YUMMommy

Blog

  • Gourmet Chicken Penne with Fontinella Béchamel Sauce

    This post is sponsored by Stella® Cheeses but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

    The most wonderful time of the year aka Christmas is upon us.  The holiday season is one of my most favorite times of the year.  And not just because of the presents and my birthday either.

    My love for Christmas stems from fond memories of family bonding while cooking holiday dishes in the kitchen with my mom and siblings.  My mom always went into full-on entertainment mode, hosting two dinner parties – one for her girlfriends and sisters and then another for the rest of our extended family.  So it’s only natural that I inherited her love of entertaining. 

    Of course, my favorite part of playing hostess is putting a gourmet spin on old classics or coming up with completely unique recipes of my own like my Gourmet Chicken Penne with  Fontinella Béchamel Sauce.  This dish is so delicious and is guaranteed to be a hit at your holiday gatherings.  Keep reading to get the recipe!

    How To Make Chicken Penne w/ Fontinella Béchamel Sauce


    One of the things I loved about creating this recipe was the simplicity of it.  I know béchamel sauce can be a bit scary for some folks, but honestly, it’s just a fancy word for white sauce and is super easy to make.  Adding Stella® Cheeses’ Fontinella really adds a gourmet element that kicks this dish up several notches.  Seriously, don’t you won’t regret using this cheese in your sauce.  

    Ingredients


    Chicken Penne
    • 3 chicken breast, diced
    • 2 cups of penne pasta
    • 1large onion, diced
    • 8 strips of bacon, diced
    • 1 tbsp garlic, chopped
    • 2 tbsp vegetable/olive oil
    • 1 tbsp butter
    • Black pepper, optional
    • Salt, optional
    • Seasoning salt, optional
    Fontinella Béchamel Sauce
    • 1/2 cup of Stella Cheeses’ Fontinella Cheese
    • 1 cup milk/soy milk
    • 2 tbsp flour
    • 2 tbsp butter
    • Black pepper to taste
    • Salt to taste
    • Splash of chicken stock

    Directions

    In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil.  Once your water is boiling add your pasta and cook until completely done or according to the directions on the box.  Also, you can add a drizzle of oil into the water to help prevent your pasta from sticking together.

    While your penne pasta is cooking, in a large skillet over medium heat add in butter and oil.  Once your butter has melted, add in your onions.  Let your onion cook down for about two minutes and then add in your bacon and cook until done.  Add in garlic and cook for another 60 seconds.  Then remove the bacon and onion mixture from the skillet.

    Next, in the same skillet add in your diced chicken breast.  You can season your chicken breast however you like.  I kept it simple and seasoned mine with seasoning salt and pepper.  As the chicken cooks, it will pick up some of the flavors from the onion, bacon, and garlic that was previously cooked in there.

    Remove your penne pasta from its pot once done.  In that same pot melt down your 2 tablespoons of butter for your sauce on medium heat.   Once the butter is melted, turn down the heat to low and stir in your flour for about two minutes.  Do not let your flour burn or get stuck to the bottom of your pot.

    Once your flour and butter are well mixed, start pouring in your milk a little bit at a time, making sure to whisk continuously.  When you have all of your milk mixed in, add in your salt and pepper in accordance to your taste preferences.  Then add in a splash of chicken stock.  Whisk again and start to add in your Fontinella cheese saving a few tablespoons to garnish at the end.

    Continue to whisk until all of your cheese is melted.  This should take less than two minutes.

    Now that your béchamel sauce is done, remove from it from the heat.  Then mix in the chicken, pasta, and half of your bacon, onion and garlic mixture.

    Once that is mixed well and coated evenly with sauce, you can top it with the rest of the bacon, onion, garlic mixture as well as sprinkle on the remainder of your Fontinella cheese.

    Serve and be prepared for your guests to ask for seconds.  Maybe even thirds if there’s no shame in their game.


    I really hope that you enjoy this recipe!  Even more so, I hope that recipe encourages each of you to get into the kitchen and start experimenting.  Making gourmet dishes doesn’t have to be hard.  It just takes quality ingredients like Stella® Cheeses, a little holiday spirit, and lots of love.

    Want to find more of delicious gourmet recipes to share with your family and friends this holiday season? Check Stella® Cheeses’ official website here.  You also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.  



    What is your favorite dish to make during the holidays?

  • Family Night In The City

    Happy Monday!  This weekend the kids and I joined my mom, baby sister, and niece for a family night in the city.  After an emotionally draining couple of days, this was just what we all needed.  Here’s a recap of what we did.

    2018 Southern Christmas Show

    We continued our family tradition of attending the Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte.  It’s something we started last year and hope to keep this tradition going for years to come.  Unfortunately, my brother couldn’t join us this year.  We definitely missed him and look forward to having him accompany us next year. 
    One thing that was very noticeable to all of us this year was how much smaller the crowd was.  We went on the same day and around the same time that we went last year.  There was definitely a lot fewer parents with their children in tow.  In my personal opinion, this was due to the kidnapping attempts that happened at last year’s show.
    Sex trafficking has increasingly become a big issue in Charlotte over the last couple of years.  And these criminals are getting bolder it seems with coming to events and trying to kidnap kids and teens right in front of parents and onlookers.  Thankfully this year’s show was kidnapping incident-free.  There also seemed to not be as many vendors this year either.  

    One thing that was new (for us) this year was the train village display.  Y’all already know, my little guy was head over heels excited when he saw it.  Trains are his life.  Plus they had a Thomas the Tank Engine on one of the tracks.  That just sealed the deal for him and he could have probably spent the rest of night in that one area watching the train go around the track for forever.

    He had his own personal Thomas the Tank Engine Track Master train in tow.  Check out our vlog below to see and hear his excitement as well get a look at the train village.  Now he wasn’t the only one who fell in love with the train village.  My mom did too!  She’s a Thomas and train lover as well.

    It was no surprise that she chatted up the display owners.  They told her all about their train museum in Spencer, NC and how they do Day Out With Thomas every year.  So we’ve added a trip to the museum and the Thomas event to our calendars for next year.  Can’t wait to see her and JJ bonding more over their love of trains (and Thomas).

    My favorite part of the Southern Christmas Show was looking at all of the Christmas trees and ornaments.  I found a tree that was decked out in Coca-Cola ornaments and fell in love.  Now I want to put a Coke themed tree in my office next year.  You have to admit their brand colors are perfect Christmas colors.

    There were also some football/sports ornaments that caught my eye as well.   My older sister would have loved the Carolina Panthers tree.

    And I debated picking up this cute New England Patriots train driven by Rudolph.

    Also, where are folks getting these spinning trees?  All of the trees spun and now I need 2 of them by next Christmas.  I mean whoever invented the spinning Christmas tree was a genius.  We decorate our entire tree but the ornaments in the back hardly get any spotlight/admiration because most of us put our trees in corners or with one side falling a wall.  With a spinning tree, you get to admire all sides equally.

    Enough about spinning trees, my sister started the tradition of gifting JJ these magnetic wooden trains from Sniders Stocks.  We were happy to see him there again this year.  Last year she got him an engine and the initial of his first name.  This year I picked up the initial for his middle name and she got him the initial for our last name.  Next year we’re getting him a caboose and then the letters to spell out his entire first name.  The trains all under $5 with tax.

    We sampled more wine from Duplin Winery‘s booth.  I can highly recommend their Carolina Red, Sangria White (available for cheaper at Walmart),  and Jolly Juice Sweetzer Mix.  Then we hit up the booth of our favorite holiday treat shop, Southern Supreme Fruitcake & More.   I recommend trying their fruitcake and Chocolate Creamy Pecan Pralines.

    Build-A-Bear

    For a few months now, I had been telling JJ that we were going to get him his first bear from Build-A-Bear.  We were supposed to go for his birthday but didn’t make it.  Then we missed the day that Build-A-Bear was letting pay their age.  But then last week, I opened up my email and Build-A-Bear had sent him a coupon for a free bear under x-amount of dollars or I could apply that dollar amount as a discount to a more expensive bear.

    So we couldn’t get his first choice which was the Thomas and Friends bear.  I had set aside a certain amount of cash for this trip and I stuck to my guns of not going over that amount.  No worries, he ended up with the bear we were go originally going to get on his birthday, Birthday Treat Bear.  Birthday Treat Bear has since been renamed Jingles.

    We’ll be doing a quick vlog later on this week about Jingles and how he got his name.  We’re also planning on going back to pick up Thomas Bear so that Jingles can have some company.  As far as the experience itself, I think my little was so excited but super nervous at the same time.

    He’s a not a fan of interacting with strangers (or people in general outside of our immediate family circle).  So, as you’ll see in the video, he kept looking back to check and see if I was still nearby.  Also, the stuffing machine was a little louder than he expected it to be.  We’ve come a long way with his sensitivity to certain sounds.  Overall, he loved the experience and left the store with the biggest smile.

    Jingles was his whole talk the entire ride back home.  And the sales associate that helped us was very nice and patient.  Hopefully, she’ll be there when we go back.

    Barnes & Noble

    Of course, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go to the bookstore.  I wanted to get the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition of Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas, but ALL their copies had damaged covers.  Like what the crap B&N?!!

    I had heard and saw videos from two other booktubers about how their B&Ns had damaged book covers for this book, but for some reason, I thought it was just the shipment to their stores since they’re in Texas, but looks like Carolina B&N stores got jacked up copies as well.  Not cool at all.

    Also, I was disappointed in the selection of Christmas specific picture books that featured Black characters and were written by Black authors.  It seems like the only holiday books I could find with Black characters and by Black authors were books about Kawanza like that’s the only holiday WE celebrate.  Anyways, I’m saving this soapbox discussion for another day.

    Overall we had a blast.  Everyone pretty much went to sleep as soon as our heads hit our pillows when we got back home.

    Well, I’m off to hunt down some last minute ingredients for my turkey brine, spice rub, and glaze.  Don’t forget to move those turkeys over to the frig so you don’t have a still frozen turkey come Thursday.

    What did your family do this weekend?  Let’s chat in the comments!

  • Friday Five Recently | Week 3

    Happy Friday and hello November!  Am I the only one kind of happy 2018 is coming to a close?  This year has been rocky at best for me and my family.  I’m looking forward and hoping 2019 will be a better year all around.

    via GIPHY

    Anyways, since it’s been a while since I’ve blogged, a catchup session is in order.  I’ve missed y’all dearly.  Hopefully, you’ve missed my face (and words) around these parts as well. 

    Recently . . .


    Annoyed |  Listen, y’all already know that I haven’t had the best of luck with neighbors in the past.  Seriously, sometimes it feels like I won the lottery when it comes to crappy neighbors.  Anyways, for a few weeks now one of my neighbors has been helping themselves to my trash service.  They’ve been waiting until we roll our trash can to the road for pickup and then they sneak across and fill our bin up to the max.

    via GIPHY

    And if our trash bin is already full, these people will just dump their trash bags in our driveway!  It takes some nerve to just throw your trash bags in somebody’s driveway y’all.  Well, I’ve had it!  We contacted our trash service provider, and the said we could put a lock on our trash can.  We’re going to take it one further and just wait until the trash truck comes down the street and then wheel the trash can to the road and wheel back after they empty it since the said neighbor never leaves their trash unless our bin at the road.

    Also, I’m setting up some cameras.  If I get video of the thieves, I’m sending it to the police and prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law that I can.  I’m beyond frustrated and tired of having to pick up trash out of my yard because we have lots of little critters that like to rip open trash bags left where they can reach it.   Plus, with the holidays coming up, I’m not trying to have my yard looking like a landfill.

    When did people stop having respect for other people’s property?  When did being a good/decent neighbor go out of style?  I’m getting a fence and call gate installed next ye.  If they’re bold enough to trespass and dump their trash in my yard, I don’t trust that they won’t then decide to help themselves to something else.

    Decorated |  “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . .”  I know some people absolutely detest all of the early Christmas stuff happening before Thanksgiving, but not my family.  For us putting up Christmas tree on November 1st holds a special meaning.  Also, with Moo and I both being holidays babies, it goes without saying that Christmas reigns supreme around here.

    The kids did a great job of decorating the tree.  This is the last year this tree will be in the living room.  We’ll be retiring it the kitchen next Christmas and I’m going to score a new, more realistic looking prelit tree after an after Christmas sale.  We want decorations that are more glam/fancier for the living room tree next year.

    One thing I am going to invest in right away is a new tree skirt for this tree.  The current one has always been too simple and my plan was always to sew my own.  However, I never got around to it and now I’m sewing machine-less.   So I’m just going to buy one.  I’m also on the hunt for a Christmas wreath.

    Made |  My crochet hooks have been busy y’all.  My aunt requested that I make her some dishcloths.  A family friend saw her request on Facebook and asked if I would make her some as well.  Then, I finally got around to putting the finishing touches on a checkerboard blanket only to have to frog it almost back to start because of some dropped stitches.

    Thankfully, it hasn’t taken me long to finish it up again.  Currently, I’m finishing JJ’s train blanket.  Unfortunately, since it has his real name on it, I’m not able to share the completed the project here on the blog.  However, I’m also working some Christmas throws.  Those I will be able to share here.  

    Joined |  It’s November, which means NaNoWriMo is here.  I’m joining millions of other writers on the journey to writing 50,000 words in 30 days.

    This year I’m feeling really good about my manuscript.  I’ve pretty much got the entire story planned out.  Plotting out my stories beforehand is a completely new process for me.  I’m usually more a pantser when it comes to my fiction writing.  Also, this year I want to try to make to an in-person write-in and connect with other NaNoWriMoers beyond the computer.

    Worried |  A while ago I mentioned that my mom had been in and out of the hospital.  We thought she was getting better but then she had a few more hospital stays since then.  Last month my brother and I took turns going home to be with her.

    It’s been a scary ride for us.  I can’t even begin to imagine how she feels.  I’m hopeful though that the doctors will figure out what’s going on and get her on the right treatment plan.  In the meanwhile, I hate that I feel so helpless because I can’t do anything to heal her or take away her pain.

    If you’re a praying person, please lift her up in your prayers.  With the holidays coming up we’d love it if she wouldn’t have to be in the hospital instead of celebrating with us.  If you’re not a praying person, then could you just speak some positive affirmations or put out some positive vibes for us into the universe.

    Well, that’s it.  We’re pretty much all caught up.  I hope y’all have a great weekend.  My plans include crocheting, binge-watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark channels (they have 3), and doing some Christmas shopping.

    Do you decorate early for the holidays?
    Linking up with: Momfessional | TBB | High Five Friday

  • How To Protect Your Family’s Immune Systems During Cold & Flu Season

    I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions.  Compensation for this post was provided and this post may contain affiliate links.
    It’s officially my favorite season of the year- Autumn!  Unfortunately with the start of my favorite season also comes the start of my least favorite time of the year- cold and flu season.  In the past, cold and flu season has always been brutal for us.  Remember that one year we ended up in the hospital because JJ caught the flu twice and it turned into pneumonia?  This year we’re protecting our immune systems and getting them in tiptop shape with the help of our new secret weapon- Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies– and a few simple but effective steps.

    5 Easy Ways To Keep Your Family’s Immune Systems Safe
    Take Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies |  For the last six weeks, the kids and I have been taking Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies daily.   We will continue to do so year round.  Why?  Well, it’s long been known and proven that black elderberries are rich in flavonols, anthocyanins, and Vitamin C.  Both of these antioxidants and Vitamin C help boost and protect our overall immune system against cold and flu germs.

    amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “kerrymccoy-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_design = “enhanced_links”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B01MS20GB7”; amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “711b90d734705cf88b7ce7677d4b8e85”;

    Back in the day, my Native American ancestors used black elderberries to treat a variety of ailments like infections, open wounds, and more.  I’ve heard my mom and aunts mention elderberries on more than one occasion, but mommy brain.

    Anyways, better late than never.  I’m looking forward to there being fewer colds and hopefully, zero flu happening in this house this year.  The best part is that the kids really love the gummies.  There’s nothing worse than battling with kids to get them to take medicine or vitamins.

    The Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies are soy, nut, egg, dairy, and gluten-free.  This is a huge plus for us because we have food allergies.  Also, they don’t use artificial coloring, flavorings, or preservatives.  The gummies do have a tangy sweet taste, but no worries because each gummy only has 1 gram of sugar. 

    Our Sambucol kit also included Sambucol Black Elderberry Syrup For Kids and the Sambucol Black Elderberry Syrup original formula (for adults and kids), which is great to mix into smoothies and yogurt just in case you have to get creative to get your kid to take his/her medicine.  And just in case we do come down with a quick cold, we have some Sambucol Black Elderberry Pastilles and Sambucol Black Elderberry Cold & Flu Quick Dissolve Tablets.

    Invest In Good Quality Facial Tissue |  I’ve been a fan of coughing or sneezing into my bare hands or even the crook of my elbow.  My mom always raised us to keep a packet or stash of facial tissue handy for these purposes instead.  That way you don’t end up with a hand or elbow full of germs that you will inevitably transfer to someone or something else accidentally.

    Now, let me just say that all facial tissue is not created equally.  Some tissues are so thin that everything just bleeds through the back and ends up on your hands anyway.  Avoid those brands like the plague.  So you want to make sure that you invest in a facial tissue that is sturdy, soft, and thick.  Trust me it’ll be worth the extra 50 – 70 cents in the long run.

    Wash Hands Frequently |  I strive to wash my hands a minimum of 3 times a day not including washing after I visit the bathroom.  Why?  Because washing hands frequently is a great habit to have.  You would be amazed at how many germs linger on common household items like remotes, stove knobs, and table tops.

    Don’t even get me started on how many millions more germs are on public door handles, buggies/shopping carts, and desks in a schoolhouse.  Yes, hand sanitizer can help, but after 2-3 layers, it becomes ineffective and you need to wash those old layers off your hand in order for the fresh layer to work again.  Frequent hand washing is something I find that is harder for adults than kids because kids are generally always down for anything that involves water.

    amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “kerrymccoy-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_design = “enhanced_links”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B07BBYHKV5”; amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “c11275190435676bc6003d15ece5a5da”;
    And if you’re worried about drying your hands out, invest in a hand soap that also has a moisturizer as well as some quality hand lotion to apply after you’ve dried your hands.  Also, wash with warm water and not hot.  That will also help with dryness.

    Leave Outdoor Shoes At The Door |  Have you ever sat down and thought about all of the places your shoes travel during the day?  Now have you thought about all of the germs your shoes are picking up from the places you’re going?  When JJ was a baby, it felt like we lived in the pediatrician’s office.  I felt like I was failing all over again because the same had happened with Moo.

    Then one day his pediatrician asked if we wore our outdoor shoes inside the house.  I said yes and she suggested that we try ditching our sneakers and boots at the front door.   So, I cleaned the carpet and steam mopped all of the laminate.  Every day, I made sure we didn’t go beyond the foyer with our outdoor shoes one.

    It was annoying at first because we had a small foyer and we’d all be huddled there trying to remove our shoes without knocking each other over.  However, within three months, I saw a big difference in how often my son was getting sick.  Since he spent a great deal of time playing on the floor, he had been picking all of the nasty germs we tracked through with our sneakers and boots.

    Ditch The Outside Clothes ASAP |  This is similar to leaving the outdoor shoes at the door.   So whenever we go the park, play outside, or hit up a place with lots of germs or do an activity where we work up a sweat and get dirty, we can’t sit on any fabric surfaces before we’ve showered and changed out of our dirty clothes.

    For example, the kids love horseback riding.  They actually got to go riding this weekend.  The sun was blazing and it wasn’t long before we were all a sweaty mess.  When we got home, I spread out a blanket on the floor for Moo while she waited for me to help her brother bathe and get into a clean set of clothes.

    Our shoes and hands aren’t the only things that can hang onto germs.  Clothes do the same.  And when we sit down on fabric furniture like our couches or beds in clothes that are dirty, dusty, and sweaty.  We transfer those germs to those items.

    I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t have time to shampoo couches and wash bed covers every day.  Our covers and couches would be threadbare in no time.  For me, it just makes sense to shower and change clothes before sitting on these pieces of furniture.

    Well, I hope that you find these tips helpful and that they help you and your family to stay healthy and a lot less germy this cold and flu season.  And if you’re interested in trying out any of the Sambucol products mentioned above, you can find them at Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Amazon, and the Sambucolusa.com.

    amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit0”; amzn_assoc_search_bar = “false”; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “kerrymccoy-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_title = “Other Sambucol Products To Add To Your Medicine Cabinet”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “f51ec299b11341a357cc7b6659bb8f57”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B073V3QLR4,B001ESA368,B00JY0QICG,B00DKF02D2,B017KQO2F0,B001ES8GGC,B001ESA36I,B00VVL1LHS”;
    How do you fight cold and flu germs during the cooler months?  Let’s chat in the comments!

  • Friday Five Recently | Week 2

    Hello August!  How is it time for school to start back already?  We still have another week before we start back with our virtual homeschool.  However, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed the other day and saw that some of my friends’ kids started back last week and earlier this week.

    Since I’m still recovering from July (more on that below), I’m so thankful that I have another seven days to rest up.  Here’s to hoping I finish getting everything organized next week.  Anyways, since I’ve been on a hiatus let’s play catch up! 

    Also, in the spirit of full disclosure, there are some affiliate links below and I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of those links.

    Recently . . .


    Celebrated |  Last month we celebrated my niece’s birthday!  I think that I really nailed it with her gifts.  I had a little input from the kids too.  We got her two 9×12 Melissa & Doug sketch pads, an ALEX Toys Artist Studio Portable Art Set, and the cutest gold squirrel necklace from Spinningdaisy.

    So after opening her presents, we went to see Ant-Man and the Wasp.  I had heard mixed reviews on whether or not this movie was kid-friendly.  In the end, it turned out to be as kid-friendly as the Avengers movies are.  We really loved it.  Also, I loved the dynamics of the family and how they stayed away from the stereotype that divorced couples can’t co-parent peacefully, especially when one parent has remarried.

    After the movie, we went to Cookout!  It’s one of our favorite restaurants and I had been craving one of there bbq plates.  So glad my niece requested to eat there for her birthday dinner.  If you’ve never tried Cookout, you’re missing out on some delicious eats. Overall, it was a great weekend and I enjoyed spending time with my family.

    Finished |  I finally managed to finish Season 2 of Riverdale.  Since I loved the first one so much, it never dawned on me that the second one would lose some momentum.  Needless to say, I couldn’t get into the second season and I decided to wait until it was uploaded to Netflix in full before attempting to watch the rest.

    Thankfully, it did pick up and I got sucked in.  However, the amount of underage sex that was going down this season was a bit of a turn-off.  I’m all for realistic representation and I know teens do have sex.  However, I think Riverdale went overboard from realistic representation and entered into territory where it became glorified instead.

    I hope they cut back a lot on the teen sex for next season or at least balance it out to where they can show teens some of the consequences of having underage sex.

    Cried |  My mom got admitted into the ICU last month.  I cried after I got off the phone with my brother.  He and my aunt had been calling and texting me all that afternoon, but my ringer was turned off.  I didn’t see their missed calls and messages until 7 PM that night.

    I remember being so scared and rushing around the house packing up clothes and stuff for me and the kids.  Thankfully, her condition had improved by the time we got there and she only had to stay in the hospital for a few days.

    This was just as scary as Moo’s snake incident from June.  Maybe a little bit more because for the first time it really hit me that my mom is getting older and what that means.   It made me that I’m getting older as well.  And while we both still has a lot of life left in us, I do need to be realistic and accept that none of us can live forever.  We can only cherish and make the most of each day and each moment.

    Decided |  Speaking of cherishing time, we decided to plan our next family trip.  We’re going to Atlanta for Spring Break!  It seems like a long time away, but with this year being almost over, Spring Break will be here before we know it.  So far the kids really want to check out the World of Coke.

    Let me know what other family-friendly attractions are in Atlanta in the comments below.  Also, be sure to share your favorite restaurants as well.

    Started |  This month, I started saving up for two new cameras.  I was all set to purchase one of the cameras in June, but adulting happen and I had to make choices on where my coins should go.  Anyways, I’m looking to get a Canon PowerShot SX730 for vlogging and for taking less formal pictures.

    For sponsored work, I’d love to have a Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR.  If you have either of these cameras let me know if like it or not in the comments.

    Have you started planning for Spring Break yet?
    Linking up with: Momfessional | TBB | High Five Friday

    amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit0”; amzn_assoc_search_bar = “true”; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “kerrymccoy-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_title = “”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “68b5ecb85f840066828c671b5f9dabad”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B01AW5V6CS,B01AW5V8JY,B00J0U6T0Q,B00DV7QH5Q”;

  • Friday Five Recently | Week 1

    Happy Friday!  Who’s ready for the weekend?  Or does every day feel like the weekend since it’s Summer Break? 🤔
    I’m still trying to figure this one out.  Anyways, I feel like this week was long, but not in a bad way.  With the first month of Summer Break coming to a close, I’m not complaining about time passing by slowly.  There is NO rush to start back up with school just yet.
    Here’s a little peek at what we’ve been up to since my last Recently post.  I’m thinking about making these weekly.  We’ll see what happens tho.  And because I’m all about full disclosure, there are some affiliate links below and I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of those links.

    Recently . . .


    Read |  I’ve been a reading machine these last few weeks.  This week I finished reading A Court of Starlight and Frost by Sarah J Maas.  It had all the holiday vibes and a just a hint of family drama.  If you haven’t heard of Sarah J Maas’ YA fantasy series ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses), I suggest reading it.  Chances are if you have pre-teens or teens, they’ve already read it or are currently reading it.
    Also, I recently finished up The Color Project by Sierra Abrams.  This is YA contemporary/romance that will give you ALL. THE. FEELS!  The romance and how the young lovebirds in this book are what I think most of us as parents want for our children.  I think there is a messaging in here that’s not common in YA when it comes to teen/young relationships.  In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve only ever seen it in the Twilight series.
     And that messaging is waiting to have sex.  I feel like there are tons of YA books with teens being overly sexually active, but what about books for teens who are waiting/value waiting?  That representation needs to be there more in the YA genre so that those teens can see more aspects of themselves in the characters that they are reading.  Also, how stunning is that book cover?!!
    And of course, earlier this month I finished Chasing Grace by Sanya Richards-Ross.  It is a Christian non-fiction book in which four-time Olympic gold medalist Sanya talks about what running track taught her about life and her relationship with God.  It was a great read and honestly, this is a book that even non-Christians would enjoy as well.  
    I’m currently reading Dread Nation by the lovely Justina Ireland!  This is a historical thriller that takes place during the Civil War.  It tackles the issues of racism, slavery and more.  Did I mention there are zombies in here?!  See what other books I have planned to read here.  Let me know if anyone is down for a buddy read.
    Admired |  Moo is writing a book!  I don’t know if I mentioned that here already or not.  Either way, I’m so proud of her.  She’s been working on it for a few weeks now.  She stayed up way past midnight Monday writing her little heart out.
    Her little fingers were flying across the keyboard.  I kept peeking around the corner from where I was washing dishes in the kitchen to stare at her in action.   It was one of those surreal moments that I can’t quite put into words.  I really admire how dedicated she is to this.
    And to think it all started with her coming to me and declaring, “I want to be a writer like you, Mommy!  I want to write a book too.”  My heart melts over and over again every time I think about that day.  Isn’t it every parent’s dream to inspire/motivate their child in a positive way?
    JJ has also joined our writing crew and is working on his first comic book/graphic novel inspired by Atomic Puppet from Netflix and Super Mario the video game.  I’m currently working on a historical fiction project I’ve been calling Project Black Scot in addition to finishing up a contemporary romance novel.  We’re putting in that work y’all! 
    Watched |  Netflix is pretty much all I watch besides Fixer Upper and a handful of cooking shows on cable.  I recently binge-watched season 2 of Dear White People and LOVED IT!  I’m so glad Netflix jumped on this and picked up this series that is based on/inspired by its movie namesake.  With the current state of our country, I highly recommend giving this a watch if you haven’t already.
    I’m currently making way through season 2 of Luke Cage.  I’m so glad folks acted like they had sense because a lot of non-Blacks were tripping and letting their racist flags fly on Twitter when Marvel and Netflix announced season 1.  It was a mess, but Black Twitter quickly got the haters all the way together.
    We NEED to see more Black superheroes in shows and movies with predominantly Black casts.  Remember folks representation matters!!  I wish folks got this so we wouldn’t have to deal with the outpour of racism and foolish that comes when these types of projects are introduced and announced.

    Spotted |  We recently took a break from our yard because we spotted our first snake–a copperhead.  It was a little one, but that snake was slithering after my baby (Moo).  So, of course, I had to help it on it’s way to snake heaven.

    This mama bear doesn’t play about her kids.  I kind of knew we’d have a snake run-in at some point because we’re in the country.  I’m talking backwoods.  Plus, the Carolinas is known for its share of copperheads and other venomous snakes depending on where you live.

    It’s time to teach my city kids a thing or two about country living.  I want them to be able to enjoy the outdoors safely because I have no plans to stay cooped up inside the rest of Summer Break.

    Searched |  I need a new car!  So this past Wednesday, the kids and I were supposed to go to Great Wolf Lodge for a media event.  We were all pumped and ready.  The kids were beyond excited because they’ve been asking to go to GWL forever and a day.

    Unfortunately, we woke up to some car trouble on Wednesday and I had to cancel.  Talk about a nightmare.  We all cried because we were all frustrated.  So, I started searching for cars and I think that I’ve found one that may be perfect for us.  It’s an SUV, but it’s not huge.  It has loads of trunk space.

    I wish the gas mileage was better though.  I’m going to look around a bit more to be 100% sure.  I can’t wait to have my own wheels again!

    4th of July is coming up next week!  Please be safe and mindful of your neighbors if you’re going to celebrate by popping fireworks!  Also, don’t forget to check out my latest giveaway.

    What’s been the highlight of your summer so far?
    Linking up with: Momfessional | TBB | High Five Friday

  • Hotel Transylvania 3 Activity Pages + Advance Screening Giveaway

    Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Sony Animations.  Also, I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of the affiliate links in this post.

    Who’s ready for a vacation?  A monster summer vacation that is.  Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation is sailing into movie theaters Friday, July 13th!  Yes, Drac and the crew are back for another awesome and fun adventure.

    When it comes to animated movies, the Hotel Transylvania series has always been one of my favorites.  For starters, it has an amazing voiceover cast.  There’s Adam Sandler (Drac), Selena Gomez (Mavis), David Spade (Griffin aka the Invisible Man), Andy Sanberg (Johnny), and Keegan-Michael Key (Murray the mummy) to name a few.
    Also, the Hotel Transylvania movies always a message for parents as well as kids.  And as a mom of two, I’ve always been able to relate to Drac’s struggle with accepting and adjusting to Mavis growing up and finding her own way.  It’s bittersweet watching our children grow up.  On one hand, we want them to be more independent and to conquer the world.  But on the other hand, we want them to stay little and innocent forever. 

    This world has world has always been a scary place, even more so with the current state of affairs.  I’ve always appreciated Sony for tackling some of the real-life struggles and growing pains of parenthood in a way that is humorous but ever so sweet at the same time.  This is exactly why I’m looking forward to checking out Hotel Transylvania 3 with my kids a few weeks.

    This time around the Drac Pack is leaving the hotel behind to cruise the open sea.  Drac’s finally getting a little break from the hustle and bustle of catering to demanding hotel guests.  After all what could be more relaxing than a luxurious monster cruise?  I mean there’s moonbathing, volleyball and lots of other monster-friendly fun activities.

    However, it isn’t long before all the fun comes to a halt for Mavis after she sees that her dad (Drac) has become a bit smitten with ship’s mysterious captain, Ericka.  And to make matters worse, Ericka is keeping a HUGE that could end all of monsterkind!  And if you’ve seen the first movie, you know this has been Drac’s biggest fear about stepping out into the world beyond the hotel from the start. 
    I don’t know about y’all but I can’t wait to find out what Ericka’s secret is and how the Drac Pack is going to stop her.  It’s almost Mavis and Drac are trading roles in this movie.  Remember how protective he was of her in the first movie when she zinged with Johnny?  Now it’s her turn to be protective of her dad and protect him from getting his heart broken.

    And this is something my siblings and I can definitely relate to.  We are super protective of my mom and don’t mind checking anyone who’s even remotely trying to check for/holla at her.   😂😂

    Did I mention that there will be new faces in Hotel Transylvania 3?  I’m so happy we’ll be meeting some new characters.  Joe Jonas is playing The Kraken.  Therefore, you already know there’s about to be a fun new musical number.  Remember Drac’s dope rhyme from the first movie during Mavis’ birthday dance party?  I’m this new musical number will be just as epic.
    And comedian Jim Gaffigan is joining the cast as Van Helsing.  I’m already anticipating laughing until I cry.  In fact, I’m pretty sure that I’m more excited about this movie than Moo and JJ at this point.

    No worries they still have a few weeks to build up their excitement to my level.  And to help with that we’ll be enjoying this fun Hotel Transylvania 3 activity pack.  It has fun activity pages like the one above as well as lots of coloring sheets!  So just click the link above, download, and print!  It’s totally FREE. 

    Also, for my readers in the Charlotte, NC area, Sony was awesome enough to allow me to giveaway 15 Admit Four Passes to the upcoming early Hotel Transylvania 3 movie screening on Saturday, July 7th at 11 AM at AMC Northlake 14.  All you have to do is use the widget below to enter if you’re 18 and older.  Feel free to share this giveaway with your friends too! 
    You can check out Hotel Transylvania 3 games and other exclusives on their official website!

    Who’s your/your kid’s favorite character from the Drac Pack?

  • Chasing Grace

    This post is sponsored by Front Gate Media and Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Publishers.  Product for this post was provided.  Also, this post contains affiliate links and may receive a commission for purchases made using those links.

    My sophomore year of high school I made the decision to join the track team.  My depression was starting to consume me and some of my teachers had started expressing concern over how withdrawn I seemed.  I’ll never forget the day one of my teachers asked me to stay for a few minutes after class.  “I’m worried about you.  Is everything okay at home?” she asked.  “Somethings’s going on with you like you’re always sad.”


    I knew I had to do something and fast.  I needed to find a way to cope and I didn’t need my mom’s colleagues speculating/gossiping about what about they thought might have been going on.  So, I prayed for a sign.  A few days later when I heard that my cousin was the new girls’ track team coach, I knew this was it.  And much like Sanya Richards-Ross talks about in her new book, Chasing Grace: What The Quarter Mile Has Taught Me About God And Life, it was on the track that I rediscovered God’s grace and learned how to take charge of my life.

    The track has always been my safe haven.  My sanctuary, my place of peace.  I’ve always said I didn’t choose the quarter mile, but it chose me.

    Going into reading Chasing Grace, I was anxious to see how much Sanya and I would have in common from our track days.  For starters, like Sanya, the track became my safe haven and place where I could find peace.  Also, like Sanya, I ran the 400 meters race.  When I was running, my mind could shut out all the troubles and noise of the outside world.  Those 400 meters gave me just enough time to escape reality and reel my sanity back in.

    So one of the stipulations for me being able to run track was that my father would have to be the one to pick up from practices and travel with me to out of town meets.  My mom had her hands full working two jobs, taking care of my younger siblings, and taking classes.  Because my father had been going in and out our lives at this point, I wasn’t sure if he would agree or could commit to doing these things.  Thankfully, he did.

    This is why reading about Sanya’s relationship with her father and how he was always in the stands to cheer her on and record her races were some of my favorite parts of Chasing Grace.   It reminded me how grateful I was that my father was my biggest cheerleader from the stands when I ran track.  I’ll never know how my father managed to make it to every practice and track meet, but I’d like to think that just like Newton Richards, my father pushed and supported me because he didn’t have his parents to push and support him when he wanted to play football. Regardless of his why, I am forever thankful that he stepped up to the plate.

    The vision board is something that allowed me to narrow my focus.  It also challenged me to get clear on what I wanted.  What I like best about the process, if done the right way, is that it forces you to dig deep within yourself.

    Vision boards are another thing that I discovered Sanya and I had in common.  If you’ve been reading YUMMommy for a while, then you already know that every year my family and I make vision boards.  Our purpose is to create a visual representation of our goals and dreams that we want to achieve for that year.  By looking at our vision boards daily, it helps us to stay locked and focused on said goals and dreams.  It was pretty cool finding out she uses vision boards the same way.

    Aside from discovering all of the similarities between Sanya and me, what I really appreciated the most about Chasing Grace was her vulnerability.  Her book is broken up into four sections – Push, Pace, Position, and Poise aka the 4 phases of racing.  In Chapter 9, she opens up about what really happened at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and why she didn’t win the gold medal in the 400m individual race.

    I made a decision that broke me, and one from which I would not immediately heal.

    I can remember watching the Olympics with my family and waiting to see if Sanya was going to set another world record.  She was (still is) the Flo Jo of my generation.  The camera panned around the racers as they introduced them and I can remember that when the camera landed on Sanya, her face looked haunted.  The announcer even noticed and suggested that it might be nerves.  It wasn’t until I read Chapter 9 of her book, that I really found out what that haunted look was all about.

    I’m not going to spoil it.  You’ll have to read the book to find out what happened.  What I will say is that it broke my heart reading her experience.  I cried a bit reading her story in that chapter.  For me track was a sport that saved me during a dark time and I never ran track with the dreams of becoming an Olympic athlete.

    I was broken.  Instead of reaching for this finish line, I kept looking back at the line I just crossed.  Prayers that typically broke through lacked any personal conviction.  I had really screwed up this time, and I knew it.  How could I ask God for this blessing when I had just done the one thing I never thought I’d do?

    So, I’ll never be able to relate to the pressure the Sanya felt that caused her to make the choice that she did.  Reading about what she sacrificed to be able to compete in the 2008 Olympics really opened my eyes even more to just how much female athletes also sacrifice.  It also showed how brave Sanya is to reveal and talk about something so personal and that had such a life-changing impact on her and her family. I could feel the pain of her words as they leaped off the pages as she talks about what she considered her fall from God’s grace.

    He alone was carrying me out of my darkest time.  Gentle tears fell down my cheeks as love rushed in.  I felt forgiven before I even asked for it. . . . His love is always because of His favor and grace.  I did not earn God’s love;  He gives it freely.  And that meant I didn’t have to ask Him to give it back.

    Thankfully, though she talks about how she found her way back and how she realized that God’s grace had never left her.  Another thing that I loved that she touched on was the important role that therapy played in helping her get back into a healthy mental space as well.  While strides have been made, much of the Black community still struggles when it comes to mental health and with being able to seek help through therapy.

    After I lost in Beijing, Coach Hart urged me to start working with a sports psychologist.  He had no idea the source of my true mental turmoil, but it was one of the best decisions of my career and my life.

    For some of us, there’s still that belief that “Black people don’t therapy.”  We just take it all to God in prayer on Sunday morning during the preacher’s altar call.  And don’t get me wrong, we should definitely do that.  However, we should also take a step back and realize that often times that answer to our prayer is therapy but because we don’t want to be seen as “crazy,” we’re often deaf and blind to what God has put right in front of us.

    Fear holds us back from embracing every season of our lives, which are richly rewarded when we pursue those exchanges with God as our running companion.  We must be present and have the courage to step out in faith when we know it’s time to move on and accept the plans that our Father has laid out for us.

    While there were a lot of things in Sanya’s book that spoke to me, it’s this quote that spoke to me the loudest.  Like many people, Sanya included, I struggle with overcoming the fear that comes with trying something new, especially if it requires a huge leap of faith.  For a while now, I’ve been struggling with moving on to the next stage of the plan that God has for my life.  I think this was His way of sending me a sign that it’s time to take control of my fear and move forward like Sanya did when she knew that she’d reached the end of the road in her running career in 2016.

    Again, I admired her openness about how she felt when realized that her body had given all that it had to give in terms of her continuing to race on a professional level.  I know how I’d feel if I had to give up writing.  I’d be crushed beyond measure.  However, I love how she reminded me that we have to prepare ourselves to change positions as we continue through life.

    While God gave us all talents, He never promised us that those talents wouldn’t evolve over time or that we wouldn’t have to transition to a different aspect/position of those talents.

    Overall, Chasing Grace was an amazing book.  It’s definitely earned a place in my Top 10 for books I’ve enjoyed reading this year.  If you’ve ever struggled with feeling like you’ve fallen out of God’s grace, fear, and just trying to figure out how your talents line up with our faith, then this is the book for you.

    I highly recommend that you pick up a copy.  Also, you can enter this giveaway to one of 15 winners to win a copy of Chasing Grace.  This giveaway ends June 30, 2018.

    What’s the last book you’ve read that you really connected with?
    amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit0”; amzn_assoc_search_bar = “false”; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “kerrymccoy-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_title = “Shop This Post”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “9e80d4500a542c1daa9bee7844183da0”; amzn_assoc_asins = “0310349400,0310761212,0310760909,B01EBANF7Y”;

  • 20 Life Lessons Proverbs Taught Me

    This post is sponsored by Front Gate Media and B & H Publishing Group.  Product for this post was provided.

    When it comes to life lessons and wisdom, Proverbs is like the ultimate roadmap.  It’s filled with so many life lessons to help us tackle some of life’s everyday challenges and to help build great character.   King Soloman prayed to God for wisdom and God granted his request.  Soloman then compiled some of that wisdom into the book that is Proverbs.

    I’d like to think that if Soloman was alive today he’d probably quote Jay-Z and tell us, “Sol did that so hopefully you wouldn’t have to go through that.”  I mean seriously some life lessons we can avoid learning through experience by reading his wisdom.  Growing up my mom quoted Proverbs 4:5 to me and my siblings more than once and for that I am grateful.

    Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.

    – Proverbs 4:5 

    20 Life Lessons From Proverbs To Live By

    So one of my goals for this year was to get back on track with reading my Bible and my Bible journaling.  I will admit that I didn’t get off to a strong start.  However, I was recently gifted a new Bible- CSM Study Bible For Women– that has helped to motivate me to change that.  Seriously, this is probably one of these most beautiful and in-depth Bibles I’ve ever owned.

    One of the first books, I delved in was Proverbs of course.  So here 20 of my favorite life lessons/guidelines as outlined from those Soloman’s writings.

    1.  Stay Loyal, Be Faithful

    Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.  Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will find favor and high regard with God and people.

    – Proverbs 3:3-4 

    I see so many people struggling with trying to find and invent ways to get on other people’s good side so that they can get favoritism.  However, the answer to getting favor nothing only with those people but God as well is being loyal and faithful/trustworthy.  People really respect loyalty and faithfulness because it requires a certain level of discipline and respect that not everyone has.

    2.  The Heart Is Sacred

    Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

    – Proverbs 4:23 

    If you didn’t know, the heart is one of the most important organs in the body.  And as the source of our very lives, we should always strive to protect it.  From watching what we eat to being more mindful of the people and things we let into our hearts, it’s important to stay on guard 24/7 to keep our hearts healthy and sacred.

    3.  Follow Instructions, Accept Correction

    The one who follows instruction is on the path to life, but the one who rejects correction goes astray.

    – Proverbs 10:17 

    I know it’s hard taking instructions and correction.  We’ve all those had those “I don’t need to you tell me what to do” and a few “I’m not trying to hear what you have to say right now because I’m grown” moments.  But sometimes it really pays to put pride and stubbornness to the side and listen, especially when we know that the correction and instruction are coming from the right place.  At the end of the day, we don’t know everything and we all need some tough love now and then.

    4.  Don’t Front

    Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant, than to act important but have no food.

    – Proverbs 12:9 

    This is not to be confused with faking it til you make it.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  However, if you’re going out coping the latest Gucci bag because you want to keep up with your favorite Instagram It Girl and you barely have money to cover your rent, that’s a problem.

    In the words of the never-aging Pharrell, “Stop frontin’!”  Live within your means and make sure your basics are taken care of first.  Stack your leftover coins until you can actually afford that purse without putting yourself at risk of being evicted.

    5.  Things Aren’t Always What They Seem

    Even in laughter a heart may be sad, and joy may end in grief.

    – Proverbs 14:13 

    There was recently a discussion on Black Twitter about how we as Black people went through and are still growing through so much that we’ve mastered the art of masking our pain with laughter.  There’s so much truth in that and not just for Black people.  Remember how shocked we all were when actor Robin Williams committed suicide.  To us, it looked like he had it all and was happy but behind closed doors, he was really hurting.

    Let this be a reminder that everything isn’t always as it appears.  Check-in on your friends who always seem so strong or like they have it together.  Chances are they really don’t.  And when you’re checking in on them, just be a listening ear.  Don’t try to fix them.

    6.  Somebody’s Always Watching

    The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.

    – Proverbs 15:3 

    My mom used to always tell me and my siblings to “Always do the right thing because even when you think no one is around, God is always watching.”  Even if you don’t believe in God, I think the greatest testament to how honest and pure of heart we are, are the things we do when we think no one is watching. 

    7.  Patience And Control Are Virtues

    Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.

    – Proverbs 16:32 

    Nothing has taught me more about patience and emotional control than motherhood and marriage.  If I have power but I don’t have patience or the ability to control my emotions, I’m not going to be able to be the best mother and wife that I can be.  I’ll just be a ticking time bomb or one of those people who lets their emotions influence their decision making.  There are moments that I look back on and see how I’ve hurt people I care about because I didn’t exercise patience or control my emotions.  And y’all it’s not a good feeling.

    8.  Choose Quality Over Quantity

    One with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

    – Proverbs 18:24 

    This one pretty straightforward.  It’s better to have that one best friend that’s like family than to have a bunch friends who are always plotting behind your back.

    9.  Do Your Research, Don’t Be Hasty

    Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins.

    – Proverbs 19:2 

    Do your research before hopping on the bandwagon!   Remember everything isn’t always what it seems and people aren’t always who they say they are.  Don’t rush into things only to end up hurt later.

    10.  Actions Speak Loud

    Even a young man is known by his actions- by whether his behavior is pure and upright.

    – Proverbs 20:11 

    My mom always taught me let my actions speak for me.  She wasn’t big on hearing what was I going to do.  She wanted to see it!  In the words of the Migos, she wanted me to “walk it like I talk it.”

    11.  Stop Talking Out The Side Of Your Neck

    The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

    – Proverbs 21:23 

    I always hear people brag about not having a filter when it comes to the things that come out of their mouths and always find myself wondering, how is that a good thing?  Often times, it’s those same people who always caught up in some type of drama because their mouths have written checks that they couldn’t cash.  Sometimes, it pays to not have loose lips.

    12.  Karma Is Real

    The one who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

    – Proverbs 22:8 

    At the end of the day, we all reap what sow.  So, sow good seeds!

    13.  Let Fools Be Fools

    Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.

    – Proverbs 23:9 

    Know when to keep quiet because your words will fall on death ears.  This verse reminds me of the time Jesus had to flee from his own people because they didn’t want to hear what he say.  They started chasing him trying to kill him and God told him to just get on the boat and leave them to their own foolishness.

    Not everyone is going to want to be saved or receive what you have to say.  It’s okay.  Let them be.

    14.  Be The Bigger Person

    Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me; I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”

    – Proverbs 24:29 

    The golden rule may be “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” but that doesn’t mean that we sink their level if they don’t treat us right.  In the words of Michelle Obama, “When they go low, we go high.”

    15.  Kill Your Enemies With Kindness

    If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap buring coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

    – Proverbs 25:21-22 

    Nothing gets under a person’s skin more than when you’re nice them after they’ve done nothing but wronged you.  Their guilt will eat them alive and honestly, that’s better than any revenge than you could ever dish out.

    16.  Encourage Others

    Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.

    – Proverbs 27:17 

    There’s nothing I love more than when I see other people uplifting and encouraging others.  When we build up/sharpen other people we’re making our world a better place one person at a time.  We’re changing that person’s life for better.

    17.  Let Others Brag About You

    Let another praise you, and not your own mouth- a stranger, and not your own lips.

    – Proverbs 27:2 

    While there’s nothing wrong with bigging yourself up every now and then, nobody loves self-bragger or a person who’s always trying to rub their accomplishments in other people’s faces.  Also, this scripture has reminded me to brag more about my friends and loved ones when I see them doing their thing!  It’s reminded me that it’s important to celebrate people in my life so that they don’t always feel like they’re the only ones celebrating themselves.

    18.  Don’t Go Chasing Fantasies

    The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

    – Proverbs 28:19 

    While fantasies can sometimes serve as inspiration for our dreams, it’s important to put in the actual work to accomplish said dreams.  Focusing on the fantasy will get you nowhere if you’re not taking actionable steps to live the life you desire.

    19.  Give Back, Have Compassion

    The one who gives to the poor will not be in need, but one who turns his eyes away will receive many curses.

    – Proverbs 28:27

    I’ve talked more than once about how I grew up poor and a lot of people showed compassion to me and my family.  There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t thank God for sending those people to us and I always pray that He will bless them ten-fold.  I’ve even had the opportunity to return the favor for some of those people when they were in need.

    20.  Don’t Let Anger Be Your Guide

    A fool gives full vent to his anger but a wise person holds it in check.

    – Proverbs 29:11

    Remember, it’s okay to be angry.  However, letting our anger consume us can change us for the worst and cause us to do things that we regret.   Find a way to channel that negative energy in a positive way instead.

    If you’re looking to study more of the Bible, I definitely recommend starting with Proverbs.  There’s just such a wealth of information in there as far as guiding up and advising us on how to be decent and good human beings.  And if you’re in the market for a new Bible that’s tailored to women, you can’t wrong with the CSB Study Bible for Women.  Not only is it pretty to look at but it’s filled with all kinds of helpful tools like full-color maps, profiles on different Biblical characters, key verses for every book, an extensive index, doctrinal notes and more. 

    You pick up your own CSB Study Bible for Women here or click here to enter to win one. 

  • Tropical Fruit Popcorn Bars

    This post is sponsored by Moms Meet and Palm Oil Health.  Compensation for this post was provided and I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of the links in this post.


    Summer Break is finally here!!  I wanted to make a special dessert/snack to help us celebrate the end of another successful school year.  When I was a kid my mom used to let us pop our own popcorn as a treat for special moments like getting a good grade on a test or family movie night.  So it’s only seemed fitting that I introduce this tradition to my kids.  Of course, we put our own twist on it by ditching the canola oil for Malaysian Red Palm Oil and kicked things up a notch by turning our popcorn into tropical fruit popcorn bars.

    Why Malaysian Red Palm Oil?

    Our dishes are only as good as our ingredients.  More importantly, our bodies are only as good as the ingredients we put into it.  With that said, did you know that palm oil is one of the best better-for-you oils that you can cook with?  I didn’t!
    For years, I’ve always thought palm oil was something to avoid.  So imagine my shock when it I found out that it’s actually a healthier option.  Palm oil is naturally free of trans-fatty acids, is one of the few edible oils that are not grown from genetically modified seeds, has a high burn temperature, and is a great source of the Vitamin E tocotrienols antioxidant.
    This antioxidant is known to help the body fight chronic diseases as well as to help slow down how fast our body ages.  Also, it’s sustainably sourced!  From a taste standpoint, palm oil doesn’t overpower your food.  If anything, in my personal opinion it helps the true flavors of your dish burst forward. 
    Now let’s get back to our recipe.

    Ingredients

    1 cup popcorn kernels
    6 tbsp palm oil
    1 1/2 cups dried tropical fruit mix
    1/2 cup sunflower seeds
    3 tsp butter
    1 bag (10 oz) of mini marshmallows
    caramel syrup, optional
    seasoning salt, optional

    Directions

    In a large pot, heat up 3 tbsp of palm oil over medium-high heat.   Once your oil is hot, remove your pot from the heat and add 1/2 cup of your popcorn kernels.  Place the lid on and give the pot a swirl to coat the kernels with the palm oil.
    When you’re kernels are coated, place the pot back on the heat.  prop lit slightly askew so that steam doesn’t build up in the pot.   Watch closely and wait for your popcorn to start popping.  When it sounds like your popcorn is slowing down remove from the heat and let it sit until all popping stops. 
    Pour popcorn into a bowl and repeat above steps for the second batch of popcorn.  When you are done with both batches of popcorn, salt likely if you want with seasoning salt or any salt of your choice.
    Using the same pot, add 2 tsp of butter.  Once your butter is melted, add in your 10 oz bag of mini marshmallows.  Stir until marshmallows start to melt, mixing them with the butter.  Add your last tsp of butter and stir again.
    Then, add in popcorn and mix thoroughly so that all the popcorn pieces are coated with the marshmallow.  Add in your tropical fruit mix and your sunflower seeds and stir again.
    When your ingredients have been mixed to your liking, pour mixture into a 13-inch x 9-inch non-stick baking dish (you can also line your baking dish with parchment or wax paper as well).  Carefully, pat mixture down using a spoon, silicone spatula, or cup.  I do not recommend using your hand as you may be burned by the hot melted marshmallow.  (Ask me how I know.)
    Once you have your mixture patted flat, let it rest and cool for up to an hour.  I just left my baking dish uncovered on the store.  Covering it will cause moisture to build up and then you’ll have soggy popcorn.  Also, you use this the time add more tropical fruit mix or sunflower seeds to the top of your popcorn bars if you want.
    After your popcorn has cooled, cut into bars.  When you’re serving your bars, you can drizzle them with caramel syrup for a little extra flavor or enjoy them as is.  Either way is super delicious!
    And there you have it, a fun and delicious treat to celebrate the start of Summer Break or perhaps to enjoy during a family movie night.    Don’t forget you can find out more about palm oil and get more recipes here, on Facebook, and Twitter!   Happy Snacking!

    amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit0”; amzn_assoc_search_bar = “false”; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “yummommy-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_title = “Shop This Post”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “dbf6cd23c67e182aad5c6dc26f45d9c7”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B004WYIRHS,B00CCY89F0,B06WVP32Q1,B01M68LTTN”;