Death Of A Cell Phone

My Bestie Motorola SLVR
Obituary
I can remember that day that you were brought to me in your little box. You were a gift that I was not so sure that I would like so well since I wanted a clam shell phone that opened. So the first couple days you and I didn't hit it off so well. It was awkward as I touched you and learned how to press your buttons oh so gently to get a response from you.
I ran from you as you tried to show me how great you were and what you had to offer me in our relationship but still I put you in the back seat of a car, my purse, my briefcase or leave you over night in my car to face the elements alone.
Until the day I realised that you loved music as much as I did. That was the turning point in our relationship. It was if you knew me and what I wanted. Together we listened to DJ Tiesto, Moby, Snoop Dog, PortisHead Sade, Maxwell, and oh so many others.
From that point on we were inseperable. We shared long walks and great music around the track and the gym just me and you. Whatever I saw you captured wonderfully and then you let me share our moments online and with family and friends.
I bought you things to let you know how much I cared about you and loved you. You got a bluetooth companion actually two which I never used really because I wanted YOU next to my ear and nothing else. I bought you this sexy, hot, black number that you could wrap yourself in and go with me everywhere on my hip. You were officially a part of me an actual extension of me.
You were my assistant taking messages I didn't want, you were my alarm clock waking me in the morning, you were my entertainment by keeping me updated with news, weather and sports. You let me see my children and be connected with Kevin at sea by helping me send video to him so he could see his son grow. You were my bank since I could check balances and pay bills directly from you. You made my life so much easier and better. Yes you did.
Then one day you slipped and I couldn't catch you fast enough and then again and again and again. No I must admit I had not been kind to you but you were sturdy and strong. If you fell you got back up but not this time.
I tried to replace you with the Sony Ericcson Wsomething which was a mess. She was temperamental and never worked. I still could find myself to part from you so I pulled your clothes off yes I did so I could touch your bare buttons and get a response from you. Soon that was not enough and here you are looking at me now, cold and unresponsive.
I now have the Sony Ericcson 350A. She is not you, she cannot capture true moments like you did. I don't know if I can share my love of music with her like I did with you. I don't want to take her to the gym with me, she seems flimsy at best not strong like you. Why would I even want to buy her anything hot and black and sexy? Why would I want to make her a part of my life like I did with you?
I will forever remember you as you stare back with a black face and no sound, no bars, no light, and no life.
Sniff.
All of your friends came out to see you off. I wasn't too sure if you wanted me to bring Ms. flimsy Sony Ericsson 350A so she stayed at home while we came to say goodbye to you today.
I want you to know you will be missed, you were loved SLVR you really were and always will be in my heart. I hope that from time to time in cellular heaven you will recall the memories we captured and the times we shared together over the past several years.

Till I see you again my dear.


Yvette



Your last moments with me

Your friends that came to see you off today.

Lili's Locks and Me

This was taken at my store with my new camera phone
I believe that I have mentioned that my daughter Lili has begun the process of starting new locks from micro braids. Yep my little lady is going to be just like Mother as she calls me.
This is an interesting process as her hair is a different texture from mine. Her hair is very curly not kinky its just curly and hard to manage to the point where looking at a comb and brush would kick off rivers of tears and wincing even if I was but two feet from her.
She has now been locked for four months and the process has done something to her which I love. She has become someone new to me it seems. She swings her hair even though you can still see the braids. When it is time to tighten there is no crying and no fear which is wonderful.
Lili loves to put headbands on and pretty colored bows to match what she is wearing. She told me is a princess with pretty hair. How is that for a twist as opposed to what I went through as a child being told my natural hair was damn near a sin and an abomination against God and humanity. I am so happy that my child is seeing a different side of beauty because not once has she since the locks have been started ever asked was she beautiful or not stopped by a mirror to primp a bit and smile with her little glasses. Now she is confident and loves the person that looks back at her and I hope I can keep her going in that direction so she will KNOW who she is and will not have to depend on others to know her own self worth.



Til Next Time

Mamma

Christmas Is Officially Over Time To Clean House!

I hate to admit it but I am so glad that Christmas in my store is over. One of the biggest reasons why is had one consignor that decided that he wanted to provide me with nothing but Christmas items. Well now it is time for me to get ready for the new season and all of the events that occur around it.
What I have decided to do in any case is to begin to make room for all of the new things that I have scheduled to come in so far this week which are much needed appliances that my customers always come in and ask for. So now that I have appointments set up to have new intakes this week, I am now on the frantic move to get this Christmas stuff outta here.
What I have learned is that I should have made it clear in the consignor's contract that holiday items that have not been picked up within 48 hours after the date of the holiday will become the property of said store "Mine" or we will donate it to charity. So all I'm going to do is move Mr. White's items to a portion of the store I am going to have mark as closeouts and massive sales and get ready for the furniture and appliances that are coming. I have no choice.
From here on out seasonal items will have to be moved as soon as the holiday or season is over to make room for new arrivals or I will end up with a mess on my hands and I certainly cannot have that.
So tomorrow begins a busy day I may have to start before I open my doors with my little staff to get ready for the new and out with the old.
Didn't I say that the hurricane was brewing? But in all seriousness this is only business and I will not become one of those consignment shops that you cannot get into cause there is so much stuff.
I vow to make sure that I have space to make my shop neat and tidy and welcoming at all times, even though I serve up a taste of nothing but FUNK while you shop.
I'll post more tomorrow cause this is going to get interesting.

Til Next Time

Mamma

Palin's Daughter Gives Birth .....DO I CARE?!

Normally I don't get on my soap box about anything really, but for this to have made news is astonishing to me really.
In case you all have not heard former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's teen aged daughter has given birth. Let me say this again,...this made news you guys.
I know of several young ladies who are this child's age who just gave birth as well over the weekend and it DID NOT make headlines. These young women some high school seniors others college students have decided to go ahead with an unplanned pregnancy and families rallied behind them the best they could in these troubled times.
Some of these young ladies have nothing absolutely nothing to bring their new babies home in. Grandparents are strapped and stressed about helping them with clothing, housing, continuing to pay bills and provide for a new mouth to feed as no doubt these young women that I know anyway still live home with mom and dad or one parent at least.
I'm going somewhere with this I really am.
I read an article that was forwarded to my email about how Palin's family had been receiving gifts from all over the globe for the new addition to the family.
I don't understand that either as with the young women I know, they got no gifts, they got no phone calls and well wishing cards and money. What they got were scoffs and teeth suckers and people that have officially written them off because of their decision to carry on with a pregnancy and see it through.
What I wanna know is this.
Why do we care that this child has given birth? What about the other young women and men who are out there having babies everyday who are shamed into believing that somehow their life is over? What about them?
What I wanna know is since this has made headlines today will we see more news and information about teen aged pregnancy and the REAL truth behind it? Will we see more affluent individuals coming out and saying what they will do to help to educate and help prevent teen aged pregnancy or better yet how do we get these young women on their feet after the baby is born? Where are the bugles for that? Where are the outcries for this?
I feel like they have become celebrities of some sort because of who her mom is and not what it REALLY is an unwed, teen aged girl having a baby still seeking support for mom and dad and other family members.
This is ain't a celebrity thang this is a real life thang and should be treated as such.
Lets talk about me and how old I was when I gave birth to Timeka. I was 19 years old and a college sophomore living on campus. I had to move off campus and find a raggedy apartment my little job could afford. I ended up on welfare and food stamps and seemed to take years to get my bearings and by then I had had another. When I came home with her I had NOTHING, not even a decent car seat. Now I'm not mad I am proud of my decision to have such a great daughter. She's grown now and I constantly tell her about what an unplanned pregnancy can do to your life whether a young woman or an adult.
I'm rambling now so let me end with this.
Congratulations to the Palin family for their new addition as each life is precious. But now that he is here what's his name "TRIPP"? anyways.....how bout we become Mavericky supporters of more education of prevention and protection and support for teen aged parents to make it through to get on their feet.
This should NOT be treated like a celebrity affair, this is STILL a baby having baby no matter which way you look at it. So now is the time for Grandma Palin and others to rally behind young people and make a difference. That includes me too.

Til Next Time



Mamma

Me, My Locks and I Four

I Took This With My New Cell Phone Camera Today Not Bad

Well Mamma is at it again today after a very hectic weekend. I held an event for the kids here in town and I believe that that event at least for me will be the last one I do. Sadly I need a break to reevaluate my business and how I need to move forward. Only because I don't want to become stagnant.
I wrote out a list of all of the things that I need to do coming in the new year and you know none of the things I did in 2008 are really on them. You are probably wondering what that has to do with the title of my post. Well a lot because my hair is changing just like I am. How's that?
In one of my previous posts I talked about my family hairline beginning to rear it's ugly head and how I was going to go with the flow of it and accept it as it changed. Well one thing is for sure life is the same way. Things change, yet sometimes we continue to hold on to what we know is over and done. Just like hair.
I realised that this week that just passed that I have one life and to continue to make the same steps over and over does not progress me to the next level in my life. It is as if I am fighting to stay in one place because I am what? SAFE? In the sad scheme of things with that,. in that being SAFE,.. there is a sadness that the spirit or rather my spirit begins to emit when where I am is not the right place. My soul knows just like my hair what to do and where to go. Of course I am responsible for maintenance and upkeep and keeping it clean and conditioned but should I not do the same with my business, my home and my life? What is different? If something does not belong then I must wash it out, and condition to help the healing process.
So after doing some math and other figuring quietly today I have officially provided the old me and my situation a pink slip.
My hair is the same even though she is still here she has changed and become something else as I should do as well.
Aaah yes a natural progression has begun and the storm is beginning again.....I think that hurricane I talked about is brewing and getting closer.
Let the change begin not matter how sad, laborious or painful it will be. I can do it.



Til Next Time

Mamma

Bewitched Season One Episode 11

It Takes One To Know One

When Darrin begins searching for a "Miss Jasmine" for his company's new perfume account, Endora seizes the opportunity to sabotage Darrin and Samantha's marriage.

Me, My Locks and I Three

Me and My Shoulder Length Locks taken 12/27/2008

I was taking a look at how my locks are transitioning and how my family heritage is starting to rear its ugly head on my hair. My hairline in particular. My grandma has em, my dad has em, my son has them so bad it is insane. They are the dreaded cowlicks as my family calls them.

My edges have always been thin but the older I get the dreaded hairline has developed hands and is waving hello to me in all of its splendor and happiness to become its own entity on my body.

Since there is not much that I can do about it except keep my hair washed and conditioned, I have accepted fate on my scalp and decided that I'm still beautiful no matter what and that hey, my locks are still fabulous.
I have decided to wear my hair in cute styles any way, I wear my locks in updos and down dos if I want.
What I do find interesting is that my hair fits ME regardless. I mean the hair that is on my head reflects me and my personality and who I am right now. The way that my locks have grown, some together some thinner or thicker than others is how my emotions may go up or down. The thin or thickness of a lock represents a pregnancy, the hormone loss and then the regrowth after the birth of my son.
How interesting that my hair tells a story even when my lips are sealed.

Til Next Time

Mamma

Master Cleanse Day Six

I have lost six pounds! Seriously I really have and here is what is interesting is that I am not even really trying since I have been eating about one meal per day in addition to the Master Cleanse. I figured a girl like me I like to chew on something and not just gum!
But I did cut sugar and I cut caffeine. I do believe that was my problem on Sunday where I was so sick and thought I was dying or something. I was to the point where I was drinking about three cokes and two iced teas in the bottle with lemon per day. How sick is that do you think? I know right?
So I cut out sugar and added more water to my day along with the lemon cleanse the is in the fridge down here.
So here we are six days later and I know for me I am not going to continue with the just a straight cleanse since I am too busy and am trying to work out each day I have to have some type of nourishment.
Am I saying that this is healthy? Probably not in terms of all that I do and nutrition but damn can a sista just feed off the fat she still has on her for a minute? lololol



Til Next Time

Mamma

Bewitched Season One Epidsode 10

Just One Happy Family

Master Cleanse Day Four

I have lost five pounds! Wow I wasn't expecting to lose that much but I did! I don't know if it was worth it though for how awful I felt yesterday though. See I had all of these plans of taking Sunday to clean the house do some Christmas shopping because when the hell else do I have time? You know live a normal Sunday life and I was too sick to do anything at all.
My head ached, my nose ran all day, I had to drive to the grocery store yesterday after forcing myself to eat a bowl of soup. Bad Bad Bad Move!
I threw up in the car several times! Thank goodness my car was an absolute mess and and as I felt the urge to hurl my lunch up I was able to grab a grocery bag and let go in the bag. I was driving and throwing up, driving and throwing up. I was done for my car was swerving all over the street so I had to pull over at a self serve detail shop and finish throwing up. After which I doubled the grocery bag up and tossed it as far back in a blue dumpster that I could find. (hey I couldn't take that mess home with me now could I?)
Needless to say I called a friend and made it over to their house and passed out. I couldn't have made it home I was too weak. I called Imani made sure all was ok and curled up in my friends guest room and fell asleep.
I was offered soda crackers and 7Up to soothe my tummy to no avail I threw that up as well. My friend was kind enough to just keep a watch out for me and offer me a lap to lean on but there was not much else they could do but keep asking are you and Kevin expecting another one?
"Oh my God", I thought "I thought my tubes had been clamped shut!"
I assured him there was no way and fell back asleep. When I woke up it was midnite. Oh boy still weak and could barely make it to my cell phone where I called the kids to make sure they were ok and that I would be home soon.
Imani was typing away which meant she was on facebook and all was ok. She knew to call if there were problems.
I didn't mean to sleep so long. I was just too weak for anything else.
Today I didnt do the master cleanse but I did eat a light light light meal today as I am still sick to my stomach but not like was yesterday.
I still don't know what I have gotten myself into, but after yesterday I don't know if I want to continue feeling like I have just been diagnosed with nine months of anything any more than I already had.
But we will see. I may just make the cleanse a couple days for me cause whatever was in me I think its gone!



Til Next Time

Mamma

Master Cleanse Day Three

I am sitting in the middle of my bed wondering what in the world have I gotten myself into? I feel horrible. Absolutely awful. I feel like I have morning sickness, my nose is running again and I my head is about to split wide open .
I took the Smooth Move tea this morning instead of the salt flush as I think I was a bit fearful of too much salt in my body knowing I have suffered with liver problems in the past. So I just decided to forgo that and take the tea.
I have visited the bathroom several times this morning already and still feel really awful. I don't know if this is part of the process or not but I am trying to think of what I need to do next since I had all of these plans of cleaning my house since I have really only one day to do it but I feel just that bad.
I got on the scale and had gained the two pounds back hows that for a kicker.
Imani talked to her dad and told him what I was doing he asked her "Why don't you just work out?"
I do just not enough since 24 hours in a day is not enough for me I need to find a way to fit it in. But he is right. Realistically I didn't do this to lose weight, I really felt like I needed to clean myself out and that might really help me in how I have been feeling sleepy and sluggish lately.
But her dad has a point, why don't I just work out go back to clean eating and let this be for the folks that are looking for a quick fix.
I have enough workout equipment in here to start a gym not to mention all my videos I could probably go a year and not see the same video twice.
I need to lie down....seriously.

Til Next Time

Mamma

More Photos Of My Swap Meet

Well I thought now would be a good time to share some new photos of my store once again since I finally do have things in the store!
This is a booth occupied by loads of what nots and nic nacs as people call them here. I sold a lot of that stuff today which is good!




This is a bar and table set that just came in. Only 75 bucks and people are like can you let me have it for 30? Uh no. Sometimes you want the truth aaaahhhh never mind. Let me just say this, my store is a consignment shop which means the quality is better than what you may find in a thrift store. There are some thing I will and will not take bottom line. That being the case do you really think I woud let this go for thirty bucks?




This is another corner of my store that I like. The coats are brand new that Isaac brought in. You can also see the racks of clothes and the pigs on the table walking away with mounds of grapes. Oh not to mention the cologne and perfume as well








This is Reverend Isaac Staten who the place is named for since it's his building and he has been cool enough to let me hold the place hostage while I move with my dream. In the process I believe he has been inspired as well since the building also houses a beauty and barber shop and a detail shop that opens on Monday which I am too happy about. So that is where I came up with the name Staten's South Arkansas Swap Meet Expo! At first I was not sure what to call him Rev, Reverend, Pastor, Elder I wasn't sure but now its just Isaac.
In this process of me learning more about this consignment thing, I am also finding out more about myself which I have tell you all about at a later date because this is new. Trusting yourself and your ideas and not letting anyone tell you it sucks in anyway.
What is even more great about this is the support I am offering the Reverend and what he says he is learning from watching me see my idea and dreams through. It has inspired him to preach about it in his sermons.
Wow who would have thought that I would be the topic of conversation in a pulpit?

Til Next Time

Mamma

Master Cleanse Day Two

I have already lost two pounds!
I thought that would get your attention! I really did though. I was shocked because I did the salt water cleanse as suggested and nothing happened but today?! Whoooowweeee is all I can say about that.
I have a slight headache but I attribute that to me being a caffiene addict and not having a sip in a day or two which is troubling me physically.
Imani is attempting to do the cleanse with me as she feels like she should weigh 120 pounds when she is done but as tall as she is her bones weigh that alone. So she did the salt water cleanse and I found her throwing up in the parking lot of the swap meet. Needless to say I doubled over with laughter I know, I know what mother would do that to her own kid right? But she was ok. After cleaning up her mess, she proceeded with water and then an hour later she drank the lemonade. Lets just say I found her fighting the urge to make a ham sandwich later that day that I had purchased for Isaac who runs the shop at the Swap Meet where they work on cars. I did find her making a sandwich and walking away to eat it alone later in the day .
I was not much better because I had to feed KJ and Lili as well. This was a hard day because we have been so busy which of course is a good thing but you work up an appetite. I ended up drinking loads of water and four bottles of the Master Cleanse concoction but still hungry so I too made a sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, on wheat! I was shaking, it was hard and my head was throbbing so I had to eat something the lemonade was not enough what with all I was doing today moving furniture helping customers, checking people out, meeting with UHaul customers you get the idea.
Not long after that I felt a rumble from down under that had me calling for Imani to man the store while I headed off to the porcelain throne in the restroom.
Let's just say that I sat there for thirty minutes feeling like I had not control over my bowels and blowing air out of me I did not know I had! There were more rumbles as a flow of excrement released itself from me along with tons of air.
After a good two chapters of a new book I borrowed from one of my store's bookshelves I felt good enough to prepare to return to the store when I realized there was no toilet tissue! I had to call Imani who thank goodness was not with a customer lean over and unlock the door and asked her for soap as well so I could thoroughly clean my hands and other parts I felt needed to be disinfected!
Thank goodness I don't have any sense of smell because whatever was in the toilet looking at me and seemed to be smoking a bit!
Ok ok enough of that, my headache is gone first off and my runny nose I had hey it's gone. Seriously it was like someone turned off a faucet all at once and everything just stopped. I have not been sleepy nor tired which I am not surprised as I cannot remember being tired the last time I did it either.
I am staring at a bottle of my lemon concoction now wondering should I dare take another sip or should I drink more water instead?
Well on to day three. Lets see how I do.

Til next time



Mamma

Master Cleanse Day One

Almost 22 months since the birth of my son Kevon Michael, I am still feeling tired and sluggish and out of sorts. I find it hard to wake up in the morning and get a move on for the day not only that but I have been finding it hard to get the weight off since having him. I work out, I eat right well not so good lately what with my day being so stressed to the gills from the moment the kids leave in the morning to well into the evening when I log in at home to work on one of my work at home jobs.
So most times we are eating on the run, through drive thru lines and other places. Now for me a former strict vegetarian I have lost my ground, my skin looks bad I could stand to lose some weight and take myself to a better place.
So I decided that I would try again this Master Cleanse I had done alost 11 years ago where I saw major improvements in my sleep, my energy level shot through the roof and I swear I could taste and smell everything. I was more alert it seemed. Not only that but I dropped like 12 pounds in ten days. I never will forget it because I was already wearing a size six and I was afraid to lose any more weight. Any smaller and my boobs would have pulled me right over literally!
Back then some of my friends and I were living on a natural tip that was outta control. We shopped at Sevenanda in Five Points, Atlanta exclusively, we recycled everything, I walked everywhere I could I had just started my first set of locks, it was a lovely peaceful time. I was introduced to the cleanse by my dear friend Deanna Dawn who you might have seen in the movie about "Fantasia" on Lifetime. She told me to do it and I would feel so much better then I could start eating a cleaner vegetarian diet from there. She was right.
So I noticed that Beyonce talked about this diet she did called the Master Cleanse, then I looked online and on YouTube and found loads of videos of people talking about their progress.
I bet you are asking so what is this Master Cleanse?
It's simple really.
* 2 Tablespoons of organic lemon juice

* 2 Tablespoons of organic grade B maple syrup

* 1/10 Teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

* 10 oz of filtered water

Now this is for one serving and you must drink about 6-8 of these per day so I just multiply and refrigerate a couple bottles of the stuff.
I also drink water throughout the day.

I take an herbal dieter's tea at night and take a sea salt cleanse in the morning with four quarts of water.

I'm going to do this for ten days and see how I feel. After which I will break for seven eating clean only then go back on it for another ten. No doubt I will add some workouts in there as well but I know the dangers of overdoing it since you are likely to lose electrolytes during this process and a lot of them so I might just do some gentle Pilates or something.
I think thats it for now.
I will post later to let you know how I feel in the morning.

Til Next Time

Mamma

Me, My Locks and I Two

My goodness I have lost my mind but I was going through some photos of me when I made the decision to cut my hair to get my locks to grow in. Yes thats me with a swollen face and about 9 and half months pregnant with KJ. Do you see the size of my nose!? and my whole face looks like its about to explode! But you know when you love someone and you are having a baby together thats all you see is the beauty of that little person inside you that represents that love. So much love you have for one person that it had to become its own person. How's that? Cause thats what it was like.
But now back to my locks this was about a year AFTER I had cut the micro braids completely out. Kevin was like " I don't see why you cut all your hair off anyways I like you better with hair" At that point I didn't care I wanted to be free completely and wear my hair the way that I wanted without fear he would pack his bags cause I had a natural hair. (That goes back to the adage of some old school Mamas saying you can't get a man with no nappy hair)

Ignore the bathrobe and the horrible night shirt hell I couldn't fit anything else at that time. But this is the top of my head like you can't tell right? I had just colored the ends and was not happy with the way that the color had turned out at all. So I reverted to semi permanent coloring like burgundy and other wild colors that help hide some of the shall I say it? LINT that I cant seem to get out no matter how many ACV (apple cider vinegar rinses) I do.

Now don't get scared its not like I have a head full of dirty locks cause I don't. I just know I was feeling so free at one time that I was not tying my hair up when I first cut my braids out. Now I'm paying the price. But as they grow to the length I want them I will trim that out. If anyone however has any advice on what to do about that other than permanent color, please let me know as I would prefer not to color permanently ever well not ever since I saw some white hair recently.
So why did I put Kevin's picture up here? Cause I wanted to show how he reacted after I cut my hair. He toasted me. Seriously and hid his face like OMG I can't believe she did that! He said "You are bold woman to just chop your own damn hair off like that" The only thing I could tell him was "It will grow back." Let's just say this in bouts of passion he does run his hands through them or pulls them you get the picture. So ladies feel free to be yourself and do what is right for you. Here is a kicker that I know many of you may not want to hear but here is the truth there are sista's out there living in bondage to the Cremey Crack that are going back for their regular dosages to please someone else in their lives. Doooon't do it Ms Celie..........if you know in your heart that going natural will safe your scalp, your wallet and your self esteem in the long run I say go for it. DO IT!
I still love my Kevin he is my sweetheart even if he does get on the last nerve sometimes but he has come to respect my decision and love me through all the rides in my life as well as I go through his journey with him.

Me, My Locks and I

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my locks? Well I do I mean I really do. I don't even know if many of my readers out there are aware but I sport a style akin to Sisterlocks and the method used to maintain them but I started them with microbraids of my own hair when this sista had finally had enough of that damned perm rainbow.
You know the lie they tell you, "That you won't get a man with a head full of naps, that you are not really beautiful til your hair is silky straight and all down ya back"
And I bought into it and the multi billion dollar a year industry that went with it. Relaxers, curls, hot curlers, hair driers, Super relaxers, pressing combs, burned ears, foreheads, fingers, alcohol induced hair that stood up on its own for days! How about this one the updo that you wore for two weeks until you got paid and could get it done again and the hair pins that you used to scratch your scalp! Nope not for me anymore I finally had had enough of that mess.
I had been wearing my hair in micro braids for some time and began to research how to lock my hair from that point without taking out the braids. I researched online for several months without ever taking my hair down and finally ran across something called Braidlocks. Before you know it I was joining Sisterlocks and braidlocs groups and reading about it and watching videos that were available at the time. Finally I made the plunge, bought the locking tool and the rest is history four years later.
I can remember when I finally made the decision to cut off the micros that were hanging. I mean they were never going to lock as it was way too much perm going on so I cut em off and Kevin flipped out, Imani freaked and others in this tiny town just shook their heads and clicked teeth.
Needless to say for the first time I stood my ground and let the process continue with my hair just a bit below my ears. My hair is shoulder length now and the most beautiful head of hair I have ever owned!
I love my locks, I am stared at a lot. I get compliments on them all of the time especially from people from other races who have told me I am absolutely beautiful and stunning as the handsome blonde haired man told me in the Wal-mart parking lot!
Talk about an esteem booster!
So now I play with it a lot. I curl them, I swing them absent mindedly might I add as well. I put them up into pretty updo's complete with cute earrings. I color them with a semi permanent color, I wash them often and condition and oil them often.
I taught Imani how to tighten them for me with the locking tool, and she can knock out my entire head in a few movies by Tyler Perry starring Madea! lol
My hair is healthier and stronger than I ever remember them being and contrary to what people think they are very,very soft.
In this process of growth and change that I am experiencing and becoming this person that I am today, having my hair this way is so freeing and a reflection of who I am as a black woman in this country that has taught us as young black women that what we looked like was not good enough.
But today when I looked in the mirror with all this hair, full of life and bounce and body I was at peace with that, and cool with the beauty that comes with being in love with yourself.

Til Next Time

Mamma

Drum Roll Please ...Pictures of My Store!

This is a photo of my model Imani tired after shopping all day at the consignment shop! She was able to get gifts for her party with her Diamond Dancer buddies, a gift for a best friend, and something for her siblings all for under fifty bucks! She even had change left over to grab a snack of "nachos in a bag and a soda" afterwards for only three dollars! Now how is that for a bargain?
Swap meets and consignment shops are really the way to go to get quality items and save money this holiday season!


So you don't have a lot of cash on hand this Christmas? Hey who does especially with this economy? How about this check out these cute sets of imitation pearls earring and necklace! The drop earrings will fit wonderfully with the perfect up do and the necklace will make any graceful neck the talk of the Christmas party! Only $5 dollars!


The cutest little Christmas town can be yours for only $3 dollars each! Open up your home to a home of elves in each little house! There are other Christmas closeouts available already at rock bottom prices.


Alright now for what I call the "Come Funk Me Shoes!" These shoes will make any lady the center of attention either in a jeans or the simple black dress, the scream for attention. Brand new shoes for a brand new attitude that will come with them! Only $10 dollars for the pair!

Staten's South Arkansas Swap Meet Expo
885 Lincoln Drive
Camden, Arkansas 71701

870-390-4552

Alright I know I said over and over that I would post photos of my store and what was in it for some time now, but yesterday I decided that there was nothing left for me to do but do it.
So here are some samples and more pictures to come!

Til Next Time

Mamma

Countdown To Forty

I have been sitting here thinking about all of the things that I want to do before I reach forty. Well you know the new thirty, hell at least that is what everyone is telling us. (me personally I think that forty is forty it's just some people that are like I want to stay young forever. Well sweetie keep living it ain't gonna happen we are all going to get older.
Here is an example. I woke up a few days ago and put back on my glasses and retired my contacts in the medicine cabinet! Talk about flashback to awkward high school days.
The other example is that I am not real stressed out about what you think and I am finding it easier and easier to tell you I don't give a damn with a kind tone in my throat.
I have a friend that by all accounts does not look forty at all but he worked hard at it and is clear that he looks and feels better than he did when he was in his early thirties. I say you go boy! So I know I have already started working out on a daily basis even if it is nothing but ten minutes a day with sparkpeople.com on youtube.com.
Let me be clear on one thing. I am not afraid of forty, by no means, I just want to make sure that I understand that there are some things I need to do to keep myself up. I don't want to LOOK a hot mess when I don't have to.
Now is the time to do some other things like check finances and other things that need my immediate attention in case of of this like dare I say it "DEATH". Hey I have children I need to think of them.
I mean it's a reality some of us don't want to face. I talked about that when I did my "Mind Your Own Business" series a while back on my blog as well as other things.
So this week as always I'm back on the grind talking about getting your stuff together even though I know its a given, sometimes I like to remind you and myself that we need to stay on top of things like this.
On a lighter note I hope forty will be kind to me as it was to my dad and my grandmother who took very good care of themselves. We will see and if not I'm going to get a bit of help from a needle and a scalpel, how bout that!?

Til next time,

Mamma

Bewitched Season One Epidsode 9

Witch or Wife?

After a mix-up in Paris, Darrin tells Samantha that he thinks their marriage is a mistake since it has robbed her of all the high-living she clearly seems to love.

I Got The Magic Jack!

Ok so I had been seeing this commercial for the Magic Jack for over a year it seems.
Magic Jack you say? What is that prey tell? It's a small jack that fits into your USB port that allows you to use your internet connection to make phone calls and receive them for one low fee per year!
I was reluctant to do it because I was not sure how well this "patent pending" item was really going to work for me.
So I went online to message boards, forums and all over the place to find the pros and cons of this little device. There were good things to say about it and bad things and for 41.00 and some change that is nothing to sneeze at in this economy. But I decided hey they are now in Radio Shack and I wanted to make the decision for myself. One thing was for sure, I could take it back for a refund if it did not work out for me as opposed to the drama online that I had read about.
So I bought it yesterday, installed it and guess what? It works! OMG it works! Its plugged up now to my desktop and I can use that as a second phone line that wont tie up my work at home phone line! What's even better is that Imani can talk as much as she wants on this and I can work on gigs without interruption, scowls from my child and all of that. What else I like about it? As long as I have an internet connection it works so that means wifi, DSL Cable. So I have been able to take it to an area with wifi and I called myself when I hooked it up to my laptop!
Now what I would not suggest is getting rid of your home phone service or your cell phone but as an additional phone line for the kiddies at 19 bucks per year hey you can't beat that.
(Was I paid for this? Nope) I wanted to see if it really worked and it does.
I think it deserves a try!



MagicJack

Till next time

Mamma

I Am The Storm, I Am The Hurricane

In the midst of all this learning and being and doing and all of that I am becoming someone new along the way. Rather someone that I have always been but have been too afraid to make it visible to others around me who may find me brazen or rude in me clear cut decisiveness when it comes to business. Well yesterday evening while I was driving home from my consignment shop I realized something about me. I thought "Hey why not let me be me and stop conforming to what others thing or believe that I am?"
So this morning it was easy to get out of bed and make some decisions that I felt in my soul were the right ones. I just knew and in that knowing it is ok. Sometimes its alright to just be the beginning of everything and all else follow behind you.
See that's what hurricanes do. Hurricanes are announced and when that announcement begins people begin to do something strange. They begin to make changes in their lives based on the fact that the hurricane is coming in their path. It is never the other way around. We don't see people that are telling hurricanes to make way cause Tom, Dick or Harry is on the way no it is always man that makes the move to prepare for the power and magnitude of the storm that is destined to befall them. Hence my desire to not be the townspeople waiting but to be the hurricane that within earshot of the its name people make changes and flow to what the hurricane is bringing.
There are no choices in the matter either. Some of you may say "it devastates people you are so wrong for making a statement like that"
That may be true but you can look at it like this as well. Hurricanes may kill, it may destroy, it may change economies and people have to adjust to the changes that have occurred period. THAT is what I want to convey when I begin something, when I am a part of something no matter what it is I want to be the force that makes people DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
Right now I am doing that. I have changed this community in the past couple years in such a way that when people see me I am revered and recognized. I receive that honor and am humbled by it but not ashamed of it any longer.
Today I embrace the fact that I am the storm and the hurricane and that the force within me is so strong and powerful that I too am making changes to adjust.
Lets see how this turns out.



Til next time

Mamma

Living and Learning

So now I just left my store once again with the kids in tow. I am sitting here now with what I know is the onset of the flu but I got soooo much done today. I am really proud of what I have accomplished there so far. There is still so much to do now that my office space is set up to work on the VPN! I am literally jumping for joy about that because now I can work as much as I need to without having to drive back home to do it! Yay yay yay! I actually worked abit today to just see if I could do it and was pricing new items that had come in today. I was also able to have KJ in one room napping and I had a laptop open working on advertising and the city website all from my table that Isaac set up for me. Now THAT is cool.
There is so much still to learn and in this life that I am living this is opening a door to I don't know what but I want to know what it is. I am really curious about what I am embarking on.
I mean on the outside it looks like a mom dragging her kids along on a meaningless drive toward nowhere. But you know what the only thing that I have to go by right now is that gut feeling that there is something I need to learn here that has nothing to do with earning money from what I am doing.
This is like giving birth its like crowning its right there what ever it is. Is it tenacity that I am learning, is it not giving up? What? I am really trying to get to the other side of that door so I can see. Looks like I am just going to have to open it to see right?

Good nite all

Mamma

Setting Up My Office

My past couple of posts have been about me having to come with the grips that my store is changing. Let me tell you what happened yesterday which put me over the edge and back.
I had to work for four hours at my work at home job yesterday til about one in the afternoon. This puts me at a disadvantage with my store as I am not able to be there like I would like on a regular basis since this particular gig I have is on a VPN or virtual private network that I have set up on a desktop at home.
So I walk in yesterday to find that my friend that has the car repair shop in the rear had let people up front to shop when the store was to be closed. Fair enough don't let money get out of your hands is his motto. But the customers had climbed on chairs to get things out of the ceiling that I could not find which left me frantic thinking that items had been stolen. A dresser had been sold (great) but there had been items on it that were just flung all over the store. Not only that but people had stopped by and dropped off their items to be placed on consignment in massive black garbage bags and boxes of dishes, fabric and unnecessary items that could NOT in any way be sold. (we are not in anyway a dumping site for your garbage that you don't want to go through)
Inside my mind I hit the roof, I mean I was steaming. For goodness sake I still had not finished the clean up from yesterday's intake and now there was more to clean up and handle.
I had to think so I packed up KJ and left the building quietly so I could think.
In my mind I'm thinking, "What in the world am I doing here? This is too much for one person to handle if I can't be here on a daily basis to monitor things and see what is really going on and make some rules for leaving your things, which should not have happened anyways but it did."
Again let me reiterate that this store was not supposed to be a consignment shop this was to be a place for people to come in and see their own wares at a decent booth space rate and since I took on the store front I have to be a woman of my word and see this through no matter what it turns out to be.
I finally came back to the building after talking to Imani and telling her after school come straight to the store when you get off the bus. So the four of us and Lili and KJ, four being Isaac, Tootie, Myself and Imani built shelves, rearranged items not by booths but by "department". Tootie and Imani did some staging and got all the clothes out and hung them up. Isaac got one of his pc's he never uses and brought it in for me to set up for use on my VPN that I use at home so I can come in to the store and work even on the days that I am supposed to be closed since they are coming in anyway to shop. We set up one of the offices as intake and KJ's room for play and his naps and toys and the other which is an adjoining office which is my brother's office for computer repair I just set up in there to work in silence since he and his partner are doing more sound systems in the auto shop than computer repair.
I took the kids home and Tootie left herself,... very nice of her to stay and I returned to finish setup of the computer. Issac came back and sat with me and talked about how the barbershop is coming along and how I needed to update the store website to reflect the changes. We stayed there til about 2 in the morning. I felt bad cause really he was waiting on me to finish was needed to be done to get up and running. I begged him to go home and get some rest, he refused. Such a gentleman he is especially since he to preach earlier that evening and then drove 40 miles to get the pc and come back to the store. I say that is pretty nice of him.
So now I am set up to work from home or my offices at the store with no real reason why I cannot get the work done either way since I can take breaks and work the floor and when the store is open I don't need to be working VPN gigs at all.
So there you have it in a nutshell.
My nutty life thus far, but it has to work and did I mention that this place also houses the city website that I maintain with Tootie and Imani's help and we do events with the city and county government as well that right now stand at about nine for 2009? Yeah, we are busy and that I believe is good. Now busy is going to turn into results and THAT I can't wait to see.
Thanks for listening to me.



Til next time

Mamma