What Does It Mean To Be Bahamian?

Today is the first of July. This is the month The Bahamas celebrates independence. It is the month we wear our national colors, black, gold and aquamarine. It is the month we put flags on our cars, we listen to Bahamian music on the radio and not change the station, attend national festivities and decorate our homes in full regalia.

Both founders of MWMs are Bahamian. As a result, it is only fitting that we too celebrate our nation. For the next ten days we will celebrate being Bahamian. Because as they say on a popular Saturday talk show, 
"WE ARE PROUD TO BE BAHAMIAN"

courtesy of thesignmanblog.com

 If there is one thing that every Bahamian can have a discussion about whether they are a participant or a viewer, is Junkanoo. Junkanoo is 'Us'! We are 'Junkanoo'.

Me as a Wedding Crasher New Year's Day 2011

We have our favourite group, we dance to the beat of the back line, we attend the parade and sit for hours, we lay in bed and watch on ZNS or we rush and collapse on Elizabeth Avenue after the first lap.

Whoever we are, wherever we are, Junkanoo is The Bahamas!

Eric and I are Junkanoos. Notice I did not say we are Junkanooers. We don't "do" Junkanoo; we do "practice" Junkanoo. It is a part of us...we ARE Junkanoo. Before marriage we rushed. It was only a coincidence we rushed for the same group.

My second big rush, New Year's Day 2004 choreographed section

Boxing Day 2012...I was actually sick as a dog, but I still rushed (in my pearls).

Here are the top ten experiences related to Junkanoo. Either you have lived this or you know someone who has lived this thing we called JUNKANOO!


Top Ten Junkanoo Experiences

10. Going to Junkanoo practice at midnight like you don't have anything else to 
    do but stand next to complete strangers that are dancing just like you in the
    name of Junkanoo.

9. Having a heated discussion about why your group is the best whether you 
   know they looked like crap during the parade.

8. STING!

7. Shouting your group name to the top of your lungs during the parade on Bay 
    Street in support, as if you contributed to any of the costumes.

6. A HOT GLUE BURN! 

5. Sleeping the entire day after the parade as if you just rushed!

4. Sleeping the entire day after the parade because you just rushed!

3. ELIZABETH AVENUE! GATORADE!!!!

2. Seeing the barricades and bleachers being installed on Shirley and Bay 
    Street and knowing you haven't begun your Christmas Shopping if you aren't
    a Junkanoo. If you are a Junkanoo, seeing those bleachers and knowing
    you haven't started your costume.

1. Sitting on the bleachers for hours every year even if during the last parade 
   you swore you would never attend again because, "This is taking too long
   man, I ready to go!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAHAMAS! It's time to go to BAY!

Until I rush again,
Tiffany

MWMs AT LUCIANO'S OF CHICAGO

This past Tuesday, we invited fellow MWMs to join us at Luciano's Of Chicago.  Even if it was for a quick "hello" or to join us for a drink...or two.  Elizabeth (you remember her from her guest blog about how to make a tufted bench last week) and Amelia, our graphic designer (who is incredibly talented and awesome!) hung out with us for the entire time!  We had drinks, ordered dinner and just had us a good 'ole time.  

May I just say, that we were all home by 8:30p.m. or was it 9:30p.m? Nonetheless, not bad, eh?!  We encourage you to come out next week!  Mark it on your calendars!  

Sandena mentioned in her guest post on Wednesday "My Staycation", that often we neglect ourselves to cater to everyone else around us.  Doing this all the time soon leaves us being no good to ourselves or the ones we love!  You must create time for yourself!  So, if you don't have any other day to unwind, come out on Tuesdays after work and meet women who know exactly what you're going through.  And if there are any husbands reading this post, I promise you, we will send home a much happier wife and in turn you will be a much happier husband. (wink wink) LOL

I was tempted to delete some of the following pictures (the ones where I look a hot mess) but then I thought I would do no such thing.  The pictures below depict the wonderful and energetic evening we had with the girls! Even the fugly ones...hehe

See all the paperwork!  Tiffany and I working hard at our blog meeting! :)

In deep conversation

Amelia, of AJDesigns, our graphic designer

The best bartender at Luciano's, Jerry!  Takes care of us all the time!

Add caption

This is the picture you ALWAYS try to avoid!



I think that look is for hubby Eric

Tiffany working hard

 

Tiffany, friends don't let friends take pictures with hair like this! Noted!

Wine makes everything better



Hey there Meeli J



Signed, 
your fellow MWMs

GUEST BLOG - MY STAYCATION

"In case there is a loss in cabin pressure, yellow oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling compartment located above you.  To secure, pull the mask towards you, secure the elastic strap to your head, and fasten it so it covers your mouth and nose. Breathe normally.  Even if the bag does not inflate, please keep in mind that oxygen is flowing.  Please make sure to secure your own mask before assisting others."

Sounds familiar?

These few sentences are a part of an airline's pre-flight safety demonstration. Let's focus on the last sentence and most important portion of this entire paragraph: “Please make sure to secure your own mask before assisting others.” What, you might ask, does this have to do with a blog for MWMs? Let me share my thoughts with you.

As MWMs, sight is often lost of the fact that we are also women, truth be told, that is all that we really are at our core.  We are WOMEN - women who happen to be Married, who happen to be Working and who also happen to be Mothers.  These are some pretty heavy roles and we are courageous for wearing so many hats (please pop your collar at this point).

Securing our masks before assisting others is important and as MWMs we often spend ourselves assisting everyone else and often times we neglect to secure or own proverbial mask.  What do I mean by this? And how do we secure everyone else's mask first?  We take time to focus on the needs of our immediate family, the house, the dog, the cat, our parents, our in-laws, our church family, our coworkers, our friends, our various civic and community groups, and the list goes on and on.  We ensure that everyone else's mask is secured first, before ours.  And then we look around for our masks when we are already dog tired and unable to assist ourselves.

How many of us really take time to focus on resting, relaxing and rejuvenating our bodies (and by rest I don't just mean sleep),. 

 Inspired by Tiffany’s staycation and empowered by my loving husband, Jevon – I decided to plan my very own staycation so that I can “adorn the mask first”.  YES!  I decided that I should take time out for me – to rest, to relax and to rejuvenate and I did just that. 

This is my bag I packed then proceeded to run out of the house with before I changed my mind.

Driving to the Hilton, nervous and anxious but forging ahead nonetheless…

One weekend a few weeks ago I nervously packed my bags and even more nervously checked into the British Colonial Hilton Hotel BY MYSELF.  Nervously because this was the first time that I had ever done anything like this and I run guilt trips on myself – if you can believe that!  The random thoughts going through my mind on the Friday evening and into Saturday morning were “I should be home with my family” or “maybe my husband should’ve come with me” or “how are they making it without me”.  Needless to say, once I was able to relax and sit by the beach and soak in the experience – I … was … fine.  And you know what? My family was okay.  They held down the fort.  They were okay.  And so was I. 

Me…laying in the gorgeous…heavenly…cabana…curled up with a fabulous book!!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed my staycation and would encourage anyone who feels the need to rest, relax and rejuvenate to “adorn the mask first”.  It is a gift.  And I am all the better for it.

The awesome view from my room…

Gorgeous … heavenly … cabana!

I left the hotel that Sunday morning, feeling refreshed, reinvigorated and reenergized.  And this is all because I took the time to first adorn the mask to myself which enabled and continues to enable me to adorn the mask to others around me. 

The lesson for me in all of this was that I now know and accept that I too need to be taken care of and that there are times - even though my husband and family do an awesome job of taking care of me - that we really need to take care of ourselves, for ourselves. 

Headed out on Saturday afternoon!

So I have since committed to setting aside pockets of time each week – just for me.  And my family loves me for it!!! And I love me too!!!

Written By
Sandena Neely
Guest Blogger

COME AND JOIN US!

Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice heralds the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. This year 2013, the solstice falls today on Friday, June 21st at 5:04 pm.

Today is the first day of summer.

With that said, "Let's Celebrate!"

One way to revel in the first day of the season is with a soothing summer cocktail.

courtesy of www.style-n-naina.com

Below is a link. It is a Martha Stewart link. 


"Cocktails range from classic to eclectic, there are libations for every taste, occasion, and season."

http://www.marthastewart.com/274560/summer-cocktails/@center/276959/cocktail-hour#275465/344272









Cocktail Categories

1. Spring Cocktails
2. Rum Cocktails
3. Tequila Cocktails
4. Gin Cocktails
5. Whiskey Cocktails
6. Classic Cocktails
7. Vodka Cocktails
8. Sparkling Cocktails
9. Brunch Cocktails
10. Happy Hour Cocktails
11. Signature Cocktails
12. Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
13. Tropical Cocktails
14. Summer Cocktails
15. Winter Cocktails   

    

    courtesy of www.hamptons.com

On behalf of Married Working Mothers, I wish all of you a great summer. Today is Friday, Summer Solstice, browse the link mentioned above and enjoy the long days of summer!

Until I blog again,
Tiffany