So Long Status Quo

I hesitate to post about this because some people just won't get it. Honestly, I wouldn't fully understand it either if my husband and children were not in my life. I have been really bothered (more like offended) by the fact that ALL the Disney Princesses are White. Ok, I know about Jasmine and Pocahontas. But, there are no Black princesses. In fact, it's not just Disney. I never see princess stuff that reflects other ethnicities.

I'm just putting this out there. What does that tell our (your) kids about who is beautiful and princess-like? It's worth thinking about and honestly it's worth considering if you should buy it. As parents, we say so much to our kids without even opening our mouths. Sometimes we don't realize it. I've heard it said, "if you're not opposing racism, you're helping the cause." Elie Wiesel said, "We must choose sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim." I promise it says a lot to a family like mine when we see little White girls playing with brown babies. It means something. It's a reflection of their parents' hearts and their awareness of a White dominated culture. That's my opinion anyway.

I could go on forever. But, instead I'll leave with a picture of the Disney movie that is supposed to come out this Christmas. It features "Tiana" a beautiful Black princess. So, 85 years and a dozen princesses later Disney is doing it. I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed that Tiana's prince isn't Black as well. But, it's a start and I'm happy about it.

Your Favorite Things....

I would love to know what some of your favorite things/products are.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

Just thought I'd share a few of my favorites. I love it when someone tells me about an amazing product and I later wonder how I ever lived without it! Ok, so this is the sunscreen I use for my own face when I'm out in the sun. It is SUPER hard to rub in but IT WORKS and it doesn't burn my skin or eyes. I ran 10 miles in it...it's waterproof and it's amazing! But, if you have darker skin it's not the best option because it won't rub in good enough (I can't use it with Journey b/c it makes her skin look purple).

I was mad when I found out about the magic eraser because I thought, "why hasn't anyone told me about this?" It works great on baseboards, doors, light switches and even hard to clean bathtubs/shower!

The Hooter Hider...you can get them on Etsy.com from $15-45. The cheaper ones are just as nice. I've gotten both. They are super cute and so convenient!

The Sit-n-Stand stroller. You can attach an infant car seat to the front and then it converts to a seat for the younger child once they're too big for the infact carrier. The older one can sit on the back (and can be strapped in) or they can stand and "ride." We LOVE this stroller!

I have the Moby Wrap, but this one is from Etsy.com. It's cuter than mine and it costs about $40. It's worth it! I kept Journey in it until she was 22lbs. I grocery shopped, carried her to church, went for walks, etc. I was a HUGE fan of the baby bjorn until I discovered this. I would never go back to the bjorn! It takes some practice but once you're comfy with it you won't be disappointed.

This is the schwinn double jogger. No, I do not own this $345 stroller but LaJuan has one that was given to her and IT IS INCREDIBLE! I basically pushes itself....enough said.

I just recently got this with a babiesrus giftcard I got from my nanny. I had one from target (eddie bauer) but my kids always found a way to get the the cart and suck on some nasty person's hand germs. This one (floppy seat) is about $40 but it covers the whole cart and you don't have to tie anything...it has a strong elastic band that just fits around the cart! And, once you're done you can fold it back into a little bag so it's easy to store in your car!

Troy University

This past weekend I drove with the kids up to Troy, Alabama for our 3rd annual alumni volleyball game. I have more pics of us in uniform that I'll post later. It was so great to see my besties from college!

Jayden watching the Trojans practice football! He wanted to get on the field but of course he couldn't. He did however seem more satisfied when he stuck his head between the bars to watch the players!

Rachel, Portia, and Julia!!!! Love these girls!!!!

We met our old coach in Montgomery for dinner. This was supposed to be a picture of the 5 boys (children of former players). But, it just wasn't possible to get them all to sit still for a picture. Close enough...

Sweet picture of Journey and Auntie Julia! Thanks Julia for the fun shoes...you always keep my kids clothed with stylish shoes. Yaay!

Summer Fun

Journey LOVES to eat an entire peach or nectarine (without the peeling). She makes a HUGE mess but it keeps her occupied and it's a healthy "snack."

We've been taking Jayden to tumbling classes on Saturday mornings at the YMCA. I absolutely love the YMCA. I think we'll always be members!

Doing the bear crawl. Most of the time he's off in la-la land and not doing anything his teacher asks...hope it's not a pattern for the future!

Ok, not the greatest picture ever BUT Jayden is constantly asking to hold Journey. I thought I'd capture his sweet big-brotherliness and her lack of enthusiasm.

RETREAT!!!!

This is our small group for "seminary wives" led by our new friend Melonie (black shirt/white pants). We had our last meeting at a condo in Sarasota. We had an absolute blast!

THE BEACH!!! We enjoyed a full day at Siesta Key, a beautiful gulf coast beach. No worries, no responsibilities...just good ole relaxing fun.

Melonie planned a great time for us. Here we were journaling about the "desires of our heart." Something I never really take the time to think about or ponder. It was pretty life changing for me.

Can you tell LaJuan was excited?

Sushi and Friends

We met our neighbors when we first moved in and have become friends. Our friends Mei and Lorenzo had us over for sushi and Japanese dumplings. We had a blast and the food was GOOD!

Mei making the sushi while we watched!

My first ever sushi...made with cucumber, avocado and crab. It was great!

Recent Shots of Journey

Baking a Cake for Daddy

It was all fun and games...until i poured the batter in the pan and put it in the oven. He obviously didn't get it. He apparently thought we were going to eat ALL the batter.