etsy - Stuff Parents Need

Infinity Scarf Makes a Splash!

May 5, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 107 Comments

One of my very favorite ways to accessorize is by wearing scarves. I’m so glad that decorative scarves have grown in popularity. Now there are so many pretty pieces that can take the most boring of outfits and make it stand out.I wore scarves all the time this winter. I’ve been feeling a bit lost in the accessory department now that the weather has warmed up. I have some nice jewelry, but a scarf just seems to pull an outfit together so effortlessly!

If you can relate to this feeling, Terry, the owner of Etsy shop Memphis Gypsy, has a solution for you! She has created super cute infinity scarves that are perfect for spring! Hooray! Terry sent me this navy and purple floral scarf to try out. Just adding a whimsical scarf to an outfit can make all the difference between looking drab and looking very put together, and this scarf has definitely brought new life to a few of my work outfits as well as to my weekend attire. I’ve had several people comment on what a great idea the spring/summer scarf is, and I have to agree! Scarves at Memphis Gypsy are 34 inches around and about 6 inches wide.

In addition to working with various fabrics and knits to make scarves, Terry also loves to work with beads and resin material. When I asked her what her favorite thing to make was, she answered, “Well that’s a hard question, it is kind of like asking a mom what child is her favorite. I just love creating and wearing what I make. It really depends on my mood, whatever I am making at the time is usually my favorite and then changes an hour or so later.” Can’t you tell that Terry is such a creative force with a passion for living life to its fullest?

Here’s an example of her passion in action. Terry is a woman with a dream. She offers her creations for sale not only because she truly loves to make things, but also because she is working hard to make the cut for the hit show, “So You Think You Can Dance!” She was featured a few times during season 6 (if you watched it, she was the girl in all white). She got some encouraging feedback from the judges, and her goal is to make it to Las Vegas during season 7! Any money she makes from selling her crafts goes to help Terry get to the audition and live out her dream. Pretty cool, huh?

So why is Terry’s Shop called, “Memphis Gypsy?” She says, “I am just a girl from Memphis who loves to make jewelry. I get called ‘Gypsy’ all the time ( mostly by my mother) because I can never narrow down what accessories I want to wear so I wear everything!” Now she gets to pass on her flare for accessories to others through her Etsy shop!

Since this series is about highlighting artists in Memphis, I asked Terry what her favorite thing is about the city. Her answer? The live music scene! She says, “There are so many under-appreciated musicians in Memphis. You can pretty much go see a great band any night of the week. I only wish I had more time to go see more bands.”She is so right. Memphis has produced the King of Rock ‘N Roll, and what few people realize is that the talent pool here continues to be amazingly rich. If you are a fan of truly great music, a vacation to Memphis should be in your plans, for sure.

Buy It!: If you are looking for a versatile piece to add to your wardrobe, the silky scarf from Memphis Gypsy is what you are seeking! Scarves are available in several designs for $15.00.

EDIT: Giveaway CLOSED!

Win It!: Terry wants to help one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader look her best by giving away one of her silky scarves! The contest will run until Saturday, May 15th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory Entry:
Tell me which infinity scarf you would choose (and choose wisely, because that is the one you will win if your number is selected!).

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
3. Follow Memphis Gypsy on Twitter
4. Become a fan of Memphis Gypsy on Facebook
5. Add Memphis Gypsy to your Etsy favorites
6. If you left a Memphis in May comment on this post before May 2nd, leave a comment for an extra entry

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Who Knew Going Green Could Be So Lovely? (Reusable Bag GIVEAWAY!)

April 29, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 122 Comments

EDIT: Giveaway CLOSED!

I consider myself to be an eco-friendly gal. I’ve greened my cleaning products, many of my personal care items, and even some of the food choices I make. But there’s one area where I have failed. I bring my lunch to work almost every single day. While bringing my lunch is very wallet-friendly and arguably good for the environment since I’m not motoring all over town to find some fast food, I make a crucial error when it comes to how I transport the food.

Almost every single day, I use plastic sandwich bags. And I don’t wash them and re-use them. I just throw them away. Frankly, I didn’t give that habit much thought at all until recently. But I realize now that I’m being totally inconsistent by breaking out my reusable totes for every grocery trip, where I proceed to buy more plastic bags to use and throw away.

There is another option, I am pleased to say. Did you know that reusable snack and sandwich bags are available? And even better, they are really cute! Bleu Roo is a shop that has the cutest reusable snack bags that you’ve ever seen!

Amanda is the brains behind Bleu Roo, where she combines a love of the environment with her crafty skills and her embroidery techniques! She sent me a reusable snack bag to try out, and I’ve been toting it with me to work every day since. The outside is a cotton and the inside is a waterproof and stain resistant nylon. The bag secures with velcro. I have already washed the bag after using it for my peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and it held up beautifully in the wash. It also line-dried very quickly. The bags are large at 8×8, so they can hold enough food for kids and adults, alike. Overall, I found these snack bags to be excellent, and I only wish I had tried them out sooner!

Bleu Roo offers so many beautiful items. I’ve put the hand embroidered snack bag on my wish list for Mother’s Day, birthday or Christmas, and I also love the personalized totes that Amanda offers.

Buy It!: If you use ziploc bags for your own lunches or for your kids lunches, consider making the switch to reusable bags. They are so much more attractive than plastic, and they will pay for themselves in just a few months. Bleu Roo has a beautiful selection with prices starting at just $5.50!

Win It!: Bleu Roo is spreading the love by offering one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader one plain snack bag AND one embroidered snack bag of your choice so that you can go green in style! The contest will run until Sunday, May 9th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States. Be sure to leave your email address in your comments or have it in your profile or else I can’t contact you to tell you that you won!

How to Enter:

Mandatory entry: Tell me the embroidered snack bag you want if you win (choose wisely, as this will be your bag if your number is drawn!)

Additional entries:

current giveaways: Hen and Chicks cloth diaper (ends 4/30), Sugar Free Allstars children’s cd (ends 5/4), MAM pacifiers (ends 05/07)
Disclosure: I received a product sample for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Hen and Chick Cloth Diapers

April 20, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 134 Comments

If you are following along with my journey figuring out how to use cloth diapers, then you’ll know that I’ve discovered that there is a bit of a learning curve to using these diapers. It just isn’t the case that you can just whip out a cloth diaper that is always ready to go (as long as it has been washed!) and that fastens on as quickly as a disposable diaper, and that is as thin as a disposable diaper.

Well, that’s what I thought, at least.

I t turns out that there are cloth diapers that are remarkably similar in their ease of use and thin design to disposables. They are called All in One diapers (often referred to as AIO). Let me introduce you to Hen and Chick Cloth, a fabulous Etsy store run by a delightful mom named Heather. She makes super cute AIO diapers! If you want to try out cloth, but you want it to be as close to your disposable diaper experience as possible, in terms of ease of use, I think giving AIO diapers a try is a good idea!

Here’s what I loved about my Hen and Chick Cloth AIO diaper that Heather sent me:
1. Bumblebees?! I almost can’t stand how precious this is. I mean, look at that!!!
2. The diaper couldn’t be easier to get on and off. There’s nothing to stuff or snap.
3. Velcro ensures a really nice and snug fit.
4. This diaper is almost as thin as a disposable diaper. This makes it really easy to use in conjunction with any outfit she has (you may recall that I stated earlier that cloth diapering requires sizing up your baby’s pants, but in the case of the Hen and Chick AIO, there’s no need!).

Here are the things that I found to be not as awesome:
1. Darah is just about to outgrow the diaper already. It is meant to be for sizes 10-20 pounds. I’m guessing that Darah is around 16.5-17 pounds, but she won’t be able to wear this diaper much longer at all, so either they run small, or Darah’s thighs are on the roly poly side! This brings me to an important point: cloth diapers, just like disposables, are going to fit each baby differently, depending on their build. So for Hen and Chick Cloth, in my opinion, I would err on the larger side when purchasing these diapers unless your little one has thin legs.

2. AIO diapers take much longer than any other cloth diaper I own to dry. Because the inserts are sewn in, as opposed to being detachable, there are just more layers on hand to dry. This is a problem you are going to run into with all your AIO diapers and is not unique to Hen and Chick Cloth diapers. Heather has a suggestion for this problem, though. She keeps a few towels in her laundry room to throw in with her AIO diapers. She says it really helps cut down on the drying time!

3. Because the diapers are thin, they just aren’t as absorbent. However, this is easy to solve by simply adding an insert. Heather sells inserts that fit beautifully into her diapers for just $1.00 each! So that problem is very easy to fix, I’m pleased to say.

Overall, I think Hen and Chick Cloth offers very cute diapers that are very easy to use! Two thumbs up, Heather!

Buy It!: If you are on the lookout for a slim AIO diaper in a really cute pattern, Hen and Chick Cloth has what you need. Prices start at $10 for small diapers, and go up to $16 for large diapers. The shop also carries cloth wipes and wetbags!

Win It!: Heather wants Hen and Chick Cloth diapers to be on your baby’s bottom! One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an AIO diaper of their choice from the available listings! The contest will run until Friday, April 30th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States. Be sure to leave your email address in your comments or have it in your profile or else I can’t contact you to tell you that you won!

How to Enter:

Mandatory entry: Tell me the diaper you would choose if you won (choose wisely, as you will win what you select if your number is drawn!).

Additional entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog (leave blog url)
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
5. Subscribe to Heather’s blog
6. Add Hen and Chick Cloth to your favorites on Etsy (leave your etsy username)
7. Make a purchase from Hen and Chick cloth (worth 5 extra entries!!!)
8. Make a comment that contributes to the conversation at this post (“I like cloth” would not be a good comment, for example) and come back here to tell me you did.
9. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed above are strictly my own.

Handmade Baby Shoes for Pre-Walkers or New Walkers

April 11, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 116 Comments

Recently I wrote about discovering a very cool mom named Brandi who operates a delicious little etsy store called Pannaz. I reviewed her washable nursing pads and found them to be effective, beautiful, eco-friendly and VERY kind to your wallet ($2/pair!).

Today I am bringing you another review from her shop. Brandi sent me a pair of handmade baby shoes for Darah to wear. We have been loving them. Darah is exceptionally skilled at getting anything that is on her feet OFF! She hasn’t taken these shoes off once, which absolutely blows my mind. I think there are a few reasons for this: 1. They are constructed very well so that they are easy to get on and off, but only if you have better hand coordination than an infant, and 2. They are comfortable, so Darah doesn’t seem to mind that they are on her feet. We have the size 6-12 month shoes, and while there is room to grow, they aren’t slipping off Darah because they are more secure around the ankles. I think this is an excellent design feature. I also love that they can just get tossed in the wash when they get dirty (and since Darah likes to chew on her toes, you can imagine how these have been soiled quite a few times!).

I also want to point out that these handmade baby shoes, which Brandi will custom-make for you, are extremely reasonably priced at $7.00 for 0-6 month shoes and $8.00 for larger sizes (which have non-skid bottoms). Brandi will work with you to get the type of fabric that you like (what she has on her site are just a few examples) and the right size. While most of her shoes on Etsy are shown in 0-6 months, she also makes 6-12, 12-18 and 18-24 months!

If you need some cute handmade soft-soled shoes for your baby or for a gift, you could buy a pair of Robeez….or you could buy an entire collection of handmade Pannaz shoes!!! Convo Brandi to get started creating the perfect shoes for the little one in your life.

Edit: This giveaway is now closed.

Win it!: Right now is your chance to snag a custom pair of Pannaz shoes! The winner will be able to work with Brandi to select the fabric and size.The contest will run until Thursday, April 22nd at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me your favorite item in the Pannaz shop.

Additional Entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only 1 extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)

2. Follow me through Google connect

3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it

4. Become a fan of Pannaz on Facebook

5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)

6. Add Pannaz to your favorites list on Etsy

7. Give Brandi a suggestion for an item you would like to see her sell.

8. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Best Glitter Eye Makeup from Orglamix: Review

April 9, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 238 Comments

I truly love mineral makeup. It offers such great coverage while giving you a very natural look that I haven’t yet been able to achieve with liquid foundations. It also has far fewer chemicals in it, which makes it better for your skin. Lately I’ve been reading great reviews from several other bloggers of mineral eye shadow by Orglamix. I checked out the site, and was completely blown away by the color selection available for eye shadows Since I only have a little bit of experience using mineral eye shadow I decided that I wanted to start there. But how on earth was I going to pick out the shades to wear? I’m going to be honest with you, I just don’t have an eye for design, or frankly, even color coordination (just keeping it real). Orglamix has an entire “get the look” section showing you an eye makeup look using 3 colors, and telling you which 3 colors were used to create the look. PERFECT! I saw many different glitter eye makeup looks that ranged from demure to downright wild, and they all looked beautiful. I landed on Haute Coal, and was sent this set to review.

The makeup arrived very quickly, just a few days after being ordered. I was very impressed with the speedy delivery! When I opened the makeup, I have to say, I felt a little bit nervous. The colors were very rich, but also VERY shimmery. I felt worried that I would look like a sparkly mess and that I would look as though I was trying to get away with teenage-looking makeup. Good news, though. This makeup is shimmery, but it has a very sophisticated look. It doesn’t look gaudy in the slightest. In fact, it looks downright lovely. The colors layer beautifully and the look is chic, not cheap! Perhaps the most impressive thing to me, though, was the staying power of this eye shadow I wore it for 11 hours, and while I can’t tell you that it looked as though I had just applied it by hour 11, it still looked very good, to the point where I wouldn’t have needed to touch it up if I wanted to wear it longer. I don’t have any other eyehshadow that has performed as well as this set has, in that regard. I also got a compliment from my husband the day I first wore these colors. He made a point of telling me that my makeup looked really nice, and that felt so good! I think that using this set of mineral eye shadow colors gave me an updated look that I needed. Thank you, Orglamix!

If you need some new makeup, I really think you should give Orglamix a try. Their eyeshadow kits are a very reasonable $14.95, or you can buy individual colors for $4.99, which is such a bargain! Orglamix also carries a very impressive collection of foundation, blush, makeup brushes and kits to get you started if you want to try a little bit of everything! Be sure to check out the weekly specials section for great deals, too! Orglamix offers a money-back guarantee on your purchase, so what are you waiting for?!

EDIT: This giveaway is now closed. Congrats #111!

Win It!:Orglamix wants to give you the opportunity to win 3 mineral eye shadow colors of your choice! The contest will run until Sunday, April 18th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the three eyeshadow colors you want most. Choose wisely, as you will receive what you name in your entry if you win!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog (leave blog url)
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
5. Follow Orglamix on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
6. Become a Fan of Orglamix on Facebook
7. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter) Disclosure: I received product samples for review purposes. The opinions expressed above are strictly my own.

I received complimentary mineral eye shadow products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Washable Nursing Pads for Evening Use

March 13, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 73 Comments

Breastfeeding for me has been a very satisfying experience, though it has certainly had its share of challenges (which is another post altogether). For those of you out there who are just getting started, I promise that things really will get better in time! I can’t promise that it will become the easiest thing you’ve ever done, but it will get better.

Several months ago I wrote some initial thoughts about disposable nursing pads. My opinion still holds that if you are going to use disposables, the Lansinoh pads are the best ones on the market. There will come a time, though, when you really don’t need to wear nursing pads very much during the day. This was such a, “Hallelujah!” experience for me when it happened. I seemed to need nursing pads during the day for longer than the average nursing mama (I was still using them daily until Darah was about 4 1/2 months old). Now I really only need them at night. Since things have calmed down a bit and I don’t need to use them during the day, I decided to give washable nursing pads a try, and I have to say, they are working really well for me!

Let me introduce you to Brandi, and her super fun Etsy shop, Pannaz. The nursing pads at Pannaz caught my eye for a few reasons. 1. I loved the blue damask pattern that was offered (it is SO me!). 2. The price for a set just rocked my socks off ($2.00!?! Wow!). 3. They are made with 4 layers of flannel, and as a result are really soft. After spending months using something with a plastic backing, this sounded heavenly.

Brandi sent me a set of nursing pads to try out, and I have really enjoyed using them. Adding them to my laundry pile is no big deal, at all. They have been washed many times at this point, and all the stitching is still in place, and the fabric gets softer after each wash. I don’t have experience using this type of nursing pad at the beginning stages of breastfeeding, and I can imagine that they aren’t quite as absorbent as the Lansinoh pads. They are also a bit thicker, so I could see where wearing them out in public could be difficult, depending on the type of shirt you are wearing. But for the second half of the breastfeeding experience, I think these are absolutely perfect. I would recommend that you get at least 4 pair of nursing pads so that you have enough to get you through until you do laundry again (assuming that you do laundry every few days).

Brandi’s shop has more than just nursing pads, and I wanted to highlight just a few of my personal favs that she sells. Check out her reusable bags, her large blankets for babies and toddlers (priced so beautifully at $9!) and her soft-soled shoes (watch out for a review of these in the coming weeks). I am really impressed with the products offered on this site. Brandi gets her inspiration from her own kids as well as her love for bags and shoes. It is awesome when someone has the talent to see something she loves and then make it herself! Brandi says, “I truly enjoy the whole process of the creation…from designing the item to picking the fabrics for it to creating a finished product.” You really can see the love she puts into her products, which is something you just don’t find with mass-produced merchandise.

Buy It! I see these as one of those things that new moms have no idea that they need, but that they will thank you for if you get it for them! I’m making a note to buy some of these to include in baby shower gifts. At $2 each, you really can’t go wrong! Buy a few sets for yourself or an expecting mom you know today!

Win It! Brandi wants to get you off to a great start with breastfeeding, or help you go green if you are currently breastfeeding. She is offering one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader 2 sets of reusable nursing pads. Woo hoo! The contest will run until Tuesday, March 23rd at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the two patterns you would choose for your nursing pads (you can also choose 2 sets in the same pattern). You will win what you choose, so be sure and pick out your favorite pattern!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only 1 extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Become a fan of Pannaz on Facebook
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
6. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I received product samples in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

How to Stop Swaddling Your Baby

February 16, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 177 Comments

How to Stop Swaddling Your Baby

Some of you may recall that Darah has always been a big fan of her swaddle. She simply will not sleep without being swaddled! It has such a calming effect on her that she will sometimes start to fall asleep while we are in the process of swaddling her. She’s been rolling over for a month, though, and this makes having her arms tucked in a blanket too dangerous. So we’ve been on the (bumpy) journey of figuring out how to stop swaddling (well, actually, we’ve just been getting her used to having her arms out…her legs still get swaddled!). I have to tell you, this was REALLY HARD in the very beginning. Darah’s arms would move wildly about, even though she was exhausted. She simply didn’t know what to do with them. They often made their way up to her face, and she’d pull out her pacifier again and again. This, of course, would keep her awake.

One of my amazing readers, Lisa, sent me a product from her new Etsy store, Leyton Smiles, that really helped us out. She sent Darah a CuddleBug lovey. Darah has been loving her lovey since the day it came in the mail. I often hand it over to her when it is time for bed, and it gives her something very interesting to play with. Her hands stay occupied, but away from her face. She usually falls asleep within just a few minutes after getting her lovey. In my eyes, this makes it a miracle blanket!

Lisa has really put a lot of thought into the design of her CuddleBug loveys. The square shape (12 x 12) makes it just the right size for a little one to tote around. I’ve even it been able to stick it in my coat pocket from time to time! We’ve found that in addition to it being useful at bed time, Darah also likes to have it on hand when she’s in her car seat.
Lisa points out its usefulness, stating, “This lovey is meant to not only serve as a security and comfort item for little ones, but also to stimulate their senses with numerous ways to learn and explore!” We have found that to be the case, for sure. It keeps Darah’s hands busy whether she’s drifting off to sleep or sitting in her car seat. She also likes to rub the minky side of the blanket against her face. All of the ribbons on the blanket (which are VERY securely sewn in) really delight Darah. She love to pull on them, run her fingers through them, and scratch them to hear the different noises that they make. Notice in the picture that the ribbons are different sizes, colors and materials. This makes it more interesting for the baby!

There are a few other features of this lovey that I’d like to highlight. First, I really like is the loop that is attached to the lovey. We can use this and a toy clip to connect this to her stroller, car seat or even her activity mat. Second, we have washed this lovey a few times, and I’ll admit that I was nervous that the ribbons would fray or that some of the stitching might not hold up. This has NOT been the case. Lisa does an outstanding job of preparing these blankies to be washed again and again! Finally, I just have to say that the overall look of this lovey is sooooo cute. The bright colors are so much fun, and everything coordinates together. I have had a few other parents ask me where they can find something this cute for their little ones.

Buy It!: Leyton Smiles is a shop where you can find these beautiful and unique loveys as well as burp cloths, blankets and other fun items. You can even place a custom order to match your desired color scheme! If you need something special for your little cuddlebug to hold so you can stop swaddling, I highly recommend the CuddleBug Lovey. It is a huge hit at our house. Purchase one today for $16.00.

EDIT: This giveaway is now closed.

Win It!: Lisa wants to give you the chance to win a CuddleBug Lovey right now! Awesome! This contest will run until Wednesday, February 24th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected via random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before a new winner will be selected. Open to residents of the United States. Make sure your email address is either in your comment or in your profile or else I can’t let you know that you won!

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Head over to Leyton Smiles and tell me your favorite item in the shop OR tell me something that you’d like to see sold there!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email
2. Follow me through Google connect (2 entries, so leave 2 comments)
3. Put my button on my blog and leave a url where I can find it (2 entries, so leave 2 comments)
4. Subscribe to Leyton Smile’s Blog
5. Become a fan of Leyton Smiles on Facebook
6. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
8. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own.

Other current giveaways: awesome children’s cds (ends 2/18) and flower arranging dvd (ends 2/19)

Why Name Labels for Children are CRITICAL at Daycare

January 27, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 70 Comments

I wrote a few months ago about some things that I learned during Darah’s first week of daycare. One of the things I realized was that I needed name labels for children on everything that belonged to my daughter. Unfortunately, I didn’t know that custom name labels existed, so I took permanent magic marker to her bottles and her bottle caps. Within a week, the permanent (yeah right) marker had washed right off! I really wasn’t interested in having to write her name on her bottles every single week. So I did what I always do…I searched for a solution. Surely there was a mom out there who had come up with a way to label stuff for kids!
Yes, indeed, there is a mom out there who has done exactly that. Meet Kristin, the owner of the fabulous Etsy shop MyTwoBabes! Kristin is a mother to twins, so she knows how easy it can be for items that belong to your babies to get mixed up, misplaced or sent home with the wrong child. She put her 8 years of experience in the graphic design field to work and has created some truly incredible labels that are just perfect for daycare, school or most any other place where your stuff just might not make it back into your hands without having your name label on it!

I received a daycare package from Kristin, which contains 30 size 1″x.25″ labels and 14 size 1.5″x1.5″ name labels for children. These labels have been working hard for a solid month for us, and I have not had a single one fall off or need to be replaced! They have been through the dishwasher and have been hand-washed, all without any problems. I have the smaller labels on her pacifiers, bowls, bottle caps and her spoons and I’ve put the round labels on her bottles. I haven’t lost anything that’s been labeled so far, while I had lost a few things prior to using these labels. I’m finding that the labels help my daycare providers out and are saving me money because I’m not having to replace lost items.

I really love that the daycare package comes with a large number of labels. As Darah grows into different bottles, pacifiers, cups and bowls, I’ll have labels on hand to use. I also really love the peace of mind I have knowing that nobody else is using her binky or her bottle on accident!

Name labels from MyTwoBabes are made with premium vinyl products with thermal printed names and color. The base of all labels are white and the color choices are sky blue, raspberry, apple green and lilac. There are also 4 cute font choices from which to choose.

Buy It! This fantastic label set is a steal at $9.00. We all know that just one nice bottle can cost more than that. Save yourself a whole lot of stress and pick up a set for your child today.

Edit: This Giveaway is now closed

Win It! One very lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is about to score a name labels for children daycare package of your very own! This contest will run until Friday, February5th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected via random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before a new winner will be selected. Open to residents of the United States. Make sure your email address is either in your comment or in your profile or else I can’t let you know that you won!

How To Enter

Mandatory Entry: Check out the labels at MyTwoBabes and let me know the color and font you would choose for your daycare package. Choose wisely, because if you win, you will get what you picked!

Additional Entries:
1. Follow my blog on Google friend connect (2 entries, so leave 2 comments)
2. Subscribe to my blog via email or RSS
3. Follow Kristin’s blog!
4. Add Kristin’s button to your blog (found on her blog). You must leave a url where the button can be found!
5. Follow MyTwoBabes on Twitter

I received samples for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own.

Babies and Drooling: Our Favorite Drool Bibs

January 17, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 90 Comments

You know the saying, “Drool Happens?” (ok, that’s not EXACTLY how the saying goes…). Let me tell you, babies and drooling go together like toddlers and tantrums! Drool really does happen when you have an infant. All day. Every day. And from what I’ve heard, what we’re experiencing right now is a cakewalk compared to the drool we’ll be seeing when she starts teething. Oh joy…

Darah drools so much that she has what her pediatrician calls a “drool patch.” This is a patch of super dry skin in the middle of her chest. It is due to the fact that we can’t seem to keep her clothes fully dry in that one spot. Yikes! She is too big for those teeny tiny bibs that babies start out with, and the toddler bibs just seem ridiculous to put on her when she isn’t even eating. They cover up her often adorable outfits, and as silly as it is, I just can’t stand that! So recently I went on a mission in search of some kind of product that was meant to help protect drooling babies and their would-be drool patches, all without stealing the spotlight from the cute outfit of the day (or cute outfit of the hour, in some cases). I found it!

Let me introduce you to a clever mom by the name of Lindsay who operates The Emmaline on Etsy. Lindsay sells a wide variety of really fabulous items such as toddler bibs, changing pads, and burp cloths. The most ingenious creations on the site, though, are her drool catching bibs. Notice that this bib looks a lot like a bandana, providing protection exactly where it is needed, which is front and center!

Lindsay was kind enough to send one of her drool catching bibs for Darah to try out. Here she is at Christmas time. She is technically wearing her bib inside out at the moment, which is another thing I love about these bibs…they are reversible! They are cotton print on one side, and a solid minky fabric on the back. This makes them soft for baby, and easy to coordinate with an outfit. The bib is also beautifully sewn together and has held up very well to frequent (and I do mean frequent) washings at our house for the past few weeks. So many of my other bibs have started unraveling at the seams, but I can tell that this bib is going to go the distance for us, and will also be around for baby #2 (which will happen MUCH later. Nobody get too excited).

Buy It! The drool catching bib is a really cute and super useful product, in my opinion, and it is majorly cool because it is invented by a mom! If you have a drooling baby at your house, this is one purchase you won’t regret.

Win It!
Stuff Parents Need readers are just so lucky! You have a chance to win your very own drool catching bib in your choice of patterns right now! This contest will run until Sunday, January 24th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected via random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning notification email before a new winner will be selected. Open to residents of the United States. Make sure your email address is either in your comment or in your profile or else I can’t let you know that you won!

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me your very favorite pattern that the drool catching bib comes in.

Additional Entries:

1. Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
2. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email
3. Add my button to your blog (2 entries, so leave 2 comments and leave a url to your site)
4. Follow Lindsay on Twitter(2 entries, so leave 2 comments and leave your twitter id)

5. Follow Lindsay’s blog

6. Heart The Emmaline on Etsy

Disclosure: I received a bib for product review purposes only. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.