My dilemma, however, has been how to display these treasures. I want everyone who enters my home to see them! Well, my problem was solved when I found Chuck Pederson and Generation to Generation Heirlooms. Chuck handcrafts a Website full of products that are certain to become family heirlooms, including children’s toys, quilt ladders and quilt racks. Here is the gorgeous 7.5-foot quilt ladder he made for me:

As you can see, I am proudly displaying my baby-clothes quilt on the rack and will soon be adding my father’s memorial quilt above that. It fits perfectly in the corner of my room, with an angled design at the top so it leans securely against the wall.

Chuck makes all of his products by hand with the utmost care and attention to detail. The solid construction of this quilt ladder is amazing, and the silky-smooth finish on it is absolutely beautiful. Due to the size of this ladder, Chuck constructs it to fold in the middle for shipping and some minor assembly is required when it arrives. Just so you know, I intended to add that project to my husband’s “honey do” list, but the instructions Chuck sent were so simple and easy to follow that I completed it all by myself using the tools he suggested: A screwdriver and wood glue. (He pre-drills the holes for the dowels, good man that he is).

You can purchase any of Chuck’s heirloom treasures on his Website (quilt racks, children’s toys and quilt project hangars) and he will ship them to you. Prices range from $100 for a Toddler Town Car, $300 for a handcrafted Rocking Horse, $100 for a traditional floor quilt rack and $125 for the 7.5-foot ladder (plus shipping). All of the toys from Generation to Generation Heirlooms would make perfect Christmas presents for children. And unlike the latest toy made of hard, molded plastic and running on batteries, these toys are certain to last through the generations, becoming family heirlooms as Chuck intended.

If  you live in/near California, you can see the items in person at the following craft shows:

October 21, 22 & 23 – Independence Hall Quilters Quilt Show, Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, CA

November 12-13 – Tuleburg Quilt Guild Quilt Show, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, Stockton, CA

Chuck’s other tentative shows for 2012 are listed here.

Please visit Generation to Generation Heirlooms to check out Chuck’s products. You won’t be disappointed.

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Well, the new Mickey Mote, which Walt Disney studios home entertainment released on store shelves yesterday, is a kid-friendly remote that lets kids interact with their favorite Disney DVDs (it works with all Disney preschool dvd’s that include discovery mode — that’s the interactive watch and play mode on the DVD that offers different levels). there are lots of titles available with this feature, including two new ones that also debuted yesterday: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny Big Construction Job.

So, I’ll tell you why I like this fun preschool toy, but first watch it in action:

So here’s why I like it:

Setup is easy and the instructions are given right on the screen. You’ll need to find your current DVD remote  to use during setup — likely among your child’s toys. I’m hoping that will happen less now that she has her own.]

The Mickey Mote is a shaped like Mickey’s ears and it’s bright red, so it looks fun.

There are  only 4 buttons on the Mickey Mote — a star, circle, triangle and square. So, it’s not too complicated for your young preschooler to operate. (I wish MY AT&T Uverse remote only had four buttons!!!)

As I said, the Mickey Mote works with any Disney Preschool DVD that includes Discovery Mode™, and once it’s setuup, you select the Discovery Mode feature on the menu screen and within minutes, your child will be easily responding to questions, throughout the story.  Discovery Mode features include two levels of play, which provides more challenging questions as the child grows. I think Level 2 is a little difficult for a 3-year-old, but Level 1 was perfect for my kiddo. As the DVD plays, the child is asked questions and she can push one of the buttons for her answer. Then she gets an immediate response.

Once families have purchased a Disney Preschool DVD that comes packaged with the Mickey Mote, they can continue to build their Disney Preschool libraries as the Mickey Mote works in compatibility with any Discovery Mode enhanced DVD. For example, kids can immediately use the remote with any of the following titles:

• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Road Rally
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Adventures in Wonderland
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Choo Choo
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Bow-Tique
• Handy Manny: Manny’s Motorcycle Adventure
• Handy Manny: Manny’s Big Race
• Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Blast Off
• My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Duper Super Sleuths
• My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Bedtime With Pooh

Note:  Discovery Mode can also be played using any DVD remote control.

The two new videos are awesome and retail on Amazon for about $26.99 including the Mickey Mote!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Numbers Roundup features more than 100 minutes of content with five exciting, numbers-themed adventures.  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is the #1 program on Playhouse Disney as well as the #1 series with children between the ages of two and five years.  Bonus features include a never-before-seen (until 1/1/11) bonus episode as well as the Discovery Mode feature.

Handy Manny: Big Construction Job is a fun-filled, full-length adventure that takes Manny out of Sheet Rock Hills and to a new construction project out of town!  Introducing new tools, new songs and a never-before-seen episode, Handy Manny stars Wilmer Valderrama (TV’s “That 70’s Show”) as the voice of Manny.  It is a top 5 television series with preschoolers 2-5, and is an Emmy®-nominated show, set in a multicultural, multi-generational community and follows a curriculum that models problem solving and the importance of community.

So, my recommendation: If you’ve got a toddler or preschooler, this is a for-sure purchase on the holiday gift list.

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And if you want to win one of the award winners — the Ground Force Drifter — go here. The contest ends Nov. 19.

Among the 2010 NAPPA winning products are:

Kinect for Xbox 360—Microsoft, $149.99; Xbox.com; ages 6 and up

In this video gaming experience, you don’t have to hold any controller! With a special motion capture sensor that sits in front of your television, Kinect for Xbox 360 puts all players at the center of gameplay. Kid testers LOVED it!

MobiGo Touch Learning System—VTech, $59.99; VTechKids.com; ages 3 and up

“Edu-gaming” at its finest! A touch screen and slide-out keyboard on this portable, handheld gaming console system are accompanied by clear voice and excellent video quality. Insert cartridge to play and learn about numbers, letters, music, problem solving, and more. Additional games can be downloaded.

Beautiful Oops!—by Barney Saltzberg; Workman Publishing, 2010; $11.95; Workman.com; ages 3 to 103

Readers and listeners alike learn that there are life lessons for all of us in every “oops!” of a mistake. The author/illustrator creates a multi-media experience by showing—even more than telling—how to use our imagination to turn life’s little glitches and blips, spills and smudges, drips and smears into something positive and, in this case, a surprisingly beautiful and whimsical piece of art.

Ground Force Drifter—Razor USA, LLC, $299.99; Razor.com; ages 8 and up

This steel-framed, rechargeable battery-operated go-kart lets kids zip through the neighborhood at speeds of up to 12 mph. Thumb tab acceleration and a rear-wheel hand brake put control in the palm of kids’ hands; torque and tires give the power and precision for spin-outs, fishtails and 360s.

Minotaurus—LEGO Systems Inc, $24.99; LEGO.com; ages 7 and up

In this first game collection by Lego, players build their own game board using Lego pieces. They then strategize how to get their heroes through the labyrinth to the temple, without confronting the Minotaur. Limitless changing of the “game-scape” makes for super creative and imaginative play.

For a complete list of all 205 winners, including a printable shopping list, visit www.NAPPAawards.com. The new NAPPA website allows visitors to easily navigate by product category—toys, games, books, DVDs, music, software, and storytelling—and sort by age group. Quick lists including Best Values, Top Picks, Family Fun, and Rising Stars are also provided. To make holiday shopping even easier for busy parents, the site now provides an Amazon.com shopping cart.

About NAPPA

For 20 years the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) has been the go-to resource for the best products for families. NAPPA’s team of independent expert judges, along with family and child testers, select the most innovative and enduring products as NAPPA Gold and Honors winners in two annual competitions, Children’s Products and Parenting Resources. Far more than a seal of approval, a NAPPA award signifies that a product has been rigorously evaluated against stringent criteria and stands out among hundreds of other products from around the world. For more information, visit www.NAPPAawards.com.

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Mia My is a one-of-a-kind friendship jacket that allows girls to show off their unique personality and/or their best friends. It’s a stylish white blazer that comes with  four yummy scented colorful markers for the girl’s to decorate or for B.F.F.s to sign their chic jacket. And if they want to restyle their Mia My jacket, just toss it in the wash and the ink is gone!

Mia My asked me to review one of their jackets, but my 15-year-old shot me down. “I am NOT wearing any such thing,” she declared. I’m thinking it really is for the tween set and younger. So, I asked my neighbor’s adorable daughter, Ava, to put the product to the test. She was delighted to do so, and what you see here is her third design on the jacket. She wasn’t satisfied with her first two designs, so her Mom washed it and voila — ALL TRACES of the previous design were gone!

Ava loves the jacket because it provides an outlet for her creativity. And she has something that no one else at her school has. Plus, she has some ideas for decorating it for school spirit day, St. Louis Cardinal’s Day, various holidays, etc. What FUN!

What impressed me about the jacket was the quality of the design. It is constructed like a well-made designer piece. The fabric is thick, the seams are sturdy and the cut is tailored and stylish. It’s not the kind of quality construction you can find in just any children’s clothing — this is boutique-quality stuff.

What impressed Ava’s Mom was the fact that no matter how dark she colored her designs, they washed out easily in the laundry. She did say she thought the markers were “running out” rather quickly, but you can buy additional marker sets for $4.99.

The Mia My jacket comes in two different styles, the one you see Ava wearing in the above pictures is available in sizes 4, 5 and 6. And a teen size jacket that ties around the waist is available in sizes XS, S, M, L, and XL. The jackets sell for $49.99, so they are rather pricey for a birthday party favor, which is one idea suggested by the company. I’m sure that would make for some kind of fun birthday party activity, but it would be expensive. Of course, the birthday girl could perhaps receive the jacket as a gift, and then her friends could sign their birthday wishes onto her jacket, and that would be fun, too.

I personally think this would be a great birthday or Christmas gift, so if you’re starting your shopping early this year and want something unique, Mia My has my endorsement.

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This game, by Ubisoft, lets players design the next big thing in fashion and travel the world to build the design into a worldwide fashion label. Players can launch their international brand, open boutiques around the world, and design the hottest, most wanted fashion in the world. The game lets you:

• Travel the World – Promote your fashion brand all over the world as you set up runway shows, photo shoots and celebrity endorsements.
• Open boutiques in iconic fashion cities, and promote your brand by taking part in local fashion events.
• Dress the hottest celebs in your designs and be seen on the red carpet.
• Design Your Brand – Create a fashion collection under your own label.
• Choose your brand name and customize your own logo from a variety of fonts, backgrounds, and colors.
• Design amazing collections of different themes.
• Go shopping to accessorize your designs, from shoes and jewelry to hats and purses.
• Become a fashion expert – Become a world-famous fashion trends expert as you travel the world looking for the hottest fashions. 
• Dress models all over the world!

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. And the company certainly gives back to the community, having recently announced the recipients of four $25,000 college scholarships. The Ubisoft  ”Imagine Your Future” sweepstakes, a month-long online sweepstakes that awarded more than $100,000 in prizes, including four $25,000 college scholarships to aspiring students, included winners ranging from an unborn child to a 16-year-old high school student.

The sweepstakes was created to commemorate October as “Imagine Month,” during which four brand new video games from Ubisoft’s wildly popular Imagine series became available at retail.

You can buy Imagine: Fashion Designer World Tour here but one lucky Lipstick to Crayons reader can win the game for free by entering the contest below.

Giveaway Guidelines:

Tell me in a comment below why you want to win the game.

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (you can tweet daily if you want, but make sure you leave a comment each time you do).
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
7. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook
   

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Jan. 11, 2010. Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Contest open to United States residents only. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by Jan. 13, 2009, he/she will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO MICHELE P., COMMENT #131.

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Players of Petz Nursery get to work through giving their petz milk, keeping them clean and helping them grow while also building relationships with the animals and influencing their personality. Progressing in the game involves unlocking more exotic baby animals.

The game certainly demonstrates to kids that caring for an animal involves playtime and responsibility time.

The game works with other DS games such as Petz Dog Talent Show, and it is rated E for everyone.  It might be a little tricky for a younger play to learn to use at first, but with some help from Mom or Dad, the game promises to please even the youngest DS players in the family.

Petz Nursery and other new Petz® games, including Petz Hamsterz Superstarz, launched as part of Petz Sharing and Caring Month with the ASPCA and famous pop band Honor Society.  Kids and their parents can go to the Petz Cause House on ubiworld.com to play a variety of Petz mini-games and earn “pointz” to show their support for the ASPCA in protecting animals.  And, to further support teaching kids about responsible pet care, Ubisoft’s Petz will donate funds directly to the ASPCA.

You can buy Petz Nursery here for $27.99.

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Bravo Sports recently introducted their latest creation — the one-of-a-kind Pulse Slither drift scooter — and my 11-year-old son says it’s in a class by itself in coolness.

At first, I thought my husband and son had put this scooter together improperly, because it has TWO wheels in front and one in back. Again, I was mistaken. This  innovative three-wheeled scooter with two large front wheels offset by a single pivot-mounted swivel rear wheel offers the ability to pull off tricks and maneuvers that are simply not possible on any other scooter or wheeled good.  

The Pulse Slither translates the fun of riding a snowboard, skiing or surfing into a street toy. It can be ridden facing forward or standing to one side and is propelled by “slithering” from side to side or by pushing with your foot, opening up even more trick possibilities and making it that much harder to put away.  The tension on the rudder-like rear wheel is adjustable, which is key to helping smaller riders (such as my son) the ability to maneuver the scooter. It also gives the rider the freedom to drift in and out of turns, zip around corners, execute lightning-quick 180º turns and adjusts to their skill level.

Emblazoned with vibrant in-molded graphics, that won’t chip or peel, the Pulse Slither is available in two dynamic color ways: Electric Blue “Skull Wing” and Toxic Green “Von Scroll.” 

Upsides:

• Easy to assemble (according to husband)
• Fun to ride (according to son)
• Cool-looking (according to son)

Downside:

• The “slithering” motion takes some practice! (according to son)

You can buy a Pulse Slither for $59.99 here.

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Leapfrog has long been a leader in creating educational but FUN toys, and now they’ve gone and created one that even a two-year-old can enjoy. The Tag system makes it fun for toddlers to connect words with pictures and other thoughts. By pressing the Tag Junior Book Pal onto the pages of specially designed books, the words and pictures come to life.

 The Tag Jr. is easy for a toddler to use because all she has to do is touch the  book pal (which fits perfectly in a toddlers chubby little hand) anywhere on the page and she will be rewarded with a response. Each Tag Jr. book has a theme and focuses on a skill.

The Tag Jr. system is geared toward young preschoolers ages 2-4. Leapfrog
also lets you create an account at LeapFrog’s Learning  Path site where you can track your child’s learning progress online and download and print free activities to compliment your child’s Tag Jr. books.

LeapFrog toys are always fun-forward and engaging with educational benefits and skill-building fundamentals that last well beyond the holiday season. In other words, they’re invaluable.

Upsides:

• Easy for a toddler to use
• Great learning tool
• Encourages reading
• Portable – great toy for road trips and hotel stays
• Reasonably priced

 Downside:

• The process of downloading the audio from the Leapfrog site to your Tag Jr. Book Pal was a little tricky for me, but there is lots of online support on the site.

You can buy the Tag Junior here for $24.99 and it comes with a book. You can buy extra books here and here.

Also from Leapfrog is the Text & Learn. Tech-savvy preschoolers on your shopping list can imitate Mom and Dad (Big Sister in our house) with this durable, just-for-kids learning PDA.  Games focus on letter recognition, shape matching, and QWERTY keyboard skills, allowing preschoolers to exchange text messages with Scout, check Scout’s planner, and explore in a pretend browser mode. You can buy it  here for $21.99.

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Playskool recently launched a “More Than Play” campaign, which is an educational initiative to share how play lays down important foundational skills needed for advanced learning like reading, writing, mathematics, critical problem solving, and conceptual thinking, to name just a handful. 

You can learn more about child development facts and the benefits surrounding the skills associated to different Playskool toys at the Playskool More Than Play Web site. And the More Than Play campaign has developed several videos demonstrating the toys and their play benefits. Here is one for Helmet Heroes, which is the toy I’m giving away below:

You can buy Playskool Helmet Heroes here. , but one lucky Lipstick to Crayons reader can win one for free by entering the contest below.

Giveaway Guidelines:

Tell me in the comment section below why you want to win Playskool Helmet Heroes and what you think your kids have learned from their toys. 

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (you can tweet daily if you want, but make sure you leave a comment each time you do).
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
7. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook
   

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Dec. 16. Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Contest open to United States residents only. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by Dec. 18, 2009, he/she will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner.

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This kitchen has all the bells and whistles that would delight any kiddo — oven, microwave, refrigerator, sink with faucet and accessory set. It comes with frying and boiling sound effects and cabinet and drawer space. I think I might be spending some of my toddler’s Christmas gift money on this item from which I’m sure she’ll get plenty of years of play.

Walmart also is offering some other amazing online specials. Check them out:
Save on Amazing Online Specials at Walmart.com!

Huge Savings on Holiday Rollback Electronics at Walmart.com!

Holiday Rollbacks in Electronics, Toys and Video Games at Walmart.com!

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