YUMMommy

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  • JGOOD Has The Goods

    One thing that has changed since I’ve had kids is my love for jewelry.  I love, love, love, love jewelry.  As long as it doesn’t turn my fingers, neck or ears green or breaks me out I’ll wear it.  I’m not one of those women who’ll only wear real jewelry.
    I was very stoked when I was presented with the opportunity to add some new pieces to my collection from the lovely folks over at JGOOD.  For those of you who have never heard of JGOOD, let me just say they make some incredible fashion jewelry.  They’ve worked with famous jewelry designers and makers like Kenneth Jay Lane, Jardin and Kate Bisset.  So, you know that quality of jewelry you’re receiving is topnotch. Take a look at the pieces I ordered.

    ‘The Regal’ Engagement Ring
    I got so many compliments on this ring.  It’s truly an eye-catcher and was designed by Kate Bisset!  It’s 4.5 carats of cubic zirconia and plated in white gold rhodium.  I wore this ring for seven days straight and it doesn’t have a single scratch on it.  So, it’s very durable.  
    A perfect choice of jewelry to take with you when you’re traveling somewhere that you don’t feel safe taking your real engagement ring.  Trust me, I’ve been in a situation where I misplaced my wedding rings and was freaking out to find them.  I’m not saying you won’t freak it a little bit if loss this ring because it is stunning in person, but your spouse won’t feel as bad when they find out. LOL

    Turquoise and Jasper Necklace
    I am a huge turquoise lover.  And I’m always struggling to find pieces that aren’t too chunky because I have such a slender frame.  I like my jewelry to stand out but not overpower me.  This is just what this necklace does.  I wore it with a purple sweater and the color contrast was simply gorgeous. 
    The brown jasper and the champagne colored crystal beads just makes the turquoise shine even more.  This piece was designed by Jennifer Greene.

    4.5ct Princess CZ Sterling Silver Stud Earrings
    These caught the eyes of my mom.  She’s very into earrings and bling!  So needless to say while I was home, I had to sleep with these on at all times.  What I loved about these is that the posts are made of sterling silver. For some reason, sterling silver earrings just do better for long periods of time in my ears.  Usually gold earrings tend to feel a little heavy which in turn irritates me after a while.
    I found these beauties in the Gift Vault.  You can earn points by inviting friends to join and shop JGOOD.  Then you can use these points to purchase items from the Gift Vault or different collections.  Talk about a sweet deal.
    All in all, I was and still am very impressed with the quality of the jewelry I received.  I highly recommend that you give JGOOD a try.  It’s great quality jewelry with a fraction of the cost.  And if you’re ditching the mom uniform like me this year, this is a great and inexpensive way to start!  To help you get started JGOOD is offering all YUMMommy readers 10% off their total order until March 15th with coupon code “yummommy10.“
    Don’t forget to check JGOOD out on Facebook, Twitter and visit their blog.
    Disclaimer:  I received the items above to review for this post.  All opinions and thoughts are strictly my own!

  • Comfort In Goodbye

    February 5th will always be a day of great sadness for my family.  Two years ago, I lost on of the most important women in my life on that day.  And everyday still feels like a struggle to overcome that blow.  Then, last week my younger sister called from the hospital to say that my niece had passed.
    She had gotten off from work that morning and noticed the baby wasn’t moving as actively as she had been inside womb.  Since this is her first time being this far a long, she chalked it up to both her and the baby being tired.  And I did too when she called and asked me if decreased movement was normal at 6 months and some change in pregnancy.  I experienced a decrease of movement with both my kids as I got further a long. 
    There just wasn’t as much space for them to rock out in once we passed the 6 month mark.  So, when she told me she was going to the hospital just to be on the safe side I reassured her that everything would turn out fine.  I never in a million years thought she would call back 45 minutes later with the news that my niece had passed.  I was beyond shocked.
    I felt like there just had to be some kind of mistake.  Hearing her crying as she told me the news broke my heart.  I wanted to reach through the phone and comfort her.  I wanted to ease the pain I knew she was feeling.
    Last week was one of the hardest weeks of my life.  Watching my sister in pain as she labored to deliver my niece so that we could bury her is something I can’t even put it in words.  I don’t know how many times I cried or asked God why her, why now.  Hadn’t our family been through enough?
    The week before my last living great aunt on my mother’s side passed away and I found out my cousin is battling stage 4 breast cancer.  So, the saying is right.  When it rains, it really does pour.  I just wish it had of poured on somebody else’s parade.
    Tuesday, we laid my niece to rest in a small grave side ceremony back home.  All I could do was pray and comfort my sister and her husband as they watched their baby girl being lowered into the ground and covered by earth.   Again my heart broke into a million tiny pieces for them.  Here we are a week later and already I can feel a little comfort in having had the opportunity to say a final goodbye.
    I’ve come to terms with the fact that it wasn’t meant for her to endure all the things that life had to offer for whatever reason.  I’m every more glad that my sister and her husband are finding comfort with this situation since saying their goodbyes.  Each day my sister sounds better and better like her mood is picking back up.
    Each day will be a new for us to either dwell in our sorrows or move past them.  I’m glad that as a family we have chosen not to be overcome by grief.
    A huge thank you to everyone who sent prayers and words of condolence via email, Facebook, and Twitter.  They were extremely appreciated during that difficult time.

  • The Busy Bodies

    Meet the Busy Bodies.
    Trying to share a yogurt.
    Those two keep this mommy very busy and her feet.  Seriously, ever since Moo turned three it’s like she inherited a third stomach.   Every five minutes I’m hearing “Mommy, I’m hungry.”  And when she’s not eating she’s drinking.  
    I don’t even know how her poor stomach can hold all the stuff she consumes during the of course of a day.  I mean she can do some serious damage on a fully stocked frig and pantry.  And instead of being a picky eater, she’s become a picky tv watcher.  Yes, already she’s become too cool to watch certain cartoons.
    And with JJ heading into toddlerhood in three months, he’s so much busier than he was a few months ago.  Not to mention, we’re going through the teething stage.  Nothing is safe getting gummed.  Whatever he can get his little hands on goes straight to his mouth.
    As you can tell from the pic, he has a set of wheels that allows him to get into just any and every thing he wants.  He’s like a little speed racer in that thing.  If I get up to go into another room to get something, he’s right on my heels.   The kitchen is his new favorite hang out spot because he loves slamming the cabinet doors and digging with the trash and recycling cans (gross).
    Naptimes are quite a struggle now.  I think he feels like he’s missing out on stuff, but he’s not.  We’re lucky to get in two naps now.  That sucks because it means that I have to do most of my work and hunting for freelance gigs at night when he’s sleeping.
    Oh did I mention, he thinks that my laptop is his.  Yes, we frequently battle over who’s going to do the typing if I’m trying to use my laptop during the day.  I’m thinking that he’ll be getting his own baby laptop for his birthday.  Hopefully, that will be enough to appease him.
    Who knew I would have two little busy bodies on my hand?  I certainly didn’t.  I always thought I would have one high maintenance kid and one low maintenance kid. I guess not.
    Do you have Busy Bodies?  How do they keep you on your toes?
    Rocawear (eFashion Solutions)

  • It’s Here

  • Making Progress

    I’m happy to report that I’m down 5 pounds!  I’m making good progress on my quest to get back into pre-pregnancy shape.  During the holidays, I developed some really bad eating habits.  I was eating a lot of sweets and drinking way too many sodas and sugary drinks.
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    When the New Year rolled around I made a serious effort to drink at least a half gallon of water a day.  On a good day, I can easily get in a gallon of water without drinking juice or anything else.  I’ve also become more conscious of the foods I’m putting my mouth.  I did relapse and go overboard with some chocolate chips cookies my husband had.  However, since then it’s been fruit smoothies and fruit to soothe my sweet tooth.
    Who knew that getting your daily share of water in and cutting the sugary drinks down to a minimum could be so rewarding weight wise.  I’m realizing that my body isn’t as quick at burning off calories and other things as it used to be before I had two kids.  It needs a little help and I’m glad that I’m taking the needed steps to assist it.
    Did you set fitness or weight goals?  If so, what progress are you making?

  • Two Years Strong

    YUMMommy officially turned two years old on January 15th and I couldn’t be more excited!  
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    I feel like I need to pop a bottle of champagne and blow out some candles or something.  Maybe, next year I’ll throw a big party in celebration of such a wonderful occasion.  Year two was such a great one.  I finally got the YUMMommy logo in a usable format.
    I tried my hand at redesigning my layout, experimented with sending out a weekly newsletter (bringing it back don’t worry), and even met some extraordinary people.  By far my great joy of year two has been the friendships that I have bloomed and become stronger than they were in year one.  This blog has afforded me the opportunity to connect with some wonderful and amazing people on such a personal level.
    My heart is just so full right now thinking about how much this blog has grown.  I know I don’t say it often but thank you to everyone who reads and comments and reaches out in some way.  I greatly appreciate your support more than I will ever be able to put into words!
    And an even bigger thank you to those of you who’ve gone beyond the blog to rock with me on Twitter and Facebook.  It’s been a blast getting to see a different side of some of you outside of our blogs.  With year three already started, I’m hoping that we can get to know each other even better.
    On a side note, I hope that you all are taking advantage of of the 25% off local deals with promo code charlotte25 over on Plum District Charlotte!  They have some great deal packages going on that would be perfect for Valentine’s Day and SuperBowl Sunday.  

  • Safety Signs

    Did you know that street signs serve a purpose?  That purpose is to keep us safe.  Sadly, I don’t think a lot of drivers in my area really pay much attention to these signs.  Thus, they end up putting not only their lives in jeopardy but those around them.  Lately, I’ve been hearing on the news about a lot of pedestrians being involved in accidents where they were hit cars.
    Well, last Thursday the kids and I were coming home from the grocery store and I noticed that traffic was moving slower than a snail’s pace.  At first, I thought it was maybe there was stalled car blocking traffic or something.  However, when I heard all the sirens and saw three police cruisers, a wrecker and ambulance trying to weave their way through traffic, I knew it was something more serious.
    Thankfully, it didn’t take all day for traffic to get moving again.  The police were able to get on the scene of the accident and start redirecting everyone around the accident.  Once we got to the area where the accident occurred, I could see that it was another case of a pedestrian being struck by a car.  This time it appeared that the victim was an elderly person.  They had loaded up the person struck by the car in the ambulance by the time I got to the front of the line.
    All that was left was an elderly woman, who appear visibly shaken, standing on the sidewalk being comforted by a man.  It breaks my heart when I have to see or pass scenes like this because my best friend was killed by a driver who failed to pay attention to the road signs.  Had she of being paying attention to them she would have seen the children at play sign.  Or maybe she did but see and ignored it.
    We’ll never know because she didn’t even stop to see if he was ok.  So, I urge you to pay attention to these safety signs when you’re out and about driving or even walking.  If you see a sign that says No Trespassing, please obey it because it could be the difference between life or death!
    Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by SafetySign.com.  All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Likewise, the events disclosed in this post are real.

  • Searching For A Rainbow

    This past week has been a very ROUGH week for me to say the least.  January’s not even over yet and already I’m searching for a rainbow in the mist of this rain.  I keep reminding myself of Ecclesiastes 3:1 that reads:
    “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…“
    I started 2012 off on a good note and I’m determined to get it back on track.  I can’t allow these recent obstacles to throw me off my game plan.  I know that God never forsakes me or leaves me stranded.  I just have to trust Him and believe that He will show  me the way out of this situation.

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    On a more positive note (for me at least), the Patriots are going to the SuperBowl!!!
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    How do you stay on track during difficult times?

  • Apples & Fries

    My fellow McDonald’s lovers, say good bye to the traditional Happy Meal as we once knew it.  This past Wednesday, January 18th, all North Carolina McDonald’s unveiled the new, improved and healthier Happy Meal.
    Notice anything different?

    The new, healthier Happy Meal now comes with an order of apple slices and smaller container of French Fries with your child’s hamburger, cheeseburger or McNuggets.  You can also skip the soft drink and substitute it for fat-free chocolate milk (new) or 1% low-fat white milk.  By incorporating these changes, McDonald’s has reduced the calorie intake of its Happy Meals by 20%!
    Another great plus is that the smaller container of French Fries will help to teach children about portion control.  “By showcasing portion control and moderation through the new Happy Meal, children are guided toward making better decisions when it comes to food,” says Registered Dietitian and Licensed Nutritionist Melissa Herrmann Dierks of Charlotte.
    I am very pleased to see our favorite fast food restaurant taking a voluntary step at making sure the food we feed our little ones from their eatery is nutritious.  It definitely shows me that they value more than just our hard earned  money.  In fact as 2012 goes on we can expect to see McDonald’s continuing to support and create awareness about the importance of families (parents and children) living healthy lifestyles that include nutrition and being active.
    Local Charlotte McDonald’s owner and operator David Powell says “We’ve been looking forward to bringing the new Happy Meal into our restaurants since the initiative was announced last year.  Kids now get the best of both worlds– they can still have their French Fries but they also get a half serving of produce through the apple slices.”
    I for one can’t wait to see if McDonald’s will take their healthier meal options one step further and offer soy milk and other fruit options in the future.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will since we have some dairy and fruit allergies in my household.  Either way this is a great step and start at getting children interested in making smarter lifestyle choices.
    Want to find out more about McDonald’s commitment to nutrition?  Click here.  Don’t forget to visit them on Facebook and Twitter too!!

    Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.

  • A Dream Worth Dying For

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    “A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.”
    ~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
    Nobody lived by these words better than Dr. King did.  This strong, intelligent, determined Black man believed so much in his dream to help to create equality in the United States that he was willing to die for it.  And on April 4, 1968, that is exactly what happened.  For that I am so very grateful.
    You see, I grew up in a mostly White town.  Growing up there was certainly a divide among the Black and White students.  Most of the Black students didn’t take honors classes.  In fact, my senior year I was the only Black person in my AP English class.  However, I was blessed to have a wonderful teacher who truly didn’t care about color, class or gender.
    She always did her very best to make that we read just many books and stories about Blacks as we did about Shakespeare.  And somehow, I’m convinced that regardless of not if I had been in her class or not, she still would have selected the reading material she did.  In my opinion, she was one of the few non-Black teachers who truly embraced Dr. King’s mindset of total equality.
    Today, I live in a nice neighborhood where there is only two other Black families besides my own.  And I’m thankful that we get along with almost all of our neighbors.  I’m pretty sure that without Dr. King and his Civil Rights peers, I wouldn’t have had such good experiences in these situations.
    So, today we’re not celebrating the achievements of Dr. King, but a renewing of his legacy.  I challenge everyone reading this take on a dream that you feel is worth dying for.  Find that one thing that you are passionate to death about and go for it.  Maybe, it’s something to do with your kids, your family, your community, etc.  Just go forth and make a positive difference!
    How are you keeping Dr. King’s legacy alive?