Stuff Parents Need

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

How I Work Out From Home and Make Every Second Count: Half Hour Power Review

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Back in July I realized that the baby weight from baby #2 was no longer coming off and that I’d hit a standstill. I couldn’t simply rely on breastfeeding to take it off and I needed to start exercising.

So after a LOOOOOONG hiatus from the gym, I went back. And it was a very good thing, indeed! I didn’t love every minute while I was there, but I always felt good afterward. I started to get in the habit of going and I was amazed to watch myself be able to run longer and longer distances on the treadmill. Just to give you an idea, when I was starting out, running for 30 seconds straight was KILLER for me. And pretty soon I was running 2 1/2 minute stretches with 90 second breaks in between. Hooray for progress!

And then the fall happened. No, not an injury. I’m talking about the season. Back to school. Back to Junior League responsibilities. Back to a more intense schedule at my husband’s work. Before I knew it getting to the gym felt like its own Olympic sport and for a variety of reasons, I just didn’t fight hard enough for myself and started going less and less. It was a discouraging situation, but it was also difficult to figure out a solution in light of all the constraints on my time.

Then I heard about an at-home workout system called Half Hour Power that received the Parent Tested Parent Approved Award (this is a very difficult award to earn and in my opinion indicates that a product or service is truly amazing). It is a HIGHLY portable system that involves a set of resistance bands for one seriously intense workout right in your own home.

I do my Half Hour Power routines in my living room, usually with Layah watching me from her jumperoo. It makes her giggle to watch mommy moving. I absolutely adore that I can squeeze in a workout any time at all, day or night, without having to make arrangements to get to the gym.

Check out my video where you’ll learn more about why I believe this system is particularly good for new moms (although of course it can be used by anyone!) and see a few examples of exercises I do with the resistance bands.

 

The Half Hour Power Adult Package Plus is currently on sale for $99.95 and it comes with a complete set of bands, as well as the door anchor, two awesome DVDs to help you get started and to use during your workouts. Additionally, you get access to some wonderful streaming videos online for even more routines. I really love this as it keeps me from getting bored with any routines and gives me something new and fresh to try.

 I have been really impressed with the quality of these workouts, the ease of setting up my “home gym” and the fact that every second really counts when I am doing the different exercises. I get a lot of bang for the buck, so to speak, with Half Hour Power. I will continue to use this system regularly. And that baby weight is coming off again, by the way! 🙂

I should also mention that my husband, who does not need to lose any weight but who has been looking for a way to do some strength training, is also enjoying Half Hour Power. These resistance bands can definitely help you tone your muscles!

If you are looking for an exercise program that doesn’t involve large pieces of equipment and that packs a serious punch with every move, Half Hour Power is what you are looking for. I highly recommend it!

I received complimentary products for review purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own based on my experience using Half Hour Power.

Favorite Products of 2011

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About a month ago I made a list of my VERY VERY favorite products that I reviewed in 2010 (if you missed it, click here to check out this blogger’s favorite things!).

I really enjoyed writing that post, and decided that I’m also going to write one for 2011. And at the end of the year, I’ll write about my 2012 top picks, as well! When I first reviewed all the products from 2011, I was blown away by all the awesome, and was really overwhelmed. I had 33 “top picks” at first! But I have since narrowed it town to my top 10. These are the products that got and are continuing to get the most use in my home. If a product isn’t on this list, it doesn’t mean that I didn’t like it, or even that I didn’t love it, though.

So here’s my list, in no particular order:

1. Shaklee cleaning products. The cost per use is so unbelievably cheap, the products work amazingly well, and everything is eco-friendly. What’s not to love?

http://stuffparentsneed.com/shaklee-basic-h2-and-shaklee-scour-off-review/

2. George Foreman Grill. This is how we cook our chicken about 90% of the time, which means this gets used every single week.

http://stuffparentsneed.com/2011/06/knock-out-the-fat-with-george-foreman-and-win-1000-2/

3. Robby Wash Ball. This has pretty much replaced other detergents in my home for any non-cloth diaper laundry. I love how little space it takes up in my laundry room!

http://stuffparentsneed.com/2011/06/think-about-your-laundry-detergent-once-per-year-giveaway/

4. Automatic Yogurt Maker. I’m not sure how anyone with small kids in the house lives without one of these! It makes excellent yogurt and it much more cost effective than buying it!

http://stuffparentsneed.com/2011/06/how-we-successfully-made-our-own-yogurt-giveaway/

5. Girl Gotch underwear. Not only are boxer-briefs adorable on little girls, but the coverage is also unbeatable. Best underwear for little girls on the planet. For real.

http://stuffparentsneed.com/2011/06/does-darah-prefer-boxers-or-briefs-giveaway/

6. Fun Fort. This makes building a fort take about 30 seconds. Can be used inside or out. Will be used for years and years. Basically, this product rocks.

http://stuffparentsneed.com/2011/12/fun-fort-build-a-fort-anytime-anywhere-giveaway/

7. Gallery Direct Framed Art. I have reviewed many MANY gorgeous pieces of art from Gallery Direct. This beach scene was my first. And it remains my very favorite. I look at it every single day and it always makes me feel calm.

http://stuffparentsneed.com/2011/07/the-case-for-framed-art-2/

8. Build a Dream Playhouse. This cardboard castle still gets played with and is in pretty decent shape, and I just love that it lives under our couch!

http://stuffparentsneed.com/2011/06/build-a-dream-playhouse-review-and-giveaway/

9. Hanes Comfort Flex Bra. I slept in these throughout my pregnancy and even 5 months postpartum, I am still grateful for their comfortable fit. It’s the perfect “around the house” bra.

http://stuffparentsneed.com/2011/10/maternity-week-sleeping-a-lot-in-comfort-hanes-review-and-giveaway/

10. Kaboost Chair Booster. Darah went right from the high chair to an adult size chair thanks to this product. It still gets used 3 times a day, every day! We’ll be getting one for Layah as soon as she needs one!

http://stuffparentsneed.com/2011/04/booster-chair-alternative-kaboost-chair-booster-2/

 

Daylight Savings: Change Your Clock AND Your Batteries w/Energizer! GIVEAWAY!!!

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Mark your calendar! November 4 is the day when Daylight Saving Time ends this year, which means you need to set your clocks back on the evening of November 3!

This year also marks the 25th anniversary of a simple and potentially life-saving program: Change Your Clock Change Your Battery. Energizer has a partnership with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and they are working together to remind folks that we should be in the habit of changing the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every time we change our clocks back. And if you don’t have either alarm or don’t have as many as you should, there’s no time better than RIGHT NOW to get them installed!

From the IAFC comes a startling statistic: 38% of fatal fire injuries occur in homes with no smoke alarms, and 24 perfect occur in homes in which at least one smoke alarm is present but fails to operate, frequently due to dead or missing batteries.

I don’t know about you, but remembering to check my smoke detector batteries is not something I think to do on my own. I love the idea of coupling this VERY important task with an event so that I can remember it more easily!

I want to encourage each of you to visit the Energizer Bunny Facebook page from now through November 4th. There you will find an ADDITIONAL sweepstakes for a Family Safety Kit that’s worth $150! They are giving away one each day, so hop on over there and get entered!

While you are there, please notice that you can find fire safety tips, a downloadable home escape plan and a coloring and activity sheet. I’ve got these downloaded and ready to go at my house, and I wouldn’t have had them without this great free resource. Thank you, Energizer!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a Family Safety Kit from Energizer, complete with a reusable grocery tote containing the following items:

  •         One 2-pack of Energizer® MAX® Batteries (9v) with Power Seal Technology – Dependable, powerful performance for the devices that help keep your family safe; now hold their charge when stored for up to 5 years
  •        One Energizer® Flameless Wax Candle – Enjoy the realistic flicker of a scented wax candle without the worry of open flame or hassle of soot and dripping wax
  •         One Energizer® Weatheready® Safety Light – Waterproof flashlight powered by AA, AAA or C cell batteries; includes safety whistle and imprinted preparedness checklist
  •         One Kidde Battery-Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

I received a complimentary safety kit in thanks for my time writing this important post. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

SodaStream: One of My Very Favorite Products (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Way back in June of 2010 I reviewed the SodaStream, which was a clever product that allowed you to make your own soda at home. You can see my SodaStream video review here, and since it is the very first time I used the product, you’ll notice that I was surprised by the funny noises! 🙂

Last month I created a list of my very favorite products of 2010, and SodaStream made the list. I mentioned that even 2 years after getting it, I have yet to purchase a can of soda but I still get my bubbly fix thanks to SodaStream!

The folks at SodaStream were excited to make the “best of” list and offered to let me try some of their newer products. I was sent a Fountain Jet Soda Lover’s Start-Up Kit. Here’s what it looked like:

I was really impressed with all the goodies that came in this package, and couldn’t help but think that this would make the absolute PERFECT holiday gift for a loved one. You get everything you need to get started and I especially love the sample pack which gives you the chance to try out a  lot of different flavors before you commit to buying any of them in the full-size. We’ve been buying SodaStream flavors for 2 years now, but I’ll admit that we stick to our 4 favorites. This gave us the chance to try out some flavors that we either hadn’t yet seen in the stores or just hadn’t purchased.

I also wanted to show how the Fountain Jet has gotten a really good makeover in the past 2 years. Here you will see the new Fountain Jet next to the old Fountain Jet. It’s much more sleek, don’t you think?

If you have been hesitant to try out the SodaStream, perhaps because of the initial cost, I have to tell you that I’m a thrifty gal and I think this product pays for itself time and time again. It also significantly reduces waste. Think of all the plastic 2 liter bottles and aluminum cans you won’t be using!

But perhaps my favorite reason for loving SodaStream is that their syrups contain no high fructose corn syrup. When you compare the cost of SodaStream to other sodas without that ingredient, there’s really no comparison. This is MUCH cheaper, and SO much better for you than a traditional soda.

I have been an evangelist for this product for the past 2 years (can’t tell you how many times we have shown it to friends who were curious when they were over for dinner or a visit!). I will continue to be a loyal SodaStream fan, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys soda or even carbonated water (yeah, you can use SodaStream to replace your pricey bottled carbonated water, too!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Fountain Jet Soda Lover’s Start-Up Kit which includes the following:

– Fountain Jet – winner’s choice of color (black/silver, red/silver or white)
– 1 carbonating bottle, reusable for up to 3 years
– Reusable carbonator to fizz up to 60L of soda
– Variety 6-pack of popular sample-size flavors
– 3 full-sized flavors of the winner’s choice

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

I received a complimentary Start-Up Kit for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

 

Earth’s Best Makes Breakfast Healthy and Delicious: GIVEAWAY!!!

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Breakfast at my house is almost never skipped. I feel super sluggish without it, myself, and since Darah faces 4 hours of school, I know her body really needs the fuel to power through the morning.

Darah loves oatmeal, so when I learned this month at Earth’s Best has an instant oatmeal option, I was really excited. And when Darah saw Elmo on the package, SHE was really excited. This is the only organic instant oatmeal I have seen in my local store. We usually just make our own, which takes a bit longer. But Earth’s Best Yummy Tummy Organic Instant Oatmeal is ready in about 90 seconds. That is so helpful for busy mornings (which is every morning!).  It is available in Maple & Brown Sugar as well as Apples & Cinnamon. Both options are absolutely perfect for a chilly school morning!

Layah also has a yummy breakfast option from Earth’s Best. We’ve been using their organic rice cereal for a few weeks now, but in the near future I will be introducing her to Earth’s Best Whole Grain Mixed Grain Cereal which contains oats, barley and spelt as well as apple and sweet potato. It sounds delicious, and I love that it is packed with all those fantastic whole grains. In my experience, starting babies off with these types of foods ensures that they will enjoy them longer. Darah regularly ate barley and other whole grains throughout her baby and toddlerhood! I usually make the majority of the baby food, but having this mixed grain cereal on hand will help speed things up quite a bit, which leaves me more time to work on other projects. And I don’t sacrifice nutrition in the process. Thanks, Earth’s Best!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win Earth’s Best Organic Yummy Tummy Instant Oatmeal and Earth’s Best Infant Cereal!
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 expressed here are strictly my own.



Why Have Kids? A New Mom Explores the Truth About Parenting and Happiness (Book Review)


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Jessica Valenti, the author of the new book Why Have Kids? is pissed off. There’s no other way to say it, really. In her book, she takes a brutally honest look at the shadow side of parenting. That side that we tend to gloss over by quickly covering our complaints with, “but being a mom is awesome!” or “but I wouldn’t trade this for the world!”


Raising kids is REALLY hard, you guys. Period. No need to qualify it with a profession of deep and abiding love. It’s HARD.



		
		
			
			
		
	


In Why Have Kids? Jessica delves into chapter after chapter of myths about parenting, as well as some truths. She takes a controversial stand with these myths and truths. For example, a myth in her book is that being a mom is the hardest job in the world and a truth is that smart women don’t have kids…I’m guessing at least a few of you got your feathers ruffled over these (I know I did!).


Every “myth” she takes issue with and every “truth” she presents are meant to alarm you. They go against what society tends to claim.


But while I can’t say I agree with her every thought, she most definitely brings a critical eye to some sweeping assumptions that are made in our culture, and challenges some of these ideas as being part of the cause for the ennui Gloria Steinem named back in The Feminist Mystiqe and that women still struggle with, despite decades of “movement” for women’s rights.


I can identify with Jessica’s deep disappointment in some aspects of raising children. These have precious little to do with the children, themselves, and so much to do with the sacrifice of personal identity that seems to be expected of women. I have struggled with this matter ever since I became a mom.


I was shocked and surprised when working full time no longer seemed to fit my identity. My old self simply no longer fit. And I was shocked and surprised when I found myself unhappy staying at home full-time, as well. I was also shocked at the extent to which I had to completely rearrange my priorities and let go of interests and even friendships in order to give parenting the time it seems to demand. From the book, “it’s not so much that children don’t make you happy – they do bring joy into people’s lives – it’s that kids also ‘crowd out’ other sources of happiness.” This has also been my experience, and it honestly has been a very tough pill to swallow. It has become increasingly difficult to remember who I was or what I enjoyed before I became a parent. It’s not that I wish to go back to that, but that I long for an identity outside of “Darah and Layah’s mom” and knowing who that person is has become surprisingly difficult.


Tim and I both also struggle a lot with not having a support system in place here in Chattanooga. We do not have family near by and we wish so much that we did. Valenti talks in her book about the fact that multi-generational families used to be more common, and that there was a great benefit to that for moms. They could utilize the village, so to speak, to help with raising the child. Valenti quotes Petra Buskens, a motherhood researcher based in the Netherlands, who says, “‘Mothers are attempting to carry out rigorous schedules of attached mothering in an increasingly fragmented and unsupportive social context.’ Essentially, we’re Attachment Parenting without a net.”  This really resonated with me, as I find so much of the Attachment Parenting philosophy to be compelling, but absolutely exhausting to me as the parent. It nearly breaks me on a weekly basis. Perhaps this is why…


You guys, there are SO many things in this book that I would love to cover and would love to discuss. But alas, it is time to feed the baby this morning (I wake up BEFORE her 5 am feeding so that I can get some non-parenting work done…it’s the only way I can have this identity as a blogger. Sleep loses). Would anyone be interested in doing an online book club session (or maybe a few sessions) together? Maybe over Skype?


The book is available on Amazon now for $14.00. If you are an Amazon Prime member and have a Kindle, it’s FREE!!! That makes me jealous of those of you in that category, by the way.


Let me know if you want to talk about this book after reading it. It’s likely going to make you mad. And it’s also going to really make you think.


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


Easy Mason Jar DIY: Parmesan Cheese Container!


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I have a very simple DIY project for you today. Let me first say that I did NOT come up with this idea on my own! I found it on Pinterest (of course!). I found the idea here, but there are several different bloggers who have posted this idea, so I can’t say with certainty who blogged about it first!



		
		
			
			
		
	


If you have a plastic container of Parmesan cheese in your fridge AND you have a mason jar handy, then you can reduce some of your plastic and ugly packaging in your fridge and replace it with something much more lovely in about 30 seconds.



		
		
			
			
		
	


The lid of the Parmesan container will screw onto the mason jar. Oh heck yes it will! This morning I took a very small amount of time and finally transferred my cheese from that ugly plastic container to the super cute mason jar. I love it!



		
		
			
			
		
	


I know it isn’t a major project that completely changes the aesthetic of my home, or anything, but it’s a little win for beauty. And some days, you really need a little win!


Have you done any great Pinterest projects, lately?


Bloggers Get Signed Up for These AWESOME Giveaways Coming Up!


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I’ve decided to participate in two more events in the next month. Remember, my criteria for participating is always, “Would I love to win this?” If the answer is yes, then I want to give my readers a chance! If you are a blogger you can get signed up to be a participating blogger now! 



		
		
			
			
		
	 




 


Mom Blog Society, Route249, Mom Does Reviews and Geeky Gamer Mom have come together to bring you this awesome event!


Prize: Step2 Deluxe Art Master Desk


Event Dates: Nov 10th – Dec 1st.



		
		
			
			
		
	




 


The Fabric Makes the Dress: House of Minerva Fabulous Fashions for Girls (GIVEAWAY!!!)


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We just returned from a fantastic trip back to Memphis, where we lived off and on for 10 years before landing in Chattanooga. While I was there I visited a good friend of mine who is passionate about beautiful and unique fabrics and has opened up her own sewing and fabric shop.


Even though I do not personally sew, I still felt completely mesmerized by the walls of fantastic prints. I’d never seen anything like them, and each and every one would make something absolutely gorgeous. It was like an awesome Etsy store’s supply shop! 🙂


When it comes to fashion for little girls, fabric really can make or break the dress. I know I’m not the only one who has swooned at adorable frocks that you might find from time to time at craft fairs or online, and they always are made with unique fabrics in colors that pop. And today I want to introduce you to a store that is overflowing with all this cuteness.


Introducing House of Minerva. We have a dress from this shop and it is the perfect fall statement piece, as here in the South the squirrels are gathering acorns at a feverish pace this time of year!



		
		
			
			
		
	


The pattern of the dress is adorable. The fit is fantastic. And the fabric! Oh, the fabric!!!



		
		
			
			
		
	


I can’t help but smile every time I see Darah in her House of Minerva dress. And that is quite often, as it is one of her favorites!


If you have a little one, you simply MUST check out the toddler dresses. So stinkin’ cute! The one Darah is modeling is out of stock, but it retailed for $34.00 like most of the other dresses in stock.


And if you don’t have a little one to shop for, don’t despair, as there are MANY cute finds for you or a friend, too! I’m currently swooning over this adorable cosmetic bag (just $12!).



		
		
			
			
		
	


House of Minerva also takes care of their customers in some really fun ways. If you post a picture on their Facebook wall of you with any HoM creation, they will send you a 15% off coupon for your next purchase! Additionally, they offer other rewards for helping get the word out about their site, so be sure to read up on all the ways you can share and earn!


So hop on over and check out the fantastic selection of products at House of Minerva. I guarantee you that you’ll see fabrics that are new to you and that will make you positively giddy!


Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a toddler dress from House of Minerva! EEEE!!!


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.