Wednesday 30 January 2013

KWW: Facial Masks

Welcome back to another fun week of kitchen witchin, did you like the recipes from last week??? Your probably wondering why I didn't put this under Sacred Pampering Ritual, & it's because we are going to be making this for SPR day. So to use it you gotta have it first right?!?! So here we go:
Your skin renews itself each day and completely renews itself with 30 to 40 days, depending on age.  At about 35 your skin cell renewal slows down.  To help it along we can use masks, there are two kinds: relaxing & stimulating.  Relaxing mask are used to moisturise the skin & help to 'refresh' the complexion. Stimulating masks are used to promote blood flow & smooth & firm the skin.

General Rules:
  • Before applying a mask make sure to cleanse skin with a facial toner that has lemon balm or use witch hazel.  
  • Start at your chin and move upwards to the forehead. Apply tot he nose moving out to the cheeks. Make sure to leave space around the eyes, eyebrows & mouth.Lastly do your neck moving upwards to the chin.
  • Use warm water or a warm rag to remove the mask.
  • Use distilled water when making your masks.  If you must use tap water, boil it and allow to cool or use a filtration system.
Much of the ingredients for great dace masks come from the kitchen, like honey, oatmeal, whole wheat flour, rose water, milk, & strawberries.  I'm sure if you look hard enough you have many of the ingredients to make some kind of face mask, heck even just an egg acts as a great face mask for toning & tightening your skin. So making masks won't be expensive!!!

Ingredients:
  • Honey: relaxes the skin, it is also antibacterial which helps to disinfect the skin. It also renews the skin & helps promote healing.
  • Whole wheat flour protects & renews skin.  It contains vitamin E, an antioxidants that binds toxins, promotes cell respiration & slows the ageing process. The whole wheat grittiness will help remove dead skin cells, which will help promote skin renewal.  
Masks:
Strawberry mask:
  • 4/5 very ripe, medium sized strawberries
  • 2 tsp heavy cream
  • 1 tsp honey
Directions:
Carefully rinse strawberries in lukewarm water and dry with a clean cloth or towel.  In a small bowl, mash the fruit with a fork. Add cream & honey & mix well.  Keep away from the eyes when applied to the face. leave on for 20- 30 minutes.  Contraindications: People with sensitive/ sunburned skin.

Whole Wheat Flour Mask:

  • 1 qt water
  • 4 tsp dried or 8 tsp fresh rose petals
  • peels from 1-2 organic oranges
  • 6 tbsp milk
  • 2 tbsp rose water
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 4 tbsp whole wheat flour
Boil the water & remove from the heat.  Add the rose petals & orange peels, cover & allow to steep until luke warm.  In a separate pan, heat the milk, floral water & honey. Remove from heat, add the flour and whisk into a thick paste.  Apply the warm paste to face & neck, leave on for 15 mins . Wash off the mask with the fragrant rose-orange water. Pat dry & apply moisturizer.


Rose Oil & Honey Mask for Mature Skin:

  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tsp almond oil
  • 5 drops rose oil
Mix ingredients together, then apply to face relax for 15 mins. Then rinse with warm water. Pat face & neck dry.  

I hope this helps my loves, especially now that the weather is so harsh outside and drying to the skin.  
Happy experimenting my loves,


Tuesday 29 January 2013

Pagan Book Review: Wiccan Wellness

Book Title: Wiccan Wellness
Author: Laura Perry
Publisher: New Page Books
Format: Paperback
Cost: $14.99
Pages: 218
How I got it: Purchased (years ago)
My Rating:★★★★☆
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:
Shows how to maintain health through holistic healthcare methods, including: herbal remedies, exercise (such as yoga and Tai Chi), Reiki, homeopathy, massage, chiropratic, and other energy based techniques.

My Review:
When i was in college i worked in the school bookstore, one of my jobs was to order the books for the bestsellers sections, many times a month we got catalogs from publishing companies and they had so many good books to get. I always felt like rolling around in the boxes when they came it, much like a cat with a catnip toy; since I was really exploring my craft at the time, I of course went looking for and purchased so many different books as I could one of the good ones, one of the many I have hung on to through the years was this one. It's a good one, it was a 'new' concept book back then and kinda still is I haven't really seen any books that have dealt with the subject matter like this since.
"If I had known I was going to live this long, I would've taken better care of myself when i was younger" Eubie Blake
There are of course tons of books on the market about health, about 'alternative' medical practices, but when this first came out this was the first one to my knowledge that bundled them all with the focus on pagans.  I love this book, it covers everything from Wellness & wholeness, How to connect back to God & Goddess, finding out where you are at the moment & making a plan & path towards better health.  It also includes many different recommendations for further reading on each subject that is presented.

It was the first book I read that discussed Feng Shui, Ayurveda & how to make your house a home. There are so few books on the market geared towards pagans & I loved this book when I found it, & still find myself sometimes going back to it, looking up some information & some of the resources that it provides.  It's a great jumping off point for new practitioners & old ones as well.

I highly recommend this to everyone, Make sure to check it out, I'm sure you can still get it on Amazon for pretty cheap.  Happy Reading.
 
 Buy on Amazon                            Add to Goodreads

Saturday 26 January 2013

Book Review: Sweet Talk

Book Title: Sweet Talk
Author: Julie Garwood
Publisher: Penguin Publisher
Format:Hardcover
Cost: $26.95
Pages: 357
How I got it: Library
My Rating:★★★★★
Erotica Rating:★★★☆☆ 
Synopsis:
Attorney and IRS agent Olivia Mackenzie is the kind of tough, wise-cracking, powerful woman fans expect from a Garwood protagonist—but this time she has outdone herself. Olivia is not just any woman, she is every woman; flawed in the familiar ways so many of us are. On the trail of an elaborate Ponzi scheme, one that threatens to ruin the lives of naïve and unsuspecting victims, Olivia suddenly finds her own life is in danger after she asks questions of the wrong people. She is accustomed to fighting for the underdog, but being vulnerable herself is a very different story. Smart enough to know when enough is enough, Olivia calls for reinforcements.

My Review::
The Pips were at it again. The four girls had vanished from the unit dragging thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment with them and causing quite a commotion. The staff was frantic, desperate to find them before word of their disappearance leaked out. The only person not concerned was the man who held their futures in his hands. He insisted that the restless, mischievous adolescents had not escaped. They were pulling just another silly prank, no doubt orchestrated by Olivia MacKenzie, the ringleader. From the minute he’d looked into those gorgeous, sparkling blue eyes, he’d known she was going to be a troublemaker and a fighter. He couldn’t have been more pleased. Olivia gave the other Pips—Samantha Pearson, Jane Weston, and Collins Davenport—strength and a voice. Until she’d entered the program, the girls had been sullen, lethargic, and even borderline suicidal. And who could blame them? They spent most of their days in forced isolation, locked away from family and friends and the rest of the world. Members of the staff were constantly telling them how fortunate they were to have been chosen for the experimental program. Nurse Charlotte even insisted they were blessed.The girls scoffed at the notion. All of them had a disease that, thus far, no drug had been able to conquer, and none of them felt the least bit fortunate to be human pincushions, subjected to a tremendous and sometimes unbearable amount of agony. The Pips were forbidden to call the wonder drug cocktail that was pumped into their veins poison, but that’s what all of them believed it was. Excruciating pain followed each infusion, and by evening their bodies were covered with blisters from the tops of their heads to the bottoms of their feet. No, none of them felt blessed.
I need the next book in the series, I have enjoyed all these novels by Julie Garwood.  I read a Julie Garwood historical novel years ago and to this day that's one of my all time favorite books. If I'm running out of my home that's on fire?? I'm taking this book with me. I still laugh when I think about many of the characters & I loved the romance that was written.  I can still get lost in that world, so when I saw Julie had written other books for the contemporary romance section I was all over it.  I can't explain how much I love the books I have read so far, the characters are well written and engaging and make you WANT to know what's going on in their lives.

Although there are moments when I wish to slap the female lead; helping others is one thing but if your dead you can't help them stop being stupid & listen to the professionals.  Other than that she's actually very well written.  This is one of those stories that sticks with you.  I didn't even know what it was supposed to be about. Olivia is a member of the Pips, an awesome group of young women who survived a pretty horrible childhood disease and became an awesome adult who is also an advocate for kids.  I absolutely loved the first moment that Olivia & Grayson meet, they were actually awesome from the very beginning, the whole scene in the restaurant had me cracking up.  from the beginning I was hooked and I couldn't wait to finish the book.

I got the book because Julie wrote it & I can't say it disappointed me, it was very very good, it was just as good as Ideal Man. I'm going to be buying a copy for my bookshelf (as soon as I have more room).  Oh her poor friend,  I kinda want the other girls to meet Grayson's friends especially Sam & Alec, hmmmm yes Collins better get a book as well.  Oh man & I feel so bad for her friend who was sick, that's why some people don't belong in your life.  She so badly wanted to hang onto her family, that she ignored all the signs,  yeah I saw that coming, but then again look at where I work (with the public).

I can't wait to read the others. I want to see if the other Pips get their own stories.  It's a must read!!! Happy Reading

Thursday 24 January 2013

Paranormal Telly: Lost In Austen


Show: Lost In Austen
Seasons: 1, only 4 episodes
Run Time: 47 min
Air Dates & Time: Sundays
Reruns can be seen: Hulu.com

Synopsis:
Written as a fantasy version of Pride and Prejudice, the show follows Amanda Price, an avid lover of Jane Austen's work. Who incidentally discovers that the clodet in her bathroom leads into the halls of the Bennett home, and switches places with Elixabeth. 

I just fell in love with this story, I was saddened when I learned it only had four epiodes, but then British tv seems to accomplish a whole lot in very little time, so I endeavered to watch and be amazed. I love it. I have loved  the actress since HEX, she was awesome there, but this show was actually really good too, bringing back my love for all things Jane Austen, and man the modern twist was hilarious.

There is just something so amazing about the show, and the concepr of falling into your favorite book, hmmm well maybe not in my case I tend to love some really gruesome stuff I'm not sure I want to switch places with Damali or Anita (from Vampire Huntress novels & Anita Blake series), even if it meant meeting Carlos or Jean Claude. Nope I'm good.

While I wait for Downton Abbey's return I have watched this show liek three times already, it's definitely joining my collection of DVDs as soon as I can find it.

I hope you enjoy and watch and laugh and fall in love once again with Mr. Darcy.
Happy Watching

Wednesday 23 January 2013

KWW: Making your own Toothpaste & Mouthwash

Welcome back to another week of Kitchen Witch Wednesday this week I'm sharing a different kind of craft from your kitchen, today we are making toothpaste:
I have many different books on spas on healthy eating, healthy facials and tons of books for recipes on soaps and scrubs, and none of them, absolutely none of them discuss teeth, they talk about your head, your feet, your whole body in between & yet teeth get lost in the mix.  I have sensitive teeth, some of it due to drinking soda, & some of it is just how my teeth have been since I was little.  As I have grown and changed and evolved in my green lifestyle the one thing no matter what else I backslide on I never ever backslide on my toothpaste, I switched to Toms of Maine over eight years ago and I haven't looked back since, I once was out overnight without toothpaste and didn't want to not brush so I used a friends' (insert name brand, Lol I don't want to be sued so just think of one of the popular brands and you have it) toothpaste, I bitterly regretted it, the next morning my mouth ached and my gums felt like they were on fire and I ended up with two sores in the side of my cheeks, yeah next time I will go without brushing to save myself the hassle.

I know that Toms of Maine has since been purchased by the company that gave me mouth sores (lol yeah now you know who it is). And I feel some kind of way about that, I mean as far as I have seen they haven't changed anything beyond the packaging, but who is to know really.  So I went looking for alternatives, many of them are ridiculously expensive, so I decided why not make it myself??   Here are the recipes I have found that work for me:
Making you own toothpaste is actually simple your going to need the following:

  • A clean jar or toothpaste tube 
  • baking soda
  • White Cosmetic clay
  • vegetable glycerin
  • coconut oil
  • essential oils: clove, orange, tea tree, thyme, peppermint/spearmint, 
  • finely ground sea salt
  • tincture of myrrh
  • whisk (use silicone not metal) & bowl (use glass) & funnel (if placing in a tube), measuring spoons (non metal)
Ingredients:
  • Cosmetic Clay is gently abrasive & is great for plague removal. It also contains minerals that will help rebuild teeth enamel.
  • Vegetable glycerin is for consistency & acts a base to dilute the essential oils into.  It has a sweet taste so little ones will like the taste of the toothpaste
  • Myrrh tincture works on gum inflammation. You can find it in your local food store or make your own if your into making your tinctures.  it is both anti-inflammatory, & an astringent.  Great for those suffering from periodontal disease.
  • Essential Oils: orange/peppermint/spearmint: to freshen the breath.  clove is for pain relief as it's a mils anaesthetic  great for sensitive teeth and can be used to combat pain caused by cold, sweet or hot foods & drinks.

Recipes:
For sensitive teeth:
  • 1/4 cup cosmetic clay
  • 1/4 cup vegetable glycerin
  • 20 drops tincture of myrrh
  • 4 drops of orange & clove essential oils
Whisk until ingredients are smooth, place in jar or tube. Store in a cool dark place and use within six months.  

For Periodontal Disease:
  • 1/4 cup white cosmetic clay
  • 1/8 cup baking soda & finely ground sea salt
  • 1/2 cup vegetable glycerin
  • 20 drops tincture of myrrh
  • 8 drops tea tree & thyme essential oils
Again whisk ingredients until ingredients are smooth. Place in jar or tube & store in dark place, Use within six months.

Mouthwash for Fresh breath:
  • Add 1/2 tsp tincture of myrrh & 1 drop each of tea-tree & peppermint oils, to 1 cup of warm water.  Each time you brush gargle with this solution afterward.
A quick tip if you are short on toothpaste you can brush with fine ground salt & apple juice. The salt tightens the gums & the juice gently whitens. make sure to rinse thoroughly.

Coconut Oil Toothpaste:
  • 1/2 tsp coconut oil
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
This will make enough to brush properly.

Oil Pulling is an ayurvedic method of helping to clean teeth and balance the enzymes in your mouth.  Doing this daily before brushing teeth will help with breath & teeth health.
The method is quite simple, before eating or drinking anything in the morning: take 1=2 teaspoons of raw organic sesame oil and simply 'pull' through your mouth trying your best to rub against your teeth as much as possible. Do this for 20 mins, I do it while showering and starting my morning routine.  When the oil looks milky white it's time to spit it out, do not swallow if you can help it. Make sure to brush after,   Recipe and idea are from an ayurvedic teacher I had years ago, but you can also get an idea here.

Many years ago when I first became obsessed with making my own soap I stumbled on BrambleBerry.  and I have been in love ever since. They stock a variety of essential oils that are excellent and smell amazing, their synthetics line is good as well, however for our purpose you will need the true essential oils, especially since the Body Shop has seemed to stop stocking real essential oils like they once did.  But one of the best places for organic supplies of course will be Mountain Rose Herbs.  You can of course go local as well to get as many of these as you can.

Information & recipes, derived or received from Group 7, card 2 natural beauty in the Complete Guide to Natural Healing.  And my own research, 

Good Teeth health to you and yours!! happy experimenting

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Book Review: Fire Burn & Cauldron Bubble

Book Title: Fire Burn & Cauldron Bubble
Author: HP Mallory
Publisher: Smashwords
Format: ebook
Cost: $0.00
Pages: 255
How I got it: Kindle Freebie
My Rating:★★★☆☆
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:
Life isn't bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn't have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend. Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she's a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost's demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life! Word of Jolie’s incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the underworld’s most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand

My Review:
Ghosts, witches, warlocks Oh My!! Psychic Jolie has gained a smoking hot new client with an odd coloured aura.  hired for a new job, Jolie is surprised to discover something new about herself.  And eve more shocked to discover that there is a world that runs parallel to out own world one that has all the nightmare creatures in it. What is a witch to do??

Sounds good doesn't it?? I at first enjoyed this book, it started off pretty amazing, the cover art is amazing;  because I never read the previews I had no idea what the book was supposed to be about.  As I was reading i vacillated from loving rand & Jolie to wanting to slap both of them & wondering why I was reading the book. then something would happen to pull me back in.  Jolie as a character annoyed me, she refused to 'grow' or change. 

As I was reading these things stood out to me:
  1. the lead character refused to have any kind of self confidence AT ALL, which of course blocked her gifts immensely & then she began to whine that she wasn't anything special O_o. Why why the hell should I keep reading if your not special??
  2. She was seriously a very cautious & reserved character without explaining why. What happened?? Why doesn't she trust men?? *Sidebar* why do authors create female characters that are seriously undersexed until the meet their perfect guy, then BOOM they become sex kittens?? I need a character that is confident in her decision even if it is the decision to wait until she is with the perfect partner or married or in a committed relationship.  Please write characters that are confident in their sexuality ^& aren't so damn CRAZY.  
After a while I got really annoyed with Jolie. She just didn't grow in the book. She just allowed things to happen.  Everyone kept telling her she was better than she actually was and she just refused to believe it.  On Goodreads i kept updating:

  • dear authors  =either put sex in or leave it out entirely, stop trying to be a prude and a normal healthy woman at the same time it just doesn't work. it's irritating and clearly shows that the character has no sense of self
  • please somebody kill her and be done with it. whyy?? whhhhhyyyy am i still reading this. I'm going to finish even if it kills me *which it just might*
  • Would I be wrong to punch Jolie in the head?? " i didn't come here to have sex with you" *takes off clothes* ~~~ this teasing ass heffa, lookie here. either have some or don't have some but stop being such a freaking tease, your getting on my nerves.
  • Trent is an idiot he dated You, that's what makes him an idiot, not punching Rand, the dating you makes him an idiot.
  • Jolie= idiot. I just can't with these characters that have such low self esteem but are supposed to be the saviours of anything, umm listen if you don't believe in yourself I'm not following you across the room much less into war.
  • oh Gawd Jolie, i need you to grow some serious cajones

It's a fun mindless read, it doesn't add anything new to the genre but it's still an okay read.  I didn't like that her friend Christa wasn't a fully fleshed out character.  I get that there are four other books in the series so she didn't want this one to have all the fun, but I need a reason to come back to your series.  Jolie kinda reminded me of MaryJanice Davidson's Betsy ( & I stopped reading  that series a while ago).  

Although the story started off strong and had me hooked; I just wanted to be done & I especially wanted to smack Jolie especially about Trent.  By the end of book I was just happy to be done & move on.  If you just want a mindless read then have at it.  Others seemed to love the series, I'm going to read another and find out if it's just the first book that wasn't to my liking.


Monday 21 January 2013

Happy Birthday Dr King

Happy Birthday to a man who worked tirelessly to help those who desperately needed his guidance &inspiration.  Even though he is gone, we shouldn't sit on our laurels, his dream hasn't come through yet, even though we are close.

And Congratulations to the new President of the United States (wait, hahaha he isn't so new now is he??).
Here is hoping the next four years, he can truly make a bigger more public difference, because much of his previous work went without the true recognition, he deserved.  Welcome in the New Congress & House of Reps with it's large new class of women!!!

Let's Go!!!



Sunday 20 January 2013

Good TV: Scandal

Show: Scandal
Seasons: 2
Run Time:40 mins
Air Dates & Time: Thurs @ 10 pm
Reruns can be seen: Netflix, Hulu, ABC 

Synopsis:
Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) dedicates her life to protecting the public images of the nation's elite and making sure their secrets never get out. Olivia is a former White House Communications Director for the president, but has left to start her own crisis management firm, Olivia Pope and Associates. She is hoping to begin a new chapter of her life, but is finding out that she cannot leave parts of her past behind without having a definite soft side.
Girl... What you mean you don't watch Scandal??? Listen here, you need to take three days, get some water and sit down and don't move, believe me you won't want to once you start to watch.  I had a girlfriend who had the nerve, the nerve to say the show was boring, Gut reaction : kick her, kick her hard then I calmed down and I was like, sit down shut up and watch from the beginning.  By episode six she was screaming at the tv, threw herself fully into watching the series and is now a full on Scandal addict. It's all over the twitter-verse, every Thursday like clockwork people log on and tweet all the craziness taking place all while watching the show. It's awesome.
I can't even begin to explain Olivia Pope's fashion sense, hair that is alway and I mean always on point, she knows & handles her business like no one else, and THAT is why she's the fixer.

Every week's episode shows us a little more about the key players all the while giving us new cases and shwocasing some seriously good & camplicated love story.  People all have sides and ain't nobody here for Mellie or Sally. But you gotta watch the show to even begin to understand what I'm talking about.

We joke among my friends that it takes about 20 to 30 mins to even begin to come down from the Scandal high after the episode and then another 30 to even begin to really process what just happened. Shonda Rimes & her writing crew are beyond Brilliant and they couldn't have picked a better actress than Kerry Washington or President Ghost as many of us have taken to calling him ( he starred in the movie Ghost with Patrick Swayze as the bad guy) but OMG he is so good.  The cast is beyond phenomenal with a great mix of fresh faces adn well known ones & they each play  embody their characters so well you can't believe that this is just a tv show

Take yourself over to the places listed above, get caught up and I will see you in another week for the next episode. You can thank me later.




Thursday 17 January 2013

Paranormal Telly: CW's Beauty & the Beast


Show: Beauty & the Beast 
Seasons: 1
Run Time: 40
Air Dates & Time: Thurs @ 9pm
Reruns can be seen: Hulu.com/CW.com

Synopsis:

Catherine “Cat” Chandler (Kristin Kreuk, "Smallville,” “Chuck”) is a smart, no-nonsense homicide detective, who is haunted by her own tragic past. When she was a teenager, Cat witnessed the murder of her mother at the hands of two gunmen. Cat would have been killed too, but someone – or something – saved her. No one has ever believed her, but she knows it wasn’t an animal that attacked the assassins…though it was strange and terrifying, it was human. Years have passed, and although she thinks about her mother every day, Cat is now strong and confident, a capable police detective working with her equally talented partner, Tess Vargas (Nina Lisandrello, “Nurse Jackie”). The two women make a good team, and have become close friends while working on countless homicide cases under the supervision of their tough-but-fair boss, Joe Bishop (Brian White, “The Shield,” “The Cabin in the Woods”). Cat has also become close to another co-worker, the medical examiner Evan Marks (Max Brown, “The Tudors,” “MI-5”), and they’ve developed a fun, flirtatious relationship that could easily turn into something deeper – if Cat would let that happen. However, much to the concern of her younger sister, Heather (Nicole Gale Anderson, "Make It or Break It"), Cat’s romantic inclinations tend toward bad boys. While investigating a new case Cat and Tess discover fingerprints that lead to a handsome doctor named Vincent Keller (Jay Ryan, “Terra Nova”), who was reportedly killed by enemy fire while serving in Afghanistan in 2002. Digging deeper, Cat learns that Vincent is actually still alive. For mysterious reasons that have forced him to live outside of traditional society, Vincent has been in hiding for the past 10 years. With the help of his childhood friend J.T. Forbes (Austin Basis, “Life Unexpected”), Vincent has been able to guard his terrible secret – when he is enraged, he becomes a terrifying beast, unable to control his super-strength and heightened senses. Cat is stunned when Vincent admits he was the “animal” who saved her the night of her mother’s murder. Vincent doesn’t admit the whole truth – he is emotionally tied to Cat and has been watching over her for years.
Soooo Can I tell you how much I loved this show?? I don't know if y'all remember the original Beauty and the Beast, but i was a huge fan as a kid, i begged to stay up and watch it and my mom generally wouldn't let me unless it was a special holiday or something, but I loved watching it. When I heard they had another version coming out?? I was all for it. OMgosh this show is something awesome. I'm in love with Vincent, anyone else?? He is so sexy and that voice?? Sweet Goddess, home girl is a fool, I would do a whole lot for a man with a voice like that. Wait..You haven't seen Vincent or heard his voice?? Yeah let's fix that right now:
Okay so he has a few anger issues, but wouldn't you?? I both love and want to beat up the female lead, I get being stubborn when you think your right, but ummmm how many times and how many ways must you be told to leave something alone before oyu get that it's not a game?? Yeah the sexy Bristish guy, her funny as heck friend/partner & their boss?? Yeah i'm tuning in just to see each week just how far up the river she will for Vinvent.

Good storylines, great music and kick ass scenes action that is fast paced and a love interest that's actually hot?? I love strong female leads and I'm hoping this one will last, it comes back in January so make sure to catch up quick!!

happy viewig my loves...tale as old as time..

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Happy Founders Day: 105 Years to the



the First, the Finest, the 20 Pearl wearing Sisters of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc!!!



105 years ago a Great Lady Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, & 8 Ladies formed the Original Nine including: Anna Brown, Beulah E, Burke, Lillie Burke, Margorie Hill, Margaret Flagg Holmes, Lavinia Norman, Lucy D. Slowe, Marie Woolfol Taylor. 
In 1910, a sophomore Class was inducted including: Norma Boyd, Ethel J Mowbray, Alice P Murray, Sarah M. Nutter, Joanna B. Shields, Carrie E Snowden, Harriet J Terry, 

AKA was incopoerated in January 29, 1913 by the following Pearls: Norma Boyd, Julia E Brooks, Ethel Jones Mombray, Nellie M Quander, Nellie Pratt Russell, and Minnie B. Smith.

Three times imitated, Never duplicated, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated is the First!!! Have been making a History of firsts since 1908 :

105 years of Service to ManKind, "So let my life like the Ivy be, a help to man, and a wreath for Thee" 

May the Ivy Live on for many more years with continued Service and Promotion of Education Among Young College Women.

HAPPY FOUNDER'S DAY!!!!!!

Sunday 13 January 2013

Happy Founders Day to the:

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc 1913
ladies of the DST.  It's another year, and the Delta's have made it this far, today it's their Century mark.  The Deltas are here to celebrate making a difference in the lives of the African American community for the last 100 years. Much love and respect to the women who were founded by women who pledged to the pink and green of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc and realized they wished for more from their organaization than was available at the time. They choose to move on and great their own legacy.  (No I'm not a Delta, but I do have friends in the sorority and wish to honor them.)

For those of you who don't know, the Delta women wanted different things from the sorority than the Alpha women did and made the decision to split from the core group and created their own sorority today January 13th in 1913 on the Howard College Campus.  The women wished to aide those in need and promote academic success among the black community.

The first public act performed by the Delta Founders involved their participation in the Women's Suffrage March in Washington D.C., March 1913. Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated in 1930.( from Black Greek.com).
There are many woman who proudly wear the Delta Red, and are a blessing in their fields including:
Cicely Tyson, Judith Jamison ( Alvin Ailey Director), Soledad O'Brien (CNN news anchor), Niiki Giovanni (amazing Poet & author), Keisha Knight Pullam ( Rudy from The Cosby Show), Aretha Franklin, Dr. Camille Cosby (Bill Cosby's wife), Ruby Dee Davis. As you can see many of them come from the journalistic field or are in the entertainment field, DST women love to shine. Rumor has it the most famous DST is Oprah Winfrey, she has never commented on it, but it's out there and accepted by many in the Greek society. 

To the many women who came before, who walk wearing the Red now, who stand for the DST, and the women who will come, May you always hold your head up high and walk with Pride Ladies.

Happy Birthday & happy Founder's Day Deltas

Saturday 12 January 2013

ARC Book Review: Charming Blue

Book Title: Charming Blue ( Fates #8)
Author: Kristine Grayson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: ebook, paperback
Cost: $6.39, 7.99
Pages: 384
How I got it: NetGalley ARC
My Rating:★★★★☆
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:
Once upon a time...he was the most handsome of princes. But now he's a lonely legend, hobbled by dark history. With too many dead in his wake, Bluebeard escapes through the evil spell of alcohol. But it's a far different kind of spell that's been ruining his life for centuries. Jodi Walters is a fixer, someone who can put magic back in order. But Blue has a problem she's never encountered. And worse, she finds herself perilously attracted to him.

My Review:
Awesome!!! OMGosh, it took a little while to get to this book, I kept reading snippets in between other books & it was engaging. I finally sat down and dedicated 1 (one) day to reading it & boy I didn't want to put it down. I feel so engaged & enchanted by the story. Fairytale characters licing in Hollywood, I just love poor Prince Charming Bluebeard (did I mention I googled to see if he really is a fairytale character). Omgosh Peter Pan & Tank, I liked her better than Tinkerbell, the back story there I'm sure is going to be pretty good when she writes it. 
 
This story dragged you in & kept you glued  just the layers that kept coming up from Blue had you reading quickly to see how each one added to the story. A Chataline seems like the ideal house witch,  I just loved this,  I don't envy Jodi her job of fixing issues for the "magical" community in Hollywood, having to find a way to get an Ogre a job just seems too daunting for words.  

I do have to say this book is more a magical/fairytale adventure not so much a full on romance.  The story is filled with lots of tinglings & long looks but no real movement on the love itself.  It's good world building though & I would have never guessed, hell the characters never guessed the villian until the end. It's a good book to get lost in.  I'm going to look for the other books to see how she tackled the others as well.  

Thursday 10 January 2013

Paranormal Telly: Arrow


Show: Arrow
Seasons:1
Run Time: 40 mins
Air Dates & Time: Wed @ 8pm
Reruns can be seen: Hulu.com/ CW.com

Synopsis:
After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he's become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was.
I'll be straight with you, when I saw the preview for this show I was like "this is going to be dumb", then I watched it and I was like "this show is slightly dumb, but I'm going to watch anyway" The premise is great, the action on point, the actors gorgeous and some of them even very familiar to me. CW seems to recycle their actors instead of getting rid of them completely, but hey that works, Oliver however is new to me & I LIKE him. He's hot I mean just check out the picture, his acting is pretty good too. I love how complicated the story is, and that here are no easy solutions to the problems, I love his 'sidekick' who made Oliver's days amazingly hard, he is great. The sister, the love interest, the best friend, his mom they are all people Oliver is working hard to impress, and get their forgiveness. AHHHH I'm so super excited to see Harry Dresden in this (yes, I know he isn't playing Harry Dresden, but hey I take em where I can get em)

The only thing I don't like is when as Arrow or the Green Hood guy when he apprehends a criminal the little speech he gives them, you know what??? As a bad guy I'm not waiting around for your speech to finish, I'm kicking butt and firing off as many bullets as I need to get out of there.The season so far has been pretty interesting, and has had quite a few moments where I was like OMG. I'm sure when it comes back in January it will continue to be as awesome as it has been.  While it isn't necessarily paranormal they do have technologies that this 'reality' doesn't have, as well as the  Starling City isn't named after a city on any American map although it clearly is Gotham City otherwise known as NYC.

If Oliver doesn't make you want to get up and get tot he gym I don't know what will, hot damn that man is fine. It appears to be a show that's going places, and I actually look forward to the episodes each week, Yes I'm sure I could sit here and tear it apart for some of the science, but since they don't try to make it happen in this world?? Yeah I'm going to give it to them, sorta like I don't look too closely at the science of Clark Kent/Superman.


Wednesday 9 January 2013

KWW: Organizing & Making a House into a Home

Well, hello there. Welcome back to another post about KWW, this is going to be mt home edition as well.  I'm doing my best to make my house more a home these days especially with winter coming. I don't want to be in a house that isn't comfortable.

I have had the pleasure of "meeting" a new organizer and her name is Alejandra, she is a home organizer from YT. Here's her channel: Home Organizing,
I have been obsessively watching her videos and getting ideas on how to make my home more organized. I love her ideas, and her obsession with the Container Store, which i totally understand because I'm equally in love with Ikea.   So here are some of the things I have done this month using her ideas.

Here are a few of the things I have organized, I did my under the sink kitchen cupboard. It's pretty awesome, I'm sure that it will change pretty soon as I am waiting on things from...Ikea, I have so many things I will be doing I can't wait to show you the rest.  I have been cleaning out, giving away, purging, and organizing and when I find my camera I'm going to show y'all my progress.

I have discovered a passion for the Dollar Tree & family Dollar stores, which have great organizing products for cheap (sometimes just a dollar).  I have cleaned out mine and my sister's bathroom cupboards, as well as my catch call closet and so many different areas around my home.

I left my camera at my parents home during christmas break and I haven't had time to go back and get it, it has all my progress so far on it. Which is why there aren't any pictures today but their will be in next week's post I promise.

In the meantime check out Alejandra's free seven day class on organizing and let me know what you think,  Happy Organizing
It's Humday!!! The weekend is almost here


Happy Founders Day to the :

men of Sigma Blue.  Happy 99th Birthday gentlemen.  Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., an international organization of college and professional men, was founded on January 9th, 1914 at Howard University on the principles, Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service. These principles are exhibited by the fraternity motto, "Culture for Service and Service for Humanity." As one of the now nine predominantly Black Greek-Lettered organizations, Phi Beta Sigma has a membership of over 100,000 with over 600 chapters throughout the continental United States, Switzerland, Europe, the Caribbean and Africa.

According to the official web site, "Today, eighty-seven years later, Phi Beta Sigma has blossomed into an international organization of leaders. No longer a single entity, the Fraternity has now established the Phi Beta Sigma Educational Foundation, the Phi Beta Sigma Housing Foundation, the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union, and the Phi Beta Sigma Charitable Outreach Foundation. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., founded in 1920 with the assistance of Phi Beta Sigma, is the sister organization. No other fraternity and sorority is constitutionally bound as Sigma and Zeta. We both enjoy and foster a mutually supportive relationship."


A complete list of the famous men of Sigma Blue can be found here, some of them are: Blair Underwood, Morris Chestnut, Morgan Freeman, Malik Yoba & the men of the Temptations & Huey P Newton.
(Information from BlackGreek.com)

Happy Birthday & Happy Founder's Day Brothers!!