Guidecraft Espresso Bookshelf plus 5 Storage Bins

It has been a long process, but we have been slowly ridding the living room of toys over the past few weeks.  Of course it would be unrealistic to make the living room completely toy-free, so I decided that this Espresso Children's Bookshelf and the Set of 5 Canvas Storage Bins from Guidecraft would be the perfect thing to store a few toys and other things in the living room.

The reason why these shelves are perfect is because they have the look of classic furniture that blends in well with the rest of our living room furniture, unlike the mismatched storage we previously used.  Although this is classified as a child's bookshelf, it is a roomy 31-1/2"W x 24"H x 11"D, similarly sized like a standard 2-shelf bookcase.

Like with all the Guidecraft furniture we own, this bookshelf is sturdy and of very high quality.  It only took my husband 15 or 20 minutes to assemble it.  The set of 5 canvas bins, which fits this bookshelf perfectly, are actually sold separately, so you only need to have them if it suits your needs.

Click here for my tutorial on how to make these canvas bin labels.

To view the entire Classic Espresso furniture collection, which includes a desk, vanity, toy box, play kitchen, and more, visit www.Guidecraft.com.

Good luck in the drawing!

Give Old Children's Furniture New Life & Function with IdeaPaint Dry Erase Paint

Using IdeaPaint, you can transform nearly any paintable surface into a dry-erase board. With limitless opportunities, IdeaPaint can make a boring, ordinary space into something else entirely. We were sent an IdeaPaint kit to use in our home, and we had fun imagining the things we could do with it. In the end, we decided to paint an old kid-sized table and chairs set that was starting to be too scuffed and chipped to look good anyway.

IdeaPaint dry erase board paint can be used to paint almost any smooth surface. To use IdeaPaint, you have to first sand and prime your space, then apply one well-covered coat of the mixed paint to the surface and let it dry. The paint must then “cure” for 10 days before it is a writable surface, and I definitely agree that you must wait the proper amount of time. When using this product, make sure you read the instructions thoroughly, do not use in high humidity because it can affect the quality of the paint, and only use in a well-ventilated area or outdoors because the fumes are stronger than most paint. IdeaPaint is free of lead, asbestos, formaldehyde and other harmful materials, so it is safe to be used by children once it’s dry.


How to use IdeaPaint on furniture:

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Once the IdeaPaint cured, we started using it immediately and fell in love that quickly. It is fun, works well, and erases as well as any dry erase board. The kids have had hours of fun with it already and I’m sure there will be many more to come. It helped me transform an old, very worn looking table into something fun and unique and it lets the kids be creative without wasting paper.

You can find tons of IdeaPaint project ideas on their website, www.ideapaint.com. IdeaPaint kits can be purchased at most Lowe’s stores nationwide or online at www.lowes.com and are available for 6sq ft surface areas up to 40sq ft areas.


Thank you to IdeaPaint for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Before Purchasing Standard Bunk Beds, Consider the Options

As you may already know, we are a family of five stuck in a two-bedroom townhouse until the housing market turns around.  When the twins were born, we made up our minds that it would be best to have the three children sleep in the extra large master bedroom and my husband and I would take the small bedroom.  We already knew then that we would need to buy bunk beds when the twins were ready to move out of their toddler beds.  So when the time came, we went out and bought bunk beds.  We did not give it much thought.  We found ones that were the right wood tone, was sturdy, easy for our older son to climb up and down, and sold at a fair price.

Now looking back, perhaps we should have thought things through more carefully?  We would have saved much more space if we had purchased a twin over full bunk bed.  We also should have looked at futon bunks.  If the twins slept together in the full size bed or futon, we would have all the extra space now used by our daughter's twin size bed.  The twins are only 4-1/2 years old and could probably sleep horizontally on a full size mattress rather than vertically, giving them plenty of space to stretch out.  The futon style bunk bed would have added extra seating for watching television or reading during the daytime, which would have saved us even more space.

By the way, I started thinking about needing more space because the children have been at each other's throats the past week or so.  I think the heat is starting to get to them and they just need to not be together all the time.  It would be nice if one or two could go hang out in the bedroom comfortably while the other could have some quiet alone time in the living room or vice versa.

Top 18 Products of 2010

Since 2010 has come to an end, it only seems fitting that my family shares with you which products were their favorites from the many we had the privilege to review last year.  There were so many impressive products that we could have easily made a top 40 list.


1.  Guidecraft All In One Play Kitchen

2.  Melissa & Doug Pretend Play Workbench

3.  Black & Decker Wall-Mounted Paper Shredder and Message Center

4.  1154 LILL Studio Custom Handbag

5.  Slix Closer Boxer Briefs

6.  Angeles Baseline Table and Chairs Set

7.  LeapFrog's Leapster Explorer

8.  Imaginext BIGFOOT The Monster

9.  Paper Jamz Guitar & Amp

10.  Monster Cable Lil' Jamz Headphones

11.  Teagan and Mack Child's Pearl Bracelet

12.  ThermaPAK HeatShift Pad Laptop Cooler

13.  Mouthman Hoodies

14.  Dazzle Dry 3pc Vegan Nail Polish System

15.  Orsani Robby Wash Laundry Ball

16.  The Polar Express Hot Chocolate with Peppermint

17.  Lazoo Incredible Stickers Activity Book

18.  Two Sisters Gourmet Garlic Parmesan Vinaigrette

Although I have received complimentary product samples from either the brands or retailers associated with the products above, I did not receive any compensation for including these products on this list.  This list was put together collectively by the members of my household based on our personal experiences with these products.

Giveaway & Review: Bunk Bed Buddy & Bookcases from Tidy Books [CLOSED]

Our boys have had bunk beds for over a year now. When we first set them up, we immediately recognized the problem of our oldest not having a place to put anything on the top bunk, such as a bottle of water or a book. As a temporary fix, I put a plastic bin about the size of a shoe box at the foot of his bed so he would have a place to put such things. I was so happy (after a long time of waiting) to see Tidy Books, the company that offers the Bunk Bed Buddy and other styles of kid's bookcases, launch a new online store for U.S. customers. This handy wall-mounted bookcase shelf is exactly what my son needed.

The Tidy Books Bunk Bed Buddy comes fully assembled and is available in a white or a natural finish. I would have loved a darker wood finish, but I can always paint the natural Bunk Bed Buddy in the future. The unit has 3 pre-drilled holes for hanging. Since this bookcase will be hanging above your child, you should make sure that 2 of the 3 holes are screwed into wall studs.

At nearly 21" wide, when I first saw the Bunk Bed Buddy in person, I thought it looked rather small, but as you can see, my son has only filled half of the space with his things. Currently in his Bunk Bed Buddy, there are 2 books, nose drops, tissues, a small plush animal, and his tooth fairy pillow. Soon I will be adding a flashlight, a reusable water bottle, and an alarm clock to that list. Even with adding those three items, he will still have lots of room to spare. I also intend to look for a small clip-on light to attach it it, as well.

This product is not just for those who sleep in bunk beds. The Bunk Bed Buddy would be ideal for anyone who does not have room for a nightstand, needs to keep things handy, but out of reach of young children, or simply needs extra storage. I would love to hang one over my desk.

The Bunk Bed Buddy is made of lime wood and is finished with water-based lacquer. It retails for $79 for either finish. To learn more about the Bunk Bed Buddy and other book storage products available from Tiny Books, visit TidyBooksKidsBookcases.com . All items have Free Ground Shipping. All new customers can receive 15% off any order when they use Code: USL15 at checkout.

Thank you to Tidy Books for sending us a complimentary product sample to base this review upon and for providing a second product for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive one Tidy Books product of their choice (ARV up to $199).

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:

Browse the selection of bookcases and storage offered by Tidy Books. Then leave a comment telling me the name AND finish of the item you would choose to receive 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, sign up to receive the Tidy Books newsletter (left sidebar on homepage). Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments telling me you did.

4)  For 1 extra entry each, if you are a Friend of mine on Facebook and/or if you have "liked" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 1 extra entry each, follow Tidy Books on Twitter and/or "Like" Tidy Books on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook 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, January 3rd, 2011 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!

Holiday 2010 Giveaway: Guidecraft Children's Papagayo Rocker [CLOSED]

If you are seeking an alternative gift to toys this year for a child in your life, I think I have found a wonderful candidate. This children's rocking chair from Guidecraft could not have been a bigger hit in our house. I told our three children that this was a reading chair, as we keep it right next to the bookcase in our living room. All three children have been fighting over who gets the next turn to sit in this rocker. We actually had to create some rules about taking turns and how long each turn would be. Best of all, our children have been reading books more than ever!

Out of the 78 different children's rockers available from Guidecraft, I chose the Papagayo Rocking Chair because, although it has a tiny bit of pink in the design, this chair works for households with both boys and girls. Also, the dark wood trim and the earth tones really allow this chair to blend in well with the rest of the decor in our living room.

This chair does require assembly and it took my husband about 20 minutes to put it together by himself. He said that the most challenging part was lining up the holes in the seat.

This chair is made out of hardwood and is very solid and sturdy. It definitely falls into the category of real furniture, as opposed to toy furniture.

In addition to the turned legs and the whimsical paintings, one other detail I love about this chair is the raised relief. This gives the three animals a slight 3-dimensional effect and adds to the charm of this piece of furniture.

(Click on any image to enlarge)

The seat height of this rocker is 14", which is another reason why I chose this particular chair. Our almost 4 year old twins can just touch the floor with their toes, so this chair should last them several years. It is also still a great fit for our nearly 7 year old son.

To view the entire Lambs & Ivy Papagayo Collection of children's furniture, visit Guidecraft.com .

Thank you to Guidecraft for sending us a complimentary sample product to base this review upon and for providing a second product for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a Guidecraft Papagayo Rocking Chair (ARV $110).

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:

Browse the selection of children's furniture offered by Guidecraft. Then leave a comment telling me the name of a piece or set of furniture you would love to gift to a child in your life this holiday. 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, sign up for the Guidecraft e-Newsletter (at the bottom of the website). Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments telling me you did so.

4)

For 1 extra entry each, if you are a Friend of mine on Facebook and/or if you have "liked" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 1 extra entry each, follow Guidecraft on Twitter and/or "Like" Guidecraft on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook 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, November 22nd, 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!

Review: Creative Interiors Sweet Dreams Children's Desk

TWINtuitive Product #27

I chose this children's desk from CSN Stores, one of the leading online retailers of home furnishings products and more, to feature as a "TWINtuitive Product" because it is an affordable space-saving desk that accommodates two children very well. It is definitely a better solution than spending the money on two desks, as well as using up twice as much space in our already crowded house.






This ready-to-assemble white Creative Interiors Sweet Dreams Desk is basic, but sturdy. It only measures just over 40" wide and 18-1/2" deep. If you have assembled RTA furniture in the past, this desk will take you no time to put together at all.


As you can see, two standard armless task chairs can fit in front of this desk and can be pushed in under the desk with no problems at all. There are even two pencil drawers . . . one for each child. This desk is attractive and should last our twins quite a few years. When it comes time for serious studying, we will need to purchase a second desk so each child will have enough space for books, notebooks, etc . . . Until then, this desk is perfect for our twins to share.



This desk sells on CSNStores.com for just $110 with free ground shipping. To view their full selection of children's and home office desks, visit CSNOfficeFurniture.com .


Thank you to CSN Stores for providing a gift certificate to us free of charge in order to obtain a sample desk to base this review upon.

Giveaway & Review: Offi "Tiki Stool" from Oompa ($25 GC) [CLOSED]

"Room to Play" Product #11

Space is a huge issue in our house, so we need to save room where we can. For example, we opted for a bed without a headboard for my daughter. Every little bit counts. That is why I was so attracted to the Offi Tiki Stool when I came across it while browsing the Oompa website for children's furniture. This stool has an ample seat, but no back or arms to take up space.

The simple design of the Tiki Stool makes it a good fit for almost any style of decor, whether it is a child's room, a college dorm room, or a family room. This stool measures 15.5" high and can accommodate a child as young as 3 years old, like my daughter, all the way up to an adult. It is proportioned correctly, so we have not had any issues with the stool tipping. It is made of molded polypropylene, so it will hold up well to everyday use.

Two of my favorite things about this stool is its versatility and its portability. Our Tiki Stool has been used for everything from a nightstand to a table for pretend play. Our 3 year old daughter is also able to move the stool around the room on her own depending on whether she wants to sit in front of the television or next to the train table or somewhere else. It is also a great seat for an adult to use for story time.

I have to point out that there was an error made when shipping this stool to me. The store sent me the floor sample, which as you can see, is scratched and marred. I was a little disappointed that nobody did anything to rectify the matter other than to extend an apology. For someone like me who does not like to buy second-hand items for her children, this was a huge issue for me. I tried to clean and disinfect the stool as best I could, but the marks would not come off.

Aside from the customer service issue, I was very pleased with this stool from Oompa.com . I do believe it will be used by my daughter for many years to come. The Offi Tiki Stool is offered in a wide array of colors. The stock at Oompa seems to vary all the time, so check back if you do not see the color you are looking for.

To view their full selection of toys, children's furniture, infant/toddler gear, and more, visit Oompa.com . For a limited time, you can receive Free Ground Shipping on U.S. orders over $65.

Thank you to Oompa for sending us a sample stool free of charge to base this review upon and for providing a gift card for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a $25 gift card to use at any Oompa store or on Oompa.com .

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:

Browse the selection of children's furniture and toys offered by Oompa . Then leave a comment telling me what you would use your gift card towards if you won this contest (excluding the item reviewed in this article). 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.

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

3b) If you helped me promote this event by blogging about it prior to June 6th, 2010 according to the directions in my Room To Play Event post, then please give yourself an additional 5 entries. Remember to leave a separate comment for each extra entry.

4) For one extra entry each, if you are a friend of mine Facebook and/or have "Liked" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page. Then leave a separate comment telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For one extra entry each, follow Oompa on Twitter and/or "like" Oompa Toys on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook 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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11a)

Add my "Room To Play" Giveaway Event button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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11b) If you helped me promote this event by displaying my event tag prior to June 6th, 2010 according to the directions in my Room To Play Event post, then please give yourself an additional 2 entries. Remember to leave a separate comment for each extra entry.

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


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, August 9th, 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!