Toddlers

Great Mom Ideas: Binka Bear

As any toddler mom or dad knows, it can be a really emotional struggle to take the pacifier or binky away when they no longer need it – but one mom decided to turn the struggle into a delightful story and accompanying bear – it’s no surprise that we’re fans of mompreneurs over here at Gugu Guru, so we’re thrilled to introduce you to Binka Bear! We absolutely love this idea, and especially because it really does start a family tradition about handing over the pacifier! Check out all the info below and if you like the idea, head to their Kickstarter and help make this mama’s dream a reality!

Finally, a No-Muss, No-Fuss- and Dare, We Say Magical- Way to Wean Your Child From Their Pacificers! Let Binka Bear replace your child’s favorite comfort item with a cuddly plush toy as they adventure along the journey of Binka Bear and the Magic of Willowspring, helping your child to lose the paci once and for all.

Step One: Prepare!

You’ve made the decision: it’s time for the pacifier TO GO! What now? Introduce Binka Bear and use the included Prep Guide to begin preparing your little one (and yourself) for losing the pacifier for good. The prep guide will include a couple of simple steps to make the process more effective before Binka Bear does his “magic”.

Step Two: Read the Story

Set special time aside to read “Binka Bear and The Magic of Willowspring” to help your child discover how Binka must wait for his magic to arrive- and how only your child can help make it happen by giving their beloved pacifiers to their new friend for permanent safekeeping near by, but out of their mouth!

Step Three: Give Pacifiers to Binka Bear

Watch as your child excitedly shares the magic with Binka Bear by sealing up to two pacifiers within his or her new best friend’s specially designed pouches located in each of his hands!

Best Developmental Toys for Babies as They Grow: Monti Kids

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When it comes to our children, there is no doubt that parents strive for the best of the best, especially when it comes to the toys they play with. The best developmental toys for babies are often the most simple, as this allows for babies to ponder, imagine, and use their growing brains in exciting ways. We’re thrilled to introduce you to the best developmental toys for babies, Monti Kids. Monti Kids takes all the guess work out of finding the best developmental toys for babies and allows parents the confidence to know their babies, toddlers, and kids have the best, and most age appropriate, developmental toys.

Monti Kids is a toy curriculum for parents with a companion box of thoughtfully designed materials for newborns to three-year-olds, offering Montessori learning for the whole family. No more late nights doing toy research for the best developmental toys for babies, Monti Kids is your friendly companion in making sure your little one has developmentally appropriate toys from birth to childhood.

How does Monti Kids work exactly? It’s so simple even the busiest of parents can handle it! Simply head to the Monti Kids website and pick which level box your child is at; the boxes range from newborn to 36 months old. Their simple timeline makes it easy to know which level your baby is at and you can easily follow the timeline of boxes from birth to 3 years old. Each level is so well thought-out, for example, Level 1 is for newborns, and as Monti Kids explains, “The toys in Level 1 are designed to build and grow your child’s attention span, right from birth. These toys help to optimize cognitive and motor development by providing just enough challenge without being over stimulating. The Level 1 curriculum will teach you how to promote your baby’s language, motor, cognitive and social-emotional skills. You will learn to set up a Montessori play area for your child that will best support development.”

Once you receive your shipment from Monti Kids, there are 2 minute quick, easy videos to explain how to introduce each toy to your child to maximize learning and development. Monti Kids knows how busy life can get, so these videos are aimed at working and busy parents; they’re short and to the point, while offering a full explanation of each toy. Once you understand the beauty of each toy, spend a few minutes introducing the toy to your child. Then step away and allow the learning to begin! It’s magical to see your baby learn to play on his or her own. Before preschool, there’s Monti Kids, and they couldn’t make it easier to introduce the best developmental toys for babies to your family.

You can find Monti Kids on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Thank you to Monti Kids for making this post possible!

Introducing Grow with Gugu

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Grow with Gugu – Your Free Ongoing Product Recommendations from Gugu Guru

Hot off the press! We are so excited to introduce product recommendations for your growing baby(s) that are curated by top parenting experts and highly personalized just for YOU based on your initial Gugu Guru profile. Watch this short video from our founder, Monica Banks, to learn about this new and totally free service for past and current Gugu Guru registrants then sign up here to get started. It is the ultimate parenting hack.

Current and past Gugu Guru registrants must opt-in to receive their personalized product recommendations. You can do that through this form.

For Brands:

Brands can submit products for consideration through this form.
Please note: submitting your brand does not guarantee that your brand will be included in our recommendation service.

Zucchini Bread Muffins for Baby Led Weaning

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When it comes to baby led weaning (learn more about BLW here), it’s fun to try new recipes for your little one. A fantastic place to learn new and healthy recipes is Hello Fresh. Hello Fresh makes it easy to try new recipes because they provide you with everything you need, including step by step instructions (hello, mom brain). Did you know you could add Hello Fresh boxes to your registry? Today we’re sharing a delicious and healthy zucchini bread muffins from Hello Fresh’s blog ideal for baby led weaning, toddlers, kids or yourself.

One of the best ways to get colorful veggies into those tiny tummies is to bake with them. Zucchini, being the high water content food that it is, works wonders to add moisture to breads and muffins alike — which makes it our go-to veggie come dessert.

These treats are slightly sweet and incredibly flavorful thanks to the addition of cinnamon and ginger — two warming autumnal spices. If you’re in a bind, feel free to skip the butterfly decorations and just top with a slather of frosting. But if not, we highly recommend it. Plus, the kids will LOVE it.

Here’s what you’ll need:

For the batter:

2 Cups Plain Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
3/4 Cup Sugar
125 Grams (8 Tablespoons) Butter
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
4 Tablespoons Unsweetened Yogurt
3/4 Cup Packed Grated Zucchini

For the frosting:

1 Cup Cream Cheese
1/4 Cup Sugar
1/3 Cup Crushed Pineapple, drained

Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with liners.

2. In a large bowl, beat together all cupcake ingredients (except grated zucchini) until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

3. Fold in grated zucchini.

4. Spoon mixture into muffin tin and bake until golden and firm to the touch, 25-30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

5. Meanwhile, prepare frosting by beating cream cheese, sugar, and pineapple together until light and fluffy.

6. Once muffins are cool, scoop out a shallow circle from the middle. Chop circle in half — these are your wings!

7. Fill hole with frosting. Stick wings flat side down, pointing out and up.

A Full Plate: Convenience Food Hacks

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In this week’s Convenience Food Hacks episode of A Full Plate, mom and Chef Nikki Dinki brings us ways to make convenience foods (think mac ‘n’ cheese) a lot healthier.

For more fun food hacks, check out Nikki’s Ultimate Healthy Meal Hacks here.

By the way, these awesome food and nutrition tips from Nikki are brought to us by our friends at VeeTee Dine In Rice.

About VeeTee Dine In
Five Star Taste in Just 2 Minutes
VeeTee Dine In rice is delicious, microwaveable rice ready in just 2 minutes. VeeTee uses only real ingredients and contains no artificial flavorings, colors or preservatives. All Veetee Dine In Rice products are gluten-free and suitable for ovo-lacto vegetarians.

(Featured image: Nikki Dinki’s KRAFT-STYLE MAC + CHEESE WITH CAULIFLOWER + SWEET POTATO)

Product Discovery: Bumkins

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Let’s face it, childhood is messy! Between the eating, playing, learning, and overall stickiness of childhood…it seems like everyone is covered in a mess by the end of the day. That’s why we’re so excited to introduce you to Bumkins. Bumkins, originally founded as a cloth diaper company, has now expanded into toddlerhood and beyond with their adorable bibs, bags and other products all designed to be fun and family-friendly. Check out some of our favorite product picks for all the messy (but cute) toddlers in your life below.

Spills, drips, splats – this looks like a job for the SuperBib! Now with capes for added fun! Bumkins’ award-winning, best-selling SuperBib takes baby from first foods all the way through the toddler years, foiling nasty stains along the way! Made from Bumkins’ lightweight, easy wipe, machine washable waterproof fabric, SuperBibs are both comfortable and durable. Sized to fit ages 6 to 24 months, these bibs feature a back shoulder Velcro closure for a quick, adjustable and tug-proof fit. With a handy catch-all pocket for containing spills, this bib is a great addition to any mealtime!

The Sleeved Bib saves one outfit at a time with the award-winning protection of Bumkins’ lightweight, easy wipe, machine washable waterproof fabric. Generously sized, and both comfortable and durable, the Sleeved Bib can fit babies from 6-24 months by adjusting sleeve length with the elasticized cuff. Use the back tie closure for a secure and custom fit. With a generously sized, catch-all pocket, this hard working bib is great at containing spills and reducing loads of laundry!

The Bumkins Grip Dish is a must-have for babies and toddlers of all ages! With a strong suction base, plates thrown on the floor are a thing of the past! It is great for little ones learning to self-feed, or more experienced eaters using utensils; made from 100% food grade silicone that is durable, stain resistant, and doesn’t harbor bacteria. Perfectly sized for toddler portions; each section holds approximately 4 oz. Easy to clean! Either hand wash or put in the dishwasher and fits most high chair trays.

Bumkins Splat Mats have you covered! Generously sized and made from Bumkins signature, easy wipe, waterproof fabric, these mats protect floors, tables and more from spills and stains. Wipe clean or machine wash and the mat dries in minutes. Sized 42″ x 42″ for maximum coverage.

Here’s what Gugu Guru mama, Shana, has to say:

Unlike most toddlers, my daughter is not a fan of carbs – unless, of course it’s rice. Rice that gets into every crease, crevice and fold of my daughter, which I can handle, but have you ever cleaned rice off the floor ? It sticks, it smears, and it’s…everywhere. Enter the Bumkins Splat Mat.

I’m a huge fan of products with long longevity – convertible cribs, 3-in-1 potties, diaper pails that become stylish wastebaskets. This is why I love the Bumkin Splat Mat. It’s taken us from the messy days of baby led weaning to the “throw your plate on the floor” days of early toddlerhood to our current arts and crafts days. It wipes up easily and also holds up well in the washer (be sure to air dry it). Bonus for all of the stylish prints that it’s available in!

Check out some Product Discovery posts for toddlers you may have missed:

{Sponsored} Video Overview: Neat Solutions On the Go Products

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We are so excited to be talking about On the Go products from Neat Solutions to Gugu Guru’s audience! These products are must-haves for any parents who plan on leaving the house with baby – whether for a trip to Starbucks or traveling. Check out Gugu Guru founder Monica’s video overview here:

Thank you to Neat Solutions for making this video possible.

View more of our video overviews here:

A Day in the Life of Mom with Neat Solutions

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Neat Solutions – have you heard of them? That’s the brand name but “neat” is the perfect word to describe this innovative portfolio of products that have been designed to help parents out throughout the day. These products are truly “neat” because they’re neat-o, cool and “that’s exactly what I need” kind of “neat.” And also “neat” as in the other meaning of the word: simply keeping it nice and clean. In this post, we’re pretty excited to show you how five real moms from the Gugu Village community use Neat Solutions and share how these products make life with baby much easier. Once you learn more, you’ll see why these might be better named as “Lifesaver Solutions.” From feedings to on-the-go to bath time, here’s a round the clock round-up of Neat Solutions products. (Spoiler alert: our Gugu Village moms say that the Sili-Stick Table Topper is now the one product that they can’t live without.)

7am Feeding Time

Mom of twins, Abby L., tries Neat Solutions’ Paw Patrol Bibs – These are an adorable way to keep your little ones clean while letting them “wear” their favorite characters. They clean up well with just warm water, but you can throw them in the washing machine as well. Also, my little ones have extremely sensitive skin and they did not seem to be too tight around the neck/chin area, which often causes rashes for us. We also tried a toddler bib, which has an extended covering on top of each shoulder. It is a bit longer also, which helped keep our laps clean during lunch. After we were done eating, it was really easy to wipe this bib clean and it dried within minutes.

Mom of 2-year old, Shana S., tries Neat Solutions’ Sesame Street Bibs – Like most 2-year-olds, my daughter is currently obsessed with Elmo and Abby Cadabby. She also isn’t very keen on wearing bibs anymore either, even though mealtimes can still get pretty messy. This bib solves both problems – it goes over her head, so it can’t be pulled off like her velcro closure bibs and it has very wide coverage, so it helps keep her clean better than smaller bibs. The best part, since it has her favorite characters, I don’t have to convince her to put it on!

Mom of 10-month-old, Lori W., tries Neat Solutions’ Bib & Burp Products – My initial thought when I unpacked it was that it is quite small in size. However after using it I actually like how compact it is without extra fabric, which my baby usually paws at. The pocket is great too.

Mom of 1-year-old, Alyssa J., tries Neat Solutions’ Printed Coverall Easywipe Bib With Clear Crumbcatcher – This is super cute and generously-sized to cover more of my baby’s clothes while she is eating. I appreciate the extra coverage for my messy eater! The clear crumbcatcher is really useful for seeing right away what has been caught in the pocket so that I can clear it out after the meal without finding any squishy surprises later. I love how easy it really is to wipe the bib down, and the hook and loop closure is a lot easier than tying string too.

Mom of 3-month-old and 1-year-old, Sunny L., tries Neat Solutions’ Bib & Burp Products – The biggest positive for me is the velcro fastener behind the neck. It doesn’t have any of the scratchy, coarse velcro, keeping my daughter from grabbing/itching at the back.

12pm and On The Go

Mom of twins, Abby L., tries Neat Solutions’ Sili-Stick Table Topper – The Sili-Stick Table Topper is hands down my favorite new product! I have never seen a silicone table mat like this, and it stays put on every surface I tried! My boys could not lift it up and it was so easy to clean. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe for big messes! I am definitely going to add this table topper to my new list of must-haves for parents with toddlers who like to eat away from home.

Mom of 3-month-old and 1-year-old, Sunny L., tries Neat Solutions’ Sili-Stick Table Topper – My favorite item from this bunch! It’s super sticky and says put. At home, it keeps my tabletop clean, because my older child is really into smearing things around. I love the size of this mat, and after meals I just peel it up and dump in the sink. So great for eating out, too. It rolls up pretty small, and could also be folded to make it more packable. I am always scrubbing restaurant tables when I get there to try to get them cleaner for her food to sit on, and this makes the process so much easier. It’s big enough to cover any area in public her little hands could reach and keep her food germ-free.

Mom of 1-year-old, Alyssa J., tries the Neat Solutions’ Sili-Stick Table Topper – This is my new best friend for meals out of the house with baby. I don’t have to worry about the cleanliness of our dining table when I can make sure the Sili-Stick is a clean surface for baby to eat off of. I also don’t have to feel guilty about baby making too much of a mess at the restaurant. All I need to do is wipe it down at the end of the meal and be on our way!

Mom of 2-year old, Shana S., tries Neat Solutions’ Potty Toppers – If you’re like me, the thought of your little one sitting on a public toilet makes you a bit squeamish, to say the least. The Potty Topper is the perfect solution! These plastic liners adhere to the seat, keeping wetness and germs away. Plus, they’re oversized so little bottoms and hands stay well protected from any yuckies that might be lurking. (Editor’s note: we love that these Potty Toppers are eco-friendly too!)

Mom of 10-month-old, Lori W., tries the Neat Solutions’ Neatnik Saucer – This thing came out of my dreams. We had lunch with a friend and her baby this weekend and I used this with the high chair the restaurant provided and it fit perfectly. We are a baby led weaning family so things typically get very messy at mealtime and I loved being able to contain everything. It was also easy to fold up and clean when we were finished. I love love love it. My friend asked for the link so there’s another fan too!

6pm Bathtime (and bedtime prep!)

Mom of 3-month-old and 1-year-old, Sunny L., tries Neat Solutions’ Bath Robe – in the picture, my daughter is petting the robe and was thrilled to put on something soooo soft after her bath! She would pat/pet it and then smile at me. It’s so cozy and warm, and perfect for wrapping her up to get from the bathroom upstairs to her room downstairs, rather than carrying her in a damp towel. The design and color is very cute and dark blue suits her! It had enough fabric to cross in front and tie without leaving a drafty space.

Mom of twins, Abby L., tries Neat Solutions’ Bath Robes – We tried on our bathrobes both before and after bath time. They were super soft and added in a warm change of routine after bath time. Plus the adorable animals/patterns just added to the cute factor.

Mom of 2-year old, Shana S., tries Neat Solutions’ Bath Robe – There’s nothing cozier post-bath for your little one than a snuggly hooded towel – until they hit toddlerhood. When my little one kept sprinting from the bathroom wearing her hooded towel like a superhero cap, I knew it was time to switch to bath robes. I love the Fleece Bath Robe. It’s super soft, cozy, and comes in four different designs. Plus, there are also coordinating washcloths, hooded towels, and bath wraps.

Mom of 1-year-old, Alyssa J., tries the Neat Solutions’ Whale Applique/Print Coral Fleece Bath Robe. This is super cute for both boys and girls. It’s very soft and fluffy! It kept my baby nice and warm after her bath. The robe is generously sized for younger infants, so they won’t be growing out of it too quickly!

Mom of 10-month-old, Lori W., tries Neat Solutions’ Hooded Towel in Friendly Elephant – This hooded towel is so cute and does the job.

Want to discover more must-have products? Be sure to check out these other Gugu Village reviews:
The Village Reviews: bloom BABY All Natural Wipes
The Village Reviews: Gunapod Bamboo Duvet Sack

Thank you to Neat Solutions for making this sponsored post possible. Although the Gugu Village moms received products in exchange for their respective feedback, all opinions are their own.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Holiday 2017: Toddler Gift Guide

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-Sponsored Post-

It’s that time of year again: holiday gift guides for all! This year we’re kicking off our gift guide with awesome gifts for the toddlers in your life. We tried to mix it up between fun gifts, and some gifts which are useful, too! Which one of these would Santa bring your little one?

Trend Lab, character chairs: We’re huge fans of seating made for toddlers, as it teaches independence and is also a super cute addition to any playroom or bedroom. These Trend Lab character chairs are pretty much as cute as they come. These super soft plush chairs are ideal for snuggling, relaxing, and reading. They come in a variety of styles, such as Moose, Elephant, Dragon (dragons are very popular this holiday season!), Lion, Giraffe, Panda, and Tiger – so you’re sure to find a special character chair for the special little lady or guy in your life. These chairs are super lightweight, which makes them easy to move around the house, even for a toddler. Use code TLCCHAIR for 15% off all Trend Lab Children’s Plush Character Chairs on www.tlcbabies.com only. Promo code expiration date: December 31, 2017.

Orbit Labels by Inchbug: We’ve sang the praises of Orbit Labels before, and we happen to think they are a perfect gift for a toddler – whether for a stocking stuffer, or a special gift for a little one who is starting to recognize their own name! Orbit Labels are an ideal gift for toddlers because they are utilitarian, yet also super cute and fun. These non-adhesive and reusable labels are a must-have for any kiddo going to daycare or school; these labels are easily washable and go on sippy cups, bottles, thermoses, and more – and because your child’s name is engraved in the label, their name can never be washed off. Have fun picking the color, icon, and text for each of your children and never mix up a sippy cup or bottle again!

Lark Adventurewear: Toddlers are known for their sense of adventure, and what better to dress them in for an adventure, than Lark Adventurewear? Lark Adventurewear is known for their innovative fabric, created out of a special bamboo and cotton blended knit that is breathable, wicks moisture and is super soft, which means ultimate comfort for your little one. Their activewear is Oeko-Tex® 100 Certified, whose standards ensure that our fabric is made with environmentally friendly processing. Lark Adventurewear also features easy-open tops and bottom-to-top zippers to make clothing and diaper changes as easy as possible. We’re huge fans of all of their clothing and they are releasing long sleeved bodysuits and t-shirts (perfect for those Fall and Winter hikes with baby!) mid-December, so don’t forget to check back and snag yours. See our full review of Lark Adventurewear here, too.

Perry Mackin, Toddler Backpack: Toddlers love to put “things in things” and then carry them around the house. Seriously. Which is why we always suggest toddler sizes backpacks as gifts when it comes to toddlers! We’re loving the Perry Mackin Harness Backpack for toddler this year. Coming in blue, cream, red, yellow, and gold – you’re sure to find your toddler’s favorite color – and parents will love these backpacks because they feature a top grab handle and the secure easy-to-attach rein, to keep all walks around the block safe and fun. These mini backpacks are plastic with a zipper closure, and adjustable pack straps. We think your toddler will love wearing the backpack day and night, and we love the mod and streamlined look of the bag!

B.Box Diaper Caddy: Another great storage piece for toddlers is B.Box’s Diaper Caddy – this is such a multipurpose gift! Whether your toddler is actually still in diapers or not, the B.Box Diaper Caddy will easily grow with your family. This light and portable diaper changing station ensures you have everything you need for diaper changing wherever you are around the home; it’s also great for toilet training, as you can store pull-ups, wipes, and even some reward stickers. We love how compact this caddy is; a great space saver for apartment living and ideal for two-story homes. When baby is done with diapers, it makes a great art caddy or home/toy organizer, just pop a tissue box where the wipes were. Plus, it’s safe to have around babies and toddlers because it is BPA, Phthalates and PVC free.

Edushape Magic Brix Giant Set: Our top toy pick for toddlers is one which falls into every popular category this holiday season – it is STEM related, gender-neutral – and even fun for adults too! The set includes 360 flexible and soft bristle Magic Brix that interlock when pushed together and stay attached until they are pulled apart. Magic Brix attach from practically every side and are ideal for any toddler who wants to give shape to his imagination! The set features a wide variety of colorful blocks and shapes to help develop creativity, fine motor skills, logic and reasoning, and socialization when playing with others. Edushape is a 35 year old educational toy company that originally catered to pre-schools and soon their skill-enhancing products became consumer favorites. You can see some fun Edushape creations on their Instagram and Facebook.

This post may contain affiliate links.

Cover photo via Pics and Paws Photography

Product Discovery: Orbit Labels by Inchbug (+ giveaway!)

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-Sponsored Post-

When you have a baby it seems like there is so much stuff! It’s often hard to organize all the bottles, dishes, pacifiers and more – and keeping everything labeled and straight seems so daunting. However, we have a great solution to this very common struggle – Orbit Labels by Inchbug. These durable dishwasher safe labels are an essential for every household with babies, toddlers, and kids. Read on to learn more about why Orbit labels by Inchbug are an essential for every home and enter to win a prize pack below!

What we love about these non-adhesive, reusable labels is that they are personalized to meet your needs. They are fully customizable – when you head to the Inchbug website, you can pick the color of the label, a cute icon, and up to two lines of text. This is ideal for daycare – you can label bottles, sippy cups and snack containers. Because the labels use a stretch and release method, they are so easy to use and won’t fall off! Orbit Labels also come in 3D – with different color options and icons.

Each package of Orbit labels by Inchbug contains 4 Orbit Labels with identical personalization – these are great for parents of multiples! You don’t want to mix up bottles or cups, so using these easy-to-wash reusable labels makes a parent’s life so much easier – no more rushing around labeling things with a permanent marker, only to find it washes off, or stickers which fall off in the dishwasher. The Orbit labels by Inchbug are dishwasher and microwave safe and can even be boiled and sterilized. They are made with FDA compliant non toxic material and are latex free, so you never have to worry about the labels near your baby’s skin or mouth. They’re also super helpful when it comes to babies and kids holding their own bottles and cups, as the labels fit snuggly around the containers so young children can’t remove them and they provide a non-slick grip surface.

We love how easy these labels make life – you can wash them in the dishwasher, the names are engraved in the label, so the names will never rub off – plus, their stretch and release method makes it super easy to transfer the label from one bottle to another.

Enter below to win a prize pack of Inchbug labels worth $50!
Inchbug Prize Pack Giveaway

Thank you to Inchbug for making this sponsored post possible.

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