Who Loves You, Baby? It Better be You!!!

Here's A Question

That's the Answer!

Saw that on Football Nerd's nephew, Vinny B's Facebook page, and I thought it is a lovely ice breaker for this post.

Until I stop hearing whining about not having Valentine's Day Date, I will still be preaching Self Love.

Until I stop seeing articles like How To: Spend Valentine's Day Alone or 7 Ways For All The Single Ladies To OWN Valentine's Day This Year, I'll stop posting about Self Love. Until very divisive memes like that one are not shared & like, I'm talking Self Love

I am tired of people wrapping all their self-worth into companionship, especially on a particular day. Last year, I was low-key mourning even though I had put myself back on the market the month earlier. I still made a post about self-love because to whine about who is not in my life is wrong.

The most mind-boggling part to me is that most people (single, in a dating relationship, & married) know to love themselves. I just don't know if they don't or don't know how to. The funny part is we love ourselves in small ways every day. I have 4 small signs that I always rely on to keep tabs on my fondness of myself.

• How is my physical & mental health? Am I trying to be as healthy as I can be? We know if we are not drinking enough water. We know if we are not getting enough rest. We if we are keeping up with our body's maintenance via health care provider appointments. I said health care provider because some of us need to check in with mental health specialists to talk some things out. I for one am a proponent for therapy. Yes, I am a Christian and I got the Lord. I also believe God gave some humans the knowledge to help us be mentally balanced. Mental health is still a part of your health. And again you know if you are or are not taking care of yourself.
  

• Speaking of mental health, what do you say about yourself, here is a meme to consider. We have enough negative outside forces to dodge that are trying to feed all kinds of stuff into us all the time. Why would we feed more crap into us? If you are trying to love yourself, tell yourself loving things. I Am Enough!!! I Am Proud of Myself!!! I Am Not Fine but It Is Ok,  I Will Be!!! Until I Value Me, I Can't Value My Time!!! I Am Kind, I Am Smart, I Am Important!!!
  
  
• Do you have theme music? Here is an experiment to do for a month. Watch how you dress with music you love for one week. The next week, get dressed without music. Then repeat the steps for two more weeks. If you don't look better to & feel better about yourself after getting ready with music, I'll tip my hat to you. I have two "Getting Dress" playlists, one sacred list & one secular list. There is some about hearing this lyric to Nothing to Lose,  that empowers me to take on this world and all its crud. "He Gave Me Nothing to Lose but All To Gain" It can all bounce off because God didn't give that nothingness. I don't have to take it in. Then the song above. I heard these lyrics years ago and want to raise my fist in pride. "She's A Girl That Can't Be Beat Born And Raised On Ghetto Streets She's A Devastating Beauty A Pretty Girl With Ebony Eyes". A song that describes me. Theme music doesn't have to be only played when you are getting dressed. It should be played when you feel the need to be liberated. It needs to be listened to push what you love into you. No one wants to love the negative. Well, I don't think they do. So, your theme music more than likely reflects what is positive to you. 

  

  Ol' Sloppy Drunk Chicken
  Came out of the oven falling forward

• Every so often does something simple that you love. For example when you are shopping for bath soap. Pick a fragrance that you love even if no one else in your home would like it. Get them all that same scent that they like. I love to make Oven Beer Can Chicken as soon as it gets cold. It's a "dangerous" meal but I really take pride in making it. Recently, every time I wanted to make it for dinner, something would get in the way. Somebody wanted a meal before I put it on the schedule. Thanksgiving is coming up, we are already having turkey. Mom & Alura, whose 19 are going to the store, and I don't have bail money (legit concern of mine). And my distractions could go on & on. Well Super Bowl Sunday, I made this dish. I usually let them have party food that day. Well, not this year. They like it too so, I won't get any complaints. But just something simple like that. If you love it, do it sometimes.

Those are the little reminders I use to make sure I'm loving myself. Things to let me know I am checking in to make I'm ok. Loving yourself is not selfish. It's just knowing yourself, well. I read somewhere there are 5 Love Languages.

• Gifts
• Quality time
• Words of affirmation
• Acts of service (devotion)
• Physical touch (intimacy)

No one can truly love you if you don't teach them. And well you can't teach something you don't fluently speak. Be Fluent in You!!!

Oh and if I don't get to tell you on the 14th, Happy Valentine's Day!!!

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Health Conscious Sweets For Your Sweeties (Healthy Holiday Recipes)

Hey, I told you guys I would be back in 2016 with more healthy ways to celebrate the holidays. I was actually playing with a selfie stick (modeling a shirt my sister A & I found for Valentine's Day (in a smaller size #humblebrag, still need work) when I realized I hadn't posted this one. But then I realized, you guys had a little time to get your plans together.

Every year I do two things for Valentine's, buy my grandmother flowers like grandfather did when he was alive & make a dessert for my household. This year, I made a healthier dessert for them. I care about my sweeties' health just like you guys do.  In the past, I gave them a cheat day for a Valentine's Day gift.

Then that cake looked like that within a half-hour one year. Last year, they got fruit salad. This year, I'm looking to do something different. And I decided to share my contending recipes with you guys.

What's Valentine's without a little chocolate. Chocolate is many people's must-have indulgence. And those many love to the fact that Chocolate is good for the heart. They miss the fact that the health benefits are found in Dark Chocolate. Now, in my opinion, chocolate on strawberries has been done to death. Let's try it on some oranges. When one says dark chocolate it is one that’s at least 85% dark – if not darker. And remember that you’ll be eating it on the oranges, not all alone, so you’ll still be getting some sweetness from the fruit.

Dark Chocolate Covered Oranges(Found the recipe HERE)

Ingredients

• 5 mandarin, clementine or navel oranges, peeled

• ½ cup dark chocolate

• Sea salt (Optional)

Preparation

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Melt the chocolate using a double boiler placed over boiling water on medium-low heat.

3. Dip each orange slice halfway into the melted chocolate and place on the baking sheet.

4. Sprinkle each chocolate-covered orange slice with sea salt if using.

5. Refrigerate for about 10 minutes and serve

Well with this holiday being in February, it might be a little chilly. Who does like feeling a little warm & cozy? The best drink that drinks that says warm & cozy like Hot Cocoa. Yummy!!! But instead of the sugar-filled packet that is added to that high-fat percent cup of milk, try this.

Healthier Hot Chocolate  (HERE is the recipe)

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 4 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 cup 1% milk, divided

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Pinch of ground cinnamon

Preparation

1. Mix sugar, cocoa, and 2 tablespoons cold milk in a mug until smooth. 

2. Heat the remaining milk in a small saucepan on the stovetop or in a 2-cup glass measure in the microwave until steaming hot but not boiling. 

3. Stir in the cocoa mixture and vanilla.

To froth the hot chocolate, whirl a whisk in it by rubbing your hands back and forth. (Alternatively, pour the hot chocolate into a blender, cover with the lid and a kitchen towel and blend until frothy.) Pour it back into the mug and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Not a chocolate lover? Allergic to chocolate? I didn't forget you. Sweet potatoes may be one of nature's unsurpassed sources of beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, & vitamin B1, vitamin B2. In my home, sweet potatoes have been bought a lot this year. They like them as side dishes (baked, candied, oven fries), I don't. And I will only make so many pies & cakes. How about a simple yogurt based pudding?

Sweet Potato Pudding(I doubled Snack Girl's RECIPE)

Ingredients

• 1 baked sweet potato

• 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• sliced almonds for garnish (optional)

Preparation

1. Mash sweet potato in a bowl and mix in cinnamon. 

2. Top with yogurt and almonds. Enjoy!

To bake sweet potato: Heat oven to 400F. Make fork holes in the sweet potato and then place it on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes to one hour until soft

If that didn't whet your appetite, I have one more. Like chef & TV host Carla Hall, I love a good pucker.

Even though it is bright, it's not just used for summer dishes. The lemon is probably one of the most commonly used brighteners in cooking & baking. Make your honey's lips contract with this tangy number. Food Networks states that heart-healthy olive oil and protein-rich Greek yogurt replaces butter in this lemony pound cake. Egg whites also help cut calories, fat, and cholesterol and whole-wheat flour boost fiber.

Healthy Lemony Yogurt Loaf Cake (Food Network is the source for THIS)

Ingredients

• Nonstick baking spray, for a coating loaf pan

• 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

• 3/4 cup sugar

• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

• 1/2 cup plain low fat (2-percent) Greek yogurt

• 1/4 cup low fat (1-percent) milk

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 2 large egg whites

• 1 large egg

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat an 8 1/2- by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with baking spray.

2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.

3. Put the sugar and lemon zest in another bowl and rub the lemon zest into the sugar with your fingers. 

4. Add the yogurt, milk, olive oil, vanilla, egg whites, and whole egg and vigorously whisk until well blended. 

5. Add the flour mixture into the egg mixture and fold until just incorporated.

6. Transfer to the prepared pan. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. 

7. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, and then unmold and cool to room temperature

So, here to Loving the body on not just February 14th but any day & every day. Spread love wherever & whenever you can.  And no better way to spread it than something made from the heart.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

OUTSPOKEN_DIVA'S Guide for Singles on Valentine's Day

I get tired of all these lists of things for singles to do on Valentine's Day. How many bored, lonely single folks are there complaining "Woe is Me" that All these lists are needed? Oh and this year I heard a new term "Galentine's" It's what you think it is. A single woman spends the day hanging with her female friends. Women have been doing this for years. Heck, I did that last year. Now somebody wants to name it.

Ok, Whatever!!! Most that will be done on Valentine's Day that can't be done on any other day of the year. Actually many things are marked up in price because it is Valentine's Day, like most holidays. Look at the candy aisle at any store and tell me I am lying. The only thing consistent about Valentine's Day, like any day, is that we need to Live.

And that is what I want singles, as well couples & umm groups to do just that LIVE!!!!

That's All!!!

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

It’s February

Growing up, the youth of my foundation (childhood) church use to present Black History Facts every Sunday in the month of February. We called it “Who am I”. Me being me well I grew tired of hearing about the same folks. So whenever I was chose to do “Who am I”I would find someone or something that was rarely talk about. The last time I did a “Who am I” I did, T. B. Boyd III (Now go look him up.). I was a sophomore in high school. Wow, I am old.  So this month I will talk about a few people that are rarely talked about in Black History. Here are some hints.

1. What is the oldest black Secular organization in the United States of America?
2. Name someone that died in the 1986 Challenger Explosion
3. Who is the 2^nd female Surgeon General?
4. What happened to the Buffalo Soldiers?

2 and 3 should be easy. I know some members of 1 that will scoff at the idea of someone not knowing that one. LoL Now 4 you have heard of them especially if you live here in Texas, you just don’t realize it.

Also this month I will tell you something sappy “I like…” and sadly I will have to rant about something. I would tell you the subject but since you don’t know the words you’ll read it when I do it.

The pictures in the blog are of me showing off my Little Red Dress Pin. The pin is the show awareness for American Heart Month. Heart Disease is the Number 1 killer of women in the United States. It has affected my family and friends and many of yours also. I wear my pin every chance I get during the month February.

February 7^th is the day set aside to show awareness in the fight of heart disease in women. For more information or to get a lapel pin like mine or other awareness apparel, educational books and cookbooks go to https://www.goredforwomen.org/.

 

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms