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

Oribel Portaplay Convertible Activity Center (It Grows With Your Child!)

November 25, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

My sister Laura from Southern Made Simple has a FANTASTIC activity center to show you today. Anyone out there who is expecting or who has an infant should definitely check this out. I know my girls would have loved this when they were babies and would still be using it now! You’ll have to read the review for yourself to understand how in the world older kids could still get use out of it. 😉

Edit: Don’t miss the AWESOME product update at the end of the post!

Before I had my daughter, I was warned by other parents that my baby would grow faster than the blink of an eye. They would tell me to savor every newborn moment because those moments wouldn’t last for long, and that babies most certainly don’t keep. I don’t want to say that I ignored people when they said things like that, but I typically chose not to really listen. Frankly, it just sounded depressing to me, and a hormonal depressed pregnant lady probably isn’t a good thing!

And then I had my beautiful baby girl. And she was a newborn for what seemed to be all of two days. And now? She’s 6 months old, crawling all over the place, is VERY vocal (especially when we are feeding her solids..she’s not a fan), and she’s into everything. Why didn’t anyone tell me that they grow SO fast? Seriously. Somebody could’ve at least warned me! 😉

All that is to say that babies really do grow and develop so quickly, especially during their first year. Each time I have had to pack and put away her clothing she’s outgrown, I’m amazed at all of the things she didn’t even have time to wear. I’ve even gone through and found a few of her toys that she seems to have outgrown because she has become too advanced for them. Most of them she hardly even got to look at!

Luckily, the folks at Oribel had the fact that babies grow very quickly in mind when they created the Portaplay convertible activity center. This play table has been a huge hit with my daughter and me since we took it out of the package! It can be used as a fabulous little activity center for babies 5 to 12 months, and then easily transforms to a multi-purpose play table that can be used for children up to 5 years old. I really appreciate that this is something that will grow with my child. I won’t have to put it away with her baby toys (and ugly cry while doing it) because she’ll definitely be playing with this as she gets older and changes developmentally. Hooray for functionality!

The Portaplay came very neatly packaged and was insanely easy to put together. That’s really saying something in my opinion, because I typically skip out on putting things like this together and make my husband do it because I just know I’ll get frustrated with it. Fortunately that wasn’t the case at all! Once you get the table itself out and the leg height adjusted properly, you simply click the 5 learning toys and the swivel seat into place.

They’re really easy to snap in, and they stay put nicely so that a baby or toddler could not pop them off on their own. When you get ready to transition the activity center into a toddler play table, you can snap out the seat and play toys and put the flat plugs and wooden center piece into place with ease. It took me roughly 3 minutes to transform the play center into a table, and I had no hiccups or issues along the way! The only thing that I feel it is missing is a locking system for the wooden center piece for the table. It just sits in place, and I feel that it would be pretty easy for a curious 3 or 4 year old to take out and play with.

We currently have the activity table positioned at the lowest leg level for my daughter. Her feet don’t quite reach the bottom yet, so we stuck a little board underneath so she could stand properly. My daughter is absolutely on the petite side compared to other 6 month old children, so I feel that most other babies probably wouldn’t have much trouble reaching the floor.

From the moment that I sat her into the swivel seat of the activity center, she lit up like a light with excitement. She went straight to work playing and gnawing on the learning toys. She also thought it was so much fun to spin around from toy to toy with ease. Since she’s teething, she really liked one of the toys in particular:

Each of the learning toys encourages play in a different way and helps stimulate all five senses. The toys help develop hand-eye coordination, fine and gross motor skills, and self awareness. They’re also easily washable, too! Just rinse with a little soapy water and pat dry. This is great since I have a little drool monster on my hands!

My daughter has really been enjoying playing and exploring with the new Oribel Portaplay activity center. Before long, we’ll be transitioning it into a toddler play table. I don’t want to think about that just yet, but I am so glad that Oribel had growing babies in mind and created a play station that will grow with them.

Have I mentioned how great the Portaplay is yet? It’s pretty great, you guys. In fact, it’s SO great, it won 7 awards in 2015 alone, including the 2015 Kids Product of the Year from Creative Child Magazine. So cool! You can purchase the Portaplay activity center for just $149 from their website or from select retailers. They also have a few other really great products and will be releasing a super fabulous high chair in the very near future! I look forward to seeing the innovative children’s products that Oribel comes out with soon!

Update:

Big news from Oribel! I just got word that two brand new accessories are being released soon that will enhance play time with the already fabulous Portaplay system! Children will now be able to take a break from standing with the new Portaplay Child Stools, which are going to pair nicely with the new Portaplay Art Paper Roll Dispenser. Talk about a match made in heaven!

My daughter continues to play with the Portaplay every single day. I was so pumped to hear about these new attachments, because just a few days ago I caught myself wishing she could sit down while she plays at the table. She is new to walking, so her little legs get tired easily. I should have known that the brilliant minds at Oribel were already on the ball with that! The paper dispenser is also going to be perfect for those little budding artists who love to use their imagination and get creative. It even locks into place so it can’t roll off the table. Again, the folks at Oribel are really on top of their stuff!

Oribel is offering a special discount code for those that may be interested in pre-ordering these amazing new attachments. Be sure to check out the details below and check back soon to see a full review these sweet new products!

Promo code: Oribel15 – gets you 15% off your entire order. Sweet!

Details:

Only available on US site
Only available for PortaPlay and accessories
Not available with other promotion
Expires on May 10, 2016

For the Nerd in Your Life: Fun Gift Ideas (and Great Sales) from ThinkGeek.com

November 24, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Samples provided by ThinkGeek.com. Referral links may be included. All nerdy tendencies are those of my family. 🙂

Without a doubt the person on my holiday shopping list who is the toughest to buy for is my husband. He’s not really into gifts, which makes gift-giving hard right from the start. And he’s a bit of a minimalist, too. He wants things that are highly functional (read: boring) and doesn’t care for too much “fluff” in his life.

But he’s married to someone whose love language is gifts. I want to shower him with fun surprizes! One of the stores I have turned to for several years, now is ThinkGeek.com. The name pretty much says it all! If you have someone in your life whose tastes lean toward science, science-fiction, fantasy or anything else on the geek/nerd spectrum, this place is worth a look. They actually have some surprisingly cool items that might just bring out your own inner geek!

For example: one practical item we need in our home is another phone charger (I can’t even count how many we have lost on out of town trips). But here’s an opportunity to turn a boring purchase into something festive!

This is the iPhone Merry Phone charger ($14.99) and how can this not make you smile? I’m not going to put it away after the holidays are over, either! It’s SO much cooler than a standard charger. I love it!

And seeing as how we have a daughter named Layah (prounced the same as Princess Leia), it should go without saying that we LOVE Star Wars in our home. We recently watched episode VI, and to celebrate, I surprised everyone with these totally awesome R2-D2 and C-3PO ceramic bowls. They are generously sized for yummy popcorn. Even Wicket wants to get in on that action. They are also priced right at just $19.99 for the pair on ThinkGeek.com.

And though we got to travel to a galaxy far, far away thanks to our television, our bodies had to stay in our own solar system. So we enjoyed lots of snacks out of these GORGEOUS planet glasses ($49.99). Pluto is included (yes, I know that it’s status as a planet is up for debate) and the sun is included, as well. These were such a huge hit and I would highly recommend them as a fun gift idea (that is also practical…everyone needs glasses!). It will be totally unexpected but very much loved.

Major Sale!

Right now ThinkGeek.com is offering 20% off every purchase of $40 or up. And by going through ShopatHome.com to place your order, you’ll also earn 4% cash back on your purchase. You can also snag free shipping on orders of $75 or higher. It’s a great time to go find rad gifts for those folks on your list who are a bit difficult to shop for. ThinkGeek.com has never let me down!

Do you see anythng on ThinkGeek.com that you’d like to get (either for yourself or for someone on your gift list?)?

Ozobot Review: Introduction to Coding for Kids for Under $50!

November 23, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Thanks to Ozobot for the review product. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I recently read that 65% of the jobs that people who are currently children will have don’t even exist yet. Say what?!?! It’s just a tad overwhelming to think about how in the world to prepare our kids for work that hasn’t even been created yet.

But one thing I do feel confident about is that it is critical for our children to understand how technology works. I’m not talking about how to find Netflix on the iPad, either. I’m talking about having a basic understanding of what goes on inside a computer so that it can play Netflix in the first place, or run the game you like to play. I’m talking about coding.

I think this is a foundational language (yes, language!) that today’s children need to learn in order to be better prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. Will computers still run the same way that they do now in 15 years? Most likely not, but I know that when I was growing up, understanding how to play on an Apple IIe was a gateway for me to feel comfortable on a Dell and an iMac and beyond. The same is true for our kids. Knowing the basic language of computers will make them more comfortable to adapt and thrive as technology shifts and changes.

So how do you help a young child learn how to code? There are actually a surprisingly large number of options out there, and I’ll be highlighting a few of them this holiday season. I think perhaps the most budget-friendly option I found (that is amazing…there are other budget-friendly options that don’t wow me) is the Ozobot. You can get an Ozobot Starter Pack for $49.99.

The recommended minimum age for this awesome little robot is 6. Obviously you would need to make a judgment call based on your own child’s interests. After playing around with it a while myself (during which time I learned quite a bit, which was fun!), I think it’s going to be perfect for my oldest in about 8 months, when she turns 7.

You can find this adorable, customizeable, tiny robot at places like Barnes & Noble, Toys R Us and Amazon. Curious how it works? Well, it’s coding language is color-based! It comes with a booklet that shows you the color sequences that you can use to give the robot different instructions. Little ones can use some of the provided materials to create a course for the ozobot to run on, or they can draw their own (markers are included). They can also use a tablet and the free Ozobot app to play more fun games!

The starter pack comes with over 20 activities for your ozobot to perform, as well as code on reusable stickers and ozobot skins with sticker sheets so you can create a customized look for your bot. A USB charging cable is also included.

What an amazing, budget-friendly option for parents who want to get their kids starting with the world of coding. I’m really impressed with this product, and I’m looking forward to learning right alongside my kids! To the future!!!

THE Box of the Season: It’s Fab, It’s Fit and It’s Fun!

November 23, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Special thanks to FabFitFun and Pollen-8 Media for providing a product sample. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. Referral links may be included at no expense to you.

Friends are you struggling a bit to come up with holiday gift ideas for yourself? Every year I tell myself that I’m going keep a running list of ideas for me, and every year I DON’T do it, and I draw a blank when people ask me for ideas.

If you find yourself in that position, here’s a great gift idea that I think you’ll really like! Ask for a FabFitFun VIP membership! FabFitFun sends out a VIP box to its members every 3 months (so 4 times a year) and it is loaded with full-size products and has a retail value of at least $200, all for just $49.99.

I was sent the fall box, and I cannot wait to show you all the goodies!

Inside this box I found 11 AWESOME items designed to help me stay fab and fit and to have fun this season. And the value of this box? A whopping $357!!!! Here are some of my favorite items.

Such an adorable design for this umbrella that retails for $32. I absolutely adore it.

It’s pretty hard to look at this photo and not have a good laugh. This has to be one of the most unique beauty treatments I have ever had. My daughter commented on how much I resembled C3PO, and I quite agree! This is the Gold Radiance Luxury Facial Mast with Collagen and Rose Oil by Passport to Beauty. It comes with 2 applications and retails for $65, so it really is quite an indulgence.

I have heard of the Puple Purse campaign, which is about supporting women who are suffering from domestic violence and financial abuse. By clipping this tassel onto your purse, you can help spread the word!

I also really loved this lip stain from Manna Kadar Cosmetics. This is a new brand to me, and I was incredibly impressed by the staying power of the product. Usually something this shiny just slips right off the lips, but I found this product to be much different, and I loved that. This retails for $24.

Other great items in this box:

3D White Brilliance 2-Step System by Crest (sample)
Flawless Skin Fluid by Doctor D. Schwab ($39)
HISY Battery Pack ($24.99)
Strength Tubing Ankle & Total Body Tone with DVD ($33)
Glass Crystal Bead Bracelet by Tribe Alive ($49)
Gift Card by Jeweler’s Wife ($15)
Gift Card by Picture It On Canvas ($75)

Additionally, the VIP box comes with a magazine that shares more detailed information about the products in the box and the artists who created them. I really enjoyed getting such a nice surprise in the mail, and I think it would be a really fund treat to look forward to each season.

If you are drawing a blank on what to ask for this year, check out the FabFitFun VIP membership and consider asking for that, and then you’ll get amazing gifts all year long!

Rockin’ that Boho Chic Look at Preschool: FabKids November Style

November 23, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Thanks to FabKids for providing the review outfit. I’m a proud FabKids customer and love showing off their looks! Referral links may be included.

No doubt you’ve seen fringe on pretty much everything this fall. It’s a very hot look, and one that I myself am loving! Look at these FabKids boots that just came out and that get the trend just perfect.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it seems that this particular style is sold out right now! But check out the FabKids boots selection because they have dozens of looks that you just might love.

Now let’s talk about the whole outfit.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and the look little Layah gave the camera says an awful lot. She LOVES this outfit and I think it’s safe to say that she feels quite confident in it 😉

I think the whole looks is just adorable. This is the Boho Love outfit, which you can get for $29.95 (includes dress and leggings in your choice of colors). It’s a winning outfit, for sure. And the pattern of the dress is so bright and cheery!

If you’ve never tried FabKids before, be sure to give them a look. By using my referral link, you can get an outfit free when you buy your first outfit. Also note their great sale section!

A Natural Lift for Your Post-Baby Body Thanks to Vanity Fair

November 22, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for Vanity FairLingerie. I received product samples to facilitate my review and compensation to thank me for my participation. #WomenWhoDo

If applicable, do you remember your body before you had kids? If you were like most women you had a list of things that you’d like to improve about your body back then. I know I did!

And now let me ask you: what would you give to have that pre-baby body back? Oh my gosh, I didn’t know how good I had it! 😉 And one of the ways my body has changed the most is when it somes to the natural “lift” of my breasts. Oh what a toll those little ones take on that part of your body!

So when I received the brand new from Vanity Fair lingerie in the mail a few weeks back, I was pretty darn excited. A little lift certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing for me in this season of life. But before I tried on the bra, I worried that the “lift” would be extra padding. As a woman with a larger chest, I shy away from anything that adds more to my chest size. Fortunately, that’s not how this particular bra is designed, at all.

The Flattering Lift bra is designed with your comfort in mind. I noticed the secure stitching in the back (and also along the edges of the underwire to keep that “poke” at bay). It also has a very natural-feeling “bump pad” and this adds gentle lift and a slight boost. It’s nothing that looks in any way unnatural, silly or like you are trying to show off your assets too strongly. 😉 I can tell you from experience that the bra feels great and it looks great, too!

just launched this fall and it’s definitely one I would recommend to my fellow mamas out there. We may not be able to get our post-baby bodies back but Vanity Fair has us covered!

I’ve been sharing this year about how Vanity Fair has played a significant role, in partnership with Dress for Success, at providing a foundation for women to look and feel their best when setting out into the workforce. Vanity Fair can provide the same thing for you. I’ve been wearing their bras almost exclusively for the past 4 months and I’ve been so pleased with how great they look, and how great I feel when I’m wearing them.

And should you not be pleased with a purchase, know that Vanity Fair stands behind their products and would be happy to provide a refund within 30 days of purchase. I found their great guarantee on the back of my bra hanger. You’ve got nothing to lose and a bit of a lift to gain! Go for it, sister!

The Best STEM Game I’ve Found: Magic School Bus Science Explosion

November 22, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Special thanks to The Young Scientists Club for sending this game our way for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

This week we started playing a new game, The Magic School Bust Science Explosion game, and it really wowed us! The content could not keep the attention of my 3-year-old (nor is it intended to) but she did stick around thanks to the promise of an erupting volcano! 🙂

There are actually two games included (a different board is on each side!) and you use the same playing cards but in a different way for the 2 games. We played the side that required you to collect different cards that matched the category card you had (for example, famous scientists, or weather). Each card you collect has really great information on it, without being too overwhelming.

As you collect cards, you get to move around the board and add baking soda to your beaker. After you collect 5 cards in a category, you get to cause the volanic eruption!

I’m totally adding food coloring to the vinegar next time to increase the dramatic effect. 🙂

You can play with 2 players or with 4 players, and I think in the future I’ll reserve this game for a time when my oldest and I can play just the two of us. With the 3-year-old otherwise entertained, we can spend more time exploring the great information cards and learning while we play.

After seeing the game for myself, I’m not surprised that this game has one awards from Parents’ Choice, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio and Creative Child. I think it is absolutely perfect for ages 6-9 (that’s my own age range, not the official one!) and it really does foster learning scientific concepts all while having fun. Every kid will want to be the one to make that volcano explode, and will keep playing the game until that happens. This game retails for $29.99.

Seasonal Roasted Veggies as Part of a Simple, Nourishing Weeknight Meal

November 18, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PotPiePlease#CollectiveBias

As a blogger, this is my busy season. I’m getting up extra early and working extra each evenings, and the dishes and laundry are piling up (even more than usual). Furthermore, our organization method around the house seems to have come undone, and we find ourselves surrounded by piles and piles of stuff. So during this season when I’m especially short on time, I find myself struggling more than usual with our weekday family meals. I’m hitting the panic button (that would be the drive-through) too often because I am overly amitious when I create our menus and don’t work in enough super easy stuff.

Fortunately, one fail-safe main dish has not fallen off my radar: Marie Callender’s Pot Pies. These are, without question, my oldest child’s favorite dish, and she asks for one weekly. I typically don’t make the same meal in frequent rotation, but these pot pies get a pass from me because they are so darn delicious, not to mention EASY to make.

Today I want to show you a really wholesome meal I put together using Marie Callender’s Pot Pies (turkey and chicken are our favorites) and fresh seasonal vegetables. This side dish is what I call a “non-recipe” recipe because precise measurements aren’t needed at all. This also makes it less stressful!

Here’s what I used to make fall roasted veggies and in every case, you can add more or less to your preference, as well as make some substitutions if you like.

1/2 butternut squash
1 large sweet potato
1 pound red potatoes
1 pound pearl onions
1 pound baby carrots
1 pound brussels sprouts
6 cloves of garlic
1/3 cup olive oil
4 sprigs fresh rosemary

The most labor intensive part of this entire meal is washing and chopping your vegetables. But here’s the good news: you can actually do this all in advance, and just put any vegetable that you think might oxidize in water. I got all my veggies prepped in the morning while my girls were eating breakfast and then I didn’t have much to mess with later on in the day when I was busy with work!

After you have prepped your veggies and cut them to your preferred size, set them all aside and get out your olive oil and your rosemary. Remove the rosemary from the stem and add it to the olive oil. I used 1/3 cup for this amount of vegetables, but you may prefer more or less. Honestly, just eyeball it and don’t stress over this part. Your rosemary is going to have some time to flavor the oil this way. If you don’t have time to let it sit, no worries; it will still taste great!

About an hour and 15 minutes before you’d like to sit down to eat, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line one pan with parchment paper. Pour the olive oil and rosemary over all of your veggies and mix them together in a bowl, and add them all to the pan. If they cannot fit on one pan without overlapping, get out a second pan and put some of the vegetables on there. You can cook the second pan while your family is enjoying dinner.

On another baking sheet, place your Marie Callender’s Pot Pies. We used 2 for our family of 4. The larger pie needed to be cooked for just over an hour, which is how long the vegetables needed to roast. Before you put the pot pie in the oven, though, take some aluminum foil and create a small ring around the edge of the crust. This will keep it from burning.

Now add your veggies and your l6 ounce pot pie into the oven and set your timer for 65 minutes. You’ll want to give the veggies a good stir about halfway through the roasting process. And if you have a second smaller pot pie, like we did, add it into the oven when the timer has 45 minutes left.

The end result is colorful, comforting and full of great flavors that taste homemade. And after getting through the veggie prep you pretty much only have to put stuff in the oven and get your family members to set the table. In my house, this “non-recipe” recipe has the very best success rate at getting lots of veggies in little tummies.

I found everything I needed to make this yummy meal at my local Walmart. They were well-stocked with great produce, and I found the pot pies easily in the frozen section (they even had a picture sign of a pot pie!).

Coupon AND Rebate Offer!

If you’d like to replicate this wholesome meal for your family during your busy season, be sure to grab some of the great Marie Callendar’s coupons you can find here. And iBotta is also currently offering a .50 rebate in addition to your coupon savings!

Bedtime Negotiations: The 5 Minute Win from Netflix

November 18, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

I’m a proud member of the Netflix Stream Team and will be sharing the best new content my favorite at-home entertainment company has to offer! My streaming service is being provided as part of my participation. All opinions (and my lovey dovey feelings for Netflix) are my own, as always.

I’d love to hear which of these strategies your kids use to put off bedtime.

I see 4 on this list that my girls try on the regular. And please, NOBODY inform them about the “King Julian” strategy because I’m honestly shocked that they haven’t pulled that one, yet! I think the most popular excuse in our home is that they want just a few more minutes to play. Here are some other excuses you may have heard (watch out for the one about socks!).

Netflix knows that many parents out there are dealing with their little ones asking for “just one more” show on Netflix streaming before it’s time for the lights to go out. And they know that there are some nights where you are so tired that you just might cave (and you best believe that your kids know that, too!). So Netflix has created a way for you to say yes to the request for a little bit more fun without getting kids off their bedtime schedule. Check out the 5 Minute Favorites, 3 new DinoTrux mini-episodes that will be a delight to watch, and best of all, will be over soon!

So on those nights when you just don’t have it in you to stand firm, you can actually grant your kids permission to watch an ENTIRE show before bed…only that show you are letting them watch is just 5 minutes long. 🙂

Take back your night, parents. If you are like me you still have another season left of Friends to watch after the kids are in bed (yes, I’ve been working on it ALL YEAR!), and it’s more fun to get to watch your shows if you didn’t have to do epic battle with your kids first.

So what other funny excuses have your kids given in an effort to stay up past their bedtimes? Share it with us all on social media and be sure to tag it with #5MoreMinutes. Go search for the hashtag while you are at it if you need a good laugh.