book review - Stuff Parents Need

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!

Books for the Princess Fan: Disney Frozen Hairstyles and Disney Princess Hairstyles

November 30, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

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

Raise your hand if your daughter has asked you to give her a hairstyle like Elsa’s. And now raise your hand if you have panicked at this request because you had no idea how to do it.

Well, now you can learn exactly how to make an Elsa braid, or an Anna braid, for that matter, or any number of fun hairstyles inspired by Frozen. We are absolutely loving Disney Frozen Hairstyles, which just came out in October (and is currently available for just $9.50!). There are dozens of great looks, ranging from styles the beginner can try all the way to more complicated techniques that will require more practice. The pictures are cute and fun and my daughter really loves flipping through the pages.

Or if your child wants an up-do like Mulan’s one day, and a ponytail like Jasmine’s the next, you might be the right candidate for Disney Princess Hairstyles (currently $10.56 on Amazon). While this book also has some looks that are too complicated for me to attempt without some practice, I really love that all the styles are created on little girls, instead of on adult models. And I think the books do a good job of showing each step.

Here’s a very simple little trick I learned and that I’ve been doing with Darah’s hair for the past few weeks. You simply take a regular braid and hold on to one of the 3 sections of hair while you push the other sections back up. Then you can guide them back down a bit to achieve the look you want. It looks like a more elaborate braid in the end.

I do this on either side of her head and connected the two braids in the back with a ponytail holder. It’s very simple and very cute!

I think either one of these books would be a hit with any princess fan. Having long hair is definitely a plus, as most of these styles are intended for kids with long hair, just FYI.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (Book Review)

November 12, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Book provided by Blogging for Books for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo caught my attention for 3 reasons: the title, the cover and the sticker stating that 2 million copies had been sold. Two million people just can’t be wrong, right?

Well, yes and no. Let me just first say that I think this book is a very worthwhile read. I’m glad I put the time into it, I really am. I learned some important lessons from Marie, who is without a doubt a true expert on tidying. She provides countless examples of how she has really devoted her life to this practice. Here’s my BIG takeaway:

GET RID OF MOST OF YOUR STUFF.

I really think that’s what the book boiled down to. Only keep what brings you true joy. Let go of pretty much everything else. Reading the book was good because I got that same message over and over again, and that has helped it sink in a bit. As a result, I’ve pulled quite a lot of clothes out of my closet and drawers, and parted ways with lots of stuff in my kitchen. And I do feel lighter and happier, because when I look in my closet, all I see is stuff that I actually want to wear. And all I see in my kitchen cupboards are items I want to use. This is a good thing.

So that’s my big YES for the book. As for the NO? I think that 99.9% of the people who read this book will realize that the author is very VERY obsessed with tidying, and that she truly lives and breathes it. And that same 99.9% of people are not going to be interested in following suit and living their lives the same way. The author, for example, unpacks the contents of her purse every day, even going so far as to put her wallet away in a box under her bed and storing her bag away (in another bag…?). This just makes absolutely no sense to me. She gives some context to help you understand why she is doing it, but I just can’t get on board with stuff like that. It doesn’t sound simple to me, but rather, ridiculously complex. It also seems to value a ritual of tidying over simply enjoying life. I think the author would definitely argue that point with me, but I also think the author is quite the rare bird when it comes to the joy that tidying gives her.

Still, I’m glad I read it. Though I will be following the author’s advice and parting ways with the book now that it has fulfilled its purpose with me.

New Books for the Charlie Brown Fans, Featuring Heroes, Explorers and Adventurers

October 28, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

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

Attention all fans of the Peanuts gang. Charles M. Schulz has just released a trio of books that help children learn about important figures in American history.

charlie brown books

The books each have a story involving the characters we all know and love, and a little bit of information about different figures in American history are woven into the stories (sometimes in a very seamless way, and sometimes it’s a bit clunky, though to be fair, it’s hard to work all that info into a short story!).

At the back of the book, more detailed information on the 5 figures is highlighted so that kids can get a clearer picture of that individual’s importance in history.

charlie brown 3

Of the 3 sets of books, the one I personally like the best is the Great Heroes book, because of the diversity of individuals highlighted. As a mom of girls, and as a woman, myself, I’m sensitive to opportunities to include women and their accomplishments, and I was pleased to see 3 of the 5 people profiled in this edition to be women who achieved great things (Rosa Parks, Clara Barton and Susan B. Anthony). In contrast, I was a bit put off by the Great Inventors book, as only 1 woman was profiled, and that woman invented the chocolate chip cookie. Now, let me be VERY clear…this invention was a gift to the entire world, to be sure. But the inventor of the cookie was a woman, and the inventions produced by men included the airplane, the telephone, the automobile and the light bulb. Seemed a little lopsided, in my opinion, and like an all-around poor choice for the one female inventor’s work to stem from the kitchen.

Still, it’s a nice set of books for any child who is starting to get into history, as the Peanuts gang helps introduce some pretty cool new characters in a way that is easy to understand.

3 Holiday Books to Buy Before the Holidays

October 9, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Myrick Marketing for sending review copies my way. I opted to share about the books that were hits with my kids! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Affiliate links may be included.

Today I’ve got 3 books to share with you that my girls have been really enjoying. If you are looking for some holiday-related material to get in anticipation of the season, check these out!

1. Katy’s Christmas Gift

Katy’s Christmas Gift tells the story of the Christ child being born in a manger, but the focus of it is on a little girl named Katy who lives in the nearby village. It’s a really beautiful story about bringing a gift and receiving an even better one in return. It’s now one of my very favorite Christmas books!

2. The Three Wise Men

The Three Wise Men tells another important aspect of the Christmas story. My kids really loved the beautiful illustrations in this work!

3. Goody Gumdrops

Goody Gumdrops has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas or the holiday season, but it is a REALLY good idea to have it on hand for once your kids are out of school. Using gumdrops as the starting point, kids (and adults!) are walked through the process, step-by-step, of how to create very cute creatures. My oldest (who is 5) still struggled a bit to follow the directions, but she enjoyed it enough that she wanted to keep practicing. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book!

Do you have any favorite holiday books? What about beginning drawing books like Goody Gumdrops?

Barren among the Fruitful: A Beautiful, Honest Look at Infertility and Faith

September 25, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I received an advanced copy of this work for consideration. The thoughts and opinions here are my own, and a true joy to get to share.

In this particular season of my life, I rarely get to dust off the graduate degree hanging in my office and flex my muscles as a scholar of theology. It’s been 10 years, now, since I earned that degree. And it’s been 2 full years since I properly used it. And that’s ok. I’ve already traveled down that road of insecurity and concern, and I’m on the other side of it, totally at peace. I did a hard (and expensive) thing in my early twenties by earning a master’s degree from Harvard University. I’m glad I did it. I don’t have to live and breathe those interests anymore for it to have been a meaningful journey.

One of the highlights of my time at the school was getting to know Amanda Hope Haley and her husband, David, a bit better. I actually went to undergrad with Amanda, though she was a year behind me. Her familiar face was a welcome sight, indeed, a year into my program. Amanda went on to do all sorts of completely relevant things with her degree, all of which made me marvel.

But the gift she gave the world through her talents and expertise that really took my breath away was one that arrived on my doorstep just last week:

It turns out that as Amanda had been plugging away at her contributions to Christian literature through ghostwriting and even editing a version of the Bible(!), she and David were also going through a long and painful journey of infertility. They quickly discovered how common problems with conception were, and yet how few resources were available to help them deal with the costs (and those costs are HUGE, financially, emotionally and spiritually).

Barren Among the Fruitful is aimed at Christian readers who might be navigating the waters of infertility, though I would also strongly recommend it to anyone who has a loved one going through this journey. I personally learned a great deal, thanks to Amanda’s honest words, about the pains of infertility, and the fact that the road doesn’t always need to lead to a child.

I want to confess that I have never really understood why couples who are struggling to conceive do not adopt. Isn’t it the obvious solution? For many, it really is, and that’s a great thing for all parties involved. But after gaining more insight into the process that couples seeking to have their own child endure, and the heartache, as well as the financial stress (and potential ruin), I feel so much more understanding about the complexity of the issue, and so much less inclined to assume that the right answer for every couple is to have a child, one way or the other. I am so grateful for that insight, as I feel that it helped me grow and mature as a person and as a friend.

Amanda’s book offers keen observations and a helpful dose of perspective for those of us on the periphery of this issue, and very practical and compassionate advice for those in the midst of it. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts that she offers in her work is thoughts about how she worked and is working through some of those big, spiritual issues that anyone dealing with infertility, or even with loss of any sort, will have to face and try to answer. Amanda doesn’t have nice and neat solutions, wrapped up and packaged for easy consumption, but she does offer some great guideposts for you if you are finding yourself lost and in the dark on how to reconcile your faith with your heartbreak.

What a gift you have given the world, Amanda. I’m so proud of what you have created, so thankful for what you have taught me, and so honored to help spread the word.

Pick up your copy of Barren Among the Fruitful today (it releases October 7th, but you can pre-order it now). And after you read it, pass it along to someone else to keep paying it forward.

Three Strikes You’re Out: Why I didn’t Like Snack Girl to the Rescue

September 6, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

When I read the description of the new cookbook Snack Girl to the Rescue!, I was intrigued. I am a major snacker, and in fact, I find that I manage my weight the very best when I allow myself to eat small portions frequently throughout the day. Snacking can most definitely work against me, but if I am intentional about what I am snacking on, then it actually works in my favor.

Unfortunately, Snack Girl to the Rescue! was a fail for me after 3 strikes. They might seem minor to some folks, so I’m not necessarily suggesting that you skip right over this book. I’m just sharing my personal experience.

Strike #1: No Pictures

I agreed to review this book having only seen the cover, so I didn’t realize that there weren’t any pictures included. I also didn’t realize just how important pictures were to me in cookbooks until I was staring at a cookbook that didn’t have any. It was a bummer, you guys.

Strike #2: Less-Than-Stellar Index

When I first flipped through the cookbook, I spotted a recipe for sweet potato and black bean burgers. I knew I wanted to try that first, but I didn’t have a bookmark on hand and I didn’t want to dog-ear the page. I shut the book without worry, knowing that I could look up sweet potato in the index. Only, that didn’t work. No sweet potato designation back there at all. So I had to go page-by-page through the book until I found it again.

Strike #3: The Recipe Was Terrible

Ok, so the recipe I started with was, in fact, sweet potato and black bean burgers. I followed the recipe precisely (not something I’m known for, but if I’m reviewing a cookbook I will stick to the instructions). Those poor burger patties never amounted to more than a pile of hot mush. They looked revolting and while their taste was reasonably decent, they didn’t work AT ALL as a burger. A side dish? Maybe. Definitely not the main attraction. It was bad, friends.

I want to stress to you that in the end, I only made one recipe. I don’t think that’s enough data to conclude that the book doesn’t have good recipes in it. But it was the 3rd strike for me and enough for me to give up on the cookbook.

Do you have strong feelings about pictures being included in cookbooks? And are you a rampant index-user, like me? Are these just my cookbook quirks?

Currently Reading: Thrive and Start

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

I received a complimentary copy of Thrive from Blogging for Books for this review. My copy of Start came from the library. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

So I guess I’m going through a “books with one word for titles” phase, since the two books I’ve been oscillating between are Thrive and Start (and can we just acknowledge for a moment that I’m reading TWO books at once…I used to only read one book a year, people! ).

Thrive is a highly lauded work by Arianna Huffington, of Huffington Post fame. I am consistently drawn to books by women who have achieved some notable degree of professional success as I try to understand just how in the heck they did it. Most days just getting a shower seems to be a goal out of reach, so building and leading successful companies, or launching a start-up can seem rather bewildering to me, as much as I have a taste for working on my own and crave more of it for my future.

Let me just tell you this: I only made it through 3/4 of the book. I tried you guys, I REALLY tried. But at the end of the day, I found it just a bit too far away from my own reality. It felt very “heady” for lack of a better term, and there was a season of my life where I would have devoured the book due to it having interesting study after study referenced, and due to the near constant barrage of sage advice from the ancients and even from more modern wise men and women. When I was in graduate school, and when I didn’t have two small kids underfoot, I could read these thought-provoking sections and engage in a sort of dialogue with the author, scribbling down my own thoughts and questions that they brought to light. And if you have the time and space to do that, then I think Thrive is a worthy read, truly.

As for me, right now I need the little astute nuggets of truth to be already chewed (and hell, even partially digested) for me. And I need you to give me the point in simple terms. And then do it again, and then again. Because then it has a reasonable chance of sticking. As I glossed over gemstone after gemstone of intriguing thoughts, universal truths, and shrewd wisdom, all I kept thinking was, “What a shame. This is all lost on me because I’m reading this while my youngest is hitting me over the head with her (please God let it be clean) diaper.”

Thrive, for me, was just too much, plain and simple. And plain and simple is what I need right now. The irony also wasn’t lost of me that the chief message in the book, at least to the extent that I could glean it, was about slowing down, simplifying, and enjoying the simple things, because in the end, that’s really all there is. But that simple message was very convoluted, at least for me.

So the other book I’m reading is Start by Jon Acuff. This was recommended to me by several fellow business women and entrepreneurs, and while some may find it to be almost too basic of a read, I found myself DELIGHTED by its conversational tone and simple messaging.

Jon is a motivator and a fire starter, for sure. He leaves you wanting to turn the page and read more, but he also writes in such a way that when you need to put the book down to go scrape Play-Doh out of the carpet, you can do that, too. As someone who has a lot of half-baked ideas about things I want to do as my own boss, Start left me feeling encouraged to do something, ANYTHING, about them, and to stop using the excuse that since I can’t do it all (and I most definitely CAN’T do it all right now) then I shouldn’t try to do any of it. That’s just silliness, but I needed help to see that.

So in short, these are both great reads in their own right, but Start is speaking to me more right now. Oh friends, I’d love to write more about it, but my youngest is currently screaming like her leg is being amputated (in reality, her father is removing a Band-Aid). Season of life, indeed!

Have you read either of these books? Any thoughts? What are you reading right now?

A “Happy” Mother’s Day Book Suggestion

May 5, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Review copy provided. All thoughts are my own, as always. Affiliate links may be included.

This morning I’ve been spending a bit of time reading Advice for A Happy Life: Lessons from my Mother. This is a story of reflections from the author on her mother, who got a lot of joy out of clipping articles and quotes out of various publications…little scraps of “life advice” that she would frequently mail to her daughter.

I was particularly drawn to this book because my mother does the exact same thing. Yes, even in the digital age when people email and share stuff like this on Facebook, my mother still gets out her scissors and clips meaningful things she finds in print and mails it to me. It’s one of the ways that she shows she is thinking of me and hoping for all good things in my life.

mother's day gift under $10

Advice for a Happy Life is a quick, sweet read, chock-full of wit and wisdom that will touch mothers of all ages. If you are looking for a last-minute gift idea for Mother’s Day, this is definitely a good one and it’s under $10 for the hardback, and even less for the Kindle version! Give it along with some yummy butter cookies, which is what I munched on while reading the book. They made the perfect pair! 🙂