Young At Heart Mommy

Managing Motherhood Through Love & Laughter

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara Review

Everyone has one beauty product that they could never be without. For some people it may be foundation to even their skin tone, concealer to hide any redness, or even a brow pencil to give them more defined eyebrows. My go to – “must have” – could never be without – beauty product is mascara. You can probably go ahead an assume that the Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara is my favorite. A few months ago I had started using the PF products, more specifically their blushes, when I noticed that there were a lot of positive reviews online. I loved their Happy Booster blush and quickly replaced it as soon as it ran out. When in comes to makeup and beauty products I usually go for higher end and avoid drugstore brands. But after being disappointed the past year with all of the high end makeup counter mascaras, I decided to do a little research and look into other options. Luckily I came across the Organic Wear and gave it a try. 
There are so many things that I love about this product. Not only is the packaging 100% recyclable, but if you didn’t know PF is a cruelty free company. No testing on animals- huge plus! Given the formula this mascara does not burn your eyes or cause any irritation. I wear contacts everyday and this has never given me any issues.  I am not usually a fan of the rubber brushes or wands but this one i do like. It helps to lengthen, thicken, and plump your lashes without causing any clumping. You can continuously coat your lashes and they will not get brittle, dry, or flaky. It also gives them a natural look while still being flexible and soft. Living in South Florida it can be hot and humid here nearly everyday. With that being said I have never had a problem with it smudging or smearing. If you are on the search for a new mascara then please give this a try! I would never write about a product if I didn’t believe in it or think it performed well. If you are also a fan of PF cosmetics, what products do you use?

Day 2 & Such A Breeze!

Here we are, Day 2 of school for my princess. It’s nice that we have a day in between her school days so she doesn’t get overwhelmed. This morning went much more smooth and she actually seemed more at ease about the idea. No tears, no fit, and no “real” crying. We walked into her classroom and she gave her teacher a big hug. When she knew I was leaving she put on her pouty face and did her pretend cry. If you are a parent than you know what cry i am talking about. The one that they use to express their sadness but there are no actual tears coming out of their eyes! I picked up her, gave her a hug and kiss, and told her how much i loved her. She was holding on to me so tight I thought she would never let go. But she willingly went back into her teacher’s arms and I was able to once again sneak out of the room. Today I am going to pick her up a little later and see if she can make it through nap time with the other children. I am just thankful that she is transitioning so well and is genuinely happy. I couldn’t be prouder of my big girl! 

Physicians Formula: $15 off any item at CVS!

 
After dropping Toodie off at school today I stopped by CVS to get something and on the bottom of my receipt was a coupon for $15 off any Physicians Formula purchase! If you have a CVS Extra Bucks card than this is definitely worth stopping in for. It practically makes your purchase FREE. I didn’t even bother to look at the bottom of my receipt until I got home but I will be going back to pick up my favorite mascara that they make. Even if you have never used Physicians Formula before this is a good time to give it a try or pick it up and give to a friend. You can’t lose! I personally recommend the Physicians Formula Organic Mascara. It’s my ABSOLUTE favorite over any mascara our there- even high end.

Mcdonalds Healthier Happy Meals

Okay first of all, is that not the cutest little french fry box you have ever seen!?  Tonight we made what was suppose to be a “quick” run to Walmart so I could get a few things for Toodie and myself.  The “quick” part never happens because we always get stuck wandering the whole store before we even start our necessity shopping! Before we headed home we stopped by the Mcdonalds inside to pick her up a Happy Meal for dinner. We don’t really eat Mcdonalds often so I had no idea that they changed their Happy Meal french fry portions to this mini carton. I almost died. I had to Instagram it immediately because it was so tiny and adorable. 
From what I can see Mcdonalds is attempting to take a healthy step in the right direction. This change in their Happy Meals is supposed to kick the calories and replace them with a side of apples for children to enjoy. They cut their french fry portions in half and added the apple dippers to each Happy Meal. This actually cuts down the calories by 20% for a total of 600 LESS calories. I can’t even believe there were that many calories in a carton of french fries to begin with. I personally love this idea. While Toodie doesn’t eat the french fries much less any of the happy meal .. it is nice to see that they are thinking about the younger generation. I don’t know about your children but mine usually goes straight for the toy and tosses the rest to the side. This past year she has really gotten into eating fruit and apples are at the top of her list. Overall this is a smart move on Mcdonalds behalf. I am happy they are moving in the right direction and it will be interesting to see if they make any other changes in the future.

15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy

This article was brought to my attention this morning and after reading it I feel EVERYONE  could benefit from this! Check it out. It’s from The Purpose Fairy ( http://www.purposefairy.com/ ) May give you a new insight on life and your own happiness. 

Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them. Not anymore. Starting today we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready? Here we go:

1. Give up your need to always be right. There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for us and for others. It’s just not worth it. Whenever you feel the ‘urgent’ need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question: “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?” Wayne Dyer. What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?

2. Give up your need for control. Be willing to give up your need to always control everything that happens to you and around you – situations, events, people, etc. Whether they are loved ones, coworkers, or just strangers you meet on the street – just allow them to be. Allow everything and everyone to be just as they are and you will see how much better will that make you feel.
“By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning.” Lao Tzu
3. Give up on blame. Give up on your need to blame others for what you have or don’t have, for what you feel or don’t feel. Stop giving your powers away and start taking responsibility for your life.
4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk. Oh my. How many people are hurting themselves because of their negative, polluted and repetitive self-defeating mindset? Don’t believe everything that your mind is telling you – especially if it’s negative and self-defeating. You are better than that.
 “The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.” Eckhart Tolle
5. Give up your limiting beliefs about what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. From now on, you are no longer going to allow your limiting beliefs to keep you stuck in the wrong place. Spread your wings and fly!
“A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind” Elly Roselle
6. Give up complaining. Give up your constant need to complain about those many, many, maaany things – people, situations, events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed. Nobody can make you unhappy, no situation can make you sad or miserable unless you allow it to. It’s not the situation that triggers those feelings in you, but how you choose to look at it. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.
7. Give up the luxury of criticism. Give up your need to criticize things, events or people that are different than you. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to be happy, we all want to love and be loved and we all want to be understood. We all want something, and something is wished by us all.
8. Give up your need to impress others. Stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not just to make others like you. It doesn’t work this way. The moment you stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not, the moment you take of all your masks, the moment you accept and embrace the real you, you will find people will be drawn to you, effortlessly.
9. Give up your resistance to change. Change is good. Change will help you move from A to B. Change will help you make improvements in your life and also the lives of those around you. Follow your bliss, embrace change – don’t resist it.
“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls” Joseph Campbell
10. Give up labels. Stop labeling those things, people or events that you don’t understand as being weird or different and try opening your mind, little by little. Minds only work when open. “The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.” Wayne Dyer
11. Give up on your fears. Fear is just an illusion, it doesn’t exist – you created it. It’s all in your mind. Correct the inside and the outside will fall into place.
“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” Franklin D. Roosevelt
12. Give up your excuses. Send them packing and tell them they’re fired. You no longer need them. A lot of times we limit ourselves because of the many excuses we use. Instead of growing and working on improving ourselves and our lives, we get stuck, lying to ourselves, using all kind of excuses – excuses that 99.9% of the time are not even real.
13. Give up the past. I know, I know. It’s hard. Especially when the past looks so much better than the present and the future looks so frightening, but you have to take into consideration the fact that the present moment is all you have and all you will ever have. The past you are now longing for – the past that you are now dreaming about – was ignored by you when it was present. Stop deluding yourself. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life. After all life is a journey not a destination. Have a clear vision for the future, prepare yourself, but always be present in the now.
14. Give up attachment. This is a concept that, for most of us is so hard to grasp and I have to tell you that it was for me too, (it still is) but it’s not something impossible. You get better and better at with time and practice. The moment you detach yourself from all things, (and that doesn’t mean you give up your love for them – because love and attachment have nothing to do with one another,  attachment comes from a place of fear, while love… well, real love is pure, kind, and self less, where there is love there can’t be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot coexist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words.
15. Give up living your life to other people’s expectations. Way too many people are living a life that is not theirs to live. They live their lives according to what others think is best for them, they live their lives according to what their parents think is best for them, to what their friends, their enemies and their teachers, their government and the media think is best for them. They ignore their inner voice, that inner calling. They are so busy with pleasing everybody, with living up to other people’s expectations, that they lose control over their lives. They forget what makes them happy, what they want, what they need….and eventually they forget about themselves.  You have one life – this one right now – you must live it, own it, and especially don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from your path.

Uprinting Giveaway (1 Winner) 250 Die-cut Business Cards

Have you been thinking about getting your own business cards lately? If your answer is yes then you have came to the right place! Let me introduce you to this fabulous service by UPrinting. UPrinting lets you print your own business cards online, whether you are looking to create standard cards or die-cut ones. You can either upload your own file or create your business card design from scratch using their Easy Design Tool. They offer high quality business cards available at a variety of prices, found to be affordable to small business owners and independent designers. UPrinting makes creating your own business card easy, effortless, and enjoyable.
Whether you own your own business or run a blog like I do, UPrinting can get you on track in making your own customized business cards. No more boring business cards with a lifeless face and bland design. You will be provided with free templates that will add personality and reflect who you are as well what your business offers. UPrinting will help assist you in leaving the best first impression! Enter today to win your own set of 250 Die Cut Business Cards!
  
For More Information :  Business Card Printing 

Prize Information:

250 Die-cut Business Cards for one winner
2×3.5″ Rounded Corners, 2×2″ Rounded Corners, 1.75×3.5″ Rounded Corners, 2×3.5″ Leaf, 2×3.5 Rounded one corner, 2×3.5″ Half-Circle Side, 2×3.5″ Oval, or 2.5″ Circle
14pt Cardstock Gloss / Matte / High Gloss (UV), or 13pt Cardstock Uncoated
6 Business days print turnaround time
Free US shipping only
Restrictions:
This giveaway is open to US residents only, 18 years old and above.
No prize substitutions allowed.
Winners are allowed to win once over a six-month period.
Only email addresses used for the giveaway will be eligible to claim the prize.






First Day Jitters Turn To Giggles

 
We made it! Toodie’s first day of school was a complete success. I am happy beyond words and after today’s experience I have a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. When we first arrived I knew that she was not going to leave me right away and that’s what I was mostly scared of. I couldn’t imagine leaving my little girl crying for me. She got very upset when it was time for me to leave but her teacher took her as i quietly snuck out the door. I waited by the front desk to see if she had calmed down before I made my way out and within minutes she was over it! I decided that I would pick her up in a few hours and get her used to staying longer each day she went. So after 2 hours of pacing around the house, twiddling my thumbs, and missing my munchkin .. I went to pick her up. Now this i could not believe. I showed up and the director told me that Toodie was having so much fun and I should come back in another hour! With that being said, I left for the mall and gave her an extra hour to eat lunch and play. When I finally did pick her up she was so happy to see me. She gave me the biggest hug and kiss. Her teacher was so kind and patient with her. She told me she was such a sweet girl. As we walked out of the classroom she even gave her a huge hug to say goodbye. To top it off when we got into the car i asked her “Did you have fun today at school Toodie?” She replied, “Yes I want to go everyday!” I guess that speaks for itself!
  
 

Yummy American Macaroni Salad Recipe

Whenever I am at a party or family gathering I always manage to steer clear of the macaroni salad dish someone made. I’m not sure if it’s because its cold macaroni and it seems odd to not eat it hot & covered in cheese? I think it’s really fear of the unknown … the unknown ingredients lurking within! Since I was a child I have always been an extremely picky eater. If I don’t know what’s in it or it smells a little funky, you will not catch me putting it in my mouth. Over the weekend my mom and I were looking for a macaroni salad recipe we could make and found a delicious one straight from the Food Network website. To me it’s not your typical macaroni salad. While it probably contains the same ingredients as most, it has a certain tangy flavor to it that adds something special to each bite. With a few simple ingredients and Toodie’s amazing stirring techniques we came out with one tasty dish.

     Ingrediants

  • 2 cups dry elbow macaroni, cooked, rinsed, and drained
  • 1/3 cup diced celery
  • 1/4 cup minced red onion, soaked in cold water for 5 minutes, drained
  • 1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/2 cup diced vine-ripened tomato (optional)
  • 1/2 cup prepared mayonnaise
  • 3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper

    Directions

    In a large bowl combine the macaroni, celery, onion, parsley and tomato, if using. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, vinegar, sour cream and salt. Pour the dressing over the salad and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve. Store covered in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. 
    You can find the recipe here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/american-macaroni-salad-recipe/index.html

The Day Is Almost Here..

I usually look forward to Monday’s and the start of a new week but I have been dreading today all weekend. I haven’t felt like myself today and my mood has been completely off. I knew that eventually the day would come that Toodie would start school but I didn’t think it would creep up so quickly. Tomorrow will be her first day going to daycare and I am a total mess about it! My stomach has been in a knot all day, i couldn’t sleep last night, and all I keep thinking about is how she will be without me. I am very fortunate that since she was born I was able to be a stay at home mom and experience all of the milestones first hand. I don’t think I ever missed out on one smile, new word, or silly moment. There is no doubt that I am extremely thankful but I also know it is time for her to take the first step to being a big girl.
This past weekend we made our trip to Target to pick up the few things she needed before her big day. When we reached the aisle with all of the bagpacks and lunchboxes I showed her all of her choices to choose from – Tangled, Disney Princesses, Hello Kitty, and Barbie. I really thought she was going to pick Rapunzel from Tangled since she has been crazy about that movie for months now. Surprisingly she immediately went for the hot pink Barbie bagpack covered in sequins and sparkle. She is such a “foo foo” girl as my mom would call her. She loves anything pink, girly, and covered in glitter! Just the simple act of picking out her supplies for school made her so happy.  I know in my heart she is ready to meet new friends and make memories. Guess I am just scared to let go and cut the cord. I have even stopped to ask my own mom if I am doing the right thing. Everyone tells me of course I am and this is going to be wonderful for her. She needs the social interaction with other children. While it’s only going to be for a few hours, two days a week, I am going to probably be on the edge counting the minutes until I get to pick her up tomorrow. Monday sure has flew by and tomorrow morning will only begin a new journey for us … Hope there are not too many bumps in the road getting there!

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