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

How to Brighten Your Laundry: Honest Company Oxy Boost Review – An Honest Assessment)

January 8, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Affiliate links included. I only promote what I use and love.

Ok, so I’ve had Honest Company’s Oxy Boost in my laundry room for quite some time, and honestly, it took me a while to use it because I didn’t really understand why it was something I needed. I even went online to research more about it so that I could understand, and I thought I’d share that with you!

Reasons to Use an Oxygen-Based Brightener

So basically these oxygen-based brighteners on the market are meant to be an alternative to chlorine bleach, and at least in the case of the product put out by the Honest Company, this alternative is not only safe for whites, but also for colors.

It is also intended to be like a boost for your detergent. The Oxy Boost product from Honest.com will help destain, deodorize, whiten, color brighten and soften the water so that the detergent can really get to work.

So I’ve been opting to use it in my loads of whites to help them perk up a bit (and I’ve noticed a difference!) and I’ve also been using the product on any loads that have laundry with heavier stains in them, just to help ensure that they come out after one wash.

I don’t think this is a necessary product to have, but I do think it can come in handy. My family will probably take close to 6 months to get through the pack of 24, so this isn’t a product I will be ordering monthly. But with that said, when I do purchase it again I will be adding to my monthly bundle as an add-on rather than in one of the 5 bundle slots. That’s because the price per item for the bundle is $7.20, and that price is better than the $7.95 retail price. But in each bundle you also can order up to 3 extra items for 25% off, each. At 25% off, the Oxy Boost costs $5.96. I’d rather pay that amount and save one of my bundle slots for something more expensive.

For more tips on how to get maximum savings with Honest Company bundles, check out my full list of Honest Company reviews (so you can know what to skip, what to buy, and exactly how to buy it). The bundle service is GREAT if you know how to work it, and I can teach you that!

And if you are new to The Honest Company, here’s how to get a free trial (3 of them, actually). 🙂

Going Retro to Drop the Cords: Sol Republic Tracks Air Wireless Headphones

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

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

I can’t tell you the exact number of earbuds that Tim and I have purchased over the last decade. I’m guessing that it’s somewhere around 15. They are SO easy to lose, and they are also SO tempting to our cats, who love to chew right through those cords.

And honestly, these are the two reasons, and the only two reasons, why this trend of going back to over the ear headphones has piqued my interest. I think the sound quality from earbuds is outstanding, so it seems in some ways a little backwards to me to go back to larger headphones. But the cats won’t break them, they won’t be as easy to misplace, and the big advancement with these devices is that they have cordless capabilities as long as you have Bluetooth.

sol republic tracks air 2

Cordless is the game-changer. And I’m so glad I gave them a try, because they are MY JAM, now. I’m using the Tracks Air from Sol Republic. These headphones are surprisingly light and not at all cumbersome to wear. I really thought I would find going back to larger headphones to be annoying, but the cushions around the ears are really soft, the sound is great, and the benefit of not having cords is HUGE.

The Tracks Air has 15 hours of battery life, which makes them fantastic for plane trips or long commutes or just to have in your bag to use throughout the day as you are able. And should you find yourself in a situation without Bluetooth available, don’t fret, as cords are provided for those sad moments.

Sol Republic even offers a 100-day Money Back Guarantee. That’s how confident they are that if you try them, you won’t regret it!

So have you tried going back to over-the-ear headphones so that you can experience the joy of being wireless? If not, may I suggest that you add these to your wish list? I wasn’t so sure that I would like them, but it turns out that I absolutely freakin’ LOVE them. 🙂

Marie Callender’s Pot Pies for Dinner, and Pie for Dessert, Too!

December 29, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Phase 1: #PotPiePlease Phase 2: #EasyAsPotPie Phase 3: #WarmthInACrust #CollectiveBias

Do your kids ever ask you if they can eat something that might be considered to be a special treat as the entire meal? My oldest has a detailed plan for what a 3 course meal made of chocolate might look like (there’s a chocolate fountain involved…it’s quite detailed!). Well today I thought I’d give my family a little surprise by making an entire meal out of pies. With a little help from Marie Callender’s you’ll find it is quite easy to do, and you don’t even have to give up the idea of a more balanced meal to make it happen.

I headed to Walmart yesterday to pick up the ingredients I needed for the meal. The pot pies were ready to go in the frozen meals section of the store.

Oh what a saving grace prepared foods can be for busy families! I have had my share of pot pies over my 34 years on this planet, and in my opinion, the very best out there are from Marie Callender’s. Specifically, my family LOVES the creamy parmesan chicken pot pie. Have you tried it? I’ve actually made pot pies from scratch before, and I am of the opinion that the made-from-scratch pot pies from Marie Callender’s taste better!

Marie Callender’s pot pies can be microwaved in just a few minutes, but I personally like them best when cooked in the oven. Here’s a tip for you if you want to prepare them in the oven, too: place thin strips of aluminum foil around the crust of the pies. This step, which only takes a minute, keeps the edges from burning. The end result is a perfectly golden flakey crust!

Since the main course only required that I preheat the oven and put aluminum foil around the pie edges, my time was freed up to create another pie for our dessert. I decided to keep the Italian theme going and to try my hand at making a pie version of my very favorite Italian dessert: cannolis.

Cannoli Pie

Ingredients:

16 oz ricotta cheese
1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups miniature chocolate chips
1 (9 inch) pie crust, thawed

marie callender's cannoli pie 2

Mercy this pie is an easy one, and I can’t say that I mind! The entire meal feels nearly effortless, even with a dish that is homemade! I opted for a pre-made pie crust to make things as easy as possible, so if you are doing the same, be sure to give it some time to thaw (trust me…I tried to force the first pie crust to unroll while it was still frozen and the result was a big mess I had to throw out). Go ahead and preheat your oven to 375 degrees, as well.

In a large bowl combine ricotta, powdered sugar, condensed milk and vanilla extract. Give it a good stir until it is well-combined and smooth.

Now it’s time to add in the chocolate chips! Don’t forget that it’s important to get the miniature chips…that’s more consistent with the cannoli look and feel.

Once you’ve got the chocolate chips mixed in well, simply pour it into your prepared pie shell and pop it into the oven for 30 minutes.

At the 30 minute mark, I actually took the pie out and used the same aluminum foil trick mentioned earlier around the edges so that they wouldn’t burn. I then returned the pie to the oven to continue cooking for another 25 minutes. You’ll want to watch for the middle to be set. You can cook the pot pies on the lower rack in your oven at the same time as your cannoli pie, FYI. That what I did!

The cannoli pie needs to cool entirely before you cut into it. I know, I know…it is painful to have to wait! But good news, friends! You can dig right into your Marie Callender’s pot pies in the mean time!

Want more ideas for great recipes to pair with a Marie Callender’s pot pie? Check out Pot Pie Please for lots of ideas! Another great way to keep up with the latest products and promotions is through the Marie Callender’s Facebook page. And of course, don’t forget to check out the Comforts From Home program to see how Marie Callender’s is supporting our troops. Just one more reason to love this brand!

Unboxing of the December 2014 Beauty Box 5

December 28, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Products provided for review purposes. Affiliate links included. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

Well, friends, I guess you can’t please everyone. This month’s Beauty Box 5 selection left me feeling a bit glum. Check out my video review below to see the contents, the price value for each included item, and my thoughts on the contents.

What do you think, friends? Would you have been disappointed with this selection or is it just me?

Remember, the box is $12 for an individual box, but you can get 12 boxes (1 each month for a year) for $99, which is a great deal! That makes it just $8.25/box, and I think that’s a fair price for a little bit of beauty fun in your mail each month. I still like the box even though this box didn’t wow me.

Honest Company Immunity Defense Review: An Honest Assessment

December 28, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Affiliate links included. I only promote what I use and love.

This is the time of year when it is SO easy to get sick, even if you are trying to take preventative measures such as washing your hands regularly. Most members of my own family caught the stomach bug last week, and unfortunately, we passed it along to other family members over Christmas. We thought we were past the contagious stage since fevers were gone and everyone who had been infected had experienced a return of their energy. But we were most definitely wrong. I feel SO bad about the fact that our ignorance led to 5 other people getting sick. Yikes!

As soon as we got back home from our holiday travels, I grabbed our bottle of The Honest Company Immunity Defense and Tim and I started taking it. This product contains 60 capsules, and since it recommends taking 2 capsules daily for wellness maintenance, it is intended to be a 1 month supply for 1 individual. Since Tim and I also use essential oils as a piece of preventative care, we are only taking 1 capsule each at this time. I would suggest following the instructions, though, if you aren’t using other methods like essential oils for preventative care.

The pills are a very reasonable size and are easy to swallow. I have not noticed any residual tastes after taking the pills. And while I can’t promise that these pills are going to keep me from getting sick in the near future, I feel like taking them is a wise choice, as I like their ingredients (Arabinogalactan and Elderberry and other botanical extracts). This product is free of additives and fillers and that’s something I really appreciate.

How to Buy It

When purchased a la carte, Immunity Defense will run you $21.95. There’s a better way to buy the product, though, and that’s through the Health & Wellness Bundle. If you sign up for a subscription with The Honest Company, you’ll save quite a bit on your purchases (if you are smart about it!). I LOVE my subscription service with The Honest Company for several reasons, but one of them is that you aren’t actually locked in to making a purchase monthly. You can order as often or as infrequently as you wish, and changing your scheduled shipment date can be done online. I have all 3 subscriptions, and there have been months where I have ordered more than 1 bundle in a month, and other times when I have put a bundle on hold for 3 months. No problem!

The Health and Wellness Bundle is $35.95/month (it used to be $39.99/month but they dropped the price! Yay!). For $35.95 you can get any two items from their list of options in this category. It wouldn’t be unwise to just get 2 bottles of Immunity Defense, actually. You can get a 1 month supply for 2 people or a 2 month supply for 1 person and you are going to save about $9 on the 2 bottles just by doing the bundle. Additionally, you are eligible to get anything else on the list for 25% off (up to 3 more items). I highly recommend doing this in order to get your grand total up to $50, as that will net you free shipping. My personal suggestion is for one of your additional items to be the breathe easy rub since it retails for $9.95 so it will only be $7.50 as an add-on. You would never want to select that product as one of your two bundle options since it is so inexpensive, but it’s perfect as an add-on. And it works well, too! 🙂

If you haven’t yet tried The Honest Company, I have a large list of Honest Company reviews so you can better know what products are great and which ones aren’t, and I’ve also got information on how to get all 3 trials of Honest Company products for free!

The Prettiest Cookbook in My Collection: The Skinnytaste Cookbook

December 23, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Complimentary copy provided for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. Affiliate links may be included.

When I’m shopping for a new cookbook, the recipes inside need to sound absolutely delicious. But almost as important as the recipes, at least for me, are the photos. I want to see these gorgeous dishes that I will be making (or not making if they look and sound entirely too complicated!).

The Skinnytaste Cookbook delivers on both fronts. Page after page of this cookbook from the popular food blogger Gina Homolka has recipes that sound flavorful and scrumptious, and I’d say about half of the recipes, if not more, have pictures to accompany them. And those pictures are mouth-watering to say the least.

Now let me keep things real for you: I haven’t yet made a single thing in the cookbook. This is the very busiest time of year for me at work, and my credit card bill can prove it to you with all the eating out we’ve been doing! But I’m now heading into the season when there’s a bit of a hush and when I can spend a bit more time on the domestic element of my work. I have a ridiculous number of recipes in this cookbook that I’m planning on trying over the next 3 months. There have been a few dishes that I like the sound of them, but the execution seemed too cumbersome (too many unusual ingredients, for example) but for the most part, everything sounds tasty AND easy enough to replicate. So for me, the cookbook is a winner before I’ve even tried anything. I would buy this for a girlfriends as a gift in a hot second. 🙂

Spa-Like Anti-Aging Treatments Without the Spa Price Tag: DermaWand

December 22, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for DermaWand. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation

With every passing year, it seems that my search for products that I apply to my face gets a little more intense and I need those products to create just a little more magic. It’s because my fine lines don’t seem to be budging, and in fact, they are getting more noticeable.

I’m like Stevie Nicks singing “Landslide” every time I look in the mirror…I’m getting older, too. And while I’ve started to name my wrinkles after my children, I know they aren’t entirely to blame. Aging is just a fact of life. My skin is getting less vibrant, less firm, and some lines are starting to set in. I think there’s something to be said for aging gracefully and for enjoying each and every season of life. But if there’s a way to reduce the visible signs of aging on my face that don’t involve surgery or injecting my body with strange serums, then I’m definitely open to trying it out. Just sayin’…

DermaWand is one such method that many women (and men!) my age and older are using with success. I was sent one to try out and I’ve been using it for the past 3 weeks, almost every day. I wanted to share with you a bit about how the device and show you what, if any, differences I am noticing.

How DermaWand Works

DermaWand provides instant stimulation to the skin using the same technology as the big radio frequency machines used for treatments by doctors and medical specialists. The amplitude is lower in the case of DermaWand, which is what makes it perfect for in-home use everyday.

DermaWand releases thermal energy and enriched oxygen which results in younger-looking skin. In my experience, there are some results you can see instantly, and there are other results that take quite some time to develop. But the good news is that you get to have these treatments in your home, at a time and place that is very convenient for you. And of course, the price point is amazing because it costs far less than what you might pay for just one treatment at a medical professional’s office.

The creator of DermaWand is an aesthetician named Christina Boves (be sure to check out her unretouched photos on the website…she’s 58 and looks AMAZING!). She created the product because she understands the power of radio frequency treatments for reversing the visible signs of aging. By using her product daily for just a few minutes, customers can expect to see some quick lifts and also a gradual brightening of the entire face as the appearance of lines and wrinkles lessens.

My Experience

On the whole, I have had a positive experience with this product. There is a bit of a learning curve at the beginning as you get familiar with the particular movements suggested for particular concerns. But once you get the hang of it, the amount of time you spend using the DermaWand does decrease. This is a good thing, because for the first few days, I was spending around 15 minutes using the product, and for me, that was just too much time spent on it. But I’ve got my routine down to about 5 minutes at this point, which is totally doable.

I prefer to use my DermaWand first thing in the morning. I’m awake before my kids, so I enjoy having the time to myself, and I also like getting to benefit from the more immediate effects of the DermaWand (such as the lifted appearance of my eyes) during the day. But I can also see doing this regimen at night for some people. Whatever works for you!

One struggle I have had since using the DermaWand is that I am actually experiencing a bit of acne. I think this may just be due to my skin getting more attention than it normally does, and all the lotions and creams that are being applied might be causing some blockages in my pores. But as someone with really dry skin, acne is a very strange occurrence and I have to say that I have had quite a few breakouts. I’m 3 weeks in and they are still occurring at this point, which is a bit disappointing. I’m hoping to see it fade away within another week or so. I should add that I’m only seeing 1-2 pimples on my face at any given point. I don’t want to give the impression that I have had massive breakouts. But 1-2 is quite a lot for me, so I did want to note it.

On the plus side, I have noticed that the lines on my forehead are starting to appear a bit more faded, if that makes sense. It does take a while, I think, for the wrinkles to look different, but give the system time and I do think you will start to see some changes! And I certainly notice that I look more alert and awake immediately after using my DermaWand every day, and that’s a feature I really like.

Before and After

Here are two photos of my face without any makeup (this is hard for a Southern woman to do, y’all). The first shot is before I started using the DermaWand, and the second shot is after 3 weeks of nearly daily use (yes, I missed a few days here and there). I don’t think there’s much of a difference, to be honest. But when I get close up in the mirror, I really can tell some improvements in the lines around my eyes and in the lines on my forehead. But I don’t think the difference is enough that anyone and everyone would notice it, know what I mean?

If you want a 2-minute version of how I’m using DermaWand, check out my quick video!

Special Offer

If you are curious about DermaWand and would like to give it a try, now’s a great time, as DermaWand has a special offer where one of the 3 payments is totally waived, which reduces the cost by 1/3! Definitely check it out because that’s a really nice savings and makes the total $89.95. The total cost using this offer breaks down as follows:

The first payment will be for $9.95
At 30 days the second payment will be $39.95
The final payment at 60 days will be $39.95

I think the special offer makes this the perfect gift idea to give to yourself (please tell me that I’m not the only one who buys myself Christmas gifts! Ha!). If you are looking for a way to treat yourself and to treat your skin, DermaWand might be just the thing!

Great Workbooks for School Break Time

December 21, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Product samples provided for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

So my kids have been out of school for 48 hours. We have been preparing for and enjoying company up until 2 hours ago.

And now they are bored. Just like that. They won’t be back in school for 15 more days! Mama needs some new material to keep these kiddos engaged, and you may be in a similar boat.

Time to break out some workbooks! We’ve been enjoying a collection of workbooks from Spectrum. They have a really nice variety for all ages (toddler through high school), though we have been focused on some kindergarten level work.

spectrum workbooks 1
After flipping through the material, I want to highlight a few interesting elements for these extensive workbooks.

1. Answer Key

I appreciated seeing an answer key in the back of the book. You could easily remove these if you don’t want your child to sneak a peek at the answers, or you could also make great use of them if it is important to you that your child check his or her own work after completing it.

2. Post-Test

I also really liked seeing that each section has a post test in order to determine mastery. This falls exactly in line with what Darah’s school will be doing in first grade, and with what many schools do after subjects are practiced.

The workbooks I have on hand from Spectrum are really high quality and cover the subjects from a variety of different angles. These would be ideal for homeschool classes or for additional practice at home after school, which is how we plan to use them. After looking them over, I’m not the least bit surprised to hear that they are the #1 teacher recommended workbook series. Spectrum workbooks align with state testing standards and can be very helpful when preparing for standardized tests.

You can order workbooks directly from the website, which is very convenient! You can also search by age, subject, or theme with ease. They have thousands of products on the Spectrum website, yet they still provide an easy way to narrow your search down to exactly what you need!

If you’d like to connect with Spectrum and their parent company Carson-Dellosa, follow them on Facebook. That’s a great way to hear about new materials and promotions!

How to Brew Multiple Cups of Coffee at Once in a Keurig: Introducing Keurig 2.0

December 20, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Keurig400 #CollectiveBias

My BFF and her family are on their way to visit as I type this. I have not seen them in WAY too long (1 1/2 years, I think?). We will have less than 24 hours to get to soak up each other, but I am going to make the most of it and reach into the depths of my soul to pull out extra energy so that we can visit for as long as possible.

And that means that we’re going to need some good coffee.

Fortunately, Santa came early (don’t you love how he’ll do that for us grown ups?) and brought the new Keurig 2.0 Brewer. This beautiful device is ready to handle any request you throw at it. Need a 4 ounce concentrated cup of joe? No problem! How about 4 cups of hot cocoa for 4 adorable little girls? On it’s way! And where is my beloved iced coffee? Just press the button, dear!

The Keurig 2.0 Brewer is an answer to coffee-lovers’ prayers who are currently still holding on to their coffee makers with carafes for when company is over, but who are also hopelessly devoted to their K-Cup packs for their own personal use. With the carafe option and the carafe packs, you no longer need both! Check out the four-cup carafe and K-Carafe packs.

I’ll have a pot of coffee ready to brew as soon as my company walks through the door this afternoon, as it will likely be a welcome sight after a long day in the car. And making that hot cocoa for all the kids can be done immediately afterward with a simple switch out of the K-Cup packs. I’ll even have some fun garnishes on hand.

The Keurig 2.0 has some extra fancy technology in it so that it can read the lid of each and every K-cup pack to know the optimal way to brew it. Just look for the notation on the K-Cup packs that it is for use in all Keurig K-Cup brewers. That’s how you’ll know if you are purchasing the right product!

I’m so glad to have the Keurig 2.0 on hand for our upcoming visit with friends (we actually think of them as family!). But when the hustle and bustle of the visit, and even of the holiday season is over and it’s just me and my personal daily coffee needs again, the Keurig 2.0 will be ready for me. I might even stow away a few cookies just for me and my iced coffee breaks!

Keurig 2.0: The Perfect Gift

This year Santa gave me an extra special treat in the form of an extra Keurig 2.0 Brewer to gift to someone else. I immediately thought of my friend Jessie. She is a fellow coffee afficianado and a mother of 3 little ones, so you KNOW she needs good coffee in her life. I really enjoyed surprising her with this treat following her middle child’s birthday party that she threw yesterday. That’s right, in the height of holiday madness this mama threw a birthday party. Someone get her a strong cup of coffee, stat! She’s earned it!

Keurig offers over 400 beverage varieties from 60 different brands, so there is truly something for everyone. I think it makes an incredible gift for the whole family. You can find it available for purchase now at Target.

What are you brewing up this holiday season? Do you have a favorite K-Cups brand or flavor I should try? Leave me a comment to let me know!