I never buy myself anything, and I know that most moms are like me.  We buy everything for our families, and we take care of ourselves last.  The last winter coat that I got was when I was in high school (and I graduated in 1995).  I was definitely needing a new coat this year, and my Lands End Women’s Weatherly Jacket fit the bill.  The first thing I loved about the jacket was that it was not bulky.  I am a heavier person, and trust me when I say this, I don’t need any more bulk than I already have.  Now, even though the jacket is not bulky, it is still super warm (and this jacket was put to the test today when it was snowing out this afternoon).  The second thing I love is the fabric it is made from.  It is very comfortable; I could easily go to bed wearing this jacket.  I also have short arms, and I am able to adjust the jacket at the wrists.  For those who don’t have that issue, you have no idea what a pain it is to own clothing and coats that constantly covers your hands.  The pockets are fleece lined, and you also have side entry handwarmer pockets (and since I don’t like to carry a purse, these pockets come in super handy).  There also is an inside mp3 player pocket and some security pockets.  Lastly, there are a ton of colors to pick from.  I personally like blue, so that is what I got.

If you or a loved one needs a new coat this year, definitely make sure you check out Lands End.  You cannot go wrong with this brand!

Brighter Minds Media has now introduced Bob The Builder Can Do Zoo. It has already been awarded three awards — that’s how good it is!  I let my greatest kid tester in my house try it out — that would be Madison who is 4.  Since we have gotten the game in the mail (thanks Family Review Network!), Madison goes around singing “Bob the Builder . . . We can do it  . . . Bob the Builder . . .  Yes we can”.  That has been my house for a week now.  However, I don’t actually mind all the much, because we really like this game.  As soon as I found out the Diner Dash (my favorite computer game ever) was behind this, I knew we had a winner.

Bob The Builder Can Do Zoo has 3 modes of play - Story, Free Play, and Sticker Book.  There is also 6 animal habitats to build,  7 unique learning activities, and hundreds of stickers to collect for building achievements.  There are three levels, so it is quite easy to pick the level that is best for your kids.  You are able to play in both English and Spanish.  There are also many skills taught through this game - problem solving, critical thinking, object classification, planning and time sequencing, pattern, size, and spatial recognition, and shape and color identification.

Why is this game a winner in my house?  That is actually pretty easy.  First, this game works on our desktop that is 8 years old.  Most games won’t work on there, and we actually consider that Madison’s computer.  When a game works on there, we all cheer for joy.  The second thing that I loved was that she was actually learning something while playing.  There are a lot of games out there that are just mindless, and I would much rather have her playing games like this.  Next, the price is right.  It should retail around $19.95 which is very cheap and affordable for a computer game.  Lastly, Madison can play this herself.  I didn’t have to help her at all.  She is only four, but that say a lot about this game.  It is truly simple and age appropriate.  Nothing is more frustrating than to get a game for her, and I have to play it because it is too hard to do and/or navigate.

If you are looking for a great Christmas or birthday present, I highly recommend Bob The Builder Can Do Zoo.  It was a big hit in my house and will be in yours too!

How many of you are parents and still have electrical outlet plugs on your electrical outlets?  My house is personally covered with them.  However, the bad thing about regular outlet plugs is their size!  How many of you had your kids put them in their mouth??!!??  For keeping things out of your outlets, they work great.  However, as a choking hazard, they are one of the worst things to have in your house!  I have watched both my children put them in their mouths.  Then you have to go and retrieve them from their mouths leading to a tramatic experience for all involved.

That being said there is an awesome product on the market that solves this problem.  Safety Caps are bigger than the traditional outlet plug, so your children are not able to stick the whole thing in their mouth.  If for some reason they are able to get the whole thing in there, there are two holes in there to aid in breathing.  The dad who designed his had his own daughter choke on a regular outlet plug, so he knew he had to do something so it never happened again to another family.

The things I definitely like about this product are almost too numerous to count.  First, my kids can’t choke on it.  Second, the color is awesome.  It actually blends in really well with our electrical covers, so you almost can’t even tell that I have my outlet covered.  Its a small thing, but it does look prettier.  Lastly, the price rocks!  For $9.99 (plus $2.97 shipping and handling), you can outfit your whole house by using this coupon!  My regular ones were more than that!  I know that my children’s safety is definitely worth that.

If you have little ones or know someone who does, this is a product that is both safe and can save lives.  This can make a great gift for a new mom or just making your own house safer.

Sometimes you come across a product that you know another mother had to have designed. The Bathtub Assistant is one of these products. Designed by a mother whose son hit the faucet in the tub when he slipped out of her hands (and ended up with a black eye), it allows you to support yourself without having to lean against the tub.

First, the thing I love the most about this product is that it keeps mommy dry.  Nothing is more frustrating to me than having to change my clothes after giving my kids a bath because I leaned up against the side of the tub that happened to be all wet (and this ends up happening more times than not).  Instead, you are leaning against a cushion that is actually quite comfortable.  Second, I was able to put this together all by myself with a little help from the directions.  I personally hate products that require me to be brain surgeon to figure out.  These aren’t those type of directions.  Third, it is adustable for short people like me!  I was able to use it and so was my husband (who is a foot taller than me!)  Lastly, The Bathtub Assistant fold up, so when not in use, it doesn’t take up much space at all.  Also, it makes it super easy to travel with too!

If you are looking for a prodcut to make your life easier if you have little ones, then this is it.  It also would make a great baby shower gift or baby gift for the new moms in your life!

In the market for Window Treatments, Drapes, Valances, Swags, or Roman Shades? If you are, Fabric Workroom is definitely a place you should check out. I personally found their selection awesome and found several window treatments I would definitely put in my living room. They also have my favorite: free shipping. Shipping is always an obstacle for me to shop online, so when it is free, it makes me want to buy all the more. You can even get free swatches! I also like that everything is made in the US and that there are live specialists to answer any questions that I may have (it’s from 9 - 5 EST). Unless you live in CT, there is also no sales tax (which is awesome when you live in places like me who have 10.25% sales tax). Lastly, they have a Satisfaction Guarantee and a refer a friend program.  I know I will be checking out Fabric Workroom the next time I am looking for window treatments.

It is the small things in life that can make the biggest difference. Did you know that by brushing your teeth with Recycline Toothbrush, you can help save the world? Ok, you aren’t going to be Superman. However, the Recycline Toothbrush uses recycled plastic and when you are done with it, send the toothbrush and case back to Preserve using their postage-paid label. It will then be reprocessed into plastic lumber for picnic tables, boardwalks, and decks.

Now, I did the ultimate test in my house to see how good this toothbrush really is — I switched my husband’s toothbrush without telling him.  This is the same guy who didn’t notice for around six hours that I had cut off six inches from hair, so he isn’t the most observant person out there.  However, he knew immediately that I changed his toothbrush out.  When I ask him what he thinks of his new toothbrush, he just replies “awesome”.  He thought it had a great design, and he likes how it feels.  When I told him how we were saving the enviroment, he like it even more.

This toothbrush passes the mom test for me just because of the enviromental factors involved.  Any time I can make the world a better place for my kids, I am going to do it.  These toothbrushes are super easy to find — just head to your nearest Target.  Since my Target is just down the street from me, that works great.  They are also only $2.04 which is not a bad price for a toothbrushes.  Of course, they have coupons you can use too for $1 off.  Lastly, these come is sizes for both adults and kids, so the whole family can save the world!

We allow my four year old daughter on the internet.  Yes, we are right there and monitor what she is doing.  She is only playing games on Noggin or Disney Playhouse.  However, I do worry about when she gets a bit older  Did you know that:

• 41% of unwanted sexual solicitations, 29% of unwanted exposure to sexual materials, and 31% of harassment occurred when children were online with their friends. (I can believe this due to the IMs I get.  I have it listed in my profile that I married, and I still get IMs from men wants who knows what).
• Law enforcement officials estimate that more than 50,000 sexual predators are online at any given moment.
• 1 in 5 youth ages 10 to 17 received a sexual solicitation or were approached online.

These are just a few of the scary statistics out there.  I like to think that I am always going to know what my kids are doing online.  However, I know that isn’t always going to possible.  That is where GuardChild comes in.  It does exactly what you think it does.  Its all about protection, education, and community.  You are able to protect your family by blocking pornography, stopping online predators, and monitoring instant messages, blogs, chat rooms (AOL, MSN, and Yahoo) email, and even what your child is doing on MySpace.   You also are able to join the members community which will give you hundreds of articles, parent resources, educational sites, and family-friendly entertainment sites.  Lastly, there is community. Guard Child has a blog that allows you to share concerns and successes, learn from online safety experts, and contribute articles, advice, and questions.

The saying that it takes a village to raise a child is still true. Things have changed so much since I was little. I can only imagine what it will be like in a few years when Madison will be trying to hide what she is doing online from me. However, I do believe in being proactive and software like this is exactly what you need.