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

(Giveaway!) Great Outdoor Games to Check Out This Summer

July 16, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Samples provided for review purposes. All opinions are my own, as always.

This summer I have noticed that my girls seem to have developed an interest in games with rules when they are outside. They will create obstacle courses or even dance routines that they have to be able to repeat perfectly before they can move on to the next challenge. We’ve drawn hopscotch on our driveway for them, which has been immensely popular. And we’ve also introduced two new games to the girls: lawn bowling and cornhole.

One Step Ahead offers both of these fun activities, and I’m excited to show them to you!

First up, let’s check out cornhole!

These are SO fun, friends! They are super lightweight and come apart easily (maybe a little too easily, as I’m currently missing one of the support legs due to my girls playing with them like pirate swords!). They have oversized holes to make scoring a bit easier for kids (or you can use Layah’s strategy and stand right on top of the platform to help your odds). It comes with 2 platforms so that 2 people can play at one time. I really love this game because it’s one that grown ups want to play, too. I think that makes it absolutely perfect for summer barbecues or birthday parties, or even just for play dates (this is a very eay game to toss in your trunk and take with you to a friend’s house).

We’re working on our underhand toss and our overhead toss with cornhole. And we’re working on taking a moment to think about your toss before you make it. Such a great game! 🙂

The other game that the girls are loving right now is lawn bowling. And I have yet to find an outdoor game that makes my girls squeal with delight as much as this one does!

Parents, you need to know this: the lawn bowling set does NOT come with magical elves who will blow up your giant bowling ball and pins for you. That’s totally on you. You’ve been warned…

The pain was TOTALLY worth the gain, though! I mean, who doesn’t like to hurl a giant ball at some giant pins? Major stress reliever, I’m telling you!

Something to keep in mind is that this game doesn’t play well with the wind. The pins are quite sensitive, so you’ll need to pick a wind-free day to play outside. I can tell you from personal experience that moving the game inside isn’t a great idea unless if you are going to be playing in a room with anything in it that can’t handle a giant flying bowling ball coming at it. 😉

We are really enjoying both of these outdoor games. I think adding either one (or both) to your outdoor toy collection would be a wise choice, as my kids have been playing with them both daily for two weeks with no signs of boredom!

Want more outdoor game ideas? I’ve got my eye on the One Step Ahead animal croquet set and the giant inflatable honeycomb ball! 🙂

Win it!
TWO lucky Stuff Parents Need readers will win a fabulous outdoor toy by One Step Ahead. One winner will receive the Cornhole game, and one winner will receive the Lawn Bowling game.

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

One Step Ahead Outdoor Games (2 Winners!)

How to Clean Your Dishwasher (Effortless Edition)

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

I recently learned that similar to the way you are supposed to clean your washing machine every month or so, you are also supposed to clean your dishwasher. I definitely had to spend some time looking up how to clean your dishwasher, because I was so baffled by the fact that it needed to be done. I mean, isn’t cleaning what it does every single day? How the heck do you clean the thing that cleans as it’s job?!

Some people break out a toothbrush, some hardcore chemicals and a whole lot of elbow grease. And good for them, really.

But that’s not how I’m going to roll. Nope, not at all. I need the ~~lazy~~ efficient girl’s solution. So I came up with it! I’m already pretty decent about remembering to use a rinse aid, so I decided to boost my rinse aid by adding my all-time favorite cleaner to it so that it could become the dishwasher equivalent of a daily shower spray cleaner.

In my family, we rock the natural cleaners. No judgement to you if you don’t, but do keep in mind that whatever you put in your dishwasher gets all over your plates and cups and silverware, so you are actually eating it. That realization prompted our switch. We personally use Honest Company’s rinse aid (check out my review here). I’m also eager to try out white vinegar as a rinse aid, as I’ve heard great things about that! So you could try this with either!

To give my rinse aid what my kids would call “turbo” power, I added in two capfuls of Young Living’s Thieves Household Cleaner and gave it a really good shake. This is a product made with some kick-butt essential oils that can help your dishwasher sparkle and shine and that can help kick the grime to the curb, all without posing any risk to your family at all. It contains clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary and it smells every bit as good as it sounds! This particular formula from Young Living is highly concentrated, so just a few small capfuls will really go a long way. I added 2 when the bottle was about 1/3 empty. You could experiment with this and see if you think it needs slightly more or slightly less (no need to fret over precision!). I don’t think that adding Thieves Household Cleaner replaces the need to do a more thorough cleaning of your dishwasher from time to time, but I do personally think that it stretches out the amount of time you can go in between cleanings by quite a bit! 🙂

We’ve had out 16 oz bottle of Thieves Household cleaner for a few months and have barely used 1/3 of it, and we have been using it exclusively as our household cleaner (tubs, toilets, floors, tables, countertops, and even carpet cleaner!). You just need to snag some plastic spray bottles and get ready to make your own products for all over the house. We love it, and at $22 wholesale, it’s a total bargain. If you are already connected with Young Living, I highly suggest adding it to your next order if you don’t already use this product.

If you aren’t connected with Young Living yet, I’d love to introduce you! Email me at stuffparentsneed (at) gmail (dot) com if you’d like to hear more about incorporating essential oils into your life to promote wellness for your family. Or if you’d simply like to give this product a try, I’d be happy to order it for you using my wholesale discount (I place orders once a month) so you can give it a whirl and see what you think!

(Giveaway!) 5 Ways to Raise a Reader

July 9, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 40 Comments

Friends I hope you enjoy this informative guest post today from my friend Rebekah Gienapp, who serves as a Barefoot Books Ambassador. She has so many great ideas!

Who doesn’t want their children to love to read? Here are my top tips for what you can do at home to raise a reader. You may be pleased to see that you’re doing many of these things already. And if you’re not? They’re easy to implement!

Be a role model. Let your child see you reading for pleasure. If we tell our kids how much fun reading is, but they never see us doing it, will they believe us? Maybe you only get time to read after the kids are in bed. If that’s the case, be sure to tell them a little about the book you’re enjoying when they’re awake. If you tend to read on an electronic device, tell your kids when you’re reading a book (otherwise they may assume you’re just checking Facebook again.) Finally, encourage the men in your children’s lives to also model reading. Since so many early childhood teachers are women and read aloud at home is often done by moms, kids can get the mistaken idea that reading is just for girls.

Do everything you can to make reading enjoyable. One of the best ways to help children associate books with feelings of warmth and love is to read to babies from birth, as the American Association of Pediatrics recommends. (If you haven’t started daily read aloud time to your child yet, there’s no time like the present!) Tell your children often how much you love reading to them. Find a cozy place to make a special reading nook. Read aloud is your child’s first theater, so make it interesting by using voices and expression. If your children are not interested in a particular book, don’t force it on them. Sometimes you may have to put up with a book you really don’t like because your child does. As Maya Angelou once said, “Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.”

Make sure your child has plenty of reading material at home and can easily access it. Research shows that having access to a variety of reading material is key to keeping kids’ minds sharp, especially over the summer months. Types of books to have on hand include rhyming books, singalongs, folk or fairytales, picture storybooks, nonfiction, wordless books, world culture books, and books that incorporate math and science concepts. Keep your children’s books on low shelves or in boxes where they can reach them without asking for help.

Read (and re-tell) the story again and again. If you’ve raised a toddler, you may have banged your head against the wall when she asked you to read the same book for the 89^th time. While it can get a little boring for us, reading things over and over helps young children reinforce the concepts they are learning. Everything in the world is still new to a young child; it takes a while to absorb it all! For beginning readers, encourage them to read a book for a second or third time after they’ve completed it. This aids in their comprehension as well as increase their reading speed. For children of all ages, use fun ways to re-tell the story to you. You can use simple art activities, act it out with puppets, have them tell a story using a wordless book, or let them dictate the story to you with a new ending.

Help your young reader move up to the next level. Once your child has begun reading on his own, select a book that’s just slightly above his current reading level. Begin reading it aloud to him. During his next designated time to read on his own (bedtime or whenever you’ve chosen) offer him the choice of continuing to read the book you were reading aloud, or to pick something on his own. Often once you’ve gotten a child interested, he’ll want to continue even if it’s more challenging than what he’s used to.

Giveaway!
To help you raise your reader, I’m offering a free Barefoot book to one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader. I’ll be tailoring it to the age of the winner’s child, so I can’t tell you the exact title. A couple of possible choices are and . Can’t wait for the giveaway to try out Barefoot Books? Sign up for my email list and I’ll send you a 20% off code you can use on your order!

How to enter: Let’s keep it simple! Simply sign up for Rebekah’s (infrequent and informative) newsletter (be sure to click on that link!) and then comment below with the email address you used to enter (it will be the same email address used to contact you if you’ve won!). For a bonus entry, follow me on Instagram and leave a second comment with your instagram username.

Contest open to residents of the United States, 18 years and over. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on July 23rd and a winner will be selected using random.org from eligible entries. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Stuff Parents Need is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Rock Your Bath Time with These 5 Foods

July 7, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 4 Comments

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

Do you need some “me” time? Once a week I go for a soothing bath. I found new ideas that are good for my skin and best of all, everything I needed was in my kitchen!

1. Lemon

Slice 5 or 6 lemons and add to your bath water and enjoy refreshed skin and tightened pores! Perfect for that bothersome “backne.”

2. Olive Oil

1/4 cup olive oil added to your bath helps your skin’s collagen and also helps with hydration.

3. Green Tea

The antioxidants found in green tea can help your body detox. Green tea is also known to have anti-aging benefits. Steep 7 bags in the tub while you soak.

4. Honey

Dry skin? Try adding 1 cup of honey to your bath. You’ll have smoother, softer skin! And similar to green tea, you’ll enjoy the detoxing benefits of honey’s antioxidants.

5. Milk

A warm milk bath is perfect for tired, rough feet. Pour 2 -4 cups of milk into a pan and soak your feet for 10 minutes. Milk contains lactic acid that tells all that rough skin on your feet to take a hike. Maximize the benefits by exfoliating with baking soda after your soak!
When selecting your ingredients, go for quality. You are feeding your skin, so feed it the best! For example, opt for the DairyPure milk option. DairyPure milk is the ony milk backed by 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

You can Learn more about DairyPure online and follow DairyPure on Facebook to get life hack ideas like the ones above. Need recipes? Get your DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest.

Backyard Mosquito Repellent Options

July 6, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Thanks to Thermacell for the complimentary review product. As always, all thoughts are my own.

I have a very strong suspicion that my 3-year-old is actually allergic to mosquito bites. When she gets bit (and she seems to be a frequent target, just like her mama), the bites quickly become large, hard welts. Poor baby. They look just awful.

So that’s a big motivator for me to try to keep mosquitoes away from her as much as possible.

Oh, and that whole West Nile thing, too. Totally scary stuff, y’all.

My solution? Honestly? I always vote for inside play. This strategy is NOT WORKING for my kids, which is understandable. So in order to let them run around outside and play, I need something else, and I’m totally not down with spraying my kiddos with DEET.

We are doing a few different things to stay protected. We are working on planting some mosquito repellent greenery, we have a few pieces of bug repellent clothing, and we also have the ThermaCELL backyard torch.

Have you seen this bad boy? Let me tell you all about! This battery powered device provides a 15×15 square foot zone that repells mosquitoes and other flying insects.

You can install it on it’s stand to be higher up, or you can place it directly on a flat surface like a table. The top of it has a little replacable mat that when heated (by being turned on) releases repellent into the air and sends those bugs flying in the other direction. It comes with 3 mats that each last 4 hours. Replacement mats can be purchased online. I appreciated seeing that the repellent contained in the mats is approved by the EPA.

Additionally, the LED lighting is soft and ambient; perfect for the evenings and not at all bothersome during the day. For me the big pull here is the mosquito repellent capabilities, but having a lighting feature built in is a really sweet bonus!

The Backyard Torch is also very lightweight and the long stand that you can use breaks down really easily so that you can take this with you anywhere. What a GREAT thing to show up with when joining friends for a barbecue or a playdate in the park!

The ThermaCELL Backyard Torch is available online for $34.99 and refill mats are available for $6.99 (set of 3).

What strategies do you have for keeping mosquitoes from biting you?

Honest Company 3-in-1 Facial Towelettes Review: An Honest Assessment

July 4, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

In the past month, The Honest Company released it’s newest product, their 3-in-1 Facial Towelettes. I put them in my latest bundle order to see how they would fare, and I was not very confident that I would like them. This is because I typically find this type of makeup remover to be wildly insufficient for actually removing makeup; I feel like they tend to just smear the makeup on my face around a bit, more than anything else. And I also sometimes find the cloths to be a bit scratchy.

But The Honest Company has a winner with this product, overall! I will say this: if you have gone “all out” with your makeup and are rocking BB Cream, foundation, multiple layers of eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, blush and lipstick, then you aren’t going to get all of your makeup off with one of these cloths. I dare say there isn’t a makeup remover cloth on the planet that will be able to help you with that, at least not in one shot. This cloth is no different. But for days when you didn’t wear makeup or you just put on some BB cream and some lip gloss, then you are going to LOVE this product.

The size of the cloth is generous and the feel is SO soft. But at the same time, it’s quite strong. I have given it a really good tug (I try to be thorough for you guys!) and it didn’t rip or tear at all. The smell is very clean, too. It doesn’t appear to me that it is fragranced in any way. It just smells naturally nice!

The 3 things this product is supposed to do, if you were wondering, is cleanse, moisturize and remove makeup. I think cleanse & remove makeup are sort of one and the same, but whatever.

I have rather dry skin and my skin feel soft after using the product. I still apply a moisturizer after using it, though I could probably get away without it, especially during the warmer months.

And of course, these towelettes will travel well, which is one of the reasons I like them so much. They are a convenience product. You get 30 towelettes for $6.95, which is enough to last you a month if you only clean your face with this product once a day.

How to Buy Them

I always will let you know when something is best to make part of your bundle or if it’s best to make it an add-on item. At $6.95 retail, you’ll be paying more for the product if you put it in one of your 5 bundle slots, as each bundle slot item breaks down to $7.20 per item. If you make it one of your add-on items, the price drops to 25% off, making it $5.21. So that’s the way to go!

One complaint I have heard from folks about the bundles is that a good chunk of the items available for bundling actually retail for less than $7.20. While I try hard to only buy those items as add-ons, there is something to be said for including one in each bundle if it is something that you need and use all the time AND if you are getting more expensive items in your other slots so that you are still coming out money ahead. Since this item is only 30 cents away from the $7.20 per-item-price, if you are struggling to fill your cart with items that cost more, this might be one to include in one of the slots.

What are Bundles?

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, here’s the Cliff’s Notes version of the story: The Honest Company offers “bundle” deals to folks who subscribe to their products. You can get any 5 products from a select group of offerings for $35.95 and then get up to 3 more items for 25% off retail price. By default, you will get one shipment each month. However, it is SUPER easy to change the date of your bundle. You can push it back a week, a month, 2 months, whatever. You aren’t promising to spend a certain amount within a set time limit. And I LOVE that! The Honest Company also alerts you when it is almost time for you bundle to ship, and that gives you the chance to hop online and change your dates if you aren’t quite ready for another shipment. In exchange for being signed up with them, you will find that you can get some pretty good buys in the bundle. For example, my husband’s shave oil retails on the site for $15.95 but by getting it in the bundle, I’m only paying $7.20!

What are the Best Buys?

I have you covered, friend! I am slowly working my way through most every product offered by The Honest Company to tell you what you should buy and what you should skip. Start with my master list of Honest Company Reviews, and also be sure to check out how you can get several Honest Company free samples before you make a purchase. 🙂

(Giveaway!) Anchored: One of the Best Books I’ve Read

July 2, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 58 Comments

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I also purchased a copy of this book on my own to pass on. Because it’s just that good, people. Affiliate links may be included. #AnchoredHope

Yesterday was a banner day for my friend Kayla Aimee, as it was the official launch day of her first book, Anchored.

I completely devoured my copy that arrived early, and honestly, the speed with which I read through it surprised me a bit. This is because I was slightly afraid to read it.

You see, Anchored is the story of Kayla’s start to motherhood, when her daughter was born at just 25 weeks gestation. She was a micro-preemie, and she spent 156 days in the NICU before finally getting to come home. It’s a hard story, obviously. And I don’t really do “hard” stories that are about children. I just have a SUPER low tolerance for them and find myself all too quickly dissolved into a pile of mush and heartbroken by proxy. So my coping strategy is to simply avoid reading those sad stories. It’s not brave of me, but it is a way I have found that helps me not fall apart on the daily from all the sadness in the world.

But Kayla tells a tale that feels painful, absolutely, but that is also helpful and even healing for anyone who has gone through something tough (and haven’t we all?). I cried quite a few tears while reading. Some were for baby Scarlette, and some were for Kayla, and some, as it turns out, were for me. It’s quite a gift an author has to have to tell such a story and help you feel part of it at the same time. Kayla does this, and she does it well.

Also? You’ll be very surprised by how often you laugh while reading the book! And not the polite type of pseudo-fake laughing. I’m talking about big belly laughs. Kayla is a riot, and the type of person who is especially prone to having awkward things happen to her, and she shares those moments of the absurd with you because it’s simply part of who she is.

It’s the book I have enjoyed the most in quite a long time. I’m even reading it out loud to my husband now. I hope you will enter my giveaway below for a free copy. But I also hope you will BUY a copy; it would be an AMAZING gift to give to your nearest hospital with a NICU, or to share with a friend. You don’t have to have a preemie, or even be a parent for this story to resonate with you. If you’ve ever turned to God with the question, “WHY?!?!” then you will be able to relate.

Win it!:

One Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Anchored!

Let’s keep this simple: to enter, simply leave a comment, including your email address (so I can contact you!) telling me your favorite book (could be a favorite recent read OR your all-time favorite book!). That’s it!

Contest open to residents of the United States, ages 18 and up. Limit one entry per household, please. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on July 16th and a winner will be randomly selected from eligible entries received. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification via email before an alternate winner is selected. Stuff Parents Need is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways on the right sidebar of the page.

The Other Half of the Fertility Equation: Preparing Men for a Healthy Conception

June 30, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I remember all too well doing my research on preparing myself for pregnancy. It definitely seemed as though 90-100% of the prep work was on me, since I would be the one growing the baby, and all.

But it is a misconception that the only role men have to play is “showing up to the party.” Here are a few ideas for ways that men can be more involved in preparing for a healthy conception.

1. Make an Appointment

It’s a great idea for men to pay a visit to their doctor’s office for an overall checkup to ensure that they are in good health. There may be some problems lurking that could impede fertility, and it’s ideal to know if those problems exist BEFORE months of frustration.

2. Exercise!

Getting out together for a walk around the neighborhood before or after work is such a fantastic way to enhance overall health, and it’s a great way to have some quality time together, too.

3. Proxeed plus

This is a very simple way to support sperm quality: ensure that you have the nutrients needed for developing sperm! Carnitines are key, and it is not uncommon for someone’s diet to not have a sufficient quantity needed for healthy sperm development (3 grams a day). Proxeed plus is a complete carnitine-based formula and it targets sperm morphology, motility, concentration, count and linear projection to assist with male fertility. Proxeed plus contains 3-4 times more carnitines than other men’s health supplements. It comes in packets of powder that dissolve easily into water, juice or fruit smoothies and can be taken twice a day. Sperm quality may benefit from the use of Proxeed plus in as little as 90 days. This is a great product to begin taking even before you are ready to begin trying for baby.

4. Make the Switch

You may have heard the old wives’ tale about men switching from briefs to boxers when the couple is trying to conceive. Well, it’s actually quite good advice! If your man prefers more fitted underwear, treat him to some nice new boxers. Besides, there’s no better way to celebrate getting new underwear than by taking it off! 😉

I hope these ideas can help the men feel a little more included in the preparation process for conception. Both parties involved need to pay attention to their health and wellness! Be sure to check out the link for where to buy Proxeed plus (use code SPERM at checkout to save $10!) and check out this quick video for more information. You can see the entire suite of Proxeed plus videos on their Youtube channel, as well.

Proxeed plus is a complete carnitine-based formula for male fertility that targets multiple sperm functions, including morphology, motility, concentration, count and linear projection. For more information, visit www.proxeedplus.com

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. I received a box of Proxeed plus for my own personal use. All opinions, text and experiences are my own. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

(Giveaway!) A New Way to Rock Your Iced Coffee at Home: Folgers Iced Cafe

June 29, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 9 Comments

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Folgers. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Fellow iced coffee afficianados, lean in a little closer, because I’ve got something super exciting to share with you and I don’t want you to miss a single drop of this goodness.

Folgers has just dropped the mic, so to speak, in the world of iced coffee. Check these out!

You are looking at products. These are tiny (purse-size! easy to travel with!) containers of 100% coffee extract, with no sugar or preservatives. Just add two squeezes to a cup of cold milk, stir it, and BOOM! iced coffee at the ready for you.

You can choose from Original Latte, Vanilla Latte, Caramel Macchiato and Hazelnut Latte. I’ve tried everything but the Vanilla Latte so far, and I have loved them all! I have done lots and lots of experimenting with different ways to make iced coffee at home, and this is definitely the fastest way to go without purchasing the pre-made stuff that has more chemicals than I’d prefer.

AND! I SO love that I can put this in my purse. I’ve been at play dates before where the other mom doesn’t drink coffee at all, and so no coffee for me. Now I could just ask for a glass of milk, though, and be all set!

If you work in an office setting, how perfect are these for your desk?! They won’t take up precious space in the work room refrigerator (and possibly get consumed by others!) but will instead be safely tucked away in your office for your coffee break.

#FolgersFridays

If you aren’t already following Folgers on Facebook and Twitter, take a moment to do so now because they are doing an amazing summer promotion from now through September 4th called #FolgersFridays. Each Friday they have AWESOME prizes (a gift basket worth $200!) that they are giving away, and you enter by leaving a simple comment on their #FolgersFridays post that day.

For more info on the #FolgersFridays Promotion and a store locator to find Folgers Iced Café near you, please visit the .

Win it!

One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win 4 Folgers Iced Cafe Coffee Drink Concentrates (one of each flavor!). Contest entrants are only eligible to win once per sweepstake, per household as part of a campaign sponsored by Influence Central.

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

Folgers Iced Cafe Coffee Concentrates (4 Prizes, 1 Winner!)