Stuff Parents Need

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

Giveaways Headed Your Way (Bloggers Sign Up!)

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Here are a few giveaways I have signed up to present in the next few months. If you are a blogger, sign up and be sure to list Stuff Parents Need as your referral!

Raining Money

It’s Raining Money Event

Hosted by: Mom Powered Media

Prize: $1,000 Cash {paypal or visa}

Event dates: 4/1 – 5/1

Free Blogger Event: Sign Up HERE

 

This giveaway will run 3/1-3/30
Sign ups end: 2/26
I am looking for Bloggers early on this one. This is a HUGE GIVEAWAY with over 18 sponsors
 and more to come… This Giveaway will have lots of winners! You will gain LOTS of new fans!!!
Prizes: 

Spi Belt,Ingrown Hair Serum, 4 pc. blemish kit, 4 pc- laundry detergent, autodish- NEW, melody odor neutralizer and doghouse rock, Toe Juice Combo Pack, sportsMixer, $25 gift voucher to Glass Dharma, Robby Wash laundry ball and Oransi Fridge Air Purifier, boogie wipes, Sweaty Bands, Solstice water bottle, Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale, hot pants, 50 load bag of laundry soda from Nellies, quantum scale, bondibands, 2 pack of throat drops, and a gift voucher to Sibu ( undetermined amount) PLUS more to come

FREE and PAID options available!!
Facebook Link is FREE with announcement post – $8 if you don’t want to place an announcement.
Additional links are $2.00 each or 3 links for $5. Funds will be used to purchase 
a Sibu gift voucher and shipping charges for items sent to me.
Payments must be sent via paypal to: jakhazen@yahoo.com
You will be submitted to the rafflecopter in the order you sign up – Under the sponsors..
Grab the announcement HERE
SPONSORS: If you  would like to participate in this Giveaway or have a product you want reviewed outside of this giveaway, you can email me: allaboutmydeals@gmail.com 
Please put Product Review in Subject field.

How I Store Homemade Baby Food: Munchkin Freezer Cups (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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I know all too well how easy it is to reach for a jar of baby food or for a pouch. And I believe that those items have their place (they are, admittedly, much easier for on-the-go days).

BUT….If you are still weary of making your own baby food, I feel an obligation to let you know that is is SOOOO easy. And as someone who just forked over a bunch of money for jars and pouches (that were on sale, mind you!), I can tell you that it is also MUCH cheaper, even if you coupon!

Munchkin cups that hold homemade baby food

One way you can make the process as easy as possible is by having freezer cups on hand. I love the Munchkin Fresh Food Freezer Cups as they are generously sized for growing babies, they are super easy to open and close and they are easy to clean and to store!

munchkin fresh freezer food cups

 

While you can easily mash up and freeze something simple like a banana, you can also get more adventurous. I have blended together some broth, spinach, tomatoes and eggplant to make a yummy Italian soup for Layah. She loved it, by the way!

Munchkin Fresh Food Freezer Cups are a great addition to any home with a baby. If you have the right equipment on hand, you’ll be surprised by just how easy it is to make your own baby food. Pinky promise! You can purchase these cups for a smokin’ hot deal on Amazon right now (just $8.38!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a set of Munchkin Freezer Cubes!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Some of My Sweetest Memories Involve KISSES (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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I was recently asked to think about what my sweetest memory is that involved Hershey’s KISSES. I absolutely adore KISSES and eat them pretty much any time I spot them somewhere. But a specific memory? I was really stumped for about a week trying to remember something specific.

And then it hit me while in the shower (why do all great thoughts happen in the shower?). My mind brought me back to something very subtle, but very special, indeed. And Hershey’s KISSES where right there while it all happened.

It was Christmas time 2001, and I was a senior in college. My parents gave me permission to travel to California with my boyfriend and spend the holidays with his family. I had never been further West than Arkansas, with the exception of one conference I got to go to in Utah during college. It was a big deal for me to get to see this part of the U.S.

And it was a seriously HUGE deal to get to spend Christmas with my boyfriend and his family. Mama didn’t raise no fool…I packed a nice dress just in case a proposal was headed my way. And it was, as it turned out. But he proposed to me while I was wearing flannel rubber ducky print pajamas, which is not nearly as scandalous but every bit as hilarious as it sounds.

Anyway, it was also my first time to meet Tim’s older sister and brother-in-law and to spend a significant amount of time with his family (more than a few days). And on top of all of that, it was my very first Christmas away from my own family. Can you just imagine all of the emotions running through me during this trip? Excitement, adventure, anxiety, sadness, hope, and of course, love. Lots of love. Love for the family I was gaining, love for the family I was missing, and love for the man who was my best friend. It was such a roller coaster!

In the midst of all of those emotions and in the midst of all the Christmas hullabaloo, there was something very special sitting on the kitchen counter. It was a crocheted gingerbread house that had a removable roof. Under the roof and inside the house were dozens and dozens of Hershey’s KISSES. Now, Tim’s family had significantly healthier eating habits than my family did, and for a gal with a sweet tooth, adjusting to the lack of refined sugar had its challenging moments. But those KISSES were like a beacon, and once I discovered them, I paid them visits multiple times a day.

Tim’s mother must have known, because every time I thought to myself, “I’m eating too many of these! I need to stop before they are all gone!” I would then notice that the house had been re-filled! Which would tickle and delight me, and make me think, “Well, one or two more won’t be noticed…”

Ha! I bet I ate an entire bag during that trip! And I have zero regrets. Hershey’s KISSES are woven into the fabric of my engagement story. I had forgotten, but now I remember and I’m so glad. No wonder those silver wrappers and tiny flags give me a huge grin every time I see them. They remind me of home, and where it all started.

Hershey's KISSES infographic

Hershey’s KISSES infographic

Do you have any special memories that include Hershey’s KISSES?

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win 4 bags of Hershey’s KISSES!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

I am participating in a compensated campaign on behalf of Hershey’s KISSES and The Motherhood. All sweet memories listed here are strictly my own! 

How We Established a Bedtime Routine That Really Works for Our Infant

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Recently I had a conversation with my older brother, who has an 18 month old son. His family has struggled and not yet had success getting their child to sleep through the night. My sister-in-law has been running a 102 fever for over 2 months now, and the doctors have simply concluded that she is so stressed out/sleep-deprived that her body just can’t recover from illness.

To say they are struggling would be a gentle way of putting it. And I know all to well how frustrating it can be to have other people who don’t walk in your shoes tell you EXACTLY what you are doing wrong and EXACTLY what you need to do to fix it. Ever notice how for any given problem there are at least 20 different solutions that other parents swear by, and sometimes those different solutions are even polar opposites of each other? It leaves parents utterly confused and doubting their instincts. Been there. Felt that way.

But I can also tell you that not every aspect of parenting is intuitive. Far from it! It is ok to be completely lost at sea and not know what to do. And it is ok to ask other parents for advice. You’ve just got to be prepared for folks to get their noses out of joint if you choose not to take their advice. Because that will happen!

Establishing a Bedtime Routine

So with all that said, I am going to give those of you who have a child who won’t sleep through the night some advice. You are free to take it or leave it. I won’t be offended if you aren’t interested in it! I simply want to share what is working for us. Maybe it will also work for some of you!

First and foremost, I recommend The Sleepeasy Solution, which is what helped us go from a baby who woke up every 90 minutes to a baby sleeping 11 hours straight, all within a 4 day time span.

Beyond, that, though, I want to recommend that you create and STICK TO a strict bedtime routine that your child will be able to recognize easily. We have found that “the routine” goes a long way toward helping our baby, Layah, get herself calm and ready for sleep.

how to establish a bedtime routine

Here’s the nighttime routine we are using:

1. Bath time! We show Layah the sign (we use some sign language with her) for a bath, which gets her VERY excited. She usually will crawl into the bathroom and stand by the tub, watching us fill it with water. She will also put tub toys in the bath while it fills up. It’s totally cute. Mommy’s Bliss Sweet Slumber 3-In-1 Baby Wash is what we are currently using, as it contains lavender, chamomile & ylang ylang in a very gentle formula.

2. To the room! After the bath, we dry her hair for about 30 seconds and then take her into her room to put on her diaper. After her diaper is on, we do a quick baby massage with Mommy’s Bliss Sweet Slumber Massage Cream. It is really amazing how quickly she will go from being very active to very calm. She knows that night time is near once her massage begins. After her massage, we put on whatever she is sleeping in that night. It is very important that all bedtime related activities (other than the bath, obviously) happen in her room.

3. Story time! Now it is time for 1-2 books. Darah often reads with us. Sometimes Layah sits attentively, and sometimes she crawls over to her crib, letting us know that she is ready for night night.

4. Bottle! This is Layah’s favorite part. Either mom or dad will rock Layah in the rocking chair and feed her a bottle. We also turn on some white noise at this point, as well. Layah holds onto her lovey (a small stuffed dog) while she drinks her bottle. The overhead light is off, and her closet light is on. At this point, if she is having trouble getting very drowsy, I will use the Mommy’s Bliss Sweet Slumber Mist and give a quick spritz to her bedding and her lovey. I don’t use it every night, just as needed.

Important note! We keep Layah awake during the feeding. Very important not to let her fall asleep while eating! Then we turn off the closet light and put her in her crib, drowsy but still awake. She usually rolls over on her side, cuddles on her lovey (a dog), and goes right to sleep.

What a dramatic change this is from just 6 weeks ago. Our lives are completely different! I’m enjoying using the Mommy’s Bliss products as part of our new routine. I feel confident about these products because they are made with essential oils that are historically known to assist with relaxation and sleep. Best of all, they are easy to find! You can purchase them at your local Walgreens (a place I shop at every week!).

 I’d love to hear if you are having trouble getting your little ones to sleep, or if you have a routine that works like a charm! Feel free to leave a comment with your concerns, questions or solutions! 

I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links at no cost to you. 


Did you Know My Father is an Artist? (Gift Card Giveaway!)

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As a mother, I know all too well how a parent’s heart just swells with pride when they look at their children. We are delighted and awed by the amazing little people our children are, and I can only imagine how amazing it will be to watch my girls grow up and see their personalities come into full bloom. Doesn’t it blow your mind to realize that your parent or parents love/loved you this much, too??

But today I don’t want to talk about how much I love my kids or how much my parents love me. I want to talk about how proud I am of my father and how much I love him! He’s the hardest working person I have ever known, and has spent decades working as a sheet metal mechanic so that he could provide for his family. That work is back-breaking and it has nearly broken him on several occasions, but he hasn’t stopped for longer than was medically necessary.

I’m so happy to report that he is now retired from that line of work. Unfortunately, his retirement came about due to the plant where he worked closing down. But I honestly believed that job would eventually kill him, so even though the financial stress of not having that job is a reality for him, I can’t help but be happy that he isn’t there any more.

Part of the reason why I’m so thrilled is because he now has more time to pursue a passion of his, which is decoupage. My dad has been doing this type of art for as long as I can remember. I distinctly remember a trunk he created with pictures of his family all over it. I don’t think I was more than 4 or 5 when he made it. He has his own unique style that admittedly, not everyone can appreciate. He calls it “collage-a-page” because it is decoupage but with a collage-type style to it.

decoupage by dero

If you look closely at any of his pieces, though, you will really be blown away by the stories they tell. So much thought goes into where each image is placed, and there are so many little hidden treasures just waiting to be found. This is what makes dad’s art so special and not just a craft or a hobby.

I am so proud of him, and so proud that thanks to help from my older brother, he now has a Facebook page where he can start to display some of his pieces. He can also take requests for custom designs. And his work is affordable, too, as he says that the process of making these pieces is therapeutic for him, and he considers it part of his payment. 🙂

decoupage 2

I want the world to see what unique and fun art my father makes, and I can’t think of a better forum to do that than through Facebook (unless, of course, the Met wants to display his pieces, in which case they should send me an email!). Each Facebook like my father receives fills him with joy. He carefully watches to see where folks who like him are from and it just tickles him to no end when someone he doesn’t personally know “likes” his page.

So let’s give my dad the best two weeks ever. The contest will end on his birthday, and I can’t think of a better gift for him than for his Facebook page to grow!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $20 gift certificate, to your choice of either Amazon or Walmart!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This contest is self-sponsored. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

My Motivation to Move: FitBit One

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Something Has to Change

Last July, I distinctly remember when I got fed up with how I was feeling physically (which was lousy, by the way). While I had to be somewhat forgiving because I had just had a baby in May, my baby weight was barely budging and my energy level was in the toilet. I knew that I had really poor eating habits and I also knew that I had the exercise routine of sloth. I was SOOO sedentary.

So I got my butt over to the gym that we have a free membership to (and have for 2 years…don’t ask me how many times I visited previously…you can probably guess). And I signed up for the Zumba class. Which ROCKED, by the way. I absolutely adored it!

And even though I do NOT enjoy walking or running, I challenged myself to just get started and see what I could accomplish over time. I took it VERY slow, but that worked well for me. I ran (er, walked) 2-3 times each week for 2 months and went from barely being able to run for 30 seconds at a time (sloth, seriously you guys) to being able to run for 2 minutes at a stretch without dying.

For me, that was HUGE!!!! I thought I was genetically programmed to not be able to run at all. Not joking. It is so hard for me for some reason. So it was a major milestone to work up to that point, even though I know for many, that’s where they start when they are “out of shape.”

I’d like to be able to tell you that at this point I can run for 10 minutes without stopping. But here’s the truth: life got really busy in the fall and for a variety of reasons, I didn’t put my health first. It was all too easy to let my trips to the gym slide.

And I’ll just come clean now: I haven’t been to the gym, or to my beloved Zumba class in over 3 months.

Sad face.

Get Back Up

But guess what? Just because I messed up doesn’t mean I don’t have the opportunity to get off my rear end and try again. I can mess up countless times, but what matters more than anything is that I DON’T GIVE UP. EVER.

And if you ever need to put your journey into perspective, check out what this guy did:

I don’t know about you, but that motivates me like crazy!!!

My Fitness Partner

So I’ve been starting slow again, but you’ve got to start somewhere, right? And along with me on the journey to better physical fitness is the Fitbit One. This little device clips onto my pants at the waist and tracks my every move, literally! It keeps up with the number of steps I have taken, the number of flights of stairs I have climbed and the calories I have burned.

FitBit One

But this isn’t just another pedometer, folks. It wirelessly syncs up with my computer when I am near it and keeps detailed records for me online. I can log onto my FitBit dashboard and even record other information, like my current weight. I also think it is really cool that you can enter information about how long you sleep and what you ate and it can keep a more holistic record of what is going on in your life and where you might need to be a bit more intentional (perhaps, for example. you think you are getting 8 hours of sleep each night but you are really only getting 6 1/2). Perhaps you think you are eating a sensible diet but you are actually snacking ALL. DAY. LONG. (totally guilty of that one).

Here’s a screenshot of my dashboard (first thing in the morning before I attached my FitBitOne for the day, so nothing is tracked just yet).

Fitbit Dashboard

I seriously love this, you guys. I have goals! And there are lots of different goals, instead of just one. So the focus isn’t strictly on calorie intake or calorie burn, nor is it strictly on walking a certain number of steps. It is the whole picture, and that is really helpful. Even if I can’t meet the daily or weekly goal in every area, perhaps I can have success in one or two. Any success is a good thing, indeed!

FitBitOne knows me by name, and even greets me when I pick it up. And it will let me know if I need to get moving. I have found it to truly motivate me, and have suggested family walks based on the fact that my FitBitOne showed how few steps I had actually taken in a day. A walk REALLY helped my numbers, by the way!

It also has shown me that when I get in a cleaning mood at home, I really get a workout. Last weekend, for example, Tim and I hired a babysitter so that we could get some serious housework done uninterrupted. In a span of 3 hours I climbed 23 flights of stairs (we have a 2 story house) and walked 10,000 steps. Boom! That really does make me feel a little more inclined to clean, and that’s a good thing all around!

More than anything else, I’m finding the FitBitOne to really improve my awareness of my activity level. When I can see with my own eyes that I have only moved 20% of the daily recommended amount at the end of the day, then there’s no denying that I need to make some changes to my lifestyle. Simply removing the chocolate from the pantry isn’t going to change too much (although that is probably a good idea to do, as well!). I need to MOVE! Thanks to FitBitOne, I’m moving again.

And this weekend, I’m hiring a babysitter again for a few hours to get some work done. But this time, I’m headed to the gym as part of the important work I need to accomplish.

What about you? Are you struggling to get moving? Do you feel unsure if you are active enough in your day-to-day life? Do you have a fitness routine that is working for you? Anyone else out there rockin’ the FitBitOne? 

I received a complimentary product to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Playtime Just Got AMAZING: ItsySparks Craft Subscription

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Every person is creative in some way. I fully believe that. I’m creative with my words, and I’m creative with my ability to help others be their absolute best.

But I’m NOT creative when it comes to more traditional outlets of creative expression, like drawing, painting, sewing, etc. This is especially tough to deal with when you have young kids at home and a Pinterest board that mocks you on the daily. I have pinned so many things and promised myself that I can easily get the supplies I need at Michael’s and do something fun and crafty with Darah.

You guys, the few times I have set foot into Michael’s have all been scary experiences. I’m like a frightened, lost puppy in that store. I’m always completely turned around and when someone offers to help me, I can’t even really explain what I’m looking for!

HOT. MESS. That’s me every time I try to get my craft on.

ItsySparks 1

And that is why I am SOOO bonkers about the ItsySparks kit (mom…you remember asking for birthday gift ideas for Darah? Here ya go!!!). This is a monthly craft subscription service that I WILL be purchasing. Each kit comes with 4 fantastic activities that are age appropriate for your child. The crafts are easy enough that those without the crafty gene can actually complete them. They are cute. They are quality. And best of all, they come with A LOT of great ideas for ways that you can enrich the experience of that craft (related book ideas, outdoor activities, recipes, etc.). It is so comprehensive and SO, SO SO worth the $24.95/month (it’s only $20/month if you sign up for 6 months or more!).

ItsySparks 2

Because I don’t have a craft room, or heck, even a craft bin in my house, I would spend more than $20 each month trying to buy all the items I would need. And don’t even get me started on the time it would take to prep each craft. Simply put, I would spend a lot of money and then never do anything. ItsySparks makes it all very doable.

And just in case you aren’t artsy just like me, but you are still trying to convince yourself that you could do this all yourself, let me just show you how much help folks like us need. Even with VERY DETAILED step-by-step instructions, I STILL messed up one of the crafts.

ItsySparks 3

I was supposed to have Darah pour this dirt into a nylon stocking piece that was included so that our grass buddy we were making would have more of a shape. This is my face after I realized what I did:

Tiffany

We are hopeless, folks. But I’m happy to say that our grass friend still turned out really cute. Darah had a blast. It was actually really great bonding time together.

She wanted to do another craft that afternoon, so we worked on making a lei necklace.

ItsySparks 4

Not only did we have an adorable final product, but I was impressed to see how much concentration Darah gave to the project, and how much hand-eye coordination she used during the process. Basically, it was an awesome experience. I can’t wait for next month’s kit!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an ItsySparks kit!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

I received a complimentary kit for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Finding Your Own Special Hideaway (That Glows!) (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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A Hiding Spot

When you were little, did you have a space in your house that was your special hideaway? For me, it was the closet in my room. I’d get my stuffed animals (all 50+ of them!) and hunker down in there, pretending we were on a ship, lost at sea.

Or I’d just hide from my brother if he was getting on my nerves.

Nobody else ever seemed interested in playing in my closet, and I loved it that way. It was my own special place.

A Glowing Hiding Spot


 Glow Crazy Doodle Dome_Techno Source I want Darah to have her own special place or places in our home, too. We recently received something very new and fun to try out, and it has certainly become a hideaway for her. It is the Glow Crazy Doodle Dome, and it is SO much more fun than the dark closet I used to sit in! Whereas I would have to leave the closet door cracked so I could see, Darah can create her own fun light inside the Doodle Dome

Ok, so what is the Doodle Dome? It is a fun pop up tent that comes with a lightwand and some stencils for some serious glow-in-the-dark fun. Inside the Doodle Dome, one of the walls has a Glow Pad, and that’s where you point your lightwand to “draw” and make fun doodles that glow in the dark. They fade after a few moments, but they stay long enough to enjoy.

The video below showcases what the Glow Crazy Doodle Dome looks like, and I wanted you to see it for yourself. You can probably imagine that capturing the glowing aspect of it is a bit tricky, and more advanced than what I can achieve with my limited photography skills. Please be sure to read my comments after the video, as I have some editorial remarks!

 

Ok, now I have to tell you, that infomercial voice and style of the commercial is not my favorite. Generally speaking, whenever I hear that, I assume that the product being promoted is NOT quality. The more frantic the ad, the less exciting the product actually is, in my view. But I am really glad that I gave the Glow Crazy Doodle Dome a try, because Darah delights in it. It will also be the perfect outdoor toy when the weather gets a bit nicer. She really loves to draw inside the Doodle Dome, but she also likes to take her pillows, blankets and stuffed animals inside it just to play. And she LOVES that it is the right size for her, but too small for mom and dad. It makes it her very own special space.

You can purchase the Glow Crazy Doodle Dome for just $19.99 (a very fair price for how much my child likes it). It is available at many national and online retailers such as Walmart and Toys R Us.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Glow Crazy Doodle Dome!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

K-5 Home Art Studio GIVEAWAY ($180 Value!)

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This is such a great one, guys! So excited to be bringing it to you! Whether you homeschool or not, you will definitely want to check this out!

Welcome to the Home Art Studio Giveaway Event!

Hosted by Cotton Ridge Homeschool and An Ordinary Housewife

Lindsey Volin of Home Art Studio is sponsoring this event. One winner will receive a full six-volume set of the K-5 Home Art Studio Program DVDs, an approximate $180 retail value!

About The K-5 Home Art Studio Program

Home Art Studio won the Mom’s Best Award for outstanding new products of 2012! The program was created for homeschooling parents and as a supplemental afterschool/summer program for children aged preschool through fifth grade.

This program is designed to increase students’ love and appreciation of the visual arts while enhancing a child’s ability to problem solve, think creatively, and truly see the world around them.

Watch the informational video below to learn more! There are also several sample lessons available to watch on the Home Art Studio web site.

Home Art Studio Introduction Video from Official Home Art Studio on Vimeo.

Giveaway Details

Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Event Dates: February 7 – 28, 2013. The winner will be contacted within two days of the end of the contest, via email and will have two days to claim the prize. If unclaimed, a new winner will be drawn. The winner’s entries will be verified. Please enter the contest using the Rafflecopter form below. All entries are optional.

 

(if you don’t see the rafflecopter form, just click on the rafflecopter link to be taken to the giveaway form)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This blog is not responsible for prize delivery. I was not compensated for this post.