review - Stuff Parents Need

Custom Ink Stamps: PJ Greetings

February 24, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 73 Comments

Thanks to Darah’s involvement in play gym, where the children get their hands stamped at the end of the session, we have been introduced to the world of stamps and just how much fun they can be. I think that Darah may find a few stamps in her Easter basket this year, and those will be great to use any time we are drawing and coloring.

Custom Ink Stamps

Darah also has a new stamp that is a bit more special. It is from PJ Greetings, and it is a stamp with her name on it. We LOVE it! The image to the right gives you a sense for what it looks like, but I’m not keen on sharing Darah’s last name here, so you won’t be able to see the actual stamp (sorry!). We asked for it to just have her name on the top and bottom (no address since we are renting our current home and won’t be here forever). And we had it done in purple. Customizing the stamp was a total breeze!

I am NOT a crafty person, but I have still found several uses for Darah’s stamp, so far. I received notice of two Valentine’s parties that Darah would be attending, and found myself needing to make around 20 Valentines. I didn’t want to go purchase Valentine cards, and thought that we could turn the task into a project (*gulp*). I got out some index cards and wrote, “Happy Valentine’s Day!” on them (0riginal, I know). I then found two sets of stickers that Darah would put on the cards to make them more fun. I had some Disney stickers and I also had some stickers with pink roses on them. I helped her remove the stickers, and then just let her put them where she wanted. Most of them were on top of the card message, but I didn’t care, and I suspect the 1 year old recipients didn’t care, either! Then we got out the crayons and Darah colored a bit on each card. Finally, we turned the card’s over and wrote each child’s name on them, and then wrote from: and put Dararh’s new stamp there. The stamp looked fantastic!

I have also used the stamp as a “seal” on the back of a letter. Darah has some personalized cards, and we used one to send a note to a brand new cousin. The stamp on the back of the card looked great! I also plan to use the stamp to mark on the inside of some of her favorite books. I won’t mark on all of them because she probably isn’t going to keep all of her childhood books all of her life, and it will be nice to pass on those books to other people. As Darah gets older, the stamp will come in handy for times when she brings books to school or over to a friend’s house, though.

PJ Greetings is unlike any other stamp store I know of. Their stamp selection is HUGE and the possibilities for customization are almost endless. They have over 300 designs and 8 ink choices. These make an awesome housewarming gift for the family who just bought a new home. They are also wonderful for anyone who likes to make things and/or give gifts. The stamps can also be address labels and “property of” labels. Definitely peruse their options and see what you could use a PJ Greetings stamp for in your home.

Each stamp comes packaged in a pink organza bag with a stamped gift tag, so they come ready to go to that birthday party! Proofs of the stamp are emailed to the customer, and once you give them your stamp of approval (ha ha) they will typically ship within 2 days, so the turnaround, especially for the item being customized, is quite fast!

Buy it!: Most of the customized stamps at PJ Greetings are $39.95, and have enough ink in them to be used over 30,000 times, which is 3 times the amount of most other stamps. If you think strategically, you can create a stamp that will grow with your child and that can be used for years! Also….I have a coupon code for 20% off your purchase! Just use code TOMOSON at checkout! Hooray!

Win it!: One Stuff Parents Need reader will get a custom stamp of your choice from PJ Greetings! The contest will run until March 6th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to 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: PJ Greetings wants to be friends on Facebook, so please “like” them for your first entry!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Since you already liked PJ Greetings on Facebook, post your favorite stamp design on their Facebook wall and come back here to tell me you did for your next entry! Woo hoo!
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need by Google Friend Connect

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the side bar of my home page.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Kids Yoga DVD: Storyland Yoga

February 23, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

It has now become a daily occurrence for Darah and me to practice kids yoga: specifically, we rock out her favorite animal yoga poses. Currently, she is fond of the snake pose (cobra) and downward dog (which she sometimes turns into a somersault!). I’m absolutely thrilled that Darah has started to practice yoga, all thanks to the poses being presented to her as various animals.

Kids Yoga DVD

I’ve been wondering about how to take our posing game to the next level, and I think I have found the solution! There’s a dvd called Storyland Yoga
. It has two yoga exercise routines on it (each roughly 20 minutes), and it is specifically designed for children ages 3-8. The yoga sessions are each in the context of a story. One is called Save the Whale and the other is called Condor Trek. The dvd shows children and the adult story teller becoming actively involved in the story being told, all thanks to yoga. While Darah is still a little too young to follow along, I can tell she is already interested in watching other kids doing yoga poses, so it won’t be too long before she’s going to want to join in, too.

I love that Storyland Yoga brings the world of imagination to my living room, and shows just how much fun it can be to practice yoga! I think this will be a great tool for bonding and for exercise for Darah and me to do together!

Playful Planet is the company behind this dvd, and their website is a treasure chest of great resources for anyone interested in learning more about why introducing yoga to kids is a good idea! Definitely check their site out.

Buy it!: Storyland Yoga is available on Amazon for $14.99. It’s a wonderful thing to have on hand. But don’t just take my word for it…check out all the great reviews it has on Amazon!

Review product received free of charge. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.

Creating Rituals With Your Children (Earth Mama Angel Baby GIVEAWAY!!!)

February 21, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 67 Comments

Darah and I have created some rituals that we do on a daily or weekly basis, and these rituals are very important to us both. They help us bond, they help us gauge the time of day and they provide us with something special that is just for us two.

One example is that every Friday we paint our toes. First I paint Darah’s with her Piggy Paint, and then I paint my own. She selects the colors for us both to wear. She takes this event VERY seriously. Another ritual that we have is her nap ritual. There’s an order to putting this kid down, and I won’t go into all the details, but one crucial step is that she must be kissed in between when she is picked up and when she is laid down in her crib. She is quite aware of this, and puckers her lips, even if she is in melt down mode. And it is such an important moment for me, because even if I am at my wits end with her (which is sometimes the case by nap time) we have a moment where I am very quickly reminded that she is my little love and my world.

Over the last few weeks we have developed a new ritual: lotion time. We’ve been using the Angel Baby Lotion from Earth Mama Angel Baby and Darah is a HUGE fan of it. When I squirt out the lotion, I have to make a certain noise that I just can’t seem to write down (it’s more of a noise than a sound, I think), and Darah does it, too. Then we smell the lotion on my hands. She loves the smell, which is the same smell as the Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash that we reviewed last month (orange and vanilla…yum!). Then I apply it to her legs and then her arms. Darah likes to talk about how it is, “cool, cool” (meaning that is is cold). And then she takes the pump and pretends to put lotion on her Elmo, Grover and Bunny. That’s pretty much how the ritual goes. Oh yeah, and we do this during morning potty time, and sometimes during potty time right before bed. But ALWAYS during potty time. Sheesh! Little ones really value structure and predictability. The first time I put lotion on her, she was on the potty. And I suppose I did what I listed out above. And the rest is history. Darah remembered it all for the next time!

The Angel Baby Lotion is doing a great job of keeping Darah’s skin moisturized during the dry winter months. Before we go this, I was really at a loss about what to do. I could tell she needed lotion, but I didn’t feel comfortable about putting any of my products on her…there were just too many chemicals that I couldn’t even pronounce! This is not a worry I have with Earth Mama Angel Baby products. I know they use the very best and safest ingredients!

Buy it!: Earth Mama Angel Baby skincare products are all currently 25% off, which makes this lotion just $8.21. Woo hoo!

How to Clean Your Computer Screen Safely

February 20, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 46 Comments

A while back I reviewed a great product that answerd the question of how to clean glasses and keep them scratch-free. I love my Brilliant Lenses cleaner and would recommend it to anyone. That’s why I was delighted to have the opportunity to review another product by the same company.

Check out the Brilliant Screen Cleaning Wipes. These wipes are specifically designed for products like your cell phones and computers. Have you taken a close look at yours lately? They are most likely totally gross. I know mine were! The wipes come in a package of 5, and this is what I cleaned with 1 wipe:

One large desktop computer screen
One large laptop computer screen
One iPad screen
Two iPhone screens

That’s 5 things! And every single item on that list was D-I-R-T-Y! They got cleaned a week ago and they are all still nice and shiny. I estimate that a package of Brilliant Screen Cleaning Wipes, which is just $3.99, will last me 5-7 months. Not so bad for all the use I can get out of one wipe!

Brilliant Screen Cleaning Wipes can easily and safely remove dust, dirt, finger prints and makeup while leaving behind SR-8, which is an invisible, durable barrier that will protect the screen from scratching and help guard against re-soiling.

Natural Beauty with Clairvoyant Beauty (Review)

February 19, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

I have been on the hunt, lately, for natural beauty skincare products that only contain ingredients that are needed. No extra chemicals, please! I found such a company, and I have a very interesting story about how using these products changed my mind about my least favorite vegetable on earth: the cucumber.

Clairvoyant Beauty is all about giving your skin the best. From their site, “We believe that what you feed your skin is just as important as what you feed your body so our products our 100% natural and organic, paraben-free, with no chemical preservatives and no synthetic fragrances.” I turned 30 several months ago, and I really had an epiphany that I needed to stop taking my skin for granted and get serious about taking good care of it. Basically, I realized that I wasn’t getting any younger!

When my package arrived from Clairvoyant Beauty, I was immediately struck by the beautiful packaging of the products. The bottles are beautiful and so are the boxes they come in! This makes them fabulous gift options for a girlfriend.

After opening everything up, I realized that two of the four products I was sent had cucumbers as a primary ingredients. I HATE cucumbers. I think they are completely foul. I remember thinking, “This is going to be interesting.”

The first product I started testing was their Refreshing Cucumber Facial Toner. The scent, first of all, was very light and didn’t bother me. This was surprising, because in case I haven’t made it perfectly clear, I HATE CUCUMBERS. Toner has always been something that I have skipped over in my face care routine because I have really dry skin, and I assumed that it was meant for people with oily skin. WRONG! Its purpose is to restore the pH balance in your skin (cleansers tend to throw it off) and also to help remove any excess dirt left over from the cleanser. And by the way, your cleanser WILL leave some makeup/dirt behind. Promise! I was surprised to see evidence of it on my cotton pad, but it is true! So now I use this toner every day and I love it, cucumbers and all.

The second product is one I did battle with for a while. It is the Light & Refreshing Cucumber Cream. Any guesses about what my initial problem was with this? Could it be…..CUCUMBER???? Let me say this: if you like cucumbers, as many people do, this moisturizer smells exactly like fresh cucumbers. It doesn’t smell like a chemical version of cucumbers. It is the real deal, 100%! So I’ll be honest, when I first smelled it, I almost gagged. I then stopped breathing through my nose and applied the product. The smell of cucumbers was gone in about 20 seconds. Whew! Over the next several uses, I did notice that my skin, here in the dead of winter, was staying well-hydrated all day long. But it wasn’t greasy. It was quite nice, actually. So I just kept using the product and starting to “smell” the product a little more each time. I’ve been using it for several weeks now, and I actually don’t mind the smell now, nor do I hold my breath when applying it. To say I love the smell would not be true, but it definitely doesn’t make me gag. I think what I’m realizing is that cucumbers really do have their place…not on my plate, but on my face! I can’t believe it. Seriously, you guys, I can’t even put into words how much I used to hate cucumbers. This is major progress.

The third product I tried was the Skin Firming DMAE & MSM Serum. My first thought is that this product needs a new name. I have no idea what DMAE and MSM are! Here’s what their site says, “DMAE is a powerful nutrient that extends the life of cells. stimulates the facial muscles to contract. this gives it a toned appearance with less sagging. MSM feeds the formation of collagen and elastin.” Good stuff! I definitely have mornings where I look in the mirror and wonder if a train ran over my face while I was sleeping. That might be a bit extreme, but I think you know what I’m talking about! This product is great for those mornings, and can really help firm up your appearance and give you a brighter look. Basically, its that youthful glow in a bottle. Two thumbs up!

Finally, I tried the Gentle and Healing Rosewater Eye Cream. Doesn’t that just sound like a dream? The smell is delicious and the cream is very soothing. This is my very first eye cream (I’m kicking myself for not starting to use eye cream at 25) and I absolutely love this. The skin around my eyes feels very soft, just like a rose petal!

Clairvoyant Beautyproducts are a perfect choice for anyone who is ready to get serious about taking care of their skin, and who wants to nix harmful chemicals from their beauty routine. These products are organic and natural, and produce great results. They even got me to admit that cucumbers actually have a purpose in this world!

Buy it!: Are you on the lookout for something truly great for your face? Clairvoyant Beauty products have what you need! Products can be purchased on Amazon.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.

Fox in Socks App is Awesome! (GIVEAWAY!!!)

February 18, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 27 Comments

What is your favorite Dr. Seuss story? Mine was Green Eggs and Ham for the longest time. But I have a new favorite….Fox in Socks. I’m particularly fond of the Tweetle Beetle Battle that happens near the end of the story. It is out of control awesome. I mean, there’s a poodle and a bottle and some noodles and some paddles…sigh…it is EPIC!

Oceanhouse Media is a company whose fabulous apps I have reviewed before. They have several Dr. Seuss books available as apps, and they are AWESOME! The stories come to life and then some, and I find the $3.99 price tag for what you get in each app to be a serious bargain. Darah has had Dr. Seuss’ ABC for several months now, and still interacts with the app on a regular basis. There’s always something new to learn!

fox in socks Fox in Socks is an absolute must for anyone who like me, appreciates this fine literary masterpiece. It is one giant tongue twister, and the narrator deserves a gold star! I also like that my own tongue can get a break from time to time and someone else can read the book to Darah, and read it perfectly! 🙂

Buy it!: Fox in Socks is available for download now for $3.99. It’s a fabulous way to really bring this book to life!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win this download! Yipee! The contest will run until February 28th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open WORLDWIDE! Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me a book you’d like to see brought to life by Oceanhouse Media (doesn’t have to be Dr. Seuss!).

My answer: Go Dogs, Go!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Oceanhouse Media on Facebook
2. Blogger love: “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

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

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

Inexpensive (but Posh!) Hostess Gift Idea

February 17, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 147 Comments

Were you raised to believe that bringing a gift over to a host or hostess of a dinner party or other gathering was good manners? I was, and I love to be able to do that. I also have a super tight budget, and have no interest in giving someone something that isn’t fabulous. You can see where the dilemma presents itself, right?

Pennywise Hostess Gift Ideas

Today I have a line of products to show you that are so perfect for these occasions, even when your funds are limited. J. R. Watkins, America’s original natural apothecary manufacturer (since 1868!) has a line of products called Gourmet Grinders
, and I love them!

They offer 4 different products in this line, all made with the finest ingredients.

Garlic Peppercorn Blend: a complex blend of whole black peppercorns with savory chunks of dehydrated garlic and spaces. Use in all savory foods that could benefit from a touch of garlic.
Four Peppercorn Blend: black for depth, white for heat, green for subtlety and pink for mild sharpness.
Whole Black Peppercorns: toasted and mild fruity flavor that will flavor all your favorite foods.
Coarse Sea Salt: harvested from ancient sea deposits, not iodized like most table salt.

Each of these products come in beautiful glass bottles, giving them a very sophisticated (and expensive!) look. I have simply left my spices on the counter because they are too beautiful to put in the cupboard. Also, by having them within striking distance of the stove, I am regularly reminded to use them during those frequent moments when the meal being prepared needs, “a little something,” and I can’t put my finger on what it is. The Gourmet Grinders have come to the rescue on multiple occasions!

J.R. Watkins really impressed me with their natural gourmet products. Based on my experience with them, I’m now eager to try some items from their other divisions such as natural remedies and natural personal care, which has products that have been approved by the Natural Products Association (quite hard to accomplish, as I understand!). I know the quality will be outstanding, and did you notice their packaging? It’s very vintage and gorgeous!

Buy it!: J. R. Watkins Gourmet Grinders are available online for just $5.99 each, making them a very affordable and very posh gift to give! Don’t forget to request a catalog…you will love the variety of products they offer!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to snag a set of the 4 Gourmet Grinders I reviewed! Yippee! The contest will run until February 27th at 11:59pm EST when a winner is 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 about a natural product that you use in your home and absolutely love. Is anything that J. R. Watkins offers catching your attention?

My answer: I’m really digging my organic coconut oil. It is very useful and better for me than butter! The item at the top of my “to try” list for J. R. Watkins is the Deep Muscle Warming Balm.

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” J.R. Watkins on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS or email

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

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

Personalized Shirts From Luna B. Tee

February 16, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Personalized Shirts

It will probably not surprise you to hear that finding something with Darah’s name already on it isn’t all that easy. She’s got one of those names that requires a custom order, for sure! That’s one of many reasons that I was so glad to have the opportunity to check out Luna B. Tee, a fabulous company based in Knoxville (yay Tennessee!) that can create the perfect personalized shirt for your little love, whether she has the top baby name of the year (that would be Sophia) or something a bit more unique (like Darah!).

Luna B. Tee has taken the idea of the personalized shirt to the next level. They have an unbelievable variety of options. Check out the mouse ears shirt. I will most definitely be back to purchase this one when we go to Disney World for the first time! Or how about the personalized shirts for dolls (they will fit American Girl dolls, and other dolls that size). With help from Luna B. Tee, even the family pooch isn’t left out, and can have a personalized dog shirt.

In working with Luna B. Tee, I have found their customer service to be first rate and their turnaround time to be very quick! One of these days, I will be heading back over to Luna B. Tee for big sister shirt, but not in the super near future! 😉 I also found the shirt, itself, to be very high quality. It is that type of cotton that is ultra soft! Darah loves to wear it, and loves to look down and in the mirror at her name!

Buy it!: Luna B. Tee products are available for purchase here and the possibilities for what your shirt can look like are almost endless!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to get a $20.00 gift certificate to spend at Luna B. Tees! The contest will run until February 26th at 11:59pm EST 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: Luna B. Tee wants to be your friend onFacebook. “Like” them for your mandatory entry and then come back here and tell me you did!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Follow Luna B. Tee on Twitter
2. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by email or RSS

Rare bonus entry option: Tell me what the perfect custom shirt for your little one would look like. It could be a Luna B. Tees design or something from your imagination!

My answer: You have seen Darah’s perfect Luna B. Tees shirt already, but if I could dream up a shirt for her, it would have all of her “night night” buddies on it (Bunny, Llama, Elmo and Maggie).

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my homepage.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

My Baby Clothes Boutique $25 GIVEAWAY!!!

February 15, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 71 Comments

I don’t know about you, but blogs are one of my primary resources for finding out about fantastic online shopping resources. I’ve gotten so many good deals and found so many wonderful companies and sites thanks to bloggers talking about them! I always like to return the favor when I can, so today I’m highlighting a store that I fell in love with because of their tutus, but what they have to offer goes far beyond that: My Baby Clothes Boutique.

This is my go-to site for super adorable clothes (think of the baby clothes that are perfect for pictures, special occasions, or just for the sheer fun of it!). Some of my favorite items are their baby headbands, and this onein particular.

If I had $25 to spend at My Baby Clothes Boutique, I think what I would get the Welcome Home Layette for my brother and sister-in-law’s first baby. It will still be a few more weeks before we know if it will be pink or blue! 🙂 What would you get if you had $25 to spend? I ask because you have a chance to…

Win it!: My Baby Clothes Boutique loves Stuff Parents Need readers, and is offering up one $25 gift certificate to a lucky winner! The contest will run until February 25th at 11:59pm EST when a winner is 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: Two things: My Baby Clothes Boutique wants to be Facebook friends, so like them and I want to be friends, too, so also like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook. Like us both, and then come back here and leave just one comment stating that you did!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Follow My Baby Clothes Boutique on Twitter

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Google Friend Connect

Rare bonus entry opportunity: Send out a tweet about this giveaway and post your tweet url (limit one tweet per contest)

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

Disclosure: I am earning credit in the My Baby Clothes Boutique Fashion Consultant program for hosting a giveaway. All the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.