Stuff Parents Need

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

Member’s Mark 4X Probiotic: My Thoughts After 2 Weeks

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Tim and I have been taking the Member’s Mark 4X Probiotic every day for the past 2 weeks (check out my original post on #digestivehealth here, if you missed it). I thought I’d tell you about our experience and what I have (and haven’t) noticed while taking these pills.

1. The pills are quite large. To be fair, they contain over 5 billion live probiotic cells when they are made. So bearing that in mind, I suppose the size is reasonable!

2. I personally am not noticing any changes with how I’m feeling, but I am also not the person in the family who has digestive issues.

3. Tim has been problem-free since taking this product, and that is really exciting to see. We both think that Member’s Mark 4X Probiotic is keeping his intestines happy, and that is keeping Tim happy!

Moving forward, I will likely stop taking this as part of my daily regimen, but it is something I would take with me when traveling, for sure. Tim is going to continue taking it since it seems to be making a positive difference for him.

If you or someone in your family has Chron’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome or just suffers from an easily upset stomach, I would recommend this product based on the results Tim is seeing. Member’s Mark 4X Probiotic is sold at Sam’s Club and retails for $28.88, which gives you a 3-month supply of the product.
Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own. 

Tame Those Tangles: The Knot Genie Review and $500 Contest!

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I have vivid memories of having major knots in my hair as a child and spending time in the bathroom crying as my mom worked them out with a comb and a brush. She tried to be gentle, but there was only so much she could do to make the situation painless. It didn’t really help matters that she had a spiral perm put in my hair when I was only 9 and couldn’t really take care of hair that curly by myself. But I digress…

Some kids  have hair just that curly on their own, or even if it isn’t that curly, still seem to be prone to major tangles and knots. Enter The Knot Genie. This is a wonderful de-tangling brush that really does work like magic to de-tangle hair, all without the tears and tantrums that usually accompany those hair brushing sessions. We’ve tried it out, and found it to be really soft and really good and brushing out hair. We aren’t yet at a place where we have tangles, but Darah’s hair does have some curls, and they are no problem for the Knot Genie.

There is a second element to this brush that I really love, too. It is EXCELLENT for any toddler who still has cradle cap. Darah is one of those kids who didn’t lose her cradle cap at a year, or even at 2. We’ve tried countless things to get rid of it, and have had minimal success. But this brush’s bristles are doing the best job of anything so far at massaging her scalp and getting that stuff to come off. Yay!!!

The Knot Genie retails for $19.99 and can be purchased online.

Win it!: If your child needs a Knot Genie, I’ve got a great contest to tell you about today! Check out the Facebook page for Knot Genie, and you’ll see that you can win your own Knot Genie AND a $500 savings bond (woo hoo!) for creating a 1 minute (or less!) video about why your child needs this product. That’s SUPER easy and the payoff could be tremendous. PLUS, the first 50 entrants automatically get a free Knot Genie!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Knot Genie. All opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

How to Keep Cereal from Getting Soggy: Obol Review

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When we were in college, there were 3 distinct times that I fell completely in love with Tim (all before we started dating, even). One of those times was during dinner at the dining hall freshmen year. We were eating with our usual crew (two married couples came out of that mix, by the way!). It was a rough night as far as the menu options were concerned, so Tim included a bowl of cereal on his tray. When he sat down, I noticed that his cereal didn’t have any milk in it. I mentioned to him that he forgot his milk, and that’s when he pointed to a small glass of milk on his tray. He told me that he purposely didn’t add it so that he could have the cereal later on in the meal without it going soggy.

And I just melted into a puddle. I know, it didn’t take much. I thought he was the smartest person ever to walk the face of the earth, as evidenced by his outwitting of the soggies!

So a few weeks ago I saw a review of this bowl called Obol, and when I saw it, the memories of swooning over Tim that night in college came flooding back to me. “I must seek this treasure for my love!”, I thought to myself (what is with me being so crazy about this guy when it comes to anything cereal-related???).

I contacted Obol, and was sent one for review. You are probably wondering what the heck it is. Check it out!!!

The basic idea is that you keep whatever you want to eat with a liquid (cereal, cookies, goldfish) in the top, and then you can scoop the amount you want down in increments. Tim LOVES it, and reports that he is now enjoying the best cereal experience of his life! 🙂

It really is a fantastic bowl for anyone who likes to keep their cereal crispy.

Is there anything not so great about it? Admittedly, yes. It is a rather large bowl with an unusual shape. That means that it doesn’t easily nest in with other bowls, and you can’t really fit other bowls on top of it, either. Because of this, it takes up quite a bit of space, which is a bummer if your cabinet real estate is precious, as ours is. I’d love to see Obol figure out a way to make the bottom fit in with other bowls a bit better. But other than that, it’s a cereal connoisseur’s dream! I did get word from the company that a smaller version of the bowl is in the works, so that may help with its awkward fit. Yay!

The Obol can be purchased on the Obol website or through Brookstone.com for 19.99!

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

You Need a Budget: Final Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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I’ve been singing the praises of You Need a Budget (YNAB), a personal finance software program that can (and WILL!) forever change your relationship with money and put you in the driver’s seat of your financial future.  If you missed them, please check out my first post and my second post so that you can hear all about my family’s journey and how much has changed since we started using YNAB back in December.

Here’s the final vlog about where we stand now!

Pretty exciting, huh? We were able to seize the opportunity to start our own business because we could clearly assess how the endeavor would fit in with our financial goals, as well as with our priorities as a family. We were able to say “yes” to the right thing at the right time!

Buy it!: YNAB retails for $59.95 and I cannot emphasize enough how much it is worth the price. It will change your life, people.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your own download of the software! Yes! The contest will run until August 20th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me anything related to the topic of personal finance. What are some of your financial goals? What are some of the obstacles you face to reaching those goals? How do you currently keep track of your finances? Anything related to the topic works for me!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like YNAB on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by email or RSS

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

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of YNAB for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

The Best Professional Decision I Ever Made as a Blogger

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Today I’m guest posting at Simply Stacie about the best professional decision I ever made as a blogger. I’m not going to let the cat out of the bag here, so hop on over the Simply Stacie and see my answer. I’d love to get some comment love over there and hear what you think!

Making Silly Faces by In the Nick of Time: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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T here’s a children’s musician who has been on the scene for a while named Nick Deysher, and I’m just now learning about him (I know…how is that possible?!). His band is called In the Nick of Time (get it? Cute, huh?) and on September 6th their fifth studio CD will drop. It’s called Making Silly Faces, and I’ve got the inside scoop for you!

First, let me just say that Nick’s last album, People, Places & Things won a Parents’ Choice Gold award in 2010. That’s a HUGE compliment, and based on what I heard from this latest album, I think the praise is deserved.

I would describe the sound of this group as very eclectic. There’s a little something in there for everyone, for sure. Nick has been influenced by a wide variety of artists and states that, “Careful listeners will hear hints of Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, The Ramones and many others (even Snoop Dogg).”

I think Nick’s varied taste in music shines through in his own contribution to the art. He seems like a very interesting individual. I was shocked (and really excited) to learn that in addition to putting out critically acclaimed music for children, he also is serves as a preschool music specialist 5 days a week AND serves as a program director and teacher at an after school music program for 4 to 7-year-olds. Wow! That is some serious dedication to exposing kids to music!

This is a great addition to our musical collection, and one I would recommend adding to your own. Making Silly Faces runs 37 minutes, and is ideal for ages 2-8. The retail price will be $14.99. You can buy it right here!

Win it!: Before it even hits the stores, one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will snag a copy of Making Silly Faces! The contest will run until August 18th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Nick would love to be friends with you on Facebook! Like him and come back here to tell me you did for your first entry!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Subscribe to Nick’s blog, Singing in the Bathtub.

2. Blogger love: Like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

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

Disclosure: I received a complimentary CD for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Shabby Apple Dress GIVEAWAY!!!!

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Tim’s birthday was a few weeks ago. Darah’s birthday was yesterday. My birthday is in a few weeks. We are birthday maniacs this time of year! You can imagine that by the time my birthday rolls around, the usual things like cake and ice cream or even going out to dinner just aren’t as appealing. Been there, done that. TWICE.

So, in the spirit of switching it up as we head towards my special day, I thought I’d do something special for my readers and offer a giveaway.

Ok, you’re right. I do that pretty much every day. But THIS one is in honor of your hostess with the mostess.

I picked out something super fabulous for one lucky reader. It’s one of many fabulous dresses from Shabby Apple and it’s what I would wear to my 31st birthday party if I were to have one (and let’s be real, I’m going to spend that day playing with building blocks, writing blog posts and cleaning dried yogurt off the table, just like any other day; such is the life of a work-at-home parent!).

Anyway, back to that dress. Wanna see it? It just screams, “Summer isn’t over yet, people! Keep the party going a few weeks more!”

 

Super cute, right?! I KNOW!!!! Shabby Apple simply has the best selection of women’s dresses I’ve ever seen. They are this fabulous intersection of modern and vintage. They are always elegant, understated, but also unforgettable. They rock! If you see anything on the site you like, right now you can score 10% off by using the discount code stuffparentsneed10off. Yay!

And now it’s time for one of you to rock this dress!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the Lighthouse dress shown above in any available size (ARV $89.00!). The contest will run until August 18th at 11:49pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Give me the greatest birthday gift of all: subscribe to my blog via RSS or email! Just leave a comment letting me know that you already subscribe or just subscribed and that will be your first entry!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Shabby Apple on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

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

Disclosure: No products or compensation was received for this post. Affiliate links are embedded.

Real Men Wear Their Babies: Boba Carrier Review

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I do love to see a man wearing his little in a carrier. I know other women do, too. You would not believe the oohs and coos that Tim gets (yes, Tim, NOT Darah) when he sports a baby in a carrier! Out of control, people.

But aside from the fact that men look adorable when baby-wearing, babies and toddlers look happy beyond measure. When Darah was a wee one, we would strap her in her carrier for a dinner time stroll. That would nip the crying spell that most babies experience around 5-7pm in the bud. She would get totally quiet as soon as she was in the carrier and outside. It was like magic, people.

If you don’t have experience with a carrier, or if you are on the lookout for a new one, I want to give my most enthusiastic endorsement for the Boba carrier. We’ve had one for about 9 months, now, and I wish we had purchased it much sooner. We had a Baby Bjorn, and it did the trick just fine, but the Boba seems to offer so many other great features for little ones as they grow into toddlers. And if you can get your baby to transition to being worn still as a toddler, your life will literally be extended by 5 years. This is based on nothing, but I believe it in my heart to be true! There’s a time for dallying, as toddlers love to do, and there’s a time to get moving! When a toddler will go into a carrier, you both rest easier, especially if you’ve got a Boba and have the weight of the child evenly distributed for maximum comfort! Sometimes we also use the carrier when Darah just wants to be held. Putting her in the Boba is easier on our backs, and frees up our hands so we can do some chores about the house while holding her.

I don’t have any personal experience with an Ergo carrier, but they seem to be the gold standard. The Boba compares very nicely with it, and actually offers a few things that the Ergo doesn’t, so if you are looking for a long-term carrier and are considering the Ergo, check out this comparison chart, and I think it will put Boba on your radar as a very serious contender:

features Boba Baby Carrier Ergo Baby Carrier
made with 100% certified organic cotton (Boba Organic) or 100% Natural brushed cotton (Boba Classic) regular or organic cotton
weight recommendation 15 to 45 lbs (7 to 20 kgs) 15 to 45 lbs (7 to 20 kgs)
lining soft brushed cotton canvas (organic cotton used for Boba Organic) poplin or organic sateen
batting 100% organic cotton (Boba Organic)100% natural cotton (Boba Classic) 100% cotton
front carry yes yes
back carry yes yes
hip carry no, we do not promote off-center carrying as it is not ergonomic for the wearer yes
waist buckle centered military grade buckle buckle on the side with safety elastic to catch release
height of carrier 16 inches – clings to and supports child’s entire back, brings child and center of gravity closer to you 13 inches – may only come to mid-back of toddler, leaning-back feeling on wearer due to lack of upper back support in child, may put pressure on shoulder and chest straps
width of carrier 13 inches in the seat/17 inches mid section to hug your child 14 inches
rounded top yes – envelops and pulls child’s entire back close to your body no – straight top may pull baby closer with horizontal line of pressure against toddler’s back
sleeping hood yes – removable hood yes
foot straps yes – provides a place to rest bigger legs, improves circulation, no pressure on nerves. Pelvis tilts under, hip sockets fill out, spine aligns properly in toddler no
made in Boba Organic – USA
Boba Classic – China		 China and India
price $100 for Boba Classic
$128 for Boba Organic		 $115 – $120 for organic

 

What do you carry your little one in? Do you have any questions about Bobas that I can answer or get someone from the company to answer for you?

Disclosure: I received a complimentary carrier in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Canadian Organic Products Come to the U.S! Green Beaver Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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There’s a great line of eco-friendly personal care products made by the Canadian company Green Beaver that I’ve been wanting to try for a year, now. Green Beaver is the largest natural, eco-friendly and organic certified product line in Canada. They have finally started to sell their products in the U.S. and so, I was able to get my paws hands on them and try them out!

The whole family has been trying out the Green Beaver Green Apple Toothpaste. It has a very mild taste. So mild, in fact, that I felt challenged in the same way I have with other natural toothpastes…I started to second guess if it was working. After all, it doesn’t foam in your mouth, it doesn’t taste like most other toothpastes, either. And if you accidentally swallow a little, it doesn’t make you gag (I may or may not have done this, just sayin’). How hilariously ironic is it that when something is safer for you than most other products on the market, you start to question if it is a good choice? It’s really just a matter of getting used to something different and realizing that safe doesn’t mean ineffective. Natural products can get your pearly whites to shine, too!

Darah has been lovin’ bath time lately. Green Beaver Jr. Bubble Bath is her very first bubble bath product. She loves it, of course, and the bubbles smell great. Why have we waited so long to get her a bubble bath? Because our child drinks bath water like she is in the Sahara. We’ve tried to get her to stop, but have had no success so far. We knew we had to get something very mild to use, because we were pretty sure she would eat the bubbles in addition to drinking the water. And yeah, we were right.

We’ve also been using the Green Beaver Jr. Shampoo. The scent is awesome yet mild. I love that it has a pump, which makes it easy to dispense (it also makes it easy for a toddler to dispense, so keep it out of reach when not in use!).

Buy it!: Green Beaver products are reasonably priced, with the toothpaste retailing for $4.99 and the bubble bath and shampoo retailing for $9.99 each. Products can be purchased directly from the website!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the same 3 products I reviewed. Woo hoo! The contest will run until August 17th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Green Beaver has an AMAZING selection of organic and natural products. Select one that isn’t mentioned in this post that you’d really like to try and leave a comment about it here for your first entry.

My answer: I’d like to try the Passion Lip Shimmer!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like The Green Beaver Company on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

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

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