"I Go Back"

I can’t remember a movie if I watched it over a year ago. I can’t remember the names of some of my professors even though I looked them in the face for at least 8 months at a time (I am giving myself credit on the names that had more letters than the alphabet! If I could say them I would have remembered them!) I couldn’t tell you what I wore on Monday, but I can remember song lyrics and particular events associated with certain songs.

This morning as I was rushing through my usual 15 minute shower routine (yes, believe it!) I was singing to myself “There used to be a graying tower alone on the sea. You became the light on the dark side of me….” Where did this song come from and how in the world did I remember the lyrics?! That is sooo 1995!

It was August 1995 and I was waking up before the sun even thought of showing its face. Blair and I walked to the end of the street and down Rockford Road to catch the bus as the dew was floating off the ground putting an end to the straight smooth hair we had left the house with. When we got to the bottom of the hill, there stood Katie and Sam Mason who lived at the house on the corner. They looked so much older and way cooler than we did – Sam even had a mustache! Several minutes later we loaded the bus and thirty minutes later after we watched the sun come up from a cold brown bus seat, we were arriving in the pit of Winston-Salem on 19th Street. It was the first day of 6th grade. Ashley Middle School was in front of me.

As I unloaded the bus and walked directly into the school (with the wonderful bullet holes in the rounded outside wall of the cafeteria) a nervous feeling had come over me. Our bus had arrived a little later than the rest so as I walked into Mrs. Freeman’s homeroom class on the sixth grade hall, majority of the seats were taken. The blinds were still shut and the entire room smelled of mildew as if this was the first day since May she had opened the room back up. There were empty tadpole tanks surrounding the perimeter of the room, a small hand-bell on the front table and a 1-800-Charter notepad on Mrs. Freeman’s desk. I wanted to turn around and retrace my steps back to my bed.

I found one of the last open seats in a pod of four by the bathroom door. Ashley Middle used to be an elementary school, so what was now the 6th grade hall used to be Kindergarten classes with restrooms. I took a seat and as I was placing my book bag up on my desk I noticed the girl beside me was very visibly pregnant! I think she noticed me staring (bless my little sheltered soul) and said to me “Oh, this is my second. I think it’s a girl.” I nicely bent over and pulled my chin off the floor and starting talking to my new pregnant friend. Come to find out, this was her second attempt at 6th grade thanks to her previous pregnancy. The rest of that first day of 6th grade was a blur.

As I was signing this SEAL song to myself this morning, a rush of these memories came over me. Kiss From a Rose by Seal was playing on my alarm clock that woke me up for the first day of 6th grade. This song marked a turning point in life!

Do you have any songs that you remember every lyric and tune because it takes you back to a particular place in time?

I have several:
1. Ride Wit Me (Nelly) – Junior Year of High school. Dustin and I would take his black jeep to Kure Beach to stay with his grandmother. We would fish the entire weekend all day and all night while he grandmother sat in her house and listened to her scanner to see what her neighbors were getting in trouble for!

2. In Da Club (50 Cent) – Freshman year of college living with Shannon in Lee Hall. Shannon introduced me to country music and I introduced Sha-ney-ney to Rap and R&B! We would get ready to this song before going over to Ivy Chase every night. As Shannon would say “Go Shawty!”

3. Save A Horse- Ride A Cowboy (Big and Rich) – first senior year of college living in the Canterbury house with Brittany, Catherine, Allie, and Stacy. Brittany would play this song every time we would get in her jeep to go out at night!

4. Leaving on a Jet Plane (John Denver) – Senior year in ADPi recruitment. This song never hit me until I had spent four years with some of the most amazing friends I could have asked for. It was our last year together and my last year living with Metz. It brought me to tears every time.

5. Awnaw (Nappy Roots) – beach trip to myrtle beach spring break my senior year of High school. One word: Joel

6. Summertime (Kenny Chesney) – my senior year of college when I would stay at Matt’s place, this was what came on when my phone alarm would go off in the morning! This was also not a song that was eased into; as soon as it would go off it was “TWO BARE FEET …” – just loud. I think I ruined this song for a diehard Kenny fan! Sorry Matthew!

7. GLAMOROUS (Fergie) – One Name: Landon.

It's That Season

If I could possibly be in 5 different places at a time this weekend, I would try my hardest…but I am stretched a little thin. This weekend I have been invited to one wedding, one bridal shower and one engagement lunch…all in the same day. Ring the bells, its wedding season and the story of majority of the 20 – 30 year olds out there. Check the airport – the flights south are full of newlyweds headed to put their toes in the sand. In light of this fabulous season, I found an article that I thought was interesting and I wanted to share it with each of you! Let’s hope that no one you know falls under these categories!

PS – Congrats to all my engaged friends: Sharon and Sean, Ashley and Paul, Jackie and Michael, Charles and Lindsey, Amy and Parker, and Kirsten and Reese! Love you dearly.

Confessions of a Wedding Planner: 5 Signs a Couple Will Crash and Burn

After witnessing 50 to 80 weddings per year (and being exposed to behaviors that a couple doesn't always reveal to others), a wedding planner has identified some signs that scream "Red flag!" Here, she spills the predictors of whether a couple will live happily ever after or bite the dust.

1. The Bride Refuses to Let the Groom Choose the Cake
"Brides are almost always more interested in the minutiae of wedding planning than grooms are. But when I encounter a woman who refuses to relinquish any control to her fiancé, it doesn't bode well. I can think of a few instances in which the woman ruled the event with an iron fist and the couple ended up in divorce court a few years later. Basically, they weren't able to make decisions together."

2. The Groom Lets His Mom Call the Shots
"Most of my brides involve their moms in the planning process, and why wouldn't they? It's like having a second planner for free. But sometimes, grooms' mothers try to muscle in too, which is something I'll never understand. Not only is it inappropriate, but it's up to her son to tell her that."

3. The Bride Blows Half the Budget on Her Dress
"Weddings are pricier than ever, and money-related issues can cause a lot of undue tension. So when a bride goes behind her groom's back and splurges on a big-name dress or expensive flower arrangements, I start to get nervous. It's a huge sign that she doesn't respect him and refuses to compromise...and trust me, those tendencies don't disappear after she walks down the aisle. I have worked with tons of couples who fought viciously over the wedding budget and learned later that many of them continued to argue and eventually split."

4. The Bride Freaks Over the Groom's Bachelor Party
"I've seen some women wig out about the possibility of her guy having a boys' night at a strip club. One client of mine even threatened to leave her fiancé if he had a bachelor party. But my motto is: If you can't trust him, why the hell are you walking down the aisle?!"

5. The Bride and Groom Fight in Front of Me

"No matter how in love two people may be, planning a ceremony and reception is overwhelming and will no doubt cause a few tiffs. But warning bells immediately start ringing for me if the couple gets really heated with each other in my presence. Arguments are private, and dragging me into them shows that there is a lack of respect for each other and for their bond."

The Blue Streak

I have several pet-peeves like slow people in the left lane, not filling up the Brita when you put it back in the fridge, and not rolling down the plastic bag inside a box of cereal when you close the top (I got that one from mom! Ugh thanks!) But…overall there are not too many things that I can’t just get over in a matter of minutes….until this morning. This morning my blood was boiling!

To set the scene: I leave out of the front gate of our apartment this morning at 5:15. I wait at the stop light in front of our complex to make a left onto Randolph Rd. so that my happy little Honda can get me to the office. I wait no longer than a minute and finally get my green leading arrow. I begin to pull out into the intersection to make a left onto the four lane road, and ….zoooooommmm – there goes a 5 series, royal blue BMW coming from my right, headed in the same direction I was turning. “I know you have a nice BMW but what gives you the right to run that red light and almost hit me?! Sure you could probably replace my car, but I like to think that if you hit me, you can’t replace me!!!!” Let’s just say that my devil horns started popping out and out of natural instinct I had to see who it was that thought they were special enough to ignore my law given right to have the intersection during my leading green light.

I sped up to try and catch this crazy person. As I was approaching the royal blue streak zipping down 4th street, I noticed them swerving back and forth over the yellow line. Immediately I thought: drunk-ass. (Hey, it is only 5:15am – I wouldn’t put it past someone!) So I stayed back until the stoplight at Charlottetown Ave. I slowly crept up beside the drunk driver so they hopefully wouldn’t notice I wanted to stare a hole in their forehead. As soon as I was parallel with their car I was irate! A late 40’s, fake blonde with bad bangs putting on her make-up in the tiny mirror of her sun visor! You have to be kidding me! You almost killed me so that your face can “try” to look good! FREAKIN SERIOUS! "Hey lady, you think you can find the right shade of eye shadow to match a bright orange jumpsuit after they put you away for killing someone? It doesn’t matter how much your eyelashes are curled when you are the only one that sees them all day -besides the lesbian in the cell with you!"

Well after that it only got worse. We followed each other all the way down 4th street. We both made a left onto Mint Street. We both pulled into the parking deck and we both parked on the same level. We both got out of our car and we both grabbed our purses and lunch, and we both walked almost hand in hand across the street, down the stairs and right to the front door of the Duke Energy building. She was still oblivious she had done anything wrong (and she was oblivious that her make-up looked like sh*t! Should have spent that extra five minutes at home lady!) I walked up to the door first, opened it just enough for me to turn sideways and squeeze through it, and the following with my trailing hand, I pulled it closed behind me. The heck if I am holding the door for you woman! Let’s just hope we don’t meet in the cafeteria today because I will find something to do with that piece of cake on the buffet bar!

Long Story Short: My biggest pet peeve right now - DON’T PUT YOUR MAKE-UP ON WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING! There is no way you were that late to anywhere you were going that you couldn’t finish your make-up at home. If it takes you that long that it’s going to make you late, YOU WEAR TOO MUCH!

Steak Bites

STEAK BITES

eat them anytime!

1 Sirloin Steak, one without much gristle

or

1 pkg. pre-cut beef tips

Kosher Salt & Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Butter

First trim off the large obvious piece of fat that runs along the side of the meat. Next, cut strips less than 1 inch wide. Rotate the meat and cut into small bite-sized pieces. If you see anymore large chunks of fat, gristle, or long silvery membrane cut them off.

Sprinkle generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss the meat around a bit to thoroughly coat with the seasonings.

Next, turn on your ventilation fan overhead. Heat the skillet over medium high to high heat. As the pan heats, add about 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. The point here is to allow the butter to melt, then brown, before you add the meat.

Place some of the meat in the pan in a single layer. It should sizzle loudly when it hits the pan-if it doesn't, the pan isn't hot enough. Don't stir or disrupt the meat for 30 to 45 seconds. You want it to sizzle and brown on one side. Now scoop as many steak bites as you can with your spatula and flip them over. Repeat until all the meat is turned. Cook for an additional 30 to 45 seconds- just long enough to sear the outside of the meat but NOT cook the inside.

Remove the meat to a clean plate. Add a little more butter to the pan and repeat the cooking process with the next batch just as before. Lastly, when all the meat is nicely browned and removed to the plate pour all that browned/blackened butter all over the meat.

**my own "Blain" touch - sprinkle feta cheese on the top and serve!

ENJOY

Some of the sweetest things....

Several things to be excited about that I just have to share!

1. Kernersville this weekend! I have honestly been blessed with the absolute most precious, genuine friends that anyone could ask for. We don’t all live in the same place but when you put us back together it’s like nothing has changed since high school! One of us has decided to hop on the marriage train so I am headed home for a bridal shower for Sharon with all the girls! Sharon and Sean’s wedding is set for July 25th and it is going to be a wedding that is out of this world! I can’t wait! Congrats Grandma Shar!

2. Kirsten and Reese got engaged this week! Congrats to you too! Girls lunch tomorrow for the new bride- to- be and the next fabulous bride-to-be Miss Amy! See you girls tomorrow :)

3. Mariana got a job in Dallas! Really fast but best wishes to her! She's packing her bags and headed out west!

4. Charles and Lindsey are getting married this weekend! Ken and Barbie are finally united – geeze you are going to have gorgeous kids! Wish I could be there but I send my best wishes and can’t wait to see the two of you.

5. Sister and Sam became an aunt and uncle again! Laura had a new little one – Luke Anderson. Congratulations Matt and Laura on becoming parents again!

6. Something exciting about me? – um….I got a new bathing suit for a fabulous 4th of July celebration on the lake! Ha Ha, I told you life was pretty simple right now! Doesn’t take much to please me! New husbands, diamond rings, new Jobs, babies, new bathing suits – all about the same :)

Happy Tuesday Friends

From A Proud Daughter

You know when you were a kid and you had to fill out “fun fact” information sheets about yourself at the beginning of each school year, and you were asked the question: “Who do you want to be like when you grow up.” And several years later the question became a little more sophisticated: “Who do you look up to.” And after that is was: “Who is your hero?” And then years after that, the same question would come around: “Who is your biggest inspiration in life?” This was always a question I never stumbled when answering. My answer has ALWAYS been the same and will remain the same for the rest of my life: My Father

He is an inspiration; a loving father; an amazing husband; and a dedicated friend. Even though I am already 25, I still want to grow up to be just like my father. The compassion that he has for everything he does shows in his work and with his relationships. The respect I see that his friends and family have for him is what everyone wishes to gain from others. My dad is exactly who he is and never tries to be anything else – it’s admirable.

Dad has been there for me in ways that I know he doesn’t even realize. My heart has been broken several times and the comfort that I find from my father in a long tight hug and several encouraging words means more than he will ever know. Dad is a man of few words, but when spoken I know they are true. Always encouraging to move forward, but always my personal cheerleader – I could never ask for better support. Dad is the backbone of our family.

Bless the poor fella’s heart that ends up with me because they have some pretty big shoes to fill to take the place of the “man in my life.” Dad can do everything; I mean EVERYTHING. Dad has set standards that I don’t think my future husband will ever be able to meet. I hope one day I find a man that loves me and my children the way my Dad has loved me, mom and Blair.

For everything that my dad has taught me in and about life, I will never be able to repay him. Even though he ran a tough ship when Blair and I were younger, the older I get the more I appreciate these “silent” lessons. I feel that I have grown up with a solid foundation and a realistic grasp on finances, values, responsibilities, and integrity. My wish in life is that in everything I do I make my dad proud because I could not be more proud to have him as my father. I hope he knows the impact he has had on me the past 25 years.

"My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." -- Clarence Budington Kelland


HAPPY FATHERS DAY POPPIE!

I Love You

Back The Pack - ALWAYS and FOREVER !

Young NC State fans pose with signs on a car outside of Reynolds Coliseum in 1971.

....................

So I was checking out the NC State Alumni blog and came across some pictures they posted on Flickr of NC State many years ago. These pictures make me proud to be an Alum of NC State simply for the deep history that is rooted in the college. Take a look at the blog here: http://www.alumni.ncsu.edu/blog/

Check out Winston Hall in 1910. In the basement of this building is where I had my very first class as a freshman at NC State at 8am – and it was the one and only English class I took in all five years of college!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncsu_scrc/520021465/

This picture is dedicated to my “fabulous” Frisbee faces of my senior design project. How many times do we have to eat at Two Guys while working with Rube! It’s kind of scary that this restaurant has not changed at all! Sanitary check?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncsu_scrc/3368528664/

Really 1896…really?! I started to school at State over 100 years after these dudes were teaching? GEEZE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncsu_scrc/2899346232/

Looks like the Hillsborough Hike had a different meaning back in 1917!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncsu_scrc/2899345736/

And Hillsborough Street in 1921. Crazy to think about. Do you think our great great grand kids will look back on pictures from Hillsborough street in 2009 and wonder what a Starbucks, Mitch’s Tavern, and Bruggers Bagels is?!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncsu_scrc/2899345606/

We’re the Red and White from State and we know we are the best!
Hands behind our backs we can take on all the rest!
Go to hell Carolina, Devils and Deacs stand in line,
The Red and White from NC State, go State!

What Is This World Coming To?

Do you get more emails than phone calls at work? Do you find that majority of communication with your friends and family is done through facebook, emails, text messages, and BBM? Has technology taken over and our communication skills slowly dwindling? Honestly it has gotten ridiculous, and I will admit…I am part of the crowd.

I have never liked to talk on the phone. In middle and high school, I was not the kid to sit around and chat it up with my friends or boyfriend. I would call my friends, make plans and go do it. I didn’t have my own house phone line… and if I was on the phone and we got a “beep”, I had to answer it and…. if it was for my parents, we had to give the phone over (even if it was one of their friends that just wanted to chat it up!). I didn’t get a cell phone until I started driving and even then it was only used for an emergency.

When I got to college there was AIM, and to me, the best thing that came along since water wings! I didn’t have to talk on the phone to see what my friends were doing and I didn’t have to waste a text message (since mom put a cap on how many texts we could use each month!) We found ourselves in the sorority house AIM’ing to each other down the hallway to see if one of the girls had a cute top to wear out that night! GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND WALK DOWN THERE! If we were out at the bar EVERYONE would text because you couldn’t hear if you were trying to call someone. I came to depend on this technology every freaking day. No wonder kids out of college have such rough times with job interviews. With online classes and technology attached to our hand, who needs to communicate verbally. Too bad we can’t conduct an interview through email! I could probably respond ten times quicker with my typing skills before the words could come out of my mouth professionally.

Now, several years down the road, I own this amazing little thing called a BlackBerry. In ways it is the devil. I am too “plugged in.” (I actually have two phones: one for work and one personal) On my personal BlackBerry I receive my personal Gmail and on my work BlackBerry, my Duke email. As soon as I receive an email, it comes right through to my phone. Rarely do I log on to my computer to check my mail! I can send texts on both phones and I can get on BBM with both. If you don’t know what BBM is, it might be the devils first child. BBM stands for BlackBerry Messenger and it provides BlackBerry users with the familiar look-and-feel of a desktop instant messaging program right on your phone. You use BBM to chat with other BlackBerry users in an easy-to-use instant messaging format. So …pretty much my favorite communication tool on my computer in college is now in the palm of my hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week. DANGEROUS!

I went out with a guy the other week that I had never even talked on the phone with! I gave him my number while we were out on a Saturday and two days later he texted me to see if I wanted to do something the next weekend. I said OK and then throughout the week we would BBM each other back and forth just to stay in contact…then Saturday came and I meet him out for dinner. This has become the norm – There isn’t that time for awkward conversation on the phone when all you have to do is send a BBM or text; I guess I am sparing myself that uncomfortable silence , we can encounter that when we meet face-to-face!

Even sitting at my desk at work, I find myself instant messaging people a question before picking up the phone and calling. No one uses their phone! Not really sure why we even have them! I get emails from my boss asking me a question and he actually sits directly in front of me (no more than 20ft away!) I AM DEAD SERIOUS! What is this world coming too?! How sad is all of this?! Some companies have started rules that on Friday’s, it is no email day. If you have to do anything, you pick up the phone and call the person directly. No one is expected to check their email or send emails. I think I like this idea! Oprah had a challenge this past season to see who could go weeks without their “technology.” Weeks would be hard, but I wouldn’t mind trying to go a day without using anything except the phone! Could you do it?!

Anyway, this blog entry came to mind after seeing this article- probably the saddest thing I have seen! They actually have a competition for this cr*p!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31395457/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/

Another One To Add To The Line-Up

Bridezilla is an understatement. These girls are simply bit*hes. The show should be called Bit*chzilla because let’s be honest, these girls don’t act like this just because they are getting married! Wake-up dude; look at what you are getting yourself into!

I used to watch this show, 'Bridezilla', casually as it would come on WeTV. But a new season started two weeks ago on Sunday night and it’s become part of the weekly line-up. Your wedding should be one of the happiest days of your life but somehow these girls turn it into a living nightmare for not only themselves but their bridal party, family and friends. The show follows two girls at a time through the ups and downs of planning and executing their wedding. The behavior of these girls is unimaginable.

The first episode started out following Valerie. Valerie, 25 years old, is from Southern California. She is a student and her Groom, Jessie (27) is an electrician. Valerie wants to prove to the public that she has money and is going above and beyond for a wedding that her and her fiancé cannot afford. Valerie crashed her fiancé’s bachelor party, that is, only after a two hour fight that ended in the conclusion that the wedding was off. RIIIGHHHT. No one supports their marriage and says the couple rushed into it too fast after having their daughter. Valerie has the mental attitude that she doesn’t need to marry Jessie because she could get any man she wants. Valerie pitches fits as if she were 5; throws flowers and smashes cakes at meetings with her vendors.

Our second bridal bit*h is Christina. Christina is a 27 year old property manager from Texas and her Groom, 21 year old Jeffery, is a student. Christina has planned an outdoor wedding – in the middle of December! So that overweight Christina can feel better about herself on her wedding day, she has a weight MINIMUM for her bridesmaids – 200lbs! On the last episode, Christina admitted to picking these five girls as her bridesmaids because they were her ugliest and biggest friends - that way all the attention will be on her! She demands the bridal party “stuff their face” so that they can barley fit in their dress. Great Friend she is! (Oh yeah, and no SPANKS allowed!) When her maid of honor comes down with a cold, Christina secretly starts slipping cough medicine into her maid of honors drinks to “help” clear up her cough so that she doesn’t ruin the ceremony.

Throughout the show, they interview the Groom and he admits to marrying a bridezilla! Hey buddy – she’s going to be yours in “T minus 24 hours”! Are you retarded?!

Great Show, definitely check it out!

"No tellin' where it'll take ya"

It was one of those weeks of thinking. At some point I felt like I was standing still and the world around me was rotating faster than I could catch on. I was in such a routine of getting “life” done. I wasn’t able to do social things because of other commitments. I found myself sitting there wishing that I could catch dinner with a group of friends or go out with several guys I just met and now feel like I am totally neglecting. I found myself wondering if I am doing the right thing at this point in life. Am I focusing my attention in the right areas? Is it the right time for me to go back to school at night or do I need to get my life a little more settled? But then, what exactly is “settled”? It is that point in time where I have friends in all walks of life – single, married, some ready to have kids, some not even looking for a relationship. I have friends who love their jobs, hate their jobs, out of a job and back in school full time. What is right for me now? Where does the balance of work, school and relationships come from? There are bits and pieces from all of these lives that I want to pull together for me; but is it possible?

I kind of feel lost in the game of life. As I was driving home last night from walking Bear at the park with Preston, something came over me. This is MY life. I support myself – I pay for school, food, housing, car etc. I choose to live in Charlotte (which is probably one of the best decisions I have made so far); I choose my friends; I choose my activities and I do EXACTLY what I want and need to do at every second of the day. I have had this freedom for the past two years but this is the very first time it has become a realization. Maybe it is an inner excitement that I honestly don’t know what tomorrow brings that left this calm feeling over me as I drove home. I lost a lot of myself over the past year and I am beginning to get it all back. I am becoming who I want to be, not someone I feel like I should be. There were times in college and after moving to Charlotte that I formed myself to fit a certain crowd or a particular boyfriend. Although I learned a lot, I can say with certainty I wasn’t 100% happy. I wasn’t me. But, in the past three months, I have become exactly who I look forward to being for the next 90 years. I am happy and motivated; I am blessed to have the opportunities I have been given and the support system that surrounds me – but I guess I am striving to find an answer to the stirring question: What’s next?

Zack Attack

Mark-Paul Gosseler, Zack Morris, was on the Jimmy Fallon Show the other night, complete with a rousing revival of 'Friends Forever' with The Roots...and it is as good as it sounds!!! ha ha Watch it below!!!
I'm not going to lie - I can't say I still don't watch this classic every now and then!

Tea It Up

There has been a slight change to my morning routine. I started this habit several months ago and I honestly feel the pay off. I have switched all my morning coffee to green tea . Many coffee drinkers say they love their coffee and never switch to drinking tea instead. However there are numerous reasons why making that switch to tea can really improve your life!

Although recent research has shown that coffee does have some benefits for the human body such as helping to fight diabetes and that it is a strong stimulant, green tea has considerable more health benefits than coffee. For example, while coffee drinking can make your teeth brittle and discolored, tea drinking can actually greatly benefit your teeth, helping to prevent cavities and improving bad breath!

Ancient Chinese people knew the benefits of green tea for health. They have always used it for medical purposes. However, in Ancient China, it was used especially against the headaches and depression. Green tea has a great importance in China history. It is produced from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis by some special processes. Unlike black tea, it has little amount of caffeine which causes to insomnia and nausea.

This is the list of benefits of green tea which I've found during my research:

-It is used to treat multiple sclerosis.
-It is used for treatment and prevention of cancer.
-It is used to stop Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
-It is used to raise the metabolism and increase fat oxidation.
-It reduces the risk of heart diseases and heart attacks by reducing the risk of trombosis.
-It reduces the risk of esophageal cancer.
-Drinking green tea inhibits the growth of certain cancer cells, reduces the level of cholesterol in blood, and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.
-It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases
-It is used to treat impaired immune function. .
-Some researches show that, drinking green tea regularly may help prevent tooth decay by killing the bacteria which causes the dental plaque.

Not Sure what kind of green tea to try? I suggest several of my favorites – all found at your local grocery or Trader Joes :

(I am not talking about the kind of green tea you can get in a Lipton bottle! Check the nutrition labels and ingredients on those – not what you may think! These are all tea bags!)

- Yogi: Green Tea Super Antioxidant (organic)
- Taxo: Envy Green Tea (organic)
- Bigelow: Green Tea with Pomegranate
- AriZona® Green Tea with Ginseng & HoneyAriZona Green Tea with Pomegranate and Acai

I like my tea strong so I use two tea bags in a "to-go" coffee mug with hot water (not boiling!)

Enjoy!

Ride or Die

Investing in a Car
Congratulations! Your car pulled through a whopping four years, and then some. Sure you’ve dinged it and banged it until you’re almost glad to see it go, but who has the kind of money it takes to buy a car these days? But you’re screwed six ways 'til Sunday. Your friends singing Adam Sandler’s “Piece of Shit Car” when they hop in just isn’t funny anymore. You need a car, and that’s that. Before you head to the dealership, here’s what you need to know.

Of all the investments you could possibly make now or in the future, a car is the absolute worst one out there. Why? Good investments accumulate value—you start with an initial investment, and it grows from there. Cars don’t work that way. In the instant you drive your shiny new ride off the lot, it declines 20% in value. As far as investments go, it doesn’t get much worse than that.

Fortunately, you have options. And with all of those other amazing things to do with your money out there (pay off your credit cards, save for retirement, pay down your student loan balance), it would be smart, smart, smart to avoid overspending on transportation. For that reason, here are a few ideas for you to make sure this puts minimal strain on your shiny black patent clutch.

Ain’t Nothin’ but a Green Thang
If you live in a big city, you should seriously consider the mass transit options. Now, mostly because of the initiatives towards the “Green” movement, there are numerous available alternatives. Go to http://www.publictransportation.org/ and see what systems are available in your community.

Can You Pay My Bills? Can You Pay My Automo-bills?
While lease payments are often less per month than loan payments associated with buying a car outright, a car lease is one of the most foolish commitments you can make. Don’t be deceived-- However luxurious having the option of driving a new car every few years may seem, it’s going to be more expensive in the long run. Plain and simple: You. cannot. afford. it.
Here’s why:

At the end of your lease term, you have a few crummy options:

1. Purchase the car for a “discounted” price, which is usually higher than the actual value of the car (especially when you lump in the lease payments you’ve made)
2. Turn over the previously leased car and lease another (a vicious cycle in which lease payments never end and you never have an asset to show for it)
3. Buy another car

If you resort to either of the last two options, keep in mind that there is no way in the world you’re going to get the trade-in value you want. Car companies have it worked down to a science—they’ll get as much out of you as possible.
Two things to keep in mind:Every little scratch counts: Any little blemish or imperfection on the body of your car is going to cause the trade-in amount to decline.
You’re only allotted to put a certain number of miles on the odometer each year-- Go over that number, and be prepared to empty your piggy bank

.…which is why you should consider taking out a loan and buying car in the first place. After a few years of paying down your car loan, you actually have something to show for it, and don’t have to negotiate through the gimmicks with a car salesman.

A New Car!
You’ve perused the mass transit options, and none of them will work. You’ve realized you’d rather walk 500 miles in a pair of Jimmy Choos than sign a car lease. It is officially time to buy a car.

Something New, Something Used
You’re not going to like this, but hear it out. Purchasing a new car instead of a used car makes zero sense. Remember how it was mentioned that car’s value declines 20% just by driving it off of the sales lot? Apply that logic, and take advantage of it. The misfortune of the gal who wasted her money on the new car can turn into one heck of a discount for you. And with all of the car companies focusing on selling “gently used” cars lately, it’s not tough to find a “new used” car. Your goal: find one that’s 2 years old (or younger) and has no more than 10,000 miles on the odometer, and put the money you save to use elsewhere.

The “Loan” Ranger
While the dealer selling you the car will likely want to provide you with financing, it’s not a bad idea to check out your options outside of the dealership. You can get a car loan at a number of websites such as http://www.eloan.com/ and http://www.lendingtree.com/, or contact banks and credit unions to see what kind of interest rates you can get.

Covering Your Ass(et)
Buying a used car can be scary. But to calm your fears, here is a list of things you can do to put the kebosh on anyone screwing you out of your hard-earned money.

1. Purchase a “Certified Pre-Owned car”: They’re used cars in such great shape that the dealer is willing to sell it with a warranty.
2. Request the car’s inspection from the dealer.
3. Hire a mechanic. Get him to inspect the car before you purchase it.
4. Go to http://www.carfax.com/ and get a report on the car’s history



great advice pulled from Chiconomics 101: http://www.chiconomics101.com/ Check her out!

Summer Shrimp Rolls

Such an easy recipe! And fool proof! The recipe serves this "shrimp salad" on hot dog buns, but so far I have had it on wheat bread, hamburger buns and even wrapped in a pita with lettuce and cheese! Maybe even try it as a "dip" on top of a cracker?....the sky is the limit!

Summer Shrimp Rolls (Shrimp Salad)
Serves: 4
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 3 min
------------------------------
1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound large shrimp - peeled, deveined and chopped
3/4 cup fresh corn kernels (from about 2 ears)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Pesto (recipe below)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 scallions, thinly sliced
Salt and pepper
4 hot dog buns
------------------------------
1. In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, until opaque, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the corn and let cool.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, pesto and lemon juice. Add the shrimp-corn mixture, bell pepper and scallions; toss. Season with salt and pepper. Serve in the hot dog buns.



Pesto
Makes: 1 cup
Prep: 15 min
------------------------------
2 cups basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
-------------------------------
Using a food processor, finely chop the basil and garlic. Add the Parmesan and pine nuts and pulse into a coarse paste. With the machine on, slowly add the olive oil until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to one week.)

A Little Weekly Re-Cap Of Random Odds and Ins

-Alive After Five got over ruled last night due to inclement weather so we went to Nolan Kitchen and then to Brazwells! Brazwells is a new pub on Montford Ct.. Excellent atmosphere and fun people! A younger crowd. Definitely a place to try on a rainy Thursday night. Nolan kitchen is a great little spot for a glass of wine and fried zucchini chips!

- Set my coffee cup on the trunk of my car Wednesday as I went to get my keys out of my purse. Found my keys and pushed the trunk button to put my computer in the back…sure enough, the coffee went everywhere - and being the person I am (thanks to my father!) I immediately hit up the AutoBell!

- Going to the lake again tomorrow with friends! The sun, water and a beverage in my hand will cure any rough week. (This was the first full week I have worked in three weeks)

- Went Monday night to the cheer gym with Leann to do some of my clinical observation and it took me back to the gymnastics days as a kid. Oh how I wish going to gymnastics was all I had to be concerned with in life!

- Tried a new recipe which turned out to be one of my favorites: Very Easy! Give it a try!

Whole Salmon “Slashed and Stuffed” with Basil Butter

Ingredients
Olive oil, for grill
Compound Butter:
2 bunches fresh basil leaves, divided
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (4 pound) whole salmon, cleaned and scaled
2 lemons, cut into wedges
Extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt

Directions
Begin by preheating a large outdoor grill. Using a paper-towel folded in 4, wipe down the grill with olive oil to clean it and also create a nonstick surface.
Prepare the compound butter by roughly chopping 1/2 the basil leaves and adding it along with the butter and salt and pepper, to taste, to a food processor. Pulse until fully combined and creamy.
Using a chef's knife, make slits in each side of the fish, place a few slices of lemon and basil in each of the slits. Stuff the remaining herbs and lemon inside of the fish and head. Paint the whole fish with the basil butter and refrigerate the remaining butter to serve with the finished fish. Carefully place the fish on the grill and grill for 10 to 12 minutes until it lifts off easily - use 2 large spatulas. Turn the fish over and grill for 10 minutes more. Serve on a large platter family style and dot with the remaining basil butter. Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh basil leaves. Serve with lemon wedges.

Another Reason To Love Charlotte!

I know what I am doing for lunch tomorrow!

This year marks the 11th Year of the Annual Taste of Charlotte Festival! Taste of Charlotte allows you to go downtown and try all kinds of foods from over 40 different restaurants in the Charlotte area! Not only is there amazing food, but live music on two separate stages, comedy acts, dancing, and ice cold “beverages”!

Admission to the event is free and while inside, you may buy cups of coins to be used at the restaurant tents for food samples and drinks. There is a Market Place with vendor booths as well as Tavern at the Taste. Tavern at the Taste is presented by Blue Moon Brewing Co serving over 12 different brews.

The festival is open rain or shine on Friday, June 5th and will go through Sunday, June 7th! It’s located in uptown Charlotte on Tryon Street and spans 5 blocks from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd to 6th Street.

All restaurants are entered into the Best of the Taste Competition. Judges spend a few hours on Friday afternoon sampling over 100 menu items to determine the winners. (I have to figure out how to become a judge!) The Winner of each category receives the Silver Platter Award. Look for the Silver Platter displayed in the Restaurant’s booth throughout the weekend and in their restaurants throughout the year.

Below are some of the restaurants and items that Taste of Charlotte 2009 will be serving up to its guests – these are the ones I will not miss this year!

BlakFinn American Saloon: Classic Beef Slider, Cookie Slider, Campfire Hog Wings
Boneheads: Skewered Shrimp & Rice, Lemon Herb Piri Chicken & Rice, Fish & Rice
Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza: Spinach Artichoke Dip, Chicken Penne Pasta, BBQ Chicken Pizza
Caffe Siena: Chilean Sea Bass Cake w/ Curry Aioli, Black Bean & Corn Quesadillas, Braised Lemon Chicken w/Couscous
Caribbean Hut: Beef Patty, Jerk Chicken w/ Rice & Peas, Curry Chicken w/ Rice and Peas
Chen’s Bistro: Sesame Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken Sticks, California Roll
Dilworth Neighborhood Grille: Crab Cakes w/ Aioli Dipping Sauce, Chicken Spiedie Sandwich, Pizza Frites
Dixie’s Tavern: Red Beans & Rice, Cajun Pulled Pork Sandwich, Death By Dixie Brownie w/ Ice Cream
FlatRock Grille: BBQ Shrimp, Hickory Glazed Salmon, Key Lime Pie
Matt’s Chicago Dog: Gourmet Vienna Beef Chicago Dog, ¼ Pound Italian Sausage, German Bratwurst
Outlaw BBQ: Beef Brisket Slider, BBQ Slider, Rib Sampler
RiRa The Irish Pub & Restaurant: Guinness BBQ Wings, Potato Cakes, Shepherd’s Pie
Sticky Fingers RibHouse: 3 Bone Rib, Smoked Wings, Pulled Pork Slider
Village Fudge & Candy Shoppe: Fudge, Bloomin’ Apple, Strawberry Chocolate Dipper
Village Tavern: Shrimp Bayou, Chinese Chicken Salad, Crab Cakes with Tartar Sauce

I might just have to go everyday !

So Funny I About Wet My Pants !

The sport of shin kicking has been around since the 17th Century. First established by Robert Dover in 1612. Shin kicking unfortunately died out in the early 1900’s, although I can’t imagine why? It was reborn in 1951 at Chipping Camden, England. Although the games are not quite as brutal as the earlier versions, I’m sure players are secretly rejoicing that they now prohibit iron capped boots. Players used to prepare for the games by smashing hammers into their shins.

The London Olympics may be still three years away. But in the rural parts of the west-country a humble community is keeping a local tradition alive. However, these sports most certainly will not appear in the Olympics.

Dover's Hill in the English West country recently played host to the time-honored Costswold Olimpicks.

The games feature a variety of unusual disciplines. Including the tug-of-war and the wheelbarrow race. But, the highlight for most is the bruising sport of shin-kicking. It's been a while since I've seen a good shin-kicking.

This game requires strength, technique...seriously, and of course a good pair of legs. The idea is to kick your opponents shins until you literally leave them without a leg to stand on.
The harder you hit, the more likely you are to win.

Here is a sneak peak of the Championship in 2008

Watch Shin Kicking Championship 2008 and more funny videos on CollegeHumor

Who Share's Your Birthday ?

So yesterday was another day on the “funny farm.” If I could only allow each of you to be a fly on the wall in the office, you would honestly think you were watching an episode of “The Office”. It gets comical in here sometimes because we all sit SO freakin close together. Un-luckily, I have a corner desk that faces the entire floor so I have a grand view at all times. I could tell you what everyone’s kids had for lunch today, whose wife went to get an overpriced manicure, whose dog broke through the shock collar this morning, who hasn’t done laundry in three weeks, whose wife made him watch the Hills etc. etc. I could imitate any of my coworkers because I have to watch their every move for nine hours a day. Scary (and Sad)!
Anyway, it was a normal afternoon yesterday and we got on the discussion of who in history we shared our birthday with. (Don’t ask how we got all the way there; another story for a rainy day!)
We all hit up Wikipedia and immediately the comparisons started flying! I was very impressed with my findings and very proud to have a birthday on February 6th! Blair and I share our birthday with some pretty influential people!!! Check it out below!
I also now know the theme for our 26th birthday based off of a holiday observed in Jamaica! Get excited sister!

BIRTHS
1665 – Queen Anne of Great Britain (d. 1714)
1732 – Charles Lee, General in the American Revolution (d. 1782)
1895 – Babe Ruth, American baseball player (d. 1948)
1911 – Ronald Reagan, 4oth President of the United States (d. 2004)
1940 – Tom Brokaw, American news anchorman
1945 – Bob Marley, Jamaican musician (d. 1981)
1984 – Blair Higgins Howard, Sister (ha)

HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES
Bob Marley Day in Rastafarianism (Jamaica and Ethiopia)
Waitangi Day (National Holiday) in New Zealand main holiday in New Zealand – also called New Zealand Day.

Who shares your birthday?!

The Universe is the stage on which you dance, guided by your heart.

No longer is art limited to painters and musicians. Each of us in an artist, endowed by our Creator with skills and talents that can make our world a more beautiful place. Every good mom is an artist, molding her children as a creation of God. Every teacher makes a mark on the young people in his or her classroom. Every ethical businessperson leaves a legacy of people seeing God through his or her careful and honest work.

The artist’s mandate five essential components of life-artistry:
Get great at something

Do something with that talent

Invest yourself in things that will last and that others will benefit from

Work for an audience of one, because sometimes our best work is seen only by God

Finish what you start


If everyone is an artist then life itself is a grand work of art.

What are you creating?

We all long to be great at something because God who created us is an artist, and we are created in his image. The problem is many of us are trying to get great at the wrong things – and some of us are trying to get great at everything. We battle to become great at so many things that it seems like we focus on things in which we are not proficient to the exclusion of that one thing that is really our gift. We will have the opportunity to be good at many things in our lives, and most of the time “good enough” really is good enough. But in a few areas of our lives, God really does equip and call us to be great.

A little reflection:

Every day we have the opportunity to apply this principle. We have the opportunity to get great at something and to narrow the focus of our effort in every decision that we make.

What are a few things that you do well?

Which of those do you feel has the most influence on others?

Which of those do you have to manufacture energy to accomplish?

How can you narrow the focus of your life to the one with the most influence?

What would it take to be great at that one thing?