Our readers and staff are chalk full of good ideas and products that will make your life easier. Learn about an online grocery store that delivers to folks on vacation, get the scoop on a game that will bump up your child’s reading skills and a dry shampoo that will keep you clean between washes. As always, if you know of something that we don’t, tell us about it and we could feature it in Metro Parent and give you $25.
Garden Grocer
This is a little random, but I want to shout it from the rooftops! I planned and booked a Disney vacation 25 days before we arrived. One of my first Google searches was “How can I buy alcohol at the Disney resorts for cheap?” Now, our vacation wasn’t just about drinking during my daughter’s naptime, but I knew how expensive food/drinks were going to be. Enter gardengrocer.com. This online grocery store delivers your goods to your Disney resort hotel for free after spending $40. What a godsend! I was able to do bread, fruit, peanut butter, jelly, snacks, water and pop, which greatly saved us time/money. We easily saved $200 during the week we were at Disney.
Reader: Andrea Centi, mom of one, Troy
Knock Knock Notepads
You’ve never seen sticky notes quite like this. Knock Knock presents a creative (and hilarious) take on the gentle reminder and goal-setting list for about $4-$14. Best-selling pads include “Awesome Citation,” “All Out Of …,” “What I Love About You Today,” “Paper Tantrum” and “Today’s Plan of Attack.” Upgrade your written ramblings with wit, charm and sharp design. knockknockstuff.com.
– Aleanna Siacon
Codenames
This award-winning indie card game is billed as a “social word game.” The premise? Two teams compete to uncover their words, which are the code names of secret agents, before the opposing team. The setup is easy and you can play with as few as two people or up to 20. The box says ages 14 and up, but feel free to bring it out for younger kids working on their reading skills. It’s $14.99 at Target.
–Amanda Rahn
Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo
Who has time to wash their hair anymore? Gone are the days of shampooing daily or risking looking like a grease pit. Just a couple light puffs from this bottle on the roots and my hair looks clean and stays healthy. Bonus: I perpetually smell like I just left the salon. At $30, it’s a bit of a splurge, but the non-aerosol bottle means you control how much product you use. Plus, reuse the cap and save 5 bucks next time. aveda.com.
– Kelly Buren
Bacon Fried Rice
My pal Maria Montoya turned me on to this devilishly delicious $11 dish at metro Detroit mini chain Toast (Ferndale and Birmingham), and now I want to eat it every day for the rest of my life (thanks, Maria). The nutty-good jasmine rice combined with smoky bites of bacon is swoon-worthy enough, but it’s topped with a sunny side up egg, slices of fresh avocado and crispy onion strings. Stop reading and go get some! eatattoast.com.
– Julia Elliott
Are you obsessed with something? Tell us what and why or email us your reasons at myobsession@www.metroparent.com. If we love your pick as much as you do, we’ll feature it in Metro Parent and give you $25.
