Stuff Parents Need

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

Flutterbye Fairies: The Toy I Want to Open Before Christmas

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

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Surely I’m not the only crazy lady who has already put a dent in her holiday shopping list, right? I’ve got 7 nieces and 1 nephew to shop for, not to mention my own children, husband, siblings and my parents. If I don’t get started on my shopping in August, I’m in trouble!

Ok, so one of the items that I am very strongly contemplating getting for my girls is the Deluxe Light Up Flutterbye™ Fairy Doll. If you are reading this and you own it, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

The Deluxe Light Up Flutterbye™ Fairy is an electronic toy that floats in the air. Also, she lights up! This makes her a really fun toy even in the evenings outside, which is great for winter because it gets dark so early here.

I was really struck, though, by the fact that the fairy doesn’t just float up in the air and then float back down. She will actually move up and down, guided by your child’s hand underneath her. The child doesn’t even have to touch the fairy; the hand underneath can be sensed. That definitely makes it feel magical, and all things magical are welcomed and wanted in this house.

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My children actually believe that they have a fairy for a mom and that they are fairies in training. I’ve blogged about this before, and while I respect that not everyone would delve so far into the world of make believe becomig reality, I have ZERO regrets. We have SO much fun making fairy rings, casting spells, sprinkling fairy dust and even communicating with animals (Darah is an animal talent fairy, you know). All this is to say that I am particularly drawn to toys that help create a magical vibe in our home.

This season of wonder and belief is so brief, you guys. I’m savoring every second of it, fairies and all.

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My only concern is that if I buy this doll now, I will want to play with her before the holidays. Yes, talking about me. Can you blame me? This toy sounds AWESOME! But it seems like the kind of toy that is going to sell out fast, so if I wait, I might be out of luck. Oh if only one of my fairy talents was patience!

Please let me know if you’ve tried the toy and what you think about it!

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Get Your Car Ready for The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (and Save BIG on Tires!)

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

It’s October 2nd, friends. It’s officially the holiday season! I don’t mean that it’s time to bust out your red and green, but I do mean that the BIG 3 (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas) are headed our way, and it’s time to get in a festive mood as we count down the days until each holiday arrives!

I always think of this week of the year as the week when I sit at the very top of the hill at the start of a roller coaster ride. It’s about to get fast and furious up in here, with every day going faster than the last, and the to do list growing longer with each passing hour.

October is really a critical month for my holiday happiness, you guys. The more I can get checked off my list this month, the more I can enjoy the holiday season and spend my time relaxing, baking, and making merry instead of stressing out.

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So that means October is the perfect month to tackle some bigger, and even some more expensive projects that just need to get done, especially before it’s time for road trips or hosting company. One of those things is taking a good, hard look at the tires on your vehichle. We actually bought new tires a year ago, and had them rotated for the first time about 2 months ago, so we are good to go in this department.

But if you are like me, tires are something you think about approximately 0% of the time. So this is your friendly reminder that you need to stop for just a minute and think about how long it has been since you purchased new tires, had them rotated, or had them inspected for wear. You do NOT want a tire blow out on the way to grandma’s house on Thanksgiving Day (or any day, for that matter). You will be so glad that you took a few moments to take care of the wheels that take care of you every single day.

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Now through October 31st, with the purchase of a new set of four qualifying Cooper tires at participating retail stores, you can get up to a $70 Visa prepaid card with your purchase. It’s all part of the Fall Reward Event. Here’s the full list of qualifying tires:

  • • Adventurer A/T*
  • • Cooper Response Touring
  • • Cooper Zeon RS3-A
  • • Cooper Zeon RS3-S
  • • CS3 Touring
  • • CS5 Touring
  • • Discoverer A/T3
  • • Discoverer ATP*
  • • Discoverer CTS
  • • Discoverer H/T
  • • Discoverer H/T Plus
  • • Discoverer HTP*
  • • Discoverer LSX*
  • • D iscoverer LSX Plus*
  • • Discoverer RTX*
  • • GLS Touring*

*Available at select national retailers only

If you are like me and have no clue which tires you need, the folks at Cooper Tires can help you make a great decision based on your vehicle make and model, your driving habits, and your budget. There’s a perfect set of tires for every vehicle and every family at Cooper Tires. And there’s a Visa gift card with your name on it. Think of the gift card as a reward for yourself for taking care of something important. Full details can be found at Coopertirerebates.com. 

Sweepstakes! 

In addition to the great rebate offer, Cooper Tires is also hosting an awesome sweepstakes right now to help celebrate life’s everyday road trips. There are awesome prizes to be won, including a $5,000 gift card for gas! Head over to the Cooper Tire’s Facebook page to get registered. Somebody’s going to win….why shouldn’t it be you?

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Get Free Returns at ThredUp: Here’s How!

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I’ve blogged a few times about my love for ThredUp, and shown you some examples of the things I have found on this online consignment store for women and children, as well as the prices I have paid. Here’s the last ThredUp Haul I showed you, and here’s a post with 4 great tips for shopping on ThredUp with maximum success.

ThredUp has quickly become one of the primary places where I do my clothing shopping. Prices start, in general, at $4.99 and go up, just depending on the brand and the condition. It’s more expensive than shopping at a thrift store, but it’s SO much easier!  Want to see what I ordered from ThredUp a few weeks ago? Here’s a video for you…see how far I stretched $66!

But what I DON’T love about ThredUp is the fact that you have to pay for the shipping on any returns you make. Do I understand the policy? Absolutely. Do I think it’s fair? Sure. Do I like it? Not one little bit! You see, as it turns out, shipping clothes, especially via the post office, is quite pricey. I have returned items 3 times now to ThredUp, and I can’t seem to pay less than $8 in shipping. The bill topped $15, one time. Yikes! I actually hesitated on that one, but I had around $70 in returns, so I bit the bullet.

How to Get Free Returns on ThredUP

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My friends, there is a way to avoid this return shipping business altogether! You simply need to follow these steps:

1. Get a ThredUp account. If you don’t already have one, what are you waiting for? A coupon? Oh, well in that case, here’s $10 to spend for free when you sign up through my link (I get $10, t00, when you buy…free clothes for everyone! Woo hoo!).

2. Download the ThredUp app. This is critical for the free shipping piece, as you will need to make your purchase through the app in order to be offered free return shipping. The app is free.

3. Fill your cart with whatever you like, however you like. Listen, maybe I’m just an old fart, but I want a big screen when I’m shopping for clothes, and not my iPhone 4 screen (I know…I’m due for an upgrade…). So here’s my trick: I make sure I’m signed into my account on my laptop and I shop away, adding everything I want to my cart. Then I hop on to the app and proceed to check out from there. I shop the way I want, and I save the way I want. 🙂

And remember, if you spend at least $50, the shipping to you is free, and then if you bought through the app, the returns are free, too. This little trick should make ThredUp shopping that much thriftier, which is a very good thing, indeed!

Let me know what you buy, friends! Hopefully you don’t have to return it, but if you do, no worries, because now it’s free!

Kohl’s Fall Fashion Finds for Men (My 90% off Find!)

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Thanks to Kohl’s for sending a gift card my way. All thoughts, opinions, and expenses beyond the gift card amount are my own. 

One of my very favorite stores to shop at, both online and in-store, is Kohl’s. I have a few reasons why I love them so very much.

1. My mother-in-law used to work at customer service at Kohl’s and I remember stories from her about how Kohl’s would always bend over backwards to ensure that the customer was satisfied. It honestly reminded me of the stories you hear about the customer service offered at stores that are much higher end. I was very impressed with her stories, and I have found them to be true any time I have been to customer service, as well. Returns are hassle-free and employees are very friendly and helpful.

2. Kohl’s knows how to have a sale! This store is NOT afraid to mark stuff down. I routinely find things at Kohl’s that are similar in price to what I might pay at a consignment or even thrift store. Only the item’s at Kohl’s are new with tags. Gotta love that!

3. Kohl’s stays on trend. I love the designer collaborations Kohl’s has (Vera Wang and Marc Anthony are two that come to mind). Those pieces are sharp and right on trend, and at a price point my budget can handle.

I particularly like heading to Kohl’s whenever my husband, Tim, is in need of some new items for work. From full suits to business casual, Kohl’s has a wide range of items for every work wardrobe. We headed to the store looking to spend around $100, and hoping we could pull together an outfit. In the end, we spent $125 (including tax), but we got TWO work appropriate outfits!

kohls for men 6 Tim was wearing this brown sweater when we went into the store, and we actually used it as a building piece for putting something together that was very “fall.” We quickly found this Arrow Plaid Button-Down shirt (on sale for $26.99) and knew it was just perfect. I then headed over to the tie section to see what I could coordinate with it to dress it up a bit for work. I opted for something with a very minimal pattern since the shirt already had a lot going on. The Izod Hilton Grid Tie is what I chose (on sale for $24.99). I think it turned out great!

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Then we looked for a pair of pants that we liked. I pulled many different pairs of pants for Tim, and he had a strong preference for one set. We were shocked and totally thrilled when we realized that checkout that these pants were on MEGA markdown. They were originally $54 and we paid $5.40 for them. Talk about the deal of the day!!!

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In total, the shirt, tie and pants, all from Kohl’s, set us back $57.38 plus tax. That is REALLY awesome (but you already knew that, didn’t you?!).

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While we were in the store, Tim requested a dressy pair of gray slacks, and decided on this pair from Docker’s (on sale for $34.99). I only buy flat front pants for him. Can anyone enlighten me on why pleated pants are still being made? They totally baffle me…I think they are flattering to 0% of the people who wear them. Anyway, Tim said this pair of pants was really comfortable, which he appreciates immensely. He rides his bike to work every day, so he needs to balance comfort with the fact that he needs to look office appropriate. These pants are perfect.

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This Apt. 9 Modern Fit Striped Shirt (on sale for $21.99). I was very impressed with the number of slim cut shirts I saw at Kohl’s while we were shopping. So many men wear their shirts WAY too big and baggy, and it isn’t flattering at all. You don’t need excess fabric hanging off your body like that, fellas. Go for the slimmer cut, even if you aren’t slim, yourself. You will look better in something that actually fits you, instead of something that just hangs on you, I promise!

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So this second outfit of a shirt and pants cost $56.98 plus tax. Another great buy! And even though we somehow magically ended up with a pair of pants that was 90% off, I didn’t even go through their clearance section. They had rows and rows of stuff 60% off, so there were more great deals to be had, but we just ran out of time. Additionally, I earned $20 in Kohl’s cash that I can use starting this Sunday. It literally works like cash in the store. I don’t have a minimum purchase that I need to make. I’ve just got $20 to spend freely! I will most likely spend it on some items for the girls for our upcoming Disney trip. Kohl’s has a TON of cute Disney apparel! 🙂

Do you shop at Kohl’s for yourself or for other family members? Have you ever stumbled upon a killer deal like our 90% off pants find? I’d love to hear about it! I thought the other deals we had were decent, too, and we shopped without even paying attention to the price tags. It’s nice to know that you aren’t going to be shocked in a bad way when you get to the checkout counter!

 

Celebrate National Coffee Day and Friends 20th Anniversary with a Central Perk Body Scrub

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Thanks to Eight O’Clock Coffee and Mom It Forward for partnering with Stuff Parents Need to make this post possible. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own, as always. 

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate all things coffee. Did you know that today is National Coffee Day?! To be honest, I thought that every day was National Coffee Day, but it turns out, it does have one day when we are to honor our favoite beans even more than every other day. So…5 cups instead of 4? 😉

If you happen to be in the NYC area between now and October 18th, you can head to 199 Lafayette Street and treat yourself to a free cup of Eight O’Clock Coffee at a fun pop up coffee shop. But this isn’t just any pop-up shop, friends. It’s a recreation of Central Perk, the beloved coffee shop frequented by Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler and Joey on the “loved by pretty much everyone” show, Friends. It was 20 years ago this fall that season 1 debuted!

And now that you feel extra old, go ahead and make yourself another cup of coffee. I’ll wait, no worries. You’ll feel better in a few minutes. 🙂

To celebrate all things coffee and all things Friends, I thought it would be fun to put together a Central Perk-inspired gift for a friend. This would be a really fun “no reason” gift to surprise someone with, or it can just be a nice little treat you make for yourself.

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Some of you shower before you have your coffee (how do you do that? seriously?) but you can change that and have some coffee WHILE you shower. Best. Idea. Ever. 🙂

Central Perk Roast, which is a limited edition roast out right now, has a medium flavor which makes it a roast that will please a lot of people. It is made with 100% Arabica beans, smells divine and is a great choice for a scrub. While this particular roast is new, the brand has been around for over 150 years, so that means it’s doing something right and is definitely worth trying if you aren’t already a fan! Ok, so let’s start by gathering our ingredients:

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Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Eight O’Clock Central Perk Roast coffee grounds
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup grapeseed oil

Add your coffee grounds to a large mixing bowl. Isn’t the color of this roast lovely? It smells great, too!

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Now it’s time to add your brown sugar.

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And now you need to add your oil. You can opt to just add 1/2 cup of coconut oil or 1/2 cup of grapeseed oil, but I like to mix things up. I also wanted to let the coffee scent shine as much as possible, so I used grapeseed oil for half of what I needed to help dilute that coconut scent. But I didn’t personally want to do all grapeseed oil because coconut oil is so good for your skin! So just know that you have options here and can do as you see fit.

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All that’s left to do now is to mix it together. You may need to use your hands just a bit toward the end to help break up any smaller lumps of coconut oil or brown sugar. Now add it to a cute container of some sort (mason jars are perfect) and you are all set!

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I did a quick test on my arm yesterday when I made the scrub and instantly loved it. It feels SO good, and it smells incredible. My arm was really soft after I washed the scrub off, too.

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So naturally I couldn’t resist using the scrub in the shower this morning (I know…I’m a terrible role model of how to be a great friend because I stole this gift for myself!). But y’all. It. Was. AWESOME!!! It woke me up and made me feel so soft and smooth. I’ll be making this again for my friends, and yeah, also for me. If you like coffee, this is a little DIY you need to try immediately!

You can get more information on where to find the Central Perk Roast blend at www.EightOClock.com/friends. The bags are a very reasonable $6.99! And you most definitely will want to go to the Eight O’Clock Coffee Facebook page today for a chance to win coffee prizes and even a trip to LA to visit the Warner Brothers studios. You can also hang out with the brand on Twitter!

Let me know if you try the scrub and the Central Perk roast! I hope you like them as much as I do! 

Honest Shampoo + Body Wash and Honest Conditioner Review: An Honest Assessment

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Affiliate links included and Shampoo & Body Wash provided for consideration. I supplied the conditioner. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own. 

I have been having a lot of fun over the past year working my way through the Honest Company product catalog and trying pretty much everything they make so that I can share my thoughts about the products with you. Some of the products have become major favorites in my home (Honest Bathroom Cleaner and Honest Dishwasher Pods come to mind). Others have been not as impressive. If you want to check out all the products I have reviewed to date, take a look at my Honest Company reviews page.

Today, I want to talk about Honest Shampoo + Body Wash and Honest Conditioner, both of which I have been regularly using for about a month.

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If you want the Cliff’s Notes version of the review here it is: Meh. 

Alright, now let’s get into more detail!

Honest Shampoo & Body Wash gets credit for being multi-purpose, and for having a nice smell (the scent is sweet orange vanilla. It is light and not at all overpowering). It also gets points for having an impressively natural ingredient list.

Like most sulfate-free shampoos, it is difficult to get much of a lather going. I’ve learned from experience that lather does not equate to cleaning abilities. It takes some getting used to, but the suds really aren’t what gets your hair nice and clean, so don’t be fooled by the lack of suds.

Unfortunately, for me, I notice that any time I use the Honest Shampoo on my hair, I need to wash my hair again after 2 days, and it is my preference to wash my hair every 3 days. So I personally take that to mean that my hair is not getting as clean with this product, which is a bummer. For me, it has turned into a shampoo for my girls and a body wash. I gave it a month on my hair, and then I gave up.

As for the Honest Conditioner, I find that it doesn’t provide as much moisture as my VERY VERY dry hair needs. If you hair is not straw-like, as mine tends to be, then I think you should give the product a try. It smells great, it has great ingredients, and it is probably perfectly fine for most hair types. Just not mine.

So while I don’t think either one of these products is bad, I just wasn’t wowed by them. They aren’t the right fit for me. But if you are seeking out more environmentally friendly hair care products, then I think they are worth a try, especially since you can turn the shampoo into body wash if you aren’t pleased with how it performs on your hair. These products are $9.95 each, which means that if you want to buy them, you should include them in your essentials bundle, as the per item price in a bundle is just $7.20. 🙂

Have you tried these products? I’d love to hear what you thought about them! 

Super Cute Halloween 4 Piece Gift from Julep: FREE for New Mavens!

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Affiliate links included. I only promote what I love! 

Cuteness overload alert! I want that orange nail polish SO bad!!!

julep free polish halloween

Halloween calls for some spooktacular nail designs and spell-binding colors! Julep Maven subscribers get first access to trend setting colors and top-rated beauty products each and every month. For a limited time, new Maven subscribers can get started with this 4-piece Halloween inspired beauty gift valued at $58 for free (just pay $2.99 for shipping).

Are you familiar with Julep and their Maven Beauty Box subscription?

  • Julep Maven is the only customizable box of full-size, limited-run nail colors and beauty innovations. That means no surprises, no dupes or colors you don’t like. You can see what is in your box each month and have the option of swapping out colors/products you already have or don’t want.
  • Julep Maven is affordable. You get over $40 of full-size products in every box for just $24.99 per month.
  • Mavens get benefits all month long at Julep – like 20% off, free shipping, early access to secret sales and more.

Become a Maven today, use the code SPELLBOUND to get your own Free 4 Piece Halloween Welcome Box for New Maven Subscribers ($58 Value) for FREE (you just pay $2.99 for shipping).

The Case for Baby Monitors After Babyhood (Giveaway!!!)

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Levana. The opinions and text are all mine.

In the last month, there has been a fundamental shift in my worldview, friends. My baby started going to school almost exactly a month ago, and she is away from 8-12, Monday-Friday. She hasn’t acted like a baby (tantrums aside) since she was 8 months old and started walking. In many ways, she has felt like a toddler from the start…always a handful and always itching to do the next developmental thing.

And yet, she’s still my baby. Assuming a surprise isn’t headed our way, she’ll be our last. It is so bittersweet to watch my baby climb out of the car every day with her backpack and her lunch box, headed off to school like the big girl she really is.

So you may find it interesting to hear that I just installed her third baby monitor system (the first one died of natural causes, and the second died because I plugged it into the wrong power cord and fried it. Why yes, it DID cause me to utter some choice words).

My husband did not agree with me, and thought that the baby monitor stage of our lives should reach its natural conclusion at this point. But I see a need for it, friends! In fact, let’s just re-name it, because it doesn’t have to just be a BABY monitor. It can be an mischief monitor, a walkie-talkie system, or an entertainment device for young kids.

The Sofia monitor from Levana is what we are currently using, and let me tell you, it is being put to WORK. My girls are finally at the point where they can be playing with each other without mom having to be within immediate striking distance. That means that the girls can be in one of their rooms upstairs while I’m downstairs doing ultra glamorous things like laundry and making dinner.

I’m able to see what they are up to (in full color!) and also talk with them through the speaker function. This eliminates most of the back and forth trips I have to do to referee toy disputes.

It’s also no big deal for me to unplug the device and walk around with it. It has an impressive 48 hour battery life when unplugged. I have actually put this to the test, and I can confirm that it is true! The device will start beeping when the batteries are low so that you don’t forget that you have it unplugged.

Tim especially likes the yellow color of the wireless monitor, and the reason is because it is different enough to make it easy to spot when you forgot where you last had it, and yet, the color isn’t obnoxious, either. I thought that was a great point, because I tote this thing all over the place and leave it pretty much anywhere and everywhere. But I rarely have trouble spotting it!

One other great feature is the room temperature notification. This is very important for infants, who are more sensitive to temperature shifts and less able to regulate their own boy temperatures, but it is also helpful for parents of bigger ones, especially during the changing of the seasons, when temperatures in the day are quite pleasant, but may surprise you at night with how low they go. You want to make sure everyone is comfortable and not waking up in the middle of the night freezing!

I’ve been quite pleased with the Sofia Video Monitor, and would recommend it as an affordable choice for anyone looking for maximum convenience and a really great video monitor system all in one. This set is available for $79.99. Follow Levana on Facebook to get to know the brand better, and to hear about special promotions.

Speaking of which, let’s give away some monitors right now!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Levana. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Barren among the Fruitful: A Beautiful, Honest Look at Infertility and Faith

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I received an advanced copy of this work for consideration. The thoughts and opinions here are my own, and a true joy to get to share. 

In this particular season of my life, I rarely get to dust off the graduate degree hanging in my office and flex my muscles as a scholar of theology. It’s been 10 years, now, since I earned that degree. And it’s been 2 full years since I properly used it. And that’s ok. I’ve already traveled down that road of insecurity and concern, and I’m on the other side of it, totally at peace. I did a hard (and expensive) thing in my early twenties by earning a master’s degree from Harvard University. I’m glad I did it. I don’t have to live and breathe those interests anymore for it to have been a meaningful journey.

One of the highlights of my time at the school was getting to know Amanda Hope Haley and her husband, David, a bit better. I actually went to undergrad with Amanda, though she was a year behind me. Her familiar face was a welcome sight, indeed, a year into my program. Amanda went on to do all sorts of completely relevant things with her degree, all of which made me marvel.

But the gift she gave the world through her talents and expertise that really took my breath away was one that arrived on my doorstep just last week:

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It turns out that as Amanda had been plugging away at her contributions to Christian literature through ghostwriting and even editing a version of the Bible(!), she and David were also going through a long and painful journey of infertility. They quickly discovered how common problems with conception were, and yet how few resources were available to help them deal with the costs (and those costs are HUGE, financially, emotionally and spiritually).

Barren Among the Fruitful is aimed at Christian readers who might be navigating the waters of infertility, though I would also strongly recommend it to anyone who has a loved one going through this journey. I personally learned a great deal, thanks to Amanda’s honest words, about the pains of infertility, and the fact that the road doesn’t always need to lead to a child.

I want to confess that I have never really understood why couples who are struggling to conceive do not adopt. Isn’t it the obvious solution? For many, it really is, and that’s a great thing for all parties involved. But after gaining more insight into the process that couples seeking to have their own child endure, and the heartache, as well as the financial stress (and potential ruin), I feel so much more understanding about the complexity of the issue, and so much less inclined to assume that the right answer for every couple is to have a child, one way or the other. I am so grateful for that insight, as I feel that it helped me grow and mature as a person and as a friend.

Amanda’s book offers keen observations and a helpful dose of perspective for those of us on the periphery of this issue, and very practical and compassionate advice for those in the midst of it. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts that she offers in her work is thoughts about how she worked and is working through some of those big, spiritual issues that anyone dealing with infertility, or even with loss of any sort, will have to face and try to answer. Amanda doesn’t have nice and neat solutions, wrapped up and packaged for easy consumption, but she does offer some great guideposts for you if you are finding yourself lost and in the dark on how to reconcile your faith with your heartbreak.

What a gift you have given the world, Amanda. I’m so proud of what you have created, so thankful for what you have taught me, and so honored to help spread the word.

Pick up your copy of Barren Among the Fruitful today (it releases October 7th, but you can pre-order it now). And after you read it, pass it along to someone else to keep paying it forward.