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I LOVE cooking from recipes, and making up meals, I LOVE spending time with my boys (all three) and entertaining my family and friends, I LOVE bargain shopping (vintage stores included), I LOVE flipping through fashion and design mags, I LOVE the smell of libraries and how often I could get lost there, I LOVE scanning realty websites, I LOVE Trader Joes and LUSH, I LOVE fresh flowers and all four seasons, I LOVE Cincinnati and am always ready to travel, I LOVE stationary and stamps, I LOVE diamonds and pearls, tulle and lace, I LOVE smelling coffee and drinking tea, I love marshmallows and chocolate, I LOVE cozy sheets and morning sunshine, I LOVE me and I love GOD!

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Master Tre'

Master Roman

Monday, March 26, 2012

Weekend Snapshots: Flowers, Cupcakes, Makeup

This weekend Scott worked and I was with the boys full time.
On top of our normal running around we managed to fit in some fun too!

TURNER FARM

Scott (and the boys) stuffed my stocking this past Christmas with a membership to a local farm's flower CSA. Throughout the spring, summer and fall I will be able to go and pick stems to create my own flower bouquets. What a perfect gift!!!

Tre' and I (Roman was sleep in the car) picked these lovelies!

YUM!



After church on Sunday the boys and I went to grab cupcakes at a new cupcakery close to our church. Tre' got birthday cake, Roman got strawberry and I tried the vanilla bean.
We even brought one home for daddy!


ULTA ULTA ULTA 

Ok...so you all know that I have a serious problem when it comes to nail polish, hair products and makeup...
Well...Sunday when Scott got home from work I rushed out to get me a little girl time. Two of my new (new to me) favorite makeup lines are NYX and IMAN. I have been using IMAN's pressed powder for oily skin but goodness I came across her display in ULTA and I was in heaven.

I had a very fun filled, family filled, relaxing- girlie kind of weekend.
We are looking forward to this weekend's mini getaway.

Until then ...have a great week.
HAPPY MONDAY!
xoxo,
Ronita

Friday, March 23, 2012

Weekend Cooking


Think I will be trying some of the recipes off my new favorite food blog bell'alimento this weekend.

Can't wait to get in my kitchen and sip on a cold glass of wine.

Here's to the weekend.

xoxo,
Ronita

Monday, March 19, 2012

My Writings: A Poem for My Sons



Even though the odds are against you…the world is yours my son.
With just one look they will judge you…no worries, the world is yours my son.
They will label you and try to categorize you…you show them different…the world is yours my son.
You are smart, you are strong, you are you…the world is yours my son.
Use your mind to do right, your heart to feel right, and your words to speak right…the world is yours my son.

Keep your heart with God, remain faithful and true…the world is yours my son.
I love you and will always have your back…the worlds is yours my son.
- Mommy (aka Ronita) March 19, 2012

Peace and Blessings

Ronita



Friday, March 16, 2012

HAPPY FRIDAY

(via)

I love this picture of Solange!

Her crown is beautiful!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Peace and Blessings
Ronita

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Politics: Let America be America Again


(via)

Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.

(America never was America to me.)

Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed--
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.

(It never was America to me.)

O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.

(There's never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")

Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?
And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?

I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,
I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek--

And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.
I am the young man, full of strength and hope,

Tangled in that ancient endless chain
Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!
Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!
Of work the men! Of take the pay!
Of owning everything for one's own greed!

I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil.
I am the worker sold to the machine.
I am the Negro, servant to you all.
I am the people, humble, hungry, mean--

Hungry yet today despite the dream.
Beaten yet today--O, Pioneers!

I am the man who never got ahead,
The poorest worker bartered through the years.
Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream
In the Old World while still a serf of kings,
Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true,

That even yet its mighty daring sings
In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned
That's made America the land it has become.
O, I'm the man who sailed those early seas
In search of what I meant to be my home--

For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore,
And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea,
And torn from Black Africa's strand I came
To build a "homeland of the free."
The free?
Who said the free? Not me?

Surely not me? The millions on relief today?
The millions shot down when we strike?
The millions who have nothing for our pay?

For all the dreams we've dreamed
And all the songs we've sung
And all the hopes we've held
And all the flags we've hung,

The millions who have nothing for our pay--

Except the dream that's almost dead today.
O, let America be America again--
The land that never has been yet--
And yet must be--the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine--the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME--

Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.
Sure, call me any ugly name you choose--

The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people's lives,
We must take back our land again,

America!
O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath-

America will be!

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,

We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain--
All, all the stretch of these great green states--
And make America again!

- Langston Hughes

A little poetry for this Thursday morning.
I have been thinking a lot about the land we live in, our system of education and how we grow our children.
It seems like we are going through the same struggles our ancestors did decades ago...

Can America ever be the land of the free with equality for all?

Still pondering...

Peace and Blessings,
Ronita

Friday, March 9, 2012

Product Junkie: March curlBox

It's finally here!!! What a wonderful way to start off my weekend.
Today, I came home to find this beauty outside my door.


Per it's founder Myleik curlBox is...


An Exclusive, Affordable & Effortless Way to Experience Products for Curly Hair


Many years ago when I decided to wear my hair in it's natural state, I was most concerned with feeling beautiful and confident with the way my hair would look. I loved to wear sequins, bright bold lips and slick, shiny materials. Would all of this fabulousness go with my fuzzy 'fro? Of course it would!


At that time the products for naturally curly hair were few and far between. Now there are so many to experience that we don't know where to start!


We want to help make the selection process easier on you and your wallet.


Thank you for signing up for more information about . Our mission is to introduce you to some of the most interesting products to enhance your style that you've been hearing about ... but haven't had a chance to experience. We also want to introduce you to some of the most amazing brands by having them send their brand new products to you first! It's all about hair, beauty and confidence and rest assured that membership will have it's benefits.


Prepare yourself for the Experience!


See our full website at www.curlBOX.com














and a little something extra from one of my favorite companies..SheaMoisture!!!



If you can get on the April list when it opens I would highly recommend it. 

Toodles,

Ronita 



Opening the windows...good vibes...



I'm looking forward to opening the windows and letting the house breath to the sounds of  Erykah, Lauryn, India,  Outkast and Common.

Happy Weekend!
Peace and Blessings,
Ronita



Thursday, March 8, 2012

Relationship: Sushi Time at Sushi Bears

With two boys who have very busy social schedules, on top of their schooling and our work schedules, Scott and I make it a point to take time out for just the two of us to connect. We love any opportunity to try something new in the city in our city!

We lucked out awhile ago and purchased a Groupon to take a sushi rolling class down at the historic (and of course one of my favorite places in the city) Findlay Market. Sushi Bears offers couple and group sushi and Indian cuisine classes. We had such a great time and Chef Dan had a wealth of knowledge.

Soon I hope to have a sushi party at our house with some friends and some wine!!







What do you like to do in your city to escape busy schedules?

Peace and Blessings,
Ronita

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Parenting: Mommy what color am I?


(via)

The time has come where my little Tre' (6 years old) realizes and verbalizes that he sees a difference between the color of his skin compared to that of his classmates. He even recognizes that he is a different shade of color compared to me and my mom. I love his innocence when choosing a crayon to use to color in his face versus a classmate he has drawn or even mine for that matter.

 I am so excitined for him to discover the differences that are in people, not only in the color of their skin but their traditions, their heritage and even for him to understand that although people are different we are all equal and loved by God.

I thought maybe if I get some really beautifully illustrated books that might help with our discussion.
Here are some I found and ordered off Amazon.







Shout out to one of my really good friends, Emily, who gifted Roman with this book for his 2nd birthday!! We are going to crack this one open tonight.



Do you have any books, songs, strategies or words of wisdom when it comes to talking about race and ethnicity with your children?


Looking forward to hearing them!

xoxo,
Ronita



Thursday, March 1, 2012

My Shade of Brown Sample Box


If you are a product junkie/makeup-beauty product enthusiasts like me, I’m sure you have.
It's all rage in fashion and beauty industry right now. They are beautifully packaged “customized” curated sample boxes chocked full of makeup and beauty samples. I looked into most of the companies and with great hesitation decided against them. I was worried that they wouldn’t get my skin tone right or pick the right colors that would compliment my hue. I remember saying to myself one day, it would be nice if they catered one more towards us brown sistahs.

Ask and ye shall receive, My Shade of Brown!
I received my (and their) first pillow box and I am in LOVE

Here is the mission statement from their website:
My Shade of Brown delivers premium sized beauty samples tailored to women of color. Every month our signature Pillow Box full of goodies will be delivered to your door. By partnering with companies that are sensitive to the beauty needs of women of color, you will often receive products from established brands, stellar up and comers and newly discovered gems! We created My Shade of Brown because, like you, we love beauty and we wanted something dedicated to women of color. Period.

The unveiling of my first box.

It was packaged with a nice note and directions on how to purchase full products if I enjoyed the samples.

Beautifully packaged in brown and pink.

I received four premium sized samples and one full sized product.

Georgia by G & Company skin wash.


Pooka's Pure & Simple Body Butter. I have tried this already and I LOVE it!!!

Lamik's Mineral Face Powder

FULL SIZE of Big Girl Cosmetics Lip shine

 *not pictured individually Yana foundation sample*

Here is a demo video taken from their website


If you want to learn more click here!!

Enjoy
xoxo,
Ronita