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My Heart Is Heavy

I grew up in a Baptist church. I was there every Sunday morning at 9:30 am for Sunday school, and stayed through the 11 am service. If there was an evening service that week, I was there for that. I was there every Wednesday night at 7:14 pm for bible study. I was married at that church. I love my church.

One of my favorite things about my church is that we have a "come as you are" policy. No judgment. No pretense. If you are in need of spiritual guidance then you are welcome. 

What happened in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17th, 2015 could have happened at my church. My great grandmother would have been there. My grandmother would have been there. My mother, my sisters, My pastor, the man who has been my spiritual leader my entire life would have been there. My heart is heavy. 

Racism isn't dead. A man walked into a church, prayed with people who went out of their way to make him feel welcome and he then executed them. Their only crime, being black. 

I keep hearing people say things like why does everyone focus color or why are you making everything about race and it drives me insane. Black people didn't create the institution of racism in America. It isn't solely up to us to fix all racial issues in this country. We see race because in 2015,  a man walked into a church and slaughtered its members because they were black.  I would be a fool not to think that my race has an impact on how people perceive me. 

I dread the day I have to sit my son down and explain to him that there are people in this world that hate him because of what he looks like. I can't picture the look on his face when I tell him that he has to be twice as good and twice as smart as his white peers in order to have the same opportunities. How am I supposed to tell him that the color of his skin makes people feel intimidated and that in order for some people to accept him he will have to go out of his way to make others feel comfortable? How do I tell him all of that in one breath, and then explain to him that his blackness is something to be celebrated in the next?

This is not a think piece on racism in America.

 This isn't a proposed solution to the race problem in this country.

This is one  black woman trying to make sense of the emotions coursing through her veins.

My thoughts and prayers are with the congregation of The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. 

I hope you find peace. 

  

Quick Tip:Using Coconut Oil in the Winter

Ok I have rededicated myself to this blog.
 I have no excuses, I'm just lazy.
 Any-who, I'm back with a quick trick to help you  and your hair get through this winter unscathed. I saw this when I was  browsing Pinterest and I literally jumped up and ran into the kitchen to try it out. It's so simple yet genius I can't believe that I have never heard of doing it before.

You know coconut oil right?
You know how it's hard and sooooo annoying to deal with in the wintertime right?
Are you like me and you pretty much give up on it until the weather warms back up?
Well now you don't have to, and no this doesn't involve a microwave or a hot water bath.

ok here's the tip..

take the coconut oil and WHIP IT!!!
Thats it.
That's All
Put as much or as little as you like in a bowl, and beat it with your electric mixer.Iit shouldn't take more than 5 minutes, more if you use a lot and less if you use a little. To be safe, just stop when you get a fluffy, frosting like consistency.

I did this a few days ago and my oil has stayed pretty much the same as the day I whipped it, and let me tell you it makes applying the stuff 100 times easier!

The mixture  melts into your hand, it's like a little slice of heaven

No need to thank me.
Peace
Erika

Mini(literally) Fragrance Haul

Ok so, two things 
1. Every time I go to WalMArt/Taregt/Walgreens/CVS i have to swing past the clearance end cap in the beauty dept. I mean most of the time you find junk but every once in a while you can find a gem.


2. If you find that gem. YOU MUST BUY IT.


Now thats how we find our selves at todays post. While browsing said section I came mini bottles of perfumes that were under 5 bucks!!  Yes you read that right they were under 5 bucks. Now they had 4 different scents, but only two of them caught my eye. Enough babbling here's what I got.

sorry for the crappy pic

Mariah Carey-/Forever---gardenia, dewy green apple, lotus blossom, tuberose, exotic woods, neroli, white musk


Halle Berry/Halle--Fig, pear blossom, cashmere musk, cashmere musk, bergamot, sensual amber, freesia, mimosa, ultra mimosa, hibiscus, driftwood, sandalwood, olibanum


These are  great for summer and I surpassingly like them both. I'm kind of picky when it comes to scents so I was hoping I would be able to wear at least one of them, but for 4 bucks I figured it's only really a loss if I don't buy them.


So moral of this story. Always check the clearance bins
XOXO
Erika

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