Young At Heart Mommy

Managing Motherhood Through Love & Laughter

Dial Foaming Hand Wash In Limited Edition Holiday Designs!

  
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the limited edition Holiday Foaming Hand Wash by Dial is now available. With the holidays officially here, most of us have family and friends at our homes often. Why not decorate your bathroom or kitchen with a festive bottle of soap to brighten up their spirit? These seasonal bottles contain Dial Complete’s #1 doctor recommended antibacterial foaming hand wash. This formula kills 99.99% of germs encountered in the household setting while still being gentle on the skin.
 
As a mother, having a dependable soap that kills germs is very important to have in the home. Toodie is always getting into a mess, playing outside, and getting the usual cold from school. When the holidays roll around we try and keep the germs as far away as we can. No one wants the sniffles on Christmas morning. On top of the adorable designs on each bottle, I can’t get enough of the scent from the actual soap. If I had to describe the smell I would say it is somewhere between cranberry and pomegranate. Whatever it is, I love the way my hands smell after washing. I have been washing my hands a little more than necessary since I received these! 
The Holiday collection by Dial offers four cheerful designs including the Santa, Snowman, Candy Cane, and Holiday Scene. Each is guaranteed to bring a little bit of cheer into your home this season. Clean hands are happy hands whether these fun festive bottles are in your kitchen or bathroom!
For more information about Dial soap and these fun holiday products, you can visit their website and also like them on Facebook.
Disclosure: I received the products above from Dial  for my consideration and to share my honest opinion and experience. I am under no obligation to post a positive review on them. I will not be compensated for this post. As always, opinion are my own!

Starlooks: November Starbox Review

Hello beauty fans. The November Starbox is here! After being impressed with last month AND the month before …. I was ready to get this baby open!  This month it is all about achieving a “Prime Look.” This is a look that every face can pull off and the products within each box will compliment individual skin tones. The November box is the first to be semi-customizable and Starlooks did their best to make sure that each subscriber would get products they could not only use, but love. I really didn’t know if the box I received was for a “light” skin tone but when I saw the products I was VERY happy.

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Spreading The Holiday Cheer At Sears + $15 GC GIVEAWAY

It‘s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Well, almost. If you’re like me then it is never too soon to get into the holiday spirit. In a few days it will time to chow down on turkey, stuffing, and the full Thanksgiving works. While I am looking forward to a delicious dinner with my family, I am even more excited to get all of our holiday decorations out. For years we have continued the tradition of putting up our Christmas Tree the day after Thanksgiving. Even if we are exhausted and half asleep from Black Friday shopping, it is something we never neglect to get done. With a good 5 to 6 bins stuffed full cheer, the sooner I start the better. December is only 31 days and that is just not long enough for me to enjoy my seasonal decor! Plus, we need time to decorate cookies for Santa, make a gingerbread house, wrap presents, and much much more! The list can go on. This month is a busy one. I’m not opposed to extending December by an extra week or two…

As a member of the Smiley360 Blogger Circle, I was given the opportunity to expand my own holiday collection at Sears.  For those of you searching for something new or maybe a little inspiration this year, stop by the Sears Cheers Headquarters. Here you will find everything you need to fill your home with holiday cheer from the inside out. There are lights, trimmings, trees, wreaths, and tons of sparkle to turn your space into a winter wonderland. This also includes four unique themes by the stylish designer Ty Pennigton, who many of us know from Extreme Home Makeover. The collections are affordable and no matter what you may be looking for, Sears has a variety to choose from at low prices.

Check out these colorful additions I picked up for our tree this year! For $34.99 the package included 100  beautiful shatterproof ornaments. I LOVE the bright colors and sparkle. I also won’t have to worry about these falling, breaking, or hurting my family.

On top of their affordable selection, Sears offers their Shop Your Way Rewards Program to customers so you can save while you shop. For every $1 you spend in stores or online, you earn 10 points in your account. For every 1,000 points you earn you will get $1 in credits. You can use these credits by giving the sales associate your member number, phone number, or email address at checkout. I have been a member of this program for a few years now and the points really do rack up during the holidays. It always feels good to earn money while you are spending it! Who doesn’t like to get a little bit back? Using your points online is just as easy. By entering your member number you can actually decide how many points you would like to use on your translation at the time.
Anxious to get started on shopping for your holiday decorations? Enter through the rafflecopter form below and you could win a $15 Sears Gift Card! 

Disclosure: I received the products above for my consideration and to share my honest opinion and experience. I am under no obligation to post a positive review on them. I will not be compensated for this post. As always, opinion are my own!  The giveaway and prize will be fulfilled by the sponsor.

Making Bedtime Comfy With GoodNites Disposable Bed Mats #HuggiesWalmart #CBias

As our children grow there are many milestones that we face along the way. One of them being potty training! It may not be the easiest to get through but it sure is one of the most exciting to accomplish. Being the parent of a toddler, I can tell you from experience that potty training is no cake walk. Toodie has been doing such a terrific job using the potty and has even made it through several nights completely dry. But with every stride comes a few accidents along the way. There is nothing worse than having to get up in the middle of the night to change sheets and realize you don’t have a clean set available. Since we do not have an endless supply of fitted toddler sheets in the closet, the GoodNites Disposable Bed Mats are a lifesaver when accidents strike while nighttime training.
As one of my favorite retailers, Walmart.com makes shopping for GoodNites Disposable Bed Mats painless and saves me a trip to the store. While there is a Walmart location only a few miles away from my home, I prefer online shopping because it’s more convenient. Shipping is always speedy and I have the option to pick up the items in store if I choose too. I was able to get the bedmats and a few bedtime story books delivered to my door without even leaving the comfort of my home. With Christmas only a month away, I will be taking full advantage of their free shipping on $45 or more this year!


 

The GoodNites Disposable Bed Mats by Huggies are super absorbent and contain a leakage barrier within. They are soft to the touch which makes them comfortable to sleep on. You can’t even tell they are on the bed because there isn’t any rustling or sounds of paper crinkling. The adhesive strips on the bottom of each mat keep it in place throughout the night and do not leave a sticky residue on the sheets below. I was very impressed with how well these things stick on and how clean they peeled off after use.

 

The mats fit comfortably on a toddler bed and were much longer than I expected. I was able to cover the whole area that Toodie sleeps on while also tucking the extra material into the sides. This made it feel more secure and prevented the edges from pulling up while she rolled around at night. Just like her mommy, she isn’t a very still sleeper. But for once that isn’t a problem because of how durable the GoodNites have proven to be.

With our long awaited Disney World trip coming up within the next few weeks, I am hoping that the excitement will not interfere with our potty training success so far. I am hopeful that the change in scenery and being away from home won’t have any affect on the process she has made. Just in case, I will be packing the Goodnites Bed Mats to have on hand during our hotel stay. Since they are light and folded I will have no problem fitting a few of them in my suitcase. If an accident happens, no big deal. With the mats being disposable I can quickly toss it into the trash and not worry about calling room service to replace the linens. If your family has used the mats at home or traveling I would love to know about your experience!

Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Huggies. #HuggiesWalmart #CBias #SocialFabric

Learning With Cypher Kids 3D Interactive Cards #CypherKidsClub #cbias

Being a child of the 80′s, there is no denying that technology has evolved and expanded since my days growing up. It amazes me that we have gone from beepers to cell phones, computers to laptops, and now we have skinny tablets to take care of all our needs. At three years old Toodie has mastered using technology to play games, learn, and interact. These days books are not the only source of learning. There are advanced computer programs and apps to help our children expand their knowledge in numbers, letters, and identifying animals. Since my daughter is very device savvy, I was eager to introduce her to the Cypher Kids Augmented Reality Cards.

Cypher Entertainment has created the 3D Interactive Cards that not only bring learning to life but also make it exciting! The cards are available in three educational categories: Wild Animal Adventures, Letters, & Numbers. They are targeted for children ages 3 and up, providing a 3D experience without the use of any glasses! You can use the cards with most Apple devices including the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation), and the iPad. The app that corresponds with each deck of cards can be found free to download within the Apple Itunes Store. Shortly after browsing for the Cypher Kid’s app, we headed to our nearby Target to get a closer look at the interactive cards.

Once we arrived in the electronics section it was easy to find the aisle displaying App Accessories for Apple gadgets. The boxes of cards were displayed on the top row and all three options were available to choose from. I thought Toodie would have a hard time picking which set she would like but she immediately went for the Wild Animal Adventures pack. That’s my girl, the animal lover! Each set is sold for $29.99 plus tax. You can see more photos of our shopping trip in my Google+ album here.
 

Each individual box also has a QR code on the back which can be scanned to take you to the direct download for the matching app. We took all of the 18 cards out of the box and laid them out so Toodie could get familiar with the animals. Once she chose which one she would like to learn about, we turned the card over to be scanned by the iPad. Ideally the card should be laying flat on a surface so the camera can pick up the required information. Within a few seconds the card comes to life and a 3D image pops up. You get to learn about the animals and their habitats while watching them roam around the screen.

The Wild Animal Adventure Deck has two different options when you first access the app, exploration and snapshots. Exploration gives an inside look at where the animal lives while listening to prompts that allow your child to interact with the picture. After listening to a short description about the penguin, you can click the photo and watch them dive into the water! Snapshots shows you what the animal looks like by placing its photo right on the card. You can move the card around to look from different angles. This is such a cool feature! The animals look and sound so realistic. I was impressed with the accuracy and attention to detail.

Soon after buying the animal deck, I was given the opportunity to purchase the two remaining card sets. Since my iPad has been continuously occupied this week, I took that as a big red flag that someone was really enjoying them! With this in mind I didn’t hesitate and made my way back to Target for the others. Just like the Wild Animal Adventures, the Number flashcards had large 3d graphics and bold colors which catch your attention. The numbers range from 1 to 20 and each is paired with a set of different objects to encourage counting in order.

 

The Letters deck was made up off 26 cards highlighting each letter of the alphabet in depth. The two digital characters, Digi & Beebot, focus on lower-case and uppercase forms of letters along with pronunciation. Out of all three of the card sets, this was my favorite because I felt it offered the most interaction. The pictures were cute and the robots had quirky personalities which kept Toodie engaged during play.

This season if you have children to shop for these are going to make great gifts and stocking stuffers. I am hoping that in the future they will come out with extended educational categories for other age groups so she can grow with the program. With an upcoming family vacation only weeks away, these are going to be helpful in keeping my munchkin entertained on the long car ride. I highly recommend all three of the interactive card decks, especially if you have children that love to learn! 
For more information on the Cypher Kids Augmented Reality Cards you can check your local Target or stop by the Cypher Kids Club website.  For updates and to interact with other fans,  visit  Cypher Kids Club on Facebook or  follow along on Twitter.


Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for  Collective Bias™ and  Cypher Kids Club #CBias #SocialFabric

Creating The Fizz At Home: SodaStream Review

This year I have walked by several Sodastream displays at many popular retail stores. Without exaggerating in any way, each time I see one I am tempted to toss it in my shopping cart and dart for the register. I am a sucker for gadgets and innovative toys for the kitchen. Last month I ended up with a cake pop machine and now I am the proud owner of a fizzy pop maker, the Sodastream! There is something about a cold sparkling beverage that is not only refreshing but also thirst quenching. With the Sodastream system I can enjoy homemade soda without crowding the refrigerator or my recycle bin. All I need is the lightweight machine, ice cold water, and flavor of my choice. Within seconds I have a glass full of fresh sparkling soda. I love that it is not only eco-friendly but there are less than HALF the calories found within other brands.

The Sodastream currently offers seven different unique makes and models for you to choose from. Some are even available in different colors such as red, green, and blue. Each is sleek, modern, and will blend easily with your kitchen decor. With all of the different styles and colors, picking out your machine is exciting in itself! I was sent the Dynamo Deluxe which is described as being easy to use and family friendly. It is also highly durable which pairs well with the “family friendly” aspect, having an accident prone toddler and mommy around. Yes, mommy is just as clumsy! This model can be exclusively found at Costco stores and has a 30 day money back guarantee along with a two year manufacturer’s warranty.

 

Using the Sodastream is just as easy as it looks. There is no assembly or loose parts hanging around. Once you have the carbonated tank popped into the back, you are set. All you have left to do is fill the provided plastic bottle with cold water until you have reached the marked line. Then, it’s time for carbonating! Screw the bottle in the machine securely and give the button three pushes until the liquid is carbonated to your liking. Slowly unscrew the lid and pour in your flavored syrup. To make sure that the syrup distributes evenly, it is best to shake the container lightly.
The only difficult part about this process is picking a flavor. There are SO many! It’s hard to choose which to try first. Included with the Sodastream machine was a starter kit with six different flavors to try. The sampler is great because it lets you pick and choose from their most popular flavors. Each pack makes one liter of soda. There is plenty for you to taste and share. Once you have your favorites you can purchase the full size bottles which range anywhere from $4.99 to $9.99. Every bottle makes about 33 cans of soda. That‘s a lot of soda and zero visits to the grocery store to re-stock!

After using the Sodastream this week I am impressed and also convinced that this is going to be my primary soda source from here on out. It truly is family friendly and even Toodie could make her own soda which was a lot of fun for her. She got such a kick out of it and if it were up to her we would be making soda for the whole neighborhood. With the holidays coming sooner than I would like, this would make a great gift for that one person who is ALWAYS hard to shop for. Who wouldn’t love having this in their kitchen during parties or get togethers? It’s entertaining and versatile. The concept is solid and I have no problem saying goodbye to big plastic bottles and cans scattered in the garage. The final verdict, if you couldn’t tell already, I love my Sodastream!
If you are interested in purchasing the Sodastream for yourself or as a holiday gift, then take a look at the list below to find your nearest retailer.

 

For more information on the nifty SodaStream gadget, you can visit their website. Here you will learn about the system itself, syrup flavors, and where to purchase your own. You can also follow along on Twitter and Facebook to interact with the brand and other fans!


Disclosure: I received the products above for my consideration and to share my honest opinion and experience. I am under no obligation to post a positive review on them. I will not be compensated for this post. As always, opinion are my own!

Holiday Shopping At Walmart + GIVEAWAY #WalmartGifts

Halloween is over and for me this means it is time to get down to serious holiday shopping business! From this point on I am focused on the best deals for everyone on my Christmas list this year. With my daughter being on the top of that list, toys are my main focus. Luckily, with Walmart’s prices and selection I can start now and save a ton of money.

 Walmart has recently released their Toyland Wish List Book for 2012. It’s filled with 48 pages of the coolest games, toys, and electronics for children. Beginning on November 4th, you can take advantage of the savings within until November 22nd. You will find many well known brands like Monster High, Bratz, Disney, and My Little Pony. While you are browsing, there is also the option to vote for this year’s hottest Christmas toy.

Toyland Wish List Book at Walmart 
A new feature that is now offered on the Walmart website is “Toyland Tuesday.” If you have a little person to shop for this year, you NEED to check it out! Every Tuesday through Christmas, Walmart and Walmart.com are actively rolling back prices on select popular toys. Many of these are must-have toys and are sure to be on most wish lists this year. Below are an assortment of toys that were displayed on this week’s Toyland Tuesday homepage. There are so many things that I know Toodie would love to see under the tree. The Vtech MobiGo 2 Touch Learning System is just one toy that we have both had our eye on. With low prices and huge savings, shopping at Walmart always justifies me starting my shopping early. Don’t forget to browse the new deals and savings every Tuesday!

This year Walmart has brought back their layaway program with a few slight changes to benefit holiday shoppers. The layaway process is easy and begins with a down payment of $10 or 10% of your purchase depending on which is greater. The total must be at least $50 with each item priced at $15 or more. Compared to 2011, Walmart has made a significant positive change to their policy. This year you have 90 days to pay for your items and there is absolutely NO cancellation fee. To open your layaway you have to pay $15 and once it is fully paid for and completed, you will receive the money back on a Walmart gift card.

There have also been new categories added to eligible layaway purchases. These include small home appliances and sporting goods on top of jewelry, toys, and electronics. Whether you are shopping for a new Apple Ipad or Hasbro® Furby, there are several popular items to choose from. Walmart’s layaway program is a helpful way to ensure your family has a wonderful Christmas without any stress. It will allow you to comfortably scratch off the must have items on everyone’s list one by one. With 30 extra days this year you have plenty of time to organize your path to shopping.

To help get your layaway started and ease the cost of holiday shopping, I will be giving away a $25 Walmart GC to one reader. Enter below through the rafflecopter form and good luck! All entries will be verified.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Walmart via GolinHarris. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Walmart. Now you can fulfill your child’s entire wish list through low prices and additional savings. Visit http://www.walmart.com for more information on holiday shopping this season.

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!

    Crafted Candles + $100 GC Giveaway

    When Fall arrives there are several things I look forward to. On top of the slight weather change and homemade pumpkin pie, Fall Candles are a must have. I don’t think a day goes by that I forget to burn a candle in at least one of the rooms in my home. I love the designs and sweet spicy scents that you often find in Fall themed candles this time of year. They make my home feel more cozy and welcoming for guests in addition to my own family. As a die hard candle fanatic, I am always interested in exploring what a company has to offer. This is why it is my pleasure to introduce Crafted Candles, an online retailer of high quality candles.

    Crafted Candles offers a wide variety including tapered, pillar, floating, and decorative candles. Some are scented while others are not. Whichever you may prefer, they have a full selection of different sizes and colors to choose from. There are many choices accommodating holidays and celebrations from Easter all the way to Christmas. The Fall section caught my interest immediately because of the bright colors and fun shapes. Thanksgiving is next month and that means a huge family dinner is in the works. These candles are ideal for holiday meals and get togethers. They are all made of food grade wax making them safe to use around food and on the table. You can decorate individual place settings with the Pumpkin Patch Floating Candles or dress a seasonal centerpiece to pull your table together. There are endless options and with so many to choose from, creativity is key!

    They also have quite the selection of Christmas Candles available. When the end of the year rolls around, there is one thing that is always on my mind and that is Christmas gifts. Each year there are several people I have to purchase for and I have found that each of them have one thing in common. They all love candles, just like me! Not only do they make wonderful gifts but they can also be used as festive decoration. The Marshmallow Snowman Candle is one of my favorite choices because they’re individually packaged and hand painted. These would be adorable sitting next to Santa’s milk and cookies. In their Holiday & Seasonal section you will find Winter Candles, toppers, and accessories. They have everything you need to get into the spirit while giving your home that warm and comfy feel.

    Would you like the chance to shop Crafted Candle’s huge assortment of candles? Enter through the rafflecopter form below and you could win an $100 gift certificate to expand your own collection!
     

    Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Crafted Candles and powered by Couponista Queen. I am being financially compensated for this post but as always, all opinions are my own.

    Starlooks: October Starbox Review

    It is nearing the end of the month and this is the time I often end up with a special delivery at my door. This week I received my October Starbox from Starlooks. If you are stopping by and jumping right in, you may want to take a look at my September review to see what the service is all about. As a quick reminder, Starbox is a beauty subscription service that includes full sized samples for around $15 each month. 

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