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  • SMURFS-tastic Freeze Ball Punch Recipe

    This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Sony Pictures.  I received information to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

    Have you heard the news?  SMURFS: The Lost Village hits theaters on April 7th!  Fully animated, The Lost Village follows Smurfette, Hefty, Clumsy, and Brainy as they go on a magical and mysterious adventure through the Forbidden Forest to save a lost village from falling prey to the evil wizard Gargamel. In honor of the upcoming release of the new SMURFS movie, I created this SMURFS-tastic Freeze Ball Punch Recipe.

    The kids and I got to screen The Lost Village and it was amazing!  Look out for our review Tuesday.  Anyways, our SMURFS-tastic Freeze Ball Punch recipe was inspired by a scene in the movie where the evil wizard Gargamel is creating “freeze balls.”  We wanted to create something that was delicious, easy to make, and had a wow factor.  And what says “WOW” better than a color changing, fizzing punch?!
    Before you make this punch please make sure you have 2 – 1 gallon drink pitchers or at least 1 – 1 gallon pitcher and a 2 gallon punch bowl.  Also, an ice cream scoop will definitely work better than a spoon when it’s time to put your “Freeze Balls” (lime sherbet) into your glasses.  So now that you have your tools ready, for this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
    ‣ one (1) – 2 liter of Sprite
    ‣ two (2) packets of Raspberry Lemonade Kool-Aid drink mix 
    ‣ one (1) to two (2) cups of sugar depending on how sweet you like your Kool-Aid
    ‣ one (1) gallon of water
    ‣ one (1) quart of lime sherbet
    The first thing you want to do is make your Raspberry Lemonade Kool-Aid by mixing the two drink mix packets, the water and sugar together until everything is dissolved.  Then you want to pour your Sprite into a separate pitcher.  Next using the Raspberry Lemonade that you just made fill the pitcher with the Sprite to the top and stir to mix.
    Please note that you will have some Kool-Aid left over from the first pitcher.  You can purchase an additional 2 liter of Sprite and make two pitchers of punch or save it for anyone who wants just regular Kool-Aid.  Once you have your Raspberry Lemonade and Sprite mixed, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes.  When it’s chilled, scoop 3 Freeze Balls of lime sherbet into each glass.
    Fill each glass almost to the top with your Raspberry Lemonade-Sprite mixture and watch the magic happen!  Your punch should start to color change from Smurf Blue to a Freeze Ball Green right before your eyes.  Also, you should notice some fizzing/foaming action as well.  Please note that if you fill your glasses too close to the top, some foam may spill over the sides.  
    Also, please note that you can switch the sherbet for sorbet if you have dairy allergies.
    You can right click the recipe card below to print out this recipe so that you’ll always have it handy.  Trust me when I say this drink will be a BIG hit with your family!  Everyone was amazed at how the punch changed from blue to green and then started foaming.  Don’t you look it when recipe making doubles as a science project as well?!

    GIVEAWAY 

    The folks at Sony Pictures are so amazing and are allowing me to giveaway the SMURFS: The Lost Village Prize Pack above to one (1) YUMMommy reader.  This giveaway is open to US residents 18 and older.  All you have to do is use the widget below to enter.

    I hope you enjoy your SMURFS-tastic Freeze Ball Punch!  Don’t forget to mark your calendars and make plans to round up the family to see SMURFS: The Lost Village when it hits theaters on Friday, April 7th.  And you can find more SMURFS-tastic recipes, activity pages and more here.

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  • 50+ Disney Easter Basket Fillers For $10 or Less

    When I was a kid, Easter was one of my favorite holidays because it meant homemade/DIY Easter baskets from my mom.  She had five kids and made sure to customize the fillers of each basket to match our likes and interests.  While Jay prefers to purchase premade Easter baskets for the kids, I enjoy carrying on my mom’s tradition of customizing small baskets for Moo and JJ filled with goodies I know they will love.  Since both of my kids are huge Disney lovers (like me), I decided to hunt down some Easter basket fillers that are not only Disney themed, but also easy on my wallet.
    Before you keep scrolling down to check the 50+ Disney themed Easter basket fillers, I want to disclose that this post contains affiliate links.  This simply means that should purchase any of the items featured in the widgets below, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Also, I want to note that all items mentioned in this post were $10 at the time of the posting of this blog price. Therefore, prices are subject to change over time.  Now that the formalities are out of way, let’s carry on. 

    Toys

    Toys make great Easter basket fillers.  In my opinion, they last longer and are better for kids than candy.  

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    Arts & Crafts

    My mom is the queen of arts and crafting.  She always kept a fully stocked craft bin.  As an educator, she knew that arts and craft projects not only provided us with at least an hour of entertainment, but they also helped to hone our motor and problem solving skills.  This is why activity books and crafts make great filler options to add to Easter baskets as well. 

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    Accessories

    What fashion forward kid doesn’t love accessories?  From purses to sunglasses and baseball caps, options are really endless when it comes to ways your little ones can add a bit of Disney to their outfits.  Moo owns Princess Tiana and Doc McStuffins handbags and she loves carrying one or the other around inside and outside of the house.

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    Sippy Cups/Water Bottles

    You can never had too many sippy cups or water bottles, especially if they’re Disney themed!  I’ve found that my kids are more likely to drink healthier drinks when they’re served in a cup that features their favorite animated characters on the front.  Not to mention how cute are these sippy cups and water bottles?!

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    Books/DVDs

    I’ve already mentioned that the first book I learned how to read was the Disney version of Snow White.  My mom read that book to and with me everyday until one day I read back to her without any assistance.   And we absolutely love Disney movies and shows.  Just check out my fangirl review of Beauty and the Beast.  Books and DVDs are more great fillers that will provide your with hours of entertainment and last for years to come.

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    Clothing

    Again kids (and adults) love sporting their favorite characters.  Your kids can look adorable and show off their Disney side at the same time.

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    Beauty/Hygiene

    True story, my kids put up less of a fight when it comes to brushing their teeth and/or getting their hair washed if the bottles/containers have their favorite Disney character on the front of it. 

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    If you’re DIYing your kids’ Easter baskets, remember that you don’t have to stick to the traditional items like candy, eggs and bunny rabbits.  Think outside of the box and fill their baskets with items that you they’ll love and that will last longer than Easter day.  Also, if you need more options of Disney themed Easter basket filler options search for Disney items on Amazon, Target and Walmart.
    What item did you most look forward to in your Easter basket as a kid?

  • Thankful Thursday | A Weekly List of Gratitude

    Happy Thankful Thursday!!  So, I’m just realizing that I haven’t share our big news on the blog yet.  If you’ve subscribed to my newsletter, then you already know what our big news is.  Can you guess what it is?  I’ll give you hint it’s NOT a baby.   Keep reading to find out.


    What I Am Thankful For This Week

    Snow |  In my newsletter last week I mentioned how the weather man was calling for snow.  Yes, snow in March in the South.  Anyways, I was very skeptical that we would get it because the day announced that we might get snow it was almost 75℉ out.  It was perfect sandal weather.  Surely we weren’t getting snow.  Nothing happened on Saturday, but when we woke Sunday morning, it was a winter wonderland outside our window.
    Of course being the snow lover that I am, I was thankful that Mother Nature proved me wrong.  Our snow didn’t last long, but I’m grateful we got to go out on a little snow walk and enjoy it while it lasted.  Also, I’m thankful that the schools didn’t have to take a snow day.  Don’t need to the district trying to cut into Moo’s Spring Break vacation.
    Mommy & Us Movie Dates |  We got to screen The Boss Baby this past Saturday.  I’m thankful that I got watch it with the kids because they had a blast.  While I have to hold my official review until Monday, I will say that this movie gave us all a few reminders/things to think about when it comes to family additions.  The kids loved it and they got to hang out at their favorite wishing fountain afterwards!

    House Hunting |  Now for our BIG news . . . we’re moving!  Our house hunt is over.  Earlier this month our family put in an offer on a house.   I’m beyond excited and thankful to say that our offer was accepted.  Now, we’re negotiating repairs and waiting for closing day to get here.
    I was nervous taking the kids to see it before having our offer accepted because I didn’t want to get their hopes up.  They absolutely loved the house and are thrilled to be getting their own rooms.  I’m excited to decorate my new master bedroom and bath along with the rest of the house.  I’ve already hunting for accessories at Target because we’re obsessed with that place.
    Jeremiah 29:11-12 |  Going back to waiting on closing day and negotiating repairs with the sellers, I was feeling a bit stressed/borderline anxious the other day.  I had so many thoughts running through my head.  What if they decide not to make the important repair we’re not willing to budge on?  Can I really walk away from this house after getting the kids’ (and mine own) hopes up about it?
    I had to go back and meditate on Jeremiah 29:11-12 and remind myself that there is already a plan for my life.  That plan includes where my family and I will live.  If this house is not meant for us, then I have to trust that God has something better in store for us.  However, since I really want this house to be for us it doesn’t hurt to kick the doubt to the curb and send up a prayer to the Man upstairs.  He’s listening and at the end of the day that’s all I can really ask for.

    Have you ever been anxious about something?  What helped you to get over/cope with your anxiety?

  • Why You Should Take Your Family To See Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

    Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Disney/Walt Disney Pictures.  I received an advance screening of Beauty and the Beast to facilitate this review.  Also, this post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for supporting the brands that support YUMMommy!

    Snow White might have been the first book that I learned how to read on my own, but Belle was the first Disney princess that I fell in love with.  Somehow she felt different from the other princesses before her.  She was the first Disney princess that I saw bits of myself in.  Her love for books and her father knows no bounds.  My family can you tell that I love doesn’t even begin to describe the appreciation I have for the written word and it goes without saying that I love my family fiercely,
    Belle wasn’t boy crazy and didn’t get a big head when the hottest and most guy in town showed in interest her.  And we can’t forget how compassionate and patient she was with Beast.  Seeing Beauty and the Beast as kid gave me a boost of confidence and showed me that it was okay to stand out from the popular crowd.  That movie earned a special place in my heart from the first time I saw it.  So, when I heard that Disney was making a live action version of it, my emotions were all over the place.
    I had a zillion and one questions zipping through my head.  Who’s going to play Belle?  Are they going to add some diversity to the cast?  Are the customs going to be out of this world?  What about Beast, how they going to make him look realistic?  And most importantly, what is Beast’s library going to look like, will they do it justice?!
    Honestly, I don’t think I’ve stalked the internet for movie updates like I did for Beauty and the Beast since I heard about Disney introducing Tiana as their first Black Disney Princess.  When I got invited to go to an advance screening of Beauty and the Beast, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.  I had to know if Disney and the cast did the movie, that so much a part of my childhood and helped me to fall in love with being different, justice.  Let me tell you guys I was BLOWN AWAY!  If haven’t made plans to round up your family to go see Beauty and the Beast, here’s why you should.

    Why Your Family Should See Beauty and the Beast

    Diversity | There’s no denying that diversity and representation matter.  It’s 2017 and in my opinion, there’s no reason why every fictional movie shouldn’t have a diverse cast.  I think Disney did a pretty good job of making sure Beauty and the Beast had a diverse cast and characters.  Josh Gad who plays Le Fou is son of a Jewish Afghanistan father and an Ashkenazim Jewish mother.  The lovely and beyond talented, award-winning Audra McDonald plays Garderobe.  The gorgeous Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays Plumette. 

    Also, many of the extras are POCs.  And while we’re on the subject of diversity and representation let’s dive right into this whole gay characters controversy.  There about three less 60 second scenes that could hint at two of the characters in this movie being LBGTQ+.  At the end of the day, we live in world where we are free to love whomever we want.
    WARNING:  I’m about to get on my soapbox.
    While I understand that many people many not agree with the LBGTQ+ lifestyle, I don’t agree that these people don’t have a right to be represented in main stream media.  They spend money with Disney just like you and I do.  I took my five year old son with me to the screening and I can assure he is not scarred in anyway having watched this movie.  So let’s stop with the Disney is trying to brainwash our children and turn them gay non-sense.  
    Please rest assured that if your kid or either of mine decides to come out to us later on in life it won’t be because they watched Beauty and the Beast.  It will be because that’s the lifestyle they have made the decision to live.  I can’t speak for other parents, but my response would be to continue to love my children unconditionally and not wage a war against them.  Remember, the greatest commandment God gave us as Christians is to love as neighbors as ourselves and not just the heterosexual ones either. 
    Okay I’m off my soapbox.  I promise.
    The Beast |  Initially, I was on the fence about taking JJ to see Beauty and the Beast because I wasn’t sure if he would afraid or not.  Having a child with sensory issues, I never know completely know how he will respond to certain things.  I was watching him like a hawk to see what his reason was going to be and mentally preparing myself to have to leave the theater.  
    Instead, he surprised me and instead of having a meltdown, he turned to me yell-whispered, “That’s the beast mommy?  He’s so cool!”  He wasn’t even scared when Beast had to fight off those hungry wolves to rescue Belle and her horse, Philippe.  
    In the spirit of full disclosure, this movie is LOUD.  However, we didn’t mind because we were too spellbound by the awesomeness playing out on the screen.
    Life Lessons |  Beauty and the Beast isn’t just a movie about a young woman who falls in love with a beast.  There are many life lessons that our children can learn from this film.  For example, the entire reason the prince is cursed to begin with is because he was coldhearted, rude and turned away a stranger in need.  While feeling ourselves isn’t always a bad thing, the prince was feeling him way too much!  He makes a great example for talking to kids about compassion and why turning our noses down at others is bad.
    Then there’s Belle who can teach our children how to be confident in who they are.  The townspeople thought Belle was strange because she didn’t fit into the mold or role of what they thought a woman should be.  They made fun of her and mocked her.  Nevertheless, Belle stayed true to herself and confident in who she was.  Belle is also a great example of displaying compassion, unconditional love and kindness.  Not only did she take her father’s place as Beast’s prisoner, but she treated Beast with a kindness he’d never really allowed himself to know.
    While bullying has been around since the beginning of time, in today’s society bullying has gotten out of hand.  Gaston makes a great example/gateway to open the door to talking about bullying with your children.  He’s rude to Le Fou (his best friend), treats Belle with no respect because she’s a woman and makes fun of her father.
    Honestly, I could go on and on about all of the subtle life lessons/gems in Beauty and the Beast, but I won’t.  Just know that this movie can be used not only to keep your family entertained for a few hours, but to serve as a vehicle to broaching serious topics and issues.
    The Cast |  I’m not sure how Disney seems to always select the right actors for their characters, but I couldn’t have been more pleased with the main cast members of Beauty and the Beast.  Emma Watson was a great choice for Belle since they have so much in common already like being bookworms.  Dan Stevens nailed his role as Beast and was utter perfection if you ask me.
    And after seeing Luke Evans and Josh Gad as Gaston and Le Fou respectively, I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing their characters either.  And while Audra McDonald makes a brief appearance in her human form in this movie, she stuns like nobody’s business.
    Overall Execution |  This movie left me spellbound.  From the superior acting to the amazing CGI and special effects, Beauty and the Beast will have you on the edge of seat in a trance.  All I can say is prepared to be blown away like I was.

    Musical Numbers |  If you didn’t know, Disney is the king of when it comes to crafting musical numbers/performances in their movies.  Remember, Frozen and Moana?  And let’s not forget before those movies was The Lion King, Mary Poppins and of course the animated version of Beauty and the Beast.
    Hands down my two favorite musical numbers from Beauty and the Beast are “Be Our Guest” and of course “Beauty and the Beast.”  I definitely feel like the actors did justice to each of their specific songs they had to sing.  I was surprised to find out that Emma Watson really has a pleasant singing voice that is quite suited for theatrical singing.  And Luke Evans and Josh God really put on a performance with their rendition of “Gaston.”  Prepare to sing along, I did.
    Overall, I’m proud of the way Disney brought Beauty and the Beast to life.  It’s my favorite movie I’ve seen this year and will most definitely be in my Top 3 even at the end of the year.  It was breathtaking, spellbounding, funny and just amazing.  Whether you were a fan of the original Beauty and the Beast or not, it’s definitely worth rounding up the family to see the live action version.

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  • Thankful Thursday | A Weekly List of Gratitude

    I read a weather report on my weather app that said we might be getting a little snow this weekend.  Yep, snow in March.  And yes, it’s over 70 degrees out right now.  Besides the mornings, temps here haven’t really been cold enough for snow.  So, of course I’m not getting my hopes all the way up that we’ll see snow on Saturday, but it would be nice.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed!

    What I Am Thankful For This Week

    My Mom |  Grandma C saw another birthday this week!  I feel so blessed to still have my mom (not be confused with my Ma) here with me.  I’m even more thankful that my kids still have their Grandma.  My grandparents passed away shortly after I was born and I never got the opportunity to experience the bond my children have with my mom.  It’s something that bothered me as kid since most of my friends had grandparents who were still living.  

    Consistent Warm Weather |  I don’t want jinx us but I think our pneumonia weather days are about to be behind us.  *Praise dance*   After all of the sick germs we had flying around our home last month, I’m so thankful for all the consistently warm weather we’ve had this week.  No wearing heavy winter coats on Monday and then t-shirts and sandals on Tuesday this week.  It’s because of this consistent weather that I’m doubtful we’ll see that snow on Saturday.  Let’s keep moving forward Mother Nature, not backwards. 

    Unexpected Encouragement |  Staying positive and believing in myself are two things that I still struggled with as a teenager and still struggle with from time to time as a 31 year old.  There are a few things that I want to do, but I’ve been a bit paralyzed or stuck.  This week I found myself stumbling across unexpected sources of encouragement that I know are signs meant just for me.  Just this morning my cousin posted the following words of motivation on her social media page:

    “Never be afraid to try something new.  Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.”

    At the end of the day I have to start somewhere.  I have to try new things in order to achieve my dreams and goals.  I can’t reach my fullest potential by shying away from the unfamiliar.  Listen to me, if you’ve been wanting to do something, do it.  Stop the excuses, overcome the fear and tune out the negative voice in your head.  Go for it because life is too short to waste time waiting.

    What are your thankful for this week?  Let me know in the comments.

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  • Recently | January & February Edition

    Does anyone else feel like 2017 doesn’t like them recently?  Just me? Okay.  January got off to a slow start.  And I just knew February aka Black History Month was going to be LIT for our family.  I mean Beyonce announced that she and Jay-Z were having twins on the first day of Black History Month, so how could I not take that as a good omen that February was going to bring great things?

    Alas, we got hit by the flu not once, not twice, but three times last month.  So we pretty much on house arrest because I’m NOT about that spreading germs life.  Plus, I’m a light weight when it comes to heavy meds and was pretty much out of it.  Voluntary house arrest wasn’t all that bad though.  Here’s a look at what I’ve been up to recently since the last time y’all have seen me here on the blog.

    In the spirit of full disclosure, I want to inform you that this post does contain affiliate links.  I use affiliate links when talking about specific products so that you can see the exact product I used and where I purchased it from.  Now that that’s out of the way, carry on with the rest of the post.

    January & February Wrap-Up

    Cooked | Dropping 25 lbs and toning up my muscles is one of my goals/resolutions for 2017.  Last year I kind of started eating my feelings and overindulging on late night sweets.  While I started the New Year off well in the eating department, I still dropped by the library to pick up some cookbooks specifically featuring healthy meals.  My favorite at out of the six that I picked up has been Dr. Ian K. Smith’s The Shred Diet Cookbook.

    I want to set the record straight and admit that I don’t believe in dieting.  However, I do believe in healthy eating and Dr Ian’s cookbook is filled with recipes that are both healthy and delicious.  My favorite that I’ve made twice already is his Seared Mustard Pork Chops with Cider-Braised Onions.  These pork chops pair well with fried cabbage as well as mashed potatoes.

    I’m also a fan of his Bone-Hugging Chili recipe.  We had a few chilly days towards the end of last month and chili was just the perfect meal to warm us up.  I did make a few alterations to this recipe like subbing the ground beef for ground turkey as well as making my own chili seasoning mix and adding a fresh salsa in place of one of the cans of diced tomatoes.  I’ll be sharing my version of the recipe on the blog later on this week.  Meanwhile, I can’t wait to try out even more recipes from this cookbook this month.

    Read |  Thanks to three rounds of the flu and a double ear infection, we weren’t able to get out of the house as much as we wanted to last month.  I was so bummed because there were two Black History museums that I wanted visit with the kids.  Our sick germs didn’t stop us completely from celebrating Black History Month though.  Before I got hit with the flu, I managed to make it the library to pick up a month’s worth of books for me and the kids written by Black authors and/or featuring Black main characters.

    Our favorite read was Spirit Week Showdown from the The Magnificent Mya Tibbs series written by Crystal Allen.  Mya is a such funny and spunky nine year old.  This book made us laugh and even made us sad during some points.  It’s the perfect book to share with young kids when talking to them about how to make wise choices in the friendship department and how to not be bullies.

    I know I’m probably going to get a lot of shocked gasps for this, but my least favorite book was Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes.  It was so hard to get into that DNFed (Did Not Finish) it.  Listen, I tried to read this book, but I couldn’t.  I probably should have seen this coming because I’m not a huge fan of any of Shonda’s shows.  I like How To Get Away With Murder, but I never watch it on cable tv.  I usually wait until the season uploads to Netflix and then watch a few episodes each day.  I don’t watch Scandal AT. ALL!   And I stopped watching Grey’s Anatomy over five years ago.

    Y’all, I really wanted to like this book.  Heck, I wanted to love it because I’ve heard so many people rave about how good it was.  Also, I had read some of the quotes from the book and really felt like they spoke to me, but I guess I was mistaken.  I’ll try to pick up Year of Yes again over the summer.

    Enjoyed |  We got snow in January y’all!!  I’m pretty sure I was more excited than the kids were.  I felt like a kid in a candy shop to say the least.  Moo was happy to have Snow Days, but that’s about it.  And the cuteness/novelty of getting snow quickly wore off for JJ.

    Taken on Day 2 when the sun started to melt our snow.

    We didn’t get to play in the snow because JJ was getting over a cold and we didn’t have any snow gear.  I should have gotten the kids snow gloves and boots for Christmas.  No worries we’ll be prepared when the next snow hits.

    Loved |  If you haven’t gotten yourself a subscription the POPSUGAR’s Must Have Box, you really should.  I partnered with them to try out their January Must Have Box.  I’m so glad that I did because I have been loving the loose Peppermint Tea from Dean & Deluca.  It’s basically Christmas in a cup if you ask me.  And when it’s brewing, it makes the entire apartment smell delicious.

    Another product from my Must Have Box that I loved and still love is my Glade soy wax candle in the Coconut Beach Woods scent.  It smells so amazing!!  Don’t believe me check out my unboxing video below and see for yourself how many times I smell that candle. LOL.  The kids love it too.  I think it’s going to be our signature scent for the year  or at least until the Christmas candles come out.

     Watched |  One plus side to me and the kids getting the flu back to back was being able to catch up on a lot of shows.  While the kids watched toy videos on YouTube, I did something I don’t usually do- watch cable television.  I caught up on Mariah’s World because it’s Mariah Carey and I’ve loved her since I was a kid.  Also, I watched all of the episodes of the Lethal Weapon reboot.

    I loved the Lethal Weapon series growing up and still love them to this day.  They’re a part of the few fond memories I have of spending time with my father.  When I first heard that they were rebooting the movies series as a television series, I wasn’t thrilled.  But I have to say that Fox did a good job, especially in the casting the department.  Damon Wayans and Keesha Sharp were the perfect choices for the Murtaughs and Clayne Crawford is very easy on the eyes as Riggs.  I hope it gets renewed for a second season.

    Despite all the sickness during Black History Month, February wasn’t a total bust after all.  I mean we got to read some pretty good books and spend time in the kitchen.  And at least we got sick after it snowed.  I couldn’t imagine trying to navigate all the black ice patches between our place and the pediatrician’s office/hospital.  I do hope that 2017 has been treating y’all better than it has us.

    How did you celebrate Black History Month?  Are you reading any great books?  Let’s talk in the comments!

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  • Thankful Thursday | A Weekly List Of Gratitude

    I can’t believe that Thankful Thursday came back around so fast.  I guess 2017 is going to be much like 2016- Fast!  This means that I’m going to have to be more diligent than ever at documenting the happenings of this year.  After if life has taught me nothing else, it’s that time waits for no one.  But enough of that let’s jump into what’s on my list of gratitude for this week.

    What I Am Thankful For This Week

    Safety |  If you haven’t heard, New Orleans had a clutter of tornadoes rip through it yesterday.  I didn’t learn about it until I’d gotten home from picking up Moo.  And immediately I went into a panic because I hadn’t heard from my sister.  Thankful she and the rest of the family were safe and the hadn’t been hit by any of the tornadoes that came through.  They had a bit of damage from the hail storm that followed, but nothing major.

    Ever since Hurricane Katrina, I feel like we all (my family and I) have been holding our breathes while praying at the same thing that God continues to spares New Orleans from seeing a natural disaster of the scale ever again.  New Orleans is more than a just culturally rich city with beautiful architecture and delicious food.  It’s a place that has a piece of my heart and home to a part of my family, whom I love dearly.

    Voracious Learners |  Education and learning have always been important to me.  I’m sure that growing up in a family of educators and being raised by one has made both even more important.  Since becoming a mom, I’ve striven to make instill a passion for learning into Moo and JJ.  At first it felt like my attempts were in vain.

    Then Moo started school and she felt a since of pride at already knowing certain topics when her teacher taught them.  I’m homeschooling JJ, but still I love seeing the sense of pride that shines in his eyes when he’s able to dazzle his sister with all the new information he’s learned as they play ‘School.’  Together the two of them have become voracious learners.  I am grateful for this because their passion for learning doesn’t stop just at math, writing and reading.

    Their interest of learning about cooking, foreign languages, life outside of country and even more about our family history is inspiring and motivating.

    Answered Prayers |  By now you’ve probably read my January POPSUGAR Must Have Box post and/or seen my unboxing video.  Well, that post and video almost didn’t happen.  Somehow my box ended up ‘lost’ and by the time I realized it, there wasn’t time enough for them to send out a new box.  I got so bummed, but then I remembered that this year I’m supposed to be working on learning how to take my issues to God and leave them there.

    So during our nightly family prayer last Friday, the kids and I gathered together and prayed that I would be able to locate my Must Have Box.  I went to bed early that night because I didn’t want to stay up late and give my mind the chance to conjure up any doubts on if our prayer would be answered.  Saturday morning I woke up determined and with a good feeling that my box would be found.  I sent up another quick prayer as I made a quick store at the place I assumed my box would be.

    Guess what?  My box was right at the place I thought/felt it would be.  I’m so grateful for God hearing my prayer and guiding me to the right place to look for my Must Have Box and allowing me to find it in time to meet my deadline.

    What are you thankful for this week?

  • January 2017 POPSUGAR Must Have Box Reveal

    Disclosure: This post is sponsored by POPSUGAR Beauty and contains affiliate links.  I received a POPSUGAR Must Have Box to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.  Thank you for supporting the brands that support YUMMommy!

    Last year I had so much fun trying out POPSUGAR’s Must Have Box subscription service.  I’m honored and delighted to have been selected to partner with them again this year.  You can see my past Must Have Box reveals here, here and here.  The contents of each Must Have Box got better and better and I’m sure this year’s boxes will do the same.  January’s box came filled with 6 fresh and new essentials plus a special extra that focus on detoxing, revitalization and healthy living.

    What I Got

    I can’t even put into words how amazing this candle smells!  When I opened my Must Have Box, it smelled like I was opening the door to a tropical beach paradise.  The coconut, star fruit and hibiscus give the candle a sweet smell, but the beach wood stops it from being too overpowering.  I love that this is made from soy wax, which is much healthier because it has no toxins, carcinogens, pollutants and will last almost twice as long as a traditional candle.  I am so grateful for this piece of the beach as we continue through the winter season.

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    I’m looking forward to finally getting myself to a hot yoga class and trying out my eQua yoga mat towel.  If I’m being honest, I’ll admit that I used this towel for my regular floor workout because well, I’m a sweater.  I don’t have the privilege of being one of those girls who looks cute working out.  When I’m beasting it out, I sweat.  HARD!  Not only is this split microfiber towel super absorbent, it’s also incredibly soft.

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    Long gone are the days when you need to shell out hundreds on top of hundreds of dollars to get spa treatments.  Thanks to modern technology and advances in beauty products, we can do create spas right in our bathrooms.  This resurfacing face peel from Goldfaden MD is perfect for removing dead skin and given your face an even, smooth texture.  I would recommend that if you dry skin, that you maybe limit your peels to once a week or even once every other week and make sure to moisture afterwards with a nice heavy/thick moisturizer.

    This stationery set doubles as desk calendar and notepad.  How cool is that?!  I love the dual functionality of this set.  You guys know that I’m all about recycling and reusing.  I’m also very into floral patterns and prints.  The calendar for each month comes in a different floral pattern and color.  This set does come with a stand that of course can be reused as well once all of the notecards and calendars have been used up.

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    It’s a struggle being a naturalista!  Like most women of color with natural/unprocessed hair, my biggest hair struggle is battling frizz, especially on Wash Day.  Therefore, I am super excited to finally have a towel that is specifically designed for hair and to help cut down on frizz and flyaways.  I love that this hair wrap towel is big, but still the perfect size to fit in your suitcase or carry on bag without taking up a ton of valuable space.  I don’t have to worry about fighting to fit my big afro under this hair towel!

    Motivational and inspirational sticky notes!  How genius is this idea?!  Moo takes her lunch to school and while I try to make sure I put a little handwritten sticky note in her lunchbox day to day, there are just some mornings when we’re low on time.  These cute stickies will definitely come in handy on those mornings when we’re rushing and I don’t have time to hand write her a note.

    I squealed with joy when I saw this Dean & Deluca Peppermint Loose Tea Leaves.  1- I love Dean & Deluca!  The Mr actually got me a set of Dean & Deluca mugs one Christmas.  2- I love peppermint tea!  It’s like having a piece of Christmas year round.  And the menthol aroma helps to put you in a relaxing/soothing mood.  Did I mention peppermint tea is good for digestive track? (In moderation of course.)

    Overall it looks like POPSUGAR is off to a great start.  The products featured in January’s box totaled out to $191.  Considering a POPSUGAR Must Have Box subscription is only $39.95, this was definitely a steal!

    I can’t wait to see what will be in February’s Must Have Box.  And with Valentine’s Day right around the corner there’s still time treat yourself to Must Have Box subscription or drop hints for the lucky guy in your life to snag you one.  You use promo code SHOP5 to save $5 off your first box.

    What is your favorite way to detox or revitalize?

  • Thankful Thursday

    Hello February and Black History Month!!  One month down, eleven more to go.  Did you guys miss me?  I know, I know, I kind of just disappeared from the blog and social media for a bit, but I’m back now.  So let’s hop into this.

    What I Am Thankful For This Week

    Mini Breaks | I know that I up and stopped blogging and posting to social media without any warning, but I can’t say that I’m sorry about it.  With everything that’s been going since prior to the election and afterwards, I felt frustrated, angry, anxious and overwhelmed.  Staying “on brand” or putting out fluff pieces just wasn’t on my radar and didn’t seem nearly as important as focusing on processing everything and explaining it to my children.  Every time I sat down to blog about something, it just didn’t feel right.

    So I took a step back.  Focused my energies on making a game plan, getting a handle of my emotions and honestly getting to reknow myself.  My 7th blog anniversary was last month and I can honestly say that I’ve changed so much since I posted my first post on YUMMommy.  Overall, I’m grateful for the break.  I feel recharged and refreshed.  And thanks to everyone who reached out to see what was going.  I appreciate the concern.

    Family Time |  As I’ve mentioned before this is our last year in Charlotte.  It feels bittersweet knowing that we’ll be leaving this behind before 2017 is up.  So the kids and I have been enjoying visiting all of our favorite places often while spending more time together as a family.  I’m thankful to be putting more purpose into our family time.  In some ways I feel like I’m glimpsing certain sides or traits of my Moo and JJ for the first time.

    I’m learning more about them and who they are.  For example, Moo is totally rocking it out in classroom and has an okay teacher, but she really doesn’t enjoy regular school.  She’s curious about so many different things that aren’t getting taught in grade level like science and foreign language.  And JJ is quite the comedian.  I had no clue my guy could be so funny.

    Books | While We’re not doing an official reading challenge together as a family like we did last year, that hasn’t stopped me from getting my read on.  I’ve pretty been inhaling books- fiction and nonfiction.  The kids have come to enjoy chapter books more than picture books these days.  We recently stumbled across a new author, Emma Shevah.  We fell in love with writing style and amazing storytelling skills after reading her debut children’s novel, Dara Palmer’s Major Drama.

    This book was so good.  We laughed and we cried reading Dara’s story.  I don’t want to go into details, but Dara is a part of a blended family and this book pretty much follows along as she tries to come to terms with being a part of blended family where she’s the only one who looks different and so much more.  We loved this book so much that we actually reached out to Emma Shevah to see if she was writing another as well as picked up her current book Dream On, Amber.

    We’ve heard back from Emma twice since our first message and Moo is just so over the moon that her new favorite author is taking the time out to respond to our messages.  Seeing my kid fangirl over books is beyond words for this book nerd mommy.  Thank you Emma!  We love you (and Dara and Amber too)!

    Vision Boards |  We finally finished up our vision boards this past weekend and I’m so thankful.  The kids are really taking their vision boards (and mine) seriously.  Everyday they’re on me like “Mommy, we have do so and so.  It’s on our vision board.”  It’s the cutest thing.  I can’t help but feel a little bit of pride knowing that I’ve helped to cultivate a sense of how important it is to take small actions daily to reach your goals and achieve your dreams.

    I’m even more grateful that they’ve been pushing me as well as to work on making the things I put on my own vision board come to fruition.  They are the best cheerleaders/mini managers a mom could ever have.  Here’s to the YUMMommy family taking the world by storm this year!

    What are you thankful for this week?

  • POPSUGAR December Must Have Box Reveal

    Disclosure:  This POPSUGAR December Must Have Box Reveal is sponsored by POPSUGAR Beauty and contains affiliate links.  All opinions expressed are my own.  Thank you for supporting the brands that support YUMMommy.

    Partnering with POPSUGAR Beauty last year was hands down one of my favorite aspects of 2016.  For starters, I admire Lisa Sugar and the empire she’s built POPSUGAR into.  When it comes specifically to POPSUGAR’s Must Have Box, I love that it’s a subscription box that fits my lifestyle and my current way of living.  I appreciated the fact that every month they took care to curate items that made life easier, simpler and more beautiful.  And their December box was no different.

    What I Got

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    This simple yet chic and stylish matching porcelain dish have both functional and aesthetic appeal with their simple gold trim detailing.  Theses pieces are also very functional.  They can be used on your vanity to hold jewelry and makeup or incorporated in your living room decor as a small tray or an upscale tray and dish to hold your keys and mails.  The functional possibilities of these two pieces are endless.

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    Exclusive to POPSUGAR, I absolutely love the simplicity of the Baublebar’s Snowfall Pendant.  It’ the perfect statement necklace for those of us who don’t like wearing jewelry that’s too bold or in your face.  However, it can be layered with other necklaces to add more flare.  This is another versatile piece as it can be worn for business or pleasure outings.

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    A girl can never have too many bobby pins!  I was super excited when I saw these in December’s box.  As a naturalista, I try not to do too much manipulation to hair.  This means that I mostly wear it in its curly state, but I have come to learn to love accessorizing my hair as a way of switching things up.  I can’t wait to add a little sparkle to my curls with these super cute and sparkly bobby pins.

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    The only thing I love more than chocolate is chocolate chip cookies/cookie dough.  Seriously ask my family and they will tell you that anything to do with chocolate or chocolate chips is my weakness.  While I do enjoy cooking from scratch, it’s nice to have most of the hard work already done for you sometimes.  This makes Sisters’ Gourmet perfect because all I had to do was add eggs, butter, stir and bake!  You will definitely want to taste these chocolate chip cookies!

    For years I was mostly into tinted lip glosses and lip balms.  Then I hit the thirty club and discovered that lipsticks give a more mature and sexy feel.  And when it comes to lip colors, reds and purples have always been my go-to color families.  So, I was excited to see this Lip Pill in Bunny which is a lovely cranberry red that has just the right level of boldness.

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    The best part is that it’s a matte shade, but won’t leave your lips feeling dry and cracked.  It’s also made from cruelty-free ingredients and it’s small size makes it perfect for carrying around in your purse or clutch.  And how unique is the packaging?!  Definitely ordering more Lip Pills from Winky Lux!

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    Not only for color treated hair, this leave-in treatment is great for anyone looking to add more shine to their tresses.  This serum also offers protection from harmful UV rays.  After our skin and eyes aren’t the only parts of our bodies that can be negatively affected by the sun.

    Overall, I was very happy with my December Must Have Box.  It was nice returning home after Christmas to find it waiting for me.  Kinda felt like Christmas all over again opening it up and seeing all of the goodies inside.  The products in December’s box came to total of  $138.  A steal considering a Must Have Box subscription is only $39.95/month.

    If anyone is looking for a great way to treat themselves every month, this is the subscription box service for you.  Use promo code SHOP5 to get $5 off your first Must Have Box.