1. Travel theme
2. New house/new city theme
3. A year in the life theme
4. Happy New Year theme
5. The bucket list theme
Sparkle and Shine (in Two Different Colors!): Why We Still Love FabKids
Complimentary pink sparkle dress received for review. Blue sparkle outfit was my own purchase. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.
I’ve been a member of the FabKids VIP Network since August, and I have really and truly had an excellent experience with the brand, as well as with the membership.
Membership programs, or subscription services, are really trendy right now, but also make A LOT of people uncomfortable. Nobody likes to feel as though they are roped into spending money that they don’t want or need to spend. I can tell you from experience that FabKids makes is VERY easy to skip a month of their service, and if you want to skip it most every month, that’s honestly fine! You aren’t committing to a minimum number of purchases over a set amount of time. But you ARE getting access to a really fun variety of outfits for a very reasonable price, as well as access to great sales. If you don’t need or want anything that month, you just have to click a button in the first 5 days of the month letting them know. They email you to remind you so that the burden isn’t even on you to remember!
Here’s what my girls are rockin’ from this month’s collection:
The sequin & tulle dress comes in pink or blue, and if you go with the outfit, it comes with stockings (I think you have a few different choices for colors). You guys, do I even need to articulate how cute they are? Just look!
I can’t help but start singing the tune from White Christmas: “Lord help the mister, who comes between me and my sister!”
I’ve put both dresses through the wash with ZERO problems.
Speaking of problems, I wanted to share with you my customer service experience with FabKids. I ordered a dress last month for Layah that was adorable (naturally) but when I washed it, the outfit did not hold up well. It had a silver star print on it, and that silver start faded quite a bit. I was very surprised and disappointed. I called FabKids customer service, and it was not a problem at all; they accepted it for a return without question and even provided a postage-paid label for me. As soon as they got word from the post office that my return was on its way, they put a new dress that I selected in the mail. I was VERY pleased with how they handled that situation, and it did not shake my confidence in the company one bit! I can tell you from experience that they clothes are great, and on the rare instance where they might not be, exchanging them is a piece of cake.
If you want to give FabKids a try, I really highly recommend them. Go through my link and your first outfit will be just $15, including free shipping. And if you have a boy, they do have boy outfits, I promise! They are super cute, too! At the start of every month, you will be presented with a curated collection of awesome outfits. If you like one, pick one, and it ships to you for $29.95. If you don’t like or need anything, just skip the month; easy peasy!
World Prematurity Day and RSV Awareness: Why Washing Your Hands Can Honestly Save Lives
I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for MedImmune. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
Friends, have you heard of the RSV virus? It’s VERY common for children to get. In fact, nearly every child will contract it by the time they turn 2. It is a seasonal virus, with its peak occuring between November and March. I want to talk a bit more about what it is and what you need to know about how to decrease your chances of contracting it, because despite it being so endemic, about 1/3 of parents have actually never heard of it, and mistake it for something else. In fact, looking back, I can tell you that both of my girls have had RSV as toddlers, and I mistakenly thought they had some mild case of croup. It can be easy to misdiagnose without medical attention, so I’m hoping to help you all out this year so you can pinpoint it more easily.
What is RSV?
RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytia Virus. It primarily affects the lungs and bronchial tubes, so it does affect breathing. Symptoms of RSV are as follows:
- persistent coughing/wheezing
- rapid, difficult, gaping breaths
- bluish color around the mouth and nostrils
While most kids will experience relatively mild symptoms and may not require serious medical treatment, you should be made aware that RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants (125,000 hospitalizations last year, and 200 infant deaths from RSV).
World Prematurity Day and RSV
As we approach World Prematurity Day on November 17th, we need to be especially mindful of RSV. If one of your children was born premature, or even if you know someone with a child who was born premature, you need to be especially vigilant about watching for signs of RSV, as children born prematurely are twice as likely to contract a severe form of RSV and require hospitalization. There are some steps you can take to help keep every infant and toddler, and especially every infant and toddler born prematurely, from contracting this virus.
Is There a Cure for RSV?
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for RSV at this time. Our best defense is to play great offense and do as much as we can to prevent the spread of RSV.
RSV spreads easily, through touching, sneezing, coughing and the like. The virus can live on surfaces for several hours, as well. The #1 thing we all can do to limit the spread of RSV is to be excellent hand washers. Really and truly, teaching your kids to get in the habit of regularly washing their hands is a gift for their own health, and a gift for the health of those around them.
Additionally, if you realize that your child has contracted RSV, do the right thing and keep them home and away from others until they are free and clear of the virus. While your child may have experienced relatively mild symptoms, that same virus could send another child straight to the hospital.
RSV is a rampant virus, and we aren’t going to eliminate it’s presence altogether. But the simple act of regularly and thoroughly washing our hands can dramatically reduce how quickly it spreads and will be a great thing for all those kids who WON’T get RSV because of this step being taken. It may even keep RSV from reaching your home.
Do you have any experience with RSV? After reading the symptoms, do you think your child might have ever contracted this virus and you didn’t realize it?
Worn-Out Kids’ Shoes? “Let It Go” and Head to Stride Rite for FROZEN Shoes!!!
Thanks to Stride Rite for providing product samples. All thoughts and opinions on Stride Rite and their awesome Frozen shoes are my own.
A few weeks back we were at our local Stride Rite store getting our kids’ feet measured. I knew Darah’s shoe size, but on a whim I had them measure her feet. She was 1/2 bigger than I thought, and they recommended buying 1/2 size up from that for room to grow. So in short, I needed a whole size larger than I thought! I didn’t even realize she was growing out of her shoes, but when I checked, sure enough, her toes were pressing up against the top edge of the shoes. Oops!
I’ve just gotten word that a new line of shoes has hit the shelves (as well as the virtual “shelves” online). You must take a moment to check out these great Frozen shoes!
First up, check out these Stride Rite Disney Frozen Cozy boots! They are absolutely perfect for my oldest because she loves boots, she loves Elsa, and she loves all things rainbow. Check, check and check! I’m going to be watching the sales like a hawk over the next few weeks to see if I can snap these up for Darah. Quantities already seem to be limited, though, so I may need to jump on the sale happening right now (buy 1 get 1 40% off) in order to secure them. This one seems to be available through size 12.
For the child who really likes to run around, go for the Anna & Elsa lighted shoe. This one is available in preschool sizes and in big kid sizes (at least for now!). I really appreciate seeing velcro on these shoes, which makes it easier and faster for everyone involved in getting shoes on little feet!
And while you are on the website, don’t miss out on the free Frozen coloring page!
Stride Rite Black Friday Sale Info Coming
I’m eagerly awaiting the news about the Black Friday deals that will be offered by Stride Rite. I will have the opportunity to give you a sneak peek either next week or shortly after that, so stay tuned!
Have you seen these new shoes in the Stride Rite stores yet? Anyone lucky enough to already own a pair?
The Perfect Gift for the Wired Family: CableKeeps
Thanks to CableKeeps for partnering with me on this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.
If you have tweens or teens at home, or perhaps even little ones who love their tablets, then you would probably consider yourself to be a fully “wired” family. I know my family regularly makes use of our Intel AIO computer, the laptop, our 2 smartphones, the Chromebook, the iPad, and coming to our house this Christmas, two Kindle Fires for kids. That’s 8 devices for a family of 4.
So, um, yeah, we’re pretty plugged in!
CableKeeps is a product that is designed for families just like mine, or really for anyone who makes frequent use of electronic devices that need a cable cord (so that would be pretty much everyone!). CableKeeps come in a variety of colors to meet individual preferences (this is also nice if you want every person in your family to have their own color to distinguish cords).
CableKeeps also come in a variety of styles to best accommodate different types of cable cords. Goldie is designed for iPhone, iPod or iPad Mini. Gulp is the CableKeeps of choice for your iPad. There are also some great options for folks with international adapters (my sister-in-law and brother-in-law live in Switzerland…CableKeeps are still a great gift idea for them!).
CableKeeps are a very handy little device to keep your cables from getting tangled up in your purse or bag, which is so nice for traveling. They can also eliminate the plethora of long cables you might have sticking out of your outlets. Those always look messy and CableKeeps can keep the cords looking nice and tidy. If members of your family tend to argue over which cords belong to them, CableKeeps can nip that “borrowing” business in the bud so that everyone always knows which cords belong to them. Additionally, the Goldie CableKeep is designed to be a pedestal for your phone, which will keep it off the floor or the counter, and therefore, keep it cleaner. My phone is on the floor or the kitchen counter pretty much every time it gets charged, so I think this is a really nice feature.
Also? CableKeeps are adorable. Their fun design combined with their excellent utility and their budget-friendly price point (starting at $13!) makes this an excellent holiday gift idea for pretty much anyone on your list. You can even buy the Goldie Plus CableKeep with a 5w charger and the optional Micro USB cable in case your family doesn’t have as many as it needs due to lose and improper storage. CableKeeps are 100% recyclable for when the time comes to get an entirely different set of cords and chargers, and they are proudly made in the USA.
Where to Buy (and How to Save)
Trying to Conceive? Meet The Stork OTC (Giveaway!)
Very clever, right? Such a simple, yet effective concept. I’m so glad it’s available over the counter now! If you want to follow along with the brand, be sure to follow their Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Twitter Party!
Giveaway!
Clever Concept: Weighted Swaddling Blanket from Nested Bean
Product provided for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.
Our first child LOVED to be swaddled. In fact, she was still swaddled before going to sleep on the bottom half of her body until she was 18 months old. It was a very loose swaddle by that point, I promise, but that child WOULD NOT SLEEP without her swaddle. It was intense, y’all.
And that same little girl is an amazing sleeper and always has been. Our second child was not a fan of the swaddle. She also is not a fan of going to sleep at night. Coincidence? Possibly, but for what it’s worth, I’m a big advocate of swaddling and of not being quick to give up if your baby doesn’t seem to love it. You might just need the right blanket!
I thought this new concept from Nested Bean was really clever. They’ve released the Zen Swaddle, and it actually has a few weighted areas on the blanket so that when the baby is all swaddled up, it will have the simulated touch of a parent. This is a MAJOR win for the parents out there with babies who will only sleep when you are holding them. Holding a baby for every nap session doesn’t sound like a horrible thing, especially if it’s been a while since you got to hold a baby, but trust me, you will more or less want to die after a while with this set up, because you, the parent, aren’t getting much sleep at all, and what little sleep you are getting is really crappy because, well, you are holding a baby.
While I don’t have a young infant to try this product out with, I can tell you that the concept is really cool, and the product itself is very soft. If you are looking for a great baby shower gift, I think this swaddling blanket from Nested Bean is worthy! Prices start at $29.99 and you can find it on Amazon (at the moment it’s just $22.50!).
Did your kids love to be swaddled or not so much? I’d love to hear!
Monday Funday! The Squeegees New Album (Listen to the Whole Thing!) and Giveaway!
Thanks to The SqueeGees for partnering with Stuff Parents Need to bring you this post (and this AWESOME sneak peek!!!).
What a fun treat I have for you, friends. If you’ve got a case of the Mondays, let’s fix it right now with some really fun new music from the group The SqueeGees. Tomorrow their new album, Veggie Soup, releases.
This is a terrific album to play as you work on dinner tonight with the kids (need a recipe idea? I’m thinking veggie soup would be appropriate!).
If you aren’t familiar with The SqueeGees, let me take a moment to introduce you! This family-friendly band is based in LA and consists of several awesome songwriters and musicians who are passionate about working with children and creating musical adventures. The style of The Squeegees is toe-tapping and melodic. It’s quite hard not to start singing along after just a handful of bars!
If you’d like to download a copy of the album so you can share it with your kids any time, any place, you can find it now through Itunes for $9.99. OR…for just a penny more, you can get both the download AND a hard copy in CD format! What a phenomenal deal!!!
Win it!: You all are lucky winners in that you get to enjoy hearing The SqueeGees album via SoundCloud right now, but one of you will also win a physical copy of the CD, which will be great for trips in the car.
Wow Your Family with Ease: Smithfield Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Sauce
This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Smithfield®, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #PutPorkontheMenu http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV.
This is the time of year when my Pinterest sessions get out of control. I can spend hours drooling over showpiece dish ideas for Thanksgiving, Christmas and holiday parties. Many of the recipe authors will state that these delectible dishes are even great for a weeknight meal for the family.
But who honestly has time like that to spend creating a really beautiful dish on a week night? Not this lady!
Still, I really liked the idea of finding a way to make something festive and appetizing to all the senses without having to move into my kitchen for several hours. My family really enjoys pork tenderloin (who doesn’t? That cut of meat is SO good!), so I thought I’d try my hand at a pork tenderloin recipe, made much easier thanks to using Smithfield Marinated Pork, which can be found at select Walmart stores.
I’ve purchased Smithfield Marinated Pork several times in the past, and love it because it is such a time-saver. The pork is already deliciously marinaded, which means you just need to take it out of the package, and follow the instructions on the back to get it perfectly cooked. I love that I don’t even have to stop and look up how to cook a pork tenderloin; Smithfield tells me how to get it right!
Ingredients:
- 1 Smithfield Marinated Pork Tenderloin in your choice of flavor (I chose garlic & herb)
- 1 (12 oz) bag of fresh cranberries (substitute with frozen if fresh isn’t in season)
- 1 cup sugar
- fresh, minced ginger (scant 1/4 cup)
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 3/4 cup water
The fact that the Smithfield Marinated Pork is already seasoned so beautifully makes this recipe light on ingredients. The chef can focus her energies on making a yummy glaze for the pork and not even worry about how the tenderloin is going to turn out; it’s going to be great!
Directions
Preheat your oven according to your package directions. Prepare a baking dish for your pork with aluminum foil (this will reduce clean up time immensely, I promise).
While waiting for the oven to preheat, peel and mince the ginger. I’m usually the type of gal to skip over the fresh stuff and head for my powdered ginger, but don’t do it here, friends! Take the time to use the fresh stuff because the flavor is really worth it! I can even show you how to peel your ginger rather quickly: use the back of a spoon!
Pretty cool, huh? Once the ginger is peeled you’ll just want to chop it up into bite-size pieces. If you are new to using fresh ginger, like I am, you might be surprised to see that the ginger is rather fibrous. Don’t worry…it will taste great! 🙂
By this point, your oven should be preheated so put the pork in for the amount of time designated on the package (for me it was an hour). Now it’s time to get your cranberry sauce going!
Heat a medium-sized pot over medium-high heat on the stove and add fresh cranberries, sugar, water, orange juice and ginger.
Give it all a good stir, and let it do it’s thing! You’ll want to swing by and stir it every few minutes, but there’s no need to hover over the pot. You’ll know that your sauce is almost ready when the cranberries start to burst. They make cute little popping sounds, sort of like a muted and much slower version of popcorn popping. I found that my sauce was finished in about 10 minutes.
All you need to do now is remove your sauce from the heat and go do anything else you’d like while you wait for the Smithfield Marinated Pork to come out of the oven.
One important note about this cut of meat: resting is VERY important. Please allow 10 minutes or so for your pork tenderloin to rest after coming out of the oven. The juices in the cut of meat will redistribute throughout during this time, and that means that every slice of meat will be moist and delicious.
Now it’s time to plate the pork on a serving tray and dress it up with that gorgeous cranberry glaze!
I really enjoyed getting to make something that is beautiful enough for a holiday meal, and delicious enough for one, too, but that was also remarkably easy to put together. The folks at Smithfield did all the hard work for making the meat taste perfect…I just popped it in the oven, and was able to devote about 15 minutes to making a delicious sauce for it. SO easy, friends! 🙂
Coupon!
If you’d like to try out a Smithfield Marinated Pork product, why not try it at a discount? Here’s a coupon for 75 cents off your purchase (while supplies last)! You can try the Garlic & Herb flavor like I did, or you can find these other awesome flavors:
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Smithfield® Garlic & Herb Pork Loin Filet
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Smithfield® Mesquite Pork Loin Filet
-
Smithfield® Golden Rotisserie Flavor Pork Tenderloin
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Smithfield® Portobello Mushroom Flavor Pork Loin Filet
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Smithfield® Peppercorn & Garlic Pork Tenderloin
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Smithfield® Peppercorn & Garlic Pork Sirloin
You can also get additional recipe ideas on the Smithfield website, as well as on the Smithfield Facebook page.
Are you looking for some shortcuts in the kitchen as we head into the holiday season? I hope you’ll give this recipe a try for your family!
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