END OF AN ERA

This is really hard for me to sit down and write about but I think (know) that it will be therapeutic for me to do so.

This past Wednesday, I lost a friend. She was beautiful, intelligent and had a heart of gold. She loved my daughter and pretty much everyone she came in contact with. Her name was Genie. I met Genie back in 2006. She was full of life and love. We became fast friends. When I looked into her eyes I could see a pure and gentle soul.

Genie fell ill a while back. She was young at heart but her body started to give. The past few months she slowly started to deteriorate. Everything humanly possible was done to turn her health around but there was obviously something bigger than medicine that was pulling her away from us. Her last days were spent in confinement surrounded by people that loved her. Round the clock care was given to her until she finally let go of this life on Wednesday around 9:00 am.

I arrived five minutes too late to say my last goodbye.

Genie was a dolphin. She, in this life, was able to provide people from all around the world once in a lifetime experiences, lasting memories and for me, a friendship and unconditional love that was without parallel. It is hard to explain unless you are an animal lover.

Genie will live on in her son Alfonz and her grandson Leo who are still here with us at work.

In her final moment she was being held by the people that loved her the most.




In memory of Genie. One of the greatest women I've ever had the pleasure of knowing

GRILLED DISASTER

What you are about to read is a not so exaggerated experience that my friend MC and I had the other evening....enjoy!

It was a cold, ominous night in the small town of Tavernier. Aislyn had ventured out into the arctic weather in search of some hot coffee and twelve steps. Upon arriving at the location designated for such an event, the parking lot was eerily vacant. After waiting a few minutes for more people to show, she got back into her car, baffled and not knowing quite what to do. She looked at her phone to see the time and noticed that someone had called. MC had been in search of the same thing but after Aislyn told her the unusual news, MC settled for meeting for a cheese sandwich, a grilled cheese sandwich.

They picked a local joint called "Craig's". Aislyn had never been there but MC assured her that the food was good and the service was better. Walking in the door, the two were overcome with a distinct smell of old fry grease that had seen it's share of dead fish. Once seated, the two ordered. Aislyn...a HOT chocolate and MC...a grilled cheese sandwich with a request for raw onions ON THE SIDE. The hot chocolate...anything but hot. The grilled cheese, less than cheesy. The side of raw onion...a whole onion died for the sake of MC's sandwich.

Sending back the sandwich, the two had some faith that it would return with less onion and more cheese. Their faith died, much like the onion, when the sandwich returned with another layer of cheese and yet MORE onion. Refusing to send it back a second time, MC took a deep breath, dissected the sandwich and ate. Aislyn looked on in what can only be described as total shock. (lol...sorry) By this time the scent of french-fried fish has expanded to beer-soaked ashtray with a fried fish floater. As if the horrible sandwich and oblivious server had not turned their stomachs...this scent, this odor sealed the deal.

Somehow finding humor in the whole situation, the two finished off their respective disasters and headed for the door. The cool, crisp air was refreshing. Their clothes...not so much. Aislyn thanked MC for the awesome experience and they each drove away.

THE MOST DANGEROUS CAKE RECIPE EVER

I got this as an email forward today.

I'll try it tonight and give you guys an update at a later time.

Enjoy!

The most dangerous cake recipe...

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?

Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

SOME MEN JUST "GET IT"

A male friend of mine recently launched a new website entitled "Heart My Shoes.com."  No, he's not gay... he just "gets" women.  

He's put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this project, and I must to say, I am more than impressed by his efforts. It's not often a hetrosexual male comes up with such an ingenious idea that's not only profitable, but helpful and entertaining at the same time.  

The concept of Heart My Shoes.com is to more or less to check out the other gal's footwear.  Truth be told, I've never been big on shoes myself... mainly because I hate my feet... but for the "Carrie Bradshaws" of this world who can never have too many in their closet - this site's for you. 

Click the pic below to sign up, view and rate shoes from all over the world:

What's in your closet? ;-)

BEST KEPT BEAUTY SECRETS & MAKEUP GEAR

So, I know that more than just women read this blog, but since I'm a woman, I need to share my excitement for some newly discovered makeup products.  

First, let's begin with MakeupAlley.com .  I first discovered Makeup Alley during a lull at work about 1 year ago. At first, I was a little wary, just because the website itself looks semi-hokey and kinda thrown together. However, I have since discovered that this site is, in fact, the best kept, beauty-website secret in all the World Wide Web.  

The only catch is, you have to sign up before you can review any products, but it's not a big deal because membership is free and they won't send you any annoying emails/newsletters.  Once you have a username, you can browse thousands of product reviews... and review some of your own.  You can see which products are the most popular right now .... and can even swap makeup with other users, which freaks me out a little bit, but whatever.   There are even codes people use to describe their favorite products in reviews (i.e. when someone says "My new HG" it means, "My new Holy Grail"). 

Here are two drugstore products I recently discovered on MakeupAlley.com that I believe would be good for everyone.  I tried them out myself, so I can give my stamp of approval.

#1:  THE BEST DRUGSTORE FOUNDATION EVER FOR PRETTY MUCH ALL SKIN TYPES IS REVLON COLORSTAY FOR NORMAL/DRY SKIN WITH SOFT FLEX.  I got this gem of a foundation in the mail via drugstore.com after seeing it on MakeUp Alley.  It was rated higher than any professional makeup such as Mac foundations and other leading liquid makeups.  It feels fantastic on my face and it covers a multitude of flaws.  It's also oil free, so it won't clog your pores.  It literally melts into your face and stays on all day.  I paid $11.69 for this

#2:  THE BEST DRUGSTORE BRONZER IS PHYSICIANS FORMULA BRONZER PYRAMID IN BAKED TAN.  It's your basic bronzer... and, at $11.95, you can feel confident knowing there are none of those annoying sparklies in it like some of those other bronzers on the market today.  You can use it dry for a light dusting of color, or wet for an "exotic" look.  I choose not to go exotic, seeing as how it's barely 0 degrees here in Pittsburgh and most people would look at me sideways if I walked into work looking Jamaican. 

Happy Primping, Ladies! :-)

AND I THINK TO MYSELF...

...what a wonderful world!

Pittsburgh's going to the Superbowl...

Obama gets inagurated on Tuesday...

I found out my Starbucks here still has the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate...

Life is good my friends...life is good!

I THINK I JUST MADE MULLED WINE BY MISTAKE

I had about a half mug's worth of wine left (it was a xmas present from work... the bottle was almost empty).  So I threw some honey and cinnamon in there and tossed it in the microwave. 

And, yeah...

That's it. 

Mulled wine.  

By mistake. 

Or maybe it's grogg.... is this grogg I'm drinking?  

I am feeling a bit groggy...

(Hmmm.... I wonder if that's where the word came from). 

It's quite good.  Although I'm sure it can also be done with the juice of your choice.  In fact, it would probably be better with juice.

Actually... you know what? I lied just now. In all honesty, this stuff tastes a little bit like a foot, but I still have to hand it to myself for being so dang creative...

BOOKS EVERYWHERE

Our friend over at She Talks is part of a book whose proceeds will go to benefit the NieNie Recovery fund.

Since you're all out buying my book, why not keep the spending alive AND help a worthy cause.

That is all...

FEELS GOOD

To finally be able to do something that I've wanted to do for so long.

This is only the beginning.

Confessions of...

By Nicole Aislyn

Book Preview

AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE

This is not new. I wrote it right before Reagan turned one last July...but finding and reading it...it was like I had never seen it before. Funny how things pop up when you need them the most!

I got bit by a little inspirational bug this morning to sit down and jot down some thoughts.

One can't help but get a little nostalgic when looking back over the last year and remembering all the things that have gone right in life. The Universe is a powerful thing, and we never know what is really going on until we look back on life and play a connect the dot game. When I take time to sit and reflect on life as far back as I can remember I can see where everything had it's time and place and if one thing had been a little "off'", I may not be where I am today.

Everyone always says live each day like it's your last. Well, I disagree. I live each day like it's the first. I take joy in every little thing that comes my way. When my eyes pop open in the morning I look forward to seeing what great things happen that day and I treat each experience, even if I've had it before, like it's the first and only time it will happen.

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional and happiness is an inside job. Today I am proud to say that the happiness I have inside is self-made. No person, place or thing could ever bring as much joy as I can bring myself.

How fortunate I am to wake up in the morning, say a little prayer and end up in a room-full of miracles each night. Whether I am with family, friends or just by myself. I am surrounded by miracles on a daily basis, we all are. It is just fine tuning our capability to become aware of such things.

I am proud to be me. Just being myself never seemed to be good enough. I always thought there was something missing. I was always running, feeling like something was chasing me, or I was running trying to find something else. The second I stopped running I found that what was chasing me was happiness and what I was looking for was inside me all along.

I have become the kind of person that people enjoy being around. I am a good mother, wife, daughter and friend. As I celebrate, what has turned out to be the best year of my life this coming Friday, I will also remember where I came from and who has helped me along the way.

Life will never be perfect, but it can ALWAYS be good!

ANATOMY 101

Alright kids...I've been out of school for a few 24 hours now and recently decided to go back to college to get a degree in Marine Biology (although that may switch to Journalism after a life-changing experience I had yesterday). So last night I grab the old notebook and pen and marched into class.

Here are just a few of the many highlights of the evening.

1. Professor S. explaining why the female vagina is the dirtiest part of a woman.

2. Professor S. telling us the story of how he attached human foreskin to a cow for regrowth.

3. Professor S. answering his personal cell phone three times during class.

4. Professor S. talking about "Fred" who we all assumed was a person by the way he was professing his love and admiration for him...he's a dog.

5. Professor S. telling us how obstetricians often perform unnecessary episiotomys on women during childbirth because they have contests to see who can do this surgery without making the anus bleed.

Have you had enough yet? Yeah...so did I by about the second hour.

And the icing on the cake:

I have to dissect a friggin' cat as part of lab. A CAT! I am the ultimate animal lover and this nutjob wants me to dissect fluffy?

I may be switching my area of interest sooner than later.

I'll keep you posted.

MEXICAN HOT "CHOCOLAT"

Have you ever seen the movie Chocolat with Johnny Depp and Carrie Anne Moss? I'm watching it now. (And be forewarned, if you don't have any chocolate in the house to eat while watching this movie, you'll lose your damn mind).

In once scene, there's a type of hot chocolate mentioned that kind of took me by surprise - something about chili pepper as an ingredient! I was like, "Ew - that sounds gross!" Well, I did a search for this on Google, and apparently, Mexican Hot Chocolate is quite popular.

I found a recipe, tried it myself this morning and I must say the chili added a special kick that kinda made me want to funnel this toasty drink down my throat. (Ha ha - classy, I know)

So, go to your nearest video store, rent Chocolat and whip up some of this.  I promise you won't be disappointed:


EASY MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE

INGREDIENTS 
3 tablespoons instant hot chocolate mix
1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch chili powder
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup boiling water


In a large mug, mix the hot chocolate mix, chocolate syrup, cinnamon, and chili powder. Pour in the milk. Add the boiling water and stir.

NEW YEAR, NEW ATTITUDE

They say (whoever "they" are) that life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.

Well folks...I have decided this year that no matter what, I am going to try my very best to have a positive attitude. It is very easy for me to fall into some sort of victim role when as a matter of fact, I create every single situation that I enter in to. There is always something "bigger" working behind the scenes, but ultimately it is up to me to make choices for myself, choices that I then have to live with.

So Happy New Year boys and girls....

As I heard someone say: "2009 is going to be mighty fine!"