Stuff Parents Need

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

Tropical Traditions Organic Insect Repellent Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Layah developed jaundice just a few days after she was born. Her pediatrician recommended that we take her outside for a few minutes every day to get some sunshine, which evidently helps with jaundice. So when she was 4 days old, Tim took her out on the back porch for a little Vitamin D fix. I came outside after a few minutes and immediately discovered a mosquito on top of her head, helping itself to a meal.

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I know that mosquito bites are not the world’s greatest problem, but I went totally bonkers over seeing my brand new baby being bitten! She was taken inside immediately and I was fuming over how she fell victim to bugs within mere minutes of stepping outside.

This is exactly why I have Tropical Traditions Insect Repellent in my medicine cabinet. It’s a product that will naturally deter bugs from Layah and Darah. I can apply it to both of them with confidence and without concern that I’m poisoning my children at the same time that I’m poisoning bugs. Like all other products from Tropical Traditions, it uses Organic Virgin Coconut Oil as its primary ingredient. There are no harmful chemicals or artificial fragrances added to the product. It does contain pure organic essential oils that have been known to repel insects, including citronella, lemongrass, peppermint, tansy, and catnip. It smells lovely to me, and just plain awful to mosquitoes.

If you would like more information on How to Use Coconut Oil, Tropical Traditions has some really terrific information that helps you understand all the uses and benefits of this product. And there’s no shop that can compare to Tropical Traditions when it comes to having such an extensive line of high quality products made from coconut oil. We are consistently impressed with everything we have tried from this company.

Buy it!: If you want a natural and effective way to keep mosquitoes off your body (and away from your kids!) this is the way to go. You can purchase this organic insect repellent for $13.95 (and it is frequently on sale, so watch for that!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a 4 oz bottle of Organic Insect Repellent from Tropical Traditions!

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Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid Review and GIVEAWAY!!

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I vividly remember as a child that I was never allowed to hand wash the dishes at home as a chore. It wasn’t because my mom thought I was too much of a princess to have to do it, though! It was because our dishwashing liquid would always irritate my skin and make me break out in hives. I did have very sensitive skin as a child, which I have since outgrown. But still, I shudder to think what must have been in those dish liquids at the time to cause my skin to scream out for help. And I wonder if those same ingredients are STILL in most dish liquids.

Tropical Traditions recently claimed even more real estate in my house by becoming the company behind my family’s dish liquid. The bottle, itself, isn’t very glamorous, but the product is absolutely outstanding. We have been cleaning our pots and pans with this for a few weeks, and it cuts grease just as well as other products that aren’t eco-friendly. This product is also completely free of fragrances, dyes, petroleum solvents and other chemicals that can irritate the skin and respiratory system. I have no worries that my daughter will experience the same fate as me. Perhaps she’s not too happy about not being able to escape dish washing in the future, but I know it is what is best for her!

This dish liquid is especially designed for people with allergies, asthma and multiple chemical sensitivities, so if that’s you or if that describes someone in your family, it’s a must try! Even if it isn’t, you can feel good knowing that you are keeping all those harmful chemicals away from your family without sacrificing ease of use. It is also lo sudsing, which makes it ideal to take with you for camping or other outdoor activities.

We are very pleased with this product. Tropical Traditionshas yet to disappoint us; everything they make is of the highest quality! The site is full of fantastic information about how to use coconut oil (there are hundreds of uses, and this ingredient is the base of all their products!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a bottle of Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid! Dirty dishes be gone!

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Tropical Traditions Organic Liquid Soaps (GIVEAWAY!!)

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It never ceases to amaze me just how many incredible uses there are for coconut oil! Tropical Traditions seems to have the inside scoop on all the best uses, and today I’m bringing you yet another outstanding product from their line.

We’ve been using Tropical Traditions Organic Liquid Soaps in our bathrooms and in our kitchen for the past few weeks, and the experience has been very positive. These are the foaming type of soaps, which are my personal favorite. I have to tell you, these soaps are SO creamy! They feel fabulous on the skin and don’t leave it dried out at all. I use the unscented version in Darah’s bathroom. We are using the tea tree scent in the kitchen, which is the perfect choice. And in our bathroom, we’ve got lavender. It smells AWESOME! I feel like I’m getting a mini-aromatherapy session every time I wash my hands!

Wanna hear something really interesting? Tropical traditions organic liquid soap is made with 100% organic coconut oil and NOTHING ELSE (except the essential oils in the scented varieties). What other foaming soaps on the market can boast the same high quality, non-toxic ingredient list? Nobody that I know of!

And as far as their effectiveness as soaps, they work great! No complaints here!

Buy it!: Tropical Traditions Organic Liquid Soaps are $9.50 for 8 ounces (but watch for their frequent sales!) and you can get a refill bottle of 32 ounces for $33.50

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Tropical Traditions Organic Liquid Soap in your choice of scent!

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Tropical Traditions Organic Shredded Coconut Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Over the holidays we found some wonderful uses for shredded coconut. This is not the same as coconut flakes, which is what you typically find on store shelves. This stuff has been finely shredded…it looks like snow flakes, almost! Since this was a different way of using coconut, I wasn’t exactly sure if I’d know what to do with it. But as it turns out, I LOVE it!

First, we added it to pancakes and oatmeal. In both cases, it adds delicious flavor but doesn’t add a different texture that might not be appealing, which would happen if y

ou used flakes, instead. Second, I got to make coconut macaroons for the first time in my life, and thanks to a recipe on the Tropical Traditions website, my first batch turned out great and I was able to share them at a holiday party.

Our shredded coconut is the Tropical Traditions Organic Shredded Coconut, and just as we have been with every other product we have tried from this company, we are very impressed with the quality. I feel like I have a wonderful new “secret ingredient” in my pantry and I’m looking forward to discovering many different ways to add a bit of coconut to my cooking and bring new flavors to our table.


Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need will win a one gallon tub of Tropical Traditions Organic Shredded Coconut!

 

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Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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We happen to have a peanut butter connoisseur in our home. Her name is Darah.  She LOVES peanut butter. And she is particularly fond of special varieties. Lately, she’s been really hooked on Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter. Doesn’t that sound delicious? I can tell you from experience that it IS delicious! It’s made with two ingredients: organic peanuts and organic coconut. That’s it! NOTHING else!

Have you read the label of popular peanut butter brands? I’m afraid they can’t boast such a short list of ingredients. I love serving Darah something that doesn’t have extra oils and sugars added to it.

The flavor is simply scrumptious, as well. Coconut peanut butter is a genius idea, and it works well by itself, paired with jam, or in many recipes that might call for peanut butter. Darah likes it best on a graham cracker, and every once in a while, I’ll sprinkle a touch of cinnamon-sugar on top for a special treat.

I have been very impressed with this product, and I’m not at all surprised. Every single product we have tried from this company has been superb. They are truly committed to bringing you the highest quality, and they do not make compromises to try to make an extra buck here and there. I really appreciate when a company is this reliable. I wouldn’t hesitate to order anything from them, because their track record has been spotless with me! 🙂

Buy it!: Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter would be a really fun holiday gift for the peanut butter fan in your life. A 16 oz glass jar is regularly $14.99 but is on sale now for $9.99! Very affordable gift idea!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a 16 oz glass jar of coconut peanut butter from Tropical Traditions! Yummy!

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Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Water Vinegar Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Tropical Traditions has a very cool product on the market that I want to highly recommend you add to your pantry. It’s called Organic Coconut Water Vinegar, and I think it makes an excellent alternative to distilled vinegar for your recipes. It’s got a great flavor and it is PACKED with nutrients. If left on its own to ferment and turn into vinegar, those nutrients are retained in the vinegar. Most vinegars, coconut or otherwise, are pasteurized using a heat process which does kill off most of those great vitamins and minerals that it normally possesses. Tropical Traditions has worked closely with scientists for use to produce an incubation system that is truly safe and that retains all the goodness that coconut water has to offer.

Additionally, Tropical Traditions is dedicated to making sure their harvesting practices are sustainable. Most other coconut vinegar products are made by harvesting a coconut flower bud, which if left alone would produce coconuts. Trees dedicated to this process will never produce coconuts, as a result. Tropical Traditions uses the coconut, itself for a more natural and healthy final product.
So what do you do with coconut water vinegar? I took the same approach to using this product as I did to using coconut oil, which was a new product to me when I first started using it. I simply started reaching for my coconut water vinegar when I would have normally reached for traditional vinegar. The results have been absolutely delicious! I personally find the flavor to be brighter, though not at all overpowering. And I love knowing that I’m using something that is so very good for my family and the environment.

Buy it!: A 16 oz bottle of Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Water Vinegar retails for $10 and a 32 ounce jar retails for $18.50. I know our 32 ounce jar is going to last a really long time since recipes that call for vinegar usually don’t call for more than a tablespoon.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a bottle of Organic Coconut Water Vinegar!
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Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Did you know that the recommended serving amount of fruits and veggies is 5-9 per day? This is not crazy hard for me to do in the summer when the markets are bursting with amazing fresh produce. But 9 months out of the year, I just don’t reach this goal…some days not even remotely close.

I’m not the only one with this problem. One great solution, at least in theory, is a drink mix that contain a high level of greens. They usually come in a powder form and you mix them in with water and then drink them as fast as you possibly can. They taste disgusting and they look like pond water. Drinking one of these every morning takes something beyond dedication; it takes an iron stomach!

Because I have been so impressed with everything I’ve tried so far from Tropical Traditions, I thought it was time to put this company to the ultimate test. I noticed that they have an Antioxident Omega 3 Greens powder, and I decided to try it. I mean, it’s really just impossible for a product like this to taste good.

Here are my thoughts after drinking a few of these concoctions. TT’s version also does look like pond water, so I can’t say that it looks appetizing. BUT…the taste is not bad. I’m not going to say it tastes great, because it doesn’t. But it doesn’t taste bad. You can drink the whole thing without gagging, and that’s more than I can say for any other greens drink I’ve ever tried. We got the berry flavor, and I think that tinge of sweetness goes a long way for this drink. I can’t tell you that I would happily drink this every morning of my life, but I would gladly take it a few times each week on those days when I know I didn’t get the amount of fruits and vegetables that my body needs for fuel.

If you are not very familiar with the concept of a product like this, let me tell you why the Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens formula is such a super drink. Drinking one glass of this each day is designed to help you with all of the following:

  • Providing ALA Omega 3 fatty acid
  • Improving Immune Function
  • Providing fiber for better digestion
  • providing high antioxidant benefits
  • alkalizing body and balancing pH
  • excellent source of probiotics

From the website, “Antioxidant Natural Greens supplies a rich blend of totally natural vitamins, minerals, plant enzymes, antioxidants, phytonutrients and symbiotic intestinal flora for optimal energy metabolism, digestion, detoxification, and immune enhancement.” (Please note that these statements have not been verified by the FDA).

This really is an incredible product that provides an amazing amount of health benefits. And it tastes better than anything similar to it on the market (at least that I’ve tried). I give it two thumbs up. Tropical Traditions surprises me, once again!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a canister of Tropical Traditions Omega 3 Greens (ARV $44). The contest will run until August 25th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: This giveaway is for the Facebook fans! Like Stuff Parents Need AND Tropical Traditions on Facebook and then come back here and let me know you did! Done!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Newsletter (you’ll hear about all their sales!)
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of the blog.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Tropical Traditions Raw Honey Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Today I’m bringing you my fifth product review from the truly fantastic company Tropical Traditions (if you need to get caught up on what I’ve tried so far and why they all rock, check out my reviews on organic coconut oil, eco-friendly dishwashing detergent, organic thick rolled oats and organic hair oils).

Today we’re going to talk about raw honey. Now, I’ll be honest with you. I had a vague notion that raw honey was good for you and that I should try it, but that’s about as far as my knowledge spanned. When it arrived, I noticed that Tropical Traditions Raw Honey doesn’t have that clear and shiny look that I’m used to seeing. It’s much lighter in color (really a pale yellow) and looks very creamy. The taste….DELICIOUS! So I knew right away that raw honey looks and tastes different.

But I still wanted to learn about why raw honey was better for me and my family than the stuff I’ve always bought at the grocery store (I usually just get whatever is cheapest). Fortunately, the Tropical Traditions site is always brimming with helpful information. I learned on the site that raw honey has not been subject to high heat and pasteurization, unlike the vast majority of honey products on the market. When you heat the honey up to such high temperatures, you remove many of the natural enzymes and nutrients found in honey. I also learned that truly raw honeys don’t deteriorate with age. This is definitely NOT something you can say about other honeys (we are constantly battling hardening honey. In fact, we previously bought a glass jar for our honey so that we could keep it in there and microwave it before every use because it was always hard). It has been really nice to realize that the Tropical Traditions raw honey isn’t going to have that problem.

tropical traditions raw honey So now we all know why raw honey is a better choice, in general. Now it’s time to learn about what makes Tropical Traditions Raw Honey a most excellent choice. From their site, “Tropical Traditions Organic Raw Honey comes from the frontier areas of Canada, and is only harvested during a 6-week period in the summer. Tropical Traditions is the exclusive source of this premium organic honey in the U.S. Most commercial honeys available on the market today come from bee farms, where the bees are controlled within a certain area and get their pollen from usually only one kind of flower. Many of the plants that produce these flowers (clover, orange blossom, etc.) are grown with pesticides and fertilizers as well.” So this honey is not only raw, but also organic. It is also exclusive, meaning that you can’t find this exact same product anywhere else. The taste of the honey is more complex and satisfying, as well, since the bees are able to gather pollen from a variety of flowers and since the honey is only harvested at a period of time that naturally makes sense for the bees.

Buy it!: Tropical Traditions Honey retails for $19.50 for a 17.6 oz glass jar, but through 07/03 it is on sale for $9.99! If your pantry needs some more honey, you will most definitely not be disappointed with this purchase!

Win it!: Hooray! One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a 17.6 oz jar of Tropical Traditions Raw Honey! The contest will run until 07/12/2011 at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Poke around the Tropical Traditions website and tell me another product that you’d like to try (good luck choosing just one!).

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Like Tropical Traditions on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Google Friend Connect (found on my sidebar)

Rare bonus entry: Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions newsletter (and hear about their sales!).

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Tropical Traditions Organic Hair Oils: Fear Not!

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The first time I got my hair cut in Chattanooga, the lady who did my hair told me that my hair needed DEEP moisturization ASAP. She said that I had very thick and coarse hair that felt very dry. Fortunately, she had the perfect solution for me with some product in her salon that cost well over $30. Uh…no thanks. I didn’t return to this hair dresser for 2 reasons:

1. She also told me that my hair was, “weird” due to it having different lengths in it (I lost a pretty decent amount of hair after Darah was born, and most of it has grown back in….yes, it looked awkward. I didn’t need her to tell me!).
2. She put such a hard sell on for me to buy these hair care products and it was my very first time ever coming to the shop. That really rubbed me the wrong way, as I felt like all she cared about was making my final bill larger, not actually helping me improve the condition of my hair in the best possible way. It made me very weary of her claim that I even needed extra moisturization, actually.

But like most women, I never did fully let go of that criticism I got that day at the salon, and I began to wonder a bit about different deep conditioning treatments. At one point, I came super close to purchasing some Moroccan Oil online, although the price tag (also around $30) made me chicken out at the last minute.

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to try out Tropical Traditions answer to the needs of my parched hair. They offer Organic Hair Oils, made with Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil and a few other fabulous oils. They are priced a bit below the other products that have been recommended to me, and are on sale now starting at $18.99. There are testimonials on their website from satisfied customers, and if you just do a Google search for coconut oil as a deep conditioner, you will read countless stories of people swearing by it.

coconut oil hair treatment Knowing that every other product I have tried from Tropical Traditions has impressed me, I decided to give this a try. But I’ll be honest with you, I was pretty nervous about putting oil in my hair. What if I couldn’t get it to rinse out? What if it made my hair just look gross and oily? What if it smelled weird? What if it ruined my pillowcases? These were all thoughts I had, but I decided to trust in the reviews of so many other people.

I first washed my hair, and then I applied the product. This is an area where you sort of have to just use your best judgment. I started with an amount about the size of a quarter. I think I ended up doubling that amount for my hair, which is thick and past my shoulders. Once I worked it through my damp hair, I piled it on top of my head, grabbed a magazine, and soaked in a hot bath for about 45 minutes (which was SO nice, by the way). The directions on the bottle state that you can leave it in for anywhere between 15 minutes and overnight. After 45 minutes, I used a small amount of shampoo (probably about 2/3 of what I would normally use to wash my hair) and then rinsed it out. Then I dried my hair as usual.

I thought my hair looked shinier, and it most definitely felt softer, but I wanted to get Tim’s opinion. He will always be honest with me, and he reported that he thought my hair looked significantly shinier than before using the oil. Hooray! I apologize that I totally forgot to take pictures, but I promise you that the difference in shine was quite noticeable! And it did NOT feel weighed down of greasy.

I found my hair to be noticeably easier to manage for the next 2 weeks, which was just terrific. Now I have penciled into my calendar a once a month date with Tropical Traditions Organic Hair Oils. I’m a firm believer that it can add shine and smoothness to many different types of hair. If you’ve been thinking about trying out a deep conditioning treatment of some sort, this is a great way to go, and it is made with awesome organic ingredients! Also, depending on the length of your hair and how often you use the product, it could last you a really long time. I’m estimating that my bottle will last me at least 2 years!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win Tropical Traditions Organic Hair Oils in your choice of scent (or you can choose unscented). The contest will run until May 29th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

REMEMBER, YOU MUST BE A PUBLIC FOLLOWER OF THIS BLOG VIA GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GIVEAWAY. YOU CAN SIGN UP ON MY SIDEBAR IF YOU HAVEN’T DONE SO, ALREADY.

Mandatory entry: Tell me anything about your hair. Any magic potions for keeping it beautiful? Any difficulties you haven’t yet figured out? Do you dye it? Ever tried a deep conditioner? Anything related to the topic works for me!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Like Tropical Traditions on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Subscribe to Stuff Parents Needvia RSS or email

Rare bonus entry: Subscriber to the Tropical Traditions newsletter (and hear about their sales!)

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my homepage.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.