Stuff Parents Need

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

Time to Win a Dyson Vacuum!!!

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Woo hoo! I’ve been waiting for this moment for a while. Good luck, everyone!!!

Mom Powered Media proudly presents the Dyson DC24 Giveaway

 

Dyson “The Ball” DC24 Vacuum

Impress yourself with your beautiful floors when you use the Dyson DC24 All-Floors Lightweight Upright Vacuum. Ultra lightweight and compact makes vacuuming with this machine effortless. The Dyson “Ball” technology turns the vacuum on a dime with no loss of suction, combined with the patented Root Cyclone technology makes this one extreme powerhouse of clean.

Dyson “The Ball” DC24 All-Floors Lightweight Upright Vacuum Includes:

  • Bristle brush
  • Product manual

Product Features:

  • Clear hygienic dust collection bin – empty the bin with a push of a button
  • Lifetime washable HEPA filter – requires no maintenance and lasts for the life of the vacuum
  • Fingertip brush control – turn brushbar on and off at the touch of a button
  • Motorized brushbar – powerful bristles remove dirt and pet hair from carpets
  • On-board tool storage – brush, stair and crevice tools store right on your vacuum so they’re always on hand
  • Reversible wand – for dual usage
  • On-board tool storage – brush, stair and crevice tools store right on your vacuum so they’re always on hand
  • Certified Asthma and Allergy Friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

ABOUT DYSON

Many vacuums use filters to trap dirt, which can cause clogs and suction problems. But Dyson, maker of the world’s first cyclonic bagless vacuum, features technology that uses centrifugal force to separate dirt out of the airflow, so the vacuum doesn’t clog. Dyson proves no loss of suction using the IEC 60312 Cl 2.9 test standard. As the only vacuum to be certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and featuring Clean Exhaust Air, it’s easy to see why Dyson is an excellent choice for all your floor surfaces.

Silk Duvet from Nordic Comfort: Review and GIVEAWAY ($414 VALUE!!!)

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I have a down comforter on my bed. I’ve had it since Tim and I got married, and I absolutely adore it. It is SOOO comfortable and I typically sleep very well with it.

Except for during the summer. My beloved comforter usually has to come off the bed for the hottest months of the year because if left on, I often wake up in the middle of the night sweating. Yuck!

I’ve recently had the opportunity to try out a new kind of comforter that uses a special silk fiber called SilkFX and it breathes so beautifully that sweating at night, even in August, is a non-issue! And you’ll still be kept toasty warm in January, too!

Nordic Comfort is the company behind this revolutionary new fiber, and it provides even more benefits than traditional silk duvets. The fiber is still 100% natural, but it has been refined to reach its maximum potential. It can absorb more moisture, better regulate the temperature, and it does a great job of rejecting dust mites and bed bacteria.

And here’s a benefit that all parents will love: SilkFX is MACHINE WASHABLE!!!! This is such a huge selling point for me! I go to the dry cleaners MAYBE once a year, so having a duvet that needs to be taken there to get cleaned is not attractive. Being able to throw it in my washing machine when something gets spilled on it (hello, I have kids in this house…it’s gonna happen!) is a major plus.

Here’s another benefit of using a silk duvet over other materials: it helps with allergy problems! There are all sorts of microscopic bugs and bacteria that LOVE to hang out on our beds and sheets, and if you suffer from allergies (like I do), your bed might actually be making you sick! Silk is a naturally anti-allergic material and all those nasty germs and allergens DO NOT LIKE IT! So by having a silk duvet, you are helping your body stay healthy! It never occurred to me that my bedding might be contributing to my bad allergy problems, but it actually makes a lot of sense, as it is fairly common for me to wake up congested, and then feel fine a few hours later.

Darah is the lucky person in the house to have a silk duvet from Nordic Comfort. She’s been snuggling up with the twin Superior Silk duvet, and she loves it! I have actually spent a bit of time with her lately in her bed (she just gave up her pacifier at night time and has needed some extra comforting). A few days ago, I accidentally fell asleep in her room with her, and when I woke up under the comforter, I have to say that I felt REALLY comfortable. Not too warm, not too cold. JUST RIGHT! She has the year round version of the silk duvet, and it is absolutely perfect for the weather here in Tennessee, which is mild for most of the year.

I’m really glad I fell asleep under the duvet, because now I want one for my room. When you consider the allergy benefits, the washability, and the temperature control it provides, I can see this positively contributing to my overall quality of life.

I’ll be honest with you, these are pricey. The silk duvet in a twin size is 199 euros, which is roughly $244. The duvets are also shipped from Europe, and the shipping fees run 49 euros, which is roughly $60. So we’re talking about spending $300 for a twin duvet. No doubt about it, that is steep.

BUT

Based on my experience with the product so far, I believe that it will last for MANY years and provide exceptional comfort as well as exceptional protection from allergens and bed bugs. Remember that you spend 1/3 of your life sleeping…this is an area where investing in quality pays off. I am starting to save my pennies so that I can get a Superior Silk duvet for my bed. It might take a little while to get the funds together, but as someone who is currently waking up really hot and who frequently has an unexplainable runny nose in the mornings, I know it will be worth it!

Take a moment to check out the great selection of silk duvets and maybe add one to your holiday wish list. I’ve got one at the top of mine, for sure!

Win it!: And now for the really fun part: one of you is about to win a FULL SIZE Superior Silk Year Round duvet from Nordic Comfort! It has a retail value, including the shipping cost, of $414!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

Win a Year’s Supply of Organic Candy RIGHT NOW!!!

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Candy, Candy Candy! Who doesn’t love Candy! But have you tried organic candy? What would you do if you could have some delicious all-natural candy right at your doorstep? Introducing YumEarth!

YumEarth is a brand of candy produced by YummyEarth. Everything YummyEarth makes is certified organic or all natural, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and has no chemical colors, artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup. This is why they are the #1 organic company in America! The company was founded by two dads to share healthier treats with their kids and are proud to share that each serving provides 100% of daily vitamin C. It has been called “The Best Lollipop I’ve ever tasted” by Today Show Food Editor Phil Lempert, YumEarth Organics Lollipops come in eight mouthwatering flavors: Very Very Cherry, Too Berry Blueberry, Strawberry Smash, Sour Apple Tart, Pomegranate Pucker, Razzmatazz Berry, Mango Tango and Wet-Face Watermelon. Featured as the “Snack of the Day” on the Rachael Ray Show, YumEarth Organics Gummy Bears have the quintessential texture of a traditional gummy bear with unique mouthwatering flavors: Pomegranate Pucker, Strawberry Smash and Sour Apple Tart.

YumEarth Candy is now available at Target! That’s right, you have the option of buying the candy online or at your local store! Check this list to see YumEarth Candy is available at a Target near you. To celebrate the release of YumEarth Candy at Target, YummyEarth is sponsoring a giveaway of a YEAR’S WORTH OF CANDY to one lucky winner!

Enter on the rafflecopter form below! This giveaway is open to the US only. You are entering to 12 bags of YUMEARTH ORGANICS LOLLIPOPS and 12 bags of GUMMY BEARS. Must be 18+ to enter. Giveaway closes on August 21 at 11:59pm est. Only one person per household/IP address may enter. You only need to enter the giveaway on one of our blogs. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top 10 Ten Minute Craft Projects!

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Please enjoy this guest post brought to you by our friends at Katie’s Cards. I am LOVING the simple ideas below for getting your craft on with your kids! 

A 10 minute craft project can take many forms, from making your own mini seed magnet, through to creating fun bracelets, paper dolls and bath bombs. All of these projects, however, share a speed of creation, and are generally suitable for all ages. Whether that means finding something to do on a rainy day, or just exploring your crafty side, these projects should give you something to keep yourself busy. Materials can also be cheaply sourced, and the finished projects can be given as presents, or kept as decorations.

 

1 – Growing Seeds Magnet

Easy to make with children in under 10 minutes, this project involves taking an empty pill bottle – ideally one that is see through – and placing cotton bills inside. A magnetic strip can be attached to the side with craft glue, and plant seeds placed inside out of the cotton balls. When attached to a fridge, and regularly watered, the bottle will eventually produce a distinctive plant. Ideal for cress seeds.

 

2 – Bracelet

A simple bracelet variation, this project involves taking an 18 inch strand of twine, and attaching looped items to it. These can be rings or anything circular, which are braided through strands and tied off with lark’s head knots.

 

3 – Candle Vases

Take a glass vase, a candle holder and tea lights, as well as a pattern wrap. The latter can be wrapped around the vase, and secured with double sided tape. The candles are then placed into the holder, and lit to create unusual colours and shapes.

 

4 – Hand Made Cards

Handmade cards can be quickly made through the use of backing cardboard, several sheets of paper, and decorative items like ribbon and glitter. Pre selected templates can also be downloaded and printed online to create the front of the card. Of course, another alternative from handmade cards, especially with the hectic times of Christmas approaching, is to send someone a Christmas ecard.

 

5 – Paper Dolls

Another good project for children, this paper dolls idea couldn’t be simpler. Buy a set of paper doll templates, decorate, and then cut out and attach to magnetic sheets to be hung or attached to a surface in the house.

 

6 – Bath Bombs

A potentially messy project, this involves mixing together essential oils with baking soda and citric acid to make a dry ball. When put into water, this organic product will fizz up.

 

7 – Bubble Mixture

A simple but popular project, simply take cups, dish soap, water and sugar. Mix the ingredients together and add them to the sealed cup. Children can then draw and blow bubbles from the resulting mixture.

 

8 – Noise Maker

A noise maker is a good idea for younger children, and can be made by using an empty, dry bottle filled with glitter, glue and beads. Fix the top of the bottle securely and shake for noise.

 

9 – Photo Ornaments

A good Christmas idea, a photo ornament involves removing the top of an ornament bulb, and filling it with glitter and a photograph. When tied off with a bow and reattached to a tree, this bulb can make for a more distinctive Christmas tree.

 

10 – Pincushion Ring

This project involves using fabric, felt and denim, as well as the top from a drinks bottle. Make holes in the bottle, and attach it to the felt and denim using string and fabric glue. Run through a loop to create a ring.
About the Author

Serena is an arts and crafts fanatic, blogging and writing about her experiences of all things crafty. In addition to this, she designs personalised cards and ecards online for special occasions.

Paper Culture: Simply Stunning Stationery For You or Your Littles

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Darah had her very first birthday party last week. It was SO MUCH FUN!!! We had a great turnout and had lots of laughs at the splash park. It was a terrific way to bid summer farewell as we get ready for the next school year.

Since Darah’s friends came bearing gifts to her party, we sat down to write our thank you notes and express gratitude for all the kind gestures, and also for friendship. I was so glad that Darah had her own personalized stationery for the notes. I think it added a nice touch!

I asked my BFF a few months ago if her little ones had any personalized note cards yet, and she said that they didn’t but that she could really use some, especially for her 4 year old. Being the fabulous Aunty that I am, I set out to find the perfect cards for little Livy.

Let me tell you about Livy. She is a firecracker. She is confident, creative, full of joy, and she LOVES to use her imagination. I needed something extra special for her, and I definitely found several great options that were unique at Paper Culture.

I have looked at a whole lot of kids’ stationery over the past 2 years, and there are many wonderful options at various stores online. But I will say without hesitation that Paper Culture has the very best selection of stationery for kids. They have designs that are very unique, that speak to many of the unique traits of our children, and that don’t box kids into the standard pink and blue, princess and sports fan type of stuff.

When I originally went through their selections, I probably picked out 6 different options that reminded me of Livy. Ultimately, though, I went with a rocket ship, as Livy LOVES to learn about space, and to pretend that she’s an astronaut. It’s only fitting that her cards should reflect that interest! It’s what makes them “so Livy!”.

One of the elements that is very unique about this notecard set is the fact that the back is just as lovely as the front! Since the back of the card is dark blue, it would be difficult to write on, but since this card is for a younger child, that’s probably ok, as the notes will usually be short.

I also think that the box the notecards came in is really nice. It’s definitely gift-ready if you are purchasing these for someone else. And it comes with a note about how a tree was planted as part of your purchase. Very cool!

I am very impressed with the quality of the products, and I will definitely go back to Paper Culture in the future when my girls run out of stationery and need some more. The prices are on the high end ($2.59/card if you purchase 10, and the price goes down the more you buy), but the quality is unparalleled.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products through the Global Influence campaign. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Extra Giveaway Entry Opportunities For My Readers! Help Me Win the Watermelon Contest!

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You may recall that last month Tim and I created a watermelon hedgehog in celebration of national watermelon month.

Well….

Our little hedgehog made it to the finals for the watermelon carving contest sponsored by the National Watermelon promotion board! Woah!

There will be a $500 Amazon gift card prize for the fan favorite, and that’s where you come in! I’d love for you go to this site: http://www.whataboutwatermelon.com/index.php/watermelon-carving-contest/. You will see the voting options on the right sidebar. Please click on the hedgehog!

I want to thank you for your vote in two ways!

1. From now until August 15th, all of my current giveaways will offer 2 bonus entries for people who voted for the hedgehog. So that means you increase your odds of winning some cool stuff. I’ll be adding this entry option to the rafflecopter forms this morning, so just go back to the forms and find that entry option. You can only vote one time per IP address in the watermelon contest, but you can get bonus entries for all my giveaways for that one vote. Pretty sweet, right?

2. If I win the grand prize, I will be giving back to my readers by holding a giveaway for a $50 Amazon card. I bet you can think of lots of things you could buy with that, right?!

So please, click here and then click on the hedgehog button on the right. Thank you SO MUCH for your help! And if you are ever in a voting contest, let me know so that I can return the favor, ok?

 

 

 

 

How to Transfer VHS Memories to DVD: YesVideo

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I’m assuming that most of you out there are old enough to have videos from your childhood and teen years still on VHS tape. My parents got a camcorder in 1987 and we have at least 12 years of videos tucked away. When I got married, I took a few of those tapes with me to keep as my own. They mostly included high school choir performances.

Tim and I got rid of our VHS player at least 3 years ago. It was so coated with dust that we realized it was just taking up space. And at that point I knew that converting tapes to DVD was a possibility. I would get around to doing it someday.

And finally that someday arrived! I worked with YesVideo to turn 3 of my choir tapes into DVDs, and I cannot emphasize strongly enough how very glad I am that I did it.

Just this past week my BFF came to visit. She was in choir with me, and I found that to be the perfect opportunity to break out my new dvds. We laughed so hard as we looked at our ridiculous choir uniforms, our hair dos, and even remembered some folks we hadn’t thought about in years. We also found ourselves singing along, remembering the songs we were taught some 13 years ago (wow….that just made me feel pretty darn old).

I’m absolutely delighted to have these memories available to watch again. While I don’t anticipate watching them on a regular basis, I definitely will pull them out when I’m feeling nostalgic. I’ll also really enjoy showing them to Darah and Layah when they are older. Leslie and I actually joked about how I could break out my old show choir routines in front of Darah’s friends when she is in middle school and how mortified she would be. Just the thought of that cracks me up. Yup…I’ll be doing that! 🙂

I know you have some old VHS tapes gathering dust in your home. It’s time to give them new life as dvds! YesVideo is really quite simple. You can place an order online and then print a mailing sheet and ship off your videos. OR….you can drop off your videos and place your order at one of over 34,000 different locations! There’s almost certain to be a drop off business near you!

The next step is to sit tight and wait patiently while YesVideo works their magic. It took about 3 weeks before my videos came back. I got my old VHS tapes back and I also had 3 new dvds! Each dvd was packaged with its orginal VHS tape so that I’d know what goes with what. If you place your order in the store, your order comes back to the store and you can pick it up there.

And here’s what makes YesVideo even more awesome. Your videos are also available online in a private, secure account, that you can share with others. That means that you can post videos online for your friends and family to see! One of my videos has some footage of my 16 year old brother as a 2 year old…that will be getting posted on his facebook wall in short order! 🙂

My parents still have their VHS player (way to hang on, ‘rents!). I will be giving them back the choir tapes since I now have my own copies! I’m also going to encourage them to start making the switch over to dvd so that our childhood memories can continue once the old VHS player goes the way of the buffalo.

I spent a total of $60 getting 3 tapes converted. I think it was worth the price, especially since I can also share the videos with people online.

I definitely recommend YesVideo. I found their process to be easy, their final product to be high quality, and their customer service to be stellar. I would trust them with my cherished childhood memories again! AND…I have a discount code for you! YesVideo Coupon Special – Get 20% Off your entire first order by using Coupon Code: 20TR at YesVideo.com. Bring your favorite memories back to life!

I’d also suggest keeping up with YesVideo on other social media outlets, like Twitter, Facebook and their blog. They post discounts and great tips on these sites!

Disclosure: I received a $50 credit to YesVideo to help cover expenses incurred reviewing the service. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Make a Statement with Poli-Baby Onesies: GIVEAWAY!!

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Every single time I go to the gym (which is the only time I watch live television), I am bombarded with campaign commercials. In case you are living under a rock, it’s a presidential election year, which means that voters are paying closer attention to what is happening in politics and are getting ready to voice their opinions with their votes.

Don’t let your little one be left out of the discourse! Poli-Baby is a site created by siblings Sarah and David that offers onesies with political messages, though perhaps the specific messages have more to do with the world of babies than the world of American politics.

I appreciate the dose of humor, as politics in America can be, well, just so infuriating! The economy is in the toilet, for example, but at least I can smile at Layah’s cute onesie that states “It’s a Teddy Bear Market.”

And I really love the National Rattle Association onesie, too! I also love that this company uses onesies that are made in America, and eco-friendly water based inks.

We all have different political views, and even though certain viewpoints make absolutely no sense to me, I celebrate the fact that we are each entitled to them. That’s part of what makes America such a great place. We have the freedom to believe what makes sense to us, and to engage each other in discussion in an attempt to find some compromise.

Let your baby start to take part in the conversation, even if it starts with reforming day care instead of health care. Gotta start somewhere!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need winner will get the political onesie of their choice from Poli-Baby!

EDIT: Rafflecopter is currently having some technical difficulties with the giveaway code. If you don’t see the entry form but only see a link, click on the link and it should take you to the form. So sorry for the inconvenience! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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

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

Guest Post: 7 Free Games On The Android For Your Kids

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Looking for a few more ideas to keep the kids entertained during the final days of summer? This post brought to you by the Cartoon Network offers some suggestions! 

There are many different free games for kids available on Android phones and tablets. These games range from educational tools through to programs that are simply fun and easy to use, and might even provide parents with some lasting entertainment. Downloaded and checked for security, these free games have gained popularity as more widely marketed family friendly apps, or as ones that have been more specifically targeted at children. From iStory Books to perennial favourite Angry Birds, and including games like Deep Trip and Airport Mania, the following list represents some of the best free online games for kids currently available, all of which can be downloaded for Android:

1 – iStory Books

A good educational app that is also entertaining, iStory Books takes well loved fairy tales and other stories, and puts them into an easy to read format that is ideal for younger stories. Voice narration, and the chance to listen to stories in different languages, also means that iStory Books are great for multilingual children, or those starting to learn another language.

2 – Angry Birds

Popular the world over, Angry Birds does have some educational value in terms of its physics, but is mostly about the simple fun of firing birds with a slingshot. Easy to use, and accessible to a number of platforms, Angry Birds is suitable for all. The game can also be found in a number of different versions, which include Angry Birds In Space.

3 – Solo Lite

A virtual guitar player, Solo Lite is available as a free demo version. The virtual acoustic and electric guitars on the app allow children to play music and experiment with different songs and composing techniques. The demo version is enough to keep children entertained.

4 – Basketball Lite

A simple basketball game for all ages, Basketball Lite is designed around a number of levels, all using variations on a hoop dunking and dribbling game. Different levels and difficulty settings make this a good game for older children.

5 – How to Make Paper Airplanes

An ideal complement to different crafts projects, How to Make Paper Airplane is an app that teaches children the steps to put together paper airplanes. Best suited for older children, the step by step guides are tailored for different ability levels, with planes including Concorde and the Space Shuttle.

6 – Deep Trip

A game that allows the player to control an eel as he ascends through a number of obstacles to the surface, Deep Trip is similar to many other games with the same basic format – dodge targets and use skill to steer your character to the end of the game. A good way to pass the time for different age groups.

7 – Airport Mania

A useful game for children interested in playing organisational apps, Airport Mania allows you to take control of a mini airport, with the responsibility of making sure that airplanes leave and arrive at the airport on time. With its simple graphics and gameplay, Airport Mania is best for younger children.

Author Bio: Liam Ohm is a regular blogger on tech and app websites. If your kids love apps and gaming as much as mine do then check out online games for kids at the Cartoon Network website, you might find you enjoy the games just as much as them!