Burritos, tacos, and bowls . . . Oh my! FREE Chipotle Burrito on Halloween!

While at Chipotle last night for my weekly indulgence of their fantabulous burrito bowls, the manager passed me a flyer that I couldn’t keep just to myself. It read:

Burritos, tacos, and bowls. Oh my!

Come in on Halloween, Saturday, October 31st, from 6pm to closing, dressed like a Chipotle burrito, taco, bowl, or salad, and we’ll complete your costume with a FREE BURRITO. 

What? FREE food? :) To the single mom out there who had no plans for Halloween, here you go! Safe for the whole family and will fill everyone’s tummy. :D

Technorati Tags: chipotle,free burrito,single mom,free food,tacos,bowls,burritos,budget,Halloween,costume,October 31

7 Steps to Successful Co-Parenting by Focus on the Family

A recent Parenting article was published today by Archibald D. Hart, Ph.D. on the Focus on the Family Web site.

In it, the doc offers some solid tips on how divorced/separated/never-really-a-couple parents can make their children’s lives easier:

1. Don’t bad-mouth your ex.

2. Don’t use your children as spies.

3. Don’t use your children to carry messages. (Unfortunately, my ex does this all the time.)

4. Give your child permission to love the other parent.

5. Encourage the discussion of feelings. (Definitely. My son and I have designated “cuddle days” and times where we share our “sunshine” or “cloudy” moments. It gives us both the opportunity to share our feelings.)

6. Be flexible.

7. Encourage the relationship with the ex-spouse.

Adapted from Helping Children Survive Divorce by Dr. Archibald D. Hart. Copyright © 1996 Thomas Nelson Inc. Nashville, Tenn. All rights reserved.

Any tips you’d like to share that you’ve found make co-parenting easier? I’d love to hear them!

Technorati Tags: parenting,co-parenting,divorce,single mom,single dad,Archibald D. Hart,Ph.D,focus on the family,ex

Mentoring in Dallas/Fort Worth

The importance of mentoring can be summed up in two words: LIVES CHANGED.

A very close friend of mine has a natural gift of bringing out the best in people. Many a parent has solicited his advice and asked that he speak to their child for the sake of setting them on the straight and narrow. (I wish I had a count for how many lives he’s positively affected this way, but I just know it’s probably close to a hundred.) Well, God decided it was time for him to be an official mentor and set up his first “appointment.” 

His first task on the books is to mentor a troubled high school teen. Yesterday was the “meet-n-greet”; every week thereafter will be the building/nurturing time. Let me tell you that I am SO excited about what is about to happen! When God moves, the sky opens and lives are forever changed. To God be the glory!

BTW, check out the holiday issue of Glamour magazine. The Honorable Mrs. Michelle Obama graces the cover (a first for first ladies since 1939) and talks about the importance of mentoring. Be sure to pick up a copy.

Technorati Tags: mentor,mentoring,dfw,dallas,single mom,single dad,lives changed,purpose,spiritual gifts,God,Michelle Obama,Glamour magazine,mentorship

Coupons and the single mom. A match made in heaven.

What’s the big deal about coupons, you ask?

Well, for starters, I’ve saved about $500 over the last 6 months. That may not be a lot to some, but to this single mother of a growing 8 yo boy, $500 can go a looooooong way!

I really started paying attention to coupons and grocery store circulars earlier this year while participating in Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. Every week, a few of the families would report on their couponing progress. So I sat and listened . . . until one day I decided to act. After all, if it didn’t work, I could just go back to doing what I had been doing, right?

I really didn’t know where or how to begin, so I just bought your typical Sunday newspaper. I pulled out the coupons and started cutting. Then I saved the grocery store circulars that come in the mail every Tuesday and circled those items I wanted for which I had an accompanying coupon. With my “you-must-stick-to-this-list” shopping list, I hit the grocery store. When it was all said and done, I had spent $34.00 and saved $33.00! Yep, that’s 100% of what I spent!!! It was almost as if I paid for one item only to get one free! :)

Each time after that, it became an adrenaline rush to beat my previous saving percentage. Just today I was in Wal-Mart and spent $25.97 and saved almost $13. Seventeen of my 23 items were price matches from other grocery stores, and I had a $1.00 off coupon. (Those are golden tickets, by the way.) Oh, and here’s a little shopping tip: Wal-Mart has a price match policy. If another store offers that exact same item (brand names only) for a cheaper price, Wal-Mart will match as long as you have the circular with you. They don’t match BOGO offers, but they do match on individual brand name prices.

So what used to be something I balked at (“Why did I get behind this little old lady with a million coupons?”), is my new pastime and something I respect 100%. It’s even gotten to the point where I won’t even walk into a grocery store unless I have my Ziploc bag of coupons in tow. :D 

Technorati Tags: coupons,coupon,couponing,Dave Ramsey,single mom,single dad,parenting,saving money,financial freedom,financial peace university,walmart

Free Social Media Counter in Real Time!

Ran across this application while on Twitter. Pretty cool app, if I do say so myself:

To see the social media counter in action, go here.

Technorati Tags: social media,gary hayes,twitter

I love being a mom, and this is why

Isn’t he the cutest? :) BTW, our team is 6-1 this year, with one more game to play before play-offs. w00t!

Single Parent Devotional

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” – Philippians 4:11

Content = Self-Sufficient

Truth be told, I haven’t been spending much alone time with God recently. So yesterday I decided to do something about it and set my alarm clock 30 minutes earlier so that I could start my day off on the right foot. What ended up happening was that I snoozed until my normal wake-up time and then rushed around the house getting my son ready for school. :) But . . . I took about 10 minutes once I arrived back home to actually sit and read God’s Word in solitude. Ahhhhh . . .  I had no idea where I would begin (66 books can be a little overwhelming if you let it), but I ended up in Colossians and then Philippians, two of Paul’s “Prison Letters” that he penned while sitting in a jail cell in Rome.

The time spent in silence was nice. Once I got to the end of the passage, I noticed that my study Bible actually contained written notes from months past that I reminded me what “being content” actually means. I thought these notes would encourage a single mom or two . . . or anyone whose attitude is dependent on circumstance. Here’s how you can tell if you’re just "happy” versus “content”:

Signs of discontent =

1. Jumping the gun and not waiting on God (ouch!)

2. Disobedience, feelings of disappointment

3. Harboring bitterness towards God

4. Not being able to celebrate when others are blessed

5. Complaining (ouch!)

6. Making comparisons

Signs of contentment =

1. Focusing on others

2. Praising God (thanksgiving!)

3. Praying

4. Having an eternal perspective (very difficult)

5. Waiting patiently on the Lord

6. Being obedient

Sound like too much fluff? Possibly. But we can fix that. Here’s what I’m challenging myself with as far as practical, everyday application:

1. Practice thankfulness to God daily

2. Learn to trust (not easy for single moms)

3. Focus on others

I leave you with this thought, borrowed again from Paul: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil 2:3-4).

Have a great Monday!

Technorati Tags: God,single parent devotional,single mom,single dad,Bible

How to get rid of adult acne

Disclaimer: The entire process from my first dermatologist appointment to when my face finally cleared up took almost a year. So if you’re looking for a quick fix, I don’t have the answer.

Most women in their 30s no longer suffer from acne. Unfortunately, that’s not my story.

I grew up with clear skin. Whatever was supposed to happen during puberty never showed up on my face, and I enjoyed my twilight 20s with no pimples . . . until the last couple of years of that decade.

All of a sudden, I found myself breaking out for almost anything: working out too much, not getting 8 hours of sleep, changing cleansers, eating too much chocolate, trying different makeup products, not drinking enough water, definitely during “that time of the month,” whenever I stressed, just whenever! So I threw my Cetaphil, Noxema, and Mary Kay cleansers in the trash and headed to my dermatologist.

What I learned was that (1) I have combination skin—with the oiliest part being my T-zone, (2) I suffered from something called folliculitis (pictured above on a lady I don’t know), which is a skin disease that causes inflammation of one of more hair follicles, and (3) I needed to reduce the amount of stress in my life. It was causing my face to break out in patches of random bumps, especially on my cheeks, forehead, and chin. So we tried a few things:

1. Clindamycin (pills you take orally) – This was my first prescription drug from my dermatologist. I think it may have worked a smidge, but apparently, my adult acne was a tad stronger.

2. Evoclin (topical) – Not sure if this ever worked, but it was easy to put on.

3. Epiduo (topical) – This did nothing for me but looks like it really worked for the guy in the TV commercial.

4. Erythromycin (pills you take orally) – I was prescribed these horse pills once we determined Clindamycin wasn’t working.

5. Some benzoyl peroxide facial wash of which I don’t remember the name.

Want to know what really worked to clear my adult acne in the end?

Three things: the Purpose line of products from Johnson & Johnson (you can buy these over the counter, recommended by my dermatologist), BenzEFoam 5.3% (must have a prescription), and good old fashioned Vaseline. No lie.

In the morning, I wash my face with Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash, follow that with some of the BenzEFoam foam (looks like shaving cream), and then slap on some of the Purpose SPF 15 moisturizer. In the evening, I do the same first 2 steps, but instead of the moisturizer, I rub in a thin layer of Vaseline. Yes . . . VASELINE. And then I go to sleep. In the morning, my skin is smooth, silky, and supple. :)

So the adult acne seems to have taken a respite. But what I’m fighting now is some of the acne scars. However, I have a secret weapon: my fantabulous dermatologist, Dr. Raymond Blackburn out of Dallas, TX, developed a special cream just for this issue. It’s aptly named "Blackburn Mixture” or “Blackburn Cream.” Ask anyone who’s used it in the past, and they’ll say it’s magic. It’s sooo good. I figure I have about a month until those dark spots clear and I can leave the house without foundation. w00t!

As always, thanks to Dr. Blackburn and his terrific staff for giving me my face back! (I highly recommend this doc.)

Lesson: You don’t need a million products to keep your skin looking healthy and at its best. All you need is a gentle cleanser and something you probably have in your bathroom – good old fashioned Vaseline!

FREE Pizza Hut pizza for a year!

You read the headline correctly. Pizza Hut is giving away pizza for an entire year. (Now what single parent wouldn’t mind that alternative to cooking?) 

According to TechCrunch, Pizza Hut is holding a contest for a job title. Its “Twintern” will be coming on board full time to Tweet daily, “monitor Twitter for complaints, and engage with consumers on the microblogging site.”

All you have to do to enter is Tweet your ideas directly to @pizzahut and tag it with the hashtag #PizzaHutTitle. The current “Twintern” will select her favorite consumer-generated submission and put it on her business card. And the winner will receive FREE Pizza Hut pizza for a year!

What can you lose? Try it!

Technorati Tags: pizza hut,freebies,free,contest,twitter,single mom

Modeling my absolute favorite Nicole Miller dress

There was a time when I didn’t appreciate the color purple. But that all changed when I got to model this BEAUTIFUL Nicole Miller dress.

It fits like a glove and accentuates all the right areas. YES! And you can’t see it, but the detail in the front and back of the skirt is to die for! Definitely a viable replacement for “the little black dress.” (Too bad I couldn’t take it home, though.) :(

At the low, low price of $410, this single mom will just have to continue modeling high-end clothes instead of buying them . . . until her budget says otherwise. :)

Technorati Tags: model,modeling,Nicole Miller,single mom,budget

How to teach your child to read. Go get this book!

I know this works because I did it with my son. He learned how to read at age 3.

Step #1: BUY THIS BOOK! It’s called Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and can be found at any Barnes & Noble bookstore. (Be sure to check your local library first, though.)

Step #2: Buy a spiral notebook because the book also coaches you on how to teach your child to write his letters.

Step #3: Actually DO IT! Each lesson only takes about 15 minutes a day, and we didn’t even get through all the lessons before my son was reading on his own. He’s 8 now and one of the best readers in his class. (Brag moment: his Language Arts grade is a perfect 100!) ;)

Everyone knows reading is the basis for all other subjects. Get this book if you care about your child’s future success. You’ll thank me later.

God surprised me with a promotion, Read 1 Thes 5:24

Recession? What recession?

Yep, it’s true. I was surprised with a promotion yesterday. I didn’t even see that one coming. (Truth be told, I did mention to my mother last week that I thought my title would be changing by the end of the year, but in no way did I think a pay increase would accompany it in such a short time. Not sure where the hunch came from. It was just a “deep-calls-unto-deep” message from the Holy Spirit.)

I’ve been with my new company for a couple of months now and know that I’ve made a positive impact on process, strategy, and marketing metrics. Honestly, the promotion just confirms for me what God revealed to me 5 years ago: write, and the money will come. Work like you’re working for me, and you’ll never have to worry about finances. Five years ago was when I took a deep dive into my relationship with Christ, asking how I could make a positive impact here on earth. The answer? Write. For some reason, I’ve been gifted with the uncanny ability to make things look and sound appealing, drawing people in with the written word. And I take NO CREDIT. It is only by God’s graces that what I produce makes sense. :)

Let me talk to my fellow single moms for a minute (and to anyone who is searching). Remember this: God is in control and has gifted you with what you need in order to get the job done. Not only that, but because our Father doesn’t make mistakes, wherever you are in life is exactly where you need to be for this particular season. So be like the apostle Paul and get content with where you are!

1 Thessalonians 5:24 came to mind during my promo celebration, and I’d like to share it with you because it reminds me that no matter what “job” God brings our way, He’s got us covered:

“Faithful is He who calls you, and He will also bring it to pass.”

Read it again.

Hits home, doesn’t it? Just a little encouragement as you continue to search for your spiritual gifts and to fulfill the one thing (or maybe 2 or 3) for which God placed you on this earth to do. EX: For me, I know that I have to be writing in some capacity all the days of my life. It took a while for me to get to this place (and still I’m not “there” yet), but ever since I went through discipleship ~6 years ago, I’ve been on a quest to negate compromise and do what it is I love to do . . . that very thing that God fashioned me for. And along life’s journey, I hope and pray that I’m modeling the right things for my son – obedience, spiritual intimacy, discerning the voice of God, operating in your gifts, working in your passion, putting your family first, and keeping first things first.

May the Lord bless and keep you this day. All praises to God the Father. Amen.

Model for a Day + YouTube Makeup Tips & Tutorials

On Thursday, I had the opportunity to participate in a fashion show for a local high-end boutique. Amazing!

Modeling was always something I’ve been interested in (heck, my son and I watch America’s Next Top Model every Wednesday!), but this opportunity just kind of fell in my lap. To prepare, I watched a few runway videos on YouTube. Here’s one from a series I really liked:

As anyone knows, YouTube kind of sucks you in. Not sure how I got to “how to apply make-up” videos, but this one young lady is raw and engaging:

This video is the same young lady showing you how to get rid of under eye circles:

Ooh, and here is a really good tutorial on “easy smoky eyes”:

Enjoy!

1.06 years until I’m DEBT FREE

I’ve been crunching numbers and crunching numbers, and according to Excel, I should be debt free by this time next year. w00t!

When I counted it all up, I’ve had 6 credit cards at one time plus 3 student loans. Ugh. Just makes me sick to my stomach to know that I’ve thrown away so much money over the years with nothing to show for it. (Well, actually, the MBA degree has paid for itself since 2006, but that’s besides the point.)

The point is that I want to be done with debt! And if my math is correct, October 2010 will be a glorious celebration. Dave Ramsey and staff, prepare now to hear my son’s and my debt-free scream! :D

ZOOM! whitening really works!

This morning, I went in for my regularly-scheduled 6-month cleaning and asked Dr. James Barnes, DDS, rather flippantly, “So, I’ve been thinking about ZOOM!. Does that really work?”

Dr. Barnes, being only THE BEST cosmetic and family dentist this side of the Mississippi, said, “Yes. And one way to find out for yourself is to try it.”

So after my cleaning (no cavities, by the way! but must do a better job of flossing), I stepped next door and prepped for my ZOOM! teeth whitening treatment. They use some sort of painless contraption to hold your mouth open wide so that no bleaching residue gets on your lips, tongue, or gums. After the prep, they start painting on the ZOOM! gel! Next comes the bright green light for 3 intervals of 7 minutes a piece. (Interestingly, the magic ZOOM! light didn’t make my teeth feel warm at all. I felt light a little heartbeat was in my front teeth, but I had to really focus on the sensation to feel it.)

One hour later, I walked out of the dentist office with a smile that was 3 shades lighter than when I went in! Not bad at all, considering that my smile wasn’t too dreary to begin with. Wish I had pics to share, but those were left with Dr. Barnes.

But can I tell a difference when I look in the mirror? Definitely. Do I feel better about my smile after having had the treatment? Immensely. Would I recommend ZOOM! whitening? Only if Dr. Barnes of McKinney was the applying expert! :)

It’s official: my son’s a kid genius!

Let me set the stage for you: Yesterday was Columbus Day, so school was cancelled. Teachers instead spent the day meeting with parents during individual conference times.

*Heavy sigh* I remember it like it was yesterday (probably because it WAS yesterday) . . . . it was circa 12:30p on Tuesday, October 12, when I learned that my 8 yo angel who was diagnosed with ADHD is actually a kid prodigy! :)

Exaggerate a little? Perhaps. But if you’re a single mom who used to conference with teachers and principals almost on a daily basis, you, too, would shout from the rooftops about your child’s amazing progress.

How did we pull ourselves out of the pit onto the top of the hill?

Dr. Robert Young of the ADD/ADHD Treatment Center in north Dallas was an answer to our prayers. Seriously. Back in March 2009, my son was on the verge of being kicked out of school. His grades were slipping, and he was starting to spend more time in the principal’s office than anywhere else. But now, he brings home straight As (two 100s, a 96, 93, and 92). Unbelievable! Not only that, but he has been asked to serve as a peer tutor, recently joined the Honor Choir, and is taking drama classes.

Ever since he could talk, I’ve referred to my 8 yo as “my genius son.” Praise God that he’s actually filling that role. :)

 

Everything I learned, I learned from my mother – beauty secrets included

Recently, my mother spent an entire week with my son while I was traveling for work. One of the biggest signs of L-O-V-E. :) Not that he’s difficult at all – because he’s not – but the fact that she sacrificed her time and energy to be me for a week really meant the world to me. (LOVE YOU, MOM!)

Once I was back in town, though, we had a chance to catch up on family, friends, next stages in life, random topics, etc. Then out of the blue, I asked her what she would do differently (beauty-wise) if she had it to do all over again. Seeing that this is 50+ years of wisdom from a beautiful woman, I didn’t want to keep her wise musings all to myself. So here you go:

1. Take care of your teeth. You only get one pair. Brush twice a day, and floss, floss, floss! Gum disease is real.

2. Make sure your bra and panties match. It’s a small thing that can go a long way.

3. Instead of all the facial cleansers out there today, I should’ve just washed with a mild cleanser and used Vaseline on my face at night.

4. Get 8 hours of sleep and drink plenty of water. Seriously.

5. Don’t smoke or drink too much alcohol. It will dry out your skin and cause premature wrinkles in the long run.

6. Stay out of direct sunlight, especially in your 20s. Use moisturizer with SPF daily.

7. Don’t eat too much red meat or a big dinner.

8. Use Summer’s Eve douche after “that time of the month” to cleanse your woman area. :)

9. If you don’t know how to take care of your hair, find a good stylist that does and go religiously. Your hair and skin say a lot about you.

10. Stress isn’t worth it and can reek havoc on your skin. If you stress over cleaning the house, get a maid. Don’t want to mow the yard? Hire someone to cut your grass. Find ways to eliminate stress and save yourself time and worry (and frown lines).

11. Don’t sweat the small stuff. If you worry over every little thing, it will start to show on the outside.

12. To trick your body about stress, stop what you’re doing and take deep breaths. Your skin will love you for it.

13. Don’t get fake nails. I had them for years and they’re just not worth it. Natural is always best.

14. Don’t worry about the fads of today. Just dress in what accentuates your particular body type. And if you have it, flaunt it!

15. Before you go to bed at night, put lotion or Vaseline on your feet. Then cover them with thick socks. You’ll wake up in the morning with moisturized heels that don’t look dry and ashy.

16. Wash your face and brush your teeth before you go to bed. Don’t let make-up sit on your face overnight.

17. Wrap your hair EVERY NIGHT.

18. Love your body. Be good to it. You only get one temple.

Hope that helped!

We beat an undefeated team today, 7-6!

The opposing team was undefeated until we went up against them. :) My angel was the QB and scored the only touchdown on a quarterback sneak. He also did an absolutely fantabulous job defending and keeping the other team from crossing the goal line. Pictured with him is one of his closest teammates, Cam. Congratulations to the Hurricanes!

My Vision Board Experiment: Useful concept or a waste of cardboard and paper?

I first heard about vision boards from the one and only Oprah Winfrey. Not that she discussed this new phenomenon with me personally . . . it was via the television set . . . and to more than 1 million other viewers. (But that’s besides the point. I just like to say that Oprah first introduced me to vision boards.)

My second introduction came when I was reading through my National Association of Black MBAs magazine. Being that this was the second time vision boards came across my path, I decided to take a closer look. Simply put, the concept of vision boards can be compared to good old fashioned goal setting. Instead of words, however, you paste or tape pictures that represent your goals.

While I was researching vision boards, I came across another blog that said this: “We need first to be grateful for what we currently have so we can open ourselves to what’s in store for us.” I think that’s pretty insightful . . . and true. If we can’t see past our current position in life and appreciate what God has gifted us, then how will we ever come to appreciate what He has waiting for us behind door #2?

So . . . I went ahead and started my own vision board about a month ago, soon after I started my new job. I thought it’d be 1/2 cleansing, 1/2 motivating to start envisioning my best life at such an early age. I’m happy to report that so far, it has been. :)

My vision board (not pictured here) sits prominently right across from my office desk so that every time I glance up from the computer, I see reminders of where I’ll be in the next 5-15 years. I want to be debt free and have a significant KMA (kiss my a$$) fund stored up; I want to write for a nationally-circulated publication like Black Enterprise magazine; I want to marry my best friend and have at least one more child; I want to continue living a healthy life and have good skin and a nice body to show for it (selfish, I know); I would love to take a trip in a private jet to a destination of my choice, sky dive, traverse all 7 continents, and be successfully selling books that I pen.

For me, my vision board represents both short-term and long-term goals, and I’d like to think that at least 50% of my board will come to fruition by September 2014.

Truth be told, there is still white space on my board for now. But I’ll soon cover those areas with photos that represent me, just older, wiser, and more mature . . . and hopefully experiencing FINANCIAL FREEDOM! (Did I mention that I wanted to become debt free? :))

Stay tuned to see what comes of my little vision board experiment. You may just see my on The Oprah Show. ;)

Oprah’s “Live Your Best Life” Sweepstakes

Register NOW for your chance to win the $100,000 or $10,000 that Oprah is giving away to one lucky soul.

Not sure when the contest closes, but if you’re reading this, jump off and fill out the form! (Then come back and read some more.) :)

My experience with Twitter: It’s actually a very useful tool.

So I took the Twitter plunge in early September 2009. I actually joined Twitter several months earlier when everyone from my old job was jumping on board to tweet. But back then I didn’t see the value behind folks telling me their every move.

Who cares if you had McDonald’s for breakfast? Or that you’re on your way to the bathroom? Or that you can’t decide if you want steak or shrimp for dinner? Yeah, so I was on for just a few insane moments and finally forgot my login credentials altogether. :)

But then when I started a new job, I began to research my fellow co-workers’ use of Twitter a bit more. I noticed that folks were sharing the latest product releases, news reports, industry statistics, etc., and gaining PR momentum! Not to mention, you can use Twitter to help build your sales pipeline. I’m in no way a salesperson, but I’ve reached out to a few folks when they expressed interest in our social products and services. Communicating via Twitter kind of serves as a “soft sell” in my humble opinion. Good stuff.

In a nutshell, these are the 10 reasons I use Twitter to add value to my professional and person life:

1. I search competitor names to stay up to date on competitor goings-on.

2. I track our company name to measure customer sentiment (both good and not-so-good).

3. I follow the White House tweets. (Muy importante.)

4. My fave shows are The Office, America’s Next Top Model, and Real Housewives of <insert any city>, so I follow those shows and their personalities on Twitter. (It’s pretty much my comic relief throughout the day. :))

5. I can have a marketing message go around the world as soon as I tweet it.

6. I can re-tweet a co-worker’s message and exponentially impact the market with our branding and PR x 2.

7. I am encouraged by some of the advice and motivational quotes I read from other Tweeps. (Shout out to Dave Ramsey and Oprah!)

8. I can provide hope and encouragement to my audience of followers (depending on what I’m tweeting). ;)

9. I stay up to date on industry news, best practices, reports, and insights.

10. I like my Twitter wall paper. It reminds me of me in my rawest form. (Hard to lose sight of what’s important when you have a constant reminder photo of yourself fulfilling your God-given purpose in life.)

 

Congratulations to me! I’m an aunt!

Niece’s name: Aliviyah Tyler-Marie

Vitals: 7 pounds, 1 ounce, 19 3/4 inches

Born: September 23 at 12:00 midnight :) at Centennial Women’s Hospital in Tennessee