All posts by Anne Younger

Anne is a 30-something full-time SAHM mom of 5 ranging from 3 to 17 and grandma of 1 who resides in Ashwaubenon (Green Bay) Wisconsin. She started blogging in 2008 as a way to regain her sanity. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, cheeseburgers and vodka along with spending time with her husband and kids.

Easily Set Parental Controls with the OurPact App

Having teenagers who are on social media is exhausting. Although my kids are great when it comes to behaving themselves on these platforms, as well as the internet in general, I’ll admit, my kids spend a lot of time of the internet and at times, it is very distracting for them.

Now that they are required to have a device at school with them at all times to connect to the internet, I tend to monitor them A LOT more to ensure they are staying on task while at school. Setting up parental controls on their computers is a breeze but their phones, that’s another story.

When it comes to iPhones, I can restrict use on things but I don’t like to do that unless they are being punished and honestly, setting restrictions is a pain and can get time consuming. Most of the time, the problem I have is one of them is on their phone at school, checking Facebook or posting to Instagram and once they leave the house, I can’t take apps away without their phone in hand.

And then, I met the OurPact App, the best parental control app out there!

 

OurPact is an app that gives parents the ability to block apps, the internet, and even schedule device use time for your child.

The app is super easy to install and setup when you have downloaded it from the app store. All you have to do is download the app on your phone and register an account. From there, you log into the server on your teens iOS device and agree to the terms of the service and then follow the on-screen steps to complete the process.

Once you are all registered and setup, go to the app on your phone and you now have full control of your child’s device,

With the simple on-screen controls, I can decide how much time the kids have access to their apps and the internet and I can restrict things during certain times like during school hours and sleep hours.

I love the fact that while they are at school, if I see that they are being active on social media, I can easily restrict them from using it with a quick swipe.

The Power of OurPact

  • Schedule Internet and App use according to your child’s daily routine, and among the weekdays or  weekend.
  • Set the number of hours your children spend on the Internet and within Apps.  
  • Block Internet and Apps at­a­touch.  
  • Allow Website and App access, whenever you feel your child “needs more time”, at­a­touch.  
  • Block all apps (eg. Facebook, SnapChat, Intagram, Twitter, etc.), as you see fit. 

Aside from being an awesome and easy to use app, it’s also FREE and if you know me, I like things even more when they don’t cost me extra money!

Get the OurPact App

You can download the OurPact parental control App by ParentsWare in the App Store for Free.

 

 Connect

You can connect with OurPact and stay up to date on new features or future apps by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

Love Clothes But Hate Paying Full Price?

Any true fashionista knows that putting together the perfect look requires time, patience and money. Once you’ve come back from shopping and looked at your worryingly high credit card bill, have you ever wondered if there was a cheaper way to buy the clothes you love?

Luckily, there really is such a way. Daily deals sites are revolutionising the way fashion is sold online. With so many sites selling such fantastic items, where do you even start? Here are a few tips to get you started with daily deals, and have you looking amazing at a fraction of the price.

Find The Right Site For You

First of all, you need to find a site that’s selling clothing that appeals to your tastes and style. Look around on the web and see what the sites are offering. Do you want simply clothes, or are you looking for accessories, make up, and other luxury goods too? Sites like DailySale have women’s clothes on sale, as well as jewelry, shoes and handy gadgets. These sites update their stock often, as their offers are always for a limited time. Remember to check back regularly to see what new goodies they have available.

Be Prepared To Rifle Through Your Emails

Most sites will send you emails if you want, to let you know when new stock has come in. When you look through them it can be difficult to spot what you really want in amongst all of the deal you’re being offered. Part of being a savvy daily deals shopper is knowing how to go through those emails carefully and decide what offers are good for you, and what’s being offered at the right price for you and your budget.

Check Prices Against Other Retailers

In the excitement of the chase for the perfect Little Black Dress or killer heels, it’s easy to spot them on a daily deals site and grab them without thinking. After all, everything on these sites is discounted, right? It must be a bargain! Sometimes, that may not be the case. Forbes recommends checking around online to be sure that the price hasn’t been inflated and just made to look as if it’s a good deal. It’s not common, as it’s pretty easy to catch retailers doing this out, but it’s worth checking after all.

Do You Really Need What You’re Buying?

The last tip, but the most important, is to think carefully before you click ‘add to cart’. Scrolling through daily deals sites is fantastic, as you see so many gorgeous clothes at such great prices. However, it’s easy to start grabbing everything, as the deals are limited and who knows when you’ll see them again? Money Crashers suggests setting a budget for spending on daily deals sites, and sticking to it. This will make you think more carefully about what you’re putting in that cart. Will you wear that dress more than once? Will those shoes last more than a few wears before falling apart? Think like a seasoned bargain hunter and buy only those pieces that you know you’ll wear and love for years to come.

It sounds as though there’s a lot to keep in mind while shopping, but really, all you have to do is use your common sense. Keep a close eye on the sites, and be on the lookout for pieces that you really need. Follow these tips, and you can have a wardrobe that’s the envy of all your friends at a fraction of the price of in store retailers. Happy bargain hunting!

Daddy’s Home Hits Theaters Christmas Day

Back in 2006, when I first met Alex, I was a single mom of 2 who never planned on getting married and just living out my life the way it was going. Needless to say, Alex changed all of that, swept me off my feet and has been the best step-father I could have ever asked for to Zack and Libby. These days, he’s just dad to them and that’s how it will always be. 

One of our favorite things we like to do as a family is go to the movies.  With the holidays coming up, we are excited to share the upcoming movie, Daddy’s Home. For those of you who haven’t seen the trailer yet, Daddy’s Home stars Will Ferrell as the step-father and Mark Wahlberg as the dad. Ferrell’s character strives to be the best step-dad and then things get interuppted when Wahlberg, the freeloading father, enters the picture and the two compete for the kid’s attention and affection.

We’ve seen the commercials all over TV and honestly, the entire thing is hilarious and for our family, we can really relate.

Just from the trailers, I can think of a few instances we have experienced where we have had the battle of the dads as well as the dads acting more like the kids. But then again, one of the things I love about my kids having Alex as their dad is that he is like a big kid and they all have so much fun together.

Alex at Sweet Street with a Lego Soldier

Of course, there have been times when I have had to pull the ‘mom card’ on my husband just like I do my kids, but that’s a whole other story right there. We’ll just leave it at video games vs. house work. I may have married a big kid but he makes us all happy and I’m okay with that! And after watching the trailer for Daddy’s Home, this entire, crazy family can’t wait to see it on Christmas Day!

 

Connect

Be sure to connect with Daddy’s Home on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay on top of all of the movie details.  You can also follow #DaddysHome on social media and get involved in the movie chatter.

Giveaway

Don’t miss your chance to win a $50 gift card. You can enter for your chance to win using the Rafflectopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Daddy’s Home blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

PAN on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack or DVD – December 2

I have always been a fan of the tale of Peter Pan. I have loved seeing all of the different remakes of the story over the years and have truly enjoyed each and every one of them. When I first learned that there was going to be another film to share the story, I was excited and now I am happy to share that movie with you!

PAN is the latest in the adventures of Peter and tells the tale of his life in a London orphanage where he is whisked away one night to Neverland. While he is in Neverland, Peter discovers incredible, new adventures while he tries to uncover the secret of his mother.

When I first saw the trailer for this film I got really excited. Check it out for yourself.

Doesn’t that trailer make you want to watch this movie now? 

The film stars Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund, Rooney Mara, Amanda Seyfried, and new comer Levi Miller, as Peter.

You can get your copy of Pan on December 22nd.

Loving You Can Be Tough

Loving someone comes at a price whether we recognize this or not. True love, unconditional, requires a reduction in our individual selfishness and self-centeredness. A change in our total feeling and outlook upon life, and when our love for a partner comes to the decision for marriage it brings on a whole new dynamic, especially in today’s society. Can our marriage survive the low spots that surely lie ahead? This is just one of many questions that will reveal themselves over time.

Image Courtesy of www.graphicstock.com

Perhaps your marriage is one of good fortune both in the financial and relationship arenas. What couple is not due for a much needed getaway to escape the reality of work and home life for a couple days? Even if you’re financial situation is not one of good fortune, do you not deserve a reprieve at some point to re-charge your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being? There are plenty of options available to couples for ideas for that perfect romantic getaway to reduce the stress that comes with daily life and loving someone with all your heart, as you know how stressful it can be when the inevitable low spots rear their head.

 

Dealing With the Tough Times

How to manage the marriage when you are in the midst of arguing, financial insecurity, and the like is key to keeping your vows to your partner. An open-mind to new ideas will keep both you and your partner in a better position to not build the inevitable walls of defense that come with a closed mindset. Practical experience and tips are available to anyone who has the desire to search, and marriage experts are more than willing to offer their support and marriage counseling might be just what you need to get you through this rough patch in your marriage. Perhaps you are struggling with time for yourself, or not enough time together. No need for unnecessary stress and worry, search out those who know how to properly deal with these inevitable trials that come with loving someone. 

Image Courtesy of www.graphicstock.com

You have made every effort to make the marriage work and have exhausted what you believe to be every feasible option to resolve the differences. You are left with what appears to you to be the only option left, divorce. Sometimes divorce is the best option for the two parties involved, as human beings are fallible and sometimes it is not possible to work out the differences.