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The Swirl World

Celebrating and Elevating Black Women - mind, body, soul and spirit!


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#365| I Hope You Dance!

December 31, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 3 Comments

shareasimageWillAndLashanaHowell_Dance

We’re on the threshold of a brand New Year.

It’s less than 24 hours away!

Whatever you decide to do in 2016, I hope you dance!

Never miss a chance to dance.
Click To Tweet
Today’s featured couple is William and Lashana Howell.
Lashana was in the Army for 10 years and William is still enlisted, and has been for almost 22 years.
They’ve been dancing through all their years of marriage and look forward to many, many more.
Keep dancing, William and Lashana – and thank you for your service!

 

The Swirl World Team is committed to sharing 365 days of inspiration in 2015. Our goal is to help you stay motivated and inspired by bringing you positive, uplifting images and corresponding thoughts.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, high-resolution photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Copyright ©2015 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, The Swirl World Inspiration Daily™, Swirl Nation™, All rights reserved. Photo used with permission.

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Filed Under: Black Women Living Well, BW/WM, Fantastic Fans, Fun & Games, Holiday Observances, Inspiration Daily 2015, Interracial Families, Military Couples, We Love Our Military Tagged With: Black women, couples, dancing, interracial couple, interracial marriage, life, living well, love, Marriage, military, New Year

White Boy Fresh – Conservationist John Griffith

January 26, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 1 Comment

Have you seen this video??

Or this one??

We saw the first video and became extremely curious.

We wondered: Who is this guy??

Thanks to clicking through to YouTube and reading the information from the profile superior research methods we discovered the mystery man is none other than California Conservation Corps Crew Manager John Griffith.

John is committed to diversity in the conservation and environmentalism movements – and guess what else?

He’s a Swirler! Woot Woot

We contacted John and he graciously consented to an interview.

John leads a very interesting life! In addition to working in the Corps, he’s the author of Totem Magic: Going MAD, a book about 6th graders with magical powers who help the world’s endangered species.

John is so committed to conservation, 100% of the proceeds from book sales are donated to conservation and environmental groups.

We’re happy to report that talking to John is just as fun, informative and entertaining as looking at the videos on his YouTube channel.

Give a listen to our convo with John Griffith – aka “White Boy Fresh.”

He’s hilarious!

To listen on the podcast player, click here or here.

To listen on Sound Cloud, click here.

John Griffith and his best friend, Connie Stewart

John Griffith and his best friend, Connie Stewart

John GriffithTo visit John’s website, Totem Magic, click here.

To check out John’s Totem Magic YouTube channel, click here.

Head on over to Facebook and “Like” John’s page, Totem Magic: Going MAD by clicking here.

Shout out from John and us to Outdoor Afro! To visit the website, click here. To visit the Facebook page, click here.

Shout out from John and us to African American National Park Event. To visit the Facebook page, click here. To learn more about the event, email Founder Teresa Baker at tmbaker1165@gmail.com.

 

Copyright ©2015  Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™,  The Swirl World Inspiration Daily™, All rights reserved. Photos used with permission. Post contains affiliate links.

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Filed Under: BW/WM, Fantastic Fans, Men's Podcast, Podcast, Special Tagged With: Black women, Buffalo Soldiers, California Conservation Corps, dance, dancing, environmentalism, John Griffith, sensation, swirling, urban, YouTube

What Making The First Move Can Teach Us About Finding Love

March 5, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 6 Comments

Ladies, if you were at a party and saw a cute guy you found interesting, what would you do?

I’m directing my questions to ladies because it’s not surprising for men to make the first move – in fact, it’s usually expected.

But what about a woman? Is there ever a time when a woman should make the first move?

Different schools of thought and theories exist on whether a woman should make any moves. Some believe a nice smile, lingering glance or simply saying hello should be enough for a woman to indicate interest.

Others advocate women doing absolutely nothing other than letting a man make all the moves – if he’s interested, they reason, then he’ll make a move in the woman’s direction.

Still others believe nothing is wrong with a woman being open about her interest – and going after what she wants.

Meet Lela and Mark.

Lela and Mark - 2

When Lela saw Mark, she – well, read their story and find out!

Where do you live? 

We live in Loganville, GA

How long have you been together?

We’ll be together two years come May.

Do you have any children?

We have a five-month-old named Maleah and one on the way, that’ll be here come this August.

Lela and Mark - Baby

How/where did you meet?

We met at a night lounge. We were not looking for each other but we found each other. I saw him and went to him and asked if he wanted to dance, he said, “Yes of course!” (Lol!)

But we talked and danced all night together. At the end of the night he walked me to my car and we exchanged numbers. He tried to kiss me but I wasn’t having it. Lol!

We started hanging out; I mean every weekend he was coming to my house to pick me up. Rain or whatever he was there. Things progressed as we spent more time with each other. Just finding out how much we had in common was so nice.

Well one day at his house relaxing on the porch, he asked to make our friendship official into a relationship. I couldn’t deny it. He was all that I wanted in a man. Very sweet, funny, smart and truly cared for me.

How did your families respond to your relationship?

Our families were very supportive. My family loved that I found someone who I could spend my time with, enjoy life and possibly grow old together. His family was happy he found someone cool, calm and collected to help keep him grounded.

What do you like most about each other?

Lela: What I like most about him is that he’s such a hardworking man. He truly loves me, and he’s an amazing father.

Mark: What I like most about her is her personality and her sense of humor. She’s beautiful, and we have so much in common.

What advice would you give to others who are interested in dating/marrying interracially?

Our advice is to go for it! You never know what you could be missing out on if you’re not open to different possibilities.

Lela and Mark - Baby 2

And there you have it! Lela wasn’t too shy or afraid to ask Mark to dance, and the rest is history. Sometimes making the first move can lead to lasting love – and that goes both ways!

Join in the Fray: Who should make the first move – a man or a woman?

All rights reserved. All work is the copyright of the respective owner, otherwise copyright © 2014 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, Dallas, TX, USA. Photos used with permission.

 

Want to be profiled here on the blog and on our Facebook page? Contact us via inbox on Facebook or send an email to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

 

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Filed Under: BW/WM, OPEL, Uncategorized Tagged With: Black women, Black. White, club, dance, dancing, date, dating, GA, Georgia, interracial, interracial dating, interracial marriage, interracial relationships, Lela, lounge, love, make a move, Mark, move, move forward, night club, night lounge, swirl, swirling

Have A Great Weekend!

May 24, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 1 Comment

keep-calm-and-enjoy-the-holiday-121I’ve got a busy weekend planned. I hope to make a serious dent on my dissertation edits (you know, for the dissertation that won’t go away). 

My ‘lil cuzzo RJ (Russell, Jr.) is graduating, and a big bash is planned. Thankfully I won’t have to go in search of Memorial Day barbecue – his Mom and Dad are great cooks and they’ve already promised to throw down. (Expect photos).

They’re also super at zydeco dancing so maybe I can persuade them to show me a few steps. (Yes, that’s still on my “things I wanna learn” list).

I’ll be back next week. Till then, enjoy the holiday!

 

Join in the Fray: What are you doing for Memorial Day weekend?

Copyright © 2013 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, All rights reserved.

 

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Filed Under: Festivals and Events, Series, Uncategorized Tagged With: barbecue, dancing, dissertation, graduation, holiday, Keep Calm, weekend, zydeco, zydeco dancing

I Hope You Dance . . . .

April 19, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

Kozzi-krump-style-dancer-1183 X 1774

. . .  ‘cuz I sure do!

This has been a long week. Sometimes you just have to dance it out.

This video is giving me life.

http://youtu.be/9hWAU-lJFaM

Join in the Fray: Do you dance when no one is watching? What’s your song of choice?

I’m blogging every day in the month of April in Blogher’s NaBloPoMo Challenge. Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment!

Copyright © 2013 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, All rights reserved.

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Filed Under: NaBloPoMo Challenge, Series, Special, Uncategorized Tagged With: Abba, Black, Black women, Black. White, BlogHer, bus stop, dance, dancing, disco, interracial, interracial dating, interracial marriage, Music, NaBloPoMo, woman

Who Says White Men Can’t Dance???

January 4, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 17 Comments

One of the things I want to learn this year is Zydeco dancing.

This, my friends, is why:

I won’t tell y’all how many times I’ve watched this video. Yes, Home Girl has some great moves – no shade on her.

However.

I am not watching her moves.

(I’m just saying).

Coughs.

Sips some cold water.

Fans.

Clicks video again . . . .

(Hey! Don’t judge me!)

In Southwest Louisiana (also known as Cajun Country), MOST of the men – regardless of race or ethnicity) can dance like this.

This guy has some great moves he just needs a stylist.

So, who says White men can’t dance???

I rest my case. 

Join in the Fray: Can you  . . .  . dance?

I’m blogging every day in the month of January in Blogher’s NaBloPoMo Challenge. Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment!

Copyright © 2013 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl, All rights reserved.

 

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Filed Under: NaBloPoMo Challenge, Series, Uncategorized Tagged With: Black, Black women, Black. White, Cajun, Cajun Country, dance, dance lessons, dancing, interracial, interracial dating, interracial marriage, interracial relationships, lessons, Louisiana, Music, NaBloPoMo, Southwest Louisiana, swirling, White men, zydeco

Fried Alligator and Boudin Balls, Anyone???

October 24, 2012 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 7 Comments

This past weekend I had the distinct pleasure of attending the 76th International Rice Festival in Crowley, LA. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Louisiana culture, the state’s Department of Tourism reports that Louisiana holds over 400 festivals every year – and is “often called the Festival Capital of America.” The New Orleans Times Picayune  puts it this way:  “If you can eat it, drink it, play it, dance to it or ogle it, there’s a festival for it in south Louisiana. Probably this week.”

With that being said, the Rice Festival provided a delightful expression of diversity in two forms that really matter: People and food! These festivals seem to be the time that everyone pretty much put aside any race-centered or ethnic differences and instead become Louisianans who want to have a good time.

Yep, there was plenty of Swirling going on:

 

Where else in the world can large crowds of Blacks and Whites (with good sprinklings of Asians and Latinos mixed in) listen to and enjoy music like this:

And not only that, DANCE to it: 

AND, in addition to the fried alligator and spicy boudin balls, enjoy a good serving of pig feet or tripe?

This gentleman proudly told me I couldn’t take a photo unless he was in it!

(I purchased some wonderful homemade pralines. My cousin bought a bowl of pig feet – they were seasoned to perfection and delish! Yes, I eat pig feet – don’t judge me).

The truly adventuresome were able to help themselves to good ole helpings of squirrel, rabbit, or shark. Gotta try that shark next time . . . . .

 Join in the fray: What’s the most exotic food you’ve ever eaten? Would you be willing to try fried alligator, boudin balls, squirrel, or shark?

Copyright © 2012 Michelle Matthews Calloway, A Swirl Girl™, All rights reserved.

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Filed Under: Festivals and Events, Uncategorized Tagged With: Alligator, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Cajun, Creole, culture, dancing, entertainment, International Rice Festival, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans Times Picayune, swirling, Times-Picayune, United States, zydeco

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Welcome!

I’m Michelle Matthews-Calloway, and I’m A Swirl Girl! Greetings to you from The Swirl World. We encourage Black women to expand their relationship options by dating and marrying interracially. Our overarching mission is to see Black Women live their best life. Come Swirl with us in The Swirl World™, where we celebrate Black women and the diverse men who love us!™

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