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

A Go-To Resource for Fast and Easy Recipes: The Simple & Delicious Cookbook

September 19, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Taste of Home in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

When it comes to weeknight dinners, the saying, “If you fail to plan then you plan to fail” is absolutely spot-on. Raise your hand if you’ve found yourself in a fast food drive-thru on a Wednesday night because you started thinking about dinner at 5:30 and all the meat in your home was frozen solid and/or you were missing one key ingredient for pretty much everything you could think of that would come together quickly.

My hand is high in the air, friends. I’m guessing yours is, too.

We all know that creating a menu for the week is smart, but even that task can take quite a while to accomplish (I usually head to Pinterest looking for recipes and then get totally lost in DIY ideas and other life hacks and run out of time before I’ve found what I was originally looking for!). I’ve also found that I often will put together menu ideas that sound fantastic, only to realize when it’s time to start cooking that the recipes are much more complicated than I thought (I can’t even count the number of times I have been working through a recipe that I expect to be feeding my family 30 minutes later, only to find, “marinade the meat overnight” in the directions. UGH!!!!).

And this is why I’m really enjoying a brand new cookbook put out by Taste of Home called The Simple & Delicious Cookbook. It contains a whopping 1,347 different recipes that perfectly fit the needs of my busy schedule as a working mom who is also the head chef at home.

This full color binder has categories that make my heart sing, because they are exactly what I’m looking for, especially for weeknight options. Check out the categories:

Snacks, Apps & Beverages
Finished in 15
30 Dinners in 30
On the Stovetop
Slow Cooking
Oven Entrees
Quick Casseroles
Fast Comfort Food
Sides & Salads
Breads Made Easy
Good Morning
Lunch on the Go
Buy This, Make That
Cook Once, Eat Twice
Make-Ahead Magic
Potluck Perfect
Sweet Treats
Desserts in a Dish
Party Time!
Holiday Highlights

Within the book, many of the recipes have large, color images next to them. But what I LOVED seeing was that at the very front of each section, every single recipe has a small color photo shown, which means you get to see everything in this book! That’s a rare thing to find in a cookbook, and especially at this price point.

I’ve been using this cookbook quite a bit since school started back as I have to really stay on top of the dinner plan in order to ensure that the kids’ homework gets finished and we eat something that is nutritious and that everyone will enjoy. The Simple & Delicious Cookbook is full of exactly what I’m looking for and since it’s all in one place, it keeps me from getting distracted online or from selecting recipes that are too complicated. The spinach & bacon salad with peaches (found on p. 259) was absolutely beautiful and easy! I cooked and crumbled the bacon in the morning and that helped this recipe come together lightning fast at dinner time!

Another big hit was the maple sausage skillet (p. 92). The onions, peppers and mushrooms became completely irresistible once I added a small amount of maple syrup. I have made similar meals to this, ingredient-wise, but it’s never occurred to me to add maple syrup. It tasted fantastic!!!

And for Taco Tuesday last week, we went in a new direction and had Thai Chicken Tacos (p. 59). I loved having a brand new idea for taco night and being able to introduce a different flavor profile. I also love that this recipe called for a rotisserie chicken, as taking a cooking shortcut like that can save you a ton of time (and I also think rotisserie chickens are a bargain…they usually don’t cost much more than an uncooked whole chicken!).

I’ve even been able to find some fun special treats for after school (my kids come home positively ravenous most days so I’ve got to be ready for them!). I made caramel heavenlies (p. 467) and we all immensely enjoyed them! They came together really fast and just needed time to cool down before being served. It’s even one your kids would love to help make!

If you are struggling with weeknight dinners or with avoiding the drive-thru, I highly recommend checking out The Simple & Delicious Cookbook. With so many recipes being offered, you could reject 2/3 of them and still have enough recipes ideas to provide a recipe each day for 1 year and 3 months with no repeats. And if you try them all? Well then you’ve got enough recipes in here to try one new thing each day for 3 years and 9 months. All for less than $20. That’s a no-brainer, if you ask me!

(Giveaway!) Happy 60th Birthday, Play-Doh!

September 17, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · 76 Comments

Thanks to Play-Doh for sending along the fun kit!

Yesterday was a big day for one of America’s all-time favorite brands for kids. It was Play-Doh’s 60th birthday! So many generations have enjoyed squishing, rolling, and making new creations out of that awesome stuff that comes in the yellow can.

One of my favorite toys growing up was a Play-Doh ice cream and soda fountain shop I had as a child. I loved making ice cream with blueberries sprinkled on top for all of my dolls. 🙂

Now my own girls get to enjoy Play-Doh and it’s one of my favorite things to get to play with them.

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I love to watch their little minds get busy with all sorts of ideas for creation. I love the fact that playing with Play-Doh can result in some serious art time, some entrepreneurial time (my girls love to “sell” what they make!) and some time getting to imagine different awesome careers (engineer and cupcake maker all in one? Sure!).

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I also love watching them work on their motor skills and strengthening their little hands while they make different shapes and designs. You never quite know where a play-doh session will take you, and I love that open-ended nature of it.

We’ve been playing with the Cupcake Celebration kit since Play-Doh just had a big birthday to celebrate. It’s loads of fun and very nicely priced at $19.99. I thought perhaps your child might enjoy getting to do the exact same thing, so let’s have a giveaway, shall we?

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Pregnancy After Infertility: Happily Ever After?

September 15, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Please enjoy today’s guest post from Alice D. Domar, Ph.D. She is the author of seven books, the most recent is Finding Calm for the Expectant Mom (Tarcher, August 2016). She is an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology, part-time, at Harvard Medical School, the director of integrative care at Boston IVF and the executive director of the Domar Centers for Mind/Body Health.

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As a psychologist who specializes in reproductive medicine, most of the pregnant patients I counsel have conceived “with help”. Some of them got the happy news after a month or two of oral medication, but the vast majority went all the way, to in vitro fertilization. Which means they have endured months, or more likely years, of a roller coaster life- hopes rising with ovulation and nightmares confirmed two weeks later. They have felt isolated from their partner as well as from their fertile family and friends, their sex lives may be profoundly impacted, their career may have suffered because of frequent absences needed for treatment and an inability to travel for work because of it, their finances may take years to recover, and they may feel alienated from their childhood place of worship. All this suffering because of one carrot dangling in front of them- conceiving and carrying to term a healthy baby.

So as soon as one of my patients gets that positive pregnancy test, whoosh, all that pain and frustration and loneliness just vanishes, right? Wrong. This may happen for some women who conceive after infertility; they are able to close that door and hide the pain and they flourish and revel in their growing bump. But for many women who conceive after infertility, it is a far more complex process. They may feel guilty, sort of like survivors guilt. All those friendships built online and in the doctor’s waiting room and with the third cousin of your next door neighbor who brought you together because of your shared misery- they are all still infertile and you are not.
Pregnancy after infertility also may bring with it an overwhelming amount of anxiety, especially in women who have experienced a miscarriage in the past. Getting past “that point” can be excruciating. Even for women who have not had a loss, the anxiety can be profound, and it can take a woman by surprise. There is this assumption during infertility that the golden ticket is the positive pregnancy test. But once you get there, there is the second blood test, and then the crucial ultrasound to check for a fetal heartbeat, and then the first obstetrician appointment, and then the ultrasound scan to check for abnormalities and the blood test to check for genetic defects. Will it ever stop? Many pregnant post-infertile patients feel deprived of being able to enjoy their pregnancy. It doesn’t feel fair.

Finally, there is the issue of complaining. Pregnancy is hard. Your body is busy building a baby and it has no qualms about letting you know what a task this is. Nausea and vomiting, having to pee throughout the night, overwhelming fatigue during the day, leg cramps, heartburn, excess saliva, and insomnia throughout the pregnancy are all definitely complain-worthy issues. But my patients tell me that either they don’t feel comfortable complaining since after all they worked so incredibly hard to get pregnant. Or they do complain to their partner and their mother and their friends and co-workers. Who might not want to hear them. Because for the months or years before the pregnancy, they had to hear her complain about her infertility. So she is in a no-win situation. And why so many of my previously infertile patients come in weekly to see me! They have free reign to bitch and moan and simply feel awful. Because the pregnancy wasn’t the magical experience she had expected it to be. Which just doesn’t seem right.
The good news is that pregnancy is a temporary experience and easier when you do it the right way, like having an expert like an OBGYN Atlanta to consult with. And most women find that the second semester is far easier than the first. And time brings with it more ease about the pregnancy, more comfort in identifying oneself as a pregnant woman, and the nightmare of infertility begins to fade. My observation is that previously infertile women make terrific moms. They delight in their children and take nothing for granted.

But what can you do in the meantime about the nausea, fatigue and anxiety? That is precisely why I wrote Finding Calm for the Expectant Mom. There are any ways to reduce the physical and psychological symptoms which are bothering you and the goal is not so much symptoms treatment but instead symptoms prevention. For nausea, make sure to not only identify the nausea triggers (fish, meat, perfume) to avoid but also the things which are actually appealing (lemony, minty, salty) and aim for those things. For fatigue, try to figure out what is interfering with your sleep. Once you have a handle on what is interrupting your sleep, aim for prevention. Decrease beverage consumption in the evenings, grab every pillow in the house to support your legs, back and belly, and learn some relaxation techniques to practice in the middle of the night when you are too anxious to fall back to sleep.

Dinner and a Movie Idea: Robin Hood

September 14, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I’m a Netflix Stream Team member and receive complimentary streaming service. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

One of my favorite family activities is to do movie night, and one of my favorite things to watch on family movie night are classic Disney films that I enjoyed as a child and that I can now enjoy with my own kids.

Robin Hood is one of those films. It’s such a great story, and the characters are big hits with my girls (Lady Cluck is their favorite!).

Did you know that Robin Hood is available to view any time you like on Netflix Instant? It’s true! Earlier this week we watched it together, but to make the viewing party a bit more fun, I made a meal that coordinated with the movie! It was EASY, everyone! I promise! 🙂

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In the Disney version of this classic tale, Robin Hood and Little John make a tasty stew in the woods, which inspired the beef stew I put together in the slow cooker. Here’s a recipe to try if you need some inspiration.

The Rabbit family is seen eating some gruel, and so I made small amounts of watered down oatmeal as part of dinner, too (no sugar or any flavoring added, at all). Surprisingly, the girls ate every bit of the gruel! Ha!

And Maid Marian throws a pie at Prince John during a fun scene in the film, and that means that pie must be had! I kept things simple for me and just purchased a pie, but you could certainly make one from scratch if you are so inclined.

Finally, I added chocolate gold coins to the presentation since those gold coins come up again and again in the movie. If I had been a bit more clever I would have given them to the girls and then taken them away citing overdue taxes. Ha!

Do you have any other recipe suggestions or other fun ideas for making a viewing of Robin Hood even more fun for the family? I’d love to hear!

The Best Work from Home Opportunity for Moms: Super Low Risk, Super High Gain

September 12, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I wouldn’t consider myself to be especially risk-averse when it comes to starting a business (which might be a reason that I am currently running 4 different businesses, and loving it!). But as someone who also highly values getting to be home with my children, I can certainly understand the hesitation that so many moms have about starting their own businesses from home. It’s one I had before I decided to just take the leap and turn my first business (this blog) into an actual business instead of a hobby, because simply put, I couldn’t guarantee that it would be a success, and I wasn’t sure if the time it would take would defeat the purpose of me being home. Furthermore, when considering pursuing a work-from-home opportunity, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the options and it is tricky to determine which ones you might actually make money pursuing rather than just spending a lot of money and having precious little to show for it.

I have different reasons for being excited about each of the businesses that I run, but I can tell you that I have given careful thought to each and every one of them and done some risk analysis on them (and yes, some of them are riskier than others). Today I want to highlight one of the businesses I chose to pursue because I think it offers one of the very lowest risks I have ever seen for starting a business and it also offers some of the greatest rewards simply for giving the business a try for a few months. Simply put, if you are a mother with a child aged 12 or under (or if you have children in your life you buy gifts for), giving Barefoot Books a try is a no-brainer.

So What is Barefoot Books?

Barefoot Books is a children’s book company that values raising the next generation to be global citizens. As such, books published by this company emphasize understanding and exploring other cultures, highlight children of all backgrounds, and strive to open hearts and minds through the power of stories. Furthermore, the books are always beautifully illustrated. The quality is exceptional and the price points are quite reasonable, too.

I love that Barefoot Books made the decision to step away from working through book distributors and instead developed a sharing model that could create meaningful work for people who shared a passion for these literary treasures. I myself have been purchasing Barefoot Books for several years, and after hosting a very successful Barefoot Books party recently and then carefully reviewing the costs to start and maintain a business with the company, I decided to go for it.

What’s the Risk?

I think one of the big questions you should be asking as you look at different work-from-home opportunities is what the risk is for you to get started. In other works, how much money are you going to need to spend to start your work, and beyond that, what are you expected to spend down the line? This is where Barefoot Books really stands out from many other options, because the costs are SO low. For $79.99 you can get the Barefoot Basics in a Bag (below is a video of me unpacking the contents), and this contains 9 products from Barefoot Books (which retail for over $100), as well as a canvas tote and promotional materials such as catalogs to hand out to friends and family to get you up and running.

There is absolutely no requirement to purchase ANYTHING else from Barefoot Books in order to run your business, but if you ever do want to place a personal order, because you are an ambassador, your books are now a whopping 30% off! The only fee that comes into play happens on your one year sign up anniversary, when you will be charged $50 for your website maintenance (this fee is completely waived for your first year, which helps keep the risk low for you!). If the business isn’t working out for you, simply opt not to renew and that’s perfectly fine. You will know by that point if this is a business you are enjoying, anyway. 🙂

How $80 = $222 and 37 Free Books

In addition to the collection of products you receive to start your business, you are also eligible to earn up to 28 additional books in your first 60 days in business. This is where things get super awesome, friends. Let me introduce you to the Kickstarter bonuses!

If you sell $300 in product in your first 30 days, you will earn bonus 1, and 14 Barefoot Books titles will be sent to you completely free of charge. If you sell a grand total of $600 in your first 60 days you will earn bonus 2, and an additional 14 Barefoot Books titles will be headed to your home as a thank you for sharing! So in addition to the 9 books you already have from your starter kit, you will have 28 more thanks to the bonuses. You, my friend, have just built yourself an incredible library of books!

And now let’s talk about the $222. You see, when you sell Barefoot Books you earn commission (hooray!). You will earn 30% commission on all purchases, and in the months where you sell at least $300, you earn 10% of your bonus volume. If you want to dig into the nuts and bolts of the compensation plan, here’s a great place to start, but for now, just suffice it to say that $600 in sales will provide you with $180 in commission and a $42 bonus volume payment, which means a check for $222 is headed your way.

How Hard is Selling?

So earning $222 and getting 37 beautiful books for an $80 investment sounds pretty darn awesome, right? But is it really hard to accomplish? The answer is absolutely not! In fact, one of the reasons I decided to join as an ambassador was that I was the host for a Barefoot Books party which brought in almost $500 in sales in that one hour-long event which happened on Facebook (nobody even had to clean their house!). I would say that you will want to plan on hosting 2 parties, or perhaps hosting one party and then connecting with your child’s school to see if you can sell books to their library or even hold a fundraising event for the school with the parents. Your upline can help you brainstorm some ideas to quickly get some sales under your belt so that you rack up every bonus offer on the table.

Additionally, jumping in and making those initial sales will be very telling for you. After you hit your bonuses, get your free books and hold that commission check in your hand, you should take a moment to reflect: was sharing about Barefoot Books fun, miserable, or somewhere in between? What about the time commitment that you gave to the endeavor; was it reasonable, too demanding, or do you think you could put in even more hours in the future? If you decide that it’s a good fit for you, then you will already be connected with your support team and can simply continue on with the great work (and with a very nice collection of books to show to prospective buyers…no need to buy anything else unless you just want to!). You will love all of the training provided, the collaborative team spirit shared by all ambassadors, and the amazing perks that keep coming down the pipeline as extra fun incentives to share (such as winning plane ticket vouchers, conference registrations, sales aids, etc. There’s always a fun bonus up for grabs!).

And what if you give this a go and it’s just not for you? Well, the worst possible case scenario is that you purchase the Barefoot Basics in a Bag and never do a single thing with it, and for your $80 you get over $100 worth of product that will be loved by your kids. And if you earn all those bonuses but still aren’t feeling it, you’ve made $222 and have 37 books on hand to keep your gift closet stocked for quite some time (no more running to the store to grab last-minute birthday party gifts!).

But maybe, just maybe, you will love it. So why not give it a go? Let’s talk! stuffparentsneed (at) gmail (dot) com

15 Excellent Children’s Books With Blind Children as Characters

September 11, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

The more I delve into the world of children’s books (largely thanks to having 7 years and counting of reading to my own kids, and also thanks to my new love affair with Barefoot Books), the more I realize how absolutely critical it is for little readers to be exposed to all sorts of differences in the characters that they read. They need to read extensively about children who are different from them in some way. This is a great way to open up conversations about things that make us different, things that make us unique and special, and things that make us so strikingly similar even amidst all those differences, too.

My own children have asked me questions about what it might be like to have a visual impairment, and this has prompted my search for some good children’s books that feature blind characters. I’ve put together a list of some of my top picks in case you’d like to check some out from your local library or even pick up a copy of something new on Amazon. Please note that these aren’t tactile books designed specifically for visually impaired readers, but rather traditional books that showcase blind individuals in the stories. Affiliate links are included at no cost to you.

books-with-blind-children

1. Six Dots

This is a wonderful presentation of the story of Louis Braille, written specifically for children. My kids loved it and were very inspired by the impact a young person can have on the world!

2. My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay

Zulay is the main character of this story, and her wish is to run in the race during field day at school. With the help of a special aide and the support of her friends, Zulay does exactly what she sets out to do!

3. Colors of the Wind: The Story of Blind Artist and Champion Runner George Mendoza

This is a great read about a real person, George Mendoza, who lost his sight at age 15 and went on to excel in several different areas, including art and athletics.

4. Looking Out for Sarah

Has your child seen a guide dog at work and had questions? This book is a great way to open up more conversation on the subject! It’s a story about Sarah and her guide dog, Perry, and you are literally walked through their busy day out and about.

5. Can Kate See?

A great read where a visually impaired child shows her classmates how she makes excellent use of her other senses to help her “see” in different ways.

6. See the Ocean

The descriptive detail in this book about a family’s yearly trip to the ocean can give children a lot to think about, especially as it relates to trying to imagine things in a different way than simply relying on what they can see. Images are beautiful, too!

7. A Picture Book of Helen Keller

A perfect introduction to the life of Helen Keller for children in 1st-3rd grade. Children can better understand the frustrations Helen experienced as a child, the importance of Anne Sullivan in helping Helen overcome her challenges, and the inspiration that Helen provided to others throughout her life.

8. Yuko-chan and the Daruma Doll: The Adventures of a Blind Japanese Girl Who Saves Her Village

This book is the 2012 Creative Child Magazine Book of the year award winner, and for great reason! It is a captivating story of an adventurous young orphan who happens to be blind, and who invents the Daruma doll thanks to her keen observation skills. This doll goes on to provide income for her entire village and serve as a symbol of resilience, as it rights itself whenever it is tipped over.

9. The Barefoot Book of Children

This book doesn’t focus on children who are blind, in particular, but it made this list because it is the most inclusive book I have ever personally encountered. There are several instances throughout the book showcasing children with visual impairments, as well as children of every shape, size, color and ability. It’s currently my all-time favorite children’s book!

10. Do You Remember the Color Blue?: The Questions Children Ask About Blindness

The author answers 13 thought-provoking questions that children have asked her over the years about being blind. Each one addresses a different aspect of her experience, from coping with her loss and dealing with people who don’t know how to treat a blind person to marrying a man she couldn’t see and being a blind mom. What a great, honest read, that addresses many of the questions children might want to ask.

11. Talkin’ Guitar: A Story of Young Doc Watson

This is another great biography, focused on the Grammy winner Doc Watson, who was considered one of the greatest bluegrass and country music artists of all time.

12. Mandy Sue Day

A lovely tale of a day on the farm and how Mandy enjoys it, thoroughly. Only at the close of the book does the reader come to understand the Mandy is blind, which can give young readers a better understanding of just how extensively other senses can be relied upon in daily life. A great pick for horse lovers, too!

13. Brian’s Bird

Brian has a new parakeet, and the reader gets to experience through the story just how much Brian, who is blind, can still enjoy his new pet through touch. This is also a very realistic story of dealing with sibling conflict, which all children who are siblings can relate to in some way, and the power of teamwork to solve problems.

14. The Secret Code

This is a quick, simple story that is geared toward younger readers (4-7, perhaps) that focuses on how fun reading is, whether you use your eyes to read or your hands, with Braille.

15. Keep Your Ear on the Ball

This is a true story about a boy, Davey, who moves to a new school and how his classmates learn to understand what makes Davey different (he is blind). It does a wonderful job of showcasing Davey’s capabilities even without sight, and it shows an honest portrayal of frustrations that can occur when you are struggling to understand someone who is different, as well as the benefit that can come from working together to find solutions that work for everyone. It’s a compelling story that will interest children and bring about great discussions.

I’d love to hear which of these are your favorites! Any to add to the list? Please leave a comment if there’s something else you think should be included.

How to Remove the Risk When Trying a Bargain Toilet Paper

September 10, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored byCharmin as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

Can we all just acknowledge for a moment that toilet paper is one of those adult purchases that isn’t very fun? It’s something you purchase only to turn around and throw away! And as your family grows, it’s a purchase you have to make more and more often (especially when you have toddlers who cannot resist playing with the toilet paper all the time)!

So for me toilet paper is something that I try to watch closely for sales and then stock up on when a brand I like is discounted a bit. I used to just buy whatever was cheapest when we were close to running out, but that has resulted in several instances of having toilet paper that was just awful. It was either so scratchy that it felt like punishment to use or it was so flimsy that you had to use twice as much, rendering it’s “bargain” price null and void. So I typically steer clear of the bargain brands now.

Fortunately, there’s a new product on the market that competes price-wise with some of those bargain brands, and all while delivering outstanding quality. It’s called Charmin Essentials and I’ve purchased several packages already after giving it an initial try. It’s a winner!

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Look for it at the store, friends, and note that you can choose between Charmin Essentials Soft (that’s our pick!) or Charmin Essentials Strong. You’ll like the price point and you’ll love the quality you get for the price. I’m actually a lot less grumpy about this household purchase now, thanks to Charmin Essentials!

Make the Swap for Free!

Thinking about trying it for yourself, but are feeling unsure due to bad toilet paper purchases of the past? Well no worries, because you can take part in the #CharminEssentials TP swap program! You can upgrade your Angel Soft® or Scott® 1000 TP to Charmmin Essentials Soft of Charmin Essentials Strong totally for FREE!!! Just tweet your TP swap out request to @Charmin with #CharminEssentials and #Promotions (full details here).

I’m happy with our purchase because we got the quality I want and we are paying the price I like. I used to have to sacrifice one for the other, but no more!

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28 Easy and Fun Halloween Recipes for Kids

September 1, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Halloween recipes are totally abundant on the internet (yay for crowd sourcing!) but so many of them require you to have mad carving skills and an extra hour on your hands to make the impressive but labor-intensive designs. I have created a list for myself that is curated to include fun yet easy Halloween recipes for kids. So these are ideas that still have that fun factor that kids will love, but that don’t require the person making them to have a degree from a culinary institute. If you have other recipes online that you love please leave a link in the comments to help others find them. Enjoy!

halloween recipes for kids

Breakfast

Jack ‘O Lantern Waffles

Black and Orange Fruit Salad

Cinnamon Roll Pumpkins

Spider Eggs

Spooky Pumpkin Chia Pudding

Haunted Halloween Pancakes

Lunch

Spooky Spider Deviled Eggs

Spooky Spider PB&J

After School Snacks

Curried Bean and Pumpkin Dip

Pumpkin Jello Snacks

Peanut Butter Teeth

Spooky Spider Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas

Dinner

Bats and Cobwebs Pasta

Yummy Mummy Meatloaf

Eyeball Taco Salad

Meatball Mummies

Twice-Baked Pumpkin Potatoes

Dessert

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

Strawberry Ghosts

Pretzel Pumpkins

Halloween Marshmallow Pops

Mini Doughnut Spiders

Accessory Inspiration from Around the World: Ensemble Box

August 30, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

When it comes to fashion, I am pretty much the worst at accessorizing. I just don’t have an eye for how to pull things together on my own and if I want to achieve a certain “look” I have to just copy it from my source of inspiration to not get it horribly wrong. I actually really love looking at accessories, and wish I had the confidence to know what to buy that would work with my wardrobe. But I get so confused so easily, and more often than not, I just don’t buy anything and then find myself wearing outfits that fall short of looking polished.

So when Ensemble Box reached out about their company and what it offers, I was very excited. This is a monthly subscription service that will send you a few fun accessories each month, and every box is inspired by a particular country.

The August box I was sent, for example, contained items inspired by Spain. Three accessories were included, as well as a bonus treat (in this case, some tea that is traditional to Spain).

The pashmina silk wrap is absolutely gorgeous and felt like the “big” item in the box. The colors are perfect for the fall, too.

I also really love the hollow out round drop earrings. This is something I would never have the guts to buy from a store but now that I own them I love them! They are so flashy and fun, and yet, if I wear my hair down then they can blend in a bit and not be overly loud.

I also think the aviator metal sunglasses are quite fun. I’m not sure that they are the best style for my face frame, but I’ll keep playing around with them.

The Ensemble Box seems to be very thoughtfully curated box at a reasonable price point of $37.95 monthly. This is a new subscription service and there are few things I’d love to see them include as they continue to grow. First, I’d like to see retail price points for the items included. When I purchase a subscription box I like to feel as though I am getting a lot of bang for my buck, so show me what I might have spent if I’d picked up each item at full retail cost! Second, I’d like to see more information on the website about the country of the month and some ideas for how to weave the accessories into your wardrobe. Show me some folks wearing the scarf or the earrings to give me ideas (because I promise I’ll struggle to come up with it on my own!). And finally I’d love to see the option of subscribing for a longer period of time (month-to-month is the only option for now) and a little price break for committing to more boxes.

Are you an accessory maven or are you like me and riding the struggle bus in this department? Would Ensemble Box be something that could help you get out of a fashion rut?