Stuff Parents Need

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

How to Get Rid of Static Cling

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If you have to wear dress clothes on a regular basis you know the frustration of static cling on dresses, pants and blouses. Fall and winter are the peak static cling times of the year, so best to be prepared! Here are some easy ways to get rid of static cling using simple items you already have in your home.  No need for fancy products or sprays when you have these laying around the house just waiting to be used.

how to get rid of static cling

EASY WAYS TO GET RID OF STATIC CLING

  • DRYER SHEETS.  This is the all-time favorite go-to method and works wonderfully.  Simply grab a dryer sheet from your stockpile in the laundry room (we use these that also pull off pet hair! Hallelujah!) and rub it gently along the inside hem of your skirts, blouses and pant legs to remove static.  It will also provide a fresh clean scent on your clothes.

  • HAIR SPRAY.  A tiny spritz of hair spray on the area of static cling can help tremendously and is handy when you are getting dressed in the bathroom and see it sitting on the counter as a reminder.  Just spray on the underside of clothing in area with cling issue and smooth.

  • WIRE HANGER.  Even if you prefer nice soft hangers for your garments while in the closet keep a wire hanger or two handy to run your clothing through before getting dressed.  The metal will remove the static electricity and alleviate the static cling that is such a hassle.

  • ALUMINUM FOIL BALLS.  It sounds frightening but using a few small squares of aluminum foil crumpled into a ball amongst your laundry in the dryer while it dries is safe and will help eliminate static cling issues.

  • SAFETY PIN.  Another great trick is to simply put a safety pin on the inside hem of your garment.  Much like the wire hanger or aluminum foil above this gets rid of the electricity causing the static cling.  (And probably explains why my grandma always had safety pins on the inside lapel of my grandpa’s shirts.)

  • LOTION.  If you find the sleeves of your shirts or your pant legs clinging frequently despite your best efforts, begin slathering on the lotion.  Often extremely dry skin can create friction and result in the static cling that annoys.

No matter what method you choose there are always great alternatives that are eco-friendly and free at your disposal.  I’ll stick to our favorite and easy method of using dryer sheets as needed for an easy way to get rid of static cling but feel free to let me know any other tips and tricks you have learned.

Want a few more life hacks? Check out these great posts!

How to Coupon 101

how to coupon 101

How to Get Showtime for Free

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Why Your Allergies are Worse at Night (and How to Fix It)

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Recipes My Family Loves

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I can’t believe the last day of 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes is here! I have had SO much fun sharing some of the great recipes I have discovered, and introducing you to other bloggers who have shared some of their top finds, as well. I think it is safe to say that I have enough recipe ideas to last me for the next year (or three!).

Even so, I still have a few more gems I wanted to share with you. These are “winning” recipes according to my family. We’ve tried them all, and loved every single one. I haven’t shared any of these dishes with you yet this month, and a few of them may surprise you (hello there sandwich with beets in it and muffins made with squash!). But they all have earned regular spots in my meal prep rotation, even with fairly picky eaters in our home, so I encourage you to give them a try for yourself! Please come back and tell me what you tried, too!

recipes my family loves

Cream Cheese Cannoli Dip, Stuff Parents Need

Yellow Squash Muffins, Taste of Home

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake, How Sweet It Is

Broccoli Cheese and Cracker Casserole, The Pioneer Woman

Peanut Butter, Strawberry and Banana Quesadillas, The Nutrition Twins

Polenta Pudding with Blueberry Topping, Stuff Parents Need

Yummy Pork Sliders, Stuff Parents Need

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos, The Girl Who Ate Everything

Freezer Caramel Drizzle Pie, All Recipes

Grilled Cheese with Beets, Arugula and Goat Cheese, BS in the Kitchen

 

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18 Easy Snack Ideas!

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Since I work from home, being hungry at the office is never a problem. My full-sized kitchen and pantry is just one room over.

That’s also a bit of a problem, as it turns out. You see, I have pretty much ZERO self control when it comes to keeping my hands off sweet treats. And I’ll be the first to tell you that there’s nothing wrong with getting a chocolate fix every now and again. But not 6 times a day! Part of my problem is that I don’t have enough snack ideas on hand, so I just reach for what is ready to go. That’s why I’ve got a list of delicious snack ideas that require minimal cooking and can help satisfy cravings! Enjoy!

18-easy-snack-ideas

  1. Game Day Snacks Cereal Treat by Occasionally Crafty
  2. Cinnamon Roasted Cashews by Slap Dash Mom
  3. Healthy Peanut Butter Hummus by Slap Dash Mom
  4. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dip by A Night Owl
  5. Chocolate Banana Bites by Glued to My Crafts
  6. Fig & Walnut Energy Bites by Wonky Wonderful
  7. Candy Corn Sweet & Salty Chex Mix by Mom Endeavors
  8. DIY Smucker’s Uncrustables by The Pinning Mama
  9. Popcorn Ball Treats by The Pinning Mama
  10. Sierra Nevada Mountain Trail Mix by The Freshman Cook
  11. Chocolate Chip S’mores Bars by Love Bakes Good Cakes
  12. Slow Cooker Apple-Pear Butter by Stuff Parents Need
  13. Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels by Hot Eats & Cool Reads
  14. Spiced Peacans by A Family Feast
  15. Banana Peanut Butter Cupcakes by Robyn’s View
  16. Strawberry Cake Muddy Buddies by What’s Cooking, Love?
  17. Copycat Kashi Granola Bars by Call Me PMC
  18. No Bake Oatmeal Fruit Cookies by Food Done Light

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes

 

Easy Italian Dinner and a Free Trip to Italy

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This post brought to you by Michael Angelo’s. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’m hoping that I caught your attention by promising an easy Italian dinner, but even if it took “free trip to Italy” to get you to click over, you won’t be disappointed by what you find below. But before we jet-set, let’s fill out tummies with something yummy, ‘k? 

Michael Angelo’s® is my family’s personal favorite brand for convenience Italian foods. We love this brand because the food tastes fresh and authentic. I think they achieve their great flavors thanks to making their food in small batches, using the best ingredients possible, and leaving out junk like preservatives, additives and fillers. When you take a bite out of a Michael Angelo’s® dish, you get to enjoy great Italian family recipes made with love. Want to learn more about the people behind the brand? 

So how about that easy Italian dinner? Sam’s Club is now offering one of my all-time favorite Italian dishes, Parmesan Crusted Stuffed Chicken Breasts, in packs of 6, which is so perfect for busy families. 
photo Parmesan_Crusted_Stuffed_Chicken_3D_zpsf40759a9.jpg

My family eats at home most every night of the week, largely due to how expensive it is to go out to eat. But sometimes I am not able to spend the time it takes to make an awesome homemade meal from scracth, so I let Michael Angelo’s do that for me. My family gets the best of everything: delicious food that tastes homemade, and more time for me to work on other projects! 

Ok, so now how about that free trip to Italy? Every single year, Michael Angelo himself, along with his mom, Sara, give away a trip to Italy, and they come with you! You get to go on a culinary tour and enjoy amazing food and learn more about the inspiration behind the brand. What an opportunity of a lifetime! Entering is very simple, just click here and you are on your way. Buona fortuna!  

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Will You Be My Saturdate®? TRESemmé at Walgreens Event!

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Special thanks to TRESemmé and Resourceful Mommy Media for including me in this sponsored opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. 

About 20 minutes ago I called my hair stylist and begged her to find it in her heart and in her appointment book to squeeze me in for a hair cut and eyebrow wax before Friday, when I leave for a cruise with my husband and NOT with my kids.

You don’t have to tell me. I already know how obnoxious the previous paragraph was. But it is the honest truth! And I’m all about keeping it real with my readers. Most of the time that realness looks like me getting poop in my hair, but today it actually looks like me getting to prettify myself before a week long date with my husband. I’m in a happy place!

And while it may not be in your immediate plans to sail off into the sunset with your love, that doesn’t mean you can’t still look fan-freaking-tastic by giving your hair a little TLC! And I know just the place for you to go to get started!

There’s something extra fun happening near you next weekend, on Saturday, November 9, and it is the TRESemmé  Saturdate® with Beauty at Walgreens event. From 10-5pm that day, trained Walgreens Beauty Advisors will be handing out samples (holla!) and giveaways (sign me up!) so that you can experience products that are salon-quality, minus the salon price tag.

Walgreens Saturdate with TRESemme

And while you are there, be sure to use your Walgreens Balance Rewards card to make the already great prices of TRESemmé products even better. Deals include the following:

  • Buy two participating TRESemmé products, and get 1,000 Balance Rewards points
  • Get two for $8 of TRESemmé hair care base collection with Walgreens Balance Rewards card
  • Get two for $10 of TRESemmé hair care expert collection with Walgreens Balance Rewards card (my personal recommendation!)

And don’t think I’m going to send you over there without a coupon on top of it all, friend! Here’s $1 off TRESemmé Keratin Smooth and Platinum Strength hair products exclusively atWalgreens. Even though I might be living the care-free life for the next week, don’t think that I don’t know how to stretch a buck!

If you want to get more information about how much TRESemme rocks (and win more PRIZES!!!), then be sure to join the Twitter party with @ResourcefulMom on November 7th at 8pm ET. You can join in simply by following and using the #TRESemme Chic hashtag.

Now go get that great hair (and if you are like me, also that haircut for which you are long overdue!).

28 Date Night Recipes For Romance at Home!

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If Tim and I waited to spend time together until we hired a babysitter, our marriage probably would not have survived the past 4 years. We do spend money on sitters on occasion, but we can’t afford to do it as often as we need to in order to get sufficient quality time together. That’s why we sometimes create our own date night at home after we put the kids down for the night. It’s cheap, it’s relatively easy, and when you make just a little bit of fuss over the food and light a few candles, it honestly does feel special.

Here are 28 of my favorite date night recipes to help inspire you. I hope a date night with your significant is in your immediate future!

date night recipes

  1. Thanksgiving for Two & My Favorite Stuffing Ever by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
  2. Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Dijon Cream Sauce by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
  3. Boeuf Bourguignon | Beef Burgundy by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
  4. Slow Cooker Salmon Swiss Chard Artichoke Dip by Farm Fresh Feasts
  5. Chicken Saltimbocca Stuffed With Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese by Farm Fresh Feasts
  6. Skillet Mushroom Dip for Two (Quick Take) by Farm Fresh Feasts
  7. Spiced Sirloin Roast for Two by An Edible Mosaic
  8. Chocolate Lover’s Cake by Noble Pig
  9. Pepper-Crusted Filet Mignon by Hezzi-D’s Books & Cooks
  10. Italian Herb Sautéed Chicken by Hezzi-D’s Books & Cooks
  11. Skinny 4 Ingredient Chocolate Cheesecake Mousse by Back for Seconds
  12. Tropical Chocolate Mousse Parfaits by Back for Seconds
  13. Deep Dish Hot Fudge Brownie Sundaes For Two by Chocolate Moosey
  14. Mini Pear Walnut Crisps with Blood Orange Caramel Sauce by Chocolate Moosey
  15. Mini Deep Dish Lemon Meringue Pies by Chocolate Moosey
  16. Nutella Ganache Dip by Wine & Glue
  17. 6 Date Night Ideas Under $20 & 2 Hours by Frugal Foodie Mama
  18. Easy Chocolate-&-Honey Fondue by The Kitchen is My Playground
  19. Thanksgiving Meatballs by Jew Hungry
  20. Coconut Milk Southern Fried Chicken by Jew Hungry
  21. Homemade Fettuccine with Pesto Cream Sauce by Jew Hungry
  22. Deep Breath Chicken by Jew Hungry
  23. Champagne Chicken & Mushroom Pasta by Snappy Gourmet
  24. Dark Chocolate Coconut Muddy Buddies by Jen’s Favorites Cookies
  25. Morocccan Chicken Bastilla by Thirty-One 10
  26. Taco Truck Tacos by Thirty-One 10
  27. Beef Sosaties by Food Done Light
  28. Seared Scallops with Blood Orange Glaze by Food Done Light

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes

 

 

Gluten-Free Snacks from CVS: Gold Emblem Baked Rice Crisps

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Thanks to CVS for providing yummy gluten-free snacks for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

My mother-in-law is in town, (which is an AWESOME thing!) and whenever she is with us, I try to make sure I have some gluten-free snacks on hand. She has a wheat allergy, and has been diagnosed with one for quite some time now. She has told me that the last few years have been SO exciting, as the number and quality of wheat free and gluten-free products on the market has exploded.

I really enjoy finding new products that she hasn’t tried yet, and I have a terrific one for her this time around! CVS stores have their own house brand of food products called Gold Emblem, and they have just launched a line of gluten-free crackers called Gold Emblem Baked Rice Crisps.

gluten-free snack: gold emblem rice crisps

These crisps are bite-size and so perfect to have out on the table as an appetizer or just an afternoon snack. They come in two flavors: sea salt and barbecue. And they are priced nicely at $2.49/bag. My personal favorite is the barbecue flavor. The crisps aren’t drowning in barbecue, but have just enough of that flavor to be pretty darn irresistible.

gluten-free snack: gold emblem rice crisps 2

I like to serve the barbecue chips with cole slaw as the dip. Cole slaw and barbecue, after all, are a marriage made in heaven!

If you are on the lookout for gluten-free snacks, or if you just want a fat-free, light snacking option that tastes yummy, definitely swing by your nearest CVS and try out the Gold Emblem Baked Rice Crisps. My family loves them, and I bet yours will, too!

20 Beef Recipes to Get You Out of a Cooking Rut

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So for me, preparing beef recipes is a bit of a novelty. My family doesn’t eat a lot of red meat (we tend to mostly eat chicken, turkey and pork). But when I did my Paleo Diet stint a few months back, I didn’t have too much choice, and starting experimenting with beef again. I realized that there was SO much more to it than fatty ground beef, you guys! And not everything has to taste just like a hamburger, either. Not even close. So here’s a collection of 20 fantastic beef recipes that my family is going to be trying in the next handful of months. Check it out and see if you can find something to get you out of your cooking rut!

20 beef recipes

Garlic Lemongrass Beef Skewers, Shrinking Kitchen

Paleo Plantain Beef Pie, Stupid Easy Paleo

Beef and Potato Empanadas, Pillsbury

Chorizo-Apple Hamburger, Stuff Parents Need

Corned-Beef Hash with Eggs, Raley’s

Beef and Black Bean Burrito Bowls, Mommy’s Kitchen

Irish Beef Stew with Guinness, Housewife Notes

Slow Cooker Hickory BBQ Beef, Very Culinary

Beef and Brussel Sprout Breakfast Bowl, Leaf Parade

Beef Tostadas, Dine and Dish

(Not Your Regular) Roast Beef Sandwich, Bell’alimento

Beef and Cheese Foldover, Babee Love

Beef Taquitos, Elan The Blog

Pennsylvania Dutch Meat Pies, My Recipes

Slow Cooker Beef Tamale Casserole, Chef This Up

Korean Beef Bowl, Damn Delicious

Sweet Teriyaki Beef Skewers, All Recipes

Hamburger Pie, Taking on Magazines

Garlic Mustard Beef Skewers, Giving Up on Perfect

Beef Crostini, Simply Jolleen

Want to see the entire 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes series? Just click the banner below to see the full list!

31 days of unforgettable recipes

 

 

Halloween Costumes: To Make, or Not to Make, That is the Question

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This post brought to you by MrCostumes. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. 

Can we talk about kids’ Halloween costumes for a minute? By this point, you’ve either got yours all ready to go, or you are scrambling to put something together. And some of you are burning the midnight oil to make the perfect creation.

Sound Off

So I want to hear from you: have you ever made a cute kid’s costume? And if not, is that something you would be willing to consider doing in the future? I don’t want this to turn into any sort of judgement over whether or not OTHER people should or shouldn’t make their kids’ costumes. Lord knows we all deal with enough judgement or perceived judgement from others every day of the year (sort of goes with the title of “parent”, unfortunately).

not homemade costume owl

So I’m happy to share my own thoughts with you since I’m asking for yours. I have ZERO sewing skills, and on a scale of 1-10 for how interested I am in learning how to sew, I’d give it a 3. Which means IF I ever learn to sew, it probably won’t happen until my kids are too old for Halloween costumes!

not homemade Cinderella costume

Now, when you combine the fact that I don’t have BASIC sewing skills with the reality that to make a rockin’ Halloween costume, you likely need ADVANCED sewing skills, well, then the odds of me ever making a Halloween costume for my children went from highly unlikely all the way down to “better odds of winning the lottery than of sewing up something fabulous.” Which reminds me…I should play the lottery!

For me, it just doesn’t make sense to sew a costume for my kids because the learning curb is so steep. It does, however, mean that the options for Halloween costumes for my kids aren’t limitless. They get to choose from what is available for purchase online. But with the popularity of Etsy, and the AMAZING skills you can find there, I could even order a handmade costume in most any design my kids desired, if the budget allowed for it (which it pretty much doesn’t, but I digress).

Acts of Service and Love

And I’ll tell you truthfully, I used to think that parents who poured dozens of hours into making costumes for their kids were kind of ridiculous. Because it didn’t make sense for me, I assumed it couldn’t make sense for anyone. But I’ve matured quite a bit when it comes to that view, thankfully. What I have come to realize, is that for some people, that creative process is therapeutic and relaxing (sounds crazy, I know, but it honestly is true!). And it is a true joy to get to do something like this for their little ones. An act of service and love, if you will.

And don’t we all have those? I certainly have spent an unnecessary amount of time turning meatloaf into a mummy in order to see that sparkle in my daughters’ eyes. And I choose to cloth diaper, which for me is an act of love for my kids, the environment and for my budget. But for some, that’s just straight-up crazy! I get it, I really do.  I don’t think it is the right choice for every family just because it is the right choice for mine.

 Your Turn

So you tell me: where do you fall on the question of whether or not to do DIY Halloween costumes? I’d love to hear how you have come to the decision you have made. Also, feel free to share any other areas where you make choices for your kids that are an act of love and service, even though other people may not fully understand the choice. We all have them, so dish!