Step2 Creative Project Table

Raise your hand if you've let your kids draw/paint/color on your dining room table only to come back five minutes later and find magic marker all over it that you've then spent twenty minutes scrubbing away?

[Hand waving frantically]

There is a way to foster your kid's creative streak without creating streaks on your furniture. The Step2 Creative Project Table.

We set this up in my son's bedroom because we are running out of space in the living areas. The table does require some room in your home, but what you can do with that space once it's there is worth the real estate.

The large surface area is great for art projects or puzzles. My son doesn't love to draw, but now that we have a space readily available stocked with paper and crayons I'm hoping he will. In the meantime, we used it to hammer out play-doh with cookie cutters and for lining up toy cars- my son's favorite activity.

The table has built in storage cups for crayons, markers or whatever you would like to put in them. There is even shelves at the bottom, convenient for books and toys (or cookie cutters, as the case may be). Who doesn't need more storage?

One of my favorite things about this is that it can seat two children at the desk. Especially now, I'm really interested in investing in toys that both kids can use. My second isn't old enough to sit here yet, but when he can, I can picture the options for play being endless.

I think the Creative Project Table is a smart toy that will be around in my house for a long time.

To learn more about the Creative Project Table or other Step2 products, visit the website here.

Kohl's Daily Deals

Kohl's is offering a great daily special every day. Bookmark this page and come back to check out the special savings.

Mountain Blue Eyes Nursing Wear

I'll be honest, I didn't find nursing wear all that challenging in warm weather. I actually didn't find it challenging at all or wear what was technically "nursing wear". Tank tops layered under hoodies was pretty much my standard mode of operation and it worked fine.

Now that it's chilly out, I'm having a harder time keeping some important things accessible while keeping other things under wraps, both because I don't really want to show my white winter skin and IT'S COLD.

I've been on the look out for nursing wear for active moms. I found a really awesome company Mountain Blue Eyes. Here are some quick facts from the website:

~Designed for optimal modesty
~Cut to fit your new Mom curves
~Light-weight, breathable fabrics
~Pill-resistant materials
~Anti-bacterial fabrics
~Quick-dry, moisture-wicking materials
~Designed by Active Moms for Active Moms

These are all good reasons to choose Mountain Blue Eyes but none are as convincing as the product itself. I have one of the nursing fleeces and I am not embarrassed to admit I have been wearing it for three days. (I do take it off to sleep. FYI) It is luxuriously soft, cut to fit a post-partum body, it's warm and the ultimate in convenience for breastfeeding. It has discreet zippers on both sides of the fleece, so small you would almost think they were just a design added for aesthetic reasons and perfect for nursing.

For all you warm weather mamas (Oh how I envy you) there are tees and tanks available also. For more information visit Mountain Blue Eyes here.

Minted Holiday Cards

This year I was prepared. I had a cute family photo, my address book converted into an excel spreadsheet, labels, all I needed was a Holiday card. One that was unique, non-secular, would look great with a black and white photo and didn't require me to stuff the photo inside. It may sound hard to find, but it wasn't at all.

This year the Parent Bloggers Network gave me the chance to review Minted Holiday cards. These are not chain store cards, these are gorgeous one-of-a-kind designs. You start out choosing a creation of your choice but it doesn't end there, you can then change fonts, colors, text to create the perfect message for your holiday greeting. I can sometimes get overwhelmed with online design options, if you give me too many my brain tends to freeze up, but I found the Minted site easy to use and the options were enough to personalize the cards without going overboard with patterns and choices.

I also really liked that the cards were a wide range from the traditional to the non-traditional. I tend to gravitate towards happy holiday and new year messages and am not inclined to purchase religious cards. I found the perfect card on Minted. Anyone who knows me will get that with my tremendous sweet tooth, and love of Christmas cookies, this suits me perfectly. I chose a flat postcard style since I won't have time to write much in each and having an actual card stock card instead of a thin photo card feels more personal to me.

Being able to use an online service when I had the time to browse and create was a huge plus for me. Having these cards arrive in the mail, with envelopes, perfectly formatted, in a beautiful package was a gift in and of itself. Happy Holidays indeed.

Holiday Shopping Guide 2008 Giveaway

At The Full Mommy, we made a list and checked it twice, bringing you what we think are some great gift ideas.

Throughout December, we are offering discounts on many of the featured items as well as some great giveaways. Make sure to look to the sidebar at "Giving it Away for Free" to see some of our current giveaways. (Note: not all of our giveaways are listed in the sidebar. Please check out daily reviews to see giveaways as they are added.)

Help us spread the word about our great gift guide by blogging about it. If you do, you'll be entered to win some great prizes.

If you are lucky, you might win this Lucky Ladybug Necklace from Skimbaco. It retails for $39 and is hand made in the USA.
To enter: Blog about our Holiday Gift Guide linking directly to it (http://www.thefullmommy.com/2008/11/full-mommy-2008-holiday-gift-guide.html). Then send an e-mail to winfullmommy at gmail dot com with "GUIDE GIVEAWAY" in the subject line. We will be adding all participating blogs right here on our special blog roll. Let's spread the linky love this holiday season.

(The blog roll may not appear until After December 7, but be assured that you will get added and entered.)

Holiday Gift Guide: Imaginative Play for Boys and Girls

Want to see the toys that might be making an appearance under the Full Mommies' Christmas trees? Here are a selection of toys that will engage your child and spark imagination. Many of these picks are eco-friendly and do not require batteries.

For your convenience, we have put together The Full Mommy Holiday Gift Guide right on Amazon.com where many of these items are available with free shipping. You can get back to the main guide by clicking the gift guide button at the top of each page.

Dress Up and Pretend Play

Wool Felt Crown by Little Red Caboose

This adorable crown is made from soft wool felt with wooden buttons and a fabric-covered elastic band. Also available in styles suitable for your little king. It's handmade in Vancouver, BC Canada.
$40 from Natural Pod.

The Big Capes by Little Capers
This shimmery cape will add spunk to your little super hero's missions to save the world.
Read our full review.
$23 from Little Capers.

Story Time Felts Felt Dress-Up Dolls
Did you play with paper dolls as a child? This paper doll set is made of washable, tear-resistant felt. Choose from girls, boys, or toddlers and you can even pick the ethnicity. Dress them up in pre-cut clothes.
Read our full review.
$27 from Story Time Felts.

Lilly Bean Market Brown Bag Lunch
An alternative to plastic play food, this set made from wool felt will "feed" your child's imagination while picnicking in the living room or on the lawn. The lunch bag is filled with a perfect sandwich, pickle, and cookie. Hand-washable, hand made in the USA, and non-toxic.
Ages 3 and up.
Coupon Code: 10% off through Dec. 12, 2008 with code "GIFT08"
Read our full review.
$40 from Lilly Bean.

Green Toys Tea Set
What child doesn't like to have tea parties? This set is made from recycled milk jugs! Just add cream and sugar.
$24 on Amazon.

Card Table Playhouse
This handmade felt playhouse fits right over your card table. Remember the fun you had as a child draping a tablecloth over your parent's card table? This one can be personalized with your child's name and even street address.
$65-75 on Etsy.

PaperPod Cardboard Rocket Play House
This playhouse is made in Canada from recycled cardboard. It can be dismantled and stored flat. 18 mo to 7 years depending on the size of the child. Blast off!
$73 from NaturalPod.

Dolls and Dollhouses

Groovy Girls RSVP Dolls
Manhattan Toy Groovy Girls RSVP dolls and their pets have special codes allowing for computer play, if you wish. These dolls are great because they are fashionable but totally age appropriate. And there are dolls of every ethnicity so you are sure to find one that your daughter can identify with. Playful, fun, and yes, groovy!
Ages 3 to 8 years.
$13 on Amazon.

I Love My Planet Toys Planet Pixies
These environmentally friendly dolls made from organic materials teach girls about the environment. The come in 100% post-consumer packaging. Three different pixies to choose from: Kayla, Maya, and Anyu. Too cute!
$25 on Amazon.

Caring Corners Mrs. Goodbee’s Interactive Doll House
This interactive dollhouse teaches children caring and sharing. More than one child can play with this house at a time.
Read our full review.
$70 on Amazon.

Smart Gear Eco-Friendly Wooden Doll House
I wish my home was this eco-friendly! This doll house from Smart Gear comes with everything green: solar panels, wind turbine, recycling bins, and even a rain barrel to catch water.
Ages 3 to 6 years.
$130 at Toys 'R Us.

Cars, Trucks, and Vehicles

Tonka Titan Go Green Garbage Truck by Fun Rise
This may be the only toy on this list that requires batteries, but the Go Green Garbage Truck helps teach kids about recycling. It includes recyclables and a figure.
Ages 3 and up.
$64.50 on Amazon.

Fagus Speedy Wooden Vehicle
This car is great for little guys who love speed. It's made from beech wood and has real rubber tires. No nails, screws, or staples are used in the construction. It's joined with dowels and glue. Made in Germany.
Ages 6 months to 10 years.
$25 from Natural Pod.

Sprig Toys Adventure Series Discover Rig
This vehicle is made from recycled plastic and reclaimed wood. It has an optional push handle. No batteries are required because when the rig is pushed, it powers the lights, sounds, music, and story. Jambo!
Ages 3 and up.
Read our full review.
$55 on Amazon.

Hands On Play

Gymboree On a Pirate Ship: Giant Color-Me-In-Poster Set
This pirate-themed giant poster will provide hours of coloring fun for your little matey. Also available in a Princess Castle version.
$14 on Amazon.

ImagiPLAY Rainforest Puzzle
This handcrafted puzzle is made from renewable rubberwood and decorated with lead-free paint. The playset can be used in multiple ways letting your child's imagination guide him.
Ages 3 and up.
Read our full review.
$20 on Amazon.

Haba Sevilla Wooden Building Blocks
What kid doesn't love playing with wooden blocks? Add a little sparkle and glitz to your child's building projects with these Haba wooden blocks. A perfect compliment to the wooden blocks you probably already have in the toy chest. The 25 blocks are made in Germany of solid beech wood and coated with child-friendly, non-toxic, water-based, solvent-free lacquers.
Ages 18 months and up.
Read our full review.
$60 on Amazon.

Holiday Gift Guide: Tech Toys for Grown Ups

Mommy loves tech gadgets! Today's moms like to get their hands on shiny new toys and here are a few that would make great gifts. In fact, most of the gifts topping our tech toys for grown ups list are perfect for recording family memories, and the last gadget is, well, just too cool!

For your convenience, we have put together The Full Mommy Holiday Gift Guide right on Amazon.com where many of these items are available with free shipping. You can get back to the main guide by clicking the gift guide button at the top of each page.

Tech Gifts for Grown Ups

Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder
This tiny little camcorder has really changed our family life. It's so small and easy to use that I am taking lots more video of our kids and (here's the key) actually sharing it with family.
Read our full review.
$159 on Amazon

Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder
Just in time for the holidays, Flip has come out with the newest in it's line of ultra compact video cameras, this one records in high definition!
$229 on Amazon

Nikon D40 6.1 MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with Nikkor Lens
Great digital SLR camera for the novice and experience photographer alike. This camera has the great ability to stop action, which is so important when chasing young kids around. The depth of field gives stunning results and colors are brilliant.
Read our full review.
From $469 on Amazon

Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device
Have you ever toted a half a dozen books on vacation? Do you need something to read while you wait for your child's dance or music class to get over? Kindle is a revolutionary way to read books and even your daily newspaper. Eco-friendly because you don't use paper. And books for the Kindle are cheaper than regular paper books.
$359 on Amazon