Is That You, July?

Is anyone else in disbelief that July is here already besides me?!  I'm so not ready to start thinking about back-to-school.  Yes, we start school early here in the Carolinas.  So, next month it'll be back to setting three alarms to make sure we make it out of the house on time for school.  Anyways, since I haven't really been on the blog much this week, I thought I'd stop by for a Random Ramblings post to keep you guys up to speed on what we've been up to.

Thanks to Kokoa Magazine for this awesome free printable that was in their newsletter today!

• Uniforms:  Speaking of going back to school, I still haven't heard from Moo's school on whether or not they will have to wear uniforms.  They needed at least 70% of the parents to vote in order to get uniforms and last I heard less than 50% had responded.  I'm thinking about making drive over to the school on Friday morning to see if the main office is open because who has time to wait until the last minute to shop for uniforms?

• Parrot: JJ's speech therapist pointed out that he's getting really good at repeating people.  Oh boy, she has no idea that my little guy is a total parrot.  Seriously, we're at the stage where we are definitely thinking twice about what we say before we say it in front of him.  Moo said not really one and it's been his favorite phrase for the last two weeks.  So, if I say are you hungry his response is "Not really."  He also heard the Mr say shut up and now he's repeating that.  I can't even get started on how much I cringe when he says that.  Needless to say someone has been spending a lot of time in time out.

• Fitness:  I've been working out on getting in better shape.  I think my trip to Atlanta was the first time I didn't feel I needed to suck everything in.  I actually looked great in my dress from PinkBasis (I'll upload a pic in my official recap because I'm still waiting for Coca-Cola to email them).

• Fan Girl Moment:  Speaking of Atlanta and the Coca-Cola Art of Entrepreneurship event, I had a total fan girl moment when I got to meet some of my favorite bloggers in person: Brandi from Mama Knows It All, Makeba from MelisaSource, Renee from Cutie Booty Cakes, and Sojourner from Married With Two Boys.  I think it played it cool.  I got to talk to each of these ladies one on one and can say that they are as awesome and sweet in person as they are on their blogs!

A little something I picked up from the library today. #100Books #reading #success #books

A photo posted by K. Elizabeth (@yummommies) on Jul 1, 2015 at 2:16pm PDT

• #100Books:   The kids and I have read over 50 books already this summer.  So we're more than halfway finished with our 100 Books Family Summer Reading Challenge!!  I'm super excited.  we've marked a lot of books off our book bucket list too.  And I'm almost caught up on the James Patterson Women's Murder Club series. 

• Speaking Out:  Last night Awesomely Luvvie went on a Twitter rant specifically calling out Black beauty bloggers on how many of them aren't using their voices and influence to show support/unity or raise awareness about some of  the social injustice happening right now in the Black community.  Her rant ruffled a lot of feathers and to say that many of my majority blog groups were buzzing about this would be an understatement.  I totally get where Luvvie is coming from.   Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, anyone identifying as a Christian needs to remember that we are the keeper of our brother or sister, blood related or not.  The Bible calls us to help/support our brothers and sisters when see them in need or trouble not turn a blind eye or keep on like it's business as usual. (See 1 John 3:11-24 and Romans 12:9-16) So, I don't think it's asking too much for any Black person period to show support.  It could as simple as posting "I'm praying for the Black community" or "RIP to the #EmanuelNine."  It only takes a moment to show support and unity.   Below are a few of my favorite tweets from her rant.

I am not asking for people to become activists and "do work." I am saying the LEAST you can do is throw up a hashtag. Too much? Oh. 😒

— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) July 1, 2015

We cannot speak up about any and everything bad that happens in the world. We can choose our battles but some of yall ain't even in the ring

— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) July 1, 2015

I am raging b/c we don't have the right to shut up. We cannot afford to shut up. The LEAST we can do is not shut up.

— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) July 1, 2015

What's new with you this week?

Vlogs And Other Saturday Randoms

Happy Saturday!  Yes, to the weekend being here.  The kids and I are looking forward to a trip to either the park to feed the ducks or to the indoor playground at the mall.  We'll just see which I'm feeling like doing after breakfast.  Anyways, I just wanted to share some randoms with y'all.

Vlogs

As of lately, I have been obsessed with daily vlogs on YouTube.  Like seriously, I have been watching one everyday for the last month.  I guess what draws me to them is just the curiosity to see other people's lives.  We always say that we don't what people are going through and in these daily vlogs, you get an inside look at the lives of strangers. 

 It's like reality tv, but unscripted and much more relatable.  I'm sure I'll do a post later on my favorite vloggers.  Also, I feel like I've gotten bit by the vlogging bug.  I recorded two vlogs yesterday but I only had time to edit and upload one of them.  I'm proud of myself because I am definitely a person who'd rather be behind the camera than in front of it.  So, check out my latest vlog here.  Don't forget to subscribe, like and comment!!

Hungry Caterpillars

Moo and JJ certainly remind me of hungry little caterpillars these days.  Like seriously, they want to eat 24/7.  And a snack is no longer enough for them.  Moo, especially, expects me to cook for her all day long.  I can't and I won't do it.  So, I'm thinking that it might be time to get back to making smoothies and fill them up that way in between meals. 

I'm even open to juicing.  I've heard great things the green juices and tried them for a short while!  And then of course, we'll continue with our fruit cups as a snack option.

Sleep Where Art Thou

The kids have both been keeping long hours.  Call me old, but I need my shut eye.  I feel like between Moo's late nights and JJ's early mornings, I feel so tired and sluggish all the time.  I'm going to try put them both in the bed a little bit earlier and see if that helps.  What time you go to sleep makes a big difference.

Books

From romance to suspense, I have been adding a lot of books my Kindle as well as checking them out at the library.  And I've been stressing the importance of reading even more to the kids.  So, y'all already know this means a few more book reviews will be coming to blog.  I'm reading another Rachelle Ayala book called Taming Romeo.  Can't wait to share my thoughts on it.  I've never adult books by Asian authors and I'm glad to be stepping out of my comfort zone and checking her out again.

Weather

OMG. This weather is all over the place.  And last night, or early this morning I should say, I ended up waking up due to the loud thunder we had.  It woke Moo up too, but JJ slept like a baby and was not phased  by it.  I hope this isn't what we have to look forward for Summer.  Oh and our cable box got struck by lighting which jacked up our tv.  The Mr was able to get the tv working again and Time Warner replaced the box.

However, the picture looks a bit fuzzy and out of focus sometimes and all of the HDMI plugs have been shorted out.  So, we had use this cord that splits into like a million different cables to hook up the cable box.  Also, I have the task of resetting all of our shows we were DVRing.  Oh the joy...

Are your kids eating you out of a house and home too?  What books are you reading or plan on reading this year?

Things That Make Me Say Hmmm...

Can't believe I haven't done one of these since last year!!  I probably have a list a mile long of things that have left me saying "Hmmm..."  I'm going to try to keep it short and sweet though.

1-No Sleep Campaign: Forget 'No New Friends.'  Drake should have made a song called 'No Sleep Friends' because that is exactly what's been going on around these parts.  Moo and JJ have officially launched a No Sleep campaign against me.  Moo is beyond the napping stage and I've cut out JJ taking naps in the evenings.  However, when it's time to go to bed neither are tired.

And when I do finally get them to go to sleep, one of them wakes up a hour or two later.  Then, of course the other one senses that we are up and decides to get up too.  Now I will say that Moo is good about falling back to sleep once she sees that it's still too early to be up.  Y'all if you didn't know, I'm about my sleep!  For real, I don't do well when I'm running on E.  Pray for me that these kiddies will get it together.

2-Ghost Neighbors:  So, it seems like the apartment next to us has officially been leased out.  The problem is that I have yet to see my neighbors.  I mean I hear them over because they are LOUD!  But for some reason, they don't use the front door.  And I don't use our back door.  I've caught a glimpse of what I thought was his lady friend and thought she lived there with him, but I was mistaken because I haven't seen the mystery woman since that one day.

And speaking of my ghost neighbor(s), they tried to jack us for our trash and recycling cans!  No boo.  You just moved in and you already done tried it.  There is no free trash collection here in the Queen City.  We're paying almost $20 a month for the city to empty those cans.  And they had the nerve to chuck their beer bottles and stuff in my trash can.  Like first off, glass and aluminium go in the recycling can.  Secondly, you can't put anything in my trash can without asking.  Let's hope this doesn't become a repeat habit.

3-Finding Jesus:  Did y'all see the season finale of Kris Jenner's talk show?  I almost missed it too because one I didn't even know I could catch her show.  And two, I thought it hadn't even premiered yet.  I was way off.  Anyways, Kanye West was her guest and of course he debuted a picture of North.  She's a cutie.

But then he said that becoming a father made him want to "do more of God's work."  Now, I'm not sure how these celebrities define doing God's work, but I do know that some of them should start by finding Jesus first!  Kanye West has done some very questionable and not so Christ-like things over these past few years. The prime example being getting his girlfriend pregnant while she was still MARRIED!!  So, I hope that he is serious about getting his life right.

If you say you're going to do something for God or turn your life around then you need to follow through.  I hope he wasn't just saying all that stuff to just say it.  I think it would be great if he could be a role model for North on how we as Christians need to carry ourselves.  I know Kanye made that song 'Jesus Walks' but we all know that song is not a gospel track.  I never took him to be a person to be serious about religion, but he talked a good while about Jesus on Kris' show.  I guess time will tell.

4-Disney:  Moo is all about anything related to the Disney princesses.  It's no surprise that Princess Jasmine and Princess Tiana are her favorites.  They do look the most like her after all.  The problem is that Princess Jasmine and Princess Tiana don't appear to be favorites of Disney.  And Moo has been noticing that.  We have a Disney princess storybook and Tiana only has one story while the other princesses have at least three.

We got her the Princess Pet app on the iPad and guess which princesses didn't have pets?  Tiana and Jasmine.  Spotted a Disney princesses backpack in Walmart and guess what?  Tiana and Jasmine were missing again.  What good does it do to add diversity when you're not going to include the diversity in all of your products?  I just feel like Disney could do a better job and incorporating Jasmine and Tiana into more of their Disney Princesses merchandise.

Girls of color need to see characters that look like them.  And it's not just Disney who could improve on this.  How many books have or backpacks have you seen with Barbie's African American friend, Nikki?  I have seen none. Zip. Zero.  We're living in a melting pot.  It's time for these companies to quit their separate but equal ways behind them.

Anything have you saying hmmm... these days?

Wednesday Randoms

I'm in the process of polishing YUMMommy's look.  Did you notice that I changed the background to all white and did away with the tab colors?  I also cleaned up my sidebar a little bit.  Thinking about changing the header, but I'm not sure how I want it to look yet.

The Mr's surgery is this Friday.  I'm not nervous or overly worried like before.  I think the thing I'm most concerned about is getting him from the car and into the house safely.  Ripped stitches are no fun.  So, Thursday I will fluff up the pillows and make sure the remote is next to the bed to help him be more comfortable.  However, he'll mostly like be sleeping on and off for a few days due to his meds.

Moo has been begging me about going camping in the backyard.  I wouldn't mind this idea but our backyard is not fenced in.  I don't need somebody's dog or cat trying to claw their way into our tent.  Not to mention a black bear has been spotted in the next over from us.  Maybe, we can camp out in the living room instead?

JJ is refusing to us his words to communicate.  He prefers the scream and point method.  I'm slightly worried because it seemed like we were making progress in terms of his vocabulary.  We'll see what the pediatrician says first before I start googling things like autism. I hear kids can go through these stages.  Meanwhile, we'll be doing some flash cards to help stimulate him more.

I'm ready to get my feet wet with some vlogging and podcasting.  However, I haven't a clue what my first vlog or podcast should be about.  I'm think an introduction of some sort.  Those who vlog and/or podcast what did you talk about in your first vlog/podcast?

We went to see Man of Steel last week.  It was awesome. It also gave the Mr the itch to write his own screen play.  He's written me poetry before and it was amazingly good.  Of course, I wouldn't expect anything different from a former AP and Honors English student.  Most us tend to be good with words and writing.

I've been thinking about taking on another 365 project.  Not sure what it should be though.  Maybe, a family photo project?  I definitely want it to be something that involves the kids and the Mr. It can serve as a project to boost family bonding.

Stuff got real on OWN this past Sunday with Oprah's show Next Chapter and the documentary Dark Girls. It's saddening just how bad colorism affects the Black community regardless of class.  I did shed some tears watching Dark Girls because I remember being a victim of colorism growing up.  I was teased by other Black kids for being the only Black kid in my honors and AP classes.  They would say things like I wished I was white but I was too dark.  Not going to lie their words bothered me but they only made me work harder at staying focused on my education.

Why isn't there any place here in the Queen City that delivers 24/7?  Seriously, I'm going to have to write to my people at McDonald's.  I heard Burger King is testing out delivery at some restaurants.  So, I think McDonald's needs to look into this too since they already stay open 24/7.

The Trayvon Martin case and Paula Deen scandal have me seeing red.  I just can't even understand what's going on with that defense attorney of Zimmerman's. That guy is rude and cold.  And Paula has me heartbroken.  Some people say they're not shocked, but I was.  I don't believe that all white people from the South are racist.  I come from a mixed family and know that to be a myth.  Not to mention, if anybody knows anything about the Underground Railroad, there were white southerners who risked their lives helping free slaves.  It just sucks to see that Paula's heart isn't as lovable and sweet as it appeared to be.

What's your random tidbit for today?

Random Ramblings

It's hard to believe that in just 7 more days Christmas will be here!!  I'm tickled with excitement.  I just a few gift cards to pick up for some people that have proven to be a little harder to shop for than I expected.  Besides that I'm completely ready for the Big Day!!  I'm so looking forward to seeing the joy on Moo's face when she opens up her gifts.  There will be lots of photos posted on Facebook.

Speaking of photos, we only have two photos in our YUMMommy Facebook page Happy Holidays 2010 album.  So, don't forget to either upload your photos yourself or you can send them to me via email: yummommy@gmail.com.  Can't wait to see what everybody's tree and decorations looks like.  Plus, it's just a great way to get some conversation going and add some more cheer to the holiday season.

We did get some snow earlier and I was all excited and thrilled about it until I looked outside two hours later and saw that the rain was washing my snow away.  So, we just have slush instead.  I'm hoping it doesn't turn into frozen ice because the hubby has to go out to protect and serve tonight.  And I want the roads to be clear when he drives home in the morning.  However, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that it will snow tomorrow and for Christmas.  Or maybe I should save up and invest in buying a mountain house.

But then I'll want a horse drawn sleigh and some horses to go with it.  Yes, I've been watching one too many Christmas movies. LOL.  Seriously, though snow and horses are two of my favorite things in this world besides food and the internet.  I'm going to really miss the horses on the farm across the street when we move though.  However, upgrading to our forever home and leaving behind this duplex isn't a bad tradeoff.

I already have thoughts of hosting dinner parties, clothing swaps and playdates dancing in my head.  Idk how the hubby is going to feel about that but he'll get with the program.  I'll make sure to host my clothing swaps and playdates while he's out and about.  But I'm looking forward to introducing him to some of the other dads whose wives are in the playgroup  I'm a member of.  I think it'll be healthy for us to have some friends in common.

Because as it stands right now we have none.  There are his friends and then I have mine.  Plus, our relationships have changed with most of our friends.  I'm married now and soon to be a mom of two.  So, a lot of my friends have kind of pulled away.  I don't know what that's about either.  Lifestyle changes I guess, but I'm glad to be making new friends.

I've talked to my mom a record of six times already today.  I'm sure we'll talk to each other at least twice more before I go to bed. Anyways, she has tons of stuff for Moo for Christmas. I did inform her that some of that stuff would be remaining at her spot because this duplex just can't accommadate all of that.  Not to mention, I have this fear about Moo getting too spoiled.

It seems like my mom was in a competition to out shine us this year.   I don't mind though, but just wish she would have kept it in moderation.  I'm also going to be donating a few of Moo's toys to our playgroup's Charity committee.  She has a million dolls already but I just know she'll get at least two more for Christmas.  I try to keep Moo humble because I feel like I spoil her enough. 

She's the best dressed two year old I know.  Everything in her closet is designer just about.  She has Calvin Klien coats and jean, Kenneth Cole, Baby Phat and more.  What can I say I'm a bargain shopper.  And of course having worked in retail I know to buy a year ahead.  So after Christmas all the winter clothing will be dirt cheap and I'll be stocking up on her some cute outfits for next year.  Now if only I could do that with shoes.

I'm also looking forward to Christmas dinner.  That was one of the things my mom and I talked about during our many phone conversations today.  Can't wait to pig out on ham, turkey, mashed potatoes w/ gravy, green beans, collard greens, yams, corn bread and pies.  I'm keeping my finger crossed that she'll make her sparkling punch like she used to.  She hasn't made it since I was in the fourth grade.

Moo and I have been keeping warm inside watching Christmas movies on ABC Family and the Hallmark Channel.  I'm trying to cure my addiction to the Cooking Channel and Food Network.  So far I've done good and only watched one cooking show.  However, I'm sure that will change by tonight.  Gotta get ideas on some holiday pies to make.  It's time I switched up my usual sweet potato pie recipe.

Speaking of cooking, did you all know that today is Bake Cookies Day?  Yep, I got this free cool calendar from Oriental Trading and it has all kinds of national holidays that I never knew existed on it.  So, I think that I'm going to pick up some cookies from the store before the hubby goes off to work and bake them with Moo tonight.  Bake cookies with your little ones too.  And if anybody has any good cookie recipes I'd love to hear them.

Well, I've rambled on enough.  Going back to my Christmas movie with Moo.

Random Ramblings: Irresponsible Screwing

I know it's late, but I've been pretty busy today.  I don't know if I would say that I was very productive though. LOL.  Anyways, I was going to write a post earlier in the afternoon when I got home, but I was too upset and needed to calm down.  When I'm upset about something serious I can be very cut throat with my words.

So, I was riding with my mommy who informed me that my aunt in law needed some clothes for a little girl about my niece's size.  In my mind I 'm trying to figure out why she would need them because her kids are grown.  My mom informs me that DSS had to arrange an emergency foster care move for three kids-one girl and two boys.  These kids are all under the age of nine and had to snatched from the comforts of their home due a danger to their livelihood.  And I've heard about kids in foster care and what not.

But for the life of me, I couldn't understand why the more I thought about those kids being uprooted from their home the more upset and frustrated I became.  I mean I was livid by the time I had reached my niece's school to pick her up.  Sitting in the car riders' lane all I could think of was how I would love to get a hold of those kids' parents and choke the shit out of them. Seriously, that is the exact thought that ran through my mind.

My opinion is this: when you screw irresponsibly chances are you might get pregnant or worse an STD.  So, why do some many women and men play Russian Roulette when it comes to sex?  I mean seriously, is sex that important or are you that desperate that you can't remember to use protection or get on birth control. I'm all for everybody getting their rocks off or whatever you want to call it. I'm a single mom, so I've had some great sex in my twenty something years old on this Earth.

However, what I wouldn't do was put myself in the position of becoming a parent when I know full well that I have not intentions of living up to the duties that come along with it.  When I started having unprotected sex with my daughter's father, I knew I was bound to get pregnant sooner or later. But I had also made up in my mind that I was ready to assume the duties of caring for and molding a life if and when it happened. I just can't for the life of me understand why these kids' have to be put through such nonsense.

My advice to all the women and men out there sleeping around with people they have no intentions of being with exclusively or even seeing them after your ten minutes of fun is to get snipped!!!  Yes, I wrote it. Get snipped.  I'm not going to put the blame on the women. It takes two to roll in the hay.

Ladies get your tubes tied or have the ovaries completely removed. Men get that vasectomy.  That way you can still sleep around as much as possible but you won't be hurting innocent children who didn't ask to be here.  My heart goes out to those kids for what they have to go through.  The emotional scars that they will carry throughout their lives is way more painful than the abuse and neglect they suffered.

Their whole outlooks on life and relationships and parenting and love has been tainted.  And for what?  Because their mom feels like she got the bad end of the stick.  It's just not fair.  America we have to change.  We can't keep raising a generation of emotionally damaged kids and expect to improve violence in our homes, schools and neighborhoods. These kids are crying out, but I feel like nobody is hearing them.