Yeah, There Will be Changes

Another year of blogging for me is upon us. I've told you guys before I have no idea when & where to stop this crazy thing. When I do, you'll be the first to know.

This year there will be two changes. Change is good. Change is necessary.

Change 1: I miss giving my opinion on different stories I see on the internet or on TV. I don't do it as often as I started.

So, how about you guys send me some articles to give my opinion on? As long as they are;

• Real Stories from reputable sources. And I will verify.
• Not political. I keep my political views off this blog. I just want you to vote, that's all
• No stories that will cause me to bash anyone because of their disability, financial status, gender, health, religion/creed, race, or sexuality.

Also, my opinion can be discussed, but it not up for argument. If you want a "Yes Person", don't send any stories. Oh, if I can't give you an informed view, I will let you know via email. So like your questions, send those articles to C.Out.Spoken.Diva@gmail.com.

Change 2: I won't be doing any more hair & makeup update posts. Sorry, but they are starting to bore me. Plus, I'm not an MUA or a Beauty Influencer.

There are pictures all over this post. They're from whenever I used new products this blog year. Also, there is a length check (& a grey strand sighting) pic or two. If you are interested in a look, let me know and I'll slide that product info to you.

See, those weren't bad.

I thank everyone for reading any posts I have ever published. I'm just putting my views & mindset out there. And of course, I promise the OUTSPOKEN_DIVA blog you've come to enjoy.

As Always Talking to You In Adult Terms

I Didn't Forget My Blogiversary

No, I didn't forget July 3rd. This is now my 5th year blogging on the Blogger platform. Got some new plans for some things and the same plans for most things. Stay Tuned!!!

On July 3rd, I was traveling outside of the state of Texas for leisure. It's been a while since I vacationed (Not work travel) outside of my home state. I had opportunities but they were for places I had already been to or out of my budget. I wanted to go somewhere different. Then I.D. got married this time last year. She lives in the Washington DC area. And the idea came to me. Why don't I celebrate the country's birth & my friend's first wedding anniversary in the Nation's Capital? So I told two of the other besties, Shadrack (formerly known as LJ) & T.T. my idea and they were on board. Then a snag came in my plan. My side-hustle had me on their shortlist for training for contest judging in El Paso. I DID NOT want to go to El Paso at the same time. So, I shut up, prayed and kept saving money to go DC. In March, I finally found out that I was not going to El Paso. We told I.D. that we were coming and July 3rd, we landed on the DMV.

Our first stop was a Brunch Buffet!!! Brunch is the preferred hangout meal for my friends & loved ones. It's our Day Party and it is slowly taking over Happy Hour for us. I.D. & her husband, blog name Stick picked us up and took us to this great spot called A-Town Bar & Grill in Virginia. We left Dallas at 6:10 in the AM so, we were Hungry.

The food was delicious!!! There was Breakfast Food, Steak & Chicken Kabobs, Tacos, Sushi Rolls, Chicken & Waffles, Fresh Fruit, Mac & Cheese Balls, Crab Salad, Shrimp Cocktail, and Desserts. We all agreed that the Crème Brule was Wonderful!!! Then we partook in a little hookah smoking. I don't smoke. I grew up in a smoking house. I tried a couple of times and I was not my thing. But when in Rome, you go with the flow. Hookah smoking was cool. I don't detest it. Felt & tastes better than smoking cigarettes & weed. Afterward, we did a little sightseeing on the National Mall. We saw Martin Luther King, Jr & Lincoln Memorials directly & Washington & Jefferson Memorials from afar.

I had no clue those memorials were so far away from each other. Lincoln & MLK, Jr were 15 minutes away from each other. I was so ready for some rest. Stick took us to a pizza place called H & Pizza so we would have something to eat that night for dinner. It was very good to create your own pizza. It was even tasty cold. We got into our room, got some rest and got dressed for a 4th of July Event at the hotel across the rest from us.

The featured group was Dru Hill. We were in VIP and Dru Hill passed right by our table. I straight fanned out. Jazz is my favorite.

Why do I like Jazz the best? Not just because he is a BBHM (Big Bald Handsome Man) *wink* But because when Dru Hill was on Keith Sweat's reality show, Sweat House he was the only one that seems to be genuinely Band Loyal. But they were very enjoyable. I also got a full taste of GoGo music, not just the commercial stuff the radio stations barely play. I think we finally went to bed at around 4 am. Which meant we didn't leave the hotel until noon on Independence Day. Stick had to work so it was just us with ID. She took us to National Harbor.

We got to snap a few pictures before the rain started. We ducked into a spot called Rosa Mexicano. I am now on the hunt for the recipe for those Black Bean. They were so scrumptious that I started dipping my chips into the bowl meant for the table. LoL

We then went to hang out at ID & Stick's new home in Maryland. It was very nice & spacious. They were expecting others but it was raining a lot. So, it was just us. I fixed(with my little help) a meal that included Crab Legs, Burgers, Grilled Pork Chops Pasta Salad, Corn on the Cob & Chicken with Mambo Sauce that we picked up on the way to the house. Mambo Sauce is a beloved condiment in DC. I liked it. Taste like a ketchup & duck sauce or plum sauce mix. The culmination of the night was watching them open & read their 1-year anniversary card we gave them.

The last day, July 5 was ID & Stick's actual anniversary. They spent it at a spa & the Bay. TT, Shadrack & I after a light breakfast took a field trip to the US Navy Memorial & Ben's Chili Bowl.

We took the Metro Way around. Oh, and the subway issues were very real. My grandfather always talks about the memorial during his travels with the Dallas Postal Credit Union Board. So, I had to see it. I know it is just a statue but I teared up. Just the thought that I was seeing what Pau-Pau saw decades ago was emotional. Then we went to Ben's. Foodies always talk about Ben's Chilli Bowl but I don't eat hot dogs in public. Also, I was trying to lighten it up on the cuisine a bit. My stomach was thinking about frowning. So, we kept Ben's like a photo op, too. Later that night I had a bowl of Southwest Tortilla Soup at Chili's near our hotel in Crystal City. Then we were off to packing because our flight was at 7:55 am. Wheels Up and we were home on July 6th.

Oh yes, I will be returning to the Washington DC area aka The DMV. Next time, I will tack on 2 more days and make it a 5-day trip. I didn't get to see another good friend while I was there. Only saw one other wedding party member and that was at the party with Dru Hill. Oh, it was not Ridge. I talked to Ridge while I was there. *sigh* I ended up having a little revelation. I need a Reformed(ing) Playa in my world (Had one but Football Nerd left this world) to translate F-word Boy language & mindsets. And I will leave it there.

Yeah, I'll admit it, I'm still on a high.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Another Blog Year, Another Journey Coming Up

Well, Thoughts of an OUTSPOKEN_DIVA is almost 4 years (July 3rd). On the third, I'll be a tad busy with work and preparations for my weekend plans so, I'm telling you guys early of a few known new plans for the blog.

This is what I looked like 4 years ago at my birthday dinner. That dress is so big on me now. I could put a blouse under it and make it a jumper. Oh and see my short bob. I told you guys my hair was short.

This is me at this year's birthday dinner. Longer hair and fitting in a dress 5 years old and 2 sizes smaller without seeing my rolls. Still working on my arms. I was looking at my oldest aunt's arms and I think it might be hereditary among the heavier members. Regardless, I'm still lighting the kettlebells to get the jokers slimmer not hit people with them like my name is Sean Combs (He & I are too old to act that foolish).

Now as for the blog, there will be a New year-long series based healthier holiday recipes.

Do you know parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14–30?
A master who was leaving his house to travel, and, before leaving, entrusted his property to his servants. According to the abilities of each man, one servants received five talents, the second servants received two talents, and the third servants received one talent. The property entrusted to the three manslaves was worth 8 talents, where a talent was a significant amount of money. Upon returning home, after a long absence, the master asks his three servants for an accounting of the talents he entrusted to them. The first and the second servants explain that they each put their talents to work, and have doubled the value of the property with which they were entrusted; each servants was rewarded. .The third servant, however, had merely hidden his talent, had buried it in the ground, and was punished by his master.

Well, because of  me doing a healthier soul food series, I am being rewarded and the Holiday Healthy series is a part of it. I am so glad I was not like the third servant and decided not to hide my talent.

The series is self explanatory. I will be providing healthy & helpful tips & recipes doing different holidays. Weight gain refuses to not take a vacation. So, the calories we consume on holidays count too. And this series starts right in time for Independence Day. I know many of us will be chowing down of on some cookout food if some kind. Some will even be cooking for some of these cookouts. Well, if you want to save yourself some calories & fat stay tuned. It will probably drop soon because if you are like my home, there's some shopping that needs to be done this week.

It has been a while since I told you guys anything here about a web series. That is because I have been watching them. LoL Oh there is a new one by Black & SexyTV on there new Black & Sexy Now PPV called Sexless that wrapped in May. I promise you, they have been taking notes on my life since I was 15. It's about 4 ladies (well 3 and maybe 1 depending on your definition of sex) who are all not having sex. 2 are virgins & 2 are celibate (again depending on your definition). I have been every woman on that show in some shape, form or fashion. The introduction minisodes & first episode are free on their YouTube channel. You can watch them HERE. Also the Marriage Tour season 3 HERE & Dating Savannah Love HERE (who's dating life looks a lot like mine) have started. And soon prepare for my thug tears. The web show, That Guy is ending its run with a third season. I reviewed the movie (LINK) earlier this year. Thanks to its spin-off, Being Nia & the Sexless spin-off, Chef Julian some of my questions have been answered. Ronnie will be around a little & Darryl has learned a lesson from the Judah/Stacy issue. He learned it so well he was schooling this guy named Julian well. After the series finale, I will do a farewell post to That Guy. I think as long as Judah & Deon or Mike & Deon don't start dating, I think I will be fine. We shall see.

And that is it. I'll try not to negative and be very informed about everything I post for another year. No matter the topic, I will be 100% OUTSPOKEN_DIVA. Last and Never least, Thank You to every reader of this blog. I was just typing stuff  I need to get off my brain.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms