Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

I’ve Got a Special Valentine’s Gift Just for You (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Happy Valentine’s Day to you, my lovely readers! Do you love or loathe Valentine’s Day? I’m a fan, but that’s just because my husband and I started dating on Valentine’s Day (I know, barf) and several years later, I bought my wedding dress on Valentine’s Day (I know, double barf). We actually don’t really do the whole “go out to eat, get a box of chocolates, get some flowers” thing on February 14th, but we do try to go out to eat the week of (on the 13th, if possible) and enjoy a quiet meal in a usually un-crowded restaurant!

And as for flowers, I’m the kind of gal who wants flowers, for sure, but I want them to be a total surprise. So a random Thursday in September would be good for me! 😉

1-800-flowers.com knows that as fabulous as flowers are to give and receive, there are other gifts out there that can be just as much, if not more meaningful. They have put out a great book called Celebrating Love: Share, Remember, Cherish. It contains beautiful real life love stories for you to enjoy. Interspersed throughout the books are great quotes and little-known facts about love and affection. If your Valentine is a book lover, or if you know someone who is getting married, this really does make the perfect gift!

Win it!: One Stuff Parents Need reader is going to get a copy of Celebrating love: Share, Remember, Cherish! The contest will run until February 24th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner 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 about what you are doing today or this week to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

My answer: Tonight Tim and I are going to eat popcorn and watch a movie together. Work can wait until tomorrow!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: 1-800-Flowers.com has a fabulous giveaway happening online. Simply “like” the bouquet you’d most like to win here, and someone is going to win it! Woo hoo! Come back after you did this and leave me a comment for an additional entry to this contest. (I picked this one, by the way)

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter!

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

$65 CSN Stores GIVEAWAY!!!

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It seems like the entire country has been having some crazy weather this winter. Places that NEVER get snow are getting lots of it, dry places are seeing record amounts of rain, and we are all freezing our buns off! I have to tell you, I’m not really a fan of summer, but I sure am craving some warm temps right about now! Tim has been taking Darah to the local park lately, and even in the cold weather, she has wanted to stay and play for a really long time! It has taken me by surprise, and prompted me to do a bit of searching into backyard swing sets. I’m curious to hear from you: do you have a swing set in your back yard? Do you just go to the local park? Do you do a bit of both? I’m not sure what the right answer is for us…

Whether you need a swing set or a set of tools for your little one, CSN Stores has got you covered! They have over 200 stores and pretty much everything you need to outfit your home, end to end! I’ve been shopping with them for a while now, and have always been impressed with their speed, quality and customer service! CSN Stores is fast becoming one of the first places I look when searching for an item online. More often than not, they have just what I’m looking for!

Win it!: CSN Stores would like to offer one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a $65 credit to any of their 200+ stores! You can even purchase items from multiple stores in one simple transaction! Woo hoo! The contest will run until February 23rd 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 and Canada. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: This contest is for Stuff Parents Need subscribers only, so for your first entry, you must subscribe to this blog via RSS or email and then leave a comment letting me know you did. If you already subscribe, thank you! Just leave a comment below saying so!

Additional entries:
1. Follow CSN Stores on Twitter
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Google Friend Connect (found on the sidebar of my home page)

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

Disclosure: I received nothing in exchange for hosting this giveaway. I just love CSN Stores and my readers!

Revisiting Kirkland’s: What a Surprise!

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One of the reasons that I love doing product reviews is that it occasionally gives me the opportunity to give a company that I had a negative view of another chance. Sometimes those opinions I have are based on poor customer service, sometimes on inferior products, and sometimes they are strictly based off childhood memories.

This is the case for Kirkland’s. Kirkland’s is a home decor store that has been around since 1966, and has 303 stores in 29 states. Growing up, we had a Kirkland’s in a nearby town. I always wanted to poke my eyes out when we went in there. In my memory, it looked like the world’s tackiest grandmother threw up all over that store. I know, that’s a really harsh thing to say. But that’s what I remember, and as a result, I haven’t even been inside a Kirkland’s in maybe 10 years, or so, because I have always assumed that they wouldn’t have anything at all that I would like.

The joke’s on me, people, because it turns out that Kirkland’s has some seriously surprising finds, and at price points that are totally doable. Now I’m not saying that I am head-over-heels about every single thing on their website. I sense that they still have a certain percentage of customers with an eye for the “whimsical,” but they also have a lot of stuff that I would LOVE to see in my own house. Kirkland’s seems to offer a really nice variety of home decor items for a whole range of tastes, including mine.

For example, I was sent an insulated lunch tote that I think is really cute. I like that it is feminine and fun without being obnoxious or too girly. It is perfect for Darah to use for her lunches when at daycare, and at the same time, I wouldn’t mind packing my own lunch in it. It’s also value priced at just $9.99. PERFECT! This is an item that is being carried only in the stores, so I would have never found it if I hadn’t had this opportunity! That gives me the impression that I’m missing out on some good stuff, and now I’ve located the nearest Kirkland’s to me, and am planning a visit there soon.

But they also have LOTS of lovelies that you can browse through and buy online! This large blue pillow would look smashing in my bedroom…and it is marked down to $6.97! Total steal!

I’m also really loving this set of 6 vases that could add some subtle color most anywhere in a home. They are just $24.99 for the set!

So yeah, I’m really glad that I had the opportunity to give Kirkland’s a closer look. I’ve been missing out on some really cute stuff and some excellent deals by skipping over it. Lesson learned!

Be sure to check out My Kirkland’s, as well, where you can interact with Kirkland’s designers, get decorating ideas, and read reviews of Kirkland’s products. It’s an awesome resource!

Win it!: One Stuff Parents Need reader is going to snag a Decorative Insulated Lunch Tote from Kirkland’s! The contest will run until February 23rd 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. Click here for the official rules from Kirkland’s.

Mandatory entry: Tell me something from the Kirkland’s website that would look fabulous in your home, and where you would put it!

My answer: This storage bench would totally be invited to take up residence in my living room if I didn’t have a toddler who would take a marker to it within 15 minutes of its arrival.

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Kirkland’s on Facebook
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Google Friend Connect

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.


History Videos for Kids

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Well folks, the hits just keep coming with Scholastic! I have reviewed several fantastic stories brought to life on dvd, from classics that we already love to stories that were new to us, but now are treasured.

This month, Scholastic released two dvds that are a must-have for the budding history buff!

History Videos for Kids

First up, check out DUKE ELLINGTON…AND MORE STORIES TO CELEBRATE GREAT FIGURES IN AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s included in this dvd. Note the awesome narrators!

Duke Ellington (narrated by Forest Whitaker). A most fitting tribute to a great man who proudly celebrated the history of African-Americans, from slavery to civil rights struggles.

Ellington Was Not a Street (narrated by Phylicia Rashad). A poetic tribute about growing up amidst many of the great figures in African American History

Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of Vocal Virtuosa (narrated by Billy Dee Williams). The dramatic story of how Ella got her sound, on the way to a most remarkable and inspiring career.

John Henry (narrated by Samuel L. Jackson). Based on the famous African-American folk ballad, this story tells of the legendary contest between a spirited man with a hammer and a steam drill.

The second dvd is called LINCOLN AND DOUGLASS: AN AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP…AND MORE STORIES TO CELEBRATE AMERICAN HISTORY. I’ve also included a description of the stories on this dvd. Do you happen to see one James Earl Jones listed below as a narrator? Oh heck yes!

The Pilgrims Of Plimoth When the Pilgrims set out for America they brought with them a dream for the future.With hard work they made that dream come true.

John, Paul, George, & Ben (narrated by James Earl Jones). A humorous and factual history of five lads who grew up to become the Founding Fathers of our nation.

The Journey of The One & Only Declaration of Independence (narrated by Jeff Brooks). This witty, gritty and factual story tells all about the document that has defined American freedom for more than two centuries.

Lincoln and Douglass: An American Friendship (narrated by Danny Glover) The story of an unusual, historic friendship between two great American leaders – Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

I think both dvds are absolutely perfect additions to your dvd collection. They would also make fantastic gifts to give to an elementary school library so that hundreds of children could enjoy the stories. When I think about the ridiculous movies we used to watch on rainy days during recess, something like this would have been much more interesting and educational!

Buy it!: Both dvds are available online for $14.95 each (cheaper on Amazon!).

 

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

Monster Plush Love: The Monster Factory

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Sometimes it is hard to know which toys will become treasures to your child, and which ones will collect dust. Darah has a bunny rabbit that her PaPa (grandfather) picked up for her at a yard sale. It is a bunny, plain and simple. If I had seen it in a store it would have never jumped out at me. But it is Darah’s #1 draft pick at nap time and she cuddles on it throughout the day, as well. I’m so glad my dad got it for her; what a surprise winner it turned out to be.

Today I’m bringing you another set of toys that have become truly beloved to Darah. I have to tell you the story of how she met her buddies, Maggie and Doyle.

Monster Plush Love

Maggie and Doyle are two creatures from The Monster Factory. This is a delightful company based in Canada that has created many different monsters that want to live and play in our world. The two that decided to come live with us arrived when Darah was taking a nap. I opened them, thought they were totally precious, and then just left them in the living room, sitting on the couch, fully intending to show them to Darah later that day. Well, I forgot about them, to tell you the truth, and after Darah woke up we just went about the afternoon, having our snacks and playing in her room.

At one point, Darah toddled off into the living room to play, as she often does. She was in there for a little while and got TOO quiet. A mom knows that something is going on when the toddler goes silent. So I called for her and started to walk down the hallway to check on her. At that moment, Darah came flying out of the living room with Maggie in one hand and Doyle in the other and the look on her face was one of unsurpassed joy and excitement. It was HILARIOUS, and I’ll never forget it as long as I live! She was absolutely beside herself with her discovery! As she got closer to me, she thrust Maggie in front of me and proclaimed, “HAIR!” Yes, Maggie does have a full head of hair. Doyle…not so much.

Darah and I plopped down right in the hallway and had a good talk about her new friends. I introduced them to her, and she immediately started repeating, “Maggie!” I asked her if she wanted Maggie to live with her forever, and she said, “Yeah!” Then I asked if Doyle could also live with her forever. She hesitated a bit on that one, but then I told her that Doyle was Maggie’s best friend. She immediately nodded her head at that point. Anything for Maggie!

At this point, Maggie has made it into the sacred inner circle: the crib gang. This is the ultimate compliment that Darah can give to a toy. If it is invited to nap time, that means it is a grand supreme favorite. Congratulations, Maggie! Doyle…maybe one day you’ll get to join her! Grow some hair and that will double your odds! 🙂

Buy it!: Clearly, The Monster Factory has a new fan in our house. The creatures are just the right size for little ones and are so stinkin’ cute. These plush monsters can be purchased online!
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your very own Maggie!!!! Prepare to be overjoyed!!! The contest will run until February 21st 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: Tell me your favorite monster in the collection! Good luck narrowing it down to one!

My answer: Obviously Maggie is the front runner, and Doyle is the runner-up since they are BFFs, but if I could choose a third one to join the pack, I would go with Troy.

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” The Monster Factory on Facebook. They have super fun contests just for their fans!
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 complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

B. Toys: Toddler Gift Ideas

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B. toys is a company that continues to impress me. Are you familiar with them? I did a review of their fabulous Spinaroos blocks (which I HIGHLY recommend) back in December. Today I’m bringing you two more toys that are absolutely perfect for the “under 3” kiddos out there!

B. Toys toddler gift ideas First up, we have the B. Hug Links. These are colorful links that can all be connected together to form over a 3 foot long chain! They also make a fabulous rattling noise, which means that every link is also a fun toy by itself. Darah and I have been making necklaces for her to wear, or for her bunny to wear. The container that these links come in is also a HUGE hit. We spend lots of time putting the links in the container, and then dumping them out. The design of the container makes it very easy for Darah to tote around. It has also been designed to roll easily, which makes it perfect for when babies are working on crawling!

I have to tell you, if I had seen this in the store, I would have assumed that it was something she had outgrown and I wouldn’t have gotten it. But no! She absolutely loves them, I think especially because of the noise they make. I am actually listening to her in the background playing with them as I type this. Seriously! I think this is the perfect Valentine’s gift for babies, because it is a toy that will be played with for a few years (which is seven eternities when it comes to how long a certain toy will hold the interest of a growing baby!).

B. Toys toddler gift ideas The second toy that B. toys has recently launched is the B. Sugar Chute. We have been having an absolute blast with this! Basically, it is like a toy gumball machine. There are 3 different ways to get the balls out of the machine, which means that little ones can get a lot of great practice with fine motor skills. I’ve noticed that Darah really enjoys the process of putting the balls in the container and then seeing which one comes out when she pulls on the lever!

B. toys are truly a beacon of light on the toy aisle. This company makes high quality toys that will engage babies and toddlers in a variety of ways and that will grow with them. Plus, everything they make is adorable! They have certainly made my list of companies to shop with for my child, and also for baby showers! Their website is also lots of fun. Click on the “explore” tab, and you will see B. toys brought to life in fun, imaginary worlds!

Buy it!: B. toys are available at Target.com as well as at various stores all over the nation, as well as on Amazon! The Hugs Links retail at $14.99 and can be found in Target stores and the Sugar Chute retails at $29.99 and is currently out of stock at Target.com, but you can snag it through Amazon or Lillian Vernon!

So what do you have left to do to prepare for Valentine’s Day? Is there a B. toy you’d especially love to get for your little Valentine? The Take It Easel is on my wish list!

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

Kindermusik App and Peekaboo Forest App

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I hope you all are enjoying the app reviews I have been doing. I have been having a blast, and have really been blown away by the amazing stuff that is out there, especially for kids! Today I’m highlighting a company called Night & Day Studios. They put out all sorts of great stuff for kids and for grown ups! I had the chance to review two apps for children, and based on my experience with those, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to get any other app from them. The quality of their products is first rate.

First up, Kindermusik. If you have a child 6 or under and you have an iPhone, this might be the best $1.99 you could spend. For real. Think of this as a Pandora radio for kids. The music is playing live, so when you choose a station, you may be in the middle of a song. No big deal, though! There are 5 stations to choose from, and over 100 songs in rotation (this is something I’d like to see expanded, and I’d be willing to pay a bit more to have an even larger song selection). Each song that is played has the lyrics and a suggested activity for an adult to do with the child that relates to that song. Pretty awesome, right? They also have musical instruments that you can select and “play” during the song, which makes listening to music so much more than a passive activity! I just can’t say enough how much I love this app. I want to put Darah into a Kindermusik class, but that’s not possible right now, financially. While I don’t think an app is every bit as good as a live class, it certainly is a fantastic alternative! Thank you so much, Night & Day Studios!

The second app we reviewed is called Peekaboo Forest. Basically, it has several gorgeous illustrations of forest scenes throughout the seasons. There are hidden animals that you will see moving around a little bit. When you tap on them, they come out of hiding! In my opinions, this is a very calming app. The images are captivating, the activity is fun, but there is an air of quiet about it…it’s like you are in a forest! This is also an app that will grow with your child. Older kids can practice spelling the animal names and can also learn lessons about the seasons with this app.

Night & Day Studios is a very impressive company, and I can say with confidence that I will be making app purchases from them in the future. Do check them out and see if you agree with me!

 

Win it! Two lucky Stuff Parents Need readers will snag an app from Night & Day Studios! I will give away one Kindermusik app and one Peekaboo Forest app! The contest will run until February 20th at11:59pm 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: Tell me your child’s very favorite song!

My answer: Head and Shoulders is the front runner for Darah at the moment!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: “Like” Night & Day Studios 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: This post was written for Family Review Network &Night; & Day Studios who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Fleece Diaper Cover from Twinkletoes Diapers

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Once you get into cloth diapering and sort of get your bearings on all the different types of diapers out there, you may have a favorite type, but you will likely LOVE to try different styles and fittings, just in case you are missing out on something super cool.

Fleece Diaper Cover

fleece diaper cover Today I’m bringing you something cool that just might be new to you! Check out these fleece shorties from Twinkletoes Diapers! Yes, yes, maybe you have seen shorties before…what’s the big deal? These are side snapping!!! This means that they are extremely flexible in terms of all the ways that you can use them. They will pair well with flats, prefolds, inserts or they can be put over fitted diapers as a cover. They also have a super secure fit around the legs, if your baby tends to get leaks there.

fleece diaper cover This is the first cloth diaper item we own that is made of fleece, and we are really enjoying it. Vanessa, the owner of Twinkletoes Diapers uses Malden Mills windpro fleece, which is breathable, waterproof and will keep you warm, yet it is light enough to wear during the day, as well. Darah seems to be very comfortable in her shorties, and I really appreciate being able to lay an insert in the diaper and be on my way. Sometimes I find myself out of cloth diapers (perhaps they are all still drying, or perhaps I just haven’t gotten around the building them, yet). In any case, I find that my Twinkletoes side snapping shorties are so perfect for those situations, as I can literally throw together a diaper in 3 seconds. I can also have confidence that it will work. We haven’t had any leak issues, so far!

Vanessa also recommends these fleece shorties as potty training pants, since a toddler can pull them up and down just like underwear. As we work towards that goal, I’m so glad to have these on hand. How wonderful to find a product that is useful for diapering AND for potty training!

Buy it!: These fleece shorties are available for $14.00 and are listed in red, black and blue, but you can also email Vanessa to ask about custom color options! Woo hoo! I think these are a great buy because they work and they will be useful for your entire diapering AND potty training journey. Also remember that you are supporting a mom! 🙂
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to snag these great fleece shorties from Twinkletoes! The contest will run until February 19th 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: Show me one other thing in Vanessa’s shop that is catching your eye, and leave the link in your comment:

My answer: Look at this monster diaper! AAAAAH! So cute!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Twinkletoes Diapers on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Google Friend Connect
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 Wall Decals (Affordable!)

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There are two big reasons why I love wall decals as a means of decorating:
1. They are AMAZING tools for those of us who have absolutely zero artistic talent. I’m not just talking about whether or not we could draw a wall mural on our own, which I know few of us could do. I’m talking about those of us who don’t know how to pick out a good wall color paint or make a room just feel peaceful and inviting. Yeah, that would be me.

I’ve had a few successes in my decorating adventures, but I’ve had many more misses. Like the time I thought I was painting my living room an elegant brown, and as it turned out, I painted in purple. Had to hire people to come re-do it. UGH…

But wall decals add instant personality to walls that are begging to be brought to life. In our house in Memphis, we used them to decorate Darah’s nursery. I LOVED that nursery; it was so charming, thanks in large part to the birds and cherry blossoms on her walls.

But now we live in a different home, and we don’t own this one. This brings me to my next reason for loving decals:
personalized wall decals 2. They are perfect options for people who rent and who are extremely limited in what they are allowed to do to “personalize” their home. In our current home, for example, we would need to submit color selections for approval before being allowed to paint, and even then, it sounds like the odds would be quite slim that it would be approved. As a homeowner, I totally understand this policy. But it does leave the house feeling a bit less like “us.” Wall decals are very easy to apply, and also easy to remove when you are ready to paint, move or just change the vibe of the room.

Personalized Wall Decals

Today I’m highlighting the company A Lucky Horseshoe and their wonderful designs. They have a very extensive collection of wall decals for the horse lover, but their collections spans far beyond that, as well! As I perused the site I saw many great products that would look so great in our home. But what REALLY struck me was the prices…they are some of the very best I’ve seen!

personalized wall decals We decided to get a personalized decal set for Darah. It has her name, two monkeys and a bird on it (the bird is very reminiscent of the birds from her old nursery!). You can see it here in her bathroom. She absolutely adores those monkeys and likes to chat with them during her potty sessions (TMI? It’s true, though!). After we applied the monkeys we decided that we loved it as is and left the bird off, putting it elsewhere in her room. Would you believe that A Lucky Horseshoe offers this decal set for $14.00? I know!!!! That is a total steal!

I also want to point out that their customer service rocks. The shipping was outstanding. I’m pretty sure my order was in the mail the same day I placed it. Well done! The decals also came with detailed instructions to walk you through how to apply your purchase to the walls. If I can do it, anyone can do it! 🙂

Finally, I wanted to highlight one other thing that makes A Lucky Horseshoe a particularly fabulous find. It is owned by a 14 year old who started this business to save for college. Way to go, young entrepreneur! This teen also loves to give back, and has made 4 donations to a nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates horses from the profits of the business so far. I love a company that gives back!

Buy it!: A Lucky Horseshoe has a very impressive selection of decals and the prices are just unbeatable!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need Reader will get a $25.00 gift certificate to spend at A Lucky Horseshoe. Lucky, indeed! The contest will run until February 18th 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: Tell me What you would spend your gift certificate on at A Lucky Horseshoe!

My answer: If I had $25 to spend there, I’d go for the alphabet tree with the birds…or maybe with the monkeys!

Additional entries:
1. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter!

Rare bonus entry opportunity: Post the giveaway on your facebook status, and include a link back to the giveaway for TWO extra entries! (leave me a url to your facebook status update)

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.