Hello All,
Well let me get right to it. For a few days now, I have been wondering about somethings. 1.) Where am I gonna work when I move back to Houston, 2.) what part of town Ill be living in 3.) what I'm going to eat that day 4.)why cant I fall asleep like I used to and 5.) why is it that most churches I have been to over the years have Easter egg hunts after their Easter Sunday services? OK, don't get me wrong, my heart smiles when I see the kiddies running to grab these colorful, pastel, eggs filled with candy and sometimes money (speaking of the eggs being filled with money I hope they are not using my tithes and offerings to fill these eggs.) And I have nothing against after service Easter eggs hunts for the children, its just something I was pondering. So everyone knows every Christian Church service in America is going to be talking about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, and how He died on the cross for our sins. Thank You Jesus! And how this day is not about commercializing Easter and bringing a bunny rabbit in to replace the real reason behind the holiday. I just find it interesting that after all that, by the end of the service; fields, parking lots, and picnic areas are speckled with pastel colored Easter eggs, sending children on a scavenger hunt to participate in a commercialized activity that has nothing to do with Jesus, and goes against the very thing that some preachers preach against. Again, don't get me wrong, I would never deprive my child of participating in a Easter egg hunt after a church service. I'm not against the hunt. My point is more about the preachers that preach on Easter Sunday about how Easter is not about the bunny rabbits, its about what Jesus did for us, yet they have Easter eggs hunts on the Church grounds. Things that make me go hmmmmm?? With all due respect to the preachers Im talking about, if you know you are going to talk about how Easter is not about the bunny rabbit, then don't have an Easter egg hunt for the children after church service. Its just a little strange to me. Just omit that part out of your sermon. That way you can have the Easter egg activities for the chil'ren, and not look like a hypocrite. Im just sayin'!
Hello All,
I just wanted to get some of you guys opinion on something. Should pastors express their political views in their sermons? I go to a non denominational church. My pastor is spirit filled and on fire for Christ, as all pastors should be. I have learned from his sermons and have been moved to tears at times. However, there are some things he says that come off harsh and unsympathetic sometimes. For example, about a year ago, he taught a sermon about tithing and offerings, but it turned into him going off on people who show up to church late and that probably means that they pay their bills late also. While the part about tithing was received well, I don't know if the part about being late was taken the same way. He was sacractic and a bit unsympathetic. He tried to use a disclaimer of, "I know this may offend some people but...." I was a bit concerned about how the first time visitors would have taken it. Now lets skip all of the small things he says sometimes in the same harsh manner and fast forward to a few days before Obama was elected President. So my mom comes home from church (i was working this day) and tells me that our pastor, said that Obama was a monster for being Pro-Choice, and that "some people on the ballot want to punish you for making $250,000 or more." Now i was somewhat shocked at this because what does his political opinions have to do with whatever message he was teaching, and at the same time I wasn't too surprised because he says things that would make you gasp. I was put off by that because like all republicans or conservatives believe being Pro- Choice means you basically murder a child in the womb. Even if the case is rape, incest, or if the baby harming the mothers health, which to me is not fair for the government to regulate a woman's choice to abort a baby, especially under those conditions. OK so today was the last straw for me. Our pastor starts his sermon off telling us about the wonderful vacation him and his wife had celebrating their 25 years of marriage. He says he was across the world and saw just a 20 second clip of the events that happened here in Phoenix on this past Wednesday. So I'm thinking, "what happen here Wednesday?" Then I quickly said "Ohhhhh, Obama was here speaking, Oh Lord" because I knew he was about to say something yet again about Obama. So he says while he was all the way across the world he saw the footage of Obama and what he was talking about on Wednesday. He said it made him create his sermon for today. The title of the sermon was "How TO Survive In A Crisis Ridden World". So the lights in the church dim and they play a clip of Obamas speech, however its pieced together highlighting Obama saying the word "crisis". The clip shuts off and the pastor says, "while I was watching this I counted 29 times that the president said "crisis" what happen to this "HOPE" that we were to believe in. We need leaders who don't feed us fear" By this time there were some people in the church standing up and clapping, and some (such as myself and my mom) who were sitting down looking at each other like, "huh? what does he mean? Obama didn't create this crisis." He then goes on to say that we do not need to fear whats going on in this economy because we are not of this world, we are Gods children and God will pull us out of all adversity. OK, that is so true, however does that mean we are to be ignorant about the state of the society and economy we live in? I am a firm believer God will not put more on you than you can bear. And the reality is people are suffering right now. With Gods help, people will regain the stability they once had with their jobs, homes, and finances, but we can not be blind. My mom hit me on my leg as we are sitting down listening to him continue to preach and she says, "when someone comes to him for prayer because they lost their home/job, what is he going to tell them, there is no crisis and you didn't really lose your job/home?" So as we are just sitting there wondering how many times he himself has used the word "crisis" throughout his sermon, he goes on to say that he is not affiliated with any political party because parties only try to push their views on our country, he is a conservative, and all Christians should be conservative. I personally took that to be highly offensive. I am not a conservative. I am quite liberal in fact and for him to insinuate that because I am not a conservative I'm perhaps a bad Christian is absurd! And for him to say it that way was totally uncalled for. Why would a pastor want to offend people in his congregations? And if he was not affiliated with any policial party how come he has never, not once showed a video of George Bushs horrible decision making and all of his short comings!?!? Oh and I'm not done yet. He went on to say that the government was pimping us to live in fear! Yes yall he said pimping us!!! He said that we need to trust in God, instead of trusting in the government, God would never pimp us out!! I was just done at that point! Let me say, I do not want to know my pastors political view. I almost want to just say, "just teach the sermon man! and shut up, you don't know what you are talking about!!" Obama is not Pro-Choice because he is OK with women aborting their babies, its because he wants women to have a choice! Would Jesus be a conservative? Or a bit more liberal? I'm not comparing Obama to Jesus in anyway. What I am saying is that Jesus loved everyone. He understood people make mistakes, people can be forgiven. Also, he helped the poor and didn't want them to suffer and get poorer while the rich get richer. Personally, I don't think if Jesus would were alive today he would have been a conservative. Anyway, I'm pretty sure my mom will not be going back to that church, a church we have been going to for almost 4 years, and I probably wont either. Being there reminded me of watching CNN MSNBC Fox News and listening to conservatives skew facts about Obama! He is OUR PRESIDENT NOW! Get over it! Teach the word of God and that's it! Don't mix the word of God with your own views! He kind of reminded me of how the Pharisees and the Sadducee's acted in the Bible days. Taking the old rules and laws of the Bible to be so literal and mixing their own beliefs in to the Word of God to benefit them.
Hello All,
Who else has seen the tomfoolery that is the “50 Cent/Rick Ross Beef” Its absolutely ridiculous. I mean are they in kindergarten? Really? Yall are just rappers! Yall are not apart of a mafia, or a gang. Does making music and tons and tons of money get so monotonous, that you have to resort to a, “Mommy he’s looking at me, make him stop” tantrum. These are grown a$$ men dawg! Get over it, make music and handle your business. Granted 50 will totally crush Rick Ross, I don’t like him. He’s makes unnecessary beef with people. However, all beef is unnecessary, this mess is just insane. Ill let you guys look at the videos, and be the judge.
The next one is 50 and Rick Ross's baby mama **BLANK STARES SIDE EYES AND CRICKETS IN THE BACKGROUND** JUST A HOT A$$ MESS!
I'm also thinking all that Gucci and fur does not even look right on hood type people. To me its like hanging a very expensive silk Gucci blouse on a wire hanger. Its just not right!
This last one is the most hilarious video ever... Enough said!
Hello All,
I just finished Midnight by Sister Soulja finally! Let me say, this book is equally as powerful as her first book "Coldest Winter Ever" but in a different way. Right on the cover it says, "Midnight, A Gangster Love Story", and that’s exactly what it was. However, it’s not your average love story. Its a love story about the way love is truly suppose to be; pure and unconditional. Although, the book is not what I thought it would be, I was pleasantly surprised. I was thinking, "Ok this book is going to give a background on who Midnight really is and then cross reference events that happened in "Coldest Winter Ever" from Midnights point of view, but no. 
In "Coldest Winter Ever" Midnight was working for Winter's father. Midnight was a quiet yet powerful character. He wasn’t flashy yet still managed to be fly, he spoke only when things needed to be said, he wasn’t extra and he remained low key. In this book, Midnight is a force to be reckoned with. He takes his fathers life lessons, his up bringing in Sudan, and his Muslim faith to live his life the way Allah would want him to, in a completely different country that is full of sex, crime, poverty, greed, ghetto mentality, and watered down religion called America. The love and devotion he has for his mother, sister and his love interest are like none other. While reading this book I realize there are lessons that anyone of any faith could take notes on. I also caught myself thinking about some things, 1) that if I ever had a son, I pray that he would turn out like Midnight. 2) In the book it’s hard for Midnight to wrap his head around why Americans do some of the things we do, especially when it comes to sex, and religion. And I start thinking, the things he cant understand, are things that just come so natural to us, that we don’t even think anything is wrong. 3) We as women, especially black women need to reevaluate our sexuality and how we choose to carry our power. Our power is not between our legs, although what’s between them can be powerful, but our true power is within our minds and spirits, and should be carried out as such. The way Midnight and other characters from Sudan were describing American women, especially black women, was nothing short of a reality check.
Now let me tell you, by the end of the book I wanted to punch Sister Souljah in the face!! But it was only because it is such a great book and left me wondering where the rest of the pages were? Did some of pages go missing from my book? If so where could I find them and get them back? I’m not gonna give away too much more. Just go out buy the book and get your read on. I wanted to know when the next book would be coming out, hoping that it wouldn’t take her another eight or so years to write the next book, like it took her to write "Midnight". So I went to her website and it says that she currently writing the continuation to "Midnight" and that novel will link "Midnight" and "The Coldest Winter Ever." Date TBA! And that Sister Souljah will release Porsche Santiaga, The Novel which is about Winter Santiaga's sister. Date 2010! I’m so freaking excited!
Happy Reading Folks! Ill Holla!
OK, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY I FELT COMPELLED TO POST THIS BLOG, BUT HOPEFULLY SOMEONE GETS SOMETHING OUT OF IT. THE TOPIC OF CHOICE IS STRESS, ESPECIALLY IN RELATIONSHIPS. I HAVE ABOUT 5 FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THINGS WITH THEIR SIGNIFICANT OR NOT-SO-SIGNIFICANT WITHIN THE PAST MONTHS OR SO.
MY PHILOSOPHY HAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE, TO TRY TO LIVE A STRESS FREE LIFE. BEING HAPPY SHOULD BE ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES IN LIFE. I HAVE ALSO ALWAYS SAID, " IF YOU ARE GOING TO STRESS OVER THINGS, IT BETTER BE SOMETHING WORTH ACTUALLY STRESSING OVER", LIKE MEETING DEADLINES AT WORK, OR PASSING A FINAL AT SCHOOL, BUT BY NO MEANS STRESS OVER A MAN OR A WOMAN THAT IS SUPPOSE TO LOVE YOU. LOVE IS NOT STRESSFUL, LOVE SHOULD NOT LEAVE YOU FEELING DRAINED AND FRUSTRATED. I REFUSE TO FEEL DRAINED BY A MAN WHO SAYS HE LOVES ME, BUT IN THAT SAME BREATHE, HE PUTS ME DOWN AND MAKES ME FEEL LIKE CACA!! HE DOESN'T LOVE ME, HE JUST WANTS CONTROL OVER ME. HE WANTS THE POWER TO MAKE ME FEEL LIKE CRAP SO I CAN BE TAKEN ON AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER, ONLY SO HE CAN DO SOMETHING TO MAKE ME FEEL GOOD AGAIN, AND THE CYCLE CONTINUES... THE MOMENT I SEE THAT CYCLE HAPPENING, YOU BEST BELIEVE I'M OUT!!
I HAVE LEARNED THROUGHOUT MY OWN EXPERIENCES THAT FEELING ANYTHING OTHER THAN HAPPY IN A RELATIONSHIP IS JUST NOT WORTH IT. NOW, DON'T GET ME WRONG, I DON'T LIVE MY LIFE IN LALA LAND, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE PEACHY KEEN ALL THE TIME, BUT WHEN THE BAD TIMES OUT WAY THE GOOD TIMES, THEN ITS TIME TO MOVE ON, SERIOUSLY!!
ASK YOURSELF WHY? WHY AM I STILL HERE? WHAT WILL I BE LOSING IF I LEAVE? WHAT WILL I GAIN IF I LEAVE?
I DO NOT LIKE SEEING PEOPLE FEELING DEPLETED OR WEARY OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, ESPECIALLY OVER A RELATIONSHIP THAT NEEDS TO BE CUT OFF AT THE ROOTS.
TRUST ME, WHEN IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT FEELS "COMFORTABLE", ITS REALLY HARD TO LEAVE THAT COMFORT ZONE. YOU TEND TO PUT THAT PERSON'S FEELINGS AHEAD OF YOUR OWN, BECAUSE, MAYBE ACCORDING TO THEM, "YOU ARE THE ONE CAUSING THE RELATIONSHIP TO GO WRONG". BUT YOU HAVE TO STOP AND REEVALUATE THE SITUATION AND LOVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO SAY, I DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS ! JUST LIKE I GOT THIS PERSON, I CAN GET SOMEONE ELSE WHO LOVES ME, TRUSTS ME, CHERISHES ME AND ONLY ME! NO ONE DESERVES TO BE UNHAPPY. AND OFTEN TIMES ITS THE MATE WHO TELLS YOU THAT YOU CANT DO BETTER THAN HIM OR HER, OR YOU ARE THE ONE WHO MESSES THINGS UP, SO THIS IS WHAT YOU GET. NOOOOOO!! SOMEONE WHO TELLS YOU THAT, IS USUALLY STRUGGLING WITH SELF ESTEEM ISSUES THEMSELVES, AND ONLY WANTS TO MANIPULATE YOU SO YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY THEY DO. MISERY ALWAYS NEEDS COMPANY!
THE DEFINITION AN MANIPULATOR IS to manage or utilize skillfully b : to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one's own advantage.
IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR, THEN IT MAY BE TIME TO REEVALUATE YOUR SITUATION, AND LOVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, I'M NOT SETTLING!!
FRIENDS, I WANT YALL TO BE HAPPY WITHIN LIFE, I DON'T WANT TO SEE OR HEAR OF ANYONE FEELING UNHAPPY!
ANYWAY, IM DONE! TAKE WHAT YOU NEED OUT OF THIS BLOG. THAT'S WHAT ITS HERE FOR. THESE ARE JUST WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT! THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR!
MAN DOWN! HOLLA! I JUST WANTED TO TYPE THAT, REAL RANDOM, I KNOW!
Hello All,
This one is mainly for the ladies! But fellas feel free to pass this information on to the lovely ladies in your lives.
So, I went to the mall yesterday and did a little shopping for a girls night out that we are planning this Friday. I go to all the regular stores to find something cute to wear, and I never really pay attention to the people at the kiosk that are selling little nick knacks, travel packages, and imitation sunglasses. I'm usually walking by really fast or pretending to be on a phone call, just to avoid being stopped and swindled into buying something. So as we are leaving the mall a friend and I managed to avoid the salesman trying to get us to sign up for a travel package, we thought we were free and clear. NOPE! One of them got us! He steps in front of us as we are mid conversation, and kind of just surprises us. He says, "ladies, ladies, come for a min, I want to show you something" in his broken English western European accent. And I tell you, the only reason why i agreed to stop was because it was a makeup kiosk with maybe 85 different eye shadows. 
So as me and my friend are looking at what possibly he can show us with eye shadows he says, "whats your favorite color?" I say, "yellow" as I'm looking at the yellow shimmery eyeshadow he has before me. He says "OK, let me show you something" he grabs the yellow eye shadow and runs it across my hand with a q tip, its beautiful! Then he grabs another q tip and wets it, then puts the yellow eyeshadow on the wet end, he runs that across my hand in a different area, again its beautiful but when wet it looks like a darker yellow. 
So I say, "yeah, i remember being told by the people at the wonderful store Sephora that you can create different looks with your eyeshadow by wetting it". He says, "yes, but they tell you what else you can do" I then looked at him with a "what you talking about Willis" look and said "no". Do you know this man, took a clear fingernail polish and dipped it in a different color eyeshadow and painted his nail with the eyeshadow! In amazement I'm like "Whattt." So he then takes a clear lip gloss and mixes it with the eyeshadow and make a colored lip gloss from another color! When I tell yall I felt like I was in paradise, its an understatement! I was going crazy! I had no idea you could create a lip gloss and a fingernail polish and two different eyeshadow looks from one eyeshadow. So after im amazed, he tells me the price. He says the one is $14.95 and if i buy two the third is free. I'm thinking now like, "damn, i just spent money on clothes, i don't really wanna spend $30 more bucks on some eyeshadow, i mean its not MAC or Bare Essentials. He sees the look on my face that 
I'm about to politely say no and keep moving. So he tells me, "you know, whats your favorite one, pick one." After 8 minutes looking for my favorite that i could get the most out of, because while yellow is my favorite color, I cant see myself wearing yellow lip gloss, and where would i wear yellow eyeshadow at? I end up picking this absolutely amazing fuchsia-ish color. Then he tells me, "for you, i will give this to you for $10 but you must tell your friends to come here and buy from me, my name is Dani." I hop at the $5 discount I get, and am sooooo very happy with my purchase, I feel like I just got the deal of the month!
I realize as i get home and going through my makeup bag that I have a powdered eyeshadow from Makeup Forever that I got from Sephora, and it literally will take forever to use it because you don't need a lot to get the job done. So I create a wonderful golden fingernail polish with it and loving it soooo much! 
So ladies, let me finish with this. If you buy a powdered eyeshadow use it to its full extent! Nail polish/lip gloss/and glittery/matte finish eyeshadow. Yall will LOVE IT! And people, please humor me, if yall already know about this, dont shatter my new discovery! LOL!
Hola peeps! I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday!! Well, I need help guys. As I am looking at all the new blogs I’m following, I can’t help but to think of the Kat Williams comedy skit where he talks about Martin Lawrence’s 36 million dollar home, and having to do back to his, "I can’t even sleep here". HAHA! I feel the same way when I’m looking at peoples pages. I see all these fancy pages, and go back to mine, and I say, "I cant even use this anymore". I’m using the ol' hum drum layouts that blogger gives you, I cant get jiggy with this shee-it. I want my page to be all fancy too. I’m still kind of new to this site and I just learned how to put a video on my page. So my new followers, I want to know how to get the fancy layouts. I want my page to exude my personality, and these dots I have going on now, just aint doin' it for me, ya heard! I am taking all tips. Where to find the layouts? How to apply them to my page? How to place pictures throughout my blog instead of just on the right, left, and center. Alright guys and gals, thanks a bunches!!!! I appreciate all the help I can get!