Monday, January 27, 2014

2014 Grammys

I literally cannot catch my breath from last night's award show.
I'm one of the freaks who lives and breathes music. This night is the one and only night that I can count on classy (looking at you MTV) and amazing performances.
I am guaranteed impressive vocals and nominees.

I live for this.
If you missed it, SHAME ON YOU!
But it's okay, you have me to give you a quick recap.
PERFORMANCES

Beyoncé and Jay started off the show with a sexy and fun performance of Drunk in Love.
Not to be a perv but I want a peak in their bedroom.
What were you doing at seventeen? Doesn't matter, Lorde just performed and won at her first Grammys. And killed it.

 Then there was Katy and Juicy J's performance of Dark Horse, one of my faves for 2013...
I couldn't look away. Who knew he cleaned up so nicely? Definitely not me.
P!nk sang and spun on ribbon. What the what? Soooo good.
John Legend. I just adore him. And not just for the fact that he looks like an
older version of my brother. Tell me I'm lying.

 Kendrick and Imagine Dragons. HOLY SHIT.
 They had my crunk af...even after working a ten hour shift.
How cute was Kacey Musgraves? It's a shame she had to go right after Kendrick and Imagine Dragons though...

Stevie, Daft Punk, Nile and Pharrell. Talk about a perfect combination.
AWARDS
First of all, is anyone else completely done with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis?
Next, how the eff did they beat the nominees for Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album?! Is your mind still recovering?
Lorde beat Justin, Katy and Sarah. Whoa.
I love how Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake won a Grammy for the song they performed
at last year's award show.

BRUNO MARS WON! What a cute and talented little man he is. swoon.
p.s. anyone else notice his date's face drop when he dedicated his award to his mom and not her?
HAHAHAHA
  
FASHION
 yes:
no:
   
RANDOM

 Taylor Swift awk dancing bahaha love that bish
Beyoncé's hair...

Cindi Lauper's accent.

 Jay-Z saying, "..Daddy got a gold sippy cup for you.." Like the bitch didn't already have one.

  The Pepsi commercial with the Fox commentators. Hey, it's Winton's dad!
Anyone else uncomfortable with Robin Thicke's ending move? Or feel that Chicago might do something rash to make a comeback?

Willie Nelson is alive?



So I guess I lied. Christmas isn't my favorite time of the year. Award seasons is.
 Surely you understand.


Friday, January 24, 2014

Friday Five

It's Friday! Let's get the weekend started with my faves.
Would you want it any other way?
Don't answer that.
 
Favorite Utensils
I know this is way beyond random but how adorable are these?
The MilkandHoney Etsy shop has a ton of different quotes to choose from...
Hello Mother's day present.
 
Favorite Flashback
Rory Gilmore is (and most likely always will be) the only girl on television
 I don't mind Bella admiring. She always had her shit in check...
except when she hooked up with Dean when he was married...
 
Favorite Sketch
 I mean...

Favorite DIY
I love making my own things. I can be creative and save money!
 I can't wait to try this green tea mask.

Favorite Skinny Meal
 
I made Skinny Stuffed Peppers this week and they turned out phenomenal.
It's low in cals, high in nutrients and absolutely delish. I also made guac and used plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Talk about YUM.

Hope you have a fun and warm weekend!


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Weekend in Pictures

 This weekend was full of fun, family and friends...and a little alcohol.
That's a successful weekend in my book. :)

breakfast in bed

girl's night
 
birthday celebration

the siblangs

cupcakes!

Bella being cute, duh

We heard bold brows were a thing.
 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Babble: unplug and connect



The other day, Devon and I were talking about how people are constantly on the phone. From Instagramming, tweeting, watching videos...whatever it is, it's more important than the people around them. We thought about how annoying and pathetic it was.

I went to a concert for my birthday with Devon and Andrew. We got there pretty early so we sat and talked. The room was filling up with people but it was still pretty quiet because everyone was on their phone! It was insane. I'm sure that years ago people would have been talking to each other about the artist and which song was their favorite. I've even seen parents losing their children at the children's museum because they were on their phone not focusing on their kid.

This generation and younger are starting to lack verbal communication. It's like we can't carry a conversation in person or without being on the phone somehow. I don't feel like people even talk on the phone anymore! People think they're connected because they're always plugged in when in reality they're just... plugged in.

Think about it, you know I'm right. Next time you go to dinner, watch the people around you and see how many are actually talking to each other and not on their phone. Tell me what you see. Thankfully, Devon and I never had to say anything, we just know. Our time with each other is valuable and we refuse to be on the phone obsessing over someone or something of lesser value than our partner. My friends and family all seem to be on the same page. We never have to say, "Get off your phone and focus." When my friends come over, we hang out. When I see my family, we spend time with each other.

I know how easy it is to be consumed by what's on your gadget. There's movies, television, celebrities to keep up with, "normal famous" people you want to stalk but it's so important to engage with people in person and communicate with them properly.

I really don't know where I'm going with this it's just been on my mind for a while now and needed a place to vent.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Friday Five

We shivered our way to Friday but we made it nonetheless! 
I'm not too sure why but IT'S FREEZING in Atlanta. "The coldest it's been in twenty years." 

WTF?! 
I thought we left New York to escape the frigid winters! Silly us.
 
Other than my fluffy blanket to keep me warm, here are some more of my favorites.


 Favorite Winter Wear 

I need these. Asap.


Favorite Moment  

Wait, he's only twelve?!


 Favorite Reminder
 Don't forget to enjoy life!


  Favorite Combo 
 
This is easily my favorite mug and I just bought this detox tea that is divine.
It has a nice spice to it and warms you up more than just the heat. 


Favorite Space 

Where is this and how can I get everything in this room?


Happy Friday!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Grocery Shopping Tips

We, as college kids/young adults (or in my case, young parents), live busy lives.
There’s school, work, internships, homework, families, extracurricular shit, and parties to attend…
We don’t have much time to look through coupons trying to save money.
We don’t have time to whip up gourmet meals and we sure as hell can’t be expected to stay healthy!

WRONG!

You can save money, eat (kind of) healthy and cook really good food.
All while living busy lives.
You can even save some money without having to use coupons!
Although, you will definitely save more if you do.
I’ve come up with a few basic tips that will help save money as well as eating somewhat healthy.


1.   Make a realistic budget
There technically isn’t a right or wrong answer. Just make sure
 you know what YOU are allowed to spend. If necessary, have a test month. 
Follow the tips below, save all of your grocery receipts and at the 
of the month see what your realistic budget should be.
 
2.      Look through ads
Go to websites like southernsavers.com that basically do everything but
 buy the newspaper and cut coupons for you. 
They have lists of major grocery stores, especially in the south like Publix, Kroger, Harvey’s, etc. 
The website also mentions major drugstores like CVS, Walgreens, and RiteAid. 
If your store isn’t listed, go to their website and see their weekly sales.
 
3.       Plan your meals
Once you’ve peeped the ads, you can see what’s on sale and work around them. 
For me, this week chicken legs are on sale. I will plan at least two of my meals around chicken legs. 
When you plan your meals, it’s easy to know what you have so you don’t have to keep running to the store. You’ll probably buy more than what you initially went to get and use more gas
which means you’re losing mulah. Plus, it’s a pain in the ass.

4.       Stretch everything
A)Like I stated above, I will use the chicken for at least two meals. If you didn’t know, meat is expensive and you should really try to use as much as you can for as little.
My recipes will probably be slow cooker Asian chicken and roasted chicken and veggies.
B) Try not to make your meat the KimK of the meal. It really isn’t that fabulous anyway. Instead of burgers, make tacos or spaghetti with Bolognese sauce. It’ll go further.

5.       Stick to your list
This is probably the biggest reasons for over spending. #guilty
Yes, sometimes you’ll forget milk or eggs but I’m talking about the chocolate chip
 mint ice cream that you’re suddenly craving. Stick to your plan and save that money!

6.       Compare bulk prices to coupon prices
Plot twist. Buying in bulk isn’t always cheaper. You can buy three jars of peanut butter,
 have (3) $1 coupons and it could cost less than buying one big jar for $5.
It might be annoying at first but check the ounces per cent and compare.

7.       Buy produce in season
I know someone who would always buy oranges because everyone in the house loved them.
The thing is, oranges aren’t always in season. She’d spend so much money on them when apples were literally half the price. Check this page to see what produce is seasonal.
Plus, it’ll totally help the environment and local farmers.

8.       Stock up on your faves and toiletries.
I’ll state the obvious. You’re always going to need toilet paper, toothpaste and if you’re a lady,
feminine products. Why pay more when you run out? Stock up on these items!
I would hate running out of toilet paper and having to buy it at FULL PRICE.
When these products go on sale, always buy more than one. Always.

9.       Make it yourself
There are so many things you can make from scratch to save money. Taco seasoning is one of them. Go to Aldi and grab all the spices needed. It may seem like a lot at first but those spices stretch. You can use them for other mixes like the perfect chicken seasoning. Try making cupcakes and cakes from scratch. It’s just as easy as buying the packet. Plus, you have the advantage of knowing what’s in it!

10.   Consider off brands
Stores like Aldi are becoming more popular. They have almost no brand name items in the store but their products still measure up. Milk, ice cream, baking items, yogurts and most especially produce are way cheaper than the bigger stores. Another thing, if you don’t like whatever you bought, you can take it back to the store and get your money back! Guaranteed!
Just remember to bring your own bags because that shit gets embarrassing quickly.


See? Easy. No clipping coupons!
 If you have any tips, let me know! I love to save money ;)
Good luck!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Do you ever just...

...stop, stare at your kid and think, "damn, you've gotten big"?!


You see your child everyday so you don't notice the small, gradual changes.
You just see the grand finale, the big bang, which is why I don't when this
 growing up thing happened. 

Just look at this beauty.

She's not my little baby Bella anymore. 
She draws perfect faces, writes her name with ease, has impeccable style, and has become
 literally the sweetest little person ever. 
She is incredibly smart. She has this puzzle, where the pieces are all the same 
but the colors are written on them and that's how you match them. 
She does it perfectly every single time. She doesn't read yet but she can do that?!

Time is cruel to us. 
She's just growing up right before our eyes, I don't even realize it and when I do 
there's nothing to do but roll with it.


Maybe this will be another resolution. 
To attempt accept the fact that my baby is growing up and to just embrace it. 
She's growing up to be silly, smart and sweet which a perfect combo for anyone. 
So what am I afraid of?

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Babble: cars or lack there of.

I'm twenty two and without a car. Not really ideal for someone my age. And it really sucks. If I want to go somewhere when Devon isn't home, I have to ask for a ride. Talk about embarrassing. And irritating.


Having a car given to you really sets you up. Most of the cars my friends and family have/had really helped them get to where they are. Literally. They were able to get to meetings, interviews, and even college.
Could you imagine getting accepted into a great school and you couldn't drive to it? I was supposed to have help buying my car in high school but I got pregnant. So maybe it's my fault?

I mean, I had a car last year before we moved to New York but it totally wasn't worth my driving or towing. Plus, I didn't have a job so I wouldn't be able to finish paying for it.

So basically, a car is another reason I really need to save this year. It's been really hard because there is this cruel cycle where it's like you need a car. You need money. You need a job to get money. You need a car to get to job. You have no car... So you really need a car. You need money,..etc..

See? f-ing frustrating. I'm really trying to be patient but if you know me, I'm not a patient person. I will be that stereotypical 20-something who spends majority of her money when she gets her tax return. hahaha.

So there's that. Whew, I feel so much better letting it all out. Because I am constantly frustrated.

Friday, January 3, 2014

Friday Five

It’s a new year and most of us have resolutions or at least things we would like
 to accomplish this year. 
 
If you don’t, you should. Having goals sets us up for success…or so I’ve heard.
Although my main goal is to make money and save up, I do have additional things in mind for the new year.
 
Favorite Pick up

I neeeeed to start reading again. I love television and Insta but I’m so sick of it. 
I want to find books that inspire, encourage and entertain. 

 
Favorite mantra


Sure, Kanye is an ass but this is a valid point. I would love to be confident and proud of myself.

 
Favorite Prediction

I know this is silly but it’s so fun to consider.

Favorite Inspo

I don’t live my life for other people but it doesn’t hurt to make someone’s day. I work in a hospital where serious shit happens all day. My attitude can make or break someone and I need to stay in check. I want to talk to more people, listen and learn. 

Favorite New Hobby
 
I want to get involved in gardening. How convenient would it be to grow your own food? 
I’m going tostart with herbs and a lemon tree, then transition into more complicated plants. 
Wait, does that even make sense? Complicated plants?


I sincerely hope this year brings you everything you work for. 

Tomorrow is the first Saturday I have off since I started working and I can't wait to 
spend time with my family. We're thinking of going to SkyZone. 
Bella loves it there. Who am I kidding? We all love it there. 

Hope you enjoy your weekend as much as I will enjoy mine :)

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy 201314?


Happy New Year! I know that most people have this idea that each new calendar year will bring us new happiness, love, or money, Maybe all of the above ;) But when you really think about it, it's just another day of the week. Clubs closed the same time as normal because it was still a Tuesday night.

In past years, I would be ready for a new year. I would think that I could suddenly change who I was. I could be different. When in reality, time would do that anyways. Without my consent no less.


For me, I think 2014 will be an extension of 2013. Like my friend said, "I'll do things in 2014 that I didn't get around to doing in 2013." Hahaha. My thoughts exactly.

For us, this year is all about the grind. It's not really money over everything. But it's money over everything. We want to make as much as we can and save as much as we can. We don't want to be stereotypical young parents. We want more for our family. And we know that we can get more. We're thinking that 2015 will be our year. Devon and I are planning on buying a house, I want to move up at my job, Bella will be starting kindergarten and Devon will have hopefully finished college.

Don't get me wrong, we will take time to be together and absolutely enjoy this year. Although I'm considering it passing time, it's still time to enjoy. We want to travel, eat good food, have a healthy and fun environment and well, just be happy.

So far so good.


Happy 201314! The world is our oyster and no one can take it away from us.