Sweet Butter Sunday #3 – Picnics & Poetry

Welcome to Sweet Butter Sundays

A Time for Self-Care

Summer Summer Summertime. This weekend has been peaceful and friendly. I watched First Wives Club on BET+ and it was so Bomb! I might actually think about paying for BET+ after my free trial ends (but I already have cable, Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video, come on now!). I spent so much time lounging on my patio reading and chatting with my sister on the phone. I did a lot of nothing with my new husband and we just enjoyed our time off.

A couple of weeks ago I found this bamboo food tent at TJ Maxx and I fell in love (pictured above). All my summertime dreams were about to come to fruition. I immediately imagined picnics in the park with my girlfriends, picnics by myself with a good summer book, picnics with my husband on romantic date nights in flowy summer dresses. I just pictured the perfect summer pass time of good food and a summer breeze. So, of course, I had to make this happen! Not pictured are the delicious wings and fries we chowed down on from B and L Wings. B and L Wings doesn’t have a storefront and you have to order the wings on Instagram or by phone. I was a little skeptical, but when I saw the wings kept selling out, I knew I had to try them. We ordered their signature hot lemon pepper wings and it was worth the drive to the suburbs. If you are in Atlanta, I definitely recommend checking them out. Just know, you’ll have to order the food several days in advance and they are only open for pick up on the weekends. After we cleaned up from the messy yet delicious wings, we just spent time hanging in the park chatting, chilling, and drinking lemonade.

If you haven’t already, I hope you take a moment for yourself. A moment to relax and remind yourself of the little things you love about your life. If you’re looking for suggestions on what to do you came to the right place. Check out my sweet butter treats below and treat yo’self!

This Week’s Treats ~ A picnic in our neighborhood park and time spent reading my favorite poetry.

— > I’d love to hear your about your favorite picnic snacks and poems in the comments below!

Poetry by Female Black Authors

I like to find poems that speak to me and my current life situations. Poems can express the jumbled thoughts I have in my head and bring more meaning to my circumstances. Sometimes they have better words and the perfect tone of how I’m feeling about life or how I hope to feel about my life. The two poems below speak to my heart, so I thought I’d share them with you. ❤

Celebration by Mari Evans

I will bring you a whole person
and you will bring me a whole person
and we will have us tiwce as much 
of love and everything

I be bringing a whole heart
and while it do have nicks and 
dents and scars, 
that oly make me lay it down 
more careful-like
An; you be bringing a whole heart
a little chipped and rusty an'
sometime skip a beat but 
still an' all you bringing polish too
and look like you intend 
to make it shine

And we be brinigng, each of us
the music of ourselves to wrap
the other in

    Forgiving clarities
    Soft as a choir's last
    lingering note our
    personal blend

I will be bringing you someone whole
and you will be bringing me someone whole
    and we be twice as strong
        and we be twice as true
and we will have twice as much 
    of love
        and everything

Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,   
The stride of my step,   
The curl of my lips.   
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,   
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,   
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.   
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.   
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,   
And the flash of my teeth,   
The swing in my waist,   
And the joy in my feet.   
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered   
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,   
They say they still can’t see.   
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,   
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.   
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.   
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,   
The bend of my hair,   
the palm of my hand,   
The need for my care.   
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.