Do you plan on starting a garden this year? 

What I've Started 

Greenhouse Effect

• Bell Peppers
• Spanish Peppers 

Winter Sowing 

• Eggplant
• Swiss chard
• Beets
• Luffa
• Roselle 
• Helichrysum

 

Michael,

First I would like to start off by saying Happy 18th Birthday! I can’t believe two years have passed since I wrote an open letter to you for your 16th Birthday. Boy, a lot has changed since then. I remember going in for a routine check-up on 2/26/2003, and my doctor stated that she would see me next week. I remember waking up early in the morning of 2/27/2003, and I just couldn't go back to sleep. I thought my water broke and contacted the on-call, and she told me to head to the hospital. I was indeed in labor, and you came within a few short hours.

I remember when you broke your collarbone, do you remember how resilient you were and how determined you were to get back on the football field?

I remember how nervous you were to take your driving test. You took it in a completely different town that you weren’t too familiar with. You could have waited to take the test in our town, and you stepped out on faith the day of your 17th birthday, and passed!

I remember how you took care of me when I was seasick during our first cruise last year. I’m so thankful that you did not suffer from motion sickness, and were able to enjoy our trip. You made sure I was okay, and I’m super thankful for that.

Michael, I’m proud of you! I’m proud of the young man and adult in which you’re becoming.

As you transition into young adulthood...

I want to figure out what your “why” is in life. Though this may change throughout the years. Always know what inspires and motivates you in life. Always have a “why”, and use it as a daily reminder to keep pushing.

Michael, please remember, that life will be hard, and at times life will feel unfair. You may even think “why do others have it easier than me?”. Focus on you, focus on working harder. Focus on your WHY. Spoiler alert, there will always be a rainbow at the end of any storm you go through. Use those times as motivation, and add it to your testimony… Also, remember to always work really hard for whatever you want in life. You got this Michael!

Love Always,

Mom

I’ve been a homeowner for 13 years, and boy has so much changed, I purchased my home a couple of months before the market crashed, which unfortunately there were a lot of stipulations put in place with refinancing a home in my circumstances.

I honestly wanted to refinance my home like many people a year after purchasing it. However, 13 years later. Here we are! I’m so thankful for this process, and what I’ve learned along the way. Below, I’m sharing Must-Know Tips for Refinancing Your Home


Waived Fees
Always ask if any fees can be waived, all they can say is no.

Shop Around
Shop around for different rates, there are so many people offering amazing rates right now.

 This post contains affiliate links 

Happy Monday! I can’t believe how fast this month is flying by. This upcoming weekend is my son's 18th Birthday which is truly bittersweet. It really feels like yesterday he was born. Now he’s going to be18, boy time really does fly by…

Sunday, I started my Vegetable garden indoors, this is my first time starting this early. I still have so much to learn about starting so early indoors. In the past, I wasn’t consistent, and at times would totally forget about my plants. Especially starting so early on. I plan to share with you guys this journey of course. If you remember, last year I didn’t plan on starting a garden, and I started my pepper plants really late. I guess you can actually save the plants to continue growing the next season, however, I left the pepper plants outside and we got our first frost. So here I am, starting all over again, and I’m super excited about the process.

Attire Breakdown

Okay, the first day of spring isn’t officially until March 20, 2021. However, a girl can dream right?! Like many, I’m over the cold. Though, I’m a winter baby. I long for the spring and summer months. Below, I’m sharing things I’m looking forward to this spring.

Things I’m Looking Forward to Doing This Spring

Having a picnic
Not having to wear a winter coat
Enjoying a cold beverage outside
Opening my windows 

Longer days

Long walks on the trail
Day trips
Enjoying ice cream outside
Gardening
Spring cleaning

What are you looking forward to doing this Spring? 

 

This post is super late. However, I really enjoy sharing what I’m proud of myself for, it’s so easy in life to neglect the small wins in life. However, it’s really the small wins that contribute to huge accomplishments. Below, I’m sharing 5 Things I’m proud of in January. 

5 Things I’m Proud of January 

 

For a while now I’ve wanted to try vegan box cake however it just never happened. For my birthday I decided to give it a try. And I actually have tried variations since then. Today I wanted to try to recreate the cake that I created for my birthday however I was out of applesauce. However, I did have flaxseed and bananas on hand. I decided to give the banana in flaxseed to try. I’m so impressed with how this turns out I sifted the box flour and mix and the cake turned out super moist instead of using water I opted to use sparkling water because I had it on hand. So I have to be honest I do not know what it’s like to make the box cake with regular water. Both times I tried it I’ve used sparkling water. And I do believe that it has helped a lot with just making the cake a bit more fluffy. This cake does taste like a banana you may want to try my applesauce alternative. This cake is super moist super fluffy and it’s just such a great alternative if you want an eggless option. This cake is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. My son had no idea when I originally made the recipe that this was an eggless cake and he loved it. I do plan to keep this in the rotation because it’s just such a great option to have on hand and it’s just super convenient as well. I’m so happy that I gave this a try so that I know what options I have out there for vegan alternatives.

 

Happy Monday! This past weekend was pretty busy for my family. We celebrated a few birthdays in an intimate setting. It was nice to get out of the house. I made a few things for my mom for Valentine's Day. Of course, I made chocolate-covered strawberries. I honestly, never realized how hard it is to find strawberries on Valentine's day weekend. I'm happy I was able to find some, and they were yummy...

First, I would like to start off by saying Happy Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays. Something about the day is just so magical. All of the hearts and candy, and roses. What can a girl ask for more?! I wanted to share a few suggestions of what you can possibly do for all my single ladies to still have the ultimate experience and day. 

 

Valentine Nugget Bouquet 

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 10 McDonald’s Spicy Chicken McNuggets (or more)
• 1 cup or vase
• ½ cup of rice or beans (optional to weigh down)
• Shredded decorative paper
• 10 skewers
• 1 bow

Instructions:

1. Gather your supplies
2. Weigh down your cup/vase
3. Add shredded paper
4. Add McNuggets to skewers
5. Decide on placement and break the skewers to the desired size.

Enjoy!

Pin for Later! 

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx on behalf of Summer’s Eve

Galentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. It’s the perfect time to spend with your besties, your sisters, your close friends, and relatives. Whether you’re simply hosting a day to share with your besties or planning a getaway. I wanted to share some must-have tips to make this experience truly memorable. 

 

Attire Breakdown

 Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 Duncan Hines Box Cake (sifted)
• 1 Cup of Sparkling Water
• 1 Cup Apple Sauce

1. Combine all ingredients, and follow box instructions for baking.

Exactly a week ago today I celebrated my Birthday! My birthday festivities actually started that Saturday when I treated myself to a solo brunch. My birthday started off with a mini photoshoot thanks to my son. It snowed the day prior, which made for the perfect photo opp. I also got a chance to wear my snow boots which were so comfortable. I proceeded to HomeGoods, where I was on the hunt for a super cute cake holder. I found some yummy truffle oil which I'm obsessed with...  Of course, though it was my birthday. I still had some mom stuff that I had to take care of. I stopped by my local Bj's for some grocery shopping and had to head back home to get ready for my birthday dinner. It was so nice to get out with friends and family... Below, I'm sharing a few photos from my birthday day. 

My Birthday Recap in Photos 

My Birthday Dinner!

My Birthday Cake My Family Purchased for Me

My Birthday Treat at Starbucks 

Bj's Adulting Shopping Trip 

Homegoods Shopping Trip 

My Birthday Photoshoot 

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx on behalf of NET10 Wireless 

The cold winter months have taken over and we are in the midst of Cuffing Season. If you’re unfamiliar, Cuffing Season starts in October and spans across the winter months, going on past Valentine’s Day. It’s the time when people are looking for a companion and trying to get into a relationship.

With the uncertainty of this year, it’s so important to stay connected and keep the fire going with your partner. Below, I’m sharing helpful tips to assist you to thrive this cuffing season, in addition to tips for those still looking for the perfect match.