Stuff Parents Need

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

What’s Left of My Christmas Shopping List and Deals I’ll Be Taking Advantage Of!

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After dealing with a bout of the flu in our house last week and over the weekend, I’m feeling REALLY thankful that most of my holiday shopping is already finished. Being sick throws life out of balance and I can only imagine how stressed out I’d be if I had to purchase 40 more gifts on top of my monstrous to do list.

But there are a few more things I need to get. And it turns out that waiting until the last minute has worked in my favor!

Today Kmart is featuring 40% off their Joe Boxer Baby and Kids sleepwear, as well as robes, Women’s sleepwear and thermals! It’s a tradition in our family to have new pajamas at Christmas, and this sale will make it quite affordable for me to outfit everyone in something affordable and comfy!

I’m also still shopping for Layah (babies are harder to buy for than you might think, since they can’t tell you what they’d like to have!). Fortunately, Kmart is also running BOGO 50% off on Fisher Price items. Score!!!

I’ll be using my Shop Your Way rewards card, which currently has $50 in rewards on it. And, of course, I’ll be earning rewards as I shop, as well. Gotta love a store that pays you to shop and save! 🙂

What’s left on your list? Looking for any great sales to help you finish up?

This is a compensated post written as a member of Brandfluential. All thoughts, opinions and remaining shopping tasks mentioned are strictly my own! 

Special Lovey Contender: Goblin Kids Bunny Review and Gift Certificate GIVEAWAY!!!

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Did you grow up with a most special lovey? Perhaps it was a blanket that you carried around with you everywhere? Or maybe it was a favorite stuffed toy? For my husband it was a stuffed Wicket plush (yes, from Star Wars). Even at 32 years old, you can still see a little pain in his eyes when he recalls losing it at the airport one year while traveling.

For me, it was my doll Lisa. She was the last Christmas gift from my maternal grandmother to me before she died. I was only 3. Lisa was my constant companion for many years. She was lost in a flood in the ’90s. No, she wasn’t literally swept away, but the damage done to her was irreparable, so she had to go. I wish I had thought to take photos of her before letting go.

While I don’t need the comfort that Lisa provided me as a child any longer, now that I see how special Darah’s lovey is to her, I can recall its deep importance, and I want to make sure I do everything I can to keep him safe and sound, even if there is a lengthy season of her life where he will simply sit on a shelf, or even in a box.

And I am honestly gripped with excitement as I wait for Layah’s lovey to be discovered. For Darah, the attachment came rather early, around 9 months of age. Will it happen that soon for Layah? I don’t know! But every time I introduce her to a new friend, I really enjoy seeing how she responds to it. You never know which one will steal her heart.

Darah suggested that we get Layah her own special big bunny since a bunny is Darah’s lovey of choice. She suggested a look-a-like, but I could see that causing more problems than not, so I thought having something a little different would be ideal. But one thing was certain: it needed to have long, soft ears. Those are best for rubbing gently over baby’s eyes as they drift to sleep!

Meet pink bunny.

She’s from one of my favorite online toy shops called Goblin Kids. This store sells the kinds of toys you dream about getting for your little one. Unique, high quality, and classic. They are built to last and are constructed very carefully. These are the toys that you will hold on to long after the days of playing are over. They are meant for several generations of play, not just for several months.

Pink Bunny, who actually comes with a much more creative name, Cordy Roy, is from the London-based company Jellycat. She is 15 inches high, which is a really nice size! She is super snuggly soft and I have no worries about Layah chewing on her, as the standards used by Jellycat meet and exceed both American and European safety standards.

Would you believe that Layah was already in the midst of THE FLU when this picture was taken? That should give you an idea of how she lights up when she sees pink bunny. While it is too early to make the call, I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes her most special lovey.

Goblin Kids may have helped us find a real treasure, indeed. And I know they can help you do the same, whether you are hunting for a lovey for just for a special toy. They are a particularly great resource for Haba toys, wooden toys and educational toys. Definitely give them a look!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $25 gift certificate to Goblin Kids! What a great credit to have on hand for an upcoming baby shower or kid’s birthday party!

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.

My Favorite Coupons This Week

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I’ve been getting back into couponing over the last month after a year-long hiatus. I’m actually taking a new approach that is working out quite nicely for me: I’m not purchasing the Sunday paper AT ALL! Sure, I’m missing out on some good deals that way, but I’m also missing out on a whole lot of stress and extra work! I simply print the coupons I need online, which rocks!

Here are some coupons I printed this week. I thought I’d share them with you just in case you are interested in some of the same stuff as me! Hurry, though, as these coupons won’t print after today!

This post does contain affiliate links. But as I said, these are coupons I printed, myself, and plan to use. Thought I’d pass the savings on!

Ditch the Plastic Wrap: Corn-n-Tater for Healthier Microwave Cooking (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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I learned from my mother-in-law last year that I really should stop using plastic containers and plastic wrap in the microwave. Just as we have learned that BPA is found in many plastics and is harmful for people, there are also many questions being raised about plastic wrap. Better to avoid using them altogether and find alternatives. I’ve got a fair amount of glass containers now, but the plastic wrap has been a really tough thing for me to avoid using, as I don’t know what the alternatives are. For example, if I want to steam broccoli in the microwave (you retain more nutrients by steaming than by boiling), I can put it in a glass bowl, but then I still have to use plastic wrap to cover it.

But today I’m really excited to show you a product I’ve been using with success. It’s called the Corn-n-Tater bag, and it is a specially made bag for cooking various foods. It needs to hold solids, so it can’t heat up soup for you, but if you are cooking vegetables like corn, sweet potatoes, broccoli, etc. then this is most definitely the way to go.

The bag comes with a recipe book and with a chart to tell you how long to cook various items. I have put that chart on my fridge, and I just check it before using the bag. The Corn-n-Tater is SO easy to use, you guys! You simply place the food you want to cook inside a moist paper towel, and then put that in the bag. If your microwave doesn’t rotate on its own, you need to rotate the bag every 2 minutes. You also need to flip the bag over every 2 minutes.

I used the bag with some sweet potatoes we got from our CSA recently. When I pulled them out, they were just slightly underdone, but the fault was mine because I forgot to flip the bag. I just put them back in for another 2 minutes and they were perfectly done!

We even used the Corn-n-Tater bag to make some baked potatoes for our Thanksgiving meal. They came out perfectly in 7 minutes. And my goodness that’s a whole lot faster than using the oven!

The bag is machine washable and mine has held up great in the wash so far. I absolutely love this bag and plan to use it every chance I get. While it won’t eliminate plastic wrap from my kitchen, it is going to significantly cut down on how much I use it, and that makes me SOOOO happy!

Buy it!: The Corn-n-Tater bag is available for $12.99 in a nice variety of prints. What a great gift this would make!

Win it!: FIVE Stuff Parents Need readers will each win a Corn-n-Tater bag! Woo hoo!

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. 

 

HUGE Tech GIVEAWAY!!!

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And a Special Thanks to our Co-Host:

Route 249 | Mom Blog Society | Jackie’s Reviews | Geeky Gamer Mom | Tinkle Monkey | Country Stew | She Informed | S.O.S Mom | Inside My Head | Building Carpenters | Mom Does Reviews | Aunt Maggie Rocks | A Medic’s World | Spend With Pennies | Bay Area Mommy | Mom’s Living Thrifty | Sister’s Saving Cents | My Vegan Gluten Free Life | Always Searching For Savings | What’s Up – Giveaways, Contests, Promos and Deals | Don’t Make Me Nuts | My Style Spot | Wife Mom Work Life | Counting To Ten | Coupons In Motion |

First Place Winner

Xbox Bundle:

Xbox 360 4GB Console

  • Xbox 360 has blockbuster games, HD movies and controller-free fun for everyone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi for easy connection to Xbox LIVE
  • Super quiet with sleek new design plus matching controller
  • Ready for the controller-free fun of Kinect

Microsoft Xbox Live Gold Subscription Card

Boaderlands Game: In a distant future, the planets at the outer edges of the galaxy have become a beacon to fortune seekers and those yearning for a better life off world.

2nd Place Winner

Google Nexus 7 Black Wi-Fi 16GB Tablet – ASUS-1B16

The Google Nexus 7 tablet computer is the world’s first Android tablet that combines the latest Android 4.1 mobile operating system with a powerful quad-core processor for high-performance computing on the go. An eye-catching 1280 x 800 high-definition display is your touchscreen interface for this Google tablet. The Google Nexus 7 tablet computer’s LED-backlit IPS panel is made from scratch-resistant glass to offer crisp images, wide viewing angles and 10-finger multi-touch support.

3rd Place Winner:

Blue Hue” Laptop Bundle with optional matching accessories:

  • Blue Laptop
  • Case/Bag
  • Mouse
  • USB Flash Drive
  • Headphones

The event dates: 11/30 – 12/10 Open World Wide. If the winner is outside the use they will receive and online gift card in the prize amount in place of the physical prize. NO EXCEPTIONS.

For a chance to win one of these three amazing prizes enter the Rafflecopter below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Join Me for the StorkNest Twitter Party 12/4 at 2pm EST For Diaper Talk and Great Prizes!

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One of the reasons I continue to blog nearly every day is because I truly love sharing info about really great companies with all of you. Today I’m featuring a company that hasn’t even launched, but it is so committed to engaging with is customers in meaningful conversation that it already has a Twitter party planned. I love that, you guys!

The company is Called Stork Nest, and I will be one of their panelists at their Twitter party on 12/4 from 2pm-3pm EST. I would love it SO much if my readers were there to hang out with me and talk! We’ll be using the #StorkNest hashtag. Here’s a link to get yourself RSVP’d for the party:  http://resourcefulmommy.com/11096/stork-nest-twitter-party/.

If you have a little one in diapers, then learning about Stork Nest is a very good idea, indeed. This company is going to be selling unique diaper, training pant and youth pant brands at LOWER prices that you can find ANYWHERE else. This company is going to manufacture its own diapers, thus cutting out the middle man. In the beginning brands like Fisher-Price and Fittit diapers and training pants will be offered, and as the site grows, it will partner with different baby product manufacturers to expand its product offerings. The focus will be on trust worthiness of the products and affordability.

Sounds pretty good to me!

So back to the Twitter party, and more specifically, THE PRIZES. Here’s what is up for grabs:

Ten winners will receive a case (a one month supply) of Fisher-Price daytime diapers in the size of choice. Imagine having all your diaper needs handled for the next month! Score!

Additionally, ALL participants are going to receive a discount code to use at StorkNest.com. So on top of the lowest prices that will be offering, you’ll get an even LOWER price because you came to the party.

 

But wait, there’s more!

Stork Nest is also hosting a Facebook contest, and you are most definitely going to want to enter this, as well. It is currently live, and ends December 31st. But don’t delay, because the prizes, once again, are AWESOME! It’s called the EcoBundles Cutest Baby Photo Contest. EcoBundles is a diaper and training pants brand that is exclusive to StorkStack and that is a bit more eco-friendly than traditional disposable diapers.

There will be two winners for this contest, and just wait until you hear what the prize is.

Seriously. JUST. YOU. WAIT!

Winners will be featured on the packaging of a size of EcoBundles diapers (so your baby becomes the face of the product!!!). There will be a photo shoot for the packaging and the parents get to keep the professional pictures of their baby.

Additionally, winners receive a year’s worth of free diapers from the Fisher-Price brand. A YEAR’S WORTH OF DIAPERS!!!!!!!!!! Wrap your head around that one, people!

And every single entrant into the photo contest will receive a Buy One Get One Free coupon to use on StorkNest.com. So you’ll get some diapers for 50% off, basically. Which is pretty darn sweet.

Now, I know that I have the cutest baby on the face of the earth, but I’m guessing you think you have the cutest baby on the face of the earth! Let’s put our theories to the test on the Stork Nest Facebook page. Someone is going to win, and it might as well be me…or you! 😉

Thanks to Stork Nest for sponsoring my involvement in this rockin’ Twitter party. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

 

All Layah Wants for Christmas is Earth’s Best Toddler Biscuits (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Just as everyone told me it would be, my two little girls are so very different in so many ways. But they seem to be mirror images of each other when it comes to teething. Namely, they get their teeth two at a time. It makes for double the pain of teething, but at least we get two teeth in instead of just one each time we go through all that teething drama!

Layah has had her two bottom teeth for over a month now. They are the cutest thing on earth! I suspect that more teeth will be along shortly, judging by the GALLONS of drool she produces every day. Even with bibs on her (which, by the way, she’s learning how to pull off! ARGH!), I’m still changing her onesie two to three times because they are getting soaked.

I have had some Earth’s Best Toddler Biscuits in my freezer for a little while, waiting for her to be ready for them. Oh my word, you guys, they are a HUGE hit! I think sticking them in the freezer makes them even more enjoyable to her sore gums. Since they are intended for slightly older babies, I want to emphasize that I do not leave her unattended with these. For her safety, I’m right with her when she gets to gnaw on them. If you choose to give these to a baby under 1 year of age, I recommend you do the same.

(What I would give to have lashes like hers!)

Teething biscuits are popular with babies because they are hard. The point isn’t so much for them to eat it (although they are obviously edible!) but to have something very safe and soothing to gnaw on as those little teeth work their way up through the gums. I like the Earth’s Best teething biscuits because they are the perfect size for Layah to grasp. They also are made with organic wheat and barley, which makes them a good choice from a nutrition standpoint, too.

If you have a little one going through teething, you may have some questions about the process. Check out the FAQ section on Earth’s Best about teething. It’s got some really helpful tips!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win toddler biscuits from Earth’s Best!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

I am a blog ambassador for Earth’s Best, and as such I have received complimentary products as a thank you for my time. All thoughts and opinions express here are strictly my own.



Woolino 4 Season Baby Sleep Bag GIVEAWAY (Two Winners, $119.99 Value!)


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Baby blankets don’t belong in our babies’ beds, so how do we keep them warm? There is no better way than a cozy baby sleep sack. Unfortunately so many of those on the market are made of synthetic materials that can cause the baby to overheat and actually increase the risk factor for SIDS. Woolino comes to the rescue by creating all natural 100% Australian merino wool baby sleep bags that keep baby warm at night in any season.




Woolino merino baby sleep bags have a host of amazing features, from being super easy to clean to having a convenient harness slot to use during travel. It is compact and warm, perfect at home or on the go. Snaps on both shoulders and an inverted zipper make dressing and diaper changes easier. Underarm snaps make it adjustable to fit small babies. Your baby will be comfortable in a Woolino 4 Season baby sleep bag in temperatures ranging from 63 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. It comes with a travel bag, room thermometer, and it is in a plastic-free, ready-to-gift package which makes it perfect for a baby shower or Christmas!




 




 




Our Favorite Features: 




    

  • Fits babies 3 to 24 months
    • 

  • Seat belt slot for easy transfer from car to crib
    • 

  • Naturally anti-microbial, anti-fungal
    • 

  • Naturally fire resistant without the use of harsh chemicals
    • 

  • Regulates temperature
    • 

  • Made with sustainable and 100% natural Australian merino wool
    • 

  • GOTS certified organic cotton outer
    • 

  • Machine washable
    • 

  • Super soft on baby’s skin
    • 





Purchase: The 2013 Collection Woolino 4 Season Baby Sleep Bags retail for $119.99 each, you can purchase it on the Woolino website. They also make toddler sleep sacks for kids 2 to 4 years old! The Woolino sleep bags are also available on Amazon.








Win One! Woolino is blessing two of you with a 2013 Collection Woolino 4 Season Baby Sleep Bag in size 3 to 24 months, one reader will win Sage and another Spring (both gender neutral).


 








Special thanks to AnaB Social for hosting this giveaway. Huge thanks to all participating bloggers as well! Giveaway ends December 27th at 12:01 am, open to US and Canadian residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Thank you! 







Disclaimer: AnaB Social and Stuff Parents Need are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. No compensation was received for participation in this awesome giveaway.