Sweet and breezy, sun glowing desperately
Where I live is fierce, eyes of ice
Ethnic skin Dripping of grime and sweat
Jungle beats are heard
bright flashy colors of tropics
odd glances and expressions
it’s clean. trash is scarce dirt is lifted
streets painted with fresh black tar
it is mixed like a fruit salad, every fruit belongs
Tastes sweet with others.
There are some things that you just gotta do because it gives you that ammunition to continue to persevere. I remember hearing on a program Mary J. Blige saying before her song that inspired and uplifted her and gave her hope was 'Keep on Movin' by Soul II Soul. I thought to myself, yeah I can definitely see that. The lyrics are uplifting in itself...
Anyway my favorite three ironically include our lady Mary J. Blige (Beautiful), Goapele (Closer), and Angie Stone (No More Rain). These lyrics get me out of a funk every time. Enjoy!
Keep on moving
Don't stop like the hands of time
Click clock, find your own way to stay
The time will come one day
Why do people choose to live their lives this way?
Keep on moving, don't stop, no
Keep on moving
Keep on moving
Keep on moving don't stop, no
Keep on moving
It's our time, time today
The right time is here to stay
Stay in my life, my life always
Yellow is the color of sunrays
The 50 Million Pound Challenge with Danielle Williams and her daughter Dasiafrom MommyCast I am so loving this. Mother and daughter team up and join the 50 million pound challenge and support one another. Mom comes up with this creative and savvy way to encourage her daughter to shed the extra pounds and live a healthier lifestyle. According to mom doctors stated her daughter was pre-diabetic not too mention the constant teasing at school from classmates. Kudos to Mom and daughter Dasia for taking the initiative to make changes to their lifestyle and represent on the MommyCast program.
Forgot to post yesterday's quote but I know I'm forgiven (LOL). Here goes the quote intended for hump day without further delay. It comes from no other than our little girlfriend 'Keke Palmer'. You remember her from 'Akeelah and the Bee'. She is an Image award winner, actor and singer who is always taking on new and uplifting projects. The movies she plays key roles in always leaves an inspirational impression on its viewers. She shows folks that you can accomplish your dreams and live out your life purpose regardless of age.
"I'm just doing what I do and if I get parts, then I do my best at them. I just work hard at everything I do."
"I love acting and I love singing both, but I think I'm leaning more toward singing now. I don't know I think I just love making the videos."
"I wanna win an Oscar! This is my first really lead movie and so you know maybe the next time if not this time, but I'm hoping!"
Those old Different World episodes and other ‘creations’ that embellish the black woman in her free spirited element, especially Kim....remember her...the aspiring doctor ...the no nonsense having, kind hearted, determined to succeed character...'Freddie' the eccentric free spirited sista focusing on saving the world and our environment. Waiting to Exhale, Disappearing Acts, Soul food The Series. I love those programs that capture our women doing what we do best. Being mothers, nurturing our children, inspiring others through our teachings and chastising, being strong supporting our men, and taking care of home by holding it together when adversity kicks us in our hind quarters.
Our style.
We have definitely got that ‘it’ factor. There is no point in denying it. We exude style effortlessly. From our hair to our clothes, food, art, speech, sports, and music we have our own uniqueness about us as a people that stands definitively all by itself. Knowing this, especially how it’s embedded in our history, allows me to hold my head up high and walk with a certain swagger (yes ladies can have swagger too).
Our strength.
Some would say we are not unified as to be expected yet we are not known to take mistreatment lying down. We still continue to fight against racism and injustice when it prevails. We have done this since the 1800s and continue to speak up on issues that belittle us, disrespect us and threaten our hard earned freedom that so many of our people have lost their lives gaining for us.
Looking back on the struggles blacks have endured in the past and other cultures in other areas of the world allows me to gain a profound perspective and reflect on the value of one’s freedom. The ability to speak my mind and frequent my favorite stores and wear a variety of colors, eat particular foods and provide an education for myself and my family. These are important pleasures that were not easily granted to us or allowed. We fought some rough battles to gain independence and to become recognized as a group of human beings worthy of equality and is a battle still not quite yet won.
First up love yourself, hence the beautiful ballad by the lovely Beyonce’, Me, Myself and I. Who cares if your single, being single ain’t a damn disease, and who cares if you’re married, you still gotta love you either way right? You have your own likes, needs, hobbies, talents, so why abandon them because you have a spouse? Loving yourself goes way beyond the occasional treat to the hair salon and bikini wax (really is that loving yourself or harming thyself? LOL) anyway it includes not sacrificing your morals and values for anyone or anything, standing up for what you believe deep down is right, demanding respect, and showing your true beauty inside and out to help yourself as well as others succeed.
Who: Patrick and Gina Neely, co owners of Neely’s Bar-B-Que restaurant and hosts of Food network show Down Home with the Neelys, authors of New York times bestselling cookbook Down Home with the Neelys
Where: The show Down home with the Neelys is filmed at their home in Memphis Tennessee.
When: Their show Down home with the Neelys debuted on Food network in February 2008. In July 2008 their second show Road tasted with the Neelys aired and in May 2008 their first cookbook was released “Down home with the Neelys”
How: Pat (Patrick) started working in the family business (Neely’s Bar-B-Que as young as 15 years old. He and his brother Tony picked up a great deal of skills and barbeque techniques from Uncle Jim Neely. After acquiring the necessary skills and determination, the Neely brothers opened their own restaurant in Memphis. The Neelys received a 2007 Business of the Year and Blue Ribbon Small Business awards for Neelys BBQ.
foodnetwork
What: Pat and Gina were high school sweethearts that rekindled the love at their 10 year high school reunion and later married. How bout them apples? They merged forces since Gina was holding it down as a branch manager for a bank in Memphis and later an events coordinator for a public relations firm there. She took her talents to the Neelys BBQ business. Gina heads up the catering division of the business and manages the company’s product line. They are both members of several business affiliations including the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Empowerment Summit for the Memphis Housing Authority.
Both Gina and Pat help the youth in their community by making it possible for 25 kids to attenf the NBA Memphis Grizzlies home games. They support several high schools including their own as well as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Basketball Tournament.
They not only manage their business, television programs, and publish cookbooks, but are also parents to two beautiful daughters. This powerhouse couple reminds me of the couples I read about in the several history books that speak of how black families in earlier times taught their children how to maintain homes, run small businesses and support their communities. It shows that this not only is a possibility, but also that this type of family success still exists.
For show times and to watch recorded episodes of Down Home with the Neelys visit:
