Celebrating Black History Month

Hey loves!!!

If you know us even a little, you know we integrate Black History into our present and future all year long. To me, there’s honestly no other way to do it. Our history is so dee, so rich, so very textured and greatly vast. You can’t fit in into a month. So to celebrate Black History, we had a lot of fun. 

To be honest, I had to check myself on this one-Basically, I was teaching Black History and learning myself but failed to actually plan something to celebrate Black History Month. Fail. Thanks to some IG friends, I changed that up real quick. 

Again, we celebrate and integrate Black History all year so when James said, “I want to watch Red Tails” it was a very quick yes. 

Here’s why- we could’ve watched any movie about pilots or planes. We didn’t. We consciously chose to allow ou Black sons to see themselves as Actors, as an Ensemble of Actors. We chose to let them see what was endured for them. We chose to celebrate the victories and mourn with them. We chose to remind them of the Tuskegee Institute and how, while it was expected to fail miserably, in spite of every detriment and deterrent, our people soared. 

We screened the movie from our projector, movie the tater style with some super snack caddies. That’s not the highlight for me though. 

If anything, it inspired me to celebrate more with my kids. I mean, Coming to America 2 comes out on March 4 and we are surely celebrating all that beautiful Blackness.

I say all this to say, well implore you to celebrate Black History all year long. Embed it in your life. Learn it. Teach it. Respect it. Honor it.

Love you. Mean it.

Mindful Mommy Moments

Hey Loves!

Question for ya- You ever find yourself not able to slow your mind down? Or feel like you body is trying to catch up to your brain? Do you ever just want to tune out all the “noise’? Have you just wanted to pause for a second, get it together and then jump back into this constantly moving life? (That was more than one question, sorry.)

I’m asking because I often felt that way, most times all day every day. I was on medicine to sleep because my mind would not stop. In March of 2017, I began an attempt at meditation. I used several apps for guided meditation and my favorite was headspace (INSERT LINK). They have a free course and it really help me understand how to slow my mind, not completely shut it off, return back to the practice and practice mindfulness through my day. Then, meditation became an integral part of my wellness journey.

Are there stretches of days when I don’t mediate or practice mindfulness, yes. At the end of the day, do I feel more exhausted and think I could’ve chosen better reactions, also, yes. Le sigh.

My mindfulness practices are not perfect and have just reach consistent but the value to me of being aware of when my mind needs a pause, re-set, or redirection is too great for me to ever completely stop.

How do I practice it? That’s part of the reason I get so early now, so all of the components of my wellness journey (mindfulness, biblical study and physical rest and physical fitness) can be met before I start pouring out. Oprah said, “your job is to get so full, you’re spilling over.” Obvi, she’s not wrong. My goal is to serve from my saucer not my cup, so my poring source is never completely empty or dry anymore, and that isn’t always easy.

So, I get up early and I hydrate with water and coffee and don’t have on any lights except that from my diffuser. I start with documenting my gratitude and then moving into a guided mindfulness practice with the Shine app (INSERT LINK). Then I begin focusing on my intention for the day. That sounds super deep, but it isn’t. I will say to myself or out-loud “My intention for today is to only focus on what has to happen, not all I can get done.” Or “My intention is to be fully present when I play with kids.” I repeat it several times and do my best to remember it during the day. Then I do bible study, maybe journal and then workout. From then on, I’m giving to my kids and others.

Sometime during midday, nap time or maybe even when my husband takes over with the kids, I take another reset. Sometimes I will use the shine app for a guided meditation or I will focus on several breaths, making them really deep and focusing only on the breath. I may do circular breathing, visualization and/or repeat my intention for the day.

I also try to quiet my mind before bed, giving myself permission to turn off and sleep. Sleep is integral for me as lack of sleep have disastrous domino ripple effects. It is often hard for me to be present in the “right now” and stop. Meaning, I can re-check my to-do list, sometimes make up more things “I can get done really quick” which often leads to other things that can get done and before I know it it is midnight and then it takes me an hour to fall into a restless sleep and that day is shot as I wake unrested, unfilled and defeated.Thus, the permission I give myself to sleep. I also take this time to be alone. I take stock of my emotions and my energies and release what I need to. If there is something I have to write down, I put in my phone and leave it there. Speaking of phones, it goes on DND.

So, I aim for a minimum of 3 times throughout the day but sometimes there are more. Sometimes, I don’t even get one in. The trick, for me at least, is to remember to come back to the practice and that it is a practice-the more I do it, the easier it will be.

Honor what is in front of you

Ready? Set… BOO Baskets!

Hey Loves!

Fall is here and I am welcoming it like its royalty. I mean, it is practically the reigning queen of the four seasons so why not? Today I am sharing with you something I have never done before-BOO Baskets. If you are new to this concept, allow me to try to explain. A boo basket, as I have to come to understand it, is a collection of Halloween festive items from decor to crafts to apparel presented to those you care about to celebrate the season and show your love for them.

I hadn’t done one before because I outsourced that stuff. I would load my kids up and go to multiple fall festivals, a few pumpkin patches, and a couple of trunk-or-treats all to prepare us for the main event: Trick-or-Treating on Halloween night

Enter COVID-19 and all of the above not happening… feel free to hear the violins playing and lament with me.

So, in my lamenting, I began to problem-solve and since I already had baskets, I just added what we needed to BOO them. My goal? To have one craft and one sweet treat a week. I wanted the crafts to be sustainable and be used to decorate their room this year and a couple of years after. I didn’t want a sugar overload but I also know this is the time when sugar just abounds so, at least this way, we can make sure all the ingredients are good to us. I threw in some other things because I AM EXTRA. I also wanted those memories that I get every year from the festivals and patches, not thethethrlocation but the joy of our hearts.

Ok, now to what you came here for. Links. I’ll be sure to share this in my Instagram Stories and do my best to save them in a highlight!

The pennant flags and monster coupons were free printables.

These lovely and completely cute BOO lava bead bracelets are from the insanely talented Amber from Chameleon Ave. She has gorgeous pieces for everyone and it’s great quality.

I purchased the craft tote bag, foam pumpkin, stickers, spin top, pencil and bracelets from the Dollar Tree. I’ve linked some other options as those must be purchased in-store.

I made the vinyl decals on the two shirts with my silhouette portrait. I also sewed the mask and the scrunchie. I gathered the wand items from things I already had but I linked some cute options for everything.

The Usborne sticker book and magic painting book, I got from a UBAM consultant. You can shop the goods-books about everything, activity books, learning pallets- here. The books, Room On The Broom and Llama Llama Trick or Treat, as well as the Room On The Broom Activity Book can all be purchased on amazon.

Happy clicking and happy Fall, y’all!

Love you. Mean it.

Christmas Planning In…

Hey Loves!

So, if I can be honest, last year Christmas snuck up on me and caught me all the way slipping. Why? Because I didn’t plan for it early. Well, some parts I did but other, not so much. I also tried to take on all the things, including hosting two cookie shares and organizing a secret Santa gift exchange. On 12/24/2019, I vowed to return to my old ways of planning early and have been doing just that throughout the year. (If you are wondering why I started planning so early in the first place, it is because of this.)

Then, COVID-19. I think it would be a gross understatement to say this Pandemic changed our plans and/or ability plan. I mean, by now, I would’ve had my photos scheduled. That’s not possible because we have no idea what will be open, how our photographer will be impacted, etc. So, I have been doing what I know I can do and I’ll share that with you.

Photos and Cards: If this is your thing, get it done ASAP. Either snap. edit and organize your phone photos, pick out card templates or design your own and figure out all the addresses!

Running Gift Lists: On my phone, in the “Google Keep” app, I have a running list of gifts for myself and for my kids. These gifts will go to grandparents, friends, godparents, etc. This way, I am not hunting and searching for something they may like or desire during the holiday season. I email or text the links to the persons above. I never “ask” them but rather use this as a guide. It also helps me not overbuy and keep an eye out at consignment or flash sales.

Plan for Traditions: As much as you can, plan for certain traditions, or prepare to have them done virtually. For example, I am coming to terms with the fact that I probably won’t host a cookie swap in person. I can organize a virtual cookie share in which we share recipes and traditions. Also, lots of things that are traditionally on our Advent Calendar may not happen so, I will either need a virtual substitute or change it up entirely so it can be done at home. I am seeing lots of cocoa recipes, reindeer games, and indoor snowball fights in our future.

Inspect Decor: Do your lights actually work? What was that thing you said you needed to get in January but you forgot? All of that. It is going to be a little more difficult to just run into a store safely so plan ahead. Wanna try some DIYs? Get the supplies and do that now. Be on the lookout for a felt-ball garland tutorial!

Breathe: I hate to break it to you, but this holiday season, as with any other, is going to have some hiccups. You are going to forget something. You are going to forget to send someone or a family a card. It happens. You are human. Breathe. Give yourself grace.

As I think of them, I will be sharing more holiday ideas and activities here and via socials..

Love you. Mean it.

Under Construction

Hey Loves!

I think I know what you are thinking. “I haven’t heard from her in literal months and now her blog is ‘under construction’?” I could also be projecting my feelings on to you… Either way, I am so sorry for the lack of content. If you’ve been following me on social media (if you aren’t, are we really friends? j/k!), then you know my family has been going through A LOT physically and emotionally and, truthfully, we may be going through some more.

However, I MISS YOU TONS so I’ve devised a way for us to still connect, me to share and you to receive and/or laugh at/with me, through all my hits and misses.

The blog is under construction because I recently was under construction (I actually still am but in a good way :). I changed, improved and streamlined now it is time for this blog to represent that too. Don’t ya think?

This change is a partnership. We work together. I need your help.

  1. I need to know what you want to read/get from me. This overhaul is NOT for me, it is for you and all my new friends. Could you pretty please fill out a super short survey by clicking here? It would help us both tons.
  2. One of the new ways I devised to connect with you is through “email newsletters”. That is in quotes because I know what you are thinking, “something else in my inbox.” I get it. Hear me out-what if you got 4 short paragraphs on content that you WANT to read about and an optional link to a blog post. Remember, we are friends and we love each other. I tell you no lies. All I need is your email address by clicking here.
  3. Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and the book of faces, also known as Facebook if you aren’t already. That’s easy access to new blogs, updates and this crazy life of mines.

See? Easy. 1. Survey; 2. Email address; 3. Follow Me.

Ready? Break!

You’re the best.

Love you. Mean it.

I’m Not Dead

I’m not Dead 

I’m sure many of you asked this-whether you were joking or seriously concerned, rest assured, I am not. Toddler chasing is a full-time job and real life doesn’t leave any room for anything else but sleep. I try to sneak in household chores and errands when I can, but sometimes even those can’t get done. It’s my life. I’m learning to love it.

 

May I also say I honestly and truly forgot how hard pregnancy can be on a body? I’m not complaining or even whining (yet), but it takes a lot to create a human while keeping another, who doesn’t value his life at all, alive. Anywho, my hope is to get several posts out to you regularly before number two comes along and yet another inevitable break.

 

One thing is for sure-I’ve missed you. I haven’t even met most of you, but sharing my life and you taking the time to read about it means the world to me. I’m thankful you haven’t given up on me.

 

Until next time…

 

What’s in my Baby Bag

Hey Loves!

So, I’ve been called an over-packer. I’ve been called anal. I’ve never been called unprepared. So, here’s what I got in my bag.

1. Dipes and wipes- Do I need to explain this?
2 Bibs- for the geyser that is my teething kid’s mouth.
3. Socks- because I don’t like people I don’t know touching my babies feet because I believe you can get germs that way…yucky, Satan-worshipping germs that will infiltrate my baby, then my home and we will all be consumed with a disease that will surely bring us to the brink of death. (I’ve also been called a hypochondriac.)
4. Burp cloth- when the drool seeps past the bib…
5. Pacifier, back up pacifier- I think this is self explanatory
6. Toy, back-up toy- my baby likes to be entertained y’all.
7. K’Tan Carrier- you never know when you need to wear a baby, and in the event that my ergo is not available, the K’tan saves us.
8. A blanket- also known as makeshift play mat or covering for warmth
9. First aid kit-this is more for his clumsy mama 😉
10. Hand sanitizer and Lysol- the GERMS MUST DIE!
11. Wet bags- one for cloth diapers and disposable plastics grocery bags for poop/pee filled clothes
12. Change of clothes-When baby decides to poop everywhere but the diaper.
13. Formula and bottle- Because if something happened to me and I couldn’t feed me baby…#hypochondriacprobs
14. Poop bags-the bags that cover up poopy diaper smells when we change on-the-go.
15. Mommy junk pouch-Necessities like lip balm, lip gloss, concealer, mascara, mints…

Again, I’m over-prepared but I’ve always got everything I need.