January 2012 Archives

My life, to music!

January 30, 2012 9 Comments

If my life had a soundtrack, it would be so messed up! Here are the top 10 songs I’d have to play over and over…

1) Michael Jackson’s Man In The Mirror

I’m always trying to improve myself and help others do the same, so this appropriate!

2) India aries’s Because I Am A Queen

Talk about a motivational “I feel pretty” song! I always feel good about myself when I’m belting out these lyrics!

3) Singing In The Rain’s title song

I’m a nerd, and I loved this movie as a kid, and I still love it now!

4) Lion King’s Hakuna Matata

“Bad things happen and you can’t do anything about it.” but you can chose to be happy in whatever situation you find yourself in!

5) Sugar Hill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight

Why? Because I am just that cool! Lol

6) Lord Kitchener’s Take Your Meat Out Me Rice

This is a true Calypso song! It shows off my Trinidadian heritage, which is a big part of who I am. It’s one of my dad’s favorite songs, and it’s just plain funny!

7) Monk’s theme song

Ok, I have a slight case of OCD….. But it’s my superpower, so there! Lol

Bruno Mars’ The Lazy Song

I think this self explanatory…

9) Michael Jackson’s Scream

Why? Because sometimes I just need to yell!

10) Simple Mind’s Don’t You Forget About Me

Last, but definitely not least! This is a song I love made for an ’80s child like me!

Filed Under: humor, music, Self awareness

Colors, who knew?

January 28, 2012 Leave a Comment

This was interesting and informative! Giving every baby shower a red and yellow teddy bear…

Source: paintersoflouisville.com via Daniel Bear on Pinterest

Filed Under: Style

10 Rudest Cities

January 26, 2012 Leave a Comment

Have you checked out the Travel + Leisure magazine 10 Rudest Cities list?

In order from least to greatest…. because I have to be difficult…

Orlando
Baltimore
Phoenix/Scottsdale
Atlanta
Dallas
Boston
Los Angeles
Washington
Miami
New York

Hilarious: Check out Chris Paul’s reaction to the list from Tom Joyner.

Hum, don’t know how I feel about the fact that I was born and raised in the #1 city and now live in the #10 city. What does that say about me?

Filed Under: travel

That’s my look

January 26, 2012 Leave a Comment

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Yolanda on Pinterest

Filed Under: black hair, fashion

You Know You’re a Foodie If….

January 23, 2012 Leave a Comment

Source: ourbestbites.com via Yolanda on Pinterest

You know you’re a foodie if…

… You think about you trip to the grocery store with eager anticipation

… You’re wiling to travel 45 minutes away for home, passing dozens of other markets to go to that “speciality” market because they “have an olive bar”

…. You know what an “olive bar” is

… You go to department stores and drool over their food processors

… You’ve ever been to a cooking class at William-Soma

… You buy goat cheese as a snack

… You have ever messed up on your monthly budget because you just had to buy the ingredients for that recipe you had to try

… You want your significant other to give you a food experience for your anniversary

… You are the member of a monthly food club… Or you want to be!

… You know what country produces the most cheese

… People suggest eating fast food and your first instinct is to hit the with your copy of “Epicurean”

… You read the word Disney and instantly think “Food and Wine Festival”

… Your family comes into the room because you’re yelling at the TV like a crazy person only to discover you’re watching “Cupcake Wars”

How did you know you were a foodie? Contact me and tell me so I can put you on the next list… With credit of course!

Filed Under: food, foodie, humor, joke

What’s for dinner: Crab Cakes and Pasta

January 22, 2012 Leave a Comment

Tonight I made some crab cakes and homemade pasta sauce. I tweaked Robert Irvine’s recipe from Food Network, using the ingredients below (not shown, the oil and lump crab meat that came from the seafood department of my local market)

I did tweak the recipe by adding some more Planko. I found that the cakes didn’t stay together with just a fourth of Planko.

I also made some sauce. Roasted garlic, butter, chopped tomatoes, herbs, let simmer….

In the end, results? Delicious!

Filed Under: dinner, food, foodie

A letter to all contest sponsors: thank you!

January 18, 2012 Leave a Comment

Dear Contest and Sweepstakes Sponsors,

Sweeping has been one of my favorite hobbies. I mean how can you not like getting stuff. However I’ve found the reactions of some people in my life to be negative. They say things like: I’m just collecting crap I don’t need, want, or use; I’m wasting my time, because sweeping isn’t worth it; I’ll get scammed or conned.

Well, to each their own. However I’m always quick to point out that companies who have sweeps or contests want something from me. While I’m sweeping I get to know your product and you increase your name recognition. Often times you get more concrete exposure through sweeps than you would with a traditional advertising campaign. Plus (nerding out for a moment) the demographics of who sweepers like me are often line up with product placement. I personally buy about 90% of the household items, and cut coupons for my household and my parent’s too. I go out my home and work full time, and have lots of hobbies. I’m the kind of person most companies want to contact.

Even you bloggers who hosts contest “give and get”. I know throwing a contest is a lot of work for you. In exchange you get more readers and ad revenue. Since I am an avid reader (books, novels, comics, blogs) well written blogs with good content will get my interest even after it’s contents closes.

Also, as a point of interest I actually never enter contests for things I cannot or will not use. I have no kids, so I never enter contests for things for children. I leave those for the mommy and daddy sweepers. I also don’t enter contests for trips I know I can’t take. It’s not just a waste of time, it’s selfish too.

Any sweeper worth their salt is careful of what contests they enter, and where they learn about the contests from. I always have my guard up against suspicious contests, and sweeps that ask for information out if the ordinary. My view if that my name and address are actually public information. Companies could probably find out my phone number and if I’m over 18 too. Therefore I don’t mind sharing that. However entering contests with private information… Well good sweepers are always on guard.

In the end I think I sort of earn some my wins. I spend lots of time and energy sweeping. It is an investment which sometimes pays off, no worse odds than the stocks. So when I get the odd looks, slick comments and wrinkled noses, I just laugh and pack… Because I won a trip to Mexico from an awesome company that I actual support!

Thank you so much sponsors! I hope not only to be a positive, respectful sweeper, but also a future customer or reader.

Here’s to Life,

Yoli

Filed Under: blog contests, sponsor, sweepstakes

What, I’m actually accomplishing stuff???

January 14, 2012 Leave a Comment

So excited! I have written four of the ten mini-helpers that will be in my Black History Month Primary Source document booklet! It takes like an hour to do each one, so I’ve really been pushing it. I hope to finish by the end of next week. My most recent one was on the beautiful painting, The Old Plantation!