Father's Day Gift Ideas on a Budget!

Fathers' Day is just around the corner, that means it's time to buckle down and do some crafting with the kids!  There are tons of inexpensive and many free craft and gift ideas you can do that daddy's sure to love and cherish.

Just to get your creative juices flowing here are some quick and easy ideas I've come across from around the world wide web!

Photo Courtesy of Kaboodle.com

Homemade #1 Dad Trophy
This is an absolutely darling idea that is super easy to do and the kids will have fun making it.  Kaboodle has shared this pic and also step-by-step instructions.

Family TV Photo
Another great and super quick project that you can do with found objects from around the home.  Make a Family TV Photo Box!

Photo Courtesy of Kaboodle.com

Duct Tape Wallet
Silly, yes.  But will your kids love making this duct tape wallet for dad?  Of course!  Visit Disney Family Fun for this great tutorial.

Eco-Freindly Crafts for Dad
Mother Nature Network has a great post on their site with 9 eco-friendly crafts for dad that can be made mostly from recycled and repurposed materials.  Make sure to check out Mother Nature Network for more details.

More Handmade Gift Ideas
Tip Junky also has some great gift ideas you can make on your own.  They're mostly super easy to do, some do involve baking, but overall you'll save a ton of money by making dad gifts that he'll love just as much as any store bought ones.

Craftster
Craftster is a humongous resource for all things sewing and crafting.  You'll find a ton of free patterns, tutorials, photos and ideas galore.  Make something out of recycled neck ties, old t-shirts, golf balls...You name it and Craftster has an idea for it!

Etsy
Last but definitely not least, make sure you check out Etsy!  You can get some inspiration by checking out others handmade items or if you don't have time to make something or just aren't that crafty, you can buy a nice handmade gift for dad.

Do you have any links to any other great sites our readers can check out?  Please share them here or leave a comment on our FB Wall!

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Toxic Toys: Should you worry?

Ever heard of Phthalates? I bet you have.  Phthalates, pronounced "thal-ates," are chemical substances found in the obvious plastic toys, feeding utensils and many many more items designed for use by and with children. They're also found in a lot less obvious products like shampoos, makeups, sunscreens and other consumable products.

From Wikipedia,
Phthalates are used in a large variety of products, from enteric coatings of pharmaceutical pills and nutritional supplements to viscosity control agents, gelling agents, film formers, stabilizers, dispersants, lubricants, binders, emulsifying agents, and suspending agents.


They are also primarily used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity).

Phthalate Exposure,
Phthalates are easily released into the environment because there is no covalent bond between the phthalates and plastics in which they are mixed. As plastics age and break down, the release of phthalates accelerates.

Phthalates, now banned from use in toys in Europe, have been thought to be linked to infertility in boys as well as putting the general public at risk of many other health problems due to exposure.


So, although brief, it's obvious just from the above known uses of and exposure to phthalates in our every day lives, it doesn't make sense to knowingly purchase toys which contain phthalates.

Because the risks of phthalate exposure are becoming more and more well known and publicized, there are now more phthalate free toy options than ever before.

Companies like Plan Toys, HABA toys, Green toys and more have really gone above and beyond to provide parents with a healthy more natural alternative with phthalate-free toys.  Now toys, just as cute and fun as their toxic alternatives are being made with recycled plastics, natural woods, non-toxic paints and more.

Visit Luvaboos today for a great selection of natural, eco-friendly and non-toxic toys for your little ones.

To learn more about phthalates and other toxins known to be found in toys and other household products please visit the resources below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/412/
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/412/video.html

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Giveaway: Enter to win a LunchBot Stainless Steel Lunch Container! CLOSED

This week's Luvaboos Giveaway is a great eco-friendly and kid-friendly accessory!  You can enter to win a LunchBot Stainless Steel Reusable Lunch Container!

LunchBots are stainless steel lunch and snack containers that are healthier than plastic and better for the environment. Both the container and the lid are made from the highest quality, 18/8 stainless steel. LunchBots are safe, eco-friendly, and durable.

The LunchBots Uno is the perfect container for packing a sandwich, sushi, burrito -- your favorite lunch to go.
To purchase a LunchBot you can shop Luvaboos online or in person if you're a Rochester NY local.

Want a chance to win a LunchBot totally Free?  Enter our Giveaway below!

The Prize:
(1) LunchBot Stainless Steel Lunch Container in the color of your choice (subject to availability)

Details:
Open to participants in the USA and Canada.

Date:  Giveaway is open through June 17, 2011.  The winner will be announced on the Blog and FaceBook and will also be notified via email.  Winner has 7 days to claim their prize or an alternate winner will be chosen in their place.

Rules:  For each entry you must comment on this giveaway post.  Please make sure we can either contact you via email through your profile or leave your email address with each entry.

*You must first complete the mandatory entry.  All other entries are optional.

Entry Methods:

• Mandatory 1st Entry-  Visit Luvaboos.com and tell us what other item you'd like to try from our Feeding Supplies section.  Come back and comment here with the size and color ad your first entry.
• (1) Entry for Becoming a Fan of Luvaboos on Facebook
• (1) Entry for Following Luvaboos on Twitter
• (1) Entry for Liking LunchBots on FaceBook and commenting on their wall that you were sent by @Luvaboos
• (1) Entry for leaving a Luvaboos Product Review on Luvaboos.com (visit the item you'd like to review and look for the link to leave a review under the products description.  Come back and leave your name and the name of the product you reviewed with your entry) *Limit 5 product reviews per giveaway.
• (3) Entries for sharing the link to our Giveaway on FaceBook or your Blog. (limit 1 x per day)
• (3) Entries for Tweeting about this Giveaway.  You must Tweet this "Enter to #win a @LunchBot Stainless Lunch Container from the @Luvaboos Blog!  Click here to enter--->http://ow.ly/5djcC" (limit 1 tweet per day)
• (3) Entries for Tweeting this "Visit @Luvaboos for all your Natural Parenting & Cloth Diapering Needs! #clothdiapers --->http://ow.ly/5dj85" (limit 1 tweet per day)
• (10) Entries for Contributing an article/blog post to the Luvaboos Blog!  Please email submissions to shethinksmedia(at)gmail.com
• (5) Entries for placing the code for our Luvaboos Blog Button (located on the right sidebar of this blog) onto your Blog or Website.
• (5) Entries for making a purchase at Luvaboos during the giveaway.  Please leave your invoice or date of purchase with each entry.

 Good Luck!

*All winners entries will be verified.   Winner has 7 days to claim their prize before an alternate winner will be chosen.

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Winner of our Knickernappies Custom Fit Diaper Giveaway is...Entry 63, GraceInk!

According to the powers that be over at Random.org, the lucky winning entry from our Knickernappies Custom Fit Diaper Giveaway is #63!  That entry belongs to GraceInk!

Thanks to everyone who entered, with over 500 entries, this giveaway was definitely a success!

Grace, please check your email for a notification from us and to claim your prize!

For a great selection of in-stock cloth diapers and natural parenting accessories please visit Luvaboos.com!

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GroVia's Gro-To-Go Summer Kit is a Sale you don't want to miss!

 With Summertime comes great family adventures!  You'll be out and about, taking road trips, camping, and enjoying yourselves outdoors.  You'll also have less time for laundry and want to be able to pack less in your diaper bag when you're leaving the house.

The GroVia Gro-To-Go Summer Kit is a perfect summer essential.  For just $49.99 you'll receive (3) GroVia One-Size Shells, (50) GroVia BioSoakers, & (3) Cloth Diaper Detergent Samples!  Everything you need in a a hybrid system to cloth diaper with ease.


Gro Baby™ Bio Soaker Pads are a perfect solution for cloth diapering on the go. Use when on vacation, at day care, or running errands.

• Biodegradable & Compostable
• Breathable & Hypo-Allergenic
• Fragrance & Dye Free
• Plastic Free
• Chlorine Free

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Fun with Feeding: Tips, Tricks and more!

I'm sure you've heard of the Sneaky Chef, Missy Lapine and her book Sneaky Chef:  Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in your Kids Favorite Meals.  Her work has been featured on tv show after tv show and her book is a bestseller and favorite among moms everywhere.

It's true.  Sometimes, perhaps most of the time, you need a gimmick to get kids to eat healthy, this includes going to great lengths to disguise your healthy ingredients among other things.

Applying some of Missy's brilliant recipes and secret ingredients to your everyday foods will get you a leg up on your picky eater, but there are other tips to getting your kids to eat as well.

Try a special bib or placemat, that they get to pick, and save it especially for dinner time.  Or opt for a special plate and bowl set or unique and fun eating utensils like the Constructing Eating Utensils we carry at Luvaboos.

Use a food dehydrator to turn those healthy fruits and veggies into crunchy or chewy snack-like finger foods.  Apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, pineapple and more dehydrate in just hours and your kids won't be able to resist.

Turn healthy treats into frozen delights by freezing them!  Fill your basic ice tray with yogurt, leftover smoothie mix, natural juice and more and give to your little ones when they're looking for a desert. I guarantee they'll love these yummy new popsicles you've invented.

Let your little ones help in the kitchen!  Often just allowing them to crack an egg, stir or pour some ingredients, etc. will give them that extra desire to try something new, especially if you remind them that "they made it!"

Well these are just a few of my easy tips and tricks for getting little ones to eat.  Do you have any advice you'd like to share?

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Luvaboos Gently Used Sale! Sunday June 26 & Tuesday June 28th!

Gently Used Sale! 

  Sunday, June 26th from 12am-5pm

 Tuesday, June 28th from 1pm-6pm (50% off sale!)

How do you sell your diapers?

  

1.  Email us right away!  We will send you a form to fill out with your diapers, name, price and REDUCE to include in the 50% off sale if they do not sell on Sunday. 

  

2. Send your list back to us with ALL your contact info and your option of 60% cash back or 80% store credit and we will send you a PDF of Barcoded tags (if all goes smoothly :) for each of your items.

  

3.  Print your tags on card stock, tag your items.  Small gold safety pins work great or you may use our Tag Gun for $1.00 (You must arrive at least 1 1/2 hours before close to use our Tag Gun).

  

4.  Drop off your items June 24th-27th during store hours OR ship them and we'll take care of the rest!  We'll organize them, answer questions and hopefully sell them all for you :)

  

5.  Any remaining items and your 60% cash back or 80% store credit will be available for your pick up.  You MUST pick up with in one week or we will assume you don't want the remaining items and we will donate them.

*This Sale there will be a $6 consigner registration fee deducted from items sold and a $1 purchaser fee for each customer at the sale (you are only charged if any of your items sell OR if you are purchasing, no entrance fee.  This is to help us cover the costs of staff to keep the sale up and running!).

*Like to earn more commission?  You can do so by volunteering before, during OR after the sale.  Volunteer shifts are 4 hours and you will receive an additional 10% back in either Cash or Store Credit.

  

Last sale we went through the majority of the items in the first few hours so it is a great way to unload your stash.  We also went through other baby items such as carriers, wipes warmers, gear and more.  We are NOT accepting clothes, feminine products or home made carriers at this sale but have some great consignment stores to recommend if you are interested.

  

Any questions feel free to shoot us an email.  And remember, you MUST follow these steps or we will have to turn you away.  It is not that we wouldn't love to help you tag your items but there simply isn't enough time with everything else there is to accomplish around here and still see our little ones before they go to bed :)

  

NOW, go get your stuff out and get ready to free up some cash, tell all your friends, post on your mommy/daddy groups, craigsist, blogs, facebook, twitter, wherever!  We want to see you destash and know there are lots of parents already looking forward to snagging some good deals for little ones to come.  Let's save everyone some time and money, shop local and have a fun day :)

  

We will also be having a good amount of items on sale in the store because we are making room for even MORE new stuff...my personal favorite...diaper bags!  (my hubby totally makes fun of my bag addiction :)

Here is the email again to contact us!  Rita is heading up getting your labels to you so all emails will be directed toward her! (thanks Rita :)

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