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I’m Glad I’m Not Married

When I was about five years old, I was sitting in the backseat of my dad’s car when me, him, my older cousin (my aunt’s son), and my aunt (my dad’s sister) caught my aunt’s fiancé with another woman. My dad had been driving my aunt out to run some errands since she didn’t have a driver’s license or a car. When she spotted her man with another woman, she told my dad to pull the car over, got out of the car, and immediately addressed him. She wanted the keys back to her apartment and was done with him. The other woman she caught her fiancé with slapped him when she realized what was happening, and that was that. When my aunt returned to the car, she was clearly and understandably upset, and the ride back to her place was quiet. Although I was too young to fully grasp what was happening at the time, I knew it wasn’t good. And now, at 34 years old, I can’t imagine how much pain she was in. Her wedding had been planned and paid for – and she never made it down the aisle. My aunt was a beaut
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A Taste At Huntley’s Place

I’m always looking for cool spots to grab a bite to eat, and one of my favorite places to go is Huntley’s Place. From the location, warm and friendly customer service, and of course the delicious food, in my foodie opinion, Huntley’s is definitely one of the best breakfast spots in Hampton Roads. I had a hard time figuring out what I wanted to order because of all the mouth-watering options, so during my first visit, I tried the pineapple and coconut pancakes with a side of crispy hash browns, and then I went back again to try the red velvet pancakes with a side of crispy hash browns too. And of course, I had coffee and a refreshing mimosa on the side as well. This place is fun, welcoming, and just a good time. So, if you’re in the Hampton Roads area and looking for a nice spot to grab breakfast, check out Huntley’s Place and enjoy!
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Teacher Table Talk: Learning And Leading

On different occasions, I’ve jokingly said, “I just want to be a regular English teacher who teaches my content well, gets my scholars where they need to be, and quietly works in a corner without being bothered by anyone or anything.” For a moment, I thought I had things set up well to move as a regular and unbothered teacher… until I was approached by one of my administrators about taking on the role of our 8th grade English department’s PLC (professional learning community) Lead.  When I was asked to take on the role, initially I wanted to pass. I had no interest in leadership and knew that if I accepted, I’d no longer be able to work quietly in a corner without being bothered and having new requests and demands placed on me and my time. Because any and everyone who’s ever been in a leadership role can tell you that when you’re leading anything, people will almost always come to you (first) with requests, questions, and problems they’re seeking to have resolved, while sometimes faili
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Dating In Your 30s: A Male Perspective

One afternoon as I was having a quiet lunch, I was approached by a handsome thirtysomething year old who asked if he could sit with me.  When he sat, we ended up talking about a handful of different things and happened to dive into the topic of relationships. As we spoke, he shared his desire to have a wife and kids. As I listened, he shared that although he wanted a family of his own and had dabbled with dating and juggling different women in the “talking stage”, he expressed that women have always been a vice for him. “I date a lot of pretty girls, but I don’t feel like there’s been anything more than that with them,” he explained.  “Like are they dense or something?” I jokingly asked.  “They’re not blatantly stupid,” he replied. “They’re just pretty, and I’m looking for more.”  Interesting , I thought.  He talked to me about his past and what he was seeking in an ideal partner (someone who’s attractive and smart on the inside and out), and went on to share his unicorn-like status as
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A Taste At Everbowl

One of the most exciting things about the upcoming summer season is a reminder of the cool treats one can indulge in. And one treat I enjoy is acai bowls – especially from Everbowl. Not only do these cool, fruity, and refreshing treats taste good, but they look good too, and Everbowl knows how to deliver. Their acai bowls are quality, their customer service is on point, and their prices are chill too. If you’re seeking a sweet and yummy treat, stop by Everbowl and enjoy!
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Dr. Antoinette Candia-Bailey Deserved Better

How many more Black women do we have to lose before people wake up and truly start paying  close  attention? When I initially learned of the suicide of Dr. Antoinette Candia-Bailey, a former professor and vice president of student affairs at Lincoln University of Missouri, I was saddened but not shocked. Though her death has spotlighted and sparked some harsh realities and much-needed conversations surrounding the mistreatment of Black women in academia, as a Black woman myself and former employee who previously worked in higher education, I can resonate with her experiences and much of what she was likely going through during her time as an employee, and especially, as a Black woman. When I was an academic advisor working in higher education, I experienced incredible amounts of racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying. My time as an employee lasted about three years and by the time I resigned, I felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from my broken spirit. Before my start
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Don’t Get Bitter, Sis

In six years, I’ll be 40. I was recently reminded of this after visiting my PCP (primary care physician) for my annual physical. I was informed that I was healthy and taking good care of myself and was reminded of important areas to focus on while nearing my mid-30s and eventually approaching my 40s. I left my appointment feeling fine and content. Then later, I began thinking about aging and different women I know already in their mid-30s (and some who are right at 40) who are disappointed about getting older and others who are bitter about the current state of their lives. These different women I know, who I think are some of the most brilliant, beautiful, and intelligent women I’ve ever met, are successful in individual ways but have expressed how lonely, frustrated, and upset they’ve been about not ending up with men they thought they were going to settle down with, having to forfeit on having children because of factors like age, health risks, or fertility challenges, and being rep
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