Stuff Parents Need

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

Welcome This Mama Rocks Readers!

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Thanks so much to This Mama Rocks for featuring Stuff Parents Need as the Blog of the Week! If you are visiting for the first time, please check out all the great giveaways I have on hand, and if you like what you see, please follow or subscribe to my blog, as I have lots of new reviews and giveaways on the horizon, and people who follow or subscribe always earn extra entries!!! Leave me a comment, too, as I absolutely love hearing from readers!

If you are unfamiliar with This Mama Rocks, please go check her out. She is a blogger who inspires me with her great content and super cool giveaways. This is definitely a blog you’ll want to follow!

Cleaning Stuff Overhaul: I’m Going Green!

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We’ve been dabbling in more environmentally friendly cleaning stuff over the last year or so, but thanks to Seventh Generation, we have now pretty much completely made the switch, and we aren’t looking back! We’ve been using several products from the Healthy Home Kit in our

eco-friendly cleaning stuff home and have seen results that are every bit as good as the more toxic stuff we formerly used! The Healthy Home kit includes the following:

  • Kitchen Cleaner
  • All-Purpose Cleaner
  • Glass & Surface Cleaner
  • Shower Cleaner
  • Toilet Bowl Cleaner
  • Tub & Tile Cleaner
  • Brown Paper Towels

I’ve tried everything, and here are my thoughts. The Shower Cleaner and the Tub & Tile Cleaner both smelled terrific! These were the products that stood out the very most to me. Our former bathroom cleaners gave us headaches because the fumes were so bad, but we thought we needed something that strong to get rid of all the grime in there. I’m glad to report that we were wrong, and I only wish that we had realized it sooner! The Toilet Bowl Cleaner also gets the job done just as effectively as our old stuff. The All-Purpose Cleaner has been used throughout our house as a “go-to” product for everything from carpet stains to wiping down fixtures. The Glass & Surface Cleaner is every bit as effective as Windex, in my opinion, and is much better for the environment. It’s a winner!The Kitchen Cleaner smells absolutely awesome (it is scented with wild orange and cedar spice). I found that if I spray down the counters and the stove top with this product and just let it sit for a minute or two, all the icky comes right off. Basically, every single cleaning product I tried from Seventh Generation did exactly what it was supposed to do, minus the nasty chemicals. Hooray! We are moving away from paper towels in our home, but there are times when we have messes that just need to be picked up and thrown away (cat hairballs, anyone?!). I’ve really enjoyed having the Seventh Generation Brown Paper Towels around to clean up these messes. They are made from unbleached, 100% recycled paper!

It is wonderful to be able to clean pretty much anything in the house with Darah in tow. I don’t have any worries about any of these products touching her skin or of her inhaling the fumes, because there are no fumes! We’ve actually been putting her in her baby carrier now while we clean up. This makes life easier and more fun for all of us!

In addition to the great cleaning stuff I’ve mentioned, Seventh Generation also offers a lot of other great items for your family and home including trash bags, laundry detergent, and diapers, just to name a few!
million baby crawl for cleaning stuff that is eco-friendly
Right now Seventh Generation is working to make a positive change in our nation, by hosting the Million Baby Crawl. From their site, “Babies everywhere are crawling to Washington and saying “no” to toxic chemicals found in household products. Join the crawl and help Seventh Generation, maker of naturally safe and effective household products, demand change! Join the crawl. Learn more here about what action Congress could take to help keep toxins out of our homes and away from our babies. I love supporting organizations that are working for the greater good, so I was really glad to read about this campaign. Way to make an impact, Seventh Generation!

Buy It!: There are so many reasons to give Seventh Generation a try. If the frugalista in you needs some convincing, check out the coupons they offer on their site! Take the plunge, I know you will be satisfied and you’ll make the earth smile in the process!

EDIT: Giveaway closed

Win It!: Seventh Generation wants to help you and your home go green by offering a Healthy Home Kit to one very lucky Stuff Parents Need reader (a $38.99 value)! The contest will run until Sunday, April 4th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Of all the great products that Seventh Generation offers, which one do you want the very most, and why?

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Subscribe to Seventh Generation’s blog
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
6. Follow Seventh Generation on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Become a Fan of Seventh Generation on Facebook
8. Tell me something you learned while checking out the ideas behind the Million Baby Crawl
9. Join the Seventh Generation Nation and include a link to your profile in your bonus entry
10. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I requested and received product samples in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own!

Lifefactory Silicon Teether Review

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It is my understanding that all babies go through a stage where they love to chew on anything and everything. It is also my understanding that this stage can last anywhere from 6 months to 6 years (I’m only half kidding)! Darah is definitely in this stage right now. We assume that she is teething, although we haven’t seen any teeth pop up at this point, or even any raised sections on her gums indicating that a tooth is about to make an appearance. Nevertheless, we have purchased several different teething rings for her. She has liked them all, but they only seem to interest her for 60 seconds or so, and then she puts them down and reaches for whatever else she can to gnaw on.

yellow lifefactory silicone teether Several weeks ago, we received a teething ring in the mail from SproutBaby.com. Before I tell you more abut this teething ring, let me tell you a little bit about this company. SproutBaby.com is designed to help parents make healthy choices for their children without getting overwhelmed. There’s so much great information out there, but it is so difficult to sort through it all! SproutBaby aims to do some of that work for you. From their site, “We want to support parents and children, and we do that by making available authentically good products that meet our rigorous standards, are tested and approved by parents and foster the growth and development of your children while also treading lightly on the planet. It’s a tall order, and we are up for the challenge.”

So what does that really look like? One example would be that each product page has a “why we like this” section that gives you more details about why this particular product made the cut to be offered on sprout baby. This is so helpful if you are trying to be really purposeful about what you buy for your baby. It’s a great way to help you buy the very best, and to narrow down options to the ones that best suit your needs. They also have information on the site from experts on health, nutrition, fitness and mindful living.

baby chewing on lifefactory silicone teether

Now that I’ve told you how great the company, let me tell you about how unbelievably awesome the teething ring they sent to Darah is. The Lifefactory Silicone Teether has been, “designed by a pediatric feeding specialist. They are made in the USA of 100% food grade silicone and contain no phthalates, PVC, BPA or latex. The teethers are shaped like rings with four sections each with their own grooves and patterns to help baby develop oral motor skills. And of course, these can be frozen or refrigerated to soothe aching gums.” Ok, so maybe this just sounds like a teething ring with a bunch of silly bells and whistles. NO NO NO, MY FRIEND! I am here to tell you that Darah absolutely loves this thing. She is constantly chewing on it. She loves to chew on one section, then rotate, and chew on another section. She is very aware of the different grooves on the ring and really enjoys trying them all out. Given the fact that she loves to chew on it so much, it is great to know that it isn’t made of plastic. This is an absolute gem of a teething ring, and I give it my very highest recommendation.

Buy It! If you have a teething baby at home, or if you are just a few months from experiencing this joy (said with much sarcasm), then you really need this teething ring. You can pick one up today from SproutBaby.com for $6.95. Also, the store is having a 15% off sale through March 23rd. Woo hoo!

EDIT: This giveaway is closed

Win It! SproutBaby.com wants to give one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to their site! The contest will run until Wednesday, March 31st at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me your very favorite product that Sprout Baby carries.

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Subscribe to Sprout Baby’s blog
5. Sign up for Sprout Baby’s newsletter (orange button in the middle of the page)
6. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
7. Follow Sprout Baby on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
8. Become a Fan of Sprout Baby on Facebook
9. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Reminder: 5 AWESOME giveaways on Stuff Parents Need Right Now!

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If you haven’t entered for one (or all!) of these prizes yet, please do so. They are rockin’ and the odds are pretty darn good to win!

Beaba Babycook (food processor/steamer) ARV $150! (ends 3/20)

Gerber Daisy Headband (ends 3/22)

Flannel Nursing Pads (ends 3/23)

Crystal Bracelet from Guy and Eva (ends 3/25)

cute reading glasses (ends 3/26)

Stop by. Enter. WIN!

Why Is My Cat Pooping on the Bed?

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Apologies in advance for the content of this post. It is a base subject matter, but I simply must know if others have similar problems!

So our dear oldest cat, Hattie, has been a member of our home for close to 5 years now. Once a year (and sometimes twice a year) she gets on our bed and POOPS in the dead center of the bed, on top of our down comforter. Last night we were crawling into bed, and Tim took the duvet off the bed in order to put it back on correctly (taking it from a rumpled mess to laying out, if that makes sense). As he did this, 3 small objects went flying through the air. We thought it was perhaps some small toys of Darah’s, or maybe some pacifiers.

Oh no.

It was POOP.

My husband looked on the floor at the fallen objects and said, “Turds?”…….”TURDS!!!!”

You guys, I laughed so hard that I cried. Don’t get me wrong, it was gross and awful and even infuriating, but the fact that all my husband could manage to say was, “TURDS!!!” just cracked me up. I think I really needed a laugh, so perhaps it was a blessing in disguise? Um…I think that’s a stretch.

Ok, so seriously, does anyone else out there have a cat pooping on the bed? I feel as though I could figure this out if she did it on a semi-regular basis (perhaps she doesn’t like the smell of the comforter, for example). But the fact that she only does it once a year is so bizarre to me. Any ideas? Is our cat just celebrating the onset of spring in her own special way? Is she trying to tell us that it is time to have our annual termite spray of the house? Is she asking if she’s old enough yet to go see the R rated flicks? I’m totally baffled.

The Need for Spare Reading Glasses

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I’ve been wearing reading glasses for about 1 1/2 years. I got my pair at a reasonable price through Costco (I think I paid around $80). Even at that price, though, I stress out a little bit about losing them or scratching them. The need for spare reading glasses is high for me, because I want to have a backup just in case my pair gets lost or broken and I need a little bit of time to save up the funds for a new pair.

I just learned about a really cool online shop called Reading Glasses Shopper. This site offers simple prescription glasses for under $20 a pair! I was floored when I saw their prices. I often wish that I had an extra pair of glasses in my office or in the car, and these would be so perfect to fill that role. I have never been able to justify spending another $80 for a spare pair, but $20 I can swing!

spare reading glasses onlineOne thing I really love is that the glasses they carry are actually cute! My favorites are the Gracieand the Jennifer. And I really love the Katie sunglasses. Super cute, and oh-so-affordable! The shipping is very reasonably priced at $1.95, and if you spend $30 or more, it is free! That’s my kind of shopping! Returns are also a breeze. They offer a money-back guarantee within 30 days of purchase if you aren’t satisfied with your purchase (but I bet you will be!). There’s also no sales tax to pay (unless you live in Indiana).
purchase spare sunglasses online
Buy it!: If you wear glasses, you know that having a few extra pairs would be so nice. Buy some today at an affordable price without sacrificing style! Right now all styles are an extra 15% off!

EDIT: This giveaway is closed

Win It!: Reading Glasses Shopper wants you to have the chance to try out their shop for yourself. One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the pair of glasses of your choice! The contest will run until Friday, March 26th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How To Enter:
Mandatory Entry: Tell me your favorite pair of glasses on the site. Choose carefully, as you will win what you pick!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Become a fan of Reading Glasses Shopper on Facebook
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
6. Follow Reading Glasses Shopper on Twitter
7. Subscribe to the Reading Glasses Shopper blog
8. Enter any other currently open giveaway on Stuff Parents need (one extra entry per giveaway)

Disclosure: I received no form of compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Looking Great Just Got Easy Thanks to Guy and Eva

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I’ve mentioned before that looking polished and put together at work is becoming increasingly difficult these days. I may not have as much time as I thought I would have in the morning if Darah wakes up early, or is in a clingy mood (or if I am in a clingy mood, which also happens sometimes!). Since becoming a mom, I have re-discovered the importance of accessories to help pull an outfit together and help you look like you had more than 5 minutes to get ready (which, as we all knows, is not always the case!).

guy and eva purple logo I recently learned about a really great jewelry company called Guy and Eva. This company offers affordable jewelry that is high quality. The pieces all look very current, but they will be in style for more that one season, which is great for those of us who need to make our accessories last a while! Guy and Eva has been in retail establishments but is now focused on giving individuals the opportunity to run their own Guy and Eva businesses through direct sales (think Mary Kay for jewelry!).

Are you looking for an opportunity to earn some extra income on the side? Guy and Eva has opportunities available for you to become an advisor! You can work from home, set your own hours, and grow with this company as they expand! From their website, “Our Advisors are presented with the flexibility to choose from three different ways to build a successful Guy and Eva career. Love doing nothing but parties? Have a knack for recruiting, training, and nurturing a successful team? Maybe you enjoy both. We have something for everyone. Regardless which path you choose, build your Guy and Eva business the way that you want.” To request more information about becoming an advisor, click here.

If you aren’t ready to embark on a new career opportunity, but you would really love to get together with some girlfriends and shop while earning perks for yourself, you can also host a Guy and Eva party! Or maybe you are just looking for a convenient way to order some jewelry that will help you look your best in the office or when out and about. You can shop directly through Guy and Eva’s site!

guy and eva necklace

I know that you are going to love anything you get from Guy and Eva. I was sent a matching necklace and bracelet set called Mali, and they are both just stunning. I love the Austrian crystals combined with leather. This balances the pieces out well so that they make a statement in the office without seeming too fancy for daytime wear. I have been wearing both pieces frequently, and they help me look more professional. Also, these pieces clasp together with magnets. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I appreciate this feature. I can put on my jewelry with just one hand (and sometimes that’s all I have free!). Now I’ve got my eyes set on the Mahina earrings and the Joy necklace as two great pieces to help launch me into Spring and Summer!

guy and eva bracelet Buy It! If your wardrobe needs a lift, consider looking to accessories as a way to help what you already have look fresh again. Guy and Eva offers fantastic options for any budget, and shopping online is such a breeze. You may even discover a new career path with them!

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED. Congrats #93!

Win It! Guy and Eva would like to give you the chance to win your very own Mali bracelet (worth $54.00!)! The contest will run until Thursday, March 25th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How To Enter:
Mandatory Entry: Tell me your favorite piece from the Guy and Eva Spring/Summer 2010 line. You are going to have trouble choosing just one thing, though!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Sign up to host a Guy and Eva Jewelry party (tell me the email address you used when signing up)
5. Become a fan of Guy and Eva on Facebook and post a comment on their wall.
6. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Follow Guy and Eva on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
8. Sign up to become a Guy and Eva advisor (leave the email address you used with signing up)
9. Purchase any item from Guy and Eva (leave email address you used when making a purchase)
10. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I received product samples to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Washable Nursing Pads for Evening Use

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Breastfeeding for me has been a very satisfying experience, though it has certainly had its share of challenges (which is another post altogether). For those of you out there who are just getting started, I promise that things really will get better in time! I can’t promise that it will become the easiest thing you’ve ever done, but it will get better.

Several months ago I wrote some initial thoughts about disposable nursing pads. My opinion still holds that if you are going to use disposables, the Lansinoh pads are the best ones on the market. There will come a time, though, when you really don’t need to wear nursing pads very much during the day. This was such a, “Hallelujah!” experience for me when it happened. I seemed to need nursing pads during the day for longer than the average nursing mama (I was still using them daily until Darah was about 4 1/2 months old). Now I really only need them at night. Since things have calmed down a bit and I don’t need to use them during the day, I decided to give washable nursing pads a try, and I have to say, they are working really well for me!

washable nusing pads from Pannaz Let me introduce you to Brandi, and her super fun Etsy shop, Pannaz. The nursing pads at Pannaz caught my eye for a few reasons. 1. I loved the blue damask pattern that was offered (it is SO me!). 2. The price for a set just rocked my socks off ($2.00!?! Wow!). 3. They are made with 4 layers of flannel, and as a result are really soft. After spending months using something with a plastic backing, this sounded heavenly.

Brandi sent me a set of nursing pads to try out, and I have really enjoyed using them. Adding them to my laundry pile is no big deal, at all. They have been washed many times at this point, and all the stitching is still in place, and the fabric gets softer after each wash. I don’t have experience using this type of nursing pad at the beginning stages of breastfeeding, and I can imagine that they aren’t quite as absorbent as the Lansinoh pads. They are also a bit thicker, so I could see where wearing them out in public could be difficult, depending on the type of shirt you are wearing. But for the second half of the breastfeeding experience, I think these are absolutely perfect. I would recommend that you get at least 4 pair of nursing pads so that you have enough to get you through until you do laundry again (assuming that you do laundry every few days).

Brandi’s shop has more than just nursing pads, and I wanted to highlight just a few of my personal favs that she sells. Check out her reusable bags, her large blankets for babies and toddlers (priced so beautifully at $9!) and her soft-soled shoes (watch out for a review of these in the coming weeks). I am really impressed with the products offered on this site. Brandi gets her inspiration from her own kids as well as her love for bags and shoes. It is awesome when someone has the talent to see something she loves and then make it herself! Brandi says, “I truly enjoy the whole process of the creation…from designing the item to picking the fabrics for it to creating a finished product.” You really can see the love she puts into her products, which is something you just don’t find with mass-produced merchandise.

Buy It! I see these as one of those things that new moms have no idea that they need, but that they will thank you for if you get it for them! I’m making a note to buy some of these to include in baby shower gifts. At $2 each, you really can’t go wrong! Buy a few sets for yourself or an expecting mom you know today!
pannaz, who offers washable nursing pads
Win It! Brandi wants to get you off to a great start with breastfeeding, or help you go green if you are currently breastfeeding. She is offering one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader 2 sets of reusable nursing pads. Woo hoo! The contest will run until Tuesday, March 23rd at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the two patterns you would choose for your nursing pads (you can also choose 2 sets in the same pattern). You will win what you choose, so be sure and pick out your favorite pattern!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only 1 extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Become a fan of Pannaz on Facebook
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
6. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I received product samples in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Flower Headbands for Spring

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Spring is in the air here in Tennessee! It’s time to start encouraging those flowers to bloom, and I have a really great way for your little one to do just that! I’m thrilled to be hosting a giveaway from Bella’s Bowtique, an amazing Etsy shop owned and operated by a creative mother named Kristie. Kristie gets her inspiration from her two darling little girls, Kaleigh and Isabella. She has some of the most precious bows and flower headbands I have ever seen! You can really get lost perusing around the site looking at all the cute pieces she offers.

gerber daisy flower headbands on a baby Today, though, I especially want to highlight the piece that is just so perfect for this time of year. Check out the Boutique Gerber Daisy Flower Headband! It is SOOOO cute! I love the sparkle in the center of the flower, and how cute this headband looks on a baby.

Darah doesn’t have very much hair to work with at this point, but the items for sale at Bella’s Bowtique remind me that there are still so many fun things that I can do with her hair. I also really love how these pieces can dress up even the most simple of outfits. Currently

Buy It! Are you going ga ga for these adorable headbands like I am? Place an order with Bella’s Bowtique today and take your baby’s spring outfits from cute to UNBELIEVABLY PRECIOUS!

This giveaway is now CLOSED

Win It! One of you is about to have some of the cutest baby/toddler pictures EVER because you are going to win the Boutique Gerber Daisy Flower Headband! The contest will run until Monday, March 22nd at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States.
How To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me one other product not mentioned here that you love the most in Kristie’s shop!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Become a fan of Bella’s Bowtique on Facebook
6. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)