Now THAT is how you put on a face!

So, one thing I've been struggling with lately is my "wash and go" face. I am starting to realize that the youthful, innocent  glow of my late teens and early twenties is...waning. (Relax...I'm only about six months out from the big 30!) But with that being the case, I'm starting to notice when I wake up in the morning, that I may need to "prep" a little more than I used to before I go out. My mom and grandmother blessed me with amazing skin, so now, I've just got to take care of it, and highlight it on occassion.

I've always been into makeup, I think I started dabbling in it right about the time I learned to...tie my shoes! My friends, and family members were often victims of my "makeovers." So now I'm just getting back into my love for it, as makeup is proving to be a staple in my daily routine. I've also had some inspiration from my beautiful sister :) I encourage you to watch this video, and subscribe to this channel on youtube. This young lady does an awesome job and is very clear in her instruction. I do not know her personally, but I am just a fan. Be blessed, and feel free to share some of your makeup secrets below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e5Jcda0O2g&feature=related

Here are a few tips that are helpful, especially for women of color:

1. YOU MUST MOISTURIZE-I use St. Ives Intensive lotion. It's lightweight and has lots of vitamin E.

2. YOU MUST MOISTURIZE YOUR LIPS-An old tip from my mom, I use actual Vitamin E oil by bursing open an actual Vitamin E gel capsule. By now I'm sure they have another form of it available.

3. USE BLUSH!!!!-Many of us, especially women of color forget this crucial highlighting step. It makes your face have that natural glow and it brings together all of the other makeup. So don't be afraid of the blush...I used to be.

4. USE CONCEALER, EVEN ON YOUR LIPS AND EYELIDS-This will really give you an even palette to work with, it will also conceal some discoloration on the lips as well and help to get that nude color if you are looking to work that.

 

 

You ain't GOT no job, MAN !!!

Okay so ...you had to have watched the "Martin" show in the '90's to understand the title of this post. But, unemployment is a serious problem so as I was watching "The Revolution" on ABC, they were giving out tips on finding jobs. So of course, I looked out for ya, and jotted them down.

Five Tough Love Tips for Job Seekers

Sorry but I deleted the first two by accident and cannot find them! But...these were the most helpful:

3. Use your time wisely
Job seekers, don't spend so much time on the computer, but push away and get out and work on getting that face to facecontact. 20% of your time should be spent on the computer, and the other 80% deepening your current networks, or expanding them.

2. Zone in on what matters
What are the key things that your future employer is looking for? Hone in on those skills. Try to learn and master them.
Equally as important figure out how to tell the story in an interview, about how your experience and/skills can fit exactly what they need.

1. Build/Deepen your network
Friends, co workers, church, neighborhood, friends and family, sell your self! Everyone needs to know what kind of job you are looking for and what your skill set is.  Everyone knows someone, that knows someone that can give you a job. STOP THINKING " I don't want to be a bother." START THINKING " I am worth their time because if they get me a job, I am gonna work my TAIL off and they'll be glad that they hired me."

*My personal tips*
Go to places that may not be specific firms for  your field, but places that you know employ people in your profession.

Ex: So you don't have a degree in Nursing? Still, go to the hospital. They have administrative jobs, gift shops, finance departments, janitorial, tech departments, etc.
Check Universities
Local Colleges
Non-Profits

Dress for the job you WANT. So this is key. I don't care if it's a fast food restaurant, or a law firm, I always wear a suit, stockings, and heels to ANY interview. I also dress in business casual attire when inquiring about a position.

Oh yeah, I forgot that he had such a good personality!

As I sat watching the unveiling of George and Laura Bush's portraits at the White House, I found myself actually laughing and smiling. Very odd since I prayed for 8 years that we could have a do over and his presidency would turn out to have been a  HUGE miscount. (Kinda like the mishap in Florida years back.) But what I discovered as I heard Mr. Bush speak, was how funny and warm and...likeable he was as a person. He was borderline hilarious in his acceptance speech, ordering attendees to "sit down" as they gave him a rousing standing ovation.  Former President Bush was extremely likeable, gracious, and unforgettably humourous.

There was one touching moment during the speech that was my favorite. He spoke about how much of an honor it was for his portrait to hang fairly close to a man who showed him "unconditional love." "Number 41", his Father Former President George H.W. Bush. As a mother, my heart melted. At that moment, he was just a grateful son who had followd in his daddy's footsteps, which further intensified that beautiful, sacred bond of a father and son.  It made me think of how close my boys are with their Dad, and for once, I had stopped and acknowledged the humaness of our former president.

I thought it would only be fair to point this out, since I was often so harsh in judging his political record. Being the President has to be one of the toughest jobs around, but I now have a new understanding: Never forget the person behind the position.

Follow this link to watch the ceremony. It was really good!
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/cvplive/cvpstream4&hpt=hp_t2

Thank you Dr. Oz

So you check the time on your computer and on any given weekday and it's four o'clock, you think "Just one more hour, one more, and I'm off the MAN's clock! But, if  you're a domestic engineer like myself...It's time for Dr. Oz!
His show is like a chocolate chocolate cupcake....only fat free! Seriously, the wealth of health knowledge and tips is very addictive. His show today on "eating to avoid cancer" was by far the best. Please see the tips below or go to http://www.doctoroz.com/ for more info!

20% of women with lung cancer HAVE NEVER SMOKED A CIGARETTE!!!

Eat blueberries! They are a superfruit and also help fight lung cancer.

Drink 2 glasses of citrus fruit juice per day or eat Tangerines and Clementines to help fight cancer of the esophagus.

Eat bananas and squid(not necessarily  together) to stave off breast cancer

Frozen squash to fight off lymphoma

A mini spa for your "hoo-hah"?

Ladies, I have tested and tried this one. There is no need,  for a long post I'll just dare you to try it. Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap. This will make you smell minty fresh in all the right places! I am hooked. You can buy it online at http://www.drbronner.com/ or at Target. The bar of soap will run you just under $5 and should last about four weeks (unless your husband mistakes it for irish spring and lavishly lathers like there's no tomorrow!)  This soap not only smells unreal, but leaves you with a refreshingly clean feeling like no other. Warning: You may have to get used to the tingle!

Secret for longer, leaner legs

Forgot to share this in other posting but this is super important.  If you have thick legs, the last thing you want to do is to make them look short. So I have posted shoes to stay away from and ones to run to.  Of course heels make you look "stacked" and that's a great thing.  But if your option is betweem wearing flats or ankle strap pumps that make your ankles look choked??? Pick flats. Those ankle straps cut off the flow of your legs and thus emphasizes the chunk. The exception is open toes with ankle straps that look sexy and creates the illusion of longer legs.  This is from personal experience.

I've done the leg work...arm work...& booty work

Ah, my beloved ladies, I took one for the team today. The hubby took the kids, and I sacrificed myself at the altar they call "the dressing room." Yep, I went to the girly store, gathered about 20 fashions and trends, all in an effort to see what actually works on curvy women. So, here are my findings!

Wanna hide chunky thighs?

Find the deepest darkest denim . None with that faded look. Just deep deep blue denim, and marry it. I was so sold, that I vow here and now to NEVER buy anything else. Unless you want to do color jeans  but even still stay away from white and pastel shades.

Wanna minimize chunky midsection?

Make horizontal striped dresses your bff. The lines are not only hypnotizing but very flattering.  I must say, this was my favorite look.

Say yes to prints with one exception:  stay away from overly blousy loose printed material. It only makes you look like a frumpy ethereal mess.

Belts!!! Belts "create" a defined waist.

The biggest shocker was the trendy solid-top-printed bottom dress. REALLY, REALLY slimming, I was looking pretty hot, I must say.

Belted shirt dresses are also a good camo!

How about meaty arms?

If you have pretty decent shoulders, try a sleeveless dress or tank with straps NO thinner than 2 inches.

Which capris look best on shorties?

Straight and long. All the others make us looked "sawed off."

The biggest and most important lesson deserves all caps...
DO NOT WEAR DRESSES THAT FALL HIGHER THAN TWO INCHES ABOVE YOUR KNEES IF YOU HAVE BIG THIGHS AND FAT KNEES!!! Trust me, please.

You're welcome. (lol)

Need a marriage booster?

Well...so do I! I know that I'm the blogger and should have something to share so here it goes. PRAY. And if you are not a Christian, then most certainly pray even harder because the uncertainty of your eternal life must be causing you extreme unrest. But back to marriage. Although it is like walking a bed of hot coals sometimes, realize that your spouse's unresolved hurt, could be causing him/her to hurt you. (not physically)  Things in the past, feelings of failure, childhood terrors, strained familial relations and simply the stress of everyday life can all be things contributing to unresolved hurt in your spouse. So pray for their strenghth, peace and healing. Pray tha t the Lord allows you to show him/her the same grace and mercy that He shows us.

Please, share some of your marriage.secrets!

Clothing your family on a BUDGET?

Is it possible to look "fly" and pay less? Yep! Check with your local thrift stores for deal days. Our Salvation Army has half off Wednesdays. Ok, so I had to wait in the car for 15 minutes for a parking spot because I got there 10 minutes after they opened the doors. And yes, I had to wait 20 minutes for a shopping cart to free up. BUT, I snagged 20 items including brand names Guess, Izod, Bon bebe, Cherokee, and Gap for...LESS THAN NINETEEN DOLLARS!

My NEW favorite thing(s)

I am constantly on the hunt for some extraordinary use for an ordinary thing. Yesterday, I'm proud to say I made a pleasantly shocking discovery in the baking aisle of the supermarket...GRAPESEED OIL!
This is literally like liquid gold. I bought it for a natural hair moisturizer and when I poured it in my hands, my skin instantly turned into   satin! I continued to rub it into my hands and it absorbed into my skin leaving no oily residue and no scent! It also left my hair soft with a great sheen!
I look forward to sauteeing my spinach in it tonight.

Second runner up, also in the same aisle, COCONUT OIL! Bought this for the same reason, natural hair regime, and was delightfully surprised. It's coagulated like lard, but tastes nothing like it and is much better for you. The shocker was when I used it to cook pancakes this morning. You try it and see if they are the best tasting pancakes you've ever made. Seriously.

All in all, that was the best eleven dollars spent!

Yep, Convenience costs you!

A staple in any American home with children is, of course, Velveeta Shells and Cheese. Having two toddlers, it made sense to get the individual, microwaveable bowls.
So last night, I'm at my fave Buy one get one free spot, Publix, and they had the boxes on sale basically making it around 1.30 per box! Fantastic, I thought since with the individual bowls, you pay about a dollar per bowl, and these boxes have at least two servings so that's almost .35 savings per serving right? Wrong!!! I was so exited when I cooked it up for lunch today and realized that one box contained 4 kids servings! Therefore, I saved nearly $3 bucks since I usually buy the four pack of indy bowls for about $4. 

Moral of the story? A little more effort costed me ALOT less!

Allowing guns on campus???

Heck yes we should! Since Virginia Tech and recently Oikos University in California, everyone  has been having this debate. Just so there is no confusion on my stance...
HECK YES GUNS SHOULD BE PERMITTED ON CAMPUS!!!

This debate is pointless. Is it just me or is it blantantly obvious that the assailants CLEARLY hadn't planned on obeying the law when they showed up to campus to committ these heinous crimes? Denying students their right to bear arms will only punish those law abiding, upstanding students. I really can't picture a rogue, cold, sick, gun-toting murderer pausing in front of the biology building checking the University handbook to see if his intended actions are permissable!!!

Really.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/02/us/california-shooting/index.html

How do you recover from forgetting a friends birthday?

You BLOG about it! You admit to the entire world wide web that you are a terrible friend, but at the same time allow hundreds of readers (hopefully) to know how special she is!

Ahem, to a gracious, patient, kind, exuberant, super smart, and encouraging friend, I would like to wish

 "Mrs. Ybonne" 

 

HAPPY, HAPPY 45TH BIRTHDAY!

( I did get the age right...right??!!!)

Paula Deen Y'all

Hello everyone!!! Hope you are having a great week. Found out I have tendonitis of my right wrist...too much blogging maybe??! Anyhoo, here's my Paula Deen Sweet Treat for the Week. You must try!

So as of late, I've become even more aware of the things that my family eats and have been dead set on minimizing fast food and prepackaged baked treats, etc. Preservatives? Blah! Hydrogenated Oil? Yuck!
It's very easy, affordable, and honestly it just plain feels good to feed your family some of your own homemade baked goods!

This recipe is crazy affordable. You may have all but two of these ingredients at home. I'm going to make it this week and take a pretty picture for y'all. ( channeling my inner Paula)
***Remember to WHIP the whipping cream or you'll have a mess***

Mae Dawson's Hoosier Sugar Cream Pie

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, unsifted
• 1/2 pint (1 cup) whipping cream
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
• Pinch nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Combine sugar, flour, cream, and milk in a mixing bowl. Pour into pie shell.
 Dot butter bits all around top of pie. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake for approximately
10 minutes, and then reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and cook for approximately
30 more minutes. Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until chilled. Serve chilled.
Cook's Note: If using a glass baking dish, lower oven temperature by 25 degrees F.

Baby come back!

Dear College Body,

If you just come back to me, I promise I'll never take you for granted again. I'll hold my head up proudly as I strut in my size 0 pants. I'll work out 3-5 times a day to maintain you. I'll treat you to the spa and everything. I'll dress you impeccably and I'd never let anything come between us. I'd find a surrogate to carry my kids just to preserve you,because having a mom with a Hot Body would eventually pay off for them in the end for them as well! I love you, and I miss you. I enjoyed our times. Please consider my offer.

Love,

Random Mom

So yesterday, I found myself on a college campus while my husband was working with some church members on track and field training...and WOW.  I noticed all of the little college tarts walking around and got a little uncomfortable , honestly. I noticed a BIG DIFFERENCE! 

I've had three kids, one just a few months ago, gained some of that happy marriage weight(7 years worth)  so of course I've developed a womanly figure, which is a far cry from the stick and bones mantra I wore for the first twenty two years of my life.I was so skinny in high school and in college, that I would eat dinner twice, eat whole large pizzas by myself, and even snack on bread sandwiches (yep, just stacks of bread) to gain some "thickness'.  I looked good in my size 0 pants but to me, I just needed more meat on my bones, more of a shape.Oh but now, now I don't have to look far for the "thickness" it's here....to stay obviously! So, yeah I just wanted to share with my bloggers a letter I wrote to my old College Body.

Whitney Houston: When "WISHING" doesn't work

I've been fairly silent about how devastated I was by the death of an Icon and my musical Idol, Whitney Houston. She was my EVERYTHING as a young girl. I won my first talent show, not to mention Five whole dollars in prize money, singing " I will always love you." But the point is, I just like many people, hoped and wished that the drug rumors were not true. Even when she came out in the famous 2002 Diane Sawyer "Crack is Wack" interview, a lot of us still looked the other way. I don't know how many of us prayed for her, but I didn't. I just wished it weren't true. "Somebody will take care of it. She'll be fine. She'll come back. " These are all things I thought to myself. But clearly, the problem was bigger than we thought.

 http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/whitney-houston-crack-whack-2002-interview-diane-sawyer-entertainment-15566496

When the news broke of her death, and all of her friends came to her defense, including my favorite Kim Burrell, I was relieved. I thought, "Oh good, she returned back to God. She was clean." I was so happy.  I had watched the re-airing of the 2009 Oprah interview, and I felt better. It was "well with my soul."

 http://www.thelifefiles.com/2009/09/14/watch-whitney-houstons-entire-interview-with-oprah-winfrey/

But on March 22, 2012 the story broke that Cocaine was found in Whitney's system. This made me almost sadder than I was when I found out that she died. She wasn't okay. She wasn't better. And most of all, those mean-spirited, blood sucking reporters and bloggers were right. No matter how I wished that she was better, wished that she was clean, wished that she had overcome that horrid demon, it seems that she had not.

Rest in Peace Whitney.

Breastfeeding Mom Harrassed by TSA...smh

Okay. Everyone who knows me knows that I'm a proud Breast is Best Mama, shouting from the roof tops. The original design for the boobs were to feed children. This angers me so bad, that I'll just post the story for you, share your comments, and then I'll come back and share mine after I "Woosah."

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/hawaiian-mom-breast-pump-humiliated-tsa/story?id=15835844#.T1TbM_Xd5Bm

FREE CAFFEINE!!!! TODAY ONLY

BUY ONE CUP OF JOE GET A FREE CUP OF JOE FROM STARBUCKS!!!

TODAY ONLY!

HAPPY JITTERS TO YOU :)

Firing off...Florida teen case

Alright, so I've been kosher up until this point but my blogger fans are begging me to push and turn on my "edgy, opinionated, sister girl side." So here it goes!

I can honestly say that when I saw this story, which I've been following since it broke just as everyone else has, I was in disbelief. It still isn't' real that this young man is dead and that this nightmare occurred but a few counties from me.  However, unlike most people, the color of his skin is irrelevant. I see the point being made about him being stereotyped, get it. I see the point being made about if it were a white teen the outcome would be different, get it. But as a Mom...SOMEONE'S BABY IS GONE AND IS NEVER COMING BACK! As a mom, that stings like HELL! A child? My baby? Is gone and dead for some reckless, ignorant, foolishness??? REALLY? You are a GROWN MAN, you honestly felt threatened by my son and his...skittles?

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/03/21/jane-velez-mitchell-am-i-suspicious-now

YOU BETTA GO JANE VALEZ-MITCHELL!

Quick...Go in the Kitchen and Make This

Apple Dumplings!!! So simple and super easy. I've made it twice in one week! Okay so it doesn't look all "glamorous" but I promise, it's like.....an apple pie from that place that I've vowed never to eat at again that rhymes with "Schmick Schmonalds".

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/country-apple-dumplings/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=apple%20dumplings&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

Country Apple Dumplings  

Ingredients:

2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored 2 (10 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough 1 cup butter

1 1/2 cups white sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle Mountain Dew ™

Directions:

1.	Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2.	Cut each apple into 8 wedges and set aside. Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles. Roll each apple wedge in crescent roll dough starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place in the baking dish.
3.	Melt butter in a small saucepan and stir in the sugar and cinnamon. Pour over the apple dumplings. Pour Mountain Dew™ over the dumplings.
4.	Bake for 35 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2012 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 3/21/201

Wha'ts your Body Type?

I got this in an email from youbeauty.com and it was very very insightful. I can now finally say that I'M SHAPELY!!! I used to be the skinny minny all my life so now I'm embracing my womanly curves.
Try it when you get a moment.
http://click.youbeauty.com/view/edn7.1ftu/d5f5e029

I'll reveal that I have a Triangle Body Shape.
Here are the specifics. It's really fun!

Your Shape

Classically feminine, with shapely legs, a whittled waist, and a curvy bum.

Your Health

Triangles have higher levels of estrogen, which signals fertility. Wider hips may protect from heart disease and boost the chances of living longer. With your body shape, obesity increases your risk for memory loss and mental decline; staying trim as you age is important. Take our Body Health Quiz.

Your Beauty

Humans are hard-wired to find your figure attractive, from way back in caveman times. A triangle body shape, which stores fat in the hips and thighs, suggests that you can maintain a pregnancy and produce healthy children. Learn about body shape and attraction.

Fashion Tip: Add structure

Your chest and shoulders are small, so add volume to your upper half. This summer, try a boatneck shirt with horizontal stripes, or a wide scoop neck in bright jewel tones. On chilly evenings, go for a cropped jacket, or a cardigan with three-quarter sleeves. 

 

Stars who have the TRIANGLE body shape are:

 

Random Nuggets of the Day

Random Nuggets of the Day

I made cinnamon rolls with Bisquick this morning....FIRE...I will post the recipe. They were so yummy and super easy!

Bisquick Cinnamon Rolls

1 egg
3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. sugar
3 c. Bisquick
2 tbsp. melted butter
2 tsp. cinnamon
Heat oven to 350°F. Beat egg, add Bisquick and milk. Stir to make soft dough. Knead lightly, just until smooth. Pat or roll out into rectangle 10 x 8 inches. Spread with butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Roll up tightly beginning with wide side. Seal well by pinching edge of dough into roll. Place sealed side down on ungreased baking sheet. Make cuts with scissors almost through roll at 1 inch intervals. If desired form roll in crescent. Bake 15-20 minutes. While warm, glaze top with mixture of 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and 2 teaspoons warm water. Makes 10 to 12 slices.
**********************************************************************************

My husband was teaching my two year old son how to play baseball, he said that in the middle of swinging my son just stopped for a praise break and started singing " Oh give thanks, unto the Lord. For He is good, yes he is good." LOL

Ways to Save Gas!

Taken from the following article! I added my own spin to a few.
http://shine.yahoo.com/financially-fit/10-ways-save-gas-money-205400099.html

This week, especially, I'm trying to scrape and save and find ways to be more economical...as I await my check from publishers clearing house...(don't crush my dream.)

Anyhoo, thought I'd share!

Brake Correctly

I.e. Don't stop and go like me! I'm so guilty of that, cruise folks, cruise. More gas is used when you accelerate, so chillax on the gas pedal.

Use Cruise Control

When traffic is light, use your cruise control function, it saves gas!

Drop the Extra Weight

The more the car weighs, the more gas you have to use to accelerate it. So don't be like me, take out the kids bikes, totes full of clothes for the salvation Army and the 10 lbs of overdue library books.S
 

Shift to Neutral When Still

Especially if you're cruising up to a light that's getting ready to change to green, go ahead and use neutral. This reduces transmission strain and gives the transmission some time to cool down.

Pick the best route

Lots of stop lights equal lots of gas. The less you stop, you will use less gas. Choose your route wisely. I'm known for jumping on the highway for a few miles to avoid lights and minimize gas usage.

Turn off the AC
As you probably know, running the air conditioner impacts your car's overall fuel efficiency. So if you can bear it, try not to turn it on. If you must, turn it off 5-10 minutes before reaching your destination. The car will stay cool enough for that short amount of time. Bonus tip: always park in the shade-that way, your car won't have to work as hard to get cool.

Remove your ski rack
Unless you're using the ski, bicycle, or luggage rack on the roof every week, remove it. It increases the wind resistance on your car which results in more gas used.

Carpool
The amount of gas used per person is halved each time you carpool to work with a co-worker. Not only are you saving gas and money, you get the added bonus of cruising in the carpool lane!

Check your air filter
At any given time, almost 25% of cars need to replace their air filter. Doing so can improve gas mileage by 10%!

Drive slower
It's true: you use less gas when you drive slower. In fact, for every five miles per hour you reduce highway speed, you reduce fuel consumption by 7%.

Moved by Huggies...

So... I was a total skeptic of these Huggies Little Movers diapers. As I'm watching the commercial I'm thinking " Am I the only one that notices that these are literally the same exact thing as Huggies Pull-ups?" So there was no way I was going to buy into that. I just said "eh" and moved on. And truly I still wouldn't be moved to buy them unless they were on sale. I'm a sucker for a sale. So, here's when I got creative. CVS had Huggies diapers (except pull-ups) on sale for 2/$19, plus I had a $3 off coupon. My mind started working. I had run out of pull-ups for my toddler and needed some for him, so I thought to myself "let's see about these little movers." Tried them and....AM TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY. Not only are they structured just like pull ups with the velcro and everything BUT my son actually stays drier !!!! All in all, I am glad I tried them, I'm a happy camper.

Friday's "Bethca Didn't Know" List

Okay so , I think that every Friday I'm going to compile a list of extremely random,unrelated facts that I've acquired over the week. If you like it, comment! If you don't like it...comment! Let's try it out!

1. You should use your hood fan every time you cook on the stove.  Cooking on range tops releases toxins that are harmful to the respiratory system of young children.
2.  Men are crazy attracted to a woman with a "mean shoe game." Note to self: gotta have more than three pairs of shoes boo!
3. Surfing the Web, standing up, 30 minutes of shopping, and giving your hubby a 20 minute massage; burns 100 calories per activity!!!
4. If you're trying to wean yourself off of sodas/pop, replace each soda with a glass of orange juice(sugar), one by one, day by day. You'll realize that you can't (and really don't want to) drink that much orange juice and you'll start finding other alternatives to it. Shout out to Dr. Oz! love that guy.
5. Walmart is NOT the overall cheapest place for Pampers or Huggies. Their price is about $9.50 for a jumbo pack. Each week, at least one of the following retailers has Pampers or Huggies on sale and/or offers a coupon: Publix, CVS, Target.
6. Kohl's is having a crazy sale this week. And although I'm nowhere NEAR a J. LO fan....her clothes are HOT!
7. Burnt pot or pan? Sprinkle some baking soda on it, pour in some vinegar and boil. But if you burned the pan by not watching it the first time, you may need to enlist some help with this one! I'm just sayin'...
8. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, and often children are raised IN PRISON when no local guardian is available. 
9. Drinking coffee actually stimulates your brain and wards off depression.
10. Instead of trying to exercise for 30 minutes every day and joining a high priced gym...just get active for 10 minutes per day and it will really increase your health and weight loss ability.

That is all! Have a blessed and peaceful Friday! You made it!

How SSSSEXY are you?

HOT article by Essence revealing the top 13 things that men find sexy about a woman.  Take a look!

http://living.msn.com/love-relationships/love-sex/the-13-things-men-find-sexiest-about-a-woman

MAKE that Extra Cash!!!!

This morning msn posted an article about odd but LEGAL ways to make extra cash. Check out the link below. My top three faves are:
3. fiverr.com
2. Surveysavvy.com
1. Selling on craigslist..items only folks...items only

http://money.msn.com/saving-money-tips/post.aspx?post=ac074fd1-9662-4546-b775-3b74a802a49c

Sunday's Choice

I don't know about you, but as Sunday evening wanes I began to get sad and somewhat anxious. As our restful family time comes to an end, I get sad that my husband has to be away for nine hours each day, and I began to get anxious about all of our decisions, responsibilties,  and commitments. Add to that, the uncertainty of my job as a sahm. Since kids change every day, I wonder "will I be sharp enough? Patient enough?  Loving enough? Fun enough? Strict  enough?
Seems like every Sunday, a choice has to be made. Am I going to face this week with peace, faith, and total trust in God? Or, is this week going to kick my scared, worrisome, controlling behind?

It's nearly noon on Monday...and I have yet to make Sunday's choice.

Career woman vs Stay at Home Mom

Who's more desirable? Spicy topic right?!

So the picture I get is that, although many career women have families as well, in a coporate setting, it's not blaringly apparent unless you have a million pics of your children framed on your desk or screensavers of your kids wacky moments, it's easy to take off your mom hat for about 9 hours and just be viewed as a fully capable collegue. And this, along with the confident strut that comes along with the territory, can be  very desirable to male counterparts AND husbands.

On the contrary, when a husband of a stay at home mom (Sahm) opens the door to his home, he probably sees a different scene. If it's anything like my home, it's two kids running  around while mom is at the stove finishing up dinner with baby on hip, and she's dressed in whatever was clean and able to be put on in the three minutes of privacy that she managed to sneak in before cooking breakfast.

So my mind started to wonder.

If I arrived home at the same time as my husband, dressed up in business casual attire with the scent of accomplisment lingering, would I be more desirable?

Is the first thing that a husband of a Sahm sees when opening the door to his home OVERWHELMING RESPONSIBILITY? Realizing the pressure he's under to provide for the people in front of him?

Please weigh in, I'll be back to post my thoughts later!

Spring cleaning tips...under 50¢

Springtime is near! And if you're like me, you've waited until the last minute to do it. So here are a few tried and true tips that will cost you under fifty cents! (Since you have most of these things in your home.)

*Remember to SPRING FORWARD this weekend for daylight savings time*

1. UNCLOG THAT SHOWER HEAD!
Need: white vinegar, ziploc bag, rubber band. Beware, if you're only a five footer like me, watch your head.
Fill up any size ziploc bag with white vinegar. Submerge the shower head in the bag and secure it with a rubber band. Leave it for a few hours and then remove it. It'll be like new!

2. MAKE THOSE PEARLY WHITES SPARKLE ...I mean your bathroom sinks : )
Need: toothpaste, sponge
Squirt a dollop of toothpaste onto a soft sponge and you'll be surprised at how easily all of the soap scum, grime, etc. comes off.

3. TAKE THE FUNK OUT OF YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL!
Need: Lemon, baking soda
Squeeze the juice of a half of lemon down the drain on the side of the garbage disposal. Throw in the entire half of lemon, and handful of baking soda. Turn on the cold water so that it runs down the drain, and finally turn on the disposal and run it untill the lemon is entirely ground up!

THANKS MARTHA STEWART!!!

It MUST be Friday

The only explanation for why I am patiently awaiting an imaginary Mary Poppins type nanny (with a clean background check) to come and pick up these kids.....is because it is Friday. I'm noticing that I have the opposite reaction than I did when I was a member of corporate America. I used to have a refreshing exuberance at the end of the day, excited about a whole two days free from "workin' for the man." On the other hand, as a domestic engineer, by five o'clock on Friday I am a frazzled, mentally and physically exhausted mom that can't wait for my dear husband to walk through the door so that I can run for the hills!!!
That is all.

"Yeah I won the lottery...but I still get food stamps"

http://m.cnn.com/primary/wk_article?category=cnnd_us&pagenum=1&pagesize=10&articleId=urn:newsml:CNN.com:20120308:michigan-lottery-winner:1

WOW. I was taken aback by the boldness of this woman. Please read this story and share your thoughts below.

Forgivness...it's more than saying " sorry"

People die. Every day. All day. Now two things should come to your mind. One, I could be one of those people and if I should die today, will I go to heaven? Have I asked God into my heart and have I asked him for his forgiveness for things that I carry in my heart against others? Two, if a friend, enemy, frenemy, relative, or aquaintance dies today, was the issue that we were beefing about worth it? Is it worth me holding on to the point where now I can't even let them know that I love them and am sorry? We are all human, we all sin and fall short of the glory of the Lord. Hence, we need a Savior. We cannot do anything without God.

So today  FORGIVE,  FORGIVE , FORGIVE. Let it GO! Holding on to it is not worth your salvation or your sanity. (YVO) Not only will it bless you, but it will hopefully be infectious to others. Sow some forgivness and hopefully, you'll reap some as well.

Be blessed,

RANDOM MOM!

QUICK...burn all of your shirts...

...if they all look very similar to the picture below.
I get it,  we are domestic engineers, wives, moms, housekeepers, etc. We have PTA, bible study, play dates, and the oh so fun "date with our local grocer."
BUT, we are also beautiful, smart, curvaceous, vivacious WOMEN! I know that you have style and flair so let's show it off.  Be bold, just try something. Your confidence is really what's gonna make it pop. Every day that you get dressed, make it an event! Even if you gotta throw on some sweats to rush out the door to get the kids to school on time, come back home and start again.
It's proven that you feel as good as you look, and if you look "durable"....well...you're inviting a long list of to-do's! Lol. So next time you go out to buy a shirt ( I strongly suggest the thrift store) buy a blousy shirt or a cute cardigan or...A DRESS. GASP!!!!! : )

So let's try it ladies. Pull out some cheap fashion jewelry, funky and chunky, not matchy matchy nana's pearl sets! You'll be surprised. Plus...is it any harder putting on a shirt made of something other than stretch cotton and jersey knit????

The Battle of the Generic Brand Diaper

So, I was raised to never cut corners when it comes to a baby's bottom so I always bought huggies and pampers. Until one day when I made a late night store run with my five month old. The staff was very slim and I couldn't reach the pampers.
After a few moments of waiting I sighed and picked up the store brand. I got home and....I was so happy with the product that I began singin' the Ol' Al Green tune "Let's, let's stay together..."
And the winner is: TARGET UP AND UP BRAND!!! They feel like a pillow and they hold well over night.

Now the list of crappy brands! (pun intended)
3. Walmart Parents Choice
2. Walgreens Brand  ties with CVS brand
1. Publix.....and it's so sad because I LOVE this store and it's generic brand of everything else is on point. But....let's just say making diapers is not their ministry.

Sweet Treat for the Week

Glazed Lemon Bundt Cake Recipe - Allrecipes.com

You probably have most of these ingredients at home. I only have six pots/pans and one of them HAPPENS to be a bundt cake pan. Lol.
Anyhoo, I've also been on a mission to drastically reduce all of the preservatives that take up residence in the bellies of my loved ones. I'll be sure to post a picture and review of the finished product!

Update: I made it but of course I ended up dumping all ingredients in and blending it all at once since I forgot to cream butter and sugar
Anyhoo, I'm glad that the recipe called for me to invert because it was not looking too pretty when I pulled it out of the oven. THEN , realized that I had accidently heated the oven above 350 degrees, so I fear it may be dry.  Will taste it after it cools and let y'all know!

What Mondays are made of

Sooooo...yeah. It's Monday, woo hoo! It took a little (okay...ALOT) of encouragement from a friend for me to"Get back to bloggin." It would be improper of me to promise you randomness and not deliver. So hang on folks, here it comes!

Should breast-feeding be shown on Sesame Street?

Click on the link below to read the full story....

Should breast-feeding be shown on Sesame Street?

WOW!!!! You know, this is crazy! I'm happy to say that I'm surprised at the results of the online poll. I am PRO Breastfeeding! I love it, all for it! It's natural, I believe every mother can do it with the support and education to back her up. But I have to be honest, when my toddler sat down and began to nurse her baby, I almost freaked out!! But then I remembered when my niece did it around the same age, I told her father to not freak out and make her feel like there was anything unnatural about it, or to draw unnecessary attention to her " chest" because of course at time, it had no real distinction from the rest of her upper torso. But I do think we need to go back to the basics. It's natural, it was the initial intention for the breasts anyway, to continue life, for nourishment. Breasts have now been sexed-up and scandalized to such a point that the most natural (not to mention most inexpensive) way to feed our children has become taboo. Tsk Tsk Tsk...In the words of Marvin Gaye " What's Goin' On?"

A Little less YOU : Ode to my Sis

Soooo, watching "Cook Yourself Thin" on Lifetime Real Women (meanwhile nursing my son, and updating this blog). LOVE THIS SHOW!! Check it out. Here is the website.

http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/cook-yourself-thin

I'm going to try to update this post by posting weight loss/nutrition tips while watching the show...

Let's see how this works

P.S. I didn't know that I hated upstairs neighbors...until they just moved in. LOL LOL Who has that much furniture geez!

***Free Tasty Carbs at Your Local Mall***

Many of you may already know but if not...

FREE AUNTIE ANNIE'S PRETZELS FROM 10-3PM!!! ONE PER PERSON AT ALL LOCATIONS!

SATURDAY MARCH 3, 2012

Monotany is not the best policy!

So, all night I was thinking about synonyms for the word " random." Although it describes me perfectly, I do think that it will become "overkill" if used as much as needed. So, here is a list of words that I will attempt to use in the place of the aforementioned.

• haphazard
• aimless
• arbitrary
• irregular
• incidental 

Soooo...Yeah......About That....

Hi Blogger World! I'm super excited, ecstatic even, to share all of the randomness of life, love, and motherhood with all of the world wide web! My mind runs about 100 miles per hour, subjects varying between food, motherhood, marriage, cool and wack products, internet headlines, my Christian faith, nutrition ect.! Trust me, you think it...I'll find it! So, follow me and stay for a while. I promise, you will be thoroughly informed but most of all entertained :)

Here are a few things folks say about me and my RANDOMNESS...

"Keisha is the official researcher of our group--always finding what's in, new, hot and most informative!"

Yvonne R.-Stay at home mom of 4

"If you ned a prayer, some fashion advice, or to hear the ltest preschool rap...shekeeps it real and VERY random!"

Stace J.-Stay at home mom of 2

SO STAY TUNED....AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF!  (well, the bible says don't judge so..but then...okay so do what you feel!) LOL