Stuff Parents Need

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

New Year, New You! Back to Basics with eMeals

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I’ve certainly got some goals this year to drop a bit of weight and to get more active. How about you?

eMeals, the meal planning service that I have been using for 2 years now, is really going to be helpful with this effort, as they have Healthy Meal Plans to Match your Active Lifestyle! I’m switching my family back to the Paleo plan, which seems to work well for our family. Time to drop lots of those carbs and seriously up my veggie intake. But I don’t have to scour the internet daily for lots of new recipes. eMeals is taking care of me!

If you need help with meal planning, either because you want to change your diet or because you just want a little less stress in your life, then eMeals is such a great way to go. I’ve been so pleased as a member. And I’m pleased to announce that I have a coupon for you, too! Take 15% Off Your Order at eMeals.com with Bonus Comfort Foods Brochure! Use code Dinner15.

Let eMeals help you get back to basics in 2014. I find it to be worth so much more than the cost because it helps me save a TON of time, save money, and eat healthfully.

AND…if you are looking for a little Pinterest inspiration, I’m so thrilled to report that I’m part of the eMeals Foodie board, which is a fantastic group board on with delicious meal ideas! Such a great source of inspiration, and it can keep you from having to search and search and search and search for new ideas. I hope you’ll follow us!

 

Dive into 2014 with the Octonauts! (Giveaway!)

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Special thanks to NCircle Entertainment for providing copies of Here Come the Octonauts for Review and Giveaway. All opinions expressed here are my own, as always. 

here come the octonauts

Sound the Octo-alert! Welcome to 2014, friends! It’s a new year, just brimming with the possibilities of new adventures. If you’ve got little ones who love the Octonauts, then get ready for some serious fun in the Gup-B, because Here Come the Octonauts is available for the very first time on DVD starting January 7th. Woo hoo! You can pick it up at Walmart and many other retailers and grocery stores nationwide.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the Octonauts crew, let me introduce you!

octonauts

(image source: Cartoonbrew.com)

KWAZII KITTEN

A daredevil orange kitten with a mysterious pirate past. He loves excitement and travelling to exotic places.

CAPTAIN BARNACLES BEAR

A brave polar bear extraordinaire and the leader of the Octonauts crew. He’s always the first to rush in and help whenever there’s a problem.

PESO PENGUIN

PESO PENGUIN is the medic for the team. He’s an expert at bandaging and always carries his medical kit with him in case of emergencies. He’s not too fond of scary things, but if a creature is hurt or in danger, he can be the bravest Octonaut of all!

These are just a few of the delightful creatures you will find in this fun underwater adventure. We learned about Octonauts last January, and they have become such a hit with my kids that they made the “best of the best” list for 2013!

You can find Octonauts on weekday mornings on the Disney Channel’s Junior block. But if you are like me and don’t have cable, then the DVD is definitely the way to go! The series has been nominated for an International EMMY Award, and has received nominations for Best Animate Preschool Show in 2011 and 2013.

To get the Octonauts party started, check out some of these great free activities you can print or do online!

 Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Here Come the Octonauts on DVD!

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

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The 16 Products and Services that Changed My Life the Most in 2013

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Last week I highlighted my top 10 posts of the year. Definitely worth a glance if you haven’t faithfully read every single post I’ve written this year (and I’m pretty sure my mother-in-law is the only person who has!). I mention it because there are 2 products on that list of most popular posts that I would also consider to be among the most life-changing. So hop on over and take a look before seeing the other 16 items that rocked 2013 for me (not listed in any particular order).

best products of 2013

photo credit: Philo Nordlund via photopin cc

1. Reynolds products. To say Reynolds has been a game-changer for my kitchen (and for my blog!) would be a huge understatement. I’m hopelessly devoted to you, parchment paper!

2. Iced coffee. It is my constant companion. And now that I’ve gone Keurig, I can’t go back! Thank goodness for those awesome refillable K-cups!

3. Longer eyelashes (without using falsies!). I feel like this product really helped me look more alive and youthful. Major winner!

4. Bob McGrath. This CD, while not my own personal favorite, is loved beyond measure by my youngest. It is played CONSTANTLY in the car. I know every single lyric, and every xylophone solo by heart. At least it’s Bob…he is pretty cool!

5. Justin Timberlake. This is Darah’s favorite CD. We’ve been playing it every chance we can since we got it in March. Two of the tracks put Layah to sleep on long car trips. So that makes this CD precious to everyone in the family!

6. The Honest Company. I learned how to get all of their trials for free (score!) and in the process, fell in love with their products. I have a feeling that they knew I would! Sneaky…

 7. A cool night’s sleep. I purchased a second pillow for Tim since the one I reviewed was such a game-changer. They make for an ultra-comfortable night’s sleep!

8. Carry On, Warrior. The only book that wasn’t directly related to my job that I read this year. It was AWESOME!!!!

9. Kiwi Crate. Thank God for smart and crafty people who put together awesome kits for those of us who aren’t. Kiwi Crate is the best, by far. We have ordered and been gifted more subscriptions over the past year. LOVE!

10. Orbit Gum for Kids. Getting to chew gum for the first time was a big deal for Darah. Big enough to make this best of the best list. She’s head over heels about her Orbit Gum.

11. Bookboard. We have new books to read every single night on the iPad. Darah loves the challenge of reading more to unlock more. This is worth so much more than the subscription price. I simply adore it and strongly recommend it to other families!

12. Shark Sonic Duo. This mop and carpet cleaner is the best of the best, folks. And we had a mop that we totally adored, previously. But we were blown away by this device!

13. Stitch Fix. I don’t have the time to hit the mall looking for clothes, so I hired a personal stylist. It is MUCH more affordable than you might think. Every mom needs to try it just once!

14. Octonauts. We were introduced to Octonauts at a birthday party in January, and haven’t looked back! Sound the Octo-alert!

15. Amazon Prime. I experimented with it this year to see if it was worth the $79 fee. TOTALLY worth it!

16. Compassion, International. We sponsored a child this year. Her name is Vanessa. Thinking about her and praying for her has been humbling, and caused me to think more critically about some of the frivolous purchases I make. We have completely changed her life just by sending $38/month.

As you think back on 2013, what were the products and services that rocked your world the most? Leave a comment and tell me about them so I can do check them out!

 

 

 

 

My Top 10 Posts of 2013

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What a trip down memory lane I just took! I just spend half an hour flipping through every post of 2013, and wow, there were some awesome highlights. Next week I’ll be posting my very favorite products and services of the year for those of you who are relatively new to the site, as well as for those of you who have and might be curious about what stood out the most to me from all the things I reviewed.

Some of my most popular posts also included some of my favorite items. I’ll put an asterisk beside those so that you’ll know they were also a personal favorite.

Are you ready to see what the readers picked as their favorite posts (pageviews = votes)? Let’s see what made it to the top of the pyramid!

top 10 posts of 2013

photo credit: Dorli Photography via photopin cc

1. 15 Slow Cooker Recipes You Must Try!

2. Potty Training: How I Get My Kids to Use the Potty So Early

3. How to Print Pictures From Your Phone for Free*

4. Summer Baby Shower Food Ideas

5. Philly Cream Cheese Cannoli Dip

6. Every Suitcase Has a Story: My Trip to Unclaimed Baggage Center

7. The Best, Most Affordable Sleep Training Materials Coming to Video*

8. How to Get Toddlers and Preschoolers Ready for Chores

9. 4 Simple Rules for a Clean and Tidy House

10. 28 Cloth Diaper Reviews for the Cloth Diaper Confused

 

Happy reading, friends! Be sure to pin or share anything you read and love. That would be the best compliment to receive! 🙂

Giving the Gift of Childhood: Vitamin Angels

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This post brought to you by Vitamin Angels Give Childhood. All opinions are 100% mine.

Yesterday was our family's first Christmas at home, just the four of us. Tim and I agreed that it wasn't better than being with our extended families (we definitely missed them!), but at the same time, it was also really enjoyable. We were very relaxed, and we thoroughly enjoyed watching our little girls react to their visit from Santa Claus. They say one of the most awesome things about having kids is getting to be a kid again, yourself. Never is that more true than on Christmas!

A few days before Christmas, I recalled a tradition that my family had at the holidays. We would go through all the presents under the tree and categorize them by person. Basically, we'd do a present count to see where everyone stood. Now that may sound like a very "stuff-centered" activity, but it was quite helpful for my parents to see where things stood. I even remember my mom looking over the gifts and then saying, "Ah! I can think of 3 things that aren't wrapped yet and that I forgot about!" As a parent now, I can definitely relate to that! But more than anything, it was a time that my older brother and I would just spend together, imagining and anticipating. I loved doing it, and I asked Tim if we could do the same at our house. Darah had a BLAST being our helper elf. And honestly, once I realized how many gifts I had purchased, I put an immediate pause on my plans to go pick up a few more stocking stuffers. I decided that instead I should take that money and give a life-changing gift by visiting Vitamin Angels Give Childhood to make a donation that will help deliver essential vitamins and minerals to at risk children in need.

The Gift of Health

My siblings and I were so very lucky to be in good health throughout our childhoods. And Tim and I are lucky beyond measure that our little girls have made it this far in life with good health. It is certainly a gift that you take for granted until it is snatched away from you. Vitamin Angels is currently running a campaign that I think is worth noting. It is called Give Childhood, and it runs through December 31st. They hope to reach 1.2 million children throughout the world (including the U.S.) in 2014 with gifts from this campaign. And no gift is too small: just 25 cents will provide 1 child with all the Vitamin A s/he needs for an entire year. Give Childhood back to children in need!

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I'm making a donation of $10 today, which is going to help combat the plague of undernutrition and will make a true difference in the lives of 40 children. I know it isn't much to give, but I'm so thrilled to know how many children it will impact. photo copyMattDayka-VitaminAngelsIN13-7187WM_zps0e55ad62.jpg

Your support today will give the gift of childhood to those in need worldwide so please donate now. I really hope you will join me. Whether you have $1 or $100 to share, it will matter! 

 

 

 

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Fuss-Free Savings at CVS on Pampers and Other Road Trip Essentials

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We’ve been doing our fair share of traveling over the past month, as I’m sure many of you have, as well. When you travel, do you have any “must have” items for the trip? In our case, we treat ourselves to the following items:

1. A new app for Darah to help keep her entertained

2. McDonald’s Egg McMuffin sandwiches (we’re always on the road in the early hours…gotta fuel up!)

3. Squeeze pouches for a yummy snack for the kids. 4. Iced coffee for Tiffany, anywhere we can get it (McDonald’s, Starbucks, I’m not picky, as long as it is COLD!)

4. Disposable diapers, which make life with a toddler infinitely easier when traveling.

I have a CVS just 7 minutes away from my home, and I actually like to make a trip there before we get in the car and begin our travels. I stock up there on dipes and wipes, squeeze pouches for the girls, and if they are on sale, I’ll also pick up the Starbucks Frappuccios (They taste like candy! Love them!). Once a year, or so, I’ll even get an iTunes gift card there (their gift card selection is awesome!), and that keeps us set for our app purchases throughout the year. pampers and CVS fuss-free savings Recently I headed in to get my diaper bag stocked up, and I opted for Pampers products. Pampers are, in my experience, a very reliable brand, and reliable is exactly what I want on the road. Ever had a diaper malfunction while the child was in the car seat? Yeah….NOT something I want to deal with, and especially not while I’m away from my home and my washing machine. Pampers have an ultra-absorbent core that can withstand up to 12 hours of overnight protection (and I prefer to use overnight diapers for road trips, as well, when I can’t check on Layah’s diaper quite as often). They recently increased the capacity of the diaper by 15%, as well. Basically, it is ready for action! 😉

When I was picking out the wipes to go with the Pampers, I knew I found my match when I saw the sensitive designation. Why? Because my child always has and still does like to put those darn wipes in her mouth! I need as few chemicals as possible! pampers wipes from CVS My bags were stocked with what I needed for our recent trips, and to top it all off, when I was checking out the CVS register gave me a $2 coupon off a $10 purchase of any baby needs. Guess who went right back into the store to spend it? This girl! Being able to save more on the things I need puts a smile on my face. CVS makes it happen! pampers bought at CVS What are your “must haves” when taking a road trip?  Win it!: One Stuff Parents Need reader will receive 2 coupons from Pampers and CVS (one for a free package of Pampers diapers, and one for a free package of Pampers wipes!). Woo hoo!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Bringing a Bit of Summer to Winter Through a Road Trip with Enterprise Rent-a-Car

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This post brought to you by Enterprise Rent-A-Car. All opinions are 100% mine.

One of my very favorite places to visit in the winter is the Gulf Coast. The water is still (relatively) warm, the beaches are pristine (as always), and in the winter, everything is calm and quiet. It is so peaceful and restorative to take a walk along the beach in December, let me tell you! And if I could plan a winter road trip for my family to take right now, that's exactly where we'd be headed. And since my girls have never seen the ocean, I can't think of a more awesome introduction to it and to the beach than during the winter. 

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photo credit: Henry M. Diaz via photopin cc

On our way to the beach, though, we'd have to make a stop at a place that has piqued my oldest daughter's curiosity for a long time. We need to stop and check out the ginormous peach in Clanton, Alabama. 

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photo credit: SeeMidTN.com (aka Brent) via photopin cc

You can see this peach from the interstate, and Darah wants to get a closer look. She wonders aloud every time we pass it on our way to my hometown if it is real or not. She's fairly sure that it isn't, but wants to make sure! And while winter is hardly peach season, there's a shop in town that sells incredible peach ice cream all year, so it would be fun to get a little taste of summer on our way to the beach. 

Taking road trips with kids really can be fun, if you have fun activities planned for them, and if you have the right vehicle for the trip. We own a Toyota Corolla, and we absolutely adore it. But our love for it does not hold out after several hours on the road. We all start to feel a bit cramped. 

Trips like this one are the perfect opportunity to visit Enterprise Rent-A-Car and take something a bit more spacious for a spin. And you definitely need to check out the Enterprise Plus Your Points promotion website. This is a fantastic trackable loyalty rewards program that Enterprise Rent-A-Car offers, and now through March 31, 2014, you can earn double points towards free rentals in the future! I think it is awesome that the rentals you make now will get you closer to free rentals later, which will make it that much easier to get back in the car (or van, in our case) and go exploring again. 

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Once you are registered on the Plus Your Points website, you'll be able to see a complete list of ways that you can earn points, including renting a vehicle with Enterprise, referring a friend to the program who rents a vehicle, and even tweeting a message out about the program! There are lots of ways to rack up points and get yourself on the road again faster! 

There are NO blackout dates for using your points, and as long as you have one qualifying rental within each two year period, your points won't expire, either! 

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If there's a road trip on your future, or if you'd like to make one happen, then definitely get signed up for this program. It's free! And be sure to Follow us on Facebook to hear about the latest great deals Enterprise is offering. That's another great way to save some money when you hit the road! 

Where would you go for a fun winter roadtrip? I'd love to hear! 

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Tech Gifts Under the Tree? Don’t Forget the FiOS!

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My main Christmas gift came early this year. I got a new laptop. Honestly, it wasn’t a very exciting purchase, as it was made spontaneously after my old laptop bit the dust unexpectedly. 

I’ve been chugging along with my fancy new laptop and Windows 8 (which honestly isn’t a bad operating system IF you have a touch screen). But if there’s one thing I’ve learned about technology, it is that how many fancy bells and whistles it has, or how many apps or photos it can store don’t really matter if you have a slow or unreliable internet connection. Without fast internet, all of your fast gadgets get brought right back to the early 2000’s. Can you hear the dial-up connection happening? There you are, sitting around and WAITING. 

That’s no good! 

Verizon has a very clever video called ‘Twas the Night Before Stanley, and it shows just how Stanley the Gingerbread tries to create the perfect Christmas for his family. See what happens when he tries to get everything up and running online!  

Take a tip from Stanley, and don’t let Christmas Eve or Christmas morning be the time when you realize that your internet can’t hang with your gadgets. My in-laws have FiOS, and it is like a dream come true! It is an awesome tool to help your family stay connected during the holidays, and to ensure lots of fun and no frustration when it is time to play with the new tablet, smartphone, or laptop you might have waiting under the tree. 

 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Verizon. The opinions and text are all mine.