Young At Heart Mommy

Managing Motherhood Through Love & Laughter

Baby Shower Registry Must-Haves + Dreft Giveaway

This post and giveaway were made possible by iConnect and Dreft. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Preparing for a little one to arrive is probably one of the most exciting and special moments a new parent can experience. Make sure you’re prepared for their entrance into the world with all of the essentials he or she needs beforehand! 

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Nurturing Self Esteem & Boosting Confidence #DoveInspired

  
In today’s hectic society beauty is widely portrayed by edited photos in magazines, airbrushed models, and unrealistic images of picture perfect celebrities. The media can be harsh and sometimes it sets a bar of very unrealistic standards the younger generation should be striving to be like. Instead of embracing imperfections, young girls can sometimes be discouraged and ashamed of the qualities that make them unique. Growing up isn’t easy and no one said it was. On top of the typical growing pains you have to deal with acne, parents, friends, fitting in, and finding who you are. There’s a heck of a lot going on at this point of time. I remember those days myself! I was always fortunate enough to have a supportive loving family and close group of friends to get me through the bumps in the road. Not every moment was perfect, but now that I look back at those days I have come to realize that they weren’t as bad as I thought. As a teen every downfall is dramatic and the end of the world. Today I am well in my 20’s and nothing has stopped me yet!


 

Surprising Self-Esteem Statistics

    Dove® research shows that it is still important for us to address girls’ anxiety about looks, as there is a universal increase in beauty pressure and a decrease in girls’ confidence as they grow older. Key findings from our latest research include:

    • Only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful (up from 2% in 2004)
    • Only 11% of girls globally are comfortable using the word beautiful to describe themselves
    • 72% of girls feel tremendous pressure to be beautiful
    • 80% of women agree that every woman has something about her that is beautiful but do not see their own beauty
    • More than half (54%) of women globally agree that when it comes to how they look, they are their own worst beauty critic

    Source– Dove Research: The Real Truth About Beauty, Revisited

    I feel it is never too soon to begin talking about self esteem, confidence, and self worth with our daughters. Toodie is approaching four and even at such a young age she loves being encouraged and praised. She thrives off of it and it brings me joy seeing her face light up with a huge smile. Whether she is showing me an artistic painting  or tracing her alphabet, it amazes me how intelligent she is. Each day I make the conscious effort to tell her how special and smart she is. I hope that all of my positive words mold her into a strong independent woman one day.
    Many of us are familiar with the popular Dove® brand and their continuous support for young woman. They are focused on creating top of the line beauty and hair products but also on their commitment to inspire. The Dove® Movement for Self-Esteem encourages girls of all colors, shapes, sizes, and backgrounds to embrace their beauty. Every time you are at the store stocking up on your favorite Dove products, you are contributing to the movement by making a donation. These proceeds go towards inspiring self-esteem programs for young girls everywhere. Dove has already reached more than 9 million girls so far and with all of our help they are determined to reach 15 million by 2015.  
    If you have a little girl, tween, or teen in your life then you may want to consider sparking a conversation sooner than later. Not sure where to begin? Start by downloading The Let’s Talk Toolkit which is a wonderful resource that provides advice from the creator Jess Weiner, Dove Global Self-Esteem Ambassador. Remember to Ask, Share, Listen and Act. This kit will provide you with unintimidating ways to create a natural chat about these topics, making it more comfortable for you and your child. Also, stop by the Dove Facebook page where you will find the Self-Esteem Wall in which you can share your story and commitment to girls’ self-esteem with your friends or family. This is such an important campaign and it is up to us to keep this momentum going.


    Disclosure:  This post has been sponsored by Dove. The information within the post have been provided by the Let’s Talk Campaign. As always, all opinions are my own!

    Back to School BOGO Sale at Famous Footwear!

    This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Famous Footwear. All opinions are 100% mine.
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    It’s hard to believe that the Summer is just about gone and it’s time to get the ball rolling with back to school shopping. This time of the year was always the most exciting when I was younger. It wasn’t because I was going back to school, loading up on homework, or cutting down on playtime. It was always all about getting a brand new wardrobe including clothes, accessories, and shoes! 
    Now that my princess is in school it is essential that we have a few durable pairs to send her off in each day. Children are always growing so it is important to have a good pair of what I like to call “school shoes.” These shoes should fit well, be comfortable, and most importantly- be ready to be worked out in the playground! On the search for the perfect shoe there is one place that never fails to offer quality and affordable prices. Famous Footwear carries a wide variety of shoes for all ages and genders. Right now they have an unbeatable Back To School promotion where you Buy One & Get One Half Off! This is the perfect time to stock up on a couple of pairs of stylish new shoes for your family. Who doesn’t like to get more for their money? I sure do.
    You can also check our their FREE Rewards Program to make the savings even sweeter.

    • Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend in-store or online
    • Accumulate points to earn certificates up to $100 a year
    • Discount offer just for signing up
    • Other special inside discounts and perk

     

    Click to here to grab the BOGO + 15% off Famous Footwear Coupon  and  redeem your coupon in-store anytime between August 2nd through August 18th.

    If you are a current rewards member or decide to join, your savings will increase even MORE! Your 15% OFF coupon will become 20% OFF.

    Visit Sponsor's Site

    BeeSavy iPad GIVEAWAY! Enter to WIN.

    Mom to Bed by 8, the Iowa-Mom is proud to present the The New iPad Giveaway Event, sponsored by BeeSavy.

    BeeSavy is the first website to combine comparison shopping with coupons, cash back discounts and referral cash back.

    Compare prices on millions of products from hundreds of trusted online stores.

    No matter where you shop or what you’re buying, you’ll save $:

    I know what I want… but where should I buy it? Search for any product in BeeSavy’s search engine. BeeSavy show you all the stores selling that product along with the total price at each of those stores. The total price includes the list price, tax and shipping costs, cash back discount, and coupon savings.
    I already know where I’m shopping… how do I save $? Even for you brand-loyal shoppers, you can save money every time you shop at your favorite stores. Click the Shop By Store button in the top right to get started. First, check for coupons at your favorite store. Next, click through to your favorite store and make a purchase. When you shop online through BeeSavy, you will earn a cash back discount. Your cash back discount will post to your BeeSavy account within 1-4 days. BeeSavy will send you a check or deposit your cash back into your PayPal account once your balance reaches $10.
    I don’t know what I want… Now what? You can browse popular products by clicking the Shop by Category button in the top left. You will see the most popular products in hundreds of different categories.

    Other BeeSavy benefits for online shoppers:

    Trusted retailers only! Unlike other comparison shopping websites, BeeSavy carefully chooses each and every one of its stores to ensure a safe and secure shopping experience. If you ever have a bad experience with a BeeSavy store, please let them know right away.
    Feeling generous? Donate your savings to a charity. When you request a cash back payment, BeeSavy gives you the option to donate a portion or all of your cash back to a charity. Just choose a charity and how much you want to donate and they’ll take care of the rest!
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    BeeSavy benefits for online retailers:

    It’s a win-win-win. With most forms of marketing, online retailers must pay upfront with no guarantee of results; however, with cost-per-sale marketing, online retailers only pay BeeSavy when it generates a sale. Online retailers choose a commission rate that fits within their profit margin, thereby ensuring a positive return on their marketing dollars. By giving most of this commission to the purchasing customer as a cash back rebate, BeeSavy utilizes this online retailer marketing method to save its customers money that traditional comparison shopping websites cannot match (due to their cost-per-click revenue model).


    One lucky winner will receive an iPad 3rd Generation, 16GB Unit from BeeSavy!

     If you are not already an iPad owner, this is your chance to get it on the fun! You can surf the web, tweet your heart away, catch up with friends on Facebook, play games, and even listen to music. The iPad is extremely versatile and everyone can get great use out of it. Good luck everyone!

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    Audiovox Portable DVD Player GIVEAWAY!

    Summer travels are here and Audiovox can help you take your favorite family films on the go with you! The DS2058 10.2″ Enhanced Definition Portable DVD Player with Swivel Display has a larger screen for easier viewing, clear picture display, decent sound quality, simple touch button commands and a unique swivel screen for better viewing reach. Watch your DVDs on the road, while camping and even in the comfort of your own home. This is one buy you will be happy to have on your next road trip.

    If you have children then I am sure you know how wonderful having a portable DVD player can be. They are great for traveling long or short distances. You can help your little ones stay entertained with their favorite movie to help make the time go by and also keep them distracted! The DS2058 has a large screen monitor and also a convenient swivel screen for viewing within multiple angles.


    Audiovox DS2058 10.2″ Enhanced Definition Portable DVD Player w/ Swivel Display
    For portable entertainment that is on the move tune into Audiovox. DVDs or CDs. Home or away. Audiovox portable DVD players can provide hours of enjoyment for the family.
    Features:

    • 10.2″ TFT Enhanced Definition Digital Display
    • 5 hour battery time
    • 16:9 Aspect Ratio
    • 800 x 480 Resolution
    • USB Slot
    • SD Card Slot
    • Audio/Video Input & Output
    • Disc playback: DVD / CD /JPEG
    • USB/SD Card playback: MP3, JPEG
    • Internal Rechargeable Li-polymer battery
    • Gloss Finish

    Includes:

    • Remote Control
    • Built-in Stereo Speakers
    • 3.5mm Headphone Jack
    • AC/DC Power Adapter
    • Automotive Power Adapter
    • Instruction Manual
    • Product Registration Card

    BUY IT: Purchase the Audiovox DS2058 10.2″ Enhanced Definition Portable DVD Player w/ Swivel Display from http://store.audiovox.com for $229.99.
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    Toodie Got Mail!

    Each day when the mailman arrives Toodie jumps up from whatever she is doing and immediately asks to go check our mailbox. She has a perfect view from the window in her room and she always keeps one eye open for the mail truck. She loves being a helper and bringing the mail in. She loves getting her “own” mail even more..

    Today Toodie got her very first, official, piece of mail! Thanks to her grandma she is now a subscriber to the “High Five” Highlights magazine.  “High Five” is especially for children ages 2-6 years old and invites them to explore a world of fun with age appropriate activities.  I remember reading the Highlights magazine when I was a little older than she is now and I thought they were the greatest thing in the world! I could tell she felt special that she now has a magazine to call her own.

    The Highlights magazine was just as I remembered, and a bit re-vamped after 20+ years. It was full of simple stories, poems, learning activities, and even craft ideas. Toodie really enjoyed the activities where she was able to spot silly things or search for hidden items within the picture. We both had fun going through all of the pages together and this is her first piece of mail she can look forward to receiving each month.

    All this thrill from the mailman’s visit each day gave me the idea to create our own mailbox. I want something that Toodie can access each day and check for herself without asking to go outside and check the mailbox 10 times a day!
    I did a little searching on Pinterest & Google for homemade mailbox ideas and came across a few semi-easy projects.
    These are mini plain white mailboxes decorated and personalized with the child’s name and photo. I have a ton of scrapbook paper that I could use for the outside and this would be a fun project to allow Toodie to decorate the box herself.

     
    I had no idea that a simple cardboard box could be turned into a child size play mailbox! This is too cool. I could easily set this up by the front door and Toodie could drop her mail in it everyday. I really like this idea.
    easier looking mailbox :)
    This is one of my favorite mailboxes that I found surfing the net. I love the bright colors and polka dots. This would be so cute on the front of Toodie’s bedroom door!
    I haven’t decided what type of mailbox to make yet but with so many fun ideas floating around I am sure I have plenty of inspiration. Besides the bills, junk mail, and paper mailers … getting a surprise package makes everyone happy, even for us adults. Do your kids get excited when they see the mailman in front of the house too?

    Everywhere