MyBrownBaby

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!)

...And Let the Prayer Circles Commence

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:01:32 PDT

See here’s the thing: This baby is adorable—I’ll give her that.And I’m impressed with her ability to pick up on and break down the latest dance craze at such a tender age.*Even as she still struggles with finding her way to a toilet on her own (as evidenced by the droopy diaper).*What I don’t get is why this child—a baby!—is on YouTube in knee-socks and the aforementioned droopy diaper, popping

Wordless Wednesday: What Happens When Three Brown Girls Have Too Much Time On Their Hands (and unrestricted access to a MacBook)

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:01:02 PDT

MyBrownBaby MOM OF THE MONTH: Jennae Petersen

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:01:01 PDT

Our "Go Green" efforts at the MyBrownBaby household are cute and all—we use recycled bags at the grocery store, we keep our showers to three minutes or less, and we recycle everything from our newspapers to the cardboard boxes our Dove soap comes in. But what we do is mere child's play compared to my girl, Jennae Petersen, purveyor of the drool-worthy blog, Green Your Decor. On her site, Jennae

Proof That I'm Doing My Job: Black Girls and Self-Esteem

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:02:04 PDT

Check out the essay Lila penned as part of a school-wide PTA arts competition in which entrants were asked to give their artistic take on the theme, “Beauty is…” Your girl chose this topic without prompting from her mother, and I can't be more proud of what she wrote. (The picture is an illustration she whipped up for the essay.) *Dabs at eyes, pats heart, leaps for joy!* Check it out:BEAUTY IS..

On the MyBrownBaby Table: The Warm Mediterranean Flavors of Moussaka

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:05:40 PDT

By SHELLEY CHAPMANOctober can be wishy washy: Some days it's warm, some days it's cool and some days it's just plain cold. Fall is the time when we begin to slow down, plan for the months ahead and, if you're like me, get your palate ready for warm, comforting winter dishes. I enjoy exotic tastes and experimenting with flavors, spices and textures that transport me to enchanting locales.

Yet Another Reason Why Mothers Totally Rock

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:26:15 PDT

“A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” ~ Tenneva Jordan So. True.

Something Old, Something New: The Color of Love

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:35:14 PDT

Yup, I used to be one of them—the black woman who would throw dead fish eyes and hella shade in the direction of African American men who dared high-step with white women draped on their arms. It didn’t matter who they were or that I didn’t know them from Adam or that they might have really liked each other: If he chose her, I took it personal.Really personal.It felt like an affront, see? Like

Let's Talk About Sex, Baby!

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:01:01 PDT

My talk with my mom about menstruation went something like this:Me: “Mommy? We learned about periods in health class today. The teacher said we should get this kit. It comes with books and pads and stuff.”My mom: “Okay.”Uh, huh. That was the end of the conversation. She ordered the kit for me -- it came with three books about puberty and an assortment of pads and tampons -- and when it arrived,

A Sneak Peek At Disney's "The Princess and the Frog"

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:26:08 PDT

Just one more month until Princess Tiana takes a bow on the big screen in Disney's new movie, "The Princess and the Frog," a sweet spin on the classic tale of a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again. In this version, the frog and Tiana share a fateful kiss that leads them on an action-packed adventure through the mystical Louisiana bayous. My girls absolutely can not wait to get

Living Without My Radio: What's Spinning On The (Kid-Friendly) MyBrownBaby iTouch

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:01:40 PDT

If you've read my post about MY BEEF WITH BLACK RADIO, you know I don't get in the car without my special home made mix of kid-friendly/mom-approved music. I mean, I'd much prefer the babies groove to Chrisette Michelle's "Be Okay," De La Soul's "Me, Myself & I," or Michael Jackson's "Can't Help It," than the hot mess they're pumping into out stereos these days. I mean, Lil Boosie's "Better

Wordless Wednesday—A Black Butterfly's Pretty Wings

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:01:00 PDT

I'm no fan of bugs—not even genteel lady bugs or butterflies with pretty wings. My girls, however, don't hesitate to get up close and personal looks at creepy crawlies (as I recounted in Girls Are Made of Snakes and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails, Too!), and so when they found this colorful Monarch fluttering about in our driveway, they couldn't resist picking it up and giving it a looksie. Isn't it

But Words Will Never Hurt Me…

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:01:02 PDT

By MELANIE EDWARDSThere is this thing in the Latino culture where your parents, or other relatives, will often say “terms of endearment” that if were said in the English language would be down-right insulting and offensive.Examples:Spanish term/phrase: Esta gordita! English Translation: She's fat!Spanish term/phrase: NegritaEnglish Translation: Dark-skinned girlSpanglishBaby posted about this

New On the Parenting Post: What Tough Girls Are Made Of

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:01:01 PDT

The girl had Mari by a few inches and at least 20 lbs, and she wasn’t afraid to bulldoze my baby whenever the soccer ball came near. I saw her checking my child -- slamming her girth against Mari’s sides, elbowing her, tripping her with her humongous cleats. Mari, in her first season of soccer, was frustrated by it -- couldn’t figure out how to get past this wall of a girl without being hit/

A MyBrownBaby Weekend: Getting Blogalicious In The A!

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:01:00 PDT

Oh yeah—this is the weekend that the super smart, super cutie, super sweet women of MamaLaw bring their inaugural Blogalicious conference to Atlanta. Bloggers of color and the bloggers who love them will travel from far and wide to meet, party, and exchange experiences and ideas with one another for the three-day event, which kicks off tonight at The W Atlanta Midtown. Justice Fergie, Justice Ny

THE END ZONE: A SON LEARNS TO DEAL WITH HARD KNOCKS ON THE GRIDIRON

denenemillner@gmail.com (MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:01:00 PDT

By VIVIAN EISONI snapped hundreds of photos of my youngest son, but my favorite is a black and white of him at age two. He's wearing the cheesiest smile and holding on for dear life to his Batman and Robocop toys. His saucer-shaped eyes are playful and slightly mischievous. He’d just bounced back from his bout with chicken pox. Life was sweet, simple and uncomplicated. I’m a softie for