...and I'm off!

-Off the clock!
-Off my usual on-call mode!
-Off the countdown 'till their bedtime!
-Off the official grind

And if I'm being honest
-Off to being a little sad about being away from the hubs, BOCE(Ball of Concentrated Energy) and Gangsta Boo a/k/a my peoples.

I've arrived in Orlando, and I'm already learning so much! I've walked the red carpet,

THE RED CARPET


MY NEWEST SHOE-FETTISH ON ITS FIRST PLANE RIDE

I've read a whole chapter of a book with no interruptions, and I've met one sweet soul of a fellow mom blogger, Tricia over at 1StopMom. Soon, I'll be in cahoots with 8 more mom bloggers with whom I'll be sharing this great opportunity. Who knew blabbing, er, I meant to type blogging about my book and my children would lead to all this good stuff?

I'm a Disneymochamom this weekend, and that means I get to enjoy all types of FABULOSITY on Disney's dollar - SO-WEET!

Stay tunes as I blog about the events, and even add photos courtesy of my bootleg camera, better known as my trusty smart phone. Note to self: Buy a real camera!

Ok, off to shower, then hopefully do my favorite thing: EAT!

My Unapologetic Nap Rant

My daughters don't take naps, period. Save your "tried and true methods" advise, because odds are, your advise sucks. Hard.

No matter what advice I've been given -- limiting the nap to under an hour, making sure the illusive nap is taken before noon, waking them up at ungodly crack-of-dawn hours, attempting to wear them out in the mornings -- these little soldiers DON'T DO NAPS. Apparently, at some point during their journey to my uterus, they were severely warned against napping, lest they be punished by the Overseer of Losers Who Nap, and possibly lose out on all the rainbows/glitter fairies/unicorns/cotton candy/la-di-freakin-da crap that will positively happen if they fall asleep during daylight. On the rare occasion that they do nap, it automatically means that they will be WIDE awake past 11 P.M. even if they're doing nothing at all but lying in their beds, periodically complaining about how bossy I am. But dangit, something's gotta give, because as grown as I am, from time to time, I NEED A NAP!

That's right, I said it! I'm a nap-taking Mama! Despite working primarily from home, running two businesses, constantly seeking effective ways to market both companies, frequently showing rental properties and homes for sale, raising two daughters, keeping our home from looking as though it's repeatedly being hit by fierce hurricanes, and keeping my sanity at a relatively stable point (emphasis on "relatively"), I need a nap sometimes, and I'm getting pretty damn tired of pretending that I don't.


At times, I tell myself that the hectic pace of the day will all be worth it because I'll fall asleep before 10 P.M. and enjoy a blissfully sound sleep until the morning, when I will awaken refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to carpe diem and all that jazz. Rrrright! I'm still a woman, which for me, has always meant that I am energized by the moon. I am my most creative self at night, and since our house is at her calmest state after 8 P.M. when Bouncy Ball of Concentrated Energy and Gangsta Boo have retired, I must work at night. I get to bed around 2 A.M. most nights, and I'm not complaining about that part at all. Between 9 P.M.(ish) and 1 A.M.(ish) is when I am most productive. Sure, my 9 to 5 hours are productive too because that's when I interact and network with the rest of the working world, but as far as my research, my writing, and my periodic cleaning frenzies, those late hours are what allow me to end my day knowing that I can now meditate and pray in peace, because I did, in fact, handle my business that day. After 1 A.M., I can begin to unwind. I pay attention to what's going on inside me, and I get the opportunity to hear the ideas, answers, and relevant questions that the day's experiences brought about. My hubs, Kris, says my method of reliving my day at night, analyzing my behavior, and deciding how to address the upcoming day is some sort of disorder-or other attributed to obsessive-compulsive...blah, blah snore, but who has time to listen to that when there's so much work to do? Besides, how the hell else do people learn about themselves and make conscious decisions to play active roles in who they are and how they want to be??? Seriously, is there an alternate method? If so, holla!

That's it. End of post. I'm off to take a nap. Messy house and impending doom be damned...

Mommy Escapes:Eggplant Edition

Lord knows I'm not a kitchen-lover! If the meal takes more than 15 minutes to prepare, it's way too time-consuming for me. God saw fit to hook me up with a hubs that likes to cook (good looking out, Creator!), and not saying my children would be eating microwaved popcorn for dinner if not for Chef BoyarKris, but I'm just saying...better him and me :)

With that said, I'm always keeping an eye out for recipes that combine the key elements of healthy and easy. Our children are vegetarian, and that helps a lot in terms of easy recipes, so when my BFF emailed me this yummy looking curried eggplant gem, I e-high fived her and headed straight to the Farmer's Market for my ingredients. Eggplant, a low-calorie, high fiber, antioxidant rich vegetable meets my standards for a quick, easy, and healthy way to fill our li'l beansprouts' bottomless pits. Check it out:

Ingredients

1 Eggplant
3 Potatoes
Saltfish (a/k/a cod fish)
Onion
Escallion
Garlic
Tomato
Red Peppers
Scotch Bonnet Pepper (Only if you're a spice junkie!)

Wash saltfish and boil off excess salt (probably will have to change water at least once)

Peel, dice (medium chunks) and boil potatoes


Dice eggplant (small-medium chunks) and boil until tender


(To time it properly, do the steps below approximately 15 minutes later)

Cut up all seasonings (small chunks), break up saltfish (use as much as you like), combine and cook a bit in olive oil (to blend and bring out flavor). After a couple of minutes, add curry powder (to taste).

By now your potatoes and eggplant should be cooked.

When ready, drain potato and eggplant and put them in the pot with your curried seasonings.

Stir well, then use your favorite seasoning black pepper, sea salt, etc. to taste. You just have to taste and adjust it to suit your palette. Serve over Uncle Ben's brown rice and you're in for a treat!

Enjoy!! Gotta love a best friend who sends pictures with the recipe, thereby making this post a breeze! Love ya, D! Oh, and shout out to Grandma Sylvia for passing this recipe on down to the rest of the Sterling crew!!

Introducing "Execu-girl M" (Marley)

I'm so excited to introduce my very first guest blogger! She's smart, spunky, full of fire, and just brimming with great stories and valuable insight to share. Oh, and she's one of the two Warrior Girls who chose me and Kris as their guides, so she's pretty spectacular in our book. Lately, both girls have been using Kris' and my phone to "take pictures for their [imaginary] blogs", and Marley is quite a letter-writer/tale-spinner. So it seems only right, to let her have a bit of my sacred space here to share her Light with you. Do enjoy!

----------

Hi, my name is Marley, and I'm 5 years old. As some of you might know, I'm working on being telepathic. Telepathic means you can read everybody's mind, and I'm working on that. Like one time, I made my dad go to sleep, and then I went into his mind, but I think that was my imagination.

Anyway, this is my very first blog post, but I'm not done with it yet. I want to tell you all about my weekend. First I'm going to talk about the fair, but I'll still have lots of other stuff to talk about.

The Fair
My Momma and my Daddy took me to the fair because I was being good the whole month through. That's when it all began, because I had a very special time. I went on a humongous ride with a lot of seats, and I met a new friend named Jasmine. She wasn't the Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, but she was still a great new friend. Then the man started the ride and it went sloooow-slooow-sloooow, and then fast, faster, then lifted up like wrrrrhhhh, and it went so high that I could see the whole fair from up there! Then, I wanted to get on the plane ride, but the man said I wasn't tall enough, which made me cry. I'm not a baby or anything, but that made me very sad. But then my mom cheered me up by getting on the ride with me. The man started the ride, and it went up-down-around-around-around-around-around, and then it went backwards, and my mom felt like she was gonna vomit!!! When we got off the ride, my mom was like "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" My sister went on the fishy and the boat. Her name is Sage and she's 3 now, since February 8. My whole family knows her just like they know me. Anyway, at the fair, my mom and dad let me taste some elephant ears, and I think it had Splenda on top. But don't worry, it's not the elephant ears you would see on a real live elephant in the jungle. You know, you've been to the jungle, right? Some people have.


The New Library
On Saturday, after my last soccer match for the season, my mom took me and Sage to a new library to see Max. Max is a bunny that loves to help his sister, Ruby who is a bunny too. Me and my sister have lots of Max and Ruby books by Rosemary Wells, in case you didn't know she's the author. Not Arthur, but author, because Arthur is an aardvark, and Rosemary Well is a person who writes words, like my mom. My mom is assisting me right now by typing the words I say until I know how to type a little faster. Anyway, when we got to the library, Max wasn't there yet because it wasn't 11:30 yet. I think Rosemary Wells was dressed up like Max because I don't think that was actually Max, because if it was really Max, he'd be hopping, not walking on his feet. I've never seen a bunny walking on its feet, but that doesn't mean it actually can't. So, it was so much fun seeing Max, that I forgot that the library wasn't just about seeing characters. When we were done hugging Max and taking pictures, I picked up a book, but my mom didn't let me check it out because we already had books at home from the other library.


This is a good story! Don't you think so, people? But I have one more eentsy-teensy-beentsy little thing to tell you.

Spending the night at Grandma & Grandpa's
You know how much grandmas and grandpas are so much fun right? They are very creative with their grandchildren, most of the time. My grandpa isn't really like my grandma. He teaches me a lot of lessons, but I'm okay with that, as long as they're not scary lessons. Grandpa is fun because he teaches me how to play soccer and I like that he's very lesson-learnive (my mom is laughing at that word!). Grandma is the bombdotcom! She's just a lot of fun, and she treats me like I'm a nurtri-gain bar, and she's a great chef. Like before they took me and Sage home today, we made raisin oatmeal cookies without any sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and never ever anything like hydrogenated oils, because those things can make you get a diabeetie. For example, If you see something and it's your favorite thing, read the ingredients. If the first thing it says is sugar, corn syrup, or hydrogenated oils, please don't eat it, because that's like eating McDonalds, where they make cow milkshakes! Bleeeyyuk!
**My mom says we can talk about all my grandmas and grandpas in another post because this one will be too long.**

See you later. If you need glasses, don't worry, when my mom is finished, these words will be a little bit bigger. It was fun for me to make my very first blog post, and now here comes the bigger words when my mom clicks "Publish Post"

--ExecuGirl M (Marley)


**Secret note from Execumama (typed when Marley left the room). For those of you who think I helped her along in any way, wait until you meet her, and you'll see that she's a natural storyteller/writer, trapped in a 5-year-old's body (LOL!). This was SO much fun!

My Brilliant Choice for Procreation

I tell Kris all the time that I'm brilliant for choosing him to father my children. So many of us, Black women in particular, were raised in households devoid of father figures, and it plays a significant role in our adult relationships with men. I was fortunate to have more than one positive male figure in my life, and it's been a blessing, because I never felt that I had to use my relationships with men to fill the void of a missing father (figure). Today, as I often do, I watched a conversation with my husband and our oldest daughter that added more logs to my grateful fire in regards to my girls' relationship with their dad.

When we picked Marley (our 5 year old) up from school today, Kris noticed that her new pants had a huge hole over her knee. He asked her what happened, and the conversation went something like this:

Kris: Mar, what happened to your pants? How'd they get a hole in them?
Marley: *Heavy sigh* I thought one of you would ask that question.
Kris: Okay, so what's your answer?
Marley: Weeellll, let me see what's the best way to put this...I'm gonna need a minute here.
Me: (chiming in because I know how annoyed Kris gets when she beats around the bush) Marley, if it's the truth, then you don't need time to figure out an approach. Just tell us what happened.

**Now, let me paint the picture a little more clearly here by telling you that Marley is the exact opposite of terms such as quiet, shy, and soft-spoken. Her "Inside" voice in nonexistent, and she knows not the meaning of bizarre concepts such as "whispering". Got it? Good.

Marley: (Miraculously mastering the art of ever-so-faint whispering) Weeelll, it went like this, sort of, well at least what I can remember, because it was a long time ago, and I had a nap today, and Sami was...
Kris: Marley, I can't hear you, speak up, and I'm not going to tell you again not to whisper when you don't want to answer a question. What.Happened?

After a few more moments (which were tense for Marley, irritating for Kris, and HILARIOUS for me), Marley finally told us (in her regular permanent Outside voice) that she, and I quote "wanted to make her friend Sami laugh by doing something spectacular and surprising", so used her scissors and snipped away at her pants. This is just further proof of just how impulsive children are, and how we can't truly chastise them for their misfiring neurons that lead them to act on the first random thought that presents itself in their mindspace. The child was terrified of us seeing the hole, yet she had no issue with cutting it in the first place. We explained that technically, she didn't own those pants, and that she was not allowed to cut anything but pre-approved paper, until she was purchasing her own clothes. I think she got the point, but who knows??

When we got home, she locked herself in the downstairs bathroom, and would not come out at my request. Kris went and stood by the bathroom door, talked to her for a moment, then got her to come out. They then sat in the family room and had a talk, which she asked him not to share with me (SO! I don't care! Sniffle) , and afterwards, she was back to her usual loud, ball of fire, non-hiding self. She's the bounce-back kid for real, because she really doesn't stay upset for long, unlike her Gangsta Boo li'l sister, Sage.

Check out the pictures of the Hiding-Coming Out-Talkathon event, with Sage getting in on the hugging action in the aftermath (LOL).

Lessons of Self-love & Minestrone Moments

Ahem...attention, please! I've updated www.execumama.com, and am blatantly bothering you to visit, look around, subscribe, and support the My, She's Fly of the month; Jamaica-based author, Carolien Aikman -- she's truly a force!

Now, since that's out of the way, we can move along to my experiences with the Master Cleanse and how it has enhanced my life!

Wednesday was the first day of my 3-day ease out period, and I'm so appreciative of the opportunity to get inside Self and immerse my mind and body in a deep cleaning session -- window sills, high ceilings, behind toilets - nothing swept under my mind's rug or left for later when I'm not so sleepy. Yep, this one was a full-scale, head-on walk through Me.

Yesterday, I had veggie soup for lunch; the first time I'd chewed anything since last Thursday, and I tell ya', meat-free Minestrone ain't neva been dat good to me!!! I'm proud of myself for what I did, and how I spent that time! And I know this is major because I'm inspired to make a list. Hello, my name is Akilah, and I am a list-maker. I find satisfaction in creating detailed lists of "Hooray's" and "Boo-hoo's" when faced with a major turning point in my beautiful whirlwind of a life. So, since I've been extra "share-y" during this cleansing process, I'm sharing my list with you.

For those of you who were gracious enough to send me comments, emails and texts of support and curiousity - I LOVE YOU FOR THAT, & I THANK YOU!!! I'm interested in your updates too, so read my list below and tell me what you're thinking. Are you going to do this cleanse? If you're doing it now, or have done it, what have you learned? Huh? C'mon....share!

CLICK THE IMAGE TO PEEK AT MY LIST

An added benefit is that I embraced the catalyst that this cleanse has been for a segue into better eating habits. I'm eliminating meat in May (Meatless May..woo-hoo!), juice in June, Sugar in September, and some other brilliant ideas a' brewin' up here. My 5-year-old, after listening in on my conversation about eliminating meat, said, "I told you a long time ago to stop eating chickens, and I'm glad you're finally paying attention."

Overall, I've seen that only accepting myself when I experience perceived success will inevitably lead to me having to choose whether I feel like I failed. Conversely, I can (and WILL) choose every day to accept the lessons, respect my process, and most importantly, be my own biggest fan, and not my harshest critic.

Gotta love a list!

I bit the wrap, but not the dust.

It was so flirtatious, with its rising steam, alluring aroma, and green leafy taunters oozing from its jewel-green toned wrap, inviting me to satiate my pangs with just a tiny opening of my mouth and a few slight clenches from my teeth. I obliged. I bit down into that devil disguised as food, and after that bite...I was still hungry (of course)...and now I had to face myself in a moment of weakness.
(NOTE: EVIL DEVIL WRAP NOT SHOWN TO PROTECT MY FELLOW CLEANSERS).
Damn you, delicious spinach wrap from Golden Krust! But in the words of William Earnest Henry's Encivtus..."my head is bloodied, but unbowed."

I took a hit today, fam! It was in the form of a forbidden bite. And it wasn't even a good bite, it was a teensy one, but enough to make the point. It's a journey, not a short, easy ride. After a rejuvenating talk with Kris, and a verbal pick-me-up from my sponsor (LOL, but yo, SHOUT OUT to the Complete One team), I was okay.

So many beautiful things around us have blossomed since the start of this cleanse. In addition to my writing career, I'm also a real estate agent, and I have NEVER had this many qualified buyers at once! Also, I haven't been suffering from the itchy eyes/scratchy throat annoyances that Spring brings me each year. Kris and my comany, Voz Visual Designs just secured our first full-scale, soup to nuts marketing contract, aaaandd, I'm about to make another big announcement towards the end of this month. Coincidence? I. Think. Not.

What's more, I've tapped into so many things in this short period of time, and I think this is the best time to share with you.

I've been shown that:
1. building a disciplined body of Self is a series of shows, not a one-act play, so I will and must continue to work my discipline muscles, respecting the process along the way.
2. I tend to jump in, jump out, then stand back with my hands clasped, either basking in my success, or self-chastising for my failure. But there is a better option. I can create a body of success, so much so that there is no jumping in and out, just me BEING my Body of Best Self, and defining success by my ongoing efforts, and not my fleeting results.

With these two lessons available for Soul's feeding, I reboot, choosing to satiate my soul and my goals, instead of my taste buds and my belly.

REBOOT. RENEW. EXCEL.

Spring Cleaning: The Internal Edition

In the words of my wise and wonderful then 3-year-old daughter when we deliberately and shamelessly poisoned her mind against meat by showing her videos of how animals are slaughtered for the benefit of fast food services, "Eeeeewwwww, das gustin'!"

Kris and I did our first Saltwater Flush (SWF) this morning, and chiiile, boo...it was an experience (LOL)! Less than palatable, but quite effective, we guzzled our one quart of water and 2 teaspons uniodized sea salt like troopers!

We had our Complete One Detox Challenge kick-off conference call last night, and I was so pleasantly surprised at its effect on me. Truthfully, I was expecting the whole rah-rah-sis-boom-bah/you can do it! sort of conversation, but it was so much more than that!

-It was the valuable experiences and genuine support of a group, some of whom have been cleansing for over a decade.
-It was first-hand examples of what to expect and tips that could very well save lives (and years of therapy) regarding the post SWF safety zone, e.g. when it's safe to leave the house, and when it's best to be no more than 7 steps away from a working commode!
-It was a pact to be available via phone, email, text, and Skype, for moral support and e-threats, if needed, to keep each other en route to our (as Tanya so eloquently put it) internal Spring Cleaning Session courtesy of the master cleanse.

Overall, I'm feeling pretty good about the decision to dive in. I'm looking forward to hearing about the progress and inevitable personal revelations that come with such a high level of commitment. We completed 2 days of fruit and veggies only, then yesterday was natural citrus juice only, then today, and for the next 10 days, the "lemonade" concoction and water will be our sustenance. I kinda wish they had a recipe for a mango mojito-flavored version, but until then...bottoms up (well, maybe not right after a SWF)!