To enter leave a comment on this giveaway post telling us what Oral B products you and your family use or why you could really use this toothbrush. Entries will be accepted through August 23, 2009 at midnight (C.S.T.) and the winner will be selected using Random.org. Only residents living the U.S. or Canada may enter.

You can receive a second entry by blogging about the contest (linking to it) or adding us to your blogroll. Just e-mail us with a live link or let us know you have it posted on your site. You do not need a blog to enter, just leave us your e-mail address so that we may contact you. As always, it is Props & Pans policy NOT to distribute any information you give us (including your e-mail). Thanks for entering!

Thank You For Subscribing to the Props and Pans RSS Feed.

The Oral B not only comes with several brushes, but there are also additional brushes available for your specialized needs. My husband, who has been going through toothbrushes at the rate of one a month for as long as I’ve known him never seemed to believe me when I told him he was brushing too hard. However, let the Visual Pressure Sensor tell him that and he’s a believer! The toothbrush has a built in timer so you know when you’ve brushed long enough.

One of the included brushes has a polishing head - the kind the hygienist uses to clean your teeth. I can tell a huge difference in my husband’s coffee stained teeth after he’s used it for several weeks. Be forewarned. The power this toothbrush packs is enormous! Having bought a “professional” toothbrush, I was astonished at the power and rotation the Triumph offered. It flosses, polishes, massages and gently sweeps away plaque. Your gum’s will be healthier and your mouth will thank you.

There is a handy covered storage case, a rechargeable unit and it fits nicely in your hand when you’re brushing. One bit of advice I learned right away. Look for replacement brushes on eBay as opposed to your local discount stores. That’s what I did and saved almost two-thirds of the cost of what I would have paid at Wal-Mart. There were also several different types of brushes available on Amazon.

My review for the Triumph could not be any higher. I count myself lucky that I was chosen to receive this fabulous toothbrush. Thanks Oral B!

Written by Perri, a homeschooling mom of 6 kids - 2 that are grown and out of the house and 4 younger ones who help wreck and clean the house. Perri also has two precious grandchildren. She spends a lot of time doing ministries with her church, volunteering in the community and baking a mean cheesecake. She blogs about her family’s life at My Life in Bits & Pieces.

As a last thought, maybe “crap recommendation” was a bit strong regarding my former dentist’s thoughts that I should buy a Rotadent. I’m sure I can use it to scrub the shower grout.

The Oral B Triumph is by far the best toothbrush I have ever used. Ever. I remembered electric toothbrushes as clunky and ineffective, but obviously that is no longer the case. Straight from the horse’s mouth here are a few things Oral B says the toothbrush will do:

• Improves gum health: Helps prevent and reverse gingivitis
• Provides ultimate plaque removal
• Delivers superior teeth whitening and polishing action in 21 days
• Penetrates between teeth to sweep away plaque for a floss-like clean
• Helps reduce excessive brushing force, which can lead to gum recession, by up to 88% in only 30 days
• Guaranteed better checkups, or your money back
• Helps you brush for two minutes

I don’t know about the better checkup, but the rest I agree with completely. When is the last time a product actually did what it claimed? My husband and I both used it (more on this later) and the whitening was more noticeable for him, but what I liked most was the plaque removal. It really was very effective. The timer also makes the whole toothbrush buzz when it’s time to switch quadrants of the mouth, even if you are in a different room, ensuring that you brush the whole two minutes. I don’t have a single bad thing to say about the performance of this toothbrush. It is simply awesome.

That being said, it is also very expensive. I just don’t know anyone willing to drop $130 on a toothbrush. And while one of the cool features of the toothbrush is that it lets you know when it’s time to change the brush head, the new ones cost over $10 in the store. Each. So for my husband to use it too was more money, and then in three months we are looking at another $20 to replace them. That’s $80/year in toothbrush heads alone for just two people! We did find some heads on eBay that were cheaper, but who wants to go online and hope you can get lucky on ebay every 3 months?

Really I’m stumped on what to summarize this product as. Is it a prop? Is it a pan? I think it’s both. The performance can not be faulted, it is a wonderful product that could really revolutionize the way people brush thier teeth. The problem is that the people have to be able to afford it first!

Written by Andi, who teaches local high school students about abstaining from sex. She has also had two kids in 16 months. Andi’s husband thinks she needs to practice what she preaches. You can read about her adventures (or misadventures) in motherhood at her personal blog, Parenting 101.

Thank You For Subscribing to the Props and Pans RSS Feed.

Visit Uncommon Goods for other great gift ideas!

Inflatable Fruit Cake
It’s festive, it’s traditional and it’s inedible — just like the real thing. Each vinyl Inflatable Fruitcake comes deflated with a 9-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ envelope and a decorative sticker, making it easy to send one to all of your friends and family! When inflated, this icon of old-fashioned baked goods is 8-1/2″ x 5″ x 4-1/2″ and makes a great centerpiece for the holiday dinner table. Who doesn’t love a good fruit cake?

Visit Archie McPhee for other great gift ideas!

Driving LED Emoticon
Nothing is worse than keeping it all bottled up tight. You need to let loose a little and tell others how you really feel. The Animated Driving LED Emoticon allows you to push a button and share your sentiments with the people behind you. Yes, we’re sure you already have a few ways of your own to do this already - but this device adds some technology to your message. It has 5 different faces and is visible during the day and night.

Visit Think Geek for other great gift ideas!

Redistribution Holiday Ornament
Get ready… you know what’s coming! Here is the perfect holiday ornament to trim a tree the way the new administration is going to trim your income. The Redistribution Holiday Ornament will let everyone know you’re ready to help spread the wealth around! It’s begining to look a lot like socialism…

Visit Stupid for other great gift ideas!

Control Your Woman
Now here’s a new way to keep ‘em in line that we bet you’ve never tried! The Control Your Woman talking remote lets you effortlessly inspire attitude adjustments and romantic expressions of others. There are 18 hilarious, pre-recorded sayings including “Kiss me, you fool!” “Zip it!” and “What about my needs?” on the simulated TV remote. For hours of automated mind-control! Measures approximately 9 5/8″ L. Requires two AAA batteries which are included. Mature content, intended for adults.

Visit Bed Bath & Beyond for other great gift ideas!

Thank You For Subscribing to the Props and Pans RSS Feed.

Visit Signals for other not-so-great gift ideas!

Jumbo Flat Panel Remote
Know an older person who is losing their sight? What about that uncle with the coke bottle glasses? Or maybe you are tired of constantly looking for Grandma’s remote control when you visit. Take a look at the Jumbo Flat Panel Remote Control from Sharper Image. It may look like a joke, but it does work. The buttons illuminate and glow in the dark making. Plus it can control up to 8 different devices if needed.

Visit Bed Bath and Beyond for other not-so-great gift ideas!

Everyday Essentials
I have always dreamed of taking a piece of pie to work for my lunch. What stopped me? Tupperware never showed me a container that was perfectly shaped to hold the triangle piece of cherry goodness I craved. I’ve moved on and found Everyday Essentials for food storage. Did you know they make individual cupcake containers too? Prices for this convenience vary, but the set of pie holders that every human being who eats pie must have is $7.95.

Visit Gooseberry Patch for other not-so-great gift ideas!

Anxiety Sculptures
When artist Christine Kaiser developed these dolls she was in a lock down unit. She believes that, “An anxiety held in your hand or placed on a shelf is one less hiding in your heart.” Frankly, when these Anxiety Sculptures adorn your shelf it takes the focus off your crazy behavior and onto why kind of psycho collects dolls like this. They are cute and quarky and even endearing. Who knew you could love anxiety for $40?

Visit Uncommon Goods for other not-so-great gift ideas!

Monkey Gram
Santa never had it so good! This special Santa’s Helper will keep the spirit of Christmas in your house all year long. The elf wears a holiday-printed vest, red booties, and a red, pointed hat, and is sure to spread a lot of holiday cheer. Think of the looks you’ll get when someone opens up this gift!

Visit World Wide Monkey for other not-so-great gift ideas!

Thank You For Subscribing to the Props and Pans RSS Feed.

Visit My Pedz for other great gift ideas!

Wild Planet Hyper Dash
Hyper Dash is an award-winning fast-paced race course game from Wild Planet that encourages kids to be active and think on their feet. Designed to improve listening, coordination and math skills, this exciting game is easy to set up and is an ideal way to help kids aged six and above to practice addition and subtraction while exercising and having fun. It’s four games in one and costs around $25.

Visit Wild Planet for other great gift ideas!

Crayola Glow Board
With the Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board, kids can take their creations to a whole new level of fun. The glow board comes with six vibrant neon markers, which can be used to draw on either of the board’s two drawing surfaces. Once their drawing is complete, kids can illuminate the colored inks with the touch of a button, as the board’s lights give the ink an intense glow.

Visit Crayola for other great gift ideas!

EyeClops Bionic Eye
See your world as never before with the EyeClops Bionic Eye! With this fun and easy-to-use electric magnifier, kids six and up can view everyday objects at up to 400 times their regular size. The simple, hand-held bionic “eye” displays magnified images on any TV, providing hours of fun entertainment for the entire family. The hand-held EyeClops magnifying “eye” is made of brightly-colored, lightweight, durable plastic and features an ergonomically shaped handle that fits comfortably into small and large hands alike.

Visit Jakks for other great gift ideas!

Mozart Magic Cube
A true breakthrough in music education, the Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube will be music to your baby’s ears. Providing hours of interactive play for budding young composers of all ages, this award-winning toy is the perfect musical foundation for little ones. Fun, creative, and inspiring, the Magic Cube teaches how sounds combine to create eight Mozart masterpieces.

Visit Munchkin for other great gift ideas!

Wii Music
When it comes to music and rhythm games, Wii Music stands in a class of its own. Unlike other music games, which penalize players if they don’t play perfectly, Wii Music is a musical playground where there are no mistakes. Here anyone can pick up and master the huge array of instruments available, through simple motions like strumming and drumming. Musicians in your band jam by simply playing their instruments to the beat of a song or by improvising to their heart’s content. Play faster. Play slower. Skip a beat, or throw in 10 more. No matter what you do, Wii Music automatically transforms your improv stylings into great music.

Visit Wii for other great gift ideas!

Disney Wheel of Fortune
Disney Wheel of Fortune includes such classics as Cinderella, The Lion King, Snow White, Ratatouille, Monsters Inc. and Toy Story. It is a combination of two all-time family favorites. Combine the puzzle-solving fun of Wheel of Fortune with the magic of Disney-Pixar movies and you get a game that’s entertaining for the whole family. Spin the Mickey Mouse wheel, and then ask for a letter to the puzzle. Categories include: Heroes and Heroines, Villains, Movie Titles, Song Titles and more. All this family fun for under $25.

Visit Pressman for other great gift ideas!

Zero Gravity Air Hogs
The ultimate in indoor RC racing! Zero Gravity Micro is a full function RC car that drives on the floor, up wall, sand, even upside-down. Outstanding scale speed performance on any smooth surface. Working headlights also act as charge level indicators. 2 power settings - floor mode with venturi fan off, and suction mode for vertical and upside-down action! (Prices vary by models.)

Visit Spin Master for other great gift ideas!

You’ve Been Slimed!

Now kids at home can take part in the in the fun with the introduction of Nickelodeon’s first line of SLIME products! These safe, non-toxic, washable and water-soluble toys will be one of the hottest toys in 2009 and you can give them this Christmas and be a bigger hit. Some of the new products include: the Super Slimer that shoots 25 feet, the Slime Ball that hits a wall and oozes down, cans of Slime in six different colors and a Slime Bucket of course to hold all the gross stuff.

Visit Nickelodeon for other great gift ideas!

Goldilocks & the 3 Bears Show DVD

Get ready for a very good time as Unstable Fables presents The Goldilocks & the 3 Bears Show. When Goldilocks, a sassy reality TV star decides to film her next show at the humble home of the Bears, she gives them a taste of the celebrity sweet life they’ve never had before. But the bears will teach her something even more important: what it’s like to be part of a family. Tune in for all the fairytale action in this funny, heartwarming movie, featuring the voice talents of Tom Arnold, Brooke Shields and Jamie Lynn Spears. It’s just right for a night of family fun!

Visit Disney for other great gift ideas!

Thank You For Subscribing to the Props and Pans RSS Feed.

Who can concentrate on work when all you want to do is play with this optical computer mouse? You can’t ignore the floating rubber ducky splashing around inside the mouse. The Optical Computer Mouse with a fun rubber ducky is fully functional. It works just like a normal mouse with a scroll button and includes a USB plug for all PC and Macs. For $30 this will make a fun, unique gift for all ages.

Visit Uncommon Goods for other great gift ideas.

Illuminating Rotating Universe Globe

Globes used to be for the nerdy, but knowing your geography is back in style. This two-in-one globe rotates all on its own. It actually depicts geographical features and political boundaries. With the lights off, it illuminates from within, showing all 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union. You can lay in bed at night and memorize each of them. Priced at $89.95 you can hold the world on its axis.

Visit Discovery Store for other great gift ideas.

HMDX Audio Speaker-On-The-Go

Who doesn’t need an MP3 carrying case that is cute and small? If they don’t, then make sure to tell them it has built-in speakers and I’m sure they’ll be on board. The speaker is designed to protect your iPod and MP3 players. For the price of $14.99 these make cute stocking stuffers for everyone you know! Plus they offer several fun colors to choose from.

Visit HMDX Audio for other great gift ideas.

Royal Digital Picture Keychain

Everyone has keys, so everyone should have a cool keychain. What better way is there to carry around pictures of your family to show friends than on a digital picture keychain for under $20? This features a 1.5″ LCD display and includes a USB cable and software for easy set-up. Plus it holds up to 70 photo’s! For an even better gift, pre-load the pictures on it for someone!

Visit Bed Bath & Beyond for other great gift ideas.

World’s Simplest Camcorder

Ever wanted to be able to carry a camcorder with you no matter where you go to capture life’s greatest moments? For most people that seems impossible given the bulky recorders and all the equipment that goes along with it. Look at the new Flip Ultra Camcorder which makes recording and sharing videos easy! This camcorder is the size of most small digital cameras and uses 2 AA batteries. It doesn’t need any cords to connect to a computer and makes it easy to share your videos or pictures. All this for under $130 is a deal!

Visit Brookstone for other great gift ideas.

Powermonkey Portable Solar Charger

Have you ever been stuck out in the middle of the ocean without an outlet to charge your iPod? Well just in case this happens to you, this solar powered portable charger takes 6 hours of sunshine and provides 40 hours for your iPod, 96 hours for your cell phone and 48 hours for the PDA in your pocket. For $129.95 you can’t go wrong with planning ahead for life’s little emergencies. I bet those cast-aways on Gilligan’s Island wish they’d gotten one of these for Christmas.

Visit Discovery Store for other great gift ideas.

Thank You For Subscribing to the Props and Pans RSS Feed.

Pretty much anything that will make cleaning easier is okay with me. I’m not a fan of cleaning all the time, but I know it needs to be done. With a baby crawling on the floor and with a toddler, you know the messes just keep coming. We use Clorox Disinfecting Wipes here. They are great for pretty much any mess because of how heavy duty they make them now, and lets not forget the wonderful fragrances they have to choose from as well.

They’ve come especially handy during potty training, with the constant dribbles on the seat (as well as the floor), heavy duty cleaning of most surfaces, quick spills of those nasty meat juices and whatever else you can possibly think of. I think it’s a great disinfectant for everyday use.

by Andrea

Perhaps it is due to the fact that we recently completed a major addition on our home, but my children are construction obsessed. My son knows the name of every piece of construction equipment on a site and has an eagle eye for cranes. Both he and my daughter love a good project.

It is only natural for my children to have loved the most recent Bob the Builder DVD. The Three Musketrucks contains five new 8 minute episodes and introduces Dodger the Milktruck as the newest member of the crew. Packer, Scrambler and all of the Bob the Builder favorites make an appearance in the newest episodes set in Sunflower Valley. The Three Musketrucks has quickly become a new favorite and will be coming on vacation with us this summer!

by Leticia

My family frequently camps during the summer and we are always looking for ways to keep the kids entertained. If you’ve walked through any campgrounds recently you may have noticed that the old washer board games are absent and in their place is Lasso Golf. I admit that the first time I saw this game I thought it was very hillbilly looking. Throwing a pair of balls attached by a rope at a bar didn’t seem to difficult or fun, but I was wrong.

We purchased our own set on Amazon after our kids begged us for weeks. My husband and I both find ourselves competing with this new game and I’m not sure if the kids or adults enjoy it more. We’ve even used it in our own backyard with neighbors. You don’t have to go camping to have this much fun!

by Melissa

Thank You For Subscribing to the Props and Pans RSS Feed.

My husband however, felt differently. Being more far sighted financially than I tend to be, he came home before our last trip out with the Energizer e2 Lithium batteries, that alleged to last 7X longer than regular batteries. They were more expensive, but if they actually did last longer, then they’d end up costing us less in the long run.

So we popped them in about a month ago. I’m still using them hundreds and hundreds of pictures later. We’ve been on several family outings and haven’t even had so much as a hint of them wearing out. So if you are like me and love to snap the pictures everytime one of your little one even thinks about smiling, consider this investment well worth it.

I hate to think of all the times I missed a precious shot because suddenly my batteries were dead. Huge props to this Energizer for developing these batteries.

Written by Gidge, who is a mother of a 5 year old boy and 3 year old twin boys. A transplanted Hoosier, die-hard Colts fan and professional call center manager, she likes long walks on the beach, penguins and playing ping-pong. Her turn-ons include sleep and silence. Read all about her life here.

Thank You For Subscribing to the Props and Pans RSS Feed.

The Olympus Stylus 820 is the perfect digital camera for busy households, travelers and bloggers. It is small enough to carry in your pocket, lightweight and takes great pictures. With 5X optical zoom it captures the far away shots easily and has motion stabilizers for shaky hands. The shutter is lens cap free for simplicity.

The extra large hyper crystal LCD screen is a must have for those of us that have vision issues- it makes looking through a view finder obsolete. Plus the video capabilities are user friendly and the short video footage I have taken is as nice as the bigger video cameras.

The only negative feedback I have is that the rechargeable battery life is too short. I would suggest keeping an extra fully charged battery on hand because once the battery is low there is little warning before it is lights out. At just under $300 this little gem works wonders. Thanks to the Olympus Stylus 820 I do not miss schlepping my big SLR camera with me and for a die hard SLR user that is a bold statement!

by Helene

When I first received the Nickelodeon Sleepytime Lullabies I was immediately impressed by the variety of artists that it had on it. Plus I was thrilled to see some favorites, including Blackbird and Dream a Little Dream. With thoughts of the Beatles floating in my head I popped it in and at first was disappointed to hear muzak versions. But I kept listening and after a bit I grew to appreciate the gentleness of how soothing it really was.

I guess the original versions wouldn’t really have made good lullabies anyway. The last song on the cd is “One Magic Kiss” by Brandi Carlile and I loved it. Now I’ve got Sleepytime Lullabies in the cd player in the kid’s room and I get to listen to it on the baby monitor as I go to sleep too!

by Andi

Ever heard of soap on a rope? What about soap in a sponge? Well the second one is the best invention ever. I recently came across Spongeables, which are these cute fun shaped sponges that are already filled with soap. An ordinary shower becomes a lot easier and a lot more relaxing with this invention. Plus they make ducks and other cute shapes for kids to use.

Spongeables exfoliate and moisturize all in one simple step. The seem to last for weeks without running out of bubbles, but you can easily squirt some of your own soap on them if needed. The sponges state on the package how many washes they are guarenteed to last for and they even make pedi-scrubs specifically for your feet. This is a new must have in our shower!

by Emily

Thank You For Subscribing to the Props and Pans RSS Feed.

It’s not just stylish, though. It has great features too. Like password protected access control. I love that I can safely carry my report cards to and from school with little risk of breaching confidentiality. It also allows you to take your files plus U3™ compatible PC programs wherever you go. (For U3 compatible PC programs go to www.u3.com - I didn’t try this feature but plan to when I have some free time in ten years or so. No PC installation is required to run the applications.)

A 2 GB drive is only $25, which is a huge decrease from a few years ago. Even an 8 GB drive is less than $80 if you want to splurge.

by Nicole

As a ‘Techie’ mom, have you ever wanted a way to transport extra digital pictures or files easily? Have you seen the USB flash drives by SanDisk or other companies and thought to yourself, “Hmmm, I could really use that.” But then thought you were being frivolous? Welcome to the 4GB Cruzer Gator by SanDisk.

I really wasn’t sure how useful 4GB would be, but once I started copying pictures and files to it, I quickly found out how much I love this little USB flash drive. If you notice, it is even stylish. Funny thing is that I have a dark red purse and guess what color I was able to receive? Yes you guessed it, red! How awesome is that?

The 4GB Cruzer Gator is stylish and small, yet large enough to handle my pictures and quite a few files within my documents folder. What a great, inexpensive Mother’s Day gift for that ‘Techie Mom’ you love!

by Laura

Thank You For Subscribing to the Props and Pans RSS Feed.