So Long 2011, Hello 2012

Wow, it's almost time for 2011 to chuck up the deuces already!  I can't believe this is over.  It went by entirely too quick for me.  I feel like I didn't take enough pictures or write enough journal entries to capture everything.  I'm hoping that 2012 won't go as fast.

All in all though, this has been a great year for me and my family.  I've met new people, created new friendships and learned new things.  Most importantly, I've had the opportunity to share this year with the people I love the most. So, I decided to take cue from Cam over at Bibs & Baubles and a few of my favorite posts to tell the story of my 2011 Year in Review.  Let's get started...

January- We found out that are new addition was going to be a beautiful baby boy!!

February- I reaffirmed my love for the Mr and realized that sometimes friendships fall apart when you have kids or get married. (Sucks, but it's life.)

March- I helped a mom in need and had fun shopping for my little prince!

April- I almost delivered prematurely! (Talk about scary. Oh and our car got totaled. Back to square one.)

May- I gave birth to the most perfect little baby boy!

June- My baby sister graduated high school! (*tears* She grew up so fast. I wasn't ready.)

July- I took time to focus on my dreams.

August- We survived a series of some of the worst hurricanes to hit our area since Hugo.

September- The Mr and I celebrated our FIRST year as a married couple! (Yay, we made it!)

October- I stopped shopping at WalMart!

November- Thanksgiving with my loved ones was a blast!

December- I turned 26! (30, you're getting closer!)

Here's to hoping that 2012 will bring about just as many memories. I hope that everyone has a blessed New Year's!  See ya in 2012 ladies and gents!

I Got That Fire

According to the lovely Amber from The Yeyo Diaries, YUMMommy got that fire yall!!  She has graciously given me the 'Blog on Fire' Award.

I'm so honored to have received this award from one my blogger peers.  It says a lot when your peers choose you out of all the other blogs they follow and read.  

Anyways, part of being accepting this award requires that I share seven things about myself.  So, in no particular order here they are...

~I've worn glasses for twenty-three years. Yes, that's longer than some people have been married.  

~I recently co-authored a book with a group of awesome ladies!  More about that one coming soon. Stay tuned.

~I'm not a morning person.  Seriously, I'm not.

~I've never traveled outside of the US.  Sad, but true.  That's on my list of things to change though.

~I'm addicted to gummy bears, Twizzlers, Slim Jims, cookie dough ice cream and Mike & Ikes.  Like for real, I've eaten over a pound of Twizzlers in one setting before and can do some major damage on a half gallon of cookie dough ice cream.

~I love to cook.  You all will see more of this in 2012 on here as I share recipes.

~My favorite animals are horses. I want to own at least one before I die.

Well, enough about me.  I'm now going to pass this lovely award on to some ladies that I think are pretty awesome.

Mommy Delicious 

Before The Baby Wakes

Mommy Glow

Mrs AOK

Only Laila

Baby Shopaholic

Life of TOI

Adventures of Team Pancakes

The Young Mommy Life

Breakfast and A Party

Whelp, Christmas has come and gone!  We had a wonderful time celebrating the birth of our Savior as well as spending time with my family.  The kiddies had an especially awesome time because they were more than showered with gifts this year from Grandma, Unk and the Aunties. We had good food, a little wine and lots of laughs.

However, the partying continues for us as we get ready to ring in the New Year with a FREE breakfast and a party all courtesy of the lovely folks at McDonald's-Charlotte!!  Woot, woot! Yes, our McDonald's is the greatest because they're always trying to stay active in the Queen City.  I also love them because most of the activities they sponsor and host are family related.  This is a huge plus since I'm a mommy of two.

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So, this Friday, December 30th from 7-9AM, you can come out and catch us enjoying the unveiling of McDonald's new Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal at Wells Plaza in the 300 block of S Tryon.  McDonald's will be rolling out this new addition to their breakfast menu sometime in 2012.  This reveal will allow the public to give their feedback on whether or not they want less apple, more walnuts or more cinnamon, less walnuts or they could love it as is.  And of course, for us non-oatmeal lovers, they will have some of their signature breakfast sandwiches along with their Premium Roast coffee and Hot Caramel Mochas.

The free coffee alone is enough to entice to me go.  I mean have you ever had coffee from McDonald's?  It's totally addictive!  But no worries if you can't make the breakfast.  On Saturday, you and the kiddies can check out McDonald's First Night Kids event from noon to 5 PM and get out party on.  We're looking forward to meeting Ronald down at the Convention Center and getting our picture taken with him.  He's a celebrity after all.

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I'm really happy to have these extra opportunities to make more memories with my family before 2012 gets here.  The kids are growing up so fast and I'm learning to cherish and take advantage of opportunities like these where there is a little something for everyone.

What are you and your family doing to ring in the New Year?  And will you be trying McDonald's Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal when it comes out in 2012?






YUMMommy


I was not compensated for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own

Romance Wednesday: Complex Creatures

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 "Men are complex creatures whose ways seem just as mysterious to us as ours do to them.  It isn't fair to accuse them of being unromantic or unloving just because their ways of creating romance and expressing love may be different from ours.  My point is, don't expect your husband to be like you.

~Robin McGraw

Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose

During the early years of our courtship, I was always telling people how unromantic my husband was.  He didn't write me love notes or send me poetry.  And he wasn't into buying flowers except on Valentine's Day.

It finally dawned on me after reading this quote in Robin's book that I had been lying all those years.  My husband was romantic.  He just showed in different ways.  His way.

He was always putting extra gas in my car, making sure it was clean and freshly washed.  He would risk having his manhood revoked by watching The Hills with me. And how can I forget about all the mornings he surprised me breakfast!

I've learned to stop expecting him to do romance my way and allow him to love the way HE knows how.

YUMMommy

PS-Don't forget my Farm Rich Giveaway ends this Friday!! 

26: The Adventure Continues

Hello 26!!

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Wow, it's been another year already?  Time is flying.  And I'm feeling truly blessed for all that I was able to accomplish and experience at 25.   So, I've been very much looking forward to 26.  I'm finding that getting older is not something dread but something that we should welcome.

Life has so much to offer, but if we're constantly trying to cling to the past how can we move forward and embrace the success, joy, happiness, love and other wonderful things that await us in our futures?  I set some goals last year.  And this year I'm revising that list.  I've grown and my list needs to reflect that growth.

Somethings are getting marked off like my becoming a published author. Excited!!!  More details to come after the New Year.  So without further delay here is my newly reformed list of goals to achieve before my 30th birthday:

List of Adventures to Accomplish by 12/19/15
~Attend Fashion Week in New York
~Buy a House
~Get a New Car
~Write My First Book
~Publish my Book
~Go to Paris
~Vacation in Spain
~Take a Trip to Disney Land/World
~Go on a Cruise
~Attend BlogHer
~Visit my BFF in Philly
~Go Back to College
~Make a VLog
~Expand YUMMommy
~Learn More HMTL 
~Raise $5000 for Charties
~Exercise More
~Meet Some of my Blogger BFFs in Person
~Buy Some Power Tools (I love diy projects)
~Remodel my Mom's House

Snack Time Made Easy

Being a mommy of two certainly has its challenges, especially when one is an energetic, outgoing three year old and the other is a demanding but adorable 7 month old.  Between changing diapers, potty runs and breaking up arguments over toys (yes, they argue over toys), I manage to squeeze in the time for a writing career, laundry, running errands and cooking.  Oh and if that's not enough on my plate, I still have to find the time to keep things spiced up in my marriage.  That's a huge load that I'm juggling.  Therefore, I'm always looking for ways to simplify my life and make my load a little bit easier.

That is exactly why I jumped at the chance to try Farm Rich's mozzarella bites.  We're food lovers over here. I have to admit that out of everything on my list besides work, cooking takes up most of my time.  I pride myself on cooking from scratch when preparing meals and snacks for my family.  Not to mention, processed foods scare me with their poor nutrition values.

I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up my bag of mozzarella bites and saw that they were actually rich in calcium and protein with no trans fat.  My favorite part is that they were made with 100% real mozzarella cheese!!  This is a huge plus for me because I absolutely despise that fake processed stuff some other companies try to pass off as cheese.  Talk about disgusting.

Anyways, while I was anxious to try the mozzarella bites, I kept wondering what they would taste like. Would they be all doughy?  Would the cheese be rubbery from being frozen?  The answer is no and no.  8.5 minutes in a 375 degree oven and a squirt of bbq sauce later, we were digging into the cheesiest and most delicious mozzarella bites, I've ever had.  That's saying a lot because I've had a few different brands.

I don't know how they did it but Farm Rich seems to have found the perfect dough to cheese ratio. And the best part was that it take me an hour to prepare this snack.  I just opened a bag, poured some on nonstick pan and baked.  And as a writer, my time is precious.  Most of time I'm in a crunch to meet deadlines or ideas are flowing faster than I have time to write them out.  So, to be able to get in and out of the kitchen in less than 15 minutes was a blessing and a rare event.

If you haven't tried Farm Rich, I urge you to make your snack and meal times easier by trying one of their products.  They certainly have my foode seal of approval.  And thanks to the lovely people over at Farm Rich two you lucky YUMMommy readers will get to try one of their products for FREE!! Check out the giveaway widget below to enter to win.

Under The Weather

It feels like it's been ages since my last post,  Unfortunately, my lack of posting was partly due to the fact that Moo, JJ and I have all been under the weather.  What started off as a trip to my mom's house the weekend before last turned in to us all getting some kind of bug.  For the life of me, I haven't any clue how we ended up sick.

It started off as runny noses, turned coughs and is now a mass confusion of sore throats, swollen tonsils and ear infections.  Not to mention,  JJ's eczema has flared up and he hived Thursday when my mom got a new puppy for my niece.  Yes, my kids are allergic to cats and dogs.  Needless, to say our trips to visit Grandma will be short and sweet from here on out.

Moo is back on her breathing machine.  That sucks because she's not a big fan of that thing.  But it's a good for her and will keep her healthy.  I had to cancel part 2 of JJ's flu shot since he's sick now.  And of course, Moo is allergic to it.  So, we'll be keeping mini Lysol, germ gel and wipes handy when we're out and about.

I'm just starting to feel somewhat better.  My voice isn't back to normal just yet.  So, I'm not doing very much talking because if I do by the end of the day I'm so hoarse I can barely speak.  I'm hoping that I'll be back in great shape for my birthday which is Sunday!!  The big 2-6 is just a few days away and I am hella excited!!

On top of all this, I have projects I need to complete.  Oh and did I mention that I'm still shopping for the Mr for Christmas.  I want to make sure that I get him things that he will love and appreciate.  We've had some hits and misses over the years and I'm ready to get on track with more hits this year.  

And one last note before I jet off to finish some work, if you purchased the awesome Tablet deal that was on Plum District Charlotte for Black Friday weekend, I'm sorry to report that due to issues with the supplier you will be getting a refund.  Check out all the details and information here.  These things happen but Plum District is still a great place to shop and I have picked up a few of my Christmas gifts from there and still recommend that you do the same.

Interior Decorating

 Growing up we didn't have a lot. However, that didn't stop my mom from making sure our house looked good. I was amazed at her sense of style.  I admired the fact that she undertook the task of really putting an effort into interior decorating on top of raising five children and working two (sometimes three) jobs.

And even more amazing was the fact that she spent little or no money for everything she did!  She would get home decorating magazines from the public library or buy them when they were on sale.  Then she would sit down go through each and rip out pages of things she liked. It could be a wall color from one magazine and a table from another. 

She'd rip and clip pictures and piece together looks for each room.  She was creating her own idea book.  I remember her taking that idea book and going to flea markets, thrift stores and home improvement stores looking for pieces that we were similar to those in her idea book.  I have to admit that she was the master at curbside finds.

For me that passion for interior decorating comes from my mom.  And now that we're house hunting, I've found myself creating idea books for how I want each room to look in our new home.  I've even been able to style our current rental using curbside and Internet finds and freebies.  You'd be amazed at what a little sand paper, spray paint and new hardware can do for furniture.

Are you wanting to remodel or redecorate?  Could the kitchen use a little sprucing up?  Don't be afraid. Put together your idea book and go from there.

Have you ever tried your hand at interior decorating?  Did you create an idea book?

YUMMommy

Holiday Greetings By Shutterfly

Yay, December is finally upon us!  And what time is it?  Holiday greetings time!!  Besides all the birthday celebrations that will be going this month, this is one of the things I look forward to the most during December.

And I have to admit that I've completely fallen in love with Shutterfly.  My Valentine's Day cards were a huge hit this past February.  I was very impressed with the design and quality of the cards I ordered.  So of course, it only makes sense that I would go back to them and check out their amazing selection of Christmas cards.

Sending out Christmas Cards has been a holiday tradition for me since I was about 10.  I would always ask me mom to get a box of cards.  Then I would have her sign the insides. (Her handwriting is so beautiful!!) Next, I would sit down with her address book, a roll of stamps, address labels and address each card to a family member or close family friend.

Something about sending a little holiday cheer to the people closest and dearest to our hearts just made me good.  Nothing's changed today either.  If anything, I especially like reaching out to my loved one's who I know are having a difficult time during this part of the year.  And I'm really looking forward to sending out cards again this year.  Here are my top five Christmas card design picks from Shutterfly:

Heart to Heart

Classically Yours

Snowman Greetings

Wrapped Ribbon

Picture Tree

And while I was over there, I also spied this cute little invitation for JJ's first birthday party coming up next year.  You all know that I like to stay a few steps ahead in the planning process with kids.

Hear Me Roar

So, which Christmas card design should I choose? What do you think about the invitation?

YUMMommy

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are solely my own. This post is sponsored by Shutterfly.com

Because of You

Three years and nine months ago, my life was kind of a mess.  I wasn't entirely happy with the person I had let myself become.  To say that I felt lost and unloved would be an understatement. 

But then almost $20 and few double pink lines helped me to turn my life around.  Moo, you saved my life!  You gave me a reason to rediscover the better person I knew I could and wanted to be.  It's because of you that I've learned how to appreciate the simple joys and treasures of life again.

It's because of you that I didn't give up.  It's because of you that I've become somewhat of a morning person now. (I'm getting better.)  Thanks to you, I spend a little bit more time at the park and get a little bit more exercise.  

It's because of you that I'm finally going hard after my dreams.  

Words can't and could never fully describe the love and thankfulness I have for you.  But always remember that each day I get better and better is because of 

YOU!!

Happy Birthday!!

I love you!