Jerk Chicken anyone?

Yesterday was such a lovely day in the UK. The sun was hot hot hot and although it may not be as sizzling hot tomorrow it is due to be hot. So what do you do on a hot day like this? Huh? Well I do not know about you, but hubby, children and moi decided we would jerk some chicken.

I searched online as normally due for purchases and found a barbecue that hubs liked for about £60. I was cussing that it cost too much. Though still picked up a scrubber brush and some weed killer. At the till the price for everything comes in at just under £40 and I questioned the cashier about the price. I really did say to him “are you sure that is the right price as I thought it would be higher”. He was like you got a bargain. Hubs thinks I am silly for querying the price. But you know what I was just so pleasantly surprised. For a second I even wondered if I picked up the wrong one.

The children enjoyed the hot sunshine and freedom to run free in the garden. Our dinner was Jerk Chicken and hard dough bread. Yummy can not complain. All I need now is a sun lounger so I can make good use of my Calypso carrot oil. I need to fully embrace the sun. My only complaint is that British summer brings so many bugs to life it is unreal.

Hope you are enjoying the sunshine!

Tag! – What are You using right now?

I always see that people have been tagged on YouTube and on some blogs. So when Yinka of Vex in the City tagged me in her post I was like (all smiles) okay. Let me compile my list and keep this going. So here goes.

Hair >

Shampoo – Twisted Sister shampoo by urban therapy, Dove purifying shampoo and Keracare shampoo

Conditioner – Toni and Guy Model.me Jamelia Enriching Conditioner ( I bought in a bargain shop so thought I would give it a go), Creme of Nature conditioner

Styling products – Organic Root Stimulator Jojoba oil, Keracare essential oils, IC Fantasia Ice, Organics olive oil gel by Africa’s best, ORS Olive oil moisturiser( various other gels and products and oils but these are my main uses at the moment)

Body >

Cleanse – shower gels by Palmolive, Imperial Leather, Dove

Moisturise – Red Fox cocoa butter, Palmers cocoa butter lotion, Body Shop body butters (almond, shea, coconut, peach)

Deodorant – Roll ons by Sanex and Sure. Sprays by Sanex, Sure, Nivea, Palmolive.

Sun care – Calypso carot oil, Calypso aloe vera gel after sun and Nivea Sun Protection

Face >

Cleanse – Dermoligica, Clean and Clear, and sometimes just water and a dab of my shower gel (have very dry skin)

Moisturise – Nivea or Astral cream

Makeup >

Foundation – MAC Studio Fix powder NW43, Iman cream to powder Clay 5, Fashion Fair cream to powder Bruin Brown

Bronzers / Highlighters – Sleek’s One universal loose powder, Max Factor Bronzing Powder, Avon Bronzing pearls, Iman bronzer(but mainly used as a blush)

Blush – Iman sunlit copper, MAC Format

Eye Shadow – Sleek (especially the I=Divine palettes), Mac, Fashion Fair, Barry M and various other brands.

Eye shadow Primer – Urban Decay Primer Potion

Eyeliners by Avon Urban Decay Rimmel Sleek

Lip gloss – Sleek, Maybelline, Rimmel, MAC, (pinks and browns)

Mascara – Maybelline the colossal, Maybelline Great Lash, No7 Infinite Lash Defining and Diorshow mascara

Nail Polish - Any colour of any make that I like especially if it is a nice purple

Sorry did not list all colours for everything I just know that I use these products.

I tag : Aulelia, OndoLady,Figa DJ, Black Butterfly and all my lurkers, followers and subscribers.

So what about you?

Weight Loss Tips x 10

A friend posted a link to a programme on the BBC called "10 Things you need to know about Losing weight". It was an hour long and I thought ok let me watch this. It was interesting to watch but a lot of what was discussed had been discussed already. Such as soup, protein etc making you feel fuller longer. Not doing a full review as just wanted to list the 10 points that were discussed.

1 – Do not skip meals

2 - Use smaller plates

3 – Count your calories

4 – Do not blame your metabolism

5 – Protein Staves off hunger

6 – Soup keeps you feeling fuller for longer

7 – The wider the choice of food you have the more you eat (buffet etc)

8 – Low-fat dairy helps you excrete fat

9 – Everyone burns fat, even when you finish exercising and when your are sleeping

10 – Keep moving and you will lose weight

Some are obvious such as numbers 10, 3 and 2. Whilst points 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 I have heard discussed many times before.

By the way the journalist name is Michael Mosley. One thing I did learn is that hidden fat is bad for you.

I can hear Wii and its army of get fit games and accessories calling me. But yeah didn’t really learn anything new. Just told in a different ways. How about you. Do you have any weight loss tips?

Celebrity Criminals – shame or pride

Everyone who is aware of the rapper T.I. knows that he is about to go to prison. He has had a long time to mentally prepare himself for this day. He has even tried to delay his prison start date through the courts . Today T.I. turns himself over to the prison service where he will begin a 1year term for illegally trying to buy unregistered guns. Unbeknown to him, the police where working undercover. His bodyguard played a part.

Clifford Harris (T.I.) threw himself a farewell party for his friends family and fans. 16,000 people attended. Lil Kim was sentenced to 366 days in prison for lying to a court. Her friends where involved in a shooting and she opted not to tell the truth in court. A documentary of her last 2 weeks before serving her sentence in prison was filmed called “Lil Kim: Countdown to lockdown”. At the end of the documentary she had a gathering of close friends and family who gave her their well wishes and at times was quite emotional. The show ended showing her turning herself in and wearing prison scrubs.

No one can forget Naomi Campbell who served a sentence of community service at the NYC Sanitation Department. She arrived and always left looking glam. The model in her made the walk a catwalk affair. The paparazzi with their flashing lights surely added to the spectacle. Her last day saw her leave in a Dolce and Gabbana silver dress and an equally glam car waiting for her. If that was me I would be smiling too.

Though it does make you wonder if celebrities glamorize criminal behaviour and downplay the consequences of that behaviour. Is throwing parties the way to show remorse and that you did wrong. Some come across as reflective but others that is not always the case.

American law seems to show us Brits that celebrity is just a title and the law is the law. British law when it comes to celebrities can seem rather subjective. Prior to Naomi’s sentence in America courts were not bothered about her. You do have to think if they could ban her from the UK the way Snoop and many reggae artists have been they would. Yet the celebrities they seem to prefer get away with crimes non-stop.

I am in two minds having said all this. In one way, yes show your followers that you have a made a mistake and wish to correct it. There is no need to glamorize the event. Lets see how T.I. will be after his 366 days or whatever he actually serves.

What are your thoughts?

This Wii Fit business

I tell myself a lot of the time that I want this I want that. Yet when I really want something it can take ages for me to commit to buying it. Of course if I had money falling out of the sky or I won the Euro I would be less cautious. But…….I want this. I have put it in my head that the cost of this is the same cost as a video camera which will be my next major purchase not to mention my very own Mac Book.

Anyway earlier this month I spoke about my wants and what I would like. It gets more frustrating that now everyone in my team seems to have one and they enjoying it. I believe Nintendo have done well because it will be me and my two boys enjoying this together. Yeah for those who actually know me that read my blog, the husband can be a part of it too. If I cannot manage to set it up myself I will ask him or Google or YouTube it. LOL!

I have found a good bargain at ToysRus for £217 which gets me the console and the Wii Fit game and balance board. In Choice Catalogue they have a package that costs £309. There are other deals flying around now too. Though what gets me even more excited are the fitness games. Such as Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009 , My Fitness Coach and EA Sports Active.

Yes I am a person who tends to take the resources than needs to actual put them in practice. Mario Kart and Big Brain Academy will a be a definite purchase along the way. Anyway decided will buy this before the month ends.

£500k spammers

My mailbox is filled with spam emails. They all basically say the same thing. Luckily all the web mail host I use they filter that out. Though some get through. They all say the same thing :

You won 500,000.00 GBP in the on-going Google Promotion.You are to contact the claims agent with your data.Full Name, Address, Occupation, Age, Sex,Country, Mobile No.You are to give your data to Mr xxxxx
Email:xxxxx@ xxxx Contact him for more information.

As if I would give my details out like that. Plus how cheeky of them. Since when did you need to dish out your ABC of information to claim a prize. Damn cheek!

For those that got through. Spam button at the ready!

Pure talent!!!

Although I was watching Britain's Got Talent, I somehow missed this amazing performance by 10 year old Natalie Okri. She sang Alicia Keys’ song ‘No One’. You could tell Simon Cowell was impressed! If I were ever blessed with a girl or two in years to come…………. Check out the video!

100th post !!!

Wow it is amazing to think that now my blog has 100 entries. I really wanted to do something major to celebrate but I could not think of anything to celebrate. However one thing I have noted, is that I started this blog and did not have a clue what I wanted to do with it.

Back in 2004 I began writing this blog. Was inspired by other bloggers from one of my favourite forums to give it a go. I only managed 7 entries from October to the end of the year. The blog was called Through Brown Eyes and the URL was different as was my username. Then 2005 I gave birth and blogged about that and other stuff to. 2006 came and passed this blog by like it just didn't exist except for 1 entry to tell of the change to the blog name.

2007 I began to explore and get a feel for what I wanted to speak about (gave birth for the 2nd time too) and then 2008 was the year I got serious and made the effort. I purchased my blog domain name. So that has been my blog journey.

I thank all of my fellow bloggers who have placed a link on their blog to mine and everyone who has followed me thus far. Not forgetting my currently 9 official followers, though I know I have lurkers and visitors in excess of that. Please leave a comment.

Now I just need to keep going. I do have two other blogs which I have placed a link on this blog too. One is about my natural hair and the other one about faith. Check them out.

P.S. … Any good suggestions on what I should be doing to this blog would be nice.

Virgin Media and Me

As promised the engineer from virgin came round early Monday morning and sorted my broadband connection. It took him about 10 or 20 minutes to resolve. I was told the connection was still slow. He even walked in the rain to the green box to work it out.

Then Wednesday it just cut straight back out again. Just like that. No flashing ready light nothing. I attempted to call the normal customer service number just so that they would know the latest but although I got to to choose my hold music (blues) I could not be asked to stay on the line and said I would speak to them tomorrow after work. Surprisingly the area manager called and spoke to my husband and he told him the situation.

So at 4pm today he came by as promised and sorted my connection. It seems something dodgy is going on at that green box. They will be investigating. There just was no connection whatsoever. Not even a slow connection like the last time, just nothing.

It is really expensive when you do not have the service you paid to receive. Taking a few deep breaths and fingers crossed no more connection problems but mmm, we will see. Just happy Virgin see, eager to resolve.

P.S. I have to move the modem out of sight now as whenever it blinks I think something has gone wrong. Maybe I should become a shareholder in Virgin Media, buy a few each year till I can speak on the board. Now that is a thought!

A few things I want or would like

People will always tell you you need to get your priorities in life right. They will always tell you that treating yourself is not the way to go. I disagree. I believe you should enjoy life with your priorities in the right place but also to treat yourself to the things you want. Especially if it is not doing any harm to anyone else.

So anyway here a few things I would like to treat myself too.

• My very own 4 bedroom detached house with a nice size garden. So my boys can run free when the weather is good. Getting on the ladder is beyond ridiculous. Must keep dreaming and trying.
• A Mac book basic or pro (the silver one). I have decided that a standard laptop is not the way to go. Time to try something different.
• Nintendo Wii and Wii Fit family entertainment that keeps you moving.
• Disney World Florida, for my boys though as the youngest is 1yrs old this may be delayed.
• A hard disk camcorder with 40 – 60gb internal ram
• An external hard drive size 1TB
• A big car SUV, 4X4, Jeep whatever they are called I want one. There are some hybrids out there so the environment should still be my friend. I think Lala Vasquez’s pink Range Rover is soooo cute.
• My own business or two. Need more than one source of income.
• Debt free.

Right now I am so itching to just get up and put a Wii on my plastic but is resisting. If only I could get on the property ladder. Imagine waking up one day and being told here you go. Your own house no mortgage no rent. Imagine.

There are many more stuff that I want, but these were the ones I could think of right now.