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

Making Time for Me: A Mini Meal Moment with Stouffers’

December 10, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

I have been compensated as part of a social campaign for Stouffer’s with The Motherhood. The opinions are completely my own.

Raise your hands if you are in serious need of a break. The holidays are such a magical time, but it’s also a time that will wear. you. out. I’m a really big online shopper, which means it is total crunch time for me to get my holiday shopping done. This is also the busiest time of the year with my job, which leaves me feeling more than a little bit behind in every other facet of my life. I’m getting up roughly 3 1/2 hours BEFORE the sun rises so that I can put a dent in my “to do” list before the kiddos wake up.

While you are hopefully not having to get up as early as me, I have no doubts that you are having to make your own sacrifices this time of year just to get it all done. And I can almost guarantee that the big loser in the equation is YOU. I know it is for me. Most parents give self-care last priority, and where there’s simply too much to accomplish in a day’s time than is possible without finding that elusive 25th hour, we strike the stuff that we want to get to do off the list (if they were even there in the first place!).

Mamas, I want to encourage you to take 30 minutes today during the kids nap time, or even during their screen time, and treat yourself to something simple but really rejuvenating. I know you don’t have that 30 minutes to spare. I don’t have it, either. But the truth is, I really need to take care of myself a little bit in order to recharge my batteries and to have more to give to others. I need to be operating at full steam, and I know I’m not doing that right now. It’s because I’m not taking care of myself! So think of this as in investment in efficiency and effectiveness for the rest of the week! 🙂

I took a break just for myself yesterday during my daughter’s afternoon nap. I got things started by breaking out my Stouffer’s Mac Cups and choosing the one I wanted.

You can find these mac cups in the freezer section. But don’t worry…you won’t find any preservatives in them, which I really appreciate because I try to avoid preservatives as much as possible.

The servings are on the small side if you are trying to make a full meal out of it, but if you are like me, you often don’t get to eat an entire meal at one sitting. I’m usually spending most of lunch preparing, encouraging/begging my kids to eat what I made, and even feeding them myself (sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!). I usually get a few bites in here and there (or I eat the kids’ leftovers) but am hungry again within an hour. That’s when Layah is usually napping, and it’s the perfect time to grab my Stouffer’s Mac Cup!

Y’all, that me time was SO NICE. I did an Epsom salt foot soak, I painted my toes, and I watched Once Upon a Time, which is a guilty pleasure of mine (Anna and Elsa are in this season! So fun!). While my feet were soaking, I enjoyed my yummy mini meal!

I ate the classic version, and it was really creamy. I thought it tasted quite a bit like homemade mac and cheese. Turns out, the product contains cheddar that has been aged 6 months. No wonder it tastes so good! It was perfectly full by the time it was finished, but even so, I might have licked the bowl (just a little bit…).

I’ve also split one of these Mac Cups between my kids and served it with a big helping of broccoli or peas for a lighter lunch. It has been a hit, and I have LOVED having something that is totally ready in just 3 minutes!

Twitter Party!

Mark your calendars for December 16th at 2pm ET for a Virtual Snack Time Gathering on Twitter. I’ll be hanging out with Stouffer’s and The Motherhood, talking about mini meal moments and giving out sweet prizes. I hope you’ll come hang out! Details coming soon!

Bring on the Holiday Cheer (and Hold the Booze!): Great Non-Alcoholic Holiday Drinks

December 9, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Thanks to Foodie.com for partnering with me to develop this yummy collection of mocktail recipes. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

One of my favorite items to indulge in at holiday parties are festive drinks! Yes, I enjoy adult beverages, though I have to admit that having more than 1 leaves me feeling a bit…less-than-stellar, shall we say, the next day.

So in the spirit of wanting to get my drink on, minus the spirits, I thought I’d put together a list of completely fabulous holiday drink ideas. These are safe for the entire family and for all of your guest (obviously I don’t know about their allergies, but I do know these are alcohol-free!). No need to worry about anyone driving home from a party at your place.

The Must-Have Book for Winter Break: 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids

December 8, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

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

It’s coming, friends: WINTER BREAK! My kiddos will have 17 days in a row out from school. That’s 17 days of, “Mom, I’m bored!” and 17 days of, “Can we watch just one more video, PLEASE???!).

I know myself well enough to know that by day 5 I’ll be weak, and I’ll be giving in more and more to screen time unless I come up with a plan right now. I don’t think a little screen time is so bad, but I’ve seen that glazed expression my kids get after they’ve been in front of the television for a while, and it seems that the length of time they spend watching TV directly corresponds to how grumpy they are when they AREN’T watching TV. Can you relate?

My plan this year is to make good use of a great new resource, 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids: The Very Best and Easiest Playtime Activities from FunAtHomeWithKids.com!. This is bright, cheerful book with a nice variety of activities, many of which are variations on a theme. You can, therefore, do many different activities with similar materials, which keeps you from having to invest in tons of new stuff for every activity. I really appreciate that aspect of the book, myself!

If I can find activities that captivate my children’s imagination and that invite them to create, they forget all about the television (at least for a while). This book is FILLED with exactly these kinds of activities. I’m planning 1 trip to the craft store to get some supplies that I don’t already own, and then we’ll be good to go! You can purchase the book (currently under $15!) on Amazon.

Do you have any special projects lined up for your kids during the winter break? I’d love to hear your ideas!

Awesome Adventurous Toy for Under $30: Razor Scooter

December 8, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Thanks to Walmart for partnering with me for today’s post on hot toys for 2014. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

Get ready, friends, because today I’m showing you the toy that you are going to take some of your best “post-Christmas playtime” photos with: the Razor Kick Scooter.

A scooter was actually on my list of things I wanted to get for Darah this year, but since it is her job to be a toy tester for the best of the best toys of 2014, she got to try this one out a few weeks early. This scooter was selected by a panel of kids as the very best ride-on toy this season, and you are going to LOVE the price point for it at Walmart: $27.72.

Darah still struggles a bit with her two-wheel bike riding, but I noticed that she felt much more confident on the scooter, instantly! I think one of the things that makes the scooter more comfortable for her is how easy it is for her to maneuver by herself. It’s lightweight and easy for her to pick up and move around.

The Razor Kick scooter is also easy to fold up and carry around, or put in the trunk of your vehicle, or even take on the bus, because it is made with aircraft-grade aluminum. It weighs just 6 pounds!

The handlebars on the Razor Kick Scooter are adjustable so it can grow with your child. And you can find the scooter in multiple colors (blue, red, green, pink or black). It can carry up to 143 lbs and is ideal for ages 5 all the way up to teenagers!

Walmart Layaway

You’ve still got a little time left to take advantage of Walmart’s Layaway plan, and if you already have a layaway account, the Razor Kick Scooter is a great item to add to your cart!

Walmart Savings Catcher App

And don’t forget about the Walmart Savings Catcher app, as it will help you make 100% sure that you got the very best deal in your area on your purchase. If Walmart didn’t have the best price they will refund you the difference via a Walmart eGift card. Boom! Just like that!

No Smartphone? No Problem!

If you don’t have a way to access the Savings Catcher app, you can still take advantage of the Ad Match program. Walmart will match the price of any local competitor’s printed ad for an identical item at the service desk. And yes, this applies to your items on layaway, too!

The Laundry Room Makeover I’ll Never Do and Why: #KeyPledge

December 8, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

This post was created in partnership with Find Your Influence. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

Do you use concentrated forms of household cleaners (laundry and dishwasher packets, for example)? I am hopelessly devoted to packets for our dishwasher (I order the product I love the most in bulk!). And while I am more flexible with my laundry routine, I definitely have a few different types of packets that I use in there, too.

I’m sure you’ve heard about the dangers of these packets for young children who are finding them, getting their hands on them, and then putting them in their mouths. These packets contain HIGHLY concentrated detergents, which means that it only takes a small amount getting into a child’s system to be very problematic.

The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI) is a nonprofit organization that represents producers of household cleaning products, and they are working really hard to get the word out about the dangers of packets to children and what we, as adults in the home, need to do to keep our kids safe while still making use of the products we have come to love.

ACI has launched the KEY Pledge, and I want to introduce you to it, because the odds are good that you aren’t properly storing your packets (research shows that 86% of us aren’t!).

K: Keep single use cleaning packets out of reach for children.

E: Educate your family and friends about the safe use and storage of these new cleaning products.

Y: You serve a key role in laundry safety.

As I have been reading more about how to make sure my kids are safe, I have had a few light-bulb moments that I want to share with you. First, I have been planning on getting some sort of cutesy container for all of my laundry packets because I thought it would look much more adorable than that giant bright orange brand name laundry container. BUT…I have totally dropped that plan, and let me tell you why: kids can recognize product packaging surprisingly early on in life and with great accuracy. But if I have something in the laundry room that looks similar to the cookie jar in the pantry and that has no distinguishing features to clue a young child in to its contents, it will increase the odds that they will be curious and want to see for themselves what is inside. They may not recognize a laundry packet as such when they see it apart from its primary product packaging. So the big orange tub stays put.

Second, I confess that I have been keeping my dishwasher packets under my sink, and since my youngest, who is 2 1/2, is too savvy for those child-proof locks, the packets aren’t secure. I’ve been telling myself for a while now that she just simply wouldn’t try to eat those packets, but that’s some really weak logic, especially when I recall the fact that my older child, at the age of 4 1/2 (give or take) bit into a decorative soap bar because she thought it looked like a special treat. She was much older than Layah is now when she made that mistake, so who’s to say that Layah won’t be feeling curious one day and take a little bite?

Now my dishwasher packets are in the cabinet just above the dishwasher for easy access for the grownups and NO access for the kids. If you are interested in learning more about how you can keep your packets safe and secure, check out this helpful (and quick!) video.

I have taken the KEY Pledge online for laundry safety, and I’m happy to report that my house no longer has packets that are hard to identify or easy to access for kids. I’m also happy to report that by taking the KEY Pledge, I was entered into a giveaway. Someone’s going to win a $2,500 gift card! And we’re ALL going to win safer homes for our kids! 🙂

Cool Safety Gear for Family Outings: elph

December 5, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

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

I was hoping to get to test this cool new concept out while we were at Disney World, but they didn’t arrive in time (bummer!). But I still wanted to let you know about it, because I think it meets a very real need.

This is the elph band. It’s a safety ID band that your child can wear that has a QR code on the back so that if your child gets separated from you, a grown up with a smartphone can quickly pull up your info and help you get reconnected.

The bands are $20 and they come with a year’s subscription to the connection database. After that, a renewal of just $10 keeps it going for another year.

Little ones likely don’t have their parents’ phone numbers memorized and many of them might even get confused when asked to give their parents full names. This band helps adults who find these missing kids get them back to their parents ASAP, which reduces stress immensely for everyone involved. I love the concept and think these are a smart find!

What are you currently using for your kids that are big enough to run away from you quickly, but not old enough to know all of their essential information?

Who Wants to Win an Intel Tablet??? (Giveaway!!!)

December 5, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 144 Comments

#spon: I am in a partnership with Intel. Through this partnership I gain access to content, product, or other forms of value.

If you don’t already own a tablet, the odds are good that there’s one on your wish list this holiday season! I’ve been so amazed to watch the tablet revolution over the last 4 years or so. Each year they seem to get lighter, faster, less expensive, and more awesome.

My own children are getting tablets this year, for goodness sake! Owning an Intel All in One has increased their comfort level with tablets and now they are ready for more! They have truly become affordable devices, and their amazing capabilities make them a very worthwhile purchase, in my opinion.

For example, let’s take a closer look at the ASUS MeMO Pad. This tablet comes with a 7 inch display and weighs a whopping .7 pounds. It comes with an Intel atom 1.33 GHz processor, which makes it lightning-fast, and it runs on the Android operating system. A Google Play gift card would go perfectly as a companion gift!

Notice that the device also comes in 5 different fun colors for customization, or if you are buying it for siblings, to help them quickly discern whose is whose!

And since no device these days is complete without a camera feature, there’s one included with this device. You can video chat, or snap some selfies, no problem.

Finally, the ASUS MeMO Pad comes with over $270 in value of pre-loaded content. You’ll get 75 complimentary music downloads from eMusic, access to over 5,000 magazine subscriptions through Zinio, and enough storage space through ASUS WebStorage Service to house 100,000 photos!

All this for less than $150! SO awesome!

And what’s even more awesome than that great price tag is the fact that you can win one RIGHT NOW!!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win an ASUS MeMO Pad!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Tim’s #WishForOthers: Get Everyone on the Map!

December 4, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

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

Last week I shared with you my #WishForOthers that I submitted to Capital One (if you missed it, I wished to help others get back their memories!). Lots of great wishes are going to be granted this season by Capital One, and I really love that the focus is on making wishes for other people. We all get asked frequently by our family and friends what we want for Christmas, but what would we wish for if we could give it to someone else? You should definitely check out the Wish For Others website and see some of the awesome submissions! Vieweing them has helped me remember that it really is better to give than to receive.

Yesterday I asked Tim (my husband, if you are new to the blog) what his wish for others would be, and he told me all about a project that combines his passions and a real need in a very compelling way. Here’s the 27 second version of his wish!

Missing Maps Project

Now for a little more detail on his wish! Tim loves this concept because he is a mapper, himself. In his free time, he helps map areas of the world that haven’t been mapped in a format that is accessible to anyone for free. Yeah, I know…nerd alert! It brings him a great deal of joy to put his technical chops to work in a way that is genuinely helpful to other people, and the Missing Maps Project is doing just that. People with mapping skills, like Tim, can use satellite data to map areas, so they don’t even have to travel to these areas to get the mapping off to a great start.

Local community members and volunteers can then help fill in some of the gaps, naming the neighborhoods that aren’t recorded anywhere else, or street names, etc. These maps are absoluely critical to humanitarian organizations who might need to come in during a natural disaster, or a political crisis, or something similar.

What an amazing thing that people all over the world can come together to create. It’s easy to forget that in many parts of the world, there are VERY large shanty towns and tent cities that have been created out of necessity, and that millions of people call home. They are often at least somewhat organized and mappable, but many of them have yet to be mapped, which makes it really hard to provide rapid, efficient relief when the need arises. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

What’s Your #WishForOthers?

It may be the case that nobody has asked you this year what you’d like to give to others. Let me be the first, in that case! What would love just love to see an individual, a group, or even an organization receive this year? Think about it, and then grab your smartphone or your camera and record your thoughts (30 seconds is all you need!). Tag it with #WishForOthers, and upload it to the Wish For Others website, on your Instagram account, on Twitter, or to Capital One’s Facebook page and your wish just might be granted! Your wish can be for a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or even a whole community. You have until December 23rd to share your wish, but why not take 30 seconds right now and submit it so you won’t forget?

How the World’s Least Crafty Person Made a Beautiful Photo Book in an Hour

December 4, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Thanks to ShoptAtHome.com and My Publisher for partnering with me on today’s post. All thoughts, opinions, and total lack of creative skills are my own.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a blogging mama in possession of a good camera must be in want of a craft project.”

Isn’t that more or less the opening quote from Pride and Prejudice? I may have taken just a smidge of creative license with it. And that’s pretty much the ONLY creative license you’ll see me taking. You see, I am a blogger with a very significant Achilles Heel: I have not a crafty bone in my body. I tried scrap-booking once, and it very much looked like the work of a 6-year-old. Oh how I wish I was exaggerating.

I’ve actually made peace with the fact that I will never own a glue gun, and that the beginner’s sewing machine I bought on a whim never made it out of the box, and was finally donated 3 years later. But I struggle a bit more with the issue of photography. You see, it’s part of my job now to take decent pictures, and I certainly have improved a bit. I even enjoy snapping shots of my kids. But when it comes to getting the photos printed and creating albums or really anything at all that you don’t have to be online to see, I AM THE WORST.

But oh my gosh, I wanted to be able to overcome this creative deficit for the sake of our vacation photos. Specifically, I really wanted a beautiful, bound photobook all about our trip to Disney World. And I used My Publisher and made it all come together in an hour. Yes, one hour!!

Let me be clear: you could definitely spend a lot of more time on your photobook if you wanted to, adding custom backgrounds, tweaking your picture settings on each page, and adding space for writing. When I first logged into the system, I did get overwhelmed because I realized that the options for customization were quite extensive. Feeling myself start to get paralyzed by all the options, I made the decision to put a hunk of time into selecting and editing the photos I wanted in the book, and then once I had that piece done, I would allow just one hour for putting a very simple book together. No frills. No fuss. Just a basic, pretty, memento of our incredible vacation.

And I absolutely LOVE the result!

I love that with this book I was really able to let the photos shine. Many of our pages have just one large photo on them, and we also have some collage pages from when there was one spectacular event (such as the show in front of Cinderella’s castle).

I know that my girls are not going to remember very much about their Disney World trip simply because they were young (5 and 2). But I can tell you that this book is already helping them hold on to those memories a bit better. They ask to sit down and look through it quite frequently, and we love to remember what was happening when the photos were taken. It really makes for a great moment to share with my kids now that the trip really is just memories.

Even though I only spent an hour making the book, I was able to do a small customized feature (because it was as simple as a click!). I added a nice inside cover page on the front and back. It looks great!

My experience with My Publisher was positive as a true novice with creating photo books. I think keeping my expectations in line for what I personally could accomplish was the key, and setting a time limit helped. But if you are more seasoned at creating photo books and wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the full range of customization available, then I think you will also really like My Publisher. Basically, I think it’s a great fit for pretty much everyone!

How to Save Money on My Publisher Products

The quality of My Publisher products is absolutely spectacular. We didn’t even do many upgrades (beyond extra pages, so we got a pretty basic photobook, but it doesn’t feel basic. It feels VERY high quality!) So it’s understandable that the costs aren’t super low. BUT!!! Since I have signed up with My Publisher and gotten on their mailing list, I have been blown away by their excellent sales (especially this time of year!). So be sure to sign up for the mailing list and you’ll be very pleasantly surprised by how quickly you can get your bill cut down by a very sizeable amount.

Additionally, don’t forget to go through ShopatHome.com when you want to peruse My Publisher. Simply by going through the link, you are going to save even more (currently it’s 10% plus ShopGold coins!).