Stuff Parents Need

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

Tips for Keeping Your Home Secure While Traveling: Master Lock GIVEAWAY!!!

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Are you getting ready for Labor Day weekend, that “last hurrah” before the fall season officially begins? If you have travel plans then, or if you are planning on traveling during the fall/winter  holidays, I’ve got some tips to share with you to help keep your home secure, courtesy of Master Lock.

Before you load the family into the car or hop on a plane, Master Lock has developed a series of travel tips to ensure your vacation is an ideal time spent making lasting memories. To help avoid stress and frustration before, during or after a trip, follow these four guidelines:

1. Secure all points of entry to your home, including dead bolting doors, windows, sliding glass doors and garage/shed doors to bolster your home’s security. If you have an alarm system in place, be sure it is activated before departing. Leaving just one of these areas open or unlocked can lead to theft.
2. Keep your home active. Whether you’ve hired a dog walker or a neighbor is headed over to water plants and pick up deliveries, ensuring your home still appears to have people coming and going regularly can deter thieves. Store your house key in a key safe such as the Master Lock 5400D Key Safe to allow these individuals to easily enter and exit your home, locking it up as they leave. Make sure these approved visitors know the code to your home alarm system, if applicable, so they can deactivate it and reset it after finishing their tasks. If you do not have anyone visiting your property while you’re away, consider placing lights on a timer and stopping your mail delivery by visiting www.usps.com.
3. Lock up your luggage. Airports are full of people and distractions. Items can be easily stolen from bags while awaiting your flight’s departure, or before you pick up checked luggage from the baggage claim area. A TSA-accepted lock like the Master Lock 4688D luggage lock will help keep your possessions safe while in transit and allow you to move through security lines with ease. 
4. Secure important items in your room. Whether you’re staying in a hotel, cabin or resort — it’s important to lock up valuables when not in your room. A secure document storage or cash box will help ensure your passport, traveler’s checks, cash and jewelry safe while you and your family enjoy the sights and sounds of your destination. If you’re taking your small valuables out and about with you, consider a Master Lock 5900D Safe Space to keep your belongings secure while you’re on the go.

 

About Master Lock
Master Lock is the world’s largest manufacturer of padlocks and related security products providing innovative security solutions for home, automotive, campus, power sports, bike and storage security needs for consumers and contractors alike.

Win it!: Just in time for end-of-summer travel plans, one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the Master Lock 5400D Key Safe which is mentioned in tip #2! The contest will run until September 3rd at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Share any tip you have for keeping your home or your possessions safe when traveling. What do you do?

My answer: We use light timers to keep lights turning on and off at different times in our house.

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Follow Master Lock on Twitter

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

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

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

StinkyKids Plush Dolls and Books Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Julie is Darah’s new best friend. No, she hasn’t surpassed bunny and llama, but she is definitely in the high inner circle of plush toys. Julie is a super cute soft doll from the Madame Alexander line called StinkyKids. Darah makes Julie dance (her arms and legs move easily) and has tea parties with her often. I like Julie because she is safe enough for babies (no small parts that might detach), she is washable when the need arises, and she is so stinkin’ cute (no pun intended).

I was unfamiliar with this line of dolls until I was contacted for a review, and now I’m so glad to know about them. One of my favorite things about this line is that the characters can be found in two books, StinkyKids and the Runaway Scissors, which we had the chance to check out, and StinkyKids See a Full Moon, which will be available in September but can be pre-ordered now. Darah thought it was VERY cool to see her Julie on the pages of a storybook, and as a result, she plops down and listens to the story (it’s not long, but it is a bit longer than most other books she will listen to all the way through, so I know that having Julie in the story is a big deal to her). The motto of StinkyKids is, “Always be a leader of good,” and you can see that lesson coming through in the book.  The book that is currently out won the 2011 Silver Mom’s Choice Award for best children’s picture book, so I’m not the only one who thought it was a good read!

As it sometimes happens with any product that is sewn together, occasionally a problem occurs. Darah’s doll Julie seemed to have a faulty hem on her skirt, and after just 8 days was fraying considerably. I’m actually kind of glad that we had this experience with a StinkyKids item, because it gave me insight about the customer service this company provides. First, I learned that I received a sample doll, so the quality could vary slightly from what is available online. Second, I learned that of the 25,000 dolls that have been produced so far, this is the second reported problem. The sponsor told me that it is their policy to look into the defect and determine if there is a problem with manufacturing, and to make the mistake right by not only replacing the doll, but sending additional goodies from the store as an extra measure of goodwill. That really showed me that this company takes quality very seriously, and also takes customer satisfaction very seriously. So I can tell you with confidence that the odds are astronomical that anything will be wrong with a StinkyKids doll if you buy one, but if it is, you can rest assured that customer service will make it right and then some! Furthermore, Julie is very much loved by Darah, and a scraggly hem isn’t going to change that!

One other fabulous feature of StinkyKids is that a percentage of profits from each sale go to Books, Bears and Bonnets, Inc., a charity founded in honor of the aunt of the StinkyKids founder, who passed away from uterine cancer. It delivers gift boxes to children and adults fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. This company takes the StinkyKids motto, “Always be a leader of good,” to heart!

Buy it!: StinkyKids dolls can be purchased at Amazon and retail for $16.99 (but I’m seeing some smokin’ hot deals on some of them right now!).

Win it!: One lucky  Stuff Parents Need reader will win the StinkyKid of your choice!!! The contest will run until September 2nd at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Pick out the StinkyKid you want for your child, and choose wisely, as the winner will get what s/he selects for this entry!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like StinkyKids on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Google Friend Connect (found on the sidebar of the blog)

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

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

How to Clean Your Smartphone: Klean Screen Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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If you are reading this post then you are either on your computer or your smartphone. Take a second and really look at your screen. I bet it is gross. I know mine was until a few days ago. In addition to the constant use and abuse that Tim and I subject our phones and computers to, our 2 year old gets added to the mix, and puts her peanut butter fingers all over her our iPad on a regular basis. To say it gets sticky would be an understatment! When I first realized that we needed to learn how to clean screens I had to do a bit of research, since you don’t exactly want to wipe a damp cloth all over your phone (at least not if you want it to keep working).

 

Klean Screen wipes are now available, and they are a great way to keep all your gadgets and gizmos that have screens nice and clean. They are alcohol and ammonia free, and they come individually packaged for your convenience. I was actually a little bummed out about the packaging (so much plastic!) until I saw that it is 100% recyclable. That’s better!

These work great! We were able to clean our iPad, 2 iPhones, and 2 computer screens with just one wipe, so you can really get a lot of mileage out of each cloth. A box of 25 wipes is just $4.95, and shipping starts at just $2.00. These are a really great gift idea for pretty much anyone. When you get a fun new thing like an iPod or a phone, you aren’t really thinking about how to keep it clean until you realize that it’s filthy. If someone you know is going to be getting a gift that has a screen on it this year, this is the perfect companion gift, and the price is right!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a box of Klean Screen wipes! The contest will run until September 1 at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me how you currently keep your screens clean (if at all!).

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love:  Like Klean Screen on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Google Friend Connect (found on the sidebar)

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

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

 

The Monster at the End of This Book Comes to Life: Callaway Apps Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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My second favorite childhood book of all time is the classic work starring lovable, furry old Grover. Yes, I’m talking about The Monster at the End of This Book! I can’t even begin to guess how many times I have had it read to me and read it myself over the years. It STILL cracks me up to read the story!

When we first started looking at children’s books that have been turned into apps, this was the book I immediately started looking for online. But no such luck.

UNTIL NOW!!!

Yes, it is now a fantastic app! It is put out by Callaway Digital Arts, and they really nailed the whole spirit of the book. Grover’s voice is spot on, and there are little enhancements and surprises on every page that make this book even more fun than it already is (how is that possible?!). The app is $3.99 from iTunes, and in my opinion, it is an absolute MUST for anyone with a little one at home.

We also had the opportunity to review Miss Spider’s Tea Party, and I’m so glad we did! We weren’t familiar with this book before, but Darah has taken a real interest in the story (bugs are quite interesting to her right now) and she reads it multiple times a day now (she usually goes back and forth between the two Callaway apps!). The illustrations are beautiful the bonus features (a matching game, a coloring book) are very cool, as well. This app is available for $4.99, and I think the higher price is justified by all the extras that come with it.

Callaway apps also has a few other titles that would be of interest to young children, such as Angelina Ballerina and Thomas & Friends! While I haven’t tried out these apps, based on my experience with the two I  have seen, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. Callaway Digital Arts knows what they are doing when it comes to putting together a quality app for kids!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the two apps I reviewed! Yay! The contest will run until August 30th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me a book that you would buy in a heartbeat if it were turned into an app!

My answer: My favorite book is by Marc Brown (who later wrote Arthur) and it is called Pickle Things!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Callaway Digital Arts on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

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

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

Affordable Scarves Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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I think scarves are one of the greatest accessories you can have in your wardrobe. They add a pop of color, bring some texture to what might be a very forgettable outfit, and when it is cold out, keep you warm. Super big, chunky jewelry never really appealed to me, but I’ll take a big scarf any day of the week.

Even though it might feel too hot to be thinking about scarves, I promise that fall is right around the corner (and thank goodness!). Even so, scarves need not be reserved for the coldest months of the year. They also make excellent transition pieces as you move from one season to the next.

I just got the Rebecca Linen Scarf from Affordable Scarves. You read that right…this scarf is made from linen! This makes it absolutely perfect for times when the weather isn’t hot, but isn’t cold, either. It is excellent for spring, and I will be wearing it throughout the fall, as well (that old rule about setting aside anything made with linen after Labor Day is so outdated, by the way!).

Think outside the box when it comes to scarves; Affordable Scarves has a selection that goes far beyond knit and wool options. Right now they are featuring a leopard print scarf, for example. It’s not so much my style, but it is a great example of using a scarf more for adding a great print to your outfit than for trying to keep warm. And I appreciate the wide selection of options they have in this category: 25 different looks just for leopard print! Wow!

Affordable Scarves really is an excellent place to look for my favorite accessory. The prices are fantastic, and they make it so easy to find what you want, as you can shop by season, shape, color, material or even trend (the ruffle scarves trend is really getting my attention right now!).

Win it!: One lucky  Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $20 credit from Affordable Scarves! Yay! The contest will run until August 28th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Go to Affordable Scarves and pick out the scarf you will get if you win.

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Affordable Scarves on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

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

 

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

Preggie Pops Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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My first trimester of pregnancy with Darah was not too terribly bad, other than the fact that I threw up every single day. Thankfully, my nausea would usually come in two predictable waves (while getting ready for work, and about 20 minutes after getting home for the day). I know that not every woman who deals with this symptom is quite so lucky.

Still, even though I knew when it was coming, I still struggled with it. I remember walking up and down the aisles of our local Whole Foods one day, desperately seeking any type of food product that didn’t make me want to hurl at the mere thought of eating or drinking it. That was a tall order for many weeks, I’m afraid.

A girlfriend gave me a few Preggie Pops that she had leftover from her pregnancy, and I LOVED them. Preggie Pops are lollipops that are designed to help with morning sickness. I recall that they helped me a great deal. In fact, I was very sad when I ran out because I couldn’t find any more in Memphis (and I guess I was just not thinking straight or else I could have just ordered more online!).

Preggie Pops has two main products for pregnant women. The Preggie Popscome in packages of 7 for $3.95 and have the following flavors: sour fruit, ginger and mint. They also have a variety pack, which is what I would recommend so that you can find your favorite flavor. The second option is the Preggie Pop Drops. These come in packages of 21 and are really ideal for any environment where you don’t especially want to be seen sucking on a lollipop! Their size is much closer to a lozenge. These are available for $5.50. They also have an organic drops option, but it is considerably more expensive, at $5.5o for just 12 drops.

I remember the feeling of morning sickness, and how horrible it felt to not be able to find anything to help alleviate the feeling. Preggie Pops really did work for me, and so I highly recommend them to anyone who is dealing with pregnancy-related nausea. They just might do the trick! They are also a very thoughtful gift for anyone who just announced a pregnancy!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win Preggie Pops and Preggie Pop Drops! The contest will run until August 26th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me which flavor of Preggie Pops sounds the best to you!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Three Lollies (the parent company) on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Google Friend Connect (found on the sidebar)

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

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. No, I don’t have any announcements to be making! Opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Did you know that the recommended serving amount of fruits and veggies is 5-9 per day? This is not crazy hard for me to do in the summer when the markets are bursting with amazing fresh produce. But 9 months out of the year, I just don’t reach this goal…some days not even remotely close.

I’m not the only one with this problem. One great solution, at least in theory, is a drink mix that contain a high level of greens. They usually come in a powder form and you mix them in with water and then drink them as fast as you possibly can. They taste disgusting and they look like pond water. Drinking one of these every morning takes something beyond dedication; it takes an iron stomach!

Because I have been so impressed with everything I’ve tried so far from Tropical Traditions, I thought it was time to put this company to the ultimate test. I noticed that they have an Antioxident Omega 3 Greens powder, and I decided to try it. I mean, it’s really just impossible for a product like this to taste good.

Here are my thoughts after drinking a few of these concoctions. TT’s version also does look like pond water, so I can’t say that it looks appetizing. BUT…the taste is not bad. I’m not going to say it tastes great, because it doesn’t. But it doesn’t taste bad. You can drink the whole thing without gagging, and that’s more than I can say for any other greens drink I’ve ever tried. We got the berry flavor, and I think that tinge of sweetness goes a long way for this drink. I can’t tell you that I would happily drink this every morning of my life, but I would gladly take it a few times each week on those days when I know I didn’t get the amount of fruits and vegetables that my body needs for fuel.

If you are not very familiar with the concept of a product like this, let me tell you why the Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens formula is such a super drink. Drinking one glass of this each day is designed to help you with all of the following:

  • Providing ALA Omega 3 fatty acid
  • Improving Immune Function
  • Providing fiber for better digestion
  • providing high antioxidant benefits
  • alkalizing body and balancing pH
  • excellent source of probiotics

From the website, “Antioxidant Natural Greens supplies a rich blend of totally natural vitamins, minerals, plant enzymes, antioxidants, phytonutrients and symbiotic intestinal flora for optimal energy metabolism, digestion, detoxification, and immune enhancement.” (Please note that these statements have not been verified by the FDA).

This really is an incredible product that provides an amazing amount of health benefits. And it tastes better than anything similar to it on the market (at least that I’ve tried). I give it two thumbs up. Tropical Traditions surprises me, once again!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a canister of Tropical Traditions Omega 3 Greens (ARV $44). The contest will run until August 25th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: This giveaway is for the Facebook fans! Like Stuff Parents Need AND Tropical Traditions on Facebook and then come back here and let me know you did! Done!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Newsletter (you’ll hear about all their sales!)
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

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

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

Scholastic’s Newest Release for Budding Artists: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Introducing Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin, a 3-disc collection newly released from my favorite line of children’s videos, Scholastic Storybook Treasures! This set has 2 hours and 47 minutes of delightful and award-winning stories all about performance, music and art. It is a joy to watch!

It’s also a joy to listen to, as narrators Darah and I both love make an appearance on this set, including James Earl Jones and Zach Braff, not to mention a singing performance by the one and only Aretha Franklin!

If you want to introduce your kids to the arts in a fun way, bring this fantastic collection of stories home! You can purchase the 3 disc set for $24.95 or purchase them individually for $14.95

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin! for your collection! The contest will run until August 24th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me one other DVD you’d like to own from Scholastic!

My answer: I’d love to get The Wheels on the Bus and More Sing-a-Long Favorites!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like New Kideo (makers of Scholastic Storybook Treasures) on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

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

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

 

 

 

Helping Kids Feel Excited About Bedtime: Shushybye Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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When I was a child I was genuinely excited about when it was time to go to bed. I would always think about what I wanted to dream about that night and then close my eyes good and tight so that I could fall asleep as quickly as possible.

If you want to know the truth, I still do this. Sleep rocks, and I always get a little burst of energy just before bed because I’m so darn happy to be going to sleep.

But here’s the thing: that’s kind of unusual. Especially for a kid. Many kids argue with their parents and have a whole bag of tricks that they use to try to avoid going to bed each night. Darah sometimes doesn’t want to go to sleep, but she takes after her mama in that once she is down, she is usually asleep within 10 minutes.

If that’s NOT the case for your little one, Shushybye products might be of some help! From their site, “SHUSHYBYE is the land way above the clouds – and the land where the resident Shushies live and make dreams for children. Led by Snoozles, Dozie and Zeez, the Shushies place their completed dreams in Dream Boxes that are sent to children via the Shushybye Train driven by Conductor McCloud as they fall asleep. Nothing brings the Shushies more joy than to make the most wondrous dreams for little ones.”

Shushybye has a fun line of products including plush figures, cds and books. They also have a live tour! I will say that the stories and music don’t seem to be about helping your child feel sleepy, which is what I was initially expecting. They are really about helping your child get excited about the dreams that await them at night, and the fun they can have while they are sleeping. The cd is surprisingly upbeat (I was expecting lullabies, and I was totally off base!). This is a different approach to talking about bedtime, as the focus isn’t so much on whether or not the child is sleepy, but rather, what fun they are missing out on if they aren’t sleeping. It’s all about shifting the attitude toward sleep, which is really a much better approach than simply trying to wear your kid out or somehow trick him/her into falling asleep.

I think Shushybye products are ideal for 2 and up, and I would recommend them to anyone whose child thinks bedtime totally stinks.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a Shushybye book and cd! The contest will run until August 23rd at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Go to the Shusybye website and tell me the character you think your child would like the best!

My answer: Zeez is Darah’s favorite, I think!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Shushybye on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

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

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