2012 Relay For Life of Freedom Area, MD | Relay For Life

2012 Relay For Life of Freedom Area, MD | Relay For Life

Life Update

So, as you know I have been out of the loop for a minute. Mainly because life decided that I needed to be extremely busy. I was finding out that I was so out of touch with everything, including my personal life, I needed to pull myself away from the blog. Now that I have some type of breathing room, I just wanted to give my followers some type of update.


1. I no longer have a stressed out work life. There might be those peaks, but nothing compared to earlier this year.

2. D.I.T. is currently attending a catholic school, and after a week she's writing her name. Not bad for a 3 year old, but I'm quite sure there will be someone out there to throw some shade on her accomplishments. She's also telling me (yes me her Mommy) the importance of prayer, and how we should do it often. *raised eyebrow and smiling* This will definitely make my MIL happy! lol

3. Yup, after 4 years he's still with me...*shrug* we celebrated our 4th anniversary family style. Sat around ate dinner, talked about school while watching "The Fantastic Mister Fox." What can I say we're a quirky trio.

4. Nothing new and exciting about my hair...no really nothing. :( I'm not bored with it, but I just never have the time to actually braid it up in styles and whatnot. By the time I get home (if I'm lucky) it's time to get dinner going. Funds are low since I'm now budgeting tuition, so me going to a professional to trim, deep condition and style my hair. I do a quick dusting every now and then, and trust me that's getting out of hand. I will say the D.I.T.'s hair is growing! I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do to my hair on hers. lol Of course since I didn't have a camera on hand, nobody could see the progress. Her hair (in twists on stretched hair) went from just below her chin/above her shoulders (her hair grows in layers like her Mommy) to now above her shoulders/to her shoulder blades. Even Mr. T. said "woooooow, no wonder you go into panic mode when somebody else does her hair." LOL If anyone in southern PG County/DC/or Northern Charles County know of any reasonable stylists that KNOW HOW TO HANDLE natural hair; please leave their information in the comments section.

5. I'm at the point where I am tired of renting. Not sure if I'm ready to put myself out there in regards of looking for something out here on the market, but if I'm hearing about folks living in better parts of the county paying less...yeeeah your girl is trying to upgrade.

6. I haven't even thought about going back to grad school. Why you ask? TIME! I have to get her ready for bed before 9, and then even then I'm dragging my feet. So, I can just picture me sitting in front of my laptop eyes bloodshot because I'm dead ass tired trying read 3 articles with 30+ pages to turn into a lively discussion. That's just for one class, and that's me also having to make sure that the discussion is supported with different ideas...yeah that wasn't going to happen. lol Maybe when she gets older (or we move closer to my job in a cheaper/better neighborhood lol) then yeah I can try to get it together. Right now I just can't do it.

7. Looks at calendar...ya' girl is going to be 30 in 3 months and 15 days! My question is MIA or Vegas? I'm looking for sun, fun, alcohol and lots of dancing. I have a lot to celebrate this year, and I definitely don't want to do it in the cold of DC. Leave me a comment for where you think I should go.

Welp that's a brief summary of what's going on in my life. I wish it was most exciting than what I just wrote, but it is what it is. :-P

Stay fab folks,
Jaz

Carnival Baby: Indulgence Mas 2011

Carnival Baby: Indulgence Mas 2011: "The Indulgence Mas Band has officially announced their theme AND started registration as of yesterday ($65 early bird registration til Sa..."
DC Carnival.....please excuse me if I slack slack slack slack...yes indeed. I was really getting scared that it wasn't going to happen, just read this in the same post:

It seems as though despite getting the go ahead for this year next year's
DC Carnival may also be on shaky ground and NOT as a result of financial
issues.
Rumor has it that the new D.C. Mayor does not see the point of
keeping the festival as in his opinion that it is something that only the
Caribbean Community takes pleasure in and not the wider D.C. Community. Doesn't
sound very plausible to me, as far as I can see the city gets huge spikes in
revenue to restaurants, clubs, vendors, hotels etc during this
week, so why
get rid of it? Something to look into perhaps...

Man if Vincent "Dracula" Gray doesn't shut the front door, and allow us to
have our fun. I bet he wouldn't say some stuff like that about Adam's Morgan
Day. *steups*
I've been meaning to post about this since I never really post that much about my pre-DC Carnival preperation. This year I was going to bring the DIT with me, but since there aren't any kiddie sections in this band it's just gonna be Mommy (and maybe Mr. T...maybe lol). Plus there was a chance that we weren't going to have a carnival at all. I'm also trying to get on board with my jobs Caribbean Week Committee. Even though I'm not a 1st, 2nd or shoot 3rd generation West Indian I still value the culture. I usually throw some of my friends off when I show with my flag, and they're like "hold up I thought you were Panamanian?!?!" lol Maybe I'll throw them off by carrying a flag from the Netherlands.

Look what I saw today

I don't shop here (back in the day before I got too comfortable yes lol), but I usually check out the clothes at Express to get an idea of what's in style. Lo and behold I spotted this fabulousness.

Image courtesy of http://www.express.com/for-her/index.sec



 Just had to share that...sorry for my abscence, but I've mainly been posting on my fb fan page. I even have some recent pictures (I'm so serious about purchasing a new camera since I tried to vlog my henna and that was hot a$$ mess lol). I also put Suave Coconut conditioner back in rotation since I was looking for a good leave-in. So, far so good. I know I've been asked in public what have I been doing to make my hair curly, and I just tell them I've been co-washing and adding a little butter. Then they get mad at me when they think I'm leaving out my magic product. LOL On the FB page, I posted a pic of the DIT and myself. Check it out! In the pic I have a twist out, which I quickly got rid of in two days because I missed my shrinkage (I really <3 my shrinkage). I promise to at least come back on here once a month (hey that's a start), but please check out the fb page. I also posted some of my friends' pages for their businesses, but that doesn't mean that I am not looking to spotlight entrepreneurs on the blog. If you're trying to build up your clientele please do not hesitate to post a comment under the Mrs. JAHT is looking to feature you, and we can set up an interview that way.

A Grl Can Mac: Sustainable Hair Care: Lola's Green Hair

A Grl Can Mac: Sustainable Hair Care: Lola's Green Hair: "I love to see our people creating businesses and services that uplift and enhance our community. I'm totally impressed with what with ..." Now you already know I have to share this little gem!! I already contacted someone about purchasing the Shea Moisture Curl Enchancing Smoothie. I hope they don't charge an arm & a leg for s&h because I'll just use my raincheck from Wal-green's (since everyone in Charles and PG Counties bought EVERYTHING last week lol).

I so wish I was in T & T this past week

Many of you don't know, but I am a carnival junkie. I like the whole vibes on different cultures meshing together, and having a time. Some people are like go to Rio, and I'm like why??? lol Anyways I was on the lookout for the new band, Yuma, and to see if they lived up to their hype. I was a little disappointed to hear that some masqueraders didn't have a good time on Carnival Tuesday, due to poor construction of the costumes and long waits for crossing the stage. Overall though I heard that everything was still worth the money spent. Shoot look at them crossing the stage! I swear I need to get ready for next year, and I might even make an appearance on the Parkway for Labor Day 2K11.



(I actually like how Leo and Pisces looked on the road...shocked that I actually liked the Capricorn costume, even though I hated it at the band launch)
these 3vlogs are courtesy of http://www.youtube.com/user/zanzutube
to see more you might want to also check out http://www.youtube.com/user/jesseawilliams

Get in on the 15% deal at Curl Mart

Not saying that I'm becoming a product junkie, but it doesn't hurt to get some type of a discount on a product that you're interested in trying out. You get to pick out products by price, hair type (a plus for me because I'm not trying to purchase something that will cause my hair to laugh at it), and of course a variety.
Use coupon code SHOP15 at the checkout! Now let me get back to getting some work done! lol

So is anyone going to the Baltimore Natural Hair Expo?

I honestly haven't been up to Bmore since my girls graduated (shout out to Shellz, Shannon, Kiianah and my N-Sistas who walked that year I know there were a lot of you so I'll keep it short lol). I really want to go, and haven't been to the last two after hearing so many rave reviews. I have no problems with taking the drive up there with the little one (and maybe even Mr. T.), but I like going to these outings with fellow associates/freinds. So, is anyone going? You get to meet me and all of my randomness/divaness. :-)
ETA: Here's a link for the class schedule, and it looks like I might be up there on that Sunday for the 2pm class on Hair Loss & Scalp Disorders- Trichology 101. http://www.baltimorenaturalhaircareexpo.com/2011show/2011-Classes.html

So nice I had to review them twice...Koils by Nature (KON)

Last year around I would say around April I was surfing around FB looking at fellow naturals hair favorite brands. I came across KON's fan page, and I was like let me see what they're about. I loved the ingredients for the owner/CEO/extremely friendly Pam Jenkins' products I decided to look around for something to purchase. I'm leery about ordering products by word of mouth because honestly I just didn't have a good experience with them. I saw that Ms. Jenkins was having a giveaway for her Nourishing Body Butter in a new Watermelon scent. First thing that popped into my mind was "that's an interesting fragrance, but I want that butter!" I was the first to respond, and bam I won my first giveaway. It was the 8 oz size, and it had the smell of watermelon jolly ranchers (<*insert homer drool emoticon*>). The texture was nice, melted easily and made my hair oh so soft. I was like okay cool, but let's test it on my daughter with the Jesus hair (like wool). Her hair will absord any type of hair butter, and then has the nerve to get stiff and uncooperative (believe me Mommy has tried so many things to get her hair to just get a dose of "act right"). I almost cried when I saw how soft my baby's hair was. I mean we didn't fight as usual, and I could use it with the Organics Shea Butter Detangling lotion.
We had a happy summer/early fall, and then it ended when I saw this wonderful butter go "bye bye." It was like my world had ended, and I definitely was BROKE. So, back to scrapping the sides of the container to get as much as possible to tame her edges (forget mine's since my hair was still in wash and go mode with some good ol' suave humectant/sweet almond oil doing the job). Once the New Year hit I was determined to get some type of steady cash flow coming my way, and even plotted on my poor little state refund check. So, once the bills were being paid, I saw a surplus (I have to keep my priorities in check folks no point in having fab hair without gas/electric). I hopped on that opportunity because another bill decided to wave a handkerchief my way to say "hellur!" I bought some Peppermint Herbal Smoothing Gel and a 4 oz size Lavender Nourshing Hair & Body Butter. Watching my email telling me the update on the status of my products left me with a giggity Quagmire feeling. Like the first thing I would do besides doing the normal when you first step in the house, I would go to my patio. Even my daughter was like "what is Mommy doing?" Mr. T. couldn't even answer that question because he would do the same. Like it was a SERIOUS MATTER! 3 days later (she's in my neighborhood so I get my packages asap), I saw that package and immediately went to sniffing as I cut on the shower. Don't judge me! None of her products have that medicinal herbal smell, but a clean fresh smell to them. The peppermint didn't smell like someone melted the red and white candies with some Halls, but like peppermint tea...fresh. I went to look in my package, and waaaah there's a sample for the Moisturizing Shealoe Leave-In Conditioner....this made me freeze because 1) I didn't expect it and 2) because any other time I had shealoe anything my hair would start soft end up brittle and dry. I put it on the side, and opened up my best friend (almost like Thurgood and his Abbazabba candy). Yummy! Like Lavender should always be this delicate, but not so perfume like that it takes away from the purpose of the purchase (I work in a stressful environment so I need something like that). I even received a compliment on the light smell, and how it still smelled like a lavender tea.
My hair L-O-V-Es the Leave-In, and the gel leaves my hair with the right amount of hold. The butter...c'mon son if I'm feenin' off of it this hard you already know I have no complaints. So much that I made another purchase, and boo-yah I even spoke with Pam when I question about my order. She was prompt, and even said next time I order her to let her know and we can meet up. Pam, I <3 you for the business woman you are! AJ's hair got it's dose of "act right," and if you see her hair in the picture from the D.I.T. turning 3 it actually stayed in place AND showed off her true length (my baby is a true 4b..I have another picture of her hair, but I can't edit it as of right now).

Look for a review on the Replenshing Oil and Replenishing Lavender & Eucalyptus Cleanser (of course I bought another body butter because AJ's hair is fat kid, and is greeeeeeeeeeedy!).

The Quirky D.I.T. is turning 3

I'll admit it, I still cry when it's near her birthday. She's my one and only, and definitely had to put up a fight with my body to have her (while my body retaliated and told me the weight isn't budging lol). But my little D.I.T. is turning 3 tomorrow, and I don't know if I want to cry or ship her off to my aunt in Massachusetts. lol I swear that little girl is just a ball of energy. As I scrounge and scrimp to put together something for her to get into to burn off that energy, my parents are putting out the suggestions for alternative day care/learning centers aka their month of babysitting is up HELP! LOL

She says the darnest things I swear, and I honestly think she's my family's Beyonce (well because of the success rate and the sandy brown hair lol). She makes up songs, and performs her own little skits. One of her Godmothers even asked me "where's that British accent coming from?" I put my head down, and told her we act out too many scenes from Alice in Wonderland (Tim Burton's version of course). She also likes the Fantastic Mr. Fox, and the farmers have British accents including the one who flicks the cigarette at Petey (yes she acts out that part with me being Petey).

So, when it came down to planning her birthday party Mommy had to find a way to top off last year's. It was great, but I wanted something that all of us could do. First we had to come up with theme. So, we're like she loves ballet, dinosaurs and Yo Gabba Gabba (well all of Nick Jr. honestly). I wanted to have a Dora themed party because I wanted her to experience beating up a pinata like I did on my 3rd birthday (I mean it was a tradition to have one at your party in Houston lol). My mother told me to ask her what she wanted since it was her birthday, and so I asked her which one dinosaurs or ballerinas.
 AJ: "Dinosaur ballerinas"
Me: No you have to pick one
AJ: Dinosaur ballerinas
Me: So you want Dinosaurs dressed as ballerinas?
AJ: Yes Mommy
These are the types of conversations I have with her, and the reason why I love being her Mommy! So, needless to she's having a Tinkerbell and her Fairy Friends cake, lol. Sorry that was just too much to plan, but she sealed the deal when she saw her birthday cake. As for the location, I hate Germ-E-Cheese, and Pump It Up was going to cost the same amount with minimal time stuck with last years location (just hope this year I'll be able to handle the jumper).  This morning when I tried to wake her up, and told her she'll be 3 tomorrow with her eyes still closed she nodded her head and hugged me tighter while she went back to sleep. I followed suit with a single tear flowing from my eye, and got in another 10 minutes of Mommy & Me time.

HAPPY EARLY 3rd BIRTHDAY A. Jade T.!!!!

My true insipiration to make this world a better place for you, love you!

p.s. now you guys know her middle name lol

In response to Black Girl Singular's post

It was a very deep one, and I had to share it with you all. I honestly don't know where I would begin with my 16 year old self so I'll just stretch out the year 1998 since it was the end of my junior year and close to the end of 1998. Well here it goes my mini-discussion with myself:


I would definitely tell myself to stop being so serious when it comes to being accepted by others particularly those of the opposite sex. I didn't really have my 1st love, but my 1st actual relationship experience. That I would definitely have to stress to myself because I was so distraught when he and I broke up. She won't believe me, but I would definitely have to stress to her that he was just the stepping stone on that path to her soon to be husband. She would really tell me I was mad because she already knew she wasn't getting married because she just didn't see the purpose. She saw it as a business contract, have the big ceremony, have a couple of kids, and split on mutual terms. I would have to let her know that she was crazy because marriage/parenthood is the best thing in the world. That I thank God for blessing me with this crazy little girl who will be a crazy teenager just like me then. That she would agree on because she always knew we would have a girl. lol There will be heatbreaks along the way, especially with the death of her 1st true love, but that would pave the way for her to find the similar characteristics in our husband. She would probably still laugh at me, and tell me that would never happen but seeing is believing.

I would also push myself to find a way to convince my parents that I needed to figure out what I wanted to do, and that I didn't need to pick out a major as soon as I sent in my application. That regardless of anything they weren't going to turn their backs on me, and that they're looking out for my best interest. They'll be her biggest cheerleaders, and just want to shelter her from those who appear to have her in their prayers/well wishes/etc.. They know you'll be a great woman, but they want to make sure that everyone else knows that about you. It will take for you to become a parent to know that, and that the cycle will continue.

To always listen to that little voice in my head that something is wrong, and to RUN! Believe me it will have her out of many situations that she didn't need to be in her very near future.

Never date a man you met in the club. So, what if he was great... blah blah blah. Keep him as a great phone/hanging out buddy because most of the time they're about the talk, and what the talk gets them in return (did that one time and checked that off of the list). Tell her yeah the relationship lasted a good 6 months, but it was a good 6 months of a so-so relationship that you even stepped out of character. That's where I should have listened to my voice.

To let myself know that no matter how much you reach out to certain people and call them your friends they will hurt you and will not be in your corner. No matter how much I stood up for people, and mutual friends were dropping like flies I was the ride or die friend. That person who you wanted to make people like, eventually stabbed you in the back, side and heart on several occassions. To surround myself with positive people with goals in their lives. Speaking of friends, always listen to your male friends. You'll learn a lot from men on how they treat the women they really care about just by the way he talks about her. This is valuable when it comes to relationship advice because that's also how you figured out the signs that "He Was Just That Into You."

To ALWAYS have love for yourself, and to be comfortable in your own skin. The only way people will know that you are a force to be reckoned with is to "show" it. Instead of telling people what they want to hear, tell them what you can offer and how to make things better.
 
Sheesh that felt like a ramble, but that actually felt kind of good. The ball is in your court, what would current you tell 16 year old you? (if you're under 30 it's cool since I am technically lol)

Aubrey Organic Island Naturals Replenishing Conditioner

If there was a rating on reaction, mine's would be "OMG WHAT WAS TAKING ME SO LONG?!?!"
INGREDIENTS INCI: Aqua, cetyl alcohol, alcohol denat. (38b, lavender*), triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil, hydrolyzed sweet almond protein, glycerin, aloe barbadensis (aloe) leaf juice*, pimenta acris (bay) leaf oil, pimenta dioica fruit extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil*, citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract, jojoba esters (jojoba butter), butyrospermum parkii (shea butter)*, cocos nucifera (coconut) fruit juice*, salvia officinalis (sage) oil*, foeniculum vulgare (fennel) fruit extract, humulus lupulus (hops) extract, melissa officinalis (balm mint) leaf extract, viscum album (mistletoe) fruit extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria-German camomile) extract, tocopheryl acetate, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) water, ascorbic acid, achillea millefolium (yarrow) extract, equisetum hyemale (horsetail) extract, tussilago farfara (coltsfoot) leaf extract, glycine soja (soybean) oil, daucus carota sativa (carrot) root extract, beta carotene.

*Organic
(ingredients courtesy of Aubrey Organics website)
I love it! It's thick, creamy, smells heavenly (I guess because I'm partial to allspice), and quenches my hair's thirst. My hair is definitely a fatty, and the shea butter, jojoba butter and aloe vera must have been the answer to my hair's prayers. It's totally vegan, which isn't a big deal to me since I still love a nice ham and cheese sandwich (why lie lol), but for those who are looking for a product like that you won't be disappointed. I purchased my bottle this past Friday, and paid $11 for it and it was worth the price tag. You can definitely find it cheaper online, but if you're ever in Whole Foods look for it. Definitely a 5 star product!

So busy these days, but I must post!

Greetings everyone!!! I have been so busy these past few weeks, and I feel I am neglecting you with my wittiness and whatnot (sorry had a brain fart trying to come up with something lol). Anyways this past weekend I posted on the fan page to look out for my post on my henna experience. I have been itching to do some type of hair color for the past year and some change, and decided that I was going to henna. Maybe it was because I just said I needed to go to the Whole Foods by my job (feels so good to finally say that!!!!), but I saw the Aubrey Organics Island Conditioner (post to follow this one...) and then right beside it HENNA. I have heard mixed reviews on henna, and said I want my hair to be a tad bit darker (my natural hair color is like an dark ashy auburn/brownblack mix it's weird). So, I was sitting back on Saturday evening trying to finalize the Fairy Princesses 3rd Birthday party, and received a text from one of the moms saying can't wait until tomorrow for the kids to hang out. I was like frack (yeah I used another word lol) because I was deep conditioning for like almost 18hrs, and still had to dye my hair. So, I boiled the water for the henna and opened the container. I was like ummm that's weird funk coming off of their. Maybe that'll calm down, while Ock shook his head in agreement. Ummm no....the situation for the smell did not change at all, like it had a funky grass that a goat took a leak on (sorry that's what it smelled like lol). I added some rosemary oil to it, and was like oh shhhh it made it worst! So, he's cracking up and the kid is like "why are you putting that in your hair." With my eyes squinched up breathing through my mouth, I told her Mommy wants to make her hair darker. Being the 2 y/o she is "so why are you using that?" (while scrunching up her face and proceeded to tell me I don't want to smell that and closed the door leaving me to suffer even more). lol Honestly I think it might be the brand I used, but whatever I don't know how some of you ladies can go to sleep with that stuff in your hair. lol Fast forward, since I hate the dryer I sat around with 2 bags on my head for 1 hour, and the smell faded or maybe the remaining smell of rosemary made it better. Now was the tricky part, rinsing all of it out without leaving in bits of henna like I have read in other reviews. I will suggest this to anyone doing henna, use the full force of your shower head/sink attachment because if you don't it will take forever to remove. I felt like Lady Macbeth trying to get that stuff out of my head.

I used almost half of a bottle of my Treseme Naturals conditoner (which if you're looking for a great co-wash you must try it!) trying to get rid of the grit (and the smell), which took about a good 20 minutes. I will say there was still a hint of a grassy smell in my hair, but I said let's put some more moisture back in here and I added the AO Island Natural Conditioner, showered, and rinsed (that stuff got on my skin lol). My hair felt strong, but not stiff which is what I going for as well. I used my Koils by Nature Nourishing Hair and Body Butter (another review just because Pam is so awesome!), and did my chunky twist. I usually use the Herbal Smoothing Peppermint gel, but I didn't feel like overwhelming my bed buddy aka AJ (Ock has been officially kicked out and placed on the couch courtesy of her lol). Look for a picture to come on the Facebook fan page when my mother actually scans it (we took a picture together at Mickey's Magic Show).  Will I do henna again, umm yeah but after I read some other tricks on the removal process. My hair is darker (thank goodness!), and was a tad fuller no loosened curl pattern (thank goodness because my 'kitchen' would really look out of place with my other hair lol). One of these I need to take a picture of my hair wet/dry sans product so you can see what I'm talking about when I refer to my hair lol. It's like my mother's hair type (where that off shade of brown came from) decided to breakdance battle with my father's and some way they came up with my hair. Off to writing up my other reviews..it's tax time so I've been investing in some products. I know it's a hard job, but somebody has to do it. ;-) As my husband is probably shaking his head. lol
Until then keep on being random!

Forreal she was funny, but now she's doing too much

*mucho profanity in these videos if it offends you pleeeeeeeeease DO NOT watch her vlogs*

Like I'm all about freedom of speech, and the first 7 mins is all about how people aren't a true type 4 in some of the blogs/vlogs. Is she serious? I've seen some people who are TRUE type 4 (4a/b/c), and believe me their hair has grown. I myself keep saying I'm a 3c/4a/patch of 4b, and I'm like she's like the people who is going around talking about "your hair isn't nappy enough." I thought that type of talk ended in like 2008 with that cNapp shiggity. Believe me I for one gets frustrated with my hair from time to time, but dang lol. Of course there were responses to her vlog, but I decided to use AfricanExport (mainly because she's been around for some time and pretty much put my thoughts into her response lol).



What are your thoughts?

SUPERBOWL TIME!!!

So, it's Superbowl Sunday and the Trotters are officially over here cleaning up the apartment. It's not for us to have a party, since the initial plan was for us go over my folks house for a shin dig where we could spend the night if it go too late. No dice, so we're scrambling to see what we're going to do, and more than likely we're going to be in the house. Have no fear because we did that last year! (had a lot of fun with it too!) So, on our menu: pizza (duh), fried chicken (this is for tonight and Monday), and salad. There will be some type of adult beverage involved, but nothing extravagant like last year when I made Hand Grenades (there were a lot of army grenade jokes being made between hubs and I while little one was passed out).
 I remember my senior year at Morgan I actually got a chance to go to a Superbowl party, that was hosted by Ravens fans, and I wore my Black and Gold (ummm Redskins are my NFC team, but Steelers are my AFC team fa'sho!). So, since they were playing I was talking mad trash because the Ravens didn't make it to big game, and I eventually got put in "time out." At that time my lil' sis wasn't a fan of any team because she never liked football so she cracked up at the fact it was me and one other Steelers fan (who happened to be from Bmore) were talking the most trash. I can't do that anymore because she's a die hard Ravens fan, and she already disowned me via twitter one time because I said "GO STEELERS!" (lol I mean I really didn't know she did that until I wrote her on FB and asked her why she was igging me on twitter). We have patched things up, but I still find it hilarious that she did that. The first game that my husband and I watched as a couple was when the Bears made it in '07 (hey he's from Chicago so I even wore orange and blue thanks to my Morgan wardrobe).  Okay that was my stroll through my recent Superbowl , how about yours?

What do you plan on doing with your life?

I actually was asked this question twice this week by people who just found out what they wanted to do late in their lives. Do you know how frustrating it is to hear this question? I mean I hear it too often, and I'm like why should I have to know automatically in stone what I want to do with my life when I'm not even 30? There are people who feel that you have to be at a certain point in your life where you have to know right here, right now what you aspire to do with your life. Why? That's the beauty of living...you must adapt and know that life changes just like that. So why should what you plan on doing with your life have to be so concrete? I never understood that, and I guess I never will. I know that I want to be involved in marketing/event planning at some point in my life, but just not now because I am still trying to figure out who is Jasmine and what is her purpose?

I don't know am I the only one who feels this way?

Start your New Year off right with a Free Calendar

From Simply Trini Cooking- with pictures of foods from Trinidad and Tobago

If you're not interested in this calendar you can always personalize on for yourself. 2011 with holidays
Okay back to going into hiatus mode on here...gotta take care of the kid and hubs.

What I liked and didn't like in 2010

Yesterday I saw a tweet from Afrobella about another blogger hosting a 25 blog post challenge for an Amazon gift card (I saw gift card and said oh wee doggy I can buy some of that new fangled stuff I saw on Amazon). Then after being up for 16 hrs I was like ummm yeah my brain can't even come up with 25 things to post about...me Mrs. Random?? I mean that was like let's close up shop on the blog because it can happen. I was going to try a post of 25 music posts of each mood I had during the day because hey my moods fluctuate on a regular. Then I said no let's make a post of 25 random things that I observed during the day (i,e, last night saw a guy get off at Naylor Road station wearing something that look like he robbed the Cowardly Lion of his fur). Then I said there might be a posse of people who will be coming after me, or attacking me when I go back and forth in between my temp assignments. lol SO yeah had to nix that one. Then it was going to be about 25 different posts on the different events in my life...then I said eff it let me just make one post, and if I happen to come up with 25 things then so be it. Like to read it (hopefully you will because I brought the blog out of hiatus to write it up lol)....

1. I have come to the conclusion that graduate school is not for everyone, especially for those of us who trying to fit into everyone's definition of happiness besides your own. Grant it I do not think of the experience as something that was NOT a positive for me, but it just wasn't what I needed to add onto another stressful situation.
2. I love that fact that I am now thinking about what I am really interested in, and that whenever someone would ask me about my major I would tell them it was about web development, customer service and how to get into the government. Then I thought nope, it's not just about that and I actually enjoyed putting together a marketing plan, which let me know if anything I need to know how to sell and market myself. 
3. That out of the few times my best friend came into town (especially this week) that I was not able to see him 1) because of previous family engagements, 2) I was really embarrassed with how my life was going, and 3) this week AJ has been sick so I kept her quarantined. So, eventually I do want to make it up to him, and actually come down there to Florida with the fam to visit.
4. I have come to the realization that I am tired of trying to please everyone, and that is very refreshing! Like I really don't know if that's coming from me gain another year in age (I turned 29 on Tuesday), but yeah it's just an uncomfortable feeling.
5. That I need to actually take control of the budget in my house because half of the time I don't where the money is going (at least when we don't put our money together). I need to really buckle down, and come up with a PowerPoint or something to make it clear. lol
6. That my daughter is the reason for my happiness, when she's happy I am 2x as happy; when she's sad I want to cry and absorb all of her pain; when she's pissed I want to flick off and go on a war hunt to find out who upset my baby!!! I guess now I know how my mother feels..lol since I'm her only baby too.
7. I love the fact that my blog isn't just about one thing, and one thing only. I mean it's all about me being my random self, and my getaway from my dull or hectic times in life. 
8. That I do still have a love for the arts, and damnit before I leave this earth I'm going to either get up and sing in public or become a great photographer.
9. That I'm really not the typical "black" girl...I mean seriously which one of us are, and why would we even want to fit into their stereotypes? I mean ugh! 
10. I love that I am really not going to be like anybody's mother unless they are opinionated, like rock music, like to experiment with making different recipes (hair and food), and just likes to not have that role of the woman (umm if you don't move your mutha*beep* shirt and wash your dishes!!!)...yeah I'm a handful lol
11. That I love the fact that I love ALL cultures...I guess that inquisitive mind of mines, but it's just something about me that I love. People ask me when we talk about different cultures, have I been to these places, and I just tell them nope...I read a lot (insert Cheshire Cat grin).
12. WHAT I DO DISLIKE about 2010...THE PALINS! I'm freaking tired of hearing about Sarah and her teabaggers; Bristol and her made up drama with her sons father; and then the fact that they're so freaking popular. Like really why???????
13. I also do not dislike underhanded comments about POTUS and the first family. Seriously wtf? Dubya was a former drunkard/coke head, with a daughter and a niece who were known to be *ahem* party girls, but once a mother shows concern about her daughters being a little meaty she's blasted. So being concerned about your child's well being makes you a bad parent?? *side eye* Oh yeah and let's not forget about the fact that the man is trying his darnest to make sure that everyone has some type of health insurance instead of going into bigger debt or yeah dying because they can't afford treatments, then he has dbags taking him to court. Oh and let us not forget about the oil spill in the gulf, and the order he put to put a stop on the drilling. Heaven forbid that the man was trying to at least not have another rig go up in flames, and then another gusher happening. *throws hands up* I gotta give it to him because after awhile I would have said "ya know wha...eff you, eff you, you're cool (pointing at Hilary), and I'm out!" *deuces* 
14. I DO NOT LIKE THIS WEATHER!!! One minute it feels like I'm the ant in the ant farm being cooked under a magnifying glass, and then having that said ant farm put under water just to be put in the freezer. (repeat cycle) Like I really don't know what people on that side of the fence are smoking, but there's a reason why people have been on the mission to make their lives a little greener (just a smidgen) . 
15. I do not like that there will no longer be a middle class. I just don't see it happening, unless there's going to be something to rectify what's going on (hello COLA anyone??) things will continuously be divided. 
16. For the life of me I am tired of the hood economics, just follow what they did just don't get caught. Again wtf, do you even know what the flaka you're saying. I bet you're one of those "yes suh nah suhs" aren't you? I mean these are the same folks who are giving me scenarios that they have heard of working for their other colleagues. You tell them stuff that the counterparts wrote in books, and oh lawdy *shots fired* you telling them about that fancy book learning...in other words I'm tired of us being ignorant. Tell people to pay for stuff in cash, not credit oh boy I messed up their scheme of getting over. Yeah you have credit, but history does show after awhile your credit isn't going to mean squat. 
17. I see how I have a lot to say, and just maybe this blog post is giving you a preview of what direction I am trying to take the blog for 2011. Will I keep it up...maybe since bills need to paid, and of course just looking at the length of this blog yeah I have a lot to say lol. 
18. Oh yeah...WE'RE ALL BLOGGERS AND BOUNCE OFF THE SAME IDEAS, STOP ARGUING WITH EACH OTHER!!! It's not a good look, and yeah you might get a surge in visitors (because shoot yeah I want to see each parties side of the argument blame my inner attorney) but at the end of the day you're blogging and expressing your views. Let the other person get a chance to blog and express their views. It's petty, childish, and hello if people want to follow another persons opinion then so be it. Isn't that how you got so popular?
19. I love tumblr! Like do I have to go any further in that? lol shout out to http://www.strawberricurls.com/<---I keep giving you shot outs on fb come on my side of the planet sometime lol
20. I really didn't know that the natural hair movement was going to be such a big thing. I actually see it as being refreshing, and I'm beyond flattered when people come up and say something about my hair (nope I don't have a camera so sometimes you have probably seen me around the city and didn't know so :-P lol)
21. I love that my MIL is trying her best to inspire my mixologist side, and has told me on numerous occasions to bite the bullet spend the money and see what comes of it. First time I actually plan on taking her advice. So be on the look out soon for something by Missus JAHT.
22. I have started to find a love for old cinema..the story lines, the flowery dancing, and the fact that it's a happy ending. 
23. It's official I must live in Europe for one year. I think it's the Dutch blood in me that's rebelling against the working class Irish/Black sides, and telling me I must live there. Believe me I have been trying to find me escape for the States and honestly DC. I feel like it's been my crutch (woo hoo another revelation).
24. Before I die I am going to play PRETTY mas in every Caribbean Carnival around the world. Looks like I just might need to hit the lotto. Anyone who knows me knows that I have been studying the costume designs with a fine tooth comb, and even notice copycats. 
25. Speaking Carnivals...I am so done with DC Mud Band. I guess I used to be blind or to inebriated to realize that the younger the crowds would get the drunker people are. Either that or they need to not come to band pissy from the night before. Like your speech should not be slurring at 9 am, and you're drinking water/gatorade. lol and smh

OMG 25 things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think my brain hurts from digging that deep. lol Well I apologize for the lengthiness, but it was definitely worth the posting.  I leave you with what I was listening to while I had AJ sitting in the bathroom steaming with our peppermint and rosemary.
Digga D- Last Lap for Old Year's Nite (we listened at the last lap part because I was trying to get her to wukk up her cough lol).

Hey EVERYONE!!!

I decided to give the blog a holiday break, but I am definitely having fun on the Facebook Fan Page. Please feel free to post and comment on the many posts I have over there. I am not giving up on this blog, but I am in the middle of trying to see which direction I want the blog to go.

FROM THE R & D FAMILY...MERRY "BELATED" CHRISTMAS, BELATED BOXING DAY TO MY WI POSSE (AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE COLONIZED BY THE BRITS LOL), KWANZAA, AND HERES TO YOU HAVING A FRUITFUL/BLESSED NEW YEAR!!!

Are You Craving: The Crushing Pressure of Body Image

Are You Craving: The Crushing Pressure of Body Image
As I get closer to my deadline for the being 20lbs lighter, and noticed yeah I'm still stuck at 10lbs (but toning up a little) I started to beat myself. This article made me refocus on my goal to at least be a lighter me, but in a healthy way.