Happy New Year! Hello 2019!!!

As we usher in the new year, let us take a moment to reflect on the year that has past. This year was full of ups and downs for me but I am grateful for every single moment.

The year began with the realization my child would graduate high school and ended with my kid just finished his first semester of college but there was so much that happened in between.

A really big birthday. Oh Lawd, y'all wouldn't believe how old I am if I told ya. I don't know if that's a good thing or not but I'm getting up there.

The late night text saying "She may not make it" and the realization even if you caught the 1st flight there you would not have made it in time to say "I love you". Then hearing "She's gone".

The rush to visit your best friend's bedside and your last words being "I love you". I didn't want to make that mistake again.

Being mature enough to ask her to tell them what's going on and walking away to give them privacy only to have your mom tell you "Stay... they need you."

Rushing home to be with your kid for his 18th birthday while your heart was broken and you fought to smile.

Helping him navigate his 1st heartbreak.

Helping her navigate her 1st heartbreak.

I cannot forget the $3,200 lesson of letting a certain place change your oil every 3,000 miles and yet somehow your SUV had no oil and the car starts "running funny" only to realize you blew your motor. Yep, that happened. Love the new engine so wish I traded the car in when I considered it over the summer but c'est la vie.

Or hearing from your kid he withdrew from not 1 but 2 of his college courses jeopardizing his academic status and scholarships. Oh, of course it would happen AFTER the refund period passed.

Looking at the picture of them at a wedding knowing one day he'll propose to her.

Watching all four of my kids snuggled up in the living room appreciating this moment and just in awe of the fact that I am their mom.

I am forever grateful for the year that has past and I am looking forward to the year ahead.

Blessings to you and your family.

What about you? How was 2018? What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?

Blessings and Happy New Year.

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OH! The Places You'll Go! Giveaway Hop + 7 Out of the Box Uses for Erasers

Another Summer has come and gone and it's time to head Back to School!

If you're anything like me you took advantage of all those Back to School deals and stocked up on all those back to school deals and now have a surplus of school supplies which will probably end up in a junk drawer or put away someplace where you will never find it when you need it.

Take for instance those pink erasers. I buy a pack every year and every year without fail my family gives me that look when they see that pack of lone erasers in the back to school shopping cart.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to use erasers around the house

Erase away scuffs on your kitchen floor with an eraser.

Easily remove your kid's pop-up crayon masterpiece from the walls with an eraser.

Remove stains from suede boots by gently brushing the eraser across the stain until it's gone.

Keep those tickling ivory piano keys nice and clean by erasing stains with one quick swipe.

Stubborn zippers loosen quickly by rubbing…

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Jeepers! It's January 2019 Giveaway Hop

Jeepers! It's January! we are looking forward to a year full of wonderful children's book releases.
Here are four new releases from Prestel Publishing and many thanks to Prestel Publishing for the opportunity to review and share these fab reads.
Where’s the Architect? From Pyramids to Skyscrapers: An Architecture Look and Find Book by Susanne Rebscher and illustrated by Annabelle Von Sperber (ISBN: 978-3-7913-7301-0; Hardcover $19.95; Ages 4-8).

From the top of China’s Great Wall to the base of the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, this journey through the world of architecture stops in nearly every continent and travels through centuries. Annabelle von Sperber populates her dynamic and intricate double-page spreads with many details and a hidden architect or important figure on every page that kids will have fun trying to locate. Along the way they’ll learn about the iron workers who built the Empire State building, how many bulbs it takes to light the Eiffel Tower, where the ro…

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Maple and Brown Sugar Air Fryer Bacon

I've been raving about my Instant Pot but now I have a new favorite... the Air Fryer.
O M G This thing is amazing! I don't know why I was so late to the Air Fryer craze but I am so glad I am finally onboard.

I've been talking about getting one and then after my aunt posted pics of her new air fryer, that was it off to Best Buy I went.

I wasn't sure how big of a unit I would need but I figured the 2.5 liter would suffice. I chose the Chefman Express. It was priced on the shelves for $85 but online for $75.99 and my local store matched the price AND I had my Swagbucks Best Buy QR code so I got 500 SBs + 2 SBs for every dollar spent so that's another 170 SBs. So, after discounts, my air fryer ended up costing me less than the sale price. Woohoo!

There were some fancy ones on the shelves with digital display but after checking the reviews I figured since I don't fry much this model would suffice.
When I think of fried foods, I think of fried chicken and bacon.…

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