Thank you!!! I'm really really reallllllly excited. It's so out of left field, but I know he'll love it. Chess is so important for him intellectually, but personally too. He has fond memories of playing with his soldiers during his six deployments to Iraq, playing with Iraqi locals; in Haiti, one of the commanders he…

Ditto. This was a fine weekend indeed. So much better than he-who-shan't-be-named.

When I lived in CLE (and had a few less financial responsibilities), I donated to my local PP. It was a small recurring gift (maybe $20/month) but I could afford it and I knew I was directly helping young women who were like me. If you're looking for a one-time contribution, I think you should give however you are…

I am bursting at the seams because of the present I want to get Sgt BF for our anniversary in December. He LOVES chess and is an avid player, and it's our 5 year anniversary. The idea dawned on me and I'm really excited about it because he has no idea — I contacted a local woodworking shop in Cleveland (we are both…

I always loved fantasizing about baby names. I never thought of good boy names, but my girls were going to be Ava Nicole, Tyler Marie and Dylan Michele. But I don't see any bio kids in my future, so oh well. My bff Kat have two boys, and the third coming any day now and theirs are Jacob, Liam (can't remember middle…

Yup! And they have a couple kids too!

He's gonna be a looker. ALSO THOSE CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKS!!!!!

This makes me thankful that I almost never wear makeup. The whole WORLD sees me on the regular sans makeup. Part is because my mom didn't let me wear it growing up (too adult); partly because after growing up not wearing it, it feels like I'm somehow lying; and partly because no thanks to all that work in the AM.…

I'm just curious how they manage to get that big. I mean, you've gotta have that thing growing for a while!

These videos are so grossly awesome.

YEW GUISE!! I love love love cooking. It's cathartic and feeding people gives me all the good feels. Since Sgt. Boyfriend will be in and out of the woods training over the next 10 days, I made him some granola today. AND THEN! I tried something I have always wanted to make from scratch — I bought individual ramekins…

Oy!!! Tell me about it!! We laydee folk can't catch a break! Too big, too small; too snarky; not funny; old cat lady; hot little trollop; frumpy lame; why the glasses?; ugh, short hair!; acne, bacne, bb cream!...

I mean, it's definitely an interesting debate, and there is a political aspect to it, I'm sure. Black women's bodies in particular have always been politicized. But Jeebus, just let me have my hair. With your cousins being so young, I would imagine the natural hair decision on their mom's part is more just an age…

You're welcome!!! I personally haven't tried avocado for exactly that reason! However, I have found that olive or coconut oil mixed with honey makes a great treatment!! I do it myself once every couple of weeks or so? More in the winter than summer. But it's great because you don't need much - maybe a couple…

"I do however hope this doesn't turn into bashing black women who wear there hair straight. Let's remember that they aren't trying to make a statement either."

I love these questions, mostly because I'm a talker. I digress:

Fair point. But even still, "Hey, my friend thinks your cute. He's over there" that scene happens in bars the world over. I'm not saying this is right or wrong, either way, just that this is the nature of human interaction, especially in this time where we have the convergence of advanced technology shaping how we…

This doesn't sound much different than the matchmaking sites that "suggest" people whose profile may tickle your fancy. The only thing that makes this seem so reprehensible is that it's real life people doing the hunting, not some fancy algorithm on eHarmony. Matchmakers — human and non-human — have been around for a…

Mine too!!!! I always feel great after!

There was a great RadioLab ep a couple months back that went into the gritty details of this case. It's not as cut and dry and "he texted that he wanted nothing to do with the child." He was active duty, about to deploy, and he and his then-fiancée/Veronica's mom were on the rocks. There is a lot to this story, and…