Weird

As typically in my year things get weird. Right now  is a weird stage.  Weird doesn't mean bad, but just a little unusual, different, not typical of how things are regularly.

I haven't written to my online blog in months and mostly because I've been busy and that's good. Now I'm exhausted. I'm going to try to at least post something once a week. Even if its to say...Hey...this week is weird.

Below are my updates of whats been going on recently...

1. So, my hair. I don't even know.  It's going through a similar shed as mentioned (link) last year and I'm not unhappy with it...its just weird. I'm not really doing anything with it anymore. I just poof it or put conditioner on it. I've been considering braiding it or getting it professionally braided but I haven't been even putting a lot of energy in thinking about that monkey.
2. We've experienced the hottest summer in the history of all summer on this earth and more than one day with temperatures over a 100 degrees is doing the most. Mosting! Weird.
3. Work...one of the weirdest places to date.
4. Family, love them however, its getting weird.
5. Friendships...surprisingly weird too. Typically my friends are my source of entertainment but lately some of them.
6. My sleep...what sleep. That's not actually weird but the thing is now, I'm really tired. Seriously can't keep my eyes open long enough to drive home from the metro tired, however, when I get home I can't go to sleep. Weird right?

I could keep going on but then...that would be weird. I will just say, I'll be back with hopefully some article a little more focused and less weird.

New Year New Color

So...I get bored and I start feeling like I've had the same hairdo forever. This prompted me to switch my style up. I colored it!

I did a lot of research which led me to basically do it my own way. I used dark and lovely #379. It was light enough with no booster which is good because I didn't want the extra damage.

It has been about 2 weeks and no damage as far as I can see! No extra breaking or dryness. Just new hair!

I've been DP with my queen Helene once a week and using castor out to seal. I'm still mostly wearing only poofs and using co wash and conditioner only to style.

I'm pumped and excited about the new look. Below is a photo montage of my new hair and my most recent trip home!

Happy New Year!

So it has been a year since I first started this blog...man. Time didn't fly but I feel like I accomplished so much mentally in 2011. It was by no means easy. One of my most stressful years but great things are made through pressure. I pushed myself. I stopped wanting to do and did.

I'm proud of me...in those moments, and excited about the moments to come.

This year...I'm taking over. One blog post, one cupcake, one saying, one moment at a time. I'm continuing on with the psychology of making sure I have on my oxygen mask before i put on anyone else's.

Thank you for supporting year 1 of this moment and cheers to many more to come. Happy New Year!

Cake Baking

So over at Butter Scotch I've been crazy busy. I'm definitely not complaining. Butter Scotch "officially" launched at the end of October and I've been so blessed with requests almost every weekend. I'm so happy and have so much work to do to develop the company that it has taken away from other pots such as my hair pot, my weight loss pot, my laundry pot, my shopping for myself pot, and lots of others that shall remain nameless, lol.

One of the pots I think about all the time, however, not had the time to finish a post about is the political pot. I had an awesome post about Herman Cain, aka, the Cain train, aka the most wanted baby's daddy, aka the uncle who made you a lesbian, aka, Clarence Thomas' cousin, however I have stalled and his career is over before I could press the publish button.

Oh well, I have another one brewing on one of my favorite anal rapist Newt Ginchrich so stay tuned!

I'm going to publicly post my resolutions here as 1/1/2012 will be the one year anniversary of This Moment and I plan to celebrate by getting my sexy back and stop all the cake baking...well actually, the baking isn't the problem, its more so the eating.

I'm going to work on my version of the Herman Cain 9-9-9 plan which involves me doing 9 push ups, 9 sit ups and 90 minutes of cardio until Amber Rose peeks her pink and blond head back into my psyche.

Wish me luck.

Oh, and I know this post was mad random but so am I as of late. I have a lot of good hair, political, life topics coming to you soon...so please...believe in me, lmao.

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

I just celebrated the 10th Anniversary of my 21st Birthday! Yes, time has gone by. I can't say its flown though, but its ticking away.

When I actually turned 21, I don't remember what I did. I barely drank back then. I'm sure my sister got me bottles of Moet (because she was just freakin' fly like that) and we had a random house party or something. My birthday's then were so uneventful and now...they are main events that last days, weeks, even the whole month!

This year my hubby treated me to a Cancun Vacation. It was absolutely breathtaking and amazing. I'd been to Cancun before with the bestie but we did it the hood way and didn't go all inclusive or allow ourselves any pampering. We just roughed it! It was def a trip that went down in our history, but this trip was its trump!

We stayed at the Fiesta Americana Condesa and I fully endorse this place. If you know me, I'm mad serious about reviews and this place consistently receives the highest reviews on trip advisor. I know why...they spoil the shit out of you. They make you feel like they are your bff's and they never want you to leave. I will remember this vacay forever...well whichever parts I can reember. Below is my photo montage of the birthday!

Including my random birthday party with my vacation friends...

And my smoking hot body in this bikini...I heart that bikini...

Its so nice going and being at an age where I don't care. I don't care about my tiger strips (stretch marks), cellulite, etc...I just cared about my glass staying full along with my belly!

I cannot wait to celebrate the 16th Anniversary of my Sweet 16 Birthday next year! Its going down!

Introducing...Butter Scotch!

So, I've been gone for a minute and focusing my energy on two of my first loves...food and fashion. I've decided to create embark on a new venture that will allow me share my both of my loves with the world.

I formally introduce you to...Butter Scotch; the new place for all things awesome!

Butter Scotch is divided into two pieces, The Good Taste Shop and The Bake Shop.

The Good Taste Shop features sweet clothing and accessories available for purchase from my adventures in thrift and vintage shopping. Please click on the Good Taste Shop link to learn more information.

The Butter Scotch Bake Shop features a menu of my homemade sweet treats that are available for purchase. Please click on the Bake Shop link to learn more information.

I'm so very, very, very excited to bring This Moment to all of you! I appreciate all of your support in advance and know with you this will be a great success!

Let's Shake and Bake!

When all else fails, manipulate the data...

Ok, so I have been getting a little frustrated with the talk about President’s Obama/The Democratic plan to increase taxes FOR THE UPPER/HIGHEST earners in our county. A lot of the back lash is not coming from the people in the upper bracket, which is currently $379,150, but instead from the people, I assume are in the 1-5 lower brackets $0-$300,000.

My issue with this is…why? Why take this position? Why are those who are not getting taxed more under the new proposal so concerned with the increase? The increase, which in my opinion is EXTREMELY FAIR AND OVERDUE. Increase the taxes of the people who are making the most money in the country.

Please see the current tax brackets below.

Tax Brackets 2011      Single                      Married Filing Jointly     Head of Household10% Bracket                $0 – $8,500               $0 – $17,000                    $0 – $12,150
15% Bracket                $8,500 – $34,500       $17,000 – $69,000            $12,150 – $46,250
25% Bracket                $34,500 – $83,600     $69,000 – $139,350          $46,250 – $119,400
28% Bracket                $83,600 – $174,400   $139,350 – $212,300        $119,400 – $193,350
33% Bracket                $174,400 – $379,150 $212,300 – $379,150        $193,350 – $379,150
35% Bracket                $379,150+                 $379,150+                       $379,150+

As you see, once you make at least $379K your taxes are no longer increased. This means the person making $379K is taxed just as much as the person making $30 Million! Does this make since? Especially when taxes go up a whopping 25% for the people making $8,000 -$379K. How is it cool that if there is a $370,000 increase you are taxed 25% more. No ones saying nothing about that, however, there is extreme backlash when Democrats and our President suggest adding a new tax bracket only adding a 5% increase (although this is a $700,000 increase in wealth) to those who are making $1,000,000 and above.

How can one call this unfair, or even unconstitutional? It is unsound and makes no mathematical since. Here is the breakdown:

25%  tax increase for making $300,000 additional

5% tax increase for making $700,000 through infinity additional!

The new tax increases would help the middle class who you can see from the chart above SUFFERS the most under the tax brackets as they are currently structured. Taking 30% in taxes of  a family who makes $200,000 hurts SIGNIFICANTLY more than taking 40% from someone who makes $5,000,000.

Let's go further and take a look at the history of tax increases and decreases over the past 40 years:

As you can see from the chart above, who's taxes are going down and whose are going up? The lowest earners in the countries taxes have steadily increased from 1960. And who's have had the biggest drop...the highest earners! Back in the 60's these people were paying over 40-70% in taxes! And when did the big drop happen, during the Reganomics error oops, I mean era. Now do the math on that! You can see the drop right around 1982 when Reagan and his crew approved historic low tax cuts for the richest in the county! Come on son. A mere 5% increase under the Obama presidency is no where near catching our country up to where it had been with equal distribution of taxes from previous years.

How is it that one cannot see this? We are not taking about the actual amount of money you receive from each person, but the financial impact, percentages. Who decided that at the point you reached $379,000 you should no longer be impacted by tax increases? Is this a perk for making more money?  And those of us who make our way up the middle class ladder are stuck paying more and more and more taxes every year?

Let’s keep it real. Most of us will never make it over $379,000 per year. However, I do know people who are making over this amount of money and they are behind the tax increases! They believe it is only fair to redistribute the wealth. Taking an additional 5% from millionaires can benefit our county A LOT more than taking 5% from me! You can’t do nothing with that!

I cram to understand why the rich Republicans who hold their wallets so tight and have been allowed to go unscathed by taxes, big breaks for major companies, hiding their wealth under business expenses, have so many champions who will never know that wealth. These people need to fight for the middle class and lower classes who actually need and cannot afford the champions. I have not heard the richees campaigning for you. They are trying to screw you with medicare, social security, increased taxes, jobs, housing market, gas...I could go on.

People, please don’t be fooled by Headliners like “Obama wants to increase your taxes”. Or “Obama’s tax plan is unconstitutional”. Tell me where in the constitution does it mention giving a pass to every Millionaire for the next 500 years. We are smarter than that. Before we make assumptions on things, we need to stop being "glamoured" by fast talking car salesmen who want to portray the Democratic political party as big bad wolves targeting the poor helpless defenceless rich folks. As we can see from history, many Presidents before Barack Obama campaigned for themselves, its fine time we have a President who is finally campaigning for us.

Obama 2012, Stop Playing and Let's Go!

Damn Good Biscuits!

One of my passions is baking. Its one of the only "normal" events I can remember doing with my mom when I was little:-) I'm working on a lot of recipes, adding new ones to my Rolodex and hopefully beginning a new business venture in a couple of months (more info coming soon).

Anyhoo, today, I had a taste for biscuits. Not the biscuits in a can, but some guuuud biscuits. I found a recipe and it had to be sent from the Lawd himself. But ladies, beware...only make this recipe if you are trying to get him to fall in love, do the laundry, watch the kids, get a ring, you get my point. Please don't waste this recipe on someone stupid. Don't make these for someone you don't really care about. These biscuits will take your stock wayyyyy up! I promise!

I mean, some women are pretty, some smart, maybe even good in bed...but wake up in the morning roll some dough from scratch and make a man sweet bread...ha, ha, ha, you are worth your weight in gold!

I even got Lil' K involved. She will have it down early!

Here is a recipe I adapted from a cozy kitchen blog and its great.

Biscuits

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks of very cold butter (or 6 ounces), cubed
1/2 cup cold and shaken buttermilk
1 large egg
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 egg, beaten with a tablespoon of milk or water (egg wash)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

In a large bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt. Working quickly, add the cubed butter and break it up with your hands until all of the butter is broken into bits and resembles small peas.

In a measuring cup, whisk together the buttermilk and egg. Add the buttermilk mixture and maple syrup to the flour mixture. Mix until barely combined. Lightly dust your kitchen counter with flour and dump the dough onto it. Knead a few times (maybe 4 or 5) until the dough comes together. Press or gently roll the dough into a 1-inch thickness. Cut out biscuits using a 2-inch cutter (I used the rim of a glass) and place on lined baking sheet. Re-roll dough scraps to get a few more biscuits. Brush the tops of the biscuits with egg wash and bake in oven for 15-20 minutes, or until tall and golden brown.

Try it and tell me what you think!!! I want to commit this to memory. Every chica should have a good biscuit recipe in their holster!

Education: Is the system still segregated?

As Lil' K gets older, I start thinking more and more about her education and what that means for us as her parents. We both are very intelligent and raised on public schools. I lived right across the street from my elementary school growing up and would go on a limb saying I had some of the best education Detroit had to offer. I love the fact that kids can go to school in their neighborhoods and receive a quality education, especially considering I live in a county that pays THE highest taxes in my state.

I started researching preschools and elementary school and was not in love with any of our local options. I saw class sizes larger than the national average, testing scores only average and in some areas below. I look at the kids on the metros and kids going to charter schools and also see (at least from their foul behavior) they aren't getting much better educations than if they would have stayed in their communities.

It makes me wonder...though schools are "integrated" is their still segregation of the quality of the education received in Black neighborhoods as opposed to White neighborhoods? You hear the story of the Ohio woman who was actually jailed for trying to give her children a chance by utilizing a school whose education system was superior than the one offered in her community. Jailed! And it makes you wonder...why did we stop fight for equality of education?

Bill Gates, the richest man in America has taken up this fight. His kids don't have to worry about this because one his is rich, and another, sad to say, he is White. Why, even in the richest of Black neighborhoods, do we still allow the school systems to remain sub par.

An article featuring Bill Gates reported his anger after learning about the continued disparity in the education system: 

"he struggles to figure out why Blacks, particularly in inner cities, aren’t also mad as hell and ready to pound the pavement for change. “Why isn’t there outrage, absolute outrage over this issue? Why aren’t there protests every day? I don’t understand,” he says. “Why wouldn’t this activate people the way that it did during the Civil Rights Movement?”

Black people...why isn't there? Our child is only 2 however, we have already begun the research. I plan to visit the schools in our neighborhood and sit in on classes. I plan to talk to the principles. I would like to be able to utilize my communities services and not have to have my child bused out of our neighborhood to receive a education. Some of my personal friends are paying more than $10,000 per year for Elementary School! This is on top of the taxes we pay for these services.

Black people...why aren't we becoming involved in our communities and more importantly our education systems. For people who utilize public schools for their children, are you happy with the quality of the services provided by the neighborhood school? In comparison to other schools, do you feel the level of service is adequate? If not, what have you done or what can be done? Is the answer to just pay for private school or wait for Superman with a lottery ticket?

Why aren't we protesting? Why aren't we fighting for the right to have our children equally educated as the children in White(r) neighborhoods? In this day in age, it isn't necessarily about income because Prince George County is one of the richest counties in America. However, it has one of the highest dropout rates.

We have to stop this, and its not too late. If your children are in school...do you know the teacher? The teacher's qualifications? What rights do parents have to make changes in their schools?

This will be a reoccurring topic for me and I will post information as I discover it. I hope, since we are starting 2 years before Lil' K enters the school system, we can make a change.

Let's Go!

My BFF I've Never Met: Marsha Ambroisious

I know, you are tired of hearing about her from me...but I can't help it. I heart this chick. Everytime I hear something or read something about her, it is like, exactly how I would respond. Or what I would do. Or what I would say. I recently fell upon her cute blog Marsha Ambrosius Honestly and was too delighted to know she is also a blogger. Of course being a mega star she isn't able to update it that often, but I was able to go through and read some of her musings and love her voice.

I feel like, if she and I met in real life, we would have so much to talk about. Music, life, weight, hair, men...you name it!

Anyhoo, I'm sure, one day, if the stars align she and I will meet again (remember, we've met before). One day me, her and Amber Rose are all going out for sushi and shit talking. It is like my dream come true.

Here's to hoop dreams!

The Art of Whoopin'

When I was little, my mom would threaten me with a whoopin' for like...months, before the actual event happened. She would say, "If you do that again, I'm whoopin' you!" or "Let me find out you aren't doing well in school. Whoopin'!"

I don't remember getting very many whoopin's, however, the ones I got, I always felt were displaced. I felt like I got whoopin's for doing stuff that wasn't really "that" bad. Like my mom was just having a bad f'in day and decided to whoop me! Or slap me! Yes, I will never forget that great face slap of 89'. And the slap of 92'. Something about a slap that's damn right disrespectful...

I digress.

Being a mother, this morning, I had a Eureka about The Art of Whoopin'. Lil' K is a good child. I have NEVER (shockingly) whooped her. Her dad has popped her, her Mema has popped her, I've maybe tapped her hand once if anything, but I have never just all out spanked her behind. I try to talk to her and she's a really rational kid; so this typically works. And when things really get bad (which is rare) we do a time out.

Now, its not that I'm against a whoopin'. Because I think they are great and effective when done right. But I just have not felt the need to hand it out yet. The thing about the whoopin' is if you do it too much, it becomes ineffective and its power is taken away. I'm saving it.

But today, I felt my pressure boil and actually felt like...dare I say, giving her a whoopin'. She was being a Lil' B this morning. Super whiny, and rude, and blown because she had to get up and go to school. And I'm like, really, you are blown! After all I do for you. After bathing you, and changing you, and braiding your hair fabulously, and feeding you and allowing you to rip my belly open, you are going to have a tantrum today about your freakin' tag in your shirt. Really! That's how you feel about me! You little ungrateful....@#$@#$#!

Um, I didn't say any of those things. But I thought them. And then I had to laugh to myself and say...Oh. I get it. In her mind, 20 years later she would've thought I whooped her for her tag being a bother. In my mind I would've whooped her for being disrespectful and not complying with our morning routine, and whining, and how on school days she stays in the bed all morning but on the weekends she is at the side of my bed poking me in the eye at 6am and for...my belly (yes dammit that is a whoopable offense...I think).

I stopped and laughed at all the times I got slapped or whooped and realized that it was not about what I did that day. It was an accumulation of little kid bullshit. It was all the times combined that I had whined, and disobeyed, and back talked, and "but mommy'd" and been a jerk and the day that slap happened was the straw. I'm sure it really hurt my mom more than it hurt me (I always thought that was a load of crap). But really, now being a mom I get it. I try to keep the peace, use my words instead of my hands; but there are times when your tolerance is done son. When you think about all the f'in babies you have to deal with when you get to work. How your child has no concept of what you go through or what you feel, and they want to try you. Those times are when you need to step back. Take a 5. Walk away. Because even if in the moment you whop them, you are still going to feel bad about allowing a child to push you over the edge.

In my case, today, Lil' K did not get whooped. Because I'm just not there yet. But her punishment was not watching her DVD on the way to school. And she will be going to be at 7:30 tonight instead of 8 since she's so f'in tired in the morning.  My reward for not whoopin' will be...a whoopie pie from the Lobster Truck when it makes its way to my area this week.

And all will be right with the world.

Can grown women have playdates?

(source)

I've been in the DMV now for 9 years. Every year I make a big escape plan all to never go through with it. I came here in 2002 and said I've give it 3 years. In 2005 I started looking for a new job. In 2006 I got a new job and said I'd give it a year. In 2007 I had a new job back in Michigan, but met my soon to be DH, and said I'd give love a try. 2008 I got preggo and now...2011...still here.

I guess I should start making this place home.  And I'm dying to increase my circle with some new chicas. Chicks I have things in common with, who maybe have children the same age as me so we can have cocktails during play dates...you know. Like grown women playdates and we happen to bring our kids with us.

I've met some awesome people since living here, but I always imagined my circle being bigger. Having grand parties. Taking big couple trips.

Well recently, I met this lady at the grocery store. We were both looking at new products in the natural hair section and got to talking. She has a son near Lil' K's age and was expecting. We talked about hair, kids, products, etc. It was such a nice and refreshing conversation, that, afterwards...I longed for more. I know...it sounds romantic right and a teeny bit gay. But I didn't want to book her...well not in that way. I wanted to meet her for coffee or sandwiches at Panera Bread and talk about life with someone seemingly where I am in life. I wanted to meet her husband and wandered was he just as tall as she was. Did they play pick up basketball games? Where is she from? How long has she been in this area? Does she like her son all the time? Does she want to trade babysitting? Do they want to come over and hang?

Its crazy right? Its not very often I meet people I'm interested in. I mention to her I had a blog and was going to give her the address because some of the stuff we discussed I have talked to death on here. I also wanted to get her email address to just keep in touch with a seemingly cool mom.

I was hesitant because...I got booked in a grocery store some years back. A lady who I thought was nice chatted me up, told me about her husband, so I didn't think she was gay. Invited me to a party. And when I called her later to discuss the details of "said party" she tried to turn me into a swinger with her and her dude. I was scarred because I thought she was mad cool and I don't meet cool chicks that often. After that, I don't meet random ladies anymore. You have to be a friend of a friend or something. But now, having a child...I wonder...is it time? Should I take a chance on branching out?

Ladies...how do you go about meeting new friends? Or do you even try? I'm not a "mommy and me" or "mocha moms" type chick (tried it and failed horribly) but how do you get in new circles?

What is love?

Hmmm...

So what is love? I found this definition:

"Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the desire to mate every second of the day. It is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every part of your body... For that is just being in love; which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over, when being in love has burned away..." (source).

I love this definition. It is real talk done son. Love is what you have, after you've "won" that person over. Love is not pretty, Love doesn't wear make up, Love wears a bonnet at night. Love may not take you to dinner or have stimulating conversation, and Love may, hurt you. Let me rephrase...Love will hurt you. You want to know why... because Love is hard. Love is work. Love should brought your ass home last night (ok, you know I had to do it).

Sometimes, I get caught up in the Love of it all. I get caught up missing those feelings of being "in love". The beautiful thing about marriage (and cherish this because its hard for me to find these moments) is that it forces you to fall in and out of love over and over and over again. It forces you to stay with the person after all that gushy stuff is gone; the you hang ups, no you hang ups. Through the hard times, Love is the thread, the force that keeps you together until you find something to be in love with again.

Since I've been married, me and my DH have divorced several times (in my head). And then we fall in love all over again. We are just entering our 3rd year and people say, if you get to 3 years you're good. And then other people say, you're still not safe, because you get the 7 year itch. And most recently I heard the crazy "its really the 10-13 year mark that makes or breaks you". HA! All buffoonery if you ask. From the day, the minute, the second after they pronounce you man and wife, shit gets real. Real real! And anyone who tells you it will all be a crystal staircase and cherries on top, is full of crap. Tell em Rae told you!

The bottom line is, Love is what will keep you together. Love is what sustains. Just remember, when you are having a fat week (or summer in some cases), and your natural hair journey has taken a turn for the worst, Love is what you need. Love is what you want.

So what am I saying...I'm just saying. Fluff is good. Fluff makes for nice stories and makes a good pillow. But who cares about the pillows, if you don't have a good bed.

In addition to showing what my face looks like during the Love thinking process, I wanted to show off my twist out! (more to come on these pix in the next blog post, lol).

The Great Hurriquake of 2011

THIS IS MY 100TH POST!!!

Some type of bells or sirens or some other fantastical ish should be happening right now! Its happening in my head, and I guess that's enough!

Is it irony that my 100th post is about the GREAT HURRIQUAKE OF 2011?

Hurriquake...wow. Who would've thought in less than one week I survived my very first Earthquake and a Hurricane! Where they do that at? I'll tell you where, the great state, oh I mean district, of Washington, DC!

I'm sure instead of people realizing that Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth was happening all in one week, this was more reminiscent of the conversations going on...

(source)

So sad, but oh so true! If only we served a God who punished us for everything the right wing considers wrong, we'd be lucky!

Needless to say, I survived. I had lots of cocktails and listened to a lot of good music and bonded with my family. Coming "close" to death twice in one week really makes you realize how we are not in control of much. How our decisions and the way we take care of each other and the earth impact the future. How we take each day for granted. How much we don't live in "this moment".

I think this was the perfect time for a hurriquake. In my life and in America. Hopefully it shook everyone up enough and made them realize we should start taking care of each other. Not making decisions to benefit one but all. Maybe the hurriquake will wake our legislation up and make the decision making process easier. Everyone in my office was definitely more kumbaya and I hope it rubbed off on all of DC. Lefters and righters holding hands, helping each other, and realizing if the building crumbles...what will we have left? At the end of the day, even the most irrational man has to ask...what profits a man to gain the world and lose his soul?

Hmmmm...I think our current politicos are actually worst than irrational. Instead they probably figured out some way to blame President Obama for the weather and will be adding a new tax for everyone whose basement flooded.

Star Performer

To say I'm a proud mommy is an understatement!  On Saturday, my baby, only 2 years old, had her first performance.

She told me the night before she wanted "big hair, reeeeallly big hair". I said okay baby, you got it.

I blew her hair out after washing it that morning and this was her hair style for the program!

Absolutely adorable! She reminded me of a young Rudy from the Cosby Show. To do her hair I blow dryed it on low, cool heat, after detangling and sealing with Knot Today and Coconut Oil. Tied a ribbon around that fro and leggo!

She did really good with her program, other than the fact she pushed her hair up halfway through the Crayon Song and it started to look a little wild, but I didn't care.

At age 2 she performed the following: The Christian Pledge, The Crayon Song, The Alphabet in Sign Language, Several Phrases and words in Sign Language, a Spanish Conversation, and counted in Spanish! I was taken aback and soooo proud of her! It was the cutest thing I've ever seen!

I haven't cried in about 3 years, but on this day, I felt the tears welling up. They didn't fall, but it was close:-)

Following the program, I thought it was really important she and I got library cards at our new local library. So this is what we did...

I can't wait to continue learning and loving with my baby!

I'm Lovin' It!!

I’ve become completely obsessed with fashion blogs the past few weeks. When life gets me down, I got look at other fab girls and what they are wearing! Right now, my favs are fashionbananas.com, meek-n-mild.blogspot.com, and curvesandconfidence.com. I totally love the outfit of the day posts and get really good ideas. Another blog I’m loving right now is fashionwithoutguilt.com. Great ideas on how to make your dolla holla. To make it easier, I’ve joined bloglovin.com. You should too! It’s a great way to keep up with your favorite blogs! I posted these and a few other favorites in my favorite bloggers tab up top!

Here is my first attempt at an au natural pix like the lovely ladies above. I think its pretty good. There will be more to come!

Jacket - Calvin Klein
Belt - Calvin Klein
Tank - Forever 21
Jeans - NY & Company
Shoes - BCBG

I Need Yelp!

hahaha, you get it...Help/Yelp...

So, I'm a Yelper. I've been one for years and mostly read the reviews without writing many. However, recently I decided, I need to pay it forward and put my reviews out there too. I have so many to write, and now am only up to 6, lol. Don't judge me.

If you know me, you will know before I buy anything, travel anywhere, go out to eat, I read reviews. I heart reviews. I like to know what the people think. I like to do impromptu people polls while standing in lines, or across the table at dinner. I ask the waitress or bartenders what they think. I think an informed buyer is a smart buyer. DH likes to say, "You don't know those people, how can you respect their reviews". People typically only write reviews when they have a negative experience. And I want to hear about it. Up front. I like to know what I'm getting into before I take the leap.

Wouldn't it be awesome if people had a Yelp? I used to subscribe to this website "Don't Date Him Girl" but never wrote anything. I definitely looked up guys I dated to see if a girl hated him so much she put his review on there. I wonder what my review would say, probably something like...

1. She needs to review everything before she makes a decision. She's probably reading her review of reviewing right now.

Yep, that's probably all the negative you could get out of me. Other than that. I'm perfect:-). Anyhoo, I've linked my yelps to the bottom of this blog now, so you can check out where I've been and what I think. Remember, my opinion is the only one that counts!

Off the Grid

So in an attempt to get my family off the grid, I’ve totally gone…off. LOL! For father’s day I purchased the DH the Roku and the following month we went cableless. Who knew cableless meant internetless, uh I didn’t, otherwise, I would’ve thought that out better. But now we have internet again through a different provider (who I will not promote until I have a few months to decide if I like) but anything is better than the ass rapist from Comcast.

So, what is being off the grid? We were previously paying over $220 per month for a house phone (which we NEVER used), internet, and cable (with only 5 stations we really watched). Instead of paying this ridiculous amount, we decided we would experiment with options, not using the Comcast. The Roku was the choice. This little magical awesome box has provided me with so much delight.

The Roku allows you to watch Netflix (we pay $8 to stream movies), HuluPlus (which we don't have but I think is also $8), and a bunch of other movie stations. The box is $80 and that is all you pay. No monthly subscription except to your paid stations such as Hulu or Netflix. My favorite station on this little magic box is Justin.tv which allows you to watch other people's computers, webcam, etc for free. Its kinda the same as music sharing, but you can't save what you watch.

In addition to the Roku, we also have a playstation 3 and a Wii which can be used in the same way. And we have a DVD player for Lil' K. I can say, I don't miss cable. Especially now that I've figured out how to watch my True Blood and eventually Dexter in the fall.

Our total subscriptions and cable now equal $48 as opposed to $220 and that is what I call savings ladies and gentleman. This is dolla holla at its finest!

 

What the F' Fridays: Fried Kool-Aid

So the trending topic for yahoo has been this…

I tried for about 2 days to ignore it, but I mean come one…when you see the words, “fried” and “kool aid” together, you have to know what it is all about. So…I gave in. I clicked it.

Don’t they look like little red donut holes. I hear they are little drops of heaven. Seriously. Drops from heaven. Combining anything in fried form for me is just awesome, so red kool aid fried was a no brainer. I like to think I really don’t like kool aid, but the older I get, the more I can appreciate making a whole pitcher of something for 27 cents!

I was all for this item, that is typically served at state fairs ONLY once a year. I mean, let’s not overdose on it right. But then I see this quote at the bottom of the page and I’m giving the creator mad side eye. He need to gone head with that…”Perhaps the creator is hoping his invention will get picked up by KFC as the perfect dessert pairing for its "DoubleDown" chicken sandwich.”

The only thing that will be doubled down is your wife’s health insurance policy once she knows her husband is going to drop dead in 5, 4, 3,2…

Hair is Bond

First, I would like to give a disclaimer…I’m going to judge you in this post. If you are not into judging, just skip it, and go to something less biased, lmbo! If you like a good internet debate, feel free to comment below. Judge me judging youJ

Leggo…

A few posts back I touched on a subject that I know is going to be a little taboo, but whatever, I gotta talk about it. It is the fact that there are still some Black Mothers who consistently take their daughters somewhere else to let people braid, wash, plait, do their child’s hair. I don’t mean for like a special event, but I am talking about the everyday cornrows and beads style. This…I have a problem with.

There are sooooooooooooo many blogs right now that feature moms, non Black moms, raising Black children, doing their daughter’s hair. I emphasize the fact that they are not Black because it shows me that they are not using their “non” Black status as a crutch to just take their daughter and her hair to someone else as their problem. These Moms realize the importance of the Mother/Daughter bond that takes place with hair. Them adopting a Black child, or having a child that is bi-racial is no copout for learning and knowing how to care for their child’s hair, so why should it be for you.

Going to the hairdresser, in my opinion should be a treat. Something reserved for when your child is older or if you choose to use chemicals on your childs hair. None of which I’m against, but bi-monthly appointments at the hairdressers for kids…I’m not with it.

I have several girlfriends, who are Black, and who do not know, are not interested in learning how to braid their daughters hair. They pay other women to do something they in fact could and should be doing themselves. (I’m judging you…yes, you). Taking a child under the age of 10 to a hairdresser to braid is just plain…dare I say…lazy. Yep, I said it. I’m not living in some type of fantasy world. Of course, Black hair is a chore. Our young daughters do not make it any easier by not sitting still, acting like we are killing them when we are trying to detangle, and crying bloody murder when we are shampooing, but all of this, in my opinion, is a labor of love.

Everything we do as Mothers, our children watch and retain. By taking care of her hair, and watching you take care of your hair, she then learns how to take care of her own hair. By sitting back reading a magazine while some other lady takes care of her hair does not give her the tools she will need to tackle one day the beautiful nest of kinky, curly, coily hair on her head. Making her feel like it is a job for someone else will make her retain that. Plain and simple.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not perfect. I tell Lil’ K, there are lots of things we will work out in therapy one day (as we all know everything we do is our Mother’s fault), but I think there is so much pride in creating styles and going through the motions of teaching her, and myself, about her hair. She blows me during the process. I may or may not have a couple glasses of wine during the process. Yes, the process may take all day, but it is something I feel necessary and it is a bonding experience.

Lil’ K is only 2 right now, but she is learning and retaining so many things about her hair. She is learning how to help mommy put beads on. She is learning how the benefits of the style are the worth minutes she has to sit still in the chair and watch reruns of Dora. I am learning the magic of popsicles and chocolate in the process. We take that time with each other because it is a part of grooming her to be a proud young lady. Proud of her hair, her culture, and to show her that nothing she has for me is too much to put off on someone else.

Now, I get it Moms. You are not the best braider. You don’t do it right enough or tight enough. But you know what, you never will if you don’t start trying. Sending your child off to the hairdresser to style her hair is, in my opinion, not that much better than the moms who perm their young child’s hair to make it easier to comb. Yes, I said it. Just like everything else, practice makes perfect. And we Mothers, can find the time to get this done. At a young age, their hair does not have to have perfectly parted and in perfectly straight braids. They benefit more from the nurturing (yes, I’m calling these scream fest nurturing) that takes place during this 2-3-8 hour process.

This is my call out to all inexperienced moms (who don’t have carpal tunnel and have full use of their hands)…Get on a blog, start youtubing, and learn how to care for your child’s hair! Just one click on this link google link gives you all the googles you need to start the process. Today! If you have a girlfriend that is good at braiding, go over her house for a tutorial (which I plan on having for my girlfriends who I’m fussing at right now). You will be so proud of yourself. Don’t use what you can’t do as a crutch.

A few of my favorite blogs for kids hair are:

http://www.happygirlhair.com/

beadsbraidsbeyond.blogspot.com

http://tweenyhair.blogspot.com/