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NWF Is Writing the Book on Outdoor Time with Kids (Giveaway!!!)

June 19, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 250 Comments

If your kids are anything like mine, then they ask to go outside every day to play, whatever the weather may be like. With so many gorgeous days around this time of year, I’m partnering with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to help you find solutions for getting outdoors with your kids during the summer. I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to run out of easy and fun outdoor ideas and I’d love to get some new ones!

Also, if I’m being honest, I can’t say that I have the same excitement about going outside as my kids do. From hot and humid air, to mosquitos, to having to slather on sunscreen before heading out the door…I can pretty easily find an excuse for answering their requests for outside time with, “Not right now.”

Later this summer I’ll be part of a team partnering with NWF to launch a free e-book that will give you some great ideas to make outside time easier to fit into your day, less cumbersome for the grown ups, and WAY more fun for the kids. I’ve got a few of my own ideas for unstructured yet highly entertaining outdoor fun, and I can’t wait to share them with you! Here’s a little sneak peek! 🙂

In addition to this great ebook that will be launching this summer, NWF also has a lot of resources and ideas to share with you on their site, Be Out There. Definitely check it out and get inspired!

I Need Your Help!

For my section of the e-book, I’m going to be writing about finding time for the outdoors in everyday life, and as part of my contribution, I want to share ideas from my readers! Please let me know how you fit outdoor time into your busy family schedule in a way that doesn’t just feel like one more activity on your to do list! I’m not talking about structured activities like sports teams, but rather, unstructured, stress-free stuff. And how do you overcome those barriers to getting outside, be it the weather or the lure of the television or computer? Any tips or ideas you can share would be greatly appreciated, and you just might get published, too!

Win it!: To thank you for taking the time to share how your family gets outside, I’m offering up a $10 Amazon gift card! The deadline is 06/23, so hop to it!

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

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Thanks to National Wildlife Federation and The Motherhood for bringing me on for this sponsored campaign. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. The giveaway listed here is personally funded.

Little Monsters Diapers: So Much Cuteness (Giveaway!)

June 18, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 163 Comments

Any cloth diapering parent will tell you that one of the many perks of cloth diapering is how unbelievably cute they look on your baby. A fluffy butt is right up there with kittens and puppies cuddling with baby bunnies, my friends.

But the mom-owned cloth diaper company Little Monsters has taken it up a notch with their very VERY cute cloth diapers. I mean, get a load of this:

That sheep diaper is the cutest thing!!!!

Little Monsters Cloth Diapers are not only cute, but also effective. They are one-size pocket diapers with multiple rows of snaps to fit growing babies (from 9-35 pounds). They come with microfiber inserts that we have found to be very effective.

Little Monsters also sells solid color diapers for $20.99, but trust me when I say you should spend the extra $2 and get the embroidered Little Monsters. It will pay for itself in smiles in just a few minutes! 🙂

I have been using this diaper on Layah for several weeks now, and I have absolutely no complaints. I haven’t yet used it overnight, but if I were to, I would add some additional inserts, which the diaper is designed to accommodate easily. And I really like that it is snaps instead of velcro, because Layah LOVES to rip off her velcro diapers these days. The snaps are beyond her abilities to undo, thank goodness!

My overall thoughts about Little Monsters diapers is that they are every bit as good in quality and design as other pocket diapers we have tried, but they stand apart from the crowd with their adorable embroidered designs. Check out their selection and see which one is your favorite!

Also, Little Monsters is having a big sale on their monster package, which is a great option for anyone looking to really build their stash. It comes with 5 monster diapers for just $69.99! Woo!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Little Monsters diaper of your choice!

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

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I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Stevie Tenderheart Books: A Change of Heart Changes Everything (Giveaway)

June 17, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 50 Comments

I am fortunate in my line of work to have met many passionate people with great ideas to help make life a little less hectic and a lot more fun for parents of young children. Many of the products I review here are the physical representation of years of hard work, lots of dreams come true, and lots and lots of heart. Today I’m excited to share with you the work of an author, and he is perhaps one of the most passionate individuals with whom I have yet to work.

The author is Steve Laible and the books he has written are part of the Stevie Tenderheart series. The books are about a little boy who thinks his bed is the greatest place on earth, and he wishes it would go with him everywhere. He has some fun adventures there just by using his imagination a little bit. The books are very fun to read and most definitely capture the attention fo my oldest (who is almost 4). They are perfect for her, because they are filled with vibrant and colorful pictures, yet the content of the books goes far beyond that of a picture book. There’s more to read, so the story is more in-depth and we have more to talk about on each page. Additionally, each book has a companion coloring book, which helps your child get even more involved with the characters in the book and the message being presented, which is that a change of heart changes everything.

Aside from the books, themselves, having a great message and being fun to read, I think the mission of the author is what sets these books apart from the rest. Steve Laible is currently working very hard to contribute Stevie Tenderheart books to the Million Pillow Pledge. This is a campaign that places dolls and books on the beds of very brave children in hospitals throughout the country, as well as any place where there’s a child who might need some encouragement. Through the Stevie Tenderheart website you can purchase materials to be directly donated to many different hospitals, or you can specify exactly where you’d like your books to be donated. Steve will ship the books you purchase absolutely free to the place in the U.S. of your choosing. And he has worked really hard to keep the cost of the books very low for you (just $4.95 each!). What a gift you can give to a child going through a tough time. Steve is passionate about this cause, and wants Stevie Tenderheart to be a beacon of happiness and hope for kids all over the nation.

Additionally, Steve has big dreams to open a camp for children called Camp Tenderheart. You can read all about the vision and plans for this facility here. Isn’t it uplifting to encounter a person in this world who is working with so much passion to help create safe and healthy spaces for children to help them thrive? I’m so inspired! And I hope you will also feel inspired to help support this dream and to introduce children you know to Stevie Tenderheart. The books are really good, and so very affordable. Click here to check out all the purchasing options and consider buying a few for children you know, as well as a few for children you don’t know but who could use a little cheering up.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of both books (My Favorite Place to Be and Wait a Minute!)

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

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I received complimentary books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Are Mermaids Part of Your World? (Giveaway!)

June 12, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 99 Comments

Raise your hand high if you are constantly having to play “under the sea” with your child, or if you have to go on treasure hunts all the time, or if when your child is feeling grumpy toward you but still wants to play she offers to let you be Ursula (gee, thanks kid).

Just me? Somehow I doubt it! Darah’s interest in mermaids has been strong since she was just 2, and it shows NO signs of slowing down. She’s been asking for a stuffed Flounder doll for her birthday (which isn’t until August), and she’s been putting that request in weekly since, oh…I don’t know…JANUARY??

The request for a plush version didn’t transpire until her request for a real fish was flatly denied. And before you go thinking that I’m a mean mom who won’t let her child have a first pet, please know that when I asked Darah why she wanted a pet fish, she very matter-of-factly explained to me that they would take baths together every night. So you see, I’m really a fish protector, not a hater.

Darah plays with mermaids in the tub. She plays with them in the car. She pretends to be a mermaid at least 6 different times each day. And she LOVES knowing that there is a whole world of mermaids out there beyond the red headed Disney princess.

So when I showed her the beautiful line of dolls from Aurora called Sea Sparkles, she was elated. We spent 15 minutes pouring over the catalog of options and admiring each of the dolls in the collection. Darah finally decided she wanted to bring Marinna home to be her special mermaid friend.

Marinna is an excellent companion to Darah as she searches through caverns (also known as closets) for special treasures. She is soft, has lovely long hair that is fun to comb through with your fingers, and she even has her own special jewel as part of her outfit.

Aurora Sea Sparkles mermaids come in a wide range of looks as well as sizes (10, 18 and even 38 inches!), so you are sure to find the perfect friend with a fin for your mermaid fan! I can guarantee that your child will love playing with these sweet dolls from Aurora. I can’t guarantee that they will pose for pictures with them, though! (Does your kid do this, too?)

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win their choice of an 18″ Sea Sparkles doll of your choice! (excludes the holiday line)

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

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I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

A Pop of Color for Country-Chic Style: Joules (Giveaway!)

June 10, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 57 Comments

Even though I fell in love with big cities from the time I first saw Atlanta (I was 7 at the time), I was born and raised in a small town, surrounded by even smaller towns and lots and lots of farms. My roots are in the country, and that’s also the case for the British clothing company called Joules. It has been around since 1980 (me, too!) and has always held country styles at its heart, while striving to bring a little color and life to them. That’s what has made them so popular and once you take a look at some of their clothes, I think you’ll see that there is so much to love.

Darah and Layah were sent coordinating outfits which I absolutely adore. They aren’t matchy-matchy and they aren’t frilly and uncomfortable. They are simply perfect for a summer day spent romping out in our yard, which is something we do quite a bit of these days !

Layah is wearing the Baby Girls Summer Dress in Ribbon, which comes with matching bloomers. It is made of soft cotton and is so bright and cheery!

Darah absolutely loves her Dungaree Skirt (which I think we here in the states would refer to as a denim overall dress). She loves how the hook and clasp jingles lightly when she walks, and she loves how comfy it is. She asks to wear it frequently. Typically, I’m not really a big fan of denim overalls, finding them to be just a little too country in their overall look. but Joules has brightened these up beautifully and even I can’t resist!

I mentioned earlier about how these outfits coordinate without being too matchy. I just wanted to point out the trim on Darah’s dress so you can see what I’m talking about. The trim of her pockets, as well as the inside of the overall bib are made of the same pattern as Layah’s dress. So cute! Also note the rabbits on the buttons. The rabbit seems to be the symbol for joules clothing, and you can also see an embroidered version on Layah’s outfit. I really love when companies create good design all the ways down to the details like this.

Joules has a fantastic selection of bright and beautiful clothes. I am fortunate enough to own several pieces of children’s clothing from Europe thanks to my sister-in-law who lives there and passes them on, and Darah and Layah always receive compliments for having such different and fun clothes. If you are looking for something just a little bit different to add to your child’s wardrobe, Joules is a perfect fit! The clothes are casual so they are practical, yet they are also bright, fun and designed with an eye for fun little details. Check out what they have to offer in the girls clothing range, and don’t forget to look in their adult clothing section, too!

Win it!: One k Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Baby Grow outfit (up to 18 months) in your choice of style and size!

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

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I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Krill Oil: What Is It and Why Should I Take It? (Giveaway!)

June 7, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 68 Comments

I’m sure that by now you’ve heard all about how wonderful it is to take fish oil as part of your nutritional plan. And as someone with a huge bottle of fish oil pills in my fridge, I can tell you that there are MANY benefits to taking this supplement.

So when I was recently contacted by the folks at Everest Nutrition (now part of Viva Labs) about Krill Oil, I assumed that it was pretty much the same as taking fish oil. After all, Krill is just a tiny shrimp-like creature, so it likely has similar benefits to fish oil.

This is what krill looks like. I was curious, so I thought you might be, too!

But I was wrong! The list of health benefits associated with krill oil is HUGE! For example, a study published by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that Krill Oil can reduce heart damaging inflammation. It was also found to be more effective than fish oil at reducing “bad” cholesterol (that’s LDL) and increasing “good” cholesterol (that’s HDL).

Other benefits of Krill Oil that have been confirmed by research include the following:

joint health support
PMS symptom relief
lower risk of cardiovascular incidents by up to 45%
improve brain health and memory function
reduce early aging lines in the skin
boost energy by 50%

These are some amazing health benefits! Not only am I glad to now be taking Krill Oil, but I also want to get some for my parents, and in particular, my father who has had some heart health issues in the past.

One benefit that isn’t as impressive as the list above, but when I am really enjoying day-to-day, is the fact that Krill Oil does not give you what are called “fish burps.” I know, that’s a strange and even gross term, but when you take fish oil, you sometimes will burp and it will taste like, you guessed it, fish. Kind of gross, especially when you haven’t eaten any fish that day! This just doesn’t happen with Krill Oil, which is a nice little bonus.

Have you tried Krill Oil yet? Viva Labs has a very good deal going on right now if you order 4 bottles at a time, they will give you two more bottles for free, as well as free shipping! The total for this value set is $119.80. Or you can just try one bottle for $29.95.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a bottle of Krill Oil, which contains a 30 day supply!

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

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I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

How We Study the Weather and the Calendar (Giveaway!)

June 2, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 54 Comments

What morning rituals does your family have these days? I’d like to show you one of ours that Darah (my almost 4 year old) is really enjoying and that creates great moments for learning. Check out the Funky Monkey Forecast!

Learning Resources has this set of 60 magnetic pieces available on their website. It comes with a jumbo monkey and 28 different accessories to dress him in, depending on the day’s weather. There are also 6 weather icons and 3 weather words. Every morning Darah looks outside to see what the weather looks like at the moment (sunny, cloudy, etc.) and I also check the forecast online to get a sense for the daily temperatures and if any special weather conditions are headed our way.

After Darah dresses the monkey for the day, she has a better idea of how to dress herself, too! This helps tremendously once we head upstairs to pick out an outfit. She used to choose things that were seasonally inappropriate and not understand why she would be much too hot or much too cold in them. Now she gets it, and she edits her options accordingly. And as you likely know, drama over wardrobe is GREATLY reduced when the child gets to make her own choices. So the Funky Monkey is helping us not only with weather comprehension, but also with the practical life skill of dressing oneself.

Darah dressed this moneky for a warm day at school. Note the backwards shoes and the lack of pants. Darah finds pants to be an annoying component of wardrobes, to be avoided if at all possible.

practical life: weather and dressing with funky monkey

Her clothing selection (a dress, which means no pants needed! )

Additionally, I’m starting to work with Darah on the calendar aspect of the Funky Monkey set. It comes with the 7 days of the week, as well as the 12 months of the year. Darah is starting to associate the days of the week with the different activities we do on those days (such a school on Monday and Wednesday during the summer, or Daddy being at home on Saturday and Sunday). She isn’t yet able to identify the words by sight, but the magnets are helping us practice and improve in that area.

I’m really pleased with this fun new tool that provides my child with a morning ritual to get her day started right. And I also LOVE that it comes in magnet form, which means it takes up very little space. Three cheers for that!!!

Buy it!: The Funky Monkey Forecast is available for $29.98 through the Learning Resources website, as well as through Amazon.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Funky Monkey Forecast!

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

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I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains an affiliate link.

4 Reasons to Buy Organic Clothing, and A Great New Store! (Giveaway!)

May 31, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 69 Comments

I have talked many times over the last few years about striving to purchase more organic products for my family, and in particular, for my children. There’s no doubt about it: buying organic and eco-friendly products, in general, can be pricey. But I believe making a few key investments is completely worth it.

The trouble is, I don’t know WHICH products to choose and which ones to pass on. It can get really overwhelming to try to research EVERY. SINGLE. THING. that will touch your baby (clothes, diapers, baby wash, toys, bottles, etc.) and honestly, there have been times when I have just decided to go with whatever is the cheapest, or whatever I can find the fastest. And any time I take either of those roads, the end result is often that I DON’T get the product that was truly the best fit for me and my family.

Buying Organic and Eco-Friendly Products on a Budget

So what to do? I want to make a good choice, but now that I have 2 kids, I have even less time to spend hours and hours researching products. This, my friends, is exactly why I am really loving Organic Treasure. This is an online eco-boutique run by Vivian, the mom of an 8 month old infant, who has decided to put her passion for and knowledge about all things eco-friendly to work for other parents who want to make great choices for their children, their homes and their gardens. She has great picks for every family, whether they can purchase an entire wardrobe of organic cotton and an entire nursery of eco-friendly toys, or if they can only buy one thing. Organic Treasure has already done the hard work for you, and each item in the boutique has been hand-selected as being truly outstanding amongst its competitors. On the site you will even find a baby registry to help make the process of preparing for your new baby easy, as well as a great registry checklist. I appreciate that it is a bit more streamlined than many of the checklists I have seen, and sticks more to the basics; what you REALLY need!

At Organic Treasure, you’ll find brands such as Aden & Anais, Baby Soy, Miyim, Green Sprouts, Under the Nile and Finn + Emma. You will also find that Organic Treasure was awarded the Green America Bronze Certified Business Seal. This award comes after a rigorous certification process, and is presented to small businesses that show a clear commitment and dedication to positive social and environmental change. Vivian shows her dedication to environmental stewardship not only in the products she carries, but also in how she runs her business, right down to running on 100% wind energy and using recycled paper products and soy based non-toxic inks. Organic Treasure is truly a model for what the future could look for all businesses!

As I was perusing the site, I also read a great article that listed several reasons we should all strongly consider purchasing organic clothing. I wanted to share some of them with you today because they are really eye-opening!

4 Reasons to Buy Organic Clothing

1. Bamboo is a great alternative to cotton, as it is VERY sustainable (the fastest growing plant in the world!). This product also grows easily without pesticides or fertilizers, and it is naturally antimicrobial. It is the perfect choice for people with sensitive skin! And if you have never worn it, let me tell you…it is super soft!

2. Conventional cotton is the most widely sprayed agricultural crop in the entire world. Washing the fabrics only eliminates a fraction of the toxic chemicals found in the clothing made from it. I personally have actually researched how to get pesticide residue out of clothes and the short answer is this: you can’t. 🙁

3. Organic cotton is free from these toxic chemicals. It is also not treated with formaldehyde (all conventional cotton contains this nasty chemical, which gives the cotton a smooth finish and color). This chemical is known to absorb into the skin. Yikes!

4. As demand for organic materials increases, so will the supply! Businesses and farmers will change farming practices and switch over to more sustainable products as more people start purchasing them. We are voting with our dollars!

I found Organic Treasure to truly be a treasure trove of fantastic products and helpful information. I also love that it is run by a mom with a real passion and desire to help other parents make great choices for their families. You will receive impeccable customer service from this company and can even reach out to Vivian with any questions you may have about which products to choose for your family. She would be delighted to help you!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win one item of your choice from Organic Treasure with a value of up to $35!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.
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Special thanks to Vivian at Organic Treasure for partnering with Stuff Parents Need for this post. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own, as always.

bamboo photo credit: Stuck in Customs via photopin cc

$200 Visa Gift Card Giveaway Time!

May 30, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 12 Comments

It’s been one of those weeks. Sick baby. House that just REFUSES to clean itself. Deadlines popping up left and right. I don’t know about you, but this mama is ready for the weekend!

And what fun I could have with a free $200 Visa gift card! If I could have $200 to spend strictly on myself, I wouldn’t hesitate to go to the nearest day spa and get a massage and a fabulous manicure and pedicure. The mere thought of it makes me feel more relaxed!

What about you? What would YOU do with $200 to spend on yourself? Let’s make that dream of yours, whatever it may be, come true! Thanks to a fabulous sponsor, North West Pharmacy, you can win a $200 Visa gift card right now! No joke! See the rafflecopter form below and get entered. Good luck!

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