pannaz review - Stuff Parents Need

Reusable Bags for Kids

August 31, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 152 Comments

Brandi, the brains behind an Etsy shop I love (Pannaz), has brought us several super cute products over the past few months, including her reusable nursing pads, her custom soft-soled shoes, and her amazing pillowcase dresses. She has outdone herself once again! Check out these adorable reusable bags!

reusable bags for kids in sesame street print Darah will be toting these to Parent’s Day out for the next few years, and they will also be going with her to preschool and kindergarten! The velcro is sturdy, but not too difficult for little hands to open.

I am especially keen on the size and shape of the snack bags Brandi makes. They are short, but also long, which means they will hold things like string cheese very well. They are also the perfect container for some grapes or the ever-popular goldfish. The sandwich bag can hold…you guessed it…a sandwich! It is also perfect for pretzels, potato chips, large crackers or carrot sticks.

Darah with reusable bags for kids The very first day I used them, I had some milk spill on to the bag while we were en route to daycare. I was so sure that the snacks I had put inside would be wet, but they were completely dry! I was surprised, and so pleased!

There are many great reusable bags on the market these days, and the ones Brandi sells at Pannaz are truly perfect for your little ones. The fabric is adorable, the size is just right and they keep messes at bay with their waterproof inner lining. I’ve also washed them several times and they are holding up just beautifully. I’d recommend these to anyone who is sending sending a child to daycare or school with a packed lunch.

Buy it! Pannaz has a few different styles to choose from, but if you are looking for certain colors or patterns, just send Brandi a convo and she can work with you to create a custom set. The sandwich and snack bag combo set is a reasonable $12.00!

Edit: This giveaway is now closed

Win it!: Just in time for the new school year, one lucky reader is going to snag a matching sandwich and snack bag in your choice of available fabrics. Yipee! The contest will run until September 11th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be drawn using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is drawn. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me about snacks in your house. What does your family munch on in between meals?

Additional entries:
1. “Like” Pannaz on Facebook
2. Add Pannaz to your Etsy favorites
3. Suggest something for Brandi to make and offer in her shop.
4. . Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need via email, RSS or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
5. If you are a blogger (must have written a post in the last 3 months) add my button to your blog roll and send me a link so that I can see it
6. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
7. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways (listed on the sidebar of my main page).

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

The Birthday Suit is Best….But This is a Close Second

August 7, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 171 Comments

It is DANG hot here in Memphis. When we are at home, I often let Darah spend a fair amount of the day just in her (cloth!) diaper. I know that helps her stay cool and she seems to like it. Of course, there are occasions that demand clothing. What is a good solution that will cover up my child but that will also breathe well?

One of my favorite Etsy shop owners, Brandi (of Pannaz fame), has a solution. She makes pillowcase dresses that are extremely functional during the hot months. They are also unbelievably cute. Darah stays cool when she has hers on, and she looks fabulous!

The dress is really easy to slip on and off, and so far, Darah hasn’t squirmed too much whenever I’m tying the bows on her shoulders. She only pulled at it once, so it is proving to be not too big of a temptation (thank goodness!).

Darah is really big into crawling right now, which can make dress-wearing a challenge. Fortunately, Brandi makes these dresses short enough that Darah can scoot around with ease when she has hers on. It is a wardrobe winner, for sure. Also, the fabric that is used is so bright and cheerful! Today is Darah’s birthday, and this is the dress she is wearing, because it is so festive-looking.

Buy it!: Pannaz has so many cute things for sale (at VERY reasonable prices). Check out the shop to see what you can’t resist (I be you’ll find something). These adorable pillowcase dresses are only $15 (that’s such an awesome deal for a dress that is handmade with love!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to snag a pillowcase dress from Pannaz. The contest will run until August 17th at 7:59 CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be contacted 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. Limit one entrant per household, please.
Mandatory entry: Tell me the pillowcase dress you like the very best in Brandi’s shop!

Additional entries:
1. “Like” Pannaz on Facebook
2. Add Pannaz to your Etsy favorites
3. Suggest something for Brandi to make and offer in her shop.
4. . Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need via email, RSS or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
5. If you are a blogger (must have written a post in the last 3 months) add my button to your blog roll and send me a link so that I can see it
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
6. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways (found on the sidebar of my main page).

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here 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)

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.