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How Do You Kid-Proof the Scent of Your Vehicle? (Every Parent’s Dilemma!)

February 10, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 62 Comments

This post brought to you by PERK. All opinions are 100% mine.

All the parents out there know the truth: once you have a kid, you can kiss that new car smell you might have in your car goodbye. Kids are messy, and between diaper blowouts, spilled milk and old goldfish crackers stuck in the most unusual places, it is a real challenge for your car to not smell sort of unfortuante.

For the last week, I've been trying out a vent air freshener called PERK Vent Wraps. I'm not really a car air freshener gal. I find those pine trees dangling from the rear view mirror to be distracting, and certainly not attractive. But at a certain point, you've got to take action. For me, that point was when I opened my car door and realized that I didn't really want to get in based on the smell.

Yikes.

PERK is a refreshing alternative to traditional car air fresheners because it is a Vent Wrap. Look how discreet it is!

Since I'm not used to having fragrance in my car, I will say that on the first day of having the PERK wrap installed that I found the scent to be a little bit overpowering. But by day 2, I found it to be barely noticeable, but in a good way, because I also stopped noticing that unfortuante smell that my car has developed over time. So now my car not only DOESN'T smell icky, but it also smells quite nice, without overwhelming passengers in the car. Even Darah remarked about how she thought our car smelled good.

I've tried 3 different scents (fresh valley, clean laundry, and vanilla). I thought I would like vanilla the least, but it turns out that I like it the best. It's just a warm, comforting scent, perfect for this time of year. I'll probably be more interested in the other scents once spring arrives and I'm craving very fresh scents.

PERK Vent Wraps come in packs of 4, with each vent wrap being good for about 2 weeks. So each pack can help keep your car smelling great for about 60 days! If you are tired of conventional air fresheners, or if you are like me and don't use them, but are realizing that you probably should, then PERK is something you should check out! You can also Like PERK on Facebook to keep up with the latest news and to hear about special promotions (there's a $1 off coupon there right now!).

Win it!: Hooray! I get to give away a 6 month supply of PERK to one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader!

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Car Woes and Wows with Zubie

January 20, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Zubie. All opinions are 100% mine.

As I type this, my car is sitting in our back yard, in official "time out" for making some seriously bad noises (metal-on-metal….NEVER good).

My only consolation while I wait for shop to open Monday morning so I can limp my car over (just 2 blocks, thank goodness), is that I already know that the problem isn't in the engine. How do I know? My Zubie Key told me.

The Zubie Key, which fits into the standard port found in most cars, interfaces with the engine and the battery to let me know if there are any perceived problems or weaknesses. When I checked on my smartphone app that connects with the Zubie Key, I noted that thankfully, the engine seems to be having no problems. There's still a problem, to be sure, but it isn't in the engine. If it was in the engine, I'd be needing to brace myself for one killer auto bill. Dodged a bullet there, and I'm glad to know that now rather than having to worry about it all weekend.

We've had the Zubie key installed for about 3 weeks now, and one of the features that impresses me the most is its ability to assist with safe driving. You'd better believe that I'll want one of these in my car when my oldest becomes a teen driver. I'm sent an alert whenever the car has a hard break. I have to admit, I'm aware of that notification, and it is making me actively work to improve my own driving skills.

I also really like the real-time tracking location. While I feel safe in my neighborhood, I'm no stranger to living in a city with a high car theft rate (shout out, Memphis!). With the Zubie Key, you can track the location of your vehicle, even when you aren't in it! Great to know for keeping your family tracked without having to send text messages back and forth, and also great in the event that someone else decides that they want to steal your car. You (or rather, the police) can track them down, likely before they even realize that the Zubie Key is in place!

And best of all, the Zubie app, which can help you coordinate a trip with other drivers, is completely free. You can get a feel for some of the great features the Zubie Key can offer before making the purchase. Give it a try; I bet you'll like it enough to get a Zubie Key. And you can order today with code SAVE20JANand SAVE 20%. Offer good through February 28, 2014. Shipping charges may apply.

Keep up with the latest by following Zubie on Facebook and on Twitter.

Hair Woes and Wows with Dove (High Value Coupon!)

December 18, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Special thanks to Dove and Resourceful Mommy Media for making this post on Dove Hair and Walmart possible. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

No matter what hair type you have, you likely have some sort of challenges that go along with any perks. I’m very lucky to have thick hair that will hold a curl if you put one there. But day-to-day, it has just enough wave to it to look messy…and not that “I’ve been to the beach!” messy, either. We’re talking, “did you forget to brush your hair?” messy. And it is also dry as a tumbleweed (Is that a saying? Let’s just go with it….).

Whatever your hair challenges may be, Dove Hair and Walmart have teamed up to help you tackle them! Check out their videos on how to fix common hair issues, and after you have watched a video, you can download a sweet $1.50 coupon for Dove hair products!

Now I’m off to go try that fishtail braid I just learned about in one of the videos! I’m also heading to Walmart this afternoon…you’d better believe that coupon is coming with me! Dove Nourishing Oil, get ready to meet my parched hair!

Zubie Key: Smart Device for Anyone Who Drives

December 17, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

This post brought to you by Zubie. All opinions are 100% mine.

Still looking for a totally awesome gift for a loved one? I've got you covered, friends. Say hi to Zubie!

Zubie is on its way to my house, just in time to slide under the tree before Christmas. It will be a gift for my husband and me, as we share a vehicle. We are receiving a key to test out Zubie over the next few months, and I'll be writing a few more blog posts so that I can give you the scoop, and let you know just how (if?) it is working for us.

To prepare for our Zubie adventure, and to get fully schooled in all things Zubie, I decided to Follow @GoZubie on Twitter and Like Zubie on Facebook. I find that being able to connect with brands on their social media sites is often a great way to get stellar customer service, and to get it FAST. It is also a great way to interface with other Zubie users and learn more about their experiences.

Why Do I Need Zubie?

1. I'm very interested in the problem code notification. For example: "maintenance needed" is currently lit up on my dashboard. Tim thinks it means that we need an oil change. But it might not. And I've been putting off taking it into a shop because (a) What if it is a bigger, more expensive problem? and (b) What if it is absolutely nothing and I just wasted money? It sure would be nice to know before spending the time and money on it.

2. I totally love the real time location tracking provided by the Zubie key and app. If I had a teenage driver, this would make Zubie an absolute MUST for me, but even now, when one of us is away from home, we don't have to text or call each other to let us know when we'll be back; we can just check the app! Occasionally Tim and I have to take solo trips to Atlanta, and this would put an end to the, "ETA???" texts that the person at home with the kids always sends. 🙂

3. Zubie will send you an alert if your battery is dying. You get the message BEFORE there's a problem and you are stuck at a Sonic drive-in window for 3 hours in the blazing heat waiting for roadside assistance. And yeah, that totally happened to me. Ever since that happened to me (in 2001!) I have always held my breath for just a second while cranking the car, with it in the back of my head that the car might not start. Zubie is going to put that worry to bed once and for all.

4. Zubie will help me do this driving thing better. It can analyze your driving behavior and offer tips to help improve fuel economy and help you not wear down your car as quickly. I'm totally open to that sort of feedback so that my car will run longer and my gas dollars will go further.

I'll be letting you know about my first few weeks with Zubie next month. But in the mean time, if this sounds like something that would be really nice to have in your vehicle, or if you still need a gift for a tech head or a car lover, then it really is the perfect holiday present. If you order today, use code SAVE20DEC and SAVE 20% on your Zubie key plus one year of service. Offer good through January 31, 2014. Shipping charges apply.

See you on the road! Beep beep!

Pull-Ups Training Pants: Our First Experience and a High Value Coupon!

December 14, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pull-Ups® Training Pants. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always!

So Layah has been dutifully sitting on the potty for a few months now. Sometimes she uses it. Sometimes she doesn’t.

And our cloth diaper load hasn’t shrunk one little bit, though perhaps the used diapers are less “used” after each use. I seem to remember the same thing happening to Darah. I basically felt like I was getting the short end of the stick, as all that time spent in the bathroom wasn’t yielding fewer diaper changes.

That all changed with Darah when I stepped up the potty training and got us on a schedule. I only had one child at that point in time, so it was within my powers to be a bit more organized and on top of things. Oh for the glory days when I could remember my last name and to make dinner for my family (I regularly forget now on both accounts, true story).

Anyway, this time around, I need a little assistance, so I’ve been looking for an app. I was even willing to pay for one (shocking, I know), but guess what? Pull-Ups® has a totally free potty training app that rocks my socks off!

It has several great features, but the ones we are using regularly now are the potty timer (we are currently going every 90 minutes) and the big kid checklist. Layah is old enough to understand and appreciate night time rituals, and the checklist we go through helps to get her on the potty one last time before bed.

We never even used Pull-Ups with Darah when potty training, so this is my very first time to purchase this product. Since Layah is much more “hands on”, though, I think they are the right fit for her. She really likes to practice dressing and undressing, so being able to pull down and pull up her training pants is going to be something she will enjoy. She’s ready to start her big kid training, I do believe! Since Pull-Ups come in specific types based on gender and size, I went with the 2T/3T package that had Ariel and characters from Monsters, Inc. on it. I appreciate that not everything in the package is princesses!

I’m very impressed with the resources Pull-Ups® offers to help parents start and successfully complete the potty training process. Between the app and the , there are numerous tips, resources, games, and celebration ideas to get things moving along!

$3.00 Off Coupon for Pull-Ups!

When you register on the Pull-Ups® website, you have access to a great $2.00 off coupon on a package of Pull-Ups® Training Pants (Jumbo Pack or larger). Since I just purchased my very first package of Pull-Up® s, I can tell you that they cost right around $20, so a coupon is really helpful!

But you can upgrade your $2.00 off coupon to a $3.00 off coupon if you share the coupon via social media (Twitter, Facebook). You save money, and your friends who are also buying Pull-Ups® can save, too. Everybody wins!!!

How to Register on the Site

Head on over to the , and create a username and password. Then you’ll be asked to provide some additional information about your child. Once you have completed those two steps, you will have arrived at Big Kid Academy on their site!

Take some time to explore Big Kid Academy. It is overflowing with excellent ideas to help parents who are at every stage of potty training to develop a plan that works great for your child.

You’ll also see a page titled Coupon Share Pants, and that is where you will find the $2.00 off coupon, as well as instructions for gaining access to the .

Even if you aren’t personally helping a child with potty training, if you know someone who is, print this coupon off for them, as it is really high value and will be much appreciated!

Parent Resource

Edit: And if you are seeking a helpful resource so that your potty training experience is brief, I highly recommend fellow blogger Becky Mansfield’s Potty Train in a Weekend. It’s not a resource I knew about when we were going through this, but based on the feedback readers give the book, I really wish I had! I hope it helps!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pull-Ups® Training Pants. Save up to $3 on your next purchase of Pull-Ups® by registering at the .

Initial Necklace for a STEAL Today!

August 16, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I love Cents of Style, friends! And I especially love that every Friday, they slash the already low price of something fabulous. Today their initial necklace, which is one of their most popular necklaces ever, is marked down to $10.95 plus free shipping by using the code PENDANT. They have never been marked down this low before, so now’s the time to get them! What gorgeous gifts they would make for others, and while you are shopping, pick one up for yourself!

The initial necklace comes in two colors, black and turquoise, and in the 18 most popular letters. The letters are cursive and scrolling which gives the necklace a really nice unique look. The letters will come exactly as pictured, so make sure to look and get the one you like the best. The letters can represent a child’s name, last name, pet’s name, or favorite team. The possibilities are endless.

While you are shopping, don’t forget to check out Very Jane! They have SO much stuff today that I want. Two of my favorites are the beautiful washi tape for $1.99 and the vinyl mailbox decals for $14.99! Scoot on over…they sell out fast!

Affiliate links included. Thanks for your support!

Philly Cream Cheese Cannoli Dip Recipe

August 11, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 21 Comments

I have joined forces with Philadelphia Soft Cream Cheese to create what I believe to be the ULTIMATE snack. It is simple. It is super yummy. It is really pretty. And it’s also quite inexpensive! I’m so excited to show you how to make a snack that will have EVERYONE talking!

So, are you ready for the awesome? Let’s do it!

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cannoli Dip

1 (8 ounce) package Philadelphia Cream Cheese spread

1 cup heavy whipping cream

3 Tbsp plain yogurt

15 oz Ricotta cheese

2/3 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pour heavy whipping cream into a bowl and beat with a mixer until stiff peaks form (2-3 minutes). Set aside roughly half the mixture into a separate, smaller bowl.

To the remaining mixture add philly soft cream cheese. Mix well to combine. To make the mixing process easier, I recommend cutting the cream cheese into 8 sections. At the same time that you add the cream cheese, also add the plain yogurt.

Next, fold in the ricotta cheese. Then fold in the remaining half of the heavy whipping cream.

Now it’s time to sweeten it up! Add the 2/3 cup powdered sugar and gently fold it in. Your dip will start to look a bit glossier (and it will start to taste like the inside of a cannoli, too!).

How about some color? Fold in those delicious mini chocolate chips! Don’t use the larger chips…it will be too overwhelming when you take a bite.

To serve, sprinkle the top of your dip with more chocolate chips, and dust with a bit of powdered sugar. The perfect dipping instruments, in my opinion, are strawberries and graham crackers!

I made this recently while Tim and the girls were outside doing some chores. They were all thrilled to find this waiting for them when they came back in. It looks super fancy, but honestly, it was quite simple to put together. And the taste? Lean in a little closer and I’ll scoop some for you…

How cruel of me! I bet you could ALMOST taste it, though! Head on out to your nearest grocery store and get started making this delectable snack. You will have a new favorite dish to bring to parties and potlucks, as well as a go-to snack for your family!

Neuro Bliss and the #BlissandTell $10K Dream Vacation Giveaway!

August 9, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Friends, we need to have a little chat. It’s about how stressed you’ve been lately. How stressed we’ve ALL been, lately. Consider this:

This report was recently published by neuro drinks, after the company surveyed more than 1,200 consumers. It showed that Americans are stressed to the max, and that the need for some serious vacation time is in order! And while we can’t all just run away on the ultimate vacation at the drop of the hat, we can carve out a moment of bliss in our days. Hence, the launch of the BLISS and Tell campaign, which is all about encouraging us all to take time and relax, and share your blissful moments!

My BLISSful Moment

I’ll go first and share my #BLISSandTell moment with you all. Here’s a little background on some of the current stressors in my life:

1. I’m currently trying to find a home to rent in another part of the country, over part of the holidays that will hold 15 people and that isn’t already booked. Which is REALLY hard, as it turns out.

2. The house we own in Memphis has some rather serious damage to some of the wood under the floor in one room that needs repair. Someone hold me!

3. I’m flying out to New York Monday morning to film some cooking videos and I do NOT feel prepared.

4. The state of my home. If you have ever had young kids, you know what they can do to a house. It looks like the Tasmanian Devil lives with us. Junk EVERYWHERE!

5. I have 14 resumes in my inbox for a new babysitter. I have no idea how I’m ever going to get through them. I need to hire a babysitter just to give me time to hire a babysitter!

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. And I bet you have lists that might look a little different from mine, but that are equally, if not more stressful!

And yet, in the midst of all this craziness, my daughter asked me to watch Mary Poppins with her. She was just introduced to it a few days ago, and she absolutely adores the movie. I looked at my to do/to freak out about list, and then I looked at my daughter. I knew just what to do, friends! I went over to my fridge and got my neuro Bliss. I plopped down in front of my laptop and closed all my work tabs. And I sang “spoonful of sugar” with my daughter and enjoyed sharing of my favorite movies from my childhood and making new memories with Darah.

So why did I grab some neuro Bliss? This beverage is specially designed to reduce stress and relax the mind. I knew I needed a little help to get my head out of the list of things I needed to do and to just be present with my child. And you know what? I really did feel more relaxed after sipping on this lightly carbonated, very tasty drink! It contains chamomile and a blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that enhance focus, produce relaxation and reduce stress. It was exactly what I needed to just put all that work aside and enjoy special time with my big girl.

And after our movie session, I sat down and finished up this post. I didn’t feel stressed about it, but rather, pretty darn happy to have the chance to tell you about neuro Bliss! I definitely think you should give this a try on your next stressful day and see if you think it helps. It has just 35 calories per bottle, so there’s not much to risk by giving it a try! And I think you’ll find it to be effective! You can pick this up at Target, Walgreens, Safeway, 7-11 and other national grocery, convenience and drug stores.

Before you head out to pick some up, be sure to print a coupon to save $1. See, neuro Bliss is even making the process of buying the product a happy one!

Once you have your neuro Bliss, be sure to enter the BLISS & Tell contest and weekly giveaway for your chance to win….wait for it….a $10k dream vacation!!!!

What are you waiting for? Adding, “get some neuro Bliss” to your to do list might be the best thing you’ve done in a long time! 🙂

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.