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

Spring Into Green Mother’s Organic Giveaway! $375 Value!

March 27, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Oh yes, friends. This one is NOT TO MISS!!!! Get yourself entered right now!!!

Welcome to the Spring Into Green Mothers Organic Giveaway!

I’ve teamed up with Eco-Crazy Mom and an amazing group of bloggers to celebrate the grand opening of the Mothers Organic store, and bring you the chance to win a fantastic prize pack valued at $375.00!

Come check out the Mothers Organic Grand Opening March 25, 2013!

The Mothers Organic motto is simple: happy shopping for the everyday eco-mama. Why? Because we’ve all been there before. Confused by labels and not knowing which products were safe for our kids. Overwhelmed with information. That’s why eco mama Kelly McKnight and her husband created Mothers Organic. They wanted to make it easy for moms to find a variety of safe, tried and true eco-friendly products in one convenient place. Every product at Mothers Organic has been hand picked and carefully reviewed by Kelly and her team of eco mamas with the belief that if it’s not good enough for their family, it’s certainly not good enough for yours. Finally, a place where moms can shop with confidence – we invite you to give it a try!

Shop their amazing selection of stainless steel baby bottles and sippy cups. Check out their line of Melissa & Doug puzzles and toys for babies and toddlers. Stock up on your nursery layette – complete with swaddle blankets and bunting. At Mothers Organic you’ll find a great selection of natural bath and skin care, organic apparel, health care essentials and much more.

Shop now and save with free shipping on all orders over $75!

Celebrate with us and enter to win!

One lucky eco mama will win this awesome Mothers Organic prize pack worth $375.00:

Boba Carrier ($120.00 RV)
Green Toys bundle ($70.00 RV)
Kid Basix Safe Sippy 2 ($15.00 RV)
In2green Eco friendly baby & kids blanket ($70.00 RV)
Seventh Generation bundle ($100.00 RV)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

How I Deal with Common Allergies at Home: Luma Comfort Air Purifier Giveaway

March 27, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 155 Comments

Spring used to be my favorite season of the year. Growing up, I didn’t suffer from common allergies or even from food allergies. I was so lucky! I could fully enjoy the trees budding and flowers blooming. But after I moved away from the South for 2 years to get my graduate degree, when I returned, I seemed to be allergic to all kinds of stuff. Did you know that changing your geographic location can actually trigger the onset of allergic reactions?

While I know many parents are concerned with and pay careful attention to food allergies, I want to talk about airborne allergies today, as one of the toughest times of the year for allergy sufferers is about to commence: Spring. Here’s a list of the most common airborne allergies that might be causing problems for you this Spring or any time of year or that might be causing problems for your kids.

Common Allergies

pollen
dust mites
animal dander
mold

I happen to live in a part of the country that has the honor of being ranked #5 on the list of worst cities in the U.S. for allergy sufferers. The pollen count is sky high for most of the Spring and Fall. For someone who is now allergic to SEVERAL types of trees and grass, this is a problem for me! My husband also suffers from seasonal allergies, and it seems that our youngest is also affected by what’s in the air.

How to Combat Allergies

This season, though, I’m prepared for battle. I have the Luma Comfort AP170W PureClean Air Purifier and I know for a fact that it is making a difference. How do I know? It’s simple, really. On the days when I have it running, I feel great. On the days when I have it unplugged (usually due to an overly curious baby who wants to press all the buttons) I get a stuffy nose. Maybe it isn’t the most scientific approach, but the difference is quite noticeable to me!

The Luma Comfort AP170W is an air purifier that is designed for any personal space up to 170 square feet. I have it placed in the guest room, which may sound odd at first, but here’s why: This back room, which also serves as my office, is also the back entry to our house, and the one we use when entering and exiting. Therefore, it is through this room that all those nasty common allergies are getting into our house. I love having the air purifier there as it traps them before they have the chance to go any further. Most people cannot afford to have an air purifier in every room, so if you need to be strategic about where you place yours, then I personally think putting it in the same room as the main entry to your house is smart.

If you are all allergy sufferer, and you don’t yet own an air purifier, I want to strongly encourage you to consider getting one this year. My Luma Comfor AP170W is making a very big difference in how my family feels right now, and so we aren’t having to rely on a lot of medicine to get us through the season. It is very light weight at only 8.8 pounds, so if I wanted to move it to another room for an air cleaning session, that would be no problem.

It is also marketed as “whisper quiet,” and while I would disagree with that, it does provide white noise that does not distract me at all while I am working. I would even go as far as to say that I find the sound it produces (sort of like an air conditioner) to be soothing.

Another thing I like about this particular air purifier is that it also eliminates odors in the air. My purifier is strategically placed near the door to the kitchen to help with food smells. The cat’s litter box is also in the bathroom that is connected to this guest room/office, and the air purifier helps keep those smells in check, too. It is SO nice!

I like the touch screen controls, though I do wish they were located on the side of the device. They are actually optimally placed for convenience, unless you have a curious baby or toddler, as I do. In my case, they are all too easy for little hands to push, which is why I sometimes have to unplug the air purifier in order to keep my baby from messing with it. Maybe they need a child-proof version? 😉

The most important reason of all that I would recommend this product from LumaComfort.com, though, is because it is highly effective at what it is supposed to do, which is to remove airborne particles. It nabs 99% of them through a 5 step filtration process. It contains a high quality HEPA filer and a filter life indicator to let you know when it is time to change it for optimal effectiveness. It even has a programmable timer if you only want the air purifier to run at certain times of the day or night.

The air outside might be difficult to breathe, but the air inside my home is much healthier for me and my family, and that is a really big deal to me. I’m very pleased with the effectiveness (not to mention the sleek, lightweight design) of the Luma Comfort AP170W, and I highly recommend it for anyone who is suffering from airborne allergies. It is currently on sale at Amazon for $179.99 and it is worth the money. That’s coming from someone who doesn’t like to spend it!

Win it!: One VERY lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Luma Comfort AP170W Air Purifier, just like the one I reviewed!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

photo credit for first photo: A Guy Taking Pictures via photopin cc

Final Week for Reynolds Real Moms! I Need Your Vote Today! (Giveaway Reminder)

March 27, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Hi friends,

What a fun road it has been! I have had a blast working on the Reynolds Real Moms campaign and sharing lots of great tips and tricks that get me in and out of my kitchen FAST. I don’t want the journey to end, and that’s where you come in! Today (Wednesday) is THE LAST DAY for voting! Please take a moment and head over to the Reynolds Real Moms Facebook app and vote for me, Tiffany Merritt (bottom row, second from the left in the blue top). The voting button is on the left side of the screen once you are on my specific page. A thousand thank yous! I can’t do it without your support!

Here’s my final tip for you today, and it is a REALLY good one! Take a minute to see why you might need to change the way you store cheese in your home. I have, and I can really taste the difference!

Also remember that I’m currently hosting a giveaway for a 6 MONTH SUPPLY OF REYNOLDS PRODUCTS!!! Don’t miss out on it!

And if you are just tuning in to this whole project, here’s a recap of my tips and recipe ideas:

Baking Cookies with Parchment Paper

How to Cook a Whole Chicken

Baking Cups as Snack Holders

Meat, Potatoes and Dessert in 90 Seconds

Slow Cooker Liners are a Game-Changer!

Kid-Friendly Comfort Foods with No Cleanup

Customized Veggie Foil Packets

Perfect Pork Chops and Oven Rice

I am a Reynolds Real Moms finalist, and as such have received complimentary products. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. If I win this competition, there will be more opportunities for me to spread the Reynolds love (and offer Reynolds prizes!) to my readers. Will you take a moment today to vote for me? Thank you!

Baby Einstein Gift Basket Giveaway ($150 Value!)

March 26, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 114 Comments

As a huge fan of Baby Einstein products, I am so happy to be part of this fantastic group giveaway sponsored by Baby Gifts & Baskets! One very lucky winner is going to score one of these Baby Einstein gift baskets.

Options for inclusion in these delightful gift baskets include the discovery cards (my personal favorite), Baby Einstein books, stuffed animals, musical toys, bibs, bath items and much more! There are 10 designs from which you can choose, and honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the options! What an AMAZING baby shower gift this would be!!! See the rafflecopter form below and the giveaway rules after that for detailed information!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Rules

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway. The mandatory entry is commenting on this post, but once that entry is completed, various other entry options will become available. Any option is acceptable, but the number of entries per person are limited to the number indicated in the contest form. Entries will be reviewed and duplicate or uncompleted entries will be removed.

NOTE – You must complete the specified entry task in order to be eligible to win the contest. If you hit the green entry button without completing the task, your entry will be thrown out (disqualified from winning the prize).

Giveaway sweepstakes is open to all residents of the 48 Contiguous States and only to those 18 or older!

Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive their choice of Baby Einstein gift basket from this page (valued at up to $150.)

Winner will be notified via e-mail so make sure you provide the correct address. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another replacement winner will be chosen.

Prize will be fulfilled by the contest sponsor http://www.baby-gifts-gift-baskets.com.

The full list of rules can be found here.

Sweepstakes ends at midnight EST on April 7, 2013. The sweepstakes winners will be announced by April 14, 2013.

Monkey Mat: Portable Play Mat for Everyone

March 26, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 4 Comments

When we go to the park, this is how we roll, now:

This awesome play mat, called the Monkey Mat is light as a feather (well, almost) and folds up to about the size of my hand, which means it very easily goes in the diaper bag or even in my purse. And it means that I have a clean, WATERPROOF surface to put Layah on wherever we may go.

This is a game changer, folks! I have absolutely no shame about putting this on the floor of a department store fitting room, in a fast food restaurant, or anywhere else I may need to be for a spell that isn’t exactly designed for babies. And pretty much no place is designed for babies. If you are in cramped quarters (like a dressing room) you can always fold it back in half so it doesn’t take up the whole floor.

There’s a lot of peace of mind in knowing that your baby is protected from questionable objects or germs on the floor and that the floor is protected from your baby (two words: projectile vomit).

The blanket has light weights at each of the four corners. I can tell you from experience that they are not sufficient to keep a strong gust of wind from lifting the blanket, especially if you don’t have any adults sitting on it at the time. But for gentle winds, it does just great.

Honestly, this is a product I wish I had owned from the time Darah was a young infant. I can see it having SO many uses. And when Layah has outgrown the need to have her own protected space, the Monkey Mat will continue to have a full life in the trunk of our car, serving as picnic and playtime-at-the-park blanket. All while taking up precious little space!

What do you use for a mat when you are on the go? Do you just wing it like I used to do? I would most definitely recommend a Monkey Mat, especially because it can work for you and your family even long after the babies become big kids! Monkey Mats are available in pink, orange, blue and khaki (shown above) for $39.99 and can be purchased on the Monkey Mat website or on Amazon.

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Is Your Child Scared of the Dark? Tips to Overcome the Fear (Giveaway!)

March 25, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 114 Comments

Being scared of the dark is a very common thing for children (and let’s be real, for adults as well). There is something so disarming about not being able to see very well, and when you have a great imagination, as children often do, those shadows in the room can quickly become very VERY scary monsters. Here’s what has worked for us to nip our 3 1/2 year old’s fear in the bud.

1. Monsters have been officially banned from our city. This is one of our favorite stories to tell Darah before bed. It is an intricate tale Tim has spun, all about the time that Darah’s PaPa (that’s my dad) came to Chattanooga and fought off all of the monsters, and then banned them from ever returning. She gets a kick out of the story, and it gives her a lot of peace of mind to know that it just isn’t possible for monsters to be not only in her house, but anywhere in the whole city. After all, the Mole Kings of Lookout Mountain stay on guard to make sure no monsters sneak in (told you it was an intricate story!).

2. Name objects in the room with the lights on. This has been one of the most helpful things we’ve done, for sure! Darah seems especially frightened by the shadows cast in her closet, which doesn’t have a door on it to maximize space. We take just a moment to point out the items in her closet and exactly what they are so she can see them. Then we turn off the light and show her how it looks different. Then turn the light back on again and continue pointing out other “questionable” objects until she is satisfied. After we did this a few days in a row, she doesn’t ask for us to do this very often anymore. Highly effective!

3. Empower your child with a portable nightlight. Darah has been using the Munchkin Light My Way Light and absolutely loving it. Not only does it have cute owl design that is fun, but it also has a handle so she can tote it around. She not only has it in her bed at night time, but she also using it in her forts throughout the day or when she is pretending to explore underwater caverns like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Darah can turn on the light, which has a soft glow, any time she is feeling unsure. It seems to give her a lot of peace of mind, and empowers her to help herself feel better rather than relying on grownups to come in the room and reassure her. In short, it is a very powerful tool, and for the help it provides, it is a complete steal at $11.99 at Target and it is also available on Amazon.

If your little one is scared of the dark, I encourage you to give these tactics a try. They have helped us tremendously so that night time is no longer a cause for anxiety, and that is making everyone in the house rest a bit easier.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Munchkin Light My Way Light!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Baby Food Giveaway That Shows Off Your Adorable Child! #BabyFoodie

March 24, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Just between you and me, I have the world’s most beautiful children.

I imagine that you are politely nodding your head, all the while thinking, “You just haven’t seen MY kids, lady! They are DEFINITELY the world’s most beautiful children!”

Well, there’s my truth, and then there’s your truth, and then there’s the objective truth, which is this: we all have beautiful children! They have sweet little faces and precious little spirits and they should be shown off!

Earth’s Best is ready to help you to just that through a great baby food giveaway! I know you are already taking pictures of your kids on your smart phones. Are you also using Instagram? Here’s how you can take what you are already doing and turn it into a prize!

1. Download the Instagram app for your iPhone or Android if you don’t already have it (it is free and easy)

2. Take a picture of your baby eating their yummy Earth’s Best Organic meals

3. Choose an Instagram filter

3. Enter the hash tag #BabyFoodie in the comments section.

Earth’s Best will comment from their Instagram profile to let you know if you’ve been selected as the #BabyFoodie of the month.

Aside from bragging rights, the winner will have their photo featured on the Earth’s Best Facebook page (!) and will receive a 2 week supply of Earth’s Best products (worth $50). The winner will also receive a free 8×8 Shutterfly Photo Book.

You are already taking these adorable shots of your baby during meal time. Put them to work for you! 🙂

Good luck everyone!

I am a blog ambassador for Earth’s Best, and as such I have received complimentary products as a thank you for my time. All thoughts and opinions express here are strictly my own.

The Perfect Easter Basket DVD: The Springtime Collection (Giveaway!)

March 23, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 69 Comments

Have you noticed a trend this year to move away from candy kids’ Easter baskets? I’m not jumping on that band wagon, but I do see the point and I am making some changes in the types of candy I am purchasing. I mean, the type that the Easter Bunny will be bringing. 😉

But I do like the idea of having some non-candy stuff in the basket, and if you are looking for a great DVD option, this is it! Scholastic has just released The Springtime Collection Featuring Max’s Chocolate Chicken. It is going to be released on March 26th and will retail for $24.95. It contains 13 stories over 3 discs and they are all winners!

Disc 1: MAX’S CHOCOLATE CHICKEN…AND MORE STORIES BY ROSEMARY WELLS – also includes “Max’s Christmas”, “Morris’s Disappearing Dog”, “Otto Runs for President”, “Max’s Christmas – Spanish Version”. (Max, by the way, is from Max and Ruby which is currently on Nick, Jr.)

Disc 2: THE RED HEN…AND MORE COOKING STORIES – also includes “Bread Comes to Life”, “How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?”, and “Arnie the Doughnut” (This is one of Darah’s VERY favorite Scholastic DVDs, by the way)

Disc 3: CHICKEN LITTLE…AND MORE ZANY ANIMAL STORIES – also includes “The Great White Man-Eating Shark”, “The Three-Legged Cat”, and “Dooby Dooby Moo”

Darah has asked to watch Max’s Chocolate Chicken multiple times, and it has gotten her very excited about the Easter Bunny’s upcoming visit! If your little one would love some new shows to watch, I highly recommend this set. It has almost 3 hours of quality content! It can be purchased on the Scholastic website or on Amazon.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of The Springtime Collection Featuring Max’s Chocolate Chicken!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links. Gotta pay for those Easter eggs!

4 Key Tips for Promoting Healthy Habits for Kids

March 22, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 12 Comments

Wednesday afternoon I participated in a very informative conference call with Michelle Dudash, a certified Cordon Bleu chef and author of the highly praised book, Clean Eating for Busy Families.

Michelle had SO many great tips for those of us looking to encourage healthy habits for kids and get more nutritious food into the tummies of our little ones. She also shared some news about the Walmart Foundation that REALLY impressed me. This nonprofit arm of Walmart has dedicated $2 BILLION in cash and in-kind donations through 2015 to help fight hunger in America. That is simply outstanding!

One of the ways that money is being spent is through a $6.7 million series of grants to 5 national nonprofits that are providing 250,000 Americans with access to school breakfasts and nutrition education programs.

During our conversation, Michelle shared some of her top tips for encouraging healthy eating habits in your family. Here are the ones that really stood out to me as things I need to implement:

Get Kids in the Kitchen!

Darah likes to help me prepare food, but as we all know, when little ones want to “help” it really just means more work for the head chef! However, studies have shown that children are more likely to eat food that they help prepare. I need to keep in mind that spending an extra 5-10 minutes on dinner because I had a little helper will pay dividends in the form of a peaceful meal with no whining and complaints such as, “This is yucky!”

You Can Prepare Breakfast Ahead of Time!

My family loves to have a hot breakfast. I try to accommodate that wish as much as possible, but there are certainly days when I just don’t have time. And truth be told, I usually reach for a box of cereal or a bag of bagels that is made with enriched flour. Michelle shared that she actually makes a batch of boiled eggs once a week and keeps them in her fridge. They are one of the very best sources of protein, and as compared to other protein sources, are also one of the least expensive. What a great idea! Reaching for an egg is even faster than reaching for a bagel!

Tips for Getting Through a “Food Funk”

I think we’ve all witnessed our kids clinging to a particular food for a few days or weeks or maybe even months. My oldest gets on a cracker kick that just can’t be stopped. Same goes for peanut butter. Michelle reminded us all that the child will move past those finicky habits eventually, but while we are waiting them out, we just need to make sure we are giving them the most nutritious options possible. For example, if you are making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. for one of your kids, be sure you have switched to whole wheat bread, a peanut butter with no sugar added, and a natural jelly. If your kid balks at that option, maybe they are ready to come out of that particular food funk! 🙂

Organic or No High Fructose Corn Syrup…Which to Choose?

I asked Michelle which one was the lesser of two evils…non-organic produce or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). I asked this question because we have to watch our pennies in the store, and that means that I can’t fill my cart with every single thing I’d like to get for my family. I simply have to choose. Michelle gave some really helpful advice here. She said that nutritionally, there isn’t too much difference between organic and non-organic food, so while she recommends purchasing it whenever you can, she says to skip it if your budget just won’t allow for it.

As far as avoiding HFCS, Michelle is definitely in favor of doing so, but she said, “If a product is $1 more because it is made with sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, it doesn’t make a difference. Sugar is sugar!” I don’t think Michelle is saying not to worry about HFCS, because it really is a nasty ingredient, but rather, to be more concerned about sugar consumption altogether, whatever its form. Don’t be so quick to assume that you’ve purchased a “healthy” product just because the sugar in it isn’t HFCS. That’s a light bulb moment for me!

What questions would you love to ask someone like Michelle? And do you have any tips for encouraging healthy habits for kids? Please share! I think we could also use some helpful hints!

This is a sponsored conversation with The Motherhood. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.