Tiffany Merritt - Stuff Parents Need

How to Strengthen Hair From the Inside Out: NeoCell Keratin Hair Volumizer

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

Thanks to NeoCell for sending complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Over the past few years I’ve tried a lot of different hair products in an effort to keep my hair manageable, shiny and thick. Some haven’t worked at all, some have worked for a period of time and then quit once my hair got too used to them, and others (like no ‘poo) seem to work consistently.

neocell keratin hair volumizer

But I have never thought to take the “inside out” approach until I learned about NeoCell Keratin Hair Volumizer. I’ve been taking them for the past month, though I’ve been sporadic about taking them (I stink at remembering to take pills!). So I can’t tell you that I personally have noticed a significant difference in how my hair looks and feels based on the supplements alone. However, I can tell you that this product has already started winning awards, which is a good sign to me that it is doing something right.

The capsules contain NeoCell’s award-winning collagen with solubilized keratin. The solubilized keratin is a first in the industry, and that really sets it apart from other supplements. The keratin binds to the hair shaft from the inside, and makes it stronger and less prone to breakage. It has also been clinically proven to enhance hair volume and increase shine.

A one-month supply of Keratin Hair Volumizer retails for $19.99 , though at the time of this writing I saw it for $15 on Amazon.

If your hair is in need of some help, and the things you have tried on the outside aren’t working, try starting from the inside with NeoCell Keratin Hair Volumizer.

Sharing #BaconLove with My All-Time Favorite Bacon Recipe

January 21, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 16 Comments

This post was created in partnership with Bi-Lo. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

At my local grocery store, Bi-Lo, there is a BIG celebration going on, and it is all about bacon.

Awww yeah! #BaconLove is spreading like wildfire! And honestly, what’s not to love about the food also known as “meat candy?” Bi-Lo has some really great deals happening right now on all things bacon, so if you live in the part of the country that has a Bi-Lo, don’t miss out on your chance to go “hog wild” (Snort snort)!

In celebration of this event, Bi-Lo asked me to share my favorite bacon recipe, and I didn’t even have to think for a second before I knew what I’d be sharing. Friends, today I’m going to teach you how to make this:

Aside from cold cereal, which will always be the culinary equivalent of my first love, spaghetti carbonara is my favorite meal. I would eat this twice a week for the rest of my life with absolutely no complaints. Please understand that as a general rule, I don’t make the same dish in my home more than once every six months. I can’t stand to eat the same food frequently (yes, it is every bit as annoying as it sounds…I curse myself daily for needing so much variety). Anyway, the point is, for me to have a food other than cereal that I will eat so often is a REALLY. BIG. DEAL. And that’s because it is just that good.

And what makes it so good? The bacon, of course!

So here’s what you need to get started:

1 package bacon

1 lb spaghetti noodles

2 eggs, cracked and scrambled in a bowl (but not cooked!)

4 Tbsp butter

4 Tbsp olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

handful of fresh parsley (roughly 1/3 cup) (spring for the fresh stuff…it’s worth it!)

1/3 cup Parmesan or Romano cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil, and arrange bacon on the sheets. Once the oven is preheated, cook the bacon in the oven for 15-20 minutes (start watching it at the 15 minute mark). Such an easy way to get perfectly crisp bacon! While the bacon is doing its thing, get some water boiling for your spaghetti. Once you have a rolling boil, cook your noodles for the time indicated on the package.

While your noodles are cooking, go ahead and get your parsley chopped. I use kitchen shears to get the job done fast! Now’s also the time to grate your cheese, get your eggs cracked and scrambled in the bowl, and to start heating up the olive oil and the butter in a pan. Once the oil/butter combo is hot, add the garlic and cook it for a few minutes until it turns golden.

By this point, the bacon might be done. if so, remove it from the oven, and once it is safe to touch it, get it all nice and crumbled (once again, I used the kitchen shears!). Set crumbled bacon to the side.

Now your noodles should be done. This is where things are about to get intense, as you’ll need to do all the remaining steps fairly quickly. Ready? Here we go! Drain the cooked noodles and then return them to the pot. Add the butter/oil/garlic mixture to the pot and give it several quick stirs. Then add the scrambled raw eggs to the pot and STIR! STIR! STIR! The eggs are basically going to cook all over the noodles. You want egg-coated noodles, and not chunks of egg in your noodles. Stirring quickly is the key to success here.

Once you feel like you’ve got a good coating on your noodles, it is time to add all the other stuff (parsley, cheese and bacon) and mix it around a bit. And this is your end result!

The taste is absolutely incredible, friends! Don’t be intimidated by the crazy egg stirring step, and don’t be weirded out by how it sounds, either. Just trust me on this one and spread some #BaconLove to your family this week by giving it a try!

And since you already be interested in pasta dishes with bacon, definitely check out the Bacon with Butternut Squash Penne recipe. It’s SO yum!

What’s your favorite bacon recipe? Do tell!

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.

On My Workout Wishlist: Wireless Earbuds

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

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

So we are almost 3 weeks into 2014, friends. I’m curious how many of you have goals and resolutions for the year that involve improving your health in some way? I certainly do, and I’ll be the first to tell you that I have struggled right out of the gate to address it. While I have been improving my breakfast habits, which is an area I wanted to work on, I haven’t yet made it to the gym.

Yikes.

I need to get motivated, and that means that I’m about to start firing up my FitBit again. When I used it last year, it kept me honest about how much I had been moving, and on days when it seems that I had been particularly sloth-like, it helped me to recognize it, and then get the family out the door for a walk. Time to get back in the habit!

I also want to have some great earbuds on hand for when I finally do make it over to the gym for a little one-on-one time on the treadmill. I absolutely WON’T do it without music! I think I have some earbuds around here, somewhere. Maybe? Tim is the one who uses them the most often. And our cat, Hattie, has chewed through her share of earbud wires, so some have been lost that way.

I think I just need to get an official pair for myself. And I’ve got my sights set on the yurbuds.

These are WIRELESS earbuds. The are Bluetooth compatible, andthey don’t plug into your device at all, which is awesome! No more having your plug rip out while you are jogging or doing some other form of exercise. I’ve had that happen to me multiple times on the treadmill, and it always causes me to stop what I’m doing, which kills the momentum! Studies have actually shown that playing music during a workout can increase intensity and duration of exercise time by up to 15%. These earbuds were created by an Ironman Triathelet and 24-time marathoner in response to the problem of earbuds coming disconnected during exercise.

The Wireless Sport Earphones are sweat and water resistant, and they are ergonomically designed for maximum comfort. You get to focus on your workout, and not on if your earbuds are about to fall out or disconnect. I really love that! The battery lasts for 6 hours, too, which can get you through an entire week’s worth of 1 hour workouts (assuming you take a day off!). You’ll also never be caught off guard by the battery running out, as it provides visual and audio notifications of the need to recharge.

Best Buy knows a great product when they see one, and they are SUPER excited about the launch of these wireless yurbuds. To celebrate, they are offering 20% off all yurbuds products online and in-stores! Valid 1/19/14 – 2/22/14. If purchasing online, just use code yurbuds20 at checkout.

Additionally, now is a great time to get any sort of Health and Fitness product you might need (like a FitBit!). Best Buy is offering a $5 Best Buy Gift Card when you make a qualifying Health and Fitness product right now ( at Best Buy Mobile Specialty Stores). Valid 1/19/14 – 2/22/14.

What do you think about these? Would they make your workouts a bit easier? And do you have any song suggestions for my workout playlist? It needs an update!

Back On Track to a More Balanced Lifestyle (#WowThatsGood)

January 19, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 4 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 Collective Bias and its advertiser.

I have to tell you, as much as I love the fact that my family is together for almost every single meal daily (even lunch!), it comes at a price to my ability to maximize my work day. Since I work from home, I’m the one who is in the house and can get lunch and dinner ready each day. Mondays and Wednesdays are the worst, because I don’t have the kiddos with me before lunch, and it is prime “work” time. To spend 30 minutes of that precious time preparing lunch totally wrecks my attempt at a balanced lifestyle, because it gives me less time to get my job done, which in turn makes me more stressed out.

I’ve been noticing that as a result, I’ve been throwing together meal options that aren’t the best choice for my family due to their high salt intake, and I’ve been stress eating while trying to work lightning fast on those days. I need to get back on track with some healthier options that are also really convenient so that I can focus on my work, and also not feel guilty about what I’m eating.

#wowthatsgood stocked freezer

So I headed to Walmart to find some options that would help me make the most of my work hours without coming at a steep cost to my waistline. I really hit the jackpot, too, and now my freezer has an ample supply of healthier choices that can be prepared in a flash.

Breakfast this week has been looking like this:

#wowthatsgood lean cuisine turkey sausage english muffin

This is the LEAN CUISINE Morning Collection Turkey Sausage English Muffin. I’ve been eating it with some sliced citrus and a glass of almond milk. It is totally filling and takes 2 minutes to prepare. The box I purchased at Walmart cost $2.50 for 2 muffins, which makes it very reasonably priced (I can tell you from experience that a similar product at a certain fast food joint with golden arches costs more than double that price per serving where I live, and I don’t even want to know what the calorie difference is!).

For lunch, my new favorite go-to dish is the Lean Cuisine Sesame Chicken dish.

Now, in my experience, frozen Chinese food is ok at its best. And if it is a lighter version? You’ll be doing good for it to taste edible. I know that LEAN CUISINE has a reputation for putting out excellent products, so I wasn’t expecting it to taste bad.

But I also wasn’t expecting it to taste great. But it really did! It tasted like REAL Chinese food, and it cost only $1.97 and was ready in 4 minutes. It is safe to say that I was shocked by just how yummy it was. Sesame Chicken from LEAN CUISINE immediately went back on my shopping list, and I plan to buy 5 more, and then treat myself to this particular lunch once a week for the next month! Little Layah also LOVED the noodles in the dish, and certainly ate her fill of them after tugging on my sweater and pleading, “Mommy! Noodle! Peeeze!”

Did you know that LEAN CUISINE items actually come with a Money Back Guarantee? I just recently learned this, and that’s really all I needed to hear in order to start trying multiple new (to me) products each week. I’ve tried their Salad ADDITIONS before (AMAZINGLY good, by the way), and I have just learned that they also have Wrap ADDITIONS. I picked up the Creamy Balsamic Chicken, and it is DELICIOUS, and MINE, MINE, MINE! Tim doesn’t like balsamic vinegar, which means I don’t have to share. Hooray!

I’ve also been wanting to try the LEAN CUISINE Simple Favorites Macaroni and Cheese, as that is a go-to dish for really bad/hard days (it is comfort food, after all) and I’d really love to try LEAN CUISINE’s take on it. With that Money Back Guarantee, I’ve got nothing to lose!

But here’s the tricky thing about the mac and cheese: getting it past my kids without them taking (ridiculously large) bites of it! Not only did I NOT get to keep this all to myself, but when I prepared this dish, it was all I could do to get a few bites in. My little ones were like hungry piranhas around it!

When I was shopping, I also knew that I needed to help myself make some better choices during my coffee breaks (which are frequent!). I’ve been curious about CoffeeMate’s Sugar-Free French Vanilla creamer, so I picked some up. Now I just needed a little chocolate, and found a great option with Skinny Cow. They have Divine Candy is a variety of options, but I knew the moment I laid eyes on the peanut butter creme filled chocolates that they would be going home with me. What a delicious and guilt-free snack break! I highly recommend them! And as for the creamer, I was very pleasantly surprised! I think it will take a little bit of time to get used to the sweet factor being not quite as strong, but given how much coffee I drink, making the switch to a sugar-free creamer is going to have a significant impact on my daily intake of calories. I’m glad I made the switch!

Later today I’m going to be serving a really fun snack to my entire family. LEAN CUISINE Three Cheese & Spinach Stuffed Pretzels will make for the perfect 3 o’clock treat for my crew, and is a much better choice than the alternative, which at the moment is leftover holiday candy.

What about you? Do you struggle to find food options that don’t take long to prepare and that promote a balanced lifestyle? Any particular products you think I should pick up the next time I’m grocery shopping?

Baby Shower Hostess Gift Ideas I Love

January 17, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

If you are the lucky recipient of an upcoming baby shower, don’t forget to remember your hostess, and bring along a thoughtful baby shower hostess gift as a thank you for all the work your friend put into your celebration.

Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with ideas that don’t seem to expected or boring, though (especially during the third trimester of a pregnancy, when I found it to be challenging to have a coherent thought most of the time!). I’ve got some ideas for you today (some affiliate links included) that are outside-of-the-box, as well as some fun twists on more conventional ideas. I hope they help you quickly identify a baby shower hostess gift that will be just perfect for you (and for your friend!).

1. If you want to be a little tongue-in-cheek with your gift, consider getting a really cute umbrella, and attach a tag that says, “Thank you for showering us with love!” I found these beautiful umbrellas for just $10 each. Score!

2. Toast to your friend’s efforts by bringing a bottle of wine and a set of really cute wine glasses, like these with a chalkboard-dipped stem. Since you are expecting, you’ll have to wait to share a bottle of wine with her, but the day is coming, I promise!

3. I think one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give is a bit of help after the party. If you are able to help with the dishes and clean up, why not bring some fancy dish soap, an organic hand towel, and a bit of your time? Honest.com has really awesome cleaning products that feel like a treat to receive. Don’t forget to get all your Honest.com freebies if you’ve never ordered from them before!

4. Flowers are a nice sentiment, but what about something that will last longer, like a beautiful potted plant? Bonus points if it also offers a few blooms, like this Serene Peace Plant !

5. Unoriginal, I know, but in this case, if the gift ain’t broke, don’t fix it! A Starbucks gift card is a welcome sight for any coffee enthusiast. StarbucksStore.com has some really cute design options that you can get shipped to your home. Easy peasy!

6. How about a break for those tired feet? Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Foot Soak in Cooling Peppermint is one of my favorite indulgences. Buy two, because you should have a bag, too! Just trust me!

7. I know what you are thinking: a scented candle? SO boring! But not this one from Diamond Candles. This one has a pretty ring inside, and that ring could be worth up to $5,000. Totally makes burning it and enjoying the delicious scent that much more fun.

8. Finally, if your friend isn’t so much into coffee (which means I totally can’t relate to her), perhaps she would like a fancy iced tea gift set? I thought this one was too cute, and the price point is nice, too!

Do you have any other ideas for thoughtful and fun baby shower hostess gifts? I’d love to hear them in the comments, and I’m sure others would, too!

Cruising: All About the Food!

January 15, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 4 Comments

I was sent on a Royal Caribbean press trip in November. My experiences and my opinions are mine alone.

Before we experienced what it’s like to cruise with Royal Caribbean, we heard a whole lot of tips, tricks, advice and anecdotes from our friends and family who had been on a cruise (or 7, in the case of my older brother). But one theme was consistent from person to person: everyone raved about how great the food is. And especially so on Royal Caribbean.

I will tell you that having a break for several days from having to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner was a HUGE treat. I would have been pleased as punch with mediocre food as long as I didn’t have to prepare it.

But friends, NOTHING is mediocre on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Every meal is perfection and so much fun. We had breakfast one morning in our room (room service is free of charge for the vast majority of the day!) and also enjoyed a character breakfast with the likes of Shrek and Fiona one morning. And don’t get me started on the waffles!

The chefs on Freedom of the Seas, the ship we sailed on, were so thoughtful about presentation. Eating happens with your eyes, as well as with your taste buds. I was smiling before I took my first bite!

We also enjoyed the lunch options, which were casual but, that doesn’t mean they weren’t excellent! As you can see below, attention to detail wasn’t spared. And the taste? Delightful!

This is the main dining room, where we enjoyed our extravagant dinners, as well as a few lunches and one special breakfast. You can’t help but feel totally spoiled eating in a room like this!

Our evening meals were true events: I particularly enjoyed taking time to “dress” for dinner (even though on most nights the suggested attire is on the casual side). We had 3 course meals that surprised and delighted us. And we were encouraged to let our server know if anything was less than stellar so that it could be swapped out for something different. One of my favorites was the seafood pasta I enjoyed. Since Tim doesn’t care much for seafood, I rarely make it at home. What a treat!

The desserts, as you can imagine, were their own little treasures. On our first night I enjoyed a cobbler that truly is one of the best I’ve ever had (and I’m from the South, where we don’t mess around with our cobblers, so that’s really saying something!).

And I also snapped a shot of my very favorite dessert of the entire cruise. Would you believe that it was served to me at lunch?! This flan was AMAZING!!!!!! Best I’ve ever had by leaps and bounds. I totally regret not asking for another one.

From the grab-and-go dining options on the promenade (pizza and pastries available around the clock, Ben & Jerry’s, and even a cupcake shop!), to the spectacular dining options at the Windjammer and main dining room, I really thought I had seen it all.

And then we had dinner at one of the specialty restaurants on board, Portofino’s.

I’ve had people ask me why you would pay an extra charge to eat at a restaurant on a cruise ship when the dining options are already so wonderful. Honestly, it’s a valid point. You certainly won’t be feeling shortchanged t by sticking to the complimentary options.

But now that I have had the experience, let me tell you what makes the specialty restaurants so darn special. First and foremost, there’s an intimacy about it that you won’t experience in the beautiful but vast dining rooms. It truly feels like a tucked away, quiet, romantic restaurant. Such great atmosphere!

The food is also a notch above what you’ll find in the main dining halls. I found that hard to believe since I was so wowed by everything I ate. But it’s true! You’ll find very premium dishes in these restaurants. And the presentation is just over the top!

I would recommend that you book one meal at one of the specialty restaurants during your cruise. The prices are quite reasonable when you consider the food quality and the service you will receive. It will also stand out as a #RoyalWow moment that you’ll remember for a long time to come.

If you’ve never experienced the joy of cruising with Royal Caribbean, and if you’ve never dined like a celebrity for a week (that’s what it felt like to me!), then let me suggest that you take a look at how to book a cruise with Royal Caribbean. The value, in my opinion, is simply unbeatable, unless you happen to have your own yacht, and your own house on a Caribbean island, I suppose. And if that’s the case, we should totally hang out on your yacht sometime!

Have you ever been on a cruise? What was the food like???

I’m Spending Valentine’s Day with My In-Laws

January 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Special thanks to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort for providing upcoming accommodations. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

So we are just shy of a month away from Valentine’s Day. It actually is a very special day to me because I accidentally started dating my husband on Valentine’s Day all the way back in 1999.

So this February 14th marks 15 years that Tim and I have been together. I think that is worthy of a getaway somewhere very special. We’ve selected Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

And we’re bringing Tim’s parents with us.

You are most likely wondering why in the world we would be bringing our in-laws on what could potentially be a very romantic getaway. It’s simple, really. We are eager to show the ocean to our little girls, who have never been before. We just got to have a child-free vacation, and now we are wanting to have some really great family time.

And my in-laws are part of that equation. They travel the world right now, and the stars just happen to be aligning so that they can join us on this adventure. I was totally shocked to hear that they have never seen the beautiful white sand beaches of the Emerald Coast. Destin was the beach I grew up going to, and only after visiting my first beach outside of the area did I realize how spoiled I was. I can’t wait for everyone in my family to experience the majesty of the area.

And I definitely can’t wait to explore Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

I mean, just take a peek!

This resort has 2,400 acres! And they offer complimentary amenities to all of their guests, including:

Bicycle rental
Fitness Center access
Tennis court time
Resort transportation
Seasonal water amenities including kayaks and boogie boards
kitchenware in all units

I can’t wait to share pictures and more detailed information with you as our trip nears. Are you looking for spring break or summer plan options? The Emerald Coast is one of the most breathtaking in the United States, I promise you that! Definitely see what Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort has available that could meet your family’s needs!

Valentine Craft for Kids: Heart Jelly Bean Bracelet

January 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 19 Comments

Affiliate links included for this Valentine craft. Enjoy!

I wish I had documented the day that my oldest learned of candy necklaces. Special treats joining forces with jewelry?!?! YES!!!!!!!!!!

So on a recent trip to the grocery store, I thought I’d see if I could find any Valentine’s jelly candy that we could use for a craft. Remember, I’m TOTALLY NOT CRAFTY, (no, really….) but I figured that poking holes through some jelly beans and tying knot in some string was something I could handle.

So here’s how I made a Valentine craft for kids in the form of a jelly bean bracelet.

First, I gathered my supplies. You need some jewelry elastic. I found mine at Walmart with all the jewelry making supplies, and I’m sure Michael’s has it, but that store scares the crap out of me (remember, NOT CRAFTY!). I also found these heart shaped jelly beans, but you can use anything you can find that you think will withstand the puncture of a needle really well.

Speaking of the needle, I wanted to get something really thick, and not sharp on the tip since this craft is intended for kids. I found a tapestry needle, and I have no idea if that was the “best” choice, but it worked for me!

Even with the large, “dull” needle, I still felt that the act of puncturing each jelly bean was a bit too challenging for a 4-year-old. I’m thinking this would be a good craft for maybe ages 7 and up.

I tied a few knots on one end of the string to get started, and then ran the needle and thread through the center of the jelly bean, like this:

And then I realized that I made a hole far too large for my dinky little knot. So I needed some other way to keep the string from falling through while I got all the jelly bean hearts on the string (I hope that makes sense!). So I busted out my Scotch tape and just taped it in place for the moment. Once again, no idea if that was the “right” thing to do, but it worked!

Once I had all the jelly beans on the string, I tied lots and lots of little knots. It needed several because this plastic material is very slippery, and I noticed that one simple knot will come undone. Several are needed for it to behave!

That’s it! You are done and now have a really cute bracelet. This is such a great craft for parent/child bonding time, or for a play date. You can even make necklaces or anklets using this concept.

I spent about $5 on the supplies, and I could probably make 4 bracelets with the jelly beans I have. Not too bad, and it was a huge hit with my daughter! Give it a try, even if you are like me and “don’t do crafts!” And just a head’s up: your tapestry needle will not survive the craft. It will be completely coated in candy by the time you are done. I gave the needle my most heartfelt thanks for its service, and then sent it to the garbage can!