Give a Personalized Blanket for a Baby Shower Gift

Hi Mamas! I’m just checking in this evening to chat about baby blankets, on behalf of Babyblankets.com.

How many baby blankets does your baby have? Does he/she have a favorite blanket? Is it made of fleece, cotton, muslin, cashmere, chenille, or my personal favorite baby blanket fabric, organic cotton? You can never have too many baby blankets, don’t you think? I remember when Harper was a baby I had a rotating stack of 6 blankets. I’d often go through two or three blankets each day. She spit up on them or they’d get dirty while running errands. When I’d get behind on laundry I still (thankfully) had a few blankets left in the linen closet. How often do you wash your baby’s blanket?

Because you can never have too many, baby blankets make fabulous baby shower gifts! If you are in the mood to browse, check out BabyBlankets.com. They have a huge variety of baby blanket brands including patterned blankets, high-quality personalized baby blankets for boys & girls including the popular personalized fleece baby blanket. They also carry a great selection of swaddle blankets, receiving blankets, and even sleep sacks. I’ve put together a collection of my personal favorites including some of Babyblanket.com’s best selling baby blankets.

Want to know a little more about Babyblankets.com? Read on… (more…)

Need A Website To Start Your Own Business?

So you have come up with the brilliant idea you need to start your own business and need to create an online presence? Everything is done online these days but what should you do if you are not a professional web designer?

Never fear as there are plenty of options open to you whereby you don’t need to know a single thing about coding in HTML in order to create a website.

Plenty of attractive offers are available in the way of pre-designed website templates. Now this may sound like you get something generic and similar to many other websites but there is such a plethora of options that you are sure to get something that is both attractive and can keep up with your high standards.

Website Builders

One example of a fantastic option is the website creator from 123 reg. They have a whole host of options available in the way of beautiful templates but they don’t just leave you there. There is also a built in system for managing your website. This is all, of course, quick, easy and affordable.

Premade Templates

There are further options available to you as well such as using free pre-designed CSS or HTML5 templates that you can edit with software like Dreamweaver and host on an FTP server which links to your web address.

Comprehensive Hosting Packages

Obviously this brings up the fact that you also need to acquire hosting and a domain name. You also will probably want to include specific e-mail addresses with your web address rather than using a Hotmail or GMail account, as well.

All these things help to promote a positive and professional image of your company online. If you hold the standards of professionalism up yourself then your customers and clients will have a greater respect for your business on the whole.

Why it’s important

The reason that having a beautiful website is important is that if you plan to conduct much of your business online, as indeed you probably should, then the website will be the first port of call for many of your prospective customers and clients.

Having the best web design available only helps to cement in their mind the quality of your company. How many times have you come across an unattractive site and considered purchasing the offers available?

When a site screams quality at the customer customers feel much more at ease. Investing in solid web design which is not only aesthetically pleasing and functional, but is easily maintained by your own staff, is therefore highly recommended and incredible beneficial.

There are many available tools to help you manage a website. There are of course many sites open to you that include the complete package of domain name, hosting and design so it is worth fully exploring your options before settling so that you can find a website that fully reflects your character and that of your business.

What are your business ideas? Let us know in the comments!

**his article was written by 123-reg

Baby Sling Picks

While carrying your baby around is always a pleasure, having the convenience and flexibility of using your hands is a major plus. You want to keep your baby safe and close, but you can be practical about it and stylish too. Carriers and slings are two great options that allow for comfort and ease of movement. Both are available in a variety of styles that both look and work differently. Choosing the right carrier for you is key, here are some popular baby slings:

1) Sakura Bloom
Available in several shades, the Sakura Bloom linen wrap is ideal for both moms and dads. Linen is naturally antibacterial and becomes both softer and stronger over time. This wrap is incredibly versatile and adjusts to several holding positions. This one size fits all carrier can support babies up to 40 pounds and is a perfect choice for all climates.

2) Dolcino Wrap
The Dolcino wrap is cool, colorful and organic. A great choice for ‘green’ moms and dads the wrap is available in several striped shades and can handle your bundle of joy, big or small. Available in two sizes and capable of supporting up to 44 pounds, the Dolcino wrap is also adjustable and an ideal choice for nursing moms. The durable, lightweight fabric provides the comfort and coverage you’ll need, all while keeping you looking chic.

3) Cat Bird Baby
This colorblock mei tai style carrier is made of organic cotton canvas and can support newborn babies and toddlers alike. Simple yet innovative, these carriers are adjustable to both your size and baby’s size. Is daddy just a little bit bigger than mommy? That’s not a problem with this one size fits all carrier.

4) Beco Baby Carrier
The Beco baby carrier features soft, organic cotton and an ergonomic design for added comfort. Designed for babies aged 4 months to 24 months, the carrier can support up to 44 pounds. The stylish carrier also features padded straps and adjusts to four unique wearing positions.

5) Scootababy Hip Carrier
Though this carrier is designed only to hold baby at the hip, it balances weight evenly and is incredibly comfortable for both mommy and baby. The Scootababy carrier is also very easy to use and can support infants up to 40 pounds.

**this is a guest/sponsored post. see advertising section for more info on sponsored posts.

Beds for Children

Buying beds for children has never been so much fun! There’s so much available and these days you can find the exact bed to match your child’s personality. You may have more than one child, and therefore each room is decorated differently with its own theme; the interests of each child need to be catered to accordingly. Bunk beds are a fantastic way of saving space, and can be very age-appropriate as there are so many different styles that can take you from young children right up to teenagers. Beds to consider when your little one grows up are Futon style bunk beds which are fantastic for teenagers, or even for rooms where you just need to save space. This style is where the bottom bed folds into a sofa, giving you much needed extra room, and also gives a more mature spin to the bunk bed; making it much cooler for teenagers when they have their friends to visit. It turns into a great relaxing space for day time too.

For younger kids there are fantastic options to keep them occupied. One such example is the kinder Mid-sleeper which combines the regular bunk bed with a colourful tent; making the whole sleep station look like a den. This could be hours of fun for your child! The Hampshire children’s bed is great for the child that has homework; it includes a pull out desk and chair, and also shelving for storing this away. This all tucks away at the end of the day, making this a fantastic all-in-one solution to smaller bedrooms for girls and boys alike.

If you are in the process of creating a magical, imaginative room for your child, visit Dreams to find a fun and practical beds for your little ones.

**this is a guest post brought to you by Dreams

Old and New Favourites for Kids Christmas Toys

With festive decorations already out in the shops, it’s time to start planning for family Christmas presents. Savvy mums will be looking early to find the best deals and make sure their gift choices aren’t sold out: let’s have a look at three of the best toys for this year’s Christmas.

A toy forecast as a popular choice for Christmas 2012, includes an old favourite, the Furby. The new model of this toy is cuter than ever and an interactive delight for the kids. Furby talks, sleeps and wakes at will, chats and reacts to touch, speaks the Furbish language, and interacts with other Furbys. What’s more, you can now download a number of apps on a smartphone to make Furby even more entertaining for the kids.

Another affordable and popular gift choice is sure to be the LeapPad 2 Explorer. This small and light tablet is just the right size for young kids, and comes packed with lots of educational apps. Besides helping kids learn to read and understand maths and science, a big range of games are available for the LeapPad. Kids will also love playing with the built in camera and video recorder features.

For something to get your little ones outdoors, have a look at the Evo Quad Bike Ride-on. Best suited for the 3 to 4 year old range, this quad bike has great chunky wheels to keep it stable, and a top speed of 3 km hour that will still give the littlies a buzz of excitement.

If you want to impress your kids, any of these toys are sure to have their faces light-up when they open their presents on Christmas day.

**guest/featured post

How to Keep Your Kids Safe at Home

As a parent, your children are the most important part of your life. You need to know that they are safe and sound at all times – even when they’re at home. By taking a few small precautionary measures around the house, you can have the peace of mind you need.

Invest in a home security system

Every home should have a Home security system, especially ones with children. If you ever have to leave your son or daughter alone, a home security system can serve as your eyes and ears when you’re not around.

Keep medicines/poisonous substances out of reach

Every year, more than 60,000 children are treated in emergency rooms due to accidental medication poisoning. Consequently, if you have young kids, it’s important to keep medicines and other potentially poisonous substances well out of reach, ideally in a locked drawer or cabinet. This includes paint, oil, anti-freeze, weed-killers and pesticides. Keep all of these things in labeled containers so it’s not only clear what they contain, but also so it’s harder for children to open them.

Teach your children smart safety habits

The most important thing you can do as a parent is teach your kids how evaluate and respond to potentially harmful situations. Encourage them to use the “buddy system” if they leave the house, avoid talking to strangers and always keep the doors locked. Additionally, you should always leave your children with a list of emergency contact phone numbers, including 911, family members, trusted neighbors, etc.

Safeguard against trips and falls

As children get older, they become more active and more curious. However, young children still are still developing their motor skills, and, as a result, are at a higher risk for trips and falls. In order to safeguard young kids against fall-related injuries, you should never leave them alone around open windows, decks or balconies. To be extra cautious, you should install safety guards on all windows that aren’t emergency exits. Instruct your children not to climb on furniture, drawers or shelves and avoid placing toys in high places.

**this is a Guest/Sponsored post

Dolls From Ashton Drake

If you have ever seen the look on a little girl’s face when told that she may not play with someone’s beautiful collectible doll then you will realize why Ashton Drake Galleries have seen the need to introduce collectible play dolls for those special little girls.

Children that are taught the value of a collectible doll at an early age are more likely to become doll collectors themselves one day. Most collectible dolls are not toys, although there are a number of collectible dolls that have been designed as toys suitable for children of three years and older.

There are however certain considerations when choosing a collectible play doll for the younger child.The following guidelines should assist you in making the right choice:

The personality and age of the child

Although you might consider your sixteen year old daughter or granddaughter to be a little girl, she most probably will be mature enough to start her own collection of real collectible dolls. A little girl of three years is another story, having tea and mud-cakes with her newly found baby-friend could have horrific consequences. The personality and character of the child plays a major role in making this decision. My daughter, who is only turning five, has been taught to treat collectible dolls with the respect that they deserve, because our house is filled with a great collection of collectible dolls. She knows the true value of these masterpieces and knows to which extent she could play, cuddle and mother, her own collectible play doll without damaging the doll. Her first collectible play doll, which I gave her for her fourth birthday, was the Tiny Miracles Celebration of Life Emmy by Linda Webb. It is always a good idea if you want your child to share your love of doll collecting to start with a special doll collection so that you can complete her collection by adding a doll for each birthday and Christmas that follow.

o What are you willing to pay for the doll?

As we are discussing collectible play dolls, you must take into consideration that if a child is not taught to look after the doll properly you might find that the doll is no longer in a condition to be considered a collectible doll, but merely a more expensive play doll. If you are uncertain about the child’s playing habits, you might consider purchasing a real play doll instead.  Dolls from Ashton Drake are suitable for children of three years and older  The features and accessories of the doll.

(more…)

Hello Kitty POP Phone

The kind folks from Native Union sent over one of their limited edition Hello Kitty POP Phones for Harper to try out.

She is pretty OBSESSED with it…& spent over 30 minutes talking to Gramma, Grampa, & Aunt “Gaguy” last night! It is pretty awesome to have this handset for her. She used to hold my iPhone so tightly against her cheek that she’d hang up on whoever she was talking to over & over again.

The handset comes in white, light pink and black. It features a custom-molded 3D bow and cat ears and comes in fun, polka dot packaging! The handset also protects from up to 99% of cell phone radiation.

P.S. I have an ANCIENT 3Gs (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…right?) But this handset is compatible with pretty much every cellphone, tablet/smartphone, & notebook that you can think of. Check for compatibility HERE.

Stuck on You

With the school season approaching, the folks over at Stuck on You sent Harper a fabulous package of personalized stuff. A few of her new things include a “Harper” puzzle, a personalized height chart for her room, & a new workbook (which she LOVES)! Isn’t it fun to have stuff with your name on it?

Stuck on You has a fabulous selection of labels & personalized school supplies. Be sure to follow them on Facebook & Twitter for details about new products & promotions.

Ad Rate Special

Take advantage of this special summer ad rate. Perfect for your small business!
(1 month normally $50)

120 X 120 ads only

email Shari @ spearmintbaby@gmail.com

Win £1000 to create your dream bathroom

Popular retailer Bathrooms.com is currently running a competition where you could win £1000 in vouchers to spend on your bathroom. This has got us thinking – if you had £1000 to spend on your bathroom, what would you do? It’s one of the most important rooms in the house, and yet it often gets overlooked in terms of design.

Luckily, there are loads of great bathroom ideas that you could incorporate into your room, from a hotel-style suite to space-saving bathroom furniture and luxury items to make your bathroom the perfect place to unwind after a busy day. With £1000, depending on what you like, you could either buy a couple of luxurious items for your room, or even replace your bathroom suites.

It’s up to you, but here are some nice ideas that you might like to consider to get that inspiration flowing…

(source: bathrooms.com)

One option would be to go for a unit such as the one above, which would not only leave you plenty of change out of that £1000 but would also take care of multiple bathroom needs in one go. You get plenty of storage space, as well as a decent-sized cabinet surface and a sink, saving the need for multiple items of furniture.

Another great thing about this particular unit is its monochrome look, which is currently very popular in bathroom design right now, so this is bang on trend.

(source: bathrooms.com)

A nice soak in the bathtub is something that many of us think about when we’re stuck in a hot office/rushed off our feet running errands/run ragged by the kids, and this bath would be the perfect place to unwind. It’s got a classic freestanding design, which is ideal for people who like more traditional bathroom ideas. However, the bath is also very modern with its central taps, which are very practical if you’re planning a long soak!

(source: bathrooms.com)

Showers are an increasingly vital part of the modern bathroom. Not only are they very practical, but they also help you save space if you have a small room that won’t fit a bath. The shower above is a great example of how you can create luxury with a shower: it’s got multiple massage heads and plenty of space, so you don’t need to worry about showering in a cramped space. As you can see, it’s also got a sleek, modern design, so it’s perfect for any contemporary bathroom.

These are just a few of the items you could get for well under £1000, so when it comes to creating your perfect bathroom, you really do have a huge amount of choice.

To celebrate their launch on Twitter and Facebook, Bathrooms.com are giving their customers a chance to win £1,000 of Bathrooms.com vouchers.

To enter, simply follow @bathroomsdotcom on Twitter and tweet the following message:

Want to win a £1000 of bathrooms vouchers? Check out @bathroomsdotcom’s competition at http://www.bathrooms.com/#competition

Competition closes on April 13th 2012.

Bright Star Kids

Bright Star Kids offers the best in Name Labels, School Labels, Wall Stickers, and Kids Canvas Art.

How do you keep track of your children’s belongings? Between play dates, preschool, camp, and the swimming pool, our things are always getting mixed up with other’s!

Kids name labels make keeping track of your belongings easy, so no more lost property! You can purchase labels for bottles, shoes, and books to iron on clothing labels for use on all types of fabrics. All labels from Bright Star Kids are offered at great value prices with super fast delivery.

In addition, you can purchase school labels in single or value label kits and stop lost property this year. Choose from lots of different designs that will suit kids in preschool/daycare through high school.

Bright Star Kids also has a variety of darling Wall Stickers for your nursery and children’s rooms. Using an amazing removable fabric wall sticker material, you can use these on all kinds of household walls.

If you are looking for cute kids canvas art, Bright Star Kids offers prints personalized with your childs name. A perfect new baby or christening gift!

American Home Shield

An American Home Shield Home Warranty is a homeowner’s best defense against expensive repair and replacement bills.   You can purchase a service contract that covers the repair or replacement of many of the most frequently occurring breakdowns of certain home system components and appliances. The service contract covers a multitude of systems and appliances needed for everyday life.

Basic coverage includes:

Heating Systems, Plumbing Systems, Electrical Systems, Water Heater, Oven/Range/Cooktop, Dishwasher, Built-in-Microwave, Garbage Disposal, Exhaust Fan, Ceiling Fans, Plumbing Stoppages, & Ductwork.

Expand your coverage to include:

Central A/C,  Refrigerator, Clothes Washer, Clothes Dryer, Garage Door Opener, Well Pump, Pool, & Spa.

Several afforadable plans are available to fit your home and budget needs.  Visit ahs.com for your New Jersey home warranty

Spearmintdecor.com Ad Rate Special

Are you interested in advertising your blog or small business? The new Spearmintdecor.com blog is up and we are offering a special ad rate through the end of June:

1 month 120 X 120 ads are only $20! Ad must begin before June 30th.

120 X 120

If interested in larger/smaller ads or text link ads please email me: Shari @ Spearmintdecor@gmail.com

Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox

Looking for the perfect gifts for dad to be? How about a unique baby shower gift for dad? New Dad Gifts are such a sweet idea, especially when FUNNY & FUNCTIONAL!

The Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox includes all the essentials for new dad including:

Mask. A toxic fume filter
Hand Wipes
Baby wipes
Diaper for newborn
Biohazard bag
Turkey baster. Precision hiney washing
Patent Pending Poop Poncho
Pacifier
Ear/Nose plugs
Rubber gloves. For the untouchables!
Tongs
Goggles. For protection from your own version of old faithful!
Emergency Formula Container. Doubles as a peepee cover!
Picture Frame. Dad’s badge of honor!

The Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox really is the perfect father to be gift!

P.S. Be sure to follow Fun Stuff 4 Babies on Twitter!

PocketBac Hand Sanitizer

Happy Monday morning! I hope you had a nice weekend. I wanted to let you all know about an opportunity from Bath & Body Works…
It allows consumers to design their own Anti-Bacterial PocketBac hand sanitizer!

Bath & Body Works is giving fans the opportunity to put their own spin on the brand’s iconic PocketBac Hand Gel Sanitizers with the myPocketBacDesign Contest. Bath & Body Works is inviting consumers to log on to www.myPocketbac.com to customize their Bath & Body Works PocketBac labels through June 9th.

The winning designs will be chosen by fan popularity, allowing Bath & Body Works customers to select the design that will end up on shelves. New winners will be selected this month AND next month, doubling their chances to win.

Bath & Body Works has inspired a clean hands craze with its custom collections of pocket-sized anti-bacterials that started with Bac-2-School PocketBacs that launched last year. The design contest puts the power of personalization in everyone’s hands, giving fans one more way to make PocketBacs their own.

XO, shari

Costume Party

Harper and I had our “dress rehearsal” yesterday. We have a costume party/birthday party next weekend. Can you guess who we are?…

Harper is going to be Hedwig, Harry Potter’s favorite owl. & I am going as a student of Ravenclaw..still studying & learning witchcraft spells and magic!

Our Costumes:

Ravenclaw Adult Robe & Child Hedwig Costume

We kept it simple, but be sure to check out fun Harry Potter Accessories! (hats, scarves, magic wands, etc)

Any Harry Potter fan has fantasized about living at Hogwarts with Harry and his companions. BuyHarryPotterCostumes.com can now make that fantasy more of a reality. Everything from little Hedwig the owl to “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” costumes are available here. Children and adults alike will find a Harry Potter costume that suits their needs.

Heather Myers Graphic Design

blog headers & buttons

birthday party invites

save the dates

baby shower & graduation

There are so many bloggers these days and it is important to make yourself stand out. Heather Myers will create something that is uniquely yours at an affordable price. She also does amazing work for custom invitations & business cards!

(I am finally having custom business cards made & am sooo excited!)

Pediped Foundation

Pediped® footwear will host a fundraiser from January 5 through February 6 to benefit the Pediped Foundation™. Select styles available on pediped.com will be marked down as much as 50 percent! Half of the sales from the promotion will be donated to the Pediped Foundation™. The funds will be used to provide monetary support to organizations including Make-A-Wish Foundation and other worthy children’s charities.

For more information on the Pediped Foundation™, visit www.pedipedfoundation.org

online shopping at CSN Stores

With 2 little ones at home it can be really tricky getting holiday shopping done. Did you know that CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find just about everything? … from a chic leather briefcase for your sis, fitness equipment for your hubby, a huge selection of children’s toys, and cute cookware for your Aunt Mary!

I am going to be purchasing another convertible carseat for our new SUV and a Sesame Street potty attachment for Harper:

P.S. my fave CSN stores are ALLMODERN.com and ALLMODERNBABY.com. check them out!

GlassesUSA.com

GlassesUSA.com is an online store with a chic collection of glasses for men and women. Their selection includes designer brands such as Calvin Klein, Just Cavalli, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ray Ban. All of their designer frames come with a money back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied. They also offer free shipping on orders over $99!

Don’t you LOVE shopping for stylish glasses? I don’t wear prescription glasses anymore, but I love the idea of having a few of these styles made into sunglasses.

If you do wear glasses I recommend this sexy, rectangular, full framed brown and black pair by Calvin Klein:

I am also loving the Eisenhower Blacks:

Very smart and serious…they definitely would make a bold statement!

Not sure which style suits you? Upload your photo and try on a pair at the virtual Try-It Mirror. You can even compare your favorite glasses!

October is breast cancer awareness month and this month GlassesUSA.com will be donating $1 from every sale of eyeglasses to a breast cancer organization. What a great way to raise money to fight breast cancer! Why wouldn’t you want to buy your glasses online?

In addition to donating $1 from each sale, they are also offering a discount of 15% to customers when they use the code: CancerAwareness

One more thing…be sure to “LIKE” GlassesUSA.com on Facebook to find out about sales and promotions, as well as trendy new styles!

Big Baby Pin Hanger

Adorable wall art for any nursery! 5.7 x 7.9 x 24.6 inches

to purchase:

Heart Cups and Saucers

Having a playdate? Entertain your Mommy friends by serving coffee or tea in these 6 whimsical heart shaped cups and saucers!

Just $40.00 for a set of 6! Also available in expresso size for $35.00! FREE SHIPPING: