The Unsung Hero - The Single Mother in The Frontpage

Please take a moment and check out my feature in the FrontPage magazine about the hardest working person in the world - the single mother.

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1886s/MichiganFrontPageDig/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fdetails%2F58863%2FMichigan-FrontPage-Digital-Edition-05-29-09

Relationship Forum V @ The Java Exchange June 5th

Having trouble viewing this email? www.javaexchangecafe.com Relationship Forum V   New Gourmet $5.00 Sandwich Combos   Economic sluggishness and record price increases have resulted in a "perfect storm" for the food service industry.  At The Java Exchange Café, we have tried our best not to impact our loyal customers with any price increases in the past two years by making cuts in other areas.   However, we refuse to sacrifice quality and service for price.  We feel that it would not be a proper representation of what The Java Exchange Café's brand is all about, nor would that be fair to our loyal customers.  To ensure that quality and customer service is not ever comprised, we will have to increase our prices on our gourmet sandwich menu effective May 24, 2009.   Based on feedback from many of our customers, we have created a $5.oo gourmet sandwich combo menu.  This menu will consist of seven new tasty gourmet sandwiches, using the highest quality of ingredients.  Please take a moment review our new combos.   Also, we would like to thank everyone that participated in our focus groups and taste test for the creation of our new gourmet sandwiches, we had a tasty good time!     $5.00 Combo Menu (includes a 16oz fountain drink)   Half Chicken Panini Ciabatta bread, havarti cheese, honey maple chicken breast, honey mustard              Half Chicken Wrap Tomato lawash, Swiss cheese, honey maple chicken breast, honey mustard, sliced tomatoes    Half Corn Beef Panini       Ciabatta bread, havarti cheese, corn beef brisket, bistro sauce Half Cuban Panini Ciabatta bread, chipotle cheese, hickory smoked ham, chipotle turkey breast, romaine lettuce, Dijon mustard, pickles    Half King David Panini    Focaccia bread, havarti cheese, chipotle turkey breast, red and green onions, peppers, Italian dressing, mushrooms, bistro sauce           Half Smoked Turkey Panini Ciabatta bread, havarti cheese, chipotle turkey breast, peppers, bistro sauce            Half  Turkey Wrap Tomato lawash, bistro sauce, havarti cheese, romaine cut lettuce, chipotle turkey breast Regards, Ramone Crowe, Jr. President/CEO The Java Exchange Cafe 440 Burroughs Detroit, MI 48202 www.javaexchangecafe.com                  Click to Join Our Mailing List! Join Our Mailing List! Join Our Mailing List! Forward email

Why The hell would I want to be a size 2?

I know a double post on a day is usually something of a blue moon, but I just had to speak on this.   First for some reason when I first saw this book, I thought oh thsi might be a book I want to read, but as I said before, homegurl's been doing some thinking you would not believe.   But first before you hear my mouth, read what I read:   New Book Shows Women the Effective, Frame-adjusted Approach to Weight Loss for Life. Posted: 28 May 2009 07:21 AM PDT Size 2 for Life by Ashley Marriott and Marc L. Paulsen, MD challenges the notion that women can't reach their ideal size and stay there. NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (date) – Size 2 for Life guides women through a 21-Day step-by-step program designed to eliminate food triggers, increase energy and boost body image. Presented in clear and easily understood language this new diet and fitness program can make and keep almost any women a frame-adjusted size 2. Topics Include: · Popular Myths about size 2. · Why size 2 is actually the healthy way to go. · Why the "plus acceptance mentality" is dangerous. · Why Celebrities like Oprah fail and how you can succeed. · Size 2 after pregnancy? Yes! · How almost any woman can achieve and maintain a healthy size 2. The authors have appeared as guests on affiliates of ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and the CW networks and are available both locally and nationally.   Size 2 for Life is available on Amazon as well as bookstores worldwide. Women can also signup for FREE Size 2 Tips at: www.size2forlife.com  Price: $21.99 Pages: 222 ISBN: 978-0-9821047-4-3 Publisher: Stance Publications Pub date: January 16, 2009 About the Authors Ashley Marriott has been a professional in the field of fitness for more than 14 years. She is dedicated to using her experience and energy to educate and encourage people to reach their fitness goals. She is a frequent guest on radio and television and has written dozens of articles for publications worldwide. Marc L. Paulsen, M.D. is a graduate of Brandeis University and Stanford University Medical School. He received his training at University of California, Irvine Medical Center. He is a member of the American Academy of Sports Medicine and a former Medical Director of the Exercise Science Lab at Orange Coast College in California. ###   TIME FOR MY RANT   Now you ask why would i have a problem with this?   Like I said, In the beginning, I did consider requesting the book. It looked like something I'd want to check out, but then I paused and said:   Why?   Why the hell would I want to be a size 2?   I like my full busts, small waist and wide hips, onion butt and thick thighs.   Now i know I need some toning, but a size 2?   A size 2 would take away my nice butt. Though it's hard to find clothes, and difficult to look nice in clothes that are suppose to be my size, I still wouldn't trade my size 14 for anything.   Size 2 would be too small. I wouldn't know what to do with a size two.   I have features that in Africa I would be considered a queen and in no ways would they find these features needing to be changed.   But I really don't need my ancestors telling me I'm wrong to be a size 14. Or that my plus size mentality is dangerous. According to my doctor, I am healthy. I have a great blood pressure, my heart's as strong as a bull, I've been through two pregnancies and ended up the same size I started, and I feel wonderful physically.   I have strong legs and back, curves in all the right places and I look damn good for going on almost 40.   So Why the hell would I want to be a size 2?   I don't. I won't ever want to be that size.   I'm happy having a plus acceptance mentality.   What do you think?

When is too many is too much! Real Life Mistaken Identity

This week was my reality week when it came to relationships. As you know, I have a new take on life http://loveablackwoman.blogspot.com/2009/04/taking-back-mysex-myself.html and with that new life, I've become much clearer in my wants and needs out of men. I really couldn't explain why it's gotten me a clearer explaination on everything, but I like it.

Me and a girlfriend start discussing a new life outlook and she says, you know Syl, all those freaky books you read will make guys think you're like that.

I tell her my usual, "I'm just bad on paper so I can be good in life," bit.

"Yeah, but I got friends who've read Mistaken Identity. They think you're like that and they're connecting. Like Mistaken Identity. My cousin thinks you wrote her life story. And I still can't believe that is real."

Next day after that conversation, I get a email from my assistant and author, Monica Marie Jones.

Her email says:

A Real Life Mistaken Identity!

http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2009/05/woman-gives-birth-to-twins-wit-001903.php

I couldn't believe it! I couldnt' believe that reality was upstaging my story. Matter of fact, I might have to write a sequel or coinciding story to give it a new twist.

Reality is always better than fiction.

Whoever said this was preaching the truth and the fact that this really happened and the doctor broke down how it happened was just amazing in itself that my imagination could have spoken this man's exact words in my book, Mistaken Identity.

For any of you that have read Mistaken Identity and not been a believer about the "twist" now I can say, Nah! Nah! Nah!

LOL.

Man! That was a day.

If you haven't gotten a copy of the book, you can pick it up at Amazon!

You'll love it!

Coping With an Out-of-Work Husband

Does a recent layoff have you both spending too much time together? Here are 6 ways to not just survive, but enjoy each other's company.

Most women who take their marriage vows do so with the unwritten agreement that their man will be home only for dinner, weekends and holidays and of course the occasional flu or sprain. However, the recession has changed the dynamics of the marriage contract.

Just have a look at what some of my female readers have frantically emailed me:

"I feel like I have adopted an adult child."

"He wants to be included in everything, I feel like we are joined at the hip. I need therapy!"

"Now he wants me to prepare three-course lunches for him while he doesn’t do his fair share around the house."

"Now that he’s home, all he thinks about is sex. He wants a quickie when I am busy with my to-do list."

In summation, Prince Charming has turned into a channel surfing toad plopped on the couch with a ravenous appetite for whatever. And now, you feel wed-locked.

Clearly, you are experiencing a bit of road rage in your own living room. Before you run him over, make sure to shift gears. Self-improvement means home improvement. This is the time to get yourself in balance and think straight. Consider the teachings of martial arts, which resemble marital arts. Don’t oppose an aggressor’s strength head on. Instead, the idea is to yield to an oncoming force in such a way that it is unable to harm you, yet at the same time redirecting its strength away from you, guiding the force where you wish.

Here’s how to get his attention:


Read More: http://www.hitchedmag.com/article.php?id=744

Will Smith on the Law of Attraction

Will Smith is deep like an ocean and as he grows into his wisdom, he really drops mental bombs that if you don't listen you're listening out on a wealth on knowledge.

"Not an icon... be an idea..."

Dang!

Unexpected Light - falling in love after 45

As I approach the big 40, I still wonder is it possible and is it worth it.

Author and poet, Craig Chaffin gives me hope that I should not allow depression to defeat the possibility that it could happen.

I hope his words inspire you as well.

Brief Interview with Craig E. Chaffin about His New Book

C. E. Chaffin is a well-known poet, especially on the net, who has been publishing for 40 years. His new book, his first since 1997, includes a section of over 20 love poems, based on the miracle of his falling in love at 45. He's been in love ever since—almost ten years!


Why did you call your book “Unexpected Light?”

First, it is mentioned in the last line of the poem, “Prayer to la Virgen,” detailing how Christ was lucky enough to receive a donated grave.. But more so, when I fell in love at 45 for the first time (and it has continued ever since), I was shocked out of my mind. It was truly unexpected light.

Trained as a medical doctor, I had always been rational about love, thinking (in C. S. Lewis's words) that love should be the result of, not the reason for marriage. All that changed when I met Kathleen. And right after I met her my second wife e-mailed me that she was leaving—such synchronicity!--leaving me a perfect opportunity to experience romantic love for the first time, a gift I wish for everyone. And true love is not just infatuation but an abiding love, a love that puts on overalls and boots in the service of the beloved.

How did you come to write “Unexpected Light?”

I've been publishing poetry for 40 years, and this is my second book. My first was published in 1997. This book was 12 years in the making. It deals with many themes, including the usual four in poetry: God, Death, Nature and Love. The last section of the book, in fact, is devoted to love poems. And that was a main impetus for the book. I had compiled a manuscript entirely of love poems but no publisher showed interest, so I limited the love poems to my very best 20 or so and added poems on other themes, and voila! I had a publisher go all the way for me, including royalties—for poetry, imagine!

Where can we get a copy of “Unexpected Light?”

It's available through Amazon.com and all the usual suspects and any bookstore will order it for you. Best to order it directly from the publisher. There's a page on my website where you can do that: http://cechaffin.com/light.html

It comes in hardback for just $20 and paperback for $12. I wish I could give it away but I can't afford it. Seven reviews have already been published, and I can say without embarrassment that they have all been glowing.

Here's a short excerpt from one of the love poems, “Valentine 2008,” where the speaker imagines his love as a waterfall:

Inside the moss-lipped haven of your granite
I hide behind your thundering skirt of water.

Your clarity dissolves all self-deception.
I would not recognize myself without you.

The shelter of trees is never so generous
As your pouring and thinning of yourself

Into the forest air. I kneel and drink
And like the alder rise up satisfied.

Thanks for having me at your blog,

Craig Erick Chaffin

How to Fight Fair from Dr. Laura Berman

How to Fight Fair

The gloves are off, the claws are out, and you and your partner are locked in a heated, intense argument. Can you end the fight before things get ugly, or have you already gone too far?
Cutting off an argument can actually be a relationship lifesaver. Once you've said something — whether you meant it or not — it can't be taken back. Even if your partner does his best to forgive you, resentments can fester, and may even lay the groundwork for future arguments.

It's good to practice physiological soothing techniques when things get heated. When anger starts to rise, so does your body temperature, heart rate, and breathing. You feel angry, which can make your emotions seem more intense than they are. Take a step back when you feel this happening and observe your body's reaction. Breathe deeply for a moment, and try to separate your mental reaction from your physical reaction. Allowing yourself to be controlled by your emotions in this state can cause you to say and do things you may regret later.

To help your partner take it down a notch, inject a little humor or even a tender touch into your argument. Reach for his hand or make a joke — both gestures will help him feel less threatened and calm him down. Also, it can be helpful to have each of you repeat what the other one has just said before you respond to it, to make sure you're getting each other's messages.

Learning to fight constructively is an important part of maintaining a loving and functional relationship. Keep your perspective when things are at their worst, and you and your partner will make it through to happier times.

From Dr. Berman's Passion Prescription:
Visit DrLauraBerman.com and get back issues of the Passion Files newsletter, feature articles by Dr. Berman, news about her latest book, and links to all her Intimate Accessories.

Mother Lover

Oh kay, it's after mother's day and I just thought I'd share this little tidbit with you as a lighthearted look on the term "what good friends will do for each other."

Of course, I was rolling on the floor coughing up a lung when I listened to the words of the video and could barely keep my eyes opened as I laughed so dog gone hard.

Enjoy...

2nd Annual First Love Yourself Contest (Mature Material)

May is national masturbation month. To celebrate the art of self love, Good Clean Love is offering a great way to show yourself some love.

Good Clean Love are giving away 3 LELO Mia pleasure objects. Learn more about the Lelo vibrators. Sign up today and discover the many ways that loving yourself helps you love someone else.

To enter Good Clean Love month's contest, share a great idea about how loving yourself makes you a better lover, (this doesn't have to be sexual). Click here to enter this month's 2nd Annual First Love Yourself Contest

General Mills Connects With Social Media Moms

General Mills Connects With Social Media Moms Posted: 29 Apr 2009 02:50 PM PDT When you're a major brand utilizing social media, you can sometimes hit a home run or strike out with a major blunder. Last year, Motrin utterly failed to connect with mothers with its controversial Motrin moms YouTube video. Today's story, however, is a tale of what happens when you get social media right. Not long ago, General Mills set up a blog network called MyBlogSpark. Bloggers in the program have access to some of the newest General Mills products around, so long as they review the items on their blogs. This is a unique way to access and discuss General Mills products (i.e. Cheerios, Yoplait Yogurt). One of the other cool things about the MyBlogSpark program is that about 80% of its bloggers are moms. READ MORE AT: http://mashable.com/2009/04/29/general-mills-moms/ Tags: Moms, social media

Having Babies By Bums: 10 Rules Every Woman Must Follow

Intimate Conversation with author M.R. Webb



M.R. Webb is a self-described “bastard child” who spent his formative years
growing up on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. “When my mother had me she was
a young 20 year-old, no high school diploma, unemployed and on welfare. My
father was 19 years-old; at the time of my birth he was sitting in a prison cell
awaiting his fate for nearly killing a man.” These were the dismal set of
circumstances that served as the backdrop for the portrait of Webb’s life.



Webb says that it was only God’s grace that allowed him to escape the pitfalls
of drugs and street violence, earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass
Communications from a top ranking university, and then go on to obtain his Juris
Doctor of Law Degree. Today, Webb is a senior executive at a consulting firm in
the Northeast.





Ella Curry of EDC Creations chats with M.R. Webb



Ella: Finish this sentence: I am Powerful because...

I am Powerful because... I realize that there is a power greater than myself.






Ella: Where are you from? How did you start your
writing journey?

I’m from Brooklyn, New York. My writing journey started as a child in elementary
school. Writing became my medium for expressing my thoughts. I started competing
locally and nationally in original oratory, poetry, and essay contests in junior
high school. The rest is history.





Ella: Please introduce us to your fantastic new book.

My new book Having Babies By Bums: 10 Rules Every Woman Must Follow To Avoid
Choosing A Terrible Father For Her Child is a meaningful conversation and
exchange of ideas between myself and women. The writing of this book was
prompted by two life-changing events that occurred almost simultaneously last
year. In August, I almost lost my life in a near fatal car accident. Several
weeks later my 15 year-old niece gave birth, took her baby, and ran away with
the father who was a much older man. I felt that I needed to record these
thoughts that would outlive me and possibly help my niece and other women make
better decisions about the men they choose as partners and fathers for their
children.



This book draws upon my life’s experiences as the son of a BUM, my friendships
with many men who are BUMS, and my relationships, conversations, and
observations of the many women that have been my friends, "sisters", confidants,
teachers, and even lovers over the last twenty years.





Ella: What makes your book stand out and would entice a reader to pick
it up?

The honesty and relevance of the subject matter of this book makes it a
must-have. Every day women are recklessly having children by “BUMS” who are
mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and financially incapable of caring for
those children. It’s become an epidemic in our society. This book offers very
sincere and candid advice to women about “Recognizing Bums”, “Staying Single and
Not Settling”, and “Recognizing the Bum Within Themselves.”



Having Babies By BUMS snatches current events from today's headlines
such as the Chris Brown-Rihanna domestic violence case, Octo Mom (Nadya Suleman),
the Cassie Anthony case, and even First Lady Michelle Obama’s relationship with
her daughters to share powerful life lessons with both women and men.



Having Babies By BUMS is a unique and powerful book because it offers
women honest, practical, and life changing guidance on how to choose a quality
man to have a child with. The book details characteristics in certain men that
women should see as WARNING! signs, offers sound advice to women who have
children about “Raising men not BUMS” and “Treating their daughters like
children and not their girlfriends.” Most importantly, this book empowers and
encourages women to engage in self-reflection and self-evaluation of their own
lives in order to identify, deal with, and get rid of their habits and
characteristics that attract BUMS!





Ella: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?


My only goal in writing this book was to provoke thought in women regarding why
and how they choose the potential fathers of their children. If the book
inspires women to be more cautious, concerned, and careful when selecting their
partners- then that goal has been accomplished.





Ella: What is the most surprising thing you have learned in creating
books?

The amount of dedication it takes to make the journey from a having a concept
for a book in your head to holding that book in your hand. It’s an amazing trip!






Ella: What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a
writer?

I believe that Having Babies By BUMS is my most significant
achievement thus far.





Ella: What advice would you give a new writer?

I often encourage new writers to be like Virginia Woolf. I tell them to
find a “room of their own” and create writings that express their true inner
voice.





Ella: Name 3 things that it takes to make a successful author, in your
opinion?

A passion for writing.

A desire to be heard.

A comprehensive knowledge of the literary business.





Ella: What can we expect from you in the future?

You can look for more books from me that offer readers a different literary
experience. You can also expect other outstanding authors to be published by
King of Kings Publishing.





Ella: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.


I’m looking forward to meeting readers, fellow authors, and publishers at the
National Black Book Festival in Houston and the Harlem Book Festival in New
York.





Contact Information:

M.R. Webb, Author

Link: www.babiesbybums.com

mrwebb@babiesbybums.com

mrwebbtheauthor@twitter.com





Please join in the discussion by leaving comments or congrats below.



Black Authors Culture Center--
Twitter with Ella--Black
Pearls Mag



EDC Creations Book Promotions

What do you do when you wake up next to ugly?

I thought you would sincerely love this.

Man Stroke Woman - The Walk of Shame @ Yahoo! Video

I bumped my head against the wall hard when I threw it back to laugh.

OMG! the horror! the irony! the all out hilarity!

And a happy Monday to you too!

Hope you didn't wake up next to a hot mess like this guy did.