review - Stuff Parents Need

Long Eyelashes: How I Grew Mine in a Month!

November 27, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 4 Comments

Both of my daughters have outrageously long and thick eyelashes. Strangers stop us frequently to comment on how beautiful their eyes are. And then the inevitable happens: they look at my eyelashes to see if they got their “falsies” from their mama.

And then they realize that NOPE, they didn’t! Their eyelashes are a gift from their daddy (his are outrageous…so unfair!).

Now, I wouldn’t consider my eyelashes to be short. I’d say they are solidly medium. And if I get the right mascara, they can even look slightly long. At least for a few hours!

photo credit: Kalexanderson via photopin cc

Attempt #1 to Grow Long Eyelashes

Back in 2003 I spent a lot of money on an eyelash serum on a whim just to see if my eyelashes would actually grow. Well, it was a waste of $65, and I felt so silly about it because that was when I was in graduate school in Boston, and Tim and I lived in a 400 square foot apartment and budgeted within an inch of our lives because money was so tight. It was such a foolish purchase! It would have been foolish even if it had worked because we were so cash-strapped, and so the fact that it didn’t just made it that much more ridiculous. So understandably, as I’ve seen other eyelash growth serums hit the market over the last decade, I’ve written them off as hype.

Attempt #2 to Grow Long Eyelashes

When the company at Xlash.net reached out to me to see if I was interested in being an affiliate of their program, I immediately raised an eyebrow and then checked out their site. I’ll admit, I was really impressed to read that they have over 110,000 happy customers, and I was glad to hear that the formula is developed in Sweden, which has regulations on ingredients that are leaps and bounds better than what we have in the United States.

Still, I was highly skeptical. And I also don’t promote products that I haven’t personally tried, so I asked them to send me the product to try out for a month, since they report that results are seen in 4-6 weeks.

Xlash Eyelash Serum is meant to be applied to the roots of your clean lashes, ideally at night before you go to bed. The end result should be longer, thicker eyelashes. Here are my before and after shots, and I apologize for the orange-y lighting throughout. My living room is a terrible place to snap photos.

Here are two photos of my eyelashes, taken at the very beginning of the process. I’m an idiot and didn’t take a picture of my “before” lashes with mascara. Sorry. 🙁

And here are my eyelashes today, 4 full weeks after starting to use the serum and without mascara.

I think the sideways photo is the one where you can really tell the difference in the before and after.

And here’s my “after” shot with mascara. I didn’t apply any makeup to my face or my eyes other than mascara.

I will say, in the last week and a half I have started to notice the difference. Not so much when my eyelashes are bare, but definitely when I apply my mascara (I have very intentionally kept wearing the exact same mascara for the past month so that any differences in appearance wouldn’t potentially be due to mascara). They do seem to reach a bit further! Tim, who was blissfully unaware of what I had been applying to my eyelashes for the past month (even though he took my “before” shots! He never asked what they were for, I guess!), said to me earlier this week that my mascara was looking particularly nice. That’s when I told him that it was actually not the mascara that deserved the credit, but my longer eyelashes! I was really excited to hear that he noticed the difference completely on his own.

I don’t think the serum makes you look like you have a brand new set of eyelashes, nor do I think that if you have really short eyelashes that 6 weeks later you will have eyelashes to rival Twiggy and her falsies. But I do think, based on my experience, that the serum will enhance what you have and extend the reach of your lashes.

Money Back Guarantee

Xlash does offer a full refund to customers who aren’t happy. They do this because they have over 110,000 who ARE happy, so they are betting that you will be, too! The serum costs $59 (note that this price is $6 cheaper than what I paid for some junk that didn’t work 10 years ago!). If you use code “Xlash2013” at checkout, you’ll also get a $10 discount. Score!!!

Xlash Eyelash Serum gets my stamp of approval! And maybe, just maybe, the next stranger who sees my girls’ eyelashes and then looks at mine will note the resemblance!

Video to DVD Transfer: Give Your Parents Back Their Memories

November 27, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

I’m an affiliate AND a customer of YesVideo. I was not asked to write this post but did so because I believe the service is amazing and worth sharing.

My family got a camcorder in 1987, and my father lugged that thing around for the next 12 or 13 years, capturing my childhood, from learning to ride a bike, to walking across the stage at my high school graduation. We have a whole lot of memories sitting on VHS tapes at my house.

I think my parents’ VHS player finally gave up the ghost 3 years ago, and all those videos, which they love to watch from time to time, have been inaccessible. I try to imagine what it would be like if I couldn’t look at videos I’ve taken of my little ones, and they are still little! I would be heartbroken.

But my parents have no idea how to go about conducting a Home Movie Transfer. And you know what? They don’t need to learn. This is something I can take care of for them, and in so doing, I can give them one of the greatest gifts possible: good memories.

Here’s the truth: I don’t own the equipment or have the know how to conduct my own video to DVD transfers. I lack the time, and quite frankly, the interest in taking that step. But I LOVE YesVideo. I’ve had great success as a customer of theirs successfully getting my parents’ videos converted to DVDs. I’m going to break down the costs for you, and then I’m going to tell you how to get a better price. I’m looking out for you! 🙂

$24.99 gets you the EasyShip kit, which is all the shipping and packing materials you will need to ship to YesVideo as many tapes as can safely fit inside the package. I asked customer service about how many tapes can fit in the package, and they said that it depends on how you pack it, but you should be able to get 20 in there. You don’t have to send that many, of course, but you’ll pay $24.99 whether you send 1 or 20, so I’d go big.

Next up, you pay a $12.99 fee per video for processing. At this point, you’ll be able to view your videos on a computer, smartphone or tablet (yay!). They say that process takes about 15 days.

Then if you want a DVD copy of your video, and you don’t want to do any editing or compilations, but instead just a straight video to DVD transfer, that costs $6.99 per video. If you want to do editing to it (which you can handle online), the cost is $9.99 per video. I’m cheap, so you know which one I’d do!

Finally, if you want your old VHS tapes back for any reason, there is a $10.99 charge to send them all back to you. That’s the total charge, and not the per video charge. So once again, it is better to send a lot because this fee is the same no matter how many they are sending you (up to the amount that fits in the ship kit).

So let’s do the math about what it would cost to get 20 home videos transferred for your family:

$24.99 (ship kit)
$259.80 (processing for 20)
$139.80 (DVD creation for 20)
$10.99 (shipping tapes back. Skip this charge if you don’t want them).

total: $435.58

How to Make It Cheaper

Now I’m not going to beat around the bush: that’s a lot of money. But remember, we converted 20 videos (which in my parents’ case, that would be the majority of their collection…they would often use the same tape to record multiple events in an effort to save money…good thing!). Your cost would obviously be lower if you didn’t convert as many DVDs.

But whether you send 1 or 20, I want you to save money!

So first and foremost, let’s make it cheaper! YesVideo Coupon Special – Get 20% Off your entire first order by using Coupon Code: 20TR at YesVideo.com. Bring your favorite memories back to life!

Second, I also know of a discount offer to get 1 video transfer FREE (I haven’t tested if you can combine offers, so someone please chime in if you try it). That discount code is FREEYV1.

If your parents are like mine and have a bunch of tapes that they can’t even watch anymore, help them out. Being able to go back in time and watch their children when they were young will fill them with joy and be one of their favorite gifts ever.

photo credit: foshydog via photopin cc

What I’m Loving: Copper and Nickel Jewelry

November 26, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Lately I’ve been wearing the heck out of one particular piece of jewelry that I received for review. I have found it to have a lot of meaning for me right now. Here it is on the first day I wore it, which was the first day of the cruise Tim and I took, away from our children together for the first time ever.

Bama ry steer the course hand stamped copper and nickel necklace 1

Notice how rested I look after just 2 days away from home. Miracle of miracles! Now let’s zoom in on this necklace, shall we?

Bama ry steer the course hand stamped copper and nickel necklace 2

Steer the course. Yes, indeed. When I saw this piece at bama + ry, a fantastic Etsy shop owned by creative genius Jasmine Myers, it stood out to me among the rest. And given how awesome all her pieces are, it says something that it managed to stand out to me!

So what does “steer the course” mean to me? Several things, actually. One of them is cheeky and lighthearted; I’m very Type A, so “steer the course” definitely means “stay on schedule!” to me, and I love that. Others are more serious; I’m embarking on a really exciting yet scary journey of being my own boss, and I have to remember that I really am the captain of my ship, and I get to call the shots. I need to have faith in myself! Finally, the necklace also serves as a reminder to me of the precious time I shared with my husband on our kid-free vacation. We are filled with love for our children, but it is important to remember that they came to be first because we were so filled with love for each other. The necklace reminds me that we are steering this course together, and that we need to make time for each other so that we can continue steering in the same direction.

bama + ry

Fabulous as my necklace is, it is just one of countless designs that Jasmine has dreamed up in her shop. She opened her business in July 2012, and she did so as a way to work through her grief following a miscarriage of twins. Whether or not you have experienced the heartbreak of a miscarriage, most all of us can identify with loss in some way, and with feeling lost as a result. What a powerful way to work on the process of healing, by giving creativity and love a place to shine. I certainly feel the love and care that was poured into the necklace I own from bama + ry.

Jasmine has many fun offerings. I’m feeling very tempted by the snowflake ornament you can get custom stamped with a loved ones name!

And my top pick for a Christmas gift for a good friend? How about the textured copper cuff? Such a lovely piece, and so special since it is handmade! The price is right, too, at $30.

Spend a little bit of time today browsing around bama + ry. I bet you’ll find something just perfect for someone on your holiday shopping list. And as a special bonus, Jasmine wants to offer you a 20% off discount! Simply enter STUFFPARENTSNEED at checkout and save off your entire purchase!

Ruth’s Chris for the Holidays (And FREE Steak!!!)

November 26, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Two Ways to Get Out of Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner

So what’s the plan for your crew this Thanksgiving? We are traveling down to see my family in Alabama and I’m not cooking a single thing.

But that doesn’t mean I’m coming empty-handed! I’ve decided to let Ruth’s Chris Steak House do the cooking for me (woo hoo!). Now through December 23rd you can place an order for a side dish that will wow anyone at your table, or be a huge help to the hostess if you are going to be a guest for a holiday gathering. Check out the Ruth’s Chris Sides to Go program. Ruth’s Chris is, in my own opinion, one of the VERY best chain restaurants in the world, and certainly a top restaurant choice here in Chattanooga. To be able to bring their culinary wizardry home for the holidays is simply awesome! I can’t wait for my family to dig in on Thursday. And I’ve got my eye on the service for Christmas Eve dinner, as well!

There are four great side dishes that you can order from Ruth’s Chris this year: original recipe creamed spinach (TO. DIE. FOR!), velvety mashed potatoes, broccoli au gratin, or velvety sweet potato casserole. Each side dish will serve 10 and is reasonably priced for how crazy-awesome they taste at $29.95.

And as anyone who has ever had to prepare all the food for a holiday meal can tell you, NOT having to do it is pretty much priceless! You need to place your orders at least 48 hours in advance, and you can do so by calling your nearest Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, or by placing your order online.

Thanksgiving at Ruth’s Chris

Now, if you have no plans to travel or dine at someone else’s house, and you still haven’t made your menu for Thursday or feel overwhelmed at the thought of all that cooking you need to do, take my advice: don’t do it! Ruth’s Chris is open Thanksgiving Day and they have an AWESOME three-course prix fixe feast waiting for you and your crew. Let me paint this picture for you: no cooking, no cleaning, and some of the best food you’ve ever tasted! .

And here’s the meal you’ll get to enjoy this Thursday:

Begin with your choice of a Ruth’s steak house salad, a classic Caesar salad, or a bowl of Louisiana seafood gumbo
Next, enjoy roasted turkey breast served alongside traditional must-haves such as cornbread herb stuffing, cranberry relish, and homemade gravy.
You also get to choose an additional Ruth’s Chris signature side (after all, it is Thanksgiving! Gobble up!): garlic mashed potatoes, green beans with roasted garlic, creamed spinach, or sweet potato casserole.
Feeling full yet? But there’s still dessert! Save room for pumpkin cheesecake with vanilla ice cream.

Thanksgiving dinner is just $35.95 for adults and $14.95 for children 12 years and younger. Reservations are recommended, and hours at the various locations may vary, so be sure to call ahead. The Chattanooga location will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Black Friday BOGO Dining Deal

You have probably been overwhelmed with all the Black Friday deals coming in your email inbox and on the television. We all know that the stores are offering bargains. But Ruth’s Chris is also offering some serious savings on Black Friday. It’s a deal so incredible, they only do it once a year. Dine with Ruth’s Chris on Friday, November 29th and enjoy a complimentary petite filet with the purchase of another steak entree. Dine-in only, and be sure to mention “Black Friday” to your server! Please check out the website for all the specific terms and conditions for the Black Friday special.

There’s a lot happening at Ruth’s Chris this holiday season, and all of it designed to take away some of your stress and give you the opportunity to savor the flavors of the season. I’ll take a pass on the mall this year, but I wouldn’t hesitate to roll up to Ruth’s Chris right when they open this Friday for that mouth-watering petite filet. It’s worth the price on the menu, and to be able to snag it free? That’s an early Christmas present I’d be more than happy to give to myself!

To learn more about the Ruth’s Chris dining experience, check out my first visit from a few months back. I give you the inside scoop!

Of Fermented Fruit, Mushroom Growing and Rocks for Deodorant

November 26, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 4 Comments

My father’s mother, my memaw, is 91 years old and still rockin’ out. I get to see her in a few days at Thanksgiving, and I’m really looking forward to it. She is the last of my remaining living grandparents on my side of the family, and she has been since 1994.

There are a few very interesting quirky things that I remember my memaw having in her home, and I can’t help but wonder if any of them have contributed to her longevity. And let me just say right now that I swear I’m not making these up!

1. My memaw grew mushrooms in her bathroom. My older brother can attest to this. We don’t know what kind they were or what the heck they did. But they were there and memaw was really proud of them. I may just work up the courage to ask her about those this week. Or maybe this one is best left as a mystery…

2. “Happy fruit.” Ok, I think this concept might have German origins, but I’m not sure. Basically she had a jar that sat on her countertop and it had big chunks of fruit in it, as well as a lot of sugar. And she’d let that fruit sit for a LONG time (a few months? I’m not sure) and said it was only for adults. Ok, so now I know my memaw was totally getting her moonshine on here, letting the stuff ferment until it produced alcohol. Between that and the mushrooms, I have to say, my grandmother is full of surprises.

3. Her “deodorant.” Y’all…it was a rock.

Ok, so flash forward to a few weeks ago when I received a package from Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal with products to try out. I’ve actually used their roll-on products before and totally loved them, so why not expand my horizons a bit?

And then I saw this:

Omg, it’s the rock! I would know it anywhere! And I had to ask myself, “Will trying this product put me one step closer to farming a mushroom garden in my bathroom while sipping on fermented fruit from my kitchen counter?” Probably.

And then I tried it.

Ok, so here’s the deal: this isn’t actually a rock. It’s mineral salts. That’s it! And to use it, you moisten the stick and then apply it. It forms a barrier on your skin to lock out odors. And I felt like a straight-up crazy person when putting it on (no disrespect to my memaw).

Well what do you know? This stuff works great! Tim really loved it, too. He has super sensitive armpits that break out quite often. He has to switch up what he is using every few months, and there are many deodorants that will cause a rash immediately for him. He’s have great success with the deodorant crystal from Naturally Fresh. And I’m happy to admit now, my memaw was on to something.

They also sent a few other products from the line, all of which use the same mineral salts, and just dispense them in different forms. I am loving the spray mist, and of course, I love the roll-on, too. Tim doesn’t like that kind, on account of his armpit hair getting stuck in the roller…ouch! This, of course, is a non-issue for me. But it is something for me to keep in mind, as you never know what I’ll be like once I start my happy fruit jar. I can already tell that it is part of my destiny, y’all. Resistance is futile.

If you want to check out more about Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal, definitely head to their Facebook page. The product line works fantastic for me, and I love that I’m going natural without smelling like it. Ha! Here’s a link to places where you can buy Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal. They are also available on my favorite shopping destination: Amazon. My advice? Go all out and get the rock!

Great Peppermint Mocha Coffee with a Great Friend: #LoveYourCup

November 25, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop for Coffeemate Peppermint Mocha creamer has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.

My friend Jessie and I were long overdue for some hang out time, so I invited her over for a cup of coffee, a tasty treat, and more importantly, some food for the soul, which is what spending quality time with someone is for me.

I have hesitated many times to invite Jessie (and other friends) over. Not because I didn’t want to see them (quite the opposite!) but because my to-do list seemed out of control, and my house was most definitely out of control. Where was the time to get myself organized and presentable so that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to have friends over?

Just Do It

But you know what? If I believe that everyone else but me has it all together, then I’m fooling myself. And in my years of balancing parenting, household management and a career, I can most definitely tell you that waiting until you/your house/your list of things to get done is in a better place before spending time with friends is a great way to never spend time with your friends.

So I swallowed my pride a bit and invited my good friend over to just hang out. And I really enjoyed doing a little shopping at Walmart for our coffee date by picking up (SOOOO good, y’all!) and a mug for Jessie. Purple is her favorite color (mine, too!) and I thought it would be a fun treat to have a nice new mug.

As I was preparing for our time together, I couldn’t help but notice that I was starting to get stressed out. I was thinking about all the work on the house that needed to be done (from bits of paper on the floor to walls needed to be painted, and everything in between), and my blog work list that seems to get longer and longer, despite my best efforts to accomplish things. I was starting to squelch my own joy about having a friend over. And that’s when I took a break and poured myself a cup of coffee. Jessie wouldn’t mind if I got the party started a bit early!

coffeemate peppermint mocha #shop 2

I also made some brownies for us to much on, and I used peppermint mocha flavored coffee in the place of milk , as well as added some melted chocolate and crushed peppermint candies on top. It was really nice to have something so pretty on hand, just for us, and it wasn’t difficult to make; just a little substitution to give the brownies more of a festive flavor!

Don’t forget the whipped topping in your coffee, too! Every once in a while, the splurge is totally worth it.

I also put on what refer to as my, “free to be me” shirt. It has sparklers on it, and says, “Pass it on.” It is from Momastery, and it is a great reminder to me to let my light shine. Seems like someone else was ready to have a coffee date, too!

Owen, our elf on the shelf, seemed quite interested in what was inside my cup, so I gave him a little sip.

My friend and I had a really nice visit. Her two little boys were SO sweet, and the oldest was very patient with Layah, who is still working on the whole “sharing” concept. I got to get some coos and giggles from her baby boy (that’s all the baby fix I need!) and even got to play with trains a little bit with her almost 3 year old.

We talked a lot about our blogs and changes on the horizon, about our kids, and about the craziness of navigating the school system here in Chattanooga. And we enjoyed the relative quiet and each other’s company while sipping our coffee (or so I thought!). Halfway through our visit, Jessie said, “I’m so sorry, but could I pour my coffee out of this mug? It is doing too good of a job keeping the coffee hot and I REALLY want to drink it!”

I laughed so hard! And then I was very thankful that Jessie could just be real with me. The cup I bought for her was awesome…a little too awesome, in fact. Poor thing had only been able to smell that delicious coffee for about 45 minutes before she threw in the towel and asked for something not so perfect.

There’s a life lesson in that story, friends. Perhaps the pursuit of perfection can keep things at arms length: friendships, quiet moments, calm, and happiness with what is rather than what could be.

Coffeemate was recently featured in the Live SoFab Holiday Digital Magazine, which is such a fun read. It is full of great ideas for the holidays, and I would agree that having some Coffeemate creamer on hand for a visit with friends or just for some great coffee for yourself is a must! Be sure to check it out, along with a whole lot of other fantastic ideas for the season.

Getting on Schedule with Easy Daysies Magnetic Schedules (Giveaway!)

November 24, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 27 Comments

One of the things that has changed the most about how I parent since enrolling Darah in Montessori school has to do with letting go. I have realized that if you give children the chance, they will often surprise you with just how much they can do on their own. And they WANT the opportunity to try.

Darah has been telling me over the last few months that she wishes she had a list of things to do, “just like mommy.” Such a sweetie. I’ll tell you what, that little apple did not fall far from the tree. She seems to value order and following the rules, just like me.

When I learned about the Easy Daysies Magnetic Schedules and had the opportunity to review them, I knew they were going to be the right fit. These were very thoughtfully created by a teacher who also happens to be a mother (so that means that the design is awesome!).

The magentized board hangs on Darah’s door, and it has two sides for two different routines that we custom created. One is for bedtime, and other is for the morning, though you could create any particular schedule or routine you like with the set.

Darah has really taken a liking to it because it gives her a clear sense for how her time is going to go and what she might need to do next. She is at an age where she can dress herself, comb her hair and brush her teeth, and Easy Daysies helps her remember that she needs to do those things.

I have already seen the satisfaction Darah receives from moving her magnets from the “to do” side of the board to the “done” side. Oh girl, I can so relate! I’m the person who will go back and add things that I already did on the to do list just so I can cross them off. Yep!

Check out this great “how to” video that Easy Daysies put together to showcase all the great ways you can use the system to help your child feel more independent and more secure about what is taking place.

The Every Day Starter Kit is just $19.99 and can accommodate many different tasks. You can also check out the add-on packs for $14.99 each that offer additional types of activities to put on your schedule.

My favorite thing about this scheduling system is how flexible it is, depending on the age and abilities of your child. I also appreciate the images that go along with the words, since Darah is not yet a reader. She doesn’t have to ask us what she needs to do for her morning and evening routine. One look at her Easy Daysies chart and she’s on her way.

It is REALLY nice having Darah take control of those activities instead of us leading the way. I think she feels happier with the arrangement, and we feel a little less stressed during that time, because we know that she knows exactly what to do!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win an Easy Daysies Starter Kit AND one add-on kit of your choice!

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

How This Mama Got 3 Hands

November 24, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

One of my very favorite children’s songs is by Sarah Lee Guthrie and is called, “If Mama Had Four Hands.” Here’s a live recording if you want to check it out.

It’s all about the awesome stuff mom could accomplish if she only had four hands. Now of course, it is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, and a gentle reminder to children (and to mom!) that she actually only has TWO hands, and nobody should assume that she can do the work of a four-handed person.

But truth? It just makes me want to have more hands. Because my list of things that need to get done never really does. I can’t tell you the last time I made a list and accomplished everything on it before I went to bed in the evening. Pretty sure the answer would be “not since I brought children into this world!”

Four Hands? No. Three Hands? Yes!

So despite my best efforts, the whole “four hands” goal this song inspired has yet to be accomplished. But a few weeks ago, Jabra sent me a fun little device called the Jabra Style. Admittedly, I was slightly unsure at first about whether or not I would use this headset, because let’s be real, I’m not in the line of work where I’m fielding phone calls all day while simultaneously driving all over town to various meetings. That’s the type of person who needs one of these in my mind.

But fellow mamas, let me tell you, I have seen the light! My Jabra Style does, in fact, give me three hands! Now, it can only take on the task of phone conversations or streaming podcasts or music to my ears, but that is actually incredibly helpful. There have been moments when I have wanted to call a friend or family member, but I knew that if I didn’t have both of my hands free that I couldn’t accomplish something that REALLY needed to be done (hello clean laundry pile that has been sitting on the bed for 2 3 4 days!). And a speaker phone wouldn’t be a good option if I needed to go back and forth between rooms. So I have always had to choose the task or the phone call (any guesses which one I always pick?!).

The Jabra STYLE is my own little personal assistant as a work-at-home mom and as a work-on-the-road mom. I don’t personally think I’ll be needing to take it with me on the road (although, if you don’t have a hands-free device in your car, then this is going to rock your world and be SO much safer in the car than holding your cell phone while driving!). But just because I don’t use the headset the way I see folks using them on tv doesn’t mean that it isn’t REALLY useful to me. I gave it a try and I absolutely love it. In my opinion, this is a fantastic gift option for any mom or dad out there who finds themselves wishing they had four hands. It’ll get them one hand closer and it is priced right for the holiday season at just $49.99!

Cottonelle: How We (Triple) Roll During The Holidays and Potty Training

November 23, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 6 Comments

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Cottonelle, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #CottonelleHoliday http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

Oh lovely internet buds of mine, riddle me this: where do you spend most of your time hanging out in your house? Do you have the type of kitchen that invites folks to stay and hang out for a bit? Perhaps your living room has a really comfy couch that acts like a magnet and just brings folks over to it. Maybe your bedroom is such an oasis of calm that you sneak in as much time as possible there for rest and rejuvenation.

If any of those hang out spots are the norm for you, then congratulations. IT MUST BE NICE. As for me and my family, these days we are hanging out in the bathroom.

Potty Training = New Temporary Residence

Layah has increased her interest in potty training, and now totally loves to spend time in the bathroom, on one of her various potty chairs or seats. She’ll ask to go sit on the potty at least 6 times throughout the day, and you can count on each bathroom session lasting 15 minutes, at minimum.

So yeah, that’s an hour and a half each and every day in the bathroom, and that doesn’t account for the 5 other times throughout the day that she’ll ask to go potty and then I realize after about 4 minutes in there that she only wants to read books and now believes that the potty is the place to do that.

Her father taught her well…

So since we spend so much time in the bathroom, we have decorated our space a bit to give the room a less utilitarian, and more homey feel. Owen, our Elf on the Shelf, was delighted with our selection of the Cottonelle Triple Roll and used it to help us bring the holidays right into the bathroom. So here’s how we (triple) roll these days:

There’s so much going on in the bathroom now! We’ve got streamers to play with, a Christmas tree with extra special garland, snowballs at the ready, and a blanket for chilly days. And just look at that roll. It doesn’t look used at all, and yet, all of the toilet paper used for decorating fun came from it!

Cottonelle Triple Roll is the perfect choice for making snowballs, too. Our oldest set herself out to make just as many snowballs as Owen did. She stayed occupied for 15 minutes and barely put a dent in that roll. And now we have lots of fun entertainment! Also, mommy and daddy will be using “snowballs” for toilet paper for the next week and a half. We’re thrifty like that…

Our bathroom Christmas tree is also helping me make peace with having to log so many hours in the bathroom. You see, during the holidays one of my very favorite activities is to sit in the living room and admire the tree and ornaments. I’ll be jazzing this one up with more ornaments in the next few weeks. But the garland definitely stays (I think this is a fun idea for anyone else out there who might be sticking a tree in their bathroom this holiday season!).

We even conduct some of our day-to-day business in the bathroom now, such as eating ALL OF THE COOKIES or practicing Jedi mind tricks.

And for those moments when Layah wants to conduct what I call a “marathon” potty session, I’ve now got a blanket on hand, and one seriously comfy pillow.

How to Stay Out of the Bathroom

So for those of you who don’t like to just hang out in the bathroom all day, as fun as our space might be, don’t let it fool you! I DON’T recommend taking up residence there! And Cottonelle Triple Roll can help you stay out of there more, especially during the holidays when you might be hosting guests or throwing fun parties. No need to keep checking on the toilet paper roll and switching it out (because I know the truth, you are the ONLY one in your house who will change it, aren’t you?). The Cottonelle Triple Roll is ready for action, giving you the space to take care of your own business while your guests are taking care of theirs. Hee hee!

Cottonelle may be our ticket to a more comfortable bathroom to dwell in, but it can also be your ticket out of the bathroom! Be sure to pick up a package that will get you through the holidays. And if you are currently potty training, then seriously, this stuff is like gold. I’m not worried about the “liberal” usage of toilet paper by both of my girls, and I’ll even take part in the “snowball” fights. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right?

Want to Stay Out of the Bathroom?

Edit: If you are working hard on potty training right now and need some help figuring out how to wrap it all up and be done so you don’t have to spend as much time in the bathroom as we did, I highly recommend Potty Train in a Weekend by fellow blogger Becky Mansfield. It’s a great affordable resource that you can download as soon as you purchase it. It gets rave reviews from parents everywhere who aren’t sure how to keep potty training from going on and on forever!