Friday Favorites

5 on Friday: My First Time

1. My Favorite Purchase: I recently joined Top Cash Back, and I am already in love. I got a $16.50 rebate to purchase the movie Big Hero 6 from Wal-Mart. The movie was only $14.99, so it looks like they paid me to buy it! Movie time with the cutest 4 yr old, priceless.  Check them out! 

2. My Favorite Surprise: Thanks to Meghan at Champagne and Suburbs for sharing, and a huge congrats and thanks to Joey at hodges Podges for her gift from Julep Maven! I am now spring ready (well, at least my fingers & eyes are!)

3. My Favorite Drink: I gave up Pepsi and this delightful mix of Crystal Light Lemonade & Strawberry Daiquiri

is making it all better!

4. My Favorite Quote: I am ready for a change!

5. My Favorite Song:  Glory is an amazing song,

and so Oscar worthy! 

Have a wonderful (hopefully sunnier) weekend!

the blog report: fabulous but freezing february

February was a fabulous month over at WIWBT, and here's why:

1. Slow-Cooker Saturday was a huge success! People really like to eat, huh! The most popular recipe for the month of February was Bourbon Chicken. The Bourbon Chicken was very tasty.  Did you try it? What did you think about it? 

2. Another 21-Day Challenge is in full swing for me; how about you? Have you started shopping for your Summer 2015 swimsuit or bikini?  I have my eye on one of each!

3. The NC edition of Winter Wonderland has been amazing! If for no other reason than the additional family time and rest!

4. Tamia made her February Holiday Ornament for Valentine's Day! We went a little glitter crazy!

5. I prepped my planner, and I LOVE IT! 

6. I ran/walked my first 5k, Run for the Roses! I was #70 of 79 in my age range (okay, laugh, but I literally went from the couch to the race). I won't do that next and guess what? There will be a next time! I'm already registered to run another one! You can join me; there's still time!

7. I came to the realization that self love is a necessary love; and I plan to do a lot more of it! To love myself this month, I bought red lipstick:Urban Decay F-Bomb! What a name!

8. I have successfully accomplished 3 of my 10 In 2015 goals. 

9. I got Sling TV! Forget cable!

10. And what could be better than ending the month with Francis Underwood? Yes, that's right Netflix's original series House of Cards Season 3 starts today! Who else is excited about what the now President of the United States is up to (the power of manipulation is the real power)?   

So you know my February Rundown, how was your February?

Check out what March Promises!

march promises to be great

First of all, I am looking forward to March for a number of reasons, the obvious reason being that this is my birthday month (March 8th- Yay!).

But I am excited for many more reasons: here they are!

March is Women's History Month, and I plan to celebrate women all month long.  So join me this month in celebrating the beauty that all women possess as I weave the story of some amazing women into the fabric of our lives! What are you doing to celebrate women this month? Do tell!

Women's History Month 2015

and

In my endeavor to Pay it Forward and help strengthen women, I am supporting InterAct of Wake County: a private,

nonprofit United Way agency that provides safety, support, 

and awareness to victims and survivors of 

domestic violence and rape/sexual assault.  

Domestic violence and sexual assault are real issues, so 

please join me and donate to them this month in honor of 

Women!

Also, if you love thrifting, you can support InterAct by 

shopping at Pass it On or Pass it On Too, 

upscale thrift 

 stores 

located in Raleigh and Fuquay that sell new and used

 women's and children's clothing and accessories, or if you 

are an Amazon shopper, consider linking your purchases to 

Amazon Smile "where you shop and Amazon gives", so go  

shopping and start giving!

If you are a victim of Domestic Violence get help now- 
start here

and

I plan to have Feel-Good Friday Link-up Parties all month! If you are interested in joining, please grab the button and link back to WIWBT blog! I hope that you are interested in partying with me! Why wouldn't you be?

I hope that you are as excited about March as I am! What do you plan to do in March? 

Ms. Nia Long, my #wcw

Yes, I do have a woman crush, and I am sure that I am not the only woman to find herself quietly admiring another woman. My crush however has far exceeded one day of the week, it has actually been in existence for years now. So who is this amazing woman that has captivated me for years, from her role as Kat on Guiding Light to Nina in Love Jones and then on to Jordan in The Best Man?  Well, she is none other than the timeless beauty, Ms. Nia Long.  

Nia from left- Guiding Light, Love Jones, The Best Man Holiday

It goes without saying that Nia Long is beautiful. So naturally when I realized that I was not going to look like a 25 year old forever (without some effort on my part), I turned to Nia Long (44) for my inspiration. Nia is flawless. Nia is classy. Her skin is beautiful, her smile is dazzling, and her hair (long or short) is always on point. She is the epitome of beauty, thereby making her the perfect model for me to emulate when it came time to reinvent myself and embrace my 40's! So I researched Nia's look, and much to my surprise, she had shared her beauty secrets.  And even though I was mostly interested in her skin care secrets, because she always looks so radiant and sun kissed, I will share all that I found, and let me tell you, I struck gold! 

Nia's Skin Care Regimen

Home Health Almond Glow- I use the Lavender Scent 

Jason C Effects Creme- Make sure that

Exfoliate Skin- I make my own exfoliation from a recipe I found on the Internet: organic raw brown sugar, organic coconut oil, honey, and vanilla. (I love this stuff; it makes my body irresistibly soft- even for me)

Clarisonic- can be used on your face or your body

Nia gets regular facials and she does have microdermabrasion treatments as well. Using the Clarisonic could aid also aid you in your attempt to get obtain glowing sun-kissed skin. The Clarisonic is an investment that is well worth it.  And yes, the Clarisonic does work well on women of color! 

Nia's Hair Care Products

           

One thing is certain, and that is that Nia's hair is thick and beautiful. She admits that when she isn't working (she wears weave when she's working) that she uses Keratase Magnifique Thick, which works wonders for thick hair. Luckily, Keratase also has a regimen for fine or thinning hair as well. Which is a good thing for women life me, women with fine and/or thinning hair. Another thing women with thinning hair should do is minimize the amount of heat they apply to their hair, and if they can, they should allow their hair to air dry. Additionally, for extra protection against the elements (wind and sun, etc) it is important for ALL women to wear a hat or scarf to protect their hair and scalp. And last but still very important, women need to invest in a leave-in conditioner with sunscreen especially if they spend any amount of time outside.  

Does Nia's Beauty Plan Work For Me?

I have noticed a dramatic difference in my skin and its overall appearance. I do glow. I also notice that when I do not follow my skin regimen as I should, I don't look like I have a natural shine. Therefore, I make it my priority to follow my skincare regimen daily. I know that being the best me starts with how I look, just ask Nia. Where do you think it starts?

Nia 2014 NAACP Awards

a pisces woman am I

illustrated by Lynnie Zulu

Every year, I delve into astrological reports to find out what it means to be a Pisces. Sometimes I am utterly disappointed at what I find and other times I am just mildly intrigued. But this year, I think I have found the description that best fits me to a "T" (well almost to a T-- not sure I totally agree with that bit about me liking to be the center of attention,ha!). I would like to add that because I have been too trusting, I have been hurt and as a result, I have become quite cynical. I plan to change that! Better days are coming

PISCES - The Partner for Life (February 19 to March 20) 
Caring and kind. Smart. Likes to be the center of attention. Very organized. High appeal to opposite sex. Likes to have the last word. Good to find, but hard to keep. Passionate, wonderful lovers. Fun to be around. Too trusting at times and gets hurt easily. VERY caring. They always try to do the right thing and sometimes get the short end of the stick. They sometimes get used by others and get hurt because of their trusting. Extremely weird but in a good way. Good sense of humor!! Thoughtful. Loves to joke. Very popular. Silly, fun and sweet. Good friend to others but needs to be choosy on who they allow their friends to be.


I love this person; she is so me! What do you think?  Does your astrological sign truly depict who you are?  If not right now, maybe you still have some room left to grow. 

because i need it and so do you

Just a little something to get most of you started after having a glorious week off. 

Thank you Mother Nature!

Here's how I got moving this morning...

Yes, I was in my car getting down!

Now go give it to them...

I'm So Fancy: Oscar 2015 Edition

Oscars 2015 by whileiwasbusythinking featuring cross strap sandals

feel good friday, because little things matter

Tamia just makes me feel, so good I just have to share the little reasons why...

While watching the snow from the window, she said...

"That snow ain't playing!"

Because I made tuna salad for dinner, she said...

Mommy, you are out of this world!

Even after having french fries 3 nights in row, she said...

I tore those French fries up, right Mommy

Out of nowhere, she said... 

  Mommy, Mommy, guess what? I just wiped my own p--p! Aren't you so proud of me?

#yesiwas #justkeepitup

After yet another snow+ice day inside, she said,

Mommy, why don't you sit down and take a nice relaxing break

love her, mean it!

Happy Friday,

join the movement #slowcookersaturday

Almost everyone I know owns a slow cooker, but my question to them is "Do you actually use it?" I now own 2 slow cookers because these kitchen staples have changed my life, and I would be remiss if I did not shout it from the mountaintop. Well, I'm afraid of heights, so blogging about it will have to suffice. I first experienced the wonder that is slow cooking when I made a slow cooker lasagna recipe that I came across on FB. It looked delicious, and I love lasagna (even the frozen kind), so I thought I'd give a shot. I did, and it was easy, and what's more, it was well received by all. That was back in December. I posted a pic of it on FB, and I could tell by some of the comments that people were salivating over my yummy dish. Hence, the idea was hatched, and #slowcookersaturday was born. I have successfully completed 7 straight #slowcookersaturday (s), and I have to say that my fear of trying something new has waned, and that meal planning has become a healthy habit.

My slow cooker-infrequently used- sat in my cabinet for the past 6, but now that it has been removed, it has been redeemed, and now holds the title as my favorite cooking tool.  

Join me Saturday as I make slow cooker lasagna. I love it, and you will too!

Via

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Ground Beef or I use 1/2 Ground Turkey and 1/2 Ground Beef- (Vegetarian option- no meat add zucchini or spinach).
• Lasagna noodles (no need to boil)
• 2 1 jar(s) of spaghetti sauce; I typically use whatever brand is on sale 
• 1 1/2 cups of ricotta
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

• Season and brown ground beef/turkey and drain (I season my meat with oregano and garlic powder to taste).
• Spoon 1 Cup spaghetti sauce in bottom of 4 quart crock pot.
• Mix remaining sauce with beef (I add a little sugar to the meat sauce- just a little).
• Place 2 uncooked lasagna noodles on sauce in crock pot.
• Spread 1/3 meat mixture on top of noodles.
• Spread 3/4 Cup cottage cheese over meat.
• Sprinkle 1/2 Cup mozzarella cheese over cottage cheese.
• Add another layer of uncooked noodles, 1/3 meat mixture, the remaining cottage cheese and 1/2 Cup mozzarella cheese.
• Place another layer of uncooked noodles, meat mixture, and mozzarella cheese.
• Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top.
• Cook on low for 4 hours.

Be careful not to overcook! Enjoy with a tossed salad and some garlic bread. 
Follow Tamara's board I'm Slow Cooking| #slowcookersaturday on Pinterest.

another 21-day challenge

Well, it looks like I'm a little obsessed with these 21-Day challenges. First it was the 21-Day No Junk Food Challenge, and now it's Redbook's Strong Sexy You 21-Day Challenge. 21-Day Challenges give me the feeling of accomplishment, and the Redbook Challenge is said to be "deceptively simple, but gets serious results", and I like that in a challenge. If only someone would create a 21-Day Paper Grading Challenge. Anyway, this challenge looks like it's just what I need to get a jumpstart on my summer body. Thanks to Redbook we can all be stronger and sexier in just 21 days.
  

How do you plan to get Strong and Sexy for the summer?

Don't have a clue, join me!

Start Date: 2.19.15 End Date: 3.11.15

wishful wednesday

What every woman needs this Spring

Shop these items

wishful wednesday by whileiwasbusythinking featuring slip on shoes