Tag Archives: Focus

Jun16

Remembering Ruby Dee

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Celebrating the legacy of the incomparable Ruby Dee.

With NANBPWC, INC. spokesperson, Ruby Dee, in New York (circa 1991). Also pictured (Left to Right) Shelley Eaddy, Jacqui Gates, me and Ronnie Harris. To be the best that I can be… I am figuratively standing on her shoulders, and my hands are literally on her shoulders.

Ruby Dee and Us

The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC, Inc.) was founded by Emma Odessa Young, a realtor from New York City and a member of the New York Club of Business and Professional Women, who conceived the idea of a national organization of business and professional women in 1934.

During this time in our history, black people were called “Negroes”. Very few had businesses or professions. Many were still deep in the throes of the depression. The fact that these black women had the courage to found such an optimistic organization is astounding and a lasting testimony to their faith in themselves, our people, and the future.

Jun15

Sunday Reflections

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Psalms 103:13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him. My dad, Cecil Williams. After this dude, the rest is a piece of cake. ‪#‎daddysgirlforreal‬!! Happy Father’s Day.

Daddy Photo

Jun10

Make Hay While The Sun Shines

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Make Hay While the Sun is Shining

BY ADESEWA OYINKANSOLA

What can be done today
Never leave till tomorrow
Yesterday is but a past
Tomorrow may never come
This reminds me of the saying:
“Make hay while the sun shines.”

Procrastination is but a thief
Little children never be deceived
Never allow a later spirit
To delay what you can do now
For you must, my dear friend
Make hay while the sun shines

Credit: Face2Face Africa

May30

Don’t Ignore Your Passion

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Mold Your Career Around Your Passion

May29

White Chocolate & Cranberry Crispy Treats

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It has been a crazy few weeks in the world of TenaciousM! And my #chocolatefriendsofTenaciousM have suffered and let me know about it. To them I say: “My bad, and I back!”

Is there a better pairing than sweet, juicy berries and rich, luscious chocolate? I don’t think so. Since I had already offered a few milk and dark chocolate sweets this month I decided to use white chocolate. I also wanted to make a bar cookie, just for something different. After looking through my collection of cookie magazines for something suitable to the theme, I chose a recipe from a Better Homes & Gardens magazines – White Chocolate & Cranberry Crispy Treats.

Little did I know I would be learning something new along the way about white chocolate. Technically white chocolate is not really chocolate at all because it does not contain any cocoa solids/chocolate liquor (which I did know). It is usually made from cocoa butter, milk solids, milk fat, sugar, vanilla, and salt. But anything that calls itself chocolate is my friend! Enjoy!!

White Choc-Cran Crispy 4

Ingredients

Crispy Treats ~
¼ cup butter
5 cups mini marshmallows
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 cups crispy rice cereal
1 cup white baking pieces
1 cup dried cranberries
½ cup finely chopped pecans, toasted

Marshmallow Topping ~
1 tablespoon butter
1½ cups mini marshmallows

Preparation

Crispy Treats ~
1. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking pan; set aside.
2. In a 4- to 5-quart saucepan, melt butter over low heat.
3. Add marshmallows, stirring until melted, then stir in cinnamon.
4. Add crispy rice cereal, white baking pieces, and dried cranberries, stirring until combined.
5. Scoop mixture into prepared pan. With the back of a greased spoon (or hands), press mixture evenly into pan.
6. If desired, drizzle with Marshmallow Topping.
7. Let stand for 1 hour before serving.
8. Cut into bars (makes approximately 48 bars).

Marshmallow Topping ~
1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat.
2. Add marshmallows, stirring until melted.
3. Drizzle over crispy treats if desired.

May27

A lonely job…

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Good advice. Writers beware!

May16

Creative People…

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Sound familiar? It’s all good, so Dream On!!

Creative People TraitsCreative People Traits 2

May11

Sunday Reflections

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Shine Bright Like A Diamond

Matthew 5:14-16

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

May7

#BringBackOurGirls: Nigeria FINALLY Accepts U.S. Help To Rescue Kidnapped Girls

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Originally posted by By Boko Haram,on Bossip:#BringBackOurGirls: Nigeria FINALLY Accepts U.S. Help To Rescue Kidnapped Girls But Is It Too Late?
MAY 7, 2014

nigeria21

Why is Nigeria lagging in the effort to find the 300 kidnapped schoolgirls?

Nigeria Accepts US Help To Rescue Kidnapped School Girls
Via CBS News reports:

President Obama said Tuesday that the U.S. would do everything possible to help Nigeria find nearly 300 teenage girls missing since they were kidnapped from school three weeks ago by an Islamic extremist group that has threatened to sell them.

Mr. Obama said the immediate priority was finding the girls, but that in the longer term, the Boko Haram group must also be dealt with.

Speaking to CBS News Tuesday, Mr. Obama said the U.S. was “sending in a team of our military, law enforcement and other experts and we’re really glad that Nigeria has accepted the help.”

CBS News correspondent Margaret Brennan said Secretary of State John Kerry first told Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday that the U.S. would send in the team, which would include hostage negotiators and intelligence experts, to help in the search.

“We remain deeply concerned about the welfare of these young girls, and we want to provide whatever assistance is possible in order to help for their safe return to their families,” said Kerry.

The technical experts heading to Nigeria will include U.S. military and law enforcement personnel skilled in intelligence, investigations, hostage negotiating, information sharing and victim assistance, as well as officials with expertise in other areas, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

U.S. armed forces were not being sent, Carney note.

Nigeria’s police have said more than 300 girls were abducted from their secondary school in the country’s remote northeast on April 15. Of that number, 276 remain in captivity and 53 managed to escape.

Another eight girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants early Tuesday morning or late Monday evening, according to local police and villagers who spoke to Reuters by phone. French news agency AFP reported Wednesday morning that 11 girls were actually seized in that latest raid on the village of Warabe. The discrepancy in numbers could not be immediately reconciled.

We hope to God it’s not too late to save these innocent girls! In a perfect world Boko Haram loses captivity of these girls when it sells them. All 300 have well-established identities from photos. Getting them out of the control of BR should be a top priority. But then they can be freed from their less militant captors one by one. Then, the monsters who perpetrated these kidnappings can be caught up with and themselves taken as prisoners.

May4

Sunday Reflections

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Count It All Joy James 1_2-4

To get to the “promised land,” you’ll have to navigate your way through the wilderness. All of us encounter obstacles, problems, and challenges across our paths, and our decisions as to how we respond to them and view them are significant.

James 1:2-4 (TLB), “Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.”

A man with twenty challenges is twice as alive as a man with ten. If you haven’t got any challenges, you should get down on your knees and ask, “Lord, don’t you trust me anymore?” So what if you’ve got problems – that’s good! Why? Because consistent victories over your problems are important steps on your stairway to success. Be thankful for challenges, for if they were less difficult, someone with less ability would have your job.

“A successful man will never see the day that does not bring a fresh quota of problems, and the mark of success is to deal with them effectively. “ Credit: Lauris Norstad