Because I said so

Today was the last day of Boot Camp. I am happy yet every time I outwardly proclaim my happiness I feel that I should be ashamed of myself. Only a fat and lazy person would be happy that their strenuous yet very beneficial workout regimine is over. That class really did a lot for me. It was my first time working out since being pregnant my first child and it was my first time away from my daughter since she was born. I attended four of the six weeks, which was eight of the eleven classes. And from those eight hour long classes I lost 4.6 lbs, 3.5 inches off my waist and 7 inches from my hips. I didn't join boot camp to loose weight so I am pleased with those 4 lbs, I joined boot camp to drop this baby flab, tone these muscles and fit back into my pre-baby jeans. And by golly dropping those 7 inches from my hips definitely did the trick. I am so amped about that because a person like me, who eats whatever, whenever went half ass in a hard core fitness class and still got results...

Which heart are you? Valentines Day is days away so the stores have been filled with the usual red, pink and white cards, candies, bags and bears. What is a little new (to me at least) is the abundance of the color black. What is not surprising is that the selection of masculine Valentines Day items are in major demand and sell out way faster than the pinkest of the pink items. Now that of course is because of two main reasons: The women gifts come in a much heavier shipment and men buy gifts at the very last minute. That is the few men who don't dump their girlfriends before the "holiday." Bet you didn't know this my faithful Chicago friends, Sweetest Day (or Sweeties Day as I call it) is not known outside of the midwest. Yep, me and all my Chicago friends were at work saying Happy Sweetest Day and these Georgian's had no clue what we were talking about. Sweetest Day was founded October 8, 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio by Herbert Birch Kingston who was a local c...

There are many things that make up a good woman. I believe these five C's are the Cream of the Crop, pun intended. 1. Cook , said the woman who doesn't know how to cook. I love the idea of cooking and I know men do too. I would love to learn how to cook and I will, as soon as I get my own place because I damn sure ain't burning down someone else's pad. I once improperly cooked a frozen pizza... as an adult! But that's neither here nor there. Every woman should know that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. 2. Clean. We all know that men are messy and lazy so a woman who is messy and lazy would only result in a house full of mold, funk and insects. Clean the dishes after you cook, make the bed every morning, wash and fold the clothes ... if that ain't a catch I don't know what is. 3. Cheese. This one is an easy one for me because I love to smile. There are so many things to smile about. You being pleasant will put him in a ...

We go through lessons in life to build us into this better, smarter, wiser more experienced person but sometimes we fall victim to stupidity that blocks ourselves from taking that lesson and turning it into the learning experience. For instance, if you are in a bad relationship with someone who you KNEW were bad for you in the get go, the lesson should be to try until you can try no more, go through the rough and ugly breakup, hurt... TERRIBLY and learn from the mistake of choosing to date someone that you KNEW were wrong from jump street. Learn from the mistake of going hard for someone who were not going hard for you or your relationship. Learn from the rough and ugly breakup that you should never leave yourself that vulnerable. Learn from the time spent that you could have been doing so many other things with your life and since you're not getting any younger, make the best out of your life while you are young and beautiful. That's what SHOULD have happened and from that you...

How has computers replaced tvs, ipads replaced computers, cell phones replaced alarm clocks, ipods replaced radios and texting has replaced talking... But I have not replaced you?

I've had a few relationships in my life and if you haven't figured out from that statement alone, I've had a few break ups as well. Now I am in no way an expert at relationships (because if I were I would be married right now), but I am a journalist and a I have a male best friend so I'm pretty well informed. Well enough to ensure you that there are five sure fire breakup rules and if you don't stick to them you may not only loose your man, but your sanity as well. DON'T SEEM PITIFUL , even if you are dying inside, singing love songs, kissing old photographs of him, digging for his clothes just to bury your nose in, keep that between you and those clothes. Try not to answer his calls on the first vibrate and definitely don't blow up his line either. The less contact the better, never let him see you sweat. Never let anyone see you sweat for that matter. KEEP UP A GOOD FRONT . Those nosey neighbors don't need to see you throwing his clothes out of the ups...

Lisa and I ditched boot camp today. Not only because we didn't have baby sitters, but because, and I will go ahead and speak for myself on this one, when I am mad about something, it is hard for me to do anything other than be mad. I am away from my daughter twice a week and it is for a great cause, my one hour hard core fitness class. My father babysits my daughter on Thursday nights when I go to class and my boyfriend's father babysits her on Saturday mornings when I go. The first Thursday went well. It was just my daughter and my Dad. Second week, it was my daughter, my Dad and his baby mama. Umm, side eye but okay. Third week we skipped because Mallory and I were in Chicago but week four... (deep sigh) week four would have been my daughter, my Dad, his baby mama AND my fresh out of the hospital baby sister. Key words: Would have been. I couldn't let this go on any longer. One add on is quite enough but two, and then next week three and you know where I'm headed. Now...

Do you like to argue? Do you think that being silent in an heated discussion is better than going back and forth in an argument? Being silent in an heated discussion can help dissolve the issue because there is no back and forth commentary. No comment for them to prolong the conversation or get more angry at you for saying out of anger. My best friend believes that being silent in an argument would only make him more angry because the point of an "argument" is being able to say what's on your chest and allowing (or not allowing) the other person to do the same. Arguing is nothing but a headache. A good debate however is right up my alley because I (like most women) think that I am always right so I like to know why you think the way you do. But a long drawn out shout fest... you can have that crap man. I will zip my lips, roll my eyes and take the L because it is not worth my serenity nor my sanity. When in an argument I feel that the best thing to say is nothing at all

I am a firm believer in the saying "everything happens for a reason." The problem is figuring out what that reason is and why it is happening to you at that particular time. There are many obstacles that have appeared in my life in the past three years that probably would have never came about had I stayed on the beaten path. But who follows the rules nowadays? It is truly when you step out of line to do your own little two step do you approach a challenge and teach yourself how to tussle. My question now is, how long am I supposed to tussle ?

Man my daughter is growing up at lightning speed. She will be four months in six days and she is already pulling herself up into a sitting position and rolling herself over. She had already been trying to talk and raising her body up from a belly position for a while now. I mean it is truly amazing the growth she has made in such a short period of time. I am both amazed and afraid. Everyone in my family says she is advancing because she is moving out of the way for the next child lol but I really believe that all of the love and attention I give her is paying off. The ability to breastfeed exclusively and be with her all day everyday has been an experience working mothers can only dream about. I am truly blessed to be able to be with her and watch her grow. You all are missing out.

It is mildly disturbing to witness my Mother's interaction with my younger siblings. She was so hard on my sister and I when we were growing up and now she is soooo casual with these two. I mean on one hand I am proud of her for allowing herself to loosen up and be both a friend and a mother but on the other hand, in this year of 2012, you can't be too loosey goosey on these heathens because children are messy. I don't know, maybe I'm low-key jealous because they have such a good relationship. Or maybe I fear that my Mother's kindness is being taken for a weakness when I hear her telling them to do things and them ignoring her. I honestly take it as a form of disrespect and my poor mother, she doesn't even go back and forth with them, she's so worn out. But these kids must stay in line because without guidance, discipline and structure my little teenage sister who looks the same age as me will be in the same boat as me sooner than she should, if you know...

I have been in Chicago for the past couple of days and I have really been enjoying myself. It is such a relief to be around my family and for them to volunteer to take my daughter from me and give me a break. I don't know if I told you all but my child is a handful. She is really spoiled and she screams VERY loudly. All in good manipulation because she stops as soon as she is placed in my arms... most of the time. My mother and sister hosted a Meet Mallory party for my Chicago friends and family. It was very nice and Mallory got a lot of much needed things: clothes, diapers, wipes, money and most of all love. I so appreciate all of my family and friends who came. It means so much to me, they probably would never understand how grateful I am to have such sweet and loyal friends. My mother does not live close to any other them, everyone made at least a half an hour drive in the freezing cold, a day after a snow storm. Love those guys.

I have a cousin who is mixed and I remember how jealous I used to be of her growing up because she was so pretty with her fair skin and long beautiful hair. What I didn't know at that age is all the pain she had to endure for those very reasons. It's hard enough being a kid, but mixed children tend to have it a little harder because they are more than one race and may continue live a life of torment way beyond school age depending on which race they chose to identify with. I remember being teased because of my glasses, because I was skinny but most of all because of my name. People would call me Ariel the little Mermaid, Oreo (because it rhymes with Aerial) and Earl because it's the fast country was of saying Aerial. It's funny because I am far from school age and I am still being called Earl but I love the nickname now and I adore the three people who call me that nickname. I said that when I had a child, she would have the simplest name, like Amy so no one would missp...

I hate when people tell me something that they were trying to surprise me about. I don't know why I hate it so much but I'm going to try to figure it out right now, while talking to you guys. It's as if the person is not capable of doing anything on their own. Why couldn't they follow through to the end? Would it had hurt you to try a little harder? It would have been such a nice surprise, me finally getting a gift I knew nothing about. Doesn't that sound a lot better than me getting something kind of, sort of like I would have gotten if things would have worked out the way you planned them before you told me about the surprise. Huh? Exactly.

There is a such thing as guest etiquette my dear friends but I don't believe any of you know how to use it. Sure everyone knows that you should ask before doing almost anything in someone else's home but what if you are a regular? What if this home was your home away from home? Do you think that the rules no longer apply to you? No? Well you're wrong. No matter how many times I go to my "in laws" I always put my coat, bag and daughter's things in one particular spot in the living room by the door. Although they sometimes take my coat and hang it up, I personally do not like to go into people's closets to insert or retrieve anything because once something is out of place, you're the first person they look at. Not at all implying anything bad towards my "in laws" because I love them and enjoy their company BUT it is there home and I am a guest so I act as such. Did you know that you should take your shoes off when you coming into someone's ...

My daughter is fourteen weeks old today and on this day she drank four ounces of breastmilk from a bottle! It has been torture but I have been pushing a bottle down her throat twice daily since she refused to eat in my absence on Saturday. I don't want my baby to starve but I do want to be able to leave her with family while I take a few hours to better myself. So I had to do it and I am very pleased with her today, lets just hope she continues on this path in making life a lot easier for Mommy.

So we all know that sometimes our eyes are much bigger than our bellies and we sometimes ask for more than we can eat. But how about when our hearts are much bigger than our hands and we bite off way more than we can chew? This past weekend I babysat three of my six sisters. Now mind you, I have a three month old at home so one child would meet my quota but they come in a package and just one is not enough. The three sisters are Erin, my favorite sister, who is one and a half years old and my eleven month old twin sisters, Aaliyah and Aniyah. Whew, just the thought of them took me back and gave me a headache. Erin wasn't bad at all, she listens, understands and tells you when she has to use the restroom. Those twins though, in their crawling, walking, whining, begging, playful stage proved to be way more than I can chew with my cry baby in tow. But it was fun and I was glad I could help but Lord knows that won't happen again anytime soon. Maybe when my baby is able to crawl or ...

My baby got her first shots today. Now we can travel. Praise the Good Lord. I thought it would be worse but it actually went pretty well other than the fact that the establishment was ran down and full of hot ghetto messes. The doctor and nurse was really nice and professional so because of those ladies and ONLY because of them, will I return to that hell hole of a doctors office. First of all when I placed the initial call the receptionist was rude! She spoke with a stank attitude and responded with a drag that only meant she was rolling her eyes at the same time. She then began to speak to the doctor next to her, while I was talking to her, without even saying hold on maam or pausing the freakin phone. How disgusting is that? She had very little patience with me, which is unacceptable for a person working in a darn children's clinic. But to top it off, she gives me the address and hangs up the phone without saying thank you, you're welcome, goodbye, feliz navidad... nothing. ...

So I'm trying to get my daughter acquainted with her teddy bears and her dolly's but I think she doesn't like them because they don't respond to her. She is used to human interaction because I am always talking to her and since the age of eight weeks, she's been cooing and laughing back at me. I sit her in her playpen with her fuzzy friends and it starts off good. She is talking and waving until those words turn into cries and waves into hand tantrums. When I walk over to pick her up she smiles and I could swear she says "later losers," but it could just be me. As much as I would like a big family, I am now interested to see how my child would be if she were an only child. I know that it would be very beneficial to her in long run but right now I just can't see her doing well on her own. She can barely sit for two minutes without attention. She thinks that she is entitled to a peasant toting her around like a princess. Que her Daddy.

So I have a teenage sister and to be frank, she isn't the sharpest crayon in the box. I'm actually starting to think that all children her age are that dumb though, just look at her friends comments on her facebook page. Yea and about that facebook page, which I doubt VERY seriously my mother knows about because she is oh so protective; my fool sister is on there leaving her texting number on people's general page! What's a texting number you ask? Well she does not have a phone yet but she has an iPod and she is able to text on that. So I texted her around 10:30pm and said "Go to sleep!" She replied, "????? Who is this" so I decided to play a game to see if she is as gullible as I think she is. I said "Who is this?????" She surprisingly said "... U txted me lol." Good job little sister. So I kick it up a notch and said "Yea but the person I texted should know who I am so maybe this isn't who I think it is. So who are you?...