Young At Heart Mommy

Managing Motherhood Through Love & Laughter

Archives for August 2014

Strawberry Soda Cupcakes + Zevia GIVEAWAY #ZeviaStyle #MomsMeet

Disclosure: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC. All opinions are my own.

SODA. The one word that makes some parents cringe in fear! Packed with sugar and empty calories, it isn’t a favorite for many parents like myself. While it clearly isn’t a beverage of choice, it sure is hard to steer clear of its path.  Let’s face it, soda is EVERYWHERE these days. It’s offered at restaurants, fast food facilities, vending machines, sporting events, and even at our children’s schools. I even spotted a soda machine outside of a day care classroom last year! The constant reminder that it is available at all times makes it difficult for parents to control what their kids are consuming during snack and lunch time. This is why I have switched my focus to a “smarter” soda that gives the same bubbly satisfaction minus the artificial sweeteners and calories. Say hello to Zevia!
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Eliminate Split Ends With Suave Split End Rescue Duo

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Global Influence.

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Split ends are one of the most common hair care issues that many woman have. No matter how healthy your hair is or how many miracle products you invest in, everyone has suffered from this dreadful enemy. I have spent the past year doing everything I can to improve the appearance and overall quality of my hair. This includes reducing the heat on my blow dryer,  taking vitamins, using protective sprays, passing up the daily use of my favorite straightener, and even sticking to a dark hair style so I could grow out the bleach from previous highlighting. The condition of my hair has improved drastically but there are times that those annoying split ends need a little TLC and Suave Professionals Split End Rescue duo does just that.
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27 Incredible Pumpkin Spice Recipes

I officially had my first pumpkin spice coffee of the year this morning. Usually I have to wait until September but the stars must be aligned because the beloved pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks has been released early this year. Needless to say I had a good start to the day and that cup of pure bliss had me feeling like Fall was in the air. Inspired by the delightful combination of ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon I rounded up 27 of my favorite mouthwatering pumpkin spice recipes to get you in the mood too! The majority of these are desserts but you know me, a sweet tooth is kinda my thing.
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Coca Cola + Walmart Offer #EffortlessMeals For Back To School Time

Disclosure: This in a sponsored post facilitated by The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions expressed are my own.

We made it through the first week of Kindergarten and to my surprise it was rather painless. Sure, I shed a few tears and held my daughter’s hand every single day that I was able to escort her to class. My mommy emotions were in full force but now that we are on week two things have settled down here. It feels really good to be back on schedule, have a good night’s sleep at a normal hour, and a little free time to myself before Toodie arrives home each day. Even though things are slowly getting back on track dinner can be hectic on school nights. Toodie gets home mid-day and by the time we walk through the door she is already asking what is for dinner. Rather than have her overload on snacks I turn to the quick and easy Effortless Meals with Coca-Cola at Walmart. This way I get to take a break from our usual dinner routine and spend more time with my family.
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Back To School With Harvest Snaps + GIVEAWAY #HarvestSnapsFan

This post was created in partnership with Harvest Snaps. I have been compensated for this post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s back to school time and in the midst of the chaos we can easily get caught up in the repetitive preparation of packing the same old snacks and lunches. I don’t know about your children but mine has made it clear that she isn’t bursting at the seams in excitement when she finds a turkey sandwich in her lunchbox. Not to mention she has stopped eating the peanut butter pretzels and cheese cubes I have bored her with all Summer. Let’s face it, the same lunches can get a bit boring and bland day after day. It’s time to bring adventure, anticipation, flavor, and surprise to the lunchbox with Harvest Snaps!
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How To Balance Going Back To School As A Mom

 
As a mom, going back to school is the best possible decision you can make for yourself and your family!
 

When I became a parent I put a lot of things on the back burner, school included. After going through a divorce and starting my life again I realized that my education needed to be a priority again. Now that Toodie has started Kindergarten it has made my schedule much more flexible than before. I have decided to take advantage of this open door and continue my education by finishing my degree. I’ve worked hard to get where I am and was recently accepted into the business program at a new college. While I am ecstatic for the opportunity and to finish, I do remind myself that I am also a mom and that has obstacles of its own to compete with.
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Progresso Homemade Quality Chili #ProgressoChili

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.

This past week we have been trying to make meal time as simple as possible. It’s Back To School season and things are still rather hectic as we get used to our new schedule. Lately we have had a hankering for homemade quality chili but not enough time to prepare it. The new Progresso™ Chili offers a unique twist on classic chili flavors and takes the time out of preparing my usual homemade chili in the crock pot. This only takes about 5 1/2 minutes to make and it tastes just as good. It also comes in a convenient pouch package that is clear at the bottom. The packaging helps maintain the freshness and flavor and allows you to see the ingredients and quality for yourself.
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Salon Gorgeous Hair With TRESemmé

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Global Influence.

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Tomorrow night the anticipated 2014 MTV Video Music Awards are being held in Inglewood, California. It’s hard to believe that this will be their 31st annual show. I have been watching the VMA’s since I was in middle school and always look forward to the performances. This year artists like Beyoncé, Eminem, Katy Perry, and Miley Cyrus will be facing off for a “moonman” to call their own. I really enjoy watching the pre-show. This is the first time you get to see all of the stars walk the red carpet with their beautiful dresses, flawless makeup, and rockin’ hair. I’m no celebrity but TRESemmé has all of the products needed to amp up my hair and make me feel like a star!
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Head & Shoulders… Knees + DANDRUFF!? #PartOfOurFamily

My hair has its good day and it has its bad days. Then it has those days where I look in the mirror and think to myself, “Is this REALLY what I have to work with right now?” I’ve been coloring, cutting, and altering my hair for over 10 years. You can imagine the stress my little hair follicles have been under! Sometimes they scream for a little extra TLC and if they don’t get it I can expect to have quite a few horrific hair days ahead of me. 
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Take Fiber On The Go With New Fiber One Snacks #FiberOneSnacks

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.

Fiber One™ has always done a pretty good job of simplifying the art of snacking. I used to live off of their Oats & Chocolate chewy bars because of how convenient and delicious they are. I still continue to try anything they come out with including the new soft-baked Cookies! Found in the cookie aisle of the grocery store, these individually wrapped treats are great for on-the-go portion control. Each cookie has 5 grams of fiber per serving. That’s 20% of the daily value! Fiber One Cookies are a delightfully soft and chewy cookie that you can feel good about. You no longer have to avoid the cookies aisle because these are not a guilty pleasure.

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