When I was asked if I would like to review the new Tiny Prints business cards, with Blogher right around the corner, I couldn’t say no! My old cards were looking shabby and outdated to me, plus they weren’t of the best quality to begin with. I was definitely in need of an update. I’ve always been a fan of Tiny Prints with their other lines, so had the highest of hopes that their business cards would be just as wonderful as all of their other offerings.

One of the first things I noticed when checking out the available business cards on the site was the great selection they have to offer. It took me ages to decide which one was going to be mine, simply because there were so many that I just loved. In the end, I chose Artistic Arrangement, which allowed me to add my own logo and personalize exactly what I wanted inside.  They have many standard options, customizable cards, plus styles that allow you to upload a logo.

The ordering process was quite easy. Just be sure that if you are adding images or a logo, you pay close attention to the sizes that are recommended for your selected card and are using a high resolution photo.

When I received my cards, I was more than pleased with the end result. The colors look great, the quality of the cardstock is wonderful and I just can’t wait to show them off in NYC! Wanna see?

The front

The inside (Note that I am not a hand model)

Tiny Prints has done a wonderful job of making me look more professional  at conferences, giving me a business card that I will be proud to hand to anyone I meet.

If you need new business cards for upcoming conferences, do yourself a favor and check out all the great options that Tiny Prints has available. Now through August 31st, you can get 30% off your business card order with the code BLOGHER at checkout. Any orders placed after today that are needed in time for the Blogher ’10 conference need to select 2^nd Day Air shipping and rush ordered!

Product was provided by Tiny Prints for this review.

We certainly haven’t been disappointed! We’ve passed several rainy hours shooting hoops in the living room or down the hall. The little guys even clap for me when my out-of-practice aim allows me to make a shot. It’s adorable…really. (I think it’s time for me to hang up the Jordans.) We’ve played HORSE, shot free throws, and even had a dunk contest, with little people assisted by the grown ups.

One of my favorite things about this product is the construction. Nerf products are usually pretty durable, but this one certainly beats the cardboard backboard and thin plastic hooks of the 80s! The backboard is a lightweight, heavy duty plastic so it’s safe to use both indoors and out. Ours makes trips outside on sunny days, getting hooked to the rail of the porch so the little guys can play while the big boys use the real hoop out front.

The hoop itself is collapsible, making it easy to slide under the bed or dresser to store and also preventing it from snapping off when the big kids get overzealous with the slams. The door hooks hold tight to the door, so it fits well on various thicknesses.

If you’re looking for something fun and active to do inside with the kids on a rainy summer day, the Nerfoop Pro Basketball Set might be just the ticket! We’re certainly having a great time with ours!

You can find the Nerfoop basketball set at most major toy retailers, as well as at Hasbro.com. Suggested retail price – $19.99

Last week, I was lucky enough to have received a preview DVD of Chuggington, the new show premiering on Monday, January 18^th on Playhouse Disney. The boys had seen the commercials on the Disney Channel already, and immediately recognized the image on the DVD and asked to watch the show by name.

Both were totally entranced by the show. Watching with them, it reminded me of a more futuristic version of Thomas the Tank Engine (only with fewer derailments). The characters are loveable and fun and the kids already know them by name in just a couple of days.

There’s the speedy Koko, the dependable Brewster, the enthusiastic Wilson and many more new friends. The trains go on lots of fun adventures that always seem to have a valuable life lesson built in.

Chuggington has been a big hit so far in our house and I have a feeling it will be a favorite for some time to come! I think any little train lover will certainly enjoy this show!

Tonight, Friday January 15^th, there will be a Twitter Sitewarming Party to introduce Chuggington! Join @ResourcefulMom and @Chuggington to find out more about this adorable show, see a sneak peek of the premiere episode, and win some fabulous prizes! RSVP here and find out how to participate.

Don’t forget to check our Chuggington’s Playhouse Disney premiere on Monday, January 18^th at 10:30 AM ET/PT and stop by http://chuggington.com for fun, games and videos!

Disclosure: I received a preview DVD from Chuggington and work for Resourceful Mommy Media, host of the Sitewarming party.

We recently received the Playskool Dinoroars Stompers Triceratops to review. My boys love this just as much as they did the little guy from the spring, and have taken to calling it the “daddy” of their little friend…or “mommy” depending on what they want the big dino to do. Yeah, evidently we practice a little gender stereotyping around here.

The Dinoroars Stompers move their heads and roar, just as the Hatchlings do, but in this version, they stomp around and move a bit more. We love the soft, pettable “skin,” which is easily wiped with a damp cloth when grubby little fingers get the better of it. As with everything Playskool, it holds up to the more enthusiastic play of little boys. If a toy can make it a week with two little boys fighting over it in this house, it’s a winner.

If you are looking for a fun, interactive toy for the littlest dinosaur lover this Christmas, the DinoRoars Stompers might just be the perfect gift. You can find the Triceratops and his other friends at most major toy retailers, or purchase it at the Hasbro Toy Shop for $24.99

Product was provided for this review

It can be tough to know what games kids have, so gift cards are usually the best way to go when buying these gifts. This can be a bit problematic for those who play computer based games, however.

I was recently contacted by One Power Up, a company that has created a game card that can be used to purchase credits for a number of online games. They offered me a card to try out, so that I could see the variety of games that can be purchased with their cards.

I visited their website and found that there are a number of games available with the One Power Up card. At the moment, you can purchase credits for 21 games, and I am sure that number will increase in the future. There are a variety of genres available, from sports to adventure to RPGs, appealing to a wide variety of gamers.

Loading an account is simple, all you need to do is create an account and add the funds from your card to your desired game. When you are ready for more, simply purchase more credits from participating retailers, such as RiteAid, Freds, or FYE.

My only initial concern about the One Power Up cards were that there are games available on the site that wouldn’t be appropriate for a younger audience. However, they have recently released a Safe Card, which can only be used for family friendly games appropriate for children under the age of 13.

I have been given FIVE $10 One Power Up Game Card PINs to give away to five lucky readers. All you need to do to enter is visit the One Power Up website and come back and let me know in a comment which of the games available would be the most appealing to you or your favorite gamer.

For additional entries (main entry must be completed first)

• Tweet about the giveaway on Twitter/Share on Facebook (Limit 3 entries)
• Subscribe to my feed (email or RSS)
• Friend me on Google Friend Connect
• Blog about this giveaway.

Please leave a separate comment for each form of entry.

This contest will close on Sunday, December 28^th at 11:59 PM and codes will be distributed to winners selected by Random.org as soon as is possible.

Product was provided for this review.

The ALBUM digital photobook is a product that has the amateur photographer like me in mind. When I was approached  by this company, I was anxious to try out their product, to see if it could help with my dilemma of showing off my favorite shots to my friends and family who aren’t so internet savvy. They were kind enough to send me an ALBUM to review.

The ALBUM digital photobook takes the mother’s brag book and a digital picture frame, and smashes them together in the perfect portable device. You can carry it in your purse or display it on a shelf or table, allowing you to have a constant slideshow of your favorite pictures. You can create folders to sort your pictures, directly within the ALBUM, making it easy to show off your favorites on the crisp, clear 7” screen.  It is lightweight and also very visually attractive, with a leather case and several stylish colors. The rechargeable battery

It holds up to 40,000 photos, which to me is astounding.  That can hold years and years of pictures, without ever running out of space. Uploading photos is simple and can be done from an SD card, direct from your camera, or from your computer’s hard drive. Our only disappointment there was that we couldn’t upload the pictures from the PS3 to the ALBUM or vice-versa. A pretty trivial complaint, to say the least.

If you are looking for a great last minute gift for someone special on your shopping list, or are trying to figure out how to spend the holiday cash you received from loved ones, the ALBUM might be the perfect way to go. A and I have had a great time sharing all of our digital photos with our loved ones and can’t wait to add more shots to our ALBUM.

Disclosure: Product was provided for this review.

The kids’ absolute favorite is Old McVinko’s Musical Farm. Once that was opened, they were occupied for hours with the fun character and animal figurines that are included with the set. They hid pigs in the silo and had lots of fun watching the Baby Genius characters spin round and round to the familiar tune of Old McDonald, sung as Old McVinko. This toy is a fabulous choice for toddlers and preschoolers, though I have one small complaint. I wish it had an auto-off feature, because more than once , the kids walked away and left it on.

The Singing School Bus comes with lots of characters to play with, plus plays one of our favorite songs. The kids can drive along, pretending that they are taking their little friends to school, singing and playing. I really love that the door opens as a ramp, which makes it easier for them to get the pieces in and out of the bus. We’ve had similar products cause slight meltdowns over difficulty getting their little riders through the door.

The Baby Genius All-in-One Musical Band is a ton of fun, albeit a bit noisy. The set includes maracas, a flute, a tambourine, and a drum and drumsticks. The boys can march around the house, playing along with their favorite songs or making it up as they go along. Parent warning: This might be one that you want to monitor when they play with, for your own ears’ sake. Great for creativity and fun, but not so great when you have a headache.

I found that the Baby Genius toys were perfectly age-appropriate and very well made. They seem to be able to stand up to the abuse of two rough little boys and I fully expect loads of fun to be had with these products. There are many other products in their new line and I expect that some will be found underneath our tree!

Disclosure: Product was provided for this review.

It looks like this year’s “skateboard” is the Shred Sled, which we have been given the opportunity to review. This is a dual-deck board with four inline wheels that combines the feel of skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing. This ain’t your daddy’s skateboard, by any stretch of the imagination.

Check out the demo video to see the Shred Sled in action:

I love anything that gives the kids an excuse to get out from in front of the TV and video games, and outside moving their bodies, so on that alone, the Sled gets a thumbs up from me. You need to use your entire body to propel the board, so it is definitely a workout!

According to the boys, getting on the Sled and getting your balance is a bit challenging at first, but once you get the hang of the balance and motion, it’s pretty easy. Just like any similar activity, practice makes perfect, so don’t expect to jump on and take off down the street on the first try! The four inline wheels do give a bit more stability than other boards will. (I wish I had some pictures of them trying it out to share, but alas, the camera has died.)

I personally have not tried to get on the Shred Sled, so I’m taking the word of the others on this one. I have plates and screws in one ankle and let’s just say a fall might not be pretty. Even without extra hardware in your body, I highly recommend wearing pads and helmets for safety’s sake.

The Shred Sled can be purchased at the Shred Sled website and it retails for $119.99. It is recommended for ages 8 and up, and is available in 3 color choices.

One of my readers will have the opportunity to WIN a Shred Sled this holiday season!

MAIN ENTRY: Leave me a comment telling me what your family’s favorite extreme sport is! Don’t forget to leave a valid email address so that I can contact you if you are the winner.

For extra entries: (MAIN ENTRY MUST BE COMPLETED FIRST)

• Tweet about the giveaway on Twitter (no more than once per day, please)
• Share the link on Facebook
• Blog about the giveaway
• Subscribe to my feed (Reader or email)

Please be sure to leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.

Contest will close on Wednesday, December 9th at 11:59 PM. Winner will be contacted and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Product was provided for this review.

There will even be a few fun giveaways that will give you the chance to win some of these great products!

While each review, recipe, and recommendation will be its own post, this will be considered my “home base” with links back to each of the holiday reviews. I hope you’ll keep checking back to see the fun unfold as we get closer and closer to the culmination of the holiday season!

Image courtesy Sxc.hu User – lusi

With a 2 ½ and 3 ½ yr old, we’re knee deep in preschool learning over here and are very interested in writing letters, so the Scribble and Write is a perfect fit for us. K is really excited about working on his letters and learning to write his name.

Pros

The Scribble and Write offers a lot of different learning games, teaching both upper and lower case letters, numbers, and shapes. It is sturdy and seems to be quite durable, plus the stylus is attached, keeping it from getting lost in the toy box.

One of my favorite features of the Scribble and Write is the stylus that the kids use to trace the lights on the screen. It is the perfect size for little hands, with raised ridges to help train them to hold their pencil properly. Positioning of a crayon or pencil is something that K has been struggling with, so this should help him take some huge steps in the right direction.

Another plus about this product, and many of Leapfrog’s other products, is the voice used to narrate play. Rather than an adult computerized voice, they chose a child’s voice, making it seem even more friendly and fun.

Biggest pro? The kids really seem to enjoy it! I think the Scribble and Write is going to have some serious staying power around here over the next couple of years.

Cons

I don’t have any major complaints about this toy, but do have a couple suggestions that I think would make a good thing even better. There is a volume control, but even on the “low” setting, it is still a bit loud. A third choice that’s just a tad quieter would be nice. The only thing that I think is missing from the Scribble and Write is a handle. It’s the perfect size to take along, but without a handle, I know it’s going to see its share of drops from my boys. Thank goodness it seems to be designed with a clumsy preschooler in mind!

The Scribble and Write retails for $21.99 and is available at the Leapfrog website, Amazon.com and many major toy retailers.

This product provided review is a part of the Global Influence holiday guide.