Young At Heart Mommy

Managing Motherhood Through Love & Laughter

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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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!

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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Real Fruit From Real People: Tree Top Review

With an active toddler by my side most of the day there is always a little hand tugging on my shirt asking for something to drink. We rarely have soda in our house and most of the time we are drinking tea, water, or fruit juice. I prefer to keep my daughter away from sugary drinks full of empty calories. This is why I buy all natural fruit juice like Tree Top. They make an assortment of products including fruit juice, snacks, applesauce, and even cider. All of their products are made with care and dedication. This is exactly how they developed their tagline, “Real Fruit From Real People.” Tree Top is the leading producer and supplier of dried apple products in the United States making them well known in thousands of households, including my own. 

The Tree Top apple juice not only contains 100% juice, but also %100 USA apples in each and every container. Each 8 oz glass of juice contains 2 servings of fruit! While I have no problem getting my daughter to eat fruit, it is good to know that their apple juice is packed with Vitamin C. You can tell by the taste alone that it is made with real apples and no added sugar. Their 3 Apple Blend is my personal favorite because it’s a combination of Granny Smith, Red, & Golden Delicious apples. It’s sweet, tart, and will quench your thirst.  It is also shelf–stable which means you do not have to refrigerate it. You can find Tree Top Apple Juice sold in various sized bottles and also juice boxes. Since you do not have to worry about keeping them cold, it is great for taking on the go.
The classic Tree Top Applesauce is just as tasty as their juice selection. There is no added sugar or fructose corn syrup, just fresh yummy apples. It contains 1 Fruit Serving for every 1/ 2 cup of applesauce for only 50 calories! It is available in a few different flavors including Strawberry, Cinnamon, and Natural Apple. On top of being delicious on their own, I love using Tree Top Applesauce to bake with. Replacing butter with applesauce makes cakes and cookies moist and flavorful. The small containers also make them the perfect sized portions for lunch boxes or a snack in between meals.
 
We go through plenty of fruit snacks each week and it can be difficult finding those made without a ton of sugar. The Tree Top All Natural Fruit Snacks are made from natural ingredients, including real fruit juice and Vitamin C. Packaged in individual pouches they make a great snack for the whole entire family.  I have found that the quality of these fruit snacks are much better than what I normally purchase from other brands. After finding these at Costco they have become the fruit snack that my daughter prefers as a treat and in her lunchbox. As an adult I still find myself indulging in a bag here and there. They remind me of my childhood and the flavors are distinctly fruity.
Is your family a fan of Tree Top and their products also?
For more information on Tree Top you can visit their site or connect on Facebook. Here you will find promotions, coupons, and information on existing fruit-based products.

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!

Teething With Style: Teethease Review

When we enter motherhood it doesn’t mean that we have to give up being fashionable, trendy, or accessorizing our favorite outfits. Yes, we do enjoy spending time in our jammies but sometimes we want to dress up to feel like we’ve still got it! Teethease has created a line of functional jewelry that acts as accessory and a useful baby teether. At the moment, Teethease offers seven products ranging in an assortment of colors and styles. These include necklaces and bangles with different shapes and sizes. 

Each piece is wearable and also practical. All of their affordable teethers are free of BPA, PVC, phthalate, latex and heavy metals making them safe as well. The soft and flexible silicone gives your baby something to chew on while relieving the aches from teething. It doesn’t hurt that these pieces are all stylish and look like a normal piece of jewelry you may wear everyday. I love the color pallete used and that they are almost all neutral. The white, grey, and black pieces can be worn with anything while the teal adds a pop of color! Unlike your typical teething toys, these can all be washed and sanitized in your dish washer. I remember when Toodie was teething and how her little frozen rings were always falling on the floor. With germs making their way on to everything, it really helps to have a teether that can be easily cleaned. Since you are wearing the Teethease, you also don’t have to worry about it dropping or getting lost in a black hole known as the diaper bag!


Teethease was kind enough to send me their Heart Pendant Necklace in lavender. While the heart comes on a soft black rope, you can easily slide it off and give to your child to hold. I really love that there is a break-away clasp holding the necklace together. This allows you to easily pop the necklace on and off without any tugging. The heart pendant is very soft, softer than it actually looks. At the same time, there is no way your baby is going to break through this thing! I can imagine it gives hours of soothing satisfaction when those little teeth are breaking through. Any of the Teethease products would make neat gifts for an expectant or existing mom. I know when I decide to make an addition to my family, this will be on my list.


You can get a closer look at all of the Teethease products by visiting their site. You can also follow along on Twitter and Facebook. Teethease was just awarded the PTPA Media Inc. Award and seal of approval from parents! Now is a great time to stop by and congratulate them.



Disclosure: I received the product 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!

Cooking Light: Parmesan-Panko Chicken Tenders + GIVEAWAY

Home cooked meals are few and far between these days. With all of the fast food chains, TV dinners, and restaurants, we tend to forget how nice it is to sit down and have a meal at home with our family. It has crossed my mind, that at some point we just think dinner is  too darn hard and too time consuming to take care of each night. Recipes can be over complicated, long, and boring. These are some of the reasons author Amanda Haas joined forces with Cooking Light to create the “Real Family Food” cookbook. This unique cookbook contains 150 recipes to inspire families to return to the kitchen table!
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Soothing Gentle Skin With AVEENO Baby

Diaper rash, eczema, and discomfort are all things that parents are familiar with and also struggle to treat effectively. We scour the aisles of the drugstore looking for the best products to make our children more comfortable and put us at ease. AVEENO Baby provides skincare solutions and comfort to parents who have children suffering from diaper rash, eczema, or any sort of irritation. They are designed to offer solutions with the expectant and experienced mom in mind.
There are two products in particular that I would like to share with you today. The Aveeno Daily Moisture Lotion along with the Wash & Shampoo can be found within their permanent line for babies or toddlers. I have personally used both of them on my daughter and have had successful results in treating her dry skin. When Toodie born we were living on the West coast in Colorado where the air is very dry and lacks humidity. At 6 months old, I started to notice dry patches of skin on her back and torso. She was itchy and I did everything I could to prevent her from scratching. Soon after, I was told she had a mild case of eczema and was given a list of trusted brands to treat it. On the top of list was Aveeno Baby. 

The Baby Wash & Shampoo is made from natural oat extract which helps to make a rich lather that cleanses the skin without drying it out. You can use this to wash your child’s hair and body because it’s gentle enough for everyday use. It leaves behind a very soft fragrance so your little one will smell clean and fresh. The formula is hypoallergenic and tear free making it safe to use on infants.  After a warm bath with the Baby Wash & Shampoo their skin will be moisturized and silky smooth. I love the baby smell! Even though Toodie is a toddler, it reminds me of when she was an itty bitty baby in my arms. That scent is something I will never forget.

After bath time, the Daily Moisture Lotion helps heal and protect delicate skin for a full 24 hours. Like many of the products within their baby line, it contains a natural colloidal oatmeal blend with rich emollients. If you are not familiar with colloidal oatmeal, it is made of finely ground oats. You will find this in other treatments designed to relieve itchy dry skin, eczema, chicken pox, bug bites, and even poison ivy. Since it contains Vitamin E it also acts as an anti-inflammatory. It keeps your child’s delicate skin soft and moisturized without any greasy residue left behind. I have always preferred using this lotion on my daughter because it is fragrance free and since it does not contain alcohol, I never had to worry about it drying out her skin. When she was first diagnosed with a mild case of eczema, the Aveeno Daily Moisture Lotion was on the list of recommendations provided by her doctor. It always relieved the scattered dry patches and kept her from itching away at them.

Another part of the Aveeno Baby line I wanted to add is the Eczema Therapy Soothing Bath Treatment. This is a favorite of mine can can also be found in its older packaging titled Soothing Relief Bath Treatment. I have used this so many times for many different reasons. When we began the potty training process Toodie was very hesitant and refused to have her pull up changed. At three, it’s all about independence and control. She would run and hide making it impossible to even get it off!  The moisture would sometimes cause a rash leaving her skin red and bumpy. These bath treatments would not only soothe the affected area but heal it in the process. Each box comes with 5 packs of the colloidal oatmeal in which you pour into warm water and allow to dissolve.  This is great for diaper rash and also eczema. We have even used it to soothe irritation from constipation. You can find these bath treatments along with others in the Aveeno Baby Line as well.

For more information on the Aveeno Baby Line you can visit their site or connect on Facebook. Here you will find pictures, video review, and answers to any skincare questions you may have.

 

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!

Starlooks: September Starbox Review

Just when I think that there are no beauty boxes left to review, I realize that the list may in fact be endless! For all of the subscription box junkies, this is the newest edition to my collection. The Starbox is a monthly subscription service brought to you by Starlooks. Starlooks is a website that captures all things beauty including makeup artist secrets,  interviews, and how-to videos. What makes the Starbox so different from similar boxes is it comes with FULL SIZE products!

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Julep Maven Review + GIVEAWAY

They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but for some of us nail polish is the equivalent! As a girly girl who loves makeup, clothing, and getting glam- I can’t be without a good nail polish. I know I am not the only one out there so that is why I am introducing you to Julep! There are many reasons Julep stands out from the rest. All of the Julep nail colors are “4-free” which means they do not contain the carcinogens, formaldehyde resin, toluene, or DBP. Through numerous amount of testing in their own Julep Nail Parlors, they have been able to create a chip resistant and long lasting formula. Their polish goes on smooth and dries quickly, leaving your nails sleek and refined. In participation with the Julep VIP program, I had the opportunity to try one of their introductory boxes and share my experience with you. There is also a special surprise for my readers at the end!

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