Browngirl Speaks

3 NYPD detectives acquitted in 50-shot killing

Our The U.S. justice system loves to get rid of us any underhanded way it can as well as make examples of us.  i hope bell’s now fatherless children are strong and prosperous. 

 i hope these and other young brown men do not let this injustice allow bitterness and anger to fester in their hearts and become something just as vile and grotesque as this, but instead fuel them to lead the revolution….

Happy Anniversary Man!

Marital Diatribe

i love you

you make me sick

go away

please stay

you drive me crazy

grow up

you’re a splendid brown man

i need you

i want you

get the hell on

give it to me

take out the trash

lazy ass

i’m on the rag

my head hurts

no, now it’s my shirt

i love you

i want you

i need you

gotta have you

gotta have you

gotta have you

i love smoothies! well, who doesn’t?  but i actually make them and i’m always trying different things for my creations.  check out my green tea smoothie from last year. well, the post has disappeared for that, so look for it in the near future. anyway, just in time for the warm weather approaching, here’s my newest cool treat:

vanilla yogurt

banana

apple juice

strawberry fruit bar

i use about 4 tbs. of the yogurt, 1 banana, 2 splashes of apple juice and one whole fruit bar

first, i crush the ice in the blender.  the amount of ice determines the consistency.  so more ice, less runny and vice versa.  then, add the ingredients.  i usually get about 3 6oz. glasses.

now, mind you these were things i happened to already have in my fridge/freezer.  we usually always have those items.  usually i would have used orange juice but was out and apple was there, so i used what i had.  it surprised me that apple worked.  i mostly make them for my son since he’s such a natural born health nut.  but if you do have to buy every ingredient and you absolutely hate the smoothie (which i highly doubt ), then you still have some awesome, healthy treats to indulge in separately.

enjoy!

Check out my ebay!  I’m going to have things listed periodically, so I’m adding a link to my sidebar as well. 

i have become semi-obsessed with being green.  it’s just something to me that makes so much sense.  it’s possible to do one’s part even without the means to convert to low flow toilets, programmable thermostats and such.  i’ve started recycling as well as freecycling.  i’m constantly looking for ways for my family to its part to preserve the environment and not be so wasteful.  i’ve discovered the newly revamped Discovery Home channel and there’s this awesome show called "Wasted" that finds people who are guilty of some environmental crime like excessive water usage.  I know it seems we’ve been bombarded and brow-beaten over the last few years with being eco-friendly, but it really is possible to make an impact if everyone picked a few things to be more conscious of (yes, this a bad grammar kids).  so here’s some things i’ve begun or plan to implement that cost me nothing (except the last one):

*freecycle:  join your local freecycle and get rid of things you can’t necessarily sell but don’t want to end up in a landfill.  it’s most likely a yahoo group that you can post offers and requests for ANYTHING from bottle caps to furniture to junk cars.

*recycle:  in my hometown, if you live within city limits and receive their trash pick up, you also get free curbside recycling pick up and free bins.  there are also recycling centers around the city.  it costs nothing to recycle and it really does become habit in a short amount of time.

*take shorter showers:  10 minutes tops!  and not in scalding hot water.  warm or tepid is better for the skin anyway. 

*wash laundry in cold water: i know this one requires a small gulp b/c many of us don’t think clothes will get clean if the water’s not near boiling.  i do make a personal concession to wash towels and sheets in warm or hot.  even those can be washed on cold and be clean.  add a few drops of tea tree oil to the wash if fearing microbes and bacteria.

*air dry laundry: this is a no brainer.  it saves you money on energy expenses and wearing out your clothes.

*stop drinking bottled water:  again, my hometown has some of the cleanest water in the country but i still see folks here buying cases of bottled water AND not recycling the bottles.  brita pitchers and filtration systems that are easily installed on the tap are so inexpensive now that there’s no need for all the bottled water consumption. i just checked ebay and saw a brand new faucet filtration by brita for $14.99. or to really be cost effective–boil it and voila!– distilled water.

*turn off that damn computer!:  unplug the cell phone chargers and anything else you only use a few times a week.  we leave so many things plugged in and many folks don’t realize that energy is still being used.  the mr. is gravely offensive of this crime.  and stop leaving the computer on day after day after day.  my parents do this and just turn the monitor off when they aren’t using the computer.  i mean, really?  use a power strip and this will make it simple to remember to just turn it off and all your peripherals will be shut down as well.  a lot of us should see a drastic reduction in our utility bills with this change.

*rain water barrels:  there are several sizes of these and they simply collect rain water that is reusable for gardening, car washing and even can be filtered to toilets and washing machines.  the water is not suitable for drinking or bathing, but i plan to get one for car washing.  they have a spout so that water hoses can be attached. now these can cost around $100 to $150 on the low end but with some patience and about $50 it can be made.  i think the price tag either way is worth it in the long run.

‘m really enthused about our Ecology unit for April. I learned about a free Planet Protectors Club kit from a site with links to free curriculum. I received a hard copy by mail within about 6 weeks. Now, it’s avaiable online in pdf format which is great for those wanting to work through the activity books leading up to Earth Day–April 22. I want being Earth conscious to become second nature for my family. It just makes sense to take some of the small steps to do our part to eliminate excess waste and not promote consumerism.

so, i’m checking for what’s up on the today show and see raheem devaughn’s going to be on.  cool!  especially since i just saw him open for jill scott last friday.  i’ll pause for jealous gasps…. okay.  just as i turn on the show, they’re talking about some surprise mystery band that’s reuniting.  well, who bursts through the huge sheet of paper?  new.kids.on.the.block!  i’m like whaaaaat?!?!  are you kidding me?!?!?  they are not the freshest bunch on the block anymore ot ell the truth.  i couldn’t get over how old they look.  i just don’t know about this one….

weights up

bills due

feeling down, kinda blue

calm is elusive

how ’bout you…