review - Stuff Parents Need

The Perfect Gift for the Wired Family: CableKeeps

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

Thanks to CableKeeps for partnering with me on this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

If you have tweens or teens at home, or perhaps even little ones who love their tablets, then you would probably consider yourself to be a fully “wired” family. I know my family regularly makes use of our Intel AIO computer, the laptop, our 2 smartphones, the Chromebook, the iPad, and coming to our house this Christmas, two Kindle Fires for kids. That’s 8 devices for a family of 4.

So, um, yeah, we’re pretty plugged in!

Many families are similar to us in that regard, and that means that you probably have chargers all over the house. If I had to guess how much time I’ve spent walking all over the house looking for a charger because a certain device was running low on battery life, I would probably be embarrassed by the total. Additionally, I have lost cords in hotel rooms, and also lost them to improper storage or just leaving them around where the cat could get to it and chew on it for a while. These cable chargers are an important part of our day-to-day lives, but they are a bit of pain.

CableKeeps is a product that is designed for families just like mine, or really for anyone who makes frequent use of electronic devices that need a cable cord (so that would be pretty much everyone!). CableKeeps come in a variety of colors to meet individual preferences (this is also nice if you want every person in your family to have their own color to distinguish cords).

CableKeeps also come in a variety of styles to best accommodate different types of cable cords. Goldie is designed for iPhone, iPod or iPad Mini. Gulp is the CableKeeps of choice for your iPad. There are also some great options for folks with international adapters (my sister-in-law and brother-in-law live in Switzerland…CableKeeps are still a great gift idea for them!).

CableKeeps are a very handy little device to keep your cables from getting tangled up in your purse or bag, which is so nice for traveling. They can also eliminate the plethora of long cables you might have sticking out of your outlets. Those always look messy and CableKeeps can keep the cords looking nice and tidy. If members of your family tend to argue over which cords belong to them, CableKeeps can nip that “borrowing” business in the bud so that everyone always knows which cords belong to them. Additionally, the Goldie CableKeep is designed to be a pedestal for your phone, which will keep it off the floor or the counter, and therefore, keep it cleaner. My phone is on the floor or the kitchen counter pretty much every time it gets charged, so I think this is a really nice feature.

Also? CableKeeps are adorable. Their fun design combined with their excellent utility and their budget-friendly price point (starting at $13!) makes this an excellent holiday gift idea for pretty much anyone on your list. You can even buy the Goldie Plus CableKeep with a 5w charger and the optional Micro USB cable in case your family doesn’t have as many as it needs due to lose and improper storage. CableKeeps are 100% recyclable for when the time comes to get an entirely different set of cords and chargers, and they are proudly made in the USA.

Where to Buy (and How to Save)

You can find CableKeeps at The Container Store, Fab.com, Amazon, and the Nice by Design website: www.nicebydesign.com Shop on the company website and enjoy a 15% off discount (use NICEPARENTS at checkout). This is exclusive for Stuff Parents Need readers! Lucky you!

Trying to Conceive? Meet The Stork OTC (Giveaway!)

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

This post is brought to you by The Stork OTC and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

Some of you may recall a post I wrote a while back about a conference call I attended where I learned about this amazing conception aid called The Stork. The company was working really hard at that time to get the device FDA approved to be sold over the counter (OTC).

I’m thrilled to tell you that The Stork is now The Stork OTC, and you can find it at CVS, no prescription needed!

The Stork OTC is a product that uses cervical cap insemination, which can help with many common fertility difficulties. It is unique on the market, and the fact that it is now available over the counter is wonderful news for the thousands of couples who are struggling to conceive at any given time.

The Stork OTC is also a drug-free, economical option that is far less expensive and less invasive. It’s a really great first step for couples who might be struggling, or who simply want to maximize their chances of conceiving in a given month.

The Stork OTC Packaging

Here’s a great video showing how the device works so you can get a better understanding.

Very clever, right? Such a simple, yet effective concept. I’m so glad it’s available over the counter now! If you want to follow along with the brand, be sure to follow their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Twitter Party!

I hope you can join me on Twitter tomorrow, November 6th, at 2pm ET. We’re going to be chatting about The Stork OTC, and we’ll also be giving away FIVE $50 CVS/pharmacy gift cards! To get more details on the party, click here, and be sure to follow #TheStorkOTC hashtag during the party, as well as the hosts (@TheMotherhood, @TheMotherhood25, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann).

Giveaway!

I’m also hosting a giveaway right now for The StorkOTC! One lucky winner will get to try it out or pass it along to a loved one who might benefit from it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Clever Concept: Weighted Swaddling Blanket from Nested Bean

November 4, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Product provided for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

Our first child LOVED to be swaddled. In fact, she was still swaddled before going to sleep on the bottom half of her body until she was 18 months old. It was a very loose swaddle by that point, I promise, but that child WOULD NOT SLEEP without her swaddle. It was intense, y’all.

And that same little girl is an amazing sleeper and always has been. Our second child was not a fan of the swaddle. She also is not a fan of going to sleep at night. Coincidence? Possibly, but for what it’s worth, I’m a big advocate of swaddling and of not being quick to give up if your baby doesn’t seem to love it. You might just need the right blanket!

nested bean 1

I thought this new concept from Nested Bean was really clever. They’ve released the Zen Swaddle, and it actually has a few weighted areas on the blanket so that when the baby is all swaddled up, it will have the simulated touch of a parent. This is a MAJOR win for the parents out there with babies who will only sleep when you are holding them. Holding a baby for every nap session doesn’t sound like a horrible thing, especially if it’s been a while since you got to hold a baby, but trust me, you will more or less want to die after a while with this set up, because you, the parent, aren’t getting much sleep at all, and what little sleep you are getting is really crappy because, well, you are holding a baby.

While I don’t have a young infant to try this product out with, I can tell you that the concept is really cool, and the product itself is very soft. If you are looking for a great baby shower gift, I think this swaddling blanket from Nested Bean is worthy! Prices start at $29.99 and you can find it on Amazon (at the moment it’s just $22.50!).

Did your kids love to be swaddled or not so much? I’d love to hear!

Tips for Family Tailgaiting…Even When You Aren’t a Football Family (Giveaway!)

October 31, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 38 Comments

Thanks to Bojangles’ for providing gift cards for review and for giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always!

I was born and raised in Alabama, taught to be a fan of the Crimson Tide before I even knew what football was, and have participated in many a tailgate in my day.

And between us, the only part of it that I ever really cared for was the food.

We are deep into the tailgaiting season, but my family doesn’t have to miss out on the fun of it all just because we aren’t watching a game. We decided this past weekend to take advantage of the absolutely GLORIOUS weather in Chattanooga, and also take advantage of the Bojangles’ Tailgate Special. We loaded up our car with our family and our picnic basket, and let Bojangles’ take care of everything else.

Bojangles’ is a regional quick service chain, so you may not have one in your area (check the locations to see if there’s one near you!). They are currently offering a great delicious way to get your family to the next tailgate, family reunion or picnic. We tried out the 12 piece meal that came with fried chicken, awesome biscuits, iced tea, and 3 sides. It also comes with plates, cups, napkins and sporks so that all you have to do is pick it up and you are ready! Word of advice, though: double check your order before you head out…we were missing cups and sporks which meant we had to swing back by our house because we didn’t notice before we left!.

So…how was the food? It was SO good! Everyone in my family was quiet for the first 10 minutes of our picnic. No words were exchanged other than, “more biscuits, please!”

Everything from full of flavor, and Tim and I both really appreciated the break from the kitchen. It made it really easy for us to have an afternoon of fun together with our girls.

In fact, since we didn’t have to prepare or do dishes after our meal that afternoon, and since we were able to head to the park for a picnic, we were also able to do a quick change while we were there and get into our costumes, as a trick-or-treat event was taking place that evening at the park. We got great spots in the line because we were already there having fun! It was truly a fantastic day, and it was a good reminder to me to really take advantage of those days when the weather is just perfect, and that might mean that you need to leave the meal prep up to someone else. Bojangles’ is a great option, in my opinion!

Giveaway!

One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $30 gift card to Bojangles’!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

An Easy Way to Make Trick-or-Treating More Fun at Your House

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

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

If you are reading this blog post, then you have some sort of a computer. Even those of you on mobile devices probably have something with a larger screen at your home. And if you do, then I’ve got a super simple idea to help you make all those little Elsas and other characters who show up at your house tomorrow night smile when you open the door.

Not talking about having candy, because I’m assuming that you’ve got that. Otherwise, you will have some seriously upset munchkins on your hands!

I’m talking about creating a fun ambiance without having to go spend $100 on decorations or even a costume for yourself (though bonus points to you if you have a costume! Kids love it when the grown ups dress up!).

I’m bringing my Intel All-in-One (AIO) computer over to our front entrance area tomorrow night. It has a beautiful, large screen which makes it perfect for showing eerie photos. I actually downloaded this set of 15 spooky images and set my computer to show a different one every 10 seconds. My girls already love it and I know the trick-or-treaters will like seeing it in the background, too.

I’m also going to have a playlist of kid-friendly Halloween music playing. You can find great sets of music on Youtube and just minimize the page so that your eerie photos are being displayed instead of the Youtube page.

And finally, I’ll dress up the screen just a bit by adding some spiderwebs for an extra spooky effect. Our computers are such an integral part of our lives; why not get them more involved in our festivities? 🙂

My Intel AIO is the perfect device to move all over the house to wherever it can be put to best use because it is so easy to tote around. There’s no tower to connect it to, and no cumbersome cords. All you need is right there on the screen. I just love it! For more details about my experience with this Intel device, check out my Intel AIO review.

And if you’d like more information on Intel AIO products, definitely check out Intel All in Ones as they come in a wide range of options!

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

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

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

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

charlie brown books

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

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

charlie brown 3

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

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

Honest Company Wipes Review: An Honest Assessment

October 27, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Affiliate links included. I only promote what I use and love!

I previously reviewed the diaper bundle that is offered through The Honest Company, and that bundle includes 4 packages of wipes. But in that post I didn’t say too much about the wipes, so I wanted to take the opportunity to share more of my thoughts about them, and to share tips on how to bring the cost down a bit on them.

I really like these wipes. They are probably my second favorite wipes on the market (Huggies Naturally Refreshing being my very favorite). They are thick and a decent size and I don’t usually have to use more than one to get the job done.

The price point is a bit high, at $4.95 for a package of wipes. That comes to 7 cents a wipe. My strategy is to add extra wipes as add-on products to my bundle (you can add them on to your essentials bundle or to your diaper and wipes bundle). Anything you add on to a bundle you get at 25% off, and you can add up to 3 products for a discount. The wipes you add on to a bundle will be just $3.71, or 5 cents per wipe. That’s better!

Bundles? What?

The Honest Company allows you to shop with them two ways. You can simply order whatever you like from the website a la carte. Or, you can become an Honest Company Bundles subscriber. By subscribing, you get a discount: 5 items in the essentials bundle for $35.95, or 4 packages of diapers and 4 packages of wipes in the diaper bundle, or 2 items from a selection in the health & wellness bundle. Using the subscription service can save you a lot of money…IF you know what you are doing! The per item cost for the essentials bundle, for example, is $7.20. They actually offer some items in the bundle service that retail for less than $7.20. So don’t make the mistake of ordering those items! Once you get the hang of what you should and shouldn’t order, and what you should and shouldn’t add on to your order to take advantage of the 25% savings, you’ll really like the service. You can change the date any time you like. I once put my diaper bundle on hold for 2 full months…it was no problem at all!

New to The Honest Company? Start Here!

The Honest Company offers some great freebies to folks who are thinking of joining, including free diapers, so definitely check out my post on Honest Company free samples. After that, you’ll want to see my running list of Honest Company product reviews so that you can learn which products to buy and which ones to pass on, as well as how to bundle them for maximum savings.

My Experience Owning a Bounce House: Are They Worth It?

October 16, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

#spon: I’m required to disclose a relationship between my blog and MGAE. This could include MGAE providing me with content, product, access or other forms of payment.

October seems to be the month of never ending festivals on the weekends, which I have to tell you, I absolutely LOVE! And at pretty much every festival, there’s at least one bounce house. I spend quite a bit of time on the outside of bounce houses watching my little girls jump and squeal with delight; it’s a joy to see!

I’ve actually contemplated the idea of purchasing a bounce house of some sort for our own backyard, but I was quickly deterred by the expense and the sheer enormity of some of them; they simply looked like more trouble than they could possibly be worth.

But let me tell you, I absolutely LOVE the Triangle Bouncer from Little Tikes. I have a 2-year-old and 5-year-old and it seems perfect for both of them. It is currently on sale for $209, which is not an insignificant amount of money for most people, myself included. Yet I find the price point very in line with many other toys that parents purchase with the expectation of frequent play (tablets, gaming consoles, etc.). And this is one item that will, indeed, get VERY frequent play, I promise you that!

Let me walk you through the set up process, from delivery to take down!

The Triangle Bouncer will arrive in a box this size, weighing right at 30 pounds. Adorable child not included.

Everything you need except for an extension cord comes in the package. Once you unroll the bouncer in the part of the yard where you want to do set up, it’s time to blow it up!

Actually, it’s time to take advantage of your instruction manual so you can make sure you are following the steps correctly!

Ok, so NOW it’s time to blow it up. You have a machine that will make this easy right in the package. Yay!

There are two places where you actually tie pieces together. Obviously it is not truly air tight, and that is why your blower is continuously adding air while the kids play. Want to see exactly how long it takes to be inflated? (Spoiler alert: it’s a short video!)

Once the bouncer was inflated Tim used the spikes to secure it more to the ground. This is an important safety feature, so please don’t overlook it! It keeps the bouncer from falling victim to gusts of wind, and also keeps it from moving around on the ground while in use.

Have your kids make use of the shoe holder on the side of the bouncers, and set them loose! Our girls played for 40 minutes, only stopping because it was time for dinner. It was a MONSTER hit!

3 Reasons Why I Think This Bouncer Makes Sense

Now that I own a bouncer, I have some perspective on the pros and cons of having one, and I want to share with you why I would wholeheartedly recommend one to other parents with younger kids.

1. Energy release! We have noticed that our little ones have no trouble falling asleep on the nights when they have had bounce sessions. They get a lot of energy out in the afternoons this way, which is good for everyone in the family.

2. It’s bigger than you think, yet not TOO big. Tim and I both commented that the triangle bouncer was a surprisingly large size, and yet it is still not anything like the bouncers you see at festivals, in terms of its size. It’s pretty much perfect for 2 kids, maybe 3.

3. Set up and take down is easy. This was my biggest worry, hands-down. If it takes 20 minutes to set up and 20 minutes to break down, we’d just never use it. Thankfully, it is super quick, so it doesn’t feel like too much of a hassle. I will say that I don’t think it is a good idea to leave your bouncer out overnight, even deflated. I think the material isn’t meant for wet weather and you could encounter some problems if you leave it out. Just my two cents!

If you are on the lookout for your Christmas “showpiece” gift for the kids; that one that will really wow them, I think this bouncer or similar ones from Little Tikes are a GREAT choice. We are thrilled with ours, and now that we own one, we’d recommend them to anybody with a kid who loves to bounce! Check out the Little Tikes Website for a full listing of their bouncers (you’ll find a dozen varieties!).

And if you are a big Little Tikes fan, too, check out Team Little Tikes for more information on how you can become an advocate for the brand!

My Favorite Dry Shampoo, How to Earn Free Gift Cards, and $50 Giveaway! Woo!

October 15, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Thanks to Global Influence for partnering with me to make this post possible. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always!

I’ve been a fan of Suave products for quite some time, but in particular, I’m a HUGE fan of one item in their line. I think it works better than similar products that cost 4 times as much. It’s a steal, and you should buy 3 cans of it the next time you are in the store, no joke:

This is Suave Dry Shampoo. I bought it for less than $3, and I seriously like it better than a different brand I so foolishly bought at a salon for top dollar. So learn from my mistake!

Suave Family Perks

As if Suave’s incredible prices were reward enough, Suave has now partnered with Walmart to offer the program. Here’s how it works:

1. Purchase your favorite (or perhaps some new-to-you) Suave products at Walmart.

2. Upload a picture of your Walmart receipt on the and start earning great perks for your family.

3. Once you have earned 150 Suave Family Perks points, you can convert those points to a $5 Walmart e-gift certificate. That will almost get you 2 cans of my favorite dry shampoo! 🙂 I checked out their listing of what products are worth, and the point value is based on the price, but as an example, the dry shampoo would get you 30 points! You can see how it won’t take long at all to get to your free gift card!

This program is exclusive to Walmart, and is yet another great way to enjoy savings while also enjoying products that, at least in my experience, are on par with or even out perform similar products with MUCH higher price tags. Talk about a win/win situation!

Giveaway!

Suave and Walmart are SO excited about the savings they are offering to their customers that they want to throw a little giveaway! Who could use a $50 Walmart gift card? Um, everybody! Here’s your chance to win one! Good luck!

Suave Family Perks – Resourceful Mommy