Breaking Bad Habits ...

I stumbled upon Charles Duhigg: How to Break a Cookie-Eating Habit. I decided that I would discuss bad habits. I have many but the worse one is red velvet cake. If I go to Starbucks , I get a red velvet whoppie pie, at Timothy's and Second cup , I'll either purchase a piece of cake or a cupcake. In order to effectively eliminate this habit of just mindlessly eating cake, I had to figure out the method to break the bad habit. The video I viewed stated that there are three components to a habit . The first thing would be the Cue  (which is a trigger for the habit to start).The second would be that is is a routine and this is the behaviour that you engage in on a consistent basis. Finally, the last component is the reward ( what it makes you feel). I went through every step and realised that when I was bored and also wanting to spend money , I always turn to fast food. I loved the cream cheese icing in the red velvet cake. So it became a psychological thing. Just seeing it triggered me wanting it. If I'd see cake mix for it I would want to buy that , no matter where I went I was at the mercy of red velvet. Arrrggh ! , It was so frustrating.  The next thing I had to figure out was my behaviour and what I'd typically do is go to any bake shop and always look for red velvet on the menu. Once I would spot it , then I'd purchase it or anytime I am bored it would be on my mind. Finally I thought, of the reward which was the taste of the cake on my tongue but also that no matter what was on my mind at the time it was temporarily distracted by having this piece of cake. Once I had these three steps down , it was no easy task eliminating this habit. I began by having a piece of fruit or Aloe Vera juice in lieu of cake. I just wanted the feeling of something sweet but it did not necessarily have to be unhealthy nor as scrumptious as a piece of red velvet.  Week after week it slowly diminished. I thought about all the calories and sugar , that I was now no longer consuming and figured out over all that it should be maybe a once in every couple of weeks thing. The last piece of red velvet I had was at the end of February , it has been several weeks. While I miss it , I still do not feel completely deprived. I feel that once you study and know the psychology behind something it definitely helps you achieve whatever your objective is. I just needed a little bit of guidance and willpower and his article definitely helped me.

OLI ... DEMON SWAG ... SICK RAP ARTIST !!

Now to be completely honest, I'm not completely into rap music. However , this artist drew me in immediately. The first song I heard from Oli was "Cut my lifeline", this is available on youtube. I have been following his music since and love his new album "Demon Swag". I didn't anticipate enjoying his music as much as I did when I initially pressed the play button on his video , however it was well executed and his words are real deep. He has a unique voice that definitely sets him apart from mainstream commercial rappers. He is someone to watch for. Oli has been at it for the past 10 years. This year he has been on his grind really hard, I checked out one of his performances recently in Oshawa, where he opened for Raekwon (member of Wu Tang Clan) , can you believe that ? He has also opened for many other big names such as Choclair, Klassified, Tech Nine, D-12 and Kid famous. I'm excited to know that he will be soon performing in Toronto. This is a young guy from Bomanville, ON and he just shows how talent can be hidden in the places where you least expect. He was born in Scarborough though. His words are very deep and when you listen to them they have actual meaning. He's not rapping about whores or stomping your feet to the ground. Now while these rap songs may be entertaining as well . I enjoy meaningful music with lyrics that I can relate too and even if I cannot, there's still a good message to his music. I could listen to his album "Sophisticated Thoughts " over and over again. His flow is smooth and his beats are hot. He adds a hip hop and rock type vibe collaboration together to make it sound good.  I can see many different people moving their heads to his music. It's just real feel good meaningful music. One of the things that sets him apart from other artists is his raspy voice and also his completely true words. He does not sugar coat his music to make it to what society wants to hear . He just speaks the truth in his rhymes. One of my favorite songs is "Whatever Feels Real" from Sophisticated thoughts the rhyme and the beat is just so smooth and flows so well. This year is all about "Oli Shit 2012" he will be touring and spreading his awesome music throughout the mainstream market in both the US and Canada . So definitely I strongly suggest listening to his albums , it will be worth it . I promise. You can follow him on twitter @OLIMusic. Also check out a full interview from an awesome podcaster Jordan Thompson on  Spitballin' with JT http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tdot-real-talk , this will give you a glimpse into Oli as an artist , he's very intelligent and well spoken. He's not afraid to be himself. I'll be blogging about Tdot real talk this weekend and what is about to pop off on that.  Look up demonswag on youtube for the whole album. Any comments , tips , questions , feel free to !?!?!?

Being a Pescetarian ...

It seems as if for the longest time I have struggled with not only weight but dieting choices. Whether it be heading to a diet clinic or starvation. It has always been something for me. It's been about three years since I have given up meat. It was literally after watching for a full day youtube videos on how meat is processed. It was real eye opening for me and changed how I did things. At this time I was around 240 lbs and now I am 180 lbs. Through  not only changing my diet but exercise too I have been able to shed these awful pounds. It is still a struggle moving from a pescetarian someone who only eats seafood and vegetables to a complete vegetarian. I am confident that I will get there one day. Being a pescetarian is a huge topic that people debate with me all the time. They say well you still are eating animal flesh, that I am aware of and feel guilty. However, I have fainted many times when attempting the vegetarian diet , I will get there slowly. I do enjoy the taste of seafood very much though. It is not the only thing that I eat there are some days when I will eat a completely vegetarian or vegan meal. It's not a problem. Some people find my diet to be very healthy and see nothing wrong with eating seafood. One of my biggest reasons for not eating meat is all the hormones and chemicals injected into them. However, many people then suggest grain fed. It's now at the point where I cannot eat meat if I tried. I used to be someone who deeply indulged in steaks , chicken wings and burgers but the thought of it grain fed or not just makes me sick at this point in my life. In time, my diet will evolve to something new again but for now pescetarianism is definitely the way to go.

Letting go of the EX

Lately, it seems as if everyone around me has been struggling to let go of their feelings for their ex partners. I'm not saying that eliminating feelings happens overnight but it's a process that we all have to go through in life sometimes it may bring us pain ,or even a sense of relief once we are past that phase we start to feel a ease. Now, I like to keep personal names out of my blogs so the names are completely fictional. Unless, I am blogging about a celebrity. Scott has been broken up with his girlfriend of four years for about one year. There is still so much pain there as you look into his eyes. When you spend that much time with someone ,typically there is talks about marriage and children. When that comes to a halt it is often hard to let go. These ex partners may live with you, meet your family and even open a joint bank account. I see the pain on his face as he tells me how it hurt his very soul almost. My other friend Emily , just got out of a long distance relationship of two years now that's for a whole not blog. That long distance issue. However, there are still so many scars left considering not only the emotional strain but the financial strain as well. She had many hopes of moving over there. I've had my share too, and it took about one year to get everything out of me , let me tell you that it feels completely liberating , when that pain has left your heart. Going through a break up a million people can tell you that things will get better and you'll be okay. However during the time it feels like your world has ended or on the flip side it's only the beginning of something better in store. Societal pressures to find a mate are completely different than they used to be however we are all only human and still long for that affection. Honestly, if you're going through a rough patch right now . Remember, cherish the good times but remember what wrong in the first place. If something is meant to be it will happen. I'm a strong believer in that , it took hundreds of tears and a bunch of inner strength to overcome the pain but it'll come in time. There are things in life that we cannot change such as the past, however we can change our current state of mind for the better. If you have any comments, tips, suggestions by all means feel free. Remember everything remains strictly confidential.

21 Jump Street Review

Yesterday, I finally went to see 21 Jump Street starring the ever so handsome Channing Tatum and the newly svelte Jonah Hill. Let me just say it was definitely worth my time. Now to be completely honest I have not seen the original 21 Jump st. However this is a remake worth seeing. The story is about two rookie cops who are sent to a highschool undercover as students to find a drug supplier. They desperately try the whole movie to prove that they are worthy police officers one disaster after the next. It's a shame that we had to wait til the end of the movie to see Johnny D. I won't go into details about that. Throughout the movie everyone is suspicious that something about them seems off. Whether it be the teacher coming onto the super muscular Channing Tatum or the "geeky" mature demeanor of Jonah Hill. They are still never discovered and both did exceptionally well in their roles. I try to keep my reviews for movies somewhat vague as I do not want to ruin any highlights nor misguide anyone. Five out of five and must see. I have no constructive criticism whatsoever but them again I'm no director! So have fun with this one !

Overstepping my boundaries

For as long as I can remember , I've grown up in a family of germaphobes. Not sure why or where it came from but its partially already come into my generation already. I guess being neat doesn't always come easy always being busy and all stressed in today's society. I love folding and organising those are the two things that I do.Sometimes it'll lag for a day or two , but as soon as it gets outta hand , I cannot function. This weekend I over stepped my boundaries and felt awful. I recently started a relationship with the same man that I blogged about and folded and put away some of his clothes. Let's just say he wasn't too pleased. At first I was offended , typically Scorpios do get offended quite easily. But then after , I thought about it and said I wouldn't want anyone to go through my things either , like my personal effects and realised that I was in fact wrong for going through his personal clothing items especially somewhere that is not a place of my own. So some advice ladies is definitely see where your man's comfort level is with you before you do certain things. There was no argument or awkwardness even. That's what I enjoy so far, there are no major blow ups . It was just one of those things where I felt weird by myself and I realised that there are certain habits and things you just keep to yourself and you don't do to others. I guess it's just habit but sometimes it can irritate others and they may feel that you are invading their space, or maybe even offending them. So pace yourself and thread lightly. Keep your  obsessions for your space and your home. This goes out to guys too, everyone has their own way of organising and doing things. There may even be a special time and special person that does things. While you may feel like your way is helping it can manifest in a way that might be disrupting their aura or they might not  know where to look for things when they need it. I don't know I had a mental slip up and remembered that I am only a girlfriend and those things are better left for him to tend too in his own home.  Sometimes we often get all comfortable and wanna rush things, I need to learn to pace myself and let things progress naturally and slowly. What might feel natural to me , might not to others so I am definitely evolving  too .


Any comments, tips , suggestions ?

Safe House

Mmmm Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds. A very nice movie duo I must say and another movie this year to talk about.  Denzel Washington is a wanted man around the world by many secret top government agencies and he is taken to a secret government house where Ryan Reynolds enters as the house keeper. Not house keeper in the sense that he cleans the house. He actually guards the house and who is kept there by the government until transport. Denzel was so  wanted in the movie that this safe house was raided almost immediately upon his arrival and it takes you through an adventure of where Denzel the prisoner and Ryan and Officer are battling against each other so that Ryan can bring him back to head quarters. During the movie a web of lies is unraveled and Ryan begins to learn that maybe he cannot even trust his own employment agency. For those movie lovers of action and conspiracy this is something that you would definitely enjoy. For all you women who like eye candy you will also enjoy watching these two amazing actors in action. I have no critiques or regrets for this movie. It was the right length and everything was articulated in the best manner possible.

The Hunger Games

So earlier this weekend I finally saw the hunger games . With all the media attention it was given I figured I would give it a chance. Now that's 142 minutes of my time that I am giving up.  Must say its not exactly what I expected but it was a good movie. Who knows? It could even be a glimpse into the future where young warriors will fight for the survival of their people. I feel that while it may seem scary , it is something that could eventually happen. Imagine a world where your divided into about fifteen different regions and the survival of your region  depends upon two young teenagers. Whether or not you eat is completely up to whether or not they come back alive. Could you imagine a society where people actually look at young people killing each other for sport instead of watching a  typical soccer or football game.  When I say young I mean ages 12-18. The Hunger Games is an eye opening movie ,that brings the viewer into a society where people  have different views and values than many of us today. It is definitely worth taking a look at. Also, Katniss ( Jennifer Lawrence ) and Peta (Josh Hutcherson) are two amazing talents to watch for. As the stars of the Hunger Games they did an amazing job portraying their characters/ While they have both been acting for quite a few years , this may be the movie that will put them on the map. I will also be reading the books to the movie next month. I feel that would complete the whole experience. There might be some competition between the Twilight series and The Hunger Games series I am also a huge fan of Vampires and anything related. However, I think this movie appeals  more to a broader audience than perhaps Twilight because of the political , socio-economic and personal touches that the story tells. It has been making  a killing at the box office too so far over $100 million. So if you get the chance definitely watch it and let me know what you think. I'd like to potentially see maybe 21 Jump Street this weekend , I've heard great things about it and can see it being very enjoyable. Any thoughts or comments ? Feel free ?

Simple guidelines for meeting boyfriend/girlfriends family for the first time

Today I'm meeting my boyfriends family for the first time . Make sure to pace yourself with the alcohol lol. First impressions are lasting ones. I managed to put together a super killer outfit from le chateau which consists of a fitted black pencil skirt and a tank floral top. With tan colored flats I like to be comfy and don't do heels too often. I very much feel that exceeding two glasses of wine would not be appropriate because you don't wanna make a drunken impression. I have been taking light sips like a lady and letting it last me as long as possible. I like to keep it simple presentable clothing respectable light conversation is the best way to go for this situation. I prefer not to do small talk and discuss life in general. Unfortunately ,I have yet to obtain my paralegal license but I can still keep conversation interesting by keeping up in the news. My boyfriend recently started a podcast and that it will be successful. I feel that the way how things have moved along now was an appropriate time to meet his family, he still has yet to meet mine. This will be very much interesting. Let's just say our relationship is a fusion of three diverse cultures Italian Irish and Guyanese . Guidelines for meeting my kind of family would be absolutely no cursing of any kind , dressing presentable and respect for the home . My family is very welcoming . My brother tends to be a little overprotective sometimes and this is what I am dreading . It should be okay though. So for now, I think I'll get through this Easter Sunday with a fierce outfit and respectable manners... Need any advice on how to survive that first family meeting let me know I'm more than willing to discuss.

Poverty

"At least 80% of humanity lives on less than 10 dollars a day "- Global issues. org ...I wanted to start of my blog  with a very somber topic the Global divide between the Rich and the Poor and your thoughts on that.  Although I've only been around for two decades I have seen so much change every year drastically. I see that times are changing and poverty is definitely growing there is a lot of unrest going on. While there are only limited things that I can do as one person to help. I can do  little things like help serving food at a mission center , donating once a week even if there is no holiday food drive , or merely even feeding the poor living on the streets in person if I can afford it. I'm trying to think when everything really started to change when gas went from 50 cents to $1.50 now of course there is inflation as an explanation. But the global divide is something that is manifesting itself in front of us. The massive layoffs and I myself too am  a part of the LAID off community. Many people feel that poverty breeds poverty but do you believe that everyone can rise out of it or are some people just destined to be poor because of where they live and who they surround themselves with.  Many can also say that we spend money unwisely today too and a larger part of society has learned that more means best instead of less is more . Do you think if we learn to scale back and be more content that would be a potential solution or living more frugally ? I have been trying this year to live more frugally although , it has been a challenge , I find that implementing small little things are what helps in the long run . Also cutting out many unhealthy habits like drinking soda all the time or indulging in my favorite desert more than once a month mmm Red Velvet :) has helped me survive a bit better. I can say that I am merely surviving , I am the average Jane just trying to help myself while helping others . So any thoughts on how we can promote change to this huge problem or any questions or advice wanted concerning these issues ? Feel free to comment  ?