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

5 Super Simple Fall Decor Ideas (Using Food!)

October 15, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by DairyPure Milk. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

Friends I’ve put together some great ways to decorate for the fall. In addition to being super easy, they are also thrifty, because they utilize food! Enjoy!

1. Popcorn

Popcorn kernals are the perfect color for fall. They look fantastic in a votive with a candle. Easy!

2. Gourds

You can pick these up at your nearest grocery store this time of year. They look great on a table runner, or as a ring around a candle votive, as shown above.

3. Pumpkin Made Easy

I have no idea how to carve a pumpkin, but I know how to dress one up in 30 seconds! Put a mask on your pumpkin and call it good, because it is!

4. Apples

Find a cute bucket and fill it to the brim with apples. Put it where the kids can reach it so they’ll take a bite out of the display!

5. Hot Chocolate Bar

This idea can adapt to any upcoming holiday. For Halloween we have spooky names for the hot chocolate elements. Keep the tray on display and break out the DairyPure whole milk when company arrives. Go for DairyPure and feel confident about your purchase, as it is from your local dairy, and is backed by the exclusive 5 Point Purity Promise:

No artificial growth hormones (No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from cows treated with the artificial growth hormone rbST and non‐rbST‐treated cows).
All milk tested for antibiotics
Continuously quality tested to ensure purity
Only from cows fed a healthy diet
Cold shipped fresh from your local dairy

You can Learn more about DairyPure on their website. My family is really happy with our switch! And if you want more fun fall decor ideas, follow DairyPure on Facebook and also get some DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest.

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The Home of the Future is the Home of Today: Connected Devices and Colorful Hues

October 15, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

18

That’s the number of devices in our home that make use of a wireless signal. While we aren’t officially one of those “homes of the future” there is no doubt that our home is deeply connectd to technology, and that number of devices that we have that make use of the internet or of remote control functioning by way of apps is only going to increase. Heck, by February I am going to have laundry detergent that has a wifi connection. True story! I know!

Maybe my number sounds high to you, but I want to encourage you to take moment to count your own devices, from your phones, to your computers and tablet, and even to your television (especially if you have Sling or something similar connected). How about your thermostat (we love being able to control our temps while we are out of town!)?

And what, dear friend, about your lighting? Most of you are probably confused about the lighting thing. How is it possile to connect your lightbulbs to an app?

Let me show you!

Check out the Philips hue A19 Starter Kit and the Philips hue Go, both available at Best Buy. These bulbs and accessory lights work with your Wi-Fi to let you create a customized ambiance in your home. From Halloween night to a lazy Saturday afternoon, just think about the fun possibilities for how you can light your home! We have been using our special lighting on a timer to help us wake up to a simulated sunrise effect, and I’ve been playing around with lighting that can help me feel more relaxed at the end of the day.

On a more practical note, because your lighting is connected to your Wi-Fi, you can control it remotely. This means you can alter the lights in your home when you are away on vacation to give the appearance that someone is, in fact, at home.

I’ve also been making great use of the portable Philips hue Go by using it to create just the right lighting for pictures and videos. It is such an easy way to add the light you might need when you are trying to capture a moment but you can tell that it’s going to turn out too dark (something we struggle with in our home, which doesn’t have a lot of natural light). The hue Go can be plugged in, or you can make use of its rechargeable battery (up to 3 hours) and truly take it anywhere.

When you find a mood that you especially love, you can save these custome creations and you can even take a photo that you love and use it as a palette for your lighting. How awesome is that?! And since you will want different lighting at different times of the day based on your schedule, you can create a program so that you can experience all those wonderful moments with just the right lighting, from waking up in the morning, to walking through the door at the end of your work day to preparing for bed. Or if your kids ask to throw a My Little Pony Pinkie Pie party RIGHT NOW, you will know exactly what to do.

Boom. This took 2 seconds. No changing light bulbs or anything!

My husband, in particular, has had such a blast playing with the lighting capabilities that the Philips hue products can offer. I would very highly recommend this for that special person on your holiday shopping list who loves technology.

And as your home become increasingly connected, you will definitely need to invest in a router that can keep up with all of your devices. Best Buy and Netgear has worked together to develop an amazing router, exclusive to Best Buy, that can give you the type of support your home either already needs, or will need in the near future as you get more connected. All those connections put a strain on your home network, which is why the Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 is so awesome.

One of my favorite features of this router is that it comes with a DST, or “Dead Spot Terminator.” You likely have a spot in your home where the wi-fi just doesn’t quite reach, which is SO frustrating. This adapter extends the reach of your Wi-Fi!

Additionally, this router is designed to support 10 or more connected devices. And speaking of support, here’s another super awesome feature: you get one full year of Geek Squad support (as well as complimentary Geek Squad Set Up!) with this purchase via phone & web. YOu can dial in 24/7…no need to schedule an appointment! All the information you need to get started with the Geek Squad service is available to you in video format as well as in the quick start guid you’ll find in the box. You’ll be up and running in no time, and your connected home will have the support it needs to power through the day!

How to Make Condensed Milk (Pure, Simple and Delicious!)

October 14, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by DairyPure Milk. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

Do you have holiday baking on the brain, yet? I’m stalking Pinterest like it’s my job for fun treat ideas to make with my kids for Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and should there be any random dessert holidays in between now and then (National Chocolate Day, anyone?) I’m all over it.

To be ready for all that awesome dessert making, this is usually the time of year when I stock up on sweetened condensed milk. But this year I thought I’d try my hand at making it myself, and I wanted to do this for one main reason:

If I make it, I control the ingredients.

I don’t have to worry that preservatives were added to make it shelf stable. I don’t have to wonder about the quality of the milk (since we all know I’ll be rockin’ the DairyPure, which is my family’s choice for dairy), and I can choose the type of sweetener (for me, that means I’ll pass on that highly processed white stuff and will go for something a little more natural, as well as something organic).

The main thing I learned about how to make condensed milk during my weekend experiment was that it is super easy, but does take quite a long time. So it’s definitely a weekend project, or something to tackle any time you know you will be home and also awake for 3-4 hours. But the good news is that it will take precious little of your attention during that time.

Let’s dig in and learn together how to make condensed milk!

Ingredients:

2 cups DairyPure whole milk
2/3 cup sweetner of your choice (I chose organic cane sugar)
2 2/3 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

Since having control over the quality of ingredients was a motivator for me to make my own condensed milk, I started with DairyPure milk. This milk come from your local dairy and has an exclusive 5 Point Purity Promise:

No artificial growth hormones (no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from cows treated with the artificial growth hormone rbST and non‐rbST‐treated cows).
All milk is tested for antibiotics
Continuously quality tested to ensure purity
Only from cows fed a healthy diet
Cold shipped fresh from your local dairy

Take 2 cups of DairyPure whole milk and add it to a saucepan on medium heat.

Now add 2/3 cup of your chosen sweetener, and stir constantly util the sweetner has dissolved into the milk. Continue stirring until you notice the milk just starting to steam. Now turn the burner to its lowest setting and let it reduce by half, stirring occasionally (I stirred maybe every 15 minutes or so). I found this process to take 3 hours and 15 minutes. I checked to see how much the milk mixture was reduced by simply by pouring it back into the measuring cup.

Once your milk mixture is down to about 1 cup in measurement, it’s time to turn off the burner and add the butter and vanilla extract, whisking constatly until well combined. Now pour the contents into a glass jar with a lid and allow to cool. I can’t say for certain how long this will stay good in the refrigerator, but I would aim to use it up within a few days just to be safe. You might notice that your final product seems a bit runnier than the store bought version. It will thicken as it cools, though I found the end product to still be a bit thinner than what I was expecting. However, I did use it in a recipe and had excellent results. You could also let the milk reduce by more than half, though, if you really want it to be thick.

If you want to Learn more about DairyPure check out the website for details and for your nearest provider. And before you get all your holiday bakign planned out, be sure to look through the DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest, and follow DairyPure on Facebook for all the latest tips and ideas.

I hope you enjoy your homemade condensed milk and the satisfaction that comes from knowing you did it yourself AND you know exactly what’s in it! 🙂

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Halloween Shopping Tips (and the App to Help You Save!)

October 11, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Retale for partnering with me on today’s post (and thanks for making such a great app that is saving me $$$!) As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Yesterday I was perusing the aisles of Target and it took some mighty restraint on my part not to put pretty much everything related to Halloween in my cart. They had some AMAZING decor items, and don’t get me started on the costumes!

I did go for one particular item, though: Halloween candy. And I made my purchase not purely on a whim, but because I saw the great deal on Halloween candy that Target was offering, thanks to my Retale app:

I knew I would be buying 2 big bags of candy sometime in the next 2 weeks, and buy 1, get 1 50% off was a good deal in my book, especially since most years I’m buying candy the night before Halloween and paying full retail price. Thanks, Retale, for showing me a great buy I could snag guilt-free!

This brings me to the big tip for today’s post: before you head to the checkout counter (be it online or in store) take a second to check for deals or coupons. I use Retale to see if there might be any special coupons I don’t know about or if there’s a sale that makes a trip over to the stores I frequent warranted.

Retale is completely free to use, and it serves as a circular aggregator for you. There’s no need to go through the Sunday paper for ad inserts or even go from store site to store site online seeing what’s on sale in your area. Retale shows you everything you want to know! I can search for everything from boneless chicken on sale to Batgirl costumes.

Guess which one I searched for most recently? 😉

This brings me to my second tip: shop around for those costumes! Unless your child wants to be something unheard of, like a unicorn/kitten hybrid (side note: AWESOME costume idea!), you can probably find several merchants who are offering similar, if not identical costumes that your child would want. And trust me, they are competing HARD for your business, so make sure you pay the best possible price!

Finally, if there’s something you’ve really got your eye on, but you are waiting for the best offer, use Retale to be alerted about new offers from those merchants (I have this set for my beloved Kohl’s so that I’m always snagging at least an extra 15% off any time I shop there). This is a great way to make sure you shop at the right time for your wallet! 🙂

Retale is a super useful, super free app designed to help keep more of your money in your pocket and to free up more of your time. Time is my most precious commodity, and we’re spending the time Retale saves us on awesome things, like superhero training lessons (how did folks parent before Youtube?). 🙂

Don’t Forget to Treat Yourself! Vanity Fair’s BOGOGO Sale Still Going On!

October 11, 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.

Earlier this week I did a major bra purging, letting go of all my ill-fitting and just plain worn out undergarments. I spoiled myself with 4 brand new bras that I bought during the Vanity Fair BOGOGO promotion. I paid for 2 bras, got 2 bras FOR FREE and also got the satisfaction of knowing that 2 bras would be donated to Dress for Success thanks to my purchase. Talk about a win/win/win! Also? That lace! Swoon!

There’s still time for you to take advantage of this amaing promotion and treat yourself to 2 new bras (or even more!) for a great price. For all the details on the BOGOGO participating merchants and timeframes, click here. Remember, #BrasChangeLives, and your next bra purchase could help Vanity Fair donate up to 50,000 brand-new bras to women who are bettering their lives by seeking employment and going through the job interview process.

5 Ways I Trick My Family (and Myself) Into Exercising When Time is Short

October 9, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Sports Authority . The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

It only take a quick glance at my to do list for it to become roughly a million times easier to say no to the gym than to say yes. I know I have the same amount of hours in the day as Beyonce, but I also don’t have a full suite of assistants to handle every other aspect of my daily life so that I can focus on looking flawless.

And I know in my head that I really need to make working out a priority because it honestly helps me be a more happy and sane mom and partner, but in that moment when I’m trying to figure out how to cram 40 hours worth of work into just 16 hours, running on the treadmill for 45 minutes is all too easy to set aside for another day.

So I’ve actually come up with a few different tricks that I employ throughout the day to essentially trick my family (and yes, that includes me) into burning some calories and strengthening our bodies. And I do this by finding things we can do that will kill two birds with one stone, or that are so fun or so efficient that they just make sense to do, even with that crazy to do list.

1. We Dress for Success

Moms who are home with their kids get made fun of a lot for rocking comfy clothing. I’m gonna give this fashion choice a big ‘ole #sorrynotsorry right now. We have to be up and down and chasing after kiddos all day, so we should be in clothes that will move with us! But you can employ a bit of strategy in your clothing selection rather than just staying in whatever you wore to bed the night before. Select something that will set you up for success when it comes to little exercise opportunities you might discover throughout the day.

I am loving this outfit by Champion GEAR exclusively at Sports Authority. These clothes are breathable, totally cute, comfortable, and they honestly but me in the mindset to get some exercise however I can. I have noticed a HUGE difference in how much exercise I’ll manage to sneak in throughout the day when I’m dressed to work out vs. when I’m not. You just aren’t going to find me doing wall sits in my daughter’ room while we play My Little Pony if I’m in jeans. Just sayin’. This outfit is also totally ready for an intense cardio or strength-building routine at the gym, but don’t assume that just because you aren’t at the gym that you can’t be working out here and there. The Champion GEAR brand is ready for whatever you can throw its way.

2. We Plank

Did you know that doing the plank pose (not to be confused with “planking“) is one of the single best total body exercises you can do. This one single move makes use of almost all of the muscles in your body. It’s kind of insane how much of a workout you get by doing this. I’ve actually read that if you only have time to do one exercise each day, you should pick the plank pose. It’s better than push ups, better than crunches, better than going for a run. Of course, in a perfect world you can do a combination of things, but if you get to the end of your day and realize you were a total sloth, get your plank on! At the beginning, you may only be able to hold it for 20 or 30 seconds. That’s fine! Work your way up to a minute over time. A minute workout? SIGN ME UP!

4. We Power Clean

This is such a win-win. There comes a point in the day (usually right before daddy comes home) when I will set the timer for 5 minutes and we will all run around the house picking up toys and putting them back where they belong. We are focused, we are frenzied, we are laughing, and we are moving! Best of all, we actually get some housework done, and that makes life a little easier for me! If you’ve never tried setting the timer before you tidy up, you’ll be surprised by just how motivating it can be. You will likely set a goal in your mind of how much you’d like to get done and then you’ll work like crazy to try to meet or even beat your goal. If you don’t reach it…so what? Your house will be cleaner than it was 5 minutes ago, I promise, and your heart rate will be elevated, too. You can even add obstacle course-type elements into your cleaning time (I have Darah hop up the stairs as she takes a load of toys back to her room).

4. We Yoga

My in-laws really introduced my girls to the fun of yoga, as they both enjoyed doing a simple guided routine each morning. I noticed that my kids started getting out yoga mats for themselves and really trying to do the poses, too. When you see your kids being drawn to some form of exercise, make every effort to join them! Starting our mornings with some yoga is incredibly powerful and effective, and quite frankly, it also buys this mamma a few more minutes of quiet before the chaos begins. I’ll take it!

5. We Dance

Dance party time usually happens when mom and dad are cleaning in the kitchen. The kids like to be with us, so we’ll put on some upbeat music that they really enjoy and they will dance like crazy in the dining room and living room right next to us. We join in while also putting away dishes. The kids are off the hook for the cleaning part, but they know that this is the time to show their very best moves and they do not disappoint. Usually this means ridiculous amounts of spinning.

I’d love to hear any creative ways you come up with for working bits of exercise throughout your busy day with kids! Please comment below and inspired the rest of us! 🙂

Fall Looks from Thakoon for DesigNation (at Kohl’s!)

October 9, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Kohl’s for providing a gift card so I could go pick out my favorite styles from Thakoon for DesigNation. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

So there are approximately 500 things I love about shopping at Kohl’s, and one of those things is that they have amazing partnerships with famous designers and tastemakers. Through these partnerships, Kohl’s is able to offer exclusive lines of on-trend merchandise at a wallet-friendly price point.

One of their more recent partnerships is with American designer Thakoon Panichgul. His signature looks tend to be British and tomboy-ish, yet with a feminine twist. I thought it would be fun to put together an outfit exclusively from this line that I’d love to wear all fall and winter.

Here’s what I fell in love with from Thakoon for DesigNation:

Fall floral! Yes, please! Look at that gorgeous shade of pink in those petals. It was love at first sight for me when I saw the Floral Knot-Front Top at my local Kohl’s.

I want to show you that knot detailing. It gives the top something unique that I really like. I also think it’s a figure-flattering look (just in case you might be concerned about having knot right around your belly!).

The bottoms I scored are actually seamed leggings, though I think they fit a bit more like pants. I absolutely love the detailing on the legs. These are meant to be a wardrobe staple, but there are little design elements to give your pants a very updated feel!

And finally, for when the chill finally starts to settle in the air, I simply could not resist the flyaway cardigan. It makes me want to find a bonfire immediately! 🙂 Fair warning, though: this cardigan runs HUGE. I had to get a size small and as flattered as I felt by buying that size, I promise you, I don’t wear that size. I normally wear a large!

All 3 pieces go really well together, but they are also great stand alone pieces that you could easily mix and match with other items in your wardrobe.

I’m glad I checked out this line. I wouldn’t describe my personal style as “British feminine tomboy” for sure, but I definitely found looks that I loved and that I’m happy to be working into my wardrobe this fall. Make a point to check out Thakoon for DesigNation at your nearest Kohl’s, as well as online, as they have some online exclusives, too!

Prepare for Fall With These 5 Simple Actions

October 8, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Special thanks to my friend Lauren for providing today’s timely partnered post about preparing for fall. I was reminded by reading it that we have some work that needs to be scheduled on our heating unit before the first cold snap! Thanks for the reminder, Lauren!

Even though summer fun may be occupying your time, it’s not too early to think about preparing your home for the cooler seasons. Get started with these five basic tasks, and you’ll feel relaxed and cozy when the mornings turn crisp and leaves begin to fall.

1. Give your heating system some TLC

If you have a central heating system, check that it’s working properly early on in autumn. Replace the air filters and run the whole system for several hours on a warm autumn day or cool summer afternoon. If there’s any dust in the heating ducts, this trial run should blow most of it away. You’ll save money on duct cleaning, and you won’t have a house that smells like burnt dust when the weather turns cold.

2. Clear your fireplace and chimney

If you have a fireplace or wood stove, you should contact your local chimney cleaner to prep your wood burners for the cold nights ahead. You may have to call well in advance to get an appointment before it’s time to build that first fire. To protect your home from cold drafts, have the chimney cleaner check that the flue is functioning properly.

3. Replenish emergency supplies

Fall and winter bring storms to every part of the country, so take advantage of calmer weather to make sure you have everything you need. Check your supply of drinking water and the expiration dates on your store of batteries for flashlights. Take inventory and restock first aid kits accordingly. If you have a generator, make sure it starts easily. Tip: gasoline will store for longer periods if you add a stabilizer to it.

4. Drain sprinkler system and hoses

If you live in an area where you can expect a winter freeze, you need to put your sprinkler system to bed for the season. Drain and coil garden hoses for storage; follow this with having your irrigation lines blown out by a professional. Cover exterior spigots with insulating wrap to keep them from cracking in a hard freeze.

5. Clean the gutters

Gutter cleaning is one of those daunting necessities that homeowners can’t ignore. The debris and fallen leaves in your gutters can be detrimental to your drainpipes and ultimately the well- being of your home. To ensure your home is ready for the seasons ahead, you can call the pros at Ned Stevens. They’ll be sure to remove all fallen leaves and other problematic materials so your gutters can work the way they’re supposed to.

Each season brings its challenges and pleasures; you’ll be ready to welcome fall and winter if you take care of small, necessary tasks ahead of time.

Hassle-Free Weeknight Dinner Idea: Pasta Bar!

October 8, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Campbell Soup Company. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

A few weeks ago I shared a fun weekend lunch idea with you that included an organic soup only requiring you to heat it up (major score!). Today I want to show you a weeknight meal that requires a little more prep (but only a little, I promise) and that just might get your kids to load their plates full of veggies. It worked for me!

The star of any pasta dish is the sauce, and it’s also usually the most labor-intensive part of the cooking process. Not this time! I highly recommend you check out one of Campbell’s new products, Campbell’s Sauces. There are SO many great flavors and possibilities for helping you get great food on the table fast. For the pasta bar idea, I decided something extra cheesy was the way to go, so I opted for the Cheesy Broccoli Chicken sauce. To make this sauce, simply empty the contents into a sauce pan and heat it up. That’s it! Isn’t that just music to your tired mama ears?!

I chose to offer two different types of whole wheat pasta (we went with shells and penne). Cook those according to package directions. The other offerings can really be as creative as you want. This is also a great time to clean out your crisper drawers of veggies or to use up leftover meats! I cooked and crumbled bacon, and I also steamed some edamame and some broccoli. I also offered up some parm cheese for sprinkling on top.But the options are really unlimited! Being able to get dinner on the table very quickly on a week night is critical for me, and this idea is a great one for my family. You can even cook your noodles ahead of time and store them in the fridge. Same goes for the bacon. There are slight tweaks you can make to the prep so that you can literally get this dish on the table less than 10 minutes after you walk in the door, which is awesome! photo campbells oven sauces 3_zpsn99an7gu.jpg

But now I want to show you what’s even MORE awesome: by giving my kids full control over how they built their dishes, and by offering such colorful and fun options, I noticed that they LOADED their pasta bowls with veggies! #WINNING!!!!

And thanks to the presence of that tasty Campbell’s Sauce in the bowl, my girls ate everything that they put in their bowls. We still had enough leftovers for me to serve the meal one more time, which made me love this concept even more. It was already not much work, and then I got two meals out of it, to boot! 🙂

I think one of the really great things about the Campbell’s Sauces line is that they each come with a recipe idea on the back of the packet, but you certainly aren’t limited to those suggestions. You can come up with a ton of ways to put these major time savers to use in a variety of dishes that can now be that much easier to prepare. Campbell’s Sauces come in varieties intended for the Slow Cooker, Skillet, Oven and Grill. Definitely check them out on your next grocery shopping trip and get some new ideas for saving time in the kitchen on those crazy week nights. And to get some inspiration for delicious Campbell’s recipes, simply follow @Campbells on your favorite social media site.