Rantings of a Creole Princess

Raphael Saadiq & D'Angelo: "You Should Be Here"

I'm on my way to the airport to pick up my husband who has been gone since Thursday golfing with his father for Father's Day.

It should come as no surprise that I've missed him like crazy and always find myself appreciating him in his absence even more than normal.  It's like...I don't even realize how much I require him to be close enough to know I'll see him at the end of the day until one of us is traveling.

My anticipation at seeing his face has me grinning from ear-to-ear already.  I combed my hair and put on something cute even though it's Monday, my off day, and I'm not going anywhere nor am I even getting out of the car other than to move to the passenger seat.  I'm not putting on lipgloss because when I kiss him...I don't want to leave any on him because I know he hates that.  LOL!

There is something about this level of security and cherishing I wish everyone knew and I look forward to the day when more of the people I love have found someone to love as much as I love him and he loves me.  I have many family, framily and friends blessed with this same type of love and I'm so happy that, in my world, it's not an anomaly to see good men BEING good men.  Good sons, good brothers, good husbands, good fathers, good friends, good employers and employees.

So many in my life have lead by example and I'm so blessed my expectations matched up with my reality.

I wish you love and I hope those of you who have it recognize your blessing and focus on reciprocating and creating a happy, loving home.  Now bye...I'm going get my BOOSCHNICKA CUZ I MISSED HIM SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When sharing goes wrong...

I went to go see the independent film, "Frances Ha" the other day at Bethesda Row's theater.  The theater has been remodeled and it's all kinds of top notch fanciness.  This place could seriously become a straight up club with movies now.  There is a full bar, real food, seating areas, etc. in the lobby and the seats in the theaters are luxurious leather, wide and comfy as all get out.

Spending Time with My Dad

When I was a kid, hiking in the woods was something we did pretty regularly.  My father pretty much was at his most comfortable outside and he prided himself on knowing things about being in the woods that other people didn't know.  It was kinda his thing you know?  We'd be walking and listening and then he'd say something like, "Stay alert, we're near water."  Cuz he knew all the critters in the woods eventually hit up the water and well...it's their woods so they could be headed that way at any time.

10 Tabs I Currently Have Open in Chrome

The concept of selling out as it relates to writing and making money is puzzling to me. -  How to Write for Money Without Selling Out Too Much 

LOL!  Don't hurt nobody Nerd Girl! -  Is Nerd Girl Gonna Have to Choke a *$%!#?

I've never really had boobs so I guess this was much less of an issue for me.  LOL!  -  What No One Ever Tells You About Mastectomies & Intimacy

I get what he's saying. - Be His Beyonce

SO PROUD OF HER! - SHAMEEKA AYERS

I'm thinking about these too much so I must just need to go buy them already. - ROUND GLASS APOTHECARY TANK

I finished a idea but I'm not happy with the ending.  Totally know I'm overthinking it but hey... - 5 WAYS TO DEVELOP A BOOK IDEA

I don't know why I have this open.  It's been open for 2 days now. - Nominations are now open for the 2014 TED Prize

I know I try not to cuss in front of kids.  This lady's struggle is REAL.  LOL! - Yes, I'm a Mom and Yes, I Swear Sometimes -- Big Fucking Deal, Right?

I need to deadhead some bulbs and wanted to make sure I was pruning them right. - How to Deadhead Bulb Flowers

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

I hope you're out enjoying life!!!!!!!!  We kicked it on a mountainside and now we're about to grill!  (Translation...I'm about to grill...The Robinator shall be posted up watching baseball.  LOL!)

HAPPY SATURDAY!

 

"Covers"

Sometimes I find myself sharing bits of my story with people who don't know me just to get a reaction out of them.  Just to show them that the shit they thought...can be shattered in an instant with the truth.

You can't hide and you shouldn't want to.  Who you are is who you are and...if you can't live solidly within your truth...then hell...you're just hurting yourself to get along and make someone else feel comfortable with YOUR truth.

Ms. Mingo

I went to a school today to speak to the students for career day.

Teachers don't make enough money and their summers should be all expense paid trips to wherever the heck they want to go.

Randoms of a Creole Princess

I have a deadline today and one at the end of this month that is knocking me for a loop.

Square iPad Credit Card Register

If I owned a store, booth, kiosk, etc.  I would SO buy this!  This is seriously the hottest thing EVER!!!!!!!!!!

Square Debuts Its Latest Hardware, Stand, A $299 Card Swiper For iPad Registers

 

Easy Chicken Piccata - Gluten Free

A friend told me that she's pays attention to what I eat when we're together and eating.  She said it was an eye opener that there are so many healthy choices that taste good and that she's been shaking up her weekly menu at home in her weight loss journey.  

She made me wonder about some of the other conversations I've had with friends about how we all have regular rotation menus during busy work weeks and I thought...hmmmmm...maybe that's it.  Maybe people kinda get stuck with making what they make weekly and never change up.

During the week I go for quick dishes but still healthy and flavorful.  You know...fast food at home.  Everything in moderation.

So I'm going to make a quick video (shooting for under two minutes) of some of the foods we eat all week.

Do you find that YOU stick with the same menu during the week?  Or do you mix it up too?  

This is Chicken Piccata.  It takes a full 20 minutes to make and it's delicious.  

Any dishes you'd like to see made into a quick video? 

Yesterday...

...I was so sad.

If My Mommy Was Alive

If my mommy was alive I'd probably have picked her up from the airport 'round 'bout Tuesday.  She'd be all excited and jittery about coming and she'd be in new stuff from head-to-toe in that simple, country folk way she had about her.  See...when she was going somewhere she considered "big time" she believed in wearing all new stuff.  If it was just jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt I bet it was brand spanking new right down to her sneakers cuz baaaaaaaby...coming to visit her only baby girl and son-in-law all the way up in the DC area on a plane was BIG.TIME.

Leaning on a Nurturer Too Much is a Trap of Your OWN MAKING!

We have different people in our lives for different reasons.  Life is pretty awesome that way.  There is pretty much room for everyone if you make room within your family, framily and friends.

We have the fun people in our life and the serious people who give us good advice.  We have career minded acquaintances and we have the health conscious friends.  We have the sports friends and we have the industry people we use as resources when we need help.  We have inspiring friends and we have friends who will run up on someone for you with a bat and a flashlight if need be.  We have the gossiping friends.  We have the fashion and beauty friends.

And...we have the nurturing family, framily and friends.

I'm NOT dress shopping!

:)

 

Clutter Anxiety

Every now and then I have so much to do that I don't know where to start.  And then...I look around me and any amount of clutter robs me of breath.  Like...I seriously start feeling the walls close in on me.  I feel like I'm never going to be able to accomplish any of the things I have to accomplish if I don't do something about the clutter around me.  The magazines, papers and books in my reading pile have to be straightened perfectly.  The remotes have to be cleaned, there can't be any dust nearby or dog hair on the sofa.

The sofa blankets suddenly need to be washed and the stairs need vacuuming.  I go through my purse and toss out any crap.  Before long, I've de-cluttered everything I can see and done all of the little random things I've put off doing because they weren't important.

Then...I can breathe again.

And realize...I haven't done any of the things I HAVE to do.

Odd huh?  Odd that you can do and do and do and actually not get anything DONE.

Just me?

2010 Ben Marco Malbec

I don't know much but I know what I like and I know I like this wine.  

2010 Ben Marco Malbec

Any new gems you've found lately that you'd like to share?

Truth

5 Linx Invitation

Dear friend:

Thank you so much for thinking of me, AGAIN, and sharing with me, AGAIN, how I could make so much money by doing 5 Linx.  I didn't answer your first three messages regarding thinking that you'd simply figure out that it's not for me.  I answered your fourth message politely and courteously letting you know for SURE that 5 Linx was not something I was interested in doing.

That said, I'm sure you can understand why I think your FIFTH message regarding could possibly be taken as pushy so I'll put my response here in hopes we never have to revisit again.

I have no interest in doing 5 Linx.  I hope it is working for you the way you believe it will.  I wish you MONUMENTAL success with your 5 Linx business.  I will stick to doing the things I do.  Housewifing and filmmaking.  Your recruiting energy will be better used on someone else.

Oh...and just as an FYI, should you decide to start an Amway, Herbalife, Mary Kay, Avon, Juice Plus, Primerica etc. business and are in the process of attempting to get others to start a business within those businesses as well...I'm not interested in any of those opportunities either.  I'm not saying that I will not stock up on some Skin-So-Soft from Avon or flip through the book to see if they are still selling my mother's fave Cherry Jubilee lipstick mind you...I just have no interest in SELLING it.

But again...TOTALLY wishing you success with it.

All the best,

M

 

SIP:  You do realize that if you try AGAIN I'll get to answer right?  RIGHT.  :)

Them STANKIN' Plankings for Abs!

Last weekend I was showing a couple of girlfriends how to do a proper plank.  One of them scrunched her face up and was like..."That looks like it's hard to do.  What else ya got?"  

And I told her that this is why she is not allowed to workout with me because I'd spend too much time side eyeing her instead of my hit it quick strength training.

Yall know I'm 43 years old and I'm vain as hell.  I go out of my way to try and keep my stride as STANK as possible, MY WAY.

I LURVE planks.  I love how hard it makes my abs feel.  Like...I can seriously feel my personal strength in the direct center of me.  SO HOT!  Working out for me is my mediation.  You know...my quiet time.  I like to do it alone and get it out of the way quickly.

I have a friend that I made at the gym who has been trying to get me to "train" her for a minute now.  I constantly tell her that I don't have any initials behind my name so I can't train nobody for nothing and I'm not trying to get sued.  LOL!  She says she'd never sue me and I stick with it cuz the only body I'm confident I know well enough to keep in shape is MINE.  Oh...and once you leave the gym...you're on your own.  I can't control what you're eating so there is no telling how you're stacking up the odds AGAINST keeping your stride STANK with your diet.

Too many factors.  TOO.MANY.FACTORS.  I can't train nobody nuttin.  Hell...I can't even train Jaru and Lucy to sit.  

SIP:  Unruly azz dogs.

Do you do planks?  Do you understand that strength feeling I'm talking about?  Those of you who workout regularly...do you prefer working out with friends or solo? Would you be comfortable training someone?

#WiiU Lego City Undercover Review!

Yall know Nintendo knows I'm a big kid at heart and sends me free stuff to try out right?  Right.  Well...last week the FedEx guy dropped off a new game for me to play and it's been sitting here neglected while I do some real life stuff to keep everyone off my back.  

You know...responsibilities and whatnot.  The joys of being an adult.  UGH!

So...I called in an expert to help me and he got right down to it giving me an opportunity to continue working while he took it on a test drive for me.

When he finished playing, he allowed me to interview him so I could add his findings to a post about the game.

Did you enjoy playing the game?

Expert:  YES!

What's it basically about?

Expert:  It's about a policeman named Chase McCain who is solving a big crime.  He has to catch a lot of criminals and take them to jail.  He's involved in car crashes and he has to help people when they ask him to.

What kinds of things do you get to do?

Expert:  Jump flagpoles, chase people, drive cars among a lot of other things.

What was your favorite part so far?

Expert: Chasing the people because I enjoy chasing people at school.

Are there any parts which you found particularly difficult?

Expert:  Yes.  Jumping the flagpoles is pretty difficult.  

Would you recommend this game?

Expert:  Yes.  I'd recommend it to all my friends!

How do yall think he did?  It was his first interview as an 8 year old but I seriously predict big things in his future as he has quite a way with words!

How to Power Wash and Stain Your Deck - SPRING CLEANING

On Saturday, we power washed our deck:  How to Power Wash Your Deck - SPRING CLEANING

On Sunday, we power washed our fence while I started staining our deck after lightly sanding it and then blowing off all the dust from the sanding.

As I was staining the deck with a brush...SOMEBODY was down below complainig that I was dripping stain.

SOMEBODY almost got a can of stain dumped on his head.

My Prized Possessions

Someone asked me recently to name two of my prized material possessions.

My answer?

My laptop and my generator.

And I was so serious.

 

 

 

 

 

What would YOU answer?

My Life Coach

I was contacted by a Life Coach who wants to increase her business.  She said she'd give me some life coaching for free and I could tell you guys about my experience.

Hey...I don't knock anyone's hustle and I think it's a great idea in order to market your business to others and I hope she finds someone to take her on because I believe in dream building.

But I'm not the life coach needing kinda chick.  I'm my own life coach.

I know good and well what I should and should not be doing and I also know that the only person I'm going to listen to when I'm ready to make a decision is ME.  No matter how many times someone else tells me something...I'm not ready to do it until I AM ready to do it.  

So yeah...I know myself well enough to know that this would fail with me as the subject.

What about you?  Do you think YOU'RE the type who could benefit from a Life Coach?  

Anybody wanna pay me $100 a week so I can tell them what they need to be doing once a week?  No?  Yall suck.

Amazing Opportunity for a Budding Reality Show Producer!

This weekend The Robinator and I will powerwash and stain our deck.

If you know anything about us...you know that DIY projects done together are television show worthy.  There will be lots of eye rolling and bleeps, things will be thrown and well...um...erra...there probably won't be dinner cooked behind it once it's all said and done.

So yeah...if you dream of producing a hit reality show...you are welcome to show up tomorrow around 7am.  Oh yeah...bring protective head gear and have your bob and weave game tight.

How to Build a Raised Bed Garden Box

Aiight...getting the dirt ready!

Paver Patio Argument Number 62

Guests in the 13700 Guest Bedroom

At 13700 everyone knows that we have an open door to family, framily, friends and lost souls who need time before they can get organized.

The guest bedroom door is closed right at this minute to give some poor, lost souls a bit of privacy from our eyes and I'm hoping that in the very near future I will have the energy and time required to help them find their place in the world.

Our 5 Day Forecast

...is killing me.  

IT'S KILLING ME!!!!!

 

WRITE IT DOWN, MAKE IT HAPPEN!

I, Monica Mingo, am not going to purchase another dress until I have worn ALL of the dresses in my closets I've yet to wear.

 

SIP: 

Getting Ready for Snow!

SIP:  I HATE SNOW!

We got snow coming.  According to Rico's last update, it will start this evening and end tomorrow evening.His snow accumulation guesses are as follows:

West of Loudoun & Frederick counties:   12-18"
Loudoun & frederick counties:  8-12"
Fairfax, Montgomery, Howard & Baltimore counties: 6-10"
PG & AA counties: 4-8"
Charles & Calvert & Fredericksburg area & inside beltways:  1-4"
St. Marys down to the northern neck of Va : 0-1"

According to the hype of the local newscasters we should probably expect about 18 feet with a mixture of fire from the bowels in the pits of HELL!

We are prepared and don't really expect to have to do much.  I need to go out and buy the essential food item we keep on top of our fridge but that's about it.

Yes.  I said essential.

Around October I always buy a few containers of ice melt.  I get the containers and not the bags because it's easier to store the container.  The bag gets all floppy and some of them aren't resealable so yeah...the containers work best in my opinion.  I buy them in October so I always have some.  If I actually waited until there was a storm prediction...I'd be stuck like Chuck.

SIP:  Why is Chuck always stuck?  Does he not have critical thinking skills?

We get the pet kind cuz we kinda don't want out dogs to lick poison off their feet and die.

Go figure.

We have shovels, of course.  One of those really nice ergonomic ones for the real snow shoveler and an adequate one for the person who just really goes out and moves snow around inch by inch cuz they don't want to be out there in the first place.

SIP:  *HARD.STARE*

Each of our vehicles have a snow brush/ice scraper tool, although seriously...everyone knows I AM NOT going out in that mess.  You'll pass by our house and my truck will be right out front with the windshield wipers pulled out.

I'm not going out in that.

We have two flashlights in each main room of our home and we keep our battery stockpile pretty solid.  I'm kinda weird about batteries.  My parents were the type that tried to get you to believe that if you put the batteries in the freezer they'd work again once the batteries ran out in your battery operated toy/radio/etc.  Even though I now know it's cuz they were happy to have some time where the noise producing object didn't work...I still keep lots of batteries on hand cuz I said (in my Hushpuppy voice making muscles) WHEN I GROW UP IMMA ALWAYS HAVE NEW BATTERIES!

Because of this...I buy the super huge container of either Duracel or Equalizer batteries in each size we use.

SIP:  Isn't it crazy how your childhood issues can creep up into anything?  Just NUTS!

We have a phone that "don't take no juice" and a battery operated radio.  We also have a generator and several cans of gas at the ready.

We have candles and I already have our food and water for the week so we're good.  I'll probably cook everything today and have it in the fridge in case the power goes out and we're using the microwave on the generator to reheat.

Once again, I'm out of the one essential food item so yeah...I'll head out and get more of that.

While I'm out, I'll fill up my truck with gas cuz you never know what will happen and people go gas crazy swiftly.

I will probably go down to the basement and get all of our extra blankets and comforters and put them in the guest bedroom in case the power is out at bedtime and we can put extra blankets on our bed.

All in all we're pretty good in the emergency preparedness department so we never need to do much to be comfortable in a storm. KNOCK ON WOOD.  The biggest thing that happened for us in a storm before was this:  Pepco...Montgomery County, MD...Derecho Storm...HOT.AS.HELL!

If you're in the DMV...are you ready?  Do you have much to do in order to GET ready?  Do you panic shop?  What's your ESSENTIAL item you have to have in the house?  LOL!  

Are the rest of you pretty prepared for an emergency in your area?  Do yall panic shop?  Yall got batteries?

#WiiU FUN!!!!!!!!!!

Yall know we're in the middle of some serious cold here on the East coast and I feel like pretty much everyone is sick of it.  The sun can be out but it's freezing outside and really...I'll be honest when I say I totally get affected by the lack of outside time in the winter.

The kid is struggling.

When Nintendo contacted me and asked if they could come out and throw a game playing party with some of my friends, I said heckie yeah just to have some fun cuz again...I'm struggling.

So they sent out two awesome guys, Dewan and Devir, with healthy platters from Whole Foods, beer, wine and water (cuz that's all we drink at 13700 other than coffee and tea) and my friends rolled in and BAAAAAAAAAABY!  You'd think we were in a park playing kickball with chicken on the grill the amount of fun we had.  

There were prizes and crazy laughter and MAJOR competition.  I ain't saying no names...but somebody was up in here turned up to SUPER SERIOUS when it came to the Luigi's Haunted Mansion on the Nintendo Land game.

Again...I ain't saying no names.

And somebody ELSE was up in here dancing like they were on line pledging all over again.

Again...I ain't saying no names.

The poor kids barely got a chance to play anything because, as we've shown time and time again, the adults I know...KNOW HOW TO GET DOWN AND HAVE A GOOD.DARN.TIME!

Now...there's this one game that I love and, of course, neither E nor The Robinator would ever play it with me cuz they're wussies.  It's called SiNG Party.  Now...when E and I first tried it out...I saw that the song, "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus was on it and I tortured him by singing the EN-TIRE-SONG super loud with swaying and my rendition of faux ballet dance moves.

He almost died.  You know...cuz he's 14 and cool and I'm 43 and cool-ER.

SIP:  That's your story huh?

N E WAY...

So I didn't know about the party mode of the game.  See...when you're having a party...one person gets to sing karaoke style.  The other people watch the television screen and does what it says to do on the screen. So there's dancing and background singing that I didn't know about.  YES!  YES!  YES!  And it's not like sway dancing...it's serious cardio dancing.  Getting your EN.TIRE groove on!  We were like...OH YEAH!  LET'S GO 'HEAD AND GET THIS WORKOUT IN TOO!

Most of the kids declined to join us because they are evil and un-cool.  LOL!  It's not their fault...we're just of a cooler, funner generation.  LOL!

So, you'll notice that our WiiU is in the family room where I'm usually posted up.  That was intentional cuz I LURVE this gaming system!  When you're child-free, as we are, you don't normally have games, etc. going on in your house but we figure...hey...why should parents get to have all the fun?  LOL!  So yup...we play it and have a BLAST!

I loved all of the information Dewan and Devir gave us about the system.  The biggest hit was when they told us that if a kid or Monnie was playing a game and their parent or Robby walked into the room and watched to watch the news...all they had to do was switch it so the kid could continue playing on the game pad only and not the television.  That has probably saved lives in households all over already.  LOL!

Thanks to all of my friends who came out!  The party was supposed to be from 2pm - 5pm.  Of course the last of the guests didn't leave until 10pm.  LOL!  Why?  Cuz that's how we get down-T.  We had a good dang time.

Thanks to Nintendo, as always, for sending me a free gaming system and games.  Thanks for the catered food and thanks for not weirding out when I was adamant about no sodas and only healthy food options in my home.  

Thanks to my friends and framily who all came out and had a good time.  Yall rocksie!  Yall can come play anytime and, when you get your own, let's hook up online and play.  Well...everybody 'cept TravelDiva.  She be in full combat mode!  LOL!  Talking 'bout zombie apocalypse and whatnot and why we gotta run faster.  My rested heart rate just sped up just THINKING about it!  ROFL!

Do you have a WiiU?  What games do you suggest we pick up?  Do you play with your kids?

Dream On

ValentiMe's Day Card Tradition at 13700

Every year The Robinator gives me two cards for ValentiMe's Day.  

A lovely heart felt one...and one like this:

My New Pajama Philosophy

Gilligan & O'Malley® Women's V-Neck Tee

Gilligan & O'Malley® Women's Knit Sleep Pant

In my world...a new pair of lounging pajamas makes everything better.  :)

Shelly had these on last week and I had to have them.  The pants have pockets AND a drawstring.  Since it's cold...I'm wearing a long sleeve t-shirt under my shirt.

And I feel REALLY, REALLY awesome.  

When's the last time YOU bought new pajamas?  Do they make YOU feel good too?

Circle Completed

Pics from San Diego!

Is _____ Obama throwing shade at such-and such?

What do you think she's thinking as Beyonce kisses the President?

Did she roll her eyes at Boehner?

Is he mad cuz Clinton is trying to get more camera time?

What was Jay Z thinking as Beyonce kissed the President?

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!

It's getting kind of annoying to see people trying to put words into the Obama family's mouths.  I mean...how do folks think they can claim to know what someone is thinking based off a picture or clip from a bad angle?  Everybody is trying to get a caption this or a caption that looking for something negative from yesterday.  I swear...it's annoying.

Why does EVERYTHING have to have a negative angle too?

And you're crazy if you don't think they are well aware that the camera is on them 24/7 when they are in public.  I'm sure they are well versed in how to fix their face.  Stop trying to make ish outta nothing!

UGH!

 

My Fake Boyfriend...Timothy. (I wonder what he's doing now?)

When I was in high school, everybody had a boyfriend.

Except me.

My father didn't play that.

I never got to go to any parties, dances, etc. unless they were FAMILY events.

And only certain family members counted as family.  LOL!

I got tired of being teased and ish so I made up a boyfriend from my old middle school, Timothy.

He played basketball, was an honors student and we talked on the phone every.single.night.

I was all blah-zey-blah when I spoke about him.

I don't remember why or when...but I remember we "broke up."

I was fake heartbroken for about three days.

I "broke up" with him cuz this one chick kept asking me questions about him and seriously...I hadn't thunk it all out when I first mentioned his existence.

Yeah...good old Timothy.

I've resurrected him lots of times since high school.  Dude being too persistent when I wasn't interested?  Timothy.  Weird work guy shooting me googly eyes?  Timothy.  Policeman who just gave me a ticket and wants to know if I'm single?  Timothy.

Good old Timothy.

LOL!

Whatchall got?

Robby's Grandmommy has left us...

We are currently in Mississippi putting Robby's Grandmommy to rest.  She left us on Tuesday, January 8th and she left a sudden void with all those who loved her and were blessed to have her love.  

When the call came, my darling, sweet, loving husband broke down.  He was so shattered...it cut me to my core.  I would have done anything...and I mean ANYTHING to have him not hurt as much as he was hurting.  As I held him while the pain wracked through his body...I rocked him and prayed for God to send him visions of better, happier times to get him to the other side of his grief.  

Within a couple of hours we were on our way to the airport so he could get home to see about his mommy, who'd spent the previous day shopping with HER mommy...who'd left us that morning.

*sigh*

I couldn't catch that flight with him because I needed to make arrangements for Lucy but my heart was heavy as I kissed him and hugged him tight through his tears and I watched him walk into the airport to go home to a new tapestry...one which no longer included hugs, kisses and long talks with his Grandmommy although many lovely memories will always remain.  

He was so hurt.  My baby...he was so, so hurt.

My Grandmommy-in-law's obituary contains the following:

She loved the outdoors and being able to enjoy a great sunny day. While she didn’t like to travel, she was always up on current events and knew what was going on in the world. She was always looking out for the neighbors and family in the community. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh at the everyday things in life. She never missed a phone call and was always a pillar of strength to her children and taught us to appreciate hard work. She lived a much uncomplicated life in a very complicated time. She loved listening to gospel music and reading her Bible. She liked things simple and tried to live her life that way as much as possible. She enjoyed visits from many family members and friends.  She was married for 42 years when her husband passed away in 1989. 

And that...is how I knew her as well.  The first time I met her...she hugged me tight and kissed me right above my jawline softly.  She was warm and soft with the loveliest sense of humor.  The most important thing to her was that  her family was happy and healthy.  She knew how to LOVE.

As you're reading this...we are getting ready to go lay her to rest with honor, dignity and, above all else, love.  Her memory will always remind us to be kind and nurturing.  Her legacy to us will be to strive to be the person who brings out the best in others.  

As you're reading this...I hope you're smiling and not sad for her family.  She wouldn't want that.  She'd want you to have a "good old time" and smile.  She'd want your life to be of comfort and of purpose.

Thank you for reading this.  My husband thanks you as well.

Pre-Order The Coalition!

You can pre-order it from Target, Walmart and Amazon so far!  

I wish I could stop grinning...but I can't.  It's available in Blu-ray and DVD and there are lots of bonus DVD extras to include commentary, screening Q&A, audience reaction, interviews of some of our team members and even a deleted scene which we thought would be an alternate ending but the focus group audience hated it so we took it out.  LOL!  

Such an amazing journey and we've learned so, so, so much since "sisters." and our other short films on the Training Camp DVD.  

I know I should say more but seriously...I can't.  I'm just so flipping happy.  

Please tell your family, framily and friends about it. Share our journey and let them know how we've been writing things down and making them happen and that we believe they can do the same.  

Yall wanted options.  We're trying to give you some.  And you know good and well we're working hard to provide it to you.

Thank you.

Love,

Monnie

 

Convo at 13700

Left picture...age 10.  Right picture...age 43.

Me: Wow...good thing I grew into my nose huh?

Robby: And your teeth.

Me: And my teeth.

Robby: And your ears.

Me: *HARD.STARE* Anything else you'd like to add?

Robby: *Sensing danger* Naw...that's about it.

SIP: So NOBODY is gonna mention the eye bags?

Lytro Camera

One of my Christmas gifts was the Lytro Light Field Camera.  

It's pretty cool in a novelty kind of way because it takes "living" pictures according to the camera description.  See...you can change the focus of the picture by shifting all of the light in the picture to one spot.  Interesting to say the least.

Check out some of my pictures:  https://pictures.lytro.com/lyt-12115042850094/stories/93990 

Click on one and then click on different parts of the picture.  Then...you can zoom in or out and crop it for the perfect picture.

Cool huh?

Heated Foot Rest...YES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!

Toasty Toes Heated Footrest

Okay...seriously...I want this.  Thank you in advance. 

Different Kind of Pebbles

My husband doesn't like going out on a school night.

He never has.

It used to be a source of contention but I figured out it tastes like chicken and just went without him.  Simple.

Increasingly I find that I don't like going anywhere without him. Especially since my plus 1 of choice moved away from the area.

It's free shrimp season I know. WE know. But we're old and ornery and like to do what WE want to do.

Last night...instead of going have free shrimp, we bowed out of something and went to see "Silver Linings Playbook."

On a school night.

It was all Robby's idea.

I was all shocked and whatnot but I just got movie cute dressed and we rolled out. The movie was sooooooooooooooo good and we had an awesome time just going to the movies on a Wednesday night in our little sleepy area.

One the way home...

Robby: Were you surprised that I suggested we go somewhere on a school night?

Me: Well...yeah...now that you mentioned it. What's that all about?

Robby: I just want to be better. It was nice to do something different and we didn't have to get dressed up.  And besides...I'm trying to get in all my votes before the end of the year so I can be HUSBAND OF THE YEAR this year.

Me: It was really nice. Thank you for taking me to the movies but now that I know it was all a ploy to influence the judges...

And we laughed all the way home discussing the end of the year/world/etc.

And we drove home sleepy, took the doggies out and went to bed.

Little things.

Different kind of pebbles.

Monnie & Robby against the world.

Do something nice and out of the ordinary for your guy/girl/babies/mom/dad/doggie.  You'll love it.

ATE.UP: Gun Control or Mental Illness?

I've been staying as far away from the specific details of the latest tragedy as I can.  When I heard about it I burst into tears horrified, simply horrified for all those poor babies and then...I stayed as far away as possible.  No news, no news channels, no NPR.

I just couldn't.  I found that I couldn't deal with any additional details.  I didn't want to know anything else.  Some say this was sticking my head in the sand.  I say thank God I'm not so desensitized about life and humanity where hearing about every detail of this horror isn't something I'm able to do without internalizing some major pain.

I just couldn't.

In the days which have followed, starting, unfortunately, on Friday, folks started a debate about gun control.  All over Facebook people were posting about their right to bear arms being in the Constitution.  Almost as an afterthought...the debate about mental illness awareness began as well as the details of the shooter's history of mental illness surfaced.

And some folks had drawn a line in the sand calling for either/or.

Better gun control.

Better assistance for mental illness.

My father was a gun enthusiast.  You name it...he had it.  I've very comfortable around guns because I've always known how to properly handle them.  I was taught at an early age to break down, clean, oil, put back together and properly store several types of guns.  He had a locked cabinet for his long barrel guns and a lock box for all but one of his handguns.  

And he slept with one under his pillow.

Cory Booker on Food Stamp Budget - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?

Cory Booker has been in the news attempting to bring awareness to the use of food stamps.  I was pretty curious about it so I started reading up on his challenge and what he's learned as well.

The first thing I learned is that food stamps aren't meant to provide all the food for you and your family when things are hard.  They are provided as a SUPPLEMENT to what you already have so they assume you have a minimum income.

Cool.

Here's a basic snapshot of how much you'd get:

So...if Robby and I qualified for food stamps, we'd have to meet certain income requirements first.  We have a two person household so we couldn't make more than in this chart for two people:

So...we couldn't have a gross monthly income of more than $1,640 which comes to $19,680 a year. 

I'm not going to say too much about how having that as a maximum income wouldn't even cover our basic living expenses like our mortgage, electricity, water, etc. cuz really...that kinda depresses me with what you COULDN'T do on that MAXIMUM qualifying salary.

MOVING.ON.

So...we would get $367 a month to feed ourselves with and that's the MAXIMUM amount we could get so we might not get that.  That said, we'd have about $12 a day to feed ourselves all of our meals.  Two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners...plus snacks.

And Jaru and Lucy wouldn't be covered.

When I sit down and think about what $12 buys...it makes my head hurt.  

So...I told Robby how much we'd get and he did some quick head math and was like...so about $90 a week?  I think we could do it.  As the grocery shopper in our household who actually knows how much we spend on food...I know we couldn't without some SERIOUS, serious changes.

I started thinking like my mother, the queen of a big azz bag of rice in a fiberglass type bag, and I felt like we could probably eat but we'd be doing LOTS of dried beans and rice with chicken from the rooter to the tooter AND...I'd have to seriously grow stuff.  Like...I use a LOT of fresh, organic basil.  Yeah...I'd have to grow it.  Shrimp?  Um...yeah...no.  Wild caught fish?  We might get that for Christmas dinner.  Dinner parties at 13700?  No more.  NO.MORE.  It would seriously be potluck with us providing serving dishes and utensils ONLY looking forward to whatever yall bring.

I'd probably have to only buy 7 apples a week and cut them in half so we each had a half of an apple a day.  That good locally roasted coffee we buy from Mayorga at a little over $20 a pound?  Um...yeah...no.  And whatever coffee we could afford...we'd be reusing those grounds for that second pot we put on daily.

Gosh...and I probably couldn't have any more creamer.

No more wine.  No more organic, free range eggs since they cost $4.00 a dozen and we eat 28 eggs per week.  Grain fed beef?  HA!  Thing of the past and honestly...I'd probably choose to NOT have beef if I couldn't buy grain fed beef.

My gluten free bread?  Probably never again cuz that's $5 per loaf.  

And the list goes on.

So yeah...we're food spoiled.

I think we could do it because we're hustlers and survivors but it wouldn't be without SERIOUS challenges.  

Robby asked me if I wanted to try to do it and I asked him when?  He said we'd should start this week...Monday.  

Me:  I just spent $153 on groceries for the week on Saturday and I have a freezer full of meat and seafood.  

Robby:  Oh...well, let's try it after we eat all of that.

Me:  I still have a cabinet filled with stuff I could do stuff with.  I'm sure that when your finances have dipped to the point of qualifying...you've emptied your cabinets.

Robby:  Probably.  

And now we feel all first world and ish and then the doorbell rang and it was a delivery from Amazon with a Christmas gift for someone who lives here and we're all weird feeling now knowing that 46 million Americans are on food stamps.

So yeah...if we're to judge...Cory Booker's experiment is a success.  It made us think about this and empathize with the millions of Americans who need the supplemental assistance.  It was a good household exercise for us because we talked about it and it led to an excellent conversation for us regarding waste and what we could do to help others.  If that wasn't the focus of Mr. Booker's experiment...it should have been because that was pretty powerful.

To us.

Have YOU thought about it since he started?  Do you think YOU could do it?  Would you have to change drastically?  Do you think you'd start having unhealthy habits or would this force you to be even healthier in your choices since you wouldn't have many options to choose from?

Christmas Decor 2012 at 13700!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at 13700!  I like to put a bit of Christmas in every room so I'm working my way from the bottom up.  LOL!  

The mancave looks like Christmas spit up in there.  ROFL!  Someone grumbled about Santa staring at him while he was watching a game.  I have a feeling I'm going to go down there one day and Santa will be turned to the wall.

I'm still working on the mantle but it's getting there.  I'm going to use the peppermint ribbon on a small sugared fruit wreath to put on the mirror.  That mirror came from upstairs where it was replaced with the new mirror.  GO ME!  RE-PURPOSING ISH!

The tree is "light" this year.  I was about to start putting bulbs all over it but then The Robinator said he liked it like this so I stopped.  LOL!  Seemed only fitting to use Magnolias again this year.  :)

I like how it doesn't look all matchy matchy.  Makes me smile.

That's just a garland with a piece of ribbon woven through it.  I might attach some snowflake glitter ornaments to fish string and attach with white thumbtacks to give the allusion of them floating up there.  Let me tell yall how dusty it was on that ledge above the door.  I was shame.

Seriously...SHAME!

Poinsettia stems in a gladiola vase along with a cinnamon broom that I bought at Trader Joe's for $3.99.  They smell soooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!  GO ME!  

This lil guy brings me joy.  He's chilling in the powder room.  LOL!  I love his smile!  He's a tea light holder and he's holding a puppy.  LOL!  Makes me smile.

I hope to be finished this weekend.  I have a few more fun things to do that will include glitter, glitter, lots 'o glitter and I want The Robinator to do a few things outside.  He quickly veto'd putting lights on the holly tree for me.  Something about being pricked to death, scratched up like crazy or whatnot trying to put lights on a 10 foot holly tree.  Ninny.  LOL!

Have you put up your tree yet?  Are you in the Christmas spirit yet?????

 

Randoms of a Creole Princess

I wanted to post pictures of The Robinator and I  last night but I realized I needed to wear what I was wearing again soon.  LOL!

When you're working on something new, it's important to recognize the value in learning something new.

I'm watching Jane Fonda do yoga on Kelly and Michael and seriously...I LOVE ME SOME JANE FONDA!!!!!!!!!

I wonder about the type of person who thinks it's okay to say bad things to you about someone you love.  Like...WHERE THEY DO THAT 'ET?

Watching Lucy deal with those stairs is painful.

Carrying Lucy up those stairs is also painful.

I haven't ordered our Christmas cards yet.

I think it's ridiculous when someone invites you via Facebook to their 3 year old's birthday party in Michigan.

o_0

Mia posted a picture of a SUPER FLY CUT the other day and I remember I used to have that cut and it looked REALLY good on me.

So...Shelly told me that Oprah gets fresh sheets on her bed every.single.day.  Knowing that one of the best feelings in the world is getting into a bed with fresh sheets...I've added that to my list.  I started changing my sheets twice a week and I feel like I'm getting closer.

There is NO BETTER FEELING than having your entire house clean at the same time.

I'm currently NOT having that experience.

Laundry.

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

This weather has been like a Louisiana December from my childhood.

I've decided I don't want Gabrielle Douglas to grow up.

She's just so cute to me as is.

Sheila E. will be 55 years old in a couple of weeks.

Betwix watching her last night and Jane Fonda this morning...I'm stepping it up a notch.

I've kept my closet clean and neat.

MON.U.MEN.TAL.

I read this article the other day and now I'm writing new stuff down to make happen:  A promise to a friend

I love love.  If that makes me weird and corny...I'm good with that.  LOLOLOLOL!

My husband is simply the best of it all.  Him RAWKS!

Taking me to Chipotle for a first date would be our last date.  Not because it's a cheap date but because Chipotle is always noisy, those seats are small, hard and icky and there is ALWAYS a group of teenagers waiting for you to get up so they can have your chair.  Not conducive to first date getting to know you status.  

E:  T-Monnie...do flea collars work on humans?

I swear he's the reason I can be so creative with words.

I hope it doesn't snow this Winter.

There...I've said it.

I love Christmas decorating.

I'm looking for a special mirror for the front room and have bombed twice.  UGH!  The current bomb is waiting by the front door to be returned.

Robby was pretty bummed we didn't win the lottery.  LOL!

I'm also searching for new lighting fixtures for the front room and I'm considering a ceiling fan with a light kit.  I like ceiling fans.

What's going on random with you?

Christmas and Holiday Cards to 13700!!!!!!!

Yall know how much I LURVE getting my holiday cards from you guys!  I get them and be all grin-t up like a school girl fo' sho.  So yeah...don't forget to add us to your list this year!  WHOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!

If you don't have the addy to 13700...drop our card here:

Monica Mingo

P.O. Box 2763

Germantown, Maryland 20875-2763

 

Oh...and PLEASE don't forget to include your screenname so I "know" who it's from if I don't KNOW you!  LOLOLOLOL!

Digital Download and Rental Now Available!

 

 

 

 

Team Sizzle Films Presents: Training Camp - A Short Film Showcase

You can now download it to your computer, iPad or phone for $9.99 now or rent it to stream instantly for 7 days for $1.99.

Technology...LOVE.IT!

Thank you guys so much for supporting us!  it means the world to us!

Shade?

Hairstylist looking to do hair for film:  I'm just trying to get my break.  I bet I could do something with your hair.

SIP:  DID THAT HEFFA JUST...

 

Random:  I can't imagine eating and being your size.  Do you even eat????????  Laugh.laugh.giggle.giggle.

Me:  *HARD.STARE.WALK.OFF.NOT.SAYING.ISH*

SIP:  DID THAT HEFFA JUST...

Now...in YOUR opinion.  Were these instances of tossing shade?  What would YOU have answered saying?

You know you're country when...

...you wake up in the morning with a taste for some greens.

YOUR TURN!