A few nail designs I did last week. The first two are clients and the third one are my nails. =) Again, my cuticles are hit up, so excuse them. Lol. Oh yeah..and the last one are my girlfriend’s nails I did a few week ago.

I don’t know the true meanings for the words…orchestras, symphonies, operas, movements, classical musical, etc. All I know is that beautiful masterpieces are created followed by words like those. Of course, I’ve heard of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, etc. Yet, I never heard of them. You know what I mean?
BUT…even though I don’t have the knowledge, I can still appreciate it and be totally amazed by it. There’s just something about the “classics” that puts me in a different state. Sometimes I’m in a fantasy. Sometimes I’m in a nightmare.
Speaking of nightmare….

I was Youtubin’ and came across this:

The cellist is Han-Na Chang. Google/Wikipedia her. It’s obviously that she’s marvelous (and the people who commented said so). I don’t know it technically, but I can hear it. You can hear it. There are five parts to piece. Check it out on Youtube.

Listening and watching this, I couldn’t help but picture myself as a vampire (a bit of an obsession of mine since Interview with the Vampire) toying around with my prey. Playing with my food, really. >=)
Ahh…me all decked out in ruffles, black, blood-red lipstick, smokey gray eyes, long wavy black hair, rounded long natural nails, and kickass boots. I was that prey’s beautiful nightmare…=)

Seriously though…Han-Nan Chang got me connected.

I was watching The View this morning, with special guest Chris Rock. Besides it being Joy Behar’s birthday, the main topic was black women and their hair. Chris Rock was on the show to promote his documentary on African-American women and the world of weaves, relaxers, wigs, etc..called Good Hair. I really want to see this because it’s very interesting and I’m sure it’s gonna show how it’s a multi-billion dollar black hair industry. Crazy, but I believe it. I used to do nails in the D and there was a beauty supply there. It was really cool looking at the different products there. And I’m not talking about your ordinary Sally beauty supply store. Lol.

So back to the show…
Barbara asked Whoopi a question that kind bothered me a pinch. I could tell it bothered Whoopi & Sherri a bit too. I know Barbara doesn’t mean to be racist at all. She’s just doing her job on the show and being curious.
The question to Whoopi:

Why is it so important to take the relaxer as Chris Rock shows… that can burn your scalp, that can do it permanently, all the heat…thousands of dollars spent to have straight hair like a white people. Why not let your own hair go?

Watch the full episode of the View with Chris Rock here. Chris Rock was asked the same question…he answered the best.

One of my previous blog posts was about Tyra interviewing an Asian woman about her getting surgery on her eyes. Tyra thought Asian women was getting their eyelids cut to look more like white women. I really did not like how Tyra was talking to that Asian woman about how she’s not being truthful or whatever…talking like she’s dumb.

The reason it gets me the wrong way is because some people automatically judge and think colored/ethnic people puts white/light skinned people on a pedestal. I’m sure there are people who do, but most don’t.
It’s frickin common sense…
Everyone wants what they don’t have. Naturally. It maybe be because it makes life easier or just in their opinion, prettier.

I don’t hear people saying to a person who goes tanning, “You go tanning because you want to be Mexican?”
I don’t hear people saying to a person who wears a wig, “You wear a wig to be black?”
I don’t hear people saying to a person who dyes their hair black, “You dyed your hair black to be like Asians?”
Okay…I can’t think of great examples right now, but you get what I’m saying, right?

All cultures have their OPINION of what beauty is. African-Amercian women wants straight hair because its easier and prettier, maybe. Asians wants double-eyelids & pale skin because its prettier and easier to apply makeup, maybe.
Bigger breasts. Smaller Noses. Pointer nose. Tanner skin. Permanent curly hair. Permanent straight hair. Hairy armpits. Smaller feet. Bigger Butt. Blonde hair. Red hair. Brown hair. etc.
List goes on and on:

The word Beautiful is like the word Love. There’s no real definition.
Everyone perceives it differently.

My opinion on beautiful?
Big ass boobies. Tan skin. Skinny & pointy nose. Big ass. Red hair. Long toes. Over-bitten nails.
LOL. Just KIDDING!!!
Beauty is YOU being comfortable & happy with yourself, inner and out. If it takes surgery or just a little lipgloss to get you there, then DO IT.

“God didn’t make no junk.”

^_^

Picture I took when I was down in Naples, FL in late August.

It’s official. I will be moving to Naples, FL in the fall. Me and the boyfriend will be living there for a year. If we like it, maybe we’ll stay longer. If not, back to Michigan or maybe somewhere else. Who knows? =) Naples will be a really great break from snow. This winter is suppose to be one of the coldest. Hopefully we’re outta here before then. =P

Started P90X today. Pain in my ass. Literally. Good pain though. =) We shall see if I stick with it. Really…we shall see if I stick with working out period. My jeans are a bit snug so it’s time to get a moving. I was doing good a while ago. Went to the gym at least three times a week on the treadmill and strength training. I felt really good during that time.
Determined to get there again.
Man, P90x is hardcore, first day. I’m dying.

Ever since I watched the movie Julie & Julia, I’ve been wanting to cook some to the dishes shown in the movie. There was this one scene where Julie and her husband are sitting down at home eating dinner, talking about what she could do with her life besides the depressing job she has. I couldn’t help but just stare at the bruschetta they were eating. They looked like they were having such a great time eating it! I thought to myself, ‘I have got to make that for me and the boyfriend!’

Also…one of my favorite restaurants is Brio Tuscan Grille. My favorite appetizer from there is the Brio’s Brushetta Quattro. That app came with two of the following: Roasted Red Pepper & Fresh Mozzarella Bruschetta, Shrimp Bruschetta, Sliced Steak Brushetta, and Seasonal Bruschetta (at the time, it was an Italian Sausage one). So frickin good!

So I decided to make me some. I didn’t feel like going from store to store searching for the best ingredients, so I just went to Walmart. Cheap and everything is there. =P Except for Nutella! Errr. I was looking all over for it, and they ran out. Was gonna use that for my brownies for dessert.
Anyways…

INGREDIENTS:
Italian Bread. Good size, I could wrap both hands around it.
Fresh Mozzarella.
Kraft Light Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Balsamic Vinegar.
Dijon Mustard.
Fresh Tomatoes.
Sweet Bell Peppers. They’re like mini bell peppers.
Spinach.
Arugula.
Ribeye Steak. I got a small one beside I only wanted a slice per each slice of bread.
Shallots.
Fresh Basil leaves.
Garlic Powder.
Olive Oil.
Salt-n-pepper

I didn’t measure anything. I never really do when it comes to cooking; it’s all about my own taste. Little of this. Little of that. Baking on the other hand, no can do…gotta be exact.

THE easy COOKING.
Started by placing the bell peppers in the toaster oven (mini-oven) directing on the rack at 400F until they charred a little (like 5-6 minutes, turning halfway).
Preheated the big oven at 425F.
Meanwhile, I diced the tomatoes (cubes). Sliced shallots and basil thinly. Slice mozzarella on the thick side.
After peppers were done, I cut the tops off and diced those up too.
In a mixing bowl, I put in the tomatoes, peppers, shallots, basil, a little olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette, dijon mustard and pepper. (Already salt in the vinaigrette)
Mix ingredients well and refrigerate/or set aside. Let the flavors marry. =)
Cut the bread up on a bias (diagonal). Placed on a baking sheet and toasted.
Salt, pepper, and garlic powder both sides of the steak. Seared both sides on a high-heated skillet.
Finished in the oven. I had a thick slice. I like it medium rare, but I wanted to prepare it how my man would like it. ^_^ I don’t remember how long I left it in there. I poke it twice with a meat thermometer. I say no more than 10-12 minutes.
In a skillet (skillet is faster than a saucepan for reductions because of the surface space), pour quite a few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Always use like 3-4 tablespoons more than you need. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to medium to simmer (still bubbling). Stir occasionally. This is the balsamic reduction. It’s done when you can coat the back of a spoon. Put aside.
Pull out the steak and let it rest a little.
Placed mozzarella slices on bread. Enough to cover most of it.
Turn the broiler on (top burner of the oven). Broil bread and cheese until cheese is completely melted/charred a little. Be sure to keep an eye on it by leaving the oven door open; It can burn real quick.
Slice steak on a bias as well.

THE SET UP. From bottom up.
Bread w/ mozz.
A few spinach and arugula leaves.
Slice of steak.
Drizzle of the balsamic reduction. (Image One)
Tomato, Bell, Basil mixture.

YUMMY!!!!!
I don’t cook steak alot, so I had a few tender parts and a few tough parts. Could have been my cut of beef, the way I cut the beef, or my cooking technique. But it was still good. Honestly, the steak didn’t need to be there. The tomato mixture itself was really good. Probably would be good with pasta too.