Stuff Parents Need

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

Character Development Book: Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns It’s Ok to Back Away

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Darah is on her third book from the We Do Listen Foundation. she is a BIG fan of the main character, Howard B. Wigglebottom.

Howard is a wonderful little boy (er, bunny) who has some important lessons in life that he needs to learn (don’t we all?!).

In the latest book we received, Howard learns some great tactics to use to help control his anger and frustration.

I continue to be impressed by the extent to which Darah really listens to these stories and applies them to her life. We talk about Howard frequently whenever we are dealing with the issues that get raised in the books we own about him. A few days ago she was telling me bout one of her classmates getting upset and said, “He didn’t know that it is ok to back away.” The message is definitely sinking in with her!

I very highly recommend these books for character development in young children. They also come with discussion questions the adults can ask the kids in order to keep the lessons going beyond the story, itself.

The Howard B. Wigglebottom books are available for $6.00 each or you can get all 10 titles for just $50.00! These are hardcover books with amazing lessons. The price is absolutely unbeatable!

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

The Most Adorable Plush Creatures: Handmade Dollies by Clara Dolly

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Look at this face

This is the Cabbage Monster. And bless his little heart, he tries so hard to be scary. Just yesterday I caught him trying to scale Darah’s Lego towers.

But those tiny little arms and legs don’t serve him well as a climber. So he had to settle for a staring contest with Layah. She broke eye contact first, so he at least won that battle. Just look at his victorious face!

After I took that shot, Layah bit his face. I decided to spare him the humiliation of putting that picture on the internet. Cabbage monster has a reputation to uphold, after all.

While he hates for me to say this, isn’t Cabbage monster just the cutest little thing?! He’s the creation of Clara Lieu and is one of many incredible handmade dollies just waiting for a forever home at Clara Dolly. Stuffed animals have a very special place in our home. They were my favorite toy as a child and seem to have the same place of honor in Darah’s heart. I am always on the lookout for stuffed animals that are unusual in some way. Handmade stuffed toys are a rare treasure.

If you are looking for a gift that will be more than an object to a child, but that will become a true friend, may I suggest something form Clara Dolly? From bats, to chickens to miniature people, there’s something for everyone. And even the fiercest of creatures from Clara Dolly have a soft spot. Don’t tell him that I told you, but Cabbage Monster loves a good cuddle after a long day of being the biggest, baddest plush this side of the Mississippi!

Prices start at just $15. Take a look around and see if you need to bring someone home with you!

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

How to Make a Chest Freezer Organized and Functional

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My in-laws bought us a deep freezer as a birthday gift for myself and my husband this year. We’ve been wanting one of these for a while, but until we moved, didn’t have anywhere to put one. We nowhave the perfect spot for a small one in our pantry.

We opted for a chest freezer instead of an upright freezer for two reasons:

1. We only have room for a chest freezer. Part of our pantry is directly under our stairs, and there isn’t enough room to even stand up there. A chest freezer was the only possibility.

2. Even if we had the space for an upright, we still would have chosen a chest freezer because they are significantly less expensive. We purchased our model through Lowe’s, though you can often find them on Amazon or even on Facebook marketplace.

But here’s the thing about chest freezers that every owner of one hates: they are a MAJOR pain to keep organized, and more often than not, owners find themselves throwing away food that they completely forgot about and that they find a year (or more!) after putting it away.

We have a chest freezer to help us preserve our food and stretch our grocery dollars. We aren’t saving any money if we freeze food and then throw it away later. So I knew we needed to tackle the organization issue. And we found a solution that works for us!

First, we separated our food into different categories. These are the categories that make sense for us; you may need slightly different categories.

  • Vegetables
  • Fruits
  • Meats
  • Prepared meals
  • Baby food

Each category got a canvas tote of a different color associated with it. Here are the color combos we chose based on what we had available!

  • Vegetables: green
  • Fruits: gray
  • Meats: brown
  • Prepared meals: blue
  • baby food: white
All of the food was placed into the appropriate canvas bag, and then the bags were placed in the deep freezer.
We decided to use canvas totes for two reasons:
1. The handles on the bags give us the opportunity to easily move food out of the way and pull out what we are looking for without having to dig around and be hunched over so much.

2. Canvas bags won’t snap due to the cold (I have read that plastic bags WILL break and aren’t a good option). They also are much more flexible than sturdy crates, which is a method some folks choose for organizing their chest freezers. We have a bit more room in the freezer by using canvas totes.

With that said, it is definitely the case that our chest freezer cannot hold as much as it could if we just packed in food by itself. But if we did that, we’d spend SO much time digging around for things and being frustrated. The loss of some space is definitely an ok price to pay for the ease of use.

With our tote system, we addressed how to easily access the food we wanted. Now we needed to address how to know what we have so that we don’t forget about anything!

We decided to use a very clever invention, chalkboard paper (bought it on Amazon…money very well spent, in my opinion). This covers the top of our chest freezer and serves as our master inventory list. Check it out!

By using chalk, it is easy to just wipe off the item you have used and then replace it with a new item you have added.

There’s also a bonus benefit to putting your master list on the top of your chest freezer: it keeps people from setting anything down on top of the freezer (and it becoming yet another space where junk accumulates).

So there you have it! That’s how we stay on top of our frozen food storage!

This post contains affiliate links. If 100 of you buy chalkboard paper, I might earn enough money to buy some chalk. Wish I was kidding. 😉


How I Discovered the Difference Between Smooth and Genuinely Soft Skin

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When I was in my mid-20’s, I had at least 15 bottles of lotion. I was a huge fan of shopping at Bath & Body Works and I would go absolutely nuts during their semi-annual sales. My skin smelled great, but I couldn’t help but notice that its conditioned never really improved beyond the first hour of applying the products.

Eventually I got so overwhelmed with my collection while also feeling so underwhelmed by the performance of the lotions that I quit buying cold turkey. And it took me about 4 years to work through my lotion collection. I now only own two bottles of lotion for myself, and both of those were given to me as gifts.

I’m currently using the Renew lotion and have always been pleased with the results. It’s a stark contrast to my former lotion picks in that it is in a very large container and it is unscented. But my skin feels smooth for hours after applying it. It sits on my bathroom vanity and I usually remember to apply it after taking a shower.

Lotion is an important component for baby massages, which Layah absolutely adores. Darah also loves to apply lotion herself and asks to do so whenever she sees me using it. For my girls, I go natural/organic. I have a goal to eventually set the same standards for my own lotion use,  but I have yet to find an organic product with lasting results for my skin.

Speaking of my skin, I should mention that making my skin feel soft is a very VERY hard thing to do. You see, I have Keratosis Pilaris, which is a very common skin condition that causes lots and lots of little tiny bumps. They don’t itch or hurt, but they also don’t go away. No amount of exfoliating or hydrating will cause them to fade. Trust me, I’ve tried it all, and I’ve done my research on the condition. The bumps are here to stay.

So any lotion I try out on my skin really faces a serious challenge. How do you make bumpy skin feel soft and smooth? I recently headed to Target to do some comparison shopping in the lotion aisle. Want to follow along with my adventure? Click here to see the whole trip and my thoughts about what I saw.

I brought home a product from Nivea, and did a side-by-side comparison of it with the Renew lotion I have been using for the past several months. Below you will see the Renew product on the left and the Nivea product on the right. I immediately noticed how much thicker Renew was, and that left me feeling nervous for Nivea.

After applying both products, I immediately felt both arms, and they both felt quite smooth (remember, “smooth” is a relative term when talking about my skin). I couldn’t tell a difference right away, but I didn’t really expect to at first.

I waited 10 minutes, and then I checked again. I thought that my left arm, which had Renew on it, felt a bit softer than my right arm, which had Nivea. I asked Tim’s opinion (he didn’t know which arm had which product) and he thought the Nivea arm was softer. So we agreed to disagree.

But here’s where things got really interesting. Four hours after applying the product I had Tim feel again. He said, “The right arm (which, as a reminder, is the Nivea arm) feels genuinely soft, and the left arm feels artificially soft…like it has a layer of lotion sitting on top of it.” I was dumbstruck by his observation. And after hearing it, I realized that he was right. The Renew lotion did make my skin feel soft, but it didn’t do a great job of actually absorbing into my skin, whereas the Nivea product penetrated the surface. Below you will see a picture of my right arm. It may not look very different on the surface, but the beauty of this product is that it goes beyond what lies on the surface to provide a more lasting hydration.

After having this experience of wading through the truly overwhelming selection of lotions available, and then realizing that I was being fooled by my own lotion into thinking I was getting good results, I was left with a few thoughts. It is easy to understand why so many women just throw their hands up in the air and either get whatever is on sale or stick with one brand so they don’t have to think about it any more. Even I have been relying on family to give me whatever lotion they like as gifts so I don’t have to mull over my options! And I absolutely believed that a thicker lotion would always mean a better lotion.

I’m surprised by my results, and I feel happy to have a new lotion that I am now using with complete confidence. I look forward to seeing how using Nivea Extended Moisture will impact the overall health and softness of my skin over time.

I would love to hear about your lotion routine. Do you have a favorite product? Are you overwhelmed with the options out there? And have you ever been fooled into thinking that a lotion was improving your skin when it really just sat on top of it to give the illusion of working? Do any of you also have Keratosis Pilaris?

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ #CBias #SocialFabric. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

How to Make Wise Charitable Contribution Decisions to Avoid Identity Theft

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As we close in on the final months of the year, the opportunities to make donations to worthy causes is going to increase significantly. I know I always receive requests from organizations I support annually to make my standard donation (0r to consider increasing my donation) before December 31, which is the deadline for it to count for this year’s tax deductions.

In additions to these requests, which I anticipate, I also receive new solicitations for support. Some of those are local, but MANY of them are national or even international. I typically receive these requests via email or even from Facebook. And it is becoming increasingly common to read online about particular individuals or families who are enduring some sort of crisis and who could use some financial assistance. Those posts, in particular, tend to tug at heart strings. And I would venture to say that the vast majority of them are true. But you would be wise to take just a few minutes to do your homework before you open up your Paypal account, or even worse, get out your credit card information. There are some red flags to watch for to make sure your identity is not about to get stolen.

First and foremost, I want to discourage you from making a donation over the phone, ESPECIALLY to an organization who called you. Unless you have caller ID that can trace the source of the call back to the organization, you really don’t know for sure that the person is calling from that organization. Additionally, even if the request is small (maybe just $5), the intention is not to collect much money from you during that call, but rather, to get your personal information so that your identity can be stolen later. It’s very risky to donate money this way, and if you have never donated to the organization before, steer clear of this “opportunity.”

I would say the same thing for anyone who shows up at your doorstep requesting donations for an organization. Basically, any time you are handing over your personal information to an individual, who has the potential to copy that information for their own personal use, take extra precautions.

Any reputable charity that seeks a donation from you will not pressure you to make a donation on the spot and will welcome the opportunity for you to do your research prior to giving. The Better Business Bureau can be a great resource for checking out how legitimate a nonprofit actually is.

As the holidays approach, please do continue to be generous to the causes you care about, by all means. Just take measures to ensure you are smart about where you give and HOW you give. Volunteering your time instead of your money is a great way to ensure that your identity is protected, so that’s one option to keep in mind.  You can also make in-kind donations. For example. my church is having an auction in November to raise money and my family is donating several items that attendees can bid on and that should bring in some money for the organization. We clear out some clutter and the church raises funds. Win-win!

Another option is to simply make sure you have identity theft protection in place so that as you make a donation online, you can do so with confidence. LifeLock does a fantastic job of alerting members to possible threats to identity. And should you find yourself in the unfortunately position of having your identity compromised, LifeLock will be on hand to help you sort everything out and get back on track as quickly as possible. As someone who has been through this situation MULTIPLE times, I can say that having someone have your back is HUGE and will relieve much of the stress!

In 2011, 11.6 million Americans were victims of identity theft. The threat is so, so real. And unfortunately, opportunities to make donations are one of the ways that information does get stolen. Please do keep your security in mind as you are approached for donations this year. Be smart and don’t give out your information to just anyone!

This month the LifeLock for Life sweepstakes on the LifeLock Facebook page also deals with issues related to making donations online. Remember that you can play every single week to win fantastic prizes (this month 5 winners will get a$100 donation to the charity of their choice, and 1 winner will get $1,000 to the charity of their choice! Woo hoo!). You’ll also learn some very useful information about ways to protect your identity (that’s one of my favorite things about the game…it teaches me something every time!).

 

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

Fujifilm FinePix S4250 Digital Camera GIVEAWAY!!!

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In my experience, having a quality digital camera is a game-changer. That’s why I’m bringing you this fantastic giveaway today! Good luck, everyone!

Welcome to the Creating Holiday Memories Giveaway Event!

Hosted by Mom Blog Society

Special thanks to our lovely co-hosts Mom to Bed by 8, Shannon’s View from Here, Sommerfugl Design, JadeLouise Designs and Health, Beauty, Children & Family!

The versatile and functional Fujifilm FinePix S4250 14MP Digital Camera gives a sensational shooting experience. The Fujinon lenses are used popularly in numerous situations including satellites in outer space, TV, film, surveillance and compact cameras. With the highly adept manufacture of Fujifilm, high precision optic and technology are provided for the best 24mm wide angle and 24x optical zoom. The lens elements used in the FinePix S4250 have been treated with multilayer Super EBC (Electron Beam Coating), the same process used for Fujinon broadcasting video lenses and large-format camera lenses acclaimed by professionals. Reducing ghosting and lens flare, the treatment promises clear image quality. The powered 24x zoom features smooth 42-step zoom control, giving you the ability to frame every shot with precision accuracy.

One lucky reader will receive an Fujifilm FinePix S4250 Digital Camera!

Giveaway ends October 28th at 11:59pm, open to US and Canadian residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

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$100 Target Gift Card GIVEAWAY!!!

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Here’s one you’ve been waiting for! Wouldn’t this be an amazing thing to win this time of year??!!

 

The holidays are fast approaching and it would be great to get a jump start on your Christmas Shopping!
Well Tailor Made Momma is ready to help you out! We are giving away a $100 Target Gift Card to one lucky reader!

Entering this giveaway is simple. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to be entered to win!

This giveaway is open WW but note that the Gift Card is limited by Target rules and shipping!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. The prize is being provided by Tailor Made Momma with additional funds coming from participating bloggers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Restaurant Quality at Home: Bertolli (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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I’m not superwoman. I don’t think any mom out there is, really. We all have to-do lists that are impossible to complete in a 24 hour day. Some days we get far enough through them to make peace with what’s left over, and sometimes we are hopelessly behind before breakfast is even finished!

On those super crazy days, I have no reservations about getting some help in the meal prep department. But my budget is tight, so going to a restaurant (or even just hitting the drive-thru) is not something I can do often. I need a more affordable option. In fact, on those days when I’m that pressed for time, it’s inconvenient to have to leave the house at all, even if it is just to pick up dinner!

Bertolli has got me covered, though. They have 4 brand new frozen products. I have tried AND LOVED every single one of them. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to know that dinner needs to be ready in 20 minutes, and to open the freezer and find a Bertolli Meal Soup or a Bertolli Risotto staring back at you. When I had NO plan for dinner and very little time, I suddenly had my pick of Italian-Style Wedding soup, Ricotta & Lobster Ravioli in a Seafood Bisque, Garlic Shrimp Risotto or Roasted Chicken Risotto.

My first pick was that fabulous Roasted Chicken Risotto. I took just a moment to read the directions:

That’s my kind of recipe! Pour contents into a skillet, cover and cook!

I played with Layah and hopped over to the kitchen every few minutes to give this a stir. It was just that simple.

And it was so good that I completely forgot to snap a photo of the final product! We gobbled it up completely before it occurred to me. Oops!

I would highly recommend Bertolli frozen meals. The taste was fresh, the meals were something outside of the norm, and it was a very special treat to have risotto, which is a labor-intensive food to prepare, while putting forth very little effort, myself!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will receive 4 coupons for FREE Bertolli Frozen Meals!

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.