Young At Heart Mommy

Managing Motherhood Through Love & Laughter

Simplifying Laundry: All® Mighty Pacs Review

This week I had the opportunity to try the new all mighty  pacs containing a super concentrated laundry detergent. Smiley360 has provided me with a bag containing enough all® mighty pacs for 24 loads! Seems like a lot at first but being a mom, I am constantly doing laundry. Let’s not fail to mention I am a mom to a little girl. A little girl who owns more clothing than anyone I know! Therefore, laundry is not one of those chores I ever get a break from.
 The all mighty pacs are my kind of laundry detergent. There is no mess, no spills, and no wiping up any excess detergent dripping from a cap. The all mighty pacs come in convenient little packets and are filled with the pre-measured amount of laundry detergent needed for one load. Not only does this keep the chore of laundry clean and quick, it also simplifies the process. One regular load takes 1 mighty pac while heavier loads may take 2. All you have to do is place the all mighty pac at the bottom of your washer and add the items in to be washed. These nifty packets contain a high concentrated liquid laundry detergent that dissolves once hot or cold water is added. It contains active stain lifters that help get your clothing clean and smelling fresh. 

  I have to wonder, where have the all mighty pacs been all my life? I am sure I am not the only person out there that hates using the giant, heavy, bulky laundry detergent containers. They are just plain annoying! You pour your solution in the cap and no matter how “careful” you try to be, there always ends up being a puddle left behind. With all mighty pacs, this will never be an issue! It’s smooth sailing… well, washing.. from here. The all mighty pacs also come in a plastic bag with a zip seal making storage simple. These are available in orginal and also free clear which if you are not aware, does not contain any dyes or fragrance. For those with allergies or sensitive noses, I recommend the free clear formula.

I also want to add, after reading a few reviews about the all mighty pacs I noticed that there were concerns regarding the packets dissolving completely during the wash. After washing three heavy loads, with two all mighty pacs each, I did not experience any issues. I do suggest for a fuller load to space out the pacs. For example, I put one all mighty pac on the bottom of the washing machine and one in the middle of the laundry that I am washing. This will help evenly distribute the detergent and get all items clean without having the soap clump up into one section. It all depends on your washing technique and your machine. 

Stop by and get coupons for any all product on the all Facebook page.

They also have a fun contest going on right now where you could win a Nickelodeon prize pack weekly or a 7 day Norwegian Cruise Line vacation grand prize! Visit the link and share what fun things you would like to do with your family instead of doing laundry. This contest is running through 8/23/2012 so make sure to enter while you can.

Disclosure: I am a member of Smiley360. I received this product for my consideration 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 review.

Back To School With Babbaco Promotion

Babbaco is currently offering a special deal for the Summer time in preparation for heading back to school next month! I have noticed a lot of interest in the Babbabox from the current giveaway I have going on and thought that many of you could benefit from this wonderful promotion. Not sure what the BabbaBox is about? Check out my review HERE!

For a limited time you can score the first THREE months of your Babbabox membership for 33% OFF. That makes each box only $20! With the promo code YHM33BTS you are getting about $10 off of each box.
If that isn’t enough of a great deal, you can also use the code YHM20OFF to receive an additional 20% OFF your very first BabbaBox just for being one of my loyal readers. 
 
If you have been interested in the BabbaBox and thinking about giving it a try for your child, this is the time to do it. You are not only saving $10 off of each box but your first box will be even less! 
The Babbabox is great to have on hand during the school year. Once your Babbabox is delivered you can always stash it away in your closet or garage to use as a special reward for good grades or accomplishments!

Crispy Mini Taco Won Ton Recipe

Ingrediants:
  • Ground Beef (1-2 pounds depending on how many you are serving)
  • Taco Seasoning Mix
  • Muffin or Cupcake Pan
  • Won Ton Wraps
  • Toppings ( Sour Cream, Shredded Lettuce, Hot Sauce, Cheese, Salsa, Guacamole, Beans, etc.) 
“Taco Nights,” are very common and popular in our home, but realistically speaking … they get pretty dang boring after a while. When I was just about to give up on the good old taco, I found a recipe that would add a new twist to one of our favorite meals. All of the ingredients needed for this recipe are the same you would buy if you were making a regular taco. The only extra item needed is the pack of won ton wraps. These can be found in the produce section in the supermarket. You prepare your ground beef the same exact way- brown, drain, and add the taco seasoning. Once it’s simmered and seasoned, you can move on to creating your mini won ton taco bowls.

Spray the pan with PAM to keep the won ton wraps from sticking to the bottom. Place one won ton sheet in each cup and with your finger, gently push down the middle. Your finger is your best tool because using the end of a spoon may cause rips or tears given how thin the won ton sheets are. This step will create the wavy bowl-like shape needed to hold the seasoned meat. 


Fill your mini won ton bowls with the desired amount of ground beef. A spoon full or two should be enough. Make sure not to put too much into each because it will weigh down the bottom. You also want to leave enough room for the tasty toppings to be added! 

Allow the taco bowls to cook for 8-10 minutes. Since the ground beef is already cooked through, you only need the won ton wraps to cook until brown and crisp. While waiting, prepare your toppings and extras. I used sour cream, shredded lettuce, cheese, hot sauce, and salsa. The only thing missing was my favorite- guacamole!

When you notice the edges getting brown, this is a sign that they are just about done. Leave them in for a minute or two more if you want them to be very crispy. Keep in mind that everyone’s oven is different. If you are making more than one batch make sure to keep an eye on the time so you don’t burn them.  These cook quickly.

 After they are cooled off, everyone can add their own toppings! 

For this recipe I used two pounds of ground beef and two taco seasoning packets. This was enough to serve 6 people and we had about 5 leftover. If you are looking for a quick and easy twist to the traditional taco, this is it! It took no time at all to make and everyone loved that they were”bite size.”

My Happy Place + A SWEET Giveaway


As a mom I have recognized over the past three years how important it is to have my very own “happy place.” We all need a break from the dirty diapers, wiping up spills, runny noses, and temper tantrums. Being a stay at home mom I don’t usually get much time to myself. But when I do, you bet I take advantage of it! A hot shower alone, a 30 minute nap, or the opportunity to get a pedicure are just a few of the things I appreciate more than I used to. Whether your happy place is a hot bubble bath, a glass of wine, or even a day of shopping – everyone should have one!

One of my happy places is the ever so relaxing spa. While I don’t use the spa for the typical massage or facial, I do enjoy an extensive pedicure and manicure. In fact, each year my mom and I indulge and gift ourselves the “ultimate pedicure.” You may have read about this in one of my other posts where I described exactly what the “ultimate pedicure” consists of.  This is considered the most luxurious pedicure including exfoliation, a healing mask, heel therapy, and the ultimate massage to go along with it. It also lasts a long 80 minutes! Pure Bliss. If that doesn’t sound like a happy place then I don’t know what is! 

Want to sweeten up your Happy Place? Here is your chance!
The makers of Haribo Gold Bears have provided me with (10) FREE vouchers to help my readers find their very own happy place. If you have had the Haribo Gold Bears before( who hasn’t!) then you know they are the BEST of the BEST out there. There’s just something about them, plus they’re good on top of vanilla ice cream! Gummy Bears are very popular in our home and these never last more than a day – if that. There will be two winners for this giveaway and each person will receive (5) FREE vouchers. Enter below through the rafflecopter form and good luck!

haribo bears

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BabbaBox For Kids Review and GIVEAWAY!

If you read my previous post about my upcoming BabbaBox review- then you have reached the right place! My Babbabox arrived last weekend and we wasted no time in getting started with all the activities it offered. The contents were wrapped in Babbaco tissue paper with a description sticker of this month’s theme. July’s theme is “Sun,Moon, & Stars!” If you are interested in reading my thoughts on my first experience with Babbabox then continue reading. I also have a giveaway for one of my lucky readers at the very end!

Besides the description, the box also came with an informational card telling you what was inside. One thing that came off as very exceptional was the fact that each activity has a small picture underneath to tell you what developmental skill you child will be benefiting from.

The Babbabox has so many positive features to highlight, I’m not even sure where to begin! The thing that I love the most about it is you are not just getting random crafts or activities. Each box is themed and put together with care. Everything included is not only fun, but also educational. You’re child will have numerous things to do and be learning at the same time. What parent wouldn’t love that? It’s a win-win situation.

Also, everything is packaged individually and contains all that you need for each project. No running around to make sure you have all your supplies because Babbabox comes with all of the products you need. Now let’s take a closer look into the “Sun,Moon, and Stars” themed box this month. 
This book could not have made it’s way to our collection at a better time. Toodie has been signing “Twinkle Twinkle” on a regular basis and she knows all of the words.We read the whole book together and she was intrigued by all of the colorful and detailed illustrations. “Twinkle, Star Of The Week,” is all about Twinkle the star and her fellow classmates becoming superstars by sharing their special talents and hobbies. As a mom, I thought that the story was very cute and well written. Whenever I can get Toodie to sit and pay attention all the way through from start to finish, I know that it’s a book to keep around! This is just the first item we pulled from the BabbaBox and I am already pleased.

Next up, an educational craft that fits perfectly with this month’s theme. The “Create Your Own Moon” project allowed Toodie to make her own paper-mache moon nightlight. Everything we needed came inside a big ziploc bag along with easy to follow instructions. After mixing up the glue paste, Toodie ripped up her strips of paper to cover the balloon with. This was our first time using paper-mache and I was surprised it wasn’t too messy.

After her moon was formed, dried, and lit – Toodie had a new nightlight for her room. As you can see, it gave off a fairly good amount of light. Using the tea light to brighten the Moon formation was a genius idea! Makes me wonder why I never thought of doing something like this before?! Very cool I must say..

The next day Toodie worked on making her own constellation. At three she has no concept or understanding of what a constellation is but she did make a a star scattered sky instead! She placed the star stickers on the solar activated paper. We let it sit in the sun for a few minutes before removing the stars. Toodie was fascinated by this project and watching the paper change colors.
At night it was time to observe the moon and stars. Toodie used her binoculars and colored in the moon’s shape on her lunar calendar.
Last, but certainly not least, our box came with a QR code to access extra content. Toodie was able to learn how to play “Twinkle Twinkle” on a digital piano. She also explored the planets and stars closer. 

They also sent a little gift for us mom’s out there. To wrap up the theme, I received a star shaped wine topper! That was a nice surprise. 
I am beyond happy and impressed with my BabbaBox experience. Kuddos to Jessica Kim for creating such a brilliant idea. As a mom who does crafts with her child regularly, this box is well worth the price. The BabbaBox is organized, packaged with care, and contains stimulating activities for your children. Also, remember that you are not obligated to purchase the BabbaBox on a monthly basis. You can buy and try- even purchase on annually! I personally spend $30 or more a month of craft supplies, and most of the time I have to make a second trip. For $30 you are getting numerous projects and you are given every item you need to complete them.

If you are interested in trying the BabbaBox yourself the following code will score you 20% OFF your first box.
 YHM20OFF
 
Want to win your very own BabbaBox? 
Please enter through the rafflecopter form below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a free BabbaBox to review and provide insight on my experience. BabbaCo also provided me with a Babbabox to give away to one of my readers. All opinions are honest, un-cut, and my own!
 

Influenster: Summer Beauty VoxBox 2012

  

Summer Beauty Vox Box 2012

  • Hawaiian Tropic  Silk Hydration Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30 
  • Tampax and Always Radiant Collection
  • Quaker Soft Baked Bar in Banana Nut Bread
  • Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color
  • Sally Hansen Nails and Cuticles Hand Creme
Based on demographics, select Influensters also received:
  • Clear Scalpy & Hairy Beauty Therapy ( Shampoo & Conditioner)

The Summer Beauty VoxBox came with a lot of new things I haven’t tried before. I didn’t expect this box to arrive so soon since I just received my Mom VoxBox weeks ago. I am still busy testing out all of those products! Now I have double the products to try, which is just an extra perk. This is what makes the program so unique. The more active you are, the more boxes you will qualify to receive. 

  
While I am excited to try all of these products, the one thing that stuck out to me first was the Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color. I have seen this nail polish before in the store but never could bring myself to buy it. Magnetic Nails are HOT right now and all of the popular nail polish brands are dabbing into the trend. Within minutes of painting your nails all you have to do it place the magnet over top to get the 3D nail art that so many are raving about. The color that I was sent to try is “Polar Purple.” Influenster must know that I love purple-y polishes. 

Yes, I just couldn’t resist painting one nail and giving it a try! On a side note- this stuff drys super quick. I think it’s a winner because I HATE siting around waiting for my nails to dry. 



On top of the nail polish there are several other products in the box that I am interested in trying- like ALL of them! As always, reviews will be up soon.
Disclaimer: I received the products in this post compliments of Influenster for the purpose of reviewing and sharing my thoughts, however all opinions are my own.

Fourth Of July Trifle Cake

Happy Fourth Of July everyone! Like most holidays, the one thing my family looks forward to is homemade sweets and treats. This year I decided to try something new and created a homemade trifle cake with fresh berries and moist pound cake. This recipe is very simple and encourages creativity!

Ingrediants:
  • Cool Whip
  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Pound Cake
  • Star Cookie Cutter
  • Vanilla Pudding
  • Trifle Bowl
  • Festive Topper

Start off with your poud cake. I purchased two different brands- Sara Lee and Entemmann’s for variety. You only need one kind for the recipe. So choose your favorite! Obviously I am indecisive so I chose the best of both worlds. I sliced the pound cake loaf in half, evenly down the center. I suggest having the pound cake refrigerated before you begin because it will be easier to work with and will not crumble apart. 

Using the star cookie cutter you are going to create mini star shaped pound cakes. I was able to make six out of each loaf half. This was plenty for the size trifle I was using. You only need enough to line the trifle bowl for decoration. Do not disregard the left over pieces because you are going to use them to create the layers in your cake. Nothing has to go to waste.

With the leftover pound cake pieces, I sliced them into smaller bits and lined the bottom of the trifle. This will be your first layer. From here, I put a thick layer of vanilla pudding. The pudding should get the bottom layer nice and moist.

For my third layer I chose fresh blueberries. I layered my trifle cake to my own liking. It really does not matter what comes next as long as everything is evenly distributed. I’m a fruit lover so instead of the just typical blueberries and strawberries, I added raspberries!

For the next layer I put more sliced pound cake, a small amount of pudding in the middle, and placed my stars on the sides on the bowl. Once they were securely in place, I lined the outer rim with raspberries. To add a creamy texture, I also put a layer of Cool Whip.

The last few layers included strawberry halves, vanilla pudding, and crumbled pound cake pieces. When everything was layered and packed in, I spread Cool Whip on the very top.  


Last but not least, add your festive Fourth Of July decorations on top! Toodie helped me with the blueberry design and we added a red,white, and blue windmill on top. Before serving, make sure to chill your trifle for an hour or so in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Upcoming Review & Giveaway of the BabbaBox

I am excited to announce that I am getting the chance to review the BabbaBox from BabbaCo. BabbaCo was founded by Jessica Kim and offers a monthly subscription of fun crafty activities to do with your children ages 3-6. Not only will I be reviewing this fabulous box of kiddo entertainment, BUT i will also be giving away a BabbaBox to one of my lucky readers!
What Is The BabbaBox?
BabbaBox is a monthly subscription box that is delivered to your home with ALL the physical materials plus know-how content to really engage with your kids.

 How Does It Work?
Step 1: Sign up for a monthly or an annual membership with your child’s birth date.

Step 2: A BabbaBox full of activities arrives every month (starting the following month after membership purchase); get excited to create, explore, story tell, connect and learn together!

Step 3: Check out member exclusive digital content and downloads approved by BabbaCo experts for your BabbaBox available on our website!
 Step 4: Kids anxiously wait at the door until your next BabbaBox arrives! 
 
What Will You Find In The BabbaBox?
 
Here Is A Sample Of The BabbaBox
It’s packed with tons of crafty goodies! You can see from this example that there are several projects for your children to create, explore, and keep them busy. 
 
BabbaBox Sample 1 
 This is just a small introduction to the BabbaBox and what it has to offer. As a young mom, I personally love monthly subscriptions programs. I am always anxiously awaiting for UPS & FedEx to drop off my own monthly packages! With BabbaBox it is the same concept- but for our kids. If you have read my other posts than you probably know that my daughter loves to get own mail. We started off with the Highlight’s magazine and she is thrilled when that arrives. Surprise your kids each month by purchasing them a BabbaBox. There is also the option to purchase BabbaBox annually. The choice is yours. You will get hours of entertainment and creative play- not to mention a little extra time to yourself!
If you are interested in trying the BabbaBox yourself the following code with score you 20% OFF your first box.
 YHM20OFF

Toodie Goes To The Dentist

Today was Toodie’s first day at the dentist. When I called to make her appointment they told me that I should bring her in to look around and meet the staff before any procedures were done. This was to ensure that she felt comfortable and understood what going to the dentist was all about. I can’t blame them for this idea, I mean some adults are even terrified to go to the dentist! This being said, I took them up on the offer and we headed there after school today. Toodie was nervous and kept telling me she didn’t “like this place.” Once we got into our own room, she spent about 10 minutes looking at EVERYTHING and asking tons of questions. The dental assistant brought Toodie two soft plushies to play with while waiting. One was a clean happy tooth and the other was an angry sugar bug! These lightened the mood and I could tell that Toodie was becoming a little more relaxed about the whole “dentist” idea.

Toodie was VERY curious about all the tools laying around the room. When the dentist entered he handed her the tiny mirror and told her to look inside. She had to be a silly goon and use her squinty eyes.

I wasn’t too sure what to expect from our first visit. They told me it was primarily to get her comfortable with the dentist and her surroundings. If there is anything I did know, it was that she was going to LOVE him. He has been our family dentist for years and is one of the most friendly people I have ever met. After a few tickles, jokes, and silly gestures..Toodie plopped in the chair for her teeth count! Boy, did she warm up to him quickly. I thought this was going to be the hard part. Instead it was smooth and painless.

We chatted with the dentist for a bit and learned that Toodie’s bite is a little off causing her jawline to be crooked. Being the paranoid, over-protective, worried Mom that I am I freaked out a little. I expected this because I can tell in photos that her smile is not even. But they re-assured me that this is very common and can be fixed when she turns 6. It was soon time to go, and that mean one thing – a trip to the treasure chest! The best part about going to the dentist is picking out a surprise. This was more of a treasure drawer but it was packed with a bunch of toys, stickers, pencils, and other trinkets. I think this is every kid’s favorite part of visiting the dentist. Toodie went straight for the stickers. I knew these would be stuck on our tile floors hours later!

.

Leaving happy as can be, Toodie had a pleasant first trip to the dentist. In a month we will return for her first teeth cleaning. I was very happy that they suggested bringing her in for a “meet & great” prior to her actual appointment. This got all of her jitters and fears out. Now she sees that the dentist is a positive experience! I don’t think I will be pulling any teeth to get her to go the next time 🙂

Special Edition Amazon Kindle GIVEAWAY

Welcome to the book readers summer special edition Kindle giveaway!

Kindle, Wi-Fi, 6″ E Ink Display

The all-new Kindle – Lighter, smaller, faster

  • 30% lighter, less than 6 ounces
  • 18% smaller body, same 6″ screen size – fits in your pocket
  • Most advanced E Ink display, reads like paper
  • Built in Wi-Fi – get books in 60 seconds
  • Massive book selection, over 800,000 titles are $9.99 or less
  • Borrow Kindle books from your public library


With the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, Kindle owners with Amazon Prime can read up to a book a month for free, including all 7 Harry Potter books.
Borrow Great Books for Free
Choose from over 145,000 books to borrow for free, including all 7 Harry Potter books in 5 languages, over 100 current and former New York Times Best Sellers, and thousands of Amazon exclusives. New titles are added daily.
No Waiting
Traditional libraries buy a certain number of copies of a specific title. If all of those are checked out, you have to get on a waiting list where the wait can be months for popular titles like Harry Potter. With the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, there are no limits on how many people can simultaneously borrow the same title – so you never have to wait in line for the book you want.
No Due Dates
Keep your borrowed book as long as you like. With Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, there are no due dates or late fees.
Continue Reading

Everywhere