I never realized how difficult it is to talk about myself until now. I want to share my journey of being naturally, nappy and happy, but I don’t like taking pictures. I guess it has to do with being so self-conscious of the scars on my face from breakouts. But I’m too old to worry about such things, right?

That’s not even what my post is about. I made a mistake two weeks ago with my sisterlocks, nothing damaging, but all the same a no-no for me ever again.

I was told by TS that I should cornrow my hair at least once a month so my ends wouldn’t curl-up. She also instructed me to pull them out the next day. Well, I thought I was doing something and decided to leave the braids in from Sunday to Thursday. Great big mistake. The separation of each braid wouldn’t go away. I wanted to scream. I had to go to school and my head looked like a damaged Raggedy Ann doll’s head.

I put a hat on went about my business and washed it that Saturday. It was fine after that, but I was disappointed. The day I got my installation done, TS had wet my hair and cornrowed the front and plaited the back and it looked wonderful the next day. I haven’t been able to repeat what she’s done yet. So I’ve been wearing it in a freestyle.

I thought my daughter took a picture of my freestyle, but she’s sleeping and I can’t find it on the digital camera, so next time I will have up-to-date pictures for all to see.

This past Sunday (January 25, 2009) I had my first re-tightening and TS was done in two hours flat. I was impressed and happy.

Until next time, be happily nappy. I know I will be.

I am still a part of the challenge and here it is the end of January. It should be a habit by now for me to complete at least one book a week by now, but it isn’t. Depending on the week I will read one to three books.

For week four I made a decision to throw Where the Line Bleeds on the bookcase and act like I never had it in my hand. If you are a lover of imagery that book is for you. The best part of the book was the first chapter where the main characters jumped into a cold river. That was transition from childhood to manhood. Then what came next had me scratching my head constantly. I was often bored to death. The imagery is great but dialogue would help to move the story along. So for me it fell short of the mark and I couldn’t finish it so, I had to add a replacement book.

On to the book that I did complete, Moments of Clarity by Michele Cameron, this book’s main character was a secondary character from the book Never Say Never that I had read the week before. I loved this book. I truly enjoyed the sassiness, but unsure of where things are going with Sasha and the strong, aggressive personality of Sexton. A yummy combination, then added in trifling and meddling and you have a great book.

Up next for me is the book I added on in place of the other which is My Brother is a Baller by Dorrie Williams-Wheeler. Will share my thoughts on next weeks update.

If you are taking the challenge, how are you doing?
1. Something Like Beautiful by asha bandele

2. Eat, Drink, and Be From Mississippi by Nanci Kincaid 3.5/3

3. Where The Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward (gave up on it as I was stuck at a 2)

4. Belle by Beverly Jenkins 5

5. Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

6. What Doesn’t Kill You by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant

7. First Comes Love by Shana Burton 3.5/4

8. In Love With a Younger Man by Cheryl Robinson

9. The List by Sherri Lewis

10. The Somebody List by Stacy Hawkins Adams

11. Never Say Never by Michele Cameron 4.5/4

12. Moments of Clarity by Michele Cameron 4.5/5

13. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me by Gwyneth Bolton

14. My Brother is a Baller by Dorrie Williams-Wheeler

I’m not sure who deemed February the month in which the many African Americans who contributed to the world would be celebrated, but it’s not enough days to celebrate mankind.

In my attempt to help with honoring those who did not receive the honors they so deserve, for the month of February I will spotlight one person for the twenty-eight days. Some I will remember writing research papers on when I was back in junior high and high school. Others will be new to me.

I encourage you to come and stop by each day beginning February first to see what new you may find out about some unselfish people who were simply trying to do their part. You know the saying, don’t talk about it…be about it.

If you are doing something on your website or blog honoring Black History Month please leave your site address so that we too can bask in the glow of those who made a difference.

Last week I read two books; one christian fiction and the other contemporary romance. I got my reading on. I enjoyed both books for how they were written and what they were both about. One thing they both did was, they made me tear up. I was so emotional with both these books.

First Comes Love by Shana Johnson Burton, I received in the mail one day and was completed by the next day. I couldn’t put it down. I felt myself being drawn back to the characters every time I had to put the book down for whatever reading. I had to put off going to bed to finish it up. We’ve all seen the movies where the characters head out to Las Vegas with their friends to engage in drunken fun for the weekend and end up doing crazy stuff. Well, it was the same thing for London and Bernard; the only difference was they knew each other and truly was trying to get over broken hearts. Yup, they both were suffering from disappointment in love. But they were best friends and wanted to cheer each other up. I think the cheering went a little too far, because they end up married and their world change more than they had expected when they had awoken on that Friday morning. They had to suffer through some things in order to come to the realization of things that were, are and were to come. I feel their pain, their confusion, and any other emotion they felt and I was happy it was only a book and I didn’t have to live it.

Never Say Never by Michele Cameron was the other book. Some force was trying to keep this book from me. The author sent this book and her other book that I am currently reading to me right before Christmas; let’s just say someone at the post office is reading the first set of books. Thank goodness she had it in her heart to chance sending them to me again, because I truly enjoy Never Say Never. Another situation I was glad that I was not facing in my reality. For me it would have been a little different because interracial relationships are a common everyday occurrence in my family, so no one would be shocked or any other reaction. Plus, I’m my own person and never cared too much what anyone thought about me or the things that I did. Relationships between two consenting adults should not be up for discussion among the entire family. Now of course there are circumstances where there should be some conversation, but as long as no one is physically being hurt, then it should be all good. I know that isn’t the case in the real world outside my door and in Never Say Never. True love and a soul mate is hard enough to find, but going against the grain and fighting the battle with your lifetime love ones can cause a person to be blind and to lose the love of your life.

Unfortunately, I’m still reading Where The Line Bleeds; which I need to complete before Sunday to be ready for my online book club discussion. I hope to complete that one and Moment of Clarity this week.

If you are taking the challenge, how are you doing?
1. Something Like Beautiful by asha bandele

2. Eat, Drink, and Be from Mississippi by Nanci Kincaid 3.5/3

3. Where The Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward

4. Belle by Beverly Jenkins 5

5. Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

6. What Doesn’t Kill You by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant

7. First Comes Love by Shana Johnson Burton 3.5/4

8. In Love With a Younger Man by Cheryl Robinson

9. The List by Sherri Lewis

10. The Somebody List by Stacy Hawkins Adams

11. Never Say Never by Michele Cameron 4.5/4

12. Moment of Clarity by Michele Cameron

13. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me by Gwyneth Bolton

“Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you’ve never been hurt and live like it’s heaven on Earth.”

- Mark Twain

It’s been something else these first two weeks of the new year. Reading has always been my thing. Now being a part of a challenge can be challenging if you allow it. Well this challenge has been something else to say the least thus far.

Here is the reason why. I decided to read two books that I should never have looked at at the same time. I learned quickly to not do it. I had to put one to the side and as soon as I did I was able to read faster and engage with the characters. The book I finished was Eat, Drink, and Be from Mississippi by Nanci Kincaid. I’ll have a review posted on Amazon in the next day or two.

I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I loved the characters honesty and realism to the changes they were going through. Some pretended life was all good as long as they were alone, while the others knew or thought they knew what was best for each other but not really themselves. I hated the fact that I had to read three quarters of the book before all three main characters were front and center interacting with each other. I kept looking at the jacket flap saying I see his name but my goodness where is he. This book did not engage my full attention until the third character jump in and kept it real. I almost gave up on it. But as I have learned over the years, I’m not a quitter or I’m glutton for punishment. One the character named Arnold joined Truely and Courtney on their journey through the California fog that they called their lives, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. It’s funny you never know the skills/traits a person have when they walk into your life unexpectedly.

Now onto other books. While at the library with my children last Friday, something I try to do every two weeks; I came across a novella written by Colin Channer called The Girl With The Golden Shoes. I’ve never heard of it until then and I am enjoying it. It’s said to be a Cinderella type story. I will let you know when I’m done. However, if you’ve read it already share your thoughts.

Until next time happy reading.

If you are taking the challenge, how are you doing?
1. Something Like Beautiful by asha bandele

2. Eat, Drink, and Be from Mississippi by Nanci Kincaid 3.5/3 star

3. Where The Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward

4. Belle by Beverly Jenkins 5 star

5. Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

6. What Doesn’t Kill You by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant

7. First Come s Love by Shana Burton

8. In Love With a Younger Man by Cheryl Robinson

9. The List by Sherri Lewis

10. The Somebody List by Stacy Hawkins Adams

11. Never Say never by Michele Cameron

12. Moment of Clarity by Michele Cameron

13. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me by Gwyneth Bolton

To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s about, but the inner music the words make. ~Truman Capote, McCall’s, November 1967

The Schae Bracelets

These bracelets were created for my friend, Author Angelia Vernon Menchan. They are a symbol of change as the main character, Schae, takes the necessary steps to transform into the woman she wants to be.

If you would like to obtain a copy of Schae’s Story: A Woman’s Transformation, check out Angelia’s website or Amazon.com.

If you are interested in obtaining one please contact me at jcoissiere@comcast.net.

Here ends the first week of the reading challenge. I’m proud I actually finished Belle by Beverly Jenkins. Loved it. Check my review out on Amazon. Belle is historical romance. I usually don’t read historical fiction. A few eyebrows are going to go up for my next statement. I know slavery happened, I don’t want to keep reading about it.

Sounds bad, but I don’t like feeling bad about things I one cannot control and two cannot change because it happened before my parents were a twinkle in anyone’s eye. I tend to feel the emotions of things I watch and read. And though I maybe putting myself out there, I’m a crier. I don’t want to cry all the time. I also will become enraged to the point where my husband will say, “Babe, it’s a book. It’s not real.” I knew that. He didn’t have to tell me.

Now Belle gave me more than historical facts. I received the gift of hope and love. Truly a priceless gift.

Up next in the way of reading is Where The Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward. I am determined to complete this book on Sunday. I will read it until my eyes bleed. Stay tuned for my reasons after I complete the book. I’m also attempting to finish Eat, Drink, and Be From Mississippi by Nanci Kincaid. Review to come and my thoughts.

If you are taking the challenge, how are you doing?

1. Something Like Beautiful by asha bandele

2. Eat, Drink, and Be from Mississippi by Nanci Kincaid

3. Where The Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward

4. Belle by Beverly Jenkins completed 1-6-09 rating 5 stars

5. Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

6. What Doesn’t Kill You by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant

7. First Come s Love by Shana Burton

8. In Love With a Younger Man by Cheryl Robinson

9. The List by Sherri Lewis

10. The Somebody List by Stacy Hawkins Adams

11. Never Say never by Michele Cameron

12. Moment of Clarity by Michele Cameron

13. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me by Gwyneth Bolton

On momma blogs a lot, I found the link to this interesting question: What kind of reader are you?

I took it and was pleased with the answer. I truly am a dedicated reader.