So, my daughter got the LeapFrog Tag reading system as a Christmas gift from my brother and his wife. And she loves it. So do I, in fact. I've already bought her 7 additional books. This system is truly amazing. Not only does it read individual words or the entire story, you can also touch anywhere on the page for great sound effects that bring the story to life. Now they have one for toddlers and I am so excited that Natural Mama is hosting a giveaway on her site for a Tag Jr. The contest is open to Canadian and U.S. residents and ends January 17, 2010, so be sure to enter. You have the chance to enter more than once!

As a French teacher, I teach students from ages 5 to 13. And while I know that each child learns at their own pace, I often take for granted that, by the time they reach grade 1 or even 2 depending on their learning abilities, they have mastered a very difficult learning milestone - reading. I never really knew how hard it is to teach a child to read until I had a child of my own. I have always been eager to teach my daughter the alphabet and promote an early love of reading, especially since I struggled with reading when I was a child. But it hasn't been until my daughter started Junior Kindergarten this year that she is actually learning (and loving) phonics. At her school, they use the Jolly Phonics program and I always rejoice when she comes home and shows me the new letter sound under study. She's so excited about it, too. And now, it's been about a week or two that she is decoding words entirely on her own. For Christmas, her teacher gave her a copy of Flip and Flop written by Dawn Apperley. She has read it about 3 or 4 times now and feels so proud knowing that she can read entire sentences. I couldn't be more thrilled! I use this book for guided reading, since there are many words that are intimidating such as spluttered, thought, and excitedly. But there are also some repetition and fun-sounding words like wheeee and boomba, which she thoroughly enjoys.

And for those of you who love books by Robert Munsch, I just thought I would throw in this link to Kidspace from the Toronto Public Library site where you can access animated versions of his wonderfully illustrated books online and listen to the author read them himself.  It's a great site and it also features a wide array of books from several different authors. Just look under "Read-a-Story," click on "Tumblebooks Library" and then click on "Story Books" to view them online.

On a similar note, Madeleine is taking her phonics skills and applying it to her writing. She has mostly written individual words up until yesterday when she finally had the confidence to write the following in a note to Santa Claus:


Madeleine wos u per uv soks. (Madeleine wants a pair of socks.)
Madeleine wos u bot. (Madeleine wants a boat.)

I cannot express the joy I felt when I read what she wrote. It is a true marvel and blessing to be able to witness this ongoing learning process through the eyes of a 4-year-old and the pride she feels throughout her journey when she has accomplished something truly remarkable.

Madeleine, when you read this in the (near) future, I want you to know that I am so proud of your accomplishments!

Love you,

Mom

Toronto Teacher Mom is excited to announce the winner of the nursery mobile courtesy of CSNbaby.com. The winner, as selected by Random.org is:

If you're like me, then procrastination could be your middle name. Yes, I know. Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today? It's probably due to the fact that I'm just not as organized as I'd like to be. And this Christmas is no different. Not only have I yet to buy Christmas gifts for my friends and family, I still have to send out about a dozen cards. But seeing as I have very little time to get them mailed out for a Christmas Eve delivery, I may just have to resort to an alternative.


E-card is the name, artistic animation is the game. Have you seen the work of Frederikke Tu? She is the artistic designer behind the beautiful works of art on Ojolie.com which she later turns into animated e-cards. What I really love is that these two elements are both tied together nicely with a wonderful selection of music. Another really neat part of the final product is the incorporation of Frederikke's own watercolor paintings. It adds a striking uniqueness to each card and makes you feel good knowing that you are sending a one-of-a-kind work-of-art to your family and friends while saving trees in the process. Frederikke also has a beautiful blog where she shares her work and her passions as well as her insight on running an e-card business.

Now, while they have a fairly large collection of e-cards that you can send for free, you can also sign up for a paid membership. For a small fee of $10 US, you get a one-year subscription or you can pay $15 US for two years. Ojolie was kind enough to grant me a free one-year subscription to their site which allows you to:

• Personalize and send as many e-cards from their entire selection.
• Personalize your account with an address book, card scheduling and card status.
• Include your own photos with your card message.
• Access their quick and professional customer service by directing inquiries to Timothy Tu.

And they are currently offering the following promotion:


So if you need to send some Christmas cards and are worried about them arriving in time, why not send an e-card from Ojolie.com? It's quick and easy, as well as economical and eco-friendly!

Click here to see one of my favourites.

Wow! A lot more people than I had anticipated entered this contest. What an amazing turnout! Thank you to all who entered.

The winner of the $75 Burt's Bees prize pack, as selected by Random.org, is

Have you ever heard of the Ouch Pouch? Neither had I until today. It's a really neat and compact first aid bag that comes in a variety of styles and it's also available pre-filled with handy items such as a thermometer, wipes, a lollipop, tweezers, bandaids, sunscreen and a Tylenol sample. You can take them with you anywhere and they are made of vinyl so they can be easily cleaned, too.

Would you like to win an Ouch Pouch of your choice? So would I. That's why I entered Sandy's contest over at ShopaholicMommy.com. Her contest is open to everyone and ends December 27. Good luck!

Attention all new and soon-to-be parents! With the cold weather approaching, online shopping might become more appealing. From the comfort of your own home, you can pick out an entire nursery and have it shipped to your door!

CSNbaby.com is an online store based in Boston that offers a wide variety of baby items, such as furniture, decor, baby gear, toys and crib bedding. The company opened in 2002 and has since been ranked among the Top 3 online U.S. retailers. And they ship to Canada, too!

They currently offer guaranteed delivery by December 24 on products marked with snowflakes and for a limited time, you can save 10% off your order and get it shipped for free (some exclusions may apply). Be sure to take advantage of this promotion before it ends this Sunday. Just use code 10PERCENT at checkout.


And here's a little excerpt I found under their shipping information:

"We will make every effort to ensure this item arrives to you by or on December 24th. In the unlikely event this item doesn’t arrive on time, we will offer you a refund of 15% of the item's price if you decide to keep it, or a full refund on the item, including free return shipping and no restocking fees, if you decide to return it."

Sounds pretty cool to me. With that kind of a policy, you can't really lose.

One item that caught my eye was the Trend Lab Max Musical Mobile. There are several styles and colours to choose from and they look so adorable.








They also have ones in pink, too.




Most are being sold below the listed price and you can also get a free gift with purchase. It's a "Milk Belly" message bodysuit. Too cute!



CSNStores has kindly offered one reader of Toronto Teacher Mom a choice of Baby Mobiles to help spruce up the nursery (up to a rough value of $35 including shipping). So if you like the themed Trend Lab mobiles I mentioned above or the one seen here, they are eligible for the prize.

For your initial entry, which is mandatory, check out CSNbaby.com and tell me which product you would like to have in your nursery. Leave a comment on this post with the name of the product and a way to contact you if you win. (You need to click on "comments" at the end of this post to leave a comment.)

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each indicating what you have done.

• Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post. When you are done, leave a link to your post in your comment.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom using Google Friend Connect.
• Subscribe to Toronto Teacher Mom.
• Become a fan of Toronto Teacher Mom on Facebook.
• Update your status on Facebook to notify your friends about this giveaway.
• Become a follower on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Tweet daily for additional entries. Feel free to use the following tweet:  

Contest ends December 18 at midnight EST. Open to Canadian and U.S. residents.

Winner will be selected using Random.org and must reply to the notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be drawn.

You know the winter weather is upon us when your skin starts to feel dry and your lips feel chapped. It's enough to make you browse through travel catalogues in search of warmer climates and pristine beaches. But for those of us who are stuck facing sub-zero temperatures and the effects of dry air, we can take consolation in knowing that there is a solution to our dry-skin dilemma. And it goes by the name of Burt's Bees.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Burt's Bees, it began back in 1984 as a candle-making operation ran by Roxanne Quimby and Burt Shavitz that produced $200 worth of sales at their first craft fair. (You can read about their "unusual" story written by Roxanne here.)By the end of their first year, their sales reached $20 000, an indicator that their candles were of high quality and their craftsmanship highly valued. Soon enough, their company expanded to include natural soaps, perfumes and eventually lip balm, their best-selling product to date. By 1998, their sales surpassed a whopping $8 million! Their expansive product line now includes other natural products such as body lotions made with natural milk and sugar enzymes, bath products made with sea ingredients, toothpaste, shampoos and a Baby Bee product line to name a few. This year marks their 25th anniversary.

When I first met my husband, I was introduced to the notion that natural and organic was the wiser and healthier option. It has been a way of life for him and his family for longer than most people I know, so when they introduced me to Burt's Bees lip balm almost six years ago, I had to try it. I loved it then and I still love it now. So imagine my delight when I was asked to try Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil for review. The first time I applied it, it went on oh so smoothly and tasted oh so sweet! My husband and I went out that evening to catch the premiere of New Moon, and after having applied it only once, and then devouring a large tray of salty tortilla chips, my lips still felt refreshed and kissably smooth. This naturally hydrating lip balm has definitely earned it's place in my purse! Best of all, it is infused with the antioxidant properties of pomegranate oil that coats your lips with a hint of colour.

As any new mom can testify, starting a new life with a newborn can be both exhilarating and also frightening. While you may feel overwhelmed with joy and excitement, there is still quite often the fear of the unknown. You might find yourself asking what you should do when the baby wakes up crying in the middle of the night. Or you might often worry about the transition back to work after your maternity leave is over. Whatever the situation may be, there may be consolation in knowing that you are not alone, and that millions of women over several generations have experienced similar concerns and asked similar questions. So who do we turn to for the answers? More than likely, you turn to experienced moms, those who've been through it all and those who are going through it right now. Their tips and advice can ease your worry and maybe even allow you that extra hour of sleep or two. That is why Pampers is working with Mom Central on a project entitled "A Parent is Born."

The aim of this project is to compile a list of useful tips for new and expecting Canadian moms. This list will be published in the Pampers Online Tips Sheet and 25 randomly selected entrants will receive a $20 gift card and one grand prize winner will receive a cash prize of $500! (Just in time for the holidays!) To enter, visit MomCentral and share your tips for any of these two categories:

1. How to Cope with Going Back to Work: Ways mom can prepare for the big day and ways to soothe the unease.

2. Baby/Mommy Sleep Tips: Tips on helping both Baby and mom sleep through the night.

Here are some tips I would like to share.

Topic 1: If you intend to return to work after having a baby and need a daycare, start looking at all the available options and put your name on as many waiting lists as you feel are worthwhile. You can always narrow down your choices at a later date but I found you can be on a waiting list for at least a year before a spot opens up. So I'd say start looking while the baby is still in utero.

Topic 2: I'm sure every mom can tell you that routine is key. (Keep late night activity to a minimum to avoid over stimulation; watch for the baby's cues such as rubbing his/her eyes, or in my son's case, sucking his fingers; turn the lights down low; consider a warm bath with calming lavender bubble bath and/or a massage before settling down to read a book.) For moms who nurse, you might want to try nursing in bed while lying down. My friend told me about it and it really made it easier for me to handle late night feedings.

If you have some advice you'd like to share on these two topics, be sure to place your entry before December 10, 2009 at midnight in order for a chance to win. This contest is opened to residents of Canada (excluding Quebec).

(Disclosure: I am participating in a Mom Central blog campaign and I received an Amazon.com gift certificate as a thank-you.)