Spring is Here - Creative Cedar Designs Octagon Wooden Sandbox

Spring is here! Let the Outdoor Fun Begin.

Spring is one of the best times of year. I love seeing the flowers bloom and the beautiful weather. I even enjoy the seldom rainy warm days! Spring is my jam!!!

While spending more time at home these days, I’ve had to find a way to get the kids outside and what better way than a sandbox! I seriously love the beach and one of my favorite things about the beach is the sand! So this made perfect sense to me.

I found this sandbox online at Amazon at a killer price under $150 and its wood. It was really easy to put together. It says all you need is a Philips screwdriver but we used a drill and I’m sure it helped things go faster. It took my daughter and I 40 minutes to put together.

After reading the reviews, people have found that 600-1000 pounds is a great range to filling the sandbox. I personally used 500 pounds because there was limit on how many I could purchase. I do plan to get 2-4 more 50 pound bags to help fill our sandbox.

My kids have had the chance to spend time in the sandbox on several occasions and they are loving it. The cover makes it easy to close at night time. I don’t worry about things getting in it and I place a brick in the center on nights that it’s expected to rain.

Check out this sandbox and a few others that will be worth checking out.

How are you and your family preparing for the warmer weather?

My Birthday Wish for 30

The good part about getting older is you stop trying to prove anything to anyone, including yourself. All you are in the pursuit of is collecting experiences - beautiful, fragile little soap bubbles that you store in your heart, and every once in a while you pull one out and gaze at the delicate pictures it shows you. –Twinkle Khanna

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

2020 was truly an eye opening experience. The world LEGIT stopped; it didn’t matter who you were, how much money you had we were all equal. COVID sucked and technically still does, but you know what there was some good. Being force to stay home for almost a year taught me a lot and I think it prepared me for the next season of my life. I learned resiliency and on my worst days I learned that God was still in control and is plan was and always will be best.

I’ve challenged myself to love me more, to reach out when I need help, and be the person I want to be. I know that my health must become a priority if I want to live the life I am working so hard to obtain. I’m choosing to put myself first; for years I’ve allowed life, kids, family and friends to become the priority while neglecting myself.

My wish for 30 is simple – may I be all that my heart desires.

I personally have not been a huge fan of affirmations – it seemed silly at first. It’s like for the last 3 or so years I’ve heard people speaking of “manifest this” or “affirm that” and I had to be reminded that the bible already taught us that! Sometimes, we just need a little reality check.

• Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.  Proverbs 18:21

• Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Phil 4:8

• And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Matt 21:22

• So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

My Affirmations for 30

1.    I am capable of anything that I put my mind to.

2.    I am beautiful.

3.    I am raising free thinkers and generational cruse breakers!

4.    I choose me.

5.    I stand up for myself and I stand by my decisions.

6.    I am a strong black woman.

7.    My past experiences don’t define me.

8.    What is meant for me will not pass me by.

9.    I am proud of how far I’ve come.

10.   I love me.

In honor of my journey to loving myself more each day I took my own #dirtythirty photos. I must admit it was a little freeing to have to watch yourself and know how you feel most confident and accept the parts that you may not like as much.

Here’s to 30 being a WHOLE MOOD!

10 Things to Remember - Love, Life, and Relationships

Have you ever felt really…meh? Like you weren’t sure where you were going on how thing would turn out? Me too!

I do believe that’s just a part of life but I also believe that change can happen but it starts with YOU!

Today, I want to share 10 Things to Remember about love, life, and relationships!

1.     If a person WANTED to – they would.

2.     She is standing on a line between giving up and seeing how much she can take.

3.     A woman wants to be surprised, loved, and doted on.

4.     Let every man be swift to speak, slow to speak and slow to anger.

5.     The little details matter.

6.     Never trust a man/woman who tries to destroy you when he’s/she’s mad.

7.     We repeat what we don’t repair.

8.     Forgiveness is making the conscious decision to live in the present…even if the past still hurts.

9.     Tomorrow is not promised – so love the ones who love you.

10.  Be silly, have fun, be different because you only have one life to live.

One major change I’ve made recently is learning to care for myself. You would think that it’s an easy task, but honestly it’s not. Have you ever heard the saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup?” Well, honey I’ve been trying. Reality set in a few weeks ago for me and my body completely shut down. If you don’t take care of you…who will?

Celebrate Black History + Self Love

“How you love yourself is how you teach other to love you.” Rupi Kaur

It’s Black History + Self Love Month!! 

This is giving me all the feels! I’m proud to be a black woman and learning to come into my own. This journey has been difficult but as 30 is approaching I’m starting to see things in a different light. I’m not sure if it was due to 2020 or my 30’s approaching but it feels good here! Everyday I’m learning to release the expectations that have been placed on me or ones that I’ve placed on myself. 

Black History

I’m Black 365 days a year and yet I don’t feel that I celebrate the month. I know some people “show out” for their heritage month or holiday but I’ve never done that. I don’t think I’ve liked to think about my blackness but in reality, I have to. I’m raising black children in the South and I cannot shelter them from reality. What I can do is educate them and allow them to celebrate their black skin! 

I am working to create an in-home library full of books with people of color. I want my children to see others that look just like them. I also plan to add books about diversity. 

Self-Love

Show of hands who’s on or has been on a self-love journey? Some are born with the confidence while others are left struggling. I believe this has a lot to do with how you are raised. I grew up in a home with both parents, but they are not the affectionate type. However, I am very affectionate. I don’t know where it came from, I’ve always longed for that type of love. I vowed to give that to my children. I want them to see what healthy love looks and feels like. My children are learning to put up with me always wanting hugs and kisses. Even my oldest has learned that saying “I love you” is okay, in fact it’s cool! 

After a recent bout of illness, my mindset was forced to shift. I had to realize that loving myself also included taking care of myself. I can’t say that I love me without honoring what my body needs. In doing so, that means I do the following:

1.     Take time for myself (no distractions)

2.     Prioritize my health 

3.     Rest when needed

My wish for you is to do the same! Not only for the month of February but all year round!