Stuff Parents Need

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

Baby/Toddler Mealtime Makeover (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Feeding Darah is so much fun. She has hit that age where there are very few things that she cannot try. We have been lucky so far to not run into any allergy problems, so almost every day brings some new food to try. And she certainly does like to try several different things. Gone are the days when she would happily eat just one thing for dinner. I’ve pretty much always fed her more than one thing at a time, but I used to just mix up her food cubes together to make one pile of mush. I know, that’s kind of gross, but she used to happily eat it.

Notice that I said, “USED TO.” This is no longer acceptable. She wants to taste different flavors individually. I can’t really say that I blame her, but I’m challenged to provide this for her for one main reason. I don’t have a plate or bowl with different compartments for different foods that is BPA free. So I have no easy way to get her food heated up in the microwave unless I use multiple bowls at each meal (which I am not cool with doing).

If you read my posts, then you know by now that when I encounter a problem like this, I go looking for the mom in the world who has already solved it. And I found her! Blog friends, allow me to introduce Liz, and her super useful product, the Baby Banquet.

The Baby Banquet is a super cool portable feeding system for infants and toddlers. It comes with a removable tray that can be safely microwaved (because it is BPA free!). Now this is without a doubt my “go-to” feeding system for Darah. Poor Tim is constantly having to wash it! I send it with her to daycare so that she can have a really nice lunch. I can also pack a snack underneath the sectioned tray. This is a great feature, because in the past I’ve just sent a container of those puffs with her, and even though I had her name on it, her caretakers couldn’t remember that it was hers and they just fed the snacks to all the kids. I’m all about sharing, but her whole container was empty after a week, and I’m not really even sure if she got any of them since bringing snacks for her is sort of a new thing. Now I can pack away just enough for her, for the day. Perfect!

This is also a terrific tool when you are traveling with babies and toddlers. Each of the sections is sized so that it can hold a baby food jar, and of course it can hold lots of other things, too. The bottom section can hold string cheese, goldfish, granola bars, juice packs, or most anything else that your little munchkin munches on!

The Baby Banquet has honestly made mealtime easier for Darah and her parents. Thank you so much, Liz and Baby Banquet!

Buy It!: The Baby Banquet is available for purchase on the Baby Banquet website (and listen up, Target and Babies R Us, this is something you need to start selling!) for $14.99.

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED

Win It!: Liz wants to give one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a baby or toddler mealtime makeover by giving away a Baby Banquet in your choice of blue or pink! The contest will run until June 25th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory Entry:
Tell me your color preference for the Baby Banquet (blue or pink) AND one thing you would put in it for the child in your life!.

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
3. “Like” Baby Banquet on Facebook

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


Be sure to check out all the other current giveaways (check the sidebar on my homepage for a list!)

How to Make Soda

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I used to drink soda A LOT. As in, several a day. Thankfully, I weaned myself off of that bad habit, and learned to drink a lot more water (ok, and iced coffee). But I still really enjoy having a nice cold soda a few times each week. I think because I don’t drink them constantly I enjoy the flavor so much more now whenever I have one!

Given the fact that I only imbibe in a carbonated beverage a few times each week, buying 2 liters of soda are ALWAYS a waste of money in my house. We only get about halfway through the bottle before it is F-L-A-T. I don’t like to crowd my pantry with 12 packs of soda, either. They take up a lot of room, and I find that if they are there, I’m more likely to reach for one often. Finally, paying the premium prices for those 20 ounce bottles is more than I can stomach. Given our soda habits and preferences, its actually a little bit tricky to get soda!

How to Make Soda

But, my friends, now we have such a cool and fun way to have just the right amount of soda whenever the mood strikes. Have you heard of SodaStream? It’s a company that creates products for making soda at home. I already know what you are thinking: There’s NO WAY that can be worth the pain in the rear that it must be to make your own, and there’s NO WAY that whatever you make will taste decent. I had my own suspicions, believe you me. But check out my video where you’ll see me make soda for the very first time ever and see for yourself! [Read more…]

Need A New Blog Layout? I Recommend Penny Lane Designs

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If you haven’t popped on over to my blog homepage lately, please take a moment to do so…I’ve got a brand new look!

Stuff Parents Need is growing, thanks to wonderful readers just like you who enjoy learning about great products that you just might need (and you probably also enjoy having the chance to win them!). Since my blog has become more than a hobby to me, I decided it was time to give it a more professional look. There are a lot of wonderful blog designers out there, and I am absolutely certain that I chose to work with one of the very best.

My blog was designed by Penny Lane Designs. Marina is the fabulous woman behind this company. Deciding to professionally upgrade your blog is a big deal (and a financial commitment!), so I wanted to make sure that I found a designer whose overall style and vibe spoke to me. Everything that I found on Penny Lane Designs I loved.

logo for Penny Lane Designs (review) After exchanging a few emails with Marina, I took the plunge to work with her, and I’m SO GLAD that I did. I filled out a form and waited my turn in her queue (wait times average 2-3 weeks…a sign that she’s just that good!). Marina only had a few questions for me as she worked on my blog, and she was patient with me when it took me a little while to get back to her. When she couldn’t find the exact image she wanted for my header, she simply created it! I am so pleased with the final product, and I’m so amazed that Marina was able to capture so well what I wanted in my blog design without asking me a million questions. She is so gifted!

After the new design quietly launched on Monday, we ran into a problem. To be perfectly honest with you, I can’t even explain what the heck it was, but it was a tricky one that had to do with one post having a weird html code in it, and that throwing off the entire site (except for in firefox, where everything looked great). Marina dug in, did her research, found the problem and promptly fixed it. It was, in a word, AWESOME.

I also learned from her, in the process of solving the mystery problem, that if you use blogger, it is really important to always write your posts in blogger, itself, rather than in a word doc, and then cutting and pasting. Sometimes I cut and paste from other documents, and that was the source of the problem. Learn from my mistake, fellow blogger users!

If you are looking for a little lift on your site or a complete and total makeover, I can’t say enough wonderful things about Penny Lane Designs. I give her might highest recommendation! If you decide to work with her, tell her I sent you over!

Stella and Dot Jewelry Offers Celebrity Style

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I was recently contacted by a fabulous woman named Courtney who has her own business as a rep for Stella & Dot jewelry. I’ve heard of Stella and Dot before, largely due to its popularity with celebrities, but I never paid too much attention to it, assuming that their prices would be beyond outrageous (I mean, anything that Paris Hilton sports on a regular basis has got to be ridiculously pricey, right?). Well, I’m pleased to report that Stella and Dot offers beautiful and fashion-forward pieces for a variety of budgets!

turquoise earrings from stella and dot For example, Courtney sent me two pieces to review that are sensibly priced. First, check out the Turquoise Sea Drop Earrings. They are simple, yet bold, and they are absolutely perfect for the summer months! They are also an affordable $29.00. They are not too lightweight (sometimes earrings can be so lightweight and you KNOW they are made of really cheap material). But they also don’t drag down your ear lobes!

While Stella and Dot does have some jewelry that I can’t really afford (but would love to own….hello there, Colette necklace), I also saw several things that I wouldn’t feel bad about requesting for my birthday in a few months (like the smoky drop earrings or the teardrop scroll earrings, both priced under $30!).

child's bracelet from stella and dot Also, if there’s a girly girl in your home who likes to play dress up with mommy’s jewelry, Stella and Dot has recently launched a line just for little girls! While Darah is too young for her own jewelry (other than her earrings, of course), I’m really looking forward to giving her this cute Little Dottie Bracelet that Courtney sent to me once she gets bigger. It’s bright, looks well-made, and comes in the cutest little tin. It is gift-ready if you are looking for a present for a little girl. All of their children’s jewelry is inspected to ensure that it meet lead standards, as well.

Check out Stella and Dot if you haven’t before. Be sure to notice that you can shop by trend, which is especially helpful if there’s a particular look you are going for. Also, if you are looking for a really fun opportunity to start your own company, sell high-quality products and have a lot of fun in the process, contact Courtney at courthutton(at) gmail (dot) com to get more information about how to become a Stella & Dot stylist. She’d love to answer your questions and help you get started! Courtney shares the following about how she got started, “Even though I work a full time job, I longed for something more FUN and stylish than my ‘real job’, something that was truly my own. I wanted a business that I was proud of, and if I worked hard I could enjoy the rewards of my own effort. Like lots of people, I dreamt about being an entrepreneur, but didn’t know if I had the money to make it happen! When I discovered Stella & Dot, and realized how affordable it was to start a profitable and high potential business, I knew I could stop dreaming and start living! I didn’t need to open my own boutique and worry about leases, inventory, websites, and employees! I was thrilled that I could launch this business RIGHT AWAY and work it right alongside my current job! No risk at all.”

stella and dot logo Buy it! There are SO MANY beautiful pieces at Stella & Dot…it your wardrobe could use a little lift, get yourself some of the same accessories that are gracing all the magazine pages. When you shop through this link and put Tiffany as your hostess, you will get free shipping on any order! Woo hoo!

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED

Win It!: Remember those lovely turquoise earrings I talked about earlier? Now is your chance to snag your very own pair! The contest will run until June 21st at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory Entry:
Become a fan on Courtney’s Stella & Dot fan-page, tell me you did and tell me your favorite Stella & Dot piece!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)

3. Contact Courtney to express your interest in learning more about becoming a stylist!

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

 

 

Country Chic Style from Shabby Apple

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garden country chic dress by Shabby Apple

Do you ever stumble upon a clothing line where every single piece makes you drool? More often than not, I only like a few pieces from any given collection each season. Shabby Apple is a company that is an exception to this rule for me, though. I love practically everything on their site!

The first thing you should know about Shabby Apple is that they specialize in dresses. I’m a dress gal, myself, and love to wear them to work and even out and about around town. They have such a fantastic selection of dresses; nothing like what you can find in a department store (and I mean that in a good way).

Have you ever noticed that dresses in stores seem to go one of two different routes: either they are hopelessly frumpy and age you by 15 years because the cut is the same boring thing that has been around for forever and flatters absolutely nobody, OR they are ridiculously skimpy and will only flatter a thin teenager who doesn’t yet have hips or breasts to speak of. In either case, the dress looks bad and it goes back on the hanger, where it belongs. This is what I often experience when I go dress shopping, which is why I don’t own very many dresses, even though I love to wear them.

Country Chic

But friends, feast your eyes on what Shabby Apple has to offer the woman who wants to look current but who doesn’t want all her assets hanging out of her clothes! I have SO MANY dresses that I am drooling over, but here are just a few: Conservatory Garden, Carnival, Jitterbug and Champs Elysees. While they aren’t as cheap as what you can find at Old Navy or Target, I think they are absolutely gorgeous for the price!

brown country chic dress offered by Shabby Apple I had the opportunity to try a Shabby Apple dress for myself in order to determine if the dresses are just as fabulous in person as they are online. They are, indeed! I was sent the Tuxedo dress, and I absolutely love its country chic style! It is beautiful chocolate brown, but it is linen, so it is perfect for the summer. But let me tell you, I’m already planning on wearing this well into the fall and breaking that antiquated “no linen after Labor Day” rule. There’s no way I’m going to follow that when I have a piece this gorgeous to wear. And of course, the brown color will be perfect for September and October (and where I live, the weather will still allow me to wear it in November, even!). The ruffles on the bodice are cute, but not “cutesy.” I feel as though I look my age (29) in this dress. I also feel as though I look quite put together! The A-line shape is very figure-flattering. I opted to wear it without a belt and it looked great, but I could see how wearing a belt, as it is pictured here, would also look really cute, especially for someone not quite as short as me.

If you are expecting, Shabby Apple carries a nice maternity line, as well! You and your baby bump will look amazing in Aphrodite, don’t you think? Also, if you have a little girl, be sure to check out their line for girls and for pre-teens. I am swooning over Queen of Hearts and Garden Party. Sizes for girls start at 12-18 months….the size that Darah is just about to grow into! Hooray!

Buy It!: Shabby Apple has something to offer every woman who is tired of looking either frumpy or unconvincingly half her age! Check out their great selection of country chic dresses, accessories and swimwear today!

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED

Win It!: Shabby Apple would like to put one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader into the same beautiful Tuxedo dress that I have! Hooray for great fashion! The contest will run until June 19th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory Entry:
Tell me the size dress you want if you win (note that this dress sizes generously), AND post a link to your very favorite country chic item in the store!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
3. Follow Shabby Apple on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
4. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
4. Subscribe to the Shabby Apple mailing list (you’ll get a 10% off coupon for signing up!)

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

Free Canvas Photo Offer!

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As we are getting closer to Darah’s first birthday, I’m becoming more frantic about finding ways to capture these precious baby moments. It sort of reminds me of the last few months of my pregnancy when I wished so badly that I could bottle all of the free time I had, because I knew I soon would wish for a little bit of that freedom back!

One thing I want to get is a canvas print of my beautiful baby girl. But the thing is, they aren’t cheap, people! Or are they…

free canvas photo offer from canvas people Canvas People is a very cool company that recently contacted me because they want help spreading the word about what they have to offer. They are doing an amazing promotion right now. They are offering a free 8×10 canvas photo for new customers. You only have to pay shipping and handling ($14.95).

Now, my mama didn’t raise a fool, so I inquired further to see what the catch is for this awesome deal. NO CATCH! Canvas People is so confident that they have a quality product to offer that they are willing to give it away in order for people to see for themselves. They believe that you will be so impressed with the photo you receive that you’ll tell your friends, and maybe even come back later and do business with them!

There’s really only $14.95 at risk, and given the fact that these canvas prints retail for $55.00 plus shipping and handling, I’m willing to give them a try! I did some online sleuthing at other shops that offer canvas photos, and their prices are totally in line with what other places are charging, so this isn’t a case of “inflated prices and crazy S&H; to make you think you got a good deal” type thing. Also, if you want something larger than an 8×10, you can just take $55 off the price of whichever size you want. Cool, huh?

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off the find the baby picture of Darah that I want put on canvas. I’m so excited! Let me know if you decide to go for it, and what you think about the final product. I’ll be sure to tell you all about my photo when it comes in!

Click here if you want to learn more about the promotion!

This post may contain affiliate links. 

YoungBloods Diapers Review

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Cloth diapers are becoming more and more popular at my house, folks. Tim and I have been a bit at odds with each other on cloth diapers, but as soon as I realized that he didn’t mind, and in fact, even enjoyed using the all in one (AIO) diapers, I focused my efforts there, and we haven’t really looked back. I still use the fitted and pocket diapers we have, but I have tried to make sure that we have a decent supply of AIO diapers on hand so that Tim can just grab them and go. He wants diapers that are just as easy to use as disposables, and that’s pretty much AIO diapers, in a nut shell.

youngbloods diaper Today I want you to meet Jenny, a fabulous work at home mom from Savannah. She has a degree in fibers and textile design, and she has put that degree to work in an effort to come up with beautiful and functional cloth diapers through her Etsy shop, Young Blood. She has been putting her diaper designs to the test with her own baby, and over the past 1 1/2 years, has worked hard to create the perfect AIO diaper.

Jenny sells her AIO diapers for $18.00 (the price of a 1 week supply of Huggies Pure and Natural diapers!) and she offers them in very cool patterns. My favorites include the newborn diaper (with a cut out for the umbilical cord!) in the blue hearts pattern and the small blue cloth diaper that has the gorgeous blue fabric on the inside (guess I’m in a “blue” mood today!). Give Young Blood diapers a try if you are in the market for something new!

youngbloods diaper If you are curious about trying out cloth, or if you are already a convert and would love to add a new diaper from a great small business, now is your chance! Jenny is offering one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader an AIO cloth diaper! The winner will receive their choice of size (newborn, medium or large) in this fabulous monkey print. I love it! The contest will run until June 17th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the size diaper you want if you win AND one other diaper that you really like in the shop!

Additional Entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
3. “Like” Young Blood on Facebook
4. Tweet about this giveaway

DownEast Basics for an Affordable Wardrobe Overhaul

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downeast basics gray top

On Memorial Day, we headed out to the Memphis Zoo to enjoy the beautiful weather and the super-cool animals. I really enjoyed getting ready for the zoo that morning because I had a fun new top to wear! Check out my Appliq-A-OK Tank from DownEast Basics. I think this is the perfect choice for any fashion-conscious lady who still has to live in the real world and can’t dress like the girls in Sex and the City. As a working mom, I love the fact that this top is going to be doing double-duty for me. It is comfortable and simple enough to wear when casually bopping around town and going to places like the zoo. But just throw a blazer over it and you are ready for business, literally! It can be a challenge to find pieces that can hold their own simultaneously at the ballpark and in the boardroom, but this shirt is definitely one of them. And the price is oh-so wallet friendly, retailing at just $22.99.

This is the second item in my closet from DownEast Basics, and it certainly won’t be the last. Their pieces are cut so that they fit but aren’t skin-tight. They are flattering, current, but not so trendy that they’ll be outdated by this time next year. I love that!

If you are unfamiliar with DownEast Basics, I really encourage you to take a look around. You’ll find so many items that are cute at a price that leaves room for all those things you have to buy for the baby! A few of my favorite pieces are the Santa Barbara halter swimsuit, and the cupid cardigan. So cute!

green skirt from downeast basics Win it!:
Ok, Stuff Parents Need readers, it just might be your lucky day! One of you is going to win THE ITEM OF YOUR CHOICE(!) from DownEast Basics’ New Arrivals collection! Swoon!The contest will run until June 15th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Please be advised that the winner of this contest will not be eligible to win any other DownEast Basics giveaway on my site for 90 days.

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the item you would choose from their new arrivals if you are selected as the winner! Be sure to include your size and color preference. What you choose here will be the item you receive if you win!

Additional Entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (you can get up to 3 extra entries, one for each way that you follow the blog)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
3. Follow DownEast Basics on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
4. “Like” DownEast Basics on Facebook

5. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
6. If you are a blogger, add my button to your blog (and leave your url so I can see it!)

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