Stuff Parents Need

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

Funducate Educational Curriculum for the Home: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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My mom used to have lots of workbooks for me when I was in preschool and kindergarten. I remember working at an advanced level, doing second grade workbooks when I was maybe 5. I’m not telling you this to try to brag on my childhood self, but rather to show that most children can perform and learn beyond what you might expect of them if given the right tools and encouragement. Kids are little sponges, and they will soak up what is around them, whether it be amazing educational information or just junk on tv. Either way, they are paying close attention.

I’ve been on the lookout for some supplemental early childhood curriculum that I can have at home and use with Darah in the afternoon time between her nap and when her dad gets home from work. There are MANY resources out there, but I was drawn to a company that has won the Parent Tested Parent Approved Award, which I know is tough to earn!

Allow me to introduce to you Funducate, a company run by a husband and wife team, is focused on improving literacy in America through not only reading, but also singing and art. I am a big fan of approaching learning from many different angles, so this style really appealed to me! We’ve been working through lots of great products all about the ABCs. We have a wonderful coloring book that has a page for each letter. Darah is really enjoying that. But my favorite item is the My ABC Journal, which is spiral-bound and contains all those same great coloring pages along with pages to practice writing each letter! Darah is a bit young for the writing aspect, but I’ll be so glad to have this on hand when she is ready. I will likely photocopy these pages so that Darah can practice multiple times. I like that they show both upper-case and lower-case letters for practice and that the lines for practicing are wide. This is such a great resource, and it is easy to take on road trips, too!

Buy it!: Funducate has a variety of great resources that encourage literacy in many fun ways. The My ABC Coloring Book is a great buy at $5.50 and the My ABC Journal is well worth its reasonable $12.50 price tag. Be sure to check out their resources that help prepare kids for learning cursive, too!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a Funducate My ABC Journal and My ABC Coloring Book (ARV $18).

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Fun, Affordable Gifts for Men at ABC Neckties (Review and GIVEAWAY!!!)

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I used to have the philosophy that I would only buy presents for other people if I liked those gifts myself. I understand where I was coming from, not wanting to spend money on something that I personally thought was silly or uninteresting, but I’m proud to say that I’ve matured since that time and now have a different perspective. I’ve realized that giving someone a gift is really all about celebrating that person, and part of that is celebrating the kinds of things that bring them joy. When you give a gift that makes someone smile, that’s a gift coming right back to you…it doesn’t matter if what you gave is not something that you would have put on your wish list, too!

One of my brothers-in-law LOVES to have a lot of ties. But not just any old tie will do for him. He loves to have novelty ties (think cartoon characters, funny sayings, etc.). I’ll just come right out and tell you that novelty ties are my least favorite kind of tie, with bow ties coming in a very close second. But you know what? I’m not wearing them, so who cares what I think?! My brother-in-law lost almost all of his worldly possessions in a house fire this past April, and among his losses were all those crazy ties that made him smile. I knew that I wanted to get him a really fun tie and I knew exactly where to look.

I went to ABC Neckties, which is an online tie mega store! They have every kind of tie for every kind of style. Tim owns a tie from the company and he looks SO sharp in it! I knew that I would be able to get something of good quality by going back. This time, I was looking in the novelty tie section, which as you have read is a new adventure for me.

You know what? Once I made peace with buying a novelty tie and just thought about my brother-in-law and what he might like, I had a ton of fun picking out something! I ended up with this trumpet tie. It was priced very nicely, at just $10! That’s a steal, people! I’ve received the tie and already wrapped it up. The quality is excellent and the tie is bold and bright. He’s going to love it, I just know it.

ABC Neckties is such an excellent resource for gifts for men. I love their patterns, their prices and their speedy service. We will definitely shop there again! They also just launched a very helpful page on how to tie a tie. Definitely check it out if you need to brush up on your skills in this area or if you want to learn a new style (they have 15 different ways!).

Win it!: Just in time for the holidays, one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $25 gift certificate to ABC Neckties! Yay!

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Totsy Review and $15 Credit GIVEAWAY!!!

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Have you subscribed to the daily deal site Totsy yet? If not, I want to STRONGLY encourage you to get signed up! You will get an email once a day that is chock-full of AMAZING deals for babies, toddlers, kids and even moms. The deals can be anything from swaddling blankets to formal attire for little ones, to maternity tops to organic skincare products. And I can tell you this: the deals are ALWAYS really good!And that’s coming from a bargain shopper! It is not at all uncommon to see merchandise priced at 50-80% off!

Totsy offers the type of merchandise that you are likely to find in upscale stores like Saks, but they have slashed the prices so that what you will spend on them is more like what you would spend at a place like Target. Gotta love that! I have placed several orders with Totsy over the past year, and have scored some amazing birthday and Christmas gifts for Darah, as well as for her cousins. It feels so good to be able to buy such quality merchandise without busting my budget! Totsy has also been a WONDERFUL resource for buying Darah’s shoes. I think you all know how painful it can be to spend $30 on shoes that you know your little one will outgrow in 3 months. When I can get those same quality shoes for $11 on Totsy, it doesn’t make my head spin with frustration. Thank you, Totsy!

Here you will see Darah’s latest Totsy find: super cute pj’s! I love that Totsycan help us find pieces of clothing just brimming with personality and pizazz. It isn’t hard to find these types of clothes in upscale department stores or boutiques, but there’s no way I can afford to walk out the door with them. Thanks to Totsy, I can “splurge” every once in a while and get the cuteness I want at the price I can handle!

Win it!: I’ve got a $15 credit to Totsy for one of my readers today! What can you buy with it? The possibilities are nearly endless!

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Affordable, Fashion-Forward Maternity Wear: Kiki’s Fashions Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Welcome to Maternity Monday, where I highlight products and services for the expecting mom and family.

Today I want to talk about maternity clothes. My thought on them is that I don’t want to spend a lot of money on something that will only be worn for a few seasons (if you don’t outgrow them before the end of the pregnancy!). But since I don’t want to spend a lot of money, I also find that my maternity wardrobe tends to be quite sparse, especially as compared with my typical wardrobe. So, I learned the hard way last time around that even though I am budget-conscious about my clothing, I need to balance that with being fashion-conscious. If you have to wear something constantly, it had better be cute! With my first pregnancy, it was price alone that drove my purchase decisions, and as a result, I had clothes that I genuinely wanted to burn by the time I was 9 months pregnant. They were ugly, falling apart and I had no choice but to keep on wearing them.

This time around, I’m taking a more balanced approach. Inexpensive is very good, but if it is cheap and not cute, then it’s a waste of money, no matter how little it costs! Fortunately, thanks to other fabulous bloggers, I have learned about a wonderful online shop called Kiki’s Fashions. This is a store that offers very trendy maternity clothes, and the price tags are very much in line with what you would find at places like Old Navy or Target. Woo hoo!

I had the opportunity to try a long-sleeve maternity top from their fall line and it is, without question, my very favorite top to wear. I love that it has stripes on the top, which are so hot this fall, but that the stripes draw your attention away from the bump and the lower part of the shirt is in a slimming black. Yes, I know, there will come a point in the pregnancy where all the black in the world won’t help, but for now, I really appreciate having my bump not emphasized. The top is also very comfy to wear, and I’ve found it to be a piece that I can dress up with jewelry and black pants, or dress down with a pair of jeans. Basically, it’s perfect! The price tag is also perfect, at $22.99. That’s FANTASTIC!

Kiki’s Fashions is currently offering 25% off store-wide for all orders over $75. That makes it a great time to get stocked up on super cute cheap maternity clothes! I’m thinking about ordering this maternity coat. It’s super cute and only $35.99!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $25 gift certificate to Kiki’s Fashions so that you can pick out the perfect pregnancy look for yourself or an expecting friend!

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Independent International Children’s Publishers That Will Blow You Away (Review and GIVEAWAY!!!)

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If there’s one thing that I’m totally fine over-buying for Darah, it’s books. We try not to go too bananas on toys for her, but books….let’s just say she has as many as her father and I do, combined!

Books are a gateway to lands of adventure and imagination. They are filled with new words, interesting ideas and hilarious scenarios, all waiting to be enjoyed by young ones (and the young at heart!). Reading books with Darah is an absolute joy, and I have every intention of continuing to “spoil” her with reading material. I pray she will continue to enjoy it as much as she does now, and hopefully even more once she is reading on her own.

You may think that I don’t have any criteria for purchasing books and that I’ll buy anything and everything. Not so, my friends! I especially look out for work that is visually stunning, teaches lessons that will inspire conversation, and show people (or gendered animals) in roles outside of traditional stereotypes. Today I’m excited to introduce some international children’s publishing houses that have all of these options and more!

First up, Lemniscaat. This is a Dutch publishing house that is particularly known for its wordless picture books. Yes, I said wordless. A book doesn’t have to writing in it in order to get your imagination going! Our top pick: The Yellow Balloon. In this work, you watch a yellow balloon float all over the world, getting a bird’s (er, balloon’s) eye view of our gorgeous planet and its inhabitants. You will definitely see some interesting things on this adventure. When we read this wordless books, we spend 10-15 minutes with it, easily!

Next, we have Floris Books. This publishing company is from Scotland. They have a wonderful variety of traditional and new-to-you tales that you will love. Our top pick: Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This is Darah’s first copy of this beloved tale, and it is wonderfully told and beautifully illustrated!

We also got to review AMMO Books. This might well be my very favorite American publishing house! I’ve reviewed some of their books before (check out my review here) and I was every bit as impressed with what I saw from them this time around. We checked out this imaginary castle giant floor puzzle, and it was simply stunning. I can’t wait to put this puzzle together again and again with Darah over the next few years! It has 24 pieces, so it is appropriate for ages 2 and up.

Last, but certainly not least, we checked out some reading material all the way from New Zealand. Gecko Press is the publishing house, and it is FABULOUS!!! Their tagline is, “curiously good books,” and I’d say that’s exactly right. These books draw you in from cover to cover with funny, quirky tales that will make you laugh and also make you think. Our top pick: Odd Bird Out. This is about a raven who just doesn’t fit in with the typical flock. He loves to sing and to dress in colorful clothes. He eventually has to leave his home town because he isn’t accepted there. But the bird finds his bliss and his acceptance later in the story. I won’t spoil the end for you, but I will say that this book totally blew my mind with how many thought-provoking topics it uncovered and how many really good conversations it is going to inspire in my house about being different and why it is important to celebrate our differences, rather than try to hide them.  This might actually be my favorite book of all the books we reviewed, and that’s really saying something, because we were sent MANY treasures!

Win it!: I want you to have overflowing bookshelves in your home, so one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win an assortment of books from Gecko Press! AWESOME!!!!

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Alphabotz Phonics Flash Cards Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Was I the only pre-school kid who would be sent to the babysitter’s house with workbooks and flash cards? I remember so vividly working on my letters and numbers, and even my Presidents of the United States while The Price is Right was on in the background. To tell you the truth, I rather enjoyed my material, especially my flash cards.

Darah has had various flash cards since she was a newborn. Animals were her first cards, and she has really just now started to outgrow them. We’ve also go lots of cards to help her practice reading, letters, numbers and basic addition. And now she’s got a new addition to her collection, and they are pretty incredible.

Introducing Alphabotz, flash cards that have won over 12 national awards!!! These flashcards include 46 oversized robot character cards that introduce not only letters, but also sounds to kids. They are a fantastic tool to help kids get a jump start on reading. They are very sturdy, and I love their large size. They come in a very sturdy box, as well (many flash cards I have seen come in super flimsy boxes that get busted within a few days, if not a few minutes, or being opened, so this is a big plus!).

Each card in the Alphabotz line has a variety of things on it to hold your child’s interest and to encourage discussion. Darah likes to ask about the different robots, so I read to her about their different strengths and abilities, as that is included on the cards. I also work in some information about the sounds that we need to make in order to say the words associated with the pictures. She repeats after me almost every time!

Alphabotz phonics cards are a really fantastic option for pre-readers. We’ll be using these for the next few  years and I am certain that they are going to give Darah the tools she needs for success once she is ready to become a full-fledged reader. Alphabotz cards are available for $19.95 on Amazon or you can get them right now from Alphabotz.com for just $11.97. That is a major steal, and it would make an awesome holiday gift!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a set of Alphabotz flash cards! ROCK!!!

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Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers Review and Giveaway!!!

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I have been snacking on something so yummy and so good for me lately. It’s called Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers, and my favorite of the 3 flavors is White Cheddar. They have 21 grams of fiber PER SERVING! They are also cholesterol and fat-free, and for those of you with wheat allergies out there, they are gluten-free, too! Woo hoo!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had some “healthy” whole-grain crackers in the past that have tasted only marginally better than cardboard. I’m pleased to say that the Crunchmaster crackers are quite good. I actually keep a bag in my car for snacking (both for myself and for Darah). And yes, my 2 year old does enjoy eating them, as well! They are also great with a piece of cheese on top, or with an apple.

While I don’t love the plastic packaging and think some improvements can be made in that area, I DO love the flavor and how much nutrition is packed into these crackers. They satisfy my hunger (hard to do…remember, I’m pregnant!) and I don’t feel guilty after eating half a bag (it happens…).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win 1 Case (12 bags) of Crunchmaster White Cheddar Multi-Grain Crackers. YUM!!!

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Farmhouse Foods: Boxed Rice and Pasta Minus the Artificial Ingredients! GIVEAWAY!!!

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I’ve been reading for several years now that to shop for the healthiest food products for your family in the grocery store, avoid the aisles themselves, and just shop the perimeter of the store. That’s great advice to try to follow, but it isn’t always practical. Even though I work from home, that doesn’t mean I always have the time it takes to prepare a meal from scratch. I especially find myself needing help with side dishes.

Fortunately, there are some companies out there who aim to offer convenience to busy families, but who are also mindful that many of us want to avoid artificial ingredients and preservatives. Farmhouse Foods is a company that offers boxed rice and pasta dishes that are full of yummy flavor and completely void of the junk you don’t want. My family has been sampling their 10 best selling products, and we have been really impressed! The flavors are spot on (Darah DEVOURS the food on her plate every time we serve Farmhouse Foods), and I feel better knowing that these products are all natural. Check out the excellent line of products from Farmhouse Foods. Among the rice dishes, my very top pick would be the rice pilaf. YUM! As for the pasta side dishes, the four cheese flavor pasta disappeared in my house in just a few minutes!

Now for the bad news: Farmhouse Foods seems to have a rather limited distribution! It looks like those of you in the western part of the U.S. should be able to find the products, but as for the rest of us, no such luck. Fortunately, the company has a company storeonline! That means that even if you can’t find them in your store, you can still get them into your pantry!

Win it!: Whether or not you can find Farmhouse Foods in your store, today you have the opportunity to win 10 boxes of rice and pasta side dishes! Yay!

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DidiPop’s Latest CD: Everyday Adventures Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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DidiPop is a delightful children’s music artist, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Her last album that I reviewed, DidiPop Goes to Hawaii, has a song on it called, “Hawaiian Alphabet Song,” and it just won the grand prize in the children’s category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. That, my friends, is a REALLY big deal! Additionally, it has been submitted for Grammy consideration for 2012. Good luck, DidiPop!

Her new album is every bit as fabulous as her last, and I’m sure it will pick up awards left and right in the next year, too! It’s called Everyday Adventures, and it launches TODAY! It’s got one of Darah’s all-time favorite songs on it (one that is features a YouTube video that has gone completely viral!). Check out The Cool Alphabet Song…you are sure to like it, and your kids will, too!

DidiPop’s vibe is chill and laid-back, but still jam-packed with lots of fun and laughs. She’s an artist I highly recommend because the whole family will enjoy listening to her songs, not just the kids.

Buy it!: If you are looking for a great holiday gift, I recommend the gift of music, and you absolutely can’t go wrong with DidiPop. Everyday Adventures is available for $14.99 or you can buy all the mp3s for just $9.99!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is about a win a copy of DidiPop’s latest album! Hooray!!!

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