Stuff Parents Need

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

Put Some Yum in Your Tum: Quaker Soft Baked Bars

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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Quaker Oats for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

As a nursing mama, I am HUNGRY quite frequently throughout the day. I need to keep some fuel in my tank throughout the day to make sure I don't get so hungry that I go eat half a bag of peanut m&m's (not that I've ever done that, especially not just last week, ahem). 

Quaker has just come out with a new product that perfectly meets my need for something yummy and sweet, but also nutritious. They are calledQuaker Soft Baked Bar. Each bar has 140 calories (so not too bad), 5g of fiber (always important to get your daily fiber intake, ladies!), and 6g of protein (something I definitely need more of in my diet). QSBB Yum Image high res.jpg

Not only are these bars a wholesome food, they also are delicious! With flavors like cinnamon pecan bread and banana nut bread, how can you resist? I know I personally make an excellent banana bread, but I've never heard of cinnamon pecan bread, so that would be the flavor I'd be the very most eager to try. It sounds yummy (I'm a big cinnamon fan!). It has even been suggested that you heat up your soft baked bar in the microwave for a warm and satisfying treat. I love that idea! 

Another way to eat these bars is as a breakfast snack. Maybe you are typically so busy in the morning that you skip breakfast altogether. I personally NEVER skip breakfast, but I have definitely experienced that extreme time crunch in the mornings that make finding something nutritious and balanced to eat a bit difficult. It would be great to have these bars in my pantry for those hairy days. 

I also wouldn't mind offering these to Darah as an afternoon snack. I could see the two of us splitting a bar! 

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Why a Single Electric Breast Pump is My Choice: Tommee Tippee Breast Pump Review

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With Darah, I had a double electric breast pump. This was really necessary for me as I was working full-time, and needed the quickest way possible to pump while at work.

This time around, I work from home. I can breastfeed or pump any time I’d like! I’m choosing to breastfeed almost exclusively, which means that I’m not building up a supply of breast milk in the freezer as quickly as I did the first time around. But I’m still slowly working on that, and I’m going slowly because I’ve learned that if I’m pumping a lot in addition to always feeding the baby, I’m going to send my body the message that I need MORE milk, and then I’ll be producing more milk. Since Layah already seems to be a bit of a chunk putting on weight at a healthy but rapid clip, making even more milk is not something I really need to be doing at the moment.

The best times for me to pump are on those occasions where Layah doesn’t really eat a full “meal” at one feeding. Sometimes she just wants to drink from one breast and then go back to sleep. Other times she wants both breasts, but she feeds so quickly that I know she’s left a fair amount of milk behind. Those are the times when it’s great to break out my Tommee Tippee Single Electric Breast Pump System. The single electric pump is better for me than a double pump because I’m not having to pump to replace what a baby would be doing during a feeding. I simply need to collect a small amount, and often just from one breast. 

This pump system is simpler than the double-electric system I had before, and once again, I’m pleased with that change. It has just 3 settings for its pumping strength. As your baby’s suck increases over time, you can change the setting on your pump, as well. At this point, the first setting is still working great for me.

I’ve also found the silicone cup that goes around your breast to be more comfortable than what I had previously. After reading my manual, I learned that the product actually sends out massaging ripples to better mimic a baby’s feeding.

The kit also comes with bottles for feeding and a storage container for your milk, as well. It’s really nice to have all of these items included in one set; makes an excellent gift for an expecting mom, I think!

If you feel as though you would need a double electric pump in your situation, Tommee Tippee has you covered! They have just come out with the Double Electric Breast Pump System! Both products can be purchased at Babies R Us and Target, and the Single Electric Breast Pump System I’ve reviewed retails for $46.99.

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

 

Spike Seasoning Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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When your food needs some extra flavor, do you normally reach for the table salt? I know I used to, but now I’ve got a few new alternatives sitting on my dining room table that make really great alternatives to salt. They are called Spike Seasonings, and Dr. Oz has recommended them to folks looking to improve their overall health and cut back on sodium intake. 

I actually noticed when my in-laws were visiting me in May that they reached for seasonings other than salt on a regular basis, and I realized that I’d never really even thought of doing that. I’ve been missing out on some great flavor options, as it turns out! Spike Seasonings provide many different ways to give your food a kick and to introduce some delicious tastes to your dinner plate.

I personally have really been enjoying the Vegit spice, which contains some interesting stuff like beet root powder and orange peel. The taste is excellent, too! I really like that on the Spike website, you can see exactly what spices are in each bottle. The Original seasoning has 39 different spices! Wow!

Spike Seasonings include 10 different great seasoning products, all reasonably priced at just $2.99 each. You can purchase them here!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win 4 bottles of Spike Seasonings (Original, Hot ‘n Spicy, Salt Free and Vegit).

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

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

Bluapple Saves Your Produce: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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For the last 3 1/2 weeks of my pregnancy, I was on bed rest. One of the key areas that was affected was our ability to get dinner on the table. Fortunately, we had friends and church members step in to help us out, and we had very little cooking that we needed to do.

Unfortunately, I went to the grocery store the day before I got put on bed rest, so I had crisper drawers full of produce that were more or less forgotten about. About 2 weeks after I bought some romaine lettuce, I went downstairs just to throw it away, because I remembered that it was in there, and I just knew it was stinking up the entire refridgerator.

Much to my surprise, I discovered some lettuce that looked as though it had been purchased 2 or 3 days earlier, not 2 weeks before. I give all the credit to the Bluapple, which has a home in my crisper drawer and works very hard to keep all our produce fresh.


Here’s a basic rundown of why your produce goes bad so fast, and how the Bluapple helps out. Produce makes ethylene gas, which has the function of promoting uniform ripening. But when concentrated in a crisper drawer, the result is often that food over-ripens quickly, leaving you literally throwing away your money.

The Bluapple absorbs ethylene gas for up to 3 months in a crisper drawer, and helps keep your produce fresh much longer. It is definitely working in my crisper drawer, and it will work in yours, too!

You can purchase a set of Blueapples for $9.95 and a 12 month refill kit can also be purchased for $9.95.

Win it!: THREE lucky Stuff Parents Need readers will win a set of Bluapples!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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I’m going to go ahead and guess that when you think about a plunger, two words that do NOT come to mind are CLEAN and DRY. Plunging your toilet is a messy affair, and I don’t know about you, but I’m always confused about how best to clean the plunger after using it. Do I rinse it off in the tub (ew!)? Take it to the bathroom sink (double ew!)? Just put it back on the floor (triple ew!)? I typically rinse it, but is running water over it really enough to get rid of the nasty germs clinging to it? I seriously doubt it.

Rubbermaid, in all its clever-ness, has come out with a revolutionary new plunger that removes all of these problems while still effectively handling your plumbing issues. It’s called the Clean & Dry Plunger and it actually repels water from its surface, leaving you with a clean plunger after use (can you believe it?!). The special coating on the product is good for thousands of uses, too.

It is important to remember that oil from human hands can degrade the coating, so remember to always hold the plunger by the handle, only!

So…does all this sound just a bit too good to be true? Are you thinking that there’s no way it would really and truly repel liquids? Well then, check out this 18 second video and prepare to be amazed!

The Clean & Dry Plunger is available online for $12.99. The online shop also has a resource where you can find your nearest retail seller, as well!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger!

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. 

Voice Your Opinion Now on the Environmental Impact of Appliances!

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Please enjoy this post brought to you by Appliances Online. As someone who bought 5 (yes, 5!) major home appliances in the last 6 weeks, this is a topic of great interest to me! 

 


Because we want a planet that’s actually still a relatively nice place to live when our children are older, it’s important that we take care of it now. Domestic appliances are a huge drain on resources because almost every home has at least one, and they are used multiple times a day.

Think about it, especially if you’re a parent. Just how many times is that washing machine used in a week? Or the dryer immediately afterwards? How often do you use the dishwasher to clean up after the kids? Over the years, the cost, both financially and economically can build up. It’s especially difficult recently due to advances in technology. This makes models of appliances much cheaper to buy, whilst in turn making their replacement parts much more expensive.

Many people aren’t aware of the full range of eco-information available to them from retailers and manufacturers. However, it’s important that people know more about things such as water consumption, or energy efficient classes of their appliances. For example, did you know that a dishwasher uses far less water than by hand washing? Many people still consider dishwashers to be an expensive luxury drain on resources.

Appliances Online want to help people improve the knowledge they are given regarding green appliance issues by creating the 2012 Green Survey. This survey is intended to give the public the opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions on domestic appliances and their environmental impact. The results will hopefully allow retails and manufacturers to see just what information is given and what changes people want in how that information is presented.

The survey is available globally, as this issue is not just for consumers, but for anyone who is interested in making the planet a little greener. It will run until Wednesday 6th June (and maybe a little longer is the need is there).

Halit Bozdogan is a writer for Appliances Online and will be a first time father in July. It’s a boy. He’s not sure what name he will have yet.

26 Days In: How Breastfeeding is Going

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I was very dedicated to breastfeeding my first child. I assumed that after the initial physical pain of breastfeeding, everything would go super smoothly and we’d never have any issues. Unfortunately, we did have some troubles and I found myself supplementing close to half her daily food with formula by 6 months. By 10 months, Darah had weaned herself.

While I know it is too early to declare that we are going to be problem-free this time around, I will say that so far, things are going much smoother! And I think a fair amount of that success has to do with my approach to the process. Simply put, I’m much more relaxed about the whole thing this time around. I’m still keeping track of her feeding times like I did last time, but I’m not obsessing over whether or not she’s eating too frequently or not frequently enough. I just feed her when she seems to be hungry. Sometimes that’s every 1 1/2 hours….sometimes it’s every 4 1/2 hours. I can see with my own two eyes that she is growing like a weed, so I’m not getting all caught up in putting her on a schedule this time around.

I also discovered in the first week of feeding Layah that she has a very favorite way to nurse: laying down! That works for me, especially in the middle of the night! I suspect that I also have an overactive let down, and the laying down position helps with that because it is easy for Layah to just let the milk that she can’t drink quickly enough flow right out of her mouth.

Another thing I’ve done differently this time around is kept my resources for support close at hand. I went to a breastfeeding support group meeting when Layah was just 8 days old, and even though we weren’t having major problems, it was SO great to connect with other moms in the early weeks of breastfeeding. I’ve also been quick to consult kellymom.com when I do run into questions, as that is a very comprehensive site with some really terrific information.

Finally, I have made sure that I have the right clothes for comfortable breastfeeding, which is something that I did not have squared away when I was nursing Darah in the early weeks. One of my very favorite items is The Essential Nursing Tank from Bravado. There are many things to like about this particular nursing tank, but my absolute favorite is that it comes with a built-in bra, so you don’t have to wear a separate bra under your tank. HALLELUJAH! And these tanks come in specific sizes for different breast sizes, so it really and truly will fit you, even if you are a bit larger up top!

I also love the snap design on this tank. While it holds in place just fine on its own (I have never had it come undone on me!) it is also easy enough to unsnap with just one hand, which is a clever design for those of us with hungry, mad babies in the other hand!

I also really appreciate the length of the tank. I’m a short gal, so the top isn’t so long that its more like a nightgown, but it does completely cover my tummy, which makes me feel more secure. I’m definitely not at the stage with my post-baby body where I want my mid-section hanging out for the world to see!

While I held on to my nursing tank and didn’t use it until Layah was born, the material is stretchy, and designed to be usable during pregnancy, as well. So if you purchase this tank, you are sure to get LOTS of use out of it!

I personally am trying to decide which other colors I should purchase. I currently have the brown tank, and it is constantly being washed and re-worn. I could definitely use one or two more!

The Essential Nursing Tank by Bravado is available for $49.00 and comes in 9 beautiful colors that will help make your maternity and post-partum wardrobe super functional. It can be purchased here.

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

Learning Resources: Primary Science Magnet Set Review and GIVEAWAY!!

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The hits just keep coming from Learning Resources, folks. I’ve already introduced you to a few of their great products that make learning fun. Check out my reviews of the Letter Construction Activity Set, the Gator Tweezers and the Primary Science Mix & Measure Kit, all of which are used frequently at my house.

Our newest product that has been giving us experiment ideas is the Primary Science Magnet Set. It comes with 10 activity cards, and also has 10 more activity cards on the site that you can download! Darah has been learning about attraction and repelling thanks to this set. She’s been asking a lot of questions, and trying out different combinations of magnets to see how they come together or stay apart from one another. She especially finds the fact that they can repel each other to be really fascinating!

This toy recently won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Gold Seal Award, so Darah’s certainly not alone in her enjoyment of it! It’s designed for ages 4-12, but with adult supervision, 2 and 3 year-olds can also certainly have fun with it and learn a lot at the same time!

I absolutely love that Darah regularly asks me if we can, “do science” at home, and Learning Resources products have played a large role in opening her eyes to the world of experiments. They are a resource I would recommend to anyone looking for fabulous toys that teach.


Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Primary Science Magnet Set!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 



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


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


Mom’s Weekly Planner Review and GIVEAWAY!!!


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So I started off 2012 without a planner. Which was REALLY dumb. But I thought, “I’ll manage ok if I just keep up with my daily to-do lists that I love to write.” WRONG!!! I can’t even tell you how many appointments I missed and various things I forgot during January and February. I was a hot mess, people. Something had to give.


So I turned to Peter Pauper Press and their highly praised Mom’s Weekly Planner. And I haven’t looked back! Along with my beloved daily to do lists, my weekly planner has a permanent place on my bedside table, and I consult it daily. It has been a TREMENDOUS help as we have moved houses and had to have various repair people come out for lots of different reasons. It has helped me keep straight when I need to be home so I don’t miss someone, or the dates when important things were being delivered, such as our new appliance or our kitchen cabinets (that would be a really bad thing to forget about!).
		
		
			
			
		
	


The Mom’s Weekly Planner is unique in its design in that it is designed for 18 months of use (July – December of the following year). It also have columns for every family member so that you can keep up with the specific needs of each person. It also has an elastic band place holder, which I use constantly to make it really easy to find the page I need in the book. I also really like the sturdy (and attractive!) cover and the fact that it lies flat when opened. Additionally, I make use of the month-at-a-glance page to keep track of all those appointments so that I don’t double-book anything. It has been a highly effective planner that really is designed for the household manager. I highly recommend it!


The Mom’s Weekly Planner is value priced at just $19.99, and can be purchased here.


Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a 2012-2013 Mom’s Weekly planner!


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


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