HALO Safer Way to Sleep Initiative (Giveaway!)

July 11, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 54 Comments

HALO is a company I have worked with several times. I believe in their products and I believe in their mission. HALO are the makers of SleepSacks, which range from infant swaddlers all the way up their new SleepSack Big Kids line.

Several of you inquired about the Big Kids design when I had my last review of the SleepSack Early Walker. HALO sent me the Big Kids design so I could show it to you. We are enjoying using it for Darah because she tends to run a little bit hot (just like her mama) and this time of year, that means her comforter is just too warm for her. The SleepSack Big Kids helps keep her body safely covered without overheating it. We love it!

The focus of my post today, though, is on the HALO Safer Way to Sleep Initiative. This initiative has helped 1,000 hospital nurseries make the switch to HALO SleepSack Swaddles instead of blankets. Babies and new parents are introduced to safe sleep practices from day 1! HALO believes that by modeling proper baby care in the hospital, and by providing free Slafe Sleep Practices kits, they are furthering the cause of SIDS prevention, which is the mission of the company.

My family has been using HALO SleepSacks from the very beginning with Layah. We didn’t realize the concern with hip displyasia with a tighter swaddle, so once we did, we fully made the switch over to HALO, which have been deemed “hip healthy” by the Hip Displaysia Institute.

Additionally, I really appreciate how their products have grown with my child. HALO has gone above and beyond by making products for safe sleep that go beyond the first 6 months of life, when the risk for SIDS is the highest. And I get major warm fuzzies when I read about the Safer Way to Sleep Initiative. HALO is very focused on making a difference in the lives of babies and their families, and in reducing cases of SIDS through safe sleep education.

HALO is a fantastic company, and I’m proud to use their products, as well as to recommend them to others!

Win it!: In celebration of the Safer Way to Sleep Initiative, HALO would like to offer a lucky reader a HALO SleepSack Swaddle!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

This post contains affiliate links. I only promote what I already use and love!

Tim’s Favorite Snack of All Time

July 9, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 179 Comments

A few years ago I introduced you to a very novel concept in the snacking industry: the marriage of popcorn and chips into a super snack known as PopCorners. The brand recently sent us some of their newest flavors to try, and I loved them so much that I wanted to tell you all about them.

Having a hard time picturing the concept? Let me give you an up-close and personal look at the deliciousness:

And one more for you:

Looks pretty tasty, right? It really is. PopCorners are all natural, gluten-free and non-GMO. Currently they come in Sweet Cinnamon, which I cannot wait to try, as well as the two flavors we’ve been munching on lately, Twisted Salt and Memphis BBQ.

We’ve been taking these travel-sized bags with us in the car and on various day trips, such as to the aquarium or to play dates. They are a snack that all 4 of us love to eat. I highly recommend them if you are on the hunt for a new snack that isn’t greasy like traditional chips or microwave popcorn. Check out the Popcorners website for a list of places where you can buy this product. Don’t forget, you can also buy it on Amazon!

Win it!: And lucky you! PopCorners would like to offer one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a case of Popcorners!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

This post contains an affiliate link. I only recommend what I already buy and love.

BabyGanics for Summer: Insect Repellent, Sunscreen and Diapers!

July 8, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Are you familiar with the BabyGanics line of products? They have really grown in the last few years and can be found at places like Target, CVS, and Amazon, just to name a few. This company focuses on providing safe and healthy products for your baby and your home. I have loved every single item I have tried, and today I want to highlight 3 products that BabyGanics sent us to try out and that we are especially loving this summer.

BabyGanics Sunscreen

BabyGanics Cover Up Baby Pure Mineral Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 has been in frequent use for the past month in my house. While I can’t say the application method is my favorite (lotion you have to rub on is a big ask for a squirmy toddler) I will say that I love that it is a pure mineral product and I have found its effectiveness to be great. I also noticed that this formula comes in a spray on version. That would be what I, personally, would go for next time!

BabyGanics Natural Insect Repellent

Babyganics Shoo Fly Bye Deet Free Natural Insect Repellent is a total STEAL on Amazon right now…just $3.99! This stuff is AWESOME and actually works. The mosquitos think we smell disgusting when we wear this, which means they steer clear of us while we are out playing. Mosquitos are a HUGE problem here, so finding something without Deet in it that actually works is a really big deal to me. This product is a huge winner…a favorite product of mine for the summer, for sure!

BabyGanics Diapers

BabyGanics Ultra Absorbent Diapers are a brand new addition to the BabyGanics line. These are eco-friendly (woo hoo!) and they are also soft and as far as eco-friendly diapers go, quite affordable! BabyGanics has done really well with these diapers, I have to say! While I wouldn’t use them for overnight, they work perfectly fine during the day. The diapers are made free of harsh chemicals, latex, chlorine, fragrances or petroleum-based lotions. Prices for diaper packs start at just $11.99, and these can be found at Babies R Us locations. I know many of my readers are interested in disposable diapers, and you know that I’m interested in eco-friendly options. So this seemed like the perfect marriage! 🙂

Have you tried any of the BabyGanics products? What do you think about them? Any other products that you were introduced to this summer and that you are loving? Tell me all about them!!!

What’s In My Purse? (Giveaway!)

July 6, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 167 Comments

I believe that what someone carries in their handbag says a lot about who they are and what matters to them. The same might also be said for what someone carries as their handbag. What does it say about me that I am rocking an upcycled seatbelt bag these days?

Seatbelt Bag

You read that correctly: my handbag, courtesy of Maggie Bags, is made out of upcycled seatbelts. Wanna see?

Here’s what this bag signifies to me, personally:

Reinvention: something I am also going through, professionally!
Thinking outside of the box yields awesome results
Beauty can be found in unexpected places
It feels good to support small businesses and creative thinkers

Every year, millions of yards of seatbelt material are rejected by the automakers industry due to their rigorous standards. Maggie Bags is working hard to keep that rejected product out of the landfills, and to find new uses for it. They make bags in every color of the rainbow as well as in several styles. My Cicily Tote is perfect for my day-to-day needs. It is smaller than the handbag I replaced it with, and yet I am finding that it is still big enough to hold all I need to carry.

Speaking of all that I need to carry, here’s what you’ll find in my purse these days (affiliate links below).

1. Tag from Reviewer’s Retreat. I just got back from a conference that focused on working with brands. I learned a lot!

2. Lens cap for my camera. I actually keep my camera in my bag, but needed it to take the picture, so the lens cap had to do! Here’s a link to my camera if you want to check it out.

3. My iPhone. With a custom cover in my 2 favorite colors: purple and green.

4. Fiber One brownie. That’s an on-the-go snack for mommy!

5. Sunscreen in stick form. This is the most travel-friendly way of carrying sun protection. No judgement that my sunscreen has SpongeBob on it, ok?

6. Earth’s Best snack bar. I’ve pretty much always got at least one Earth’s Best item in my purse at all times.

7. Pearl earrings. Always be prepared to get dressed up at a moment’s notice, ladies!

8. Business cards. If you are promoting a business, you need to be ready at all times to make a new connection. I handed out dozens of these at my recent conference, but I also hand them out from time to time when I’m just out and about and meet someone!

9. Ear plugs (which, for some strange reason, I call “beans”). I CANNOT sleep without ear plugs. So they need to go with me everywhere. Just in case an opportunity for a cat nap presents itself! These ear plugs are my favorites.

10. Liz Claiborne wallet. I bought this wallet at Filene’s Basement in Boston in 2003. I have used it every day for the past 10 years. It is still going strong!

11. Wendy’s frosty coupon. I paid $1 for this (.80 of which went back to the Dave Thomas Foundation). Every time from now through December 31st of this year when I show this card, I get a free small purchase with any purchase at Wendy’s. That thing rocks!

12. Lipstick. Of course! For the summer, my go-to shade is Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick, Iced Amethyst.

What are you carrying in your purse these days? Would you like to be carrying those things in a Maggie Bag? Use coupon code SPN15 to save 15% (now through 07/31!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Cicily Tote just like the one I reviewed (your choice of color!) from Maggie Bags!

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

Why I Pay for Amazon Prime (And How You Can Get It for Free!)

July 3, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 8 Comments

Amazon Prime Review

Affiliate links are included. I only recommend what I use and love, as always.

I’ve been a member of Amazon Prime since January. If you aren’t familiar with Amazon, then you aren’t reading this, because the internet must not exist in your mind.

But if you aren’t familiar with Amazon Prime, that’s a bit more understandable. It is a yearly subscription service that allows LOTS of perks, which I will detail in a minute. It costs $79/year. Which is not chump change in my world. I weighed the pros and cons for about a year before I decided that I just needed to try it out.

So now I’m a full 6 months in, and at this point, I believe that I’ll renew next year! Let me tell you why:

1. The number one reason, for me, is the complimentary 2 day shipping. It isn’t offered on everything, but it is offered on LOTS AND LOTS of things. I have used it 3 separate times in the last week. My goal is not to see how many boxes I can get from Amazon, and I’m happy to buy more than one item at a time. The trouble is that I rarely remember multiple things that I need at once. Before I had prime, I was always scrambling to try to fill that $25 minimum. This is a non-issue now. And anything I order gets here faster, too! Last-minute gift needed? No problem! Running out of diapers? Why go to the store when you can just click a few buttons and be done?!

2. Amazon instant videos. The selection is not stellar, and for a while, I didn’t really use it much at all. But they had the latest season of Downton Abbey (when Netflix instant, which I also subscribe to, did not). I enjoyed that so much that I declared my $79 to be well-spent. They also have some Nickelodeon cartoons that Netflix doesn’t have, which is a plus for Darah. They have over 40,000 titles just waiting for you. Totally FREE!

3. I don’t have a Kindle, so this is one perk I cannot use. But many people do. And if you do, you get to borrow books from the Kindle Owners Lender’s Library FOR FREE. Yes…FREE!

photo credit: sⓘndy° via photopin cc

Free Amazon Prime?

I hear you…what’s this about the FREE Amazon Prime option, Tiffany? Well, right now they are offering a 30 day free trial. No obligation. No strings attached. FREE! Get yourself signed up. Order a few packages. Watch a few movies. Read a few books. Amazon is so confident that you’ll want to stick around that they are offering up a one month free trial for you. Nothing to lose, and LOTS of perks to gain!

I’m a member, myself. My recommendation is based strictly on my experience. Amazon didn’t gift me a subscription. Nor did they ask me to write this. Just sharing something that makes my life a little bit easier, and that I have determined to be worth the money!

Craft Subscription Box I Love the Most: Kiwi Crate

July 3, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 7 Comments

Best Craft Subscription Box

I have reviewed quite a few craft subscription boxes over the last year. Every box I have posted, I have loved, and the ones I haven’t loved, I didn’t even highlight here (yes, there have been craft subscription boxes that I thought were just ok…”ok” is not worth sharing, in my opinion). But of all the boxes I have tried out, the one I was sent from Kiwi Crate has been my very favorite.

We made a pom pom creature with our latest box. It came with VERY detailed instructions. This has been the biggest issue for me with some of the subscription boxes I have seen: they assume you have a basic level of craftiness and don’t need to be told every little step. This is simply not true for me, and that’s why I order craft subscription boxes: I DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS STUFF ON MY OWN!!!! I rely on the instructions to hold my hand and guide me through the process. Kiwi Crate knocked this element out of the park!

Kiwi Crate also had the most creative craft projects I have yet to see. Not only did we make a little creature (which was adorable) but we also got to make a play area for our little creature. This extra activity helped bring the little pom pom to life even more.

As I said before, if you have seen a craft subscription box on my site, I have loved it. You cannot go wrong with any one I have featured. But if I was forced to pick just one to recommend, based on my experience, it would have to be Kiwi Crate. We’ll be ordering another box, for sure. Right now Kiwi Crate is offering a Summer Discovery Series that focuses on nature and getting outdoors. July’s box has all sorts of water based activities. It looks SO fun!!! Subscriptions start as low as $16.95/month. If you’ve been on the fence about trying out a craft subscription box, let me offer a little nudge. This is the one to get! 🙂

What craft subscription boxes have you tried at this point? Any hits or misses for you? Have you tried Kiwi Crate? Don’t miss that 10% off coupon they are offering (use code fireworks).

I received a complimentary box for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

PediaOne: A Medicine Cabinet Necessity

June 30, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

About a month ago, both of my girls came down with a nasty stomach virus, causing them both to vomit. Little Layah seemed to have it the worst, and I became quite concerned about dehydration for her. I needed a quick solution. I scurried down to our neighborhood grocery store to pick up an oral rehydration product.

They didn’t carry it! Argh! I was so frustrated at them for not having it, and even more so, I was frustrated at myself for not replenishing my supply when I used up the last of it when one of the girls was sick a few months prior.

pediaone oral rehydration for kids

Now I’m fully restocked and ready to rehydrate my kids when it is needed, and with a great new product, too! Check out PediaOne. I’m loving it for several reasons:

no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners

comes in a variety of sizes (check out the packets you add to water! So convenient!)
tastes great (I took a sip, myself, just to make sure!)
higher levels of important vitamins and minerals than competing brands (zinc, vitamin c, vitamin b, calcium)

This is a great new product, with a variety of serving methods to meet different needs (larger families, travel, etc.). Don’t make the mistake I did and be out of stock when illness strikes. PediaOne will be a key factor in keeping my kids hydrated the next time they experience vomiting or diarrhea. And you know as well as I do that when the kiddos are sick with either one of those things, it is NOT a convenient time to make a trip to the store! You can purchase PediaOne at any of the brick and mortar or online store locations listed here.

I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions listed here are strictly my own.

How My Snack Stash Saved the Day

June 29, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 7 Comments

Last week I told you all about my toddler snacks that I took for our road trip up to Asheville. They were a great help in the car, to be sure. But they also totally saved the day in the most unlikely of all places:

AT A RESTAURANT.

That may surprise you to hear me say. But then again, if you have a toddler, then you understand that when they want to eat, they want to eat NOW. Tim and I took a while to figure out what we wanted to order, and then the food took a little while to come out. That span of 20 minutes was 8 eternities to little Layah, and she quickly started to lose her composure.

At first I thought one of us would just have to leave with herand we’d have to take turns eating our food. Then I remembered that I stuck an Earth’s Best Sunny Days Snack Bars in my purse.

I handed it over to Layah, and then turned around to grab my camera so I could snap a picture of our lunchtime hero. Here’s what was left of the bar once I turned back around:

This snack bar earns full credit for keeping Layah from losing her cool, and for keeping our family all at the same table, eating our food at the same time. It saved the day!

What snacks do you keep in your purse, either for your little ones or for yourself?

I am an Earth’s Best Preferred blogger, and as such, have received complimentary products to facilitate my review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend what I already buy and love.

Super Affordable Children’s Clothes Shopping: Sophia’s Style (Giveaway!)

June 27, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 98 Comments

Attention all parents out there who like to find fashionable clothes for their kids but also who have a rather tight budget: I have found an AWESOME online place to shop! I have been SO excited to share this because I think the bargains I found at SophiasStyle.com were amazing! Wait until you see how much adorable stuff I got for $50! More on that later.

For now, I want to tell you more about the company. SophiasStyle.com is a family owned company with the goal of providing whimsical and fun outfits for little boys and girls, as well as accessories and little gifts. Looking for a birthday outfit or something perfect for a picture-taking session? This is your spot! I know I am already starting to think about girls christmas dresses (never too early to start!) and I’ve been excited to see they SophiasStyle.com already has a great selection available!

And I haven’t even mentioned the fantastic prices. Sophia’s Style offers discount prices on their trendy, designer pieces. That want to help your little one look his or her best and also give your wallet a sigh of relief. May I show you what I was able to purchase for $57 total, including shipping costs?

I also purchased a Melissa & Doug sand scooper for just $1.99 in addition to all these great clothes!

The only drawback to finding these great prices is realizing that their stock moves quickly. I saw many super adorable items that were no longer available in Darah’s current size, so I either had to find alternatives or just buy ahead for next year. In many cases, I decided to just buy ahead. The prices were too good not to snatch up, even if I have to wait a while for Darah to be able to wear them!

Also, as if their prices weren’t already good enough, they are currently running an extra 25% off sale on all clearance items. Oh boy….might be spending a little time on their website this afternoon, myself!
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will receive a gift certificate for $50 to Sophia’s Style!Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a complimentary gift certificate for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend products I already love!