Katandra Shanel's Blog: Life Is Just Awful. Ain't It?

"Oh you’re just a woman. You can’t raise no man. He need a daddy. Honey, where yo’ husband at?”

Single mother. Raising a child. Not just any child. A man child. On her own. Alone… And the world is divided. There are those who say it can be done. Then there are those who say it can’t. Who are they to tell me that I can’t raise no man? We’ll show them!

“This [book] was phenomenal. The Author captured me with the very first line and after that I couldn’t stop [reading]. Relatable, well written and exudes raw emotion. The story is full of love and as a mother I felt happy, sad, determined, and victorious, all at once. I do feel that this could be a play like the Vagina Monologues, but a monologue for the single mother. Great job.” ~Aria Knox, Author & Poet

So this is me inviting YOU to check out my Facebook page. If you like what you see, please like & share it, please & thank you. See ya at the like! 👍😊❤
https://www.facebook.com/freedomink36...

The first book I purchased was a fifty cent book from Goodwill. The cover was torn and tattered and the pages were yellowing. I was 15. Those secondhand books became my habit and reading was my favorite hobby. I could be in Manassas Georgia, population 100 on a good day, and literally be anywhere in the world. Imagine my delight the first time I stepped inside of a bookstore. An entire store, dedicated to nothing but books! And I was hooked. Two of my favorite books from way back when, Tiger Eyes (Judy Blume) & Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

Tiger Eyes

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Last night I went through the motions of, "Who has time for another holiday celebration?" here we are recuperating from the jabs of Christmas and the upper cut of New Years is a measly few days away, ready or not, here she comes! Then it hit extra hard, the realization that we live in a truly screwed up world. We need more morals, more values, more PRINCIPLES... And 7 key principles is what the foundation of Kwanzaa stands upon. So I didn't gather the family last night to 'make' them celebrate another man-made holiday with me, but honestly, every holiday has a creator and the rigors of Christmas tradition at this point are sheer, mindless habits (choose the tree - decorate the tree - put the Angel on top of the tree - put the presents under the tree - put milk and cookies beside the tree - gather 'round the tree - sing "Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree"). I have decided not to view Kwanzaa as another holiday celebration, but as a year ending/year beginning recognition. So with that said, yesterday was Ujamaa or Cooperative Economics or Shared Wealth. I don't need a set aside day to discuss this with my family. This is something that we, Jeremy and I, instill everyday within our home. Success to us is a combination of nurturing natural gifts and learned talents AND seizing the opportunity for further, advanced education. That there is a principle we could all build upon, together.
~Katandra Jackson Nunnally

It's our 5th annual summer reading challenge. 10 books in 13 weeks. I dare you to join us! Read any books you like, reserve the 3rd week for the group read. This year we're reading 'God Help The Child' by Toni Morrison.

For more information on the challenge... https://freedomink365ceo.wordpress.co...

Looking forward to your join. Happy reading.

God Help the Child

Amazon… amzn.com/0989678660
Merry Christmas & Happy Book Release Day 'Carnal Sobriety'!! I need YOUR help! Help me to make Carnal Sobriety a literary success this Christmas! After the kiddos have opened their gifts and the festivities are settling down, take a moment to sit back, relax and give thanks for it all... And then, buy the book Release Day for 'Carnal Sobriety' is December 25, 2014. Tomorrow take the time to build your home library, broaden your horizon & enhance your life... READ365!

June 21st. The first day of summer! How'd you like to kick off this season with a FREE book? Leave your email address in the comments below for the first book in The Bride Diaries series! You can read it on any device you can open and save the file on. Nook, Kindle, IPhone, Laptop... Don't forget to check out FreedomInk Publishing www.freedomink365.com/the_books
Thanks and happy reading.

What does it mean to eat clean? I had no idea such a concept even existed. In my world, you go to the local grocers. You buy what the farmers slaughter & harvest. Then you cook it. The end. But so much more goes on than just the consumption of a yummy meal. Yes, that is the end result. But what about the in-between process. How does a body really react to so much processed food. Sugar, bread, meat... I have accepted the challenge of a dear friend. The Clean Routine. This is day 1 of a 28 day challenge. Today is Meatless Monday. About an hour ago as I was rummaging through the fridge for something, anything to feed the stray that has wandered into our yard and hearts! I absently popped a piece of the lunch MEAT into my mouth before giving the hungry kitty the better portion. I chewed for a few seconds and then I spit. Oh my wowzers. This is gonna be harder than I thought. The way we eat is very much a habit. I see now why changing up can be a little tricky. We don't even think about 1/2 the things we consume. We just do! It's official. I'm gonna have to tie a string around each and every one of my fingers as a reminder each time I reach for some unwise, unhealthy food choice. Mandy, if you're reading this... Thanks for your support! I'm gonna need it.

If you're interested in 'The Clean Routine' contact Mandy Sharp via the Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/14092...

Taking a trip down Memory Lane, literally! Remembering the books we loved as children is not as easy as it seems. For some of us, it's been 15, 20, 25 + years ago. C'mon and admit it. I took the time to do the math. 25 years ago I was 9 years old. Whoa nelly. Where does the time go? With that said I have compiled a list of kiddie reads that, as always, in my usually, very biased opinion, would totally rock in your grown up/adult library! This list is a compilation of remembered reads from my own childhood as well as the Authors of FreedomInk Publishing. Enjoy and don't forget to add these awesome books to your own collection. Your children, grandchildren, godbabies, nieces and nephews are bound to fall in love with these classics too...
Alice and The Adventures in Wonderland
Oh The Places You'll Go (ANY Dr. Seuss book)
The Little Engine That Could
Where The Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak)
Alexander And the Very Bad, No Good Day
Read To Your Bunny Often
Blubber (ANY Judy Blume book)
The Babysitters Club (Ann M. Martin)
Where The Sidewalk Ends/A Light In The Attic (Shel Silverstein)
Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn (Mark Twain)
Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson)
Secret Garden (M.J Carr)
Ramona and Beezus (Beverly Cleary)
The Hardy Boys (Franklin W. Dixon)

*Bonus. My children's favorite children's books are Ferdinand the Bull, ANY Junie B Jones book, and The Magic Puppy series.

What books are a part of your cherished children's classic collection? Which titles should no library be without?

The Little Engine That Could
Where the Sidewalk Ends

Book 1 is one of the earliest books I can recall having an impact on the way I felt! Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume, a 1981 young adult novel. The story is about a girl who's father is killed. Her mother decides it's best to relocate the family for a while. Everyone must come to terms with the cruelties of life and each must decide if they can trust to live again. The original version of the book included a scene where Davey 'Tiger' masturbated while thinking of 'Wolf', a local boy in the new town. The scene was edited out of the final published book due to the young readership. Due to the un-sugarcoated nature of the book's content, 'Tiger Eyes' was placed on the 100 most frequently challenged list 1990-1999 {See more http://www.ala.org/bbooks/100-most-fr...}. This is not the only book of Judy Blume's to make the list. Hmmmm. How peculiar (I feel myself slipping into research mode and another blog post coming on). 'Tiger Eyes' is an awesome coming of age story. It's the perfect reminder to those young and old that sh!t happens. You can lie down with the dieing or you can get busy living!