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I was most recently totally inspired by the efforts of my youngest daughter to complete a 5k. The 5k was held on behalf of Girls On The Run DC and was a first for both my daughter (aka, mini-me), and me. As much as I wasn't sure if my daughter would be able to endure the entire race on a day that turned out to be a scorcher, I wasn't sure if I would, particularly since I hadn't run in at least two years. But my daughter asked me to participate and I couldn't turn her down. And the experience of crossing the finish line hand in hand with her, is a moment and a milestone that I will cherish for a lifetime and hopefully my daughter will, too. I detailed the experience HERE.

I Got A Man!!!

Calm down. I'm still single (ugh) but I did I did score a man to lend a voice to last nite's "Tales Of Singledom". Last nite featured an instant replay of a previously aired live segment with guest, Dating Coach & Essence Relationships Editor, Charreah K. Jackson. It is one of my fave episodes and at this stage in my dating game, I needed a bit of reassurance so I thought it would be helpful to re-air Charreah's expert advice. Sidebar: I found myself taking notes again as if I hadn't ever heard the episode.

I switched things up however and opened the live portion of last nite's show a bit differently. I twisted the arm literally of friend and Bag Ladies Radio supporter, Mr. Gee James. Gee is a Photographer and fellow blogger bud. Gee tweeted a question a day prior asking what a woman should "contribute" on a date and the responses were hilarious and I knew immediately that I had to take the question to air. Thus last nite's dish. I even had Ty Knighten join me to weigh in also. The tone was ...Well, press play and listen for yourself OnDemand.

Listen to internet radio with Erin Martin on BlogTalkRadio

And not to be forgotten, I had a chance to dish on one my fave topics, fashion with fellow bloggers Yvonne of PinkDollHouse.org and Ashley of AshleyGaGa.com about tonite's DC showing of "Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's."
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For #BagLadiesLIVE segments, showtimes and more, visit www.bagladiesradio.com. Click to follow me on IG and Twitter @ bagladies.

Catch up on the dish you missed by going to www.bagladiesradio.com/listen. Scroll down to OnDemand and press play.

OnDemand: "TALES OF SINGLEDOM" feat. Essence Mag's, Charreah Jackson 06/05 by Erin Martin | Blog Talk Radio

Listen to internet radio with Erin Martin on BlogTalkRadio

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For #BagLadiesLIVE segments, showtimes and more, visit www.bagladiesradio.com. Click to follow me on IG and Twitter @ bagladies.

Catch up on the dish you missed by going to www.bagladiesradio.com/listen. Click the iTunes button or scroll down to OnDemand and press play.

What's Poppin With The Paparazzi ...

Our Bag Ladies "Gossip Guru" always brings it to us every Tuesday with our What's Poppin With The Paparazzi segment and she literally has us falling out of our chair every week and tears strolling down our face with laughter. Tonite was no different. And one headline in particular was too hilarious not to immediately post and if you missed this eve's show, check it out here OnDemand. But as we talked about last week, Tyra's whole mission to sport her natural locks and get rid of the weave and commence some sort of a natural hair day, has garnered some attention not just from regular folk and fabulous Bag Ladies but also celebs. And one response in particular that we talked about tonite, could not be ignored. Our girl also actress and model, Joy Bryant let a rip! And like my friend and I were chatting about, call me stupid but I never knew she had a weave. Anyway, read for yourself below ...

Joy Bryant wrote a blog over at Essence.com. And she’s being half sarcastic and half real about her own addiction to weave. ANd how Tyra’s “real hair” realization has no effect on her:

As the threads of the grown-out tracks were being snipped, I broke out my laptop and began my ritualistic daily web search. I go from news of the day to articles/blogs about the news of the day, ending up on entertainment/gossip/fashion stuff.

But that day, something caught my attention and trumped all of the glowing reviews of President Obama’s health care speech:

It was Tyra’s hair.

National Real Hair Day? I missed that one…In fact, on National Real Hair Day, I was calling Extensions Plus in L.A. to make sure they had enough of the 20” “relaxed roots” texture hair that I love oh so much (and that keeps selling out like crazy!), and making an appointment to get my hair, I mean, my weave, hooked up.

So Tyra, while I didn’t take part in your observance, I just want to say: “WOW!” You are such a brave woman for breaking the chains that bound you since your teenage years! What courage that took, for you to expose yourself to millions of people! Such fearlessness!
Oh, how I wish I had the guts to do that. I guess I’m much too much of an insecure, self-loathing Negro for all that self-acceptance foolishness.

I’m glad we got down to solving the mystery of what’s under your lace-front, though. I mean seriously, it was “THE” question that has perplexed the world over. And now we see that there’s a beautiful head of hair underneath it all, hair that was surprisingly relaxed and ready for the world. Whodathunkit?! If I had the same length and fullness of hair that you have, I might take my weave out too.

Ha!!!! I’m just playing! Even if I DID have your “real” hair, I’d still be wearing a few tracks or clip-ons up in there.

Why?

Because I’m straight weave fo life, kid!!!

Ima ride ride wit this weave, die die with this weave!!

Let me break it down for you:

See, I loooooove taking new hair out of the bag, combing through it with my fingers, holding it up with my two hands, and burying my face in it. Mmmm, mmmm, mmm! Nothing like a new batch of zig-zag curly to get your self esteem out of the dumps!

The feeling of getting my hair, I mean, my weave done over. I feel human again. I feel sexy. I feel powerful. It makes me feel…it makes me feel…it makes feel like a natural woman!!!
I can be whatever, whoever I want to be with the stroke of a sewing needle…

With long brown tresses and a tan, I’m Pocahontas, ’cause I got Indian in my family. With easy waves, I AM bohemian rhapsody goddess personified. And now that I got blond highlights! What!? I know I look like Beyonce! You can’t tell me nothing! Uh oh, uh oh…
And then I looked up from my computer, and caught a glimpse in the mirror of my head minus the long weavy locks. I looked crazy! Awww hell naw! I looked over at the new batch of hair sitting off to the side waiting to join forces with me. Damnit, I’m trapped, I thought to myself. I can’t let it go. I am powerless over it. Just when I think I’m done, it pulls me back in!

Now I guess I can get help for my self-loathing addiction.

I can learn to accept myself in my entirety. I can emancipate myself from that which keeps me locked-up. I can embrace the natural state of things.

Yup, I can do all of that…

But don’t hold your breath!

Hi, my name is Joy, and I’m a weave-a-holic.