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

Finding the Best Deals, Wherever You Are: There’s an App for That!

August 27, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Retale for partnering with me to make today’s post possible. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I make no bones about it: I like shopping online. But there are times when you just have to suck it up and get out there to get something you need now. Like erasable color pencils. Did you know these are a thing???

Kids these days and their fancy school supplies. When I was a kid if you messed up when using your colored pencils, you just had to suffer the consequences on imperfection.

Where was I? Oh yes…urgent shopping matters. So in preparation for the school yearwe had to go shopping for school supplies such as that crazy invention shown above, and also for a few other items that needed in-person inspection, like shoes and a few fun new outfits. If I had known about the app Retale at the time, it could have saved me some time and money!

First, it would have kept me from awkwardly yanking on locked doors at Kohl’s a full hour before the store opened. I’ve pulled up the store hours so many times on my laptop that I thought I had them memorized, so of course the one time I didn’t bother to check I was too early and had to come back the following day, which wasted about an hour of my time between all the driving back and forth. The Retale app could have shown me shopping hours at my local Kohl’s in just a few clicks.

Retale could have also shown me where I could find those blasted erasable colored pencils (ok, I admit it, I’m totally jealous that these weren’t around when I was a kid). I went to three different stores trying to find them, when I could have just pulled up the circulars for places like Office Depot, Target and Walmart and not only found them, but also seen which store had them on sale, which would have saved me time AND money.

Retale shows you all your local sales so you don’t have to flip through flyers and clutter up your home. And if there are stores you especially love to shop at, you can ask to receive notifications about new promotions so that you never miss a great sale. retale app

This is a very useful app, no? But it gets better! You can create a shopping list and even clip coupons right in the app, so you can make a list and not leaving on your kitchen table (something I’ve done roughly 500 times) and not leave those valuable coupons on the table, either.

Retale is totally free (of course!) and available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. You can also take advantage of all those aggregated circulars on the Retale website if you’d rather browse from a laptop or desktop. Check it out and see what you think!

(Giveaway Alert!) Cooking Shortcut: Trying the Pressure Cooker for Busy School Nights

August 25, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Complimentary product provided for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

We’ve been back in school for a week now, and I’m still getting my bearings since daily homework is now part of our reality. I now call 3-5pm my “sprint” in the day, because I really have to be on top of my game to make sure that homework gets done, the kids have some chill time, and I get dinner on the table by 5pm (because my kiddos are SO hungry by that point, even with an after-school snack!).

One new tool I’m trying out in the kitchen is the Clipso Pressure Cooker from T-fal. I tend to think of a pressure cooker as something that grandmothers use to make pot roast. I’ve never even owned one until a few weeks ago! But it turns out that our grandmothers were on to something, as a pressure cooker is designed to help you speed up the cooking process without drying out your food (so it’s GREAT for meat dishes!).

There is a bit of a learning curve with pressure cookers. When you get one, it’s important to spend a bit of time with the instructions so that you can get to know how the equipment works and how to use it safely. I have challenged myself to use it for every dinner prep this entire week to help me feel more comfortable with it.

But to provide some inspiration, last night I made a delectible Indian dish, Chicken Masala, using the pressure cooker. I was able to use the pot just like a conventional pot while sauteeing onions and garlic, and then once I added all of the other ingredients, including an entire fryer chicken (cut into segments) and used the pressure cooking capabilities, my dish was done in 20 minutes. Chicken masala is definitely NOT a 20 minute meal, and yet, I was serving it to my family on a Monday night at 5:15 pm after starting the entire process at 4:45pm. Winner, winner, chicken dinner, indeed!

The T-fal Clipso is available in Macy’s retailers and Macys.com for $99.99. For more information please visit, www.t-falusa.com. If you’d like more weeknight recipe inspiration, follow T-fal on Pinteret!

Giveaway Alert!

Right now, T-fal is hosting a great Back2School Photo Contest! All you need to do is share a photo on Facebook, TWitter or Instagram using the hashtag #TfalBack2School that demonstrates how you are getting ready for the school year. Here are some ideas to get you started: a room in your home that you recently organized (or that you need to organize!), a favorite lunch box idea or weeknight dinner, or what your homework station looks like. One lucky Grand Prize Winner will get a Back2School package worth over $1,000 and 5 runner up winners will win T-fal packages values at $500 each. Woo hoo! Full details and entry information is on the T-fal Facebook page.

Drinking Your Vitamins (Life Hack I LOVE!)

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

Thanks to Zarbee’s for partnering with me for today’s post. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

Two weeks I downloaded an app on my phone that I was certain would take care of the problem I have remembering to take my vitamins and other supplements throughout the day. This app dutifully tells me every time I’m supposed to take something and what that something is. It also sends me two gentle reminders and then a third reminder that sounds like a pill bottle shaking in a desperate plea to get me to go take my vitamins. Every time I hear that pill bottle I straight up SCOWL at my phone and swear I’ll delete the app…tomorrow.

And so I have learned that the problem is not that I don’t remember to take my pills. The problem is that I don’t like to take my pills. I didn’t even learn how to swallow pills until well into my teenage years, and it’s always been a rather dramatic moment of my day when I take them.

I know all about how great vitamins and supplements can be as a compliment to making good food choices. And yet, I just don’t wanna.

Bless you, Zarbee’s, for your newest product line.

Have you seen this awesomeness, yet???? Zarbee’s, a company whose homeopathic products fill our children’s medicine cabinet, has launched these great Vitamin Drink Mixes, with individual packets that you add to water (either hot or cold, depending on the product…it states the best use on the back). Each packet is loaded down with great vitamins and great flavor! I have been particularly liking the Multivitamin with Antioxidant lately, though I’m so glad to have each product type in my pantry.

Now when my app tells me to take my multivitamin, I do so without hesitation! I grab my water bottle, put roughly 6 ounces of water in it, grab a Zarbee’s Vitamin Drink Mix, and give a good shake.

And then I just enjoy an honestly delicious beverage! I’m getting a glass of water AND my vitamins. BOOM!

This is the type of product that is making life a little less hectic for me, or at least a little less anxiety-filled!

Do you struggle to remember to take your vitamins? Or are you like me and you remember just fine, but you just don’t WANT to take them (seriously, why are multivitamins horse pills???). This might be just the thing for you! Or if you could use an extra vitamin boost (hello back-to-school GERMS starting to come home!) then grab a box o Zarbee’s Vitamin Drink Mix the next time you’re at Target. The following types of vitamin drink mix are offered:

Which one would you buy first??

School Deals Under $20 at FabKids (and Awesome Fringe Boot Alert!)

August 21, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Sample products provided for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. I’m a proud FabKids customer! Affiliate links may be included.

FabKids, month after month, never fails to impress me. Have you tried the brand, yet? You definitely should! You can become a member for free, and then evey month at the start of the month you can select one outfit for just $29.95. You can choose to skip the month with a simple click of the button (trust me, I’ve done it several times!). The clothes are so fun and on-trend, and you KNOW I love not having to leave the house to do my shopping!

Also? FabKids has really brought their A-game when it comes to shoes. I mean, look at these fringe boots, y’all!!!

Darah loves them, and can you blame the girl? She also got a very school-worthy plaid dress, but the plaid is definitely made with the children of 2015 in mind, because the clors are on the wild side!

You can purchase the dresses by themselves, or go ahead and get the leggings to pair with them (my girls LIVE in leggings, so that’s a must for us).

School Deals Under $20

While you are checking out all the great outfits, be sure to look for the special school deals. Now’s a GREAT time to stock up on clothes for the fall and even next spring, because the prices are awesome!

Dresses from $15
Girls tops & Tees from $10
Leggings 3 for $19
Tutus from $8
Sneakers from $19
Boys tops & Tees from $6

And there’s a sale section on top of the school deals ! Y’all… GET OVER TO FABKIDS and look around! You can thank me later. 🙂

DIY Magical Wands: Descendants-Style!

August 21, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

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

Have you had a chance to check out The Disney Channel Original Movie, Descendants? I knew it was going to be a necessary addition to our movie collection because my youngest has a soft spot for villains. She sleeps with a Captain Hook plush and has declared Marshmallow to be her favorite Frozen character. In truth, I think my 3-year-old is actually quite perceptive, and she understands that even the “bad guys” have redeeming qualities. Or at least they can choose to if they so desire.

And this is really what Descendants is all about, friends! It’s got a fun plot, loaded with the children of Disney villains and royalty, alike, great music, and plenty of magic. I decided to plan a special day of magic play for my girls following our viewing of the movie and I can’t wait to show you how crazy easy it is to duplicate!

Our magical journey began at Walmart, where you can find everything you need for a Descendants movie experience.

We found the DVD back in the electronics section, but the movie soundtrack was hanging out near the front registers, just FYI. And the dolls were honestly scattered in throughout the other dolls, so don’t be afraid to do some digging if you have to!

Jane is the doll who came home with us. While she isn’t a primary character in the movie, she’s the gateway to the Fairy Godmother’s wand, since she happens to be the Fairy Godmother’s daughter. And just like Mal in the movie, it’s the wand that we wanted, so we needed Jane!

We gathered some wand-like sticks from our backyard, some gold acrylic paint from our personal collection, and some gold glitter from Walmart. Jane led the girls in the activity (with a little help from me, too!). She explained that we needed to paint our wands fully, but quickly!

Your wand needs to still be wet with paint when you add the magical glitter. This part is SO fun! Be sure you are doing your work on a disposable surface (such as aluminum foil or parchment paper). You’ll be able to easily get your unused glitter back in the jar after everything dries for minimal waste this way, too!

We made a gold wand and a pink wand and had the best time putting them to work! The glitter does fall off here and there as the wand is waved around (just as you would expect glitter to do), so you may want your magic wand experiment sessions to take place outside.

Darah tried her hand at performing a few spells. She wasn’t so sure that they worked until she saw what my magical camera captured above! 😉

And Layah knew EXACTLY what she wanted to use her wand for: mischief! She gleefully turned her father into a monster!

We had a blast watching Descendants and then living out some of the fun we saw in the movie with our wands and our new doll. Once again, Disney has provided a fun backdrop for making magical memories as a family.

Tell me who your favorite villain is in the comments below! Mine is Maleficent!

Nutrition Tips for Getting Pregnant

August 21, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Are you thinking about getting pregnant? This may be your first or your sixth or anywhere in between, but whatever the case, there is some preparation that should go into getting your body ready for baby. Nutrition is a key component, and I want to share a few tips for what you should be doing right now if you are planning on getting pregnant in the next year.

1. Prenatal Vitamins Now!

The time is now to start taking those prenatal vitamins! Even if you are several months away from starting to try to conceive, now is the time to get that folic acid in your system, and to ensure that you have plenty of iron and other helpful vitamins and minerals. When you start to grow a baby these sources will quickly get depleted, so it’s best to start with a full tank, so to speak!

2. Vitamins for Him

Did you know that it takes approximately 90 days for sperm to become fully developed? That’s why your partner needs to be taking his own multivitamin, and ideally several months before you begin trying for baby.

3. Drop that Alcohol

You won’t be drinking alcohol once you get pregnant, so now’s the time to start weaning your body off of the sauce, especially if you drink socially on a regular basis. Limit yourself to one glass of wine or one beer per event, and limit the number of events where you are drinking altogether.

4. De-caffeinate

This one was the very hardest for me, personally. My drink of choice is iced coffee. Yours might be a latte or even a Diet Coke. Whatever your caffeinated beverage of choice may be, it’s time to cut back. Some studies have shown that high levels of caffeine can reduce the odds of conception. Caffeine can also interfere with your body’s ability to absorb iron and calcium, two things your body very much needs when growing a baby. Switching to low-acid and flavorful decaf coffee can help you still enjoy your morning ritual without the negative effects of caffeine. This allows you to savor the rich taste of coffee while being gentle on your stomach and ensuring your body absorbs essential nutrients more efficiently. Additionally, once you are pregnant, you will want to keep your caffeine consumption low, so it’s best to wean yourself off of it now rather than having to quit cold turkey. Take an honest assessment of how much caffeine you consume, and depending on how soon you want to start trying for a baby, you can determine a way to start switching over to decaf versions of the beverages you enjoy.

5. Whole Grain Goodness

I’ll spare you my soapboax speech about why refined grains are best avoided whenever possible. But you should know that refined grains (such as enriched flour) have been stripped of their vitamins, making them nutritionally void. By switching over to whole grains, you will start getting more iron and B vitamins that your body needs. I grew up on white bread and had to train myself to start enjoying whole wheat. It does take some time. You can find breads that have whole wheat AND enriched wheat in them. Start with those options for your transition, and then work your way over to whole grains. By eliminating enriched wheat from your diet, you’ll also help eliminate those insulin spikes they give you, which means that you won’t experience the corresponding energy slumps. And believe me, you’ll want to eliminate any and all energy zappers from your life once you are pregnant, as your pregnancy will claim most of your energy as it stands!

6. Colorful Diet

As a general rule, the more vivid the color of your fruits and vegetables, the more nutrient dense they are! So switch out your iceberg lettuce for romaine (or even better: spinach!). Switch out your baked potatoes for baked sweet potatoes. And go for as many blueberries as you want! Make the food you choose for your body be optimal fuel because that helps your body perform at it’s maximum potential (the same as giving a car with a sophisticated engine the higher grade gasoline!).

7. Fish Oil: It’s Easy!

The business of eating fish when you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant is a little bit tricky, because so many varieties of fish contain high levels of mercury. But getting your rich fatty acids is absolutely CRITICAL. So I suggest that you research the best fish to eat before and during pregnancy and how often you should have it, rather than eliminating it from your diet. And as a supplement, now is also the time to start taking a fish oil capsule.

All of these nutritional steps you can take are ones that don’t need to stop once the baby is born. A nursing baby will benefit greatly from these steps taken, and even after you have weaned, giving your body great fuel by way of a healthy diet and supplements will serve you well as your chasing that little toddler around! 🙂

Finally, if you are getting ready to try to conceive, you may want to look into conception-friendly lubrication. I wrote a post on some things to keep in mind when trying to get pregnant. For example, many people don’t realize that the lubrication they are using might actually impede their odds of a successful conception! Astroglide TTC is a fantastic alternative for you to have on hand so that the moment you are ready to start trying, you won’t have to sacrifice your comfort.

Any other tips for readers out there who are getting ready to start trying to conceive?

Astroglide TTC™ sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine

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(Giveaway) Gears! Gears! Gears!: Raising Little Engineers!

August 20, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 8 Comments

Special thanks to Learning Resources for providing complimentary products for review and giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

I am so deeply in love with the maker movement happening in our world right now. I love any opportunity to encourage my children to use their minds AND their hands and to create! This can be purely artistic in nature, purely functional in nature, or even somewhere in between.

So I totally dig the Gears! Gears! Gears! products that Learning Resources is currently offering.

We have been checking out the Sweet Shop from Gears! Gears! Gears! but please know that they have a wide variety of offerings just in case your kid wouldn’t necessarily be thrilled with lollipops and cupcakes. 🙂 The gears are really easy to put together in a wide variety of ways to make some rather cool movements. My 3-year-old feel comfortable and confident arranging them to make the perfect sweet shop, usually for Pinkie Pie to work in and for all her My Little Ponies to come enjoy.

This is a fantastic toy to encourage fine motor skills and to encourage a child to create something of their own invention. We are really pleased with it!

Win it!:

One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your choice of the Sweet Shop or the Pet Playland from Learning Resources!
Learning Resources

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

College Care Packages Made Easy (and At a Great Price!)

August 20, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Just this morning I saw a cute picture from my college alma mater, with the resident assistants cheering and holding banners, getting ready to welcome the new students to campus today. I have very vivid memories of my own move-in day (how on earth was that 17 years ago?! ACK!!!!).

I also remember taking my very first trip to a store to stock up on various supplies for my dorm room (paper towels, razors, snacks, napkins, etc.). Let’s just say I was VERY bummed out at the register. I think I even had to put a few things back!

It turns out that this stuff costs money, friends. And college students are often a bit short on money.

If you know someone who is headed to college this fall, consider sending them a care package, along with a few shopping tips to help them save money easily this year.

For example, let them know that Dollar General often has great coupons right on their website that you can easily print, clip an take into the store.

I took advantage of a FANTASTIC sale on Schick products. Right now you can score a Buy 1 Get 1 Free on the following products:
– Schick Hydro® 5 Razor
– Schick® Xtreme 3® Ultimate Razor
– Schick® Quattro®
– Schick® Hydro Silk® Razor
– Schick® Slim Twin® Razor

By using my coupon, I got 10 blades for just $5.25! That will be enough to get a college student through at least a semester without having to buy razors. 🙂

While I was in the store, I grabbed some great brain food for homework sessions, and a treat or two! If I had received a care package like this when I was in college, I would have FLIPPED. OUT. I remember nuts being a total extravagance because they tend to be pricey! But they are SO good for giving your body the energy it needs to get through all that reading!

And once a student is in college and is responsible for their own toiletry purchases, they will truly appreciate the Schick razors, I assure you.

What items did you love getting in care packages while in college? Any items you wish you could magically get in an adult care package now (I wish those were a thing!)?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schick®. The opinions and text are all mine.

5 Simple Space-Saving Tips for a Small Kitchen

August 19, 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.

We are rockin’ a small kitchen, so I love space-saving ideas. Today I’m sharing some tips for my fellow tiny kitchen owners. I hope they help you!

1. Covert Recycling

A recycling bin won’t fit in your kitchen. Or will it??? Try a small container under your sink. Save the Earth. Save some space. #Winning.

2. Go Vertical

I used to keep our produce on counter. Since I switched to baskets on the wall, I have more room than ever before for our weekly CSA bounty and reclaimed counterspace.

3. Defy Gravity

When I’m making a new recipe, I have to give up counterspace to my tablet or cookbook. Not anymore! Check out this cookbook holder. It swivels (!) and you can remove it when not in use.
4. Bring Order to Your Pantry

Clutter invites clutter, plain and simple. By putting pantry products into glass jars, I can better see what I have and I have created a space that I love. I WANT to keep this space pretty.
5. Monthly Fridge Challenge

Once a month I pull jars and bottles that have accumulated in the fridge and challenge myself to use them in my weekly menu. I waste less food and I keep my fridge neat. I’ve gotta keep my DairyPure milk on the shelf and not in the door (remember that tip?) so clutter just can’t happen.

I hope these tips help you make room for pure, simple goodness in your kitchen! Remember to make room for DairyPure milk (Learn more about DairyPure here), with 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 tested for antibiotics
Continuously quality tested to ensure purity
Only from cows fed a healthy diet
Cold shipped fresh from your local dairy

Want more inspiration? Follow DairyPure on Facebook and get DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest.