Feb 5- Mike Carey

Are you ready for some football?

I will admit that I'm not the biggest football aficionado, but I know a little bit. Since I was blessed with an awesome father, great brothers, male friends and marching band I have been immersed in it. I appreciate it. So today's BHM post is dedicated to it.

 Michael "Mike" Carey was assigned by the NFL to referee the 2008 Super Bowl game between the NY Giants and the NE Patriots, making him the FIRST African-American referee in Super Bowl history. This was Carey's eighteenth year as a football official. He is 1971 graduate of California's Santa Clara University where he was a running back. After an ankle injury his playing days were over. After graduation, he officiated for Pop Warner games. Then in 1990 was hired by the NFL as a side judge, he was then promoted to referee at the start of the '95 season.
 Mike's no one trick pony though. He and his wife, co-founded Seirus Innovation, a company that manufactures and sells cold weather accessories for skiing and snowboarding. He's invented numerous items of ski apparel, including Cat Tracks, a protective device that slips over the soles of ski boots.

So this Sunday while you're rooting for your team and scarfing down the snacks, pay special attention to men making the calls.  Black history is all around us.

It's official like a referee with a whistle...

Black Gold- Day 2

First off, if you don't know Esperanza and Algebra. Sugar get familiar. These ladies are really talented.! This song speaks to and for us. If you didn't know; I, you, we are BLACK GOLD! Be proud of us.
**Side note: I know I said I was bringing you folk you've never heard of. BUT this song was too good not to post. I'll be back on my mission tomorrow.

Feb 1, 2012- Intro/Frank Yerby

It's February again. So that means it's Black History Month. Now I know someone is going to say "I'm (your're) Black/African-American/Negro, etc everyday not just in February. It's the shortest month of the year anyway..." (Cue Kanye West). No need to shout sugar, I hear you and you're right. But since we were given this month to highlight/observe US and to (hopefully) start a year long conversation(s) and history lesson(s) about how intelligent, awesome, influential, and fly we are. So just like I did last year, I am going to hip my readers to some people you may or may not have heard of.



First up is Frank Yerby. He was a best-selling author with his first book The Foxes of Harrow (1946). The book sold over one million copies. It was the first novel by an African-American to be purchased by a Hollywood studio and it was made into a film in 1947. After the unexpected success of his first novel Yerby settled in Madrid, Spain, and went on to write more than thirty historical novels, most of which became best sellers. Yerby died in 1991. His work lives on.

BIGGEST. ONLINE. PROTEST.EVER

CENSORSHIP. IS. FOR. SUCKAS!

Jesus>Religion

This poem is THE TRUTH. It spoke to my mind, heart and soul. Hopefully it makes you think . Look up the Youtube channel BBall1989.

Save room for your money, honey.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I want to start by saying THANKS for hanging with me and my blog for a year. I hope that your holiday season was as restful, as peaceful, as loving, as everything as you needed and wanted it to be. I know mine was. I trust that you are thankful for another day and another opportunity at happiness that everyone doesn't get. Now that parties are over, confetti has been swept up and the music has been turned down it's time to get back to business. I've never been one for making resolutions. If I want to change, I don't want for a designated time of the year to do so. My biggest challenge has been saving money. I know I need to do it, and I know the importance of it I just don't do it as well as I know I can. I have gotten better though. I switched banks and got a better savings plan. We're all tired of singing the "I'm SO broke" song. So here's what we can do. Financial plan 2012: 52 week challenge. Save a dollar for every corresponding week. 1st week=$1, 2nd week=$2, etc. Put it into a ING account at a .85% interest rate. Or whatever savings account of your choosing. (Even a shoe box on top of the fridge Redman style will do, lol) If weekly isn't feasible, try bi-weekly or monthly payments to yourself. For YOUR FUTURE.  Let's watch our finances grow and change. Tell all your friends, prosperity is in our grasp. Scrimping and not having enough is for the birds, we know better.  This is idea is not mine, I have to thank Ms.SparkWisdom from Youtube for this. (check her out, we all need a bit of extra encouragement and she is all about that.) I'm just doing my part and share the information. I want us all to win. Everyone deserves to have a little extra and have the means to splurge sometimes. You have to do the work though. You've got to save, or your nest egg won't grow. If you can't start now, start whenever you can. Along with saving more try keeping track of your spending. It's easier to see where your money is going if you physically write it down. Let this financial challenge be the first part of your plan on being a better version of yourself. Let this success spill over into your career, spiritual, romantic, and whatever other parts of life need a bit of revamping.  Be accountable for your successes and failures. Not just financially but in life. I promise it'll make you a better person. I can't wait to hear about it.

"If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting."
Benjamin Franklin

Merry Christmas Baby!

It's here, the day that makes kids turn flips off of stairs without fear, and wake up their parents before the sun rises, force their family members to install, put together, watch and play with whatever they've received. That's right, Christmas is today. I used to love that part of the holiday, the wonder and anticipation that was held as children. Now it's the true meaning of Christmas that make my heart all aflutter. Don't worry I won't throw Jesus all in your face. Just know that I am celebrating Him and not the glitter and shine that comes with today. I love that fact that I can enjoy my family and not worry about what I or someone else did or didn't get. I'm more concerned with what I can do for you, how I can help another. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be rich to be a philanthropist. I'll give a list of charities and organizations that you can donate to all year long. Start today. You'll be glad you did this. Giving with a clear and light heart will be returned to you when least expect it. Grab that check book or debit card and hit play on that Soul Christmas cd and let Boyz II Men and Donny Hathaway set the mood for giving.
 I wish you and your families a  Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukkah, Feliz Navidad, and Happy Kwanzaa. Whatever you celebrate remember the best gifts can't be found in a box, bag, or inside wrapping paper.
List of Charitable Organizations:
1)$1- Two books shipped to a classroom in Africa. BooksforAfrica
2)$2- A set of drumsticks for a low-income public school student. Littlekidsrock
3)$3- A field trip to a museum, concert, or theatrical production for a high-risk youth. Createnow
4)$4- Two hours of prepaid phone time for a soldier stationed overseas to call home. Cellphonesforsoldiers
5)$5- A one-burner kerosene stove for a family that would normally rely on an open fire. Foodforthepoor
6)$6- Measles vaccinations for 15 children in a developing country. Doctorswithoutborders
7)$8- A medical teaching doll to aid a child in learning about their cancer treatment. Stjude.
8)$10-Homesfortroops, Janegoodall, Operationsmile, Globalgiving.
9)$11- Eleven trees to planted in Alabama communities devastated by tornadoes. Arborday
10)$12- Twenty pounds of multipurpose soap to help keep families germ and disease free. Oxfam
11)$14- Two nutritious meals delivered to a housebound senior citizen. Meals
12)$15- A backpack and school supplies for one homeless or low-income child. Education
13)Big Brothers Big Sisters