I’ve been abstinent for a little over five years. I remember when I first started telling people that I decided not to have sex before marriage. I received quite the range of reactions: First, there was complete shock: “Why would you ever do that?” and “Yooo, that’s crazy!” Next, there was doubt and disbelief: “Girl, you’re not going to be…
Carrie Lea
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I grew up in an ol’ school Black church. There were church mothers with peppermints in their purses, men with shiny shoes and cufflinks, and morning services that lasted way too long. Outside of church, women wore the obligatory blue jean skirt down to their ankles and paired it with simple, flat white tennis shoes and a basic t-shirt. These…
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I love February. Not only is it a relief to know I made it through January (see previous post), but it’s also Black History Month. Oh, and let’s also not forget that it’s the month of loooovvveee (imagine that being said in my Luther Vandross voice). Black History Month is February’s main attraction in my eyes. Other than the obvious…
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We’re already one month into the year and quite frankly, January might need a do-over. Everyone is on some new year, new me and showing these grand plans for 2020. But can I keep it real, real with you? This year is feeling more like “new year, same me.” While my social media news is full of people talking about…
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The holiday season has a certain scent to it. You can smell the decorative butter cookies, peppermint candy canes and schnitzel with noodles (btw- I Googled that and turns out its chicken fried steak and pasta. Who knew?) Let’s not forget the eggnog lattes at Starbucks, work holiday parties and neighborhood homes lit up with (tasteful or not-so-tasteful) holiday decorations.…
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It’s December. It’s my birthday month, the last month of the year and the last month of this decade. Like many people, I look back over the year and celebrate the amazing moments, display gratefulness that I get to see another year and begin pondering about the year to come. I was blessed to have a year of firsts: first…
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It was 2012. I had just moved to the Bay Area from Los Angeles to start a new chapter in my life. I was sitting in the front room of my new apartment and just finished a phone call that left me feeling a bit frustrated and discouraged. Little did I know, that one phone call was the start of…
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Most of the country is experiencing cooler temperatures, shorter days and pumpkin-spiced everything. Beautiful leaves clutter the ground and new fall fashions have arrived at your favorite retailers. Fall is here, folks and I’m happy about it! Fall is my favorite time of the year, mainly for the clothing. Sweaters, boots and tights fill up my closets, keeping me warm, cozy and covered. Yep- covered. Unlike summer, fall wardrobe keeps me…
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Imagine walking along a dirt road on a journey of justification when a flash of light comes from the heavens and scares you and your companions. You drop to your knees and cover your head in fear of what might befall you. As you quiver on the ground, with your eyes squeezed shut and shaken to your core, you hear…
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Have you ever had a new, unexpected experience and thought to yourself, I need more of this in my life!? Or whispered to yourself, I don’t know what I’m doing here but it just feels right!? Well, after doing a mental check-in as we near the end of the year, I realize how I’ve had more of these moments than…