Motherhood. It's certainly not for the faint of heart, nor is it for the weak, but admirable and rewarding just the same.
Many of us balance taking care of home, working, and ourselves in such a manner that even we have to give ourselves props where they're due. After a long day at work, the simplest things can prove to be that much more tedious. The last thing many of us want to do (or even feel like doing) after working and getting home to deal with tattle-telling children, hugs, and homework, is to prepare and cook dinner. However, we all have to eat, right?
Sure, take-out comes in handy, but there's nothing like a home-cooked meal. We all have our go-to recipes, but at the same time, who wants to eat the same thing every day? Click through the gallery to see some of my favorite go-to recipes for today's moms and working women on the go.
1.Skillet Tomato Chicken
From prep to finish, this one-skillet dish is not only visually appealing and pleasing to the palate, but can be ready in 30 minutes! Get the recipe via Well Plated.
2.Shrimp Pesto Pasta
This dish is quick, healthy, and more importantly, filling! Enjoy! Get the recipe via Dinner At the Zoo.
3.Chicken Gumbo
This chicken gumbo is perfect for a weeknight meal and great with or without cornbread! Get the recipe via Martha Stewart.
4.Spaghetti Carbonara
This five ingredient dish is quick and guaranteed to please even the pickiest eater. Get the recipe via Damn Delicious.
5.Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Chowder
This soup is full of garlic flavor and perfect for the non-meat eater of the house. Bon appetit! Get the recipe via Simply Quinoa.
6.Paleo Meatballs With Marinara Sauce
This is a healthier twist on a classic fave! Get the recipe via Noshtastic.
7.Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Shrimp
A hit with seafood and garlic lovers! Get the recipe via Cafe Delites.
8.Mongolian Beef
This PF Chang's copycat recipe is as easy as it is flavorful! Get the recipe via Sweet & Savory Meals.
9. Tomato Soup
This soup is full of robust flavor, rich in color, and of course, pairs well with grilled cheese! Get the recipe via Gimme Some Oven.
Featured image by Ella Olsson on Unsplash
Erica "Ms EKlass" Pierce is a mom, radio/tv personality, and writer. She's a lover of music, all things Beyonce, Harry Potter, and yes, her interests are as diverse as her content. A proud graduate of Ball State University, Erica is always eager to paint a masterpiece through the art of storytelling.
Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by YouTube/xoNecole
Tisha Campbell Shares Why She Got A Mommy Makeover & And We’re Here For The Transparency
Tisha Campbell is still here. Here. Here. Here. (If you know, you know.) The 56-year-old actress and singer is living her life loudly and without apology, all while keeping it real about the work she's had done.
While gracing the 2025 BET Awards red carpet last week, the My Wife & Kids alum let it be known that she has nothing to hide as she revealed to Entertainment Tonight that she recently had a mommy makeover. "I had extra skin from the baby and a little bit of droppage here and a little bit of droppage there," she shared with the outlet as an exclusive. "They tighten me together."
The mother of two shared that changing her body wasn't about anyone else; it was first and foremost about pleasing herself. "I'm a single mom, not ready for dating," she added. "But I just wanted to feel good for me."
Why Tisha Campbell Chose to Share About Her Plastic Surgery
Tisha isn't new to keeping it a buck and has always been transparent about subjects that others might shy away from, whether it's about her decision to walk away from the show that put her on the map as an actor or her decision to walk away from a 22-year marriage to ex-husband Duane Martin. Cosmetic surgery is simply another topic for the Tisha to be open about.
Even in a post-BBL era, cosmetic procedures are something that is still taboo to talk about, especially among women in Hollywood who have spent decades in the public eye, like Tisha. The self-proclaimed "open book" shared her why behind disclosing her surgery:
"I just think it's more important for people to know why one does it. If you wanna feel good about you. And I just wanted to be honest about it," she told ET. "I think it's more important, to be honest, to know that you know I didn't all this by myself. It's nice to be a little bit more snatched around that area."
Tisha Campbell is serving confidence and honesty about her mommy makeover 👶✨ #BETAwards #tishacampbell #kyliejenner #mommymakeover
So, What Is a Mommy Makeover?
For those who are unfamiliar, a "mommy makeover" refers to a combination of cosmetic procedures and can differ for every woman depending on her personal goals. While the overarching intention of a mommy makeover is often to "restore" their bodies to their "pre-baby" status, the procedures are customizable and ultimately based on what feels good to her personally.
This might look like a tummy tuck or liposuction, a breast lift, reduction, or augmentation, a labiaplasty, or any other nips and tucks that support how they feel in their bodies after giving birth.
What stood out in Tisha's clip wasn't just her transparency in action, but also the intention behind her decision to have surgery. She waited until her sons Xen, 23, and Ezekiel,15, were older to have her procedure and made it clear that she centered herself in her choice. In her new season life, this is how she is honoring herself.
"For me. It's not for everybody, it's for me."
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Featured image by Rob Latour/Shutterstock