Preschool at Home: Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.

We are half way thru with January. Can't believe it. Savannah and I have been working really hard on sight words and reading. We live in walking distance to the library and we go there often to check out books or rent Wii games.

For this particular trip I wanted to focus on finding books that talked about Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. Our library had a few books to choose from and we chose the three below. I have enjoyed reading these to her and introducing to her some of the facts about our nation's history.


Since we had been reading so much about MLK's vision I thought it would be fun to help Savannah make a vision board, but on a smaller Pre-K level. I started by getting some of her painting paper and my letter stencils.


Then I just asked her what her dreams were. I wrote them down in the color of her choice. As you can see, this activity had very little to do with her learning to write or cut. This activity was all about teaching her to recognize her dreams.


I thought she came up with some pretty good dreams for a three year old. I asked her simple questions like, "If you could learn anything what would it be? and " What do you want to be when you grow up?". I think it will be fun to do this with her every year at this same time and save them. When BabyM is old enough he'll do it too.

I plan to stencil her name at the bottom between the stars. I wanted to get this post up before it got too late. So. What do you think? How will you observe MLK Day with your little one? I know someone is out there thinking that this maybe too much for a three year old. So. I'll share something with you that I told a friend earlier today…

30th Birthday Countdown: Airport Attire

I originally planned this post to share an idea that I had for an airport outfit. I always like to be comfortable while I'm traveling. It's so much walking and sometimes rushing that I'm not normally decked out in an airport. So. I was originally planning to wear the outfit you see below. That was before we switched our flight time.

Now that we'll have to be up and out before it's cute to be up and out I don't know what I'll look like, LOL! Cause honestly five AM doesn't look good on anybody. Anyway. Should I decide to not wear sweatpants this is what I'll probably be wearing. (But no. Really. I'll probably have on some cute sweats that early. Judge if you must…)

Airport Ready by thechicsahm featuring blue jackets

If we weren't going so early I was thinking of wearing something like this below. My grey sweater coat is much cuter (if I do say so myself *in my Jay-Z voice*) than the one here. I like this look. Very cute and casual. The heels might be a stretch that early in the morning. We'll see how I'm feeling when I wake up…

Airport Ready by thechicsahm featuring hobo handbags

What do you wear on travel day? Do you try to do it up or do you rock sweats and sneakers?

Thought Bubbles...

I had lunch with a girlfriend today. It was so good to laugh and have girlfriend time…

We ate at Panera. I got the Greek Salad with Shrimp. It was bangin…

BabyM slept for 12 hours straight on New Year's Eve. Every night since then he has been up all night. He's my real, "We be all night…" (that's a Beyonce a song)

I keep saying I'm going to start using my grown up camera for the blog. One day I'm going to actually do it…

Recently I decided that I prefer mustard greens over collard greens…

I think I'm going to start getting Glamour magazine again. They mailed me an offer I can't refuse…

Or maybe it was the begging on the envelope that got me…

I have been working out. I can barely walk the stairs in my house. I cringe every time I have to make a trip carrying one of these kids…

It's gotten cold in Texas. I have become a hermit crab and I am secretly loving it…

I just remembered to track the shipping on an online clothing purchase. C'mon Thursday…

So glad that things are getting back to normal after the holidays…

Our fish Mr.Purple recently died. I wasn't sad. I was relieved to be free of bowl cleaning duties. Bad. I know…

Savannah 'made' me on the computer yesterday. Her replication of me was pretty spot on…

Currently watching Vanderpump Rules. I am always surprised when they say how old they are…

Someone mentioned to me that I should be taking bathing suits on our trip. That won't be happening…

I've been homesick a lot recently…

I want to try eyelashes for my Flirty30 but I don't want to look like a cheap baby doll when I blink…

I am contemplating getting a pair of Chuck Taylors. We shall see…

Only because they are the only shoe that I think will work with a dress I have during the cooler months…

My husband goes back to work in the morning. I'm just trying to figure out who's going to bring me the  breakfast I had grown accustomed to getting these past two weeks...

30th Birthday Countdown: What I'm Wearing in Vegas

I have finally narrowed down my options for my trip to Vegas. I didn't want to spend a lot of money shopping before our trip. Mama wants to make sure she has money to spend in Vegas you know what I mean?

Just when I thought I was going to have buy one of the dresses I showed you before Jesus smiled down on me with a 50% off sale at Express. While checking out the sale I saw that they had restocked my initial birthday outfit that was previously sold out. So happy that I'll get to wear sequins on my birthday and it cost less than dinner for two at a Vegas buffet. Win.

Party Looks by thechicsahm featuring a blue dress

Now y'all know I love black. I have said that many many many times here on the blog. So it's no wonder that almost all of my night looks are black. I can't help it. To switch things up a bit I am taking this blue dress with me. It's cute, comfortable and it has an exposed back zipper which I love. I'll be pairing the leather skirt with a sheer black top. So cute and sexy. 

I have this whole strategy for packing and doing a carry-on bag. It can be done. (i hope) What do you think about these looks?

Quick Dinner Idea: Sofrito Shrimp Tacos

This is one of those dinner ideas that you accidentally stumble upon because you're tired of eating all of your normal meals. You're in the grocery store and you just grab things that you've heard people say a lot on the Food Newtork…Am I the only one that's done that? Maybe so.

This is a less than 30 minute (cook time) dinner. It is so good. When I say good I mean it's so good that there weren't any leftovers. Maybe we were hungry or greedy but it was banging.

So the first thing you'll want to do is season your shrimp with this...

This is the main ingredient for this Sofrito super fast tacos. I get the Goya brand. Cause you know, if it's Goya...


I use about 4 heaping teaspoons for a pound and a half of shrimp. You want it to look like this. Covered and smothered. Pop that in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes.


I then chopped my veggies.


And sautéed them with a little extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper...


These are the tortillas we use. They are so good and good for you...


Here they are on my plate. (don't judge me. i needed all three of these.)


And folded up ready to meet their fate. Yum!! So easy and so fast. I topped them with some of my homemade salsa. That recipe is here...

Will you be making these? They are so good and so fast and easy to make. I can't say that enough, LOL! They are a little spicy if you add the salsa so keep that in mind when you plate for the little ones.

Ask Away Friday w/ Drea from So She Writes by Miss Dre

So excited to be kicking off the first Ask Away Friday of the year with the lovely Drea from So She Writes by Miss Dre. I love her blog and I've been following it for a long time. She writes about all things beauty, fashion and mommy hood. Love it. Her style, beauty and fashion sense is amazing. She also writes about music and will have you on iTunes spending all your spare change to create the perfect playlist.  I am always reminded about songs or albums I haven't listened to in a while after visiting her blog. 

As you know Ask Away Friday is a link-up hosted by Penny from The Real Housewife of Caroline County.

And here are Drea's questions for me...

1. Congrats to you and hubby celebrating 8 years of marriage! If you could give a newlywed woman a bit of marital advice, what would it be?

Gee. I would tell her to make sure she has a life full of hobbies and friends outside of her marriage, keep family and friends out of the personal aspects of her marriage and let your man be a man. And remember teamwork makes the dream work!

2. What TV couple (past or present) remind you most of you and your husband? Why?

I would say it's a tie between Martin and Gina and Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert. We have that comedic chemistry that Martin and Gina have but at the same time we're still very much like the college kids who met years ago. Just smarter.

One of my favorite episodes of Martin...

3. Savannah and MJ have a sitter for the night, so at the spur of the moment you and hubby now have a date night. What are you wearing? What color lips are you rocking? How are you wearing your hair?

Hmmm. At the spur of the moment I'd probably reach for my go-to best fitting jeans, a sheer loose fitting black blouse, either black heels or booties and gold hoop ear rings. I'd without a doubt have a red lip and my hair would probably be either in a top knot if my hair happens to be straight or in a wash n go if it's curly.

4. I always ask this question: If your life had a soundtrack, what would be the top three songs?

Right now I'm going to have to go with Beyonce's 'Grown Woman', Prince's 'Pop Life' and Sounds of Blackness 'Black Butterfly'. There are so many songs that make up the soundtrack to my life but those are the first three that come to mind.

5. Tell me one thing about yourself you've never shared on your blog.

Something that I haven't shared here is that in the fourth grade I broke my femur bone and I was in a body cast for the whole school year. I had to be home schooled. Luckily, my fourth grade teacher, Ms. Jane Timmerman, volunteered to come to my house everyday after school to teach me. I will never forget that. 

6. What are three wardrobe staples you feel every Chic SAHM should own?

A great pair of jeans that fit perfect, a nice white blouse and leopard flats. (Leopard flats go with literally everything.)

7. Last week we talked briefly about "Flirty30" and checking out Vegas. What is one thing you would like to do or accomplish before turning 30?

Gee. Since I turn 30 next month…I think one thing I'd like to accomplish is making the gym/working out a part of my regular routine. If I can do that I'll be pretty happy with myself.

8. You talk about fitness and being a part of #TeamSnapBack often here. What motivates you to keep working out-- even on the days you just don't "feel" like it?

Honestly. The fact that I plan to wear a leather mini skirt next month motivates me. Cause less face it…That mini skirt is still going to be a mini whether I'm a mini or not. 

9. I smiled when I saw you were a Carolina girl, too. When you were here, where were your favorite places to shop and dine?

I am from Charlotte. Almost all of the malls in Charlotte were pretty decent. The city has grown so much since I last lived there. Some of my favorite places to eat don't even exist anymore but just in case I have some QC residents reading this I loved Pancho & Lefty's and Midtown Sundries.

10. I read on your blog that the four years you spent in DC really shaped you to become "your true self." What is the greatest life lesson you learned while out in the District?

The greatest thing that I learned there is to be yourself. I got to meet and work with people from all over the world there. It was great and I'm still really good friends with many of them. DC taught me to be open to new opportunities and to always hustle hard for the things I want. I might be a stay at home mom now but I still have a hustler's spirit.

I had a great time swapping questions with Drea. Be sure to stop by her blog to see the questions that I had for her!

The Mommy Olympics

Can I just say that motherhood and parenting is not a competition. It's not a sport. You're not going to get a trophy or a prize when you're child meets certain milestones, goes off to college or turns out to be a stand up human being. I'll double check with my Mom but I am pretty sure she hasn't received any kind of award for being a great Mother. (other than the sheer joy of seeing how awesome me and my brothers are)

You would think that just seeing your child do well would be enough of a 'prize'. The gratification and the unconditional love you receive from your child should be all the praise one needs for being a good parent. But nope. Some of these Moms out here need to know that their child is best and first. Your child started sitting up before mine? That's nice. Your child started sleeping through the night before mine? That's great. Annnnd guess what?

I don't care. All children grow and change in their own time.

I am not in competition with any other Mom. None of us are. The best thing we can all do for ourselves  is to stay in our own lane with our own kids. Focus on what's going on with your own children. Someone else's kid may be 'doing more' than your child. Their child might be 'more behaved' but focusing on that does absolutely nothing for me or my kids.

So. The next time any of us find ourselves comparing the parenting, development or behavior of another to our own let's remember…this is not (ain't) the olympics. She's not going to get a gold medal for what she's doing with her kids and you're not going to get a bronze medal for what you're doing with yours.

There is no first, second or third place.

I am not in competition with her. She's not in competition with me.

It's not like any of us will be getting rated or evaluated for a possible promotion so stop competing with that woman.

This is not a race. There is no finish line. There are no trophies or medals. She is not winning. You are not losing.