The Liebster Award

So I'm having a little fun for today's post. I was recently nominated by Nerline of Chic From Hair to Toe for a Liebster Award and I just had to share the fun with y'all! Over at Chic From Hair 2 Toe, Nerline not only blogs about hair care, she shares insightful posts about fashion, skincare, food + fitness, and family. I adore her and her blog, so when she nominated me for this award, I was stoked. 

The Liebster Award is an award passed on to bloggers by bloggers in an effort to meet new friends in the blogging community. Here are the rules:

-Thank the person who nominated you by linking to their blog

-Answer 10 questions provided to you by the person who nominated you.

-Nominate 5 – 10 deserving bloggers  (who have less than 1,000 followers according to google)

-Create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer.

Now on to Nerline's questions!

♥ Sisterhood Tag ♥

Hey loves! I have a cool tag post for you guys today. My blogger boo Galaxia tagged me a while back for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award and I must say I am honored! For the tag, Galaxia asked some really fun questions, so I will be answering them all below for you. Here goes!

1. What’s a little luxury that you treat yourself to after a long day? A nice spa day would be an ideal treat right about now. You just don't know how much I crave a massage and a pedicure! But in the meantime, I'll do the usual and have my own DIY spa situation at home :) I always enjoy spending a few quiet moments by myself, for myself. It could be enjoying a nice warm bubble bath with my favorite scented bath bombs while a 90's slow jam playlist repeats in the background. Or I will arrange a nice cheese tray for one with a glass of wine and catch up on my favorite shows while the little ones are sleeping. It might not sound very luxurious to some, but any uninterrupted time to myself in which I can totally relax is a luxury for me. How many of you long for the days that you could use the bathroom in peace without someone yelling for you or trying to break into the bathroom to get you? LOL. Uninterrupted bathroom time even sounds like a luxury these days. 

2. How do you feel about your siblings, or how do you feel about being an only child? I love each and every one of my siblings. I have five siblings total. I have two older brothers, but I'm my mom's oldest kid. I have a slight complex about being her oldest though, as I always joke that I am the starter kid lol. But all jokes aside, I love each one of them and find it pretty awesome that though we all have very distinct personalities, we can come together and love on each other in our own little way. 

3. Who’s your current celebrity crush? I know that a lot of married women say they don't have a celebrity crush, but for the sake of the question I will be honest with you guys and admit that I have a couple. I promise you it's okay. My husband has a celebrity crush or two as well lol. Since I started watching kdrama last year, I have become a huge fan of Lee Min Ho. This could possibly be because I've seen every drama he's starred in and I am thinking of re-watching Personal Taste. He seems like such a sweetheart!

And for y'all that KNOW ME, I'm gonna sit this photo right here. Lol.

4. If you’re single, is there someone you’re wishing would ask you out? If you’re taken, how did you and that person decide to be in a relationship (describe the proposal, etc)? My husband and I met at a football game over a decade ago and decided to make our relationship official during Superbowl weekend a few months after. Fast forward to the present day and we're still watching football games together--well I'm still trying to get his attention while he's yelling at the TV screen. I never realized football had such a profound effect on our relationship. Lol.


5. What’s your favorite nail polish shade to wear? Pink! Fusion Pink by Sinful Colors is currently my favorite pink polish. 

6. Show us a piece of jewelry you would love to have. I'm currently on the prowl for a pair of pearl ear jackets. They seem like the perfect mix of elegant, yet edgy. 

7. What kind of cell phone do you have? I'm probably the only person in the world (other than my husband) that doesn't have an iPhone. I don't even remember the name of my phone, but I know HTC makes it and I got it for free! #TeamAndroid over here, honey :)

8. Which TV show or movie should I watch when I have the chance? I know you are a Netflix/Hulu/YouTube lover like myself Galaxia, so I'm gonna list ALL of the shows and movies I've watched recently or I am currently watching. 

My Girl | Close Friends | First.

The Mindy Project

Friday Night Lights | Pretty Little Liars |The Carrie Diaries

Awkward. | Revenge | Black-ish

Gotham | HTGAWM

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete

Safe Haven

9. What book would you recommend I read before 2014 is over? You must read #GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso if you haven't already. It's a great read! And if you have Nook or Kindle, shoot me an e-mail. I have a must-read list and to-read list a mile long that I'd love to share with you!

10. Have you ever experienced blatant racism or discrimination? I wouldn't say I have experienced blatant racism. But growing up in a southern rural area has presented quite a few opportunities to witness a level of ignorance some people have for those who aren't just like them. Though we might not always like to discuss racism or discrimination publicly, I do believe racism still exists. But I've also been witness to a loving-kindness in others that still exists. My hope is that if we all practiced more love and more kindness, we can begin to obliterate negativity like I have experienced so our children won't have to.

Thanks again for tagging me, Galaxia! I hope you all enjoyed reading my answers! Now I'd like to ask all of you guys-- who are your celebrity crushes? Do you have any book recommendations for me? What TV shows are you currently watching? And how often do you "treat" yourself? I'd love to hear all of your answers in the comments :)

Summer Book Challenge 2014 | Month 2

Remember last month when I told you guys about the awesome summer book challenge on Megan Stroup's blog (Semi-Charmed Kind of Life)? Well ladies and gentlemen, I'm glad to say that I'm still reading and taking part! As I shared earlier on the blog, one of my current goals is to read more. So participating in this challenge has really encouraged me to make time for happy reading! Since the last update, I haven't changed any books on my preliminary list, but I'm contemplating switching up a few of them. I'll be sure to let you guys know with my next update if I decide to, though. And if you didn't catch the first post about the book challenge, here is my preliminary list along with the books I've finished. 

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.
— The Untethered Soul , Michael A. Singer (200 pages)
10 points: Read a book that was written before you were born.
— Go Tell It On The Mountain , James Baldwin (256 pages) [1953]
10 points: Finish reading a book you couldn't finish the first time around.
— Life Overflowing , T. D. Jakes (427 pages/300+ pages remaining)
10 points: Read a book from the children’s section of the library or bookstore.
— Stargirl , Jerry Spinelli (200 pages)
15 points: Read a book that is on The New York Times' Best Sellers List when you begin reading it.
— #GIRLBOSS , Sophia Amorouso (232 pages) [No. 6 on the Advice, How-to list]
15 points: Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.
— Song of Solomon , Toni Morrison (337 pages) [set in the United States]
15 points: Read a book another blogger has already read for the challenge.
— TBD :)
20 points: Read a book with “son(s),” “daughter(s)” or “child(ren)” in the title.
— Daughters of the Dust , Julia Dash (310 pages)
20 points: Read a book that was/will be adapted to film in 2014.
— The Fault in Our Stars , John Green (337 pages)
25 points: Read a book written by a blogger.
— Happier at Home , Gretchen Rubin (320 pages) [gretchenrubin.com]
25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir. 
— I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings , Maya Angelou (291 pages)
30 points: Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles.
— Rock My Soul , bell hooks (240 pages)  

— Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self , Danielle Evans (229 pages)

In last month's reading, I completed one book from the categories:

✓ 25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir. 

— I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou (291 pages, 5 stars)

With this month's reading, however, I completed 4 reads! Yay me!

✓ 30 points: Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles.
— Rock My Soul , bell hooks (240 pages, 5 stars)  

— Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self , Danielle Evans (229 pages, 3.75 stars)

✓ 10 points: Read a book from the children’s section of the library or bookstore.
— Stargirl , Jerry Spinelli (200 pages, 4.2 stars)

✓ 5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.
— The Untethered Soul , Michael A. Singer (200 pages, 3.5 stars)

PREVIOUS POINTS: 25

TOTAL POINTS: 70

Are you participating in the Summer Book Challenge

 over at Semi-Charmed Kind of Life? 

What books are you reading this summer?

Ask Away Friday with DIY Mama

Hey ladies and gents! I'm back at #AskAwayFriday again this week! This Friday, I've partnered up with Shelly over at DIY Mama. And just as the name of her blog suggests, Shelly is the real deal DIY Mama. At DIY Mama, she blogs about her life with her husband and her "little bean" Soph, as well as her love of crafting and organizing. In getting to know Shelly in the blogosphere, I have since organized my nail care storage, planned my family trip to Disney, and began working on my own life planner. Seriously, you guys have to stop by and check her out. It's been so much fun getting familiar with Shelly this week!

Below are the questions Shelly asked me and my responses to them.

1. I love your 'Weekly Wishes' posts! Do they help you stay focused to accomplish your wishes by writing them down? Yes. Yes. Yes. Writing my goals down is essential in completing them. And since I am a chronic list-maker, I find myself making a list of things to do (or complete) on the daily. I usually keep my weekly goals posted on my bulletin board in my bedroom and saved in my phone so that I can keep my eyes on them. And blogging about them keeps me accountable. Checking items off my on-going lists is so gratifying, you have no idea!

These are just a few of my list and wish keepers :)

2. It's National Pollinators Week! What are your thoughts on bees? My initial thoughts on bees--- I'm afraid of them. Childhood bee stings are responsible for this fear, as those little stingers are no joke! But after reading your post about National Pollinators Week, I've started thinking beyond my fear and more about how beneficial bees are to nature. I might even plant some zinnias and sunflowers for them :)

3. When I Was Gab's Age was a stroll down memory lane for me! I'm pretty sure we had parallel childhoods! What have you re-introduced from your childhood to your kids? I've re-introduced Gabs and Core to so many things from my childhood, especially with television shows and cartoons. Gabs is able to watch some episodes of Sister Sister with me and Core has become a fan of Smart Guy recently. They both enjoy watching The Magic School Bus and they seem to be learning a lot from it. 

In the last month or so, Gabs has fallen in love with Judy Blume books and The Babysitter's Club series. I'm too hyped about that! We've actually started watching The Babysitter's Club together.

4. I just bought tickets to see one of our favorite comedians in September (Mike Birbiglia)! What comedian have you seen that you loved or who would you like to see? Wow, that's cool. Mike Birbiglia is a funny dude! I saw Rickey Smiley a few years back and he was hilarious. Earthquake is coming close by in the upcoming weeks, so I'm hoping to get some last minute tickets for that!

5. Our babies (your youngest) were born pretty close to the same day! (Oct. 5th for Soph.) What new gadget or toy have you used with Jj that you love and wish you had with the other two? The GracoBaby SweetPeace Infant Soothing Swing was the best thing ever invented for babies! Oh my goodness. That swing has been a blessing. It has four different seating positions, it vibrates, it reclines... You can even play music from your iPod on it. I don't think this swing was around when the others were babies, but I wish it was!  

6. I know you're into make-up hardcore! What is your favorite drug-store makeup that you always go back to? No matter what new cosmetic I fall in love with, I always find my way back to CVS or Walgreens to grab up some Wet n Wild stuff. It was the very first brand of makeup I ever tried. I love their liners, mascaras, lipsticks, and nail polish. I've been using their polishes longer than any other brand and I have yet to be disappointed!

This is my favorite Wet n Wild Lipstick. 

It's so pigmented and long-lasting!

7. I just finished A Fault in Our Stars and really liked it. Are you the type to stop a book if you're not into it or do you complete the book? Any recent favorites? I can't wait to get into A Fault in Our Stars. It's on my Summer Reading List. Now I will be completely honest and tell you I will stop a book at the drop of a hat. I like to read several books at the time, so if a book I'm reading isn't serving me at the moment, I will put it down. That's not to say I won't pick it back up. But if  I try to read it again and can't get into it, I will not complete it. I'm currently reading The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer and Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and both are good reads. I can't wait to give updates on them both!

8. I saw you're grateful for Dance Central! Me too! What's your go-to jam that you always get 5 stars?

You Got It (The Right Stuff) by New Kids on the Block gets me 5 stars each time. It's my favorite song on Dance Central 3 and no one wants to battle with me when I choose that song. They know it's going down! Lol.

9. Summer time means great movies! Have you seen any yet this summer or are there any on your 'must see' list? Will you go to a drive-in with your kids this summer? I plan to take Gabs and Core to see X-Men: Days of Future Past within the next week or so. I've been wanting to see Think Like a Man Too and I hope hubby takes me on a date night to see it soon.

10. Finish this sentence: 'Sometimes, when no one's watching, I _______!' ...sing really loud and pitchy to my heart's content! I love to sing, I'm just not very good at it. So that's my favorite thing to do when no one's watching (or listening lol.)

Now with this swap, Shelly offered a bonus question. The bonus was to answer one question that I asked her. And let me tell you, I had the hardest time picking a question to answer. Where do I get these questions from that I ask? Lol. Here goes!

*** If you could start your own mom group, what you would call it? When and where would your group meet and what would you guys do in your meet-ups? If I could start my own mom group, it would either be called Rockin' Mamas or Moms' Night Out. Why, I don't know. Both names sound pretty catchy to me. We could have an initial meeting to discuss various places we'd like to have group meetings and different activities we would like to do. I would probably suggest meeting up at places like Barnes and Nobles/Starbucks, Nikki's, or the Bowling Alley. And of course I'd love to have regular meet-ups at my place to have girl-talk, host pamper parties, and do nails + makeup. This actually sounds like a lot of fun!

It's been real answering your questions, Shelly! Now I want to go find a local comedy show, watch Smart Guy re-runs with Gabs and Core, and get my Dance Central moves together! Be sure to stop by DIY Mama to see Shelly's answers to my questions today.

Ask Away Friday with One Hoolie Mama

Hey ladies and gents! I'm back at #AskAwayFriday again this week! For today's installment of Ask Away Friday, I've partnered up with Suzanna over at One Hoolie Mama. Cool blog name, right? Suzanna calls herself the "hoolie mama," as she is the mother of a baby boy and a few fur children-- whom she affectionately call her hooligans, or hoolies. At One Hoolie Mama, she blogs about her life with her husband and the hoolies, as well as her love of running and crafting. It was so cool to check out her blog and get to know her better this week.

Below are the questions Suzanna asked me and my responses to them.

How do you like to take time for yourself during the day - do you prefer to read, do your nails, exercise, craft, write - what's your preference? My favorite way to take time for myself at home would definitely be indulging in a great read or two. Usually at night when the kiddies are fast asleep and all of my day's work is done, you can find me curled up with a good book. I probably have my journal somewhere close so that I can get some writing in, too. And maybe, just maybe, if sleep doesn't come soon, I'll pull that polish out and get my nails together. Lol.

If your husband were to describe you in one word, what word do you think he would pick and why? I asked him this last night before he left for work, and he asked me if it was a trick question. Ha! But I believe if he had to describe me in only one word, he would choose compassionate. He always says I see the best in others and try to make everyone around me smile.

As you have been taking steps to live fearlessly, what is one on the most rewarding things that has happened to you? The most rewarding thing that has happened since trying to move past my fears, is that my overall approach to life is changing. Usually, when presented with a new opportunity or situation, I'll over-analyze it a million times in my head. I'll question myself as to whether I should do it or not, I'll wonder if I'm doing the right thing for way too long. So much internal dialogue goes on that I will usually talk myself out of a situation before I am even truly involved. Does that ever happen to you? 

Nowadays, I'll say "why not?" and try something new without a second thought. Well, most of the time! 

What has been the most exciting perk you've received because of your blog? I believe the most exciting perk I've received because of my blog is knowing that people actually read it and enjoy what I write. Finding out my mom reads my blog blew me away! Encouragement from my aunt, my best friend, and other people I know personally really make me feel like I am doing something worthwhile---especially when there were times I've considered quitting. 

What are your top three must-haves when you are spending a day at the beach? That's a good question! Now I carry quite a few things in my beach bag, but three things I absolutely have to have when spending the day at the beach would be: a) cute sunnies b) sunscreen c) my camera or phone

What is your favorite part of blogging? My favorite part of blogging is connecting with others out here in the blogosphere and discovering others I can relate to.

What do you find the most challenging about blogging? The things I find the most challenging about blogging are finding a balance between real life and blog life-- if I could maintain more balance, I could be more consistent and actually stick to my editorial calendar lol! Another thing would be making sure I am blogging about something that is actually contributing to the blogosphere-- I always hope that what I'm sharing is something that may help someone in some way.  

If you had to eat one food every day for the rest of your life, what would you pick to eat? That's a tough one. If I chose foods I absolutely love, I would hate them if I ate them every day. But I will say that I eat a Payday candy bar at least 3-4 times a week. Hubby usually brings one home for me every time he leaves out. So I guess I'll go with that :)

What is one thing that always makes you laugh? Reruns of Martin. I can watch Martin when I'm having a bad day, and my spirits are instantly lifted. I could watch this show every day without growing tired of it.

If you had to pick just one thing, what is your favorite thing about your Hubby? It's so hard to pick one thing. He has so many great qualities! I think one of the things I love most about J is how grounded he is. He always keeps a cool head and rarely lets anything bother him. He keeps a cool demeanor, is a man of few words, but stands firm in what he says. It's a rare thing for anything or anyone make him act out of character. His personality really compliments mine, as I'm known to show my emotions and really react when provoked. He keeps me grounded and often reminds me not to tell others tailor my emotions.

It's been so much fun answering Suzanne's questions! To get more familiar with the Hoolie Mama herself, click the button below and show her blog some love. Her answers to my questions go live today as well, so make sure you check them out and tell her I sent ya!

Shop Hopeful Kiss | Pink Lipstick Love

As a lover of pink lipstick, I was thrilled to learn that my blogger friend Galaxia now has a lipstick sample shop full of drugstore and high-end pink lipsticks! What a novel idea, right? Shop Hopeful Kiss is ideal for us lipstick lovers, as it gives us the option to purchase lipstick samples BEFORE taking the plunge to buy a full-sized tube. And while I love all my pink lippies, I have been disappointed in the past by buying a lipstick that wasn't the shade it appeared to be once I got home with it. Don't you just hate that? I know I do. So when Galaxia reached out to me about trying the store's services out, I was more than happy to oblige! I received two lipstick samples, a lipstick brush, and other beautiful goodies that I will share with you all in a later post.

The first lipstick sample I received from Galaxia was Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Rose Hip. This is among my favorites. You all know I love a pretty fuchsia lippie, so this one was love at first application! Milani Color Statement in Rose Hip is a lipstick that is perfect for date night or girl's night out, as it is an attention-grabbing shade. This lipstick is long-lasting, moisturizing, and very pigmented. And it has this nice flavor that somewhat reminds me of fruit punch. I would say this lippie could go for a great dupe of MAC Candy Yum-Yum also!

The second lipstick sample I received was Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Kissable Pink. This lipstick is definitely one I would choose for everyday wear. It has just a hint of color, so it could be appropriate for work, church, or daily general wear. It's very moisturizing for a lipstick and has a color that would compliment women of every complexion. 

As an avid lipstick lover, I feel that these two shades compliment my lifestyle. Most days I wear a moisturizing lipstick with just a hint of pigment for a more natural look. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Kissable Pink is perfect for that. And for special occasions and planned events, I love wearing a highly pigmented, statement making lipstick like Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Rose Hip. Using the services of Shop Hopeful Kiss, one is able to test out as many samples as she would like for a very low cost. If you're lucky like me, you may even find a few signature shades while saving money!

Are you a fan of these shades?

Do you think sample shopping lippies is an ideal service for you?

If so, I suggest you check out Galaxia's shop. To get starting purchasing a few samples for yourself, head over to Shop Hopeful Kiss here and click to your heart's content!

   

Ask Away Friday with Sonya K

Happy Friday, loves! I'm excited to be participating in another round of Ask Away Friday, as it has been a while since I've done so. Today, I'm tag-teaming the link-up with the lovely Sonya K. of Saving Everyday with Sonya K. I get hyped every time I get an update from Sonya's blog, as I know she has some good sale alerts coming in! And we know I love a good deal, right? This exchange has been a great way of getting to know the woman behind the blog.

Now if you aren't familiar with #AskAwayFriday, it's a weekly link-up hosted by The Real Housewife of Caroline County, Mrs.Tee Love Life and Laughter, Bold Fab Mom, and This Momma's Ramblings. It's a great way for bloggers to meet and get to know each other better. Partners exchange ten questions and answer them on their respective blogs. Sounds pretty cool, right? 

Below are the questions Sonya asked me and my responses to them.

We are both 90's kids so lets start with some questions about the 90's.

1. As a kid I thought that 90's fashion was "all that", who doesn't love bright colors, spandex, and overalls to name a few. What were some of your favorite fashion trends from the 90's? I loved the entire "around the way girl" look of the 90's. Combat boots, bamboo earrings, and overalls were definitely among my favorites. And thanks to Aaliyah, I've worn my share of oversized Tommy Hilfiger Jeans, Timberlands, swoop-bangs, and batman sunglasses. The 90's were a great time to be a tomboy, indeed. 

 

2. You mentioned watching TGIF on Fridays in one of your recent posts. I loved Family Matters. Laura with Steve Urkel or Laura with Stephan Urquelle- which couple did you like the most? Don't get me wrong, I loved Stephan! He was something cute and charismatic, wasn't he? However, I wish Laura would have just went for Steve. Do you remember that one episode where she kept having dreams about Steve and eventually kissed him in front of everyone? I can't remember all of the details because it was so long ago, but I remember rooting for Steve instead of Stephan in that episode. Steve was so sweet and sincere. He deserved a woman who loved him for who he truly was--geekery and all!

3. A few months ago I asked Mrs. Tee this question. "King of Pop" Michael Jackson vs. Prince, who reigns supreme in your opinion? Now you know the purple royal highness reigns supreme around these parts, Sonya lol. I can't imagine how he would react if he saw this question on my blog. Lol :)

4. A few weeks ago you have a post about when you first fell in love with Hip Hop. MC Hammer made rap mainstream for a lot of people. I LOVED me some MC Hammer. Were you a fan, if so what was your favorite song by MC Hammer? I used to love MC Hammer back in the day! Oh, the memories I have of the MC Hammer doll and the Hammerman cartoon. Even though I had no clue what he was talking about in his songs, I was a fan. I was an adult before I even knew what "pumps and a bump" meant!  Nonetheless, I was singing along with his songs on the radio and begging my mom to let Aunt Nancy sew me a pair of hammer pants. I think my favorite Hammer song is "Too Legit to Quit." I loved his rendition of "Going Up Yonder" too, as that is one of my favorite gospel songs.  

I know you like to write, so here are a few literary questions.

5. Do you have a favorite poet, if so who? My favorite poet is Maya Angelou. Though I love many others, it was Maya Angelou's works that inspired me to share my voice through the written word.

6. Do you have a favorite book that you can read over and over again? Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, hands down. I discover something new in this literary gem each time I read it. 

You post a lot about fashion, so lets talk fashion.

7. Has your sense of fashion changed since becoming a mom? If so, what are some of the ways your style has changed? I wouldn't say my style has changed because I became a mom, but I will say my style has matured through time. Before I was a mom, I was a nineteen year old kid. I wore graphic tees with bright accessories and Nikes to nearly every event. And though I still love my tees, jeans, and Jordans, I know how to get dressed for the occasion. Oh, and I do wear less skin-tight clothing now. Lol. 

8. I love a good deal and hate to spend a lot of money on clothes. Are you a bargain shopper or do you like to splurge when it comes to fashion? I'm a bargain shopper all the way. I rarely splurge on apparel. Every now and again, I'll buy a really nice pair of shoes or bag. And I might just buy wardrobe staples at retail price. But everything else is with a deal, a coupon, on sale, or possibly thrifted. I love to save a dollar.

9. Unlimited funds fantasy shopping spree for one store only. What store would you choose for the ultimate shopping spree? If I had unlimited funds, I would still be in the stores budgeting. It's just in me. So this question is really hard. I suppose I'd go to a department store that has everything, like Macy's or Nordstrom.

10. My daughter is about to turn 2 and she already wants to pick out her clothes (she will actually say no if you pick something from her drawer that she does not want to wear). Is your daughter a budding fashionista or are you still able to pick out most of her clothes? Aww, that's too cute! My daughter is 9, so she pretty much wants creative control over her style. But since I buy simple mix and match pieces for her, she could put just about anything together and it "goes." She came up with this look all by herself last week and was very proud! When it comes to church and family functions, however, I will pick out a couple of outfits for her and give her options.

It's been so much fun answering Sonya's questions! To get more familiar with Sonya while scoring cool deals and savings, click the button below and show her blog some love. Her answers to my questions go live today as well, so make sure you check them out and tell her I sent ya!

#AskAwayFriday With Alison of Embrace the Struggle

I'm so hyped about #AskAwayFriday today, y'all. Today I get to swap questions with my blogger friend Alison over at Embrace the Struggle. She is a superb writer, who is one of the most loving, kindhearted, and warm-spirited women I have ever met out here in these blogging streets! Since we've met through my other lovely blogger friend Michelle (at Radiant Brown Beauty), she has shown me nothing short of love and support-- and I appreciate her for that!

I want to take a minute to tell Ali Happy Birthday. I'm so excited and honored to be partnering with her on her special day. May you get everything you want and everything goes your way, today!  Here's a little Stevie for you, by the way :-)  Now here are her questions, along with my responses.

What was the highlight of this Christmas for you? The highlight of this Christmas was having a baby in the home. It was Jj's first Christmas, so that was pretty exciting. He's been in awe over all the bright colors and stuff. I will imagine by next year, he will be tearing the tree down!

The new year begins in a few days. What are your top three personal priorities, rather than resolutions? Number one would be strengthening my relationship with Christ, number two would be strengthening my relationship with my husband, and number three would be continuing to build my children up and being the best mommy I can be! 

Tell me two of your "happies and crappies" of 2013? Two happies-- moving and giving birth to Jj! Two crappies--losing my grandmother last month and severing ties with a close friend.

Jj at 2 months

What direction do you see "So She Writes" taking in 2014? Same as before?  A U-turn?  Or branching out into new territory? When I first started blogging, I was more personal, I think. I shared more stories and anecdotes-- things I was going through. I believe in 2014 I want to go back to that. I want to share more about myself and my life. I love makeup and all things beauty so I will still be blogging about those things, but I'm a mom and a wife first-- so that's gonna be seen more here.

How has your experience in the first few months with the new baby differed from those of your first two kids? I'm older and more experienced, so I believe I have this thing in the bag the third time around lol. With Gabs, I was completely lost about everything. What my mom didn't advise me on, I learned from other mothers. With Core, I had a newborn and a toddler. Things were chaotic! I was getting one baby out of diapers, just to put another one in them! Now I'm more relaxed and confident about what I need to do to nurture and care for my baby.

Tell us about your favorite Christmas ever.  Would you want to relive it?  Why?  Why not? I talk about my favorite Christmas ever in my Christmas Tag here. Four years ago, my family and I were able to spend time with my late father on Christmas. I had no idea it would be the last time I would see him. There are so many things I would have said and done differently, had I known. I would relive that moment over and over if I could.

He was telling someone he was happy to be home with the family!

What's your ideal down-time activity, or "me" activity? It's a tie between reading and writing. I'm always either reading something or writing something-- most of the time both simultaneously. I think everyone should always be in the middle of reading an awesome book if they can :-)

What was the favorite Christmas gift you received this Christmas? MAKEUP, hands down! Lol. I'll share my goodies with you guys in a later post :-)

What family Christmas tradition from your childhood have you incorporated into your kids' Christmas celebrations? Opening one gift at midnight definitely stemmed from childhood. Funny thing is, my children were so tired this year, they didn't open any gifts at midnight! But they were up bright and early at 7 AM to get at that gift wrap! Lol.

What's the most difficult thing you've conquered as a blogger? The most difficult thing I've conquered was determining how much to share on my blog. I'm a very private person, so I've often steered away from talking about my personal feelings here. When I finally got comfortable sharing posts about my life, I learned that many people I know read my blog. Just when I thought I was able to use this space to vent my frustrations and share my innermost thoughts, they were being used against me by a few of the people I knew. Only recently did I decide that since this was my space, I would write about what I want! Lol. And just like that, I was over it.

How do you guys feel about sharing your lives on your blog? 

Do your family and friends read your blog?

I hope you guys enjoyed reading our rap session. To read Ali's responses to my questions and to get more familiar with her, click her button! Be sure to go by there and tell her happy birthday! I'm sure it would really make her day!

If you would like to partner up with me for #AskAwayFriday, be sure to leave me a comment or send me an email! To check out other #AskAwayFriday participants, including Carissa who is a co-host this week, click here!

#AskAwayFriday With Mrs. Tee of Love, Life, Laughter

Happy Friday, loves!  Do I have a treat for you today! I'm participating in #AskAwayFriday again this week, and I've been honored to pair up with my blogger friend in my head Mrs. Tee H. of Love, Life, Laughter. 

She's such a COOL mama, guys! Reading her posts have uplifted, motivated, and inspired me to be a better mom, wife, and woman. Her spot is described to be a place where love, life and laughter collide to make a collage of unexpected happiness. Be sure to check her out to read more about her life as a mom, wife, and God-fearing woman. In the meantime, peep my answers to the questions she asked me.

Your tagline is "On a journey through life with her pen, notebook, and laptop in tow--wondering as she wanders."  I love it!  How did you come to it and what does it mean to you? My tagline is actually a part of a poem I wrote a long time ago called "...So She Writes." The poem spoke of my journey through life as well as my journey to self-- and the utensils I use to get there. I haven't always been as vocal as I am now with my thoughts, so I would write everything down. And there's several journals around here that prove it. Unfortunately the poem "...So She Writes" in its entirety was in a journal that was destroyed. "Wondering as she wanders" paid homage to Langston Hughes, one of my favorite writers.

When did you have your first encounter with makeup?  Was it love at first application or did you grow into it? My earliest memories of playing in makeup stem from admiring my aunt's makeup collection. I write about that here in my favorite post to date, The Burgundy Lipstick Story. Somewhere between sneaking in auntie's makeup at age 8 and sneaking to CVS to buy Wet 'n' Wild cosmetics in the 8th grade, I fell in love with wearing makeup. I didn't start wearing foundation until 2009 though.

Having kiddies of my own I know that their personalities can vary like night and day.  Do you children have similar or opposite personalities?  How do they interact with each other? My children are like night and day for real.  But I think they get it from J and I. Gabs is just like me when I was her age. She's very quiet and reserved if she doesn't know you well. Corey on the other hand, is very outgoing. He's also very competitive and always feels the need to be right (like his daddy lol). Sometimes these things can drive a wedge between the two because Gabs is the oldest and she can be very bossy. Needless to say, they stay bickering about the smallest little things. Jj is still very young, so it's hard to say how he's tempered. But I can say he loves his big brother and sister. He just lights up whenever he's around them!

If you could have any of the following which would you pick and why: maid, makeup artists, chef. Can I have all three for $1,000 Alex? Lol. If I had to choose, it would definitely be a maid. As much as I love makeup, I could do without it, or swing it on my own. I love to cook, so I could swing that too. But I would pawn the cleaning off to someone else in a heartbeat!

Where would you go for a fantasy vacation as a family? Since we will be seeing Atlanta, GA and Orlando FL in the near future, I guess I would say San Diego, CA. I probably wouldn't take them out of the country just yet and the babies are always saying they want to see the San Diego Zoo. I bet they would love going out there to the West Coast.

Where would you go as a fantasy romantic getaway just you and hubby? I so want us to travel to the Virgin Islands for a week-long getaway. I could picture us there now. I have photographs of St. Thomas and St. Croix in journals and envision myself in them from time to time. Hopefully it will happen soon :)

What are your fantasy date night plans? I don't even need anything fancy. It's been so long since hubby and I've had a date night that I just need some alone time in general lol. But if I would have to be specific, I guess going to a low-key jazz spot together or a R&B show down to the House of Blues. We could wrap up the night at the beach, since that's my favorite place to be. It's so calm and serene at night. Watching the sun rise there is always the best :) I said all of that to basically describe what a normal date night looks like lol.

me and my sweet thang :)

With Christmas being next week I have to ask..what is your favorite Christmas tradition as a family? Since we don't have an official tradition yet, we just watch Christmas movies together and drink hot chocolate. I will be gifting everyone in the house pajamas on Christmas Eve though, as I discussed in this post.

Do you have any Holiday traditions from your childhood that you have carried over to your family or are you starting all new ones? I think opening one gift at midnight was something that carried over from childhood. I don't know where it came from, but we've been doing it since Gabs has been old enough to unwrap a gift.

My signature question:  Are you a member of the Coffee Crew or Team Tea? Ooh, now this one is a toughie. In all honesty, I think I would say--- coffee is my wifey and tea is my mistress. I'm hopelessly devoted to my morning cup(s) of jody-joe, but when I want to sit back and unwind with no stress, I look to my right hand-- my tea lol.

I hope you all enjoyed our Q&A this week!  Be sure to visit Mrs. Tee over at Love, Life, and Laughter to check out her answers to my questions :) And if you would like to partner with me in #AskAwayFriday, drop me a line in the comments link or shoot me an email!