So the Bet is Over

So the bet is over…three days in and my competition dropped out due to personal reasons. However, I decided to continue on with the challenge because I like the results that I’ve been getting. Since my goal isn’t weight loss, I haven’t been counting calories. My major concern has been making sure that my body gets the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals. So I have increased my daily veggie and fruit servings. I’ve been trying to get my servings as close as possible to the food pyramid…which has actually been changed to a big plate. I have also cut back on the processed sugar. Since I have been out of my parents’ house I haven’t had anyone to tell me “No,” so I have been eating some sweet ridiculousness daily as well as eating out. I haven’t stopped eating out, but I have changed what I eat when I dine out. I don’t go to my usual fast food joints and order greasy burgers and fries. I stick with veggies, seafood, and chicken---usually baked or grilled.  I’m pretty sure that my calorie intake has inadvertently taken a nosedive.

Dinnertime!! Salmon and Spinach

Snackin'!! Strawberries, Blueberries and Granola over Vanilla Yogurt

In addition to changing my diet, I’ve also started to add physical activity to my weekly routine. This wasn’t part of the original bet, I just felt like it. One free weekend (these are a rarity for me) I decided to try yoga. I went to a yoga studio in Galveston---it had an unexpected effect. I freaking loved it! I tried yoga a couple of times when I was younger, but wasn’t really feeling it. Recently I needed to de-stress and as God would have it yoga is the only exercise class that I could fit into my schedule. After that one Saturday, I enjoyed it so much that I found a yoga studio ten minutes away and bought a yoga mat. I’m digging the peaceful and at times challenging workout.

Yoga time!

Since I can only take my yoga class once a week, I’ve been searching for other ways to become more physically active. I happen to catch a clip of Kelly Rowland on Chelsea Lately and she was talking about her new workout video. Kelly Rowland has an awesome body and I liked to think we have a similar body type aside from her enviable abs, new boobies, etc. So I did something I don’t normally do….I purchased a workout tape.  I just got my Sexy Abs workout DVD in the mail and it was on and popping literally. I am sooooo out of shape. I don’t even think I made it half-way through the damn video. And I was reminded why I haven’t worked out in eons. My natural inclination is to give up and resume my exercise-less life, but I won’t! I will forge on and hopefully get better.

It's on and popping!

All in all, I have had more energy, before I would feel fatigue off and on throughout the day. I haven’t had that feeling since I’ve changed my diet. Since I stop eating when I am satisfied and not “full,” I also don’t have that “overstuffed” feeling that usually brings on a case of the “-itis” with it. Lastly, my mood has improved. This may also have been brought on by my weekly yoga, but it feels as though I have found inner peace among all of the chaos of life…I like this!


Ms. Jas

The Bet

When I tell people I want to eat healthy the most common reaction I get is why. I have never had issues with weight gain as an adolescent or as an adult. I have actually had quite the opposite; I have spent most of my life being slim. As a kid I was teased for being skinny. I would eat and eat trying to make myself gain weight to no avail.  Eventually I embraced my small frame and now I have a healthy body image despite all of the bootylicious divas scattered across mainstream media. Because of my size, a lot of people scoff at my desire to eat a healthier and more balanced diet as if weight is the only issue one should be concerned about. However, last time I checked slender people still have much of the same health concerns as larger sized people. Yes, obesity is connected to heart disease and diabetes just to name a few conditions; but those can also be found in smaller people. For instance, family members of mine have had high blood pressure and diabetes. That is something that I have to be cognizant of.

Another reason why I was interested in eating healthier was the concept that food is medicine. I’ve been interested in veganism for a few months now. I will not be trying a vegan diet simply because I don’t feel like my body can forgo eating meat. I’m not saying that I’m a crazy carnivore and I eat the whole pig from the roota to the toota. I honestly think I need meat even if it has to be a lean meat or maybe it’s the protein my body requires...whatever, I just can’t give up meat. However, I found it intriguing that illnesses can be cured or prevented simply by changing our diet. So when my home girl bet me to eat a healthy diet for the entire month of February I was all in.

I have tried this before and I would go maybe two weeks at a time before falling off of the wagon. My arch nemesis is fast food and/or dining out. I am child of convenience. I crave instant gratification. So when it’s 8 o’ clock at night and the mood’s just right, you might find me at your nearest drive-thru or Chinese restaurant. I do not like working all day, coming home, only to stand on my feet for 30 minutes or more preparing a meal that I will probably be too tired to eat when it’s finished. Also, I love my sleep and most of the time I wake up too late to fix my lunch which means I eat out sometimes at least twice a day. I guess I sound pretty lazy, huh? Don’t judge me. With all of this being said, I will need some assistance with finding simple and quick recipes. Help please!

Another challenge that I have to eating healthy is that I have the palate of a 3-year-old. I have gotten a lot better, but I am still hesitant to try new and weird foods. I will go to a restaurant and order the same thing over and over again. There is nothing worse than deciding to try something new when you’re starving and having it turn out completely disgusting. Which is why I generally stick with the tried and true, however, for the sake of the bet I am willing to try new foods; it may actually be imperative to me winning this bet.

I will be updating my blog with stories from my journey to a healthier lifestyle. And I would definitely love feedback, tips, and recipes. The bet officially starts February 1^st. Let’s get it!!

Motherhood and Marriage vs. Career...what to do, what to do...?

So it’s a few days after my 27^th birthday and shit just got real. I have always been very ambitious, but admittedly, I have been on auto-pilot for the last couple of years. Like most people, I got caught up in the everyday strife of working just to get by. It felt as though my 20s would never be over and then 27 cold-cocked me in the forehead.  My 30s are around the corner and I still have a lot of stuff to accomplish. Now, I do know that I am still very young and I have a lot of living to do, but it’s something about coming upon the end of a decade that makes you put everything into perspective.

With this in mind, I was talking with a co-worker about careers, college, etc. and she asked me, “What about a husband and kids?” And I stopped myself from saying with a hint of stankness, “What about a husband and kids?” Despite my ambitiousness, I never thought I couldn’t have it all, but whenever someone meets me and observes my drive or singleness, I always get the same responses. “Don’t you want to settle down?” “You’re one of those career girls, aren’t you?”

My frustration with these questions is that it’s pretty much assumed and accepted that as a woman you have to choose one or the other….you can’t have both. That annoys the shitake out of me. Yes, I can be very ambitious and lost in my dreams probably more so than the next person, but WHY can’t I have BOTH.


Perhaps I watch too many damn romantic comedies or maybe I shouldn’t have taken the Huxtables at face value, but I want it all: the career, the man, and the kids. And I think it’s possible. The ironic thing is that these questions are always asked by other women. I very rarely get this response from men. I actually get the complete opposite. They usually tell me to run far, far away from the idea of marriage until I’ve gotten all of the shenanigans of my youth out.

Basically, what I’m saying, is it’s nothing wrong with wanting marriage and motherhood, but there also isn’t anything wrong with wanting a great career either. So don’t try to make me choose!

Something to Talk About: New Ebony Tumblr

May 1972

Lately, I’ve been in love with everything vintage, especially random fashion finds. So when I crept up on the new Ebony tumblr via one of my favorite websites, Clutch, I just had to mention it. The tumblr is complete with images from past Ebony magazines such as covers and advertisements…I love it! Check it out: http://ebonymag.tumblr.com/page/2

Who Knew Hair Could be So Controversial

When I was younger I asked my mother, “Does it mean I want to be white because I wear a relaxer?” My mother replied, “No, you can wear your hair however the hell you want to!” I was maybe around 11 or so and I can’t recall what prompted me to ask her this question, probably some discussion at school…who knows?


Now I’m quickly approaching 27 and hair is still an issue. On December 18th, I will have officially been relaxer aka “creamy crack” free for one year. If you have been living under a rock, then maybe you have yet to notice the multitude of black women going “natural.” Someone goes “natural” when they have decided to stop chemically straightening their hair. For most, including myself, this is a huge decision because of current standards of beauty: long and straight. I considered going natural for about a year before I finally got the nerve to do it. I had the usual reservations: how would I look, will it effect how I am seen on my job, will men find me attractive, etc.


After waiting hours in the salon despite being on time for my appointment for the zillionth time, I finally decided to go natural. Once I made the decision, I didn’t turn back. Women make the decision for plenty of reasons. I made it because (a) I was bored with my hair-I loved my super cute and short ‘do, but after rocking it for about three years, I was bored; and (b) I was tired of being a slave to my hair-I stayed in the hair salon, it felt like a part-time job, then I would run from the tiniest bit of water or sweat…I was over it.

After confiding in my hair stylist, that I was worried about how I would look with natural hair, she said to me in a matter of fact sort of way, “You’re going to look like yourself.” It was at that moment, I felt like she hit me over the head with a can of V8. Like duh, why didn’t I think of that?! So I begin to make the transition from relaxed hair to natural hair.

Overall, I have received a lot of positive feedback during this journey. I’ve also gotten a lot of compliments from men and women. But it has truly been an eye-opening realization about some of the deep-seeded self-hate that continues to plague the black community. The sad part about it is that it’s so much apart of our mentality we don’t even notice that we’re saying something wrong. I am not against relaxing one’s hair. I did it for a very long time and I’m not saying that I will never do it again. I’m just saying that we still have some complexes concerning race. Among the compliments, I also meet a lot of women, who want to go natural, but are fearful of the response or are already natural, but wear weaves because there scared to rock their natural hair. To me that is not okay. It’s your hair; it grew out of your head. You should not be ashamed of something that is you.


Some of the comments I have heard this past year, mostly from other black people have been quite disheartening. A frequent question that I got when I told people I was transitioning (going natural) was, “What type of hair do you have?” People were really obsessed with my curl pattern. One woman in the hair salon I frequented stated that she didn’t have the ‘right type’ of hair to go natural. Or I got that look of horror as someone asked, “Why?”


Lately, my personal favorite has been the back-handed compliment. You know the one where the person really doesn’t have anything nice to say, but they don’t want to be mean or maybe they really are trying to be nice-nasty. One church member told me that she didn’t expect me to have that “quality of hair” and “that at least my hair wasn’t nappy.” Another one that I have gotten a couple of times is “I liked the ‘Monica’ look on you,” referring to the short hair cut I rocked previously.


I really wish we would stop subscribing to a standard of beauty that wasn’t created for us and realize that our differences are what make us great. One of the things I love about my hair is its versatility. I truly can wear my hair however the hell I want to. In the meantime, I will do just that ;-)

Ms. Jas

Bah Humbug and the Christmas Blues

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1857

As the Christmas holiday quickly approaches, I have tried to force feed myself some Christmas joy by walking through the holiday decoration aisles of Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby. It didn’t work. I can not bare the thought of holiday movies and anytime I hear a Christmas song on the radio, I quickly change the station. Now I have not been spreading my Scrooge-like tendencies to others who are indeed enjoying this holiday season. I have been kind enough to keep all of this to myself until now.


I haven’t always been like this. Christmas is usually a big production at my house. My parents go all in. Even though my brother and I are adults, they still wait until the night before Christmas to put presents under the tree that are signed, “From: Mr. and Mrs. Claus.” My mom buys Christmas shirts and hats for everyone, we go to church on Christmas Eve and open our presents listening to my mother’s Soulful Christmas CD. Now that I have been living in Texas for the past couple of years, Christmas has been the only time of the year that I have gotten to see my family because I’m too busy being a grown-up.

One thing that I’ve learned since I’ve moved farther away is that people from home don’t come to visit you as often as you like. They actually prefer you come to see them instead of the other way around. Last Christmas, I was so frustrated by this notion as well as the ridiculous amount of money I spend on holiday travel that I said that I wouldn’t be coming home this Christmas.

This April, my mom passed away. Last Christmas was the last Christmas that I spent with her. I am so thankful that I didn’t give into my Scrooge-like tendencies then and I haven’t even missed the money that I spent. This year I will be going back home as usual to spend the Christmas holiday with my family. I expect it to be difficult; needless to say that this growing expectation has probably stifled my holiday joy.

I once heard that the holiday season is the time of year when depression increases the most. Given my current situation, I do not find this surprising at all. A lot of people look forward to the holidays because they finally get to use that vacation time they’ve been saving up to see family and friends. When we lose someone close to us, life will be difficult to handle at times, especially around the holidays. I encourage whoever is reading this to take a minute outside of the holiday hustle and bustle to be there for someone…it can be as simple as a hug, smile, compliment, or an open ear and heart. You never know who might need it the most.

Ms. Jas

The Adventures of Sweet Thang, Pt. 2

"Wobble Wobble" Bread Pudding

The adventure continues with my “Wobble Wobble” Bread Pudding. For some strange reason, I’ve been wanting to make bread pudding for a while now and with the weather finally starting to get cooler I figured this would be the perfect dessert to kick off the fall season.

Let me start off by saying this is my very first time making bread pudding and my second time trying the dessert. Please do not ask me, “What in the world possessed you to make bread pudding if you have no idea what it tastes like?” because I don’t know. Prior to making what a turned out to be a pretty on point pudding, I tried the bread pudding at a local café that shall remain nameless. It was a mini-bread pudding served with a vanilla sauce. I didn’t really care for it. I dismissed the idea that I didn’t like bread pudding. Instead I decided that their form of bread pudding was a little too plain for me. After that experience, I scoured the internet for bread pudding recipes and settled on a recipe I found in the Dessert Bible.

I modified the recipe just a little bit…instead of using whole milk; I used almond milk (I don’t like plain whole milk) and omitted the bourbon. I don’t own bourbon nor do I drink it, so I thought it would be a waste of money to buy some because I would never use it again…the recipe only called for 3 teaspoons.

I did make a small mistake. I soaked all 8 cups of my bread cubes in the custard mixture instead of the six it called for; I was supposed to leave 2 cups of the bread dry. But being the resourceful individual I am, I was able to recover and it didn’t ruin the ending result.

I have to be honest, after taking the first bite, I wasn’t really sure if I liked it. I took a couple more bites and realized the texture was throwing me off. Since I’ve never eaten custard before, it took me a few minutes to get used to the gooey texture. There was a variation in the texture which I enjoyed; it was caused by the dry, crispy bread on top of the custard. The cinnamon and nutmeg reminded me of French toast…my favorite thing to have for breakfast.

All in all, I have to say the amateur pastry chef did a great job again. The best part about making the bread pudding was I already had the ingredients in my fridge and pantry. I even video-taped the whole process and I will be editing and posting it pretty soon. Look out for “Switchin’ in the Kitchen.”

Until we meet again…

Sweet Thang