review - Stuff Parents Need

Honest Company Women’s Complete One a Day Multivitamin: An Honest Assessment

November 28, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Referral links may be included. I’m a very happy Honest Company customer and I love sharing my thoughts on the value of their products.

Friends are you taking multivitamins on the regular? If not, I’ve got the perfect thing for you to request that Santa leave in your stocking this year (or if you are reading this at a different time of year, the perfect gift for you to get for yourself): Honest Company Women’s Complete One a Day Multivitamin.

This product is designed to be ultra-absorbable. Did you know many multivitamins are really hard for your body to break down, which makes them sort of pointless? Not this one! Furthermore, this blend has been specifically formulated for the needs of women, with amino acids, superfoods, healthy probiotics (something most multivitamins lack!) & digestive enzymes.

And because this product is made by The Honest Company, it is free of GMOs, soy, gluten, yeast, wheat, artificial flavors, dyes, preservatives and all sorts of other questionable stuff. This is why I love this company. I trust that they are making high quality products that will boost my health, not compromise it.

Honest Company offers wellness bundles, which allow you to get any two items on their wellness list for $35.95. The retail price for these vitamins is $19.95, so if you get them in a bundle, you will save $3.95 on your purchase. Additionally, you are offered the opportunity to get up to 3 more items from the wellness category at 25% off when you order a bundle. This is a GREAT opportunity to add in more vitamins, because at 25% off, each bottle will cost you just $14.96. So you could get a 5 month supply at one time if you wanted, or you could make other purchases from their offerings. I would recommend getting at least one more item so that your order total comes to $50 or higher, since shipping is FREE at that point. 🙂 Why put money into shipping when you could put it into more Honest Company products, instead?

I love these vitamins and I would highly recommend them to others. I also love having a wellness bundle. And remember, it’s SO easy to change the date when your next order will ship (seriously, you can put it off for months at a time if you so wish…not a big deal AT ALL, and you can do it online). And if you have never ordered from The Honest Company, check out my post on the Honest Company free trials that you should take advantage of first and foremost. I’ve also got a long list of Honest Company product reviews if you’ like to learn more about which products I recommend, and which ones I don’t.

Beauty Box 5 November 2015 Review: Some Strange Items Included!

November 26, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Box provided by Beauty Box 5 but all opinions are my own, as always. Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.

My November Beauty Box 5 arrived a few days ago, and it contained some really unusual items. Want to see?

So this particular box, at first glance, seemed to have more samples than full-size products. I think the soothing facial mask and possibly the DePuff eye pads are already full size. In both cases, I would never pay that amount for something that will get used up so quickly. But on the flip-side, this is part of what makes Beauty Box 5 so fun: I get to indulge in a few expensive products that I otherwise would never even try.

My favorite product in the group is probably the Vegan Lip & Cheek color. It goes on strong; I was surprised by the power of the color!

And yeah, I’ll admit it, though the moodchanging lip stick is something I would have bought when I was 13, It actually wears quite nicely (though I’m not convinced that you ever get more than just one shade out of it…unless I’m always in the same mood!).

So…not my favorite box. But the boxes of the last few months have been really outstanding, and I can objectively see where this is a good one, too (I just don’t get overly excited about stuff like face masks). Overall, I continue to love my Beauty Bo 5 subscription and I think it’s a must-have affordable monthly treat! If you subscribe for a year, each box is only $8.75, including shipping (that’s like paying for the lip stick in this month’s kit and getting everything else free!).

THE Box of the Season: It’s Fab, It’s Fit and It’s Fun!

November 23, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Special thanks to FabFitFun and Pollen-8 Media for providing a product sample. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. Referral links may be included at no expense to you.

Friends are you struggling a bit to come up with holiday gift ideas for yourself? Every year I tell myself that I’m going keep a running list of ideas for me, and every year I DON’T do it, and I draw a blank when people ask me for ideas.

If you find yourself in that position, here’s a great gift idea that I think you’ll really like! Ask for a FabFitFun VIP membership! FabFitFun sends out a VIP box to its members every 3 months (so 4 times a year) and it is loaded with full-size products and has a retail value of at least $200, all for just $49.99.

I was sent the fall box, and I cannot wait to show you all the goodies!

Inside this box I found 11 AWESOME items designed to help me stay fab and fit and to have fun this season. And the value of this box? A whopping $357!!!! Here are some of my favorite items.

Such an adorable design for this umbrella that retails for $32. I absolutely adore it.

It’s pretty hard to look at this photo and not have a good laugh. This has to be one of the most unique beauty treatments I have ever had. My daughter commented on how much I resembled C3PO, and I quite agree! This is the Gold Radiance Luxury Facial Mast with Collagen and Rose Oil by Passport to Beauty. It comes with 2 applications and retails for $65, so it really is quite an indulgence.

I have heard of the Puple Purse campaign, which is about supporting women who are suffering from domestic violence and financial abuse. By clipping this tassel onto your purse, you can help spread the word!

I also really loved this lip stain from Manna Kadar Cosmetics. This is a new brand to me, and I was incredibly impressed by the staying power of the product. Usually something this shiny just slips right off the lips, but I found this product to be much different, and I loved that. This retails for $24.

Other great items in this box:

3D White Brilliance 2-Step System by Crest (sample)
Flawless Skin Fluid by Doctor D. Schwab ($39)
HISY Battery Pack ($24.99)
Strength Tubing Ankle & Total Body Tone with DVD ($33)
Glass Crystal Bead Bracelet by Tribe Alive ($49)
Gift Card by Jeweler’s Wife ($15)
Gift Card by Picture It On Canvas ($75)

Additionally, the VIP box comes with a magazine that shares more detailed information about the products in the box and the artists who created them. I really enjoyed getting such a nice surprise in the mail, and I think it would be a really fund treat to look forward to each season.

If you are drawing a blank on what to ask for this year, check out the FabFitFun VIP membership and consider asking for that, and then you’ll get amazing gifts all year long!

Rockin’ that Boho Chic Look at Preschool: FabKids November Style

November 23, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Thanks to FabKids for providing the review outfit. I’m a proud FabKids customer and love showing off their looks! Referral links may be included.

No doubt you’ve seen fringe on pretty much everything this fall. It’s a very hot look, and one that I myself am loving! Look at these FabKids boots that just came out and that get the trend just perfect.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it seems that this particular style is sold out right now! But check out the FabKids boots selection because they have dozens of looks that you just might love.

Now let’s talk about the whole outfit.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and the look little Layah gave the camera says an awful lot. She LOVES this outfit and I think it’s safe to say that she feels quite confident in it 😉

I think the whole looks is just adorable. This is the Boho Love outfit, which you can get for $29.95 (includes dress and leggings in your choice of colors). It’s a winning outfit, for sure. And the pattern of the dress is so bright and cheery!

If you’ve never tried FabKids before, be sure to give them a look. By using my referral link, you can get an outfit free when you buy your first outfit. Also note their great sale section!

Celebrating the DVD Release of Inside Out with a Simple Feelings Headquarters

November 5, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #InsideOutEmotions #CollectiveBias

Over the summer my husband took our girls to the movies to see the highly praised film, Inside Out, while I stayed at home to take advantage of a quiet Saturday afternoon and get some work done.

Not going to that movie turned out to be one of my big regrets of the summer, because my girls AND my husband, Tim, simply could not stop talking about how wonderful it was. Over the next few months Tim would draw on situations that happened in the movie when coaching the girls through emotional struggles. I was so thrilled to see what a great learning tool a movie could actually be. And I was definitely jealous that I couldn’t make use of it since I hadn’t seen it.

So I marked my calendar for the Inside Out DVD release date, which was November 3rd, and high-tailed it to Walmart that day so that we could watch the movie as a family, and also so that we could create our own Feelings Headquarters at home. If you didn’t realize that the DVD is out and you need to go high-tail it to your Walmart, no worries. I’ll wait for you! 😉

Headquarters is a really important part of the story, as that is where the feelings live, and where they take turns getting to play center stage. I thought it would be great to create our own little space in Layah’s room where the girls could hang out with the various emotions and also where we could talk about how we are feeling. Joy and Sadness have been with us since this summer, and when we went to Walmart a few days ago, we scooped up Fear and Anger as well (they were sold out of Disgust, so now she’s on our Christmas wish list!).

And of course, I snagged the DVD I’ve been waiting for months to see. I noticed that Walmart has 3 different DVD options (standard, Blu-Ray, and Blu-Ray 3D). You might even notice that Inside Out has its own cute display area!

While we were at the store, my girls tried to convince me to buy Bing Bong, as well, but since I hadn’t yet seen the movie, I had no clue what his importance was in the film, and so I refused. My girls, being clever little things, fashioned their own Bing Bong, complete with a sack full of “core memories!”

Now that mommy has seen the movie (and cried profusely during a certain scene starring Bing Bong) he’s been put on the wish list right next to Disgust.

If you haven’t seen the movie, friends, I am going to have to insist that you do. I don’t mean to be pushy, but this is honestly one of the best family movies I’ve seen in years. The story is truly engaging to people of all ages (I get bored VERY easily at movies and I didn’t budge from my couch throughout the entire thing). The opportunities for discussion are plentiful. And of course, the characters are just plain fun.

And it’s so easy to keep the feelings talk going by carving out a little headquarters in your child’s room. We used a simple chalkboard sign and some chalk markers, along with the licensed TOMY Toys that we have and some improvised products to round things out.

Just this morning my oldest was playing in this corner of the room and said, “Mom! Come and see how I’m feeling this morning!” and I found her holding both Joy and Sadness. She was happy to be going to school, but a little sad because she realized that she didn’t eat enough breakfast. We remedied that situation before she headed out the door, of course. But that was just such a cool moment, seeing my girl literally embracing her emotions, and recognizing that her feelings can be complex.

Have you seen Inside Out? I’d love to hear what you thought about it! And if you are looking for an awesome gift to give to a family with kids this holiday season, I think you’ll have a winner on your hands if you pick up Inside Out and some TOMY Toys from your nearest Walmart.

(Giveaway!) The Thrill of the Draw: Introducing a Child to Archery with the Right Equipment

November 5, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 88 Comments

This post brought to you by Genesis Bows. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

A few weeks ago I sat my 6-year-old down in front of the computer and asked for her to become a designer. Specifically, I needed her to design a bow and arrow that she would like to have as her very own. Darah, at this point, knew absolutely nothing about the sport of archery, but she had a wonderful time playing around on the Genesis Bows website and using the Genesis Build-a-Bow section to create one by herself.

Yes, Genesis Bows offers custom designs and they make the process so easy that a 6-year-old with no knowledge of archery can build a bow online. This was such a great way to introduce my child to this sport and to pique her curiosity as we waited for the bow to arrive (which, by the way, took less than a week!). We ordered the kit so that we could also have the arrows we needed, an arm guard and a really nice target for practice.

We talked some about Merida and about Robin Hood, as those are the most famous archers in her world (while an older child might be drawn into the sport thanks to Katniss Everdeen). She was quite excited to give it a try.

Breaking in the bow turned into a family affair, as we all wanted to learn together about how the Genesis Mini Darah selected worked with her arrows. Dad watched some Genesis Archery on YouTube to better understand some basic techniques, and he got to shoot the very first arrow. The speed and intensity of it definitely scared Darah a bit, as she realized just how powerful her bow really was. Honestly, we were all a bit taken aback by it. A Genesis Bow is the real deal! She actually shed a few tears because once she realized the power of her bow, she felt intimidated by it because she is a beginner. So we plopped down in the grass and had a talk about what makes archery so wonderful for kids, even from their very first time shooting a bow and arrow.

Benefits of Archery

Over 13,000 schools in the United States have picked up on the great skills kids can aquire through archery. The Genesis Original is the official bow of the National Archery in the Schools program, and is being used to help millions of kids build confidence, practice focusing, develop discipline, improve hand-eye coordination, enhance balance, and also value being outdoors in nature. We also explained to Darah that archery takes practice just like anything else in life, and that by following some basic safety rules, she can feel comfortable with her bow and arrow.

As a family, we set some rules about practice time and about where observers should stand during practice sessions. We also adjusted the bow so that she could more easily pull it back on her own. Once she felt comfortable with the safety of others and herself, and comfortable with her bow, I was floored to watch my child go from scared and uncomfortable to positively glowing with pride. Friends, this transformation seemed to happen in mere seconds. I will never forget this moment!

As you think about holiday gifts for your kids this year, I want to encourage you to think about a Genesis Bow. Children can’t outgrow the Genesis Original because there is no specific draw length. So it is a gift that can be played with for years and years, and that grownups can play with, too! You might also be introducing your child to a sport that will bring them a lot of joy, and that will certainly help them develop important life skills. And if your child does become truly passionate about archery, you can feel confident now that his or her introductory bow was of the highest quality and fit correctly, so that bad habits aren’t formed with an ill-fitting bow.

Win it!: Oh my word!!!! Genesis is giving away a build-a-bow voucher to one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader! Enter for your chance to win below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Honest Beauty Everything Cream Foundation Review: An Honest Assessment

October 29, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Referral links may be included. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post is not sponsored by Honest Beauty or The Honest Company.

I’m so excited to start sharing with you my thoughts about Honest Beauty products! This company is an off-shoot of The Honest Company, and it’s focus is on creating beauty products that look great and that are honestly free of ingredients that are questionable for our health and wellness. If you are new to the company, you should start with my Honest Beauty free trial post and learn how to snag some great freebies. Let’s dive in!

Today we are going to look more closely at the Honest Beauty Everything Cream Foundation. I am quite pale, so I ordered the lightest shade, Snow.

Here’s a look at the outside of the compact. So shiny!!!

Inside you’ll find a cream type foundation (frankly, it seems like a small amount!) and underneath the foundation is where you’ll find the applicator, which is a thin, round sponge.

As you can see from the photo, I find it quite difficult to keep the compact looking nice and neat, as I tend to swipe my sponge over the product before applying it.

Now I want to show you what an application of the foundation looks like on my skin. I applied moisturizer several hours before I took this shot, and I do NOT have on any type of BB cream, or any other makeup for that matter. Also, I’m 35 and have two young kids, so please have mercy on my honest photo!

Ok, so here’s my assessment: first, I do think the foundation looks better in my case with a BB cream underneath, but that’s because I do need a heavier amount of coverage due to having splotchy skin.

I do notice a difference in the appearance of my fine lines, so that’s a big plus!

I also have noticed that the shade is a hair lighter than my skin tone. I think that as we head further into fall and then into winter, it will work for me. It’s borderline right now. When I tried it on a month ago it was just too light.

For me, there’s no way to use this without my beloved concealor as well, but that’s pretty much par for the course for me. I’d call the coverage medium.

So…I like it. I don’t LOVE it, and I’m quite curious to see just how long it will last, as again, it doesn’t appear to me to be a large amount of product, so I’m concerned that I’ll run out very quickly once it becomes my everyday choice. I’ll try to update you once I know for sure (though I’m putting this one away for one more month to let my skin get a bit more pale before I start using it).

How to Buy It:

So Honest Beauty, as you may know, offers bundles where you can choose 3 products for $50, and shipping is free. You are signing up for a subscription, but it’s EASY to change the date and push back your next subscription as many times as you want without penalty. Canceling just requires a phone call and they give you NO hassle.

This product, if you purchase it a la carte, is $30, so if it works for you, it’s a STEAL to put in your bundle. I haven’t tried this, but if this was a product I LOVED, I’d attempt to buy 3 at a time to see if that’s allowed for the bundle. Let us know if you’ve tried it! 🙂

And if you have tried this product, let us know in the comments what shade you tried and what you thought about it.

Honest Beauty Product Reviews: An Honest Assessment

October 29, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Hi friends!

Over the next year, I’m going to be working my way through the Honest Beauty Collection by purchasing the products on my own and giving you my honest assessments, just as I have done (an am continuing to do) with Honest Company products.

If you are totally new to Honest Beauty, start by checking out my Honest Beauty free trial post. You’ll find out the very best way to get an introduction to some of their great products (all you have to pay is s&h!). Then come back here to find the links to the products you want to hear about.

Is there a product I haven’t reviewed yet? Let me know that you want to see it and I’ll try to get it ordered!

Everything Cream Foundation (Snow)
Truly Kissable Lip Crayon (multiple colors added as I try them)
Creme Blush (Truly Teasing)
Eyeshadow Trio (Soft Sand)
Truly Lush Mascara + Lash Primer
True Velvet Eyeliner
Luminizing Powder
Everything Tinted Moisturizer
Younger Face Deep Hydration Cream

Holiday Style from FabKids

October 27, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Special thanks to FabKids for the complimentary outfit. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. We are proud FabKids customers! Referral links may be included.

We are still and handful of days away from the kids wearing their Halloween costumes, but it’s already time to be thinking about their holiday outfits. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be a difficult (or expensive) decision for you to make in the midst of everything else on your list. I highly recommed checking out the holiday shop at FabKids!

There are SO many great snazzy looks for the season there. Truly, there’s something for everyone! Darah selected this super fun black, gold and red ensemble.

The dress and the pants come together for a reasonable price of $29.95! Search for the red glimmer outfit on the site to find it. It’s sold in sizes 2T- 14.

One of the things I love about FabKids clothing is how easy it is to still be a kid in their clothes. They are designed for movement and playfulness, for sure. That’s one of the reasons why my kids reach for their FabKids clothes again and again!

We also did some experimenting with a holiday hair do. I simply created two braids and then pinned them up in a criss cross fashion. It was shockingly simple and looked so adorable!

Be sure to check out the holiday looks for girls and boys and see if you can find the just right outfit. You won’t have to brave the mall this time of year, and if you need to make an exchange due to fit (or whatever the reason!) FabKids makes is SUPER easy. Truly they offer a hassle-free shopping experience, which is yet one more reason why we shop with them frequently.

I’d love to hear if you’ve even started thinking about holiday outfits for the year, yet. Do you have a favorite FabKids look? I’m totally swooning over the twilight outfit!