Stuff Parents Need

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

Low Radiation Hair Dryer: Barbar Eco8000

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Today is my 30th birthday. Wow.

Actually, I feel fabulous and like my 30s are going to be an incredible time. I’m just now embarking on a brand new career (staying at home with my little girl full-time!) and I know that our days will be adventure-filled. Basically, I’m about to do childhood all over again, and I can’t wait.

Barbar eco-friendly blow dryer But at the same time that I’m crawling around the house, playing peek-a-boo and enjoying my youth (again), I’m still grown up Tiffany and I still want to make sure I take care of myself. And a girl only turns 30 once (or 29 twice, depending on how you look at it). It is a milestone age, and reaching it does mean I deserve a little treat, don’t you think?

And oh yes, my friends, I did get a special treat. I got something I probably would have never bought for myself, but that I LOVE now that I have it.

Check out my new salon-worthy hair dryer! This is the Barbar ECO8000 Blow Dryer and it is one lean, mean green machine!

First, you have GOT to watch this video. It shows how the radiation output is so unbelievably reduced in this dryer…it blew my mind (no pun intended)!


It is also very powerful! My hair dried extremely quickly, so don’t let the 1,000 watts listing fool you…this dryer is serious business.

I just love knowing that my new dryer actually uses the electricity it pulls in (yay for my electric bill), does NOT put out much radiation (I had no idea my old dryer was doing that…very scary stuff) and dries my hair quickly. I’m just going to go ahead and say it: I think this is the greatest hair dryer EVER.

I’m thrilled to have such a nice product in honor of turning 30, and I know I’ll have this dryer for years and years because it is such a great quality product. You know, as I get older I realize that in many cases, spending a little extra on something that is truly the best quality can actually save you money over time. I believe that is the case with this dryer.

Barbar is an awesome company with many great hair styling products. You should definitely check them out if you think it is time for a product upgrade. And if you are freaked out by that radiation output reality, definitely consider getting a Barbar Eco8000 hair dryer!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own! Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.  

Our Favorite Organic Shampoo for Babies: Little Twig

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Bath time is totally where its at in our house. Darah LOVES to take a bath, and she comes by that honest. Tim and I are both bubble bath fanatics (hope I didn’t just embarrass you, dear).

Thanks to the power of moms talking online, I learned about organic shampoo for babies by a company called Little Twig, and they specialize in shampoo for baby and other bath products for tiny tots. Thanks to a great blog win by my little sister Laura, we’ve been using Little Twig unscented baby wash, and it has rocked! It gets her clean as can be, and there’s never been the slightest irritation. I also have had the opportunity to work with little twig, and they sent me the Happy Tangerine baby wash. HEAVEN IN A BOTTLE! The smell is amazing, and Darah seems to like it, too!
organic shampoo for babies Now, I’m going to tell you, when I saw the prices for the products, I thought they were a little bit steep. They are $10 for an 8.5 oz bottle. BUT….the more I use the stuff, the more I realize that the price is actually amazing. The products are completely organic and natural (I recognize everything on their ingredient list). AND let me tell you, a little goes a long way. We are going to be using her bottle of baby wash for several (as in, probably 6) months before we run out. And we bathe Darah every 1-2 days. So $10 for baby wash that will last 6 months and that is not scary for my baby = TOTAL STEAL! They also sell the products in a 17 ounce container (with a pump…super nice) for $14.50, which lowers the cost per ounce quite a bit more!

We also had the opportunity to test out the little twig mineral sunscreen. This stuff goes on smoothly, is water-resistant and is nasty chemical-free! I’ve been very pleased every time I have put it on Darah, though I do wish the SPF was a bit higher than 30.

I also want to point out something really awesome about Little Twig. From their site, “Each month little twig chooses a charitable organization benefiting our environment and children’s issues. little twig donates 15% of the purchases you make every Wednesday to organization we have chosen.” I love it when companies actively give back. You rock, little twig!

Buy it! Overall, I’d have to say that little twig offers an incredible line of delightful and effective products that you can use without worrying about your child’s safety. I highly recommend them! You can buy Little Twig products on Amazon.

Win it!: little twig wants to give one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a $50 gift certificate to use on their site. You read that right, $50!!! That will take care of your bath and body needs for a long time! The contest will run until September 4th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. You will have 48 hours to respond to your 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 anything about bath time at your house. Is there a favorite tub toy? Favorite shampoo for baby? How often do your kids take baths? Any relevant comment will do!

Additional entries:
1. “Like” little twig on Facebook
2. Follow little twig on Twitter
3. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
4. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
5. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
6. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways (listed on the sidebar of my home page).

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links. 

Best Frozen Food Ever? Maybe!

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Several years ago, I didn’t think twice about stocking my freezer with convenience foods such as hot pockets, pizza bites, frozen pizzas, etc. They were SO easy to prepare, they were tasty (thanks to mountains of sodium being added) and they were reasonably inexpensive, especially if you watched for sales.

But as I’ve gotten a bit older (and arguably, wiser) I’ve realized that those things are SOOOO bad for you. Terrible, even! They are loaded with sodium, preservatives and other questionable chemicals. Very few frozen food items have much nutritional value to speak of, and make you feel gross after you’ve eaten them. While we break down every once in a while now for a frozen pizza, on the whole, we just don’t have frozen convenience foods in our freezer (ice cream aside, obviously…I’m not yet ready to acknowledge how bad ice cream is for me…)

But I do miss being able to “prepare” dinner in 3-5 minutes, start to finish.

Enter Amy’s, a fabulous company that makes wholesome organic foods that taste great and are a snap to prepare. Amy’s also offers types of foods that you don’t traditionally find in the freezer aisles (hello there, Indian cuisine!).

We had the opportunity to try out a few different foods from Amy’s, and we loved every single thing. LOVED, I tell you!

The Paneer Tikka was some of the most outstanding frozen food I have ever had. Seriously. Every thing about it was delicious, and I cleaned my plate. Most of the time when I crave Indian food I go to a buffet here in town. For $10, I get some fantastic food, but I ALWAYS eat way too much. After I finished this food, I realized that I was full, but in a comfortable way. No unbuttoning my pants this time (am I the only one who has had to do that?). I will absolutely be stocking my freezer with this dish so that when the Indian craving hits, I’ve got a simple solution that won’t cost as much money or take up as much space on my waistline!

Tim had the honor of trying the burritos. He thought they were fantastic. He commented to me that they were the best frozen burritos he has ever tasted (and he’s tasted LOTS of different frozen burritos, folks). Here’s the really awesome thing about these particular burritos: they are gluten-free! This is great news for folks like my mother-in-law who have wheat allergies! We are going to be sure we have some on hand for her the next time she visits us.

Amy's organic pizza Finally, we got to try a pizza, the classic frozen food. We got the broccoli and spinach pizza and it rocked! I thought it was really flavorful, and I felt good knowing that it is made of organic ingredients. Can you say that, DiGiorno? Don’t think so!

So my experience with Amy’s products was completely awesome. I didn’t know frozen food could taste so yummy, and I’m thrilled to discover that there are terrific options out there for people who might need something super fast AND healthy. Thank you, Amy’s!

Buy it!: Amy’s products are available at major retailers nation-wide. Find your local store now!

Do you have a favorite Amy’s dish? Tell me what it is; I’d like to try it!

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

Spork Little: Utensil Training Just Got Better

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I really enjoy feeding Darah, and for several reasons. But one of those reasons is because I can keep the mess factor of meal time reasonably low if I’m the one wielding the utensils. I recently read a magazine article that strongly suggested letting toddlers her age start to try using the spoon as it is time for them to start developing their fine motor skills in this area.

GROAN!

plastic spork Life is so much easier without having to clean food off the floors and walls. But I suppose that Darah has to learn somehow, and she won’t learn until I let her try.

I found some really cool utensils that are perfect for training her to feed herself. Check out the Spork Little, made by Light My Fire, and sold at a super cool site called Spoon Sisters. Here’s a bit more about the Little Spork: “Our Spork brings a bit of civilization to the wild and a bit of the wild to civilization. No serrated edges. made of heat resistant material. Dishwasher safe. Extremely durable. Especially designed for infants and toddlers.”

The folks at Spoon Sisters sent us the 3 pack that comes with a red, white and light pink Little Spork. They are super cool! I’ve been really surprised by how sturdy they are, which is a good thing, because Darah likes to try to bend them. I could see other utensils made with weaker material breaking, but these are going to make it, just fine. I also really love that when I give her a spork, she has the opportunity to try both a fork and a spoon. While she isn’t yet poking anything with the fork, it’s good for her to get used to it. Finally, I like that the sporks are compact. While Darah still flings food with them (grumble grumble), I noticed that the food doesn’t go quite as far with her sporks. Hooray!

The Little Spork set is one of HUNDREDS of downright awesome gifts that Spoon Sisters offers. From their site, “Our product mix sets us apart. Our sensibilities range from classic to kitsch, funny to functional.” I have found that Spoon Sisters has one of the best selections of gift-worthy items that I have ever encountered online. They have cool gift ideas for every occasion, every recipient and every budget! In addition to those fabulous Little Sporks, some of my favorites finds are the Sky Umbrella, the Herb Savor and the My Biby Tee (what an adorable shower gift that would make!).
Buy it!: If you need to train your little one on how to use utensils, Spork Little is a great way to go. A pack of 3 is just $8.95. If you are on the lookout for the perfect gift for pretty much anyone, you really should browse the Spoon Sisters website. I bet you’ll find something you’ll absolutely love. I’ve definitely bookmarked their sale section to visit in October when I’m doing most of my Christmas shopping, because I love finding bargains on super cool stuff!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links

Go Natural Makeup Review: Apply Makeup in 30 Seconds

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Did you know that I’m just about to switch from full-time worker bee to full-time stay at home mom? Oh yes, indeed! I’ve been thinking about the fact that I don’t want to stop wearing makeup just because I’m not necessarily going anywhere for the day. But I think I might have my hands rather full on some days, and won’t have time for the full makeup routine.

I’ve found a product that I think it pretty nifty, and I’m excited to tell you about it. Check out Go Natural, the all-in one cosmetic! This is a powder that is designed for most every skin type and color, and the website claims that it can replace the following makeup: concealer, foundation, blush, eyeshadow, and lipstick. Woah!

I’ve been trying out this product for a few weeks, and here are my thoughts. First and foremost, I do think that the shade of the product is a little bit tricky for people with very pale skin (and that would be me). You need to apply this product EXTREMELY lightly in order to not look a bit orange. I found that if I blend the powder a bit down my neck, that also helps. But I have to apply it so lightly that I find the overall coverage to be a bit lacking. If I had less pasty skin, I imagine that I could apply it a little bit heavier, and achieve the ideal look.

The brush that comes with the set is pretty cool. You just adjust the height of it depending on how you are using the makeup (for example, you’ll have it at its fullest point for applying foundation, and then you draw in in a little bit for blush, a little bit more for contouring, etc.). I will say that the overall quality of the bristles could use some improvement. I find that one or two bristles fall out every time I use the brush. Maybe that’s because I’m putting the makeup on so quickly? Not sure.

With that said, however, I still find the product to be useful for me. It is the product I grab when I have all of 30 seconds to throw on some makeup. I will be using this in the mornings before I go to Pilates classes (because I will be making those 6:45am classes, gosh darn it!) or if I’m running a quick errand. I’m just too much of a Southern gal to go anywhere without a stitch of makeup on, but I also don’t have time to get all dolled up every time I go anywhere. Go Natural definitely has a place in my makeup bag!

Buy it!: If you are looking to strip down your makeup routine without giving up makeup all together, Go Natural might be a great product for you. You can buy it for just under $40.00 at this website.

Win it!: One Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win Go Natural! Your makeup routine is about to get really fast! The contest will run until August 27th at 7:59pm CST 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 anything about your current makeup routine. Is there a product you can’t live without? Do you care if you leave the house wearing no makeup? Anything relevant to the topic works!

Additional entries:
1. Tell me something you learned about Go Natural when perusing their site.
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
3. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
4. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
5. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways (listed on the sidebar of my home page).

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

Tissue for Kids: I Recommend Boogie Wipes

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Long gone are the days when Darah would patiently wait for me to wipe her nose. I think that stopped around 5 or 6 months of age, actually. Now, every boogie wiping session is a showdown between the two of us. She always works really hard to avoid the tissue, and I work twice as hard to try to wipe off her nose and face before she screams bloody murder (and scream she does, my friends). It really make the process horrible for me. But did you know that a serious pet peeve of mine is to see children with snotty/runny noses?! I can’t stand it! I am slightly more empathetic to parents of snot-faced kids now, because I see how hard it is to wipe their noses, but still, it absolutely unnerves me. Someone needs to make a tissue for kids!

Fortunately, there’s a product on the market that I think is really effective at making the most of the 1/2 second that your child will allow you to touch his/her face with a tissue. You’ve probably already heard of Boogie Wipes, because word is getting out about how great they are, but if not, let me tell you about them!

boogie wipes: tissue for kids These are no ordinary tissues with a clever name. They are extra soft wipes made with a saline solution that quickly and effectively dissolves mucus so that you can quickly get it off your child’s face or dislodge it from their noses. And if that statement just grossed you out,what can I say? Welcome to parenthood. I have found these wipes to be my very best weapon in my arsenal as I fight snot and boogies on a daily basis. I have to admit, I was skeptical of this product at first, but now that I’ve tried it, I’m sold!

boogie wipes: tissue for kids Buy it!: Boogie Wipes come in a 30 count resealable flex pack with a flip top lid. You can find them at retailers nationwide .

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to score a Boogie Wipes gift pack! The contest will run until August 25th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be contacted and 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 entry per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me the Boogie Wipes product you would most like to try!

Additional entries:
1. Follow Boogie Wipes on Twitter
2. “Like” Boogie Wipes on Facebook
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
5. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
6. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
7. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways (listed on the sidebar of my home page)

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

Teething Bracelet for Mom

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Have you ever head the term, “Oh Plah!”? It’s a new one to me. It is a French phrase that loosely translates to, “Here you go!” It is oft-said by moms and dads when they are handing toys and other distractions over to their little ones.

teething bracelet for mom  Oh Plah!is also the name of a really interesting product that Darah and I have been trying out together. Oh Plah! is a chunky and fun bracelet for moms to wear. It is also a teether for babies. It is also a bendable toy for toddlers and young children. Basically, it is fashionable fun!

I was sent the Oh Plah! bracelet in plum (called Whimsy), which is perfect for me because purple is one of my 2 favorite colors (the other being green). I can’t say that I can see myself wearing the bracelet when Darah isn’t with me (I’m just not much of a chunky jewelry gal), but I definitely see its value if I’m out and about with her. I’m imagining having her in a shopping cart at one of my favorite spots (TJ Maxx) and having her grow bored. I can just slip off my Oh Plah! bracelet and keep her entertained for a bit. When she grows tired of it, I can just put it back on my wrist so that we don’t lose a toy in the store.

Oh Plah! bracelets are free of BPA, phthalates, cadmium, lead and latex. They are truly safe for gnawing on! They also have no small parts to worry about, and are made in the USA!

Buy it! You can get your own Oh Plah! bracelet in one of six delightful shades. They are available for $19.99 and will save you many times over when you are out running errands with your baby!

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

Kayla Town Square Bag Review

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I have had the pleasure of working with eBags in the past and I’m thrilled to be bringing you another fantastic product from their line.

So one thing I’ve learned as a parent of a young child is that a highly functional diaper bag is a must. It is often worth forking over a little extra dough to get all the bells and whistles that you will actually use (such as a built in changing pad or compartments to separate your diapering supplies from your spare outfits.). But here’s the thing about diaper bags: they are the tote equivalent of a bridesmaid dress.

Scratching your head on that one? Just think about it…the vast majority of diaper bags are just that. Diaper bags. You can try to convince yourself that they will live on as every day totes long after your babies have outgrown the need for a diaper bag. But you are just fooling yourself. Just like that champagne satin gown you wore in your cousin’s wedding, try as you may, there’s no denying that it is what it is, and you won’t be chopping it off and wearing it to any cocktail parties (as if you attend those, anyway). And in the case of the diaper bag, it will be relegated to your attic, because it is what it is, which is a diaper bag, and nothing more. Sigh…

Oh eBags, how you tug at my heart with your novel designs. Check out the Kayla Town Square Bag. It isn’t a diaper bag at all, only it has all the functionality that you would require from a diaper bag (minus the changing pad). It is my new crush, and we spend a lot of time hanging out together. True love!

Tim wanted to be the one to give you the lowdown on all the great features, so check out his video review below!

Did you catch the part about the yoga mat holder? SO AWESOME!

Buy it!: You are not going to believe this: The Kayla Town Square Bag is currently on sale in 3 shades for $34.99. What a steal!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need Reader will win their very own Kayla Town Square Bag in your choice of available colors ! The contest will run until August 22ndat 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before it is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Limit one entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory entry: Tell me what you love the most (or what you like the least!) about your current diaper bag.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
4. Follow eBags on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
5. “Like” eBags on Facebook
6. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
6. Post the url to one other item that eBags sells that you covet

Be sure to enter my other giveaways, located on the sidebar of my home page.

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

Choosing the Best First Toothbrush

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So…I only recently realized that we should be brushing Darah’s (6!) teeth. I don’t know what I have been thinking for the past few months. That baby teeth don’t need care? That Darah’s saliva is naturally cleansing? That they are going to fall out, anyway, so no big deal? Total mom fail on my part!

Fortunately, MAM, a company I absolutely adore, offers a line of toothbrushes to help babies, toddlers, and their parents learn how to take care of those precious little teeth.

best first toothbrush

Best First Toothbrush

best first toothbrush MAM sent us 3 different brushes to try out. The first toothbrush is the MAM Massaging Brush. It is recommended for any baby ages 3 months and up. It has these wonderful little bristles and ridges that will massage a baby’s gums and will clean tiny teeth. I had no idea how Darah would react to this as an 11 month old, but you know what? She LOVED it! I can tell that the massaging of her gums feels really good because she keeps her mouth open while we are “brushing.” Also, when you use it on her top gums, she laughs because it tickles. CUTEST. THING. EVER.

Right now, we are trying to get into the habit of giving Darah her massaging brush to hold/use every time we are brushing our teeth. I think she is getting the message that this is something we do a few times a day, and that it is actually fun. Pretty soon we are going to introduce her to the other two brushes, the MAM Training Brush and the MAM First Brush. If you aren’t as behind the times as we were, know that these two brushes can be used from 6 months and up. The training brush has a long handle so that the baby can be guided through brushing motions. The First brush has a short handle for when you are ready to let your little one try it on his/her own!
best first toothbrush Thank you, MAM, for once again providing products that are safe, effective and fun to use. Even though we were really late to the tooth brushing party, you met us at the door and welcomed us with open arms! I’m so glad you were my daughter’s first toothbrush.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.