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July 31, 2011

Sunday Blessings

God has been good! Virtue 'He's Been Good'

nkoyo

July 29, 2011

Weekend Grove Music

I love, love, love Jill Scott... Her music just makes me HAPPY! So, Happy Friday Moms... 

Have a safe and blessed weekend with the family! 

nkoyo

July 28, 2011

Birthday Planning - Final Stretch

We are officially just ONE weekend away from Yus' birthday party and I'm starting to get really, really, really excited. I got a great idea for a fun activity from a co-worker. I've been really leery about hiring a clown, a masked man, or even having my husband read a story. I just think kids under the age of 3 are going to be a bit freaked-out by a clown or a masked man and may become restless with story telling. My co-worker suggested some type of arts-and-craft. In that moment a light bulb went off. Why didn't I think of that! The craft can also double as the party-gift. GENIUS! 
So, the craft will be sponge/finger painting on a canvas. First, thoughts are this is messy right! Well, I will also be providing a smock and the party is at the Park so clean up is a breeze. Wipe anyone? I think I have it all figure out and hopefully my little sister will step in and help. She's seven so this is right up her ally. 

Jungle Canvas Creations: 
~ let the kids create their own jungle canvas (pictures to come)
  1. all white 8'x10' canvas'
  2. paint (in party colors)
  3. jungle animal sponges 
  4. jungle animal stickers 
  5. smock/large t-shirts 
  6. large sheet (to cover table or lawn area)
UPDATE: Things to Do before the Big Day
10) cake mix for jungle cupcakes
9) jungle cupcake decorations
8) jungle decorations
7) find safari entertainment - i.e. put together a skit for daddy to do w/ stuffed jungle animals
6) decided on the menu w/ FiL
5) send out the invites
4) final guest list (may have to call some folks)
3) birthday boy outfit
2) favors
1) dinner spot for the hubs' celebration

Almost there...
nkoyo

July 26, 2011

Oh! No you Didn't...

I have to stop myself from laughing these days. Yus is getting his own little personality and my momma was right! As it stands right now, my precious baby boy has a 'me' personality. That just means, he knows what he wants and will go toe to toe with you to get it. Oh! lord, give me strength. 

Although, he's not saying a lot of words other than, 'dadadadada' and 'ditditditdit' each time definitely means something different. For instance, last night he decided he was going to feed himself. Normally, I'm fine with the development and push him to do so. But it was 'my' bowl of fruit that he had thrown his bottle clear across the room for and inched closer to me on the bed. Before I knew it, his little hands were picking out a strawberry and shoving it into his mouth. REALLY? It's 8:00pm, bottle time. So, I said, "Yus, that's mommy's strawberry if you'd like one just ask and we can share." And this is where I had to stop myself from laughing because he wanted to have a conversation. Yus said, "dadadadad - dadada", as he held the edge of the bowl and reached back in for the strawberry that he took out his mouth and placed back in my bowl. I said, "Sure you may have some" and he said, "ditditdit." Ahahahaha, now of course the conversation went on longer than that, because we did that with every piece of fruit in my bowl. When I had to cut him off he almost snapped on me but I think he was to tired too.

Oh! motherhood is amazing.
daddy woke me up ~ let's talk!

nkoyo

July 24, 2011

Sunday Blessings

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4: 8-11 (NIV)


nkoyo


July 20, 2011

Cheap School Invites

So, the BIG DAY is just two weeks away and I realized Monday I needed to send invitations to Yus' school friends and teachers. Since, I'm on a budget these days. I decided to create the invitations on paint and print them out. I found this blank template that divided the page in fours and a cute baby lion to show the jungle animal theme.  

1: copy paste the blank template into paint
2: add party details
3: add cute/party theme photo
4: save/print desired number
5: remember to bring to school the next ~ ask the teacher to attach to 'what I did/ate' note for parents

easy & fun school invitation

nkoyo

July 19, 2011

Alert Tuesday: Product Recalls

I'll be doing the product recalls once a month since weekly has been yielding the same recalls. I feel this is a good thing! At least there aren't tons of products getting recalled weekly that our children play with or that we use for safety purpose. Until next month...  
nkoyo

July 18, 2011

Ma'ma, M.D.

What a rough weekend. My baby came home from daycare on Friday with 'the crusty eye'. Our first thought was that he just had some left over eye boogies from his car ride nap. But as the evening wore on and his eyes got puffy, our second thought was that he had an allergic reaction to the oranges he had for snack at lunch. We did our usual bedtime routine and when Yus woke up at quarter six Saturday morning we realized it was not 'the crusty eye' and definitely NOT an allergic reaction. My baby had pink eye, OMG my life is over! Of course my drama ensued and we took him to Immediate Care and were first in line. Yes, I raced a woman in to the hospital to make sure my lil' man was first. She was just there to get blood work so, my race to the finish was null-en-void. But anyway, the nice doctor confirmed, Yus had conjunctivitis, (redness and swelling of the mucous membrane that lines the eyelid) and prescribed anti-biotic eye drops. 

Now, that he's doing much better. I have to wonder how I can keep him from the inevitable. I know it's nearly impossible to keep him from the common cold, a soar throat, tummy ache, and all the other ailments. But a mother has to wonder, if I keep him in a bubble would he really be safer? I know the answer is no, but I can't help but think the bubble is a good idea. 

Here are some common symptoms courtesy of WebMD
  • eye redness
  • swollen, red eyelids
  • tearing
  • itching or burning feeling
  • sensitivity to light 
  • eye drainage
swollen eyes
nkoyo

July 12, 2011

Alert Tuesday: Product Recalls

Below are some products that have recently been recalled:
Child Safety Recalls:
The above Child Safety Recalls look similar to last week but it doesn't hurt to double check.

nkoyo

Chicago Suburb Moms ~ Love Deals!

I love, love, love a good deal. I recently scheduled Yus' first birthday "photo shoot" at the Picture People and had decided on the package I was going to purchase, of course within budget. ... And then greatness happened!!! LivingSocial posted another Picture People deal.  Yippee!!! The deals are extremely easy to use. I just go to my LivingSocial iPhone app, tap purchases, drill in to the Picture People deal and pull up the bar code to be scanned and once used I tap deal used. Where is my EASY button! Now I can truly splurge within reason. :)
Enjoy!!!
 nkoyo

July 11, 2011

Birthday Planning in 4th Gear

A year ago I thought it would be wonderful for our son to be born on James' birthday. Now, I'm wishing they were born in separate months LOL. :) With just two days between their specials days I don't want the hubs' BIG 3-0 to be understated because our little man is turning the BIG 1. I feel the wallet getting smaller and smaller and I see the dollar signs.

Things to Do before the Big Days
10) cake mix for jungle cupcakes
9) jungle cupcake decorations
8) jungle accessories/decorations
7) find safari entertainment - i.e. put together a skit for daddy to do w/ stuffed jungle animals
6) decided on the menu w/ FiL
5) send out the invites
4) final guest list
3) birthday boy outfit
2) favors
1) dinner spot for the hubs' celebration

OMGosh! The first week of August is going to require a lot of planning for-ever. Not mention all their major milestones are together... 35 and 5 years old, 40 and 10 years old and then mid-life crisis and puberty oh! the joys ahead of me. ... And this is why a clearly live in the moment and I'm learning to master the art of selective hearing. hahahaha  
nkoyo

July 5, 2011

Alert Tuesday: Product Recalls

Please be mindful of the below recalls: 
nkoyo

July 3, 2011

Sunday Blessings


God is truly in the blessing business! Three years ago on July 5th my husband and I were married in a small outdoor ceremony. It seems like just yesterday we were exchanging our vows and meditating on 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8. 
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (NIV)

At times, I must admit that the hubs and I have done the latter. We've made grandiose family plans, complained about what each other could be doing better, and even lost sight of who IS the ultimate head of our household. I truly believe that prayer changes things and that one needs be careful what they wish for and even daydream about. Dreams can turn in to reality!

A few weeks ago we received a package in the mail from my prayer partner & BFF (every God-fearing woman & man needs one). It was a devotional, The One-Year Love Language Minute Devotional. The hubs and I had, had a convo a few days prior about finding a great devotional that we could use daily to help in our meditations and prayer time together. This was nothing BUT GOD! I hadn't spoken to her about our convo at all. BUT GOD! So, starting this month; going into out 3rd year of marriage we will be using the Love Languages daily devotional. Not only do I know this will help us keep our marriage God-centered but it will also force us to carve out 15 - 30 minutes a day for just the two of us, to pray & meditate together.

Have you ever used a devotional?

nkoyo

July 1, 2011

Top 5 ~ Fourth of July Must Do's:

#5) fire up the grill  (I smell the chicken already)
#4) hangout poolside with the kiddos
#3) make a festive dessert (cupcakes w/ strawberries n' blueberries)
#2) find a fireworks show (Ty Warner Park @ 9:30pm)
#1) have a safe & happy holiday weekend!

nkoyo
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