Tracy Renee Jones

Hemp Latte…Warm Up With Something New

TRJ — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:52:27 +0000

This recipe sounded very interesting so I thought you guys would enjoy it. It calls for an Espresso machine so this won’t be accomplished by us amateur ’add water and stir’ latte drinkers.

Either way, if I had a machine available, I would surely try it. The ingredients all sound so tempting I can almost image the taste of it. As they say, “everything ain’t for everybody”, so I’ll sit patiently and wait for a report back on how this turns out.

Three Simple Hemp Seed Recipes

TRJ — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:05:34 +0000

There seems to be no end to the great uses for hemp and hemp products. I’m still at a loss for why more people don’t include hemp in their diet. If you’re looking for a natural product that will add flavor as well as nutrients to your daily intake then you are missing out if you don’t consider the benefits of hemp seeds.

Add hempseeds to your diet, and you’ll get:

Protein. Highly digestible and absorbable protein including all essential amino acids – this makes hempseeds a “complete” protein. What’s more, the structure of the proteins, which are globular proteins, are similar to ones manufactured in our blood making them readily digestible and usable by our bodies. Eat 100 calories-worth of hempseeds and you’ll get 5.5 grams of protein – a great source of vegetarian protein at that!

Some people need more encouragement then others so if you are one of those types then why not try one of these three recipes. I’m particularly interested in the Hemp Seed Bars though the Hemp Pesto sounds great too and no worries, hemp isn’t going to get you high.

Space Cakes: When 420 Meet Marshmallow Crispy Treats

TRJ — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:08:19 +0000

I know they’re no good for me and they don’t even taste the same anymore but I still love those Rice Crispy Treats that were such a part of my childhood memories. Another thing left over from childhood is my affection for cannabis and here we have two great things coming together as one in Space Cakes.

Click here for the full recipe and if you try it feel free to hit me up on Tumblr with the photo.

How the Internet Bitch Slapped McDonald’s

TRJ — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:19:32 +0000

Straight out the “Tell Um How You REALLY Feel” box comes this story about McDonald’s and their poor PR move better known as the #McDStories campaign. Maybe McDonald’s should have watched that Wack-Donald’s episode of the Chappelle show before they decided to add a hash tag and sat back expecting the pubic at large to wax poetic about the greatness that isn’t McDonald’s. Maybe they haven’t been watching those Youtube videos, but the rest of us have!

I can’t help but to love the snarf. That’s what the hell McDonald’s gets, when was the last time they actually served food? I see Ronald McDonald and I want to slap the shit outta him, I really thought he was a friend of mine. Not that I lived and died in McDonald’s but like everyone else…I loved the FRIES. And not only was a customer, I am also a former employee.

Memories of preparing McDonald’s food but being too poor to afford to eat it warm the cockle of my heart to this day.

But alas, all that is left to do is for these big, stank ass companies to either change their practices or go the way of the actual healthy meal…straight into a faded memory. Next time you need PR help, might I suggest you contact me, I know plenty of great people who would love to help.

Hey!! I’m Going to California…Come Party With Me Tonight in NYC and Kiss Me Good Bye

TRJ — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:49:41 +0000

It took a few months of coin pinching and a dam lot of keyboard hustling to get myself a plane ticket to visit California again but I’m finally on my way. I’m excited to be able to visit again, though this trip won’t just be all BBQ’s and conversation over bottles of wine.

I’m planning on meeting with several fabulous people while I’m out there to discuss new opportunities and direction. I can’t wait to get into the Cali spoken word scene, hear some music with my bros and them, I want to create some art with my family and, yeah, relax.

There is so much good energy going on around me right now that I need to take this trip to disperse it. I need to speak with my kin, don’t ask why, I just know I need to and I’ve been wandering the way of David Carradine and this is what the force told me to do..for now.

I know you guys like to stay up to date with me and my crazy life so I like to keep things simple for you. You can easily keep track of me while I travel by following me on Twitter, FourSquare, Tumblr, and Facebook.

In the meantime, I got a poetry reading to attend tonight in order to finally meet my good friend and an insanely dope poet Element 615 in person. We’ve been online buddies for years now and I’m seeing that man before I skip town.

He’ll be appearing along with gang of other talented individuals tonight at 116 MacDougal Street as part of Mike Geffner’s Inspired Word poetry showcase. I’ll be there and might jump back on stage, practice makes perfect and words need to be spoken, you’re free to recite my words once I’m dead and buried.

Until then….

Dark Girls….New Documentary Talks About Colorism

TRJ — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:30:12 +0000

I’m what they call ‘red boned’ and this title is not something I bestowed upon myself. It seems like people have always had terms to refer to the various shades of blackness among all races, and with that reference comes value. Dark Girls is a new documentary that discusses colorism in all cultures, but with a special focus on the impact of our behavior and how it affects women of color.

Unfortunately, these terms and the values in which they denote are set up in a twisted totum pole that puts the darkest shade of skin at the bottom of the social structure of nearly all peoples while elevating the status of the individual as they ascent up and away from blackness. This leave a coldrun of people left to deal with life as ‘less than’ based on physical attributes that mean nothing. The damage we do is evident. Join the Facebook group here and read stories written by women about the impact color has had on their lives.

Dark Girls: Preview from Bradinn French on Vimeo.

The movie is premiering in New York City on January 13th at the historic Apollo theater. Ticket prices are $38.50 and $78.50, the latter of which affords one a VIP ticket with a meet and greet, priority seating and a reception with the film’s directors. Since this falls on my birthday, I may just find my way to the viewing and treat myself to a VIP ticket. Either way, this movie definitely seems worth watching, the preview will have you almost in tears.

Three Things France Has That You Don’t: Pussy, Weed, Money…..and Good Music

TRJ — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:34:26 +0000

See how great the internet is…? I press a button and suddenly I’m engulfed in an amazingly good electro-pulse mash-up from an artist by the name of Neus. From what I can decipher via my very limited grasp of French, NEUS, short for “New Experimental for Universal Sound” is a 21 year old artist whose making waves with his signature hybrid production style.

Heavy on acoustics, and with careful layering of multiple sounds, Gael Neus, takes samples from any genre and recreates it into an original piece. The underground blogs are screaming about what Neus brings to the music scene; a resurgence of the club crowds that came to dance and also those that get their pleasure from just getting lost in complicated, rich and textured compilations.

Click here to download Pussy, Weed, Money or listen here and decide for yourself….You’ll thank me later.

NEUS – Pussy Weed Money by NEUS

Organic For Your Pets: Help Your Pet Eat as Healthy as You Do

TRJ — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:03:50 +0000

People are looking to food as an alternative to medicine to find relief from the illnesses that ail them. Not only that, but there is ample proof that a diet healthy in grains, vegetables and protein will also offer a better defense from becoming sick in the first place.

For pet owners it only seems like a natural progression to begin to serve their pets diets similar to their own. Pet foods consisting of organic materials and healthier ingredients can be found online, at specialty stores such as Whole Foods and by mail order.

There’s also the option of preparing your pet’s food from scratch. I’ve found a few great links to get you started.

Home Made Dog Food: consisting of raisins, grains, organic meat and vegetables
Home Made Cat Food: this site has a recipe and good advice; making cat food requires special care
A list of the worst dog food to feed your pet
A list of the best dog food to feed your pet

How B Gold NYC Made Soho Yelp All Weekend Long….

TRJ — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:48:49 +0000

I ain’t got time for much these days, I’m busy as hell trying to square away 2011 like everyone else. And when I mean I’m busy I am mean I AM BUSY!! But I’m never too busy to check out my people’s when they’re doing something awesome and there was no way in Hell I would have missed Max’s pop-up shop featuring the up and coming designer BGoldNYC.

If you’ve had your head stuck in a melon or have been Occupying Wall Street rather than paying attention to the fashion industry this may be a new name to you. That doesn’t mean homeboy hasn’t been all over the world as he’s worked with so many top models and designers that if I named dropped on his behalf it would take away from his actual talent.

I don’t need to insist that he’s dope, you can just look at these flicks and see for yourself. Better yet, Google the brand name and enjoy the models, the custom made beats and all around good times that consist of BGold, Maximosis and their crew of a million people that morf into the largest urban marketing team you’ve ever seen.

We enjoyed food provided by the Vivid Cafe in Brooklyn and Popcorn Indiana. New Yorkers got a chance to sample the sounds of the Miles Davis “Trumpet” brand headphones from Monster. Monster is the same company that produces the “Beats By Dre” headphones you are so in love with, the company has now expanded into different genres for diverse ears. I love it because I love music. I chatted that girl up for a while.

There was a DJ, and a photo booth and H &M models walking around, there was flashing bottles of vodka, couches and awhole lot of good vibes. I’m sure the crowd was wondering who this slim built young man is, I bet they won’t be asking that question for much longer. His entire inventory SOLD OUT and by the end of the evening, thanks to the blizzard of promotion and the unique displays everyone wanted to know “Who are those people” but in a good way!!

Bartholemu Holder, is not your average artsy kid with a need to ‘be different’ thereby leading them to dabble in textiles and fashion design. That’s so passe, there are several conflicts going on in the design that make it a unique brand.

B Gold, as the rest of the world calls him, is not simply designing clothes that others find cool. What he creates is a luxury brand cultivated from the minds of the urban individual. Make no mistake, this isn’t ‘hip hop’ inspired clothing, it’s way more than that. Nearly every piece is a social and political statement.

BGold’s pieces range from modern to eccentric cut cashmere but all at affordable prices. By making his clothing affordable he can reach customers of any class and background. The ‘involvement’ in fashion has always been apparent, but what one group creates, the other one takes and makes it inaccessible to the working Joe from where the design came. That’s a no-no, but no one ever cared to ask poor Joe.

These days, it’s not the color of our skin that causes a conflicts between race and class, it’s financial resources and the hovering feeling like something is amiss. And this is New Yorker!! People in NYC don’t care for things being amiss!!

So how did BGold Make Soho Yelp All Weekend long? The behind the scenes magic of event planner and brand engineer, Maximo Garcia of M. Garcia Consulting. Now that you know….I expect nothing less then the best IF I choose to make a trip to your little shin-ding!

Me Being Anonymous: Now Available in Newark’s Urban Knowledge Book Store

TRJ — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:44:47 +0000

Things are moving so fast right now and though I still chastise myself for not ‘working’ behind a desk for some faceless employer, I have to remember that my new profession is that of a writer. And then I smile real big because this whole process is wildly awesome!

Night before last I received my most recent shipment of books from the publisher and these are going to a bookstore in Newark, NJ. That’s entirely a cool thing for me since I’ve been wandering the streets of Newark since I was a teenager during my run away days.

Having my book available on the corner of Broad and Market is a big ass deal to me. One, because I’m a writer and my book is sitting in its first window display (I think/hope) and two, because I used to just watch the people walking back and forth and wonder how was I supposed to fit into the swarm of brown lives that I saw.

So, if you’re looking for my book and would like to have it in your hands IMMEDIATELY, you can find it at the Urban Knowledge Book store as of today. I tucked a surprise into each copy of these books, so if you happen to purchase one and discover what I left for you I’m hoping you’ll Tweet or Tumblr me so that I can see you and say ‘thank you’.

And if you don’t see it…ASK THE STORE TO CARRY IT!!! Support what you want so there can be more of it…..that goes for me or any other artist you love.