Wednesday Wanderings with a Giveaway 3/25/09

I wander the blogosphere and bring you what I find.

I apologize for not posting a Wednesday Wanderings last week.  I hope that what I have for you this week will make up for it.  Here's what I've come across in my blog reading:

If you are looking for a great book to read, check out Bermudaonion's Weblog.  She ended up with 2 ARCs of Into the Beautiful North and she wants to give one away.

This Mom Can Shop has a chance for you to win $25 credit to Urbanity Studios.  You have to check out these cards!  They are great if you need birth announcements, party invites, etc.

Barefoot Mommy is always finding the best items to review and giveaway.  This week she has a tutu shirt, a locket necklace from Penelope Poet and Skinny Dip Candles.

Mommy Works Blog has a number of giveaways going on.  They are all posted in the sidebar:  eieio Girl's Roundabout Dress - Ends 4/1, Asher Jasper Felted Wool Animal Ball - Ends 3/29, Mimi and Reese Easter Tote FULL of Goodies! - Ends 3/29, Little Ace $10 Gift Card - Ends 3/28, Custom Crayon Roll - Ends 3/25, Cinnamonsticks Handstamped Jewelry $40 Gift Card - Ends 3/25

Finally this week, I was able to review a neat new website for kids.  Since I work with children, I fell in love with this immediately and knew I had to share it with you.  The name of the website is Shidonni.  Here is a blurb that I received from Noa, a fellow blogger and marketing/social media consultant who is promoting the site:

Shidonni is a virtual world for children, ages 5 and up, based on the idea of drawing animals and caring for them, but with a 21st century twist.

Visitors to the site receive a blank canvas where they can draw an animal and create a background for that animal to play. After drawing their virtual pets, children play with them as they magically 'come alive'. Children then care for, feed and play games that incorporate their animals as main characters.

In order to play, you have to download Microsoft's free plug-in, Silverlight.  To play around with the site, you can click on "try me" or you can register for free with a username and password.  You start by creating an animal, then a background for the animal.  Once the animal is created, it comes to life.  It was cute to see the little pig I drew walking across the screen! You can even get a surprise, a bedroom, or create food for your animal.  All of the work is done on a very user friendly "paint" like program.  It will be easy for children to use once you show them how as all of the buttons are self-explanatory.  You draw with a pencil, paint with a paint bucket, erase with an eraser, etc.  There is also an explanation page for parents.  I had fun playing around and know that kids will too.  Animals can be saved as long as you are a member.  Registration is free or you can become a Shidonni Pro which allows you to dress your animals and get other extras for them and their world.  They offer a 1 month, 3 month or 6 month offer.

Noa has graciously offered one of my readers a 3 month Shidonni Pro Account!  All you have to do is visit Shidonni, take a look around, let your kids play with it, etc.  Come back here and leave a comment as to what you liked or didn't like about the site.  I will run the contest through Sunday, March 29 at midnight.  One comment will be chosen at random to win and will be emailed and posted on this blog on Monday the 30th.  Please leave your email address, in code, so that I can contact you.