Mummy's Jamaican Curry Chicken

I've been craving for some curry chicken for a while now.  Between work, classes, and tending to my one year old, it's been pretty tough to squeeze in time for some down home cookin'.  I've gotten my 20 minute meals down pat.  But there are times when I want some real Jamaican food.  Sometimes my mom would bring over some of her tasty creations.  But this time I wanted to go back to the old me for a sec.  If you didn't know before, then you know now that I can throw down in the kitchen.

It's funny how my mom used to have my sis and I in the kitchen cleaning and seasoning chicken.  Most times I was on onion peeling duty, aka the dirty work.  My eyes would burn so bad that I'd sometimes lose vision.  I can look back now and appreciate what my mom taught me.

She always said to us, "unu fi no ho fi cook a min yawd!"
Translation,"we should know how to cook and take care of the home ."

I plan on passing on the same teachings to my baby girl.  It's important for her to know how to fend for herself.  But most importantly, it's important for her to know her culture.

It'll be a long while before she can put pot to fire.  So I'll have to be the one to do the heavy lifting for now.  I taught my hubby how to make rice and chicken.  He chips in from time to time.  Maybe this will be his next lesson.  Who knows?

Anyway, I may not have a lot of time on my hands to really get down and dirty.  But this week, I've had a little extra to play with.  Now I want share my Mummy's Curry Chicken with you.  FYI, I usually don't measure.  Mummy always would say to use my judgement, if I ever asked "how much?"  So, here's a guide for ya.  Feel free to add more or less seasonings to please your taste buds.  Hopefully my fancy pics will also help to guide you along.

Ingredients
1 Chicken
1 medium potato cut in small pieces
1 carrot chopped (optional)
1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons of Jamaican curry powder
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped scallion
3 cloves of garlic (or a couple tablespoons garlic powder)
Seasoning salt (add according to your taste buds)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
If you like spicy, throw in a scotch bonnet pepper for an extra kick.  If you have little ones or if your sensitive to a lot of spice, you may want to omit it from the recipe.

A few sprigs of thyme
A little ginger
1 tablespoon oil (I like using olive oil)

Prep time usually takes about an hour.  You'll need a large bowl for seasoning, very sharp knife, a cutting board, and a dutch pot for cooking and foil.

1. Thoroughly wash chicken with salt and lemon

2.  Clean, rinse, dry, and cut chicken into small pieces

3.  Place chicken pieces in bowl.  Combine 5 tablespoons curry power, onion, scallion, garlic cloves, few sprinkles of seasoning salt, black pepper, thyme, ginger.  If you love spice add the scotch bonnet pepper.  Oh and shhhhh!!! add a few squirts of ketchup (not normally added, but it's Mummy's secret ingredient).  It gives a nice flavor, texture, and color.

4.  Place everything in a bowl, cover, and marinade.  For best results leave in the refrigerator overnight.

5.  When ready to cook, add oil and 1 teaspoon on curry powder in a pot.  Bring to a boil, and add curry chicken mix.  Cover with foil.  Be sure to turn the heat down low.

6.  Turn chicken over occasionally throughout the cooking process.  It should take about an hour and a half to two hours to cook.  Serves 8-10.

Check out the video clip for more on the completed product.

Thanks again for reading and watching.  Now all I need is some Jamaican rice and peas to go along with it, and I'll be good to go.  Stay tuned for the that recipe!

Weather Anchor Mama

Nursing Diaries (Part Five)

Keeping My Milk Supply Up

One of my biggest concerns as a nursing mom has been keeping my milk supply going strong.  I’ve spoken with so many moms who say they were unsuccessful at breastfeeding because they ran out of milk.  I didn’t want that to happen to me, so I consulted my doctor for advice.  Basically, I researched my butt off.  Here’s what I’ve been doing to keep my supply going.

1)   When I told my daughter’s pediatrician that I was going to breastfeed, he told me to drink 4 oz. of water before, during, and after each nursing session. 

As soon as we returned home from the hospital, I sent my hubby out to get several gallons of water.  I kept it close by throughout my maternity leave.  There were times when I felt like I would pop from drinking so much liquid.  But I eventually got used to consuming all that H2O.  The doc also mentioned that I shouldn’t give my baby water for the first 6 months.  So, taking in water myself meant my baby and I both stayed hydrated.

2)   I’ve also maintained a healthy diet by taking in about 500 extra calories a day.  The added bonus is that breastfeeding helps me burn a lot of calories too.  (Every now and again I hit the gym, so eating more is sometimes necessary).

3)   Plus the more I nurse, the more milk I produced.

4)   In addition, I’ve made it a point to pump at work, which also aids in milk production.

5)   There are plenty of cookie recipes that include the ingredient brewer’s yeast that’s believed increase milk supply.  Some women even swear by Fenugreek.  I haven’t got around to trying those sweet treats, and I didn’t notice much of a difference when I took Fenugreek.  But maintaining a healthy diet, nursing and pumping, as much as I can has done the trick for me.  It’s all about dedication baby! 

Following these simple tips has helped me through my breastfeeding experience.  It’s been over a year and I’m still going strong!  How have you increased your milk supply?

P.S.  Shhhh I have one more tip to share.  If you wanna know about it, hit me up at stacyann@stacyanngooden.com

Weather Anchor Mama

Messy Eating & Some Park Fun

In case you haven't noticed, I love taking pics of Princess.  She loves posing for the camera.  I like to capture all the great moments.  Whether being a messy eater or just enjoying some park fun, Princess always has a fab time!  She's still cute with her messy mouth and all!

Weather Anchor Mama

Debating What to Do About Santa

It seems like the holidays came so fast this year.  Every where I turn I see Christmas lights!  I think that retailers skipped over Thanksgiving decorations and went right to the Christmas displays.  Technically, this will be Princess's second Christmas.  Last year she was only a few months old and didn't really get to enjoy it.  All she wanted to do was eat through the gifts.  She was also sick with bronchiolitis during the holidays.  So, I wasn't thinking about going all out with decorations and pictures.  I'm not a Scrooge!  I was just more concerned with nursing my baby girl back to health.

Now that she's doing much better this year (fingers crossed), I have no excuse.  I came across this pic of my hubby's first Christmas.  His mom dressed him in this cute outfit for his photo with Santa.  

It got me thinking of whether or not I should do the same for Princess.  I was never taught to believe in Santa.  In fact, my siblings and I were told there was no such thing.  I was the kid who went around school saying Santa was fake.  I should also mention that by the time my family and I migrated to this country, I think most kids had already realized the truth.  Therefore, I probably didn't ruined Christmas for a lot of kids.  I hope.  

Now that I'm a mom, I'm not quite sure what to do.  I've always moved to the beat of my own drum.  I've never been the kind of person to do things just because everyone else is doing them.  But, I grapple with depriving my baby girl of this American tradition.  Some may say I'm over thinking this, but I say I don't want my daughter feeling left out.  I also wouldn't want her running around saying Santa is fake, and ruin Christmas for her schoolmates.  

I was at the mall with some relatives over the Thanksgiving break and someone mentioned, "Why don't you have her take a picture with Santa?"  I can't remember if I gave a response.  But, I did feel that it was a waste of time.  Why should I have her take a photo with this make believe person?  Why should I tell my child that this white old fat guy with a beard visits all the kids who are nice, and gives them presents?  I remember having a discussion with my brother and sister back in the day.  We questioned the idea of this guy, and his reindeer being able to deliver gifts all over the world in one night.  It just didn't make sense!  I still see some parents go all out to feed this nonsense to their little ones.  These poor kids actually believe it.  They wait on this long line at the mall just to take a pic with him.  When they finally get old enough to understand the truth, they're heart broken.  Do I put my child through that same heartache, or do I keep it real with her?  It's bad enough that I feel like a hypocrite doing a Santa tracking forecast every year at work.

The way I see it, her daddy and I work hard to support our family.  We're responsible for all the gifts, along with all the people who love her.  Why should I give this man, who doesn't exist, all the credit?

If I have her take a pic with this guy, I feel like I'd be perpetuating this fakery.  I'm kinda torn.  I knew that I'd have a tough time making these kinds of decisions, when it came to the holidays.  I certainly don't mind compromising like I did for Halloween.  But, I'm just not sure about this one.

My hubby and I celebrated Christmas differently as kids.  He believed in Santa until he was about seven or eight.  I never did.  I'm leaning more toward teaching Princess about the real meaning of Christmas and how it came about.  Instead of making a list, I want her to have an appreciation for all the gifts she's given.  My hubby and I have a lot to discuss.  Let's just hope we can arrive at a nice balance.  I'll let you know what we come up with.

Do (did) your kids believe in Santa?  Do (did) they take pics on his lap?

Weather Anchor Mama

Post Thanksgiving Pics

Hope you all are enjoying the Thanksgiving weekend.  The weather was so nice!  Princess wanted to frolic around outside for a bit before heading to grandma's house.  I snapped these cute pics.

Fresh Look Makeup for Thanksgiving

I don't usually get all dolled up when family drops by.  However, this time is different.  Last year Princess ate her turkey dinner by way of mommy's breast milk, now this Thanksgiving she can sit in her high chair and chow down with everyone.  Thankfully my mom and sis will be doing all of the cooking. I'll be on salad and dessert duty.

I also have family traveling both internationally and domestically, which doesn't happen often.  We'll be taking pics, so I have to look my best.  I'm not talking about over the top TV makeup.  I want to have on just enough to not look a hot mess.  Here's a quick demo on achieving a fresh look for Thanksgiving dinner with my family.

The holidays will come and go, but pictures will last forever.  I'm grateful to be able to celebrate with people I care about.

How'd you celebrate Thanksgiving? Did you get dolled up?

Don't forget to share your makeup tips!

Ode to Hubby; Just Because

It ain't Christmas, it ain't Valentines Day, and this ain't a birthday or any other holiday poem.  I'm writing this just because.

My hubby and I have been together for over ten years.  I don't usually write about him because he's a VERY private person.  He doesn't like when I mention him in my blog or post his pic.  His reaction is usually something like, "don't post that!" "Don't tell me this is for another one of your blog post!"  He'll give me a hard time when I stop to take pics of Princess, but will later turn around and say, "can you email me that pic without the watermark?"  I laugh hysterically and joke around with him saying something like, "I thought you didn't want me taking pics for the blog.  Now you're begging me to send them to you? hehe"  I make fun of him because  I know deep down he loves that I have this blog.  He just likes to put up a front.  He's the first to say, "Hey, that was a nice post."  He's also a great copy editor.  Sometimes he'll even point out my typos.

With all that said, I'm so lucky to have him in my life.  He's supportive.  He's a great hubby, and the best dad Princess could ever have.  I definitely lucked out big time because he was the one that almost got away.

Ladies, you know what I mean.  Most women don't go for the nice guys.  We want the ones who are a little rough around the edges.  I was one of those girls growing up.

My hubby came into my life unexpectedly.  Even though he was the complete opposite from my usual type, I knew he was perfect for me right off the bat.  But, it was difficult for me to pursue a relationship with this very handsome, nice young man.  Being the bold person I was (and still am) I asked him out to dinner anyway.  We had a great time and when the bill came, he insisted on paying.  We fought over it, but he ultimately won.  It took a while, but he eventually won my heart too.

People always ask what keeps our relationship going so strong.  "It's not easy," I always say.  We met when we were kids.  We were full time college students and part time telemarketers at a bank.  We were young and inexperienced.  We became the best of friends before we were lovers.  I can't lie, I can be a handful and he can be too.  But we make sure we talk things through.  From time to time we also do nice things for each other.  It could be something as simple as me making his favorite meal or him running out to the store just to get me some eggo waffles.  Diamonds are cool.  But it's the simple things like coming home to a clean house, and seeing how great he is with our daughter that I find romantic.

I often say he's the one that almost got away because I felt that I didn't deserve him.  It took a while, but I finally realized he was the one for me.  I'm glad that I never let him go.  We've been married for seven years and we have a beautiful daughter.  I couldn't be happier.  I have a man who supports me in all my endeavors.  He has my back no matter what, and I'll forever be his ride or die chick.

This ain't another Christmas, Valentine's Day, anniversary, or any other kind of sappy special occasion love letter.  I just wanted to write this post just because I love my hubby.

How often do you tell your significant other you love him or her?  Do you only exchange gifts on holidays or do you randomly give something "just because?"

Weather Anchor Mama

Running Loose

Once Princess got on to the field, she couldn't contain herself. At one point she runs into the camera and almost wipes out.  Sometimes you gotta let the kiddos run loose.  She wore herself out and slept like an angel later on.

First Trip Grocery Shopping

Have you ever taken your little one grocery shopping?  I thought I never would.  But, I finally gave in.  The plan was to spend no more than a half hour because you know how kids can be.  They go nuts if they're in the same place for too long.  I made sure Princess was changed and fed before we left.  I didn't want any surprises.  I packed her diaper bag with all the baby essentials, just in case.  You may be thinking I'm being a bit over the top, but with Princess you can never be.  I made sure to keep a stash of goodies along with her pacifier, baby wipes, and water just to name a few.

My hubby was totally against making this a family affair.  So I wanted to show him it can be done, if planned properly.  When I told him to pack the stroller, he gave me the "woman you're crazy look."  Most people don't put their toddlers in a stroller at the supermarket.  They have them sit in the shopping cart.

For those of you who don't know, I am a germafobe.  I'm the nut-job who likes to disinfect her work space everyday.  I have to thoroughly wash my hands at least fifty million times a day, and the same goes for my daughter.  The minute she gets home I hose her down!  Ok not literally, but I do like to make sure she's clean.  I'm not that obsessed all the time though.  You've seen some of her messy eating pics.  I believe in letting kids be kids, and that means getting a little dirty now and then.

But when it comes to those shopping carts, I can't get salmonella out of my head.  Think of all the germs on those things!  So, I decided to bring her stroller.

Once we got there, it didn't take long for her to grab for everything in sight.  It wasn't so bad at first.  We'd just give her something from one of the aisles to keep her busy.  But, that didn't last.  She completely lost it after a while.  I don't know if having one of those shopping cart covers would have helped because she wanted all the items in the shopping cart too.  I even tried the emergency stash in her diaper bag no avail.

It turns out our trip lasted a little over an hour, which was well past the thirty minute goal.

Her screams got so loud that I had to take her out of the stroller.  When that didn't work, I told my hubby to meet us in the car. I guess he was right after all.  This may be the last trip to the grocery store for a while.

When did you begin taking your little one grocery shopping?  How was it?

Weather Anchor Mama

A Quiet Homecoming

Princess is usually knocked out when I get home. But, wakes up within a half hour of my arrival. It's like her body is in-sync with mine!

 Weather Anchor Mama

Is it Possible to Outgrow Your Home?

When my hubby and I found out we were expecting, we began making room for our bundle of joy.  That meant turning our guest room into a baby room.  But, I didn't imagine how much space a baby would need!

We didn't have to paint, thank goodness!  I'm a pretty simple person.  I've never been into adding all the foo-foo-la nursery stuff.  It's cute and all, but not practical for us.  I'd just end up having to remodel again later on, once he/she gets older.  Oh, that's another thing!  I also new I wanted the gender to be a surprise.  We kept the walls beige and everything else the same.  I know it sounds a bit boring, but we added a textured effect which made the walls really pop.  My hubby likes flat, blah colors, and I've always been into bright shades.  So, he met me half way and settled on a rag paint technique.

It's something we did when we first moved in.  We kept the full size bed which was normally occupied by my nephew, who often stayed with us.  Everyone who came over asked about how we planned to decorate the nursery.  I used to feel bad that we really didn't do much.  I'd say, "all we added to the bedroom was this crib."

I'd get the occasional stare or some weird comment.  But now that I think about it, I'm kinda glad we didn't go all out because we barely have room to fit all her stuff now.  If I knew she'd never sleep in the crib, I would have told my mom to save her money!

It’s been over a year and I can see our home shrinking before my eyes.  The bigger Princess gets, the more room she needs.   My baby girl doesn’t even have her own closet!  I'm to blame for that, I guess.  I took over our bedroom closet, so my hubby was forced to take over hers.  Hey, I'm in the TV biz!  It requires a lot of clothes.  What can I say?  


Now I'm on a mission to make more room for our baby girl without sacrificing our own needs, our wallets, and our sanity!  Here are some steps I've taken so far:


1) For starters, I donated clothes she can no longer fit.  It's freed up space in the dresser drawer that holds all her clothes.

2) She also has outfits she'll be growing into soon (and the cute ones I can't part with yet).  That's all kept in a storage bin in the closet.
3) I've contemplated donating the crib.  But, may hang onto it in case we have another baby down the road.
4) I've also returned many of the toys and baby gadgets she's never used.
5) All her books have been packed away in drawer and bookshelf.
6) And I've decided if we don't need it, we don't buy it.  Making unnecessary purchases only takes up space!


Have you dealt with this? If you have any other suggestions, hit me up! 


Weather Anchor Mama

Fun Pics!

Just wanted to share some fun pics! The weather has been unseasonably mild and Princess has been enjoying the outdoors. There were days she didn't need a jacket, and times when all she rocked were short sleeves.  I know these nice days won't last long.  The chill will be on soon, and Winter is around the corner.  If I could have it my way, the mercury wouldn't fall below 70 degrees.

Weather Anchor Mama

Hateration in the Biz

When I decided I wanted to enter the world of journalism, I had no idea what I was in for.  People always ask if I knew this was I wanted to do as a child.  "I wanted to be a lawyer," was my response.  But after failing to prepare for the LSATs (the entrance exam to law school), I realized it wasn't for me.  On the advice of a career counselor, I applied for an internship at a local TV station and the rest is history.

I've been in the biz for a while now, but it wasn't always easy.  As a woman I found it extremely difficult to get a job, and being a woman of color made it even harder.  Don't get me wrong, I'm very appreciative of the opportunities I've been given.  I've worked hard to get here, and I'll continue to work my butt off.  But, sometimes working hard isn't enough.  This is a business that requires a lot of talent, but physical appearance also plays an important role.  I remember applying for jobs every where across the country.  I also applied to a local TV station in my native country, Jamaica.  I remember being told by different news directors that I wasn't the right fit, I needed more experience, and my American accent wasn't acceptable.  I understood not having  enough years under my belt, but all the other reasons didn't make sense at all.  You could be great at your job.  But if you don't "fit" the station's look, your chances of being hired are slim.

It seemed as though getting a job was mainly contingent upon the color of my skin or my gender.  It was evident when someone asked, "Why are you sending your resume to North Dakota, black folks don't live out there?"  I responded, "I never really thought about that."  I started to search the bios of various reporters across the country.  I noticed that most stations only had one person of color.  Sometimes that person was Hispanic or Asian, which narrowed the chances of me getting hired even more.  To say it wasn't discouraging would be a complete lie.  In all honesty, my confidence was a bit compromised.  But, it didn't stop me from continuing my job search.  I've been very fortunate to land all my gigs in New York.

I refuse to give excuses as to why I was hired.  Instead I choose to believe that I was chosen based on my talents.  The challenges of finding a job wasn't the only obstacle I faced.  Making friends in the biz has been difficult as well.  I'm not talking about the fake friends.  You know the kind of people you'd see at an event and they give you the fake air kiss saying something like, "How have you been sweetie?"  I'm talking about real friends who remember your name.  The kind that will call you up and congratulate you on a job well done.  The sort of person that will also call you to say hello, invite you out to lunch, and not dig for information about your personal life.  I've met so many people.  Some who have become true friends.  I've also met those who haven't been so nice.  Hey, it's the nature of any business.  Some people feel if they have to throw you under the bus to get to the top, then so be it.  I used to wonder why people could be so mean, especially women.  But after all these years, I finally get it!

It goes back to what I mentioned before.  I noticed that every station I researched had one, or no person of color.  For instance, if a station only has one minority woman weather anchor, then the chances of hiring another would be highly unlikely.  The lack of diversity often leads to competition among journalists which could cause tension.  I've had the experience of someone not liking me because we were going for the same job.  It made me a bit sad and uncomfortable.  To be honest, I'd rather get along with someone than to have there be tension.  Plus, I've always believed as women, we should support one another.  Historically, it's been a long struggle for us.

Before women's suffrage in 1920, females weren't able to vote throughout the nation.  Black men were given voting rights long before a woman could even check off a paper ballot.  I don't mean to digress, but I often wonder why there's so much tension among women in the work place.  Is it because some women feel like there's not enough room for all of us?  Could it be jealously?

I try not to get caught up in all of that jealously or hate.  Instead, I choose to focus on me.  I see myself as my own competition.  I find that if I were to get too caught up in what someone else is doing, then that's time taken away from achieving my goals.  I'd rather be happy for someone who does well because I feel that it's better to congratulate than to spread hate.

As for the job situation, I must say that it's getting better.  When I turn on the news here in NYC, I do see more people of color throughout the broadcast.  But, I know we still have a long way to go.  Just a few months ago I had a conversation with an executive from a syndicated entertainment program.  He admitted to me that I didn't stand a chance hosting the program.  He went on to say that they don't usually hire black women, they prefer the blond hair blue eyed type.  He also added that if I resembled Halle Berry that would put me in a better position to become a correspondent.

Halle Berry and Tyra Banks.  Whenever I saw women who looked like me, I got super excited.  In fact, I still get excited to this day.  I was actually glad that this person admitted to this insane bigotry.

Despite this fact, I would never give up my career.  If one executive chooses not to hire me because I'm dark skinned, I'll just move on to the next station.

As I write this post, my intention isn't to bash anyone.  My goal is to share my experiences.  Maybe you've gone through a similar situation and can relate.  Maybe this is something you didn't know existed.  Or maybe you're a hater who finally sees the error in your ways.  I encourage you to please share your stories, so that we can empower each other.

I know my baby girl may through challenges similar to mine, even though she does fall into the Halle Berry category.  But, she may come across other girls who may feel she's competition.  My Princess may even find it difficult to get a job because of her looks.  She may even be the token person of color.  My job as a mom is to reassure her that although people will hate, it's important to not succumb to it.  If the roles are reversed and I find that Princess is doing the hating, I'll straighten her out.

To my little Princess:
You are beautiful and talented.  Be who you are.  Don't let society dictate who you should be.  Treat others how you'd like to be treated.  If you ever have doubts or stumble along the way mommy and daddy will always be here for you.

Love you!
Mommy

Bye Bye!

Princess decided to do some research for her latest daycare project.  She was obviously so focused that she didn't want mommy around.

.

Veterans Day Fashion

Before you say it...I know this may not be the cutest pairing, but it's the best we can do for Veterans Day!  Here's Princess rockin' red, white, and blue!  Enjoy!

Weather Anchor Mama

Makeup Made Simple

Physical appearance is very important in my line of work.  Adding mama to the mix doesn't make things easy.  I can't begin to tell you how hard it is to apply makeup while managing a toddler.  But after years of practice, I've got it down to a science.  I've chatted about choosing the right wardrobe.  Now it's time to address make up application, and how I was introduced to Black Opal Cosmetics. 

I get asked about the make up I use all the time, so I'm hoping that sharing my regimen will help you with yours.  I wouldn't consider myself a make up artist, but I've been doing it for so long that I feel like a pro.  From my modeling and pageant days to my career in TV, I've picked up so many tips from professional make up artists.  For me, keeping things as simple as possible is key.

I love experimenting with different color pallets.  Most women of color I meet say they rather use neutrals, but I'm the complete opposite.  I'll rock blue or green eye shadow and bright pink blush any day of the week, and make it look fierce.  But before copping those make up essentials, I make sure I have the right foundation (which could be challenging).  I can't begin to tell you the horror stories of ending up with the wrong color base. 


There were times when I'd think it matched perfectly in the store, only to later realize it was a completely different shade by the time I got home.  Luckily my foundation problem days came to an end, when I was introduced to Black Opal Cosmetics.


A make up artist first introduced to me the cosmetic line at a photo shoot back in the day.  But, I didn't stick with it at first.  I was later re-introduced to Black Opal when I auditioned for a traffic gig in New York City.  The make up artist took one look at my face and asked me what kind of foundation I used.  When I told her, she then replied, "It's too heavy.  It's not good for TV."  She then whipped out the Black Opal compact, and that was the beginning of my Black Opal experience.


Over the years I've learned how to apply make up for everyday wear and TV.  The best part is that it's affordable, easy to apply, and saves me tons of time.  Find out how in this video clip.  Hope you find it helpful!  Please hit me up and tell me all about your make your routine!






Makeup used in the video:
Mineral Mosaic Eyeshadow (Rain Forest) $8.95
Lash Defining Mascara (Black) $4.95
Automatic Eye Lining Pencil (Licorice) $5.00
Invisible Oil Blocking Mattifier $9.95
True Color Stick Foundation w/ SPF 8 (Beautiful Bronze) $9.50
Flawless Perfecting Concealer (Toast) $4.95
Deluxe Finishing Powder (Neutral Light) $8.95
Automatic Lip Liner Creme Pencil (Mahogany) $5.00
Freebie Alert!!!!!!
I'm also giving away an invisible oil blocking powder and mascara.  Both are great for all skin types.  Leave a comment to be entered.  Those of you who join my blog for the first time will double your chances to win!  I'll announce the winner November 18th on my Weather Anchor Mama facebook page.  Good luck!!!


Weather Anchor Mama

Pulling A Fast One on Grandma

My baby girl is full of surprises!  I found out from my mom that she turned on the dishwasher!  I couldn't believe it, when I got the phone call.  My mom said she turned around for a second, when Princess hit the on button.  The funny thing is that Grandma didn't notice the machine was on until after she got Princess's dinner ready.  She immediately called me at work to find out how to turn the machine off.  That didn't work because I had no idea know how to work the darn thing.  (I still do dishes 'ol school style. I may be behind on the times, but not behind on the bills).

Anyway, my baby girl pulled a fast one on grandma.

It's amazing how much she can do and how much she can say.  After breakfast this morning she said "up, up!"  She wouldn't stop until I took her out of the high chair.  Right now, we're working on the words, "please" and "thank you."  Before you know it, she'll be saying all kinds of things.  Hey, maybe she can even help with the dishes!

Please share your funny and amazing baby stories!

A Nice Treat!

If there is one thing that I can't stand, it's the cold weather.  We actually felt the wrath of mother nature, when she decided to dump a few inches of snow across NY in October a couple of weekends ago.  I'm not just talking about upstate NY either, I'm referring to snow in NYC!  I couldn't believe it!  I've been dreading the cold, since the Summer ended.  So, it was a bit unsettling when we got an early taste of Winter.

But, things have turned around this week.  The man upstairs decided to give us a nice treat.  With highs climbing near 70 degrees, I had to try and enjoy the day some how.  I even flirted with the idea of calling out, but I could never do that.  Hey, I need all the days I can get!  It's flu season!  

Instead, we squeezed in some play time before jetting off to work.  

Unfortunately, these nice temps won't last too long.  The holidays are not too far away which means ol' man winter is just around the corner.  Soon there'll be more snow on the ground.

Weather Anchor Mama

Photo Ideas Please

Since the weather has been on the chilly side, I haven't taken as many pics outdoors.  That's the down side to the cold months.  You can't just walk out with a t-shirt on!  I've managed to take some ok shots of Princess inside.  But, I know I'll run out of options pretty soon.  How many pics can I take with the same background?  Not a whole lot!

I know you're probably thinking that I should just pay a professional to take pictures.  That makes sense, but I take way too many pics to keep up.  I'd go broke hiring a professional photographer for every time I wanna take pics of my baby girl.  If I do it myself, I can get more bang for my buck.  I'll take the photos and edit them myself.  If I want to develop pics, all I have to do is go to the drug store or order online.

I've also been toying with ideas for different back drops.  But with limited space, it's kinda tough.  Let me know if you have any cool suggestions.  Also, I plan to up my photog game too! I've got my eyes set on the Nikon D3100.  If you got any tips on great cameras out there, hit me up!  It ain't cheap, but I'll save more money in the long run.

For now we'll do the best we can with what we've got.



Weather Anchor Mama

Miss Independent!

My baby girl has always been independent.  Ever since I can remember, she's been trying to do things on her own.  From attempting to comb her hair to struggling to put on her socks and shoes.  She tries to do it all on her own!

I noticed early on that she's wanted to feed herself, so I let her have at it.  Here she is at four months holding the bottle on her own!

She also mastered fingered foods by eight months.

Now at 14 months, she's finally getting the hang of using the spoon.




It's something we've been working on for months.  Being from Jamaica, it's tradition to learn to properly use a knife and fork.  Princess still has a ways to go before getting accustom to that.  But, she's getting there!  For now, we'll continue to work on making her a pro with the spoon!

Weather Anchor Mama

Toddler Bullies

I contemplated on whether or not to write a post about toddler bullies.  But after these past few days, I decided I had to vent.  I never would have imagined dealing with bullying this early.  Princess goes to a fab daycare!  The teachers are great and the place is clean.  They run a pretty tight ship.  I couldn't ask for anything more.  However, since Princess has moved up from grapes to strawberries, I have noticed a few changes.  Instead of Princess being excited about being there, she's a bit more clingy to me.  She also fusses when I leave.  I understand that kids go through behavioral changes all the time, so to me it's no big deal.  She's usually ok, once the teacher calms her down.  But sirens went off in my head the other day, as I was unpacking her diaper bag at the center.

I saw one of the girls push my baby girl to the floor!  It totally threw me for a loop!  Princess is probably the youngest in her class.  She's among babies who resemble line backers, and I'm not just referring to the boys.  Some of the girls tower over her as well.  Even though she's within the 70th percentile for her age, some of the other babies are bigger and older.  They're stronger, have a much better balance, and say a few more words too.

When this baby girl knocked Princess to the floor, the teacher immediately helped her up.  I knew she was ok because she didn't cry and she had no bruises.  I even snapped this pic just in case.  You never know, I may need it for evidence.  hehe.

All jokes aside, Princess was fine and continued to play with one of the toy strollers.  Unfortunately, her time with it was short lived because the same girl tried to take it away from her.  Princess looked up at me as if to say, "help me mommy!"  I then said in a calm, but stern voice, "Excuse me!  You guys have to share!"  The little girl looked up at me with her arms out and said, "What?!"  I repeated myself, and so did she.  For a slit second she and I had a stare down, and then she walked away.  I couldn't believe my ears when she said "what?!"  OMG!  Am I really beefing with a toddler?

Anyway, the teacher didn't intervene at this point.  I guess it's because it wasn't that serious.  Maybe she thought that I had it under control.  Who knows?  But, it did leave a bad taste in my mouth.  It's a weird situation.  How do you discipline a toddler?  This little girl is probably about 16 months old.  I wasn't trying to reprimand someone else's child, but I had to say something.  After all, my child was involved.

When I told my hubby about what happened, he said "this probably happens throughout the day, when you're not around.  Princess could also be the aggressor too!"  He had a point because my baby girl is no push over.  I would never encourage her to bully other kids, but I certainly will teach her to speak up for herself.

I'm sure this is not the first or the last time that Princess will have to deal with bullies.  Despite this hiccup, I'm still happy with the daycare.  I think Princess is too.  But, I plan on bringing this up at the next meeting.

I don't even want to think about possibly dealing with one when she starts going to regular school!  I'd probably lose all my hair from stressing out!  Was your child ever bullied?  What would you do if your child was the aggressor?

Weather Anchor Mama

Gone So Suddenly!

Every now and again I think about the possibility of being away from my baby girl.  Let's face it, we are not promised tomorrow.  The reality is life can change at the blink of an eye, which is what happened to a brother and sister in the Bronx, following a fender bender during this past weekend's snow storm.

20 year old Pedro Luiz Sosa, a promising boxer, now lies in acoma at a local hospital.  His 19 year old sister, Jennifer died.  She was a waitress, and single mother of her one year-old son Jefferson.  This was a horrible tragedy that could have happened to anyone.  This story hits close to home because Jennifer was also a mom.  I can't imagine a night without Princess, much less an eternity!



Jennifer's son Jefferson

 It makes me think about the possibility of not being here to see my baby girl grow up.  We go about our daily lives everyday, not thinking that it can be taken from us so suddenly.  I guess that one of the reasons why I decided to start a blog.  My baby girl will hopefully be able to read all about her mama, and know how much her mama loved her.

It's unknown whether or not Pedro would ever be able to put on those boxing gloves on and step into the ring again.  We can all only pray for him and his family.  Feel free to watch more on this story below.  Please share your thoughts.  



Weather Anchor Mama