The Ever Evolving Smith

Merry Christmas 2019! It’s the end of Christmas night 2019. Quite literally as I write the blog for December, it is nearing midnight. The gifts have all been opened. The food has all been eaten. The time with family has been spent. New memories have been made. Love and appreciation have grown. Gratitude has increased, as we thank Him we have had another year to be in each other’s lives and know He is the reason. Merry Christmas from our family to yours! 🎄🎁❤️ Also featured in this picture below: It’s like the 10th picture (okay, maybe it was the 15th picture) that has been taken, all while the kids groan “ugh” as I try to find one where we are smiling, our eyes are opened, and we are actually looking at the camera, all while I hold a selfie stick and attempt to look natural. The husband is ready to sit down and relax, telling the kids it’s pointless they groan because he knows I will get that picture. I’m so ready to get off my feet and just rest. Guess what? Taking the picture ...

Gratitude is a Vitamin for the Soul. I ran across this phrase the other day, and it resonated with me. I really like the idea behind thinking like this, because if gratitude is a “vitamin,” then you know it will benefit you to take it. Meaning, if you take your daily dose of gratitude, your body will be stronger, your mind will be healthier, and your attitude will be kinder. As we are approaching the holiday season this November and December, many of us often like to reflect on the year and the things we accomplished or made it through. It makes no difference the number of struggles you go through on a daily, weekly, or yearly basis because they are a part of life. Regardless if that number is one or one thousand, you have the choice to find the good, the silver lining of you will, as a result of them. If you have a difficult time with focusing on the positive, or even being grateful for the things that you’ve gone through, then let this be a message to you to start including a new...

Tonight I tried out a recipe I found on Pinterest for the kids, through Mama Knows Gluten Free. There have been so many good things we’ve made over these past (nearly) 3 years of all-thing-allergen-free-journey. I’m still learning, regularly!! This, pictured and still cooking, is her Gluten Free Double Chocolate Muffins. With our kiddo, he is now a gluten/wheat, egg, soy, and dairy free eater due to his medical condition called EOE (Eosinophilic Esophagitis,) and another called FPIES (Food-Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome.) With that, I substituted the dairy with coconut milk, the eggs with applesauce, and the butter with the Earth Balance Soy-Free Buttery Spread we normally use. In spite of the scary health circumstances for our Tyler, I am grateful for the things we have learned. Outside of the “clean eating” aspect, I have learned you can make those yummy things you’ve always had, IF you are willing to allow the time (anything baked typically takes longer), plus some tria...

So, I saw a friend on Facebook post about Blue Bell’s Banana Pudding and said, “just take my money!” We laughed. You see, growing up, banana pudding was something my great-grandmother on my mom’s side of the family would make. We were privileged to have it at family events, and it was my favorite! Well, mine and my grandfather Boppy’s favorite. So you know, my Boppy AKA Lindsey Jack, was her son in law. They were what’d you call, “good people.” ❤️ There was just something special about how Grandmother White made that treat! When she passed away in 1999, it wasn’t something we had any longer at family events. Between missing her, not exactly sure what she did to make it “her way,” and that space of time after someone passes away where it just seems “wrong” to bring something back, we let it go. That was, until about two years ago, when my sister Jessica decided to make it and bring it to Thanksgiving at our house. It was like heaven! I told her from that day forward, her banana pudd...

We all know Amazon can be a wonderful tool. It is a never-ending wealth of products. Today I am sharing one of my FAVORITE finds! It is the Obaska Magnetic Car Mount ( link -  Obaska Magnetic Car Mount  ). I should have bought one years ago, really. If you are like me, you spend a lot of your time as a parent driving around. I didn't put it on the dashboard because of the Texas heat, rather, I added this little gadget next to my radio in my car. It works like a charm and stays put! This way, I know where my phone is, it's great for directions, and I am hands free in the event I need to take a call. Plus, it just looks cool! It comes with two different sizes of magnetic pieces to attach to your phone. I have a pop-socket on the back of my phone, so I chose the smaller of the two. I bought one for my husband's vehicle too, and he uses the larger one. (If you are going to put it under your phone case like he did, I would attach the bigger one). Once I figured out where I w...

Short and Sweet - Something to make you giggle. 😝 I remember when our boys were little and they started to help with chores. One time in particular, I remember Luke (our youngest) was SO proud of how many towels, hand towels, and wash clothes he “folded.” I showed him how I folded and he watched me, then did his interpretation of that fold.  🥰 It was technically folded, but it obviously didn’t turn out quite the same as mom’s way 💁‍♀️, but you better believe I praised him, clapped for him, told him how great HE was, & thanked him for helping!! 📣 When you include a child, teach a child, inspire growth in a child, they will do well in life.  Also though - You better know I waited until I got to the linen shelf before I re-folded the towels so he wouldn’t see it. 😂 They still have to actually go in the closet. 🤷‍♀️❤️ Borroewed picture below! ❤️ Until next time ~ Nikki Smith

Truth: I debated on sharing this. Some will love and applaud my honesty. Others may unfollow BECAUSE I am honest. The topic is likely not what you think as you start to read. So here it goes! Life includes it all, both the highlight reel and the down & out. I find it’s best to avoid making assumptions about people based what you see on social media. Life is beautiful, AND life is hard as ever - on some days. People share what they want to see. The backstory: Saturday was a beautiful day. Our family went to the Fair and we enjoyed each other’s company. Sunday was a beautiful day too, except for one-little-thing. Sunday included much, much physical pain. After we got home late Saturday night, once I got still, my body did what it seems to like to do. It delivered blows to every joint that felt like they were exploding, held muscles in writhing spasms, and made every part of my being feel like it couldn’t move. I’m not talking about the regular “worked and worn out” pain w...

On Saturday, my family+ went to the State Fair of Texas! First off, let me say this: All•The•People. I told my husband Will this is what cattle must feel like! Back by the animals, the “roadway” was narrow to begin with, then they added vendor booths and people. Packed like sardines! It’s the last weekend of the Fair, so I guess it is what it is.  Second: Now let me talk about These•Youngins’. ❤️ We took Tyler our oldest son, his girlfriend Bailey, our son Luke, and our nephew Bryce. They were absolute TROOPERS walking so much. We definitely got our steps in for the day. You really forget just how big that place is! Now, there are times these teenagers start acting up like three-nagers and make us want to pull our hair out to the root, but there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for any one of them. We wanted them to make fun memories to last a lifetime. You know, in between the bickering, dirty looks, and the sassy mouths. I guess I am sort of kidding. We quickly attempted to re-create t...

So I found this cool tool on Amazon for our backs - a Posture Corrector! I wasn't sure what to expect as I had not ever tried one before. My husband Will doesn't know it yet (HA!) but he is the focus of the blog today!  I actually bought it for our youngest son, Luke who is 13, when our chiropractor told us his back is starting to look like Will's does. When my husband was a kid, he had borderline and un-diagnosed scoliosis. At the age of just 24, he was told he had the back of a 90 year old man! Well, Luke happens to be a carbon copy of my husband, so naturally, his back is having similar issues. Thankfully, we are armed with more information these days and can help our boys help themselves. After some researching online, I picked one off Amazon that was affordable, would fit my husband's 48-inch shoulders, and logical to use. If it is difficult to use, you know no one would use it! Well, in the times using it over the past couple of weeks, I can see an AM...

Today doesn't need much to remember what happened all those years ago, 9-11-2001. You know where you were You know how old you were. You know what you felt. You know the importance of remembering the how and why it happened, so that we remain vigilant in fighting against hate, while protecting our nation and people.  Today is a Day of Remembrance. Hug your loved ones and tell them you love them. We are not promised tomorrow, so live your life the best you can. Fill life with joy, laughter, comfort, and peace. Fight for what you believe in, but still be open enough for positive change. Love your neighbor but also protect your heart.  Remember those today especially, that lost, fought, helped, and prayer that days and the days that followed. Our children are our future Our children are the future. Raise your children up in love, peacefulness, meekness, and boldness. Keep your focus about what the Lord instructs us to.

This is an Instagram post I shared on the new engagement page @thesumareontogether that I would like to share, especially with the ladies of the world. 🌟 Let’s talk E-N-G-A-G-E-M-E-N-T. Many of us •want• to be good with engagement, but we need friendly suggestions to help keep us •consistent.• 🌟  We are moms, whether it is to children, being the “mom” of the group, being the “mom” at the job, or mom to our fur babies. As a human being, “handling up on our business” is a tough job all by itself. 💁‍♀️ You through taking care of others in there and - whew! Life is busy.  🌟  So what does that have to do with engagement? Well, it at times pushes responding and •liking• other’s posts, down to the bottom of the list. Sometimes...shh, come closer 🤫 ...we just...just...get what I call the “I don’t wannas.” 🌟 Reaching out and commenting, asking a question, or showing some love is the last thing on our mind. 🌟  Some of us just don’t understand the “ho...

Some days in life are just •that• good. There’s no special reason that you can think of, but you know you just feel at peace. Sunday was that day for me this week. Of course, it was church day, and spending time in worship with fellow believers and hearing the Word is always fulfilling. The message was on God’s Toolbox, and how He has individual tools, and he has everything he already needs. Somehow though, when He puts those tools together, (for example, you and me together, or individually but stacked with something He has prepared for us,) such as a hammer and a chisel, the two combined are more powerful than on their own.  Maybe it just struck a chord with me. Maybe it was having lunch with my wonder husband and two boys after service, or getting my hair done later that day. Either way, and likely all of the above, I felt great. While getting my hair done, my stylist and I shared stories and experiences. She is one of those people, like I myself am often told, that yo...

So I did a thing. I bought and received tonight one of those IPL for Hair Removal gadgets. It took about 10 minutes to do everything I wanted done. I cannot wait for my results! I had spent a couple of weeks leading up to my purchase, exhausting everything from price, to size, to reviews. I looked through ads on Instagram, on Facebook, and Amazon. I tried one ad through Facebook, and unfortunately that transaction is being returned due to them never sending the product. Ugh! So, I just decided to go through Amazon as t felt a little safer, and the returns are fast should it not function correctly. I was like a kid at Christmas! I ripped through the box, pulled off all the tape, and pulled everything out of their respective sleeves. Low and below, there was this pretty rose gold and white gadget that could possibly make my life a little easier! Mine came with protective eyewear, the power chord, and the unit. Nice and simple - gotta love that! I plugged it up after reading over ...

Well, I can’t seem to sleep, so I’ll doodle something down here on my blog in efforts to entertain you, or at least make you think. Much like this picture of a traffic signal, I’m currently on a “red light” with my sleep being denied. Welcome to my latest bought with insomnia. 🚦😴🤷‍♀️ The Memorial Day Weekend was simply wonderful, though with expected mixed emotions. As I reflected on my gratefulness, I remembered why I can be grateful. I’m grateful to those who have lost their lives for our beautiful country, and to those missing the loved one who lost their life. I’m grateful for the freedom to be able to celebrate my own happiness and memories, I admit it feels like a double-edged sword. I hate so many have lost their lives. I am also grateful we celebrate and remember them. Most of all, I say thank you Jesus, for also giving your life for mine. Now on to my personal happy. Our two teenage boys got to go out of town with a long time family friend, and enjoy a guys weekend on a...

Oh, my goodness! Have you tried Paddle Boarding yet? You TOTALLY should! We got an incredible deal on two practically brand new 10-foot paddle boards and oars this weekend. The guy we bought them from threw in a third 8-foot paddle board and two life jackets - score for us! We took them out for Memorial Day Weekend, and it was fantastic! We didn't even strap them to the top of our SUV, we just threw them in the back and away we went. The water was wonderful. They don't require the use of any gas, so you get on, paddle, and enjoy the water within minutes. The ones we have include a retractable fin, so you can cruise along, or have more of a steering with them. It is so peaceful! We paddled out, just my husband and myself, and cruised along the side of Lake Lewisville from the Sandy Beach at Little Elm, Texas. We have totally fell in love with that area in the last couple of years, and it's only about 30 minutes from our house in McKinney, TX. We were there along with ...

Okay, so today I want to post a random-not-random for fellow tension headache and/or migraine sufferers like myself. Any takers? I know you're out there! I feel like I have tried everything under the sun. Until recently, the best thing I had found was using two lacrosse balls. It was always tricky trying to keep them in place while I used them. That was, until I found this little contraption called the Tension Releazzzer. I am not an affiliate of this company, though if they offered it I would be, because oh my goodness is it ever awesome! It's smaller that the typical balls I use on the back of my head (occipital and sub-occipital area), and it is a fixed and angled position. You lie down for TWO minutes on the balls and that is it! They say you can use it up to three times a day. Today was my forth day using it and with this Texas weather, it has been a life saver for someone who gets daily tension headaches. It's fairly priced, most of all it works, and it small enoug...

Hello, and welcome to life through my eyes! While I am not new to novice blogging, I have created this blog for the purposes of sharing my random-not-random thoughts. I tend to enjoy life, believing we should all laugh multiple times daily, we should smile often, and not take ourselves too seriously. I am Silly, with a Side of Serious.  I am a wife, and a mom of two teenage boys. I am born and raised in Texas, and while I love North Texas, the Caribbean beach calls my name the more "seasoned" in years I get! I am a glass-is-half-full type of woman, however I am not naive enough to think life is all seen through rose-colored glasses. I like to get to the point and find solutions whenever I can be helpful. I can be very serious when needed, and I am a get-it-done planner.  I spent over thirteen years in corporate banking before transitioning to the role of mom and mompreneur, and running my own businesses. I believe, like Warren Buffet, in multiple streams of income. I l...