The Opening Picture Says...

I could tell you guys...

On January 1st, I went out to a comedy club to see Tony Baker. And he & guest were hilarious. Then in February, I had to go to the funeral of a friend's mom while working through some PTSD caused by Snowmageddon 2021. Talked about & Celebrated my favorite holiday, Easter on video. Almost sued my side hustle, 3rd job. Took a Birthday getaway to Hill Country, Texas in June. I day drank my butt off in Fredericksburg and viewed the sunset over Lake Travis. My grandmother turned 99 years old and my sister, cousins, and I gave her a birthday lunch. All the while I had to grieve a 19-year-old becoming an ancestor. Believe it or not, I hugged his mother.

An unnecessary swipe was made at her & God softened my heart. But one day while trying to support his dad, my friend, depression & anxiety crept in and did a number on my mental health & empathy. I found myself sobbing about the fact that Loretta Lynn died. I liked her music but I wasn't a big fan. I knew then that needed help was overdue. Yet while I was starting to get help, a friend's father passed. I continued with counseling and decided to face a few masks I wear a lot. You know mask I use to hide what I'm going through. Went to see Big Tex at the State Fair. I only ate 75% of a deep fried diet that day. And while I typing this while helping a friend find home health care for her father. Yep, I'm trying not to don one of the masks. Oh, and my day job will take a different focus for a while. Oh, and I keep telling you guys to subscribe to my Youtube channel, https://youtube.com/@OUTSPOKENDiva1678.

I could tell you All that and more. BUT What I Will Tell You About 2022 is...

Because I did! Point Blank and the Period! And if the Lord, whom I believe in says the same, I will see you in 2023.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Talk About It Tuesday (At His Feet LoL)

Correction: Theology is the study of the nature of God and religious belief.

Definitions For New People

Foundation Church: Blog name for the church Outspoken_Diva grew up in 

Current Church: Blog name for the church Outspoken_Diva attends now 

I will admit, never heard the "Be Found by Boaz" topic preached at Foundation or Current churches. Now, those others, especially COGIC & Apostolic were heavy on that lesson.

References in This Video
Book of Ruth in The Bible

Sanctified Episode 2 

Boaz  From the Soundtrack of the film, Single Life, the Musical 

Now, wondering if I was a person in Biblical, who would I be married to and what would the ministers, seminary students, & theologians learn, preach, and/or teach my story? Hope my story would be told in its pure form to inspire goodness. One can wish!

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

You Name It! (OUTSPOKEN Diva's Favorite Recipes)

Stewed Southern Greens and Tomatoes 

Ingredients

• 1-pound bag of stemmed and washed greens (turnips, mustard, and/or collards)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 to 4 garlic cloves to taste, minced
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne
• 2 pounds fresh tomatoes, seeded and grated, or peeled, seeded, and chopped, or a 28-ounce can of chopped tomatoes with juice 
•  1 Tblsp Italian Seasoning
• 2 tsp Low Sodium Old Bay Seasoning
  
  
  

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add the greens for 2 minutes. Transfer to the ice water, then drain and squeeze out water. Coarsely chop and set aside. Alternatively, steam the greens in a large steamer – Rinse and squeeze dry.
2. In a wide, heavy skillet or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat and add the onion. Cook until the onion is tender and beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes, and add the garlic, paprika, and cayenne. 
3. Cook, stirring, for about a minute, until fragrant, and add the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, and simmer until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly about 10 minutes. 
4. Add the greens and herbs and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer until the greens are very tender, about 20 minutes. Serve with rice, quinoa, or just some good cornbread or crusty bread.

White Bean Stew

Ingredients 

• 1 Tbsp olive oil, plus more for serving
• 1 medium-sized onion, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 2 cans cannellini beans or white beans, drained 
• 1-2 garlic cloves, diced or pressed
• 1 cup, frozen spinach 
• 1 can stewed tomatoes 
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 cup (500 ml) vegetable or chicken broth or hot water 

Directions

1. Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the diced onion, carrot, and celery. Cook, stirring often, until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the garlic, beans, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Cook stirring frequently, for about 1 minute.
3. Then add the frozen spinach and the vegetable broth. Raise the heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then cover the pot, reduce the heat, and cook gently for 15 minutes.
4. Divide into bowls, drizzle with olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, and more freshly ground black pepper if you like. Serve with crusty whole-grain bread and, if you don't keep it vegan, add freshly grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

These dishes warm your body & soul. My eyes & belly are craving these recipes. Once you make & have them I hope yours will too.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Talk About It Tuesday (Why? Because it is Christmas)

Got to get me some Raspberry Bon-Bons. Those are my favorite candy. It can't even be the Most Wonderful Time of the Year without those & controversy. This is not even my favorite holiday, but I wish you all would find comfort and peace 

and leave folk alone with your Bah Hum Bug assumptions about their finances. But hey, God Bless You, Everyone! I have a tea spill to clean off the cuff of my sweater. Happy Holidays!!!

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

 

My Glasses Will Choose the Updates? (Answering Questions)

The other day, I considered repeating introductions and seeing if you, the readers would notice. Don't put it past me. I might just do it. LoL And yes, I meant the question mark in the title.

Q: If it was an option in your culture, would you be in an arranged marriage?

A: I wouldn't. From what I know about arranged marriages, the parents pick a spouse for you. I was raised by a single mother and her parents. I don't trust their choices in people & thoughts on how the world works. In 2015, maybe 2016, I realized my grandmother still thought people, mainly Black only interact within their immediate communities. Her "frenemy's" grandson got married, she asked, Who was the girl he married and couldn't comprehend why we didn't know anything about her. That said it means her "choosing pool" for me would be tiny (Foundation church men, male relatives of Garden Club members & at my grandfather's job & social scene, maybe the neighbor's male relatives & friends). My mother's pool would be bigger but because of the marriage between my dad & her, her criteria would be tough. My mother says she would marry the 1st man with 4 million dollars in cash in his pocket. And mother wants better for her children.

This Post's Video:

Well, that was Fun! Buying the infant medicine droppers soon. The Questions That were Updated can be Found HERE & HERE.

Don't forget, if you have any questions, email them to C.OUT.SPOKEN.DIVA@gmail.com or leave them in the comment section below or on the social media site where you see this post. I will answer them.

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As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!