Stuff Parents Need

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

Lavera Organic Liquid Foundation Review

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It’s not uncommon for me to get questions from readers about how to go green when it comes to makeup. My typical response has been to try mineral makeup. I have used a powder-based foundation from a well-known company off and on for  years, and I always notice that my skin looks and feels great whenever I use it. Plus, it has far fewer chemicals than most other foundations.

But, I do find it to lack the overall coverage that I can get from most liquid foundations, and sometimes I really want that coverage. In those cases, I haven’t personally known about a quality “green” liquid foundation.

lavera review for liquid foundation

Until now! There’s a fantastic natural beauty company called Lavera that I’m excited to share with you. They are based in Germany, and in 2008 and 2009 they ranked as the #1 green beauty brand based on testing of product ingredients, beating out over 33 other brands. They are certified by BDIH, which is the toughest certification process in the entire world for making sure products are green. So let there be no doubt, the products on the Lavera site are really and truly eco-friendly!

I was pretty blown away by their vast selection of green beauty products, but what really caught my attention was their organic liquid foundation.  From their site, “This hydrating foundation blends easily and hides imperfections, creating a porcelain-smooth canvas. Free-radical fighting argan oil, organic blossom butter and vitamins A, C and E protect, rejuvenate and nourish skin.”

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when something sounds too good to be true in the makeup department, I worry that it won’t really work. I was genuinely nervous about this foundation before it arrived. I feared it would have the coverage of a tinted moisturizer at best, or that it would lack the staying power of a more typical liquid foundation.

I’m so pleased to report that these things are untrue for Lavera liquid foundation! This stuff has held its own beautifully against my other liquid foundations. It lasts just as long as everything else and provides the level of coverage I want.

I have the porcelain shade, which is slightly pale for me right now, but will be perfect in a few months for winter. I would like to see Lavera come out with more shades than they currently offer, as I think their selection is a bit limited (it is currently offered in 5 shades). I do think that if Lavera wants to become as popular in the United States as it is in Europe, more shades are a must!
But as far as the quality goes, I’m very impressed. The liquid foundation is available for $22.50, which puts it in a similar category as department store brands. And you can be assured that this foundation leaves the chemicals you don’t want or need off your face. Lavera offers a 30 day “love it” guarantee, so if you try the makeup and don’t feel the same way I do about it, you can return it for a refund. I love when companies have policies like this, because it is a pretty good indication that dissatisfaction is a rare occurrence!

Win it!: Here’s your chance to win your very own organic liquid foundation from Lavera!
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ChildUp Counting Flash Cards Review and GIVEAWAY!!

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I think most every parent works with their baby and toddler on learning ABCs and counting from 1-10. But beyond recognizing the numbers, are you doing any work on teaching math fundamentals? I think its a common perception that a young one’s brain isn’t meant to understand concepts like addition and subtraction, at least not until they reach kindergarten, so why worry about anything beyond counting?

NOT TRUE, my friends! Our little ones are totally able to grasp these concepts, and we have an excellent opportunity to get them comfortable with math from a very early age. We have been reviewing some fantastic flash cards from ChildUp that are designed to do just that.

We reviewed the Teach Your Child to Count to 10 series, as well as the Teach Your Child to Count to 20 series (which teaches 10-20). They are AWESOME and unlike any other counting flash cards I have ever seen. Here are some of the features you will find in these particular flash cards:

•    Includes 48 Child’s Cards to learn to count while discovering four different series of 10 popular animals.
•    Includes 16 Parent’s Cards presenting the 1st and 2nd parts of the ChildUp Early Learning Method, with practical early learning and parenting advice.
◦    Helps parents to teach:
▪    Numbers from 0 to 10; 10-20
▪    Numbers as quantities and symbols
▪    The first steps of addition
◦    Helps develop the child’s:
▪    Math and logic skills
▪    Learning an

d cognitive skills
▪    Listening and memory skills
▪    Attention and concentration skills
▪    Language and social skills
I think it is easier to see how these cards really stand out from the crowd by taking a look at them.

I think the fact that they use different animals when coming up with the number is so clever, as that helps a child understand addition, and not to just think of a number as something abstract.

We have been very pleased with these cards, and Darah really seems to enjoy playing with them, as well. I highly recommend them to any parent of a child who hasn’t yet started kindergarten. This really is work you can do with them now; there’s no need to wait! Each set of cards retails for $9.99. While you are checking out the cards, be sure to peruse the rest of the site, as they have lots of fantastic articles and resources about early childhood learning.

Finally, don’t miss out on the iCount to 10 App that is available for the iPhone or the iPad. We’ve checked this out, too, and I think it is a FANTASTIC use of $1.99! I love the fact that this app offers more detailed information for the child about the various animals that are part of the virtual flash cards. That will draw in any child who loves animals (and what child doesn’t?!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reading is going to win the following:
1. one pack of Teach Your Child to Count to 10 – Math & Logic #1 cards
2. one pack of Teach Your Child to Count to 20 – Math & Logic #2 cards
3. iCount-to-10 app code
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Blanket + Stuffed Animal = Best Toy EVER! Snuggle Paws Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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You should see my child’s stuffed animal collection. It doesn’t yet rival what I had going on at the peak of my stuffed animal frenzy (I think I had close to 200 plush friends by the time I was 10). But given the fact that Darah is only 2, I’m going to go ahead and declare her collection OUT OF CONTROL. I know that I’m the enabler in this situation, and it’s because I empathize with her love for all things snuggly. Stuffed animals are her VERY favorite thing to play with, you see. She takes her animals for walks in her stroller, reads them stories and bounces on the bed with them.

The only thing that comes even close to being enjoyed as much by Darah would be blankets. Yup, blankets. Give this kid a blanket AND a stuffed animal, and she will nearly pass out from the joy of it. Not kidding. She’ll play uninterrupted for quite a long time, usually putting her various stuffed animals to “night night” and rocking them. It’s ridiculously sweet.

So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered Snuggle Paws, which are stuffed animals that come with a child-size blanket. Thank you for making the PERFECT toy for my child! Not only is the concept excellent, but the execution is outstanding. This toy is TOTALLY worthy of its name. It is the softest, snuggliest little critter that you’ll ever meet. the stuffed animal can easily function as a pillow when traveling. And the blanket! Oh!!!! It feels like cuddling up with some clouds (or at least what I imagine that might feel like!).

Snuggle Paws animals come with a handle on top (super plush, it does NOT interfere with the child’s ability or desire to play with the animal) and velcro paws that can hold the rolled-up blanket. This makes it an excellent travel companion. You’d better believe it will be going with us this Christmas when we fly to California. If Darah isn’t feeling sleepy on the plane, don’t think I won’t break out that awesome blanket, either!

I’m guessing by now that you realize I’m totally ga-ga over this product. It certainly does seem as though it was made with my child in mind. Perhaps it was made for your little one, too?

Win it!: One lucky person will will your very own Snuggle Paws!
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When Does a Toddler Get a Pillow? BobbleRoos Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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One of my very favorite things about getting ready for Darah’s arrival was picking out her baby bedding. You guys, I spent HOURS…really probably dozens of hours combing through all the beautiful bedding options, searching in vain for coupons to make the sets I loved more affordable, and then finally biting the bullet and getting the very first set I fell in love with when I started my search. It was a splurge, but it was something special for my little girl. I just HAD to have it.

And then I learned that most of that beautiful bedding was dangerous for a baby. The bumpers were a suffocation risk, and the beautiful quilt was a huge no-no to put in the crib, as it, too, posed a suffocation risk. Sigh…

One thing her set didn’t even include due to its risk factor was a pillow (Why not? They threw in everything else that was dangerous!). Pillows are unsafe for the same reason that stuffed animals are unsafe; anything that can get in between a baby’s mouth and the air it needs to breathe is especially dangerous until the baby is able to easily roll itself in different directions. For Darah, that wasn’t until about 5 months, but even then, I didn’t let a pillow or stuffed animals in the crib.

She did start to doze off with a little lovey in hand around 8 months of age, and then she met her beloved bunny, who she started to snuggle with at nap time. But she still didn’t have a pillow.

In fact, she didn’t have a pillow until after she turned 2 years old, at which point I finally wondered if she might be more comfortable with something under her head! I was noticing that her bunny was starting to serve as a make-shift pillow, so maybe that meant she was ready for the real deal.

I turned to my dear friend Google to find out when most people start allowing their children to sleep with pillows. Wow, the answers varied quite widely! One piece of advice was to give your child a pillow whenever they make the transition to a bigger bed. Other people said to do it as soon as they started to become wiggle worms at night time, moving around to many different positions to try to get more comfortable. There were parents who gave a pillow to a child just after turning 1, and there were others who didn’t offer a pillow until much later, perhaps closer to 3. So as with many things related to parenting, the question of when to give your child a pillow is one with many different answers, and it is best to use your own best judgment based on the needs of your child.

After determining that Darah was ready, it was then time to figure out what type of pillow to get her. Does she really need a standard size pillow like what we have on our bed? That seemed ridiculous to me. One person online suggested getting an airline pillow. I liked the idea of a pillow that size, but where do you get an airline pillow? Those things are hard to find even on airplanes these days!

So, I began my search for a toddler pillow online, expecting to be overwhelmed with options. Not so! There aren’t nearly as many places as you might assume that have pillows especially designed for toddlers. But that’s no problem since there’s at least one place that offers an excellent product at an excellent price. Let me introduce you to BobbleRoos. This is a wonderful company that offers a whole host of practical gifts for babies and toddlers, but I want you to pay very close attention to their toddler pillows. They are the PERFECT size and shape (not too fluffy, not too flat). And they can be customized with many different soft and sweet fabrics. What I REALLY like is the fact that you can get your child’s name embroidered on the pillowcase, which makes it even more special. It also makes for a practical tough if your little one is going to preschool or kindergarten and needs to take his or her own pillow with him. There will be no mistaking which one belongs to your child!

When I first showed Darah her pillow, she knew it had her name on it, which she loved. She looked up at me and said, “This is Darah’s pillow!” And she sleeps with it every night in her crib. I know that it isn’t too fluffy to cause any worry, so I feel totally happy with the pillow I chose. I also know that even though this pillow is small, it can easily grow with Darah. It really is a great size travel pillow for car trips or plane rides.

So after all that research, I have concluded that there isn’t a standard answer for when to give your child a pillow (although absolutely nobody recommends one before the age of 1), nor is there a standard type suggested. But there is one place that offers a toddler pillowyou can buy with confidence, and that place is BobbleRoos! Pillows start at $16.50, and can be embroidered for an additional $6.95!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win your very own Toddler Pillow from Bobbleroos including personalization!
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Verilux SmartLight: See What Full-Spectrum Lighting Can Do for You! (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Did you know that I write most of my blog posts between 4:30 and 6:00am each and every day? It’s true! Darah is an EXTREMELY early morning riser (5:30 is a very common wake up time for her, and always has been). In order to get any work done, I have to get up before she does in the morning. Fortunately, I’m also a morning person, so this schedule has been doable for me.
My husband is a different story. He’s not a morning OR a night person. Basically, if he had his way he would sleep 10 hours a night and take a 1-2 hour nap in the middle of the afternoon. He’s just a big snoozer! Waking up is difficult for him and always has been. But we have something in our room that is helping him wake up more refreshed than anything else we’ve tried in the past.

It’s called the SmartLight and its from Verilux. First, let me tell you how we use the lamp, and then I’ll tell you other excellent uses for the lamp. We use it as Tim’s gentle alarm clock. No, it doesn’t have an actual alarm built into it, but when I get up at 4:30, I turn on the SmartLight, which is by Tim’s side of the bed. It produces a Natural Spectrum Daylight that shines in the room. This particular kind of lighting replicates key wavelengths of natural daylight which sends your body a message that artificial lighting simply can’t. Tim is usually out of bed within 20 minutes of the light coming on, and he isn’t grumpy. I’d call this a miracle, people.

The SmartLight is actually intended to be used as a lamp for people who might need to stay up at night studying, and who need some help concentrating while they read. Studies have found that people using the  Verilux SmartLight are able to read faster and with greater comprehension. They can also study longer without glare or eyestrain, which really helps maximize study time.

I can understand that this might sound a little far-fetched. I mean, how is a light going to make you read faster and understand more?! Well, there is over 50 years of research that has gone into this SmartLight, and they have really keyed in on the light the human eye most needs.

Verilux is a company that knows light and knows how to use it to better your everyday life. I have reviewed their CleanWave Sanitizing Wand in the past and continue to regularly use this product to battle germs in my house. I have been consistently impressed with the quality of the products and the research that goes into creating them. Verilux makes products that will last and that will produce results. In the case of the SmartLight, the bulb in the lamp is a very special one (not something you can pick up at your local drugstore or hardware store). But it is designed to last 10,000 hours, which is more than 10 times the life of a traditional bulb. When it does finally wear out, Verilux offers replacement bulbs, as well. The lamp also is made of a durable plastic, which means it can most likely see your child from elementary school through college without any problems.

One of the things I find the most exciting about this product, though, is the price point. It sells for $39.95, and I think that’s a steal for what this lamp can provide to you and your family.  I very highly recommend it for anyone who needs to “burn the midnight oil” but wants to do it in a more effective and efficient way! I also recommend it for anyone who struggles to get out of bed in the morning and needs a more gentle wake up method!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Verilux SmartLight!
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A New (FREE!) Babysitter Finder: SittersSearch.com!

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For a while, we had a “mother’s helper” coming over every week or so to help us out with Darah. This was an excellent arrangement for us, since we would be staying in the house while the babysitting happened, and could be on hand if the sitter needed any advice or assistance. A mother’s helper is someone just getting started as a babysitter, so they typically are in their early teens. Alas, school is back in session, as are all those wonderful extra-curricular activities, so we’ve got to find a new arrangement for the school year. We have a wonderful babysitter who is more expensive than our mother’s helper was (because she’s in college), but she can probably only help out once a month or so due to her really full schedule.

So, we are back to the drawing board to find a babysitter. There’s a fairly new online service that can help connect you as a parent in need with members of your community who would like to work as a sitter or nanny. When you fill out a profile, you can give as much detailed information about your situation as you like, and you can look for anything from the occasional weekend sitter to a full-time live in nanny!You can also choose your required experience level. I know some people want babysitters who are in college or have even finished college, while others are fine with someone who isn’t yet finished with high school.

But I haven’t told you the best part, yet: IT’S FREE!!!!! And this is not a situation where it is free to sign up but you have to pay to be able to contact the sitters. Nope….EVERYTHING is free! That keeps more money in your pocket, or rather, in the babysitter’s pocket, since you are about to hire one!

SittersSearch.com is still a fairly new kid on the block. I was a little bummed out to see that there aren’t yet any registered babysitters in my area. But, I am not discouraged! Once the word gets out, I think the resumes will start to come in for this sitter service, and I’ve opted to received notification once a week of any new sitters in my area who have joined the site. So I don’t even have to log in every few days to check; SittersSearch will let me know when there is something to see!

If you are looking for a babysitting opportunity for yourself, definitely register on this site. Since it is still new, you will likely be one of just a handful of sitters in your area, and that means that you’ll be REALLY attractive right off the bat once someone who is looking for a sitter in your area finds you! And if you know anyone in Chattanooga looking for a babysitting gig, tell them to get registered, as I’m already registered and looking for some help!

This post is brought to you by SittersSearch.com. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

My Very Favorite Way to Buy Shoes: ShoeDazzle Review

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Back in May I was at a retreat for my local Junior League. I was sitting next to a very savvy lady who handled social media for our chapter last year (a role I stepped into for this year). During a break, I noticed that she had her iPad out and appeared to be doing some quick shoe shopping. Intrigued by her ability to shop so quickly, I asked her about the site she was on. She told me it was called ShoeDazzle, and it was a total lifesaver for her. I took a second to look at her shoes. They were GORGEOUS! So I asked to hear more!
shoe dazzle review Once I learned how it worked, I could hardly wait to get back home and get signed up! Let me give you the scoop.
First, you sign up for a membership to ShoeDazzle (which is free). You take a personal style inventory, so that ShoeDazzle gets a better sense for your personal preferences when it comes to shoes, handbags and jewelry. Then, a team of stylists actually puts together a showroom for you of their top picks for shoes, handbags and jewelry, all available on ShoeDazzle for that month, and all at the very affordable price of $39.95 each (and yes, that DOES include shipping!).
shoe dazzle review What if ShoeDazzle didn’t quite get it right? My experience indicates that there will be something in your showroom that you will flip over, but if you don’t like anything they picked out for you, simply request alternative selections. Perhaps you have a certain type of shoe you are looking for at the moment, or you need a sleek handbag in a particular color. Let them know what you are seeking, and give them just a few days, and you will be presented with alternative selections.
Are you hearing what I’m saying to you, people? ShoeDazzle does the weeding out for you, thus, saving you tons of time. And since new selections come out every single month, you can be sure that the products you purchase from ShoeDazzle will be right on trend, and maybe even a bit ahead of the trend (I honestly can’t remember the last time I had items in my wardrobe that were on the very front end of a trend!). And the price point is absolutely fabulous.
Once you place an order from ShoeDazzle, there is one thing you need to keep in mind: it is a monthly “club” that you have joined, and if you don’t tell ShoeDazzle between the 1st-5th of the month that you want to skip the month, you will be automatically charged for that month. You are sent a reminder that it is time to check out your new showroom at the beginning of the month, and I appreciate this, because that gives you reminder you need to log in and select “skip the month” if that’s what you want to do. Skipping is absolutely no problem, and there is not a limit on the number of times you can skip. If you forget to skip but you really don’t want any shoes, handbags or jewelry that month, your credit will hold for you for as long as you like. You don’t HAVE to spend it that month. But I can promise you that it will be hard not to, because the amount of cute that they have to offer is going to blow your mind!
I currently own 3 pair of ShoeDazzle shoes, and they are, without question, the most rockin’ items in my entire wardrobe. With my very first purchase, I was disappointed when I saw that one of my shoes appeared to be scuffed (before I had ever worn them). When I called customer service, they shipped me a new pair that day and just asked that I get the old pair back to them….return shipping is also FREE if you are dissatisfied for any reason. So it is truly risk-free!
One more thing: ShoeDazzle rewards you for shopping with them (as if being a member wasn’t already fun enough!). It’s called Style Points, and you get 100 points for every shoe purchased, and 200 points for every friend you refer to the program. Once you earn 1,000 points, you can redeem it for one credit to the store (a credit is worth $39.95). Pretty awesome, right?!
Join!: Friends, this is one group you most definitely want to join. I have absolutely no regrets about becoming a ShoeDazzle member. There’s nothing to lose (other than bad shoes and accessories, I suppose).
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win one credit to ShoeDazzle! EEEEEE!!!!
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Tim’s Trip to the Dentist: A Comedy

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I thought you might be due for a funny story on the blog. It’s abut the time that Tim got all 4 of his wisdom teeth removed, which happened about 15 months ago. I remember it like it was yesterday, though!
If you’ve never had your wisdom teeth removed, then you should know two main things. First, the surgery is surprisingly quick. I believe the time between when Tim left the waiting room to see the doctor and be sedated and when I was told he was in recovery totaled 40 minutes. And that’s for all 4 teeth to come out!.
The second thing to know is that you must have someone with you to drive you home after your surgery. You are completely loopy afterwards. It needs to be someone you can really trust, because you may say some interesting things on your drive home!
You also need to have someone on hand to help you out who can pay close attention to the medicine directions you receive, which change over the course of the next few days.
When I saw Tim come out of surgery and to the car, it was actually really a tough moment for me, because I saw my rock looking helpless and weak. I actually felt a little bit sad as I looked at him. But let me tell you, he turned my frown upside-down almost immediately. Because he was a RIOT on those drugs, people!
The first thing he told me as the nurse was helping him get into the car was, “I did good! I had surgery!” (Remember, he’s got cotton balls stuffed in his mouth, so you can imagine how this actually sounded, I’m sure). He had the pride of a 6 year old who just won a coloring contest, folks. I was so surprised by it that I had to turn my head so he didn’t see me crack up.
We had a 25 minute drive back to our house, and I needed to stop at Walgreens to get his prescription filled as well. I told  him repeatedly where we were going and what we were doing because he would ask every 2-3 minutes where we were. About 7 minutes into the drive he announced, “I changed my mind. I don’t need any drugs. I feel FINE!” Good thing I was there to veto that decision! He also professed his undying love for me multiple times on the way home, which was super sweet. Even in his loopiest state, he still wants to tell me he loves me!
When we arrived at Walgreens he asked me to buy him some water. Poor thing. Drinking it did NOT go well. He basically just spilled water down the front of his shirt. His response to this situation was, “Oh no. I forgot how to drink.”
He said so many hilarious things on that 25 minute car ride home. Those drugs really were powerful, and that’s a good thing, since 4 humongous teeth had been yanked from his body in a 30 minute time span.
What about you? Ever been sedated at the dentist and have a funny story about something you said? Ever taken care of anyone still under the “spell” of anesthesia?
This post is brought to you by Nashville Dentist and is sponsored by Bucks2Blog. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Tanner’s Tasty Paste Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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As toddlers start to exert their independence, parents often find themselves scratching their heads and desperately trying to figure out how to make necessities, like brushing your teeth, become appealing to kids once again. This is definitely something that Darah used to LOVE to do, and now she runs away, usually screaming, when we break out the toothbrush after her bath.
But I have found something that works. Get some toothpaste that tastes so yummy that your kid actually looks forward to getting to brush her teeth. Tall order? Absolutely. Impossible? Nope!
For my family, the solution has been Tanner’s Tasty Paste. Darah has been using Baby Bling, which is a fluoride-free toothpaste (perfect for the little ones who aren’t very good at spitting out their toothpaste after brushing). I’ve tasted this stuff, and it tastes like vanilla frosting. Not joking. It is GOOD. I’m amazed that something this yummy is actually cleaning your teeth!
Tanner’s Tasty Paste comes in two other flavors, as well: Banilla Bling (vanilla) and Cha Cha Chocolate. The latter is my absolute favorite. Are you surprised? If you are like me, you are probably thinking, “Chocolate toothpaste? Gross!” Only, I promise it isn’t! It tastes great! I think that’s because Tanner’s is a natural toothpaste company, so their products simply don’t taste like the major brands you find on most store shelves. In fact, they put a list of their ingredients on the website, and even explain the purpose of each ingredients. There’s nothing in their products that doesn’t serve a purpose!
A 4.2 ounce tube of Tanner’s Tasty Paste retails for $6.00 and can be purchased online. If you are wrestling with your kids every night to get them to brush their teeth, this may be the secret weapon you’ve been searching for!
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the full line of Tanner’s Tasty Paste products. Woo  hoo!
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