Stuff Parents Need

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

Step2 Deluxe Master Art Desk GIVEAWAY!!!

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Wouldn’t a Step2 Deluxe Master Art Desk look fabulous under your Christmas tree this year? Here’s your chance to win it!!!

Sponsored by:

Mom Blog Society | Geeky Gamer Mom | Mom Does Reviews | Route 249 | Libby’s Library | My Boys and Their Toys | Mommie Again | Ice Fairy’s Treasure Chest | Dirty Truth Reviews | Burning Moons Inside Advice | Spend With Pennies | Freebie Spot | Happy Home and Family | Building Carpenters | Heartfelt Balance Handmade Life | As Mom Sees It | Spoiled Not Rotten |

Event dates: 11/10 – 12/1
Open to World Wide

Prize:

Step2 Deluxe Art Master Desk

Sturdy art desk provides plenty of storage. Features large work surface with molded-in compartments and hinged dry-erase writing surface that wipes clean easily and opensto storage area underneath. Includes a push-button light, and its raised shelf keeps art supplies organized. Item requires 3 “AAA” batteries, not included. Its four large bins hold art supplies within easy reach. The desk’s vertical compartments store coloring books and tablets, while its coloring coordinates with playrooms and bedrooms. Item includes one New Traditions Chair.

For a chance to win, enter via the Rafflecopter below. GOOD LUCK!

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I received no compensation for posting this giveaway and am not responsible for prize fulfillment. 

Modest Style, Modest Price, Fabulous Look: Mikarose Dress Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Recently Tim and I attended out 10 year college reunion. Why yes, as a matter of fact that DID make me feel quite old!

When I was thinking about what I would wear to the reception, I had the following criteria in mind for a new dress:

1. It needed to be affordable. We are a one income family, so heading over to Saks or Nordstrom for the latest and greatest in their fall lines wouldn’t be happening for me.

2. It needed to be comfortable. We would have our two little ones with us, which means at various points throughout the event I’d be chasing after one or wearing the other.

3. It needed to be appropriate for my season of life. As fun as it is to remember my late teens and early twenties, that’s not how old I am anymore. So I shouldn’t try to dress like it for the reunion. At the same time, I didn’t want to wear something that looks like I might be attending my 50th reunion!

Mikarose was an excellent resource for me in choosing the perfect dress, which you will see in this family shot below:

I’m wearing the Hannah dress, which is smartly priced at just $44.99. And can I point out that this dress has POCKETS?! Best. Design. EVER!!!

The color is on trend, the neckline is flattering but not revealing, and the overall look is modest but not frumpy. This is now my go-to dress for any event. I can easily dress it up with a shawl or dress it down with some riding boots.

Incidentally, I know the background of this picture may look a bit boring, but we are standing in front of the entrance to my dorm hall from freshman year. Tim and I used to linger outside this door after long walks around campus and try to squeeze in  just a few more minutes together before we went our separate ways…and many of those times were before we even started dating each other and were just good friends. Having a picture of what we have grown into (a family of 4!) at the place where it all began is really special.

If you are looking for something special to add to your wardrobe, perhaps for an upcoming event, and you have some of the same criteria as me, I want to strongly encourage you to check out Mikarose! You just might find the perfect option. And if you are lucky, maybe it will have pockets, too!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $50 gift certificate to Mikarose!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty List and Giveaway

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It’s time, people! Holiday shopping is happening NOW!!! And the best retailers, like Melissa & Doug, aren’t waiting for Black Friday or Cyber Monday to hook you up with great deals! Melissa & Doug is operating with the spirit of giving in mind right now, and is giving away a gift from their Terrific Twenty list every single day for 20 days!! Woo hoo!

Entering is very simple: just go to the Melissa & Doug Facebook page and get yourself entered! It’s really easy, and hey, someone’s going to win. I think it should be you!

And sit tight, because Stuff Parents Need is going to be giving away an item from the Terrific Twenty list, as well!!!

I will be receiving an item from the Terrific Twenty list as a thank you for alerting you to this fantastic giveaway and for hosting a giveaway at Stuff Parents Need. Melissa & Doug rocks my socks off, and all opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Jumbo Safari Counters For Early Math Skills: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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In the world of parenting little ones, it’s definitely a jungle out there.

Sometimes, literally.

We recently welcomed a herd of 30 little creatures into our home. Fortunately, they all fit inside a bin in the closet! These are the JumboSafari Counters from Learning Resources and they are fun AND very functional. You can use these little critters to help with color sorting, counting, addition and subtraction, and other early math skills. You can also use them to create safari playscapes!

The Jumbo Safari Counters are a reasonable $19.99 and would make a wonderful holiday gift for a child in the 2-5 range. Learning Resources has this product as well as HUNDREDS of other really great options available right now. Don’t miss out on their great holiday deals, which they are starting now (no need to wait for Cyber Monday to find awesome deals!). I recommend following them on Facebook so you can stay in the know about their latest sales!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a set of Jumbo Safari Counters from Learning Resources!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

 

Cuteheads Clothing (Made in the USA!) Review and Outfit GIVEAWAY!!!

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We have selected Montessori education as the path for our little ones from the toddler years all the way through kindergarten. We love the philosophy behind it, and we appreciate the emphasis that is placed on independence. This was not something emphasized in my home growing up, and even as an adult I find myself too quick, sometimes, to rely on help from others rather than trying to solve a problem myself. I want Darah and Layah to be confident about their own abilities to solve problems and to take care of themselves.

Today I’m featuring a new clothing company called Cuteheads (products made in the USA!) that emphasizes allowing children to dress themselves. The clothes are easy to take on and off and can mix and match easily with one another to create multiple outfit combinations that kids will love and that moms and dads will approve!

Darah is really enjoying the Forget Me Not dress in Lavender (ARV $36). It is sized generously which means that it is quite easy for her to get on all by herself. It also means that she’ll probably still fit into it even after she outgrows most of her other 3T items. That’s a plus for me!

In addition to selecting her own hair bows (hey, why have just one when you can have two?!), she also identified the matching Little Legs leggings in lavender (ARV $16) in her pants drawer and made the match herself. High five, Darah!

Darah has been pairing both the dress and the pants with other items in her wardrobe, as well. The pieces are popular with her because she likes the colors, but more importantly, because they are comfortable and she knows she can get them on all by herself.

Cuteheads has a great selection of tops, bottoms, tunics and dresses for your little girl to mix and match. Definitely check them out and consider some of their pieces for holiday gifts this year!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an outfit of their choice from Cuteheads!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

How to Wear a Pearl Bracelet: PurePearls.com GIVEAWAY!!!

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Am I the only one out there who tends to think of “ladies who lunch” when they thinking of pearl jewelry? Pearls are definitely a classic, but they can also get a reputation as being old-fashioned or perhaps even outdated, especially when you think about the variety of jewelry options available on the market today. Bold colors, big designs and unique looks can leave a strand of pearls feeling a bit behind-the-times.

But I want to encourage you to NOT banish your pearl bracelets or pearl necklaces to the back of your jewelry armoire. There’s a place for these beauties of the sea, to be sure!

Today I want to showcase a beautiful pearl bracelet from PurePearls.com. First and foremost, this bracelet isn’t white or cream in color. These pearls are a glossy black, and depending on what I’m wearing, they can look purple or even a bit green. They are extremely versatile and their nontraditional look makes them absolutely perfect for today’s jewelry trend, which is bold and colorful.

This toggle bracelet is from the PureHearts collection. Look at that adorable heart-shaped toggle! This helps the bracelet feel a bit more young and fun, and less stuffy, which I also really like. The design also makes it easy to put on the bracelet all by yourself!

Here’s how I’m wearing my fabulous black pearl bracelet:

I’ve got my lovely pearls paired with a sterling sliver Tiffany&Co. bracelet that I’ve owned for several years, and I also paired it with a bracelet I purchased from an antique shop. It’s costume jewelry from the 1950s. What a fun combination these 3 pieces make! I find this combination to be very “me.” It’s funky and fun, but is definitely still sophisticated. That’s the way I like to wear my jewelry.

What about you? How are you using your pearl bracelets these days? I’d love to hear if your pearls (earrings, bracelets or necklaces) are currently in rotation for you, or if you are having any trouble figuring out how to wear them in this current “bigger is better” jewelry season.

Win it!: Just in time for the holidays, one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win the same pearl bracelet I reviewed! Yay!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

 

 

Magic Moves Electric Wand Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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If you have a preschooler, then you know that those little ones need time each day to MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!!! We live in a part of the country with mild weather, so the number of days that outside play are an option are many. But even we get those rainy days, and I suspect that during the winter there will be some days when it is just too darn cold to play outside.

And on those days, I’ll be SO glad we have the Magic Moves Electric Wand, available through Educational Insights.

This fun device was a hit from the second it came out of its package. It is a microphone with two different buttons (one for play, and one for repeat). It has 26 different colorful, twinkling light shows that encourage kids to get moving. And it has 90 different commands for fun motions to make. That’s a lot of moving around, folks!

The repeat button is very handy because there are certain moves that the kids are going to like so much that they will want to do them again. We particularly enjoy, “STOMP like a dinosaur!”

This is a very fun game that can be played most anywhere you are and you can play for just a minute or two, or go as long as your child wants. The microphone will turn itself off after 2 minutes of nonuse.

I have really enjoyed playing this with Darah. Sometimes I run out of ideas for fun things to pretend to do, and the Magic Moves Electric Wand helps me think of things we can pretend to be, and helps me demonstrate different fun motions to make. I very highly recommend this toy for any child with energy that needs to get used up on a daily basis (so basically, every kid!). You can purchase Magic Moves for just $19.99.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Magic Moves microphone from Educational Insights!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

Hipkiddo Intelligently Hip Cloth Diapers

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There tend to be 3 complaints that cloth diapering parents consistently have about using fluff instead of disposables.

1. All that extra laundry

2. The up front cost of reusable diapers

3. Getting clothes to fit around that fluffy bottom

Hipkiddo, a Canadian cloth diaper company that is mom-owned, can’t solve problem #1 for you, but it does aim to address problems 2 and 3 with its Intelligently Hip diapers. They are among the most slim fitting cloth diapers I have seen (and I’ve seen A LOT, people!) but without sacrificing functionality, and certainly without sacrificing cuteness.

I mean, just look at this:

Hipkiddo moo moo diaper

This pocket diaper comes with a 3 layer microfiber insert. I made a little swooning sound when I saw how thick it was, and yet, how the diaper still seemed to offer quite a slim fit.

The diaper has a double row snap system that comes across the entire front of the diaper, which makes it easier to fit smaller babies. I have found it to be quite easy to find the right fit for Layah, and we have not had any leaks or any other problems so far. It’s been one of the diapers that I reach for first when the laundry is dry!

Hipkiddo also strives to keep the cost down, and priced the diaper at an affordable $14.00! That’s up to $15 cheaper than some of the other diapers in my stash, but it performs just as well.

hipkiddo intelligently hip diaper

And it gets even better, folks. This company has a heart for children, and donates cloth diapers as well as part of its proceeds to Seeds of Change children’s orphanage in Zambia. Every purchase you make not only helps to reduce your own environmental impact, but also gives back to children in need. That’s pretty hip, if you ask me!

The Intelligently Hip diaper is one size and fits from 8-35 pounds. It has a waterproof PUL lining, so it does not require a cover. It comes in 6 colors and one print.

Buy it!: In need of an affordable diaper that isn’t bulky? Hipkiddo has got you covered! Purchase Hipkiddo diapers directly from the website!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an Intelligently Hip diaper from Hipkiddo in your choice of color!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

How I Work Out From Home and Make Every Second Count: Half Hour Power Review

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Back in July I realized that the baby weight from baby #2 was no longer coming off and that I’d hit a standstill. I couldn’t simply rely on breastfeeding to take it off and I needed to start exercising.

So after a LOOOOOONG hiatus from the gym, I went back. And it was a very good thing, indeed! I didn’t love every minute while I was there, but I always felt good afterward. I started to get in the habit of going and I was amazed to watch myself be able to run longer and longer distances on the treadmill. Just to give you an idea, when I was starting out, running for 30 seconds straight was KILLER for me. And pretty soon I was running 2 1/2 minute stretches with 90 second breaks in between. Hooray for progress!

And then the fall happened. No, not an injury. I’m talking about the season. Back to school. Back to Junior League responsibilities. Back to a more intense schedule at my husband’s work. Before I knew it getting to the gym felt like its own Olympic sport and for a variety of reasons, I just didn’t fight hard enough for myself and started going less and less. It was a discouraging situation, but it was also difficult to figure out a solution in light of all the constraints on my time.

Then I heard about an at-home workout system called Half Hour Power that received the Parent Tested Parent Approved Award (this is a very difficult award to earn and in my opinion indicates that a product or service is truly amazing). It is a HIGHLY portable system that involves a set of resistance bands for one seriously intense workout right in your own home.

I do my Half Hour Power routines in my living room, usually with Layah watching me from her jumperoo. It makes her giggle to watch mommy moving. I absolutely adore that I can squeeze in a workout any time at all, day or night, without having to make arrangements to get to the gym.

Check out my video where you’ll learn more about why I believe this system is particularly good for new moms (although of course it can be used by anyone!) and see a few examples of exercises I do with the resistance bands.

 

The Half Hour Power Adult Package Plus is currently on sale for $99.95 and it comes with a complete set of bands, as well as the door anchor, two awesome DVDs to help you get started and to use during your workouts. Additionally, you get access to some wonderful streaming videos online for even more routines. I really love this as it keeps me from getting bored with any routines and gives me something new and fresh to try.

 I have been really impressed with the quality of these workouts, the ease of setting up my “home gym” and the fact that every second really counts when I am doing the different exercises. I get a lot of bang for the buck, so to speak, with Half Hour Power. I will continue to use this system regularly. And that baby weight is coming off again, by the way! 🙂

I should also mention that my husband, who does not need to lose any weight but who has been looking for a way to do some strength training, is also enjoying Half Hour Power. These resistance bands can definitely help you tone your muscles!

If you are looking for an exercise program that doesn’t involve large pieces of equipment and that packs a serious punch with every move, Half Hour Power is what you are looking for. I highly recommend it!

I received complimentary products for review purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own based on my experience using Half Hour Power.