"Brunch at Ms. Toya’s Creole House: A Delicious Experience!"
This month on “Where Did We Brunch?” we visited Ms. Toya’s Creole House in Silver Spring.
Ms. Toya’s menu pays tribute to traditional New Orleans food with a modern twist. Simply put, the food was really good!
Marc and I tried the Creole Wings, French toast, and lamb chops with eggs. Everything was flavorful, and the portions were generous.
The prices were reasonable too. They offer a brunch package with an appetizer, brunch entree, and flavored mimosa, or you can get bottomless mimosas.
I didn’t get drinks this time, but we’ll be back to try more dishes and some of their drinks, like "Miss Toya’s Hurricane."
Brunch is more than just a meal—it’s an amazing way to share time with loved ones over good food and drinks. Honestly, It's an understated form of therapy in my opinion.
What’s your favorite part about brunch? Have you been to Ms. Toya’s? Where should we go next?
#BrunchTime #CreoleCuisine #SilverSpringEats #FoodieAdventures #BrunchLovers #NewOrleansFood #DeliciousEats #FoodReview #BrunchTherapy #GoodEats #BottomlessMimosas #FoodieFinds #WhereDidWeBrunch #WeekendVibes
Transforming My Daughter's Room: Decluttering Part 2
✨ Have you ever been shocked by the amount of stuff you’ve accumulated?
✨ I finally had time to tackle another area on my journey to decluttering my house, so I decided to start with my daughter Ariel’s side of the girls’ room.
✨ Let me tell you, I was shocked and slightly ashamed of how far we’d let it go. 😩 From trash under the bed to clothes from her sister’s side, to shoes with no matching pairs, even baby blankets from when she was an infant. I could go on.
✨ After emptying every corner of her side, I had to ask myself, “Does she need these things? When did I buy all of this stuff?” I was also taken aback by why I had purchased those things, feeling in the moment that she really needed or would like them. But the reality is, 90% of those things, she could have done without.
✨ I divided my cleaning into three categories: trash, donate, and keepsake. I keep memory boxes for all my kids with little pieces of their greatest hits—usually one or two things from the year that I really loved or held a good memory.
✨ As you declutter, ask yourself:
1. When was the last time I used this? If it’s been over three months and it’s not seasonal, toss or donate it.
2. Is this complete? For toys, puzzles, and books, if pieces or pages are missing, throw it away.
3. Does this improve my life? If you’re keeping it for sentimental reasons, store it. If it doesn’t make your life better daily, toss it—you can always buy it again if needed.
✨ I used drawer dividers I found on Amazon to make sections in her drawer, and my Shark vacuum made cleaning a breeze. Let’s just say I used a ton of Lysol spray to disinfect those neglected spaces.
✨ Click this link for the products I used in this video: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thismoiselife/list/1P40HBLU9739C?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfthismoiselife_QZ7ZCN4BDD600DFAGBPJ_1
✨ Join me for part 3 of our decluttering journey as I tackle my teen Jael’s side of the room, together
Looking for a fun twist on personal pan pizzas? Try these quick and easy Pita Pizzas! 🍕 Here's how you make them:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Add marinara sauce to your pita.
3. Add your favorite cheese and toppings.
4. Bake for 10 minutes.
5. Cut & enjoy!
I used white flour pitas, but you can use wheat or any flavor you like. These are perfect for kids' lunches—filling and delicious! Would you try them?
#PitaPizza #EasyLunch #KidFriendlyMeals #QuickRecipes #FamilyMeals #LunchIdeas
✨️ As busy parents to four kids, Marc and I know the importance of quick and nourishing breakfasts that our kids can enjoy on the go. Here are our top go-to items:
1. Pancakes- We buy a 10lb bag for $10.98 at @samsclub. You can be pre-make these and they are easily reheated in the microwave the next day. Or, you can mix them fresh with water for a quick batch of 10 pancakes in less than 10 minutes.
2. Scrambled eggs - We opt for the $1.95 non-organic eggs from @aldiusa. A few scrambled eggs paired with toast in a bowl is a filling and convenient breakfast option.
3. French toast sticks- For $3.25 per box from @aldiusa, each box contains about 20 sticks. While it's not the healthiest choice, they're quick and convenient, so our kids don't go hungry before lunchtime.
4. Hashbrown Patties - Priced at $6 per sleeve from @aldiusa, each sleeve contains approximately 20 patties. Hashbrowns are more filling and can be paired with eggs when we have extra time, which gives them a more filling breakfast on the go.
✨️ What's your favorite "on the run" breakfast? Share your ideas below!
✨️Also, how cute is Ariel helping me with the pancakes? She came up to me and said, "Can I help you?" How could I say no?🥰
#QuickBreakfast #BusyParents #OnTheGoKids #BudgetFriendly #BreakfastIdeas
✨What’s your favorite affordable thing to do with your kids?
✨Walks are our favorite quick, easy, and free thing to do with our family.
✨We’ve had good conversations, intense competition, and good exercise, all at no cost to us.
✨I am working on quieting the voices that say that I’m not doing enough, because I can’t take my kids on vacation, or to a bunch of summer camps, or major attractions in our city.
✨However, I’m finding that the time we spend actually talking to our kids, doing anything with our kids, those are the things they talk about it.
✨Now don’t get me wrong, we do a few fun things that cost us, but we’re always looking for free or almost free things to do.
✨I found these cute water bottles at @target for $3 for a pack of 2!
#freethingstodo #takingawalk #motherhoodjourney #makingmemories #raisingkids #budgetfriendly
✨️How many kids do you have?
✨️ Honestly, I never imagined I'd reach this point. I always dreamed of having four kids, but actually having them? That's a whole different story! 😅 Yes, it's tiring. Yes, juggling four unique personalities can be tough. And yes, sometimes I wish for a quieter house. But I feel incredibly blessed to have given birth to four healthy children.
✨️ I cherish watching each of them navigate life in their own way, from problem-solving to sibling squabbles. The noise (most days! 😅) is a reminder of their health and vitality, and seeing them grow and mature fills my heart with joy.
✨️What I look forward to most is watching them grow up, find love, and perhaps start families of their own. That's the dream — seeing us all together, sharing in their milestones and future adventures.
✨️What's your favorite part of siblinghood or motherhood? Share your thoughts! 💖
#MotherhoodMoments #MomToFour #FamilyLove #ParentingJourney
✨️As a parent, what's something in your everyday life that reminds you just how great parenthood is?
#parenthood #thesimplethings #appreciationpost #parenting #Laundryday #motherhood #momof4
📍Free Family Outing [Part 1]- American History Museum
If you live in the Dmv then you know that there are a ton of things to do for families and tourists. One of the best parts of DC are the smithsonian museums. It's a group of museum's showcasing various parts of america's history and cultural melting pot that makes the united states so unique. and the best part of it is? They're free!
To save money on eating out, which we inevitably do whenever we go out on adventures like this, I packed a portable cooler with snacks,drinks, and sandwiches. We took our kids to the museum of american history because we hadn't been to this one yet and wanted to see what it was all about.I was a little worried, because let's be real, tho it's super important, history can be boring to kids if not presented properly.
The museum is laid out like a giant timeline, showcasing America's progress over time. Our favorite part was the art and culture section that show cased all of the significant milestones of entertainers throughout time. We had a great time discovering new facts about history.
Quick Tip: We went to the museum two hours before closing on a Sunday and it was virtually empty, so the kids really got to explore without being bombarded by the crowds. Let me know if you decide to visit and follow us for more free and affordable family outings!
#thingstodo #familyfriendly #americanhistory #affordablefamilyoutings
#washingtondc
✨️ My heart was racing, my chest felt like it was in a vice grip, my head was pounding, my legs were swollen, and I was out of medication. I was so miserable all I could do was lay in bed and groan.
✨️ After I gave birth to DJ in 2019, I developed high blood pressure and it's been with me ever since. And I'll admit I didn't really change my life because the meds were working. But in this instance I was pretty sure I was having a hypertensive crisis, my BP was reading 189/116 and wasn't letting up.
✨️My husband Marc took me to urgent care and they sent me to the ER. After medicating me and observing me to ensure I didn't stroke out, they sent me home with meds and encouraged me to excercise and change my eating lifestyle. Ya'll I'll be honest with you, I'm hard headed. It took me another two weeks and some chest tightness to take it seriously.
✨️ But now I am and I never want to feel that way again, scared, miserable, and in pain. I think the worst part was seeing the worry and helplessness on my husband's face. So I decided to stop declining all of Marc's gym invitations and just start. And I'm glad I did.
✨️ What's your favorite workout or activity that get's your body moving? I'm open to suggestions!
✨️Follow us on our journey back to our Acro-Air bodies!
#workingout #workoutpartners #healthylife #highbloodpressure #fitness #blacklove #coupleswhoworkout #fitnessjourney
✨️ My heart was racing, my chest felt like it was in a vice grip, my head was pounding, and I was out of medication. I was so miserable all I could do was lay in bed and groan.
✨️ After I gave birth to DJ in 2019, I developed high blood pressure and it’s been with me ever since. And I’ll admit I didn’t really change my life because the meds were working. But in that instance I was pretty sure I was having a hypertensive crisis, my BP was reading 189/116 and wasn’t letting up.
✨️My husband Marc took me to urgent care and they sent me to the ER. After medicating me and observing me to ensure I didn’t stroke out, they sent me home with meds and encouraged me to excercise and change my eating lifestyle. Ya’ll I’ll be honest with you, I’m hard headed. It took me another two weeks and some chest tightness to take it seriously.
✨️ But now I am and I never want to feel that way again, scared, miserable, and in pain. I think the worst part was seeing the worry and helplessness on my husband’s face. So I decided to stop declining all of Marc’s gym invitations and just start. And I’m glad I did.
✨️ What’s your favorite workout or activity that get’s your body moving? I’m open to suggestions!
✨️Follow us on our journey back to our Acro-Air bodies!
#workingout #workoutpartners #healthylifestyle #highbloodpressure #fitness #blacklove #coupleswhoworkout #fitnessjourney
✨If you’re hustling, I want to let you know that it’ll be worth it in the end.
✨Keep working towards your goal: Financial, personal, or otherwise.
✨I want to be debt free so bad I can taste it. I keep going because debt freedom is at the end of the sacrifice. And I will keep hustling until I achieve that goal.
✨You may get tired. You may want to quit. But never forget why you started hustling in the first place. Keep the goal in the front of your mind. Always.
#debtfreecommunity #debtfreejourney #debtsnowball #debtfreegoals #debtsucks #debt
✨These things are simple but they save me money and give me peace of mind: 1. Empty out your fridge and pantry of all old or expired food. Getting rid of food you can no longer use, frees up space in your fridge and helps make your inventory accurate 2. Take inventory of what you have left. Can you make any meals out of what you have? If you can, assign that meal to a day of the week. If you have 50% or more of a meal with the stuff you have left, simply buy the missing ingredients. After you’ve used up all of your inventory, plan the rest of your meals for the week 3. Clean your fridge and pantry. There is nothing better than bringing home food and placing it in a clean fridge or pantry, it makes it easier to see what you have and it’s easier to organize. ✨What other tips would you add?#pantryorganization #groceryshoppingtips #savingmoney #mealplanning #fridgeorganization #organizeyourlife #debtfreejourney
Merry Christmas Eve to you all!
#merychristmas #christmaseve #presents #Jesusisthereasonfortheseason #familytime #christmastree
✨Transparency Post: ✨When was the last time you felt completely overwhelmed? ✨There’s a quote that says; “ The state of your home reflects the state of your mind.” And I think it’s one of the most accurate quotes there is. ✨In our home there is chaos, but most days all of the spaces that people can see are relatively clean and organized. However more days than I would like to admit, the place where I go to find solace and rest is a disaster. ✨It makes me think. How many times do I put on a front? Appear to be organized and put together? Tell people that I’m doing great, but inside I’m a mess. I am confused, exhausted, feeling like a failure, and a whole load of negative feelings.✨In these moments, I reset. Put everything else aside and get back to taking care of me. With my room, regardless of the state of the other rooms in my house, I focus on getting that cleaned up and organized first. Even if it’s the only thing I do that day. ✨The same goes for my mental health. If I’m feeling completely overwhelmed, I let my husband know that I need time to reset so he can make a plan for he and the kids, and then I disappear.😅 It’s not for days or anything like that, but it’s long enough that I can clear my head and reset my soul. ✨Being the best version of myself helps me be the best version of myself for my family and others. ✨What are some ways you manage being overwhelmed? Share them below! #wellnesswednesday #selfcare #transparency #cleanyourroom #motherhoodstruggles #selfcarestruggles #takecareofyou
✨What's your favorite quick meal? ✨Chicken Quesadillas are a favorite in the Moise household. 😊#mealprepmonday #mealprepmadeeasy #easymealprep #easymealideas #simplemeals #familymeals
✨Simplicity is top tier.
✨ Little mama had a good time and so did her guests and I didn’t have to buy a single new toy for the event.
They played together, laughed, ran, fought, and reconnected outside in the fresh air. It was beautiful.
✨Big thanks to all the mom and dads who brought their children to celebrate with our girl!
✨The whole party cost us $258.18. (The majority of it being the food). Besides the pizza, I got all of the decor and food from @walmart .
✨I think I just have to remember that it’s the moments, not the extravagance that children remember or not (she’s 2 y’all😅).
✨What’s the smallest/largest amount you’ve ever spent on a party for a loved one? (This is a safe place)
#ariel #2yearold #cheapbirthdayparty #minniemouseparty #budgetfriendly #walmartdealsthisweek
