tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21820458378903248182010-03-10T20:57:51.189-06:00Spirited Kids need spunky, funky, creative, incredible toys, clothes, games, books and more. My Sweet Angel Pie serves up something sweet every weekday for parents, caregivers and the kids they love!Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-24225185132452043532010-03-10T00:05:00.001-06:002010-03-10T00:05:00.494-06:00

Got a budding fashion designer at home? Here's a great way to get your foot in the door (so to speak)! Little MissMatched just kicked off Season 2 of their Project Sock contest. Creative minds of all ages are invited to design a three-pack of fun, funky, colorful socks that don't match. You have until April 15th to enter your original designs; the top 24 will be displayed online until mid-May so

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-18377284200641933082010-03-09T15:13:00.002-06:002010-03-09T15:29:46.511-06:00

PBS fans, unite! PBS is having a customer appreciation sale this week, offering 20% off your entire purchase through March 15th. Here are a few of my favorite things available in the online shop: National Parks-themed games like UNO, Scrabble and puzzles. Growing Greener Schools DVD on how to create environmentally sustainable schools A huge selection of Elmo DVDs (my one year old is in love

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-51897318100975401132010-03-07T23:09:00.001-06:002010-03-07T23:10:07.730-06:00

Does your family need a green hour? Consider this from the National Wildlife Federation: "Today's kids spend far less time outside than their parents did. For many of them, tweets are not bird calls but 140-word sound bites. Wii, the electronic game, has replaced wheee!-- the squeal of delight." Sad but true. And it's not that those technological advances aren't cool and beneficial in some ways,

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-82695520059061321672010-03-06T23:12:00.000-06:002010-03-06T23:12:21.654-06:00

Hello Dear Readers! I hope you're having a wonderful weekend, spending lots of quality time with your spirited kiddos and finding time for yourself, too. It's a constant juggling act, I know. And that's why I've decided to stop blogging at My Sweet Angel Pie on the weekends. My schedule has felt a bit hijacked lately, between my other blog, my radio show, my writing and the creative consulting

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-13146512838089274932010-03-04T23:04:00.001-06:002010-03-05T21:43:02.806-06:00

It's tough to find a paperbook book for less than four bucks these days. But a high-quality hardcover children's book? Next to impossible! That's why I'm pumped about Barnes & Noble's big book sale: they've got 100 children's titles available for just $3.99 through March 14th. And these are not your bottom-of-the-barrel, nobody-wants-these books. They're past best-selling titles; in fact, many

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-87365434845283761452010-03-04T10:38:00.002-06:002010-03-05T21:42:40.299-06:00

A calling card for kids? I know - sounds sort of ridiculous. But stick with me. I never would have thought these were useful until my sister-in-law started selling stationery a few years back when she had her first child. She had some printed with my niece's name on them and used them all the time! They're a time-saver and money-saver whenever your child goes to a birthday party. Buy a card at

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-55409909555057937282010-03-03T00:05:00.002-06:002010-03-03T01:37:01.636-06:00

I love these whimsical alphabet flash cards, available at Nova Natural Toys & Games. Each one features an illustration of an animal that starts with the featured letter. Recommended for ages 6+, the set comes with 32 cards so kids can spell out simple words. Such a great deal at just $10. Nova also has two sets of colorful math flash cards, too. Both sets contain cards up to the number 20,

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-79588325739444603092010-03-01T23:09:00.000-06:002010-03-01T23:09:30.985-06:00

In case you hadn't noticed, there are tons of stacking toys on the market for toddlers. Stacking is great for building little ones' motor skills, but we all know not all toys are created equal. So, do the Nest & Stack Buckets from Ebeanstalk measure up? Ebeanstalk is a toy website dedicated to selecting the best toys by age and kids toys. The in-home feedback of bloggers and moms like me around

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-85601844144839824612010-03-01T09:11:00.000-06:002010-03-01T09:11:28.839-06:00

Happy Monday, mamas! I took a day off from the blog yesterday to focus on family stuff - plenty of playtime, a youth symphony concert (check out the funny photo), and dinner with the extended family. When I got home, I flipped through a few catalogs that have been piling up - including The Land of Nod, where I spotted this incredibly unique and funky wallpaper. It features all kinds of quirky,

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-43233650319031829582010-02-27T16:07:00.002-06:002010-03-01T00:18:31.616-06:00

I just stumbled upon Zelda's Closet, an etsy shop featuring adorable handmade baby dolls that resemble Cabbage Patch Dolls, but have so much more character and charm! This one is named Kylie Elizabeth (at least for now!); at 17 inches she's the size of a preemie baby, so your little mommy or daddy can dress her in real-life baby clothes. All babies suck their thumbs unless you request otherwise.

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-50012675423154454502010-02-26T00:49:00.003-06:002010-03-01T21:42:08.656-06:00

Did you know Amazon has a Green Toys section, full of eco-friendly, naturally-made toys and games? Environmentally conscious parents and caregivers can find a huge collection of Sprig construction toys, Plan wooden preschool toys, and lots of items made with rubberwood or bamboo. There are even lots of eco-friendly plush toys, such as miYim Organic Plush Storybook Collection's Victoria the Bunny,

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-31036024622008151452010-02-24T23:15:00.001-06:002010-02-27T12:18:25.101-06:00

I've got boy shorts on the brain - real boy shorts! We're getting ready for a spring break trip and most of the shorts available for my boys at the mall are so boring! I like it when my kids' clothes reflect their colorful, playful personalities. That's why I'm loving Boden's cool range of kid shorts - stars, stripes and colors galore! And right now, using this link you'll get 10% off plus free

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-23475823513919093142010-02-23T23:41:00.005-06:002010-02-25T09:49:57.586-06:00

What are you doing on March 2nd? Make sure the day includes reading aloud with your kiddos! It's Read Across America Day, when the National Education Association's hopes that every child will be read to by a caring adult. Of course, that's the goal every day - but this special occasion is a fun reminder, with family events planned across the U.S. Many events are taking place this Saturday so the

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-70667264815548195262010-02-23T01:45:00.003-06:002010-02-25T09:51:13.551-06:00

If you have a highly sensitive kid, you already know that not just any clothes will do. The tag's too itchy. The hems hurt. The fabric's too rough. These are not just an excuse to whine, but real disturbances and distractions to sensitive kids and can bring them to tears. Welcome Soft Clothing into the fold - a godsend for tons of parents looking for a simple solution. They make soft, flat

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-29706626614648337762010-02-21T23:26:00.008-06:002010-02-23T08:54:40.332-06:00

It's true: some of the best things in life are free! Amazing Kids is a FREE online magazine - part of a non-profit organization by the same name - that is dedicated to inspiring excellence in kids. The content is really rich, ranging from a featured kid of the month (February's Amazing Kid is nine-year-old Remmi Anne Smith, who hosts her own cooking show) to kid-written reviews. In fact, many of

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-29729503135887468502010-02-21T09:56:00.003-06:002010-02-21T22:56:16.998-06:00

I love this collection of Taro Gomi coloring books! I've written about them before here. They spark kids' creatvity because each page has the beginnings of a sketch or doodle, but asks kids to use their imagination and finish the picture. My seven year old loves them and he's been coloring in them since he was around four. Click the link below and you'll save big PLUS get free shipping on this

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-84864285729394073702010-02-19T23:59:00.000-06:002010-02-19T23:59:55.607-06:00

When was the last time you showed your kids how proud you are of them? You can do it today - boost their self confidence with a sweet, FREE card. Yep, you read that right. Now through March 13th, Hallmark is giving away one kid-friendly card to each customer. The idea is that you'll send or give that card to a kid you care about, simply to show that you, indeed, do! LOVE THAT! There are nine

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-41538980923424687072010-02-18T23:44:00.001-06:002010-02-18T23:46:15.915-06:00

There are a few essential lessons we parents are expected to teach our kids in life: how to stay safe, how to treat others, how the birds and bees get along, and how to treat money. Seems pretty simple, but we all know it's not - especially those last two! I'll leave the birds and the bees for another time, but wanted to share with you a great book to introduce elementary school kids to the

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-63693753377422279152010-02-18T23:00:00.000-06:002010-02-19T10:42:37.088-06:00

Do you find yourself talking back to your TV when The View is on? I love that there are so many perspectives represented around that table (although sometimes I wish they'd take turns talking instead of chatting over each other!). The View just selected me to be one of their blogging brand ambassadors, which means I'll get to give you sneak peeks of what's coming up and provide your feedback to

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-36909132064726466452010-02-18T00:05:00.002-06:002010-02-18T00:16:01.938-06:00

With too many inches of snow here to count, I've got spring break and swim suits on the brain! Most women despise swimsuit shopping, for obvious reasons. But when did swimsuit shopping for kids become so painful, too? So many stores have ridiculously mature bathing suits for girls. Their childhoods are so fleeting that I'm all for dressing them sweetly and simply for as long as possible. I guess

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-48614839702521758902010-02-16T23:15:00.000-06:002010-02-16T23:15:05.381-06:00

Everyone who's anyone in the toy industry is in New York this week for the 107th annual Toy Fair takes place, giving manufacturers the chance to showcase the playthings that they'll start selling in 2010. Trend experts watch closely to see what kinds of commonalities appear and have come up a list of four main trends emerging from Toy Fair - all starting with A. And they're gonna be great for

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-71497583955357677392010-02-15T23:40:00.001-06:002010-02-15T23:41:05.889-06:00

If I had known about this race track table several years ago, we'd totally own it today. What a brilliant idea for car-loving kids like mine! As you can see, a race track spirals down from the top of the table to the floor, yet there's still plenty of room on the tabletop to eat a snack or do some art if you move the chairs around. The wooden race track table, available from Bliss Living, comes

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-20010673573384243222010-02-14T22:34:00.002-06:002010-02-14T22:37:00.243-06:00

                 Most kids are home from school today in honor of Presidents' Day. But how much do they actually know about our nation's leaders? Here are a few fun new products to get your kiddos engaged and interested in the history of U.S. presidents. Melissa & Doug Presidents of the USA 100 piece Floor Puzzle: I think it's so cool to see to see the faces of all those white, male leaders

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-83203816438108317332010-02-14T14:16:00.002-06:002010-02-14T14:19:19.004-06:00

Goooooooooal! Our Sunday Best is a great deal on this Kids' Wooden Tabletop Soccer Pinball Game from Land of Nod. For kids ages 3+, you know a wodden pinball game is going not only last longer but look better on the table than a cheaper, plastic version. It's on clearance at Land of Nod, availalble in limited quantities for 50% off - just $34.95 vs. the original price of $69. The Kids' Wooden

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182045837890324818.post-74030539908168183582010-02-13T14:36:00.000-06:002010-02-13T14:36:18.077-06:00

With the Winter Olympics underway, your kids may start dreaming of winning the gold themselves one day. If they're especially enthralled with figure skating, speed skating or hockey - and you live in a cold weather climate - let them take a pair of skates for a spin on this Backyard Ice Rink at Trend Times Toys. You just inflate it, fill it with water (probably best on a flat spot in your yard)

Liv Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13461274417105956445liv@choosingbeauty.com0