Umi In The City

# Buy Black, # Support Black Business.  Today's social movements are often spurred and organized online.  You can't go on social media without hearing about a cause or the cause. But how do we move from talking about an issue to being an active part of the change?  Choosing to buy black is no different. It can difficult to put your money where your mouth is and be about the cause.  The reality of life is in The buy black order to be successful at anything some sacrifices will have to be made.  Whether its time, money or just effort in order to be a part of a change, we must change. Do's and don'ts Do Walk the Walk  I am writing this as if you already know the who, what and why of the Buy Black Movement. If you do not, no worries, look out for my article on the History Of The Buy Black Movement. If you are not quite there and you are wondering when you should get started. I say there is no time like the present.  Just start and chances are you will...

We love to eat pancakes in the morning. But nothing is better than pancakes you can feel good about eating. It can be very tempting to pop open a box of prepackaged pancakes, but the truth is pancakes from scratch are very easy to make.  They are also an easy way to get in a serving of fruits. This morning I decided to make lemon blueberry barley pancakes. It sounds fancy but they were quick to put together. The ingredients    The pancakes 1 cup barley flour 1 tsp. baking powder dash of salt 2 tsp of sugar (I used coconut sugar) 1 cup milk (I used soy but any milk would do) 1 flax egg (1 tsp of ground flax and 3 tsp water, feel free to use your favorite egg) Juice from half a lemon heaping handful of blueberries (I used frozen) zest from one lemon    The syrup  1 1/2 blueberries (* no need to add water when using frozen blueberries)  2 tsp sugar (I used coconut sugar) juice from 1/4 lemon  Directions If using a flax eg...

I took a shower with Fern this morning, my Boston fern. I have been meaning to give her a bath because I read that ferns enjoy a good soak in water, now and then. Something about washing my hair motivated me to thoroughly water my plant fern. So while I was shingling my hair, and looking at my fern, I started thinking.  I came to the conclusion that taking care of my fern has been an awesome reminder to nourish my relationship with myself. After much contemplation, I decided to write my revelations down.  Below you will find my reflections.  This is followed by a detailed explanation and then a re-cap, in case you'd prefer the short version. Know yourself Be Patient and Gentle Cut Back Shake off  Dead Leaves Communicate Switch up Fertilize Bask in Sunlight Indulge in Water Never Neglect  Know Yourself The best thing I could have done for my fern is to learn how to take care of it.  When I first got her, I approached her the same way...

I love a lot of books, I like even more, but few books change my life.  Our Black Year is one of those life changing books.  The book did not give me a whole new outlook on life (though I am sure it will for many). I picked it up because it was aligned with what I believe in, so I was not expecting that. What it did do was inspire me to get started on my own personal journey to support black business.  Our Black Year   quickly became one of those books that I recommend to others.  Our Black Year   is sort of a memoir of one middle-class black family's experience at buying from only black-owned businesses for a year.  Maggie Anderson gives you a window view into the challenges she and her family faced when committing to buying black. It was great to get a picture of what it's really like to fully commit to the cause.  In terms of writing style, it was an easy read.  I appreciated the research done on the current and historic st...

Like my mother, I have always been a tea drinker.  As a child, I enjoyed sipping tea with my mama during the early morning while my brother and father were asleep.  As a tween and then teen, I'd sit in the window with a cup of tea and a book. Reading and imagining that I was some character in one of my many novels.  I predict that my own daughter will be the same, as she already asks for tea when she sees me sipping my daily dose of liquid peace, or when she has an "ailment".  Yes, a cup of tea is the remedy for all hurts. Perhaps, I have helped encourage that, a blend of nature and nurture. I have purchased more than one mommy and me tea set, throughout the years. I always have gotten them from the collection  A Mother's Love by Amy  on Amazon. I have also acquired quite a few mugs from students throughout the years, including the one in the picture below. I am sure that has something to do with the tea stash had in every classroom I have taught in....

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