Stuff Parents Need

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

The Nursing Pillow I Recommend: Mombo Comfort & Harmony

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This post brought to you by Comfort and Harmony. All opinions are 100% mine.

I wore out my nursing pillow when I had my first child. I had inherited it used, already, and then washed it so often (Darah was a messy eater) that by the time we were wrapping up nursing, the pillow was quite lumpy. 

I took the opportunity to do a little more research before deciding what I wanted to use with my second child, and I ultimately went with the Mombo Comfort & Harmony nursing pillow. I liked it better than my old nursing pillow because I thought the overall design was much more forward-thinking, and because I felt that the product could serve more than one purpose. 

First and foremost, the Comfort & Harmony pillow is a bit more firm on one side, which makes that side really ideal for nursing. I could tell a distinct difference between nursing with this firm side and nursing with the other side, which felt more like my former nursing pillow. The softer side on this pillow is ideal for tummy time or supported sit up time. 

Additionaly, Comfor & Harmony nursing pillows have an internal vibrating mechanism, which can help soothe and comfort a fussy baby. Layah had a bouncer that she LOVED that did the same thing, but I used the Comfort & Harmony pillow to serve a similar purpose when we were upstairs and couldn't easily access the bouncer downstairs.

Finally, the pillow cover options are totally adorable, which isn't a reason in and of itself to purchase the product, but it's a pretty nice bonus! 

If you are currently expecting or know someone who is, make sure they know about the Comfort & Harmony nursing pillow option. It is still fairly new to the baby scene, so the word needs to get out more about its unique and helpful features. As a mom who used the product, I can tell you that it is absolutely wonderful. Based on my experience I would definitely purchase it for an expecting mom, as well as take a look at the other products in the Comfort & Harmony line. 

Mombo products can be purchased at Toys R Us and Babies R Us. Be sure to keep up with Comfort & Harmony on Facebook and Comfort & Harmony on Twitter to hear the latest about new products and special offers! 

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Butterfly Gift Ideas (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Are you starting to see butterflies in your area? We have several garden plots near our home, and those have started to attract some butterflies. Our 3 1/2 year old is positively giddy about this, and loves to go outside and see if she can spot one.

Watching her flutter around in her butterfly wings, chasing after all sorts of creatures and pretending that she, herself is a butterfly (or a fairy), is one of my very favorite things to witness. It is nothing short of magical to watch a child experience pure fun, and to use her imagination for creative play. These are the moments that people tell you about that make all the really hard aspects of parenting worth it.

Since Darah is fascinated by butterflies, I have been looking up places to find butterfly gifts. In particular, I’ve been interested in options that weren’t necessarily toys. At least not the plastic, light up, “let me entertain you and you watch” type of toys. And friends, It hit the jackpot while browsing at one of my very favorite online stores: Magic Cabin.

Magic Cabin, in my experience, is THE place to go online when you are looking for creative play gifts. In particular, I think they have an unparalleled collection of gift ideas for children who love the outdoors, fairies, butterflies and nature. I recently received a butterfly wreath that is just so beautiful, yet made of materials that my child can touch and feel without me worrying that it will be damaged.

Darah chose the spot in our house where this hangs. She put it on a blank space in our living room. I asked her why she chose that spot and she said, “I can look at it every day from my chair while eating.” And she is right! This butterfly wreath is playful, colorful, and also very special. I hope Darah will choose to keep it for a long time.

Isn’t that detail so lovely?

If you know someone who loves butterflies, be they young or just young at heart, this wreath is really exceptional. It also happens to be a great deal, currently on sale for just $37.50. Additionally, I’ve got 4 other personally selected butterfly gift ideas that are all fantastic!
3. butterfly chair ($99.00)
4. fabric butterfly wings ($15.98) (we own these…they ROCK!)

Which item is your favorite??

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the butterfly wreath from Magic Cabin!

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

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I received a complimentary item for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Take the Ouch Out of Pouch Feeding with PouchPop (Giveaway)

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If your little ones are like mine, then food pouches are one of their favorite things to eat, either as part of a meal or as a healthy snack. But did you realize that the design of many pouch tops can cause irritation of the gums?

lid of food pouch pouch pops

See the edges? They aren’t sharp enough to cut gums, at least not in my experience, but if you’ve got a baby who loves to gnaw on things, then they can cause irritation. Another parents noticed the same issue, and as a result, developed the PouchPop.

pouch pop cover

While I don’t personally use pouches enough to have noticed my baby’s gums getting irritated, I can definitely see how that could happen, especially if your little one eats at least one pouch each day, or if you let them gnaw on it for a while after they are done eating. I have found the PouchPop to be very easy to pop onto your pouch, and very easy to wash, as well. For pouch food fans out there, it is a great find!

Buy it!: If you use code Topper12 on Amazon during checkout, you will save 25% off the $9.99 price.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a set of PouchPops!

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

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I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Werther’s Original SugarFree Candy is My Jam!

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In the past 3 weeks I have eliminated LOTS of sugar from my diet. We are actually trying out the Paleo Diet, which sounds HORRIBLE when you hear what you can’t eat (gluten, legumes, dairy, carbs, sugar) but when you realize what you CAN eat (delicious veggies, all sorts of meat, as much coconut oil or olive oil as your heart desires) then it is actually not so bad.

Why did I make this switch? I did it because I have been feeling kind of gross for close to 2 years now. And my body just wasn’t dropping about 20 pounds of baby weight this time around, either (my baby will be 1 year old next week…time to face facts that the weight isn’t budging!). I knew I needed to try a different type of diet because I crave sugar and carbs almost all the time. So I eat them all day long. And I feel icky.

I’m not going to sugar coat it (snort snort): giving up sugar is HARD. And I’m not perfect. But oh my gosh, I am learning how much sugar is in EVERYTHING! And now that I’m pretty much not eating it, when I taste something sweet, it tastes much more sweet than it ever did before, and I want much less of it before I feel satisfied. It is the difference between 3 chocolate chip cookies and 1/3 of 1 chocolate chip cookie, which of course, is impacting my weight on the scale. Those pounds are starting to come off….FINALLY! But the cravings for sweets still pop up from time to time, and today I’m going to show you how I deal with them.

I do it with candy.

That probably sounds counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? But I’m talking about sugar-free candy. And not gross sugar free candy (we’ve all been down that road, am I right?). I’m eating candy that I truly have a hard time believing is sugar free. Because it tastes JUST like the original. It is Werther’s Original Sugar Free. And it is my jam, people~

I took it with me on a recent plane trip. Isn’t it always the case that you realize you are hungry RIGHT before you have to board the plane? Happens to me every time. I think it has something to do with knowing that you CAN’T get food for the next hour and a half that makes you want food right now. Werther’s Sugar Free did the trick for me. And honestly, they tasted positively indulgent.

getting ready to board a plane with Werther's Originals Sugar Free

On the home front, I recently got out of the habit of having  big bowl of candy and chocolates on our counter. The reason? Because I would visit that bowl anywhere from 4-8 times EVERY DAY. Ridiculous. If you see it, you think of it. Out of sight? Out of mind!

But I’m totally down with putting out this little jar of Werther’s Original Sugar Free!

jar of werther's originals sugar free

Are you trying to back off of your sugar consumption? Having a tough time doing it? I totally feel your pain. I wish I had known about this product sooner, because it really helps. It tastes sweet, just the way you would expect a Werther’s Original to taste. Just guilt-free this time.

Be sure to visit the Werther’s Original Sugar Free Facebook page to hear more about this great product and find out how you can get samples and coupons to try it out.

Any tips or tricks for me to help with sugar cravings? Have you tried these fantastic candies yet? I’d love to hear! 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

B.B. Cream and Night Cream: Why I Use Them (Giveaway!)

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What is B.B. Cream?

B.B., or beauty balm creams are all the rage right now. It seems like most every brand has released a version of this makeup equivalent of a superfood. But are you confused about what it is? Well, while each b.b. cream on the market does slightly different things (so read the packaging carefully!), let me tell you about what I use and all that it does for my skin.

Here’s a quick pic I took of myself before applying my b.b. cream.

what is b.b. cream before applying

I’m using Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase Instant Perfecting B.B. Cream SPF 15. It goes on just like a moisturizer, and here’s what it does:

  • provides hydration (like a moisturizer)
  • gives skin a brighter and more vibrant look (like a brightener)
  • evens skin tone (like a primer)
  • reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes (like a concealor)
  • provides SPF protection (like a sunscreen)

So basically, b.b. creams are designed to do the work of several different products all in one. This is a HUGE time saver, and I can also tell a difference in how my skin looks when I’m wearing it. You can wear your b.b. cream under your foundation, or you can wear it alone. In the warmer weather that we are having, I often simply opt to wear the b.b. cream as my foundation. While it doesn’t provide the full coverage of a matte foundation, I’m still pleased with the results enough to leave the house without my foundation on.

Here’s what I look like after applying b.b. cream and before applying the rest of my makeup.

what is b.b. cream? after applying

 

The visible evidence that I am wearing it is the fact that it has evened my skintone. But think of all the other great stuff it is doing!

And the best part? The b.b. cream I’m using is very reasonably priced (just $15.97 at Walmart). I think it is worth every penny of that price, and I think you’ll agree if you try it.

Night Cream: Really Necessary?

I was also recently sent one more product from the Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase line that I wanted to highlight, since I think it is totally worth talking about. I’ve been using a special cream at night on my face called Lift & Resculpt Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream. You can certainly get by just fine by using your day time moisturizer at night, but after using this product, I can tell you that athere is something to be said for having a special night cream. At night, your skin gets a long break from makeup and from the sun. This is the perfect time to apply a product that can do some pretty serious work! The Lift & Resculpt cream does just that, working to support natural production of more abundant collagen and elastin fibers. It also contains the Snap-8 Peptide, which is one of the most advanced neuropeptides available and that visably relaxes the appearance of wrinkles caused by repetive facial expressions. Again, you aren’t making all those faces while you are sleeping, and that means that a cream like this can really get to work, delivering noticeable results. Studies have shown this product to visibly reduct wrinkle size by 24% and depth by 27%. Pretty awesome, right? You can purchase this cream for $22.97, which is a bargain for what it does!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader your choice of the b.b. cream or the night cream!

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

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I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions express here are strictly my own. 

 

Hide ‘Em & Hatch ‘Em Eggs: A Perfect Cure for Summer Boredom (Giveaway!)

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Did you hear about the fun product called Hide ‘Em and Hatch ‘Em Eggs? There was quite a bit of buzz about them around Easter. In fact, they were the #1 Easter item on Amazon this year. But I actually think they make a REALLY good summer boredom cure, so I want to suggest that you check them out!

Bunnies in Eggs???

The Hide ’em & Hatch ’em Eggs set comes with 3 eggs that are meant to be submerged in room temperature water, like this:

egg getting ready to hatch bunny in egg

This part is the most difficult for kids, because you have to let the egg sit for at least 6 hours, and in my experience, closer to 12 hours is better. At that point you will start to see cracks in the egg. If you don’t see any cracks at that point, you can also help the egg along a bit by giving it a little squish. The egg will break when you do this.

bunnies in eggs starting to crack

 What your child finds inside is sure to be a surprise!

bunnies in eggs hatching

Hide ’em & Hatch ’em Eggs each contain either a bunny, chicken or duck!

But the fun doesn’t stop after the hatching happens. At that point, you can place your baby animal back into some room temperature water and watch it grow over the next 24 hours. We found that the animal would grow to about twice its size at the time that it hatched. It will also slowly shrink back to its original size after it is out of the water.

After it shrinks back and hardens, your child has a fun new toy to play with!

I think this is a fantastic summer boredom cure because it teaches so many lessons: patience, the basics of how eggs function, what does and does NOT actually come from an egg, and watching things grow. I can see a lot of lesson ideas coming from this activity! The company is also working on some product improvements, such as making the eggs easier to crack open. The newer version should be available in a few months. I always love when a company listens to customer feedback and strives to improve!

If you are like me, and already putting together a summer boredom cure kit, these eggs make a terrific addition!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a set of Hide ‘Em & Hatch ‘Em Eggs!

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links.

ZzzQuil: A Cure for Sleepless Nights

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This post brought to you by ZzzQuil. All opinions are 100% mine.

Lately my husband, Tim, has been having a lot of trouble falling asleep. I can tell you from my own personal experience that when you have children who consistently wake up at 5am (not 5:45, not even 5:30…5:00!!!!), it is MADDENING to be laying in bed with your eyes open at midnight. 

But Tim isn't interested in asking a doctor for prescription sleep medication. He doesn't like to take medication, in general, unless it is really necessary. So when I put a bottle of ZzzQuil that P&G sent to me on his night stand, he was curious, but also reluctant. 

photo ZzzQuilIZEAPostcardpdf-1_zps70314197.jpg

I explained to him that ZzzQuil, which from the maker of Vicks NyQuil, was only for getting to sleep, and not for any other pains or symptoms. The key ingredient is called diphenhydramine HCI, which is not habit forming (this is extremely important to my husband). What it does is reduces the amount of time it takes for you to fall asleep. 

Tim has used the product on two separate occasions, and he said that he did find that it helped him feel sleepy. It didn't keep him from being able to wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom or if one of the girls woke up. But if/when that happened, he was able to go right back to bed. In other words, Tim found that the medicine worked best at getting him to sleep, and didn't keep him knocked out cold for the entire night. For him, that's EXACTLY  what he needs. 

I asked him how he felt when he woke up both times, and he said that he felt just fine, and not "drugged" or overly sleepy. Since we have to hit the ground running with two little girls, there's just no time for one of the grownups to "come out of a fog," so I'm really glad to see that waking up after taking this product wasn't a problem for Tim. 

ZzzQuil is available in either liquid (warming berry flavor) or liqui-caps. Tim tried the liquid version. He's probably prefer the liqui-caps in the future. ZzzQuil is the only sleep aid product on the market available in both liquid and gel cap form. Please note that this product is intended for adults, as well as children ages 12 and up. For more information on ZzzQuil, check out www.zzzquil.com. 

Are you having trouble sleeping? Try out ZzzQuil and see if you are pleased with the results. You can tweet about your experience using the hashtag #ZzzQuilNight. And don't forget to like ZzzQuil on Facebook! 

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How to Print Pictures From Your Phone for FREE

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Today is one of the days that give me pure joy about being a blogger, and specifically, a blogger striving to help busy families find cool products that they NEED. Let me tell you about a service that I just started using myself and that I can’t believe is even real (but it is!).
There is a new monthly subscription service called GrooveBook. Before I even tell you what you get every month, let me tell you the cost: $2.99. That’s it.
Now for what you get every month: up to 100 pictures that you took on your smart phone printed in an adorable keepsake book and delivered right to your front door! The pictures even have perforated edges in case you want to take them out of the book and give them to people (like the grandparents) or have them framed.
So to recap: $2.99 gets you 100 printed and mailed photos that are on your phone just taking up space. For me, personally, I currently have over 800 photos on my phone, and I’ve never known how to print them in an easy and affordable way. So they have just been sitting there. I have newborn pictures of my first child on there for goodness sake! Here’s how I used to get photos off my phone:

1. email myself the picture

2. upload the picture to my desktop computer

3. log into to a printing service like Walgreens and upload the picture

4. request that the picture be printed and then pay for it.

5. drive over to Walgreens to pick up the picture.

I have done this a grand total of 2 times. It is just a pain in the rear! GrooveBook is SO much easier, and it is cheaper, too! To get 100 prints for $3 is 3 cents per print AND you don’t have to go pick them up! I have pretty much never found a better deal on printing pictures.

I ordered my book 7 days ago and it was super easy. It is all done through an app on the phone. As a first-time user, I’d say it took me about 10 minutes to get everything set up and ordered. Next month it won’t take me as long.
Here’s what showed up in the mail 2 days ago!
This is the cute booklet that the pictures are in. 
how to print pictures from your phone I was really excited to see that each picture was stamped with the date, time and location where it was taken. So cool! 
Each picture has perforated edges so you can tear them out and frame them or share them with others! 

Here Comes the FREE Part…

Speaking of next month or any month thereafter, I can cancel my subscription to GrooveBook at any time. There is no commitment to stay on for a certain number of months. And $2.99 is the price every month (yes, that includes shipping!). That isn’t an introductory offer! In fact, I actually have an introductory offer for you: 100% free for your first order! Use the code GROOVEPARENTSNEED to get your first book absolutely free. Woo hoo!!!!!! You will be asked for your credit card information at check out, but you will not be charged thanks to the code above.



So what are you waiting for? Go get your FREE photos printed right now! Don’t forget to use code GROOVEPARENTSNEED at checkout to get your first book 100% free! Let me know if you try it!!!

This post contains affiliate links. I only sign up as an affiliate for something when I am VERY passionate about it and when I’m a customer, myself. 
 

Fantastic Book for Bloggers and Marketers: Return on Relationship

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After my previous post about the fact that I only read one book each year, you will be surprised to hear that in the last 3 days I have read another book, cover to cover. What????!!!!????!!!

Well, it is a fast read, so that really helps. And the topic was super interesting, which is also very helpful. I dedicated some of my blog work hours to reading this book, and that was time well spent. The book is called Return on Relationship, and it is writen by Ted Rubin and Kathryn Rose, who both work at Collective Bias, which just might be my very favorite company to collaborate with on blogging projects.

While this book is ideally suited for businesses, there are still LOTS of nuggets of wisdom for bloggers to glean. Since my professional background has nothing to do with marketing, PR or social media, I am always eager to learn more about the ways people in these industries think (or should think) so that I can be a better compliment to them in my blog work.

Ted and Kathryn emphasize in Return on Relationship that we have sort of come full circle in the type of marketing that works. For a long time it was personal, individual, and relationship-based. Then it became about the spray and pray effect, where information was blasted as far and wide as possible, and customers were told what to think and how to feel.

Social media has turned the Mad Men marketing world on its head, and the smartest brands are devoting a lot of time now to individual relationships and to listening more. Only this time, when a customer is “listened to” (via Twitter or Facebook, for example) hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of other customers are watching.

It is intimate, yet magnified. And that means that you’d better get it right!

Tiffany from Stuff Parents Need reading Return on Relationship

I read Return on Relationship with my highlighter in hand and marked several different things to go back to so I could chew on them more and let that wisdom sink in. For a book that is shy of 130 pages, it packs a lot of great stuff in there. And you can snag it on Amazon now for under $13 (or under $9 if you have a Kindle!). It’s a great read, and you’ll fly through it. If I can read it in this season of my life, you can, too!

I received a complimentary copy of Return on Relationship for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links.