THIS WEEK, I IGNORED MY ALARM TWICE|| I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE DOING ANYTHING

Throwback to when I won an award at our vacation basketball tournament in college.


Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. How are y'all doing today? I hope that you're all having an amazing day today, and are not letting anyone steal your joy, welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life. Today is a beautiful day.

I have been missing in action for a bit but I'm back now😊. Thank you all for sticking around for this long and welcome to those who have just started reading my blog and following me on social media. Y'all are amazing!
I'm one to share any amazing product that is working out for me and my family with y'all. In this blog, I will be sharing one with you all and adding a link to the video review I did recently on the product also. Yup! Guys, I'm proactive like that. But before we get into it, I have to share something a bit personal with you all. This week, I felt like taking my job and business slow. I didn't feel like working too hard at all. A couple of days in a row, I ignored my alarm and slept for an hour extra. On those days, I didn't feel like cooking lunch for my sweet man like I always do, but I still ended up getting up fast enough to make him some lunch to take to work.

I have had a few hours to reflect on my actions and learned that sometimes, we don't feel like doing our responsibilities or even going out of our way like usual, for others but we do it anyway. That's called sacrifice. I strongly believe that every sacrifice you make for others, will definitely come back, with overflowing blessing for you.

Whenever I have my like this, it's work time😊

I don't always want to be nice or do nice things for others but I do it anyway. These are seeds I have planted and keep planting because I believe that there are people who will go out of their way for me, when I need it too😇. It may not be the very people I do it for but someone will help me back.
Any good you do for others, do it with all of your heart and expect God to bless you when you need someone to come to your rescue in the future.

Hey, I didn't think that I had much in me to share today, but look at where we are?😉Back to the product I wanted to share with you all. Here's my favorite air filter in the whole wide world: Levoit Vista 200. This is a very big upgrade from their previous amazing purifier.

 Levoit vista 200 Air Purifier

Click the highlighted name to visit product page on Amazon. This air purifier has everything you desire in a purifier. The versatile functionality makes it very easy for you to use and get the most out of it.
I did an extensive review on it for my YouTube audience. Here's the video:

Please check it out and let me know how you like the product. If you would like to just go ahead and check them out, here's the link to their Amazon Prime Day Special: Levoit Amazon Prime Day Special. Don't miss out on the opportunity to save on a great product.

Well, this is the end of today's post. I sure do hope you enjoyed stopping by today. I love you and can't wait for all the amazing things that God has in store for you.
Until next time,
Stay cool in this hot summer heat😇

Maryam💕

MY FRIEND AND I RECONNECTED AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS

Two African Queens😊

Hello, wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. How are you all doing today? I hope you are all having a great day.

Today is a beautiful day and I am very excited to be back with another post.
We had the opportunity to visit with my friend, Tanya and her family over the weekend and it was an absolute joy! Tanya and I have been friends for a long time and she's one of the few people I truly connect with. I have added pictures from our meeting for you to see😀.

I am learning each day that my happiness and peace are dependent on me. The more I think about it, the more it becomes clear to me that NO ONE is responsible for my joy and peace but me! These days, I'm being more intentional in making sure that am not putting my joy on hold, with the hope that someone else would make me happy.

I love my sweet family and am grateful to God for blessing me, but I'm learning more to make me a priority. It doesn't serve anyone any good, for me to put my joy and needs on hold for them.

Every time you think you have to sacrifice your joy for someone else, you're heaping coals of fire that would soon burst in flames. You need to stop that. In order to best serve your family, you must serve you.
It is so deceiving how the world is perceived. There are forces in the atmosphere created by people, that try to force you to think that the best way to serve everyone is by forgetting or neglecting your needs. That's an absolute lie!

A selfie is always welcome right😁?

I've come to encourage you through this post, that it is possible to be your best while taking care of you and then others.
I'm not encouraging selfishness but self-care and love.
Through experience with bouts of resentment, I've learned that I need to take care of me too.

Take this post today as a reminder that you are important and need to show yourself some love and care, okay?

 Caught off guard😆

 Don't remember what I was saying in this picture😀

Tanya's hubby; Erik has a way with kids😇
I thank you for being here and loving on me, always😊.

Until next time,
Maryam

MY SWEET GANG AND I WENT SWIMMING AND IT WAS AMAZING!!

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. how are y'all doing today? I hope y'all are having a blessed day.
It is always such a blessing whenever I get to make a post on my blog😊. There's just something about writing, that keeps me so happy, every single time; I get to do it. Is there a particular hobby you have that makes you very happy? Please share in the comment section.

So my sweet gang and I went swimming, a few days ago and it was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! The kid had a blast and mama and dada did too😬😬😬.

Summer time is pool time for us. I know that sounds like i'm fish when it comes to swimming... lol. I'm not! I can't swim but my husband is a very good swimmer while my sweet babies were born ready to swim. I keep asking myself how they are so fearless of the water and the ONLY answer is"they got it from daddy".

I am Nigerian and from the North. Where I come from, there weren't many pools I could access and I grew up scared of the water. I have overcome my fears for the most part, but I'm still very cautious around the water. In spite of my cautiousness, I still enjoy a great dip in the water. There's something about that dip that just takes away the stress from my bones and leaves me feeling relieved and happy. Do you ever get that feeling?

I love how this particular swimming pool is set up in Lovejoy, Georgia. The kid's section is so easy and amazing, to the extent that I'm not scared to let the kids runaround in it. I mean, the deepest part 

is only 1-ft deep and my sweet Zozo stands tall in it😬.  You know, that keeps this mama happy and stress-free and less fussy over them sweet babies.

I can't remember the last time I felt very relaxed around a pool until now. I love pools that are set up like this one, at the Gerald Matthews Complex in Lovejoy, Georgia. It costs $3 for adults and $2 for kids to get in and it's an outdoor pool. For y'all sweet folks who would love to get a sun tan while swimming.  I think it's a great deal for the fun and excitement, if you ask me😜.

If you live in the area and are looking for a fun exciting place to take your kids, I highly recommend this center.

We had a little photography session as the kids would allow us. They didn't want to be bothered y'all, but I still had to make it work for the memories and my blog😉.

I hope you and your family keep having a very pleasant and joyful summer time/holiday.

With much love and appreciation,
Maryam😍

DOES ANYONE ELSE ENJOY GROCERY SHOPPING AS MUCH AS ME?

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. I hope this blog meets you in great spirit and health. Today is a beautiful day and I'm super excited to be doing one of the many things I love to do. I love to write and share😊.

Do you know how much I love going grocery shopping? Have I ever expressed it to you? Well, I absolutely love going grocery shopping. The days I get to go grocery shopping are days that I look forward to. Does that sound weird to you? I don't know if it's because I'm a wife and a mom or maybe because I love getting out of the house😊. You know, to think about it, I think it's because I love cooking for my family. I always love it when there's a variety of fresh produce and supplies in the house for me to cook. I love cooking. It's one of the things I could do all day everyday!

So, my sweet family and I went grocery shopping a couple of days ago and it was fun for us as usual for the most part😂. Zoe was a little upset initially because my hands were free to carry her but instead I chose to put her in the boggy. Oh for those of you who don't know, Boggy is what grocery carts are called in the south lol. It took me a second to get used to calling grocery cart boggy but here we are😅. It's come to my attention that every state or country calls it something different. What do you call grocery carts where you're from? Please share, I'm very curious to know.

We followed my list; well, for the most part lol... Y'all, I NEVER follow my list! Are you like me or am I just irresponsible😝😝? Lol... My husband often tells me it's a waste of time, for me to spend all that time writing a list, that I'm never going to go by😁. He's right,  but I like to feel unlimited in what I can buy. This is often my explanation. Moreover, It keeps my mind right and legs gliding💃💃, knowing I can buy anything I desire. That's the mindset I'm intentionally living by and God has been faithful to make a way.

I'd like to encourage you to always think positive and abundance regardless of what your current experience may be. Don't go off your list, try to follow your budget but with the mindset that abundance is yours.

Thanks for stopping by again. I hope you have a great day.
Here's the video from our shopping trip:

Until next time,

Maryam💖

THE KIDS EXPERIENCE AT THEIR FIRST VACATION BIBLE STUDY

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. Hope this post meets you well.
 Today is a beautiful day and I'm coming to your screens a little late. Although it's been a very hot day in Hampton, Georgia, we are so thankful we get to experience another beautiful day😊.

So, the kids participated in Vacation Bible School this year and I was one big proud mama. Le'Veon was so well-behaved, that he was commended as the most well-behaved kid at VBS😊. Zoe on the other hand, was the most interested in joining the choir😅.

One very notable experience during the kid's VBS is when Le'Veon refused to say this particular line the pastor taught them. After every "God is good," they were asked to say "Yee Haw." Le'Veon said "no," that he it's wrong to say  "Yee Haw," because that's what a Donkey says and he didn't see a Donkey but a pig and a cow behind the pastor. That was his reasoning for refusing to say it. I tried to convince him that it's a different sound but that didn't work. My kid was over there correcting me and refusing to follow everyone else. It was so funny and amazing at the same time. My kid is very smart and won't follow what the crowd is doing, if he believes what's been said or done is wrong. I LOVE THAT! It makes me so happy that I am doing something right.

I participated in all of the activities with them and it was so much fun.  You know, I kind of think that I had more fun than the kids did 😬😬.
They learned about Jesus,  and what He suffered to bring us salvation. They also learned a few new songs and did some crafts.

It was such a blessing watching my kids learn about God in a Cowboy themed VBS, alongside other kids. My heart was so full of joy and gratitude to watch my son; Le'Veon, act in such a well-mannered way. It was so awesome that I almost shed a tear of joy😇. Zoe was so into the music, so much so that she was dancing and choreographing along with the choir and everyone else. It was such a beautiful sight to see.

I can't thank the church crew at Lovejoy Family Church enough, for organizing such an amazing event that my kids got to be a part of. It was truly a blessing to experience with my kids.

I filmed a little bit during the weekend. Here's the video:

Thank you for reading this to the end. I hope you made some fun memories with your kids also.
I have added a few more pictures from the event below.
Thank you for being a part of my world,

Sincerely,
Maryam

MARYAM'S WHOLESOME POTATO SOUP WITH SAUSAGE

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. How are you all doing today? I hope you're all having a great day and not allowing anyone steal your joy😊. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful World.

I am so excited to be sharing a new recipe with you all today. This particular recipe is one I just thought of and it came together as I moved around in my kitchen. It was delicious too😋.

So, I got up that day thinking about what delicacy I could put together in the kitchen that everyone would love. A different recipe that has vegetables and very nutritious content for the kids and us(me and my sweet man) to enjoy. It was then, that this delicious soup made it's grand entry via my kitchen recipe experimentation😁. Well, everyone my kitchen is my laboratory😂😂. I love coming up with different recipes that I and my family will enjoy and that I could share with you all. I strongly believe in sharing every new hack I find or come up with because there are moms or dads who may need it.

Okay, enough with all the smooth talking😂😂😂, let's get into the recipe.

What You Will Need

- 4 Medium Russet or regular white or red potatoes

- 1/2 A cup chopped onions

- 1 Teaspoon Knorr Beef

- 1/2 Teaspoon salt

- A Tablespoon olive oil

- 5 pieces fried boneless, skinless chicken strips

- 1 Pack Breakfast Sausage cooked and chopped

-  4 fresh medium tomatoes or a can of diced tomatoes

- 1 1/2 cups frozen green peas

- 1/2 frozen yellow corn

- 4 cups of water

- A soup pot

DIRECTION:

-Peel potatoes and chop them into small cube sizes

- Add 2 1/2 cups of water into pot 

-Place pot on stove at medium high

-Let water boil

-Add potatoes and cook until very soft(15 mins)

- Get a masher

-Mash potatoes but leave little chunks still

-Take pot off stove

-Turn off heat

-Get a bowl

-Empty pot content into bowl and set aside

-Rinse pot

- Set aside

- Get a blender or food processor

-Throw tomatoes, chicken strips, peas and corn into it

- Blend using the puree option

-Set aside when done

-Turn on stove to medium heat

-Place pot back on stove

-Heat up for 2 mins

-Add oil

- Throw chopped onions into oil

-Cook until translucent

- Add puree

-Stir in spices 

- Stir until pot content is one beautifully united symphony

- Add 1/2 cup of water and let boil

- Stir in potatoes and cooked chopped sausages 

-Cook at medium heat for about 10-12 mins

-Turn off stove and let simmer for another 5-8 mins

-Serve yourself a wholesome plate and enjoy!

This was very delicious. I hope you are able to recreate this recipe and enjoy it like my family and I did😍.

Thank you for stopping by today. It was my joy sharing this new recipe with you today.

Until next time,

Stay blessed!

Maryam💕

A WELL DESERVED HONOR FOR A GOOD MAN|| COL. SAMUEL AHMEDU(RTD)

Col. Sam is pictured above after signing his re-election agreement.

What's up wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. I hope y'all are having an amazing day and are not letting anyone steal your joy. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful World! Today is a beautiful day and I come with another exciting blog post.
Today's post is dedicated to a man I've known for years. His name is Colonel Samuel Ahmedu(RTD).
Col. Sam; as everyone respectfully calls him 😊, is a good man, who has been a pioneering philanthropist and support to young and promising athletes in Nigeria for my years. He has helped many athletes in Nigeria and around Africa achieve their basketball dream of either going to the U.S to play in college or Europe to play pro-basketball.

Col. Sam is pictured in white kaftan above.

He runs two basketball clubs called Dodan Warriors and Dodan Amazons. His clubs have helped men and women become part of something bigger than themselves. He sponsors them to local and international events where they compete and are given the opportunity to get college scholarships or pro deals.

For those of you, who are not familiar with the economic situation in Nigeria; it is hard for a lot of people to make ends meet. For some, even to afford one meal a day, is nearly impossible. Col. Sam uses his organization and resources to meet many needs. His dedication to helping the needy has helped propel many to achieve their dreams.

Col. Sam pictured in white kaftan above.

Col. Sam is a good man. I have great admiration for him and the work he's committed to doing. In ensuring that young and aspiring athletes in Nigeria and across Africa have a chance, at achieving their dreams, he's inspired many to not give up. Therefore, it comes as no surprise to me that He's been re-elected FIBA Africa Zone 3 President, for the third time. This means that the next four years, FIBA Africa will get to enjoy his distinguished leadership, in representing the Continent of Africa at different world events, while presenting the needs of African athletes to those who matter.

Congratulations Colonel Samuel Ahmedu! May this be the beginning of many more blessings to come in Jesus Name. Amen!!!
Thank you for giving me the permission to write about you on my blog😇.

With utmost respect and admiration,

Maryam

MY FAVORITE HOMEMADE CHILI RECIPE

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely friends. Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm staying true to my goals of posting regularly.
So, I wanted to share a fun summer recipe with you all. It's my favorite way to make homemade chili.

I have shown you the steps and how to get the best tasting chili on my channel today.
Watch this video to learn more:

You will notice that I used more Walmart spices in this particular recipe. You can buy the same or go for something that works for you.
If you desire a more detailed list of recipes, make sure to get a copy of my recipes e-cookbook on the right side of my blog. You will love the recipes I have added.

As always, thank you for being a part of my world. You're awesome!
Sincerely,
Maryam