Walmart - Stuff Parents Need

Now’s the Time to Get Stocked Up: Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Fundraiser (and Twitter Party)

June 13, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I’ve partnered with The Motherhood and the JOHNSON’S® Baby brand to bring you this important information on Children’s miracle Network Hospitals. Compensation was provided, and all opinions are my own.

Friends I’ve got some exciting news for you! During the month of June, $1.00 is going to be donated to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for every single JOHNSON’S® Baby product that is purchased at Walmart! So if you’ve got a baby shower coming up and you are looking for great gift ideas, or if you have simply run out of some of the products you love and need to replace, NOW is the time to go get them, as kids who are fighting the good fight in 170 different hospitals across the United States and Canada are going to reap the benefits of your purchase.

Look for displays like this one when you are shopping:

And if you don’t see it, don’t worry! Just head to the infant care aisle and you’ll find the JOHNSON’s ® Baby CARES items you need and they will be counted toward the donation total!

Help Walmart, JOHNSON’S® Baby, and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals give children what they truly deserve, which is the chance to live better, healthier lives. Walmart has helped raise more than $650 million for Children’s Miracle Network over the last 25 years, and this month they hope to add substantially to that total! Every year 1 in 10 children are treated by a Children’s Miracle Network hospital, so the odds are REALLY good that you either have personally benefited from care there, or that you know someone who has!

Twitter Party!

I hope you’ll join me on Twitter this Tuesday, June 17th at 12pm EST. Follow the hashtag #JohnsonsBabyCARES. There will be 5 awesome gift baskets given away throughout the party for folks who answer trivia questions correctly. It will be fun and we’ll learn more about how to help Children’s Miracle Network be a light of hope for so many children and their families!

Sharing to End Food Insecurity: Champion for Kids SIMPLE Giving (Twitter Party!)

April 21, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I am sharing this program information on behalf of Champions for Kids and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own, as always.

Here’s a statistic I just heard that totally stunned me: 10% of children in the United States are in homes considered “food-insecure.” That means that the next meal being provided is not a sure thing. In many cases, that means that these children are sent to school without breakfast. Even though 9.8 million kids are enrolled in the free or reduced school breakfast programs nationally, there are still 10.6 million eligible kids NOT in the program who may be skipping breakfast simply because there is no food for them at home to eat.

photo credit: USDAgov via photopin cc

We all know that countless studies have shown that the first meal of the day is the most critical. Even 9 out of 10 teachers agree that breakfast is a key component of their students’ educations. With so many missing out, it makes getting the most out of their time in the classroom a real challenge.

Champion for Kids and SIMPLE Giving

Hunger is not just across the globe, friends. It is also in each and every one of our communities. But sometimes it is hard to know how to help in the most effective way. If you want to involve your children in your efforts to share with others (and I hope you do!) it can be even more challenging. That’s why I recommend checking out Champions for Kids. It’s all about fostering a habit of giving in our children (and their parents). I would personally shift that language, as I call giving to others “sharing.” Children get the concept of sharing, and are not as quick to throw sympathy or “otherness” into the mix. Children have all been the recipients of others sharing with them, and when we do a service project or make a donation, it’s our turn to share with others. 🙂

One of the Champions for Kids programs that I like is called SIMPLE Giving. From April 21 through May 5, participating Walmart stores will collect breakfast food items. All you need to do is purchase those items and place them in the purple donation bins at the front of the store. You’ll find a complete list of participating stores here. Those donations are going straight to the school district in which the Walmart you shopped at is located! And get this: the school district that collects the most donations from a Walmart store in its division will receive $10,000 from Champions for Kids. And the school district that collects the most donations from a Walmart store in its region will receive a $1,000 check from Champions for Kids! For a full list of participating stores, school districts, Walmart Divisions/Regions and official rules click here.

Let’s (Twitter) Party!

So what are you doing this Thursday from 1-2pm ET? Hanging out with me on Twittter, I hope! I’ll be joining The Motherhood and Champions for Kids along with Kellogg Company and Diamond Foods to get the word out about how we can help ensure that children in our communities are getting the nutrition they need first thing in the morning so that they can focus at school.

This is a great opportunity to learn about SIMPLE ways to give in your own community, and to give you ideas about ways you can involve your children in opportunities to share with others. The Champions For Kids’ Simple Services Projects have a great 4 step model that we’ll discuss, too!

How to Join Us: Start by filling out the RSVP here: http://www.twtvite.com/simplegiving. When it is time to party, follow the #SIMPLEGiving hashtag and you’ll be right there with us! You’ll also want to follow the hosts, @theMotherhood, @theMotherhood25, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann as well as the sponsor, @Champions4Kids.

Oh, and one more thing: five $50 Walmart gift cards are going to be given out during the party to randomly selected participants who answer the trivia questions correctly (don’t worry…you get some clues to help you find the right answers!). That’s $250 total that will be handed out. Somebody is going to win, and if you join us, it might be you!

Hallmark #ValentineCards Available at Walmart!

January 28, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser.

Hallmark #valentinecards at Walmart 1

So I had an “interesting” encounter with a Walmart sales associate over the weekend. She and I had a disagreement about the total I owed for the Hallmark Valentine’s Day cards I was purchasing. I had her void the order and re-scan everything because I knew she was wrong and I was right. I even endured the scornful looks from the folks behind me in line. That’s how sure I was!

What was the problem? I was certain that she had missed at least 2, if not 3 of the cards while scanning them, because my total ($17.63) was too low. When I added it up in my head over in the card section, I was spending $21 plus tax. I’m not the world’s greatest mathematician, but I am pretty reliable when it comes to purchase price estimation.

And so, the sales associate humored me and rang everything up again. And she got the same total. So it turns out that some of the cards in my stash cost half of what I thought they cost. Hence the math error.

I was WRONG! And also embarrassed. But once that feeling subsided, I was totally pumped! I purchased 11 greeting cards (Hallmark! Not some off-brand!) for less than $18. That’s just crazy. Hallmark has a HUGE selection of beautiful Valentine’s Day cards at many different Walmart locations, and in addition to having a great selection of styles, they also have a great selection of price points. Gotta love that! I was able to get loaded up on great cards for family members, friends and even teachers.

When I got our assortment home, I explained a little bit more to Darah about Valentine’s Day and how it is a great opportunity to send some extra love to special people in our lives. And I told her that in this day and age, getting a card in the mail is a very special treat, indeed!

Then I asked her to start picking out cards for each family member. She needed to do a little bit of quality control before we really got started.

It was so much fun to hear her give the reasons why she selected each card for every person on our list. She was really quite thoughtful about who might like the particular illustrations on each one!

She even gave each card a hug before we put them in their envelopes to be addressed. What a sweet way she has of showing that she cares. I’m glad Hallmark got to be part of our Valentine’s Day celebrations this year, and that she got to experience the joy of sending letters filled with love in the mail.

Before I sealed up our Valentine’s Day card, I logged onto the Hallmark Card Rewards Program website. Did you know that you can earn rewards for the Hallmark cards you buy at Walmart? All it takes is 5 unique cards entered to earn a reward. I’ve already earned a reward and am on my way to the second. So awesome! Make sure you check out connectionsfromhallmark.com to sign up for Hallmark Rewards, and to see great content from other bloggers. Join in the #ValentineCards conversation on Twitter!

Are you sending any Valentine’s Day cards in the mail this year? Did you know that you can find Hallmark cards at many Walmart locations? Can you believe how many I got for under $18???

Wednesday Night Relief: Red Baron on the Table

January 22, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

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

Most every family has that one night of the week that is the craziest. For us, it is most definitely Wednesday. It’s one of my primary work days, coupled with schlepping kids to and from two different schools all over town, ballet lessons, and in the warmer months, a trip to the farmer’s market to pick up our CSA basket. This is the day, more so than any other day, that we wish fairies would sneak into our house while we are gone and magically prepare dinner. Because by the time we get home, we’re hungry and totally out of gas.

Well, those fairies have yet to show up, but I’ve been buying convenient options that please everyone, like Red Baron® pizza. I like this brand because the pepperoni they use is exceptionally flavorful. It’s a stand-out, for sure!

Right now you can find great coupons for Red Baron® at Walmart. Their prices are already really good, and the coupon makes it even better! Don’t miss the coupon for $3 off and 3 Red Baron® multi-serve pizzas. While you are printing those great pizza coupons, don’t miss out on the string cheese and the egg rolls. I definitely printed those, too!

Wednesday at my house is the complete and total opposite of this:

If you have a day of the week that is also NOT AT ALL like rainbows at sea, then pick up some Red Baron. You’ll give yourself a break, and by using the coupons, you’ll save some money! Take that, elusive pot of gold!

Christmas Present Ideas that Offer #ScentSavings

December 10, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.

Before I had children, I had a rather expensive hobby: I was a fragrance collector. I would spend hours reading perfume reviews, drawing up wish lists, and searching the internet for great buys on perfume.

Remember, this was BEFORE the kids came. It was during that blissful season of life when I had time and disposable income. Oh, the good old days! 🙂

At the height of my collecting, I owned 57 bottles of perfume. I would rotate them out weekly, and of course, could never even put a dent in them, year after year. I eventually got a better sense for my own personal scent preferences, and the best cologne for my body, and then began to part ways with much of my collection, which now stands at a super-slim 14 bottles. I have it down to the best of the best, and I simply can’t part with what remains.

When I tell people about my formerly fierce collection and the subsequent culling process I went through to get it down to 14, people assume that everything that remains must be the most expensive bottles. And sure, there are some pricey ones in the lot. There are also some big winners that can easily be found on the shelves of major retailers, like Walmart.

It has been at least 4 years since I have purchased any fragrance for myself or for Tim, and this year I wanted to get him something that smells great but is practical for our current “not-so-disposable” income situation. And while I’m happy to report that I still remember much of what I learned about fragrances and how to select truly magnificent scents, I’ve also learned through experience that a hefty price tag doesn’t make something smell great, and something value priced really can be exceptional.

I chose Curve for Men because it is a scent he hasn’t worn before, but it is one I think he is really going to enjoy wearing. It comes across as fresh and outdoorsy, but not overpowering, which makes it perfect for an office setting. I wouldn’t say that it smells “sexy,” and that makes it a safe choice for men on your shopping list like your younger brother or even your dad.

#shop #scentsavings curve for men collage

Curve for Men combines the scents of Douglas Fir, bergamot (similar to an orange), lavender and green leaf. It is crisp and fresh, but not overly bright. I am a big fan of it, and I think that this complex fragrance is bargain priced at Walmart right now. I picked up the gift set, which included a 2.5 oz cologne bottle, some hair/body wash, and a scented deodorant for just under $20. I have easily spent 3 times as much on cologne that didn’t smell half as good as Curve for Men.

Walmart and Walmart.com both have some shockingly awesome selections of celebrity department store quality gift sets available this holiday season. I found myself lingering over the Taylor Swift options. The bottles are so swoon-worthy, and the smells inside them are just fantastic! And if you happen to be shopping for a millineal, please note the free celebrity ringtone offer that is included on the package! I saw them on lots of different sets; they are perfect for the generation that changes their ringtones as often as they change shoes.

Curve for Men is just one of many great Christmas present ideas in the fragrance department at Walmart. You can see some of the other great #scentsavings options in this fabulous digital magazine (and it has a ton of other great ideas for the holidays…definitely worth a scan!).

You can also check out what some other bloggers have found while browsing the fragrance section at Walmart. They have discovered GREAT gifts and really creative ways to give them, too! Poke around at http://scentsavings.com and see what ideas it might help you come up with!

Is perfume or cologne on your shopping or wish list this year? Did you know that Walmart offered such quality fragrances at such reasonable prices?

#BakingIdeas and a Sweet Coupon to Get You Started!

December 3, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This post highlighting holiday baking ideas has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client.

Want to impress your friends with your baking skills? Bake a dessert that will be the highlight of every meal with M&M’s® chocolate candies! Print out your coupon, buy some M&M’s® at Walmart, and pre-heat the oven, because whether you have an office or class party, or just want to treat your family, it’s time to get out the oven mitts and start baking! #BakingIdeas

And if you are like me and a bit “challenged” in the creativity department, here’s a whole collection of bright ideas to get you started! I’ve got my eye on the M&M’s brownie trifle! Get in my belly!!

Super Mario Fun: A Christmas Tradition

November 26, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

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

One of my most vivid Christmas memories is from 1986, and involves a present that wasn’t even for me. It was the Christmas that my older brother got the Nintendo NES.

I will never forget that moment, you guys. When he tore the wrapping paper and saw what was inside, he let out the most perfect high pitch note as his scream, and held it for, I’m guessing, 8 seconds.

It was an epic response to an epic gift, and it is hands-down one of my favorite Christmas memories of all time.

I’ll also never never forget getting to play Super Mario World™ for the first time. It didn’t hold my interest very much until I heard about the Princess in the game. I don’t think it was the fact that she was a princess that interested me, as much as the fact that there was a girl in the game.

All the characters have continued on since that time through several different fun games. Mario, Luigi, Princess and Toad are now battling it out once again in Super Mario 3D Land. This is the first multiplayer Super Mario World™ game, now available on WiiU, set in a 3D world. Players can pick one of the characters and learn how to master their talents. Once you’ve got one down, start working on the next! One example of a cool new skill: Cat Mario can climb high (where secrets are often hidden), pounce, and my personal favorite, claw his enemies! That ought to be one heck of a cat fight!

I can’t possibly be the only child of the ’80s with vivid memories of the first Nintendo system to arrive at their homes. Tell me a little about your memories! And did you have a favorite character back then? What about now?

Citi Tuesdays Offer Bonuses to Citi Card Holders at Walmart.com

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

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

Attention all Citi® credit card card holders! From now through 12/17, if you shop at Walmart.com on a Tuesday and make a qualifying purchase of $100 or more, you will score a bonus $10 Walmart eGift card! This Citi Tuesdays bonus will allow you to pick up some of the bigger ticket items on your shopping list, as well as have some bonus shopping money for stocking stuffers! My strategy would definitely be to put the gift card toward candy, which is one of those thngs I forget to buy until the last minute. $10 worth of candy can put a dent into the space I need to fill in the stockings this year for sure!

Alternatively, you could use the gift card as a gift for someone who might be difficult to shop for. Leave the choosing up to them! Since the card is for Walmart, there's bound to be lots of things that the gift recipient would love to have there, and you know that they will get a great low price, too! Everybody wins!

So what would I purchase for my qualifying order? Right now I've got my eye on the Step2 Fort Slide Away. My youngest is currently obsessed with going down slides, and my oldest loves to create little secret hideaways. They would both be thrilled to find this under the tree (well, it probably won't fit UNDER the tree, but you get what I'm saying!).

So what are the bigger ticket items on your list this year? I'd love to hear and see links for them! And for all you Citi® card holders, what will you use your bonus $10 to purchase?

This Chef’s New Secret Weapon at Walmart: #STAROliveOil Usage Pairings

November 15, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop for Star Olive Oil at Walmart has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client.

I fancy myself to be a very creative and colorful cook. I blame the show Chopped for my flare. This is the show where professional chefs get a box of wacko mystery ingredients and have to make a dish that uses them all, I’ve pretty much deemed myself an expert at finding flavor combinations that surprise and awe those who sit at my table thanks to this guilty pleasure of mine.

I’m definitely successful at surprising folks with some of my creations. I’m a little more “hit or miss” when it comes to just how edible these surprises are. What can I say? They make it look like if you just want it bad enough, stuff that shouldn’t taste good together magically will!

Of course, I know the truth: these chefs have years (even decades) of culinary training and refined palettes that help them very quickly categorize flavor profiles and textures, and that helps them create magic, even from a box of stuff that wouldn’t ordinarily jive. As for me, I only get to watch them make unlikely duos such as Fruity Pebbles and caviar join forces to make something awesome, and then I head to my kitchen where I have no shortage of really random ingredients just waiting for their chance to shine or flop. But if they are going to flop, they will flop HARD in my kitchen. I don’t make stuff that tastes “ok.” I’m all in, baby.

Chef’s Secret Weapon

This week I added a new secret weapon to my arsenal. A secret weapon is something that you know will drastically increase your odds for success in the kitchen. STAR Olive Oil has just released some awesome new products that are specially made to be used with certain key ingredients. Check out the options that I recently found on the shelves at my local Walmart.

Also note that fabulous $1 off coupon. And it gets better…when STAR receives that coupon back from the store for redemption, it will then donate .50 to Operation Homefront! Win/win/win!

Ok, so back to the secret weapon business. These olive oils have very special extra ingredients that will help infuse awesome flavor into all kinds of foods.

Vegetables: Meet Your Match!

I chose the Arbequena olive oil for vegetables because as you might remember, we are part of a local CSA and we get a great deal of fresh vegetables every Wednesday afternoon to cook up and enjoy. STAR Arbequena Olive Oil will help bring out the flavors of all these fresh greens.

I noticed a few other vegetables in my fridge and on my counter (some broccoli and tomatoes) that were nearing their expiration dates, and so I decided to use them up in this recipe that I found on the STAR website. I switched up the type of pasta I used, but kept everything else the same.

YUM! What a healthy and delicious treat this made for my family’s lunch yesterday. Everyone ate it, and for once I’m really excited about having leftovers! Adding this olive oil to the dish really did seem to elevate the flavors of my veggies. I will absolutely use this oil again the next time I’m in my kitchen pretending to be on Chopped (someone please tell me I’m not the only one who does this!).

In addition to being inspired by all the crazy stuff I see on Chopped, I also adore finding new recipes on Pinterest (who doesn’t?!). And speaking of Pinterest, I just followed STAR Fine Foods there, as they have a kick butt Pinterest site with some seriously awesome boards. Gotta love when someone else does the hard work of finding awesome recipes for you! Getting my hand ready for a serious “repin” marathon! 🙂

If you’d like to try STAR Usage Pairings Olive Oil, be sure to get some now while that sweet coupon is attached. And also check out the giveaways running right now on the STAR Facebook page! They’ve got all 3 of their usage pairings oils, including Hojiblanca and Picual, up for grabs (there will be 5 lucky winners!). Best of luck!