fall favorites - Stuff Parents Need

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media.

One of my favorite things about reading blogs is finding out about fun new products on the market. I rely on personal recommendations from people I know, either in real life or here on the internet to find great new things to try. Today I’m excited to share a few new products my family is enjoying this fall and that you might enjoy, as well. Let’s dig right in!

First, there’s simply no way to completely avoid the pumpkin spice obsession that Americans have for the last quarter of every year. It’s everywhere, so just go ahead and embrace it, friends. We LOVE the Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter from award-winning brand Peanut Butter & Co. I think this stuff is perfect right out of the jar, but you can also incorporate it into some easy recipes. For example, my girls LOVE chia pudding, so I made a pumpkin spice and chocolate chia pudding for them with bananas on top. It was gone before I got to have more than one bite, so next time I’ll double the batch.

I love that this brand uses non-GMO peanuts grown in the United States, and that trans-fats and hydrogenated oils are left out of the recipe, too. Want some additional recipe inspiration? Find it here! And if you want to get your hands on this yummy peanut butter treat, find your nearest retailer here. Before you head to the store, be sure to print out a $1 off coupon, too!

Also on the food front, I have been STRUGGLING to pull together satisfying meals on busy weeknights. It seems like a never-ending battle! Tastefully Simple has just launched Dinner Mixers to offer a short cut to time-strapped parents like you and me. In each kit you’ll receive a main dish and side dish recipe, as well as the pre-measured Tastefully Simple products needed to make both recipes. You just add the fresh ingredients and before you know it, you’ve got a tasty meal on the table. I made some great pork tacos with a yummy bean mixture on the side and delighted to see my oldest INHALE what was on her plate (as opposed to complaining about the food…something that is happening too often around here lately!).

The concept behind these meal kits is pretty cool, allowing for a lot of customization. You can select any combination of 3-5 recipes (my kit included 3, including one idea for using up leftovers, which I really appreciated!). The Tastefully Simple seasonings really do make a big difference, as far as overall taste goes. Everything was delicious! There are new Dinner Mixer options every month to keep things fresh and new. Want to give it a try? You can save $5 on your first Dinner Mixers purchase by using DINNERMIXERS at checkout (through 11/15/16)

And now let’s look at a few fun time savers I’ve been trying out in the kitchen. If you love Brussels sprouts but hate the prep time you have to put into getting rid of those hard sections of stalk, you might be a good candidate for the Twist’n Sprout by Chef’n. It’s a nifty circular device that gives you an easy way to carve out that hard part and leave your Brussels sprout in tact and ready to roast or saute more evenly.

And if you are more of a broccoli or cauliflower family, check out the StalkChop, also by Chef’n. This thing makes quick work out of removing your florets from those humongous stalks. I cut up this cauliflower in mere seconds! Chef’n tools are designed to help you get in and out of the kitchen faster, which I really appreciate because I’ve got other stuff to do! If you want to try Chef’n products, they can be purchased here and don’t forget to use code FALLPREP at checkout to save 20% and snag free shipping (not through 11/10)!

Now let’s talk about after school snacks. My girls come home from school STARVING like they haven’t eaten in days, and one of their very favorite snacks in the world is popcorn. So getting to try Popcorn, Indiana Sweet & Salty Kettlecorn has been a big treat for them.

Have you tried this yumminess, yet? It’s the absolute perfect blend of salty and sweet. I’m going to get a family-size bag for our next movie night, for sure. If you want to try it, you can find a full list of retailers here.

And finally, I am glad to have a supply of Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hand Wipes around to help with the aftermath of moments of artistic inspiration, like this one:

I keep a supply of these at the ready so that I can say yes more often when my kids simply ask to be kids and to go out and play in the dirt, smear paint around, or make a little mess in the kitchen. They are sturdy and effective and I like that they are antibacterial, too (especially important after some backyard play!).

So that’s the latest and greatest from my neck of the woods. Have you run into any awesome new products you think other busy parents might enjoy? I’d love to hear about it!