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

Honest Company Auto Dishwasher Gel Review: An Honest Assessment

February 15, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 18 Comments

Affiliate links are included. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today I’m going to share my thoughts with you on The Honest Company’s Auto Dishwasher Gel. You can find more information about the product here, and you can also click here to find a list my product reviews where I have reviews for almost every Honest Company product. If you are new to Honest.com, don’t miss out on the 3 free trials you can get at once.

I wanted to love Honest Auto Dishwasher Gel. I REALLY wanted to, friends. And I gave it 4 different tries before reaching the conclusion that for me, this product just doesn’t work. 🙁

My dishes looked like this every time after I use this product:

Now, I’ll be the first to tell you that different dishwashers work differently, but I don’t normally have dishes that look like this. I’ll also be the first to tell you that I’m not the type of person who washes her dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Yes, I’ll scrape off big chunks of food, but I fully expect my dishwasher to earn its keep around here by ACTUALLY WASHING THE DISHES. If you are a pre-washer, then this product may do just fine. And there are certainly reasons to try it, if you tend to pre-clean your dishes. The Honest Company’s Auto Dish Gel has the following perks (all from the company’s website):

Contains NO bleach or bleaching agents guaranteed not to etch metal / silver
100% Natural / Non-toxic / Biodegradable / pH Neutral
Septic tank & gray-water system safe

But alas, for me, it was yet another disappointing attempt to find an eco-friendly dishwashing detergent that got the job done. In my opinion, this is a product to pass over when making your bundle selection, or when shopping a la carte from the website.

Have you tried this product? Same experience as me, or did you like it?

Tropical Relief from the Winter Blues from Del Monte (Giveaway!)

February 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 185 Comments

The Del Monte products, information, gift pack, and gift card have been provided by Del Monte. But all thoughts and opinions are my own, as always!

I know that not everyone in the entire country has snow piled up in their yard, but a good chunk of us do, myself included. We got 5 inches here in Chattanooga, an amount that is pretty debilitating to a city in the South. We’ve had snow quite a few times this winter, and let me tell you, the novelty of it has worn off. I’m OVER IT. And I can only imagine how those of you who got 12-18 inches (or more!) this week feel about it.

My kids have been stuck in the house quite a bit this week (we don’t own snow suits, so trips outside to play in the snow don’t last very long). I’ve blown through a lot of our stockpiled craft projects and coloring books and every imaginary game I can think of. My kids knew I was running out of ideas, so Darah suggested that we “play in the pantry.” Which really just means, “Let’s EAT ALL THE THINGS!”

Del Monte To the Rescue

Fortunately, there actually was something tucked away that brightened all of our spirits: a taste of the tropics from ! We’ve really enjoyed the Mango Pineapple Fruit Cup Snacks. I usually have these on hand for road trips, or for occasions when Darah begs to have a “packed lunch” like the kids who get to stay past noon at her school (true story…she feels deprived for not having her food presented to her in a lunch box). But if ever there was a time when we needed something tropical, it was this week!

And when the snow does finally thaw and we get to head back out into civilization, I’ve got my purse stocked with Del Mont Fruit Burst Squeezers. It never fails that my kids tell me they are hungry as soon as we back out of our driveway, and I’m guessing some of you out there have the same experience with your kiddos. Have you seen the on the shelves? I found some at my local Walmart.

I like that both of these Del Monte products leave High Fructose Corn Syrup out of their recipes. They are a very easy way for me to get a serving of fruit in my kids’ tummies, and the girls think of them as special treats. Win/win!

And speaking of winning….

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win 2 Del Monte VIP coupons for free products, as well as a $25 Walmart gift card!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

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NaturalMat Mattresses – The Best for Babies!

February 13, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

by Alanna Peters

While preparing my baby’s nursery I’ve tried to put extra thought into the quality of products I use. I use non-toxic cleaning supplies, but what about the actual ITEMS in the room? One thing I had never really given much thought to was the crib mattress. Our old crib mattress worked fine for my first daughter but after giving it a second look it just seemed so artificial and uncomfortable. It is totally covered in plastic, smells funny, and is full of who knows what? I decided I wanted to try find a more natural mattress for my new baby to sleep on.

Thanks to Naturalmat I was fortunate enough to receive a Coco Mat for my baby – Naturalmat’s signature mattress. It is a perfect choice for babies and children because it provides gentle support and impressive ventilation and insulation. As soon as I opened the package I noticed some major differences between the old and new mattresses. First of all, the Naturalmat mattress cover is much softer and much more comfortable. Rather than a crinkly vinyl cover it has a quilted, organic cotton cover (which zips off for easy laundering!). The mattress is also a bit larger than our old mattress. The old mattress had a gap of about an inch around all the sides of the crib but the Coco Mat fits the crib like a glove. I feel like it is much safer for the baby this way. No gaps for her to get stuck in!

I was slightly concerned about the cover because I knew that the vinyl cover on the old mattress was there to protect it from leaks. How would the quilted cotton cover protect the new mattress? Naturalmat took care of that problem as well. All of their mattresses come with a free organic waterproof mattress protector (washable!) which keeps any leaks away from the mattress. Also, as I already mentioned, the mattress cover IS washable in the case that any leaks do happen to get through. I actually prefer the idea of being able to wash my mattress cover to wiping down a vinyl cover with some cleaning spray.

So, who/what is Naturalmat?

Naturalmat was founded with the aim of helping babies and children sleep safely and comfortably in the best, most natural environment possible. Harnessing the amazing potential of natural and organic materials including organic coir, latex and organic cotton, Naturalmat has created a collection of the finest organic bedding – handcrafted bedding that is superbly comfortable, breathable, washable and non-allergenic.

By choosing Naturalmat, parents know they are doing the very best for their children – and for the world they live in.

Naturalmat is the leading global manufacturer of 100% natural fiber and organic mattresses for babies, children and adults. Naturalmat was founded in 2000 in Devon, England by two sailors who identified a need for better, natural mattress options on boats. They used the knowledge they gained to create natural mattresses for their children. They were proud to create the first range of pure natural fiber mattresses for babies. Their mattresses provide parents with the peace of mind that babies will have a safe and restful night sleep on the highest quality natural fibers available today. Each handmade mattress provides an even temperature for baby to sleep on. Naturalmat manufactures and distributes mattresses around the world from its base in Topsham, Devon.

So, what kind of natural fibers do they use?

organic coconut fibers (coir) for breathability
organic lambswool for insulation
natural latex for spring
organic cotton cover

Curious how a natural fiber mattress is made? Check out this quick video showing how it’s done. Just watching it makes me feel SO much better about my baby’s mattress – I can’t wait for her to try it out! Still want to see more? Check out their YouTube channel for even more informative videos.

So, why Naturalmat mattresses?

They are natural and organic. Everything in Naturalmat mattresses is 100% natural and where possible organic. Each one is made by hand.
They are the most breathable on the market. Babies are very sensitive to temperature and don’t regulate their own body heat very well. Unlike synthetic materials, the natural fibers in Naturalmat mattresses allow a constant circulation of air. This helps keep baby from overheating, allowing better temperature control.
They use 100% renewable materials. All of the raw materials used in Naturalmat mattresses come from sustainable sources that are Fair Trade compliant. Every element of these mattresses is biodegradable and compostable!
They are hypo-allergenic and anti-dust mite. The organic wool used in Naturalmat mattresses has been treated with essential oils of lemon, eucalyptus and lavender (which I LOVE!) to give natural protection against allergies and bugs. Their latex is also 100% hypoallergenic!
They are machine washable. (Which I think is awesome!) The removable covers can be washed at 140°F, and dust mites are killed at 135°F. No more disgusting, dirty old mattresses!
They are naturally fire retardent. Without using any chemical additives or fire retardants in their products, Naturalmat was the first to comply with fire regulations in the US, Britain, and Europe.
They have better spring and support. The makers of Naturalmat mattresses have such an extensive knowledge of natural fibers that they have been able to select the most resilient and durable materials available. They have cleverly created the ideal combination of natural materials to offer a variety of comfortable support levels.
They use eco-friendly packaging. The cartons used for shipping Naturalmat mattresses are 100% biodegradable and 100% recyclable. Even the inner liner is made from potato starch which is 100% compostable.

The Coco Mat, which we are using, is perfect for both babies and children. It offers support, ventilation and insulation. It is the most breathable of all Naturalmat mattresses, which is ideal for newborns and infants. This breathability helps babies regulate their body temperature (and hopefully helps them sleep trough the night!) The Coco Mat is treated with lemon, eucalyptus and lavender oils to make it anti-dust mite, anti-moth and anti-mosquito.

Along with the Coco Mat, Naturalmat also offers the Spring Mat, which is ideal for newborns through older babies. The organic coir side is perfect for gently supporting newborns and can be flipped to the latex side for firmer support as baby grows. They also offer the Latex Mat, which is the most allergy-safe, and offers medium support for babies and children, and the Mohair Mat, which offers the most luxurious and firm support for older and heavier children. All of these mattresses are also treated with essential oils to be anti-allergy and anti-bed bug. If you are interested in a Naturalmat but can’t spring (pun intended) for a full mattress, or if you need a light mattress for travel, the Top Mat might be the ideal solution for you. It is lightweight and easily rolls up into a drawstring bag for transport. You can place the Top Mat right on top of an existing crib mattress so baby still gets a good night’s sleep in an ideal environment.

In addition to mattresses, Naturalmat offers a range of organic cotton bed linen, including the organic breathable waterproof mattress protector, organic cotton percale sheets and organic cotton flannelette sheets. Naturalmat’s mattress protector and sheets are made with Soil Association Certified Organic Cotton.

So, are you interested in buying one?! Naturalmat products are available online at www.naturalmatusa.com. Visit their website for the full list of local Naturalmat retailers. You can also keep up with Naturalmat online! Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and on their blog.

Here’s wishing you all an easy, peaceful sleep!

Spring Fashion Finds for Toddlers, $5 and Under!

February 13, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

As you know, I’m doing some spring fashion shopping this week (we have 6 inches of snow outside…what else could I be doing ??). Yesterday I snagged a beautiful green skinny belt for $5.99 with free shipping, and this morning, I went shopping for my girls, and I was looking for bargain prices.

I just did a lot of shopping at Sophia’s Style, which is an online retailer known for their DEEP discounts on adorable fashions. Here’s a selection of some of my finds this morning, with NOTHING being over $5! 🙂 Affiliate links are included (I only promote what I already love!).

Blue Straw Cowboy Hat ($2.88)

Hot Pink Flower Shirt ($3.88)

Purple Floral Ruffle Top ($3.88)

Fuscia and Green Top ($3.88)

Pink Checkered Skort ($4.59)

Navy and White Tankini ($5.00)

Sizes are limited because their inventory goes really fast, but poke around on the site and see what you can find. You can shop by size, which makes your search go a bit faster! Shipping is $7.99, which is a bit high in my opinion, but I think you’ll find A LOT of stuff you might want, and you can even order some things in advance for birthdays and even Christmas (at these prices, who can blame you?!).

COUPON CODE: To save even more, use coupon code TAKE10 to take an extra 10% off when you spend $50 or more. There’s also code PYTTHR which will save you 20%, but that code is only good on regular priced merchandise, FYI.

Sweet Find: Skinny Belts for $5.99 Shipped! :-)

February 12, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Is it snowing where you are? It definitely is here in Chattanooga. I’m OVER IT and ready for spring!

So as I was hunting for some spring-inspired fashion, I happened upon this:

Spring Skinny Belt Sale – only $5.99 SHIPPED

Choose from 15 colors, friends! All you have to do is use coupon code BELT50 and the belt, as well as anything else you found and want, will be yours with free shipping! BTW, look for the place to enter you coupon code near the top during checkout…it’s a little hard to find!

The belt price also comes down to $5.99. So for $5.99 shipped, I definitely just added the green one to my collection! 🙂 The sale runs through Friday (2/14), and the best selection is available right this second, so jump on it!

Affiliate links included. I only promote what I love!

Valentine’s Date (Breakfast-Style) with SPLENDA and Healthy Essentials!

February 12, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS^®2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.

As you know, Tim and I accidentally started dating on Valentine’s Day 15 years ago this year (!). We planned to celebrate in style, and head to the beach for a fun, relaxing weekend with our family. Various circumstances caused us to put our trip on pause for a few weeks, and as it turns out, I’ll be spending Valentine’s Day in Atlanta with some very good friends having a huge fun playdate. And we are bringing our kids, too! 😉

Having to postpone a milestone like 15 years together is something I could never have even fathomed when I was younger (read: when I didn’t have kids). Why on earth would you allow your schedule to determine such things???!!!! Well, that’s just life, folks. And you know what? IT’S FINE!

We will take the time we do have together that day with joy and laughter, and marvel and the little rugrats under our feet. I won’t head out until just before Tim goes to work, so I’ve got plans for a very sweet start to our breakfast. It’s also very practical (I’m not making a gourmet feast right before a road trip!) and is loaded with healthy essentials.

Looks good, doesn’t it? Well you will not believe how indulgent it tastes! Very sweet, very smooth, and very VERY yummy! I went to the SPLENDA website, where they have lots of great recipes on hand, in order to find something easy and delicious. If you want to recreate this at your home, here’s where you can find the sweet berry smoothie recipe.

I’ve been enjoying SPLENDA products for a few years now, as they sweeten up my iced coffees in a flash. But I hadn’t yet ventured into using SPLENDA as a sugar replacement in recipes. It was easy, because it measures the same, cup for cup, and now that I’ve tried it, I’m definitely ready to give it a go in baked goods. In fact, maybe I’ll surprise Tim with some SPLENDA-fied chocolate chip cookies to take to work this Friday. This no-calorie sweetener is a great way to add a little sweetness to your day and leave the guilt behind!

HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® Savings for Valentine’s Day and Beyond!

Have you checked out the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS website? Here you can find some SPLENDA coupons ($1 off!) and other great tips and tools. For example, If you purchase $10 of SPLENDA® products between now and 2/17/2014, you can receive a free 30 minute nutrition consulation with a Registered Dietitian. You can find all the details at HealthyEssentials.com.

But SPLENDA isn’t the only brand you’ll find on the site! You will also discover savings and other helpful information for brands like REMBRANDT and NEUTROGENA, which can help you get ready for a smokin’ hot date night! By the way, the color stick you see above, from NEUTROGENA, is nothing short of amazing. You are definitely going to need to add it to your collection. It is so smooth and moisturizing!

I’d love to hear how you will be celebrating Valentine’s Day this year. Have you booked a sitter? Are you going to celebrate on a different day (much cheaper that way!)? And are you a fan of SPLENDA, like me?

Marvel Super Hero Mashers Join Us for Tea Time

February 11, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Thanks to Marvel and Mom It Forward for partnering with Stuff Parents Need to make this post possible. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own, as always.

It’s no secret that the dress up bin in our house is overflowing with princess gowns, fairy wings, and accessories that glitter and shine. But it also has a few super hero capes that get worn frequently by our girls. Heck, we even had a super hero birthday party for Darah this past August.

So when I heard about MARVEL SUPER HERO MASHERS, I knew that Darah would enjoy playing pretend with them. And I knew that Layah, our resident constructor (and DE-structor) would enjoy putting them together and taking them apart. We were sent two figures to play with, and we welcomed them into our home in right proper fashion: by way of a tea party, of course!

MARVEL SUPER HERO MASHERS are a unique addition to the action figure scene because they have completely interchangeable parts. Hasbro has more than 20 unique MASHERS set to launch in 2014, which means there are pretty much endless ways to blend heros and villians and come up with their own unique action figures.

My 4 1/2 year old had a little bit of trouble getting the pieces to connect, but the more she played with the figures, the easier it got. I think MARVEL SUPER HERO MASHERS are great for bringing extra creativity to imaginative play. Your figures can look different with each play session!

Just make sure that whatever you create doesn’t get too mad! We had to help Hulk cool down a bit by getting his head on a different body. It diffused the tension that was building up inside of him. That, and petting the sweet bunny giving him a ride. He was pretty much mush after that! 😉

You can find MARVEL SUPER HERO MASHERS at merchandisers that carry toys all over the nation, and the figures start at the price point of $9.99.

What do you think about this new way of playing with super heros and villains???

Food Lion Coupon Portal and Giveaways, Galore!

February 11, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 94 Comments

Attention Food Lion shoppers! I’ve got some exciting news about some new developments happening on the Food Lion website that are designed to help you get your grocery store shopping done faster AND save you some money.

Let me introduce you to the MVP Coupon Hub. This site allows you to do several very cool things. First and foremost, you can load coupons directly to your MVP card, and then print the list of coupons you loaded for easy reference in the store.

Second, you can also easily build a list from the Food Lion weekly flyer. As you browse it online, just click on anything you’d like to buy, and it adds it to a list for you! I found this to be a much faster way of shopping the sales than going through the flyer myself and circling everything, as I always seem to miss something that way.

Finally, you can also print some printable coupons right from the store website. No need to go all over the internet hunting them down!

I received a gift card from Food Lion so that I could experience the MVP Coupon Hub for myself. I used to be pretty good at clipping coupons, but after my second child was born, it became increasingly difficult to find the time to match up sales with coupons, go out and buy Sunday papers so I could clip them, and also print the ones offered online. I became overwhelmed and just gave up.

Through the MVP Coupon Hub at Food Lion, I was able to take care of everything with a few simple clicks. I loved having coupons go straight onto my card, and my very favorite thing was being able to pick out what I wanted from their sales online and then just print my list. The truth of saving money at the grocery store is that you will save the most just by shopping the sales. Yes, coupons can absolutely save you more, but if you want to get the biggest return on your time investment, you simply need to shop the sales. Food Lion has made that VERY easy, and as a busy working mom, I very much appreciate that.

food lion coupon portal shopping

Once I saved cards to my MVP card, shopped the sale flyer, and found a few coupons I wanted to print, I gathered my lists and headed to the store.

I went through the stores and scooped up deal after deal, just following along with my lists. Gala apples on sale? Don’t mind if I do!

My MVP coupons were also fun to use, as they made some products that weren’t already on sale feel like they WERE on sale, just for me! And they sometimes made name brands cost less than the store brands (for example: I had a .75 coupon for Philadelphia cream cheese). Score!

I also just happened to notice a fair number of closeout stickers throughout the store. That doesn’t have anything to do with the coupon portal, but it is something to keep your eyes peeled for, as that is another EASY way to save some money on groceries.

At the end of my shopping trip, I found out that I saved $38, and I only spent a few extra minutes getting my lists together. That’s a powerful testimony to the power of the Food Lion coupon portal, I have to say!

Try the Coupon Portal and WIN!!!

Every week until March 4, Food Lion will select 8 lMVP Coupon Hub users each week to win a $25 Food Lion gift card (the funds will be loaded directly to your MVP card…so easy!). At the end of the Save to Win sweepstakes, one grand prize winner will win $1,000 loaded to their MVP card!!!!! To enter that giveaway, all you need to do is load at least one coupon to your MVP card. It’s just that simple!

Win it!: I get to host my own giveaway, too! FOUR Stuff Parents Need readers will each win a $25 Food Lion gift card!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

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EmbarK Online: Our Favorite Online Learning Program Now 50% Off

February 10, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

This post brought to you by K12, the leader in online education for grades K-12. All opinions are 100% mine.

For the last two weeks, every evening after our 21 month old goes to bed, My 4 1/2 year old and I climb into my bed, open up the laptop, and log into EmbarK¹² Online and "play games." Only these are all learning games, perfect for young children ages 3-6.

Last week I witnessed Darah reading her very first book. It happened on EmbarK¹² Online and I'm not ashamed to tell you that I shed a few tears as I watched her work through each page (or in this case, screen). When she finished, she turned to look at me and was positively beaming. It is one of those childhood moments of hers that I will remember forever.

EmbarK12 Online – Over 830 interactive activities to engage your preschooler.

When I agreed to review this online learning system, I expected to enjoy it, but I didn't expect to absolutely LOVE it. But I really do. The huge variety of activities and the various levels of difficulty make it easy to customize what your child is working on based on their skill and comprehension level in each area. For Darah, she's more advanced in a few areas, and in others, needs to be working on the introductory lessons for now. Switching up the levels is seamless, which I really like!

I also really appreciate the responsive design of the program. Darah doesn't have great mouse skills yet, but she sure knows how to operate a tablet. Our laptop has a responsive screen, and that makes it really easy for her to press and swipe and move herself through the activities.

Darah requests to get to "play some of those fun games" with me every single night. Watching her do a little math, a little science, and a little reading before bed each night is something I'm totally on board with. EmbarK¹² Online makes it easy and fun. Check out this helpful video to learn a little bit more about the program.

50% Off Coupon

I'm thrilled to get to share with you a 50% off coupon for EmbarK¹² Online. This code brings the 12 month subsription price down to just $29.50 (regularly $59). If your child likes to play on the computer and if you are looking for some supplemental learning material, I definitely think EmbarK¹² Online is a fantastic choice. And I think $29.50 is a fantastic price for over 830 online, interactive, FUN activities! 🙂

Kindergarten readiness programs by K12. Try a sample activity today.