Hello February and Black History Month!! One month down, eleven more to go. Did you guys miss me? I know, I know, I kind of just disappeared from the blog and social media for a bit, but I'm back now. So let's hop into this.
Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts
My 31st Birthday Wishlist
Sagittarius season is finally upon us! I'm over-the-moon with excitement that my 31st birthday is less than a month away. I know it's not quite a big deal at turning the BIG 3-0 is for some, but for me seeing another year of life is always a cause for celebration. So to kickoff off birthday celebration and to give you guys some gift ideas for a loved one who has an upcoming birthday, I'm sharing 13 gifts from my birthday wishlist.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links.
1. Ankit Home Bossy Mug Set| How cute is this mug set? I mentioned in my POPSUGAR October Reveal post that I collect mugs and I can't wait add these to my collection.
2. Kate Spade New York Darla Wallet| To say that I'm overdue for a new wallet is an understatement. I've had my current wallet for over ten years. It's beyond falling apart and I couldn't part with it until this year because it's the first birthday gift my husband got me when we were still in the dating stage. I'm thinking this Kate Spade Darla Wallet would make a nice replacement. And who knows, it might last another ten years.
3. Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Hel's Bells Lipstick| I don't wear a full face of makeup everyday. For starters, my skin is way too sensitive and needs to breathe. However, I try not to leave home without putting on some sort of lip product. Sometimes I opt for a sheer gloss, but lately I've been wearing lots of reds and plums. I love this deep plum shade, Hel's Bells, by Charlotte Tilbury and can't wait to try out it.
4. Forever 21 Studded Pumps| I've always wanted a pair of studded pumps, but never got around to actually paying some. I saw these at Forever 21 and now I have to have them. I'd love to pair them with dark wash skinny jeans, a fitted black blazer and a light colored top to create a chic mompreneur look that I can wear to a casual brand meeting and a teacher's conference.
5. KitchenAid Professional 5 Qt Mixer| I can't believe that I still haven't invested in a standing mixer. I'm a cook-off winner for goodness sake! With the kids getting older and their stomachs becoming bottomless pits, we spend a lot more time in the kitchen baking and cooking. This 5 quart standing mixer would definitely come in handy and pay for itself.
6. Geek Chic Mug| This mug pretty much sums me up in two words. Also, I happen to wear glasses. I can't wait to add this mug to my collection as well.
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Illustrated Edition| My family can tell you that I am a huge Harry Potter fan! I watch the movie marathons everything they play on TV. And I'm currently rereading the J. K. Rowling iconic Harry Potter series. I was ecstatic when I found out they were rereleasing the books in illustrated editions. I put the first book on my birthday wishlist and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on my Christmas wishlist. I can't wait until the rest of the series is released next year.
8. Olivia Burton Rose Gold Watch| Call me old fashion, but I still enjoy wearing a watch. What I love about this watch from Olivia Burton is that it has a bigger face than a traditional women's watch which will highlight the slenderness of wrist, but the band isn't chunky. Also, I like that the rose gold is more muted than other rose gold colored watches I've seen. Plus, this watch is budget friendly- only $98.
9. BeautyBlender| After watching tons of beauty tutorials on YouTube, I'm convinced that I need to hop on the BeautyBlender train to give my foundation a smoother application and finish.
10. Canon PowerShot SX710| I'm still not sure if I'm ready to invest in a DSLR, so this Canon PowerShot is the great in-between camera. Plus, after recently finishing my first photography course, I'm anxious to try out what I've learned.
11. The Magnolia Story| I adore Chip and Joanna Gaines. They seem so sweet and down to earth on their HGTV show, Fixer Upper. I love that they're outspoken about their faith and are family oriented. I can't wait to read more about their story and how they build their Magnolia brand from the ground up.
12. Gold Spotty Dot Day Designer| I feel like I wasn't nearly as organized as I should have been this year. I'm committed to getting my act together and have heard that when it comes to planners and organizers, Day Designer is where it's at.
13. Clarisonic Aria Cleansing System| As we age, our skin changes. This is especially true for the skin on my face. It's changed so much over years and I've found in the recent months that my skin needs a deeper cleaning than my usual exfoliating cloth can give. So, it's time to step it up and invest in a Clarisonic.
If you have a family member or loved one with an upcoming birthday, I hope that you've gotten gift ideas from my birthday wishlist/gift guide. These gifts will also make great Christmas presents as well since we're in the thick of the holiday season. Happy Holidays y'all!
What is your ultimate birthday gift?
Thankful Thursday
Happy Thankful Thursday y'all! I hope this week has been good to each and every one of you. Last week was a bit draining and I ended up not getting a post up last Thursday. This week has still been draining, but overall better than last week. So I'm happy to be back sharing all of the things I found in my life to be grateful for this week.
For example, I'm so thankful that we had a three day weekend. Halloween was on Monday and schools in our area were out. Although, I forgot to turn off my alarms, JJ and I got to sleep in. Moo is an early riser for the most part and still woke up bright and early. However, she did a great job of entertaining herself with breakfast, her dolls and some YouTube for Kids so that I could some extra rest.
Speaking of Halloween, I'm grateful that our Halloween raining streak came to end this year. The kids were good sports about not having costumes because I really thought it was going to rain and we'd end up stuck in the house like the last three years. We were able to get out and go trunk-or-treating at one our favorite churches. My little guy did well the entire night, especially when the crowd got bigger. He stayed calm and when he had had reached his limit, he politely asked to go home and was patient as we worked our way back to our car.
It's such a blessing to see all of the progress he's made and continues to make everyday. I still weep sometimes when I remember the days when he couldn't even day "Mommy" or he'd freak out in crowds or totally lose it when he heard music or other loud sounds. I remember when his pediatrician wasn't sure he'd walk without therapy and maybe even leg braces because the muscle mass on one side of body was so much less than the other. If ever I need a reminder that God is real, I don't to look any further than my son.
While we're on the subject of JJ, he's totally rocking out in homeschool and for that I am grateful as well. I've taught other people's children, but for some reason it's so much scary teaching my own. The first month of homeschooling, I definitely worried whether or not I was doing a good job, but now I know that I am. I've reminded myself that part of the reason we're homeschooling is so that we can move at a pace that is best for him and so that he can be in an environment that gives him the freedom to learn in the ways he is most comfortable.
Moo is such a busybody and is always twirling, trying to do flips and practice gymnastics on the furniture. She took a bit of fall a few days ago and caught her arm in rather uncomfortable position on one of our couches. I'm so grateful that she didn't break her arm because as I watched the fall happen I thought she had. It's hard watching your children get hurt because you're too far away to get to them to catch them. We'll be heading to the doctors probably tomorrow because she said that it started back hurting today, but I'm giving thanks in advance that we won't leave with any bad news.
Lastly, I'm thankful that I'm making progress on my goal/resolution to improve my photography skills. I've been really reading, researching and even taking a photography class - Become a Better Photographer on Udemy (sponsored link) - and I feel like all my hard work is paying off. I was very pleased with the photos from my POPSUGAR post. I still have more room for improvement, but this is a start.
What are you giving thanks for this week?
Cozy Fall Essentials
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by POPSUGAR Beauty and contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support YUMMommy.
My POPSUGAR October Must Have Box finally arrived. I had been patiently awaiting its arrival and felt like a kid on Christmas morning when I got a notice from my rent office that it was in. June was my first time partnering with POPSUGAR and then we partnered again for their September box. Each box has gotten better and better in terms of its offerings. The October box had a bit of weight to it and I knew in my gut that I wasn't going to be disappointed this time around either. Come on let me show y'all the goodies that made this month's box selection.
What I Got
This month's box came with two "Special Extras." Lisa Sugar's new book Power Your Happy: Work Hard, Place Nice & Build Your Dream Life was one of them. If you didn't guess from her last name, Lisa is the founder of the POPSUGAR brand. Without her this post wouldn't be happening. Thank you LISA!
Power Your Happy is filled with advice and tips from both Lisa's professional and personal life experiences. With a current 4.6 out 5 stars rating on Amazon, I have placed this book on my Nonfiction November TBR and can't wait to haul it in a video on my BookTube channel. The book nerd in me celebrated when I saw that I got a book in this month's box. I'm ready to be inspired and learn some tips on how to take YUMMommy to the next level.
Fun fact about me, I like to collect mugs. I'm glad to have this Rise & Shine one to add to my collection now. It's cute and the design has a clean, minimalist feel to it. This diner style mug has some weight to it which I love as well.
Dairy-free, non-GMO, gluten-free hot chocolate anyone? Why I don't mind if I do! One of the things I really appreciate about the POPSUGAR Must Have Box is that they always try to include at least one or two products that fall into the green/honest/healthy living category. And with only two ingredients- cocoa and sugar- this rich dark chocolate is definitely a Fall must!
The weather here in the Queen City has been a bit chilly. So a few nights ago Moo and I treated ourselves to some of the Dark Drinking Chocolate topped off with some marshmallows. We give two thumbs up. We would have given it three but the way the human body is set up, we can't physically.
Retailing for only $12 this travel-sized makeup remover towel lasts up to 1,000 washes. Do you know much makeup you can with this?! Think about it. If you wear makeup everyday, then you can ditch buying liquid makeup remover, cotton facial pads or makeup remover wipes over and over and just get one of these instead.
You're not going to find another makeup remover that will only cost you $12/year. And if you only remove your makeup once a day, you can get at least two years worth of usage out of your Makeup Eraser. It also doubles as an exfoliator! Two products for the price of one. Winning! Beauty lovers add this to your Christmas and birthday wish lists ASAP!
Growing up in large family and motherhood has taught me the art of efficient and quick showering. With that said, I'm grateful POPSUGAR included this luxurious shower oil and bubble bath the October box. It was a subtle reminder from the universe that I'm overdue for a little self-care.
The holidays are right around the corner, I'm going to take a day or two before it gets really hectic around here and enjoy a nice long uninterrupted bubble bath. I'm talking candles, a good book, spa music- the works pretty much. My body and skin will thank me for it. Oh did I mention that this shower oil and bubble bath are sulfate, paraben and phthalate- free?!
While we're talking about makeup, Autumn is the perfect smokey eye season. Nothing sets off a great smokey eye better than a great eyeliner. Whether you choose to add a wings for a smokey cat eye or keep it simple by outlining your water lines only, this Revlon ColorStay™ Liquid Pen goes on like butter.
It also lasts for up to 16 hours of wear. This is a great for those of us who have busy schedules and can't always be running to the bathroom to touch up our makeup every few hours. This was the other special extra in this month's box.
I can't speak for other parts of the country but April isn't the only month that brings lots of rain showers in the Carolinas. As we get into the thick of fall, the rain is going to start back up again. Thankfully, I will be prepared with for any surprise showers with this Henri Bendel umbrella that is just the right size to carry around in my purse. Featuring the classic Henri Bendel print, this compact umbrella comes with a sleeve/jacket that you can pack your umbrella back in so that you don't have to worry about any water droplets getting all over your other valuables in your purse or diaper bag.
I'm already getting excited about November's box because I know that it's going to be even better. All of the products in the October Must Have Box totaled out to $152.98. A POPSUGAR Must Have Box subscription is only $39.95/month. The Henri Bendel umbrella alone has paid for this box.
If you plan on trying out a subscription for November or December, be sure to use code SHOP5 to receive $5 off your FIRST box!
What are your favorite Fall essentials?
Thankful Thursday
Happy Thankful Thursday y'all! Please forgive the absence/lack of Thankful Thursday posts around these parts. Somehow Thursdays have become my busiest days. Also, homeschooling JJ has completely taken over my life and free time, but I'm NOT complaining. I had a few unfinished Thankful Thursday posts from last month just chilling in my Drafts folder. Today I woke up determined to get this week's post published and not dumped in Drafts with the others. So let's jump right on in.
My baby sister recently celebrated her birthday y'all. I'm so grateful that she was blessed to see another year of life. Although, life has always been unpredictable and something meant to be cherished, I feel like in today's society it's even more imperative that we truly cherish what a gift it is to get older and celebrate our birthdays. There so many folks who haven't and won't make it to their next birthday this year. Just last week a school near our county was shot up by another kid. A few people were injured, but one little boy died from his injuries.
This tragedy was a very sobering moment, especially since it was so close and happened in my home state. Then a fellow creative in one of my creative groups on Facebook loss her 8-week old baby yesterday. She said that she had the perfect pregnancy and delivery. Her daughter was doing fine and had just had a checkup, but then she stopped breathing on Monday and things just went downhill from there. We can be here one moment and gone in the blink of an eye. Celebrate life EVERYDAY!!
Moving on to happier news, I'm thankful that JJ is crushing this homeschooling thing. The first few weeks I told I was going to go out of my mind because I was putting so much pressure on myself. Then, I remembered that God put it on my heart for me to homeschool my little guy. He never gives us more than we're capable of handling. While everyday isn't smooth sailing, JJ is definitely learning and his passion for learning is really blossoming.
However, JJ isn't the only one excelling in school. Moo is doing great in second grade at her old school. They got tested for their reading levels the second week of school. Guess what? Moo tested over her reading level and has already met her end-of-the-year reading goal! I'm so proud of her, but also a little worried because I hope that I'll be able to keep her entertained once she joins us in homeschool next year.
Lastly, I'm grateful that we got to have a mini-vacation recently. One of my older cousins got married at the beach and we decided to make it a weekend trip. The kids and I packed up, met up with my mom and then drove to stay with my brother for the wedding. When I say that the reception was lit, I mean it was LIT! Whenever our family gets together, especially us cousins and siblings, we party and turn up. I even got a chance to go out sans the kids with my brother and sister for a sibling turn up session.
Before I let you guys go, I just want to say thank you to everyone who continues to support this blog. I greatly appreciate you. Also, to all my fellow East Coast readers, be safe as we wait for Hurricane Matthew to pass. Pray for us y'all. Here in the Queen City, we're already getting lots of rain and winds are expected to pick up over the next day or so.
And if you haven't already, go enter my latest giveaway!
What are you thankful for this week?
#52BooksIn2016 | June Reads & Faves
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
OMG y'all, I can't believe I forgot to recap our June reads and faves. This post has been sitting in my drafts. Being down at my mom's last month without any internet really threw off my blogging schedule. Better late than never, right? Anyways, we set a goal of reading 100 books for Summer (June - August) and didn't do too shabby thus far.
We read a total of 49 books in June. We almost knocked out half of our Summer reading goal. A full list of the books we read and which ones were our faves are below. Don't forget you can find our May recap here.
May Reads
Click on the book covers for book summaries.
12Not pictured: Five Famous Writers byt Lynda Jones
June Faves
1
Moo is all about books related to animals, princesses and dance. So this book combined of her three favorite subjects in a slightly funny story about Cat and her friend Bear, who is scared to leap because she doesn't want to see the underpants under her tutu. Aside from being a fun and easy read, this book fave me the opportunity to talk to Moo about always finding the courage to tackle her fears, especially if they stand in the way of your dreams or prevent you from doing whatever you love. We also talked about how it's important to encourage those we love to overcome their fears as well.
2
This was JJ's fave. I wasn't the least bit surprised that he wanted to read this book a million times. He's very much your typical boy. Mud and cars are definitely a few of his favorite things. Combine them both in a book and he's instantly hooked. This story was super cute! Can y'all keep a secret? I picked up a copy of this book for him for Christmas!
3
I don't even know where to start. Why didn't anyone tell me how awesome Sarah J. Maas was/is? Seriously, ACOTAR has made me fall back in love with the Young Adult Fantasy/Romance genre, specifically fairy tale retellings. I absolutely loved Feyre and Tamlin's story. This isn't your typical Beauty & the Beast love story.
The characters and Maas's writing style had me sucked in by the end of the first chapter. I'm really struggling NOT to give y'all ALL the details. So I'm going to just say READ IT!
What We're Reading This Month
1
I love Giada's Everyday Italian show on the Food Network. It's so cool that she branched out and started writing a children's book series about food as well. I can't believe I didn't know this already. Anyways, I we picked up the first book from our library and can't wait to get started on it.
2
It's important for me to read books to Moo and JJ that feature main characters of colors and not just during Black History Month. Sometimes though those books aren't always written by authors of color which is the case with this Liberty Porter series. Nevertheless this book seems to be a fun read so far. I would go as far to say that this series may have been inspired the Obamas.
3
You guys already know that I'm obsessed with the BFF writing duo that is Christina Lauren and their Beautiful series. I've read all of the main books and now I'm currently going back to catch up on the novellas.
Well we've officially broken the 300 mark with 314 books read thus far. Originally our family reading goal for the #52BooksIn2016 Reading Challenge was 150 books. I moved our goal to 600 books last month and now we've passed the half way mark! I've been loving this whole reading challenge and think we'll pick another reading challenge for 2017 to do as a family.
What's been the best book you've read so far this Summer?
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