personalized kids clothes, is Hip Kids Shop.  Celena Apple, the artist behind the clothes, creates one-of-a-kind hand painted clothes for infants, toddlers and older kids all the way up to size 12.  The clothes are American made and are 100% cotton.

You will also find personalized gifts including toy caddy's in several different styles, personalized growth charts and piggy banks at Hip Kids Shop.  Your toddler will be the cutest on the playground when she's wearing a tee with her name and cute little butterfly painted on it.  Each shirt is made to order and no two are exactly alike.

Price: $29.95

Coupon code: Use code 'insider' to get 15% off of your purchase.

Available at: Hip Kids Shop

Back to school with Oompa Toys

When I walk through the halls at Sebastian's school, I see kids carrying all types of backpacks and bags.  Gone are the days of the traditional school backpack.  Solid colors, two pockets and if you were lucky it came with a matching pencil case.

Oompa Toys is a great place to shop for your child's next backpack, pencil case, and lunch bag.  Their selection of school supplies is just like their selection of toys.  Colorful, stylish and best of all (for parents anyway), functional.

For example, the Allerhand Cool Kids Messenger Bag is the perfect size for kids, comes in two colors, and has lots of pockets to keep folders, agenda's, and pencils in, and even has an insulated water bottle holder.

Sebastian's favorite things about this messenger bag are the pockets and the insulated water bottle holder.  He told me the other day that the goldfish snacks he has during class make him very thirsty.  I don't remember getting a snack when I was in school!?  Some other cool features are the splash bag that will keep your child's mp3 player or cell phone dry when he gets off the bus in the rain and the adjustable and padded shoulder strap.

Check out this messenger bag and other awesome school supplies at Oompa Toys, today!!  You'll love browsing the Oompa Toys website.

If they run out of stock of this messenger bag you can request to get an email when it is back in stock.

Website: Oompa Toys

Cahooties - a modern twist on the classic 'fortune telling' game

Like most little girls, I spent hours folding paper and playing the game of  'fortune telling' when I was a child.   I was recently thrilled to learn about Cahootie, a game based off of the 'fortune telling' game and to share it with Sebastian, my eight year old son.  Who say's boys can't play too?   Despite the fact that Cahootie is geared toward girls onl y, Sebastian enjoys the Sporty Girl Cahootie.  I didn't make a big deal of the game being for girls, so he doesn't care.

Cahootie, available in several versions; Truth or Dare, Wishes and Dreams, Sporty Girl, Birthday Wishes, Democrat, and Republican each featuring colorful designs and 40 re-positionable stickers, so the game changes as often as players want it to.

I quickly learned that Cahootie is tear-resistant. My 2 year old daughter and un-approved Cahootie tester put our review Cahootie to the test and I am pleased to say that the Cahootie withstood some rough treatment. 

Priced at just $5.95, Cahootie make a great gift.

Cahootie.com, is an interactive website where free Cahootie templates are available for download and printing so your kids can make their own Cahootie and stickers.  Join Club Cahootie and your kids can submit their own Cahootie designs to be featured on the website!

I have five Cahootie's to giveaway! Sign up for our newsletter using the link above or come back to see when the giveaway starts.