Ripple Reader helps you create private recordings of children’s picture books and send those recordings electronically to all the adorables in your life.

It is perfect for faraway grandparents, a parent who travels a lot, and especially for soldiers deployed overseas.

So here’s how it works:

1) You browse through Ripple Reader’s selections of books and choose one that you like.

2) Record yourself reading the book.  A microphone is really handy for this (and it’s included in the giveaway below.  I did it on my laptop, and it was okay, but I should have talked much louder).  When you’re recording, each page is a separate recording, so you can redo if you’d like to without having to do the whole book over.

3) That’s it!  The recording is then sent via email to your adorables with instruction on how to listen to their recordings.

4) The special adorables will go to www.ripplereader.com, download this special online audio player that lets them see the book and hear the recording.

Giveaway

You can win five free recordings and a microphone from Ripple Reader! Just leave a comment by Wednesday, December 23rd.  The winner will be selected by Random.org on Thursday, the 24th and that lucky person can have a special gift all ready for Christmas – no shipping necessary!  Take an extra entry if you email 5 people about The Good Stuff Guide, or make a shout-out on Twitter.  And a many thanks too.

So good luck to you!  And have a happy start to your Christmas week.

*****UPDATE***** #6 Shara was the winner!

Category: what we didTags: books over internet, grand parents book readers, read books from afar |

I’ve put together a great list of stocking ideas (to avoid throwing them together at the last minute like I do) and you can win them!

So let’s get shopping:

1) Wikki-Stix!

We just love Wikki-Stix around here !  They’re great for on-the-go: in restaurants, on the airplane, appointments, etc. (See a full description about Wikki here.)

Find it here: www.wikkistix.com or www.amazon.com: Wikki Stix ($3.25 & up)

2) Fairytale Wishes Sprays

This is killer cute folks!  Does your adorable need a little extra courage for their day? Spritz a little Super Hero Spray and send them on their way (I didn’t intend the rhyme, promise).  Choose from the Super Hero Spray, Sweet Dream Spray, Monster Repellent, and a Happy Camper Spray.  More are on the way!  Comes with a sweet personalized letter for your adorables too.

Find it here: www.fairytalewishes.com ($10)

3) Bella Sara Cards

Bella Sara Cards are “Bella’s Ball” horse-themed trading cards for your tween girls.  Cards include a secret code that is used online at BellaSara.com to play games and care for magical horses.  Fantastical!

Find it here: www.shopbellasara.com ($2.99 originally; on sale for $1.99)

4) Daisy Girl Perfume

Hello darling!  Another for the tweens (they were seriously left out of the 12 Days so I’m making up now).  Each perfume is made using delicate and sweet scents that will make your tween adorable feel special and beautiful.  The oh-so-cute bottles are all hand decorated.  Flavors include Bubble Gum, Creamsicle, Pear-Vanilla, Sugar Cookie, Fruit Punch and others.

Find it here: www.shopdaisygirl.com ($16.99 + $2.00 S&H)

5) Hello Kitty Mimibot USB Flash Drive

Is not this the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? It just makes me happy.  I’m not sure any other commentary is necessary – cute as pie and I will not tell a soul if you save this for yourself.

Find it here: www.mimoco.com ($24.95)

6. Jimmies CD/DVD

The Jimmies have created a collection of really fun, toe-tapping lyrical hits “for the shorter set”.  The adorables will LOVE it.

Find it here: Make Your Own Someday ($14.99)

Giveaway

Six of you can each win one of these great stocking stuffers!  Since I’d really like you to have these by Christmas, leave your comment by Wednesday, December 16th and I’ll pick 6 winners on Thursday the 17th using Random.org.

A little different this week: leave a comment for each item you’d like to win.  Please feel free to enter for all six!  If you email 5 people about The Good Stuff Guide, please add yourself again for another entry, and tell me which one you’d like it applied to.

Good luck to you!  And have a happy Monday…

****UPDATE****  Here are the winners:

Wikki-Stix: Lynn Gray

Fairy-tale Wishes Spray: Amy’s Stocking Stuffers

Horse Trading Cards: Nancy Ryba

Perfume: Karen

Hello Kitty Flash Drive: Julie

The Jimmies CD: RLR

Meet LeapFrog’s Tag Jr.

How awesome to get the little adorable’s excited to read!

Here’s how it works: the little handheld is loaded with a super-smart camera that “reads” the words and photos.  Because the handheld is chunky – just like your adorable – it is easy for the little guys and gals to control.  Thus, they are in charge: if they stamp a word group, it reads it aloud; if they stamp a picture, it may sing a song or make a silly sound.  Basically, it’s killer-cool and the adorables love it!

Wouldn’t you be so thrilled to see your adorables on their tummy with a book like this?  I know, I know.  It’s too cute.

Now for the fun part:

Giveaway

You can win a Tag Jr. and 2 books!

ABC Animal Orchestra

Curious George: Colour Fun

There are 3 ways to enter this giveaway.  I’ll choose a winner Thursday the 17th using Random.org.  Easy as pie.

1) Leave a comment by Wednesday, December 16th.

2) Email 5 people about The Good Stuff Guide – I trust ya – and leave another comment. (10 people = 2 comments and so on; Twitter comments  – thanks! – leave another as well)

3) Go to LeapFrog’s Facebook page and tell them The Good Stuff Guide sent you and come back here and leave yet another comment.

Good luck!!

If you are not the lucky winner, you can find it at Amazon: LeapFrog Tag Junior book pal

And don’t worry, we’re back to Giveaway Mondays this Monday – Stocking Stuffers!

Hello Green Toys – made out all those milk jugs that your adorables fly through so quickly.  I love that they have a second reincarnation as toys.

And good ones!

I know you’ve seen this tea set in your travels:

Green Toys Tea Set

I’m sure this is because I have boys who love a good tea party, but I love how this set isn’t entirely pink.  And I love the durability of plastic – no broken cups to ruin the set!

Green Toys Tool Set

The durability of this plastic assures that you will have no broken tools!  I also like that these are labeled for those of us who are not able to extract their correct names from our memory at a moment’s notice – I use them but I don’t know what to call them!

Giveaway

You can win your pick of the following:

1. Dump Truck

2. Recycling Truck

3. Chef Set

Just leave a comment by Tuesday, December 15th and I’ll choose a winner by Wednesday, December 16th using Random.org.  REMEMBER you can score yourself an extra entry by emailing 5 of your friends and telling them about The Good Stuff Guide.  Much luck to you!

Just one more day of these 12 Days of Giveaways to go, I am sorry to say.  But it’s a good one, so I’ll see you then!

In case you are unawares, Fisher-Price toys just rock.  They are, after all, the makers of my beloved GeoTrax system and for that I’m eternally grateful.

But enough about me, back to the little ones.

Isn’t this super cute for your littlest adorables?

16 songs and sounds keep your adorable enchanted, while they play in a town, stacking blocks and conducting some good first pretend play.

What baby can resist a car and a slide?   This could be 30 minutes here alone.

This is the storage bin where all the blocks fit so cleanup is a snap.  Your adorables will hear one of the songs when they open the lid too.

Giveaway

You can win this cute little town for your adorable just by leaving a comment by Monday, December 14th, and I’ll choose the winner using Random.org on the 15th.  You can enter yourself for a second time by emailing 5 of your friends and asking them to visit The Good Stuff Guide.  It’s on the honor system (I know you’re just like Abe), and yes, 10 friends = 2 extra and so forth.

You can always find this on Amazon ($39.87): Fisher-Price Stack ‘n Surprise Blocks Songs ‘n Smiles Sillytown

Happy Day ya’ll!

Well, meet the coolest sled ev-ah: The Zipfy Mini Luge.

Isn’t this enticing?

The Zipfy is lightweight and super easy for the adorables to carry up a hill with the handle.

Here’s a look in action:

The Zipfy can carry up to 250 pounds, so your husband doesn’t even have to share.  And you go F-A-S-T.

Seriously, doesn’t this look fun? Here’s a clip:

Giveaway:
You can win a Zipfy by leaving a comment by Saturday, December 13th and I’ll choose the winner using Random.org on Sunday the 14th. ***THIS IS NEW-ISH*** you can win an EXTRA entry by emailing 5 friends and telling them about The Good Stuff Guide. It’s on the honor system – I trust you implicitly – so go tell your friends and up your odds! (If you email 10 friends, I’ll send hugs and yes, you can have an extra extra entry.)

Good LUCK to ya!

If you are not the lucky winner, you can find one for your adorable via www.hearthsong.com ($39.98).

****UPDATE****  #21 Cheryl won the Zipfy!  Congrats!

A Leapster 2!

After traveling on many an airplane with our Leapster 2, I’m just grateful to LeapFrog for their creation.

It’s so much easier to carry than a DVD player, and it provides many more hours of educational entertainment.

The Running Man and I try to “save it” for traveling so it’s a treat to play.

And the good news is that the younger adorable is soo close to being ready for one of his own, that I can actually *think* about packing a book for me for the trip.  Won’t that be lovely?  I can’t even imagine that right now.

So here’s the little lifesaver up close:

The games feature most of the adorable’s favorite characters: Dora, Cars, Diego, Disney Fairies, Backyardigans, you get the idea…

Parents, you can even link up to the computer to see how your adorable is doing.  Frankly that’s a little advanced for us, but it’s nice to know its possible.

Giveaway

So, lucky, lucky you can win one Leapster 2 and 2 games:

The Princess and the Frog, and:

Star Wars: Jedi Reading (The Force teaches reading = brilliant)

Leave a comment by Friday, December 11th and I’ll use Random.org to determine the winner and alert them the 12th.  Good LUCK!

***THIS IS NEW*** you can win an EXTRA entry by emailing 5 friends and telling them about The Good Stuff Guide.  It’s on the honor system – I trust you implicitly – so go tell your friends and up your odds! (If you email 10 friends, I’ll send hugs and yes, you can have an extra extra entry.)

If you are not the winner, you can always find it on Amazon:

Leap Frog Leapster2 Learning Game System

*****UPDATE*****  #7 Amy won the Leapster 2!

Here’s the lineup: Sweet Spot Basketball, Football, Baseball, and Hockey.

And here’s what makes it unique: all have a sound chip embedded of a crowd roaring.  Seriously, what young adorable wouldn’t love that?

On the hockey stick or baseball, the sound occurs when you hit the baseball or the hockey puck.

On the basketball, it happens when you score a shot.

On the football, you hear it and when you spike the ball for scoring or a great catch.

Giveaway

You can win one EA Sports Sweet Spot baseball bat and ball just by leaving a comment by Wednesday, December 9th.  I’ll choose a winner on Thursday the 10th using Random.org.

You can find the other Sweet Spot line at ToysRUs.com.

EA Sports Sweet Spot Football

EA Sports Sweet Spot Basketball Hoop

EA Sports Sweet Spot Baseball Bat and ball

The Sweet Spot Hockey is not available yet at ToysRUs.  I’ll let you know when I get the word.

_______________________________________________

Great luck!  Happy weekend.

Still another 6 days of Giveaways – and all 6 days are really Good Stuff!

****UPDATE***** #10 Bethany is the winner – Congrats!!

]]> http://www.thegoodstuffguide.com/12-days-of-giveaways-ea-sports-sweet-spot/feed/ 25 http://www.thegoodstuffguide.com/12-days-of-giveaways-curious-chef/ http://www.thegoodstuffguide.com/12-days-of-giveaways-curious-chef/#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:09:14 +0000 Heidi Farmer http://www.thegoodstuffguide.com/?p=2875 Ohhh, you’re going to love this one so much!  Brace yourself….

Ready?

Meet Curious Chef -  Real kitchen utensils for your adorable’s little hands.

Are you still standing?

So let’s break it down so you can see how fun it is.

A nice big and sturdy bowl.  It has a lid that comes with it too.

A lot of great green-gripped utensils, a set each of measuring spoons and cups, and a timer (which also might be useful for timeouts – not that you ever have those, or for speedy race cleanups that we also have around here).  I’m just realizing that one of my adorables made off with the whisk, so just imagine it sitting there all pretty.

3 cute-as-a button cookie cutters.  Ideally, I would have made cookies to demonstrate all this wonderful gear, but my waistline just can’t take the deluge of eating that would have resulted.

1 perfectly sized rolling pin for little hands.  It’s a really good one too – the center has nice weight for rolling out dough.

And pretty stinkin’ cute little chef wear: an apron, chef’s hat and 2 oven mitts.

Giveaway

And you can win the whole 27-piece set just by leaving a comment by Tuesday, December 8th and I’ll choose a winner on the 9th using Random.org (I’m starting to sound like a broken record).  Good luck to you and your cookin’ adorables.

Now, this is the big 27-piece set, but these utensils are also sold individually, in smaller sets, or with different options, all on Amazon: Curious Chef I’m thinking great stocking stuffers!

Here’s the link to the giveaway items listed above: Curious Chef – 27 Piece Foundation Set

I also really like this cut-free cutlery set for little hands:

Curious Chef Build-A-Kitchen Sets Cutlery and Serving Set 8-pc.

I told you it was great, didn’t I?  Now go have a great day!  Still 7 days to go…

Doesn’t this look super-fun for the littlest adorables?

Meet the Mega Play N’ Go Table.  An all-in-one play center and storage that can be folded flat for traveling or cleanup.

Here’s how it works:

The adorables can build while they stand at the table.  The car, the person, and 20 blocks are included.

Here’s the top view.  So stinkin’ cute.

And underneath everything can be put away – neat and tidy.  I love toys like this.  We have so many pieces floating around the house.  I’m hoping you can’t relate, but I bet you can.

Zippity-flash, it folds completely flat to stow or throw in the car for Grandma’s.

This, my friends, is the perfect anecdote for when the Exersaucer is over for your adorables.

Educationally, it builds creativity and fine motor skills in your little budding architect, but I’m more overjoyed for the 20 minutes it buys me to fold laundry.

Giveaway

You can win one for your little adorable just by leaving a comment by Monday, December 7th and I’ll choose the winner using Random.org on Tuesday the 8th.  A whoppin’ good luck to you!

If you aren’t the lucky winner, you can find one at Amazon: MEGA Bloks Build’n Go Table

Still 8 more days of giveaways to go!  I’m having the time of my life here.