Trendy Tiffany Blue Gender-Neutral Baby Shower Gift Basket Idea!

This post has been written as part of an affiliate campaign for Zulily.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Shopping for a baby shower gift is not the easiest thing if you want to give the perfect gift.  Should you stick to the parents-to-be's baby registry?  Should you go with something practical?  Should you buy luxe baby items that the couple would not necessarily splurge on with their own money?  The answer to all the questions above is "yes"!  You can use the gift registry as a guide and easily give the parents upgrades on the items on the list.  As long as you stick with their theme and colors, you should be good.

Most soon-to-be parents will include some basic baby essentials on their registry, such as baby blankets, receiving blankets, crib sheets, basic infant bodysuits for layering, and some extra clothing.  Whether they realize it or not, these items may need to be changed multiple times per day, so they can never have too many of them.  Then add one item that can be a keepsake for the parents.  Rather than the standard sterling silver spoon, opt for something that can be useful and be a cherished keepsake once the little prince or princess has outgrown it, such as the sterling silver teething ring/rattle we found on Zulily.  If you are not sure of the baby's gender and the parent's, then choose neutral colors, such as Tiffany blue, grey, and yellow, which are much trendier than the everyday pinks, blues, and greens.

Put all your items together in a container that will be useful, such as a diaper bag, a canvas storage bin, or a Moses basket.  After all, a nursery can never have too much storage!

What you need to make this trendy gender-neutral baby shower gift basket . . . 

1.  Lolly Gags Tiffany Blue Minky Fitted Crib Sheet - $31.99 (Originally $50)

2.  SpaSilk White Bodysuit Set - $11.99 (Originally $18)

3.  Kathy Ireland Gray 'Big Hoot' Owl Bodysuit Set - $12.99 (Originally $26)

4.  Lolly Gags Tiffany Blue & Silver Zigzag Minky Stroller Blanket - $29.99 (Originally $50)

5.  Little Giraffe Silver Muslin Swaddle Blanket Set - $27.99 (Originally $47)

6.  Empire Silver Sterling Silver & White Teething Ring/Rattle - $34.99 (Originally $57)

7.  Tadpoles White Twisted Fur Moses Basket Set - $49.99 (Originally $100)

What other items would you include in a baby shower gift basket such as this?

Review: SVAT Digital Wireless Baby Camera with Online Monitoring

I have wanted a networked video monitor for the house for quite some time. I was excited to try the SVAT Digital Wireless Baby Camera when I had the opportunity. Although not truly a “networked” monitoring system, the SVAT provides wireless PC and mobile phone monitoring capability.

The unit is compact and well designed. The camera is orb shaped and nestles in a clever magnetic cradle. The camera can operate on batteries or with the provided AC adapter. The SVAT uses a USB dongle style wireless receiver with a short extension cable to maximize range and reception. I have no problem receiving video two floors away in the basement. Although I only have one camera, the software and receiver can monitor up to 4 cameras.

The field of view is fair but not huge, about 90 degrees. The SVAT offers daytime and nighttime use with the press of a button located on the camera. The image quality is grainy but adequate in both lighting conditions. There is a slight sound delay but not so much that it makes a major difference. The software is intuitive and simple to use and allows image, video, and audio capture.

Overall I like the SVAT Digital Wireless Baby Camera and for the price it delivers as promised. I can clearly see my kids and that’s what it needs to do. There are a few features that could be improved upon however. Firstly, you cannot turn the night vision on or off from your PC, you must go to the camera and press the button, not always convenient when your kids are sleeping. Secondly, the wireless receiver must be attached to a running PC to function. This camera would be infinitely more useful and convenient if the adapter could connect to your router making it a truly networked device.

You can find this and other types of baby monitors online at CSN Stores, where this SVAT monitor sells for $99.99 with free standard shipping.

We purchased this product with a gift certificate we received from CSN Stores as a thank you for participating in a previous campaign.

Review: BuckleyBoo Developmental Plush Toys

I’ll admit it: when our BuckleyBoo arrived in the mail, I had to try it first. BuckleyBoo is a stuffed developmental toy that features five different buckles on its front side. We got the 17-inch Buckley Cat and it’s been a hit with all the kids. I’ve caught the 9 month old, the 9 year old, and every kid in between playing with it. Actually, even my husband and the daycare children’s parents have played with it!

Our BuckleyBoo plush really is a nice, well-made toy that is fun for all ages! It has soft and cuddly fur, a rattle sound when it’s shaken, and the five unique buckles that are fun and challenging for little hands. It is a great fine motor activity for the littler kids and they absolutely love unbuckling and re-buckling its buckles.

The buckles are attached to the BuckleyBoo using fun, multi-colored ribbons and the kids had their favorite ribbon/buckle combo pegged within minutes of it being here. I think the BuckleyBoo would make a great baby shower or first birthday gift and it would be sure to be a child’s favorite toy for a very long time.

BuckleyBoo's award-winning toys target children's development from ages 15 months and up. This particular toy is available as eight different animals, each in a 12", which retails for $19.99, and a 17" size, which retails for $29.99 . In addition to the Cat, there is a Dog, Bear, Bunny, Kitty, Lion, Pig, and a Monkey. You can order BuckleyBoo toys right on BuckleyBoo.com . To learn more, visit the BucklyBlog and BuckleyBoo on Facebook.

Review: Johnson's Natural Products for Babies & Kids

Like many moms, I find it difficult to give up the brands I have come to rely upon on a daily basis, especially ones where my children are involved. This has been an ongoing struggle since we have been taking baby steps towards having a greener household. I am always thrilled to hear when a major brand has found a way to keep the effectiveness of their product, but have made changes to make their product more natural and eco-friendly. This is what Johnson's has achieved with their new line of bath and body products called Johnson's Natural.

With this new line of natural baby products and kids products, Johnson's has managed to keep it's trusted No More Tears Formula, while giving us a collection that is 98% natural with no parabens, animal byproducts, paraffin, dyes, and other things young skin does not need. To top it all off, this line uses 60% post-consumer recycled packaging, which is a huge step in the right direction. This line includes the following products:

• Johnson's Natural Baby Lotion
• Johnson's Natural Head-To-Toe Foaming Baby Wash
• Johnson's Natural Baby Shampoo
• Johnson's Natural Kid's 3-in-1 Shampoo Conditioner & Body Wash
• Johnson's Natural Kid's 2-in-1 Hand & Face Foaming Wash

Of these products, the two Kid's products and the lotion were the ones I was most interested in trying, as my household contains two preschoolers and a 1st grader. The Johnson's Natural Baby Lotion comes in a pump, which is wonderful because it allows my children to apply lotion themselves without making a huge mess. They also require no assistance with dispensing the lotion into their hands, unlike with bottles of lotion, which require a lot of shaking and squeezing. As like the rest of the line, the lotion has a natural earthy scent that both my husband and I like very much.

The Johnson's Natural Kid's 2-in-1 Hand & Face Foaming Wash was the hugest hit in our house. Our 3-1/2 year old twins have been perfecting their hand washing techniques over the past month or so. After struggling with our standard liquid soap, they both loved the foaming soap. My son even went out of his way to tell me how much he liked it. I think anything that can make our preschoolers more independent is a huge plus in both their eyes and mine.

We have always been a huge fan of bath products that work as both shampoo and body wash, so the Johnson's Natural Kid's 3-in-1 Shampoo Conditioner & body Wash was perfect for us. Again, we love the scent, but we found that this product required an extra round of rinsing for our daughter's hair. We did not notice any residue on the children's skin, but we did notice a tiny bit near my daughter's roots. We had no problems with the boys' hair because their hair is cut very short and is easy to rinse.

To learn more about Johnson's Natural bath and body products, visit JohnsonsBaby.com .

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Johnson’s and received the products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Giveaway & Review: "By Baby" Ceramic Hand & Foot Impression Keepsakes [CLOSED]

TWINtuitive Product #25

I chose these hand print keepsakes by By Baby to feature as a "TWINtuitive Product" because, although these By Baby baby handprint kits would be an ideal gift for any parents or parents-to-be, I think a Sibling Print Keepsake would be especially meaningful to parents of multiples. Since hand prints are unique, these impressions truly show that each twin or multiple is their own special little person.

Ordering your keepsake is a 4-step process . . . choose your keepsake, order your baby handprint kit, make and return your impressions, and then wait for your personalized keepsake to arrive. It takes about 8 weeks for the final product to arrive, but it is well worth the wait.

What I thought about our By Baby experience:

1) I thought the kit was presented very nicely and definitely came ready-to-wrap if it had been intended to be used as a gift.

2) Taking the imprints and packing them to return to ByBaby.com safely was not difficult, but it was slightly stressful. You had to place the softened Play-Doh on the provided cardboard rectangle, roll it until it was smooth and the right thickness, and then have your child make an impression that was as deep as possible. Depending on your child's ability to not wiggle his or her fingers, this can be a quick process or you may have to make several attempts. It is also not easy to make a deep impression with a small child's hand because you need to push that little hand into the Play-Doh without hurting the child, since he or she does not have the strength to do it themselves.

3) To pack the imprints so that they traveled safely, the kit included a Ziploc bag, pieces of egg-crate foam, and additional cardboard pieces. I had doubts that the soft imprints were going to survive the trip, but I am happy to report that they did!

4) Something you should note is that the return shipping is not included in the price of the product. If you are giving a kit as a gift, you should probably include some cash for the cost of the shipping in an envelope and slip it into the box.

5) Along with the impressions, you will need to choose the color of the the glaze on the imprints, the color of the glaze on the writing, and a ribbon color. There were many colors to choose from for both the glaze and the ribbon. Since my imprints were of both boys and girls, it took me forever to choose. It really helped to look at the galleries within each section of By Baby products to see if there is a color combination shown that stood out to me. You can also upgrade to add dots, stripes, additional text, or additional impressions to your design.

6) I know the hand impressions all arrived safely because, when we received our ceramic keepsake, our three children put their hands right into the glazed hand prints and they matched up perfectly.

7) The plaque itself is extremely heavy, so I was glad to see that the ribbon was extra wide and was strung right through pre-made holes in the plaque. The portion of the ribbon that was tied in a bow is tied in a way that makes it extremely secure, so I had no worries about hanging this weighty plaque up on the wall on a screw.

By Baby products are not limited to just hand and foot impressions on glazed ceramic plaques, but also include impression garden stones, personalized name or word glazed plaques, personalized bow holders and picture holders, paw print plaques for pets, and more. Visit ByBaby.com to view their full line of products.

Thank you to By Baby for sending us a sample kit and plaque free of charge to base this review upon and for providing a gift certificate as the prize for this contest.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive $50 gift certificate to By Baby.

Limitations:

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Leave a comment describing to me the By Baby product you would use your $50 gift certificate towards if you won this contest. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND ByBaby.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

4) For 1 extra entry each, Friend me on Facebook and/or "Like" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page. Then leave a separate comment for each entry completed with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 1 extra entry each, "Like" By Baby on Facebook and/or follow By Baby on Twitter.

Then leave a separate comment for each entry completed with the link to your Facebook or Twitter profile.

6) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9) Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, June 21st, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Easy Johnson's Baby Products Gift Baskets

In today's struggling economy, it is a growing trend to consider giving practical gifts over frivolous ones. This stands true especially when shopping for baby shower gifts. It use to be that one only gave gifts that would be used during the first 6 months of the new baby's life. I personally think this rule is outdated.

Crocheted booties and frilly outfits are cute, but they will be outgrown within two weeks. Plus what if the parents don't do frilly? Why not spend your money in a way that is appreciated by the parents-to-be? You may think baby shampoo and diaper rash cream sound boring, but you can create an easy gift basket that can be both interesting and practical. Simply select useful products, such as ones for bathtime and diapering, because those are major expenses on top of formula and clothing. Then choose a useful container for your basket and at least one thing that the baby can enjoy. You can fill any excess space with shredded gift basket fill or tissue paper. To make an even nicer presentation, simply wrap the whole thing in cellophane or a gift basket bag, gather it at the top, and secure the neck by tying it with some ribbon.

Ideas for Gift Basket Containers:

Fabric-Lined Nesting Storage Basket

Bassinet

Nice Laundry Basket

Diaper Changing Caddy

Infant/toddler Bathtub

Wooden Book Bin

Diaper Bag

Potty

Baby Products to Include:

(3 or more) Johnson's Baby Bedtime Bubble Bath & Wash

(2) Johnson's Baby Shampoo

(1 large or 2 small) Any variety Johnson's Baby Lotion

(1) Desitin Diaper Rash Cream

(2 small or medium) Johnson's Baby Powder

(1) Johnson's Baby Oil

An assortment of travel size Johnson's Baby Products (for on the go)

Diapers in more than one size

Baby Wipes

Fun Items to Match the Basket You Chose:

Crib Size Blanket or Quilt

Hypoallergenic Plush Animal

Hooded Towels

Bath Toys

A Boppy Pillow

Fabric Blocks

Board Books or Fabric Books

Baby-Safe Mirror

One of the newest Johnson's baby products is the Baby Bedtime Bubble Bath & Wash, which is part of their sleep care line. We liked how this product was creamy like lotion or conditioner rather than thin and watery. We were even more impressed because it rinsed off so easily in spite of it's thicker consistency. This product contains NaturalCalm essences to specifically soothe your child before bedtime. Even though this item is new, it still uses the "No More Tears" formula we have grown to trust over the years.

To learn more about this and other Johnson's baby products, visit JohnsonsBaby.com .

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Johnson’s and received samples of Johnson’s Baby products to facilitate my review.

Giveaway: Baby Bunch Bouquet (2 Winners) [CLOSED]

Spring is coming in less than two months. That means everything will be in bloom, including lots of mommies-to-be. If you have a baby shower coming up that you will be hosting or attending, then I encourage you to take a look at these Baby Bunch Bouquets. This could very well be the coolest baby gift since the invention of the diaper cake.

If you look closely at the pink medium bouquet pictured below, you will notice that not all those flowers are the same. Some of them are actually made of 100% cotton baby items. This particular bouquet comes with a bib, a t-shirt, a hat, two pairs of socks, and two onesies. The items included are sized for newborns 0-6mos. These bouquets come in two sizes, in three colors, and comes in a ready-to-wrap box.

Take two minutes to watch Bryony Boxer, owner of The Baby Bunch, showing the audience of The Martha Stewart Show how to create their own "baby bunch" . . .

The selection of unique baby gifts on The Baby Bunch are not limited to bouquets. Take a look at some of the other creative items offered on BabyBunch.com . . .

My Baby Bunch has generously extended a promotional code to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires' readers. Through March 31st, 2010, you can receive 15% off your entire purchase (excluding S&H) when you use Code: BUNCHGW10 at checkout.

Thank you to The Baby Bunch for providing two bouquets for our contest prizes.

What you can win:
Two lucky readers will each receive their choice of one pink, blue, or yellow Medium Baby Bunch Bouquet (a $59.95 value).

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:
Browse the selection of baby shower gifts on The Baby Bunch. Then leave a comment telling me what one item you would love to give as a gift (aside from the Baby Bunch Bouquets). You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND BabyBunch.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

4) Friend me on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 2 extra entries, share the link to this contest post on Facebook. Then leave TWO separate comments with the link to your Facebook profile.

6) Follow The Baby Bunch on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9) Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!