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Thursday, December 31, 2009

Miss Moon's Musing About: New Year's Resolutions... What's Yours?

I used to be a HUGE journal writer... I would write about everything that was going on in my mind, make lists (I am a list-making fool!), and write down affirmations and/or tarot card readings that resonate for me. It was (as Chris always says) part of my spirituality. I always got excited come New Year's, as it was a time to reflect on what I was successful in achieving in the past year, and make a list of my plans and goals for the upcoming year.

For some reason, I have ceased the ritual. Rituals tend to wax and wane for me, depending on how much it's needed in my life, so I never worry if I go months without journaling or doing a tarot reading, because I know that once that connect with my inner self is lacking, the cards and the journal entries will make themselves available to be again.

I've been thinking these past few days about New Year's Resolutions. Goals I'd like to accomplish for 2010, from the spiritual to the superficial. Because one of my goals involves my blog, I thought that I would take advantage and get an early start by posting my....

2010 New Year's Resolutions

In the New Year, I will...


Get the hell up out of my Mama's house and find a fantastic Apartment in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn for Chris & I.


Spend more time with my homegirls.


Get a make over and learn how to best accentuate my features.


Reconnect with my spirit through writing, creating, meditating and divination


Drop at least two sizes by year's end


Be a better Blogger - give this blog a bit more of me: who I am, and more importantly: the rantings, ramblings and revelations I promise! LOL


So that is what I have for now. I usually keep adding to the list throughout the first week of the New Year. I would welcome suggestions and hear what goals you plan to achieve in 2010!!!


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

DOPE: Keith Olbermann's Countdown 2009 Whackjob Jamboree


Have I mentioned my love and adoration for Mr. Keith "Keefus" Olbermann?!?!?




LMAO @ "Vanilla from Wasilla" (Sarah Palin)



Whoooo Lawd @ the 2012 Remake!!! lol

Want to see more? Check out Parts 3 through 6 on YouTube!!!


Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The Results are In: OPI's Suzi Skis the Pyrenees

So in my last blog post, I was writing about how excited I was to try my new OPI nail polish, Suzi Skis the Pyrenees

As promised, I just came back from the nail salon (Shout Out to, Nail Kraz in Bed-Stuy!) and I must like I really like the results.



My only gripe is that the polish was really thin, so the end result was achieved after three coats of polish was applied... but I really love how it looks on my fingers and toes!



Monday, December 28, 2009

I'm REALLY Diggin': OPI's Suzi Skis the Pyrenees

So, for months I have been sporadically searching for a black nail polish that didn't look like vinyl. I like dark hues for the nails... but I am long past my goth years and I really don't want to look like I just came in from the matinée of "New Moon", off to shop at Hot Topic!!

My search ended today when I went to Optima Beauty Supply Store in NYC (Where I also scored my Denman Brushes for cheapie cheap!) and laid my tired peepers on OPI's Suzu Skis the Pyrenees.




OPI Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees is part of OPI's newest collection OPI Coleccion De Espana. This is a professional quality nail polish and is very strong and durable. OPI Nail Polish works wonders on either natural fingernails or acrylic nails.

I was too winter-bear tired to head to the salon for a much-needed mani/pedi & eye-brow waxing tonight.. but tomorrow I will be sure to post pictures of the results.

Yummm! Southern Fried Jerk Chicken

My Mother is the daughter of a Bajan woman and My Dad is a Good Ole Boy from North Carolina... so I grew up eating Curry Goat and Collard Greens, ya know? I won't get started on the influence from the Jewish man who married my Bajan Grandmother..... LOL

I saw this recipe and my heart just started to SIIIIIING.... because this recipe is a great way to honor my Southern and West Indian roots simultaneously.... not to mention get my grub on Yum Yum-style!!! Tee Heeeeee!

Southern Fried Jerk Chicken
Recipe Courtesy of Jamaicans.com





INGREDIENTS:

1-Cup Buttermilk
⅔ cup Red Stripe Beer
8 Drumsticks
1 cup yellow Cornmeal
1 Cup all Purpose Flour
½ cup cornstarch
½ cup Dry Jerk Seasoning
1 Tablespoon Paprika
2 Tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
Vegetable or Peanut Oil for frying

METHOD:

Combine the Red Stripe Beer and Cup Buttermilk in a large glass bowl.
Add Chicken to the bowl and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Combine the flour, cornmeal, jerk seasoning, cornstarch, paprika, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix to combine.
Drain the chicken and discard the marinade.
Toss the Chicken lightly one at a time to coat them. You can use a zip lock bag with the breading mixture to do this.
Place the breaded chicken on a large baking sheet lined with wax paper. Be sure they do not touch each other. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Pour oil in 2-3 inch deep skillet. Heat oil to approx 355f (check with frying thermometer).
Add the chicken 2 at a time. Fry each for about 4 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown
Remove each piece of chicken and place on paper towel to drain oil. Transfer to an oven safe platter once oil is drained.
Place in an oven set at 200f to keep warm. Once all the chicken is cooked, it is best to serve immediately.


And I think that a good accompaniment to this is a delish oven-baked sweet potato fries!!


Sweet Potato Oven Baked Fries Recipe
Recipe Courtesy of RecipeTips.com




Ingredients

- 2 pounds sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon course kosher salt, adjust to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic pepper, adjust to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika


Directions

Preheat oven to 450ºF.
Generously coat baking sheet with vegetable cooking spray or olive oil.
Peel sweet potatoes.
Cut into 1/2-inch thick sticks that are approximately 4 to 5-inches long, or cut into wedges.
Place potatoes into a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
Sprinkle potatoes with *seasonings and stir until potatoes are evenly coated.
Place potatoes in a single layer on baking sheet. Potatoes may need to be baked in 2 separate batches.
Bake approximately 10 minutes.
Remove and turn potatoes over, return to oven.
Bake potatoes an additional 20 minutes or until done.
Season to taste and serve hot.

*Any combination of your favorite seasonings can replace those listed in the ingredients.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

A Little [BRENDA RUSSELL] for a Saturday Night

I love this song so much!!!




Brenda Russell "Piano In The Dark"


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

No You Didn't, Brooklyn!!!

This morning, I overslept and was making a mad dash to the bus stop when I spotted this sign for a party at a club here in Brooklyn. I literally stopped dead in my tracks and fished in my purse for my cameraphone to snap a picture (Thus marking the first ever photograph taken with my new CrackBerry, tyvm!!)




Yes that is a picture of Tiger Woods snuggled up with those models..... LMAO

Monday, December 21, 2009

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

Have I mentioned I'm a total sucker for all things holiday? LOL

I get so excited when I hear great Christmas Carols blasting through the speakers in stores. Walking down Fulton Street in Bed-Stuy is like entering a Christmas Mix Tape with songs from around the globe, and I love it SOOOOOO much!!! ::dorky giggle::

I thought I would do a Very Special Music Therapy with Miss Moon ("Blossom" style) and share some of my favorite Christmas songs!!!

I have to start out with a joint that encapsulates the season.... it is simply NOT Christmas for me until I hear this song!!!



The Temptations - Silent Night



This next song is FIYAH!!!!



RuPaul (Yes, RuPaul!) "Little Drummer Boy"




And last but certainly not least... I love this song so much!!



Donny Hathaway "This Christmas"




 HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM MISS MOON'S MUSINGS!!!!



Sunday, December 20, 2009

A Little [WYCLEF JEAN] for a Saturday Night

Even though it's Sunday.... I fell asleep! LOL



Wyclef - We Trying To Stay Alive
featuring John Forté and Pras
The Carnival
(C) 1997 Sony BMG Music Entertainment




Friday, December 18, 2009

D-I-Y Nappturaliciously: Winter Hair Regimens.... What's Yours?

That little bit of an Autumn we had in New York City has definitely made a speedy departure, and winter is SHO-NUFF here.

As always, I am the queen of procrastination, and I haven't figured out what I am going to protect and nourish my hair.

I have my ritual for the rest of the year, I just haven't settled on one for when the months are colder.

My dry hair aches for moisture, so I know enough about what I need. I am just looking for advice on what you use on your hair. Hook me up, y'all!!!!


Yummm! Black Eyed Peas + Collard Greens = New Year's Eve

I am sure I am not the only one who has family that eats Black Eyed Peas, Cornbread and Collard Greens on either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. But in case some of you don't know what I am talking about, here's some info on the custom (From About.com):

The tradition of eating black-eyed peas for the New Year has evolved into a number of variations and embellishments of the luck and prosperity theme including:

* Served with greens (collards, mustard or turnip greens, which varies regionally), the peas represent coins and the greens represent paper money. In some areas cabbage is used in place of the greens.

* Cornbread, often served with black-eyed peas and greens, represents gold.

* For the best chance of luck every day in the year ahead, one must eat at least 365 black-eyed peas on New Year's Day.

* Black-eyed peas eaten with stewed tomatoes represent wealth and health.

* In some areas, actual values are assigned with the black-eyed peas representing pennies or up to a dollar each and the greens representing anywhere from one to a thousand dollars.

* Adding a shiny penny or dime to the pot just before serving is another tradition practiced by some. When served, the person whose bowl contains the penny or dime receives the best luck for the New Year, unless of course, the recipient swallows the coin, which would be a rather unlucky way to start off the year.

The catch to all of these superstitious traditions is that the black-eyed peas are the essential element and eating only the greens without the peas, for example, will not do the trick.

I found this great recipe, courtesy of sgrishka at BigOven.com and I wanted to share it because I will be cooking this for the familia, along with corn bread, and greens.

If you have a "No Pork on Your Fork" philosophy, you can definitely switch the sausage to turkey sausage and the ham hocks to smoked turkey wings (which I am considering doing because.. that's a whole lot of PO'K!!! ) LOL

Black Eyed Pea Stew


Ingredients

* 1 large ham hock, ham shank, or ham bone
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 1 pound smoked sausage, hot sausage, andouille, bacon, ham, or other smoked
pork
* 1 large yellow onion, chopped
* 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
* 1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (optional)
* 2 tablespoons tablespoons garlic, minced
* 1 teaspoon salt,
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper,
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
* 2 bay leaves
* 1 pound dried black-eyed peas, rinsed and picked over
* 2 quarts ham stock, or chicken stock, or low-sodium chicken broth, or water
* 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley chopped


Preparation

Wash peas, spread out on towel and check for derbies (you don't have to soak the peas). With a sharp knife, score the skin and fat on the ham hocks with 1/4-inch-deep slashes.

Heat the oil in a large heavy stockpot over medium-high heat. Saute the onions, bell peppers and jalapeno peppers, stirring often, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the ham hocks, garlic, salt, black pepper, cayenne, and bay leaves. Cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add the black-eyed peas and stock. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and bring down to a medium simmer, cooking uncovered for about 15 minutes.

In the meantime, slice the sausage into 1/2" pieces and brown in a heavy skillet. (If using bacon, don't cook it until it's crisp.) Add sausage to the beans, continue a medium simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 45 to 60 minutes more, or until the peas are creamy and tender (skim off any foam that forms on the surface). Add additional stock if necessary.

Remove the bay leaves and discard. Cut the meat from the ham hocks, discarding the skin and bones. Return the meat to the pot, stir in the parsley and heat through, about 5 minutes. Check seasonings. Serve with cooked long-grain white rice, corn bread or corn muffins.

May be served over rice as a main course, as a side dish, or thinned with ham or chicken stock and served as a soup, as desired.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Thursday, December 17, 2009

DOPE: "Stank Breath" Helena D. Lewis

Bwahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! We've all been in this situation.



Stank Breath

Imagine the worst smell you ever smelled
multiply that by 10
Homeboy's breath was so bad
I could smell it through his cheeks.
The odor singed my nose hairs
and cleared my nasal passages of mucus.
I was in a no-win situation.
He did purchase one of my CDs
But how do you tell someone you barely know
their breath has more kicks than
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
In an effort to be kind,
instead of speaking my mind,
I offered him a stick of gum
and he declined.
Oblivious to the fact that his breath combined with a
match can set the whole world on fire.

Okay, so I cut the conversation short,
pretending that someone across the room was calling
me, thinking he would catch the hint
and let a sista be.
But he didn't.
He followed me across the room,
like a predator after prey,
like a fat man after a sandwich,
like R. Kelly after a 12 year old.
Asking me,
asking me questions about my poetry,
the motivation for my free verse,
how often did I rehearse
and he kept using words that began with the letter 'H'
like, 'Hey...'
And then,
and then it happened.

Something so hideous,
it would make the devil say, 'Mama.'
A stray piece of spit torpedoed from his mouth
and landed on my forhead
and I'm not talking about a little piece of spit
I'm talking about a piece of spit so big
I actually saw it coming.
But for some strange reason
I could not move.
If only I had rented the movie Matrix one more time,
then maybe I could have dodged it.
And that was the straw that broke this poets back.

Well, I had to say what I was thinking.
I, I had to say what I was feeling.
I had to say, 'Colgate,
Ultra Brite,
Aim,
Liquid Plumber
,
Tide with Bleach my brotha.
Don't you know, brushing your teeth 3 times a day,
combined with flossing,
gargling,
regular visits to your dentist,
and prescription tictacs can help you.
Please
give
tartar control a try,
and take this stick of gum.
Get the F***! Out! Of! My! Face! '


Monday, December 14, 2009

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

This song (for real) kept me sane today... when I felt that anger/frustration/sadness/worry/badness bubble up, I just started humming this while I actually started drawing roses and I actually started feeling better!!



Mos Def - Roses (Ft. Georgia Anne Muldrow)

Intro
"When I'm down, I just draw some roses
On a pretty piece of paper
With my recipe open
So halfway through, I feel so much better
I imagine happiness, and it runs right to me, such amazing beauty
You don't have to, cut up no roses
Please just leave them living
Got my pencil, got pretty paper
Please don't worry we're forgiven"

Chorus
"I have found, just the perfect feelin
Finally cause I'm grateful
I can feel your spirit, comin closer on me
It is grand, just to be reminded
Reminded of the good things
Living in a new day, that no one can tear down
You don't have to, cut up no roses
Please just leave them living
Got my pencil, got pretty paper
Please don't worry we're forgiven"

Verse Mos Def
"Yellow for friendship, red for love
Black for the universal stars above
Pink buds that I bought her on Valentine
She said it was forever then she changed her mind
I said a little prayer then I cleared my eyes
Cause the ?
Started off with a oget, natural poget
I ain't Picasso but that ain't important
Faith, smart dude never graduated high school
Stay tuned I'm a show you how my art move
Shape and dimension flow and extension
Symmetry shade, blowin out the frame
Sign off my name Dante when I'm finished
Put it to your memory for permanent exhibit
Love, hard work and it's worth every minute
Abstract is still life real life kinetic"

Chorus

"Got my pencil, got pretty paper
Please don't worry we're forgiven
You don't have to, cut up no roses
Please just leave them living"

"When I'm down, I just draw some roses
On a pretty piece of paper
With my recipe open
So almost through, I feel so much better
I imagine happiness, and it ran right to me, such amazing beauty
Got my pencil, got pretty paper
Please don't worry we're forgiven
You don't have to, cut up no roses






Champions of Crackheadedness: Teacher Cuts Off Girl's Braid

Like I wrote on my FaceBook page in response to this article... I would've held a "Whup-Ass-Athon" where people can make donations for every hour I laid the smack down on this chick!!!

Teacher Cuts Off Girl's Braid In School
Police Issue Teacher $175 Ticket For Disorderly Conduct




POSTED: 4:54 pm CST December 11, 2009
UPDATED: 10:21 pm CST December 11, 2009

MILWAUKEE -- A Milwaukee teacher is charged with disorderly conduct after punishing a first-grader by cutting her hair.

Lamya Cammon is angry, confused, and scared by the incident last week in which the apparently frustrated teacher cut one of her braids off after she wouldn't stop playing with them in class.Cammon, 7, sports a few dozen braids, but one is conspicuously absent."She told me to stop playing with it. Then cut it off and sent me back to my desk," Cammon said.Cammon's a first-grader at Congress Elementary and said her teacher used a pair of classroom scissors to cut off one of the braids after she absent-mindedly kept playing with them."Tell me how you play with your hair. Show me what that means," 12 News reporter Nick Bohr said to Cammon."I wasn't playing with it that loud," Cammon said.She said the teacher called her to the front of the room and cut it in front of the whole class."What did you do?" Bohr asked."I went to my desk and cried. And they was laughing," Cammon said. "She threw it away, and she said, 'Now what you gonna go home and say to your momma? ' And I said, 'That you cut off my hair,'" Cammon said.Cammon's mother is furious. She went to the school and confronted the teacher."I said, 'Well, you know, you cut a lot of her hair off.' And she was like, 'Well, I do apologize.' She said, 'But I was frustrated,'" Cammon's mother, Helen Cunningham, said.The Milwaukee Public Schools District said it is going through the disciplinary process with the teacher, who remains in class, although Cammon has been moved to a different classroom by the principal."The main thing is, from the heart of the principal, and me speaking for the district, we're very sorry that this happened," MPS spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin said.Cammon's mother said she appreciates the apology but said the district should seriously question whether the teacher should keep her job."Why would we want someone like that teaching our kids? We trust our kids once they go to school to be safe," Cunningham said.Milwaukee police investigated the case and referred it to the district attorney for possible physical or mental abuse of a child charges.When the district attorney's office decided not to file criminal charges, police this week issued the teacher a $175 ticket for disorderly conduct.The Milwaukee Teachers Education Association can't talk about the incident, but said stress is not unusual.“As budget constraints get tighter every year, the stress level and frustrations do increase,” said the MTEA’s Sid Hatch.12 News called the teacher Friday night and went to her home for comment, but someone came to the door and said she did not want to talk.

Copyright 2009 by WISN.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

:::drools::: Hopeful Holidays - My Dream Christmas Tree!

Yep... I am still at it: the dreaming and planning and envisioning. This time, my focus is on the tree. I've been researching into what type of tree I'd love for Chris and I to get, and how I'd like us to decorate it.

Of course once I get the key into the door of our dream apartment in Bed-Stuy, I will probably change my mind (I'm like that.. lol)... But until then, here are the components of My Dream Christmas Tree... Enjoy!


Of course, I have to start with the tree itself: After doing much searching, I really think this Holiday Living 7' Heritage Spruce Christmas Tree from Lowe's is BEAUTIFUL (And the low, low price of $73.50 makes is damn near gorgeous!).

And what I really dig is the fact that this tree features the "Ready to Light" system: It's pre-wired with extension cords, so that we can add lights to the tree, and plug it in. AND.. once the holidays are over, we don't have to worry about untangling cords. We can leave the lights on the tree and store it away (safely, of course) for next year. How dope is that?!?!?!?

And speaking of lights, here are my picks for the twinkle twinkle adornments of the tree.



These 100-Bulb Mini String Lights 2-pk (Multicolor/Green Wire) are a mere $3.48, so you can buy a bunch to bling out the tree!!! Courtesy of TarJay!!

And I found many many more groovy goodies from Target for the tree. Check out these awesome ornaments!!



All of these pretties were found in the Multi-Bright Decoration

s Category!!


And I can't even begin to articulate the Holi-gasms these ornaments from Pier One have caused me to have!!




And I cannot forget a Tree Topper (Okay I can and I pretty much did... which is why I am back adding these words! lol)


This peacock blue topper is $39.95 from The Christmas Duck (Thanks, Google Shopping!)


Saturday, December 12, 2009

A Little [SADE] for a Saturday Night

Okay, how psyched am I for Sade's new album to drop next year, based on this first single?!?!?



Sade "Soldier of Love"


Friday, December 11, 2009

Ten Honest Things About Myself

Thank you so much, Chocolate Orchid for nominating me for an Honest Scrap award! Tee Hee Hee!!!!



The rules to receiving this award are as follows:

1. Post the award on your blog.
2. Present this award to others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you.
3. Tell those people they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP, inform them of these guidelines.
4. Share "Ten Honest things" about yourself.

10 HONEST THINGS ABOUT MYSELF

1. I can reinact Vanity's entire "Seventh Heaven" scene from "The Last Dragon"

2. My kindness is often confused for weakness.. until I have to get Brooklyn on someone.... then any confusion is cleared up with a quickness.

3. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be just like Miss Piggy!

4. I am too young to feel so dayum tired!

5. I had a MASSIVE CRUSH on Anthony Michael Hall when I was a little girl. And I am not talking "Dead Zone" AMH.... I am talking dorky, braces, pimply awkward AMH.

6. I need to learn to be more bitchy.

7. I really don't like the taste of pie crust and can turn down a slice of pie with great ease.

8. I am obsessed with the songs "Islands in the Stream" (Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton) and "Knock Three Times" (Tony Orlando & Dawn)... they instantly cheer me up.

9. I need to take better care of myself. I am not where I want to be with that, but I am getting there.

10. I really really still bitter about never getting to see Joan & Aaron get married on "Girlfriends". Damn you, CW!!!

TAG! YOU'RE IT!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

DO SOMETHING: Vote for Black Girls Rock!

Black Girls Rock! is an organization I wholeheartedly support, and when I received this message from them, I know that I had to spread the word:

Black Girls Rock! has an opportunity to receive $25,000 as part of the Chase Community Giving Program. I just voted and I urge you to do the same.

And now the message from Black Girls Rocks! --


If we reach 2,000 votes by Friday, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. can win $25,000 from Chase Giving! Vote here: http://bit.ly/1MQLtu! We need many many more votes to qualify for this grant. Please support us by casting your vote! For more information on BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. log on to our website: www.blackgirlsrock.org
Thank you in advance for your support!






Tuesday, December 8, 2009

No You Didn't, Brooklyn!!!

One of my favorite things to do is check out the snarky grafitti people write on subway movie posters. They never fail to bring delight as I head home from a long day of work.

I spotted one tonight at the Queens-bound Nostrand Avenue (A/C) train station that made me stop and get out my camera phone, despite fatigue and a bladder reaching critical mass. I think this may become a semi-regular blog entry: me posting the crazy things I spot around my hood.






In case you can't make that out, someone wrote "Hurry Up 'Bitch' I'm Horney too!"

(I digress from the misspelling... but why is bitch in quotes? LMAO)

:::drools::: Wonderfully Warming Winter Outfit

So the temperature is definitely dropping in New York City and this Brooklyn Geechee is doing some researching on her "Freezing but Fabulous" Style.


The Side Button Coat ($129.99 - $149.99, Jessica London)in Marine Blue is first on my "Must Have" list. I am SOOO LOVING the wide envelope collar.




I am loving this knit set BIG TIME... BDG Ribbed Slouchy Beanie ($28.00, Urban Outfitters), BDG Cable Convertible Glove ($16.00, Urban Outfitters) and BDG Cable Knit Scarf ($24.00, Urban Outfitters)

I just can't decide if I want the yellow or the black!! (What do you think, y'all?)

And of course a purse-crazy chica like me cannot resist adding a new handbag to the outfit!!!



I chose the TOO CUTE Deux Lux Seamed Satchel (Now $49 - Urban Outfitters)

And of course, friends and family, I would not be mad if I saw any of these items underneath the tree, alright? LMAO

Peace from Brooklyn!