Showing posts with label bloggers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bloggers. Show all posts

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!

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!

MrsTeeLoveLifeLaughter

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 Sonya: Round Two


Happy Friday, beautiful people! Are you guys as happy about it being Friday as I am? Not only is the day going beautifully so far, I have the opportunity to pair up with my blogger friend Sonya K. of Saving Everyday with Sonya K again for #AskAwayFriday. If you guys enjoyed the first round we did back in March, you will love this one. 

TamaraLikeCamera

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

Lets start with some music questions.
1. There are some songs from the 90's that I loved as a kid, but I can't stand listening to now. Do you have any songs that you loved at one time from the 90's but hate now? I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred. I can imagine I sang it loudly and mockingly for many years. But now, I hear it and cringe. Talk about overkill!


2. Listening to music can bring back memories from certain times in your life. What songs remind you of the following events:


(a) Care free childhood days- Just Kickin' It by Xscape. I can still remember singing that on the playground with my friends in elementary school. Kenya, if you're out there reading, can you remember being Kandi for this song?

(b)Freshman year of college- The College Dropout Album by Kanye West... Yes, each and every song. I bet my roommate got tired of hearing this when she got ready for classes in the A.M. Lol.

(c)When you first met your husband-Excuse Me Miss by Jay-Z. I don't recall any songs from the night we met, but when we were initially dating, this song was always on the radio when we rode out. 
               
       "everybody's like he's no item.. 
please don't like him... he don't wife 'em.. he "one nights" 'em"


3. If you could choose one guy group from the 90's to serenade you, who would you choose? Since I wouldn't be able to choose H-Town now (rest in peace to Dino), I will go with Next. If they could serenade me singing "Butta Love" that would be... well that would be love!

4. What are your top 3 favorite Prince songs? Adore, The Beautiful Ones, Erotic City, and I Wanna Be Ur Lover. Naming only three was so hard, so I had to throw an extra one in there.

Food Questions.
5. What is your favorite Southern meal to cook? Fried Chicken, Rice and Gravy, Collard Greens, Corn Bread, Lima Beans, and Baked Macaroni + Cheese. Don't worry, it's not something I make often. It's a big hearty meal, so I'd probably only make a meal like this when all my siblings come down to visit.


6. Is there any food you are afraid to try to cook? There are actually two things--and they may not be a big deal to many. But my Grandma Lou made the best biscuits in the world. And when she had old leftover biscuits, she would make biscuit pudding. If you've never heard of it, biscuit pudding is a baked delicacy made with leftover biscuits and vanilla, among other items. I've often thought about trying to make biscuits from scratch, but I never follow through. I'm afraid that they will never taste as good as grandma's. And for that reason, in all honesty, I make my biscuits with biscuit mix. 


But man, I'd love to have some of that biscuit pudding she used to make. It was so sweet and chewy. Maybe I'll try to make them both one day. 

7. What would a typical weekend breakfast be at your house? Weekend breakfasts are the best! Unless it's summertime, Saturday and Sunday mornings are the only times we have big breakfasts. Typically we will have pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, grits, toast, orange juice, and a fruit platter. 

90's TV Questions
8. If you could invite four of your favorite 90's TV characters to a fantasy dinner party, who would you invite? Dwayne Wayne from A Different World, Denise from the Cosby Show, Kyle Barker from Living Single, and Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and The City. Gosh, that was a tough one! I think I have changed my answers about five times. Lol. 


9.The cartoons and TV shows from the 90's had very catchy theme songs. What was you favorite cartoon and TV theme song to sing? The theme songs from Tiny Toon Adventures and Step By Step instantly came to mind. I don't know if they were my absolute favorite theme songs, but I remember singing them a lot. 



10. Zach Morris vs. A.C. Slater? Who would you have chosen for your Bayside guy? A.C. Slater. That was my boo on Saturday mornings! There's something about those dimples and the way he called Jessie "mama" that always made me swoon. 



I've had a blast answering Sonya's questions and taking this beautiful trip down memory lane! To get more familiar with Sonya, make sure you click the button below and show her blog some love. She also responded to my questions as well this week, so check them out and tell her I sent you!

Saving Everyday With Sonya K

Summer Book Challenge 2014 | Preliminary List + Month 1


When is the last time you participated in a book challenge? Let me tell you guys, when I was blog surfing this week and came across this one on Megan Stroup's blog (Semi-Charmed Kind of Life), I knew I wanted in. Never mind the fact that I'm about a month late into the challenge. Since one of my current goals is to read more, I felt I could still participate and catch up eventually. Check out the cool  challenge categories and the books I chose to fit each requirement below. Each book read in the challenge must be at least 200 pages long. 

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)


Thankfully, I just read a book that fit one of the categories:

✓ 25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir. 
— I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou (291 pages, 5 stars)

Are you participating in the Summer Book Challenge

What books are you reading this summer?

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.

MrsTeeLoveLifeLaughter

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!

One Hoolia Mama

Married & Dating: WE WANT YOU!


Calling all married couples!  Baby Teems, Green-Eyed Carissa, the Chic SAHM, and myself have teamed up again to spread the love all over social media once more. This time are collaborating on a link-up series called "Married & Dating." We all agree that keeping the fire going in our marriages means spending quality time with our spouses. And each of us thought it would be awesome to see more stories from other married folks about their experiences with dating.  So in an effort to support and highlight these precious moments, we're doing a link-up every third Monday of the month on our blogs. And we want you to participate! 

All you have to do is share a post on your blog about your date night (or date in general). It doesn't have to be a lengthy post, either. Just share a few pics and notes on what you guys did, where you went, what you wore, or whatever you feel comfortable sharing. Our first link-up kicks off next Monday and we would love it if each of you that can will take part.  I know many of you have a few pics stored in your phone from your last date night that you'd love to share with us!

And if you're reading this and don't have a blog, you can still share! Feel free to upload your pics to Instagram, Twitter, and or Pinterest using the hashtag #MarriedMondays. We love seeing happily married couples on the Interwebs and we know you do, too! 

So remember, all you have to do is go on a date (or have gone on a date) and share your experience. The first link-up will be available Monday, March 17, so be on the lookout. I can't wait to see your posts and read all about your experiences with being married and dating!

If you would like additional information about this link-up or have questions, feel free to comment below or email me at missdre910(at)gmail(dot)com. 

Be sure to grab the button below to participate:

So She Writes by Miss Dre

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 CountyMrs.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? 


AskAwayFriday


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!

Saving Everyday With Sonya K

7 Days of Love | My Husband Reminds Me Of...


Today is Day 2 of the "7 Days of Love." If you missed the introduction yesterday, " 7 Days of Love" is a week-long collaboration between The Chic SAHM, The Green-Eyed Lady Blog, Baby Teems, and myself. During this week, we will be writing about love and romance, per 7 given prompts. Today's prompt asks us which celebrity our husbands remind us of.

I will admit, this topic was a tough one for me. At first, I couldn't think of any celebrities that remind me of my husband. However, quite a few of my family members say J reminds them of my celebrity crush, Michael Ealy. I don't know if it's the roles he plays or his mannerisms, but he definitely seems like the strong, silent, and humble type- pretty much like my husband. Now looking at Michael Ealy making this facial expression below really reminds me of J.


And while I don't think this person looks like my husband, he sure does remind me of him! T.I. is such a family man, much like my J. He spends most of his free time with the children. He makes sure they're involved in extra-curricular activities, keeps them enjoying "the good outdoors" with various projects, and is always giving them a lesson on morals and values. And you know how T.I. is about his "white room?" J is the same way about his beloved living room suite. Too bad the kids eat snacks and put their feet up in the couches anyways.


Now that I think of it, J and I would have made a cute little version of Rashad and New-New. J being all reserved and hard-working and me being all gum-popping and door-knocker rocking lol.


Does your husband or significant other remind you of any celebrity?

Be sure to stop by and check out my partners and their take on the topic. 


And if you'd like to join in, feel free to use the prompts and tell us about your post in the comments!

7 Days of Love | 3 Lessons Learned in Marriage


Hey guys! In celebration of Valentine's Day this upcoming week, I'm collaborating with three of my beautiful blogger friends on a series called the "7 Days of Love." Each day we will be talking about different topics with the approaching day of love in mind. 

For the first day, we are to discuss things marriage has taught us. Seeing as how J and I had been together 8 years before we got married, we learned a lot about relationships prior to saying "I Do." So to keep it light, airy and romantic around here, I'll discuss 3 major lessons being married for the last (almost) three years has taught me.

1. COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL.  I feel like the main ingredient of any lasting relationship is great communication. J and I are able to talk about ANYTHING together and I'm very grateful for that. No matter what is going on or what kind of emotions I am experiencing, I know I can go to someone who has my best interest at heart. Sometimes I have a tendency to bottle my emotions in until the point that they come bubbling over. But being with J through the best of times and worst of times has shown me that I can truly depend on him to listen and really care about my feelings. If there is an issue within our marriage, I have no problem going to him and discussing it, either. While sometimes it may be tough, we always try our best to "talk it out" whenever something is bothering us. A little conversation about a matter can go a long way! 

2. DATE NIGHT, LUNCH DATES, & MONDAY MATINEES ARE A MUST. One would think that J and I spend a lot of time together, being that I'm a SAHM. But that's not always the case. Having children, with one being a 5 month old, can be quite taxing! So when I'm not spending time nurturing them, working on various projects, or taking care of the home, I'm trying to get a few winks in. Lately, however, I'm only able to catch those winks when J is home. With everyone being busy during the week and always having a meeting to attend, practice to go to, and extracurricular activities to work on, it's easy to lose that quality time a new marriage so desperately needs. That's why I make sure to schedule time throughout the month that J and I are able to spend alone without the children. Sometimes it happens in the daytime, sometimes we are lucky enough to score weekends. But whenever it's feasible, we do make the effort to do something together. Not getting that one-on-one time leads for two frustrated parents and no one wants to see that, trust!

3. THE CHASE SHOULD CONTINUE, EVEN AFTER VOWS ARE EXCHANGED. For some reason, the sanctity of marriage can get a bad rap these days, when it comes to intimacy. People assume, because of these played-out stereotypes, that married women stop fixing up and claim to have a headache when it's time to get intimate. Others think married men are sex-deprived and dream of living life like their single friends. None of this is true. Well at least not for me it isn't. Please understand that each individual marriage is what the couple makes of it. I still like to "get pretty" for my husband among other things, and he enjoys "getting to know me" on a deeper level. We still talk and ask each other questions as if we are getting to know each other all over again after eleven years. He still tells me I'm beautiful. I still tell him he blows my mind. We still date, role-play and all that other fun stuff. I say all of this to say, we've been learning that we can still keep the fire burning as long as we put in the work. Fireworks aren't gonna just shoot from the sky!

What lessons have you learned in your marriage?

Please be sure to stop by and check out my partners for the week. 
We are each married SAHMs that have something interesting to add to the mix.
So check them out and show them some love!


 Valentine's Day

Feel free to join in on the fun by using these prompts if you would like! 
We will be here all week :)

Friday's Letters


Dear Jj- I can't believe you are 4 months old already! My, time is flying. That is why I hang on to your every coo and giggle. I know you grow tired of mommy taking pictures of every single thing you do and pressing the record button every single time you show mommy something new. Honestly, everything you do becomes the cutest thing ever to me and I want to find a way to hold on to these moments forever. A time is gonna come when your soft whimpers in the night will be a distant memory and my little baby will be all grown up. I'm trying the best I can to soak everything up. I literally don't want to miss a thing.

Dear Gabs- Talks with you before bed remind me so much of the young girl I use to be. We both wrote in our journals before bed, talk incessantly about our favorite books, and had (or have) a thing about coordinating everything in our wardrobes with some form of pink. I hope you are enjoying being such a bright beautiful young lady because I'm enjoying being your mommy. Don't be so hard on yourself, though. You're perfect just the way you are.

Dear Core- I could go on and on about how proud I am of your accomplishments in school this week. You are setting goals for yourself at such an early age, and to be in competition with no one but yourself is great! I love that determined spirit you have and can't wait to see it manifest into something bigger and better. Just remember when you're out on the court though, it's all in fun at the end of the day. Let loose and enjoy the sport! You have the rest of your life to be serious. Lol.

Dear J- Can I just say thank you for being you? You know just what to say all the time--even when I don't want to hear it. Thanks for always being my sounding board. Whether I'm venting frustrations, pitching ideas, making plans to take over the world, or planning meal ideas for the week, you always listen attentively. You don't know how much I appreciate that. And not that we're keeping score, but remember I owe you a late-night dinner date :-)

Dear Tay- I think I have a new favorite spot to have a lunch date and have some great girl talk, thanks to you. We need to get together more often. Love you!

Dear Q- I miss you lots and think about you all the time. I hope to see you soon and play catch up on this new role you have in life. I bet we have so many stories to share and compare now!

Dear Nat- I just know we're so close to each other now for a reason. I feel like when we begin to work together, something cosmic will become of it. Can't wait to share even more time, space, food, and conversations with you, love.

Dear Post-Partum Shedding- I'm hoping that you're finally saying your goodbyes around here. I was almost in tears when I first discovered you roaming around. Now that I've ruled everything out and now know the culprit, I'm so ready to see you go.

Dear Post-Partum Body- You've been a warrior. With God's help, you've brought three lives into this world and you have all of the scars to prove it. I am thankful that my soul was blessed with you as my mode of transportation for my stay here. Therefore, I will quit complaining to folks about you, shaming you, and comparing you to others I see in magazines and on television. While I want to take the best care of you that I possibly can, I will vow now to stop being so hard on you. You deserve better.

One Word 2014: FEARLESS


Last year, I shared candidly with you guys here on the blog about my visions and creating a vision board for 2013. I was thrilled by the idea of allowing my visions to manifest through creating my vision board--- pinning things to my corkboard in alignment with aspirations I've set for myself. And while I enjoyed this process, it was quite tedious. I was focused on creating the perfect board in hopes that everything I placed on the board were intentional and would remind me daily of the things I needed to do to create the bigger, better version of myself and my life.

The vision board was very helpful for me. However, when a few of the goals didn't pan out the way I hoped, I grew disappointed with myself. When I found out I was pregnant in February, I felt that some of the goals I set for myself were almost impossible. And thus became the downward spiral of my goal-oriented and ambitious 2013.

While I'm still using my corkboard to envision my dreams daily, I decided not to create an entirely different one. I just swapped out some of the pins that symbolized ambitions I had already achieved or some that I was no longer interested in manifesting. I wanted to create something else to supplement my vision board. Something else to keep me in alignment with my goals, without all of the added pressure. Then I found inspiration from one of my fellow blogger friends.

Last month when chatting it up with Tiffany per the AskAwayFriday link-up, we briefly talked about goals for 2014. She informed me that instead of setting goals, she was setting the tone for the upcoming year with one word. Yes, ladies and gentlemen. One word. Thinking of one word to usher in the new year sounded much better than coming up with a list of things to do that I would soon abandon come March, so I decided to read along with Tiffany here and see what her one word resolution was all about. It was here that I learned about Michelle, a fellow BLMGirl and SBGC member over at Divas With a Purpose, and her take on using one word to set the tone for the new year.

Not only did Michelle share her one word intention on the post, she added a link-up to her post, encouraging other bloggers to do the same.

"Use one word to describe your focus and intentions for the year," 
they said. 
"It would be fun," they said.

As I began to read through my notebook and examine the goals and ambitions I have set for myself recently, I saw that they all had a common theme. The only thing that was stopping me from accomplishing the items that have yet to be crossed off from the list was FEAR. And we all know that fear can be a crippling thing, if we allow it to set in and spread throughout our thoughts.

From now on, I want to be FEARLESS. I want to take the first step. I want to see new sights. I want to master the trades I've grown passionate about. I want to ask for help and knock on new doors--- even if people greet me with a "no." Fear of rejection, fear of failure, and fear of the unknown will slowly but surely lose their place in my heart.

For further encouragement, I will pray and meditate on Phillippians 4:6-7 daily:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Has fear been getting in the way of your goals and ambitions? If you feel where I'm coming from, let me know in the comments section! We can help strengthen and encourage each other!  And if you have in mind one word that illustrates your intentions and focus for your ideal life, be sure to share those in the comments, too. I can't wait to hear from you!

Much love and many blessings, 

#AskAwayFriday with Tia, the Chic SAHM

Hey ladies and gents! I'm back again this week for another round of #AskAwayFriday!  This week I've joined forces with my girl Tia over at The Chic SAHM. Tia is a fierce mama, y'all.  She's a Queen City native, who blogs about what it truly means to be a chic stay-at-home mom. I've been reading Tia's blog for a minute now, and I'm so glad to finally be mixing it up with her. She does such a beautiful job nurturing and caring for her babies Savannah and MJ and can rock a mean red lippie! I'm inspired by her in so many ways. If you haven't already, you need to bookmark her blog and get familiar!


Here are the questions Tia asked, along with my answers.

1. Your skin is beautiful! What's your skin routine? Any fave products you want to share? Thank you, Tia! It's definitely a work in progress. I'm glad I'm not dealing with the acne anymore, but getting rid of the scars has been quite an adventure lol. Using the Mario Badescu line has really helped though. I love their products. I use the Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel each day &; night, I use the Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum every other night, and use the Seaweed Night Cream on the nights that I don't use the serum. I exfoliate with Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Detoxifying Scrub twice a week and use the Mario Badescu Whitening Mask (on my dark spots only) on the weekend. I've simplified my regimen a lot since I last shared here on the blog, so I'll probably do a more in-depth post about my routine soon :)

2. I'm considering changing my hair soon. What's the most dramatic hair change you've made? Share a pic if you have one. The most dramatic hair change I've ever made was the long, blonde look. I had a blunt bang and loose spiral curls. If I didn't look like an extra from BAPS.... Girl! I wish I could find a picture so I could show it to you. I rock a short blonde and black 'do every now and then, but the long blonde just doesn't seem to work for me lol.

If I can find a picture in one of these storage boxes, I'm gonna upload it to Insta for ya, Tia. Promise not to laugh though :)

3. What would you recommend as a quick everyday makeup look? As much as I love makeup, I don't do a full face every day. So my ideal everyday look is quite simple: I may use a little bit of concealer, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Dark, some mascara, a pinky-nude lipgloss, and MAC eyebrow pencil in Spiked to fill in my brows a little. I'd suggest something slight like that, as it only takes about 3 minutes to do!


MAC MSF Natural is a dream come true for that "no-makeup" makeup look!


4. The best advice you've ever given was, "Get it how you live." What's the best advice you've been given? "Never dim your light." I've been told this several times by the same person, so it's high time I start taking their advice more seriously.

5. We like the same types of music. Who are the top two artist in rotation for you right now? Right now I'm loving me some Janelle Monae' for one. I've been low-key girl crushing on her since '09, so I believe everything she does is awesome. I've been dancing to Electric Lady and crooning to Primetime since I was preggers. Both these songs featuring other artists I love (Solange and Miguel) are an added bonus in keeping them in rotation lol. I like listening to Kendrick Lamar, too. That kid is a lyrical genius! Still kinda listening to OD and Section 80 though. 


I need to get out and listen to some more new stuff lol.

6. I don't know if we've talked about this before but I'm from Charlotte. You're a Carolina girl too. What part are you from? What do you love most about the Carolinas? I'm from a small town near Wilmington, but I've lived in Wilmington for the past 4 years. I was in Winston-Salem for a little bit too, which is much closer to Charlotte than Wilmington is. I've probably said this a million times, but what I love the most about the Carolinas are the beaches. Wrightsville, Topsail, Carolina, Kure, and Myrtle Beach are a girl's dream. If I have to be anywhere for a small vacation, it would be nice to be surrounding a beach. I guess that's why I love it here and don't want to leave anytime soon :)



7. I love your Polyvore sets/collections. Will you show us a couple of your favorite mommy looks? Thanks, girl! I just love Polyvore! I'll share a typical look I would wear when out and about with the children and a look I would wear when I'm trying to look put-together and poised. I'm always between these two extremes wherever I go. I'm either doing Nikes and jeans or blazers and pants (or skinny jeans).

I have mommy-to-be looks too! If you guys want me to share some, lemme know!

8. If you could switch lives with anyone for a day who would you pick and why? Hmmm, that's a hard one. I would be sick to be away from bae and the babies lol. But if I absolutely had to choose, it would probably be Maya Angelou. She has been an inspiration to me for years! I would so love to live inside her mind and be surrounded by her environment, if only for a few moments. I would love to know the origins of her beautiful thoughts and to see things through her eyes. 

9. You're a Scandal Gladiator like me. What are you hoping to see when the show returns in February? Yes, girl. You know we love some Scandal. This last season had me feeling all kinds of crazy, so in February I hope to get some answers to my many questions. What is up with Mama Pope? What will Daddy Pope do now that he's been demoted? Is Olivia going to find out about Fitz and his connection to B16? But what I'm really hoping for is to see more about Harrison in the story line. Cyrus alludes to a secret past Harrison has, but I haven't seen any other clues leading to anything. I can't wait to see some of his "stuff" play out.

10. If you could have one for the rest of your life would you choose a chef, maid or glam squad? I'd get that maid, honey. I find joy in cooking and doing my makeup/hair, but I just can't say the same for cleaning. We have a love/hate relationship. I love for my house to look clean. I hate to be the one cleaning it up all the time lol. It's a necessary evil. So I would hit that maid up in a minute!

I really enjoyed answering your questions and partnering with you this week, Tia! To read her answers to my questions, be sure to click her button below. Make sure you stick around for a bit and show her blog some love, too.
The Chic Stay at Home Mom
Back to Top