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

Baking Cookies with Parchment Paper (Voting Day! Giveaway!)

March 20, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 137 Comments

It’s voting day for the Reynolds Real Moms campaign! We’re in the home stretch…just two more weeks! Please take a moment to vote for me. It takes just a few seconds and it can change my life, just like Reynolds products have already done! In case you are new here, I’m Tiffany and can be found on the bottom row, second from the left.

Are you using parchment paper when you bake cookies? Its ok…I wasn’t either, until just a few months ago. But now I will NEVER EVER EVER EVER bake cookies without Reynolds Parchment Paper. Yes, it really does make that big of a difference in the baking process, as well as during clean up. Let me show you all the ways parchment paper will rock your chocolate chip world!

Are you thinking to yourself, “Looks cool, but I don’t even own any parchment paper!” No worries, friends. I’ve got you covered. Here’s a parchment paper coupon that will save you a buck. You’re welcome! 🙂

Many of you know that I already gave away a 6 month supply of Reynolds products. Well guess what? Reynolds said, “Let’s do it again!” That means one more person is going to

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a 6 month supply of Reynolds products, including foil, parchment paper, baking cups, slow cooker liners, oven bags, bake ware pans, freezer paper and pan lining paper. Oh heck yes!!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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!

Product that Encourages Sensory for Toddlers (Giveaway)

March 20, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 53 Comments

The Montessori method of education gives a very strong preference to using multiple senses during the learning experience. Whether you have an infant, toddler or preschooler at home, I want to encourage to make it a goal to find sensory activities to do at some point every day. Touch, taste and smell are all very important components of memory development, and they also help pique interest when used together.

Learning Resources has a terrific product available that can be used for years and years and for so very many uses. This summer we will be working on sensory for toddlers as Layah becomes a young toddler (oh…don’t make me cry!!!) and we will be working on sensory for preschoolers as well. The Primary Science Sensory Tubes will be getting a workout, holding all sorts of fun discoveries that we can study more closely.

This is a set of 4 sturdy, clear tubes. They can be opened on both ends and have high quality lids that can be screwed on of off. They come with an extra set of vented lids just in case you want to smell what is inside or if you have small creatures in there than need some air. LIke Ariel, for example.

We have already made an “under the sea” sensory tube. Darah really enjoyed scouring the house for anything that made her think of the ocean. She has quite a collection of sea shells!

I very highly recommend the Primary Science Sensory Tubes for parents of toddlers. Each product comes with 4 tubes, so you can even keep some and give others away as gifts.

What sensory activities have you been doing in your home, whether intentional or not? I’d love to hear!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a set of Sensory Tubes for Learning Resources!
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.

Celebrate Your Not-So-Ordinary Daily Road Trips and Win a Free Year of Gas!

March 19, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Cooper Tire. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you feeling the pinch at the gas station these days? Me, too.

How does winning a free year of gas sound to you? Sounds pretty good to me, too! That's why I just entered Cooper Tire's My Every Day Road Trip Contest, and I want to encourage you to do the same so that you have a shot at this amazing prize. Cooper Tires wants to celebrate road trips, but not the kind you might think of first. They are talking about road trips you take every single day (trips to the grocery store, to work, taking your kids to school, etc.). Even though we take these trips every day, that doesn't mean that extraordinary things don't occasionally happen during them!

From now until March 29th you can go to the Cooper Tire Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/coopertire/app_208465355933178) and enter to win by submitting a written story, a photo or a video highlighting your not-so-everday roadtrip story. The top written story gets a $100 gift card, the top photo gets a $500 gift card, and the very top video gets $5,000 for gas for the year! Don't forget to like the Facebook page while you are there!

Need a little inspiration? Check out this video!

In addition to entering the contest for a chance to win, you can also become eligible for some great prizes just by voting for the video finalists starting April 15! For a complete list of prizes, rules and submission guidelines, be sure to visit the Facebook page.

Cooper Tires has been in the business of helping people with their everyday road trips for nearly 100 years now! Cooper Tires fit most every vehicle on the road today, and have options for passenger vehicles, performance vehicles, sport utility, light truck and winter tires.

Spring Tablescape Idea: Use Green Split Peas!

March 19, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 8 Comments

Want to see a really easy Spring tablescape idea?

This is my “beachy” tablescape. It sits on my buffet in the dining room all year long. The tray was a T.J. Maxx find about 4 years back. The green glass thingy (seriously…what is it?) was a thrift store find. It has stones that I have purchased over the years almost entirely at The Dollar Tree. In the fall it gets more dark stones added to it, and in the summer it gets even more white stones added to it. And now, thanks to my genius 3 1/2 year old, it gets another color added to it in the spring. Do you see the green stuff scattered in there? Let’s take a closer look:

Yup, those are dry green split peas! They got there quite by accident. Darah and I were playing princesses and I poured a bag of dry split peas into a bowl and we pretended they were emeralds. They provided lots of entertainment and made for a great sensory activity, by the way. But then she just took a scoop and sprinkled them on top of the rocks. And I thought, “Yeah, ok. I see where you are going with this!” Then we poured the rest of the bowl into the tablescape!

Maybe it isn’t the world’s most beautiful tablescape idea. But it is certainly fun, kid-friendly, and the green adds such a great pop of color that is needed this time of year. Plus, a bag of green split peas is $2, max.

If you liked this idea, please share it with your friends through Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter! Share buttons can be found below, and if you hover over an image, the pin it button will appear!

Reusable Food Pouches: EZ Squeezees (Giveaway!)

March 18, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 62 Comments

My very favorite type of food to pack for both of my girls when we are taking a road trip, or even just running errands for a few hours, are reusable food pouches.

I’m sure you are familiar with food pouches, also sometimes called squeeze pouches. Most every brand that makes baby and toddler food now carries them because the kids love them so much. But are you confused about the “reusable” part? Aren’t they all disposable?

Well, most of the ready to eat food pouches from the store ARE disposable. But for the most part, that’s not how we roll! I don’t like being that wasteful, and even more importantly, I just can’t afford to give those pouches to my girls on a regular basis, as they are at least $1 each, and that’s when I shop the sales and match them up with a coupon! Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Introducting EZ Squeezees.

It looks pretty much just like a squeeze pouch you would buy from a store (though perhaps a bit sturdier). But the side of the pouch has a seal just like a plastic storage bag. Simple open up the side and fill it with whatever your little ones like! I add plain yogurt, apple sauce, and even baby food purees.

There is a bit of a learning curve with the reusable food pouches. The first few times I filled them, I over-filled them, only realizing it as I was closing the pouch. When it is too full, excess food will just spill out over the closure as you are trying to close it. Which, of course, is messy. But I have a better sense now for how much it can hold and tend to get it right.

I do wish that the caps it comes with would be attached to the pouch. This would make losing them much more difficult, and would also be a bit safer, as the caps are small, and not something you would want to be within reach of anyone under 3.

Overall, though, we are very pleased with the EZ Squeezees reusable food pouches. These save us a lot of money and still give the girls the opportunity to have their favorite type of snack. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE that these are dishwasher safe. I just put them in the top rack!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a set of 3 EZ Squeezees resusble food pouches!
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.

On Paying Admission to See a Newborn: What New Parents Need

March 17, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 15 Comments

This post was originally published on November 19, 2009. I’m mindful of this topic since another friend of mine just had a baby yesterday (shout out, Jessie!). I’d love to hear your thoughts on what new parents need and whether or not you should “pay admission” to see a newborn!

My dear friend (who was previously on bed rest) had an absolutely beautiful baby girl last week. Tim and I were so excited to get to see her and her husband as new parents, and we were completely ecstatic about getting to see a brand new baby again. Even though we have a little one who is only 3 months old, she is already entirely different than she was just 90 days ago. She’s grown a few inches, doubled in weight, and her personality is really starting to shine now. We love her to pieces, but we already miss that teeny tiny little peanut we brought home from the hospital!

When we went to the hospital to visit, we knew we were in for a treat. We also remembered what it was like to be new parents (both exciting and also completely overwhelming) and what new parents need, so we brought a few things with us for the parents and the baby. In other words, we brought an admission fee! Later in the week I brought a dinner over to the family. I also got to see the little love muffin again! Now, I did not bring over dinner just so that I could see the baby. I brought dinner because I knew exactly how difficult it is to put together a meal when you are adjusting to a serious lack of sleep and a pretty much total loss of personal time (these things come back little by little, but the loss at the start can be quite shocking!). With that said, though, getting to see the baby was a really fun perk for me!

Newborns are so much fun to see and hold. It is no wonder that so many people want to come for a visit in the days and weeks immediately following a birth. But let me be clear about something: If you are going to visit new parents and their baby, pay an admission fee. You need to bring something with you. I’m not saying that you have to go buy a diaper cake, or bring over an 8 course meal from a restaurant. Rather, you need to either take the initiative to bring something practical (like a meal or some baby wipes, for example), or you need to ask what you can pick up from the store for them on your way over. Should they politely protest, know this: they are simply being polite. You need to be even MORE polite and bring something useful, anyway (even a gallon of milk and a few fruits and veggies would be nice!). It is so difficult to think as far ahead as even the next meal when you are a brand new parent, and anticipating the needs of your friends and family in this situation is such a great help. It is what new parents need! What isn’t helpful is coming over to see the baby, taking up their precious (yes, precious) free time with your visit, and leaving without helping them out in some small way.

What do you think about this issue?

How to Get Healthy Hair in 7 Days (and a Free Sample)

March 16, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Have you been wondering how to get healthy hair? Is your hair a victim of product build-up, flat iron damage, and breakage from being thrown in a ponytail day after day?

I can certainly identify with you! I want to share with you what my hair care routine was up until 2 weeks ago. I was actually doing the no ‘poo thing, and I used to get really great results from this. That is, until I started dyeing my hair again (my hair has started to get serious about producing more gray, so I’ve had to get serious about covering it!). Once I started dyeing my hair, I noticed that using baking soda and vinegar on dyed hair made it SOOOOOOOOOOOO dry. It just wasn’t working.

So then I switched to some organic shampoo and conditioner. I like to go green any time I can. But, unfortunately, I noticed after using it for about a week that my hair looked DIRTY. Just gross and dirty. So until recently, I’d been waffling back and forth between the no ‘poo method and the organic shampoo and conditioner method. My hair either looked dry or dirty pretty much at all times. It was not awesome. I couldn’t figure out how to get healthy hair again.

That’s when I decided to take the 7 Day Scalp & Hair Challenge from Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy (maybe you’ve seen the commercials? They feature Heidi Klum talking about repairing hair at the roots). For the past 7 shampoos (I wash my hair every other day) I have been using Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Damage & Color Repair Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner.

Here is what my hair looks like today. I took this picture without having done anything special to my hair. I had straightened it yesterday, but I didn’t put any shine product on it, whatsoever. Look at all that natural shine!!!

Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy focuses on scalp nourishment and has a product that they are confident will give you stronger, more beautiful hair in just seven days. They even have a money back guarantee!

My experience taking the challenge was very positive. I’m ditching my old routine and switching to Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy, for sure. I love the results and I love knowing that my hair is not only clean, but also really healthy. You can find this product line at retailers like Walgreens, Walmart, and it is also available online at Amazon!

Want to take the challenge, too and find out how to get healthy hair in 7 days? Head over to the Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Facebook page to request free product samples!

I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Best Bath Toy Storage at a Bargain Price (Giveaway!)

March 15, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 101 Comments

At our baby shower for Darah, we received a popular brand bath toy storage scoop that was on our registry. It was adorable (looked like a ladybug!). We installed it as soon as we moved her from the infant bath to the big bath tub.

It lasted 2 weeks before it stopped working. We couldn’t get it to stay attached to the bathroom wall, no matter what we tried. And internet research revealed that lots and lots of other people were reporting the same problem.

What a waste…

So, we’ve had a bit of a bath toy storage problem over the past few years. But we really didn’t know what to do! When Munchkin asked if I’d like to check out their bath scoop, I was skeptical. We’d been down that road with another company. But I decided to give them a chance and to see if they had a better design.

And they do!!!! Our Munchkin Bath Scoop has been going strong for over a month with absolutely no signs of trouble! It is staying put!!!

It holds a good amount of toys. It is easy for my 3 1/2 year old to take off the wall and put back on, and it has an attractive design. It also has holes for drainage to help keep the toys inside from molding. And here’s the best part: the price! Right now the Munchkin Bath Toy Scoop is on sale at Amazon for under $9!!! . That is such a bargain as compared to the old scoop we had which cost around $25!

Which would you choose? The bargain that actually does what it is supposed to do, or the overpriced scoop that quits on you?

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 Ideas for Older Babies

March 14, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

Layah is 10 months old now.

Let me just catch my breath for a second while that sinks in….

Whew!

Anyway, she has certainly developed an appetite at this point. Sometimes I ask out loud if someone traded Layah’s stomach for that of a teenage boy. And I’m only half-kidding. She LOVES to eat, and she really loves to feed herself. While she still eats pureed baby food, I can tell that she is growing a little tired of it, and wants to have more of each meal be foods with more texture. I’ve been in need of some baby food ideas for her as an older baby.

Baby Food Ideas

In addition to finding new finger foods for Layah to sample (like bits of olives!) and I’m still making good use of all that baby food I have made and purchased by making it more appetizing to her.

Want to know my trick?

Whole grains! I love to add brown rice, quinoa or bulgur to Layah’s purees. If I ever have cooked pasta on hand, I’ll chop it up (usually in my food processor) and add that to her baby food, as well.

She is also really enjoying the stage 3 foods from Earth’s Best. They have a soft chunky texture that she absolutely loves.

I’d love to hear how you transitioned your baby away from pureed food and over to solids. Any tips or tricks to share? Any ideas of other things I can start adding into her baby food?

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.