giveaway - Stuff Parents Need

Ecotools Bamboo Brush Set Review

April 12, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I hate to think about the number of makeup brushes I have been through in the 15 or so years that I’ve been wearing makeup. In general, I’m just too thrifty to spend a lot of money on those brushes that they claim last forever (I think I also just don’t believe that they will really last long enough to justify the cost). However, in retrospect, I have certainly spent more than what I would have on a nice set of make up tools over the last decade or so, going from ineffective brush to ineffective brush.

I was really intrigued to learn about an affordable set of makeup brushes that Alicia Silverstone has put out called EcoTools. EcoTools sent me the EcoTools 6 Piece Essential Eye Brush Set to try out and tell you all about. The brushes are distinct among all makeup brushes out there for their cruelty-free taklon bristles, recycled aluminum ferrules and bamboo handles.The 6 piece eye brush set is priced with the frugalista in mind, at $7.99. It contains a large eye shadow brush, angled crease brush, petite eye shading brush, domed highlighting brush, smudge brush and a compact cosmetic case with mirror.

There’s only one thing I don’t like about this set, and that is the hemp and cotton carrying case. I keep my makeup brushes in a cup so that they are all standing up, plainly visible, and ready for quick use. The carrying case is something that I personally would never use as it takes up quite a bit of space in my makeup bag and it only holds the eye makeup brushes, and not all of my other brushes. So that went straight to the donation pile, unfortunately. I know that some women out there like to keep their brushes in a palette, and if that’s you, then you’ll like it.

<br />

Now for what I do like about the set: the brushes! They really do a great job! I confess that I’ve never really had eye make up tools that were so distinct. I just use the same applicator for everything, which is perhaps why my eye makeup sometimes looks so boring. I was a little bit concerned that I’d quickly lose track of the purpose for each brush. Fortunately, each brush has its name on it so that I don’t have to remember! These tools do a nice job of gripping the makeup and releasing it evenly on the lids. Perhaps my favorite tool in the bunch is the smudge brush, which has enabled me to create a smoky look that I haven’t achieved before. I will say that using these brushes means spending more time on your makeup, but in my experience, the extra time pays off in the form of eye makeup that looks great!

EcoTools offers some terrific instructional videos to help folks like me update their looks using these brushes. I learned several cool tricks when I watched them!

EcoTools has also joined with 1% For the Planet, which means that they donate 1% of their annual sales to environmental organizations that create a healthier place to live. I love it when a business puts its money where its mouth is as it relates to environmental stewardship. Way to go, EcoTools!

Buy It!: EcoTools are available nationwide at retailers such as Target, Walgreens and Amazon!

If you have tried EcoTools brushes, what did you think about them? Have you tried any other products from this line?

Disclosure: I was provided with product samples for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links

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)

My Favorite Diaper Rash Solution (Balmex GIVEAWAY!!!)

April 10, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 98 Comments

EDIT: Giveaway closed

On the whole we have been very fortunate with Darah and diaper rash. For the first 4 months of her life she had ZERO diaper rash. When she was a newborn, we were careful parents and we slathered her with diaper rash cream after every change just to be safe. As time went by, we realized that she wasn’t having any problems, and we started to get a little bit lax. We’d just put cream on her once a day, and we used cornstarch powder the rest of the time. And then we pretty much just stopped using diaper rash cream altogether. This worked out great until around Christmas, and then we were hit hard with a case of diaper rash! We weren’t afraid, though, because we had lots of cream and we started applying it again. We were applying it constantly for about 2 weeks and saw absolutely no change in her condition. That’s when the dim lightbulbs in our head came on and we realized that the stuff we had, at least for our baby, was completely worthless.

I had a coupon in my stash for Balmex, so I decided to give it a try. Cue the spotlight and the choir of angels, folks! Balmex was and continues to be the definitive answer to diaper rash in our house. Once we started using it, her diaper rash cleared up in just a few days and IT HASN’T BEEN BACK SINCE! And once again, we don’t apply diaper rash cream after every change, but we do make an effort to put some on once a day (usually at night since she’ll be in that diaper for a while).

I wrote to Balmex to thank them for making such a great and effective product, and they sent me some samples of their products to test out. There are two products of theirs that I had not tried before but that I absolutely LOVE. First, did you know that Balmex puts out a powder? This powder is especially effective because it contains zinc oxide. It also contains an exclusive blend of botanicals that it calls ActivGuard. It is talc-free, and in my experience, totally awesome. This is what we use after most every diaper change, and it is doing a terrific job of keeping diaper rash at bay. We always call Darah our little beignet during diaper changes since she gets sprinkled with powder! Second, I’ve already talked about how sold I am on their diaper rash cream, but I’m even more sold now that I’ve seen the variety of packaging options that you have when you buy it. I first purchased the 2 ounce tube, which is absolutely perfect for the diaper bag or for travel (especially airplane travel, when your “liquids” are restricted in size). They also have a big 16 oz jar, which is perfect for the changing table at home or to send to daycare. But the ultimate option is to buy their diaper rash in the form of a cream stick. It basically looks like a stick of deodorant and is dispensed the same way that you would put on deodorant. The top of the stick is a bit more narrow, which I realized when using it, makes it perfect to get into all the little folds around your baby’s bits! GENIUS! Also, since you apply it directly, there’s no mess left on your hands. This is totally the way to go, folks!

I also learned a lot from the diaper rash advisor section of the Balmex web site. When you are new to diapering, as Tim and I were just a handful of months ago, you don’t know what exactly to look for, and anything and everything freaks you out and causes you to worry. The advisor section of this site gives you some great tips for detection, correction and protection!

All you other parents out there may be looking for a more effective diaper rash cream than what you are currently using. Balmex has been the very best and most effective choice for our baby. Give it a try. If you need further incentive, right now you can print a coupon for $1.00 off any Balmex product!

Win It!: Balmex has generously offered two winners a Balmex kit, each containing a few of the great products I mentioned here! The contest will run until Monday, April 19th 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: Follow my blog using Google Friend Connect! You must follow publicly, not privately. It’s just that simple! Your first entry should be a post stating that you follow.

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. Tell me something you learned when checking out the Diaper Rash Advisor section of Balmex’s site
6. Tell me the Balmex product you’d most like the try
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.

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.

Big Bibs that are Fashionable and Funcional

April 2, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 176 Comments

Now that Darah is eating solids, I am finding that her cute little bibs are no longer useful. She needs more coverage from big bibs during mealtimes, and even during playtime when she sometimes still spits up. Am I the only one who has noticed that the cutest bibs in stores are really tiny and the big ones are nothing to write home about? This is the case for the vast majority of large bibs that we have in our house. Sometimes this doesn’t matter to me, since keeping Darah clean is the number 1 goal, but anytime I am taking Darah out and about and have her dressed up really cute, it bothers me to cover up her whole outfit with a bib that is drab.

Bib Bibs With Style!

Bazzle Baby is a company that offers a solution to this problem! I saw them featured in Baby Talk magazine, and when I check out their site, I learned that they offered super cute AND functional big bibs! From their site, “Big Bibs put a twist on tradition with their squared edges and ultimate coverage. Our Big Bib is perfect for your little eater! Coverage area is 8″L x 10″W. 100% Cotton designer print.”

Bazzle Baby was kind enough to send the Lava Bloom Big Bib for Darah to put to the test. I was very impressed when I put it on her and saw how much coverage it provided. The pattern is also really cute! I’ve found that this bib is typically an asset to her outfits and never a deficit. As a result, this is the bib I reach for most anytime we are headed out the door! Let me be clear, though, we aren’t afraid to use the thing! Do you know people who have “good” bibs or “good” burp cloths and don’t use them because they don’t want them to get dirty? I really can’t relate to that, folks. A bib has a purpose…to get dirty so that your child doesn’t! The Big Bib has held up beautifully in the wash (and it has been washed MANY times at this point) and the stains have all come out, so far! If ever the time comes when a stain won’t come out, though, I bet it will be really difficult to notice since it has a fun, busy pattern!

One thing that I really love about Bazzle Baby is that it is family owned and operated. Amanda Davis is the captain behind the Bazzle Baby ship, and she was inspired by her first baby to create bibs that can get the job done without sacrificing aesthetics. Every single product in this line came about as a solution to a problem for each of her children. Check out the award winning Banda Bibs that are perfect for little droolers and Burpers that are large and very absorbant, just as a burp cloth should be!

I also want to mention that Bazzle Baby is a company that gives back. It donates a portion of all sales to charities selected by its customers! You can nominate your favorite charity by emailing Amanda@bazzlebaby.com. How cool is that?!

Buy It!: If you are tired of covering up your baby’s unforgettable outfits with totally forgettable bibs, you need a Big Bib from Bazzle Baby! Check out the awesome selection of patterns and pick a few out today for $13.00. During this giveaway, you can also save 15% off your purchase by using the code TRENDS at checkout.

Edit: Giveaway closed

Win it!:Bazzle Baby has offered one very lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a Big Bib from their current collection! Sweet!!! The contest will run until Tuesday, April 13th 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 your very favorite Big Bibs pattern. Choose wisely, as you will win what you select!

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. Sign up for Bazzle Baby’s newsletter (leave email address you used to sign up)
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
6. Follow Bazzle Baby on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Become a Fan of Bazzle Baby on Facebook
8. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Children’s Books Made into Movies! (Scholastic Giveaway!!!)

March 31, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 275 Comments

Hopefully we are all in agreement that there is just no substitute for reading to and with your child. Tim and I cherish story time with Darah. Even though her primary goal right now is to get the corner of any book we read into her mouth, we know that she is still absorbing language and learning that books are a source of great fun.

As your child progresses along in his or her relationship with books, there are some cool ways to reinforce the value of reading. Scholastic has a really great dvd series that is designed for children and their parents. The dvds contain popular children’s books made into movies, and encourage children to read along with the story by including the text on the screen and highlighting the words as they are spoken.

We received the Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics to review. While Darah is a bit too young to view these herself, Tim and I have played some of the stories. We really liked that the book illustrations were used for the stories as opposed to cartoons. This helps keep the focus on the words being spoken, and it keeps it from having the feel of a television show that changes screen shots every 2-3 seconds. We were also pleasantly surprised when we heard some familiar voices serving as narrators (Meryl Streep and John Lithgow are two examples).

This collection seems to be appropriate for children ages 2 or 3 and up. We will definitely be showing these to Darah in a few years, and we are glad to have them on hand for when our nieces visit. This isn’t something I would be inclined to turn on for kids and just leave them alone with, but rather, these are terrific stories to experience with children, so that you can read along and encourage them to try to read, too. You can also pause the videos to talk about what you are seeing in the pictures. Another great idea is to check out some of the books in the set from your local library, and then when you view the dvds you can have the books on hand, too!

Buy It!: This entire collection contains over 8 hours of delightful stories for a terrific price: $49.95! That’s just $1 per story. We all know how pricey books are, so this is a great deal. It is currently available on Amazon for just $32!

Win It!: I bet you know a little bookworm in the making who would love to have this set! Scholastic wants to make that happen for one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader, who will score the 50 Storybook Classics dvd set we reviewed! The contest will run until Saturday, April 10th 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.

EDIT: Giveaway closed

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the story in this collection you would read along with first!

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 and leave a url where I can find it
4. Subscribe to the Scholastic Treasures DVD newsletter (bottom left corner)
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
6. Tell me one other Scholastic Storybook Treasures box set you would also like to own!
7. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Best Baby Shower Decoration Idea!

March 30, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 287 Comments

As we all know, one of the really fun things about reading blogs is that different bloggers often have really cool product reviews and giveaways. The very first blog giveaway I ever won was for a diaper cake from Diaper Cakewalk. I was pregnant at the time, and for the last 2 months of my pregnancy, I used the diaper cake as the centerpiece on our dining room table! It was just that cute, folks! It served as a reminder that our big day was close at hand, and since it was an eco-friendly diaper cake, it also reminded us to try to go green as much as possible as we prepared for our baby.

I have to tell you, I have memories of diaper cakes being sold in local grocery stores when I was a kid, and they were ugly. I assumed, therefore, that all diaper cakes were unfortunate-looking. I am so glad to report that I WAS WRONG. Perhaps the person who made them at my local store was just not particularly skilled at making them! The diaper cakes from Diaper Cakewalk are downright beautiful. They make such an excellent baby shower gift idea for the expecting mom. I can tell you from experience that they are so fun to have on display, and they are also fun and easy to use when the time comes. A 4-tier diaper cake will have enough diapers in it to last roughly 9 days, which is awesome! The diapers are size 1 Pampers Swaddlers. I like that they aren’t made with newborn diapers because some babies are born too big for newborn diapers. In my case, Darah wore size newborn diapers for about 3 weeks, but that just meant that I had a little while longer with the diaper cake before I had to disassemble it!

diaper cake as baby shower decoration ideas

If you are hosting a baby shower in the upcoming months, I strongly encourage you to consider purchasing a diaper cake. They will provide excellent decor for your event and double as a very useful gift that has more staying power and purpose than a vase of flowers. Diaper Cakewalk even offers some great baby shower ideas on the site to help you plan your shower!

Perhaps you are pretty crafty, yourself, and you’d like to try your hand at making your own diaper cake. Diaper Cakewalk even offers Do-it-yourself diaper cakes as an option if you want to customize the overall look yourself.

Concerned about how the cake will hold up during shipping? Don’t be! My cake arrived in MINT condition, ready for immediate display. These diaper cakes are very well-constructed!

Buy It!: New moms need only one thing more than sleep, and that is diapers! Buy a beautiful diaper cake for the expecting mom you know today. It’s a gift that is guaranteed to delight her!

EDIT: Giveaway closed

Win It!: I am so excited to have the opportunity to give away a 3-tiered diaper cake from her bestseller category! You are going to flip if you win this! The contest will run until Friday, April 9th 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.

Mandatory Entry: Pick out the 3-tiered diaper cake you would choose if you won. Choose wisely, as you will win what you pick out!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only one 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 Diaper Cakewalk on Facebook
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
6. Follow Diaper Cakewalk on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Reversible Bib with Magnets: The Best Bib EVER!

March 28, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 199 Comments

Just this morning, right after I got Darah dressed for the day, I reached into her bib basket to get a bib for her. My favorite bibs were both gone, so I just grabbed a smaller one (that really should be put away in the attic by now, but oh well). You probably see where this is going. The bib had “served its purpose” within 4 minutes, and her clothes were also totally covered in spit up. Bleh!

Some of this was my fault for putting a small bib on her, but even if she had been sporting a larger bib, it still would have been totally used up with that one incident. Even though I do laundry almost every other day at this point, I still find myself running out of bibs on occasion because I never know if she’ll keep a bib on for 2 hours or 4 minutes! In our house, it seems that bibs last such a brief time on the days when I’m behind on laundry (darn you, Murphy’s law!).

One thing I absolutely LOVE about the blogging community is learning about ingenious products that help solve problems. A little while back Mommy Loves Giveaways featured a clever bib, and I just melted at the sight of it (no judging for the fact that a functional bib can make me swoon!).

baby with reversible bib

It is my pleasure to now introduce you to the Reversible Double Bib by Bebe au Lait. This is actually 4 bibs in 1! The bib has magnets that hold together two layers of coverage. When the first layer gets soiled, simply switch out the layers. When the second layer gets soiled, take off the bib, make the back of the bib become the front, and put it back on for two more layers of coverage. GENIUS!!!!! This bib has made it through the messiest of feedings with Darah (have I mentioned that she intercepts the spoon with her hands and then quickly rubs the food all over her face?!). I have also sent this to daycare and because it has 4 usable sides, it has made it through an entire day of her drooling and spitting up. The ladies who watch her commented that it was one of the coolest things they had ever seen.

baby eating while wearing a reversible bib

The magnets are a feature that I especially love on this bib. No more strings that are dangerous or velcro that ruins everything in the wash. It also means that switching between the bib panels takes no time at all. Woo hoo! I also just love the cute fabric choices that they offer for the Reversible Double Bib. Notice that the patterns are busy and bold…this is so necessary for anything that it meant to catch big messes!

All in all, I have to say that this bib goes the distance unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. I think these would be an outstanding shower gift for an expecting mom, or a great addition to your own bib stash if you have a little one. I guarantee it will be the bib that never makes it out of the clean laundry basket before it is put to use again!

Buy It!: Holy smokes! Bebe au Lait is having a 25% off sale on their bibs (and other products). RUN to their site and make a purchase, as the sale ends Sunday. You will be so glad you did!

EDIT: Giveaway closed

Win It!: Bebe au Lait has generously offered one Reversible Double Bib for a lucky Stuff Parents Need reader! The contest will run until Wednesday, April 7th 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 pattern you would choose for your Bebe au Lait Double Reversible Bib. Choose wisely, as this will be what you get if you win!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only one 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. Sign up for the Bebe au Lait mailing list (bottom right corner of the page)
5. Become a fan of Bebe au Lait on Facebook
6. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Follow Bebe au Lait onTwitter (leave your Twitter ID)
8. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I was provided with a product sample in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Cleaning Stuff Overhaul: I’m Going Green!

March 25, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 321 Comments

We’ve been dabbling in more environmentally friendly cleaning stuff over the last year or so, but thanks to Seventh Generation, we have now pretty much completely made the switch, and we aren’t looking back! We’ve been using several products from the Healthy Home Kit in our

home and have seen results that are every bit as good as the more toxic stuff we formerly used! The Healthy Home kit includes the following:

Kitchen Cleaner
All-Purpose Cleaner
Glass & Surface Cleaner
Shower Cleaner
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Tub & Tile Cleaner
Brown Paper Towels

I’ve tried everything, and here are my thoughts. The Shower Cleaner and the Tub & Tile Cleaner both smelled terrific! These were the products that stood out the very most to me. Our former bathroom cleaners gave us headaches because the fumes were so bad, but we thought we needed something that strong to get rid of all the grime in there. I’m glad to report that we were wrong, and I only wish that we had realized it sooner! The Toilet Bowl Cleaner also gets the job done just as effectively as our old stuff. The All-Purpose Cleaner has been used throughout our house as a “go-to” product for everything from carpet stains to wiping down fixtures. The Glass & Surface Cleaner is every bit as effective as Windex, in my opinion, and is much better for the environment. It’s a winner!The Kitchen Cleaner smells absolutely awesome (it is scented with wild orange and cedar spice). I found that if I spray down the counters and the stove top with this product and just let it sit for a minute or two, all the icky comes right off. Basically, every single cleaning product I tried from Seventh Generation did exactly what it was supposed to do, minus the nasty chemicals. Hooray! We are moving away from paper towels in our home, but there are times when we have messes that just need to be picked up and thrown away (cat hairballs, anyone?!). I’ve really enjoyed having the Seventh Generation Brown Paper Towels around to clean up these messes. They are made from unbleached, 100% recycled paper!

It is wonderful to be able to clean pretty much anything in the house with Darah in tow. I don’t have any worries about any of these products touching her skin or of her inhaling the fumes, because there are no fumes! We’ve actually been putting her in her baby carrier now while we clean up. This makes life easier and more fun for all of us!

In addition to the great cleaning stuff I’ve mentioned, Seventh Generation also offers a lot of other great items for your family and home including trash bags, laundry detergent, and diapers, just to name a few!

Right now Seventh Generation is working to make a positive change in our nation, by hosting the Million Baby Crawl. From their site, “Babies everywhere are crawling to Washington and saying “no” to toxic chemicals found in household products. Join the crawl and help Seventh Generation, maker of naturally safe and effective household products, demand change! Join the crawl. Learn more here about what action Congress could take to help keep toxins out of our homes and away from our babies. I love supporting organizations that are working for the greater good, so I was really glad to read about this campaign. Way to make an impact, Seventh Generation!

Buy It!: There are so many reasons to give Seventh Generation a try. If the frugalista in you needs some convincing, check out the coupons they offer on their site! Take the plunge, I know you will be satisfied and you’ll make the earth smile in the process!

EDIT: Giveaway closed

Win It!: Seventh Generation wants to help you and your home go green by offering a Healthy Home Kit to one very lucky Stuff Parents Need reader (a $38.99 value)! The contest will run until Sunday, April 4th 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: Of all the great products that Seventh Generation offers, which one do you want the very most, and why?

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 and leave a url where I can find it
4. Subscribe to Seventh Generation’s blog
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
6. Follow Seventh Generation on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Become a Fan of Seventh Generation on Facebook
8. Tell me something you learned while checking out the ideas behind the Million Baby Crawl
9. Join the Seventh Generation Nation and include a link to your profile in your bonus entry
10. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

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