Giveaways - Parenting Healthy

It’s always the favorite books that get torn pages and bent covers. I always grab the most used books for the boys and stash them in keepsakes as they grow beyond them and I have some tattered books in their boxes. With Indestructibles baby books, these pages won’t tear.

There are many titles from learning (colors, shapes, numbers) to everyday sights and Holidays (Hanukkah Baby and Christmas Baby). The books are chew-proof and rip-proof and printed on a unique 100% nontoxic, paperlike material making them Indestructible.

These books were invented by Amy Pixton, a mother of triplets, after bits of traditional board books found their way into her babies’ mouths. If they get dirty, just wipe them clean.

There are several collections and I get to give a collection away. I am giving away the Kate Merritt Collection. Open to US residents age 18+. Enter below by October 7, 2019. Good luck!

Comment: I was sent product for this authentic feature. All opinions are my own

Giveaways, Infant Toddler Products, Parenting

The Most Overrated and Underrated Baby Products, Parent Survey & Giveaway

August 16, 2019September 3, 2019 Erin Sluka

Have you viewed or had to create a baby registry lately? There is a lot out there! So many toys, bath products, bottles, bedding and more to choose from and all like to make their unique claims of ‘best’, ‘safest’, ‘number 1’ and how do you know what you’ll really need or not need?

Offers.com knows about shopping as well as deals and trends and they recently used Google Surveys to ask actual parents how they shop. We also asked which baby products they’ve deemed overrated — and underrated.

Starting with the most overrated and underrated products there were 5-6 listed in each category. The top overrated product came as the wipe warmer. I am not surprised, are you? I had one gifted to me when my son was born and I think I used it once then just realized I will have many opened wipe bags in almost every room I will be grabbing for as I need and I never would intentionally go grab my wipes from the one warmer.

The most underrated baby product came in as the white noise machine. I use white noise, all 3 of our boys ages 11-27 (still) use white noise and it does wonders for baby too. Trapping the white noise eliminates outside noise and I feel is a must in every nursery. What To Expect found that the top-rated white noise machine is the Marpac Dohm Elite that is available at Target.

More survey answers were, which items made up the majority of your baby registry and the top answer was practical items (such as diapers). The top store parents used to register with was Target and Pampers won as top diaper brand.

Now about spending! 21% of parents surveyed say that having kids has caused them to shop less often to control finances. The majority also saying they are only willing to spend under $100 a month on baby food and diapers. The last category was a fun one, asking parents that if they had extra funds to use anywhere for baby the majority say they would spend it on clothing.

What do you think? I feel this is accurate and in line from what I see. If I am surprised by any answer it may be the last one. My initial thought would be that most parents would want the extra money for techy products like higer quality baby monitors, etc.

With white noise machines being the underrated product that tells me it makes the most practical gift. The Marpac Dohm Elite that is rated top machine from Target by What to Expect is one you may recognize from when you were young because it has been around for 50 years. This is why having this be a top-rated machine makes it very desirable. No animal sounds, no lights just an effective white noise. It is reviewed to drown out almost all sounds! You can adjust the tone and volume and it rushes air naturally so it is an inconsistent, never looping sound that is so soothing that you’ll find yourself wanting one in the master once this one heads to the nursery!

View the entire parent survey here.

The Giveaway

1 lucky reader will win the top-rated Marpac Dohm EliteWhite Noise Machine and a $50 Target gift card courtesy of Offers.com.

College Bound, Fashion, Giveaways, Kids, Money Saver, Reviews by Anthony, School, Tips and Tricks

5 Reasons You Should Thrift Shop for Back to School #Giveaway (Wa. State)

August 14, 2019May 15, 2020 Erin Sluka

I graduated high school in 1995 and I remember the stigma around ‘Goodwill clothes’ as a teen. Back then it was not considered cool to thrift shop. You were singled out as ‘poor’ or teased for wearing worn clothing. You felt that not only was name brand what you needed, but it was also where you bought it. Had I known back then the tips to thrift shopping, no one would have ever known where I bought the name brands I was wearing. Today is different!

Today, thrift shopping is trendy. That is because the styles are lose, colorful and a step back to the ‘Stranger Things 80’s’. Recently, Anthony and I attended a media fashion event at our local Goodwill store. This invent included teen models and aspiring fashion students who were able to talk to Mom’s about the in’s and out’s of todays fashion and how Goodwill offers the choices needed to put together your child’s style. From ripped jeans to Converse, we saw it all there.

So, how do you thrift shop? We were not caught dead in a thrift store 25 years ago and now our kids style tells us to shop here. It can be overwhelming to step inside a thrift store to racks and racks of clothes. Where do you start? Anthony and his school friend paired up with a College student for the shopping experience at our local Goodwill. Here is what he (and I) learned.

You will find what you are looking for! Because donations come in daily, the clothing arrives on the racks daily. If you become a frequent Goodwill shopper you will find yourself coming back more than once a week at times because you realize how quickly new stuff arrives on the rack. If you have a list of wants and needs for your kids, you can get it all and keep checking back to fulfill their lists.

You save more than you think you would! We all know that thrift stores prices are low due to the clothing being pre-owned and sometimes never even pre-worn. We found a lot of items with new tags still attached on the racks. On top of the everyday thrift prices, they have tag sales. When we were there Goodwill had 2 different tag sales – a yellow .99Cent and a red 50% off. On top of lower thrift prices and tag sales, most Goodwill regions offer discount calendar days like Student Sundays, Senior Tuesdays, Military Wednesday and Fan Fridays for additional savings on most items. It doesn’t stop there! Our local (South West Washington) Goodwill stores have a Denim BOGO (buy one, get one) coupon runs Aug 19 – Sept 1 (and) a BOGO mug for college students that expires Aug 17 (Coupon).

Thrift shopping relieves daily pressures! If you have older kids you may realize that as they move through high school and into College their style changes. It almost relaxes. They hit years of harder homework, tighter deadlines and now jobs and having to spend their own money so suddenly cheap and comfy is in. It is in because it is easy. They stayed up all night getting that assignment done and nothing feels better than a favorite pair of sweats and hoodie in the morning to head out the door. Goodwill is a place to offer these options for your older teen. Comfy, big and worry-free from high prices.

Thrift shopping teaches a budgeting lesson! What is that lesson? There are options with your money. At age 15, all parents are ‘loaded’ and wanting the big brands at large department stores is no skin off their back because they have no clue. If you walk into a thrift store and hand them an envelope and challenge them to check everything off their list and stay within that budget it is fun to see what they can put together. If they really want ‘name brand’ head to the mall after the thrift store and hand them the same envelope (as a tool) and challenge them to spend the same $50 or $100 there). These are teens, they don’t get it until they see it actually drawn or played out. Reminding them they are getting 2 items at that department store versus 10 is the difference that opens their eyes. It did for Anthony.

The last reason for thrift shopping is that your clothes are already worn in! No multiple washing or the discomfort of new and stiff. Whether you find a great pair of jeans or new jacket, it has the break in already and nothing feels better than a great, relaxed pair of jeans ready to bring you comfort all day right from the start.

These local teens made thrift shopping fun and cool! One of these gals has even been noticed by the European fashion community for her tips and topics as she makes finding trends in Goodwill enticing. You now see celebrities and Instagramers thrifting and it is now OK to be seen in Goodwill, so take advantage of that. You’re wallet will thank you. Make sure you sign up for the deals and offer announcements.

One more way to save that I forgot to mention is to donate! Bring those old items in and grab your 30% off 1 item so that when you find that piece you like and it is not currently on sale you have a coupon.

Looking through displays like our Goodwill store has of outfits and styles is great inspiration like the ones in the above collage that our student models picked out around the store. They found styles from the Skater, to the Stranger Things 80’s, casual and the soft female. Don’t forget the backpack, dorm supplies and school supplies while there. They have it all and Goodwill has a Back to School DIY page for inspiration.

Giveaway

1 lucky Western Washington reader will win a $50 Goodwill Gift Card. (see this store locator to see if your area qualifies, note Seattle and North does not qualify). Giveaway ends on 8/27. Enter below and good luck!

Giveaways, Home, Kids

Canvas Gifts for Your Child’s Room – #Giveaway

July 28, 2019April 4, 2020 Erin Sluka

There comes a day in every child’s life when the parents decide it is time to upgrade the bedroom decor from little boy/girl to big boy/girl. My son does not share a room so it truly is his space. He has had a car-themed nursery, then CARS the movie themed toddler room, a Pokemon themed room and now a sports theme at age 11. I don’t always make big, drastic changes but for his 10th year last year we did upgrade furniture so it was bigger and more of his size.

The first thing he bought for his updated room was a black and white print of Michael Jordan he bought off a street vendor with his own money while we were vacationing in NYC. So the sports theme grew from there. It doesn’t take much to update a child’s space. Simply buying new bedding and replacing posters and wall art will change the entire room.

As kids get older, chances are you have loads of photos. If your child is into sports and plays sports you are halfway to new decor they will love in their updated space. If your child loves dance and dances, then you have those photos, etc. My nephew is 10 this week and he shares a room with his younger brother, but has his space on his half of the room. I found one of his football photos off of my brothers Facebook page and uploaded it into my Canvas Factory account to create a personal canvas for his ‘big boy’ space. He will be his own hero on his own wall.

Turning your child’s photos into canvas prints is such a great way to personalize their space. My son has canvas prints of him and his puppy in his room and he tells me that his cousin is going to love his own canvas print for his space. My son knows how special it is to see yourself in art.

At Canvas Factory you get great quality, constant updates and at a great value. To create a canvas print just upload your photo or image, choose the size and shape of your canvas, finish your order and wait for your photo canvas to be delivered.

The Canvas Factory canvas print Giveaway

1 lucky reader will win a code to create their own canvas print (can choose the 50x40cm (20×16 inch) / 18x12inch (45x30cm) of the canvas size) with free delivery. Open to US and Canada. Ends 8/15/2019.

Category: Giveaways

Chew-proof and rip-proof Indestructibles Baby Books – Giveaway