Moms Being Moms

These mothers have since connected and it's a beautiful thing.  After Daughters Act Up, Mom Turns to Facebook to Make Amends

I love this story because it shows that the one mother understood that kids sometimes act like donkeys when their parents aren't around.  She didn't automatically think that it was the parents fault and she approached the girls afterwards in what sounds like a very human and honest way.  I love how the mother of the girls responded too.  That was all the way awesome.  She basically said...we raised them right and are mortified at their behavior...please let us make this right.

And I love that little brother dimed their azzes out.

It reminded me of something I did recently at the movies.  A group of young Black teenagers were showing their behinds.  They all looked like they came from good homes if you didn't pay attention to the crap they were saying. Neat hairstyles and hair cuts. Neat and trendy clothes. Smartphones...all that. One young lady was straight showing OUT! Loud, cussing, saying vulgar ish...all while waiting for the rest of their friends to be dropped off by their parents.

I walked over to the young lady and told her..."You know I know your mama right?" And walked off.  

My Aunt asked me what I told her because the young lady scaled it ALL the way back to zero.  When I told her she asked did I really know her mama.

Me: No. I haven't lived here in more years than that child has been alive. LOL!

My Aunt laughed her butt off. Said she's going to start using that one.

Humph.  Out there shaming their parents with all that knowing good and darn well they are being raised right.

What is it about getting together with your friends that makes teenagers be the exact opposite of who they are 98% of the time? 

How would you have handled this had it been YOUR kids?  Have you ever corrected teenagers in public?  Have you ever dimed a kid out when you knew their parents?

Heart Healthy Lunch Salads from Home!

On Sundays I generally make three salads for The Robinator's lunch.  He usually goes to lunch with his team one day and I make another salad before he'll need another one for lunch.  Inside his lunch bag I also put two pieces of fruit and some kinda nuts, either almonds or a KIND bar.  I send two water bottles full of water too and a small container of a healthy dressing.  Sometimes I'll add a yogurt or peeled orange slices.  All because I want him to be HEALTHY.

I try and switch up the ingredients to include lots of different things so he doesn't get bored eating them.  

The older you get, it seems the more in tune you are to the illnesses that could take you out and well, we try our best to do what we need to do in order to combat the possibilities.  I guess you can say we use food in a preventative health maintenance mode.

This week's salads included the following in each:

A salad green mix of kale, arugula and spinach.

1/2 avocado, diced

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Red onions

Carrots

Artichoke hearts

Tomatoes

Black beans

Sunflower seeds

Olives

Feta cheese

The dressing was a lemon and olive oil mix.  I like to make my own dressing sometimes and use a bottle similar to this one with recipes printed on it:  Salad Dressing Bottle

Much better for you when the ingredient list is, lemon juice and olive oil.  LOL!

He loved this combination (except for the red onions but they are really good for him so he's eating them) and since I have enough to make one more, this is what he will have for lunch tomorrow too.  LOL!  Next week I'm thinking he needs some purple cabbage so I'll go looking for that.  Maybe some red bell peppers and asparagus too.  Maybe some salmon too.

Everything was organic except for the artichoke hearts as I can't seem to find organic ones so yeah...I feel really good about him eating these.

How many ingredients do you normally put in your salads?  Do you use a good variety or do you only like to have a few things in yours? Do you make your dressing or do you prefer to buy one?  

Cherished: It's Our 10th Anniversary!

A decade ago tomorrow, my mommy's birthday, I married the one true love of my life.  Tonight, I'm writing this sitting on the sofa with him watching an episode of "Bloodlines" and eating some of the chocolates that he brought home today.  Many of our nights are spent exactly like this.  Just he and I, quietly enjoying our evening and each other's company.  

There is not a lot I admire about my husband that I haven't shared with those of you who read this blog.  He's pretty much the world's most decent person.  He's smart, loving, gentle, caring, fun, funny and mine, mine, all mine.  This dude is truly my favorite person.  He is the one I dreamed of.

I don't have many worries in life because I know if he gets wind of it he'll fix it.  I might not be 100% crazy about HOW he fixed it, mind you...but he'll fix it.  LOL!  Being married for a decade means we've had our share of ups and downs.  We've had hurts and disappointments and hit some bumps along the road.  We've grown stronger because of those and we relish in the great times together.  The first person I want to share my good news with is him and vice versa.  He's the dude who walks around my truck, kicks my tires and adds air if necessary.  He's overprotective of not only me but of those we love and he always wants the best for everyone.  

Our marriage isn't argument free.  It's not a fairy tale by any means.  It's a bond.  A solid bond made before God to love, honor and cherish each other.  And we spoil each other rotten.

We really wanted kids but it didn't happen for us and now we only have each other to dote on.  So we do.  Daily.  

10 years ago I married a man I was deeply and madly in love with.

10 years later I can still say I'm married to the man I'm deeply and madly in love with.

He is my every.single.thing.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MY LOVE!  You make it all worthwhile.  

I will love, honor and cherish you for a lifetime,

Monnie

P.S.  The modern gift is DIAMONDS.  Me likey DIAMONDS.  LOL!

My Empire Finale Recap: Part 1 of 2

I didn't watch "Empire" with my favorite people last night because I was on a plane.  My flight didn't land until around 1:00 am so it was well into the two o'clock hour before I pulled up in the driveway.  I was tired as hell and got in the bed.  Then...I simply couldn't help myself...I checked Hulu and there they were...two shiny new episodes of my soap opera dream.  YAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSS!

Hell yeah I watched it and loved it.  I adore this show for what the over the top nonsense means...PURE ENTERTAINMENT!  

You have to watch this show with a crew in order to get how entertaining it is.  My favorite people that I normally watch it with are honestly the funniest people on the planet.  Some of them need to write for Tina Fey.  LOL!  They are just that funny!  LOL!  Is the show all over the place?  Yes.  Are they running through plots fast as hell?  Yes.  Do they have a lot they need to tie up?  Yes.  Is  a lot of it superfantastical?  Yes.  BUT I LOVE IT SO FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS!!!  ROFL!

So this morning I got up slow and low.  Exhausted.  And when I say this morning...I'm saying now...10:53am.  Okay...thirty minutes ago cuz I'm that kinda tired that hurts somehow even though you don't feel pain-pain.  Just achy, cranky, hazy, bloated face tired.

But I'm 'bout to watch it again friend!

Goals for today?  

Current situation:

So Lucious got the shakes again playing the piano.  Yall know I can't stand him right?  RIGHT.  Dude is evil personified and I was totally hoping he'd be the one who got killed.  

Becky:  You use your inside voice when you talk to Becky!

That was the first B'What??????????  LOL!

I like how Cookie just gives music advice with a baby on her hip.  

Becky knows where Cookie is cuz she was sweet on Sweetface too.  LOL!  

Poor Hakeem.  I feel sorry for that lil youngun.  

Lucious thinks he is bigger than life.  He wants to go out like a god. Lowercase.

Only Cookie would be in them boots in snow.  LOL!  ONLY.COOKIE!  And that coat and that bag.

"Let's build a snowman."

"Oooooh yeah but I'm not trying to do that."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Sweetface is SO.CUTE!  So glad that bunk part is out of his head now.  It is beautiful that she's only been with her the father of her children.  Unheard of these days.  Whose glad Sweetface's shirt had snap buttons?  LOL!  GET IT COOKIE!!!!!!!!  

Where'd man nurse come from?

Awww...Jamal a gay role model.  Nice.  

Cookie all booed up.  I never understood being booed up on the floor though.  I'm sorry...mattresses make everything better.

I could totally do without Snoop at all times.  

Empire's offices stay filled reporters and flowing likka.  I hate how Lucious talks to female reporters.  He is such a turd.  DID YALL SEE THAT MARIO VAN PEEBLES directed this?

Here Lucious go with that god mess again.  Lowercase.  Snoop jesus?  #BoyBye

Malcolm.  Berkshires.

Is Hakeem rocking a leather onesie with a vest?  WARDROBE!

Snoop on my screen.  Bathroom break while *YAWNING*

Dude in the gold hat on the drums is giving me LIFE!

I'm in this joint rewinding Hulu like it's a cassette in my boom box back in the day.

“Hey yo they call me Keem, what’s poppin’ fellas? The way I spit it, I even make my daddy jealous. Yall think he got the power, whooo shame the devil, that poor fool can’t even keep his family together. They say that he the king, well I’m the prince, Imma run the empire and leave withcha B**. I’m gone.”

Gold hat dude like..."DON'T PUT THAT ON ME RICKY BOBBY!  I AIN'T GOT NUTTIN TO DO WITH THAT BROTHER LUCIOUS!"

Best acting in this episode goes to the dude standing next to Lucious during Hakeem's rap battle.  I love him.  He reacted just like I would if I was standing next to Lucious.  He should be famous TOMORROW!  Extra of the year!  Best non-verbal acting in ten seconds!  He's like...DAMN BRUH...YO SHIT STANK!  

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  

If anybody knows that dude tell him I'm looking for him.  For real.  LOL!

Hakeem is going to snap.  His parents always hitting him and ish.  UGH.  

Hate Lucious even more now.  Hakeem spit on him.  Cold.

Hakeem...you can't leave Empire.  It's in your blood.

Them red leather chairs the brothers are sitting in talking about how dog dirty Lucious is?  ALL.OF.THAT.  Gimme them chairs.

Yall see how them guts got yanked when he realized Cookie was in the Berkshires with Sweetface Malcolm?  To quote my most non-hood framily, he "in his feelings" big time.  ROFL!

Porsha...a mess.

I like JHud with loose sleeves and pencil skirts past her knees.  And tights.  Good wardrobe decisions.

Andre 'bout to get him some holy juice.

That's exactly how me and Dr. Punkin would show up if I was Cookie.  Or if she was Cookie.  She's shorter than me.  Like Cookie is shorter than her sister, Carol.

Lucious is such a dick.  He mad for real!  

"Seventeen years Bitch!  Everybody waiting on you to die Lucious!"

That was cold too.  But I get it.

Andre is overnight saved.  

That dress Cookie is wearing?  Seriously?  GIMME THAT DRESS!

Cookie...go with Malcolm and make jams in Vermont...wait...wrong show....

Andre quitting.  Now we all know Rhonda is not going to let that happen.  She is going to end up running Empire in the third season.  Watch.  

Lucious and his god complex again talking about music is the voice of god.  Lowercase.

So Lucious has two sons that have no problem showing they hate him.  He has one left.  The gay one.

THE PRODIGAL SON.

Ironical.  *GIGGLE*

Jamal is the most like Lucious than all of them.  He can hide his hatred as long as it serves his purpose.  Oh...Jamal is a monster. 

"Oh I get it.  You want me to throw your azz in the trashcan again."  Yall...I for real hate him.  If I saw him in real life...I would call him out his name!  "At least you walk like a man."

SERIOUSLY LUCIOUS?

This jam session was hot.  AFTER Jamal took over cuz um...Lucious...I mean...Quentin.  Cuz yall KNOW whenever he has a guitar in his hands he is straight QUENTIN!  (WHEN QUENTIN THREW THAT PHONE THO'!!!!!)

I couldn't shoot someone point blank range.  The blood splatter on my face would take me out.

This full fuchsia fur Cookie is rocking?  Yes.  (Who else thinks Lucious and Carol got it on?  And yall see how Carol went fixed herself a drink while Cookie and Lucious were talking?  Yeah...she's been there before.)

So Jamal is Big Red now huh?  His office hours 9 to 5?

Anika 'nem get it on in open rooms with beads as a barrier?  Really?  Okay.  Can we talk about how nasty she is for sleeping with her two weeks ago fiance's lil boy?  And Hakeem?  That boy needs to be tested for STD's STAT!  He does the most with his lil young chest.  Him need bleach baths.

Imma be honest with you.  If a doctor told me I had something that was going to kill me and then came back months later like...OOPS...my bad?  SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!

So now we have the Spike Lee camera moves mixed in with Al Pacino from "Devil's Advocate" as he realizes he's not dying.  Lucious on that heavyweight hate ego pill.

Now what Lucious did in that church house when JHud dared wear above the knee skirt...he wrong for that.  He so fake and evil.  Why would you keep hurting that child?  SERIOUSLY?

Poor Andre.

Why was Cookie in the house with Lucious?  I don't get this at all.

BUNKY!  He got his chain back from Hakeem.

OOOOOOOOH!  HE 'BOUT TO TELL IT!  HE KILLED BUNKY!  

KILL HIM COOKIE!  HE TALKING 'BOUT YOU AND YOUR BABIES!!!!!!!!!  THIS SOAP OPERA JUST SCARED ME WITH THAT PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES MESSIAH STUFF.  WE ALL NEED HOLY WATER.

Jamal is seriously his father's son.  Yall KNOW Lucious has gotten busy just like that on that desk before.  

KILL HIM COOKIE!  KILL HIM!  HE SHOULD DIE!  YOU SHOULD KILL HIM!

There were four B'what moments, three Daaaaaaaaaaayums and four WHAT THE FUGS in this episode.  There wasn't enough Cookie in this episode and I want my Sweetface back.

Whatchall got?    Who do you watch it with?  Who do you immediately call during commercials and when it's over?  LOL!  Me?  T-Rhonda.  Even though she straight TORTURED me last night!  LOL!

"Empire" Questions

I watched The Cookie Show again this morning and then turned on some music.  Seemed fitting that Jazzmine Sullivan's "Forever Doesn't Last Too Long" because that's what I was thinking.  Forever sure in the hell doesn't last too long anymore.

My thoughts on Lucious?  That dude has the type of issues I wouldn't want to be anywhere around.  Watching Cookie fall out of love with him has been eye opening to say the least.  See...had he not divorced her while she was in jail, she never would have.  She would have stayed married to him like Whitney and Bobby and being around that level of ugly on a regular basis would have surely turned her into a Cookie we wouldn't like.

Cookie is, above all else, a mother.  And she has shown that time and time again.  She will put her kids first no matter what and realizing what Lucious subjected them to while she was locked up has awakened her into a MAJOR MAMA BEAR.  

Sure, she's a woman and she has needs so I'm really wondering if Lucious asks her to marry him again, will she?  I mean...sure...she is digging Sweetface big time but she's a smart businesswoman and knows that Lucious is dying so if she marrieds him then she doesn't have to worry about anyone taking Empire away from her and her kids.

Lucious is so germy to me.  I don't like him at all.  Dude is the worst-er-est.

QUESTIONS:

1.  Do you think Lucious was lying about the baby?

2.  Do you think he will still ask Cookie to marry him?  Do you think she'll say yes?

3.  Do you think Cookie will accept that bipolar disorder is very real and her son has it?

4.  Do you think Lucious and Vernon are going to have a for real show down?

5.  What do you LIKE about Lucious?

6.  Besides Cookie...who is your favorite character and why?

7.  Will they ever find out what Boo Boo Kitty did to Elle?

8.  Lucious has offended each of his sons beyond reason.  Do yall think they are going to mount up and be done with him lead by Jamal and take over the company?  

9.  Were you surprised at how Andre's wife went in on Lucious about those shares?

10.  Who do YOU think should run the company?