Thank God for Girlfriends

Mama Knows It All

I've always been a girl's girl. I don't understand when women say they "don't hang with females." They are usually so proud of themselves, too, proclaiming it loud and proud, typically in the earshot of a group of men. I get it. Women are emotional. We often express our feelings more than men do. But to "not hang with females" over that? That just doesn't make sense to me. Maybe it's because I've been blessed to have amazing friendships with remarkable women who have my back. Oh, there's been … [Read more...]

Wedding Save the Dates: How and Why to Buy Them

Wedding Paper Divas, Mama Knows It All, Save the Date

When Terrence and I first started planning our wedding, I wasn't convinced that save the dates were necessary. I mean, isn't that what invitations were for? After doing a little more investigating, it became clear why Save the Dates were so important. That realization, of course, came with a task (as most wedding realizations do), so Terrence and I scoured the Wedding Paper Divas site to choose just the right save the date for our big day. Take a look at what we found, and find out why you'll … [Read more...]

Summer Hours: Better Than Unicorns

little girl in playground, preschooler

For the last 10 years, I've worked in a career where summer vacations did not exist. I worked in out of school time non-profits, which meant that when school was out, I was working all across the city with youths from kindergarten to the 8th grade. The summers were hard, but fulfilling, and I started to get used to not having them off. When I had Ayva, I started to long for free time during the warmer months. This summer, I have a totally new career, and, guess what, y'all? The company that I … [Read more...]

7 Yummy Yogurt Ideas

yogurt, things to do with yogurt, Mama Knows It All

I was never a yogurt person. It's only been since Ayva's been born that I started to appreciate the many virtues of the creamy, culture-rich, dairy treat. Seriously, what's not to love? It's rich in protein and calcium, and is great for your intestinal health. Not only that, it's delicious! So, what was holding me back from loving yogurt before? Well, I thought it was plain. I have since learned that yogurt is one of the most versatile foods out there. Since summer is coming up, I decided to … [Read more...]

Embracing the Year of the Tantrum

yearofthetantrum

Ayva has only been 4 for a little over a week, but I've already decided to call this "The Year of the Tantrum". It's not like I was caught off guard, though. We've clearly been on the road to Tantrum Town for the last couple of months. It seemed like every day I lost a little more of my sweet little 3-year-old, and gained a teeny tiny teenager, complete with the angst and the 'tude. I honestly don't think I've said, "sassy mouth", more times in my life than I have the in the past few weeks. This … [Read more...]

Book Review | Maya Angelou’s “Mom & Me & Mom”

maya angelou, book

My family knows me so well. This Mother's Day, in addition to gorgeous flowers, cards, and a delicious cup of well made coffee, Ayva and Terrence also gave me Maya Angelou's new book, "Mom & Me & Mom". The author, known for her compelling autobiographies, lets readers in on the colorful relationship that she had with her mother, Vivian Baxter. Although Angelou didn't live with her mother until she turned 13 years old, they still developed a close bond that they both seemed to depend on … [Read more...]