Stuff Parents Need

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

Celebrate Leap Day with Bright Starts (Review and GIVEAWAY!!!)

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It only comes around once every 4 years, so what are you doing to celebrate Leap Day today???

If you need a fun idea for celebrating with your little one, why not plan to make a little bit of NOISE today?! Shake, rattle, roll and even squeak to your heart’s content!

Today I’m featuring a fun little toy designed to get infants making some music. It’s called Lil’ Squeakers, and it is a sweet little squeaking rattle from Bright Starts. They are plush and easy to hold, and they make a fun (but not overly obnoxious) squeaking noise when you squeeze them. This is a great toy for a baby from birth because at first the bold colors will be a big draw, along with the plush texture. As baby’s muscles develop and s/he can get a noise out of the toy, that will add to the fun!

Buy it!: Lil’ Squeakers (and other Bright Starts products) are available at most major retailers. For a complete list, click here.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Lil’ Squeaker plush from Bright Starts!

 

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Let’s Give Away a Kindle Fire! For Real! GIVEAWAY!!!

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You know I love you all, right?! Well here’s a belated Valentine from me to you: I’m taking part in the Social Buzz Giveaway along with lots of other bloggers, and we have pooled our resources to give away a Kindle Fire!!!! And I REALLY want a Stuff Parents Need reader to be the winner!

How can you make my dream come true (and snag one of the hottest tech gadgets on the market for yourself)? It’s simple, really. From now until March 21st at 12:01am, you can enter using the form below. Fill out as many or as few of the entries as you want, but more entries equals a higher probability of being drawn as the winner, so do the smart thing and enter every possible way! As a bonus, you’ll be introduced to some fantastic new blogs (yes, some even cooler than this one…shocking, but true!).

Ready? Set? GO!!!!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Fischer & Wieser Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Are you looking for a way to add some serious flavor to your favorite meat dish? And are you interested in achieving this taste revolution with approximately 4 seconds worth of effort on your part?

Then you, my friend, are in for a real treat. I had the opportunity recently to try a specialty sauce from the gourmet brand Fischer & Wieser. It’s called Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce and it is FANCY! I made some pork tenderloin last week and simply added some of this sauce on top at the dinner table. What a “Wow!” factor it created! And just yesterday I added it to a bbq quesadilla (as an alternative to bbq sauce). It rocked my face off, people! And I think this would be tremendous over some cream cheese for an elegant display at a party. The sauce has a beautiful color and a very fresh taste. It ends with a kick of heat, but not in an overpowering way.


Buy it!: Click here to find your nearest retailer. I’m excited to see that my Wal-Mart carries the brand! Hooray! Fischer& Wieser have an entire range of specialty sauces that will certainly make your mouth water. Now that I’ve tried this sauce, I would like to try other products. Perhaps the Charred Pineapple Bourbon Sauce should be my next item?

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a bottle of Raspberry Chipotle Sauce from Fischer & Wieser!

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How to Clean a Stroller Using Eco-Friendly Products

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As we get ready for our new baby’s arrival, we have decided to part ways with our old stroller and get one that will accommodate both a toddler and an infant (one of those sit ‘n stand types). So we recently got the old stroller out of storage and got it ready to sell. It didn’t look BAD, but it certainly looked like it had been used by a baby before, with spit up stains found here and there, dirt on the tires from all our neighborhood strolls, and of course, dust from being away in storage for a while. It also smelled like it had been in storage; just not very fresh!

How to Clean a Stroller

But what do you use to properly clean a stroller? Especially when you are pregnant and don’t need to be around harsh chemicals. Also, keep in mind that a baby will be put back into the stroller, and chewing on everything in sight, so you don’t want any harsh chemicals around.

buggy love eco-friendly stroller cleaning kit: how to clean a stroller

 

Enter Buggy Love, a line of products that is 100% natural line of products designed to safely and effectively keep your stroller clean and fresh! We received the organic stroller cleaning kit which comes with the following products:

  • Fresh Love: 8 oz. of exotic, delicious, pure, organic rosehip scented solution for all over re-freshening
  • Polish Love: 8 oz. of crisp, organic tangerine scented solution for cleaning dirt and grime from stroller frames and wheels.
  • Fabric Love: See ya’ milk and formula stains! 4 oz. of refreshing, organic clementine scented solution for universal use on stroller surfaces and fabrics
  • Wheel Love: 1 oz. of the first-ever, all natural, stroller wheel lube that eliminates squeaks and squeals.
  • Scrub Love: Wheel scrub brush withwhite tampico bristles
  • Micro Love:  Re-claimed microfiber cloth
  • Bag O’Love: – Re-usable, cotton, drawstring to-go bag

This kit is really amazing! And it is SO beautifully packaged. It would make an absolutely stunning baby shower gift, for sure. In addition to looking so snazzy, it also performs really well! Tim got the kit out and got to work polishing up our old stroller for an upcoming consignment sale. Here you can see a picture of some unidentified stains on some of the stroller fabric both before and after being treated with that fabulous Fabric Love.

how to clean a stroller (before)

how to clean a stroller (after)

True story: when we took the stroller in for drop off at the consignment sale, two of the workers both came up to us and stated that our stroller looked absolutely fantastic. The owner of the sale strongly encouraged us to raise the price by $10 because the stroller looked better than pretty much anything else at the sale, and virtually new. I credit Tim’s hard work, and of course, Buggy Love, for that response! And yeah, we did raise the price by $10! Woo hoo!

Buy it!: Buggy Love is available for purchase AND to be added to your registry at Buy Buy Baby! The kit retails for $50, and as we have seen, can really help not only with your own stroller maintenance, but also with resale value of your stroller! You can snag it on Amazon right now for $29! Hurry!

Win it!: One super lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a Buggy Love organic stroller cleaning kit!

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Adding The Mustard of Royalty to Your Fridge: Colman’s Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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I’m a pretty simple cook. I like recipes that get me in and out of the kitchen quickly and that provide a lot in the way of taste. I’ve learned over the past 9 1/2 years that I’ve been cooking that there are some ingredients you can go frugal with, and there are other ingredients where you get exactly what you pay for, and bumping up the quality a bit can make an ENORMOUS difference in just how good your dishes actually taste.

One ingredient I had not considered upgrading until recently was mustard. I had the opportunity to try out Colman’s mustard recently. This product originates in England, and has been around since 1814. In 1866 it actually received a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria, and that made it official: this was the best mustard in the country! It continues to be the best of the best overseas, and lucky for you, it can also be found in American grocery stores now!

I’ve been using both the prepared mustard and the mustard powder for dishes that call for it. The prepared mustard definitely has a spicy kick. It makes regular yellow mustard seem like SUCH a joke! You only need a small amount to take your sandwiches from tasting just fine to tasting out of this world. I have been extremely impressed, and I don’t think I’ll ever buy the other stuff again, honestly!

I’ve also been enjoying putting together a quick homemade honey mustard dressing (no point in me buying a whole bottle of dressing, as I’m the only one in the house who uses it!). Additionally, I tried the meatloaf recipe from the Colman’s site that called for a bit of mustard powder, and I LOVED the flavor it added to the dish. I’ll definitely keep incorporating mustard powder in my meatloaf recipes down the line.

Perhaps the best news of all is that getting this top-of-the-line mustard isn’t going to break the bank, as some high-end products tend to do. The prepared mustard retails for $3.99 for the prepared mustard and $5.99 for the mustard powder. You can find your nearest retailer here or purchase from Amazon.com.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a jar of Colman’s prepared mustard AND a container of Colman’s Mustard Powder!
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Preparing for Nursing Now with Bravado (Review and GIVEAWAY!!!)

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As I head into my third and final trimester of pregnancy, my body is starting to really prepare itself for becoming a mom. Those of you who have been pregnant before know that your breasts grow quite a bit in the early part of your pregnancy, and they grow a bit more in the final trimester, as well. They also sometimes start leaking colostrum (sorry if that is TMI, but its something I wish I had been told the first time around, because when it happened to me it totally freaked me out!).

I recommend sleeping with a comfortable nursing bra as early as late in your first trimester. I would say to absolutely be sleeping with one by your third trimester. At this point in my pregnancy, sleeping on my side is a must for the health and safety of the baby. But sleeping in this position without providing some additional support for my breasts is a recipe for a terrible night of sleep (I know from experience!). Quite frankly, your breasts are just heavier than they have ever been, and they need some support so that you aren’t feeling really uncomfortable.

So why get a nursing bra instead of something else? Well, first and foremost, you need something that offers a balance of support and softness. I promise you don’t want any underwire within a 10 foot radius of your breasts! Also, since you are going to need a nursing bra in the near future, it makes sense to go ahead and get one now so that you can get even more use out of it. But shop carefully, because I cannot stress enough how important it is for this bra to be comfortable. In just a few short months, you will be wearing it to bed and using the nursing feature all hours of the day and night!

I have been wearing the cotton nursing bra from Bravado lately (poor thing is constantly getting yanked from the dryer and then worn and worn some more until I give it a break, but only to be washed and quickly dried before the cycle repeats!). This bra is EXCELLENT! I am top-heavy, and it rises to the challenge of providing me with the support I need. In the past, I’ve had the experience with some wire-free bras where they felt nice, but were sort of pointless in the support department. This is not the case with this bra. With that said, comfort has not been sacrificed. I have also practiced unlatching the bra so that I will know how to do it when it is time to breastfeed, and I’m pleased to report that it is very easy to do with one hand.

Want to hear something REALLY cool? This bra comes with a neat little conversion kit so that when you are all done with breastfeeding, you can covert the bra back to something more traditional. What a great value this provides!

Wherever you may be in your pregnancy or breastfeeding journey, I can say with full confidence that this bra is a terrific purchase choice. I already love it because it keeps me comfortable day and night (a decidedly difficult task at this point) and I know I’m going to enjoy using it as a nursing bra, as well. Bravado really got it right with this product. Well done!

Buy it!: The Bravado Original Nursing Bra is available online for $35 and comes in several attractive colors and patterns.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win an Original Nursing Bra from Bravado!!!

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Grandma’s Trunk: 5 Games in 1! Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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I’m so excited to announce that I am part of the blogging review team for a FANTASTIC educational resource website called Educational Insights (this is a site you are going to want to bookmark, promise). Every month I’ll be bringing you at least one review and giveaway opportunity. I’ll be introducing you to some innovative and exciting educational products for young children, and you’ll get a chance to win, of course! Let the fun begin!

My very first review for the company is of a new game called Grandma’s Trunk. This is designed for kids in Kindergarten and up, and it is actually 5 games rolled into 1 (hooray for toys that can do more than one thing!). From the website, here are the 5 games that can be played with this set:

1. What Comes Next? Take turns placing the letter cards in the trunk in alphabetical order.

2. Memory Time Take turns repeating the sequence of cards already in the trunk, then adding one of your own and challenging other players to remember them all, in order.

3. Grandma’s Riddles Deal the cards, then read a riddle and race to see who has the letter card that answers it!

4. Letter Sequence Memory Deal the cards and take turns putting them in the trunk in alphabetical order, repeating the items already in the trunk and challenging other players to remember them all, in alphabetical order.

5. Grandma’s Adventures Place the letter cards in the trunk and take turns pulling them out to create a cooperative story: “Once upon a time there was a grandma. She saw an iguana.”

While most of these games are too advanced for Darah at this point, we are already playing with the set by looking at the letter cards and practicing the sounds each one makes (she LOVES practicing letter sounds at school, so it’s great to continue those lessons at home!). Since there are so many different things to do with this set, I can tell that it will be played with for several more years, which makes it an excellent value.

I’m very pleased with all the different things you can do with Grandma’s Trunk, and with the overall quality of the game. I’d say that at $14.99, this is a bargain price for a game that will really help develop reading, memory and story telling skills.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Grandma’s Trunk! Score!
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Making Friends as an Adult: MWF Seeking BFF Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Remember the good old days (college, high school and even grammar school) when making friends was as easy as walking down your dorm hall or striking up a game of hopscotch with someone on the playground? When we were younger, we had lots of time to invest in friendships, and we were constantly surrounded by people our own age. I’m not saying that there were never any challenges with friendships during these times, but you’ve got to admit, it was a heck of a lot easier to make and even nurture friendships than it is as an adult.

I’ve also come to realize that our friendship needs back in those “glory” days were also simpler. And maybe that’s part of the reason why we become so frustrated when our search for friends as adults doesn’t go as smoothly…we forget that we aren’t really looking for friendships born out of sheer convenience, anymore. That’s just one of MANY things I learned while reading a great book, MWF Seeking BFF.

This read by Rachel Bertsche chronicles a year-long experiment the author did to really put herself out there and find some friends after moving to a new city to marry her boyfriend, leaving her best gal pals behind SEVERAL states away. She set out to go on 52 different “girl dates”, and she tried just about everything under the sun to meet new people and see what it takes to form meaningful connections with others as an adult.

It was certainly an ambitious project, and it started to become its own full-time job. While what Rachel did is not necessarily what everyone needs to do in order to find great friendships, it does point to the fact that hard work and interntionality does have to go into the search. And you have to thicken your skin a bit, too. Rachel does actually get dumped/rejected a few times by would-be friends, which of course, is a blow to the ego, and I think what most of us fear to the point that we doing put ourselves out there at all. But you know what? For the most part, Rachel found that other women are really and truly excited to be invited to lunch/dinner/whatever with someone new. Don’t you feel that way every time someone reaches out to you?!  It takes some courage to be the one doing the reaching out, but the payoff is tremendous. Even if the friendship spark isn’t there after all, you’ll still walk away with an acquaitance and one more way to feel connected in your city, however loosely.

It won’t always work out, but if you are willing to be the one to make the first move, the odds are SO much better that you are going to form some good friendships than if you sit at home, feeling sad that nobody will call/text/email you with an invitation. As it turns out, those women you are wishing would call you might very well be sitting at home doing the same thing! Rachel says, “Most women I’ve met with are similar. We all think we’re living in a world of grouches, so we’re too self-conscious to be the overly friendly one” (177).Overall, I felt very encouraged by Rachel’s project to put myself out there more. There’s really very little to lose, especially if you can withstand the occasional bruise to the ego (some people are just not going to be that into you, I’m sorry to say). I have been motivated after reading the book to follow up on several, “We should get together” email exchanges I have had with other women in town as well as just reaching out to some ladies I have met briefly and thought, “She seems cool! I wish I could hang out with her sometime!”

 MWF Seeking BFF is a really fun and encouraging read. I’ve definitely taken some steps in the right direction since reading it, and I find myself thinking about what worked and didn’t for her frequently, and putting those strategies to work in my own life. I’d say the time I spent reading the book was a very good investment, indeed!

Buy it!: Right now MWF Seeking BFF is priced at a steal for just $10.20 on Amazon! That’s less than a lunch date would set you back!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a copy of MWF Seeking BFF!

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(Maternity Monday) Noodle & Boo Skin Perfecting Creme Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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I’m 28 1/2 weeks into my pregnancy. I look like I’m about 36 weeks along. Seriously. Some would probably say I look 40 weeks pregnant! I’m super short and the baby has nowhere to go but out. This is also my second pregnancy, so my body seems to be quick to remember how to expand to make room. All this is to say that I’m one round lady these days, with no hope of shrinking any time soon!

So as my belly grows, my skin is stretching. And itching. LIKE CRAZY!!! I need relief, and if there’s a chance that a product might help with stretch marks, well that’s a bonus. I actually had been using a stretch cream product that I used the last time, and it did seem to work, but it had a critical flaw: it is SO greasy! Seriously, I have to not put any clothes on after applying this stuff for a minimum of 10 minutes…way too long!

For the past month, though, I’ve been using a product from Noodle & Boo (remember the review I did earlier for their fantastic super soft lotion?). It’s called Perfecting Creme. I’m just going to be up front about the negative of this product: it ain’t cheap! A 3.5 oz tube will set you back $42.00.

Now let me tell you why I think it’s worth it.

First and foremost, it isn’t greasy! Yay! But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t an AWESOME moisturizer. My belly feels so soft! It also helps tremendously with itching. And when you itch like crazy, you will do anything to get relief. This perfecting creme most definitely provides that relief.

Second, this pregnancy stretch marks cream contains a peptide compound that helps prevent and reduce stretch marks while naturally promoting the synthesis of collagen (that’s elasticity for your skin!). So far, I don’t have any stretch marks. I can’t promise that this product will keep them from appearing, but I do feel confident that it will at least help reduce their severity if I do get them.

Third, this stuff smells SO SO SO good. It made with cocoa butter and avocado oil, but if you ask me, it smells like sweetened almonds. It honestly brightens my mood when I apply it, which is a happy little perk.

I’m so glad I got to try this product. It isn’t something I would have picked up for myself, but now that I have used it, I would highly recommend it to other expecting moms. It’s worth it, and so are you! Be sure to check out the rest of their line, which includes lots of great baby skin careproducts.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a tube of Noodle & Boo Perfecting Creme! Woo hoo!

 

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