Tismee asked if I had any questions for all of you and I thought that was a great idea because, believe it or not, I do. But first, I'm going to answer a few more questions that have trickled in. * **LW's daughter is bi-racial and she has VERY curly hair but it's kind of blondish brown (her mom is white with blonde hair). How should I help her take care of it? I think she tries to straighten it on her own, but she's fried it with the flat iron. It depends on whether it's very dry. She may need a very good moisturizing conditioner. I use Pantene for Women of Color (Deep Conditioning formula) for shampoo and conditioner. I also use a light oil on my hair called African Pride when the ends feel brittle and dry. If her hair isn't damaged or dry, you can show her how to put Biosilk (Silky) on her hair to make her hair much more manageable and silky. Plus, when any heat is used, it will protect it. A deep conditioner at least once a month will do wonders for her hair....

I'm surprised that you all don't have any real inquiring questions. Here are the ones that I expected to be asked... 1) Why do black women wear a lot of extensions? How long do the braids last? Does it hurt? 2) Why do some Black families name their children off the wall names that either rhyme or are hard to pronounce? 3) Do Black people agree with White families adopting Black children? 4) What are chitlins? 5) What are my feelings on rap music? Those were a few that I expected. If you do want to know the answers to those questions, please let me know. In the meantime, here are a few more answers. ***How do we, as a nation, continue to move forward and eradicate prejudice? I mean it, honestly, after all these years why can we not treat each other with kindness? Racial prejudice is easily defined for me as purely ignorance. There will always be people who will judge someone by the color of their skin before seeing what's deep inside of them. I see that same stereotype among...

You all have some great questions and comments so I'm back to answer some more. ***In my house, it's "Black", because I had a birth mom go off on me when I called her African American. She said she didn't have any family from Africa. There for she was not african! She was Black. I've had the opportunity to do some family tree stuff on my dad's side of the family and discovered so much about who I am. For one, I've got Irish, German and Native American Indian pretty deep in my family tree but from my grandmother's side, there is West African. My great great great great (I think that's enough greats) was bought over on a slave ship from West Africa as a 12 year old. The man who purchased her and others, was my great great great great grandfather, who was from Germany. He never married her but took care of her and their four children. Back then, it wasn't acceptable to have any type of relationship with a black woman so it was kept quiet. I ...

I was asked some very thought-filled questions yesterday. It's nice knowing that in blog land, there is a place where we can question, answer and just be ourselves. So with....here goes!! ****Do you prefer, woman of color, black, or African American? I don't make an issue of how I'm referred. I call myself either Black or African American. When I was a kid, I couldn't understand why we were called Black because frankly, anyone can see that I'm brown. I don't necessarily like the term woman of color because being the artistic person that I am, I envision a woman with various color (sorta like a crayon box) walking around. Frankly, we're all women of color unless you know of anyone that is clear. **** Even though we elected the first black president, do you feel prejudice is alive and well in the US? I believe racism will always exist in some form. My hope is that with having a Black president, there will be more of an understanding and respect of Black peopl...

My friend, Denene at MyBrownBaby brought up some intriguing insights on being a Black woman and on topics such as hair care. Being that I've been Black all of my life, I've had the joy of answering questions that usually began with, "This may probably be a stupid question but…" and most of the questions weren't stupid at all. What I found was that there are a lot of unanswered questions that remain that way unless someone is willing to answer them. The biggest question that I was asked was, "What is it like being a Black woman in the U.S.?" Without wanting to sound as if I am writing an essay, I have many answers to that one question. If you'd like the answer, please let me know. I've also gotten questions like, "How do you make such good fried chicken?" "How do you take care of Black hair?" and the infamous, "What are you?" question. I'm opening up my blog to answer any questions you have wondered about, ponde...

I don't know if it's my age creeping up on me (45) or just life being overwhelming but I've lost my umph. The picture above, is the last one that I created for Baby Boo's room. Before divorce, I was a creative guru. My now ex and I had our own production company and wrote music and produced new artists. I entered and won three cooking contests. I did wall murals as a side business. I played the piano and sung with the hopes of one day doing some recording myself. I exercised 5 days a week. I sewed and crocheted. I loved learning new things and challenging myself. What happened? Where did the umph to do all of that go? I know that my life has changed since the divorce. I am engaged and soon to be a step mom to a 21 month old. I'm older and chubbier. Tired. Living in a new environment. I fall asleep at night, trying to figure out where it's gone. Note to whoever or whatever has stolen it..I WANT IT BACK!!!

a pretty special award from an awesome, funny, new friend from Malaysia and her great blog, ofmiceandramen.blogspot.com The rules are: 1. Put the award up on your blog. 2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you. 3. Nominate at least seven other blogs. 4. Add links to these blogs on your blog. 5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog Here are the blogs that I frequently visit although there are more than 7...I'll have to eenie meenie miney moe. Is that okay? Here goes..I give this award to.... 1.) Danica Lynn from danicalynn.blogspot.com 2.) Lisa from simplyblessedbliss.blogspot.com 3.) Sandi from http://luckythirteenandcounting.blogspot.com/ 4.) Julie from 47andstartingover.blogspot.com 5.)Diva Ma from http://divaattitudes.blogspot.com/ 6.)Wendall from http://wendallk.blogspot.com/ 7.) Tena from http://therapyfortena.blogspot.com/ So visit some of my peeps and let them know that I sent you!!

I need help....maybe psychological help of some sort. I have taken to playing doctor way too seriously and have begun self-diagnosing myself. It all began when my then husband, now ex came home and described a co-workers symptoms. I asked questions and wrote them down and then got on the internet and with the search, came up with his diagnosis...Diabetes. I told my ex, "He needs to see a doctor; he's diabetic." Surprisingly, I was right. This led to the heightened excitement of diagnosing others and even volunteering to do surgery (after all I do have a scalpel). The disclaimer is that if you should die or suffer brain trauma, you will not hold me responsible! The harm comes in diagnosing myself. I have had *according to my diagnosis* lupus, fibromylagia, leukemia, asbestos related airway disease, Lyme disease, dustmititis (new disease I discovered) and stress baldness. I recently went to the doctor for pain and swelling in my foot that has now radiated to my knee. She wa...

There's a strange phenomenon happening in the house. It's growing by huge proportions. I have no idea where it began, what the cure is or when it will stop. I call it the phenomenon of one. I love to cook. There are 5 people in my house who love to eat what I cook. Yet, case in point, there is always one of something left over until finally, it gets tossed. It could be something delicious like a caramel apple, a slice of cheesecake, the last bit of ice cream (enough for one), the last slice of cake, the last taco. Either way, it sits, and sits, until eventually, it is tossed because it's hit the point of no return. I examined this phenomenon carefully and came to the conclusion that everyone in the house is too polite or doesn't want to look greedy so instead of helping themselves, they assume that someone else will eat it instead. Given that there are 4 (not counting Baby Boo) that think this way, we have food that goes to waste weekly...GOOD FOOD...not nasty, tasteles...

Last night, I did something I haven't done in a long time. I watched a scary movie. Not any movie but a zombie movie. Maybe it was all the dust getting to me from moving or maybe I was too tired to get up to change the channel. But, I zoned out as the zombies busted through doors, biting people that weren't zombies yet. I came to the conclusion that I'm too analytical or maybe it's the writer in me but I was yelling at the tv, "Move! Run! Why are you just standing there? The zombies are right behind you." One thing, in spite of the corniest of cornies, I got a message from that "scary" movie. When you work together, no matter what the obstacle, a change will take place. There were a few people that wanted to fight against the system and do things their own way. Most of them got chomped on and turned into zombies. It didn't matter what color you were or how old, what religious affiliation or whether you drank coffee, milk or tea, things got to sha...

I am going to be on hiatus for the next few days, moving to the new house. Internet won’t be up and running for a until Wednesday so I will be lurking most of the time when I’m at work. Behave and stay out of trouble!!! I’ll be back!!!

Seeing that I'm madly in love with Boo and Baby Boo comes as the bonus baby, I have decided that I need to take Extra Strength No Doze when she's here. I have never seen a kid get into so much! Hurricane Baby Boo is here! The latest fixation aside from the love for lotion (eating it included) is turning the lights off and on. I was beginning to think I was in a disco. From there, she became Baby Acrobat and climbed up one chair and to fly head first off of it. Her medal??? Red from getting her face scraped! The next event was a marathon fish eating contest. Not the real kind but the cracker variety. After shoving 20 crackers in her mouth, she decided to laugh. If you can imagine what half chewed fish looked like flying out of her mouth...well...not a pretty sight! Next was her attempt to do her own laundry in the dog's water dish. Thank God Sam has no problem with sharing. Trying to pack has also been fun. She now has decided that everything is trash and should be thrown a...

Boo and I and Teen Boo (who is soon to be not a teen anymore) and Baby Boo are moving less than a mile away from where we live now. We were looking for much bigger place and we found a house that fits all of our expectations. I hate moving!! There' s not other way to put it. I am not one of those nice, cheerful, packing and whistling at the same time gals. Nope. I'd rather just haul it all in the trunk of a car and even avoid boxing it....but that's not such a good idea considering I have breakables. So...I need ideas. Not your standard wrap and pack in a box but some slit open a mattress and shove it all in and then drag the mattress inside the house kind of idea. If you have any great ideas, please pass them my way. The heavy things are going on a U Haul and I'll probably have to feed a few starving, hungry men to help with that but the dishes, clothes, utensils...stuff (junk)..I need suggestions.

It all started when Boo kept snoring instead of getting up to make me a cup of coffee before I left for work. Yes, I'm spoiled like that. It's been years of me doing for everyone else and not allowing others to do for me so I'm in training and I like it! Anyway, I threw my lunch in my lunch box and scooted out the door. I waved at my overly smelly dog who kept me up all night, with serious flatulence issues...*Note to self, find Gasx for Dogs at the store". I got out of the car and into work and as I looked behind me, there was a white trail following me. Somehow, I didn't put the lid on the milk container correctly and it was pouring out of my lunch box as I walked. I wiped it as much as I could and then used my foot to hide the white spots on the floor. (I had to, my boss was walking in the door.) Breakfast time came and I was hungry, starving. I was desperately seeking milk but it's not milk...I call it milk. I drink mocha mix because of being lactose intole...

So, thanks to my friend, Georgie who by way of Deb has given me an Awesome challenge. You have to list 10 of your favorite things, but they have to start with a certain letter (assigned to you by the blog owner). I got the letter "A". If you want to play along, send me a shout out in my comments and I'll pass a letter on to you. I promise it won't be the letter X or Y. 1. Alaska - a place that someday I hope to visit (preferably on a cruise ship, with my lover Boo) 2. artichokes - dipped in butter or smothered in cheese. 3. autumn - the leaves are red, gold and orange and it starts my craving for a caramel apple or two or three.... 4. almost married - (starts with an A, right?) It just tickles me to say, we're "ALMOST" married. Now if only we could agree on a date and place. 5. Air Supply - remember the group that sung, "Two Less Lonely People in the World"? They had some pretty cool hits! 6. antiques - I love thrift store, yard sa...

I’m like a new mom to be…nesting…getting ready for what the new year will bring. I’m excited and anticipating, curious, slightly nervous (sometimes I hate changes) eager and motivated. To get me all set for the new year, I am a firm believer of “Out with the old – In with the New” To do this, that means throwing out stuff that either hasn’t been used, thought about or read anymore. I’ve already cleaned out my clothes in my closet and my knickknacks. The only thing left now are my magazines. PILED HIGH IN MY CLOSET! In my quest for Ousting the Old and Bringing in the New, I was given a wonderful book for Christmas. It’s called: Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design . My daughter best describes it: “I have been completely engrossed in the book, Style Statement , by Carrie McCarthy & Danielle LaPorte . It, among many other things at the moment, is changing my life entirely. It’s giving me a new perspective of who I am as a person, & allowing me to find the beauty within my s...