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  • Thankful Thursday

    “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are- no more, no less.  That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.”

    ~Matthew 5:5 (MSG)

    Happy Thursday YUMMs!  I stumbled across the quote above in the God Loves Me!: 365 Daily Devos for Boys (VeggieTales (Big Idea)) book that I read with Moo and JJ daily.  I’m so grateful to my mom who got this devotional for JJ for Christmas because the kids (and I) really love it.  Anyways, that quote resonated with me so much because as I’ve gotten older and my priorities have shifted, I finally feel like I’m in a place where I am truly content with who I am completely.

    It hasn’t been an easy road getting to this point and my journey is not over, but I’m thankful I’ve the learned the value and importance of loving myself as I am.  I’m thankful that while for years I struggled with trying to live up to the expectations of others- my mom, siblings, friends, etc- I’ve found me again.  I’ve found K. Elizabeth and I’m loving her!  It is my goal as a mom to help my children to learn how to be content with who they are.  I try very hard to watch the words that I say to them because while words don’t break our bones like sticks and stones, they do break our spirits.

    I’m giving thanks this week for the Mr and I having celebrated 10 YEARS  of being together last week.  I can’t believe it’s been a decade since we first made the leap be a couple.  Now we’re finally married and have two of the greatest kids on this planet.  We have had some major hurdles to overcome, but at the end of the day we’re still going hard for each other.  The love I feel and have always felt for him consumes and overwhelms me in a way that I can’t quite put into the words.  I’ve tried, but somehow the words just don’t do the feelings justice.

    I can’t say for sure what the future holds for us.  However, I do know that I’m speaking into existence that we are able to have a lifetime of love.  It’s rare these days with so many people feeling like maintaining a marriage is just too much work.  When all is said and done, I want to feel confident that I hit my marriage with my best shot.

    This week I’m also giving thanks for my wonderful extended family.  We all have our own lives, families and jobs that keep us in different directions, but we’re always there for each other when it counts.  There’s so much happening in my family right now in terms of sickness and general life changes, but we’re pulling together and standing strong for one another.  I’m very grateful for the chat that I had with my aunt yesterday.

    Her passion for family unity and support warms my soul.  It’s a reminder that I have to continue to teach and show my kids how a family should treat each other.  Lastly, I’m giving thanks that we got to enjoy two warm days this week!  With Spring right around the corner it was nice to enjoy the sunshine and get a preview of what weather we’ll (hopefully) be having once it arrives.

    What’s on your gratitude list this week?  Share in the comments.
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  • Thankful Thursday

    “The energy you’ll expend focusing on someone else’s life is better spent working on your own.  Just be your own idol.”

    ~Sophia Amoruso, #GIRLBOSS

    Hi YUMMs!  This week I started reading #GIRLBOSS  (affiliate link) by Sophia Amoruso and it is awesomesauce!  This book had a lot of hype surrounding it when it first came out and I was a little hesitant to read it.  However, after seeing some of my fave and trusted fellow bloggers give it a thumbs up, I decided to pick up a copy.  Amoruso reminds me a lot of myself and I think that’s a huge part of why I think this book is great.
    You’ve probably heard a thousand times that “comparison is the thief of joy” and that’s true.  So, I’m taking her advice and becoming my own idol.  In the blogging world, it’s easy to get caught up with thoughts of “I wish had her blog design,” “I wish could take photos like so and so,” or “why can’t I get blah, blah, blah company to sponsor my blog.”  Stop comparing yourself others because guess what we’re all awesome!  Start looking at what you have to offer, what it great about you as you are and rock it! 
    I’m so thankful that I took the time to read this book.  From time to time, we need to hear how others used their individuality to get where they wanted to be.  Some of us are content to be followers, but for those of us who desire to be leaders, we have make ourselves our own idols.  Believe in ourselves more than we believe in others; put more effort into focusing on our own projects and eventually the hard work will pay off.

    Mommy’s Snow Angels
    Remember how I posted last Thursday that we finally got snow?  Well, we got more snow over the weekend and Monday.  Then, we got hit with our third snow last night!!  Yes, we’ve had three snow fronts back to back.  The picture above is from the second snow front.  Moo and I are two happy winter babies right now.
    JJ enjoyed looking at it, but was ready to go after he touched it and felt how cold it was.  He is not a fan of being cold! Needless to say today is a snow day for the schools here.  So far we’ve enjoyed some cartoons, a little playing, a fruit salad for breakfast and I’ve caught up on some emails.  For the rest of the day, I plan on working on Moo’s blanket that I’m crocheting for room remodel.  There will be an official post on that later, but I’m thankful for this snow days to cuddle and spend time with my babies!
    Lastly, I’m thankful that we’re finally on the way to getting JJ into the speech therapy/preschool program at Moo’s school!  It’s only taken half the school year, but with some assistance from his speech therapist and former case worker, he could start classes next week.  I’m so excited for him because this will be his first real experience to make friends his own age besides when we take trips to the library.  We have no clue if we’ll see those kids again.  And I don’t know about y’all but for some reason, the parents we encounter or not the least bit interested in playdates.
    This is definitely something I’ve had to get used to since having kids in the QC.  When I was living in my hometown, Moo and I got invited on lots of playdates.  Even when we stayed in New Orleans briefly my brother in-law’s family invited us over playdates and even gifted Moo with tons of stuff from sippy cups to clothes.  I’m thinking this has to do with the mindset of the people here because it’s been difficult even connecting with the moms in my playgroup and I finally just stopped trying.
    Nevertheless, I’m confident that my little guy will make at least one or two friends in his class when he starts.  I’m looking forward to seeing how being in a new social environment will affect his speech progression.  I think he’s going to become even more of  a chatterbox than his sister is.  I’m definitely getting my ears ready.  LOL
    What are you giving thanks for this week?
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  • Watch Game Proper: Sully Series By JORD

    Disclosure: I was provided the product below for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
    Happy Friday YUMMs!  I’ve said on here probably a million times that I used to work in retail.  Well, I worked a for a major department store chain in their fashion jewelry department.  The department was separated into four different bays (cash wrap counters).  There was the designer jewelry bay, sterling silver bay, costume jewelry bay and the watch bay.  Since, I was the youngest and had the best eyes, I was often put in the watch bay because you need a good set of eyes when you’re removing and adding links to a customer’s watch.  Long story short, I have a bit of a thing for watches.  
    And for the past couple of weeks my wrist game has been on point thanks to the lovely folks of JORD Wood Watches.  They reached out to me a while back and asked if I’d be interested in trying out one of their watches.  After checking out their selection, I was like, “Umm…of course!!”  For starters, I’ve never owned a wooden watch before and secondly, I loved their designs.  So, let’s jump right on in to this review.
    For my JORD review, I decided to go with the Black & Maple Sully from their men’s line.  There’s just something about the look of big faced watches on a slender arm that I love.  Also, it’s no secret that my vision is awful and I try to reduce the strain on my eyes as much as possible.  I think it goes without saying that since men’s watches have bigger faces, they also have bigger face numbers and that makes it easier for me to tell the time.
    The Sully also features a cut out bezel, deployment buckle with push button, scratch resistant minerals, Citizen Miyota Quartz Movement and is splash proof, but not made for “complete submergence in water.”  Besides all of that, what I loved most about this watch is the overall look.  The contrast of the dark and light wood tones makes this watch an eyecatcher.   And the lines on this watch are just as clean as those of any metal watch.
    While the Sully has a bit of a classic feel, there’s a non-traditional edge to it as well.  It’s a little bit flashy without being too overtop.  You don’t need to pile on bracelets.  Nope, this watch commands attention all on its own.  Also, you can dress this watch up or down in terms of outfit choice.  I decided to style an outfit that was somewhere in between.  Southern Bell Casual Chic is what I’m calling my look that I put together.
    Sweater-Gap, Faux Fur Vest-Blassport (thrifted), Maxi Skirt-Maurices, Boots-Merona, Head Scraf-Aldo, Watch-JORD
    Even from far away, my Sully watch stands out.  You can easily see that it’s two toned.  And I have to say that it looks amazing paired with my outfit!  
    In the picture above, I shed my faux fur vest for a more toned down look and my Sully still looks awesome!  I’m completely in love this watch and have nothing but good things to say about it and JORD.  The Sully retails for $139, which in terms of the quality and craftsmanship of this watch is a reasonable price point in my personal and professional opinion.
    The JORD logo charm is removeable, but I decided to leave mine on because I like it.
    If you’re in the market for a watch for yourself, a loved one or whomever, definitely check out JORD!  As they say, get your watch game proper! You can also see what other JORD Wood Watch owners have to say about the brand by checking out the hashtag #JORDWatch on Instagram and Twitter.  Stay updated on new designs, sales and more by following JORD on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
    How’s your wrist game looking?

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  • Thankful Thursday

    “God will never leave you empty.  He will replace everything you lost.  If He asks you to put something down, it’s because He wants you to pick up something greater.”
    ~Unknown
    Happy Thankful Thursday YUMMs!  I stumbled across the quote above on my cousin’s page this morning and it’s be resonating with me all day.  I feel like it’s a sign sent from God considering a recent event.  This quote reminds me a bit of story of Job.  He had everything taken from him, but refused to give in to the emptiness and God restored everything ten fold.
    I’m definitely thankful for my faith and having the ability to look at this current situation in a more positive way.  To have something to keep me centered and grounded as things continue to play out.  I’m grateful for the reassurance that my morning of joy is coming because storms are hard when you’re in the midst of one.
    I’m grateful for the six day weekend we had!  Yes, you read correctly.  We had a six day weekend thanks to two teacher workdays, the actual weekend, and two snow/inclement weather days.  Moo is beyond thrilled that her snow finally came.  It was just a little bit, but you would have thought that it was blizzard with the way she jumping around in excitement.  I’m not going to lie, I was excited as well.
    YUMMommy.com
    We were a bit sad to see her off to school this morning, but hearing about her day and how she finally got to exchange her Valentine’s with her best friends was the highlight of my day today.  My little lady is turning into a social butterfly and making some real friendships.  Now to work on JJ.  Speaking of which he’s picked up quite a few new works including “No snow” and his current favorite “Not again!”  LOL.
    I find myself just looking at him and feeling so blessed that we’re overcoming this speech delay hurdle.  It seems like he’s picking up words and learning how to piece them together to form sentences much quicker these days.  I can’t thank all of you who have kept him in your prayers enough.  We still have a little ways to go until he is on par for his age group, but I think that we’ll get there by the end of this year.
    I’m grateful for things coming to the light.  The old saying goes, “What is done in the dark, comes to light.”  And oh boy is that true.  I know some folks say that ignorance is bliss and maybe in some cases it is.  However, I do believe there is a certain amount of freedom, peace and power that comes with knowing certain things as well.  
    Lastly, I’m grateful for unexpected blessings.  
    What are you thankful for?
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  • Thankful Thursday

    “Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame.  Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant.  Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.”

    ~Romans 12:11-12 (MSG)
    Happy Thankful Thursday!  I’m feeling a little bit more upbeat this week.  Last week was definitely very hard for me, but I’m thankful for awesome loved ones and friends who checked in on me to make sure that I was okay.  It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that a person you loved is no longer with you no matter how many years fly by.
    When I say that JJ has turned into a chatterbox, I mean it.  He’s learned how to put together some simple phrases and sentences and he talks my head off turning the day now.  This takes a bit of getting used to because it still feels so surreal.  I’ve said this before, but when we first got his diagnosis, I thought it was the end of the world.  Even though I knew it wasn’t my fault, I couldn’t help feeling like a total mom failure.
    However, being very proactive in helping to get on par with his speech and seeing all of the progress he has made has helped me just as much as it’s helped him.  This has been quite the journey for us as a family.  Seeing where he is now compared to where he started is almost like night and day.  I’m so thankful that we’ve all been able to be here for JJ during all this, giving him the support and encouragement he needs.
    He’s so much more confident in his speech and I love it.  Speaking of love, he can finally say “I love you, too” back to us!!  I cried buckets the first time he said it.  We were just hanging out on the couch and he gave me the biggest hug.  And since I make it a habit of telling him that I love him at the most random times, I wasn’t expecting him to say anything back that when I told him.  I must have made him repeat it like a million times and now it’s become our family ritual.
    Moo won the Math Excellence awards again this nine weeks at her school!  I’m so proud of my little math whiz.  Also, after meeting with her teacher, I found out that she’s more than passed her end of the year reading goals and is one point away from passing her math goal.  They tested students at the beginning of the school year and based on the results set a specific testing score/point value that each student should be at.  They test them at the end of each nine weeks and at the end of the last nine weeks, Moo had pretty much achieved all of her goals.
    I’m very proud of her.  And I adore her new teacher!!  She’s keeping my baby challenged in class so that she doesn’t get bored and I appreciate that because I want Moo to always have a thirst for learning.  And sometimes when kids are a bit ahead of the rest of their class but they don’t get challenged, they get bored with learning.  
    I’m grateful this week for a break.  We’ve had the Mr to ourselves for a full seven days and we’re not looking forward to sharing him with his job again.  The kids are going to miss having him home for dinner and I’m going to miss our late night couple time.   But I think he noticed that I was nearing my burn out and he’s been awesome- entertaining the kids for a few hours, handling dinner and taking over picking up Moo from school in the afternoons.
    What are you thankful for this week?
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  • Give Books, Not Roses Valentine’s Day Giveaway

    Disclosure:  This giveaway is sponsored by Hachette Book Group.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
    Happy Monday YUMMs!  Reading is one of my favorite pastimes.  In fact, I read over 150 books last year alone!  I can’t explain exactly what it is, but there’s just something about being transported from reality or reading something that inspires me to action that fuels my love of the written word.  My love for books and reading in general started when I was two years old and has only gotten stronger over the years.  With Valentine’s Day coming up the end of this week, I thought it would be great to divert a little from the usual flowers, cards and stuffed animals by teaming up with the lovely folks from Faith Words and Hachette Book Group to bring you the Give Books, Not Roses Valentine’s Day Reads Giveaway!  
    Hachette Book Group editor, Christina Boys said, “Valentine’s Day is an internationally celebrated day of romance, dating back to the 5th Century.  But today, love touches our lives in so many different ways.  Whether you are dedicating the day to your good friends or your life partner, treat them to these wonderful stories of courage, kindness and love.”  So, today I dedicate this giveaway to you guys for being so supportive on YUMMommy and showing me love.  Many of you have definitely touched my life in a special way and I hope that you will accept this token of my appreciation.

    The Prize Pack

    Love Gently Falling is a romantic novella about the power of Valentine’s Day and how one woman discovers love while trying to save her mother’s business.  Rita Jensen, Beverly Hills hairstylist to the stars, returns to her hometown of Chicago after learning that her mother suffered a stroke.  Once back home, she soon discovers that’s not all her mother’s suffered when she finds out that her mother’s hair salon is failing.  So, she comes up with a plan to help turn things around, but after being reunited with an old classmate, feelings grow.  Will she be distracted by the sparking of a new flame and oncoming of Valentine’s Day to execute her plan?
    In case you missed it, I posted a review of this book a few weeks ago.  You can check it out here.  And I can’t tell you guys how awesome Melody Carlson is.  Valentine’s Day romances are definitely her specialty!
    Buy Links

    Also, part of the prize pack is second book from Adina Senft’s Healing Grace trilogy, Keys of Heaven.  Sarah Yoder, an Amish widow, grows herbs to make teas and tinctures to assist her community.  And while Sarah enjoys giving to her Amish community, she’s misses having someone to love and hasn’t had any luck with any of the Amish men in her community.  Instead, she finds herself conflicted over her attraction to Henry Byler, her friend who no longer shares her beliefs.  Will he be her happily ever after?
    I don’t want to give too much away because I’m doing a full review of this book soon, but it’s good.  This was both my first time reading Amish fiction and a book written by Adina Senft.  I’m actually looking forward to checking out the first book from this series.
    Buy Links
    And to round out this Give Books, Not Roses Prize Pack is this yummy bar of chocolate!  There’s nothing like having a delicious snack to munch on while you enjoy a good book.
    How To Enter
    This giveaway is super easy to enter.  Just use the Rafflecopter widget below.  Giveaway ends on Friday, February 13th at 11:59 PM.
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  • Frosty VoxBox Reveal

    Disclosure: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

    About a month and a half ago, I got my Frosty VoxBox from Influenster in the mail.  It was filled with all kinds of great goodies and was the perfect treat to get in the mail just before Christmas.  Since then I’ve been busy trying out the products to make sure that I can give you guys thorough review.  So, let’s do this!
    My VoxBox Goodies

    Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover ($7.49):  When it comes to makeup removers, good ol’ soap and water have been my go-to for years due to having sensitive skin.  However, this Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover just might stay around for a while.  It wasn’t harsh on my skin considering it does have alcohol in it.  Alcohol tends to dry my face out something awful and leave me with bumps.  None of that using this.  I did moisturize as usual afterwards.
    If you’re not too heavy-handed this bottle should last you a while.  A few squirts on one or two cotton balls and you’re good.

    !function(doc,s,id){ var e, p; if(!doc.getElementById(id)) { e = doc.createElement(s); e.id = id; p = ‘//shopsensewidget.shopstyle.com/widget-script.js’; var cb = new Date().getTime(); p += ‘?cb=’ + cb; e.src = p; doc.body.appendChild(e); } if(typeof window.ss_shopsense === ‘object’){ if(doc.readyState === ‘complete’){ window.ss_shopsense.init(); } } }(document, ‘script’, ‘shopsensewidget-script’); //shopsensewidget.shopstyle.com/#/?options=%7B%22widgetId%22%3A%2256dc646b4df128b40289f79b%22%2C%22version%22%3A1%2C%22pid%22%3A%22uid4756-22774766-98%22%2C%22size%22%3A200%2C%22columns%22%3A3%2C%22rows%22%3A1%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fapi.shopstyle.com%2Fapi%2Fv2%22%7D


    NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum ($1.99):  This product claims to have “intense, amplified color and shine that lasts up to six hours” with a moisturizing formula that glides on “easily for a silky, smooth, velvety finish for all day wear.”  There are a total of twenty different shades/colors in the Expert Last Lip Color line.  While I am a fan of the NYC brand, this product fell a little short for me in terms of coverage/pigment.  As you will see in my YouTube video, the Sugar Plum shade was anything but intense or amplified.
    I’ve seen a few reviews/swatches of the other colors and they’re not very pigmented either.  Now, what I did like about this product is that it does glide on very smoothly and your lips will be moisturized for at least three to six hours depending on how much you eat, drink and wipe your mouth.  I wouldn’t classify this as a lipstick, but more of a lightly tinted chapstick.  It’s under $2 and I would definitely buy some of the other shades to serve as just that.

    Boots No7 Protect & Perfect ADVANCED Serum ($22.99):  I only received a sample size of this product, but it is supposed to reduce “the appearance of deep lines & wrinkles, for younger looking skin in two weeks.”  My sample was not big enough for a two week trial, nor do I have any deep lines.  However, I can say this product made my skin feel like heaven after one use.  Seriously, my face felt so smooth and not the least bit greasy either.  
    Also, it’s hypo-allergenic and didn’t give me any breakouts.  It does smell a little like acne medicine at first, but once on my face, I couldn’t smell it.  I know that $22.99 seems a bit steep for a 1 ounce bottle, but I did a little deal hunting and you get this from Target regularly $17.49, but it’s currently on sale for $15.74 and a few weeks ago there was a coupon on their Cartwheel app.  Also, there was a $2 off coupon in my VoxBox pushing my price down to $13.74!  So, Im definitely off to Target to pick up some more.
    Overall, I do like this product and I feel like it’s going to help keep my skin looking young.  I’m glad to be investing in my first mature skincare beauty product.  The average person often estimates my age to be 21 at the most, but after a few weeks of using this product I might get mistaken for a 15 year old again?  I’ll keep you posted.
    EcoTools Full Volume Styler ($10.99):  This brush is designed to create “gorgeous volume and style, while cruelty-free bristles distribute hair’s moisturizers for the ultimate shine.”  This product also claims to fight frizz and static and dry hair 20% faster. Not going to lie, as a Black woman with very curly/kinky natural hair, these volume styler brushes have not been my friend and weren’t my friends growing up either.  I remember getting my hair so tangled up in one of my mom’s that she almost had to cut a big chunk of my hair off!
    Thank goodness she very patiently spent an hair detangling small sections instead.  However, that EcoTools is on to something with the design of their Full Volume Styler because my experience was drastically different this time around.  The openings do allow the hair to dry faster.  Also, the bristle combination worked very well with my natural hair.  I had a little frizz, but less than my usual amount.  Also, I love that this brush and the packaging are made entirely out of eco-friendly products and can be recycled!! 
    Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner ($4.49):  Just want to start off by saying pick this product up from Walmart for $3.97 and save yourself almost a dollar.  You’re welcome!  Now that I’ve saved you some coins, let me say this is eyeliner is awesome-sauce!!  I had an eyeliner from NYC that I got in one of my VoxBoxes about two years ago that I thought went on soft, but when I say that this Rimmel Scandaleyes is like a million times better, I mean it!
    It glides on like butter, which is really important because who wants to rip their eyelid off using a hard pencil eyeliner?  I don’t.  Hard eyeliner pencils was one of the reasons I didn’t wear eyeliner as often, but now that I’ve been introduced to Scandaleyes, I’m lining these cuties up.  My eyes are one of my best features that I get complimented on all the time and now they can really stand out.
    And it’s waterproof for long lasting wear.  However, since this does glide on like butter be careful not to put too much pressure on it when lining your eyes or you will break off the tip.  I received the black liner, which is perfect for me since I don’t experiment too much with eyeliner colors just yet.  I like to take chances with my shadows and then keep it simple using black liner.
    Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea ($3.39 for 20 bags):  So, my mom has a thing for teas, especially green teas and any tea made by Celestial Seasonings.  Growing up she kept their regular green tea in stock because it was good at fighting off colds and building the immune system.  All of which I needed being that I was always the first one to get a common cold and have it turn into a severe case of the flu or strep throat.  She pumped us with green tea and it paid off at some point.
    I say all that to say that I am now obsessed with their Candy Cane Lane Green Tea and love that it comes in decaf since I’m technically not allowed to have caffeine.  Moo and I enjoyed this for Christmas and she got hooked too.  We can’t go the grocery store without her asking if we can get another box.  This stuff is Christmas and holiday cheer in a cup.
    Seriously, Celestial Seasonings has the tea game on lock when it comes to creating flavored teas.  And you know the bitter aftertaste that accompanies most green teas?  You won’t have to worry about that with this one.  I don’t know how they did it, but I don’t taste it when I drink the Candy Cane Lane.  Wonder if they’ll tell me their secret?
    Fruit Vines Bites ($1.28-1.79):  Let me start off by saying that these are super yummy.  They don’t have any preservatives and are low fat.  They’re also not super sweet.  I received the Cherry flavor in my VoxBox and have since tried the Strawberry as well.  Now, I did let the kids try these and that was a mistake.  
    These are not gluten-free and we had a long night of itching, applying steroid cream and administering doses of Benadryl and almost trip to the hospital as a result.  So, if you or your child has food allergies be sure to read the back of the label before you chow down.  Another snack that I can enjoy by myself and I’m not complaining one bit. 
    McCormick Gourmet Thyme ($4.79):  If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you already know that we are McCormick lovers!  I served as a Grill Ambassador for them a few year ago and tons of free sauces and seasonings to try out.   Even before that though, McCormick is the only seasoning brand you will find in my mom’s cabinets.  Yes, my mom is very brand loyal.
    And just as she influenced me in terms of some of the brands that I buy that I buy today, I hope I’m influencing my kids in the same way because McCormick knows their seasonings and their herbs too!  I’ve put this stuff on literally everything from chicken to veggies and even made a gravy for Christmas that was beyond delicious.  My mom and baby sister gave it two thumbs up.  That’s awesome coming from them because they are gravy masters. 
    So, there you have it folks!  Overall, this was probably my favorite VoxBox.  If you’re interested in signing up for Influenster for your chance to start reviewing VoxBoxes click here.  Sign-up is pretty simple and you’ll get surveys about once a  month or every other month to fill out and see what VoxBoxes you would make a great match for.  Don’t forget to check out my YouTube video below (or you can click here).

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncXkbiY5yIo]
    Have you tried or would try any of these products?
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  • Thankful Thursday

    I really contemplated not getting out of the bed today.  I wanted it to pass by in blur.  And if I had one of those magical remotes like Adam Sandler, I would totally fast forward tomorrow, maybe even next month.  It’s been five years today since heaven called her home,  And although the cloud of depression has lifted a little bit, the pain still lingers and feels fresher than ever.  I’m trying to focus on the good things like how blessed I was to have a second mom, but it’s hard when my mind is consumed with her absence. 
    You know there’s a difference between love and unconditional love.  She was one of the very people in my life to give me the latter of the two.  She accepted me for who I was and never made me feel like I needed to change that.  She was a great listener and made a mean chef salad!  She loved without judgement and that’s probably what I miss the most.
    It feels unfair that my kids don’t get to make memories with her, that she didn’t get to meet JJ.  Sure, I can tell them stories, but stories are just a substitute.  They’ll never know what her voice sounded like or see how awesome she was at throwing down on the grill during family cookouts.
    As I continue to grieve the loss of a woman, who impacted my life in a way that I can’t put into words, I’m grateful to have had her in my life not only as an aunt, but a mother.  I’m grateful for the time she took with me and the words of wisdom she shared with me.  I’m grateful for my memories and the fact that she’s always with me.

    What are you giving thanks for today?

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  • Thankful Thursday

    “Studies tell us that we move toward what we consistently see.  You should keep something in front of you, even if it’s symbolic, to remind you of what you are believing for.”

    ~Joel Osteen, You Can, You Will
    Happy Thankful Thursday!  I’m so glad that the weekend is almost here because I’m ready to sleep in.  While I have been going to bed earlier instead of staying up until the wee hours of the night, JJ has taken to waking up around 3 AM.  He’s not hungry or anything and usually goes right back to sleep if I rock him or bounce him on my knee.  The only issue is that sometimes it can take him a while to drift off into a sound sleep and other times I find myself restless after I’ve put him to sleep.
    This week I’m thankful for my vision board and for it serving as a constant reminder of what I’m striving to achieve.  I’m keeping something in front of me to keep me motivated to move forward.  It can be discouraging at times, especially when you’re trying to achieve career and professional goals.  You’ll find yourself asking is it really worth it as you try to jump over hurdle after hurdle.  I can’t answer for y’all, but for me the payoff will definitely be worth it.
    I’m thankful for the ability to say “No.”  There are so many offers that come flooding through my inbox.  It’s tempting to say to yes to them all, but I’m determined to stay true to myself and not take on more than I can handle.  I’m determined to be picky about the brands and companies that I work with.  I’m at a point where I’m not looking for a one time deal,  I want to work with brands who looking to establish a partnership.
    Also, this week I got to Skype with a friend who is a blogger as well.  We had a great conversation catching up on our latest projects, discussing how we can better support each other and even tossed around some blog ideas.  I’m grateful we had this talk because I will be unveiling a new series here on YUMMommy this Spring!  I’m really excited about it and can’t wait to share what it is with you guys.
    The finish line is coming into sight with one of my books (yes, I’m writing more than one at once) and I couldn’t be more thrilled.  There’s been a few things going on behind the scenes in my personal life that kind of stifled my creative juices.  However, I prayed hard and have just made the effort to sit down everyday and write something.  I’m not worrying about it being perfect yet because that’s what the editing phase is for.  Right now, my goal is to “get her done” and off to beta readers for feedback.
    I think that JJ has gotten the hang of using small phrases.  He’s getting better at adding please to end of requests.  He’s working harder to hold conversations with us and I love it.  Looking back at where we started on this journey, I felt like we’d never get here.  It truly has been a walk of blind faith and just trusting God to help move whatever was blocking his speech.  I’m so grateful to see him gaining more independence as his speech gets stronger and stronger.
    Before I go, I unveiled my new smile earlier this week.  While you’re over there checking it out don’t forget to enter in my giveaway!  Also, as you can tell from the quote at the top, I’m reading You Can, You Will by Joel Osteen and it is an awesome book so far!  Very inspiring.  You can click on the picture (affiliate link) below to buy a copy from Amazon.  I’ll definitely be writing on official review here in the coming weeks.

    What are you giving thanks for this week?

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  • New Year, New Smile With Smile Briliant

    Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Smile Brilliant.  I received a free professional tooth whitening tray creation kit.  However, all opinions expressed are 100% my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the brand.
    One of my personal goals for this year that I got a jumpstart on last year was improving my self-care.   After all with the many hats I wear, it’s easy to for self-neglect to set in. But alas, 2015 will be the year that I kick self-neglect to curb.  I mentioned to y’all that I was taking the plunge and trying out a teeth whitening tray creation kit from the awesome folks over at Smil Brilliant. (See post here).  And so far I don’t have any complaints.
    Creating My Whitening Trays
    Lets talk about the process of getting my trays created first.  The first thing you want to do is floss and brush your teeth. So, in the kit pictured above you will notice there are six containers of paste- 3 white and 3 blue- plus two blue teeth trays that kind of resemble mouth guards.  You mix one container of the blue paste with the white paste and place it into one of the trays.  Now, you will want to be fast about mixing the paste because you don’t want it to harden before you’ve made your imprints.  You’ll have about 30 seconds to work with.
    Once the paste is mixed well, place it into one of the trays and insert the tray onto either your upper or lower teeth.  DO NOT bite down on the tray or wiggle it.  Instead you will use your fingers to help press the tray and putty into your teeth. You’ll want to hold the tray against your teeth for at least 2 minutes, then gently remove it and repeat the process from start to finish with your second tray.  Now I wasn’t too gentle with removing the first tray from uppers and ended up having to use the spare containers paste to recreate it.
    I did allow my trays to sit out overnight.  The next morning, I placed them in the prepaid envelope that comes with each kit and dropped it off in the mail. (Don’t forget to place the information card that comes with the kit into the envelope as well.)  A few days later, I received email notification that my imprints had been received and were on their way to being made into whitening trays.  It didn’t take long for the trays to ship back to me and I was ready to start my teeth whitening process.  
    Check out the picture below of the plaster of my teeth they created using the imprint trays to create my whitening trays.  Pretty cool right?!  I may or may not have used these to play a prank on the kids.  Afterwards, Moo thought they were cool and asked if she could get a pair made.  Check out this article, Dental Impression Pointers, for more information and pictures on creating your imprints.

    Whitening My Teeth
    So, once I received my trays back the process of actually whitening my teeth was pretty simple.  Again, you want to make sure that you brush and floss beforehand.  It’ll also help if you use a toothpaste that is designed for sensitive teeth because some people can experience some sensitivity when it comes to using teeth whitening products in general.  After teeth are brushed you can then squeeze a thin layer of the teeth whitening gel onto the front inner surface of your trays. 

    More is not going to be best in this case.  So, please make sure you don’t squeeze a lot into your trays.  You’ll end up doing more harm than good.  Instructions do come with the kit and they do have a picture that shows you how much you should use if need a visual.  Then, you just insert your trays and carrying on about your business.  Trays should stay in for at least 15 minutes, but can be left for up to 3 hours at the MAXIMUM.  Again, longer session times will only do more harm than good to your teeth.
    Once, you’re ready to remove your trays, take them out, spit out any remaining gel and rinse both your mouth and trays thoroughly with water.  For the next step, you’ll need your teeth to be as dry as possible.  I opted for sweeping mine with a cotton ball after I rinsed.  You’ll then move on the phrase two which is applying the desensitizing gel.  This gel will help to protect your whiter smile that you have just worked hard to achieve.  (Ok, so we didn’t work that hard, but you get the point).  It will also help strengthen your enamel and reduce your tooth sensitivity. 
    Things To Keep In Mind
    • More or longer is not better.  Follow the instructions to the letter when creating your molds and using the actual whitening system
    • Be realistic in your teeth whitening results expectations.  As I mentioned in my first post, teeth whitening products are designed to get you close to your original tooth color.  If you didn’t have perfectly white teeth as child, don’t use this product with the expectation that they will get perfectly white.  Also, if you smoke, drink coffee or eat foods that stain, these all factor into how white your teeth will get as well.  Be sure to read Teeth Whitening Expectations for more info.
    • Keep your trays clean.  Remember these go in your mouth. You don’t want to pick up a ton of germs.  Rinse them after each use and make sure they dry before you store them back into your case.
    • Keep gels and trays out of reach of children.  I know this is a no-brainer, but still… Don’t leave these hanging around your bathroom counter because little fingers get into everything!
    • Spread the word!  Chances are you’re not the only one who’s looking for a great teeth whitening system.  So, why not spread the word about Smile Brilliant if you like it?  I did!
    My Results
    I was thrilled to be able to see some results after my first use.  During my first treatment, I did experience brief discomfort for about 10 minutes (I timed it) and then it went away.  In my personal opinion, I think the discomfort came from my teeth and gums getting used to the tray because I only felt discomfort on two of my upper front teeth.  Even then it was more in the gum area between the teeth.

    BEFORE

    AFTER

    With Lamp Light

    \

    With Natural Light

    Smile Brilliant works folks!!  As you will see from the photos above, my teeth whitened a noticeable amount and are definitely pretty close to how naturally white my teeth were when I was a kid.

    Thanks to Smile Brilliant, one of you awesome readers will get the chance to try out your own whitening kit.  They are offering a prize of a $139.95 gift card to their store.  However, you can order whatever you like.  So, maybe you already have the kit, but need to buy more of the whitening gel, you can totally use your $139.95 for that.  Please keep in mind that if you go over your $139.95 store gift card, you will be responsible for paying the difference.  Common sense I, but better safe than sorry. Head on over to this giveaway link to enter!  Giveaway ends February 10th.

    I’m very impressed with my results and how easy the entire process has been.  Having a whiter and brighter smile has given me more confidence.  I’m not quite as self-conscious now taking pictures of myself and it is my hope that if any you of decide to give the teeth whitening creation kit a try that it will do the same for you!

    Keep Smiling!
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