review - Stuff Parents Need

VTech Wows with Its VM333 Video Monitor

December 17, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by VTech Communications. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you are currently in the market for a new baby monitor, or if you know someone who is, then I'd like to introduce you to the VM333 from VTech. We've been testing it out for close to a week, now, and after clearing a few hurdles with the new equipment, I can now say that we are very impressed with its capabilities!

The VM333 has replaced our other video monitor for a few key reasons.

1. range of motion. This camera has a ful range of motion, whereas our other monitor couldn't move its camera at all. We can look at the baby from different angles if we need to, or even zoom in, all without setting foot inside her room.

2. high video resolution. What good is a video monitor if the picture it gives you is always really grainy? That's not the case with this monitor, which provides significantly clearer images, as well as color instead of just black and white. I have a little tummy sleeper, so I really appreciate being able to get a closer look at her to make sure she's positioned safely. It also has a 2.8 inch screen, which is significantly larger than our old unit.

3. sound quality. This system is VERY sensitive to sound, and at first, this was actually quite troubling to me. You can have your monitor make a beeping noise on the observation end of the system whenever noise levels reach a certain place in the baby's room. I had to quickly change that feature, as it was driving me absolutely nuts. But I can also see how that is an excellent feature for anyone who is a really deep sleeper and has trouble waking up in the middle of the night, even if there is a crying baby in the next room. The monitor does provide crisp sound so that I can tell exactly when it is time to go in and get Layah (it isn't always the second she makes a peep, as she sometimes puts herself back to sleep!).

4. mountability. You can mount the unit to the wall. We've always had to have a tall-ish piece of furniture within a certain distance of the crib to set the monitor on, and that's no longer an issue.

The VM333 from VTech's Safe & Sound series is the best baby monitoring system I have ever personally experienced, by far. It would make for an awesome baby gift for new parents.

You can keep up with the latest from VTech, makers of a whole host of incredible products for the home and for everyone in your family, on social media. Be sure to Like VTech on Twitter and Follow VTech on Facebook to keep up with the new releases!

Zubie Key: Smart Device for Anyone Who Drives

December 17, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

This post brought to you by Zubie. All opinions are 100% mine.

Still looking for a totally awesome gift for a loved one? I've got you covered, friends. Say hi to Zubie!

Zubie is on its way to my house, just in time to slide under the tree before Christmas. It will be a gift for my husband and me, as we share a vehicle. We are receiving a key to test out Zubie over the next few months, and I'll be writing a few more blog posts so that I can give you the scoop, and let you know just how (if?) it is working for us.

To prepare for our Zubie adventure, and to get fully schooled in all things Zubie, I decided to Follow @GoZubie on Twitter and Like Zubie on Facebook. I find that being able to connect with brands on their social media sites is often a great way to get stellar customer service, and to get it FAST. It is also a great way to interface with other Zubie users and learn more about their experiences.

Why Do I Need Zubie?

1. I'm very interested in the problem code notification. For example: "maintenance needed" is currently lit up on my dashboard. Tim thinks it means that we need an oil change. But it might not. And I've been putting off taking it into a shop because (a) What if it is a bigger, more expensive problem? and (b) What if it is absolutely nothing and I just wasted money? It sure would be nice to know before spending the time and money on it.

2. I totally love the real time location tracking provided by the Zubie key and app. If I had a teenage driver, this would make Zubie an absolute MUST for me, but even now, when one of us is away from home, we don't have to text or call each other to let us know when we'll be back; we can just check the app! Occasionally Tim and I have to take solo trips to Atlanta, and this would put an end to the, "ETA???" texts that the person at home with the kids always sends. 🙂

3. Zubie will send you an alert if your battery is dying. You get the message BEFORE there's a problem and you are stuck at a Sonic drive-in window for 3 hours in the blazing heat waiting for roadside assistance. And yeah, that totally happened to me. Ever since that happened to me (in 2001!) I have always held my breath for just a second while cranking the car, with it in the back of my head that the car might not start. Zubie is going to put that worry to bed once and for all.

4. Zubie will help me do this driving thing better. It can analyze your driving behavior and offer tips to help improve fuel economy and help you not wear down your car as quickly. I'm totally open to that sort of feedback so that my car will run longer and my gas dollars will go further.

I'll be letting you know about my first few weeks with Zubie next month. But in the mean time, if this sounds like something that would be really nice to have in your vehicle, or if you still need a gift for a tech head or a car lover, then it really is the perfect holiday present. If you order today, use code SAVE20DEC and SAVE 20% on your Zubie key plus one year of service. Offer good through January 31, 2014. Shipping charges apply.

See you on the road! Beep beep!

What It’s Like to Cruise: My Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas Experience

December 16, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 8 Comments

Friends, I have so many things I want to tell you about my very first experience going on a cruise. In November, I went on a press trip with Royal Caribbean, and explored all that there is to do on one of their truly remarkable ships, Freedom of the Seas.

In particular, I want to talk about how easy Royal Caribbean makes it to be gleefully entertained, how fantastic the kids programming is, how memorable all the meals really are (the food is every bits as good as they say it is!). And I want to talk about the most important thing that I learned: how critical it is for parents with children to spend time away from home AND away from their kids, together.

I’ve got separate posts headed your way over the next few months dedicated to each of these topics. For today, though, I want to introduce you to Freedom of the Seas, and if you have never cruised before, to give you a taste of what Royal Caribbean has to offer. We were told that cruising would give us an opportunity to feel pampered and to be very entertained, but we never could have imagined how a vacation could so easily provide wow after #Royalwow.

Accommodations

We stayed in a Deluxe Ocean Stateroom, which offered two twin beds that easily become a king, a small sitting area, private bathroom with shower, and most importantly, a small private balcony. The couch also converts to a bed to accommodate extra guests. The room was quite spacious for 2, and we could have squeezed in our two kids here, though it would have become decidedly less comfy if we had done that. When we cruise with our kids later (and we totally will…can’t wait to tell you about what they have on board for kids!), we will likely spring for a larger room.

The Ship Interior

The interior of the ship was, in a word, magnificent. It honestly felt like a floating city; very easy to forget that you were actually on a boat as opposed to at a resort complex on land! Freedom of the Seas has a main thoroughfare with what feels like a small, beautiful mall inside of it, with shops, specialty bars and places to eat.

It also has countless “tucked away” spots just like this one, where you can relax, have a drink, and just enjoy your surroundings. When we set sail, every single stateroom on the ship was booked, which means that we had somewhere around 3,000 passengers on the ship, not counting the 1,360 crew members. And yet, Tim and I were able to find place after place to steal away and be by ourselves, or at least not in a huge crowd. I have no idea how that was even possible, but I have been told that it is by design. The ship is overflowing with little nooks for people to find and enjoy in peace and quiet. This was one of the things that surprised and delighted me the very most about cruising. I assumed before going that it would feel like going on vacation with 3,000 strangers. But it doesn’t!

This is where we ate most of our meals. I mean, c’mon! The dining room was nothing short of spectacular. I felt so very spoiled just getting to dine here night after night. And the food. YOU GUYS. I have a whole future post dedicated to the topic, because it is just that worthy! 🙂

Entertainment

The Freedom of the Seas is a gorgeous ship, and it is perfectly appointed to encourage relaxation and pure enjoyment. But if you want to be entertained as well as to be relaxed, then don’t you worry: Royal Caribbean is ready for you!

Every single night they have amazing shows in their theater. We saw a Broadway review, incredible live musical performances, dancers, and a comedian (admittedly, he was offensive and I didn’t like him, but I guess that’s sort of the deal with comedians…). We even caught an afternoon 3D movie (The Croods! I’ve been wanting to see it for a while but I NEVER get to go to the movies!). I thought that the level of talent we got to enjoy on the ship was absolutely astounding. And as you can see, the theater can hold a lot of people, yet it still feels intimate. We had a great seat for every single performance, because there’s no such thing as a bad seat in the house!

We also got to try our hand at ice skating. That’s right, Freedom of the Seas has an ice skating rink. And as you can see, I was a total natural. I took one lap around the rink, gave myself a killer bruise on my arm (see picture above), and then retired my skates and decided to let the professionals take the ice.

Did you know that Royal Caribbean is one of the largest employers of ice skaters in the world? Their performers put on an incredible show for us. The house was totally packed for their shows; it was the most “crowded” I felt during the whole trip, and even then, it felt like no big deal. We were seated quickly and it only took a few minutes to get out of the theater afterwards. And best of all, no traffic to deal with to drive back home! In fact, we walked from the show straight to a fabulous dinner. What a vacation, people!!!

If you want something a little more “low key” then just play some board games with other folks on the ship. We took part in a really fun organized game of Apples to Apples. Evidently we aren’t the only fans of this game, as about 100 people showed up to play! In addition to organized group games, they also have a special room on the ship just for playing games at your leisure! Tim and I played a quick round of scrabble, and there was a fierce game of rummy happening one table over from us. Those ladies looked serious!

Arts/Culture

Or maybe art is more up your alley. TheCEO of Royal Caribbean is a huge fan of art, and his love really shows on the ships, which are full of beautiful pieces you can enjoy. There’s even an art auction on board so you can take home a treasure! We sat in on a very interesting art lecture while on the ship, too. See? Something for everyone!

I even managed to stumble upon a cooking demonstration, happening right in front of one of the main buffets on the ship. I watched the highly skilled chefs on board, I learned a few new techniques, and I got to sample the yummy end result. It really blew me away how many exciting and fun opportunities were waiting around every corner.

Work It Out

For those of you who like to work on your fitness, the views from these treadmills are quite spectacular. The workout facility also has a boxing ring (!) and an aerobics room for classes like yoga, pilates, and step aerobics. I almost got on one of those treadmills just so that I could workout in such a beautiful setting.

Almost….

Instead, I spent some very relaxing time in the sauna and steam rooms available in the fitness center. That’s got to be the best way EVER to work up a sweat. Seriously though, this was one of my very favorite moments on board: quiet, calm, warm, and relaxing. Growing up, I actually had a sauna in my house. It is SOOOOOO random, and not at all indicative of my income bracket. It just so happens that the person my parents bought the house from was “that guy” (you know, the upper-middle aged bachelor with a hairy chest, a gold chain around his neck, and a sauna in his master suite). I haven’t been in a sauna in 15 years (my parents use the space as storage! Ack!). It felt like going home, honestly.

Quantum of the Seas

While on the ship I also got to learn more about the ship that Royal Caribbean is currently building. It is called the Quantum of the Seas and I want to vacation on it SO BAD!!!!

So that would be bumper cars that you are seeing in this rendering. Bumper cars at sea. I think I could hang with that a bit better than the ice capades “incident” I had on the rink. Run into someone else on purpose? I got this!!!

That same area will also transform into a full basketball court. And I cannot WAIT to watch folks dribbling the ball on the high seas! Hee hee! Seriously though, the sports and fitness center on this ship is going to be second to none. Just imagine what the rest of the ship is going to look like!

What I Love About Cruising

I was so impressed with the Royal Caribbean staff, and the thoughtfulness behind the design of the ship. I spend 4 nights and 5 days without a care in the world, and without feeling like I was part of a big crowd. My experience on the ship was one of luxury and leisure. “Freedom,” indeed, is what I felt on this ship. Free to do as I pleased, when I pleased, and to always BE pleased. The staff made sure every moment was a #RoyalWow, and I had a blast. It was my first cruise, and there’s no way it will be my last!

Pull-Ups Training Pants: Our First Experience and a High Value Coupon!

December 14, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pull-Ups® Training Pants. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always!

So Layah has been dutifully sitting on the potty for a few months now. Sometimes she uses it. Sometimes she doesn’t.

And our cloth diaper load hasn’t shrunk one little bit, though perhaps the used diapers are less “used” after each use. I seem to remember the same thing happening to Darah. I basically felt like I was getting the short end of the stick, as all that time spent in the bathroom wasn’t yielding fewer diaper changes.

That all changed with Darah when I stepped up the potty training and got us on a schedule. I only had one child at that point in time, so it was within my powers to be a bit more organized and on top of things. Oh for the glory days when I could remember my last name and to make dinner for my family (I regularly forget now on both accounts, true story).

Anyway, this time around, I need a little assistance, so I’ve been looking for an app. I was even willing to pay for one (shocking, I know), but guess what? Pull-Ups® has a totally free potty training app that rocks my socks off!

It has several great features, but the ones we are using regularly now are the potty timer (we are currently going every 90 minutes) and the big kid checklist. Layah is old enough to understand and appreciate night time rituals, and the checklist we go through helps to get her on the potty one last time before bed.

We never even used Pull-Ups with Darah when potty training, so this is my very first time to purchase this product. Since Layah is much more “hands on”, though, I think they are the right fit for her. She really likes to practice dressing and undressing, so being able to pull down and pull up her training pants is going to be something she will enjoy. She’s ready to start her big kid training, I do believe! Since Pull-Ups come in specific types based on gender and size, I went with the 2T/3T package that had Ariel and characters from Monsters, Inc. on it. I appreciate that not everything in the package is princesses!

I’m very impressed with the resources Pull-Ups® offers to help parents start and successfully complete the potty training process. Between the app and the , there are numerous tips, resources, games, and celebration ideas to get things moving along!

$3.00 Off Coupon for Pull-Ups!

When you register on the Pull-Ups® website, you have access to a great $2.00 off coupon on a package of Pull-Ups® Training Pants (Jumbo Pack or larger). Since I just purchased my very first package of Pull-Up® s, I can tell you that they cost right around $20, so a coupon is really helpful!

But you can upgrade your $2.00 off coupon to a $3.00 off coupon if you share the coupon via social media (Twitter, Facebook). You save money, and your friends who are also buying Pull-Ups® can save, too. Everybody wins!!!

How to Register on the Site

Head on over to the , and create a username and password. Then you’ll be asked to provide some additional information about your child. Once you have completed those two steps, you will have arrived at Big Kid Academy on their site!

Take some time to explore Big Kid Academy. It is overflowing with excellent ideas to help parents who are at every stage of potty training to develop a plan that works great for your child.

You’ll also see a page titled Coupon Share Pants, and that is where you will find the $2.00 off coupon, as well as instructions for gaining access to the .

Even if you aren’t personally helping a child with potty training, if you know someone who is, print this coupon off for them, as it is really high value and will be much appreciated!

Parent Resource

Edit: And if you are seeking a helpful resource so that your potty training experience is brief, I highly recommend fellow blogger Becky Mansfield’s Potty Train in a Weekend. It’s not a resource I knew about when we were going through this, but based on the feedback readers give the book, I really wish I had! I hope it helps!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pull-Ups® Training Pants. Save up to $3 on your next purchase of Pull-Ups® by registering at the .

Gift Ideas for Those Working on Their Fitness!

December 13, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Truthfully, there aren’t very many things that I miss about Memphis, which was my home city off and on for 10 years. But one thing I do miss VERY much, is their awesome water. Memphis sits atop a fantastic aquifer, and as a result, has some of the best tap water in the entire country. It tastes awesome! I never understood how bottled water makers ever sold anything in that city.

Chattanooga’s water, in comparison, tastes a little gross. Maybe not to everyone, but I was so spoiled by the water in Memphis that I feel like I’m taking a big swig of chemicals whenever I drink water from the tap here. Yuck.

That’s why I’m loving the Fit Top bottle. It is a water bottle that comes with its own filtration system. Not only that, but it also has a separate hole in the top, totally separate from the filter, where you can add anything you might like to add to the water (Crystal Light, energy shots, lemon, whatever).

My tap water tastes infinitely better after I run it through the Fit Top filter. But I still like to add a little lemon to my water to give it some zing. It’s a great product, and it is getting me to start drinking water again. Yay!

If you’ve got a health nut, a gym rat, or someone looking to make 2014 their year to get more serious about their health, then the Fit Top bottle is a great choice. No matter where you go, you’ve always got a way to have fresh, clean, delicious water! The 14 ounce bottles are $19.99 and the 24 ounce bottles are $24.99. They come in 3 different colors (red, blue and green).

How’s the water taste in your town? I’m curious to hear!

Healthy Tuna Recipes: Mediterranean Tuna Salad with #OceanNaturals

December 12, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop about healthy tuna recipes has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

Discovering Ocean Naturals Tuna

Last week I had to pick up some items at Walmart for holiday prep (we finally ran out of gift tags…about 8 years ago I purchased approximately 1.5 million tags at a 90% off sale). Anyway, I also wanted to get some ingredients so that I could make some healthy tuna recipes to keep in the fridge for snacking throughout the day. I’m definitely a grazer, and it is up to me to make sure I have tasty and healthy options at hand so that I don’t find myself working through a bag of chocolate chips. Not that I’ve ever done that, or anything.

I spotted a new tuna product on the shelves called Ocean Naturals and I was definitely intrigued. It is responsibly caught tuna that doesn’t contain any additives or fillers. What you find when you open a can is wild premium tuna, a dash of salt, and water or oil, depending on which can you purchased. You can even learn more about where the specific tuna you are eating came from by visiting http://oceannaturals.com/my-tuna/ and entering the code on the can. That’s pretty awesome, if I do say so, myself!

Ocean Naturals is good, good for you, and good for the planet. It’s affordable, too, so into my shopping cart it went. When I got home, I put together a dish that would wow my taste buds. I chose a few ingredients that really packed a punch in the flavor department, and the end result, if I do say so myself, was naturally delicious and AWESOME!

Mediterranean Tuna Salad

serves: 18 as an appetizer or 6 as a main dish

(1) 14.5 oz can chicken broth
1/4 cup water
(2) cups couscous
(1) head broccoli florets (roughly 3 cups), cut into bite-size pieces
(2) 6 oz cans Ocean Naturals tuna in water, drained (I used Skipjack)
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and finely chopped
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, roughly chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup feta cheese crumbles, plus more for topping
1/3 cup olive oil
2 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 tsp salt

1. Bring broth and water to a boil in a stock pot. Once boiling, add couscous, stir, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 12-15 minutes, and then remove pot from heat, open the lid, and stir the couscous every few minutes to help it cool down.

2. While the couscous is cooking, place broccoli florets in a microwave-safe dish, add 2 Tbsp of water, cover, and microwave for 2 1/2 minutes.

3. After the couscous is no longer hot (warm is ok), transfer it to your serving bowl. Add broccoli, tuna, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, parsley, and 1/4 cup feta cheese. Stir to combine.

4. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt in a bowl. Once mixed together, pour over the dish, then give it another good stir to combine. Add additional feta cheese on top, if desired. Serve immediately, or chill and serve cold.

Free Tuna Alert!

Ocean Naturals is currently holding a Tuna Tuesdays Facebook giveaway, and their readers are winning free product, so you should get in on that by heading over to their Facebook page! There are 12 winners every week, and you should be one of them!

A Little Pinspiration

If you are looking for more tuna recipes that can help you put together healthy lunches or healthy dinners, you’ll find a TON of inspiration on Pinterest! Check it out and pin your favorites!

Walgreens Holiday Solutions for Worn Out Mamas: #HappyAllTheWay

December 9, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

Ok friends, don’t shoot the messenger here, but did you know that after today we have 15 more days to get all of our Christmas shopping done?

And is anyone else in the same boat as me: totally not finished, but also totally worn out??? Yes??? Then you will understand why not once, but TWICE last week, lunch at my house looked exactly like this:

Walgreens had these pizzas in their case 2/$9 (or $4.99 each…I wanted the deal!). I’ve tried several things from the Good & Delish line that is exclusive to the brand, but not the pizza. It was, in my family’s opinion, exceptionally awesome for frozen pizza, and we will be purchasing it again in the near future. I went into the store to get myself some cold medicine (yuck) and while I was there, decided that I was just too tired and overwhelmed to make lunch. In fact, I was so over-extended that I realized I needed to treat myself to quite a few things!

It is pretty much ALWAYS dangerous to realize that you deserve a little something special when you are already in a store! But lucky for me, I was at Walgreens and could find exceptionally yummy treats thanks to the Good & Delish line, without busting my budget.

And treat myself, I did! I decided to do a little shopping just for me. What do I want to have on hand for holiday snacking? What would I be perfectly happy to hide from my family members (don’t judge!). I picked up this gorgeous selection of cookies, which really are the perfect thing to bring to a holiday shindig, or to arrange on a pretty platter for a creative gift. But this time, the cookies were just for me! Ok, ok, I shared a few of them with my family, but only after I had done some pretty serious sampling.

And can I just tell you how good it feels to be treated to something so pretty? It definitely made me feel better in the midst of my cold!

When I was browsing in Walgreens, I also picked up their free Happy & Healthy Holiday Guide (you can find it right next to the weekly fliers!) to get some ideas. That’s when I spotted these lovelies!

I discovered two very important things about this product. First, the holiday gift guide has a $1 off coupon for it at the back, so don’t miss that! 🙂 Second, I realized that the Belgian Chocolate Thins contain 24 pieces of yumminess. And that makes it a perfect Christmas countdown activity for mommy to do on her own. One chocolate for every day until Christmas! If you like the idea and want to do it yourself, you are going to have SO MUCH FUN getting caught up to December 9th! 🙂 My girls have the Elf on the Shelf, and they do a Christmas Countdown with one Hershey Kiss each day. This one is just for me, though!

I also noticed a very cool wax bead candle in the holiday catalog, and since I had been secretly wishing for a holiday scented candle for a few weeks, I decided to turn my wish into a reality. And what’s a unique and yet absolutely perfect pairing with a hot candle? Oh yes, a cool treat from the freezer section! This hot & cold therapy was just what the doctor ordered, let me tell you!

Another holiday favorite treat of mine are mint cremes, and let me tell you, Good & Delish knows how to do these right! The creamy center is just perfect, and the chocolate-to-mint ratio is spot on! I ate the entire bag in an embarrassingly brief period of time. Good thing Walgreens is near my home so I can get some more soon.

Oh, who am I kidding? I already got more!

And finally, for when the holiday stress gets to me and I realize that I need a little medication, I’ve got a beautiful jar full of what I call, “mama’s jolly pills.” They put a smile on my face SO fast! And they taste incredible! These jelly beans would make an outstanding gift for someone on your list who may be tough to buy for. They get two very enthusiastic thumbs up from this taste-tester (hey, somebody had to try them out for the rest of us. Happy to be helpful that way!).

Between the Happy & Healthy Holiday Guide and all the amazing Good & Delish products throughout the store, you are certain to find Christmas present ideas that will please most everyone on your list. And Owen the Elf, if you are reading this blog post, please know that I’m hoping or a Good & Delish-filled stocking this year! Bring on the premium snacks, please!

Have you tried the Good & Delish line of products, found exclusively at Walgreens? What’s your favorite find (please tell me, because I want to try it!!). As for me, I’m going for some of their crazy-awesome sounding gourmet appetizers the next time I head in the store!

Children’s Fashion at zulily: Hear What My 4-Year-Old Thinks!

December 9, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 7 Comments

One of my favorite places to shop for children’s fashion is zulily. Last week zulily was kind enough to send a box of surprises to Darah for her to check out. The cuteness that was contained inside is a testament to all the incredible stuff you can find there.

Let’s start with the basics. You can find excellent deals on workhorse pieces for your child’s wardrobe. This pink sweater, for example, will likely be worn almost weekly by Darah, since it is her favorite color, and since it so easily goes with many pieces in her wardrobe. Darah says that she likes how soft and comfortable it is. If you are like me and loathe having to go to a store to go shopping, zulily really is a great choice, even for the basics!

Perhaps what they are best known for, though, are the pieces that really stand out. Check out this military-inspired denim jacket. I almost couldn’t handle the cuteness when she put it on. And I also may have asked Owen, our elf, to please have Santa send me something similar. So in this case, if dressing like your 4-year-old is wrong, then I don’t want to be right! Darah has also noticed the pink stitching detail on the jacket, which has made it her new favorite thing to wear, and on milder days, it has replaced her coat.

Zulily is also a great shopping destination for shoes and accessories. The mustache necklace is hilarious and the animal print boots, while not my style, have been worn pretty much every single day since they arrived. I’ve been teaching Darah to say, “I mustache you a question,” and while I’m not sure that she completely gets the joke, she loves to say it! As for the boots, she says, “they are great for stomping!”

If you are looking for something for a special occasion, be it a dress up, or just certain weather, then I’d recommend zulily simply because you are going to find things there that aren’t necessarily carried at your nearest mall. In my experience, zulily carries a lot of “boutique” brands, but at a price point that I can actually afford. This adorable rain jacket still had its retail price tag on it: $42! It is totally cute, but that’s not something I can pay for a jacket that will be worn for 1 year, and only on rainy days! Because it is pink, Darah is in love with it, of course. And I’m in love with those cute ruffles!

I haven’t put links to the specific pieces of clothing up for a reason: they are long gone from the zulily site! If you’ve never shopped at zulily, they have new special sales every single day, and those sales usually last for a few days, or until inventory sells out, whichever comes first. It is a good idea to take a few minutes each morning and scan the new sales at zulily to see if anything strikes your fancy. You have to get it when you see it, or else it will be gone (I speak from experience!). You’ll also find plenty of fun items for you, for the home, and occasionally for men, too. Basically, zulily is like a miniature boutique mall that is on mega-markdown, delivered straight to your inbox. What’s not to love?

Do you have any favorite zulily finds? I’d love to hear about them!

I am an affiliate of zulily as well as a regular customer. I only promote what I love!

Warmest Socks for Cold Feet (Giveaway!)

December 7, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 63 Comments

Special thanks to Heat Holders for sharing their incredibly warm socks with me and my readers. All opinions are my own, as always!

I’ve heard before that women tend to have poorer circulation in our hands and feet, and as a result, we tend to complain a bit more about being cold.

My husband can definitely tell you that my feet turn into icicles this time of year, and that one of his least favorite things ever is for my feet to venture over to his side of the bed in an effort to get warmer. I can’t help it…he’s so nice and toasty!

Today my family is headed to an outdoor holiday parade and to a birthday party that will have an outside play component. It will be 42 degrees during the parade and 45 degrees during the party. While not exactly freezing temperatures, that’s cold enough to be quite uncomfortable if you have to stand around in it for a long time!

So I’ll be wearing these today:

Heat Holders are the new BFF for my feet, that’s for sure! Check out what the inside of the socks look like, just to give you a sense for how amazing they are!

So here’s what’s going on inside these awesome socks. They have specially advanced fibers that provide high performance insulation, as well as excellent moisture wicking. The extra long looped cushion pile holds in more warm air, which is what has helped these socks achieve a 2.3 TOG (thermal overall grade) rating (cotton socks have a .33 TOG rating, and ordinary thermal socks have a .89 TOG rating). The socks are also fuzzy on the inside because they go through an intense brushing process to maximize the amount of warm air held inside the sock.

I was excited to learn that these socks are available in a wide range of sizes (starting with size 9 for preschoolers!). They area also available in several different colors. Heat Holders is currently offering free shipping when you order 2 or more pairs, and the prices are start around $15.99. They would make a most excellent stocking stuffer!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win 2 pair of Heat Holders!

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

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