Orijinz is the fun card game that educates players on why we say the things we do! With 150 cards that each teach the definition and meaning of common words and phrases, it is literally hours of fun and learning.

I’ve been pulling out cards at random and reading them to the boys. Each card has a word Origin, the definition, and some have a “tidbit”, a fun fact about the word. To play the game, one person reads the origin and definition, and the other players try to guess the word. For example, a word whose origin is the Arabic meaning for “storehouse”, definition is a periodical that contains articles and stories, the word is magazine.

I’m planning to take Orijinz with us to visit my sister and brother-in-law, so we’ll have a group of boys ages 10,12, and 15, and four adults. It will be interesting to see how many words we will know. The game is only $14.95, and the “Buy” link on the site goes to a PayPal page. Unfortunately, purchases made now won’t be delivered until at least January 2nd, and for that I owe the sponsor an apology. I was hoping to have this posted by December 19th so there would be time for delivery by Christmas, but I didn’t make it.

If you are looking for a gift for someone who loves to read or learn about language, or a fun game to take to a party, please support my sponsor and pick up Orijinz!

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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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This giveaway is closed. These are the winners:

For Creativity Express, Julie from Crowns and Frogs

For a Journal from Journal Buddies, Maria from Maria’s Space

For Sarah Pinto’s Planner, Lisa from MowerMom

And yes, the first 3 numbers that the Random.org sequence generator picked were all bloggers, and they had asked to win prizes 1, 2, 3 in that order. Kinda freaky! Emails for addresses going out now, enjoy your prizes!

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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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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Are you looking for  truly unique toys that are fun to play with, will challenge your child’s thinking, stimulate their imagination, and provide hours of play?  I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ken Kahn, founder of Oh! Toys, and I am just thrilled to be telling you about some of the wonderful toys he sells on his site.

It started when Ken purchased a Cuboro marble run toy at a museum gift shop. It was such a hit with the recipient that he asked the museum shop where he could purchase more of them, and was surprised to be told that the toy, which was manufactured in Switzerland, was not widely available in the U.S.  From that, Ken started Oh! Toys and stocked it with toys that are popular in countries like Germany, Austria, and Japan, but aren’t widely distributed here.

Ken generously sent me some of the new, exciting products from European toy makers that he found this year, and he’s not kidding when he says these are high quality toys, and not like anything else you find even in educational toy stores. From Cuboro, the Swiss toy maker who made the marble run that got him started, Ken sent the new Cugolino marble run.  It comes with 37 pieces and 3 marbles, and the pieces can be used with other Cuboro marble sets.  The ramps, half-height blocks and colored blocks make this unique and allow for an even greater variety of set-ups. Kaitlyn could hardly wait for me to build something so she could get down to the business of dropping the marbles! Ken calls this a “heritage toy”, meaning the investment you make in it will pay off as you pass this toy on to other children for years to come. It’s listed at $139.00.

Tsumiki Construction Blocks from Japan are definitely not the typical “box of blocks”.  In addition to rectangles, triangles, and cylinders, the set also includes half circles, and cylinders with notches in the top so the pieces fit together better. I don’t have a photo of Kaitlyn playing with these, here’s an image from the site which will show you just how unique the shapes are of these blocks. The set comes with 60 pieces.

Right now, Ken has an AMAZING deal for these wonderful blocks. The regular price is $99, but you can get them on sale for only $59.00. These award-winning blocks would make a wonderful gift!

I am just crazy for Ruck + Zuck, the adorable wooden clowns who love to spin colorful “plates” and have their own car. Quoting from the site:
” Ruck + Zuck are two lovable characters in the Kellner Stick Figure family. Like all Kellner creations, Ruck + Zuck are whatever you make them to be. This award-winning toy system lets you take over and create characters and scenes that are only limited by your imagination. Pieces are child-safe wood, fabric and plastic. 48 pieces, plus 40 Jummi (joiner) pieces.

For over eighty years, Kellner Steckfiguren toys have entertained children and families in Europe. Combining amusing and cleverly designed beechwood, plastic and cloth pieces, this classic system truly puts the child (or grown-up) in charge of where the play and creativity go. There are deliberately no instructions or restrictions placed on your imagination. Playful discovery is the name of the game with these toys. Winner of The Thuringer Design Prize in 2001, the German Design Prize for Toys in 2001, and the RedDot Award in 2002″

I had a lot of fun playing with..I mean helping Kaitlyn play with Ruck + Zuck. Although there are no instructions, I used the picture that came inside the box to get an idea of how to make the clown bodies. You can also join their arms so that one clown is swinging the other over his head. And it comes with a piece of twine and these sticks with rollers on the end so you can make a sort of zip line for them to slide down. I’d love to get the whole set so we could have an entire circus!  The set comes with 48 wood, fabric, and plastic pieces, plus 40 joiner pieces. Because there are small pieces in this set, it is NOT for young children, and I’d recommend closely supervising play even at 3 or 4, just to be sure they don’t put one of the round pieces in their mouth.  The cost is $49.00 and again, this is a toy you will have for years.

The last product I want to mention is the Spinning Tops. Such a simple toy, yet popular for generations. Kids of all ages are fascinated by getting a top to spin just right. And Oh! Toys carries tops I’ve never seen before, in shapes that are far different from the typical tops. They would make terrific stocking stuffers, at prices starting at just $6.00.  It’s not often that I get to correspond with the owner of a toy website, let alone speak to them in person, and I am so glad I got that chance with Ken.  Please visit Oh! Toys when you have a minute and browse the selection of wonderful, unique, internationally popular toys he carries. You are sure to find something for the perfect gift!

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