Holiday Baby Gift Guide

Holiday Baby Gift Guide

The holidays are fast-approaching, and for those of us who still have babies in our families (or know those that do), it can be a bit of a hassle to sort through all the products out there and pick out a good present. Let us help you figure it all out– check out our top picks for baby gifts in 2014:

t359_59673de8d96b834637bb04bef43a8eddTolo Rolling Shape Sorter, $28.99

The Tolo Rolling Shape Sorter, by Reeves International, is a great early learning toy. It engages kids with six different shapes to sort, each making their own unique sound. It’s a great pick for kids 12 months and up.

 

 
71nEPZxMahL._SL1500_Sophie the Giraffe Teether, $18.99

Sophie the Giraffe by Vulli is a 7″ teether excellent for helping kids adjust to their teeth coming in. It’s free of phthalates and BPA, and is made of 100% natural rubber and food paint, so there are no safety concerns here! Also, each teether is hand-painted, providing a unique and individually-crafted experience for your child.

 

 

 

 

 

 

81zZTVkD2cL._SL1500_Sensory Ball Mega, $14.99

Edushape’s 4-pack of Sensory Balls is a great value for this holiday season! The pack includes 2 7″ balls and 2 4″ balls in a variety of colors, bringing you hours of play for a low price. The balls are great for dexterity and sensory development in little ones, and their size allows for easy interactive play with older siblings and adults.

 

 

 

71g8IvxWzKL._SL1500_Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker, $34.99

Vtech’s Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker combines shape sorting, piano play, light-up action, and more with the educational value of learning to walk! It’s a fantastic developmental aid on multiple levels– a great choice for toddlers this holiday season. And as an added bonus, it’s half off at Amazon now!

 

 

81Yw0sq+gYL._SL1500_Sir Prance A Lot, $14.99

A great choice for younger kids, Tomy’s Sir Prance A Lot is a clip-on toy that works equally well at home or on the go! Its squeaky knight, colorful clacking rings, and variety of sounds and textures are sure to be a hit with the baby (or babies) in your life.

 

 

71FTr3YczDL._SL1393_Baby Skwish Classic, $12.95

The 6″ Skwish Classic by Manhattan Toy stimulates your baby’s curiosity with bright colors and a variety of shapes. The toy features squishable rods, beads and balls in a framework of colors. Developing minds are motivated with moving beads, colorful balls and bendy wooden rods that take a squishing and revert back to the original shape.

 

 

31xKNouf2JLAngel Dear Blankie, $11.21

Available in over 35 different varieties (including the Pink Bunny, shown at left), the Angel Dear Blankie is a perfect newborn gift. At 14″ by 14″, it’s an excellent size for babies, and it’s machine washable and cashmere soft. This combination of a security blanket and stuffed animal will be a favorite for your baby for years to come.

 

 

71nG5RdwTSL._SL1500_Skwinkle Teether and Rattle Activity Clutching Toy, $12.53

This multifaceted teether and rattle by Manhattan Toy is sure to entertain your child and engage him or her in a variety of ways. Featuring a combination of textures to provide a sensory, rich, tactile experience for babies, the Skwinkle Teether and Rattle Activity Clutching Toy encourages the development of motor skills as well as aiding in teething.

 

71pV6IrQv5L._SL1500_Kick & Play Piano Gym, $39.99

Fisher Price’s Kick & Play Piano Gym features busy toys like a hippo teether, elephant clackers, rollerball frog and more, as well as a large mirror for your baby. It also boasts four ways to play that adapt to your child’s preference: Lay and play; Tummy time; Sit and play; and Take along. This toy engages your baby’s desire to stretch and kick, and grows along with them– it’s a wonderful choice for this holiday season!

JCPenney has you covered for last minute #FathersDay gifts #JCPStyle

JCPenney has you covered for last minute #FathersDay gifts #JCPStyle

2774Sometimes we wait till the 11th hour to get things done and sometimes we blow right past that and end up needing something as we’re driving over to the persons house.  I present to you 3 great super last minute items that you can pickup at JC Penny.

Are you looking for clothing, kitchen appliances, shoes, watches or anything else as you start to drive over to your dad’s for that BBQ, you cannot go wrong with stopping into JCPenney.  There are plenty of great deals for fathers day online at JCPenney too. Check out some of the JCPenney Fathers day best buys and you too can give some great ideas to your loved ones so you won’t be stuck without a fathers day gift.

How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. June 20th, 2014.
Leave a comment why you want to win a $100 gift card to JC Penny and please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email).

You get 1 extra entry for tweeting about this contest (you can do this daily). Must contain the following information: @JCPenny @dadarocks #FathersDay #JCPStyle – http://dad.am/SKrBW8  and you must also comment with the link to your tweet.

Example: I want to win a @JCPenny $100 #GiftCard from @dadarocks #JCPStyle – http://dad.am/SKrBW8 #giveaway

You get 1 extra entry for following @dadarocks on twitter – www.twitter.com/DaDaRocks You must comment that you’re a follower.

You get 1 extra entry for becoming our FAN on Facebookwww.facebook.com/DaDaRocks You must comment that you’re a fan.

You get 1 extra entry for liking this page on Facebook (like button at the top of the post NOTE: you must be signed into Facebook for it to work!)

You get 1 extra entry for G+ this page on plus.google.com (click on the little G+ icon below) You must comment that you have G+ it.

You will have 24 hours to reply before we pick another winner!

Disclaimer: JCPenny supplied the prizes for  this giveaway. It is limited to the USA only.

Books for Dad this Father’s Day

Books for Dad this Father’s Day

In the spirit of Father’s Day this weekend, here’s a look at some books that deal with the many facets of fatherhood. We recommend these not only as gifts any dad would enjoy for Father’s Day, but also just as good reads for dads anytime!

51EX7L1m3dL“Good Talk, Dad: The Birds and the Bees… And Other Conversations We Forgot to Have”

This book, by CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Bill Geist and his son, Today Show host Willie Geist, tackles father-son conversations in a unique way. Told in a conversational, back-and-forth style between the father/son duo, the book showcases the pair  riffing on fatherhood, religion, music, sports, summer camp disasters, driving lessons gone horribly wrong, being on TV, and their wonderfully odd family life. Good Talk, Dad: The Birds and the Bees… And Other Conversations We Forgot to Have is an excellent look at the relationship between fathers and sons, and perfect for Father’s Day.

 

51jpbP0MLBLThe Parents’ Phrase Book: Hundreds of Easy, Useful Phrases, Scripts, and Techniques for Every Situation

Have you ever needed just the right answer when your child asks you something, but you just can’t quite put the answer into the right words?  With The Parents’ Phrase Book, you no longer have to worry about coming up with the right response on the spot. The Parents’ Phrase Book gives you an inside track to all the things you’ll need to know so your kids never catch you off guard with a question or concern ever again. Author and parenting expert Whit Honea offers perfect examples in this handy guide that will prove invaluable for any dad.

41Y61zfFy1LFrom Dude to Dad: The Diaper Dude Guide to Pregnancy

Written by Diaper Dude creator Chris Pegula, From Dude to Dad is a fantastic guide to new fatherhood. It gives you the need-to-know essentials on pregnancy, birthing, and parenthood, and how it’s okay to be scared out of your mind. You’ll learn what the expecting mom is going through during each trimester, how you can be the best partner and dad-to-be, and how to immediately start bonding with baby. This one’s perfect for all the new dads out there! 

 

61uj3c0KtKLDad’s Book of Awesome Projects: From Stilts and Superhero Capes to Tinker Boxes and Seesaws, 25+ Do-It Yourself Projects for Families

Dads are certainly a crafty bunch, in the best of ways– and Dad’s Book of Awesome Projects helps you indulge that tinkering side by teaching you how to build all kinds of things with your kids!  From wooden “swords” to slay the most vicious of dragons to circus stilts that will send you soaring to new heights, these projects are sure to spark everyone’s creative spirit. And the fun doesn’t stop there! This book shows you and your kids how to build:

  • Comic book shoes
  • Rope swings
  • Homemade goo slime
  • Eggshell cupcakes
  • Ol’-fashioned fruit crate scooter

Perfect for inspiring endless hours of summertime (and anytime!) fun, giving a dad this book also offers tons of valuable family time together with his children.

51akrHyW3TLThe Guide to Baby Sleep Positions: Survival Tips for Co-Sleeping Parents

Written by Andy Herald and Charlie Capen of HowToBeADad.com, The Guide to Baby Sleep Positions offers hilarious infographics, descriptions, and more about the trials and tribulations of sleeping with a baby in the bed. The Guide to Baby Sleep Positions features some of the most popular posts from their site (we can’t leave out “H is for Hell” or “Jazz Hands”), but two-thirds of the content will be unique to the book, and ALL of the positions will be accompanied by new text.  These two Dads NAIL IT! If you’ve ever had a need to co-sleep with your baby/toddler/child, you know that this stuff happens, but whether you’ve experienced these bedtime contortions or not yet, you’ll find some humor and fun in this book!

51MWOYsDWJLDadLabs (TM) Guide to Fatherhood

Stuck in a rough situation parenting-wise and not sure who to ask? We’ve got the perfect book for you. Full of hilarious and practical information inspired by their award-winning Web site, DadLabs Guide to Fatherhood will teach you:

•  Why sex is overrated (and other lies new fathers tell themselves)
•  The incredibly disgusting varieties of baby poop
•  Why washing bottles will not make your balls fall off
•  Essential OB/GYN office survival tips
•  Things you should never ever say during labor
•  Why other parents’ children are inferior to yours
•  And much, much more!

51ezzIb9KWLBobblehead Dad: 25 Life Lessons I Forgot I Knew

Bobblehead Dad tells the story of how author Jim Higley went from being a bobblehead who just put on a smiling face and bobbled through his hectic, overflowing days to reanalyzing and living his life in the wake of a cancer diagnosis.  Written in an informal but eloquent style, Bobblehead Dad keeps you laughing, crying and–most importantly–thinking. Higley’s distinctive storytelling rhythm, combined with a knack for handling heavy topics with an embraceable voice, quickly draws you into his experiences–while launching you on your own journey of self-discovery and reflection. It’s a great read that reaffirms the importance of fatherhood and dads taking care of their families even in today’s crazy world.

 

 

Father’s Day Gift Guide

Father’s Day Gift Guide

Still on the lookout for Father’s Day gifts? We’ve got some great suggestions for you and the fathers and grandfathers in your life!


Travel_Zoo_Silver_logoTRAVELZOO FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Pick out a gift for Dad that he’ll remember forever from Travelzoo which is chock full of adrenaline-fueled adventures, steak house dinners, golf at top rated courses, tickets to the big game and much more. Pick out your favorite experience and have it delivered via email or a printed certificate printed on premium color stock which describes the experience and how to use it. It is packaged with your personal message and mailed directly. Or, have the certificate emailed.  To see Travelzoo’s Father’s Day Gift Guide visit: www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/gifts

 

Norman Love Confections - White Chocolate and Coconut Golf BallsWHITE CHOCOLATE AND COCONUT GOLF BALLS – NORMAN LOVE CONFECTIONS $18.00

Suiting golfers to a tee, this box from features six white chocolate golf balls filled with a delicious coconut cream ganache. Norman Love, an internationally recognized chocolatier whose artisanal chocolates bare his namesake, masterfully blends the purest ingredients to create edible works of art that are nothing less than perfect and leave a lasting impression on all. To purchase please visit: www.normanloveconfections.com.

 

Courage bp GREYUNISEX COURAGE BACKPACK- TWELVElittle – $210

TWELVElittle’s unisex Courage backpack is designed for men and women who are both fashionable and always on-the-go. With an exclusive hidden zipper pocket, parents can store dirty items like diapers and shoes, and an interior padded tech sleeve protects all handheld gadgets and even laptops up to 14 inches. Sold in a variety of other colors, this backpack can be purchased at www.twelvelittle.com

 

 

563633_544379168928649_1955301581_nPRODUCT OF THE YEAR

Product of the Year is the largest consumer product award that rewards innovation and is voted on by real consumers. Product of the Year currently operates in 40 countries with the same purpose: Guide consumers to the best products in their market and reward manufacturers for quality and innovation. For more information please visit: www.productoftheyearusa.com.

 

 

2014 PRODUCT OF THE YEAR WINNERS INCLUDE:

 

fe413ea6-6418-4dba-b28a-3bf299d17fe1XBOX ONE – $499.99

Xbox One is the all-in-one entertainment system that gives you instant access to TV, games, music, movies, sports and apps. It plugs into your set-top box and the improved Kinect lets you control all your connected entertainment devices with voice-no need for a remote or to change inputs. Xbox One also supports more immersive, enhanced titles like “Forza 5,” “Ryse: Son of Rome” and “Titanfall,” making it the best place to play games.

 

SodaStream_LineupSODASTREAM SOURCE – $99.99

SodaStream partners with Yves Béhar, world-renowned designers and social entrepreneur- the result is the new Source, an elegantly-designed soda maker that combines beauty, functionality and efficiency. Powered by a CO2 canister, the refined mechanics of SodaStream make the entire top surface responsive to touch. A new Snap-Lock mechanism makes the process quick, easy and intuitive, while an LED display provides instant visual feedback on the level of carbonation.

 

 

Father’s Day Gift Idea: Keurig K75 Platinum Brewing System

Father’s Day Gift Idea: Keurig K75 Platinum Brewing System

41+WLJiC4VL._SX450_Pretty much everyone loves Coffee and those that dont love Coffee love Tea… Well the K-Cup system all that and more… The feature I think is great is for those that want decaf versus those that want a little more pick me up.  It takes less then a minute to make a cup of coffee so this is great for the getting up and going for morning or for having guest over. Sounds good? check out the Keurig K75 Platinum Brewing System.

The Platinum Brewing System brews a perfect cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa or iced beverage at the touch of a button. With an award-winning design, this brewer features a blue, backlit LCD display that allows you to program water temperature, set the digital clock, Auto On/Off and your favorite cup size. With the choice of five cup sizes, the Platinum brewer offers a removable drip tray to accommodate travel mugs.

Features:

  • Fully Programmable
  • Choice of 5 cup sizes (4 oz., 6 oz., 8 oz., 10 oz. and 12 oz.)
  • Removable 72 oz. water reservoir
  • Quiet Brew Technology
  • Energy Savings Mode – Auto On/Off
  • Includes water filter handle and 1 charcoal filter

Overcouse if you want to add more to the gift you can buy a sampler pack of k-cups so you know which direction you want to head in.  Additionally you add a Carousel Tower. Lastly if you’re super picky about your coffee there is a reusable pack your own k-cup which I hear good things about too but that just what I hear.