Stuff Parents Need

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

Travel Tips You May Be Forgetting (And a Chance to Win a $4,500 Travel Voucher!)

· by · 1 Comment

Are any of my readers getting geared up for a road trip this weekend to see family and friends? I bet many of you are!

First and foremost, I want to wish you safe travels. Please don’t forget to get your air pressure checked and make sure you have anti-freeze in your car if you are traveling in cold areas. Don’t try to race the clock and make a personal best in the time it takes you to get from point A to point B.

And if you are traveling with kids, bring snacks. Lots of snacks. Squeeze pouches are my personal favorite for the littles. And for myself, plenty of iced coffee and mint chocolates. Yum!

You are probably already mindful of all of these types of safety tips, but you may not be thinking about the safety of your identity while you travel. Travelers are prime targets, so be mindful, please! A few weeks ago my aunt was traveling in Kentucky, and on the second day of her travels there, she got a call from her credit card company about some suspicious charges. Someone in Kentucky was trying to purchase a $700 airplane ticket. She was able to trace her credit card use back to McDonald’s, where she suspects an employee may have somehow gotten her information, perhaps through the system there. She had to cease using her card on the spot. Fortunately, she had alternate methods of paying for things she needed, but what if she didn’t? What a mess that would have been!

It’s also possible that someone in line used their cell phone to snap a photo of her card. Did you know that this happens ALL. THE. TIME?????

One of my biggest tips for you for the security of your identity, whether you are close to home or on the road, is to NEVER have your credit card out of your wallet while you are waiting to pay. I see people all the time laying their cards on the counter while they wait. All of your information is just sitting there, exposed, and you never know who is watching and either has a photographic memory or can snap a photo without you noticing.

If you think you will be spending a fair amount of money while you are away from home, it is also a good idea to contact your credit card company and advise them of where you will be spending money (geographic location, not specific stores). If they know you will be in California, for example, they won’t flag a charge there as suspicious, but if one pops up in Florida while you are away, they will know you aren’t there!

This month, LifeLock’s goal is to give you great tips for traveling over the holidays that will help keep you safe. Please check out their LifeLock for Life sweepstakes happening right now. Four winners will get LifeLock memberships for two (!) and one lucky duck is going to get a $4,500 travel voucher. Wowzers!!! And really, everyone is a winner who plays because you are going to learn some really helpful information to keep your identity safe, potentially saving you a whole lot of headache!

I have also learned some great tips over the last few months simply by following LifeLock on Twitter. I definitely recommend putting them on your follow list!

I’d love to hear any tips you have for folks traveling this holiday season, be it related to identity protection or anything else! Comments here are going to be worth an extra entry for something awesome that I’ll be posting in two days, just FYI!!!

I am a compensated ambassador for LifeLock.  All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Observing a Day of Silence

· by · Leave a Comment

Friday has been declared a National Day of Mourning for those lost in last Friday’s school shooting in Newton, Connecticut. I will be keeping things at Stuff Parents Need quiet for the day. I’ll be observing a personal moment of silence along with the rest of the nation at 9:30am EST, as requested by the Governor of Connecticut. Will you join me?

I’d also like to encourage you to take a little bit of time today to spread the spirit of hope in whatever way you feel most led to do so, be it through prayer, through doing a random act of kindness, or through making a donation to a cause that speaks to you.

 

Quick! Enter the Diamond Recipe Contest and Win AMAZING Prizes!

· by · 1 Comment

Wanted to send you all a quick note to let you know that Diamond (the nut company) is wrapping up an AMAZING recipe contest. If you go to GiftOfGather.com and submit your favorite holiday recipe that uses at least one variety of Diamond nuts, you can win amazing prizes such as travel gift cards to help get your family together during the next big holiday, a Frigidaire freestanding range (!), a convection toaster oven, $100 grocery gift cards, and of course, yummy nuts from Diamond.

The contest ends on 12/21, so today is the day to hop online and submit your recipe. Be sure to share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, too!

I received a promotional item as a thank you for my time sharing this message. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Esio Hot & Cold Beverage Dispenser: Total Game-Changer!

· by · Leave a Comment

I hope you will enjoy my video review of the Esio Hot & Cold Beverage Dispenser. Sit back, grab your favorite hot or cold drink, and prepare to be totally blown away by the system that is going to revolutionize your at home beverage service!

In addition to making great drinks, it is also very convenient to have plain hot or cold water available at all times. We no longer have a water pitcher taking up space in our fridge. We can also instantly make oatmeal or some baby formula, when needed. Esio makes it a breeze!

I know the price tag might seem a little steep, but if you are currently buying 2 coffees each week at $4 each, the system will pay for itself in about 6 months just by trading out those coffee purchases for using the Esio! Coffees made with the Esio average about 40 cents per 8 ounces. Much better, right?!

As I mentioned in the video, you can purchase the Esio Hot & Cold Beverage Dispenser at select Walmart locations or at EsioBev.com

I wrote this post in partnership with MomSelect and received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Let Edward’s Creme Pies Make Your Holiday Table Even More Delicious! GIVEAWAY!!!

· by · 187 Comments

This post brought to you by Edwards. All opinions are 100% mine.

Edwards.jpgThe holidays are definitely a challenging season for my waist line. I anticipate that every year, and I make a deal with myself that I try hard to keep: if I'm going to eat something higher in calories, make sure it is worth it. So for me, that means that I wouldn't choose a cold, day old doughnut but I might choose a freshly baked hot one. It also means I won't choose a store bought pie over a homemade one.

Or so I thought. 

You see, Edwards Crème pies have caused me to rethink that rule. It turns out, they REALLY know what they are doing with this particular line of desserts. They far exceed anything I could create, and they are priced at a point where it just makes sense to let them do the work for me! You definitely need to look for them in your grocer's freezer the next time you go shopping! While you are there, pick up a Reese's Creme pie for me. Will I share it? Sure…if you can pry it away from me! 

Additionally, Edward's has a site that allows you to make a free holiday e-card to send to a loved one. Not only will you spread a little holiday cheer by sending one of these cute cards, but you also will be sending a coupon for Edward's pie at the same time! And you aren't left out in the cold, either, because the e-card sender also receives a coupon. SCORE! I loved the blue and white card option with the deer and I sent it to a family member to enjoy. I may or may not have included a note on the card to invite me over on the day they serve the pie. Ha! Tots.jpg

As if the coupon isn't often enough, over the holiday season, a portion of all sales from Edward's pies is going to Toys for Tots $1 per pie!). I always appreciate a company that not only makes excellent products, but also gives back to the community. Thank you, Edward's! 

And now, for a special holiday treat, I have a coupon for a free Edward's pie for one lucky reader! Host a gathering and serve it or let it be your own little secret! 🙂 Edward's will also be making a $20 donation to Toys for Tots in the winner's name. 

To enter, simply follow Edward's Desserts on Facebook and leave a comment on the blog post that you did so, along with which Edward's Dessert you would try first and why. For a bonus second entry (make it a separate comment) follow me on Pinterest and leave your Pinterest username in the comment. 

The contest will end at 11:59pm EST on December 27th. Open to residents 18 and up residing in the continental United States. One entrant per household, please. Winner will be drawn via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email before a new winner is selected. 

Visit Sponsor's Site

How to Have an Older Sibling Teach a Baby Sign Language

· by · 2 Comments

We taught Darah some basic sign language when she was pre-verbal, and it was a really awesome experience to be able to communicate clearly with our baby. I believe that it contributed to Darah’s strong verbal skills as a young toddler, and I also believe it was a key player in helping us potty train her very early (20 months). We knew without a doubt that we would do the same with our second.

What we have found this time around is that our 3 year old really enjoys being reminded of the signs she learned a used a few years ago, and she REALLY loves showing the signs to her little sister. Seeing Darah serve in the role of teacher gave me an idea: I needed to find a signing DVD that she and I could watch together to enjoy, and also to brush up on our skills so that we could broaden Layah’s signing vocabulary.

I Can Sign is the DVD we are using, and I really like it. I personally would not choose to put my infant in front of the television to watch it, but it is really great for an older sibling (age 2 and up, I would say). I have been watching with Darah so that we can practice together. At this point we’ve only been showing Layah the signs for milk, food, more, diaper, and sleep. She’s been signing milk since she was 4 1/2 months old, and I believe that she understands all of the rest of them. But I Can Sign has reminded me that there are many more signs that would be helpful to teach her.

If you have the desire to teach sign language to your baby, this is a good DVD for parents. But I would say it is an EXCELLENT DVD for an older sibling who also wants to be involved. It retails for $14.99 and can be purchased online. While you are checking out this DVD, be sure to look around at other great products from Baby First TV. I’m really interested in their DVDs about my first gym at home. No doubt that could give parents who can make it to a toddler gym class for whatever reason (time, expense) some good ideas for recreating activities at home.

I think this DVD or several others from Baby First TV would make a great shower gift or new big sibling gift. If you’d like to get the latest information from the company, be sure to follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

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

 

 

My Holiday Eye Makeup Look: A Little Lengthening Help from Julep

· by · Leave a Comment

I’m excited to share with you some mascara that I have really been enjoying over the past few weeks, and that has been adding great length and volume to my lashes without leaving them feeling all clumpy, as I find many mascaras to do.

The source of this mascara? Julep! This is a company I reviewed a while back that is known for their on-trend and eco-friendly nail polish. But they have so much more to offer!

According to Julep’s style profile, I’m an American Beauty in terms of my preferences. I was sent the American Beauty Volumizing Mascara in Jet Black and I opted to try it first. I was impressed to read that this product contains lash grown enhancement ingredients. It also has an applicator designed to give special attention to every lash to ensure they each look thick and gorgeous.

The Lengthening Mascara, which is from the Boho Glam collection, also has those great lash growth enhancement ingredients. The shade is a very dark brown, which gave me some pause at first. I always wear jet black mascara because in my experience, brown mascara just doesn’t have enough “oomph” for me. But I actually thought this looked great! I wouldn’t choose it for a night on the town, but then again, when does that happen? It’s perfect for everyday wear and the color is really flattering. I thought that the Lengthening Mascara and the Volumizing Mascara both worked really well, and truth be told, I couldn’t really see any difference in how each one looked beyond the color.

Would you like to see how they worked? Great! Here’s some iPhone shots from me getting ready to go to a church holiday party last night. First up, a side profile of my lashes with no makeup on. I’m way overdue for an eyebrow threading, I know…

This is a shot of my lashes once I had on my eye makeup but before putting on mascara. You’ll notice that they look a bit darker than they do on the side profile. I think that they just aren’t very thick, and so when you look at them at an angle on my face, they can get a little lost.

And here’s the same angle once I applied the mascara. I think it almost looks like I’m wearing false eyelashes here!

And finally, here’s another profile shot once the mascara was applied.

I think the mascara worked great! I even got a few compliments at the party about how nice my makeup looked. I’m really pleased with both of these mascaras and would most definitely recommend them. They seem to strike the right balance between adding length and volume and they leave that Twiggy look behind. Great job, Julep!

Don’t forget, Julep is a fantastic source for all sorts of fabulous goodies. I highly recommend their Maven program, which gives you the opportunity to get a custom box of goodies every month for a low price, plus special discounts on all products in the store! Take the Quiz and see what your style profile would be. There’s no obligation to purchase each month; skipping is a breeze, or you can opt to send your monthly box to a girlfriend, which makes birthday gifts a breeze, too!

And just for you, I have a discount code! Use VIP20 at checkout and you will receive 20% off any purchase of $20 or more! Woo hoo!

Do you have a favorite mascara? I’d love to hear about it! And have you ever tried any Julep products?

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

Floating BathBlocks: SO Awesome!!! Review and GIVEAWAY!!

· by · 75 Comments

Isn’t bath time with kids so much fun?

Apart from getting soaking wet as they splash around, of course.

Darah’s at an age where she will take 2 or 3 baths a day if we will let her. All so she can play with her mermaids and other tub toys. It is a great source of entertainment for her. And while it gives us the opportunity to get a bit of work done while she entertains herself int he tub, the truth is that I have so much fun playing with her that I often just sit beside the tub and play right along!

But a few days ago I got to play with her newest tub toys BEFORE she did. And yeah, I totally loved it.

There’s a product on the market called BathBlocks, and I can’t think of a single kid, boy or girl, who wouldn’t absolutely love these. These are a “must have” for your gift closet, for sure!

I put together the 13 pc Ball Run set. and snapped some shots. Check them out!

With these blocks you can make a fun obstacle course for a ball to run through. I’m not going to tell you how many times I let the ball go through the course before I remembered that I needed to take some photos. It was SEVERAL. 🙂

The blocks come with a floating platform, but they also float on their own. But it gets so much better! If you put some soapy water on them, they do this:

Oh yes, they stick to the walls! Ha ha!!! I would have LOVED these when I was a kid. Good thing I have a child of my own now who will let me take a turn with them!

What I love about these blocks is that they are perfectly designed for tub time, and that they also encourage creative play. The obstacle course can be set up many different ways, or your child might just use the blocks as floating islands for a different game.

And you never know what toys will especially appeal to kids. Darah is completely smitten by the ball that comes in the set. I have no idea why, but she has slept with it for the past 3 nights. Kids are so weird…

You may be wondering if these are floating pieces of mildew just waiting to happen. They are actually made from bacteria and midew resistant EVA, and they are also free of phthalates and PVC. This company put a lot of thought into what would be the most fun and the most safe for kids. Gotta love that!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the same set of BathBlocks as the one I reviewed. Lucky you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

 

This Year Santa is Real and Candy is UNREAL (Candy Review and GIVEAWAY!!!)

· by · 95 Comments

I am knee-deep in making the memories that people dream about for years before they start their families. Darah is really into Santa Claus, Rudolph, the Elves and all things Christmas.

And she believes SO fully you guys. It is nothing short of AWESOME. I love Christmas with all my heart, but I can’t remember a time that this season was even close to as fun as it has been this year. I’m guessing the last time would be maybe 1986, which was probably my last Christmas to believe in Santa.

Santa is REAL REAL REAL at our house! But let me tell you what isn’t real this year: all the candy that Santa will be leaving us in our stockings (why yes, as mom of the house I do happen to have this insider info!).

Santa is going to be filling our stockings to the brim with UNREAL candy. Have you heard of it? It’s a newish brand on the market and it DOESN’T contain much of what fills other candies.

  • No high fructose corn syrup
  • No artificial ingredients
  • No partially hydrogenated oils
  • Less sugar!

UNREAL left behind all the stuff that isn’t actually food, and produced DELICIOUS (I may or may not have had a sample or two…) chocolate candy that will have you singing!

We’re believers in this house. We believe in the magic of Santa, in the joy of giving, and in the reality that our junk food can be unjunked. Our candy this year is UNREAL.

What’s filling your stockings? Want to do what we’re doing? You can find UNREAL at a merchant near you.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win 5 bags of UNREAL candy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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