Stuff Parents Need

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

A (Rare) Apple a Day Keeps You Looking Fairest of Them All (#EclosBeauty GIVEAWAY!!!)

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

My skin is changing. While it is far from “wrinkly”, it has lost some of its youthful glow, for sure. Perhaps some of that is due to being tired since I’m in the midst of raising young kids, but I also think a lot of it is just the reality of getting older.

Fortunately, there are some really great products on the market that can help your skin looks so much better than it would if left on its own. For the past week, I have been using various products from éclos Skin Care. They have an Anti-Aging Skin Care Starter kit that gives you the opportunity to try out the following products from their line:

  • Facial Cleanser Skin Prep
  • Cellular Activator Face Serum
  • Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream
  • Restorative Eye Cream
  • Instant Radiance Facial Scrub
  • Skin Renewal Clay Mask
  • Bonus: eclos Terry Cloth Head Band

I really love being able to try out several products at once without having to invest in each and every product. This kit retails for $19.99 and gives you the chance to see which products you love the very most. For me, the Instant Radiance Facial Scrub has been a stand-out. It is very warm when you apply it to your face (which feels SO good) and it has a nice “grit” to it, though that quickly disappears as you rub it onto your face. You are eventually left with a really nice foamy lather. I would definitely purchase this product in its full-size and recommend it to others.

I am also particularly drawn to the Cellular Activator Face serum, which you apply to a clean face before you apply your moisturizer. It contains apple stem cells that have been extracted from rare Swiss apples and that studies have shown to have a tremendous ability to stimulate skin stem cells, which means your skin will behave more like younger skin. I don’t have anything quite like this in my skin care aresenal, and it would be something I’d like to have in its full-size, for sure.

I’ve been using the products for a week, and I have a before and after shot to show you. My “before” shot is actually me in the hospital right after having Layah. I started using them the day I had her! 🙂 The after shot is me without makeup one week later.

 

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I’m actually wearing makeup in the first shot (don’t judge me for putting on makeup right before having a baby!) and the second one I’m not wearing a stitch of anything. But you can see the shine on my face (and I have VERY dry skin, so that isn’t oil). I do believe the products work!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the same kit I received to try out! To enter, simply leave a comment below telling me which product in the kit you are most excited to try! Giveaway ends at 12:01am on 5/24.

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

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Baby Name Wizard Subscription Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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When I was pregnant with Darah, I came up with her name long before we even knew that she was a girl. I was completely confident in my choice for her first name. Her middle name did take us a while longer, but we had it all settled by the time I was 7 months pregnant.

This time around, we settled on Layah at 38 weeks pregnant. Talk about a nail-biter! I do believe that we over-thought the process, and I also think that naming your second child, particularly of the same gender as the first, is just a lot harder!

I started out quite optimistic, having roughly 25 girl names on my list. I got that list thanks to the book, The Baby Name Wizard. This is a book that I HIGHLY recommend. It is so different from your typical name book because it divides names up into categories. Some categories will resonate with you and you might find 5 or 6 names from that list that you love, while other categories you will find yourself skipping right over because you don’t like how any of them sound. It’s a much smarter approach to thinking about names, and it just really made a lot of sense to me. It certainly got us off to a good start when we were first thinking about names.

And then I made the mistake of over-analyzing each and every name, picking them apart until I found flaws. So I was left with nothing!

But then I got some additional help. I got an expert subscription to babynamewizard.com. This online resource takes the information found in the book to an entirely new level. It has a tremendous database that you can access and that can help you find the right name match for your child, based on particular preferences or dislikes that you have (for example, are you drawn to Irish names? Do you NOT want the name to start with a particular letter? Do you want a name that is popular or more rare?). This database gave me an entirely new crop of names to consider, and I really loved that I was able to save anything I liked online so that I could go back and look at it later.

I also really liked that for each name, there was a place for people to leave comments about the name. For example, people would leave comments about how much they enjoy (or don’t enjoy) having that particular name and why, or why they chose that particular name for their child. Reading that insight was extremely helpful, as it caused some names to rise further up our list, and others to fall off of it.

But the very best resource of all for me was the forums. There’s a section where you can post your baby name dilemmas and ask for advice, and we did just that! We didn’t mind sharing out list of possibilities with people who weren’t personally invested in what we name our child, so their feedback was more objective. What we discovered is that the name at the top of our list was preferred by ABSOLUTELY NOBODY. And there was one name that stood out quite a bit from the rest. In the end, we didn’t go with the online crowd favorite as her first name, but gave it to her as her middle name, because we realized based on feedback that a name we thought might be perceived as incredibly weak actually wasn’t, and in fact, was seen as quite strong by many. We really needed fresh perspectives on our names, and we definitely got it on this site. I can’t say enough what a big help it was.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a nine month expert subscription to The Baby Name Wizard!

[Read more…]

Engage Your Toddler and Care for Your Infant Outside of the Home: Guest Post from Simmworks Family Blog

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Throughout my pregnancy with my daughter, one of my main concerns was how I would juggle two kids. I absolutely loved taking my son out and about with me to playdates, activities, and social events and I just couldn’t imagine adding a baby, let alone a newborn, to the mix. How could I continue to engage my toddler son while caring for my infant daughter?

I was also nervous about being cooped up in the house alone with both kids after my husband returned to work. I thought I’d go stir crazy trying to entertain my son and breastfeed my daughter simultaneously. So I quickly resolved to get out of the home as much as possible and stay active in my mom’s group. I mean I was the organizer of the group, I had to keep it active!

Here’s how I did it:

Create a Game Plan

Figure out where you’re going, who’s going with you, and how long you want to stay. Then explain to your toddler (if they’re old enough to understand) exactly what you’re doing and what you expect of them.

Depending on where you’re going, decide if you want to bring a double stroller or just stick to a baby carrier. I found that when my daughter was very young it was easier to carry her and push my son in our single stroller. I was still able to use the stroller to change my daughter on the go when we needed it and my son had the comfort of “his” stroller when he got tired.

Plus, I highly recommend testing out double strollers when you have both kids. That way you can find out what works best for your two, and not what looks good on the website. Many stores now allow you to test out strollers before purchasing them so take advantage of this!

Be Prepared

Pack in advance and bring lots of snacks! I always keep two diapers in my diaper bag for the baby and two pull ups for my toddler (or diapers, underwear, etc) and I keep an extra stash of back up diapers in my car in case there’s an emergency explosion or accident. That way my diaper bag isn’t overpacked but I’m still prepared.

Packing snacks that both my son and I love helps ensure that I won’t have to make any stops at the snack bar or have a starving toddler on my hands. Snacks also make for great incentives when you want to get your child to listen.

Get your Toddler Involved

My son was especially helpful when I explained that Mommy wanted him to act like a Big Brother and show his little sister how to do things while we were out.

When we visited the zoo he got to choose what animals we saw and pointed each out to his sister. When we braved the grocery store he got to hold the list and look up and down the aisles for the items we needed. And I always had a fruit leather or other favorite snack to reward him for his hard work.

This also helped us work on skills he was trying to master including learning his shapes, finding different colors, and starting to count.

Ask for Help

When out with friends and/or family please do not hesitate to ask for help when you need it! Even if your friends don’t have much experience with kids or it’s been a while since your aunt has held a baby, make sure to get them involved when you start to feel overwhelmed. And if you’re out alone don’t
dismiss the other moms around you. Even if you don’t know them, they might have no problem helping another mama out.

This is also a great way for friends and family members to get baby time with your infant while you enjoy a little one-on-one time with your toddler. I know that my mommy friends were a big help when it came to this. I was able to give my daughter to one of the other moms while I played with my son and their kids.

The great part about it? They usually ended up thanking me for giving them a little baby time! Win-win.

So if you’re considering adding to your family or are already expecting, don’t worry. Everything will work out. And you will get out of the house again. Just remember to create a game plan, be prepared, get your toddler involved, and ask for help! 

Nursing my newborn while hanging with my
toddler at a playdate

Danielle is a work-at-home-mom of two beautiful kids and writes over at the Simmworks Family Blog. She loves to blog about her family, healthy living, going green and crafting. Danielle would love for you to come visit! You can reach her on facebook and twitter as well. If you have any questions feel free to email her at  simmworksfamily@gmail.com.

ET’s Hanging with the Stars Sweepstakes! Win a Trip to L.A.!

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I’m excited to share this BIG sweepstakes opportunity with my readers. From now through May 24th, Entertainment Tonight is hosting a “Hanging with the Stars” sweepstakes.
Wanna hear what’s up for grabs? Get ready!….
You will be attending ET’s Exclusive Emmy Gala Party, which is VERY popular with the stars who will be at the Emmy’s! SQUEAL!!!!!
You and a guest will be flown out to Los Angeles for the September 23rd event. You will also receive 2 nights in a nice hotel and get to walk the red carpet for the party! Also, you will get 2 VIP seats for the party’s musical performance. Not even all the stars are going to get that! 🙂
There are also some fun weekly and daily prizes up for grabs. So what are you waiting for? L.A. is waiting for you!!! Get to the ET facebook page and get entered. And if you win, remember that you have an extra ticket, and yours truly is always up for an adventure! 😉
Disclosure: I have been compensated for my time sharing this with you. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Macy’s Thank-a-Mom Movement (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Mother’s Day is this Sunday!!! If you are like me, what you want more than anything is a little peace and quiet and some time to relax! Sometimes that seemingly simple gift can be one of the toughest to receive, though.

This year, Macy’s wants to honor mothers all over the world by partnering with five different charities who are all working in various ways to bring peace and happiness to mothers and their families. From now through Mother’s Day you can send a free, personalized Mother’s Day e-card to any mom  you know and love, by going through the Macy’s Facebook page. When you do this, Macy’s will donate $3 to the charity of your choice, for a total donation of up to $400,000! Isn’t that wonderful?! Here are the 5 amazing charities who will be receiving the donations:

–        American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® movement

–        Futures Without Violence

–        Make-A-Wish Foundation®

–        National Park Foundation

–        Reading Is Fundamental

Additionally, Macy’s wants to share a bit of love withe Stuff Parents Need readers by offering a quick giveaway right here! One of you will win a butter LONDON Top and Tails Set (really beautiful nail polish).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Disclosure: I was contacted by M80 on behalf of Macy’s to share this promotion. I am receiving the same giveaway item as the winner in exchange for posting this promotion. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

 

Creative (and SIMPLE!) Ways to Bring Food to a Friend: Guest Post from Vanderbilt Wife

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I live in the Land of My Late 20s (let’s not speak about how that number 30 is looming mere weeks away). In this Land, the population is being increased every day by friends giving birth. Of course, there are many members of all ages in this Land, but I think your late 20s and early 30s is probably the peak of life here.

I have two little ones myself (3 and 1) and have been beyond blessed with the visits of my friends during those newborn times. Because almost always, the friends come bearing food.

There is nothing worse than thinking about making dinner when you are juggling a toddler and a newborn, breastfeeding and groggy from lack of sleep. If it’s your first baby, you’re probably in the “why did they let me bring this thing home by myself” daze. With your second and beyond, cooking becomes more difficult with a child wrapped around your leg screaming “MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY I HUNGRY!!!!!” (Or maybe that’s just mine who doesn’t seem to equate me cooking dinner with her being less hungry in half an hour.)

Thankfully, those meals from friends seem to make the first few weeks with a newborn more tolerable. I try to mix it up a little when I take food to a friend, because no matter how appreciative you are of the meal, sometimes another dish of baked pasta gets old. 

So think outside the box! Here are some ideas.

Bring breakfast. Everyone loves breakfast for dinner, and it’s probably something the new parents haven’t been brought yet. I think Berry Baked French Toast is perfect for this time of year and makes a fun dinner. You can throw in some cooked bacon, too, for an easy protein, if you want.

Classic Meat and Two or Three. Think of what you often cook for dinner at home: a protein, a carb, and a veggie? (At least that’s my default.) This kind of meal is comforting and “normal,” but most people bring casseroles when they feed a friend. Recently I made Chicken and Cherries and cooked rice with peas for a friend with a new baby. Maybe a little boring, but my friend said her husband went crazy over the plain old brown rice.

Think seasonally. Hamburgers aren’t too difficult but are something most everyone loves, including kids, as the weather warms. How about a gift of some doctored-up Tomato Basil Hamburgers, Broccoli Salad , and a bag of gourmet chips?

A few more tips:

Remember everything. If you bring burgers, bring buns, too! If you’re really nice, throw in paper napkins and plates and disposable silverware so the new mom won’t have to do dishes, either.

Now or Later? I always ask if the mom wants to eat it now or if she wants a frozen meal she can cook later. Sometimes people bring enough food for 3 or 4 meals, and it would be more helpful to have an extra meal for a later time.

Bring an extra meal for later. A simple crockpot meal assembled in a big ziplock bag will be super easy for her later. She can just toss it in her crockpot and not have to cook that night. This comes in super handy when baby is going through a growth spurt and nursing 24/7, a day with a busy schedule, or just a night she doesn’t have the energy to really cook. Try Honey Parmesan Pork Roast, Summer Vegetable Chowder , or Vietnamese Chicken Thighs.

And you know … if you bring pasta or poppyseed chicken, I bet it will still be VERY appreciated.

What’s your go-to meal for a new mom?

Jessie is a stay-at-home mom of two and freelance writer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She writes about faith, recipes, and her failures as a mother and housekeeper at VanderbiltWife.com.

Meet Our Baby Girl!

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We are delighted to announce the birth of our second daughter, Layah. She finally joined us (after 24 hours of labor!!!) on May 7th at 8:26am. She weighs 7 pounds, 3 ounces and is 20 inches long. We are delirious from our lack of sleep, but also head-over-heels in love with our tiny little bird.

What’s in Your Diaper Bag? Guest Post from MizMeliz.com

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Here is a question for those of you with babies. . .

“What’s in your diaper bag?”

You may be asking yourself, why does she want to know this – her kids are teenagers!??

That’s it exactly! My kids are way, way, way out of diapers and well on their way out of high school and I am out of touch on the new stuff for babies. When I get invited to a baby shower, I have no idea what a new parent wants or needs. Most of the stuff I thought was cool when I had babies has been replaced by newer products. But, I wonder, are they better?

I asked my friend at work, Jeff Beam, a few questions. Jeff’s beautiful wife, Kelly, had just given birth to their baby girl, Lynnox, a few weeks prior. I had a lovely conversation with this sleep-deprived first time father on his first week back to work. He gave me some insightful, however sleepy, answers.

MM: What were your first impressions of becoming a parent?

JB: I was blissfully ignorant. I felt ready, for sure. I thought, “this really isn’t that bad, my baby is great!” Then, the sleep deprivation set in. I went from thinking; this is magic to what the hell is happening?

MM: Have you found any baby item particularly helpful or useful at this point?

JB: We were given a small backpack with compartments from the hospital, a good supply of diapers and a changing pad. So far, that has been very helpful.

MM: What is your favorite gift you have received for baby?

JB: For me, it’s the Boppy. We use it constantly.

MM: They still have those? I loved mine!

JB: It’s great! We also received a rocking chair that is perfect for Kelly. She sits in it as she is breastfeeding. My wife’s comfort is most important.

MM: What is the best piece of advice you received when you were expecting that has proved to be most helpful?

JB: I can’t remember right now, everything is foggy! But my friends have told me that taking care of a baby is easy. When they cry, they need something. It is like I am putting together a puzzle. It’s just a matter of figuring out which piece of the puzzle I am missing.

MM: Do you have any advice, based on your experience so far, to give to other new parents?

JB: Always have a change of clothes and plenty of diapers! (MM – for those “explosions!” Right! I’ll never forget that!) To new fathers, I would tell them what I do is remember my responsibility is my wife. Making sure Kelly is okay is my job. We are a tag team. I am ready to step in. Take the time off and stay home from work for those first few weeks.

MM: Is there anything you need now, other than sleep?

JB: We could use some help with meals, we are both exhausted and too tired to cook!

 

My (unofficial) advice to Jeff. . . if you think you are too tired to cook now – wait until you have three teenagers!!! Seriously, have you heard of ordering in? It’s great!

Officially, it was an honor to talk to Jeff. He was in love with fatherhood. He was in love with baby Lynnox and most importantly, even more in love with his wife. He is a wonderful father (and diaper changer!)

I was glad to hear that The Boppy is still a favorite for new parents. It is a great product. Way better than using a pillow. That’s what we did back in the day, you know. When my nephew was born, he was the first grandchild and there hadn’t been a baby in the family for about 15 years. We all passed that child around on a pillow like he was going to break if we touched him! It was symbolic because he was precious and we cherished those moments. It was useful because a baby needs to be propped up and cushioned. They are hard to hold on to at all times. The Boppy helps and is comfortable for the adult as well as the baby.

I used my Boppy for feeding and holding my babies when they were very little. They come in cute designs. Mine was black and white. That was big back then. Now they have them in pretty patterns or you can get a plain one and they have slip covers you can buy separately. I went to The Boppy website and found they have lots of products besides just the pillow and you can order online. http://Boppy.com The prices range from $19.99 for a slip cover to $44.99 for a travel pillow. They also have those cute play gyms and mats that are a great and useful gift for $24.99 – $74.99.

There are many new products and some variations of the standard product and all are useful and make terrific gifts. My favorite is and always will be The Original Boppy. Every family should have one! In fact, I wish I had one now. I would still use it! It could be helpful for my aching back! Seriously, I was very impressed that The Boppy company thinks everyone should have a Boppy, too. And they are doing something to make that happen. They have a goal of donating $20,000 worth of Boppy® Pillows to moms in need with Nurse-Family Partnership.

In case you haven’t guessed . . . if you invite me to your baby shower, you’re getting a Boppy!

 

Miz Meliz (aka Melissa Reyes) is a mother of three teen aged boys, lives in Southern California, works full time at a middle school, writes and takes pictures for her blog, and enjoys being married to her equally busy husband of twenty years. Visit her blog at http://mizmeliz.com @MizMeliz on Twitter and MizMelizFan on Facebook.

 

It’s My Due Date!

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My due date has arrived! Unfortunately, my baby didn’t seem to get the memo…she’s still hanging out in what must be a very comfy uterus (Darah didn’t want to come out of there, either, and had to be induced!). I’m going to be pretty focused on encouraging this one to come out on over the next handful of days. There will be some wonderful guest posts on the site while we make our final preparations for our baby’s arrival. I’ll touch base again when we have news to share!