mom reviews: holiday gift ideas!
Songa Designs Jewelry and Accessories {songadesigns.com}
Songa Designs is a community of women who create captivating homemade designs, all
proudly made in Rwanda. I ordered the Isla Headband, and I loved the design and fun
colors. It served its purpose of fashionably holding my hair back, but when you take a
look at these items and realize another woman handmade them, you appreciate them
even more.

Songa Designs works with cooperatives, or independent businesses, that operate under
the strict rules of the Rwanda Cooperative Association. Most cooperatives average 20
artisan members and specialize in one material (like banana leaf) or skill (like sewing).

You can see who made the item you purchased and even read a little about each woman.

Songa Designs products are made with local materials such as recycled fabric, recycled
paper beads, banana leaf fiber, pewter metal, sisal plant and cow horn. What these women
then do with these materials is a work of art!
Robyn is the author/owner of www.momthemagnificent.com. She is a stay-at-home mother of three,
and lover of life. Her passions are moms, parenting, “being in the know” and sharing her opinions.

Sesame Street: Let’s Cook! {By Sesame Workshop and Susan McQuillan, RD}
My son’s eyes lit up as he paged through this book. Each recipe was developed by
a registered dietician and family nutritionist, and includes nutritional information
and easy variations for picky eaters. Most of the recipes seem to consist of simple
ingredients that many households would normally have in stock or are easy to find
– nothing exotic or intimidating! As a mom, I appreciate a well-written cookbook
full of healthy recipes that brings my family together in the kitchen for cooking and
enjoying meals. This cookbook is colorful, well thought out and geared perfectly toward
children. If your child is interested in cooking, or you want to get them more involved,
this is a great choice.

Christy Petrak is a systems engineer currently taking a leave of absence to raise her two children,
Thomas (4) and Eliza (1). She enjoys spending time with her family, swimming and baking/
decorating cupcakes.

Musical Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Plush Toy {www.kidspreferred.com}
The classic holiday children’s movie, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” has
always been one of my favorites. The Rudolph plush toy is just as cute as the
movie. The stuffed reindeer is soft and cuddly, but it comes alive when you press
the music note on one of its hooves. Cheery voices sing the Christmas classic,
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” while the plastic red nose blinks on and off.

The toy was an instant hit with all three of my young children. I find it in all
different parts of the house because the kids are always playing with it. Rudolph
does sit comfortably with all four hooves facing forward, but you can easily
squeeze it, carry it, sit with it, play with it, sing along with it and almost anything
else you’d do with a typical stuffed animal. Although, I do draw the line at letting
my children sleep with it. I love the Rudolph song, but I don’t want to hear it at 3
a.m. if someone accidentally presses the button!
Pamela Prado is a former TV news anchor turned stay-at-home mom with a passion for
social media. If she’s not rushing her kids to acting/modeling gigs or taking them to dance,
soccer or baseball, she’s heading out to explore the rich history of the D.C. area.

For more gift-giving ideas, check out all of our Mom Reviews at washingtonFAMILY.com.

24 December 2015 washingtonFAMILY.com