It doesn't suck!!! It also isn't the answer to eternal happiness for every single person either. Fact of the matter is it is probably a place that reflects most on the very ugly truth about onself and the success of it is directly related to how much of your shit you are willing to own up to. Marriage is a mirror but it is likely when your mate shows you who you are, you won't believe or except it. So compassion and trust is essential. In order to not take it really hard you gotta trust…

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 So I returned from vacation this year on my birthday. 34 baby. I didn't feel different in fact the infamous 30 had come and gone and I'm the same girl. I walked in the house to children who missed me...a lot. They sat me down in a chair and showered me with birthday cards. Now this was the part I was looking forward to, a parade of crafty creations laden with glitter and misspelled words.Much to my surprise the first card arrived and it was store bought. My mother said, "They picked…

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I haven't written one of these in over a year. You can blame it on my schedule, home life or even the distraction of social networks that require a much shorter attention span. No matter the reason, I decided to approach it a little different and oddly enough it was a lover's quarrel between me and the hubs that inspired me. While THOUROUGHLY enjoying a rare vacation together we tried to decide how we would use this newly acquired free time. I wanted to call the concierge, make reservations,…

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I haven't written one of these in over a year. You can blame it on my schedule, home life or even the distraction of social networks that require a much shorter attention span. No matter the reason, I decided to approach it a little different and oddly enough it was a lover's quarrel between me and the hubs that inspired me. While THOUROUGHLY enjoying a rare vacation together we tried to decide how we would use this newly acquired free time. I wanted to call the concierge, make reservations,…

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Today's experiment? How much can I do dead dog tired. I mean technically I haven't slept since 98 but the fact that I made it through the day is a true example of the miraculous. Though I don't wanna make it habit( as I neeeed my beauty rest) I have to admit a bit of a sick, twisted high I get from working myself to the bone, while running on "E". It's slightly addictive really, having very little to work with but managing to accomplish the days goals despite it all. I know you're thinking I'm… Continue

 

DEAR FANS

 

HERE WE ARE LESS THAN  50 DAYS FROM THE RELEASE OF OUR FOURTH ALBUM AND I HAVE REALLY BEEN REMINISCING ABOUT OUR JOURNEY BUT MOST OF ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US. WHEN WE STARTED WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHO OUR FANS WOULD BE, WE SIMPLY TOLD OUR STORY AND PERFORMED AS MUCH AS WE COULD. MANY TIMES IT SEEMED THAT WE WERE ALONE IN OUR OWN WORLD . IT SEEMED LIKE PEOPLE MORE THOUGHT THE CONCEPT OF A HUSBAND WIFE TEAM WAS CUTE RATHER THAN…

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Number two pencils? Check. Loose leaf notebook paper? Check. Snazzy backpack? For shizzle. Cell phone? PAUSE.



As a mother of three school age children ( three others still in diapers) I knew I would be buried under a mountain of back to school supply lists, uniforms and last minute summer reading reviews but nothing prepared me for the two hour plea from my eleven year old to buy him, dare I say it, a cell phone. I have already been deemed the…

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OKAY SO WE ALL AGREE THAT THE MUSIC BUSINESS IS REALLY SUFFERING IN THE CURRENT ECONOMY AND AFTER HAVING LIKE NINE DIFFERENT MAJOR RECORD COMPANIES THERE ARE NOW FOUR. MANY OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS ( EVEN THOSE WITH HIT SONGS) HAVE GONE INDEPENDENT. THE DAYS OF MYSTIQUE AND GRANDOUR AROUND ENTERTAINERS IS NO MORE. MILLION DOLLAR VIDEOS, HISTORY. INFLATED WARDROBE BUDGETS, FORGET ABOUT IT. THE LIFE OF A RECORDING ARTIST IS SLOWLY BUT SURLEY LOOKING LESS LIKE AN APPOINTMENT FROM THE HEAVENS AND… Continue

FIRST SOME FACTS



1. I AM NOT A HATER

2. I AM A BIG BEYONCE FAN

3. I AM NOT A PRUDE





NOW, I AM TRULY DISGUSTED AT HOW WE ALLOW OUR GIRLS TO LITERALLY LEARN HOW TO BE VIXENS BEFORE THEY ARE EVEN OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD. SOMEHOW THE CONCEPT OF A GLAMOUROUS , LARGER THAN LIFE, FEMALE SINGER WHO GIRLS COULD LOOK UP TO HAS TURNED INTO SOME SORT OF STRIPPER TRAINING MANUAL THAT I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH. AS WOMEN WE ALL WANT TO BE ALLURING AND… Continue

by Aja Graydon Dantzler



For some reason when you say the word homebirth, especially to black folks it conjures up some vision of an outhouse in the woods, a screaming sweating mother and an old lady holding tattered blankets with a pan of hot water. I don’t judge though because I was once that person. When I was pregnant with my first child I was new to Philadelphia and needed to find an OB/GYN. I asked my sister-in-law for a referral. She told me she had used a midwife for the birth… Continue

THERE WAS NOTHING EXPECTED OR TYPICAL ABOUT MY FOURTH PREGNANCY. EVERYTHING FROM EXTRA FATIGUE, LARGER THAN USUAL TUMMY, DOWN TO THE INTENSE APPETITE DIDN'T PREPARE ME TO RECEIVE THE NEWS THAT I WAS EXPECTING TWINS AND GET THIS NEWS ONLY TWO AND A HALF WEEKS BEFORE GIVING BIRTH TO THEM. EXPECTED OR NOT THERE THEY WERE MY TWO LITTLE PRINCESSES BORN 45 MINUTES APART, ONE THE GOOD OL FASHION WAY, THE OTHER BY WAY OF C-SECTION IN THE ONLY OTHER HOSPITAL BIRTH I'VE HAD SINCE MY FIRST… Continue

EVERYBODY HAS HEARD OF THE TERRIBLE TWO'S, WELL WE ARE KNEE DEEP IN A DOUBLE DOSE.

AS MISERABLE AS I GUESS I SHOULD BE, I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT LAUGH AT HOW OFF THE HOOK MY MONKEY'S ARE. FRICK AND FRACK AS THEY ARE AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN ARE NOT ONLY TURNING INTO LITLLE MONSTERS BUT ARE IN DIRE NEED OF BEING POTTY TRAINED. THIS MORNING FRICK ( LANAA) TOLD ME " I NO WANNA POTTY MOMMY". WELL I MIGHT BE ABLE TO SWALLOW THAT BIT OF DECISIVENESS IF SHE WOULD KEEP HER DIAPER ON. ANY TIME SHE CAN GET… Continue

IF YOU KNOW ME AT ALL YOU KNOW THAT I THINK THE NEW OBSESSION IS CHILDREN. ANYONE WHO CAN THINK OF A HIGH END BABY PRODUCT CAN SCAM THEIR WAY INTO ALOT OF MONEY. NOT TO MENTION THE PROMISE OF READING BABIES AND TURNING YOUR THIRD GRADER IN TO A MATH GENIUS FOR $19.99.



DON'T GET ME WRONG THO, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH RAISING A HIGH ACHIEVER. IF YOU HAVE A CHILD WITH A NATURAL THIRST TO LEARN, NURTURE IT BY ALL MEANS. IF YOU GOT ONE THAT NEEDS PUSHING, PUSH AWAY. MOST GREAT PEOPLE… Continue

YES I SPELLED IT GOTDAMN.

MISSION #85483395.....FIND FRESH VEGGIES IN THE HOOD



I BEGAN MY SEARCH AT CORNER OF "EVERY INNER CITY BLOCK USA". I WALKED IN TO THE SMELL OF CIGARETTE SMOKE AND COOKING MEAT. I BEGAN TO CHECK THE AISLES. I SEE COUNTLESS OVERPRICED CANNED GOODS WITH DUST ON THE TOPS BUT NO VEGGIES. I QUICKLY SPY A LUNCH COUNTER AT THE BACK. SURELY IF MEALS ARE BEING SERVED, THEY ARE BALANCED RIGHT? I OBSERVE...HMMMMM...ARE THE ONIONS ON A CHEESTEAK CONSIDERED A… Continue

OKAY LET ME SET THE SCENE........DECEMBER 30TH 2009...TWO HOUR RIDE TO AUGUSTA FROM ATL GA AND THE HUBBY,MY BEST FRIEND(COUSIN) AND I ARE ARMED WITH ONE OF THE DEFINITIVE HIP HOP RECORDS OF OUR GENERATION. WE ARE STOKED CAUSE WE GET TO LISTEN TO IT IN ALL OF ITS VULGAR GLORY WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT OUR KIDS HEARING. WE KNOW EVERY SONG. WE RAP ALONG WITH ALL THE LYRICS. BY THE TIME WE GET HALF WAY THROUGH IT , WE HAVE SAID NIGGA ENOUGH TIMES TO MAKE PAUL MOONEY BLUSH, USED EVERY KIND OF GUN FROM… Continue

MOST IF NOT ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT FATIN AND I HAVE SIX CHILDREN AND THOUGH WE ARE QUITE PROUD OF OUR LITTLE BROOD WE ARE DECIDING TO TURN IN OUR FERTILITY CARD AND MOVE ON. WE HAVE DECIDED THAT A VASECTOMY IS THE WAY TO GO. I APPLAUD MY HUSBAND FOR STANDING UP AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY YET AGAIN FOR THE FUTURE OF HIS FAMILY.



ALTHOUGH WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS REPEATEDLY OVER THE PAST YEAR I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL A LITTLE NOSTALGIC AND MAYBE EVEN SAD THAT OUR BABY MAKING DAYS ARE COMING TO… Continue

OKAY SO FATIN AND I HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR APPROACH TO KIDDIE DISCIPLINE. RICHARD PRYOR JOKED THAT IF HE EVER SAW THE TREE THAT HIS SWITCH WAS PULLED FROM HE'D PULL IT UP FROM THE ROOTS. THE MOVIE ANTOINE FISHER SUGGEST THE CULTURALLY AGGRESSIVE NATURE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WHILE DISCIPLINING THEIR CHILDREN IS A SYMPTOM OF SLAVERY AND THE STRICT AND CRUEL CONDITIONS OF OUR HISTORY HERE. I HAD A MOTHER WHO WOULD MORE LIKELY SEND YOU TO THE CORNER THAN PULL OUT A BELT BUT NOW THAT I… Continue