2011 TO 2012

2011 in reflection had its ups and downs but through it all, we smiled and stayed true to us. There was birthdays, loss, love and genuine happiness. Its hard to believe that we went through the year as quickly as we did and even more hard to believe that when I do my recap next year, there will be changes for the better.

I have to say more than anything, I am excited for 2012. I am excited for my family and for my life for the first time in a very long time. I am truly BLESSED beyond measure to have a great fiancee, wonderful daughter, fun step son , good friends, excellent family and extended family.

To 2011, Thanks for teaching me alot this year. Thanks for allowing me time with people and for me to feel true love.

2012.....Bring it on.

Jasmine
aka
The Future Mrs. Cameron (302 days to be exact)

Great Words....

Today, I'm thankful for ALL people who have been in my life. Those that are no longer in my life have taught me valuable lessons. Those who are in my life now have been great within this season. Those who I'm about to release have served their purpose. For whatever reason our paths crossed, I thank you. I allow reasons and seasons to BE. I don't try to keep people around that want to go, or that I feel need to leave. I simply allow life to BE. When I lose a friend/associate/partner, I vow to never lose the lesson. This way, I'm staying true to myself.

Frankie J - More Than Words

Food for Thought.....

If God doesn’t give you what you want, it isn’t what you need. When God takes something away from your grasp, He is not punishing you but merely emptying your hand to receive something better. There are some things in life that don’t go the way you want them to or the way you think they should, but you can’t dwell on these because you’ll miss out on other opportunities. Don’t give up on something ...just because you don’t think things will work, you won’t know unless you give it a try. But don’t hold onto something that left a long time ago, because sooner or later you’ll realize some things just aren’t meant to be...Disappointments are just God's way of saying "I've got something better"...Be patient, live life, and have faith..

LOVE THIS VIDEO....TGIF

NPR Music's 100 Favorite Songs Of 2011

This year, we couldn't sit still. Shoving a flailing ear bud into place while running for the train, flitting through Spotify playlists from passionate fans of every genre or trying to top each other on turntable.fm—this is how we approach listening to music now. At an alarming rate it floods our inboxes, blogs and record stores, pervasive yet more accessible than ever. Under the deluge there are songs that stand out, beg for repeat listens and eventually settle seamlessly into our lives.

To round out the year, NPR Music put together a mix with 100 of these favorite songs. Our staffers came armed with lists of the tunes that shook them up this year—the truly excellent, the roughly beautiful, the daring. Consensus emerged on several (What else do Beyoncé, Paul Simon and Blawan have in common?), while dark horse candidates stayed on the list by sheer force of love from one producer or another. It might sound jarring when a raging soca jam falls next to a haunting folk song, but that's how the year sounded to us—funny, joyful, heavy and always surprising.

This year was all about blurring the lines between genres, which seemed inevitable in a field over-saturated with sub, and sub-sub-sub classifications of type. Pop and electronic dance music reveled in its long-overdue civil union, where Rihanna's #1 pop hit was steeped in bubblegum techno. Elsewhere on the musical map, composer Judd Greenstein's charging melodies in "Change" represent dynamic new turf in indie classical, Lil Wayne sampled a song famously used in the movie Beetlejuice (when's that YouTube mash-up coming out?) and Jill Scott's "All Cried Out Redux" was probably the only beat-boxed ragtime joint you heard all year.
And perhaps above all, artists in 2011 wanted you to dance. If you found your groove to Colombian DJ Geko Jones, or hustled in step with the JD Allen Trio, or emulated Nicki Minaj's booty bounce, new adventures in beats and rhythms were incredibly present and as expansive as ever. So whether you'd rather mosh to Darkest Era or grind upon your loved one to Raphael Saadiq, we hope this mix makes you move, in whatever way makes you feel the best.
There's no way this list could include everything we liked, and it's probable we've left off a song that meant something to you. We hope you'll share your favorites of 2011 in the comments or tweet us @nprmusic.

NPR MUSIC'S 100 FAVORITE SONGS OF 2011
10/10 Ensemble, "Fiji"A 17-minute sashay through composer Michael Torke's deliriously colorful, imaginary tropical landscape. Heavy on the congas, bongos and claves, but lighthearted and sweet.

Adele, "Someone Like You"In tonic chords and modulated phrases, Adele's offered goodbye hug perfectly captures the feeling of waking up from a broken heart: you've both moved on, it hurts, you won't forget, you'll live.

Alabama Shakes, "Hold On"Neil Young called it "ragged glory" — the sound of a band getting it together right before your ears. Fronted by soulful dynamo/regular gal Brittany Howard, the Shakes are breaking through.

Anthony Hamilton, "Mad" Otis Redding would have loved this tale of irresistible, bad-for-you romance, sung by one of his worthiest inheritors.

Azealia Banks, "212"Get your headphones up: The raunchiest shut-down of 2011 features Banks' never-predictable vocal delivery over a drilling Lazy Jay house beat.

Battles, "Ice Cream" (feat. Matias Aguayo)For a group often tagged as "math rock," the colorful Afropunk-infused "Ice Cream" is one of the year's most boisterous and off-kilter dance parties thanks to fun hooks and a killer funked up organ groove.

Beyonce, "Countdown"An ode to married bliss that's also an exploding grab bag of sounds, from the Boyz II Men sample to a marching band.

Big Freedia, "Azz Everywhere"A fresh tip of the hat to African-American call-and-response traditions that also provides the New Orleans bounce scene with an addictive dance floor anthem.

Bill McHenry, "La Fuerza"A saxophonist's quartet attends a bullfight, with Salvador Dali and 'em. RIP drummer Paul Motian.

Bingo Players, "Cry (Just A Little)" (Olav Basoski Remix)A happy house beat, Daft Punk-style synths and that sample. It's that simple.

Bjork, "Virus"High concept multimedia experiences aside, here's a stunning minimalist song about how science and humanity (or lovers, or an iconic musician and her fans) interact.

Blawan, "Getting Me Down"A slow jam gets the galloping sugar beat that Brandy never knew she needed.

Bon Iver, "Calgary"The opening synth smears hint at '80s-influenced grandiosity, but tenderness and grace exudes throughout.

Cass McCombs, "County Line"Many have tried to revive soft-rock and few have succeeded. "County Line" feels like a needle-drop on a forgotten classic: There is a dust road and you are crying.

Caveman, "Old Friend"Newcomers marry guitar melody to wash of sound, with timeless-sounding results.

Chris Brown, "Look At Me Now" (feat. Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne)Busta and that bug-eyed beat: waking radio listeners from their stupor since February 2011.

Chris Thile & Michael Daves, "Sleep With One Eye Open"Bluegrass from the dark end of the street — risky and raucous.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, "Same Mistake"An exceptional return to form for the band that once launched a thousand blogs. Epic indie pop anthem that will have you shouting along in cathartic joy by that third chorus.

Cults, "Abducted"Cute boy-girl pop that juxtaposes a sunny wall of sound songcraft with disturbing lyrics that hint at dysfunction underneath.

Danny Brown, "Scrap Or Die"One of 2011's realest, saddest, most terrifying narratives; a zero-options, would be rags-to-riches story where a length of copper wire stands in for the glint of a happy ending.

Darkest Era, "An Ancient Fire Burns"If you're not dreaming of driving a Camaro up a mountain to slay a dragon by the end of this song, you're doing it wrong.

Das Racist, "Michael Jackson"Brooklyn internet thugs unleash their first legit single. True to form, it's stupid, childish and way too good to write off as novelty.

David Wax Museum, "Born With A Broken Heart"A whirlwind treat from a loveable duo with a penchant for presenting pan-American folk with exuberant ease. Equipment: Donkey jawbone, Mexican jarocha guitar, trumpet, accordion, and — clearly — joy.

The Decemberists, "Down By The Water"Portland folk-rockers incorporate memorable vocal harmonies from Gillian Welch and 12-string guitar from R.E.M.'s Peter Buck in this rollicking slice of down-home Americana.

Delicate Steve, "Butterfly"New Jersey instrumentalists pluck, twang, strum and pitter-pat through the year's most epic sun-bleached back porch jam session.

Deniz Kurtel, "The L Word"What begins as jumpy cut heard in the dance clubs of New York City circa 1989 ends saturated in some radiated strobe light out of time.

Drake, "Take Care" (feat. Rihanna)The complex hip-hop Casanova's take on the blues, with a nod to Bobby Bland and some heavenly comfort from an ex.

E-40, "Beastin'"The Bay Area veteran raps in a cracking and permanently quizzical tone over a beat made by video game-obsessed aliens. Brass heralds the 2-ply, Beastie Boys-quoting chorus.

Eleanor Friedberger, "My Mistakes"Eschewing the hyperactive complexity of Fiery Furnaces while retaining the exuberant buoyancy and hooky vocal melodies. Plus a sax solo!

EMA, "The Grey Ship"This seething and portentous gem takes a remarkable journey, worthy of every second of its seven-minute running time.

Fleet Foxes, "Helplessness Blues"For all the talk of Fleet Foxes' echo-chamber atmospherics, "Helplessness Blues" takes about 60 seconds to reveal the meaning of life.

Fokn Bois and Jumo Daddy, "Lungulungu"Ghanaian rappers half- and double-timing over a Hungarian-made beat that ambles with one leg, hustles with the other. Pidgin rap can be hard to understand, but it's probably the future.

Frank Ocean, "Swim Good"The most charismatic R&B singer of the year delivers a visually rich portrait of existential torment paired with a club-worthy beat.

Garland Jeffreys, "Coney Island Winter"The best Springsteen song the Boss didn't write this year, by a still-powerful veteran of New York's bohemian streets.

Gary Clark, Jr., "Bright Lights"Slow-burning blues from a dazzling guitarist and popwise songwriter poised to blow up big.

Geko Jones, "Pa'la Escuela Nene" (feat. Maria Mulata)A perfect example of why we love Geko Jones: only he could successfully mash up a classic genre like Colombian bullerengue (here featuring the fantastic vocal stylings of Maria Mulata) with thumping club beats.

Gem Club, "Twins"A minor-key beauty from a cello and piano duo that slows the blood by filling the air between notes with sullen space.

Gillian Welch, "Hard Times"Welch and David Rawlings sing beautifully of defiance and hope, but the net result is shot through with eternal ache.

Grouplove, "Tongue-Tied"Last-day-of-school sunshine, five-speed bikes in the cul-de-sac, laser tag at midnight. Can this please never end?

G-Side, "Atmosphere" (feat. PH)Deceptively subdued, nearly effortless flow hovers above a reggae riff submerged in a glitch jungle gym.

Hammers of Misfortune, "The Grain"With a soaring, melancholic chorus, "The Grain" repeatedly returns to a powerful riff that is the stuff that headbangs are made out of.

I Wayne, "Change Them Ways"Representative of the "new school" in roots rock reggae, Jamaica's I Wayne preaches peace and harmony. His warning to the wicked is something we can all vibe to.

Jacques Greene, "Another Girl"Clipped beats and wordless sighs made for staring out windows until an R&B siren pulls you out of the funk to get into the funk.

James Blake, "The Wilhelm Scream"Heart-wrenching slow jam-slash-showcase for multi-talented young dubstep writer/producer-turned frontman, over the irresistibly lethargic beat of the year.

James Farm, "Polliwog"An instrumental with more engaging, rollicking episodes than most sitcoms out there today.

Jay-Z & Kanye West, "That's My Bitch"Kanye goes dumb; Jay name-checks half of New York's art scene. Meanwhile, the beat grows a booty, and shakes it.

JD Allen Trio, "Mr. Steepy"Sixteen bars, short-and-sweet. Just saxophone, bass and drums making swing go H.A.M.

Jean-Guihen Queyras, "Cello Concerto in G minor"Antonio Vivaldi, an early supporter of the cello, gets a hand from a French virtuoso whose warm, smart reading collapses 300 years of musical history.

JEFF The Brotherhood, "Bummer"Nashville power punk duo buries this grungy breakup song's ample heart beneath a fuzzy drone of distortion.

Jill Scott, "All Cried Out" (feat. Doug E. Fresh)The everywoman of R&B turns a Doug E. Fresh beatbox and a touch of ragtime piano into a breezy kiss-off on which she sounds more free and brazen than she has in years.

Jonsi, "Gathering Stories"The Sigur Ros frontman keeps adding to his whimsically gorgeous solo legacy with a creamy dollop of sunny, swirling majesty.

The Joy Formidable, "Whirring"British trio knocks it out of the park by marrying melody with chaos while careening headlong toward a ferocious, four-minute climax.

Joyce DiDonato, "D'amour l'ardente flame"Everyone's favorite mezzo-soprano gives this aria from Hector Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust a tender, lived-in passion.

Kate Bush, "Misty"Sex with a snowman? Only the great Kate at her piano could paint it in colors this lovely and profound.

Katy B, "Katy On A Mission"Katy gets harassed on her way to the dancefloor, remains focused on her priority; Britain's dubstep scene gets a human face.

Kay Ara, "Me Dough" (feat. Lil Shaker and Yaa Pono)Kay Ara and his more established compatriots in Ghanaian rap bound over a stutter-stepping highlife sample and hold tight to a beat that drops with authority.

Kes The Band, "Wotless"The ultimate soca jam of the year urged people to embarrass themselves dancing everywhere from Carnival parade lines to your desk at the office.

Lady Gaga, "Yoü & I"Monster-sized ode to holding onto a piece of lost love forever and the best evidence yet that pop's queen of relentless provocation has a serious sense of humor.

Lagartijeando, "El Alto De La Paz"You don't have to speak Spanish to understand the sexiness of this song's hook or its outrageously hip-grinding beat. Turn your swag on.

Laura Marling, "The Beast"Spun out like one of Scheherezade's tales, this folk-metal ballad expresses a young woman's hunger and fury in no uncertain terms.

Lil B, "I Seen That Light"In which the gleeful Bay Area purveyor of nonsense reveals a new, utterly convincing face: the humble, respectful motivational speaker with a heart (and a beat) of solid gold.

Lil Wayne, "6 Foot 7 Foot" (feat. Cory Gunz)"Real Gs move in silence like lasagna," and other lessons in making perfectly reasonable points out of brain-melting nonsense.

Lisa Hannigan, "Home"Featured player (on Damien Rice's O) steps front, center and widescreen, with lush instrumentation in one of the most exhilarating and beautifully sung songs of the year.

Los Tigres, "Jefe de Jefes"The title means The Boss of All Bosses, which describes this band perfectly. There are other great Mexican bands but none as bad-ass.

Low, "Try To Sleep"Soft and trance-inducing yet unmistakably alive, like running through grassy fields. Alan Spawhawk and Mimi Parker's harmonies have never sounded so uplifting.

Lykke Li, "I Follow Rivers"Rhythm, mood and a declaration of undying devotion, from Sweden's answer to Stevie Nicks.

M83, "Midnight City"There is no excusing the gratuitous saxophone solo, but we do anyway because "Midnight City" is the cursive neon sign outside the car window, and a contender for euphoria-inducing jam of the year.

Martina McBride, "I'm Gonna Love You Through It"Country has never shied away from life's messy side, but this string-swept tearjerker about love's loyalty in the face of tragedy earns its sentiment.

Midnite, "Mongst I & I"The legendary St. Croix roots reggae group since tells us to "keep good relations" with one another, despite the corporate greed and political discord around the globe.

Milagres, "Halfway"A song that builds itself into a hazy trip while at the same time its exploding itself into fuzzy, synthy oblivion.

Miranda Lambert, "Mama's Broken Heart"One of country's best young stars plays the bracingly brassy bad-girl role she was born for, spits fire in unforgettable fashion.

The Mountain Goats, "Estate Sale Sign"A perfectly blistering John Darnielle anthem, suitable for shouting yourself hoarse after everything you hold dear has been pulverized into a fine powder.

My Morning Jacket, "Circuital"Recorded live by a band that knows what the open road sounds like: 13 years in, Louisville's finest is still finding new tricks.

Natacha Atlas, "Batkallim" (Bombay Dub Remix)Political prescience from an Anglo-Egyptian smartly steeped in pan-Arabic sounds: "Permit us to know freedom."

Nick Lowe, "House For Sale"Sure, "House For Sale" functions as a sad metaphor for a relationship marred by neglect. But Lowe is such a humane songwriter that the song can't help but be shot through with hope for better days.

Nicki Minaj, "Super Bass"The accents, the Slick Rick joke, that thing where you make up hand motions with your friends to the chorus.

Nicolas Jaar, "Keep Me There"Gurgle, warble, boil and smoke, like a dank jazz side but a bit more baroque.

Now Ensemble, "Change"Composer Judd Greenstein's tiny, urgent and insistent itches of melodic and rhythmic ideas explode into beauty.

Panda Bear, "You Can Count On Me"A ghostly tapestry of cavernous Beach Boys-esque vocal harmonies, chopped beats and found sound.

Paul Simon, "Rewrite"As a kora shimmers behind Simon, "Rewrite" goofs on a misbegotten screenplay — until it reveals itself as a heartbreaking look at delusion and momentous mistakes that can't be deleted.

Pedro Soler & Gaspar Claus, "Insomnio Mineral (Rondena)"A father and son combine an ancient flamenco guitar technique with a non-traditional approach to cello. You wish your family sounded like this.

Purity Ring, "Ungirthed"Sweetness, light, handclaps, bounce and a touch of menace: ears ringing, teeth clicking, ears ringing, teeth clicking.

Randy Montana, "Burn These Matches"A big, swollen country power ballad about temptation and fidelity, shot through with regret and relief in equal measure.

Raphael Saadiq, "Heart Attack"Three-minute soul throwback fueled by a yearning vocal and an ace backing band, all churn and grind, and as potent as it is airtight.

Real Estate, "It's Real"Sunny with a chance of winsome, sweet-hearted melancholy. What could be better?

Rihanna, "We Found Love" (feat. Calvin Harris)An uplifting, club-ready pop banger about hard-earned love? Or a chilling account of a relationship doomed by substance abuse and codependency? Depends on how much time you've spent with the video.

SBTRKT, "Wildfire" (feat. Yukimi Nagano)Masked producer gets an assist from Little Dragon's singer, who cements her status as indie electronic music's go-to guest vocalist of the year.

Seun Kuti, "Rise"Slow-burning horns, swiftly moving social consciousness, and insistent grooves right out his father's playbook.

Simone Dinnerstein, "Ich ruf zu dir"This pianist knows that what happens between the notes of this Bach cantata is just as crucial as what's written in the score.

Smith Westerns, "Weekend"With a hot-as-a-car-hood-on-a-summer's-day guitar riff and a heart-wrenching chord progression, this song kicked off the sophomore album from these Chicago 20-year-olds in style.

St. Vincent, "Cruel"Even on her album's catchiest song, St. Vincent's Annie Clark expresses darker feelings of fragmentation, discontent and uncertainty with sinister knife-twisting lines that pack an emotional punch.

Telebossa, "Eu Sonhei Que Tu Estavas Tao Linda"Classic Brazilian songwriting with touches of chamber music and a subtle electronic presence, plus a surreal vocal. Like the moment after the sun sets and everything goes quiet.

Tinariwen, "Tenere Taqqim Tossam"An awkward joint appearance on The Colbert Report probably didn't move the needle, but this collaboration between Tuareg rock gods Tinariwen and TV on the Radio makes for a sweet, soulful groove.

tUnE-yArDs, "Bizness"Dance-ready Afrobeat rhythms built from looping drums and the powerful voice of 2011 All-Star Merrill Garbus.

Tyler, the Creator, "Yonkers"The lurching funeral march of a thousand angry commenters, the cubist mouth architecture of a suburban nightmare, the problem with starting a fire.

The Weeknd, "The Morning"The peaceful eye in House Of Balloons' hurricane of addiction: Abel

Tesfaye exalts his indulgences like "drinking Alizè with our cereal for breakfast." It's the beautiful sound of the end of the beginning.

Wilco, "Art Of Almost"The boldest opening statement from Wilco in ten years, "Art of Almost" asserts itself with provocative sounds and fiery riffs. This ain't your dad's "Dad Rock."

Wild Flag, "Romance"Feminist punk superheroes reveal their secret: SHAKE! SHIMMY! SHAKE!

Wye Oak, "Civilian"Singer-guitarist Jenn Wasner's insecurities and personal flaws are laid bare before squealing guitar and driving drumbeats.

Yuck, "Rubber""Rubber" begins with distortion so thick it hurts and ends with the most cathartic burst of feedback and noise you'll bliss out to this year.

So Need a Videographer.....

After seeing their AWESOME wedding proposal video, I knew the wedding video would be just as fun.......

http://graceology.com/sessions/matt-ginny-making-the-movies-jealous-hazelhurst-house-wedding-11-26-11/

I now have to get hustling so I can have a Videographer at our wedding....


319 to go

The Season of Giving

The best thing about the holidays isn’t the getting. It’s the giving.

Here, eight worthy causes that deserve your TLC this season.

The Gentle Barn

What: The Santa Clarita farm rehabilitates abused farm and domestic animals to become therapeutic ambassadors to at-risk youth, children with special needs, and school groups.How to Help: Socialize animals (pet pigs, hold chickens, hug cows), become a sponsor, or make a donation toward the animals’ holiday wish list.Where: 15825 Sierra Hwy., at Vasquez Way, Santa Clarita (661-252-2440 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 661-252-2440 end_of_the_skype_highlighting).


First Place for Youth

What: Through housing, education, and employment programs, this innovative organization helps former foster kids adjust to adult life.How to Help: Volunteer, fund, or donate specific items needed for events or the Community Resource Center. Where: 3530 Wilshire Blvd., at S. Normandie Ave., ste. 600, Mid-Wilshire (213-835-2700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 213-835-2700 end_of_the_skype_highlighting).


Create Now

What: At-risk children are given creative outlets through music, writing, art, and theater workshops. Mentors take them to concerts, plays, and other cultural events for inspiration. How to Help: Mentor a child, join a committee, or donate funds and supplies.Where: 1611 S. Hope St., at Venice Blvd., ste. e, Downtown (213-747-2777 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 213-747-2777 end_of_the_skype_highlighting).


The Young Storytellers Foundation

What: An in-school arts education program that develops literacy through bringing professional writers into the classroom to help kids write their own original short screenplays. At the program’s end, professional actors perform the students’ scripts in front of an audience.How to Help: Make a donation or show your support as an audience member.Where: 923 E. Third St., at Wall St., ste. 307, Downtown (323-962-4500 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 323-962-4500 end_of_the_skype_highlighting).


TreePeople

What: The environmental org works to build more sustainable communities by planting trees and educating kids and adults on being eco-conscious.How to Help: Distribute fruit trees to low-income neighborhoods, volunteer for tree care, or dedicate a seedling to a green-obsessed pal for the holidays.Where: 12601 Mulholland Dr., at Coldwater Canyon Ave., Beverly Hills (818-753-4600 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 818-753-4600 end_of_the_skype_highlighting).


Project Angel Food

What: Professional chefs cook free, healthy meals to be delivered to those affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses throughout L.A.How to Help: Put the skills you learned on the Food Network to good use by volunteering in the kitchen or at an event.Where: 922 Vine St., at Barton Ave., Hollywood (323-845-1800 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 323-845-1800 end_of_the_skype_highlighting).


Beauty Bus Foundation

What: A makeover mobile that provides gratis in-home salon and spa services and pop-up salons for chronically or terminally ill women, men, and children.How to Help: Volunteer as a beauty professional (if you are, of course), buddy, or ambassador.Where: 2716 Ocean Park Blvd., at 28th St., ste. 1062, Santa Monica (310-392-0900 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 310-392-0900 end_of_the_skype_highlighting).


Peace Over Violence

What: This pioneering prevention center works to help end domestic and sexual violence through a 24-hour emergency hotline, individual and group counseling, self-defense initiatives, and educational programs.How to Help: Volunteer at the center or donate to your choice of services.Where: 1015 Wilshire Blvd., at Saint Paul Ave., ste. 200, Downtown (213-955-9090 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 213-955-9090 end_of_the_skype_highlighting).

WAKE UP......

MUPPET FEVER!!!

Happy Anniversary to US

Happy Birthday JC

Choose

I choose to live by choice not by chance, to make changes not excuses, to be motivated not manipulated, to be useful not be used, to excel not compete. I choose self-esteem not self-pity, I choose to listen to my inner voice not the random opinion of others.....

LMAO!!!

He's Not Perfect

He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote poetry, he’s not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect for more than he can give. Don’t analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you. ― Bob Marley

All I Want For Christmas Is........

One Day I Will Be A Girly Girl.............

Replay

I keep seeing it all replay in my mind and I dont know if those visions and sounds will ever leave my thoughts. It tears through me to know the pain that he goes through and to hear him scream in pain the way he did that day..... How do you take away pain from the one that you love??

Strength....

Happy Veterans Day

Jonathan Gold's 99 Essential L.A. Restaurants 2011

What is an essential Los Angeles restaurant? I was thinking about that over lunch at Providence a couple of months ago, contemplating a dish of Santa Barbara sea urchin cosseted with gently scrambled egg, wondering whether the uni might go better with an Alsatian pinot blanc or a Central Coast viognier.

As the L.A.-based sportswear industry tends to have more global sway than the louder kings of high fashion, and even the artiest of European directors looks over his shoulders at Hollywood, Los Angeles cooking has traditionally exalted the idea of food as popular entertainment, the big fast-food chains, as well as the aestheticization of sushi, pizza and tamales. But a meal like the one before me at Providence is a different thing altogether, the result of precision, real technique and a well-trained kitchen team. Somebody had to raise the uni, someone needed to recognize it as special, somebody had to prepare it, and a fourth person needed to know how to cook it.
I like trucks, taco tables and pop-ups as much as the next guy, but I was really hoping to find evidence pointing to a resurgence in fine dining, powered by exposure to complex cooking on food television, and the vast numbers of people coming out of training programs like Cordon Bleu or the CIA. Alas, I did not.

Instead, when I looked at the new heroes of cooking in America, I kept seeing Lukshon's Sang Yoon, Kogi's Roy Choi and ramen-slinging David Chang of New York's Momofuku: Asian-born guys classically trained in European techniques, working in great American kitchens, who decided to redirect their imagination toward street food. Their dishes have a directness of flavor, and their high-low juxtapositions still have the ability to shock, even in a world where pandan leaf and calamansi lime have become nearly as common as salt and pepper.

If you ring a change on trout meunière, there are probably six old dudes and seven Frenchmen in Los Angeles who would notice the difference. When you change up the taco, the bowl of ramen or the cheeseburger, you've opened up the avant garde to everybody with a Yelp account. Serve a glass of craft beer with it, and you're golden. It has become a street-food world.

Look at Bryan Ng's marrowbones with belacan at Spice Table, a dish that seems to express everything important about Los Angeles cuisine. Roasted marrowbones are a signature of Fergus Henderson, whose offal-intensive London restaurant is the lodestar of the Euro-American nose-to-tail movement, and you see them on the menu at Mozza, Lazy Ox, Animal and Cut. The labor involved in serving them properly — sourcing the bones, sawing them in half and roasting them to just that point before the marrow collapses into grease — indicates a seriousness of intent, dedication to a dish that is usually one of the lowest-priced items on your menu, and which half of your customers won't eat. Ng smears the marrowbones with fermented shrimp paste, which gives them identity, and roasts them over a hot wood fire, which adds a high degree of difficulty.

You don't actually have to eat bone marrow to be glad that it's on the menu. It means that somebody in the kitchen cares.

See the list below and click for the reviews:
A-Frame
Akasha
Alcazar
Angeli Caffe
Angelini Osteria
Animal
Antojitos Carmen
Attari
Babita
Bludso's
Border Grill
Bottega Louie
Bulgarini Gelato
Cacao
Campanile
Casa Bianca
Chang's Garden
Chego
Chichén Itzá
Chung King
Church & State
Ciro's
Comme Ça
Cut
Dae Bok
Din Tai Fung
Drago Centro
El Huarache Azteca
El Parian
Elvirita's
Euro Pane Bakery
EvaFab Hot Dogs
Father's Office
Fig
Gjelina
Golden Deli
Golden State
Good Girl Dinette
The Gorbals
Guelaguetza
Guisados
HuckleberryHungry Cat
Ink.
Jar
Jitlada
Kiriko
Kobawoo
La Casita Mexicana
Langer's
Larkin'sLazy Ox Canteen
Le Comptoir
Little Dom's
Lou
Lucques
LudoBites
Lukshon
Mantee
Marouch
Mayura
Meals by Genet
Mélisse
MezzeMo-Chica
Mother Dough
MozzaMusso & Frank Grill
Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa
Newport Tan Cang Seafood Restaurant
The NickelNight + Market
Oinkster
101 Noodle ExpressPalate Food + Wine
Park's Barbecue
Picca
PlayaPollos a la Brasa
Providence
Ray'sRed Medicine
Rivera
Rustic Canyon
Salt's Cure
Sapp Coffee Shop
Sea Harbour
Son of a Gun
Sotto
Spago
Spice Table
StreetTacos Baja Ensenada
Tasting Kitchen
Terroni
Tsujita L.A.
Vincenti
Waterloo & City

R.I.P HEAVY D

A Girl Can Dream.....

LMAO!!!

LMAO!!!

He is the man I LOVE

Life Lessons

Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let courage give you strength. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life... #lifelessons

Marvin Sapp - Never Would Have Made It

A Letter from The President

Good evening,

I'm writing to tell you that all US troops will return home from Iraq by the end of December. After nearly nine years, the American war in Iraq will end. Our servicemen and women will be with their families for the holidays.The war in Iraq came with tremendous cost. More than a million Americans served in Iraq, and nearly 4,500 gave their lives in service to the rest of us. Today, as always, we honor these patriots.When I came into office, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end. As Commander in Chief, I ended our combat mission last year and pledged to keep our commitment to remove all our troops by the end of 2011. To date, we’ve removed more than 100,000 troops from Iraq.This is a significant moment in our history. For more information, including video, please visit WhiteHouse.gov/BringingTroopsHome.

The end of the war in Iraq reflects a larger trend. The wars of the past decade are drawing to a close.As we have removed troops from Iraq, we have refocused our fight against al Qaeda and secured major victories in taking out its leadership–including Osama bin Laden. And we’ve begun a transition in Afghanistan.On the first day of my Administration, roughly 180,000 troops were deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. By the end of this year that number will be cut in half, and we’ll continue to draw it down.As we welcome home our newest veterans, we’ll enlist their talents in meeting our greatest challenges as a nation—restoring our economic strength at home. Because after a decade of war, the nation that we need to build is our own.

Today the United States moves forward, from a position of strength.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Modern Monogram

SHE IS ON!!!

RIP STEVE JOBS

My Workout Theme Music

National Dessert Month

October is National Dessert Month and its funny that next year at this time when Scott and I get married... Our wedding is Sweets Themed....Perfect!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INDIA ARIE

Google Chrome: Dear Sophie

Faith Evans - Never Gonna Let You Go (1999)

Counting Your Nutrients

Women are naturals at calorie counting. But while calorie counters gain a sense of weight control, it doesn’t say much about what we’re chewing to fuel our bodies. Nutrient counting, a.k.a. Nutrient Balance, is the key to a hot, healthy, energetic body.


So, what the heck is “Nutrient Balance”?


Simply put, it’s looking at our macronutrients—carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats—to make sure that we get some of each one at each eating occasion.


This is more important than we think. We get different types of energy and nutritional support from each of these important nutrient groups. Skip one and your energy and body functions suffer. Indulge in too much of one, and the body puts the extra in storage (hello, can you say fat cells?!)



To see what foods fall into which groups, HBD’s Resident Dietitian, Ashley Koff, has developed a nutrition plan to help you out. Download it for free at www.ashleykoffrd.com/nutritionplan.



Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Your Rx.


For most, you want to get 1 serving each of a carb, protein and healthy fat at each meal. Top that off with as many vegetables as your little heart desires.

Eat every three hours.


For those of you who eat like a bird or skip meals because you’re drowning in emails, you should be sneaking in an “eating occasion” every three hours. Translation: Get your 1 serving of each on a consistent basis. Make it work.


Some play both sides.


Note that some foods fall into combined groups (i.e. “carbs & proteins” or “proteins & fats”). This means that a serving from one of those groups counts for both. So if you spoon down some beans, you’re consuming a carb and a protein—just top the beans with a healthy fat like avocado and you’ve got a complete nutrient balanced meal.

NFL 9/11 Sunday Night tribute Taps/ Anthem by Lady Antebellum 9/11/11 NY...

We remember.......

P!nk - F**kin' Perfect

Food is my Comfort

I went to the doctor today and she let me know that I am basically healthy ( No high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no pre-diabetes etc....) but somehow I am still FAT.

My thyroid is a factor for sure but here is the issue, my thyroid levels are good but I have another lump, Which I just cant seem to get away from, and I really don't want another surgery if I can help it.

So with all that happening, food has been my frienemy. There is something comforting about it all but I know there has to be a better was for me to be a better me. I have never been skinny, don't want to be skinny but I do want to be healthier especially with my wedding coming up next year.

My fear.... I will have to go under the knife again. My other fear.... That I will keep gaining weight. My biggest fear... The unknown.

So many things...... And now this long road begins.....

Handsome Men's Club

My Bridal Avatar

New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward still bleak

New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward still bleak

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL JACKSON

Beyonce 2011 VMA performance BEYONCE IS PREGNANT!!!!

Dance off- The Kids

Dog mourns at casket of fallen Navy SEAL

Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson lay in a coffin, draped in an American flag, in front of a tearful audience mourning his death in Afghanistan. Soon an old friend appeared, and like a fellow soldier on a battlefield, his loyal dog refused to leave him behind.

Tumilson’s Labrador retriever, Hawkeye, was photographed lying by Tumilson’s casket in a heart-wrenching image taken at the funeral service in Tumilson’s hometown of Rockford, Iowa, earlier this week. Hawkeye walked up to the casket at the beginning of the service and then dropped down with a heaving sigh as about 1,500 mourners witnessed a dog accompanying his master until the end, reported CBS.

The photo was snapped by Tumilson’s cousin, Lisa Pembleton, and posted on her Facebook page in memory of the San Diego resident. Tumilson, 35, was one of 30 American troops, including 22 Navy SEALs, who were killed when a Taliban insurgent shot down a Chinook helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade on Aug. 6.

“I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members that couldn't make it or couldn't see what I could from the aisle,” Pembleton wrote on her Facebook page. “To say that he was an amazing man doesn't do him justice. The loss of Jon to his family, military family and friends is immeasurable.’’

Hawkeye was such a huge part of Tumilson’s life that Tumilson’s family followed the dog down the aisle as they entered the service in front of a capacity crowd in the gymnasium at the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School. Hawkeye then followed Tumilson’s good friend, Scott Nichols, as Nichols approached the stage to give a speech. As Nichols prepared to memorialize his friend, Hawkeye dutifully laid down near the casket.

The youngest of three children, Tumilson had wanted to be a Navy SEAL since he was a teenager. Friends and his two older sisters remembered a fearless soldier, and a Power Point presentation was shown that illustrated Tumilson’s active life outside of the military, which included scuba diving, martial arts, and triathlons.

"If J.T. had known he was going to be shot down when going to the aid of others, he would have went anyway," friend Boe Nankivel said at the service.

“Your dreams were big and seemed impossible to nearly everyone on the outside," his sister, Kristie Pohlman, said at the service. "I always knew you'd somehow do what you wanted."
As for Hawkeye, the loyal Labrador will now be owned by Nichols, Tumilson’s friend.

Aaliyah - At Your Best (You Are Love)

R.I.P Aaliyah...10 years have gone by too fast for sure.

Through Sickness and Health....

So yesterday after 2 days of headaches I had to finally go to the ER and get myself all checked out... It was a scary time but my Prince Charming was there for me (as always). I'm so BLESSED and THANKFUL to have him in my life. He has been the strength I needed to get through many a broken road and without him, I would not be whole. I Love Me Some Him..... <3

Dennis Rodman Emotional Hall of Fame Speech

Drop a Size in 2 weeks....Healthy Living

6 Goals:

1. Log Your Calories:

Set your daily calorie budget with the BMI calculator first, then track, track, track. Studies show that by simply writing down what you eat, you will eat less.

Goal: 1 Log in/day

2. Veg Out:

The USDA’s new nutritional guidelines recommend filling half you plate at every meal with vegetables and fruits, and the other half with whole grains and protein.

Goal 2: 1 “Plate” of fruits and vegetable/day

3. Put Down The Pop:

For two weeks, cut all soda out of your diet. Even diet soda has been linked to weight gain and obesity.

Goal: Limit: 0 sodas/day

4. Get Moving:

Aerobic exercise burns fat, and improves your overall health. It doesn’t matter what you do, just get your heart rate pumping.

Goal: 120 minutes/week (or just 30 minutes 4x/week)

5. Pump Up the Pushups:

It’s time to tone! Pushups are one of the best all-over strengthening moves out there! Work your arms, shoulders, and chest daily with this simple exercise.

Goal: 10 Pushups/day

6. Tone Your Tummy:

Strengthen your core, and flatten your stomach with daily situps. They’re the first step to a beach-ready body!

Goal: 25 situps/day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

The Pussycat Dolls - Stickwitu ft. Avant

THE BLACK MAN

THE TRUTH TO THE MATTER IS THERE IS NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE BLACK MAN.

IF HE IS 5-2 OR 6-3, SKIN LIGHT AS THE SUN OR DARK LIKE THE BLACK SEA, THERE IS NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN A BLACK MAN.

TALL AND LEAN WITH CHOCOLATE COATED EYES, WAVY HAIR OR DREADS WITH STRONG THICK THIGHS, THERE IS NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN A BLACK MAN.
EDGE UP SMOOTH OR SHAVEN CLEAN, BUSINESS SUIT OR THUG OUT WITH TIMS AND JEANS, THERE IS NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN A BLACK MAN.

SINGING PRAISES TO THE LORD AND LEADING FAMILY IN PRAYER, BEING KIND TO WOMEN AND ALWAYS BEING THERE, THERE IS NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN A BLACK MAN.

TREATING ME LIKE A QUEEN I WAS BORN TO BE, NEVER DISRESPECTING, DISHONORING OR DISGRACING ME, GIVE ME CREDIT WHEN IT IS DUE OH BLACK MAN HOW I HONOR YOU...

Deion Sanders-Must be the Money

In honor of Deion "Primetime" Sanders going to the Hall of Fame.....

Cause it's cute.....

He Means The World To Me.....

If he were a color

He'd be a deep dark forest green

If he were a car

He'd be a long stretch limousine

With room for all of humanity inside

Cause he is so giving

And he is so wise....

If he were a number

He'd be a five cause he has such a brilliant mind

If were an animal

He's be an ass cause he's so stubborn sometimes......

But if he were a song

He'd be a complicated melody

That complicated fellow he

I almost can not sing it on key

But he means the world to me.

If he were a building

He'd be a beautiful cathedral

Cause he's so traditionally spiritual

If he were a dance

He'd be complicated like the tango

Exotic like a mango......

But if he were a song

He'd be a complicated melody

That complicated fellow he

I almost can not sing it on key

But he means the world me.......

He ain't the reason for the sun and the moon

He is the reason for this here tune

Cause he means the world to me (ooh ooh)

Said he means the world to me

Me me me yeah

He means the world to me yeah

Complicated melody that complicated fellow

He's a complicated melody

I almost can not sing it on key

Happy Systems Administrators Appreciation Day

To my favorite System Admin..... Happy Systems Administrators Appreciation Day....Love You!

Sources: Saints, Fins agree on Bush deal

A surprising trade has popped up in this hectic NFL week.

The New Orleans Saints traded former Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush to the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday, FOXSports.com has learned.

The deal was contingent upon Bush’s agent Joel Segal working out a new contract with the Dolphins, which was finalized Thursday morning as the RB/punt returner settled on a two-year contract. It is unclear what the Saints are receiving in return.
New Orleans had no intention of keeping Bush this season under the terms of his current contract — an $11.8 million base salary and a cap figure of $16 million.

The Saints part ways with coach Sean Payton’s first draft pick, an injury-plagued player who put up only 2,090 rushing yards since entering the league in 2006. Bush distinguished himself, however, as one of the NFL’s best receiving threats at running back in the past five seasons, catching 294 passes for 2,142 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His 7.3-yards-per-catch average in that span ranks first among running backs, while his 12 touchdown receptions rank second among running backs.

A Few From Vegas

Happy 30th Sissy!!

Love of my Life...

I dont even know what to say about this one....

Sally Stripper

Best Drink EVER!!!

Trick Daddy - Sugar (Gimme Some) ft. Cee-Lo & Lil Kim

Road Trip Music Flashback....LOL

Food for Thought.....

Life is precious... Love those who shows and expresses love to you. Negative energy drains you and positive energy uplifts... Make a choice and take the high road for a change.

Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song [Official Video]

LOVE THIS SONG....

A Feel Good Story from C-High....Go Tarbabes

This is a story of a teenager who did something so generous — so big-hearted — that it’s making plenty of adults swoon.

Allan Guei, 18, was a star basketball player at Compton High School in the Los Angeles area before he graduated last month. He also had a GPA above 3.0, and his good grades made him eligible for an unusual competition: A free-throw contest in the Compton High gymnasium. The top prize: $40,000 in scholarship money.

Guei, whose parents immigrated to the United States from the Ivory Coast, knew how much that financial aid could mean for his family. So he was feeling a fair share of pressure as students and teachers crushed into the gym to watch Guei and seven other randomly selected, academically successful students make foul shots.

Guei won the free-throw contest by one basket and netted the $40,000. But it’s what he did next that’s truly astonishing.

The right decision

In the weeks following the March free-throw competition, Guei learned that he’d scored a full-ride basketball scholarship to California State University-Northridge. NCAA rules allowed Guei to accept the athletic scholarship and also keep most of the $40,000 he had won.

But Guei couldn’t stop thinking about the seven talented runners-up from the free-throw contest. They, too, had dreams — and very real needs. So, he asked Principal Jesse Jones to make a surprise announcement at Compton High’s graduation ceremony: Guei wanted to donate the $40,000 to the other seven students.

“I’ve already been blessed so much and I know we're living with a bad economy, so I know this money can really help my classmates,” Guei said in a statement. “It was the right decision.”
Guei elaborated on his decision to give the money away in an interview with ESPN: “I was already well taken care of to go to school, to go to university for free. ... I felt like they needed it more than I did.”

The beneficiaries of Guei’s generosity were ecstatic.

“It was a shock,” said Omar Guzman, 17, a runner-up who plans to use the money to attend San Diego State University. “I’m really grateful there are people like that out there. It was generous.”

Another of the seven runners-up, Donald Dotson, also plans to start at Cal State Northridge in the fall. Dotson described Guei as “a very deep, intelligent and warm person.”

“He's going to go really far in life,” he said in a statement. “Because of what he’s done for us, God will bless him. That’s what life is all about — stepping forward to help other people.”

Lines that divide — and unite The free-throw competition was the idea of Court Crandall, the Hollywood screenwriter behind the movie “Old School” and a partner at a Southern California advertising firm. Crandall was well aware of Compton’s image problems due to gang-related crime. Many of the city’s residents also deal with extreme financial pressures; according to Census data, more than 25 percent of the city’s families live below the poverty line.

One day Crandall was watching his teenage son play basketball with some bright, ambitious Compton students, and he got to thinking about the lines that divide us. Then inspiration struck: Could a free-throw line bring people together?

He decided to create the free-throw scholarship competition and make a stereotype-busting documentary film about the lives of Compton students in the process. Compton’s senior class had about 80 students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher; the eight students who participated in the competition got selected randomly from that group.

Crandall’s advertising firm, Wong, Doody, Crandall, Wiener, raised more than $75,000 for scholarships, making it possible to give $40,000 to the first-place winner and more than $5,000 — enough to cover about a year of college expenses — to each of the seven runners-up.

Now, with Guei’s added generosity, each of those seven runners-up has around $11,000 in scholarship money.

“It was the perfect ending,” Crandall told TODAY.com. “I was ecstatic about how everything turned out. ... Most kids don’t have the sense of composure or leadership that [Allan] does, so after spending time with him and getting to know him, I really wasn’t that surprised by what he did.”

Crandall plans to submit his full-length documentary film, “Free Throw,” to the Sundance Film Festival in September.