Stuff Parents Need

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

MaLo Underwear by Mario Lopez Makes the Slim Cut Pants Look Possible!

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In case you haven’t gotten the memo yet from every clothing apparel company on earth, skinny jeans are in style.

Sigh…

I have more of a “Greek Goddess” figure, myself. These curves do not appreciate this latest fashion trend. But let me tell you who CAN pull this look off…my svelte husband. He’s got the body to rock those slim pants and look so cute in them, too! Makes me a bit jealous, I have to say!

So I have brought home multiple pairs of slim cut pants for Tim over the past 2 years or so, and every time he ultimately decides against wearing them because they are too uncomfortable.

But I have figured out what the problem is…it’s his underwear! His saggy, baggy underwear.

Tim is a boxers guy, and there’s nothing wrong with that. They are super comfortable. But what is in style now requires a bit more… how should I put this….support. Boxers simply don’t work as the underwear of choice for skinny jeans. Tim needs some boxer-briefs.

The whole concept of having to sacrifice a bit of comfort for the sake of fashion is new to Tim, and is mind-blowing. WELCOME TO EVERY DAY LIFE FOR WOMEN!!!! But I knew that I needed to find the most comfortable boxer-brief for Tim as possible or else he would just say “forget it” and go back to his saggy baggy “I was trendy in 2002” jeans and his matching saggy baggy underwear.

So yesterday I took all of his boxers out of his drawer and replaced them with MaLo Underwear boxer-briefs, by Mario Lopez. This would force him to give them a try!

When he saw what I had done, he said, “Do I have to wear these? You know I don’t like restrictive underwear!” I suggested that these would be perfect to try with her super cute slim-cut jeans that he never wears. He thought that over and agreed to give it a shot.

And then he stayed in his “uncomfortable” jeans for several hours! I didn’t even mention the underwear for a long while so that he could realize that he wasn’t even aware he was wearing them. When I did ask about them, he said that while they were not as comfortable as boxers, he was surprised by their wear-ability. I’ve only bought him boxer-briefs one other time in our 10 years of marriage, and he hated them. But he said these will be keepers and will be worn every time he wears his jeans. PROGRESS!!!

I even convinced him to let go of one of his pairs of boxers that has the elastic all stretched out. Does your husband have underwear that looks like this??

Look at how much more structured (and how much less bulky) MaLo boxer-briefs are as compared to traditional boxers. It only makes sense to go for this type of underwear anything something more fitted is being worn.

Best of all, #MaLoUnderwear gives a very fashion-forward look without the hefty price tag. At Kmart, you can find 3 packs for just $14.99! Tim officially recommends this underwear to any guy who wants to embrace the men’s fashion slim cut pants trend but who refuses to buy tighty-whiteys to make it happen! 🙂

Be sure to check out and like the MaLo Underwear Facebook page, as there’s a great contest currently happening there, and you can enter to win $75 of MaLo products AND get to meet Mario Lopez! You can also see some great real-life MaLo makeovers on the MaLo pinterest page. And if you just want to keep up with hunky Mario Lopez, be sure to follow him on Twitter.

 

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™ and MaLo #CBias #SocialFabric. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Seventh Generation Cleanhouse Challenge (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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I love Seventh Generation products. I’ve been using them in my home for over 2 years now and I find the quality to be top notch. Their home cleaning items, their feminine care items, their laundry items and even some of their baby care items are all used in my home regularly. I have yet to try a product from Seventh Generation that I didn’t like!

They have just released three new specialty cleaners, as well (wood, granite/stone and stainless steel) and I’m absolutely thrilled with them!

Here’s a shot of my dirty stainless steel microwave.

Here’s my Seventh Generation Stainless Steel cleaner attacking.

And here’s my bright and shiny microwave after just a few wipes. What a difference!

I’m so happy that Seventh Generation has launched these products. I have personally found it difficult to find eco-friendly products that are specially designed for these surfaces. Each product in this line is 18 oz, comes in a sleek design (I absolutely LOVE these see-through bottles) and is just $4.99. Gotta love that! Since they are new, you may have trouble finding them on your local store shelves. But not to worry, you can easily order them online!

I also want to highlight Seventh Generation’s Natural Laundry Detergent, which is available in convenient single-use packs. You just toss them directly into your wash and let it get to work on your dirty clothes! I’ve used them for the past 7 loads of laundry that I’ve done and every single load has come out looking great! You can purchase these online in 30 count for $9.99 or 50 count for $15.99.

In addition to all these great new products, Seventh Generation also has a super fun Facebook App that they have just launched in partnership with one of the very best magazines out there, Real Simple. It’s called the Cleanhouse Challenge, and it invites users to explore a virtual house and get great tips on how to keep a healthy and green home. And while you are poking around, you will discover coupons and maybe even a few prizes! FUN!!!

I just took the Cleanhouse Challenge, myself, and I learned some really great tips! I also got a BUNCH of coupons (I honestly lost count of the total!) AND when I finished the entire challenge, Seventh Generation committed to making a $10 donation on my behalf to 350.org, which is an environmental organization focused on solving the climate crisis. Not bad for 15 minutes of my time, I think! Also, there were some really good videos made by fellow mom bloggers and that was probably my favorite thing. I am a regular reader of some of then, which made it especially fun to watch!

So hop on over to the Facebook app and learn some good tips, score some great coupons, and make a $10 donation to a great organization without spending a dime!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win all the cleaning products I featured here today!

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 expressed here are strictly my own. 



Children’s Birthday Parties: Try Something Creative!


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I hope you enjoy this guest post brought to you by Banana Moon. As someone who recently planned her first children’s birthday party, I can identify with the stress of it! The post also reminds me of my baby shower for Darah, where guests stenciled onesies. They are some of my most cherished items of clothing for my girls! 


Planning your child’s birthday party can become an arduous task, especially when you have to think of new and different ideas each year. The pressure to spend a lot of money is always there, but that isn’t always a viable option. The stress that can come as a result of planning a party can make you feel like it’s more trouble than it’s worth – not a great feeling when you just want to make sure your child has a lovely birthday. However, there are lots of fun and inexpensive ideas that you can put together to make a great party. All it needs is a little forward thinking and imagination and you’ll give your child a party to remember.


Creative activities are always a great option for parties as it keeps the children entertained whilst they are socializing together. Do something different that will also give the kids a memento of the day; for example, personalizing a t-shirt or hoodie using arts and crafts is a great way of doing both these things. This is an excellent way to keep the kids occupied whilst you prepare other party activities (the food and birthday cake are obviously top priorities!). This sort of activity will help stimulate their imagination, without it sounding too much like school work – always a bonus!


To prepare for the activity you would just need to purchase some plain clothing in a light color, some fabric pens or paint and maybe some plain paper so the kids can work on their designs before transferring it onto the clothes. Pens will probably be better for younger children in order to minimize the amount of mess made. You should be able to get these items from craft shops, and it might be worth investing in some stencils as some kids will be more artistic than others. You could mention in the party invitation for all the kids to bring an overall with them so they don’t get their party outfits messy (their parents are sure to thank you for that reminder!) You can get everything set up before the guests arrive, leaving you with ample time to make any last minute adjustments.


By the end of the party everyone will be wearing their new designs and it will be a great keepsake from the day. The fabric paint and pens will be a great investment for a rainy day, especially if your children love to draw. You could even encourage your children to create some new designs for their old clothes; teaching them the values of recycling in the process! So if your child’s birthday is coming up, maybe think about going down the more creative route and see what designs they come up with.


 


Get Ready for Halloween with Great New DVDs! GIVEAWAY!!!


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NCircle Entertainment has been very busy preparing some SPOOK-tacular new DVDs for your children in anticipation of Halloween. Darah has been watching these stories every day after her quiet time and really loves them all!


First up is a brand new DVD from Sid the Science Kid called “Sid’s Spooky Halloween.” Tim and I both especially love this one, because it includes some really fun and very easy to replicate science projects, all with a spooky (but not truly scary) theme. It’s so much fun to watch!



		
		
			
			
		
	


Two classics have also been released on DVD this season. The first is a set of 3 Halloween episodes from WordWorld and it is called “A Kooky, Spooky Halloween.” I was unfamiliar with this show prior to watching the episodes. Most every character and even background object is actually made of words. It’s really neat! The show also finds creative ways to help kids learn how to build words together throughout each story. It’s absolutely perfect for pre-readers and early reader.



		
		
			
			
		
	


Finally, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That has a Halloween DVD, too, called “Tricks and Treats!” Did you know The Cat in the Hat is my least favorite Dr. Seuss character? It’s because he gets into so much mischief! I’m much more like the fish in the bowl who keeps telling him to go away! I think Darah especially likes The Cat in the Hat because she knows he gets under mommy’s skin. 🙂



		
		
			
			
		
	


If your kid is itching for some Halloween fun before the big day, any one of these DVDs would be a great choice! They are $6.99 each (great price, right?!) and are available at NCircle Entertainment or at a retailer near you!


Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win all 3 DVDs I reviewed! How fun! This is a shorter giveaway than usual to ensure that your prize reaches you before Halloween!


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. 


LifeLock Membership Giveaway (Actually, SEVENTEEN Giveaways!!!)


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Last month I confessed to you that I have been a victim of identity theft 5 times in the last 8 years (I feel sick to my stomach just writing that down!). LifeLock is an unbelievably amazing identity theft protection service that is helping me keep my private information on lock down so that I don’t add any more instances to my record.


I am absolutely delighted with the service that I am being provided as a LifeLock member, and I’m also getting a very good education on the things I need to do differently to keep my identity out of the hands of anyone who would abuse it.


Knowing how rampant the problem of identity theft is, I want you, my readers, to have the same peace of mind that I now have. I want you to become LifeLock members! And right now LifeLock is working hard to get the word out about their amazing services. They currently have 17 different giveaways for LifeLock membership services happening on different blogs. That’s 17 chances that you have to win some peace of mind, and this is happening at such a great time, because if you are like me, you are probably going to be getting out your credit card a bit more often over the next 3 months as all the holidays approach!


So here’s the list of all the places where you can enter to win a LifeLock membership, worth $110!!! Good luck, everyone! If you win one, let me know!!!


http://crunchybeachmama.com/2012/09/how-lifelock-can-protect-you-1-year-subscription-giveaway/


http://www.themommy-files.com/2012/09/protect-your-identity-and-future-with-lifelock-giveaway/


http://www.kellystilwell.com/2012/09/lifelock-review-giveawayenter-to-win.html


http://kiddiescornerdeals.com/2012/09/lifelock-identity-theft-prevention-services/


http://southerngirlramblings.com/lifelock-identity-protection-review-giveaway/


http://www.thanksmailcarrier.com/2012/10/lifelock-identity-theft-prevention-services-one-year-membership-giveaway.html


http://ayearwithmomanddad.com/2012/10/protect-your-identity-with-lifelock-giveaway/


http://t.co/Mrr058l8


http://makingitallwork.com/reviews-2/holiday-shopping-with-lifelock-priceless-giveaway/


http://www.annagainandagainreviews.com/2012/10/protect-your-identity-with-lifelock.html


http://www.contest-corner.com/lifelock/


http://mom2zqb.com/2012/lifelock-review-and-giveaway/


http://www.theartofrandomwillynillyness.com/2012/10/lifelock-helps-you-protect-your.html


http://www.livingsmartgirl.com/2012/10/protect-your-identity-with-lifelock/


http://mamabee.net/identity-theft-protection-with-lifelock-membership-giveaway/


http://www.miscfinds4u.com/blog/2012/10/07/lifelock-reviews/


http://www.crazyaboutmybaybah.com/protect-identity-theft-lifelock-giveaway/


 


 


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


Crochet Headbands, Lace Romper and Tutus, Oh My! (GIVEAWAY!!!)


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If you have a little girl, get ready to squeal over the site I’m about to show you. You’ll be excited for two reasons:


1. The enormous amount of cute stuff on the site


2. The prices! Oh my heavens, the prices! SOOO affordable!


Chomping at the bit to see the site? Ok, here goes: It’s called Girls Crochet Headbands (but they sell SO much more than that!). They also have rompers in every color imaginable, bloomers, tuts, hair clips of every sort, legwarmers and more. It’s pretty much an accessory explosion of awesome on this site!


I had the opportunity to select 5 items from the store to review. I decided I wanted to do matching outfits for the girls, with the idea being that we will put them in these outfits for our holiday pictures. We’re still a few weeks away from our family photo shoot, but I thought you might like to see the lace romper cuteness now!



		
		
			
			
		
	


What truly blew me away about these rompers was how affordable they are. They are $8.99 each. That’s it!!!! And there are also some cute romper sets that come with leg warmers or hair accessories for a package price.


I also got some hair bows for the photo shoot. The hair bows on GCH start at just .95. I’m blown away by them! And let’s not forget the namesake of the site: the crochet headbands (which, by the way, it is so easy to simply add a hair bow to these to dress them up). Prices for crochet headbands start at .38.


That is not a typo!


Girls Crochet Headbands offers free shipping on orders over $40, and they offer wholesale prices for folks who want to buy larger quantities and sell them at a craft fair, special event or a retail shop. I think they’d be great product to sell for a fundraiser!



		
		
			
			
		
	 


Buy it!: As if the prices weren’t already good enough, I’ve got a coupon for you to save an additional 10%! Seriously! Use code need10 at checkout. This code expires 30 days from today.


Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $30 gift certificate to Girls Crochet Headbands! You will not believe how much you’ll be able to buy with $30! 🙂


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 expressed here are strictly my own. 


How I Used Art to Fix a Design Flaw in My Home (GIVEAWAY!!!)


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I think almost every house has at least one feature (or lack of feature) that makes you wonder what on earth the architect was thinking. In the case of our new home, it seems that the designer did not think windows were very important. The north facing side of our house has only 1 small window, and the south facing side of our house has 0 windows. I knows those aren’t the directions that get a ton of light, but still, can’t we let a little bit in???


Our pantry in our kitchen is one place where it seems obvious to me that a window should be. There’s a blank space in the wall that is just the right size, and it would bring in so much natural light to the pantry and to the kitchen. It would make so much sense and look great. But this is real life, and just because a window would be a smart idea, that doesn’t mean that the funds exist to install one!


This is just one more way that art can be so awesome. You can use it to correct a design flaw in your home. I thought finding art to be my window was an idea so crazy that it just might work. So I headed to my #1 source for all things beautiful, Gallery Direct. The moment I saw Remoteness III it just clicked, and I knew I had found my new “view.”


Here are some shots of the installed piece.



		
		
			
			
		
	


(It’s really lovely, isn’t it?)





		
		
			
			
		
	


(This is the view from my kitchen table where I do much of my blog work. It’s directly across from the only window on this side of the house. I love it!)


I’m curious if you have a design flaw in your home that you think art could help correct? Perhaps you have an unfortunately placed fuse box or thermostat that needs to be hidden. Or perhaps you DO have a window in a room, but it is really off-center and throws everything off balance. Or maybe your home is just suffering from a case of empty wall syndrome. Whatever the problem, Gallery Direct is here to help!


Gallery Direct also has a 50,000 fans sweepstakes running on their Facebook page, so get entered over there to win a $500 art shopping spree!


ALSO….if you follow Gallery Direct on Pinterest and pin your favorite piece from the Gallery Direct website using the hashtag #gallerydirect, you’ll automatically be entered into their weekly Pin it to Win it drawing! One winner each week gets a $200 credit! AWESOME!! Here’s an example of how a pin it to win it entry should look: https://pinterest.com/pin/278308451942150520/


Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a $200 credit to Gallery Direct! That can buy some AWESOME art, folks! Please note that the credit is for a one time use, so if you don’t use it all in one transaction, you lose it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway




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


I serve as a blog ambassador for Gallery Direct. Product samples are provided as part of the program. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.