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Take the Ouch Out of Pouch Feeding with PouchPop (Giveaway)

April 29, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 48 Comments

If your little ones are like mine, then food pouches are one of their favorite things to eat, either as part of a meal or as a healthy snack. But did you realize that the design of many pouch tops can cause irritation of the gums?

See the edges? They aren’t sharp enough to cut gums, at least not in my experience, but if you’ve got a baby who loves to gnaw on things, then they can cause irritation. Another parents noticed the same issue, and as a result, developed the PouchPop.

While I don’t personally use pouches enough to have noticed my baby’s gums getting irritated, I can definitely see how that could happen, especially if your little one eats at least one pouch each day, or if you let them gnaw on it for a while after they are done eating. I have found the PouchPop to be very easy to pop onto your pouch, and very easy to wash, as well. For pouch food fans out there, it is a great find!

Buy it!: If you use code Topper12 on Amazon during checkout, you will save 25% off the $9.99 price.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a set of PouchPops!

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

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I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links.

B.B. Cream and Night Cream: Why I Use Them (Giveaway!)

April 25, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 111 Comments

What is B.B. Cream?

B.B., or beauty balm creams are all the rage right now. It seems like most every brand has released a version of this makeup equivalent of a superfood. But are you confused about what it is? Well, while each b.b. cream on the market does slightly different things (so read the packaging carefully!), let me tell you about what I use and all that it does for my skin.

Here’s a quick pic I took of myself before applying my b.b. cream.

I’m using Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase Instant Perfecting B.B. Cream SPF 15. It goes on just like a moisturizer, and here’s what it does:

provides hydration (like a moisturizer)
gives skin a brighter and more vibrant look (like a brightener)
evens skin tone (like a primer)
reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes (like a concealor)
provides SPF protection (like a sunscreen)

So basically, b.b. creams are designed to do the work of several different products all in one. This is a HUGE time saver, and I can also tell a difference in how my skin looks when I’m wearing it. You can wear your b.b. cream under your foundation, or you can wear it alone. In the warmer weather that we are having, I often simply opt to wear the b.b. cream as my foundation. While it doesn’t provide the full coverage of a matte foundation, I’m still pleased with the results enough to leave the house without my foundation on.

Here’s what I look like after applying b.b. cream and before applying the rest of my makeup.

The visible evidence that I am wearing it is the fact that it has evened my skintone. But think of all the other great stuff it is doing!

And the best part? The b.b. cream I’m using is very reasonably priced (just $15.97 at Walmart). I think it is worth every penny of that price, and I think you’ll agree if you try it.

Night Cream: Really Necessary?

I was also recently sent one more product from the Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase line that I wanted to highlight, since I think it is totally worth talking about. I’ve been using a special cream at night on my face called Lift & Resculpt Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream. You can certainly get by just fine by using your day time moisturizer at night, but after using this product, I can tell you that athere is something to be said for having a special night cream. At night, your skin gets a long break from makeup and from the sun. This is the perfect time to apply a product that can do some pretty serious work! The Lift & Resculpt cream does just that, working to support natural production of more abundant collagen and elastin fibers. It also contains the Snap-8 Peptide, which is one of the most advanced neuropeptides available and that visably relaxes the appearance of wrinkles caused by repetive facial expressions. Again, you aren’t making all those faces while you are sleeping, and that means that a cream like this can really get to work, delivering noticeable results. Studies have shown this product to visibly reduct wrinkle size by 24% and depth by 27%. Pretty awesome, right? You can purchase this cream for $22.97, which is a bargain for what it does!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader your choice of the b.b. cream or the night cream!

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

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I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions express here are strictly my own.

Hide ‘Em & Hatch ‘Em Eggs: A Perfect Cure for Summer Boredom (Giveaway!)

April 24, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 71 Comments

Did you hear about the fun product called Hide ‘Em and Hatch ‘Em Eggs? There was quite a bit of buzz about them around Easter. In fact, they were the #1 Easter item on Amazon this year. But I actually think they make a REALLY good summer boredom cure, so I want to suggest that you check them out!

Bunnies in Eggs???

The Hide ’em & Hatch ’em Eggs set comes with 3 eggs that are meant to be submerged in room temperature water, like this:

This part is the most difficult for kids, because you have to let the egg sit for at least 6 hours, and in my experience, closer to 12 hours is better. At that point you will start to see cracks in the egg. If you don’t see any cracks at that point, you can also help the egg along a bit by giving it a little squish. The egg will break when you do this.

What your child finds inside is sure to be a surprise!

Hide ’em & Hatch ’em Eggs each contain either a bunny, chicken or duck!

But the fun doesn’t stop after the hatching happens. At that point, you can place your baby animal back into some room temperature water and watch it grow over the next 24 hours. We found that the animal would grow to about twice its size at the time that it hatched. It will also slowly shrink back to its original size after it is out of the water.

After it shrinks back and hardens, your child has a fun new toy to play with!

I think this is a fantastic summer boredom cure because it teaches so many lessons: patience, the basics of how eggs function, what does and does NOT actually come from an egg, and watching things grow. I can see a lot of lesson ideas coming from this activity! The company is also working on some product improvements, such as making the eggs easier to crack open. The newer version should be available in a few months. I always love when a company listens to customer feedback and strives to improve!

If you are like me, and already putting together a summer boredom cure kit, these eggs make a terrific addition!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a set of Hide ‘Em & Hatch ‘Em Eggs!

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

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I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Saffron Road: All Natural Halal Cuisine (Giveaway!)

April 22, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 80 Comments

Little by little, we are purging our home of products with enriched flour, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, artificial preservatives, and many other things that have ben proven again and again to be poor choices for our bodies.

And that means that as a general rule, I’m currently avoiding the frozen food section altogether (except for frozen meat). Honestly, this part is really hard for me, because I can’t help but feel as though I am giving up more of my time by giving up convenience foods. I simply have to make more from scratch now.

Saffron Road

When I was recently told about the company Saffron Road, you can imagine how eager I was to try them out. Saffron Road has an entire line of frozen entrees that are all-natural, halal packaged, and many of their options are also gluten-free. I went over to my local Whole Foods to check out their selection. All of their choices were ethnic-inspired, and that means that they were things I couldn’t easily replicate at home. That is my favorite type of frozen entree to buy!

What is Halal?

Before I go further, some of you may be wondering what it means for food to be “halal prepared.” This is a meat preparation method as set out in the Qur’an for Muslim adherents. Muslims are not to eat pork or animal blood, and they are only to eat animals that have been properly cared for during their lives, and slaughtered in a manner to minimize pain and suffering. While I am not Muslim, I can certainly respect this idea. While I noticed that Saffron Road prices seemed a little high for the amount of food in each box, I understand that when you purchase these products, you are also paying for the ethical treatment of the animals and special preparation techniques.

A few nights ago, Tim and I thoroughly enjoyed two dishes from Saffron Road.

We shared our food with each other so we could both enjoy the Chicken Birayni and the Lemongrass Basil Chicken. They were both very flavorful and delicious. I thought the Chicken Birayni has the best visual appeal.

But it was the Lemongrass Basil Chicken that really stole the show in terms of its complex and delicious flavors. It is the dish I will be purchasing again, for sure.

In addition to an entire line of frozen foods, Saffron Road also offers single-serving simmer sauces, broths and savory snacks. I’m interested in picking up these crunchy chickpeas as an afternoon snack for Darah.

Saffron Road is a great find for anyone who craves really delicious and convenient frozen food offerings, minus all those gross preservatives, high sodium content, and questionable preparation practices. I thought the dishes tasted remarkably similar to restaurant food, which makes them a really nice treat for those days when you don’t feel like cooking, and are even too tired to go out to eat! Click here to find your nearest Saffron Road retailer.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will receive 5 free product coupons from Saffron Road!

Be sure to enter to win my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.
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I received complimentary coupons for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Learning Resources Twisty Droppers Water Droppers (Giveaway!)

April 19, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 52 Comments

While I am feeling very sad, in some ways, that my baby is turning one in a few weeks, I’m also feeling REALLY excited.

Mostly because I know what her “big” present is. Since Layah isn’t a reader of mine, I can spill the beans here: she’s getting a water table! Layah takes her play VERY seriously, and I know that we are going to spend hours and hours on the back porch splashing in the water while big sister runs around in the yard.

I’ve already got the perfect accessory for the water table, and it is also great in the tub! Learning Resources Twisty Droppers are very affordable (just $12.99 for 4 droppers). They are sturdy (Layah has been chewing on them, so I know for a fact that they hold up well!). And they are FUN!

Kids love to play with water, and they also love to move water from one vessel to another. The Twisty Droppers provide a means through which they can have a lot of fun and also work on several different skills and competencies, including developing fine motor skills, strengthening hand muscles and learning cause and effect. While Layah doesn’ t yet have the hand coordination skills to use the droppers as they are intended, Darah does, and when she plays with them in the tub or at the table doing a water lesson, I can see her really concentrating hard. She LOVES watching how the water goes up the dropper, and then back down. The twisty effect really helps kids pay close attention to what is going on inside the dropper.

I think this toy is a winner. And if you don’t need all 4 droppers for your kids, they make fantastic gifts. What a cute item to put on top of a birthday present as part of the wrapping!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a set of Twisty Droppers!
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Be sure to enter my other contests, found on the sidebar of my page.

I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Vitamin D for Infants: Supplements Help Meet Daily Needs (Giveaway!)

April 16, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 49 Comments

At Layah’s 2 week check up, the pediatrician recommended we begin giving her doses of vitamin D. She told me that breastfed babies tended to be deficient in vitamin D, as a high percentage of moms are also deficient in it. A supplement is needed from birth onwards.

I have to admit, I was pretty surprised by this news. I had just had a baby 2 years and 9 months prior, and my previous pediatrician had made absolutely no mention of this to me.

I’m not sure if my old doctor was a little out of the loop, but I do know that only recently a study came out showing that breastfeeding mothers would need 10 times the daily recommended amount of vitamin D in their systems to be able to pass on a sufficient amount of it through their breastmilk.

Yeah, pretty much nobody is getting 10 times the daily recommended intake of vitamin D. Certainly not me!

Why is vitamin D important?

Vitamin D is a major player in the normal development and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth. So not getting enough vitamin D, even as an infant, can have an impact on you for the rest of your life! Vitamin D is made in the skin that has been exposed to direct sunlight. In today’s age, most of us stay indoors for the majority of the day, and when we do spend a significant amount of time outside, we usually have on sunscreen. That’s the right thing to do for overall health, but the negative consequence is that sunscreen (as well as clothing, glass windows and shade) block the skin’s ability to produce its own vitamin D. Since infants tend to have more sensitive skin, exposing them to direct sunlight is not recommended.

Babies who are breastfed or partially breastfed, or who use formula but get less than 1000 mL of fortified formula each day need to get 400 IU of vitamin D each day according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. That’s exactly what you will get in one tiny drop from Baby Ddrops!

Baby Ddrops contains only vitamin D in a type of fat that is naturally found in breast milk. There is no gluten, no preservatives, no artificial flavors, no sugar, etc. Baby Ddrops don’t even need to be refrigerated and they are very easy to use. Simply add one drop directly on your breasts, or to a bottle or food. You are set for the whole day!

One bottle of Baby Ddrops contains 90 doses, so it will last for 3 full months.

We have been using Baby Ddrops for a month now, and have nothing but great things to say about it. I usually add it to Layah’s morning bottle (she is mostly formula fed at this point, but also breastfeeds briefly twice each day). If I forget to add it to her bottle, I just add it to her baby food for lunch. It stays right on my countertop with our other vitamins so it is easy to remember.

Buy it: If you have an infant at home who isn’t exclusively formula fed, I’d like to recommend that you try Baby Ddrops as a resource for the vitamin D you need to provide as a supplement. It is available directly from Amazon and the current price listed is $16.29, which makes each daily supplement of vitamin D just 18 cents!

Win it!: TWO lucky Stuff Parents Need readers will each win 1 bottle of BabyDdrops!

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

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are stritly my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Bamboo Sheet Set Giveaway (ARV $154-$205!)

April 16, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 50 Comments

Have you had the opportunity to try sleeping on bamboo fibers, yet? It is grown without pesticides and if you’ve ever had bamboo growing in your yard, then you know that it is renewable at a VERY rapid rate. It is also an enxcellent choice for anyone with sensitive skin as it is hypoallergenic and naturally antibacterial.

In addition to bamboo sheet sets, Ettitude has a vast selection of , duvet covers, , pillows, mattress protectors, and towels to name a few. Ettitude was founded on the simple idea that all home and family essentials should not only be practical but also be unquestionably safe, Eco friendly, beautiful, and convenient.

Our Favorite Features of the Ettitude :

Available in six beautiful colors (white, sand, coffee, gray, aubergine, blue nights)
Equivalent to around 1000 thread count in cotton, luxuriously soft and silky!
Naturally antibacterial, great for sensitive skin and allergies
Wicks sweat away from body, cool in the summer, warm in the winter
Made from bamboo, a pesticide free, sustainable, and rapidly renewable resource
100% biodegradable
Oeko-Tex Standard 100
Easy care – cool wash, line dry

Purchase: You can purchase Ettitude Organic Bamboo sheet sets directly on their website.

Win It! Ettitude is generously blessing one winner with an Organic Pure Bamboo sheet set in your choice of size (twin, full, queen, king, or California king)!

Special thanks to AnaB Social for hosting this giveaway. Huge thanks to Ettitude and all the fabulous participating bloggers as well! Giveaway ends May 14th at 11:59 pm, open to residents WORLDWIDE, ages 18+. See detailed terms and conditions on entry form. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below (see directions on how to enter here). Thank you!

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Disclaimer: AnaB Social and all participating event bloggers are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

Ronco Hidden Veggie Pasta: One Year Supply Giveaway!

April 15, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 71 Comments

I am constantly trying to find ways to work more veggies into our meals. In the summer months, when lots of vegetables are in abundance at our local farmer’s market, the task isn’t so tough. There’s enough variety available to keep us from being too bored. But at other times of the year, I definitely DO get bored and I struggle. Also, to be frank, sometimes I just want to eat carbs and sugar and skip over the green stuff. Just sayin’.

But I have good news for the carbs fans out there who need a little more veg in their lives. Ronco has just released Hidden Veggie pasta. Every 4 oz. serving of the pasta has a full serving of veggies in it. I’ve tried it. I LOVE it. And I think you will, too! I recently made a SUPER easy recipe for some thai noodles and my family loved it!

I simply cut up some broccoli and some red bell peppers, and then I made my own peanut sauces (no recipe needed: just mix a littl soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, green onions and peanut butter until you get the flavor you like!).

Then all I did was to cook the pasta noodles according to package directions. I added the broccoli into the noodles that were cooking for the last 3 minutes of cooking time. You could also steam them in the microwave. I just went the easiest route!

Then I mixed all the ingredients together in a large serving dish. It wasn’t the prettiest dish I have ever made, but it tasted fantastic, and in addition to that broccoli and red bell pepper, the noodles also had veggies in them, which made this dish a new healthy favorite!

I found the flavor of the noodles themselves to be quite mild and versatile, so I think you won’t have any trouble coming up with recipe ideas. But Ronco also has some great Hidden Veggie recipe ideas on their site.

Ronco products are sold in the following cities and surrounding areas: Memphis, Birmingham, Little Rock, Mobile and Nashville. If you live in those areas, then you are in luck because I’ve got a fantastic giveaway for you!

Win it!: One lucky reader will win a 1 year supply of Ronco Hidden Veggies! This will be in the form of 24 foupons for 1 free package of Ronco Hidden Veggies pasta, so if you don’t live where it is sold, I wouldn’t recommend entering this particular giveaway.

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.
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I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

LED Lights Bring Dazzling Shine Back to Yellow Teeth (Giveaway!)

April 11, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 118 Comments

As we get older, most adults find that their pearly whites have become yellow teeth. Perhaps it is due to drinking a lot of coffee (raising my hand for this one) or perhaps it is simply due to the overall effect of time. But I think most all of us experience it on some level. My smile is one of my very best physical assets. I have naturally straight teeth and a nice smile. So to be honest with you, it has been especially disheartening watch my megawatt grin start to fade.

Since my teeth are a point of pride for me, I don’t mind giving them some extra attention and putting a bit of money into efforts to whiten them. I’ve even priced having them professionally whitened at a dentist’s office. I was quoted $600 and up. Yeah….I don’t have $600 lying around, wishing I would just go ahead and spend it, already!

But expensive options aren’t the only effective options. Over the past few weeks I have been using the LED Teeth Whitening System from Smile Brilliant. I can use this kit, which is currently available for only $39.95, in my own home.

Now, I will tell you that when I use this product, it isn’t exactly the most comfortable or attractive 20 minutes of my day. See?

But I keep my mind off the fact that I have a tray and a glowing light in my mouth by doing this in the evening while I’m unwinding and watching a show on Hulu or Netflix.

How it works is really quite simple:

First, you take the gel pen and paint over your teeth.

Next, you insert the protective trays into your mouth.

Finally, you insert the high intensity ultra-blue LED activating light (batteries ARE included with the kit). After 20 minutes of letting the gel and the light do their thing, you are all done!

Are you wondering why I’m sticking an LED light in my mouth? The light speeds up the whitening process, giving me better results faster.

I used this product daily for the first week that I had it, and now I’m just using it one or two times each week. I think that for the price, it works REALLY well! I’ve also been really impressed with the customer service of this company. A few days after my first kit arrived, I noticed that my light kept turning itself off after just a few minutes of use. When I contacted customer service, they stated that they found this problem to exist in about 1 out of every 200 units, and it was their policy to not only replace the light, but to send a entire new complimentary kit when a customer experienced this problem.

Are you noticing that you have yellow teeth? And do you think those gross (in my opinion) whitening strips are the only at-home option? Check out the Smile Brilliant System. It is affordable, effective, and they offer a money back guarantee!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an LED Teeth Whitening System!

Be sure to enter to win my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

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I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.