Sprig Toys: Sprig Hollow

I am a big fan of green toys. I like providing my children with non-toxic toys and I try to make purchasing decisions that are good for the environment.

Last year I reviewed the Sprig Toys Adventure Series vehicles. I said in the review that I liked the concept of the kid-powered vehicles, but that if you are very sensitive to wood scents, they may not be the right toys for your home. Even though the "wood scent" is natural and from, well, actual wood, in the end I realized that my sinuses thought it was an allergen. I passed the trucks along to someone else who has used them ever since. My son did love pushing the truck around because the handle was the perfect height for him.

Since the company's launch, they have come out with two new lines: Eco-Trucks and Sprig Hollow. My son would probably love the Eco-Trucks, which include an Excavator, a Loader, and a Dump Truck.

Sprig Toys asked me if I would like to receive the Sprig Hollow toys for review. I agreed when I saw the picture because I thought they looked cute. And since they are outdoor toys, the scent wouldn't get to me. (They could also be used indoors, if you wish.)

This line includes Bee and Butterfly's Farm, Dragonfly's Heliscoopter,, and DuneBug's Sand Truck.

The concept is pretty cool: you can put together the parts to form a truck or a helicopter, or you can use the individual pieces as sieves, scoops, etc.

Unfortunately, there is no way to lock the pieces together to keep them in their "whole" form. I have to say that I have pieces strewn across the back yard. Which isn't a huge deal, because there are lots of outdoor toys strewn about. But I think they would be better if they somehow snapped together.

I love the idea of the farm. But the funnel will not stay put. It falls off every single time I put it back on. And I am not sure what the point of the holes are. I thought it was to place the little bug figures in them, but they don't fit.

The biggest hit is the little figures. They are two pieces, the body and the wings/head which pop in through the back of the body. My daughter plays with these quite a bit and likes to change which face is on which body and if it is up or down. She says they are her garden fairies.

Having been in the heat and sun for a good month or two now, some of the darker pieces are a bit sun-faded. But even being exposed to the elements non-stop, they are no worse for the wear.

So my major criticisms are that the farm doesn't really "do" anything and that I would like to see the parts make a whole that would actually stay whole. That being said, my children play with the scoops, sieves, and the truck body in their normal play. The pieces have been incorporated into our general outdoor toys pile and get played with. A lot.

A child's opinion about the functionality and fun factor of a toy may be completely different than an adult's intellectual analysis. And I love the concept of the Sprig Toys company since they are creating toys from sawdust and recycled milk jugs. That's pretty darn cool.

I can't wait to see what Sprig Toys comes up with next. And I would bet that the Eco-Trucks are great. They look chunky enough for smaller hands to really grab and push around. And they are no more expensive than any non-green trucks like this in the toy aisle.

For a different take on Sprig's line of outdoor toys, read what Z Recommends has to say. They think they are fab.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

BioME 5 Organic Kids' Apparel: Animal Alphabet Tee's Your Child Will Be Wild About

I love personalized items for kids because they seems to get such a kick out of seeing their own name on, well, anything. I know that when my daughter was first learning her letters and learned which letter started her own name, she would grin every time she saw it in alphabet books and anywhere in the world it would show up (her initial is an uncommon one). "Look, there's my letter!" she would exclaim.

And if you've been reading The Full Mommy for any length of time, you know I am particularly fond of everything eco-friendly. But sometimes it's difficult to find cute, organic clothing that kids will actually be wild about.

Enter BioME 5. This is a line of organic cotton kids tee shirts that kids will identify with. Why? Because they come in 26 different styles, one for each letter of the alphabet. The big initial includes a subtle photo of an animal that begins with the same letter. The name of the animal is spelled out upside-down from a kid's eye view (when a child looks down towards the hemline, he can see the letters).

I like the gender-neutral muted color palette that the line offers. And I appreciate that some animals are the ones that we typically see in ABC books ("X" is xenops, not x-ray fish).

They come in long and short-sleeves and in toddler sizes 2T, 4T, and 6T. They also offer infant onesies. Too cute!

And not only are the shirts eco-friendly, but they come in biodegradable packaging!

My daughter has been wearing her shirt often and it has withstood several washings. Now I will just have to find a younger kid with the same uncommon initial to hand it down to when she outgrows it. Or maybe I will be eco-friendly and turn it into a bag or pillow.

You can purchase BioME 5 organic clothing from their website and from select retailers.

DISCOUNT: Receive a 20% discount at the bioME 5 site with coupon code FULLMOM good through 8/1/09. All long-sleeve tees are just $12!!!!! And check out their great shipping options! All orders over $25 are free within the US and all international orders over $50 are free!

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! Her BioME 5 shirt would have a lion.

Trek Trikester: A Trike That Will Grow With Your Child

My daughter has a great tricycle that we have had for a couple of years now. Her older cousin has the same one. Since our son is now old enough to try his hand (or feet) at pedaling around the patio, we tried to talk my sister-in-law into handing down their trike. She said that he still rides it. He'll be seven this summer.

So what trike is so great that even a seven-year-old won't give it up?

The Trek Trikester.

Our daughter's Trikester (and her cousin's) is the previous style made by Trek. It is so sturdy and solid and we knew when we bought it that it was built to last. Hers is pink, but we tricked it out with some skull stickers and added a basket to haul things around.

What's so great about it? Solid steel construction, a wide wheel base that makes it very stable, lots of seat positions that allow a wide range of child heights (she's almost 5 and we haven't maxed it out yet), and a great back deck.

You know what's so cool about the back deck? For one, her little brother hops on back and holds on tight around her waist and she gives him a ride. And on more than one occasion we've been blocks from home when she has suddenly and urgently needed to go potty. My husband and I have both stepped up, grabbed the handlebars, and pushed her quickly home. That's right, it is so strong that it holds up to the weight of both a child and adult. At the same time.

So back to my son.

We received the new model of Trek Trikester for my son to test drive. There are a few changes between my daughter's model and this one.

Whereas the old model has an open front fender, the new model has a plastic one (my only criticism...I was surprised that they used plastic on an otherwise extremely solid trike).

The rear deck is designed a little different, but it still withstands the weight of an adult.

And the seat has changed. The new model has more of a banana seat (did that just show my age?) which you won't have to adjust as your child grows (no need for adjustment is a plus). The seat is also pretty cushy and easy to get on and off of.

The steel frame makes it sturdy. But another great feature is the rubber wheels. I hate plastic wheels!

My son is still learning to ride. He's been pushing it more than pedaling, but he'll get the hang of it. My daughter, though, would like to make it her own. She claims it's lightning quick. And I have to say it has definite zoom factor. She races up and down our drive at about mach 8.

Trek says "the Trikester fits a wide range of youngsters and allows the fun to continue as they grow. The one-size, padded saddle allows for a variety of leg lengths while the durable construction means junior can enjoy the ride for years." I totally agree.

The Trikester comes in two color combinations: Pearl White/Candy Blue and Pearl White/Metallic Pink. And these colors are hot!

You may balk at the price when you hear it. But I can tell you that this is not some piece of junk that is going to fall apart. In fact, I have seen the older model sell quickly time and again at garage sales for $50-75. (The older style was about $150 new.) My husband always says it's better to buy quality and only buy once. Considering we have had ours three years and we may get another three years out of it, and then sell it, well, you do the math, I personally think it's worth it. I would much rather buy a quality trike that has longevity than lesser quality trikes that sell for $50-$75 that won't make it one season.

We have been riding ours hard and after almost 3 years it barely looks used. Her Trikester gets garage space even if both of our cars don't! In fact, she rides it more often than she rides her bike because she can maneuver it on our patio since it has a small turning radius. And if you have multiple children, this is definitely hand-me-down-worthy.

Now if only I could outfit my son's new Trikester with a basket. I can't seem to find one that isn't pink with flowers. 'Cause kid's gotta haul things, you know.

Watch this short video to see both the old and new styles of Trek Trikester.



This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

(We are thankful to Trek for supplying our family with the new model to test drive.)

Book Review: Predators and Child Molesters

Yes, it's a far cry from DVDs and shampoo, but when I was asked to review Robin Sax's new book, Predators and Child Molesters: What Every Parent Needs to Know to Keep Kids SAFE, I thought it was important to do it. Just a day or so earlier, I'd had an awkward conversation with my children about why it's not a good idea to take off your underwear outside (!).

I received the book, and didn't read it for a few weeks. Because really, who wants to read a book about sexual molestation and abuse? I certainly didn't; but now that I have, I'm glad I did. I'm not going to say it didn't freak me out. It did. There is so much to worry about; so much that could go wrong. It's part of the territory of having children, of course.

But having more information is one of the only ways to relieve fears and to keep them from consuming us. Being proactive is far better than keeping my head in the sand. And with her calm, matter-of-fact tone, Robin Sax supplies lots of important details without being overly alarmist.

A second subtitle of the book is "A Sex Crimes DA Answers 100 of the Most Commonly Asked Questions." Perhaps that's why this book feels more like two books--one on prevention and one on what happens when a crime is committed. Since (and here I thank my lucky stars and every other star in the sky) only the first part applies to me, I wished there were more of it, and less of the rest. On the other hand, if I suspected abuse or if my child actually reported it, the second part of this book would be extremely valuable. It oulines very specifically what happens after a crime is committed, how it is investigated and prosecuted, and so on.

In terms of how to protect our kids, Sax is blunt about risks but also offers concrete advice about reducing them. The book contains an excellent chart listing important teaching points ("your body is your own," "trust your instincts") and how to discuss them with children of different ages. There is of course plenty of information on keeping kids safe online too.

The six sections of the book are:

• Recognizing the predators
• Talking to kids about risks and recognizing potential problems
• Recognizing abuse
• Reporting sexual abuse
• Going to court
• Healing and moving on

This book isn't easy to read. But sometimes, being a parent isn't easy.

WIN IT
Giveaway Title: ROBIN SAX
Prize: Predators and Child Molesters by Robin Sax; paperback (one copy is autographed)
Number of Winners: 2
Entry Question: In what city does Robin Sax work as a district attorney?
Enter By: July 10
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail.
Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

Reviewer Mayberry Mom's daughter recently asked when she could have a computer and a TV in her bedroom. The answer was "Never."

Knock Knock Mood Alert Notepad Giveaway

Keeping up with my new theme of decluttering, I'm giving away a notepad I received for review months ago and have {buries head in shame} recently uncovered: a Mood Alert Notepad from the witty folks at Knock Knock.

Those Knock Knock peeps are funny, yet practical. Check it out, they even have a category of what to buy annoying people.

After the stressful year we've had, you'd think a hormonal gal like me would be giving her husband daily mood updates to keep things running smoothly. In fact, each sheet notes the pad offers "better living through fair warning."

For example, with a Mood Alert sheet, I could let my guy know that my day was "exhausting" and I feel like "rethinking life" and that if he knew what was good for him he'd "make dinner." (Though please know they Mood Alert pad allows for happy moods, too.)

Whether the Blue Bird of Happiness or your youngest child just pooped all over your clean car or you're floating Cloud Nine, you'll have fun with this pad.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: KNOCK KNOCK
Prize: Knock Knock Mood Alert Notepad
Number of Winners: 1
Entry Question: How do you turn your frown upside down after a hard day?
Enter By: 11 PM CST on July 3, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail.
Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

Kim Moldofsky blogs at Hormone-colored Days and shares tips on marketing to mombloggers at Positive Impact, Inc.