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LEGOLAND Discount Alert!

May 19, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I know many of our Stuff Parents Need readers are fans of discounts and saving money, am I right?! (You can definitely count me within those ranks. :)) A couple weeks ago I posted about how much my girls and I love LEGOLAND^®California. If any of you have been considering making the trip, have I got some exciting news for you!

Right now there is an exclusive offer on RetailMeNot (if you haven’t heard of them yet, you need to – but that’s a whole post in itself!) for LEGOLAND. You can save $25 and get the 2nd day FREE when you buy a LEGOLAND^® California/LEGOLAND Water Park Hopper ticket! Head on over to RetailMeNot and snag this discount while you can. It’s only available for a limited time!

Best Gifts for Makeup Lovers

December 20, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Referral links may be included at no cost to you. I only promote what I love!

I have been loving my Beauty Box 5 Subscription (click that link to sign up and use my referral code: HALFOFF, for 50% off your first box!) for over a year, now. In each box, you receive 5 beauty items (some are full-size, some are sample size). You ALWAYS get more value than what you spent on your box (sometimes the box is worth well over twice what you spent on it!) and you always get to try out some really cool new stuff. You can purchase one box at a time for $12, but I really suggest going for the year subscription, because that brings the per box price down to just $8.75.

This is the absolute PERFECT gift for makeup lovers: fun new items shipped straight to their house each and every month, and the price tag is great so it can work with your budget, whether you can only spring for 1 box, 6, or an entire year of goodies.

This month subscribers got 5 FULL SIZE products. Merry Christmas, indeed! 😉 The products for this month focused on creating a smoky eye, which is a perfect thing to do this time of year with all the great holiday parties.

I absolutely love this subscription service. If you check out my Youtube channel you can see several video reviews I have posted, and you can see that I’m not always thrilled with every single product (I’m a tough critic!) but the value is so great that it’s really no problem if a box has one or two duds in it. And lately the boxes have been having more and more winners. Yay!!!

This is one worth giving a try for sure. And if you need a last minute gift idea for a makeup lover, you can’t go wrong with Beauty Box 5!

How I Got the Softest Skin I’ve Ever Had

December 2, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Disclosure: Sponsored by JERGENS® Skincare through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer, all opinions are my own.

In mid-November I had the luxury of spending a weekend in Ft. Meyers, Florida. I left Tennessee temperatures that were falling fast (with lows in the upper ’30s) and spent 3 days basking in the warm glow of the Gulf Coast sun.

I was also reminded of the intense humidity of the area. Since it wasn’t too hot, it actually felt amazing, though. And my skin was in heaven! All that moisture in the air helped my skin stay nicely hydrated.

But since I can’t move myself down to Florida just for the sake of beautiful skin, I need some alternatives that will help me lock moisture in, and this is especially critical as we head toward winter (which for me, seems to be the most difficult time of year for my skin’s happiness).

Have you spotted Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer on the lotion aisle at your favorite store, yet? It comes in 3 scents (Monoi Oil, Green Tea Oil and Coconut Oil). I went for Monoi Oil for one key reason: I’d never heard of it! A quick Google search taught me that monoi oil is made by soaking Tahitian Gardenia petals in coconut oil to achieve a beautifully scented final product. Mission accomplished, Jergens! This stuff smells AMAZING!

Ok, so going by the name, you are probably realizing that this is a product to use your skin is still wet. Why is that? Well it turns out that the very best time to moisturize your skin is when it is still wet. So bring your Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer into the shower with you, and apply it to your skin after you turn off the water, but before you reach for the towel. By doing this, you are locking in hydration at the optimal time, which will yield optimal results!

So does applying lotion to wet skin take some adjustment time? Of course! But I’d challenge you to use the product for a week and see if you don’t notice a significant difference in how moisturized your skin feels all day long by the end of that 7 days. Based on my own experience, I think you’ll be very pleased with your results, and will feel motivated to keep reaching for Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer before you reach for your towel. And if you are worried that you have to stand in your shower for a few minutes to let the moisturizer soak in before toweling off, that hasn’t been my experience. The product absorbs very quickly, so after you apply it you can feel free to pat dry and move on to the next step in getting ready for your day or night. You won’t have to stand around in the bathroom waiting for your lotion to soak in like you used to before trying this great new product, which saves you time!

Try It!

Interested in giving Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer a try? Right now you can save $2.00 off any one 10 fl. oz. Jergens® Wet Skin™ Moisturizer! Choose from Refreshing Coconut Oil, Calming Green Tea Oil and Nourishing Monoi Oil. This coupon is first come, first served so print yours ASAP!

Beauty Box 5 November 2015 Review: Some Strange Items Included!

November 26, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Box provided by Beauty Box 5 but all opinions are my own, as always. Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.

My November Beauty Box 5 arrived a few days ago, and it contained some really unusual items. Want to see?

So this particular box, at first glance, seemed to have more samples than full-size products. I think the soothing facial mask and possibly the DePuff eye pads are already full size. In both cases, I would never pay that amount for something that will get used up so quickly. But on the flip-side, this is part of what makes Beauty Box 5 so fun: I get to indulge in a few expensive products that I otherwise would never even try.

My favorite product in the group is probably the Vegan Lip & Cheek color. It goes on strong; I was surprised by the power of the color!

And yeah, I’ll admit it, though the moodchanging lip stick is something I would have bought when I was 13, It actually wears quite nicely (though I’m not convinced that you ever get more than just one shade out of it…unless I’m always in the same mood!).

So…not my favorite box. But the boxes of the last few months have been really outstanding, and I can objectively see where this is a good one, too (I just don’t get overly excited about stuff like face masks). Overall, I continue to love my Beauty Bo 5 subscription and I think it’s a must-have affordable monthly treat! If you subscribe for a year, each box is only $8.75, including shipping (that’s like paying for the lip stick in this month’s kit and getting everything else free!).

THE Box of the Season: It’s Fab, It’s Fit and It’s Fun!

November 23, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Special thanks to FabFitFun and Pollen-8 Media for providing a product sample. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. Referral links may be included at no expense to you.

Friends are you struggling a bit to come up with holiday gift ideas for yourself? Every year I tell myself that I’m going keep a running list of ideas for me, and every year I DON’T do it, and I draw a blank when people ask me for ideas.

If you find yourself in that position, here’s a great gift idea that I think you’ll really like! Ask for a FabFitFun VIP membership! FabFitFun sends out a VIP box to its members every 3 months (so 4 times a year) and it is loaded with full-size products and has a retail value of at least $200, all for just $49.99.

I was sent the fall box, and I cannot wait to show you all the goodies!

Inside this box I found 11 AWESOME items designed to help me stay fab and fit and to have fun this season. And the value of this box? A whopping $357!!!! Here are some of my favorite items.

Such an adorable design for this umbrella that retails for $32. I absolutely adore it.

It’s pretty hard to look at this photo and not have a good laugh. This has to be one of the most unique beauty treatments I have ever had. My daughter commented on how much I resembled C3PO, and I quite agree! This is the Gold Radiance Luxury Facial Mast with Collagen and Rose Oil by Passport to Beauty. It comes with 2 applications and retails for $65, so it really is quite an indulgence.

I have heard of the Puple Purse campaign, which is about supporting women who are suffering from domestic violence and financial abuse. By clipping this tassel onto your purse, you can help spread the word!

I also really loved this lip stain from Manna Kadar Cosmetics. This is a new brand to me, and I was incredibly impressed by the staying power of the product. Usually something this shiny just slips right off the lips, but I found this product to be much different, and I loved that. This retails for $24.

Other great items in this box:

3D White Brilliance 2-Step System by Crest (sample)
Flawless Skin Fluid by Doctor D. Schwab ($39)
HISY Battery Pack ($24.99)
Strength Tubing Ankle & Total Body Tone with DVD ($33)
Glass Crystal Bead Bracelet by Tribe Alive ($49)
Gift Card by Jeweler’s Wife ($15)
Gift Card by Picture It On Canvas ($75)

Additionally, the VIP box comes with a magazine that shares more detailed information about the products in the box and the artists who created them. I really enjoyed getting such a nice surprise in the mail, and I think it would be a really fund treat to look forward to each season.

If you are drawing a blank on what to ask for this year, check out the FabFitFun VIP membership and consider asking for that, and then you’ll get amazing gifts all year long!

Seasonal Roasted Veggies as Part of a Simple, Nourishing Weeknight Meal

November 18, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PotPiePlease#CollectiveBias

As a blogger, this is my busy season. I’m getting up extra early and working extra each evenings, and the dishes and laundry are piling up (even more than usual). Furthermore, our organization method around the house seems to have come undone, and we find ourselves surrounded by piles and piles of stuff. So during this season when I’m especially short on time, I find myself struggling more than usual with our weekday family meals. I’m hitting the panic button (that would be the drive-through) too often because I am overly amitious when I create our menus and don’t work in enough super easy stuff.

Fortunately, one fail-safe main dish has not fallen off my radar: Marie Callender’s Pot Pies. These are, without question, my oldest child’s favorite dish, and she asks for one weekly. I typically don’t make the same meal in frequent rotation, but these pot pies get a pass from me because they are so darn delicious, not to mention EASY to make.

Today I want to show you a really wholesome meal I put together using Marie Callender’s Pot Pies (turkey and chicken are our favorites) and fresh seasonal vegetables. This side dish is what I call a “non-recipe” recipe because precise measurements aren’t needed at all. This also makes it less stressful!

Here’s what I used to make fall roasted veggies and in every case, you can add more or less to your preference, as well as make some substitutions if you like.

1/2 butternut squash
1 large sweet potato
1 pound red potatoes
1 pound pearl onions
1 pound baby carrots
1 pound brussels sprouts
6 cloves of garlic
1/3 cup olive oil
4 sprigs fresh rosemary

The most labor intensive part of this entire meal is washing and chopping your vegetables. But here’s the good news: you can actually do this all in advance, and just put any vegetable that you think might oxidize in water. I got all my veggies prepped in the morning while my girls were eating breakfast and then I didn’t have much to mess with later on in the day when I was busy with work!

After you have prepped your veggies and cut them to your preferred size, set them all aside and get out your olive oil and your rosemary. Remove the rosemary from the stem and add it to the olive oil. I used 1/3 cup for this amount of vegetables, but you may prefer more or less. Honestly, just eyeball it and don’t stress over this part. Your rosemary is going to have some time to flavor the oil this way. If you don’t have time to let it sit, no worries; it will still taste great!

About an hour and 15 minutes before you’d like to sit down to eat, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line one pan with parchment paper. Pour the olive oil and rosemary over all of your veggies and mix them together in a bowl, and add them all to the pan. If they cannot fit on one pan without overlapping, get out a second pan and put some of the vegetables on there. You can cook the second pan while your family is enjoying dinner.

On another baking sheet, place your Marie Callender’s Pot Pies. We used 2 for our family of 4. The larger pie needed to be cooked for just over an hour, which is how long the vegetables needed to roast. Before you put the pot pie in the oven, though, take some aluminum foil and create a small ring around the edge of the crust. This will keep it from burning.

Now add your veggies and your l6 ounce pot pie into the oven and set your timer for 65 minutes. You’ll want to give the veggies a good stir about halfway through the roasting process. And if you have a second smaller pot pie, like we did, add it into the oven when the timer has 45 minutes left.

The end result is colorful, comforting and full of great flavors that taste homemade. And after getting through the veggie prep you pretty much only have to put stuff in the oven and get your family members to set the table. In my house, this “non-recipe” recipe has the very best success rate at getting lots of veggies in little tummies.

I found everything I needed to make this yummy meal at my local Walmart. They were well-stocked with great produce, and I found the pot pies easily in the frozen section (they even had a picture sign of a pot pie!).

Coupon AND Rebate Offer!

If you’d like to replicate this wholesome meal for your family during your busy season, be sure to grab some of the great Marie Callendar’s coupons you can find here. And iBotta is also currently offering a .50 rebate in addition to your coupon savings!

Scooby Doo Costume for Kids: Layah’s Halloween Pick (Zoinks!)

September 25, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Costume SuperCenter for providing Layah’s Scooby Doo costume. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Last month I sat my girls down and we had a brainstorming session on Halloween costumes. Darah flipped through a costume catalog, cut out ideas, and created an entire vision board full of possibilities.

Layah’s brainstorming session, on the other hand, took 8 seconds. She thought for 6 of those seconds and then yelled, “Scooby Doo!” and marched right up to her room without so much as another word on the subject.

I asked her again a week later and she promptly said, “Mom you already know! Scooby Doo!”

There was a time when Layah was interested in Scooby Doo, but that was maybe a year ago, so this request really did seem random to me. And yet, she was quite decided about her choice! So I found a Scooby Doo costume at Costume Super Center and I was really pleased to see the price point (currently $23.99 AND an additional 20% off with a coupon code!). Last year Layah wanted to be Jasmine, which was just as random. I paid $50 for that costume, which she wore on Halloween night, but has NEVER worn since (despite the fact that my girls play dress up all the time). I’ve been down this road before, so I was really happy to see that her choice this year wouldn’t be nearly as expensive.

The costume is not one I would expect to endure constant play for too many months, which I think you can expect based on the price. I was a little disappointed to see that the entire back is open. Layah will need to wear some sort of brown shirt underneath, but it’s a very hard color to match, so we’ll also be safety pinning her into the costume.

We will also have to do a little safety pinning to help the Scooby Doo mask stay in the correct position. Both of these fixes are totally workable, but I wanted to point them out just in case you are looking for something that doesn’t need any adjustments.

Layah seems quite happy with the costume, and unlike last year’s costume, she’s asking to get to dress up in it frequently. I’m not allowing too much play with it, though, until after Halloween to ensure that we don’t find ourselves with a stained or torn Scooby Doo costume before the big night.

If you want to get more information (and learn about deals) from Costume Super Center, like them on Facebook. And if you have a little Scooby Doo in your house and you want to dress up, too, know that the Costumer Super Center also has Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred costumes!

June 2015 Beauty Box 5 Review

June 24, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Box provided for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

It’s time for another Beauty Box 5 review! If you’ve missed my reviews of the most affordable beauty-based subscription box out there, then check out my archives:

July’s Beauty Box 5

November’s Beauty Box 5

December’s Beauty Box 5

January’s Beauty Box 5

February’s Beauty Box 5

March’s Beauty Box 5

April’s Beauty Box 5

May’s Beauty Box 5

Here’s the scoop on the June contents for you!

What was your favorite item in the box? Ready to give it a try? You can pay $12 for a box and go month-to-month, or just spring for the year for $99, which is just $8.75/box! Major bargain!

Homespun Fun, Delivered Monthly: Blossom Box Review

May 30, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Boxes provided for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

The subscription box market seems to be getting just a little crowded, especially when it comes to kid-friendly offerings. That means that buyers, like me, can be a bit ore choosy about what they select when looking for something fun for the kiddos.

I want to give a very strong recommendation for Blossom Box! While I don’t think it is the right subscription box for every single kid out there (and frankly, what subscription box would be?), I DO think it is a really great fit for kids ages 6-10 who love to use their imaginations, and who are intrigued by nature.

Blossom Box has a vibe to it that is different from any other subscription box I have yet encountered. It feels very homespun, and I mean that in a good way! Let’s take a closer look.

Here’s a look at the contents of April’s box, which was all about birds. Notice the natural materials included, such as bird feathers and bird seed. Even the individual projects come in these brown paper bags that give the entire box a natural feel.

May’s box is all about storytelling, with wooden figures and blocks as part of the offerings. Side note: I also noticed that the color pencils included were Crayola, which I definitely appreciated, because that’s one area where you get what you pay for with art supplies, so go for Crayola! 🙂

I found the May box to be too difficult for my youngest to get to play with as it involved some intricate cutting and sewing (to be fair, she just turned 3 a few weeks ago) and I even found it to be a bit of a stretch for my 5-year-old. So I’m tucking these activities away and will pull them out again next year when I think she’ll be more ready for them.

But the birds box was a huge hit with both of my kids! They loved making edible art for the birds with the birdseed.

We even took a few of the crafts with us on vacation, and made our own bird sculpture while we were there. It may not be the more realistic looking bird I’ve ever seen, but Layah sure was proud of her creation! She molded the clay just the way she wanted, and applied each and every feather herself.

And we also enjoyed trying out painting with feathers as our paintbrushes. The girls used both sides of the feathers and made some really cool paintings. We even had plenty of the tempera paint powder left over to save for future art projects, which was awesome!

I was very impressed with the art projects offered in the Blossom boxes. I can tell that a great deal of thought has gone into them, and the projects tend to use materials that are a bit different from what I’ve seen in other craft boxes. I do think they are a bit too advanced for your average preschooler, but that’s just my own opinion. I think this is a GREAT choice for an elementary school kid who loves art and nature. They come together beautifully in this monthly box.

Blossom Box is available for $19.95/month plus shipping (which is $4.95 per box). You can sign up month by month and cancel at any time, or you can purchase 3 month, 6 month and 12 month subscriptions for a discount, though with every plan, the shipping charge is added (my opinion? just wrap the shipping charge into the price of the kit and be done with it!).

Best believe this will be on our Christmas wish list this year! We loved it! 🙂

Coupon!

I’ve got a coupon code for anyone who wants to sign up for an ongoing subscription with Blossom Box. Use BLOOM at checkout and you’ll save 50% on your first box. Yay!