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Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

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Traveling for Christmas? Send the Host Family a Gift Before You Arrive!

December 14, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Will you be at a loved one’s home over Christmas this year? If so, help with the hosting needs a bit by providing a beautiful centerpiece. You can help with the holiday decor, send a thoughtful gift, and lighten your own packing load all in one simple step by using Teleflora to help you out!

And what if there are folks you love dearly who you won’t be able to see for the holidays? You can let them know you are thinking of them and sending them love and light this season, all the same. And if you aren’t going to be seeing your family with younger kids at home, trust me, you will be missed! Don’t believe me? Watch and see!

Did you catch that 20% off code at the end? Use YOUDELIVERED at checkout to save!

sparkling-star-bouquet-teleflora

There are countless possibilities for arrangements, but to make life easier for you, I’m just going to highlight my favorites from the holiday line. I really love (and am currently enjoying!) the Sparkling Star Centerpiece ($69.95). This is a stunning table centerpiece that really helps dress up our dining area, and I love the mercury glass bowl it arrives in because it can be reused as home decor later.

teleflora-2

Also check out the Snow Day Bouquet ($64.95) that is both a floral gift and a cookie jar. This is a great fit for families! Along the same lines, the Gift Wrapped Bouquet ($59.95) is also so pretty and comes in a ceramic jar that can be later used for displaying ornaments or sweets.

teleflora-3

For your friend who loves to sip on hot drinks throughout the winter, consider the Send a Hug® Christmas Cardinal Bouquet ($49.95). I love that pop of red throughout the bouquet and those beautiful red cardinals on the mug.

teleflora-4

And for a more classic look, go for the Silver Christmas Bouquet ($49.95). Notice that it has eucalyptus and white pine! Later, the snowflake vase can serve as a winter candle holder.

Teleflora is designed to make floral arrangements easy for the buyer and the recipient. You don’t have to know who the reputable florists are in your family members’ hometown; Teleflora automatically connects you! And you know the quality you can expect and the price point…no awkward surprises when it’s time to pay or when the arrangement is delivered. Just beautiful blooms and a reminder of your love and friendship.

Filed Under: My Favorite Finds · Tagged: christmas gift ideas, floral gifts, gift ideas, host gift ideas, teleflora

Stock Up on Baby Items at Kroger (Perfect for Filling Stocking for a Bargain!)

December 12, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

If you have a baby on your holiday shopping list, NOW is the time to head to your nearest Kroger and take advantage of The Baby Event.

kroger baby campaign

This is a special two week Catalina coupon promotion just for the Baby aisle at Kroger. A Catalina coupon is a special coupon that prints at the register when you make a qualifying purchase, FYI. From 12/14-12/27, when you spend $40 on participating Baby items, you’ll get a coupon printed at checkout to save $10 on your next Baby Aisle purchase!

To help that $40 stretch even further, don’t forget to make use of additional digital coupons that are available, including $2 off any Huggies and $2 off an Goodnites or Pull Ups.

Huggies is also offering a $5 Catalina coupon at checkout when you purchase $25 or more of the following products: ANY size Huggies Diapers, Wipes, Pull Ups, Goodnites, and Little Swimmers.

And for the folks who like to buy larger numbers of diapers at a time, there’s a sweet $10 Catalina coupon when you buy 2 Pampers or Luvs Diaper Boxes (including Easy-Ups).

tag

So if you need some of these products look for the tags on participating items and get stocked up while racking up the savings! And then you can turn around and use all those great Catalina coupons (you could find yourself with $25 in Catalina coupons!) to get some great stocking stuffers that will be just perfect for your little one. The Baby Aisle at Kroger has a great assortment of products that you will love and that baby can use!

Remember, the $40 purchase minimum must be met AFTER any digial coupons have been applied and this great offer only lasts until 12/27, so head on over to Kroger today!

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

Filed Under: My Favorite Finds · Tagged: baby stocking stuffers, gift ideas, kroger, kroger ad, kroger sales

Trolls Toys: The Top Picks

November 3, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Trolls is releasing in theaters tomorrow!!! My kids have been seeing previews for this fun new animated feature since early summer, so we are excited to be having a family movie theater date very soon.

One of the ways I like to build up the excitement for a new feature film is to pick up a few related toys. Hasbro sent along a few different items and I packed them up in the trunk of my car, unbeknownst to my kiddos, and took them on our fall family vacation last weekend to the Cherokee National Forest. We were able to get out in the woods ahead of our kids and hide some Trolls in the forest for them to find. Can you spy one in this shot? I snapped it just a second after my youngest spotted him and started toward her new friend!

trolls toys 3

Y’all….that was some SERIOUS fun for all of us! The kids were already having a great time being out in nature, and about 10 minutes into our journey the first sighting occurred, and they went absolutely nuts. I very highly recommend doing something like this if you are able…what memories we made!

Ok, so let’s talk about the hot Trolls toys for the season. Kids are going to be so thrilled to see these cute items under the tree this year! The toy that is getting the most “tote around” time with my kids is definitely the Hug Time Poppy Doll. She’s 14 inches and comes with a bracelet for your child to wear that lights up and causes the doll to sing and talk. BIG hit!

trolls-dolls-1

The Glitterific Guy Diamond Doll is usually played with at the same time, and these 2 dolls will be what the girls choose to take with them to the movies for the big viewing party. The key difference with this doll is that he doesn’t light up or talk. He does, however, come with some rockin’ sunglasses.

trolls-dolls-2

If your kids are more into miniature figures, there is no shortage of great Trolls options! I highly suggest putting some Blind Bag Assortment packs in a stocking this year. There are 24 different Trolls figures and you won’t know which one you got until you open it.

You can also check out the Multi-Pack Assortments which each come with 4 Trolls figures. These are dressed to impress and have awesome hair, too!

trolls-5

And to put all those mini figures in context, you need a play set. Check out Poppy’s Coronation Pod Playset so your kids can recreate the moment when Poppy becomes the queen, complete with a light-up spinning dance floor.

coronation-pod-2

 

If your kid likes softer toys, you’ll also find an assortment of plush options to love on, too.  Our favorite is Harper. Can’t wait to learn more about her story when we watch the movie; she seems like quite a character!

harper

Basically the Trolls toy options this year are seriously on point and available at a multitude of price ranges, from $2.99 up to $49.99. Which ones will your kids want?

trolls-6

Filed Under: My Favorite Finds · Tagged: best toys, gift ideas, trolls movie, trolls toys

EMF Protection Cell Phone Accessories (Gift Idea for a Techie!)

September 22, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Are you concerned about exposure to electromagnetic fields and radiation through your cell phone? I get pretty freaked out when I think about this device and having it so close to my brain every time I’m talking on the phone, and so close to my body every time that I’m using it (which is approximately 55 times a day, just sayin’).  emf-protection-cell-phone-accessories

Vest sent me a few very interesting cell phone accessories that are designed to limit our exposure to these elements. I think they make really neat gift ideas for any friends who might be techies, or who might be the eco-friendly type and would appreciate keeping radiation away from themselves a much as possible.

After trying out the products for a while, here are my basic thoughts on them.

emf-protection-earphones-and-cell-phone-case

First, I want to talk about the cell phone case and the headphones. The case is ideal for the person who really wants to keep their case slim. It definitely falls into the slim category, and for some people, that’s fantastic. It won’t add a bunch of bulk or weight while also providing some protection to the device, and of course also providing protection against radiation, which is something you don’t get with other cases. But I will say that the overall protection for the device is not quite at the level that I want it to be at. I’d like to see a bigger lip around the phone, personally, to help ensure protection against the screen cracking.

The earphones are something truly unique that I’ve never seen before, and they are going to be a great gift choice for someone who prioritizes protection against radiation first and foremost, and doesn’t prioritize having a crystal-clear sound. The speakers are actually housed in a part of the devices that sits at chest level, and then the sound actually travels up to the earbuds through plastic tubes. It’s a very clever idea! If earbuds are purely functional for you then these are perfect. If you are an audiophile and you want to listen to music all day, you will likely be frustrated by this set, as you are having to sacrifice some sound quality for protection.

emf-protection-wallet-case

The wallet case got some high praise from my husband when he tried it out. He absolutely loved the idea of having a wallet and cell phone case combined together in one slim design, and he also loved the fact that you could turn the wallet into a cell phone stand. His only concern was that if you drop the wallet and on the way to the ground the flap flies up, leaving the phone exposed, the protection would be more limited and you’d probably find yourself with a cracked screen. So in his case, since we have young kids who use our phones, too, it was enough of a deal breaker for him to ultimately not switch out the case he has for this one. But if you are someone who doesn’t run a high risk of dropping your phone, then it’s really quite cool!

So all in all, Vest products do seem to offer fantastic protection to your body, but there are trade offs you have to make in order to get that protection. This makes them not right for every individual, but still a great choice for many folks and something to consider when working on your holiday gift ideas.

Filed Under: My Favorite Finds · Tagged: cell phone emf protection, cell phone radiation case, cell phone radiation protection, emf protection, emf protection devices, emf radiation, gift ideas

Best Gifts for Makeup Lovers

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

Referral links may be included at no cost to you. I only promote what I love!

I have been loving my Beauty Box 5 Subscription (click that link to sign up and use my referral code: HALFOFF, for 50% off your first box!) for over a year, now. In each box, you receive 5 beauty items (some are full-size, some are sample size). You ALWAYS get more value than what you spent on your box (sometimes the box is worth well over twice what you spent on it!) and you always get to try out some really cool new stuff. You can purchase one box at a time for $12, but I really suggest going for the year subscription, because that brings the per box price down to just $8.75.

This is the absolute PERFECT gift for makeup lovers: fun new items shipped straight to their house each and every month, and the price tag is great so it can work with your budget, whether you can only spring for 1 box, 6, or an entire year of goodies.

gift ideas for makeup junkies This month subscribers got 5 FULL SIZE products. Merry Christmas, indeed! 😉 The products for this month focused on creating a smoky eye, which is a perfect thing to do this time of year with all the great holiday parties.

I absolutely love this subscription service. If you check out my Youtube channel you can see several video reviews I have posted, and you can see that I’m not always thrilled with every single product (I’m a tough critic!) but the value is so great that it’s really no problem if a box has one or two duds in it. And lately the boxes have been having more and more winners. Yay!!!

This is one worth giving a try for sure. And if you need a last minute gift idea for a makeup lover, you can’t go wrong with Beauty Box 5!

Filed Under: Popular Post, Style · Tagged: beauty box 5, beauty box 5 coupon, beauty box 5 reviews, beauty box five, beauty box reviews, beauty box subscription, coupon, gift ideas, monthly beauty box, review

Super Easy Gift Ideas for Teachers: Starbucks for the Win!

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

Thanks to Starbucks for sending along some seasonal flavors and products. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today I’m working on the holiday gifts for my children’s teachers and I thought I’d show them to you in case you are still trying to figure out what to put together (and in case your Pinterest searches on “teacher gifts” stressed you out because it definitely stressed me out!).

Friends, it doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as this!

teacher gift starbucks

Give you children’s teachers a simple holiday treat that is sure to be appreciated. They have worked so hard with your kids over the last few months, and they are about to get a well-deserved break. They will even have time to curl up on their sofas with a delicious peppermint mocha (or 5!). 🙂

Each of my girls has 2 teachers in the classroom, so I’ll be multiplying the above gift times 4. If your budget allows for a bit more, or if your child only has 1 teacher so your funds can go further, here’s another idea for you.

teacher gift idea starbucks

Consider getting one of the absolutely gorgeous tumblers that Starbucks has available (this one is called Watercolor Hearts) and pair it with some hot cocoa (you can get K Cups or a mix).

Starbucks is something that puts a glimmer of joy in most everyone’s eyes, so it’s a safe bet as a gift. You can also feel good knowing that you picked out something beautiful and delicious that will be enjoyed and not relegated to a storage closet with all the “world’s best teacher” stuff. 😉

Do you have other teacher gift ideas to share? Let us know what you are doing for your kids’ teachers in the comments! 

Filed Under: DIY Projects · Tagged: christmas, gift ideas, k cups, starbucks, starbucks gifts, starbucks tumblers, teacher gifts

Educational Postcards in the Mail: Kiwi Bop Subscription

December 10, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Kiwi Bop for providing product samples. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.

Friends here’s a really fun stocking stuffer idea for any young readers on your list (or an inexpensive gift idea)! Check out Kiwi Bop Postcard Pals.

kiwi bop 1 This is an ideal gift for curious children who love to learn about new places and who love to see cool photographs. Each month, your child is sent 4 postcards from different postcard pals (there are 8 postcard pals that send notes…you hear from 4 of them each month). Each pal has something new and fun to show you from around the world (or even outer space!).

kiwi bop 2

The welcome kit ships immediately and at the start of each month to follow, you’ll get 4 more postcards! The postcards are on a high quality paper. In order to send them on to others as actual postcards, you might have to cover up a bit of the printed material, but that’s certainly doable. That could be a fun way for cousins to stay in touch with each other!

kiwi bop 3 A monthly subscription starts at just $3.59/month! You can order month by month, or get a 6-month membership or a 12-month membership. This might be just the thing you were looking for, so definitely check it out!

 

 

 

Filed Under: My Favorite Finds · Tagged: gift ideas, kiwi bop postcard pals, kiwi bop subscription, postcards, postcards for kids, subscription boxes

(Giveaway!) More Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas from Kohl’s

December 4, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 28 Comments

Thanks to Kohl’s for providing products for review and the giveaway item. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I hope you enjoyed some of the Elf on the Shelf ideas I shared with you last week. I’ve got a few more fun (and easy!) ways you can have fun with your Elf on the Shelf in today’s post, and none of them involve making terrible messes or elaborate schemes. I like to keep it simple around here.

elf on the shelf outfit When my girls woke up this morning they found our Owen being just a smidge naughty (he’s playing in our television cords) but they also discovered that he has a new outfit! Kohl’s has the cutest Claus Couture collection, with several fun outfit options for your elf and for your elf pet!

elf on the shelf elves made me do it dish towel Owen has also been such a thoughtful house guest this week by bringing me, his hostess, a gift! Owen found this adorable “the elves made me do it” kitchen towel set at Kohl’s (and I saw his receipt…he got such a good deal!).

And next week, he’s going to surprise the girls one morning with a super fun gift just for them!

elf on the shelf bathtub stuff Yes, this fingerpaint bathtub set will be messy, but the kids will be in the bath, so they will wash off easily (and so will their canvas!).

We are having so much fun with Owen, and I am really loving this new tradition we are creating of having our elf provide some new fun holiday decor each year. If you don’t have an Elf on the Shelf, they really can be a whole lot of fun, so think about getting one. Our elf keeps us highly entertained. He even does a great Adele impression (call him Adelelf!).

Hello, it’s me. #Adelelf #elfontheshelf #adele

A photo posted by Tiffany (@stuffparentsneed) on Dec 3, 2015 at 12:26pm PST

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $100 gift card to Kohl’s. You can get your house all decked out with Elf on the Shelf gear and other holiday decor! 🙂
Kohls Gift Card

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

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: elf ideas, elf on shelf ideas, elf on the shelf, elf on the shelf clothes, elf on the shelf gifts, gift ideas, giveaway, kohls, kohls gift card

Some New Elf on the Shelf Ideas to Rock Your Holiday

November 29, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Thanks to Kohl’s for providing some fun new Elf on the Shelf products and other holiday fun stuff. We are very happy Kohl’s customers, and we only promote what we love! 

Owen (our Elf on the Shelf) arrived for his third annual visit to the House of M the day before Thanksgiving (yes, I know most elves come the day after…we can never wait, though!). I always take his arrival as an opportunity to work in a little bit of new holiday decor, typically in the form of a new ride for Owen. This year it was a sparkly train!

elf on the shelf arrival In fact, Owen arrived with several new presents for us this year (he’s such a thoughtful elf!). All his goodies came from Kohl’s, because he’s also a savvy shopper. He brought a new holiday doormat, some wrapped gifts for the girls, and even a pet! Yes, the Elf on the Shelf now has an Elf Pet, and you are actually supposed to touch it! My girls were so thrilled.

elf on the shelf arrival 2 Once the presents from Owen were unwrapped, the girls immediately wanted to put on their new awesome Elf on the Shelf pajamas he brought them! Kohl’s has a cool exclusive line with several different options for boys and girls (ahem…adult sizes are needed, Kohl’s!).

elf pajamas Owen has only been with us a few days, so he hasn’t had time to get into too much mischief, but here’s a sneak peek at some of the fun things he’ll be doing over the next few weeks, all while leaving us with awesome new gifts to help celebrate the season!

elf on the shelf tumbler

Owen knows the way to our hearts in the House of M, and it’s definitely through fun glassware with a straw. I love this fun Elf on the Shelf tumbler he brought with him; he’ll be surprising the girls with it sometime next week, and prompting us to have some hot cocoa.

elf on the shelf elf made me do it decor

Owen will also be bringing us this fun “The elf made me do it!” decor item sometime next week. It’s just perfect for a home filled with mischief-makers. I’m betting you have some of those in your house, too!

I’ll be sharing some more fun ways that your elf can move around your house and help deck your halls with holiday cheer next week, so stay tuned for that (and Owen wants to treat you to some fun Kohl’s stuff, so watch out for an AWESOME giveaway!).

Has your Elf on the Shelf arrived? And if so, what fun antics have already transpired? And if you don’t have an Elf, I want to highly encourage you to get one. The magic of Christmas is magnified with the present of a scout elf, I promise! 

 

Filed Under: My Favorite Finds · Tagged: elf ideas, elf on shelf ideas, elf on the shelf, gift ideas, kohls

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Welcome!


Grab your beverage of choice (mine is iced coffee) and let's hang out for a spell! I'm Tiffany, and I've rambunctious little girls and a fierce desire to share any tip and trick I can find to make lives with little ones a bit less hectic and a lot more fun. [Read more...]

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