Stuff Parents Need

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

Nature’s Perfect Superfood: Sun Chlorella (GIVEAWAY! TWO WINNERS!!!)

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I’ll be honest with you; I don’t really know much about vitamins, minerals, superfoods and other “healthy” stuff. It was never something emphasized in my home, and it just never took root with me as something to pay much attention to in life. And while I don’t have guilt over not being an amateur nutritionist, I do wish that I paid a bit more attention to what my body really needs to thrive and what I need to do to make sure I provide all of those elements.

sun chlorella

So when the opportunity came to review a product called Sun Chlorella, I thought I’d take it and teach myself a thing or two about nutrition.
I’d never even heard of chlorella until I got this product. Have you? Here’s what it is: a freshwater green algae! Gross, right?! Well, happily, Sun Chlorella comes in powder or pill form, so you don’t feel like you are eating slime (ha!). The company refers to chlorella as nature’s perfect superfood, and that’s because it contains all of the following:
  • Fiber: one serving contains more dietary fiber than many leading fruits and veggies.
  • Prebiotics: it helps promote the growth of good bacteria and improve your body’s digestive health.
  • Greens: one serving is equivalent to one serving of fresh green veggies (minus the pesticides!)
  • Protein: ounce for ounce, chlorella has more protein than steak or soy.
  • Chlorophyll: Sun Chlorella has the highest chlorophyll levels of any plant-based food source. This aids in expelling harmful toxins from the body, providing natural and gentle detoxification.
I don’t think you have to know a lot about nutrition to realize that all of these elements combined into one product is a very good thing, indeed! I continue to struggle to serve enough vegetables in this house, so supplementing with Sun Chlorella is a very good thing for us. Additionally, as we age, fiber does become more and more important (embarrassing to admit, but it is true!).
Since most people don’t already have chlorella as a standard part of their diet, the company recommends introducing it a bit slowly, taking 1/3 of the recommended dosage for a week, and then 2/3 for a week and then getting to the full dosage. That’s the plan I’ve been following, and it has worked great. I’ve tried the powdered form (which I have sprinkled over ice cream with fabulous results…seriously!), the smaller tablets (you have to take 15 each day…not my favorite) and the larger tablets (just 6 a day…much better). I really like that they have a variety of ways to get your chlorella in, depending on your personal preferences.
In the few weeks that I have been taking this product, have I noticed any dramatic improvements in my health? No, but I also haven’t had my skin turn green or had any negative effects, either. Based on what I have read about chlorella, I’m quite confident that my insides are pleased to have it on board to help keep me healthy! And Tim came down with bronchitis this week, but I have managed to avoid it. This could be a coincidence…but maybe not!
Buy it!: Sun Chlorella products are available at Amazon.com and Drugstore.com

 

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you. 

Putumayo Acoustic Dreamland CD (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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It’s time to talk about some new music selections for the little ones!!! Today I’m highlighting Acoustic Dreamland, the fifth CD in the Dreamland series by Putumayo Kids.

Let me back up a bit and tell you about Putumayo Kids! It is a record label that is committed to introducing kids to cultures all around the world through music! They have two primary series: Playground and Dreamland. Today’s feature is the newest Dreamland cd, and it joins a great group of other cds that are already out, including Dreamland, African Dreamland, Asian Dreamland and Celtic Dreamland.

The CDs in their playground collection are too numerous to name, but they have an incredible selection, with some of my favorites being Animal Playground and Caribbean Playground!

Ok, so back to Acoustic Dreamland. You guys, this is such a sweet cd. I adore it! It has this mellow, folksy vibe, and you just can’t help but slow yourself down once you start to listen to it. Quite simply, it is the very best cuddle music I have yet to find! I also like that the songs are pretty easy to pick up, so that you can start singing right along with them. You might even recognize some of the tunes, as the CD includes songs originally recorded by the Allman Brothers, James Taylor, Wilco and Mary Chapin Carpenter!

This cd is just perfect for the time right before bed, when we need to start winding down and relaxing. The play time is 31 minutes, which is absolutely perfect. I very highly recommend it if you are looking for some music to play to help set the mood for dreaming!

Buy it!: Acoustic Dreamland is available for $13.10 on Amazon! It’s a great buy!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to have their child’s bedtime ritual get much dreamier! You will win a copy of Acoustic Dreamland! The contest will run until April 19th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond 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: Tell me the lullaby you love to sing to your little one!

My answer: Baby Minee from Dumbo!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Like Putumayo Kids on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need via RSS or email

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.

Menu Planning Got Even Easier (Lobotome GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Do you plan out the meals you are going to have in a typical week? I have been doing this for at least the past 5 years, and I find it to be an extremely effective way to save money at the grocery store, as well as to save my sanity at 5pm every day when I wonder what we should have for dinner.

So what does my menu typically look like? It is usually on a lined piece of paper, with the days of the week written down the left side of the page and the meal selections under each day. I try to leave room for my grocery list on the right side of the page. It gets the job done, but it looks really messy!

Lobotome is a company that has put out a notepad that will save me a bit of time each week when putting together my menu and shopping list. It is called Feed Me, and check out how it is set up. It makes perfect sense to me!

While I am finding the Feed Me notepad to be very easy to use, I do have a few suggestions for improvement:

  • I am personally used to using something that is 8 1/2 x 11, and while I don’t think I have to have something quite that big, I’d like to see the pad grow just a touch in size.
  • I’d like to see a magnet on the back of the pad so that it can go on the fridge. Alternatively, I’d like to see the back of each paper be sticky, so that the paper can be stuck on the fridge, the wall, or any place where it can be easily seen throughout the week.
  • I’d like to see Saturday and Sunday given separate categories. I plan meals for those days the same as I do for any other day of the week!

If you are just starting out with meal planning, or if you are a seasoned pro who would love to have a handy list to make it even faster, this is a nice choice! Lobotome also has a whole range of very cool notepads designed to help keep you sane in other aspects of your life. I’m really intrigued by the Pack Me notepad, for example, which is so helpful any time you need to go on a trip. I usually re-create the same basic packing list every time we go anywhere, which is stressful and inefficient. It would be great to just pull out this packing list and start checking things off! I also like the Sit Me notepad, which can help you quickly fill out important information for a babysitter, and help you get out the door and go have fun faster!

Buy it!: Lobotome notepads are available for $9.95 each, but they also have package deals such as the 10 pack of different notepads for just $59.95.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the notepad of your choice from Lobotome! Organization is on the way! Hooray! The contest will run until April 18th 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: Tell me which Lobotome notepad you need the most, and choose wisely, as the winner will get his/her selection for this entry!

My answer: I’d definitely want to get the Sit Me notepad next!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Lobotome on Facebook
2. Blogger love: “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

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.

Taking Better Care of my Teeth: Test Driving a New Mouthwash

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Everybody has one physical feature that stands out from the rest (in a positive way). EVERYBODY. For me, one of my best physical features (so I am told) is my smile. I have naturally straight teeth (for which my parents are eternally grateful) and they are also still reasonably white, especially considering the fact that I’m 30 and addicted to coffee. My teeth really are one of my very best assets.

Wanna hear something heartbreaking? My teeth are also sort of falling apart. They are extremely cavity-prone. It is very common for me to have 3-4 new cavities every time I go to the dentist. I’ve been told that the damage I’m paying for now likely happened as a child. I was actually asked if I lived in a city without fluoride (nope!). We’ve concluded together that the culprit is a combination of constantly drinking soda and kool-aid and just some bad genes. So as pretty as my teeth are, they are really in bad shape. I pay extra to get white fillings, and they have to be replaced after about 10 years. It’s a hot mess, folks.

While I can’t do much about the cavities that are the result of childhood damage, I can work hard now to keep myself from having more problems 10, 15 and 20 years from now. I take brushing and flossing seriously, and I have been told that including a quality mouthwash into my oral hygiene routine is also a good idea.

I just started trying out Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse (great product, bad name in my opinion…who can remember that?!).

Here’s why I’m excited about this particular mouthwash: it is designed to prevent plaque (which is a problem for me, particularly in between my teeth) and it keeps your teeth cleaner longer than brushing alone! So far, I’ve found the mouthwash to be invigorating, but also mild enough that I can swish it around in my mouth for 30 seconds. I NEVER make it through half a minute with other mouthwashes I have used before…they burn too much!

I’ll be back in a few weeks to give you a status report on how my mouth feels after using this product for a few weeks. What about you? Do you regularly use a mouthwash? Do you have any concerns about the overall health of your teeth and how to protect them?

I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Crest and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central Consulting sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Never Buy Travel Toothpaste Again: Toothpaste 2 Go (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Today I want to talk about airline travel, and specifically, the way I travel based on how airline travel currently works. Unless I’m flying Southwest (which still allows 2 checked bags FOR FREE!), I work VERY hard to fly with just my carry on luggage. Many airlines charge even for your first checked bag. If I’ve just spent close to $300 for a plane ticket, I’m unwilling, on principle, to fork over an additional $30 for bringing my stuff. And while that might sound really cheap, I am pretty sure I’m not the only one who feels this way, because have you noticed in the past few years that overhead compartments almost always get filled up before all the passengers are on the plane? It’s a bit of a nightmare, and causing the loading and unloading process to take a long time, as folks are having to go to the back of the plane to store (and retrieve) their luggage, even though they made be sitting in the middle of the plane. Basically, it’s a hot mess because nobody wants to pay the price to put their luggage under the plane.

So anyway, because I cram my world in a carry-on, I have to abide by the rules for liquids (these rules don’t apply to checked baggage). The limit for liquids and gels is 3 oz. Wanna know how big the average tube of toothpaste is? 7.8 oz. So more than double what is allowed. Once I tried to bring a full tube of toothpaste that actually had less than an ounce of product left in it. I had to pitch it! The rule is that if the container can hold more than 3 ounces it cannot come on the plane, even if it obviously doesn’t have more than 3 ounces of product inside. So occasionally I have to buy the travel sized toothpastes, and it makes me mad to have to do it! I should probably reserve my anger for things that aren’t quite this petty, but it is true! It just feels like such a waste to me. Anytime I have a travel toothpaste at my home, I guard it with my life, because I want to go as long as possible before having to buy another one.

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that when I heard about a product called Toothpaste 2 Go, I was really and truly THRILLED. Melissa is a stay-at-home-mom who invented a solution that I’ve often thought about, but never had any idea how to make happen. Basically, Toothpaste 2 Go is a toothpaste transfer device that enables you to transfer toothpaste from your larger tube into a smaller one! The smaller tube is refillable. No more travel size toothpaste purchases!!!!

The video below shows you all the great features of Toothpaste 2 Go (if you strictly want to see how you transfer the toothpaste, start at 1:50)

Pretty awesome, right?! Toothpaste 2 Go starter packs are available for $7.99 each, and you can buy additional toothpaste tubes for $4 (you’ll get 3 more tubes). Everyone in your house can have their own travel tube of toothpaste! Melissa wants to offer you a 10% off coupon to use toward your purchase, as well. Just use code FRIENDS10. Also, free shipping is offered for any purchase over $15! These also make excellent stocking stuffers or gifts for the people out there like me, who love gadgets that keep money in their pockets!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Toothpaste 2 Go starter kit! The contest will run until April 17th 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: What feature of the Toothpaste 2 Go transfer system do you like the most?
Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Follow Toothpaste 2 Go on Twitter
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

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

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

How We Got Two Free Dates Each Month!

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Tim and I have been lamenting about the fact that we never took the advice that was given to use REPEATEDLY by moms and dads who came before us: hire a babysitter AT LEAST once a month. We were told again and gain, “You can’t afford not to.”

So true. And yet, we couldn’t seem to come up with the money to pay a babysitter AND pay for dinner and/or a movie. So even though we couldn’t afford NOT to, we still couldn’t seem to afford TO do it!

But we knew something had to give this past February when we realized that our last date had been in early November, when my mom was visiting us…and we had no prospects for another date until the end of March, when my mother-in-law would be coming to visit. It makes NO sense for us to only have dates when our parents come to town!

Then, we decided to think a bit more creatively about the time we DID have. You see, twice each week, Darah is away from home from 9-2 at a parent’s day out program. Tim is still able to come home for lunch on those days. In the past, we have spent that time vacuuming and mopping the floors, taking out the trash, and cleaning the kitchen. And that was a very good thing to do. But we realized that an even BETTER thing to do would be to have a lunch date twice each month on one of those days. The childcare is already covered, and the menu prices are typically lower at lunch.

The only down side is that the dates are brief, but since we were used to having NO time together, this has been a huge improvement! We are getting to try out some fabulous restaurants in Chattanooga and just have some quality time together. We are also committed to finding a babysitter in the near future so that we can go on a date longer than 50 minutes in the near future. But I’m glad we’ve made this small change, as it is making all the difference!

Now I’d really like to hear from you. Have there been any “little switches” you have made so that you can have more quality time with your partner? Any tips and tricks for other readers, to help them find the time where none seems to exist, at first glance? We still have a lot to learn, so I, for one, am all ears!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Cottonelle blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

And the Crowd Goes Wild: Nutrisystem Frozen Desserts

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So far I’ve told you all about my experience trying out Nutrisystem’s frozen breakfasts, lunches and dinners. I have saved the best for last, because today I’m telling you about their desserts.

During my 10 day challenge, I tried the following items:

  • Caramel Swirl Sundae
  • Fudge Swirl Sundae
  • Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Orange Creme Bar
  • Creamy Fudge Bar

In my previous posts, I gave every item a star rating. There’s just no need to do that in this post because EVERY. SINGLE. DESSERT. WAS. AWESOME!!!!

Each dessert on the list above tasted indulgent, sweet, creamy and just great. AND…they all hover right around 100 calories! Nutrisystem, you have totally outdone yourself with the desserts. I just can’t recommend them highly enough for anyone out there with a sweet tooth but who wants to watch their calorie intake.

So in conclusion, here are some of my basic thoughts about Nutrisystem after trying it out for 10 days.
1. It was SO nice to not have to cook! Nutrisystem certainly offers a very convenient approach to making healthy eating choices, since there’s no real cooking involved for you, and once you place your order, the food is even delivered to your house. When you are pressed for time (and who out there isn’t?) that is a plus.

2. With that said, some thought needs to go into what other items you will have on hand to add to your meals, as the Nutrisystem food by itself doesn’t provide you with enough fuel to get you through the day. I didn’t have a good plan in place for this, and as a result, I didn’t actually lose weight.

3. Going along with that point, it is always important to remember that diet alone is not the key to achieving a healthier lifestyle. Exercise and in many cases doing a bit of deep digging into your personal thoughts and feelings are all necessary components for lasting change. I like that Nutrisystem has created an extensive online community to help out in all those areas.

4. I only tried a sampling of the food that Nutrisystem has available. I would be very curious to try out some of their non-frozen options, as well. While not everything I tried was a winner, many things were quite tasty, so I would be willing to try out more of their food in the future! And the desserts have an open invitation to come live in my freezer!

Disclosure: I participated in a 10 day challenge with Nutrisystem and received complimentary products in exchange for my honest opinion.

Skin Md Shielding Lotion: Seriously Amazing Stuff (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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When I was a young child I had pretty severe eczema. I have always been afraid that Darah would have the same problem, so I have been using lotion on her for a long time. This winter, she started developing a few dry skin patches on her legs and arms. When I asked my pediatrician about it, she said that it was eczema. NOOOOOO!!!!!! The patches were slight, and the doctor wasn’t really concerned, but I was! I still remember taking gross oatmeal baths and being in pain from how dry my skin was.

So I turned to a product that I had heard great things about online, Skin MD Shielding Lotion, to see if it could do a better job at combating severe dry skin than the other lotions I had been using.

You guys. Wow. Basically it got rid of her eczema in oh, about 24 hours. And it hasn’t come back. This lotion is an excellent choice for anyone who battles eczema or psoriasis. And even if you don’t, it is going to do some amazing things for your skin! When reading up on this product, I learned that it works by creating a natural barrier on top of the skin to protect it from outside irritants and chemicals (SO nice for sensitive skin) and this barrier also helps lock in the moisture and oils that are already in the skin so that it can stay hydrated.

There are many excellent properties of Skin MD, and there are also some things that this lotion DOESN’T contain:

  • no greasy residue
  • no fragrance
  • no parabens
  • no petrochemicals
  • no dyes

I also like that a little goes a long way this this product. You don’t have to slather it on to get the results you want. One bottle of lotion (priced at $18) will last you a long while, which makes it very VERY worth the price tag. It can beordered online or you can use their store locatorto find the place nearest you that carries the product.

I would very strongly recommend this to anyone as I personally witnessed it knock out our budding eczema problem overnight (literally).

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. Affiliate links may be included at no cost you. 

Teaching Kids about Reflection (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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I’ve talked before about how much children value rituals, and how much I have enjoyed creating special moments with Darah that help set the rhythm of our days. Today I am bringing you another product that helps create a time of thoughtful reflection just before bedtime. It is called Good Night Pad and it is from Knock Knock. I’d love to tell you all about it!

I love that it has a looped string on it, so that you can hang it up on the wall. This is a great way to ensure that it doesn’t get lost (very important in a busy toddler’s room!). I also find that it adds an element of reverence to the notepad. It is in a special place, where you have to make a point to go get it and to put it back.

While we are really enjoying talking about our day even at this young age, I think this notepad is especially good for school age children, perhaps those with some basic writing skills. They can work on filling out their own pad while mom or dad sit with them. It really is like a first attempt at journaling, and teaches children the importance of reflection.

I love that there’s a space to write about what you hope to dream about that night. I use to always try to plan out my dreams when I was a child, and you know what? Sometimes it worked! 🙂

I think this is a great way to add some quality time with your child into your day, and to inspire some great conversations and a time to reflect. The notepad is modestly priced at $8.00 for 40 sheets. It also comes with 60 stickers so that your child can decorate their pages!

Knock Knock has a very impressive selection of products for just about about occasion or recipient. Some of my favorites include the Pep Talk Nifty Note and the My Life in Graphs Journal (I think this would really appeal to Tim!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to snag the Good Night notepad from Knock Knock! Hooray! The contest will run until April 15th at 11:49pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond 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: Tell me one other product offered by Knock Knock that you’d love to have!

My answer: One additional product that I really like is the Vouchers for Friends. What a wonderful gift idea!
Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Knock Knock on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Google Friend Connect

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

Disclosure: This post was written for Family Review Network & Knock Knock who provided the complimentary product for review & giveaway in exchange for my honest opinions.