review - Stuff Parents Need

The Hottest Ineractive Toy (As Chosen by Kids): Zoomer’s Interactive Dino

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

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

I have been having such a blast covering the hottest toys of 2014. And my kids have REALLY been having a blast! If you’ve missed the previous posts, here are the reviews for the Sew Cool Sewing Machine, Palace Pets Magic Dance Pumpkin and the Razor Scooter.

This week we are getting interactive! Let me introduce you to Zoomer’s Interactive Dino, one of the most beloved toys from the perspective of the kids who tested them out, and certainly one of the very hottest toys of the season.

This dino is actually a robot, or more specifically, a toy (a point I have had to make to Darah numerous times to keep her from climbing on top of the couch in fear every time the dino “gets mad”).

I think she was so scared at first because honestly, the dino’s moves are quite sophisticated. It’s not like any other “toy” I’ve ever seen. You really need to see it to understand. Check out this 1 minute video!

Darah seems to be the most interested in keeping this little dino happy. So she pets him a lot and plays sweetly with him. I think she has a very mild-mannered dino on her hands!

But when little sister gets a hold of the controls, she frequently pushes the “angry” button because she loves to see him spin out of control!

The remote control requires AAA batteries, so don’t forget those! And you do need to charge the dino through a USB cord. We just hook him up through the laptop, since that’s always out, anyway.

I think this toy will be a big hit with children who love to be a little bit wild, as well as with children who like the idea of training something. He’s $79.98 at Walmart, and that’s the best price I’ve seen anywhere for him! But guess what? If you download the FREE Walmart Savings Catcher App, you don’t have to worry about whether or not Walmart has the best deal in town: they will check for you! If they find an advertised better price in your area, they will refund you the difference in the form of a Walmart eGift card.

Take a moment to check out all the interactive toys at Walmart to see if there’s anything you need to round out your Christmas shopping list. In fact, you should check out the entire Chosen by Kids List!

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

December 10, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Twitter Party!

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

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

December 8, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

Awesome Adventurous Toy for Under $30: Razor Scooter

December 8, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

Walmart Layaway

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

Walmart Savings Catcher App

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

No Smartphone? No Problem!

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

Cool Safety Gear for Family Outings: elph

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 5, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 144 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All this for less than $150! SO awesome!

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

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

December 4, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

And I absolutely LOVE the result!

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

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

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

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

How to Save Money on My Publisher Products

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

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

Finding Christmas Gifts for Those with Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

December 3, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 6 Comments

Thanks to VTech and the Mom It Forward Blogger Network for partnering with me to make today’s post possible. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

I live 5 1/2 hours by car away from my father. The distance never really seemed overwhelming until last year when he was diagnosed with dementia. I spent the better part of the last year in the first stage of grief: denial. I think I was able to stay in that stage for so long simply because I was so far away from him. When we chatted on the phone, I sometimes caught him when he was having a rough day with his memory, but I would also often catch him when he was doing just fine.

I was fueled by those “just fine” conversations, and decided that anything else was a tiny little blip. But the tables have turned, especially in the last two months, and now the “just fine” conversations are the blips, and the “not so good” conversations are becoming more normal. We spent Thanksgiving with my father, and I was so sad to hear him ask, the morning after our holiday feast, if Thanksgiving had already happened or not. He honestly just couldn’t remember.

Dementia is some heavy stuff, you guys, and I promise I’m not trying to bum you out. But there are hundreds of thousands of people who are very close to someone battling dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease as well. And it’s a battle with a known outcome. Our loved ones aren’t going to win. Kind of puts a damper on holiday shopping for them, not gonna lie.

Honoring the Wishes of a Loved One with Dementia

My father is steadfast in his desire to lead an independent life for as long as possible. We are working very hard (my older brother, in particular) to honor this wish for as long as possible, keeping in mind that we have to keep him safe at the same time. So this year I’m looking for a few gifts for him that might help him feel independent in some way. One of the gifts that I’m most excited about is the VTech CareLine Telephone System.

For me the BIG standout is that the primary phone set, as well as the accessory handset have large photo spaces so that the person using it can just push the picture of the person that need to call. Very simple, very effective.

Additionally, there’s a portable safety pendant that can be worn around the neck or clipped to your waistband, and it has speed-dial capabilities. You guys, this is HUGE to me. My father fell in his home a month ago and just laid there for who knows how long (sounds like 3o minutes or more) before he had the strength to get back up. If he had been wearing a device like this, he could have gotten immediate help.

Honestly, it’s issues like my father falling that make me the most nervous about him being home by himself. The day is going to come when he is going to need to transition to some sort of assisted care situation. But devices like the VTech CareLine Telephone System can help make that time a little bit further away. And since my father wants his independence more than anything else, I’ll do anything I can to help him get it.

If your loved one doesn’t like to answer the phone if they don’t know who it is, or if they are even in a different room when the phone rings, another great feature is that the Caller ID announces who is calling. It can go up to 40 decibels, so if hearing impairment is an issue, it can be addressed. The device is also hearing aid compatible and has a low battery indicator so that it can be recharged before it runs out of energy.

Finally, I am very appreciative of the fact that here are no third parties involved in order to make full use of the CareLine. That means there are monthly monitoring fees, installation costs, contracts, or any of that stuff. The costs are kept reasonable for that peace of mind that people in my situation are seeking.

There’s so much about dementia that is just plain sad. I’m honestly relieved to have something to put under the tree for my dad that is going to help him feel supported and cared for, and like his wishes are being heard.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a VTech SN6197 and SN6307 (same as featured above!). This combo has a retail value of $169.90!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

After you’ve entered here, be sure to head over to B-Inspired Mama and to A Mom with a Lesson Plan. They are also doing giveaways, so you can increase your odds of winning! 🙂 Also be sure to head over to Your Modern Family for tomorrow’s giveaway!

Silk Cashew Milk: The Perfect Iced Coffee Pairing

December 1, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I know, I know…it’s the time of year for HOT beverages. But not if you are me and are simply addicted to iced coffee year-round. I know I’m not the only one out there!

I’m always looking for fun new things to try with my coffee, and when I heard about Silk Cashew milk, I new I had to try it. Cashews are my favorite nut, to start with, so I was sure I would love it.

And I really do, friends! I first tried the product on its own, and I was really pleasantly surprised by the nutty flavor (which of course, is AWESOME in coffee!) AND I liked how nice and creamy it was. I try to avoid drinking too many of my calories throughout the day (a tough thing to do when you LOVE yummy iced coffees) so Silk Cashew Milk is actually a great find for me because it is creamier than skim milk, but it has fewer calories*. That’s a win/win!

Over the weekend I experimented with making some cashew milk cubes for my iced coffee and I came up with a recipe that works for me! This one has a holiday twist so that I can be just as “in the spirit” as everyone out there drinking their hot peppermint-flavored fancy whateveryoudrink. I’ll take mine over ice, please!

Cashew Milk Peppermint Cubes for Iced Coffee

2 cups Silk Cashew Milk, Original
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
1 Tbsp Stevia (or substitute with your sweetener of choice)

Combine all ingredients together in a bowl. Stir until the sweetener has dissolved. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid.

When ready to make iced coffee, use 3 cashew milk cubes and 3 regular ice cubes. Make a more concentrated brew than you would normally drink if you were making hot coffee. The more concentrated brew combined with the cashew milk cubes will produce an iced coffee that isn’t watered down! 🙂

I hope you enjoy the delicious flavor as much as I do! Cheers!

*Silk Original Cashew milk: 60 cal/serv; skim dairy milk: 80 cal/serv. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 26. Data consistent with typical skim dairy milk.

This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.