etsy store - 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.

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.

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.

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.

Pacifier Clips: No More Destroying My House!

December 15, 2009 · by Tiffany Merritt · 52 Comments

My baby is really serious about her pacifier. She has always been a baby who has needed to suck in order to comfort herself, and I quickly lost interest in serving as her personal pacifier. As soon as we got the green light from our pediatrician to give her a binky (at 2 weeks) we did!

Darah is now 4 months old. She is learning how to grab things, which is absolutely precious. She seems to be especially fond of grabbing her pacifier, taking it out of her mouth, and dropping it somewhere. Usually, within minutes she is crying for it, but she doesn’t yet know how to locate it and pop it back in her mouth. Tim and I are CONSTANTLY roaming around the house looking for lost binkies. We decided that we either needed to purchase 10 pacifiers and place them all over the house, or we needed to get something that could help hold her pacifier in place (a cheaper and more logical choice, obviously).

I found some ridiculously cute pacifier clips at the Etsy store Freakie Toes (don’t you love that name?!). Varinia, the shop owner, kindly sent me a clip to try out on Darah and review for you. I received the clip pictured on the right (cute packaging, right?). There are many pacifier clips on the market, but here’s what I particularly love about the clips from Freakie Toes. First, the snap on attachment works with both popular styles of binkies. You can snap it around a pacifier that has a hook on it, or you can snap it around the base of a pacifier that doesn’t. Darah has rejected every pacifier out there except for MAM, and they don’t have the hooks on them. This made finding a pacifier clip very difficult. But the clips from Freakie Toes totally work!

The second thing I really like about these clips is that they are downright lovely. I’ve seen many pacifier clips that can get the job done, but they are so unfortunate looking that they can make the cutest outfit look a bit sad. This just won’t do for my little doll. The flower that serves as the attachment piece is absolutely precious! Notice that is has a little rhinestone in the middle, too! Darah’s pacifier clip is basically a little brooch, and it adds to the cuteness factor of whatever she wears.

Freakie Toes has several clips to choose from on their site, and if you want to customize the color of the ribbon, that can be done. This especially great for anyone who dresses their little ones in colors beyond the traditional pinks and whites. Varinia also has some really cute beaded clips for sale if you aren’t interested in having the flower on the clip, or if you just want something different and fun! Either clip sells for $9.00. Trust me when I say that if you don’t have a pacifier clip, you’ll spend way more than $9.00 replacing pacifiers as they get lost!

Buy It!
Freakie Toes has precious and practical gifts for any little one who loves a binky (and the parents will enjoy it, too!). These clips would be perfect stocking stuffers or would be appreciated at your next baby shower. For the week of the contest, Freakie Toes is offering a 10% discount (less shipping) to all of my readers. Simply convo Varinia with what you want to purchase and she can make a custom listing for you with the adjusted price (don’t forget to tell her that you are a Stuff Parents Need reader).

Win It!
One very lucky parent is going to snag a pacifier clip for his/her little one! This contest will run until December 21st at 7:59pm CST. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments or have it listed in your profile. The winner will be selected via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to the winning notification. Open to residents of the U.S.

How to Enter:
Mandatory entry: Head over to Freakie Toes and tell me if you would prefer a beaded pacifier clip or a flower rhinestone pacifer clip, and what colors you like best.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via email or RSS. Leave a comment with your email address for the subscription (2 entries, so leave 2 comments)
2. Make a purchase at Freakie Toes (5 entries, so leave 5 comments). Be sure to leave the email address you used when making your purchase.
3. Grab my button and add it to your blog roll (leave a url so I can find it!)
4. Follow me on Google friend connect
5. Enter my mineral makeup giveaway (listed Monday, December 14th)

Disclosure: I was sent a pacifier clip for review purposes only. No other form of compensation was received for this review, and the opinions expressed are my own.

The Lowdown on Receiving Blankets: The Key to Infant Sleep (Giveaway!)

December 5, 2009 · by Tiffany Merritt · 109 Comments

(Image from Target.com)

Before I had a child, I thought that receiving blankets (or swaddling blankets for babies) just like the ones shown to the right made the perfect gift for new parents. After all, babies like to be swaddled, right? So a receiving blanket would be an extremely useful gift!
Only now do I realize how very wrong I was. I shudder to think about how many receiving blankets I’ve given at baby showers.

You may be very confused right now. Am I saying that babies don’t like to be swaddled, and therefore, don’t need blankets? Absolutely not! Most newborns absolutely love to be swaddled, and really NEED to be swaddled to help them feel secure, especially during the first 3 months of life (my little one is days away from being 4 months old, and she is still all about the swaddle). The blankets pictured above, along with the vast majority of receiving blankets you will find in stores, are simply WAY WAY WAY too small (the ones above are 30 x 30)! Darah was a smallish baby when she was born, and when we got her home we found that her receiving blankets could not contain her 6 pound 9 ounce little body. We received a homemade receiving blanket at a shower, and it was HUGE. We couldn’t imagine that we needed something that big, but in fact, it became our saving grace at nap time. Our traditional receiving blankets are sitting in her closet gathering dust while her homemade blankets are working overtime.

I haven’t really seen receiving blankets in any national chain stores that are truly big enough (edited to add, since writing this post, Amazon has started to carry some larger ones…always check the size!). But I have found a store on Etsy that makes exactly what you really need. Let me introduce you to Ahmelie. This shop carries a large selection of swaddling blankets that can actually get the job done (they measure 44 inches square for the large blankets). I was blown away by the beautiful patterns she offers. The price is outstanding, as well, starting at $11.00 per blanket. If you are expecting, I am begging you to get a large swaddling blanket like the ones at Ahmelie. If you are going to a baby shower any time soon, this would be a gift that the parents will thank you endlessly for once their bundle arrives (I promise!).

Buy it!
Ahmelie has swaddling blankets with a designer look, but without the designer pricetag. Head on over and stock up for yourselves or for your friends and family who have babies on the way! All orders come with a blank hand sewn card. BONUS: Anyone who places an order and mentions this post in their note to the seller will receive a free bib/nusring clip, which can be used to turn napkins and burp cloths into bibs or to secure a blanket in place so it can be used as a nursing cover!

Win it!
TWO lucky readers are going to win 2 swaddling blankets each of your choice from Ahmelie! Oh how I envy you! The contest will run until Sunday, December 12th at 7:59pm CST, when the winners will be chosen at random and emailed. The winners will have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected. You must include your email address in your comment or make sure it is listed in your profile! You must complete the mandatory entry in order for any subsequent entries to be counted. Open to residents of the United States.

How to Enter:
Mandatory entry: Go check out Ahmelie’s swaddling blankets. Come back here and tell me which two you would pick if you won!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via email or RSS. Leave a comment with your email address for the subscription (2 entries, so leave 2 comments)
2. Become a fan of Ahmelie on facebook (2 entries, so leave 2 comments)
3. Make a purchase at Ahmelie (5 entries, so leave 5 comments)

Disclosure: I received no product or compensation for this review and giveaway.