Reading Self-Help ebooks, Scriptures to keep my sanity, and Glamming up

Unfortunately I am still spreading awareness about Phylicia Robinson a girl from my city who is still missing almost a month later. Smh..I am praying daily for her. It is like she vanished without a trace.

 I have been reading a lot of self-help lately to keep me on my toes. Topical bible scriptures from my youversion bible app and I downloaded this free self-esteem wellness book called "The Champagne Diet". Basically about toasting to at least one accomplishment you've made with a glass of champagne. Why? Because it boosts your self-esteem, it has low calories and it supposed to make you feel rich. Does it? Yeah after I get a buzz. Anyway, I like the book, the author is a sassy Italian curvy chick who tells it like it is. So there. I love my job, I thank God for it daily. But I have to constantly lock myself in a bathroom stall and pray. Pray so that I won't verbally slap anyone and bring them back down to earth. So I have been reading my bible app to keep me spiritually grounded. I also read my bible app so I won't pull my hair out when it comes to all these exams and studying all this material.

  I decided to glam myself up. Why? Not because I am trying to get a man. I mean, the older I get the more slim the pickings are. I am glamming myself up for myself. Friday I finally went to see the optometrist and got my contact lenses. I can see again!! The world is clear and my beautiful eyes are sparkling. I noticed that several heads have turned and looked twice at me. Yes. I am working it like the rent is due!

   So yes that is what my life has consisted of these last few weeks since I spoke with you all. Pray for me!

Keepin' It Real about Self-Image and Self-Hate

Why do people really get weightloss surgery? Why do people really go on diets? Why do people excessively work out and talk announce it constantly on social network statuses? Why is the trend of lightening skin spreading worldwide? Why are women paying hundreds of dollars for a weave that is so long they can sit on it? Who are we trying to impress? I honestly don't believe that all  people especially women, get weight loss surgery because they want to live healthier. I think they get weight loss surgery because of all of these ads, movies, music videos and magazines showcasing women half naked, scandily clad in lace, leather and tight dresses. Some women want to fit in and they want to be the "It" that every man lusts after. If women really got weight loss surgery because they wanted to be healthy, then they would eat healthy. Instead of posting "sexy" pictures of themselves on instagram stuffing their faces with cake until their intestines reach the limit of bursting.
   Men who post statuses on their social network every single time they go to the gym, don't do it for health. They do it for attention and to get kudos from their female web friends and followers. Either they used to be fat, the lame who couldn't get a date in high school, or he used to be the good boy who lost his girlfriend to the bad boy. The same thing goes for guys who post pics of themselves on social networks with no shirt on, trying to get likes, hearts, retweets or follows. The same thing goes for women who diet. Of course there are some of us who diet because the doctor had to be honest and tell them that they were on the brink of death. So they only had two options, diet or die. But then again there are people like me, who diet because we want to look hot in the latest fashions. You know, wear leggings without a muffin top or an extra gut sticking out, wear a bikini without worrying about extra back rolls bringing on looks of disgust. There is nothing wrong with that. The only thing I can't stand about people, especially women who lose weight after dieting, weight loss surgery, etc. is when they try to act funky with it.
   Lying about what size they are, wearing too small clothes that they are not "ready" for yet, dictating someone else's eating habits, insulting other overweight people. Some people just have to be brought back down to earth.
   Which brings me to women who go bankrupt, broke and homeless to purchase brazilian 30" inch weaves. First of all, women look stupid walking around with a weave down to their ankles. Of course, people are selling it wholesale and in bundles because they know some women are going to purchase it. I researched the cost of a bundle of weave and it is close to over 300 bucks. If these women were smart, they could invest that 300 dollars in good hair products and grow their own hair that long. I just don't get it and I never will. Just like I don't get women who purchase Christian Louboutins aka Red Bottoms. I think you make 30k less you have no business purchasing those expensive shoes. For what? A heel is a heel. A stiletto a stiletto.
   Oh it makes it all the more special because it is painted red on the bottom? Because it has someone's name on it? What is the point? Nobody is really looking on the bottom of your shoe? You can purchase a copy of them in any shoes store for cheap.
  Who are we to impress? We are just mortals. We bleed, work, cry, breath, eat, and relieve ourselves just the same. We are no one to get sick, go broke, and hurt ourselves for. Now it has gotten to the point where dark skinned men and women are bleaching their skin to look like something their not. It is all a cycle of self-hate, no matter how you clean it up or dress it up. I am going to call a thing a thing. Because that is exactly what it is.

Why I am Doing This? So Happy You Asked

Since the news broke that Phylicia Robinson is missing and I created a facebook page to spread the awareness and get the word out, I have been asked the same questions countless times for the past four days. "Why are you doing this?" "How do you know her?" are the two main questions I am getting asked over and over again. So I decided to write a post on this blog explaining why I feel the need to spread awareness. Quite frankly, I am tired of these questions and though I don't find them offensive, I do find them quite annoying.
   Black people as a whole do not get enough media coverage when one of us ends up hurt, missing or murdered under unknown circumstances. I am so tired of seeing missing and hurt African Americans on the news only getting five second slots for coverage. It is not fair, it is not right and no matter how much we complain and boycott, it still has not changed. So when I find out that a young, black woman in my city is missing, yes by all means I want to build as much awareness as possible to get her home safe and sound.
  Are me and Phylicia related? No. Are me and Phylicia best friends? No. Have we ever partied? No. Have I ever met her? Yes. Is she a friend of a friend? Yes. Am I acquainted with her? Yes. Do I think it matters that I don't know  her like that? No. Why? Because she is a human being who people love and are worried about and to see her family and friends on national television upset and going crazy breaks MY heart. I think there is no excuse for me to live in a city that is but so big that I reach out and help in different organizations all the time, to not do something. Because if I was missing and nobody knew where I was, I would want someone to do the same thing for me.
    Why does it matter who I am? Where I am from? Why I am doing this? What gives? If it wasn't for the fact that somebody gave me the bright idea to ask people if they wanted to help search and pass fliers and the word around I would have stayed anonymous. The only reason why I put my number on the page was so that people could have access to fliers and have a safe meeting place. I never asked the media to show up to my place of work. Hell, I was pissed off because they had no right doing that without my permission. And when they did show up, they didnt want to talk about her. They wanted to know about the page I created so it could bring more people around Hampton Roads to access it so they would know what's going on.
   The candlelight vigil was so not my idea. However, I do take responsibility for the reaction because I believe I should not have posted about it in the first place. I just want her found for Christ sake. She doesnt deserve this. Her friends don't deserve this. Her family don't deserve this. Most importantly, her son doesn't deserve this.
  Thank you so much everyone for spreading awareness, for praying and for having her family's back.


Love,


Tanisha M. Monroe

YOUNG LADY, MOTHER AND FRIEND IS MISSING!!

A young lady from Norfolk, Virginia has been missing since late last night. She was last seen in the Ocean View area of Norfolk, Virginia. The police has been notified and made aware of her disappearance. However, we need to gather together as a community and spread awareness everywhere regarding her disappearance. She is not only a former classmate of mine but she is also someone's mother, friend, sister, and daughter. Please, I am pleading with you, if someone out there knows something anything at all please contact the police at 757-648-1148. You can even leave an anonymous tip. Please help us bring Phylicia home safe and sound to her family friends. Thank you so much.

Bandz Don't Make Me Dance, But These Will

Hummus. I love hummus. Hummus will make me dance naked in the middle of central park in December. I love the creamy texture and the different flavors. My fave is Southwest and Red Pepper Olive. a bowl of this with some pita triangles and you are good to go.

I love candy..I will definitely dance for some sweets. I don't know why I have such a severe sweet tooth. I think I get it from my grandmother. Like her, I have to cap my dinner off with a rich delish dessert. I also love chocolate.

Yes. Brian Keene makes me dance. I love his books, his creepy tweets, and his monotone demeanor. He is so creative and I also love his dark sense of humor.

Women's Rights make me dance. We women go through so much in the boardroom, the courtroom, and the kitchen. We work hard at everything we do and we should be treated equal, not stepped on. Anything a man can do, we can do so much better. From building a table to killing a spider.

Yes I am Pro-Choice. The fact that I have the freedom to be Pro-Choice makes me dance. If you want to judge me for being a pro-choice Christian then you are very ignorant. Pro-Choice is not about killing babies, abortions and being cruel. Pro-Choice is about being responsible, using birth control when you know you are not ready financially and emotionally to care for a child. It is my body, my mind and my choice.

Yes. Being natural and free makes me dance. Many people don't understand the natural hair culture so they say ignorant things. I can get my hair wet, sleep on it without tying it up, twist up, wear it out, fluff it, slick it in a bun or wear it in a 'fro. Stop hating on natural hair sisters. If you don't like natural hair that is your right and your opinion just dont wear your hair natural.