YIPPEE!!! For some Patience My Friends

This post is sponsored by Yippee

Hey y’all it’s finally fall-ish here in Texas.  That literally means one day it’s 90 degrees and the next it’s 65, but I’ll take that over 100 degree heat any day!  It’s actually been a bit chilly at night and we love to light the fireplace and drink hot tea or cocoa.  If you follow me on Instagram then you may have seen my posts about one of our favorite streaming channels called YIPPEE

Okay, so I know everyone is spending a lot more time at home these days and our kids are stuck inside.  That will probably only get more frequent as cooler temps hit us because nobody wants to go outside and freeze + sneeze!  So, what are you doing to keep your kids busy besides school and well….school?  I know all of our sports were cancelled for a long time and the world sort of stood still.  That had me looking at a lot of alternative entertainment options, especially for my kiddos.

Let me tell you a little bit about YIPPEE and why I love it so much!  YIPPEE features all new VeggieTales episodes every month.  There are 54 original VeggieTales original episodes to choose from too.   You can try the YIPPEE channel for 7 days free and if you don’t like it then just cancel and don’t worry about it!  I have a feeling you’ll be coming back again though.  I grew up watching VeggieTales, it seems like they’ve been around forever.  I love Bob and Larry and the clean, friendly, & fun stories they tell along with all the other characters.

The best way to enjoy YIPPEE is with the whole family because you don’t have to worry about language or violence.  It’s just good faith filled and family oriented TV for everyone.  A good cup of hot cocoa doesn’t hurt either *wink* *wink* (Or in my case coffee!!!)

YIPPEE just released a new VeggieTales episode called “Patience Takes Practice”.  We watched it a couple of nights ago and it’s soooooo cute!  I love how it references Noah and the Ark and how he had to be patient and wait upon God throughout all his trials and his journey through the flood.

Synopsis:

Larry has a great idea for an upcoming show: the story of the Wright Brothers and their invention of the airplane. Larry loves airplanes! Bob likes the idea a lot but he gets terribly impatient with everyone while putting together the show. Bob’s can’t wait attitude creates all kinds of chaos and hurt feelings amongst the crew. Petunia has an idea on how to fix all the trouble on set and rallies the Veggies to perform the story of Noah. Noah was a man who had to do a lot of waiting and while he waited he learned to be patient. From Noah, Bob learned that patience takes practice and that in the end how you treat your friends matter most!

One of the best things about YIPPEE is that you can watch it anywhere- on your TV, computer, phone, or tablet.  Anywhere you go YIPPEE can go with YOU!  Here Connor is watching VeggieTales on the computer while eating dinner 🙂

Speaking of Connor…he’s been a VeggieTales fan since he was a young turnip too!  I love this picture of him and his Larry. He’s always been so obsessed with stuffed animals and I remember how crazy he was for Larry the Cucumber.

If you have any questions about the YIPPEE App feel free to ask away or message me.  My family has been so blessed by this channel and all it has to offer.  I know that I’m protecting and shielding their little eyes, ears, and hearts from the craziness in the world with YIPPEE  It’s just wholesome, good shows your kids will actually want to watch over and over again.  If you’re ready to start your FREE 7-day trial click HERE.  I promise you’ll love it just as much as we do!

xo Becky

It’s Almost FALL & I’m Here For It Y’ALL!

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx

Fall is finally right around the corner.  I know everyone is trying to rush 2020 outta here.  I really hope we can all enjoy the fall season and the holidays that bring joy and happiness this time of year as well.  Being locked up indoors has everyone struggling to look and feel their best these days.  Oh what I wouldn’t give for an actual pedicure!!!  I don’t think I’ve had one since February, but thank goodness it’s almost boot season, then perhaps I don’t care as much.  It’s more about feeling better about myself.  Even if I am just at home in my jammies.

I recently got the opportunity to try some fun new items with BabbleBoxx that lifted my spirits and helped me look and feel better.  This box was filled with items that were used to pamper and treat myself to a fun makeover.  I’d love to share my experience with you and some awesome discount codes too!

The first item was a Custom Hair Dye from e-Salon.  I’ve actually used e-Salon hair color a few times now and really love it.  E-Salon mixed my very own custom color according to what I’m looking for.  It’s made-to-order, custom hair color individually crafted by a colorist to achieve your ultimate color goal.  The first couple of times I wanted to tweak my hair color a bit, so in the notes on my next shipment I included which direction I wanted to go.  I prefer an ash blonde color instead of a more golden tone.  Eventually we found something that works for me.  If you are a Blondie like me I highly recommend the Blonde Neutralizer Tint Rinse.  It gets rid of unwanted yellow and brassy tones and it makes a world of difference for blonde hair. The kit includes:

Your personal colorist will factor in your color goals and you can even submit photos of your current hair color and what you would like it to look like.  It helps your stylist get a better idea of what you are looking for.  Your personal colorist can formulate a shade down to the exact combination of depth and tone that lets you be you.  Made-to-order, and never mass produced, our custom color creates less waste. Making it sustainable and better for the environment.

Here is my BEFORE + AFTER my hair color makeover:

I used to read like 10 books a month before Heidi was born.  I still read these days, but not near as much as I used to.  I’ve always been an avid reader and when I find a good book it’s hard to tear myself away.  There’s no greater escape than a good book!  A Fool’s Paradise from Robyn Williams lures readers into an intriguing world of lifelike imagery and memorable, colorful characters. A Fool’s Paradise is robust with suspense, romance, tragedy, humor and elements of the supernatural intricately woven into a series of well-conceived plot twists guaranteed to leave readers spellbound.

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A Fool’s Paradise reveals the story of Dr. Aaryn Jamison, one of the nation’s most prominent African American physicians. She is brilliant, successful and has a penchant for mountain climbing. Gifted with healing hands, she is more comfortable in the healing realm of the supernatural than she is in a glittering world of lustful, intimacy starved, celebrity-driven fortune seekers.  Enter Jayson Denali, internationally acclaimed  Academy award-winning actor. The handsome, charismatic superstar rose from meager beginnings to become king among Hollywood’s elite.  Passions simmer and fate plunges these two down a startling road of self-discovery fraught with meddling parents, scheming ex-lovers, jealous co-stars and an ever watchful, over-protective entourage.  Savor the richness, enchantment, and emotionally infused chemistry of genuine relationships of the heart.  Robyn Williams’ A Fool’s Paradise melds passion, suspense and the supernatural as Dr. Aaryn Jamison, one of the nation’s most prominent African American physicians, meets Jayson Denali, internationally acclaimed Academy award-winning actor. The characters’ stories of growing up poor, becoming self-aware survivors, trusting in mentors along the way and then strangely falling for them are so relatable, one becomes an unwitting passenger on the tumultuous journey borne between this book’s two covers.
I’ve read the first few chapters so far and I can’t wait to dig into it some more.  It’s looking like a pretty good read so far!   Also, Hollywood insiders take note: There’s a really good film on the horizon here.
You can purchase the e-book for $4.49 HERE.

The next product is GrandeLIPS Hydrating Lip Plumper is a high gloss, volumizing lip plumper infused with a nourishing cocktail of Volulip™ and hyaluronic acid for instant and long-term hydrating benefits. This plumper instantly improves lip volume in 3-5 minutes and hydrates dry areas. GrandeLIPS Plumper’s unique cushion applicator easily wipes clean & combines effortlessly with other lip products.  My lips get so dry,  especially when cooler weather hits.  When I tried this product I could definitely feel it “plumping” and it really moisturized my dry lips.
Use Promo Code: SELFCARE10 for 10% off entire purchase on grandecosmetics.com

I’m loving this Hand Sanitizer from Born Basic.  Born Basic was “born” from the desire to accomplish a very basic goal: making an everyday product readily available for the everyday person. Company spokesperson states, “There are no gimmicks and flashy packaging to distract from what the product is. Our messaging is very straightforward and basic so the customer knows exactly what they are getting.”
This hand sanitizer glides on easily and does not leave a sticky residue or have a strong alcohol smell. (The smell is actually really really nice!)  The updated re-launch of Born Basic made sure to include an alcohol content of 62% as well as moisture preserving agents to give the best feel and consumer experience. There is no strong alcohol smell and the packaging is fun, clean, and basic, as well as the product is easy to use!
Born Basic Hand sanitizer is 62% instead of 70% alcohol or 65% alcohol – which is more moisturizing with less alcohol content but still effectively kills germs per FDA guidelines.

I found a whole bunch at my local Super Target last weekend.  The price point is very affordable – 33 ounce at $5.99, 16.9 ounce at $3.99, 3 ounce at $1.99.  It comes in 3 sizes.
Born Basic is a US company & family owned which I love!  You can find it exclusively at Target stores or on their website HERE.
And last, but not least are a couple of fab products from Kerasal.  Kerasal is a leading brand in footcare for tough to tackle foot problems. Whether you are looking to for an at home pedicure solution for dry, cracked feet or looking to tackle tough toenail problems, Kerasal has you covered.  Did I mention before that my last pedicure was in February???

A) Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair: This is an exfoliating moisturizer that is clinically proven to hydrate/moisturize dry feet while exfoliating away dead skin. Visible results in 1 Day (or overnight). High customer satisfaction appealing to consumer need for “at home pedicure”. Most people often see visible results after just one application.
B) Kerasal Multi-Purpose Nail Repair: This is solution to improve the appearance of nails damaged by a variety of conditions. Kerasal’s patented formula helps improve nail appearance by reducing discoloration, smoothing thesurface, normalizing thickness and hydrating the nail. Its effective, clear formula penetrates the nail to restore a healthy appearance. Whether it is Nail Fungus, Nail Psoriasis, Aging Nails, or Gel Manicure Damaged Nails – look to Kerasal Multi-Purpose Nail Repair for a visible difference.

I have the weakest nails and I can’t wait to dig into these and help my feet and nails look and feel better.  Kerasal products can be found on Amazon or Target.

It’s almost fall and I’m HERE for it ya’ll!  I hope you enjoyed my review of all these fun items to get you ready to cozy up for fall and check them out yourselves.  BabbleBoxx always sends the best things to try and I’m so incredibly thankful for such an awesome company that allows me to share with you!  In the mean time go get yourself a pumpkin spice latte, read a novel, dye your hair, give yourself a pedicure and all that good stuff!  Most of all HAVE FUN!!!

xo Becky

We Have a 5th Grader!

Connor James it seems like I have documented every milestone of your life on this blog.  Although I haven’t been as frequent at blogging as of late, I sure am glad you have all these memories stored somewhere.  I need to make it a point to post more like I used to for both you and Heidi.  Someday when I’m old and gray you both can read what Mama wrote and laugh about it all!

I’ll recap our summer (or the longest spring break ever) in another post…but I wanted to post your first day of 5th grade picture.  You look like a grown man!  TIME= THIEF!!!

Flashback to your first day of Kindergarten.  Seems like yesterday.

Heidi is almost walking.  You saw her stand this weekend and were so excited!  We had fun in the pool this past weekend.  It’s so incredibly hot here in August.  It’s been over 100 degrees outside, it sure is nice to have a pool to dunk into….especially in times like these.

Love you sweet boy.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 

Heidi’s 1st Birthday

I can’t believe a year has flown by so fast and yet so slow at the same time!  Heidi…my sweet angel girl you turned ONE on July 1st and of course Mama is behind on everything these days.  This has been the craziest year, so we weren’t able to throw you and big party like your brother’s HERE.  Poor baby you kind of got the second child shaft….not to mention the dang Covid!

So it was just me, your Daddy, Connor, and Auntie Ellen.  We sure did celebrate you though and you enjoyed your cake unlike Connor who screamed and wouldn’t touch it.  Ha ha!

You are my little ray of sunshine.  My rainbow baby after a heartbreaking loss.  I love you more than you’ll ever know!

Some things you love:

  • Baby Shark
  • Dancing to any kind of upbeat music
  • crawling and climbing on ANYTHING!
  • You can say “Mama” and “Dada”
  • You love your bottle and are little Miss Independent
  • Yogi Melts are your favorite
  • You are pretty much eating table food, but love noodles and pasta
  • You have two teeth, but are cutting so many others right now.  They need to come in already!!!
  • You are sleeping in your crib through the night and doing a great job!
  • Your curly hair and raised eyebrow are my favorite things
  • You LOVE to cuddle and give hugs

Here are some pictures of our little celebration.  I know this year hasn’t been the best, but you are certainly a blessing and a gift from God.  I thank God every day for you and your precious life.  I never dreamed I’d have another baby, let alone a sweet precious girl.  I love you my forever best friend.

Happy Birthday “Heidi Bug” you are the sweetest girl ever.

Rolling Right Along with the Sesame Street™ I Spot Elmo!™ Walker by Bright Starts™

This post is sponsored by Bright Starts™ but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

This post is sponsored by Kids2 but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Gosh you guys.  This year has been so slow because of everything going on, but at the same time time has flown by.  Heidi will turn a year old in less than two months.  I can’t believe it’s already been almost a YEAR with our sweet girl.  Heidi is crawling everywhere and pulling up on anything she can get her hands on.  I have a feeling she’s going to be our wild child because she’s a lot more curious and into things than her brother was.  Separation anxiety is in full force and she wants to be wherever we are or she has a complete melt down!  Ha! Being a Mom is the best and also one of the hardest, most self sacrificing jobs on the planet.  I would do anything for my kids and I hope they always know that.

We recently had the opportunity to try out the new Bright Starts™ Sesame Street™ I Spot Elmo!™ Walker.  Heidi loves to sit up and follow us around, so I knew she would love this walker.   She’s standing up and hanging onto things right now.  Bouncing from one thing to the next as long as she’s hanging onto something. I know it’s just a matter of time before she starts walking.  This is a great product that gives her independence until she’s ready to take off!

Bright Starts is a great brand and we really enjoy all the fun and interactive toys they have.   We love watching Sesame Street.  I grew up watching Sesame Street…even my nursery as a baby was Sesame Street!  It’s something that brings back nostalgia for me and also has the classic characters everyone loves.  The Sesame Street™ I Spot Elmo! ™ Walker was super easy to put together.  It took me less than 10 minutes, and I am not handy at all!  Now we can take a “neighborhood stroll inside the house” since we aren’t really going many places these days.

The new Bright Starts + Sesame Street products include baby and toddler toys, gyms, bouncers, a door jumper and this walker! 

Features of the I Spot Elmo! Walker include:

●      More than 30 songs, sounds, & sayings by Elmo & his Sesame Street friends!

●      Removable toy station lights up and plays music for on the go fun – just tap the Elmo, Cookie Monster and Big Bird buttons

●      Includes Elmo bat-at toy, mirror and multi color bead chaser

●      3 height positions grow with infants

●      Safety features include rubber brakes and sturdy frame

●      Easy fold frame for storage

●      Recommended for 6-12 months

Heidi can’t stop rolling around.  She’s been rolling in this walker since we got it and the light up Sesame Street characters and voices make her giggle.  The Elmo & friends: Favorite Sesame Street characters help baby discover letters, numbers and colors / Classic songs from Elmo, Cookie Monster & Big Bird.  (This is detachable from the walker for floor play or travel)

This walker also grows WITH your baby and has 3 height positions.  A removable toy station with lights and music.  It’s also designed with a sturdy frame and rubber brakes.

Heidi says “Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?”

We’ve had so much fun playing with this walker and if you are in the market for one I highly recommend this I Spot Elmo! Walker found at Walmart.  Click HERE to add to your cart now!

Life Update: Summer 2020 Edition

Well, geesh could this year get any more CRAY CRAY!!!???

I’m so ready for life to get back to normal and no matter what it has to because we can’t stay locked up forever and live off the government.  The economy is already in the toilet and I don’t know how much further we can fall?  There has been so much division and animosity with everything going on in the world.  All I can do is pray.  Pray that God will watch over all of us…no matter what your view on things is or what color your skin is.  I pray for the world and the people in it.  For peace, agreement, friendship, and love.

I turned 39 a couple of weekends ago.  I shall now forever more be 39 because I’m never turning 40.

I refuse.

I had a great day celebrating with my family and celebrating another year of life.  I’m so incredibly blessed by all my family and friends.  This has probably been the hardest year I’ve ever had emotionally and mentally.  I’m thankful for the continued prayers and love from family and friends.  I always have the best intentions of blogging about everything, but then I get overwhelmed and it seems much easier to post on Instagram these days.  Bless Heidi’s heart.  With Connor I documented EVERY.SINGLE.THING.  Ha ha!

We’ve been watching a lot of TV.  Like everyone else waiting for new shows to hit each week to fill our time.  I found a fun new site called WikiBuy and they have a great deal on HULU right now if you want to check it out.  It’s great for saving money on a lot of items right now too.  Just click and earn credit for your purchases on popular sites like Walmart or eBay. Then use your Wikibuy credit to buy gift cards or make future purchases with Wikibuy.  Get paid to shop for things I already need is A+ for me!

All I wanted for my birthday was a family photo with the 4 of us because we haven’t gotten one since Heidi was born in the hospital.  AND- I’m a photographer….what in the world???  Love this little family of mine so much!  God has blessed my life indeed.

My Mom finally retired this year after over 30 years of teaching and she’s been a sewing “machine” basically and sewing outfits for Heidi and my niece Ella.  We now call her “Nana Boutique” and we’ll cherish the outfits she makes for the girls forever.  This little dress is so cute and it has buttons on the back from my Great Grandmother’s button stash.

We’ve been spending our evenings grilling and swimming in the pool.  I’ve never been so thankful for a swimming pool.  We never wanted one, but when we found this house it came with it.  It’s a nice escape after a long day and a good way to spend time together.

I think Heidi really enjoys the water 🙂

I can’t believe my baby girl will be ONE in less than 2 weeks.  This year has gone by so slow, yet so fast.  I know time goes fast in hindsight.  I love her so much….and Connor James will be a 5th grader next year.  It’s crazy!  He’s not so much into taking photos anymore unless he has something silly to show off…but I’m thankful I took so many when he was a baby because I look back at them fondly.

How are you spending your quarantine time?  I’m pretty much back to work now.  Heidi is still in daycare.  Connor started summer camp.  It feels pretty normal again.  I like normal.  I like routine.  We will overcome all of this…because that’s what you do in life.  You wake up and make a choice on how to face each day.  And I choose to live and not be fearful of tomorrow.  God will provide (we never went without toilet paper!).  God always does.

Always Eat After 7PM: Final Thoughts

This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed below are my own.

Okay, so now that I have the knowledge about how to implement all the ideas in Always Eat After 7PM…how am I going to keep these up?  A lot of it is self talk and self discipline.  I’ll continue to utilize healthy eating and a lot of the recipes provided.  I’ll be more aware of the healthy fats and carbohydrates that I put in my body.  I know now that dieting isn’t how much less you can eat, it’s the quality of food and time you eat. You can also check out posts ONE, TWO, & THREE for more information and my thoughts on this program.

Book Summary:

Based on surprising science, Always Eat After 7 PM debunks popular diet myths and offers an easy-to-follow diet that accelerates fat-burning and allows you to indulge in your most intense food cravings: Eating the majority of your calories at night.  We’ve been traditionally taught to avoid carbs, have an early dinner, and never eat before bed. But the fact is, the latest scientific research shows us this earlier model is not the most ideal.  Bestselling author, Joel Marion, is a fitness expert and nutritionist debunking the myths underlying traditional dieting and offers a simple, highly effective weight loss program.  Joel Marion’s Always Eat After 7PM program makes dieting easy and eliminates 90% of reasons for resistance. The most challenging times to curb hunger are just before bed and in the morning. By following the Always Eat After 7PM program, you have the most willpower to stay on the diet because you are eating during the hours when you are most hungry. This also puts you into both intermittent fasting increasing testosterone and your metabolism, while putting you into ketosis.

Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase.  Learn more about the book and how to purchase HERE.