Stuff Parents Need

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

Educational Postcards in the Mail: Kiwi Bop Subscription

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Thanks to Kiwi Bop for providing product samples. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.

Friends here’s a really fun stocking stuffer idea for any young readers on your list (or an inexpensive gift idea)! Check out Kiwi Bop Postcard Pals.

kiwi bop 1 This is an ideal gift for curious children who love to learn about new places and who love to see cool photographs. Each month, your child is sent 4 postcards from different postcard pals (there are 8 postcard pals that send notes…you hear from 4 of them each month). Each pal has something new and fun to show you from around the world (or even outer space!).

kiwi bop 2

The welcome kit ships immediately and at the start of each month to follow, you’ll get 4 more postcards! The postcards are on a high quality paper. In order to send them on to others as actual postcards, you might have to cover up a bit of the printed material, but that’s certainly doable. That could be a fun way for cousins to stay in touch with each other!

kiwi bop 3 A monthly subscription starts at just $3.59/month! You can order month by month, or get a 6-month membership or a 12-month membership. This might be just the thing you were looking for, so definitely check it out!

 

 

 

Thomas & Friends DVD Brought to Life with the TrackMaster™ Shipwreck Rails Set

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This post brought to you by Fisher-Price. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

Are you watching lots of fun family movies this time of year? We’ve been having family movie night almost every night so far this month! There are SO many great holiday movies to choose from, and there are also some great new releases out on DVD to check out.

We just watched this fun feature-length film, Thomas & Friends DVD, Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure

photo thomas amp friends sodors legend of the lost treasure_zpsikxdqcct.jpg

This was a really fun flick; it was such a treat to snuggle on the couch with my girls and go on an adventure that combined the thrill of the rails AND the thrill of the sea! And Thomas certainly has a lot going on in this movie, as he discovers a lost pirate ship AND a lost treasure!

photo thomas amp friends movie_zps0fmupk9g.jpg

And after watching the movie, it was time to recreate it right in our living room, with help from the Thomas & Friends™ TrackMaster™ Shipwreck Rails Set from Fisher-Price

photo thomas amp friends shipwreck rails set_zpsravl7ptz.jpg

What a wild ride Thomas gets to go on with this set, friends! This track (which is compatible with all other TrackMaster rails, FYI) takes Thomas to new heights and throws him for quite a loop, too! He also gets to discover some hidden treasure as part of the adventure.

photo thomas amp friends 4_zpsaye6flll.jpg The girls have played nonstop with the set since watching the DVD. Their favorite thing to do is to send Thomas on that steep spiral spin, which he masterfully executes time after time! There is an auto-reset function that allows the spin to run over and over without interruption.

thomas & friends 3

The Thomas & Friends TrackMaster Shipwreck Rails set is recommended for ages 3 and up (adults or older children will be needed for assembly) and you can find it and the DVD at your nearest Walmart or at Walmart.com. What a perfect gift these items would be for the Thomas & Friends fan on your holiday gift list!

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THE Game for the Holidays: Pie Face!

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Thanks to Hasbro for providing Pie Face for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.

You have likely seen the viral video of the grown man and little boy playing Pie Face! If not, here’s a link (it’s ok, I’ll wait!).

You guys, it’s just that funny to play! I laughed SO HARD the first time my husband got smacked in the face with some whipped cream. It was HILARIOUS!

pie face 2 And when it was my turn, I DIDN’T get hit in the face, which was so disappointing to Tim because he filmed the moment in slo-mo. Check it!

When you don’t get pie in your face. #hasbro #pieface

A video posted by Tiffany (@stuffparentsneed) on

The concept behind the game is very simple: the first person to get to 25 points wins. To earn points, simply spin the spinner. The number it lands on (2, 3, 4 or 5) is the number of clicks you have to turn the pie face machine with your face in it. If you are not hit with the “pie” (you just use whip cream) then you get double that amount of points. So if you did 5 clicks and didn’t get hit, you earned 10 points.

pie face 1 If you are feeling scared, you can opt for a lower number of clicks on your turn, but of course, that means fewer points to earn if you aren’t hit! Darah was brave enough to try the game (and she whooped and hollered and rolled on the floor laughing the entire time) but she only did 1 click each time it was her turn. She still got pie in her face, though! 🙂

This game is very basic, but oh so hilarious. It is the PERFECT choice for family gatherings over the holidays. Because the game is so popular, it’s tricky to find right now. I saw some on Amazon just yesterday for the reasonable price of $14.99, but they seem to be priced higher right now (Amazon prices fluctuate throughout the day). Hasbro also sells them, but they seem to be sold out at the moment.

You may want to try local brick and mortar stores like Walmart and Target. This is one not to miss. We are going to play it several more times during winter break, for sure!

(Giveaway!!!) 4 Words That Mattered the Most: The Best Advice I Received as a Parent

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This post brought to you by COUNTRY Financial®. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

It has been such a thrill to watch my little sister and her husband take on the challenge and experience the joy of becoming parents this year. There were SO many things I wanted to tell Laura about parenting while she was pregnant, but I kept my mouth shut on a number of subjects (which might shock her to hear because I’m sure I seemed like I never stopped dispensing my “wisdom”).

Frankly, there are just some lessons that come along with parenting that you have to live through to understand. People can (and will!) tell you over and over again, for example, how everything is going to change. And they are certainly right. But to really grasp that truth, you just have to experience that change for yourself.

photo advice for new moms_zpsegibqpon.jpg

But here’s one thing I can share with anyone out there who is currently expecting their first baby, or who recently became a parent, and that is that you need to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

These 4 words were gifted to me by my doula when I was in labor with my first child, and it was very appropriate for that particular event (there’s an understatement), but it was also true for every day that was to follow now that I was a parent.

Whether it’s something as simple as learning to keep that smile on your face during family photos while your little angel is filling up her diaper and then some (see below…way to keep that holiday spirit shining in the photo, mama!), or something more complex like figuring out what you want to do for school when the time comes, I can promise you that no matter how many parenting books you read, they won’t have every answer for you. You are sometimes simply going to have to wing it, go with your gut, and step out on faith that you are doing your best for your family.

photo christmas 2009 izea_zpsr0pdy1az.jpg

COUNTRY Financial® is a company that understands just how complicated life seems to get after a little one joins the ranks. They have been serving families through all life stages for 90 years, helping to make life easier in some way, including for new parents. Financially strong and highly rated by independent insurance rating agencies, COUNTRY Financial® is a group of US insurance and financial services offering a full suite of products that can help you right now, as you start your new family, as well as through the stages to come. They are well-suited to help make you more comfortable with some of those decisions you need to make to help protect your family.

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To qualify as a winner, you must reside in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin.

If you do live in one of those states, then enter to win

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Pressed for Time? Try This Genius Whipped Cream Hack for Store-Bought Goodies

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This post brought to you by DairyPure Milk. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

orange blossom whipped topping

I don’t know about you, but this is the time of year when I feel utterly at war with my to do list. Every morning I get out of bed and prepare for battle with a list that seems to get longer despite my best attempts to slash it. There just seem to be more needs than I can possibly fulfill, and that is stressful to say the least! I know many of you reading this can identify with this feeling.

But friends, let me tell you something I’ve learned: when you are feeling like too much is being asked of you, you might just find, as I have, that the person doing too much asking is yourself.

Here’s an example for you: this week I’ve been majorly stressing over a dessert I needed to provide for an event. How in the world was I going to find the time to find the perfect Pinterest-worthy recipe, make sure that I get it just right on the first try and then wow the crowd with its insanely awesome taste and look?

But when I sat down to really think it all through, I realized that the only person who was asking me to do all of those things was me. I really didn’t have time to create a new dessert from scratch this week, and so I gave myself permission to let the grocery store do the baking for me. I could provide a homemade topping that would take the flavor profile up a notch and save my sanity all at once.

So as a compliment to these store bought chocolate goodies I purchased, I made an AWESOME whipped topping. It only takes a few ingredients and a few minutes and it tastes extraordinary. I hope you enjoy this simple and delicious recipe for Orange Blossom Whipped Cream.

photo orange blossom whipped cream 1_zpsixbgk2zu.jpg Ingredients:

  • 1 cup DairyPure heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1tsp orange zest
  • 1 tsp orange flower water (found mine on Amazon!)

photo orange blossom water 6_zpsvsjv5kxs.jpg Begin by grating your orange peel using a zester.  This adds such great flavor and a bit of color to the recipe. If you don’t own a microplane zester, this is the one to get that will go the distance. I’ve had mine for a decade and it still works amazingly well.

photo orange blossom whip cream 5_zps4gchck5a.jpg Add all the remaining ingredients together with the orange zest in a mixing bowl and then mix on the highest setting of your mixer until stiff peaks are formed.

photo orange blossom whip cream 4_zpsiik9tfvi.jpg When the mixture is getting close to forming those peaks, give it a taste to see if the sweetness is to your liking. You can add a bit more sugar at this point if you desire.

photo orange blossom whip cream 3_zpsd23nn4ip.jpg Now all you need to do is add this to your dessert of choice! Yum!!!

photo orange blossom whip cream 2_zpsocn3xakc.jpg If you are in need of a simple and delicious solution to some of your holiday baking needs, give this recipe a try in conjunction with something store bought (I think it goes best with chocolate!). I hope this idea helped you take some of the stress out of your to do list this holiday season. For more simple and delicious ideas and to Learn more about DairyPure, check out the DairyPure website, as well as DairyPure on Facebook. You can also find DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest

Hang in there, friends!

(Giveaway!) More Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas from Kohl’s

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Thanks to Kohl’s for providing products for review and the giveaway item. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I hope you enjoyed some of the Elf on the Shelf ideas I shared with you last week. I’ve got a few more fun (and easy!) ways you can have fun with your Elf on the Shelf in today’s post, and none of them involve making terrible messes or elaborate schemes. I like to keep it simple around here.

elf on the shelf outfit When my girls woke up this morning they found our Owen being just a smidge naughty (he’s playing in our television cords) but they also discovered that he has a new outfit! Kohl’s has the cutest Claus Couture collection, with several fun outfit options for your elf and for your elf pet!

elf on the shelf elves made me do it dish towel Owen has also been such a thoughtful house guest this week by bringing me, his hostess, a gift! Owen found this adorable “the elves made me do it” kitchen towel set at Kohl’s (and I saw his receipt…he got such a good deal!).

And next week, he’s going to surprise the girls one morning with a super fun gift just for them!

elf on the shelf bathtub stuff Yes, this fingerpaint bathtub set will be messy, but the kids will be in the bath, so they will wash off easily (and so will their canvas!).

We are having so much fun with Owen, and I am really loving this new tradition we are creating of having our elf provide some new fun holiday decor each year. If you don’t have an Elf on the Shelf, they really can be a whole lot of fun, so think about getting one. Our elf keeps us highly entertained. He even does a great Adele impression (call him Adelelf!).

Hello, it’s me. #Adelelf #elfontheshelf #adele

A photo posted by Tiffany (@stuffparentsneed) on

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $100 gift card to Kohl’s. You can get your house all decked out with Elf on the Shelf gear and other holiday decor! 🙂
Kohls Gift Card

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

(Giveaway!) 9 Tips for a Cleaner, Happier Car Trip with Kids

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Thanks to AutoTrader.com for partnering with me on today’s post and for providing some GREAT ideas for traveling with kids! 

Are you traveling this holiday season? We are going to be traveling by plane, but we are also going to be traveling quite a bit by car, as well! I did not take the steps I normally take to prepare our car for travel over Thanksgiving, and let me tell you, I paid the price. Here’s a direct quote from my personal Facebook page on Thanksgiving morning this year:

“Hour 3 of my seat being kicked and unceasing whining by this kid behind me.”

Thanksgiving morning

I’m already getting geared up for our travels later this month, and I most definitely won’t be overlooking the car travel prep again this time (live and learn!). I’ve got some ideas that we use effectively that might help you out on your next road trip, as well as some super cool Mom Hacks that the folks at AutoTrader.com have to offer. Let’s dig in to some car travel tips!

road trip with kids

1. Clean out the car before you leave! 

I know it feels like your car is going to get junked up on your trip, so why get it clean now? I have some tips coming up to help the car stay clean, but trust me, if you are going to be stuck inside a small space for a long time, you will feel much more relaxed if that space is nice and clean! So bust out your vacuum and get everything picked up before you head out of town.

2. For peace of mind, have your car serviced

Get your tires checked, your oil changed and if it’s time, do the whole tune up. Breaking down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere is only funny in the movies, friends. Do everything you can to make sure that it won’t be your family experiencing car trouble when you are hundreds of miles away from home.

3. Pack more snacks than you think you could possibly need

Somehow, you always need all of them. Just trust me. Having ample snacks on hand will also help you cut down on the number of times the kids beg to stop for food and drink, too.

4. Have some new toys on hand

No need to spend a lot of money on this one. But a brand new coloring book or a new pack of cards can be so much fun. Additionally, you can surprise your kids with toys they already have but don’t play with much. A road trip is a great time to get re-acquainted with those items.

5. Use the clock as a tool

Lots of snacks and fun new toys are awesome, but not if your kids blow through them all in the first 15 minutes of the trip. When we travel, we use the clock as a tool to space out the new stuff. So for example, one new snack item is revealed per hour, and one new toy options is offered every half hour.

6. Divide the trip into pie slices

This is especially helpful for kids who can’t yet tell time. Help them understand how long a trip is by turning the hours into pie slices. For example, when we went to Disney World, the trip was 10 hours long (bless us), so we turned that into 20 pie slices. Every half hour we would tell the kids that we ate another slice of the pie, and remind them about how many slices remained. It helped them have a better understanding of how long we had been traveling and how much more traveling we had to do.

7. Keep Your Car Clean!

AutoTrader.com has 7 totally awesome and easy hacks you can use on car trips that will help keep supplies orderly and food and drink from spilling all over the place. From DVD covers to plastic wrap, take a moment to check out these clever ideas that will help your next road trip run smoothly!

8. Rest Stops Are Awesome! 

Don’t overlook the official rest stops on your travels. These are, in my opinion, the very best places to stop because they have large swatches of land where your kids can RUN. They also have picnic tables, so if the weather is cooperative, you could have a meal there and enjoy yourselves more than you might crammed in a booth at a fast food joint.

9. Don’t forget some medicine!

I don’t know why, but my kids seem to be quite fond of getting sick when we are traveling. Fevers come out of nowhere and stomach bugs make a very unwelcome appearance. Be prepared for those unfortunate moments with the types of medicine your kids take when they aren’t well. Better to not need it and have it than the other way around.

I hope those tips help you as you prepare for your next road trip! And if you are looking for a new vehicle, don’t forget to check out the great offerings at AutoTrader.com!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Mom Hacks road trip survival kit, valued at $75 and including the following awesome items:

  1. Charger
  2. $25 Visa gift card
  3. Tote
  4. Seat Back Organizer
  5. Selfie Stick (not pictured)
  6. First Aid Kit
  7. Single-use Wet Wipes
  8. Snacks

Road Trip Survival Kit

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

The Gift of Time Together: One More Reason to Love Kiwi Crate

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Sample provided for this post. However, we are monthly subscribers to Kiwi Crate on our own, and we adore it! Referral links may be included at no cost to you. 

Earlier this week my girls and I spent an hour putting together a gingerbread house. This particular house wasn’t sticky, messy or tempting to eat. And this particular house came with all the supplies we needed to create it, while still leaving plenty of room for creative license.

gingerbread house 2 We got a gingerbread house kit from Kiwi Crate and we absolutely LOVED it. We had such a blast coming up with different ideas (with a little help from the included inspiration cards) and cutting and gluing and just being merry together. It will be one of my favorite holiday memories this year, for sure.

gingerbread house Kiwi Crate is such a reliable company. I am consistently pleased with the products I receive from them each month as a subscriber. I’m so impressed, in fact, that I’ve also done some of my holiday shopping with Kiwi Crate, as you can purchase individual crates or special craft kits like this gingerbread house. They even offer some awesome book titles!

If you haven’t yet tried Kiwi Crate (or their sister brands designed for younger or older children) I want to strongly encourage you to go for it. It’s our favorite subscription service and it’s worth every single penny we spend on it each month. We get good quality time together, fun crafts (that don’t stress this non-crafty mama out) and we learn fun new things, too!