Random Question/Rant of the Day

Why can't "we" be happy for each other? It's amazing that in my 31 years, I have felt more racism and prejudice from my "own people" than from "them". While in college, it was my black friends who laughed when I said I wanted to become an attorney. In law school, it was mainly the black students who were upset when they found out I had good grades and landed a firm job. It's black people who call me "booji" because I can (gasp) drive a nice car and live in a nice house, instead of choosing to live with my mama and have the nice car. It was my black secretary who disrespected me and treated me as if I was inferior and mistakenly given a law degree and bar membership. WHY? I just don't get it. Why is it ok for "them" to have educations, large bank accounts, nice homes, and goals/ambitions BUT when "we" want and earn these same things, we're trying to "act white" or we're not "black" enough. My husband's cousin sarcastically refers to us as the "Huxtables" as if that's a bad thing. I just don't get it. I am proud when I hear that one of us is a doctor, lawyer, entrepreneur. Travel Diva's brother attends an Ivy League college and I told everyone as if he was my sibling. I was so proud. I just don't get it. It's the 21st century and we still have the old slavery mentality. The reason for my rant is because my ex-secretary who I finally dropped after 7 excruciating months together is still obsessed with me. It's like it angers her that a black woman from Bmore could actually be an attorney. Every day I hear about some stupid comment she has made about me. She doesn't like me because I actually wanted her to .....gasp....treat me with the same respect as she gives to the white partner who walks around telling everyone she's "stupid". She can smile in her face and kiss her-ss because she's supposed to get respect BUT for me, she recently questioned the "ranking" of my law school and was "surprised" that the manager of the litigation department exclusively provides me with his work. WTF???? I don't care about her because she's just a disgruntled middle-aged woman who's just hatin' BUT what I do care about is that there are millions like her. Now, I have to tell/teach my kids that they will likely face prejudice by not only "them" but "us" too. That's just sad. Very, Very sad.

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

I love this couple..... It's about time that we see a "positive" black family in the media.

Whether he's our next president or not, I love them. I don't know about you BUT I'm tired of seeing and/or hearing about the poor struggling single mother with five kids, no job, and no daddy around for her kids. Or, the triflin' brotha locked up again because he won't pay his child support, sold drugs or got "caught up by the man". Hey, these people exist BUT they are not the only type of Black people in this country. Now, some of us don't care that the black family is virtually extinct and that's your choice BUT I care. This picture says so much more than I can write..... It's about DAMN time!

Joker of the WEEK Nominations

Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney - For singing "Who let the Dogs out?" to a crowd of African Americans in Jacksonville, Florida and asking a young child about "bling bling." He's about 10 years late on his stereotypes and ridiculous slang.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick - For not only having an affair with his chief of staff and lying about it under oath, he also was allegedly holed up in a hotel with another woman (Carmen Slowsky) enjoying a whirlpool bath and champagne just last week before attending an MLK prayer breakfast.

Former President Bill Clinton - For playing the race card yet again and comparing Obama's potential win in South Carolina to Jesse Jackson's victory and for losing the endorsement of his BFF Ted Kennedy to Obama.

Bobby Brown/Sisqo - Two Words: Gone Country.

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WINNER - JOKER OF THE WEEK

Congrats to GW for narrowily edging out Bill Clinton for a Joker of the Week win last week. Golf Magazine came in third.

Who will this week's winner be? Well Mitt Romney, who asked a young black child about bling bling and sang who let the dogs out to a group of African Americans looks like a solid contender....

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Side Hustle - Fashion Stylist and Image Consultant

Have you dreamed of making yourself and/or others look gorgeous and fabulous? Have you seen people walking down the street or a picture of a celeb in a magazine and wondered WTF???? Then this side hustle is perfect for you!!!! Click HERE and HERE to learn how you can become an image consultant or fashion stylist.

Fabulously Styled Couple of the Day - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arriving at the SAG Awards earlier today.




And the fabulously-styled couple getting frisky during the awards ceremony........

Speaking of Stylists, is Kim Kadarshian a shady stylist??? People Magazine is reporting that she allegedly abused her client's credit card............ Hmmmm....

R&B singer Brandy Norwood's mother filed a lawsuit Monday (feb 4) against Kim Kardashian accusing her of running up more than $120,000 in credit card charges without permission. The suit, which also names Kardashian's siblings Khloe, Kourtney and Robert Jr., alleges they ran up the charges on the mother's card while Kim worked as Brandy Norwood's stylist in 2006 and 2007. It seeks the return of the money plus 10 percent interest.


Kim Kardashian denied the allegations, telling PEOPLE she and her siblings had Norwood's permission to make the purchases. "We have her signature on all items," Kardashian says.

In the lawsuit, Norwood's mother, Sonja Norwood, who is also her manager, alleges Kim Kardashian had only been authorized in 2004 to make one purchase on the Norwood American Express card in Kim's then-capacity as a stylist for Brandy (Brandy's brother, Ray J, also appeared in the infamous sex tape with Kim).

But later, Kardashian, now starring in the E! reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, made unauthorized purchases and passed on Norwood's card number to her siblings, who also then made unauthorized purchases, including for items in two Kardashian family-owned clothing stores, Dash and Smooch, for a total of $120,636.

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Celebrity Side Hustles - Their Scent

These days every celebrity/socialite has a side hustle. It's not just for us fabulous folk anymore. Check out a few celebrity/socialite side hustles. Apparently, they believe we want their scent. Do We???

Kim Kardashian and her sisters, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian just launched their boutique website.

Hillary Duff is hawking perfume.


Ashanti is hawking perfume.


Britney Spears is hawking perfume.


Paris Hilton is hawking her scent.


The Beckhams are selling illegal hotness.


Jennifer Lopez brings us the scent of flowers.


The men are not to be outdone.

Usher is selling Usher.


Sean/Diddy/PuffDaddy/SeanCombs/Whoever is unforgivable.


Kreative Mix is feeling left out. She will wash her face, bottle the soapy water and sell it as the new "it" perfume of 2008. It will be called Kreative Sniff.

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Side Hustles - Ten Fabulous Ideas to Get you Started on Your own Side Hustle - Learn more about Stella & Dot

1. Get paid to Shop Shop Shop - Become a Mystery Shopper. Get paid to shop, dine, watch movies or spend time at theme parks, all for free!!! As a Mystery Shopper, you'll be the secret eyes, mouth or ears for fine establishments around the country. Pose as shopper to get feedback on customer service, professionalism, etc. You can't ask for a better side hustle than getting paid to shop and/or dine. Read more on Mystery Shopping right here.


2. Get paid to spend other peoples' cash - Start an Interior Decorating Biz. Do you have an eye for color and design? Does shopping for paint or furniture get your juices flowing? Click here to make your [k]reative vision a reality.


3. Get paid to brighten someone's day - Become a Florist/Flower Designer. Click right here to learn how you too can become part of this booming opportunity - expected revenues of $20 billion in 2008!!!


4. Get paid to make others look fabulous - Become a Makeup Artist. Click here to learn more.


5. Get paid to run personal errands - Start a Concierge Biz. With so many things to do and so little time, there is a huge market for concierge services. Click here to get started.


6. Get paid to spread romance - Write Romantic Stories. Becoming a romantic writer is really cool because romance never goes out of style. We all still swoon over those amazing guys in the romantic stories/movies, or over David Beckham......don't tell me you didn't see that coming. Click here to make us swoon.


7. Get paid to bring zen to the masses - Start a Spa Biz. Own a biz that brings relaxation to the masses. Click here to learn more.


8. Get paid to travel around the world - Become a Travel Writer. Definitely one of my dream jobs. Imagine getting paid to travel to Dubai, Milan, London, Capetown, Paris or [insert your dream destination]...........[insert wistful sigh]. Adventure, Luxury, Fabulosity. It doesn't get better than this. Click here and pack your bags.


9. Get Paid to Spend time with animals - Start a Pet Biz. Are you a pet lover? Can you see yourself playing with Fido all day? Well, this one's for you. Click here to pick up your leash!!


10. Get Paid to Cook - Become a Caterer. Do you love fabulous food and parties? Then, mix it up. Click here to learn more.

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Become an Independent Stylist with Stella & Dot (www.stelladot.com/boutiquemix)

Hello EVERYONE - I would love to introduce you to Stella & Dot's fabulous jewelry designs (www.stelladot.com/boutiquemix). I am a Stella & Dot Independent Stylist (MiMi Dabo; Stylist ID 103764) and love it!!

Stella & Dot is a stylishly creative direct sales company founded by women for women like you. It is a fab opportunity for women working from home, stay at home moms, fashionistas, jewelry lovers, women looking for a part-time job, side hustle, anyone who has lost their job, anyone looking to start a business with no overhead and women who want to live life to the fullest. Everyone deserves to indulge - what better job than hosting trunk shows with deserving women!! Stella & Dot offers a fun career, part-time alternative or wonderful side hustle to women who know the sky is the limit. Work as much or as little as you want.

Celebrities are not the only ones with the inside scoop on Stella & Dot. There's a reason why EVERYONE is wearing Stella & Dot. Stella & Dot has a lot of fabulous styles that I'm sure you and most of the women in your life would love adore. With 50% of the jewelry under $50, it fits every recessionista's budget.

Learn more about Stella & Dot at www.stelladot.com/boutiquemix and contact me at
boutique-mix@hotmail.com to host a Trunk show and/or join my team!!

Hosting a Trunk Show is quite simple, it can done in-house at a location of your choice (for those in the DC metro area) or online (fashionistas can shop in the comfort of their home - for those outside the DC metro area). As a hostess, you will earn hundreds of dollars in free jewelry; up to 25% of all sales. I have some availability for trunk show bookings and would love to add you to my fashionable schedule!! If you are not interested at this time, but know someone who would love to host a trunk show, shop, or make some part-time/full-time cash, please pass it on!

Signing up as an Independent Stylist is quite easy!! Just visit www.stelladot.com/boutiquemix and learn more or email me anytime at boutique-mix@hotmail.com. You get up to $350 in FREE JEWELRY to start your business, 50% off the fab jewelry, a free website and unparalleled support. It's the perfect opportunity to women who want to take charge of their financial future. Why not see what all the buzz is about and work for the BIG BOSS----YOU!!!

My Stella & Dot business (www.stelladot.com/boutiquemix) has provided me with so many great emotional and financial rewards that I want to share this wonderful opportunity with others. I am actively seeking people to join my team. You don't have to live in the DC metro area to join my team. You can join from anywhere. Sign on with me and Stella & Dot has a wonderful network of ladies around the country that will join me in providing encouragement and support to you all the way!! Not interested in signing on, host a trunk show, online or in-house.

Contact me at boutique-mix@hotmail.com or visit www.stelladot.com/boutiquemix

Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Stylishly yours,

MiMi (www.stelladot.com/boutiquemix)


P.S- If you are in the DC area and interested in becoming a stylist, join me at Shecky's Girls Night Out at the DC Constitutional Hall from 5pm to 10pm on October 13, 14 and 15. Email for your complimentary pass to Shecky's - DC's Ultimate Girl's Night Out Shopping Event this Season. Come see the jewels upfront, ask all the questions you want and see what Stella & Dot has to offer you. Can't make it to Shecky's, then email me and let's connect soon!!! With the holidays fast approaching, take advantage of the highest selling season - october - december - and get everything on your holiday wish list!!!

For more information on Shecky's, please CLICK HERE


Read more about the Stella & Dot business opportunity right here

Get Free Jewelry - Host a Trunk Show with MiMi and Be the Hostess with the Mostess

Be your own Boss - Become a Stylist with Stella & Dot (www.stelladot.com/boutiquemix)

Enjoy fabulous Style - Shop online (www.stelladot.com/boutiquemix)

Get Inspired - Watch Video of the Stella & Dot Story

To view the video, please click the link below:



MiMi (MiMi Dabo; Stylist ID 103764)
Owner, Buyer & Designer, Boutique Mix
Shop Stella & Dot Jewelry - http://www.stelladot.com/boutiquemix
Fashion Examiner Fashion Articles - http://www.examiner.com/x-2218-Fashion-Examiner

Ummmm, What?

I hope Jamie is looking this way for a role because the Samuel Jackson-Shaft look is not hot.

And Mama Sean John shows once again that money cannot buy class, style, taste and/or age appropriate clothing.

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They Tried to Make Her Go To Rehab..

Finally! Amy Winehouse checked into rehab today. Methinks the recent video of her smokin' crack surfin' the web might have been the straw that broke the camel's back. Detox and a long shower are in order.

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Detroit Mayor Caught Lying and Cheating - Is Monagamy Possible?

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was recently caught in lies. The married mayor and his married top aide/mistress lied under oath during a whistleblower lawsuit last summer. They testified under oath that they did not have any type of romantic relationship. Kilpatrick actually was indignant at the suggestion. Well, after looking through over 14,000 text messages (sent on city issued pagers), the Detroit Free Press discovered that Kilpatrick and his aide had exchanged some fairly provocative messages indicating a romantic and sexual relationship. The less explicit texts include:

• "I'm madly in love with you." Kilpatrick to Beatty.



• "I hope you feel that way for a long time. In case you haven't noticed, I am madly in love with you, too!" - Beatty to Kilpatrick.



• "I've been dreaming all day about having you all to myself for 3 days. Relaxing, laughing, talking, sleeping and making love." - Kilpatrick to Beatty.



• And, did you miss me, sexually?" Beatty to Killpatrick. "Hell yeah! You couldn't tell. I want some more." Kilpatrick to Beatty.



• "This is one of those little things I had to tell you. Last night when I was laying on your shoulder in the car and you held my face and sang whatever song it was, that felt so good. It was just one of those little moments when you just made me fall some more," - Beatty to Kilpatrick.

One particular night in '02
"Can I just come and lay down in your room until you get back?" Beatty to Kilpatrick.

"Yes," Kilpatrick replied.

The next morning:
"They were right outside the door. They [the mayor's bodyguards] had to have heard everything..., So we are officially busted! LOL." Kilpatrick to Beatty.

I feel bad for their spouses having to go through this kind of public humiliation. It's bad enough they've been betrayed, but to have it play out publicly. Horrific. Cheating is so common place that it's left me to ponder, is monagamy possible? And I mean monagamy for the longhaul - not one slip up.

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I Wish I Could Get This Close to LL....

Damn...
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"D'OH" - A Pair of Fools Mistake Bread For Cash

Two robbers, Benjamin Jorgensen, 38, and Donna Hayes, 36, were sentenced for robbing the Cuckoo Restaurant in Melbourne, Australia. They "thought" they were stealing $26,000 in cash when they grabbed a sack, but in actuality, they had mistakenly grabbed a sack of bread.

To compound matters, during the bread heist, Jorgensen accidentally fired his gun and shot Hayes, his accomplice, in the butt.

HAAAAA. Before sentencing them to prison (Jorgensen (7 years) & Hayes (8 years), Judge Roland Williams called them a "Pair of Fools." Agreed.

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Random Question of the Day

I was listening to the radio this morning and the host reported that he was "surprised" by a recent poll which showed that most women would choose a million in cash over Halle Berry's body. I am perplexed. Why is this surprising? If I had to choose between securing my family's financial future and having a body like Halle Berry, I would hands down choose the money. I've accepted that I will never look like Halle and I am ok with that. I have learned to love myself just the way I am--well, minus the preggers and post- preggers tummy. BUT, I have not accepted the fact that I don't have a large reserve in the bank. Hey, what would you choose? A million bucks or a body like Halle?

Guess Who Has Changed His Name Once Again?

None other than Puff, Puffy, I mean P-Diddy, or is it Diddy? Now, the most arrogant man in show business--well, perhaps a tie with Kanye--wants to be called by his legal name "Sean John". Gimme a break...

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Sad News - Heath Ledger Passed Away

CNN is reporting that actor Heath Ledger was found dead in a Manhattan apartment today. Tragic. My condolences definitely go out to his family and his little two year old. Ledger played in such films as Brokeback Mountain, 10 Things I hate about you, and is the Joker in the upcoming Batman flick.

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David Beckham visits Sierra Leone - Side Hustles = UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Underwear Model

It breaks my heart that the UNICEF Report released today states that Sierra Leone has the highest child mortality rate in the world. Hopefully we can make a tiny difference with the Sa Lone Pikin 2008 Pledge Campaign.

For those of you who read this blog, you already know how I feel about David Beckham. Guess where he is today??? The newly minted UNICEF Ambassador is in Sierra Leone today, bringing awareness to this child mortality issue, and playing around SHIRTLESS with the kids................... definitely warms my, ahem, heart :-)

Here's what he had to say ----

"We can't turn a blind eye to the tens of thousands of young children who die every day in the developing world mostly from causes that are preventable. In Sierra Leone, one in four children dies before reaching their fifth birthday. It's shocking and tragic, especially when the solutions are simple - things like vaccinations against measles or using a mosquito net to reduce the chance of getting malaria. Saving these children's lives is a top priority for UNICEF and as an ambassador I hope I can help to draw attention to this issue across the world. Surely there is no reward more precious than saving the life of a child? Their futures remain in our hands."

Can he be/sound any hotter???? If he starts singing African Queen, I"m putty in his hands :-) ... Sorry 2Face.......

Learn more about UNICEF.

At some point, you had to realize this post was all about Beckham......... Mercy!!! Check out the David Beckham for Emporio Armani Ad RIGHT HERE!!!




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Joker of the WEEK Nominations

Bill Clinton - For falling asleep on MLK day while listening to Martin Luther King Jr.'s son speak. Clinton must have had a different kind of dream eh?

Sherri Shepherd - For saying that Shirley Caesar was the Black Patti LaBelle. I'm guessing she meant the gospel Patti Labelle, but who knows?

Traceddie - For being part of a symbolic marriage for only two weeks.

Golf Magazine - For putting a picture of a noose on its recent cover in the wake of the Tiger Woods/lynch in the back alley scandal. Tacky. (Nadja recommendation!)

George W. Bush - For coming into office with a $236 billion budget surplus, squandering it and leaving us facing a recession and massive debt.

I don't know who I'm voting for...

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Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream - How do we carry on his Legacy?

Martin Luther King, Jr., had a dream. What is your dream? Are you living his dream? Or your dream? Or are you engulfed in a nightmare? As you read the words in his speech, ask yourself what you are doing to embrace Martin's legacy?

What contributions are you making to your family, your friends, your community, your country? What are you doing with the freedom that your civil rights leaders fought so hard to attain? Or maybe you're not yet free???? I'm sure that we all have differing opinions on what this speech means to us, but we can all agree that we owe Martin Luther King, Jr. the duty to live his legacy!!!!

As we read this speech, we must remember that this is not a "dream," but a call to action. A call to action in a dignified, peaceful, articulate and eloquent way. A directive to live full, rich lives, grateful for the sacrifices others made so we can be where we are today, have what we have today, work where we work today, eat where we work today, read, write and ride public transportion (and sit whereever we want).

We now have a duty to honor this legacy by doing what we can to change lives - educating our children, working for peace, providing financial resources to women around the world who need help starting out, working for social and economic reform, working for peace so that others can have the basic dream of food, shelter, clothing, clean water and the right to vote. We don't have to make a speech at the Lincoln Memorial to make a difference or carry on the legacy - Charity begins at Home!!!!

What will you do to carry on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream in 2008? You too, have a dream that [insert your dream/directive/legacy].

Below is an excerpt of one of the most powerful speeches in the history of the United States.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. *We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by a sign stating: "For Whites Only."* We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of
Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last

Excerpted from Americanrhetoric.com
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Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream - Are we living it or Crushing it?

Here's an excerpt of the most famous speech in our civil rights history --- As we read the words of this speech, let us not think of this as a "dream," but as a call or directive to live a rich and full life, a call to make a difference in our homes, our jobs, our communities and our countries. We should ask ourselves, what have we done to carry on this legacy? What can we do in 2008 that can change our lives and others? For freedom, For education, For food, shelter and clothing, For the right to vote, For peace!!! How will you carry on this legacy!!!! You have a dream that one day....[insert your dream/directive].

MLK Jr.'s Dream----

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of
Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Picture Source

UPDATED!! - Valentine's Day Sweepstakes - January 5 - February 5

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED THIS CONTEST!!!

Drumroll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations to everyone. I hope you enjoy your winnings. Please send your P.O.Box address or other mailing address to boutique-mix@hotmail.com and I will mail your prizes off this weekend. I will post pictures of the prizes on saturday before mailing them out. Enjoy!!!! STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CONTEST COMING NEXT WEEK FROM BOUTIQUE MIX!!!!

Giftbaskets
1. Kreativemix Site = Knikki from Popularly Unpopular
2. Rebuilding Sa Lone Site = Stman109 (Jan 7 12.54am entry time)

MiMi Necklaces
3. Kreativemix Site = Sunshine Mama (Jan 19 9.06pm entry time)
4. Online Daters Annonymous site = Bogueflower (Jan 29 5.28 entry time)

Fashion Necklaces
5. Kreativemix site = Lesha (Jan 7 11.14am entry time)
6. Rebuilding Sa Lone= Meesh-o-matic

New additional Prizes - Fashion Necklaces
7. Kreativemix site = Annonymous (Jan 11 11.32pm entry time)
8. Kreativemix site = Kari (Jan 22 12.52 am)
9. Kreativemix site = amberrose95 Jan 29 2.23am entry time)
10.Kreativemix site = Jess from Foster Communications

THE VALENTINE'S DAY SWEEPSTAKES ENDS AT 11.59 PM ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF ENTRIES, WE HAVE ADDED THREE MORE NECKLACE SETS TO THE SWEEPSTAKES......... 6 WINNERS INSTEAD OF 3!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

Leave a comment anywhere on this blog or Online Daters Annonymous or Rebuilding Sierra Leone and you will automatically be entered into Boutique Mix's Valentine's Day Sweepstakes to win one of two MiMi gift baskets (price ranges $45-$55) or a MiMi Design Necklace (price range $55-$60).

I will post pictures of the actual items prior to announcing the 6 sassy winners!!!! This sweepstakes is open to everyone!!!





2008 PLEDGE MONTHLY REMINDER -

Please visit Sa Lone Pikin to learn about the 2008 pledge!!!!!! So many people have taken the Pledge. Please read more about it and let us know if you would love to participate. You may take the Pledge Poll and read about how you too can participate. Thanks and God Bless!!! From educating children to providing micro loans through Kiva, we can do so much to change lives in the United States and around the World!!!

Da Man Himself A.K.A. Ibrahim Dabo - $12
Ishmael Dabo - $12
Renee Baker from Renee Baker Designs - $30 (NEW)
Stan - $2
Anonymous (30 individuals) - $110, 8 packs of bic pens.
Christophe Guibert de Bruet, Esq. - $12
Joyce Koo, Esq. - $12
Mary Brown, Esq. - $100
Randolph Shingler, Northwestern Mutual Financial Advisor - $100
Miatta Dabo, Esq. - $250
Boutique Mix - $2000
Angela Holland, Esq. - $12
Delia Patterson, Esq. - $12
Bryon Wasserman, Esq. - $12
Sarah Gans - $12
Sherika Jones - $12
Basil Henderson - $12
Teresa Bernhardt- $12
Chandran Iyler, Esq. - $12
Tilshop Girl - $30
Pastor Bai Sesay $20
Daniel of Daniel's Counter
Mountain Girl from Mountaingirl's Musings
Abbey from Random Thoughtsof Life
Jack Figura
SDSue from sdsiouxlakotaconnections.blogspot.com
Sierra Express Media Newspaper



Sweepstakes Pictures

Cupid