Category: Not-So-Natural (randomness)

  • Take a cruise with my 4 and 6 year old

    Take a cruise with my 4 and 6 year old

    It was the best of times it was the worst of times… I kid, I kid. Just being dramatic. But it’s not for the faint at heart. I have been on three cruises with adults; never with kids. So it was unchartered territory for me but it was the option that’d allow me to travel…

  • Live every moment

    Live every moment

    Summer, my favorite season, is my time to travel. Having a busy body Bailey in tow is changing nothing about that (my girl has a passport, do you). Brittany, one of my favorite cousins who shared my love for travel, recently accepted a job in Houston after living in Indiana for two years to complete…

  • Love…so many things I want to tell you

    Love…so many things I want to tell you

    As I stare at my baby girl whilst nursing I wonder what the future holds for us. Does all the baby talk and alertness mean she’ll be a questioner and explorative? Will she sing? What kind of student will she be? Is she going to Miss Personality or more on the shy side? Why is…

  • The F Word | Part 2

    The F Word | Part 2

    Read part 1 here. While learning more about fibroids, I came across an article from Gessie Thompson regarding fibroids and fertility. At the time, I knew I wanted children and wondered if fibroids would be cause for concern. (Sidenote: I came to this realization at the same age I found out about my fibroids, age 33…so…

  • The F Word | Part 1

    The F Word | Part 1

    Read part 2 here. The hushed f-word I’m referring to isn’t one that’ll get your mouth washed out with soap by your grandmother, rather one that is not used as much as it should be especially in the African American and Hispanic communities. “Uterine fibroids, noncancerous growths that can appear on the uterus and interfere…

  • Pregnancy Journey [approaching the end]

    Pregnancy Journey [approaching the end]

    As I’m in nesting mode with less than 3 weeks remaining, I’m reflecting on all the things I’ll miss about my pregnancy journey… –Kicks from my healthy baby…though it started feeling awkward toward the end, her movement still equates with enjoyment. –Getting out of doing “adulty” things…my feet are kicked up many-a-times when I’d usually…

  • Representation Matters | Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green

    Representation Matters | Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green

    This article can be found in the March/April issue of Delux Magazine, an urban lifestyle magazine I’ve been writing for since 2009.  Inspiring a Generation   While scouring the web early one morning, my daily routine to avoid prepping for work, I was floored by a headline on The Root: “A Story of Perseverance: Dr.…

  • Maternity Wear On a Budget

    Maternity Wear On a Budget

    “No one wears maternity clothing,” so said the father of my child. Sir. Please. o_O I’ve known plenty of pregnant women in the past few years. Shucks, almost half the women at my school have been pregnant in my last five years there…the running joke is that there is something in the water because there…

  • Maternity shoot (and baby name reveal)

    Maternity shoot (and baby name reveal)

    Time is winding down. I’m to the stage where I’ve mapped out every store’s restroom because chances are high I’ll need to visit it. *rolls eyes* Translation: My little one is almost here!:) I had a baby shower thrown by my wonderful crew of Sorors last month and on that same day I had a…

  • Black Girls Travel Too | France and Italy | Part 2

    Black Girls Travel Too | France and Italy | Part 2

    This post picks up where the last left off. 

  • Black =/= Violent

    Black =/= Violent

    Universal Pictures to ‘support’ theaters that request ‘extra security’ at ‘Compton’ screenings This article title has been all over my social media accounts the past few days. I find it rather unnecessary and very insulting. According to an article on The Grio, “Although there have been hundreds of pre-release screenings without incident, there is some concern…

  • Seeking normalcy

    Seeking normalcy

    “Someone wrote an article about Courtney,” is all I could manage to type in an email to a few family members before rushing back to read the rest. I randomly came across it on Twitter because I saw a familiar face whilst scrolling. The article made me smile because it wasn’t as much about my…

  • Black Girls Travel (Too) | Barcelona

    Black Girls Travel (Too) | Barcelona

    Kids playing street ball near Las Ramblas – a popular street near city centre for tourists and locals. Coincidentally, while I was in Barbados, two of my soror-friends Catina and Adzoa were in Barcelona. Ooo-oo-oop! The Mountain at Montserrat – aka home of black Madonna. They too found their discount on The Flight Deal’s site. I…

  • Black Girls Travel (Too) | Barbados

    Black Girls Travel (Too) | Barbados

    This article about professionals traveling came my way just in time. Every working woman needs to take time for herself!   I just returned from a weeklong trip to the sunny (ok, most days cloudy) and beautiful island of Barbados.   Some may be wondering why I chose this title for my post. Well when I…

  • Does America Deserve Harriet Tubman’s Face on its Money?

    Does America Deserve Harriet Tubman’s Face on its Money?

    There have been a lot of opinions on this subject and this is one I was able to simply say, “Ditto.” Thank you to S. Christopher Emerson and the Mound City North Star, an online weekly focusing on the African diaspora, for publishing this op-ed and allowing me to share it with my readers. This week,…

  • Night of Peace with Pastor John P. Kee

    Night of Peace with Pastor John P. Kee

      I was first introduced to Pastor John P. Kee during my high school gospel choir days in the late 90s. This was the start of my dream to sing background for a man of God such as himself. By the time I became familiar with his CDs, he’d already released several albums holding tracks like…

  • DIY: Remove stains without bleach

    DIY: Remove stains without bleach

    My all natural deodorant leaves a mark on light colored clothing 😮 Either that or I sweat like a 400lb man in the dessert…I’ll stick with blaming the deodorant.  I found this mix on Pinterest but was unable to find the exact mix to show you how much of what I used. The mixture makes a paste…

  • Finding the positive

    Finding the positive

    Breaking up is hard to do and unless you live a secluded life in a cave, you’ve been through a break up. Some are easy to get over but others take time. Women and men need ways to get through the heartache. Before we dive into the tips for a regular breakup, if you are…

  • Handmade soaps

    Here’s a few of my current faves!! Maven (based in St. Louis) Glycerin Soap “Unlike major brand soaps found in big box stores, our vegetable glycerin soaps are all natural and detergent free. This makes them gentle enough for even the most delicate skin. Each bar is big and means business– they weigh approximately 6.5 ounces!” Ingredients:…

  • DIY: coasters

    DIY: coasters

    So my mom and I got creative around the holidays and made gifts for family and friends! This would be a great idea anytime you’re thinking of something unique for that person that has it all. You don’t need many materials… -Tiles -Paper with designs (printed from the computer on quality paper will allow you…