The Perfect Mother's Day Present for Momillennium

Hi, Everybody!

No surprises here, folks—today’s blog post is a very special one, as it is dedicated to the one and only Mrs. Danielle Renee Stewart, affectionately known to me as Momillennium… and how apropos is it that I dedicate today’s blog post to her, considering that this is the first time in three years that I will spend Mother’s Day with my precious little mommykins!

If absence makes the heart grow fonder, then Mom and I are about ready to burst with love and excitement!

All things considered, I think it’s safe to say that I am the perfect Mother’s Day present for my mom. I mean, think about it: I was away at Rust, and Heaven only knows how much I wanted to fly out and be with my mom, if only for Mother’s Day weekend. Oh, sure—I always made sure that I mailed off a Mother’s Day card for her, and I always called her on the day, just to hear her voice, but yet and still, it just wasn’t the same without me being there to see that warm smile on her face and hear that light chuckle in her voice when she says, “Oh, you little HoneyBee!”

Well, all that is gonna happen today! In a few moments, I’m gonna surprise her with her Mother’s Day roses and card, and then she’s gonna realize that I’ve got ribbons stuck to my cheeks… hahahahaha!

Let’s face it, y’all—I’m the gift that keeps on giving!

Well, let me go ahead and close up today’s blog post, but I’ll be talking to y’all later on. Until then, y’all take care and be good.

 

 

Smooches,

Natasha

Celebration Time for Momillennium

Uh-oh, y’all—it’s July 2, 2015, and it’s also my 600th blog post! Y’all know what that means: It’s time for a celebration of celebratory proportions!

It was forty-three years ago today in Memphis, Tennessee that my Grampa Clark and my Gramma Jewel were blessed with their fifth and final child—a baby girl whom they christened Danielle Renee. Over the years, this baby girl earned many nicknames from her loved ones. To Grampa Clark, she was “Reesie Junior;” to my aunts and uncles, she was “Dani;” to my cousins, she was “Aunt Dee;” and to my dad, she’s known as “The Queen.”

And y’all already know the special nickname that I give Momillennium… matter of fact, I just mentioned it! I’ve been referring to my mom as “Momillennium” ever since I was ten years old. Yes, I know that I merely combined “mom” and “millennium” to form this very unique word, but that’s only because my mom is a very unique lady. And even more so than that, my mommy is the greatest mother that The Lord could ever bless me with, and for that, I am truly grateful to Him.

I think I mentioned this once before, but it’s worth repeating again: My mom is simply the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be… and incidentally, I would like to wish Bret Hart a Happy #58. Imagine that, y’all—Bret Hart and my mom have something in common, and I guess it helps a little bit that my mom is also a Bret Hart fan.

In hindsight, I don’t think I did today’s blog post any justice, but I do hope that you all could see the unconditional love, respect, and admiration that I have for Momillennium. Shoot, we’re practically twins, all things considered… and that probably explains why she and I share the same middle name. You see, Renee is French for “reborn,” and it has been said on more than one occasion that I am my mother’s daughter. Well, let me just say that I humbly and graciously accept such a surefire compliment.

In closing today’s blog post, I would just like to say one more thing:

HAPPY #43 MOMILLENNIUM—I LOVE YOU BUNCHES!!!

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Ode to Momillennium

Happy Saturday, Everybody!

Seeing as how tomorrow is Mother’s Day, I thought I would dedicate this very special blog post to my wonderful mother, Danielle Renee Stewart.

 

Delightfully witty and beautiful—and I should know because I look just like her!

Amazingly amusing

Never has a bad day, although she has admitted that some days are better than others

Intelligently intellectual

Elegant in everything she does

Lovely personality

Loved by her family and friends

Eloquent with her speech, even when she’s upset

 

Remarkably ravishing, according to my dad, anyway!

Each second is a blessing to her

Not a day goes by that I don’t see her smiling

Every single member of our family has a very special place in her heart

Elegant in everything she does (it’s worth repeating again)

 

Such a sweetheart of a woman, and that is the stone cold truth!

Tiny in stature, but very tough

Equally as popular as my Gramma Jewel

Wonderfully witty

Alluringly lovely—again, according to my dad!

Ready to make someone feel special

Thankful that God chose her to be my mom

 

Happy Mother’s Day, Momillennium—I Love You!

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

 

In Celebration of Moms Everywhere, Especially Mine!

Hi, Everyone!

Seeing as how Mother’s Day 2014 is upon us, I thought I would use today’s blog post to celebrate all moms out there—especially mine!

Remember that sweet little lady in your neighborhood? She lived next door to you, three houses down from you, or maybe even across the street from you. Her name may have been Rosie, Thelma, Vivian, Edna, Lynn, Jo Ann, or Hannah, but no child dared to call her by her first name unless they “put a handler on it.”

She was not only respectful, but she was also respected, by young folks, old folks, and everyone else in between. She was sweet as the pies she was known to bake, yet just as strict when the situation called for it. She kept you company for hours on end—a ten minute visit wound up lasting two hours, but it didn’t matter because she was always a great company-keeper. If she could help out in any way possible, she would do so out of the goodness of her heart. If she didn’t have it, then she would direct you to the one who did.

Of her many characteristics, she was very, very humble. She never boasted about what she could do for others, nor did announce that she was a Christian—you knew that she was a Christian on account of her walk matched her talk. She was the kind of woman who made you feel welcomed when she invited you in her home, and regardless of whether you were hungry or not, she would take you in the kitchen and “fix you a little something to eat.” Whether it was a hamburger or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, she could throw down in that kitchen. And Lord have mercy—you could literally taste the love in all of her desserts.

Whether or not she had children of her own, she adopted full grown adults as her sons and daughters, and she looked at their children as her nieces, nephews, or grandchildren. If she liked you, she called you “Baby” or “Sweetheart.” Sometimes she spoke in third person, and when she did, you knew that she was serious. More often than not, she mispronounced words, but she still made perfect sense. She listened with an attentive ear and didn’t give any advice unless she felt it was warranted. In giving advice, she would let you know about the goodness of The Lord, and would encourage (or remind) you to “put all yo trust in Him.” She never judged you for your wrongdoing, but she cared enough to tell you when you were wrong. She was Mom’s best friend and confidante; they talked for hours on end, either on the phone or on the porch. As corny as this sounds, little babies and puppy dogs just adored her. She wasn’t ashamed of her age, nor did she mind growing old, “so long as I do it gracefully.”

And on that note, I would like to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, my aunts, my grandmother, and all of the honorary moms in my life. I love you truly.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

First Freestyle Friday of October

¡Feliz viernes, las damas y los caballeros!

Judging by my introduction, I am excelling in my Spanish class. For those who are a little rusty, I basically wished each and every one of you a Happy Friday—and seeing as how it’s Friday, it’s time for the very first Friday Freestyle for the month of October.

Let’s first of all start with the most important news of all; of course, I’m referring to the condition of my dear sweet mommy. I spoke to her yesterday evening, just to check on her, and she says that she is coming along, but the process is—and these are her exact words—“takin’ its precious ass time.” I’ve never really known my mom to cuss; she says “hell” on occasion, but she doesn’t cuss like others, so she must be in a lot of pain. She also said that earlier in the day, she tried to walk from the living room to the kitchen without her crutches, but her leg gave out on her, causing her to fall. After struggling towards the couch, she said that she just lay there on the floor and actually considered taking four Motrin at the same time, but she realized that was just the pain talking. She had me laughing though, when she said that she was using Icy Hot, a heating pad, and an ice pack all at the same time, if for nothing but to ease the pain. She still can’t bend her knee all the way, which is hell in itself; if she keeps her legs stretched out, it will stiffen. My mom really had me laughing when she said: “I tell ya, Honey Bee—you’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t.”

I’m glad that Mom is doing a little better, but I really wish that she would’ve pulled her hamstring while I was home over the summer. I know that sounds weird, but I hope you know what I mean. I actually told my mom—rather, I reiterated what I told her the other day: If she had had this injury while I was home over the summer, she wouldn’t be in the house by herself and I’d take real good care of her. And again, my mom reiterated that I was a sweetheart of a soul to think of her, but things happen for a reason, and she still appreciates that my heart is always in the right place. She also said that she’ll be back on her feet again… literally!

In other news, I understand that Gramma Jewel will be leading a song at her church’s Annual Women’s Day program. When I talked to Gramma Jewel about this, she says to me: “Well, it ain’t no rumor, Baby—it’s the stone cold truth. Sista Wallace asked me if I would lead a song, and I told her that with The Good Lord to help me, I’m gon’ lead that song. I’m gon’ sang ‘I’m Not Tired Yet’ by the Mississippi Mass Choir!”

Once again, I gotta say: Dammit! I should be at home right now!

Granted, the Annual Women’s Day program at Gramma Jewel’s church is not for another week, but I still wanna be home to hear her sing “I’m Not Tired Yet” by the Mississippi Mass Choir. Truth be told, y’all: Gramma Jewel’s been singin’ that song since its debut some six or seven years ago, and here it is—some six or seven years later, and her time has come. I just know Gramma Jewel’s gonna do a great job, but even more so than that, she’s gonna do like she’s been doing all her life and rely on the help of The Lord God Almighty… GO, GRAMMA, GO!!!

Well, that’s it for today, y’all, but I shall return tomorrow with a brand-new blog post—I promise! Let’s put it this way: Even if I have to just write “hi” and “bye,” y’all will definitely hear from me. Until then, though, enjoy the rest of your day.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

I Really Should Be Home Right Now!

Happy Hump Day, Everybody!

Yes, I posted a photo of the camel from the Geico commercial—I’ve been wanting to do that ever since that corny commercial first made its debut.

So, yesterday evening, my dad called me and told me that he had to rush my mom to the emergency room on account of she was complaining of severe pain in her back and right leg. Fortunately, it was nothing too serious—my mom has a severely sprained hamstring that affects her walking; she can’t even bend her knee. I talked to her last night, and she’s still in good spirits, despite being “temporarily immobile,” as she calls it. Mom also said that a big blessing came out of her sudden injury, in that she’s got plenty of sick days saved up, and she thinks that God is telling her to take time to recharge her batteries.

I am grateful that my mom is well and that she suffered nothing more than a severe muscle strain, but there’s a part of me that wants to be back home with her. I already know she’s gonna be in the house by herself, meaning that Dad will be at work all day and won’t be home until about after 5pm PST. I told Mom that she picked a fine time to suffer an injury, because I really would love to be home and care for her right now. Mom just chuckled and said, “Thanks, Smurfette, but you need not worry about me; Mama’ll be alright—you just stay focused on your studies.”

Even in her recuperation, Mom is still lookin’ out for little ol’ me. She should be back up and running in the next three to four days, but knowing her, she’s probably gonna take two weeks off, just to stay around the house a little while longer… hahahaha!

Well, speaking of recuperative energy and all, I had better rest up before my Foundations of Education class this evening. I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow, but until then, keep my mom in your prayers for a speedy yet careful recovery.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Momillennium Sends Her Love

Hi, Everyone!

First of all, my mom says that she sends her love in the form of a “great big ol’ kissie-kiss.” As y’all know, she celebrated her 41^st Birthday yesterday. My mom is a pretty basic lady, but yesterday she decided to treat herself. Generally, she takes the day off from work and just stays at home, but this go-round, she went all out! She treated herself to a spa day—I’m talkin’ about a mani and a pedi… the whole nine yards. When she returned home, she looked all relaxed and everything. Of course, Dad and I treated her to dinner later on. When it comes to restaurants, Mom is easy to please—she loves Sizzler, but because yesterday was her birthday, we took her to the Cheesecake Factory. Oh, I tell y’all—Mom was like a kid in a candy store… a big 41-year-old kid in a candy store, but a kid nonetheless!

Basically, I said all that to say that my mom truly enjoyed her birthday, and she sends her love to each and every one of you who took time to send her well-wishes and birthday prayers. She also wants you all to know that she has graciously embraced her foxy 40s, and that she has not lost any of her sexiness—her exact words.

After hearing my mom’s comments, I’ve come to one conclusion: Ain’t no conceit in our family—she’s got it all! Hahaha!

Well, tomorrow is the big day over at Auntie Cherri & Uncle Alex’s house in Long Beach. I’ve got to call Ray and let him know that I’ll be riding with my mom and dad; we’ll be leaving at or around noontime, but he can meet us over there at 1:30pm. I know that Gramma Jewel is gonna bring along Mother Davis and Mr. Hawkins, and I already know that Becky’s coming along… and y’all oughta know by now that the strawberry seven-up cake is gonna come along as well!

Oh, and while I’m thinking about it, I’m trying to decide if I should wear my patriotic sundress or my orange, yellow, and purple sundress. I already know that I’m gonna look gorgeous, but I kinda do want to look extra good for Ray. Yes, there’s an added incentive—a method to my madness, if you will. Heck, I’ll even go ahead and say that I have a special modus operandi! I’ll probably make my mind up about three hundred times between now and tomorrow afternoon. Pray for me y’all, that I come to a conclusion and make my mind up!

Well, that’s gonna do it for me today. I don’t know if I’ll post a morning blog or an evening blog, but rest assured—I will be posting a blog on tomorrow. Until then, y’all take care and have a good one.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

A Birthday Wish for Momillennium

Alright, y’all—let’s not wait any longer! Let’s kick this blog off correctly:

Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday, Momillennium—
Happy Birthday to… YOU!!!

That’s right, y’all—my mother, Danielle Renee Stewart, has been blessed to see her 41^st birthday today, and I heard my daddy tell her that she still looks as sexy as ever. Now that I think about it, my dad says that to my mom every year, and it’s so cute. Y’all should see how my mom beams when she hears that… I mean, she can’t stop cheesin’; it’s just the cutest thing.

And yes, I do realize that I am my mother’s daughter, but that’s nothing new!

I always treat my mom’s birthday like a national holiday on account of she is a very special lady who is very special to me. First and foremost, she is my mother, and secondly, she is just a beautiful soul. I can’t lie to y’all—I tried to find the right words to explain the love I have for my mommy, but I really don’t think words would do it justice. And heck, even as I write this blog, I had various periods of where I reminisced over the countless precious moments that we shared in these nineteen years of my life. For one thing, there was the big fuss she made over me around this time last year in preparing me for out-of-state college life, and then there was our church picnic three years ago where we won the three-legged race, with Pastor & Mrs. Clark very close behind us.

And then I thought about what I wrote about my precious mommy just this past Mother’s Day. I remember mentioning how her first name is Hebrew for “God is my judge,” and her middle name is French for “reborn.” It still amazes me that my mom is the only child of Grampa Clark and Gramma Jewel to have never gotten a whuppin. That, in and of itself, is simply amazing.

Forgive me for sounding biased again, but I recognize and appreciate the fact that I have the most incrediblest mother in the whole, wide world. She is just a darling woman—and I mean that, sincerely. My mommy is truly is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be… and that reminds me: Mom shares the same birthday as legendary wrestler Bret “Hitman” Hart. And it’s funny I mention that, because every birthday, Mom has to point out how she shares July 2 with “one of the hottest wrestlers” that she’s ever had a crush on.

Well, I could go on and on about Mom’s special day, but like I pointed out earlier, words can do no justice… and then again, seeing as how I am Vivian Jones’ youngest grandchild, I’m gonna give it my best effort regardless. I know for a fact that my mom absolutely loves the song “Change” by Lisa Stansfield. The lyrics are as follows:

“If I could change the way I live my life today, I wouldn’t change a single thing,

Because if I change my world into another place, I wouldn’t see your smiling face.”

And that’s exactly how I feel about you, Mommy! You see, it goes like this: If The Lord were to give me an option to replace you with another mom that he created for me, I would say: “Lord, I appreciate it, but I’ve stuck it out this long with Mrs. Danielle Stewart—I’m willing to run all the way with her.”

Happy Birthday, Momillennium—and I love you lots! May The Lord continue to forever bless and keep you, and don’t forget to celebrate the entire month!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Let The Summertime Officially Begin, Baby!

Summer-Summer-Summertime—so just sit back and unwind.
Here it is—a groove slightly transformed, just a bit of the break from the norm.
Just a little somethin’ to break the monotony… and if it ain’t broke, then don’t try to fix it!

Happy Monday, Everybody!

Yes, I am aware that the aforementioned lyrics come from a song that is about four years older than I am, but y’all already know that I’m a fan of ol’ skool. I fell in love with this song thirteen years ago, and it has become my personal summer anthem ever since. As a matter of fact, I play it every first Monday in the month of June.

By the way, I would like to apologize for yesterday. I had every single intent to post a blog after I came home from church, but Mom and Dad took me to visit my Auntie Cherri & Uncle Alex, and my cousins Nessa and Calvin in Long Beach—and y’all already know that I had a blast! I sincerely love being around my family, and while I’m thinking about it, I wanna let y’all know that it is indeed official: Auntie Cherri and Uncle Alex confirmed that they are hosting this year’s Fourth of July Barbecue Bash. And guess what—I’m in charge of the decorations! I’m so excited to be a part of such a family project… I’m working on some color schemes and ideas right now. I wonder, though: Should we go all patriotic, or should we use an orange, yellow, and purple theme? We’ve got the whole month to prepare, and we may have a conference meeting sometime in the next couple weeks.

And just in case you’re wondering if I’ve spoken to Ray since my return, let me assure you that I’m gonna call him this afternoon. I would’ve called him on Saturday, but I was all swept up in this party that Mom and Dad threw in my honor. I will definitely call Ray this afternoon or this evening, though.

As far as what plans I have for today, I have none. As a matter of fact, I’m just gonna chill out at home for the next two days. I do plan on hangin’ out with my cousins this Wednesday, but right now, I’m just enjoying the ambience that is—right now. I just had breakfast (two big bowls of Frosted Flakes and some toast with butter and honey), and now I’m chillin’ in the living room, watching What’s Love Got To Do With It on DVD.

I’m gonna cut this blog surprisingly short today, but I’lll holla at y’all tomorrow. Bye!

Hugs & Kisses,
Natasha

Finally, The Vipress Has Come Back Home!

Greetings from beautiful Los Angeles, California, Y’all!

First of all, I would like to say: Happy 54^th Birthday to my godmother, Susie Douglas (a.k.a. “Mrs. D”). Celebrate it well, celebrate the whole month, and celebrate in style. May God continue to bless and keep you forever and always. Oh, and I love your hairstyle, Lady!

Well, y’all can only imagine how I feel being back at home, and I am so ready to make the most of these three long summer months. And check this out: When I arrived at LAX this morning at 10:30am and picked up my bags from baggage claim, I stepped outside and sat down on a bench. Just that quickly, I heard an all-too-familiar Southern voice call out: “Tasha Renee, get in this car, Girl!”

I looked up and saw Mom poking her head out of the passenger’s side of that grey Toyota 4-Runner, with Dad just noddin’ and grinnin’ away. I hurriedly grabbed my bags and threw them in the back, then Dad treated me and Mom to IHOP. We got home around a quarter to one, and I didn’t even unpack my bags—I just lay them by my closet door and plopped down on my bed, where I took a good long nap.

I only woke up about fifteen minutes ago, and I see that it’s almost 4pm PST right now. Dad’s still throwing me a “Welcome Back” party, so I guess I had better get ready for it. I’m still trying to get back into the Southern Cali groove of things, but that won’t take too long. Heck, I haven’t even called Ray to let him know that I’m back home, but I’ll call him later on this evening. Right now, I’m just gonna relish in the fact that… FINALLY, THE VIPRESS HAS COME BACK… HOME!!!

Well, let me go ahead and close up this blog post… oh, while it’s on my mind, I just want to say that I find it so apropos that the first blog for the month of June and my return to the Golden State coincided with one another—I couldn’t ask for anything more.

In any event, I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow when I come home from church… and tomorrow is Communion Sunday, isn’t it?

Oh, Cali—you haven’t changed a bit.

Until tomorrow, y’all have a good one!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

A Recap of Mother's Day 2013

Hi, Everyone!

I’m done with classes, and I’m here in the library, just chillin’… and talkin’ to y’all!

I want to start off today’s blog post by saying that I had a great Mother’s Day yesterday, all things considered. Ruby invited me and Theo to her mom and dad’s house yesterday. If anything, Theo and I surprised Mr. & Mrs. Hudspeth when we walked into the church. Afterwards we were gonna go to dinner, but everybody and their mama (pun definitely intended) was overcrowding every restaurant this side of the Mississippi, so Mr. Hudspeth decided to follow through with his alternative: He cooked us all a steak dinner, but he went all out for Mrs. Hudspeth, and his theme all day yesterday was: “What the hell—it’s Mother’s Day!” He kept saying that everytime Mrs. Hudspeth requested something.

Ruby mentioned to me and Theo that it makes her blush when she sees her dad put up such a fuss over her mom. “He would go get water from the moon if she asked him to,” she said.

Of course, I shared some Mama Dani stories with the group. I told them about the time my mom called me an ungrateful heffa on a Saturday evening, and then Sunday morning in church, she testified that The Lord blessed her with “a wonderful, darling sweetheart of a daughter.” Naturally, I was confused, but Mrs. Hudspeth broke it down to me in a very simple way.

“You see, Natasha, those were two separate days,” she said. “And besides, you know your mom loves you. Now, I don’t know what you did for her to call you an ungrateful heffa, but you have to understand that she had a different perception of you at that precise moment. And hell, I feel where Mrs. Stewart is comin’ from—Ruby makes me wanna chokeslam her ass from time to time, but I still love her nonetheless.”

Now, y’all do know that Theo had a field day and teased us mercilessly… and Mr. Hudspeth got in some potshots as well. But hey, it was all in fun.

Well, y’all, I’m gonna cut it short today, but I shall holla at y’all tomorrow with yet another blog post pertaining to my very busy college life. Until then, have a good rest-of-the-day.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Happy Mother's Day!

Hi, Everyone—and Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, grandmoms, aunties, godmothers, and moms-to-be!

In celebration of this very special today, I’ve got to recognize a very special woman in my life. She is five feet two inches tall, and was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. Her first name is Hebrew for “God is my judge,” and her middle name is French for “reborn.” This woman is the youngest of five children, is a huge fan of The Cosby Show, and also holds the honor of being the only child of Clark and Vivian Jones to have never gotten a whuppin.

 

That’s right, y’all—I’m making reference to my very own mother, Danielle Renee Stewart!

At the risk of sounding biased, I have the most incrediblest mother in the whole, wide world. She is just a darling woman—and I mean that, sincerely. Hell, now that I think about it, I can boldly make that statement about my mom because she’s my mom! Since my debut at Rust, I’ve professed to anyone who would listen that when it comes to moms, Mrs. Danielle Renee Stewart is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. I admire how she handles all types of situations, be they good, bad, or indifferent. She handles each of them the same way: she’ll tilt her head to the left, nod affirmatively, and then say something quick-witted.

 

While it’s no secret that I am a Daddy’s Girl, there is a very special bond between a girl and her mother, especially when that girl’s mother is Danielle Renee Stewart. Y’all just don’t know: In the time that we have been apart, I have noticed that I am more and more like my mom in every way, from the short stature (although she is two inches taller than I) to the sweet but strong voice. I have also come to the conclusion that if The Lord were to give me an option to replace “Mama Dani” with another woman whom I would refer to as my mother, I would say: “Thanks, Lord, but I’ve stuck it out this long with the mom you gave me originally—I’m willing to go all the way.” I guess I’ve just fully realized that my mom is very, very special, and I am so grateful to God for blessing me with a wonderful mother like Danielle Renee Stewart.

 

I’m gonna close today’s blog post with a picture of my mom, on her 40th Birthday!

 

And last but not least, here’s an oldie but a goodie: Mama, this one’s for you!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha