Raise Your Standard

Even though their motto says "Have it Your Way", you wouldn't walk into Burger King and order a Big Mac out of respect for the business and their standards.....Ladies, a man who respects what you stand for would never ask you to move in with him...He would ask you to marry him. What standard are you projecting to those around you? Check out my latest video blog...

How Not To Go Off On Your Child's Teacher

Click below to watch my latest vlog/testimony on How Not to Go Off on Your Child's Teacher. Based on a recent experience, I choose to keep it real in this video about my emotions and how through prayer I was able keep a cool head in a semi-heated situation. As children of God, our flesh will be tested on the daily basis. It's important to remember, a TESTimony is born ONLY after we pass the TEST and YES I passed the test!

Three Items That Will Keep Your School Year Organized

 

Click below to watch the video on how these items are helping to keep our school year organized and insanity free!!!  

 

 

 

Sweet Tomato Poppers & The Butler Movie Review

Hello Everyone! Please click below to watch my latest video blog "Cooking and Convo  where I show you how to make Spinach Chicken with Sweet Tomato Poppers while giving a movie review on The Butler. Enjoy!

Fire Roasted Chicken (Campbell's Skillet Sauces)

I tried the Campbell's Skillets last night. Here is the Fire Roasted Tomato Chicken with Creamy Potatoes and String Beans. The fam loved it!

Product Review: Playtex 18 Hour & Activia Yogurt with Fiber

Check out my latest product review of the Playtex 18 Hour Bra and Activia Yogurt with Fiber!

 

Talking to Your Children About Race

Please click below to watch my latest vlog "Talking to Your Children About Race." I would love to hear your feedback. Please be advised: "While we do not use or condone vulgar language, you will hear some profanity from various media clips included." I've never done this before but before we can build a even more beautiful America, I felt it necessary to expose all of the ugly that's affecting our families.  

 

Prayerfully this post will promote unity and not divide.

..

Ten Rules Everyone Should Live By

So here I am. It's the wee hours of the morning and God woke me up just so that I could reflect on some things. A lot has changed for my family over the past three years starting with us moving from my husband's hometown to a new city. While we have no regrets about the move, we've lost a lot since we made that decision.


From the outside looking in, you would think everything that has happened would be the breaking of us but actually it was the making of us as family. Our ability to persevere comes from our spiritual roots and the good ground in which they are deeply planted. Travis and I grew up in a church where our parents, leaders and church mothers worried about our souls first and our feelings second. Their tough love and two-edged words of wisdom prepared us for the harsh world and the tough times to come. And believe it or not, our toughest times wasn't in our finances, marital issues, health scares or after the death of our loved ones. Our darkest hours came when those who we thought would love us forever decided they didn't need us anymore. Growing up, we were prepared for the persecutions that would come from the enemy's camp but when some of those from our church world turned their backs on us...we hit our breaking point.

But God.

God is notorious for always having a "ram in the bush" and for us, he had several. In the recent weeks, God reunited us with spiritual mentors from our past and introduced us to new ones for present day. Their words of wisdom, love, prayers, support has helped us to generate ten rules to live by. And here they are:

1. When you don't know what to do, seek God. When you are in need, ask God. When you don't know what to say, be quiet and listen to God.
2. Christians don't keep their friends close and their enemies closer. They keep their friends close and their enemies confused. Why? Because the enemy will never understand love.
3. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, be careful, it might be a wolf in sheep's clothing.
4. Their "no" is God's not yet. Never lose heart.
5. Remember Jesus didn't say a mumbling word while being persecuted. You'd better not either.
6. Vengeance belongs to God and if you take action, he won't spare the rod....(against you that is).
7. The battle is not yours but the spoils of war is if you let God fight it for you.
8. Never cry over spilled milk or the "friends" that stole your cookie. Let them have it. God has better in store for you.
9. You can't be a child of God and a punk too. Stand firm on his word no matter what.
10. When the day comes to forgive those who have lied, betrayed, back stabbed, rejected, neglected and spat on you..do it quickly and with much sincerity of heart.

Please understand, this post was not written for pity. The post was written in praise. I once had someone to say, "Bridgett, you don't have to write about your bad experiences." To which I respectfully replied "Yes I do. This is my testimony"

My life is not picture perfect but most of the time, it feels that way. If it had not been for the testimony of others who had gone through and overcame, we probably would have given up. I know that if God can do for them, he can do it for me too. I hope our testimony encourages those of you who reads this. Always remember, just because life may not always give you the roses you asked for, doesn't mean your blessings can't be found in the beauty of daisies.

B

Budget Friendly Teen Girl Room Makeover

After months of saving, bargain hunting and some revamping, we were finally able to redecorate our daughter's room to fit their individual teen styles. As a family we have decided to choose our color schemes and decorating styles based on what we want when we finally purchase our dream home. Patience is the key and creativity unlocks the door. You don't have to break the bank to get what you want! You can also watch this tutorial on You Tube!



Old Dresser Before

After

Made these Storage Containers From Old String Bean Cans

How to Make Crispy Cheddar Chicken

 Crispy Cheddar Chicken

2 lbs chicken tenders or 4 large chicken breasts
2 sleeves Ritz crackers
1/4 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup whole milk
3 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1 teaspoon dried parsley

Sauce:
1 10 ounce can cream of chicken soup
2 tablespoon sour cream
2 tablespoon butter

Crush crackers. If using chicken breasts and not tenders, cut each chicken breast into 3 large pieces. Pour the milk, cheese and cracker crumbs into 3 separate small pans. Toss the salt and pepper into the cracker crumbs and stir the mixture around to combine. Dip each piece of chicken into the milk and then the cheese. Press the cheese into the chicken with your fingers. Then press the cheesy coated chicken into the cracker crumbs and press it in.

Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and lay the chicken inside the pan. Sprinkle the dried parsley over the chicken. Cover the pan with tin foil and bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove the tin foil, bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the edges of the chicken are golden brown and crispy.

In a medium sized sauce pan combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream and butter with a whisk. Stir it over medium high heat until the sauce is nice and hot. Serve over the chicken.

Watch the Tutorial!

 

Latest Mother Knows Best Segments

Just in case you missed them. Here are the latest segments of Fox 31's Mother Knows Best.

How to Motivate Your Family to Eat Healthy and Stay Active (6/6/13)

 



Father's Day Gift Ideas & Staying Sane While Raising Children (6/13/13)



 

Dealing With Colicky Babies and Sibling Rivalries (6/20/13)

Possible Reasons Why You Are Suffering From Hair Loss

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way an expert in hair care. This post is my testimony of my hair journey's trials and triumphs. Please talk to your doctor and/or beautician for any professional advice.

I washed my hair this morning and I am so happy with how much my hair health has improved I decided to write a blog post that will hopefully encourage those of you are suffering from hair loss.

I started experiencing severe hair shedding after I had my first daughter. I couldn't figure out what was going on. Was my hormones, heat damage, stress or a combination of all three? I spoke with both my doctor and beautician. They gave me advice on what to do but nothing seemed to work. My hair would only grow below my ears before breaking off again. I continued to fight on/off  hair battles for the next 15 years!!! What was even worse, I started losing hair in the top center of my scalp. I did everything I knew to do. I drank plenty of water. I watched what I ate. I avoided hair styles that required a lot of heat. I eventually started wearing extensions to cover my frustrating embarrassment.

Put a Pin for a Minute Myth Moment: Most people believe African American women wear weaves and wigs because they have no hair. While this might be true for some, it is definitely not fact for everyone. Not only are extensions and wigs a great way to protect your natural hair but they allow flexibility to changes up styles, lengths and hair color. I started wearing extensions to protect my hair but now I love the conveniences and options they give me to switch it up without the worry.

Now back to the blog...

In the summer of 2010 and out of frustration, I decided to cut off my. My plan was to keep short and sassy but then my hair started growing... rapidly. I thought "Hm...maybe all of my hair worries are over." Then in 2011, my little sister passed away and before I knew it, I found myself doing the Donald Trump swirl to hide the thin spot in the top of my head.

That's when I decided; Enough was enough! It was time to dig a little deeper and do some research. So I prayed and asked God to guide me...



While I already knew stress played a huge role in my hair loss, I also discovered certain medications were big factors as well. Certain pain medicines, including the ibuprofen I took for migraines was one of the reasons why my hair shedded so much. When I switched medicine, much of my shedding came to an automatic cease. I also realized that my hair was paying an unhealthy price because of my frugal nature when buying hair care products. I had to learn the hard way that you truly get what you pay for. I started investing in my hair by buying products that would help to heal, strengthen and reinvigorate my hair. Today, my hair is longer and healthier than ever. Will I ever stop wearing extensions? I doubt it. The perks are far to great besides it feels good to know that when I do wear my natural hair, no one can tell the difference!

May 2013

 Listed below are some possible reason for hair loss. Please take the time to click on the resource link included for more information. And remember Don't Give Up. There so many solutions to hair loss. You just have to find the one that best suits your needs!

1. Stress
• Stress is a part of life but it doesn't have to rule your life. Grief was a huge stressor for me and it was affecting me mentally and physically. It took prayer, support and my making the decision to not let our loss consume me. God showed me how to convert my pain into purpose. I encourage you to do the same.
2. Medicines (Before you stop taking your medicine ALWAYS ALWAYS talk to your doctor first!)
• According  Web MD (Drug Induced Hair Loss) Many different types of drugs are thought to cause hair loss, including:
• Acne medications containing vitamin A (retinoids)
• Antibiotics and antifungal drugs
• Antidepressants   
• Birth control pills
• Anticlotting drugs
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs  
• Drugs that suppress the immune system  
• Drugs that treat breast cancer  
• Epilepsy drugs (anticonvulsants)
• High blood pressure medications (anti-hypertensives), such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics
• Hormone replacement therapy  
• Mood stabilizers  
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)  
• Parkinson's disease drugs  
• Steroids
• Thyroid medications
• Weight loss drugs
• Excessive Heat and Chemicals
• Cheap Hair Care Products
• Be careful when choosing cheaper hair care products. Read the label and watch out for ingredients that can strip your hair of the essentials oils it needs to stay shiny and strong.
3. Medical Problems
• Talk to your doctor. There may be an underlying cause to why you are suffering from hair loss. He/She will be able to perform the tests needed to determine this.
4. Malnutrition Top 10 Foods for Healthy Hair
• We overlook the role a healthy diet plays in maintaining healthy hair. You are what you eat. Healthy eating leads to healthy hair. 
• Lisa Drayer, New York Nutritionist says."The nutrients you eat today help fortify the hair follicle -- from which each strand is born -- and the scalp that surrounds it. "Healthier follicles? Healthier hair. Healthier scalp? Healthier hair!" 
5. Questionable Beauticians
• If your beautician is doing more harm than good on your hair...I have just one thing to say "SWITCH".

Every person is different so it's important to choose a hair regime that works for you. No one knows your body like you do. Sometimes it helps to do the research.

 

Praying this post has helped to make living your life a little easier!

Cyber Bullying and Ways to Entertain Your Kids During Roadtrips

Please click below to watch the first episode of Fox 31's Mother Knows Best panel. The topics for the show's premiere were "Cyber bullying and Ways to Entertain Your Kids During Roadtrips". Please comment and leave a topic you would like for us to address!!!

Casual Dating & Celibacy. Does that Match?!?!?

Can you date casually and remain celibate? Is this ideal for Christians?  I asked the question on Facebook and people answered. While I had a million things to say on this topic, so did several others. Please watch my video blog below. I would love to know what you think!!!

Premiere of Fox 31's Mother Knows Best Panel

Hi everyone!!!
I know that it's been a minute since I posted a blog but I have a good excuse. In addition to preparing for our next stage play, I was recently selected to be a part of Fox 31's Mother Knows Best Panel!!! The Mother Knows Best Panel includes four mothers that will address parenting, family issues during our  20 minute segment that each Thursday.

We are so excited the Mother Knows Best and look forward to it growing into something that will bring positive growth in the lives of families everywhere. Be sure to watch us every Thursday in the 8:00 AM hour on Fox 31. Our segment will also post to YouTube for those of you miss the show or don't live locally. Please click below to watch the first episode of Fox 31's Mother Knows Best panel. The topics for the show's premiere were "How to Prepare Your Children for Natural Disaster and Animal Safety.

If you ( whether you live near or far) have any topics that you would like for us to cover please email me at bmackwrites@gmail.com.

 

I am so excited about these God-given endeavors. Please pray for me as I work to prioritize my projects so that nothing will go lacking. Stay tuned! More blog posts coming soon!!!

Publix and Winn Dixie Deals: Hurry Some of These Deals End April 30th!

Check Out This Week's Deals!!!!

 

Publix Deals

 

Total Cost $27.49!!!

 

Kraft Velveeta Cheesy Skillets Dinner BOGO @ 3.39 Each

Publix Coupon $2.00 off Two  (Best Meals Happen at Home Publix Coupon Found in Store)

Final Price .70 cents each!

 

General Mills Cereal BOGO Free @ $3.99

.50 Cents off One General Mills Cinnamon Toast Crunch Publix Digital Coupon Print Two

I also used a $1.50 off Three General Mills Cereal Winn Dixie Catalina Coupon

 

Boca Veggie Protein Burger BOGO Free @ $3.69

$1.00 off One Boca Meatless Product Print Two

Final Price .85 cents each!

 

Ragu Pasta Sauce BOGO Free @ $2.57

Harvey's Competitor Coupon $1.00 off Two (Hurry Coupon Expires April 30th)

Final Price .80 cents each!

 

Right Guard Deodorant BOGO Free @ $3.83

$2.00 off Two

Final Price .92 cents each!

 

Print these competitor coupons from Harvey's for great deals on Meat and Produce at your Publix! (Hurry Coupons Expires April 30th)

$1 off any Meat Department Purchase of $2.50 or more

$1 off any Produce Purchase of $2.50 or more

.75 cents of Dairy Department Purchase (I purchased to half dozen Publix eggs and only paid .48 cents for both cartons!)

 

Also, take advantage of the Publix "Buy Theirs Get Ours for Free" Deal. I caught a great deal on Heinz Ketchup this Week! Click Here to View This Week's List of Sale Items

 

 

Winn Dixie Deals

 

Total Cost $24.99!!!

 

Starkist Tuna in Water 5 for $5.00 (no coupon but still a great deal!)

 

Fast Fixin Chicken BOGO Free @ 6.99

$1.00 off One Print Two

Final Price $4.99 for Both Bags!

 

Dixie Crystal Sugar on sale $1.99 each

.75 cents off One

Final Price: $1.24 each

 

Alexia Rolls, Potatoes or Onion Rings BOGO Free @ $3.99

$1.00 off One Print Two

Final Price $1.00 per bag!!!

 

Purchase two bags of Bird's Eye Viola Meals for $11.98. Get Pepperidge Farm Garlic Bread, Larry's Potatoes and get Mrs. Smith's Cobbler FREE!

The deal gets even better if you have coupons on any of these items.

$1.00 off One Bird Eye Viola Print Two

I pray this post has helped to make living your life a little easier!!!

BMackWrites

Stuffed Swiss Chicken Tutorial

Stuffed Swiss Chicken 

 

 

Life Made Easy

This recipe was sent to me on Facebook. My family loved it. Of course I had to add my own touch. Ingredients in green are my little tweeks to suit my taste.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 8 chicken tenderloins
Salt and black pepper
4-6 slices baby Swiss cheese
1 can Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup
1/3 cup milk
1 stick butter, melted

1/2 cup Real Bacon Bits
 1 bag of Pepperidge Farm seasoned stuffing mix (not cubes) or 1 small box Stovetop Chicken stuffing mix

 Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange chicken in pan and season to taste with seasoned salt and black pepper. Top each breast with a slice of cheese. Combine soup and milk in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Pour soup over chicken to cover breasts entirely. Combine melted butter and Stovetop in a small bowl (moisten a little more with some warm water if it seems too dry) and scoop over top of chicken. Sprinkle Bacon Bits on top. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Recipe compliments of mrsmichaelscooks.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

Tyler Perry's Tempation: LME Review

My husband and I went to see Tyler Perry's latest movie "Temptation". Now, I am trying my best to be careful as I write this review because even though I enjoy some of Tyler's work, my principles as a Christian are different from his so I wouldn't say this is a Christian movie. Still he' very talented and I can appreciate the message he sent in this movie.

Temptation presents an onscreen representation of the 80/20 rule regarding love and marriage. Movie characters Brice and Judith are childhood sweethearts who grow up to marry and move away to start life on their own. Six years into the marriage, Judith finds herself growing inpatient of her stagnant career as a marriage counselor. Judith also finds herself questioning the spice and strength in her own marriage once she meets business client Harley, who introduces her to a world she's never before experienced.

A very rich Harley seduces her with his promiscuous charm and promises to give her a life of luxury and fulfill her career goals. At first, Judith refuses Harley's advances but soon gives in after an unsuspecting Brice fails to give her the attention she desires. Judith and Harley embark on a whirlwind lust affair that ends with all parties paying a significant price of pain.

I was surprised when I read some of the reviews of online critics. Namely, Veronica Miller, writer for the Grio, who wrote she was annoyed with the "heavy-handed punishment of a female character who happened to be interested in sex, and the implication that the rest of her days on Earth were doomed to loneliness and regret. Oh. And HIV." I strongly disagree with Ms.  Miller. In fact, the CDC reports "African Americans have the most severe burden of HIV of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States. African Americans accounted for an estimated 44% of all new HIV infections among adults and adolescents (aged 13 years or older) in 2010.." In my opinion, this movie provided yet another eye opener for it's viewers.  Tyler kept it real and produced a movie that exposed one of the biggest problems that's affecting most marriages. Today's inpatient couples are splitting up at the first signs of boredom and adversity. They are quick to forget their vow to stay together "for better or for worse". Marriage takes work and has it's ups and downs. God ordained it to be forever....PERIOD!

B's Thumbs Up: I give this movie a thumbs up because it's relatable and it gives you a cold hard view into what can happen if you act selfishly and irresponsibly. Hollywood constantly sensationalizes lust and sin. They are blinding the public's ability to tell the difference between what's fake and real. I applaud Tyler for writing the truth in this regard. As my husband and I were leaving the theatre, we overheard to two women talking about the movie. One said to the other, "Thank you for bringing me to see this. I see where you were coming from. Tyler showed me that in this movie" The other woman replied "I told you. Think about it before you make your decision." I would like to think this movie helped someone make this decision not to give up on  her marriage but instead fight.

B's Thumbs Down: Tyler is very talented at his craft but I have to give him a thumbs down when it comes to applying biblical principles in this movie. He gives the audience a lukewarm interpretation of what Christianity is all about and we all know how God feels about a lukewarm Christian (Rev.3:16) Also, it was agitating to see Judith's mom who (in the movie) was also a reverend, curse at her son in law, Brice, and then justify her slip up after he tells her she shouldn't be cursing. For once...no lemme change that, From now on, I would like to see Tyler write characters with strong Christian values minus the cursing, misquoting of scripture and bar scene fellowships. We are to reverence the word of God and not make light of God's doctrine. I understand the desire to keep it real and relatable but it can be done without compromising the standard (Sherwood Pictures has proven that). If we are going to acknowledge God for his might, power and ability to change any circumstance then go all out!!! Jesus Christ died on the cross so that we can be free from sin.

Tyler, you say God has blessed you and has given you a platform to help the people so please start writing characters with true Godly standards and stop writing lukewarm christian characters who will only become a stumbling block for those (your viewers) who are seeking to know God.

Praying This Review Has Helped Make Living Your Life a Little Easier :)

How to Avoid Lady Hands

Before you continue reading STOP and look at your hands..

 

My heart dropping moment was when I noticed the old lady hands typing at my computer. I'm only in my 30's so why did my hands look like they were approaching retirement? The answer is plain and simple...NEGLECT. Our hands go through a lot during the day and are easily overlooked. Think about it. We work, cook, clean, style hair, give kiddie baths, bite our nails etc. The list goes on and on.

 

I recently discovered the True Blue hand scrub and lotion system while shopping at Bath and Body Works and let me tell ya.....I am in love!!!

 

First, I used the 60 second manicure hand scrub and followed up with the hand softening lotion. My hands now look youthful and feels silky smooth. I highly recommend this product. These items are currently on sale at Bath and Body Works; Buy Two, Get One Free.

 

Here are a few additional tips on how to Avoid "Old Lady" hands.

• Remember to moisturize.
• Use glove while cleaning or using harsh chemicals.
• Whether at the salon or at home, give yourself a manicure. Keep those fingernails looking neat and healthy. Be sure to push those cuticles back, file, buff and apply nail polish or clear coat.
• Apply Sunscreen when needed.

 Now go and take care of those hands!!! (PS I am not getting paid to endorse these products.)

 

Praying this post has helped to make your living your life a little easier :)

 

 

Extreme Couponing & Publix Deals

I don't consider myself to be an extreme couponer. Unless it's for church or charity, I don't see the need to coupon for 100 sticks of deodorant and 75 bottles of soda (besides that has to be murder on the kidneys). For me, it's all about cutting down on our grocery bill while building a reasonable stock pile based on my family's needs. Since we started couponing, our grocery bill has reduced by 60%. Couponing has also helped us to upgrade to purchasing name brand items for less the cost of generic. Extreme couponing is not for everyone but saving money is!

Please click on the link to watch my Basics to Couponing Tutorial.

 

It might just be me but I found this week's deals at Publix to be a little scarce. Listed below are some of the coupon deals I found.

Publix Deals

Uncle Bens Rice BOGO $1.49 (You need to purchase four boxes)
$1.00 off of Three (Print One)

Marzetti Dressing BOGO $3.69
$1.00 off of One (Print Two)

Spot Shot Instant Carpet Cleaner BOGO $4.99
$1.00 off of One (Print Two)

Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip BOGO $4.99
$1.00 off of One (Print Two)

Praying this blog post has help make living your life a little easier.