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Friday, October 22, 2010

DO SOMETHING: Jawn Murray vs. “Militant”,“Nappy-headed.”Black Women

"Yo, some nappy heads need to check they necks for red"
- The Fugees, "Nappy Heads"

I honestly have never heard of Jawn Murray before this evening. And after reading his comments on Twitter, in regards of the “militant” and “nappy-headed” naysayers of Tyler Perry's adaptation of Ntozake Shange's "For Colored Girls...", I'm of the belief that I haven't missed much. I have heard of Tom Joyner, and from what I've seen of him (Mostly from watching Henry Louis Gates' "Faces of America" series), I am astonished he is associated with such a douche.



You're a Tyler Perry fan, Jawn... I get it. I am too... really! I've actually paid money to go see both "Madea Goes to Jail" and "Why Did I Get Married, Too?", in addition to Chris and I seeing "Madea's Big Happy Family" at Madison Square Garden... so I've contributed in my own meager little way to the mogul's multi-million dollar franchise. But... what's with the anger? And why is your anger targeted at women with natural hair? Did I miss a memo from the Nappy-Headed Women Coalition that we ALL HATE Tyler Perry? Does the belief that he is still too green as a director to tackle such a complicated piece of literature mean that we hate him? Hmm... so much to think about.

I am of the belief that Jawn Murray is not familiar with "For Colored Girls Who've Consider Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf" or with Ntozake Shange.... because her work is FULL of women he's most likely consider both "militant" and "nappy-headed"... from Sassafrass to Betsey Brown and definitely Lilianne.

I wonder if he would give the women of Ntozake Shange's most memorable works the following advice?



How's that?!?!?!? Why don't we ask Ntozake Shange what she thinks?

(Side note: Isn't this a completely GORGEOUS picture? I am SOOO printing this out and hanging it up in my home!)

Wait a minute...Ntozake looks kinda militant. Just look at that Nefertiti nose-ring... I bet you underneath that (VERY Afrocentric! ::gasps::) headscarf there's some nappy hair under there!!! OH NOOOOOOOO!!!

I signed a Twitter Petition condemning his callous, insensitive and straight-up "ignant" defense of Tyler Perry at the expense of black women and I hope that you will join me in demanding an apology.

For more information, please go to: http://www.forharriet.com/2010/10/reporter-jawn-murray-calls-black-women.html

To sign the petition, click here.

Cinema, Cuisine and Cocktail: "Candyman"



Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and given the fact that I am a sucker of all things festive, that's saying a lot.

Inspired by the Food Network's Sandra Lee (Cupcakes and Cocktails), I decided to create a mouth-watering macabre menu to accompany a horror movie that will satisfy anyone's sweet tooth... "Candyman". Enjoy!!!

Friendly Ghost Cupcakes

Recipe Courtesy of Recipe.com

Ingredients

3 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup milk
4 eggs
1 can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) (15 ounces)
1 package cream cheese, softened (3 ounces)
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons miniature chocolate chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 regular-size muffin cups with paper baking cups.
2. In large bowl, beat Bisquick mix, granulated sugar, brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, the pumpkin pie spice, milk, eggs and pumpkin with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 3 minutes. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup butter on low speed about 30 seconds or until well blended. Beat in vanilla and 2 cups of the powdered sugar on low speed about 30 seconds or just until mixed, then on high speed about 1 minute or until fluffy. Beat in remaining 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, on medium speed. If too soft to mound, add additional powdered sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
5. Spoon frosting into large resealable plastic food-storage bag; press out air and seal bag. Cut 1/2-inch tip from lower corner of bag. Squeeze bag to pipe about 2 tablespoons frosting into ghost-shaped mound on each cupcake. Press 2 chocolate chips, flat sides out, into frosting for eyes.

Bumblebee Banana Cupcakes

Recipe Courtesy of Group Recipes

Ingredients

* 1 package (14 ounces) banana quick bread and muffin mix
* 1 cup milk
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 2 eggs
* 1 can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting
* 5 drops yellow food coloring
* 12 large yellow gumdrops
* 1/2 cup chocolate frosting
* 12 semisweet chocolate chips
* 24 miniature semisweet chocolate chips
* 12 large white gumdrops
* Black shoestring licorice, cut into 1-inch pieces

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the muffin mix, milk, oil and eggs.
Fill 12 greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
In a mixing bowl, combine vanilla frosting and food coloring.
Frost cupcakes.
Cut yellow gumdrops in half widthwise.
Use the rounded tops for heads.
Flatten remaining portions into ovals for bodies.
Place one head and one body on each cupcake.
Place chocolate frosting in a resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner of the bag.
Pipe stripes on gumdrop bodies to resemble a bumblebee.
For the stinger, place one chocolate chip at the end of body with pointed end facing out.
Position two mini chocolate chips in front of head for eyes.
Cut white gumdrops in half lengthwise; position next to bodies for wings.

Witch-in-a-Ditch Halloween Cupcakes


Recipe Courtesy of The Knead for Speed

Ingredients:

* 2 cups sugar
* 1-3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa
* 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 eggs
* 1 cup skim milk
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
* 1 cup boiling water (or coffee, to intensify the chocolate flavor)
* frosting
* sprinkles

Witch Legs

* 8-1/4″ straws, cut into thirds (2-3/4″ for each witch leg)
* Tootsie Roll Midgees (one per boot)
* Wilton yellow sparkle gel frosting

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease or line two cupcake tins.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large mixing bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of electric mixer just until combined. Stir in boiling water or coffee (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared tins.
3. Bake 20-22 minutes or until done – cupcakes should spring back slightly to the touch. Let cool completely before frosting.
4. Frost and distribute sprinkles on cupcakes.
5. Cut each straw into thirds. To form boots, microwave each Tootsie Roll on high for 7-8 seconds. Mold into the shape of a boot and let cool slightly. While its still soft, insert straw into top of boot, rotating straw as you apply pressure. Set aside and repeat with remaining witch legs.
6. Draw boot laces and/or buckles onto each cooled Tootsie Roll boot with yellow gel frosting. Let it sit to dry a while. Then insert two witch legs, boot side up, into each cupcake.

Sweet Skull


Ingredients

* 12 marshmallows
* Confectioners' sugar
* 24 unfrosted cupcakes (white or yellow works best)

* White frosting
* Junior Mints, chocolate chips, and slivered almonds

Instructions

1. Cut the marshmallows in half widthwise using kitchen shears dipped in confectioners' sugar (this keeps them from sticking).
2. Sweet Skull - Step 2 Carefully pull each cupcake liner partially away from the cake and tuck half a marshmallow between the paper and the cupcake to create the skull's jaw.

3. Frost each cupcake and marshmallow, then add Junior Mints with white frosting dots for eyes, a chocolate chip nose, and slivered almond teeth.

Vampire Bite Mocktail

Recipe Courtesy of Sandra Lee, Food Network

Ingredients

* 2 cups cranberry juice, chilled
* 1/2 cup apple juice, chilled
* 1/4 cup grenadine
* 1 1/2 cups seltzer water, chilled
* 1 tube red candy gel
* 4 gummy vampire teeth

Directions

In a pitcher combine the cranberry juice, apple juice and grenadine. Stir together then add the seltzer water.

Squeeze the candy gel onto a small plate. Rim the edges of 4 low-ball glasses in the candy gel. Pour in the drink evenly into the glasses. Garnish each glass with the gummy vampire teeth and serve.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

DOPE: "Cold War" by Janelle Monae



Have you ever experienced this? You hear a song a countless number of times... and you like it, it's a good song. Then upon hearing at the EXACT MOMENT you really need to hear it, the song resonates so deep within your spirit that you are close to tears.

That is what happened this evening as I was leaving work, heading home on the subway, my iPod in my ears. As usual, it was set to Shuffle and Janelle Monae's "Cold War" came on, and it blew me away... it felt like every lyric was being tattoo'd on my soul. I knew that I would have to make it a "DOPE" selection for this week. I hope that the song with resonate as strongly with you.



So you think I'm alone
But being alone's the only way to be
When you step outside
You spend life fighting for your sanity

This is a cold war
you better know what you're fighting for
This is a cold war
Do you know what you're fighting for

If you wanna be free
Below the ground's the only place to be
Cause in this life
You spend time running from depravity

This is a cold War
You better know what you're fighting for
[x2]
This is a Cold War
Do you know what you're fighting for

When wings of the weak can
Bring grace to the strong
Make all evil stumble
As it flies in the world

All the tribes come
And the mighty will crumble
We must brave this night
And have faith in love

I'm trying to find my peace
I was made to believe there's something wrong with me
And it hurt's my heart
Lord have mercy ain't it plain to see

That this is a cold war
Do you know what you're fighting for
This is a cold war
You better know what you're fighting for

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

:::drools::: Solange Knowles-style for Plus Size Fashionistas

This is a special edition of "for Plus Size Fashionistas", inspired by a fantastic song I heard today by Solange Knowles, a remake of Dirty Projector's "Stillness is the move".



After hearing the song, I thought to myself, "I love her music!!! What's more... I love her style and I have yet to do a fashion post about her! What am I waiting for?!?!". With a plan formulating, I searched the internet to find a great outfit of Solange's that would be fun to replicate. The bummer is, a lot of her most recent pictures were from this summer, and how can I copy an outfit that many of us would freeze our arses in?!?!? But then...


Image Source

It was a total blast recreating this look, and I must admit a bit of a challenge, as I couldn't find a sheer shirt/skirt combo in that exact color... but I think I improvised in a pretty good way! Let's start with the shirt/skirt combo...



I selected the Colour Block Draped Dress ($86.40, Evans) Again, it wasn't an exact match, but I liked that the dress has some of the color, and I am digging the asymmetrical hem.



I chose the Embellished Boucle Cardigan Sweater ($59.90, Avenue). I achieve Solange's 3/4 sleeve look, you can roll up the sleeves (which I looks like she did as well!!)



For the belt, I selected the Tan Flower-Embossed Belt ($16.80, Torrid). The belt that Solange is wearing appears to be more rustic and vintage-y... but I love the belt!!!



For the shoes, I selected the UO Suede Pump in Yellow ($48.00, Urban Outfitters)... how cute are these pumps?!?!?!?



Last but not least, I selected the Big Buddha Tahiti Clutch ($54.95, Zappos) and for the bracelets I went with the Zulugrass Bangle Bracelets in Peony & Desert ($16.00, Global Girlfriend)



To download Stillness is the Move (Free!), click here.