If you’re going to have a motto might as well be a good positive one right? I’m all about and super happy for the mamas that can juggle it all and look so put together while mastering it. But let’s just say I’m not that mom, wife, friend or daughter…. I mean I try but I’m more of a hot mess gypsy soul type.

I have 2 kiddos and they are my world but do they still make me insane some days? yes yes they do….

I had a fun little photo shoot in mind for my daughter made a cute shirt “Pick flowers, not fights” paired it with more cuteness and hit up the local greenhouse. In my town everyone knows everyone and the owner didn’t mind a bit. He actually left me a key for after-hours.

Little did I know after our fun shoot that I would keep going back to that saying over and over! it’s so true I mean think about it at any given time picking flowers would be SO MUCH better than fighting!!

So…. I now have one of these pictures as my screen saver and try to remember to lighten up, pick my battles and think so what if the husband wants to go hunting 3 days a week, sometimes a cookie before supper is OK!, Yes, go play in the rain and love every minute I will clean up the grassy muddy mess you track in….it’s all good.

We are healthy, happy and about 60% of the time not super dysfunctional. I make my kids mind we have a routine but life is too short to be so uptight!

Do you have a motto or saying that kind of makes you stop and think hey woman chill out!? Tell me what they are they might help me too! so far this has been by far my fave!!

PICK FLOWERS NOT FIGHTS

We live in north GA and got some pretty bad after effects of IRMA and we didn’t have power for 4 days so you can only imagine how many flowers I was actually picking in my head. 

A Few other of my FAVE quotes/get me back to reality sayings.

• Do more things that make you forget to check your phone.
• BE the reason someone smiles today.
• Being happy never goes out of style.
• Don’t stop until you’re proud.
• Don’t count the days make the days count.
• She dreams more often than she sleeps.
• If it’s still in your mind it’s worth taking the risk.

Are you looking to do something fun with the kids that doubles as a snack AND a craft? They will have so much fun making this Valentine Snack Craft! I will be doing this  fun activity for my daughters classroom Valentine’s Day party! She’s in 1st grade and I try to help out and do fun things as much as possible they will love it!! And it’s so cute to see them all.

Every winter I have my sisters and the kids over for a hot chocolate bar party and we have so much fun! I’m thinking I’m going to start this little treat as a fun tradition also. I like being the cool fun aunt and this will add a cute touch.

This awesome fun treat only has 4 items which makes my mom heart sing! Easy and simple to clean up yes please!! you can’t go wrong here! and I didn’t have a ton extra so no guilt about bundling it up and tossing it!

This was so easy as you can tell from the set up above! and while we were making these it gave me the idea I can do this same type of treat for every holiday just change it up a bit. Like for St. Patrick’s day I want to use green icing and lucky charms.

If you decide to do this fro a classroom party all these items can be purchased very cheap at your local dollar store that’s where all this came from. 

Let me know if you have any questions at all about this neat treat!! I love to see ya’ll try my creations show me if you do!! have fun! thanks so much for coming by! makes my day!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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The most common question I’m asked isn’t about how I became a blogger, how I met my hot husband, or even “how are you today?” it’s “how do you do your daughter’s hair?”

Ok, one of those questions may be a little more popular, but not when it comes to my blog. Biracial hair care & mixed hair care has become a hot topic. People ask me this “HOT” question in person, by E-Mail, on Facebook, Instagram literally EVERYWHERE!

What I’ve leaned from all these moms is that biracial hair – which is not a “tech” term, because let’s be honest hair is hair… not a race – it’s more than just a beauty routine. It’s more about the combo of cultures, and a deep desire to raise up happy kids with hair they love.

My #1 general answer to that is SoCozy. Yes, I strongly believe in the products I use and believe me I’ve tried TONS!

SoCozy, is a line of salon formulate products for kids between the ages of 2 and 12 years old now sold at Target. Their products are non-toxic, made without parabens, formaldehyde, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic color, propylene glycol and free of alcohol, gluten, wheat, peanuts and tree nuts.

 1. Get SoCozy “curl” products.

2. Use a T-shirt to “towel dry” hair it makes the curls so much softer.

3. Get a “wet” brush.

4. Want loose curls let it air dry.

5. A silk pillow case work WONDERS!

6. The SoCozy Curl products I use are amazing in the tangle department I don’t even use a detangle now.

7. The SoCozy gel I use is the 100% best on FRIZZ!!! Yes, some Frizz is to be expected but make sure your expectations are even reachable not all bi-racial hair has the same texture. But when it comes to frizz this is the go to for us.

8. Use a deep condition weekly.

9. And my last tip don’t let it STRESS you out!!! Embrace the CURLS.

It’s important to remember that it’s about the products not so much the process.

I’ve always used the same process so I’m my hands on and tried past it’s definitely the products that has made such a difference for us!

** The terms above are dead on yall!!!! & when I finally mastered them all it literally saved me ton’s of time and frustration.

Let me know what y’all think and if you have curly hair don’t miss out!!! What’s your secret weapon?

Find SoCozy @ Target Near you!

First, let me start with: I am a happy mama and I am more than excited to spend every day of my life with my 2 little munchkins.

However, in order to get up in the morning and look forward to every day, let’s admit, no matter how perfect  and well-behaved your kids are, you need those few moments to yourself. And to me, mostly not because I got tired of being a mom, but because as a human being you need to respond to your own needs of being alone and doing things that are only for you.

When I get up in the morning, the darkness always calms me. It’s like a little reward for getting up early. I almost even feel sneaky.

My real reward, though, is the quiet. Time alone. Time to think. Time to hear my own thoughts, even if it’s for 30 min.

For the past few months, I’ve tinkered with the idea of getting up early. It felt impossible.

But now that I have I can’t imagine not being about to get that quite time in.

This is HUGE for me. Since I’m not a morning person, it’s easy for me to roll over & grab my phone so I can scroll mindlessly through email and social media while I wake up. This starts me off on the wrong foot for so many reasons.

When I make the choice to scroll mindlessly through my phone or any other social media network, I allow others to affect my own energy and mood before my day has even started.

Coffee is what I look forward to in the morning; Buy your favorite brand/blend and really savor it. I also love to purchase unique coffee mugs for my coffee which makes me happy. It’s just one more thing that makes my mornings feel more special.

Joy is truly in the small details!

Everyone that knows me know I’m a 100% Coffee Junkie and I’m super Picky!

My morning Blend is: NESCAFÉ Taster’s Choice instant brew see my video below on how amazing and easy it is! Not 1 coffee ground left behind I promise!!! Coffee Grounds in my coffee make me freak out!

NESCAFÉ® Taster’s Choice® also recently upgraded its individual stick packs to be made for an 8oz cup of coffee vs the previous 6oz. With most Americans drinking 8oz+ this is an improved experience! There is more coffee in each stick, and more coffee in the total carton compared to before.

These packs are pure perfection for my daily routine and when i’m on the run i always have a few in my purse!! People know to come to me for the “amazing easy coffee”

Yes Yes this is how I #crafteachday

I also used NESCAFÉ Taster’s Choice to make my awesome Hazelnut Frappuccino.

#CraftEachDay
#TastersChoiceChallenge

Even if I read a few pages of a awesome inspiring book it gets my blood going in the AM. My 100% go to book right now is: It’s Called the fire starter sessions and it is dead on EVERY single time! Makes you feel like wonder woman and super mom all in one! It’s the honest truth I need! This book has the title it does for a very good reason!

The last thing I like to do is some yoga or simple stretching. There are a ton of great videos on YouTube to follow along with. I usually choose a few and do them a week @ at time.

And that’s my morning self-care routine! It takes less than an hour, and some days the kid’s interrupt m  but I still get recharged & get’s me going for the rest of the day!!

I want to hear what you are doing for your “me time”! Leave me a comment below, or find me on social media (links on main menu) and share with me any thoughts/feelings/feedback of you enjoying your “me time”!

I’m giving away TEN 1.7oz NESCAFÉ Taster’s Choice House Blend sample jars to my readers. Leave me a comment on how you relate to NESCAFÉ Taster’s Choice commitment.

Okay, ya’ll before I had my son I always used to hear people say oh! “You’re a boy mom” and I thought that was so odd for some reason… I had my daughter 1^st she’s 7 and no one ever said oh” “you’re a girl mom” so yep a little odd to me. But let’s just say my son Jack is 3 and I SO GET it now! I’m now that “crazy boy” mom and love it more than I ever thought possible! And three things I know for sure are: The 1^st picture below sums up my life with my boy in one picture pure crazy fun madness & the 2^nd picture shows how dang cute he is so gets away with way to much!!! and the 3rd being the worst he is so PICKY with any type of food even snacks! Now wild and crazy I can’t help you there but with the picky issue keep reading I can help!

** Yes he brought this dead squirrel in the house to me!!! This sums up what a mess he is!

 ** Yep this is why he gets away with ANTHING to cute!

The picture I have above might help out a little with the wild and crazy what mom do you know that wouldn’t love bust also need: Coffee, Wine, Essential Oils, Headphones, Good Detergent, football and a plug in so everything can smell a little better after dealing with stinky boys! oh! and don’t for get the sleep mask!!

Does anyone else have a picky eater for a toddler? Used to he would eat pretty much eat anything we set in front of him, and loved it all! Now? Not so much. If you ask Jack what his favorite foods are, he’d would tell you “pizza, and bread” – which is funny because yes he will eat pizza but not he bread of the pizza!

#GerberWinWin

During one of my weekly trips to Publix, I was stocking up on healthy treats for my tiny tornado of a toddler to snack on because we are ALWYS on the go not ideal but the reality. As I was filling my cart with our usual items, I saw a new addition in the aisle that caught my eye and got a little overly excited – Gerber®’s new Lil’ Beanies snacks.

• The Lil’ Beanies Original flavor is really subtle, and has a very light, taste this is our favorite!
• The Lil’ Beanies White Cheddar & Broccoli He likes this flavor to it’s just a bit stronger he eats a few less at a time.

Gerber® Lil’ Beanies are actually the first bean-based snack in the baby aisle and are made from navy beans to deliver 2 grams of protein (9% Daily Value), 1 gram of fiber and 10% Daily Value of Vitamin E per serving.

I stocked up on Gerber Lil’ Beanies at my local Publix because they are currently 2/$4 and you can score an additional 75 cents off with this Ibotta offer. Gerber’s new baked snack can be found in the baby aisle.

 Does this sound like a snack that even your picky eater would like? What are some of your favorite picky eater approved snacks for kids?

How many times a day do you hear “Mom, can I have a snack?” or “I’m so hungry!” I can honestly tell you that with 2 kids, it is an almost constant stream in my house and even in the car. I don’t have time to make healthy snacks for the kids several time per day, so I finally found something they love that’s also good for them!

Certified Organic

I have always been a granola bar lover but of course the kids take one look and are like no way mom!! But I have a trick and it’s magic I cut up the Annie’s Chocolate Chip bar and pair it with a apple or toss it in a bag and they LOVE it !!! yep I’m a secret ninja mom!!

I’m a foodie at heart so yes I love to cook and rock it in the kitchen but that’s just not always the reality with my very busy family! 3 days a week my daughter is at the gym for competition cheer. I work 40 hours a week, my son is in his last year of day care and my husband is normally working around the house until dark even after he gets home from work. Get it together with Annie’s.

#yumforall
#annieshomegrown

Our busy life style works for us and we enjoy it all even the madness but sometimes it’s hard to throw a snack or meal at the kids that’s easy and I don’t feel guilty about! Not to mention my kids are a little picky as well.

Ya’ll follow along it was so easy! and pain free start:

De-Junking You Kids today!

I am an Annie’s lover because they don’t add any artificial flavors, synthetic colors, or preservatives to their products. They also don’t use antibiotics or synthetic hormones. I like knowing that I am feeding my kids nutritious creations.

Another reason to feel amazing about giving the kiddos Annie’s they give back to programs that connect people directly to real food: school gardens, sustainable agriculture scholarships and like-minded organizations.

simple, real ingredients make the best and tastiest foods

** Video shows how awesome & Chewy the bars are!!

I can honestly say these are as good, if not better, than ice cream bites. They’re simply made and a perfect on-the-go tasty treat. Blueberry Frozen Yogurt Bites can be your family’s new favorite healthy dessert or sweet snack!

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Get All The Awesome Details

This was so fun and these products are amazing!! I always say promote what you love not what you hate!

So now Organic is for EVERYBUNNY!!

They have lots and lots of other amazing products and I’m curious if you have tried others!? What are your favorites? If you haven’t yet, you are missing out HERE is a link to all of Annie’s goodness.

I made a free printable Box Tops for Education Jar for you to stick on your fridge to help you remember to clip and collect @Box Tops for Education. After printing you can slide it inside an 8 1/2 x 11 clear sheet protector and then use tape or magnets to stick it on the door of your fridge. It’s an easy way to keep Box Tops collection a priority in your home! My boxtop game just got so much stronger with #Costcoboxtops

It’s good to know how your school is using the @Box Tops for Education labels to fund what they need. Our elementary school uses the Box Tops money to buy new library books. Do you know what your school is using their @Box Tops money for? Every school is different because they receive the @Box Tops money as cash and can choose how to best spend it. Normally the PTO is in charge of this and they choose how to spend. I’m currently the PTO president at my daughter’s school! And it’s mind blowing how much box tops helped with buying major items!

 But Costco just upped the game for a huge chance to help out even more! By purchasing specially marked General Mills products with 8 boxtops @Costco – all while entering to win and additional 100 eBoxTops with the @Costco Golden Box Tops Challenge

#CostcoBoxTops

Click to learn how to enter, # of prizes & what prize is can all be found here

Click to see the participating products

Click to see all details

*OUR PICKS*

What do you think? What’s your favorite way to collect @boxtops? Let the kids help! And don’t miss out on the good deal @Costco right now for lots of extras!

** This post was brought to you by Costco & Acorn all thoughts and ideas are always my own.

So now either you do to much or not enough? I’m so over the anti Pinterest mom post I mean really who comes up with this shit? If you can’t hang I get it just tap out gracefully not full of hate and 100% jealousy.

This is for you, fellow Pinterest Mom. Because you know what? I like you. And I like you, because I am you. Yes, I confess: I’m a Pinterest Mom and I’m proud of it. Not only do I pin but I also do that shit.

Oh, you don’t want to cut up grapes for your one year old? Well guess what I do because I don’t want to try and master the Heimlich remover Everytime we visit the farmers market and get real it takes maybe 32 seconds. And let me be clear the whole cutting up the food thing started wayyyyy before Pinterest my dad did it for me and my sisters and he’s 71 years old.

And mommy wars really is that a thing now? How and why well the answer to that is we (as moms) allow it… the only mom that is in a “mommy” war is one that allows it. I have never allowed another mom to make me feel more or less than. I know what I enjoy and I know what my kids enjoy and I like to think that I’m good @ both and if I’m not well it’s okay.

God forbid if you want to have a themed birthday party now a days that’s considered “showboating” I mean why don’t we grab some paper sacks from the local grocery store and toss in old socks as party favors yea that’s fun the kids would love that! Or you could be like me and enjoy throwing a party ever every year and no it doesn’t cost as much as a car payment it just takes a bit of pre planning you know not like 4 nights before your child grows a year older.

Yes I’m that matchy matchy mom that loves to have tons of goodies @ her child’s party. Yes the awesome party favors the one’s that live on etsy for special order and the cute little food shaped like diamonds or dogs whatever theme you have going on that year.

But guess what? I don’t do it for show and I don’t do it to make other moms feel inadequate. Heck, I don’t even do it for my kids’ benefit. Oh, no. I do it because I like to!!

I live in a small town and everyone knows everyone and somehow we’re all connected through Facebook there is only one high and middle school so yea we grow up together and apparently the new thing is to think it’s cool to throw on stale yoga pants to take your kids to school the 1st day by all means don’t wake up 30 minutes early to put on makeup and a cute shirt. After all it’s just walking your child in to the teacher that will be with them more than you are! Throw up a peace sign as you leave your child at school let them know you don’t give a shit! I mean this years teacher gift I gave the teacher caused a small town war on Facebook!

The toddler years are fun at my house we enjoy pulling out the glue gun and pink ribbons for the Valentine box and yes we may even make cute ones to give to friends don’t be mad at me because you were to busy and you sent your child to school with a zip lock bag and new kids on the block Valentines if that’s what you do I’m 100% cool with that! I don’t bash you online saying omg so and so’s mom sent a 90’s boy band Valentines to her child’s class we just have a mutual understanding that you were busy and I planned ahead!

After reading the 20th post on Facebook that painted all of us  “show off/trying too hard/faking it” type. I don’t care if you want to see it, but that’s okay because we didn’t post that picture on Instagram for you. It was for US. Yes, us.

Now don’t get me wrong I feel like I have mastered tons of things in the mommy world and when it may seem like I’m “showboating” etc… just remember there are ton’s of things I also REALLY suck at! I’ll let you in on those secrets below.

1. I hate having shoes on yes I know as an adult this is a problem! but in return my kids now also hate it so sometimes we pull up to target and not one child has shoes on.
2. About 98% of the time I always cave in when they want more than one popsicle.
3. Putting up clean clothes is a HUGE issue for me I hate it!!! so yes sometimes we are digging matching socks from a pile… A very large pile!
4. I like to have a few beers by the pool so yes my kids know about “adult” drinks.
5. Sometimes my kid has a lunch box full of JUNK!

And I  could keep the list going forever but it’s okay I do more of what I love and enjoy every minute!

This is not to bash mom’s that don’t love being crafty, can’t afford it or have zero time with a demanding job. This is to say hey some mom’s enjoy doing the extra little things and that’s okay to! It seems like these days everyone is worried about what others are doing and thinking and to an extent that is normal. But when it comes to me and mine I do what make me happy and right now that’s being a crafty mom! Inspired by Pinterest.

If you have a different sort of fun with your family, do it. Post videos of your entire family singing together on YouTube. Go right ahead. And I promise to not feel inadequate because of it.

What better way to get the kids excited about movie night? I love themed food and drinks because it’s so much fun for me & the kids! And super easy to! I love simple special ideas!

Try this nonalcoholic slime juice at your next little bash. Bring out the Ghostbusters with this unique drink to get the imagination flowing! 

Have some adult loving friends that would like this? Add a splash of vodka to make it cocktail!

FUN FACTS:

• Eddie Murphy and John Candy both turned down main roles.
• The marshmallow goo that explode is actually 50 pounds of shaving cream.
• The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man suits cost $20,000 each.
• Ghostbusters was the highest-grossing comedy of all time, until the release of Home Alone.

Who You Gonna Call?

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Thanks so much for coming by have fun!

We live in Georgia and the past few months the weather has been insane !!! 68 one day and snowing and ice at 22 the next. With all that mix and mess my kids have had a runny nose and all the head junk for to long !! But I can normally handle that with breathing treatments and good essential oils. But last week both kids got the stomach virus which I consider to be the worst of the worst !

Jack my two year old is always the worst ! We had to make a trip to the ER for dehydration and the very first thing they brought me was Pedialyte I wasn’t surprised I ALWAYS use it !! But the doctor having it at hand in the ER was a huge plus. It was late and even though my Walmart is open 24 hours I didn’t want to get him out. But of course the next day I made a special trip to stock up.

Having sick kids is tuff especially if you have a full time job, two kids, homework, and a “real” life and most of the time we need some help my go to is and always will be Pedialyte it gives my kids back the real deal…. You know that stored up crazy hyper real kid feeling.

I’m wondering if there are any moms out there that has never tried Pedialyte ? It’s cheap and easy to find at Walmart and oh so worth every drop !

GET THE FACTS:

Pedialyte is the #1 pediatrician-recommended oral electrolyte solution.

We can lose vital fluids when we’re sick, but Pedialyte helps prevent mild to moderate dehydration.

Pedialyte is available in liquid, powder packs and freezer pops, making it easy to rehydrate at home or on the go.

Popular household beverages like sports drinks, juice, and soda don’t meet the medical guidelines for helping to prevent dehydration due to diarrhea and vomiting. These drinks are too high in sugar and too low in sodium, which is an important electrolyte lost due to diarrhea and vomiting.

Pedialyte comes in many flavors for children and adults and in different forms and sizes to suit their needs.

CLICK HERE TO STOCK UP.

What do you do normally for sick kiddos ? This has always been my go to ! Tell me your Pedialyte story !

Click Below for a awesome Ibotta offer

Thanks so much for coming by !! Please let me know if you have any questions !!

**I have been compensated by Pedialyte for this post; however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.