MyBrownBaby

Celebrating Colorful Voices with the Moms of Hue

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:58:39 PST

I'm an African American mom with brown babies, and I take great pleasure in writing about the issues that moms of color and mothers of children of color face as we raise our kids. And while I happily co-sign the idea that at the base of it, all of us moms want the same things for our children—for them to be happy, healthy, smart, kind, honest, trustworthy, successful human beings—we simply do not

The MyBrownBaby Happy For The Holidays $110 Kodak Visa Gift Card Giveaway

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:57:15 PST

I started my Christmas shopping yesterday (finally!) and it hurt my feelings to hand over all my lil’ bit a money to The Man. Like seriously. You should have seen me cross-referencing and googling and checking shipping fees and coupon coding my way through my list. See, these days, I can’t afford to be anything but frugal when it comes to what I buy, because really, I need every penny of our

The MyBrownBaby Happy For The Holidays Black Movie Night Giveaway!

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:56:55 PST

Okay, raise your hand if you watch Love & Basketball, Love Jones, The Best Man, New Jack City, Set it Off, Mo’ Betta Blues, or Boomerang—or a combination of a few or all of the above—at least once a month.*Waving BOTH of my hands wildly!* Like, seriously? I SUPER HEART black love stories, particularly the ones starring our Black Brat Pack (Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Jada Pinkett, Sanaa Lathan,

The MyBrownBaby Happy For The Holidays Beautiful Home Decor Giveaway!

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:19:54 PST

Here’s what you should know about me: I’m a closet interior design freak. I mean, the moment I could form the words, I was asking my Dad to push my dresser from one side of my room to the other, and by the time I was a teenager, I was demanding hot pink on the walls, frilly curtains on the windows, and all manner of dressy pillows and bedspreads to set it off up in my room. Now that I’m in my own

The MyBrown Baby Happy For the Holidays HAND-CRAFTED JEWELRY GIVEAWAY!

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:41:29 PST

You see, I’m a bare-face kinda girl and whatnot. I don’t wake up in the morning and shower and put on my clothes and slather make-up on my face just because. In fact, it’s just by small miracle that I even have on clean clothes when I’m stalking the aisles at the local Kroger, trying to make it back to the house before the bus comes and my girls tumble down the street and up our front steps and

The MyBrown Baby Happy For the Holidays CHILDREN'S BOOK GIVEAWAY!

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:27:18 PST

My daughter Mari was just a little peanut in my belly when I gave her her first gift— copies of Ezra Jack Keats’ “The Snowy Day,” Faith Ringold’s “Tar Beach,” and “More More More Said the Baby,” by Vera B. Williams. They were—and still are!—beautiful books with incredible stories—about the simplicity of a little brown boy and his dog enjoying a cold, winter day; about a little brown girl’s love

20 Things: I'm Grateful...

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:47:11 PST

• for my Nick, who loves me and our children to the marrow, even when we get to trippin’. This doesn’t happen often. But oh, when it does… let’s just say he’s a trooper. • for my Mari’s intelligence, tenacity, sensitivity, and focus. She’s more responsible at 10 than I was at 30. This comes in handy. Real handy.• for my Lila’s free spirit, sense of humor, and.off-the-wall antics. She’s scary

The Beautiful Mind Contest Winner!

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:01:02 PST

We’re celebrating great writing here at MyBrownBaby today with the announcement of the first winner of The MyBrownBaby Beautiful Mind Writing Contest. Thank you to my guest judge Tameka of the lovely Tea & Honey Bread, who not only read all of this month’s entries on the topic, “Peace,” but donated the prize for this month’s contest—a stunning, handmade 19” copper ladder link necklace with a 2”

ARRRGH! What Do You Mean It's Only 32 Days Before Christmas?!

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:01:02 PST

I.Am.Not.Ready.But come next week, MyBrownBaby is going to help get YOU ready for the holidays. One word: GIVEAWAYS.A week's worth!Yup!I'm setting it off on Cyber Monday, that glorious day when online holiday shopping kicks off. Be sure to check back in next week to see all of the wonderful giveaways I've got in store for you. If you're not following MyBrownBaby or you're not an email subscriber,

On the MyBrownBaby Table: Candied Yam Sticky Buns

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:32:04 PST

By SHELLEY CHAPMANIn addition to November being my birthday month, I have many reasons to love this time of year—particularly because of all the goodies I get to create and consume. Between Halloween treats, birthday dinners, Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas gatherings and New Year's Eve galas, I often find myself in culinary heaven. In past years, my offerings have been confined to my friends and

Come Check Out the ATL Screening Of "Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage."

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:10:00 PST

It's no secret I stan hard for Lamar and Ronnie Tyler, the dynamic duo behind the fab, award-winning site BlackandMarriedWithKids.com; they're eloquent, smart, and an incredible example of the beauty that is black love. Indeed, the couple is so passionate about the need for African American men and women to figure out the love thing that they made a movie about it—a ground-breaking documentary

Wordless Wednesday: How Not To Talk About Africa

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:01:01 PST

I just adore this video, a satire piece by Binyavanga Wainaina of Kenya—and not just because it stars the absolutely delicious Djimon Hounsou. Wainaina uses this thought-provoking, at times comical commentary to point out the more ignorant attitudes that find their way into Western literature and other written stories about Africa. Personally, I think we could sub in pretty much any group—black

Styling a Black Girl's Hair Is No Job For Daddies!

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:01:00 PST

By MOCHA DADMy daughter, Nee, has absolutely no confidence in my ability to do her hair. Whenever I attempt to style it, she becomes more obnoxious than Rush Limbaugh.Recently, my wife, KayEm, had to run an errand and I thought I would surprise her by combing and styling Nee’s hair (even though, Nee prefers KayEm to do her hair, it’s not a pleasant experience for either party. If you’ve ever

Black Moms ARE Different—and That's OK.

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:01:01 PST

So, after yet another white mom stomped onto MyBrownBaby accusing me of "segregating" myself for writing about issues affecting black moms, my homegirl Akilah over at the fabulous Execumama told me that I should "never freakin' explain again" why I do what I do. She's right, you know; if people bothered to look around and read the actual content on MyBrownBaby, they wouldn't get hung up on the

Home Made Love: Mari's Chocolate Sticky Bread

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:01:01 PST

By MARI CHILESTo start this off I just want to say that CHOCOLATE STICKY BREAD IS THE BEST DESSERT EVER! Just trust me: once you taste it, you will agree with me, and you will tell everyone that you know that it's your favorite.I first learned this recipe at this awesome summer cooking camp [my mom has probably written about it] called Young Chefs Academy. We get half of our dinner, lunch, and

Is "Precious" Realism or Poverty Porn? Help Me Figure Out If I Should Buy A Movie Ticket

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:24:01 PST

I'm feeling some kinda ways about the new movie, Precious, and the jury is still out over whether I want to plunk down my $10.50 to check it out. I mean, I get that the movie, about a Harlem teenager who is physically, mentally, and sexually abused by her parents and ostracized for being obese, has incredible buzz and folks are already whispering that a few of the cast members should get their

Word(ful) Wednesday: Grooving to New "Princess and the Frog" Music with Anika Noni Rose and Ne-Yo

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:01:03 PST

Oh man, when Dreamgirls hit movie theaters on Christmas Day a few years back, Nick and I hosted a huge gift exchange and brunch at my house, and then we all rolled to the movie theater—25 people deep—to see Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, and Anika Noni Rose light up the screen. What we saw was magical; I mean we danced and laughed all through the movie, and when we got home, my girls relived the

Babies and Bubbles: Natural Ways To Care For Your Child's Delicate Skin

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:36:50 PST

By KAREN PETERSWhen my first son was born, I didn’t think twice about running out and purchasing the usual fare: petroleum jelly, baby oil, and the moisturizer that we all associate with that magical "baby smell.” I had about seven or eight baby bags already packed with all these products—everything I thought I needed to take care of my baby. For sure, I believed that the products everyone else

The Joys (and Pains!) of Kinky, Curly Black Girl Hair

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:01:00 PST

By DENENE MILLNERThe torture usually came on Saturday evenings, in the kitchen. I’d be sitting on a stack of thick yellow phone books and a pillow, squished between my mother’s knees; she’d be perched on the hard wooden kitchen chair, bent over and leaning in at some ungodly angle, trying hard to tame the kinky curls at the nape of my neck with gobs of thick grease and a scorching hot comb.I can

Help MyBrownBaby Support the Greening Youth Foundation

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:01:00 PST

It’s no secret that I’m a total stan for my sister-in-law, Angelou, and not just because she’s smart, accomplished, passionate and fly. I can’t say it enough: She’s an inspiration (and she lets me rock all her shoes, purses, and cute tops!). An attorney by trade, Angelou founded a little over a year ago her own non-profit environmental education program for kids, GREENING YOUTH, to help encourage

The MyBrownBaby Beautiful Mind Writing Contest

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:01:03 PST

The written word is sexy as hell to me. I mean, I adore writers and their turns of phrase like a car lover does the fine, sleek lines of a Porsche—like an art lover does the passion and intricacies of a Romare Bearden collage. When I worked in an office, I used to clip magazine articles, quotes, and turns of phrase by some of my favorite writers and hang them up on my wall for inspiration. They

Wordless Wednesday: The Cousins In a New York State of Mind

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:31:18 PST

This is, for sure, one of my favorite pictures of Lila, Miles, Mari, and Cole—taken in the middle of Times Square on the first day of one of our family vacations to New York City. We're native New Yorkers, and when we were living there, it was way too hokey to get caught doing the touristy thing. That's for, like, tourists. But then we all moved South, and when we visited home for the first time,

Check Out MyBrownBaby On The Rachael Ray Show!

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:28:58 PST

Exciting news! Today, I'm one of four mommies kicking it with the celebrated chef/author/magazine editorRachael Ray on her fabulous afternoon gabfest, The Rachael Ray Show. I joined Rachael, actress Rikki Lake, and three other moms via Skype to talk about all things motherhood—and, true to form, I gave my own unique perspective on what it means to be a mommy in 2009.To get a sneak peak, click

A LETTER FOR MY FATHER: A Daughter Reaches Out to the Dad Who Never Was

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:02:03 PST

By KAREN MARIE MASONDear Daddy,Mama told me your were dead. Except that was way before you actually died. But when I started acting up around age 16 or so—you know, the age when girls start “feeling their oats,” as Mama used to say—you suddenly came alive again, and next thing I knew, I was talking to you on the phone and not much later, I was on a plane to see you. I’m not mad at Mama any more

A MyBrownBaby Weekend: Bring On the Candy!

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:01:02 PDT

Now, y'all know I love me some gummy bears. And chocolate (the good kind). And Now & Laters. And Double Bubble bubble gum. All of that is in my Halloween basket—the one that's SUPPOSED to be for the Trick or Treaters.Uh huh.Let's hope at least SOME of it makes it into their bags.(tee hee!)For those who celebrate it, have a happy Halloween!(And enjoy that extra hour of sleep!)