Rantings of a Creole Princess

I make movies and write. I'm also a housewife. I love my life.

It's All Kicks and Giggles: 'til Somebody Gets Shot - Part 1

The Coalition

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

George Zimmerman's Attorney - Don West and Ice Cream

Apparently Don West's daughter posted this picture to Instagram.  I didn't see it myself, someone posted it and it made me pause.

I've been watching what I could of the trial so far and have been feeling some kinda way about a lot of it and I guess I really haven't been able to put it into words exactly what I feel.

I know I got annoyed at the comments about Rachel Jeantel and folks going in on her vernacular and saying she looked like "Precious."

I thought that was disrespectful given what she was testifying about.  I also thought it was a case of worrying about the wrong shit.

Yesterday the line of questioning about Twitter followers versus people following annoyed me and I guess my general consensus so far is that well...this shit is being taken as a big azz joke to many as well as a way to etch that color line even deeper.

That ice cream picture annoyed me and I feel like it was carefully calculated to draw a line for Don West and anyone looking to hire someone like Don West. He is being VERY clear with his Chick-Fil-A cone. This is all about business. The business of race baiting pays well for some and there are obviously codes and signals necessary to play it well.

Yup. Don West is for hire as are all lawyers. And he wants to make sure specific someones know.

IN MY OPINION.

No.

POC

What do YOU think of the term "people of color?"  Have you noticed it being used more?  

If you were giving a speech which would you use if you were going to say it?

A.  As a person of color...

B.  As an African American...

C.  As a Black person...

What to Pack for the Beach!

You're headed to the beach with your family.  ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You're going to be in a cabin on the beach for 4 days.  What do you bring?

You will have a fully functioning kitchen.  

 

HotNESS or HotMESS? (SM) - Devious Maids

Are any of you watching?

What do you think?

Scenario from real life...

A friend tells you that she's going to leave her husband.

You're shocked because they seem like a really great couple with an amazing relationship.

You ask why and she says it's because she wants to move to Hollywood and become an actress.

She says it's what she has always wanted to do and she's going to do it now and that her husband thinks she's crazy.

You ask if she's tried to get involved in the acting community where they live first before heading to Hollywood and she says no.  She wants to start in Hollywood.

You remind her that a lot of people in the industry don't live in Hollywood and she says she wants to do it this way.

You ask if anything else is wrong with their marriage and she says that no...just that but she's decided it's a dealbreaker.

What do you say?  

Thoughts?

NaBloPoMo: Paula Deen and Butter Chicken

Spa Getaway

If you could go on a spa getaway trip...where would you go?  Would you go with anyone?  If so...who?

Scenario...

You're single and traveling.  

You meet a guy in the airport.

Yall seem to have chemistry.

You're headed one place...he's headed somewhere else.

You're meeting up with some girlfriends for a reunion.

You exchange cards.

He calls you that evening and says he changed his plans and headed back to where you are and wanted to know if you were free for dinner.

What do you do?

Favies

Did you have a favorite toy or item as a kid?  Did/do your kids?

From My Inbox Update

I had the conversation with him, he'll be getting his own room now,  and does not seem bothered or put off by it. All I had to do was ask, I was making a big deal out of nothing. Thanks!  

She wears short shorts!

Have you ever used Nair? Do you still?

From My Inbox:

So I have two much needed weeks of vacation until next year. I've had an incredibly stressful year (as you can remember with everything going on with school), and I have an even more stressful year ahead of me, after these two weeks. One of these weeks, I will be concluding my nephews month long visit with me for the summer. You can imagine how tiring (but fun!) it is to wrangle 7 and 9 year old boys. Understandably, for the second week, I'm looking forward to getting away, alone, on a tropical vacation.

I booked this vacation with the intent of gearing up for the year ahead by doing nothing but laying on the beach all weekend. I didn't bother bringing anyone with me, because I just need some peaceful solitude. I had a long list of destinations to choose from. The destination I chose gave me the gorgeous beaches and peaceful atmosphere I was looking for, yet was also packed with enough young Americans, that I shouldn't have a problem finding company, if I so choose.

All my friends are surprised that I'm going off alone, I'm actually pretty excited about it. I rarely get alone time. With responsibilities to my family, friends, and career, I am actually very weary of being around people 24/7/365. One of my close friends from college was particularly dumbfounded by my decision to go alone. He had me reconsidering my decision, so I told him if he wanted to join me for A DAY OR TWO, he was welcome to it, and all he had to do was pay for a flight, we could room together. It's a direct flight from where he lives, he has a pretty good job, I didn't see a problem with him joining me for a short time. I figured I might feel like doing adventure type things/partying for a couple of days anyway. I texted him the dates once I finally figured out the when and where. I didn't hear anything back from him for two weeks. 

Monday, two weeks before departure, I get an email from him. It's his flight itinerary. My heart sank upon reading that not only did he plan on coming the entire week I'm there, but also that he paid $600 for the flight. I guess he saw the prices and figured if he was going to pay that much money, he'd get his money's worth. Understandable, but had he run it by me beforehand, I would've DEFINITELY expressed my desire to take some time to myself. That's my boy, don't get me wrong, but I am absolutely frustrated at the thought of having to share my oceanfront room with another dude for the whole week. This is not what I signed up for! What if I want to get my island swerve on?? :P

My options are to live with the fact that I brought this upon myself by inviting him to come, or say something to him about it. I hate to do the latter, because I feel like I would be in the wrong. But this is very precious time, I paid a lot of money for this trip, and I am absolutely disheartened at the prospect of it already not meeting my expectations, before I've even boarded the plane. What to do?

Question...

What did you call your grandmothers? What do your kids call their grandmothers?

Hair Trim at Home!

 

Using this video, I gave myself a trim at home.  I added a few steps because I wanted more of a layer look surrounding the crown but this is the basic trim I started with.

Surprisingly I wasn't nervous.  Robby was...but I wasn't.  He kept asking if there was an emergency hair cut place I could check into in the event I messed up big time.  LOL!  That dude is funny.

I wasn't cutting my hair...I was simply trimming it so I was comfortable doing it myself.  My hair is long enough and I wasn't cutting so much that I couldn't self-correct if need be.  The stylist I trust to trim and not cut my hair is off having a baby and what not and I didn't have anyone else I trusted since I'm not due for another cut until September.

I think I did a pretty good job and might invest in a pair of really good shears so I can trim it myself more often.

Have you ever trimmed your own hair?  Any tips?  Do you do it wet or dry?  I did it dry and freshly flatironed.

Video of Paula Deen on the Today Show

 

 

What say you?

 

 

SIP: I thought she was going to break out "I believe the children are our future..."

#LuigiAndMe Headed to Houston!

Luigi is going to be hanging out with me in pictures, videos and whatnot.  He's my boy.  We kicks it freestyle often.

Headed to Houston.  Going smooch up on all my peoples.  

Who is Senator Wendy Davis?

Quite frankly...she's a BAD.AZZ.

She's the woman who wore these:

...and talked for almost 13 hours straight starting at 11:18 am yesterday to derail a vote in the GOP-dominated Senate.  She had to keep speaking on the bill until midnight, which was the deadline for the end of the special session.  She lectured, read testimony from women, doctors etc.  At one point, during one story...Senator Davis almost cried.

But she kept going.

There are specific, tedious and archaic rules to filibustering and Ms. Davis never even SKIRTED on the side of wrong during the first three hours of her REMARKABLE and just flipping AWESOME stand for women.  She is the perfect antithesis to Rick Perry and I damn sure hope she runs for Governor of Texas as soon as possible.  TURN TEXAS BLUE!!!!!!!!

Ms. Davis became a single mother at the age of 19.  She's the first person in her family to graduate from college.  Upon graduation from Texas Christian University, she went to Harvard Law School and put in her time clerking, being a business owner and then got involved in local politics.  Senator Davis is 50 years old.

She has championed bills which mean something, in my opinion.  Everything from payday loans to protecting sexual assault victims.  The bill she was attempting to derail was this one: Texas Anti-Abortion Bill - SB5

The Republicans succeeded in pausing her filibuster since she had three strikes.  One of the strikes she received was for receiving assistance in putting on a back brace while speaking:

Was Ms. Davis successful in stopping the bill from becoming law?  AB-SO-FLIPPING-LUTELY.  Why?  Because the vote was recorded at 12:03 am AFTER THE DEADLINE.

BOSS. 

THE BILL IS DEAD.

FOR.NOW.

"Today was democracy in action,” Davis said. “You all are the voices we were speaking for from the floor.”

Senator Davis is the reason I didn't go to bed last night until midnight thirty knowing I had a 6:15 am flight this morning and would have to get up at 3:30 am.  Senator Davis...I thank you for being a WOMAN WHO ROARS and for the exaggeration of the already heavy bags under my eyes this morning.  #TomFordSunglassEmergency

Did you watch?  It was sooooooooooooooooooo awesome!  It was like...AMAZING!  The energy, her steadfastness...yeah...all of that.  DRAMA!

#WiiU #NintendoAmbassador #GreenIsTheINColor #LuigiAndMe #NintendoEnthused

UPDATED! Convo at 13700

E:  Do we have any cinnamon?

Me:  Why?  It better not be to do that stupid cinnamon challenge.  Folks have died from doing that. 

E:  Uh...how'd you know that's what I wanted it for?

Me:  No cinnamon challenge.  Only dumb people who want to die do that.

E:  Can I do any of the challenges?

Me:  Sure...you can do the pushup challenge all day and all night.

E:  Ooooookay...I think I'll pass.

Me:  You sure?  You could start right now.

E:  I'm sure.

 

 

SIP:  Just when we were thinking he doesn't need constant supervision.

 

E:  I just want you to know that I was just joking.

Me:  I wasn't.

Voting Rights Act Supreme Court Decision

Supreme Court strikes down key voting rights provision

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/supreme-court-voting-rights-act-ruling-93324.html#ixzz2XEwn5lkg

 

Do YOU understand what just happened?

"Pick up a stick and knock the..."

"Dark Girls" made me think of this when I saw it:

My mother was a peace and loving kinda woman.  My father?  Not so much.  I learned early on who was going to say what when it came to their opinion as to how to deal with certain things.

I was teased a lot in school because hey...kids can be dicks.  It never bothered me because well...I had other things to worry about even as a child.

I remember a particularly hateful girl going in on the regular and I was pretty much tired of her azz.  I ignored her and that infuriated her and she just kept trying to get in my head.  I was at the grocery store with my mother and another mom told her that her daughter had told her how the girl always talked about and teased me.  

My mother's eyes narrowed imperceptively to all but me.  I knew her face well and recognized when she got "tight."

The conversation ended politely and we headed home.  On the way home my mother asked me about old girl carefully.  She then asked about some of the things old girl said.  I could tell it hurt her because a lot of it had to do with the challenges she and my father had but she looked at me and told me..."The next time she says some slick shit to you, pick up a stick and knock the shit out of her ass."

AND I WAS STUNNED.

My mother didn't curse.

And my mother wasn't the one who normally give me such advice.  

I gulped.

Needless to say, I did as my mother told me to do but it wasn't with a stick.  (I should have used a stick.) I came home disheveled and told her how it went down.  She told me to change out of my school clothes and do my homework.

No biggie.  Nothing to see here folks.

Later that night she slipped me one of her Turtles.  You had to either know my mother or watch "Everybody Hates Chris" to get how monumental this was.  Her words while holding it out to me?  "Don't take no shit off NOBODY.  EVER."

I think about that all the time as I reflect on my parent's relationship.  I wonder how it was that she could be so strong to empower me so poignantly and yet...never seemed to get there herself.  I'll never forget that and I'll never be the chick who takes crap off anyone and I'm so grateful for my parents instilling that in me because I've seen the opposite in others and it hurts me to my heart.

It does make me wonder...how does one get this message as an adult if it wasn't instilled in them as a child?  Is it even possible?  What say YOU?  Did you ever have any come to Jesus messages like this from your parents?  In the world we live in where schools are straight up no tolerance...how do you have these same come to Jesus conversations with your own children?  

OPK - Other People's Kids

When other people's kids are with you and your kid...how do you handle situations where they want or want to do something you don't allow but they say their parents allow?

For example...you don't allow your kids to drink soda and you're at a restaurant and they ask for soda.  You tell them no soda but they can have water or milk, the same as your kids.  They say they don't drink milk and that their mother lets them drink soda so they want soda. IN A MOUTHY KIND OF WAY WHICH MAKES YOUR KIDS STEP BACK THINKING YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO A SNATCH GRAB.

You don't want to make it seem as if their mother is wrong for allowing them to drink soda right?  Also...you don't want your kids to think that drinking soda is even remotely a possibility since you're raising them to understand healthy living, etc.

How do you handle?  Have you ever had to deal with something like this?

A Missed Opportunity on Racial Preferences

Theodore R. Johnson: A Missed Opportunity on Racial Preferences

What say you?

My Hair Life

Saturday night before bed, washed and plaited.  

EARLY Sunday morning before church hot combed sitting on the floor between my mommy's legs reading a book getting my head yanked back whenever my head dipped too low in my book.

Anybody know 'bout that?

Do people still hot comb lil girl's hair?

 

"Man of Steel"

Did you go see it yet?  I know someone who had a fascinating discussion with her son after the movie.  He was puzzled as to why Superman cried after he had to kill the bad guy and she told him that it was because Superman never wants to kill.  He only wants to help.  He never uses his strengths and gifts to hurt.  He's a good person.

Her son walked away with a major lesson that he probably wasn't even looking for at his age.

Did your kids watch it?  Did they enjoy it?

Actresses Tackle the Light Vs. Dark Skin Debate - Oprah's Next Chapter

   

Did you watch? What did you think?

Can you read typo?

If someone sent you this number...what would you deduce the actual number to be?

310.9913.2642

Question...

How old were you when you had your first boyfriend or girlfriend?  Did your parents know?

Can SIP get some Love?

It's All Kicks and Giggles: 'til Somebody Gets Shot

Part 1 is available on Amazon today.  Parts 2 and 3 are being edited.  AND THEY ARE JUUUUUUUUUICY!  LOL!  Even the editor (The Robinator, LOL!) was looking at me like his mind was blown.  

Beyonce and LeBron

Beyonce posted this on her site and now I have questions:

Is he wearing an earring while holding a blue elephant?  The blue elephant I get.  The earring...at that age however?  Hmmmmmmmmm...

What say YOU?  Do blue elephants and earrings go together?

King Lebron

Tagg Pet Tracker

Obviously I don't love my dogs enough to keep track of how much exercise they are getting adn to know their whereabouts at all times.  o_0  Would YOU buy this and pay the monthly monitoring fee?

Tagg Pet Tracker

How to Treat Burn Blisters

A few weeks ago I was broiling something in the oven.  The skillet I'd used to sear it was on TOP of the stove.  I was cleaning the kitchen as I cooked and reached for the skillet to clean it.  The handle was near the back of the stove and the heat from the broiler made it HOT.AS.HELL.

I burned 4 fingers and yall...it hurt.

I immediately ran cold water over it until it was bearable and The Robinator gave me some Advil and put Neosporin on it.  It hurt for days after with two blisters.  I kept putting Neosporin on them daily and I let the blisters do their thing.  Basically, the liquid you see inside of the blisters is the body's own medicine that helps to heal the skin under the blister.  Before long, the blister turned white and got flat and now I'm just waiting for the skin that was around the blister to dry up and come off.  This way...I don't have scaring.

I was telling a friend about it and she asked me why didn't I put butter on it and I told her because that's not how you should treat a burn.  She shared that's how she always treats it and how her mother treated them as well.  I said okay.

How do YOU treat burns and blisters?

Convo at 13700

I walk outside to get my morning started and see my neighbor sitting on her deck reading.

Her:  Good morning!

Me:  Good morning!  You're out early.  Whatcha doing?

Her:  Reading your book.  Already mad at you.

Me:  DA HELL?????

 

LOL!  That seriously cracked me up this morning.  

Ohio School Bans Afro Puffs and Braids

If your daughter went to this school and afro puffs and braids were a frequent style you used on her hair...what would you do?  Ohio School Bans Afro Puffs and Braids

SIP:  So we're not going to discuss that picture huh?

Dear Mommies:

What was the best thing for you to do when attempting to get your tummy back in shape after babies?  

Miley Cyrus: "We Can't Stop" - HotNESS or HotMESS? (SM)

A Picture of My Ass! (NSFW)

WARNING NSFW!  I'M NOT JOKING!

Per Nicki Minaj I'm using a new marketing tactic to sell my books!  As if we needed reminding! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2345079/Nicki-Minaj-gives-fans-eyeful-goes-topless-racy-flashback-snap.html#ixzz2WmPIZyXJ 

Buy my book and I'll show yall a picture of my ass!  Yall know I have a GREAT ass! It's All Kicks and Giggles: 'til Somebody Gets Shot

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

When air drying, I've incorporated an apple cider vinegar rinse into my hair routine.  I find it gives my hair a smoothness and a shine that I used to have before these damn after 40 wiry grey hairs started doing whatever the heck they want to do in my hair.

I mix 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar to a quart or so of water (Honestly...I put it in a dollar store pitcher and just add water to the vinegar so I don't know how much water I use.  I just fill it up.) and pour it over my hair and then run a bit of plain water on it.

I'm sure most of you already do this and just keep it to yourself like yall did with the t-shirt drying method cuz you want your hair to look way better than ours cuz you're all selfish and whatnot.  LOL!  If you do this...how much ACV do YOU use?  How often do you do it?  What does it do to YOUR hair?  Shelly did it last night and is all happy this merntink with her soft, shiny curls.  LOL!

You know what...

All about the EYE in SIDEEYE! LOL!

The Most Amazing Wedding Text Message Fight of Our Time

What say YOU?

Victim Blaming and All that Jazz

Yesterday things got pretty heavy around here with a few revelations from people we hold near and dear to our heart in blogland.  It hurt my heart because I didn't know that about a few of the people and, coupled with all of the people I know in real life who have been raped...it's epidemic in proportion.

I wanted to address victim blaming because sometimes I wonder if the normal questions we might ask in our heads are a part of that too.  Yall know who I am and the type of person I am so I will admit to each of you that when I first heard about the crime Serena spoke on, I was pissed that those lil' fuckers would dare do something like that.  And then...honestly...I did wonder why in the hell that child was out there that drunk that late at night.  Does that diminish my anger that those lil' fuckers DARED do some shit like that?  Does it make me a bad person because I wondered about all of the underlying factors which lead up to that child being raped?  

Or am I really just an inquisitive person who just wants to KNOW?  Does my wondering about those other factors mean I'm blaming the victim?

Hopefully all of you who read this blog know I don't condone rape.  MEN/BOYS/WOMEN/GIRLS SHOULD NOT RAPE.  PERIOD.  You should all know by now that I'm also the woman who, if I see something...it's going DOWN-T axe handle and all if need be.  

In your opinion...when does victim blaming come into play if the person isn't on the defense team of the trial?

The Jets: "Rocket 2 U"

I am currently grooving to this on repeat. LOL! How many of you remember The Jets?

Whoa...

Bookin' It!

Whatchu reading? I'm re-reading:  Tumbling

*BLINK*

Sometimes I see things I wish I could un-see.  

What Serena Said

She adds, "I'm not blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk like that, your parents should teach you -- don't take drinks from other people."

And Williams is also quoted as saying: "She's 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn't remember? It could have been much worse. She's lucky. Obviously I don't know, maybe she wasn't a virgin, but she shouldn't have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that's different."

From:  Serena Williams: The Great One

Thoughts?  In YOUR opinion...did she say anything wrong?

Splenda. NO.

Splenda goes from 'safe' to 'caution' after leukemia found in mice

Paula Deen and her Black "Slave" Waiters

SIP:  YOU GO PAULA!  WAY TO KEEP IT 100!

Paula Deen's Dream Dinner Party Waiters: Black Slaves in White Jackets

What say YOU?