Friday, May 31, 2013

House Update!!!

This week has been very eventful in our house world. I have been posting a lot of pictures of the house on Facebook but I have not given an update on how things are progressing. Today we found out that we may be able to close on June 10th which is some of the greatest news we could have gotten.  As I pulled up to the house it became real to me that in a little over a week we may be able to finally move into our new home. This process has been a long one and so I did a happy dance when I pulled up to find them installing our sprinkler system.  I was even more over joyed as I watched them hand lay each and every piece of sod. It was amazing how each piece came together like a puzzle and later when it was all laid and the shrubs were planted it looked very nice.  I know that these all seem like small trivial things but when you have been looking for a place to call home for as long as we have its the small things that help complete this house that mean the most to us.  While all the commotion was going on outside, they were working hard on the inside tightening up the odds and ends to help bring it all together. Today they finally installed the door knobs, started touching up the walls, and they painted the coffered ceiling.  As the home gets closer and closer to being completed, I find myself falling more and more in love with it. It’s also exciting to see the girls enthusiasm grow as well as they notice more and more things being done in their part of the house. They have already chosen their rooms, which sink will be theirs in the bathroom, and assigned one guest rooms to their mama/papa, and the other to their auntie Erica/Uncle Terrance.  At each visit they have to go through every room and see what new things have been done.  They both did a little happy dance today when they pulled up and saw that they had grass in the backyard now because they hated all the Georgia red clay that they had been running through. They were also excited because it meant that Blue would now have somewhere to play as well. Haiden asked if they would be able to get some outside toys to place in the new grass. I am excited that in a few short weeks the girls will have a room to call their own and a place to run as long as they like.
So as time starts to wind down and the countdown to move in time begins, enjoy these last couple of pictures of our new home to be.  There is still quite a bit to be done but I am believing God to work it all out in time. Thanks so much for following us throughout this whole process and we look forward to having many of you come visit once things are all settled. These are just a few pictures of some of the new things that have been going on over the past couple of week and I will be sure to post pictures of the completed home once we close.


Enjoy!

Outdoor fireplace with my two lovely models. 


Formal dining light has been hung. 

The new pendants over the island

Cabinets have been installed 


Ceilings have been trimmed and painted 

Master Shower has been  tiled 


Formal living light has been hung.

Sod has been laid and yard landscaped


Thursday, May 30, 2013

Don't ask me how I am doing unless you want to hear about my house...



Anyone who has had the chance to talk to me over the past couple of months knows about my house ordeal.  If you ask me how I am doing my house situation is sure to come up in every time. Over the last 9 months we have been in search of the perfect house.  After Isaiah accepted the job with Toys R Us and we were relocated to the East Coast, it became our mission to find this house so that the transition would be a smooth one for our family. All my friends from Texas will tell you that even though I was very excited and supportive of Isaiah’s new career change, I was not happy about the whole relocation part.  You see the great state of Texas had been where we started our married life together, renewed our faith, had our children, purchased our first home, and built some of our closest relationships. Not to mention we were leading one of the best Couples small group for our church.  Life as I saw it was great and things seemed to be just settling in. Out of the two of us, I am the sentimental one and so the move for me was not one about starting a new season in my life, but instead the ending of a season that I was really enjoying being in.  I guess you can say I am the one that sees the glass as being half empty instead of half full. Isaiah on the other hand was super excited about where God was taking us and he reminded me to look back over our history and I could clearly see that God had always blown our minds by moving us own to bigger and better seasons.  As I reminisced back I was reminded of how sad I was when my then fiancée said to me that his first duty station would be in Fort Hood Texas and I had to leave behind everything I had known in Atlanta.  Fort Hood ended up being the place where I found myself reconnecting with God on a new level, starting my life as a married woman, buying my first house, and making some lifelong friends. 
Our first home in Killeen

I was also reminded of how Isaiah had to pull me, kicking and screaming when God later moved us to Dallas.  Dallas ended up being the place where once again my faith was taken to another  level, I was challenged to live out what I was taught, we purchased our second home, developed even more great friends, saw God work in not only our marriage but in those of our friends through our couples group, and had both of our girls. I missed Fort Hood, but God made sure to surround us with a church home and a circle of friends who became family to us and I will forever be grateful for all they have done for our family.  I found that those who meant the most to me from Fort Hood made sure to keep in touch and some of my relationships never skipped a beat and they have continued on as if were still together.  It was at that moment that I had to admit that each season of my life had been more than I ever anticipated and God always gave me the right people at the right time in those seasons. 

Our Texas Home with so many memories

Because of this, I had to also admit that the move to Georgia was going to be the same and I could not worry about it. Isaiah tried his best to make it as smooth of a transition as he could, and his prayer always was that we would find a home that I would love since I wasn't big fan of going back to Georgia. He always said that even if I never loved living in Georgia, at least I could love the home I was living in.  This is where 110 Hayden court came into play…

Love at First sight




From the first moment I saw the home I was in love and this said a lot considering how many homes we looked at before we saw it. After talking about it we decided to put in an offer at which point our Realtor let us know that it was a short sale and it could take some time. It was late September when we saw the home and we were not slated to move until later on in December so we felt that we had time to wait it out because surely it would not be that long of a wait. December came and went with the sale of our home in Texas and no word on Hayden court. January came and went and then so did February. It was at this point that it started to hit us that this may not come through.  I will never forget a conversation I had with a close friend who told me that maybe we just needed to let it go.  Unlike all the other times when things seemed to take a turn and it seemed like this may be it, this time that conversation came back to me and so we decided to consider other options.


Then in March we found the Lake Windsong neighborhood and decided that it was time to consider something new.  The ironic thing about us finding this home is that a couple months prior Isaiah had mentioned a foreclosure in this same neighborhood and I had not liked the floor plan.  I also told him that I was not going to live in a city called Tyrone.  I will be the first to admit that I was not 100% sold on the new home because it was nothing like what I wanted and most importantly it lacked the basement I longed for.  Over time it has started to grow on me and now I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Because of our timing of finding this neighborhood, we got to watch the house be built from the ground up and choose every aspect of it from the paint color to the light fixtures.  It is a lot different from anything we have ever owned or were looking for but somehow it fits where we are at this point in our life and it will allow us to do what we enjoy and that is entertain.   Everything about it is what we wanted it to be and more than any of our other houses; it is a true reflection of us.  Every time I look at our new home, I am reminded that sometimes the blessings of God do not always come in the package that we expect them to, and they are often far greater than what we had in mind in the first place.  


So am I sad that Hayden court did not work out? Yes, but I now see the bigger picture of the whole situation and I know that if I had not waited on Hayden court all those months, I would not have been in the right place at the right time when the building of our new home was just starting. I am one that believes that everything happens for a reason and it is not by chance but by the hand of God that it all takes place. So as I sit here anticipating the completion of my Durham home (house floor plan name and the name of the City I was born and raised), off of Dogwood lane (which happens to be the state tree of my home state of NC), I can’t help but see the hand of God in getting me to this place and I love being here.

My new home

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Introducing the Influenster Spring VoxBox

A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed a company called Influenster and I mentioned that I had been chosen to try out their Spring VoxBox of products. Each month Influenster has various products that they have for members to test and give their honest opinion of. Well I am back to let you know that I have received my box and boy is it a good one. The box I received retails for over $35 but I was lucky to try it for free all in exchange for my opinion of each of the products enclosed. 


This month I received the following products in my box:



 Impress Press on Manicure


Color: Just Say Yes


Secret Outlast deodorant



 Schwarzkopf Professional Osis hair product


Rough Rubber Paste

 NYC Applelicious Lip balm


Color: Big Apple Red


 TastyKake’s Kandy Bar Kakes


Flavor: S'mores


Over the next couple of weeks, I will be trying each of these products and I will let you know what I think of each of them.  I cannot wait to share with you information on each of these great products. Each review will give you a brief description of each product, and my honest opinion on my experiences on using them. Until then enjoy the pictures and be on the look out for the upcoming product features. If you have any questions about either the box or Influenster, you can leave them in the comments section below.  If you are interested in joining the fun, follow my blog and leave your email address in the comments section below. As a member I am given 5 invites for friends and I would love to share them with you. 



 I received each of these products complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Weight Loss Challenge Update #1

Well today is Friday, so it is time for a weight loss challenge check in.  I started off the challenge at 180.6 and this morning I weighed in at 177.4. This week I tried a new class called Cardio Blast, which was a total body workout and it really kicked my butt.  After taking this class I quickly learned the importance of keeping my water intake up especially when doing an intense workout of this type.  Even though I worked out 5 times this week, I still struggled a little with my eating habits. During the week I found that I always had this hungry feeling which led to a couple episodes of grazing.  After talking with my husband about it he suggested that I try to eat more filling foods, make sure to eat at least every three hours, and try to cut back on my starches. I must admit that I am a southern girl at heart so the last one is a bit of a struggle for me to do.  I feel that anytime I eat a meal it needs to include at least two sides, an entree and a bread of some sort.  I am working to remind myself that I do not have to have all of this every time I eat but I must admit that old habits die hard.  Well I guess that is all for this week’s weight loss challenge check in, I will see you next week with another update. 

Friday, May 17, 2013

Company Showcase: Influenster

As always, I have found a great new company for you to check out called Influenster. This company allows you to try new products, and share your opinion about various products, all for free.  After months of working with Crowdtap and House Party, I decided to look for some new companies that I could work with to learn more about new products. Upon searching online, I came across  Influenster.  The company describes themselves as being “the go-to destination for trendsetters who want to be rewarded for their influence. Qualified members gain access to the latest products, share their expert opinions and spread the word on their favorite discoveries”.  After researching the company I thought that it would be a good way to gain exposure to new products as well as share my opinion.  Sign-up was super easy and all I had to do was answer a couple of quick questions about myself.   In the beginning you choose which areas you feel you are most qualified and you answer surveys on those topics. Once signed up you show the company how influential you are by earning what they call Expert and LifeStage Badges. Outside of the surveys, you can also unlock badges by writing reviews, creating videos, and engaging in other social media. The company’s website points out that “as an active Influenster, you’ll have the chance to get invites to Influenster programs so you can try the latest and coolest products catered towards your lifestyle before anyone else”. Ultimately, Influenster wants to know what you think about various products and services which sounds easy enough to me, and almost too good to be true.  I signed up on May 5, and I was recently offered the opportunity to try out their Spring Voxbox which will contain several products for me to try out.  I am excited about the opportunity to check out these new products and share my opinion about them.  Since I am fairly new with this company, I will have to come back later to give you feedback on what it is like working with this company and as always I will also give you a review of my Spring Voxbox.  So until then, take some time to check out the link below to their website and see if it is something you may be interested in trying. 

The countdown is on: Facing my weight loss challenges


A couple of months ago, my sister called with some great news, she was engaged and would be getting married in Nov 2013.  I was beyond excited for her and we basked in all the joy of a new engagement, but once I got off the phone, it hit me; this means that I will have to wear a bridesmaids dress in a couple of months.  Fear quickly took over me and I went into panic mode.  I know this is my sister’s big day, but I started thinking about how bad I would feel when years from now I looked at her pictures and I saw just how much weight I had picked up. You know that feeling when you see a picture of yourself and you cringe when you see just how those few extra pounds have translated on film.  I vowed then that I was going to do something, but just like every other time, I slacked off after a couple of days, telling myself that I had plenty of time.   Over the past 7 years I have struggled with my weight.  Before having Haiden, I joined weight watchers and I did pretty well, almost reaching my goal weight before we found out we were expecting.  I later rejoined after her birth and was doing well until once again I found out I was expecting Madison. Since having Madison two and a half years ago, I have found myself in a constant battle of taking the extra weight off. It’s sad to admit but at the time I gave birth to Madison, I had let my weight get to over 200 lbs., and she only weighed 6lbs, 2oz. I knew I had let my pregnancy weight get out of hand when my doctor told me at one of my visits that I looked like I had two drum sticks on the side of my body.  Since then I have made several attempts at getting the weight off but I would always lose motivation and give up.  One of my problems is that I tend to be an emotional eater. I think it all started in 2004 when Isaiah went to Iraq and over the years I have found myself falling back into it depending on what is going on in my life. I love food, especially good food, so when we moved to Dallas, Isaiah and I became acquainted to the city by searching out all the good food spots and boy did we find them. With this last transition back to the East coast I have found myself falling back into it again and I have slowly watched my weight creep back up close to the 200 lbs mark. 
Determined to take back my body I have made a commitment to take the weight off and keep it off.  To help me with my goal, I have joined the YMCA, and I make sure that I consistently attend cardio classes. To help me out even more, I have also downloaded some fitness apps (Nike Training club, fit ID, and My fitness pal) that will help guide my workouts when I am at the gym to make sure I am on track.  With our life being so chaotic, I do not have the time to start attending weight watchers meetings but I know that having that accountability really motivates me so I have decided that I will blog about my adventures along the way of my weight loss plan. Each week I will post about my struggles, my successes, the workouts I have done and my weight. Yes, you heard me right I will be posting my weight.  I think that this is one way that I will make sure to stay committed this time. Anyone who has tried to lose weight knows that it is not as easy as it seems so I hope that it will serve as not only a motivation for me but for others who are struggling to get the weight off.  So now the work begins….

Monday, May 13, 2013

Cottonelle Clean Care Routine Review


Would you take a shower without water? Would you be OK if someone washed your car with no water? I am sure that you answered no to both of these questions, so my next question to you is why not? I know these sound like silly questions because I too felt the same way but when I saw the Cottonelle ads it made me start thinking, about my bathroom routine.  When you think about it, anytime you want to get something clean you use some form of wet solution because it helps with the cleaning process. So the question is why wouldn’t you do the same thing when trying to stay clean in the restroom. Here is where Cottonelles clean routine comes in.  Recently I had the chance to do a sample and share from Crowdtap for the Cottonelle Clean Care Routine. When I initially heard about the opportunity I thought it would be cool to try out a new product but then it dawned on me that I would have to share my bathroom experiences with others and I got a little afraid.  My interest in trying the Clean Care Routine came after seeing several of the Cottonelle commercials which ask what seem like common sense questions.  My all-time favorite commercial was the one when customers pulled up to car wash and noticed that no water was being used to wash their cars.  At the end of the commercial they asked each person why they were concerned and they all answered because the car was not truly clean without using water to wash it.   It was at that moment that I realized that the same was true when it came to your bathroom routine and so the Clean Care Routine was exactly what I needed.  
As part of my sample share I was provided with a package of Cottonelle toilet paper to keep, and two four-packs to give away to friends. I also received three boxes of Cottonelle Flushable Moist Wipes, one to keep, and two more to share with my friends so they too could experience the Clean Care routine. As I mentioned before, I was a little shy about sharing about my own bathroom routine, so it was even harder to approach my friends about participating. Initiating the conversation was a little hard to get started but one I presented the free products, they were both on board because in the end everyone loves getting free stuff. One of my friends even said that the toilet paper was on right on time because they had just run out earlier that morning.
Now one of my pet peeves is toilet paper that is thin and hard, so I was so happy to see that the Cottonelle was neither of the two and instead  thick and ultra-soft. You can say that when it comes to my toilet paper I am very picky and it is one product that I do not mind spending more for.  Next to having the toilet paper roll from the top, thickness and softness are of the utmost importance to me.  That is one of the reasons that I was so impressed by Cottonelle.  I felt like the toilet paper did exactly what I needed it to do.   One thing that I want to point out is that even though it was soft in nature, it was not one of those toilet papers that was too soft which sometimes leave behind paper residue. As the parent of a four year old and a two year old who I am working with learning how to fully clean themselves after using the restroom, I felt like Cottonelle had the perfect thickness so that the girls did not feel like they had to roll the whole roll off.  So not only could it stand up to my thickness test, it also was just the right softness, which was a big win for me. I only had one complaint from my friend which was that she did not like the way the toilet paper rolls off the roll once it gets down to a certain point. She said that she would often go into the restroom and find that the paper had rolled onto the floor. One thing that I did notice is that even though we did not have to use as much paper as we did with other brands, it seemed like we went through the rolls rather quickly.  As our Clean Care Routine went on I slowly watched my 18 roll pack go very quickly and there was only four people using the roll.
When it came to the wipes, I was in love after the first use. I mean everyone wants that clean fresh feeling after a visit to the restroom, but no one ever thinks to use the “kiddie” wipes.  I mean who wants to use anything with the child like smell or something that comes from the kiddie looking container. Neither of these were an issue with the Cottonelle fresh wipes. The scent was just right and the container was very adult looking so it was no problem having it sitting on my bathroom counter. I like the fact that these were wipes that the entire family could use.  After this experience it is definitely a staple on our bathroom counter and the best thing about it all is that never again do we have to leave the restroom with un-fresh feeling. I am now thinking of adding a small tub of wipes to my daughters take along bag for when we are out and about.  The only complaint that I heard about the wipes is that they wished that they were a little bigger in size, but other than that they were great.
Overall, I enjoyed my Cottonelle Clean Care Routine and it’s definitely here to stay in our home. Both of my friends enjoyed trying it out as well and outside of size of the wipes being a little small, the rolls running out quickly and the toilet paper rolling off when close to the end, everyone felt that they were two great products which they would definitely use again. From this point on I do not think that I will ever be able to take a shower, wash my hair, or take my car to detailed, without thinking about the Cottonelle Clean Care Routine.  Good Job Cottonelle.  I recommend that if you have not tried the Clean Care Routine you should give it a try because you wouldn’t take a shower without any water so why would not do the Cottonelle Clean Care Routine after a visit to the restroom.


Full Disclosure: The products I reviewed in this post were provided to me by Cottonelle and Crowdtap, but I received no other compensation. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are based on my own experiences with these products.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Beyonce as Mrs Carter in the H&M twitter giveaway








Do you like Beyonce? What about H&M? If you answered yes to either of these then this is the giveaway for you. In honor of the release of Beyonce's new line at H&M, The Cut is giving away gift cards to ten lucky winners to try out some of the new line. All you have to do is follow The Cut on twitter and between the hours of 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM ET, tweet the phrase,“Love me some #BeyonceinHM,@HMUSA, @TheCut!” to be placed in the drawing. Check out the link below for more info on the release of the new line at H&M. 










We're giving away 10 $100 gift cards to after 100 RTs @ 1PM in honor of the as Mrs. Carter Collection

50% off Frappuccino's at Starbucks


Coffee-Drink


Who does not like Frappuccino's from Starbucks? I know I sure do so that is why I am super excited about this deal.  Starting May 3 until May 12th participating Starbucks locations are offering 50% Off any Frappuccino Beverage between 3-5 pm. 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

House Party: Host a Nerf Super Soaker Block Party

Another great company that I work with is House Party and as the name implies it allows you to host parties for companies like Huggies, Nerf, Bic, Morningstar, and many more. As a host they send you a box of neat items that will help you promote the product that is being showcased for the party.  In return you agree to invite at least 12 friends over to share samples and learn about the product. I have had the oppertunity to host two partie, one for the movie Hope Floats, and another for Huggies Pullups.  Later this month I have an upcoming  GEVALIA House Party. The types of parties will vary from month to month but they will send you an update once a new party is open for application. I have really enjoyed learning about these new products and sharing the informaiton with my friends.  This is a great oppertunity to try out new products and have fun.  If you are not already a member, go to http://houseparty.com and sign up. Below is a description of a party that is currently open for application. 
 
 
Host a NERF SUPER SOAKER Block Party
Kick off Father’s Day Weekend with the entire neighborhood at your own NERF SUPER SOAKER Block Party. NERF SUPER SOAKER blasters will set the stage for an exciting summer for kids of all ages as they soak each other for the ultimate outdoor fun. Bring out the family fun and snack on your Simply CHEETOS® White Cheddar Puffed Corn. Fire up the BBQ and soak up summer with your neighbors at your NERF SUPER SOAKER Block Party. http://houseparty.com/event/supersoaker
 
Your exclusive Party Pack will contain:
  • 1 NERF SUPER SOAKER SHOTWAVE Blaster
  • 4 NERF SUPER SOAKER FLASH BLAST Water Blasters
  • 12 Bags of Simply CHEETOS® White Cheddar Puffed Corn
  • 15 Coupons for $5 off NERF SUPER SOAKER Blasters $9.99 or above
  • 50 Coupons for Simply CHEETOS® White Cheddar Puffed Corn

Free H&M Gift card

Free H&M gift cards

 
There is a new application for your smartphone called Wrapp which allows you to send free or buy gift cards to send to your frineds by either email or posting to Facebook.  To redeem the FREE $10 gift card from Wrapp click the link below.

CLICK HERE for $10

The $10 will be added to your Wrapp wallet.

Then have a friend send you a FREE $6 gift card to H&M. To get this free gift card choose which friend you would like to send this gift to. Then click on “H&M $6- FREE.” Write a message and click ‘GIVE.’ Please note you cannot send this offer to yourself, you must have a friend send you the $6. If you send one to your friend, ask them to send one back to you!

CLICK HERE for $6
You can redeem the gift cards for sunglasses, flip flops, accessories or clothing! Also note you are allowed to use both gift cards at the same time.

I have recieved one of these gift cards for Victoria Secret which I have also redeemed without any problem. To redeem you simply show the gift card screen on your phone at the store and they will verify that it is real and scan the barcode to redeem towards your purchase. I was able to redeem it with no problems. Be sure to come back and leave a comment to let me know what cool items you were able to get.