Sunday Funday At Home

Yes, that's my living room. Yes, I know its almost February. Don't hate. At least my decorations matches my interior decor.

I don't know the first thing about movies. They don't entertain me the way they did when I was younger. I could've gotten lost in a movie and my mom or grandma didn't have to worry about me, but now I would rather read a book, watch "Dateline NBC", or of course, a reality TV show.

On Lifetime I saw "Craigslist Killer" and recommended it to a student and he actually watched it. Even gave me a verbal report on it and when I asked happened as a result of the Craigslist Killer, he responded "no more erotic services are offered on Craigslist. What does that mean?" I told him if they don't offer it then it doesn't matter what it means!

I also got recommended to watch "A Walk To Remember" only because I don't like to watch chick flicks, but for a student I will watch it. It's only fair if I give him a book to read that I watch the movie he told me to watch. I haven't watched it and as I scrolled on my On Demand feature I didn't see it. Going to Blockbuster wasn't on the plan but maybe I'll do it this week.

I'm also watching the Pro Bowl and for the 2nd year, it's on before the Super Bowl. I love how they have the mic's on the players and you can hear the plays being called by Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan hottie alert.

Here's to a productive and healthy week to all!

:)

Black and Yellow Black and Yellow Green and Yellow Green and Yellow

I told you the Steelers were going to beat the Jets hahahahaha.


Super Bowl is next Sunday and I think I am having a party at my house to celebrate it. Since the Seahawks were eliminated, I've been rooting for the Packers since. Big Ben is hot but he has already won a Super Bowl very recently.

This year the Super Bowl is in Dallas and I read an article that the city is looking to hire a couple thousands strippers, yes strippers, for the weekend smh .

I'm thinking of baking 2 cakes and I hate to bake one with black and yellow and the other green and yellow. And since Green Bay Packers fans are cheese heads, having a big cheese variety here at the party. But as for the Steelers, I don't know what their food specialty is but luckily my good friend Britt will be helping with this party. I want to keep it simple and hopefully it will be :) The day after Super Bowl should also be a legal holiday. Morning After Monday it should be called. Maybe I should write to President Obama......

Travel Thursday

I know. I know.

I just got back from NY. Why am I talking about traveling? Just jotting down my pointers for finding airfares that won't damage your bank account.

Depending on the airline, some will charge cheap within 10 days advance purchase.

Usually you should book 14 days in advance though.

Not all carriers charge for carry on bags (which may add another $30 to your airfare)

Your best bet may be to book your flights directly through the airline website. Travel websites can be a little complicated.

Check flights at all hours of the day. Depending on the time and day it may fluctuate in price.


You're Welcome :)

Interesting Thursday

It's been a week since I left to NJ and I'm kind of bummed about it. I like the weather here in Miami, but that's about all I like about it here. Next month I have President's Day off so you know I'm looking to get away :) just don't know where. Not back to New York, Not Vegas, Not Chicago, Not Houston, Not Charlotte, I don't know where.

On twitter, I follow @Airfarewatchdog (and you should too) and I replied to a post they twittered and they forwarded my information on to someone at the New York Times because I travel so frequently. I did an interview with a reporter and hopefully what I said can help people travel without breaking their bank accounts. Hmm. Maybe I should go back to NY.

With that said, maybe I should look for airfares for my February getaway!

TTFN!

I went to New York!

New York City is so much fun, but so is New Jersey. I got to spend time with family and friends, but damn it was COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My niece had a birthday party and she is such a little button nose pretty lady. She is 6, blonde hair, blue eyes, a true doll.

I had dinner and drinks with friends and it was a blast. My friend has a cute apartment in the city, with a view and location to die for! I think I need to go back when the temperature is about 30 degrees warmer.

In good old Jersey, I played with kids, friends, and snow. It was a blast! My skin dried out so bad, but damn my hair looked fly!

Yes! Today is Thursday! JERSEY SHORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NFL

What a weekend in NFL news.

On Saturday the Seattle Seahawks went to Chicago to play the Bears and they lost. They made a bit of a comeback but it wasn't enough to get the win. The Green Bay Packers went on to beat the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta.

The New England Patriots hosted the New York Jets yesterday for an east coast showdown in Foxborough. Tempers were flared, tensions were high, and you could definitely tell just by watching the game. You could see the players talking smack to each other and some were even getting physical lots of personal fouls this game. But what was very shocking to me was that Tom Brady of the Patriots was sacked a surprisingly FIVE times. The Patriots hadn't scored a touchdown in the first half of the game. This was very unlike the Patriots, but once Brady gets a tad frustrated, shit comes crumbling down. He is a bit of a diva because it almost seems as though losing is never an option to him , but it's also how you deal with it. Mark Sanchez of the Jets was playing horribly in the last few games of the regular season and he was on fire last night. Cromartie called Brady an "asshole. fuck him" and Rex Ryan didn't punish him for that. Ryan said that they "respect the team but that's his opinion and is not going to get punished for voicing his opinion. Brady's response "I've been called worse."

Looks like the trash talking affected the Patriots as they lost 28-21. Now the Jets go on to play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. Big Ben is really will end the Jets' winning streak. All this shit talking that's gone on what matters really is the Super Bowl. And the Steelers are the ones that will represent the AFC in Dallas. Believe that!

Is the grass is always greener on the other side?

I know you have heard of this saying before "The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side" but can you relate? I can relate sometimes. And I use sometimes very loosely. Sometimes you go through things in life and sometimes think "I wish I would be there" or "I wish I had done that" or "I wish I had that" and dwell on the fact that you aren't where you think you should be. Sometimes I wish I was a housewife I don't know how that would work considering marriage is not my future so I can just focus on being home with Alex. But reality sets in and I know that I need to work to make a living for myself and for my Alex. Some people who are housewives wishes they had a job so they could get out of the house for some grown up conversation with other grown ups. People who are single want to be married and some who are married really want to be single. Some people who feel they are chunky wishes they were skinnier and vice versa. People with blonde hair wished they looked good with dark hair me included.

I'm not really talking about regret, per say, but sometimes we don't realize the potential we have within ourselves. We can do it! YOU can do it! I can do it! My friend was trying to market me to help with a local pizzeria improve on their marketing and damn, she had me convinced I could do it but I don't think I can. I know that I have low self-esteem which doesn't help, but I also lack experience in public relations/marketing which is odd because that's what my degree is in.

I'm going to give a try and I guess we'll see what happens.

Sizzling Saturday

The day started for me on the hunt. The hunt for what you ask? Shorts. Yes, I said shorts. Shorts for Alex. Alex is average size in height for an 8 year old but bottoms, he is a 12 Husky or a size 14. Sometimes the bottoms look like balloons because they are so large, so a lot of times I need to take him to the mall with me. And these mall trips can't be too long or he will start trippin'.

I also did something very unnatural......I saw a movie GASP.

The movie I saw was "Freedom Writers" starring Hilary Swank as Erin Gruwell, a high school English Teacher in Long Beach, California who taught her students in an unorthodox way and was placed in a school that wasn't in the best area. She was able to motivate these kids and in turn they learned a lot about themselves and the potential that they had to make it in the world without living in poverty. Gruwell helped to motivate her kids by journal writing and self reflecting and in 1999, The Freedom Writers Diary was published. These are actual journal entries from her students in Long Beach. Gruwell went on to get her Master's Degree at California State University and even taught some of her Freedom Writer students at California State. This was truly an inspiring, touching movie that kept me entertained and I didn't even change the channel not even during commercials.

Here is a picture taken during filming of the movie in 2006 with Gruwell(violet shirt, front row, to the right of the woman in the peace sign shirt) and some of her freedom writers.

Then I hit up the Hard Rock in Ft. Lauderdale to shake what my mama gave me! Ate some Checkers fries, then puked! Party on!

Rewind #4

Tonight I have some rather exciting plans.

Laundry and I have a date with my tv.

9pm-11pm Dateline NBC-Vegas Undercover

IM SO EXCITED! I love Dateline, but sometimes the stories that they feature skeeves me out a little bit. Especially if I am home alone, I need to sleep with the tv on after watching some of these episodes. Some people in America are frickin' crazy!

Party time. Excellent.

In the picture above you see someone not too particularly impressed with the dessert placed in front of him. I think he may have been more satisfied if the candles were inside the milkshake. But as Americans we all know when it's someone's birthday, there is a birthday cake, birthday brownie, birthday cupcake, etc.

Birthday boy above is my Uncle Carlos. He lives in Las Vegas and from what I saw he celebrated at the newest addition to the Las Vegas Strip, The Cosmopolitan Hotel. Carlos is a great guy do you think I would just pick anyone as my son's godfather and wished him a happy birthday wee early in the morning. I love him a lot and even though he is my uncle, we are also like siblings because we are only about a year apart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARLOS!

Rewind #2

As I look at my laundry basket, I want to cringe. I hate it when my laundry fills 2 baskets because it makes me feel dirty! Weird, I know but I do laundry on a weekly basis to PREVENT this. Teen Mom 2 premiered on MTV and one teen mom, Janelle, is especially disgusting. She is a poor excuse of a person-horrible daughter(cursing, hitting, yelling), horrible friend (who yells and slams door in front of friends), and of course horrible mother. She was recently arrested on drug charges and trespassing. She is a dingbat and don't want to watch the show because of her and YOU KNOW THAT IS HARD FOR ME!!!! I love my bad girls, teen moms, i used to be fat chicks, basketball wives jumpoffs, real househeffas, I love 'em all! But damn, Janelle is disgusting. And she is being glorified in this reality tv spotlight. She is walking vomit.

Jersey Shore 3 premiered tonight and it was good! I must admit, I really like Jersey Shore. They are so hilarious. Sammi is a hott mess. Poor thing. She is so blinded by Ronnie. Hopefully she learns her lesson. Ronnie is funny when he is with the boys. Pauly D is hilarious cabs are heeya, Vinny is a hottie, Mike is ugly, but funny too, JWOWW is laid back but gives Sammi a bitch slap love, Snookie thinks she's the shit now relax, and new girl Deena is a party in a body but Ronnie had to checked her ass real quick. Seems like it'll be a good season. I will definitely tune in!!!! I love them!

Reeeeeee-wind

Wednesday January 12, 2011

Here is the first post I am making up for the few days I missed. Let's see? Wednesday. What happened Wednesday? I went to school, Alex complained of a sore throat-nothing serious though. Kids at school are fighting every day which has shocking as it is that is NOT normal at my job so administration had to intervene. I really do they crack down on the stupidity of these kids. I know that kids will be kids, but issues such as bullying should be stopped. Especially now with Facebook out there, so much bullshit can be prevented. When I see a student being mean to another, I get so furious, but try to scold them without trying to hit them i kid i kid. My Christmas tree is still up pena.

Oh snap!

I haven't blogged in a couple days but I'm going to write a post for each day that I missed. Right now Alex is watching Scooby doo of course and I'm watching the Real Housewives of Atlanta waiting for Watch What Happens Live to come on immediately after. I am also staring at my Christmas tree wondering why I won't take it down already laziness. Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and there is no school to honor the memory and legacy that is Martin Luther King Jr. I asked Jessica hoochica! if she was off and she said no she wasn't. I know that many companies don't observe every single legal holiday but wow, Martin Luther King Jr. We live in an area where Caucasian is the minority. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted everyone to be treated equal-Jews, Catholics, Whites, Hispanics. And because he was African-American he knew what it was like to be discriminated against. He received a PH.D in Philosophy from Boston University and not very many people know that. Back then, there was so much racial segregation and while some parts of America don't see past color we have come a long way.

"Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children."

-Martin Luther King Jr.

Civil Rights March, August 28, 1963

Washington D.C.

Travel Tidbits

For someone who likes to go out of town at least once a month, I sure picked the wrong career maybe I should pursue stripping.

So it looks like I'm going to NYC woohoo really soon and sometimes I have to search my little butt off during work when the kids are trying to work or look at www.airfarewatchdog.com I also follow them on twitter www.twitter.com/airfarewatchdog and that saves me some time too. Not only do they hunt for low airfares, but they also comment on latest travel news and updates.

Here are some travel tidbits of my own:

-Travel in pajamas yes I said pajamas or cute tracksuits. Comfort is EVERYTHING on that flight.
-Check in online WHENEVER possible.
-Make sure to check the entire area near your seat before leaving the plane remember I left my IPOD. Damn you, airlines that travels American.
-I pack ham and cheese sandwiches and a small bag of chips whenever possible, especially when I bring Alex with me.
-Don't forget chargers as you may be delayed on a flight.
-When you check in online or at the gate, you may be able to change your seats (within coach) for free in most airlines.
-You have a little more legroom on most aircrafts in the emergency exit seating area.
-Take a book! Or your Nook!
-When receiving horrible customer service on a flight, send a letter to the complaint department of the airline.
-Traveling with kids can be quite troublesome, to say the least. But it's possible. Bring their entertainment ipods, portable game systems, books, coloring books, snacks, and engage in conversation with them during this time also. Depending on the age, they may need that extra TLC during the flight or at the airport. Now if you have infants, I have seen cases in which parents try to comfort them but it's hard. I must admit, I was confined up until Alex was 1 1/2 years old so I didn't go anywhere during that time with him. When I do see a mom struggling with a child, I really do try my best to help. I feel for the child and the mom. I am empathetic when I want to be to others and have received some special treatment from complete strangers. So I'm still paying it forward.

Hope this helps!

Safe travels!

Don't forget

www.airfarewatchdog.com

www.twitter.com/airfarewatchdog

Home Remedies

There are many people out there who don't like to take over the counter or prescription medicine for anything. They prefer the "natural" way or simple home remedies to knock out their discomfort. Some cases, however, need medicine. If you have an ear infection, you better believe amoxicillin or some other antibiotic is coming your way. You don't want the infection to eat away at you, do you? Here are some home remedies I use in for myself and my Alex:

Chammomile-Not only is it a natural anti-histamine (allergy), it also soothes an upset stomach. So does Anis tea.

Hydrogen Peroxide-I know this may sound gross, but if your throat is a little itchy, right before you get sick kind of feeling, gargle this every 5 minutes for about 45 minutes. It's not very tasty, but may help you in the long run.

Peppermint tea-Peppermint can be used to relieve congestions from the nose. A little strong, but it sure does help.

Linden Leaves Tea-If you are having a small problem with falling asleep, this will definitely help.

Soda-only good for relieving a headache I think. Notice how Excedrin's main ingredient is caffeine. I'm not saying to drink it every day because if you do, when you try to quit that or coffee, you go through withdrawls.

Ginger-This helps if you have gastritis. If you have fresh ginger with salt 10 minutes before meals, it should help stimulate digestioin. Sucking on ginger also helps when you have hiccups. Making a ginger tea also helps with severe cough.

Baking soda-If you got some heartburn, dilute baking soda with water. Trust me! Works wonders!

Corn Syrup-Karo Corn Syrup helped my son in the blink of an eye when he was consipated at 3. Amazing!

Ginseng-If you have a low immune system yup that's me taking ginseng really does help if you take it daily.

Avocado-Avocado can help soothe your hair and skin. Use an avocado with a papaya to make a paste. Rinse after 20 minutes with warm water. This can be especially helpful for those of you that need it for winter dryness.

Papaya-I fasted on papaya when I was first diagnosed with gastritis. Papaya and butter can also help minor burns.

Honey-Hot milk and honey before bedtime can ease your cough. Honey is also known to help with sore throats.

These are some home remedies I have personally tried and have all worked!

If you need to know anymore, just hit me up on twitter!

www.twitter.com/itsmindy0531

To Move or Not to Move?...that is the question

I am so conflicted as to where I should move to. I am sick and tired of Miami and the bullshit that comes with it. But they do have great weather unless during March-November you getting your tan on at the beach. I really don't know how I have done 13 summers here and not melted into permenently brown woman. Summer time I am Foxy Cleopatra and I got a whole lot o lovin!! I'm even thinking Ft. Myers Florida. It's on the west side of Florida and probably a 1.5 hour away from my house.

My dream would be NJ. But damn shit is expensive. Homeless people in Newark live better than some Cubans I see living in Hialeah. I can't do it. But I do see myself visiting NYC in the near future.

Even on the west coast....I SEE YOU VEGAS!! I SEE YOU!!!!

The Arts

Everyone loves music-well, maybe not love-but at least likes music. I bet if you really thought about it, you could compose a soundtrack to your life in the blink of an eye. I do enjoy listening to music, but I have to admit, some of the garbage on the radio is NOT very appealing on the ears. Lil' Wayne has some good beats to some of his music, but damn, sometimes you can't understand what the hell he is saying! Maybe I'm just old school, and by old school I mean A Tribe Called Quest, The Beatles, Wu Tang Clan, Nirvana, U2-you know music that was actually GOOD. But then again I am 30 and not 15, my dad HATED Wu Tang Clan, so my styles of music may be different. Over the holidays, Dec 31, 2010 to be exact, I left my IPOD on a plane after we landed here in Miami. I was still am a little devastated about it. I never realized how much I depended on that little pink contraption until it was stripped from me!! ok maybe it wasn't stripped and I accidently left it under the seat in front of me.

Speaking of music, I went dancing Saturday night at this hole in the wall on South Beach called Purdy Lounge. Purdy lounge has blazin' music from the 90s from DJ Boe and its usually on and poppin' when we go. They play everything 90s-Bell Biv Devoe, 112, Biggie, Jay Z, Missy, I mean this DJ can jam. I would love to borrow his laptop one day-yes his laptop and only his laptop. I'm not that much of a groupie.

Before dancing, we went to the Bernice Steinbaum Gallery in the design district, but Bernice was sick :(. She is like the Lady Gaga of art fashion is off the chain and she is a Jewish New Yorker. You don't want to mess with this broad. Look at her and her fabulous self.

That's her in her gallery in the design destrict here in Miami with an artist's work in the background. She knows her shit. She is an OG(original gangsta) in the art game. She had a gallery in the Soho area in New York but relocated to Miami. Miami has a small social/celebrity scene, but an even smaller art scene. She has done a lot to make her name, and those struggling women and minority artists alive in Miami. I love her. She should have played Charlotte York's boss in Sex and the City. My friend works for her so that's how I was introduced about 3-5(not sure on that one) years ago. First, she interned with her and she's been with Bernice ever since. My friend's name is Britt (pictured below with the red hair and the fabulous outfit) is such a cultured individual with no malice in her heart. I think because of her I am a nicer person. I have also known her for maybe 10 years now. But don't get it twisted, because of me she can get a little ghetto. It's an even exchange in my opinion. Next to me is my soul sista Jeane'. She needed to come the gallery because she hadn't been. 'Bout time, sista!

There is Jessica and I modeling I use that term very loosely an interesting work of art from Carol Prusa that was featured this weekend at Bernice Steinbaum's Gallery.

I know I did this post ass backwards, I'm sorry! My upper back is also in a lot of pain! Till we meet again.....XOXO

OOOOOOOHHHHH SNAP!

So it's finally Friday. My son is back home, laundry is done, food shopping is complete, and Dateline NBC came and went. I've had a hellacious week at work so I stormed out of there as soon as I could. I normally don't go out on Friday nights, as it's my night to chill out, but tomorrow night I will be hangin with some of my girls. I need a drink PRONTO.

I'm watching Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Pee-Wee Herman is on there creepy. Yea yea yea I used to watch his show but he is creepy. Fallon also created a song called "The Pro Bowl Shuffle" you know, like the Chicago Bears sang "The Super Bowl Shuffle." And Fallon's impression of Tom Brady is hilarious. You can check it out on NBC.COM under Jimmy Fallon Show. Michelle Williams is also on and she is Heath Ledger's baby momma and her pixie hair cut is a bit odd. She looks like a boy and needs to get extensions. STAT. Damn stylist of Michelle Williams, where you at?

:)

By Mindy

Middle-Schoolers are off the motherf*&(ing chain this week. ITS NOT EVEN FRIDAY YET.

The week has dragged on, but my co-workers also feel the same. Even the Assisstant Principals at my job are thinking the same thing.

I want to go to NJ.

I want to move out of the HELLHOLE state.

My family gets back early tomorrow morning.

It's TSHIRT TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

EEEEEEEE!

Mindy is blogging about TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT SHIRTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT



TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMM

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Mindy is tired, sleepy and dirty but still bloggin about TSHIRT
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!

Moving on up...to the west side?

I am thinking of moving out of Florida, but have so many thoughts about it. IF I didn't have my boo-boo, as pictured below, trust me I would just get up and go. The only good thing about South

Florida is the weather except the summer. It's looking more and more like Las Vegas is the way to go because I am so familiar with the suburban city/town called Summerlin. Summerlin is a great family-friendly city that has a population of about 100,00 (November 2010, Wikipedia) while Miami has 2.5 million overcrowded, hot, muggy, underpaid, ghetto, trust me I could go on forever. Mind you, the whole state of Nevada has about 2.7 million according to the 2010 U.S. Census. I also had the chance to go to Houston and Chicago and while both are great cities, my family is familiar and comfortable with the lifestyle in good ol' Summerlin. My family has to be considered in this move only because of my boo-boo as pictured above.

Everyone I talk to tells me how wherever they live is so bad, but Miami really sucks. I could really go on and on about this topic and the more I talk about it, the more pissed I'll get so I'm going to stop while I'm ahead. So far 2011 has been a little on the down side because my boo-boo is still livin it up in Vegas. Now I am watching the People's Choice Awards and Queen Latifah is talking to the Kardashians and they look pretty good. Khloe lightened her hair no bueno. Zac Efron looks damn good too muy bueno. Queen Latifah looks pretty good, but she needs to come out of the closet already! She is large and in charge! Blonk!

2011

The end of my 2010 SUCKED!

I boarded a flight back home to Miami (yup, back home) only to receive some stank skank flight attendant's attitude. This airline, that is American hint hint, has already received 2 complaints from me. Then I left my IPOD on the plane. Never got it back. I hate Miami.

And of course this was my first New Year's Eve without my son awwwwwwwwwwwwwww.




Well I got home and had a small get together for New Year's Eve.

These were my guests.

It was small and intimate and were able to have great laughs and great convo. We even had Bravo's Wig Drop on in the background (it was on very low volume because some people have yet to embrace the great Andy Cohen) and drinks flowing. At the stroke of midnight, I was on the phone with my booboo, the power went off, and we all hugged. It was fun!

I hope 2011 brings health and happiness to myself and to my loved ones and of course to all of you!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo