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C*G*R*Style
Author: Blu
Social Blogger. Artist. Photographer. ShortFilmmaker. Small Business Entrepreneur. Closet Actress. Native New Yorker. Thanks for stopping by to read my post!
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All For One, One For All
Yet another US Senator has stepped forward in favor of legalizing same-sex marriages. Mark Begich, Democratic Senator, from Alaska, issued this statement in support of marriage equality,
“I believe that same-sex couples should be able to marry and should have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as any other married couple,” Begich stated. “Government should keep out of individuals’ personal lives — if someone wants to marry someone they love, they should be able to. Alaskans are fed up with government intrusion into our private lives, our daily business, and in the way we manage our resources and economy.”
Frankly, I’m appalled that we still have to legislate over whether the rights of one should or should not be the right of ALL.
But on the eve of the fight between the Respect for Marriage Act vs the Defense of Marriage Act in the U.S. Supreme Court, battle lines are still being drawn:
I suppose, sooner or later those senators who oppose marriage equality will get what the rest of us get, that marriage between two people of the same-sex who love and respect each other will have absolutely no bearing on the strength or weakness of their own marriages or intimate relationships. A record high of 58 percent of Americans believe gay marriage should be legal, an almost complete reversal in opinion of a 2003 poll, where 55 percent of Americans said same-sex marriage should be illegal, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released yesterday.
In fact, having to bear witness to people who had to struggle and fight to be together in love, may just be the boost their lackluster relationships need.
Life’s funny that way.
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Teach Me The Kizomba
Kizomba music was born in Angola (in Luanda) in early 80s following the influences of traditional semba with kilapanda and merengue. On this basis, Kizomba music emerged as a more modern music genre with a sensual touch mixed with African rhythm. Unlike Semba, Kizomba music is characterised by a slower and usually very romantic rhythm. Given that Angola is a former Portuguese colony, Portuguese is the principal language spoken in Angola and thus, also most Kizomba songs are sung in Portuguese. However, Kizomba songs at the very beginning were sung in Kimbundu and in other National languages of Angola.
The dance style Kizomba was connected two the music style in 1981, through “Bibi king of the pace” percussionist of the SOS Band, a group that joining other styles such as merengue and Angolan rhythms to others styles developed by other contemporary groups, developing a sound more attractive and danceable that began circulating in the Angolan “Kizombadas” (party’s). One member of this group was Eduardo Paim that after the dissolution of SOS, moved to Portugal leading with him the pace Kizomba, which began garnering fans in Lusitanian lands but mistakenly confused with a variant of Zouk. Source: Wikipedia
OK, NOW DANCE.
It was rare that I even drank a white wine anymore. In my club-hopping days, white wines were all the rage because they were cheap and easy to pronounce. They were also very sweet, exactly the way you thought a wine should taste when you’re a naive 18 y.o.
My taste for wines matured right along the time that I did and so I began looking for a more sophisticated, sultry, complex taste. I remember my first red was a Cabernet Sauvignon and I liked it primarily because the name was French and I could order it with the proper accent almost immediately, even when drunk. Then came the chiantys, the merlots, the burgundies and pinot noirs. The zinfandels, which I liked the least, the Italian Reds and Argentine Malbecs. And I adored the Chileans.
Then, at a recent house party I threw, one of my guests brought over a bottle of Catena 2005 Chardonnay Mendoza–an Argentinian white–and dispelled my whole myth of white wines not having enough seriousness to set the desired ambiance of the moment.
The typical taste of a chardonnay is a voluptuous, wide-bodied, velvety flavor. There’s a buttery tone with hints of citrus, vanilla, toasty coconut or toffee. Very grown-up, it sure wasn’t the taste I had remembered from my wasted youth lol!
I still love my sexy reds, but I can appreciate a white wine now and will be exploring others.
Not wanting to ruin my newfound discovery with a mismatched food pairing , I looked up some meals that are said to go great with chardonnay that I can try out, all ready in about an hour’s time or less. My taste buds can’t wait to try them out together!
Bacon Mushroom Chicken Recipe
Cesar Salad Supreme Recipe
Chicken Kiev Recipe
Baked Dijon Salmon Recipe
Grilled Rock Lobster Tails Recipe
Crawfish Etouffee Recipe
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Gok Wan Designs Lingerie For Simply Be!
Leave it to the Omnipotent One, to create a world where a skinny, 6 ft tall, gay, English male with Chinese ancestry can design a line of women’s lingerie that makes me and my 5ft 11 1/2 in. tall, full-figured, African-American female physique look and feel like…A SEDUCTRESS!
GOK WAN–i’mma Gokette for life baby!
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Sexy y Funny Boricua, Carlos Santos
Wondering who that fine latino dude with the cute smile on those new MetroPCS ads is?
He’s actor, comedian Carlos Santos!
A mini bio that I found on IMBd:
Carlos Santos was the host of MTV Tr3s’ ‘Mi TRL’ as well as the comedy variety show ‘Entertainment As A Second Language’.
On MTV Tr3s, he had the opportunity to improvise and perform sketches with several comedic giants including Steve Carrell, George Lopez, Adam Sandler, and Carlos Mencia to name a few.
Carlos has B.A in Theatre Arts and received his formal Improv training from the folks at UCB and Second City.
He performed stand-up on Comedy Central’s Funaticos and on Mun2’s Loco Comedy Jam back in the day.
He got his start as a host and segment producer for the bilingual music variety show LATV Live soon after moving to Los Angeles.
Along with performing the kind of comedy that’ll have you shooting things out your nostrils if you’re not careful, Carlos is also a talented actor with featured roles in movies “Ghost Team One”, dubbed a horror/comedy, which made its world premiere at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival and is making its rounds on the festival circuit as we speak, “Es Mejor Escucharlo” (It’s Better When You Hear It) the story of a man trying to cope with his terminally ill father, and his self-directed comedy short, “Fuera de Lugar” (Out Of Place) a hilarious production about a day in the life of a young PR man living in Los Angeles, trying to put his life and his career as an aspiring actor in perspective, just to name a few.
Easily making it to the No. 2 spot on my “Sexy Men Who Fertilize My Eggs Just By Looking At ‘Em” List for 2013 (Sorry Carlos, but I discovered No. 1, the crooner Miguel first. Latino men are holding 2013 down! ), Carlos has that much sought after male combo of fresh-faced innocence, big mischievous grin, big brown bedroom-eyes and crazy sense of humor all wrapped up in a tight, compact package. Too sexy for his vest!
To round things off, Mr. Santos has an angelic side to him too. He’s involved in a community outreach program that offers improv workshops to high school kids in Fresno, California and he takes part in a group called Open Window Entertainment, which performs children’s theater in and out of the Los Angeles area. He also volunteers his time to the Friends of Lockwood organization, a charity that helps underprivileged children enjoy their time in school. Stomach fluttering yet Ladies?
And now the real stats, of which there aren’t many with much juice to them I’m afraid — like who’s he’s dating, if he’s (choke ) married and what’s his shirt size…
- Born April 9th (won’t say what year, so no one tries to call me out with mine : )
- Studied at Second City Hollywood
- Lives in Los Angeles, California
- Born in Levittown, Puerto Rico
- Personal playlist: Anyone from Calle 13, Robi Draco Rosa and Gilberto Santa Rosa, to Lenny Kravitz, Volumen Cero, Julio Voltio and Incubus, to Maná, Victor Manuel, Tego Calderón, Pharrell, Spigga, Enjambre, Shakira, Black Guayaba, Soraya, and some 50 Cent, The Presidents of the United States, Justin Timberlake and Pitbull.
- Speaks fluent Spanish and is completely capable of doing 21 different authentic Spanish accents. His mom wants everyone to know that her son also does amazing impressions and original characters. : )
That’s all I’ve got for now until Carlos Santos’ star begins to shine even brighter, which I fully expect it will! ♦
Later pilgrims…
Seems like the rule of thumb for food is: “If it tastes good, it’s not good for you.” So much of our good and bad eating habits have to do with the type of foods we were raised around, and our views of food as fuel and sustenance as well as a pleasurable, sensual act (use of the sense of taste.) As Humans, we’re practically hot-wired for pleasurable consumption–that is, craving and eating the foods that makes us feel good–in direct opposition to eating for nutrients and energy. This becomes particularly dangerous with the presence of disease, particularly Diabetes. We compromise our good health when we eat processed foods laden with sugar, preservatives, salt, and fat. And processed foods aren’t good for anyone, let alone diabetics, so best you strike the following 10 Worst Possible Foods To Eat For People With Diabetes from your shopping lists.
Chicken Nuggets
These ubiquitous finger foods dip nicely and satisfy hunger, but you’d do better to go for grilled chicken strips or a skinless breast. Whether you get them in a restaurant or out of the freezer section, chicken nuggets are made with heavy breading (that you may forget to count against your carbs for the day) and usually more salt, fat, and preservatives than anyone needs.
White Rice
Sure, white rice is inexpensive and easy to cook. But like all processed foods made with refined flour, including white bread and white pasta, it offers very little nutrition in return for raising your blood sugar, and it could be loaded with preservatives, too. If you like rice and want better control of your diabetes, try some of the wild rice blends (as well as whole-grain breads, pastas, and cereals). They take a little longer to cook and they do cost more, but they’re healthier and tastier.
French Fries
Few people realize how many calories even a small serving of French fries can contain. This can make managing your weight and your diabetes difficult, especially if you eat them frequently. And like white rice, they don’t offer much in return for their effect on blood sugar levels. If you really like fries, bake them yourself at home, without oil. Use skin-on sweet potatoes and skip the frozen supermarket varieties, which are often loaded with preservatives.
Canned Fruit in Heavy Syrup
Eating more fruits and vegetables helps people with type 2 diabetes stay healthy and feel full. If your budget is tight, canned produce is an option — it lasts longer and tastes good. Unfortunately, if you don’t read labels carefully, you could end up with fruit that has been canned in heavy, sugary syrup. You can lighten the sugar load of these processed foods by draining and rinsing the fruit, but it’s better to buy fruit canned in its own juice instead of syrup.
Potato Chips
When you have to watch your weight, as many people with type 2 diabetes must do, potato chips and other fried snacks can quickly undermine your diet efforts. These processed foods add to your intake of calories, salt, and preservatives without providing much, if any, nutrition or fiber, which can help slow digestion a bit. Plan ahead for those times when you want a crunchy treat and have veggie sticks (cut-up carrots, celery, and zucchini are great) and a low-fat, low-sugar dip you enjoy at the ready.
Soda
Having a lot of sodas, even sugar-free sodas, in your diet frequently correlates with a diabetes diagnosis. Most people switch to sugar-free or try to give up sugary drinks entirely to better manage their diabetes (and their weight). If it’s the tingly sensation of soda you crave, try club soda with a touch of fruit juice for flavor. Go easy on the fruit juice, however, because it’s also high in sugar.
Foods With High-Fructose Corn Syrup
High-fructose corn syrup is a common ingredient in many packaged foods like cookies and snack cakes, and it’s the focal point of a controversy about its effect on weight, insulin, and health. Many foods that you might not realize contain HFCS actually do, such as sweet pickle relish, ketchup, jams and jellies, and salad dressings. If you’re wary of including this form of sweetener and all its calories in your diabetes diet, simply choose products that list sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup, as an ingredient. Keep in mind though that both sugar and high-fructose corn syrup add calories to food, and try to develop a taste for foods that are less sweet to better manage your type 2 diabetes.
Processed Meats
Although they don’t usually contain sugar, processed meats, which are heavy on salt and preservatives, seem to be linked to an increased risk of diabetes. Instead of relying on lunch meats, deli meats, and various kinds of sausages, go for meat that is closer to its natural state. Try using leftovers from a roasted chicken for a lunchbox sandwich, for example. Also, build in more meatless options for type 2 diabetes control.
Fast-Food Hamburgers
This fast-food staple may be a diabetes risk factor for you. Research shows that African-American women who eat hamburgers in a restaurant two or more times a week are much more likely to receive a diabetes diagnosis than those who do not. A small, plain hamburger probably isn’t the root of this problem — it’s more likely that the oversized patties, buns, and toppings are contributing to these statistics. If you’re eating out, opt for a small, grilled-chicken sandwich with lots of veggies instead. Dr. Hannon recommends researching restaurant menus in advance to plan healthy choices.
Source: EveryDay Health
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7 Herbal Teas That Calm Anxiety
According to nonprofit organization Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the number one mental health problem in America, affecting about 18 percent of the population (40 million adults over 18 years of age). Adding herbal teas to your daily diet and routine can be both a healthy and convenient way to soothe feelings of anxiety. Stay away from teas that contain caffeine, as caffeine is known to increase anxiety. Below are just 7 of the many natural herbal tea remedies that can help you relax.
1. Kava
Kava is by far the most well-known and well-researched herbal treatment available for controlling anxiety symptoms. Many have likened the effects of kava to a very common anxiety drug called Buspar, and kava itself appears to have all of the qualities of an effective herbal remedy – it’s non-addictive and can be taken as needed, it’s safe, and it is completely natural. However, there are a few things to note about kava tea. First, the kava tea you buy at a grocery store is not strong enough to combat anxiety. You need 300 or so kavalactones a day at some estimates, and basic teas only provide 30 to 50 – not enough to feel any effects. You’ll need to buy a more pure kava herbal tea, like the ones sold in tea shops. You’ll also need to combine it with something that has fat in it, like butter or coconut milk.
2. Passionflower Tea
Passionflower tea is “kava-lite.” It’s not nearly as strong as kava and fewer studies have confirmed its benefits, but many people swear that Passionflower has provided them with the same relaxation effects as kava without the same risk of side effects.
Because passionflower’s “dosing” isn’t quite as well known, it’s unclear whether store-bought teas provide enough of the flavonoids that make passionflower effective. Research has only focused on “drops” of passionflower extract, usually around 30 drops three times a day. In tea, the amount of flavonoids compared to a “drop” is much less clear. It’s best to start small and work your way up, seeing if there is any effect along the way.
3. Valerian Root Tea
Valerian root is unique, in that while it is not designed for anxiety, many people find that the calming nature of valerian is extremely effective for soothing anxiety symptoms. Valerian’s traditional use is as a sleep aid. Many people use valerian root to help them get to sleep when they’re suffering from insomnia.
But those same calming properties may have an effect on anxiety as well. In this case, valerian is dealing with anxiety symptoms directly, not the anxiety itself. Valerian root should be taken carefully until you know how it affects you. The tea should be taken at night at first to see if it helps aid your sleep. If you decide it is providing you with the effects you’d hoped for, try taking it during the day, but make sure that you avoid driving until you know how fatigued it makes you feel.
4. St. John’s Wort
The St. John’s wort plant has yellow flowers and is considered to be a weed throughout most of the United States. It has been used for medical purposes in other parts of the world for thousands of years. Today, St. John’s wort is continually being studied to try to validate its alleged mood-improving benefits.
Many studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of St. John’s wort. Some studies have suggested benefit, but other studies have not. While the true benefits of St. John’s wort are still being explored, if you do choose to use it, be sure to learn all you can and check with your doctor before taking it. St. John’s wort can interact with other medicines or supplements you may be taking and may have side effects.
5. Chamomile
A study in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology shows that patients who received chamomile treatment experienced a significant change in the severity of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) symptoms. The herb has been used to calm nerves, decrease indigestion and calm the stomach. Steep 1 tablespoon of dried chamomile in a cup of boiling water, three times a day for about two months.
Chamomile has been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years to calm anxiety and settle stomachs. In the U.S., chamomile is best known as an ingredient in herbal tea.
6. Peppermint
Peppermint has several medicinal qualities. In addition to helping to calm anxiety, (mostly associated with other issues like depression), peppermint is also known to help relieve symptoms associated with the common cold, upset stomach, skin irritations, indigestion and headaches. To drink in a tea, combine 1 cup of boiling water and 1 teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves and let it steep for 10 minutes. You can drink peppermint tea about four or five times a day (between meals). However, it’s a good idea to check with a doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
7. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm has been used to help reduce stress and anxiety, as well as increase appetite, improve sleep, heal wounds, ease pain, treat stings and other insect bites. The herb is commonly combined with other herbs, such as chamomile, to help calm nerves. Steep about a quarter to 1 teaspoon of dried lemon balm in hot water up to four times a day.
Source: CalmClinic & eHow Food
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Michael Jackson BabyDaddy Drama
The family of Michael Jackson is suing the multi-entertainment conglomerate AEG Live — who sponsored his “This Is It” tour — for its alleged negligent hiring and supervision of Dr. Conrad Murray, convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the case of the singer’s death in 2009. The Jackson Clan are asking for $40 billion in damages.
MJ’s mom, Katherine Jackson, in particular is requesting that anything regarding the paternity of MJ’s children should not be brought up during the case’s impending trial, as well as MJ’s estate situation. Weird to mention that only for the fact that the paternity of the children, as far as I’m thinking, should have no bearing on a charge of manslaughter against AEG.
Which leads me to question: If Michael Jackson did not genetically contribute to the creation of these kids, would he in fact have had to legally adopt them in order to claim he was indeed their daddy? I’m thinking —yeah!–and I’m also thinking he may not have done so, which would put the Jackson’s up sh@#!%’s creek without a paddle, with all the impending claims on the actual parentage of Prince, Paris and Blanket.
If so, what a terrible and unfair legacy to leave to these children. ♦
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Quote Of The Day
“The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.”
― Galileo Galilei
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Note To Self…
- Catch up with every single episode of “Totally Biased On FX” with W. Kamau Bell.
- Catch up with every single episode of Don Cheadle‘s new show “House of Lies” on ShowTime
- Force EVERYONE I know to do number 1 & 2. Total hilarity!!
