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How to Shop Online for Gently Used Clothing (And Earn Money!)

March 21, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Referral links included. Read on to find out how you can get your own to share Twice with your friends!

A few months ago, I noticed that my little sister, Laura, was raving about an online clothing store called Twice. It reminded me a bit of ThredUp, in that they both sell gently used clothing items online. Twice is limited to women’s clothing, though, and tends to have a “tighter” selection. By that I mean that they are pretty darn picky about what they will accept. The result is a lot of really nice clothes, so that’s really good for the buyer!

I also appreciate that Twice has a list of the brands they will accept. Plain and simple, if the brand you want to sell isn’t on the list, they won’t accept it, even if it is totally adorable. That might be a little frustrating to the seller, but unlike ThredUp, where you just send in everything you’ve got and hope for the best (and are often SUPER disappointed when 75% of it gets rejected), you at least have a good idea from the start if your clothing has a chance of being accepted.

How to Sell on Twice

If you want to sell clothes on Twice, you ask for them to send you a pre-paid shipping bag. The bag is sized generously, and can probably hold up to 15 items, just depending on their bulk. They provide good guidelines to help you determine if you should send something in or not.

I went through my closets and found three items I never wear and that I was ready to send to the thrift store. Why not send them in to Twice for a little cash, instead? I sent in one item from Banana Republic and two items from LOFT.

It took about 10 days for an offer to come through from them. One item was rejected due to having a small stain on it (I hadn’t noticed it, but I believe them that it was there, as I’m not exactly the world’s most observant person). The other two were accepted. I thought the payout was a little low (I earned $3.00 for both items, and I was offered an additional .75 if I turned the cash into store credit, which I did). For me, though, I ultimately felt at peace with the decision, as I sent in things I would have just donated, anyway. This way I earned a little credit to buy something new (to me).

If you feel like you could get close to what Twice is selling clothing for by selling it on your own, then don’t send it in for them to purchase, as they will likely offer you somewhere between 10-25% of what they plan to sell it for. But if you don’t have the time or the savvy to do that, then send it on in and be done with it!

How to Buy on Twice

Now for the buying part (which is the most fun!). One tip I have for purchasing clothing online is to go with the brands that you know work for you. I was very pleased to see that on Twice you can not only sort by size, but also by brand. I immediately started looking at their listings from Ann Taylor and from LOFT. I know this company well, and I have confidence that their pieces will fit me.

And what do you know? I found a pretty red tank from Ann Taylor on the site for $10.95. Is that more than I would pay at a thrift store? Yes. But I got a retail/online shopping experience while shopping for gently used clothes, as opposed to a thrift store experience, which takes quite a bit of time, and sorting through a lot of duds. I knew when I saw this that it had already been carefully inspected, and so I wouldn’t get it home and discover a stain or a hole (I have done that COUNTLESS times with thrift store purchases). And I didn’t have to leave the house to find it, either! Sometimes it is worth paying a bit more for things to come straight to your door.

How to Get The BEST Prices on Twice: Share!

While my tank was $10.95 plus a few dollars in shipping, I paid way less than that, because I had a $10 credit thanks to signing up through my sister, who was already a member. If you’d like to check out Twice, I have a $10 credit to offer you! They reward their members who spread the word. If you sign up and then make a purchase, you get $10 off your first order, and then they send me a $10 credit. If you want to sell something, you’ll get another $10 credit (and so will I!). And then if you tell your friends about Twice and send them your referral link (every member gets one), then THEY can get $10 for signing up and another $10 for selling enough to earn a $10 or higher offer, and you get rewarded just like they do. My little sister has earned over $100 in credit to the store just by shouting from the rooftops about her love for Twice. And here’s my favorite thing about the credits: they will let them apply to shipping costs! Most places never let referral credits go toward shipping, so kudos to Twice for really looking after their members!

To get your credit, all you have to do is sign up. That’s it!

If you sign up and buy something, PLEASE tell me what you found. I absolutely love shopping with friends and want to hear about your treasure hunt!

Getting some relaxation time with MAM!

March 19, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

by Alanna Peters

I received a complimentary product from MAM for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

What relaxes you? For me it’s a cup of coffee (or a pint of beer…depending on what time/day it is!) For my newborn, it just happens to be my boobs. Babies naturally have a sucking reflex, and usually Mom’s breast is what they need/want. However, sometimes Mom isn’t always available or doesn’t want to be used as a human pacifier. (Seriously!) My little one is trying SO hard to find her thumb but is only successful at finding it about 10% of the time. We are working to get her to take a pacifier for those occasions when she so desperately needs to suck in order to calm herself enough to fall asleep. Right now we are trying the MAM Start, which are sized specially for newborns. Aren’t they cute! (They also come in pink and blue.)

The suggested retail price for MAM Pacifiers is $5.99 each or $7.49 for a pack of two. I highly recommend getting a pack of two so you can keep one at home and keep a spare on hand in your diaper bag!

Here are some highlights of MAM pacifiers:

lightweight
orthodontically correct
BPA-free, PVC-free, lead-free and CPSIA-Compliant
thinner, softer nipple puts less pressure on baby’s jaws and teeth
variety of products for different ages and stages

MAM has won numerous awards for its products and is a proud supporter of numerous charities that reach expectant parents and children in need globally. MAM knows that being a parent is hard, so its mission is to combine the best in technological innovation, medically sound function and contemporary design to provide parents with smart and simple solutions and to give babies the best start in life. I highly recommend that you check out the brand’s product range which includes anti-colic bottles, teethers, oral care items, and more! MAM’s award-winning products are sold in 30 countries and over five continents.

For more information about MAM products, please visit mambaby.com.

Follow MAM:
Facebook: facebook.com/MAMbabyUSA
Twitter: @MAMBABY
Pinterest: Pinterest.com/MAMUSA
YouTube: Subscribe to MAMbabyUSA
Blog: blog.mambaby.com

Honest Company Organic Dish Towels Review: An Honest Assessment

March 18, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Referral links included. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

I’m really having a lot of fun showcasing all of the Honest.com products that I’m trying out. If you’d like to my list of detailed Honest Company reviews that I’ve done, definitely check those out before deciding what to order from them.

Today I’d like to show you a product that might surprise you to find in the Honest Company lineup: organic dish towels. These are, in my experience, work horses in the kitchen, yet they aren’t any sort of official cleaning product.

These come in a pack of 2 for $7.95. I think that’s comparable to a price you might find in a store for traditional dish towels. I actually think the price is on the low end for comparable dish towels made with organic cotton, though!

The design is simple, but quite lovely. I’ve been using my 2 dish towels frequently, and find them to perform just as well as other similarly-designed dish towels. They absorb well, and they are sturdy enough to take on scrubbing jobs, too.

I actually purchased a second set after trying out these towels for myself, as I think they make a lovely and practical hostess gift. I would be delighted to receive something like this from guests, and I think the price point is very reasonable for a gift like that, too.

How to Get a Good Deal (And a GREAT Deal) on Honest Company Dish Towels

Ok, so since these dish towels are priced at $7.95 on the website (remember, you get 2), that makes them a good item to include in your essentials bundle. Essentials bundle items cost you $7.20 each, so since this item’s starting price is higher than $7.20, you will save money on it if you purchase it in a bundle. With that said, it is also a great item for you to add on to the bundle additions. When you purchase a bundle, you get to add up to 3 extra items to your bundle order, and each of those 3 items are offered at a 25% discount. So if you purchase these as an add-on, they will cost just $5.96!

Is This Your First Order?

If you are new to Honest.com products, you need to get yourself all of the freebies available before placing an order. I’ve got a post that tells you how to get a bunch of stuff totally free from Honest.com as a welcome gift! 🙂

Sound-Off

Have you tried the Honest Organic Dish Towels, yet? What did you think about them?

Honest Company Bathroom Cleaner Review: An Honest Assessment

March 15, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Referral links included. All thoughts are my own, as always.

I’ve been really looking forward to telling you about this product, friends. It is the fourth product from The Honest Company that I’ve reviewed (missed the others? Check out all my reviews for almost every Honest product!).

So today I want to talk about the Honest Bathroom Cleaner. I LOVE it!!! And here’s the sad thing: we had it for about a month before I knew I liked it at all. That’s because my husband typically cleans the bathroom. But a few weeks ago I was tidying up in there, and noticed that the sinks needed to be wiped down. I reached for this product, spritzed it a few times, and totally fell in love (to the extent that one can fall in love with a bathroom cleaner, that is).

The scent is what got me at first. It is eucalyptus and mint, and while those are both pretty strong scents, the result here is mild, yet fabulous. It smells so fresh and clean! It actually made me want to find more things to clean with it (something I am guilty of NEVER EVER EVER EVER).

I also thought it did a great job of getting everything clean. I wouldn’t recommend this product for cleaning something that has been neglected for 2 months, but for weekly cleaning jobs or quick clean ups here and there, it is absolutely perfect. We use it in the tub, on the shower walls, on our bathroom counters, and in our sinks.

How to Buy It (and How NOT to Buy It):

This is another product that you should NOT list as one of your 5 items in the essentials bundle. Instead it should be one of the 3 add-ons you are allowed to purchase for an additional 25% off. For the bundle, you get 5 items for $36, which equals $7.20 per items. But to purchase this item alone is just $5.95. So either purchase it without purchasing a bundle at all, or make it a bundle add-on. Bundle add-ons are 25% off, which means you can buy this for $4.46 that way. And always keep in mind, too, that you get free shipping if you purchase $50 or more when you shop. Pay attention to your total, because if you are getting close to $50, you might as well buy a little more to save that $5.95 shipping cost.

New to The Honest Company? Get Some FREE Stuff First!

If you have never purchased from The Honest Company, then let your introduction be with a bunch of free stuff. I’ve got the scoop on how to get lots of free samples from The Honest Company. Start there, for sure!

Impossible To Do Lists and Still Time for Breakfast

March 15, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post was created in partnership with Quaker. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So it’s Saturday morning and I’m staring at a task list that is ambitious, to say the least:

1. Attempt a coupon match-up when shopping at my local grocery store, Bi-Lo, for this week’s groceries. The couponing is inspired by the gross amount of money we are about to spend and have already spent this week (see #2 and #7).

2. Head to Home Depot and/or Lowe’s and pick out a small outdoor storage shed.

3. Itemize all of the stuff in the trunk of my car that needs to go to the thrift store.

4. Head over to Walmart for a few purchases I can’t make at Bi-Lo.

5. Take photos for 4 different upcoming blog posts.

6. Prepare lunch and dinner for the crew today.

7. Implement some of the organizing ideas we learned from the professional organizer we hired this week.

Ok, so that wore me out a little bit just writing it all down. Today is definitely going to be an exercise in speed and endurance. So I need to fuel up this morning with something that is going to give me a good start. And I’m NOT adding “cook breakfast” to that already lengthy list!

Here’s my breakfast!

This is a Quaker Breakfast Shake ($2 off coupon here: http://bit.ly/1cSke6n ) . I’m drinking strawberry this morning, and will be trying chocolate tomorrow morning. As someone who LOVES drinks that are cold and sweet, this is definitely a winner! If I was getting a later start, I could have even taken this with me in the car while running errands.

And as for the taste? Really good! It is thick, but still very easy to drink with a straw. It is shockingly smooth, as well. I was expecting it to have a bit more “grit” to it, considering that is does contain whole grain oats (8 g). But nope! And that’s a good thing for folks with texture issues.

Additionally, it gets me started with 10g of protein and 6g of fiber (that’s 24% of my daily need!). It also comes it at a very reasonable 200 calories.

If your mornings are too busy for a hot breakfast, and you even think that they are too busy for a cold breakfast, definitely check out Quaker Breakfast shakes. Throw them in the fridge, and then grab and go as you head out the door.

What are you up to this weekend? Anything more fun/exciting/less expensive than what’s in store for me? I hope so! 🙂

Trying Out Better Life Cleaners (As Seen on Shark Tank)

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

Complimentary products were provided for review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

If you watch the show Shark Tank, where businesses present their products and services for consideration to a team of investors, then you likely saw Better Life Cleaners featured. This is an entire line of cleaners that is so non-toxic that one of the founders literally put his money where is mouth is and sprayed the cleaners in his mouth in front of the team evaluating him on the show.

And I have to say, that gave these products a lot of street cred! As someone who has a toddler on her heels all day, wanting to do anything and everything that mommy does, having cleaners that are TRULY safe my my child to touch, and yes, even ingest (God forbid) is important.

Earlier today, for example, I was trying out the scrubbing product called “Even the Kitchen Sink.” And guess what? Layah tasted it. No, of course, not by intention. I simply set the bottle down and was cleaning an area of our stainless steel dishwasher front, and then I turned around in time to see a white speck of cleaner on Layah’s fingers, headed straight to her lips. It reached her mouth before I did, and while I wiped it off once I reached her, I also didn’t sweat it.

Speaking of that cleaner, I wanted to highlight that it is a product intended to use on multiple surfaces, such as glass stove tops, stainless steel, toilets, tile, grout, etc. It is a natural cleansing scrubber that offers scratch free shine. Here are my before and after shots:

While Even the Kitchen Sink didn’t provide a completely streak-free shine, I think its versatility of use, combined with its extremely safe solution make it a powerhouse tool to keep in your cleaning cabinet. I definitely recommend this one!

The other product in the lot that I personally thought was a winner was Simply Floored! The scent was awesome, first of all (citrus mint). And I noticed that it made quick work of messes on the floor that were dried on, which was really impressive. This product is safe for hardwood, tile, marble, bamboo, vinyl, laminate and other sealed floors. It also left a nice shine. This is terrific for spot treating your floors in between mopping sessions (and around here, mopping sessions are far too infrequent, so having something like this on hand is a very good thing).

So, where do you find these products? Better Life can be found online, and the website also offers a store locator if you just type in your zip code! Our local Whole Foods location popped up as the nearest in-store distributor.

Have you tried Better Life products? Are you on the hunt for eco-friendly cleaning solutions that are affordable?

Domino Sugar Provides a Frenzy-Free Morning (Giveaway!)

March 11, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 134 Comments

Special thanks to Domino Sugar and Mom It Forward Blogger Network for partnering with me on this compensated post. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own, as always.

I often tell potential blog partners that if they have a product that will save busy parents time, money, or both, then I want to hear about it. brought me a “sweet” little life hack by way of their new products, and I can’t wait to show them to you! Check out two ways that Domino Sugar is saving my family precious time in the morning.

Brown Sugar Bagels in a Flash

I’ve been eating bagels with cream cheese and brown sugar on top since college, when a friend of mine suggested it as a great topping option. I’ve never looked back, and now it is Darah’s favorite way to have her bagels. My brown sugar, however, is in a container that we keep tucked away in the pantry. It is still being stored as if it is a seldom-used ingredient, when it fact, we use it quite frequently during breakfast.

Check out Domino’s new flip-top feature, which is available for white or brown sugar. This makes it a breeze to grab the brown sugar and quickly pour it as we are serving up bagels for everyone in the house on a busy school day morning. I love it!!!

Cold and Sweet Coffee in Seconds

If you’ve spent any amount of time on my site, then you know that I simply adore my iced coffee. I like it sweet, too, and I’ve learned how to make iced coffee VERY quickly using my Keurig and my reusable K-cup (saves me a FORTUNE, by the way!). But since my drink is pretty much cold from the start, I pay the price with my sugar, which takes more time to dissolve than it would if I had made the drink hot.

In the same convenient container type that my Domino Brown Sugar now comes in, I’ve also got Domino Quick Dissolve Superfine Sugar, and it does exactly what it claims to do: dissolve fast! I knew it wouldn’t show up well in my coffee, so I took a picture of Domino Quick Dissolve Sugar just after pouring it into a glass of cold water. It was almost dissolved by the time I grabbed my camera to take the photo.

The same was true when I made my (second) coffee this morning: it was pretty much all gone by the time I snapped the photo! If you drink iced tea, lemonade, or any other beverage that could use a little sweetening, this is a must-have product!

These new products from Domino Sugar retail for $2.75 and certainly shave a few seconds off our morning routine, as well as keep our products in containers that help keep messes off the floor. I’ll take all the help I can get, and I’m sure many of you feel the same way! You can keep up with the latest promotions (and coupon offerings!) by following Domino Sugar on Facebook and .

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a coupon to try Domino Pourable Sugar for free!

To enter: leave your email address in the comment section of the blog post AND tell me your favorite sweetened drink!

The contest will run until 11:59pm am on March 18th when a winner will be selected using Rafflecopter. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please. Stuff Parents Need is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Madison Reed Hair Color: My Experience with Non-Amonia Dye

March 11, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 9 Comments

Lately I’ve been toying with the idea of making more noticeable change to my hair color. I have very dark brown hair, but I had been wondering about whether or not I could pull off a lighter, more golden brown.

So I reached out to the fantastic new home hair coloring kit company called Madison Reed for some advice. Have you heard of them? They offer salon quality hair dye products that are completely free of amonia and that have a multi-tonal feel so that your end result isn’t flat and one dimensional (which, in my opinion, is how boxed hair color always looks). They also offer professional color consultations for free! I submitted a photo of myself and asked for some feedback about color options that would work for me.

Here’s what my hair looked like before. Notice the gray that I have coming in. That was another reason I was looking for a new hair dye…the gray is getting more noticeable day by day, it seems. 🙁

My hair had been dyed before (many times, actually, but the last time was 6 months ago, and I did use a permanent color). The color professional’s advice wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but I know she led me in the right direction. Since Madison Reed’s products are amonia-free, they are not designed to provide major hair color changes on already dyed-hair. She said I could really only expect to lift the shade one level. She also said that I would have the best results if I would shampoo my hair with a clarifying shampoo for a few weeks before using the hair color. Clarifying shampoos tend to strip out hair color, FYI.

I followed her advice for 2 full weeks, and then I broke out my hair coloring kit in the color she recommended, Venezia Brown – 4NGV. It is still a deep brown, but it has a more golden hue.

Here’s what the box contains. Highlights for me included the very cool barrier cream that you apply where your skin and your hair meet to help prevent dyeing your scalp. And on the negative side, my gloves broke when putting them on, so that made it harder, in fact, impossible, to dye my hair without also dyeing my hand a bit. Fortunately the dye on my hands was all gone in 3 days. But still…bummer.

To be fair, the box actually contained 2 pairs of gloves (a second pair is offered to use while washing out the hair color). I actually didn’t notice it until I reached that part of the instructions. Had I realized, I would have used that pair during the dyeing process. Learn from my mistake!

The box is beautiful and made me feel much more pampered than any box hair color I have ever used. And the results? While darker than I wanted, I think the end result did look nice. Here’s a shiny pic so you can see how much more vibrant my hair looks:

And here’s an after shot in a more natural light:

The color makes my green eyes pop, which is exactly what the color specialist thought it would do. It looks nice, and I’m very glad to give my hair color a bit of a lift.

I also like that you can set up your home deliveries of your favorite hair color for as often as you’d like. I have started to notice the color fading a bit after 2 weeks, and that is with me washing my hair every other day. Obviously, results will vary based on how frequently you wash your hair. Overall, I think that the personalized service and the great advice offered by the crew at Madison-Reed really sets this brand apart from the pack. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to others. If your hair needs a bit of a lift, give them a try!

Madison Reed hair color is available for $24.95. If you use coupon NEWYOU at checkout, you get 20% off and free shipping for your first order! Woo hoo!

Friday Fashion: Super Cute Spring Shoes on Sale!

March 7, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I’m LOVING the great sale My Cents of Style is having today. They have a ton of cute spring shoes on sale for $14.95 and $19.95 with FREE SHIPPING. They also have some winter closeouts (like riding boots!) priced the same. The winter boot size selection is a bit more limited, but I was able to order some really cute spring shoes in my very popular size (8). Hop on it! No coupon code required!

OOOH!!!! And don’t miss this one, either (hot off the presses…just found it in my inbox)! Jane’s got Chevron Infinity Scarves for $4.99! Shipping is $2.99 for the first one, and then just $1.49 for each additional. Snag a few for your girlfriends’ birthdays throughout the year!