Stuff Parents Need - Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Honest Company Laundry Detergent Review: An Honest Assessment

July 27, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Referral links included. I only promote what I personally use!

Today I’m showing off one of my favorite picks from the Honest Company Line: the Honest Laundry Detergent. It works GREAT and I love that it’s eco-friendly. I also love that a heavy item like this can show up on my doorstep and be taken off my shopping list when I run errands.

How to Get the Best Price

The retail price for the Honest Laundry Detergent is $12.95, and it will cover 70 loads in an HE machine, which is what I have. That means the retail cost is 18.5 cents/load. That’s on the pricey end, in my opinion. But you don’t have to pay $12.95! Instead, get the essentials bundle and pay just $7.20.You get 5 items in your bundle for $35.95, which makes each item in the bundle cost just $7.20. This is absolutely one to put in your bundle. The per load cost of the product just went down to 10 cents/load!

This is a subscription service, BUT it is the most flexible subscription service I have ever encountered…you don’t HAVE to get something every month…just call in and have your date changed to whatever you like. I have my bundles scheduled to come every 6 weeks, but I have called in and gotten them bumped back or moved forward, depending on my needs. They are easy breezy! And cancelling is just as easy, too.

You can also add another bottle on to your bundle for the month at a rate of 25% off (bundle subscribers get up to 3 more items of their choice for 25% off, which is a nice perk) and that brings it down to $9.71. I personally recommend adding 2 two your bundle of 5 at a time to get the best price and to get stocked up, unless you are new to Honest Company and want to try out a greater variety. I tend to stick the items that are already less than $7.20 retail into my add-on spots.

New to The Honest Company? Start Here!

The Honest Company offers some great freebies to folks who are thinking of joining, including free diapers, so definitely check out my post on Honest Company free samples. After that, you’ll want to see my running list of Honest Company product reviews so that you can learn which products to buy and which ones to pass on, as well as how to bundle them for maximum savings.

Lunch Box Love: A Collection of My Favorite Finds for School Lunches

July 27, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Thanks to Foodie.com for partnering with me today to form this curated collection of AWESOME school lunch recipes! All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

This morning I worked on compiling some great school lunch recipes that I am going to be using starting a few weeks from today when my oldest heads off to kindergarten (How did this happen? Seriously!). I know many of you out there are going to be packing lunches, too. Whether you are new to the endeavor, like me, or a seasoned pro who could use a few fresh ideas, I think you’ll find some things you like in my collection. Go check it out and be sure to save the ones you like the best to your own collections!

Healthy Cookie Dough Recipe (Perfect for School Lunches!)

July 26, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 71 Comments

Affiliate links may be included. I only promote what makes me smile!

I’m up to my eyeballs in recipe gathering so that I can be prepared when school starts in a few weeks and I have to start packing school lunches. I need ideas that are on the healthy end of the spectrum, that don’t have to be refrigerated, and that don’t require me to cut food into ridiculous shapes and give every item edible smiley faces (no disrespect to you bento wizards, out there. Rock on with your bad selves).

So when I came across a recipe for “faux cookie dough” that used chickpeas, of all things, as the primary ingredient, I knew it was so bizarre that I just had to try it.

And it was a BIG hit, friends!

It may be a stretch to call this recipe “healthy” on account of all the brown sugar in it, but it’s definitely fair to say that this is a more sensible choice, and certainly a safer choice than cookie dough. And just think of all the protein you are getting, too!

Healthy Cookie Dough

(recipe adapted from Family Fun, April 2014 edition)

Ingredients:

(1) 15 1/2 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
6 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
3 Tbsp old fashioned oats
1 Tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup chocolate chips (try Enjoy Life brand, my FAVORITE…and they are dairy and soy free!)
1/8 tsp baking soda

In a food processor, combine all ingredients except chocolate chips. Blend until smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides (the entire blending and scraping session took me around 2 minutes). Remove the mixture from the food processor and place in a serving bowl (I like to do individual ramekins so everyone can have their own!). Gently fold in the chocolate chips.

Serve with graham crackers, apple slices, or just a spoon!

Y’all, it sounds so darn weird, but my kids TORE IT UP. And they were positively giddy that I was letting them go to town on cookie dough! Even Tim thought it was actual cookie dough when he tried it. He was very impressed and asked if we could make it a regular snack option.

I’m definitely hanging on to this one; what a great special treat for school lunches or as an after-school snack! Let me know if you try it, ok? And if you’d like to try a dip recipe that is more savory, but that is equally bizarre-sounding (though also a winner!), then you should try the pumpkin curry bean dip!

The (Messy) Beautiful Truth about Laughter as a Mom (Giveaway!!!)

July 26, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

Thanks to Poise and Linqia for partnering with me to make this post possible. All thoughts an opinions are my own, as always.

I talk a lot on the blog about the fact that having kids is really REALLY hard work. That’s because I feel like sometimes this brutal truth gets swept under the rug quickly in favor of sentiments like, “But I’d never trade it for the world!” or “My children are my greatest joy!”

I identify with those feelings, too. It’s a mixed bag, this parenting business, full of some of the most intense lows and the most intense highs you have ever known, and often in the same hour, let alone the same day. Since I’m a fan of showing both sides of the coin, I thought we should tackle the subject of laughter.

photo credit: Auntie K via photopin cc

The Messy Truth

Let’s just go ahead and tackle the bad news right off the bat: if you have given birth to a child, then laughter is about to change in a physical way. Your laugh will pretty much sound the same (though perhaps the pitch might hint at sleep deprivation). But here’s the thing people don’t warn you about: a really good belly laugh might result in a change of wardrobe. That’s right, sisters, YOU MIGHT PEE YOURSELF. Thanks, Mother Nature, for that fun little post-delivery bonus!

This part of of laughing after you have kids is not fun, and it can also cause you to not enjoy life as much, out of fear that you might have a little “situation” when you weren’t prepared. For me, the solution is not to be found in curbing my laughing (because what fun is that?) but in making good use of a brand new Poise product designed for light bladder leakage (totally not a fun term…so let’s rebrand it as “mom laughs”).

Check out Poise Microliners the next time you are out running errands. You can find them at many retailers (such as Walmart). They are super thin, super discreet, and take care of you when something is absolutely hilarious and you just want to laugh, dang it!

The Beautiful Truth

The beautiful truth about laughter after becoming a mom is that the entire universe slows down and condenses itself inside of your little bubble in those moments that bring a smile to your face. It’s a completely overwhelming feeling to be totally lost in the joy of loving another little person, and that feeling happens at an alarmingly regular interval, as well. The highs are higher than you ever dreamed, friends, and that’s why the laughter is so often accompanied by tears. Your body is just feeling ALL THE FEELINGS and those are the moments when you feel like, “This. This is my greatest day on earth!”

The truth is that those moments are fleeting, just as a good belly laugh is fleeting. But they come at you out of nowhere and just blow you away with the intense amount of love and happiness that hits you all at once. It is like being submerged in joy, or as Queen Bey would put it, being Drunk in Love.

Laughter as a mom is worth the inconvenience that accompanies it ten times over. But let’s not be afraid to talk about the messy business of laughter, too, ‘k?

Win it!: We all need a “win” every now an then, and today is your lucky day! Every last one of you is about to be a winner! Poise wants to send you a free sample of their great new microliners. All you have to do is click on over and give them your mailing address. I think you will really like the product (I do!), and if you don’t, hey, it was free! 🙂

Tellus Science Museum: A Treasure and a Must-See in North Georgia

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

Thanks to Tellus Science Museum for hosting my family for a visit. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

Last weekend, on our way down to Atlanta for the day, we made a stop at Tellus Science Museum, which is in Cartersville, Georgia, an hour to the south of Chattanooga on I-75, and roughly 45 minutes north of Atlanta (depending on where you are in Atlanta and what time of day it is!).

I have to tell you, from my perspective as someone not familiar with this part of the state, it just seems like this really awesome looking museum in the middle of nowhere! I don’t know anything about Cartersville, but I don’t get the vibe that it is a large city. The museum, though, is of a quality to rival those found in the largest cities in America.

It. is. AWESOME!!!!!

I fell in love hard and fast with this museum during our visit, and I plan to head back as often as I can. I’m even looking into their membership options. Yes, it is absolutely worth the 1 hour drive from Chattanooga, and there is enough to do there to warrant multiple visits throughout the year, just with their permanent collections. When you add all of their special events on top, then it’s a no-brainer.

Hands-On Fun for All Ages

So many of the exhibits at Tellus Science Museum are designed for visitors to interact with. Tim and I found ourselves doing experiments right alongside our kids. One of our very favorites was getting to make sound waves become visual thanks to some sand and a really cool contraption!

Tim and I were both in awe of the section of the museum devoted to all things space. We both agreed that we wanted to come back without the kids so that we could read all the great information throughout this section, in particular. Also? MOON ROCK!!!

We enjoyed a show at the planetarium (the show for the youngest kids happens at 11:30 every day, FYI), and got a kick out of seeing some impressive modes of transportation, from cars built in 1903 to the coolest helicopter I’ve ever personally seen (and I grew up next to Ft. Rucker where the Army’s helicopter pilots all get trained, so that’s saying something!).

The dinosaur exhibit was also really incredible. Lots of great skeletons on display that help kids realize just how large these creatures were. They even have fossilized dinosaur poop that you are allowed to touch, which of course, is awesome to the kids (and yeah, to me, too!).

Digging for Fossils and Gems: My Dreams Come True!

Perhaps my favorite part of the entire museum, though, was a small section tucked away down the hall past the transportation exhibit. DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS AREA! In a smaller set of rooms you will find a fossil dig area that contains dinosaur bone casts that are stuck to the ground but that are so very fun to “discover” as you (uh, I mean, as KIDS) pretend to be paleontologists. But what’s even cooler than pretending to find a fossil is actually finding a fossil, and this section is loaded down with small, GENUINE fossils. Every child is allowed to take one home. I saw lots of cool tube thingies (sorry I don’t know the official names, couldn’t read most of the signs on account of watching the kids!), shells and teeth. It was really neat!

And one room over you’ll find my favorite part of the entire museum…a “panning” area with sand, water, shallow pans, and the promise that you can take home as many tiny little gems as you can fit in a bag they provide to you. You guys, I have ALWAYS wanted to get to do this. And I cannot tell you the amount of restraint I had to use to not completely take over and go nuts out there, beating all the kids around me to the most awesome jewels. It took some serious self-talk, let’s just put it that way.

Because these two rooms are so immensely popular, you are asked to limit your time there to 10 minutes. I think we did 10 minutes or so in each section, as it was full but not ridiculously crowded, so we could linger a bit longer. Both of the girls absolutely loved these two sections, too. This was “hands on” fun taken to a whole new level. And I want to mention that there is no extra charge for visiting these rooms. It’s included with your admission ticket!

After we got our own special gems, we headed to the gems and minerals exhibit, our last stop of the day. The collection is breath-taking, to say the least. And I was also excited to see some amber, complete with a trapped fly. How cool is that?!

Tellus Museum was nothing short of outstanding, and I would very strongly encourage anyone within driving distance to make the trip at some point soon. The museum is open every day from 10-5 (except major holidays) and admission is $14 for adults and $10 for children 3-17). It is most definitely worth the ticket price. They have a cafe on site so you can grab lunch or a snack there, and they also have picnic pavilions outside if you want to bring your own. If you live in the Chattanooga or Atlanta areas and can visit more frequently, consider the family membership, which is just $95. Two visits by a family of four would cover that cost, which makes it a great buy!

Planning a Trip to Disney World: Disney Tips to Help You Prepare

July 24, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 10 Comments

My family and I headed down to Walt Disney World this November, and based on a recent Facebook conversation, I realized many of you are eager for Disney tips related to planning a vacation there. I’m excited to share with you what we are learning as we go through the fun (and also overwhelming) process of booking everything, packing our bags, getting ourselves down there (it’s an 8 1/2 car trip for us…too expensive to fly!), and then figuring out how to make the most of our time while we are there.

photo credit: Express Monorail via photopin cc

This Isn’t My First Rodeo…Sort Of

I grew up about 6 hours from Walt Disney World, so it was close enough that by the time I was in college I had been a total of 6 times. But I haven’t been back since 2000, and I’ve never been at all when I have had to be in charge of children. I always WAS the kid! So while I know exactly what to expect in some ways, a lot has also changed (Fast Pass+, the dining plans, and lots of new rides) and instead of doing back-to-back Space Mountain visits, I’ll be doing back-to-back Little Mermaid rides. And I’m SO excited about taking my girls, you guys. One of the best things about being a parent is getting to relieve childhood through play with your children. And there’s no place on earth more magical than Disney World…I’m about to get to be a kid again (at least for stretches of time) for a whole week!

Fair Warning: Disney is Expensive

photo credit: Tom Simpson via photopin cc

I’ve never had to pay for a Disney vacation, before (though I did pay for my own tickets the last time I went) so I get to experience that joy for the first time. ;-)I want to be clear with you guys about exactly what I’m paying for, and what I will be partnering with companies to review and/or promote (just like always!). My husband and I have been saving up for a Disney vacation since the month after our oldest was born, and she’ll be 5 in a few weeks. So we’ve been saving up for 5 years to do this. And it’s a good thing, because we’re footing the bill for our tickets, hotel, food and gas. If you haven’t been saving for half a decade, like me, don’t panic. Your trip doesn’t have to look like mine, and your budget may not be the same as mine, either!

In future posts I’ll be sharing a breakdown of our budget so you can see all the details. I’m not being sponsored to write about this process, so we’re talking about money that I’m choosing to spend. That’s an important distinction for many folks because you might be wondering if I would have booked this exact trip if it had been coming out of my own pocket. Wonder no more, because it is! 🙂

Tip #1: Where to Start When Planning Your Trip

When you are ready to start planning a trip to Disney (12 months out or less…but not less than 6 months, ideally) the first thing you need to do is get in touch with a Disney travel agent. Disney travel agents are paid for their time by Disney, and they are paid whether you book a ridiculously expensive and indulgent trip, a super budget-conscious trip, or no trip at all. There is truly NO PRESSURE from them to make a purchase, and that is awesome! I have been working with Leanne Phelps and I very highly recommend her. She has a lot of great ideas and she can get you a wide variety of price quotes based on your family’s needs. She has also vacationed at Walt Disney World (and been on a Disney cruise!) several times and has personally stayed at several properties, and this gives her some great insight into what to expect at various hotels, as well as how to maximize your time in the parks. If you are getting ready to plan a trip, reach out to her at leanne@mickeytravels.com and tell her Tiffany from Stuff Parents Need sent you. I only get good karma for the referral, but I’ll gladly take it!

You can actually plan out the exact same trip that a Disney travel agent will plan for you, and the price tag will be exactly the same (so again, there is NO upcharge for using an official Disney travel agent). Since it is a free service, I can’t say enough what a difference it makes to take advantage of it. I’ve got someone watching out for any Disney promotions that come up, searching for character dining for me, making the reservations we want in a flash, and on standby to help me navigate the world of Fastpass+. She’s there to help all along the way, not just with ordering tickets and making hotel reservations. What an awesome service!!!

What Do You Want to Know About Disney Vacations?

My next post is going to talk about the package we selected, and the cost breakdown for us. I’d love to hear what else you want to know about when it comes to planning a Disney vacation. Or perhaps you have been, yourself, and have some tips and tricks that you’d like to share. I’m all (mouse) ears!

Be sure to check out my other posts on our Walt Disney World vacation budget and our Disney World Fastpass strategy, as well as the report on what I would do differently now that we’re back!

A Two Second Decision That Builds a Forest: Choose Cartons

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

Thanks to Shop Cartons for partnering with me to make this post possible. And thanks for donating all the trees, too!

I LOVE when companies make is super easy for their customers to give back in a meaningful way. And friends, it doesn’t get much easier than sending out a tweet. That’s what is asking you to do this month: send a tweet that uses the hashtag #shopcartons, and then pat yourself on the back because your 2 seconds of work just resulted in a tree being donated. BOOM!!! They are hoping to donate up to 10,000 trees this month. Think you can help out? Here’s a link to make it easy to tweet using !

And if you want more ideas on topics related to eco-conscious living, check out the Choose Cartons website. It’s filled with great tips and ideas (one of my favorites is a post about eating fresh AND frugally…a combo that can seem tough, at times!).

Go forth, friends! And do it from your smartphone or from your computer…no need to even break a sweat!

Blueberry Kefir Overnight Oatmeal: Super Easy Superfood

July 21, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 20 Comments

This shop showcasing #KefirCreations has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

Ready or not, it’s time to start thinking about back-to-school, and for me, that means finding some good ideas for quick and easy lunch box fillers. It also means looking for ways to get the morning started right for my girls with breakfasts that pack a nutritional punch without causing me to spend all morning in the kitchen. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I might be able to do with Lifeway Kefir, especially since my girls LOVE it and drink it several times a week, already.

Well friends, I’m pleased to tell you that I came up with an idea that has just 4 ingredients, and only requires a bit of mixing and some hang out time in the fridge. Best of all, every single ingredient is not just good, but AWESOME for you.

What is Kefir?

Have you seen this product in the stores, yet? It’s fairly new to mainstream American grocery stores, but its hardly new at all, having origins that date back 2,000 years!

It’s called kefir and it’s a cultured milk drink loaded with 12 live and active probiotic cultures, which your tummy will thank you for because they help balance digestive health, as well as support your immune system. Lifeway Kefir is 99% lactose free and comes from cows that are not treated with pesticides, antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones. This is also a GMO-free product!

While it isn’t the same as yogurt, some people find it to taste similar to yogurt, though it is much runnier in its consistency, and therefore, drinkable. We use it all the time in our smoothies, and we also drink it by the glass. But this is our first time trying it as a component in oatmeal, and it worked out beautifully!

Here’s the recipe so you can try Blueberry Kefir Overnight Oatmeal yourself! And don’t forget to snag a coupon before heading out to the store!

Ingredients:

2 cups Lifeway Blueberry Kefir
1 cup old-fashioned oats
2 Tbsp chia seeds
1 cup blueberries

Start by pouring your oats into a mixing bowl.

Now add your Lifeway Kefir.

Time to add the chia seeds! I know chia seeds aren’t readily available at every grocery store, but it’s worth taking that little bit of extra time to find them (hint…they are on Amazon!). Why? Because they are pretty much one of the most nutritionally awesome foods on the entire planet. The amount of chia seeds in this recipe provides 12 grams of fiber, 6 grams of protein and 5.8 grams of Omega-3 fatty acids. BOOM!

Ok, now it’s time to add those beautiful blueberries. The antioxidants found in blueberries are huge, friends. Just one more reason to love this recipe! Gently fold them in so that they don’t get squished. If blueberries are out of season you can always go for frozen or dried blueberries.

All you need to do now is transfer them to a container with a lid (I chose a mason jar to save space, but do whatever works for you) and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight, or for a minimum of 6 hours. That’s it!

I personally prefer this version of oatmeal cold, but my daughter likes it warmed up, more like a traditional hot breakfast. Try it for yourself to see which way you like it, best! My husband thinks it tastes better with a swirl of honey on top, and I think it is perfect just the way it is, as the kefir adds that yummy tart flavor. It pretty much couldn’t be easier (as long as you remember to put it together the night before) and it leaves you feeling full and happy!

Need more breakfast ideas? Here are some more of my favorites

Kiwi Bread

Pumpkin Chia Pudding

Smoothie Bowl

I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke: Sharing Coca-Cola Just Got Personal

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

This post brought to you by Dollar General and Coca-Cola®. All opinions are 100% mine.

One of my favorite things to do with my friends is to sit down together and talk while having drinks. Some occassions call for coffee, and others call for wine. But I can’t think of a single instance where it doesn’t make sense to share a Coke®. Just one visit to the Coca-Cola®museum shows you that Coca-Cola® is an international language!

Dollar General and Coca-Cola® have teamed up together to make it easy to do just that, even if you don’t live near the folks you want to get to hang out with over a nice, cold glass of Coke®. Simply log on to the special website set up for sharing, and select if you want to share a coke with a family member, a friend or a co-worker. Then you get to post a special message on their Facebook wall letting them know that you are thinking of them and are sharing a Coke® with them, if only in spirit!

I sent this message to my sister via Facebook, along with a more personalized note about how proud I am to call her my little sister! I would sit down and share a Coke® with her more often if I could, but we live 5 hours apart by car.

I also headed over to Dollar General to check out their Coca-Cola® bottles, as I heard that they have some special bottles that actually have proper names on them. I thought I’d go see if I could find a bottle for a friend, and I did!

What I really enjoyed about shopping for these bottles is that I went in with one particular name in mind, and while I couldn’t find that name, I saw a few others that reminded me of people I know with those names, and that made me want to share a Coke® with them, too!

Definitely make a stop at Dollar General in the near future to see if you can find a name of someone you care about, and then blow their minds when you share a personalized Coca-Cola® with them!