Velma Newsome Creator of Tatianna's room

 www.tatiannasroom.org

 Don't you just love when people see something broken, or not 100% what it could be, take the problem, work to resolve it or improve the situation and in turn make someone smile one good deed at a time? I love it and this is why I had to write up a post on Miss Velma Newsome the creator of Tatianna's room. Her creation is not only fresh, creative, and fun but also loving for those children who benefit from the program. Here's the 411. She redecorates the rooms of children living in group homes or foster care. Miss Newsome worked in group homes for years and recognized that the rooms the children lived in were pretty much plain jane. She started Tatianna's room in 2008. Check out her site for more information and the scoop on donating.

 www.tatiannasroom.org
http://www.mindtv.org/cgi-bin/display_asset.fcg?member_id=2133;ordinal=1;file=vodind.ttml;style=mind

Masterchef's Tracy Nailor

Fox

Okay I'm not a reality TV junkie, well maybe a little but only for those shows that force people to perform at their best and expose the fiercest, most creative people at their best all the while under Chef Ramsey's foot and grueling screams of displeasure. Plus I love cooking (hey I get it honestly my Dad always showed me something new in the kitchen). Anyway my favorite on my new addiction Masterchef's Tracy Nailor. The MD whose real passion is cooking up the beloved recipes her mother taught her and raised her up on. This sista cooks with a true passion with her mother's memory at the core of her focus. All the reason for me to tune in week after week to route for her and hope she'll make it at least to the final four.

Hells Kitchen Autumn Lewis

 My all time favorite tube must see is Hells Kitchen with the famous screamer Chef Ramsey. I don't watch it though to hear him call folks donkeys and yell at them to piss off. I simply adore watching how individuals respond under his rage aka extreme pressure. My favorite was ousted just recently. Autumn Lewis 29 from Chi-town was a force to reckon with even though her team mates thought otherwise. Her creations on the show were appealing to the eye and her ability to remain poised while coping with an eardrum irritating Ramsey was enough to garner awards in my opinion. Her constant 'up for elimination' trials week after week often showed her team mates need to rid of her because of her endurance. Sure she made mistakes but who didn't on the show. Currently a personal chef in North Hollywood California, I'm sure she's on her way to even larger paths as a result of her success on the show.


Autumn's quote on being dismissed from the show says all. "I'm happy to have made it this far.  I was able to overcome obstacles I didn't know I had the strength in me to do".

Check out more scoop on homegirl Autumn here 
(Fox News pic)

A Beautiful Scupltor and Printmaker

 Born in 1915 in the nation's capital, Elizabeth Catlett was an astounding sculptor, and print maker. She studied design and printmaking at Howard University and changed to study sculpting when there was no sculpture division at Howard. She pushed boundaries becoming the first African American to get her Master of Fine Arts in sculpture at the University of Iowa. She mostly created pieces that depicted what she saw, images of her people, specifically black women . Her piece, Mother and Child, sculpted in limestone won first prize at the American Negro Exposition in 1940. She is the mother of America's Next Top Model Cycle 4 winner Naima. She studied wood carving in Mexico and used her art along with other artists to promote social change there. She received numerous awards and many of the outdoor sculptures she created are are displayed in Mexico; in Jackson, Mississippi; New Orleans, LA; and, Washington, D.C.

My Monday Perspective

When I hear my favorite song "Unthinkable" by my girl Alicia Keys I always think of my relationship with God and my readiness to accept his infinite love wholeheartedly. I'm ready to remain completely vulnerable to him.

 The words easily apply whenever I hear these specific part of the lyrics. "You give me a feeling that I never felt before And I deserve it, I know I deserve it "

Anyway just my take on the song.



Unthinkable lyrics

A Damn Good Father

As Fathers Day comes around again for another year I reflect on the true meaning behind the fundamentals of a man strong enough to be called a father. The birthdays, holidays, screw ups, life changing events, hobbies, failures, accomplishments, and a million other events too many to list here are at the heart of what makes a great father. Either he is or he isn’t. I know there are many sistas out there who long the relationship of a father and daughter. This gives me a sense of appreciation and gratefulness to a higher place for the blessings of having my father in my life. This man has not only ‘been there’ but has been an active participant in my growth as a child to a young lady into a woman.

They say it’s the little things that matter most in your life. I predict that is true. My most fondest birthday was last year when my father handed me a stack of books and sent me on my way after a perfect cup of his morning coffee with amaretto or hazelnut cream and a forehead kiss. Those weren’t any ordinary books. These books were full of culture, life lessons, and would give me a further sense of self. There was even a book included to teach me how to buy a car. (Ironically I would greatly need this book soon enough little did I realize)This all was of course after another one of his famous lectures about life, people, culture, and plain old common sense. These lectures are the best around and no professor could touch my father.

One of the many things my father has always instilled in me was to enjoy whatever it was I chose to do in my life and to be the best at it. He also stressed the importance of one’s knowledge of their culture. In times of adversity I recall past experiences and testimonies from my ancestors and other great minority leaders whose experienced suffering, opposition, and even death at the hands of working to better peoples lives. He has given me one of the greatest possessions I own, my creativity. My father, very artistic with a keen eye for design, art, and photography himself has helped shape the very things that are at the core of my life’s purpose.

For all the Fathers in the world who encourage their daughters to be at their best and utilize their talents for the success of others, may they be appreciated and glorified for the selfless  work they continue to do within us as growing women.

Original article 

Hearted Sex In The City but missing Sistas In The City...

Ok the chick flick Sex In The City was phenomenal. The onset of the film with "Empire State Of Mind" -Jay Z and Alicia Keys blaring through the speakers in the intro was genius and gave you a 'it's on can't wait to see this' sort of feeling right from the get go. But as the movie ended two hours later I couldn't help thinking, dang, why can't we have a Sista movie grace the screen. I mean Living Single and Girlfriends meets the ladies from Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married. I know Terry McMillan has the sequel to Waiting to Exhale coming in the Fall, but what about a sexy, savvy, summer flick starring four black women doing their thang! I mean the sitcoms are cool but I want to see more of us on the big screen together. Could get a kick out of seeing my favorites Angela Bassett (she could play the cougar type), Jada Pinkett Smith (the cultured, no nonsense having sista), Jennifer Hudson (the love struck sweetheart), and Taraji P. Henson (the single mom, finshing school, goal oriented sista). Just a random thought.

images from http://www.celebritywonder.com/