Tiffany Merritt - Stuff Parents Need

(Jogging Stroller Giveaway!) Summer Fun Ideas to Try with Your Toddler

July 25, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · 149 Comments

Friends enjoy this fun partnered post from Shopko and Southern Made Simple, where you will find my awesome little sister, Laura!

When my baby girl decided to take her first steps back in March, she made it very loud and clear that she was tired of being cooped up in our house all winter long. She loves playing and exploring outside more than anything, and she was definitely ready to start enjoying the warm spring and summer air. After all, she had a new found freedom in her ability to walk, and there was so much she was ready to discover outside the four walls of our home! Her interest and curiosity about the outdoors came as somewhat of a surprise to me, because I have always preferred indoor playtime over being outdoors. Once summer is in full swing here in south Alabama, the heat alone is enough to make you never want to leave your beloved air conditioner!

However, I knew that it would be important for me to nourish my toddler’s curious side and get her acquainted with mother nature. I also knew that it would be important for my own sake to find a healthy balance in enjoying our outdoor summer time activities by incorporating things that would be both fun and interesting for both toddler AND mommy.

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So far this summer we’ve found several fun ways for us to get outdoors, get active and enjoy the sweet sunshine and summertime. If you’re looking for ways to get outdoors with your little one this summer, here are a few great idea starters to help you enjoy your time to the fullest!

Plan a Picnic/ Play at the Park

Even though we live in a very rural area, we still are fortunate enough to have a few local parks that children and adults can enjoy. Planning a picnic at the park is a great way to get out of the house, get some fresh air and let the kiddos get some play time in without spending any money. Depending on how hot it gets in your area, you may want to plan the trips to the park during the early morning or late afternoon to avoid being out in the heat of the day. Make sure to stay hydrated and find a shady spot to enjoy! My daughter and I have loved our play dates at our local park and have been enjoying the simple things that bring out the fun in our day, like playing on the swings and running through the grass!

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Make a Splash

If it seems too hard to escape the heat, make a splash in the pool! We like to join our cousins for a swim in their own backyard pool. If a backyard swimming pool isn’t readily available to you, take a look around town and see if there are any public water parks or pools that are either free or charge a small admission fee. There’s sure to be a park or splash pad near you that you and your little ones can cool down in while playing and having fun with others. If you’re feeling up to it, pack your bags and plan a beach or water park vacation! Enjoying the water is a great way to spend time with family and enjoy the outdoors during the summer, so put on that sunscreen and start making some waves!

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Bring Story Time to Life

Sometimes going outdoors just isn’t feasible every day during the summer. The summer months here are notorious for having random pop up showers that can last anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours. When the weather just isn’t cooperating, we break out our favorite books that help bring the outdoors inside! Currently, my daughter is ALL about the animals. She loves learning new noises that certain animals make, and she’s started learning how to point out which animal is which. One AWESOME way to help bring story time to life is to visit the zoo and see all of those animals in real life! My daughter has been busy learning about farm animals, so we thought a visit to see her Grandaddy’s cows would be a fun treat for her!

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If story time is something your kids might enjoy, check your local libraries to see if they offer any summer reading camps or programs that help kids explore their imagination and exercise their minds! You can even sign up for a library card and stock up on books to help keep your kids occupied when outdoor play time isn’t an option.

Take a Stroll

My favorite way for my daughter and I to enjoy the outdoors together is go for a stroll/jog down our road or on the walking trails at the park. We usually do this once a week or so in the late evening when it starts to cool down. It gives me the exercise my body craves and needs while allowing my daughter to relax and and catch a breeze while we move. She’s definitely been enjoying the view from her sweet new ride, the J is for Jeep Brand All-Terrain Jogging Stroller. It’s been SO influential in steering my sails to get outside with my daughter and get moving. Before this jogging stroller, trying to walk my daughter up and down our road was a nightmare! We live on a dirt road and the terrain is really tough, but this particular stroller seems to glide over it with ease and makes for a much smoother trip. I don’t know how we ever functioned without it, honestly!

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When we’re out on the walking trails or jogging down the dirt road, we simply lock the front wheel to help keep the stroller in place and not wobbling back and forth. Before this stroller, the plastic swivel wheels on our previous stroller would get hung up every few feet traveled. It was enough to drive you bonkers, especially if you were trying to exercise! It also comes with a safety harness to wear around your wrist to prevent the stroller from getting away from you. I really appreciate the peace of mind that gives, because it can be really easy to have a stroller roll away from you when you’re going down a hill or if you’re near a ditch.

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And can I brag for just a minute about how spacious the undercarriage is?! I mean, I feel like I can pack almost anything under there! It easily fits a large diaper bag and a small cooler. I can pack several drinks and snacks and take them along on our adventures with us! I also appreciate the space up top for holding keys, drinks, iPods, etc. Those are things I typically need quick access to, and I don’t want to have to fumble through my bags to try to find them. In the J is for Jeep Brand All-Terrain Jogging Stroller, they’re right at my fingertips the entire time!

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All features of the stroller are easy to adjust and it’s incredibly easy to fold. In just two simple and quick motionss, the stroller is folded and ready to put away! I will say that this particular stroller does not fold down compact at all in comparison to other traditional strollers. It takes up almost the entire space of our trunk in our mid-sized SUV, so that’s something to consider if you’re in the market for a stroller.

My daughter and I have been enjoying our outdoor adventures this summer and have had a blast keeping ourselves entertained through play, picnics, water fun and especially our mid-afternoon strolls. If you’re looking for ways to beat summer boredom and get outside with your little ones, I highly encourage you to look for ways to incorporate the suggestions listed above into your summer schedule. And if you’re looking for a way to enjoy the outdoor time as much as your little one does, definitely check out the J is for Jeep Brand All-Terrain Jogging Stroller! It’s got everything you need to make your outdoor summer days the very best!

Win It!

One very lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a Jeep Brand All-Terrain Jogging Stroller, courtesy of Shopko!

Shopko Jeep Stroller Giveaway

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5 Craziest Things Pregnancy Does to Your Body and Mind

July 20, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Friends enjoy today’s guest post and please pass it along to your pregnant friends who are likely asking themselves, “Is this normal?!”

Ah yes, the moment you find out the pregnancy is positive, you gush into the room with a variety of questions crossing your mind, what are you going to name the baby? Is it a girl or a boy? Should you start shopping for the baby already? After it’s all settled and the news has been conveyed, you’re bound to wonder what’s next. Thanks to our mother’s horror stories and romantic comedies, we all know pregnancy is no child’s play (literally). Although we’re all well aware symptoms like nausea, fatigue and back pain are common symptoms associated with pregnancy, here are the craziest things pregnancy does to your body and mind that no one has ever told you.

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Memory loss

Regardless of what you’ve said, memory loss may be a common symptom for many, and this is bound to occur after a few months into the pregnancy, usually when the other symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, back pain are the greatest. You may experience a lack of ability to concentrate, losing your train of thought and disruption in memory. In certain cases, these symptoms are sometimes confused with Alzheimer’s disease by people. But this is nothing to worry about as this is a common symptom associated with pregnancy. Research from Mayo clinic does support the fact that growing bump can impair memory due to lack of sleep, hormonal changes and disquiet of an impending major life change.

Your breasts may start leaking out of nowhere

We all know how breasts start producing milk when a baby is born. But surprisingly, this isn’t always the case; sometimes a pregnant woman or even a newly pregnant woman’s breasts may start producing breast milk out of nowhere. This is referred to as lactating. The crazy part here is, sometimes breasts may start lactating just by hearing a baby cry, and this baby not necessarily has to be theirs. So try avoiding bra-less days or white T-shirt outings, unless you want to cause a traffic pile up. Guess movies don’t tell you everything after all.

Extra saliva

This may sound super weird, but it’s true. Quite a lot of women are said to produce more saliva than usual. The cause of this may still be unknown. Changing hormones is usually the cause assumed sometimes or nausea could also be another reason as an excess amount of saliva is typically a body warning mechanism trying to tell you that you’re about to enter the puke city.

Higher Sex Drive

This is usually said to occur as soon as the symptoms such as tiredness that often happen in the first few weeks fade away. You’re revved up sex drive likely goes through the roof, even when your partner is more than satisfied. Also, this is liable to continue until the day of delivery (surprise surprise). According to a recent made for mums survey, 21% of the women are likely to experience a higher sex drive during pregnancy. Moreover, blood volume is said to increase during pregnancy. The volume of plasma increases 40-50% and red blood cell mass 20-30% increasing arousal.

Heightened sense of smell

During pregnancy, your nose may be prone to catching scents which you’re likely to ignore on average days. This can either work in your favour or not. For people enjoying certain kind of smells such as the smell of coffee or newly baked beef etc. this could feel absolutely fantastic, but bad smells may smell ten times more as well. This could make going to public toilets a total disaster and in some cases even certain food may end up making you want to gag. Research shows that this heightened sense of smell is usually due to increased estrogen which affects the olfactory system in the body.

Despite the positive and negative aspects of pregnancy, you may find some of these changes your body makes quite absurd. But trust us; nothing can be as beautiful and wonderful as bringing another life into this world. So just sit back and relax, being pregnant does have its privileges as well, it’s not everyday people throw parties for you and bring in all sorts of stuff they might think you need.

About the Author

Andrea Bell is a Freelance writer by day and sports fan by night. I write about tech education and health related issues (but not at the same time). Live simply, give generously, watch football and a technology lover. Find me on twitter @IM_AndreaBell.

Summer Learning: It’s Happening on Netflix

July 20, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I’m a member of the Netflix Stream team and enjoy free streaming service. I have been a happy Netflix customer for 11 years, now and am thrilled to share about my experience.

I know you are probably feeling guilty by this point in the summer about how much screen time your kids are getting. I feel you. I’ve been trying to keep the kids engaged in other activities, but there are times when I just have to surrender and get Netflix rolling so that I can get some laundry done, make dinner or even have a complete thought without being interrupted.

But here’s the wonderful thing: Netflix has some great shows that are sneaking in those learning opportunities left and right! I can’t tell you how many times my children have busted out with some animal facts or dropped some science on me and when asked where they learned it, replied “Netflix!”

Perhaps the hottest hit for the summer for them is The Deep. They get to watch an episode several nights a week after dinner with their dad. It’s one you should most definitely check out!

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We are also excited that another season of LEGO Friends: The Power of Friendship released a few new episodes. You might be surprised by the topics that get discussed in that one!

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Little Einsteins is a regular for my youngest, and a regular source of knowledge for her, too!

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And of course, if you really want to get some awesome history lessons in the mix, you will be delighted with Mr. Peabody & Sherman (and if you need a break and want to watch something fun with the kids, this is my personal top pick!).

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So if you need to give in a little to the requests for screen time, offer a curated list of options that can be fun to watch and help your kids learn some cool new stuff.

What are your kids watching this summer? Any recommendations?

How Can I Get Rid of Ants? 10 Tips to Remove Ants FAST

July 15, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago I opened the passenger side door of my car and discovered something positively horrific: approximately 8 billion* ants were in my car, in a line, going after who knows what (ok, I do know…it’s food. I’ve got little kids, what can I say?). It felt like a scene out of a low budget horror movie and I started to feel my skin crawl pretty much immediately.

UGH! Seemingly out of nowhere, we had ants!!!

You might be in a similar situation (though more likely the location is your house) and you are trying to figure out how you can get rid of ants right this very second. I hope I can help you out!

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The first thing you have to realize is that in the United States alone, there are more than 700 different types of ants, and each type responds differently to things, so your very best course of action is to bring in a professional who can determine the type of ant you have in your home and the type of treatment you need to kick them out immediately to ensure that you don’t find yourself with a full-blown infestation. I partner with Arrow Exterminators because I have found their staff to be extremely knowledgeable about bugs (which is important!) and they have specific plans for how to treat different types of ants so you aren’t looking at a “spray and pray” type of pest treatment. I trust them with all of our pest control needs inside and outside of our home.

There’s a saying that the best defense is a good offense, and it definitely applies to keeping ants out of your home. If you want the ants to go away, you need to get the right treatment for them with a professional, and you also need to prevent them from wanting to enter your house (or car, in my case) in the first place. Basically, your space needs to become very unappealing to them, and fast. And if you don’t have ants at the moment, take heed of these steps so that you won’t get them! They really love to come inside during the hot months, so now’s the time to make sure they skip right past your place when hunting for a cooler spot to hang out.

1. Always store food and liquids in sealed, airtight container. Not everything you buy at the store comes in a package that is easy to keep closed (flour and sugar both come to mind). So for us, we put many of our pantry items in larger mason jars and then label them. The pantry looks nicer and the food smells are kept to a minimum.

2. Pay attention to your pet feeding bowls. If you have a messy eater who spills bits of water or food onto the floor, you might want to change their feeding station or just be vigilant about keeping the area clean, as the food and water on the floor will attract ants. We had a very messy eater and it was a game changer for us to switch to this food and water dish.

3. Go on a hunt for cracks in the foundation. This is a prime way that ants (and other pests) can enter your home, so seal up all cracks in and around the foundation of the home with caulk. Be extra vigilant around all areas where utilities and pipes enter the home.

4. Chimney care. If you have a chimney in your home, you need to make sure that you have screened the vents and openings. Might seem like overkill for ants, but it isn’t! It will also help you avoid larger pest problems (hello, rodents!).

5. Check all screens. If you ever open your windows or doors and make use of screens, now is the time to check them for holes or gaps. This is yet another way that pests find their way into your home.

6. No dirty dishes! This one is the hardest for me, honestly, but the truth of the matter is that if you have food debris on the floor or anywhere on the counters, ants can pick up on the scent and will work very hard to get to that food. So you need to take care of the dishes daily, wipe down the counters daily, and sweep the floor daily (and don’t forget your kitchen table and/or dining room!).

7. Bathroom care. Ants are also attracted to water, so it’s important to pay attention to if you have stagnant water in your bathroom (beyond the toilet, obviously). If you have kiddos who take baths and do some splashing, for example, you’ll want to make sure that all the drops of water on the floor get removed and not left.

8. Check for leaky pipes. Check under your sinks and around your toilets to make sure you don’t have any leaks. Even very small amounts of water are enough to draw attention. And bonus: those leaks need to be fixed, anyway, so good thing you found them!

9. Keep plants off your house. If you have tree branches or shrubs that are touching your home, that’s a bridge for the ants to come over on, so take it away by keeping those plants, trees and shrubs trimmed.

10. Firewood check. If you have firewood piled up for the winter, make sure it is at least 20 feet away from the home and on an elevated surface. It is an ant magnet!

I hope these tips help you keep the ants from wanting to hang out with you this summer. Remember, there’s always more than meets the eye, so if you see ants in your home, there’s a good chance that there are more very close by (like in your walls), so do your due diligence to make sure they leave!

*Ok probably not 8 billion. But it was A LOT, y’all!

One (Very) Simple Thing You Can Do to Improve Your Community Right Now

July 12, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Hasn’t it been a heavy summer, friends? Heck, hasn’t it been a heavy decade? I have heard many people online talk about how scary the world is, and how it only seems to be getting worse. I’m not convinced that’s true, honestly. I just think the power of social media has allowed us to uncover more of the ugly truth of what is broken in our country and in our world. Because most everyone has a phone and a video camera with them at all times, we can see what is really happening out there, and not just what the news might choose to report.

And in the midst of it all, are you just feeling lost about what to do? What is an action you can take that will make a difference? Today I want to share one, and it is a very small one, but one very much worth doing. Friends, are you collecting Box Tops for Education? If you are a parent of a school-aged child, I can pretty much guarantee you that your school participates in this program, as it offers 10 cents for every Box Top that is collected and submitted by the school. If you aren’t a parent, you still live close to a school, and that school could really use your Box Tops.

The Easiest Way to Make a Difference

Education, in my opinion, is one of the very most broken systems in our country, and it’s also the area where the biggest positive change can happen. There are countless ways you can support the school your children attend or the school that is in your neighborhood, but for now, let’s focus on one of the very easiest things you could possibly do that really will matter: start collecting those Box Tops!!!

Strength in Numbers

Please do not get discouraged by the fact that they are only worth 10 cents each. This is a program that has its strength in the entire community participating. Just imagine if each and every household in a school’s district contributed just 10 box tops. Where I live, for example, the average number of households per school district is over 3,200. If each household turned in enough box tops to equal a $1 donation, that would be an extra $3,200 in funds per school, and that’s amazing, friends. I estimate that I collect around 60 box tops each year, so just imagine if every household could donate that amount. In the previous example, that would turn into an extra $19,200 donation per school!

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Change in our world doesn’t only occur by making grand gestures. It also occurs by every person striving to do just a little bit better every day, and by taking a few seconds out of their day to contribute to a greater good.

Snipping these little box tops takes mere seconds, but if we all do it, we will reap the benefits of a country where our schools have more of the resources they need to help our children be wonderful global citizens.

Where to Find Box Tops

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I would be willing to be that there’s at least one Box Top for Education on a product in your pantry at this very moment. I actually set my timer for 1 minute to see how many I could find in my house that quickly. I found 5! And remember, box tops for education are not only on food products. Be sure to look on your Reynolds and Hefty Products! In fact, you can find them on any of the following items:

Reynolds® Parchment Paper
Reynolds® Cooking Baking Sheets
Reynolds® Bakeware Pans
Reynolds® StayBrite® Baking Cups
Reynolds® Slow Cooker Liners
Reynolds® Oven Bags

Hefty® Strong Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags
Hefty® Ultra Strong™ Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags
Hefty® Ultra Strong™ BlackOut® Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags
Hefty® Cinch Sak® Large Trash Bags and Lawn & Leaf Bags
Hefty® Easy Flaps® Tall Kitchen Bags and Large Trash Bags
Hefty® Renew® Tall Kitchen Bags and Trash Bags
Hefty® SteelSak® Trash Bags
Hefty® Twist Tie Tall Kitchen Bags and Trash and Lawn & Leaf Bags
Hefty® Ultra Flex® Trash Bags

Hefty® Easy Grip® Cups
Hefty® Deluxe™ Plates and Platters
Hefty® Everyday™ Soak Proof Bowls
Hefty® Everyday™ Soak Proof Plates
Hefty® Style™ Prints Cups
Hefty® Style Plates
Hefty® Ultimate™ Easy Grip® Cups

EZ Foil® by Hefty® Bakeware Pans

What To Do Once You’ve Snipped

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Use a plastic bag to store your box tops while you collect them throughout the year, and keep it somewhere intuitive in the kitchen. For us, that means storing it near our aluminum foil in an easy to access drawer. Then you can put a note on your calendar for once or twice a year to drop off the box tops at your neighborhood school. I send mine in about every 6 months. You can call your school office to ask about when a good time of day might be to drop off your box tops, and if you have a child in school, just send them along with him or her one school day, and the teacher will get them to the right place. It’s SO easy, friends!

School Supplied Sweepstakes

Reynolds-Hefty Box Tops

Not only do Hefty and Reynolds Box Tops for Education want to help your schools, but they also want to help you get your kids ready for the new school year, too. Check out the School Supplied Sweepstakes and Instant Win Game, because thousands of prizes plus 10,000 eBoxTops to 5 lucky schools are going to be given away. Good luck!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Six Flags White Water: Tips for Tackling the Park with Young Kids

July 12, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Thanks to Six Flags White Water for providing admission tickets. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Last week my family paid a visit to Six Flags – White Water, a water park in Marietta, Georgia. It’s on the north side of Atlanta, so for us coming down from Chattanooga, it was a very easy 1 1/2 hour drive. We had a lot of fun, and we learned some things from our visit that I’d love to share with you if you are considering a trip to this water park in the future. I hope my tips help you out.

Go Mid-Week

We intentionally planned our trip for a Wednesday, and we also (unintentionally) went on a day when thunderstorms were expected for part of the day. This was a really nice double whammy for the crowds. I waited for 20 minutes to ride one ride, but otherwise, found next to no line for things, and the crowds in the wave pool and the lazy river ride (our two favorite things to do) were quite reasonable. If you can go mid-week instead of on a weekend, I highly recommend it in order to maximize the amount of things you can do in the park.

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2. Don’t Prepay for Parking

When I was on the White Water website before the trip, I found out that parking could be paid for in advance so you can get through the line faster. Since I knew I’d be paying that expense I decided to get it taken care of. Don’t do it! Parking at the gate is $15, and I spent $16.99 to get it in advance. It didn’t save me any time because there was no “express” lane for folks who already paid. Totally wasted $1.99, so learn from my mistake.

3. No Liquids

Just a heads up: if you bring in a backpack, beach tote, purse, or similar, it will be checked at the gate. I had a water bottle and was asked to dump out the contents before heading in. I was told that I could easily find a water fountain once inside the park, so it was no big deal to me, but it’s a good heads up. If you have formula or apple juice for a wee one, you might want to check the policies on the website to see if those things are permitted.

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4. Food is Expensive

This shouldn’t be a shocker, but it’s always nice to know: you will be hard-pressed to spend less than $10/person/meal, and that’s not necessarily including a drink. I noticed a few meal deals for families of 4, with burgers, fries and drinks for $40, but since my kids don’t drink sodas and aren’t big on burgers, that wasn’t a good fit for us. We ended up pushing lunch back to be a little bit late and just sharing a basket of chicken fingers, and then leaving the park around 5:30 and getting something to eat on our way home. I did notice a picnic pavilion and wished that we had brought our own food, only to later realize that no outside food is allowed in the park (with exceptions being made for dietary restrictions), so I guess that is just overflow table space for eating the park’s food. I get it, but it’s a bummer, especially with the overall lack of diversity on the menu. It’s pizza, burgers, and chicken tenders as far as the eye can see. The only work around I can think of is leaving your food in a cooler in your trunk, and then leaving the park (you can get a hand stamp) and heading back to the car to eat. This would be a pain in the rear, obviously, but if you have 4 or 5 people with big appetites and if you plan to eat twice, you could save quite a bit of money that way.

5. Know Your Audience

Is anyone in your party a thrill-seeker? Or do you have anyone who likes to take it easy and isn’t much for the rides? It’s good to have a sense for the types of things people really want to do. My kids really, REALLY wanted to play in the splash zones and they also loved going around and around in the lazy river. So we set up our towels and shoes in the Buccaneer Bay area since we were almost always within striking distance of it, anyway. My husband and I quickly let go of the idea of doing most of the rides because if there is a parent swap in place, it isn’t obvious and therefore, it wasn’t worth it to us to mess with it so that we could ride when there were so many open pool and splash areas our kids would rather be playing in, anyway.

And I will say that even if you don’t take advantage of all the great rides at this park, you can still have a really fun day. We certainly did!

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6. It’s Tough to Get Photos!

This is probably obvious, but I didn’t really think about how hard it would be to capture fun photos of the day in a water park. I happen to own a water protection cover which meant my phone could get wet, but even then, it’s a pain to lug around with you constantly when you just want to play! We rented a locker (which is $15, despite the website listing it as $14) for the day, and that did help, but it felt like a lot to spend just to be able to take pictures every now and then. Next time I go, I’m leaving my phone in the trunk of my car.

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7. Rain in the Forecast? Get a Plan

If a thunderstorm occurs, rides are shut down (which is just as it should be, obviously). I was very impressed with how the management of SF White Water kept guests in the loop about storms heading our way and how long they might last. We were communicated with via a speaker system that we could hear very clearly. What was a little concerning was that we were advised to seek shelter quickly when one particular cell was headed our way, only…where is the shelter? It’s an outdoor water park! I took the girls to the women’s restroom, and we had to camp out there for about 30 minutes. All this is to say to scope out the actual buildings you can enter in the park (it’s pretty much only restrooms) so you don’t find yourself outside during a thunderstorm, just under a roof with no walls. That’s not where I want to be when lightning is coming down! six flags whitewater 6

8. Where to Change?

We only found one changing area, called the bath house, centrally located in the park. It’s good to identify where it is so that you know where to get changed before heading home.

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9. Cabanas: Yes or No?

There are private cabanas in a few different sections of the park that offer shade, lockers and personalized service. The price tag is steep, at $150 for the day, but before you write it off, there are some reasons to think about going for it. If you are nursing a child, for example, it’s really nice to be able to close the curtain and have privacy (otherwise there’s only one nursing area in the park, located in first aid). Also, if you are planning on renting a locker, you get a very large lockable locker in your cabana included with the price. And additionally, if you plan on eating in the park, you get 15% off your food purchases, as well as personalized service, meaning that an employee will take your order and deliver the food to you. And you can also get changed in your cabana at the end of the day instead of hiking over to the bath houses. So depending on what your needs are, a cabana can be a really nice treat. Expensive, but nice all the same.

Six Flags -White Water is not a cheap park to visit (especially by the time you pay for parking, a storage locker and some food) but it IS a very fun place to visit. There are tons of rides and also plenty of open play areas so ensure that your family will have a blast all day long and leave exhausted. My girls slept GREAT that night! 🙂

If you have some tips for Six Flags – White Water, please share them in the comments!

When the World is Scary: 17 Tips for Talking With Kids About Tragedy

July 11, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This is an issue I have been struggling with this issue for quite some time. My kids have seen the pain on my face as I scroll through my Facebook feed or check the news,a and I haven’t had a clue what to say to them. This content helped me a lot, and I hope it helps you better understand how to help your children work through news that is scary.

With recent tragedies in the news, many children, including those challenged with special needs, are exposed to trauma through the media and in conversations. The Episcopal Center for Children (ECC), a nonprofit school serving children with special needs ages 5-14 in the Washington, DC area, offers some advice on how to talk with your child about tragedy.

how to talk with kids about tragedies

“Children hear information from other children and from the activities around them. Your child will pick up information very quickly after a traumatic event happens,” said Dodd White, president and CEO of ECC. “It’s important for parents and guardians to set a tone of openness and support with their children, and to re-assure children that they are safe.” Dodd and the staff at ECC offer the following tips and advice:

Use age appropriate language. Talk with your child about the tragedy in a way that is appropriate for his or her age. Elementary schoolers may have questions about their own safety and security. Older children may want more information about the cause of the tragedy or want to talk about how it could be prevented.

Share what is appropriate for your child. Be mindful about the personality of your child. Your child may be a 6-year-old who laughs at monsters in movies and can handle the truth about bad guys being a reality of life. Or your child may be a 10-year-old who cannot handle scary movies, and gets emotional when people are hurt. When answering your child’s questions about tragic news events, let the unique personality of your child be your guide.

Let your child know it is ok to talk to you about the tragedy. Spend time talking with your child. Let them know that they are welcome to ask questions and express their concerns and feelings. You might not know all the answers and it is OK to say that. At the same time, don’t push them to talk if they don’t want to. Let them know you are available when they are ready.

Be calm. Your child will look to you for cues about how to react. It’s OK for children to see adults sad or crying, but consider excusing yourself if you are experiencing intense emotions.

Reassure your child about his or her own safety. Point out factors that ensure your child’s immediate safety and the safety of the community. Review your family’s plans for responding to a crisis. Assure your child that he or she is safe and loved.

Limit media exposure. Constant exposure to coverage of a tragedy can heighten anxiety. Do not allow young children to repeatedly see or hear news coverage of a tragedy. Even if a young child is engrossed in play, he or she is likely aware of what you are watching on television – and can become confused or upset. Older children might want to learn more about a tragedy by reading or watching TV. However, avoid repetitive loops of news information once you have the facts.

Avoid placing blame. Be careful not to blame a cultural, racial or ethnic group, or people who have mental illnesses.

Maintain your family routines. Continue your family’s usual routines for waking up, dinnertime, and bedtime. The familiarity of these routines will help your child.

Promote self-care. Encourage your child to drink enough water, eat regularly, rest, and exercise. And follow this advice for yourself too!

Spend extra time together. Spend a little more time reading to your child. Take a few extra moments when tucking him or her in at night. If your child is having trouble sleeping, allow him or her to sleep with a light on or to sleep in your room for a short time. Extra hugs and cuddles are good too. All of these actions can improve your child’s sense of security.

Watch for signs of stress and anxiety in your child. Look for hyperactivity, irritability, regression, stomach aches/headaches, and separation anxiety. Take steps to relieve stress and anxiety.

Get physical. Exercise can relieve stress and help you and your child get a better perspective.

Pay close attention to your child if he or she has emotional problems, learning challenges, is going through major changes at home, or has experienced trauma in the past. Children can merge a new trauma and it can heighten their anxieties. If your child has suffered a loss, is facing special challenges, or been exposed to other trauma, he or she may be at greater risk of a severe reaction to a new tragic event. Watch your child closely for any changes in mood or behavior.

Do not dismiss or minimize your child’s feelings. Your child might worry that someone will come and hurt him or her. Rather than saying she’s being silly or that such things will never happen, help your child put things in perspective. Say how rare such things would be, and explain how unlikely they are. Address each concern. Point out that many children and parents out there have the same worries and we can instead focus on the definite “will happens” (fun things to do at home and at school and with friends and family) rather than on the very unlikely “might happens.”

Encourage the expression of feelings. Explain that it’s OK to be upset. Let your child write about or draw what he or she is feeling. Physical activity might serve as an outlet for feelings or frustration. If your child is acting out, explain that there are other ways of coping.

Do something for those affected by the tragedy. Focusing on what can be done to help others, can help children feel less anxious and more secure. Consider ways that you and your child can help victims and their families. You might take your child to your place of worship, light a memorial candle, or write thank-you notes to first responders.

Get help if needed. If your child is still exhibiting signs of anxiety after a week or two. Seek out a school counselor, therapist, a member of the clergy, or any other spiritual leader or mental health professional.

Tips adapted from the Mayo Clinic, SpecialNeeds.com, and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

About the Episcopal Center for Children
The Episcopal Center for Children (Center) is a nonprofit, nondenominational school and treatment program for children contending with emotional challenges from the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Accredited by the Joint Commission, the Center serves children who are 5-14 years old in grades K-8. The goal of the Center’s treatment, therapeutic milieu, and individualized special education program is to empower each child to function productively within his or her family and community. Building on strengths within children, the Center partners with families in treatment and focuses on enabling its students to access and become their best possible selves. More information is available at eccofdc.org and on Twitter@ECCofDC.

Honest Company Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 Review: An Honest Assessment

July 10, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Affiliate links may be included. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

I’m a firm believer that if you are spending the day outside with your kids and any part of that day is going to involve water activity (beach, pool, splash park, etc.) then spray on sunscreen is totally the way to go. Ounce for ounce it’s quite a bit more expensive than the lotion, but the convenience factor makes it worth every single penny.

Except there’s a problem: spray on sunscreens have a reputation as being unsafe, because you don’t want to inhale those nasty chemicals and that’s exactly what will happen when you spray them on.

And this is why I turn to Honest Company for my spray on sunscreen option. It’s a mineral-based product and doesn’t have any of the junk that your lungs need to avoid. It’s SPF coverage isn’t sky high (it’s 30) but if you research SPF a bit, you’ll quickly learn that there’s not much of a point of anything beyond 30, anyway. The truth is simply that you need to reapply your sunscreen fairly often if you plan to be outside for a while.

I find the coverage to be even and generous with Honest Mineral Sunscreen Spray, and because it is white when it comes out, you can see exactly where you sprayed and where you didn’t. Unlike other sprays, though, you will need to rub this one in a bit. It only takes seconds, and I supposed it isn’t necessary, but you will look like someone who walked through a splatter paint party if you don’t.

And now for a warning about this stuff: do NOT apply it inside your house or while standing on something you really care about (like your back deck). We have stains on our deck from this stuff because it does not wash off. Learn from our mistakes and put this stuff on while on the grass.

Honest Company sells this product for $13.95, but to get the best price you need to add it to a bundle order, as a bundle of 5 items costs just $7.20 per item, which almost cuts the cost in half. The only bummer is that you can only order 1 spray sunscreen per bundle (I would have purchased 5 at once if it had been allowed!). But you can add up to 3 additional items to your bundle for 25% off, and you can do sunscreen for all 3 of those slots if you want. The price per bottle at 25% off is $10.46, which is competitive with other spray on sunscreens your find at brick and mortar stores, only minus the nasty chemicals.

The product isn’t perfect, especially with the staining factor on hard surfaces, but it’s still my go-to for my kids. I don’t like having to tell my kids to hold their breath while I apply something to their skin, because if it’s that bad for their lungs, why would I slather it all over their largest organ (the skin), too?

Looking for more product recommendations (and tips on what to avoid)? I have a long and growing list of Honest Company reviews that you can check out to help you pick out the best of the best from this company before you make your purchase.

Summer Bedding: Why Down Alternative is the Way to Go

June 29, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Chattanooga has been unseasonably warm almost the entire month of June. Our weather has felt much more like August, with temps hanging out in the mid to upper 90s and the humidity levels sky high. One of the things I have loved about living here is that compared to most of the South, our temps are fairly mild, rarely getting quite as hot or as humid. Well, this summer that just hasn’t been true, and I’ve had to dress like I live in Florida. Rude.

If you are experiencing a heat wave, you might also be re-thinking your bedding situation. Tim and I typically use a down comforter, and that has simply had to go this month. We struggled for a bit to find what worked: a sheet alone was too cold and the throw blankets we had were a bit too small to keep us both covered (I confess…I’m a blanket snatcher!).

But now we’ve found something that is working. Linenspa sent over a bed in a bag kit which contained a down alternative comforter. Friends this is the way to go in the summer if you are like us and typically like a down comforter. Here’s why it works best.

Lightweight. In the summer, you need more than a sheet and less than a big, fluffy comforter. The down alternative comforter from Linenspa hits that middle ground beautifully, offering coverage but not overheating you.
Washable. Unlike down comforters, down alternative can usually be machine washed without incident. Love this! My girls are known for dragging comforters off beds to create play spaces or impromptu picnics, and that means that our comforters often are in need of a wash.
Allergies. If you are suffering from allergies throughout the summer (that’s me!) then don’t let what you are sleeping on contribute to the problem. This down alternative bedding is hypoallergenic, which means it is the perfect choice for the allergy sufferer.
Super soft. The entire bedding ensemble in this kit is microfiber, which is breathable and super soft. I want my bed to be extra comfy, especially in the summer when I may have spent some portion of the day feeling uncomfortably warm.
Summer visitors? No problem. I love this bed-in-a-bag set because it’s just great to keep in your linen closet for any summer visitors who might be headed your way. The set has the comforter, the sheets and the pillows and pillowcases all ready to go. No more having to dig around and assemble a mismatched mess for company. When it’s time to store it away again, you’ll appreciate that a down alternative comforter won’t take up as much room as a traditional down comforter would.

Make the switch if you are uncomfortable at night, friends! Right now you can save an additional 35% off the price (the bed in a bag set is already on sale!) by using coupon code STUFF35. Happy shopping!