HP for Father's Day

Picture Perfection in an Hour Flat

If you're like me, you're down to the wire and still scrambling for the perfect Father's Day treasures. Before you start to worry or get a crazy idea like heading out to the mall with the kids in tow, keep in mind that thanks to the lifesaver that is overnight shipping almost all of the gifts in our Father's Day Gift Guide will arrive on time.

If you're looking for something personalized to honor your favorite Daddy-o head on over to one of HP's Photo Centers located at Mejier, CVS and Long's Drug Stores. All you'll need is a CD or USB full of your favorite family photos and the easy to use kiosk will help you create a photo book, calendar or poster of your prints. Best of all, your creation will be ready in about an hour.

My wee one and I created our very own bound book [starting at $20] for the Papa in our lives and it was so gorgeous we couldn't wait until Father's Day to share it (hence my last minute scramble for the second perfect gift). Our book was a hit and an awesome for way this Mama to finally get some of my favorite photos off of my computer and into print.

Want it?
Buy one 16x20 poster and get one free with this coupon.
 

Flip Video

When I Flip, You Flip, We Flip

I can't think of a time when I've been out and about, and actually had my video camera on hand to capture all those silly and unexpected moments my kids provide.  Too big, not quick to start up, the typical video camera is best for at home or any jaunt that doesn't involve quick in and out.  With the Flip Video, the times they are a changing. I carry my little pink Flip in my purse at all times, and I love being able to whip it out--in 2 seconds I'm recording my baby saying his first words.  Or capturing a celebrity walking by at the farmer's market.  Or just video taping the leaves moving in the wind and envisioning my own little movie and music as I watch the winds blow.  Yes, I am a full grown cheese ball.

The Flip [$150] holds up to 60 minutes, and has  built in software to allow you to view, edit and email your photos.  The built in non-scratch screen makes my endless daytime park video shoots a breeze, and the signature flip out USB allows you to effortlessly get plugged in and back in action.

-Arianne

Pleo

A Real (Almost) Baby Dino

Oh, our lives have not been the same since Ugobe's Pleo came to live with us. A house without pets but with children that would love some, this baby dinosaur is the perfect fit. Just about the size of a small puppy and about the same price at $349 (but no vet fees, allergies, or food bills- bonus!), Pleo will warm the hearts of the whole family. His coos and sweet voice had even me snuggling him and rocking him to sleep- which he actually does, complete with a precious little snore.

With amazing technology, this little dino is made up of real sensors, cameras, & microphones to imitate real life emotions and feelings. Aside from the obvious motorized sounds and having to recharge batteries, Pleo might convince you for a moment (and for sure will leave young ones in amazement) that he's actually a real living thing.

Not recommended for children ages 8 & up is a bit harsh- as my 2 year old was in heaven with having his own baby dino and my older boys just weren't as impressed. Proper supervision at all times is a must (at his age, my youngest thinks everything should go in the bath- a big no-no for Pleo!), but I also found this a great way to teach responsibility and respect to "animals" without using a real-life animal as the guinea pig!

-Steph

Take Two

My dino-crazed 2 year old was also delighted by the sudden appearance of a REAL baby dinosaur in our house! He is generally absolutely terrified of moving robotic toys, but Pleo was accepted (quite literally) with open arms. His realness in response and action is so spot on it was creepy at times and the fact that my techie husband and rough and tough toddler were equally enthralled was amazing to say the least.

In house already featuring a couple of dogs it was easy to jump right in and let him become one of the pack, and I think we often forgot he was just a toy until he zonked out in the middle of a rambunctious play session and we realized his batteries needed charging. In fact, I now find myself wishing all I had to do with the other four legged family members.

Pleo arrives as a baby and matures to do more the longer you play with him. His stay with us was short, but long enough we were able to see him become the dino equivalent of a rambunctious tot. I'm just waiting for another holiday to roll around so I can find an excuse to adopt one of Pleo's brothers and put an end to the daily of chorus of "MAMA! Where'd Pleo go'd?" Baby Dino, you are missed.

-Ashlee

GelaSkins

Here’s the Skinny

In a sea of iPods, where everyone from little Tommy to Grandma Jean is toting around their own music, it’s hard to stand out. At a holiday get-together with my family, we have a good 5-6 iPods sitting on the counter, not to mention the various MacBooks scattered on the dining room table. It usually takes a while for me to find the gadget that belongs to me, and it involves turning it on (or opening it up), which cuts into my precious time set aside for obsessing over Google Earth. 

Thanks to Gelaskins, my problem finding which electronic baby is mine, has disappeared. GelaSkins Inc. has created cool skins for laptops, iPods, and more, that will not only make them stand out in a crowd, but also protect them without being bulky or ugly.  The skins are made with premium grade 3M vinyl, and contain patented micro-channels within the adhesive so you don’t get that annoying bubbling so often found with other brands. Gelaskins has real artists working on these, so perusing their extensive collection is like peeking inside uber-creative minds. If you’re feeling deep and poetic, you can go with this one, or if you prefer funky with a little anime vibe, pick this one.  Of course, if the classics are more your taste, this Monet does not disappoint. I’ll be asking Santa to get some for the whole family, so we’ll finally be able to tell all our Apple’s apart.

Win it!
We have some GelaSkins for the fellow iPod junkies among us! To enter, send an email to giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com by midnight Dec. 06, with Gel as your subject and let us know if you'll be decking out an iPhone, iPod Touch or Classic.

Enter mamaspeaks at checkout for 10% off through 12.31.07

-Arianne

BUY

CARES Safety Belt

This Mama Cares

On our last flight we had three children under 6 and lots of people giving us those "oh no!" looks when we were trying to board. We had to carry the car seats for safety, and the games and DVD-players for entertainment. I'm not too proud to say I think I should have received a gold medal, just for surviving the hauling part!

I would love to travel light, even with children, but this mama cares about safety, and when it comes to my children's safety - I'm not taking any shortcuts just for convenience. Now we are getting ready for our next trip, but this time we don't have to take any car seats with us, nor are we taking any safety shortcuts thanks to CARES [$75]. CARES is a children's safety belt for airplane seats, and the best for parents: it fits in your pocket. The harness-type seat belt, which is really easy install directly to the airplane seat, can be used the entire flight, and it is the only FAA approved harness type safety device for kids.

My son really liked the cool look of the CARES, his Dad is a helicopter pilot and now he can buckle up just like the pro's. An added bonus for mom is that even the squirmiest kid will stay in his seat while at the same time allowing you to get your child out fast in case of an emergency. This mama cares about safety and gives CARES two thumbs up for a great product for traveling families!

-Katja

My Robot

Oh, Roomba, where have you been all my life? I must say that my carpet had never been so clean before Roomba came to my house. How many times have you thought I need to vacuum, and by the end of the day it still didn’t get done? The whole idea and design behind iRobot’s Roomba [$100-$400] is to make clean floors happen even in our busy lives- with just a touch of a button!

I could be washing dishes or just lounging on the couch while my little robot was vacuuming away. And it does a good job, probably maybe even better than me. Your friends and family will be amazed- as the Roomba will definitely draw a crowd. It goes under coffee tables and chairs with ease and the carpet really does look cleaner after the Roomba’s made its rounds, as it concentrates harder on the dirtier areas that you can’t even see.

It is not only a powerful vacuum, but it even will roll up its sleeves and dig into hard-to-reach places including accumulated debris along kickboards, cabinet edges and corners with its innovative spinning side brush. I love how the Roomba moves about from carpet to the kitchen floor without any need for special floor settings.

If only it had hands that sprouted out to pick up all the toys on our floors, or could scrub the toilets, then I’d be in heaven!

-Steph

On the flip side, I (Ashlee) just couldn't resist letting the Roomba take a spin on my floors as well. We have hardwood and this thing called a dog. A dog that sheds like crazy. Oh, and a toddler who gets enormous satisfaction out of the offense I call the "crumb and run". It was heaven, crumbs and doggie hair vanished without a trace and I didn't have to do a thing. Unfortunately, in my carpet free, bare-walled abode our little robot friend was crazy loud and succeeded not only at impressing me, but at terrifying said kid and canine.

Thankfully it's intelligent enough to find it's own way home an added bonus since our robot has been banished to doing floor duty while we take our daily stroll. But did you catch that? We head out for some sunshine and fresh air and come home to a clean floor. Believe me, you really need one.

-Ashlee

Suck It Up

Don't you think that things should work properly? We do too, and thankfully so do the folks from Dyson. When you're endlessly chasing dust bunnies, cereal spills and who knows what else, it helps when your equipment is up to par. I used to think that any old vacuum would do. You push, they suck, they're all the same, right? Think again.

Dyson's vacuums are super powerful and they never loose suction. The Slim (DC 18) [$470] packs all sorts of goodies into a svelte little package. Our favorite features are are hygienic emptying bin (just pull a trigger and the bottom drops out depositing all those bunnies in the trash), quick draw telescope reach (you can clean the stairs and cob-webby corners with ease!) and brush control (you can easily go from carpet to hard floors with the push of a button).

This sucker will leave you breathing easy to boot.     Dyson is the first vacuum to be certified asthma friendly according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Thanks to the lifetime HEPA filter, air expelled from a Dyson has up to 150 times less mold and bacteria than the air you're used to breathing.

We'll admit that the "effortless" steering took a bit of getting used to on hard floors, but it is able to twist and turn into the tightest of spaces. And despite our attempts to trip it up, the Dyson easily cleaned up everything in it's path and then some. I was amazed (and yet slightly horrified) to see all that it picked up from a carpet I'd just vacuumed.  Yes, it probably is a bit more expensive than your current model, but this one will be around for the rest of your days, which really makes it a bargain.

Win it!
Oh, are you going to love this- in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dyson is giving away a DC 07 Pink  [$400] to a Mama Speaks Reader!  We're going to challenge you a bit on this one, but we promise it'll be fun.  We want you to send us a picture of you and the kiddies going passionately pink (wearing pink) with your current vacuum. As an added bonus, we'll donate $5 for every entry received to Susan G. Koman for a Cure. Email entries to mamaspeaks@gmail[dot]com by midnight, October 25.   

Itzbeen How Long?

Any mother, old or new knows what I'm talking about when I say "mama brain". After you have a baby it seems like all the cells just fall out of your brain. You can barely remember to feed yourself, or get a shower for that matter, let alone which breast you last fed your baby on. When was it that you last changed the baby's diaper? Hmm, maybe that's why he's screaming!

Itzbeen is a fabulous invention, perfect for the first mommy days when it seems you have sooo much going on in that head of . From what time you fed the babe last (for bottle feeding mamas) or which breast is next (for us nursing mamas!) to when you last changed a diaper or how long and at what time you put babe down for a nap this all-in-one timer will track it all. There's even a light for nighttime doings. 

And it's all right at your fingertips with the push of a button. This is seriously mama's new BFF. With a holder to wear it on your person, and the low cost of $26.99, I don't see why every mama doesn't have one of these. I know what I'll be be bringing to that next baby shower.

Enter mamaspeaks at checkout for 10% off your purchase when you buy directly from Itzbeen. Offer expires April 2008.

-Jaymi

An Apple a Day

I'll give you the disclaimer now. As you've probably noticed we try to keep the focus of our reviews on small business. Mama/Papa owned. The little guy. This review is going to throw that out the window.

Occasionally we come across something ourselves that is just so amazing we don't know how life was ever the same without it. In the case it just wasn't.

A novel accessory for Mama's on the go and a must for those of us work-at-home Mama's that would like to leave the house every once and a while. Apple's new iPhone combines so many of our everyday essentials into one sleek gadget it's hard to know where to begin. In addition to being a super cool phone (the first cell phone I don't find myself screaming into) this baby has full Wi-Fi internet capability and easy access to email. Top that off with all the features of a widescreen ipod- storage for hundreds of songs, videos, tv shows or audiobooks and a button to get straight to YouTube (even our no-screen time rule has been broken by whipping out the dancing dogs mid-meltdown) and it's obvious it doesn't get any better than this.

But wait, there really is more. The iPhone is also equipped with a 2.0 megapixel camera that takes amazing pictures, and has quick access to the playground forecast and Google maps (no more getting lost with a car full of excited kids?) Plus the simple interface and touch screen is so easy to use my 20 month old already knows how to scroll through his favorite photos and quick call his Papa at work. The only down side we can come up with is the price, at $499 for 4GB and $599 for 8GB, this baby ain't cheap. But if you add up all the features, subtract the hassles and divide by the extra time to get out and play, we think you'll find it well worth the splurge.