Does the Dad in your life have enough ties already?  How about giving him the latest and greatest in video cameras!  The Flip MinoHD is summed up in about one word:  EASY!  I didn’t even need to read the manual to figure out how to use it or download the videos onto my laptop.  So it’s perfect for men becuase they never read the directions anyway!  I love how lightweight it is too, you can very easily slip it into your pocket or purse…or man bag…or whatever you’re carrying at the moment.

The quality of the videos is something to mention too…crisp, clear and easy on the eyes to say the least!  Who knew a camera this small could take such great shots?!  Now I know men are all about the specs so check this out…all the specs in one spot to satisfy the techy dads out there.

The perfect gift for Father’s Day…a uniquely designed Flip MinoHD!!  You can use your own image as the background or choose from a gallery.  Such a fun way to make Father’s Day special!!  Now get on over to www.theflip.com and get one for your Dad, or your husband, or yourself!

CLICK HERE to purchase it on sale now for under $200, plus FREE SHIPPING  and get it delivered just in time for Father’s Day:)!!

I have a love-hate relationship with Father’s Day.  I love to shower my husband with love and affection and spoil him and help the boys make hand made cards for him with pictures of stick-figured super heroes…love it!  I adore my Dad and making him his favorite pie and telling him how much I love him…love it!  I HATE trying to find something to buy for my two favorite Dads…hate it!!  Usually, gifts bought for my husband end with, “Awww, you shouldn’t have!  Really!  You should not have.”  But this year I’m ready, I’ve got the perfect gift ideas for Father’s Day in hand, and now I’m going to share them with you!  Your welcome.

OK, how about something different, not your wrap it up with a bow kind of gift.  I love this idea…a garage makeover!  My husband says the garage is the only place where he can keep his “stuff” (I could think of a better word for it, but that’s another post).  So helping him make that space more enjoyable would be so much fun…for both of us!  If your hubby is not a fan of surprises, you could make the plans together.  I like the surprise idea though…and Better Homes and Gardens has some great garage makeover ideas here, so check them out!

Yeah, my husband is a geek, so what?  For fellow geek lovers, I found these vintage Star Wars t-shirts.  Yes, my husband would love this shirt.  Yes, I would be embarrased to stand near him while he wore it.  Yes, I would think he was adorable in it.  You fellow geek lovers understand.

This next gift is really more for me than my husband.  While a completely charred piece of chicken is yummy and all, I think  my husband (aka, Grill Master…I’m trying not to laugh while I type that) would benefit from the Grill Alert Talking Remote Meat Thermometer!  A voice prompt alerts you when your food is “almost ready” and “ready”.  Now that’s handy!  I wonder if it says, “You’re burning everything!”  Hmmm…

I know my husband golfs to get a break from the craziness that we call home…so why not make it that much more enjoyable for him!  Check out this Cooler Club Golf Club Drink Dispenser!  This would make my husband’s day!  I can see the smile already…and I count the brownie points.

And finally, because they never grow up…The Digital Speed Sensing Baseball.  Enough said.

From whatchamacallits to some mommy bling, we have found some of the absolute best in baby gadgets and accessories!!  Sure, women back in the ‘good ol’ days’ didn’t have half the stuff we do… and they raised their children just fine.  We’re more about living really well, and raising our children with a dash of fabulous though!  Naturally we just had to show you some of our newest finds that will help you do just that!

Funkie Baby has the sweetest little reversible and soak proof accessories we ever seen!  How many bibs and burp clothes do you think your little drooler goes through in a day?  Yeah, we don’t feel like counting either, but I think we can all agree that the slobber is never ending!  With Funkie Baby’s soak free, totally water proof products, you don’t have to worry about changing bibs and burpies all day long or getting any kind of wet baby mess on your floor as your little sweetie plays!  They feature a unique 3 layer design: a funky cotton print front, a soft, soak proof lining hidden in the middle and a solid or print cotton back.  The bibs ($20) (our household fave and TOTAL celebrity “IT Bib”) fit ages 3 months to 3 years and are also loved by the likes of Jennifer Garner as well as countless others!  You can machine wash and dry all their products over and over which means you will get your money’s worth out of these lovely little must haves!  Other products include Go Mats, Wiggle Mats and Roll-n-Go Travel Mats or get an Entire Matching Collection Set!!  Another great feature to boast about…Funkie Baby products are proudly made in the U.S.A.!!

Finally, a gadget made just for us sleepy-eyed mommies and daddies!!  The ITZBEEN Baby Care Timer is here to save your weary mind!  No more trying to recall by memory when the baby ate last (that’s almost funny to say, isn’t it?!) or trying to get your better half to remember when he changed your little sweetie’s bottom half.

The features on the ITZBEEN Baby Care Timer include so many useful things!  It has four timers that count up with the touch of a button for keeping track of changings, feedings, naps, medicine dosages and so much more!  A display back light so you can read times in the dark.  Oh yes!  No more fumbling with your cell phone while trying to shield yours and baby’s eyes from the light and check the time in the middle of the night!  A nursing reminder…switch from left to right and never forget again which side you nursed on last!  An optional timer alarms allow you to set a reminder alarm for each timer too.  So, did we tell you it was great, or what?!?!  Run, don’t walk to your local store to get one if you or someone you know has a new little one!  Many of our everyday stores carry these right on their shelves too now!  We found one at Target for only $25!!!

There is no price you can put on peace of mind.  We found a gadget that costs only $30 that gives a pregnant mom just that!  The kickTrak keeps a reliable record of the important movements of your unborn baby easily and conveniently.  Did you know that every 21 minutes a baby is stillborn in the US, that’s 70 babies each day!!  The thought of it just breaks our hearts and that’s why we just had to share this great gadget with you!  It also counts down the days until your due date!  Nice, right?!?!

Experts feel that counting your baby’s kicks may help prevent late term stillbirth because your baby’s movement is an excellent indicator of her well-being.  Any significant increase or decrease in your baby’s normal activity may be a warning sign that something is wrong and you should alert your healthcare provider immediately. kickTrak was designed by an obstetrician and is just what you need to put your preggo mind at ease!  (Because we have enough to worry about already!)

We promised you some mommy bling and here it is!  Smart Mom Jewelry has made teething pretty!  Their practical and pretty teething bling is just what you need to get through one of the most trying parts of motherhood!  We all know that babies just love to grab at our jewely.  Now your little slobber machine can grab it, stick it in their mouth and…wait for it…stop crying!!  This perfect mommy accessory is just what you need to get through a church service or sit in a waiting room without fear of a melt down.  Wear it around the house just to keep those little chompers happy at home too!  Smart Mom Jewelry sells delightful pendants, bangles, key chain bling and more, all of which are loved by many celebrites and stay at home moms alike!  Get to www.smartmomjewelry.com and check out their 25% off sale on all Teething Bling Bangles!!

Get ready to GO!  Some of our Favorite Companies are helping  us help THREE of our readers be a chic family on the go with this week’s SWAG ALERT!!  Here’s what you have the chance to win!  SWAG #1:  From gr8x, a gr8x Messenger Bag, Nursing Pillow and Two 2-pack Swaddling Wraps.  SWAG #2: From Phil & Teds, The Traveller Portable Crib and The Me Too Portable Highchair.  SWAG #3: From Dékor, a Dékor Plus Diaper Disposal System plus refills and a Soft Touch Changing Cushion.

To enter, CLICK HERE and check out all of the amazing products listed above and THEN come back and tell us what you liked best and why.

This SWAG ALERT will be open for daily entry until Monday, February 9th at midnight PST.  Our same fabulous SWAG ALERT rules apply, including EXTRAS, but if you need a refresher on the details just CLICK HERE or visit our “SWAG INFO” page by clicking the tab at the top of this page. Winner will be chosen from the comments posted and our subscription list on Tuesday via random.org.  Winner will be fetched using Prizey.net.

Thanks to our fabulous sponsors for their generosity in getting our readers on the go in style!

This SWAG ALERT is going to make you say “Yummm!!!”  We are giving away a complete Beaba Babycook Babyfood Maker valued at $150!!!

To enter, visit www.babycookstore.com and comment on this post with what you think about their company/website/product for your chance to win!

This SWAG ALERT will be open for daily entry until Monday, January 19th at midnight PST.  Our same fabulous SWAG ALERT rules apply, including EXTRAS, but if you need a refresher on the details just CLICK HERE or visit our “SWAG INFO” page by clicking the tab at the top right of this page.

Thanks to Beaba for sharing their innovative product with us, and of course to you for reading BellazizasFavorites.com!

How important is it to you that your baby eat the healthiest foods available?  Breast or bottle, a common question…but what about after that?  Choosy moms everywhere are spending up to around $1.30 per jar for the better branded organic baby food in a jar and much more than that for the new frozen gourmet foods.  Seriously though, how great is it actually, considering it’s been on the shelf for how long – preservatives or not?  Lots of moms prefer the ‘make your own’ baby food, but how many of us really do have the extra time?  It’s totally worth it, but if there were only something that made it just a little easier?

There is!  The Beaba Babycook has been around in Europe for years and has recently been made available in the United States!!  We are really excited here as it’s yet another tool for all of us supermoms who CAN have it all!  Life is all about having our cake and eating it too!

First of all it is totally safe for baby being BPA free and made with only the best materials…whew!  The Europeans have always been stricter with all of the kids products being safe, so it’s just a little more trustworthy in our opinion.  It’s both a steamer and a food processor and makes FRESH baby food in 15 minutes or less!  It’s a huge time saver and with the fact that you can use fresh fruits, veggies, meats, etc., your little sweetie can have his or her cake and eat it too…ok maybe not CAKE, but you know what we’re saying.  It’s a great time saver, a money saver – considering the high cost of the better baby foods, AND the quality of what you will be feeding your baby will be absolutely up to where it should be and of course made with love…thanks Marie!

The Beaba Babycook retails for $149.95 and can be purchased at www.babycookstore.com and it ships for free!  They are also sold at Williams Sonoma stores nationwide if you just can’t wait for shipping:).  So go supermom!  Be the baby gourmet that you know you are… quickly and with care, the Beaba Way!

Brought to you by our definitive 2008 Holiday Gift Guide, may we present THANKSGIVING SWAG!  It’s a collection of our Favorite Things to get you and your little ones merrily through your travels this Holiday Season, valued at over $500!!!

Over the river and through the woods…oh if it were just that easy! It’s more like stuck in traffic and delayed flights and wiggly little behinds! The most traveled holiday of the year is upon us, but don’t start pulling your hair out just yet! We have put together a list of items that are sure to keep your child safe and happy for your Thanksgiving travels and beyond! Whether you are loading up the minivan or traipsing everything but the kitchen sink to the airport, your trip will go smoothly with some of our Favorite Things for travel in hand!

Don’t walk out the door until you have packed this Favorite of ours! The Fisher Price Kid Tough DVD Player®! It’s a real DVD player designed just for kids. Your child can drop this thing as many times as their clumsy (yet adorable) little hands allow and it keeps on going! Our Favorite Things about this DVD player… 1) the fact that it can be taken with you anywhere, 2) it can be taken away unlike built in headrest options in cars and 3) the incredible anti-skip protection! Don’t worry about any turbulence or wiggly bottoms disturbing your little sweetie’s entertainment! And talk about versatile, it even plays CDs, too! Our SWAG giveaway includes the Accessories Kit and since we know that you can’t have the hottest new thing without a hot bag to carry it in, the carrying case is coming your way too!

“Can I take a picture of the turkey, Mommy?” If that sentence makes you cringe, then you need our next FAVORITE THING! I know when my little shutter bug wants to take pictures with my digital camera it’s a near meltdown, for both of us. But with their own Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera® in hand, cringe no more! This is a real digital camera that’s tough enough and easy enough for kids to use all by themselves. Your child will be so proud to be the Thanksgiving photographer and you will be proud of yourself for making this one of your Favorite Things!  Click here to see a great video review of both these products by Dallas Fox 4 / KDFW .

Whatever you do, do not get even close to an airport without the Trunki!! At 3.8 pounds this ride-on (yes, I said ride-on!) suitcase for kids is a necessary part of your jet-setting family! Your kids can pack all their favorite things , sit on and ride their own luggage while the carry-on size makes it easy to carry and store in overhead luggage compartments. Not only is this amazing product convenient and a steal at only $39.99-$59.99 (or less!) (Click Here to purchase), the ingenious makers of Trunki have safety covered too! It has a built in soft rim to prevent little fingers from getting caught while shutting the case AND it has designed stabilizers to prevent children from easily falling off. We LOVE that!

So you’ve got your Trunki in tow and have made it to your gate. But what about that annoying car seat that you had to schlep through the airport! With your carry-on in one arm and the car seat awkwardly in the other, it’s a nightmare! No more! CARES is an innovative child restraint designed specifically for aviation use for children age 1 and older who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds. It weighs just one pound and fits into a 6″ bag! That’s right, girls, you can be safe and stylish because it will easily fit in your handbag! CARES is simple to install, and FAA approved. Click here to purchase for just $74.95 (or less)! What could be better? Safe, easy, fits in your handbag…a frequent flyer mommy’s dream!

Dance your way through your trip with the best of children’s music singing in your ears! The soundtrack for your journey will be fun, upbeat and jazzy with Kinderjazz’s new CD “The One For Me” (Click here to purchase) and really rockin’ with The Jimmies new CD “Make Your Own Someday” (Click here to purchase).

Without further ado, we would like to present to you, our FABULOUS readers our Definitive 2008 Holiday Gift Guide!  Please check it out and stay tuned over the next 6 weeks for some of our best HOLIDAY SWAG ALERTS ever as well as many EXCLUSIVE discounts, tips and tricks!!!  Please make sure to sign our guest book, too, at the bottom of the page, and tell us what you think!

Happy Holidays from your Favorite Elves!!!

Susan T., our winner of PHIL&TEDS TRAVELLER SWAG last week, was warmly welcomed this past Friday by our good friends at Regal Lager in Kennesaw, GA.  She had the opportunity to tour their facility and get up-close and personal with all of the fantastic products that they offer!  Kid gear gadgets and strollers galore – test drive anyone?!?!  (We’re still a little pink with envy.) 

(Pictured left to right - Sharina Richardson-Online Marketing Coordinator, Susan T.-Phil&Teds Traveller winner, Elisabeth Bergoo-Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator)

Susan said “Everything was very unique and so useful!  I was amazed by the metoo, and the strollers or ‘buggies’ as they call them are just so wonderful!  I love the versatility and quality of the Phil&Teds products.”  

Keep checking back with us for more great reviews and SWAG ALERTS from Phil&Teds and others including their super chic new Vibe Uptown InLine Stroller and Susan’s favorite – the MeToo tabletop highchair!  All of this and more just for you, our Favorite Readers.

How many new mothers struggle with getting enough sleep due to the fact that their new little bundle won’t?  It is an age old problem, and any new product claiming to help is at least worth a try, right? 

We recently found the Sound Sleep for Babies CD that we believe to be the next big thing that new moms can’t live without.  Anyone remember the Boppy?  Okay, well this is slotted in line to be the next MUST HAVE on every girl’s registry!!  

According to Sound Science, the creators of the CD, “The secret is a phenomenon called the WombEffect™, which takes recordings from the womb combined with mother’s rested heartbeat, and digitally processes them with special technology to mimic how it sounded underwater to the prenatal baby.  The results are phenomenal. Babies instantly recognize the most peaceful, comfortable and safe place, the womb, calming their fears and putting them to sleep fast.” 

It makes sense, has won a ton of awards internationally, and at only $19.95 you just can’t lose!  Give the gift of sleep!  Click HERE for more info on where to buy.  Wishing sweet dreams to moms, dads and babies everywhere!

We recently got the chance to try out the super chic M1 Carrier from Lascal – a very innovative Swedish line of high quality children’s products. It is by far the most comfortable carrier on the market for both mother and baby and has so many other great features! It is naturally antibacterial due to its Bamboo fabric components (yayee!!!), and the Bamboo fabric top cover removes in a snap for easy cleaning and also functions as a canopy against sun and wind!!! So, go-go Gadget Baby Carrier!

What do we absolutely love about the M1 ? We love the gadgety “double click” and lock buttons that you can trust to hold your little sweetie snug and secure. Once you hear the second click, you know you’re good to go. We love the lightweight and very breathable high-tech ventilated fabric that it is made of so much too! This is a MUST for hotter climates. It is also so sporty that daddy will love wearing it – BIG plus – let’s give mom a break guys!

Again, we love the fact that the Bamboo Fabric parts (colored) are naturally antibacterial! That alone gets it two big thumbs up from us for being safe for baby, and clean! It’s almost like it cleans itself (okay, not really), but it is easily machine washable, and actually comes out still looking new – much unlike the first carrier that I bought from a competitor that actually cost the same. It comes out of the wash like an absolute champ!

We also love that you get very effective lumbar back support without having to don that “first carrier” that resembled more of a heavy-lifting brace. Not all that flattering in our opinion, and yes, I do plan on allowing the M1 to help me to move on from that “first carrier” experience:)!

We simply have to have “it all”, and this is it! It is also so comfortable to wear… it’s like it just hugs your body! It supports your back very well, and this is coming from someone with a back problem. We really love this one, and of course that is why we are bringing it to you as one of our Favorite Things !

The M1 retails for $129.99 and comes in 5 sporty colors. You can also buy additional top covers to rotate or change colors of you like! If you would like more information, please visit the Lascal or Regal+Lager websites, www.lascal.se or www.regallager.com . The M1 can also be purchased at Target.com and RightStart.com as well as many other stores that can be found on the Regal+Lager website.

Phil&teds has done a simply amazing job on their Double Inline Sport Stroller! It’s a fear that I think most of us stylin’ mommas have when upgrading from any of the ever-chic single models out there – that we are officially starting down the road to becoming a candidate for Oprah ’s next “I Let Myself Go” show. With the Phil&teds Double Inline Sport , this no longer becomes an issue. Hooray! (But anyway Oprah , if you are listening, that makeover would still be truly wonderful!)

Luxurious form and unbeatable function in one great package describes this stroller perfectly. It is a brilliant design and the ultimate all-in-one for any chic family on the go. It’s like a Swiss Army Knife met the new Range Rover Sport, and they had a baby stroller together…follow me:)? It incorporates luxury, excellent craftsmanship, uncomparable functionality and a really stylish look.

Specifically, I loved the noticeably comfortable adjustable handle, the smoothness of it’s movement and tight turning radius the most. It really handles so well! I also thought it was so clever how the front wheel locks into place for function as a jogging stroller, and then releases to be the smoothest steering ever!

My very favorite thing about the stroller is it’s unique totally-flat newborn position which is best for babies, while the toddler sits securely on top! This double kit system allows two kids to share the same stroller in many different configurations. Also, an infant car seat can snap in securely with their infant car seat attachment.

With the writers’ strike over and the Oscars quickly approaching, you can rest assured in the fact that although the Best Film is still anyone’s guess, the Best Double Stroller is the Phil&teds Double Inline Sport . If you don’t believe us, just ask Brooke Shields, Jennifer Garner, Gwenyth Paltrow, Christy Turlington, Christian Bale, or Russel Crowe since it is said to be their little ones’ favorite ride around town! Also look for our upcoming review of their super sleek new model The Phil&teds Double Inline Vibe!

Okay, now back to the red carpet!

How about some ultra hip, incredibly useful, flawlessly designed products that are of the absolute highest quality… any takers?

Boon is a fabulous company that makes a wide array of baby and kid gear from gadgety potty chairs to spacey modernistic high chairs to super funky storage systems . Their products are all so functional and look so incredibly good at the same time! It’s so nice to find that combination…form AND function! We reviewed their Frog Pod with bath spout and bath toys that sells at Costco , and their Trio Elite Animal Bag .

The Frog Pod is absolutely fabulous. We loved it’s function the most as it is a very efficient bath toy and product storage solution, but it is so darned cute at the same time! It is super ergonomically designed and very easy to install permanently (with included adhesive strips) or temporarily (with included suction cups). It’s very Kermit meets Martha, if you ask us. The included bath spout cover was so cool too! It spouts the water out in a very fun way and will even dispense your favorite bubble bath at the touch of a button! They were really thinking with this one too! The package, as sold at www.costco.com , also includes a very fun set of toys and little bath accessories and sells for only $44.99 including shipping! Beat that!

The other very unique product that we reviewed from Boon is their Trio Elite Animal Bag . It is definitely for the family who has everything but deserves more! It is so comfy to sit on and is the most fun way to store your stuffed animals, pillows, blankets, or whatever… ever! It is made of this incredibly luxurious shag fabric with mesh see through windows. The quality of the materials and construction is way above and beyond and it really makes a statement of taste and style. It can also be found at www.costco.com and is $299.99 including shipping, which is a great deal since the suggested retail on this baby is $399.99!

The Flip Video Camera – It is the hottest video camera out there with the everyday user in mind. It’s portability is unparalleled and it is SO easy to use. They make different models ranging from around $119 to $179 that record from 30 to 60 minutes. It also comes in a bunch of different colors, our favorite being pink – big shock!

It would be a great gift for anyone as it is SO useful and insanely simple. It has converted me into a YouTuber and all of our friends and family are so happy! We are flipping over The Flip! Visit www.theflip.com for more information, or get a great deal on one at www.costco.com!