A little of this and a little of that...

I went to Memphis earlier this month and had some bluebell icecream for the first time and I cannnnnnnnoooooooottttttt find it here in Illinois! Adrienne loves to tease me about that! I had the homemade vanilla and lawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwd, it tastes exactly like the homemade ice cream granny used to make! So good!

I had a great time in Memphis, we went to the Lorraine Motel Museum. It made me feel a certain way! JUST EERIE. Knowing I was standing in the very spot where Martin Luther King was shot and killed! I am going to bring the kids back there. I think all children should go!!!!

We went to Beale street and I got this drink called "Call a Cab" and babbbbbbbbbbbbby, I don't know how I made it home!

My auntie Carrie threw down while I was there! I know I gained atleast 5 lbs while I was there!

I really had a great time!

Facebook can be the devil sometimes! Lawd! if you guys only knew the half.........

My brother has moved in with my mom, can you say, drama, drama and MORE DRAMA......

I made oxtail stew, can you say GOOOD-T! I don't mean to brag, but I can cook my ass off! Thank God, my granny called me in the house, while playing Mr. Freeze with my friends, to teach how to cook! I was madder than of mofo then, but I am so grateful now!

Do you know Baptiste and I have been together for 21 years! Where does the time go?

It feels so good to be loved and desired by a person that you love so much and desire too!
He still stares at me and says 'baby you are beautiful"
He still holds my hand in public
He still kisses my cheek and forehead and says "baby I love you'
I love my husband!

Jaree made the basketball team, yes another expense, but it keeps her busy and out of trouble!!!!!!

Jariel made a 80 yard touchdown at his last game! I am just now, getting my voice back! LOL

My oldest son B, makes me so proud. He is in college, he works, he helps out with his siblings and that boy can dancccccccce! In fact, both my boys can dance! Jaree, well, ok! LOL

I have been in the scrapbooking mood, yet I have not scrapbooked, plan to change that reallllllly sooon!

I cleaned my art studio, and boy I have way too much stuff. I need to purge!

I am going thru True Blood withdrawl! However, I am so glad Vampire Diaries is back on!!!!!

why does everything good either come on Mondays or Thursdays! Damn! I wanted to check out the new Charlies Angels, but I will watch it online!

I just got sleepy as all get out! Maybe it was the big breakfast, I just ate! LOL

I need a mani and pedi bad!~

My hair is breaking off on right side! gotta work on that immediately!

I haven't read a book in months! Just not like me! Any suggestions????

I can't think of anything else to talk about so I guess this is it!

Until next time............

A little of this and a little of that...

Happy 15th birthday

15 years ago today I gave birth to a 9lb 11 oz baby boy! I named him Jariel Breon Brooks! I was so upset when I found out I was having another boy, that I broke down and cried! Especially since my sister was having a girl! But, the moment they placed that little boy in my arms, I fell in love instantly!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He has brought so much joy into my life! He is my easy going child! He is so loving and kind! He is very humble, he is my child that does not ask for much! That is why, whatever he asks for anything, I break my neck to get it! and that's not often! that he does ask for something!

He is my child that I think, looks the most like me! I labeled him my twin!

He is my baby boy! and I love him to pieces!

Happy Birthday Jari, mommy loves you!

HEARTBROKEN

Saturday our family was dealt yet another DEVASTATING BLOW, my cousin Tonya and her granddauggther Nique Nique was walking to the corner store and on the way home a woman driving an SUV ran into them and Nique did not make it!

This has HURT US beyond words!

I'm sure most of you hear me talk about my cousins all the time, we were raised like sisters and they were always around! We are very close, so this just knocked the wind right out of us!

I am still in shock!

She shares a birthday with my son Jariel!

She would have been 2 the 21st of this month........
I don't know how we will ever get over this......

there is a blessing in the fact that my cousin Tonya was not killed too, but she WILL FOREVER be TRAUMATIZED by what happened! She loved her grandbaby beyond words! She was the light of our eyes , because she was so grown!

That little switch she had in her walk, how she told somebody "shut up punk" She was something else!!!! 1 going on 45!

I am so heartbroken, but I know she is home with the Lord!
and one day I will see her again!

This picture speaks volume of her personality!!!!!!!


Sleep Nique Nique, TT loves you, and I will be there with you one day!

6 Places

Bermuda
Fiji
Aruba
Hawaii
Sydney Australia
Kenya

I am a beach person, and these places have some of the most amazing beaches!!!!! Look at the black sand beaches of Hawaii! So freaking sexy!

5 foods

1 Rock Lobster tail with lots of butter and lemon

2 Blackened Mahi Mahi with Diablo Sauce

3 NY Strip steak Medium well please

4 Fresh water prawns

5 Red Velvet Cheesecake


That was hard becau se I love foooooood!

So you know I kept my brother's kids for 5 days without a change of clothes! I had been blowing his phone up and finally he came to get the kids.


He came walking his happy jack rabbit ass up like everything was ok


I turned around and looked at him like wtf?


and I felt like slapping the shit out him and his wife!

Four books

I just realized I was doing this thing backwards but OH WELL!!!! LOL

Anyone that knows me, knows that i keep my head buried in a book! I love to read! Four of my favorite books are:

Addicted by Zane



The Coldest Winter Ever


Shame on it All

and last but not Least the Twilight Series, because I couldn't pick just one:

3 films

3 films, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm this was so Hard, because I am a movie buff!!!! Growing up we always went to the movies as a family and also the drive in and now me and my family do the exact same thing!!!!! In fact the kids are looking forward to seeing the Transformers 3 in Imax 3d, this weekend!

The first film is the Color Purple! Come on now, did you not think this wasn't going to make the cut!!!! This is one of the best movies ever made ....... I Know this movie back and forth! In fact, my cousins will sit up all day and quote movie scenes from this movie! Like "Sattin at jail, Sattin at jail til I done near bout rot to death, I wanna thank you Miss Celie for everything you done for me, I memba that day I was in the sto with Miss Milly, I was feelin real down, I was feelin might baaaad, but then I see'd you and I knows there is a God-t, I know'd there is a God-t..... can you finish the quote???? LOL

My second movie has to be The Green Mile, I love this movie ....I cried my eyes out when they killed John Koffey, like the drank, but not spelled the same! But for the most part, I laughed Especially when they threw Wild Bill in Hole and he said "All I wanted was me a lil cornbread, you motherfuckers, all I wanted was me a little cornbread" Lmao! !!!! We laugh everytime that part comes on!!!!!!!

Last but not least is Life.............enjoy the clip enough said........

Two songs

There is not a day that goes by that I DO NOT miss my father. I feel so lost sometimes. Even though I am a married woman, I called my daddy for everything, from repairs to killing a bug! LOL I am forever a daddy's girl! Also, July 1st in the one year anniversary of my nephew's death and I miss him, like crazy!




This is my CURRENT SONG OF THE MOMENT! Yes, I like ghetto music! Hey sue me! LOL

Ten Secrets

I saw this on Adrienne and Monique's blog and decided i wanted to to play along!

One picture!
I recently took this picture! I was not going to smile and Jaree said something that made me laugh! LOL

The tweet that made me livid

Actually, there were two tweets!!!!


Now I remember why I only follow @traycee30 intermittently. Her ass up here admiring foolishness in a damn suit smh

@traycee30 I forgot I be unfollowing yo ass...til I saw that pic and had the urge again lol

Now if that wasn't RUDE, I don't know what rude is!

As one of my fellow twitter friends said, Just because you put a LOL after a statement, doesn't make it any less RUDE!

I am not going to mention this person's name, but she has rubbed me the wrong way on more than one occasion!

The first time she pissed me off is when she called myself and a friend of mine (Adrienne) elitists, because she said we only talk to each other. First of all, I have been knowing Adrienne since 2005, through blogging. So she is like family to me! SEcond of all, that couldn't be further from the truth!!!!!

The second thing she did, was she went in on people for watching the BET AWARDS, saying we had to be idiots to watch the BET awards, BEt has never done anything good for the community, and a lot of other MEANINGLESS bullshit. I don't know who the hell she thinks she is, but I deleted her real quick, before I said something REALLY IGNORANT!

It made me wonder, if that person was in your face, would they DARE say that!
I know it's wrong, but I am from the WHOOP A TRICK ASS TRIBE, I don't play!

She really needs to go sit her little NEUROTIC ass down before her feelings get hurt! Seriously! That really made me HOTT! I was mad, because Tracy is one of the sweetest people on twitter. REally! And she is my girl and I didn't appreciate that foolishness!

You know it had to make me mad, if I dedicated a whole blog about it!

Some people should think before they tweet! Really!

and that's all I have to say about that!

My head is spinning

So much has happened since the last time I blogged. I found out I have diabetes, my cousin Tamiko died at the young age of 28, and June 6th was the one year annivearsary of my father's passsing. Oh, and I became a great aunt! LOL

When I found out I had diabetes, I was DEVASTATED .... I cried, and cried, and cried! You would have thought they told me I had a week to live. Then I thought about it, this is something I CAN CHANGE! I DON'T HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS...with diet and exercise this can be beat. And so far, I have not done anything drastic and my bsl has been in the 90's!!!! Which is good! Made me even wonder if I had it in the first place .... The doctor already lowered my meds and told me to keep up the good work!

Then, I find out my cousin passed. This knocked me flat on my ass! When someone dies unexpectedly and when they are so young, it is mind boggling! She didn't have any health problems, but she did do a lot of things right before she passed, that has me wondering if she knew.... She even purchased a dress and said, this will be perfect for Saturday, she bought that dress the day before she died, and she wore that dress Saturday, just like she said, for her own funeral .. If you knew her, you would love her! She never met a stranger. she made a friend every where she went! Makes me sad! She left behind her husband Jamar and her 4 year old daughter BK (Brooklyn). My family was devastated by her passing. We still don't have closure, because the cause of her death is still unknown, pending autopsy results. You just never know when your time is up! That is why I TRY my best to live right.

On June 6th, it was hard of me to get out of the bed, everyone went to the cemetery, but I just COULD NOT.....I cried most of the day and night! You guys have NO IDEA, how much I miss my father . I was a daddy's girl to my heart. My dad and I were very close! I talked to him every single day and I am not ashamed to say he spoiled my ass rotten, even as a grown woman, up until he took his last breath!!!! My kids loved him so much! There is not a second that goes by, that I don't think about him! I still break down.... getting choked up right now, but I know he is with God and I will see him again one day!

I recently became a great aunt! My niece Khadejah had a beautiful baby girl! I have mixed emotions, but a baby is a blessing and I love her already! I was pissed off at first, because she had so much going for herself, but hey she still can get her education I am going to help her all I can! I had fun shopping for her! I went crazy in Babies R Us, I am ashamed to say how much I spent! Baptiste was looking at me like I lost my mind! LOL But, we needed some happiness amidst all the sadness that was happening.

They say what does not kill you, makes you stronger, and I can honestly say I am such a stronger person t han I once was.....

Until next time

So I was going to

....make this blog post into a face book status.....or perhaps tweet it, but I decided to blog about it instead. I can't say I am exactly where I want to be in my life, but I have come a LONG WAY! I was recently asked "Dana, do you ever regret having children so young?" At first, I was taken a back, stunned, shocked, and even a tad bit offended by this question. But, once all of the emotions were settled. I answered in TWO LETTERS, no!

I was just 17 when i found out I was pregnant with my oldest son "B". I was still in high school and doing very well. I graduated in June with honors went on to Summer School for college and finished my first year of college all by the time I gave birth at the age of 18. I then had my second son Jariel ejust shy of my 22nd birthday, still in college.......

I finally graduated with HONORS with a degree in Psychology with 2 1/2 kids ...Jaree was in my belly....I was 24 years old with 3 children.

After college, I found a great job at Case Worker, for the Chicago Industrial League. I loved my job, I was also going to night school to receive my Master's. Everything in life was going great. I got married to my high school sweet heart in 98, had Jaree in 99 and landed this great career opportunity! Life was going well. Baptiste and I had our own town home, I was living the life!

then Jaree started to have these febrile seizures..... After 2 years of working.....I had to leave my career behind. My main focus was Jaree! This was NO strain for our family, because Baptiste made more money and we were able to live out of his income, and BANK MINE! So we had a rather large nest egg! Fast forward to today, our savings aren't where they were, but we are still living COMFORTABLY....

I said all of THAT to say THIS....

A BABY DON'T STOP NO SHOW....

I have accomplished A LOT IN MY LIFE, with 3 babies and I wouldn't trade them for the world! Yeah, I was just a baby ......but I grew up fast! I owned up to my responsibility and took charge! People thought that we would fail, that we were making a big mistake, but my children are my greatest achievement!

I look at my oldest son, who is now in college and has his father's work ethic. He has not one but two jobs.....

I look at Jariel, who is so loving and kind! He will give the shirt off of his back. Such a gentlemen!

I look at my baby girl Jaree, who is so beautiful and smart! She excels in school and has a love for animals and loves her brothers dearly! Do something to her brothers and you will PAY THE PRICE. And they are equally as crazy about her!

How could I regret 3 of God's greatest blessings!

Did I have it rough? Yes!!!! Did I struggle? Hell to the yeah? Would I change it? Not for all the riches in the world.

My children are the reason I am here. I suffer from Clinical Depression, and have had many thoughts of GIVING UP, especiallly since my dad passed and I look into my babies eyes and they give me LIFE....LITERALLY!

My 17 year old niece is pregnant, and NO this is NOT what I wanted from her, but a baby does not stop anything! IF YOU ARE HUNGRY ENOUGH, YOU WILL EAT....meaning, if you want something bad enough in life, nothing will get in your way! The sky is the limit!

My father was the biggest thorn in my side when I got pregnant, but was my biggest cheer leader in the end!

Life is funny sometimes....

I would have never expected my life to go the way it did....

but I am GRATEFUL FOR THE AWESOME JOURNEY IT HAS BECOME...

that is all!

Yoooohooo anybody there...

It's been ages since I last blogged....
So much has changed in my life.....
I am still having a hard time dealing with the death of my daddy...
That has really taken a tole on me....
Things are just not the same...
I look at life differently.....

It's just NOT EASY at all!!!!!

Never in a million years did I ever think I would be blogging about the death of my father. Just seems unreal!

May 6th marked the 11 month anniversary of his death...
Can't believe we are coming upon 1 year...

His death is still FRESH .....doesn't seem that long....
I am still grieving! I am still hurting...
My kids are hurting...
My mom is hurting....It's just HARD!

I was over my mom's house the other day and I saw something out of the corner of my eye, and then I heard my father call my name....it made me feel SOME KIND OF WAY....
I turned to look and he was not there...

I still call his voicemail on his phone...I leave him a message until I have clogged the mailbox....

His phone will be shut off soon, I just hate that, not being able to listen to his voice...

My mom is so lonely.....even with B there, because he is young and has a life of his own, in college, 2 jobs.......He's not there enough.....
and she sometimes mentions meeting other men.....AND I GET ENRAGED, but that is so selfish of me...

I don't expect my mom to be alone....but I don't think any man will ever fill my dad's shoes!

I still have crying fits, bits of rage, and days where I don't even get out of the bed, but thank God, I have a husband who is supportive and knows what I need.....

I don't want this to be a sad post, so I will end it on that note.....

to everyone please keep me and my family in your prayers....
this is harder than anything I have ever had to deal with

It's 65 in Chi town

and you know how it is when black folks get a lil bit a warm weather.....

the FREAKS COME OUT....
seen a girl with flip flops with busted toes, corns everywhere and ashy dirty feet...heffa that's not cute!

girls outside with their booties hanging out....
dudes playing ball with their shirts off....
Grills going.....

Summer is almost here yall


Speaking of grilling

Right now as we speak....
we are grilling

Ribs, chicken, rib tips.....

Sides : spaghetti, baked beans, potato salad and corn!

Yes I does the damn thang! LOL

I need to go back to cooking so I have to talk to you guys later...
Until next time!

I haven't given up on...

....blogging....

I just have been taking a break. a very long break!

I would never give up blogging. I met so many wonderful people this way!
so much has been going on in my life...

I am still grieving my dad.....and this is the HARDEST thing I have ever endured in my entire life. I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone...

I still cry most nights...
I find myself calling his cell phone just so I can hear his voice ...something about this gives me comfort....Just hearing his voice!

I am so lost somedays.

Some days I just lay around allllllll day and DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING....

I have been getting back into an exercise routine, even had a chance to get a 2 1/2 mile run in.... I do the BIGGEST LOSER FOR THE WII 4 times a week...

I have not been doing well on the dieting end...but I plan to change that as well!

Looking forward to so many things......good things to come this year....
well that's all for now.........until next time

Christmas just ain't Christmas....

without the ones you loveee!!!! It's not just a song for me! as you know this will be my first Christmas without my dad. This will be the years of many firsts! First Fourth of July, his birthday, Thanksgiving.....and now Christmas. I have ACTUALLY been doing pretty well. I don't cry as MUCH! But the closer I get to Christmas I cringe........ My dad played such a big role in my life. Hearing his voice Christmas morning, or having him come over to help me build the toys, or having him hide the toys and smuggle them over..... hearing him sing Christmas carols. Just so many that I am going to miss...

It just seems like a bad dream still....

I don't know if I have truly accepted he's gone yet! Because I keep expecting him to call me or walk through the doors....

If I could only receive one Christmas present for the rest of my life....

It would be to have my dad....WRAPPED IN A BOW AND ALLLLLL......

I love him so much and I miss him more than words can express....

Keep us in your prayers....

This Christmas will be very hard for me.....

You think u know me....

.....sometimes I feel like I am invisible.....people SEE me, but they don't really see me!

...I am misunderstood.......

I have been told all my life how beautiful I am on the outside.....AND FOR THE FIRST PART OF MY LIFE....I thought I could get by on my looks....I thought I WAS THE SHIT....seriously! I shit on a lot of people around me and was mean......and cold sometimes!

but what really people didn't know, was that I was hurting on the inside....I didn't feel very beautiful....

I used to BE A BITCH ......

I still am sometimes.....don't get me wrong....

but I was COLD....

...CONNIVING

AN VINDICTIVE....

but it was a reason for it all....

I have always had a TIT FOR TAT personality.....

If you HURT ME....I will ANNIHILATE YOU....

IF you punch me, I WILL KNOCK YOUR ASS OUT...

If you get me, I HAVE TO GET YOU BACK 10 TIIMES WORSE....

but that took alot of energy.....

Thank God, I am so much wiser, but still learning....

You don't have to do all that.....

Just let a PERSON GO.....

You don't have to go out of your way.....

Just let em go......

Oh when I learned to LET GO AND LET GOD........WOOOOOOOOOOO!

YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MADE IN MY LIFE........

I am still a work in progress!

I have so many people ASSUME shit about me....

Oh when I was younger.....in my early teens...people took one look at me and my body and assumed I WAS FAST....that I was OUT THERE....

Pretty girl with a banging body I had to be SCREWING EVERYBODY....

Being beautiful can be a CURSE AS WELL as a blessing!

I have always been judged.....

My teen years felt like being in a constant episode of mean girls!

I got into a lot of fights! I HAD TO PROVE MYSELF THEN...

I made a lot of examples out of bitches that's for sure....

People assumed I was soft, because I was short, pretty, and quiet.....

I tried to tell them "Not to let this pretty face fool you"

They didn't listen! God blessed me with these hands! I should have been a boxer! LOL

I can remember when I was in high school...my freshmen year, I was coming out of gym to the locker room and I got dressed to go to my other classes

5 girls grabbed me and ATTEMPTED to throw me in the showers with SCALDING HOT WATER.....WHEN I TELL YOU I WAS SLINGING HEFFA'S EVERYWHERE, and I got the leader Courtney Darby so good, she is scared of me to this day!

When the deans came in to break it up, they grabbed me and though that I was on of the girls involved in jumping another girl. I told him, they were jumping me, he said it was NO WAY IN HELL, because I didn't have a scratch on me, but they were JACKED THE HELL UP! Once he figured it out, he SHOOK MY HAND, and said "Sorry this happened to you, but you sure do know how to handle yourself" Well that was for damn sure! I have 4 brothers, THEY TAUGHT ME WELL!

I soon learned that FIGHTING wasn't the way either.....

But people learned to LEAVE ME ALONE TOO!

As I got older.....and learned to leave catty women and girls alone......

My problem became people thinking that I am CONCEITED.....

I am NOT CONCEITED....I am CONFIDENT!

HELL IF I DON'T LOVE DANA.....WHO WILL!???????

i know I have flaws! But I am still beautiful on the outside and on the inside!

I don't need anybody to tell me so....

I know it!

But I am gracious and thankful when a person recognizes it!

Don't get me wrong! I love my HATERS....I have so many!!!!!!

but I don't see why people hate on me....

I am the most loving person....

I will give you the shirt off my back....

so there is no need....

I am fun! More often than not I am the life of the damn party! I will keep you laughing....that's just me!

But I am learning...that people will HATE YOU SIMPLY FOR BEING YOU....FOR BEING COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN SKIN.....

WELL BABBBBBYYYYY, You may as well kill yourself, because BITCH I'M ME!

That's it .....That's all!

I am getting back into this blogging thing....

I have been so caught up into to twitter and facebook, that I forgot my first love..... My blog....
It was thru my blog that I have met so many amazing people that I am blessed to call my friends. I have a real love for my cyber buddies...I have shed tears, shared laughs, gotten angry, over things that have happened in their lives....we have prayed for one another, cared for one another ....and it is truly amazing....we have watched each other's children grow up.....it's really a true kindred ship that I have found with some amazing women and men....

People that I would have not otherwise met, if it was not for blogging or twitter or even facebook....it's crazy because I talk about some of you like my family has known you for years....

You are truly apart of my everyday I life just as my non cyber friends are ......

I love you guys with all my heart....and I have learned a lot from each and everyone of you...

I found a love for beading....
I am learning to sew and knit....
I have got so many great recipes.....THANKS ADRIENNE AND MO....
I HAVE got so many fashion tips and make up tips....Heads up on sales...coupon alerts.....
It's just amazing.....I have gotten some pretty heartfelt advice....even some constructive criticism that made me realize some things about myself....I embrace it all. because a real friend KEEPS IT REAL......I don't want anyone to agree with me all the time...and my Road dog Kim KEEPS IT 100, SHE DON'T SUGAR COAT SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND SHE IS A RIDE OR DIE....LOVE HER TO DEATH....if I am wrong tell me, if I look like a fool, dammit say don't take your ass out like that....LOL

It is all in good fun!

You guys are an amazing....VERY DIFFERENT, bunch....no two alike and I love you all! Truly!