• Home
  • About Me
  • Policies
  • Work with Me
  • Guest Posting
Stuff Parents Need

Stuff Parents Need

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

  • Style
  • Parenting
  • Giveaways
  • The Kitchen
  • DIY Projects
  • Fun Things To Do
  • My Favorite Finds

Take Your Awesome Pillow With You: Comfort Revolution Hydraluxe Cool Case Review

June 25, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own.

Last January I wrote a post about the best pillow I have ever used. It’s called the Hydraluxe Cooling Bed Pillow, and if you aren’t familiar with it, go ahead and read my review. This pillow is SO awesome and keeps me SO comfortable at night, that we have been purchasing them as we are able, and now have 4 in our home.

We have replaced the majority of the bed pillows we own with this one model. Because it is JUST THAT AWESOME. So when Comfort Revolution reached out to me to ask if I would review a Hydraluxe Cool Case, which is basically a pillowcase with the cooling gel built in, I told them that I didn’t think I could help them since almost all of our pillows already have the cooling gel in them.

hydraluxe-cooling-pillowcase-1

But then I was encouraged to think about one of the huge benefits of the pillowcase concept: portability! If you have a cooling gel pillowcase, you can take it with you any time you travel and enjoy that amazing, cooling sensation without having to pack your pillow. The pillow would take up a large chunk of a suitcase, but the pillowcase folds up nice and neat!

hydraluxe 2

My first suggestion to you if you don’t own any Comfort Revolution products in the Hydraluxe line is to try the Cool Case. Start with this product because it is a bit less expensive, and you can see how you like the feel of it on a pillow you already own. Once you fall hopelessly in love with it, you can buy the pillow for your home, and then you’ll have the pillowcase on hand to either use on a second pillow, or to keep with your travel items for upcoming trips. Prices start at $19.99!

hydraluxe 3

You might also like:

Hot at Night? How My Pillow Kept Me From Sweating

hot at night cooling pillow


Filed Under: My Favorite Finds · Tagged: comfort revolution, comfort revolution hydraluxe, comfort revolution hydraluxe cool case, comfort revolution hydraluxe pillow review, comfort revolution pillow, cool pillow cases, hydraluxe cool case, review

How to Make an Amazing Tomato Salad

June 23, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

This post was created in partnership with Winn-Dixie. I have been compensated in exchange for this post.

tomato salad 4

This morning after dropping my girls off at their summer program I headed straight to Bi-Lo (a sister store of Winn-Dixie) because I knew they were going to have some seriously awesome produce. Specifically, I knew I would find gorgeous tomatoes of all shapes and sizes because they were having a Big Fat Juicy Tomato Event .

I was invited to create a recipe in celebration of all things tomato, and after doing my shopping at Bi-Lo, that was no problem. I had plenty of inspiration!

tomato salad recipes

 

I made an absolutely stunning (and shockingly easy!) tomato salad, and here’s what you’ll need to make it at home.

Heirloom Tomato Salad

tomato salad 2

Ingredients

  • 3 tomatoes (1 red, 1 orange and 1 yellow, if possible)
  • 1 red onion, cut in half and sliced into rounds (save the other half for another recipe)
  • 4 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
  • 1/4 cup corn (I used canned)
  • 1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
  • 2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

Begin by slicing each of your tomatoes into fairly thick slices. Arrange on your serving platter as desired (I layered them on top of each other in a horizontal line).

Now add your onion slices on top, followed by the corn and the bacon.

Sprinkle the goat cheese as desired, and top with fresh cilantro. Serve immediately, and if desired, with oil and vinegar dressing.

tomato salad 3

This dish is a real show-stopper for parties and picnics, or you could be like me and just serve it as a special Monday night dinner surprise! Tomatoes are at their peak of awesome right now, and their beautiful colors and delicious flavors can transform a dish, or even make them the centerpiece of a recipe, like the one I made today. Don’t forget to stop by Winn-Dixie (or Bi-Lo!) this week to check out the incredible selection of tomatoes they have. You’ll be impressed, and you’ll also be able to turn them into something quite impressive!

tomato salad 5

Filed Under: The Kitchen · Tagged: big fat juicy tomato event, heirloom tomato, heirloom tomato salad, recipes, salad ideas, tomato salad recipe, winn-dixie

Orajel Kids and Precious #Smilestones (Contest Alert!)

June 23, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Tracking Pixel
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Orajel Kids. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. 

Isn’t it just the cruelest thing about parenting that the days are so long and the years are so short? I’m constantly having to say goodbye to one little person as a new little person evolves. I’m exhausted at the end of every day, and to varying degrees feel desperate for a bit of time to myself. And yet, I can hardly keep up with all the milestones these two little girls of mine are hitting!

Different Kids, Different (S)milestones

One of the things I have learned about having two kids is that in some important ways, life is actually is a bit easier. Now that they are a bit older, they can entertain themselves and play together for longer stretches. I can often feed them the same things, too, instead of having to make two completely separate meals or snacks like I had to this time last year.

But they are still quite different, and they certainly have different needs. One of the areas where I have to remember to provide different levels of guidance and even different products is with oral care. has an awesome line of products for every stage of development with your little ones.

smilestones orajel kids

For Darah

My oldest has been brushing her teeth for long enough now that she can use a toothpaste with fluoride in it. This is what she selected as her very own toothpaste. The kid looks like I just gave her an ice cream dispenser, or something. Knowing that she didn’t have to share something with her sister was a BIG FREAKIN’ DEAL!

orajel anticavity fluoride toothpaste

For Layah

Layah has some different needs since she just recently turned 2. She has actually had some teething pain (those 2 year molars are intense!) and she will actually go get her Orajel Naturals teething tabs and bring them to me because they help her so much.

orajel naturals teething tabs

Layah also REALLY likes to brush her teeth, but she hasn’t gotten the hang of the whole “spit out your toothpaste” routine, so she needs something fluoride-free. Orajel Kids has got her covered with the Training Toothpaste, and the sight of Thomas the Train doesn’t make it hard for her to be content with her own toothpaste, either!

orajel training toothpaste

#Smilestones Photo Contest

Orajel is hosting a super awesome contest RIGHT NOW and the voting period is just about to get underway (starts June 27th). Be sure to head back over to the Orajel Smilestones Photo Contest on the BabyCenter Facebook page to vote for your favorite photo. Someone is going to win a trip for 4 to Beaches Resorts!

Your Turn: Favorite #Smilestones?

I’d love to hear one of your favorite Smilestones that has happened recently with one of your kids! I’ll share two: Darah is getting quite excellent at making up her own songs (that actually rhyme!) and Layah just yesterday transitioned from a crib to a toddler bed!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Orajel Kids.

Filed Under: Parenting · Tagged: baby orajel, orajel, orajel baby, orajel kids, smilestones, smilestones photo contest

Babywearing made simple with the Soothe Shirt (GIVEAWAY!!!)

June 23, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 66 Comments

by Alanna Peters

I received a complimentary product for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own! 

I am all about babywearing. I wear my baby pretty much all day long, and we love it! I’m getting to be pretty good at wrapping and I’m figuring out the soft structured carriers, but when my baby was just a little squish it all seemed pretty complicated to me. Lalabu has come up with the sweetest, simplest way to wear and nurse your baby throughout the day! They created the Soothe Shirt, which has a built-in, cross-front nursing bra for easy breastfeeding and a pouch to put your baby in!

The Soothe Shirt is perfect for new babies up to 15 pounds. My baby is almost 16 pounds already (holy moly, she is getting big SO fast!) but we gave the shirt a try just to see how it works. You guys, I SOOOO wish I had this shirt from day one. My baby LOVED it! As you can see, she was all smiles as soon as I put her in the pouch. She’s a little big for the pouch so she was leaning out of the top but it would have been PERFECT for her when she was a little smaller. (Another bonus? I felt like the shirt made me look quite slim when the pouch wasn’t full of baby!)

Lalabu_Soothe_Shirt

Watch this cute video “A Day With Lalabu” to see how easy it would be to go through your day in this shirt. I LOVE it!

The Soothe Shirt is such an awesome product. The pouch is very comforting for newborns, who crave that closeness to mom. It is not intended for hands-free carrying but it does take baby’s weight off of mom’s arms and provides the comfort and bonding benefits of a wrap without the complexity. It is made in the USA and the seams are very secure, with the strength of climbing apparel. The shirt itself is designed to be worn all day long, either alone or layered with your favorite outfits.

0 Lalabu-Soothe-Shirt-All-In-One-Park

Check out these other videos showing how to wear and nurse with the Soothe Shirt:

Lalabu Soothe Shirt | How to Wear
Lalabu Soothe Shirt | How to Nurse

Another aspect of Lalabu that I love? Lalabu gives back. The company was created by Keri Fosse and her husband, Brian, who were inspired on a trip to Africa. In addition to the creation of a great product, they’ve built a One Day One Dollar business model. Each Lalabu team member volunteers one day a week to help women in need. They also give $1 of each sale back to women in Africa. What an awesome concept!

Buy it! You can purchase a Soothe Shirt from the Lalabu website for $60. Shipping is free!
Win it! Would you like to win a Lalabu Soothe Shirt? Enter to win a Lalabu Soothe Shirt (winner can provide size and color preference).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: General, Giveaways, My Favorite Finds · Tagged: baby pouch, baby wearing, baby wearing shirt, giveaway, lalabu, lalabu review, nursing top, review, soothe shirt

Cate &Chloe Jewelry VIP Membership Subscription Review

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

I recently had the opportunity to review a a new offering from Cate & Chloe. Are you familiar with this online jewelry boutique? They strive to provide affordable jewelry for everyday wear that is also really high quality. They recently launched a VIP membership program and asked if I would try it out and share it with you.

How It Works

My understanding is that for $39.99 a month you will receive 2 pieces of jewelry from Cate & Chloe that are hand-picked by their stylists for you, and that will have a combined retail value of around $200. If you wear a lot of jewelry, then I think this really is an affordable way to get some fun surprises in the mail, and maybe try some things you might have passed over if you saw them in the store without ever trying on. Since the jewelry gets delivered to your door, there’s no harm in trying it out, and you just may find that you love it!

While I haven’t personally be in contact with their customer service, I hear RAVE reviews about them, including their willingness to exchange a piece of jewelry if there is a problem.

cate and chloe vip membership review 1

My Experience with a Membership

I’m not sure if I was only supposed to receive 1 piece of jewelry as a reviewer, or if there was genuinely a mistake, but regardless, I only received 1 item in my package. I was sent the Olivia “Dignity” stud earrings. And at first blush, I didn’t care for them. They are too big to pass for real (I’d prefer to wear studs that someone might assume are genuine!). But I have worn them several times now, and I will say that they truly have grown on me. The detailing on them is very nice, and they are holding up beautifully. I can tell that they are quality pieces and not simply cheap costume jewelry.

cate and chloe vip membership review 2

Now with that said, I definitely don’t understand how the retail value of $125 that was quoted in my package came to be. Are they sterling silver, for example? No information was provided, and for me to believe that these are worth $125, I simply need more info.

No Style Profile?

I also think that just as people have very different tastes when it comes to clothing, the same is true for jewelry. I wish I had been able to fill out a style profile of some sort so that the stylists could have a better chance of sending me pieces that will work for me and my wardrobe. I personally think you are taking a bit of a risk to have them send you jewelry without knowing anything about your style.

With that said, having looked around the Cate & Chloe website, they do seem to have quite a large collection of truly beautiful jewelry. So it might be the case that it will be hard not to love anything they send you. But as for me, having just received 1 piece of jewelry with a retail price I couldn’t swallow, I wasn’t swayed to sign up for another month. But if you wear jewelry quite a bit, I think it’s worth the $40 risk to try it for a month and see if you are pleased with what you get.

 Discount Alert!

If you are interested in giving it a shot, I’ve got a coupon for you to take 20% off. That would make it just $32 to get 2 pieces of jewelry…a very good deal, I think! Use code STUFFPARENTSNEED20 at checkout, and you should be all set!

Let me know if you decide to try Cate & Chloe and if so, what you get! While it doesn’t seem to be the right fit for me, personally, I can definitely see where this is a subscription service of value to folks who wear jewelry a lot and like to stay on trend, and also have pieces that look more high-end.

Filed Under: Style · Tagged: cate & chloe, cate and chloe, cate and chloe jewelry, cate and chloe jewelry reviews, fashion jewelry, online jewelry, review

Stinky Diapers Are Gone: My Thoughts on Diaper Fresh

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

Affiliate links my be included. I only promote what I love. 

So as many of you know, Layah is being rather stubborn about this potty training business. She knows how to use the potty, and actually often will use the potty when we put her there, but she won’t ever tell us when she needs to go, and like many children, she has no interest in pooping on the potty (seriously…I REALLY don’t get this…how is poop in your pants “not so bad”?).

So at various points on any given day, Layah might be wearing a diaper, training pants or even “big girl” underwear. And even on my own most disciplined days where I remember to take her potty very regularly, we’ll still have at least 2 things getting soiled. So all that is to say, the sun may be setting on the diaper days in our home, but we aren’t done yet. Boo.

I’m OVER the Stink

We primarily use cloth diapers in our home, but there was a period of almost 2 months where we just used disposables (shout out, Honest Company). You guys, I was just bummed that Layah didn’t want to potty train, and having to wash the cloth diapers just made me feel punished. This is silliness, but it’s where I was with dealing with it, and disposables I could at least throw out.

But the smell? The smell lingered, my friends! We don’t have a Whisper Diaper Pail, so dirty diapers just go in the regular trash. So when Diaper Fresh reached out to me about a spray they have that has gotten RAVE reviews for truly eliminating the foul odors in both cloth AND disposable diapers, I had a little heart-to-heart with myself, admitted that we aren’t done with diapering, and then agreed to check out the product. It sounded like the type of thing I like to tell others about (if it actually works!).

diaper fresh collage

It Works!!!!

And it TOTALLY works, you guys. I have spritzed it on cloth diapers that are headed into the cloth diaper bag to await laundry day (which happens every 3 days or so). I’m sure you can imagine how disgusting that bag can get, in terms of the smell. I’m not saying that it is totally odor-free by using Diaper Fresh, but the difference is HUGE.

diaper fresh 3

For those of you who use disposable diapers, you may be wondering why you would need to spray something you are putting in the trash. If you have an air-tight system that locks away odors, then keep doing your thing. For the rest of us who just toss them in the garbage can, then you KNOW why you need this. There are times when I have taken out the trash only 1/3 full because it contained such a gross smelling diaper that I couldn’t allow it to stay in the house. It only takes 2-3 squirts from diaper fresh and it’s like the odors just disappear.

The bad odors are not replaced with a different smell, so this is NOT an odor covering product. It is an odor neutralizing product, and there’s a big difference!

A Second Way to Use Diaper Fresh

diaper fresh washing machine

I did a little experimenting with using Diaper Fresh in the laundry, and I wanted to share my successful results with you! I was noticing that my cloth diapers were starting to have just a wee bit of the “funk” even after being fully washed. All my cloth diaper readers will know that means that it usually means you have to strip the diapers in the near future (a cumbersome process because it takes a long time). I decided on a whim to put 1 Tbsp of Diaper Fresh in the first wash for the diapers (my first wash is more like a rinse, with absolutely no detergent). Well guess what? There was absolutely NO smell after the entire wash routine was over. Diaper Fresh saved me quite a few hours worth of work by knocking out the problem. I would not hesitate to use it again on my cloth diapers and I would not hesitate to use it on any other load of stinky laundry.

A Third Way!

diaper fresh in the car

I have even used this product on my kids’ car seats, which stink after a while and are a HUMONGOUS pain to remove, wash, and re-install. Save me a ton of time and hassle, and it nips those “spilled milk” odors in the bud!

Diaper Fresh is just a fantastic all-around odor remover, and I very highly recommend it, even if your diapering days are nearly over like mine are (please Lord let that be true!). You can purchase it directly from the Diaper Fresh website, or you can also find it as an add-on item at Amazon (just $6.95! More than worth it!!!). Whatever stage of diapering (or not-diapering) you find yourself in, I would suggest adding this item to your next Amazon order, as it is a versatile product for so many household odors!

Filed Under: My Favorite Finds · Tagged: cloth diapers, diaper fresh, diaper fresh odor remover, diaper fresh review, diaper odor remover, diaper pail, disposable diapers, odor remover, review

Piccadilly Lunch Upgrade: Coke and Dessert Added for $2.99!

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

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

Some of you may remember when I introduced you to a popular restaurant chain here in the Southeast called Piccadilly. You can see my entire Piccadilly experience with young children (spoiler…it was fun!). Piccadilly Restaurants are a bit different from most other restaurants in that it is set up like a cafeteria. You get to make your selections from dozens of different tempting items on display.

 photo Piccadilly-2_zps15c13ee9.jpg

See what I mean? Now I’m hungry…

Treat Yourself

Piccadilly is also known for their family-friendly AND budget-friendly offerings. Right now, for example, you can upgrade your meal and add a nice cold Coke (any soda they have, really, but where I live all soda is called Coke) and a yummy dessert.

 photo 5353c7b2-bbf4-40ea-a64d-af7352072053_zps798d3cd1.png

Now I will tell you, the I personally think that pecan pie is one of the best pairings with a cold glass of Coke, but you can go the cake route if you prefer. Or the pudding route. Or the pie route….

Pecan Pie photo PecanPie_zpsfabdb5fd.jpg

Beore you head out the door, though, take a minute to browse the Picadilly website, as you’ll find some other great offers like a free kid’s meal with the completion of a summer reading log, and family packs. This restaurant is always looking for new ways to help making the dining experience better for families, so definitely check out their special offers!

Do you have a favorite Piccadilly meal? I love to indulge on the coconut fried chicken tenders on occasion! And what dessert will you be pairing with your Coke?

 photo Cake_and_Tea_zps1cb26fd1.jpg

Visit Sponsor's Site

Filed Under: The Kitchen · Tagged: family restaurants, kid-friendly restaurants, piccadilly cafeteria, piccadilly cafeteria locations, piccadilly cafeteria review

How to Turn a Scarf into a Boho-Chic Vest in 30 Seconds (+ a Bonus Scarf Video Tutorial!)

June 20, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Perhaps I’m showing my age or my prudishness, but I don’t personally like to wear a tank top alone when I’m out and about. I just feel a wee bit over-exposed.

And yet, my friends, the summer temperatures are NOT conducive to wearing much of anything. Last summer was a breeze here in Chattanooga, but this summer is shaping up to be a beast!

I was recently sent two scarves from Printed Village (take a second go to check out there stuff…you will squeal with delight!!!). And I thought it made for a good opportunity to re-think the whole “scarves are for fall and winter” mentality. Today I’ve got two tutorials for how to wear scarves in the summer!

30 Second Scarf Vest scarf-into-a-vest

I first want to point out that I learned this AWESOME scarf hack thanks to Love Maegan. Definitely check out her great tutorial! For my scarf-turned-vest, I chose the fabulous City Lights scarf from Printed Village. Here are the steps!

1. Fold your long scarf in half so that it is half as long as it originally was.

2. On the long side of your rectangle, bring two of the ends together and tie a knot. Make the knot short, with very little leftover fabric.

3. Open your scarf back up and you will find that two holes have been created. That’s where your arms go! You are all done!

This look is very boho-chic, and it is MY JAM! It makes for a great (yet remarkably breathable) layering piece to go over a tank. I feel more covered and I think the look is a bit more pulled together, without requiring much effort at all!

scarf tutorial vest

 

Double-Knotted Scarf

scarf tutorial double knotted scarf

My other suggestion for a summer scarf look is to do the double-knotted design. This is how I wear scarves in the winter, actually, but it works great for thinner scarves, too. I’m wearing Printed Village’s Check Me Out in Navy (and yes, I think navy and black CAN go together!). Here’s a tutorial on how to get the look, which works with tanks and is especially great for “boring” tops that need a bit of pizzaz!

Let me know if you try either look! Want more inspiration? Check out the fun Lookbook that Printed Village recently put out!

Filed Under: Style · Tagged: 30 second scarf vest, double knot scarf, double-knotted scarf, printed village, scarf vest, scarves for summer, scarves in summer

Georgia Aquarium Tickets Giveaway!!!

June 19, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 65 Comments

Thanks to The Georgia Aquarium for providing free tickets for this giveaway. 

I know there are some places in the country where school is just not getting out, but my school-aged child has been out for a month, now. We have been keeping cabin fever at bay by planning EASY crafts, taking advantage of fun little notions at the dollar store (puzzles, hoola hoops, etc.) and by making sure we do a little bit of traveling to experience the fun to be had in our neighboring big cities.

georgia-aquarium-review-12

For us, that means heading down to Atlanta every few weeks, and one of our favorite finds has been The Georgia Aquarium. You can check out my Georgia Aquarium review.We were so impressed with just how friendly this place was for ALL ages. And before you get mad at me for making you want to go SO SO SO bad, just know this: I’m about to give one of you some free tickets!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win 4 free Georgia Aquarium tickets!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Good luck, everyone!!!

Filed Under: Fun Things To Do, Giveaways · Tagged: georgia aquarium, georgia aquarium tickets, georgia aquarium tickets giveaway, giveaway

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • 110
  • …
  • 326
  • Next Page »

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome!


Grab your beverage of choice (mine is iced coffee) and let's hang out for a spell! I'm Tiffany, and I've rambunctious little girls and a fierce desire to share any tip and trick I can find to make lives with little ones a bit less hectic and a lot more fun. [Read more...]

Popular Posts

Keep Slowing Down. You’ve Got a Race to Lose

Keep Slowing Down. You’ve Got a Race to Lose

Free Summer School for Moms (You’ll Love It!)

Free Summer School for Moms (You’ll Love It!)

The Best Cheap Mattress is Also The Best Quality Mattress: A Must-Read

The Best Cheap Mattress is Also The Best Quality Mattress: A Must-Read

25+ Moana-Inspired Easter Basket Ideas

25+ Moana-Inspired Easter Basket Ideas

The Book Every Child Should Own (And How to Get a Free Copy )

The Book Every Child Should Own (And How to Get a Free Copy )

Recent Posts

  • Educational Family Activities That Don’t Feel Like School
  • How to Set Up Your Kid’s First Tablet (Without Losing Your Mind)
  • Choosing an Engagement Ring in a Changing Landscape
  • Personalized Clothing in Family Portraits: Showcasing Unique Style
  • The Psychology of Dual-Monitor Productivity: Why It Feels Easier to Work

Search

Sponsors

Copyright © 2026 | Innovative by The Pixelista | Built on the Genesis Framework

 

Loading Comments...