Tiffany Merritt - Stuff Parents Need

Limited Edition Art Prints from Minted: Dress Up Your Walls

May 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Affiliate links included. I only promote what I love!

Anyone else out there itching for something fresh for your walls with the change of seasons? Painting is too involved (and permanent), but how about some lovely new art prints? Minted, my favorite place for beautiful birth announcements, has launched a set of limited edition art prints, and they are SOOOOO GORGEOUS! Here are my top 3 favorites (and PLEASE tell me which one you like best! You will help me choose which one to get!). Just click on the photos if you want to see these on the website.

1. Out to Sea

2. Summer Clouds

3. Grace

The prices for these prints are quite affordable, starting at $20 for a 4×6 (I’m interested in 11×14 size, with prices varying, but hovering around $40…not bad for something so pretty!). You can also purchase the frames for an additional fee. I’m inclined to do that simply so that I don’t have more work to do once the print arrives. It will be ready to hang!

If you’d like to check out the other prints available, created by a global community of independent artists, check out the full list. Your purchase goes to support the careers of these independent artists (yay!). And leave a comment telling me which one you like best, because it’s totally fun to window shop together! 🙂

Walgreens Has Simple Products as a Great Value This Week!

May 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Compensation provided by Global Influence. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

I’m headed out to Walgreens this week to pick a few items that I already needed, and to take advantage of the Simple Skincare sale happening.

If you purchase at least 2 products in the line, you earn 2,000 points on your balance rewards card, which basically equals $2 back! Additionally, the products are buy 1 get 1 50% off, so that will save me even more. I have used their makeup remover cloths in the past and absolutely loved them. They got my makeup successfully and my skin wasn’t the least bit irritated. I have sensitive skin, so it isn’t uncommon for me to be a little red after using a makeup remover, which sometimes can be a bit harsh for my skin. Simple Skin Care has NONE of the following: parabens, dyes, artificial perfumes, or harsh irritants.

Since I really loved the makeup remover cloths, and since Walgreens is offering some sweet incentives until the end of the month, I thought now would be a great time to give a few of their newer products a try. This afternoon I’m going to be picking up the Ultra-Light Gel Moisturizer, as the warm weather has made me realize that I need to switch out the moisturizer I used throughout the winter for something not so heavy. I’m also going to pick up the Simple Nourishing 24-hour Day/Night Cream because in addition to being sensitive, my skin is also very dry, so I’m going to see if this slightly heavier cream might be a good option for me to wear at night during the warmer months. I’ll report back if I fall madly in love with it!

Let me hear from you if you use Simple products! I’d love to hear about what your favorites are (and you may cause me to make more than one trip to Walgreens to pick up more products!).

Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta: A Dinosaur Lover’s Paradise!

May 13, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Thanks to Fernbank Museum of Natural History for complimentary tickets. Affiliate links may be included. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

I think it’s fair to say that almost every child, at least for a brief period of time, wants to be an paleontologist when they grow up, and dig in the dirt to make awesome discoveries of dinosaur bones. Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta is an absolutely incredible place to visit for anyone who currently has that dream, or who has had that dream in the past.

So…basically everyone!

Room after room in this museum is filled with displays that will pique your curiosity, launch your imagination, and cause you to simply stop and admire with a sense of awe and wonder. I was truly blown away again and again in this beautiful museum.

I also couldn’t help but notice just how child-friendly the place was. And when it comes to visiting a museum, this is CRITICALLY important. If a museum skews too heavily toward its adult visitors and offers too little for the young ones, a family visiting is going to be miserable because the kids are bored and the adults are desperately trying to read interesting information at lightning speed instead of getting to enjoy the exhibits. Fernbank strikes the balance beautifully. And their showcase pieces will make folks of any age stop dead in their tracks to stare for a while. Whale skeleton, anyone???

I couldn’t even snap a photo of the Argentinosaurus, which is the largest known dinosaur ever to walk the earth. The skeleton they have set up of it takes up a huge portion of a large rotunda. If you don’t see anything else in the entire museum, and only see this display, you’ve gotten your money’s worth, I promise! 🙂

But you aren’t going to want to stop there, friends! Be sure to take your kids to Nature Quest, which is a play area that makes kids positively squeal with delight. There are various scenes from nature that kids can explore. Our little mermaids-in-training spent quite a bit of time in the ocean!

This area also had cool tree houses and a rendering of a river and caves and really just all kinds of stuff. My little ones played there for an hour and a half!

I also wanted to point out for our mamas of infants and younger toddlers that near Nature Quest they have a bathroom area that is rather tucked away, and inside of it, I found a nice, private nursing and changing area, including a play area for the older kids while mom is nursing the baby. Yay for a comfortable, quiet place to nurse!

As we toured the facility, we also came across museum interns in a few different spots offering some educational crafts and activities. I thought they did a great job of sharing some age-appropriate information with our 4-year-old and also just giving her a chance to learn by doing. She’s stamping a picture of pottery here, using a design that has been found in the Atlanta area!

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices for Fernbank are as follows (as of May 2014):

adults: $18
students (with ID) and seniors $17
children 3-12 $16
2 and under: free

So if you are a family of 4, and 1 of your little ones is 2 or younger, your bill for the day would be $52. I believe it is absolutely worth the admission price, especially since Nature Quest is going to provide a space for your kids to run around and play for a while. There is a cafe on site that has reasonably priced meals, so I recommend going and planning on spending 3-4 hours there! You are going to love it!!

The best deal on tickets, however, is found through CityPass. If you are going to visit more than one major Atlanta attraction (speaking of which, don’t miss my Georgia Aquarium review and my World of Coca-Cola review!), this is totally the way to save big on your admission fees! Definitely check it out!

Have you been to Fernbank? Are you a BIG fan like I am???

My First Citrus Lane Box: Our Thoughts

May 13, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 4 Comments

Complimentary box provided for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. Affiliate links may be included. I only promote what I use and love!

I’m no stranger to subscription boxes, and for the most part, I find them to be little bundles of joy delivered straight to my doorstep. They are a great way to try products that I may not have heard of yet, or that might be a bit out of my price range but offered through a box service at a discounted price.

I decided to give Citrus Lane a try primarily because I was VERY impressed with how customized their boxes are. These are fun little boxes designed for children from the newborn stage, all the way up to preschool level. The company learns the exact age and gender of your child, and sends developmentally appropriate products. I appreciate this level of customization, as I have experienced other subscription boxes that weren’t as targeted, and therefore included products that were either too juvenile or too advanced for my child. Citrus Lane does a great job of hitting the mark!

Here’s what our box looked like:

The first item that got Layah’s attention was the Petit Collage beginner puzzle. She has played with this several times now, as she really enjoys putting things together (Legos, puzzles, etc.). It is cute, and spot-on for where she’s at developmentally. It definitely made for a fun new toy this month!

The other big highlight for her was the eco-kids play dough. It wasn’t quite as soft as the more popular version of the product, but since Layah has a tendency to taste whatever she makes with her dough, I was glad to see that this option was made with natural and organic ingredients.

The Medella citrus lotion that was included was a surprise for me, and I wasn’t too sure if Layah would like it. But as it turns out, she LOVES having me put lotion on her and do a massage. So that was a surprise hit, as well!

I honestly could take or leave the medi-buddy. It is a travel-sized first aid kit (though really it just has band-aids, some sterilizing wipes, a bit of ointment, and some stickers). I suppose this is a smart thing to keep in the car, though I’d rather just keep it in a zip-loc bag, as I’m not one for having this kind of thing take up more space than is necessary. Just my two cents, though!

Citrus Lane Subscription Box Prices (and a Coupon!)

Ok, so here’s how the subscription prices break down. You can purchase 1 month, 3 months or 6 months. You get the best per box price if you commit to 6 months. 1 month is $29/month. 3 months is $24/month. 6 months is $21/month. Each box will contain 4-5 products, and you will also be offered discounts if you would like to purchase more of any product you try in the box. Each box will have a retail value of at least $29.

In addition to receiving the great box of goodies, you also have access to other great resources on the Citrus Lane website. The Citrus Lane parent community is also a very nice resource, having over 300,000 mom and dad members that can engage with each other on parenting challenges and questions. The site also has some great editorial content and fun contests.

Take $10 Off!

If you’d like to try Citrus Lane for the first time, you can take $10 off any subscription using the code TAKETEN at checkout. Let me know how you like your first box if you decide to go for it!

Have you tried Citrus Lane yet? I’m curious to hear about your experience!

Fashion Friday: Super Cute Scarves from $5.97 Shipped! Woo Hoo!

May 9, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Affiliate links included. I only promote what I love!

I LOVE Fashion Fridays, friends! I thought today’s deal was definitely worth sharing. My Cents of Style has all of their scarves 50% off, and by using code MAYDEAL you get the discount AND free shipping! Check out just some of their great options (click on the photos to head over to the website)!

Geometric Summer Infinity Scarf- $5.97 Shipped

Metallic Silk Infinity Scarf- $7.97 Shipped

Spiral Oblong Scarf- $6.97 Shipped

Triangle Scarf- $8.97 Shipped.

Also of note today, Jane has super skinny belts for a fabulous price of $4.99! They’ve got other great stuff, too, so click the photo and go check out today’s steals and deals!

Let me know what you picked up!

How to Get Free Oils with Young Living (Because If You’ve Tried Them, You Are Probably Addicted!)

May 9, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 21 Comments

Affiliate links included. I only promote what I love!

Hello, my name it Tiffany, and I’m an oil addict. I’ve only been using essential oils with Young Living since February, and I got into it as a oil skeptic. But here I am just a few short months later, spending big bucks on oils every month.

Or at least it seems that way at first glance. Actually, though, I’m pretty much getting them to pay for themselves. And I didn’t have to sign my life away, commit to a who new business venture, or beg people to order something from me. All I’ve done is what anyone who has tried Young Living oils would do: I’ve shared my story! 🙂

edit: I’ve been asked repeatedly about where I got my shelf. I actually found it on Zulily, which is a daily deal site, so I can’t tell you how to buy one just like it! But for what it’s worth, cute wall shelf is really cute!

I put together a video this morning that details exactly how I’m getting my oils paid for through my Essential Rewards membership, and how Young Living offers sweet bonuses to folks in Essential Rewards (all without any expectation that you treat Young Living like a business! Hooray for bonuses without strings! 🙂

And here’s the video of Kayla’s that I referenced!

Want more information about Young Living Essential Oils? Here are all the posts I’ve written about them so far!

Starting My Oil Journey as a Skeptic

How I Support My Lungs and Sinuses Throughout the Seasons

DIY Shower Disks for Congestion

Sugar and Essential Oils Scrub for bumpy skin

How to Get Started with Essential Oils

How to Get Rid of Hiccups with Peppermint Oil

How to Strengthen Brittle Nails with Essential Oils

Use Lemon Essential Oil to Safely Remove Crayon Marks

How to Neutralize Bathroom Odors in a Flash

Traveling to Knoxville with Kids: Where to Stay and What to Do

May 9, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Last weekend we were the guests of the Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park in Knoxville, TN. Knoxville is an easy 1 hour and 45 minute drive from Chattanooga, and that makes it a perfect day trip location, or even a great weekend getaway destination. Knoxville is just 30 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains, an area with more to do than you could possibly make time for in a vacation.

But what if you would rather just stay put in Knoxville and enjoy the local sights? After spending the weekend there with my family, I can tell you that it’s a great option, especially if you pick the right place to stay!

Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park

I always thought that Chattanooga was the third largest city in Tennessee (just behind Memphis and Nashville). I recently learned that Knoxville actually is the third largest, and Chattanooga is fourth. As a VERY proud Chattanoogan, I was rather miffed about this! What has Knoxville got going on besides a huge university???

Well, actually, quite a bit. For starters, did you know that Knoxville, TN was home of the 1982 World’s Fair? I know that was 32 years ago, but you should care about this because there is a BEAUTIFUL park downtown, as well as a sun sphere that offers beautiful views and is free to visit. And Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park was built for the occasion. But lest you think you’ll be staying in a hotel straight out of the ’80s, let me show you evidence of the 9 million dollar renovation that the hotel underwent in the last few years.

The hotel has an absolutely gorgeous lobby area (perfect for when the little ones need to run a few laps…you know that’s something they just need to do from time to time!). It’s also a nice place to sit and have a chat on the phone with a friend in peace and quiet if your partner can hold down the fort back in the hotel room for you with the kids. Not that I would know this from personal experience, or anything… You’ll also see gorgeous and fun art pieces throughout the hotel, including a dazzling crystal chandelier and the world’s largest rubik’s cube! Also of note is a small but well-equipped pool (only 5 feet at its deepest, and warmed for year-round use) and a work-out facility. I used it planning on getting my run on. In reality, I only got my walk on, but hey, at least I did something, right?

Tips for Maximizing Your Stay

There are some features and some tips and tricks I want to suggest for enjoying your stay at Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park. You will love that they have the rounded shower curtain feature (a personal favorite of mine…makes showering feel much more comfortable and spacious!). They also have open shelving closets, which I wasn’t sure I loved at first, but after sitting with it for a while, I realized that they opened up the room quite a bit and gave even more area for our girls to play around in.

holiday inn world's fair Park 3

Speaking of our girls, for this trip we experienced having two connecting rooms, and I have to say, it was REALLY nice. Because we have a toddler who goes to bed by 7, when we all stay together in one hotel room, either the whole room has to go to bed at 7, or the adults have to go sit in the bathroom if they want to talk or watch a movie or read a book. I cannot tell you how many times Tim and I have spent hours at the end of the day crammed into a tiny hotel bathroom just so we wouldn’t have to go to sleep at 7 pm. It’s never all that fun. With two rooms, we had the ability to put our kids down at the ideal time for them, and then have the space and freedom to stay awake for a while longer in our room. But since the rooms connect with an inside door, we were still able to check on our kids very easily. I know two rooms are more expensive than one, but now that I’ve tried traveling this way, I can see where it is worth the extra expense, especially if mom and dad need a little space to themselves, too!

I also want to recommend that you either bring some extra special treats with you, or that you request them from the hotel staff. We had a cheese and cook platter waiting for us, and that made us all feel quite special. It was also just great to have something to munch on! Additionally, we had a few new toys to play with. Kids really love the novelty of having something new; it doesn’t have to be expensive! Gather up a ball, some stickers, and some glow-in-the-dark stuff and your kiddos will be very entertained. It might even buy you a bit of time to sleep in while they play!

Dining Options

Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park has a concierge level on the 11th floor. This is a VERY nice upgrade, or if you are a frequent traveler and have platinum status in their loyalty program, you are entitled to a room on this floor automatically. The reason I would recommend looking into staying on this floor is because you are served complimentary breakfast. There is a full service breakfast in the hotel restaurant, but it isn’t free, and if you are like me, it can be a challenge to part ways with your funds for something you aren’t sure your kids will even eat. The complimentary breakfast on our floor included yogurt parfaits, assorted breads and pastries, fresh fruit, cereal, waffles, milk and juices. It was great, and it was literally right outside of our door.

But perhaps one of the gems of the hotel is their on-site restaurant, Windows on the Park. You guys, let me just say that if you stay at this hotel and don’t eat at the restaurant for one of your meals, you have sacrificed visiting what is surely one of the greatest meals offered in the city, and it was right under your nose. We were positively wowed by the menu, which had a large variety of creative dishes using a lot of local, seasonal products. You’ll also find the restaurant to be very smartly appointed with stunning views of the park that was created for the World’s Fair and continues to be enjoyed today. This is NOT what I was expecting from a hotel restaurant. It had a very upscale vibe with a pleasantly moderate price point. The meal with truly one of the highlights of the entire trip. DO NOT MISS IT!

How to Spend Your Time in Knoxville

Ok, so I know that there are lots of hotels in Knoxville, but one of the reasons I would strongly suggest staying at Holiday Inn World’s Fair park is because of its location. One of the city’s top attractions, the Sun Sphere, is next door to the hotel. As in, right across the street. It is also nestled up against the beautiful park I have mentioned. This is a GREAT area to go for a stroll and to run around and play. Two blocks away from the park, you’ll find Market Square, which hosts a HUGE farmer’s market on Saturdays during the warmer months (last weekend was the opening day!). I’m a downtown Chattanooga resident, so I’m not easily impressed by other downtown areas, and I expected to be underwhelmed by what downtown Knoxville and Market Square had to offer. I will tell you now that I was WRONG WRONG WRONG, and truth be told, Chattanooga could take a few notes from Knoxville on how to create a vibrant downtown area. We toured several blocks of adorable shops and restaurants, saw countless booths of vendors selling everything from local honey to produce to jewelry, and we enjoyed having the area blocked off to cars so that everyone could walk around safely. It was a truly delightful experience and I would recommend that your stay in Knoxville include a Saturday if at all possible.

We also visited IJams Nature Center, which is just an 8 minute drive from the hotel (yes, we timed it!). This is yet another FREE activity that is great for the family. Plenty of hiking to do here, plenty of nature to surround yourself with, and plenty of places where kids will want to stay and play.

And of course, if you have kids, your entertainment in Knoxville is certainly going to include some time in the pool at the hotel. While it isn’t deep, it’s still a lot of fun. We played there on two different occasions and our girls would tell you it was their very favorite part of the trip.

All in all, I’d say we had a VERY good time in Knoxville. We stayed at the ideal location, we made ourselves comfortable with ample room and some fun goodies, we enjoyed fine dining without having to get in our car, and we found several totally fun and totally free activities to enjoy. Knoxville is a great place to visit with your kids, and Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park is the right choice for your stay. I highly recommend it!

The Child Who Took Me By Surprise #ThanksBaby

May 8, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

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

At 8:26am ET, on this day 2 years ago exactly, my second child was born and I was beginning my journey of being a mother for the second time.

But as it turns out, I wasn’t going to do the “mom thing” one more time. I was actually going to become a whole new mother. I didn’t realize that was going to happen, as I truly assumed that I had the whole parenting thing figured out and hat my second would pretty much be a carbon copy of my first.

Any parent out there with more than 1 child who is reading this is likely chuckling, because you know I was SOOOOO off base! I should have been clued in when my labor, which everyone swore up and down would be faster and easier the second time around, was significantly harder. I labored on my own for many hours, and then made the switch to the blessed epidural, only to have it only work on half of my body.

It seems little Layah wanted her presence to be “felt” from the very beginning. And feel it, I did, friends! My little Layah Wren, with a sweet, gentle name that reminds one of a sci-fi princess and a tiny little bird, is more like a Jedi than a figurehead, and more like a soaring eagle than a meek songbird.

She has grown me as a mother tenfold, and she has grown her sister tenfold, too. Darah was the apple of my eye exclusively until May 7th, 2012, when she became the apple of Layah’s eye, and the role model. What a beautiful thing it has been to watch Darah fill that tall order to be, as Glennon from Momastery puts it, the left lung for her sister. But she has done it, and the sight of it makes me positively dizzy with joy.

You were not what I imagined you would be, little Layah, yet you are infinitely more than I could have dared to dream.

Pampers Celebrate’s #ThanksBaby Moments for Mother’s Day

I imagine that the mothers out there reading this post can relate to all the surprises and joys that come from the journey of becoming a mother. It’s rarely what we expected it would be, and yet, all the hard parts of parenting (and there are MANY hard parts!) seem to be a necessary part of the story. Pampers totally gets this feeling, and I think they captured it well with their Pampers Mother’s Day video. Please take a moment to watch this adorable Pamper Mother’s Day Video and be sure to share it with your friends when you are finished.

What lessons has your baby taught you that you are thankful for this Mother’s Day? photo Pampers1_zps88131bda.png

Leave Dinner to Papa Murphy’s Tonight! National Mom’s Night Out (GREAT Coupon!)

May 8, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Are you headed out tonight to celebration National Mom’s Night Out? I’m up to my eyeballs in work, but I definitely plan on shutting the door to my room tonight as soon as Tim gets home and declaring the evening time MINE!!!

I’m pretty sure I’ll be headed over to Papa Murphy’s today to take care of dinner. It’s a great dinner option that only requires you to get your oven preheated! 🙂 Check out the great meal deal coupon below (you can print it and take it in with you or you can show it to them on your smart phone!). And you best believe I’ll be poking my head out of my room long enough to grab a slice (ok, 3 slices…)!

Not sure if you have a Papa Murphy’s nearby? Click here to find out!

NMNO_Coupon_500