Rantings of a Creole Princess

Contest Me Not

If you won a contest giving you $25,000 toward the purchase of a vehicle ONLY...what kinda vehicle would you buy?

Aveda Earth Nature #6

I walked into the Aveda store the other day and, as always, the smell soothed me.  I said as such to the woman who greeted me and she said, "You can buy the smell you know."

No...I didn't know.

Well, now my bedroom smells like it.  I got a small bottle of Aveda Earth Nature #6 and sprayed it on our bed linen and in the air, turned on the ceiling fan and closed the door.  Whenever I go in there I feel calm and soothed.  Like...I want a water fountain and some ting tong music.  If you don't know what ting tong music is ya need to get you some of that Deepak in your life.

 

I generally keep it smelling like lavender in there. Sachets. Dried lavender in a shallow dish. All of that.

Now?  I think Imma keep it Aveda Earth Nature #6.

It smells good.

How do you like your bedroom to smell?

Missing Detroit Boy Found: What's your theory?

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/26/missing-detroit-boy-charlie-bothuell_n_5532164.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

How do you think this went down? We'll revisit once the truth comes out.

Southern Girl. City Swirl.: Heart Health

This hurt my heart when I read this.  I've come to adore me some E and B conversations so knowing this is going on is just...well...you know...*sigh*

Heart Health

I'm praying for E.  

Easy Updos

Yesterday I was instructed to wear my hair up while wearing the dress I was planning to wear.  

Easier said that done.  

I was going to go for my old fall back French braids along the side pulled back into a bun but had a bit of time on my hands so I asked Mr. Google and Ms. Pinterest for some easy updo ideas.

With some warped sense of believing I can do anything, I found a tutorial which would go from fishtail braid to side bun elegantly.

Um...yeah...no.  You can't do that if your hair is cut into layers and I found that out pretty quickly.

So I moved on and found a pic that I really, really liked:  

So I misted my hair with water, added some moisturizer and a heat protectant to it and then blow dried it straight to get the braid bends out of it.  Using a big barreled curling iron, I put curls in it and then shook it (making sure the front fell down around the part I'd put in, grabbed the back of it, twisted it up loosely and used bobby pins to secure the hell out of it.  The trick seemed to be in making sure the back of the hair was secured tightly without pulling the hair too tauntly and making sure there was some kinda pouf in the crown.

I know that sounded crazy as hell...but that's honestly what I did and I was shocked that it came out nice because I usually end up looking like I'm wearing a bird's nest when I'm actually TRYING to do an updo.  Let me be hanging around doing nothing and pull it up without even using a mirror and it will look hot.  I WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER UNDERSTAND THAT PHENOM!

Oh...and since the weather called for rain and it was already humid, I sprayed the heck out of it with hair spray.  I think I did a good job.

Are you good at updos?  What's your goto updo?

Money Can Buy My Love

Would you have respect for a man who used a mail order bride service from another country or do you understand that they could simply be tired from the rat race of dating and want to be done with it?

On The Run Tour

It kicked off last night in Miami and from what I've seen...it's certifiable HotNESS!  Who's going?  Where are you going to see it?

How often do you vacuum?

I just finished reading a book where a daughter went to work for some rich people and her mother always asked her how the rich people lived.  One thing she asked made me side eye her:

"Do they vacuum every day like we do?"

DA HELL???????????

I started looking around sitting in the room I vacuumed two days ago and started wondering...hmmmmm...how often do other people vacuum?

So yeah...about that...how often do YOU vacuum?

Black Girl...Coming of Age

I was thinking about all of the coming of age movies I really enjoy and then...I could only think of two that were coming of age about a Black girl.  

"Love and Basketball" and "Crooklyn."

Can you think of any additional one?

Do YOU think this is cute and harmless?

HotNESS or HotMESS? (SM)

Twentysomethingelse

How many early 20 somethings do you know who have their stuff together?  Who understand hard work and hustling smart?  Who recognize and act upon their responsibilities accordingly?  

Say Bruh...

The other night I returned home from dinner and saw a young lady I know who is 15 years old walking.  I stopped her and asked her where in the world was she going at that time of night by herself.  She told me she was going to a friend's house.  I asked if her mother knew and she said yes and then I asked if the friend lived in the neighborhood and she told me where the friend lived.

It was a good piece away.

It was like 9:30 at night.

I told her to get in and drove her to the friend's house basically making small talk with her asking her about grades and her summer plans.  She directed me to a park and told me I could let her out there.

Me:  Um...no.  Where does your friend live?  

Her:  Down the street...but I'm meeting her in the park because we're going to another friend's house.

Me:  Call her.

Her:  I don't have my phone.

Me:  Where is your phone?

Her:  Being shipped.

Me:  I'm not dropping you off at some park this time of night.  If your lil azz comes up missing...Ms. Monica is prime suspect numero uno.

Exasperated...she directed me to the friend's house.

I'm still annoyed about that.  15 year old girls should not be allowed to walk the streets at night alone.  I mean...I know I wasn't allowed to do that.

So...I was thinking that maybe I'm just too old school and simply don't know how teenagers today roll.  That said...PARENTS...is your 15 year old allowed to roam alone at night walking?  Is this something normal and I'm just tripping?

Or am I right in side eying ALL.OF.THAT?

Not even YOU can do this President Obama!

Whenever I see this happen I want to fight the person doing it.  Now, we all know I wouldn't fight our President but I'd straight up have a "DUDE, SERIOUSLY?????????" look on my face if I saw him doing it.

Same as I have now.  Don't do this.  UGH!

What say you?  

Acrobat 2012 Pinot Noir

I don't know much, but I know I like this wine. 2012 Acrobat by King Estate Pinot Noir 750ml

Three Blue Hydrangeas $5.99 at Trader Joes

Dear Robin Thicke:

Can we talk about Robin Thicke?  

What do yall think about his attempts to get his wife back?  

Did yall see that video?  

If those are really their text messages, do you think that helps or hurts his case?

From Clear Glass Vase to Mercury Glass Vase

My brother gave me this vase a long time ago and it holds sentimental value.  I used to keep it under the spot where we hang our keys and keys have dropped once or fifty times and cracked it around the rim.

Three Ball Myrtle Topiaries

I bought two three ball myrtle topiaries a while ago because I'd always wanted some at the front door.  When I found them, I envisioned them in square wooden planters with trim moulding.  

Being me...I immediately started looking for planters and couldn't find a single thing that looked as I wanted it to look for the price I wanted to pay.  I mean...I'm just paying $100 for what is essentially...a lil box.  Um...no.  Grandin Road Nantucket Square Box

Yeah...again...no.

So, I decided that if I couldn't find what I wanted, then I simply needed to find two matching things.  The only thing I 100% didn't want to compromise on was the color black.

And I couldn't find two black things for what I wanted to pay for either.  *sigh*  So I bought two grey looking ones from Amazon for $7.28 each.  

 

And got my spray paint on.

And hey...they look nice enough.  GO ME!

Would you have done the same or would you have paid the $200?

Question...

Do you have any experience dealing with an angry teenager or young adult?  If so, what is your best advice?

"I'm Articulate" - TED Talk

Traveler's Constipation?

I crack myself up with what I search for.  It cracks me up even further once I realize just how common what I'm searching for obviously is.  Take, what I know know as, traveler's constipation.  I was talking to an elder the other day and he was telling me how backed up he gets traveling.  I shared that it's a problem of mine too and that I started traveling with Smooth Move and try and strategically time it so I can fix my problem when I know I'm going to be in my room in peace.  We laughed.  I mean...mine gets so bad it starts hurting and my tummy gets super dooper hard.  So I asked Mr. Google about it and dude was like...yeah...it's a big deal, it's not just you and your people.  

Traveler's Constipation

I also try and eat lots of fruit and try and stay as hydrated as possible but find that's the most difficult thing to do is stay hydrated because if I'm moving around...I might not be able to find a restroom quickly so I might decide to not drink anything until I'm stationary for a while.

Do you suffer from this too?  What do you do?  Do you notice it in your kids when you're traveling or are they exempt?

 

Nutz

I used to keep pine nuts in the house for salads because I love them so.  In the past few years, the price on them has skyrocketed so yeah...I substituted my pine nuts for pumpkin seeds in my salads.  Recently I was at a restaurant and ordered a salad before my meal and pine nuts were on it.  I think I counted 7 pine nuts.  LOL!  Cracked me up.

Are there any nuts you keep in your house for weekly use?  Which ones?  Do you buy mixed nuts weekly?  

Do you know where pine nuts come from?  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/10/pine-nut-trivia-facts_n_4921114.html

Steak 101

Cellulite

What do you know about cellulite?  

Can You Beat Cellulite?

Question...

Do your kids like each other?  How old are they?

Scenario from television...

You're hanging out with a group of friends and peers.  

One chick there clearly doesn't care for you.

After a discussion where you and she don't see eye-to-eye she grabs your purse and dumps the contents on the floor.

What do you do?

Shoot 'em up bang, bang...

Does hearing about school shootings upset you still or are you numb to it by now because it happens so frequently.  I mean...74 in the past 18 months.  *sigh*

Did your kids' school have any lockdowns this school year?  Any bomb threats?  Any evacuations?  

 

Pay as You Earn Student Loan Program

If you have student loans, stop what you're doing right now and go to this site:  Pay As You Earn

Pass this information along far and wide to everyone you know and tell them to do the same.

11 - 12 Hours of Sleep

When I was single, I used to look forward to 11 - 12 hour power sleeps on the weekend.  I would make my place cold, tuck under, shut off the ringers and SLEEP.  Don't let it rain and I could stay in that bed dozing on and off all day.

I can't do that anymore no matter how hard I try.  I pretty much automatically wake up completely after a certain amount of sleep unless I have to set the alarm to get up earlier.

I wondered about that yesterday when a friend shared with me that her son slept 12 hours that day.  I smiled, remembering when I used to be able to do that too.  I'm not even a bed lounger.  Pretty much when I get up, I leave my bedroom and don't return until it's time for bed.  

I used to take naps if I was tired back in the day.  Now?  I have to be SUPER, DOOPER, TRAVEL tired or sick to be able to sleep when it's still daylight.  I no longer sleep on planes unless it's a red eye and when I'm staying in a hotel, if I'm not sleeping, I'd rather be in the pool area or the lounge room.  I always need to be UP unless it's bedtime.  LOL!  There's just always something to do!

What say you?  Have your sleep patterns changed in any way?  Can you still sleep 11+ hours like you used to in your teens and 20's?  Do you take naps?

Unpopular Opinion: Your daughter's shorts are too short.

My Daughter Was Dress-Coded for Wearing Shorts

I read that article with my face frowned up so badly I know I created at least 2 new wrinkles.  I blame Slate for that.

In rejecting an outfit, I have never, ever communicated to my child that her dress was a “distraction” to others or that she bore responsibility if someone reacted in any way—favorably, rudely, distracted, or otherwise—to her body. That schools are passing on this very message to her and other female students—and simultaneously communicating to boys that their learning environment is being compromised by the sight of girls' limbs or cleavage—is unhealthy and unsound at best, illegal at worst.

I must have reread that passage three times trying to find it in me to have the outrage that mother feels about her daughter being yanked for those shorts.  Well, I couldn't muster up a single seed.  Her faux outrage on the possibility of pretend rights being stepped on just made me roll my eyes.

Ma'am...your daughter's shorts are too short.  I don't know nothing about birthing no babies...but I know that baby's shorts are too short.  And when I say that, I'm not adding a single other thing to it.  I'm not saying she's going to mess around and get groped because we know the wrong type of male will grope a nun.  I'm not saying it means she's going to be promiscuous when she grows up because plenty of people have removed long, flowy pants to get their groove on.  All I'm saying, simply, is that your daughter's shorts are too short.  It's not a political statement.  It's not a sexist or feminist statement from where I'm coming from.  It's a decency statement.  I think it looks indecent when I see ANYONE with shorts on that short.  Where I'm from, we call them coochie cutters and it's always said with our lip curled on one side.  Buy her some longer shorts.  Simple.

What say YOU?  Do YOU think those shorts are too short?  Would you let YOUR preteen daughter wear them?  Do you think the mother is reaching, big time, in this article?  Or do you understand where she's coming from and feels like dress codes are placing unwanted body stigmas on girls?

HotNESS or HotMESS? (SM): Solange's Hot Pink Suit

Question...

Would you sit outside in your backyard or on your deck with your head scarf on or with rollers in your hair?  

On Rihanna and THAT Dress

I posted it and simply said...Rihanna won.

That dress there is absolutely STUNNING.

But then...other pictures surfaced and it became clear to me that whomever posted this picture first added shadows quickly so it would be appropriate to post online.  A piece of her arm is even missing which also goes to show how quickly the person did what they did to the pic.

Well...then other pics started popping up and um...erra...my opinion on the dress changed.

DRASTICALLY.

I just finished reading an article that states she made the most important feminist statement in pop culture history.

*BLINK*

Looked like she was just walking around butt azz nekkid like some lil fast tail azz girl who doesn't listen to her mama to me.

But hey...I'm old.

What did YOU think?  Be honest.  The paparazzi don't come 'round here.

Scenario from real life...

A woman makes an appointment to have her daughter's hair braided.  

The appointment started off all wrong because the woman dropped her daughter off two hours late.

The mother ran errands.

The stylist braids the little girl's hair (child looks to be around 6) beautifully.

She takes pics and put her on Instagram account as she always does when she braids a clients hair.

She calls the mother.  

Mother says she'll be there in twenty minutes.

Two hours later...the mother isn't there.

Mother says she had a flat tire so stylist gives the child a ride home based on the directions the mother gave her.

Turns out...it was to her grandmother's house.  The child lived down the street.

Stylist drives child to her home and sends her in to get hermother.

Child comes back and says mother isn't that, just her brother.

Stylist leaves but then gets super annoyed so he goes bak, asks the little girl to come out and cuts the braids out of the child's hair.

She then takes pics of the child and posts them to her Instagram account too as a warning to anyone who thinks it's okay to play with her money.

Stylist says she was away from her kids for 9 hours dealing with the child's mother and doing the child's braids.  

She could have scheduled another client, etc. and been paid properly.

Do YOU think the stylist did anything wrong?

Meet the kids...

In YOUR opinion is 6 months of dating too soon to meet the kids?  

Tell the truth and shame the devil!

Look down at your nails.  How many of you have a bit of chipping going on right now but it doesn't look bad far off so you're not taking it off yet?

So yeah...I gots nothing...

I'm sure yall saw the pics. The bride responded.
Tennessee Bride Defends Decision to Tow Baby Down Aisle on Dress http://www.people.com/article/bride-drags-baby-wedding-dress
- MMingo

What say you?

Kauai man gets probation for making son, 8, walk 1 mile home

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/20140529_Kauai_man_gets_probation_for_making_son_walk_1_mile_home.html?mobile=true

- MMingo

Hmmmmmmm...

If you were a celebrity, would you only let your kids have friends who were non-celebrity kids?

Purse Compartments

Do you ever pass on a bag because of it's lack of compartments?

Are you a feminist?

I had a 20 year old young lady ask me recently if I was a feminist and for the first time in my life, I hesitated before I answered yes.  

Later, I thought about why I hesitated and honestly...I think it's because so many people have changed the definition of the word feminism.  Then I thought to myself...well that's ridiculous and kept it moving.

I thought about this conversation with myself last night as, on a gander, I looked up the definition of the world feminism online and found one thing in common with all of the dictionary references online.  They were all different.  If the following definitions are still the case...then yes, I am:

So...I'm a feminist.  *THROWS CONFETTI*

During a casual conversation with my Godson, it came out that he felt both men and women should take out the trash, remove snow from vehicles, clear the sidewalks, and take out the trash.  I told him that he can believe whatever he wants to believe and he should think about it further on his way out the door to take out the trash.  I decided to revisit it later and told him that Unca Robby does those things because he doesn't want me to have to.

E:  Would you do it if he didn't want to do it?

Me:  He'd never not want to do it if the alternative is me doing it.

E:  But what if he couldn't?

Me:  Then I'd do it.  I'm perfectly capable of doing it, it's just not something I'd want to be responsible for.  Same as Unca Robby not wanting to be responsible for cooking dinner or grocery shopping or dealing with a lot of stuff he doesn't want to deal with so I deal with and vice versa.  Each of us have our own roles that, over time, we slid into naturally.

E:  My wife is going to take out the trash and do all of that stuff too.

Me:  If she doesn't have a problem doing those things...then she will.  But if she has a problem with it because she was raised in a home where her father and brother did those things...she probably won't so make sure you're not trying to hand down ultimatums because the only women who are going to deal with your ultimatums are women who don't feel worthy of having choices and well...a whole set of extra problems comes along with a woman who is unsure of herself.

He started walking off...

E:  Okay.

So...in your opinion...do you think the definition of feminism has changed from what you've always known it to be?  Can you be a feminist if you want equal rights across the board for women yet expect the man to take out the trash?

Am I a feminist?  Are you?

From Humans of New York

I follow Humans of New York on every social media platform they show up on.  I love, love, LOVE the pictures and captions.  Humans of New York

Allergy Attack Apps and All

My allergies have been on swole this season and I was wondering if something was wrong but I've reading that it's not just me...it's everyone.  I take the Costco brand of the Zyrtec formula daily but there are certain days one doesn't do the job.  

I downloaded WebMD's new allergy app so I know what I'm dealing with even before I open window one. 

WebMD Allergy

Do you suffer from allergies?  Have you found this season to be bad for you too this year?  What do you take?  Does the Zyrtec last 24 hours for you?  Do you open your windows or does the threat of pollen flying in keep you from it?