Alexandra Isobel's Blog, page 14
March 29, 2015
INSPIRED SUNDAY READS
“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” 
― Oscar Wilde
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” Stephen King
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” Emilie Buchwald
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Harry S. Truman
“Reading books from my keeper pile is one of my greatest pleasures and writing inspiration.” Alexandra Isobel
Photos from Pinterest Boards: Celebrities Reading Books, Watcha Reading, and People Reading Books.
Filed under: Writing INSPIRATIONS Tagged: celebrities, inspiration, mixed tribe, quotes, reading
MIXED TRIBE SUNDAY READS
“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”
― Oscar Wilde
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” Stephen King
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” Emilie Buchwald
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Harry S. Truman
“Reading books from my keeper pile is one of my greatest pleasures and writing inspiration.” Alexandra Isobel
Photos from Pinterest Boards: Celebrities Reading Books, Watcha Reading, and People Reading Books.
Filed under: BLOG Tagged: celebrities, inspiration, mixed tribe, quotes, reading
March 18, 2015
WHO IS A MIXED TRIBE WOMAN ?
A MiXeD tRiBe woman is:
Strong.
Interesting.
Creative.
Sister.
Open.
Heart.
Thoughtful.
Admirable.
Clever.
Funny.
Modern.
Original.
Friend.
Brave.
What does a mixed tribe woman mean to you?
Who would add to this photo list?
Photos from: https://www.pinterest.com/alexandrais...
Filed under: BLOG Tagged: mixed tribe, woman
March 15, 2015
SUNDAY WRITING WARRIORS
It’s Sunday Morning, and before I write I image how these heroes will save the world . . . their family . . . or the special woman who has their heart.
Photos from my WARRIOR page on pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alexandrais...
Filed under: BLOG, WRITING INSPIRATIONS
March 14, 2015
March Madness: Spotlight on Digital Artist Taria Reed!
Spotlight on Tara Reed’s covers. Love love love’m!
Originally posted on Musings of An IR Romance Junkie:
Y’all know I run deep in these streets with my authors, and the general consensus among those who write romance about black women is the lack of diversity when it comes to designing and choosing the cover art for their books. This is one of my biggest pet peeves because when I’m reading a romance featuring a black woman, I do not want to see a white woman on the cover. And even worse, a white woman whose skin has been obviously darkened to make her appear black. I get it. The pickings are slim, and the industry has to do better, but Taria Reed is here! She’s always been here, and she is the m’effin business! I’m sure some of your favorite books feature a Taria Reed cover, and you didn’t even realize but who reads the credits right? And if you didn’t know, now you know!
Two things…
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Filed under: BLOG
March 13, 2015
WHAT’S YOUR MIXED CULTURE MOMENT?
“I have multiple cultural experiences as a Black woman born in Canada of West Indian heritage. My cultural experience is mixed and varied. It has been a long journey of trying to fit in here and then trying to fit in there. I guess that is part of the experience of being a Black woman, first generation Canadian born of West Indian parents.
Where do I fit? Who are my people?
What do I call myself and what do others call me?
I went to primary school in the early 1970s and was one of, I think, three Black children in the school. As much as I tried, I never really fit in. At one point or another I was reminded that I was not part of the crew.
In my early teens I began to meet and hang around with other black people but again was reminded I didn’t really fit in, wasn’t “Black” or “West Indian” enough.
I have had the privilege of meeting others like me, we who live in a certain Twilight Zone of not being one or the other,of being Canadian and black yet not stereotypically either. ”
Filed under: BLOG Tagged: Canadian girl, culture, mixed culture, mixed tribe, my story
March 11, 2015
WHO INSPIRES YOU?
Who do you see or hear about and things just seem to fade around you? You stop and listen to hear whatever they say.
I am inspired by a few people.
Joanna Penn – British author and blogger
Michelle Obama – The First Lady
Rania Al Abdullah – Queen of Jordan
Michaelle Jean – Past Canadian Governor General
When these women speak, I stop and listen. Their story interests me, as does their opinion or view point on things. I like what they say and am inspired to hear more.
In my workplace, I have a career mentor, Wendy. She didn’t come into the role by design, it just kind of evolved. She was my supervisor twenty years ago, then life happened and I didn’t see or work with her again until recently; however it wasn’t until we met again that I realized how much over the years her teaching has influenced my work.
I have made many decisions based solely on her words or example. It’s only now I finally see how much she’s inspired my daily work.
It’s important to have people to aspire to, real people who trudge through life before us, lead us to better things, but also reach back to help and guide us.
I don’t necessarily want to be like the people I aspire to, but I’d like to be able to make decisions like them, with courage and a bravery that allows them to be who they are, take chances, make changes, and keep going when things don’t go the way they hoped.
My mother had great courage, raising four daughters as a single mother in a time when divorce and single parenthood was frowned upon. She always kept going, after I grew up and faced difficult decisions of my own, she’d always say:
“If that’s what you have to do to keep things going, then that’s what you do to keep things going.”
Solid advice to inspire daily living.
Photos from public Facebook pages
Filed under: BLOG Tagged: aspire, first lady, inspiration, inspire, joanna penn, mentor, mentoring, michaelle jean, michelle obama, mixed, mixed tribe, queen rania, writing mentor
February 28, 2015
WHAT’S YOUR MIXED CULTURE MOMENT?
I was in my early twenties, standing with a group of women, one of which was from the West Indies. Everyone was discussing where they were from, a lively conversation about coming to and living in Canada.
AND THEN IT HAPPENED . . .
One woman looked at me asked, “How about you, where are you from?’
And before I could even open my mouth, the West Indian woman, mostly silent during the conversation, immediately says, “Oh, she was born here.”
A rage of questions screamed to life in my mind.
Why do you say it like that? And what makes you so sure!?
I wanted to pull her aside to let it be known that both my parents were born in Trinidad, as were my two older sisters. My third sister though born here was made there! And by the way, maybe I don’t have many real life memories from back home; I have lived there vicariously through the rest of my family!
Sigh. Guess she hit a nerve
I never did say any of those things. The conversation moved on while I stood there with my mouth and mind hanging open, silent against renewed feelings of not fitting in with either culture, never able to be one thing or the other.
Oreo cookie—according to my black friends.
Too Canadianized – according to my parent’s West Indian friends.
Black—according to my white friends.
Mixed up mixed chick— according to me.
Well childhood trauma turned into teenage angst, and teenage angst turned into young adult realization.
I was a mixed cultural girl with a mixed sense of home and identity.
Filed under: BLOG Tagged: Canadian girl, culture, interracial, mixed, mixed chick, mixed race
WHAT’S YOUR MIXED CHICK MOMENT?
I was in my early twenties, standing with a group of women, one of which was from the West Indies. Everyone was discussing where they were from, a lively conversation about coming to and living in Canada.
AND THEN IT HAPPENED . . .
One woman looked at me asked, “How about you, where are you from?’
And before I could even open my mouth, the West Indian woman, mostly silent during the conversation, immediately says, “Oh, she was born here.”
A rage of questions screamed to life in my mind.
Why do you say it like that? And what makes you so sure!?
I wanted to pull her aside to let it be known that both my parents were born in Trinidad, as were my two older sisters. My third sister though born here was made there! And by the way, maybe I don’t have many real life memories from back home; I have lived there vicariously through the rest of my family!
Sigh. Guess she hit a nerve.
I never did say any of those things. The conversation moved on while I stood there with my mouth and mind hanging open, silent against renewed feelings of not fitting in with either culture, never able to be one thing or the other.
Oreo cookie—according to my black friends.
Too Canadianized – according to my parent’s West Indian friends.
Black—according to my white friends.
Mixed up mixed chick— according to me.
Well childhood trauma turned into teenage angst, and teenage angst turned into young adult realization.
I wasn’t a mixed chick in the true sense of the term, but a mixed cultural girl with a mixed sense of home and identity.
Just a mixed up gal living in a mixed up Canadian culture.
Filed under: MIXED LIVING Tagged: Canadian girl, culture, interracial, mixed, mixed chick, mixed race
February 17, 2015
FEBRUARY INSPIRATIONS
Close your eyes . . . get the picture in your mind . . . take a deep breath . . . and whisper the words across the keyboard.
Filed under: MIXED LIVING Tagged: February, flowers, hearts, inspirations, rings, strawberries, tea, visuals
