Young At Heart Mommy

Managing Motherhood Through Love & Laughter

Creating Magical Moments + Traditions With Hallmark Northpole

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NorthpoleFun #CollectiveBias

I am so excited to finally be able to say that Christmas is less than 2 months away! Is it obvious that I have been counting the days? As much as I love the other holidays scattered throughout the year, Christmas is IT for me. Beautiful weather, glimmering lights illuminating houses, salted hot chocolate, warm fuzzy socks, the smell of fresh pine, sleepless nights pondering Elf On The Shelf ideas, and the family traditions- what is there not to love about this holiday? Please someone tell me!
Continue Reading

Saving BIG For Disney With Paperless Coupons! #WalgreensPaperless

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

I have a love-hate relationship with coupons. Our relationships hasn’t always been strained but over the years we have had our differences. Don’t get me wrong, when I was pregnant five years ago I spent a lot of my free time clipping, organizing, and enjoying the thrill of saving. If anyone knew how to use coupons it was me. My family referred to me as freebie queen and frugalista because I was always taking advantage of a new deal. But as the years passed I became busy with many other things- working, school, parenting, and blogging. I just don’t have all that extra time to slave away, flipping through mailers and snipping until the wee hours of the night.
Continue Reading

Rotisserie Chicken Tostadas + Spicy Habanero Salsa #SauceOn

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

Spicy food is my weakness. Everything tastes better with a flavorful kick to it, especially tostadas! These days I find myself adding hot sauce to many of my dishes whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a snack. I think it all started five years ago when I had a unexpected gall bladder attack while pregnant with my kiddo. Spicy foods were a big no-no until I could get that useless organ removed and I went through serious withdrawal for the next year. A bland diet is quite depressing. Now that my body is fully functioning without any restrictions, I am all about the hotness! One of my favorite Mexican recipes to add spice to includes crispy tostadas topped with shredded chicken, homemade habanero salsa, and avocado slices. Tastebud overload.
Continue Reading

A Multi-Tasking Mommy’s Secret Energy Boost With 5-Hour ENERGY® Shots #ThisIsMySecret

People ask me all the time, “How the heck do you it all?” The truth is I don’t really know. At times I amaze myself with my superwoman capabilities. Fairy dust? Clicking my heels together? Enchanted cape? I assure you it’s much more simple than that. Try a magical potion I like to call 5-hour ENERGY® shots. Multi tasking has always been part of my nature and since becoming a mother I have mastered it without even trying.   While the Summer is here and it’s typically time to kick back and relax, I still have everyday commitments to keep up with. In addition to keeping my little one busy and entertained I still have work, school, and blogging to do. There aren’t enough hours in the day and I am lucky if I get a cat nap in between all of these activities! Tired may be an understatement but I will fill you in on a little secret that keeps this machine well oiled and running
Continue Reading

Sweet + Savory Jalapeño Popper Cheeseburger #SayCheeseburger

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

There are many things that excite me about Summer time- sunshine, homemade lemonade, sleeping in on the weekends, laying out at the pool, and taking my little one on local adventures. It marks the beginning of a few relaxing months before the new school year starts. Reality kicks back in next month and I am enjoying this short yet sweet break as much as I possibly can. But there is also one tradition that kicks off this time of year and that’s grilling season! What would Summer be without a big juicy cheeseburger in hand? Grilling is second nature in our home and if there is one thing we all agree on it’s nothing says Summer like a homemade burger with the works.
Continue Reading

Kool Off This Summer With Kool-Aid Fruit Juice Orange Creamsicle Bars #KoolOff

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. 

It’s hard to believe that there is only a little over a month of Summer left before the school year starts. I feel like it was just yesterday that we were rummaging through the garage in search of water guns, pool floats, and beach toys. Soon we will be packing up once again until Summer rolls back around next year. We have spent many days soaking up the sunshine and cooling off with a big glass of fruit juice in hand. A nice cold beverage is a must have when sitting by the pool or playing in the park this time of year. Florida is HOT and this Summer was no exception. The moment all the fun comes to an end will be a sad day in this  house. Luckily, I found a way to soften the blow and sweeten the moment by whipping up a batch of Kool-Aid Orange Creamsicle Bars made by yours truly.
Continue Reading

Celebrate With Hallmark Poster Cards For Kids #KidsCards #CollectiveBias

When Toodie & I made the big move from Colorado back to Florida I was sad to leave our friends and their children behind. In the past five years we must have sent a ton of birthday cards, thinking of you cards, good luck cards, and kid’s cards to keep us connected. I was pretty worried after the move because the majority of my circle here in FL are single, just getting married, or childless! Luckily her father has quite a few friends who have kids the same age as her. One of them, who is more like his brother, has an adorable little boy named Matthew. It was friendship at first site and they quickly clicked after their initial play date.

Continue Reading

Spark Summer Time Creativity With Juicy Juice + Crayola #UltimatePlaydate #CollectiveBias

 

DIY Juice Box Art Caddy #UltimatePlaydate #CollectiveBias

As a parent I have always encouraged my daughter to explore activities she enjoys and those that help her grow. This includes playtime. In our home playtime is just another outlet for learning. It isn’t limited but rather nurtured. Whether it’s through a puppet show, crafting, dress up with our pug Chloe, or collecting stones outside for her nature collage- we are learning together. Playtime promotes creativity, imagination, and allows children to gain an understanding of the world around them. Not to mention, it’s just plain old FUN. Even as an adult I find myself taking advantage of playtime. I almost forgot how entertaining it is to get a box of crayons and some white paper, drawing whatever comes to mind. 
Continue Reading

Perfectly Peachy Pineapple Smoothie With Bigelow Tea

Before the year began I had a solid list of resolutions and changes that I vowed to stick to, no matter how tough the temptation. One of these being my love, addiction, and urge to drink the fizzy beverage known as soda. Does anyone really stick to their resolutions and promises for more than a few weeks, maybe even days? I know what you’re thinking, it’s almost impossible to keep the willpower going strong! For me it was easier said than done. While I never paid attention to the unhealthy affects of soda, I came to realize that there were other options that would quench my thirst without harming my body. This is why I started drinking tea, hot and cold. Whether it’s fruit flavored or green, the brand that I prefer is Bigelow Tea. 
Continue Reading

Everywhere