Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Strolling Through the Holidays Stroller GIVEAWAY!!

· by · 20 Comments

Would you like to go strolling with your loved one this Holiday Season?

The Blogging Mamas Network and KiddyUSA have come together to bring you a great giveaway for the brand new KiddyUSA City ‘n Move Stroller!

This stroller is the perfect companion – it’s Lightweight {at only 21 lbs}, Comfortable for Mom/Dad and Child, and Maneuvers Easily.

The Kiddy brand, based in Germany, is synonymous with innovation and style when it comes to children’s car seats and strollers and now the brand has launched in the US.

The KiddyUSA City ‘n Move comes in 7 fantastic colors {Winner will choose their Favorite!} and accommodates children 6 months to 55 pounds!

To see even more of the City ‘n Move Stroller, including detailed pictures and favorite features, read the KiddyUSA City ‘n Move Stroller Review by Lindsey from So Easy Being Green.

The KiddyUSA City ‘n Move Stroller is available at a variety of retailers.  The City ‘n Move retails for $219.99 and will be available on Amazon very soon!

:GIVEAWAY:

This giveaway is open to US residents, 18+ only.  Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on November 30th.

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter Form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  Special thanks to Hosts According to Jenny, So Easy Being Green, Leetle Baby, and other Strollin’ Bloggers!  Event bloggers are not responsible for Sponsor Prize Shipment.

 

Cozy Earth Bamboo Twin Comforter GIVEAWAY ($320 Value!)!!!

· by · 18 Comments

Your child spends about 3,650 hours sleeping in their bed each year. Conventional fabrics used to make comforters and blankets contain all kinds of chemicals, pesticides, and even highly toxic fire retardants. It is so important to invest in natural, non-toxic bedding for their well being when possible. Wouldn’t you agree it is more important than the latest toys, gadgets, or entertainment? That’s why the generous folks at Cozy Earth are giving one of you a chance to win this twin size bamboo comforter!

The Cozy Earth Bamboo comforter is hand-crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail. It naturally regulates temperature and is perfect for hot and cold sleepers. The shell and the filling naturally wick away moisture from the body, reducing humidity that causes you to be hot or cold. Made from Eco-friendly bamboo, it is a healthy alternative to down, polyester, or conventionally grown cotton. You can read the full review of the Cozy Earth Bamboo Comforter over at Eco-Babyz and see some photos!

 

Our Favorite Features: 
  • Naturally anti-microbial, anti-fungal
  • Inhospitable to bed bugs and dust mites
  • Fabric stays white and doesn’t ‘yellow’ or ‘grey’ over time
  • Regulates temperature
  • Made of Eco-friendly bamboo
  • Luxurious, sleek, and silky feel
Purchase: The Cozy Earth Bamboo Twin Comforter retails for $319.99, you can purchase it on the Cozy Earth website. Every purchase supports a charity!
Win One! Cozy Earth is blessing one of you with a Twin Bamboo Comforter for you or your child.

 

Special thanks to Eco-Babyz and So Easy Being Green for hosting this giveaway. Huge thanks to all participating bloggers as well! Giveaway ends December 13th at 12:01 am, open to US residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Thank you!





Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this publication. Eco-Babyz, So Easy Being Green, and Cozy Earth Bamboo Twin Comforter Giveaway Event bloggers are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. 

 

A Blogger Who Has Inspired Me!

· by · Leave a Comment

This post is meant to be a big pat on the bag and cyber high-five for Lindsey from So Easy Being Green. Lindsey and I have never met in real life, but we have been bloggy friends since before she even became a blogger!

It has really been a treat to watch her blog grow and evolve. I’ve also really enjoyed having someone to swap ideas with as our blogs have grown.

But that’s not why I’m giving her a shout out today (although she totally rocks, in general, and is worthy to be celebrated just for being her!).

I want to bring attention to Lindsey because this weekend she ran her first race.

(photo from soeasybeinggreen-blog.com)

Five weeks ago she started training. At that point it was a big step in her training when a few days in she ran for 5 minutes straight. She worked her way up to this day and ran 4 miles without stopping. She also met her goal to get it finished in under an hour.

As someone who once tried the couch to 5k program (which I quit after 2 days) I know that what she did took a whole lot of commitment and determination. I felt completely overjoyed to hear of her success, and it rekindled something within me. Just because I gave up on something once before doesn’t mean it is out of reach for me. I can take it one day at a time, just like Lindsey did!

Lindsey, like me, has 2 small children. And she’s a blogger. And a wife. And a woman with her own interests. Making time for fitness is REALLY hard to do in the midst of this season of life. But she did it. And she’s glowing!

I am SO inspired. Way to go, Lindsey!

Collective Bias and Good Call (remember that amazing iphone docking station I reviewed that is the latest and greatest iPhone innovation and is just $80?) have come together in celebration of moms who inspire others, and are offering up 10 of their #GoodCall sets to nominated women, and I am officially throwing Lindsey’s name in the hat! She deserves it!

Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This content was created for Collective Bias™ and GoFusion but is a non-compensated post.  If Lindsey wins the set, I also win a set, but that’s totally not why I wrote this. I wrote it because she rocks my socks off! #CBias #SocialFabric 

Making the Most of Two under Two: Guest Post from So Easy Being Green

· by · 2 Comments

Big Sister Sophia

Although having 2 children under the age of 2 is major work {and I sometimes want to pull my hair out}, it truly is a joy! We found out we were having another baby the month before my oldest daughter turned 1! It was planned, but came a couple months earlier than planned. I was so nervous and scared about of the idea of having 2 babies so close in age and so young at the same time, but I was excited too!

I’m an only child so I was {and still am} intrigued at the sibling relationship. When we found out we were having another girl, I was elated for my oldest daughter, Sophia! I was giving her a gift that I never had – a sister! Someone that she could always count on to be there, someone she could share clothes and secrets with, someone that she could roll her eyes with when Mom was getting on her nerves.

Little Sister Moreaya

But before all that can happen, we must survive the first couple of years! In the last 4 months, I’ve learned a lot about both of my girls, my husband, and mostly about myself. And although Tiffany doesn’t quite have 2 under 2… 2 under 3 is just as much work! So, here are my five tips to making 2 under 2 a fun and exciting journey!

  1. HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR! You have to laugh at everything. Laugh at the fact that your house is a wreck because, well, you have a Toddler destroying it and an Infant demanding all of your attention to keep you from cleaning it. Laugh at the fact that every time you go into a restaurant to have a meal with your husband and rowdy ladies, there will be at least 1 man, woman, couple roll their eyes because they just know your children are going to interrupt their quiet dinner {and they usually do}! Laugh at the fact that one day you’ll wish both of your girls would crawl up on your lap at the same time and wants lots of Mommy Hugs and Kisses. Just laugh – and teach your children to laugh too!
  2. Use cloth diapers. Ok, so this is obviously my personal choice – but had to share since I’m a green blogger and love all things fluffy. They’ll save you a ton of money on the first go around {older child} and then if you kept them in good shape – they’ll save you another $2,000 by re-using them on your younger child! Want more info on cloth diapers – I’d love to answer any questions you may have!
  3. Have a regular babysitter. And a back-up babysitter. And maybe a back-up back-up! You’ll need it. It’s important for you to have some “me time” especially when you’ve got 3 babies {uh, hubby too!} depending on you 24/7! It’s also nice to have 1 kid go see Grandma for an afternoon so you can have that quality time with the other – instead of sharing between the 2 all of the time.
  4. Praise the older sibling. I praise Sophia as much as I possibly can for everything she does. She is more likely to help me with Moreaya and around the house – cleaning up her toys, carrying items from one room to another. Although she doesn’t really remember the time that she had with me when it was just the two of us, I do. And I try to make each moment special with her.
  5. Love, love, love your girls! By loving on them, kissing them, and doting about them – they’ll learn to do the same things to each other in return. I never thought I could love another person as much as I loved my oldest, Sophia. But I do. I love them both equally and can’t wait to see them grow up together and hopefully be the best of friends… at least most of the time!

Lindsey is a Stay at Home Mom to two beautiful little girls, Sophia who will soon be 2 and Moreaya who is 4 months! When she’s not chasing the rambunctious toddler around or “spoiling” her new beauty, she’s blogging at So Easy Being Green. Her blog is dedicated to sharing eco-friendly tips and products to help families, just like hers, realize that it really is… So Easy Being Green!

5 Blogs I Love to Read

· by · 4 Comments

 

Thanks to Trop 50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 fabulous wishes.
Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to help grant a friend’s wish!

Full confession: my Google Reader has 180 blogs in it. And that’s after I did some semi-painful unsubscribing (I was pushing 300 blogs a few months ago). I need to cut it back more, but it is a struggle, because there are SO many awesome blogs out there that speak to me in a number of different ways. I always love hearing about who other bloggers are reading, and so today I’m highlighting 5 blogs that always grab my attention. I want to encourage you to go check them out; you just might get as hooked as I am!

1. So Easy Being Green. This blog is written by Lindsey, one of my most loyal blog readers. I read this blog because Lindsey writes from the heart, always engages with her audience, and it doesn’t hurt that her baby is such a cutie pie. I like her point of view and find myself relating to her a lot. She’s a relatively new kid on the blogging block, but I definitely think her blog is a keeper! This is Lindsey having a slumber party with her baby. How cute is that?!
2. Chic Critique. This is the only blog in my overcrowded feed that is devoted strictly to beauty and fashion. That’s because I think it is so good that I don’t need to ready any others! This blog contains posts that show me tips and tricks I can actually use in my beauty routine, and give me ideas for which trends to consider and which to avoid. Posts are written from the point of view of “real” women and not fashion magazine editors (yes, I know those are also real women, but I just can’t relate to them). Perhaps what I love most about this blog is learning which of the drugstore cosmetics are the real gems!

3. The Makeshift Revolution. I think this blog is a “sleeper.” By that I mean that her readership hasn’t yet skyrocketed into the stratosphere, but her writing is truly worthy to have a following of tens of thousands. I really mean that. Mary Allison is someone I have the honor of knowing in real life, and she is a person of great joy, careful consideration and unconditional love. She writes from the perspective of a professional (she’s a PCUSA minister) trying to redefine this whole “balance” thing that eludes almost all of us as we navigate our adult lives with kiddos in tow. Pretty much every post she writes not only makes me laugh, but also gives me pause to really think. GOOD, GOOD STUFF.

4. Real Ways to Earn Money Online. You may recall that this year Tim and I have some goals when it comes to monetizing our online presence in various ways. This blog is written by a mom who has kids at home but who is also figuring out ways to work and generate some income. Her website is an AWESOME resource, because she has written some fairly extensive articles on tons and tons of online earning opportunities, sharing her personal experiences if she has tried them, and even if she hasn’t, she does plenty of research online to see what others have to say about their experience. Basically, this is my go-to source when I hear about an online earning opportunity. I’ll always hop on Real Ways to Earn Money Online to get the real scoop before I sign up! I’ve also heard of lots of new opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have found, otherwise. Basically, this site saves me time and helps me make money. WINNER.

5. The Adventures and Mishaps of Mrs. Amy B.I’ve been reading this blog for ages (ok, really I’ve been reading it for a year and a half, which in the blog world is 3 eternities). It has been such an honor to have a front row seat as a reader as Amy prepared for her first child and now writes about the joys and struggles or parenthood. What I especially love about this blog is Amy’s passion and honesty. She really tells it like it is. Parenting is HARD. She doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that truth, and it is really comforting to hear another mother say that she is struggling in whatever number of ways that we all do struggle from time to time. But she also has such a fierce love for her son, and you can feel it in each and every post. I really identify with her and always look forward to her posts.

What blogs do you always make a point to read??? Please share!

Don’t forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to support a friend’s wish. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.