Preparing for Easter (My Favorite Holiday)

It almost times for my FAVORITE holiday, Easter. If you are new to my blog, go read these blogs HERE & HERE and you will find out fully why Easter is my favorite holiday. I plan to be enjoying services at my church. They are having Good Friday & Easter productions this year. If you would like to watch both or either click this Link on Friday, April 3 at 7:30 pm or Sunday morning at 9:00 am. I hope you will enjoy it. I've been told we will be blessed.

Fun Fact about Me: Yes, that is me as a little girl with Deacon Easter Bunny after an annual Easter program. My Foundation church was a Baptist church that didn't shy away from adding a few Secular symbols to all holidays. If you noticed beside us are some palm branches also. There was probably a cross and a tomb behind us also because of the play that performed earlier. So, you can partially blame them for some of my quirky ways of celebrating Easter.

I have added more facets to my Lenten observances, this year. I grew up Baptist so, I didn't grow up observing Lent. Oh, what is Lent? Here is a definition here on Wikipedia. I didn't start until my second year in college. I shared a suite with two students that were Catholic. One day in their warning me about their increase in eating tuna they explained to me what was Lent.

Well, that year I decided just to sacrifice my vice at that time, Little Debbie Zebra Cakes. Over the years, I studied and incorporated more facets of Lent to my observances. A few years ago, I began going meatless on Ash Wednesday and every Friday leading to Easter. This year, I sacrificed two things this year, Soda & Candy.

I've sacrificed them both at different times but never both at the same time. I have to say my desires for them are lessening for them. Maybe these soda & candy devils will get the behind me for good. But my biggest incorporation this year was in my morning devotionals.

This year, I've been doing very well reading a morning devotion. During Lent, I decided to dedicate my reading solely to this season. The Lenten devotionals were very educational for me. I being a believer that believes the whole Bible (Old & New Testament) is the infallible word of God, loves when Biblical readings bridge both testaments. Most of the Lenten readings linked scripture from the Old to the New. Ok, for example, an easy one God provided a lamb for Abraham instead of him sacrificing his son, Isaac like God had previously asked him to. (Genesis 2:2-18) This incident is one of anticipation of God's sacrifice of his only son, Jesus Christ, on the cross at Calvary, for the world's sin. God's great love required of himself what he did not demand of Abraham. My Lenten readings were like that. I loved them.

Fun Fact about Me: When I was in elementary school, I thought (no one told me) Good Friday was a Baptist holiday that we took the day off to celebrate. Can you imagine my feelings when I learned the truth that my mother just didn't send us to school on that day because she was off? (The truancy laws were Not stringent when I was a kid so taking a personal day was common.)  

Also, this week, which is called Holy Week in the Christian religion, I am reading scriptures & listening to prayers that reference the days that guide us on the path Jesus took to the cross and in the morning he rose. Very simple prayers that acknowledge and thank our God for all that he went through on our behalf. Because God did not have to do it. But he did and he is due all manner of adoration for it.

Some time ago I told the Lord I needed a way for him to pour into me in new ways. God really showed out with this devotional. I am happy to add it to my life.

So, what do you do to "spiritually" prepare yourself for Easter? Observe Lent? Observe Holy Week? Other ways? Let me know in the comments.

Happy Easter to you all.
Remember Christ rose for us so, we should always rise for him

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Last Choice Speaks Up (Poetry Corner)

Ever had someone in your life that you think sometimes keeps you on the back burner until they need you. I had someone in my life that I felt was doing me like that. For a long time, I had a nagging feeling but I couldn't express my feelings without getting upset (still didn't stop me from expressing them). Also I couldn't pinpoint what or who I was being inched over for. Well in 2008, a significant event happened for this person's family. The person was very upset that two of their other friends were not available for them. They were considered family by the family so to that person, they should have been available. That person called me to express their frustrations about their other friends.

Poem is so old, its page came off the the pad

This poem came to me then. A few years later during a heart to heart, I read this poem to them and express my feeling without getting upset. That person then understood my feelings.

Last Choice Speaks Up

They left you in the cold

So, you need me

Cold and Alone

As usual you need me

Not your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, even 4th craving

But you need me

Can't have who you want

You need me

Hey, beats being by yourself

And well you need me

So you can vent 

And you need me

Your handy dandy Pal

You need me

Then you can forget about me

Until you need me

Of course, I'm always there

Cause you need me

Like it's my career

For you to need me

Like I Need You 

To Need Me

My Boycott List (Wine Brands Edition)

Yes, blame the latest news about wine and arsenic for this post. I'm trying not to smell conspiracy but my favorite, Cupcake is on the list. It doesn't increase my boycott list but I will pay attention so if & when brands start leaving the shelves, I won't be shocked. Oh my boycotting is not limited to just stuff I wear. I boycott lots of stuff.

Let's talk wine. I drink & cook with wine. But there are many brands I had to boycott over the years because they insist on keeping the consumer stupid.

I stopped drinking Moscato for a couple of years a while back. I had to take a wine tasting class in college so I was already a fan.

Now, you can call me boughetto, sophistiratchet, or a hood snob but you will never catch me swimming in a crowded public pool. As soon as Waka Flocka Flame said something about drinking Moscato or 'Scato, everyone bounced on it. I hopped right off of it. I let it's popularity die down for a while. Well, while it was still very liked, I noticed people posting on social media about drinking Red Moscato & Pink Moscato. I instantly knew the masses were about to be "Wine Ignorant". Then, I found the culprits.

Sutter Home, Yellow Tail, Bella Bolte, Barefoot, Gallo, & Beringer are responsible for making consumers of their products "Wine Ignorant". It is bad enough there are people drinking the wines and not knowing it is a dessert wine but this lack of knowledge is Not their fault. All blame goes to the companies. The proper names of the wines are Roscato and Rose' Moscato. Here are the descriptions of Roscato and Rose' Moscato. 

When I finally put 2 + 2 together, I decided that would equal Boycott!!! I refuse to drink any wine from companies that promote lack of information. Do these wine companies think the consumers are too dumb to learn the proper names? Apparently so. What if one of the drinkers of their Red Moscato or Pink Moscato tries to order those by those names in a restaurant? Oh it can happen because Roscato is served at a restaurant called Olive Garden. Here is the link. That would be embarrassing. It might have already happened. 

So, I don't drink any wines from Sutter Home, Yellow Tail, Bella Bolte, Barefoot, Gallo, & Beringer. Oh don't be confused with label that say Sweet Red or Sweet White.

Those are table blends that are not as bitter as the other red or white vintages. They are not dessert wines like Moscato, Roscato, Rose' Moscato. Those labels are good. Add Oak Leaf Sweet Red to your pot roast recipe and you will be a forever fan. 

I just don't like the masses being stupid. Companies that encourage ignorance should be ashamed of themselves. But they won't be stopped until lack of dollars stop them from teaching dumbness.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

My Boycott List Update (What I Wear)

Congratulations Target! You are off My Boycott List. I hope you left room for Revlon & Dolce & Gabbana.

From my favorite bloggers to friends, I've seen many rave about the newest Ava & Viv collection of in-store fashionable Plus Size offerings. Many are loving this maxi dress.

I haven't had time to shop it yet, but I will lift my boycott because I have heard not just favorable reviews on the clothing but that they are actually in All the stores. That was my gripe. I hate for brick & mortar stores to move certain sizes to online only. Again those who do such practices will Not get my money. Old Navy needs to talk to Target and get their act together.

But sad to say as I take one store off, I have to add a cosmetic company & a designer house. Revlon & Dolce & Gabbana have been added to My Boycott List.

If you follow me on social media, you knew that I already started my boycott on Revlon. Late December/Early January the news came out that Revlon's CEO made some very horrible statements about Jews, Blacks, & Americans
Revlon CEO Sued For Alleged Racist, Anti-Semitic And Anti-American Comments
Lorenzo Delpani, who is Italian, called Americans “dirty,” believes Jews “stick together” and he could “smell” black people when they walked into a room. He also hates living with Americans, believing they are “small-minded” and he can’t wait to return to a “real” country,” the lawsuit says.
The beauty company is standing by it's CEO. Well. I won't be standing by Revlon.

I like their products but my like is not worth fattening the pockets of someone with bigoted views of my race & my country. After I use up what Revlon products I already own, if they have not ousted their CEO, I will Not be buying any more. I just have one question.

Can he smell half of Halle Berry when she models for his companies' ads?

I love the scent Light Blue. I hate to know such dreadful ignorance is behind the making of it. Now, I am learning about Dolce & Gabbana views about gay adoption & in vitro fertilization.
Elton John Leads Boycott Against Dolce & Gabbana Over 'Synthetic Children' Remarks
You know I am not for or against gay marriage. I do know gay men who are against gay marriage. I know gay people who don't want children. I'm heterosexual and don't want to have children of my own. But Mr Gabbana's statements are repulsive. "We oppose gay adoptions. The only family is the traditional one." So, with some many decent & loving people wanting to take care of children, it is okay for children to be live in the foster care system. I don't understand why some places won't let single people adopt. Why is he against any decent person that would want to give a child a better life? Why is he limiting all the orphans in the world? Then if he was not repulsive enough with his stance gay adoption, he then starts calling people born via IVF "synthetic". "You are born to a mother and a father — or at least that's how it should be," "I call children of chemistry, synthetic children. Rented uterus, semen chosen from a catalog." Let me run down a few synonyms for synthetic,
artificial 
bogus 
dummy 
factitious 
fake
false
faux 
imitative,
mimic 
mock 
pretend 
sham 
simulated 
substitute
I hope one of Dolce & Gabbana's prized workers is a person born via IVF. I would love for Mr. Gabbana to see how real they are when he sees how the real impact those views can cause. And so much he knows all people born via IVF are not born in a "rented uterus" and from "semen from a catalog". Many are the children conceive from their mother & father with the aid of science. And to think being called a "Test Tube" baby was the worst insult I had ever heard when it came to the subject of In Vitro Fertilization.

People love to quote Scarface and say "Money, Power, Respect". Amazing how some of the people with Money & Power don't Respect the consumer until we Respect ourselves, snatch away our Money and show them our Power.
#BoycottOldNavy
#BoycottRevlon
#BloycottDolceandGabbana

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

My Online Shopping Tips (What I Wear)

Disclaimer: I will not body shame or fat shame anyone in this post. I also will Not tolerate any comments containing body shaming or fat shaming in the comments below or in the comment section I personally share this post. Gross comments will be deleted. 

So an article on BuzzFeed came across my timeline on social media. Go Read What Happened When This Woman Ordered A Dress Online Captures The Online Shopping Struggle and come back. So this Chinese lady bought a dress saw on a celebrity online and felt like it was an example of why people need to be careful of buying online.

Their example maybe a stretch. The dress fell in a all the right places as it did the celebrity & site model. Now just because the website does not have it's own pictures of the dress on non-industry model size bodies is a matter of splitting hairs, in my opinion. No store shows what every clothing item looks like on everyone's body. I will say the intent of the article, I do agree with. "People Need to Learn to Properly Learn How to Shop Online".

I am a Proud online shopper. I do at least 70% of my clothing & shoes shopping online. Other than shoes & in-season items, I don't feel the need to try everything on. Physical shopping makes me frustrating. It's not the crowds and pushy sales people. Physical store are for trendy shopping. I don't dress trendy a lot. I am more of a classical dresser. I might buy trendy pieces to update a look but most of my base clothing are classics. It is mind numbing to me when I need a basic white blouse and black skirt

and got to a physical store to find it, What do I find? I find the seasons trends.

That's cute!!! I like the look. It is not practical for my life. Physical stores are not so catering to practical. I understand that. They spend a lot of their money from trends. They have to be sure they get those sold. All my classic pieces that I wear, I can Always find online. Here are my personal ways I use to shop & purchase online.

• I Research everything I buy online. This is my money. I work too hard for it to be stolen. I work too hard for not to fit the way correctly. I read reviews because customers can be brutally honest if a product is inferior. I also like to see where the bloggers that look similar me are talking about.
•  I Love to shop around before purchasing. One of the best benefits of online shopping. Who has the better price & value?
• I click on the Sizing Charts. All stores are not alike. At one store I wear a 1X. At another store I wear another size. All Brands are not alike. Take buying shapewear from a national chain for instance. Maidenform, Bali, & Glamorise may have different sizing charts.
• I keep a current records of your measurements. Even in physical shopping this should be done. At least every Spring and Fall (warm & cool) take your measurements. One can't keep trying on clothes like one does in the brick & mortar stores. Some online stores don't have brick & mortar stores to go into. Some stores carry collections that can't be tried on in person (Boycott Update Coming Soon) Having your measurements helps in making wise decisions.
• I know the store, the brands they carry and how you fit in those brand. JCPenney carries Worthington & St John's Bay. I wear those well. Walmart has Faded Glory & NOBO. Faded Glory fits well but NOBO does not. Tried on a Nine West shoe in a 6 1/2 M on at Macy's, it fit well. I see the very same shoes on Amazon's website for cheaper, what size do I buy? If you pay attention to your habits and preferences, it lessens a lot the guess work & headache associated with online shopping.
• I take Risks but don't pay for them. Trends, especially trendy shoes are risky for me. I have an average foot for my not so average body. As cute as many shoes are many of them hurt. I do Not believe in "Pain is Beauty" when it come to my feet. But when I do take the risk, I wait for sales and special deals. And there is always the clearance sections where many items go to before the season is over. 
• I sign-up for deals for every store I shop and will potentially shop. Many discounts are email to shoppers. Some stores send out their deals weekly. Also signing up make you a preferred shopper and preferred shoppers get deals in-store alos. Who doesn't like a deal?
• I believe in Coupon codes. Shipping is painful. I call it the gas prices of online shopping. Like gas stations each store's free shipping minimum varies. I pray for a good free shipping not based on the minimum codes. Many times there are codes to help your cost before shipping. I also use them just to lower the cost period. 30% off is 30% I can put back in my pocket. My favorite to use is Coupons.com. I get my grocery store coupons there also. Search the store's website codes also. And don't be so quick to close the pop-up window when first getting onto the site. Codes may be there.
• If it sounds iffy do Not buy it.

So these are the things I do keep me from looking like this chick from one of my favorite shows from the 90s, Living Single. She didn't have a mirror and had to depend on Regine, the sales person to tell her she looks good. Common sense would have told her to look at her bust and she could see those the top was stretching for dear life. That is the trick to online shopping, using your common sense. That is my top tip, "Use Your Common Sense". Hope I helped someone.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

My Friends' Exes & My Ex's Friends (Not Interested In Dating)

Every time I think I am finished with this series, another topic comes up to be talked about. This is a grey area to some but a Very Black one to me. I don't date my friend exes and my ex's friends. Bottom line is that it is a Messy situation to be in.

I've vaguely touched on this in a previous blog. My friend's exes are off-limits to me. I don't even know if any of my friends have banned me from their exes. I made them off-limits to me. I banned me. Most times most of my friend's exes are not my type. My Diva Bestie, TT, and I have the most similar tastes in men aesthetically. I remember when she introduced us to the guy who was casually dating at the time blog-named, Telvin. He was a nice guy. I kept telling her that. And Telvin was a good man... for her, not me. Also if my friends and I dish on who we date, we dish about many possible things but bedroom activities & the couple's secrets (unless mistreatment is happening). By the time the couple breakup, parts of the unsavory side of their ex are already known. Most times their unsavory side is something I can't deal with. Yeah, that is so appealing.

I pay attention to the friends of the guys I date.  Even what that my guy says about them. Why? Because there has to be a reason why they are friends. Something in this guy drew these people to his life. Watching his friends give me insight into him. Many times I have dated guys wondering how was he friends with certain guys. Some of the very things that grated my nerves about the guys I dated were the things that drew him to these. Okay, my worse boyfriend used to act obnoxious in the movies. One time when the usher came in to give the "turn your phone off" speech and he yelled, "Oh, so you're not taking drink orders". I cringed. Well, I met his friend blog-named, Shaun. He was an extremely cornball jokester except at his job. I went to dinner with just them once. I immediately saw the draw. They were so unpleasantly goofy & loud together. I never want to hear a "That's what she said joke" again in life. They had to have told them all. Also I another reason, I would never date my ex's friend, I don't want to see most of my ex's again. Again that is a mess brewing to happen. Yes, I am talking about the bad ex list. My good ex list thinks as I do on this topic. How do I know? We've talked about it.

Those portions of the Girl Code, Bro Code, & Friendship Code are safe with me. A guy has to be God-Sent for me to be that interested. Situations like this just scream Maury Povich or Jerry Springer to me.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

How to Get Away With Giving OUTSPOKEN_DIVA Heart Palpitations

Wait, let me say this first! No, I will not be watching American Crime after Scandal on 9pm Central on Thursdays. The promo commercials didn't catch my attention and Mary Mary, Season 4 will start then. So, I will be watching Mary Mary.

Nate was arrested for killing Sam!!! (I was constantly tweeting #FreeNate because my Eye Candy on this show was in jail) Then Annalise's tough mother, Ophelia (whose language now makes me accept Cicely Tyson's marriage to Miles Davis) comes to town, set Annalise straight & leaves town. I knew with those two episodes before the two hour Season Finale of How to Get Away With Murder, that the writers of this show were building us up for a shocker. And a Shocker it was. 

Who killed Lila? 

By the time the answer was revealed, I just knew it was Bonnie. All the past scenes pointed at her. I thought she killed her because she wanted to be the Only woman Sam Keating was having an affair.

Oh well she's moved on to Young Asher. I hope in a future season she lets him in on what Everybody else in the group knows.

His naivete' is running thin with me. Tell him already!!! Now when you tell him get out the duct tape just in case he got to talking.  Don't make Annalise whip it out.

Oh they know how to use it. Duct Tape and Trophies are rather dangerous with this circle. LoL

But it was not Bonnie. It was Frank.

Oh Sam Keating did not die in vain. He order the hit. Frank is a worker for Annalise's firm who is not a lawyer but handles special jobs requiring carefulness. Just off the top of my head, I know he does the heavy investigating for the cases. He also was the first one Annalise called to tell about Sam's murder. He planted the ring with Nate's fingerprint on Sam's dead body that framed Nate. I think he's actually a "Hit Man" and a "Handler" for the Keating family. He's just "funded" through the law firm. That's why it was easy for Sam to call him. Frank has known about the affair, both murders and all the covering up since the beginning. He is literally the first person in the show to be "getting away with murder". I can't wait to learn of his back story.

The "Who Killed Lila" storyline was not the only good part of the Season 1 Finale. I just wanted to get that part out the way. The case that was feature in the 1st hour had some twists. I really didn't expect the lady to say she was sleeping with the murderous accused Father Andrew. But it was very welcomed by me. Before all the molestation & priest stories came out to the Catholic church and to the public, I thought some of the priest were actually sneaking to sleep with women. I didn't grow up Catholic, what did I know? Actually I thought some of priest & nuns were sleeping together. Keyword is some. Many are living the vows that they devote their lives to. And while I am on the subject of priest and molestation. The next time Viola Davis, a priest and a pedophilia storyline are together, I better see Meryl Streep involved also. LoL

Nate is Free!!! Well, he is Free on bond.

Annalise scares me planting stories and stuff on him. It makes me nervous. Along with getting fired & being arrested, Nate was beat up and thrown in solitary confinement because of Annalise Keating and Associates. Luckily, Nate can decipher Annalise's actions in trying to get him free. Whoever is responsible for him explaining to the audience what she up to? Thank You!!! I can't wait to see who his lawyer is. Annalise gave him the number to contact them and he made the phone call. I won't even try to guess that one.

I love how Michaela Pratt grew "balls" after Nate's arrest. When she told Annalise that she was rallying for Nate not just because he was innocent but also because he was a black man, I was floored. I had a "did she just say that out loud". Sometimes that action is not verbally said but just understood. Oh it happens in real life also. Actually was what I think one of the three blackest moments in the show in the past few episodes. (Ophelia combing the hair Annalise a*k*a Anna Mae was THE black moment. Mr. Wes crying in Annalise's lap and she rubbing his head like a mother was the third one.) She started that whole episode to remove her layer of academia prissy weakness that she was barely hiding behind. We saw a totally real Michaela in the finale.
I was happy to see it. She was the only character that worried me all season long. The whole show I really thought "She could snitch at anytime". I needed her to find her calm spot. Now this new "ring" revelation might set her back a tad (or get Laurel smacked) but I have faith she will keep her wits about herself going forward.

Well next season we look forward to some new storylines and character developments.

• Connor reeling from Oliver's admission of being HIV+. He gave up whoring around for this guy. Just as long he doesn't go back to his promiscuous ways. It was very stereotypical, IMO.
• Bonnie & Asher situationship happening behind Annalise's back. 
• Frank's dark past must be a possible plot. 
  
• Wes worrying about the whereabouts of Rebecca. Poor thing!!! His face looked like a wet gummy bear while he was being soothed by Annalise.

Oh yeah, Rebecca is Dead!!!

She could've committed suicide. She was probably murdered. Anybody but Annalise & Frank, so it seems could be the murderer. The murdered made it look like she ran away, only for her to be found dead behind a water heater by the aforementioned. Who Killed Rebecca??? My Early Guess is Bonnie.

She was very chatty and attitudinal right before it is discovered that Rebecca was "missing". Plus, she has a lot to hide. Again it could be anyone on the show. Anybody!!! The same door she "escape" from could've been the entry point for someone that was not known to be in the house.

Oh, I'm including Wes, also. Standing there, staring at the chair she was in and this "Oh my love is gone" tears don't sway me from adding him to the list.

Oh and I hope the murder weapon is Duct Tape! LoL

But in the words of Richard Pryor, "We Shall See"!!! My anticipation for Season 2 is already swelling. Who do you think killed Rebecca? Put your answers in the comments below. 

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms.