It’s a par-tay over here y’all—MyBrownBaby is droppin’ it like it’s hawt because it’s a MyBrownBaby SITSday! The lovely ladies at The Secret is in the Sauce, the fab website that turns bloggers into comment junkies, chose MyBrownBaby as its featured blog, and I’m doing the happy, happy, joy, joy dance in appreciation for the love. Thank you Heather and Tiffany for all that you do; I’ve made some wonderful SITStahs through your website, and am quite tickled that I’ll be making even more new friends thanks to your hard work and dedication to bloggers. It feels hella good to be appreciated, recognized, and loved in the midst of such a wonderful, warm community. *Insert image of Denene applauding wildly here!*

If you’re new to MyBrownBaby, here’s the quick and dirty on the site: I’m Denene Millner, a 15-time author, contributing editor and Mom Squad member at Parenting and Essence magazines, the Real Talk mom at Momtourage, and associate editor at the travel magazine, Odyssey Couleur. My latest book, “Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man,” which I wrote with the comedian Steve Harvey, has been No. 1 on The New York Times Hardcover Advice Best Sellers List for 14 consecutive weeks, and was featured on Oprah twice. I also just pushed the “send” button on a memoir I penned for Nene Leakes, star of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

More importantly, I’m a mom of three beautiful kids, the wife of an awesome magazine editor/writer, the proud owner of a spectacular Goldendoodle, Teddy, and ridiculously giddy for no good doggone reason. Maybe I’m just a hopeless optimist, but I try to remind myself every day how blessed I am for good health, a sound mind, strength, and above all else, the good, hearty, everlasting love of a beautiful family. Mary put it best:

Feels so good,
When you’re doing all the things that you want to do
Get the best out of life, treat yourself to something new
Keep your head up high
In yourself, believe in you, believe in me

Having a really good time, I’m not complaining
And I’m a still wear a smile if it’s raining
I got to enjoy myself regardless
I appreciate life, I’m so glad I got mine

So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
when I’m walking past the mirror
Ain’t worried about you and what you gonna do
I’m a lady so I must stay classy
Got to keep it hot, keep it together
If I want to get better
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just…
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine… WHOO!

Yup—I’m just fine. So come on in and take a look around. Check out what I do to FIND ME-TIME, and how me and my girls KICK IT OL’ SCHOOL. Check our what legendary actress DIAHANN CARROLL whispered in my ear, how I feel about BLACK DADS, PLAYING IN THE SUN, and SOLO VACATIONS. You’ll also find some great music here, too, including videos from artists like INDIA.AIRE, ANGIE STONE, and LEDISI, as well as some great recipes from my daughters’ “Home Made Love” cookbook. You’ll find, too, that I don’t mind speaking my mind, particularly when the NEIGHBORS GO WILD, BET GETS LOW, and I get nervous for my AFRICAN AMERICAN SON. No conversation is off-limits, and sometimes it can get a little ROWDY around here. But every post is meant to give voice to black moms looking to get in on the parenting debate, and certainly to invite ALL moms, regardless of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or background to talk about what we love to talk about most: motherhood.

So crank up the tunes—Mary J. Blige is getting it hot up in here! Then check out the site, and introduce yourself in the comment section. If you’re interested in contributing posts to MyBrownBaby, email me at denenemillner at gmail dot com. I’m SO happy you stopped by!

(Note: Sugar Shack, the iconic painting featured at the top of this post, is by the revered artist, Ernie Barnes; he died earlier this month, leaving an incredible legacy of grace, elegance, and beauty. Paint fantastic rainbows with the angels, Mr. Barnes.)