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Monday, August 30, 2010

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

This week's song selection for Music Therapy with Miss Moon is a song I've featured before a year ago. At first, I was hesitant to select it again, but I received an email from The Secret Scrolls (Which are periodic email messages of inspiration and sharings from Rhonda Byrne, creator of "The Secret" that cemented the choice in my mind:

From The Secret Daily Teachings

There is a difference between feeling gratitude and appreciation for something, and feeling attachment to something. Appreciation and gratitude are states of pure love, while attachment contains fear - fear of losing or not having what you are attached to. When it comes to something you want in your life, appreciation and gratitude attracts, and attachment pushes away. If you are feeling afraid that you will not get what you want, or losing what you have, then you have attachment.

To remove the attachment, keep shifting yourself into a state of appreciation and gratitude, until you can feel that the fear has gone.


We all have "baggage", things that no longer serve us that we have an unhealthy attachment to. By letting them go, we can let in all the people, situations and prosperity we want in our lives.





Bag lady you gone hurt your back
Dragging all them bags like that
I guess nobody ever told you
All you must hold on to
Is you, is you, is you

One day all them bags gone get in your way
One day all them bags gone get in your way
I said one day all them bags gone get in your way
One Day all them bags gone get in your way

So pack light
Pack light
Pack light
Ooh ooh

Bag lady you gone miss your bus
You can't hurry up
Cause you got too much stuff
When they see you comin
Niggas take off runnin
From you it's true oh yes they do

One day he gone say you crowdin my space
One day he gone say you crowdin my space
I said one day he gone say you crowdin my space
One day he gone say you crowdin my space

So pack light
Pack light
Pack light
Ooh ooh

Girl I know sometimes it's hard
And we can't let go
Oh when someone hurts you oh so bad inside
You can't deny it you can't stop crying
So oh, oh, oh
If you start breathin
Then you won't believe it
You'll feel so much better
(So much better baby)

Bag lady
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go
Ooh, ooh
Girl you don't need it
I betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
(Need someone to love you right)
Betcha love can make it better
(I betcha love, betcha love)
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
(I betcha love, betcha love)
Betcha love can make it better
(I betcha love, I betcha love, oh)
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
(Oh...)
Betcha love can make it better...

Bag lady, hmm
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go
Girl you don't need that, hmm



Saturday, August 28, 2010

A Little [JULIETTE AND THE LICKS] for a Saturday Night

Today in Washington D.C., Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and a few thousand friends tried get themselves a paragraph in the story that is this country's history. To grab a piece of the light that is the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with their "Restoring Honor" rally. It is of my opinion that they did it in vain, as nothing possible could discount Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech". But bless their (very) little hearts for trying.

This week's "for a Saturday Night" song goes out to Glenn, Sarah and their posse. It's about someone they could all relate to. A real American..... Boy.





The land of plenty is the land of privilege
For your blue-eyed culture deprived American boy
You got your dicks in a twist and you're raising your fist
But your argument has been bought and paid for

American boy

So flex that corporate muscle with your media circle jerks
While you sell out humanity
ADHD, OCD, social anxiety
It's money baby!

Hey!
You're pushing me
Hey!
I'm pushing you
No rhyme or reason
Watch your television

Hey!
You're pushing me

Hey!
I'm pushing you
No rhyme or reason
Watch your television

Frat boys and military toys
All I see is white noise
With your pussy collection and your simple minds
I never knew tits could sell so many cars
And you fucking debutantes with your skin-flicks
What the fuck's the matter with you?
Gloss up your lips, Show us your tits
All for your fifteen minutes of nothin'
I just gotta laugh at you



Thursday, August 26, 2010

:::drools::: Thandie Newton-style for Plus Size Fashionistas

droThandie Newton is a celebrity who's style is not really talked about. Which is surprising because she has a definite style and always looks gorgeous when appearing on the red carpet. I took one look at this ensemble and knew immediately that I would have a blast recreating it!



To start, I selected the Printed Maxi Dress ($24.99, Ashley Stewart)



For the belt, I selected the Brass Dome and Braided Belts 2-Pack ($24.00, Torrid). I thought that the Brass Dome belt be a similar look to Thandie's studded floral belt.



For the shoes, I picked the Nine West Drexel ($88.95, Zappos). I selected them because a) They look dope as hell! and b) They would be a nice accompaniment to the belt.



The clutch was hands down the most difficult thing to find, primarily because the closer I got to the one Thandie's using... the more expensive it became. And I've made a rule when selecting outfits on this blog: I wouldn't select an expensive item I wouldn't buy for myself! So I decided to look outside the box!



I ended up picking the Beaded Silk Clutch in Turquoise Blue and Gold ($80.00, Clutch That - Etsy) . My attitude is I would rather spend a lot of money on something that's one of a kind than spend the same amount of money on a mass produced designer bag.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

DO SOMETHING: Turn Off Fox



The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Parent Company Trap
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorTea Party

Many of us already know that Fox News is biased -- but it's actually much worse than that. For years they have used lies, distortions, and race-baiting to divide this country. Recently, it's gotten downright dangerous. Earlier this summer, a heavily armed man got into a gun fight with police after he was pulled over on his way to kill people at the Tides Foundation[1] -- an obscure non-profit that Glenn Beck regularly demonizes on his Fox News TV show.[2]

Fox News is bad news for America -- and it spreads, and is legitimized, partly through TVs in public places.

That's why I've joined the TurnOffFox campaign -- the first part of a larger campaign to diminish the influence of Fox. It's about educating people about Fox and getting it turned off in stores, restaurants, and other public places.

Will you join me? It takes just a moment to declare your own household "Fox free", and at the same time appeal to public establishments in your community to stop playing Fox. And you'll get a FREE Turn Off Fox sticker when you do. Click here:

http://colorofchange.org/turnofffox/?id=2026-910062

No other news organization that's considered legitimate consistently wages smear campaigns based on lies and race-baiting. But for years Fox News has done exactly that, and the pattern has only gotten worse since Barack Obama entered national politics.

Here are just a few examples:

-- A frequent Fox guest, Jesse Lee Peterson, said that the majority of Black people have poor moral character, and cited "what they did to the dome" after Hurricane Katrina as evidence.[3] Peterson has also used his platform on Fox to claim that 90% of Black people are racists -- against Whites.[4]

-- In a case of naked race-baiting, Fox host Glenn Beck called President Obama a "racist" who had a "deep-seated hatred for White people or the White culture."[5] Earlier that week, Beck claimed that the President's health insurance reform proposals were a form of "reparations" designed to "settle old racial scores."[6]

-- Fox host John Stossel argued that the public accommodations section of the Civil Rights Act -- which prevents businesses from discriminating based on race, sex, and other factors -- should be repealed.[7]

-- Fox News hosts Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity were the first to air deceptively edited and incomplete video of Shirley Sherrod's remarks to the NAACP.[8] The video made it seem like Sherrod was confessing to using her position at the USDA to discriminate against White farmers, when she was really talking about the importance of overcoming prejudice. Sherrod lost her job over this misrepresentation, which Fox enthusiastically repeated without seeking the facts. Fox has since tried to pretend it had nothing to do with this smear -- but Fox is the number one reason these kinds of distortions and smears have any part in our national dialogue.

The examples above aren't even a tenth of Fox's vicious lies and smears, and over the years they've just gotten more brazen.

The goal of Turn Off Fox is to reduce the number of public TVs showing Fox News, while spreading the word about Fox's poison (and how it works) to those who don't know.

Signing up for the campaign is just the first step. We make it easy for you to tell us about businesses playing Fox. If you're willing to talk with them, we'll provide you with straightforward materials that explain why they shouldn't be a party to what Fox is doing. And if there are businesses you know that want to tell the world they would never play Fox, you can help them declare themselves a "Fox-free zone."

As businesses Turn off Fox and stand up as Fox Free, and as we encourage our friends and family to do the same, we'll help make clear, to people across the country, what Fox is about. And we'll reduce their ability to do harm.

Please join me in signing up for the TurnOffFox campaign:

http://colorofchange.org/turnofffox/?id=2026-910062

Thanks.

References

1. http://bit.ly/a5F7kW
2. http://mediamatters.org/research/201007290032
3. http://mediamatters.org/research/200510030005
4. http://bit.ly/c060C0
5. http://mediamatters.org/research/200907300019
6. http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200907230040
7. http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201005200033
8. http://mediamatters.org/blog/201007200060

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Yummm! So-Good (And Good for You!) Salads

I have never been what one would call a big salad eater. The irony is... I love salads. Every time I eat one, I enjoy it thoroughly. A few weeks ago, my Doctor brought to my attention that my blood pressure was super duper high, which scared me.

I have a family history of strokes on both sides and given my size, I know that the chance of me having one if I kept on the same path was great. So I've been seriously improving my diet (as opposed to going on a diet!). A part of that for me was to pass up greasy and salty fast food for salads for lunch. I've had more salads in the past month than I've had in the six months before... and I am loving it. I am even enjoying making my own salads (which is a great way to save money!) and I searched the web for unique salad recipes: salads that are good for me and good enough to make my taste buds forget how yummy a cheese burger and french fries taste! LOL

Spicy Chickpea Salad

Recipe Courtesy of Guy Fieri, FoodNetwork.com

Ingredients
1 clove garlic, minced
1 serrano pepper, seeded, ribs removed and finely diced
1/2 small red onion, diced
1/2 lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (15.5-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 bunch mint, leaves roughly chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro, leaves roughly chopped
1 head butter lettuce, shredded
Directions
Combine the garlic, pepper, red onion, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste, in a large bowl.

Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, mint, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and toss in the lettuce.

Caribbean Crab Salad in Roasted Peppers

Recipe Courtesy of promfh, BigOven.com

Ingredients:
3 medium Bell peppers - Red, Yellow, or mixed
1/4 cup Potato - finely diced
1/4 cup Red Onion - finely diced
1/4 cup Celery - finely diced
1/4 cup Chayote Squash - or acorn squash
1/4 cup Bell pepper (Yellow) - finely diced
1/2 cup Tomatoes - finely diced
1/4 teaspoon habanero chile - finely diced
1 cup Lump Crabmeat
3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons Lime Juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/2 teaspoon Black pepper - Fresh ground
6 tablespoons Avocado Aioli * - Separate recipe

Directions

Roast the peppers over an open flame or under the broiler until skin is somewhat charred. Do not overcook them as they need to hold their shape when stuffed. When roasted, slice them lengthwise and remove the ribs and seeds from the inside. You may leave the stem on as a garnish if you wish.
Spray a medium sized pan with cooking oil and warm it over medium heat. Saute the potato, onions, celery, choyote, and diced bell pepper for about 3 minutes. Stir in the habanero and tomatoes and cook another two minutes. Turn this mixture out into a large bowl. Add the crab, lime juice, and mustard then mix it gently to combine all the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour (or squirt) a squiggle (about a Tbs) of Avocado Aioli in each of 6 serving plates. Garnish with an additional chunk of avocado or splash a few dots of hot sauce for contrast.
Fill each 1/2 pepper with stuffing and place them on a decorated plate. Serve immediately.
* Roasted Garlic and Avocado Aioli is recipe: http://www.bigoven.com/recipe160605

Thai Beef Salad

Recipe Courtesy of Eating Well

The steak for a Thai salad is often marinated before it's broiled and that's a shame, because most of those flavorings burn off and turn to naught. For the best taste, first sear the steak, then let it sit overnight in the marinade before tossing it with the greens.

INGREDIENTS
1 pound sirloin steak, trimmed of visible fat
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces
Zest of 1 lime
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
4 cups torn frisée, or curly endive
2 cups torn red leaf lettuce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons untoasted sesame oil, or canola oil

PREPARATION
Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler. Rub steak all over with soy sauce and black pepper. Place on a baking sheet; broil, turning once, 14 to 16 minutes for medium-rare to medium, respectively. Let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix scallions, lime zest and juice, fish sauce, sugar and crushed red pepper in a shallow dish. Slice the steak into thin strips against the grain and cut each strip into bite-size pieces. Add the steak to the marinade, along with any accumulated juices; toss well, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
Place frisée (or endive), lettuce and mint in a salad bowl. Add the steak and marinade, drizzle with oil, gently toss, and serve.

Carrot and Cranberry Salad with Fresh Ginger Dressing

Recipe Courtesy of Epicurious.com

Ingredients:

7 large green onions
1/2 cup seasoned rice vinegar
2 level tablespoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
4 cups coarsely grated peeled carrots
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

Directions:

Cut tops off onions. Cut tops lengthwise into thin strips; cut strips into 2-inch pieces. Chop half of onion bottoms. Place remaining bottoms in blender; add vinegar and ginger. Puree, occasionally scraping down sides of blender jar. Strain puree into measuring cup, pressing enough solids through to yield 1/2 cup dressing; season with pepper.
Place carrots and cranberries in large bowl. Add onion tops and bottoms. Toss with enough dressing to coat.

Do you have a super-yummy salad recipe? Well I wan't it!! Drop me a line!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

Have my mentioned my unwavering love and admiration for Cree Summer in this blog before? Yes? No? Yes? Well, this may come as a surprise then, that I've been a HUGE Cree Summer fan for almost 20 years... shocking, I know! (Okay, I am putting the sarcasm away!) LOL



Picture it: Brooklyn, the 90s. Cree Summer is the opening act for Lenny Kravitz who's on tour. I read in the Village Voice that there will be a free performance at Coney Island!!! I am over the moon because I will have the opportunity to share physical space with a woman I've idolized for most of my life!

I never go. The man I was dating at the time gave me so much grief about daring to go someplace without him (and he didn't want to go), that he bullied me into staying home. I sold myself out and it's been one of the biggest regrets I've made in my life. At the time I convinced myself that there will be other concerts, other opportunities to see Cree perform live. Sadly, that was not the case.

I recognize that I created a reality where I allowed myself to miss an opportunity of a lifetime and I have forgiven myself for it. If the woman I am today could switch places with the young woman I was then, I would've scratched, clawed, and bitten my way to Coney Island that day!!!!



Fast-forward to this weekend. I'm 32, and have never seen Cree perform live. A part of me has given up on the dream. Imagine my joy when I stumbled across this video of a live Cree Summer concert on YouTube!!! Watching this video has rekindled my dream and I am wholeheartedly creating an opportunity to see Cree Summer perform LIVE and IN PERSON!!!

So this week's Music Therapy option is "Soul Sister" from the concert!!! I hope you all enjoy!!



Saturday, August 21, 2010

A Little [CHARLIE PARKER] for a Saturday Night

You know what's a shame? As much as I enjoy classic jazz, I do not possess a single album? No Miles, No Dizzy, No 'Trane, No Bird...... I need to get started on my collection, like yesterday!

I'm in a mellow mood this Saturday, and am enjoying nestling my head on a pillow, listening to music and daydreaming... which is always a great time to break out the smooth jazz (If I had any!).

The song I picked for this week's "for a Saturday Night" has been covered by countless musicians, all of which have added a bit of themselves to the song. I hope you will enjoy Charlie Parker's rendition of "Summertime".





And Now...A Makeup Moment: Perfecting a Purple Pout

A trend I've been noticing when people-watching is a surge of women rocking plum and/or purple-hued lipsticks. I'm a huge fan of this trend, but have yet to find a color that works for me! So I took to the internet to find inspiration and possible color options.

So you know I have to start with my homegirl (in my head), Tracee Ellis Ross - Thankfully Essence Magazine online did a story on purple lips as part of their 'Go There' Wednesday feature, so I had an excellent place to start!!!



The folks at Essence suggested the following shades to D-I-Y:


Bare Escentuals Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Balm in St. Barts ($15, Sephora)


Tokidoki Fantastico Lip Stain in Carnivora ($15, Sephora)


Since I'm not about completely swagger-jacking the glossies for this blog, the next few looks (with the makeup suggestions) are courtesy of yours truly! lol



I like Rihanna (Bajan Pride, I guess!), but she's never worn make up that has made me go, "Oooh... that's pretty!". Well, ooh... that's pretty!!!

I suggest the following shades to recreate Rihanna's look:



CoverGirl Queen Collection Vibrant Hue Color Lipstick, Toast Of The Town 430 ($5.99, Amazon.com)



Sephora Collection Maniac Long Wearing Lipstick #18 ($12, Sephora)



I love it when black women buck the rules and dare to rock colors "they have no business wearing".... I especially like it when the results are a fantastic as Estelle's.

To recreate Estelle's look, I found the following shades:



MAC Plushglass Oversexed ($9.99, BeFlurt)



Urban Decay Lipstick in Jilted ($22.00, Macy's)

Friday, August 20, 2010

DOPE: "What I Will" by Suheir Hammad





What I Will

I will not
dance to your war
drum. I will
not lend my soul nor
my bones to your war
drum. I will
not dance to your
beating. I know that beat.
It is lifeless. I know
intimately that skin
you are hitting. It
was alive once
hunted stolen
stretched. I will
not dance to your drummed
up war. I will not pop
spin break for you. I
will not hate for you or
even hate you. I will
not kill for you. Especially
I will not die
for you. I will not mourn
the dead with murder nor
suicide. I will not side
with you nor dance to bombs
because everyone else is
dancing. Everyone can be
wrong. Life is a right not
collateral or casual. I
will not forget where
I come from. I
will craft my own drum. Gather my beloved
near and our chanting
will be dancing. Our
humming will be drumming. I
will not be played. I
will not lend my name
nor my rhythm to your
beat. I will dance
and resist and dance and
persist and dance. This heartbeat is louder than
death. Your war drum ain’t
louder than this breath.

Suheir Hammad

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Cinema, Cuisine and Cocktail: "Breakfast on Pluto"

Breakfast on Pluto is one of those movies that I stumbled across a few years ago and promptly fell in love with.  I was home sick, it was on, so I watched it for no particular reason... and it completely stole my heart. Neil Jordan rocks!



Since Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, I thought that I would put together a great weekend breakfast feast that will definitely be a nice accompaniment to the movie!

Broccoli, Mushroom, and Cheese Breakfast Strata

Recipe courtesy of Ellie Krieger, Food Network

Ingredients

* 4 teaspoons olive oil
* 1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
* 3 garlic cloves, minced
* 3 cups (8 ounces) sliced mushrooms
* Cooking spray
* 1 whole wheat baguette, crusts removed, cubed (about 5 cups)
* 8 eggs and 8 egg whites
* 2 cups lowfat milk
* 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
* 10 ounces broccoli, steamed, cooled and chopped (or frozen, thawed)
* 1-ounce (1/3 cup) grated Parmesan
* 4-ounce (1 cup) part-skim mozzarella cheese
* 1/2 cup thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes, reconstituted
* 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions

Heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until translucent and beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook for another 1 minute. Transfer the onion mixture to a medium bowl and allow to cool. Heat remaining 2 teaspoons of oil in the skillet and saute the mushrooms until they release all of their water, about 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely. Spray an oval baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange the bread cubes in the dish. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, egg whites, milk and mustard until incorporated. Add mushrooms, onion-garlic mixture, broccoli, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, thyme, and salt and pepper and stir to incorporate. Pour mixture over bread, making sure liquid saturates bread. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or at least 8 hours. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the plastic wrap from strata and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until top forms a light brown crust.

Turkey Sausage Patties

Recipe Courtesy of Taste of Home

Ingredients

* 1 small onion, finely chopped
* 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
* 1 teaspoon rubbed sage
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon paprika
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
* 1 pound lean ground turkey
* 2 teaspoons canola oil

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the onion, bread crumbs, sage, salt, paprika and pepper. Crumble turkey over mixture and mix well. Shape into six patties. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook patties in oil for 7 minutes on each side or until meat is no longer pink. Yield: 6 patties.

Cheese Scones with Herb Butter

Recipes Courtesy of Cooks.com and About Gourmet Food

Ingredients:

1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c. all purpose flour
6 tbsp. butter (3/4 stick)
1/2 lb. grated sharp cheddar cheese
2 lg. eggs
1/2 c. buttermilk

Directions:

In a mixing bowl mix first 4 ingredients with 2 cups flour. Cut up butter and crumbs into flour. Stir in cheese. Beat eggs and 1/2 cup buttermilk and add to flour mixture. Stir until just blended. Turn onto floured board. Cut as desired.

If wished, brush with buttermilk or egg. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet in preheated 400 degrees for approximately 10 minutes. The secret of good scones is to work quickly after adding liquid to baking soda. Do not over knead as this makes them tough. Do not over bake as this dries them out. Remove from cookie sheet promptly and cool on wire rack - or eat right away!

Herb Butter:

Ingredients:

* 4 oz. Butter (1 stick), softened
* 1/4 Cup Herbs (your choice), finely chopped
* 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
* Sea Salt, to taste

Preparation:
Any combination of herbs will do here. Trying a mixture of any of the following: tarragon, chives, parsley, dill, rosemary, thyme, sage, dill or use a single herb. Chop the herbs as fine as possible.

Cream the butter and herbs together with a fork. Add the lemon juice and salt to taste.

On a piece of plastic wrap, shape the butter into a log about one inch in diameter. Wrap the log in plastic.

The butter will keep in the refrigerator for a week or a month in the freezer.

When you're ready to use it, just slice off a piece and place directly on the hot food. If the butter is frozen, let it warm slightly before using.

Juice of a Few Flowers

Recipe Courtesy of The Barefoot Contessa, Food Network

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (2 oranges)
* 1/2 cup freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice (1 grapefruit)
* 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 lemon)
* 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (2 limes)
* 1 cup good vodka (recommended: Grey Goose or Finlandia), optional
* Extra lemon juice
* Granulated sugar
* Fresh mint sprigs

Directions

Combine the orange juice, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, lime juice, and vodka, if using, in a pitcher. Dip the rim of 6 martini glasses first in a dish with lemon juice and then a dish with sugar. Set aside to dry.

When ready to serve, place ice cubes in a cocktail shaker, add the cocktail mixture to fill the shaker 3/4 full, and shake for about 30 seconds. It's important to shake for a full 30 seconds to get the drink very cold and dilute it slightly with the ice. Pour into the sugared martini glasses and garnish with a sprig of mint. Continue filling the shaker with ice and cocktail mixture until all the drinks are poured. Serve ice cold.



Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

I find it unbelievable that in a few short weeks, it will be the one year anniversary of starting my new job. I remember being so excited to get back into the routine and nervous I wouldn't do a good job. I also was compiling a list of songs I'd use for my wake up mix, a list I shared in a Music Therapy with Miss Moon posting on September 7, 2009.

And I have used this playlist since that time. I've added a few songs to the list (Had to add Georgia Ann Muldrow's "Roses", Janelle Monae's "Tightrope" and Zo!'s "Greatest Weapon of all Time"!), but it has started my work day for this past year.

So to celebrate my first year at my job, I decided to create a new playlist. I don't know what the list will consist of yet, but I do know that it will begin with Amel Larrieux's "InI", which is this week's selection for Music Therapy with Miss Moon.







What song would YOU add to my 2010 Wake Up Mix? Leave a comment with your pick for a chance to wish a very special thank you gift!!!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

:::drools::: Essence Street-style for Plus Size Fashionistas

My favorite part of Essence Magazine's online home is their Street Style section. Here is where you can find everyday beauties impeccably dressed and oodles of style inspiration to boot. I decided for this week's ::drools:: post, I would take one of my recent favorite looks and try to recreate it , big girl style!!!



This DOPE AS HELL look is courtesy of Street Style: Uptown's Finest and in my humble opinion, it's the best of the bunch!

The dress is from Sika Designs, which apparently is this WONDERFUL ethically-based clothing line in the UK. Unfortunately the dress goes up to a UK Size 14 (Which is about a size 10 in the US).Boooooooo!

In my version of this look, I selected the Rhythmic Pattern Dress by Blue Plate ($49.00, Alight).



It's not a total match, but I think it's bringing a similar type of Global Grooviness!

For the shoes, I went with the Shandee Peep Toe Bootie ($89.06, Zappos).. These booties are dope, I might have to reconsider my no heels rule and get these!!!



The clutch I picked to accompany the shoes is the Big Buddha Cosmopolitan ($44.95, Zappos)



I love the texture of this clutch and I think that it ties together with the dress and shoes!

What do you think? Of course, if there is another look you'd like me to recreate for Plus Size Fashionistas, be sure to drop me a line!!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

A Little [N'DAMBI] for a Saturday Night

My Saturday started a bit hectic, but tonight is all about getting some much needed chill time. I've discovered that Strawberry Lemonade + Ginger Ale + Absolut Brooklyn = Goodness (As my FaceBook and Twitter friends know!! lol). I wanted to pick a nice, smooth song that will go nicely with this goodness I am feeling, and when my mind went to N'Dambi.... I knew to look no further.





So even if you can't get a hold of my particular brand of goodness (What should I call this drink, y'all? I'm thinking "Brooklyn Geechee's Goodness"), I hope that N'Dambi's "Crazy World" will do enough to get to the this peaceful place I currently reside in... Enjoy!!

Friday, August 13, 2010

DOPE: Gulf Aid All-Stars "Ain't My Fault"

I am feeling very very much like a Brooklyn Geechee today, y'all... There's been a great deal of Marcy Ave-type Magick afoot....... and I am loving it!



First after weeks of searching, I finally found a bottle of Absolut Brooklyn. Then I heard the AWESOME video "Stuy (On My Mind" by Fresh Daily, and lastly, courtesy of the Afro Punk Blog,I discovered that Mos Def and Lenny Kravitz (Two of Bed-Stuy's Finest!!) have joined together with the Gulf Aid All-Stars to record this great blues meets hip hop collaboration called "Ain't My Fault".. Check it Out!!



What do you think about the video? Want to help with Gulf Aid, click here!