Rolling with the Punches

If you live in Chicago and your child goes to public school you may be in a bit if a panic or you may be in the position to enjoying this extra time you spend with your children. I am lucky enough to be able to send my children to their grandmother during the day but I worry that they will be behind due to school being out. 

So, after much thinking and a little planning. I have decided school is in session at the Prince house. We have been reading books and using workbooks that I got from the Lakeshore Learning Center to help them with math and writing. If you live in the area, this is an awesome place to go to find learning materials for your child. It doesn't matter the age. They have flash cards, workbooks and learning games. All which have been helping me with the kids. I plan to go back this week for a few more items since there has been no new information about the strike.

And, to keep things fun, we are going old school by ordering some family board games like UNO, Checkers, Monopoly and Scrabble. Hopefully this will help keep them entertained without television or Playstation. Besides that we have been watching a ton of movies and trying to maintain our routine so its not such an adjustment when its time for the kids to go back to school.

What are you doing to keep your kids entertain during the strike?

Checking In:Pulling it together for the rest of the year.

This year has flown past me. I feel like I have been stuck in a time warp and everything is moving in slow motion. I have finally discovered that I might not be a multi-tasker. I get extremely overwhelmed at the smallest thing. My new approach has been setting accomplishable goals and pouring my heart into one thing at a time so I can commit myself to doing one thing well. 

The first half of the year was focused on buying a new home. We wanted something bigger that our kids could grow into. We have been here three months and are still getting things together. I have just unpacked the last box. We have a ton of decorating to do but the boys rooms are pretty much finished. I always want my kids to feel comfortable so they come first. By the end of the year, we hope to have the sun room, office, and master bedroom complete. So how do I plan on completing the rest of my vision board?

September-December there is still a lot to accomplish. So I have picked four goals that I will be working on the rest of the year:
1. Health
2. Self-care
3. Blog/Business
4. Decorating

Health:
I started this challenge by setting a doctor's appointment for December 7th. For the past two months, I have been transitioning into a keto lifestyle. I say lifestyle because once I reach my goal, I want to maintain it and I don't want the weight loss to be short-term. I have been working out and really focusing on my health. I plan on making my health my main certain until its second nature and I don't have to think about, did I drink enough water today, or when was the last time I worked out. With that self-care goes hand and hand. I stopped buying clothes,  hanging out with friends but what I have realized that self-care is more than just a manicure and pedicure. Its stretching and meditation. It's checking in with your mental and physical state to making sure you are okay. And I was not. 

 Self-Care:
To motivate myself to practice self-care and care about my health. I have given my self small challenges. Since I have to rebuild my wardrobe, if I complete three workouts and stretch/meditate two days a weeks, I will buy myself a new outfit or do something that is needed but also makes me feel good. And after reading a post by SignedBlake about an app called The Pattern. I signed up to see if I could learn more about myself and live my best life.

Blogging/Business 
Since my health is my main concern and I love preaching about self-care. I think its time to turn this blog into health and self-care central. I will be sharing my journey with you and letting you know how everything is going my milestones and my downfalls. 

What are you working on currently?Are you on the road to a healthy lifestyle or are you already there? If you are already healthy, what has worked for you?

Decorating
My first love, I will be showing all the home progress that we have been doing. It's important that I make our house a home mainly because I hate empty spaces. But, I like to do everything on a budget. So, if you like budget shopping and decorating we will get along well

So, what are your goals for the last four months of the year? How are you working towards them?

Finding My Passion In Entrepreneurship

2019 has been a year of growth and moving toward self-discovery. Learning who I am and trying to figure out where I want to go has been a tough task. Im a great planner but have a difficult time finishing anything hard. I always give up. I have been trying to change that this year. I feel like I'm better than in years past but I have a long, long way to go. And, with five months left to go until the end of the year, it's time to give my passion my all. 

Have you ever asked yourself what you are passionate about? Meaning what are some things you love to do. What are some things you enjoy that you wish you could do more of. As, I take this journey to attempt to nurture the things I love to do, these are the questions I ask myself.

SO WHAT AM I Passionate about?
I enjoy: Spin class, Graphic Design, Fashion ( I know many of you are like What?!?!? but yes, I love clothes, that's why I worked in retail for so long...lol) , my kids, and learning new things.

Now that I have figured out what I am passionate about, how can I translate this into a business. Many moons ago, I had a small t-shirt line Called Son of A King. I had no idea what I was doing but I felt like it combined everything I loved at the time, fashion, design and my kids. But, reality called and I needed to going back to work. So, everything STOPPED. But, I always think about it to the point I have been researching relaunching the clothing line.

The funny thing is, My kids still wear the t-shirts. My first born, Dominic was my original model but Mav looks like he is ready for his shot. I have never seen myself as a business owner but I am going where my passion takes me.

What are you passions? How do you make time for them? I would love to hear what you are doing to find your passion?

 

Testing the Smart Home Waters

Google Hub + Google Home Mini / Ring Doorbell + Ring Floodlight Camera / Nest / Ultraloq


We have been settling into the new house the past couple weeks and this week I am taking the time to streamline the technology in my home. What does that mean? I love finding new ways to secure my home, that will work with our current alarm system. 

I started with the Google Hub, I thought it would be awesome to have a small tablet that would house everything I needed as far as all the security apps that we would have for our home. So, each bedroom has a google assistant which communicates with the Google Hub. Since the boys are getting older they use the assistant to play music, as an alarm clock, and a calendar. 

The hub also houses all of our security apps. I decided to change the locks to something that would work for us in the long run. They are five-point of entry locks. The boys aren't old enough to care keys and I have locked myself out the house a few times rushing so this solves the problem. Its called the Ultaloq. When I was looking at the cost for changing the locks it was more affordable and came with a door handle, which you might not think in important but saves me from having to buy one separately. 

And, lastly we installed the Nest thermastat. We had one in our last home and its awesome with controlling the temperature in the home. It's affordable, and some utility companies give a discount when you purchase smart technology.

What types of Smart updates have you made to your home? I would to hear!

Home Sweet Home.

We did it! We finally moved. This process has been going on for the last six months and we are finally in the new house. This will be the place my kids will call home and we are very happy. So, today I will be giving you a little house tour. I took all the pictures before we moved in. So, I ll take you through all the rooms and how we plan to decorate.

Entryway.

I love that the entire house has tons of windows and lets lots of light in. We are leaving this space open at the moment but we are planning on putting a bench at the door with a boot tray in winter.

We plan to use the mudroom in the back to house all of our coats and shoes.

Sunroom.

This is Chris' favorite part of the house. He pictures himself having coffee on the weekends, watching the kids play. Currently, there is a rug with a marble side table waiting for us to find two club chairs to make the space complete. 

Livingroom.

This is my favorite spot to relax besides the staircase. I have never had a fireplace and I am so excited. It doesn't work but we will have it repaired before this winter. The previous owner chose beautiful colors for the house so there isn't a lot we have to do. We ordered beautiful leather furniture from thedump and paired it with accessories from Target. More pictures to come when we get further along. There is a formal dining room attached to it but we have no idea what to do with this space since we are more casual.

Kitchen.

My happy place. I stopped cooking at our last home because it was cramped and there wasn't a lot of storage. And, on top of that the 2nd dining room aka our main dining area is across from the kitchen, which is exactly what I wanted. We have used the kitchen everyday and are starting to have family dinners.

We brought our table from the old house and I ordered new chairs. Currently, I am picking out artwork and waiting for Chris to hang shelves for my cook books. This will definitely be a party home.

boys rooms.

The boys finally have their own rooms even though they don't sleep in them...lol. Mav sleeps with Dom in his room. We were so blessed to be able to give the boys a Cars and Spiderman inspired bedrooms. Once we frame the artwork their rooms will be complete.

MainBath/ GuestBath.

This is bathroom will be used for the boys and the guest bath is in the basement. Both are finished beautifully and only need accessories and artwork. We feel like this is our grown up house so we are trying to be a little more sophisticated and picky with what we choose for this house.

I love the bathrooms because of the storage and penny tiles have a special place in my heart. 

Master.

My dream. I never in a million years thought I would have a master bedroom.  It's more of a football field but in time it will transform. And, the bathroom is bomb. I couldn't ask for more. We also have an office/art room across from the bedroom, I'll talk more about that in another post.

Basement.

My husband's dream. He finally gets his man cave. We have huge finished basement with a family room, guest room and laundry room. I have no plans to tackle any parts of this basement at the moment. I can't even wrap my head around it. The only thing we have done is put a couch down there and I got my dream washer and dryer.

 

 So, there it is! Our new family home. Stay tuned for all the transformations we have in store. Have any design ideas? Or just moved into a new place? I want to her what you have been doing.

Superhero Room: From little boy to big boy room

Moving is on my mind! Since I'm trying not to focus on the date, I have been creating Pinterest boards for how I want to decorate each space. This move will be a huge adjustment for my family so its important to me that my kids bedrooms are amazing. 

I'm not one for themed rooms so I always try to do a modern take, instead of making the room explode with Spiderman. This time around I got Spiderman sheets and artwork that will mix in with the neutral bedding and other decor. Hopefully, there will be just enough Spiderman...lol 

Amazon, Etsy, and Tj Maxx saved the day. I found the Spiderman bedding on Amazon, since Dominic is getting upgraded to a queen-sized bed, it was hard to found kids bedding to fit but amazon cam through. His quilt cam from Tj Maxx and all his other furniture came from Target. Thanks to a Memorial Day sale. Lastly, his artwork can from Etsy. I love the unique artwork I was able to find and it was really inexpensive since I opted to print it myself.

And viola! We have a little boys room that doesn't break the bank and makes him and me happy!

Artwork by: ArtStory

Vision: Going through the process of making my vision board come to life

Hellllooooo World out there! Where has the time gone? In early January, I went to a vision board party. I worked on this beautiful visual presentation of what my goals were for the year. Mainly: get my finances together, travel, start a business, get in shape and shopping and purchasing a new home, simple right?!?

I would show you but my kids destroyed this poor board within hours of me returning home. Insert stock photo here...lol:

The main thing I took away from my vision board was that I was ready to make some major changes. For me, the first change was my home. I love my home so much but we outgrew it probably five years ago when we had our second son, Maverick. And, to be honest I never thought I would move until I started having the conversations with friends.

I took the first step and called my realtor, Priscilla and asked if it would be even possible for us to move due to the fact that our budget wasn't much more than what we were paying now. Surprisingly, she was very positive and we have been going through the motions ever since. 

Making this decision to leave our current home has been the hardest thing. The amount of stress we have been going through has been tough but will are at a point where we are going to let God do his work. We have sold our house and found our forever home. Now the only thing left to do is wait.

When I made my vision board I thought I could do everything at once. Work on my finances, travel, more date nights but reality set in when we had to get our finances in order to buy a home. There was no more talk about vacations or nights on the town. It was, what repairs are we going to make this week and how many home showings do we have this weekend. 

So, my advice is when you create your vision, have realistic expectations. Many of the goals you have may be accomplished right away but some may take a little time. And, if it's a special goal, keep it close to your heart sometimes letting your loved ones know what's going on can add stress to the situation. 

How many of you created a vision board this year? Are you crushing your goals?

Will you be my Valentine?

Tomorrow is a day the we celebrate love. Its Valentine's Day. We run to the store to buy gifts, candy, and what nots. This year I have decided that's just not something I'm into. My lovies don't need candy to know that I love them. I shower them with hugs and kisses everyday. So, here are a few ways to show your loved ones you love them without blowing the bank.

1) Food- Nothing says love like cooking your family their favorite meal. My husband loves my lemon pepper wings and my kids love mac and cheese. I'm not trying to reinvented the wheel, but give them something special we don't normally eat. So, on Valentine's Day we will be having... Japanese food. No, I'm not cooking but we have discovered our love for sushi so I'll treat the family to something on a night we don't normally eat out. And it makes it even better that UberEats and Doordash are finally available in my area.

2) Being Present- With the hustle and bustle of life multi-tasking has become our thing. I can cook and help my kids with their homework. I can be on social media and listen to my husband talk about his day. Valentine's Day will be a day of no multi-tasking for me. My family will have my undivided attention. Sometimes we lose thing in translation trying to accomplish a 100 things at one time.

3) Enjoy- Valentine's Day is meant for fun conversations and having fun. All important activities will be postponed until the next day. No stressing will be had on this day. Watching a movie, play a game, listen to music if you are staying in. If you are bold enough to brave the outdoors go to a show, a new restaurant, or explore the city. 

All this boils down to is giving your best self to the people you love. Enjoy living in the moment for one night is worth more that any gifts.

Where did My Money Go?

Many of you think January lasted forever but I thought it went by fast. I have been setting my goals up for the year and trying to adapt to this new way of life. And, I must say I'm not doing too bad. To say has been difficult is an understatement but I am a work in progress. This month, I set the foundation for my finances, health, and business. I had to realize that I'm not the most organized person. 

With finances being at the top of the list, I hired a financial advisor to hold me accountable and give me a reality check on the state of my finances. Its weird my mom was an accountant but I never learned financial literacy. It's so important to know how credit works and why it's important to save.  I have been on an endless roller coaster of having money, then being broke. So, I decided to get off the ride and educate myself so I will be able to educate my children.

Plus, I want our family to travel and soon or later become debt free. 

Since it has only been a few weeks I can't say if my finances have improved but I am fully aware of where I am concerning money and where I want to go. So? If you are like me, and a little direction, a financial advisor can make a big difference. You can find them at your bank or through recommendation. Ask a friend or family member to see who they use. Or if you are a sucker for apps like me, try these financial apps out to help you get to your financial goals...

Credit Karma- Keep track of your credit score, at all times.
Mint- See your spending and create a budget
Acorns- Learn how to invest
Digit- Make saving effortless with this app


I'll keep you posted on my saving habits... Do you guy have any tips or Apps you use to save money?

Let's Stay Together: Date Night at the Wndr Museum

Once a upon a time their was a couple who wanted to try something different.  So, they went to the Wndr Museum to enjoy an evening of fun and artistry. While I am on the journey of self discovery and creating a better me, that's more centered, healthy, and happier, I must also nurture the relationship I have with my husband, Chris. We have found the day to day can be brutal on our relationship because we aren't spending any quality time together.

Being an adult is not always fun so we wanted to do something that we didn't have to stress and get back to being us. Without kids, house, or work getting in the way. And, it worked. The museum was inspiring and fun. We talked, we laughed and learned a lot.

It was important for me to find things to do to that didn't center around food. And we exceeded. 

Spin Playlist: My Top 15 to Motivate Me to Keep Moving

If you follow me on instagram then you know that I love indoor cycling. It is the only thing I have been able to stick with. But, when I can't make a class I have a playlist that I cycle to. This is my first week cycling alone but I found it therapeutic.  I had to motivate myself and push myself. Cycling has made me feel stronger and happier. What music gets you going? I love hip-hop, r&b, and pop music so I created a playlist to push myself.

This is what is on my playlist this week:
1. Vic Mensa f/G Eazy - Reverse
2. Trey Sonyz - Top 10
3. Meek Mill - Going Bad
4. Lecrae - Whatchu Mean
5. Tessa Thompson - I Will Go to War
6. Travis Scott - Sicko Mode
7. Cardi B - She Bad
8. Kelly Rowland - Kelly
9. Ciara - Dose
10. Sevyn Streeter - Yernin
11. O.T. Gensis - Everybody Mad
12. DJ Khaled - Shining
13. Jessie J - Bang Bang
14. Bruno Mars - Finesse
15. Post Malone - WOW

Remember don't be too hard on yourself, just try and do better than the day before. Music gets me going and helps me push further. What make you push harder?