HaLLoWeen Or AnYTiMe ReCiPe - "Dirt"

My kids and I had a GREAT Halloween this year as usual. It's a really fun time of year for us. Besides dressing up, turning the children loose on the neighborhood, and listening to "Thriller" over and over again...Another one of our homegrown traditions is for me to make my famous "Dirt". It's a creative recipe that involves Oreos and Chocolate pudding. I have been making it for them for years. I don't care how old they get, they still look forward to it. I hope you enjoy the recipe!!

Dirt

Ingredients:
1 - standard pk of Oreo Cookies
2 - standard boxes of Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix(and whatever ingredients it calls for)
Gummy Worms

I like to do this in a clear dish so the kids can see the layers. Its simple.

Make the Pudding according to instructions on the box and fill your dish almost to the top.
Empty all of the Oreos into a Ziploc bag. Close the bag. Gently crush the Oreos with a hammer or something. Keep crushing until it has the consistancy of...you guessed it...DIRT!

Pour the crushed Oreos over the pudding.

Insert Gummy Worms so it looks like they are coming up out of the dirt.

Kids LOVE helping with this recipe. Its a fun year round treat.

Thanks for reading :-)

Atlanta Natural Hair Meet Up - 09/19

After checking my e-mail and perusing the web a little this past Saturday morning, I decided to see what was going on in YouTube. I was looking through my subscriptions when I saw a vid posted by LexiwiththeCurls titled "Atlanta Natural Hair Meet Up" and stating that this would happen... TOMORROW 3p - 5p!!! I nearly spilled my coffee scrambling to see the date of the video! Is tomorrow today?!!. omg!! Let me see! Low and behold tomorrow was today!! Yippeee! I am going! Let me call my girl Narazonia76 and let her know too AND better go get my toes done right quick. (trust me...it was time) Off I go for a Mani/Pedi. I was brimming with anticipation for this event. Why is it raining cats AND dogs??? I leave the nail shop with 10 bright blue toes, get home, log on again, and guess what?? The event is CANCELLED with a possible postponement to tomorrow. The floods were just beginning in the Southeast. The exit to the area where the event was to be held was closed off due to flooding. AwwWww...Well...ok. So what. I'll go tomorrow! I chill with the family a bit, make a grocery list and prepare to get my shopping done. Before leaving, I logged on to YouTube AGAIN...lmao and guess what? The event was back on!!. postponed till 3 but still on. It turned out that the exits were back open so it was BACK on and the rest is HISTORY! I got to spend the next 2 hours of my life fellowshipping with the friendliest, most positive, highly energetic group that I have ever encountered. Sistahs...from the lightest light to the darkest dark...2b's to 4c's...16 years old to well...ok? All beautiful. All Confidant. All Natural. We represented. We talked hair, we discussed products, we laughed, we ate, we connected...I dont even want to get into the fantastic styles that i saw. These ladies were ROCKIN some do's...omg. And let me say this...its kinda cool being recognized from YouTube!! It is!! Hoping we can do it again reaaal soon :-) Until next time...

Thanks for watching & reading!

TSC

A Tribute to My Husband's Mistress

I am black, but comely, ... Song of Solomon 1:5

I had met her before. A mutual friend had brought her to our home. She seemed friendly, inviting almost. I must admit, we were all drawn to her. She was slim, black and elegant. She was open and very responsive to everyone. We all enjoyed her that evening. A month after that encounter, I found out that my husband had been seeing her on occasion. It was at the home of the same friend that brought her to our house the 1st time. I wasn't alarmed by that really. I heard that there were other friends of ours at these vists as well, but still...he hadn't mentioned these rendez vous to me and that made me curious. According to my source the gatherings were innocently coincidental and nothing to worry about.
"...just people getting together for a little fun." the source would repeat.
And I did not worry, I did not inquire, and I did not investigate. I went on with my life happily married to my favorite guy. One day he sat me down and said, "Listen. We have to talk." He talked. I listened. It was then that he told me about... her. How he has been seeing her. He explained his need for her and how much fun they had together. The final blow...he wanted her to have a permanent place in our home. I didn't know what to say. He had said that he didn't want to make this decision without my input. Oddly enough I appreciated that. (Gosh it is so hard to type this) Many times in life you do things so that others can be happy. I am often guilty of this as I am sure many women are. Please don't judge me. I said yes. He promised that things between he and I would not change, that we'd have our room and she'd have hers and that if anything she'd be invisible to me. We had an extra room in our basement that she could stay in. So that was the arrangement. To be honest with you it didnt really bother me at first. She stayed in her space and I stayed in mine. We never spoke. I found them together in our room once and he quickly explained that the tv in the basement was not working so they were forced to use the one in our bedroom. I am sure by now that you must think that I am out of mind for allowing this...but I did. I love my husband and this made him happy. It wasn't so bad, that is...until I noticed him slipping out of bed in the middle of the night one night. She must have been on his mind. I could tell because he had been tossing and turning. I pretended to be sleep when he left, but I had to know. I had to see ...so I followed him. I glided stealthily behind him as he descended 1 flight of stairs...I made note of his agility, and the care he took not to make a single sound. He was guided by the light of the moon that shined through the kitchen window. I stayed in the shadows as he flung open the door to the basement and made his final descent. I waited a moment before I cracked the door open ever so slightly. I could see the light from the television flickering. I could hear him. He was speaking very softly at first, so soft that I could barely hear him...I opened the door wider. I just had to hear what he was saying! I had to find out what they were doing! With my back against the wall I quietly slid down the stairwell, got on my knees and peeked around the corner. There he was on the couch. All I could see was his silhouette against the sharp brightness of the large screen in front of him. I could hear him laughing at first and then cursing as he caressed her and yes, she responded to his touch. I could see him squirming while stroking her smooth black skin. Digging his thumbs into her. Pushing all the right buttons and leaning back as he...SCORED!! and with that he stood up... threw down his controller... and did a victory dance that looked very odd with him in his underwear. Yep, he was playing Madden 09 on his PS2 aka his "mistress"

Ladies...LOL I hope I had you going!!!

If any of you have men in your lives that love "The Game" the way my hubby does...raise ya hands by leaving a comment! (Any game applies!)


Thanks for reading :-)

Excerpts of My Life...Soundtrack by Michael Jackson - A Tribute to The King

With the passing of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, we have all been reminded of his impact on the world. I hate that we had to lose such an Icon, but I appreciate so much that he has been honored and respected in his passing by most of the media. I have thoroughly enjoyed being taken back in time through the memory of his music. With each song my mind replays a period of time in my life that has been mentally recorded and connected with his music. Travel Back with me...

He Rocks In the Treetop All nite Long, Hoppin and a boppin and singing that song, all the little Birdies on Jaybird Street, love to hear the Robins go.....Yep if you know the next 3 words then you have totally exposed your age and may also remember the "patty caking hand clappin" that little girls used to do to that song. The year was 1972, I was 4, however, years later I remember finding the 45 of that song in my mothers old record stash and playing it on the record player and loving it(Yep, RECORD PLAYER google it yall). I also remember clapping and singing that song on the school bus on the way to elementary school with my friends, I was 9 years old, my parents got divorced that year...This song made me happy. Hearing it and singing it removed me from the situation and allowed me to be a kid for just a little while longer.

Off The Wall - This album was released in 1979. I was a preteen/teenager during the course of its many hits. I was roller skating a lot at this point in my life and I dont know why. My daddy got me a HUGE JVC boombox (Like Radio Raheem's in Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing!) I used to sit that boombox on the curb in front of our apartment and roller skate in the street to Don't Stop Till You Get Enough. I remember just skating and spinning and feeling the sun on my skin with the wind on my face and MJ in my ears, being free...
-Rock With You - All Niiight...
-She's Out of My Life (always made me sad)
-Off The Wall...lyrics: ...Do, what you WANT to do, There Aint No RULES, its up to you... (Words to Live by)

Thriller - I was in high school and I remember with great excitement seeing the World Premier Video for this song on MTV. My whole family and some friends sat around our wood grain floor model tv (yes we was ballin yo) to watch this vid. Them was some of the best 14 minutes of my life. I dont recall ever seeing anything so awesome! Seems like the next day, every boy in school was wearing a "Thriller" jacket and a Jheri Curl, lol. I was also a cheerleader and remember creating dance routines to that song for pep rallies. Good Times

- I Want to LOVE you - P.Y.T - Pretty Young Thang - yep that was me...A PYT. Hey! I had it on the front of a couple of shirts, so it must have been true! Right?
- Human Nature - to this day I close my eyes when I hear this song...you have to if you want to truly feel it. (John Mayer tore this up on the BET Awards recently.)
- Beat It - And what do you say when you are ready for someone to leave your presence??? ahem -"Why don't you make like Michael Jackson and...BEAT IT!" lmao...High School, High School, High School...all I think about when I hear that song...and my silly high school sweetheart trying to dance to it...

(....The SistahChick sings, "...I said You Wanna Be Starting Something, got to be starting something"... as she types this...Do yall remember everyones translation of "Mama say, mama saw, mama coo sa"?? My friend swore that the chant went..."We'll Be Saved By The Sound of Michaels Song...")

BAD - Who's Bad?? Are you kidding me? By now I am in college and drinking my way through all of my issues and classes at IU...and humming "...Yo butt is mine..."

-The Way You Make Me Feel - "...Ain't No-Bo-Dy's Biz Ness but mine and my Baaabayy - Wooo"(in my best MJ impression)
-Dirty Diana - Wasnt it such a naughty song?
-Leave Me Alone - The press has been hounding MJ for years by now. He is tired. ...and me? Pregnant with my 1st child and dropping out of college...Seriously...LEAVE ME ALONE! I was so feelin this song MJ...

Dangerous - I am a single mother now, raising a 3 y/o boy, working AND clubbin like crazy...Do you remember, Remember The Time? and better yet, do you remember the video for Remember the Time? Iman, Eddie Murphy, Magic Johnson and the Great MJ just to name a few. Remember when he turned to gold dust at the end? Outstanding!

- Black or White - another awesome video, all of the morphing thrilled me! showing all of those different cultures intrigued me. By now I am beginning to learn to love myself and my culture. Becoming proud and loving who I am began to shape me to be the person that I am today. Sharing the positive aspects of the African American culture has become a part of my life...and who knows maybe that video had something to do with it.

I could go on FORever with my personal tribute to MJ. Just sitting here and going through these memories has brought about a flood of emotions...They say you dont know what you got until its gone...He is gone, but his imprint has been left on the planet and he will live in my memory and heart forever. Rest In Peace MJ.

Thanks for reading this :-)

Don't Forget to Follow & Comment :-)

The Steve McNair Murder - Real Talk

We have all seen the headlines. Steve McNair - Murder/Suicide. I really dont want to sound judgemental, but this situation has opened up a conversation about fidelity and marriage that needs to be discussed. All respect and condolences to Mrs. Mechelle McNair, who i feel is the real victim in all of this. I have read some really horrible blog posts about how maybe Steve wasn't getting what he needed at home, or how Mrs. McNair had to know about the affair, etc. All of that is irrelevent to me. Because guess what??..this woman now has to bury her husband who has publicly disgraced her and her boys in his death. Mr. McNair was married and his responsibility was to his wife and kids. Not to some random hottie that he met at a Dave & Busters 6 months prior. Now his sons must grow up without a father over what? Some poontang? (yeah I said "POONTANG") Was she worth it? I doubt it. IMO married men that cheat on their wives are selfish, insecure, losers. I don't care how it's justified. My thing is, why get married if thats not what you want to do? I mean its a choice. right? So why do it, and then cheat? If you dont want to be in the marriage, why not get a divorce? Why put everyone through the drama of an affair? I have seen firsthand how lives can be ripped apart due to infidelity within a marriage. My own dad cheated on my mom and got the other woman pregnant. OF COURSE he told the other woman that he was going to leave my mom... and when he didnt the other woman attempted suicide. I'll never forget it, I had to be about 10 maybe and suddenly there I was at my grandmother's house being introduced to a 2 year old boy, my brother, because his mother was in the hospital. I will never forget the look on my mothers face when she came to pick us up that day. She took one look at the boy and in that instant I knew that something was wrong. She divorced him that same year and I am glad she did. Instead of letting us grow up in a house of lies, abuse & infidelity, she chose to raise us by herself with the truth. My dad ended up shacking up with the other woman for many years after the divorce and had 2 more children, he never married her and was very abusive to her throughout their relationship (physically, mentally and emotionally). He never even gave the 3 kids they had together his last name. You get what you ask for and the grass always seems greener on the other side, right? This is why the McNair story hits me so close to home. My father is dead now, may he rest in peace, my momma actually grabbed the other woman's hand during the funeral and held it as a show of forgiveness and closure (that is classic behavior for my mother, she is a real queen). but when I think of the countless lives that he negatively affected with his infidelity, abuse and lies... and I dont even want to talk about the BAGFUL of issues that came about for me because of this...

So here is my wisdom for the day...you can take it or leave it.

GUYS: If you want to still sleep around in this age of HIV and seriously psychotic women...DON'T GET MARRIED! If you are already married and are cheating, STOP IT or at least be a man about it and give your wife the chance to choose whether she wants to be with your sorry cheatin ass! And especially if there are children involved. If you think that kids cant feel whats going on, you are mistaken. They are more perceptive than you think. You are teaching your daughters that its ok, to allow a man to use and abuse her, and you are teaching your sons that its ok to be disrespectful to women

LADIES: Young and old, if you are messin with a married man STOP IT. There are a million reasons why you shouldn't, but I will just give you a few. #1 if he truly wanted to be with you..he would. #2. Have some respect for youself...dont let this guy use you like that. trust and believe that he IS using you. A woman deserves to be with a man that truly wants to be with her. #3. If he will lie to his wife by being with you, what makes you think you can trust this guy with your heart?

Warning Signs
-If you have been dating him for months and have never been to his house...he's married
-If he has you on a visitation schedule, meaning he only comes to see you at certain times specifically...he's married
-If he is always MIA during major holidays...He's married
-If he says that he is leaving his wife...for you? please..that is the oldest line in the book, dont believe it.




In the event that he leaves his wife to be with you, remember how you got him, cause you will probably lose him the same way

If the untimely murder/death of the brilliant football star Steve McNair doesn't sway you, pick up a copy of Steve Harvey's book "Act Like A Lady - Think Like a Man".
Remember if you choose to ignore what's obvious, you get what you deserve...and Karma can be a mean bitch.

Spiritual Messages:
- Deepest condolences to Mrs McNair, may God give you the strength to raise those boys without their dad and also pray that God see fit to bless with a man that wants you and only you, one day.
- RIP Steve McNair OF COURSE i dont know you, but my hubby enjoyed watching you play, and you kinda put us all in your business...soooo, if you see my dad, whereever you are, tell him that I said, "What's Up!?"


...Stay Tuned and please don't forget to follow & comment :-)



http://thesistahcafe.blogspot. com/

Happy Father's Day and Healthy Cookin!

Sorry this is late, but I wanted to give a special shout to all of you Dads out there! Happy Father's Day!! And to all of you ladies out there who are single Mother's having to play both roles as "Mom" and "Dad"...Keep doing your thang Sis. and blessings to you along the way. We hosted a Dinner in my home to celebrate the occasion. (Honoring my husband, bro in laws, and step dad.) When getting together in the summer we typically BBQ - Beef & Pork Ribs, Burgers, Brats, Chicken and with all the sides Mac and Cheese, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Etc. I decided to switch things up with the menu this year. Because I am becoming increasingly more aware of what I put in and on my body, I remixed the menu and replaced it with a healthier version. Instead of a BBQ w/all of the meats, we grilled Chicken breasts seasoned with garlic and various herbs. Instead of Potato Salad i prepared a fresh, crisp, rotini pasta salad, filled with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, chilled shrimp with some Italian & salad dressing blended in. Instead of Mac & Cheese I had my mother prepare her famous spaghetti and ground turkey meat sauce. She used fresh tomatos in her sauce. We also had a Salad of Spring Leaves with walnuts and golden raisins among other healthy toppings (instead of Collard Greens & HamHocks). Last but not least, instead of chips we had a wonderful veggie tray will all of the favs (carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) I got everybody involved in this and We switched out the desserts too! Instead of all of the heavy cakes and pies we had fresh fruit covered in lite Whipped Cream in a graham cracker pie crust and topped with chopped pecans. Very light, and sweet. My aunt was able to modify her CheeseCake recipe to allow for lower fat and lower sugar or sugar free ingredients (we kept this fact a secret until after it had been eaten...Nobody knew the difference!). Us women kept all of these switcharoos a secret from the men. When those men came in rubbing their hands together for the feast...lmao!!! the LOOK on their faces when I informed them of our new leaner menu...Priceless! We had a fun healthy meal in the Georgia Summer sun and weren't left feeling lazy and lethargic afterwards aka "The itis". This was my way of honoring the men in our family, by serving them a meal that won't kill them!!! :-)

Stay tuned for some of the recipes from this wonderful feast!

Economics and Class

So I am sitting here watching Oprah and today's show is about "class" and how people that used to be "upper and/or middle class" are now feeling like they are lower class with our current economic situation. The whole "class" system has always baffled me. I have never completely understood it. See I grew up "lower class" by all standards. My mom was a single mother raising 2 kids in "the hood", working 2 jobs to make ends meet, and trying to go to school. Although everything around me screamed "lower class" (ie: the part of town we lived in, our gov't house, utility disconnections, etc.) My mother, allowed my sister and I to maintain what we perceived was a "middle class" upbringing. We went to private school from K-8. When we were old enough to want trendy and name brand things my mother got a job at the store that we liked to shop at to provide us with whatever we wanted. (she made many sacrifices for us) Not only that, but all of my neighbors drove real nice cars, wore the newest clothes, had the most stylish hair do's, the nails, etc. and in my hood, it wasn't the outside of your house that mattered. It was all about the inside. So a neighbor might have an unkept yard and a house with no curb appeal, but once you stepped inside their front door, you'd be in like a mansion with chandeliers, big leather furniture, sculptures, & big screens. LOL...so to me...we were doin alright!! Back then, nobody spoke of 401k's, savings, stocks, bonds. I had no knowledge of those terms growing up. All i knew is that I had my own room with a boombox and a phone, was on the cheerleading squad, never wore the same outfit twice, and got to the beauty shop occasionally for a "do". My future looked bright...I did what i was supposed to do, excelled, and carried myself in a certain way. Got a scholarship and went to college. It was there that I learned that I wasn't as high up on the social, class scale as I thought. It was there that I met other people that actually really had money. They weren't on scholarship, their parents actually paid for them to be there. They also had finer things than I did. Designer handbags, new cars, real jewelry that they didnt buy "hot". This is where things started to flip for me. Since I was on scholarship I had to do Work Study which means I had to clean buildings on campus, serve food in the cafeteria, whatever they wanted me to do basically. I got to experience how those that "have" treated the "have-nots" nothing overly blatant...maybe just a look or glance or vibe that let me know...that I was lower. In todays economy, as Oprahs show pointed out, people are seeing themselves lose the class status that they enjoyed before and are now having to work jobs and be in places that they looked down on before. This situation has taught America, the same lesson that I learned in college... that class status doesnt really matter. The only thing that matters is what kind of person you are and how you treat other people. If this recession is what it took to teach this lesson then obviously the lesson needed to be taught and I hope that we all can learn something during these times.


Next Time:
Are people really in the socioeconomic class that they think they are in? In other words... Are you really upper/middle class if you are up to your eyeballs in debt, loans and credit cards???


Coming Soon:
Confessions of a Black Trekkie

http://thesistahcafe.blogspot.com/



...Stay tuned :-)

The Hair Journey Continues!!

Wow! My hair journey has been kicked into high gear! Not only have i been able to test and review several new products, but I am learning about what ingredients to look for in certain products and which ones are important for healthy hair (No Petroleum, No Cones, No Sulfates!). Some of the techniques that I have tried have given me magnificent results (Stretched Out Afros, Twist Outs, Curl Refreshers, Shingling, etc.) I have expanded my hair supplies to include various things that I didnt have before (Rat Tail Comb, Ouchless headbands, Bonnet, Wide Tooth Comb, etc). One of my new necessities include: 100% pure Shea Butter. I haven't developed a full list of staple items yet but I am getting there. Some the newest products that I have enjoyed are:

Carol's Daughter - Khoret Amen Shampoo, Conditioner w/Sea Moss & Smoothie plus Hair Milk (and for the body...Mango Melange Shea Souffle, Body Jelly)

Taliah Waajid's Black Earth Products - Herbal Cleanser, Total Body Shampoo, Enhancing Herbal Conditioner, & Loc It Up

Paul Mitchell's - The Conditioner - Leave In Moisturizer

Lush Cosmetics - Curly Wurly Conditioning Shampoo

Biolage By Matrix - Hair Conditioning Balm

Here is a short list of Natural hair terminology that may not be new to you but it was to me!

BC - aka Big Chop. this is the first step to your natural hair journey. It means that you have cut the perm out down to the new growth to start anew!

Co-Wash - Using Conditioner to wash your hair instead of Shampoo. This process cleans your hair without stripping it of the natural oils that exist.

PrePoo - Shampooing your hair with something like a Clarifying Shampoo prior to using your normal shampoo.

Shingling - Applying product, usually a Leave In Conditioner, to your hair in layers for full coverage.

Stretching - Manipulating your hair in a way that stretches your natural curls to show length.

(more terms to come!)

I haven't gotten my oils (Coconut, TeaTree, Jojoba, etc) locked down to an understanding yet. But I am learning about different oils and their benefits.

Most importantly I am having FUN! The exploration, the pampering, the ME time...it's all been enabled!!! Developing an afinity for the natural me has opened the doors to other needs, such as skincare and physical health, It's hard to explain, but I guess I could say that any improvements that you consciously make for yourself affects your ENTIRE well being. One step at a time, but the path has been shown to me.

Much Love!

Happily Natural Day

WHAT IS HAPPILY NATURAL DAY?

Happily Natural Day, originating in Richmond, Virginia, is an African Heritage festival committed to cultural awareness, holistic health and social change. Seven years ago, we saw the need for an event that says that natural hair was something more than just the latest style, and way more than just a chic look or fashion trend. At Happily Natural Day we identify with natural hair as a statement. Locks, afros and braids are socio-cultural symbols that are used as public proclamations of self-love and deep pride in being a person of African descent, and so, through Happily Natural Day, we promote the natural beauty of African people. Happily Natural Day is a continuance of the “Black Is Beautiful” campaigns of the 1960s and 1970s – started by Elombe Brath and the African Jazz Art Society and Studio (AJASS) via its “Naturally” shows and Grandassa Models. Happily Natural Day is ultimately married to the cause of redeveloping the maximum human potential of people of African descent through information and inspiration. Our annual August festival features workshops, lectures, live music, and merchants with one of a kind products from around the globe. It inspires us to love ourselves, to support Black-owned businesses, to heal ourselves holistically, and to live for the freedom that comes with doing for self. The mission of Happily Natural Day is to raise consciousness and cultural awareness, and to inspire collective works, self-determination and social change in the African community.
(Excerpt taken from http://happilynaturalday.com/ following the link to learn more)

White Taco Salad Recipe

This is a summertime favorite for me and my family. My Aunt Joyce used to make it for us when we were kids. I make it for my children now. Enjoy!

White Taco Salad

Ingredients:
2 lbs - Ground Beef
2 pks - Ranch Salad Dressing (The dry kind that you mix)
Milk
1/4 cup of onions
1/4 cup green peppers
1 - Can of Red Beans (drained)
Tortilla Chips
1 - Med. Tomato
1 - Head of lettuce
16 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Cook ground beef. Add Onions and Green Pepper to the meat while it's cooking. Drain.
Mix Ranch Salad Dressing together according to the instructions on the package. (Use Milk if it calls for Buttermilk.)
Chop Tomato
Chop Lettuce

In a large bowl combine: Cooked ground beef, Salad Dressing mixture, & drained red beans. Mix with a large spoon until white dressing is blended throughout.. Refrigerate for about an hour.

Serve it cold over tortilla chips and garnish with lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. A wonderful summer treat but can be enjoyed all year!!