Kermit & Miss Piggy Are Finally Getting Married (Would You Wait 40 Years?)

Hold up.  Wait.  Stop the press.  It just got real.... 

The adorable, sweet, soft-spoken Kermit the Frog and the one & only, the O.D. (Original Diva), the fearless and always fabulous Miss Piggy are FINALLY getting married! 

After a 40-year courtship, Miss Piggy has apparently snagged her longtime boo.  Word on the street is their wedding will take place in the new movie, "Muppets Most Wanted."  I haven't seen the movie yet, so I can't confirm it.  The gossip folks say Miss Piggy reached out to Vivienne Westwood recently and asked the designer to create a wedding gown for her.  Hmmm.... Sounds like somebody's walking down the aisle to me!

Listen.  If it IS true, I'll be the first to congratulate them.  Because duh, I love love!   

But, if I can be honest for a sec....  *sips tea*  I love Miss Piggy and all, but I don't know if I would have waited 40 years to marry the love of my life.  I mean, the first thought that comes to my mind is,'What took so damn long?'  But hey, I'm a Virgo and I'm impatient, so there's that.  

I understand people wanting to make sure they're ready for marriage.  But, 40 years?  Geez.  

In reality, there's no blueprint that outlines the appropriate time to date someone before you become engaged and then enter into a marriage.  There's no right or wrong answer.  It's a personal decision based on a lot of factors.  I get it.

Miss Piggy and Kermit's love clearly has no expiration date.  But, let's be real.  They're muppets.  They could have waited another 20 years and no big deal!    

But, would you wait 40 years for love?  Would you wait 3 months? Two years?  Indefinitely?  

Love is amazing, weird and beautiful.  It's one hell of a drug.  And yes, it will make you do some crazy things.  #neversaynever

Olivia Pope Quotes That Will Make You Smile, Blush & Giggle

Scandal premieres tonight and like millions of other viewers, I'll be sitting at home at 10:00 pm (EST) glued to ABC.  I'll have my favorite glass of Riesling, and my phone will be close by for hilarious text commentary with friends during the commercial breaks.  Great times, man.  Great times. :)

What can I say, I love Scandal!  And I love the character, Olivia Pope.  Key word: character.  I know she's not real, but Shonda Rhimes and Kerry Washington have given her life.  Olivia is a smart, scandalous, unethical woman who is impeccably dressed with stilettos on deck with every outfit.  She's known for a lot of things (LOTS), especially her unforgettable quotes:   

"I don't want normal and easy and simple. I want painful, difficult, devastating, life-changing, extraordinary love."

"I'm going to need you to refrain from calling me a whore...at least not in front of my face."

"I'm many things, stupid is not one of them."

"Going up against the white house is the biggest thing we've ever done. It will be hard. It will be mean. It will be personal." 

"Normal is overrated."

"I always have cards left to play." 

"Give me your tie.  Take it off.  Off, off, off, off." 

"It's handled."

#Scandal

THIS is Girl Power!

Printing this on 5,000 t-shirts:



The wink at the end though....  #priceless

These Two... Ossie & Ruby (Happy Valentine's Day)

I've always loved these two....

Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.  Their love, talent, chemistry and commitment to their community and each other remains unparalleled.  When I think about love & relationships, they always come to mind.  

Their union lasted 56 years (Ossie died in 2005).  Can you imagine loving someone...sharing this journey of life with your soul mate for almost 60 years?  On their time together, Miss Ruby has said, "That we arrived at fifty years together is due as much to luck as to love, and a talent for knowing, when we stumble, where to fall, and how to get up again."

Thinking about them today... 

#HappyValentinesDay

Love Is Love: The Kappa Wedding Everybody's Talking About

I've said this before, but I'll say it again.  I love love.  Any form it...parent-child, brother-sister, girlfriend-boyfriend, BFF's, life partners, same gender unions....whatever!  I don't care. I love seeing people happy, healthy and full of life. 
    
The video below surfaced a few days ago. It's been the center of some heated dialogue (on & offline.)  It's a beautiful video, I might add.  It features two adorable young people on their wedding day.  It took place about a month ago on what looks like a perfect Fall day (Aren't Fall weddings the best?!).  The couple seems so happy and so in love.  Lots of family members and friends were there to celebrate.  So sweet.  Their wedding colors were red and white. The ambiance was absolutely gorgeous.  Warm, inviting and full of....love. I've watched it several times because it makes me smile.

The groom's name is Robert.  And the other groom's name?  Nathanael.  Oh yeah and get this: Besides the fact that Robert and Nathanael are both men, one of them belongs to one of the most popular African American fraternities in the world, Kappa Alpha Psi. #Nupe  Listen.  Two black gay men--a Kappa, getting married and proudly showcasing the ceremony to the world???  Trust me, that's brave.  Very brave.  I applaud their courage.        



Other than the YouTube video, I don't know much about Robert and Nathanael.  But what I do know is this - Every one of us deserves these kinds of moments.  We do.  We do!  No matter our race, occupation or sexual preferance.  We all deserve to be happy.  And let me get this out of the way - I'm not here to beat anyone over the head about equal rights.  Believe and support who and what you want, and I'll politely do the same.  (I love everybody by the way, and that's just how I roll.  Take it or leave it.)

I just wish more people could celebrate other people's joy.  Be happy that someone has found their life partner. That special person who makes them smile, gives them butterflies, makes their heart skip a beat.  That person who stands with them through life's peaks and valleys.  That person who's not only their soulmate, but their best friend. THAT, my friends is...dope.  Why not celebrate that?  
            
Final Thoughts:  At the end of the day, love who you love.  Everyone has preferences.  Do you to the fullest.  And...be happy.  Xoxo

Pic Of The Day: 50 Years and Counting!

Since we're in the middle of a heated political season, I wanted to shine the spotlight on one of my favorite political figures. Colin Powell and his wife, Alma on their wedding day....50 years ago!  #Yowza 

Pic of The Day: If This Doesn't Make You Say Awwwwww

If THIS picture doesn't make you say "Awwwwww," then I don't know what else will!  Too friggin' cute! :)

Sing To Your Mama...She'll Love it! (Happy Mother's Day!)

I think Mother's Day should be celebrated all year long.  Moms rock on sooo many levels, don't they?  Saying thank you, I love you, you're the best, you're my world, etc...doesn't seem like it's enough.

Sooooo.  *pauses & reflects*  This year I wanted to do something different.  Something daring.  Something meaningful. I love music (so does my Mama!), so I decided to sum up how I feel about my Mama with a special song....  **Clears Throat**  

*Sings*  Loooooving youuuuuuu!  Is eeeeasy cause you're beautifuuuuul....La la la la la.  La la la la la.  La la la la la laalaalaaalaa.....doo dooooo doo dooooo  *high note*  Aaaahhhaaaaahh!!  ♥

Love you Mama! (Your check is in the mail babe) :-)   HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

My Mama. With her cute, sweet self. 

Explain This To Me Please....

This woman is being mauled by a cheetah and her husband captures it all on film.  Somebody wanna explain to me why this man didn't put the camera down and help his wife???  Doesn't come to her rescue.  Not once.  Please explain this to me....  I'm listening.  *steeple fingers*

(FYI--She's ok... She received stitches for her injuries.)

The Virgo Woman...What You Need to Know

There's something to be said about astrology. Is it always true?  I don't think so.  But, it does give us a baseline to understand each other a little better. 

It's no secret, I'm a Virgo.  Hmmmm....what does THAT mean?  It means a lot actually.  And If you're so lucky to have a Virgo woman in your life (wink), there's some basic things I think you should know:

We're perfectionists.  It's true, we pursue perfection in everything we do.  That's a good and bad thing. It can be exhausting and causes us to be a little critical at times. Give us a minute...we're working on this one.  

We're a woman for all seasons.  We can change our mindset to adjust to even the most difficult situations of life. A strong woman. A versatile woman.

We're not as reserved as we appear to be.  A lot of people think Virgo women are shy *I shrug*, but the truth is, if you take a sec to get to know us, you'll see that we're quite entertaining...and charming. :)

We find humor in almost everything.  Our sense of humor is sharp, quick and smart.    

We are completely devoted and loyal.  Ever heard of a ride-or-die chick?  That's us!    

We're independent and free thinking.  Intellectual connections are very, very important to us. 

We're genuine.  Our motives are honest.  Never malicious.  Highly ethical and idealistic.

Singer, Pink = Virgo Woman

Famous Virgo Women:

Beyonce

Amy Winehouse
Raquel Welch

Nicole Richie

Lola Falana

Cameron Diaz

Jada Pinkett Smith
Shania Twain

Mother Theresa

Sanaa Lathan

LeAnn Rhimes

Anika Noni Rose

Sophia Loren

Selma Hayek

Joan Jett

Jennifer Hudson
Brooke Burke

Lauren Bacall

Cass Elliott

Gloria Estefan

My Pic of The Day! (86 Years & Counting!)

Look at these two!  Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher. They're too beautiful... And get this: They've been married for 86 years!  He's 105 years-old and she's 103 (they were 19 & 17 when they married!)

They've lived through the terms of 15 presidents, they sleep in seperate bedrooms and have attended seperate churches throughout the years.  Hmmmm..... :-) 

Note: Miss Zelmyra in this pink suit...is giving me life!  LOVE it!!! :-)

Mr. and Mrs. Fisher



Tionna Smalls Keeps It Real with New Book: Men Love Abuse

Relationship advisor, entrepreneur, author and star of VH1's reality series What Chilli Wants, Tionna Smalls says ladies, yes it's true...Guys love mean girls:

Relationship experts seem to be popping up everywhere, but you’ve been doing this a long time.  How did you get into the relationship business?  What motivates you to do this?
I thought I knew it all when I broke up with my first boyfriend, then I started dating and I was like Oh My God, these dudes are off the chain.  So I started writing about my dating experience and wrote the first independent version of the book, "Girl Get Your Mind Right!" Once I did this, I received a job from Gawker (a media website) and the rest was history.  I don't really consider myself an expert, but I can battle with the best...I am very obsessed with male and female interaction and also decided to go back to school to become a therapist for women; helping them with love, self love and self-esteem, etc.  I was born to do this.

So, if I want to be a bi*ch and get hitched, outside of picking up a copy of “Men Love Abuse,” what should I do first?
You have to first ask yourself, are you too nice? If you feel you are, that is the first step...Knowing is beautiful. After that, you just start spending some time with yourself, learning what you like and what you don't like and once you know that, you just don't play and do your thang.  If you become selfish and just think about you, you will be OK because then you won't be afraid to lose.

Women are taught to be nice, polite and cordial.  Should we just abandon that theory altogether? 
Yessssssssss.  We should only be nice, polite and cordial occasionally.  LOL.  No, we should always be polite and cordial, but never be too nice.

True or False: Guys love mean girls.
They sure do. The more you don't give a F***, the more they want to be with you.  It is so true.

Is there such a thing as too much abuse?

Yes. Some women could be too b*tchy or too demanding. You need to know how to do it without being too ABUSIVE, because then you are going to turn the man off.  You just want to give enough abuse to get your point across. Overall, you just can't play with a man.

It sounds like ‘abuse’ will get a man, but will it keep him?

Abuse will definitely get them and you lighten up with the abuse to keep him, but no matter how long you had your man, you better always stay strong with your convictions and not allow a dude to do whatever to you.  You can't be afraid to check him even if you are in a long term relationship, but this ideology is mostly for women who are trying to snag 'em and bag 'em.

What three things do you want women to take away from “Men Love Abuse?”
The number one thing is to not be too nice under any circumstances, to be strong with these dudes no matter how much you like him, and to never sweat a guy.  We are queens, they are supposed to sweat us.

In your opinion, what’s the biggest dating mistake women/men make?
They get too open off of dudes, they give too much and they do too much.  They love too fast, fall too hard. They get rid of their friends and hobbies once they meet a man.  And most of all, they stop talking to their other Boos once they meet one guy they like. Take the time out to date! 

What’s the best love/relationship advice you’ve ever received?
All my great advice about love and relationships came from my father.  He says a lot of little gems, but these two stuck to me.  He said the problem with women is they give too much to a dude and they don't have to.  That was some deep 'ish' and the second advice was "Don't come home with a wet a** and some Chinese food."  Those two quotes made me the woman I am today.  I am not playing.

Men Love Abuse will be released on January 27, 2012.  The book is currently available on Kindle and Nook.

Follow Tionna Smalls on Twitter: Twitter.com/TionnaSmalls 

True Love Still Exists (Chris & Keasha Draft)

Anyone who knows me knows, I never cry.  Hardly EVER.  But something happened a few days ago....  

When I heard about Chris and Keasha Draft, my heart literally skipped.  I got a gulp in my throat.  My eyes blinked excessively and I got a little misty.  But, I didn't cry...    

True Story: Chris, a former NFL linebacker married his longtime girlfriend Keasha in Atlanta on November 27th.  Keasha had cancer and was so weak that she needed a wheelchair to come down the aisle on their wedding day.

Exactly one month after their intimate union, their fairytale came to an end.  Keasha lost her battle with cancer and passed away.  Wow, I thought to myself...what an amazing, beautiful love story.  I didn't cry though... 

Fast forward to Chris and Keasha's wedding video. Words really can't express how I felt when I watched it.  My heart won't let me watch it again.  I can't help it.  I love love.  And I love what this couple represents.  It's painfully bittersweet.  But, all of us should be so lucky to experience this kind of love in our lifetime.... 

Click here to look at footage from Chris & Keasha's wedding.  So genuine and sweet.  And yes, I cried.  Like a baby....     

 

Chris and Keasha Draft

Top 10 First Date Tips & Turn-Off's (For Ladies)

This list is comprised from the many conversations, debates and arguments I've had with my male BFF's, co-workers, ex's, associates and strangers.  *exhale*  Here we go....
                                      *** Disclaimer: I'm just the messenger. ***  

1. Ladies, remember this is just a first date. Talking about marriage & babies will surely make him uneasy. FYI: Rarely do first dates go so well that men consider a marriage proposal. That happens mostly in Hollywood movies.
   
   
2. Don't forget to mention you have kids (No, I'm not kidding). Very misleading...
   
   
3. Enjoy the date. Let your guard down. Don't sweat the small stuff. Have fun!
   
   
4. Refrain from talking about your ex's if you can. Talking about them sends a message that you have baggage & you haven't really moved on.
   
   
5. Look your best.  Sounds like a no-brainer, but gorgeous hair, lipgloss and a nice outfit will get his attention and go a long way.
   
   
6. After the date, do not immediately 'friend' him on Facebook or follow him (publicly) on Twitter.  Don't do it.
    
   
7. Turn down the Diva. Excessive mentions of yourself, your shopping habits, your collection of shoes (red bottoms), connections, etc. will not make you a prime candidate for date #2.
   
   
8. Don't overdo it in the scent department.  Take it easy on the perfume. 
   
   
9. A vocabulary that consists of mostly profanity gets annoying real fast. Be a lady...
   
   
10. Afterwards, show some interest.  If you're pretty sure he's interested (like 90% sure), it's OK to give him a call. Remember....you snooze, you lose:)

Top 10 First Date Tips & Turn-Off's (For Guys)

Let's jump right into this, shall we?

1. Fellas, don't treat the date like it's an interview.  We know you want to get to know us, but just chill, relax and let the conversation.....flow.
     
2. For the love of God, please don't talk about yourself for three hours!  Not only is it rude, it defeats the whole purpose of going out on a date.  There should be an equal distribution of dialogue.
   
   
3. So, you're a former "ladies man?"  Cool.  No need to tell us about alllllll of your former female conquests... Tacky, immature and TMDI (Too Much Damn Information!)
   
   
4. Be a gentleman. Yes, women are independent. Yes, we run the world (Thank you Beyonce).  But, we love chivalry.  We really do...
   
   
5. Do a hygiene check before you leave the house.  *Note: Make sure you check the inside of your ears and other secret places.  Women notice everything!
   
   
6. Don't compliment your date too much.  One or two is fine, but if you tell her she's beautiful every 5 minutes, she'll think you have "stalker" tendencies.
   
   
7. Take it easy on the alcohol. Drunk on the first date?  Probably won't get you a second date.  Just sayin'...
    
8. Do not, under any circumstances say anything bad about Michelle Obama.  She is our fearless leader.  Just nod and agree.
   .
9. Be yourself.  There's nothing worse than listening to lies, fabrication & exaggeration when you know the truth...
   
   
10. Just say NO to technology!  Take a break from your cell phone, text messaging, tweets and Facebook status updates.  Pay attention to your date.  

(Marriage/Relationship) Digital Media 10 Commandments

Leon Walker thought his wife was having an affair, so he logged into her email account to get proof.  He was right.  Now he’s facing felony charges in Michigan for violating an anti-hacking computer law.  It got me to thinking…  Husbands, wives, partners & others: Knowledge is power!  It may keep you out of jail and divorce court too!  So, raise your right hand, place it over your heart and repeat the following:  

                 (Marriage/Relationship) Digital Media 10 Commandmants

1. Honor thy marriage/relationship (ALWAYS)
2. Thou shall learn the digital landscape (Before you buy a car/house, you do research right?)
3. Thou shall choose strong passwords (Not 'medium' strength ones and definitely not 'weak' ones)
4. Thou shall not hack into thy spouse’s personal accounts/email without permission (If you have to hack, you already know what's up)
5. Thou shall disclose marital status on all social media sites (i.e. Facebook) where applicable (People will often assume you're single, and....drama could ensue)  
6. Thou shall not sweat the small stuff (Get the facts first)  
7. Thou shall not use digital media (text, email, tweets) to replace real-life verbal conversations
8. Thou shall not spend more than 5-7 hours a week on social media sites (Ditto for xBox & Playstation) 
9. Thou shall re-read all updates (postings, tweets, text, emails) before pressing ‘send’
10. Thou shall always remember Commandment #1