Simplicity....

Life is so beautiful especially when I sit back and look at the beautiful things that exist around me....I'm not impressed by extravagance but by the simple things in life. I love when I wake up in the morning and my daughter says "Hi". I love when I walk outside and the sun is shining directly on me as if it is infusing me with positive energy! I know the world is not perfect and their are crazy things happening all around us but sometimes its great to focus on the wonders in and around our life. Even if you are upset by the happenings of day to day life try to focus on the beauty of the world everyday. Everyday I tell myself I will learn to love something to new in this mad world we live in.

"Just for today live your life as if you had nothing to lose"

Just for today smile, laugh, and tell everyone they are beautiful.

Peace,

Tasha

Chocolate Milk: Black Women and Breastfeeding

Today I was asked if I still breastfed my daughter who is almost one. I answered of course I do...I was looked at with confusion and the person reacted with laughter as if I was crazy!! I was a bit offended but I am use to some of these negative responses from some people. While I was pregnant I told people I planned on breastfeeding I thought I would be met with words of encouragement and maybe some support instead people were outright negative. I heard things such as, "You say that now" "Girl please that shit hurts!" "Why do you want to breastfeed" "Breastfeeding makes your titties sag". I was surprised because I thought breastfeeding was a beautiful thing and many women did not see it the same way I saw it. I was warned by a very supportive nurse that people would be very negative and that I should stick with my plans! Thank God for her kind words because she was right!! Black women unfortunately do not breastfeed as much as Hispanic or White women which is odd because Black women tend to have less money then their counterparts. Many Black women depend on WIC to supply them with formula and baby food until their baby is one. Without WIC alot of Black babies would starve and face many health complications. Besides WIC gives the worst infant formula Nesquick...which is known to cause many skin problems and digestive problems in infants!!  I would think that Black women would be the first group of women to breastfeed their babies since the milk is free!! Besides programs like WIC does not give enough food for the entire month so the parent still has to buy formula which is usually locked behind a glass in many stores.  It's funny how many women are quick to criticize women who breastfeed but never once looked on the back of formula and read the ingredients!! I am not knocking women who don't breastfeed I just hate when non-breastfeeding mothers criticize women who choose to breastfeed their children.  Breastfeeding has many benefits that formula can never have, breastfeed babies on average get sick less, have higher IQ's, have a lower incidence of developing childhood cancers, and less allergic reactions.

Recently I read an article in the Metro that women are "embarassed" to breastfeed in the public!! I was saddened when I read this article, we live in a culture where women walk around with their cleavage, butt cracks, and everything else out and these women are never embrassed!! The same people who complain that breastfeeding in public is "nasty" are the same people who patronize magazines that exploit women!!  Negative comments like the ones I received are some of the reasons why women are embarassed to breastfeed in public! Breastfeeding is a part of nature, when a women is pregnant and post partum her breasts fill with milk to nourish her child...so why should society make her ashamed of this?? To any women who is embarassed to breastfeed in public...You shouldn't be!! You are providing nourishment to your child to help them grow and if anyone has an issue with they should just simply look the other way!! I am a huge supporter of breastfeeding and if anyone needs any help with adjusting to it please contact me!!

My opinion is that anybody offended by breastfeeding is staring too hard. ~David Allen

Women are the Niggers of the World...Osama

I am a big fan of indy movies especially foreign films! Today I watched the movie Osama which is a stunning yet sad movie about a family of women who are poor and makes their 12 year old daughter dress as a boy to get a job.  The story is simple, the actors had no experience yet this movie has touched me deeply.  The actors who acted in this movie were inspiring because they had witnessed evilness of the Taliban and they still hurt from the after effects. The Taliban had no respect for women at all and this movie can not even begin to show the heartless things that these men did to these innoncent women and children. One of the scenes in the movie I will never forget is when Osama's mother is on a bike and her feet are showing and the Taliban stops her and tell her men will be aroused and that she should cover her feet! Wow...It sounds minor but when you watch this scene of the movie you are brought to tears... Siddiq Barmak did a wonderful and brave job showcasing the evilness of the Taliban regime.  When the Taliban were in power all movies were banned and this was the first movie to be made in Afghanistan after the Taliban were removed from power.  If you are looking for a great movie watch that has inspirational actors and a great theme Osama is the movie for you.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLMnB6OeJgU&feature=search

......Brilliant Minds.....: Chippy D aka Montana Fishburne aka Porn Star!!!

......Brilliant Minds.....: Chippy D aka Montana Fishburne aka Porn Star!!!

Chippy D aka Montana Fishburne aka Porn Star!!!

I started my day off pretty simple...I decided to check my guilty pleasure mediatakeout...I was surprised by what I seen!!! Laurence Fishburne's 19 year old daughter is a porn star...So, I am like whatever mto you guys are always hyping things up!! But I was wrong Montana aka Chippy D is actually a porn star....

I have so many things to say that I don't know where to start...

First of all, Why does a 19 year old want to be a porn star?? Her answer was Kim Kardashian had so much success with her sex tape she thought it would be good if she had one.....Whoa.....did someone really just say that out their mouth??? Wow!! I could not believe what I had read!!! Kim K has inspired a girl who probably never had to work a day in her life to be a porn star! At first I was pretty pissed off at her answer then I began to actually feel bad for her. It's true if a star has a sex tape they are more popular and considered sexy! Kim K has really made a name for herself since her sex tape was "leaked"..she is on her own shows, she is constantly in the tabloids, she dated Reggie Bush (who is extra fine), she is on exercise ads and diet pill ads!   In fact she is considered one of the hottest stars but I can't even remember what her special talent is!

But seriously, it's a shame that women think to become someone they have to sell sex.  It is not Montana's fault that she believes that to become famous she has to sell sex, it is the fault of the media.  The media is the biggest supporter of the over sexualization of women and even teen girls. The media is constantly showing women with "perfect" shapes, "perfect" teeth, "perfect" hair and "perfect" lives! The media is constantly showing women with their breasts, hips, butts, backs, and any other body part that can be shown on television.  These images on t.v. are making young girls to older women believe they are  not beautiful enough unless they show extra skin. How many times has the media talked about this story? But how many times has the media even mentioned something positive?? This story was even on CNN!!! Talk about the budget, war, Obama, education anything but Chippy D!!

It time for women to understand that we can be something without selling sex, that we can achieve anything without selling sex, and that we are perfect the way we are. When women start to over sexualize their selves our self worth goes down because we feel less comfortable with who we are. Do you want people to remember you for your good spirit or how well you shake your ass??

Now, Montana I doubt if you will ever see this blog but I pray that you see the light...Being a porn star will only make you famous b/c the whole world is seeing your body. Instead of being inspired by Kim K be inspired by women who are doing positive things in life.  There are so many examples of beautiful women who make it without selling their soul and without selling sex.

"There is nothing in this world that you cannot do...when you believe in you"

Six teens drown in Louisiana!

Today I read some tragic news on CNN. Six teens drowned in Louisiana after they went into unfamiliar waters. http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=12913620&hpt=T2 This isn't what I originally planned on blogging about today but this story has made me think about how African-Americans are more likely to drown than other racial groups. It is estimated that up to 60% of black children can't swim. These statistics are not only depressing but it sheds a light on issues in the community.  There are many reasons that black children are not learning how to swim which include access to pools, ability to pay for private swim lessons, parents not learning how to swim, and of course hair.  When I go to the pool in my neighborhood is shocking how many Indian and white children know how to swim and I have only seen three black children that actually know how to swim. Parents should start teaching their children how to swim at an early because these lessons may in fact one day save their lives. There are inexpensive and free places that teach children how to swim based on the households income. It is time that African-Americans start breaking these myths and encouraging our children to do other activities that may not be seen as "black".  We should encourage our children to learn how to swim and not focus on them messing up their hair!  Maybe if these teens knew how to swim we would be reading a different story filled with happiness instead of sadness. May these six teens rest in eternal peace and may their families be comforted remembering the lives they lived.

An introduction is only proper

This is my first blog post and I am very excited and happy. I have been thinking of blogging for over a year now and now my journey begins.  I will be blogging about anything and everything...from politics, jobs, hair, fashion, nails, food, whatever....I love to discuss anything...Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions or comments!