YUMMommy

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  • Thankful Thursday

    Wow, it’s almost July.  Summer is going by quickly.  Soon it’ll be time for the kids to head back to school.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Moo gets approval from her doctor to start preschool.  Since being back home we haven’t any more issues with her stomach bothering her and I’m thankful for that because she was really in pain. 
    I’m thankful that we live in the city and have more access to stores that carry foods specifically for people with food allergies.  You would think that stores everywhere do this but we have a challenge every time we go down to my mom’s house finding gluten-free foods and soy products.  Moo loves ice cream and I’m thankful that yesterday while we were grocery shopping I found a section in the organic/vegan section of diary free ice cream! 
    It’s a lot more expensive but I’m glad that she’ll be able to start enjoying ice cream again because she’s grown very tired of popsicles.  I’m thankful that all went well at story time yesterday. (Read here.)  I was more than a little worried if we were going to have a repeat of the last time.  Thankfully, we didn’t.  Moo had a blast playing with the other kids.
    JJ even got in on the action and tried to take a few steps.  I’m very thankful that he’s making progress in starting to walk on his own.  He can balance himself standing up without holding on to anything but when he moves to take a step he just falls down.  But he doesn’t give up.  He pulls himself back into a standing position and starts over again.
    I’m also very thankful that this week we have been able to spend more time with the Mr!  For a while it felt like we weren’t seeing much of him at all because he was working pretty much seven days a week.  I’m really looking forward to grilling out this weekend since he’ll be off and hope to capture some family moments.
    What are you giving thanks for?

  • Invisible Mommy Seen

    Remember, how I blogged about the issues we were having with the group for story time at our local library?  (See this post for a refresher.)  Well, we took a break from story time for the last weeks.  No, those rude parents didn’t run me off.  One week I was out of town and then of course last week I mentioned that the Mr had hit a deer.  
    Well, this week we were in town and I decided that I wasn’t going to let the ignorant behavior of some immature adults run me and my kids off from an activity we love.  Reading and books is in our blood!  Seriously, I busted the seam on the bookshelf in my living room because it has so many books on it.  Anyways, a miracle happened today.
    We arrived a few minutes after story time started and when we entered the room guess what happened?  One of the other moms who has never said a word to me or even acknowledged I existed actually greeted me when I came in.  I’m talking about full on smile and everything.  I was a bit in shock but managed to smile back.
    I’m starting to wonder if she read my blog post and feels ashamed of her behavior?  Or maybe, it had something to do with our two week absence.  Whatever the case, I prayed long and hard since I first talked to you all about the craziness that was going down.  I prayed mainly because I wanted to give them a piece of my mind and rip them a new one after how they made Moo feel.  I didn’t ask God to let them disappeared.
    Instead I asked him to soften their hearts and remove their ignorance.  Doesn’t that gospel song say “You don’t have to move the mountain, just give me the strength to climb?”  Well, I didn’t want that mountain to move, I wanted to strength and patience to deal with them until God opened their eyes.
    Now, I’m not saying we’re out of the woods yet.  However, I’m keeping strong to my faith that they felt bad about how they acted and have time to reflect upon the stupidity of their actions.  Playtime afterwards went much better. All the kids played and none of the parents interfered.  Let’s hope this continues.
    Do you think it’s possible that these parents have turned over a new leaf so fast?

  • Old Navy Beach Bum Shopping Party

    As you all know, I’m a member of the Old Navy Style Council.  I simply love, love, love them.  Nothing beats great fashion with great prices.  With summer officially here, many of us are hitting up the beach and the pools.  To help me get pool and beach ready, Old Navy invited me to host a Beach Bum Shopping Party to check out their selection of beach accessories (beach towel, sunglasses, beach bag and flip flops).  So, I invited a few friends and the party was on! 



    Here’s a few pics we snapped while there.  


    Store Front

    I don’t know about you, but I can’t leave home without a super cute bag.  Same goes for hitting up the beach/pool.
    Isn’t she such a lovely a model?!!

    I nicknamed this the Great Wall of Flip Flops. It went on for forever.  I got a pair of the Neon Life Lime ones you see on the far left.
    Moo had to be in picture too.

    You know we couldn’t visit Old Navy without checking out the fashion too!  Your beach outfit is just as important as your accessories.
    The print on this dress was super cute!
    This maxi skirt could totally double as a bathing suit coverup/dress thanks to the drawstrings.
    My other lovely model.  Her little guy is super handsome.
    We spotted some celebrities too!



    If you’re headed to the beach or pool this summer be sure make Old Navy your first stop and pick some cool accessories and beachwear!  Also visit them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  And if you’re really looking to have some fun download their Old Navy Snap Appy!

    Will you be hitting up the beach or pool this summer?






    Disclosure: I am an Old Navy Style Council member and received a coupon for free accessories for myself and my guests.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

  • Shop Your Way

    This post brought to you by ShopYourWay Program. All opinions are 100% mine.

    PersonalShopper.jpg

     Whether it’s a stylish pair of shoes for me or toys for the kids, I love shopping and discovering new products.  And what I enjoy even more is being able to share my new finds with friends, family and you guys.  I like to call it spreading the wealth.  Plus, I’m not able to co-sign anything that I don’t like or wouldn’t use.  So, I’m kind of like a personal shopper in that way.

    That’s one of the reasons I decided to join the ShopYourWay Rewards Program.  It allows me to connect with all my friends and family and recommend great products to them in one place.  I can even customize my recommendations to suit each person’s needs by creating a personal online catalog for them.  They can look through, read my notes/reviews and purchase the products online.  

     

     

    The best part about the ShopYourWay Rewards Program (besides earning 1% of all qualifying purchases) is the ease in which all this is.  From the sign-up to inviting family and friends to join your “client list” and picking out products they’ve looking for, it’s all a breeze.  Seriously, you don’t have to be a rocket sciencist to do this.

    You just:

    1. Request an Invite to ShopYourWay to get started today
    2. Verify your email and click on the “start earning” link
    3. Click on the “Accept Invitation” button and follow the steps to complete your account
    4. Start inviting famil and friends to join your “client list”
    5. Go shopping and start building catalogs and recommending products

    Really if your family and friends are always asking you for recommends with regards to clothing, the lastest kitchen gadgets and more this is the program for you.  I encourage to give it a try and see you how like being a personal shopper!

     

    Are you the go to personal shopper for your family and friends?

  • Thankful Thursday

    After a full week down in the sticks visiting with family, I am thankful to be back home with my husband.  I’m really going to miss not having to cook or wash dishes.  However, there’s simply no place like your own home and your own bed.  Not to mention, I had a stack of mail waiting to be opened and projects to get the ball rolling on.
    I’m thankful the Mr is ok after his accident.  He hit a deer coming home from work the other day.  It could have been worst but thank God, he was able to swerve a little bit and avoid hitting the deer head on.  And the damage the car is minimal.  I’m telling yall God is good!
    I’m thankful Moo’s pumpkin plant is still alive.  It was dry as a chip when we got back.  The Mr doesn’t have a green thumb.  It’s still hanging in here though.  We’ll hit with a few drops of some Miracle Grow just make sure though.
    We still love our new church!  Can’t say how happy and thankful I am for that.  There’s more joy in my step and I love it.  I had fell off the bandwagon and my faith was getting a little low.  So, I’m super glad that I found this church when I did.  It’s just making such a difference to be surrounded by people who love the Lord and want to share His goodness with me but in a non-pushy or judgmental way.
    Lots of opportunities have been coming through lately for YUMMommy.  And I know that it’s all possible because of all the support I get from you all. And if I haven’t told you lately, I’m eternally gratefully for it.  
    What’s on your Thankful Thursday list?

  • Wordless Wednesday: Summer Reading

    Get the book!

  • Desperate For Love

    Did anybody watch Love & Hip Hop Atlanta?  Now, I know that it seems like VH1 just has it out for Black people looking like fools but honestly I thought this show was going to be a little more classy for some reason.  Every show has drama but I couldn’t even finish watching it after I saw Mimi pretty much allowing herself to be degraded on national tv.  In case, you didn’t watch, she’s dating this dude named Stevie and he’s pretty much been cheating on her their entire 15 year relationship.
    And the thing that got me is that she knew.  I’m sorry but I have standards and I’m not about to overlook no man’s creeping regardless of how much money he has or how much I think I love him.  Love is an action not emotion and his actions have clearly being saying that he couldn’t give two rats about her.  Did I mention they have a two year old daughter?
    If I was crazy enough to stay with somebody like that, we certainly wouldn’t be having unprotected sex.  AIDS and HIV is catching!!  I know people want to talk about it’s 2012, but sleeping around is never cute no matter how fun and hip it looked on Sex & the City.  And she was all talking about it’s part of the lifestyle of being an entertainer.  Says who?
    There are plenty of people in the business who have morals and self respect and respect for their partner.  They don’t have to cheat and knock up other women.  In the end, I had to stop watching last night’s episode because the message that Mimi was sending out didn’t sit well with me.  
    You don’t have to be so desperate for love that you lower yourself to being somebody’s play thing.  Trust me, I was almost that young girl.  Thank goodness I was able to catch myself.  I don’t want to sound holier than thou (because Lord knows I’m not), but the Bible tells us what love is SUPPOSE to be in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and Stevie’s “love” for Mimi isn’t any of those things!
    Did you watch?  Could you overlook 15 years of cheating?

  • Survey Call

    A while back, I was asked to be interviewed about my role as an African American mom blogger by the lovely Shonell Bacon.  I have to admit that I was very honored that out of all the hundreds of African American mom bloggers out there, she selected me as one of the bloggers to interview for her study.  It still blows my mind how many women, moms and even men read YUMMommy and have been touched by journey and what I have to say.  Anyways, she asked if I would post this survey call because now she wants to know what you the readers think and have to say about African American mom bloggers.

    She’s heard our side about how we feel we are contributing to motherhood, society and culture.  Now, she wants to go the audience and see if you all feel the same.  I hope that you will take a moment to help Shonell with this project.  And don’t worry, you don’t need to be African American to fill out the survey.  You just need to be a reader of an African American mom blog.  Thus, if you’re reading this post you already qualify!

    ———————————————————————————————-



    Calling all readers of African-American mom blogs!

    Hi, I’m author, doctoral candidate, and editor Shonell Bacon, and I am conducting a study on the blogging practices of African-American mom bloggers.

    I invite you to participate in my study by taking a survey geared toward readers of these blogs.

    To understand the blogging practices of African-American mom bloggers, it is important to explore the readers of these blogs. Your participation in the survey will enable me to do that.

    The online survey consists of 23 questions. It will take no longer than 30 minutes to complete.

    Names and e-mail addresses will not be used in this research.

    If you are interested in participating, please click the following link that will take you to the survey at SurveyMonkey: [https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mommyblogreaders]. Once you arrive at the link, you will read a short introduction before clicking “Next” to begin the survey.

    Again, if you are interested in participating, please click the following link: [https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mommyblogreaders].

    If you have any questions, you can contact me at shon.bacon@ttu.edu.

    I thank you for your time and consideration.

    Shonell Bacon, Doctoral Candidate, shon.bacon@ttu.edu
    Dr. Craig Baehr, Associate Professor, craig.baehr@ttu.edu

  • A Word About Success

    My mom has this quote about success hanging on the wall of her office for nearly three years now.  And it seems that just when I’m at a place where I’m about to question whether or not I should throw in the towel, I always end up in her office reading this.  Reading it reminds me that to never give up on my dreams, but to push forward.
    It reminds me that success is about hits and misses.  Sometimes what turns out to be truly meaningful in life is not the victories but the struggles it took to reach those victories. 
    

  • Still Around

    I’m feeling Fifty Shades of Tired. Literally. This week started off long. Saturday, we headed to my mom’s to visit. That same day JJ got a fever and became unusually cranky.
    Signs of another teething spell coming on. Needless to say, I would much rather be in the comforts of my own home and he would too. So, I haven’t had a good night of sleep yet! I feel like a walking zombie. That explains why I haven’t posted in three days.
    And to make matters worst, Moo jumped on the sleep boycott too these two nights. She refused to go to sleep Monday night unless we went home. And she had nightmares about my mom’s dog. So, it has been a rough couple of days.
    However, our time here hasn’t been all bad. Moo has had fun playing with my niece and seeing Grandma. I have really enjoyed hanging out with my little sister and having someone else cook for a change. 
    Let’s hope tonight I can get at least five hours of sleep.
    What have you all been up to?