SiNgLe MoMmY FiLeS – FaShIoN FrIdAyS: InTrO
It’s the weekend…TGIF!! You probably have plans to paint the town red, so I thought it would be the perfect time to give you what you need…a lil’ bit of expert fashion advice. Terrell Ransom Sr. a.k.a. @allstyle7 (to all you social networkers), fashion stylist to the stars (& moi) and co-owner of the Neon Styling Group, stopped by SiNgLe MoMmY FiLeS this week to lend us some of his pearls along with this hot 80s video. Oh, I love those red lips. Enjoy ladies!
Simply irresistible…
Whether you believe it or not, image is very important on how people view you and more importantly how you view yourself. People who love themselves and are confident in how they look and feel, are usually those that are surrounded by people who love to be around them. There are exceptions to that rule lol.
As a fashion and image consultant I am a firm believer that beauty begins within and will ultimately exude through your outer appearance.
My advice to women is to take time to appreciate you. Take a spa day, get your nails done, or buy a new dress, even if you have no place to go. I live by the motto: Always be prepared! A date could be just around the corner. When you have an outfit already sitting in the closet you will alleviate half the stress of preparing for a date, event, ect. Learn your sizes. Note what makes you feel sexy. I guarantee if you feel sexy, you’ll look sexy and be SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE!!
Stay tuned as I continue to share advice and style tips on being “gone with the wind fabulous!!”
Until next time stay fierce and stay fly.
TERRELL RANSOM SR.
SiNgLe MoMmY FiLeS Official Stylist Expert
I’m interrupting our regularly scheduled program, WhAt MeN WaNt, and I’m introducing WoRkOuT WeDnEsDaYs! I’ll be giving expert advice, tips, and helpful exercises, to help you be a better, more healthy, YoU.
That’s what the new and improved SiNgLe MoMmY FiLeS is all about. I can’t do all of this growing and not share the things that’s improving my life, mentally, emotionally, relationally, and physically. So, today, we’re going to focus on the latter.
Being physically fit is not just about being a size 0 or 4. It’s definitely not about attracting a man, and although they’re very visual, they happen to like us in all flavors, shapes, and sizes.
It’s about feeling better about yourself, having more energy, eliminating stress, and…oh yeah…possibly living a longer, quality life. Exercise will not only help you with those things, it will help you in other areas too. So before I actually get into “what” and “how,” I want to talk about “why.” There are many benefits of regular exercise and physical activity, and here they are:
For all you single, not-so-single, and taken ladies, this post is for you. And just so you know, that picture up there is for me. ;-) Anyway, I decided to do a little research about some questions that has run across every woman’s mind at one point or another about their man…WhAt MeN WaNt!
Now, now, we’re all grown, and I would hope that we all understand (including the men that’s tuned in), that every man is different, or at least, that’s what they want us to think. Confession: I’m not really convinced. Of course, there’s always an exception to the rule, but generally all men are the same. I’m not saying, all men are dogs or all men are angels or all men think this way or act that way, but basically what I’m saying is, men are men, regardless of their familial history, age, ethnicity, education, or economic status.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s look at this list of the things that our counterparts say they really want from us. The information I compiled from research (based on studies) was somewhat extensive, so I had to break this subject down into a series. Now ladies, before you critique and dismiss their desires—we’re prone to do that sometimes, if we’re honest with ourselves—I want you all to have an open mind. But first take those hands off your hips, and there will be not eye or neck rolling allowed.
Now some of you may be doing most or all of these things in your relationship. Good for you. There may be others that are barely scratching the surface, but want to know, want to change and be a better woman, in order to improve your relationship. I really respect that. And there are some of you that could care less what men want, because it’s always been all about you, which means you’re probably single or in-and-out of relationships. And that’s okay to. We stay in a no judge zone here at SiNgLe MoMmY FiLeS. If you fall into this last category, but you’re looking for a different outcome, I want you to print this list off, ponder over it, and try it. Just take it one step at a time.
Alright ladies, let’s consider some things together, shall we?
So apparently Beyonce is not letting any of the backlash of the #Beygate scandal, where she reportedly lip-synced an amazing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, during the 57th Presidential Inauguration, stop her from making moves, literally. She posted a couple pictures on her instagram and apparently she’s already in New Orleans rehearsing for the big halftime show for Super Bowl XLVII.
Ok, now that last one, where’s she’s rocking that “Can I live?” hoodie speaks volumes! Really, can she people? In some eyes, she can do no wrong, in other’s everything she does is wrong? She has a right to ask, or at least allude to it, especially when Bey news trumps world news and sometimes national disaster coverage.
I can already hear some of you asking, why is this news? Well, for one, I happen to love Beyonce. Lip-syncing, routine-stealing, and fake baby bumps aside (some of which are alleged, might I add), @baddiebey is one of the greatest singers/performers to ever hit a stage or bless a mic.
For two, I enjoy watching the game of football (note to all my potential single male candidates) and all those men in tight pants and heavy gear, being all rough and tough and stuff.
Plus, one of the teams that advanced holds a special place in my heart, after attending one of their winning away game last year (along with one of my besties) and meeting some of the players, namely Michael Oher, the man and story behind the award-winning movie, The Blind Side. Let’s go Ravens!!!
Happy New Year!!! Hope you all are well. I know the last time we met here was somewhere around the end of 2012. Obviously, my lack of blogging has not been without good reason. I committed myself to work on a project (that I’m not at liberty to discuss now), that had me working around the clock some days. Maybe not literally, but I was definitely putting in long hours, for days and weekends, at a time.
For every minute of sleep I lost, and for all the mental and emotional energy I invested, hopefully the project will come to full fruition this year. No! I take that statement back. It WILL come to fruition this year. I’m speaking it into existence in 2013!
A lot has transpired over the past few months, which I’ll be blogging about over time, of course. I can’t wait to talk about my international trip later. But first, there is something personal that I’ve been dying to share with all of you, and that is…I’ve eVoLvEd…and I absolutely love who I am, and what I’m doing, and how blessed I am, and where I’m headed, and how bright my future looks!
♪♫ Can you see me, can you see me, get your Visine on,
y’all just do not fit the picture; turn your widescreen on ♪♫
Gotta’ love @Drake right?! But seriously, I realized that with what I have been called to do and the lives I am supposed to touch, real change was inevitable. And for me that meant rising above every single last one of my insecurities. I couldn’t allow them to keep me constrained or afraid or feeling unworthy or unfulfilled any longer. And believe me, it wasn’t easier said than done, ‘cause she did that! *in my @TamarBraxtonHer voice*
SiNgLe MoMmIes!!! How are you? I certainly hope I’m finding you and your girls—whom you’ve referred to SmF—in a good place this week.
For those of you that have followed my blog from the beginning, you know that here at “SiNgLe MoMmY FiLeS” I’m all about being as open and honest as I possibly can. I’m trying to build something relatable and to write things that will resonate with you. I want what I share to make you laugh or cry or say “hmmm.” I would hope that I’m also challenging, inspiring, encouraging, and maybe even helping you all see things from different perspectives.
In the end, it’s all about giving you what you need straight from the source, whether its divorcee to divorcee, SiNgLe woman to SiNgLe woman, or most importantly, MoMmY to MoMmY or whatever your equation is.
I want to share with you an introduction that I wrote for a group of individuals that I have decided to embark on a new Journey with. I want you to understand where the motivation for this week’s post is coming from. Ok here goes!
“My name is Katrina. I live in beautiful Southern California. And contrary to popular belief—possibly because of Tony! Toni! Toné! #1 R&B hit—it does rain here, often.
Hey SmF fam! It’s that time of the week again! So glad you’ve stopped by and hopefully brought a friend!
Well, I’ve had a pretty interesting week, busy may be a better adjective, and I have my son to thank. He’s had call back after call back and ended up booking a role on a really great project and I’m super duper proud of my lil’ man! He absolutely loves what he does, works hard at his craft, and is grateful for every opportunity.
Me? I knew you would ask. Well, I’m still working on my book, you can kind of say I’m consumed with it at this point, and I’m also managing my talent consulting company. I invest so much time, energy, and support into my son’s career, but I realized it was equally important for me to focus on the things that brought me fulfillment.
As for my social life, that’s basically still non-existent, especially when referring to dating. Honestly though, I reeeeally don’t mind. And the more engrossed I am in all of the things I have going on, that’s bringing me worth, the less it matters.
I mentioned in last week’s post “AuGuSt RuShEd!” that I hadn’t decided if I wanted to go through with the whole Match.com fiasco or if I was even ready to date yet. And yesterday, I was reminded why I’ve been so torn, bi-polisherish even.
Hey SmF Fam!! I’m up this morning writing to you all after laying my head on my pillow at four am this morning. That’s nuts, I know. But I would not have traded one minute of sleep for what was transpiring last night.
Alright, maybe the last 30 minutes or so, because we were clowning, but for the most part, my sisters and I were sowing words of wisdom and correction and inspiring someone we loved, to just do better.
I plan to keep this post short this morning as I struggle to keep my eyes open. It’s just not one of those days that coffee can fix. My neck is all tensed up. I’m a little delirious and need a nap, but I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get that in, seeing that I have a jam-packed day, today. Hmm…maybe I do need to start the Keurig. Okay ladies, give me 10 minutes.
I needed more like 20 minutes to get myself together, but I’m now sipping on a cup of fogchaser, heavy French vanilla cream with two generous scoops of sugar, and I’m feeling preeeetty alert right now.
Soooo about last week’s post “CoInCiDeNtAlLy YoU!” , yea…uhm…that will be a NO. There were quite a few text messages exchanged yesterday, and he was saying waaaay to much, waaaay too fast, and threw up waaaay too many red flags. Just as I suspected, there was no way, I could move forward with this guy.
Hey SiNgLe MoMmIes, DaDdIeS, SiNgLe LaDiEs, or whatever category you fit in!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog. If you’re a regular, you know I appreciate the love and support. Next time bring a friend. I promise I’m trying to be more consistent. *winks*
Ok, ladies and gents, I have to get right to the point. What is it with me, the month of August, and African men?!? Like Seriously!! Remember last year around this time, August 24th to be exact, I met one, by way of a friends’ introduction, and we dated about four months and then sort of broke up?
Yea I know, technically I only alluded to the fact that he was foreign. So now you know, if you didn’t already guess, that “WrOnG MiStEr” 3-8 was African. Then, it wasn’t as important. But, because they seemingly pop into my life every August, I think now it is.
Disclaimer: The nationality and the month is more than likely very coincidental, but it’s being used for the purpose of this blog post anyway.
Okay, so let me just say, he has not be inducted into the “WrOnG MiStEr” series yet. I definitely don’t think he’ll make it, because I have no intentions of being anything other than a friend to this guy, if that, although, my son TJ is already heading his candidacy.
SmF Fam!!! How are you? I hope everyone that’s reading right now is in a good place, I certainly am, today, although, I must admit, I had a lil’ emotional breakdown a few days ago.
No, it wasn’t because of the “dreeeaded” *in my Sméagol voice,* you know, Lord of the Rings, 2002, ok, anyway, maybe it was, but all I know is this, I was at a breaking point. I really can’t talk about what happened to cause this. And trust me, I have good reason, because y’all know I would gladly have y’all all up in my business, any other time.
Besides, the “what” is not always as important as the “why” or even “how.” And that’s what I plan to explain. I know I’ve told you time and time again that I’m not perfect. Maybe, I’ve left it out of a post or two or five, the point is you all know I said it. I have issues, problems arise, I’m faced with difficulties, and my breath stinks in the morning, just like everyone else’s does.
You know the old adage, when it rains it pours? Well, that’s what was happening in my life. I had been dealing with an issue that arose unexpectedly about a month or so ago, and it ended up setting in motion some other issues. Before I knew it, I was in the midst of a torrential downpour without an umbrella…at least that’s how I felt.
I had gotten to the point where I had had enough. I couldn’t take it any more and I was so frustrated at how things were turning out. Every time I tried to fix one problem, here was another presenting itself.
Hey SmF fam!!! I missed you!! Let me just start off by saying, me and my baby boy was in a car accident on June 25th. There were no serious injuries on either side, Thank God, but my truck needs repairs. And TJ and I are still pretty “traumatized” by the unfortunate event, yet extremely grateful for our life and health.
I requested that I take a sudden leave of absence, from a few of my responsibilities, since I’m my own boss, which is why you haven’t heard from me in a few weeks. I don’t know if you’ve ever been in an accident, and I pray you never have to experience it, but I needed a little time to sort some things out, put others in perspective, and totally regroup. And let me just tell you, it was so necessary.
Soooo here I am, back refreshed again!!! I feel like I’ve been given a new lease on life…figuratively and literally…so I’ve decided to reinstate as of late, this motto I adopted back in 2009, that has evolved over the years, of course. I’m making it my business to:
LIVE FABULOUSLY! LOVE HARDER! & LAUGH LOUDER!
I have to enjoy my life to the fullest because I know tomorrow is not promised; situations happen, sometimes out of my control, which means, some things won’t always go as planned! I deserve the best, I will not settle, therefore I do and give my best. I am what I think I am (S.E.A.M).
I’ll have problems to solve and bills to pay. Love gives and takes away, it has the power to heal and hurt, so choose it wisely. People change for the good and the bad, by choice. I can’t take myself so seriously all the time, sometimes I need to “relax, relate & release” (in my Whitley Gilbert voice). And most importantly, God loves me no matter what!
Hey SmF fam!! You’ve waited long enough. I’m skipping the intro (well maybe I’ll give you an outro) and I’m getting right to the story, because I’m sure some of you are wondering what happened with WrOnG MiSteR in “YoU GoT NeRvE 2!”
Well the last thing he said was:
“We gotta’ talk. You should call me sometimes.”
And my wearing-everything-on-my-face-cant-hide-anything-self, led him to this next question:
“What? You don’t have my number anymore? What? You deleted it? For real? It’s like that?”
And remember I told you that I hadn’t actually deleted it…but see what had happened was, because he treated our friendship so badly, I changed his contact name and every time he would call or text, DO NOT ANSWER would display. So I wouldn’t, but I couldn’t look him in the face and tell him that.
So I replied,
“Noooo, I still have it in my phone,” which was the absolute truth, it was still there.
“Oh, ok,” he said sort of suspiciously.
He got nerve, I thought to myself, and before I knew it, “but don’t be asking me to call you just because you and your girlfriend broke up, AGAIN, because I’m not,” blurted out of my mouth.
I’m dedicating Mary Mary’s new hit single Go Get It to ALL of YOU with GOD-INSPIRED DREAMS & ASSIGNMENTS!!! #GoGetIt
Ladies!!! I hope you had an awesome three day weekend & a happy Memorial Day. I know I did! It was complete with bright sunshine, warm weather, a beautiful park, fam, friends, kids, laughter, barbecue, a lot of snacking, overeating, card playing and ish talking…Phase 10 and spades just wouldn’t be the same without the latter (lol). It really was the perfect holiday.
Just so you know, I’m sipping on a cup of strong caramel colored coffee with plenty of sugar—my third cup in like a year, which tells you just how often I drink it—so that I could uphold my end of the bargain…getting you Wednesday’s post by any means necessary.
Well anyway, I know I left you hanging last week, not on purpose of course, so I won’t hold you up any longer, let’s get right to why you’re all here. You want to know what happened with me and WrOnG MiStEr since last week’s YoU GoT NeRvE post.
Okay, so where did we leave off? Oh yes, he was telling me all about what he had been up too…
“Working, church, the usual, you know me,” he said as he gently touched my arm and continued on…
I thought I did, I said to myself, making sure my feminine side didn’t respond to his flirtatious gauge. I would not give him the pleasure.
“…blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…”
Hey SMF fam!!! So glad to see you!!! I know, it’s been a while since we’ve connected and that’s my fault. I’ve been so caught up in all of the other stuff I’m doing and have going on; single mommying, momagering, authoring, and entrepenuering, that I didn’t realize how much I was neglecting my blogging for SiNgLe MoMmY FiLeS…smh!
I know I said I write as often as any SiNgLe MoMmY wearing as many hats and juggling the full plate that I do would, but I had a lil’ talk with someone whom I deem my outside voice of reason, and they said, that I really had to get it together, which basically meant that I had to get back to blogging regularly and post at least once or twice a week on the same day, so you all would know when to come back.
I guess I figured I would tweet and Facebook to get your attention, like I had been doing, whenever I had something new for you to read. And that’s was probably okay, but that still didn’t negate the fact that I had to be consistent with the blog. I’m going to get it together, I promise. And I won’t be able to use the “overwhelmed” SiNgLe MoMmy card anymore…well, only in the event of an emergency or two…fair enough?
So I had some time to really think about it, and Wednesday’s are going to be my post day. So SiNgLe MoMmY FiLeS will have something for you right smack dab in the middle of our crazy week and I’m sure the posts will provide you with some encouragement, enlightenment or a lil’ laughter to carry you through, or just a simple reminder to Do You, which is always important! So Wednesday it is! Heeeyy!!!
Ok, so what cliff did I leave you all hanging on last time we were together? I’m kidding, but let me see, where were we?…Ooooh!! I ran into one of my WrOnG MiStErS in It HaPpEnS So, and the story goes a lil’ something like this, hit it…
