Stuff Parents Need

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

The Perfect Gift for Pretty Much Anyone! GourmetGiftBaskets.com Review

· by · Leave a Comment

There are always a few people on my gift list that really stump me. Either they just aren’t that big on gifts, or they already have everything you can think of that sounds like something they would like. Or perhaps you are looking to give a nice gift to someone you don’t know very well on a personal level. Or, perhaps you just want to do something different for a good friend.

In any of these scenarios, a basket of goodies from Gourmetgiftbaskets.com is a perfect solution! I actually think that a terrific idea for maximizing enjoyment of a gift basket like this is to host a coffee with your girlfriends at your house, and have the basket be sitting at the table, ready for everyone to dig in and start sampling while you catch up with each other. That way lots of people get to really enjoy it!

We recently received the Christmas Gift Basket from this site, and absolutely loved it. It has provided delicious gourmet snacks and treats for us to have on hand while busily preparing for the holidays. We’ve really enjoyed the chocolate cherries as an after dinner treat, the cheese biscuits as an appetizer, and the delicious  peanuts to snack on throughout the day. The entire family has enjoyed this goody basket, so I can tell you from experience that this is an excellent choice if you are wanting to put together one gift for an entire family. Once the snacks have been consumed, there’s a really beautiful and sturdy basket that remains. Mine has gone into my linen closet and has helped give it a nicer, more organized look. So the gift lives on even after the food is gone!

You can count on GourmetGiftBaskets.com to deliver a beautifully packaged, carefully wrapped gift to your family and friends. I also like that this is a gift that you can have delivered straight to the recipient, ready to open, instead of having to ship it yourself. That cuts out a bit of expense! I’ve been very impressed with the quality and the service, and I would highly recommend them. Be sure to check out all the ways you can shop for the perfect gift basket (price, occasion, product category). It makes putting together the perfect gift super easy!

 

Boon Creatures Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

· by · 95 Comments

Darah takes a bath almost every single night. It’s an important part of our nighttime ritual, and gives her one last chance to get out some energy before we put on jammies, read stories and then go to bed. She loves to play in the tub, especially with her daddy, who takes the lead for bath times so that I can get a bit of work done.

Lately Tim (yes, Tim) has been complaining that Darah needs some new bath toys. I think he has exhausted his imagination for what her current collection can do. Admittedly, she’s not had anything new on the scene in about a year, so the request was fair.

I had been looking around for something cute, fun and not inclined to hold on to water and grow mold (a tall order when it comes to tub toys), and then I was contacted by one of my very favorite companies, Boon, to see if I wanted to check out their tub toys, Boon Creatures. Oh heck yes!

Boon Creatures are characters you might find in the sea, and they have interchangeable tops and bottoms so that you can create any combination of underwater animal that you wish. This promotes imaginative play. Darah likes to make a “crab-whale!” They also have holes in the tops of their heads that make pouring water extra fun. Darah especially likes to watch the water run out of these. They are flexible, so if Darah sits on a toy on accident, she won’t be injured. They are also durable, and are withstanding her play (and the daily baths) beautifully. I really love that they dry out quickly and don’t become water repositories, which leads to all sorts of mold issues (my biggest complaint with most of her tub toys). These retail for $13.99 and are a great buy, as I can tell that they will still be going strong by the time baby #2 is ready to play in the tub. Hooray for tub toys that last!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a set of Boon Creatures! Rub a dub!

[Read more…]

Cheerios Brings Holiday “Cheer” to Military Families (GIVEAWAY!!!)

· by · 94 Comments

It’s always difficult for families to watch a loved one being called into military service that takes them out of the country. The holidays are an especially tough time to be without those closest to you. has teamed up with the USO to help bring a bit of cheer to military families in these especially difficult times.

Right now, you can find specially-marked boxes of Cheerios that feature a Cheer postcard on the front of the box. Simply cut out the postcard and mail it, along with a message of thanks to our troops and their families to the USO (the address is already printed on the postcard). The card will then be delivered to a military family somewhere across the country.

That, in and of itself, is a nice gesture. But Cheerios is sweetening the deal. Cheerios will make a $1 donation to the USO to help fund programs that support military families for each postcard received through November 2012. Pretty cool, right?!

Cheerios has already donated $150,000 to the USO and will donate up to an additional $100,000, just depending on how many postcards get mailed in. That’s where you have a role to play! By sending in a postcard, you not only show your gratitude to our military families and send them a message of holiday joy, but you also help support the USO. So grab a box of Cheerios and spread some cheer!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Cheerios prize pack that includes the following:

  • 1 Cheerios cereal bowl
  • 1 Cheerios cereal spoon
  • 1 cereal dispenser
  • 1 “Cheer” box of Cheerios

[Read more…]

Using Art as Holiday Decor!

· by · 1 Comment

Most of us have already done a bit of fall decorating in and around our homes, and we are just a few days away from breaking out all that red and green! Most of us have boxes in the attic of ornaments, garland, lights and various decorative pieces that we display throughout the house.

But do any of you have art that you display just for the holidays? I’d never even considered adding art to my holiday decor collection until this year, and then I realized that it actually makes a lot of sense. Gallery Direct, my go-to online destination for amazing art prints, offers pieces in a variety of sizes and framing options, so you can select something that is really easy to store away for most of the year.

I opted to get an image (The Visitation) in a medium size and to not have it framed, so that transporting it up and down from the attic wouldn’t be cumbersome. Even in its modest form, it looks incredible, and I think the picture is just so much fun! I love that the colors aren’t the traditional holiday color scheme, as you’ll find blues, greens and whites throughout my house year-round. So the art still works with the colors in my house, but there’s no denying that it is a  holiday piece. I love all those twinkling lights! It very much reminds me of taking walks during the week of Christmas and enjoying the decorations in the yards of our neighbors.

Hanging festive art on the wall can really go a long way toward transforming a room for the holidays, and it only requires one piece, as opposed to needing to fill the room with lots and lots of smaller decor pieces. Our storage space is very limited, so as much as I’d like to have 20 storage tubs of Christmas decor, I have to keep things at a minimum. That usually means that only 2 rooms in our house get their halls decked. Now I can bring the holiday spirit into another room simply by placing a picture on the wall. I love it!

Gallery Direct continues to inspire me as a home decorator to think outside the box about ways that I can make my house a home and using framed art for the holidays is just one more fun idea.

What about you: do you have any holiday art that you hang?

Disclosure: 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.

Update Your Watch with Chunky Bling: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

· by · 80 Comments

For the past 2 years, I have relied on my cell phone to be my watch. I don’t really even know why I started doing this, but I think it had something to do with my watch battery dying and me being too lazy to get it replaced. I figured that I had a watch sitting in my purse (my phone), so it was no big deal to just use that.

But here’s the problem with this method: it’s really hard not to come across as being rude when you are having a conversation with a person and you need to check the time. Glancing at your watch is super easy and totally socially acceptable. Rooting around in your purse and digging out your phone, and then turning it on to check the time is totally rude. It makes you seem distracted and uninterested in the conversation. For all the other person knows, you are about to start texting someone!

So, I realized after a few awkward instances of trying to discreetly check the time that I needed to go back to a watch. But I wanted to make that accessory really count. I really like the fact that bigger, bolder jewelry is so in style, but I have surprisingly little of that in my own collection. ChunkyBling.com is a company that gives you the opportunity to wear a beaded watch that looks a lot like a fabulous chunky bracelet. Their styles are very on-trend.

They are also quite savvy, bearing the budget-conscious style maven in mind. You see, these watches are designed so that you can mix and match! You have both an interchangeable watch face and an interchangeable watch band. This ensures that you can get exactly the look you want without having to purchase different watches for different color palettes or different levels of dressiness.

I spent a lot of time on the Chunky Bling website checking out all the different faces and bands. There are so many great possible combinations! I ultimately decided on the square silver watch face and the Madison Avenue band. Look at how beautiful the final product is! I have had numerous people comment on what a pretty watch I have. I don’t think my watch has EVER been an accessory that has gotten so much positive attention! I’m extremely pleased with the final product and would definitely recommend a Chunky Bling watch for anyone looking to accessorize in style!

Buy it!: Chunky Bling watches start at $32.90, which is a great deal for a beautiful watch! BUT…I’ve got an even sweeter deal! I have a special coupon code so that you can get ANY watch set for just $24.95. Break out your Christmas gift list and start crossing off some names! Use code TIFFA944 to get the discount (expires 12/07, so don’t delay!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an interchangeable beaded watch of your choice from ChunkyBling.com! Just in “time” for the holiday! 😉

[Read more…]

Bellaband: Extend the Life of your Non-Maternity Pants! Review and GIVEAWAY!!

· by · 48 Comments

Being pregnant brings with it some very interesting challenges for your wardrobe. For me, my non-maternity pants started to get tight around week 7. Yeah, I know…lucky me. But maternity pants would literally fall off of me at that point. So…what to do? Simply unbuttoning your pants might work, or you might find yourself hiking up your jeans frequently throughout the day…not an attractive look, my friends.

The Bellaband from Ingrid & Isabel is THE answer to this dilemma, and it is also a product that will be useful throughout the pregnant and during your postpartum time. Allow me to explain!

First, the Bella Band is a very VERY helpful item to have when you still need/want to wear your “regular” pants. I’m just now fully outgrowing my non-maternity jeans at 16 weeks. Given just how round my belly already is, I feel GREAT about how long I got to wear them, and all thanks to my Bellaband. If you look at the picture to the right, you can see how the Bellaband is designed to fit around where your pants button. They do an EXCELLENT job of smoothing out the pants (so that your unbuttoned look isn’t obvious under your clothes). Additionally, toward the bottom of the Bellaband, there is a silicone strip that I have never seen before on another product, and it REALLY holds your Bellaband in place. I had a similar product in concept for my first pregnancy, but it would never stay in place, so it was only somewhat helpful. The Bellaband doesn’t move and keeps my pants exactly where they should be.

As I’m moving into my maternity pants, some of my stuff from the last pregnancy is still big on me. The Bellaband helps hold those pants in place, too, so that they aren’t baggy and saggy and generally unattractive. I’ve found that my pants just look better with the use of the Bellaband!

The Bellaband is also useful because as my belly grows, and it becomes more and more possible that you can catch glimpses of it as my shirts stick out further, the Bellaband is long, so it can actually help cover up my belly for modesty (and extra warmth in the winter!).

After you have the baby, you will find yourself in a similarly strange place with your wardrobe as you did when you were first outgrowing your old stuff. Simply put, NOTHING fits! Bellaband comes to your rescue, once again, and helps your too-big pants stay put and your too-small pants start to get used.

I have been VERY impressed with just how well this product works for me, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is expecting. It is now the workhorse of my wardrobe. I have 2, and I think that’s how many everyone should have, because you’ll pretty much always be wearing one!

Buy it!: The Bellaband comes in 5 color choices, has an organic option and a lace option, as well. Pricing starts at $28.00. You will get your money’s worth and then some, I assure you!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need winner will get your choice of a Bellaband or Bellaband Lace! Yay! [Read more…]

Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

· by · 74 Comments

We happen to have a peanut butter connoisseur in our home. Her name is Darah.  She LOVES peanut butter. And she is particularly fond of special varieties. Lately, she’s been really hooked on Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter. Doesn’t that sound delicious? I can tell you from experience that it IS delicious! It’s made with two ingredients: organic peanuts and organic coconut. That’s it! NOTHING else!

Have you read the label of popular peanut butter brands? I’m afraid they can’t boast such a short list of ingredients. I love serving Darah something that doesn’t have extra oils and sugars added to it.

The flavor is simply scrumptious, as well. Coconut peanut butter is a genius idea, and it works well by itself, paired with jam, or in many recipes that might call for peanut butter. Darah likes it best on a graham cracker, and every once in a while, I’ll sprinkle a touch of cinnamon-sugar on top for a special treat.

I have been very impressed with this product, and I’m not at all surprised. Every single product we have tried from this company has been superb. They are truly committed to bringing you the highest quality, and they do not make compromises to try to make an extra buck here and there. I really appreciate when a company is this reliable. I wouldn’t hesitate to order anything from them, because their track record has been spotless with me! 🙂

Buy it!: Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter would be a really fun holiday gift for the peanut butter fan in your life. A 16 oz glass jar is regularly $14.99 but is on sale now for $9.99! Very affordable gift idea!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a 16 oz glass jar of coconut peanut butter from Tropical Traditions! Yummy!

[Read more…]

Win $100 Amazon Credit and $100 to ScoreBig! (GIVEAWAY!!!)

· by · 1 Comment

Have I got a good one for you today, friends! I’m partnering with one of my very favorite giveaway sites (Prizey) and a fabulous company that offers SWEET discounts of 10-60% off on event tickets (ScoreBig) to bring you one awesome giveaway.

It’s called ScoreBig with Prizey. One winner will receive $100 to spend as you please at Amazon (hello, Kindle!) AND $100 credit to ScoreBig so that you can get tickets to something you REALLY want to go to (Lady GaGa? NFL game? Up to you!).

It takes like 10 seconds to sign up for the giveaway, and it’s going to pay off REALLY big for one lucky winner. I want nothing more than for the winner to be a Stuff Parents Need reader. Make my dreams come true and enter now!

Disclosure: Prizey is compensating me for publicizing this promotion. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

A Perfect Soundtrack for the Holiday: Celtic Christmas Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

· by · 102 Comments

Putumayo, the parent company behind one of my favorite children’s music production companies, Putumayo Kids, has just released a fantastic cd that is absolutely perfect for your holiday parties, for listening to while wrapping presents, or for just having on in the background while you relax and enjoy the holiday season. It’s called Celtic Christmas, and it is delightful!

The music on this cd doesn’t have any lyrics, and I really like that; the music itself has the opportunity to shine! Don’t just take my word for how great the cd is, though. Have a listen for yourself here! My personal favorite is O Come, O Come Emmanuel. What a gorgeous rendition!

Buy it!: Celtic Christmas is available for $14.98 and would make a wonderful addition to your holiday music collection.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your own copy of Celtic Christmas! 🙂
[Read more…]