a cooking challenge- yay!

i've already identified my cooking challenge for next week- brunch! it's sonj's birthday on saturday, and my alcohol-soaked body will most definitely need time- and grease- to recoup. that is where homemade corned beef hash has will come in.


the gym and i need to have a good week.

friday night=

...a long walk along 14th street
...an hour at the strand, and buying 4 books for less than 25 bucks (including a yummy soup cookbook! comfort food, anyone?)
...a manicure
...potato skins and drinks with two smart people in a diner
...more drinks at perks
...getting glared at for over-exuberance in the magic johnson theater
...good time spent with a friend.


not a bad night. not a bad night at all.

sunday afternoon treat

chocolate cinnamon bread, recipe and photo courtesy of baking bites.


YUM.

i was supposed to go out to dinner tonight to celebrate my successes, but i canceled because of a prior engagement, and now i'm too lazy to attend the prior engagement, so i baked. (ahhhhh, now it all makes sense, right?)

i know i rip off jezebel way too often, but

their montage on whoopi on the view this week is TOO GOOD!

i haven't loved whoopi this much since jumping jack flash!

i can't embed the video, so you have to click through.

enjoy!

one of those tidbits of info that prove that i'm a freak

did you know that they subbed in another actress as harriet in the last season of family matters? i thought that fresh prince was the only show that depended on the age-old stereotype that all black people look alike to sub in a much lighter-skinned and completely different-looking black woman for another. i'm baffled right now.

and those of you who know me on facebook know about another bafflement from this weekend's television watching:

j.c. chasez?

why do people allow russell simmons to comment on important matters?

i know the man is a mogul, and i'm sure he's really brilliant and thoughtful on some level, but have you seen him on "run's house"?


he and rev have a wonderful relationship, but the man's mouth is a trashcan. in the episode pictured above, he talks ad nauseum about the way he used to travel around the world, and all he would want when he got to a new place was "some blow and some pussy!" classy, russ, reallll classy.

and this is the man, i ask, who co-writes open letters to presidential candidates? yes. yes it is.

open letter to be found here.

another nugget of truth from the SBTB camp

SBTB, by the way, stands for "Saved by the Bell," my favorite early morning t.v. fix. I've always been an early morning t.v. watcher-- from "Mork and Mindy" and "Mr. Ed" when I was young, to "Captain Planet" in my adolescence, I've never had qualms about enjoying t.v. from days gone by before the sun rises.
Today's episode of SBTB is about believing in who you are, whether or not the object of your desire appreciates what you have to offer. The student council decides to have a date auction to raise money for cheerleading uniforms, and Lisa tries to change into a nerd to get brainy Brian to like her, while Zach's plus-size date Wendy dumps him- twice- because he is unable to get over himself enough to see her as a person and not a charity case. If only I were so secure in myself and my merits. Finally, of course, and totally unrealistically, Zach asks Wendy to have the last dance with him, and turns down the chance of a dance with the hot model-like blonde. Lisa flips out on Brian after he insults all of her pals, and tears all of the modest aspects of her clothing off in order to become "herself" again. It was Saturday morning t.v., it couldn't turn out too badly, right?
There's also a weird moment when Slater is shadowing Kelly's cheerleading routine and he does the most insane head-toss EVER. classic t.v. moment.
Gotta love TBS.

the sometimes-beauty of my life

so i've been a little concerned about a bill for awhile...one i was bound to receive from a manhattan hospital for a visit i made to their ear clinic. i was told that the visit would cost $150, which isn't horrible, but it's been a little tight in the havestrength world what with my moves and all, so i don't really always have 150 bucks sitting around.

got the bill today, and at first glance things were worse than i thought-- total charges= $700! i'm freaking out, right, and then i check out the total amt to be paid by patient, at the far right (see image below).



.29. 29 cents. that's what my mother calls proof that god exists. it's what i call a reason why i try my best to do good in this world. either way, it put a smile on my face today. someone/fate/karma has given me yet another beautiful birthday present. :)

peppermint cookies and cream brownies

recipe courtesy of baking bites.


my coworkers have it waaaaaaay too good. :)

she's ba-ack!

i <3 new york 2. guilty pleasure!

hit it up on the vspot for a recap!