HAPPY BDAY D!

Yesterday we celebrated D's birthday!  

We did a little window shopping, had lunch at Bertucci's and then we went to Longwood Gardens.

It was a Christmas wonderland, we had a great time!!

MC Shan - The Bridge

TOOK MYSELF BACK 25 YRS!!!

50 Ways to get your Life in order...

1. Recycle old papers that are filling drawers in your house. If you’re anything like me, you have drawers overflowing with old receipts, junk mail, records, and notes to myself. Get rid of all of this. Invest in a paper shredder to reduce clutter and maintain privacy.
2. Mentally prepare yourself for change by visualizing your ideal self. Who do you admire the most? How do you envision yourself in the future? Who do you want to be? Visualize yourself to be that person.
3. Realize that unexpected events can be a good thing. As the Dalai Lama once said, “Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.”
4. Ask people you admire how they got where they are today. I’ve always admired my grandfather. Learning more about how he started up his business, dealt with difficulty throughout his life, and maintained grace throughout it all has helped me in my personal endeavors.
5. Cut back on alcohol, cigarettes and other vices. These can be crutches that cloud judgment. The money saved by not purchasing or cutting back on this type of material can then be put into something rewarding such as a vacation.
6. Remove elements of negativity from your life, be they people or a job you don’t want to do. If you have friends who are bringing you down, there’s no need to keep hanging out with them out of obligation. Cut your ties and cut your losses.
7. Start each day with a clear to-do list along with your cup of morning coffee. Knowing what you need to do in the day ahead helps keep you on track.
8. Clean your house from top to bottom and throw away anything outdated. Not only receipts, as mentioned above, but any old junk that should be donated to charity or sold in a garage sale.
9. Institute a clear filing system for your personal records. Investing in a simple filing cabinet and folders with labels is something you don’t need a personal secretary for and makes your life much easier when you are looking for a specific item.
10. Do your grocery shopping for the week on the day it’s most convenient. Make a list, budget, and get only what you need to save time and money.
11. Take a career test that will help you identify your strengths. If you are unhappy with your career but don’t even know where to begin in the process of moving on, this can be a good way to identify strengths and new possibilities.
12. Meet with a professional counselor if there are issues you need to discuss. Many people are struggling with dead weight from the past or emotional baggage that is holding them back. Deal with them and move on with professional assistance.
13. Go through cabinets and throw out expired medications or food items. The last time I did this, I found everything from 3-year-old curry powder to 5-year-old aspirin. Throw them out.
14. Make a clear diet plan with an emphasis on whole grains, fruits and vegetables. A healthy diet plan has a tremendous effect on your overall energy levels.
15. Add vitamin pills to your daily diet. Vitamin supplements can help reduce the possibility of cancer and osteoporosis, among other disorders.
16. Work out a clear exercise plan with an activity that you enjoy such as dancing or biking. My girlfriend loves yoga, and I am a soccer enthusiast. As long as it’s active, it counts.
17. Set appointments you’ve been putting off. It’s easy to put off going to the doctor or dentist until we are sick, but preventive care is extremely important in overall health levels.
18. Take up a mental exercise. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or other word games along these lines are more than just a good way to pass time. They have been shown in studies to help improve overall mental capabilities.
19. Publish your own book. This is easier than ever before with Internet publishing. You can get your ideas out there and start making money from them. I’ve published my own eBook, The 77 Traits of Highly Successful People, check it out.
20. Make a reading list and join a book club. Most people state that they want to read more, but without an actual plan you may not make the time to do this. Joining a book club not only serves as a social activity but also keeps you up to date with your own reading list.
21. Spend time with yourself each day. Susan Taylor states that “spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.”
22. Practice breathing exercises or meditation. Stress can have an overarching effect on our overall productivity levels. When stressed, I personally forget to breathe at times. Take the time to take deep breaths and improve oxygen flow to the brain.
23. Speak and act with honesty. Are you able to stand by what you do and say? If not, it may be time to reexamine your own words and learn to articulate your thoughts in an open, honest way. This helps eliminate mistakes down the road.
24. Learn from past mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. Usually, we make a lot of them during our lifetime. As long as they aren’t repeated too many times, and are looked at as a learning experience, they can in fact be a good thing in the long run.
25. Volunteer to help others in your community. Helping others is a rewarding way to get your own life together.
26. Take up a new language or hobby.
27. Read inspirational biographies. For new ideas, find out how others got their lives in order.
28. Talk to a stranger. Unplanned conversations can be surprisingly inspiring.
29. Reconnect with friends and relatives who live far away. Call those people you miss but keep putting off calling. With the Internet and Skype at your disposal, even an online chat can help you reconnect.
30. Change your toothbrush. It can be a hotbed of bacteria.
31. Take more naps. Sleep is often sadly underrated in its ability to boost energy, mood, and keep reaction times sharp.
32. Drink at least 6 cups of water per day. Staying hydrated helps keep energy levels up.
33. Organize your photo collection. Get both digital files and physical printouts in albums. If you’re anything like my family, your photographs could be sadly sitting tucked away in shoeboxes in the closet, taking up space.
34. Take an interest in art in your community. Visiting galleries can help introduce you to the artists in your community and help stimulate thinking.
35. Join a hobbyist club. My friend decided to learn more about building model airplanes and was so deeply into it that he recently obtained his commercial pilot’s license. You never know where a simple hobby can lead you in life.
36. Keep a calendar with commitments. Having a visual reminder in front of you can be extremely helpful. We are all different types of learners.
37. Don’t put off difficult conversations. Deal with problems directly and immediately. This will result in a much lower level of anxiety for all involved.
38. Make a list of priorities and do what makes you happy. If you have lost touch with your own priorities lately, it can be beneficial to take the time to sit and think about what actually makes you happy. Work toward achieving this as much as possible.
39. Spend more time outdoors. Nature has an ability to help soothe a troubled mind and clear your thoughts. Taking a walk in the woods or climbing a mountain, at any level of difficulty, gives a sense of pride and accomplishment.
40. Attend lectures. These could be science lectures or other types, but it’s helpful to keep up-to-date on what’s going on in the world and plan accordingly. Keeping the mind active helps you in all aspects of your daily life.
41. Take the time to stretch muscles. Get a massage to improve muscle tone and circulation, then use this new energy and apply it to your work routine.
42. Make laughter a priority. Hang out with some of your most entertaining friends for a good laugh, or simply sit back with some favorite old comedies. Laughter counts as exercise and has been shown to expand your life span.
43. Clear some time each day to do nothing. As a child, I remember that we had “free time” scheduled into our school activities every day. This could be used for reading, drawing, or simply staring into space if that’s what we felt like doing. What a novel idea, and one that keeps the brain at ease.
44. Schedule a much-needed vacation.
45. Learn new tips for entertaining. You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to throw a great dinner party, and learning how to be a host or hostess with minimal effort can give a big boost to your confidence levels.
46. Throw out old clothing that doesn’t fit. Too many of us are squeezing into outdated clothes that are doing us no favors. Look and feel your best with clothes that are tailored to fit.
47. Live in the present, not the past. The past is over. Move on and enjoy every moment as it occurs. Take stock of what needs to be accomplished and move forward with this information.
48. Learn from past mistakes and move forward with your life. Get your life in order by looking forward, not back.
49. Get your car checked up. You go to the doctor to have your body checked up. Don’t wait until it is too late to perform maintenance on your car. I once got stuck on a road trip to Ipoh (Malaysia) as a result of this oversight, and it wasn’t pleasant.
50. Budget for possible home repairs. Set aside some money in the proverbial cookie jar to keep home maintenance within the realm of possibility in this coming year.

I was tired by the time I got to #10. Some things we shoudl all be doing though.

Jill Scott ft. Paul Wall- "So Gone (What My Mind Says)" (Official Video)

RIP HEAVY !

Ain't No Way Aretha Franklin

Makeup:: Urban Decay RollerGirl Palette

DBuffet this is the palette we discussed, I'm gonna repurchase.

LOVE IT!

Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Recipe of the Month  Southern Sweet Potato Pie Makes 8 servings 1 pound sweet potatoes, baked and pureed 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 eggs beaten 1 cup half and half 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 each unbaked Southern Pie Shell  (see recipe) Combine potatoes, butter, sugars, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon in a bowl.  Beat on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Beat in eggs, then  reduce speed to low and beat in half and half and vanilla. Pour into  Southern Pie Shell and bake in a preheated, 350 degree oven, 50 to 60  minutes or until set. Cool to room temperature before serving.  Refrigerate leftovers. Chef's Tip: Put the sweet potatoes through a ricer to remove any strings and to achieve a perfectly smooth consistency for this pie. Southern Pie Shell Makes 2 Pie Shells 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour       1 teaspoon sugar          1 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup butter (chilled)           1/3 cup shortening (chilled)    3 tablespoons ice water (more if needed)       Combine flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter and shortening with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add water, stirring lightly with fork. Form dough into ball and roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured board. Fold dough in half and place on pie pan. Fold back to cover pan; trim excess leaving 1-inch edge. Fold edge under and flute rim. Bake according to recipe directions. Praline Sauce Makes 4 Servings   1/4 cup butter 1/2 cup powder sugar 2 tablespoons dark corn syrup 1/4 cup dark rum 1/2 cup pecans chopped In a saucepan, heat 1/4 cup butter over medium high heat. Add powdered sugar, corn syrup, rum, and pecans. Stir until well blended. Cook stirring often, until sauce is thick and syrupy, about 6 to 7 minutes. Set aside. Keep at room temperature.  This recipe developed by Chef Joseph G. Randall All rights reserved. Copyright © 10/1/2011

MORE TURKEY TIME TIPS

Chef Joe's Tips    ROASTING TURKEY TIPS FOR SAFETY & DONENESS   1. Set the oven temperature no lower than 325°F. Preheating is not necessary. 2. Be sure the turkey is completely thawed. Timesare based on fresh or completely thawed frozen birds at a refrigerator temperature of 40F or below. When completely thawed out remove neck and giblets from the neck and body cavities. (Giblets are the turkey's gizzard, heart and liver. The giblets and neck, when cooked until tender, are delicious additions to gravy or stuffing). Rinse turkey with cool running water then pat dry with paper towels. 3. Place turkey breast-side up on a flat wire rack in a shallow roasting pan 2 to 2 1/2 inches deep with wing tips tucked underneath shoulders of the bird. Rub with salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and melted butter. Juices from the turkey will baste the meat as it cooks. For added moisture, pour 1/2 cup water in the bottom of the pan and brush the turkey with butter and seasonings. Baste with juices every 30 minutes.  In the beginning, a tent of aluminum foil may be placed loosely over the breast of the turkey for the first 1 to 1 1/2 hours, then removed for browning. Or, a tent of foil may be placed over the turkey after the turkey has reached the desired golden brown. 4. If a meat thermometer is not available, cook stuffing in a casserole. Mix ingredients just before stuffing a turkey; stuff loosely. Additional time is required for the turkey and stuffing to reach a safe internal temperature (see chart below). 5. For safety and doneness, the internal temperature should be checked with a meat thermometer. The temperature must reach 180F in the thigh of a whole turkey (center of the stuffing should reach 165F) before removing it from the oven. Cook a turkey breast to 170F. 6. Juices should be clear. In the absence of a meat thermometer, pierce an unstuffed turkey with a fork in several places; juices should be clear with no trace of pink.   7. Once out of the oven, allow the turkey to rest for at least 15-20 minutes to allow the juices to settle. The temperature of the bird will continue to rise. After carving the turkey, allow leftovers to cool slightly (but no more than an hour), then place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Store leftover stuffing separately. Use within three days.    TIMES:    UNSTUFFED 4 to 6 lb breast........1 1/2 to 2 1/4 hrs 6 to 8 lb breast........2 1/4 to 3 1/4 hrs 8 to 12 lbs...................2 3/4 to 3 hrs 12 to 14 lbs............... ..3 to 3 3/4 hrs 14 to 18 lbs............3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hrs 18 to 20 lbs............4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hrs 20 to 24 lbs.................4 1/2 to 5 hrs   STUFFED 8 to 12 lbs...................3 to 3 1/2 hrs 12 to 14 lbs..................3 1/2 to 4 hrs 14 to 18 lbs..................4 to 4 1/4 hrs 18 to 20 lbs.............4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hrs 20 to 24 lbs.............4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hrs   SELF BASTING TURKEYS As a value-added option for consumers, some turkeys are sold as "basted"

How to Brine and Cook a Turkey - EASY!

Just in case any of you will need a little help, this very close to what I do. Are y'all preparing for Turkey day?

HOW THE FEMALE EAGLE CHOOSES HER MATE

When it comes time for the female Eagle to choose her mate, she prepares herself for many suitors. And many come before her. She looks them over quite well and then picks one to fly with for awhile.

If she likes the way he flies she finds a small stick, picks it up and flies high with it. At some point she will drop the stick to see if
the male can catch it. If he does, then she finds a larger stick and flies with it much higher this time. Each time the male catches the
sticks, she continues to pick up larger and larger sticks. When she finds the largest, heaviest stick that she herself can carry, the stick is at this point almost the size of a small log! But she can still fly very high with this large stick.

At any time in this process, if the male fails to catch the stick, she flies away from him as her signal that the test is now over. She begins her search all over again. And when she again finds a male she is interested in, she starts testing him in the exact same way. And she will continue this "testing" until she finds the male Eagle who can catch all the sticks. And when she does, she chooses him, and will mate with him for life.

One of the reasons for this test is that at some point they will build a nest together high up and will then have their Eaglettes. When the babies begin to learn to fly, they sometimes fall instead. It is then that the male must catch his young. And he does!

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The female Eagle and their Eaglettes have depended on him to be strong for them. Just as we Native women and children need to depend upon our Native men.

So what I would like to offer to you my friends is this. Sisters, how well do you "test" your suitors before you allow them into your life? And my Brothers, how well have you caught the "sticks" for your women and your children?

Whatever our past has been like, if we need to change, let's do so now together.

Our children are counting on us to make these good choices for them and for their children

Kimmaytube's Leave-In Conditioner

Recipe:

2T   Kinky Curly Knot Today
2T   Aloe Vera Juice
2tsp Castor oil
2tsp Jojoba Oil

I apply to wet hair after shampooing and conditioning.

By Request...

I've received requests to list the hair products that I've found to work well for my hair.  Here's the list of what I'm currently rotating, I know its lengthy but I'm definitely a product junkie and have tried tons of stuff but I can't live without for too long.  That's how I define a staple product.  I will say this, these products work well on MY hair that is not to say that they will work on all hair types.  Btw, my hair type according to the popular charts is 3c/4a.  

Shampoos:

Shea Moisture Curl and Shine

Carols Daughter Monoi Repairing Shampoo

Giovanni Deep Moisture

Conditions for Co-washing:

VO5 Moisture Milks

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration

Suave Shea and Almond Moisturizing Conditioner

Rinse Out Conditioners:

Giovanni Deeper Moisture

Carols Daughter Monoi Repairing Conditioner

Deep Conditioners:

Giovanni Deeper Moisture

Carols Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask

Carols Daughter Olive Oil Infusion Set

Shea Moisture Organic  Yucca and Baobab Anti-Breakage Mask

Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque (can be used as a styler too)

Leave-In Conditioners/Moisturizers:

Kimmaytube’s Leave-In (recipe to follow)

Kinky Curly Knot Today

Karen’s Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia

Ouidad Moisture Lock

Carols Daughter Hair Milk

Carols Daughter Hair Balm

Stylers:

Karen's Body Beautiful Creamylicious

EcoStyler Olive OIl Gel

Kinky Curly Curling Custard

Jane Carter Wrap and Roll

Oils/Butters:

Olive oil 

Coconut Oil

Jojoba Oil

Grapeseed Oil

Castor Oil

Avocado OIl

Raw Shea Butter

Jane Carter Nourish and Shine

Hair Coloring:

Jamila Henna  

Indigo

Diety America Color Change Shampoo