I bet something in this review is just what you are looking for! I’ve got three great products for you today, for last-minute gifts for yourself or someone on your gift list. Check the links in each description to see where to buy and if products can be delivered by Christmas.

• Fabkins are the cloth napkins for kids that make mealtime more fun, reduce paper waste, and encourage good table manners. They come in six kid-friendly themes and are sold in packs of five. The themes are Garden Friends, Beach Bound, Fruit Salad, African Safari, Prima Ballerina, and Sports Fan.  Fabkins are soft, durable, and sized just right to fit in lunchboxes. The company was started by two Moms and friends who wanted to pack waste-free lunches for their kids, but didn’t want to give them large adult-sized cloth napkins. Fabkins really are cute and a great way to teach kids about throwing away less trash. A set of 5 is $22.95, and the site says they ship in one to two business days, which means order now and they should arrive by Christmas!
• Looking for a stocking stuffer idea that’s really unique? Something that almost everyone can use but probably would never buy for themselves? Well, I’ve got it for you- a Hardwood Back Scratcher from BackScratcherWorld.  That’s right, a back scratcher! And rather than buy a cheap one with harsh edges, buy one made from gorgeous hardwood. Back Scratchers from BackScratcherWorld are made from sturdy hardwoods with gorgeous finishes, they are pretty enough to hang on a hook near your favorite chair so they are handy whenever an itch strikes! Each beautiful back scratcher is hand cut, hand assembled and hand finished, and 100% American made from red oak, with handles made from walnut, cedar, aromatic cedar, cherry, oak and maple. Order before 2:00 PM PST on December 16th for Christmas delivery!
• TAG Toys are designed for children up to age six, and are designed to stimulate the development of their sensory motor skills and thinking abilities. TAG stands for Think And Grow, and that’s exactly what the toys sold on this clever site will help your children do.  I’ve looked at dozens of sites that carry wooden toys in the last two months, and I’ve seen wooden toys on the TAG site that I haven’t seen anywhere else. You can search by category, price, or age, and you are sure to find something you’ll love. One item that is very popular this year is the Wooden Animal Bank. They teach your kids about saving money plus they are just completely adorable! Kaitlyn plays with hers and feeds it money. Which she steals from her Dad’s change tray, of course :)  The price is $29.95, and it can only be delivered by Christmas if you pay for Next Day Air shipping. Or you can buy one for delivery after Christmas to help kids save money in the New Year!

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I’ve decided that the only way I’m going to get all of the giveaways I need to do posted is to start combining them. The way it will work is, I’ll give you a selection of products that I have to give away, and you tell me in your comment which one(s) you are interested in winning. Please note that neither I nor the sponsors can guarantee shipping before Christmas; in fact it’s pretty much a certainty that the prizes won’t arrive by then. Think of it as a way to win a post-Christmas gift!
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PRIZE #1- Creativity Express
-Works with PC or MAC, fun way for kids to learn about art and express themselves creatively without making a huge mess

* Sixteen lessons, created by former Disney® animators that teach the principles and history of art.
* Animated characters lead kids through interactive exploration, and take them step by step through amazing art projects.
* Test your knowledge! Challenges and interactive games build problem solving skills and creative ability.
* Up to four users per computer.
* A digital portfolio where kids can store and share artwork.
* Over 30 hands-on activities.
* ArtRage Digital Paint Software - included FREE on the disk!
* Awarded Media of the Year by Creative Child Magazine.

Each package comes bundled with a starter edition of Art Rage digital paint software.  Starting at just $29.95 Creativity Express is brought to you by the geniuses at Madcap Logic.  Available at Amazon, most Apple retail stores and www.madcaplogic.com. One copy for giveaway.
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PRIZE #2 Journal Buddies are the unique journals for boys or girls that use writing prompts to help them build their self esteem. It’s the interactive, guided and creative journaling system that strengthens self-esteem, builds healthy relationships, and encourages creativity. Pages include asking the writer to list 3 things their friends like about them, or write what they think of when they see the word “kind”. These award-winning journals have been mentioned on TV, radio, and websites as a way to build your child’s self esteem in just a few minutes a day. I’ve got 5 “girl” journals and 5 “boy” journals to give away. Retail value- $16.95.
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PRIZE #3 Sarah Pinto’s Weekly Planner-designed by a Mother of two young boys when she couldn’t find a simple, stylish planner that fit in her purse. Made with high-quality recycled paper, soy-based ink and they are printed and bound in San Francisco, California.  One of Sarah’s sons was born with a heart defect, and because of the excellent care he received at California Pacific Medical Center, she donates  a portion of the proceeds from her pink tapestry weekly planner to CPMC Pediatric Cardiology. So if you are looking to just make a purchase of a made in the USA, eco-friendly, cause-supporting planner for 2009, I highly encourage you to purchase that one!  These planners are $25.00 and can be purchased at:

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SO, how is this going to work, you might be wondering? Leaving a comment on this post earns you ONE ENTRY. In your comment, leave your real first name or blog name, valid email address, and which giveaway number you are entering. #1- Creativity Express, #2- Journal Buddies (PLEASE SPECIFY BOY OR GIRL JOURNAL), #3- Sarah Pinto’s Weekly Planner (PLEASE SPECIFY WHICH PATTERN)

Giveaway prizes will NOT be delivered by Christmas, think of it as a way to get a post-Christmas gift! Enter by Saturday, December 20th at 9:00 AM ET. All giveaways are open to U.S. only, 18 and up. Earn an extra entry for doing any one of the following, leave the info in your comment:

• Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post and the end date.
• Add http://momreviews.net to your blogroll
• Subscribe to the feed in a reader or by email
• Use social media to spread the word about this giveaway, StumbleUpon, Twitter, Digg, Kirtsy, or a forum. Leave the URL or your username.

Thanks for entering and good luck!

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CLR® Original Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover is a powerful formula available for dissolving tough calcium and lime deposits and surface rust stains from:
• Tubs • Toilet bowls
• Sinks • Coffee makers
• Chrome • Fiberglass
• Stainless steel • Glass
• Humidifiers • Dishwashers
• Washing machines • Shower heads

CLR contains no phosphates, bleach or ammonia and is safe for septic systems. It works fast with no scrubbing to dissolve calcium, rust and lime deposits. It’s so safe, you can use it in your coffeepot!

CLR® Bathroom & Kitchen Cleaner quickly cuts through calcium, lime and hard water deposits, soap scum, dulling film and dirt. Use it on:
• Ceramic Tile • Shower Doors
• Sinks • Bathtubs
• Grout and Caulk • Toilet Bowls
• Fiberglass • Shower Head Fixtures
Check the label on the bottle or the product site for materials that should not be cleaned with CLR Bath & Kitchen Cleaner due to the acidic properties.

CLR® Fast Acting Septic System Treatment contains live, vegetative bacteria and is safe on pipes and porcelain. It’s the ONLY septic system treatment to be partnered with the EPA

* 3 treatments for systems up to 1500 gallons
* CLR SST can be poured down any drain vs. dry septic system treatments that have to be flushed down toilets
* CLR SST uses more environment-friendly ingredients. Other products have detergents, preservatives, and inert “carriers” that the bacteria attach to.

WIN IT: I’ve got two cleaning buckets to give away,  containing CLR® Bathroom & Kitchen Cleaner, CLR®, CLR® Septic System, a pair of gloves and two sponges.  Leave a comment on this post with your real first name or blog alias and a valid email address. Open to U.S. entrants 18 and older, please.  Enter by Saturday, December 20th at 9:00 AM ET.

EXTRA ENTRIES: I’ll give you one extra entry for each of the following that you do or have done, please leave an additional comment for each.

1. Link to http://momreviews.net on your blogroll.

2. Subscribe to the feed in a reader or by email. Link is in the sidebar.

3. Use social media to spread the word about this giveaway, by posting the link to StumbleUpon, Digg, Kirtsy, Twitter, or posting it on a Forum. You must leave your username for that site in your comment so I can check. This is a great way for non bloggers to earn an extra entry! Links are at the end of the post.

4. Post this Holiday gift guide badge on your sidebar:

Copy and paste to link to me using this badge:

<a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s197/table4five/?action=view&current=MomReviewsGiftGuideBadge.jpg" ><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s197/table4five/MomReviewsGiftGuideBadge.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

5. Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Please include that it ends Saturday, Dec. 20th at 09:00 AM ET. Please leave five separate comments. NOTE: this prize will not arrive before Christmas.

Thanks for entering and good luck!

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Fair Indigo is a company that I am so happy to be recommending to you today, not only do they sell wonderful handmade, unique items, but they practice Fair Trade, which you will learn more about when you enter the giveaway One of the items the site carries are the adorable Joobles, a line of knit stuffed animals. Thanks to Lisa at Kidstuff P.R., Kaitlyn received the adorable Fair Bear. He has become her companion for cuddling on the couch:

One lucky winner will get to choose from seven Joobles (Icy the Penguin and Jiffy the Giraffe are sold out), and we’re going to try to get it delivered in time for Christmas! Here’s how to enter:

WIN IT: For one entry, visit www.fairindigo.com and click on the About Fair Trade tab, and make a comment about the concept of fair trade and what you learned.  Open to U.S. only. Please leave a valid real first name or blog name and a valid email address.  Enter by Tuesday, December 16th at 10:00 PM ET. The winner will be contacted by email for their name, address, and daytime phone. Neither myself nor Kidstuff PR can absolutely guarantee Christmas delivery, we’ll do our best!

EXTRA ENTRIES: I’ll give you one extra entry for each of the following, please leave a separate comment for each:

1.Post this button on your blog and get one entry into every giveaway! Let me know in a comment so I can keep a list of everyone posting the button.

Copy and paste to link to me using this badge:

<a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s197/table4five/?action=view&current=MomReviewsGiftGuideBadge.jpg" ><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s197/table4five/MomReviewsGiftGuideBadge.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

2. Link to http://momreviews.net on your blogroll.

3. Subscribe to the feed in a reader or by email.

4. Use social media to spread the word about this giveaway, by posting the link to StumbleUpon, Digg, Kirtsy, Twitter, or posting it on a Forum. You must leave your username for that site in your comment so I can check. This is a great way for non bloggers to earn an extra entry! Links are at the end of the post.

4. For FIVE ENTRIES, mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Please include that it ends Tuesday, Dec. 16th at 10:00 PM ET. Please leave five separate comments.

Good luck!

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For this weekend’s Blog Blast, Parent Bloggers Network wants us to talk about how we are going to “get our act together” in the New Year. They have partnered with BigTent, a website that helps groups connect online. For my New Year’s resolution, I have decided to focus on my online work schedule, and specifically, my management of my email and scheduling of posts.

I cause myself way more stress than I should by not having good email management. I’ve been brainstorming ideas for how to keep up with requests for reviews and giveaways, so that I don’t end up with hundreds of emails that are opened but not dealt with.  There are dozens of online tools that can help with scheduling and management, and picking just one and sticking with it should help me get work done as it comes in rather than holding on to opened emails to deal with “later”.

For posting, I’m going to look at creating a schedule ahead of time so that when requests come in, I can reply to the email with a specific date that I can write the post, rather than just saying I’ll “get to it” at some point.  I’ll also leave space open in the schedule for unexpected requests.

Blogging is supposed to be fulfilling, not stressful. Taking on more work than I can actually do doesn’t help me or the people asking for the posts. Being honest with both myself and the people making the requests benefits everyone involved. And the biggest thing I need to do?  Learn to say no. I tend to think that if I turn something down, I’ll never get asked again. There is plenty of work to go around and it’s okay to politely decline!

Thank you, Parent Bloggers Network, for giving me this push I needed to really think about my New Year’s resolution. I hope at this time next year, I can look back and say that I was successful!

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This is so cute- Story Time Felts produces felt images that bring to life familiar children’s stories, nursery rhymes, and environments. You can purchase pre-cut or un-cut felts that correspond to stories like “The Three Little Pigs”, have backgrounds like homes, forests, and pirate ships, buy felt dress-up dolls, advent calendars, and so much more.  My Mom taught 2nd grade and she used felt cut-outs to illustrate stories and they were always a big hit with her kids. Plus, manipulating the felt pieces gives kids a chance to tell their own story.

I received a “Very Hungry Caterpillar” set to review. I’d love to show you the pieces all set up on a felt board with Kaitlyn playing with them, but someone- *cough*myhusband*cough*-never made the felt board he promised me from the bazillions of pieces of scrap cardboard we have in our garage and the piece of green felt he has in the basement from his card-playing days. Here’s the image of the pieces from the site:

As you can see, you’ve got the caterpillar, all the foods he eats, the cocoon, and the butterfly he becomes. The set also comes with information about teaching the life cycle of a butterfly.  I think it’s adorable!

WIN IT: I’ve got one “Very Hungry Caterpillar” pre-cut felt set to give away. NOTE: because of how close it is to Christmas,  neither the sponsor nor I can guarantee shipping in time for Christmas. The site says that orders placed by December 18th will arrive on the West Coast by Christmas, so if you want to order one, do it soon!  For your entry, please visit Story Time Felts, browse the product listing on the right side, then come back and tell me one other product you would be interested in having besides the Hungry Caterpillar. Leave your real first name or blog name and valid email address. Open to U.S. only. I’ll choose the winner on December 17th at 6:00 PM and email them for their mailing info.

EXTRA ENTRIES: I’ll give you one extra entry for each of the following that you do. Please leave a separate comment for each:

1.Post this button on your blog and get one entry into every giveaway! Let me know in a comment so I can keep a list of everyone posting the button.

Copy and paste to link to me using this badge:

<a href="http://table4five.net"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s197/table4five/holidaybadget45.jpg" alt="Table for Five Holiday Gift Guide" width="125" height="125" /></a>

2. Link to http://table4five.net on your blogroll.

3. Use social media to spread the word about this giveaway, by posting the link to StumbleUpon, Digg, Kirtsy, Twitter, or posting it on a Forum. You must leave your username for that site in your comment so I can check. This is a great way for non bloggers to earn an extra entry! Links are at the end of the post.

4. For FIVE ENTRIES, mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Please include that it ends Wednesday, Dec. 17th at 6:00 PM ET.

Good luck!

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If you own cats, you’ll find yourself nodding your head along in agreement as you read Jane Seabrook’s “Purry Logic“.  Cats have their own agenda, spend the majority of their time sleeping, and can be very demanding. After all, it is really THEY who rule your house, no matter what you might think! Seabrook is the owner of four cats, one of whom hates the other three so much he wouldn’t pose for the group photo at the back of the book, and she collected the quotations that appear in the book along with her beautiful painted illustrations.

My favorite page in the book is the one that could have been written about our cat Blackdrop- “Do the absolute minimum. Always. Try to do even less”. Yep, that’s our cat. This sweet little book from Ten Speed Press would make a cute gift for a cat lover, and at $9.95 each, it’s a great deal, too.  Thanks to Family Review Network, I have a copy to give away, but I have to send in the winner’s name by this Sunday the 14th, so if you enter, you’ll need to be available on Sunday morning to get my email saying you won and asking for your address.  Since this needs to be so quick, I’m also going to give out more entries than usual for spreading the word about the giveaway.

WIN IT: For one entry, visit the Purry Logic website, then come back here and tell me if any of the cats pictured on the site look like yours! Each of those represent a painting you can buy, too. Make sure to leave your real first name or blog alias (absolutely no keywords, those comments will be deleted) and a VALID email address. I’ll choose the winner this Sunday at 9:00 AM ET and email them for their mailing info.

EXTRA ENTRIES: FIVE ENTRIES for Twittering, Stumbling, or posting the URL to this giveaway on your blog. You can do all of them if you’d like but I’ll only give out five entries each, the rest are just good karma for helping me

Thanks everybody and good luck!

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Custom Creations Unlimited has a special offer for MomReviews readers! Order a Custom Photo Blanket by December 16th, use code shipping28, and your shipping is free AND your blanket will arrive by Christmas!

You’ll also save $20 off the regular price of an extra-large or large woven photo blanket,  $10 off the price of a standard woven photo blanket, and $5.00 off a small woven photo blanket. You can also choose a Fleece photo blanket. I received one for review, a woven photo blanket. And I gotta tell you, the extra-large is just about the best blanket for throwing over yourself while watching TV on the couch that I have ever owned!

What a wonderful gift to give Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, or anyone else who would treasure a photo of your child or children preserved forever on a soft, warm woven or fleece blanket. You upload your photo, then you will receive an e-mail within 24 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) with your proof and instructions for approving or changing your proof (unlimited changes are included at no charge). This allows you to see what your order will look like before it’s sent to production. Once your proof is approved, your order will sent to production.

Because of the time it takes for processing, you need to order BY December 16th. See the Custom Creations Unlimited site for a list of all products that can be ordered and shipped by Christmas. They also carry dozens of other types of products besides blankets that can be customized, so take a minute and browse the site, you just might find that perfect gift!

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When Family Review Network announced that we would be doing a review of Polliwalks, I have to admit, I wasn’t sure what my daughter’s reaction would be to being asked to wear them. She hates her feet being hot and peels off her socks every chance she gets. Asking her to wear shoes lined with fake fur? I was sure that would be akin to torture.

I was wrong. Kaitlyn loves her Kitty Polliwalks so much, that she regularly asks if she can wear them at naptime, and when I say no, she asks to have them on her bed with her. As if they are a cuddly stuffed animal and not a pair of shoes! If you aren’t familiar with them, Polliwalks are more than just shoes, they are like toys for your child’s feet! But that doesn’t mean they sacrifice proper support for growing feet-each pair has arch support, a footbed shaped to support the foot, and a heel cup to help them stay on. And how fun is this- Polliwalks have Footprinting on the bottoms, meaning each time your child takes a step in water, dirt, mud, or sand, they leave behind an animal footprint!

The Polliwalks company is also aware of the impact that the manufacturing process can have on our planet, so they have taken the following steps:
# No Waste Manufacturing - all excess material created from molding process is recycled.
# Environmentally friendly packaging - tags and hooks made from recycled paper and plastic, minimal packaging used.
# Environmentally friendly water based adhesives used in manufacturing.
# Vegan- no animal products are used in manufacturing process.

This holiday season, you can purchase the original Polliwalks styles, AND two NEW styles that won’t be widely released until Spring but are available right now at Dillard’s and on Zappos.com. The original styles are shown in the image above, the new styles are FISH LIPS (a fish sandal whose squishy lips change color when exposed to UV rays of the sun) and FIREFLY (a clog in the form of a firefly that has a light in the back that lights up when in motion, like a firefly!). We got a pair of FIREFLY clogs in addition to the Kitty shoes for this review, and they are so adorable and fun!  If you look closely at the photo on the right here, you should be able to see the light on in the back of the shoe-I had her stamp her foot and snapped the photo real quick. Why she’s WET in this photo, I have no idea, but whaddya gonna do? lol

Now that you’ve read the review, let’s do a giveaway! I’ve got one pair of Polliwalks to give away, the winner can choose the puppy, kitty, gator, duck, frog or ladybug style.

WIN IT: For one entry, please visit Polliwalks, come back here and comment on which style you’d like to win, color and size. In order to minimize the number of emails I’ll need to send, I will only consider an entry eligible for this giveaway if it has the STYLE, COLOR, and SIZE listed in the comment. Open to U.S. entrants only, one entry per person. Enter by December 16th at 9:00 AM ET.

1.<strong>Post this button</strong> on your blog and get one entry into every giveaway! Let me know in a comment so I can keep a list of everyone posting the button.

Copy and paste to link to me using this badge:

<img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s197/table4five/holidaybadget45.jpg" alt="Table for Five Holiday Gift Guide" width="125" height="125" /></a>

2. Link to http://table4five.net on your blogroll.

3. Use social media to spread the word about this giveaway, by posting the link to StumbleUpon, Digg, Kirtsy, Twitter, or posting it on a Forum. You must leave your username for that site in your comment so I can check. This is a great way for non bloggers to earn an extra entry! Links are at the end of the post.

4. For FIVE EXTRA ENTRIES, mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post and to www.polliwalks.com. Please include that it ends Tuesday, Dec. 16th at 9:00 AM ET.

Good luck!

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