Grape Tomatoes!

Greetings Family!

Well we are in summer now and I love it! A lot of outdoor grilling which is great for this foodie. Wanted to share one of my favorite summer side dishes. Grape tomatoes! You can usually find them on sale two or three packs at a time. I cut them in half and add a pinch of salt, pepper, diced red onion and fresh garlic. Pour in some good Italian dressing  and stir so all the tomatoes get some love!  The last time I made I  added diced smoked gouda which took it to a new level. I usually make a big bowl and we eat until gone. .which is usually fast lol. But the longer it marinates the better it is. Serve as a side, with salad, I put on top of my burger. ..enjoy! 

Peace  Donna 

A series of firsts!

Hey Pooka Family!! Welcome to summer!  I’m writing this blog on a mid-summer July day.  It’s been a great summer so far, filled with a lot of firsts!  Taiye finished her first year of school; we took our first trip to Europe where we visited London and Paris!! While Wale was working, Taiye and I ventured off on our own and went to the London Eye, the Parliament, Westminster Bridge, Big Ben and a couple of museums.  We had a great time.  On the last 2 days Wale took some time off and we took the Eurostar train to Paris and went to the Eiffel Tower!  Another first for this year…..Taiye lost her first tooth!!!!  I mean she literally lost it!  It came out during Music Theater camp and she didn’t even realize it.  The staff and the other kids look all around but they could not find it.  She insists that she didn’t swallow it but it is nowhere to be found.  So instead of a tooth under the pillow, she wrote a note to the tooth fairy, “Dear tooth fairy I lost my tooth today.”  That was it!  Luckily the tooth fairy must have found it at MT camp because he left her a first tooth certificate and $1.00!!!! 

Peace & Blessings!

Tricia

Just Do It!!

Good Morning Pooka Family!!
Well I have completed another episode of "From the Kitche to the Boardroom"!  I have to say I am enjoying them cause you know I looooove to talk :-)  Hopefully you'll listen and let me know what you think...be gentle family, be gentle... I'm sensative, lol!!

I'm excited to start my new podcast, "From the Kitchen to the Boardroom"!  Please follow and let me know what you think :-)

Am I Black or White???

Greetings Family!!
So by now we have all read about Rachel Dolezal, the white woman (just stating a fact) who identifies herself as African American.  There are so many opinions about this situation in the many discussions I have had.

From:

How dare she portray herself as something she is not?
She did a great job for the cause, so why does her race matter?
Blackface…..
She is her identity.
Is that her hair???
Her untruth speaks to her character
Black people have “passed” so why is this different
Why did her parents reveal her true identity
Why are we talking this?

I can go on and on and in the end race matters……still.

Peace Family
Donna

My skin color is not a crime.

We have all seen the video by now, of a white cop using  force to hold down a 14 year old Black girl in a bikini at a pool party and pulling out his gun against two Black boys who came over to help the girl. Why do some people think it's ok to talk, touch or rule over people of a different color any way they want? I watched the footage of the officer forcing this girl down, and sitting on top of her as she cried out for her mother. That could have been my child, that could have been me.
Why was the story of  two white women (who many confirmed were making racial comments and attacking the teens) believed  by the police instead of the officers coming in and asking questions?

Where is the justice that is promised us as all Americans? Of course not everyone is this way. I have lots of family members on the police force. How hard it must be for them to see these stories and not react.  What can we do? We must protest, we must vote, we must stand united together for the greater good.
#Blacklivesmatter

Peace & Blessings,

April

The End of the School Year

Morning Pooka Family!!! Well, the end of the school year is fast upon us.  Taiye has completed kindergarten and she will be in the 1^st grade in the Fall!!! Where did the time go!! Today I went to my last parent volunteer in-classroom learning event.  I was told that in 1^st grade the parents aren’t needed as much in the classroom; only for library days or field trips or class parties.  I look at this little girl every day and wonder what she will be when she grows up and am I doing everything that I can to shape and mold her in to a loving, conscientious, smart, confident, respectful, assertive human being.  Prior to having a child, I never knew how much responsibility there is in being a parent.  I could be molding a future President or a future dancer.  Whatever she decides to do with her life I just pray that I’ve instilled in her the very best of me. 

Peace and Blessings, Tricia