Rantings of a Creole Princess

Nick Cannon: HotNESS or HotMESS?

Insurance Anyone?

I was talking to a young man who was mad about having to buy healthcare insurance.  He was going IN!  Says he hasn't been to the doctor in over three years so why should he HAVE to have insurance.

I asked him if he had insurance on his car and on his cellphone.

He said it's not the same thing.

I asked what does he think will happen if he left and got into a horrible accident in his insured car and he said he's sure he'd be taken to the emergency room.

Well...who's going to pay for that if you don't have insurance?

Him:  But why does medical treatment cost so much?  It shouldn't cost that much!

Me:  But it does.  That's not going to change while you're in the hospital having major surgery.  Hopefully the doctors working on you have had the best education money can buy and they're using the best equipment money can buy and the nurses are stellar and the facility is top notch...you see where I'm going here.

Him:  But that's a bit if.  IF I get in an accident.

Me:  Or IF you get cancer.  I got cancer when I was in my early 20s.  Thank God I had insurance back then or I'd certainly be dead.  

Him:  You had cancer?

Me:  Yeah...but that's neither here nor there.  If you got in a bad accident or got cancer or something else bad, the hospital social worker person would come to your room with a stack of papers and get you and your mother to fill them out so you can get some government assistance to help pay for your hospital bills.  And you know who pays for that?  Me.  That guy over there.  Probably that woman.  Your teacher from grade school.  Your mom who has worked her entire life.  We pay for that with our taxes and honestly...we're sick of it.  So...pay your own way and then your bitching about what the government makes you do might get more than an eyeroll from us.  You probably pay more per month for your phone than you'd have to pay for insurance so I'm not even trying to hear it.  Shit.

The deadline is today and I'm certain that young man didn't sign up.  Do YOU know anyone mad about having to get insurance?  Do you agree with them?  If you don't have insurance...what's your plan in the event of an emergency?  

 

Scenario...

You're sitting on a plane next to someone.

They start a bit of small talk.

You know...the norm.  

Where you going, yada, yada...

They ask what you do and you tell them.

They tell you it sounds cool and not high stress like their job is.

You ask what kind of work do they do.

They tell you they're an assassin.

How do you react?

What does THOT mean?

Over and over again I've seen something about the rapper 2 Chainz making fun of a young lady and calling her a THOT.  

For the life of me...I couldn't figure out what it meant.  Luckily for me...I know people who are all in the know regarding what the new stuff means.

To be honest...I was scared to ask after the whole "surfboard" conversation I had to have...so it was with severe caution that I decided to ask a framily member to explain...

Mommy and Daddy

When's the last time you were able to spend some good quality time with your parents alone? Just you. No siblings, spouses or kids? Just you.

iTunes Store E-book Credit

Did anyone else get one of these too?

It looked scammy to me so I checked it out.  Turns out it was legit!  I got money back!

Thoughts?

Louisiana parish bans saggy pants; $50 fine for first offense

Read more: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/25089335/louisiana-parish-bans-saggy-pants-50-fine-for-first-offense#ixzz2xBu8dUNJ 

Tessamae Dressings, Marinades and Spreads

I love good eating.  I seriously do.  On the top of my good eating list is a good, colorful and flavorful salad.  Like...my salads be EPIC!  People actually have salads here and ask me for the salad recipe.  I'm like...honestly...I just threw together what I knew I liked and would taste good.

EPIC.NESS.

But now salad dressings that I can eat are hard to come by.  My FAVORITE salad dressing isn't gluten-free so I had to make my own version of it:

Truth be told however...sometimes I'm just not in the mood for all of that. LOL!

I was in Whole Foods one day last week and a woman was sauteing fresh veggies with this sauce:  Tessamae's Soy Ginger

After assuring me it was gluten-free, I tried some.  And then I bought some.  And the same veggies she was using.  And I went home.  And I was in SAUCE.HEAVEN!  

And now...I own three different ones and shall be adding to that I'm sure.  

SO.

DARN.

GOOD!

God versus The Creator

I'm having a very interesting conversation about the movie "Noah."  As I'm sure you've heard...folks are mad.about.it even though they haven't even watched the movie yet.

One of the main reasons is that they never refer to the Big Guy as God in the movie. But they do refer to Him as The Creator.

I'm curious to know how you feel about that.  Do you consider this disrespectful to your faith and beliefs?  Are YOU going to see the movie?

Public School / Private School

If you went to public school...did you send your kids to public school?  If you sent your kid to private school...why?

Mika Brzezinski and Things Men Do...

I hate it when a man is uncomfortable with a woman, who is making a valid point in a calm and rational way, and tells her to calm down or take it down.  She wasn't yelling.  She wasn't throwing things.  She was simply speaking her mind and disagreeing with the way they were reporting the "news."  

My husband told me to "settle down" once and I lost it.

We stopped using those words.

Does this drive you insane too?

Vow Renewal

If you ever decided to renew your vows...would you wear a formal dress or a casual one?

Question...

Did your parents exercise when you were growing up?  Do they now?  

The Rock as "Hercules" Trailer

Me love him.

Skin Issues BE GONE!

I don't normally have skin issues with my face unless something is out of whack big time.  This winter was wreaking havoc and I had a couple of dry patches which freaked me out.  I found my fingers constantly reaching for the patches and rubbing them.  Like...I was unconsciously so curious about the touch and feel of them.  I'd tried some new moisturizers that other friends shared they were using and something in them was far too strong for my skin and it got irritated.

No.

I went in for a consultation for a facial and got far more information than I thought I needed and samples of VERY expensive products which smelled nice.  Since I'm all weirded out about new stuff...I went to check out reviews and whatnot of the fancy, smancy products which would cost me about $260 to purchase.

Then...I found the most fascinating website EVER!  Paula's Choice Beautypedia 

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS WEBSITE!  I used the review search tool:  Search Reviews

The super expensive products I was researching got a 'poor' review.  Why?  Because of the cost.  Basically...I could get the same benefits from products FAR.LESS.EXPENSIVE.  One of the brands suggested was CeraVe.  

Shelly:  That's what I use.  My dermatologist told me to use it.

SIP:  *BLINK*  So um...erra...you been holding out on me?

Shelly:  You ain't ask heffa!

SIP:  (Note to self...cut her deep and for true next time.)

So I drove to Target and bought the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, the CeraVe AM Moisturizer and the CeraVe PM Moisturizer.

No more dry patches and all is well in my face world again.

Robby doesn't know it yet but he is totally changing to their sunscreen too.  So there.  We will do this graceful aging thing together.  LOL!

Oh...and here's some coupons for it:  CeraVe Coupons

Check out the products you use on Paula's Choice website and tell me what you find.  I'm totally curious.  Oh yeah...and who knew about this site and didn't tell us?  Humph.

I Got Mine!

Check Your Inbox: Amazon Sent E-Book Refunds Today

Did you get one?

HotNESS or HotMESS? (SM)

What do yall think about this?  Just use painter's tape and paint to paint a harlequin mat in front of your door directly on the concrete?

Dear You:

You said yourself...you forgave him once and here you are again. I didn't say much because well...I don't think you wanted me to say anything. So I just listened.

I just watched this video on VH1 Soul and the whole montage of Aretha's man taking the other woman and her kids out was just so jacked up...I thought of you.  The words were more powerful than anything I could have ever said to you.  So well...maybe give it a listen.  Or not.  Maybe you feel this way.  Or you don't.  Maybe you're tired.  Or you're not.

Maybe your heart knows you can't be happy in this situation but maybe you keep letting your brain add up pros which aren't really pros at all.

Maybe...just maybe everyone who knows already knows that you're not going to do anything to change anything so they just wish you the best.  In whatever way YOU think is best.

Brisket for Breakfast

The Robinator both agreed that we didn't want to go out for dinner to celebrate our anniversary this year.  I decided to cook us a special meal at home.  I told him I'd cook whatever he wanted and he couldn't come up with one suggestion stating that it's always good so why does he have to pick something.  Dude would just rather eat whatever is in front of him.

SIP:  Imma remember that.

I gave him all sorts of suggestions from fancy seafood dishes to grilled lamb chops.  He was like...it doesn't matter...but I don't want lobster or lamb chops.

SIP:  *BLINK*

Or shrimp.  Seems like we've had a lot of shrimp lately.

Nothing with gravy.

That wild rice is good.  Kinda.  Maybe not.

It doesn't matter really.  Whatever you decide is fine with me.

SIP:  *BLINK*BLINK*BLINK*HARD.STARE*

I still didn't know what I was going to make as I was roaming around the store and then...I decided on a brisket even though I knew I wasn't going to be able to marinate it overnight.  I'd just told a Jewish friend the other day that I needed to buy a brisket before their Passover dinner because they buy up all the brisket and make the prices go up with supply/demand concept and whatnot.  LOL!  So...I found a nice 4lb brisket, rinsed it off well, seasoned it with fresh minced garlic, diced onion, fresh cracked pepper and a wee bit of cayenne pepper and put it fat side up in a shallow pan.  Then...I added 2 cups of beef stock and covered it TIGHT with 'luminum ferl (aluminum foil) and let it cook without opening the oven on 350 degrees for a solid 3 hours.

Then I removed it and checked the temperature.  It was at around 190 degrees which is what I was going for.  Next...I sliced it and put it back in the pan making sure all the meat was covered with the au jus, covered it up again and let it go for 20 more minutes while I got the rest of the meal going.

I'm not going to tell you how good it was.  I'm not going to tell you how good the house was smelling.  I'm not even going to tell you about how there was some serious sopping up of au jus going on over here.

But I will tell you that I just had brisket and boiled eggs for breakfast.

And I slurped up the juice something ferocious.

LOL!

When's the last time you cooked something SO.GOOD...you had some for breakfast the next morning?  

 

Spring 2014

Scenario...

You've always told your nephew that when the time comes, you'll help him buy his first car.
He just got his license.
You write him a check for $3,000 and hand it to your sister, explaining that he can only buy the car his mother approves of and once she has approved...she will guide him in buying the car.
A week later your nephew calls you enraged.
Your sister gave him her old car (probably worth about three grand) and used the $3k to put a down payment on a new car for her.
You good?
- MMingo

Question...

How do you change a baby's diaper on a plane?  In the bathroom stall or in your seat?  

Mountain Lion...Bobcat...Nice Lady...Hilarity

Yesterday was seriously THE.FUNNIEST.DAY I've had in a while.  There were times when I laughed so hard I couldn't even talk.  Who was I laughing at?  Myself and my people who were laughing at me.  T-Rhonda was in her office talking to me on the phone laughing so hard I just knew someone was going to pass by and close her office door.  Just a mess!

As the day continued...it just got funnier and funnier.  I imagined how people would react if they could just be a fly on the wall of my life with the people I love in it and I swear...I think we'd change the world for the better just by how much fun we have, how much we laugh and what we actually for real find interesting and talk about.  The main culprit?  My husband.  He is seriously THE.FUNNIEST.MAN.ON.EARF.

And you'd also be surprised at just how many of us are nerdy as hell.  Fascinated by the most interesting things, hitting up Mr. Google, sharing articles, pictures, hell...even full on scientific studies about some things.  And the next minute?  Something ridiculously ratchet.

PURE.JOY!

In person conversations, email, messages, comments, texts, phone conversations, etc.  We some funny people.

Are YOUR people funny too?  Do you have more joyful interactions than not?  When your people are laughing at you...can you laugh right along with them because you know good and well that ish is funny too?

If not...I sure hope so.  It's healing in the best way possible.  I promise.

Question...what was your LAST text message?

Mine? If a bear is on your flight, just give him some of your almonds and don't make any sudden movements.

*sigh*

COMPLETE.JOY!

Mountain Lion...No.

I was sitting outside this morning and heard a sound from up top across from me. I looked up to find a mountain lion had decided to check out the view from up above. I got up slowly and backed the hell up letting myself out of the pool area quietly. When I hit the door to my building I RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN to my room and called the front desk alerting them. They were on it. I went to the gym so I could see if he was still there and he was. Chilling. Cleaning himself. On top of the thingy surrounding the pool. I'm still shaking and I may or may not need to change my underwear.

Zero Tolerance

A 6th grader finds out a fellow student is using a razor blade to cut himself.

She takes the razor blade from him, throws it away, and tells an administrator.

The 6th grader ends up being suspended for 10 days for touching the "weapon."

She also has to be reviewed for consideration of expulsion.

You good?

Are these zero tolerance rules ridiculous?  

Do you know a child who has been adversely affected by them?

How was it resolved?

Student suspended for taking razor from self-harming classmate

 

Question...

If you put your 19 year old son or daughter out...where do you think they'd go?

Would YOU date him?

Your age.

Tall.

Amazing smile.

VERY well groomed.  (The dude who always smells good and has the perfect 5 o'clock shadow come 5 o'clock without even trying it seems.)

Divorced.

Two children with previous wife ages 10 and 12.

Moved to the area when his ex-wife did so he could still co-parent with her.

Is actively involved with his church and sings in the men's choir.

Is successful in a mid level management kinda way.

Shows up to your first date dressed like this:

Marijuana Question...

What are YOUR personal thoughts on marijuana as it relates to altering the brain negatively?  Do you think it only happens when the drug is being abused?  Do you think that the people who abuse it probably had issues which would have benefited from people with initials behind their name long before the marijuana abuse?

Or...do you think it's harmless?

From DB:

My wife and I are having a disagreement over the latest Dear Abby (http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/2014/3/20). 

One of the letters is about a woman who moved in with her boyfriend and now the living situation has got to the point where she is calling it abuse.  As the letter is printed, I do not see it as abuse but my wife does.  I see it as a situation where she is in his house and he has a way of doing things and neither of them have adjusted to each other.  I think she needs to sit down and talk to him about her concerns.  She is stressed and probably does need to leave, though.  What do you and your readers think?

Did you know this about ginger?

#SELFIE

Scenario from real life...

A teenager is pregnant.

She gives birth to a stillborn child.

The doctor, well known as being highly controversial, finds traces of a chemical produced by cocaine in the child's system.

There is little doubt the mother used cocaine while pregnant.

The state of Mississippi charges the young mother with murder.

You good?

Teen Mom Used Cocaine While Pregnant. Her Baby Died. Mississippi Charged Her With Murder.

Winter Sunbathing

My skin is already looking healthy and hydrated just from laying in the sun for a few hours.  I totally missed the sun.  Makes me happy, happy, soooooooooo happy!  Can't WAIT to have this sun on my own deck at my own home!  

On a scale of 1 - 10...how's your week been so far?

HotNESS or HotMESS? (SM): Jimmy Choo Damsen

Plum Perfect App

Has anyone tried this app out yet?  Plum Perfect

Sherlock Made Me Do It

The Robinator and I were watching the very first episode of Sherlock when Sherlock Holmes gave his assessment of a dead woman's marriage based on her wedding ring.  Basically he said that it hasn't been cleaned properly in a while so her marriage was quite obviously dead and that she obviously took her ring off often because the inside was all shiny.

Guiltily...I got up and looked over my wedding jewelry thinking...hmmmmm...when's the last time I took these in for a polish?

LOL!

I didn't feel like making the trek all the way to the city to have them done by the jeweler they were purchased from do it for free so I hit up a close mall to find a jeweler to do them.  That proved to not be easy to do.  The majority of the good jewelry stores had closed up shop and the one large chain jewelry store only had someone who came in twice a week.  I considered returning but then I realized that the jeweler would be in the back where I couldn't see him/her while they had my ring.

Um...no.

I watched a 20/20 episode about that once that made me know to never do that.

So I kept searching and found a little store waaaaaaaaay in the back that did jewelry repairs and the jeweler's workstation was where you could watch him.  The name of the place was something basic as heck like...Quick Jewelry Repair.  LOL!  JOY!  

He quoted me a price of $50 to polish them and I negotiated him down to $40.  When he quickly agreed...I got mad at myself.  I could have probably gotten him down to $30.  

Well...needless to say...my wedding jewelry is, once again, sparkling and shiny big time.  When I showed The Robinator I gave him a big hug and said...I MUST LOVE YOU AGAIN!   

For some reason he didn't find the same humor I found in that.  LOL!

When's the last time you got your wedding jewelry polished and cleaned properly?  How much did it cost if you didn't go to your original jeweler?  What jewelry stores are in the mall closest to you?

Scenario From Real Life

You look at your bank statement and note there has been a significant deposit you didn't make.
Do you contact the bank immediately or do you let it ride thinking the bank will figure it out and fix it soon?
- MMingo

Truth is...

I can't even fake it today.

Face Wash and Moisturizer Question

Your face wash and moisturizer...are they from the same brand and line within the same brand?

All the joy in all the world!

Throwback Thursday

You're married.

You like to participate in Throwback Thursday online.

Is it disrespectful to your spouse to post old pics of yourself with an ex?

Herpes and Dating

IT HAPPENED TO ME: I HAVE AN STD AND MY BOYFRIEND DOES NOT

That was an interesting read.  

So...say you're STD free and you meet someone who is awesome in every way and then they disclose that they have an STD.  

Would YOU be able to continue dating them?

Or would you bail?

Anonymous comments on this one are cool.

EBT Cards Accepted at Lingerie Store

Lingerie store accepts EBT card

Apparently, if you receive food stamps and a welfare check in Louisiana, all of your benefits are put on your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.  And well...there are businesses that don't sell food, which also accept EBT card payments.

Should companies like the lingerie store be allowed to accept EBT cards when they apply for permission?  Or...should the benefit receiver be allowed to buy whatever they want to buy with, which is rightfully, their money once they've received it?  Is limiting what is allowed to be purchased with cash benefits infringing on a recipients rights?  

Thoughts?

Scenario From Real Life: Man Child

Your 18 year old son has graduated from high school but doesn't have a plan yet.

His grades were simply that which didn't get him into a good college and, if you're honest, he's not ready for college yet and you know he'll screw up until HE'S ready to go to college.

So...he is still home.

Everyone else in your home goes to work and school during the day.

He doesn't.

He's been trying to find a job...but hasn't been able to yet.

A neighbor tells you that he has been having company during the day and the young lady leaves before your younger daughter gets home from school.

You don't know anything about this.

You good?

 

Scenario from Real Life: Curfew

You have told your 18 year old that he has to be home by 2:00am.  

He's a high school graduate.

He doesn't have a plan yet.

You have told this man child on MORE THAN ONE OCCASION TO NOT COME IN YOUR HOME PAST 2:00AM.

It's past 2:00am.  He's not home. You put the deadbolt on.  He comes home at 3:15am.  It's 20 degrees outside.  He doesn't have a car.

Do you let him in?

Perfume Ideas!

What are you wearing these days?  I'm addicted to Jo Malone scents and this one makes me smile, smile, smile!

Appetizer Idea

As an appetizer recently, I served these with cubes of pepper jack cheese and an assortment of olives.  I simply sliced the sausages in half lengthwise and put them on a hot griddle skillet for about 5 minutes.  They are already fully cooked...just needed heating.

I won't tell you they almost caused a fight cuz a hostess fighting over the last sausage is uncouth and whatnot and I try my best to be couthish.

What's your favorite appetizer to serve at dinner parties?

Golf, Golf and More Golf!

The Robinator loves to golf and does so every chance he gets.  Recently he was headed out to the course and the strap on his golf bag came apart at a seam.  He considered not going because of the strap.

But five hours of alone time was at risk so the kid whipped out her trust sewing box and got to gittin'!

Yup...sewed it right on back on.  Go golf.  Enjoy.  Thank you for my five hours of alone time.  

What's the last sewing repair job you had to do at home?  Do you have a sewing box even though you don't sew?

 

 

Olivina Olive Hand & Body Lotion

This winter has been crazy dry.  My hands have been taking a major hit and I didn't like it.  I'm ridiculously anal about washing my hands so yeah...MAJOR DRYNESS.

All of my usual stuff wasn't giving me the results I was looking for so I tried this:

Olivina Hand & Body Lotion, Classic Olive, 9.75 Ounce

And it makes me happy, happy, happy.  I keep it where I sit on the sofa and my hands are never dry feeling again!  GO ME!

To keep my nails right, I still rub coconut oil into my nails before I go to bed.  Keeps them healthy, strong and clear.

What are you using on your hands this winter?  Did you have to change up?  Have you had any issues with dryness this winter?

 

Dear You:

I just sent this to a someone who is going through some personal drama. It perfectly describes what is going on and she needed to see it spelled out.

Save this picture in case you need a reminder sometimes too.  A lot of the stuff you internalize shouldn't be on your mind for two seconds.