Are You Even Real?

 It’s been awhile since I’ve last posted. Hello, world! 

Do people even still read blogs and engage with them? The power of AI and digital has us all in a chokehold it seems without original thoughts and voices. BUT I’m still here…

This happens to be the song that currently has me in a chokehold Teddy Swims- Are you even real?

For those that have followed my blogs over the years, you know by now I LOVE music, love to create playlist, love to dance, perform, see live performances…the whole nine yards. R&B is my favorite genre specifically 90’s R&B so any arrangement or lyricist giving those vibes; I’m with it! 

Are You Even Real? is only about two minutes and I just can’t get enough! So, yes! They’re wrong for it being so short 😂 I first saw it on TikTok as I perused. Teddy Swims was live in concert and his background singer Devin Velez sang the GIVEON part and I fell in absolute LOVE with the performance and song! Teddy Swims already has a beautiful voice and so does the original GIVEON but when I say, “when Devin Velez takes that mic!…” 🎤 😍

BUTTER. Smooth like butter, baby! 

And the words they sing (side eye)…A man into me so much so, they have to ask, “am I even real?!” Now, I’ve heard it before, some might call it “game” others may call it “romantic” but whatever you call it, it wasn’t quite articulated the way this song is giving so, yes…it’s a bop!

XOXO, 

Enjoy!

*I added Devin’s performance as well*

Devin Velez live from TikTok

The Doctor Has Spoken

I guess she told y’all! Everyone ALWAYS wants to have an opinion on someone else’s marriage. Really it doesn’t have to be a marriage…it’s just having an opinion and while we’re ALL certainly entitled to having an opinion; it’s really not mine or your place to judge how she spends her time or energy. It is what it is. 

For those that don’t know: 

A surgeon was blasted on social media for working a fourteen hour shift and then being pictured at home immediately after the shift cooking dinner for her husband and herself. 

Right. Exactly what I was thinking. Not OUR business.

Barbie Movie!

Now, you know as a family professed Chocolate Barbie Doll, having my own doll babies; we HAD to go see the movie! 

We went the first official weekend it was out. I must preface this and say: it ain’t that deep. The movie previews, my excitement behind the movie, the actual movie, the makings of the movie, the ending of the movie, the actors in the movie, the lines in the movie. None of it, and anything you could think of, it just ain’t that deep. At least for me!

I’m not, nor was I ever, about to get all political about this lil’ movie. Barbie is an American cultural icon and that’s that on that. The movie depicted what it should have: a Barbie doll and her “life” issues. Please tread lightly and miss me with all the social commentary or political nuances because as for me and my house consisting of an eager six year old and a rambunctious two year old…it just ain’t that deep. 

My inner child was giddy to see Barbie and dress in my pink. Which I didn’t have to buy because I keep pink on the ready. My excitement was geared towards my baby’s opportunity to finally see the movie she’d been talking about since it was announced. My anxiety was high because I was taking my ever-busy two year old son with us and he couldn’t care less about being in the movie theater or the other paying patrons as he acted like he was at the playground boxing the seats around him, hopping up and down the stairs, swinging from the rails as if they were Monkey Bars, and speaking at a decibel level he doesn’t even use when we’re at concerts in the park! 

Overall the movie was cute and nostalgic. I’d venture to say it got slightly boring towards the middle when they focused on Ken (shrug) I can only say that because I began to lose focus, but then again; that’s around the time I went in to full-on Mommy Mode pulling out my cell phone for my busy boy to watch Blippi which he kept at a disturbing volume level. At the end I actually did fall asleep BUT my daughter said it was good and she liked it. All in all, if she liked it; I loved it! 

Check it out and take your #Barbie photos!

“Hey Barbie!”

Jackie Robinson Year

 2022.  Whelp, this year has been more of a doozy than I care to share.  The loss of my brother totally, if not completely, put life and all other things into perspective for me.  I'd like to think I'm more tolerable, forgiving, even easy going.  Today is the first day of December.  I usually party the entire month, and I'm sure in some fashion I will.  The closer to the fourth day of the month of December we get, the more I ponder on my Jackie Robinson year, the more I think of a quote he once said:

"Above anything else, I hate to lose."

Honestly, I don't think anyone goes around life loving to lose.  The quote is not prolific in any way, it's just a very REAL and honest statement.  He was a ball player.  He meant what he said, and the only thing he expected to do, which made him a legendary ball player was to get on base and knock every hit out the park.  At least in stating above anything else, he hated to lose is my best estimation of the quote.  It's what I'm taking from the quote, and it's what I mean when I say:  It's my Jackie Robinson year!

Jackie Robinson responded to opposition, resistance, and barriers with GREATNESS! He didn't raise any bars.  He SET the bar!  A trailblazer.  He planted seeds and through his hard work, not only watched his seeds grow, but enjoyed the fruits of his seeds so much so he made room for his family to eat as well!

My Jackie Robinson year! The countdown begins and I'm ready to knock it out the park!

photo courtesy of Google and 42 movie

Mistress Mishap

Some mistresses tends to make themselves feel better or validate their situation to their friends and family in the thick of involvement with a married man. Especially those that see themselves as “a good woman and I know I’m a good woman”

So…”your” man tells you he’s not married, only caveat being- he can’t spend the night with you or leaves in the middle of the night or early morning to “get back home”

He continually has to “explain” to a woman he’s not with anymore 👀 

You have witnessed his conversations over the phone and they are not that of a single, AVAILABLE, man especially when he speaks to his wife🙄 

HERE’S A GLARING DING DONG:

You, yourself, have lied when confronted by his wife🙄

He’s told you his wife no longer lives in the “marital home”🤦🏾‍♀️ then why does he explain himself to "her"  

They’re not together but he’s expressed to you “she’s not ready for the kids to meet you” and you are perfectly ok with the explanation

You actually take pleasure at hearing him degrade or disrespect his wife and the relationship he states they have “had” when conversing with you.

You fight with him incessantly about why his “ex” calls all times of the night. 

You fight so badly that you go days not speaking 😏 

Of course you’re not speaking…HE’S WITH HIS WIFE!

It’s understandable that a woman can want a man so bad that she’s willing to believe anything that particular man says. Especially lies. No one will fault a woman that gets manipulated by a man that blatantly lies.  You are subject to fall victim or become prey to his petty, despicable betrayal.

BUT that’s not who this post is about...

This post is for women that KNOWINGLY believe lies because she wants the man and the trumped up future she has formulated in her feeble mind. 

You ma’am, need to reevaluate, and reassess yourself. Take pride in yourself and the good sense God gives us all to see a sign. 

1. Follow that sign

2. Learn from the sign. 

Stop attempting to validate or blame that lying man for what he said to you.  When you heard it, you knew it was a lie. While you witness his behavior you know it's a lie. You just think you are “different” “special” “a woman he’s never felt this way about before” 

The nail in the coffin happens when you, yourself, not only lied to others, you lied to yourself. You knew everything you were lusting after was a white lie!

In other news, there are those mistresses that feel they are in a great position with a married man that “doesn’t want his wife” The current story line reoccurring in the news is that of a certain reality star that had an ongoing affair with his mistress, mind you: never leaving the wife for years. The mistress always thinks the man will leave their wife for them. When in actuality the man lies, deceives, manipulates and sneaks in every imaginable way to avoid losing his wife. That is until, the WIFE actually gets tired of that man and leaves. 

This situation, on the news currently, incurred a baby and although that broke the camel’s back for the WIFE. An outside child in their marriage caused her to leave the man and finally divorce him.  He didn’t end up with the mistress after all! He’s out here single. He finally was able to be present with his mistress and have an outward and open relationship due to his divorce and it still didn’t even work out.

Now all they have is an innocent child while they’re locked and loaded for the rest of each other’s lives due to temporary burning lust with no viable sustainability!

Mistress Mayhem! 

Happy 34th Birthday!

Today I would’ve called my brother around lunch time. He wouldn’t have been awake any earlier 😌 I would’ve wished him a happy birthday then asked, “what we doing?!” He would’ve sighed and said he didn’t know, and would’ve said, “mama asked me the same thing.” He would’ve told me all about the plans he had for the weekend to celebrate but would’ve then said nonchalantly said, “I guess we could go to dinner.” From there I would’ve said, “duh!” and told him to let me know where and what time. 

Today. 

Today, however I’m grieving the fact that conversation isn’t happening. I’m reluctantly smiling through a day at work as if I really care about what’s coming out of anyone’s mouth. That reluctance isn’t meant but to be mean or nasty BUT it’s reality because none of it matters in the grand scheme of where my mind travels to. 

Today. 

Today, I’m celebrating my baby brother’s 34th birthday. Our family is honoring what we feel he would’ve done…dinner. I’m celebrating his life and the time that passed as I watched him grow. 

Today. 

Today, I’m remembering the conversations we held.  The years, months, days, moments, seconds spent as each of his past 34 years went by. Remembering his kind spirit. 

Today.

Today, I’m glad the sky is clear and my thoughts aren’t and couldn’t be clouded by anything other than acknowledging his birthday.  

Today. 

Today, yet another dose of reality is taken. Another gut punch and sting of heartbreak continues.

Today. Memories last a lifetime. Happy 34th BIRTHDAY Nate Nate🙏🏾 

33: My Nate Nate

33! 33 years ago, on September 21st, 1988, I was getting ready while daddy was (badly and too softly) brushing my hair for school awaiting your arrival. I gained the little baby brother I PRAYED for. I was excited then and just as excited each time we celebrated you throughout your 33 years. As the “big” sister I was protective of you to no end. My blood, the Ying to my Yang, the calm to my storm, my real-life Dennis the Menace from the moment you could crawl entering my room to tear my Barbie and the Rockers doll heads off! I remember like yesterday getting SO annoyed at you for taking the clothes off my dolls and taking their heads and arms apart I took socks to tie your arms behind your back and your legs together. You started trying to get out and call out for help to daddy, who was in the living room, so I placed another sock around your mouth! He came in and asked, “What are y’all doing. Let that boy loose!” When I told him why I did it, he couldn’t help but laugh.

You were my first non-paying babysitting job, and my first reason to fight. I still remember like yesterday when you came walking, just as calmly down Rosalee Street to Lessie B’s house (you called her Man) and told me and Ebony that another little boy wanted to fight you. In true rare- hot headed form, Ebony and I rushed from the front yard to confront the little boy. We knew if someone was threatening to fight you, they were the problem because you were so kind, and too friendly to cause an issue with ANYONE! In fact, Ebony was walking faster than me because even she knew better! 

I remember you loving Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles so much you wore your Halloween costume year-round until you literally could not fit into it.  Then you changed to Batman!  You love comics...DC, Marvel, etc. so much so you would get into full on debates about the accuracy and complexity of superheroes.  We grew up in the era of Fox Kids Club, so you were also all about the Mighty Morphing Power Rangers!  You self-taught yourself Asian cultures and could recite terms, customs, art and cuisine.

As we got older, you became my cool big, little baby brother- remaining nonchalant, kind-hearted, thoughtful, talented, creative, funny and you set standards that were forward thinking. You loved anime, and science and animals and nature and food and culture! You loved to cook and create meals that my Lord, I wouldn’t eat but it gave me joy to see you as the chef in the kitchen! You loved my spaghetti! I remember making a pot of spaghetti in high school on a night our parents were out. Now my plan was to cook dinner for you and our cousin that was staying with us then and have plenty enough so our parents could taste it if it came out good…well; you and Nicholas devoured the spaghetti! Y’all cleaned the pot out like it had been washed and left it on the stove. When I asked what happened to all the spaghetti, you rubbed your belly and said, “what are you talking about Khrysti, shoot, we ate that spaghetti. Aye, it was great!” Then had the nerve to want me to fix it the next day.  If food was left in the fridge, you were definitely eating it.  I remember crying...literally real tears crying because I was so mad you ate something in the fridge I'd had as leftovers.  Funny how I can't remember what the food was now, but I remember Mama making it for me after she knew I was crying behind some food.  

I remember your pet turtle Alphalpha! You adored that turtle, and nobody could tell you to stop putting him in your face. That is until Alphalpha clipped you one right on the lip. You still have the mark from when he took a nip at that top lip. You loved (animals) dogs so much you would find stray puppies and bring them home. At some point we had two dogs and with both of them I would run for my life getting out of the car to get in the house. Your love of dogs trumped my fear.

You here recently gave me the illustrations I asked for about ten years ago for my children’s book! I laugh NOW because you most definitely did things in your way, in YOUR time. You came through for each of your niece and nephew’s parties though. Always right on time. Whatever I needed painted or drawn out; you made it happen. No questions asked.  I was and always will be in awe of the talents you naturally acquired, most, without any formal training. Piano playing, shoe design, graphic artist, rapping, music production, writing, digital art, sculpting, jewelry making, tattoo artist…you name it, and it’s artistic…you could do it! You've even made bows for our Khloé's hair.  Just an OUTSTANDING talent.

We spoke sibling language- our eyes held conversations that only required us to chuckle with each other. I’ll miss your random calls to say, “Khrysti. Oh. What are you doing? …That’s cool. Mama and daddy tripping!” Then you’d give me a day's laugh of what went down at the Cunningham house. Your joy of teaching Khloé and Karson various forms of art will remain with them always. Khloé is already pretending she’s still playing with you. She’s such a little lady! She said, “I’m not sad Nathen died, he’s just resting.” I picked her up from school a few days ago and she was talking out loud.  I could hear her say your name multiple times and change her voice as she continued talking out loud.  I asked, "Khloé, what are you doing?"  She said, "Playing with Nathan.  Well, pretending because he can't talk back, you know? He’s an angel, so he’s here but I can’t see him and he can’t talk back."

You may be gone from our sight but never from our visions. We’ll watch as you brush the sky with your sketches and paintings, we’ll listen as you whistle, hum or make tunes with the wind, we’ll feel your belly laugh as we laugh at all the wonderful memories of you. I pray you sweet sleep baby brother. Take your rest; until we meet again, I’ll hold you in my heart forever. I love you, Nate Nate.

Khrysti 

My Very FIRST Assistant Principal’s Week

Wow!!!! What an amazing year of growing and learning I have had…and it’s NOT over yet!! I overheard a burnt out teacher say, “5 Fridays and 7 Mondays left” LOL 

As a first year AP, my current principal has been THE best motivation and mentor I’ve ever had! About seven years ago I had another principal that PUSHED me to get out of the classroom and expound on the talents and learning I had acquired in a ten year span. 

I work along side one of the most efficient and professional assistant principals I’ve encountered and he has helped to guide me daily through this journey! To say the least; my first year has been cultivated with support and for that; I thank God everyday along my drive to work. Thankful I wasn’t thrown into the fire without protection or support!

The journey hasn’t been easy, BUT, I can tell you I’m grateful for the experience…the experiences I WOULD change and those I wouldn’t! 

*Gifts provided by Caytlyn Stanley with Hospitality Health Er, Dr. Burchfield, and Mrs. Towels!

Leadership Styles

Around sometime last year a group of leaders and I brought up leadership style. We were asked how we viewed ourselves and leaders and what leadership meant to us. Ever since acquiring my master’s the first charge was recognizing my methodology and philosophy on leadership.

After vivid models from the professors teaching us, not to mention; the on the job training we learned through internship I recognized early on I identified most to Servant Leadership. Interestingly enough, during the meeting last year with the group I, again, identified myself as a servant leader. When I tell you it was one of the most taxing discussions I’ve ever had to have explaining what a servant leader meant and was. 

I would say they were jiving me by pretending not to understand servant leadership but I don’t think the group was that cohesive to come up with the elaborate scheme to trick me. 

I say all that to say; I’m glad to have come across this simplistic chart on leadership styles. 

World Dyslexia Day

Friday, October 15^th, is World Dyslexia Day. Greene Elementary encouraged staff and students to wear red today to promote awareness.

I joined along with my daughter to both support and show solidarity!

Pick Up Your Feelings

Until the acoustic version of this here song; I honestly didn’t know what the heck Jazmine was saying…but Hun. Nay! I love this little song. In. Every. Version. Before I knew what the words actually said I was just gibberish singing and my little four year old would come pick up behind me to sing (in harmony) 🎶 FEELINGS! 🎶 

Resounding

This daily motivation couldn’t have come at a more perfect time! 

It’s worth a screen shot if that’s your style. 

This is current events!

I left my comfort zone of, going into 17 years, because I needed to protect my peace at all cost. I wasn’t powerless, and neither are you if you feel at odds more times than not with a person or situation. You just have to use your power for good and cash OUT! 

That power I harnessed came at a cost. A bargain price of sanity, a little bit of anxiety, an entire expense of wonder, and tokens of change called perseverance; but in the end God took the tags off my peace and showed me there was NO value more comparable than standing on his promise! As a continual reminder God has the power to override the antics of Satan. Evil will NOT win. Evil does NOT win. 

I’m just grateful no matter how frivolous I may have been in the past, how cheap I was with my peace yesterday; God still SEES my heart! He looks from on high and still sees low!! He STILL offers me discernment! A discerning spirit to watch the company I keep and the words that leave from my lips! He is TOO good! 

He is SO good that our value has already been set by Him and no one can mark you down or clearance your gifts and talents! So I publicly say:

Thank you for the power to protect my PEACE

xoxo,

Staying prayed up in this next season!

If It’s Up, Then It’s Up

I heard a song and when I heard it; the beat was catchy, the lyrics; although not particularly any way I would EVER speak, spoke to me. Her first two lines of the track’s intro referenced a woman speaking unkindly about another woman and the reason...you guessed it- because of a man finding her attractive.

My mind went to something my mother told me as I was heading off to college. She said, “Khrystian; one thing is certain: you’ve never been in mess and you haven’t been involved in any messes, but one reason a girl will dislike you or attempt to cause you harm will be behind a man! And nine times out of ten the man won’t seriously want

her or you. Y’all are too young for all of that!”

My recollection might not be verbatim but that was most definitely the gist. She was right!! I never had a “real” boyfriend until in my late 20’s, early 30’s. I did, for a fact, have enemies because of them. Inboxes galore due to social media and lots of he said, she said. But nothing would’ve prepared me for marriage! 

Everyone was quiet as church mice while we dated. He courted me heavily so we were always together, but Bay. Bey. Marriage! 

That man proposed and my inbox flooded from random faceless accounts...one had the audacity to use her real account but her approach was respectful and to clear a name she thought I’d been privy too. Little did she know; she wasn’t in my radar by not even a thousand mile radius headed east or west. Chicks racked up my number, stalking me, you name it, I just might have experienced it. I’ve never been approached or confronted negatively with any name-calling but I’ve definitely “heard” things through the dustiest grapevine imaginable just as the song mentioned.

Honestly, it’s always the insecure girl name-calling. Upset because a man she wanted, wants someone else....and my Lord...when he solidifies it, no matter how much lying he did to maintain that insecure girl. She’s hurt. But instead of taking her frustrations out on the man that misled her. Taking her anger out on the man that abused her. Taking her rage out on the man that used her. Taking her emptiness out on the man that mishandled her. Taking her bitterness out on the man that betrayed her little heart. Taking her brokenness out on the man that disregarded her. Taking her fury out on the man that discarded her...

She’d rather trash-talk the woman HE CHOSE. Cardi B has been there before like so many of us. Somebody is there right now and then there’s someone who’s headed to it. One thing I do know, two things for sure. I’m an adult and a lady. The only man I would ever physically fight behind is NOW...my son. You almost really can’t miss me with my daddy or brother but above that; I most definitely will not and ain’t (yes I said ain’t) fighting over no man! I don’t condone fighting and it’s classless.

“Once upon a time I heard that I was ugly. Came from a chick who’s man wants to (MARRY) me.” 🎶 🎵 

(I can’t bring myself to use the vulgarities of the song on my blog. Listen to the song to hear the real lyrics in full if you’d like.) Yes, we are all grown, but I’m still a laaaaaay daaaay- in my Sheneneh Jenkins voice. 

Chicken Salad: SGG Eats! Food Chronicles

I don’t know too many people that don’t like a good chicken salad. For me; it’s turned into a quick, simple lunch dish to eat (before my baby weight loss journey, on bread) with wheat crackers, or wrapped in lettuce, or simply with a fork.

My recipe is simple:

Chicken (usually canned or chopped from leftovers), mayonnaise, spicy sweet relish, purple onion, onion and garlic powders, celery seed, then mustard (I use jalapeño mustard- I love spicy food, although it doesn’t actually make it spicy just sassy!) 

I’m no executive chef but it’s good to me! 

Baby Weight

I was utterly and completely in denial about my increase in weight after my baby boy. I just KNEW I had snapped right on back to size. It didn’t help that everyone, with the exception of my core family (mom, dad, husband) was saying, “you don’t even look like you had a baby!” “Girl, you’re small!” “You look good girl!” “You ain’t never lost it!”

Now I’m not saying they were lying....but I’m saying they exaggerated....and maybe, just maybe...I was so huge before I delivered that they figured.... “dang....you lost all that baby weight fast!”

The fact of the matter was; I did lose weight but after being on quarantine and getting to a healthy level of ‘my baby is good on breast milk’ I started clowning! Literally! Just out here living reckless! Drinking margaritas everyday. If I didn’t buy them from restaurants I was making them at home and filling my large yeti-style cups with them. I drank NO, absolutely NO water....I’m surprised my milk supply is even to this day still in existence. I was eating carbs like crazy...and there’s nothing wrong with living your best life, but you all; I was out here not even exercising! I break sweats moving, er, walking around the house with the ac on.

Exercise has become an exhausting task that use to be somewhat fulfilling since I’ve always been a dancer. But when I say I would sweat profusely just from standing outside, or standing in a room full of people, or from mopping, sweeping, vacuuming!

All with that I STILL was in slight denial. Sure, I would say to myself- “get it together! You have got to exercise. Your belly still looks like a pregnant belly.” So I began vigorously saving Jeanette Jenkins videos and lobbying my 3, now 4 year old to work out with Mommy. I began to cook differently. Then ol’ satan would creep into my psyche: “What you doing all that for? You still fit your clothes! Ain’t nothing wrong with having a drink! You only get one life! You have to enjoy it!”

Y’all I was still, literally squeezing into my clothes (busting out of them) I was having to get my husband to help get me out of my own contraptions. I would yell for help and flail around the room...SWEATING...to get free! 

And if you can believe it...I STILL would run into the same patterns. Not drinking water, exercising OR eating right! It wasn’t until on vacation...that I haphazardly got onto the scale that, you know, they keep in the bathroom and it read: 180lbs 

180.

1.8.0

One. Hundred. Eighty.

Now I realize there are some of us that 180 is nothing but hear me when I say; 180 is the amount of pounds I was at 9 months carrying a 9lbs 13oz baby! 180 is not the amount of weight my 5 foot 5 inch woman POST baby body that’s trying to finagle her way into clothes, that’s clearly not made for her size should be!

It would be different if I didn’t feel bad. If I didn’t feel heavy and big or even if I liked what I saw when I looked in the mirror. It’s ALL about SELF confidence...SELF worth...SELF value. Trust me when I say my self esteem is not lacking....I just don’t like what I see or how I feel. I’m still fabulous, but I need to be a FITTER fabulous! A FINER fabulous! A FEEL GOOD fabulous!

So I write ALL that above to say:

I’ve begun my lifestyle journey. 

Day one I ate oatmeal for breakfast, goddess green salad for lunch, and grilled pork chop, salad and broccoli for dinner. I was hungry ALL day lol but I drank water ALL day as well. I failed at exercising on day one, but today is day two. I ate shredded wheat for breakfast, I’ll have chicken salad for lunch and we’ll see for dinner! 

But the journey has begun!!

Giving ~Generosity

Every now and again we have to be reminded that giving is intrinsic. It’s not about anyone else. Having a giving spirit is sometimes seemingly detrimental, but once you remember...or get reminded of your WHY no thing or no one can remove the motivation to give! To pour from your heart that which you desire or want for someone. 

Not all giving is monetary or even a tangible thing. 

Examples of things to give that are invaluable include but are not limited to: 

Advice

Time 

Compliments 

A listening ear

Smiles

Affection

Gratitude

Prayer

Acts 20:35 
...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

2 Corinthians 9:11 

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

 

Standing in the Face of Adversity

We were shown this video during a professional development for finishing strong! I thought it was worth sharing...

 

Coming 2 America

 Now you know I had to blog about this movie. The 1988 original is one of my favorite quotable films! From Randy Watson’s “sexy chocolate” to the barber shop men, “Sweets!” “Don’t be hollering at me, hell, I thought it was the trash” to random men and small roles, “Oh my goodness! It is you” “I want to tear you apart, and your friend to zzz a o” to larger than life roles, “Somebodies been messing around!” To singing “She’s your queen to be” “To be loved, to be loved...oh ho...what a feeling to be loved!” 

That is my movie!! So naturally I was on the side of excitement when the announcement came for the sequel a full 33 years later! I’ve been watching every interview, stalking every Instagram associated with the film in the hopes of catching glimpses of behind the scenes action, along with The Who’s who of the film! 

Let’s face it: Eddie Murphy is a BIG name. He’s a movie star. He was big then, and I most definitely want to say larger now. Coming to America, if memory serves me, is his first time acting in one film with various roles! I still didn’t know he was the old Jewish man in the barbershop or even believe it until I was in my late teens. 

I digress: 

Coming 2 America, for me, gave me all the feels! Nostalgia at its finest. I absolutely loved seeing all the original players from the film. They had aged and, maybe it was this Covid reality coming to grips on me; but I was just full of pride and joy to see them! It really wouldn’t have mattered what they said. Rev. Brown, I was glad to see him! I could tell there was an air of wokeness throughout the film as they called out Rev. Brown (don’t want to give away the entire movie-I’ll replace this with the facts after about a month) LBGT, and included elements of women’s rights. 

There were corny jokes, just like the first. You either take life too seriously or you enjoyed the movie. There were silly moments and scenes just like the original...those moments and scenes will either be imitated for years to come or they’ll be forgotten and you’ll stick with the original memorable scenes. Was it rushed? Naaaaaaah. Not anymore than the original. 

Were the costumes bad? Yep! They were Micheal Jackson Bad and outstanding! Imagery outstanding! My favorite scenes may have absolutely been the flashback scenes. Kudos to the special effects and digital imagery team! 

With the thriving cast members, wardrobe, soundtrack, digital work, and locations alone this movie- not for nothing- was a great inclusion for 2021! Just what the proverbial doctor ordered and precisely the comedy relief I needed during this pandemic! So, thank you to the cast and crew. 

To those critics that didn’t like it and want to tear it apart, “Get. Get out of here. Go on. Move!”

Black History Month...and attire

 I love the month of February! 

My baby girl was born in this month 💕 

There’s Valentine’s Day ♥️ 

And if that wasn’t enough...it’s Black History Month! 

For me; I am Black History in the making BUT I enjoy the specific celebration, acknowledgement, and festivities surrounding the culture of, not only who, but where most if not all, come from! Usually church has a special recognition day set aside for African attire , my sorority meeting usually sets aside a day, my job even usually sets aside days to wear the attire and I, me...I ALWAYS forget to go and get something to wear! Go figure. So I only get to view the beautiful attire and admire the African fashions, colors and patterns. 

This year though...2021...thanks to quarantine I actually had TIME to remember the smallest details of things and then special thanks to social media; I wasn’t limited on where I could shop or find the attire! 

So here’s my celebration of Black History AND attire:

I Felt That...

It’s always great when someone else captures your thoughts and prints or posts them. That just mean you are NOT alone, you are NOT crazy, and it IS common! Sometimes it’s in the spirit of great news and positivity...other times in it’s in the spirit of judgment and negativity. Read below to see if you have heard these things or said these things:

“After having a child, I realized that in the eyes of society mothers can't:

- Complain (who told you to have kids?)

- Cry (why are you crying? Did you think it was easy?)

- Getting tired of what? (you do nothing!)

- Sleep (You're lazy!)

- Rest (you'll have plenty of time for that after they grow up) 

- Getting pregnant again (are you crazy? How many more kids do you want?)

- Quitting work (how will you support your child?)

- Work (who will take care of the child?)

- Leave them at the nursery (Don’t let others raise them!!)

- Being a housewife (Poor husband, works too hard and his wife stays at home!!)

- Being single (nobody wants a woman with children)

- Going out for fun (why are you leaving your children with their Nana to have fun?)

And you know whats worse???

90% of these phrases are spoken by other women.

Let's learn to be more supportive of each other. I'm human and I love my kids but I'm guilty  of all these emotions  at some point.”

(Repost)

Some of those things are said by women and it’s even worse when it’s said by your support system, whether man or woman. It stings just a tad bit more. But it doesn’t matter who says those things, or what part in your life they happen to play; tell them to shut the heck up! You’ve heard about enough from them. Then keep it moving because no matter how hard it gets, God NEVER places more on us than we can handle or that we desire. 

Keep going...