giveaway - Stuff Parents Need

Fuss-Free Savings at CVS on Pampers and Other Road Trip Essentials

December 26, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 80 Comments

We’ve been doing our fair share of traveling over the past month, as I’m sure many of you have, as well. When you travel, do you have any “must have” items for the trip? In our case, we treat ourselves to the following items:

1. A new app for Darah to help keep her entertained

2. McDonald’s Egg McMuffin sandwiches (we’re always on the road in the early hours…gotta fuel up!)

3. Squeeze pouches for a yummy snack for the kids. 4. Iced coffee for Tiffany, anywhere we can get it (McDonald’s, Starbucks, I’m not picky, as long as it is COLD!)

4. Disposable diapers, which make life with a toddler infinitely easier when traveling.

I have a CVS just 7 minutes away from my home, and I actually like to make a trip there before we get in the car and begin our travels. I stock up there on dipes and wipes, squeeze pouches for the girls, and if they are on sale, I’ll also pick up the Starbucks Frappuccios (They taste like candy! Love them!). Once a year, or so, I’ll even get an iTunes gift card there (their gift card selection is awesome!), and that keeps us set for our app purchases throughout the year. Recently I headed in to get my diaper bag stocked up, and I opted for Pampers products. Pampers are, in my experience, a very reliable brand, and reliable is exactly what I want on the road. Ever had a diaper malfunction while the child was in the car seat? Yeah….NOT something I want to deal with, and especially not while I’m away from my home and my washing machine. Pampers have an ultra-absorbent core that can withstand up to 12 hours of overnight protection (and I prefer to use overnight diapers for road trips, as well, when I can’t check on Layah’s diaper quite as often). They recently increased the capacity of the diaper by 15%, as well. Basically, it is ready for action! 😉

When I was picking out the wipes to go with the Pampers, I knew I found my match when I saw the sensitive designation. Why? Because my child always has and still does like to put those darn wipes in her mouth! I need as few chemicals as possible! My bags were stocked with what I needed for our recent trips, and to top it all off, when I was checking out the CVS register gave me a $2 coupon off a $10 purchase of any baby needs. Guess who went right back into the store to spend it? This girl! Being able to save more on the things I need puts a smile on my face. CVS makes it happen! What are your “must haves” when taking a road trip? Win it!: One Stuff Parents Need reader will receive 2 coupons from Pampers and CVS (one for a free package of Pampers diapers, and one for a free package of Pampers wipes!). Woo hoo!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Crayola Slick Stix and My Holiday Craft Idea for the Non-Crafters!

December 10, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 64 Comments

The Crayola product, gift card, information, and additional gift pack featured in this post have been provided by Crayola. All attempts at craftiness are my own!

Let me give a big old holiday shout out to the non-crafty mamas out there who are struggling to get through the crafting high season. I’m right there with you sisters, scissors in hands, glue in hair, and pipe cleaners wrapped around my finger, looking very VERY dazed and confused.

Crafting is seriously challenging for me. My mind just doesn’t work that way, folks! But I don’t want to assume that Darah feels exactly the same way (I know for a fact that she doesn’t) so I try to find the occasional crazy-easy crafting project for us to do together. I usually mess it up. She never minds. 🙂

So when reached out to me to see if I wanted to try out some of their products and come up with a holiday craft idea, I did two things.

1. I laughed for a really long time. It started out as a, “you must be kidding!” kind of laugh and then somehow devolved into a “run in the other direction because this lady is crazy” sort of laugh as I thought about all the great craft ideas I had swimming around in my head. And by “all” I actually mean NONE. I had NO IDEAS.

2. I said yes to the opportunity to get outside of my comfort zone, and get my craft on. With Crayola supplies on hand, it will at least be a little bit easier to come up with something cute, right?!

When the box of supplies arrived and I unpacked them, I happened to have a carton of Reynolds Pan Lining Paper on the table (it’s parchment paper on one side, foil on the other. It rocks in the kitchen, but that’s a different post…). I had a friend over at the time, and she started reading the packaging of the Crayola Slick Stix, and noted that they would color on foil.

And just like that, a craft idea was born in my head. It’s a Christmas miracle! I gathered my needed supplies to make some indoor sweet/outdoor pretty snowflakes!

So in truth, I totally forgot to use the glitter glue. But it would have been lovely, I’m sure!

Ok, now that the supplies are in hand, let’s rock this snowflake business!

Start by cutting a piece of pan lining paper, and then bringing up an edge like this to form a square.

Cut all that excess shiny stuff over on the right off. If you are ultra-awesome, use that to make another snowflake. I’m not that awesome, y’all.

Your cut product should look like this!

Now I’d say making a shiny square is great for a day’s work, but we aren’t quite finished! 🙂

Now it is time to break out your Crayola Slick Stix and color like crazy on the parchment paper side. The colors are vibrant and they will stick fairly quickly after being applied.

You can also color on the foil side of the paper, too. Below is just an example: we opted not to color that side and you’ll see why in a minute!

Once you have the parchment side decorated to your liking, it is time to turn it into a snowflake. First, this means a whole lot of folding!

Fold once:

Fold again:

And one more time:

Yeah, I know. It didn’t line up straight. I was actually having a lot of fun coloring and folding with Darah, and when I saw that the end result of the folding wasn’t perfect, I just didn’t care! It doesn’t really matter, so don’t stress out if yours looks crooked like mine.

Now, hold on to the internal corner of the snowflake. You don’t want to cut there, but feel free to cut pretty much everywhere else. Get wild and crazy. Here’s what I did!

Now slowly unfold your snowflake (careful! Sometimes the paper gets caught on itself!) and check out your colorful design!

So cool! Now for the reason why we didn’t color the aluminum foil side of the paper. I wanted to hang these in our window, and I wanted to be able to admire the art that my child did, and I also wanted to have something simple and bit less, shall we say, “colorful” on the outside. Here’s what it looks like to folks passing by!

So that’s why I’m calling these “inside sweet and outside pretty” snowflakes. And can I just say, OMG, I did a craft!

By the way, I made the stars to show you an even easier example of doing a craft like this. Just find a printable of a star and then trace it on your paper. Color, cut, then boom! Done!

Let’s celebrate my accomplishment, shall we?

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a Crayola gift pack with the following items:

Crayola Washable Markers
Crayola Colored Pencils
Crayola Glitter Glue
Crayola Model Magic
Crayola Slick Sticks
$25 gift card to purchase additional Crayola items for your project

Good luck! Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

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Warmest Socks for Cold Feet (Giveaway!)

December 7, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 63 Comments

Special thanks to Heat Holders for sharing their incredibly warm socks with me and my readers. All opinions are my own, as always!

I’ve heard before that women tend to have poorer circulation in our hands and feet, and as a result, we tend to complain a bit more about being cold.

My husband can definitely tell you that my feet turn into icicles this time of year, and that one of his least favorite things ever is for my feet to venture over to his side of the bed in an effort to get warmer. I can’t help it…he’s so nice and toasty!

Today my family is headed to an outdoor holiday parade and to a birthday party that will have an outside play component. It will be 42 degrees during the parade and 45 degrees during the party. While not exactly freezing temperatures, that’s cold enough to be quite uncomfortable if you have to stand around in it for a long time!

So I’ll be wearing these today:

Heat Holders are the new BFF for my feet, that’s for sure! Check out what the inside of the socks look like, just to give you a sense for how amazing they are!

So here’s what’s going on inside these awesome socks. They have specially advanced fibers that provide high performance insulation, as well as excellent moisture wicking. The extra long looped cushion pile holds in more warm air, which is what has helped these socks achieve a 2.3 TOG (thermal overall grade) rating (cotton socks have a .33 TOG rating, and ordinary thermal socks have a .89 TOG rating). The socks are also fuzzy on the inside because they go through an intense brushing process to maximize the amount of warm air held inside the sock.

I was excited to learn that these socks are available in a wide range of sizes (starting with size 9 for preschoolers!). They area also available in several different colors. Heat Holders is currently offering free shipping when you order 2 or more pairs, and the prices are start around $15.99. They would make a most excellent stocking stuffer!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win 2 pair of Heat Holders!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page!

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$100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway from Mobile Mom!

December 2, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

It’s that time of the year, friends! I’m on the lookout for giveaways that will help you stretch your dollars the furthest (and give you some extra dollars to play with!). I’m very excited to be teaming up with MobileMom.com to bring you this $100 Visa Gift Card giveaway. Good luck, and fingers crossed that one of my readers wins it!

The team at have been hard at work and are proud to introduce to you the premiere edition of Mobile Mom digital magazine!

Mobile Mom magazine is a new digital publication for women at every stage of motherhood. Whether you’re pregnant, trying to conceive or raising little ones, you’ll find practical information and helpful mom-to-mom advice in every issue.

Personal stories and shared experiences from other moms and moms-to-be
Product reviews to help you make the best choices on baby and family products
Interesting studies and medical research to keep you informed
Safety tips during pregnancy and those precious first months
Ideas for fun kid activities
And much, much more

Grab your copy of Mobile Mom magazine in the iTunes Newsstand today. Download the free app, then either buy individual issues or subscribe and save up to 66% off the single copy price!

• 1-year subscription (12 issues) – $19.99, automatically renewed until cancelled

• Monthly subscription (1 issue / month) – $1.99, automatically renewed every month until cancelled

• Single issue – $2.99-4.99

To celebrate the release of the magazine, Mobile Mom and a fabulous group of bloggers is giving away a $100 Visa gift card and a free download of the premiere edition! This giveaway is open worldwide. Enter to win by filling out the Rafflecopter below.

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The Energizer Bunny is Turning 25: YOU Get the Presents!

December 1, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 69 Comments

Can you believe that it has been 25 years since the Energizer Bunny hit the scene and kept going, and going, and going and going???

And he’s still going, of course! His personal mantra has actually expanded over the years, and is now all about positivenergy™ – a commitment to designing products with people in mind and investing in programs that have a positive impact on the world.

That, my friends, deserves a celebration!

Bunny Bucks

The holidays are a great time of year to stock up on batteries for all those fabulous gifts that might be under the tree and need a little help from Energizer in order to work properly. And right now you’ll find something called Bunny Bucks on packages of Energizer products, and you can turn those Bunny Bucks into money via a check or a deposit into PayPal. When you purchase 2 packages with bunny bucks, you can redeem it for $4. That makes for a pretty sweet deal!

Birthday Sweepstakes

Additionally, you’ll find an awesome Energizer Bunny Birthday Sweepstakes on the Energizer Bunny Facebook page (yup, he’s got his own page!).

Win it!: I’ve got a special prize pack just for Stuff Parents Need readers, in celebration of the Energizer Bunny’s birthday!

One winner will receive two specially marked packages of Energizer Max batteries with Bunny Bucks codes!

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

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Getting on Schedule with Easy Daysies Magnetic Schedules (Giveaway!)

November 24, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 27 Comments

One of the things that has changed the most about how I parent since enrolling Darah in Montessori school has to do with letting go. I have realized that if you give children the chance, they will often surprise you with just how much they can do on their own. And they WANT the opportunity to try.

Darah has been telling me over the last few months that she wishes she had a list of things to do, “just like mommy.” Such a sweetie. I’ll tell you what, that little apple did not fall far from the tree. She seems to value order and following the rules, just like me.

When I learned about the Easy Daysies Magnetic Schedules and had the opportunity to review them, I knew they were going to be the right fit. These were very thoughtfully created by a teacher who also happens to be a mother (so that means that the design is awesome!).

The magentized board hangs on Darah’s door, and it has two sides for two different routines that we custom created. One is for bedtime, and other is for the morning, though you could create any particular schedule or routine you like with the set.

Darah has really taken a liking to it because it gives her a clear sense for how her time is going to go and what she might need to do next. She is at an age where she can dress herself, comb her hair and brush her teeth, and Easy Daysies helps her remember that she needs to do those things.

I have already seen the satisfaction Darah receives from moving her magnets from the “to do” side of the board to the “done” side. Oh girl, I can so relate! I’m the person who will go back and add things that I already did on the to do list just so I can cross them off. Yep!

Check out this great “how to” video that Easy Daysies put together to showcase all the great ways you can use the system to help your child feel more independent and more secure about what is taking place.

The Every Day Starter Kit is just $19.99 and can accommodate many different tasks. You can also check out the add-on packs for $14.99 each that offer additional types of activities to put on your schedule.

My favorite thing about this scheduling system is how flexible it is, depending on the age and abilities of your child. I also appreciate the images that go along with the words, since Darah is not yet a reader. She doesn’t have to ask us what she needs to do for her morning and evening routine. One look at her Easy Daysies chart and she’s on her way.

It is REALLY nice having Darah take control of those activities instead of us leading the way. I think she feels happier with the arrangement, and we feel a little less stressed during that time, because we know that she knows exactly what to do!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win an Easy Daysies Starter Kit AND one add-on kit of your choice!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page!
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Ju-Ju-Be HoboBe Bag: Transitional Diaper Bag of My Dreams (Giveaway!)

November 22, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 70 Comments

You know how almost every bride convinces herself that the bridesmaid dresses she picked out can have a life of their own, apart from the wedding, and that her bridesmaids will get plenty of use out of them? And how many of those brides are right? I’d say at best, 10%. And I may be being generous there.

Well, I think the same principle applies to the concept of using a diaper bag as purse. There are tons of cute colors and patterns and interesting shapes of diaper bags these days, many of which seem to come with the promise that it can be your purse AND your baby junk holder. And yes, technically, it CAN hold your wallet and keys, but who are you fooling? It’s totally a diaper bag.

But for the last week I have been wearing my diaper bag/purse sent to me from Ju-Ju-Be everywhere, and I’d most definitely argue that it is part of that very small minority of bags that honestly can be both. Check out the HoboBe bag!

This bag has all the bells and whistles that I need in a diaper bag AND in a purse. And the size is absolutely perfect! Is it perfect if you have newborn twins? Um, no. And it isn’t necessarily perfect for every outing, just depending on the needs of your child. But for me, having an 18 month old means that I don’t have to carry 3 changes of clothes and 6 diapers everywhere we go (shout out to the young infant moms….warrior on with all that stuff….you actually might need it!).

Yes, friends, there does come a point where you get to slim down the volume of stuff that must leave with you any time you step out of the house! The Ju-Ju-Be HoboBe, shown above in one of their fabulous new fall patterns (Scarlet Petals), gives me the ability to pack for Layah and her needs (yes, there’s space for a bottle or sippy cup!) and also take care of my own.

I have happily taken this bag with me places when I haven’t had the toddler in tow. And isn’t that really the ultimate test for a diaper bag that claims to be your purse? Will you take it somewhere without your kid (and I don’t mean that you take it simply because you didn’t have time to change purses. I mean that you WANTED to use it as your purse)?

Check out some of the inside features. Lots of pockets, and great material that wipes up really easily! The mesh pockets are a personal favorite because I can see what’s inside (and that’s where I keep the items I ALWAYS lose in other purses: my phone and my keys).

Basically, this is the diaper bag that I wish I had owned 4 years ago. I think it would have successfully made it through 2 kids! But since my diaper bag days aren’t quite over yet, I’ll squeeze as much use out of it as I can.

And even when I’m all done carrying diapers and wipes, I can promise you this: having a purse that can easily be cleaned will be an awesome feature for several more years. I have no illusions about getting to stop carrying around applesauce and crackers in my purse anytime soon.

Could you use a purse/diaper bag combo? And would you LOVE to have one as fabulous as the Ju Ju Be Hobobe?

Well then, let’s do this!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the Ju-Ju-Be Hobobe bag in their choice of pattern (pending availability)! ARV $100!

And don’t forget to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page!

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$100 Visa Gift Card and a Clean 2014 with ARM & HAMMER!

November 18, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

One of my favorite things to do around the holidays is to find great deals and awesome giveaways for my readers. So when I had the opportunity to join a small group of bloggers and ARM & HAMMER (a brand I love and use all the time!) for a REALLY good giveaway, I jumped at the chance!

Up for grabs today is an ARM & HAMMER Seasonal Savings Gift Pack, and you are going to love it!!!

The winner will receive the following:

2-3 ARM & HAMMER products (from those featured in the picture above and based on availability). Possible prizes include: ARM & HAMMER™ Sensitive toothpaste, from the makers of Orajel™, Spinbrush: ProClean Sonic, Tooth Tunes™, ARM & HAMMER™ Ultra Power 4X Liquid Laundry Detergent, ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda, ARM & HAMMER™ Simply Saline™ Nasal Relief, ARM & HAMMER™ Double Duty Clumping Litter
$100 Visa Gift Card (to get you stocked up on more ARM & HAMMER products for a clean 2014!!

Go ahead and take some time to find out where you can buy ARM & HAMMER products (gotta get prepared for your shopping spree!). And you can stretch that $100 even further by signing up for the ARM & HAMMER Savings Center and score some coupons. Woo hoo!

Tim very faithfully uses this brand for his baking soda shampoo. The gift card in this prize package would buy him all the baking soda he would need for the rest of his life! 🙂 What about you? What are your favorite ARM & HAMMER products?

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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the side bar of the blog. Good luck!

Give the Gift of New Books for a VERY Low Price!

November 17, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I am a member of Bookboard’s Blog Ambassador program. I am compensated, from time to time, with free products and monetary payments. Any views expressed in this post are completely my own.

We continue to love our subscription to Bookboard. This is a digital library subscription that provides access to TONS of new books for your children (perfect for kids from birth-age 12). I’ve blogged about Bookboard here and here if you want to read more about how the service works and why we are so nuts about it.

Bookboard is a very affordable service for all the book access you receive, and I’m really excited that they have finally made gift cards available, as this makes an outstanding gift to give to a child or even to an entire family. For $54.99, you can purchase the gift of reading FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR for a family with a tablet. I think this makes it one of the very best values for a gift I have seen this year, as it comes to just $4.58/month!

If you aren’t quite ready to jump into a year-long subscription for your family or for a family you know, then definitely try out their free trial. They don’t collect any payment information from you; it really is 100% free with no strings attached! We did the free trial ourselves and read 14 books before it was over…an impressive amount, if you ask me!

I hope this helps some of you out with your holiday shopping this year. The gift of reading is one of the very best gifts you can offer to a child, in my opinion! And this gift requires 0 trips to the mall! 🙂