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

Great Start Waffles: A Portable Breakfast Made in Minutes!

September 10, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

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

We are 3 1/2 weeks into the school year already (I know! I’m still seeing “first day of school” picks this week from my friends in the northeast!). And I have to tell you, I’ve learned a few things about getting these kiddos out the door without mom and dad getting more gray hairs in the process.

The most important thing I’ve learned is that it takes some advanced planning to not lose your mind. But here’s the good news: that advanced planning doesn’t have to mean that you just do all the work the night before and stay up late grumbling (been there, done that while making overnight oatmeal). You can plan strategically to include steps in your morning routine that make your life easier, I promise!

Breakfast is one of those areas where, with just a little forethought, you can provide a very filling, protein-packed breakfast that will get your kids off to the right start (and that they will actually eat! Anyone else’s kids turn their noses up at the sight of scrambled eggs?).

Today I want to show you one of my girls’ very favorite breakfasts. It’s one of my favorites, too, because it’s easy to pull off on busy weekday mornings. I call it Great Start Waffles. eggo breakfast 2

This meal, believe it or not, will even travel with you if you are pressed to the max for time. I’d suggest a napkin for the ride, but you can most definitely eat this in the car! 🙂

To make your Great Start Waffles, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Kellogg’s Eggo Waffles (we love the Nutri Grain variety!)
1 Tbsp syrup of your choice (search for those without High Fructose Corn Syrup if you can)
1/2 banana, sliced
1 Tbsp peanut butter (look for the variety made with just peanuts to cut down on sugar intake)

Begin by toasting your Eggo waffles to your desired crispness.

While the waffles are toasting, in a small bowl combine the syrup and the peanut butter together. To make the peanut butter cooperate with the syrup and blend well, first heat up your tablespoon of peanut butter in a small microwavable-safe container for 10 seconds. The final consistency will still be thick, and that’s a good thing, because by combining your peanut butter and your syrup together like this, you’ve decreased the probability of having syrup spillovers!

If you haven’t yet sliced your banana, do so now, as well.

Once your waffle is toasted, remove it (carefully! It’s hot!) and apply the syrup peanut butter mixture. Add bananas on top and serve. Your child can simply pick it up and eat it like a piece of toast and get on the move if it’s time to go!

This recipe scales beautifully, so just double, triple or even quadruple it for the size group you need to feed. And if you have hungry teenagers in the house, turn the recipe into a sandwich by adding more peanut butter mixture and a second Eggo waffle on top!

I found everything I needed to make this recipe at my local Target. Did you know they have an entire section of their freezer devoted to waffles?

Just one more reason to love that place, I tell ya! The next time you visit the home of the bullseye, be sure to check out Kellogg’s Back to School packaging on great on-pack offers in store at Target.

Do you have any easy morning recipes or other tips that help you get your family out the door without stress?

The Happy Trunk: Subscription Box for Simple, Kid-Friendly Projects

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

Special thanks to The Happy Trunk for providing a sample for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In my house, we have fallen hard for subscription boxes. In particular, we are drawn to boxes that offer ready made activities and crafts for young kids. My girls love to do cool projects, and I love for them to get to do cool projects, but if you leave it up to me to plan those projects, I’ll be overwhelmed and on the verge of tears within about 10 minutes.

Y’all, I just don’t craft. But why should my lack of skills in this area come at a cost to my kids, especially if awesome options like The Happy Trunk exist?

When my oldest opened up The Happy Trunk, she immediately wanted to start doing projects, and I was so excited for her that I completely forgot to take a picture of the items in the box in their original state. Oops!

But let me show you some of the completed work we have done with the August box, which was focused on Hot and Cold. The Happy Trunk projects are STEAM focused, meaning that they combine elements of science, technology and math, expressed through engineering and art.

The first project was really an experiment to conduct with a spoon that is sensitive to heat. This was the most basic project in the kit (I mean…it’s just a spoon) but it was actually the most popular with my girls. They have played with it daily. It came with a card for experiment ideas. I would have liked to have seen the science of why the spoon changes colored explained, though.

The second project was also a big hit: making chalkboard coasters. The kit came with the paint, a paint brush, a paint cup, chalk and 2 cardboard circles to paint. This was VERY fun for my kids and they felt great making something that they would actually use. This is also a great chance to talk about condensation, though again, I think this is an area that could have been a bit more fleshed out in the materials.

The third project was to make a koozie. I had to first explain what a koozie was, truth be told! I sort of think koozies are pointless, but if you are going to have one, have one of the cute fabric ones. Darah thought it was awesome to be able to accessorize your drink, so she got right to work.

Unfortunately, the koozie kit we got had faulty velcro (two of the same side). I contacted Happy Trunk and they put a replacement project in the mail for me immediately, which I thought was great customer service.

We haven’t yet completed the final project, which is all about making ice creations with color. I thought this project had the most extensive list of possibilities. When we are ready to take the project on, we have several different things we can do, so that makes this particular craft more than a “one and done” which I really love.

Was the kit perfect? No, but I thought the flaw in our kit was handled really well. And I think the price point for the Happy Trunk is a positive, with the boxes running $17.95 each if you subscribe for a year ($19.95 each if you go month to month…shipping is free).

I also like that Happy Trunk has two age ranges, and therefore recognize that a an 9-year-old is going to need something different than a 3-year-old. You can select boxes for 3-7 or for 8-11. I thought this box, which is in the 3-7 range, was spot on for my kids.

I’d love to hear if you have tried Happy Trunk and what you thought of it. If you haven’t tried it yet and you’d love to have some craft projects that also throw in some math and science, give Happy Trunk a try!

Bringing Positivity Back: 3 Simple Ways to Live Better by Being Intentionally Positive

September 4, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

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

Last week was my 35th birthday, and friends, it was a doozy. I wasn’t particularly dreading this birthday, so it caught me a bit off guard when I found myself sobbing in the bathroom that morning. After some reflection, I realized that my birthday this year was in the midst of some pretty tough milestones related to the loss of my father-in-law earlier this year (the 6 month anniversary of his death and my in-laws’ wedding anniversary). These tough days, coupled with my kids heading back to school and me becoming of “advanced maternal age” just hit me like a ton of bricks, and I threw a rather fierce pity party, truth be told.

And then when the dust settled, I got up, stood in front of the mirror, and told myself that it was time to honor my father-in-law in a way that he would have appreciated: it was time to look for silver linings, to find opportunity in the midst of crisis, and to seek out the joy and adventure every situation had to offer. Simply put, it was time to bring positivity back into my life.

That’s something I’ve been very intentionally focused on this past week, and it has been like a balm to my soul. I’ve been going back through some of my favorite self-help books (Daring Greatly, anyone?), and practicing some serious self-care. I’ve also been working on changing the narrative in my brain.

Three things, in particular, have been especially rewarding for me as a daily practice, and I feel that they are each helping me live my day-to-day life a bit better than before. I hope they might help you, too!

3 Simple Ways to Practice Positivity

1. Live in a Positive Environment

Is the area in which you work throughout the day peaceful and uplifting, or is it chaotic and stressful? I work from home, and while I can’t keep my entire house clean on a daily basis, I try very hard to make sure the area where I’m working is clutter-free and even inviting. From where I sit at the kitchen table (AKA “my office”) I stare right into the kitchen. So every day, I make sure the table and the kitchen are clean. I can promise you that my attitude on the days when my space is fresh and clean is VERY different than my attitude on the days when it is junked up.

In addition to having the space where my gaze falls nice and tidy, I also keep my environment positive by burning a beautiful candle or diffusing some great essential oils. And if I can get my hands on some fresh flowers, I love to have them on display as well. We often get a bouquet with our weekly CSA share, and if not, here’s a little floral secret: carnations, in addition to being quite affordable, are shockingly hardy! I have been able to keep them looking vibrant in bud vases for 2 full weeks!

And finally I always have a tasty beverage on hand. On particularly tough work days, I’m especially mindful of what type of fuel I’m offering my body to ensure that what’s going in isn’t causing any trouble! Neuro Bliss is a great option to reach for when you need to rehydrate, recharge and tell stress to take a hike at the same time.

2. Let Your Attitude Play Make Believe

Think about the dreams you have for yourself and your family for a minute. Now ask yourself how much time you spend thinking about them at all (probably not much!) and of that time, how much time do you spend telling yourself that those dreams will never happen versus telling yourself that they WILL happen? And finally, how much time do you spend imagining that they have already happened? Most people, myself included, are excellent at squelching their own joy by thinking about something wonderful, only to immediately poo poo all over that wonderful thing with negative self-talk. I want to encourage you to resist that urge, and to let your mind fully believe that your dreams and goals have already come true.

I have some goals that I’m working on right now in my business. They are crazy, audacious goals. They are VERY easy to categorize as impractical and unlikely to happen. But I’ve made a vision board for myself to look at every day, and every single day I’m going to spend time imagining that I’m walking along the beach in Hawaii, and that I’m riding shotgun in my husband’s new Tesla. And guess what happens when I imagine those things, friends? I become euphoric! Try it for yourself with your own goals and dreams and see how it makes you feel, and then choose to grab a dose of that feeling every single day. Even my Vita Coco is a reminder of the tropical fun that awaits me. Envision it, claim it, and watch it transpire!

3. Add Something Positive to Someone Else’s Day

Doing something nice for someone else is one of the fastest and easiest ways to feel SO good, isn’t it? But as we get caught up in our own lives, we sometimes lose sight of that fact (at least I do). I am trying to remember now that each and every day, I want to do something that is going to bringing some happiness and joy to someone else’s day. This could mean making a donation to a nonprofit they are raising money for, or it could mean sending an email or even a handwritten postcard to let someone you care about know you are thinking of them. Or it can be as simple as stocking the company fridge with a yummy beverage treat or your home fridge as a special welcome for visitors.

My father-in-law was such a happy person, and he often said, “Happiness is a choice!” In many ways, he was right. Making some of these simple daily changes in my own life has been a very positive thing for me, and it was all really simple to do, honestly. I hope you can take away some great simple solutions for your own life, be it dusting off some of your candles that you forgot about a putting them to work, or taking a moment to treat yourself to a sip of something that will put a smile on your face, such at Vita Coco Pure, Snapple Diet Peach or Neuro Bliss. You can find all these great options at your nearest Walmart. And you can save .50 on your purchase by printing this coupon! And if you are on Ibotta, there’s a rebate, too! See how I just added something of value to YOUR day? 🙂

Giveaway!

Want to sip an be fit with some delicious beverages? Winning some will definitely add a little positivity to your day. Good luck!

#SipAndBeFit Sweepstakes!

How Our Sleep Has Changed Since the Serta Perfect Sleeper Arrived

September 3, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

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

Friends I’ve been sleeping on a new mattress for the past six weeks (The Serta Perfect Sleeper in model Spruce Hollow) and I’m so excited to share with you all the ways in which the quality of my sleep has improved.

If you missed my introduction to our sleep woes, you can read that story here. After finally replacing a mattress that had a horrible sag problem, we were just one year into our new mattress when we realized that it was producing the opposite problem (roll off). Again, the mattress was only 1 year old! We were SO bummed!

The Serta Perfect Sleeper is the only Official Mattress of the National Sleep Foundation, and with good reason, as it is designed to address each of these 5 common sleep problems:

tossing & turning
lack of support
sleeping too hot or cold
partner disturbance
mattress roll off or sag

Tim and I created a short video diary to tell you about which of these features we have really noticed with our new Serta Perfect Sleeper. Check it out and see for yourself!

From the Cool Action™ Gel Memory Foam to the Custom Support® Individual Advantage, this bed is FANCY. But the fancy price tag has been left behind, thank goodness! The standard queen set suggested retail pricing ranges from $399 to $1,299. No need to lose sleep over it! 🙂

And don’t forget about the adjustable base options you can add for additional customization. We highlighted the Pivot model in our video above, but when you visit a showroom to check out the Serta Perfect Sleeper line, also ask to see the Motion Essentials model which allows you to adjust the head and the foot of the mattress.

If you aren’t sleeping well at night, your mattress might be contributing to your problems! Do any of the 5 common sleep problems listed above resonate with you? If so, consider the Serta Perfect Sleeper for your home. We really love ours and would highly recommend it to others.

SayAhh! A Nifty New Tool to Help Determine If You Need to Take Your Child to the Doctor

September 1, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. All opinions, text and experiences are my own.

I’m sure you’ve seen this meme floating around the internet, yes?

It’s funny, but it’s also very, very true. Especially for parents with kiddos in school, as schools are the place where germs party hard and love nothing more than to hitch a ride with your child back into your home.

Many illnesses start out with a telltale sign: a sore throat. But it’s hard to determine if those warning signs point to something that needs medication and a doctor’s visit (not to mention that co-pay!) or if it’s viral and just needs to run its course.

There’s a cool new tool you can add to your medicine cabinet this fall that can help you do some initial observation, comparison and reporting to your doctor so that you can both more accurately determine if you need to go in for a visit or not. Check out the SayAhh! Sore Throat Home Exam Aid.

This nifty little tool is designed for ages 6 and up. It’s a scientifically designed, patented tongue depressor (much more awesome than a popsicle stick version from the doctor’s office, and more comfortable, too!) and it is designed to minimize the gag reflex. Woo hoo! Since tongue relaxation is helped along with this device being used, a parent can get a better look at exactly what is going on in there. The kit contains a flashlight and a chart with medical-grade illustrations and descriptions of six common childhood throat aliments (strep throat, coxsackie, mononucleosis, etc.). This provides an easy way for you to compare what a normal throat should look like versus what you might be seeing happening with your child’s throat.

There’s even a SayAhh! Exam Guide App available for iPhones now, and it will soon be available on Google Play, too.

As a parent, it’s a terrible feeling to not really know just how sick your child is, and to have to make that judgment call about whether or not you need to take off from work and head over to the doctor’s office. You may spend the time and money and find out it’s a viral thing so there’s nothing the doctor can do, or you may NOT go and then realize after a few more days that you made the wrong call and your child definitely needs antibiotics, and so off you go to the doctor, a few days later than you should have. SayAhh! Exam Aid can at least help you make a more informed decision on the front end.

Right now you can score free shipping on this handy new product through the SayAhh! website. While the free shipping promotion runs through November 1, now is the time to get your medicine cabinet (or drawer, in our case) prepped so that when that first sore throat hits, you are ready. The price is right, too, as this product comes in at under $10! You can also learn more by visiting the SayAhh! Facebook page.

I’d love to hear from you about your must-have items in your medicine cabinet. Have you conducted an inventory yet to make sure you’re prepared for the fall and winter germ season? What do you think about this awesome new product idea? I can see myself using it frequently!

Now through November 1st, get free shipping when you purchase the new SayAhh! Sore Throat Home Exam Aid online at http://sayahh.com/purchase.html! And to sweeten the deal even more, use code mom447 to save an additional $1.00 off.

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. All opinions, text and experiences are my own.

Cheesy Foil Packet Dinner Idea for Busy School Nights

September 1, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

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

I’m still getting my bearings about how to manage school day afternoons. My oldest now has nightly homework, and I’ve found that she gets too stressed out if she has to do all of it at once. So between 3-5, I find myself doing a bit of a dance back and forth between overseeing homework and preparing dinner and doing daily light housekeeping. Most days, I find myself to be totally wiped out by the time I sit down to eat the dinner I have prepared. The days when I am not wiped out are the days when dinner prep was easy. So I’m very determined to stick to easy dinners now that I realize what a difference it makes!

Today I have a really fun recipe to share with you. I first made it about a month ago just on a whim when we had some leftover barbecue pork in the fridge and some potatoes in the pantry that needed to be used. The positive reaction my family had to this foil packet dinner was so positive that I decided to make it again!

This is a cheesy barbecue potato foil packet, and it’s the perfect recipe for the work-at-home parent because it involves a bit of slow cooking first (but aren’t slow cookers great? They do all the work for you!).

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to put this recipe together:

One 3-4 lb pork shoulder or pork butt, strings removed
1 cup barbecue sauce, divided
6-8 small/medium red potatoes, scrubbed
1 small or 1/2 large green bell pepper, sliced
16 oz. Kraft Natural Shreds mild cheddar (can substitute Kraft Natural Chunk cheese if you prefer)
aluminum foil
butter
water

In the morning, place your pork shoulder in your slow cooker, along with 1/2 cup of barbecue sauce spread on top of the pork. Place the lid on and cook on low for 6 1/2 hours (go longer if your pork cut is larger).

Once the pork has cooked through, remove it from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. It should shred easily for you! Add the other 1/2 cup of barbeque sauce to the pork, or until it has the amount of sauce you desire it to have.

Now it’s time to slice your potatoes. You could have sliced them at any point while the pork was cooking just to make more progress on the recipe, but if you do that, you’ll want to soak your potato slices in some water after you are done because potato slices will turn an unfortunate color when they are oxidized for a while. So I just opt to slice my potatoes after the pork is done and once I’m ready to move on to the next step! I have an awesome slicing feature on my food processor, but you can also slice them by hand. I’d make them thicker than a potato chip slice, but still rather thin.

Now it’s time to build your foil packets! It’s fun to make food in a foil packet because kids love it! You can have your own little backyard camp out dinner this way, or you can use your grill to cook these, or you can just keep it simple (which is obviously my preference) and use your oven. If you go the oven route, preheat it to 400 degrees.

Take your aluminum foil and cut a sheet a little over a foot long. Be sure to spritz a little cooking spray on the surface.

Now add a layer of potatoes and a small amount of green bell peppers on top. Now add 1 small pat of butter on top and 1 tsp of water.

Foil packets will do all the cooking work for you, which is awesome! By creating these little packets, you make a great environment for those potatoes and bell peppers to cook, and the butter and water helps them stay nice and moist. Fold up your packet so that the food is not exposed, first by bringing together to the longer sides and folding over, and then by folding over the ends.

I created 6 packets with the food I had on hand. You will place these packets in the oven for 20 minutes. I put them on two baking trays so that they would be easier to get out.

Once the potatoes and bell peppers have cooked for 25 minutes, it’s time to add the stars of the show: the meat and cheese! VERY CAREFULLY unwrap your foil packets (steam is going to come out, so please be careful!). Now add the amount of barbecue you desire, followed by the amount of Kraft Natural Shreds you desire.

Now you simply re-fold your packets and pop them back in the oven for 10 minutes. You can serve these immediately after taking them out of the oven. And the beautiful thing about the foil packets is that they will hold their heat quite well, so if you finish the food but still need some time to set the table or finish up that last homework problem, it’s no big deal at all. The foil packet will wait for you!

Serve the meal right in the packet, which means that clean up is a total cinch! I love this meal because I’m pretty much always too tired to deal with the dishes after cooking, and by having a foil packet meal, there aren’t nearly as many dishes to deal with! Love it!

Ready to give this recipe a try? Before you head out the door to your nearest Walmart to pick up your ingredients, be sure to print a coupon for $.75 off Kraft Natural Shreds. Saving time AND saving money? Friend you are on fire! Here’s where you can find the Kraft products in the store (and don’t forget to pick up the Kraft Naturals Chunk cheese, too, as it is just the right thing for an after school snack!).

I hope this helps you get through the after school sprint to dinner, and maybe even leave you a little energy at the end of the day! Imagine that! 😉

My Favorite All Day Bra: The Body Caress from Vanity Fair

August 31, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 4 Comments

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for Vanity Fair. I received product samples to facilitate my review and compensation to thank me for my participation. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Can you relate to that amazing feeling you get when you find a GREAT bra? Most people have had that experience at least once, and it is bliss.

It’s also usually frustrating because you might have only bought one of that particular bra, and so you find yourself constantly searching for it in the clean laundry pile (or being bummed out when you find it in the dirty laundry pile).

Friends I’ve been doing a lot of digging through my laundry in the past month because I am totally in love with the Body Caress bra from Vanity Fair.

I tried on this bra for the first time at Macy’s Herald Square in NYC (missed the news about that visit? Check it out here!). It was definitely love at first wear, so I bought the bra in the underwire version as well as the wirefree version. My wirefree Body Caress is in this totally striking color that is new for fall called Orleans Blue. Here’s a peek at that beautiful shade!

As a woman with a larger chest size, I’m tickled to have a wirefree bra! For me, though, this bra is one that I will wear on a work day at home (I work from home, remember?) but for heading out of the house, I feel a bit more confident and comfortable with the support offered by the Body Caress with underwire. I highly encourage you to try out both styles to see which one might work best for you!

So here’s the bra that I will be buying 2 (ok, 4) more of later this fall:

This particular bra (retailing for $40 but currently on sale for $30) can come with or without the lace detailing, but I thought it was absolutely gorgeous, and I can tell you from experience that it does not show through your shirts, so no worries about that! It just adds such an elegant, feminine touch that I really love!

The Body Caress is designed to be what I would call a “workhorse” bra: meant for every day, and for many different occasions, as the straps have the capability to convert to a criss cross design or a halter. I love that I can still reach for my favorite bra even when my attire might require something a bit more specialized from my undergarments! 🙂

I’m 35 now, and I’ve had 2 kids. The bras I was wearing in college would never cut it for me in this season of life. I need a bra that can truly offer good support all day (because just like the saying goes…the years are short but the days are long!), and I also need it to be comfortable so that I don’t give up and just take it off at 3:30 in the afternoon (been there, done that about 1,000 times!). This is my all day bra. I’m comfortable and it looks great on me. Soft bras for the win!

When I met with the representatives of Vanity Fair last month in New York, one of the things that really stood out to me is that this brand is listening to the women who wear their products. Every single detail on every single bra they offer is there with intention: from the cut to the colors to the special features, Vanity Fair products are designed to help women feel beautiful and also get on with their day without having to think about their undergarments after putting them on in the morning. THANK YOU, Vanity Fair!

I can’t wait to do more shopping for some great new colors that Vanity Fair is launching this fall (they take their inspirations straight from the runways so that your bras and underwear are on point in terms of their beautiful shades!). If you are new to this brand, they have an extensive assortment of sizing, ranging from 34-44 and cup sizes B-DDD. Find the best Vanity Fair bra for your needs at Macy’s, Kohl’s, JCPENNY and Sears.

Baby Shower Theme Ideas for Second or Third Baby

August 29, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Tastefully Simple for providing product samples. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

I’m curious: if you have more than one child, did you have a baby shower for the second (and beyond) child? Traditionally, the sentiment has been that you only get a shower for your first baby. Can we all just agree that this is a tired notion? Every child deserves to be celebrated, and every expecting mama could use some help getting ready for baby. And not all help has to take the form of a new receiving blanket or a car seat, either, which is why I think baby showers for subsequent children can be more practical (but still very fun!).

Baby Shower Theme Idea: Stocking the Kitchen

I didn’t have a shower for my second child (I was still fairly new to this city and didn’t know many people, so that wasn’t a shocker for me) but if someone would have offered to throw one, this is what I would “registered” for: freeze ahead meals and easy recipes!

I would have been tickled beyond belief to have received meals that were ready to be heated up, for sure! When you are adjusting to life with two little ones (or three, or four, etc.) you are having to find a whole new rhythm. You might not need a pack-n-play, but if dinner could just be figured out for you, that would be amazing, am I right?!

I would also love to give this gift to an expecting mama because I know it would take some stress off of her while she is dealing with a newborn and also still dealing with the other kid(s). I can’t be too sure about a new mom needing ANOTHER pack of 0-3 month onesies, but I can feel 100% sure that she can use a meal!

If you are thinking about planning this type of event for a friend, be sure to ask if there are any food allergies in her family to keep in mind, or if there are any very strong likes or dislikes. Then simply invite attendees to bring their favorite freeze-ahead meal as a gift, or if they prefer not to cook anything, to consider bringing along some great supplies for the pantry.

Tastefully Simple is a fantastic resource for food items that can really help bring out a lot of flavor and fun to what might be otherwise another ordinary dish. For example, they offer an array of seasonings that can be used put together really great food on the fly. In fact, their website has a HUGE collection of recipes that you can create with their products. It would be such a great idea to buy some of these items, and include one or two recipes to go along with each item to help the mom get started. Here are some great products you can find at Tastefully Simple, along with a recipe idea to put it to use!

Onion Onion Seasoning (pair with a Tikka Chicken recipe card)
Garlic Garlic Seasoning (pair with world’s best meatloaf recipe card)
Mama Mia Marinara Sauce Mix (pair with zucchini fries recipe card)
Seasoned Salt (pair with seasoned potato wedges recipe card)
Ultimate Steak Seasoning (pair with honey apple pulled pork recipe card)

I remember having many, MANY instances where that new mommy brain fog made it seem like the most impossible thing on earth to figure out what we should be eating for dinner. If I had a stack of recipes on hand and key ingredients needed to pull them off, that would have made a big difference and we would have eaten much less takeout during those first few months as a family of four.

What do you think about a baby shower idea that is more focused on practical needs for the family? I’d love to hear your thoughts, as well as any other ideas you might have for ways to celebrate a new little one hitting the scene!

Surprize by Stride Rite: Great New Shoes Exclusive to Target!

August 27, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

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

Last week I was feeling pretty darn good about how the first week of school went for my kiddos. I managed to make all the mandatory meetings, get all the school supplies handed over (AND labeled…42 individually labeled items, people…) and get everyone to school on time with brushed teeth and hair and presentable clothing. But on Friday a note was sent home telling me that Layah needed a spare pair of shoes in her cubby.

This is the point at which I realized that the only spare pair of shoes this poor second child owns are flip flops, which won’t cut it. Then I took a look at the shoes she was wearing daily. They are Stride Rites and they have held up reasonably well considering the fact that they have been through 2 girls who have worn them constantly as long as they fit, but they were definitely looking well-loved.

So…maybe those needed to become the spare pair and we needed to go get some new Stride Rites for Miss Layah! But would that mean braving the mall on a Saturday? blergh…….

undefined

Except, NO! Stride Rite now has an exclusive line at Target called Surprize by Stride Rite. Have you seen it?!?!

You don’t ever have to twist my arm to get me in a Target (not even on a Saturday! Bring. It. On.). Layah loved the selection of Surprize by Stride Rite shoes, and decided she wanted to try on the cute purple pair.

Surprize shoes have the following great attributes:

Comfort – These shoes have a generous fit and all memory foam footbeds, ensuring great comfort for your kids
Fit – The shoes have very flexible outsoles allowing for an agile, natural step and growth
Durability – The rubber toes ensure durability

So basically, this is everything you would expect from the Stride Rite brand! Every pair I saw was priced under $30, too!

Layah was so proud of her new shoes that she agreed to do a fun photo shoot with me when we got home (something that typically makes her grumpy). But she was all smiles in her fabulous new purple outfit, and I can’t say that I blame her, as getting new shoes that are cute AND comfortable is a major score.

So while I had to wipe that smug grin off my face from when I mistakenly thought I had nailed the first week of school (a point that was further highlighted when I rolled up to school yesterday to pick up my child without a car seat and had to borrow one to get back home), in the end it all worked out because I learned about one of my very favorite brands of shoes now having a line at one of my very favorite stores. And now you know, too! Be sure to check out Surprize for girls or Surprize for boys, with sizes going up to 12.

Not planning a trip to Target soon (What’s that like, first of all?)? No, worries, because you can Shop Surprize by Stride Rite at Target.com! And you can follow Stride Rite on their social media channels for more info, too!