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Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

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YoungBloods Diapers Review

June 7, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 248 Comments

Cloth diapers are becoming more and more popular at my house, folks. Tim and I have been a bit at odds with each other on cloth diapers, but as soon as I realized that he didn’t mind, and in fact, even enjoyed using the all in one (AIO) diapers, I focused my efforts there, and we haven’t really looked back. I still use the fitted and pocket diapers we have, but I have tried to make sure that we have a decent supply of AIO diapers on hand so that Tim can just grab them and go. He wants diapers that are just as easy to use as disposables, and that’s pretty much AIO diapers, in a nut shell.

youngbloods diaper Today I want you to meet Jenny, a fabulous work at home mom from Savannah. She has a degree in fibers and textile design, and she has put that degree to work in an effort to come up with beautiful and functional cloth diapers through her Etsy shop, Young Blood. She has been putting her diaper designs to the test with her own baby, and over the past 1 1/2 years, has worked hard to create the perfect AIO diaper.

Jenny sells her AIO diapers for $18.00 (the price of a 1 week supply of Huggies Pure and Natural diapers!) and she offers them in very cool patterns. My favorites include the newborn diaper (with a cut out for the umbilical cord!) in the blue hearts pattern and the small blue cloth diaper that has the gorgeous blue fabric on the inside (guess I’m in a “blue” mood today!). Give Young Blood diapers a try if you are in the market for something new!

youngbloods diaper If you are curious about trying out cloth, or if you are already a convert and would love to add a new diaper from a great small business, now is your chance! Jenny is offering one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader an AIO cloth diaper! The winner will receive their choice of size (newborn, medium or large) in this fabulous monkey print. I love it! The contest will run until June 17th 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.

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the size diaper you want if you win AND one other diaper that you really like in the shop!

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. “Like” Young Blood on Facebook
4. Tweet about this giveaway

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: all in one cloth diapers, cloth diaper review, cloth diaper reviews, cloth diapers, cloth diapers etsy, cloth diapers reviews, etsy, etsy reviews, etsy store, giveaway, newborn cloth diapers, review, young bloods, young bloods cloth diapers

DownEast Basics for an Affordable Wardrobe Overhaul

June 5, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 324 Comments

downeast basics gray top

On Memorial Day, we headed out to the Memphis Zoo to enjoy the beautiful weather and the super-cool animals. I really enjoyed getting ready for the zoo that morning because I had a fun new top to wear! Check out my Appliq-A-OK Tank from DownEast Basics. I think this is the perfect choice for any fashion-conscious lady who still has to live in the real world and can’t dress like the girls in Sex and the City. As a working mom, I love the fact that this top is going to be doing double-duty for me. It is comfortable and simple enough to wear when casually bopping around town and going to places like the zoo. But just throw a blazer over it and you are ready for business, literally! It can be a challenge to find pieces that can hold their own simultaneously at the ballpark and in the boardroom, but this shirt is definitely one of them. And the price is oh-so wallet friendly, retailing at just $22.99.

This is the second item in my closet from DownEast Basics, and it certainly won’t be the last. Their pieces are cut so that they fit but aren’t skin-tight. They are flattering, current, but not so trendy that they’ll be outdated by this time next year. I love that!

If you are unfamiliar with DownEast Basics, I really encourage you to take a look around. You’ll find so many items that are cute at a price that leaves room for all those things you have to buy for the baby! A few of my favorite pieces are the Santa Barbara halter swimsuit, and the cupid cardigan. So cute!

green skirt from downeast basics Win it!:
Ok, Stuff Parents Need readers, it just might be your lucky day! One of you is going to win THE ITEM OF YOUR CHOICE(!) from DownEast Basics’ New Arrivals collection! Swoon!The contest will run until June 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. Please be advised that the winner of this contest will not be eligible to win any other DownEast Basics giveaway on my site for 90 days.

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the item you would choose from their new arrivals if you are selected as the winner! Be sure to include your size and color preference. What you choose here will be the item you receive if you win!

Additional Entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (you can get up to 3 extra entries, one for each way that you follow the blog)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
3. Follow DownEast Basics on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
4. “Like” DownEast Basics on Facebook

5. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
6. If you are a blogger, add my button to your blog (and leave your url so I can see it!)

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

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: affordable clothing, cute tops, down east basics, down east clothing, down east outfitters, downeast, downeast basics, downeast basics review, downeast clothing, downeast outfitters, downeastbasics, giveaway, online fashion shopping, review

Nursing Apparel from Medela

June 3, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 111 Comments

As many of you know, I’m a working mom who is still breastfeeding (a commitment that is not without its challenges!). I have the good fortune of having my daughter in a daycare that is literally across the street from where I work. This makes it possible for me to visit her every day at lunch and breastfeed her at that time.

Because I can breastfeed during my work day, I have to give careful thought to the clothes that I am wearing. I feed Darah right in her classroom, since the daycare doesn’t have any private space. I need to be able to get my clothes away from my chest without totally exposing myself in the process. Trust me, it’s tricky to do!

Medela, the company that is known for its top of the line breast pumps
has also created some nursing wear that helps breastfeeding moms out in similar situations. They have a nursing camisole that I had the opportunity to try it out, and I LOVE it! It has pretty much revolutionized my work wardrobe in terms of making it nursing friendly. The lace along the edges help dress it up a bit to make it work appropriate. I also found that it provided a great deal of support. As someone with larger breasts, I find it difficult to find tank tops or camisoles that offer the support I need, but this one does the trick. Thank you, Medela!

Overall, I’d have to say that Medela is definitely on to something good with the creation of this nursing camisole. I get the sense that this company is committed to turning out products that are high quality and do the job they need to do very well. This top gets an A+ from me and has turned me into even more of a Medela fan than I already was!

Are you already a fan of Medela? If you want to be even more involved, fill out the survey at http://www.mommavens.com/join to see if you qualify to become a Medela Mom Maven. This unique group of parents helps inform others about safe, high quality Medela products; gets a first look at new Medela products; and is able to share feedback directly with Medela. To learn more visit www.mommavens.com. Also, Medela would love to have you join their Facebook group or follow them on Twitter if you are interested in learning more and talking with other breastfeeding moms!

Buy It!: The Medela nursing camisoles are available at a variety of online retailers and retail for $34.99.

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED!

Win it!: Medela wants to give you the chance to win one of their fabulous nursing camisoles! The winner will receive a camisole in her choice of size and color. The contest will run until June 13th 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 the size (S/M/L/XL) and color (white or black) you would like in the camisole if you are drawn as the winner.

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. Tell me one other product Medela makes that you own and love or that you would like to own.

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

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: breast feeding clothes, giveaway, medela nursing, medela nursing wear, nursing camisole, nursing clothes, nursing clothing, nursing tank, nursing tank tops, nursing tanks, nursing wear, review

Affordable Art: Professional Photography Prints (GIVEAWAY!!!)

June 2, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 149 Comments

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED….but the coupon for 15% off any purchase has been extended until June 19th! If you didn’t win but still want a print, now’s the time to order!

Even though I have been able to spruce up my desk space at home and work with the most precious picture frames (from Round the Bend and Quilly Nilly!), the walls at my house are still mostly bare. I’m actually not a big fan of putting family pictures on the wall (with the exception of the HUGE collage of pictures of my baby hanging in my dining room). I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, it just doesn’t suit me for some reason. I’d rather have art of some sort to admire. But I have trouble finding paintings that aren’t either really bad, really cheesy, or REALLY expensive. One medium that provides beautiful images at affordable prices is photography. Too bad I stink with a camera. Fortunately, there are folks out there who are quite handy with a camera lens, and today I’m going to introduce you to one.

I’m excited to be featuring a photographer from my hometown of Enterprise, Alabama! Blogosphere, meet Erin Johnson! Erin is a graphic designer by trade, but her heart belongs to photography. She is highly skilled, having the ability to photograph landscapes, animals, flowers, architecture AND people! Many photographers will specialize in just one area, but Erin does them all!

Erin sent me a beautiful picture of a pink zinnia to help breathe new life into my home. It currently is hung in my bedroom, at the wall opposite my bed. I’m really enjoying having the very first thing I see every morning be a beautiful image from nature. It lifts my spirits!

Erin has so many beautiful photos on her site, and I’m sure that there’s at least one that would look great on your walls at home or work. A few of my personal favorites include The Old Mill, Sunset Fields and the Ladybug. Erin can print these photographs in almost any size, so contact her if you see a print you like but you want a size other than the one offered! Her 8 x 10 photographs are only $18.00, which makes this art not only lovely, but also affordable. And that makes it a winner! During the contest, Erin is offering you 15% off any purchase. Just include the code, “Stuff” in your notes to seller, and she’ll refund your discount through paypal!

Speaking of being a winner, here’s your chance to win! Erin is offering up one 8 x 10 photo from her collection to a lucky Stuff Parents Need reader. Fantastic! The contest will run until Saturday, June 12th 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 the print you want to win and where you would hang it. Choose wisely, as you will get what you select in your entry!

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 Erin Johnson on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
4. Add Erin Johnson Photography to your Etsy favorites
5. Make a suggestion to Erin for something she should photograph
6. “Like” Erin Johnson Photography on Facebook
Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: erin johnson, erin johnson photography, erin johnson photography blog, erin johnson photography review, etsy, etsy reviews, etsy shop, etsy store, giveaway, professional photographers, review

eBags Packing Cubes 3pc Set

May 31, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 198 Comments

We just returned from a fantastic vacation to North Carolina to see my bff and her family. Everything about the trip was relaxed, simple and fun…including the act of packing!

ebags packing cubes 3pc set We decided that we were going to pack everything that we needed for a 5 day trip for 2 adults and 1 infant into 2 carry on bags. Sounds crazy, right? Well, part of the reason that we were able to do this is because we could wash our clothes halfway through our vacation. But the other reason we could do this is because we had eBags packing cubes. This eBags Packing Cubes 3pc Set helped us keep our clothes and other items grouped together in the most logical way. For example, one cube had all of Darah’s diapers, bibs, wipes, blankets and clothes in it. Another cube had all of my husband’s clothes and the third cube had all of my clothes. Unpacking was a piece of cake, and when we needed to retrieve something from a suitcase in the middle of our travels (as you often need to do when traveling with children) all we had to do was find the correct cube and we could locate the item we were seeking. Our suitcases remained neat and orderly.

On our trip home, we kept dirty clothes in one cube, which really helped with unpacking. In the past I’ve had to wash clothes that may have still been clean simply because I couldn’t remember what had been worn or because I had to pack dirty clothes on top of clean clothes. This was a huge time saver for me when we got back to Memphis.

eBags offers packing cubes in a variety of colors. If you have several family members you could consider different different colors for each member of the family. This is definitely a set that I’ll consider expanding for our family when it grows again, and I think the color I’ll add to our red set is green!

You may be wondering if packing bags within your bags takes up valuable space and adds unnecessary weight. These are made from an extremely lightweight fabric. They weigh next to nothing, and yet, they can really hold a lot of weight. They are also very flexible, so they can easily conform to the space in which they need to fit. I didn’t notice any difference at all in the amount that I could pack into our suitcases by using these cubes. The difference I noticed was that the way things were packed now made much more sense, actually! I’m not the only one who thinks these are handy. It looks like 98% of the people who bought these packing cubes would recommend them!

One other item I’d like to try is their shoe bags. I love the idea of keeping shoes separated from other clothes, but sticking your shoes into a shoe box when traveling is rarely a practical solution. This provides a great way to keep your clothes from getting dirt that may be on your shoes on them without sacrificing extra space.

In addition to being so glad to have found these packing cubes, I’m also really glad to have found eBags! If you poke around your site you will see that they have an extensive collection of all sorts of cool stuff, from luggage, to you diaper bags, to wallets and messenger bags. There’s something for everyone and for every budget. This store is certainly not afraid to have a sale, so make sure you check out what they’ve discounted lately to snag a steal! One of my favorite features of the store is that you can shop for items by color. I love that!

Buy It!: If you are going to be doing any traveling as a family, take the headache out of packing and invest in some packing cubes. You will be so glad you did, and you’ll never take a trip without them again, guaranteed! The medium set I reviewed is currently on sale for $22 and is offered in 5 colors. There are also other sets and sizes of packing cubes that you should check out, as well!

Win It!: Now is your chance to win your very on packing cube set for your upcoming adventures! Thank you, eBags! The contest will run until June 10th 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 about your next planned trip that you are taking (hopefully with the packing cubes!)

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. Tweet the following: Great eBags giveaway happening now. If you are going on vacation, you will want to win this! http://tinyurl.com/27bkqh5
4. Follow eBags on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
5. “Like” eBags on Facebook
6. Post the url to one other item that eBags sells that you covet

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

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: best packing cubes, best packing cubes reviews, ebags packing cube, ebags packing cubes, ebags packing cubes review, ebags slim packing cubes, giveaway, packing cubes, packing cubes reviews, review, slim packing cubes

Felt Mouse Pads: Father’s Day Gift for the Tech-Savvy Man

May 27, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 104 Comments

This will be Tim’s very first Father’s Day. As someone whose love language is gifts, I see this as a really fun opportunity to buy him something super cool that he will love. But there’s just one problem: he is IMPOSSIBLE to shop for. Gifts just aren’t really his thing. He’s the type of guy to go get new clothes once his are threadbare, and he just has no interest in buying anything other than technological gadgets. I love you, honey, but I’m NOT buying you an iPad for Father’s Day.

I know I’m not the only woman out there with a husband who doesn’t really want anything if it isn’t the latest and greatest in technology. If you are on a budget, like me, this makes gift giving occasions such a headache! So I’ve been thinking a lot about what I could get him that would say, “We love you! Thank you for being a great father!” and still pay homage to his true interests, all without emptying out our savings account.

felt mouse pads I’m happy to report that I DID find something that met this criteria. Tim is on the computer for the majority of his day at work, and I recently learned that he doesn’t even have a mouse pad there. I was so surprised! I wanted to get him a mouse pad for his office, but not just any mouse pad. I wanted THE BEST mouse pad. And I found it at FeltPlanet! Check out this 5mm thick virgin merino wool felt round mouse pad. There are so many things I love about it, and that Tim loves about it, too.

First, it is large and in charge. The generous size (10 1/2 inches ) gives you plenty of space for your mouse maneuverings without having to constantly pick the mouse back up like you have to do with smaller mouse pads.

Second, this mouse pad is sturdy. Since it is so thick, it doesn’t slide around on the desk at all.

Third, it is beautiful. Have you ever seen a beautiful mouse pad before? I doubt it! But the felt used here is beautifully dyed and just invites you to touch it. I love all the different color choices you have, so that your mouse pad can compliment the decor of the room it is in, rather than be a utilitarian object with no aesthetic qualities. It is also simple. Tim is a guy with an eye for sleek, uncluttered designs, so the look of this ouse pad is absolutely perfect for him.

Finally, I love that felt is an eco-friendly product. It is renewable, reusable and recyclable. Felt is also really warm, which makes it great for browsing if your hands get cold!

felt mouse pads If you are banging your head against the wall trying to come up with a cool Father’s Day gift idea for your tech-savvy hubs or father, I’ve saved you the trouble of searching. Pick up a FeltPlanet mouse pad in a rectangle or round design. Prices start at just $15.00. And while you are there, go ahead and pick up something nice for yourself. Perhaps this lily pad bowl would look nice on your dresser? You’re welcome. 🙂

EDIT: This giveaway is CLOSED!

Win it!: Felt Planet wants to give one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader the opportunity to give the best Father’s Day present this year. You will win a felt mouse pad in your choice of shape and color! That’s so awesome! The contest will run until June 6th 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 the shape and color mouse pad you would like to win. Choose wisely, as the winner will get what is listed in his/her entry!
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. “Like” FeltPlanet on Facebook
4. Add FeltPlanet to your Etsy favorites

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

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: felt flowers, felt mouse pad, feltplanet, giveaway, merino wool felt, merino wool mouse pad, review

Keep Your Clothes Smelling Fresh Longer (GIVEAWAY!!!)

May 26, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 49 Comments

 

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED!

Every season, when I bring some of my clothes out of storage, I run into a problem. Despite the fact that my clothes are freshly washed and clean when I put them away for the season, they always have a stale, less-than-pleasant smell when I pull them back out of their bin. In the past I have just re-washed all the clothes, or in moments of weakness, sprayed some Febreeze on them and hoped for the best (this method never really worked, by the way).

I recently learned about a product that can help me out with this particular problem. Check out the FRESHhanger. The FRESHhanger is like a jacket for a hanger. But this jacket serves a great purpose. It removes odors from your clothes!

When I pulled out my summer clothes a few weeks ago, they had that weird smell, just like always. But this time, I hung up a few pieces on hangers that had a FRESHhanger cover. Then I hung up the remaining pieces in the same closet, but not on hangers with the FRESHhanger. I wanted to see just how powerful these things really were. I also hung up a few items in a separate closet altogether. Let me tell you about my results!

The clothes that were on FRESHhanger hangers were smell-free within 24 hours. The clothes that were hung up in the same closet with FRESHhanger hangers were odor-free after 48 hours. The clothes that were left to air-out without the help of the FRESHhanger smelled less funky, but still not great, about 72 hours later. They still smelled enough that I would need to wash them to get the smell out.

I’m gathering from my little science experiment that the FRESHhanger really works! I have a small closet, and I’m finding that just having 2 FRESHhangers in my closet at a time is doing a nice job of keeping everything smell-free. If you have a larger closet, you may want to use more than that at one time.

Now let me tell you how it works. From their site, “FRESHhanger is made of specially formulated activated carbon – the same material used int he space program to clean air and water. FRESHhanger absorbs odors from your clothes better than just airing out…and for up to 6 months!” I really like that it comes with stickers that have the different months of the year so that you can put the month that you need to change out your hanger on it. That makes it really easy to remember when it is time to change them out!

Buy It: The FRESHhanger is sold in packages of 5 for 14.99 and can be found online here. If you battle the seasonal stink with your clothes, wish you could get just one more use out of your shirt before washing them or if you spend more than you like on dry cleaning, this is a wonderful product for you and will save you time and money!

Win it!: Ok folks, I know I’m not the only one who doesn’t want to have to do laundry so often. Here’s your chance to win a FRESHhanger set and take back a bit of your time fro the laundry monster. The contest will run until June 7th at 7:59 pm 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 one reason why your family needs the FRESHHanger.

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)

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

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: freshhanger, freshhanger review, giveaway, good hangers for clothes, hanger cover, hanger covers, how to remove odor from clothes, remove odor from clothes, remove odors from clothes, removing odor from clothes, removing odors from clothes, removing odors from clothing, review

Truly Beautiful Jewelry for Moms (GIVEAWAY!!!)

May 24, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 256 Comments

Since becoming a mom, one thing I have noticed is that there is an abundance of “mom” jewelry out there, and most of it, in my humble opinion, is tacky at best. Before I became a mom I thought the whole idea of “mom” jewelry was just ridiculous. I feel differently about it now, but I’ve really struggled to find pieces that actually speak to me. But then I found Beazuness (a store that carries beautiful jewelry, some of which may just happen to speak to moms in particular).

The first time I saw the bird’s nest necklace, I made audible coos at the computer screen. I absolutely adore this piece. It is such a lovely design, with the wires carefully crafted to make a little nest, and then it has these beautiful pearls inside as the eggs. As a mom, I could see this piece having so much sentimental value. It can also be customized for you, depending on the number of little birdies you have in your own nest! Similarly, Beazuness has a three peas in a pod necklace, which is equally adorable and also made with Swarovski pearls. Swoon!

Naomi is the designer behind all the fabulous creations on Beazuness. She also has a second shop on Etsy called Japlish Delights, so swing by and check it out! Beazuness is the shop where all of her beading jewelry is showcased. Naomi has been making jewelry for 10 years, now, and I think her jewelry shows all the signs of a skilled artisan. Her designs have been influenced by her time growing up in Japan and by her multi-cultural family (Naomi has a Japanese mother and and American father). She says that her family spoke what they call, “Japlish,” a unique mix of Japanese and English! She attended University in Canada, and met an amazing man there, and so she now lives there permanently with her husband and two children. When looking at her jewelry designs, you can see the influence of these cultures on her work.

Naomi’s pieces on Beazuness are truly timeless and fabulously feminine. When I browse through her selection I can’t find a single piece that I wouldn’t love to have. Her sense of style just speaks to me! Naomi sent me thewhite pearl herringbone necklace to try out for myself. No big surprise, I LOVE IT! I have worn it to graduation festivities this month and plan to wear it frequently to work this summer. This necklace has a 10mm white Swarovski pearl wrapped in sterling silver wire. It hangs on a 16 inch sterling silver chain. Naomi also offers matching pearl earrings to complete the look. This piece is understated, and yet, absolutely striking.

Beazuness is a shop I will be coming back to often for gifts for friends, and let’s be real, for myself. 🙂 Currently I’m coveting the gold sprig necklace, silver acacia tree necklace, and most of all, the cute little bunny necklace (“bunny” is my nickname for Darah). Naomi’s pieces start at just $8.00, so take a moment to find something wonderful for yourself at a price you’ll love!

Win it! Naomi wants to give you the opportunity to win this gorgeous bird’s nest necklace, which is so perfect for any mom out there! I’m so jealous of you guys! The contest will run until June 3rd 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 your very favorite item from Beazuness and where you would wear it. It will be tough to pick just one item, I guarantee it!

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 Naomi on Twitter
4. Subscribe to Naomi’s blog
5. “Like” Japlish Delights/Beazuness on Facebook

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

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: beazuness, giveaway, jewelry for moms, jewelry for mothers, jewelry for new moms, mom jewelry, mom necklace, mother jewelry, necklaces for mom, personalized jewelry for mom, personalized jewelry for moms, review

Natural Nasal Decongestants for Kids: SinuCleanse

May 23, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 33 Comments

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED!

As many of you know, Darah goes to daycare 4 days each week. Her classmates are beautiful children. They are full of love, joy, and also….SNOT. No doubt, Darah makes her own contributions to the communal pot of icky in her room at school, as well. She and most of the other kids have that perpetual “daycare cold.” It makes me so sad to see her with a runny, snotty nose.

We have been using the bulb syringe that was sent home with us from the hospital, and it can get a fair amount of mucus out. The problem is that it totally freaks Darah out. She screams every time we use it. It makes for a tense and sad minute or two multiple times each day. I’ve been looking around online to see if anyone out there has come up with a less torturous solution. And I’m very pleased to report natural nasal decongestants that someone has.

Let me introduce you to a company called SinuCleanse. This is the leading manufacturer of neti pots in the U.S. They have developed a product especially for the youngsters out there. The Kids Mist can be used on anyone ages 0-12. The Kids Mist is a nasal irrigation system that uses a saline solution. From their site, “Nasal irrigation helps facilitate removal of mucous by thinning it and also helps flush allergens from nasal passages. It has also been shown to help reduce the dependency upon medication for treatment of allergies.” The basic idea, in layman’s terms, is that you squirt some saline solution up your nose. It is an extremely effective method of fighting off runny/stuff noses. However, to squirt water up a child’s nose sounds extremely difficult, at best. The Kids Mist has a method that is gentle. The nozzle does not have to go inside the nostril but can stay just outside of it, and it squirts out a fine mist of the solution, so it isn’t overwhelming or scary.

When I received the Kids Mist to try out, I was still a little bit nervous about it, so I did what any mom would do and I tried it out on myself first! The sensation of having some liquid go up your nose was a little bit surprising, but it was not at all overwhelming. My nose was slightly stuffy when I tried it (part of the joy of that daycare cold is that everyone gets it, not just the baby). It did clear out my nasal passages for about an hour, which was pretty cool!

Then I tried it out on Darah, and she reacted similarly to me. She was a bit surprised by the water, but she didn’t cry. HALLELUJAH! SinuCleanse recommends that you use the Kids Mist at every diaper change, as nasal irrigation is something that must be done fairly frequently in order to be most effective.

Overall, we are enjoying having the Kids Mist around to help us keep the dreaded snotty nose at bay. It hasn’t eliminated her daycare cold, yet, but it does seem to really help her not be so stuffy, and that means she breathes (and sleeps!) better. Thank you, Kids Mist!

The Kids Mist retails for $9.99 and comes with a 3 week supply of saline solution. You can pick it up at places like Walgreens and Kroger or you can purchase it online here.

natural nasal decongestants Win it!: SinuCleanse wants to help your little one out with those summer allergies and daycare colds! One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Kids Mist! Hooray! The contest will run until Tuesday, June 1st 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 one of the benefits of using a nasal irrigation system like Kids Mist or the SinuCleanse Neti Pot

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)
Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links at no cost to you. 

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: giveaway, nasal congestion remedies, nasal irrigation, natrual nasal decongestants, neti pots, review, sinu cleanse, sinucleanse, sinucleanse neti pot, sinucleanse review, sinus irrigation

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Grab your beverage of choice (mine is iced coffee) and let's hang out for a spell! I'm Tiffany, and I've rambunctious little girls and a fierce desire to share any tip and trick I can find to make lives with little ones a bit less hectic and a lot more fun. [Read more...]

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