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  • Romance Wednesday: Relaxation

    Let’s face it any lasting and healthy relationship takes work.  And sometimes that work can add stress to an already stressful situation.  I’ve learned that the best way to deal with that stress is through relaxation.  Often times as couples we forget to take a break from our issues and frustrations.  Then some of us end up in divorce court or worst.
    What I learned from the year I took apart from my husband was that when we were stressed or irritated, we kept all those feelings bottled up.  We didn’t let go (or at least I didn’t).  I’m the type of person who tends to internalize most of my feelings and emotions.  Then I end up reaching a point where I explode.
    Well, I just came to the conclusion that I was tired of walking around with a build up of anger.  My husband used to always tell me to relax.  He pointed out that I was always either on the go, working, helping others or worrying about problems that I couldn’t fix.  Needless to say I am finally taking his advice after all these years.
    Now, I take time to slow down and enjoy some relaxation before I hit rock bottom.  It can be reading a book, writing on my blog, a walk at the park, a trip to the mall or a visit to the nail spa.  And likewise my husband takes time to enjoy himself.  
    Don’t get so caught up in relationship drama that you let the drama become your relationship.  Take a timeout from everything and relax!

  • Tell Us Something Good: Sisterly Bonding

    The Life of Rylie...and Bryce too!
    As many of you know, my baby sister graduated high school this past June.  Well, it’s almost August and time for her to head off to college.  It amazes still how fast time flew by.  It seemed like it took forever for me to get out of high school but I blinked and she was already a senior.

    Anyways, since she’ll be going to school 4 whole hours away from me, I’m down at my mom’s yet again to spend as much time with her as possible.  You could say that I kind of took her time here at home for granted.  Yea, I always knew she would go to college but I never imagined it would be so far away.  I know that she’s going to succeed and have a blast.

    And I’m glad that I took this week to enjoy her company.  I think that our sisterly bond has certainly gotten closer.  I wouldn’t trade the overwhelming feelings of love, pride and joy that I have for her ever!

  • Romance Wednesday: Respect

    Although, I’ve only been married to my husband for ten months, we’ve been together seven years.  I can tell you that one thing I learned was that a relationship can thrive or last without respect.  And that’s something that I think a lot of couples have forgotten.  They don’t respect their relationships or their spouses.
    For example, I was on Facebook this past week when I stumbled across someone’s status that asked whether wives/husbands had an issue with their spouses going to strip clubs.  Of course, I would have an issue with my husband going and he would have an issue with me going.  We’re not insecure with our marriage at all.  We respect it.  As Christians, we are both aware that God has commanded us to keep our marriage sacred.
    I can’t tell you how many people said they actually encourage their spouses to go and check out strip clubs on the regular.  I kind of felt a bit disgusted.  As my husband’s wife I would like to hope and know that I am keeping my husband fulfilled sexually so that he doesn’t have to feel the need to seek sexual satisfactions from any other source.  Some people will argue that strip clubs are entertainment or places you go to have fun.
    I wonder if you’re just looking to have fun, why can’t you play a board game or go swimming?  So many of us have gotten caught up in the traps set by society.  And we don’t know that we’re headed down a road of doom until it’s too late.  There are ways to keep a relationship spicy and interesting without disrespecting the holy union that it is suppose to be.
    When you and your spouse accept the expectations and guidelines for marriage as outlined by your particular religion then you will find that things run a lot smoother.  And in this society when so many couples aren’t bothering to fight for their marriages during tough times, it makes sense to minimize those hard times as much as possible.  So, today sit down and ask yourself if you and your spouse are respecting your union and each other?  Are you being a good example of what a great relationship is suppose to be for children and those looking up to you?

  • All In A Dream

    “A dream realized is good, but a dream achieved is better.”
    ~YUMMommy Proverb
    When I graduated high school, I had a list of dreams that I wanted to accomplish.  I wanted to graduate from college, move to New York, get a job in fashion, write for a big name magazine and travel the world.  I was pretty sure that I had my life all planned out.  However, as I soon learned, everything does not always go as planned.  
    Here I am almost seven years later and I’m still working on getting my master’s degree.  I haven’t moved to New York.  I had a job in fashion retail.  No, I haven’t caught the eye of any big name magazines yet.  And traveling around the world for me means going down to my mom’s house.  Pretty sad right?
    Not really.  What I have done is found the love of my life, gotten married, had two beautiful children, moved away from home and started this wonderful blog.  In process of achieving all of this, I’ve realized that my dreams are still the same. Almost.  I’m torn between whether or not I still want to move to New York.  Anyways, with two kids and strong desire to still make something more of myself, I’m more determined than ever to accomplish my dreams. 
    Starting YUMMommy has opened a lot of doors for me.  It’s allowed me to meet and bond with some pretty awesome men and women.  Before I started this blog, I knew that I loved writing and inspiring others but I didn’t know how much.  I get a rush when write.  And it warms my heart when I read a comment about how my writing has touched someone in a positive way.
    It’s because of YUMMommy that I have been motivated to not give up on my master’s or settle for just an associate’s degree.  I’ve read about how so many of you with way more obstacles than I have going back to grad school.  Some of you have even started your own businesses and brands!! 
     I’m realizing that I don’t have to write for those big name magazines, I can become one.  I deserve and desire better.  Likewise my children deserve to have a mommy who can teach them how to follow their dreams. 
    You see, there will be times in your life when you will get caught up in life and forget that at one point you had dreams.  However, when you do realize those dreams again, you should work harder at achieving them.  When we achieve our dreams we conquer our deepest fear– failure.  When we achieve our dreams we prove to ourselves that we more than adequate.  
    So, go ahead and dare to dream again!  Go ahead and watch all your fears disappear.  Best of all remember than becoming the best you all lies in a dream.
      

  • Thankful Thursday

    This week has been a slow and uneventful one.  However, I still have things to be thankful for.  Watching the news and hearing about all the bad things that are going on around the world and just here in our city has made me very thankful for my life, health and strength.  I try to never take for granted waking up and being alive.

    I am thankful that everything went well at my postpartum checkup this morning.  Although, I’ve been feeling ok since my delivery, I was still never about going in.  You never know what’s going to happen.  And JJ did a great job.  He slept peacefully in his car seat the entire time.  This is new because he usually wakes up in a fit of rage. Hopefully, he and the car seat will become better acquainted.

    I am thankful that I am putting more effort into getting Moo fully potty trained.  We seemed to have taken a few steps backwards.  However, we’re back on the right path to making progress.  It’s really challenging some days.  I want to beat up on myself for not having been more proactive and consistent because I know other kids her age that are already potty trained.  However, I’m learning to not sweat the past.  I can only function in the present.

    I am thankfully that JJ is growing and is healthy.  He’s back to boycotting his bassinet but I’m not going to complain.  I am thankful for my family.  My mom calls faithfully just about everyday to check up on me and to talk to Moo.  Although, our relationship isn’t perfect, it’s better than most of the mom-daughters I know.

    As always, I’m thankful for you all-my loyal readers.  Thank you for continuing to support YUMMommy, reading my posts and leaving comments.

    What are you thankful for?

    ~PS: Still looking for sponsors!!

  • Romance Wednesday: TV Partners

     Couples fight over everything.  We argue about money, what brands to buy, what car to get, etc.  Some couples even battle over control for the remote.  Thankfully, my husband and I don’t have that issue.  I’ve been blessed to have a partner that actually enjoys the same shows that I do.
    And for us this is a huge plus.  We haven’t had a date night in three years as far as getting out the house with just the two of us.  And now that we have JJ, I’m sure that it’ll be at least another year and a half.  I know some of you are like that’s a long time, but we understood that when I made the choice to breastfeed, we would be sacrificing alone together time outside the home.  My family lives two hours away and JJ isn’t a fan of the bottle at all.
    Luckily, my husband invested in large flat screen and we have date nights in the living room after the kids are asleep.  It’s not the same as going to the theater, but it still gives that closeness and romantic feeling.  Thinking about it, date night at home is better.  We can snuggle up next to each other without an arm rest blocking our contact.  We laugh and comment as much as we want without someone shhhing us.
    It’s truly the little things that make or break a relationship.  And I’m very thankful that what to watch on tv is one less battle that we have to worry about.  So, what do we watch on tv?  Take a look below.
     

    ~PS- Don’t forget I’m still looking for Blogalicious sponsors!!  Help spread the word or you can donate using that pretty little donate button to the right.

  • Romance Wednesday: TV Partners

     Couples fight over everything.  We argue about money, what brands to buy, what car to get, etc.  Some couples even battle over control for the remote.  Thankfully, my husband and I don’t have that issue.  I’ve been blessed to have a partner that actually enjoys the same shows that I do.
    And for us this is a huge plus.  We haven’t had a date night in three years as far as getting out the house with just the two of us.  And now that we have JJ, I’m sure that it’ll be at least another year and a half.  I know some of you are like that’s a long time, but we understood that when I made the choice to breastfeed, we would be sacrificing alone together time outside the home.  My family lives two hours away and JJ isn’t a fan of the bottle at all.
    Luckily, my husband invested in large flat screen and we have date nights in the living room after the kids are asleep.  It’s not the same as going to the theater, but it still gives that closeness and romantic feeling.  Thinking about it, date night at home is better.  We can snuggle up next to each other without an arm rest blocking our contact.  We laugh and comment as much as we want without someone shhhing us.
    It’s truly the little things that make or break a relationship.  And I’m very thankful that what to watch on tv is one less battle that we have to worry about.  So, what do we watch on tv?  Take a look below.
     

    ~PS- Don’t forget I’m still looking for Blogalicious sponsors!!  Help spread the word or you can donate using that pretty little donate button to the right.

  • Tell Us Something Good: The Kids

    The Life of Rylie...and Bryce too!

    Yes, I’m back with my weekly Tell Us Something Good posts.  I recently took an almost three week vacay visiting with my mom and family back home.  While it was great to be home, I did miss my internet and my computer.  My mom was getting some work down and had to dismantle her desktop. Anyways, back to what I want to tell you.

    I’m sure that I have don’t have tell many of you about the trials and tribulations of parenting.  In fact, most of often times focus more on the negatives than the positives.  However, I am here to tell you that parenting does has it’s great moments.  These past few weeks, I’ve found myself smiling more and more at my kids. They have truly been lighting up my world.

    A few highlights from my last two weeks include celebrating my niece’s 6th birthday before I left my mom’s.  Just seeing how appreciative she was of having a small party with gifts, cake, pizza and ice cream gave me hope.  It proved that you can still raise kids who will be satisfied with the simple things in life.  Sure they’ll still want a party to rival those seen on MTV’s Sweet 16, but will be thankfully in the end that you just threw them a party.

    I decorated the cake!!

    When we got back home, I realized that JJ didn’t get to wear his ‘My First 4th of July’ shirt.  I had forgotten to back it for a trip to my mom’s.  However, that didn’t stop me from putting it on him three days later.  And boy did he look handsome.  I think red is going to be his power color too.

    I know that some of you might have seen my post on Twitter about Moo covering herself, me, JJ and the bed in a whole entire jar of vaseline the other day.  I usually  try to wake up when I hear her moving about.  However, she’s become a silent ninja lately and moving around ever so quietly.  Well, she was in her room the other day playing and she got quiet.  And this is why….

    She had discovered a tube of diaper rash creme that my husband left on top of her tv.  She thought it was lotion but once she felt the texture and saw it wasn’t rubbing in, she came and asked me to clean it off. LOL.  I couldn’t be mad her because it wasn’t her fault that her dad left it somewhere she could reach it.  Also, she looked so cute. This is one of the those embarrassing moments that I will have printed on her Senior Page in her high school. LOL

    Tell me something good that happened in your life?

  • Tell Us Something Good: The Kids

    The Life of Rylie...and Bryce too!

    Yes, I’m back with my weekly Tell Us Something Good posts.  I recently took an almost three week vacay visiting with my mom and family back home.  While it was great to be home, I did miss my internet and my computer.  My mom was getting some work down and had to dismantle her desktop. Anyways, back to what I want to tell you.

    I’m sure that I have don’t have tell many of you about the trials and tribulations of parenting.  In fact, most of often times focus more on the negatives than the positives.  However, I am here to tell you that parenting does has it’s great moments.  These past few weeks, I’ve found myself smiling more and more at my kids. They have truly been lighting up my world.

    A few highlights from my last two weeks include celebrating my niece’s 6th birthday before I left my mom’s.  Just seeing how appreciative she was of having a small party with gifts, cake, pizza and ice cream gave me hope.  It proved that you can still raise kids who will be satisfied with the simple things in life.  Sure they’ll still want a party to rival those seen on MTV’s Sweet 16, but will be thankfully in the end that you just threw them a party.

    I decorated the cake!!

    When we got back home, I realized that JJ didn’t get to wear his ‘My First 4th of July’ shirt.  I had forgotten to back it for a trip to my mom’s.  However, that didn’t stop me from putting it on him three days later.  And boy did he look handsome.  I think red is going to be his power color too.

    I know that some of you might have seen my post on Twitter about Moo covering herself, me, JJ and the bed in a whole entire jar of vaseline the other day.  I usually  try to wake up when I hear her moving about.  However, she’s become a silent ninja lately and moving around ever so quietly.  Well, she was in her room the other day playing and she got quiet.  And this is why….

    She had discovered a tube of diaper rash creme that my husband left on top of her tv.  She thought it was lotion but once she felt the texture and saw it wasn’t rubbing in, she came and asked me to clean it off. LOL.  I couldn’t be mad her because it wasn’t her fault that her dad left it somewhere she could reach it.  Also, she looked so cute. This is one of the those embarrassing moments that I will have printed on her Senior Page in her high school. LOL

    Tell me something good that happened in your life?

  • Seeking Blogalicious’11 Sponsors

    This October, I am looking forward to being able to attend Blogalicious 2011.  As a blogger and freelance writer these conferences serve as continued education opportunities for us.  Conferences teach us how to improve our writing skills, better interact with our readers and how to parnter with brands to help raise awareness about products we believe in.  Thus, I am seeking full or partial sponsorship to help assist with the associated costs of this trip.
    About Blogalicious’11
    “…the Blogalicious Weekend conferences are aimed at celebrating the diverstiy of women of all ethnicities in social media.  Over the course of 3 event filled days, savvy, influential and talented women bloggers will ignite a sense of unity within the multicultural blogging community as well as educate marketers on the importance of our demographic in today’s marketplace…”
    Date
    October 21-23, 2011
    Location
    Washington, DC
    Costs
    ~Conference Ticket: $205.99 ( Includes admission to conference sessions, evening receptions, snack breaks and brunch)
    ~Lodging: $743.28 ($211 Per Nigh x 3 nights plus $101.28 in taxes & fees)
    ~Transportation: $454.06 ($254.06 rental fee plus gas)
                 Total Estimated Cost: $1403.33
    Want to Help?
    I am offering several different sponsorship packages for those who wish to assist me in fulfilling my dream to attend Blogalicious.
    Full Sponsorship $1403.33
    -125×125 or 60×60 sidebar ad for 12 months
    -Monthly Facebook post about your company w/ link for 12 months
    -Weekly tweet for 12 months about your company w/ Twitter handle & link 
    -1 Sponsored blog post highlighting your proudct and/or service w/ link to your website, social media pages and 3+ pics
    -24 months listing in YUMMommy Business Directory
    -Placement of your logo on YUMMommy t-shirt and tote bag*
    -Ad placement in YUMMommy newsletter for 12 months**
    Partial Sponsorship Packages
    • Gold Package $600
         -125×125 or 60×60 sidebar ad for 9 months
         -Monthly Facebook post about your company w/ link for 9 months
         -Weekly tweet for 9 months about your company w/ Twitter handle & link 
        -1 shared sponsored blog post highlighting your proudct and/or service w/ link to your website, social media pages & 2 pics
         -18 months listing in YUMMommy Business Directory
         -Placement of your logo on YUMMommy t-shirt or tote bag*
         -Ad placement in YUMMommy newsletter for 6 months**
    • Silver Package $350
         -125×125 or 60×60 sidebar ad for 6 months
         -Monthly Facebook post about your company w/ link for 6 months
         -Weekly tweet for 6  months about your company w/ Twitter handle & link 
         -Link to your website & mention of your company in posts related to Blogalicious
         -12 months listing in YUMMommy Business Directory
         -Placement of your logo on YUMMommy t-shirt*
         -Ad placement in YUMMommy newsletter for 3 months**
    • Bronze Package $100
         -125×125 or 60×60 sidebar ad for 3 months
         -Monthly Facebook post about your company w/ link for 3 months
         -Weekly tweet for 3 months about your company w/ Twitter handle & link 
         -Link to your website & mention of your company in posts related to Blogalicious
         -6 months listing in YUMMommy Business Directory
         -Placement of your logo on YUMMommy tote
         -Ad placement in YUMMommy newsletter for 1 month**
    *YUMMommy t-shirt will be worn by myself and two other people throughout the conference.
    **YUMMommy newsletter is emailed every Friday to over 200 blog readers.
    If you are interested in any of my sponsorship packages or would like to donate please email me at YUMMommy@gmail.com.