Oh Coconut How I Love Thee...

I don't think I have talked about here how much I love coconut but not just in it's raw form but coconut oil, coconut milk and coconut milk ice cream.

I stopped drinking soy milk last year when I read about the high levels of estrogen and realized I had a young boy about to go through puberty. So we taste tested Almond Milk, Rice Milk and Coconut Milk. Coconut Milk won by a large margin not necessarily by taste but because of the health benefits listed here. Once I did more research and found out that it is considered Nature's Mothers Milk I was sold. Now I love the taste and eat my Kashi cereal every morning with it. I also cook with it as evidenced by the lentil recipe I posted here. Which by the way is my absolute favorite way to eat lentils because when I cook this dish I not only eat them that evening but in the morning over brown rice for breakfast, yummy!

I also use coconut oil in my hair and on my body every single day, I told you me and the coconut got a thang going on. I also did a lot of research on coconut oil because unfortunately it caused Child Genius to break out in her scalp so she had to discontinue use and stick to castor oil only. However you can read all about the benefits of the oil here. For my hair it is the only oil I use period. However on my body I use a layer of coconut oil on my most precious parts then mix 1 to 1 (coconut, cocoa butter and shea butter) especially for my feet. I absolutely love coconut oil however when Child Genius is home and we both use it Boy Wonder can be a little overwhelmed by the scent.

1 more thing I also drink water with half a lemon/lime squeezed into it every morning and evening. It is quite cleansing.

j

Visual and Written Inspiration September 17 2010

photo taken/altered by Jacquelyn Roberts

“The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives”
William James

Now Playing: D.J. Doc and Jodine's Spasmodic Movements Mix #21

photo taken/altered by Jacquelyn Roberts

New in the Shop: Rose Tumbled Marble Coaster

So as you have notice I post a lot of photography that either myself, Child Genius or Boy Wonder take on our journey. Some of the photographs are so inspiring to me that I must turn them into coasters. This is one of those photographs I captured sometime last year that just spoke to me whenever I scroll through my picture folders. So this is simply :


Rose Tumbled Marble Coaster: $10.00

Visual and Written Inspiration September 15 2010

photo taken by Child Genius/altered by Jacquelyn Roberts

"Every human is an artist. And this is the main art that we have: the creation of our story" Miguel Ruiz

Now Playing: D.J. D-Nice Summer Mix

photo taken/altered by Jacquelyn Roberts

Birth Story: Jacquelyn Roberts

photo taken/altered by Jacquelyn Roberts

So I started off writing a Names 101 post about my candle scent Scratch however while formulating that post I started thinking about the origins of things then my origins. This also stems from a conversation I had with a great friend of mine regarding my children's birth stories which are both amazing in and of themselves however let's start with mine.

I really started thinking about my birth story some time ago when I originally read Iyanla Vanzant's books In the Meantime and Interiors: A Black Woman's Healing in Progress. These two books helped me take forward steps during my late twenties. Anywho while reading these books Iyanla writes about her birth story and how it affected the early part of her life. I am going to share my birth story and maybe it will help someone. If this is too personal skip to the lovely music for today it is very bright and cheery.

I was born in Columbus Georgia on January 7, 1972. My birth is/was an amazing story because I'm still here. My mother became pregnant with me when she was 19 by my father who was stationed at Ft. Benning at the time he was 27. There was not a love story as a matter of fact I really don't think they liked each other they were just having sex and my father told my mother he was impotent. So my mother became pregnant and my grandfather really held a gunshot wedding between my parents. My mother subsequently was beaten several times during the marriage (while pregnant with me) and would run away from my father. So while 6 months pregnant with me she ran away again and started hanging out with friends a lot. She had been hanging out for at least 1 month when she went into convulsions so she was taken to the emergency room in Columbus. While at the emergency room my maternal grandmother was called because it was now life or death decisions to be made. Well one of my aunts was at the house when the call came and decided to tag along. So when my grandmother reaches the hospital the doctor proceeds to tell her that my mother is so far gone that he can only save either her or me. My grandmother's classic response was "Well I've known my daughter longer so save her."

So they remove me from my mother's womb and place me in an incubator with the full expectation that I was not going to make it. I was born in my mother's seventh month and weighed 4 lbs 3 ounces at birth. So after a couple of days and I'm still hanging around my aunt decides (in true seventies fashion) to name me Wonderful Star but this is NEVER placed on my birth certificate instead they wait another week for my mother to come around and she named me Jacquelyn Renee (because she took french in high school). Personally I LOVE Wonderful Star and even named my holding company that. My mother was released after 1 week and I made my departure from the hospital 3 weeks after that.

Sooo back to my birth story and what it taught me about my walk on this earth. First thing I learned was that I am a fighter and somebody should have named me tenacious. I also learned from this that you never count anyone out because you have no idea what their life path is sometimes you are really only the vessel. Finally I learned that (after repeating the cycle at 19) sex is spiritual and it is a vessel for LIFE to pass into this realm. That is powerful beyond words I teach both my children that sex is not supposed to be recreational it is spiritual.

Visual and Written Inspiration September 13 2010

photo taken/altered by Jacquelyn Roberts


“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

Dr. Seuss

Playing in the Shop: DJ Kalil World Passport Series No. 1

painting by Child Genius/Altered by Jacquelyn Roberts

Social Media Rules No. 3,275...

photo taken/altered by Jacquelyn Roberts

Well I know this is normally a space for love, sunshine and all the things that make my world a bit easier however I have to do this post. Tea and Honey Bread touched on it here, but I want to delve a little deeper if ya'll don't mind. You see a few things happened on my way to promoting my business I reluctantly stuck my pretty little toes into the murky waters of facebook and twitter. I was already on MySpace (started there in 2004 I believe), LinkedIn and one more but I digress while I was coordinating the great redesign of 2009 my web guru informed me that I should go ahead and set up a twitter page. I did and was also duped into setting up a facebook page by a party promoter who allowed facebook to scan his email list, why did I do that?!

Facebook and Twitter are like high school if you go too far into the waters ladies and gentlemen as well as it allows people who haven't seen you in 20 years to look you up and pretend like they know who the hell you are. Several interesting things happened this week that confirmed all of this for me. Want to hear it well here it goes:

Scenario No. 1:
Every time I post a Visual and Written Inspiration on this blog I also click the tweet button so that it sends one item across 3 platforms (blogger, twitter and facebook) saves me time and keeps my feeds current. Win win yes? well not this time because a woman (who is an acquaintance not a friend) decides to comment on my post on facebook however it wasn't about what I posted it was to promote her _____?! I do not have anything against self-promotion because let's face it I started a blog to promote my business, I joined facebook to promote my business and I joined twitter to you guessed it promote my business, so self-promotion is the name of the game my friends. However if you promote your _______ on my page first you may want to ensure that I am your type of buyer (know your market) and second check yourself and see if you have ever patronized my business, no oh ok well hell naw I am not buying your ________. Now I saw the post come across at around 10 pm and was going to respond however I always remember this is tied to my business and you do have customers who follow you here, let it be J. So I didn't respond nor did I delete the comment I figure if she thinks the people who follow me are her market then she will soon learn.

The lesson for me: Pick your battles some things are really not worth your time.

Scenario No. 2:
A friend of a friend is connected to me on facebook. I don't know this lady well enough to call her a friend however she posts a lot like is facebook in your bed with you or something, jeesh. Well she posted something that rubbed my friend the wrong way and she called me to discuss said post (since once again I post here and send it out across 3 platforms so I really only respond to comments on facebook). Well I told her "It is easy for people to be witty and profound in 140 characters but what about real life?"

The lesson for me: Pick your battles some things are really not worth your time.

Scenario No. 3:
Twitter keeps suggesting that I follow celebrities, I read their feed and know one thing: They are playing to their strength and intelligence may not be it. However some people live and die by trying to emulate these celebrities and I don't understand it. Don't get me wrong I actually like twitter because it's like having a real time conversation. There are some bloggers who I follow on twitter and we talk back and forth about articles they post, it's cool. Buuuuut when the supposed cool kids come out and it's like high school all over again I log off.

The lesson for me: Pick your battles some things are really not worth your time.

So the moral of this post is you don't have to pretend to be anything you are not. If you are a single mom who enjoys hip hop, design shows, thrift shops, great books, spirituality and curse like a sailor then be authentically who you are. Walk your own path because when the path changes you are still the only one on it.

j

Visual and Written Inspiration September 10 2010

photo taken/altered by Jacquelyn Roberts

"From the outside looking in, you can’t understand it. From the inside looking out, you can’t explain it." ~Author Unknown

Now Playing: DJ Kemit Donny Hathaway Tribute

photo taken/altered by Jacquelyn Roberts

New in the Shop: King Portrait No. 1 Tumbled Slate Coaster

So I am working on a slew of new products however here is one that is now uploaded in the shop. The image above inspired the coaster below. I saw this man while I was at an artwalk in the Old Fourth Ward here in Atlanta and stalked him for most of the night finally asking him to pose for several pictures for me. He reminds me of kisses on the wind shared with an old friend.



King Portrait No. 1 Tumbled Slate Coaster $10.00

Visual and Written Inspiration September 8 2010

photo by jacquelyn roberts


"Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living."
Anais Nin

Playing in the Shop: Adele "Hometown Glory"

photo by Child Genius


This is for Child Genius since we wore a hole in this album together then when my computer died I lost over half my music this included.

What have I been doing: Reading The Four Agreements...

So I read four amazing books while I have been on a blogging break and one of those is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

This book is practical and speaks to how I have tried to live my life for the past 7 years actually. It is also great when speaking with people who tend to over indulge in dramatics to say well you know I try to abide by the four agreements which are so basic it cuts right through the B.S.. I also have spoken to my children about these four agreements and have added them to our family manifesto. I was speaking to a beloved friend and just raving about this book when I said "We added it to the family manifesto" and he responded "Well doesn't everyone have a family manifesto?" I believe he was being sarcastic but my response was "If they don't then they should." We always say our family manifesto every morning and have now added the four agreements as well. It's a great book for those who are seeking the lesson, if you are not a seeker then wait until the right time please.

So it's not really a review but more of a recommendation to read this book and try to apply it to your daily walk.

j

Visual and Written Inspiration September 6th 2010

photo taken/altered by Jacquelyn Roberts



“If you don't understand yourself you don't understand anybody else.”
Nikki Giovanni

Playing in the Shop: Ras Tuft Les Femmes Keep It Heavy

photo taken/altered by Jacquelyn Roberts

3 Piece Summer 2010 products...

So Boy Wonder taught me some of the basics of Garage Band and I put that with my Windows Movie Maker knowledge and well the world might want to watch out.

Visual and Written Inspiration September 2nd 2010

photo by Jacquelyn Roberts

"I have an existential map. It has 'You are here' written all over it."
Steven Wright

Playing in the Shop: D.J. Doc and Jodine's Spasmodic Movements #16

I don't really go out like I used to however whenever I know DJ Doc is spinning I try to make it out. This weekend there is a movement going on at Perkerson Park called "House in the Park 6" that I will try to make it out to with Boy Wonder. Also I always listen to their Saturday morning show on Beehive FM while cleaning up the house haha.