Shameless Plug

So I've started selling Avon. I need to get it out there and get customers. I won't blog about it all the time and have you missing out on my adorable baby...promise. :) Here are some favorite things!

Reversalist

My mom got the 2 week kit to try this out and is totally in love!! She could go on and on, and I now have a great Christmas gift idea for her. :)

 

Holiday Silliness

 

 

If you know me well, you know I love all things Christmas....and Cinnamon is a favorite scent/flavor. I'm all over these $.69 lip balms!

Winter Hands

I can't wait to give this a try! We wash our hands a lot and they just get so dry in the winter. Skin So Soft has a great track record, I already know we'll love this.

mark.

 

 


mark. is another fave. It's Avon's younger, hip line of products and it's very cool. They have great hair styling products, fun and funky jewelry, makeup that's on the trendier side, skin care for younger skin and even clothes and accessories!

Okay, so that's my shameless plug. Go ahead and check it out and let me know if you have any questions! Click HERE!

Did I mention FREE shipping when you spend $30?!?!

Ok, done.

Another Sister!!

My baby brother got engaged!! I guess that means he's all grown up now. :)

I am so excited for him and super pumped for Avery to join our family! We love them so much!!!

Grocery Shopping....One MONTH at a Time

Warning: Boring homemaking blog.

Has anyone else noticed how expensive food is getting? Our grocery bill has been creeping up and up and up, so I decided to try something new. I shop for an entire month instead of just a week.

It's a big job! I hit up Sam's, Sprouts and H-E-B all on one day! I like it because it's already a pain in the butt to shop with a baby and lug everything upstairs, so why not do it once a month instead of once a week? (And, I only bring in the cold stuff and G has to get everything else once he comes home:) I've had several people ask about the logistics of this, so I thought I would share.

First, it takes some serious planning! I have to plan a menu for the entire month and then make a list off of that. That's 90 meals!! There are some repeats, but it's not identical week-to-week. I check the ads before I go and try to plan off of them, but sometimes I have to change the menu mid-shopping (like when roast was $5/lb...I think not!).

We go back to the store once to get milk and eggs and maybe some more fruit or veggies.

As far as produce goes, we eat all the stuff that goes bad quickly at the beginning of the grocery cycle; strawberries, salads, bananas, etc are all eaten right away. Then, we eat oranges, apples, pears, melons, squash and frozen veggies for the back half of the cycle.

I make a lot of some things and freeze portions, which is saving me some serious time and money. For instance, I got those gigantic cans of tomatoes at Sam's this week and made large amounts of Ghana Stew and Chili. We also freeze nearly all of the meat we buy, 5lb bags of shredded cheese, deli meat and juice concentrate.

The verdict? Huge savings and worth all the trouble! I save more than $100/month doing it this way, maybe even $200 (not including the gas and my time going to the store so many extra times) and really, it doesn't take that much longer to actually shop. I also find that I'm more inspired to cook and bake because there are so many more options in the house...aaaand, I feel like a total rock star when I finish my shopping! The only down side is that we barely have room to keep all the food. Currently, there is a case of bottled water, bag of sweet potatoes and 2 bags of apples sitting on the kitchen floor.

I don't mind...too much.

Floored

One of the things I am learning as a new mommy is to go with the flow whenever possible. It's the whole choose your battles thing. That is why my baby sleeps on the floor. Yes, on. the. floor.

Earlier this week, we were I was having a helluva time getting Tiny Togbe down. I went back to our room declaring defeat and that my sweet and wonderful baby could just cry! G had a bigger more wonderful parent heart at that moment and went in to take a turn. He made a pallet on the floor with M and they laid down together. After a little while, M fell asleep and G left. What? I didn't know this was possible! He's been on the floor ever since. Mind you, he has the most state of the art crib mattress on the market that is made to help regulate heat, reduce SIDS, blah, blah, blah but he would rather sleep on the floor. When I put him back in his crib in the night, he wakes up an hour later. So I'm going with the flow. My baby sleeps on the floor....and wakes in the morning happily playing on his tummy.

In other news, we have successfully weaned him off of Prilosec!! We are so excited to be medicine free (for real this time)!

And here is some cuteness for the day-I tried to post a video of M jumping, but it wouldn't work. Instead, how 'bout what Makafui looks like after my stylish African husband dresses him wacky and has a time with his hair? LOVE!

Wednesday Wanderings...

• This morning did NOT start the way I wanted it to.
• I'm leaning heavily on God and trying my hardest to trust him for the details.
• God always shows up for us...always.
• The cold snap we had this past weekend reminded me that the only part of winter I like is Christmas. I want it to be cold for Christmas, then it can go away.
• I will not complain about the weather, even if I do get cold.
• The Jammie Fairy came to our house! M has some cute new blanket sleepers...I super love them.
• I was praying for encouragement in any form God wanted to give it on the day the Jammie Fairy came. I'll take it! :)
• My husband sure does work his butt off. I'm so blessed by him.
• My husband is also SUPER modest and wouldn't tell people how hard he works or how well he is doing. I think that's hot.
• My husband is so hot.
• Entitlement is uuuuuugly. Like real ugly.
• I wonder what parts of my life I have a sense of entitlement...
• I love having the back door and windows open when the weather is nice. It makes me feel like we have the most simple, wonderful life.
• I started selling Avon....it's not just for old ladies. Word!
• I hope I am successful with sales and can make some pocket money or something.
• Since becoming a mom, I kind of think I can do anything. Really, anything. I haven't fallen flat on my face yet, but sometimes in the midst of the big things I'm doing, I do doubt that I'm as super as I thought I was.
• Funniest thing I've heard in a while; "What kind of coma is this?!" "Um.....do you know what a coma is?" "Oh, you are asleep for some time and then wake up! Seriously, he should answer his phone!"
• When my Nonnie and other family are in town at the end of the month, I am going to make a KILLER chocolate cake. It weighs 5 lbs!! Whatever they don't eat, I'm sure I can take care of.
• I love chocolate caramel apples. They seem so fallish to me.
• Chocolate caramel apples totally count as a fruit.
• Makafui leaned in real close to give me a kiss, but burped in my face instead. He is all boy.
• M has suddenly learned how to chew! It's pretty wonderful, he wants to try out this skill all the time now and thinks he can eat whatever we are eating.
• I'm not a hopeless romantic, but I totally believe in love and I want other people to as well.
• Everyday I look around our wonderful home and thank God for it. We have a beautiful apartment, and it's perfect for us.
• Algebra sucks...I'm just sayin'.
• George threw away the shoes I wore for the half. They were that bad.
• 1 week later G bought me some WAY better shoes-I'm back to getting my fitness on!
• I am maybe possibly thinking about doing the 3M Half Marathon in January. Maybe.
• International Delight's instant Pumpkin Spice Latte is just as good and way cheaper than the Starbuck's Via version. You're welcome.
• Fall and winter food is amazing- caramel apples, salted caramel cake balls, pumpkin bread, seasonal lattes, cranberry bliss bars, gingerbread and chocolate stuff, stuffing and so much more are just the bomb. So many delicious carbs!
• Those yummy foods are why I may be considering the 3M Half. If I start running/training then I can eat what I want.
• Nothing zests like a real Microplane, nothing.
• My parents are such a huge blessing to me. I can't even put it into words.
• I like Acorn Squash. I never seem to pick a good one though.
• My mom ALWAYS picks a good Acorn Squash.
• I'm doing a pretty big grocery shopping trip on Thursday, instead of making the real list, I am blogging about random things with lots of food thrown in. Hmmmm....
• One of Makafui's favorite play things of late is the Pepto Bismol bottle. Those little pills and that pink bottle are just too much fun. I laugh every time I see him shaking it up and down.
• Speaking of, Boy has got some rhythm! And no, he did not get it from the black/African side of the family. Don't stereotype.
• The thing about stereotypes is, well, usually they are true. Mostly.

Pumpkin Patch!!

We went to our very first Pumpkin Patch as a family. It was fun, but I know M will appreciate it a little more next year. :) It was also cold outside and Makafui had been quite the trooper who had been drug around town all weekend, with few naps. So he's not quite his normal smiley self, but I love the pics anyway.

I see so much of my family, especially my dad in this pic.

 

We love family! What a fun day!

End of an Era...

Just home from the hospital...

 

8 months later...

"I'm bustin' outta this joint!"

 

What has happened to my teeeny tiny baby?! The swing isn't safe anymore. Today, I put it away. This has been the single most used piece of baby equipment in our home, and I have loved it dearly. :) It was bittersweet putting it away. My baby is growing so fast!

8 Months!

We have official kicked into the , oh-my-goodness-time-is-flying stage. Makafui is 8 months today!! I cannot believe it! Each day I marvel at how wonderful life is with him as a part of it.

He's gotten another tooth and is working on 3 more. They've been giving him a hard time lately, but he's still quite the trooper!

He is oh-so-curious and I love it!

He goes from sitting to on his hands and knees, to his tummy all the time! Once he's on his tummy though, he can't figure out how to get back up to hands and knees.

He pulls up from sitting, but only onto his knees-thank God.

He still can't figure out how to go from laying down to sitting up. I'm not too bothered by this, it means we don't have to lower the crib yet. :)

He has figured out how to inch-worm nearly out of his swing. I'll have to say goodbye to that wonderful invention soon. :(

He has started saying the sounds ma and nuh. Pretty cool.

He will wave on occasion and say "hi", but with a very thick southern accent. Hilarious.

He's still ga-ga over his jumper. Too cute!

Hanging out in the nursery is a little bit of a crap shoot, sometimes he does super great (like today) and other days he doesn't last very long.

He cries when I leave the room sometimes and when I take something (usually my phone) away from him. These are both new developments.

He seriously seems to get cuter, sweeter, more fun and even more precious each day! So, so in love!

The Bleached Ghanaian Cooks

I'm sure I lost my title of Bleached Ghanaian/Queen Mother (or what have you) somewhere along the way these last few years, but I'll claim it for my cooking today.

People often ask us how Ghanaian our home really is. Like, do we eat Ghanaian food all the time, carry things on our heads, decorate Afro-centric, etc. Well, the truth is, we are fairly Western, especially when it comes to food. G fell in love with American food in no time and we haven't "needed" to cook Ghanaian like I thought we would.

With that being said, he does miss local food every now and then. George's favorite thing to make (and the easiest, since we don't have to track down foreign ingredients) is Stew.

Today, I am going to surprise him and make it myself. I've had several people ask for recipes, so I'm going to share. It's super simple!

Disclaimer: I desperately want to clean up this recipe and make it more neat (as in, all one meat, or the same meat family) and healthier, but I will not! I'm making it George's way. Enjoy...

The best way to start is to open the windows, crank up some Reggae and sip on Marley's Mellow Mood Tea.

 

Cover the bottom of a dutch oven with oil (we use veg., in Ghana they use palm, but I want G to live for a very long time, so we won't be getting any). Fry up about a pound of meat. I have left over chicken and ham, so that's what I'm using. You could do any combo of chicken, pork, beef, lamb, goat or even fish (tilapia). Cook reeeeeally well-like almost burn it. :)

 

 

While it cooks, chop an onion and peppers...the amount and type is up to you. G likes everything pretty big, no fancy little pieces here! I have a medium yellow onion, two jalapenos and two habeneros (seeds too!). I also peeled 3 cloves of garlic-no chopping.

Take out the cooked meat and let it rest on paper towels to soak up extra oil.

I tried, but I couldn't help myself, I removed about half of the remaining oil. :) Throw in all the onion and peppers.

 

Cook down until it looks like this...

 

Add 1 can of tomato paste, 1 large can of diced tomatoes, 1/2 a large can of tomato sauce (save the rest, you may need it) and 1-2 cubes of bouillon. We use this....yep, it's beef, that's 3rd meat for one recipe. Any kind you have is fine.

 

It should look something like this.

 

Let it simmer and cook down for at least an hour (or all day), it should darken a bit in color. Make white rice while you wait (8-12 cups for this much stew).

When it looks right, taste it. Add hot sauce (siracha in this house) to taste and more tomato sauce if it's too thick for your liking.

Serve over rice and with what should be Star Beer...Carona is good too. :)

Jumping. Monkey.

Makafui recently got this super fun jumper from a friend. She's just not into it anymore. Lucky for us, M is obsessed!! I've been parking it in front of the open windows in the morning and he pretty much loves everything about it. When we tell him to jump and clap for him, he throws his arms up and jumps like crazy. I LOVE IT!! He is too stinkin' cute!!

 

 

 

Yesterday, we went bummin' around with Uncle Jeremy and Miss Avery (who may or may not be Aunt Avery one day:) and had a lot of fun. We stopped at Old Navy and tried on costumes. M was actually excited and smiling in the mirror, too bad we didn't catch it.

Self Photo. Makafui Will, 10/01/12