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Jacqueline Pirtle Talks Every Thing WOMAN from Pooping to Living in her latest book entitled “What it Mean to Be A Woman & Yes, Women Do POOP!”

Published on September 3, 2020September 26, 2020 by Roshonda BLeave a comment

Disclosure: This book was gifted to me by Jacqueline Pirtle’s publishing company in exchange for my honest review. All views concerning this book are 100% my own.

I can always count on Jacqueline Pirtle‘s books to make me laugh, think differently, and get my energy aligned right. I have to say her latest book, “What It Means to Be A Woman,” made me laugh in the beginning. I was so glad that she put the Poop talk in the front because I had to hear her thoughts on this, even though I already knew somewhat about what she was referring too.

It took me back down memory lane to a relationship I was in at the time. While he was forgettable, the question he asked me was not. To this day I still think about what he said…

Do you ever pass gas? He asked questionably.

I’ve never heard you do it and just want to know if you ever do? The question came out of nowhere, seeing that his comfortability with our relationship garnered him to do it every moment he felt the need to release! Being the “good, understanding” woman, I was. It was okay, I said. “You can feel comfortable around me” words, in which I regret to this day that I gave him access to do.

Check out Jacqueline Pirtle’s First Book:

365 Day of Happiness – Because Happiness is a Piece of Cake

However, I didn’t know how to respond to his question. He really caught me off guard. “Yes, I do,” I stated somewhat embarrassingly. Oh, he said. I didn’t know you did things like that.

Uh, Yes! I do. It’s always when you’re not around or sleeping or those times when I sneak away to “go look at something” moments. Sorry ladies, if I gave away your secret. When I read what Jacqueline had to say about women POOPING. I was like YESSSSS!! Finally, someone is addressing the elephant in the room. Let’s get it out there, let’s talk about it! Poop is NOT a dirty word, although I understand why people would opt out of conversations discussing it. It’s funny because I asked a former best friend one day if she did it on a regular – Poop that is. I’m so happy Jacqueline decided to talk about this, which came by way of her overhearing some ladies discussing it and how men didn’t think women did it.

To the men out there that think we don’t ever do it? Trust me, if we didn’t. There would be some weird-looking women in the world, as a matter of fact, as Jacqueline states in her book, it’s quite a healthy thing to do. The smell is not fit for the nostrils, but trust me, your pipes are praising you every time you do it regularly! So, Yes – I’m happy to POOP!

I loved that point in the book, the other chapter I loved was “What is Your Purpose in this Physical Life.”

Everything that IS in your life, the good, the bad, the ugly. It is meant for you to allow as an expansion and receive like it is the grandest gift ever.
Jacqueline Pirtle, Author

I’m a HUGE fan of Purpose. While life can throw some pretty hard lemons, I firmly believe that we’re all here for a PURPOSE. The creator didn’t create you because he was bored and had nothing better else to do. NOOOO WAY! If you are here, breathing, living, and going about this life? You, my friend, are here ON Purpose to fulfill PURPOSE.

Our life is already predestined for us in a big pretty gift box. This box not only holds ALL the good in our lives, but it also has some not-so-good moments, failed attempts, and sad times. But it’s our gift, and no matter what it contains, it’s just like Kelly Clarkson sing, “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.” Our lives are only a testimony to help someone else who may be in the same boat.

Check out Jacqueline’s 2nd Book:

Parenting through the Eyes of Lollipops!

As Jacqueline states, each of our lives is unique and should be embraced by stating, “I love my life, I love myself, and I love what I’m doing. That last statement stands very accurately, especially on a job we dislike! I’ve said it a zillion times myself. However, I believe Jacqueline wants to convey that you’re a woman, one of the most powerful beings on the face of the planet. Own that, accept the challenges placed in front of US and RULE. After all, it’s in our being!

As always, Jacqueline doesn’t disappoint in this latest book. There are so many chapters in this book that will fit any and EVERY WOMAN. No matter your background, color, size, or status, you’re bound to find yourself somewhere amongst these beautiful chapters of love, energy, mindfulness, and yes, POOPING!

Jacqueline’s book “What it Means to Be A Woman & Yes, Women Do Poop! and all her other bestsellers are available everywhere books are sold.

2020 & Lemon Meringue Pie – OH MY!!

Published on January 9, 2020January 22, 2020 by Roshonda B6 Comments

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020!!

I pray your holiday was a good one and that your new year got off to a good start, well it’s here. Another year, another goal, another decade! Wow…

Before I can move forward, I must take a step back for a moment.

The ending of my year turned out to be quite a scary one, the last post I wrote in December – you can check that out below just in case you got too busy and missed it. It was my last post of the year, it was also a week before my daughter was to go in and have a heart procedure done.

December’s Going Already? & Safety is KEYYYYYYYYY!!

I knew this day was coming, my daughter, I and the Cardiologist had, had the discussion for months and in August of 2018 we got a date as to when the surgery was going to happen. I wasn’t worried, I had prayed; however, as the months and days came closer. No lie, I was a little nervous. The doctors stated that the procedure was “non-life threatening” and the procedure had a 95% success rate. So that was nice to hear. My faith was strong…and I put her, it and them into God’s hands.

That was until I got some devastating news from the nurse

Surgery day came and we were all set, I had to be at the hospital by 7:30 a.m. meaning I had to get up at 4 am to be out of the house by 5:15 am as the hospital was about 2 hours away. Talking about tiredness…but we had things to do.

Once we got to the hospital and all the preliminaries were done, my daughter was whisked away to anesthesia. I wouldn’t see her again for 4 hours…

I sat in the waiting room for quite some time, I had my books, blanket, and phone so enough to keep me occupied. As a protocol for anyone going into surgery I received a phone call every hour letting me know what was going on when the surgery started and the process in between…when I didn’t get the last call but looked up to see the nurse coming towards me instead. I immediately thought, “Cool, they’re done” but little did I know that was far from what she came to say.

“We ran into a problem, she said”

Sitting on the edge of my seat, she had my undivided attention – with eyes glued securely on her and every word that was now coming out of her mouth, I held my breath a little…

“While the doctor was completing the surgery, your daughter’s heart began to bleed out; blood surrounded her heart, which contracted the heart muscle. We don’t know what happened; we’re trying to stop the bleeding. “We had to perform CPR on her”

My heart stopped and for a brief moment, I stared at her in a daze — as if what she was telling me was something she was reading out of a book of grim fairytales. Before I knew it, I broke down…

My daughter, if she had not been at the hospital she was at, with special doctors that know how to handle cases of this matter in a matter of seconds – my daughter would’ve died a week before Christmas. Just the thought of that makes me cringe with fear, my baby girl. BUTTTTT and a BIG BUT, God is SOOOO AWESOMELY GOOD! She had to stay in ICU for a couple of days after that before she got moved to a regular floor but as of right now, she’s doing better and can resume her regular activities according to the cardio on Monday. I give God praise.

While the year ended with a little turbulence, 2020 came in as sweet as pie, literally!

Over the holidays, I looked forward to spending time with my sister, brother-in-law and my nieces. Our children are around the same age, so my kids always look forward to being with their cousins.

The weather was favorable and I got a GOOD dose of Christmas movies, I even got a chance to catch up on Season 4 of Greenleaf (If you haven’t seen this show, what in the world have you been doing??? Please check out Netflix and catch up!!) I promise, it’s one of my favorite shows, so I binged.

I also read a book series by Lexcee Reel – Lexcee is a self-published author on the RISE!

She has a fourth book entitled “Undying Past”- The book series detail the story of Caroline Peatree Gibbs a confused, mean and downright sassy woman who finds herself caught in a love triangle with her dying husband, a flame from college and a new business suitor that has an eye for her. Lexcee’s four-books entitled, The Caroline Peatree Gibbs Series were full of action, suspense and chock full of drama and revenge!. I read ALL four books and can’t wait for BOOK 5 (In which I would like to do a FULL review!). Once I finished one book, I was trying my best not to read the next one –but I foiled, that’s just how good they were, I couldn’t put them down and you won’t either. If you’re looking for a FEW good reads, check her out. You won’t be disappointed!

During this much needed time of rest and relaxation, my sister bought me a piece of lemon meringue pie from the hospital in which my brother in law works. This hospital has the best lemon meringue pie ever!! Now, there’s a back story to this pie. When my mom was in the hospital back in 2016 –outside of seeing her beautiful face, I always looked forward to going to the cafeteria and getting me a piece of lemon meringue pie. It was a sweet indulgence I looked forward too. It somehow took my mind off of seeing my mother in pain and hearing all the negative doctor reports we received daily in regards to her declining health.

When my mother passed away that year, so did that lemon meringue pie. They stopped serving it. So, when my sister stated that she was stopping by there on New Year’s Day to visit her husband and asked if I wanted anything, I quickly said no.

When my sister got home, I was lazily slouched within the cushions of her couch with covers over me, she came in excited and said “Guess what, you’ll NEVER guess what I got” – her Styrofoam container smelled of some good hot fish, so I didn’t even attempt to guess. As she sat down swiftly on the coach, she began unraveling the bags and what she brought out next made me sit ALL THE WAY UP!

She looked at me and said, remember this?

Lemon Meringue Pie!!! –To be honest, I almost cried and I know that sounds super silly over a piece of pie but it had been 3 years since I had a piece and for some odd reason, when I saw that pie? A really good and positive feeling fell over me as if to indicate, this was going to be an EPIC 2020 Year! I just looked up and gave my mom a little wink…

So, no resolutions – no wishes for 2020, just a lot of God and a little lemony, sweet and tart meringue pie leading the way and guess what ——— I’m all game…

Cheers and Best Wishes to a Fantastic Year Ahead!

Did you have an epiphany or a little something that spurred your 2020? Share in the comments

Don’t You Do It, Don’t You Dare Overlook Thanksgiving!

Published on November 21, 2019November 5, 2021 by Roshonda B4 Comments

Featured picture courtesy of Bing

How Dare the World!!! How Dare You???…. If it’s you, I mean, maybe it’s not 😊. So this post may seem like a little rant but…someone’s got to say it.

WHY DO WE FORGET ALLLLLL ABOUT THANKSGIVING!

I mean, you feel me, right? It’s always been like that. I went into the store the other week here and all I could see was Christmas items, and it was the end of October! I mean, don’t people like Thanksgiving? and what does Thanksgiving ACTUALLY have to say about this? probably nothing….lol…you know how you can get overlooked for soooo long until it doesn’t even faze you anymore. I’m sure that’s truly how Thanksgiving is feeling right now. And don’t get me wrong, I almost gave Thanksgiving the good ole boot myself.

I told a friend of mine as soon as Thanksgiving came in that I was going to BLAST my Christmas tunes, I just LOVEEEEEE Christmas songs and while the air has been very crisp with that fall/wintery smell, YESS…it’s beginning to feel a lot like……THANKSGIVING!!

I Think You’ll Like This Post Too – Poem: I Am Thankful

Ha!! I bet you thought I was going to say Christmas didn’t you, hahaha…gotcha! 😊

But on a serious note, Have you thought like me? Was your heart pounding like mine for that Nat King Cole tune of The Christmas song? Well, mine was BUT before we can skip to the Lou my darling into Christmas, I feel like WE need to give some reflection and thought on Thanksgiving.

So, let’s take a moment and reflect on what Thanksgiving really is ALLLL about!

Thanksgiving is ALL about the FAM!

Photo by **Peace Alberto Iteriteka** from **Pexels**

Yes, Thanksgiving is all about spending time with beloved or not so much beloved family. You know the nerving uncle who always asks if you have any single friends and he’s in a relationship…(at least that was my life, go figure). Anywho, even with that, Thanksgiving is nothing without family, whether they get on your nerves or not. It’s a time to give thanks to God almighty for them, because as we all know. There are so many people out there who don’t have one and would just love to have a pestering dad, mom, brother or UNCLE to get on their nerves.

Thanksgiving is ALL about the FOOD!

Photo by **Craig Adderley** from **Pexels**

I’ll take, “I’m a FOODIE” for $500 Alex! Yessss, I love me some good ole turkey and dressing (I’m from Arkansas so that’s what we call it there 😊) and put some gravy on the side with a little cranberry sauce??? and you had this girl at HELLO! Food has a way of bringing people together, hence the movie “Soul Food?” Put some good food on the table and I don’t care who you like or dislike, Food is one thing that we all can agree on. What’s your favorite holiday meal or food to eat for the holidays?

Thanksgiving is ALL about the SALES!

We can ALL thank Thanksgiving for those HUGE Black Friday sales, take that Christmas, HA! Thanksgiving gives us that and if you’re willing to stand in line for hours, sometimes in the wee hours of the morning, you’ll grab ALL those goodies! If you don’t get run over first. I think in recent years, most stores are closed but open at 6 pm so you can start that black Friday shopping earlier, without getting bruised or a black eye! Yes, unfortunately, people are serious about their sales and that’s why Cyber Monday is POPULAR!!! Which is how I like to shop as I despise crowds. So thank you, Thanksgiving for bringing those sales in early.

Thanksgiving is ALL about Reflection…

Photo by **Josiel Miranda** from **Pexels**

It’s been a long year but a very rushed year as well. November came in here like a flash! Most people started new jobs, got married, had babies, started new relationships, businesses, bought homes and etc. This year has also been the opposite for most people, especially those that recently lost loved ones. I think I’ve heard of more people losing husbands, wives, children, grandparents and etc this year. It’s truly a praying and sad time indeed; however – it’s an even better time to reflect. I lost my mother, next week will be 3 yrs. It’s hard, especially around the holidays, so my heart goes out to those that have recently lost or have been estranged from their family for years.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the good, the bad and even the ugly things that happened, so we can get better, be braver and figure out how to do things differently the next go round. As far as that loved one is concerned, this is an even more special time to reflect on them. Just remember, as long as their in your heart, mind, and thoughts – they’re not ever truly gone. I know that for sure…

Thanksgiving is ALL about R&R

Photo by **Matheus Bertelli** from **Pexels**

It’s good to see family, serve family and have a good time with family and special friends but please make sure you take the time to REST & RELAX! Even if you have to go into a secret/quiet corner to do it. Get that rest, my friend!!

SOOOO, Let’s not DARE forget ALLLLL the wonderful things Thanksgiving has to offer. I mean, I even put off listening to Christmas music until the day after. Use this time to thank God, reflect, smell the air and TOTALLY be grateful for every. single. moment.

Life’s just way too short to rush moments. And while every store in town has its orders to move the months hurriedly along. Let’s just take a break, sip some tea and reflect on this one. I’m sure that’d be Thanksgiving’s orders…if it really had a say in the matter.

While it doesn’t, we do. So let’s not DARE forget it…

Have a Happy, Thankful, Joyous & Reflective Thanksgiving Everyone!

A Survivor’s Story

Published on July 31, 2019September 4, 2019 by amytemple98152 Comments

Photo credit above via Roshonda – B Creative

By Amy Temple

As most of you know I have learning disabilities.

I’ve had to deal with all kinds of discrimination and rejections for most of my life.

However, what I’m about to confess is something that I hadn’t openly talked about to many people.

In junior high, I encountered a lot of bullying and harassment. Every day I was verbally and occasionally physically harassed. I’d get called all sorts of derogatory names, mocking my learning disabilities. There were trippings, pushes, and verbal threats.

*Photo credit: Bullying hurts via Canva*

I was so frightened to go to school. I would huddle up against the wall in between classes clutching my bookbag tightly. I would often go homesick.

The school administration really tried hard to get the abuse under control but it was a big school so there was only so much they could do.

After two years my parents finally moved away to another town.

I attended high school in a nice and quiet country town. What a relief it was to see friendly people and not be afraid I was going to be assaulted.

However, I dealt with a male student who asked me out frequently for over a year! He wouldn’t take no for an answer. I found all those familiar feelings of fear returning. I finally got a teacher to get him to back off.

I found myself dealing with some serious trauma issues. I dealt with anxiety, fear, and insecurity.

I wanted to be approved of so badly! I wanted to be free from all of my negative feelings. During my senior year, I thought maybe if I had the attention of a popular guy… all my mental problems would be over.

So, I mustered up the courage and asked one of them out.

In the end, instead of it being lovers bliss. It ended up being a practical joke that the guy and his friend played on me. I felt like such a fool. Let me tell you that didn’t help my low self-esteem at all!

As I previously mentioned I dealt with discrimination and rejection in the workforce, too. No one would hire me because of my learning disabilities. A brilliant job opportunity fell through because co-workers lied about me.

Photo credit: Workplace harassment via Bing

When I was volunteering at a local retirement home, a male resident assaulted me by groping and attempting to kiss me.

With all of the trauma, I experienced I was a mess!

I spent years reading self-help books…it was much cheaper than therapy!

I could not understand why I was being treated like I was.

Why was I bullied?
Why was I harassed?
Why was I assaulted?
What is so wrong with me that nobody would hire me?
Why would someone lie about me so I wouldn’t be hired at was to be my only decent chance for a job?

I found it hard to trust. I pretty much kept to myself only spending time with my family.

I had imaginings of a bigger and better life but all of what I went through kept me away from pursuing it. I spent 30 years trying to improve my life, to overcome all that happened to me.

I thought plenty of times I had been healed but recently it all came to a nasty head. All the emotions that I been feeling came out one night and I cried! I vented to God for most of the night.

As the song states “Have a little talk with Jesus, Makes it Right!” and it sure did, I hadn’t felt that clear and at peace in a very long time!

I understand I may never forget what happened to me but I can honestly say I am starting to find ways to begin the bigger and better life I have been seeking.

I have come to understand I have to take life one day at a time. I have to keep pressing forward and not look back.

To my fellow survivors…

What happened to us was not our fault! We must continue on living and not give the abusers any more power.
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You are just as worthy as anyone else, hence the song from Gloria Gaynor!

I WILL SURVIVE! I DID SURVIVE & SO WILL YOU!!

#Sunday’s Thought: Are You Making the “Right” Investments?

Published on June 2, 2019July 18, 2019 by Roshonda B4 Comments

Featured Photo credit: Bing/Heaven

This earth is like a marketplace; you will buy your necessities and eventually go to your home where you’ll put those things to good use, weather now or later. While that analogy is true for this earthly place, it’s a much different story when it comes to the spiritual realm. This earth is not our permanent home, we’re only here for a short while and soon, we’ll all come face to face with the month, date and year after the short “dash” after our birth-date and that’s our demise date.

Okay, so before you give this post the “OH NO LOOK” just hear me out….

On March 31^st the rap world lost a visionary, an icon of sorts, a family man and community activist by the name of Ermias Asghedom a.k.a Nipsey Hussell. I have to admit, I didn’t know him or even heard of him prior to his demise, the only person I knew that was close to him was his longtime girlfriend Lauren London, I had seen her in quite a few movies. From the video’s that I watched of him, past interviews, the couples question game he played with the love of his life and music video’s all the way down to the changes he had and was making in his community made me realize that this guy was well loved, cherished and had a big heart. Like many of us, he learned to turn a negative past into a positive future for everyone around him. He wanted to change the world by making it a better place. Nipsey was just 33 when he passed away.

I found myself wanting to play God in this scenario and think of ways if I was God, how I would have done it differently, “Silly girl, what was I thinking!” I just hate to hear about young people dying in which shameless and admittedly I TRY to play God often in those scenarios (don’t judge me please). But I felt increasingly horrible with Nipsey for some reason as I was looking at how greatly loved he was and I found myself wishing his demise had played out differently but the bible says “Warning before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” – before everyone leaves this earth, there always comes warning first.

If we don’t have a relationship with God or if that relationship is on again/off again, it may be very difficult to hear his warning or even see it but God doesn’t allow things to just happen to people without proper notice and that goes for everyone, including me! So, you may be saying – what does your title and Nipsey have to do with one another and it’s simple “We can’t get caught up in the things we do here on earth, but we must work on storing up investments beyond this earth” that’s when I took off my God hat and began to pray and wonder – Did Nipsey store up the right investments?

On earth we all want to invest in something – these investments, if good – could make us very wealthy and if not, make us very poor. Most of us live on earth as if we’re never going to die, as if we’re going to live forever and we become comfortable in making this dirty place our permanent home. Thing is, people are dying younger and younger every day, most of the time without warning. When a rich man and a poor man die – it’s the first time for once that they’re in the exact same boat. Both must stand before the Lord naked and without nothing, at this point – the fame they had or didn’t have on earth is meaningless.

Psalms 49:10-14 NIV (study lesson states)

The only riches we have at the time are those we have already invested in our eternal heritage. At the time of death, each of us will wish we had invested less on earth, where we must leave it and more in heaven where we will retain if forever. To have treasure in heaven, we must place our faith in God, pledge ourselves to obey him and utilize our resources for the good of his kingdom.

It’s not that God wants us to live poor lives, oh no….he wants us to live full, healthy and prosperous lives (3 John 1:2). His desire is that we not get caught up in material things and people (1 John 2:15). We’re not perfect but we strive every day to live and be perfect even as our father in heaven is perfect. Jesus walking the earth in the flesh was the “perfect” and best exemplified example of how we should live, act, walk and speak. It’s not easy, it’s really not. As a matter of fact, it’s hard to try and live right with soooo much temptation around, I get it – trust me but as Apostle Deanna Dixon states “Every day we have to Fight” we have to fight to live right, we have to fight to keep from cursing somebody out, we have to fight to stay in our lane and quit veering over into someone else’s lane, we have to fight to keep our sanity, we have to fight to make sure we’re making the right investments (Deuteronomy 10:12).

I pray every day that God keep me, because this sister right here – HONTAY!! My flesh can get stirred up REALLLLLL bad. I have to ask God to keep my mind on him and off of sex, OH YES!! – I didn’t say I was holier than thou! I have to ask God to keep my mind from wanting to be popular and noticed, YES! I have to ask God to keep me from going backwards into toxic relationships all because I want someone in my bed at night, I have to ask God to keep my mind and a smile on my face when I shake hands or talk to people that I KNOW DON’T LIKE OR DESPISE ME!!, I have to constantly ask for prayer to keep my attitude in check because I want to pop off….IT’S A FIGHT YA’LL! But to see Jesus one day and for him to tell me those 7 words I’m dying to hear:

“Well done my Good and Faithful Servant”

Now hearing those words would be worth it all!! I don’t know what your God affiliation is and I AM NOT trying to convert you either! but I want you to think about it. One day this earth will pass away and we will too. This earth is just a market place for goods now, nothing to be compared to the real goods we’ll have on the other side if we invest correctly.