Stuff Parents Need

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

Maternity Monday: Miracle Ball for Pregnancy Review and GIVEAWAY!!

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Oh my aching….EVERYTHING! I remember with my first pregnancy that I started having aches and pains, particularly with my sciatic nerve, around 25 weeks, and those pains came and went, seemingly randomly, for the remainder of my pregnancy.

This time around, I started getting those pains around 13 weeks. Yeah…that would be 12 weeks (3 months!) sooner than the first time around. Let me break this down for you…when I was 13 weeks pregnant, I still had 27 weeks standing in between me and the pregnancy finish line. THAT IS SO LONG when you are experiencing discomfort and even pain. I knew I needed to find some sort of help and fast.

And I did! I found The Miracle  Ball Method for Pregnancy, and it has been a really tremendous tool that I use every day to help alleviate my pains and discomforts.

This product was designed by Elaine Petrone, who was seeking relief from her own chronic pain. The equipment is very simple: just two flexible balls with just the right amount of give that you can place under your body in various places to relax your muscles.

Using The Miracle Ball Method for Pregnancy reminds me of meditation in a few ways. First, much of the focus is actually on being aware of your breathing. This is not something I usually take the time to do in my daily life, and I am seeing a great deal of improvement in my body simply from making this change.

The second way it reminds me of meditation is that results will not be instant, and the harder you “try” to get it right, the further you get from actually doing it right! This method requires your presence, your mindfulness and your surrender. You won’t see better results by doing 6 or 7 different exercises in one day. It is far better to just do 1 or 2, but to actually give them the amount of time they require for your muscles to get truly relaxed. Less is more with this method. It sounds easy, but when you are a busy-body like me who struggles to be still, it will take some time!

Buy it!: The Miracle Ball Method for Pregnancy is a very effective tool and very safe. It can be purchased on Amazon for $14.44 right now, which is a great buy!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win your very own Miracle Ball Method for Pregnancy set! Woo hoo!

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Scholastic’s Caldecott Favorites Review and GIVEAWAY

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The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. It is a BIG deal to win this award! The books that win are pretty much a sure bet to be excellent, and that’s why I think it is so cool that Scholastic has put out a 3-disc set full of Caldecott winners!

The collection is called Caldecott Favorites, and it has 3 separate discs. Two of the discs we have had the pleasure of seeing before, and they are really great. First is Make Way for Ducklings and More Delightful Duck Tales and then Antarctic Antics and More Hilarious Animal Stories. So the entire collection is heavy on animal stories, which is just fine with Darah, who LOVES to talk about and learn about animals of all sorts.

There’s also a new DVD in the collection, called The Ezra Jack Keats Collection. This is real gem! It is full of winning books from this author. The books have a bit of a 1970s vibe to them, and they chronicle Peter, a child living in a big city, and all his adventures, from learning to whistle to getting a new baby sister to taking part in a pet show. Darah and I watched every episode from this DVD in just one sitting, because we really enjoyed that Peter would be featured each time!

This collection is jam-packed with excellent books that have been brought to life. It actually has 199 minutes of video, so that makes for a whole lot of great entertainment for a great price, just $24.95.  I highly recommend it! Scholastic Storybook Treasures scores yet again!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win the Caldecott Favorites 3-disc set!

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Tea Collection Review and $100 GIVEAWAY!!!

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It’s no secret that I’m gaga over Tea clothing for children. They offer some of the most unique children’s clothes, all while truly keeping kids in mind and making clothes that are comfortable, functional, and I can tell you from experience that they hold up beautifully in the wash, too. The price points are a bit higher than what I usually buy for Darah, but these clothes hold their value, both in terms of overall wear and even in terms of resale value at consignment sales. So I have found that the money is usually quite well spent when it is spent with Tea!

Tea always has swoon-worthy collections of girl’s clothes (and boys!) for every season, and the holidays are no different. Today I’m featuring a few of their pieces from their new arrivals, and they made me literally squeal with delight when I opened my package from Tea.

First up we have the Wildflower Mini Dress in Shadow, a gorgeous shade of purple that looks so beautiful this time of year. It is paired with the Sparkle Stripe Leggings. These are indispensable for toddlers who love to play. I will say that these leggings are quite thin, so they may be better suited for more mild climates or for indoor play. Darah immediately asked to try this on once she saw it. She started undressing right on the spot! 🙂 What I love about this outfit is that it lends itself well to a variety of occasions. It is dressy enough that it can be worn when we are out and about doing something special, and it is also soft and comfortable enough that it makes the perfect choice for a day at school.

The other piece we received is the Que Bonita Wrap Dress. You guys, when I put this on Darah and then told her to go check herself out in the mirror, she gave such a huge grin, turned around to me and said, “Let’s show daddy!” She knew he would love it, and she was right! We emailed a picture to him at work and he emailed us back a picture of him smiling. This is going to be what Darah wears for Thanksgiving and it will also be going with us for our Christmas break in Southern California (she’ll be able to wear it without any stockings there!).

While I know we got some ridiculously cute clothes from Tea, we barely scratched the surface of all their gems. They have an incredible selection of girl’s dresses that look different from what you find in the department stores, and that are comfy enough that your child will want to wear them again and again. They also have great finds for little boys, so be sure to check that out, too!

Win it!: I am so excited to tell you that Tea has generously offered a $100 gift certificate to one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader! YESSSSSS!!!!

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Holiday Travel DVD Suggestion: Babar and Father Christmas! GIVEAWAY!!!

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Are you going to be traveling quite a bit with the kiddos in the next few weeks? Darah and I are taking 2 different plane trips, and that means that this mama is preparing her video arsenal with some fun new selections that will delight Darah, and also keep her occupied (and hopefully quiet!).

If you are also looking for some fun new titles, may I suggest Babar and Father Christmas? It’s a very engaging tale that takes Babar on a great adventure to meet Father Christmas in the North Pole. He encounters a few bumps along the way, as Retaxes the Rhino tries to foil his plans. You see, Retaxes is diverting all the letters to Father Christmas because he wants all the toys for himself! There are great lessons to be learned in this story, not only about how Christmas is celebrated in other parts of the world, but also about the importance of giving and sharing. I’m looking forward to showing it to Darah to help her get excited about Christmas morning and to inspire some conversations about Santa/Father  Christmas.

Buy it!: Babar’s Father Christmas is available for just $10.99 and runs 70 minutes. It has 2 bonus videos included, as well. It’s a great buy and a great choice for a dvd to watch on the road or in the air!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your own copy of Babar and Father Christmas! Yay!

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Maternity Monday: Earth Mama Angel Baby Happy Mama Spray (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Earth Mama Angel Baby is a company I have really come to love over the past 2 years. They offer a wide variety of organic products that provide comfort to expecting mamas and to babies. When you use an EMAB product, you can rest assured that you are not putting any harmful chemicals in or on your body or your baby’s body. Hooray!

If you’d like to see my reviews on a few other Earth Mama Angel Baby products and hear why I recommend them, check out the scoop on their Angel Baby  Shampoo & Body Wash, Angel Baby Lotion and Happy Mama Head to Toe Wash.

Today I’m featuring a product that is such a nice treat for the expecting mom, and it is also quite useful after delivery. It is called Happy Mama Spray, and it is specially designed to naturally bring you a moment of peace and bliss in the midst of a bout of nausea, or even anxiety. As you know, I have been dealing with nausea for the majority of this pregnancy, and while it is tapering off, that doesn’t mean it has totally gone away. I’m so glad to have this spray to help me relax when I start to feel sick. That really goes a long way toward helping me not toss my cookies! 🙂

I am also feeling a little bit worried about the transition from having 1 kid to 2 in the house. I think it is going to be a tough adjustment, and I fear that I will feel overwhelmed and in over my head at times. I like having something very safe and natural on hand that I can spray, smell and that will remind me to take a deep breath and let some stuff go. The smell is light and very refreshing, containing lime and ginger. It’s even recommended to use on the kids if they battle car sickness. That’s a great idea…I suspect we might deal with that issue with Darah, as she did randomly throw up in the car when we were on a 4 hour trip this summer.

Earth Mama Angel Baby is an excellent resource for all your bath and body needs, both during and after pregnancy. I highly recommend the company, as I have been extremely impressed with the quality of every product I have used. You can purchase EMAB products onlineor find your nearest retailer here.The Happy Mama Spray I reviewed retails for $14.95.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win Happy Mama Spray for yourself or someone you know who could use it!

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Boon Creatures Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Darah takes a bath almost every single night. It’s an important part of our nighttime ritual, and gives her one last chance to get out some energy before we put on jammies, read stories and then go to bed. She loves to play in the tub, especially with her daddy, who takes the lead for bath times so that I can get a bit of work done.

Lately Tim (yes, Tim) has been complaining that Darah needs some new bath toys. I think he has exhausted his imagination for what her current collection can do. Admittedly, she’s not had anything new on the scene in about a year, so the request was fair.

I had been looking around for something cute, fun and not inclined to hold on to water and grow mold (a tall order when it comes to tub toys), and then I was contacted by one of my very favorite companies, Boon, to see if I wanted to check out their tub toys, Boon Creatures. Oh heck yes!

Boon Creatures are characters you might find in the sea, and they have interchangeable tops and bottoms so that you can create any combination of underwater animal that you wish. This promotes imaginative play. Darah likes to make a “crab-whale!” They also have holes in the tops of their heads that make pouring water extra fun. Darah especially likes to watch the water run out of these. They are flexible, so if Darah sits on a toy on accident, she won’t be injured. They are also durable, and are withstanding her play (and the daily baths) beautifully. I really love that they dry out quickly and don’t become water repositories, which leads to all sorts of mold issues (my biggest complaint with most of her tub toys). These retail for $13.99 and are a great buy, as I can tell that they will still be going strong by the time baby #2 is ready to play in the tub. Hooray for tub toys that last!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a set of Boon Creatures! Rub a dub!

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Cheerios Brings Holiday “Cheer” to Military Families (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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It’s always difficult for families to watch a loved one being called into military service that takes them out of the country. The holidays are an especially tough time to be without those closest to you. has teamed up with the USO to help bring a bit of cheer to military families in these especially difficult times.

Right now, you can find specially-marked boxes of Cheerios that feature a Cheer postcard on the front of the box. Simply cut out the postcard and mail it, along with a message of thanks to our troops and their families to the USO (the address is already printed on the postcard). The card will then be delivered to a military family somewhere across the country.

That, in and of itself, is a nice gesture. But Cheerios is sweetening the deal. Cheerios will make a $1 donation to the USO to help fund programs that support military families for each postcard received through November 2012. Pretty cool, right?!

Cheerios has already donated $150,000 to the USO and will donate up to an additional $100,000, just depending on how many postcards get mailed in. That’s where you have a role to play! By sending in a postcard, you not only show your gratitude to our military families and send them a message of holiday joy, but you also help support the USO. So grab a box of Cheerios and spread some cheer!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Cheerios prize pack that includes the following:

  • 1 Cheerios cereal bowl
  • 1 Cheerios cereal spoon
  • 1 cereal dispenser
  • 1 “Cheer” box of Cheerios

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Update Your Watch with Chunky Bling: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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For the past 2 years, I have relied on my cell phone to be my watch. I don’t really even know why I started doing this, but I think it had something to do with my watch battery dying and me being too lazy to get it replaced. I figured that I had a watch sitting in my purse (my phone), so it was no big deal to just use that.

But here’s the problem with this method: it’s really hard not to come across as being rude when you are having a conversation with a person and you need to check the time. Glancing at your watch is super easy and totally socially acceptable. Rooting around in your purse and digging out your phone, and then turning it on to check the time is totally rude. It makes you seem distracted and uninterested in the conversation. For all the other person knows, you are about to start texting someone!

So, I realized after a few awkward instances of trying to discreetly check the time that I needed to go back to a watch. But I wanted to make that accessory really count. I really like the fact that bigger, bolder jewelry is so in style, but I have surprisingly little of that in my own collection. ChunkyBling.com is a company that gives you the opportunity to wear a beaded watch that looks a lot like a fabulous chunky bracelet. Their styles are very on-trend.

They are also quite savvy, bearing the budget-conscious style maven in mind. You see, these watches are designed so that you can mix and match! You have both an interchangeable watch face and an interchangeable watch band. This ensures that you can get exactly the look you want without having to purchase different watches for different color palettes or different levels of dressiness.

I spent a lot of time on the Chunky Bling website checking out all the different faces and bands. There are so many great possible combinations! I ultimately decided on the square silver watch face and the Madison Avenue band. Look at how beautiful the final product is! I have had numerous people comment on what a pretty watch I have. I don’t think my watch has EVER been an accessory that has gotten so much positive attention! I’m extremely pleased with the final product and would definitely recommend a Chunky Bling watch for anyone looking to accessorize in style!

Buy it!: Chunky Bling watches start at $32.90, which is a great deal for a beautiful watch! BUT…I’ve got an even sweeter deal! I have a special coupon code so that you can get ANY watch set for just $24.95. Break out your Christmas gift list and start crossing off some names! Use code TIFFA944 to get the discount (expires 12/07, so don’t delay!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an interchangeable beaded watch of your choice from ChunkyBling.com! Just in “time” for the holiday! 😉

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Bellaband: Extend the Life of your Non-Maternity Pants! Review and GIVEAWAY!!

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Being pregnant brings with it some very interesting challenges for your wardrobe. For me, my non-maternity pants started to get tight around week 7. Yeah, I know…lucky me. But maternity pants would literally fall off of me at that point. So…what to do? Simply unbuttoning your pants might work, or you might find yourself hiking up your jeans frequently throughout the day…not an attractive look, my friends.

The Bellaband from Ingrid & Isabel is THE answer to this dilemma, and it is also a product that will be useful throughout the pregnant and during your postpartum time. Allow me to explain!

First, the Bella Band is a very VERY helpful item to have when you still need/want to wear your “regular” pants. I’m just now fully outgrowing my non-maternity jeans at 16 weeks. Given just how round my belly already is, I feel GREAT about how long I got to wear them, and all thanks to my Bellaband. If you look at the picture to the right, you can see how the Bellaband is designed to fit around where your pants button. They do an EXCELLENT job of smoothing out the pants (so that your unbuttoned look isn’t obvious under your clothes). Additionally, toward the bottom of the Bellaband, there is a silicone strip that I have never seen before on another product, and it REALLY holds your Bellaband in place. I had a similar product in concept for my first pregnancy, but it would never stay in place, so it was only somewhat helpful. The Bellaband doesn’t move and keeps my pants exactly where they should be.

As I’m moving into my maternity pants, some of my stuff from the last pregnancy is still big on me. The Bellaband helps hold those pants in place, too, so that they aren’t baggy and saggy and generally unattractive. I’ve found that my pants just look better with the use of the Bellaband!

The Bellaband is also useful because as my belly grows, and it becomes more and more possible that you can catch glimpses of it as my shirts stick out further, the Bellaband is long, so it can actually help cover up my belly for modesty (and extra warmth in the winter!).

After you have the baby, you will find yourself in a similarly strange place with your wardrobe as you did when you were first outgrowing your old stuff. Simply put, NOTHING fits! Bellaband comes to your rescue, once again, and helps your too-big pants stay put and your too-small pants start to get used.

I have been VERY impressed with just how well this product works for me, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is expecting. It is now the workhorse of my wardrobe. I have 2, and I think that’s how many everyone should have, because you’ll pretty much always be wearing one!

Buy it!: The Bellaband comes in 5 color choices, has an organic option and a lace option, as well. Pricing starts at $28.00. You will get your money’s worth and then some, I assure you!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need winner will get your choice of a Bellaband or Bellaband Lace! Yay! [Read more…]