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  • Crazy For Kashi Hummus Crisps

    Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of BzzAgent for Kashi.  I received a product sample to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.


    I have a confession to make.  I am a snacker!  I love snacks and snacking throughout the day probably more than the average person.  Now before I had kids this wasn’t a big problem.  I could snack on pretty much whatever I wanted to- cake, chips, chocolate, honey glazed peanuts, etc.  Two kids later and I have learned that my body responds better to healthier food options.
    Thankfully, I’ve always known about the Kashi brand and have tried a number of their products over the years thanks to my mom.  She loves their cereals and loss a quite a few pounds a few years ago replacing some of her not healthy snacks with a bowl of their cereal.  So, when I found out that I was going to get the chance to try out their Sea Salt & Olive Oil Hummus Crisps, I was excited to see if I would like as well as I have some of their other products.
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    Kashi Hummus Crisps goodness!
     Although, it’s been some time since I’d had hummus, I have actually fallen in foodie love with these Sea Salt & Olive Oil Hummus Crisps.  The crisps are salted to perfection.  Sea salt is a little bit gritter than regular salt, but you’re not fighting to bite through chunks of sea salt on these crisps.  And the olive oil doesn’t overpower the natural flavor of the hummus but enhances it.
    Unlike potatoes chips, you aren’t left with a greasy mess on your hands either.  I actually dropped some on my shirt and not a grease stain was left.  Now, you try pouring a bad of regular potatoes chips on your shirt and see what happens.  You’re going to have grease spots galore.
    Pajamas, a good book and Kashi Hummus Crisps. Perfect elements for a night of me time!
    What I loved even more is that the Kashi Hummus Crisps don’t contain any partially hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup.  There’s been quite the controversy surrounding whether or not those two ingredients are healthy for human consumption.  These crisps are made from all natural ingredients.  And this is perfect considering I do my heaviest snacking late at night after I’ve put the kiddies to bed.  I can enjoy a small bowl of crisps and not have to worry about staying up until my body digests them.

    The only downside to these hummus crisps is that they aren’t gluten-free.  So, I couldn’t share with Moo and JJ. 🙁  I definitely had to make sure to keep them out of their reach.  And in all honestly, I kind of enjoyed having a snack that I could enjoy just by myself.  I usually don’t buy foods the kids can’t have because I don’t want them getting into the wrong things and have a severe reaction due to their food allergies.

    However, now that I’ve tried these, I’m crazy about Kashi’s Hummus Crisps and I will be treating myself to a bag after the kids are asleep once every few weeks.  I think I deserve it.  And you do too.  I absolutely recommend that you grab a bag and try them out for yourselves.  They come in three different flavors- Caramelized Onion, Sundried Tomato Basil & Feta and of course Sea Salt & Olive Oil.

    At the end of day, we only get one body.  Don’t you think it deserves the very best?  So, here’s to healthier snacking options and eating habits!  Don’t forget to check out the Kashi brand on Facebook here.

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  • Bible 365: Week 41

    Monday, Monday, Monday.  The reminder of this year is moving full steam ahead.  This weekend was a weekend full of the sickness.  I got sick Friday.  Moo was playing nurse and helping me out.  Then, Saturday morning we woke up and my little nurse had a cold too.
    And Sunday, JJ woke up at 6 AM with a runny nose and sneezing.  Thankfully, the Mr had to work this weekend and didn’t have to be around us too much.  The last thing we need is EVERYONE to be sick.  I definitely think that this sudden drop in temperature and the chilly winds are the cause of our colds.  I’ve officially pulled out the fall jackets with hoods.
    Now on to the Week 41 recap.  We finished up the book of Luke and started the first few chapters of the book of John.  Now, a little interesting tidbit that I found out while doing a little background research is that John was actually one Jesus’ best friends.   Yes, Jesus had friends.  And I imagine that His friends played a big part in helping Him stay calm throughout His journey to cross.  Let’s be real, if you had to wake up day in and day out knowing that one day was going to be your last, you’d need a friend or two to help you deal as well.  Let’s talk about what else I learned in Week 41.
    1-“And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away!  Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” (John 2:16)  Last year, I got into a small debate on Twitter about my dislike for churches that charge for everything and are constantly selling something.  I understand that the physical building itself requires money for its upkeep and you have to pay the pastor for his/her service and maybe, even the musicians.  And if you’re not making enough on tithes and offering, I can understand a little fundraiser here and there.
    But there are some churches that have truly turned church into a commercial experience.  And that should not be so.  As Jesus said, the church should never get to the place where it is looked upon as a piece of merchandise in which the congregation and pastor can make money off of it.
    2-“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)   At the end of the day, Jesus was sent to us to help us make it to Heaven.  However, just like back then, in today’s society a lot of us don’t take advantage of the gift that has been extended to us.  We make all kinds of excuses about why we can’t walk in line with God’s word. We day it’s too hard.  We say we’re not perfect, but at the end of day an excuse is an excuse.
    3-“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19)  Like father, like son.  People were getting mad at Jesus and not thinking that they were also in turn getting mad at God.  Jesus was only doing what He was sent and commanded to do. Also, we can apply this scripture to everyday life as parents.
    So many of us have this do as I say and not as I do approach to raising our kids.  Then, we wonder why they continue on and do the exact opposite of what we just told them not to do.  Listen actions speak louder than words.  Even the Bible tells us that faith (words) without action is dead.  We have to be willing to lead by example and not by lip service!
    4-“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (John 6:27)  We are such a materialistic generation.  We work to pay bills, but after the bills are paid, we want to shop, shop and shop.  The reality is that instead of constantly focusing on making more and more money to afford materialistic things, we need to be putting in overtime to feed our spirits God’s word.  We need to be doing things to help others because that what Jesus was all about.
    If there was someone who was hungry, He feed them.  He healed the blind.  He pulled people back from the grips of death.  Jesus was the ultimate Good Samaritan and humanitarian.   We definitely should be striving to pass this torch of giving back and being a service to others from generation to generation.
    What is your favorite way to give back?  And are you more of a lip service parent or do you lead by example?

    Week 42 Readings
    10/14: John 7-10
    1015: John 11-12
    10/16: John 13-14
    10/17: John 15-16
    10/18: John 17-19
    10/19: John 20-21
    10/20: Acts 1-4

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  • 5 On Friday

    Y’all know the drill. I’m linking up with Christina (Carolina Charm), Dari (The Good Life Blog), Natasha (Hello! Happiness) and April (A. Liz Adventures) for their weekly link up and sharing five things.

    THE GOOD LIFE BLOG

    {~ONE~}
    I’m no longer Team iPhone!!  Finally, made the switch back to Team Android this weekend.  And the only regret that I have is that I loss a lot of photos because they didn’t port over to my new phone.  Otherwise, I am absolutely in love with my Galaxy 4s.  In my opinion it’s better than the iPhone!  The camera certainly is much better.  With the iPhone I was only getting 5 MP and with this I can take pictures that are 13 MP!

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    The difference in quality is unbelievable.  Plus, there are other cool functions like being able to edit photobombers out your pics or being able to edit yourself into group pictures!  I’m just having a blast learning all the new functions and exploring the apps.  Plus, I have a memory card again.  So, no worries about having to lose all of my pictures when I upgrade in a year or two.  And no having to purchase iCloud memory because I have tons of memory cards here from my previous Android phones.

    {~TWO~}
    We heard back from Code Enforcement and the inspector said that he was just able to get into contact with our property administer on Monday.  Y’all she’s been avoiding this man’s calls for days because I know she got his voicemails.  Sadly, the only thing they’re gotten on is putting up the carbon monoxide detector.  I’m pretty sure they’re trying to find a way to get out of making the other repairs.  The Mr and I are just over this whole situation and want out of this place ASAP.

    It just sucks that two sucky landlords back to back have tainted our experiences with independent landlords and property management companies.  We really preferred to give our money to a small business owner but we’re switching back to a one of those mega property management companies because they get on repairs without any hassles (from our previous experiences).

    {~THREE~}

    Guess who has the first cold of the fall season?  I do!  Did not see this coming at all.  I woke up to iron the Mr’s uniform for work yesterday and I was feeling fine.  Went back to bed for a few hours and woke up feeling like crap.  I’m talking sore, scratchy throat, running nose, sneezing and fogginess and body aches.

    Moo stepped up to the plate while the Mr was at work and made sure I was getting my rest.  She made sure JJ stayed entertained and everything.  I love that little girl!!  And the Mr stopped and picked up my favorite Chinese food for dinner.  He must have sensed that I wasn’t feeling up to being in the kitchen.  I’m feeling a little better today because my nose isn’t as runny.

    {~FOUR~}

    I have been crocheting up a storm over here.  It feels good to be back on my hooks after a long break.  I’m currently working on a cute Christmas blanket.  And I’ve already started designing and outlining some other blankets and little hats that I’m going to make and add to Moo’s Closet.  I also have some Christmas gifts to get started on making because I’ve had family members request that I make them something.

    {~FIVE~}
    We’re down to one month and two weeks before Moo’s 5th birthday!!  I can’t believe how fast her birthday is coming around again.  Yes, I’m turning into an emotional mess again like I was last year.  She’s already so independent and such a big girl at age 4 that I’m almost afraid at age 5, she’s going to need me even less.  She’s really come out of her shell so much.

    And she’s leaving behind her tomboy side more and more each day. She still loves digging with rocks and playing ball, but she’s tracked in playing trucks for playing dress-up.  She’s all about make-up (which she is not allowed to wear) and nail polish and hair and shoes.  And she’s reminded me that she still doesn’t have any diamonds! LOL

    What’s going on in your world?  Does your 4 year old ask you for diamonds too?
    Don’t forget you can catch me on these other hot spots

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  • Thankful Thursday

    And just like that, it’s Thursday!  Hard to believe that the weekend is almost upon us.  I know I haven’t been on the blog in a few days.  I’ve been trying to focus on some other issues happening right now.  
    I think that I mentioned last week that JJ would be seeing the pediatrician soon.  Well, we went on this past Tuesday.   He’s pretty healthy for the most part. The pediatrician did mention that his bmi was on the leaner side for kids his age but nothing to be overly concerned about.  I was thankful for that.
    However, what she (and I) was worried about was JJ’s lack of verbal communication skills.  He failed his communications test but passed the comprehension part.  So, we are off to see a specialist for an official evaluation and diagnosis.  Talk about being a scared parent.   The last thing I want is for JJ to have a permanent learning disability.
    Not being able to talk and properly express himself can be a huge issue, especially as he gets older.   It’s challenging sometimes now because there are times he’ll cry and I can’t understand what he’s trying to tell me is the matter.  I am thankful that I’m not in denial about this issue because I have read stories from other moms who were and waited years before getting help.
    I am thankful to the pediatrician for listening to me and my concerns.  She is genuinely  as concerned as I am about getting him back on track. Having a pediatrician who stays onbthe same page with me when it comes to my kid’s health is super important.
    I am thankful for my new phone! I am back being Team Android as I mentioned on Monday.   I have come to peace with having lost all almost all of my photos on my iPhone.  I am thankful that it won’t happen again because I have a memory card that my phone stores my pictures and videos to now.
    I am thankful to be one step closer to re-opening Moo’s Closet.  I kind of took a break from it but I am back.  We need the extra money right now. We’ll need a second car since I’ll be taking JJ to speech therapy and we won’ t know the time or days until after his evaluation.
    Also, I have been talking about finding a way to give back on a regular basis and found a way to do that with Moo’s Closet.   More on that later. But I am thankful for the chance to continue being a blessing to others.
    Most importantly, I am thankful for all the support I have been getting from you guys. Your prayers and kind words are truly welcomed and appreciated!
    What are you thankful for this week?

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  • Bible 365: Week 40

    Happy Monday!!  Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.  We did! Saturday, we hit up Ikea and I got lost in all the wonderfulness of looking at the bathroom setups.  Nothing like daydreaming about your dream bathroom, right?  I also got started on a blanket.  Sunday, I had a mini meltdown in Verizon because they couldn’t port my 1021 photos from iPhone to my Samsung G4.  I uploaded as many pictures as I could to Flickr and Photobucket, but the kids got antsy and the Mr was getting on my nerves.
    That made me get frustrated and I was like screw it.  So, out of 1021 pictures that were on my phone I think I managed to save about 200.  And I started to get pissed about it but after looking FB and Instagram, I realized that some of the most important pictures had already been saved on those sites.  Needless, to say I’m happy to be Team Droid and have a memory card to save my photos again!!  I’ve learned my lesson with iPhones and their wanting to milk your wallet dry by making you purchase more memory. I take way too many home photos and videos for that.

    Now, let’s talk about Week 40 of this Bible 365 Challenge.  Can y’all believe we have just 12 more Mondays left before this year over?!!  I’ll be doing the Week 52 on Tuesday since that’s the last day of the year and I will have read my reading at midnight.  So, in the Week 50 recap, I’ll have to include the readings for both weeks 51 & 52 for those who will read early in the morning too.  If not, I’ll also include Week 52 readings in that Monday’s post and then you can just check the blog after you’ve read on Tuesday for the recap.
    So, of course Luke was another retelling of the works of Jesus and his parables.  However, if you’ve been reading Matthew, Mark and Luke, you’ll notice that there are some differences.  Some of the key verses are worded differently and some parables and happenings are not retold in each of these books. It’s been interesting to see what Luke, Matthew and Mark each saw as important and how they documented their journey as Jesus’ disciples.  And more interesting is seeing how some verses and passages below stuck out to me despite having read a similar version in Matthew and Mark.

    1-“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will opened” (Luke 9-10).  A lot of times we have not because we ask not.  Sure God knows what we need, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have to ask for Him for His help to get it.  Whether it be more time in the day for Bible study or an increase in pay to keep your family afloat, God is always there waiting for us ask for what we need.
    2-“But He knowing their thoughts, said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls’.” (Luke 11:17)  You can’t make any progress if everyone is on a different page.  Jesus can’t be on one page and we’re on another if we’re going to make it in to Heaven.  Likewise, within our homes and marriages, we should strive to be on common ground with our spouses and families.
    3-“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” (Luke 11:23)  Enough said. Jesus wants us to be ride or die when it comes to our faith.  After all, we’re always talking about how we’re ride or die for our mates.  Doesn’t He deserve an even higher level of commitment?
    4-“But He said, ‘More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it’.” (Luke 11:28)  We all fall short, but it is possible to become more and more godly if we put forth a sincere effort.  There are different levels of blessings.  I don’t know about you, but my goal in life is to unlock them all!
    5-“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7)  Does God care about us?  Of course, He does.  He cares so much about us that He’s taken the time to count the hairs on our heads.
    6-“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses… Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.” (Luke:12:14, 23)  We all heard Jesse J say it’s not about the money or the bling and God agrees.  Life is not about seeing who can collect the most red bottoms or fancy cars or who can eat the finest restaurants.  We are called to a purpose way more higher and of more substance than that.
    7-“For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48b)  We are indeed our brother’s and our sister’s keeper.  This is verse is exactly why I take a step back to reevaluate the messages I put out here on my blog.  I know that my blog is read by more than just myself and it is my duty to make sure that I’m not on here tearing someone else down or encouraging wrongdoing.
    What are you seeking and asking God for this week?
    Week 41 Readings
    10/7: Luke 22
    10/8: Luke 23
    10/9: Luke 24
    10/10: John 1-2
    10/11: John 3
    10/12: John 4
    10/13: John 5-6

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  • 5 On Friday

    Linking up again with Christina (Carolina Charm), Dari (The Good Life Blog), Natasha (Hello! Happiness) and April (A. Liz Adventures) for their weekly link up and sharing five things.

    THE GOOD LIFE BLOG

    {~ONE~}
    Still haven’t heard back from the landlord about when we can expect our window to be repaired.  I know code enforcement has at the very least left her voicemail.  I personally gave him the number.  I’m not holding my breath on hearing from her by the end of today of either.  It’s my opinion that she’s trying to find a loop hole out of having to comply with all the repairs and updates required by the city.

    I’m just glad that this time around, we sought appropriate action instead of waiting.  I really enjoy renting from independent landlords because living in a huge apartment complex can make you feel cold.  Like you’re not part of a community. The neighbors don’t get to know each other as well as I’ve gotten to know some of our neighbors from the independent places we’ve lived.  And I enjoy supporting small business owners.  I donate to enough chain stores on a monthly basis as it is.

    However, this is probably going to be our last time renting from a small/independent landlord or property management company.  I’ve already started looking into townhouses.

    {~TWO~}
    The clearance at my favorite Target has fallen by the way side y’all.  I remember their clearance prices being so much cheaper.  I guess they’ve upped their prices a bit.  I still love them though.  We’ve been there two weekends in a row!  Moo added more stuff to her Christmas list last weekend.  Poor Santa is going to have a broken back trying to lug around all her gifts.
    {~THREE~}

    JJ goes in next Tuesday for a check up at the pediatrician.  We’re going to over our options for therapy and testing to see what’s affecting his speech development.  Not even going to try and put on a brave face.  I’m scared.  While everything about him seems normal to me except for his verbal communication skills, that might not be case.

    When you starting doing tests and therapies, you stand the chance of finding other and possibly worst things wrong.  I’m staying prayerful and hopeful though.  God has the final say at the end of day.

    {~FOUR~}

    I’m reading The Invisible Girls: A Memoir.  You’ll definitely need to keep a box of tissues handy.  It’s a non-fiction read and is perfect for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I’ll be doing an official review here on the blog soon.

    {~FIVE~}
    I’ve already started watching Christmas movies!  I’ve seen Elf  for like the 2 millionth time.  I talked Moo into watching Arthur Christmas with once.  And we’ve both seen Rise of the Guardians a few times.  I even watch Rudolph on Netflix!  I just love Christmas and all the holiday cheer.

    Halloween is great but Christmas is better!

    Don’t forget you can catch me on these other hot spots

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  • Thankful Thursday

    I don’t know about y’all but I’m looking forward to the weekend!  This week has been a rough one for us. (See why here).  So, I can’t wait to enjoy some bonding time with the Mr because he’s off this weekend!  I have plans to hit up Target and the Dollar Tree to get some stuff for making our first Fall wreath.  Moo has been asking to do a craft all this week and this weekend I am going to oblige her and let her help out with the wreath making.
    I’m thankful that the visit with code enforcement went well.  I’m thankful that when it comes to repairs, we won’t have to deal with the landlord in terms of submitting them.  They’ll be getting an official list from the city on what needs to be redone, repaired and installed.  I’m most looking forward to having that construction rubble from where the rock that broke our window came from hauled away. And of course, we’re looking forward to having a new window installed!
    It gets cold here at night and I don’t like my heater having to do double the work to warm the bedroom because it’s heating the great outdoors too.  I ain’t got time for that!  I’m thankful that Duke Energy sent out our yearly supply of energy efficient light bulbs.  We still had a few left over from last year and they last for at three to five years.  But you can never have too many light bulbs because you never know when you might drop and break one.
    Plus, we like to keep things as GREEN as possible around these parts.  Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel because I’ll be giveaway a set of the light bulbs soon. Yep, spreading the eco-friendly wealth.   Speaking of YouTube, I’m thanking for all the nice comments I’ve received about my vlogging debut.  If you missed it you can see it here. There’s a giveaway at the end but you’ll have to watch to see how to enter.  It ends October 14th at 11:59 PM!
    I’m thankful that kids sleep schedules have improved.  JJ goes down for bedtime pretty good, but Moo will try to hang in here as long as I am up.  So, I usually shut down the computer, turn off the lights and do our nightly prayer.  Then we’ll lay down and she’ll go right off to dream land.  I think her trying to stay up with me is her way of getting in her one on one bonding time.
    Despite all the drama over our broken window, I am thankful that the Mr and I along with the kiddies were able to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary on Monday!!  It’s coming up on almost 9 years total since we started our relationship and I’m so thankful for how far we both have come.  I’m thankful for how each passing day our marriage and bond seems to get stronger and stronger.  Moo was too thrilled to be celebrating our anniversary with us.  My child loves any excuse to party or go out.
    Which brings me to another thing that I’m thankful for.  We went out to eat on Monday night.  This is a big deal because with the kid’s food allergies, it’s safer and easier to cook and eat at home.  So, Moo ordered a salad and we had requested no eggs on it but forgot to ask for no cheese.  Well, Moo spotted the cheese on her salad and would not touch it!
    I’m so thankful for that.  She informed us that there was cheese on her salad and she couldn’t eat it because she was allergic.  This a great milestone for her because she remembers her food allergies almost better than I do now.  This will come handy when and/if she wants to stay at a sleepover.
    What’s on your list of thankfulness?
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  • Life Gets Hard

    When were young, we couldn’t wake to be adults.  Now that we’re adults, some of us can’t wait until somebody invents a time machine and we can turn back the clock and be teens again.  I’ve been feeling the stresses of being an adult lately.  In the mist of trying to get prepared to celebrate my third wedding anniversary (which was Monday), life decided to deal me a few lemons.
    It all started on Sunday at 1:28 AM.  The kids were in bed sleeping and I was on my way to join them in dream land.  The Mr was at work as usual.  Just I’m finally drifting off into a peaceful slumber, I hear a crash and the sound of breaking glass.  Immediately, I shoot up straight out of bed and hit the panic button our alarm system.  
    It was not a drill folks, somebody had indeed just busted out our bedroom window where the kiddies and I were sleeping.  It all happened so fast.  I thought that my heart was going to explode because it was beating so fast.  My legs and hands were shaking but in the back in my mind I just kept telling myself to stay calm because I had two kids to protect should the vandal decide to hurl his/her body through the window next. 
    I gathered up the kids and put them in the living room. Called 911 and the alarm company to make sure that police were on the way. They were.  I called my husband at work and told him what happened and the he needed to come home right away.  I phoned our landlord and left her voicemail telling her what happened and that we would like to speak to her as soon as possible about getting the window fixed.
    During all of this the same vandal launched a huge stone through our neighbors bedroom window as well.  Initially, I thought they were trying to break out our kitchen window.  At that point I had already armed myself with my trusty steel baseball bat.  I had every intention of taking the intruder’s head off when they stuck it through the window.  Sadly, they got away before the police came and because the neighbors didn’t have their back porch light on we didn’t get a good luck at who it was.
    Now, let me state for the record that we live in a mixed income neighborhood.  There are several families, an nice apartment complex and a park in area.  Our street is pretty much quiet and everybody is pretty friendly and keeps to themselves. There is a police sub station less than five minutes away.  That being said, I believe wholeheartedly that whoever targeted our apartment was not a resident of our neighborhood.
    Anyways, you would think that our landlord would immediately call us once she got our voicemail.  At the very least, you’d think that she’d want to see if any other damages were caused and to see if we or the neighbors were hurt.  Nope.  We don’t hear anything from her.  Instead, we hear from her nephew who she sends to make sure we have boarded up the window and to tell the neighbors to board up their windows.
    Like really?!  So, at that point the Mr is pissed off because it’s obvious that she knows what happened but has not tried to reach out to us personally.  She decides on Monday.  The Mr tells us her that we were not pleased to have not heard from her and asks when she will send someone out to look at the window for repairs?
    Y’all guess what her reply was?  She had the nerve to tell him that we were responsible for the window and that it was her belief that my husband had broken the window due to us having a dispute!  Are you kidding me?  I promise you, I can’t make this stuff up.  Like lady we’ve seen you all of five times, two of those times my husband was not home.  She doesn’t know us well enough to make assumptions about issues within our marriage.
    More importantly, if I was having any kind of dispute with my husband, I’m sure I would have told that to the cops and the neighbors would have told it to them as well.  Long story short she is refusing to fix the window.  And I started to let this bother me and put me in a negative space.  I was a little happy when we moved in here because it seemed like she didn’t have any problems with making repairs.  However, I see that was clearly a front.
    And I don’t do fronts, fakes or phonies!  But I kept my cool.  You see, my faith is stronger than it was at the beginning of this year.  I prayed on it and asked God to not let me moved by the situation because I knew He would work it out for our good.  And you know what, He is. 
    Since, our landlord won’t listen to us or go by the terms of the lease that pretty much state in plain English that she is responsible for all repairs, except in cases of negligence, we decided to get the city involved.  They sent out a code inspector today and he assured us that here in QC landlords are responsible for all repairs even in cases of negligence.  That’s what security deposits are for.  And if damage done under negligence does exceed the amount of the security deposit, they have to take the tenant to small claims court for the difference.
    In the words of Tamar Braxton, “Won’t He do it?!!”  She now has 60 days to get the window repaired along with some other issues the code inspector found inside and underneath the apartment.  This has taught me that I truly don’t have to fight every battle.  God is more than willing to step in and send the right resources our way at the right time.
    All it takes is maintaining the faith and not allowing yourself to be moved.  Life gets hard, but my faith is becoming harder.  It’s morphing into an impenetrable force field.  I only have one life to live and I will not live it stressing about the hardships that will I encounter along the way.

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  • Bible 365: Week 39

    Before I get into my Bible 365 Week 39 recap, I just want to say Happy Wedding Anniversary to my loving and wonderful husband!!  Today we celebrate 3 years of wedded bliss.  I know that I am truly blessed to have you as my life partner, the father of my children and the person who often talks me off the ledge.  You are simply amazing and I thank you for taking this leap despite all that we had to go through before committing our lives together and making a vow before God to remain as one until death does us part.  I love you more than any words can ever express!

    Now, I hope everyone had a blessed and delightful weekend.  This weekend the kiddies and I got out of house and picked up an anniversary present for the Mr.  Then we enjoyed some playtime at the park before it got too windy out.  We even got to have some bonding time with the Mr before he headed off to work.  I’m always grateful for those moments.
    Anyways, week 39’s readings did retell just about everything we read in Matthews and Mark.  It talked about the gathering of the disciples, told of Jesus’ many miracles and of course the crucifixion.  I don’t know about you guys but reading about how the people and the supposed ‘leaders’ of the church turned on Jesus makes me a little mad.   After all the miracles he performed for them, how could they act like such savages finding enjoyment in killing him?  Here are a few lessons I’ve been mediating on:
    1-“Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it” (Mark 10:14-15).  We can learn a thing or two from children.  Children can teach us as Christians how to humble ourselves to God and trust Him to do what His word says He will do for those who believe wholeheartedly in Him.
    2-“And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slaves of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:44-45).  I hear a lot of people talking about how they want to be leaders or bosses and often times I’ve seen them get frustrated when they feel like they aren’t moving up the leadership pole fast enough or at all.  You see being a leader or a boss isn’t just about being the position to give orders.  Its true essence and meaning is to be servant or helper to others.  
    Think about it.  Even as powerful and magnificent as Jesus was and still is, He was sent here to earth to die for us!  So, while He was a great leader not only to the disciples but to all those around Him, Jesus ultimately was a servant of God sent here to serve man through healing them, preaching the word to give them wisdom and understanding and dying on the cross to save their souls.
    3-“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angel in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is” (Mark 13:32-33).  The signs of the coming of Christ (Mark 13:7-8) couldn’t be more evident in our society today.  However, we don’t know the specific time or day.  Therefore, you don’t want to be caught slipping or caught up in things that are not of God.  So, heed the warnings that God has laid out for us on how we should conduct ourselves, watch for the signs of the coming and pray that God guides your actions so that you may be found holy and righteous.
    4-“He took Peter, James and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.  Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch” (Mark 14:33-34).  I think that Jesus handled the knowledge of His upcoming death very well.  But here we see that on the night Judas turned Him over to His enemies that He began to get anxious.  The heaviness of what was going to happen to Him started to weigh on His spirit.  A lot of times, we feel out of touch with Jesus (and God) because the Bible talks about Him as being perfect and without sin.
    So, we often question how can He relate to us and how are we suppose to be able to relate to someone who was so great and who set such a high standard?  Well, here we see just how human Jesus was as He awaits His crucifixion.  I don’t know anyone who would be at ease knowing first that they were going to be killed, knowing that it would be painful and not knowing how long it would last.  I can imagine that He probably worried about His loved ones and the pain they would feel watching Him die, the people who still rejected God and whether or not His disciples had strong enough faith to continue His work and teachings.
    My heart hurts a lot for Jesus knowing the burden He bore because humans couldn’t get right.  As a mom, my heart hurts for His parents, especially Mary.  I’m thankful for God’s sacrifice, but knowing how much God loves us, I can only imagine how much He loved Jesus and how painful it must have been sacrifice His own son for a bunch of ungrateful people.
    5-“He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise” (Luke 3:11).  We know that God loves a cheerful giver.  And we need to strive to be givers not just on Christmas or Thanksgiving but whenever we see another in need.  At the end of day, you can’t take your riches, your furs, your diamonds or your fancy cars to Heaven (or Hell).  Therefore, if you can bless a person, do it without hesitation or expecting anything in return.
    I’m definitely striving to instill this trait into my children.  I don’t want them to see all the problems of the world and keep on walking.  I want them to be moved to do their parts. To be part of the solution.  To be a blessing and a light to those during their troubled or hard times.
    When was the last time you helped someone in need? And could you have handled knowing you were going to be crucified?

    Week 40 Readings
    9/30: Luke 10
    10/1: Luke 11
    10/2: Luke 12
    10/3: Luke 13-14
    10/4: Luke 15-16
    10/5: Luke 17-19
    10/6: Luke 20-21
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  • 5 On Friday

    Linking up again with Christina (Carolina Charm), Dari (The Good Life Blog), Natasha (Hello! Happiness) and April (A. Liz Adventures) for their weekly link up and sharing five things.

    THE GOOD LIFE BLOG

    {~ONE~}
    I spent last night painting our bathroom!  When we first moved into this apartment, I noticed that they had used the wrong paint.  Turns out it was just primer.  So, the property manager dropped off this bad boy yesterday afternoon and when the Mr got home, I went to work applying the first coat.  The color is off white.
    And before you go saying that off white isn’t a fancy color, let me tell you that this one has a mother of pearl of finish.  Our bathroom now has a nice shine and pearly look.  I still have another coat to put on tonight or I might wait until tomorrow when I can get out of the house with the kiddies for a few hours.  Moo and the Mr kept rubbing up against the walls or the door getting paint all over themselves.
    With the leftover paint, I’m to paint the wall in the kitchen where the stove is.  They used the wrong paint there as well.  I figure if we’re going to be here for a while longer, I might as well as make it look good.  I’ve already condensed a few of the boxes with had out in the kitchen and hid them in the bedrooms.  Next, I’m on the Craigslist hunt for a nice area rug to go in the living room.

    {~TWO~}
    I’m thinking about switching back to Team Droid!  I thought I could be happy being Team iPhone, but I can’t.  Not having a memory card is killing me.  My choices when I run out of memory on my iPhone are buy a new phone or buy more iCloud memory.  If I had a Droid, I wouldn’t have this problem because I have two 38 GB memory cards just hanging out.

    I know I could take come of the stuff from my phone and iCloud and move it to the memory cards, but I like having all my pictures and stuff on my phone.  If I’m not near my computer, I still need to have the ability to upload pictures and other files.  Until I can decide on a new phone I’ll be developing all my pictures and burning them to a disk to free up space.

    {~THREE~}

    Moo is obsessed with all things My Little Pony.  I couldn’t even get her to turn around for this picture.  If she spots a Rainbow Dash or Pinky Pie, it’s a wrap.  You could be screaming “Fire!!” and she would still be in a trance.  Can’t wait until Christmas because I got her some My Little Pony goodies.

    {~FOUR~}
    If you don’t know Tara from The Young Mommy Life, you should really check out her blog and follow her on Twitter.    She has truly made being an advocate for young moms her passion and mission.  She’s given away a scholarship to help a student mom pay for her tuition, written books and she’s about to host her first conference!!  I’m delighted to have her as a friend and a person I can turn to when I need help on anything from blogging to parenting advice.

    She’s looking to add to the Twitter following for the Young Mom Summit profile.  So, let’s help her continue to help other moms by giving her follow and sharing with our followers.  I already know that her first summit/conference is going to be a success and that she’s going to touch the lives of those young moms attending in a very positive way.  Why not help be a part of that by doing something so simple as clicking a button a follow button?

    {~FIVE~}
    Aside from beautifying this apartment, I’ve decided that investing in products to beautify myself will also help me to not be so depressed about our living situation until we find something bigger and within our budget.  So, when I saw these NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamels at Target for $0.84 each, I got some.  I think I’m going to go back Saturday and get a few more.  They had a vibrant orange that is perfect for Autumn.
    Don’t forget you can catch me on these other hot spots

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