Stuff Parents Need

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

Wonderful Fairy Video: The Fairies – Fairy Dancing

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Australia has done it again! First they brought us The Wiggles, and now they are bring us The Fairies! We recently received a fun DVD from NCircle Entertainment called The Fairies – Fairy Dancing. It is about Harmony and Rhapsody, two fairies who love to have fun together. In this DVD, they spend the day learning all kinds of dance styles (jazz, tap, tango and ballet just to name a few!).

Darah is currently going through a phase where she loves to dress up in anything twirly. She loves the costumes that Harmony and Rhapsody wear, and she usually asks to put on a tutu and some wings while she watches. I have also found that she’ll usually try to dance right along with the fairies while she watches. It’s a cute DVD and I like that it gets Darah moving around!

Perhaps the best thing, though, is the price. It is just $6.99! Can’t beat that! The DVD runs for 60 minutes and has plenty of music and laughter. It’s a terrific buy!

 Edit: This giveaway is now closed. 

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Fairies: Fairy Dancing DVD!

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Power Up Your Morning with belVita: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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In my house, we appreciate having a variety of options for our morning meal (which we NEVER skip!). Depending on how much time we have on a weekday morning, we go with anything from cereal to pancakes and scrambled eggs.

Some mornings we really are in a bit of a rush, though (on rare occasions, Darah will sleep in until about 30 minutes before we have to leave the house….the mad rush is worth the extra quiet as Tim and I get ready!). On days like this, we need something fast, but I’m not interested in reaching for something like a Pop Tart (ok, I AM interested because they taste like candy, but I’m not going to choose it!).

Kraft has just come out with a brand new breakfast item that has been terrific for these kind of days. It’s called belVita, and it is a package of breakfast biscuits that you can eat at your table, in your car or even at your desk. They come in three great flavors: blueberry, apple cinnamon and golden oat. Blueberry is my personal favorite, though I would purchase any of these flavors, because they are all quite good.

Each package of belVita breakfast biscuits is packed with 18-20 grams of whole grains. They are also a good source of fiber and B vitamins. When paired with a piece of fruit and a serving of dairy they make for a balanced breakfast.

What I find interesting about this product is the science behind it. It has been specially developed to release carbohydrates regularly and continuously throughout the morning so that you receive sustained energy. Pretty cool, huh?

I think belVita biscuits are delicious and very convenient. And I love that they are good for you, too! They don’t have any high fructose corn syrup and no partially hydrogenated oils.  Look for them in the cracker/cookie aisle of your favorite grocery store!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win 3 boxes of belVita breakfast biscuits (one of each flavor).

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Maternity Monday: Itzbeen Timer Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Lately I’ve been reading a book all about breastfeeding. It’s really helping refresh my memory on just exactly what it takes to feed a newborn…and it’s a LOT of work. You have to feed the newborn a minimum of 8 times each day, round the clock. I can tell you from experience just how easy it is to lose track of the number of times you have fed the baby, or when, exactly, they last ate, or how long it has been since their last diaper change, or even how long it has been since their last dose of medicine if they happen to be taking anything.

With Darah, we had an old-school pen and paper system, and it got the job done, but we would still sometimes forget to stumble over to our dresser and write things down in the log, especially in the middle of the night when the last thing we wanted to do was turn on the lamp. We would promise ourselves that we’d write it down in the morning. You can probably guess how often that actually happened, though.

While it isn’t the end of the world to miss a log entry, keeping up with this sort of thing really is extremely helpful. If you are feeling worried about your baby’s milk intake, for example, you need your log to determine how many wet diapers she has had in the last 24 hours, as this will help you know if she’s eating often enough. So that log really is quite important.

And now there’s a way to make keeping track of it all SO much easier. It’s called the Itzbeen baby care timer, and it makes recording all these events as easy as the push of a button. One handy little device (that can clip onto your belt loops for easy travel around the house!) can keep track of the following:

  • changing time
  • feeding time
  • sleep/awake time
  • one more timer for whatever you need (such as medication time)
  • nursing reminder (help you keep track of the side you nursed on last)
Trying to keep up with all of this in your head will NEVER work, and keeping track on paper also isn’t ideal, especially in the middle of the night. What makes the Itzbeen timer perfect for any time of the day or night is the fact that it has a display back light so you can easily read and record in the dark. Hooray!
Yes, people have been caring for babies since before technology entered the world, and they managed to get through it. But I’m telling you, this technological innovation is going to help Tim and me not feel quite so loopy, and that is worth a whole heck of a lot!

Buy it!: The Itzbeen timer retails for $24.99 and can be purchased at many online retailers or at a location near you. For a complete list of place to buy, click here.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your own Itzbeen Timer!

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Chuggington Presents Brewster’s Little Helper: DVD Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Toot! Toot! Everyone’s favorite train show, Chuggington, has recently released a new DVD, and Darah loves it! It’s called Brewster’s Little Helper. Brewster is a trainee (get it?!) at the station and this show is all about learning responsibility. The timing for this message is really great for Darah. Already she is in charge of feeding the cat, and we are working on having her always put her dirty clothes in the hamper. Pretty soon we are going to have her start setting her place at the table. Since her responsibilities at home are ramping up, it is great for her to have other examples of people (or trains, in this case) taking on more work and how they handle it, and how to ask for help when it is needed.

This DVD actually has 6 episodes on it, and it retails for $14.98 (but is currently on sale for just $9.99 at Amazon!). I think it is a great value and has great lessons that you can discuss with your kids.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Chuggington – Brewster’s Helper!

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Handbag Revolution: Miche Bags Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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One of my favorite things about running this blog is when I stumble upon a brilliant product concept and have the opportunity to share it with you. Today I’m going to show you a completely different way to approach buying and using your handbags. I think this idea is so stinkin’ smart!

Check out the company Miche. This is a company where you can sign up to be a consultant (in a niche that is certainly not saturated….GREAT opportunity!) and you can also sign up to host a party for you and your friends and get some great discounts.

But what is a Miche bag? Well, Miche bags offer a way for you to very easily change the look of your purse without having to fully invest in several purses each season. You start out with a base bag in the size and shape that you like. Currently, Miche offers 4 different sizes of Miche bags, and their most popular base (the classic) comes in 3 different color choices. The price of the base is $21.95-$44.95, depending on the size you get.

Now comes the really fun part. Miche offers a large number of shells that fit over your base bag, and this allows you to change purses very easily! This is a FABULOUS thing, in my opinion, because even though I own quite a few purses, it is very rare for me to actually take the time to switch them out. I think of it only when I’m about to walk out the door, and by that time, it’s just too late. With the Miche bag, it takes less than a minute to make the switch, so I’ve been switching out my look quite a bit, lately!

Additionally, as someone whose closet space is already at a premium, I LOVE how little space the shells take up in your closet. They also don’t take up as much space in your bank account, because instead of buying several $50-$70 purses (that’s my typical purse price range….I know some women spend FAR more), you just buy one base and then as many shells as you need. The shells range in price from $17.95 – $49.95, depending on what you select.

Check out my super quick video below where I show you just how quickly I can change out my Miche bag looks!

Miche bags save you money, save you space and save you time. What’s  not to love about this concept???

Win it!: One extremely lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Miche bag base and shell of your choice!!!! Squeal!!!!

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Preparing for a Sibling: One Special Day Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Darah and I have been having frequent conversations about her baby sister, and how it won’t be too long before she is out of my tummy and living with us. I have started to feel a bit worried about how Darah is going to feel when she realizes just how much time mommy has to spend with the new baby, and I’ve been trying to explain to her that little babies need a lot of help.

 

Disney Publishing has just released a new picture book that is really helping us talk more with Darah about the upcoming changes in our house. It is called, One Special Day (A Story for Big Brothers and Sisters) by Lola Schaeffer.  In this sweet story, a little boy with lots of personality is celebrated throughout the book, as are all his wonderfully wild characteristics (page after page demonstrates all the ways he is similar to various animals by character…it’s really precious!). Then it talks about the day he gets a new sibling, and how it gives him a brand new personality trait; he becomes gentle!

The author of the book has weighed in on just how this book helps expecting parents with older children. She says, “Preparing older siblings for the birth of a new baby is always a bit tricky. As mothers we don’t want to spend too much time talking about the coming baby because we don’t want to send the wrong message that this will be a major disruption of everyone’s life at home. On the other hand, we want to ease our other children into the fact that the family dynamics will be changing. I’m hoping ONE SPECIAL DAY is a playful, yet comforting, book that will ignite questions from the older siblings. I believe those conversations that begin with the reading of a good book are wonderful opportunities to allay fears and build relationships that will help bridge any “new” event in a child’s life.”

I believe Lola is right. Darah frequently asks to read this particular book and she asks questions about her baby sister and even about herself and how she will act when baby sister arrives. We are so glad to have this book and I highly recommend it!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a signed copy of the book for your own collection!

 

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Time to Stock Up on Glasses for the Family! Buy 2 Get 1 Free Offer!

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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Zenni Optical (also known as the #1 online prescription eyeglasses site!) is already a great place to pick up really affordable eyewear. They are the place online that offers the incredible $6.95 prescription eyeglasses.

No, that isn’t a typo.

And Zenni Optical doesn’t only offer reading glasses or other simple prescriptions. If you need bifocals or progressive eyeglasses, or if you want your glasses to have a tint to them, Zenni Optical can meet all of these needs!

I have found that it is AWESOME to have more than one pair of glasses on hand. There’s a lot of peace of mind in knowing that you have more than one pair of glasses in the correct prescription, should you lose (or step on) your favorite pair. The low prices of Zenni Optical also give you the opportunity to try frames that might be a little on the bold side, or glasses that seem extra fancy. You can have several pair that you switch out according to your outfit or mood!

So, even though Zenni Optical already has prices that are unbeatable, they are currently running a promotion that makes shopping with them even MORE exciting: Buy 2 Get 1 Free!!!! This is an very cost effective way to enhance your own wardrobe with a selection of new specs, or to outfit the whole family with new eyewear, and at a price you will totally love! What are you waiting for? Get over to Zenni Optical and pick out some cute frames!

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Spring Has Sprung with Happy Scarf: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Spring has sprung, no doubt about it! The trees down here are blooming like crazy. The temperature is quickly rising. And my allergies are going crazy! I guess that’s the price some of us have to pay for such a beautiful awakening of nature. It’s worth it…especially if you have some allergy medication!

I have often heard other women complain about “transition” time for their wardrobes. It can be really tricky to know how to dress when it is 45 degrees when you leave for work and 79 degrees by the time you come back home.

This is when a scarf can be your wardrobe’s very best friend! I have been wearing scarves several times each week for the past few weeks to help warm up or even cool down some of my outfits. They can bring a pop of bright colors to an outfit that looks decidedly “winter.” They can also provide a little extra warmth to some of your spring pieces that are still a little bit tough to wear for the first part of the day.

Happy Scarf is an online company that I have reviewed before (their scarves held up BEAUTIFULLY all winter, by the way!). They have an AWESOME selection of scarves in all sorts of fabrics and beautiful colors and prints. And their prices are excellent! Be sure to check out their current $12 scarf clearance section…I spotted some SERIOUS steals in there!


Happy Scarf also has a line of brand new arrivals, just in time for spring. So much pretty!!! I have been sporting two of their newest looks and have been oh so very pleased. My first pick from their collection, in honor of my college sorority (Chi Omega; the owl is the mascot) is this fabulous owl scarf. It is a hoot! (hee hee!). I wear LOTS of purple, and I’ve been using this scarf with some of my winter purple looks to help give them a brighter, happier look.

The second scarf I’ve been sporting (I’m actually wearing it as I type this) was one that was a bit riskier for me….I usually shy away from bold prints on scarves, but I felt that needed to change for spring. So I went for the poppy flower scarf. I AM IN LOVE!!!!! Why have I been so darn shy about going for a bold scarf? It adds SO much to my outfits. For example, today I am wearing a shirt that is a very pretty blue color, but it honestly just looks like a tent on me (I’m super pregnant, remember?). When adding this scarf to the outfit, it changes my whole attitude, and it brings in some new colors while complimenting the blue I’m already wearing. I don’t feel ugly in this shirt anymore, and that’s a new feeling!

Are you in need of something to brighten up the last of your winter wear? Or do you need something to bring a little extra warmth as you break out your spring collection? Then you need a Happy Scarf (or two, or three…)! I highly recommend this company. The quality is great, the looks are on trend and the prices are nice!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the scarf of your choice from the New Arrivals collection!

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Dr. Praeger’s Frozen Food Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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I try really hard not to buy very much frozen food (except ice cream….just can’t limit that purchase!). The reason I avoid it is because most of it LOADED with sodium and preservatives and calories and all sorts of other stuff that my (not so youthful) body just doesn’t need.

But let me tell you, there are some days when I seriously need dinner to be effortless. Even more effortless than getting in my car and picking something up. I’m talking open a box, put food in the microwave/oven, remove and eat. That simple.

There are some great options out there for when you need something super convenient but don’t want to sacrifice nutrition (or flavor!). I have just tried out a brand that is new to me called Dr. Prager’s, and I’m really impressed with it!

Dr. Praeger’s products are all-natural, low in cholestoral and low in fat. And they are made with the finest products available. They also have options that go outside what you traditionally find in the frozen food aisle.

Want to see how I put my two free product coupons to work? I created a Middle Eastern feast for a busy weekday lunch. What a treat!

The Bombay Veggie Burgers were a great choice for spicing up what might otherwise have been just a boring sandwich. These were packed with flavor and had a unique taste; it’s not something I can easily replicate myself, so that was fun. I paired the burgers with the Spinach Pancakes, which I found to be AWESOME with a little dollop of sour cream. Overall, this was an outstanding meal. It felt like getting takeout, only without having to go pick anything up. It was super yummy!

Check out the selection of products made by Dr. Praeger’s. I think you will be extremely impressed with the variety of yummy and good for you foods that they have available!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win two free product coupons from Dr. Praeger’s!

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