Bodacious Bloggers is a series featuring some awesome bloggers that I think you should check out.

Blog Title(s): The View from the Balcony In My Head, The Undercover Diva and Project Ritchie  (click on the titles to view)

What are your blogs about?

My blogs are about me and the things that I feel and go through on a daily or regular basis. My very first blog, The View From The Balcony In My Head is a lot more about the emotions that I feel in my life- past and present- along with some of the things that make me happy, things that I like and just general daily things.

My second blog, The Undercover Diva, is more about being a girl and the things that I feel from that aspect alone. I am very much into fashion, makeup and all things glossy and fun so it is an arena for me to just be a girly girl. It is also about promoting self-esteem in other women. I also just started a new blog, Project Ritchie…and that is about my project to work on myself and become the woman I want to be.

Why did you start your blog(s)?

I started my blog after seeing a blog from a friend of my cousin (who is now my friend), and I just felt that it was God showing me a new avenue to be creative. The idea of it all just seemed so fun! I was also thinking heavily about exposure at the time, but then once I started it, I just found that I liked doing it for me. I mean, I loved to have some people read, but it became my own little fun addiction and escape.

When I started The Undercover Diva, it was really just because I was doing blog background shopping and was looking at all of these girly backgrounds, but I did not feel like that fit the tone of [my first one]. I was also at a point in my life where I was feeling like I wanted to be more girly and fun and not so dark and bleak…thus, I started a new blog!

With Project Ritchie, my friend was showing me a new blog site (tumblr) and so since I had been on this whole thing about Project Ritchie, I decided to take it to the next level. Honestly, I never thought that P.R. was really going to be that serious, but I feel that I need somethinig to hold me accountable to being committed to continuing to try and do what I should to better myself, and this blog has really got me feeling so inspired!

How do you decide what to write?

Deciding what to write about mostly just comes to me. I usually have so many ideas for things, and it is hard to get them all out. Since I am an emotional person, a lot of it has to do with whatever emotion that I am feeling or if I see something having to do with fashion or beauty, I will also add it to UCD. If I have feelings or emotions towards goal-setting or how I am feeling about helping to build my life, I will add it to PR. It just depends on where my mind is for the moment. It is definitely a gift from God because it really does just come to me. I do have my dry spells as well too though, but other than that, I just try to let it flow for the most, while still trying to keep some order to it.

What is your favorite post that you’ve written?

OMG! I don’t know [lol]. I would have to say Return of The China Doll may be my all time favorite. It was like one of my first posts on my first blog. It described me coming through my depression I was feeling at the time. I still had a little ways to go after I wrote it, but I LOVE that post! There are a lot more that I love as well. I think that ones that are really ripped straight from my heart are my most favorite. They are very near and dear!

What do you want readers to take away after reading your blog?

I just want my readers to be inspired! That is my purpose in all of the writing that I do. I also want them to feel like someone else out there is going through the same thing that they may be going through, too. I have been through a lot in my life, and it has not always been so easy, but God has always seen me through. One thing that I sort of wish I had was a book or a blog where someone could talk about how they were feeling. Sometimes, I feel that people may get sick of all my emotion at times and a couple of posts, I honestly have been tempted to delete, but then I think, ‘no, what if this could help someone else.’ Life is not always a bed of roses, you know. I feel that a lot of the mediums focus on the things that have nothing to do with soothing or healing a soul, so I try to be the voice or medium that I wish that I would have had a lot of times. I also just want people to know that life can also be very beatutiful in spite of it all, and so I try to elaborate on that as well. I feel that God puts his voice out through us, so I just try to share a lot of the things that he has put in my heart, soul and life through the gift of creativity!

Tips for people wanting to start a blog:

Well, in starting a blog, I would just say be true to yourself. I try to stay true to who I am in almost every aspect of my blog (i.e. content, background, etc.).

I would also say to network as much as you can. That is something that I did not do at first. Visit other blogs and join if you like. Add comments; a lot of times [people] follow you in return, and you get what I call a blog family. Lots of times, that makes a huge difference! I know that I feel a huge amount of support from my fellow bloggers! It really makes your day!

Nowadays, there are a lot of blogging clubs that you can join, like I joined Secret In The Sauce, [a place to] meet other bloggers across the country and have your blog featured at some point, which is great exposure.

Adding my blog to Twitter is something that I thought was cool just because more people can read it if they like. But mainly, just staying true is what is really important. I know that at times, I feel pressure to blog a certain way, but at the end of the day, I always remember that if God have me the gift to write the way I do, someone will be touched by it!

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Jamie

mochawriter.com

“I just don’t see any limits to my dreams.”

~Jill Scott

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Jamie

mochawriter.com

Ladies, do you ever feel like it’s okay/justifiable to date and/or have sex with another woman’s siginificant other or husband and you know he’s attached? Why or why not?

Personally, I don’t think it’s ever okay for someone to date another in a committed relationship. Period.  I wouldn’t want another woman to do it to me, so I wouldn’t dream of doing it. However, I know some women would do it to me regardless, and if they do, that’s on them because I believe in karma. I also believe that if he cheats with you, he will definitely cheat on you. To me, there is no excuse. What do ya’ll think?

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Jamie

mochawriter.com

Napptural Beauties features gorgeous beauties who rock their hair naturally.

How long have you been natural?

I’ve been natural for about two years and three months.

Why did you decide to go natural?

I had always admired women who wore their hair naturally. I believe I was a little envious of them because I wanted to be natural also but was afraid for the typical reasons- being concerned about what others would think, didn’t know how to take care of it, would I look bad, etc., etc.

How long did you transition?

My plan was to transition with braids until I was comfortable with the length of natural hair, then cut, but I couldn’t wait. It was driving me nuts, so I decided to just BC (big chop). I had a friend’s mother (who was a beautician) initially cut all my relaxed ends off. It was about seven to nine inches. She was scared to cut so much hair off at once; I thought it was funny. But when she was done, I loved it. I had about two inches of hair, maybe. Then the following week, I went to a natural hair salon and had a natural hair stylist clean it up. So, I guess to answer your question, my attempt at transitioning lasted about two months, lol.

What is your favorite hairstyle?

Right now, it’s the twist-out.

Do you have any hair inspirations? And if so, who?

Ooh, that’s a little difficult for me cause I have so many. Uh, let’s see…Rachel True, Measha Brueggergosman (Canadian opera singer), Ayo, Laura Izibor, Jill Scott, Jasika Nicole (the show Fringe), Yaya da Costa and many more.

What is the best thing about being natural to you?

When my hair was shorter, it used to be the fact that I could easily do a wash-n-go. Now, it’s simply that it’s free of chemicals and that I feel the freedom to play with it. What can I say? I’m still very much in love with my natural hair.

Any tips for transitioners and those new to natural?

Hands down, research and patience are your best friends. Keep in mind that every woman has “bad” hair days when your hair is absolutely gonna do whatever it wants. Don’t give up. Take it with a grain of salt and keep on moving. Also, don’t be afraid to try different things. That’s the only way you’ll learn what your hair needs.

Twist-Out

The sexy twist out

Are you a Napptural Beauty and want to be featured? Email me: forcoloredgurls [at] gmail [dot] com.

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Jamie

mochawriter.com

“You are in control of your destiny.”

~Eva Marcille

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Jamie

mochawriter.com

Hands down, Tracee is my favorite style icon! I even love her look as Joan on Girlfriends.  She always looks classy and put together. Pretty much every time I see her, I think, I’d wear that. And don’t get me started on that hair…Anyway, here are some of my favorite looks:

Photos from: clandestinechic, cupcakestyleonline, secondcitystyle

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Jamie

mochawriter.com

“You’ve got to follow your passion. You’ve got to figure out what it is you love- who you really are. And have the courage to do that. I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams.”

~Oprah

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Jamie

mochawriter.com

I was just on Facebook procrastinating doing a little social networking, and I came across this status from a black guy (this is important):

“I’m gonna have to get me a white/asian/african/latin, basically non-black gurl…”

People commented, of course, and he says he doesn’t want a black girl because:

• We overlook good men and blame everyone for getting the dumb guy.
• He gets overlooked by black women because he doesn’t have dreads, etc. Presumably, he’s a good guy because he goes on to say that he approaches women like a gentleman, invites them to a movie and/or dinner, but we BS around.

********

Oh boy…where do I even begin? And do I even want to go here? I feel led in my spirit to comment lol. I would have commented on his status, but I feel like, hey, maybe I can help someone else who feels like he does.

Ok, if you really want to try dating women of other races, must you announce it to the world through Facebook? I guess it could be a good thing because if that is your mindset, then I’d much rather avoid you at all costs, and I’m sure all us other black women would too- I mean,I already have a BLACK boyfriend…but I digress.

Seriously, what is it with some black men and their need to date women of other races while dissing black women? I mean, I totally get not discriminating when it comes to love and marriage and all that good stuff- I’m all for it. What I am not for is the black guy who says, ‘Ugh, I can’t stand black women. They are so ignorant and loud and ghetto. They don’t know a good man when they see one, etc., etc., etc.’

Number one, have you ever considered that you might actually be the problem? If you keep running into the same type of women, regardless of race, then something is wrong with you! I mean, you’re obviously the common denominator!

Number two, brothas, pleeeeaaaase stop generalizing us and trying to put us in one box. I don’t care if you’ve dated 100, 200, 300 black women and all of them are, for lack of a better stereotype, ”ghetto, loud and uneducated”, all the other millions of other black women in the U.S. are not necessarily that way. And stop trying to find an excuse to date non-black women. Like I said, I’m totally for interracial loving, but please, stop with the bashing…That is all : D

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Jamie

mochawriter.com

As you know by now (I hope), I’m a freelance writer.

First, let me tell you what I do: in a nutshell, I write lots of different things (i.e., articles, blogs, brochures, etc.) for entrepreneurs/business owners, nonprofits and individuals like musicians and artists (here’s a full list of services). I also write articles for magazines, newspapers and websites.

So, why should you hire me?

1. I know what I’m doing. I have five years of writing experience, a degree in mass communication from Georgia College & State University, and I have written in a lot of areas on a lot of different topics.

2. I am reliable. You can count on me to do what I say I will, and if it’s not right (or you don’t like it), I will work with you so you’re satisfied.

3. Other people think I’m good : ). Check out a couple of testimonials here.

4. Because I’m me (he, he). You always want to work with someone who is friendly and easy to work with, and I like to think I’m that way.

So…if you’re interested, send me an email (jamiefleming@mochawriter.com), Tweet, Facebook msg, etc. and let me know!

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Jamie

mochawriter.com