Stuff Parents Need - Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath and His Favorite Sing Along Songs

August 28, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 98 Comments

One of the people that comes to mind when I think of Sesame Street (from the super early days, from my own childhood, and from Darah’s childhood) is Bob McGrath. This man has played a significant role in raising MILLIONS of children. What a legacy!

So when I heard that he was releasing a CD, and one that he has called “a sample of what I think of as ‘The Great American Songbook for children.'” I knew I had to feature him here. We were sent the CD to check out, and it has been in our car ever since, providing some fun entertainment on the way to and from school each day!

Bob’s Favorite Sing Along Songs is his ninth CD, but the first one I have had the pleasure to hear. I found the album to have a very classic feel, and one that makes it easy for young children to get involved and start singing along to. There are no wild and crazy beats to contend with…just fun music and lyrics, plain and simple! It feels very down-to-earth and approachable. I really liked it, and I think young children would connect with it very easily.

Buy it!: Bob’s Favorite Sing Along Songs retails for $12.99 and can be purchased on Amazon or on BobMcGrath.com!

Win it!: TWO lucky Stuff Parents Need readers will win a copy of Bob’s Favorite Sing Along Songs!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post may contain affiliate links.

Pasta Recipes that Mix and Match: Easy, Kid-Friendly!

August 27, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 12 Comments

I find that at least once a week, even with meal planning in advance, I find myself working right until dinner time, and needing to be able to pull together something FAST. That’s why I just loved this idea I saw in a magazine a few months ago (and which I can’t find to save my life! Maybe it was Parents? Maybe Family Fun?).

Mix and Match Pasta Recipes

All you need to do to pull together a large variety of options for everyone in your family is to have several different types of pasta available in your pantry, as well as several different sauces in your pantry or fridge, and several different toppings that come together in a flash. Most of those toppings can also be found in your pantry, your fridge, or even your freezer! Stay stocked up on theses items and a meal almost makes itself for you! If you have older kids, this is a great way for them to start to learn to cook for themselves!

Pasta Options

Here’s what I offered up to my family as options. I actually decided to cook a small amount of each pasta type, and then kept unused pasted sealed in the fridge, and that made lunches even easier for the next few days. It was glorious!!!

I think wagon wheels would also be great to offer, but I couldn’t find any at my local store :-(.

Pasta Sauce Offerings:

I got every single thing featured here from a jar to save time and hassle!

Pasta Recipes Add-Ins:

Now it’s time for the really fun part: the add-ins! This is where kids can start to feel really empowered about their meal options, and they can build exactly the kind of pasta they want, switching it up depending on their mood! I have tried lots of different dishes just by rearranging the key ingredients, and it has been a great way for “leftovers” to feel brand new!

Extra Indulgence: Cheese!

If you really want to go all-out and make a super rich pasta dish, just offer up a selection of cheeses. It is SO yummy, you guys!

Want to see what my 4-year-old “made” for her dinner? I think she did a great job!

Love the idea? Pin it or share it with your friends (easy share buttons over on the left!).

Fabulous Finds for the Boys

August 26, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

I can’t even stand it, you guys! Look at the cuteness on Very Jane (affiliate links included) today! I’m highlighting 3 items that are perfect for the little gents, and just because I couldn’t help myself, my own personal top pick for the day! Happy shopping, friends! I’m putting the prices ABOVE the item being shown. Click directly on the picture to find it online!

Baby cardigan onesie (squeal!!!!) $14.99

Tie Iron-On ($1.95)

Viking Cape and Hat ($19.99)

My personal top pick on Very Jane today:

burlap placemats ($6.50)

My First Visit to Pep Boys and My Improved Fuel System

August 25, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Pep Boys and Techron. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hosted by imgur.com I like to consider myself a person with varied interests, and with a love of learning. And since I have two little girls watching my every move to learn how they should act and what they should be interested in, I'm especially keen on showing them that it is ok to step outside of your comfort zone and learn new things.

And that, my friends, is why I recently walked into a Pep Boys for the very first time in my whole life!

My mission? To pick up some Techron Fuel System Cleaner. This handy product is design to do some pretty incredible things, I have to say! It helps keep your engine clean, which maximizes power, lowers emissions, and maximizes fuel economy! I've been driving for many years now, and I have never ever used a product like this. No time like the present to start! Here's some additional information to help you understand just how it works:

To ust the fuel system cleaner, we waited until the gas gauge was very close to empty, and then we took the product with us to the gas station. We pulled up to the pump, open the gas tank, and first poured in the techron fuel system cleaner.

We then filled the tank with gas.

It was just that simple! Now we are on our way to a cleaner engine, and I learned something new! I feel very empowered because I learned that just doing something very simple like using Techron Fuel System Cleaner can help me keep my vehicle running better. And that's a good thing, friends, because this little car is PAID FOR, and I'm not looking to start making car payments again any time soon!

If you've never used a fuel system cleaner, there's no time like the present to get started! Find a Pep Boys Near You

Grandparents Day: You Forgot, and I Can Help!

August 24, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Grandparents Day is on Sunday, September 8th. That is 15 days away. And you forgot, didn’t you?

It’s ok. I forgot, too, until approximately 3 minutes ago. And then I panicked for a moment about what in the world I could send to the grandparents that would actually be special. They ALWAYS ask for photo gifts. I’m not a crafty girl, not by a long shot, so having a handmade scrapbook with photos of the grandchildren isn’t going to happen in this lifetime!

So you may be surprised to hear that I’ll be putting together a printed and bound photo book filled with pictures of the grandbabies for the occasion.

– And that I can put it together in about 5 minutes.

– And that I can have it mailed straight to them (hooray for not having to go to the post office!)

– And that you can do the exact same thing for free.

Did you not catch that? Let me say it again: FOR FREEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

Free Photo Gifts

If you have a smartphone, just download the FREE Groovebook app, and then you easily click through and choose up to 100 photos that you have taken with you phone and that you want them to print and bind in a beautiful photo book for you. Then you tell them where to ship it.

HERE’S THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP

To get your Groovebook 100% free, enter coupon code GROOVEPARENTSNEED at checkout. While you will be asked for your credit card, YOU WON’T BE CHARGED (I promise, I’ve been through the whole process myself just to make sure!). If you want to order more than one book, that’s absolutely no problem, and any extra book is just $2.99. That’s it! AND…if you want to continue receiving one Groovebook each month, just continue your new subscription and you’ll be ready to go. I’m a bargain shopper and I’ve never been able to get photos printed for 3 cents each, and even when I have found great deals close in price to that, I’ve had to drive to the store to pick up my photos. And they’ve never been bound in a pretty book (each picture has perforated edges, just in case anyone wants to hang one of the photos on the fridge or in a frame, by the way).

If you want a little more info on exactly how the process works, check out my first post on how to print pictures from your phone.

Groovebook is fast, but you’d better go ahead and jump on this if you want the book to arrive by Grandparents Day. I can pretty much guarantee you that this gift is going to be a major hit with the grandparents!

I am a Groovebook affiliate, as well as a super satisfied customer.

Adelina Madelina “It’s a Breeze” Backpack Review

August 24, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

I knew right away with this pregnancy that I would be wanting a new diaper bag. I didn’t have to search for one for long, thanks to Adelina Madelina! Adelina Madelina is a new line of diaper bags for the modern mom on-the-go. I received a complimentary “It’s a Breeze” Backpack to try out and review, and I love it!

With my first baby, I was sure I was going to love my old diaper bag. It was red, so what’s not to like, right?! It had everything I thought I’d need, and I was super excited. However, once my daughter arrived and I realized how much stuff you actually have to tote around for a tiny little person, I started regretting my diaper bag choice. I could never get everything I wanted in there. (Not to mention that the pretty red fabric was filthy after daily use!) I knew I was going to need something a little more roomy this time, especially with a preschooler AND a newborn.

A friend of mine had a backpack-style diaper bag, and I was always jealous of how easy it was for her to throw her bag on her back and still have her arms free to carry her baby and carseat. I was very interested in trying this backpack style for myself so I was thrilled to find that Adelina Madelina offers a backpack-style diaper bag. I chose the “It’s a Breeze” Backpack in Night/Night. It’s so fancy! (In hindsight I do think I would have preferred one of the patterned designs they offer rather than so much glossy black, but I do think the solid black bag will be great for my winter baby.) And the best part? It is going to be SOOO easy to wipe clean. No more stained fabric!!!

Adelina Madelina is a new company, founded in 2013, and they aim to make a mom’s life easier through versatility, organization, and style. Sounds great, right?! Their bags are available in four different styles and several different patterns. You can purchase them online (they offer a $5 flat shipping rate!) or exclusively at Babies R Us. The price point is $74.99-$85.99, which is a bit more than I would normally spend, but I do think it’s comparable to some of the other high quality bags out there. Another great thing about Adelina Madelina is that they give back to the community, making a difference in the lives of others – for each bag sold, they donate 1% to the Autism Research Institute, which is a non-profit organization that advocates for people with autism. Awesome!

Some of my favorite things about my new diaper bag are:

Adjustable straps – Not only can this bag be worn as a backpack, it can also be carried over the shoulder or cross-body!
Stroller clips – a must for when you’re out and about.
Easy to clean – and PVC free!
Lots of pockets, inside and out, with several zip, velcro, and magnet closures to keep things from falling out. It also has a large flap over the top for those days when I need to just throw things in and flip it shut without worrying about zipping or snapping.

Just a couple things I think could be improved on the bag are:

No bottle pockets inside – As a breastfeeding mama, I like to keep a couple cold bottles inside with an ice pack. I’m afraid that storing my bottles on the outside will let them get warm. (Though my daughter VERY rarely ever took a bottle, so this may be a non-issue anyway for some!)
Not quite big enough – While this bag is bigger than my old one, once I stuffed it full of onesies, receiving blankets, bottles, diapers, wipes, etc., it was still pretty darn full. When the interior pockets are filled it really cuts into your space in the large compartment. But while it was snug from side to side, I did have a few inches of room on the top to add more, which is definitely an improvement from my last bag!
The front magnet is a little hard to close – The front flap closes easily, but it’s not very easy to actually get the magnet closure to clasp. It’s not a big deal if you throw the bag over your shoulder or clip it to the stroller, but I’d want to make sure it was secured if I was wearing it as a backpack.

Overall, I think this is going to be a great bag. I’m excited to use it! If a backpack is not your style, they also have a tote, a hobo, and a satchel. Check out the other fun colors and patterns they offer! Which one would you choose?

Thanks to Adelina Madelina for providing the diaper bag for review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Mirari myPad and Zig-Zag Xylo Train for Toddlers (Giveaway!)

August 23, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 169 Comments

Got a toddler who is always after your smartphone or your iPad?

Yeah, me too. It is really cute, but only for about 10 seconds, and then it starts to freak me out. Layah is quick to run off with my electronic gadgets, and I’m always afraid she is running straight to the toilet to see if it will sink or float. And I don’t know about you, but replacing my iPad is totally NOT in my budget for this month, or any month in the forseeable future!

iPad for Toddlers: myPad

So I was thrilled to see this great new product come to my doorstep from the company Mirari called the myPad. It has the look and feel of an iPad, or a larger version of a smart phone, with pictures, buttons and fun sounds. And all Layah really wants to do with my phone and tablet is push buttons and smack the screen. She can do that ALL DAY on the myPad; it is built to withstand plenty of “love” from little ones aged 12 months and up.

And just to show how much she loves it, note that I wasn’t even able to snap a stand alone photo of the product without Layah photobombing. She couldn’t keep her hands off it from the first second she saw it!

The myPad is a toy that I reach for when I need to keep Layah in one place for a handful of minutes (like when I need to take a shower). I try not to keep it out constantly so that she doesn’t get too used to it. This way, when I do reach for it, she is very excited and ready to engage with it every time!

The other product that was sent was so clever, as it combines two classic toys into one: check out the Mirari Zig-Zag Xylo Train! This xylophone unfolds easily to become a train that can be pulled all over the house. On the box, the recommended age is 18 months plus, but I can tell you that my 15 month old absolutely loves this toy and plays with it most every day. Currently, she seems more interested in the pull toy aspect of the train than the musical capabilities, but she’s starting to bang on it a bit more in the last week, so it won’t be long before I’ll be hearing xylophone concerts on the regular! 😉

I loved the toys from Mirari that we were sent for review, and I also loved learning about the company. Mirari comes from the Latin word which translates to mean, “wonder.” They are all about creating products that promote classic play in innovative ways, without overwhelming children with unnecessary features. I definitely like and appreciate that approach, and I think that these toys are right in line with that idea!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your choice: either the myPad or the Zig-Zay Xylo Train!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Affiliate links may be included.

Introducing Alanna – New Blog Reviews Coming!

August 23, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Hi everyone! I wanted to officially introduce myself to you all. My name is Alanna, and I am the blog assistant here at Stuff Parents Need. I’ve been around for quite a while now but I’ve been mostly working behind the scenes. You’ll be seeing a bit more of me now though, so I wanted to let you know just a little more about me.

I have an awesome 3 year old daughter, and I am currently 14 weeks pregnant with my second child. Yay! Tiffany has asked me to do some reviews of maternity and newborn products to share with all of you. I know there are many of you out there who are also expecting or have brand new babies at home, so I hope that many of you will be excited to see some posts geared specifically toward you. Be looking for some fun reviews and giveaways for new mamas in the next several months!

My Curated Very Jane Birthday List

August 22, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

Very Jane, also known as one of my very favorite places to shop online is absolutely KILLING IT today with some of their sales! So I put together a curated list of my very favs. I’ll likely be ordering ~~all~~ some of them since it is almost my birthday, after all! 🙂 Affiliate links included. I’m listing the price ABOVE each photo for your referece. Just click on the photo to get to the site!