black girl bloggers Archives – Jamieson Diaries

15 Black Character Children’s Books

February 16, 2022 Leave a Comment

We’re half through Black History Month 2022 and it’s been one to remember already. One way we celebrate this month is by making sure our girls read books with characters who look like them. As most of us know we understand how important reading is for a child’s development and learning. It’s equally as important for our children to see books with characters who look and live similar lives to them. Just as it is important for them to see diversity in all aspects with characters. For those of you who are looking for Black character books for your child’s library- this 15 Black Character Children’s Books list is for you!

All Posts, Beauty, Dear Diary, For The Culture, Natural Hair Care

6 Natural Hairstyles for Kids

August 26, 2021 Leave a Comment

We’re in full swing of back to school season over here. Part of back to school season means cute but effective natural hairstyles for Black girls. If you are familiar with the effort put into natural hair then you know kids with heads full of hair like my Jordyn’s can be time consuming to maintain. This is why I want to share 6 Natural Hairstyles for Kids I style on Jordyn regularly. This not helps to keep her hair healthy and in protected hairstyles, but allows us to have fun with her hair throughout the week.

All Posts, Dear Diary, Family Love, For The Culture, Travel

Chicago Trip: April 2021

June 8, 2021 Leave a Comment

I got the chance to go home and visit my Chicago family for the first time in over a year and a half. Out of everyone in my family the main focus of my trip was to see my Grandma. If you know me then you know I am the definition of a Grandma’s girl. She is my main girl. Going so long without seeing her was definitely the toughest part of this pandemic. However, as hard as it was to not see her, I am thankful for her continued health throughout this entire ordeal. I, unfortunately, know quite a few people who can not say the same regarding their loved ones this last year. Being able to give her a masked up huge hug multiple times is exactly what my soul needed.

All Posts, Dear Diary, DIY, Home Decor

5 Spring & Summer Home Inspo Ideas

April 22, 2021 Leave a Comment

April showers bring May flowers, right? Well why not show the inside of your home some attention while it showers outside? April is for sure a rainy season down here in Louisiana which means we’re still spending a lot of time indoors. When you add in the layer of a pandemic still going on it means double the time indoors. The last few weeks I have shared some transformation Tuesday inspiration on the blog. From our front door entry way to our girls playroom, spring is in full effect over here. I created this 5 spring and summer home inspo ideas guide to share and spark inspiration for those who need it!

All Posts, Dear Diary, DIY, Frugal Ideas, Home Decor

Kitchen Decor & Details

March 16, 2021 Comments : 2

We’ve made it to the third Tuesday of the month which means another Transformation Tuesday is here. This week my transformation highlight in my home is the kitchen. Decorating a kitchen you can’t renovate from the bottom up can be difficult. This is why the kitchen decor and details matter in a space like this. Think of a color scheme you enjoy and try piecing together little details like the curtains to start.

All Posts, Dear Diary, DIY, Home Decor

Kids Playroom Makeover

March 9, 2021 Leave a Comment

Happy transformation Tuesday everyone! If you missed last week’s post, for every Tuesday in the month of March, I’m sharing a new transformation area in my home. I kicked off last week with my entry way makeover. This week is dedicated to the kids playroom makeover project. I say project because it has been many months of finding the correct pieces and I still have a few more details to add. Overall, the playroom is 95% complete, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.

All Posts, Dear Diary, Family Love, Travel

Southern University Museum of Art at Shreveport

February 11, 2021 Leave a Comment

Three years ago while still living in Montana, I came across a section in Essence magazine that caught my eye. Two pages of guide to Black historical sites all over the state of Louisiana. This was perfect timing considering we knew Shreveport, Louisiana would be our next base assignment. I immediately searched the list for Shreveport locations and to my surprise found two of them. One of those locations is the Southern University Museum of Art at Shreveport. I finally had the opportunity to visit this museum last week in celebration of Black history month.

All Posts, Dear Diary, Family Love, Mental Health

Learning & Loving My Blackness

July 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

Being Black in America has always been a layered experience for me. Most of us go through multiple life stages of defining or questioning what Blackness looks like to us. My experience of Black in America was also coupled with being raised by a Caribbean family and Caribbean values. Learning and loving my Blackness is still a work in progress, but I’m so thankful for how far I have come.

“The American idea of racial progress is measured by how fast I become white.”
James Baldwin

All Posts, Dear Diary, Dinner, Healthy, Lunch, Recipes

Chicken Noodle Soup

September 23, 2019 Comments : 4

It’s officially the first day of fall and I couldn’t be happier. Fall is hands down my favorite season. What is there not to love about it? The crisp fresh air, beautiful orange, red and yellow leaves, apple cider, pumpkin spice, hoodie weather, etc. I could go on for days. Unfortunately, we live in the south so half of my fall list means absolutely nothing. (insert hysterical cryin face here) Despite the summer weather outside, one of my absolute favorite parts of this season is soup is back in full swing. My family likes to eat soup year round, but we definitely kick it up a notch once fall has arrived. One of my go to easy soups for my family is my homemade chicken noodle soup. It’s full of fresh ingredients and is seriously so easy to make.Read More

All Posts, Dear Diary, Dinner, Recipes

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

September 3, 2019 Leave a Comment

Back to school season is here and parents all over are rejoicing. Well, most parents. I’m one of the thousands of new moms who sent my kindergartener to school for the first time. It’s been over two weeks and I’m still adjusting to my new normal. With that said I’m quickly learning the importance of easy and quick dinner recipes. It seems like the days are flying by and there enough hours in the day. One of my family’s favorite meals is spaghetti. Then again, who doesn’t love a good hearty spaghetti meal? A lot of people think buying the pre-made spaghetti in jars is the only way to enjoy a quick spaghetti meal. But here I’m sharing a flavorful and healthier homemade spaghetti sauce recipe that’ll stop you from ever buying the pre-made stuff again.

One of the reasons I prefer making my own homemade spaghetti sauce is because I can control everything in it. From the amount of salt to the herbs and spices. I consistently make mine using ground turkey for a hearty meat sauce. I crumble my ground turkey in it because it saves time instead of making meatballs. (Be on the lookout for a homemade meatball recipe next week) However, although mine is always made with ground turkey this recipe can be made for vegans and vegetarians. Just eliminate the meat and everything else is perfect for your own homemade spaghetti sauce.

Helpful Tips:

This sauce is the perfect sauce to freeze for future meals. Most of us don’t like cooking every night if we don’t have to so meals that can be frozen ahead of time are ideal. You will also figure out what your favorite seasoning combinations are in your sauce. Some people will prefer to smoked paprika to regular paprika or more Italian seasoning than others. The ingredient list I give you here is the ideal for my family and our own taste. I also give you the basics so you can adjust your homemade spaghetti sauce to your own liking. As I say in most of my recipe posts: add as much spices as you’d like. You only need to go light on your salt and sugar. Everything else is fair game and will keep your meal tasting delicious. Let’s go ahead and get started on this homemade spaghetti sauce!

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword red sauce, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings 6 people

Author jamiesondiaries

Ingredients

2 lbs. Ground Turkey
33.5 oz. Tomato Sauce
2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
1 Medium Yellow Onion
1 Medium Green Bell Pepper
3 Cloves Garlic
2 Tbsp. Chopped Parsley or 1 Tbsp. dried parsley
1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning
2 tsp. Paprika
3 Tbsp. Sugar
2 tsp, Onion Powder
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat a large pot on medium high heat. Add your tablespoon of olive oil to the pot and sauté your diced onions, garlic and green peppers for about 2-3 minutes.
Add your Italian seasoning, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and chopped parsley to the sautéed vegetables. Mix well for another minute or two.
Push your sautéed vegetables to the side and add your ground meat to the center of the pot. Brown and break your meat up into small pieces. (Use a potato masher to make your life easier)
Add your sugar, salt, and pepper to the meat and veggie mixture. Mix together then add your carton on tomato sauce to the mixture. Mix until everything is well combined.
Turn the heat down to a simmer, cover your pot, and let the sauce cook down for 10-15 minutes. (This will be a great time to cook and drain your pasta)
Adjust your homemade spaghetti sauce with salt and/or pepper to your desired taste and enjoy!