Tiffany Merritt - Stuff Parents Need

Next On My Travel Wishlist: Puerto Rico

December 17, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Puerto Rico, The All-Star Island. All opinions are 100% mine.

This year I got my first taste of the Caribbean when I got to see a few of the islands. My stays there were terribly brief, which left me wanting more! As I flew home from St. Maarten, I realized that a cruise ship wasn't the only way to stay and play. I could hop on a plane and go directly to the paradise, and then stay for as long as I want (or can afford!).

And I have already picked out where I want to go: Puerto Rico! You don't even have to have a passport or exchange currency to enjoy this gem of the Caribbean. I've been checking out SeePuertoRico.com and I've been completely wowed by how they showcase all the ways you can Live your own 5-star vacation story in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is a golf-lovers paradise. Golf isn't really my thing, though, but just look at the list of things I have come up with to do while visiting. There's truly something for everyone!

1. See a rainforest, El Yunque (this is something on my bucket list!)

2. Practice yoga in a beautiful forest setting

3. Experience some of the best snorkeling in Puerto Rico at Carlos Rosario Beach.

4. See el Casa de Libro (the House of the Book) which contains some signed documents from Columbus' second voyage!

5. Go to a coffee tasting. I counted 5 places in Puerto Rico that offer special experiences to coffee lovers. Sign me up!

6. Eat at Food Network Star Roberto Travino's Budatai restaurant (or 1 of the 3 other restaurants he owns in Puerto Rico!).

7. Sleep in at the Turtle Bay Inn, a green hotel on the island.

8. Explore some of the over 270 miles of coastline, including Flamenco Beach, which is known as one of the best beaches in the world.

9. Glow like an angel in a bioluminescent bay.

10. Explore San Juan and take a historical tour.

11. Explore the third largest subterranean river in the world…and do it on horseback!

I saw countless world-class attractions being offered in Puerto Rico for sports enthusiasts, nature lovers, beach bums, and everyone in between.

Have you ever been to Puerto Rico? I would really love to hear about where you stayed and what you did. And if you haven't been, then you definitely need to check out SeePuertoRico.com. Leave a comment letting me know what you'd want to check out first!

And don't forget to Like SeePuertoRico.com on Facebook and Follow @PRTourismCo on Twitter. These are both fantastic ways to get to explore the island from your own home, and to get ideas to help you make a future trip there a 5 star experience.

Zubie Key: Smart Device for Anyone Who Drives

December 17, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

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

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

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

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

Why Do I Need Zubie?

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

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

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

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

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

See you on the road! Beep beep!

Over 100 Adorable Items $4.95 with Free Shipping!!!

December 17, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Time to turn our attention to stocking stuffers, and boy do I have a great sale for you today from one of my favorite affiliates! If you order by 5pm MST today, your order will be shipped today or tomorrow from My Cents of Style and will reach you before Christmas. They have over 100 items on mega markdown today only. They are listed at $5.50 each, but if you use code STOCKING the price goes down to $4.95 each. Shipping is totally free!!! You’ll find shoes, scarves, jewelry and much more!

Fashion Tuesday- Stocking Stuffers- $4.95 & FREE SHIPPING with Code STOCKING.

What It’s Like to Cruise: My Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas Experience

December 16, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 8 Comments

Friends, I have so many things I want to tell you about my very first experience going on a cruise. In November, I went on a press trip with Royal Caribbean, and explored all that there is to do on one of their truly remarkable ships, Freedom of the Seas.

In particular, I want to talk about how easy Royal Caribbean makes it to be gleefully entertained, how fantastic the kids programming is, how memorable all the meals really are (the food is every bits as good as they say it is!). And I want to talk about the most important thing that I learned: how critical it is for parents with children to spend time away from home AND away from their kids, together.

I’ve got separate posts headed your way over the next few months dedicated to each of these topics. For today, though, I want to introduce you to Freedom of the Seas, and if you have never cruised before, to give you a taste of what Royal Caribbean has to offer. We were told that cruising would give us an opportunity to feel pampered and to be very entertained, but we never could have imagined how a vacation could so easily provide wow after #Royalwow.

Accommodations

We stayed in a Deluxe Ocean Stateroom, which offered two twin beds that easily become a king, a small sitting area, private bathroom with shower, and most importantly, a small private balcony. The couch also converts to a bed to accommodate extra guests. The room was quite spacious for 2, and we could have squeezed in our two kids here, though it would have become decidedly less comfy if we had done that. When we cruise with our kids later (and we totally will…can’t wait to tell you about what they have on board for kids!), we will likely spring for a larger room.

The Ship Interior

The interior of the ship was, in a word, magnificent. It honestly felt like a floating city; very easy to forget that you were actually on a boat as opposed to at a resort complex on land! Freedom of the Seas has a main thoroughfare with what feels like a small, beautiful mall inside of it, with shops, specialty bars and places to eat.

It also has countless “tucked away” spots just like this one, where you can relax, have a drink, and just enjoy your surroundings. When we set sail, every single stateroom on the ship was booked, which means that we had somewhere around 3,000 passengers on the ship, not counting the 1,360 crew members. And yet, Tim and I were able to find place after place to steal away and be by ourselves, or at least not in a huge crowd. I have no idea how that was even possible, but I have been told that it is by design. The ship is overflowing with little nooks for people to find and enjoy in peace and quiet. This was one of the things that surprised and delighted me the very most about cruising. I assumed before going that it would feel like going on vacation with 3,000 strangers. But it doesn’t!

This is where we ate most of our meals. I mean, c’mon! The dining room was nothing short of spectacular. I felt so very spoiled just getting to dine here night after night. And the food. YOU GUYS. I have a whole future post dedicated to the topic, because it is just that worthy! 🙂

Entertainment

The Freedom of the Seas is a gorgeous ship, and it is perfectly appointed to encourage relaxation and pure enjoyment. But if you want to be entertained as well as to be relaxed, then don’t you worry: Royal Caribbean is ready for you!

Every single night they have amazing shows in their theater. We saw a Broadway review, incredible live musical performances, dancers, and a comedian (admittedly, he was offensive and I didn’t like him, but I guess that’s sort of the deal with comedians…). We even caught an afternoon 3D movie (The Croods! I’ve been wanting to see it for a while but I NEVER get to go to the movies!). I thought that the level of talent we got to enjoy on the ship was absolutely astounding. And as you can see, the theater can hold a lot of people, yet it still feels intimate. We had a great seat for every single performance, because there’s no such thing as a bad seat in the house!

We also got to try our hand at ice skating. That’s right, Freedom of the Seas has an ice skating rink. And as you can see, I was a total natural. I took one lap around the rink, gave myself a killer bruise on my arm (see picture above), and then retired my skates and decided to let the professionals take the ice.

Did you know that Royal Caribbean is one of the largest employers of ice skaters in the world? Their performers put on an incredible show for us. The house was totally packed for their shows; it was the most “crowded” I felt during the whole trip, and even then, it felt like no big deal. We were seated quickly and it only took a few minutes to get out of the theater afterwards. And best of all, no traffic to deal with to drive back home! In fact, we walked from the show straight to a fabulous dinner. What a vacation, people!!!

If you want something a little more “low key” then just play some board games with other folks on the ship. We took part in a really fun organized game of Apples to Apples. Evidently we aren’t the only fans of this game, as about 100 people showed up to play! In addition to organized group games, they also have a special room on the ship just for playing games at your leisure! Tim and I played a quick round of scrabble, and there was a fierce game of rummy happening one table over from us. Those ladies looked serious!

Arts/Culture

Or maybe art is more up your alley. TheCEO of Royal Caribbean is a huge fan of art, and his love really shows on the ships, which are full of beautiful pieces you can enjoy. There’s even an art auction on board so you can take home a treasure! We sat in on a very interesting art lecture while on the ship, too. See? Something for everyone!

I even managed to stumble upon a cooking demonstration, happening right in front of one of the main buffets on the ship. I watched the highly skilled chefs on board, I learned a few new techniques, and I got to sample the yummy end result. It really blew me away how many exciting and fun opportunities were waiting around every corner.

Work It Out

For those of you who like to work on your fitness, the views from these treadmills are quite spectacular. The workout facility also has a boxing ring (!) and an aerobics room for classes like yoga, pilates, and step aerobics. I almost got on one of those treadmills just so that I could workout in such a beautiful setting.

Almost….

Instead, I spent some very relaxing time in the sauna and steam rooms available in the fitness center. That’s got to be the best way EVER to work up a sweat. Seriously though, this was one of my very favorite moments on board: quiet, calm, warm, and relaxing. Growing up, I actually had a sauna in my house. It is SOOOOOO random, and not at all indicative of my income bracket. It just so happens that the person my parents bought the house from was “that guy” (you know, the upper-middle aged bachelor with a hairy chest, a gold chain around his neck, and a sauna in his master suite). I haven’t been in a sauna in 15 years (my parents use the space as storage! Ack!). It felt like going home, honestly.

Quantum of the Seas

While on the ship I also got to learn more about the ship that Royal Caribbean is currently building. It is called the Quantum of the Seas and I want to vacation on it SO BAD!!!!

So that would be bumper cars that you are seeing in this rendering. Bumper cars at sea. I think I could hang with that a bit better than the ice capades “incident” I had on the rink. Run into someone else on purpose? I got this!!!

That same area will also transform into a full basketball court. And I cannot WAIT to watch folks dribbling the ball on the high seas! Hee hee! Seriously though, the sports and fitness center on this ship is going to be second to none. Just imagine what the rest of the ship is going to look like!

What I Love About Cruising

I was so impressed with the Royal Caribbean staff, and the thoughtfulness behind the design of the ship. I spend 4 nights and 5 days without a care in the world, and without feeling like I was part of a big crowd. My experience on the ship was one of luxury and leisure. “Freedom,” indeed, is what I felt on this ship. Free to do as I pleased, when I pleased, and to always BE pleased. The staff made sure every moment was a #RoyalWow, and I had a blast. It was my first cruise, and there’s no way it will be my last!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

$3.00 Off Coupon for Pull-Ups!

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

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

How to Register on the Site

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

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

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

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

Parent Resource

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

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

LEGO Takes “Family Building” Activity to a New Level!

December 13, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

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

Anyone else out there have some LEGO products all set to go under the tree this year? We've got one en route to use from an online order at the moment, and I can't wait to give it to our youngest to play with, and yeah, let's be real, I want to play with it, too!

Right now you actually CAN do really fun family building exercise with LEGO products, and I mean that quite literally! Check out the LEGO Minifigure Family experience, wher eyou can custom create a minifigure family to represent your own. You can customize the skin color, facial expressions, the clothing options, and even the scene. I just made one to celebrate the holidays and to send out to loved ones. Check out my crew, LEGO-style!

It only takes a minute or two to make your minifigure family, but if you are like me, you'll want to take your time so you can pick out the perfect outfit. I men, c'mon, I am rocking a cat sweater over here, and Tim's in a Santa top, Darah's got some sort of crazy bejeweled outfit going on, and Layah is dressed like a gingerbread man.

And I barely scratched the surface of the wardrobe options, people. So much fun!

Pop on over and put together a LEGO version of your own family. It's free, easy, fun, and makes for a clever alternative to holiday cards if you are running short on time to get yours out!

Gift Ideas for Those Working on Their Fitness!

December 13, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Truthfully, there aren’t very many things that I miss about Memphis, which was my home city off and on for 10 years. But one thing I do miss VERY much, is their awesome water. Memphis sits atop a fantastic aquifer, and as a result, has some of the best tap water in the entire country. It tastes awesome! I never understood how bottled water makers ever sold anything in that city.

Chattanooga’s water, in comparison, tastes a little gross. Maybe not to everyone, but I was so spoiled by the water in Memphis that I feel like I’m taking a big swig of chemicals whenever I drink water from the tap here. Yuck.

That’s why I’m loving the Fit Top bottle. It is a water bottle that comes with its own filtration system. Not only that, but it also has a separate hole in the top, totally separate from the filter, where you can add anything you might like to add to the water (Crystal Light, energy shots, lemon, whatever).

My tap water tastes infinitely better after I run it through the Fit Top filter. But I still like to add a little lemon to my water to give it some zing. It’s a great product, and it is getting me to start drinking water again. Yay!

If you’ve got a health nut, a gym rat, or someone looking to make 2014 their year to get more serious about their health, then the Fit Top bottle is a great choice. No matter where you go, you’ve always got a way to have fresh, clean, delicious water! The 14 ounce bottles are $19.99 and the 24 ounce bottles are $24.99. They come in 3 different colors (red, blue and green).

How’s the water taste in your town? I’m curious to hear!

Fabulous Last-Minute Christmas Gift for Her (Under $10!)

December 13, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

My Cents of Style has got a great offer today for Fashion Friday! Use code CHEVRON8 to get these infinity scarves for $7.95. Shipping is FREE!!!! Scarves will be mailed out this weekend and early next week to ensure that they arrive in plenty of time to get wrapped. Get on it, shoppers! 17 colors available!

Fashion Friday- 12/13/13- Chevron Infinity Scarf- $7.95 & FREE SHIPPING with Code CHEVRON8

Healthy Tuna Recipes: Mediterranean Tuna Salad with #OceanNaturals

December 12, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop about healthy tuna recipes has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

Discovering Ocean Naturals Tuna

Last week I had to pick up some items at Walmart for holiday prep (we finally ran out of gift tags…about 8 years ago I purchased approximately 1.5 million tags at a 90% off sale). Anyway, I also wanted to get some ingredients so that I could make some healthy tuna recipes to keep in the fridge for snacking throughout the day. I’m definitely a grazer, and it is up to me to make sure I have tasty and healthy options at hand so that I don’t find myself working through a bag of chocolate chips. Not that I’ve ever done that, or anything.

I spotted a new tuna product on the shelves called Ocean Naturals and I was definitely intrigued. It is responsibly caught tuna that doesn’t contain any additives or fillers. What you find when you open a can is wild premium tuna, a dash of salt, and water or oil, depending on which can you purchased. You can even learn more about where the specific tuna you are eating came from by visiting http://oceannaturals.com/my-tuna/ and entering the code on the can. That’s pretty awesome, if I do say so, myself!

Ocean Naturals is good, good for you, and good for the planet. It’s affordable, too, so into my shopping cart it went. When I got home, I put together a dish that would wow my taste buds. I chose a few ingredients that really packed a punch in the flavor department, and the end result, if I do say so myself, was naturally delicious and AWESOME!

Mediterranean Tuna Salad

serves: 18 as an appetizer or 6 as a main dish

(1) 14.5 oz can chicken broth
1/4 cup water
(2) cups couscous
(1) head broccoli florets (roughly 3 cups), cut into bite-size pieces
(2) 6 oz cans Ocean Naturals tuna in water, drained (I used Skipjack)
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and finely chopped
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, roughly chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup feta cheese crumbles, plus more for topping
1/3 cup olive oil
2 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 tsp salt

1. Bring broth and water to a boil in a stock pot. Once boiling, add couscous, stir, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 12-15 minutes, and then remove pot from heat, open the lid, and stir the couscous every few minutes to help it cool down.

2. While the couscous is cooking, place broccoli florets in a microwave-safe dish, add 2 Tbsp of water, cover, and microwave for 2 1/2 minutes.

3. After the couscous is no longer hot (warm is ok), transfer it to your serving bowl. Add broccoli, tuna, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, parsley, and 1/4 cup feta cheese. Stir to combine.

4. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt in a bowl. Once mixed together, pour over the dish, then give it another good stir to combine. Add additional feta cheese on top, if desired. Serve immediately, or chill and serve cold.

Free Tuna Alert!

Ocean Naturals is currently holding a Tuna Tuesdays Facebook giveaway, and their readers are winning free product, so you should get in on that by heading over to their Facebook page! There are 12 winners every week, and you should be one of them!

A Little Pinspiration

If you are looking for more tuna recipes that can help you put together healthy lunches or healthy dinners, you’ll find a TON of inspiration on Pinterest! Check it out and pin your favorites!