The Playpen

In case you missed it, JustMiss nailed the “hidden danger” contest in my previous post and is now the proud owner of a $25 RedSparks gift certificate! I DO have to give an honorable mention to Jessie for making me look like a complete horse’s rear end and pointing out that there was a tiny electrical outlet in the background that was not covered with a plastic thingy. It must have fallen out right before I shot the photo. Really.

So The Playpen has been up and running for a year now. I have learned a lot, and have made a LOT of mistakes (sorry to anyone who’s blog I stalked in the early months. How was I supposed to know there were stats?)

I have also learned that, once in a while, its OK to pay yourself off for all your hard work and writing with a little good natured self-promotion. And, with the current state of economic affairs, what time would be better than now?

For anyone who doesn’t know The Story, my wife Aline and I decided to start our online baby clothing boutique, RedSparks, after our daughter was born prematurely (there wasn’t a lot of cool preemie clothing available at that time). We have been open for just over a year and I can honestly say that things are going fairly well. We carry preemie clothes for tiny little boys and girls. We also go all the way up to 4T with infant and toddler merchandise as well. We carry books, toys, accessories and bath and body; everything stylish and hip for babies. Stop by some time and check us out, that’s all I ask…no pressure.

What’s that you ask? Why, yes, we ARE running a sale right now! Everything on the entire site is marked down 20% (you can even take an additional 20% off sale merchandise) through December 25, 2008. Go to the homepage or just redeem the code “holidaysale” at checkout and start saving money. You almost can’t afford NOT to do it, am I right?

There. That wasn’t so bad was it?

Back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Matt

Thanks to everyone who commented in our recent Bright Baby Activity Box Giveaway!

The random number generator picked Lucky commenter #7, Elizabeth M., who said “I think there’s oodles of great finds at RedSparks. Some of my favorites are the black/white art cards, the zoo friends bath set, the busy bee activity toy and the happy feet gift set. I’d love to see art prints for nursery walls and other decorative items. That would be great! :)”

Thanks, Elizabeth! Email us at matt@redsparks.com with your address and we’ll send your prize right out!

Matt & Aline
The RedSparks Summer Sale is coming to an end. Don’t miss out! Receive up to 60% off on today’s hottest fashion and accessories for preemies, infants and toddlers!

Happy Labor Day Weekend Everyone!

The Playpen has been a fantastic experience for us. We’ve met a lot of terrific people and have learned a lot from our readers. It almost seems *hint hint* that our little baby blog here has become more successful than our actual business. Hmm. How did that happen?

A few posts ago, we featured some of our favorite products from our online baby boutique, RedSparks. As you can read in Our Story, we started our shop when our daughter, Frankie, was born prematurely. We just weren’t able to find preemie clothes that were hip and cool enough for any daughter of ours! Throw my wife, Aline’s, keen eye for fashion and a love of shopping into the mix, and we ended up with a line of baby clothing and accessories (micro-preemie through 4T) that we are very proud of. Business has been picking up which, in today’s economy, we hope means we are doing something right. Note: this could also just mean that people are out of money, so they are just staying home and making more babies, If you know what I mean. Either way, we love it.

Now we’d like to ask for our readers’ help in growing our business the right way. To thank you for your comments, we are giving away one of our coolest baby gifts, the Bright Baby First Learning Box!

This activity box is a fantastic, fun and interactive learning tool for your wee one. Packed full of developmental and sensory objects, the Bright Baby Box is sure to quickly become one of Baby’s favorites.

Box includes:

Shaker teether
Baby animals book (touch and feel)
First words board book
123 flash cards
Bathtime bath book
Colors cloth book

All we ask is that you take a quick tour through RedSparks and leave a comment telling us what your favorite products from the line are and, more importantly, what you would like to see more of. Be honest…marketers all over the world pay millions of dollars every day to sit in focus groups to get this kind of information…we are grateful to be able to get it for free! (Well, sort of).

We’ll pick a winner at random on Saturday, September 6th…ALL comments will be entered into the drawing, so if you think of something else after you have already commented, its cool. Comment again!

We would like to sincerely thank you for your honest opinions and comments. Its not easy getting a business off the ground these days, and your help in making RedSparks a success is truly appreciated. Now stop reading and go shop!

Matt & Aline
The RedSparks Summer Sale is coming to an end. Don’t miss out! Receive up to 60% off on today’s hottest fashion and accessories for preemies, infants and toddlers!

Well, I think its about time we started doing some product reviews. I know what you’re asking yourself…”Who’s product is exciting, fashionable and awesome enough for Aline to even consider reviewing it?” You guessed it, ours! That’s right, we are smack dab in the middle of the RedSparks Summer Sale! The Fall stuff is coming, and we are clearing out the inventory at prices of up to 60% off. In case you’re not familiar with RedSparks, you can always check out our story. Also, I thought I’d showcase a few of my favorite products i.e.-the ones that are the hardest to let go of at a discount!

For baby girls, I love the Ghana Batik Dress. The print is inspired by an artisinal batik that found in Accra, Ghana, and it is, of course, machine washable.

Regular Price $69.00 Our Price $34.50

This is totally and completely cute, no matter how you slice it. The Bow Top from Stella Industries is adorable, and pairs perfectly with the tiered tutu skirt (shown below).




Regular Price $29.00 Our Price $17.40

See? The Tiered Tutu Skirt makes the outfit…she’s all ready for the ball!




Regular Price $46.00 Our Price $27.60

Got a cute little baby boy who needs some new threads? Check out this rockin’ n rollin’ Play Forever T from Recco S. Its got a cool kangaroo pocket in the front!




Regular Price $38.00 Our Price $26.60

If you need to dress him up a little more, he’ll look dashing in this Mulai Dip Dye Vest. Match it up with a crisp new T-shirt and our Tereli Yarn Dyed Pant (shown below). He’ll be fighting the ladies off with a stick!




Regular Price $41.00 Our Price $19.50

Check out the coordinating Tereli Yarn Dye Pant! Leave the bottoms rolled or unbutton them for a clean, classy look.





Regular Price $45.00 Our Price $26.50


Of course, not everyone has children, but everyone knows someone who has kids. RedSparks also carries a wide range of baby bath and body, shoes, gifts, books and toys. What would make a better gift for the new mommy than this Zoo Friends Bath Set? Soft and oversized, towel is 100% cotton terry and comes with matching washing mit and a rubber ducky!




Regular Price $37.00 Our Price $29.99

To check out all the fun, fashionable and stylish items on sale now at RedSparks, click the banner in the sidebar to the right, or click here.

Don’t forget, we carry a complete line of clothing for preemie girls and preemie boys too! Help us spread the word!

Aline
To stay informed with updates about new products and the addition of our fall line, set up a free account with RedSparks!

Congratulations to our lucky winner Rachel from Pomeroy, Ohio! We hope you enjoy the goodies as much as we have enjoyed selecting them.

Thanks to all of you who participated in the RedSparks fabulous baby gift giveaway! We hope that you continue checking back with us for updates and news. Don’t be strangers!

Aline & Matt
Visit our online boutique for the latest in fashion and fun for preemie through toddler

Only a few days left for the RedSparks baby gift giveaway!

Take the opportunity to register now and enter your name in the contest to win this beautiful baby gift package. The lucky winner will be announced on June 1st!

Aline & Matt
Visit our online boutique for the latest in fashion and fun for preemie through toddler

There’s nothing like putting a beautiful arrangement together for someone and such is the case with all baby items. It’s a wonderful feeling to select products that speak to your heart. Something warm and cozy. A soft toy that you know your child will cherish for a long time to come. A familiar scent that will forever remind you of your baby. A colorful book to entice one’s imagination and a familiar tune that is sure to make the best keepsake for generations ahead.


This week I have selected some of my favorite products from our site and combined them as a giveaway for one lucky winner out there. The giveaway is valued at $145.00 and will run for the entire month of May. Register to enter your name in the contest and win this amazing hand picked baby package!


Jelly Cat Doggy , the cuddly and friendly companion, suited for a nap buddy or ride along partner for road trips.


Modern Basics frog blanket , made of the softest fleece, the perfect snuggle time blanket.


Thymes Sweetleaf bodywash and shampoo and body lotion , tender and gentle formula comforts and calms baby with organic lavender, chamomile and aloe vera. Paraben-free with a light and enchanting scent that is fresh, clean and irresistible.


Inspired by vintage carousels wooden music box . Handmade and hand painted in a studio along the Delaware river, these beautiful boxes are unlike any you’ve seen.


Dr Seuss’s All Aboard The Circus McGurkus book. Train-shaped board book with big, bold colorful pages of engaging fun.


All of our products are picked with the utmost of quality in mind, you won’t be disappointed! Good Luck!

After what seems like an eternity, RedSparks has officially gone live! Created by Matt and Aline Pfingsten, RedSparks is meant to provide a wide array of clothing, toys, books, accessories and more for both preemie and term babies alike. In addition, it is meant to serve as a support system for new parents, featuring stories, tips, articles and other resources which will provide valuable insight into the world of parenting.

We hope you find our site to be fun and unique, and encourage you to check back frequently, as we will continuously bring in new merchandise and goodies. We welcome your comments and feedback, and look forward to hearing what you think. Happy Shopping!

Aline
Visit our online boutique for the latest in fashion and fun for preemie through toddler.

You’ve come to the right place! RedSparks, the brainchild of Aline and Matt Pfingsten, offers a unique collection of modern, fun and high quality fashions for babies from preemie to 24 months. We also feature amazing new baby gifts, baby accessories, nursery accents, baby shoes, children’s books and more!
Be sure to bookmark our blog for the latest RedSparks news, funny and touching stories from real preemie parents, child raising tips and tricks…all kinds of fun stuff!

Aline
Visit our online boutique for the latest in fashion and fun for preemie through toddler.