• Home
  • About Me
  • Policies
  • Work with Me
  • Guest Posting
Stuff Parents Need

Stuff Parents Need

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

  • Style
  • Parenting
  • Giveaways
  • The Kitchen
  • DIY Projects
  • Fun Things To Do
  • My Favorite Finds

Customized Greeting Cards (UPrinting GIVEAWAY!)

April 13, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 60 Comments

EDIT: Giveaway closed!

One of my favorite partners, UPrinting, is teaming up with me to do another awesome giveaway!

A little while back I told you about the custom stickers and labels that you can make with UPrinting, for anything from address labels to business logos that you put on your packages. I recently ordered my address labels, and I was very impressed with the customer service. They were lightning fast and helped me out when the file I submitted was the wrong size. I was very pleased with the service!

Today I want to talk about greeting cards. UPrinting can custom make greeting cards for you! How cool is that?! Perhaps you run a business and you like to send out cards to your clients during the holidays. UPrinting can help you create the perfect card, customized to your needs. No more generic boxed greeting cards for you! UPrinting also offers envelopes that can have your return address printed on them, which will save you a lot of hand cramps from writing your address 100 times, and which will look even more professional than an adhesive address label. Or perhaps you need a really nice set of thank you cards, but everything you see in the stores is either extremely boring or extremely expensive (that’s my experience, at least). Now you can get something personalized at a price you can stomach!

Today you have the chance to win a set of 50 7x 5″ (folded to 3.5 x 5″) Custom Thank You Cards with plain envelopes, including 14 pt Cardstock Gloss coating and full color outside and blank inside. Awesome! The contest will run until Saturday, April 24th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Follow me on Google Friend Connect or subscribe to my blog via email. Your first entry should be a statement that you have done so. It’s just that simple!

Additional Entries:
1. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
2. Subscribe to the UPrinting blog
3. Become a fan of UPrinting on Facebook
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
5. Tell me one other product UPrinting offers that you could use.
6. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I will receive the same greeting card package in appreciation for hosting the giveaway.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: custom thank you cards, customized thank you cards, free thank you cards, giveaway, personalized thank you cards, review, thank you card, thank you cards, uprinting, uprinting review

Ecotools Bamboo Brush Set Review

April 12, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I hate to think about the number of makeup brushes I have been through in the 15 or so years that I’ve been wearing makeup. In general, I’m just too thrifty to spend a lot of money on those brushes that they claim last forever (I think I also just don’t believe that they will really last long enough to justify the cost). However, in retrospect, I have certainly spent more than what I would have on a nice set of make up tools over the last decade or so, going from ineffective brush to ineffective brush.

ecotools bamboo brush set I was really intrigued to learn about an affordable set of makeup brushes that Alicia Silverstone has put out called EcoTools. EcoTools sent me the EcoTools 6 Piece Essential Eye Brush Set to try out and tell you all about. The brushes are distinct among all makeup brushes out there for their cruelty-free taklon bristles, recycled aluminum ferrules and bamboo handles.The 6 piece eye brush set is priced with the frugalista in mind, at $7.99. It contains a large eye shadow brush, angled crease brush, petite eye shading brush, domed highlighting brush, smudge brush and a compact cosmetic case with mirror.

There’s only one thing I don’t like about this set, and that is the hemp and cotton carrying case. I keep my makeup brushes in a cup so that they are all standing up, plainly visible, and ready for quick use. The carrying case is something that I personally would never use as it takes up quite a bit of space in my makeup bag and it only holds the eye makeup brushes, and not all of my other brushes. So that went straight to the donation pile, unfortunately. I know that some women out there like to keep their brushes in a palette, and if that’s you, then you’ll like it.

Now for what I do like about the set: the brushes! They really do a great job! I confess that I’ve never really had eye make up tools that were so distinct. I just use the same applicator for everything, which is perhaps why my eye makeup sometimes looks so boring. I was a little bit concerned that I’d quickly lose track of the purpose for each brush. Fortunately, each brush has its name on it so that I don’t have to remember! These tools do a nice job of gripping the makeup and releasing it evenly on the lids. Perhaps my favorite tool in the bunch is the smudge brush, which has enabled me to create a smoky look that I haven’t achieved before. I will say that using these brushes means spending more time on your makeup, but in my experience, the extra time pays off in the form of eye makeup that looks great!

ecotools bamboo brush set EcoTools offers some terrific instructional videos to help folks like me update their looks using these brushes. I learned several cool tricks when I watched them!

EcoTools has also joined with 1% For the Planet, which means that they donate 1% of their annual sales to environmental organizations that create a healthier place to live. I love it when a business puts its money where its mouth is as it relates to environmental stewardship. Way to go, EcoTools!

Buy It!: EcoTools are available nationwide at retailers such as Target, Walgreens and Amazon!

If you have tried EcoTools brushes, what did you think about them? Have you tried any other products from this line?

Disclosure: I was provided with product samples for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links

Filed Under: General, Style · Tagged: best eye shadow brushes, eco brushes, eco tools, ecotools, ecotools alicia silverstone, ecotools bamboo brush set, ecotools brushes, ecotools eye brush set, ecotools makeup brushes, ecotools review, eye makeup brushes, eye shadow, eye shadow applicators, eye shadow brush, eye shadow brush set, eye shadow brushes, eyeshadow blending brush, eyeshadow brush, eyeshadow brush sets, eyeshadow brushes, giveaway, make up brushes, review

Handmade Baby Shoes for Pre-Walkers or New Walkers

April 11, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 116 Comments

Recently I wrote about discovering a very cool mom named Brandi who operates a delicious little etsy store called Pannaz. I reviewed her washable nursing pads and found them to be effective, beautiful, eco-friendly and VERY kind to your wallet ($2/pair!).

baby wearing handmade baby shoes from Pannaz Today I am bringing you another review from her shop. Brandi sent me a pair of handmade baby shoes for Darah to wear. We have been loving them. Darah is exceptionally skilled at getting anything that is on her feet OFF! She hasn’t taken these shoes off once, which absolutely blows my mind. I think there are a few reasons for this: 1. They are constructed very well so that they are easy to get on and off, but only if you have better hand coordination than an infant, and 2. They are comfortable, so Darah doesn’t seem to mind that they are on her feet. We have the size 6-12 month shoes, and while there is room to grow, they aren’t slipping off Darah because they are more secure around the ankles. I think this is an excellent design feature. I also love that they can just get tossed in the wash when they get dirty (and since Darah likes to chew on her toes, you can imagine how these have been soiled quite a few times!).

I also want to point out that these handmade baby shoes, which Brandi will custom-make for you, are extremely reasonably priced at $7.00 for 0-6 month shoes and $8.00 for larger sizes (which have non-skid bottoms). Brandi will work with you to get the type of fabric that you like (what she has on her site are just a few examples) and the right size. While most of her shoes on Etsy are shown in 0-6 months, she also makes 6-12, 12-18 and 18-24 months!

If you need some cute handmade soft-soled shoes for your baby or for a gift, you could buy a pair of Robeez….or you could buy an entire collection of handmade Pannaz shoes!!! Convo Brandi to get started creating the perfect shoes for the little one in your life.

Edit: This giveaway is now closed.

Win it!: Right now is your chance to snag a custom pair of Pannaz shoes! The winner will be able to work with Brandi to select the fabric and size.The contest will run until Thursday, April 22nd at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me your favorite item in the Pannaz shop.

Additional Entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only 1 extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)

2. Follow me through Google connect

3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it

4. Become a fan of Pannaz on Facebook

5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)

6. Add Pannaz to your favorites list on Etsy

7. Give Brandi a suggestion for an item you would like to see her sell.

8. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: baby shoes, etsy, etsy shop, giveaway, pannaz, pannaz review, review, soft baby shoes, soft soled baby shoes, soft soled infant shoes

BeautiControl Instant Manicure for Rough, Cracked Hands

April 10, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

BeautiControl Instant Manicure to the Rescue

Now that weather is warming up it is time to ditch the winter gloves and show off your beautiful hands. What’s that?! Your hands are dry, cracked and rough after Old Man Winter’s visit to your town? If you are now glove-free but wishing you could hide your hands, you should check out a really nice product from BeautiControl that can help those hands look their best!

beauticontrol instant manicure for rough hands I recently had the opportunity to try out the Beauticontrol Instant Manicure, which is an exfoliator designed specifically to moisturize hands and cuticles. I just keep this in my shower now and put it on once a week. It’s doing a really good job of keeping my hands looking really nice. I’d say it is on par with other higher-end exfoliants I have tried. I was a little taken aback by the price tag for this ($27 for 10 ounces) but I’ve realized that it really only take a little bit to really scrub your hands. I’d say this container will easily last me 1 1/2 years using it once/week. You can also find it cheaper on Amazon!

I think BeautiControl sounds like a great company to work for out of your home. I love their vision: “To empower millions of women to live the life they love.” So I’d love to hear if anyone out there has ever or is currently working for BeautiControl? If you love working with this company, tell us why!

This is the first product I have ever tried from BeautiControl. Has anyone ever tried a different product they make? Do you love it? Dish!

beauticontrol instant manicure Disclosure: I received product samples in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links. 

Filed Under: General · Tagged: beauticontrol, beauticontrol cosmetics, beauticontrol instant manicure, beauticontrol product reviews, beauticontrol products, beauticontrol reviews, beautycontrol, instant manicure, review

My Favorite Diaper Rash Solution (Balmex GIVEAWAY!!!)

April 10, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 98 Comments

EDIT: Giveaway closed

On the whole we have been very fortunate with Darah and diaper rash. For the first 4 months of her life she had ZERO diaper rash. When she was a newborn, we were careful parents and we slathered her with diaper rash cream after every change just to be safe. As time went by, we realized that she wasn’t having any problems, and we started to get a little bit lax. We’d just put cream on her once a day, and we used cornstarch powder the rest of the time. And then we pretty much just stopped using diaper rash cream altogether. This worked out great until around Christmas, and then we were hit hard with a case of diaper rash! We weren’t afraid, though, because we had lots of cream and we started applying it again. We were applying it constantly for about 2 weeks and saw absolutely no change in her condition. That’s when the dim lightbulbs in our head came on and we realized that the stuff we had, at least for our baby, was completely worthless.

I had a coupon in my stash for Balmex, so I decided to give it a try. Cue the spotlight and the choir of angels, folks! Balmex was and continues to be the definitive answer to diaper rash in our house. Once we started using it, her diaper rash cleared up in just a few days and IT HASN’T BEEN BACK SINCE! And once again, we don’t apply diaper rash cream after every change, but we do make an effort to put some on once a day (usually at night since she’ll be in that diaper for a while).

diaper rash solution I wrote to Balmex to thank them for making such a great and effective product, and they sent me some samples of their products to test out. There are two products of theirs that I had not tried before but that I absolutely LOVE. First, did you know that Balmex puts out a powder? This powder is especially effective because it contains zinc oxide. It also contains an exclusive blend of botanicals that it calls ActivGuard. It is talc-free, and in my experience, totally awesome. This is what we use after most every diaper change, and it is doing a terrific job of keeping diaper rash at bay. We always call Darah our little beignet during diaper changes since she gets sprinkled with powder! Second, I’ve already talked about how sold I am on their diaper rash cream, but I’m even more sold now that I’ve seen the variety of packaging options that you have when you buy it. I first purchased the 2 ounce tube, which is absolutely perfect for the diaper bag or for travel (especially airplane travel, when your “liquids” are restricted in size). diaper rash solution They also have a big 16 oz jar, which is perfect for the changing table at home or to send to daycare. But the ultimate option is to buy their diaper rash in the form of a cream stick. It basically looks like a stick of deodorant and is dispensed the same way that you would put on deodorant. The top of the stick is a bit more narrow, which I realized when using it, makes it perfect to get into all the little folds around your baby’s bits! GENIUS! Also, since you apply it directly, there’s no mess left on your hands. This is totally the way to go, folks!

I also learned a lot from the diaper rash advisor section of the Balmex web site. When you are new to diapering, as Tim and I were just a handful of months ago, you don’t know what exactly to look for, and anything and everything freaks you out and causes you to worry. The advisor section of this site gives you some great tips for detection, correction and protection!

All you other parents out there may be looking for a more effective diaper rash cream than what you are currently using. Balmex has been the very best and most effective choice for our baby. Give it a try. If you need further incentive, right now you can print a coupon for $1.00 off any Balmex product!

Win It!: Balmex has generously offered two winners a Balmex kit, each containing a few of the great products I mentioned here! The contest will run until Monday, April 19th 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:
Follow my blog using Google Friend Connect! You must follow publicly, not privately. It’s just that simple! Your first entry should be a post stating that you follow.

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. Tell me something you learned when checking out the Diaper Rash Advisor section of Balmex’s site
6. Tell me the Balmex product you’d most like the try
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.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: baby diaper rash, balmex, balmex coupon, balmex cream, balmex ointment, balmex review, diaper cream, diaper rash, diaper rash ointment, diaper rash solution, giveaway, rash cream, review, treatment for diaper rash

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.

best glitter eye makeup from Orglamix 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. 

 

 

Filed Under: Style · Tagged: etsy, etsy shop, etsy store, eye makeup, giveaway, orglamix, orglamix cosmetics, orglamix review, review, shimmer eye makeup, shimmer eye shadow, shimmer eyeshadow

Big Bibs that are Fashionable and Funcional

April 2, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 176 Comments

Now that Darah is eating solids, I am finding that her cute little bibs are no longer useful. She needs more coverage from big bibs during mealtimes, and even during playtime when she sometimes still spits up. Am I the only one who has noticed that the cutest bibs in stores are really tiny and the big ones are nothing to write home about? This is the case for the vast majority of large bibs that we have in our house. Sometimes this doesn’t matter to me, since keeping Darah clean is the number 1 goal, but anytime I am taking Darah out and about and have her dressed up really cute, it bothers me to cover up her whole outfit with a bib that is drab.

Bib Bibs With Style!

Bazzle Baby is a company that offers a solution to this problem! I saw them featured in Baby Talk magazine, and when I check out their site, I learned that they offered super cute AND functional big bibs! From their site, “Big Bibs put a twist on tradition with their squared edges and ultimate coverage. Our Big Bib is perfect for your little eater! Coverage area is 8″L x 10″W. 100% Cotton designer print.”

Bazzle Baby has big bibs for baby Bazzle Baby was kind enough to send the Lava Bloom Big Bib for Darah to put to the test. I was very impressed when I put it on her and saw how much coverage it provided. The pattern is also really cute! I’ve found that this bib is typically an asset to her outfits and never a deficit. As a result, this is the bib I reach for most anytime we are headed out the door! Let me be clear, though, we aren’t afraid to use the thing! Do you know people who have “good” bibs or “good” burp cloths and don’t use them because they don’t want them to get dirty? I really can’t relate to that, folks. A bib has a purpose…to get dirty so that your child doesn’t! The Big Bib has held up beautifully in the wash (and it has been washed MANY times at this point) and the stains have all come out, so far! If ever the time comes when a stain won’t come out, though, I bet it will be really difficult to notice since it has a fun, busy pattern!

drool bib bandana bib One thing that I really love about Bazzle Baby is that it is family owned and operated. Amanda Davis is the captain behind the Bazzle Baby ship, and she was inspired by her first baby to create bibs that can get the job done without sacrificing aesthetics. Every single product in this line came about as a solution to a problem for each of her children. Check out the award winning Banda Bibs that are perfect for little droolers and Burpers that are large and very absorbant, just as a burp cloth should be!

I also want to mention that Bazzle Baby is a company that gives back. It donates a portion of all sales to charities selected by its customers! You can nominate your favorite charity by emailing Amanda@bazzlebaby.com. How cool is that?!

Buy It!
: If you are tired of covering up your baby’s unforgettable outfits with totally forgettable bibs, you need a Big Bib from Bazzle Baby! Check out the awesome selection of patterns and pick a few out today for $13.00. During this giveaway, you can also save 15% off your purchase by using the code TRENDS at checkout.

Edit: Giveaway closed

Win it!:Bazzle Baby has offered one very lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a Big Bib from their current collection! Sweet!!! The contest will run until Tuesday, April 13th 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 your very favorite Big Bibs pattern. Choose wisely, as you will win what you select!

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. Sign up for Bazzle Baby’s newsletter (leave email address you used to sign up)
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
6. Follow Bazzle Baby on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Become a Fan of Bazzle Baby on Facebook
8. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: baby bib, baby bibs, bazzle baby, bazzle baby review, bibs, big baby bibs, big bib, big bibs, giveaway, large baby bibs, large bibs, review, the big bib

Toy Piano for Kids: My First Piano by Schoenhut

April 1, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

We have a new favorite toy in our house. Meet the toy piano for kids called My First Piano by Schoenhut. Darah has been rocking out on it every day for the last few weeks. She absolutely lights up when we pull it out. At first she would just bang on all the keys, but now I notice that she is doing some experiments with the keys. She will just hit one key at a time, or maybe two. She even hits different parts of the piano to hear different noises, or uses different toys she has to hit the keys to see if the sound is different. It is beyond awesome to watch her little brain at work, and to see the joy on her face as she “makes music.” Darah has started to try to pull herself up using the piano, and I’m so relieved to tell you that it has even threatened to tip over. This is a sturdy toy, and I know it is going to be around for baby #2! The adults in the house like the piano, too. Tim and I have both caught each other playing songs on the piano when Darah wasn’t even in the same room! 🙂 This piano is recommended for little ones between 6 months and 2 years, and that seems just about right to me.

toy piano kids We were sent this little piano from a really cool website called Toys and Games Online. (Edited: Toys and Games Online is no more, but fortunately, this piano for kids is available on Amazon!) I am so glad to learn about this store; it is now bookmarked as a go-to-site when I need to find very cool and engaging toys for Darah or for other children in my life. I have yet to find another store that offers as many high quality toys. They are also organized very nicely and in a variety of ways (theme, gender, outdoor, indoor, building, etc.). A majority of the toys on site also have reviews from individuals who have purchased the toy. I always appreciate this feature, as it helps me buy with confidence!

Toys and Games Online is an incredible store, but the company behind it is even more incredible. It is part of the CSN Stores family. This company includes over 200 stores offering pretty much everything you can think of, from mattresses to water tubes! I really encourage you to take s look at all of their stores and see what you can find. I bet that you’ll find some really cool stores that carry just the thing you’ve been trying to find for a while! I’m taking a close look right now at their affordable sofas and their area rugs.

Check out CSN Stores, and leave a comment below about a store you found that you like! This will be worth an extra entry in an upcoming giveaway!

Disclosure: I was sent the piano pictured above in order to facilitate my review. The opinions in this post are strictly my own. Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.

Filed Under: My Favorite Finds · Tagged: baby piano kids, baby toy piano, baby toys piano, children toy pianos, infant piano toy, kid toy piano, kids games online, kids toy pianos, kids toys piano, review, schoenhut toy piano, toy piano kids, toy piano toddler, toy pianos children, toy pianos kids, toys and games, toys and games online, toys games

Children’s Books Made into Movies! (Scholastic Giveaway!!!)

March 31, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 275 Comments

Scholastic has children's books made into movies (short movies)

Hopefully we are all in agreement that there is just no substitute for reading to and with your child. Tim and I cherish story time with Darah. Even though her primary goal right now is to get the corner of any book we read into her mouth, we know that she is still absorbing language and learning that books are a source of great fun.

As your child progresses along in his or her relationship with books, there are some cool ways to reinforce the value of reading. Scholastic has a really great dvd series that is designed for children and their parents. The dvds contain popular children’s books made into movies, and encourage children to read along with the story by including the text on the screen and highlighting the words as they are spoken.

children's books turned into movies We received the Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics to review. While Darah is a bit too young to view these herself, Tim and I have played some of the stories. We really liked that the book illustrations were used for the stories as opposed to cartoons. This helps keep the focus on the words being spoken, and it keeps it from having the feel of a television show that changes screen shots every 2-3 seconds. We were also pleasantly surprised when we heard some familiar voices serving as narrators (Meryl Streep and John Lithgow are two examples).

This collection seems to be appropriate for children ages 2 or 3 and up. We will definitely be showing these to Darah in a few years, and we are glad to have them on hand for when our nieces visit. This isn’t something I would be inclined to turn on for kids and just leave them alone with, but rather, these are terrific stories to experience with children, so that you can read along and encourage them to try to read, too. You can also pause the videos to talk about what you are seeing in the pictures. Another great idea is to check out some of the books in the set from your local library, and then when you view the dvds you can have the books on hand, too!

Buy It!: This entire collection contains over 8 hours of delightful stories for a terrific price: $49.95! That’s just $1 per story. We all know how pricey books are, so this is a great deal. It is currently available on Amazon for just $32!

Win It!: I bet you know a little bookworm in the making who would love to have this set! Scholastic wants to make that happen for one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader, who will score the 50 Storybook Classics dvd set we reviewed! The contest will run until Saturday, April 10th 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.

EDIT: Giveaway closed

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry:
Tell me the story in this collection you would read along with first!

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 and leave a url where I can find it
4. Subscribe to the Scholastic Treasures DVD newsletter (bottom left corner)
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
6. Tell me one other Scholastic Storybook Treasures box set you would also like to own!
7. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links. 

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: children book stories, children story book, childrens stories books, giveaway, kids story books, my first book, read kids books, review, scholastic storybook treasures, story book review, storybook classics

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 138
  • 139
  • 140
  • 141
  • 142
  • …
  • 146
  • Next Page »

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome!


Grab your beverage of choice (mine is iced coffee) and let's hang out for a spell! I'm Tiffany, and I've rambunctious little girls and a fierce desire to share any tip and trick I can find to make lives with little ones a bit less hectic and a lot more fun. [Read more...]

Popular Posts

Keep Slowing Down. You’ve Got a Race to Lose

Keep Slowing Down. You’ve Got a Race to Lose

Free Summer School for Moms (You’ll Love It!)

Free Summer School for Moms (You’ll Love It!)

The Best Cheap Mattress is Also The Best Quality Mattress: A Must-Read

The Best Cheap Mattress is Also The Best Quality Mattress: A Must-Read

25+ Moana-Inspired Easter Basket Ideas

25+ Moana-Inspired Easter Basket Ideas

The Book Every Child Should Own (And How to Get a Free Copy )

The Book Every Child Should Own (And How to Get a Free Copy )

Recent Posts

  • Choosing an Engagement Ring in a Changing Landscape
  • Personalized Clothing in Family Portraits: Showcasing Unique Style
  • The Psychology of Dual-Monitor Productivity: Why It Feels Easier to Work
  • The Secret to Style Confidence – Even During the Messiest Days
  • The Science of Healthy Hair: Foundations, Care, and Everyday Styling

Search

Sponsors

Copyright © 2026 | Innovative by The Pixelista | Built on the Genesis Framework