I live in one of those cities where urban flight has left behind abandoned houses, and few jobs. That, added to current downfall of the housing market with its long-reaching effects, and the President himself saying it's going to get worse before it gets better, I am reminded of the proverb of the ant. While others are playing, we need to be working, so that when the hard times really hit, instead of being scared, we will be prepared.

read more (76 words)

I love this website, there are so many things I can relate to.

I started cooking from scratch out of necessity. I was poor and on a fixed income and food dollars had to stretch an entire month. I started buying basics, i.e., flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, shortening, eggs, etc. in large amounts. I figured it's better that way because then I can make lots of things. With the basics you can always make cakes, cookies, pancakes, breads, biscuits, etc. If you keep things like potatoes, eggs, pasta and cheeses, you can make mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, omelettes, potato salad, etc. I always stock the basics and wait for discounts on meats and fruits. I usually don't buy mixes or processed foods, I cook everything from scratch, just reach into my cabinets. Also, a good cookbook helps until you get use to proportions and combinations.

For anyone out there who is gardening or wants to garden? I love watching things grow, both flowers (lots of flowers) and vegetables. My mother kept a garden and I never wanted to go out there because I was of the bugs, but now that I am older and more mature, I say, okay bugs move over because I'm planting something. I've had both success and failure, but I keep trying. Lately, I said to myself and my husband, I would love to have some kind of fruit. Wouldn't you know it, my husband pointed out a small piece of grapevine amongst my other plants. God sent a bird to deposit a seed right in my yard! I transplanted the vine against my fence. Oh happy day! I can't wait until I have grapes.

Michael Jackson dies at the age of 50 of a heart attack!

Prayers go out to his family.

This is a big old, but I also have been told I sound like a white woman. But I don't get offended at the ignorance of other people. I just smile.

My situation of always being the only black girl in an office of white people, I couldn't help but sound like them. Also, my grandmother took me on her arm when I was 13 and I did domestic work, and later stayed a whole day and night babysitting white children until I was almost 18. I was treated nicely, ate with them, took the children to the playground and movies, etc. But I thank God for the experience, because I learned not to be intimidated later in life.

The persona spread amongst poor, and poorly educated blacks, whose only experience is negative, police, etc, is that they are the enemy. But there are good and bad in every culture.

Thanks everybody. I have an issue I'd like to discuss. It's been on my mind for some time and I pray constantly about it.

I am stunned at the rash of killings, murders, pillagings and the like from our young black men (and some older, but mostly young). I know it happens in other cultures too, but right now I'm looking at our black men. It seems to me that spiritual blindness is the biggest culprit. I say that because they can't see what is happening to them, yet they fall into the trap when they let their wicked desires lead them into deeper and deeper wickedness. Surely, this is evidence of God's wrath upon them. It makes me sick to look at it. We all need to pray for mercy upon our black men, and all men, they all have murder and perverseness in their hearts, but they can't see there is a lie in their right hand. So I say gear up women, this will indeed not be a man's world much longer.

I'm new to this site. this is my first post. I've been here before and looked around as a guest. I like what I see, and I am hoping to stay around a while to share what has been given me with other spiritual women and maybe gain something that may be lacking in myself. Much has been revealed to me, as I am sure to others, but if any do not agree, that's okay... we can agree to disagree and still love one another. I look forward to many interesting and beneficial conversations.

Until then... Peace!

Question: Why there not a black version of The Bachelor? I mean, ABC keep on putting up some white dudes up on they show? Where the hell the brothers at? I know they's some good men out there like Taye Diggs, Tyson Bedford, Morris Chestnut, and other edible chocolate (lol) like that. Why can't they get no airtime?!

The closest thing we got is that Flavor of Love with Flava Flav. What the hell is that?! No respectable black women with some good sense would touch that with a 10 foot pole unlike them hoochies up on there. Let's get respectable up in here!

My Beautiful Sistas,
Hello my name is Nikki and this is my first entry on this site. I need some wisdom, perspective and spiritual strength, for I am running on empty. I'm 37 and I am married. My husband is part of the latin american community. He's 31 part mexican, pt. puerto rican. We've been together for 5yrs but married 4. This is not by any means a romantic, sweep me off my feet union. It was complicated from the start. I've often set myself up for disaster. I'm not be any means a weak individual....at 14, grew up in foster care and was emacipated at 18. Dropped out of school my 11th yr, was pregnant by 19 and homeless by 21. Went to job corps and rec. GED. By 24. I grew up fast and hard. So I guess you can say that my choice of men aren't the best for me, stastically speaking.
read more (575 words)

Women are groomed on the ideals of sacrifice and service to others, unfortunately that also comes at the expense of our on wishes and desires. I will not tolerate any situation that I feel is not critical to my own personal growth. There are men that like to control women and beat on them while all under the perception that women should give in and take it. I won't stand for that. Those ideals are based on old fashion traditions that have virtually faded. Women have their one lives they should not be encouraged to stand by and watched their self respect and dignity go down the drain. I see that the lines of superiority in this world are unclear no rules state any specific authority that one gender or individual has over another. read more (127 words)