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

Pumpkin: Don’t Make This Superfood Seasonal!

April 22, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

This post brought to you by Libby’s. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’m sure between October and December, you consume a fair amount of pumpkin. Most Americans do, and that’s good, because pumpkin is an excellent source of Vitamin A and Beta Carotene. It’s also got lots of extra fiber. Basically, it’s a superfood.

So why do we only eat it for 3 months out of the year? True, pumpkins have a peak harvest season, which is in the fall, but you can find delicious, nutritious, Libby’s Pumpkin, on the grocery shelves all year long. And I want to show you a recipe I recently made that is going to turn pumpkin into a pantry staple for my family! These are AWESOME for a bar-type breakfast option. I personally cut a little square for myself during the mid-morning and mid-afternoon “slump” time. It gives me the boost I need to power through!

Pumpkin Energy Boost Squares

Ingredients:

1/3 cup Libby’s Pumpkin Puree
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup raisin bran cereal, crumbled (either by hand, or in a food processor)
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/3 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup pecan bits

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.

Place ingredients in a lightly greased 8×8 baking dish or 9 inch pie pan and bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before cutting into squares and eating! Store energy boost squares in the refrigerator and enjoy for several days. FYI, your extra pumpkin can be added to oatmeal, smoothies, or portioned out and put in the freezer for later!

I absolutely love what Pumpkin Can do to help me feel energized throughout the day. What can it do for you?

Need some ideas to help you think outside of the box when it comes to pumpkin as an ingredient? I can help with that, and you very well could win something in the process!

Let’s help Libby’s launch a successful Orange Takeover! Please share this photo with your friends about what #PumpkinCan do! And don’t forget to use the hashtag! 🙂

Search around for some great recipes. Give pumpkin a try this spring and summer, and if you win the Vitamix, don’t tell me, because I”m going to be SUPER jealous! 😉 YOu can also follow Libby’s on Pinterest for more tempting pumpkin recipes!

SmarTub Design for SIMPLY RIGHT™ Infant Formula at Sam’s Club: Genius!

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

This post brought to you by Sam’s Club. All opinions are 100% mine.

Ready for your daily dose of, “Why didn’t I think of that???” Check out the innovations that SIMPLY RIGHT™, the private label of infant formula available at Sam’s Club, has made to their containers!

All of those features are awesome, but the scoop leveler is MY JAM! SO smart!

My family is past the formula stage, but we did use it with both of our children (supply issues…long story, but I’m proud of what I DID accomplish as a breastfeeding mama, AND I’m grateful that infant formula exists and can offer so much in the way of nutritional benefits!). For me, personally, formula was a saving grace after countless efforts with machines and with supplements to try to increase my supply.

photo credit: nerissa’s ring via photopin cc

The reasons moms opt for formula are as numerous as parenting styles, but if you are using formula, then you know that it can get quite expensive! And you want to make sure you are providing quality nutrition for your babies, but trust me, that doesn’t mean that you have to buy the most expensive brand on the market in order to get those benefits in formula! SIMPLY RIGHT™ is Clinically proven to support growth and development, now with Lutein for brain and eye health. And better yet, it is also designed to save you money! Check out this cost comparison to see how much you could save in a year by switching from name brands to SIMPLY RIGHT™at Sam’s Club.

Are you currently using formula? Have you looked into the offerings at Sam’s Club yet? Looks like the savings would pay the membership fee several times over!

Zarbee’s Naturals and the Seasonal Relief Project (Free Sample!)

April 21, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Zarbee’s Naturals. I received a promotional item and a product sample as a thank you for participating.

I’ve been talking a lot lately about seasonal congestion on the blog. It’s just something you have to deal with on a daily basis for about 5 months of the year here in Chattanooga, and I know many of you guys are dealing with it in your communities, as well.

But this year I have totally ditched OTC medications for a few key reasons. #1 is the cost (mine was $100 for 5 months just for me!). And #2 is the side effects. How can I possibly take a medication for 5 months that advises against operating a vehicle while taking it? No way!

Seasonal Relief Project

I’m sticking to natural seasonal relief remedies, and if that is something that interests you, too, you should look into Zarbee’s Naturals. Zarbee’s is made with Butterbur, which is actually a weed! Imagine…a weed that helps alleviate seasonal congestion! As someone with a sensitivity to grasses and weeds, the irony isn’t lost on me! Isn’t nature fascinating?!

photo credit: –char– via photopin cc

Zarbee’s also has a cool Seasonal Relief Project. Every time someone visits the project website and shares how the product is working for them, the brand donates to one of four awesome causes that support exposure to and the protection of fresh air, including Fresh Air Fund, Children & Nature Network, and Moms Clean Air Force, and Healthy Child Healthy World.

But what if you have never tried Zarbee’s Naturals? No problem! You can sign up for a free product sample while you are there! And don’t miss out on the tips that can help you deal with seasonal congestion in other ways, too. I just had a customized list of tips sent my way based on my particular seasonal congestion triggers!

With the weather finally improving, don’t let seasonal congestion get in the way of having an active outdoor lifestyle. Find a natural solution and breathe a bit easier! You can find Zarbee’s Naturals’ Seasonal Relief at CVS and Target. It is suitable for anyone ages 12 and up.

Sharing to End Food Insecurity: Champion for Kids SIMPLE Giving (Twitter Party!)

April 21, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I am sharing this program information on behalf of Champions for Kids and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own, as always.

Here’s a statistic I just heard that totally stunned me: 10% of children in the United States are in homes considered “food-insecure.” That means that the next meal being provided is not a sure thing. In many cases, that means that these children are sent to school without breakfast. Even though 9.8 million kids are enrolled in the free or reduced school breakfast programs nationally, there are still 10.6 million eligible kids NOT in the program who may be skipping breakfast simply because there is no food for them at home to eat.

photo credit: USDAgov via photopin cc

We all know that countless studies have shown that the first meal of the day is the most critical. Even 9 out of 10 teachers agree that breakfast is a key component of their students’ educations. With so many missing out, it makes getting the most out of their time in the classroom a real challenge.

Champion for Kids and SIMPLE Giving

Hunger is not just across the globe, friends. It is also in each and every one of our communities. But sometimes it is hard to know how to help in the most effective way. If you want to involve your children in your efforts to share with others (and I hope you do!) it can be even more challenging. That’s why I recommend checking out Champions for Kids. It’s all about fostering a habit of giving in our children (and their parents). I would personally shift that language, as I call giving to others “sharing.” Children get the concept of sharing, and are not as quick to throw sympathy or “otherness” into the mix. Children have all been the recipients of others sharing with them, and when we do a service project or make a donation, it’s our turn to share with others. 🙂

One of the Champions for Kids programs that I like is called SIMPLE Giving. From April 21 through May 5, participating Walmart stores will collect breakfast food items. All you need to do is purchase those items and place them in the purple donation bins at the front of the store. You’ll find a complete list of participating stores here. Those donations are going straight to the school district in which the Walmart you shopped at is located! And get this: the school district that collects the most donations from a Walmart store in its division will receive $10,000 from Champions for Kids. And the school district that collects the most donations from a Walmart store in its region will receive a $1,000 check from Champions for Kids! For a full list of participating stores, school districts, Walmart Divisions/Regions and official rules click here.

Let’s (Twitter) Party!

So what are you doing this Thursday from 1-2pm ET? Hanging out with me on Twittter, I hope! I’ll be joining The Motherhood and Champions for Kids along with Kellogg Company and Diamond Foods to get the word out about how we can help ensure that children in our communities are getting the nutrition they need first thing in the morning so that they can focus at school.

This is a great opportunity to learn about SIMPLE ways to give in your own community, and to give you ideas about ways you can involve your children in opportunities to share with others. The Champions For Kids’ Simple Services Projects have a great 4 step model that we’ll discuss, too!

How to Join Us: Start by filling out the RSVP here: http://www.twtvite.com/simplegiving. When it is time to party, follow the #SIMPLEGiving hashtag and you’ll be right there with us! You’ll also want to follow the hosts, @theMotherhood, @theMotherhood25, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann as well as the sponsor, @Champions4Kids.

Oh, and one more thing: five $50 Walmart gift cards are going to be given out during the party to randomly selected participants who answer the trivia questions correctly (don’t worry…you get some clues to help you find the right answers!). That’s $250 total that will be handed out. Somebody is going to win, and if you join us, it might be you!

See the Earth Footwear Difference for Yourself (Cute Shoes Alert!)

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

Special thanks to Earth Footwear for providing a pair of shoes for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

We’ve had rainy weather for the past 3 days here, but the sun is breaking through today for Easter (woo hoo!) and it looks like sunny spring days are headed our way….FINALLY! One of the things I do every spring is rotate out my shoe collection (goodbye riding boots! I will miss you!). And it seems that every season I realize that I need at least 1 new pair of shoes.

So….wanna see my new pair? They are the prettiest pink that I ever did see on shoes, and they make me oh so happy! And there is much MUCH more to these shoes than meets the eye!

Earth Footwear

Check out the Butterfly. Adorable, yes? I’m rockin’ the red plum color, but they also come in blue, camel and grass. They are ballet flats, which are a wardrobe staple for me as a mom on-the-go. I can slip these on and off in a flash and chase down a toddler when needed (which is often). But they are so much more than just another ballet flat, my friends! They have some design specifications that really set them apart from the crowd.

First, they are a beautifully dyed suede, which is an upgrade other the fake leather I have been sporting in the past. The inside of the shoes is noted as being a leather that is “glove-soft.” I can vouch for that description and tell you that they are quite soft. And comfortable shoes are a MUST for me. I know that every new pair of shoes needs a little bit of time to get used to your feet (and vice versa) but I don’t really have the time or the interest in getting several blisters while “breaking in” a pair. The Butterfly from Earth Footwear feels as though it was designed to be ready to rock from the very first wear.

This shoe also has contoured arch support and footbed cushions throughout the bottom of the shoe. I have also found that the top of the back of the shoe hugs onto your heel, but doesn’t pinch it, if that makes sense. Basically, once I put these shoes on, I know that they are going to stay in place, and I know that I won’t be taking them off later in the day to give myself a much-needed foot rub. Frankly, I’m getting too old to wear shoes that don’t offer any support, so I’m really pleased to see that Earth Footwear is really looking out not only for style, but also for comfort and support.

If you would like to browse the Spring/Summer 2014 collection, you’ll see that the look is contemporary, that the focus is on comfort, and that the price point is reasonable for shoes that will offer support and not make you curse the ground on which you have to walk every day.

Ways to Follow Earth Footwear (and Win!!!)

Would you like to win a pair for yourself? Earth Footwear gives away a pair of shoes every month for one of their Earth eNewsletter subscribers. All you need to do is sign up and you are automatically entered into every monthly shoe giveaway!

You an also connect with Earth Footwear (and hear about promotions and giveaways!) by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

Finally, in celebration of Earth Day, and the drive to make every day Earth Day, Earth Footwear has also created an excellent Pinterest board on that exact subject matter. I just started following it and saw MANY cool ideas. Check it out for yourself and follow their great finds!

Follow Earth Footwear’s board #EarthDay, Everyday! on Pinterest.

What do you look for in a new pair of shoes? Are you like me and really need to get good support?

Honest Dishwasher Pods Review: An Honest Assessment

April 20, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Referral links included. Sign up for Honest.com today and you will receive your own referral link!

Welcome to another Honest Assessment post! I’ve been getting great feedback from folks that these posts are really helping them to know what to buy, what to avoid, and exactly how to build their bundles when shopping with The Honest Company. Since helping people maximize in some way (time, money, whatever!) I’m just going to keep trucking along!

And if you are feeling lost and have no idea what The Honest Company is or why you should care (or that you can get a bunch of stuff FREE!) then you need to start here, friend!

Honest Dishwasher Pods

Based on my terrible experience with the Honest Auto Dishwasher Gel, I really didn’t expect to like the Honest Dishwasher Pods. In fact, I have heard from a few different people that the dishwasher pods left a residue on their dishes.

Since I’m trying really hard to offer the most comprehensive review of Honest.com products as possible (here’s where you can find my complete list of Honest Company reviews), I decided to order a bag, though I was almost sure they wouldn’t work.

Well, joke’s on me, friends. I LOVE them! Now I will tell you that they don’t work as well as Cascade Platinum, but for an eco-friendly dish detergent, they work pretty much the best I’ve yet to see. I’ve purchased 2 more packs since getting my original bag; that should give you some insight into my feels about the product! I didn’t have any residue, and I threw out (donated) my leftover Honest Dish Gel after trying these. I think the bottom line is this: I can only speak for how my dishwasher works in my city with my water. No doubt people in different places and with different machines will have different experiences. But if you want my advice, try the dishwasher pods before you try the auto gel!

How to Purchase Honest Dishwasher Pods

The retail price for this product is $10.95. Since every product in an essentials bundle is $7.20, this is a GREAT item to add to your bundle! Need a bundle refresher? The Honest Company offers a bundle of select products of your choice (5 items) for a set price of $35.95. It is a subscription service (boo!) BUT they are SUPER flexible, and will let you put a hold on your bundle, switch the date around, wait for 3 months if you want. Basically, it is the most flexible subscription service I have ever seen. And of course, you can cancel anytime. And you can switch out the products you want from bundle to bundle. You just want to make sure that the products you buy retail for at least $7.20 or else you are actually not saving money at all, but are over-paying!

Bundles also come with the ability to add 3 more items at 25% discount. You could add dishwasher pods as a +3 item, and then you would pay $8.21 for that item. That’s better than retail, but I prefer to save those 3 extra spots for items that were already less than $7.20 so that I can get them for a really good deal (bar soap, for example).

So who else out there has tried and loved the dishwasher pods? Anyone dislike them? I personally know a few people in both camps!

Something VERY Warm for Your Wish Lists: Heat Holders Gloves

April 18, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Heat Holders for providing review products. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

I know many parts of the country had a brief return to winter this week. While temps here in Chattanooga didn’t plunge to “polar vortex” levels, we did get in the 30s and that meant that the heavy coats, scarves and gloves had to come back out.

My husband rides his bike to work, and on cold days, his gloves are an absolute must. I recently received the newest product from Heat Holders (remember them? That make those AMAZINGLY warm socks!) and I assumed that he wouldn’t be able to actually try them out until the fall.

NOPE! He has worn them almost the entire week, here in the middle of April, in Tennessee. Global weirding, indeed!

But here’s the good news: because he got to try them out, I can tell you all about how they work. Tim has made this statement about them, “These might be my favorite gloves of all time.” And y’all, he’s not one for hyperbole. He said that they fit snugly, but comfortably, and they keep him very warm, even while picking up speed and encountering more wind on his bicycle.

If you are curious about how these work, check out this 1 minute video. It focuses on the socks, but as someone who owns both the socks and the gloves, I can tell you that they look very similar in their makeup, so the same process is being used.

Despite the cold weather this week in many parts of the country, we all know that Spring is eventually going to win the battle, and we won’t be needing gloves again for a while. That’s why I want to strongly encourage you to put these gloves on your Amazon wish list so that you don’t forget about them! If you don’t have an Amazon wish list, tell me your secrets…how do you remember cool gift ideas for yourself and others? 😉 Whatever method you use for keeping track of cool ideas, definitely add Heat Holders. Here’s a link to the men’s gloves and to the women’s gloves. They are $24.20 on Amazon and I think that’s a fair price to pair for the last pair of gloves you will ever need. And here’s a tip for you: they are even less expensive on the Heat Holders website! I’m looking out for you, friends!
.

The 10 Minute Organic Herb Garden (And What I Made With Those Herbs!)

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

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

Last month I wrote about scaling back on our gardening efforts, and going from an entire raised bed plot to just a small herb garden on our back porch. Well, one month later we definitely have that herb garden. And do you want to know a secret? It took 10 minutes to create. Seriously!

With a little help from Miracle-Gro Organic Choice, and with some plants that were already growing, we planted this garden on Tim’s lunch break and weren’t rushed in the slightest! It was pretty awesome. Here are the steps if you want to recreate what we did.

1. Get your supplies. Select a container that will hold the herbs you want to plant, the actual plants (if you are hardcore you can buy seeds. We are NOT hardcore, so we bought the plants. You will also want Organic Choice potting soil and plant food. These are perfect for edible gardening; you can find the at major retailers!

2. Put a layer of potting soil along the bottom of your planter.

3. Add your plants!

4. Add more potting soil all around the plants until they are securely in place.

5. Follow the instructions on the bag for the amount of plant food you will need. A little goes a long way!

6. Give your new garden some water and some sun. You are finished!

About 10 days after we started our garden, I decided to make a delicious meal using mint, basil and cilantro.

I started things off with a delicious mojito. The plan was to serve it alongside our dinner, but let’s be real: I drank that bad boy while I was cooking! 🙂 Click the link for the mojito recipe I used.

Then I made a fresh fish dish that called for basil and cilantro. It was really easy, and the fresh herbs packed a BIG flavor punch. Wow…once you start cooking with fresh herbs, it’s really hard to go back. Good thing I have a ready supply on my back porch, now!

Tilapia with Fresh Herbs and Mango Salsa

This recipe can be found here. I just cooked the fish in a skillet instead of firing up the grill (in case you haven’t noticed, I prefer to save time whenever possible!).

If you’d love to give your meals a flavor boost but don’t want to plant a major garden, you can definitely do something small like we did. Miracle-Gro Learn And Grow is a great site to get tips and learn about gardening on whatever scale interests you. I noticed their site even has information on how to grow herbs indoors, which I thought was pretty cool!

What are you growing this year? Any favorite herbs that you absolutely MUST use fresh? For me, it’s basil!

My Skin Condition and How I’m Changing It (DIY Sugar Scrub Tutorial)

April 17, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 31 Comments

I was diagnosed with Keratosis Pilaris at the age of 6. This is a very common skin condition that is also called “chicken skin” (and by the way, if anyone ever calls my epidermis “chicken skin” it will be ugly…what a horrible nickname for this condition!). I’m sure you know someone who has this, and perhaps you have it, too. It usually manifests on the arms and legs, and looks like really bumpy skin that is also quite blotchy.

I’m 33 years old now, so it has been a part of my life for 27 years. And I can tell you already that little Layah is going to have it. Not sure yet about Darah. It’s very normal for me, and it doesn’t cause me too much grief. I mean, it is what it is. I can’t remember what it is like to have smooth skin on my arms and legs. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t REALLY like to have smooth skin again! So when I heard folks on a oils facebook group talking about how using essential oils is helping with Keratosis Pilaris, I was ALL OVER IT. Treating the condition with oils typically involves two steps: using an exfoliating scrub, followed by a moisturizing cream. I made both of these concoctions about 10 days ago.

My Results After 6 Uses

So I’ve used these products about 6 times now, and I will say this: visually, my skin doesn’t look any different. Still splotchy. Still bumpy in appearance. Again, I’ve only used this combo 6 times, so it is too early to determine what the final result is going to be. But was I hoping for a miracle? Of course I was. And so, it was a bummer not to be able to look at my arms and tell a difference.

BUT…my skin feels VERY different! I have been touching my arms so often over the last week, because I just can’t get over how smooth they feel. Do they feel like the arms of someone who DOESN’T have KP? No, at least not yet. But do they feel like the arms of someone who DOES have KP? No, not anymore! They are in this in-between place. And I for one absolutely love it!! And even if you don’t have KP, this is a great scrub for dry skin, too!

DIY Sugar Scrub for Keratosis Pilaris

So the first step is to exfoliate. And you need to exfoliate with the right stuff, friends! I’ve bought TONS of exfoliating over the years, and none have come anywhere close to working as well as this homemade version.

Ingredients

1 cup coconut oil (buy the good stuff…not the cheap version…it matters!)
1 cup cane sugar (I chose cane sugar because it seems slightly less fine that regular white sugar so it has more grit)
8 drops lavender essential oil

I cut the recipe in half for my first attempt (just in case I didn’t like it…but I LOVED it, so go ahead and make the whole thing!). Use a medium sized glass bowl. DON’T use plastic, as essential oils will eat plastic! True story.

Add the sugar, and then the coconut oil. Coconut oil is solid at room temp. I microwaved it for 8 seconds to soften it a bit. That’ll all you need for it to work with you…it melts very quickly. Do not fully melt your coconut oil before making this, ‘k?

Now it’s time to add your lavender. Your skin goes through quite an ordeal when it is being exfoliated, and the lavender is there to soothe. It is important to get the good stuff so that the impact you are seeking is there, and not just the scent. I have used Young Living in the past, but I also feel comfortable recommending Plant Therapy.

Mix all of your ingredients together with a fork until well combined. Then transfer to a glass container with a lid. The glass is important; essential oils will “eat” through plastic!

And if this whole oils thing is all new to you, I’ve got some other great articles you can check out to learn more. I got into the whole thing as a skeptic, myself, so if you have your doubts about it, I TOTALLY relate!

Trying Essential Oils as a Skeptic

How to Get Started with Essential Oils

Natural Allergy Relief

My TV segment on natural allergy relief and Young Living

DIY Shower Disks for Congestion

Essential Oils for Weight Loss

How to Get Free Essential Oils Without Starting a Business (It’s EASY!!!)

Use Lemon Essential Oil to Safely Remove Crayon Marks

How to Get Rid of Hiccups with Peppermint Oil

How to Strengthen Brittle Nails with Essential Oils

Back-to-School Germ Relief with Thieves

How to Neutralize Bathroom Odors in a Flash