UnWrapped Lit - Unexpected Interruptions by Trice Hickman

Love with No Limits Book Release Party

with Trice Hickman

Friday Night

April 1, 2011

 

Black Authors Network Radio Show

Hosted by Ella Curry

Show time: 8pm-10pm EST

Call-in number: (646) 200-0402

Chatroom open to public:

www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network

Select To Read More About Trice Hickman

UnWrapped Lit - New 2011 Releases by Francis Ray

 

 

View Full Album

 

 

Select Link to Read More About Francis Ray's Latest and Upcoming Novels for 2011

Have A Conversation With Color – Milani Cosmetics

 

    

 

http://www.facebook.com/Milani

 

UnWrapped Lit -- Electa Rome Parks

Electa Rome Parks

Mother-Son Luncheon

Today I, along with 11 other mothers, was honored by my son. This luncheon was part of the 21st Annual Beatillion Militaire. For the past several weeks 12 families have been meeting in preparation for the final event. On today it was the Beau’s opportunity to give their mother special messages and tokens of affection.

Each young man expressed his love toward his mother in his own unique way. There were poems, letters, songs, a rap and a PowerPoint, that reduced me to tears.

Society is so often bombarded with negative images of young black men and yet today not one but 12 of them showed up at an event dressed for traditional Sunday service, supportive of each other, and gave eloquent presentations to the women who gave them life.

Next month we will all dress up, Waltz, watch our sons step in unison, and have dinner with our families. Today we had one of those rare moments just to sit with our sons, eat with our sons, listen to our sons speak from their heart and to hear our son say thank you and I love you mom.

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Green with Envy

Milani Cosmetics gets gorgeously green for St. Paddy’s Day

This St. Patrick’s Day, Milani Cosmetics is offering 25% off their classic green shades for eyes and nails! This is the deal that will have everyone green with envy!

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5. Apply a tiny dot in the center with Nail Art Lacquer MNA – 701 Art of Gold. Allow to fully dry

6. Apply Glossé Top Coat Specialty Nail Lacquer MST-02 over entire design

 

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But I’m Doing My Work

Last week my students and I had a very engaging conversation. With every new student I have to tackle some classroom management issues. The biggest problems that I am seeing are wireless communication devices and rapping. Students believe that they have a right to text, read texts, accept calls, place calls and listen to music on their phones while they are in the classroom. Then to add to that I think almost every young man who doesn’t have hoop dreams on my class list wants to be a rap artist.

Everyday I have the same conversations, “Put your phone away.” “Stop rapping.” One student told me that as a rapper he can’t help it if he feels a lyric, he has to get it out. Not on paper but vocally. I explained to him that there is a time and a place for everything. His response was “But I’m doing my work.” Well ……… no, you’re not.

What you are doing is finding away out of not giving your all to the sole purpose of why you are even in school. To learn. I sit and I wonder that if teachers are having these problems, how are employers dealing with these similar issues. I wonder if these issues exists at the local community colleges and universities.

There is a segment of our population that truly believes that if they are doing what a person requests of them, then they have the right to do what they want to do. What I explained to several of my students is that I don’t have a problem with aspiring to be a rap artist. I believe you should dream big. If I had a direct connect to Q-Tip or Diddy I have someone I would love for them to meet. I think lyrically he is amazing. I don’t have a problem with you owning a phone, mp3 player, or an iTouch. Technology is key and communicating with peers and family is important.

Just not in the classroom.

In ending the conversation with my students I told them that if these issues continue and if I feel that they are being disruptive to the classroom, that as a teacher I will have to get it out to, in the form of a phone call home or a referral to the office.

The last couple of days have be rather orderly.

To everything there is a season.

CRÈME DE LA CRÈME – Milani Cosmetics

 

CRÈME DE LA CRÈME

Milani Cosmetics sweetens up with shades of pink this Spring

Milani Cosmetics sweetens the deal by offering nail lacquers in candy colored shades of pink and a FREE matching Crème Brulip Lip Gloss. Offer lasts through the month of March.

Retail, $4.49 each

Available at www.MilaniCosmetics.com

 

Ash Wednesday

The Season of Lent is upon us. Today, Ash Wednesday marks the 1st day of Lent. For many years I, along with my sister and mother have observed the Season of Lent. For me it’s a very personal time. Just as I get excited during the Christmas Season, I get even more excited as we prepare to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus.

To me that is what the season represents, remembering Jesus’ preparation to the cross. His death and His resurrection. I love so many aspects of this season. I love the palms. I love saying Hosanna. I love to hear and read about the seven last words of Christ. I just get excited!!!! When I think that He died for me and He rose again!! Just for me.

Always around this time my sister, my son and I discuss what we are going to sacrifice for Lent. Each year we give up something, it can be in the form of food, candy, t.v., or social networking. We kind of think about what is it that I am unable to do without right now. My sister more so than any of us fasts and prays daily. I admire her and will admit that I am not there in my walk yet. Though I aspire to be.

Whatever it is that we sacrifice, it’s personal and our way of saying to ourselves. If Jesus can give up His life for us. Surely during this time of reflection we can give up something also.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

Because He Lives Video

Hosanna by Kirk Franklin

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Kate Bosworth styling a 70’s glam look

 

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Gospel Coffee Shop

It was raining and a bit cold on Saturday. I had just purchased some postage and sent off some mail. As I walked out of the post office on Section Road in Roselawn I saw a sign. Gospel Coffee Shop. I looked around the area just to get my thoughts clear. I took another look and there I saw the sign again.

Now if you know me, then you know that I had to find out more about the coffee shop. I love gospel music and I love warm drinks, so this for me was like the best of both worlds.

Before I enter I have to pick up my sons to share the experience. As we park and prepare to go in my older son is having a little fit. “Mom I hope this isn’t going to be one of those one kind of places.” Our travel to Chicago one year, while listening to Country Southern Gospel music has forever impacted him in a negative way. lol

However, after entering the coffee shop my son’s entire attitude changed. If you asked him about the coffee shop he will give you a popular teen answer “I’d mess with it.” Meaning he really liked it.

The Gospel Coffee Shop is a beautiful establishment with an incredibly serene setting. The music is playing as you walk in and you smell the aroma of food and coffee. It’s clean, nicely decorated, and the owner’s welcome you in. We all had good conversations. I kind of hated that we had errands to run. It was a totally blessed experience.

We even stayed longer than we anticipated. We learned that they have been in business for 5 months and that they have events on some Fridays. There is a teen event coming on March 18. Months ago they had a lady’s night, that included music and open mic.

As I looked around the coffee shop I thought what a nice place to write, hold a ministry meeting or to simply catch up with the girlfriends.

The Gospel Coffee Shop serves breakfast and lunch. They have warm and cold beverages. I believe I had a caramel mocha. I know I had a slice of lemon crunch cake. Both were delicious.

If you are in the Roselawn area I encourage you to stop in and say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Davenport. Call me, if I am not busy I may meet you there, well that is if I have not already been there.

Gospel Coffee Shop
1745 Section Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45237
513.631.5400
Monday – Friday 7a.m. to 5p.m.
Saturday 10a.m to 5p.m.

Like Gospel Coffee Shop on Facebook

If you don't want nothing don't say nothing. Declare a thing. Speak those things that are not as though they are. For everything you lost expect double. ~ Notes from Pastor Jamal Bryant on TBN

My New BFF-Milani LIQUIF’EYE

 

I have literally been wearing make-up since I was in the 7th or 8th grade. I started reading Teen, Seventeen, and Glamour magazines at an early age and fell in love with all of the different looks I could create using color.

It’s difficult for me to go without black eyeliner. Many years ago, before I even knew what liquid eyeliner was I would purchase Artmatic eyeliner pencils in black. When I would apply the pencil it would look like the color of lead but I wanted it to be darker. To get the look I wanted I would light up the tip of the eyeliner pencil so that it would be near melted. Before the pencil had a chance to cool I would apply it to the rims of my eyes. Now I had the look I wanted.

Well after trying several products I think I have found the perfect match for me. Milani LIQUIF’EYE. This pencil goes on smooth and after allowing it to sit for about a minute it is applied for the remainder of my day. Once the pencil wears down all I need is my sharpener. No more lighters for me.

 

 

 

Milani LIQUIF'EYE

Coming Into His Own

This year my son will graduate from high school and prepare for college. While my family has been excited about this year I can’t say that my son has been equally as happy. In speaking with some of his friends several of them are sharing this moment as not being very celebratory. It had even gotten to the point that when I would mention graduation and college around them it was like I had said the worst possible thing to them.

So for weeks, months, I just held off. I didn’t really mention college unless he did. I realized that my son had to come into his own happiness about his accomplishments and the ACL tear really!!! didn’t help matters at all. So now, not only is he not looking forward to graduating but he is also unable to play basketball during his senior year.

To stay on course, I did stay true to my mommy roles; “What are your grades in Anatomy?” “How is Tale of Two Cities going?” or “Maybe you should slow down before you wear yourself out.” Very early one morning I was up of the FAFSA website, you know doing what parents do? Yeah, even filling out the entire form and accidently deleting it. All of it!! Now if Alex wanted to talk about graduation and college I had my answers prepared, ready and waiting.

My son has been raised in a single parent home. He has supportive grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, coaches and teachers. Yet, I can sense that he is feeling some emptiness. As if he is saying, It’s my last year of high school, I’m just getting off the injured list, I’m looking at colleges and yet there is a void that only God can fill.

Today was very interesting. Alex went to pick up his class ring. It was a huge responsibility in itself just getting there but he accomplished it with ease. When he called me and told me that he had the ring, he was excited. Whew!! We talked while he was on his way back home and I heard the voice of a young man who despite some personal setbacks was becoming the man that God has called him to be. I felt in that phone call that Alex’s senior year had finally started.

As we go forth to the ending of his senior year I think back on the day that I discovered that I was pregnant with him. I remember saying that no matter the gender of my child I was going to name him/her a form of the name Alex because I knew that he/she would be great. If I knew nothing else, I knew great things were in store for him. We have experienced great things and we know that the best is yet to come.