Stuff Parents Need

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

Getting Beyond Dora: Sing with Senor Uno Dos CD Review and GIVEAWAY

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Darah has just started to get into Dora the Explorer. That means that we have just started to learn a few words in Spanish, which is a lot of fun.

But I know we can take this language exploration a bit further than what Dora can offer, and we can still do it in a really fun way.

That’s where Sing with Senor comes in (sorry, there should be a tilde over the n, but I can’t for the life of me figure out how to create it!). Sing with Senor is headed up by Felipe Canete, who taught Spanish to middle school students and found great success getting his students to learn Spanish by creating fun, original songs. He’s transferred this skill into the children’s music realm, and has just released a great album called Uno, Dos. The songs are all in Spanish, but they are at a speed just right for picking up and following along to!

Here’s one of my favorites from the album, Los Vocales!

If you would like to exposure your child to the Spanish language, this is a really fantastic way to do it!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Uno Dos by Sing with Senor!

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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. 

Babyganics Sunscreen Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Skin cancer runs in Tim’s family. That means it is serious business for us to make sure that our children have on sunscreen if they are going to be spending a significant amount of time outside. I am always on the lookout for sunscreen that has an high SPF, that is water resistant. I also give careful thought to how the sunscreen is applied. For Darah, something that goes on really fast is best. She doesn’t mind having sunscreen put on her, but she’s always in a hurry to go play once we get outside, so having her wait 5 minutes to get lathered with lotion and then wait another 5 minutes for it to soak in just won’t work.

Babyganics has a Sunscreen Spray that we’ve really been enjoying. It has an SPF of 50 and it absorbs into the skin quickly. The spray feature also helps speed up the application process. Perhaps what I appreciate the most is that it is formulated with babies and toddlers in mind, and leaves behind parabens, paba, sulfates and other nasty and questionable chemicals, all while keeping the skin protected.

Babyganics is a company founded by two dads who wanted products that were not only eco-friendly, but also people friendly (sometimes we assume that if something isn’t harmful to the earth that it also isn’t harmful to people, but that’s not necessarily true!). You should definitely check out their impressive line of products that are good for everyone and really work!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win Babyganics CoverUp Baby Sunscreen Spray!
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. 

Fighting the Signs of Aging Olay Total Effects Tone Correcting Line: GIVEAWAY!!

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I’m 31 years old. Most days, I still feel relatively youthful (except for those days when my kids wear me out!). But there’s no doubt that my skin is starting to change a bit. It simply doesn’t glow and shine the way it did in my teens and early 20s, at least not without some help from quality skincare products. If I don’t give my skin a boost with these types of products, I have noticed that it seems much more dull than it did even 5 years ago.

One of the key signs of aging on your skin is an uneven skin tone. Olay has the Total Effects Tone Correcting Line that is specifically designed to target this sign of aging and to help restore that youthful glow to your face.

I have been trying out a few of the products in this line, and I’m really impressed. Before I started using these products, I honestly didn’t think that I had a problem with uneven skin tone. But now that I see how much better my skin looks after using this line, I realize that my skin tone is starting to look uneven on its own.

My very favorite product in the line, and one that I plan to immediately purchase again once the bottle I currently have is empty is the Olay Total Effects Tone Correcting UV Moisturizer. This is the PERFECT daytime moisturizer for me. It provides deep hydration and it also provides some sheer coverage for the face. It absolutely helps my skin tone look even. I usually apply this first, followed by my foundation. The finished look is much more polished than it is when I don’t use it! I also appreciate that it offers protection from the sun, which is an important step to take in your skincare routine to keep your skin looking young! This product retails for $14.95

I also am enjoying the Olay Tone Correcting Eye Treatment. At this point, I only have fine lines around my eyes, so I can’t comment on how well this would work for deeper lines. But for me, it does seems to brighten my eye area and give me a more awake look. This product retails for $18.95

Olay also works hard for me while I sleep. The Olay Tone Correcting Night Moisturizer helps smooth away the appearance of discolorations. If you have age spots, this also helps with those, as well. This product retails for $21.95

I have been so pleased with all of the products in the Total Effects Line that I have tried over the past few months. My skin does seem to be improving and looking more refreshed, and that’s really saying something when you consider the fact that I have a new baby at home keeping me up at odd hours!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the Olay Total Effects Tone Correcting Line product of your choice!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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. 

Prodigy Skincare Review and GIVEAWAY

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Long before he was on How I Met Your Mother, Neil Patrick Harris captured America’s hearts at Doogie Howser, M.D., the teenage doctor on television. Remember how he would write journal entries at the end of every episode on his blue screen computer? And how that was SO technologically advanced? Perhaps all of us blog writers are just indulging in our secret desires to be just like Doogie by writing these posts every day.

But I digress.

I brought up Doogie Howser because the product line I am featuring today was created by a real life teenage doctor! The founder of Prodigy Skincare graduated from medical school at just 16 years old, making him the youngest doctor in his specialty field of dermatology. He spent years working on a line of products that would be effective for his patients with dry skin, allergies and a sensitivity to fragrances. What he came up with has been highly praised by those who have used the products.

I have been trying out two different products from the line and have been really pleased with both!

First, I’ve been using the Prodigy Advanced Moisturizing Soothing Gel. This is a product that you apply after cleaning your face but before your moisturizer. It binds moisture to your skin to give your complexion a more supple look. As someone with VERY dry skin, I think this works really great, and it seems to give my moisturizer a little extra help, which is always good. This product retails for $56.00.

Next, I’ve been using the Prodigy Advanced Moisturizing Firming Eye Cream. I’ve told you before that once you hit your 30s, taking care of the skin around your eyes really is no longer optional. This is one area where you need to find a product that really works even if the price tag is a bit higher than what you are used to paying for skin care. This particular product does 3 things at once: it reduces that morning puffiness around your eyes, it reduces fine lines and wrinkles and it protects your skin from additional environmental damages, which typically wreak havoc on our faces on a daily basis. The product is very smooth, and you only need a tiny amount each day, so a bottle will last a long time. This product retails for $68.00.

If you have been looking for products that are developed by some of the best and brightest medical professionals, and that cater to those of us with sensitive skin, then look no further than Prodigy Skincare!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the item of your choice from Prodigy Skincare!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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. 

Just in Time for Father’s Day: A Unique Experience from Cloud 9! (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Any time I ask Tim what he would like for whatever gift giving occasion is on the horizon (Father’s Day, birthday, Christmas), he responds with a blank stare, and then a shrug. Seriously, people, he NEVER has a suggestion for me. And it isn’t because he’s being coy and wants me to read his mind. He just doesn’t feel as though he needs any stuff!

But let me tell you what he DOES love: experiences. But in our culture, experience gifts aren’t as easy to wrap in a box or in my case, stuff in a gift bag, and so they aren’t as popular as gifts. But Cloud 9 Living aims to change that.  They do extensive research to ensure that they are working with extremely high quality experience providers, and help you plan something extraordinary that your gift recipient will NEVER forget. Here’s a video that shows you exactly how it works!

While Cloud 9 Living doesn’t offer experiences in every city in the U.S., check out their list of options, and I bet you’ll find something relatively near you. I’m currently checking out the options in the Atlanta area(they currently have 47 experiences in the area!!!). The tandum hang gliding opportunity is really catching my eye, as I recall Tim telling me just a few weeks ago that despite his fear of heights, he has always wanted to go hang gliding. Wouldn’t he be surprised if I got this for him for his upcoming birthday?!

If you think an experience might just be the perfect gift for someone you love, then you’ll want to check out Cloud 9 Living. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and hear about special offers and discounts!

 

Win it!: One very lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $50 gift certificate to Cloud 9 Living and a gift pack, which includes the gift certificate, a personalized message, and a detailed card of the experience. Not only will this gift be amazing, but so will the presentation!

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

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Cloud 9 Living. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

A Fun Father’s Day Gift Idea: A Gumball Machine! Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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If you are still looking for a fun Father’s Day gift idea, I’ve got one for you! One thing Tim is getting for his office is a gumball machine.

That’s right, a gumball machine! I thought this was a clever way to add some more personality to his office, and a fun thing for his co-workers enjoy when they come to visit (much more entertaining than a simple candy dish!).

Gumball.com is the #1 online source, not only for gumball machines, but for all bulk vending supplies. They have a VERY impressive selection of gumball machines. We opted for a simple carousel gumball machine that fits nice and neat on Tim’s desk. When we opened it and read the instructions, we thought it was really cool that you can customize your machine to either take money in order to get a gumball or not require money at all. That’s a cool feature, because I think it would be sort of rude for Tim’s co-workers to have to pay a quarter to get some gum! But on the flip side, if the gumball machine ever comes back home, we could turn that feature on so that our girls wouldn’t simply help themselves to all the gum they wanted!

Gumball.com is definitely a site worth checking out. They have every time of gumball machine you can imagine, and they have a full supply of gumballs. I personally like the transparent gumball machines. They are unique and would especially fun for kids!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a carousel junior gumball machine and a box of gumballs!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other 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. 

How I Made Birth Announcements During Layah’s Brief Nap: GIVEAWAY!!!

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After bemoaning on Facebook the fact that my second child is NOT a good napper, my cousin made a really good point. She said, “Good thing she wasn’t born first!” Amen to that! This might have convinced me to just have one child! Layah is such an amazing baby and I’m absolutely bursting with love for her, but she has fully embraced the name we gave her, and insists on LAYING on someone in order to lose consciousness.

Thanks to some helpful tips and tricks from friends, though, we have managed to have some success by using the swing during the afternoon (for some reason, she’s not ok with the swing in the morning).

Two days ago, during her afternoon nap (which lasted about 40 minutes) I created her birth announcements from start to finish. Seriously! How did I do it? I went to Photo Card Creations and used their easy to navigate website to walk me through the process.

One of the things I like about Photo Card Creations is that they have a really good selection of birth announcement options, but they don’t have HUNDREDS. There really is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and I just didn’t have time to wade through so many choices and then get all confused about which one I liked the best. I needed to be able to make a decision quickly. They had 39 different options, which still gave me plenty of choices, but I was able to make my pick in about 7 minutes.

Once I made my selection, I was able to tweak the font choice and even the size for the front, inside and back of the card, as well as customize exactly what was said. I think that the company might offer slightly too many font options, but this is coming from someone who needed to make a super quick decision.

I’m really pleased with the look of my cards, which are going to be shipping out lightning fast (they have a 1-3 day turnaround!). I’m glad for that, because my little one is already a month old, so it’s time to get these announcements out! While I won’t be sharing the exact birth announcement with you, as it has my daughter’s full name on it and I don’t share that on the blog. But here’s the basic layout I chose:

Cute, right?!

Photo Card Creations is a fantastic option for you if you are looking to make custom thank you cards, announcements, holiday cards or invitations. I need to get some birthday party invitations made for Darah’s 3rd celebration (and her first ever actual party), and I’m going to email the company to see if they’d consider making a card template that has an “Under the Sea” vibe. They are working really hard to add new designs, and are open to hearing suggested themes from their customers. I love that! Right now they are offering 10% off your order when you use the promo code 10NEW by June 14th!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a gift code for 25 free cards from Photo Card Creations!
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Be sure to enter my other current giveaway, 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. 

Papa Crow Things That Roar CD Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Summer is in full swing, now, so it’s time to update your music collection and give your kids some new music to listen to while they toddle around the house. I’ve got a great choice for you, today. Papa Crow is the stage name of a father named Jeff (he’s got 2 boys). His first album was released last year, and it’s called, Things That Roar!

Despite what the title might have you think, this isn’t an over-the-top rowdy sort of album. It’s actually quite laid back, which I find to be useful during the time right after dinner when it is time to start relaxing and unwinding a bit as we head toward bath time and all the night-night rituals.

This album has already made the Top 10 Albums of 2011 from Time out New York Kids, and Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child.

Darah is not the only one in the house enjoying this album. The track,”Welcome to the World” is such a great song to listen to with our new little bundle; so sweet and joyful. I’m making great memories dancing with Layah to it.

If you are looking for something fresh and new for your kids, but also want something that isn’t going to encourage them to bounce off the walls even more than they already do, then give Things That Roar a listen. I think you’ll find yourself humming along to it in no time!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Things That Roar!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

Spike Seasoning Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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When your food needs some extra flavor, do you normally reach for the table salt? I know I used to, but now I’ve got a few new alternatives sitting on my dining room table that make really great alternatives to salt. They are called Spike Seasonings, and Dr. Oz has recommended them to folks looking to improve their overall health and cut back on sodium intake. 

I actually noticed when my in-laws were visiting me in May that they reached for seasonings other than salt on a regular basis, and I realized that I’d never really even thought of doing that. I’ve been missing out on some great flavor options, as it turns out! Spike Seasonings provide many different ways to give your food a kick and to introduce some delicious tastes to your dinner plate.

I personally have really been enjoying the Vegit spice, which contains some interesting stuff like beet root powder and orange peel. The taste is excellent, too! I really like that on the Spike website, you can see exactly what spices are in each bottle. The Original seasoning has 39 different spices! Wow!

Spike Seasonings include 10 different great seasoning products, all reasonably priced at just $2.99 each. You can purchase them here!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win 4 bottles of Spike Seasonings (Original, Hot ‘n Spicy, Salt Free and Vegit).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.