Costco vs Coke

I'm impartial when it comes to which cola to drink. I have friends that are die-hard Coke fans and die-hard Pepsi fans. Personally I'll drink whatever is on sale at the time that I'm at the store. At one time I did have a Coke Rewards addiction, but that's a topic from a previous blog entry.

I shop at Costco and I notice they have more Coke products (Sprite, Dasani, etc) than Pepsi products. So because of that I do tend to drink more Coke than Pepsi...until now. Costco and Coke are in a dispute about the price Coke charges versus the value Costco promises to it's members.

A few questions comes to mind:
- Will Costco now sell Pepsi products only?
- Is Coke really charging more money or just as much as if I bought it at the grocery store?
- Do Costco members care what brand of cola they sell or do they just want whatever is on sale?
- Will the loss of Costco as a retailer really hurt Coke?

All this talk of cola is making me thirsty. I think I'll go and grab me a Pepsi ;)

Cold Weather Comfort Food

When the cold weather hits there are certain foods I look forward to having and cooking. Here is my top 10 list, what's yours?

1. Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
2. White Hot Chocolate (preferably from Max Brenner's)
3. Gumbo (brown or red...I make both)
4. Casseroles (usually Chicken)
5. Shrimp and Corn Chowder; Tomato Cheddar Soup; all kinds of soups
6. Beef Stew
7. Apple Pie or Baked Apples
8. Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese
9. Apple Cider
10. Chili

Does anyone have any recipes for the above that they care to share? Or one of your favorites? I already got another Apple Pie recipe ;)

Natural Hair

There was a recent article in Time magazine about why people make such a big deal about Michelle Obama's hair and what it means for Black Women's hair. There is actually a documetary coming out from Chris Rock called "Good Hair."

What bothered me is that the article made mention that pressing or flat ironing your hair is not maintaining your natural hair. I beg to differ. For one, I'm not using a chemical to get my hair straight. AND if my hair is flat ironed or pressed and water touches any part of it, it will not remain straight. I don't think using a tool to straighten your hair temporarily is denying the natural state of your hair. Using a harsh chemical is not temporary. The process to grow out a relaxer takes a lot longer than me just wetting my hair and it not being straight anymore. But again, it's about finding a level of control and style.

For most of 2009 I have been wearing my hair in braids because I was experiencing some serious breakage. Not sure if the breakage was due to stress, hair coloring or a combination of both. But it's the end of the summer so I'm trying to decide what do to with my hair. I have a few options.

1. Get it rebraided.
2. Give the braids a break and get my natural hair flat ironed.
3. If I get my natural hair done, possibly cut it.
4. Get a full head weave.

I'm leaning towards keeping my hair braided and getting it rebraided. Braids are easier to maintain and I'm not happy with the length and condition of my natural hair. Maybe after my Columbus Day weekend vacation I'll take the braids out for a bit. But I definetely want braids when I go to Costa Rica at the end of the year.

Roxanne's Revenge Was A Lie

You may have read the story from the New York Daily News about how Roxanne Shante got her label to pay for her education. WELL IT WAS ALL A LIE!!! According to Slate.com the entire story was false. I don't know who to be mad at more or mad at first. Should I be mad at the NY Daily News for not doing their research? Should I be mad at Roxanne Shante for LYING?

Everyone loves a rags to riches story especially in this current economic state. And we have all heard the stories of music artists getting jilted by the music labels and various people they worked with. It was nice to read about the little person getting the best of Goliath. So I'm just pissed and disappointed. Maybe it's just me. But I will apologize to anyone I forwarded the original story too. It's still a good story...too bad it was all fiction.

The Death of Newspapers: A Laughing Matter

I don't play a lot of video games. But since I was a kid I was always fascinated to watch others play video games. I would sit and watch my nephew play Super Mario Brothers for HOURS. So I remember watching one of my friends play Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City. On one of the missions they stole a trunk and the message on the side of the truck at one point said "Yesterdays news today." I laughed because those 3 words define newspapers as we know them. I was just surprised to see it mentioned in a video game.

And then Jon Stewart had to touch on the subject just in case the masses didn't notice the demise of newspapers. The video is sadly hilarious because it is so true. And it's not just newspapers. All of mainstream/traditional media is struggling to redefine themselves in the age of the internet and getting the information NOW.

It just makes me wonder who will be our credible sources for news and information?

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Lately I have been watching a lot of old movies. I'm talking black and white classic movies. And I'm amazed at how some of the best lines in modern movies and TV shows pull from the classics.

In the finale of Army Wives, Season 2 a female character kisses a male character. Male character says, "What are you doing?" Female character responds, "Well, If you don't know I must be doing it wrong." And kisses him again. I thought that was a great line.

Two days later I'm watching "Born Yesterday," a movie made in the 1950's and low and behold similar scene, same exact lines. Only difference was this time the male character kisses the female.

Is anything original anymore? We already know that music gets recycled thanks to sampling but what people from our generation watch movies from the 1930's, 1940's, 1950's to really be able to catch when an already used famous line is being used again.

I guess it just goes to show that if something is really good, it's probably worth repeating.

Summer Sun

It has been a month since my vacation in St. Thomas and I'M STILL PEELING!!! I don't think snakes peel this long.

On my vacation I was very good about putting on sunscreen and reapplying throughout the day. Those that know me know I usually put on suntan lotion but not sunblock. But I realize you can put on sunblock and still get a healthy tan. So what had happened was that I fell asleep in the sun one day at the beach thus I didn't reapply. When I woke up I knew I was burned.

I hope the peeling stops...soon...but let it be a lesson to all. Light skin or dark skin, wear your sunscreen and remember to reapply.

NBA Not So Amazin

After March Madness I can't say that I get that excited about the start of baseball season OR the NBA Finals.

Overall I find the NBA Playoffs to be pretty boring. I could not watch a single game in the first round (although I've watched 2 because nothing else was on TV) and not feel like I missed anything. So far the best part of the NBA Playoffs has been the Kanye West Promo.



So is it just me? Am I the only one not feeling the playoffs?

Goals and Challenges

I know some of y'all are saying to yourself why is she always setting some goal for herself or trying another challenge? And why does she have multiple goals/challenges going on at the same time, how does she keep track?

To most people it would probably get overwhelming but it is one of my strongest character traits. I ALWAYS have to be doing something which is why I have a very hard time relaxing. I can't just watch a movie. I have to watch a movie, be on the computer, talking on IM, folding laundry, etc., etc. I've always been the type to try and cram as much in to my day as humanly/physically possible.

But specifically about all the goals and challenges...I love to challenge myself and every day I want to improve. I always have to be striving towards something. There's just this feeling that I get as I get closer and closer to my goal. And I can't even describe the feeling of when I actually achieve a goal. Problem is I probably don't take the time to savor the achievement enough before setting up another obstacle/hurdle for myself.

For example, this year I set a goal to read at least 30 books. And every time I finish a book and add it to my list I'm ready to start reading another one. I should probably take a break. Maybe reflect on what I read before jumping right in to the next book. But I'm just so driven to meet that goal because I didn't meet it last year and I don't take too kindly to failure even small ones. I probably take the small failures harder because they should have been easier to achieve and for whatever reason I didn't achieve it.

Also I don't set up goals/challenges just for the sake of having a goal/challenge. Each thing I do is intended to benefit me in some way. Forcing myself to read 30 books in a year might sound like torture to some but to me it's actually forcing me to relax and focus. When I'm reading a book I cannot do 10 other things. I can't read and watch tv, listen to music, sort laundry, wash dishes, etc. I literally have to take the time to sit down, focus and read a book. So while I'm reading I'm also forcing myself to stop and relax because as y'all know I'm like the Energizer bunny and I'll keep going until I physically drop.

Do you set up goals and challenges for yourself? How much effort do you put in to achieving them? Do they give you a mental or emotional high?

25 Things I Didn't Want to Know About You

So I finally gave in and did my own version of "25 Random Things About Me". But I hope this 25 things virus (yes it's a virus in the sense that it's viral and EVERYONE has caught on to it) finally comes to an end.

Time.com wrote a funny story about "25 Things I Didn't Want to Know About You" as a result of people posting their 25 Random Things About Me. Just think about all the things you learned and didn't know or in some cases didn't want to know. I was almost tempted to do a "25 Things I Didn't Want to Know About You" like the writer of this piece did, but then I didn't want to offend anyone.

If you find this whole 25 things craze funny here are two more pieces written about it:
- New York Times
- Salon.com

What did you learn about your friends that you didn't know before? Any examples of things you wish you hadn't found out?

29 Things About Me

Since it's getting close to my 29th birthday and I have been tagged quite a few times on other peoples 25 things about me postings I have decided to do 29 things about me. Hopefully by the time you see this blog I will be on my way to Orlando for my 29th birthday vacation.

1. My favorite color is Carolina Blue.

2. I LOVE to eat.

3. I want a boyfriend so I need to seriously get back in to the dating game.

4. I read A LOT...newspapers, magazines, books, websites...if it's interesting I'm reading it.

5. I'm a disciple of Suze Orman. Most people don't know that I've been studying personal finance and it has been a passion of mine for the last 3 years.

6. No matter what I do my hair stays the same length. The minute it starts to grow it starts breaking off or falling out (from stress) and I end up cutting it back to the length it was before.

7. I spend more Friday and Saturday nights home alone than I think people realize.

8. I'm a chronic lister. I make lists for EVERYTHING.

9. My celebrity lookalike is Halle Berry (or at least that's what I have been told). And I dance like Beyonce.

10. Can't figure out why I have better relationships with the Dad's of the guys I have dated versus the guys themselves. Maybe it's a sign I need to date older men.

11. I suffer from chronic mind chatter. Blogging and journaling helps.

12. I really miss my Dad and my Grandma. It has been twenty three years and fifteen years respectively since they each died and I still feel the loss like it was yesterday. I wonder if they would be proud of me. Nothing has impacted my life more than my dad dying shortly after I turned 6.

13. If I could sell my house in Atlanta I would. It's a liability, not an asset. Read Rich Dad/Poor Dad and you'll understand why.

14. I worry a lot, especially about family members.

15. Here are 29 places I want to visit: Costa Rica, Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas Mexico, Australia, Paris, Venice, Amsterdam, London, Dubai, Jamaica, somewhere in Canada, Japan, Thailand, Tahiti, back to South Africa, Brazil, Beijing China, Turks & Caicos, Trinidad, Dominican Republic, Morocco, India, Egypt, Italy, Germany, Macau China, Greece, Columbia, and Cuba.

16. Here are 29 states and countries I have visited: NY, NJ, PA, VA, DE, MD, DC, NC, SC, GA, FL, LA, MA, CT, VT, CA, NV, MN, WI, WA, AL, TX, IL, OH, Mexico, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Spain, Bahamas

17. There are quite a few people that cross my mind that I haven't talked too in weeks, months, years...

18. When I was 5 or 6 years old I beat up a little boy with my Winnie the Pooh because he pulled one of the flowers off the basket of my bike. I got a whipping for beating up the boy. Apparently the bear injured him because I kept hitting him with the black plastic nose on the bear. They don't make bears like they used to anymore.

19. I love watching movies...notice I didn't say going to the movies. I don't have patience but when it comes to movies I can ALWAYS wait for it to be on DVD.

20. I had more than 29 things I wanted to share about me but when I started writing this I forgot a bunch of them....LOL.

21. I write all my blog posts weeks in advance and reorganize and reschedule them as I write more posts.

22. I have scoliosis and a slight case of arthritis in my neck so I have to see a chiropractor at least twice a month. When I say I have a pain in my neck I mean it literally.

23. I want to go skydiving in some place exotic like Costa Rica.

24. One of my nicknames is Video Vixen and I sometimes wish I had the means to pursue dance. It would be a dream come true to get to be in a music video or be someone like Beyonce's backup dancer...if only for an 8 count.

25. The secret to my career success: networking and transferable skills. How else does a sports junkie end up at a celebrity fashion and beauty website? It was who I knew and who knew me AND I can do what I do for any website no matter what the topic is. Skills required are still the same. As one person described it...I am content agnostic.

26. I wish I had a better relationship with my family but I have always accepted that we would never be "The Cosby's."

27. If I wasn't in my current profession I would be a librarian.

28. If I could have my own business it would be a 24 hour laundromat.

29. My biggest fear is not having a baby before my mother dies. She turns 70 this year so the pressure is on, most days I ignore it.

Best Videos Never Made

I know you are thinking what the hell does she mean by "Best Videos Never Made." There are a lot of songs that are or were hot on the radio or that we just personally liked and videos were never shot for them. Only 2 songs come to mind right now....Lovers & Friends; Usher, Lil Jon and Ludacris and A Milli remix; Lil Wayne featuring Jay Z. Can you think of any other songs that never had videos for them, but should have?

Salsa Anyone?

Have to give y'all an update on my hip hop classes...they made my knees hurt.

Nah, I enjoyed taking the classes. I didn't enjoy getting up early on Sunday mornings after staying out late the night before BUT once I got going in class I was good. I'm thinking about taking more classes this summer but later in the day on Sundays. But I'm not really sure I want to commit to 8 Sundays of which I'll know for sure I'll miss 2 of them. So I guess I'll wait until September to re-enroll.

On to salsa...I have been taking salsa lessons off and on since 2002. By now I should probably face my fear and enroll in an intermediate class. I just think everyone teaches it differently so I'm not sure the same terms apply across the board. I actually met someone at one of my speed dating events who is taking lessons and is trying to convince me to go out salsa dancing.

I don't know what it is. I have no fears about hip hop dancing at all. And I always find a way to incorporate what I learn in class to what I do in the club. But with salsa I fear not being good enough. Getting on the dance floor and forgetting the moves or in my mind confusing salsa with cha cha, merengue or whatever other dances my various instructors have intermingled.

Sounds like I need to take that guy up on his offer and face my fear.

Turkey Bowler

Last night I went bowling with some of my coworkers and got my first Turkey...incredible...I know...unbelievable...I know...can I do it again...who knows. But I'm going to a singles bowling event on Thursday so I'll get to test my luck in more ways than one ;)

Liar, Liar...Pants on Fire

I can deal with a lot of things. Lying is not one of them.

I had an ex that would lie to me about little, stupid, insignificant shit. And when I would catch him in these little "white lies" he never had a good reason for lying. And that would just piss me off to no end. Cause if you will lie to me about the little things you will lie to me about the big things.

I had another ex that was bold with the lying. This dude would look me in the eye and lie to my face. To me, that is the equivalent of someone spitting in my face. It's one thing (and still not the right thing) to lie to me on IM, email, text message, phone...whatever...but to look me directly in my face and lie to me is beyond disrespectful.

Too many people talk about keeping it real and always being honest. But that's some BS...cause if put in a situation where lying is an easy out most people would just choose to lie.

I don't know how many times I have to blog this, text this, chat this, discuss this if I tell you to be honest with me, not to lie to me, DON'T DO IT! I'm tired of people lying to me to supposedly protect my feelings. More BS. You ain't protecting my feelings you are looking out for your own ass. Let me worry about my feelings. Cause when I find out the truth and anyone who knows me knows I ALWAYS find out the truth it's going to piss me off even more. If you had told me from jump, I could have just thanked you for your honesty and walked away.

I had another dude that I was casually seeing. He later admitted there was more to the situation than he had initially told me. I was mad, don't get me wrong, but because he was honest with me I wished him the best and kept it moving. No drama, no arguing, no tears. He admitted to me something he should have made clear from jump but that was neither here nor there because at least he was now giving me necessary information so I could decide how to proceed.

I cannot make the right decision if I'm not being told the truth. If a person gets in to a situation that requires them to lie to me about it then they shouldn't have been in that situation in the first place. But don't lie to avoid the consequences. If you were bold enough to do what you did irregardless of possible negative outcomes, then face what's coming. Or at least give me the chance to walk away without feeling like you completely disrespected me.

I think this quote sums it up for me, "It is better to be told a hurtful truth than to be told a comforting lie."

Hip Hop Musings

I'm working on a project at work so I've been listening to a lot of Launch. Here are some random thoughts the music has inspired.

Will Rich Boy be a one hit wonder? I mean...who names themselves Rich Boy before they are rich. And he is a funny looking dude...his face/head has an awkward shape.

I'm really feeling the song "Wouldn't Get Far" by The Game. The song makes me think of my trip to Vegas. At one point, when I was actually awake during the car ride MS played that song. Although the song lyrics have nothing to do with travelling the words "wouldn't get far" makes me think about how I almost didn't make it to Vegas.

Could Mims really make a million saying nothing on a track? I thought he was saying that to imply that he was a producer before he was a rapper or something. Kanye West could make a million saying nothing on a track. And why Mims got Remy Ma in his video like that is a good look?

If you have ever seen the "I'm a Flirt" remix video at the end a phone number flashes across the bottom of the screen. So I was tempted to see what I would hear when I called up. It's a recording with a few snippets off his upcoming album called "Double Up."

I think R. Kelly came up with the song i'm a flirt in one of my his many court appearances because the first verse says "I swear to tell the truth and the whole truth." Why does T. Pain's voice sound like Roger in the song "Computer Love." If I had a boyfriend T. Pain could not get my boyfriend mad. And I don't care how much R. Kelly would ever flirt cause I'd be scared to leave the club with him...he might piss on me...or worse.