Remembering Katrina

Hurricane Katrina is one of those top-5 events of things that occur in your lifetime where you remember where you were, what you were doing, and what you were feeling when it happened.

I remember I had just retured to Howard for my sophomore year. I was living in this tiny single room in Meridian Hill hall. Classes had been in for a few weeks. I of course watched The Weather Channel every morning so I could dress accorindingly and that was when I first remember hearing of the tropical storm that was headed for the gulf. I remember watching the chaos and fear that was developing in the Gulf Coast and of course praying we wouldn't have rain in DC like there usually is when a tropical storm hit in the south.

The days following Katrina I saw things I never thought I would see in America and I honestly did cry a few times as I watched the people at the Convention Center begging for help. I watched CNN as Anderson Cooper walked the desolate streets, stopping to check dead bodies on the roads and talking with people that were just wandering, trying to find their way. I teared up seeing families on their roofs trying to flag down helicopters to save them from the oppressive heat, and hearing stories about all of the bodies floating around in the streets.

I am happy to see that we have come so far in 5 years from Katrina and I hope that I never have to see Americans suffering not only from a terrible natural disaster but from a government that has abandoned them.

For the 5 year anniversary I recommend watching Spike Lee's documentary When the Levees Broke. He interviews people from all walks of life and from every area even people who aren't from the Gulf Coast who went to volunteer. It was inspiring, touching, and just a excellent film. Check out a little clip below.

Who Else Could Make Kings Out of Bastards?

I've see this video posted on Facebook a few times and I finally watched it today while checking out a new blog.

The video is called "Ten Things I Want to Say to a Black Woman" and it is by a guy named Joshua Bennett. The delivery makes it just a little difficult to get everything but the women in the room were clearly moved and so was I. If you watch the video on the YouTube site there is a written list of these ten things if you can't get through the video. This guy is saying some real ish!

Cupcake Diaries: Red Velvet Cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Frosting

I love red velvet cake. It's an interesting cake and nowadays it's pretty popular.

I had it for the first time one warm fall afternoon at a place called The Cake Man in Brooklyn (yes I tried it for the first time when I was 22) just before I ate the most amazing catfish burrito and corn at Habana. It was moist, the frosting wasn't too sweet, and it wasas just delicious.

My first attempt at red velvet cupcakes was Christmas 2009 where I made them for a Christmas party at my house. While they were good, it was more like eating a rather dense chocolate cake with a little red food coloring.

(my first red velvet cupcakes)

I went on a quest to find a recipe for red velvet cake that was moist, not overly chocolatey, and light. I found an incredibly simple recipe that turned out some darn good cupcakes. I eve placed 2 orders from people wanting a dozen of these little cakes just yesterday!

 Not the prettiest batter in the world, my kitchen counter almost resembled a crime scene...

But they cooked beautifully...

Topped with a yummy cream cheese frosting

Boxed and ready to go!

Now that the furor over Mrs. Obama's Spain trip is dying down a little, I want to give my quick two cents o the issue.

To America:
Don't get it twisted, the Obama's have money and I'm pretty sure they aren't hanging with Pookie and Ray-Ray from Sunshine Terrace housing projects. They people in their inner circles have money too. Why do people think it's impossible for Michelle and her daughter to take a trip that was paid for personally (well with the exception of the secret service and Air Force II)? Presidents don't make that much money, honestly.Oh yeah and where was all this noise when Bush was leaving Washington every 2 days to head back to his lil Texas ranch? And seriously, in August Washington is like a ghost town, everybody is on vacation and those people work hard, is there anything really wrong with that?

To The First Family:
Can we be a little sensitive to the plight of our country right now? We're in a recession and you know that people are pointing the fingers at Bush you for everything that has gone wrong. I know, understand, and love that family comes first and that you are a mother before you are First Lady, but this is not a job that you can take a vacation from.

Furthermore, I'm rather confused by how yall are doing things nowadays anyways. You can spend 2 weeks in Spain and another 2 weeks in Martha's Vineyard, but the Gulf Coast gets a whopping 27 hours of your time and a measley 5 minutes of you frolicking in its waters?

Have you forgotten that you are in BLACK and that you are living under a microscope or do you no longer care? Are you not feeling the job and not planning on getting re-elected in 2012?

If the one member of the Obama's who was doing pretty good in the public eye has this happen, it might be time to get that U-Haul ready.

Coco's Cupcake Diary

I'm jumping on the cupcake bandwagon! I've been spending quite a lot of time online and in the library researching recipe after recipe for the ever popular cupcake. I'm even officially registered for a simple cupcakes decorating class at Cincinnati Cake and Candy Supply next month! I love cooking and baking has really seem to become my thing.

I've spent the last month or so developing and trying out new recipes for cakes and frostings and let me tell you it has been great. The first cupcakes i tried last month were a Vanilla Bean cupcake with Vanilla Italian Meringue Buttercream frosting. I've you've ever been to Cakelove in the DC area, you've had the yummy, light deliciousness that is Italian meringue buttercream. Unfortunately my digital camera was broken so I didn't get any pics of those.

I want share all the fun here on my blog so I'm starting a new "series" Coco's Cupcake Diary. I'll post recipes and pictures from the cupcakes I make just to document this new project  I'm working on. Hope you enjoy!

Song of the Day: H-Town "Knockin The Boots"

Knockin the Boots (n.) - Two boots coming together making tasteful lust.

I'm driving home last night after chillaxing with The Boo, and H-Town's "Knockin the Boots" comes on Mojo.

This song used to be my JAM. Please note that in the intro he says "kickin it in the 9-3"....in '93 I didn't even know what "knockin the boots" meant but I sure knew every word to this song...SMH. Check out the video below.


Anybody else have some song they loved as a kid that was totally inappropriate?

My Inner Child Is Rejoicing

So I saw the words "Pop-Tart Sushi" on the trending now list on the Yahoo! homepage and I had to investigate. I found out from The New York Times that Pop-Tarts will now be having a store in Times Square!!!

The kid inside definitely added it to the list of places I MUST hit up next time I'm in NYC (of course they're mostly food related, I'm soo fat and I watch waaay too much Food Network). The store will be offering lots of Pop-Tart inspired treats and even a vending machine of some sorts that will let you create like a variety pack. Visitors can even create their own flavors. I CAN'T WAIT!

BTW...Pop-Tart sushi consists of bits of Pop-Tarts wrappe in a freaking Fruit Rollup! I can't even handle this!

Run and Tell THAT...Homeboy

I swear Youtube has created a bit of a monster...they will remix ANYTHING. This fool even has t-shirts.

Has it even been a week since this story broke?

The Quest for Better Hair

So I've gone without weave for a few months now but I've  beentotally unsatisfied with the way my hair looks and feels. I took a moment to go over my hair care routine and realized I'm taking care of my real, natural hair the same way I take care of it when I have weave.

I've decided it's time to try some new things until the weave makes it return. I watched a few youtube vids and read a few blogs and hit the stores. I picked up some new products as well as some rollers and I attempted my first........"roller wrap"!

Normally, I wash (with any old shampoo I've got as long as it's a moisturizing shampoo), blow dry with a hand dryer, and iron with my Chi flat iron. I love my Chi (it's the flat iron truth!) but my real hair is a damaged enough and I think I've just been using way too much heat. It's really great for straightening up my weaves and roots when my new growth is crazy but it's not good for everyday.

I decided to start by giving some new products a try and these top the list...

Motion's Lavish Conditioning Shampoo

I was previously using a combo of Garnier Fructis and a clarifying shampoo from Mizani. Both were WAY to drying though I thought it was okay because my hair was getting super clean....it wasn't.

Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo

Great results.

Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner
LOVE THIS. I don't have a sit under dryer so, as written in the directions, I left this on for an hour under a plastic cap. When I rinsed my hair felt so different in a good way. This has become a new staple.

Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner
At first I thought I would alternate between this and the Olive Oil Conditioner after shampooing. However, this conditioner works great for everyday styling and really gives my hair that silky look which means I'm not going over my hair with the flat iron....BONUS  







I'll post some pics of my new haircare process soon (digicam is NOT agreeing with me these days).