Are Those Your Kids

Raising Biracial Kids in Today's World

Diedre

Nontoxic Black-Owned Beauty Brands to Add to Your Collection

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Black-owned beauty brands weren’t a thing when I was growing up. Wearing makeup was hard because there weren’t many options for brown girls like me.

I remember the first time I was sent a makeup sample as a teenager. I was ready to start wearing makeup and it felt like a rite of passage.

I didn’t have a subscription to a Teen Magazine, but my bestie did, so after she finished thumbing through her issues, she would pass them off to me.

I remember dreaming about the day I was skilled enough to apply a full face of makeup on my own.

Wearing makeup use to be difficult for brown girls because there weren't many options. Now there are several black-owned beauty brands!

So imagine my upset when the sample package sent to me was in the two lightest shades. I sent a disgruntled email to the company, asking them to at least consider sending a light shade and a dark shade in their samples. But I was met with no reply.

When I started wearing makeup, I was discouraged when most drugstore brands of eyeshadow all looked white on my lids despite the shade.

Foundation looked chalky, so I skipped that altogether.

Now, there are shades for everyone in most brands of makeup. Thankfully beauty brands have seen the need for inclusivity when creating their shades of lipstick, eyeshadow, and foundation.

Wearing makeup use to be difficult for brown girls because there weren't many options. Now there are several black-owned beauty brands!

 

Here are a few Black-owned beauty brands to add to your collection:

The Lip Bar (My Favorite Black-Owned Beauty Brand Right Now!!)

Hands down, this is my favorite black-owned beauty brand!

They just expanded to include their products in Walmart (in addition to Target), so now this small-town girl can get the Lip Bar products whenever I want!

The Lip Bar is a vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand that exists to help change the way you think about beauty.

 

Melissa Butler (the founder and CEO) was working on Wall Street and mixing colors in her kitchen. She was rejected from Shark Tank, but now her products are in 1,000 stores nationwide!

The pigments are beautiful and flatter a variety of skin tones. Check out my IG reel where I highlight a few of my favorite shades

 

Healthy Roots Dolls

is a toy company that creates dolls and storybooks that empower young girls and represent the beauty of our diversity. Recently, they launched the “Love My Curls” Mommy, me and mini bonnet set. The bonnets are reversible and come in 4 different colors. Perfect for curly hair moms and daughters!

Beauty Bakerie

Cashmere Nicole founded Beauty Bakerie in 2011 with the mission to be sweet and sweeten the lives of others.

During a challenging, but successful fight with breast cancer, Cashmere became extremely health conscious and research-driven about the products we put in and on our bodies. The Beauty Bakerie brand is a direct reflection of Cashmere’s perseverance and passion for both high quality, healthy ingredients that enhance the beauty in everyone, every day.

Skin Buttr

Skin Buttr is a a natural beauty brand that specializes in natural body butter, scrubs and skin care. They promote healthy glowing skin and sustainability.

Wearing makeup use to be difficult for brown girls because there weren't many options. Now there are several black-owned beauty brands!

I love that Skin Buttr is made in small batches and cruelty-free.

What are some of your favorite Black-owned beauty brands?

5 Easy Ways to Teach Your Kids Black History All Year Long

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This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small amount of compensation if you chose to purchase from my links.

I’m a Black mom raising biracial kids.

When my kids were younger, I was so focused on making sure they had a healthy identity that my focus wasn’t really on teaching them Black History.

Black History is a great time to celebrate the achievements of those who have been overlooked. Here are a few easy ways to teach it at home.

While we were home together during the quarantine, I had the opportunity to focus on more of what I wanted them to learn. And suddenly I felt like I had failed.

We started talking about slavery, watching movies about the Civil Rights period (like Ruby Bridges) and my kids were horrified.

I suddenly wished I had started having these conversations earlier. I was nervous about taking away their innocence. But the beauty in being a mom to a multiracial family is that we can have conversations safely at home…in our own time, in our own way. This means ultimately I can share the truth in an age-appropriate way.

Black History is a great time to celebrate the achievements of those who have been overlooked. Here are a few easy ways to teach it at home.

If you are looking for ways to share Black History with your children, I’ve got a few ideas for you:

Black History Month Activity Books (Oriental Trading)

If you struggle with finding accurate information and putting it together yourself, check out Oriental Trading. They have Black history flash cards and activity mats.

There’s no harm in finding things that are already put together so that all you have to do is reinforce what you read.

Go on Virtual Field Trips

Virtually visit the illustrious Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, New York.

With travel restrictions still in place, visiting physical museums may not be an option for you. Check out what you have locally. It may be an easy day trip or something that would only take an hour of your time.

Black History is a great time to celebrate the achievements of those who have been overlooked. Here are a few easy ways to teach it at home.

Watch Movies About Black History & Talk About Them

Last year, my girls and I watched the Ruby Bridges movie. It was a perfect way to start conversations about the civil rights era because Ruby Bridges was close to their age, and they could relate to her.

 

My youngest daughter cried when people screamed and threatened Ruby every day when she walked into the school. It was the perfect way to start conversations about race relations, hate, and resilience.

When they said they felt sorry for Ruby, we focused on her bravery instead.

As a young mom, I often wanted to shelter my children from the harshness of our history. However, they won’t be sheltered from the realities of hate in the world, so I’ve realized that it’s never too early to begin having these conversations.

You may even have to pause the movie to have candid conversations with your kids.

Black History is a great time to celebrate the achievements of those who have been overlooked. Here are a few easy ways to teach it at home.

And that’s okay.

Teach Your Kids Black History Through Woke Homeschooling

I stumbled across Woke Homeschooling from an ad online. I love the vision:  to provide resources for parents to educate socially-conscious children who will grow to become wise and informed world-changers.​ If you want to teach your kids black history but don’t know where to start, this a great place to start.

There is a curriculum for grades 3-7 and also a high school curriculum. She includes 38 weeks of lessons, including 6 weeks with no assigned reading from textbooks. She encourages you to explore relevant field trip opportunities, research, or watch movies to supplement what your children are learning.

Black History is a great time to celebrate the achievements of those who have been overlooked. Here are a few easy ways to teach it at home.

Delina also includes a list of textbooks and tells you whether the audio version is available.

And the bonus for me was that she also includes extensive information about Native American history too–not just about black history.

There is an option for online classes or curriculum you can download and print. The printable curriculum comes in 3 versions: original (biblical-based), secular (grades 3-7)  and high school edition.

Looking for ways to make learning Black History easy for your littles? Even preschool children can begin learning about equality, social justice and standing up for what’s right. Here are a few links for easy Black History lessons for preschool-aged children:
 
One of my personal favorites is Here Wee Read. On her Instagram account, she shares books for a variety of age ranges and even though I have a plethora of books at home, she always shares so many that I haven’t seen.
 
http://hereweeread.com/2017/02/black-history-month-books-3-4-5-year-olds.html
 
Teacher Pay Teacher is also a great resource for lesson plans, especially if you are an educator. You can search for lessons by topic or grade level.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:black%20history%20month
 
Here are 2 additional great resources for teaching your kids Black History:
https://www.preschool-plan-it.com/black-history-month-theme.html
https://www.projectsforpreschoolers.com/celebrations/black-history/
 
Want books that have a representation of Black people for your littles? Check out my Instagram

Black history for kids doesn’t have to be hard. After all, it’s just history.

 

5 Reasons Why I’m Teaching My Multiracial Children about Black History

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Teaching my multiracial children about black history was not always my first priority.

My oldest child was born very pale, and I often got asked if she was mine. I worried about whether or not the constant questioning about her skin tone would affect her identity.

#Blacklivesmatter has brought several injustices to light. Here are 5 reasons why I'm teaching my multiracial children about black history.

I poured myself into finding books that represented our family and began affirming her very early on about her identity. We talked about our similarities and differences, and I complimented her often on her brown skin and curly hair.

But now I realize that wasn’t enough.

As a brown girl growing up on an Air Force Base, I was surrounded by diversity. I learned about Sojourner Truth, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman in school.

When I think of famous Black people in history, those are the ones that immediately come to mind. I can even remember learning about most of them in 3rd grade.

#Blacklivesmatter has brought several injustices to light. Here are 5 reasons why I'm teaching my multiracial children about black history.

 

My parents bought me a book about black inventors that was interesting, but other than that, I don’t remember hearing too much about Black History until I was in college.

#Blacklivesmatter in 2020 has brought on a resurgence of people teaching black history–black and white and all races in between.

People all over social media are vowing to raise their children to be kind, compassionate, and antiracist.

I spent so much time affirming my children’s identity, that I haven’t spent as much time teaching them about Black History.

The death of Ahmaud Abrery happened just hours from where we live in Georgia.

That was my wake up call.

So this is why I’m teaching my multiracial children about Black History:

My multiracial kids are half black

I owe it to them to teach them a history that is relevant to them. They need to understand the struggles that black people overcame and how they have begun to write their own success stories.

#Blacklivesmatter has brought several injustices to light. Here are 5 reasons why I'm teaching my multiracial children about black history.

It’s important to know the facts–like at one time it was illegal for their parents and other interracial couples to be married.

They won’t learn everything in school

When I was in college, I was a professional writing minor. I always had dreams of becoming a writer and one day having my own dear Abby column. I actually enjoyed many of my writing classes and professors more than my major (psychology).

One of the most enjoyable classes was African American literature. It was taught by a very energetic, quirky, and passionate professor. She was from New York and the information she taught me in this class blew my mind.

I never expected a course to shake my core and challenge everything I had ever been taught. It was the first time I had heard about Jane Pittman.

It was the first time I actually read anything by Fredrick Douglass.

It was the first time I had heard about Juneteenth.

I don’t want the same story for my kids, so during Black Friday, I purchased a curriculum called Woke Homeschooling. It was written by Delina, a mom who was growing weary of all of the stories (even the historical fiction) told from the perspective of the colonizers.

What they do learn is a glossed over version

Lately, we’ve seen a rise in racial injustices all over our country.

People have been divided over #Blacklivesmatter and peaceful protesting. I’ve seen time and time again when people say things like “we’re all God’s children”,” there is no race but human race” and “I’ll be glad when things get back to normal.”

I’ve also seen where people quote Martin Luther King Jr and talk about how peaceful he was. The unfortunate part of that is Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for standing up for what he believed in. He also wrote a letter from the Birmingham jail that encouraged civil disobedience.

“Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest.

I hope you are able to see the distinction I am trying to point out. In no sense do I advocate evading or defying the law, as would the rabid segregationist. That would lead to anarchy. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is, in reality, expressing the highest respect for law.

Of course, there is nothing new about this kind of civil disobedience. It was evidenced sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the ground that a higher moral law was at stake. It was practiced superbly by the early Christians, who were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks rather than submit to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire. To a degree, academic freedom is a reality today because Socrates practiced civil disobedience. In our own nation, the Boston Tea Party represented a massive act of civil disobedience.”

Learning history keeps you from making the same mistakes again

My children’s experiences won’t be the same as mine.

I don’t know what it’s like to be multiracial.

They don’t know what it’s like to be Black.

#Blacklivesmatter has brought several injustices to light. Here are 5 reasons why I'm teaching my multiracial children about black history.

Teaching my multiracial children about Black History ensures that even if they are treated differently (because they could be white-passing), that they will not sit back and allow others to be mistreated in their presence.

I want them to understand that just because a situation doesn’t directly affect them, it doesn’t mean that they can’t use their voices to stand up for what’s right.

We can’t change the future unless we are willing to acknowledge mistakes we (as people or a country) have made in the past.

In order to dismantle systematic racism, you have to know what you’re up against

As a Black female, I have been faced with microaggressions my whole life. As a young girl, I had no idea what to say or do.

I want my kids to feel empowered when/if they are faced with microaggressions directed at them or others.

I want them to use whatever privilege they have to make changes wherever they are.

#Blacklivesmatter has brought several injustices to light. Here are 5 reasons why I'm teaching my multiracial children about black history.

I’m teaching my multiracial children about black history because black history is simply history.

 

How to Video Narrate Lessons on a PC: A Step by Step Guide

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Many educators have a unique challenge this school year to effectively distance teach and build authentic relationships with their students.

There are so many methods of delivering content. It’s understandable why so many teachers and support staff are feeling completely overwhelmed.

To alleviate some stress, use these tips to learn how to video narrate your lesson on a PC!

Why Video Narrate Your Lesson?

Learning how to video narrate your lessons has a double advantage. First, it’s much faster than typing out everything you need students to know. In addition, it dramatically personalizes the instruction you are providing for them. As a school counselor, I want my students to know my voice and trust me!

Learning how to video narrate your lessons personalizes the instruction you are providing for your students while they are learning virtually.

Narrating my lessons allows this to happen. 

With seemingly innumerable options for video narration tools, I wanted to make it easier for you by choosing one that is the most educator-friendly.

What sets Loom apart from other digital tools is its commitment to providing high-quality video narration tools for those in the field of education indefinitely, not just for the duration of COVID-19.  

Given the immense pressure on teachers and students during this unprecedented time, I am grateful that companies like Loom recognize the value of this service for educators.  

Video Narration How-To For Using Loom On PC

Setting up Loom on your PC is incredibly quick and user-friendly.  Follow these steps, and you’ll be on your way to a polished video update, lesson, or interactive activity in minutes.  

First, click https://www.loom.com/education to verify your educator account in order to get a free Pro Loom subscription. 

Next, add the Chrome extension to your browser for instant video recording and exporting of Google Slides presentations, Docs, and all things G-Suite related. 

Learning how to video narrate your lessons personalizes the instruction you are providing for your students while they are learning virtually.

From your web page, click on the Loom extension and select whether you would like Screen + Cam, Screen Only, or Cam only for your recording options.  You can also select if you would like to record the Full Desktop or only the Current Tab. 

From the Loom extension, you can select Present to record a full-screen version of your Google Slides presentation.  

Once you’re finished recording, you can quickly share a link to post on Google Classroom or download your video to email to your students or fellow faculty members.  

Loom also has a video walk-through of this process, as well as numerous other tutorials for educators.  

In addition to the Chrome extension, Loom has a desktop app for PowerPoint and Keynote Presentations. Within the desktop application, you can also annotate your screen to walk your audience through processes, lessons, and other key ideas. 

Examples of Video Lessons for Schools Counselors

What video lessons should you share with your students and staff? Here are some ideas for your virtual classroom!

Learning how to video narrate your lessons personalizes the instruction you are providing for your students while they are learning virtually.

Social-Emotional Learning Lessons (SEL) – Share growth mindset and character lessons with your students to help support their social-emotional growth. This is especially important in times of school closure and distance learning.

Anti-bullying lessons – Teach your students about being kind online and in person. Share the differences between rudeness, being mean, and bullying with engaging video narration.

Course/club overview- Often, school counselors have registration and activity support roles. Get your students involved with videos that explain the courses and clubs your school offers.

Self-care- Give your staff some self-care lessons to help support teachers during this time. Think meditation or just positive messages!

Books/Story Time-find books that address specific social skills that can lead to open discussion.

Other Video Narration Tools

Screencast O’Matic-Basic version is FREE and annual subscription is $19.80/year

Screencastify–Basic version is Free and the annual subscription is $29/year for educators

Whether you choose to use Loom or another video narration tool, my hope is that the results will be increased virtual interaction and understanding and a jump-start to the kinds of relationships you will continue to build with your students and co-workers over the course of this crazy year. 

 

 

6 Ways to Support Small Businesses During Holidays & Year-round

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Small businesses don’t usually have the same level of profit as Walmart or Amazon, but they have been hit especially hard in 2020.

From lockdowns forcing them to shut down for months to people seeking delivery options that they can’t offer, they struggle to stay afloat in hard times when large retailers succeed. Now more than ever, small businesses need our support.

My husband is a farmer, and this year was really tough on his business.

April-November is the busiest time of the year because our local Farmer’s Market is in full swing. Families walk around and enjoy samples, listen to music, and purchase items from our Farmer’s Market.

Small businesses have been hit especially hard in 2020. Now more than ever, small businesses need our support.

Because of the quarantine, vendors were forced to do all their business online–which definitely hurt many small businesses like ours.

With the holiday season in full swing, it’s obviously helpful to buy gifts from small businesses this year. However, that’s not the only way you can help them stay open during this difficult winter.

These gestures towards small businesses will surely be appreciated, even if you won’t be spending money.

No matter your resources, you can contribute something worthwhile to a struggling entrepreneur!

Spread the Word

If you’ve purchased something from a small business in the past, show it off on social media.

Small businesses have been hit especially hard in 2020. Now more than ever, small businesses need our support.

Be sure to tag the business in your post and talk about why you love their products in your caption. Even if you can’t buy from them again right now, you can encourage others to do so!

Nominate Them for Awards

If your community gives awards, grants, or other recognition to businesses who are nominated for them, consider putting your favorite small business’ word out there.

If they win, they’ll reap the benefits.

Farm life has been a wonderful addition to our family life. Being married to a farmer is unique, in that his job is not a 9-5 position.

If they don’t, they’ll be uplifted by the fact that someone in the community appreciates them.

Be of Service

Do you know how to design graphics or websites? Do you have publicity connections? Can you provide another kind of service to a small business for free?

If so, make yourself available to a small business that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford something they need. You can even use the experience to boost your resume!

Buy Stocking Stuffers & Gifts for All Occasions

Stocking stuffers tend to be less expensive than large gifts, so you can buy more than one. When you give them to your loved ones, include a business card from the store you bought them from.

You can also purchase gifts as well as gift cards for various small businesses.

If customers don’t purchase items, then small businesses will be forced to close.

Send Out Holiday Cards

Even if you don’t think a business owner would recognize you, include them on your holiday card mailing list. On the card, thank them for all that they do for your community or how much their work means to you.

Heartfelt messages don’t need to be reserved for loved ones, so don’t be afraid of sending some to a few new people this season.

Donate to Their GoFundMe, Kickstarter, or Patreon

Some businesses use online fundraising platforms to recover from losses or support new projects. This is especially true for artists and small startups.

Small businesses have been hit especially hard in 2020. Now more than ever, small businesses need our support.

If you have a few dollars to spare, consider donating to a business’ fundraising campaign. If you can’t donate, tell others about the fundraiser on social media – it will still help.

Whether you have money, skills, or encouragement to give to small businesses, any support you can offer is worth giving this holiday season.

After all, your favorite department stores aren’t shutting down, but your favorite local shop, artist, or independent sellers might have to.

 

Your support may help a business stay open for a little while longer!

5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Marriage Right Now

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*This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you subscribe or purchase something through the links on this page.*

No matter how long you’ve been married, there are always ways to improve your marriage.

Being happily married take a lot of hard work, but it isn’t impossible.

No matter how long you've been married, there are always ways to improve your marriage. It takes hard work, but is so worth it.

The pandemic has either made things better or worse. Couples are spending endless hours together, dealing with cabin fever, anxiety, kids suddenly being homeschooled or completely virtual, loss of family members (that you can’t visit), and financial struggles.

If your marriage was already rocky, the extra stress of the pandemic hasn’t made it any easier.

Here are a few ways to bring the fire back and improve your marriage:

Put the phone down

Our phones are basically mini computers. We take them everywhere and often feel lost without them. We use them for work as well as entertainment– (we even take them in the bathroom–sorry hubby, the truth is out).

One of the things that keeps a relationship going is healthy & open communication. Your spouse wants to have your undivided attention, but sometimes we are so consumed with our phones that we spend hours connecting with strangers online but don’t give our spouse that same attention.

Listen, I’ve been guilty of that myself.

After I get the kids in bed, I just need some time to unwind. Watching a few funny videos on Instagram often takes my mind off the busyness of the day.

However, making time to spend with my spouse must be a priority.

No matter how long you've been married, there are always ways to improve your marriage. It takes hard work, but is so worth it.

Try having a date night and putting the phone on silent, turning it off, or just leave it at home. If you are having a date night at home, leave your phone in another room and spend time talking to your spouse.
No matter how long you've been married, there are always ways to improve your marriage. It takes hard work, but is so worth it.

 

You can slowly begin to improve your marriage by making your spouse feels like you put them first.

Eat dinner together

If you work an opposite shift from your spouse, this can get tricky. You may feel like strangers passing in the night.

My husband is a farmer, and during peak season, there are times when we rarely see each other. It’s easy to fill that void with entertainment, kids, friends, sleep–literally anything.

Eating dinner together forces you to slow down, enjoy a meal, and reconnect. Can’t do dinner together? Try breakfast or lunch.

The time of day that you have the meal isn’t what’s important.

It’s just important that you take the time to reconnect together.

And everyone has to eat right? It’s the perfect time to improve your marriage.

Continue to dream together

Do you remember when you were dating??

Do you miss the days of dreaming big together? Remember the days when you talked about the places you would travel? The businesses you would start? How many kids you would have?

Life may have thrown some curveballs at you and it may not be what you expected.

Or maybe you are facing a financial hardship that has put your dreams on hold. Don’t stop dreaming—-TOGETHER.

One of the ways you can improve your marriage is to talk about where you see your lives going in the next 5-10 years. Talk about the things you will do when the kids grow up and leave home. Plan your first post-pandemic vacation.

Find things that are common ground and dream about them together.

Put each other first

Life gets busy.

Work, side hustle passions, kids, extended family, outside committments…all those things can consume our time and keep us busy.

The beauty in marriage is building a life together and simultanousely pursuing seperate (and sometimes joint) passions.

It’s important to not let other people and things get in the way of your relationship.

Get marriage advice from happily married people

Listen, everyone has opinions on what marriage should look like. Just type in marriage in a Google search and see what pops up.

The best way to get sound marital advice is from people who are HAPPILY married.

Getting advice people who are jaded, hurt or unhappy is not the energy you need to fuel your relationship.

Maintaining a happy marriage takes work, but it’s worth every ounce of energy.