Healthier, Happier, You!!!!

Blogging For Bucks! Yep, it's what I love!

2013-05-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

Who ever thought that my desire for a "Healthier, Happier" me would lead to Blogging For Bucks?

After meeting MJ at Blogher back in 2009, my life has been so much more easier to bear. While I love helping people, the stresses of the criminal justice system have long taken their toll.

Social Media has afforded me the pleasure of my first loves: writing & connecting people.

This latest piece about blogging, Jim Higley & MJ really touches on our goals and endless possibilities.

Thanks Kim Vatis.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep ...

2013-05-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

If any of you remember that prayer...think of how it has now come to life for far too many of our children. When my father used to recite it to me as a child, you could not even fathom being gunned down on 87th and Jeffrey (my old neighborhood) ... now you are surprised when you're not.

Mother's Day is now a holiday marred by tragedy.

This particular Mother's Day was bittersweet for many women.

Here in Chicago, there were roughly 500 moms mourning the loss of their children in last year's unspeakable violence.

One, in particular, was Cleo Pendleton. She and her husband Nate, made national news when their daughter Hadiya's slaying caught the attention of the White House.

Hadiya, much like the First Lady and myself, was a young lady growing in the shadows of the South Side. The South Side has long been labeled and ladened with violence. It is characteristic of Chicago itself, with its manicured lawns and beautiful houses it can also harbor the mean and sordid. The First Lady and I both grew up in the Chatham neighborhood and traveled to the West Side to attend high school at Whitney Young.

I can attest, that back when we made that trek, it was a two bus ride, two train and two block journey. We most certainly crossed gang territory, drug lands and drug lords - there were wayward people in our path every day.

Getting home meant fighting and running, but we did it. We survived because there were no shootings back then. While you may have been beaten and robbed ... and maybe even held at gunpoint (yes, I have) - no one shot you.

Today it is a different set of rules. Hadiya did not have the luxury of surviving but she did touch all of us and she forever changed her community.

In comes Moms Demand Action. Shortly after Hadiya's murder, along with a six year old, an infant and hundreds of others, a vigil was held across from Daley Plaza.

The Chicago Moms were invited. MJ Tam and I stopped in our tracks to pay homage and to draw as much attention as we could to Chicago's raging war on our children. We developed a series that includes bloggers nationwide. It is labeled #LouderThanGuns.

We supported Christine Fenno, co-leader of the Illinois Chapter of Moms Demand Action, and we continue our support to this day.

For months I have been envisioning an evening ... a light-hearted gathering where parents could mingle, remember and plan action...

Christine also shared my desire and before we knew it, we had planned a Moms Mixer at Bella Luna Cafe 731 N. Dearborn where I am the Social Media DIrector.

It was a special evening before Mother's Day. The Pendletons were gracious enough to attend as well as other high-profile area parents who suffered the greatest, most horrendous pain anyone can - the murder of a child. We laughed, we cried and we took action.

No parent should EVER have to bury a child because they were randomly murdered at the hand of a callous, nameless, vicious, faceless, heartless, soul who has no honor.

Gun violence can be stopped. The influx of the cartel's guns and drugs can be stopped. The National Rifle Association can be stopped. We can get these guns off the street just as swiftly as we found a man half way around the world in a bunker.

It can happen. It will happen.

Support the visions of those who have lost so that you are not one of them.

Moms Demand Action

Hadiya Pendleton Foundation

EarthHeart Foundation

CurbViolence (CeaseFire)

Support your local police department and tell your legislators!

I think my heart is STILL growing!

2013-05-17T06:37:00.000-05:00

There is a new baby in my house!

The Police Station where I work, SAY WHAT YOU MAY ABOUT CPD, but the compassion we are capable of, working with the slugs of society is actually amazing...

This lil guy was rescued (WE GET RESCUES ALL WEEK) and needed a home ...

Don't ask how I stepped up, having rescued my sweet, baby angel pitt bull 11 years ago ... I guess my soul was touched.

Any how say hello to my baby ....

Have you ever rescued an animal in need?

Staying in your blessings when they come!

2013-05-16T09:32:00.004-05:00

I am SO blessed.

My Mother's Day was SO incredible!

My sons were home and showered me with flowers, as did my Dad and boyfriend.

boyfriend

son

Dad

Honestly I was so surprised and filled with joy!

I cooked breakfast and we enjoyed the day!!

LOVE FEELS SO GOOD!

How was your Mother's Day?

IT IS TIME! ENOUGH! ~ Mother's Day should be happy!

2013-05-10T13:06:00.001-05:00

SO many mothers, TOOOO many mothers, have lost their children, or watched their children be gunned down, blown up, or maimed around this globe.

There is no excuse for violence. We are beings able of communication and reasoning.

It is deplorable and inexcusable that in these modern times, people choose to shoot first, or maim someone for thinking differently. WHY destroy someone because you are feeling left-out or somehow misunderstood?

By the time offenders get to me they have admitted their guilt and are less aggressive.

This allows me to communicate freely, and what I have learned is that the arrogance capable within the human psyche is far worse than you can probably fathom.

Killing is so easy for many of these offenders and while we believe these happenings to be because someone was disenfranchised growing up, a LOT of these cases are simply because no one told little "Johnny" 'NO!'

That's right, I said it. Many offenders are SPOILED brats and we need to look closely at criminal behavior, deviance and psychological superiority.

As we saunter into this Mother's Day, I implore each and every one of us world-wide to consider the impact of a DISCUSSION. Teaching your kids that they cannot ALWAYS have their way, that they can be wrong, that they MUST listen to someone else's VERSION, THOUGHTS, SIDE can make a WORLD of difference as they mature and encounter different people.

Running around blowing up people because you want to cleanse them from your community is stupid and ignorant. IT JUST IS. It needs to stop. Segregating communities that are not like YOUR household sounds like cave-man mentality. STOP IT!

The Chicago Moms is hosting with the Bella Luna Cafe Moms Demand Action as they launch events all over the United States urging moms to take control of our world.

Violence, especially GUN VIOLENCE, must end. In the days of technology, trust that your voice can be heard without you having to kill me or someone I love.

If you are unable to attend any of these events, please participate in other ways!

Write your legislators or follow along via Social Media using the hashtags #GunSense #LouderThanGuns

Spread love and joy not bullets and pain ~

Party Over Here! Party Over Here!

2013-05-04T13:07:00.000-05:00

This is my favorite time of year.

Being born in the Spring I, of course, LOVE times of renewal and refresh.

I suppose my Southern roots keep me loving heat and I just love green as opposed to gray and sullen.

Winter in Chicago is rough for me!

But that is ALL over now!

Spring has officially SPRUNG! FINALLY!

I am so excited. I plan to spend every day outside doing something. In tune with my fitness goals, I am about to add some "Happiness" goals to that as well.

NOT ONE minute do I plan to sulk or let anyone's snarky comments, or downtrodden baggage, get in my way. Nor will I allow myself to stop and address any of it.

There is going to be a LOT of "talking to the hand", or as my good friend Andrea kept saying last night at a Girl's Night Out ~ "CRICKETS".

Who has time to wallow when you have good friends, fun to be had, and BEAUTIFUL weather.

Anything else goes in my category of "First World Problems". You've got a roof? CHECK.
Food? CHECK. Reasonably healthy? CHECK. ALRIGHTY THEN! LIVE and Let LIVE.

Let's get this party started!

Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow ...

2013-04-30T22:29:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I wrote about keeping that smile.

Well, today it was 85 degrees in Chicago ... which is now being referred to by we natives as Chiraq.

First truly hot day.

So, as I sit here working on my social media campaigns, I am conversing with fellow Chiraqians who are marveling at the carnage, and I become compelled to write about what I know for sure.

12 shot. From the Northside to the Southside.

From noon until now.

Social Media timelines are raging with disbelief and disgust...

And while I too am raging, I am trying to keep things in perspective.

I regularly submit papers for my departmental training so, I am actually fully versed that according to crime statistics we are well within the same ranges we have been over the past two decades.

It probably seems more marginalized to the masses due to social media and the national focus.

Back in the day though, crimes would go virtually unreported to the media.

Very rarely was a television crew posted outside our courthouses. These days, they are always there.

Well, to keep things in perspective, you can always utilize the governmental tools like I do.

It keeps me sane.

How Do You Stay Smiling?

2013-04-29T21:50:00.004-05:00

There are so many things that we as human beings carry around with us these days.

The seemingly endless events of terror have left us with lingering with residual feelings.

I am not sure how you are processing the shootings, bombings and kidnappings, but I tend to get angry.

Never the one to ever want to hurt anyone, my problem with the offenders I come in contact with make choices to hurt others when it is they who are hurting and should probably be positioning themselves to internalize their venom ... or at the very least, get help, a hobby or a clue.

I truly become so full of teeth clinching anger that I often have to turn my sights to something else to just maintain my normal existence.

Unfortunately, I have had 24 years of practice handling my case-loads at work. Over the years, talking to murderers, drug addicts and gangsters, I have learned that many are still capable, and have feelings in their somewhere. Because we are human beings, we have to factor in humanity even when it is hard. We must always remain human in the face of the inhumane, subhuman or the splintered altered ego.

One must learn to always just drop the baggage and move on. Because of this I have learned to develop skills to stay in the moment.

We can't change the world all of the time, but we can definitely try.

We can watch beautiful skies, feel something and be passionate!

Sunsets in particular are SO amazing to me.

Watching a sunset, no matter how it presents, is always a glorious thing!

Here on "Healthier, Happier, You!" we must constantly be on the journey toward betterment while leaving the vile behind.

Finding what keeps us human is a hard task. As our society begins to heal from each major catastrophe, we are, unfortunately, also bracing for the next time . We all know that some wretched soul is in the wings planning to be a dishonorable. While we desire to change the world into the utopia we want for our children, the truth is, there are always going to be miserable, irresponsible, wretches who desire to harm people.
Yes, they are unimaginative and uninspired so we have to remain vigilant.

In our vigilance we must also remain happy. I find happiness in skylines and urban glory.
I find happiness in children, animals and the people I love.

What are some of the ways you stay in joy?

Join the EarthHeartFoundation in PEACE

2013-04-17T12:29:00.001-05:00

EarthHeartFoundation PEACE CELEBRATION ~ MAY 11, 2013 visit the website for more information

EarthHeart Foundation #EarthHeartMoms

2013-04-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

The power of women changing the world is awesome.

Join us May 11, 2013 for a Mothers Peace Celebration 2 p.m.
University of Chicago International House Assembly Hall

http://www.earthheartfoundation.org/about-earthheart-foundation/

See the good ...

2013-04-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

2013-04-11T06:30:00.000-05:00

Every birthday I can celebrate with my Dad is simply AWESOME!

Cake by Vinny & Michelle Garcia of Lucha Dulce Bakery!

http://www.luchadulce.com

#Chicago

2013-04-10T20:43:00.000-05:00

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I was born in Chatham/South Shore just east of Pill Hill and am a product of Chicago Public Schools ... my Chicago is not my sons' Chicago ...

The FLOTUS speaks my truth past and present...

and yes, we're both #Dolphins (go Dolphins!)

Let's make a difference...

ChicagonistaLIVE! The RoomPlace!

2013-04-09T07:36:00.001-05:00

Video streaming by Ustream

LIVE today at 2p.m. from 2221 Richmond Road, McHenry, IL

Pres O is a great mentor

2013-04-08T06:51:00.002-05:00

Kid President makes it to the REAL White House!

ChicagonistaLIVE on WindyCityLIVE!

2013-03-26T11:50:00.000-05:00

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Great job MJ!

March?! It's Almost April!

2013-03-24T10:59:00.001-05:00

I didn't mean to be gone this long!

March rolled in like a kitten! It is still freezing here in Chi and social media has been a busy highway!

What have you been up to?

What is on your calendar for the rest of MARCH 2013?

Another Emmy for JT w/ Veganville!

2013-03-10T12:03:00.005-05:00

Justin Timberlake - Bring It On Down 2... by IdolxMuzic

ChicagonistaLIVE from the International Home + Housewares Show 2013

2013-03-05T13:17:00.000-06:00

Video streaming by Ustream

YEP, ChicagonistaLIVE from the Int'l Home + Housewares Shown CHICAGO!

2013-03-04T10:50:00.000-06:00

Blogging really comes with a lot of perks!

This year ChicagonistaLIVE is filming LIVE from the International Home + Housewares Show at the McCormick Place in downtown Chicago!

We have spent the past three days, prepping, meeting, greeting and dining!

ChiLive has a great spot with The Cake Boss so be sure to watch us tomorrow at 2pm CST!

I will stream it LIVE here so stay tuned!

Self-Help ... with a little help from Steve Nash!

2013-02-27T13:55:00.003-06:00

In the early days of Social Media, the communities were definitely smaller. It truly did not matter where you were in the world, if you made a connection, it ran deeply and it was really a true friendship!

I know this because all of the very first interviews posted here on "Healthier, Happier, You!" are STILL my buds!

One such pals is STEVE NASH. Steve resides in Yorkshire, we met online and have been supportive of one another ever since!

Steve has written a new book on relationships.

It is easy to read, funny and very thought-provoking!

I trust that you will find Steve's advice and assessments to be valuable and endearing!

This quick but thorough read was both informative and insightful without bogging you down with too much seriousness.

ALL OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED VIA STEVE HERE

Enjoy!

Très bien, Hennessy!

2013-02-19T06:30:00.000-06:00

Hennessy V.S
Never stop. Never settle.

I am sure that being a blogger has many perks. Well, I can actually say that it HAS an incredible amount of many perks.

One of those many perks is being invited to really fancy dinner parties.

Have you ever had Crostini with butternut squash, apples, radicchio saba?
I did, and it was paired famously with the venue (Nellcôte's) Punch that features Hennessy VS, Rum, Hum, Earl Grey Tea, Orange Liquer, Prosecco, Lavendar & Orange Bitters.

Dining with complete strangers is actually fun, especially when there are libations involved. At the hands of Benjamin Newby, who is often referred to as a drink architect, Hennessy became fruity, fragrant, sweet, tart, frothy, and spicy all in one night!

What was my favorite?

The Hennessy XO served neat. I am a neat kinda girl, and this was paired like this...

...with the most incredible Chocolate Parfait Dessert I've had!

To top the evening off, we were in the most magnificent company of Cyrille Gautier-Auriol.

Charming as he is handsome, Cyrille informed us of Hennessy history, his exuberant personality kept us engaged and he was such a delightful host. Sitting with all of us individually throughout the night was such a warm and inviting gesture!

I must admit, I was not a Hennessy gal until now and trust that it will be an important part of my repertoire all thanks to this lovely evening.

Andrea Mistretta ~ New Orleans Mardi Gras soul

2013-02-18T06:30:00.000-06:00

My love for Andrea Mistretta began in 2009 during our first interview. READ IT HERE
Andrea has some more great and exciting things going on and I've asked her to share them with us! THANKS Andrea!

I LOVE what's going on on your Facebook Page!

Dwana, Thank you for being an ever faithful fan and friend for years.

What is new for you?

Breaking News: To be published in New Orleans’ major newspaper: Times Picayune on Wed, Feb 20, 2013- See the preview:http://blog.nola.com/new_orleans/2013/02/mardi_gras_of_new_orleans_kept.html
•Private commissions, canvas paintings.

Email inquiries: andiart@optonline.net

•Signed and Numbered limited edition giclees:

Andrea Mistretta©2013

•“Ceramic Canvases” One-of-a-kind Objet D’art.

Andrea Mistretta©2013

Your have so many new initiatives going on.

•I am currently creating holiday themed art seen from QVC, to major store chains during the Christmas holiday season for gift bags and gift packaging as I have for the past 18 years. Some examples:

Andrea Mistretta©2013

•Designing Vodka bottles and ads for LUCKY PLAYER BRANDS http://www.facebook.com/kingcakevodka

Andrea Mistretta©2013

•I am active protecting artist’s rights with: http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/

•I am writing an Italian-American cookbook and am cofounder of Italian American Social Club Waldwick. book Book signing appearance at UNICO’s Italian Heritage Day March 3rd.

Try some of my New Orleans Style SICILIAN HOT SAUCE: http://sicilianhotsauce.com/
And...Mardi Gras Hot Sauce too!

Andrea Mistretta©2013

•I am the founder of Friends of White’s Pond (an environmental activist group).http://www.facebook.com/pages/Waldwick-Friends-of-Whites-Pond/138905229528532?fref=ts

What is the new jazz series all about?

It’s not so new but Jazz is timeless and I love music. Postal stamps were issues in 1992 and the poster in 2006. I would love to create an official New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival poster.

See my interview including the Jazz series on this great music blog: http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/painter-and-calligrapher-andrea-mistretta-talks-about-her-art

Will you be traveling around the country or having more events in New Orleans?

My wish is to kick off a 30th year exhibition in New Orleans in 2015. A “Homecoming for the First Time” for the original Mardi Gras paintings never shown in public before - in the place that made the art famous!

I also envision bringing the exhibit to other cities like CHICAGO and to places with art museums and centers to bring inspiration, color and creativity of Mardi Gras and a taste of New Orleans culture. Mardi Gras is a great theme and cause for celebration anytime of year. It’s a great fundraising backdrop for the exhibition venue. Additionally I’d offer programs: •Adult: Power Point talk. • Kreative Kids Krewe (mask making and coloring workshop) •Do a poster and book signing.

You will forever be a part of Mardi Gras, how has this now historical fact left you feeling?

I’m honored to be associated with the great city of New Orleans, and a piece of true Americana with Mardi Gras.

As an example of an artist who found creative musings from and in New Orleans with Mardi Gras, I feel a responsibility to pay respect to New Orleans by upholding a positive image because it sometimes get a bad rap in the media.

Laissez Chef ~ Richard Myers ya'll!

2013-02-17T09:27:00.000-06:00

Tell us about your Louisiana roots, upbringing, influences. Anything about Cajun to share?

Of Cajun descent and a native of New Orleans, I like to encourage foodies and novices to experiment and cook with New Orleans flavours – think gumbo, barbecue shrimp, jambalaya, po’boys and soft shell crab. I apprenticed in the fine dining restaurants of the French Quarter of New Orleans. I was appointed Chef at Columbia Picture Studios and catered for films and television on location throughout the US. My final role before moving to England was Executive Chef at the 5* Le Pavillon Hotel, New Orleans. New Orleans cuisine is a tasty melting pot of Cajun, Creole, French, Spanish, German and Italian influences.

Fave Louisiana celebration?

The local French Quarter festival of over 800 musical performances, food booths throughout the quarter for four days in April - and all the music acts are free! It's the 30th year this year which will be fantastic.

What prompted your move to UK?

Love and a few too many hurricanes.

How have you brought Nola to UK?

I've been holding cookery demonstrations and I've created my own seasoning blend to kick things up a bit! I have given demonstrations at Farmers Markets and food festivals in Surrey and London. My New Orleans spice was launched at Taste of Christmas at London's ExCel and I cooked for over 1,000 people at that show - the Brits are quite adventurous with spices, they love Indian curry so it seemed they were very open to trying some Louisiana comfort food. I write a cookery column for Round & About magazine.

Websites? Cookbooks?

My website is at www.laissezchef.co.uk and a cookery book is being worked on.... watch this space.....

Fave recipes?

An incredible Sunday brunch slow smoked pork baked oysters Southern Bbq shrimp

History of the King Cake? Recipe you can share?

I took this from the web......
As part of New Orleans' Christian faith, the coming of the wise men bearing gifts to the Christ Child is celebrated twelve days after Christmas. We refer to this as the Feast of the Epiphany, or Little Christmas on the Twelfth Night. This is a time of celebration, exchanging gifts and feasting. Today, the tradition continues as people all over the world gather for festive Twelfth Night celebrations. A popular custom was and still is the baking of a special cake in honor of the three kings, called "A King's Cake."

Inside every cake is a tiny baby (generally plastic now, but sometimes this baby might be made of porcelain or even gold). The tradition of having King Cake Parties has evolved through time, and the person who receives the slice of cake with the baby is asked to continue the festivities by hosting the next King Cake party.
Originally, King Cakes were a simple ring of dough with a small amount of decoration. Today's King Cakes are much more festive. After the rich Danish dough is braided and baked, the "baby" is inserted. The top of the ring or oval cake is then covered with delicious sugar toppings in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.
In more recent years, some bakeries have been creative with stuffing and topping their cakes with different flavors of cream cheese and fruit fillings.
January 6, the Twelfth Night after Christmas, is also the day our Mardi Gras season begins. Mardi Gras Day is always 47 days prior to Easter Sunday (Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday

Can you share your favorite recipe?

BBQ shrimp

This dish is my version of a N’Awlins classic dish that originated at a restaurant called Pascal’s Manale. When I worked there we would cook some 100 plus pounds in weight of shrimp daily. Aim for an amber beer that is fruity rather than bitter. Serves 2.

12 very large shrimp with heads and shells

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh garlic

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons New Orleans or Cajun Spice

Sprigs of rosemary

¼ cup beer, ideally an amber beer, unopened but at room temperature

Flour to dust

Rinse the shrimp in cold water and drain them well. Pinch off and discard the middle portion of the shrimp shell, leaving the head. Set aside.

Combine butter, the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary and New Orleans or Cajun Spice in a large skillet over high heat. When the butter melts, add the shrimp. Cook for 2 minutes, shaking the pan. Dust with flour and add the beer. Cook and shake the pan for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and serve immediately, with bread for dipping.

THANKS Laissez Chef! Laissez le bons temps rouler!

Laissez Chef ~ Richard Myers!

2013-02-16T09:40:00.004-06:00

Here Laissez Chef is in the U.K bringing NOLA to the Brits!

If you enjoyed this here, come on back tomorrow for more!!

In the mean-time follow @LaissezChef!