Stuff Parents Need

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

Farmhouse Foods: Boxed Rice and Pasta Minus the Artificial Ingredients! GIVEAWAY!!!

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I’ve been reading for several years now that to shop for the healthiest food products for your family in the grocery store, avoid the aisles themselves, and just shop the perimeter of the store. That’s great advice to try to follow, but it isn’t always practical. Even though I work from home, that doesn’t mean I always have the time it takes to prepare a meal from scratch. I especially find myself needing help with side dishes.

Fortunately, there are some companies out there who aim to offer convenience to busy families, but who are also mindful that many of us want to avoid artificial ingredients and preservatives. Farmhouse Foods is a company that offers boxed rice and pasta dishes that are full of yummy flavor and completely void of the junk you don’t want. My family has been sampling their 10 best selling products, and we have been really impressed! The flavors are spot on (Darah DEVOURS the food on her plate every time we serve Farmhouse Foods), and I feel better knowing that these products are all natural. Check out the excellent line of products from Farmhouse Foods. Among the rice dishes, my very top pick would be the rice pilaf. YUM! As for the pasta side dishes, the four cheese flavor pasta disappeared in my house in just a few minutes!

Now for the bad news: Farmhouse Foods seems to have a rather limited distribution! It looks like those of you in the western part of the U.S. should be able to find the products, but as for the rest of us, no such luck. Fortunately, the company has a company storeonline! That means that even if you can’t find them in your store, you can still get them into your pantry!

Win it!: Whether or not you can find Farmhouse Foods in your store, today you have the opportunity to win 10 boxes of rice and pasta side dishes! Yay!

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DidiPop’s Latest CD: Everyday Adventures Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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DidiPop is a delightful children’s music artist, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Her last album that I reviewed, DidiPop Goes to Hawaii, has a song on it called, “Hawaiian Alphabet Song,” and it just won the grand prize in the children’s category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. That, my friends, is a REALLY big deal! Additionally, it has been submitted for Grammy consideration for 2012. Good luck, DidiPop!

Her new album is every bit as fabulous as her last, and I’m sure it will pick up awards left and right in the next year, too! It’s called Everyday Adventures, and it launches TODAY! It’s got one of Darah’s all-time favorite songs on it (one that is features a YouTube video that has gone completely viral!). Check out The Cool Alphabet Song…you are sure to like it, and your kids will, too!

DidiPop’s vibe is chill and laid-back, but still jam-packed with lots of fun and laughs. She’s an artist I highly recommend because the whole family will enjoy listening to her songs, not just the kids.

Buy it!: If you are looking for a great holiday gift, I recommend the gift of music, and you absolutely can’t go wrong with DidiPop. Everyday Adventures is available for $14.99 or you can buy all the mp3s for just $9.99!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is about a win a copy of DidiPop’s latest album! Hooray!!!

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Gyro Bowl Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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As toddlers begin to exercise their independence, parents often find themselves in tricky situations as they try to balance supporting their child’s desire to do everything themselves with a desire to not have everything in their house broken or ruined. Eating time is a great example of this. Darah prefers to drink out of a cup with no lid. But she spills her drink at almost every meal (2 out of 3, I’d say). She wants to drink like a big girl, and she’ll never get the hang of it if she doesn’t get to practice, but mom and dad grow tired of cleaning up the spills, especially when they fall to the carpet below the table!

Today I’m featuring a product that can’t help us with our big girl cup dilemma, but it CAN help with snack time. It’s called the Gyro Bowl, and it is a VERY clever invention! This is an absolutely fantastic product to have when your child starts to want to carry their own snacks around, or hold their snacks in the car. You’ve really just got to watch the following short YouTube clip to see how it works!

While I do think that you need to not only let your kid use a product like this, but also get some practice with a more traditional bowl, this really is a great way to get them started with confidence. It also will save you LOTS of lost Cheerios, I promise!

My favorite place to use the Gyro Bowl is in the car. When Darah wants a snack, I don’t have to constantly hand food back to her, nor do I have to worry that her snacks are going to spill everywhere, causing both a mess and a tantrum.

Buy it!: Gyro Bowl is available online for $14.99 plus s+h, and at that price you get 2!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to score a Gyro Bowl for your little mess maker!

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Intelligender Review: Sneak Peak at Baby’s Gender Before Your Ultrasound

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I absolutely KNEW that Darah was a girl from the time I was about 10 weeks pregnant. I had a dream, I saw her, and I just knew from then on out. In fact, I was so certain that when my 20 week ultrasound was just a week or so away, I started to feel extremely nervous. I felt that way because I realized that I had given almost no thought to the idea of having a little boy. I was COMPLETELY unprepared to hear, “It’s a boy!” and I knew that if I did, I would be sad, even if only for a few minutes. I was so mad at myself for allowing that to happen, because the last thing I ever wanted to feel was disappointed.

As you know, I did, indeed, have a little girl in there, so I never had to own up to my lack of preparation for it being a boy. This time around, I really want it to be different. Once again, I think that I’ve got a little girl. My mother is completely certain that it is a boy. I haven’t had that wonderful dream like I did last time. But still, I find myself lingering over thoughts of a girl, and not so much over thoughts of a boy. I know what road this leads to, and I don’t want to repeat my mistake.

So, with the help of science and a product called the Intelligender Gender Prediction Test Kit, I got a sneak peek at whether or not this is a boy or girl bun in my oven! Intelligender is a very cool over-the-counter product you can pick up in most drug stores or online (many people report that it is actually cheaper online!). You can use this product as early at 10 weeks to get a reading on the gender of your baby.

I took the test at 11 weeks pregnant, and followed the instructions very carefully (an important step!). Basically you take a urine specimen and insert a certain amount into a jar with some sort of chemicals in it, swirl it around for 5 seconds, and then let it sit for exactly 5 minutes. If the specimen has an orange tint, you’ve got a girl. If it has a smoky blue-green tent, it’s a boy.

Wanna see the results of my test???

learn baby's gender early

BOY!!!!! My exact words when I saw it were, “WHAT????!!!!???” And yeah, I’ll be completely honest, I was a smidgen bummed out. But I grew more excited as the day wore on. I am SO happy that I took this test at 11 weeks. It is such a gift to have the next 9 weeks to take the idea that I’m having a boy very seriously, so that if the ultrasound tech confirms what Intelligender is predicting, I not only will not be shocked, but I’ll also be so excited and ready, which is exactly what I want to feel. And if it is a girl, after all, it will be super easy for me to switch gears and get back into baby girl mode.

You may be wondering exactly how accurate this test is. Independent studies show a 90% success rate when the Gender Prediction Test directions are followed. I know many people who have used this test and gotten the right results. And, I also know a few who were told one thing and later found out another. Intelligender is meant to be a fun experience; DON’T paint the nursery based on your results!

I’ll say it again; I’m so glad I took this test. Even if my hunch is right and baby #2 is a girl, I’m doing some serious thinking about having a boy now so that I’ll be ready!

Edit: This giveaway is now closed. 

Win it!: If you are expecting and can’t wait for that big ultrasound, this product is for you! Or if you know someone expecting, this makes for a very fun gift! One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an Intelligender kit (ARV $27.99). Yay! [Read more…]

Maternity Week: A Piece That Always Fits! Pure Pearls Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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With my first pregnancy, I started showing at 11 weeks…on the early side. With this pregnancy, I’ve been showing since I was 7 weeks along. It has been really tough to keep this bump under wraps while we got through the first trimester. Getting dressed every morning has been a real chore. Finally around week 9 I just gave in completely and began wearing maternity clothes full-time. While in some ways it is easier to get dressed every day with this wardrobe (far fewer choices means I’ll pick faster), I can’t really say that I enjoy it. Fall and winter are the seasons I love the most as far as the clothes go, and I’m bummed to not be able to wear my beloved sweaters this season.

Because I do not have the easiest pregnancies (lots of morning sickness, lack of energy, etc.), I feel very aware of the physical sacrifices that I have to make in order to bring a child into the world. Being pregnant takes a whole lot of giving, and you never do get a break from being pregnant, not even for 5 minutes!

So, I’m of the school of thought that in the midst of this very selfless act, its ok to treat yourself to something extra special. While that means a trip to Taco Bell for some of you (those bean burritos seem to be a popular pregnancy craving!), I’m thinking of something a bit more luxurious.

Oh yes, I’m thinking of jewelry. As my waist line expands and my wardrobe options shrink, I’ve got something on hand to wear that will ALWAYS fit and that will ALWAYS help me look fabulous. Mama’s got a new pair of pearl earrings from PurePearls.com, and they are GORGEOUS! These are White Freshwater pearl stud earrings measuring 7-8mm with 14K White Gold posts and backs. They are the real deal, friends. PurePearls.com has their pearl jewelry priced at an absolute steal, with this set currently available for $55.00! If you have been paying attention to how high the price of gold is now, you’ll know that this is a great buy.

Wanna know something even more exciting? Your pearl jewelrypurchase comes with an official letter of appraisal (something you will need if you ever lose your jewelry or have it stolen in order for your insurance to replace it). These earrings appraise for MUCH higher than what you paid for them ($295.00!). That’s not what you could expect to sell them for, but it does show the fair market value for the item should they need to be replaced. I’ve had jewelry appraised recently, and it costs $40 to have one piece done, so the fact that this company sends along an appraisal adds even more to the overall value you receive.

I perk up a bit when I put my pearls in, because they do give me a much more polished look. It’s also great to have a piece of jewelry that will remind me of this special (hard though it may be) time in my life, and I will look forward to passing them on to Darah or to the new baby if it’s a girl later in life.

I’m actually thinking about getting some additional freshwater pearls so that I can have a coordinating set to pass on later. This starlight pendant is super pretty and would be perfect, I think!

Win it!: In celebration of my little pearl, here’s a chance for you to win the gorgeous set of earrings I featured above. SQUEAL!!!!

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Maternity Week: Sleeping (A LOT) In Comfort! Hanes Review and GIVEAWAY!!

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For the first trimester of my pregnancy, I turn into a bear in the winter. That’s right, I HIBERNATE. I easily sleep 12 hours each and every day that it is possible for me to do so. I’m extremely lucky that this is even possible for me to do. It certainly comes at a price (my house is constantly dirty…and I don’t mean slightly messy…I mean DIRTY). But I am SO tired that sleeping wins every single time I can possibly choose it.

Since I’m doing a lot of sleeping, I need to be as comfortable as possible. As those of you who have been through pregnancy before know, your body goes through some pretty rapid changes, even in the first trimester. You experience quite a bit of growth (in your belly if you are like me and start showing 7 minutes after discovering you are pregnant). But even if you are lucky and don’t show for a while, your breasts almost certainly will start to grow. And they will be sore and sensitive, which means that you don’t want to wear your traditional bras any longer than you absolutely have to.

I’ve been spending a lot of my time in the perfect option from Hanes. Check out their ComfortFlex Fit Bras. These offer light support (so for me, they aren’t for wearing outside of the house), no wire, and they are SUPER soft. I wear these when I’m in the house, and also I wear them to sleep, as they provide some extra needed support while I toss and turn. They are also value priced, at $12 each or 2 for $20 (go ahead and buy 2, you will wear these constantly). While they aren’t designed specifically for expecting moms, I can tell you that they are the perfect choice for us, and I highly recommend them.

The other area where I need some extra comfort while sleeping has to do with my feet. Women are known for having poor circulation in our feet, which causes our toes to be freezing cold. I feel as though the problem for me has been multiplied since being pregnant. I’m not usually one to sleep with socks on EVER, but I’ve had a change of heart in recent weeks because my feet were so cold that I couldn’t fall asleep. So, I reached for my new Hanes socks that are made with a Comfort Toe Seam (all Hanes socks are made this way!). They are designed to feel smooth all day long to the wearer, and not to bunch up and be irritating. I put them on and drift off to sleep since my toes are snuggly warm! Love them!

Comfort is king when you are expecting. You are already going to be fairly uncomfortable during your pregnancy (at least that’s my experience), so anything you can do to get a little more comfortable is a good thing, indeed. Hanes is a company to turn to for some relief, and their prices can’t be beat!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a comfort flex bra and a 6 pack of women’s socks from Hanes! Yay!

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Tommee Tippee The Day Baby Was Born Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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My sister-in-law asked me a few months ago if I thought traditional baby books were outdated. I had never really pondered this question before, and it gave me pause. I did have a traditional baby book for Darah. But I had to make notes in my calendar to remind myself to fill it out from time to time. While it has some good information in it, it is definitely limited. And I haven’t touched the thing in 6 months, even though it is designed to record special events for the first 3 years of life.

Since I’m a blogger, I can’t use the excuse that I’m just not much of a writer. I write every single day! So perhaps the problem is with the product, itself. A book that sits on a shelf really might not be the best way for me to record memories. I’m much more likely to read and write online than anywhere else; maybe that should be the place I go to record special memories, too!

A trusted brand for babies, Tommee Tippee, has recently launched a new web application. It is a FREE digital storybook called The Day Baby Was Born, and it is a really great way to capture all the special moments throughout your pregnancy and the days before and after the baby’s birth.

For this pregnancy, this is the route I’m choosing to take. I can upload ultrasound pics, write down notes about my appointments with the doctor and even make note of those crazy cravings I get from time to time. I’m finding it much easier to log into the site and make a quick note and I really like that the product being put together looks so polished and professional. For someone like me who will NEVER own a scrapbook, its really nice to get to have something personal that looks so great!

What I also like about The Day Baby Was Born is that it is so easy to share with others. You can use the application to create pregnancy and birth announcements for Facebook, and you can also share the memories you have been capturing with others easily. Love that!

If you’d like to see a sample of what a storybook looks like, check out this one (no, it isn’t mine, but it is really good!): http://www.thedaybabywasborn.com/pdf/tt_storybook_example2b.pdf

I’d highly encourage you to consider going digital for your next baby book. And you can get started from t he moment you discover that you are expecting! The end product looks fantastic, and it is absolutely free. Thanks so much, Tommee Tippee!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a newborn starter prize pack from Tommee Tippee in celebration of their application launch and our big news! It has an ARV of $39.99 and includes the following:

  • 4x 9fl oz bottles, 2x 5fl oz bottles, 3x formula dispensers, 1x bottle and nipple cleaner
  • Nipple mimics natural feel, flex and movement of breastfeeding
  • Allows for easy transition between breast and bottle
  • Wide neck nipple for easier latch on
  • Anti-colic, anti-gas, advanced easi-vent™ valve
  • BPA & Phthalate Free
  • Graduations in mls and ounces
  • Hygiene Cap seals the nipple for travel

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

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Maternity Week: Getting a Special Shirt for the Older Sibling(s) (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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When we were getting ready to tell my mother-in-law, who visited us in September, that we were expecting, our plan was to have Darah simply come out of her room in a “big sister” shirt. We thought that would be really cute and fun, and totally not hard to do.

So off I went to the store to get one of those shirts. Only….they are IMPOSSIBLE to find in a brick and mortar store. I made the erroneous assumption that they would be a breeze to find. WRONG!!! While someone may have one time or another been lucky and found one in a store, I couldn’t to save my life. Unfortunately, my MIL was due to arrive the next day, so I couldn’t order anything online. Let that be a lesson to all of you who might be looking for “big sister” or “big brother” shirts in the future…order online, and at least a week before you need them!

I am still going to get to use my idea for Darah’s big reveal at her school. Today she’ll be wearing this precious shirt to school as a way to tell her teachers that she is going to be a big sister! Isn’t it cute? I love the design, and Darah LOVES to wear things that have her name on them (it’s a word that she can recognize by sight). This shirt is from a company that I HIGHLY recommend called Pipsqueak Boutique. This company specializes in stylish and personalized birthday gifts for babies and toddlers. Here you will find sibling shirts (look out for a brand new collection of these that will be released in the next few weeks!). They also have an amazing collection of first birthday shirts for your little one’s very first celebration! I know I’ll be coming back here to take a peak when it is time for this tiny one’s first birthday!

The quality of Darah’s big sister shirt from Pipsqueak Boutique is excellent. It is soft and has a fitted look to it. If your child runs a bit large, I would consider sizing up with these shirts, as they do have a slimmer cut to them. We are very pleased with the product, and I would feel confident about shopping with them again. And I love the variety of gifts they offer. I’ve definitely got my eye on their personalized swaddling blankets. Now if only we can decide on boy and girl names! I forgot how hard picking out names is! 🙂

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a personalized shirt for a boy or a girl in your choice of design from Pipsqueak Boutique! Woo hoo!

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King Arthur Products Review and GIVEAWAY and Surprise Announcement!!!

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I’ve mentioned before that King Arthur is our very favorite baking supply company. We loyally use their flour, and I’m RARELY a brand snob, so it’s really a testament to a company’s high quality products if I won’t buy any other brand.

Recently, we had the opportunity to put our favorite unbleached all-purpose flour from King Arthur to the test. We got a few AMAZING products from the King Arthur line so that we could make something extra special. We got the following additional products:

  • grape seed flour (did you know such a thing existed? It looks SO COOL!)
  • buttery sweet dough flavor (turns out, this stuff is a baker’s secret ingredient)
  • caramel bits (do I even have to tell that these were awesome?)
  • cinnamon filling (such a great shortcut product for various baking projects, especially around the holidays!)

We put all these amazing products together, plus a few other things from our pantry and fridge, and we made King Arthur’s Caramel-Nut Cinnamon Buns. Allow me to show you a few pics of what we, novice bakers, successfully made in our own kitchen.

Did it take a bit more time than making something from a can or a box? Most definitely. Was it worth it? Um, words fail me when I try to articulate how unbelievably amazing these tasted. They were fall-out-of-your-chair good. The kind of thing that if you had paid a steep price for at a restaurant for you would have declared, “Worth it!” after taking the first bite. And I have no doubts whatsoever that using these high quality ingredients is exactly what set these cinnamon buns apart from anything else I’ve ever tried. King Arthur products won’t make themselves, but they give you the right tools for success in the kitchen, even if you aren’t the type to make homemade cinnamon buns!

So, on to that surprise announcement. And yes, the cinnamon buns are your clue! I’ve been doing some extra special baking, myself, over the past few months, and I’m delighted to tell you that I, too, have a bun in my oven! 🙂 We have just finished our first trimester and I’m eagerly awaiting the end of the morning (ALL DAY) sickness.

But this week is all about celebrating our big news. King Arthur was the company I thought best suited to help with the big announcement, and boy was I right. Those buns just can’t be topped! Stay tuned because all this week I will have reviews and giveaways of products to consider purchasing when you find out you are pregnant. And if you aren’t expecting, that doesn’t mean that you won’t be interested in any of the products….trust me! I think you are going to like what you see!

Win it!: In celebration of our bun in the oven, King  Arthur wants to give one lucky winner the supplies needed to create your own cinnamon bun masterpiece! One lucky Stuff Parents Need winner will win the supplies I mentioned above, including a 5 lb bag of flour!

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