Mind Your Own Business Month "Stretching dollars, Finding extras"

Ok so over the past few posts on Mind Your Own business, we talked about insurance, balancing check books, and keeping a close tab on what you spend per day or week.

Well this week I wanted to talk about something I really find fun doing and that finding ways to make my money work harder and go farther.

I have found that there are several ways to do this for me. I know you may have seen this in other places but let me tell you something it works.

Here is my list.



1. Consignment shops are my dear friend - I like to see a label every now and then in products that I buy, I mean it's not super important for me since Wal-mart is like my favorite retail store right now. I have found however that you can go to consignment shops and find major top brand items for little of nothing. Like KJ and Lili's clothes for example, the need to pay $100 dollars for a pair of shoes or clothing is insane to me since they will outgrow it so quickly. I have found loads of designer items literally with the tags still attached for both of them for all seasons. I can walk into my favorite shop "Great Finds" and rack up on clothing for them both for under fifty dollars. All I would have to do at this point is purchase undies and socks new from Wal-mart or somewhere else.



2. Dollar General, Freds, Family Dollar - Ok you get the idea. Dollar stores are another way to go to stretch a dollar. This is what I know about them before you stick your nose up in the air. I had a friend that worked there that let me know that the items such as clothing or shoes a lot of times were from pallets and lots displaced by big named stores such as Target and Wal-mart or even some department stores. What the deal was they had to cut the tag out of clothing and shoes and replace it with their own or just leave it cut in order to sell the item at the store. I don't care about the tag all I want are a nice pair of slippers of toilet tissue when I need it. Only rarely do I go in looking for a cheap last minute item of clothing. But now when it comes to cleaning supplies, household nic nacs and decorations or even simple christmas items and food items, dollar stores are the way to go. I can get all my favorite canned goods and spices from them as well as cereals, snacks and the like for no more than a dollar or two. Right now in today's economy that is nothing to sneeze at either. If you have not shopped at any of these stores you should try it just to see how much you can really save. I usually go in with twenty dollars and can get my cleaning supplies including laundry items and have change left over.



Coupons - As of late I have found myself searching for coupons and good deals and have been able to find more of them online than in my Sunday paper which is ok with me. I found a list of them in the September issue of All You which you know by now I think is the cutest magazine!

So what is Mamma saying guys? Don't be to high and mighty to hit some of those stores up that I mentioned or something like it since that is the best way to get more for your hard earned dollar.

You WILL save money....believe me!

Til next time

Mamma

Movie Of The Week "Liar Liar"

Liar Liar

A young boy's birthday wish comes true - his dad, a hotshot attorney, can't tell a lie for 24 hours causing legal and emotional havoc.

One Day At A Time "Father David"

One Day At A Time
Father David

David gets a dose of reality and discovers there's more to fatherhood than he expected when he is pressed into service as chaperon for Julie and Barbara's "break training" party.

Am I Losing My Daughter?

Imani aged 5

Another eventful day has come and gone and left me with my thoughts about my children. I sat here working on a project that I am sure you all have heard about if you listen to my little reality show,..which is the homecoming after party here in this tiny dying town that I live in.
We are making the signs and doing interviews to help promote it for the local residents as well as have something to do. Which is great by all accounts.
As the hustle of the day began to wind down and Lili had finished writing the number four on her worksheet and KJ was nestled under his blankie with Little Bill playing in the background I was left with my 14 year old to share the office with.
Hmmmm so silent. I asked her to do a couple of things and she did them in silence. Complete and utter silence. I find that to be interesting as this was the child that has been with me the most and adored me at one point. I literally could do no wrong.
If I wanted to dance to salsa music around the house she would dance with me and be my partner. When I went to work out at the track or gym, she was my exercise buddy to cheer me on looking up at me in awe.
I would get handmade gifts for all the holidays which I still have. There is one she made for me that spelled out my name and each one was about how wonderful and fabulous I was in her little 9 year old eyes. I looked at it the other day and smiled.
Now she wants to chat on the phone with friends, while listening to online music til all hours of the day and night. She lives on Facebook and has a social life that I never had at her age and I am no longer the Mama she was nuts about, I am the embarrassing Mamma with the skinny locks who listens to DJ Tiesto waaay too loud as I am chauffeuring her from after school practices to home. I am now the Mama that talks to much and is too nosey. I am the Mama that is not fast enough to buy the latest fashion or quiet enough where she won't be too embarrassed when I open my mouth to say what I feel around her teachers and friends.
Somehow I am now a shadow, a part of her life but not her life anymore. I am there but I am not. She drew the line and it is apparent that she has moved on with another part of her life and I am sitting her wondering where she is even while she sits right next to me on the other computer, giggling on Facebook chatting with friends about this or that and I am not allowed in on the fun. :(
I wonder if I will ever get her back? Will I ever stop being the annoyance it is obvious that I am to her in her life right now?
Well one thing is for sure, I made it through Timeka who is dear to my heart and is my first born. She is an adult now to the world but to me she is still my child, my baby, my responsibility. She came back, somehow she showed up again with a simple card that said "I heard you Ma".
I hope that Imani will come home again too.
Until then I will miss her as she grows up and away right in front of my eyes.

Imani High School Freshman

Til next time.

Mamma

OFFICIAL SPEECH BLOG: Time for Some Campaignin'

Alright you guys....I was peeking over at Speech's site and found this. I had to link to it.
Let me say it again the last day to register to vote is next week October 1, 2008.
Make sure you vote our country and the future of it depends on it!




OFFICIAL SPEECH BLOG: Time for Some Campaignin'#links#links#links

Mind Your Own Business! Insurance and Health

This has been a very interesting last couple of days for me. So interesting because it ties in to the whole “Mind Your Own Business” theme I have going on where I am focusing on money.
Tuesday, I found quite by accident that my son KJ being the dare devil that he is knows how to open oven doors. Here is how I found out about it. I am walking by the oven and find it half open. I think “Hmm I thought I closed the oven no wonder it’s so hot in here”.
While getting KJ dressed about ten minutes later I notice a dark mark under his chin and on the side of his face on his left cheek. To my surprise it was skin that was bubbling! I shrieked! He looked at me and began to cry immediately. (Talk about odd) I drop everything and think I have to get him to the emergency room now! But realized Kevin’s insurance you have to call first get a nurse on call and get instructions first. I get him an appointment to see his pediatrician instead. So I saved $150 by not going to the emergency room and only paid the $25 co-pay.
Once KJ is back home and I have calmed down from this interesting day which for me has knocked my little six list plan all to hell, I decide to continue with my redecorating and cleaning of large pieces of furniture. While cleaning the top of my wall unit Mamma slips and falls straight down onto the floor knocking over the chair I was standing on, bruising the side of my left knee and spraining my ankle. Ok can my day go any better at this point?
Imani helps me to the couch and I prop my foot up immediately and get her to bring me ice. I am used to bumps and scrapes that's the story of my life lol. I think do I need to go to the emergency room or just wait this out see if I can wiggle my toes or should I just relax and take a few Tylenol and call it a night? My insurance company would just love me wouldn’t they? So I did the latter. I grabbed some Midol which seemed to work better for me for pain and then I sit back and pop in “Sex In The City”.

I began to think about a few things after the movie. What if this had been worse? What if I had no health insurance or worse life insurance? What about emergency contact information for Imani if all hell breaks loose and I can’t do for myself?
So I thought it appropriate as I had uttered that I would talk about this.
I know you are thinking ugh I have to think about this mess? Why can’t I just wait until later? Cause later never shows up....only today does and that could be the day everything changes.
Insurance hey we all need it from our personal selves to our personal belongings, to our health and well being. We need to make sure that we are protected. There are so many programs out there to benefit us. We just need to look.
The first thing I did was take a look at what my banks offered, and the funds I was a member of for life insurance they may offer just for me being a member. I then got my own life insurance for me and the kids. Then I got some more.
I check on it every six months especially since KJ was born and I did not add him until he was a year old.
I am in the process of checking on better health insurance as a claim I had with this firm they would not pay. So not cute when you have an emergency and you are paying 325 dollars per month and you don’t want to honor the claim? Ummmm no.
But Mamma what if I can’t afford anything? Check your local health care units or clinics. They will see you on a sliding scale, hey I had to do it at one time. There are also state run programs that you should check into. How about Medicaid as well, some states offer a program where you pay as low as $10 a month for insurance for the kids. If you just go online and do a search on affordable health care for your state I am sure you will find a wealth. Check out this link here

http://www.healthinsurance.org/


Do an assessment of your coverage and make sure you have something for life, health, and hospital stay as well.

You will be glad you did cause one day Murphy’s Law is going to show up and wouldn’t it be nice to be prepared?

I have offered some links you may find helpful as well. Make sure you put this as a priority along with other money issues you deal with.

Til next time

Mamma

ATLWeek and No Arrested Development?

Hear that sista wailing on this song? Yep that's me singing back in the day! Talk about a wonderful time that was. I was on tour, young mommy, Timeka was my only child and she toured with us until my Dad came and got her and took her back to Arkansas with him. She was still in diapers back then. wow only seems like yesterday that we were running round creating new experiences which I am very, very grateful for.

Mamma's Always On Stage - Arrested Development circa 1991



I am posting this for one reason cause MTV did a whole week called ATLWeek and not once did they feature a video from Arrested Development! Heeeey were they not part of the blossoming entertainment industry in Atlanta some years ago?
Did they not offer up some lyrics and new way of presenting music and hip hop? Well then why didn't I see my brother Speech, Taree or Eshe, Headliner, or Rasa on there? What about Baba Oje?
This was and IS a form of hip hop/life music that you cannot find in hip hop today and I wanted to show my people love.
They talked about social issues, politics, race, ....they talked about life...hence LIFE MUSIC.
So yes ok this is shameless promotion on my part but this is my blog I will say what I want to tee hee.
I have officially declared this blog the Arrested Development Follow Me Now blog.
Yeah yeah ok they have their own sites and all of that but I have to stand up for them and say hey "I recognize what you brought to the ATL I honor that and I respect the work that you put down and continue to put down years later still living and working in the surrounding areas doing your thing!"
Now what does that mean Follow Me Now? Well that means this, I will utter, blog, showcase new and old videos and talk to members when they are not busy and post them here to my blog. How bout that?
It'll be fun.
I will post the Arrested Development World Tour Schedule here too so if they are in your area go check em out.
Live band, great lyrics and fun time to be had by all.
MTV Jams shame on you for not showing at least ONE of their videos! ...........I shake my finger at you for not showing ANYTHING and I watched all week and weekend.
Thats ok Speech you still got folks out there looking out.

Yes including me.

Til next time

Mamma (always on stage)

One Day At A Time "The College Man"

Julie's excitement turns to hurt and jealousy when her blind date seems to only have eyes for Ann.



Ok guys fall seems like it is officially here so it's time to get to Walmart! Yep you should know by now I like shopping there cause I save money. Check out some of the cool things you can get right now there online! Use the Site To Store feature too and have your merchandise shipped to your local store for free! How cool is that?



Don't forget the holidays as far as I am concerned are here!

Check out my money post today later this evening........

Til next time.

Mamma

Mamma's Movie Of The Week "Sense and Sensibility"

Sense and Sensibility
Emma Thompson stars in the captivating romance based on Jane Austen's classic novel of two sisters' search for love in strict 19th-century English society.




Have a happy weekend all enjoy this movie. I have never seen it this should be good.


Mamma

The Six List Revisited

Ok so if you listen to my utters you know that I am a fool for the good ole six list. If you are not familiar with it here is the post again. There are alot of people trying to sell you the sixlist online. It is not some secret formula you write it down and you do it. That's it. No need to buy software online and all of that you can even do it on your cell phone pda or pc or email yourself important things.

Here you go!

The Six List Revisited.

You know being a mom and a business woman has its interesting tales. I am sure many of you out there can attest to that! I am always on the go with diaper bag, changes of clothing, stroller and pack n play playpen in the trunk of my car and my purse and laptop in the front seat of the car! No matter where I go I just come prepared to handle my business right where I am.Sometimes I can get so busy that I have to refer back to a strategy that I learned from reading a great book by Zig Ziglar years ago and then Mary Kay Ash started using it.Its the six list.
Here is mine for the day:
1. Go to swap meet building clean up debris from partitions put up2. Install MS Office onto laptop3. Redo first book in Lili series and upload today4. Call Ministers Alliance to get timeline for advertising for back to school event5. Contact historical society for press release on musuem restucture6. Work out
Serious this is my list for the day. Now according to the six list rule you cross off the things on your list that get done, if they don't get done that day you just add it to the next days' list of six. No more than that because you get bogged down.To be honest with you this list helped me with loads of projects that I do and helped me put out my album yes (shameless promotion) and start the Lili and Friends book series.

I also used to put out my own album yes again Shameless Promotion lol check it out when you have some time like ummm,, ..... now.

Till next time.

Tyler Perry's "The Family That Preys" Review

Ok I told you that I was going to see this movie again with friend of mine. Now I am ready to talk about this movie.
This is the best movie to date that he has done. Period. I loved it. Alfre Woodard and Kathy Bates set this movie off. Really they were the center of the movie itself as the matriachs or mamas in this flim of course set in Atlanta where Perry has a studio.
So many times throughout the film I kept saying, " I see a spin off night time soap outta this that I would enjoy seeing"
This movie was very Dynasty or Dallas if you will in the power and class that you saw portrayed in the film.
Sanaa Lathan was a fabulous bitch in this movie well removed from the parts she normally plays which are the good girl parts.
Taraji was excellent as the do good sister who is down to earth, a good daughter to Alice and a good house wife to husband Perry who played a very low key role in the film.
Robin Givens had a small part in the movie as well but the times she was on screen was very nice and led to the strong cast of actors who do not get to work much in Holywood.
In some of the scenes the lighting on the matriarchs in the film he coulda toned down a bit but over all the movie was his best to date.
The chemistry between Bates and Woodard was wonderful and thier trip cross country was hilarious and the friendship genuine and loving.
I was touched and in tears by the end of the movie.
Tyler is getting better and keeping actors that don't get a lot of work working so that in itself is a wonderful thing.


GO SEE THIS MOVIE


Now that's all I have to say about that.

Till Next Time

Mamma

White Priviledge

Now I know this is going to spark controversy but I had to post this in its entirety. I found a very interesting read. Being that I am on the other side of the fence, I hear about this phenomenon but did not really understand it until this was spelled out for me. If you have not figured it out by now I am a sista, yes colored, African American, aka Black and Proud.
I still like to believe that we live in a country where race doesn't matter.
Read this and then you do the math.

Begin Reading Here:

For those who may not be familiar with his work, Tim Wise is a young white anti-racist activist and a frequent speaker on college campuses. I have usedhis book, “White Like Me,” in my courses. He knows how to get to the heart of the matter.--Bryan


Tim Wise on White Privilege...Gold!Check it out.*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

This is Your Nation on White Privilege
By Tim Wise
9/13/08

For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are
constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list
will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin
and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a
personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents,
because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino
families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as
irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin'
redneck," like Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if
anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and
talk about how you like to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed
as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a
thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years
like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to
after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions
your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who
did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got
in in the first place because of affirmative action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than
most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same
number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready
to potentially be president, and people don't all piss on themselves with
laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and
constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under
God" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for
the founding fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately
disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in
the late 1800s and the "under God" part wasn't added until the
1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their
rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a
prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only
supported by mushy liberals.

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people
immediately scared of you.

White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an
extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and
whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism
or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails
to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of
school, people immediately think she's being disrespectful.

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work
they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for
civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think
you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a
small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a
class she took in college--you' re somehow being mean, or even sexist.

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree
with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway,
because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in
these same white women, and made them give your party a "second look."

White privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support your
political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical
politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some
folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors
say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are
going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job
of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and
who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God's
punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you're
just a good church-going Christian, but if you're black and friends with a
black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of
Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and
who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you're
an extremist who probably hates America.

White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a
reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a
"trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give
one-word answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you're dodging
the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at
all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing
racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a "light" burden.

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow
someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of
the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes,
inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion,
just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change"
thing.

Ya know, it's just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more
years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

Mind Your Own Business Week One "MONEY"

Money, Money, Money.....Money!!!!

Well this begins the all important week for me of getting myself back on track. I am sharing this with you since there are so many of us that are facing some of the same things. I don't care what it is something in your life needs some work. So rather than doing what I know some stay at home moms do or work at home moms do in their free time is rather than looking at other folks mess, I am going to look at my own and take my little cleaning supplies and work on some stuff.

The main thing that I want to focus on is money because I believe as long as it is an issue for me and I don't address it it will always be like this black ghost in my closet.
So what I did was this, I pulled out the best money book I ever bought which is "Girl Get Your Money Straight!" by Glinda Bridgforth.
She uses a holistic approach to money and it is simple to understand so you are no longer afraid of money and how it works. Suze Orman she is not, I think she hits points Suze doesn't even though Orman holds her own.
You can check out her site here about other books she has available by clicking on the photo of the book.
All this week I am going to be focusing on the first book in the series. Why? Cause I think that this is the best thing for me right now. I need to get back to what worked and make it happen again. Period.

If you don't have a copy run out to your local library or bookstore and get a copy or go online to her site or Amazon.com to buy a slightly used copy.
Now that I have gotten that out of the way lets talk about the points in the book I found very, very helpful.

Part One:
Preparing Your Mind For Financial Success -
In this section of the book Ms. Bridgforth talks about your history of money and where you learned it or if you did. She asks you to write down a family tree of money. After doing this exercise I found out that I had never really been taught how to handle money only to live hand to mouth as my parents and grandparents did. I found that exercise to be very enlightening and therapeutic for me and every once in a while I pull it out and look at it as a reminder of where I need to go for my children and future generations of my immediate family.

Part Two:
Seven Prescriptions for Financial Health and Healing -
This section of the book made me open my eyes to all the things that I did not have set in place for myself and my family and what I needed to do to get them going. She discussed life insurance, savings, simple things like balancing your checkbook each month AND how to do it. What about life insurance for the kids and others things? Well she covers it. Before I completed the book I was already implementing a lot of the things in it for myself and the kids.
Once you have completed this book and even before you will find information on how to:

1. Set Goals That Speak To Your Heart
2. Balance Your Checkbook and Know Your Net Worth (hmmmm how many of us know that?)
3. Develop A Spending Plan (I have added a link for a free online budget that I use. It is mad easy to follow as well. Check out the link here)
Out Of The Dark - It's Easy To Get Smart
http://www.myexp.org/OOTD_gate.php
4. Track and Analyze Your Spending (which you can do with the link above which is lovely)
5. Pay off debt ( Oooh student loans, student loans, did I say my student loans?)
6. Save Consistently Without Being A Miser. (oooooh I think this part is going to be fun! I want to see how and where I can save!)
7. Getting Support and Expert Advice (hey I found a great site for women that provides great money info Girl Just Wanna Have Funds even though this is more for the newly independent I found it good reading and lot of great tips.)

Now that I have pretty much laid out the seven steps here, I am about to go through each one meticulously and see what I need to do to make some changes or improve on what I am doing right now.

Till Next Time

Mamma

One Day At A Time Episode 11

One Day At A Time

Julie's Job
Julie's determination to learn from her own mistakes forces Ann to let her accept a job, even though it's against her better judgment.

Starting Over Once Again (Mind Your Own Business Week)

I am starting over today. Yes I said it and it is my option as a woman to do so right? Well then that is what I am doing.
Here is why I am making that statement and what it is all about. I am a firm believer of evaluating where you are and what is important to you in your life. Sometimes life can get so in the way that we just go through the motions and don't do much of anything else in terms of our personal business and our health.

So what I did was I wrote down a list of things that I needed to focus on today for Mind Your Own Business day.

1. Money - I need to assess my current situation and make adjustments so that I can focus on long tern and short term goals I have set up. Do I have enough investments for the future, what am I doing about retirement since I work for myself? Do I really have a budget and a sense of where I am going right now today? (nope I don't and that not good)

2. My Health - Ok I have not had a mammogram in a couple years and cancer of the breast runs in my family. I need to get back on a good eating and exercise routine that I can live with and not fall off every three or four days. I have equipment here from treadmills to steppers to videos and free weights. No excuses so I need to find a way to make me accountable so I can be around for my family.

3. My Career - Right now I am ok with working from home what with me living in the area that I do I actually make more than most people do working at the plants that are still here or one of the local retailers. Kevin wants me to go back to college do the nursing thing. It just ain't in me to go back how many degrees does a person need? I have three right now I'm cool.

4. Personal Projects and Interests - My event planning projects are fun to me and yes they make me money besides but I love it that much and need to possibly transition myself into that full time as long as I can stay focused and see the financial gain.

So looks like this week is Mind Your Own Business Week for me this is going to be interesting lets see how I do.

Why don't you join me and Mind Your Own Business this week?

You may just find out that you really need to.

Til next time.

Mamma

Am I Becoming A Big Mama?

This is a photo of my Big Mama who is 84 now and her son Cisro this photo was taken after my Uncle George's funeral. He was her oldest child. Is she wearing the hat or what? Covering up all that beautiful hair!

Today is Saturday and I am sitting here with no plans on doing anything at all except what I am doing. If you have been listening to my Utterz you may have noticed that I had a bit of a problem this Friday with the football team and my daughter Imani dancing with the Diamond Dancers. The entire day was a nightmare as far as I was concerned the minute that I started down the street for Fordyce to attend the game.
So I decided that the best thing for me to do would be to shut it down. By shutting it down I mean stay out of the public eye. Don't answer
the phone unless someone is dead or dying or cut the hell up. I was not answering the phone period. All I wanted was to relax all day and work on my laptop by doing some much needed maintenance.
I worked a bit today on my work at home jobs, then logged out and goofed off all day. I took a two hour bath and sipped flavored water in a champagne glass and read through a couple books with the music playing in the background to some cool R&B sounds of R. Kelly and Chrisette Michelle. It was a blast I tell you.
Then I air dried and put on a sun dress and am chilling around the house cooking my Sunday dinner sliding from one side of the kitchen to the other in houseshoes that sound like they belong to my Big Mamma and not me.
I began to have flash backs of days like this of when I was a child and my grandmother would be in a duster and slippers cooking and cleaning and welcoming folks to the front door and disciplining us and yelling out the back door at her husband, all while another hand was turning chicken in recycled hot grease poured from a coffee can and sweet hot water corn bread on a cook stove that heated still with wood.
I looked down at my sundress and my God I thought I was cute in it. But at that moment that I looked down I saw my feet then flashed to my grandmother's feet in my mind.
I was almost terrified because I was thinking "Hey shouldn't I have slipped into something more youthful like a pair of Candies to click clack across my linoleum floor to give the sundress some sexy and my ass some lift? Should I not have put on some lip gloss or something to remind me that I am not yet forty? Accck or does it matter really?
Sorta kinda because since I live in this part of the country I have slipped on a few things like my attire and I now have officially added to my wardrobe, EveryDay Clothes. (que the skeery music now)
Now I've gone and done it I really have. This can't be happening to me. No,.. not this fast, not now, not when I heard that forty is the new thirty. So then that would officially make me what,,.... 27 right?
It can't be that bad really cause everyone loved Big Mama she feared no one, she was the best cook, she never got sick, she was always home when you came over, you always knew what she would she would be wearing which was the same flowered dress or duster, she always had the same TV show or music on, she always had a plate ready even when you weren't hungry. That was a comforting feeling wasn't it? To know that someone was there to listen and someone that could pray for you and with you? Now if I am going to be a Big Mama, a Madea or Mamma whoever one day those are the qualities I want to have and grow into. Cause one day the sexy ain't gonna matter and I may not care about clicking pumps I may just want to get to the kitchen to make a nice hot meal for the people I love who love me for me and not what I look like on the inside.
So if there is a big mamma in the making in me ...I say "Welcome dear lady come on in"

Til next time

Mamma

Lili Buys an Ice Cream Cone My Six List Get Shorter Finally!

Ok all I think I have the second book done for my Lili and Friends Series.

Well what it came down to was this........what I had done looked ok to me after I reviewed and reviewed it. There really seemed to be no difference in what I had and what I was redoing. So I was wasting time.

Ugh like I have time to waste right? I don't. So now here on the side and in my shamless post are Lili's two books currently.

I am excited now because I can start working on the third book in the series "Lili Goes To The Carnival!" Whooo hoooo.

Go Mamma Go Mamma.



Click on the book to buy the book today!





Till Next Time





Mamma

Let's Be Clear

Picture of me looking a hot mess

Well it's Saturday morning here (as you can see from my pic here I am still looking crazy from yesterday) and I have been up early working and cleaning and washing clothes. (ah the joy of working from home!) I get an Instant Message from my brother who tells me he does not understand my blog. Ok big brother living in New York.........ain't for you to understand, how bout that?


So I thought I would take this time to tell you about my blog.

Let Be Clear on one thing, my blog my rants and raves and utters if you care to listen are about MY LIFE. The one that I live on a day to day basis. Now how bout this, let me go further and say this. Life does not follow a plan, nor does it follow a certain idea as you go through it.

We don't wake up (at least I don't ) and say well I am going to follow a certain guideline for the rest of my days. Uh no.

And thus that is how my postings are set up. It's based on how my crazy assed mind thinks and how it runs. Which right now is a hundred miles per minute.

I didn't know I had to have a theme dear brother Noomsy to blog, I'm checking again to see if there were rules to literally writing about ones life on line.

So until then I tell my brother "just look and read and enjoy the photos of us", laugh at some of the silly things I go through, root me on as I struggle to work out, find the time to complete a six list the same day I write it. Check out some of the books I suggest if you want and just enjoy the damned blog without pulling the shit apart and over analyzing everything. Sheesh. Now I'm mad can you tell?

I will get over it and so will he. I love him still you know? But back off and just hang out with us. If you want a blog with a consistent theme daily guess what this ain't it.

Now back to my life.

I feel better now.

Til next time


Mamma

So you know I told you I was going to tell you about my experience with this story. First off it is what it is. A nice bathroom read or something you take with you on long trips or bus or train rides. I wouldn't take this as serious literature at all. It was very fast paced and exciting in some spaces but then became one of the stories where you could see where the story line was going by the middle of the story. Makes me think that I can write a book too if that is all it takes is a mistress, a happy house wife and a suspecting husband who could be up to no good depending on how the author feels as she or he is writing the story.

I finished the book in my nice hot bath in one sitting as the story began to bore me. I seemed to draw out and prolong the inevitable to me. But over all I would say get the book enjoy some messy drama so you can feel like your life is better than the characters in the story. I will put this in a pile in a basket for crappy books to enjoy. No offense to the author she is doing her thing and if you want to find out more about the writer go to her website at www.miasha.com.

Final thought on the book: It is what it is a cheap thrill novel for bedtime and busrides.

Now here is my fun favorite book here or magazine. Loads of tips and things to do for the upcoming fall season and Halloween. I like the calendar that they put in the book for you to pull out and post on your wall. I use it all the time. But the one thing that drives me nuts is like I said on my utter, can we stop talking about jeans? Please? I beg of you each month its jeans how to look good in them and how to be thinner in them or how to buy the right wide leg jean come on now how many ways can a woman put on a pair of pants? I thought only one at a time right?

Take advantage of the coupons and the other fun things they offer in the magazine. This is a reference you can use all month really I know I talked about it but on the calendar there is a place for important numbers. I actually use that and put my number and Kevin's number on there along with other emergency contact info for the kids to use if necessary.

Some of the recipes I actually used too so that is cool as well they work and are quick and easy to follow even Imani can use them sometimes or Timeka if and when she really ever wants to cook.

Go to www.allyou.com to find out more about this magazine.

Welp thats if for that.

Til next time.

Mamma

Johah: AVeggie Tales Movie

Movie of the Week is: Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie




Lili really wants to see this movie, so I'm posting it so we can watch it later together. Grab the kids and watch a cute movie.

Lili At The State Fair

See this happy face here this is Lili y'all milking a COW! I was going to wait but I just had to post this now cause I thought this was hoot and a half. Today was school day for all the children in the Ouachita County area to come to the Ouachita County Fair and see the animals, drink lemonade and look at the contest winners who won blue ribbons early.



I came along as a chaperon today with KJ in his stroller to see the fun and take pictures and help some of the teachers keep kids in line. Let me just say this most of the parents or guardians we there already for their kids. That is one thing I can say about this part of the country most of the people here are all about family and community no matter that the community is dying and there are no jobs to be found here they stick it out and keep family first.






This is one of Lili's classmates milking the same cow each one of the children got a turn milking this fake cow it was too funny. It started to get so hot I was sweating in places I didn't know existed still on my body with the sun beating down on me in my brown and black outfit. I just knew IKE was going to hit us but it didn't back this way yet so at least the kids got a chance to have some fun with their classmates early. This weekend is going to be really busy here they have a talent contest and all of that that will be a part of this thing. So I MAY bring the kids back for that after I leave the Swap Meet and work a while online.







This is KJ looking at catfish and turtles in the aquarium that was there today. He was so excited pointing out all the different fishies and saying"No" "nooooooo". I really don't know why either but he was.








This is Lili's class looking at the aquarium together after having lemonade.


I took a picture of the class with their teacher near the merry go round that won't be running until tomorrow night. I hope you can see Lili in the front with her black shirt on smiling. She is the only one with glasses. Lol I took this with my cell phone forgive me for the poor pic quality.

All in all it was a good day I was able to come back home and work until 2:30 when I will go and pick her up from school. I hope she had a great time today. I know I did only because I got to be there to see it.

Hope you all enjoyed the pics.

Till next time

Mamma

9/11 A Day I Will Never Forget

I will never forget this day as long as I live. I was working in Atlanta at a major firm as a Senior Systems Engineer when it happened. I know you can remember what you were doing that day as well.
I was on the phone with a client about a database I was building for them when the lights flickered and the phones went dead. I didn't think anything of it until the phones did not return nor was I able to get a signal on my cell phone at all.
Someone was in the breakroom watching the televisions that were always and they began yelling for us all to leave our cubicles and offices and come see that the World Trade Center had been hit by a plane.
I was dazed then before you know it someone was crying and soneone else was repeating over and over "I don't beieive this, I don't believe this."
People in our offices were getting word that there was attack planned for Atlanta and the the airport was shut down. It was pandemonium you couldn'g get on the highway it was gridlocked and all I wanted to do was get to my children. I couldn't leave. I wanted to call my brother Frank who worked in Tower two. OMG OMG OMG
I couldn't get through there were still no phones.
I was able to get a signal on my cell phone. I called and called and called and called his home nothing. For days there was nothing. But today was the worse because I didn't know where he was. I was a mess. I called my sister in Milwaukee and she and her husband had tried to call him they couldn't get through. It was a sickening waiting game.
There was nothing I could do but sit there in my office holdign back tears of nervousness and fear for my two children that I couldn't call nor get to and for my brother that I could not communicate with.
That night as my children and I sat and watched the new the tears finally came Imani who was only five at the time asked me what was wrong and I told her and she asked "Mommy why are they mad at us?"
I had no answers so I sat in front of the TV in my condo in Atlanta numb and scared while they slept with no worries no fears or understanding as to what was going on right now.
My brother is ok thank God we were finally able to reach him. The company he worked for had encouraged people that all was ok and to go back to work. He didn't he got up and left that day and he said that as the towers were coming down, he refused to look back.
I am glad he didn't.
It made me realise that tomorrow is not promised. We need to honor one another and not just lay our flowers and flags for people that we love and honor after they are dead.
So today I want to take this time to offer a prayer for the men and women who lost their lives that day and for the families that remain behind still picking up pieces.
I was never the same after that day.
Offer up your silence today for the innocent people from 95 countries who died that day.
Never forget.



Till Next Time

Mamma

Tyler Perry's "The Family That Preys"

So Tyler Perry has another movie coming on September 12 this Friday! Whooo hoooo!
All I'm going to say is this go see it!
Period!
I don't care that people say he is a buffoon and all of that. It is a way to relate to what really happens in some families and also a way to get away.
But this looks like the best movie I have seen yet from him.
I hope that you take some time to check it out it looks like it's going to be really good movie and take a look at the trailer!
Then come back and tell me what you think. I know I'm going to talk about it!



Here is an uncut portion of the movie as well.

Imani My Diamond Dancer oooooo Lord!

Ok So I don't know if any of you have been keeping up with my blog posts but I have been ranting and raving about this whole drill team thing my daughter Imani is in at school where she is a freshman.
I still haven't figured out the whole transportation thing but I did find out for sure that ALL football games are on Fridays only so that will leave me Friday evenings where I will not work on any of my work at home jobs. So guess who may be trudging behind the yellow school bus with the little ones in tow, laptop in hand, diaper bags packed and snacks for my crew? Yeah probably me. Now I no doubt wont be doing it at all of the games but for some that are not too far nor are too cold to attend I may come out. I only want to see the dancing really but the games nah they can keep that. Me personally I don't do football well so I don't know what I am going to when my son decides he may want to play this sport. Cause it ain't my cup of tea really. Oh well I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
But for now I have some cute photos of Imani and a few of the other Diamond Dancers at Camden Fairview High School.
I am looking a photos of them in this godawful red outfits that have no support in the bust area at all and half the girls on the team have major boobage. What a riot! So I taught Imani how to wrap herself in Saran Wrap like the beauty queens do for more control and support while she is bouncing around out there on the field. I can just recall how bad it was for me when I was on the drill team flopping around in an orange and black sweat suit to "It's Tricky" by Run DMC in the 80's. Oh my what a nitemare! But it was so much fun even with the boobage I had flopping around I still had a ball.
But with these outfits any wrong sudden moves Imani would have been done for so when she tried on the ill fitting bustier I had her jump up and down in it to see if it could hold her..nah but with the SaranWrap that would help. It must have because she didnt come home teary eyed talking about her twins being on expose'. lolol

Well thats my time here. I still have not decided how I am going to handle this all year round but I will find a way.

Till next time.

Mamma

So I'm The Mama Welcomes "Walmart"

Can we do the happy dance now and talk about Walmart being here with us? I don't know about you but I am happy as a kid in the sand box naked that they have joined us. I bet you are asking why. Well the only thing I can think of is that I like Walmart. They are a pretty cool place to shop when you want to save some money and get all the things that you need in one drive to the store.
With all of the holidays coming up and all of the things that the kids do Walmart is really THE place that my family and I go to take care of that. Imani gets her socks and hair accessories there, we grocery shop there, I buy online and use the site to store feature where they ship your purchased item to the store you choose for free all you have to do is pick up what you bought. How cool is that?
Walmart is also a place to get great electronics like IPODs, Dell, HP and all the latest DVD and songs.
If it sounds like I am a Walmart junkie call a spade a spade. For only one reason, it offers what I need right near my home and its cool to come here and catch up with people all the time that we rarely see and in a town like this one why not because a lot of people live so far out in the woods.
So it's more than just a store it's a way of life for us here. Go ahead and scoff, laugh if you want but that's ok you know you go to Walmart too I don't care if you only go in to just buy a money order or pick up toothpaste you go. HA! Thought so.
And my little town is finally getting a Super Walmart. Now for this community that means jobs and more of them. Many companies will move to where the Walmart is to be close to the shoppers so that will mean the area that this Super Walmart will be in will grow. Which is great. Now I wanted to point out too that I saw this whole documentary on Walmart and how it killed small business. Let me just say this....in the town where I live the industry which was mainly manual labor for the military shut down after the cold war. THATS what killed the small business here, people had to go to where the jobs were and they are not here. I am one of the lucky ones who works from home but my family sacrifices as well since Kevin has to work in Louisiana on a ship to make money. So a new Super Walmart will help the businesses in this area and offer jobs as well.
Let's be clear on one thing before people wear me out with comments about Walmart and horrid they are. I'm not saying that Walmart is the answer to all the problems of a declining, dying town like this one but what I am saying is that for people that have no jobs, no opportunity right now to do better this could be a stepping stone and nothing else unless they choose to make a career out of it then that is something different ok?
So now why don't you check out Walmart, what they have to offer and save some money how bout that?

Now Check Out this Video about Walmart I love this! Happy Saving and Shopping



Till next time

Mamma

The Day Is Done

Ok so the picture is for people that are asking so what do you look like? Here ya go!
Well I'm sitting here working on another computer for another work at home job that I have thinking about today and how interesting it was. Kind of reminds me of a sitcom of some sort where there is something going on for 20 minutes and the then the show goes off and all is resolved. Only in this case "So I'm The Mama" is for real.
Yes we have some comedic days but this is really all about how we have created our little family and are some kind of way making it work for us.
Kevin called and he made it just fine to the barracks with the plug in the tire ok.(If you have no idea what I am talking about check my UTTER on the reality show on the site to find out). He called to just to let me know that he was ok and that he made it to where he is supposed to be in piece. Now here comes the hard part for me as the woman in his life. There is a hurricane headed right for where he is right now and he has to be on the ship to move it out of harms way of "IKE". I don't like the fact that they called them back early but I understand you want to move that massive piece of steel of the way or lose millions of dollars in one fell swoop.
So while he is gone my job is to make sure that the family has what they need and also to make sure that I have found something that we can all be happy moving into. Looks like Hot Springs Arkansas is going to be the choice and that's ok with me. The only thing is that the kids will have to adjust to a new school and new friends and all of that. But that happens in life, things change you know?
My shift is almost over here and I am about to go back in my room sprawl across my bed and miss him for another 28 days and work some more on my laptop on another project that I work from home and blog some more til I get sleepy
The children are bedded down and I can hear in Lili and KJ's room Little Bill playing on Noggin or some other nogginfied program that makes their room special and theirs. I will go in and turn it off in just a moment.
Imani is out like a light too and has dance practice for another game they are scheduled to perform in this week in Fordyce, Arkansas. ugh all these football games are making me sick and green yick!
Timeka has called to check in for the evening letting me know someone is trying to sell her a Kirby vacuum cleaner ok now what is that about?
All in all this was a great day I did a bit of the mind your own business and I had an idea for another book for the Lili and Friends book club series. But I still need to go back and complete "Lili Buys An Ice Cream Cone", see I told you it takes a minute to update and post again and create new links and all of that but when it is done I will let you know.

Well I'm yawning now and I have a whole week ahead of me to be the Mama to these children and be ME all at the same time. Let's see how I do.

Till next time

Mamma

One Day At A Time Episode 9

Another woman jolts Ann to re-evaluate her true feelings about David. Her painful process begins when she catches David in a lie.



If you listen to my UTTER I told you I was running late today but I had to take care of a few things like getting Lili ready for the first day of dance class! Whoo hooo! So what I did, I came home and I am working right now on one of my work at home projects and blogging in between. After which I will log out and pick up Imani from dance and drop Lili off at dance. I really feel like she should go to this class as this will only help her. I am very excited about it this is going to be fun for her.
Check out the UTTER I just posted and see her with her new dance leotard that she will rehearse in tonite. She deserves this special time to learn what she can do. And the price is so right. It is only thirty bucks per month. Now come one who cannot beat that price?
Welp thats it for now! Enjoy one day at a time and I am going back to work.

Till next time.

Mamma

My Hot Springs Trip (America's Best Kept Secret!)

I wanted to show you the beautiful place called Hot Springs, Arkansas! I absolutely love this place. It is one place I wouldn't mind calling home one day or at least a vacation home.
My family and I went there since Kevin is home from the ship and we are trying to work on our family and how we create fun and tradition. So we make a habit to go when he is home. But this time we went house hunting when we visited this time.
Let me just say this people are so sleep when it comes to this city. This place is so South Beach, so LA, so Atlanta to me. I mean really. This is like the best kept secret in America. But hey the secret is out! There is so much happening here what with the natural springs and loads of attractions and things for the family to do! We come here all the time just for fun and stay the weekend and return.
I say this if you get a chance check out this cool video and then go to their website for more information about the city. I talk about it as well on my so called Reality Show on my site here so check it out.
Fall in love with Hot Springs like I have.

www.hotsprings.org

Nutrisystem Joins "SO I"M THE MAMA"!

I want you all to warmly welcome one of my new sponsors NutriSystem! I am so excited about that since I know how so many of us out there are concerned about our weight and what we can do to help that out a bit.
Well I think this is a good way to get going is to join a progam that offers us meals already prepared so that we can focus on our goals and not feel hungry in the process.
I wanted to find out more about the NutriSystem Program so I went online to their website and took a look around.
First I went to the official website here Nutrisytem and found out how all the famous people are losing tons of weight. I mean come on lets take a look at what Marie Osmond did and how great she looks after eight children! So yes I was impressed with that. What else was great was the price was not that bad either so I took a look at the five day flex program which I think I may try myself very soon since I like the clean eating program this looks like this just might fit under that!
Then I went to this site here to take a look at what people that are using it are saying it. Nutrisystem Reviewed.
Now that motivated me but you know what you make the decision yourself on what works for you about this program! I think its great actually hey no cooking how bout that?
NutriSystem will be offering specials here for "So I'm The Mamma" readers on a regular basis so why don't you check it out and welcome my new sponsor aboard!

Whoooo hooooo



Till next time.

Mamma

KJ Gets A Hair Cut

Well I hope you all see my son getting his hair cut here! He was way overdue I tell you so after I logged out at home from work and picked up Lili from school, I decided ok time to take this boy for the long overdue haircut!

So off we went.

I know the first time he got it cut it was like a rite of passage. Most baby boys in my family get their hair cut at the age of one. I didn't his cut til he was about 14 months old. It was like someone was pinching him the way he yelled and screamed and cried. But the guy who cut it was cool and talked to him all the way through that he ended up with an excellent cut. But this one is the best cut by far.

He is a friend of mine that is coming back to this area after cutting hair in Pine Bluff. THAT is a question I wanted to ask like "OK dude what are you doing back here?"

Well I must say Kevin did a great job in cutting KJ's hair. He looks like a citizen!

My little man looks so handsome! Come on admit it you know he does!

I thought about letting his hair grow out and let him wear locks but you know I believe that needs to be his choice and not mine. Yes if you have not figured it out by now I wear locks they akin to Sister locks but they were made with micro braids about four years ago and I absolutely love them. No perming, no major sitting in the middle a salon on a Saturday with a bunch of other women alllllll day so you can get gelled, fried, dyed and laid to the side. Oh no. I just wash and go and for a Black woman that is a hard thing to find. I will post some of my hair one day so that you can see what I mean and how pretty they are.

Ok so back to my little man, he didn't cry fuss or anything he just sat there and let him (Kevin) cut his hair and line it up in the front AND he gave my son a little part! Whoooo hoooo.

So I will most certainly be going back to this guy for him to keep my son looking his best.

Til next time.

Mamma

Ommmmmm Ommmmmm Ommmmmm

Yes you all heard it right that is the sound of "Ohm" the wonderful sound that according to some that practice Buddhism, represents God. I was introduced to it recently once again not out of curiosity but to learn something that I did not know about another spiritual practice. I call it that because there is no other way to put it.
I am learning about chakras and the different mantras for this to occur positively in your life and I must say that this is the most interesting of experiences I have had in a long time.
Now don't get me wrong I believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit but I sometimes think that maybe just maybe Jesus took some trips and hung out with some dudes in Tibet and India how bout that?
I still study and refer to my Bible as well so there is not loss there. I just feel like with what I am learning and with my first chant this week I felt things that I had never felt before and so in control and at peace even in the midst of so much that is going on right now.
I suggest that we not be afraid of learning something that can only enhance our lives and our experiences here on this plane.
Now you know I am going to go here and post one of my favorite Om songs from You tube. Be Blessed with it is absolutely beautiful.



Next post...the haircut with KJ!

Til next time

Mamma

Movie Of The Week

Speed Racer The Movie!


Alright everyone make sure you get the family together for this one. This is going to be a treat. I don't know about you but when I was growing there were so many cartoons I loved and this was one of them. I'm glad that they came out with a movie for it. So get the popcorn and a some time to yourself today or tomorrow but just enjoy!

Till next time.

Mamma

Back To The Grind

Good Tuesday to all of us out there who are putting the work in to make it happen each day. I had a three day break just like I am sure the most of us did out there and I hope you did something fun and exciting for yourself even if it was to just veg out and do nothing all day long!
Well the week is upon us one day short in the work week really and I was thinking about my post on my Reality Widget on the side and how I am doing this whole mind your own business day. You know I actually was thinking that I need a whole mind your own business WEEK. Yes I said week.
So this week is my "BACK TO THE GRIND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS WEEK!" All this week I am going to be making lists daily and focusing on some things that are only going to move me and propel me forward within the next thirty days which is what I am giving myself since my birthday is next month. So it is like a little gift to myself.
Well this is all I have to say for now about this.
By the way why don't you give it a try and make this a good week to get some things done that you have been putting off for some time.
I dare you!

One Day At A Time Episode 9

Fighting City Hall

Ann's militancy over a mistake in her phone bill leads to serious ramifications when she is investigated by the Secret Service.