Stuff Parents Need

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

(New Post!) Shenzhen Ceramic Knife Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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My sister is getting married in about 8 months. She recently asked me for a list of household items that I absolutely love but that might not be on her radar to add to her registry. One thing that immediately crossed my mind was high quality knives.

We received Cutco knives as a wedding gift 9 1/2 years ago, and to this day, they have not needed to be sharpened. They get used constantly. I absolutely love them.

But let me tell you what I DON’T love….the hoops you have to jump through to buy them, and the expense. While I think the price is ultimately justified by the quality, it really stinks having to fork over so much money for a knife. I don’t even dare to dream about owning a full set of those bad boys. But what is worse than the price is the fact that Cutco knives are difficult to buy. There is NO option for buying directly online. You MUST contact a local sales rep and work through that person.

And I’ve already explained how ambivalent (at best) I feel about working with direct sales reps. The pressure to buy more always feels like it is there, and that just makes me uncomfortable. And then you get asked to consider hosting a party, which can be tempting because it would be nice to get a hefty discount on your own purchase. But then you’d have to host a party. When all you want to do is buy a knife. Sheesh.

I recently had the opportunity to try out some high quality knives that are very easy to buy and that are much more affordable than Cutco. They are called Shenzhen, and they are ceramic knives. I’d never heard of ceramic knives until learning about this company, but I was really intrigued to try them out.

There are a few key benefits to using a ceramic knife:

1. Ceramic knives’ hardness means that the ceramic blade will resist wear and remain sharper than a steel blade.

2. non-stick surface makes the ceramic blade easy to clean.

3. No metallic taste or smell. The ceramic blade will not interact with your food’s taste, as metal can do.

I have used our chef’s knife to cut through butternut squash, and it slices with complete ease. I’ve been very impressed! Right now you can buy a 3 piece ceramic knife set which includes a 6″ ceramic chef’s knife, a 4.8″ ceramic slicing knife and a 3.2″ ceramic paring knife (exactly the knives you need the most when starting a collection), all for $64.98 which includes free shipping. That’s a great price for high quality knives that will go a long time without needing to be
sharpened!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a chef’s knife from Shenzhen (ARV $34.99)

 

Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Water Vinegar Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Tropical Traditions has a very cool product on the market that I want to highly recommend you add to your pantry. It’s called Organic Coconut Water Vinegar, and I think it makes an excellent alternative to distilled vinegar for your recipes. It’s got a great flavor and it is PACKED with nutrients. If left on its own to ferment and turn into vinegar, those nutrients are retained in the vinegar. Most vinegars, coconut or otherwise, are pasteurized using a heat process which does kill off most of those great vitamins and minerals that it normally possesses. Tropical Traditions has worked closely with scientists for use to produce an incubation system that is truly safe and that retains all the goodness that coconut water has to offer.

Additionally, Tropical Traditions is dedicated to making sure their harvesting practices are sustainable. Most other coconut vinegar products are made by harvesting a coconut flower bud, which if left alone would produce coconuts. Trees dedicated to this process will never produce coconuts, as a result. Tropical Traditions uses the coconut, itself for a more natural and healthy final product.
So what do you do with coconut water vinegar? I took the same approach to using this product as I did to using coconut oil, which was a new product to me when I first started using it. I simply started reaching for my coconut water vinegar when I would have normally reached for traditional vinegar. The results have been absolutely delicious! I personally find the flavor to be brighter, though not at all overpowering. And I love knowing that I’m using something that is so very good for my family and the environment.

Buy it!: A 16 oz bottle of Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Water Vinegar retails for $10 and a 32 ounce jar retails for $18.50. I know our 32 ounce jar is going to last a really long time since recipes that call for vinegar usually don’t call for more than a tablespoon.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a bottle of Organic Coconut Water Vinegar!
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Llama Llama Home with Mama Review and GIVEAWAY (3 Winners!!!)

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We LOVE the Llama Llama books written by Anna Dewdney. The first book we bought in the series was Llama Llama Red Pajama. It’s all about Little Llama’s lack of patience as he is waiting for Mama Llama to come upstairs and tuck him in to bed. Let’s just say some llama drama ensues, but it all works out in the end!

The next book we purchased was Llama Llama Mad at Mama. This book is all about having to run errands when all Little Llama wants to do is stay home and play. I can relate to what Mama Llama has to put up with in the pages that follow!

We were recently contacted by the publisher to let us know that a brand new book is about to hit the shelves. It is called, Llama Llama Home with Mama. Here’s what it is about:

“Ahhh…CHOO! Llama Llama wakes up feeling under the weather. His head is feeling hot and his throat is sore. No
school for little Llama today. What is there to do all day? Being sick is such a bore. But when Mama begins to feel
sick, Llama knows just what to do. He gets her tissues, fluffs her pillow, and finds a book to read together. Spending
time with each other may be just the thing to help Llama and Mama feel better!”

We absolutely love this book. Darah asks me to read it almost every single day! We’re also loving that you can find great printable resourcesonline to combine with the book so that you can extend the learning and the fun.

Buy it!: Llama Llama Home with Mama is available at bookstores all over the nation as well as online for $17.99. If you aren’t already a huge fan of Little Llama, you will be soon!

Win it!: THREE lucky Stuff Parents Need readers will each win a copy of Llama Llama Home with Mama!
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My Baby Clothes Boutique New Fall Line: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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There are certain events in life where it’s really great to have an extra special outfit. In my opinion, the first day of school is one of those days. Darah headed back to her Parent’s Day Out program a few weeks ago, and even though it isn’t officially “school,” it felt like it to both of us. I had a supply list and everything as we prepared to head back. And, of course, I got her a “first day of school” outfit.

There’s one place online that is a must to check out anytime you are looking for a special outfit but also aren’t looking to break the bank in order to purchase. My Baby Clothes Boutique has the best selection of baby clothes (and toddler clothes) that are unique and special, and they are all at price points that won’t cause you to hyperventilate.

We selected this Bonnie Jean jumper and couldn’t be more pleased with it! It was a very reasonable $22.99, and looks absolutely fabulous. It has also held up beautifully in the wash! Darah asked to put on her “cute outfit” as soon as it arrived in the mail, and then we went out to the back porch to wait for daddy to come home. I wish I had taken video of how that child twirled around with delight when he saw her. She was SO proud of her new dress!

My Baby Clothes Boutique has an outstanding selection of fall merchandise, but don’t forget the products that have made them famous, either (I’m talking about tutus, baby headbands and baby hats…the cutest on the internet! And also don’t forget to check out their sale section, where you can get incredible deals on precious clothes for your little one, or pick up a great new baby gift for a friend who is expecting!
Win it!: One lucky Stuff  Parents Need reader will win a $25 gift certificate to My Baby Clothes Boutique to pick out whatever you like! Woo hoo!
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If You Care Eco-Friendly Baking Products Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Today we are going to talk about two elements commonly created or used as part of creating supplies you find in your kitchen: chlorine and dioxin. Most people know that paper, in its natural state, is light brown in color. In order for it to be that bright white we are used to seeing, it has to be bleached. When paper is bleached at a paper mill, the waste left over is sent into our lakes and rivers. I think many people think that this sort of dumping must surely be illegal, or something that hasn’t happened in a few decades. NOPE! It’s still happening now, and it is terrible for the environment.

Aside from the negative impact to the environment, it also has a negative impact on people. Check out the image below to learn more about what chlorine has been linked to:

Wowzers. That’s pretty rough, people. I didn’t realize all of this until I started doing research for this post, and I’m pretty freaked out by it.

Next, let’s move on to dioxin. According to my source, “The term ‘dioxin’ describes a group of highly toxic chemicals which are produced by several industrial processes that use or burn products containing chlorine, including incinerators and “kraft” paper mills. Dioxins are among the most potent toxic chemicals known.” The effects on humans are very serious, with compelling scientific evidence linking dioxins to cancers, and disruptions in hormonal, reproductive and immune systems.

So what does this have to do with products you may find in your kitchen? Well, your parchment paper,  your coffee filters and your baking cups have all been bleached! That had never even occurred to me until recently. And I didn’t know that I had any alternatives to buying the bleached products. But now I know that I do!

The company is called If YouCare, and they offer an awesome line of products for those of us who want to ditch the chlorine and not contribute to the creation of dioxin with our purchase choices. The company offers the following products:
•   Parchment Paper
•   Baking Paper in sheets
•   Baking Cups (various sizes)
•   coffee filters (in a variety of sizes/shapes)
•   100% recyclable aluminum foil
•   cooking twine
• unbleached cheesecloth
• 100% biomass firelighters (so cool!) We received samples of all their products and have been thoroughly enjoying using them. I’m so excited to know that I can make a different choice. I do wish that their website had a place where I could look up my closest retailer, though (or where I could purchase online). So far, I haven’t found these products in my local store, so I’m not exactly sure how to get more when I run out! UPDATE: I have now learned that these products are available at all Whole Foods stores, and you can search for a retailer near you online! http://ifyoucare.com/store

Win it!: Right now I have a chance for you to win a set of the baking products (baking cups, parchment paper roll, parchment paper sheets) along with a t-shirt from the company. You are going to love these!
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Lavera Organic Liquid Foundation Review

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It’s not uncommon for me to get questions from readers about how to go green when it comes to makeup. My typical response has been to try mineral makeup. I have used a powder-based foundation from a well-known company off and on for  years, and I always notice that my skin looks and feels great whenever I use it. Plus, it has far fewer chemicals than most other foundations.

But, I do find it to lack the overall coverage that I can get from most liquid foundations, and sometimes I really want that coverage. In those cases, I haven’t personally known about a quality “green” liquid foundation.

lavera review for liquid foundation

Until now! There’s a fantastic natural beauty company called Lavera that I’m excited to share with you. They are based in Germany, and in 2008 and 2009 they ranked as the #1 green beauty brand based on testing of product ingredients, beating out over 33 other brands. They are certified by BDIH, which is the toughest certification process in the entire world for making sure products are green. So let there be no doubt, the products on the Lavera site are really and truly eco-friendly!

I was pretty blown away by their vast selection of green beauty products, but what really caught my attention was their organic liquid foundation.  From their site, “This hydrating foundation blends easily and hides imperfections, creating a porcelain-smooth canvas. Free-radical fighting argan oil, organic blossom butter and vitamins A, C and E protect, rejuvenate and nourish skin.”

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when something sounds too good to be true in the makeup department, I worry that it won’t really work. I was genuinely nervous about this foundation before it arrived. I feared it would have the coverage of a tinted moisturizer at best, or that it would lack the staying power of a more typical liquid foundation.

I’m so pleased to report that these things are untrue for Lavera liquid foundation! This stuff has held its own beautifully against my other liquid foundations. It lasts just as long as everything else and provides the level of coverage I want.

I have the porcelain shade, which is slightly pale for me right now, but will be perfect in a few months for winter. I would like to see Lavera come out with more shades than they currently offer, as I think their selection is a bit limited (it is currently offered in 5 shades). I do think that if Lavera wants to become as popular in the United States as it is in Europe, more shades are a must!
But as far as the quality goes, I’m very impressed. The liquid foundation is available for $22.50, which puts it in a similar category as department store brands. And you can be assured that this foundation leaves the chemicals you don’t want or need off your face. Lavera offers a 30 day “love it” guarantee, so if you try the makeup and don’t feel the same way I do about it, you can return it for a refund. I love when companies have policies like this, because it is a pretty good indication that dissatisfaction is a rare occurrence!

Win it!: Here’s your chance to win your very own organic liquid foundation from Lavera!
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ChildUp Counting Flash Cards Review and GIVEAWAY!!

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I think most every parent works with their baby and toddler on learning ABCs and counting from 1-10. But beyond recognizing the numbers, are you doing any work on teaching math fundamentals? I think its a common perception that a young one’s brain isn’t meant to understand concepts like addition and subtraction, at least not until they reach kindergarten, so why worry about anything beyond counting?

NOT TRUE, my friends! Our little ones are totally able to grasp these concepts, and we have an excellent opportunity to get them comfortable with math from a very early age. We have been reviewing some fantastic flash cards from ChildUp that are designed to do just that.

We reviewed the Teach Your Child to Count to 10 series, as well as the Teach Your Child to Count to 20 series (which teaches 10-20). They are AWESOME and unlike any other counting flash cards I have ever seen. Here are some of the features you will find in these particular flash cards:

•    Includes 48 Child’s Cards to learn to count while discovering four different series of 10 popular animals.
•    Includes 16 Parent’s Cards presenting the 1st and 2nd parts of the ChildUp Early Learning Method, with practical early learning and parenting advice.
◦    Helps parents to teach:
▪    Numbers from 0 to 10; 10-20
▪    Numbers as quantities and symbols
▪    The first steps of addition
◦    Helps develop the child’s:
▪    Math and logic skills
▪    Learning an

d cognitive skills
▪    Listening and memory skills
▪    Attention and concentration skills
▪    Language and social skills
I think it is easier to see how these cards really stand out from the crowd by taking a look at them.

I think the fact that they use different animals when coming up with the number is so clever, as that helps a child understand addition, and not to just think of a number as something abstract.

We have been very pleased with these cards, and Darah really seems to enjoy playing with them, as well. I highly recommend them to any parent of a child who hasn’t yet started kindergarten. This really is work you can do with them now; there’s no need to wait! Each set of cards retails for $9.99. While you are checking out the cards, be sure to peruse the rest of the site, as they have lots of fantastic articles and resources about early childhood learning.

Finally, don’t miss out on the iCount to 10 App that is available for the iPhone or the iPad. We’ve checked this out, too, and I think it is a FANTASTIC use of $1.99! I love the fact that this app offers more detailed information for the child about the various animals that are part of the virtual flash cards. That will draw in any child who loves animals (and what child doesn’t?!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reading is going to win the following:
1. one pack of Teach Your Child to Count to 10 – Math & Logic #1 cards
2. one pack of Teach Your Child to Count to 20 – Math & Logic #2 cards
3. iCount-to-10 app code
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Blanket + Stuffed Animal = Best Toy EVER! Snuggle Paws Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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You should see my child’s stuffed animal collection. It doesn’t yet rival what I had going on at the peak of my stuffed animal frenzy (I think I had close to 200 plush friends by the time I was 10). But given the fact that Darah is only 2, I’m going to go ahead and declare her collection OUT OF CONTROL. I know that I’m the enabler in this situation, and it’s because I empathize with her love for all things snuggly. Stuffed animals are her VERY favorite thing to play with, you see. She takes her animals for walks in her stroller, reads them stories and bounces on the bed with them.

The only thing that comes even close to being enjoyed as much by Darah would be blankets. Yup, blankets. Give this kid a blanket AND a stuffed animal, and she will nearly pass out from the joy of it. Not kidding. She’ll play uninterrupted for quite a long time, usually putting her various stuffed animals to “night night” and rocking them. It’s ridiculously sweet.

So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered Snuggle Paws, which are stuffed animals that come with a child-size blanket. Thank you for making the PERFECT toy for my child! Not only is the concept excellent, but the execution is outstanding. This toy is TOTALLY worthy of its name. It is the softest, snuggliest little critter that you’ll ever meet. the stuffed animal can easily function as a pillow when traveling. And the blanket! Oh!!!! It feels like cuddling up with some clouds (or at least what I imagine that might feel like!).

Snuggle Paws animals come with a handle on top (super plush, it does NOT interfere with the child’s ability or desire to play with the animal) and velcro paws that can hold the rolled-up blanket. This makes it an excellent travel companion. You’d better believe it will be going with us this Christmas when we fly to California. If Darah isn’t feeling sleepy on the plane, don’t think I won’t break out that awesome blanket, either!

I’m guessing by now that you realize I’m totally ga-ga over this product. It certainly does seem as though it was made with my child in mind. Perhaps it was made for your little one, too?

Win it!: One lucky person will will your very own Snuggle Paws!
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When Does a Toddler Get a Pillow? BobbleRoos Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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One of my very favorite things about getting ready for Darah’s arrival was picking out her baby bedding. You guys, I spent HOURS…really probably dozens of hours combing through all the beautiful bedding options, searching in vain for coupons to make the sets I loved more affordable, and then finally biting the bullet and getting the very first set I fell in love with when I started my search. It was a splurge, but it was something special for my little girl. I just HAD to have it.

And then I learned that most of that beautiful bedding was dangerous for a baby. The bumpers were a suffocation risk, and the beautiful quilt was a huge no-no to put in the crib, as it, too, posed a suffocation risk. Sigh…

One thing her set didn’t even include due to its risk factor was a pillow (Why not? They threw in everything else that was dangerous!). Pillows are unsafe for the same reason that stuffed animals are unsafe; anything that can get in between a baby’s mouth and the air it needs to breathe is especially dangerous until the baby is able to easily roll itself in different directions. For Darah, that wasn’t until about 5 months, but even then, I didn’t let a pillow or stuffed animals in the crib.

She did start to doze off with a little lovey in hand around 8 months of age, and then she met her beloved bunny, who she started to snuggle with at nap time. But she still didn’t have a pillow.

In fact, she didn’t have a pillow until after she turned 2 years old, at which point I finally wondered if she might be more comfortable with something under her head! I was noticing that her bunny was starting to serve as a make-shift pillow, so maybe that meant she was ready for the real deal.

I turned to my dear friend Google to find out when most people start allowing their children to sleep with pillows. Wow, the answers varied quite widely! One piece of advice was to give your child a pillow whenever they make the transition to a bigger bed. Other people said to do it as soon as they started to become wiggle worms at night time, moving around to many different positions to try to get more comfortable. There were parents who gave a pillow to a child just after turning 1, and there were others who didn’t offer a pillow until much later, perhaps closer to 3. So as with many things related to parenting, the question of when to give your child a pillow is one with many different answers, and it is best to use your own best judgment based on the needs of your child.

After determining that Darah was ready, it was then time to figure out what type of pillow to get her. Does she really need a standard size pillow like what we have on our bed? That seemed ridiculous to me. One person online suggested getting an airline pillow. I liked the idea of a pillow that size, but where do you get an airline pillow? Those things are hard to find even on airplanes these days!

So, I began my search for a toddler pillow online, expecting to be overwhelmed with options. Not so! There aren’t nearly as many places as you might assume that have pillows especially designed for toddlers. But that’s no problem since there’s at least one place that offers an excellent product at an excellent price. Let me introduce you to BobbleRoos. This is a wonderful company that offers a whole host of practical gifts for babies and toddlers, but I want you to pay very close attention to their toddler pillows. They are the PERFECT size and shape (not too fluffy, not too flat). And they can be customized with many different soft and sweet fabrics. What I REALLY like is the fact that you can get your child’s name embroidered on the pillowcase, which makes it even more special. It also makes for a practical tough if your little one is going to preschool or kindergarten and needs to take his or her own pillow with him. There will be no mistaking which one belongs to your child!

When I first showed Darah her pillow, she knew it had her name on it, which she loved. She looked up at me and said, “This is Darah’s pillow!” And she sleeps with it every night in her crib. I know that it isn’t too fluffy to cause any worry, so I feel totally happy with the pillow I chose. I also know that even though this pillow is small, it can easily grow with Darah. It really is a great size travel pillow for car trips or plane rides.

So after all that research, I have concluded that there isn’t a standard answer for when to give your child a pillow (although absolutely nobody recommends one before the age of 1), nor is there a standard type suggested. But there is one place that offers a toddler pillowyou can buy with confidence, and that place is BobbleRoos! Pillows start at $16.50, and can be embroidered for an additional $6.95!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win your very own Toddler Pillow from Bobbleroos including personalization!
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