Iyanla Vanzant is like a mother to me. Through her writings and public speakings, she builds me up and I feel stronger. She is my hero for so many different reasons. Mostly because she seems so self-made and fearless. On my healing journey, she factors in big time. I thought that is she resonates with me she may resonate with you all too. Peace.

I have been really enjoying this young woman’s voice. Ari has really captured my imagination. Angels walk on the earth and we all have different jobs. I feel empowered to continue my work when I hear Ari, doing hers.

In Love by arilourdes Thankful 4 by arilourdes (goddess child) Smile by arilourdes

A Beautiful Playtex Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder

Playtex is sponsoring a bra makeover and while most times I am too lazy to enter these contest where you have to blog first, I know I need a bra makeover. Without any further ado, please enjoy my entry detailing my bra fit problems to win a bra makeover from Playtex. DON’T LAUGH!

I am a nursing mother and my bras don’t fit any more. They are all stretched out and I spill out. I have the dreaded little spillage thing at the top pf my bra quite often. When I was younger I used to laugh at women and girls who had that and now, I am that woman.My breast bounce and spill all day long and I am often times adjusting them in public. I t seems that the girls have a mind of their own and just do whatever, whenever. I really don’t like the way they look lately.

I have always had a love hate relationship with my bras. I love my breast to look great in them but actually hate having to buy them. Each brand fits differently and then you must figure out which styles look good on you too! I hate underwire bras, but they do make your girls hang better so I tolerate them. I absolutely hate when the wire decides to come through the material.The process of finding sexy looking bras they fit well and don’t hurt is exhausting and overwhelming. The thought of going to into a department store to look at the many different styles colors and  bras floors me. I prefer to have skin colored bras for every day use (I like a little color for those intimate encounters with my man) but it is so hard to find just the right bra that also comes in my skin tone too.

I would love to have a bra makeover by Playtex. I’d love to be happy with my girls and the over the shoulder boulder holder that keeps them in line. If I could look like the model in the pic in my new Playtex bra then that would be INCREDIBLE! Thanks or your consideration!

DISCLOSURE: By posting this information, I am entered into a contest to win a free bra from Playtex. I did not receive any compensation for this post and thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

May 22, 2010 has been declared “Take Your Kids to the Park….And Leave Them There” day, by Lenore Skenazy. She seems to think that we should allow our school aged kids to play in playgrounds without our direct supervision. Sadly, it seems so incredibly RADICAL!

I would love to send my eight year old daughter to the playground by herself for an hour and not stress about her! But as an urban mother, I am quite scared that my daughter would not survive by herself and end up traumatized. Can it be done? Will anyone in Brooklyn take this challenge with me? Will any of our children in this beautiful Urban Jungle survive? Can this truly be the end of the dreaded playdate?

Skenazy seems to think so. Her new book, Free Range Kids is all about giving children back their “social” self-esteem. I am going to support this with my daughter on Saturday and welcome EVERY other American parent to release the fear and worry and send your kids outdoors by themselves. There is power in numbers.

Carleen Anderson’s class and pure elegance create a cover of Oasis’ tune that stands on it’s own. Incredible.

I absolutely love artist like Joan Armatrading. She has a message to share. Beautiful.

I was asked how I keep safe in my gentrified neighborhood. Here is my answer.

WOW! Great video with a message. Certainly, this will spark debate and conversation. Are you a member of group think?

http://www.erykahbadu.com/

Today is World Water Day, but I did not know about it until I read a Re-Tweet on Twitter. Separatly, I received a visually pleasing book called Saved by the Well.  The book is part of the Dream Village project, that uses picture books and a website to help children explore and address global issues. Nothing happens by coincidence and so in celebration of World Water Day I offer a review of A Dream Village Story’s Saved by the Well by Matthew Eisenberg and Suneet Bhatt.

Saved by the Well gently tells the story of a town called Spontania in Mozambique. Spontania grew larger and larger and the one well dried up because of the increased demand for water. Without the well people either walked for miles to get clean water or drank dirty water. The town suffered, until that is, a play pump was built near the towns school.

Told through a combination of photographs and cartoons, the book is well thought out, informative and beautiful. I particularly like the photographs. The story line is easy enough for younger children to grasp but can still spark conversation amongst older readers. My second grader breezed through the book but had questions after. It was a great tool in getting her to think about basic life necessities, to which not everyone has access.

I not only enjoyed the book but am enjoying the website as well. I encourage everyone to check the website out and to support this wonderful start-up by purchasing their products.

Want to know more about Dream Village, contact:

Dream Village
Melissa Corbett
(913) 449-9876
melissa@dream-village.org
• Children’s site: http://www.dream-village.org

You can purchase Dream Village products here.

Disclosure: I did not receive any cash or prizes in exchange for this review. I did receive a copy of the book so that I could review it. The opinion listed above is my own.