*Whatever the kid decides is my decision. I Trust Me*
Hi, this is Pre-Teen Outspoken_Diva. Call me, "Sister Girl C". Like the name, I had put on a Georgia keychain, I got on a trip to Atlanta. I was brought here from the past. Older Me won't tell me much about the future. Something about not wanting to change its outcome. She said I'm helping in a debate between the songs "Dial My Heart" and "Iesha". And since she promised not to show any pictures of me during that time, I decided to assist her. And clearly, she needs it. Because I see future me is not married to either our crushes Tajh AbdulSamad of The Boys or Romel "RoRo" Chapman of Another Bad Creation. Maybe she needs to go back a read our diary for those plans. *sigh*
First of all, when did these songs become classics? You are telling me, these songs are up there with "My Girl" by The Temptations & "I Can't Help My Self" by The Four Tops? Now, those are Classic R&B songs. Who are the guy groups now? Like who do the girls like? Ok back to these two songs. Both are very fun songs. Both groups can dance. I like the videos. I know like ABC's album as a whole, "Coolin' at the Playground Ya Know!", but I never got into the song, "Iesha". I'm just really into the guys who sing it. Plus, most of those boys in the group are younger than me. Why are they lying about going on a date? What kind of parents allow their kids to do that? But "Dial My Heart" is special. Who doesn't want a boy to say you can call him? He wants to talk to you and you to him. That means he likes you. *blushing* And they wear suits. And I'm a girl that crazy for a sharp dressed man. So, the first song from the album, Message From The Boys is My Choice!!!
🌟Dial My Heart is The Winner🌟
Wait! I'm not Mrs. Michael Bivins from New Edition & BBD, either? Older me won't answer me. She keeps dancing to the music. Well, at least I got old enough to do the South Dallas Drop & the Funky Watusi in public. I think that what she's doing. Her rubbing her knees between each song is confusing me. Tevin Campbell didn't kiss me on the cheek either, did he? Let me stop asking questions. Electric Slide is on. C'mon, shall we dance?
Oh older me, Outspoken_Diva(And when did our name change?) said to leave your comments on which song is your favorite below or the social media site you see this post on.
Anyone who likes cake (Yeah, I know few people who don't.) probably has a favorite or at least a preferred one. Mine is a simple Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting. I fell in love with it in elementary school. If my mom or I don't make it, there is a cool place called Cake Bar that makes a nice one (I also like the Wedding & Strawberry cakes also) here in Dallas in the Trinity Grove complex. But cake baking is not hard, right? Let's make one.
Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients
Yellow Cake:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup (8 oz) buttermilk
Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients
1 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup salted butter, at room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder (scoop and level to measure)
3 - 4 Tbsp heavy cream
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 2 9-inch round baking pans, line with parchment paper and butter parchment. Lightly dust pans with flour and shakes out the excess, set pans aside.
Sift all-purpose flour and cake flour into a mixing bowl. Add baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and whisk 20 seconds, set aside.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment whip together butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy (if not using a paddle attachment that constantly scrapes bowl, then stop the mixer occasionally throughout entire mixing process and scrape down sides and bottom of the bowl).
Blend in vegetable oil. Mix in eggs one at a time then blend in egg yolks. Mix in vanilla.
Add in 1/3 of the flour mixture then mix just until combined, then add in 1/2 of the buttermilk and blend until combined, repeat process once more then finish by mixing in remaining 1/3 of the flour mixture. Scrape down sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Divide batter among prepared cake pans. Bake in preheated oven 25 - 29 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool in pans several minutes, run a knife around the edge to make sure they are loose, then invert onto wire racks to cool (once halfway cool I recommend wrapping with plastic wrap until completely cool).
In a bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter on moderately high speed until very pale and fluffy (nearly white in color), about 5 - 8 minutes, occasionally scraping downsides of the bowl.
Sift in cocoa powder then add in powdered sugar, 3 Tbsp heavy cream, and vanilla and mix on low speed until combine, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed and adding up to 1 tbsp additional cream to thin if desired.
For added fluffiness, if desired continue to whip about 3 - 4 minutes longer.
Frost with chocolate buttercream once cake cools.
Or you can make it this way. I hope you are cracking up. I Am! I told y'all HERE, I only make one cake from scratch well. And My Favorite is not it. But from-scratch or box, if done well Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting is the same delicious.
Cake Eaters, what is your favorite. Let know in the comments below or the social media site you see this on.
I'll say it, Music is Helping us Survive 2020. Music is busying our minds. Music is helping work our feet, hips, & waists to its rhythm & beat. Music is letting us purge our unwanted thoughts & feelings.
2020 has really done a number on every citizen on Earth. But music artists, bands, & DJs have hopped on the internet to ease some the soreness. And I am happy they did.
D-Nice
I want to go and tell childhood me that DJ D-Nice will age well & have a good heart in the future. Because younger me had a huge crush on him. And the first weekend he hopped on Instagram and played music for hours, I felt like that dreamy kid all over again. My Gosh, he is still very handsome.
Then I focused on the music he was playing. It was like going to a club without the stabbing heels, high priced drinks & getting bumped into on the dance floor. I've wondered if I was in a booth or table next to any celebrities. His "pick-me-up" party does the numbers! I also was there when he came on the comedian, Deon Cole's first DJ set on IG (now on Twitch), and jammed with him. Basically, saying it is room for all of us to have fun. Thank you, D-Nice for space & time to groove.
Verzuz
I'll admit I don't go to all the "battles". Heck, my first attended "battle" was Teddy Riley ~vs~ Babyface. Most Verzuzes are not my style. I know I don't care for T-Pain & 112. But I'm also not that into Jagged Edge & Lil John to root for them. Most of the "battles" I attended were more of the celebration of one another's art kind(That is why I have apostrophes around battle),
such as Jill Scott & Erykah Badu, Bishop Hezekiah Walker & John P. Kee, and Kirk Franklin & Fred Hammond. And believe me, those were the ones that I purged so many frustrations with this current life situation through tears. Those came right on time for me. But I also bopped at my first "battle" visited and dutty wind my best with Bounty Killer & Bennie Man at their matchup. I had to watch the movie, Dancehall Queen (Because in my mind I am one) to prep for that soundclash. And who couldn't laugh at Spice Adams & Affion Crockett making parodies after each one? I still giggle at the Teddy Riley & Babyface one. It all has been nice and salute to Swizz Beats & Timberland for the idea.
Prince Concert of YouTube
Thank you to the Prince Estate for allowing Prince and the Revolution’s ‘Live 1985’ Concert to be streamed on YouTube for a weekend. I still miss Prince. I never got a chance to go to any of his live concerts. After watching the '85 concert I see I missed a treat. He and his band, The Revolution were so energetic. And yes, I sang along, especially when 1999, The Beautiful Ones, & Darling Nikki. It felt good to relive its glory while raising funds for a good cause, Covid-19.
Lives (Yes, I am giggling at the inside jokes "Live, Live?" & "And We Live")
I am thankful to the other artists who have been performing live on Facebook & Instagram also. I know I saw John Legend, Lalah Hathaway, & Avery Sunshine do independent performances. I woke up one morning saw the video of Eric Benet & Tamia treating us to their song, Spend My Life from their homes. TV One & BET have provided spaces for various artists to perform on their accounts. The Go-Go scene in Maryland put on a virtual concert. The Black Academy of Arts & Letters of Dallas has been coming on Sunday evening with local artists singing for an hour. Even the live music lounge in my area of town I like patronizing had local soul & jazz bands perform via FB & IG. If you could just see me in my kitchen and bedroom dancing & singing my cares away. LoL
And those are just the performances I attended/watched. Did you partake in any of the singing? If so, let me know what you have enjoyed. I hope any and/or all of it soothed & blessed your spirit too.
Because between Covid-19 running rampant, dangerous, false, racists phone calls, the murder of Black lives, and lack of healthy, intelligent, & safe leadership in handling any of it, we need something to caress our hearts, minds, & souls, at least for a little while during our day.
Bless Them All, for All of It!!!
I leave you with a tune sung by a virtual choir. This song was written by a composer I know, Victor C. Johnson. Its message is simple but powerful.
...we only consume them in abundance because they are simple and cheaper than other brunch beverages. Yeah, I said it. Champagne & Citrus juice, more than likely orange is not that complex. I was on a dating meet up last year, and the guy asked what was my favorite meal. Of course, it is Brunch (despite its trendiness). And he said something about me just possibly really liking mimosas. I knew he probably didn't mean any harm. But my soul sighed. There are other drinks on a brunch menu. Heck, there are other drinks made with that really salty bubbly wine called Champagne. I know I told you guys about Poinsettia Punch. Have you ever had a Bellini? Ooh, what about St Germain Punch?
I fell in love with this drink at a place(now closed) called So & So. It's tasty. And it uses elderflower liqueur. Doesn't that sound ritzy?
St Germain Punch
Ingredients
1 Tbsp cranberry juice (chilled)
1 Tbsp pomegranate juice (chilled)
3 Tbsp St. Germain elderflower liqueur
1 cup champagne or sparkling white wine (chilled)
1/4 cup club soda (chilled)
1 tspdried cranberries
Directions
To one serving glass, add juices, St. Germain, champagne or wine, and top with club soda and a few cranberries.
Taste and adjust ingredients as desired. Repeat for more servings
So the next at brunch, look away from that "bottom-less" pitcher and pick another drink. Your taste buds need a variety.
Yeah, I'm sitting on questions. And yeah, I got some answers.
Q: How are you doing while in Quarantine?
A: I'm Doing Good! (This question calls for a shoutout. Thank You, Treva Shay, & CoryBaker for asking.)
I have my down/quiet days. But those have been few and far between. I only leave home once a week to do the weekly errands. Been keeping to a new schedule. My mother & grandmother are fine. Easter visiting was done via a group video call. For Mother Day's, we arranged the furniture so the family could visit 6 at a time over the weekend. My grandmother's (Who is not a phone person) was happy to see them.
Church is interesting. I attended online with TPH often before the quarantine. So, I was prepared. Boy, these hour to hour & a half services are spoiling me. I'm going to need you guys to bring your at-home praise breaks to church after all this. It can shorten service by half. My family's church aka "Foundation" church decided to have services via Facebook Live. So...I shared my account with my Momma & Granny in order for them to enjoy. In the first week, I had to decline quite a few friend requests from some members.
I'm blessed to have not lost any income and not one client. Yes, I have been meeting with them virtually. Oh, I put forth an effort to look decent some days. It kinda scared me how ugly I was willing to look. I have the selfies to prove it. LoL
I had leisure travel plans for June aka Birthday Month. I postponed them for next year and made a contingency plan that includes buying some wanted needs & getting a Disney+ subscription, a month & a half earlier for this year.
And still yet very prayerful for everyone!!!
Q: Friends or Family...
Who should the person, someone is dating meet first?
A: Whichever group will help prepare the girl/boyfriend for the other group. I have never brought a boyfriend to Thanksgiving(If he sees 25 of my family members destroy one green bean casserole and don't run...). Some of my friends have met a date or two while we were bowling(Need to know how he handles trash talk) And if you don't know which group is the preparation group, introduce the boy/girlfriend to one from each group before determining which group meets them first.
Q: Do You Think Lil' Boosie is Gay?
A: One of my rules in life is "Whatever Story They are Saying, I am Saying" when it comes to a person's sexual preference and sexuality.
It makes people think I am dumb, while I get to keep my thoughts to myself. In Boosie's case, I can honestly say I never thought about who he truly chooses to be sexually attracted to. I just know he is ignorant about sex, sexuality, and sexual trauma. And he wants to be obtuse about it. He is proud to be recklessly & dangerously stupid.
This Post's Video Q & A
Wardrobe malfunctions are Real. LoL shirt kept crawling up to choke me.
Don't forget, if you have any questions, email them to C.OUT.SPOKEN.DIVA@gmail.com or leave them the comment section below or on the social media site where you see this post. I will answer them
Warning: If you haven't seen the Series Finale of How to Get Away With Murder...LEAVE!
We bid a farewell to our beloved sister Annalise Keating. She figuratively killed herself so that her true self, Anna Mae Harkness could live. That was the answer to the looming long question, Who Killed Annalise?
How to Get Away With Murder was a good show. Had some winding roads in it that either you held onto or you let go. I almost let go twice. Season 2 finale with the murderous adoptive brother & sister & the penultimate episode of Season 6. I'm still confused about which sibling killed the parents & why Frank had to be Sam & his sister, Hannah child in the end. But I held on, anyway and the Series Finale made me glad I did.
A question many might think of is, "Did anyone learn How to Get Away With Murder"? One person did! No, it wasn't one of those stupid & ungrateful students of hers. It wasn't her riddled with life issue employees.
It was her off & on lover, Nate Lahey(Yes, I am refraining from outwardly lusting over him. You guys know how I feel). He got away with the murder of an A.D.A. When the FBI keeps their focus on another person and you tell that person's truth, you still don't squeal on yourself. I was so proud of him in the end. Nate scared & ticked me off. And when he kissed Annalise on the cheek one final time, I hummed, "Let's Just Kiss & Say Goodbye" by The Manhattans.
Well, in the end, Annalise is in TV New Life probably loving on her beloved Baby Sam as her mother, Ophelia(who passed after the last trial) looks on proudly. We saw she got to go on live life & leave TV Earth via natural causes. And looks like she still got to help Christopher after all.
What Feels Like Hell is a Gift Later ~Annalise Keating
To those who watched the show, What did you think of How to Get Away With Murder? Let me know in the comments below or on the social media site you see this post on.
*relaxing sigh* I get to go back to why I started this blog. Seeing random outrageous items on the internet that cause my opinion meter to speak out. I get on the internet, today and my opinion meter started shouting. It may have screamed for cool 2 minutes straight.
I was scrolling on social media(I need to keep on my mind to tell my homeboy, Happy Birthday.) and saw these screenshots on the author, Demetria L. Lucas' page from a lady named Mika Chu. A man sent her some of his bank information and their message exchange ended with him saying, "so u can act accordingly".
I did my research and found the original post. I don't want to believe anyone was this daft & arrogant to send anyone a message like that. I want his message to be a joke, though I know the punchline is on him. Even if the man actually had riches in the bank, his boldness was wildly foul. (The quote, "People who do, Don't" is running around in my brain) People like to complain about gold diggers. But that same energy needs to be spread to those that show off their money.
This guy has rent money in his savings and maybe a month's grocery bill in his checking and thought that was an appropriate way to approach women. I almost asked, "What is wrong with a regular, "Hello, How are you"? But I know that answer. The answer is as old as time, apparently. Lack of Common Sense!!!
Well, at least Mika Chu was adult enough to blackout his name.
