Stuff Parents Need

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

Mudpuppy: Amazing Toys and Gifts, Rockin’ Prices

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Friends, I’m just tickled about the company I have the pleasure of introducing you to today! Galison/Mudpuppy is a company that offers truly beautiful products. The Galison division of the company was founded in 1979, specifically to work with museums in bringing famous and beautiful works of art into people’s homes via paper products such as notecards, greeting cards, journals, etc.

The Mudpuppy division of the company started in 1992, specializing in puzzles. Since that time, they have expanded to also include educational games, toys and stationery for youngsters. It was the Mudpuppy line that initially got my attention. I had been looking for block puzzles for Darah, but I wanted some that had great designs and that were made of eco-friendly material (and eco-friendly inks). That’s what Mudpuppy offers! Don’t you just love this robot block puzzle! So cool!!! It features 9 blocks that can create 6 different puzzles, all of different cartoon robots!

This is going to provide hours of entertainment for Tim, I mean Darah! 🙂

I really love the various toys and games that Mudpuppy has to offer. Look at how many of their products have won awards! I also love that the toys are simple, yet inspire a lot of creative play. They don’t look like everything else you find in big box stores, so they offer something for the shopper who wants to get an unexpected surprise for a child, as well.

Finally, I’m very impressed with their prices. Almost all of the items in the Mudpuppy line are under $20 (and quite a few are under $10!), making it so much easier to get a super cool gift for a super hot price!

I see SEVERAL things that I’ve got my eye on for Darah as she gets just a wee bit older. Some of my top picks for toddler Christmas presents this year are the Let’s Go Camping sticker set ($8), the Opposites Ring Flash Cards ($12) and the Into Space Playing Cards ($6).

But I’m not done, yet, folks! Going over to the Galison line, I see MANY things that would be perfect hostess gifts or great for your girlfriends! Look at these beautiful file folders ($8.50). I am majorly digging this blue memo pad (on sale for $5.00!). The possibilities are really endless, and you could check several people off your holiday shopping list at this site, for sure!

Buy it!: Mudpuppy wants to offer you a 15% discount on any order! Just enter coupon code ZZZ2 at checkout! This can be used for any item on the site, including items in the Galison line! This could make for some killer deals on super cute stuff!!!

Edit: This giveaway is now closed.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will get a block puzzle of your choice! Woo hoo! The contest will run until December 15th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the 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 what your favorite puzzle is and why it is the perfect gift for the little one you have in mind. My answer: We chose the robot puzzle because Tim loves robots and hopes that Darah will develop an interest in science and technology, along with a great imagination!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Galison/Mudpuppy on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need using Google Friend Connect (look on the sidebar of the main page…promise it is easy!)

Bonus entry: If you make a purchase, you get an extra entry to the contest! Just leave a comment with the email address you used at checkout. Don’t forget to use the coupon code! 🙂

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

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

GREAT ODDS to win lots of prizes! Stop by!

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Is your inbox or reader like mine…completely BURSTING with giveaways? This is a really fun time of year on the blogosphere, but also an overwhelming one. It’s totally impossible to keep up with all the awesomeness that you can win!

What that means, though, is that sometimes you miss out on really cool prizes and so did a lot of other people. Those who DID enter, therefore, have much better odds of actually winning!!

I’ve got quite a few awesome giveaways happening right now. Every single one has fewer than 50 entries, and most of them have fewer than 20! Please just check them out on the sidebar of my blog that says “Current Giveaways.” Giddy up…you just might win (and the odds are REALLY good for you!).

Cleaning Stinky Shoes with Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator

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What was your very first job? Mine was being a cashier at Captain D’s. I only worked there for 4 months while I saved up some money to be in a really big regional pageant (that’s a topic for an entirely different post, my friends…). Anyway, I’m really glad that I had that job, awful as it was. It taught me to, among other things, pursue the very best education I could, be kind to those who work SO HARD to provide services that are easy to take for granted, and to understand that money is attached to earnings (so how bad did I really want that $50 sweater from Express, given that it would take me about 12 hours of tiring work to be able to afford it?).

One thing I didn’t learn while working at Captain D’s, though, was what in the world to do about my work laundry. You guys, I always smelled AWFUL after a day, or even a couple hours of work. I smelled like fish batter, malt vinegar and sweat. UGH!!! Detergent worked ok for a while, but there came a point, after being there just a few months, when that smell would just linger in the clothes, wash after wash. At least it was a uniform and not the same clothes I wore to school!

But now there is a product on the market that is designed to seriously kick the butt of your most offensive laundry odors. Let me introduce you to Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator! I had the opportunity to try it out, recently, and I’m excited to tell you about what I discovered.

First, though, I wanted to share with you a bit about what I learned about the product’s “green” factor, since I’m actively trying to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals I use. The primary active ingredient in Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator is derived from naturally occur starch (corn starch ) by treatment with enzymes. It is readily biodegradable. High purity water and a small amount of ethanol make the product liquid. This accounts for over 98% of the formula. The remaining ingredients are fragrance and preservatives which are approved for use in cosmetics and personal care products.”

While it isn’t the most green laundry product in the world, it seems to be very mild on the scale of how yucky something like this can be for the environment, so I personally feel at peace about using it.

Cleaning Stinky Shoes

how to clean stinky shoes So now let me tell you how I used it. I did something a bit unorthodox. I soaked my favorite pair of shoes in it! Seriously! I have a pair of purple flats that I got for $3.00 from Wal-Mart (I’ve mentioned them once or twice before!). They are super comfy, really cute and I absolutely adore them. I wear them almost every single day.

And that’s the problem, folks. As much as I like to think that my feet smell like roses, at the end of the day, they are feet. And feet smell. ESPECIALLY if you keep putting them in the same shoes without giving those shoes a breather, so to speak. For so long I have hated taking off my purple shoes because they are so comfy, but lately I’ve hated taking them off because they stink so bad! (Oh my gosh, can you see me blushing through the computer screen???).

So in a desperate attempt to save my beloved shoes, I filled up my bathroom sink with water, added some Febreeze Laundry Odor Eliminator, and let them soak for 30 minutes. I gently swooshed the around a bit, but that’s really it, because I didn’t want to risk hurting the shoes in any way (remember, I LOVE these stinkin’ shoes!).

The result: I’d say the stink factor was reduced by about 50%. This wasn’t what I was hoping for, but to be fair, this product is designed for fabric, which my shoes are not, and they just sat in the water for 30 minutes and weren’t agitated or anything like that. So really, a 50% improvement isn’t so bad.

I also used this stuff on Darah’s bedding after she had a leaky diaper incident. It took care of that smell 100%! And the rumor going around the blogosphere is that Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator can also get rid of the stinkies with cloth diapers. I’ve been a little nervous to try it myself, but I think I just might in the future!

Buy it!:Febreeze Laundry Odor Eliminator is available at major retailers including your nearest Wal-Mart!

Win it!: Two lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will snag a coupon for a free 1.5L bottle of Febreeze Laundry Odor Eliminator. The contest will run until December 13th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the 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 about something in your house that you’ve done battle with to eliminate foul odors. Did you win or are you currently being defeated? Aside from my shoes (I can’t believe I told you guys about that!), we occasionally have to take our trash cans outside and give them a good soak with a little bit of bleach. Seems to work ok, although I always get nervous using bleach because it is such a harsh chemical.

Additional entries:

Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

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

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links. 


Great Stocking Stuffer or Party Favor Idea: Gaddy Nipper Crayons (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Are you still looking for stocking stuffer ideas? Or do you have several children on your holiday list, but you are running out of funds? Look no further! I have an EXCELLENT gift idea for you that is fun and affordable!


 


Gaddy Nipper Crayons is a very cool company based out of Orlando, Florida with a mission: To encourage creativity in children and adults while saving our environment one crayon at a time. They recycle old crayons and turn them into delightful new crayons in super cool shapes! They even work with new crayons, turning them into something far more delightful than what you might expect from a standard pack of crayons.


We were sent the robot crayon set. I was a little bit nervous about how well they would work, as you probably know that not all crayons are created equal (in my opinion, Crayolas really are head and shoulders above everyone else). Gaddy Nipper agrees with me, actually, which is why they only work with Crayolas! So the robots we got produced beautiful colors when put to paper!


Gaddy Nipper prides itself on its quick turnaround, needing only 24-48 hours from the time payment is received to the time that your order is on its way. That’s great!


If you want to put together a custom order for birthday gift bags or really anything, they very much want to hear from you, and help put together a package that will meet your needs. Just ask; the odds are good that they can do what you like, AND they offer FREE personalization!!!


They really do offer an awesome variety of products and the prices are right! The 5 Bee Bop Robots are just $4.95! What a steal! These are perfect gift ideas, for the holidays or for birthday favors (and so much better than the junk you’d probably ending spending the same amount on at the dollar store). My top picks for the holidays are the Reindeer and the animal crackers!


Buy it!: See if you can score some great finds for the kids on your holiday list. They have everything from letters to dump trucks! You may also want to become their friend on facebook, as they sometimes announce special sales that way!

Win it!: Heck yes! Gaddy Nipper wants to give one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a Bee Bop Robot pack to put the in the stocking of your little one! The contest will run until December 12th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using 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 your favorite color! My answer is that I’m drawn to purples and greens to wear, and I love blues and grays in the home.

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: “Like” Gaddy Nipper 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 home page.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

EcoMistic: Eco-Friendly and Optimistic!

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All of you fabulous folks out there in bloggy land know that I love going green, especially when it is also a frugal choice! Today I’m bringing you a company with a mission based on making “going green” not only easy, but also inexpensive! EcoMistic is a company that you’ll want to do some shopping with, especially if you are on the lookout for economical ways to lighten your footprint on this earth.

ecomistic logo
I love the name of the company, because it is a blend of two wonderful terms: eco-friendly and optimistic. From their site, “One who has a positive outlook on the future of our planet is to be
EcoMistic.” I love it, and I hope that I’m an EcoMistic person in my day to day life!

EcoMistic has waded through much of what is being offered on the “green” market today, and has sought out the smartest products that are eco-friendly and kind to your wallet, all at the same time! Every product in their store is useful and high quality. I know I saw several things on their site that I’d love to start using in my home!

I purchased some holiday gifts through EcoMistic, and my invoice included a personal note from an employee who put together my order about how he personally owns one of the products I purchased and how much he loves it. I thought that was a really cool and personal touch and showed me that EcoMistic is a company run by real people who really care about customer service. Take that, Amazon!

If you are shopping around for something green for yourself or someone else, EcoMistic has a lot of great things to offer. Some of my top picks include the odor neutralizing carpet shake (never seen a green version of this type of product!) and the Water Week bottle set, which offers 5 really cute REUSABLE water bottles, so you are set for the week!

Buy it!: I think EcoMistic is a perfect holiday shopping destination. I know I love getting gifts that are super cool and are actually useful. And if they can save me some money over time? That’s a winning gift, to me! Be sure to check out the money saving packages they offer!

Win it!: EcoMistic wants to give one super lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a water bottle makeover unlike any you’ve known before! You’re going to snag those amazing Water Week water bottles I mentioned earlier in the post! Woo hoo! The contest will run until December 10th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using 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 about one product you own that saves you money AND that is good for the environment!
My answer: For all but my cloth diapers, I make my own laundry detergent (using Ivory, Washing Soda and Borax) for mere pennies per load, and the ingredients are much more eco-friendly than the stuff you find in most stores!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Ecomistic 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 homepage.

Disclosure: I purchased the products reviewed myself, though I did receive a discount on my purchase in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Simple Blogging (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Most any blogger will tell you that forming relationships with other people all across the country (and even the world) is one of the coolest things about blogging. I know that I really and truly love getting to interact with my readers. Your messages in my inbox are like little gifts, seriously!

I am often asked about how I got started as a blogger, and what advice I might give someone who wants to get started, in general, or who wants to focus on the same niche I have (product reviews and giveaways). I love answering this question, but I feel so overwhelmed for a beginner, because the blog learning curve is so steep, and the approach that works best will vary person to person.

One very important thing to know about blogging, though, is that it takes as much time as you give it. There’s ALWAYS more you can do with your blog, and you can quickly find yourself becoming overwhelmed by your blog “to do” list!

Rachel Meeks, the blogger behind Small Notebook (yeah, you’re gonna want to subscribe if you haven’t already, folks) recently came out with an e-book to help guide those of us who are lost in the sea of blogging, drowning in our inboxes and feeling overwhelmed by the commitments we’ve made as bloggers. She wrote Simple Blogging: Less Computer Time, Better Blogging.

SIGN. ME. UP!!!!

You guys, this was a really good read (and not surprisingly, a simple one!). Rachel gives so many wonderful tips. I’m not going to give away all the good stuff that’s in this book, but I will tell you few things I’m taking away from it.

1. It is time to step back and think critically about the purpose of my blog, to make sure that I’m heading in a direction that is personally fulfilling to me.

2. I feel encouraged to share a little bit more of my own personal perspective. Writing about things I’m always thinking about will come easily, after all, and I’ll really enjoy hearing what my readers have to say about those topics.

3. Oh my gosh do I need to change the way I check my email. It eats up 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there, 20 minutes here, 30 minutes there, etc. and before you know it, I’ve spent a few hours throughout the day staring at my inbox! YUCK! I need to get in there, answer what matters, get out and then LET IT GO!

The overall key message from Simple Blogging is about viewing your time as the valuable and precious resource that it is. And it’s about getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to how you spend your time blogging. Rachel has given me a lot of good encouragement, a lot of things that I need to critically evaluate in my own blogging and time management practices, and a whole lot of ideas for doing this blog thing in a way that means so much more to me. After all, if it isn’t personally fulfilling, why the heck am I doing it?

If you are a blogger and are feeling a bit lost in your journey, or if you want to get started blogging but have no idea how to get off on the right foot, this is a really worthwhile read. I guarantee you that if you put even just a few ideas Rachel has into place you’ll reclaim some of your time back from the computer without sacrificing the overall quality of what you write.

Buy it!: Simple Blogging is very modestly priced at just $8, which is more than fair for the great content you will find in this book.

Win it!: Rachel wants to give one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader their own copy of Simple Blogging. The contest will run until December 9th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: If you blog, tell me something you are struggling with as a blogger. What ideas are you mulling over, or what changes would you like to make? Anything relevant will work! If you are a blog reader, do you have hopes to one day have your own blog? What do you think it will be about?
Here’s my answer: I’m currently struggling with figuring out how to make my blog more personal, while still remaining in my chosen niche, which is product reviews and giveaways.

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Subscribe to Small Notebook via RSS or email (you’ll see a subscribe link on the right side, halfway down the page)
2. Blogger love: “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

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

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

DidiPop Goes to Hawaii, and You Can, Too

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Oh the weather outside is frightful!

DidiPop I’m totally in love with the holiday season, and with the season where fall starts to give way to winter. I embrace the cold (probably because I live in a part of the country where winter is relatively mild). I love to bundle up in the covers, or take long hot baths and even go outside and just enjoy being cold for a little bit! Over time, it makes me a bit nostalgic for the warm days of summer (which is good, because I sort of don’t like summer…TOO hot!). Am I the only one who starts daydreaming about trips to Hawaii in November and December? Yes, I think sunny and a high of 76 sounds quite lovely, and I think I could go for a little bit of that right about now, but just for a few days!

Well, Darah recently got a new cd, and it is so much fun, because it takes you straight to Hawaii, no plane ticket or packed suitcase required! DidiPop Goes to Hawaii is just what the title suggests, a musical trip to the islands!

I’ve got a fun way to give you a preview of what DidiPop Goes to Hawaii is like! This video shows you a mango picker on Maui and gives you some glimpses into the recording of the song, “Mango.”

I love having a little splash of summer in November! It’s fun to embrace the holidays, but I also like to remember all the fun we have to look forward to when the weather warms back up again! And mangoes are my very favorite fruit, too. I always welcome their return to the stores!

Buy it!: DidiPop Goes to Hawaii will be released on Decmeber 14th, just in time to make it into the stockings of good little girls and boys! 🙂 You can pre-order the cd here for $15 or you can download all the mp3s for only $8.99!

Win it!: DidiPop wants to bring Hawaii to you! One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Didi Pop Goes to Hawaii! The contest will run until December 6th at 11:59pm EST when the winner will be selected using 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 your favorite warm weather location! Do you wish you were there right now, or are you enjoying the cooler temperatures? My favorite spot to go is to Destin, Florida, though there’s plenty more beach in this world that I still need to see! And actually, I love going to the beach when it is cold, because I think the blue-gray skies and stormier weather are beautiful!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Sign up for the DidiPop Times, a monthly newsletter (that is super good!). Also, they give away a cd every month! (look in the bottom right corner of the linked page to sign up).

2. Blogger love: Subscriber to Stuff Parents Need by email or RSS

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

Make Car Trips Easier With Kiddie Kangaroo (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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EDIT: This giveaway has been extended to 12/03!
Car rides with Darah are becoming tricky business. If she is tired when I put her in the car seat, I work REALLY hard to keep her awake. Why? Because it seems that if she sleeps in the car, even if only for a few minutes, that becomes her nap for the day. She wakes up refreshed and ready to go, although she’ll also be a total pill by late afternoon. In my book, everyone loses when she naps in the car.

She also gets bored much more easily now, and gets frustrated when she’s in the back seat by herself for more than just a few minutes. I have tried to keep toys nearby, but they often end up on the seat, just out of reach from her. And then the whining ensues until we reach our destination, or until I get fed up enough to pull over and get her whatever she needs/wants.

Kiddie Kangaroo is a super cool product designed to help out parents and their babies and toddlers who experience similar situations! Check out their Seat Protector with Adjustable Pockets! I love this product for several reasons!

1. The storage pockets are adjustable, just like the name says! This is great because it means that it can hold a book, or securely hold a smaller item like a sippy cup or a lovey. The pockets have a velcro divider that you can take off or quickly install, depending on what you want the pocket to be holding. I love it!

2. The Kiddie Kangaroo seat protector can go in a car seat, stroller, booster seat, or even an infant carrier. I really appreciate versatility in a product like this. We may have a different stroller or car seat with the next baby, but it won’t matter to the Kiddie Kangaroo, as it is designed to fit most any model!

3. The material is super soft and comfy, but also is waterproof, so it is helping to keep your car seat or stroller nice and clean. Darah is particularly fond of turning her sippy cups upside down and tweaking the spouts of them so that the water comes out onto her and everything around her.

4. Kiddie Kangaroo products are the brainchild of a mom. And you know that I love mompreneurs, because they always design products that we REALLY need!

I’m really happy that I’ve got a place right within D’s reach for all her toys, books and snacks. I’ve noticed that she seems to stay much more entertained when we are out and about, as well. I’d call the Kiddie Kangaroo Seat Protector with Adjustable Pockets a big success!

Buy it!: Kiddie Kangaroo has a variety of products to help parents and babies on the go. Check out their selection, and if drives are as harried for you as they used to be for me, pick out something on their site. You’ll be glad you did!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the Kiddie Kangaroo product of your choice! The contest will run until December 3rd at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the 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 strategy you have (even if it isn’t so successful) for making car seat or stroller time more entertaining for your child! My answer is that we sing Old McDonald in the car. Did you know that on that farm he had a lion? And a peacock? Um, yeah…any animal that makes a noise we sing about…that’s how long the song goes on, sometimes!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Kiddie Kangaroo on Facebook
2. Blogger love: “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

Be sure to check out my other current reviews and giveaways, found on the sidebar of my homepage.

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

Ruth’s Brownies: They Are HUGE!!!! (Giveaway!!!)

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A few weeks ago my family unexpectedly lost my uncle. Tim and I scrambled to get in the car and make a whirlwind trip down to my hometown in Alabama for time with my family and the memorial service. It was an exhausting trip, physically and emotionally, but we got through it.

We left right after Tim got out of work on a Monday. A few hours before that time, the mail came to our house, and we had received a package of brownies from Ruth’s Brownie Kitchen. It was seriously one of the only things that brought a smile to my face that day, and I was so grateful for the timing of the package. We were able to bring them with us and snack on them in the car, as well as share them with our family. Chocolate is definitely a comfort food, and I’m so glad I had these on hand at a time when my family really needed comforting. No, I’m not saying that the brownies made everyone magically feel all better, but they were a very pleasant distraction in the midst of a difficult time.

I actually tore into the package as we were pulling out of our driveway, and was shocked when I saw the size of these brownies. They are HUGE! And they weigh a ton! They are super dense like a brick, but thankfully, they are moist and chewy, not hard! 🙂 I took a picture with my iPhone so that you could see just how out of control Ruth’s Brownies really are.

Ruth’s Brownies come in a half dozen or a dozen. Before you start to think that is probably isn’t worth it to just order a half dozen, let me tell you this: I love me some desserts, and I’m not afraid to eat more than my fair share of anything sweet, but there’s no way I could eat more than half of one Ruth’s brownie in one sitting. In fact, Tim and I shared the first brownie, and we only got through half of it before we had to put it away for a while. They are decadent, and should be consumed with caution! If I were serving these to guests, I really and truly would cut them into fourths. Someone could always come back for more, after all, and most people would be full and VERY happy after eating just a portion of one brownie!

Buy it!: If you are looking for the PERFECT dessert for a holiday gathering you are hosting or attending, I want to enthusiastically recommend something special from Ruth’s Brownie Kitchen. In addition to their crazy awesome brownies, they also make gourmet cookies and biscotti! Also, until November 30th, you can get 15% off all purchases of $35.00 or more! Just use code NOV15 at checkout!

Win it!: Ruth’s Brownie Kitchen wants to give one very lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a $25.00 gift certificate to their store! Wow! The contest will run until November 22nd at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using 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 about your very favorite Thanksgiving dessert! If you have a recipe for it, pass it along so that others can try it out this Thanksgiving!
My favorite recipe is a black cherry jello salad. It comes from my BFFs mom, and it is basically black cherry jello in a mold, along with chunks of cream cheese, walnuts and black cherry halves. Sounds weird, I know, but I live for that stuff!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Ruth’s Brownies on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS or email

Be sure to check out my other current giveaways, located on the sidebar of my home page!

[Product review & giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”]