giveaway - Stuff Parents Need

Follow the Divas on Twitter and Win! (Amazon GIVEAWAY!!!)

August 25, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 16 Comments

I wanted to make sure all my readers knew about this fun promotion happening with Double Duty Divas, a network I am a part of that brings together a lot of great PR friendly mommy bloggers.

Right now, you can enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card. Woo hoo!

How do you enter? It’s really quite simple. You will need to follow all the Double Duty Divas on Twitter. We’ve made following everyone very simple. Just use this link to follow all participants with one click. http://tweepml.org/Meet-the-Divas/ Then come back here and leave a comment that you have completed the above step. This is very important, and your entry won’t count for the giveaway if you haven’t left a comment!

There will be one gift card given away to one lucky follower, and I hope it is you! Good luck, everyone! The giveaway will run through 09/02!

Our Favorite Organic Shampoo for Babies: Little Twig

August 25, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 235 Comments

Bath time is totally where its at in our house. Darah LOVES to take a bath, and she comes by that honest. Tim and I are both bubble bath fanatics (hope I didn’t just embarrass you, dear).

Thanks to the power of moms talking online, I learned about organic shampoo for babies by a company called Little Twig, and they specialize in shampoo for baby and other bath products for tiny tots. Thanks to a great blog win by my little sister Laura, we’ve been using Little Twig unscented baby wash, and it has rocked! It gets her clean as can be, and there’s never been the slightest irritation. I also have had the opportunity to work with little twig, and they sent me the Happy Tangerine baby wash. HEAVEN IN A BOTTLE! The smell is amazing, and Darah seems to like it, too!
Now, I’m going to tell you, when I saw the prices for the products, I thought they were a little bit steep. They are $10 for an 8.5 oz bottle. BUT….the more I use the stuff, the more I realize that the price is actually amazing. The products are completely organic and natural (I recognize everything on their ingredient list). AND let me tell you, a little goes a long way. We are going to be using her bottle of baby wash for several (as in, probably 6) months before we run out. And we bathe Darah every 1-2 days. So $10 for baby wash that will last 6 months and that is not scary for my baby = TOTAL STEAL! They also sell the products in a 17 ounce container (with a pump…super nice) for $14.50, which lowers the cost per ounce quite a bit more!

We also had the opportunity to test out the little twig mineral sunscreen. This stuff goes on smoothly, is water-resistant and is nasty chemical-free! I’ve been very pleased every time I have put it on Darah, though I do wish the SPF was a bit higher than 30.

I also want to point out something really awesome about Little Twig. From their site, “Each month little twig chooses a charitable organization benefiting our environment and children’s issues. little twig donates 15% of the purchases you make every Wednesday to organization we have chosen.” I love it when companies actively give back. You rock, little twig!

Buy it! Overall, I’d have to say that little twig offers an incredible line of delightful and effective products that you can use without worrying about your child’s safety. I highly recommend them! You can buy Little Twig products on Amazon.

Win it!: little twig wants to give one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a $50 gift certificate to use on their site. You read that right, $50!!! That will take care of your bath and body needs for a long time! The contest will run until September 4th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. You will have 48 hours to respond to your winning notification 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 anything about bath time at your house. Is there a favorite tub toy? Favorite shampoo for baby? How often do your kids take baths? Any relevant comment will do!

Additional entries:
1. “Like” little twig on Facebook
2. Follow little twig on Twitter
3. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
4. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
5. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
6. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

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

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Go Natural Makeup Review: Apply Makeup in 30 Seconds

August 17, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 137 Comments

Did you know that I’m just about to switch from full-time worker bee to full-time stay at home mom? Oh yes, indeed! I’ve been thinking about the fact that I don’t want to stop wearing makeup just because I’m not necessarily going anywhere for the day. But I think I might have my hands rather full on some days, and won’t have time for the full makeup routine.

I’ve found a product that I think it pretty nifty, and I’m excited to tell you about it. Check out Go Natural, the all-in one cosmetic! This is a powder that is designed for most every skin type and color, and the website claims that it can replace the following makeup: concealer, foundation, blush, eyeshadow, and lipstick. Woah!

I’ve been trying out this product for a few weeks, and here are my thoughts. First and foremost, I do think that the shade of the product is a little bit tricky for people with very pale skin (and that would be me). You need to apply this product EXTREMELY lightly in order to not look a bit orange. I found that if I blend the powder a bit down my neck, that also helps. But I have to apply it so lightly that I find the overall coverage to be a bit lacking. If I had less pasty skin, I imagine that I could apply it a little bit heavier, and achieve the ideal look.

The brush that comes with the set is pretty cool. You just adjust the height of it depending on how you are using the makeup (for example, you’ll have it at its fullest point for applying foundation, and then you draw in in a little bit for blush, a little bit more for contouring, etc.). I will say that the overall quality of the bristles could use some improvement. I find that one or two bristles fall out every time I use the brush. Maybe that’s because I’m putting the makeup on so quickly? Not sure.

With that said, however, I still find the product to be useful for me. It is the product I grab when I have all of 30 seconds to throw on some makeup. I will be using this in the mornings before I go to Pilates classes (because I will be making those 6:45am classes, gosh darn it!) or if I’m running a quick errand. I’m just too much of a Southern gal to go anywhere without a stitch of makeup on, but I also don’t have time to get all dolled up every time I go anywhere. Go Natural definitely has a place in my makeup bag!

Buy it!: If you are looking to strip down your makeup routine without giving up makeup all together, Go Natural might be a great product for you. You can buy it for just under $40.00 at this website.

Win it!: One Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win Go Natural! Your makeup routine is about to get really fast! The contest will run until August 27th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected 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 selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me anything about your current makeup routine. Is there a product you can’t live without? Do you care if you leave the house wearing no makeup? Anything relevant to the topic works!

Additional entries:
1. Tell me something you learned about Go Natural when perusing their site.
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
3. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
4. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
5. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

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

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Tissue for Kids: I Recommend Boogie Wipes

August 15, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 117 Comments

Long gone are the days when Darah would patiently wait for me to wipe her nose. I think that stopped around 5 or 6 months of age, actually. Now, every boogie wiping session is a showdown between the two of us. She always works really hard to avoid the tissue, and I work twice as hard to try to wipe off her nose and face before she screams bloody murder (and scream she does, my friends). It really make the process horrible for me. But did you know that a serious pet peeve of mine is to see children with snotty/runny noses?! I can’t stand it! I am slightly more empathetic to parents of snot-faced kids now, because I see how hard it is to wipe their noses, but still, it absolutely unnerves me. Someone needs to make a tissue for kids!

Fortunately, there’s a product on the market that I think is really effective at making the most of the 1/2 second that your child will allow you to touch his/her face with a tissue. You’ve probably already heard of Boogie Wipes, because word is getting out about how great they are, but if not, let me tell you about them!

These are no ordinary tissues with a clever name. They are extra soft wipes made with a saline solution that quickly and effectively dissolves mucus so that you can quickly get it off your child’s face or dislodge it from their noses. And if that statement just grossed you out,what can I say? Welcome to parenthood. I have found these wipes to be my very best weapon in my arsenal as I fight snot and boogies on a daily basis. I have to admit, I was skeptical of this product at first, but now that I’ve tried it, I’m sold!

Buy it!: Boogie Wipes come in a 30 count resealable flex pack with a flip top lid. You can find them at retailers nationwide .

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to score a Boogie Wipes gift pack! The contest will run until August 25th at 7:59pm 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 entry per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me the Boogie Wipes product you would most like to try!

Additional entries:
1. Follow Boogie Wipes on Twitter
2. “Like” Boogie Wipes on Facebook
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
5. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
6. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
7. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

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

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

Kayla Town Square Bag Review

August 12, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

I have had the pleasure of working with eBags in the past and I’m thrilled to be bringing you another fantastic product from their line.

So one thing I’ve learned as a parent of a young child is that a highly functional diaper bag is a must. It is often worth forking over a little extra dough to get all the bells and whistles that you will actually use (such as a built in changing pad or compartments to separate your diapering supplies from your spare outfits.). But here’s the thing about diaper bags: they are the tote equivalent of a bridesmaid dress.

Scratching your head on that one? Just think about it…the vast majority of diaper bags are just that. Diaper bags. You can try to convince yourself that they will live on as every day totes long after your babies have outgrown the need for a diaper bag. But you are just fooling yourself. Just like that champagne satin gown you wore in your cousin’s wedding, try as you may, there’s no denying that it is what it is, and you won’t be chopping it off and wearing it to any cocktail parties (as if you attend those, anyway). And in the case of the diaper bag, it will be relegated to your attic, because it is what it is, which is a diaper bag, and nothing more. Sigh…

Oh eBags, how you tug at my heart with your novel designs. Check out the Kayla Town Square Bag. It isn’t a diaper bag at all, only it has all the functionality that you would require from a diaper bag (minus the changing pad). It is my new crush, and we spend a lot of time hanging out together. True love!

Tim wanted to be the one to give you the lowdown on all the great features, so check out his video review below!

Did you catch the part about the yoga mat holder? SO AWESOME!

Buy it!: You are not going to believe this: The Kayla Town Square Bag is currently on sale in 3 shades for $34.99. What a steal!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need Reader will win their very own Kayla Town Square Bag in your choice of available colors ! The contest will run until August 22ndat 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before it is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Limit one entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory entry: Tell me what you love the most (or what you like the least!) about your current diaper bag.

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)
4. Follow eBags on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
5. “Like” eBags on Facebook
6. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
6. Post the url to one other item that eBags sells that you covet

Be sure to enter my other giveaways, located on the sidebar of my home page.

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

Okee Dokee Brothers Take it Outside Review

August 9, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 58 Comments

I have always loved music. My father sang professionally for a long time, and still books gigs with his band a handful of times each year. On any given day, I’ll usually have some song running through my head, and you’ll likely overhear me humming it (or if I think nobody can hear me, I’ll just go ahead and belt it out!).

Darah is making music a central part of my life right now, because she LOVES it. Can I just tell you how hilarious it is to watch her dance back and forth to the beat?! She gets a huge grin on her face, and sometimes even claps when the music comes on.

One cd that has been getting some playtime on our Itunes lately is Take It Outside, the latest album from The Okee Dokee Brothers. From the press release, “Take It Outside does continue the magic, capturing one full day of childhood, from waking up for a little “Bluegrass for Breakfast” to hitting the hay at night with “Sweet Dreams.” Mailander and Lansing blend a little bit of country, quite a bit of bluegrass, and add in pop and funk influences for good measure.” As we get geared up for our move to Chattanooga (oh yeah…have I mentioned that???), these tunes put us in the right frame of mind! 🙂

I would summarize this album as good old fashioned fun set to music. It is lighthearted and upbeat and it definitely helps round out Darah’s growing collection of artists who are geared toward children but are still quite musically diverse in terms of their sounds! Take it Outside was released on August 3rd, and it is definitely worth a listen. Check it out here, and if you like what you hear, you can get the whole album for $12.97 or get the mp3s for just $9.99. That’s a sweet deal! It is also available now on Amazon.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need Reader will win a brand spankin’ new copy of Take it Outside by the Okee Dokee Brothers! The contest will run until August 19th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before it is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Limit one entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory entry: What was your favorite game to play outside when you were a kid?

Additional entries:
1. Follow The Okee Dokee Brothers on Twitter
2. “Like” The Okee Dokee Brothers on Facebook
3. Tell me your favorite Okee Dokee Brothers video of the ones shown here
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
5. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
6. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
7. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

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

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Hooded Towels for Kids with Amy Butler Designs

August 8, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 147 Comments

Several months ago, I featured a delightful shop called Ahmelie because they carry swaddling blankets that are not only beautiful, but also actually large enough for use ( a traditional receiving blanket is WAY too tiny…check out my post on large swaddling blankets for more info on that topic).

I’m pleased to be bringing you another fabulous find from Ahmelie. This one is perfect to wrap your little toddler in after bath time! Check out her drop dead gorgeous hooded towels! Have you ever in your life seen such beautiful bath sheets???

Ahmelie sent us the Organic Watermelon towel, made with material by Amy Butler. Tim was with me when I opened it, and he audibly swooned when he saw it. This guy is not so easily impressed, but I’m telling you, he was boderline gushing. The colors are bold, bright and beautiful, and such a nice break from the pastel pink that has taken over our home. The towel is also one of those REALLY good ones. You know…huge, super soft, and very absorbent.

This towel measures 31″ x 56″, so it is great for her to use now at the beginning of her toddler years, but is large enough that she’ll still be using it probably until she’s old enough to think it isn’t cool to have a hooded towel (maybe 9? I dunno…). Ahmelie has a wonderful selection of hooded towels, with prices starting at just $19.00. These make a really awesome gift for a toddler or child! And let me just be honest…I wouldn’t mind having one in my size. Just sayin’.

Bottom line, Ahmelie has a tremendous selection of beautiful and functional gifts for babies, toddlers and even hip moms (I am totally coveting this coffee cuff and this checkbook cover). Check out the shop today; you are sure to find something you’ll love! Ahmelie also has a shop at Big Cartel, and you can get 10% off there by using promo code STUFFPARENTS10.

Win it!: Ahmelie wants to help celebrate Darah’s birthday by giving one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a hooded towel from currently listed selection. Sweet! The contest will run until August 18th at 7:59pm 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 drawn. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Ahmelie wants to be friends…facebook friends, that is! “Like” Ahmelie on Facebook and come back here and tell me you did so for your mandatory entry!

Additional entries:
1. Tell me your favorite Ahmelie item.
2. Follow Ahmelie on Twitter
3. Subscriber to Ahmelie’s blog
4. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email, or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways.
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

Be sure to check out my other current giveaways, listed on the sidebar of my home page.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. 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.

Party Favors I Actually Love: Custom Art Chalk

August 6, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 66 Comments

I’m starting to realize that part of the culture of children’s birthday parties includes party favors. I think when I was little, I would occasionally go to a birthday party where we could go home with a pencil and some stickers (actually, I distinctly remember getting one of those funky mechanical pencils that was glittery and thinking that it was the greatest party EVER). But I think the bar has been raised a bit, and now parents are left scrambling to find favors that won’t disappoint. I find this very strange, and I hope that I don’t fall into that mindset when Darah gets a little bit older and starts to have birthday parties with guests.

I don’t mind sending kids home with a little something fun, but I’m totally not interested in loading them up with plastic crap (which is what the affordable favors are) or with spending a lot of money just in impress the kids and/or their parents (and also give them anxiety about what they will have to buy for favors when it is their child’s party).

I found an Etsy store that has a PERFECT solution for the favor dilemma. Check out The Chalk Shop! Mel is an awesome mom who runs this store out of her smoke-free home. She started out making art chalk for her 21 month old daughter, and then she learned how to make the chalk in all sorts of different shapes. This makes for unique chalk pieces that are so much fun. They are fun to look at, fun to play with (what kid doesn’t LOVE chalk?), and they are reasonably priced, so that you don’t bust your party budget!

Mel enjoys working with her customers to make the perfect shapes and colors to meet you needs. I actually found the store in February when I was looking for the perfect gift for one of my nieces. At the time she was really into trains and she also liked chalk. Well, The Chalk Shop happened to offer chalk in the shape of trains. PERFECT!!! If you have an idea for a chalk design, send Mel a convo through Etsy and she’ll let you know if she can make it happen! It takes two weeks for custom orders to be shipped, as they need adequate time to dry before shiping.

Mel can also wrap up the chalk into beautiful little packages, which makes them perfect to hand out as favors. They are also gift-ready for any other special occasion!

Buy it!: I highly recommend The Chalk Shop as a go-to resource for party favors and stocking stuffers. Mel can help you come up with something perfect for you at a price that will make you smile! Each piece is just over $1! Hard to beat, I think!

Win it!: Mel sent me a delightful set of flower chalk (3 pieces of chalk, total), beautifully wrapped, for one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader! The contest will run until August 16th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email 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 your thoughts on party favors for kids. Do you provide them for your parties? Are they fun or do they stress you out? Any comment related to the topic will work!

Additional entries:
1. Add The Chalk Shop to your etsy favorites
2. “Like” The Chalk Shop on Facebook
3. Give Mel a suggestion for a chalk shape
4. Subscribe/follow Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
6. If you are a blogger (wrote a post in the last 3 months) add my button to your site and leave the url so I can see it.

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.