Bachelorette Guide To An Amazing Galentine’s Day Weekend

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and for some, it’s just another day on the calendar. For others? It’s a chance to express their love to different loved ones in their life. But for bachelorettes there happens to be a very cool thing called Galentine’s Day. I look forward to this time of year because it’s fun to celebrate with different women in my life and to encourage other women, whether single or not, to do the same. But how might one have an amazing Galentine’s Day Weekend? I thought you’d never ask…

Get Dolled Up. Even if you’re heading out alone, get dolled up, put on something you look and feel amazing in, go the extra mile for yourself, and enjoy it. I highly recommend a nice LBD (little black dress). It’s a universally attractive look and you’ll feel so chic.

Go Out For An Amazing Dessert. Ever heard the saying that stressed is desserts spelled backwards? There’s no need to stress when you have a delicious dessert on deck! Go to one of your favorite restaurants (solo or with some cool friends) and order a dessert you’ve previously enjoyed or something new you’d like to try and let the sugary sweet treat of your choosing be something you enjoy guilt-free. Calories don’t count on Galentine’s Day… at least not in my book.

Celebrate All That You Are. If you’re single, throughout this week, I want you to write down five things you love about being you. Then celebrate yourself and all that you are. Avoid saying negative things about yourself or whining and complaining. You’re too fabulous for that. I hope you don’t just do this during this week, but that you will find different ways to celebrate and love yourself all year long.

Happy (Early) Galentine’s Day, bachelorettes! You are thought of, appreciated, and loved 😊💗

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

Thoughts From a Black Educator: Qualified, Credentialed, and Constantly Undermined

I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...

The Day I Made A Will

When I was a teenager, I remember writing a list of my greatest fears. One of the things I listed was death. Looking back, it was an interesting item to list because inevitably, death is something each of us will face at some point in our lives. Even though it’s no longer a fear of mine, I understand why and how it’s not a comfortable thing for everyone to navigate. But regardless, this past summer I completed a detailed will. I signed it, had witnesses sign it, and got it notarized. As I was getting everything done, one of the witnesses looked at me and said, “You know, it’s just that you’re so young…” I’ve learned that death doesn’t care how young or how old you are. You can be five, fifteen, thirty, or fifty, and it’s still something that happens. Completing my will wasn’t scary. It gave me peace of mind having documentation in place stating my detailed directives and requests. A year ago, I had one of my kidneys removed. It was a surgery that came with risks that were presented cle...

Making Waves