review - Stuff Parents Need

Diamond Candles Review and Ring Reveal (Giveaway!)

September 10, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

I started longing for Diamond Candles candle pretty much as soon as I heard about them. It is pretty much the perfect gift for me: it smells great, it looks pretty, and it has a treasure inside!

Diamond Candles

I’ve purchased a few Diamond Candles over the past year (one for myself and a few as gifts) and have enjoyed the experience. The fun folks over at Diamond Candles recently asked if they could send a candle for me to review and show to you all. I thought a ring reveal would be really fun so I said yes!

I selected Peach Paradise as my scent. I thought it was the perfect choice for the last of the hot days here in Tennessee. And the smell is quite lovely. Not too overpowering. Just right, I would say! I’ve been burning it at my desk while I work for the past week or so, and at a minimum I’d say I let it burn for an hour a day. It provided a really nice smell and calming ambiance while I worked on the blog!

Finally, I reached the point where I could see some gold foil sticking out of the candle. Hooray! It was time to see what my ring looked like. Every Diamond Candles candle contains a ring that could be worth anywhere from $10-$5,000. So seeing your ring is a huge part of the fun. I videotaped my ring reveal so you could see exactly what I did to safely retrieve my ring.

Now wasn’t that fun? It was such a great way to start my day, and I’m pretty sure it made Darah’s whole week! While I didn’t score a $5,000 ring this time, I’d say that the purchase price of $24.95 for the candles is totally worth it. Definitely treat yourself or someone you love to a Diamond Candles candle in the near future! And videotape your ring reveal, because people LOVE watching them!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a Diamond Candle!!
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Flip Hybrid Diapering System: My Very Last Cloth Diaper Review

September 9, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 9 Comments

The Flip Hybrid Diapering System is perhaps the perfect diapering system with which to end my time as a cloth diaper reviewer. This is because it has me going back to a cloth diaper that I tried before and didn’t like. But I know the truth: I gave up on it too quickly, and I didn’t have the full “Flip” experience.

So when I had the opportunity to try out Flip diapers again, and this time the right way, I knew I needed to give them another chance. After all, they are some of the most popular cloth diapers on the market. My dislike was quite unusual! Since Layah is already on the road to potty training, I feel confident that this will be the last cloth diaper I will review, and what better way to end this season of my life than by returning to the one type of diaper I couldn’t really get into before.

Flip Diapers

So what are Flip diapers? They are a hybrid diapering system designed for maximum flexibility. They are sold in various components. First, you have your covers. Pictured below are two of the four covers I received, in colors noodle and grasshopper. Covers are one size, with adjustable snaps along the front. They come in hook and loop (velcro) or snaps. I would recommend getting the snaps because they don’t wear out as fast, and because babies have a harder time figuring out how to take them off.

The next component is the stay dry inserts. You simply lay these inside the diaper shell for use, and they are very easy to remove and replace. The idea is that unless you’ve got a messy diaper on your hands, you can use the diaper shell multiple times and just switch out the inserts. This was an idea I could never fully appreciate with the one Flip diaper I owned, and that’s because I purchased it with only one insert! Now that I’ve actually tried out the Flip concept as it was intended, I find it to be very easy to reuse the inserts as long as you have your available replacement inserts close at hand. I also LOVE that the inserts have marks on them to show you where you should fold them for small and medium sizes. They take out the guess-work! Inserts are also available in organic cotton. My personal opinion is to go for the stay dry unless your baby has super sensitive skin and doesn’t do well with microfiber. Why is that my opinion? Well, prior to this review, the one insert that I did have was the organic one, and while it was absorbent, it also felt more damp on the baby’s skin, which wasn’t as comfortable.

Additionally, Flip offers disposable inserts, which I had never tried before. Let me tell you why I love these so much! These are absolutely perfect for when you are out and about. When you change baby’s diaper, you just toss the old insert, and lay in a new one. The inserts take up less room in the diaper bag than a cloth diaper, and even less than a disposable! I also think they are great for anyone who might be taking care of your child for you (babysitter, grandmother, day care provider) and who is just getting used to the idea of using cloth diapers. This is sort of a happy mix of reusable and disposable.

But what I love the disposable inserts the most for is using when I suspect that Layah might be about to poop. Sorry if that is TMI, but I think all parents know that our life revolves around pee and poop for a certain number of years. That’s just the way it is! Anyway, if I time it right and Layah poops while wearing a disposable insert, that means that I can just toss the insert and not have to deal with nearly as much mess with the diaper sprayer. And that, my friends, is a WIN!

So now that I have given Flip diapers a fair shake and used them exactly the way that they were intended, I have to say that I like them! I’m not madly in love, but they are in regular rotation now, and I’m even using the same shell more than once before replacing it. That is cutting down on my cloth diaper wash load, and I REALLY love that!

Have you ever tried Flip diapers? Or hybrid cloth diapering, in general? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

The Best, Most Affordable Sleep Training Materials Coming to Video!

September 9, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 6 Comments

Tim and I didn’t sleep train Darah until she was 13 months old, and we were all completely miserable. We vowed that we would do it sooner on with Layah. And guess who was the biggest barrier to doing so? ME! I am a total wimp when it comes to hearing my babies cry, and so in my exhausted state of mind every night, I could never understand how going through sleep training was a better choice than getting up 4-7 times to rock her back to sleep.

Baby Sleep Training

Fortunately, Tim had his wits about him and knew something had to give by the time Layah was 8 months old. We decided to try The Sleepeasy Solution, and it CHANGED. OUR. WORLD! The book was fantastic, but what I loved the most was the DVD option. You got to watch families going through the process and see exactly how the different steps worked. I cried while I watched it because I was so overjoyed at seeing those infants and toddlers learn how to put themselves to sleep in just a matter of 2 or 3 days. And I was hopeful for what our life would look like once the adults in the house got to go through complete REM cycles!

So when I heard about the 16 part video series all about The Sleepeasy Solution on Mom Assembly, I was thrilled to have the chance to partner with the company to tell you all about it. For the price of $15 (which is roughly the same price as the book) you get the entire process laid out for you in easily digestible videos that Jen and Jill, the two ladies behind the program, have made. It is as if you are sitting in one of their workshops and learning right along side other weary, worn out moms and dads.

I reviewed the videos and I thought they were AWESOME! Jen and Jill both have such calming personalities, and they are gentle with their parents, and understanding of all their concerns. They have been working with parents and children for over 15 years, so they really have a firm understanding of what is going on to keep sleeping through the night at bay, and they have suggestions that, in my experience, really do work.

What I love about the video format of this information is that the steps in the process are broken down into very manageable pieces (each video is between 6-12 minutes in length). So you can watch them any time you have even just a few minutes to spare (and let’s be real, sometimes that really is all we have!). Additionally, when you purchase the video workshop, you have the ability to pose questions, and those questions might be answered by other parents who also purchased the program OR they might be answered by Jen or Jill! Having access to their personal feedback is something extra special. And if you want all the information they review in written format, they even have 27 pages of information available in worksheet format for you. Basically you are getting the best of everything for one very reasonable price!

I’ve never seen an online workshop offer this level of detail and this level of access to the presenters for this price. And the subject matter is a total game changer. Tim and I honestly refer to our lives as parents in terms of pre-and post sleep training!

Whether you have a 5 month old or a 5-year-old who won’t sleep through the night, Jen and Jill have a plan that can help, I promise. They actually promise, too, and they offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t see results after following The Sleepeasy Solution method with your child. You have nothing to lose but sleepless nights!

And if you aren’t personally struggling with this issue, but you know someone who is, this video series would be an amazing gift to give. Affordable and life changing; who could ask for more!

Mom Assembly

The Sleepeasy Solution is just one of several fantastic video workshops available on Mom Assembly. You can also find a wide variety of videos that cover the following topics:

Behavior
Discipline
Feeding and Nutrition
First Year
Health and Wellness
Marriage and Relationships
Newborn Care
Pregnancy
Safety
School Aged Children
Sleep
Special Needs
Toddlers
Working Moms

Prices for the videos start at the great low price of FREE (!) and many of the courses you will find are in the $10-$15 range. What an amazing resource. I wish it had been around when I was new to this whole parenting gig!

I’d love to hear what you think of the videos being offered. Are there any topics that you are struggling with and that you’d like to see some video resources for? Mom Assembly wants to offer solutions for moms who need some extra help, and they would be grateful for your suggestions!

PinkBlush Maternity Review and Giveaway!

September 7, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 59 Comments

A lot of things about this pregnancy are very similar to my first. Things like continually feeling nauseous, feeling completely exhausted all the time, and craving strange foods that I don’t normally eat. (Hello, bacon-wrapped pickles!) One thing is a little bit different this time though, and that is my rate of belly growth! Pretty much the day I found out I was pregnant, I was already feeling bigger around the middle. By week 10, I felt like a whale. At 14 weeks, people already started asking me if I was pregnant. (Which I think is a little bold!) I definitely don’t remember my belly popping out so fast the first time around! I realized pretty quickly that it was going to be time for maternity clothes a bit sooner than I had planned. My wonderful husband pulled the boxes of my old maternity clothes out of the attic for me but I was sadly disappointed by what I found. Everything is so outdated and frumpy looking! Oh no, this would not do.

Then I discovered PinkBlush Maternity, who sent me a super cute top to add to my wardrobe and review. They really have some super cute maternity clothes! I spent lots of time browsing their website, making a list of all the cute things I just had to have. My first choice, a striped top with lace on the sleeves, was unfortunately sold out in my size (I have a slight obsession with stripes!) but my second choice was available. And I have to say, I really do love the top I received. It is super cute, unique, and made of good quality material. I like that the fabric is thick and doesn’t look like it will fall apart before my baby arrives. I also love that it comes with a belt! With my first pregnancy I had NO CLUE how to wear a belt with a pregnant belly, and this shirt figures it out for me. I’ll be pairing this top with black or tan leggings.

I love how unique many of the tops are, and more interesting than the boring items you find in most of the chain maternity stores. Their clothes are also very affordable, which I think is a must for maternity clothes! I was a little disappointed to find that they don’t have a larger selection of jeans and leggings since that’s what I’m currently in need of, but their huge selection of tops and dresses more than makes up for it. (Looking for maxi skirts? They’ve got plenty!) I noticed that they have a lot of really cute things out for fall now, including pants and leggings. If you are pregnant and looking for trendy maternity clothes, I highly recommend browsing their site. I’m pretty sure you’ll find something that suits your style!

Win It!: PinkBlush Maternity Clothing is offering one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a $25 gift certificate to PinkBlush Maternity!!!

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Pump It Up: Save Childhood, Support Imagination (Giveaway!)

September 5, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 39 Comments

Pump It Up

Are you familiar with this place? This is a company that provides the kind of play space I would have dreamed of as a kid! It is basically an indoor bounce house, with wall-to-wall inflatable fun for kids to enjoy. Pump It Up has locations all across the country, so do a quick check to see if there is one in your neck of the woods.

Since my whole family got to be together for Labor Day, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to go check out Pump It Up, as we were given pop in play passes for such a purposes. Pop-in-play is something that every Pump It Up location offers during much of the week. It is basically a time to drop by, pay a very reasonable fee ($6 per child, parents FREE!) and start bouncing! On the way over, I wondered if we were making a terrible mistake by brining such young children (4 and 15 months) to a giant bounce house. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves!

We had A BLAST! Not just the kids; Tim and I were bouncing and laughing, too! I’m sure it wouldn’t have been as fun if it had been crowded, but it really wasn’t, and there were quite a few other toddlers and preschoolers there playing, as well, so that made for great company!

If you haven’t been to Pump It Up yet because you assumed your kids were too small, I want to encourage you to give it a try (assuming that your little ones are walking/running, of course!). We were surprised by just how much we enjoyed it, and we’ll be visiting again sometime this fall, for sure.

Save Childhood, Support Imagination

In addition to offering an absolutely fabulous space for kids to play, Pump It Up is also running a great campaign called Save Childhood, Support Imagination. The goal is for parents to strive to dedicate 1 hour each day to engage in imaginative play with their kids. Check out the website, and please consider signing the Imagination Declaration. You’ll also find some really cool resources for encouraging imaginative play with your children!

Win it!: TWO lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will each win a 4-pack of Pop-In Playtime passes to visit any Pump It Up and bring your imaginations to play!

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Cooking With Kids: The Perfect First Cookbook (Giveaway!)

August 31, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 88 Comments

Cooking with kids can be a lot of work, at least at first. But the payoff for having a child, and eventually a teenager, who is comfortable in the kitchen can be SO worth it! Has your child started to develop an interest in cooking? And are you ready to start encouraging that budding interest? Then I’ve got the perfect cookbook!

I was recently sent a copy of ChopChop: The Kids’ Guide to Cooking Real Food with Your Family. It is a beautifully photographed book filled with over 100 recipes that new little chefs will enjoy. It also has great tips and tricks and teachable moments , such as how to operate a salad spinner, or answers to questions that kids might be asking while cooking that will help them better understand why the recipe needs to be followed as written (such as why tomatoes get added so late in the process of cooking lentil soup).

Perhaps my very favorite thing about the book, though, is the fact that the photos inside show kids doing the cooking. How empowering it must be to a child to see example after example of someone their age creating something in the kitchen!

Here’s an example recipe from the book. Check it out and give it a try with your child in the near future!

Little Lasagnas

from ChopChop: The Kids’ Guide to Cooking Real Food with Your Family.

It’s fun to get your own cute little lasagna! And this is an easier, quicker recipe than the big-pan lasagna. Plus, this recipe will give you some good math practice, too.

Adult Needed: Yes

Hands-On Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Makes: 12 little lasagnas

Kitchen gear: 12-cup muffin tin, measuring cup, measuring spoons, box grater (adult needed), pot holders, butter knife

Ingredients:

1⁄2 cup hot tap water
2 1⁄2 cups tomato sauce
1⁄2 pound (1⁄2 box) spaghetti (any kind is fine)
3⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1⁄2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Instructions
1. Turn the oven on and set it to 350 degrees.
2. Put 2 teaspoons hot tap water in each of 12 muffin cups inside the tin.
3. Add 1 tablespoon tomato sauce to each muffin cup.
4. Count out 48 spaghetti strands. Break up 4 spaghetti strands and add them to the first
muffin cup, then continue, adding 4 broken spaghetti strands to each muffin cup.
5. Top each with 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese.
6 Top each with 2 teaspoons shredded mozzarella cheese.
7. Top each with 2 teaspoons tomato sauce.
8. Repeat, starting with step 4 (the spaghetti strands).
9. Repeat again.
10. Carefully put the muffin tin in the oven and bake until the top is golden and the
tomato sauce is bubbling, about 45 minutes. Set aside for 10 minutes. Slide the butter
knife into the inner edge of each muffin cup and gently go around it, loosening up the
sides. Carefully remove the lasagnas from the tin and serve right away.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of ChopChop: The Kids’ Guide to Cooking Real Food With Your Family!

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Room on the Broom: Great DVD and Book for Fall!

August 30, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 61 Comments

Affiliate links may be included.

So my birthday was earlier this week, and for me, it is always the official end of summer. As soon as we pack away the “Happy Birthday” banner, all things fall are officially allowed to come out of storage and preparation begins for the last 4 months of the year, which are without question, my very favorite ones!

Even the books we are reading to the kids and the DVDs we watch start to get peppered with fall themes, and one new addition that I am absolutely adoring is Room on the Broom.

This is from the same folks behind The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child (two of our VERY favorite books and DVDs, by the way). We received the book and the DVD to review, and they are both instant hits with the whole family!

Room on the Broom is all about friendship and adventure. A friendly witch and her cat meet great new friends under unusual circumstances, and by offering kindness and a spirit of sharing, they build loyalty that becomes very important when a fearsome dragon comes onto the scene.

I also love that you can find educational activities for Room on the Broom based on the story (and there are TONS of other great resources…this is something not to miss!).

The Room on the Broom DVD retails for $9.99 (but is currently on sale on Amazon!) and the book retails for $6.99 (also on sale on Amazon!). I love them both, and they are bargain buys for anyone ready to get in the fall spirit!

Win it! One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the DVD AND the book version of Room on the Broom!
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Magic School Bus Presents: Revving Up and In a Pickle

August 29, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 128 Comments

This post on The Magic School bus may contain affiliate links. Thanks to Scholastic for providing DVD copies for review purposes.

Beep Beep! The Magic School Bus is ready to leave on some more great adventures. So hop on the bus and I’ll tell you all about them!

As I have mentioned before in previous Magic School Bus reviews, I was just a little too old to personally enjoy this show as a child, but I loved watching it later on while babysitting, and now I’m thoroughly enjoying it with Darah. I’m (re)learning a lot of great information (especially on STEM-related subjects) and Darah and I are having very animated conversations about what we learn in each episode. You cannot go wrong to get a little Magic School Bus action in your home, for sure!

Scholastic just released two new DVDs. First up is The Magic School Bus: Revving Up. This is a 3 disc set that includes “Under Construction,” “Getting Energized” and “Cracks a Yolk.” Each DVD has 3 episodes, and each also includes a bonus episode, which means the set has over 4 1/2 hours of great educational entertainment! It retails for $24.95 (and is even on sale right now!). To get so many episodes for the price is a great bargain!

You can also now pick up The Magic School Bus: In a Pickle. You’ll find 4 episodes about microbes, smell and decomposition. Stinky, but fascinating stuff to young minds, I promise! This DVD retails for $12.95 (and is currently 45% off on Amazon!).

The Magic School Bus has made my list of fantastic gift ideas for kids, and I recommend these and their other already released DVDs for personal and school libraries. They are fantastic!

Win it!: TWO lucky Stuff Parents Need readers will be winners! The first winner drawn will win Revving Up, and the second winner drawn will win In a Pickle!

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Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath and His Favorite Sing Along Songs

August 28, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 98 Comments

One of the people that comes to mind when I think of Sesame Street (from the super early days, from my own childhood, and from Darah’s childhood) is Bob McGrath. This man has played a significant role in raising MILLIONS of children. What a legacy!

So when I heard that he was releasing a CD, and one that he has called “a sample of what I think of as ‘The Great American Songbook for children.'” I knew I had to feature him here. We were sent the CD to check out, and it has been in our car ever since, providing some fun entertainment on the way to and from school each day!

Bob’s Favorite Sing Along Songs is his ninth CD, but the first one I have had the pleasure to hear. I found the album to have a very classic feel, and one that makes it easy for young children to get involved and start singing along to. There are no wild and crazy beats to contend with…just fun music and lyrics, plain and simple! It feels very down-to-earth and approachable. I really liked it, and I think young children would connect with it very easily.

Buy it!: Bob’s Favorite Sing Along Songs retails for $12.99 and can be purchased on Amazon or on BobMcGrath.com!

Win it!: TWO lucky Stuff Parents Need readers will win a copy of Bob’s Favorite Sing Along Songs!

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This post may contain affiliate links.