The Bet

When I tell people I want to eat healthy the most common reaction I get is why. I have never had issues with weight gain as an adolescent or as an adult. I have actually had quite the opposite; I have spent most of my life being slim. As a kid I was teased for being skinny. I would eat and eat trying to make myself gain weight to no avail.  Eventually I embraced my small frame and now I have a healthy body image despite all of the bootylicious divas scattered across mainstream media. Because of my size, a lot of people scoff at my desire to eat a healthier and more balanced diet as if weight is the only issue one should be concerned about. However, last time I checked slender people still have much of the same health concerns as larger sized people. Yes, obesity is connected to heart disease and diabetes just to name a few conditions; but those can also be found in smaller people. For instance, family members of mine have had high blood pressure and diabetes. That is something that I have to be cognizant of.

Another reason why I was interested in eating healthier was the concept that food is medicine. I’ve been interested in veganism for a few months now. I will not be trying a vegan diet simply because I don’t feel like my body can forgo eating meat. I’m not saying that I’m a crazy carnivore and I eat the whole pig from the roota to the toota. I honestly think I need meat even if it has to be a lean meat or maybe it’s the protein my body requires...whatever, I just can’t give up meat. However, I found it intriguing that illnesses can be cured or prevented simply by changing our diet. So when my home girl bet me to eat a healthy diet for the entire month of February I was all in.

I have tried this before and I would go maybe two weeks at a time before falling off of the wagon. My arch nemesis is fast food and/or dining out. I am child of convenience. I crave instant gratification. So when it’s 8 o’ clock at night and the mood’s just right, you might find me at your nearest drive-thru or Chinese restaurant. I do not like working all day, coming home, only to stand on my feet for 30 minutes or more preparing a meal that I will probably be too tired to eat when it’s finished. Also, I love my sleep and most of the time I wake up too late to fix my lunch which means I eat out sometimes at least twice a day. I guess I sound pretty lazy, huh? Don’t judge me. With all of this being said, I will need some assistance with finding simple and quick recipes. Help please!

Another challenge that I have to eating healthy is that I have the palate of a 3-year-old. I have gotten a lot better, but I am still hesitant to try new and weird foods. I will go to a restaurant and order the same thing over and over again. There is nothing worse than deciding to try something new when you’re starving and having it turn out completely disgusting. Which is why I generally stick with the tried and true, however, for the sake of the bet I am willing to try new foods; it may actually be imperative to me winning this bet.

I will be updating my blog with stories from my journey to a healthier lifestyle. And I would definitely love feedback, tips, and recipes. The bet officially starts February 1^st. Let’s get it!!

Motherhood and Marriage vs. Career...what to do, what to do...?

So it’s a few days after my 27^th birthday and shit just got real. I have always been very ambitious, but admittedly, I have been on auto-pilot for the last couple of years. Like most people, I got caught up in the everyday strife of working just to get by. It felt as though my 20s would never be over and then 27 cold-cocked me in the forehead.  My 30s are around the corner and I still have a lot of stuff to accomplish. Now, I do know that I am still very young and I have a lot of living to do, but it’s something about coming upon the end of a decade that makes you put everything into perspective.

With this in mind, I was talking with a co-worker about careers, college, etc. and she asked me, “What about a husband and kids?” And I stopped myself from saying with a hint of stankness, “What about a husband and kids?” Despite my ambitiousness, I never thought I couldn’t have it all, but whenever someone meets me and observes my drive or singleness, I always get the same responses. “Don’t you want to settle down?” “You’re one of those career girls, aren’t you?”

My frustration with these questions is that it’s pretty much assumed and accepted that as a woman you have to choose one or the other….you can’t have both. That annoys the shitake out of me. Yes, I can be very ambitious and lost in my dreams probably more so than the next person, but WHY can’t I have BOTH.


Perhaps I watch too many damn romantic comedies or maybe I shouldn’t have taken the Huxtables at face value, but I want it all: the career, the man, and the kids. And I think it’s possible. The ironic thing is that these questions are always asked by other women. I very rarely get this response from men. I actually get the complete opposite. They usually tell me to run far, far away from the idea of marriage until I’ve gotten all of the shenanigans of my youth out.

Basically, what I’m saying, is it’s nothing wrong with wanting marriage and motherhood, but there also isn’t anything wrong with wanting a great career either. So don’t try to make me choose!

Something to Talk About: New Ebony Tumblr

May 1972

Lately, I’ve been in love with everything vintage, especially random fashion finds. So when I crept up on the new Ebony tumblr via one of my favorite websites, Clutch, I just had to mention it. The tumblr is complete with images from past Ebony magazines such as covers and advertisements…I love it! Check it out: http://ebonymag.tumblr.com/page/2