Stuff Parents Need

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

For All Your Bow Needs: Klippie Klub!

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Darah was fortunate enough to receive another Klippie Klub box this past month. If you don’t remember from my first post, Klippie Klub from Itzy Bitzy Designs is a very affordable way to get an excellent assortment of high quality bows for your daughter each and every month. Subscribers get a 70% discount off the retail price of the bows. Yeah, you read that right, 70%!!!!

If you sign up for the Krazy package, here’s what you get:

  • Over 70% savings
  • Free Klippie Klutch (value $20.00)
  • 1st Kit Free (value $40.00) (only pay $4.99 S&H)
  • Free Shipping
  • $15.99 per month
  • Retail Value $40.00
  • Commitment: purchase 6 monthly kits
If you’d like to go for the Kasual package, you’d get the following:
  • Over 50% savings
  • $18.99 per month
  • Retail Value $40.00
  • Free Shipping
  • No Commitment

I can tell you after receiving products for 2 months, though, that the quality is outstanding. These bows do NOT fall apart easily. So if you are feeling unsure about making a 6 month commitment since you haven’t personally seen the products yet, my personal advice is to go for it, because I certainly have been impressed with what I’ve seen!

Not only does Itzy Bitzy Designs send you great bows at a great value, they also are supporting efforts to get the word out about Treacher Collins, a condition that has affected the lives of the CEO’s family. Your money spent with this company is also going to a greater good, which I absolutely love!

So, do you want to see what came in this month’s package?

It was a celebration of colors that newborns love to see, which was timely for us. Everything was black and red, and we even had a bit of gray thrown into the mix. These are all VERY useful colors, and were a welcome addition to Darah’s collection, which until now was a bit heavy on pinks.

I highly recommend joining this program if you have a little girl who loves to wear bows. In 6 months, you’ll have a delightful and comprehensive selection of bows that should last you for years!

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

 

Shower Time Revolution for Nursing Moms: The Shower Hug (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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There’s a product I have been using on a very regular basis since about 2 weeks before Layah was born. It has been helping me SO much with feeling comfortable in those weeks before and the weeks after having a baby.It’s called a Shower Hug, and at first glance, it may not really seem to be that phenomenal of a product. But hang with me and I’ll explain!

This is a terry velour wrap that goes around your breasts in the shower. It is meant to be a protective barrier between your chest and the shower spray, which can suddenly feel VERY uncomfortable when your breasts are sore or engorged. Additionally, it acts as a warm compress which is extremely soothing and does help to ease engorgement.

Now, for me, engorgement only lasted 3 days. The Shower Hug provided enough comfort in those 3 days that I would say it is worth it just for that period, but I can also tell you that it has several uses after this phase of breastfeeding ends.

First and foremost, if you are going to be breastfeeding, you will learn that you are supposed to avoid using soap on your nipples and areolas, as they can actually dry you out and impede breastfeeding. I am still using the Shower Hug when I get in the shower to keep suds from my soap bar and from shampoo away from that area. But at the same time, the Shower Hug does get wet, so I don’t feel as though I’m not rinsing that area off well.

I also really enjoy getting to take hot baths again, and when I am taking a hot bath, I dip the Shower Hug in the hot water and then wear it while I soak. Our tub is on the small side, so it is impossible for me to fill it up to the point where my chest is submerged. The Shower Hug gives me that same feeling, though!

The Shower Hug is also useful to me during the night when I really don’t want to wear a nursing bra to bed, but I know I can’t sleep with nothing on or else I wake up with wet sheets! I can wrap my Shower Hug around me and put in breast pads. It is really nice to take a break from something with straps.

The Shower Hug comes in white with pink trim, white with blue trim or natural with sage trim. It is proudly made in the USA. It is available here for $29.95.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Shower Hug!

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

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

How About Some CASH?! $25 GIVEAWAY!!!

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SharpShade is in the middle of applying for a Grant with Chase Bank. In order to qualify for the grant, they need to receive 250 votes from people (online). The Moms Do it Better Community is coming together to help them get these votes.

Voting only takes 15 SECONDS! Here’s how:

– Go to www.missionsmallbusiness.com

– in the bottom right corner of that page click the “log in with facebook” link

– Type sharpshades in the search engine (don’t worry about the city/state we will pop up)

– Click the vote button next to them.

To help them out we’re doing a flash giveaway for $25 PayPal OR Amazon (winner’s choice!) Thanks for helping and good luck! This giveaway is open worldwide so as long as you can vote you can win! GOOD LUCK, Stuff Parents Need readers! I hope one of you wins!!!

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Why I Prefer Real Jewelry: Silverloops.com Review and GIVEAWAY!!

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I remember when I was a child and I was ready to graduate from “kiddie” jewelry to something a bit more grown-up looking. My mother gave me some advice that I’ve never forgotten about jewelry. She told me that it is perfectly fine to have a few pieces of costume jewelry that are trendy, but that most of my jewelry collection should be elegant, timeless and REAL. That means gold and sterling silver.

She didn’t give me that advice because she’s a jewelry snob. She just knew that these pieces would last longer and become more special to me. She was absolutely right. The majority of my jewelry collection is real. I don’t have a huge collection of pieces, but what I do have is quality, and I’ve worn many of the pieces for 10 or 15 years, which makes them rich with memories.

Do you feel the same way about jewelry? Or are you wishing that you had a bit more of the real stuff? Silverloops.com is a site that can help you out in the sterling silver department, even if you are on a budget! This company aims to provide the highest quality pieces of jewelry that are both exquisite and affordable. Gotta love that!

I received these twisted square earrings, and I am delighted by them. They are simultaneously flirty and delicate. I enjoy having an earring that dangles a bit but that isn’t over-the-top, screaming for attention as so many dangly earrings are, in my opinion. Given that they are sterling silver, I’m also very pleased with their price point. They are listed at $30 but are on sale for $25! Not bad for a pair of earrings that I’ll hang on to forever!

If you are in the market for sterling silver jewelry, do yourself a favor and check out what Silverloops.com has to offer. They’ve got something for everyone!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $20 gift certificate to Silverloops.com!

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

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

Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Glasses at Eyebuydirect.com!

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This post is very timely for me. I’m about to tell you about an opportunity to snag some prescription eyewear that is already a great buy, and at Buy One Get One Free on top of those great prices.

Why is this a timely post for me? Because I’m currently using my spare glasses. I can’t find my favorite pair, but fortunately, I have a back up pair (actually, I have two!). I have to reach for my spare glasses about once a week due to my unfortunate habit of taking off my glasses at random times and places, only to find them a few hours or even a few days later.

So having extra glasses is crucial for me. But I can’t afford to spend $150+ on a spare pair of glasses. Heck, I can barely afford to do that for the glasses that I prefer to wear every day! But I also don’t want my spare glasses to be ugly, as “affordable” glasses often are, especially since I find myself wearing them so often!

EyeBuyDirect.com has a HUGE selection of affordable prescription eyewear. Their prices start at just $14.95, and yes, that does include the lenses. Wow! Every so often, this website gets crazy and offers a Buy one Get One Free promotion. So you could get 2 pairs of glasses for as little as $14.95 total. That’s nuts! This promotion ends on June 25th, so hop on over and pick out your new glasses now!

If you don’t have a spare pair of glasses, this is your chance. And you don’t even have to get ugly ones! You can get a pair that is super cute!!! You could also get some glasses for other members of your family. If ever there was a time to get stocked up, this is it, my friends.

Maybe you aren’t as silly as me and don’t lose your glasses every week, but you WILL lose them at some point. As frustrating as it is, it isn’t so bad when you can just reach for another pair while you search. And searching for stuff is MUCH easier when you are wearing your glasses, I promise!

This post is brought to you by EyeBuyDirect.com. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project Book and CD GIVEAWAY!!!

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One of my first memories of hanging out with my BFF for the first time (back in 1993!) was listening to a tape she had of Phantom of the Opera. I’d never heard the musical before. In fact, I’m not so sure that I’d ever really heard any Broadway songs before that point. I remember sitting in her room and listening to the music, and having Leslie explain to me what was happening with the characters. I thought the story was really creepy but the music was absolutely captivating. I suppose that was by design, though, right Mr. Weber?

I now have a very fun way to introduce Broadway voices to Darah long before she’s in middle school. There’s a fantastic new CD out called Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project. It has 26 songs sung by some of Broadway’s brightest stars. It is so special and so sweet. I adore it!

It also serves a greater purpose, in that proceeds from this album are going to fight breast cancer so that moms and dads all over the world can be with their little ones even longer, and not let this disease cut their time short.

There’s also a book available, and it has beautiful illustrations of the lullabies as well as a 17 song cd that comes with the book. This book can beautifully integrate story time and song time just before bed (we tend to read and sing before the lights are out at my house, so this is perfect!).

The CD is available for $15 and the book is available for $18.95. You can’t go wrong with either choice; both are absolutely beautiful!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of both the CD and the book from Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project!
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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

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

Time for Some New Threads! $250 Summer Wardrobe GIVEAWAY!!!

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Welcome to the $250 Summer Wardrobe Giveaway!

Aéropostale is a mall-based, specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories. Aéropostale provides customers with a focused selection of high-quality, active-oriented, fashion and fashion basic merchandise at compelling values. Products can be purchased in-stores and online at Aeropostale.com and ps4u.com.   You can find exclusive Aeropostale Coupons and discounted gift cards on CouponTrade.com, your only source for both! Now you finally have a way to stack your savings in a whole new way!!!

Great! Now log your entries in the Rafflecopter form below and don’t forget to come back for your daily entries!

 

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iPhone Awesomeness Meets The Comfort of a Home Phone: #GoodCall (GIVEAWAY!!)

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Tim and I haven’t had a land line since 2004, which is exactly when we got cell phones for the first time. We were late to the cell phone party, but early to the “no house phone” party, I suppose. But in 2012, it’s actually quite common to drop your house line. Your cell phone is with you at all times, even in your house, so there’s little need for an additional phone line.

But I have to tell you, there are certain things I miss about land lines. To be more accurate, what I really miss are the phones, themselves. Yes, my iPhone is like a miniature version of the 8th wonder of the world. It can do all sorts of fun tricks and it certainly helps keep me connected in the way that a land line phone never could.

But…

I miss the way I could easily cradle a phone in between my ear and my neck. With my iPhone, any time I try to do that I end up hurting my neck and hanging up on the person on the other line. That touch screen feature is cool for a lot of things, but it can be a pain when you are just trying to have a conversation!

Well, folks, now I get to have my house phone back, without actually having to get a land line. There’s a BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW product out called Good Call, and I lurves it!!!

Here’s what landed on my door step on Wednesday afternoon:

Good Call is an iPhone handset. It’s also an iPhone docking station. Basically, it’s iPhone awesomeness. Wanna see how it works? Check this quick video out!

I love how the product is smart enough to really talk with your iPhone, and you can use the nifty voice activated feature to call folks in your address book without even touching your iPhone. So cool! I’m also enjoying having a second docking station in my home. We have a docking station upstairs, but during the day, Layah and I are almost exclusively downstairs. It’s great to have another easy place to get my charge on! Also, while I’m talking on my handset, my iPhone is STILL charging, all without me being tied down with a cord. LOVE it!!!! Here are some shots of my family using the Good Call. I love how Darah reacted to using it. She’d never seen a phone without a touch screen before! Ha!

I probably don’t need to remind you that Father’s Day is this weekend. If you have an awesome father in your life, whether it be your own dad or the father of your kiddos, this would be a fantabulous gift to get him! True, it isn’t yet available, but that’s part of the fun of the gift, especially if the man you are thinking of loves to get the latest gadgets…this is so new you CAN’T even buy it yet. The product launch happens on June 19th on the Good Call website.

There will also be a Twitter party (register here!) this Tuesday from 1-2pm EST, during which 2 units will be given away every 15 minutes. That’s a party not to miss, for sure!

But for the next few days, the only way to get your hands on this awesome gadget is to win it on a select number of blogs.

Speaking of which…

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a #GoodCall device! SQUEAL!!
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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and GoFusion #CBias #SocialFabric. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

GeoSafari Jr. BugWatch Review and GIVEAWAY

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For the past two meals, I have had to share space at the table with a snail. Why is that, you may ask? Well, because Darah is fascinated with the snail she and her father caught so that they can closely inspect it. And meal time seems to be the optimal time to study snail behavior. Sigh…

Despite this disruption to what would otherwise be a pleasant part of my day, I have to say that Darah’s growing interest in insects is pretty cool. I was definitely raised to fear all kinds of bugs. I don’t want the same for Darah. Yeah, bugs can be gross. But they can also be really fascinating, especially if you can check them out up close. Darah is able to do this thanks to the GeoSafari Jr. BugWatch. This is a great container for bugs that has magnifying glasses on both the top and the bottom of the container so that you can view the bugs you find from all angles.

Pretty much as soon as Tim walks in the door from work Darah is asking if they can go outside and catch some bugs. Tim is LOVING feeding Darah’s curiosity and talking with her about insects. Darah seems to be increasing her concentration levels and really absorbing what she is learning from her dad. She talks at length about different bugs and what makes them unique.

The GeoSafari Jr. BugWatch, available from Educational Insights, is a toy that requires the child to interact with nature, which is a really rare find for toys these days. I wish that I had grown up with a toy like this! This is the perfect companion to all the summer days that are ahead of us, as it will get your kid outside and exploring. Just be prepared to have some unusual guests at your dinner table! By the way, the snail is getting returned to the great outdoors today. No harm done, except to my appetite!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the GeoSafari Jr. BugWatch!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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