Success:Does this come with a cost?... (For a Woman)

Hey Mamas,

You remember that movie Baby Boom? Well this movie has been recently coming on lately. I used to watch it with my mother and sisters when I was younger. I would watch it but never truly understand it. My sisters and I would ask my mother dumb questions about the movie and my mother would explain to us the situation like we were adults...lol. So recently while watching it I finally understood the movie and could relate it to my life. My sons were watching it with me and were asking the same dumb questions I was asking when I was younger but I realized something... they are boys. Little boys become men and will never truly understand this movie. If you never seen Baby Boom its about this woman that has a career at this firm. She is very powerful and focused on her career. Being a woman she doesn't want anything to stop her from making partner but a great unexpected change awaits her in the future. Her cousin dies and wants her to take over the care of raising his daughter. In a split second her life changes and a little baby girl turns her world upside down. I have to say the major part in the movie that affected me is when her boss said a woman cant be successful like a man. If she decides to get married or have a baby she wont be able to perform her duties on the job like a man can. The sad thing and I believe its true... that she cant. Some women will think I'm crazy but think about it. Usually a woman has to give up something to make life easier in the home. In the movie the lady became successful but she had to sacrifice some things. She ended up moving, working from home, having a crib in her office, and sometimes taking her daughter with her to do business. I don't think it is horrible or wrong that we have to sacrifice and make changes as women to have successful careers but it can be more difficult. At times I feel our fight can be harder but it makes us stronger. A famous author I remember watching on show has six children. When they were younger she said she would be up in the middle of the night writing her books. She went on to say cant count how many times one of her children would get up needing something or watching her type. A successful career for a woman comes with a cost and many sacrifices. I don't think it should get in any woman's way of achieving her goals. Can she have it all? I guess in our own little way we have just what we need.

-Peace

In a Time of Change

Hey Mamas,

 I remember one of the biggest changes in my life is when I moved from Indiana to Baltimore. As a little girl I didn't know that this major move would change the life that I knew forever. When I came to Baltimore everything was so different. The people looked and talked different from me and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing. I am happy I made that major move as a child because usually children adapt and easily embrace change differently from adults.My parents making that one decision impacted so many things in my life like who my friends would be, my schools, my personality, the men in my life etc.I'm not mad about my parents decision because so many great things happened to me I would had never experienced. Even the bad that occurred in my life in Baltimore was only growth and needed change. A new job, relationship, or child can cause change. Time goes by and change keeps occurring in every ones life. In my life many good and bad changes are occurring at a rapid pace. At times while this change happens I'm not always happy about it. I realized I have to suck it up and deal. Some changes in my life have made me really sad but I cant let it stagnate my growth. I used to be scared of things being different in my life and sometimes I still am. I give my self a little pep talk that change must occur in all areas. I pray I'm always remain consistent in my life changes and embrace the future to come. Whether it be good or bad change must happen or we will never grow. As this world rotates we move with it never knowing all of life's changes. All I can do is pray for the good and ask Christ to help me get through the bad.


-Peace & Many Blessings

Fading Faces...

Hey Mamas,

Times out here are getting harder and things change at a rapid pace. Today friendship has been on my mind. When we go through things we hope for our friends to be there for us. I see in my own life tribulation only brings us further apart. A Facebook message, pictures, or a text becomes the norm of a friendship. A face fades and I'm starting to forget who my friends truly are in my life. I thank God for my blood sisters in my life that have truly been there for me. I just hope as time goes by my friends fading appear again. When times are hard that's when you stick close together. A battle is not fought alone. I think sometimes we just believe doing it all alone helps others not to feel a burden. If you have a friendship fading save it...if the person is worth not losing.

-Peace

Ruffle & Hide: Camouflage areas you hate!

Hey Mamas,

You might not want to wear a body shaper this summer. I don't blame you its too damn hot! I do know I hate the bulge to show and round tires look unsightly to others. I got this email from Express showing cute ruffled clothes. When I saw the clothes I thought to my self this is a sure way to camouflage some not so appealing bulge. The layering of ruffles give texture and balance and distract the eyes from problem areas. Also if you get ruffles with a cute pattern you can appear to be very slim around the midsection. If you can see in the picture the ruffled dress is pulled in with a skinny belt. Try matching up a skinny belt with a ruffled shirt or dress. The belt can bring in the waist more and give your body more defined lines.Check out the link below to Express and Ruffle it up today! 

http://www.express.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&x=0&y=0&keyword=ruffles&ICID=2128

Hey Mamas,

I would say this blog entry is a time for me to vent in my own way. We say no to many things that are bad for us. We say no to bad food, no to something too expensive, and no to many other things we know is just not right or us. So my stand for my self is to say no to negative people and things in my life. If the negativity is coming from me I choose to say no. Only you can allow people to be a negative energy in your life.
I choose to do right for my self. Sometimes eliminating people and things that cause you hurt or pain can be a step forward to something good. I take the stand to say no and pray that the Lord see me through the tough times.

Wearing white this summer?:Learn how 2 wear it right!

Hey Mamas,

White is on the scene and everyone wants to wear white pants. Boy short, skinny jeans, or many other styles are making their appearance this summer. You may be wondering how can I wear them? Here are some simple ways to stay stylish and not end up looking cheesy and too coordinated. No one wants to end up looking like a big blob of white.

• When wearing shoes with white pants try neutrals like brown, nude, and cream. You can also wear animal printed and metallic shoes.
• Try bright bold colored tops like hot pink and sunshine yellow. Bold colors are a nice contrast and will make your t-shirt or blouse stand out more.
• Gold accessories bring in class to white pants. Hooped gold earrings and chunky gold cuff bangles make a statement.
• Soft pastel tops matched with beaded necklaces, pearls, or studs can maintain a romantic look for those warm summer nights.
• If you are matching a white shirt with white pants... try a print on the white shirt. Also try breaking up the white with an accessory. A belt, nice hobo bag, or neutral colored shoes can make the outfit complete.

Fear no more to wear white pants. Try these tips and leave the house in style!

-Peace & Many Blessings

Black on Black:Racism in Customer Service

Hey Mamas,


Last week I was in the grocery store. I get in line and an older white couple are in front of me. The cashier who is black looks up at me annoyed and continues to bag their groceries. She carries on a pleasant conversation with the white couple smiling and laughing with them. After she finishes bagging their groceries she asked them did they need stamps or anything else. When they leave she tells them to have a nice day and smiles. I come up she begins to talk to the other cashier next to her. I say hello...how are you?... and she continues to talk to other cashier. I then again say hello she responds o hello. She looks at me and continues to bag my groceries with no smile and no conversation. My youngest smiles at her and then she finally begins to talk to him and smiles. She is finished and no stamps are offered to me. I then say to her you have a nice day she looks up and said you too.

The sad fact is this happens everyday in customer service with black people. This wasn't the first time a black person in customer service treats a white person like gold in front of my face but treats me as unimportant. My sisters and friends can tell me their own experiences of black on black customer service racism. Has this cruel epidemic came from years of brain washing during slavery?As much as we have left the past behind things still remain the same. Do black people believe if they give poor customer service to a white person that could cost them their job? I thought bad customer service to anyone can cost you your job. I think everyone should be treated fairly and given the same treatment in customer service. If you don't like giving fair treatment don't work in the customer service business. I had to pull fair treatment out of that cashier. You would think we would treat our own with the greatest respect. Yes, the year is 2010 and I still get treated like a 2ND class citizen in the grocery store...lol ooh the irony.


-Peace& Many Blessings

Did You Know?: A lil about color theory

Hello Mamas,

Everyday we get up we pick out something to wear. You may put on a shirt or dress that's your favorite color. You may just throw on anything that's clean in the closet. In the color theory of clothes the color you wear means something about you. Your favorite color says something about you and your personality.

So here is a little that I learned...

Yellow is happy and fun...but you could be considered cheap. Yellow is the best color to dress your bridesmaids in to have a happy and wonderful wedding.

Orange shows you are out going and have alot of energy. You should wear this color if you plan to be social or go out to public events.

Green is considered to be the healthy choice. People that love to wear green are aware of their health and nature.

It was said to have purple sheets on your bed to have a better sleep because its a relaxing color.

If you love to wear red you are sexy and bold...well duh! Also red is considered to be the color for all you hot heads with the quick tempers.

Whatever color you like have fun wearing it!

-Peace & Many Blessings

Stacey Dash: Making her own way @ 43

Hey Mamas,

Yesterday I was watching a rerun of the Wendy Williams show. Her guest on the show was Stacey Dash. I must say I have always admired the beauty of Stacey that still hasn't lost it at 43yrs old. I found her interview to be very honest about her love life. Also she was very candid about the mistakes she made by sleeping with most of the men she married on the first date. Stacey went on to say she has never been without a man since the age of 17. Her story is way too often a common tale among black women. We search for love in all the wrong places. Majority of the time we feel validated as beautiful when a man tells us all the things we want to hear. The lack of self esteem drives us even deeper in our search all the while we are hurting ourselves. In the aimless search to find the right man or keep a man that treats you like crap you give and give of your self. At times we are too scared to be alone so we keep going from one man to another.We never stop to find the true man we need in our life. Most may wonder who is that perfect man that could help you find the right husband. Well, of course Christ should be the lead man in your life. Start with the best and you wont limit your self to scum because you will recognize righteousness easily. The sad fact is most of our mother's didn't teach us this but told us to find someone that will make us happy. How will you ever know true love or happiness if you don't go back to the source? So at 43yrs old Stacey Dash has to learn how to love her self, keep from dropping the panties to just anyone, and mentioned staying away from white men...lol. I don't know if Stacey is taking the steps of making Christ her lead man...probably not. Hopefully after she gets off the Jamie Foxx train she just might find her way out of her circle. To each its own. Thank you Lord for wisdom and understanding. You first must be a queen to get a king...

-Peace & Many Blessings

Kiddie Summer Fun Alert!

Hey Mamas,

Summer is here! The kids are almost out of school and I have a list of things I want to do with them. I have been talking about Shaw Orchards for some time now and plan to make a trip up there some time soon. At Shaw Orchards you can pick your own fruit and vegetables. After hearing that so many fruits contain large amounts of pesticides on them a trip to the orchard might be well worth it. Shaw Orchards has hayrides, picnic tables to eat your fruit, and prepacked fruit you can buy. I think the boys will have fun picking and eating fruit. Check out Shaw Orchards www.shaworchards.com ...maybe we will see you there with your little ones.

Peace & Many Blessings...Have fun this summer!

To Steal?...

Hey Mamas,

This morning I was listening to the Russ Parr Morning show. They had asked listeners did Alicia Keys steal Swizz Beats and was she a home wrecker. Many blog writers have bashed Alicia and believe she is a man stealer. The listeners gave mixed reviews on their thoughts. The crew on the show had their mind made up about Alicia being a so called home wrecker. Let's really think about this...why are people so concerned about their personal lives?I personally don't believe a man can be stolen. One I never thought a man becomes your possession. Swizz Beats made his choice for his own reasons but I don't think Alicia had in her mind I'm gonna steal you. I listen to these words and they sound childish. Mashonda said she was the perfect wife to Swizz but he didn't say Mashonda was the perfect wife. We can have illusions in our heads that everything is perfectly okay in our marriage but we all have something we need to work on. Its hard for a woman not to look at her self and wonder what she is doing wrong for the man to leave. We must also remember he left he wasn't stolen. If your child gets up and walks over to another mother and sits with them...was the child stolen or did the child leave? So my blog wont be another Alicia Keys bash session. I think people need to mind their own business. Maybe if others weren't so concerned about what is going on in another house they could pay attention to their own lives. People lets get a life! We can see Alicia Keys doesn't give a damn... she is pregnant, just bought a penthouse, and with a man she loves.

-Peace & Many Blessings

Mama Alert: Summer Kiddie Fun @ The Movies

Hey Mamas,

You may be wondering what to do with the kiddies this summer. Many times we let our little ones watch movies at home but why not get them out the house for awhile. A Cinemark near you is having Summer Movie Clubhouse. You can purchase 10 shows for $5 or a $1 per a show. My Baltimore mamas can take their kiddies to the Cinemark Egyptian 24 out at Arundel Mills.

You can find a location near you...check it out www.cinemark.com/summermovieclubhouse/

Have fun with the kids this summer!

-Peace & Many Blessings

My 2nd grade bully

Hey Mamas,

Don't ask me if I remember her name...I don't think I can tell you the first letter of her name. I do remember how she made me feel. I do remember her face and the nasty words of hate that came my way. She was my bully and for awhile she made 2ND grade a kiddie hell for me. In her eyes my hair was ugly, my voice was weird, and my clothes were the most hideous thing she ever seen. Secretly she would sit next to me at lunch and say cruel things and I would move away from her. I was shy from another state and I didn't want to cause trouble. I had in my head stay away from her as much as possible and she would leave me alone. I was used to name calling at a young age. White kids in Indiana would call you a nigger to your face and laugh about it.

So there I was 2ND grade in Baltimore getting called more names. Never thought I would be picked on and hated by a little girl that looked like me. One day she said so much and I held it in for so long I started to cry. She laughed and then I walked off towards my sisters. We were waiting for the buses to come. My older sister Courtney asked me why was I crying? I finally told her about my bully and she told me to point her out. Courtney walked up to her holding my hand. She asked my bully was she picking on me and my bully said no. I told her yes she was and Courtney told her if she messed with me again she would beat her up. My bully never messed with me again after that.

Tonight on the news I see all this bully awareness going on. Little kids wanting to commit suicide because of their bullies. What I learned from my own bully experience is a bully is insecure about them self. The sad thing is the person being bully doesn't see the weakness in the other person they only see it in themselves. After second grade I never had another bully because I decided in my mind I would always speak up for my self. At times I was scared to tell someone to stop being a butt head towards me because it was a boy but then a another lesson came. The lesson from boys being jerks around that age was because they liked me and were too childish to say it. In this day in age I see bullying in many forms. I have once watched my oldest son excluded by other little boys his age. What I saw from him is he always bounces back and knows he has his family. Thank God for my father and mother giving me plenty siblings. I never felt alone. Talk to your kids about bullying. I tell my sons you should never be a bully and I build their confidence enough to let them know no one should make them feel like their nothing. Now is the time to talk to our kids about this epidemic that has been around for decades.

-Peace & Many Blessings

Do It Youself:Long Lasting Lip Wear!

Hey Mamas,

When we eat or drink it's always bye bye lip color.

At times long lasting lip colors don't really work or can be a little on the expensive side. Fear no more I have a quick trick to achieve long lasting lip color all day.

First choose your favorite lip pencil.

Outline your lips with the pencil and then color in your lips with the pencil.

Apply some lip balm. chap stick, or lip gloss on top of the lips...

Take a lip brush and blend.

You did it yourself...long lasting lip color!

Quick and simple

_Peace Mamas

Pretty in Pink Facial

Hey Mamas,

Every woman needs a little pink in her life and why not put it on your face. I saw this "Pretty in Pink Facial" on the show The Doctors. I wanted to share this facial with you. I put my own little spin on it. Try it this weekend and feel Pretty in Pink.

You will need...

Ingredients

Guava Fruit cut up in small pieces

Plain Yogurt

Grape Fruit Juice squeezed from the grape fruit

One Grape Fruit cut in small pieces

water

a bowl

a paint brush , facial brush to apply the mask

a small spray bottle

What to do:

First cleanse your face with a cleanser and warm water.

Then mix the guava pieces, grapefruit pieces, and plain yogurt together in a bowl

Make sure the mixture is blended well into a paste.

Brush the mask on the face and leave on for 10 minutes.

Rinse the mask off and mix water and the squeezed grape fruit juice together in a spay bottle.

Spray the mixture on your face and blot with a tissue

To complete the facial apply a nice moisturizer on.

Have fun!

Also I will be giving Pretty In Pink Mini Facials@ an event coming soon in July!

Keep a look out for updates...

-Peace & Many Blessings

Style Alert:Summer's Hot Things

Hey Mamas,

All you fashionistas hope you like keeping up on the latest trends. The "Tribal Dress" is the new hot little trend this summer. Whether it be short or long this look is nice for everyday and going out with the girls. The shoe to match this sweet print up with is leopard shoes. Flat sandals or a strappy heels will do to finish this hot summer look. Summer's hot color is geranium. Try this color on your lips, nails, accessories, and clothes. A pop of bright reddish orange will have you turning heads. Well...mamas if you go shopping any time soon try these fashion trends.

-Peace & Many Blessings

The Quick Natural Face Lift

Hey Mamas,

Are you sick of looking tired in the face? Sometimes there are very simple solutions for making your face brighter and younger. A natural face lift is what you need and I have the steps to achieve it. Follow these quick and easy steps and get a fresh look on life.

• Exfoliate your face. You can use a facial scrub or a chemical exfoliant. Keeping your skin nice and smooth makes your face look vibrant.
• Use an eye cream around the eyes at night. Even if you are 20 something it's never to early to take care of your eye area.
• Keep your eyebrows arched and cleaned up. Don't over pluck the eyebrows too skinny. Try to keep natural looking brows. Make sure to keep them neat and free from unruly hairs. Nice eyebrows will open the face up and brighten up the eyes.
• Wear eyelashes! You can get the individual lashes put on or wear the ones that come on a strip. Make sure the eyelashes look natural.

Follow these quick and easy tips and I'm sure you will never look tired.

Peace & Many Blessings!

Join THE FAB MOMMY CREW!!!

Hey Mamas!

Kimora Lee Simmons makes mommy life look fabulous everywhere she goes. Her life I guess can be that fabulous being a celebrity and head over two major fashion companies.

What about the ordinary but extraordinary mothers that are fabulous? While looking at another site I got a great idea. Why not have fabulous mothers in everyday life review places, blog about being mommies, interview people, and cover fun events.

I'm looking for a few good mommies in different states to join THE FAB MOMMY CREW! If you would like to blog,interview, cover events, review products etc... email me @ blessedwitbeauty@yahoo.com

Let Them Eat Dirt!

Hey Mamas,

One had dirt in his teeth and the other had mud on his shirt. I watched the other boys eat worms and laugh with dirt on their hands. Yes, my boys were eating dirt, mud, and worms last night. Jasiyah begged me to make this recipe that he had at school. Spring is now feeling like summer and all the family loves something cool and sweet. If you like to create quick fun desserts for your little ones try my "Worms in Dirt" recipe....

What you will need...

• A pack of 6 JELLO chocolate pudding cups
• Oreos
• Whipped Cream
• A pack of gummie worms
• Milk
• Cups
• A spoon
• 2 bowls

First I dumped out all the pudding from the JELLO cups into a bowl. I sprayed some whipped cream in the bowl and stirred it together. I covered the pudding mixture and placed it in the fridge to keep it cool.

Then in another bowl I tossed in two or more hand fulls of Oreo cookies. Sprayed some whipped cream in and poured a little bit of milk on the cookies. I crushed the cookies up until it looked like soil. You can make the cookie mixture wet or dry. If you want it to be a dry mixture just crush up the Oreos without the whipped cream and milk.

After that I got the cups. I put the cookie crumb mixture at the bottom of each cup. I then took out the pudding spooned that out on top of the cookie crumbs. Sprinkled some cookie crumbs on the pudding and placed the gummie worm on top.

Quick and easy...now let them eat dirt!

-Peace & Many Blessings

Mama needed her Mommy...

Hey Mamas,

On this hot and gloomy morning I was thinking of a few weeks ago. I felt so broken down and so small that all I could do is think of my mother. Looking at her in my father in a wedding picture I thought what was she like then. In my self pity I felt broken down like a child and decided to call my mother for help. I was barely able to talk as I cried I need my mommy, I need my mother. My mother didn't have too much to say but that she was on her way. It doesn't matter how old you get you will always still want your mother. As I watched my mother play with my sons and calmed my nerves I knew she brought comfort. As tough as I try to be and not tell her all the things I'm going through I needed her to be there. In her comfort she told me things I needed to hear even if I didn't want to hear them. I remember my sister and I always gathering around her to watch a movie or just to talk. I hope one day to have a daughter of my own to share that bond. My mother will probably want to kill me for putting up this picture of her and my older sister Keha but I love the picture. I love my mother... and that day she was there for me and she brought me comfort to my heart.

Love your mother everyday...I don't need a day to realize how special my mother is to me.

-Peace & Many Blessings