Responsible Bandwagoning

It seems like 2012 is the year of the bandwagoner.  The widespread use of social media and unlimited access to the internet has really taken the power of the bandwagoner to another level.   The term bandwagoner is typically only used when referring to fair-weather sports fans.  Lately though it seems like bandwagoners are not only jumping on and off the superbowl and  Lin-sanity wagons but also more political bandwagons like the recent KONY 2012 campaign as quickly as they can retweet  a link and share a facebook status.  Every day news feeds are swamped with information, petitions and videos within minutes with day’s popular news.  When I see my time line dominated with sports news I am not that excited but it is always interesting to see my peers who typically share lyrics, cartoons and celebrity gossip become bandwagon activists.  However, while some people perceive political bandwagoning as a negative trend among young people… I’d beg to differ.

The issue of the lack of youth involvement in political issues has been raised over and over again.  Let’s face it… our parents., grandparents and great-grandparents labeled our generation as lost.  Even though we are a really smart bunch of youngsters… some people think we are lazy, selfish, uninformed and a generation lacking leadership.  However, young people’s interest- whether it be superficial or deep- in the Komen fiasco,  KONY 2012 video and the killing of Trayvon Martin should be looked at as a serious opportunity to engage youth and increase their  involvement in social issues.   What I find great about information pertaining to serious issues going viral among young people is that it makes activism popular, grabs the attention of people who might be oblivious to what’s happening in the world and may spark a new found passion among certain readers.  So while there are bandwagoners spreading the word about an international crisis or local injustice just because its the popular thing to do for the hour, the act of sharing information that is beyond mindless gossip is a huge step for some young people.  Hopefully,  the use of social media and bandwagon activism can spark a genuine interest in current issues and leadership among youth.

Lastly, its important to note that as people continue to jump on the bandwagon it is important that they act as responsible bandwagoners.   Many people learned the hard way after going all out for KONY 2012  without researching the organization they were donating to, the man they are out to make “famous” and the status of the the crisis in Uganda.  So, before I end this post I wanted to share the 3 rules that all responsible bandwagoners should follow:

1.  Do your homework

Before Re-posting something do a quick search on the topic.  One article or youtube video does not equal TRUTH.  It’s important to research a topic quickly before sharing it for many reasons.  For me, I at least want to know that what I am sharing on my public profile is in line with my personal views and morals.

2. Re-post from reliable sources

The internet has tons of information, but it does not mean that it is all correct.  Check out the source, reviews/comments, opposing arguments and dates to make sure that the information is up to date and actually published by a credible group.

3. Share things that you are actually interested in

Everyone may not be aware of your bandwagoner tendencies so don’t be surprised if someone sparks a debate. Save yourself the drama and don’t share things that you do not care about just because everyone else is sharing it.

Tags: activist, bandwagon, bandwagoner, facebook, involvement, kony2012, politics, social, social media, twitter, youth

Friday Soup

I have a new obsession! First of all shame on me for never cooking beans outside of a can until a few weeks ago.  I associate the hard beans in a bag with 4th grade science projects rather than actual food.  Shame on me…I am hoping that I am not the only person who is skeptical of fresh beans and prefers canned beans.  If not, you may not be as excited about this soup recipe as I am.

Goya has a variety of bagged beans that they offer and they can be used to make some really easy, healthy, tasty and filling soups!  I was feeling adventurous so I decided I wanted to get the 16 bean soup bag…yes SIXTEEN.   I felt challenged by the number of beans and decided I wanted to give it a try.

 

 

Now that I had my beans… the rest is really history!

Recipe:

16 Bean Soup Mix

2 Stalks of Celery

6 cups of broth

1 onion

2 cloves garlic

1 green pepper

1 can of diced tomatoes

2 Bay Leafs

A bunch of thyme  (just kept putting more and more in!)

Seasoned to desired taste:  red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, seasoning salt, garlic powder

Instuructions:

Rinse your beans off until the water runs clear.  Then chop up all of the veggies and sautee them in the soup pot.  Once the veggies have softened and browned a bit add your beans, tomatoes, broth, bay leafs and thyme.    Bring the soup to a boil and season!  Once your soup has boiled, cover the pot and turn the stove to a low heat and continue cooking your soup for another 4 hours ( or until the beans are soft).

FINISHED! (this is a fool proof soup recipe)

Calories: ~350

Servings: 5 -6 servings of 2 cups each

Sorry!  There is no picture with my results since I ate it all before snapping a picture on my phone Below I found an images that looked like my version of the 16 bean soup mix

 

Tags: 16 bean, easy, goya, healthy, recipe, soup

Bad Hair turning Good

Yesterday it was time to give my hair some T.L.C.

Even though I was finally ready to show it some love it obviously was not going to cooperate on my terms!  The catch is I pretty much let me hair go wild the past few weeks and now that I finally HAD to address the problem on my head it was just…. out of control.  I didn’t feel too good about this because I have been eating right and exercising  but somehow forgetting about this thing on my head.  No good!

As I challenge myself to treat my hair nicely on a regular basis I should remember the actual characteristics of “Good Hair”

Good Hair =  Strong + Moisturized + Protected

Let’s just say I was working with none of the above last night.

If you are feeling the same way, I challenge you to make some small but big changes to your hair regime to turn that bad hair into good hair in the next 30 days!

What are some things I’ll make sure I do to bring my hair back to life this month?

• No heat

Whether your hair is curly or straight experimenting with rollers, braid outs and wraps will help you switch up your style while cutting out the heat that damages your hair.

• I will not let busy weekends keep me from doing my weekly protective styles

Protective styles are so important, especially for those of us with very thick and curly hair.  Buns, Braids, twists, and Pony tails can all be styled in so many ways. There is no reason to limit your style to simply wearing it out.  I like doing chunky twists pinned up in some kind of way. Once you know what works for you it’ll be a time and hair saver!

• Pay more attention to my scalp (I’m sure a lot of us forget about keeping our scalp healthy)

It makes total sense to care about your scalp, but in the midst of figuring out a hair style, getting ready to go out, and rushing it is easy to forget .  But it’s important to remember that a healthy scalp makes  for healthy hair. Take note of how your scalp is feeling and looking.  If anything seems strange do your homework so you can address that problem.

• I will not take my frustrations out on my hair with a comb

Being gentle to your hair  keeps it from breakage and having split ends.  When you’re combing your hair you do not want mounds of it to be coming out.  So be nice to your hair and have some patience.

• Trim those ends!

It’s ok…it grows back healthier and stronger.

• Never go anywhere without my handy dandy satin bonnet!

Protecting your hair is important.  Whenever I sleep somewhere without my satin  bonnet my hair is noticeably dry and tangled.  A satin bonnet helps protect my hair at night from the harsh pillow case fabric that can cause breakage while keeping my hairstyle together when I’m sleeping.

My changes may seem minor… and they are.  I am usually pretty good about keeping my hair healthy but when life gets busy my hair regimen is the first thing that I cut loose.   I love my hair and it’s time that I demonstrate that everyday by taking good care of it

Tags: bad hair, challenge, good hair, hair, regimen

Healthy Snacks for the Average Couch Potato

It’s hard to resist the urge to snack when you are watching a movie, sporting event, TV show or anything else that involves sitting on a comfy couch.  These are some of my favorite healthy couch potato snacks that help me get through a few hours in front of the idiot box.

Celery + Hummus

I love hummus and I love celery when it’s smothered  in hummus.  One serving of hummus is about 80 calories and I am a believer that celery is negative calories so it makes a perfect combination to replace your typical chips and dip.

Low-fat Popcorn

If you can’t stand the taste of celery or hummus popcorn is great because you’re given a bit more variety.  *Note* Always check the serving size!

Grapes

If you are craving sweet over salty grapes are perfect.  When you eat grapes you’re really simulating that throwing cheese puffs down your mouth action,  making grapes the perfect snack for a couch potato.

Fruit Smoothie

Simple! Half cup of milk, spoonful of yogurt, 1 cup frozen fruit and 2 ice cubes= a healthy slushy treat.  Since the smoothies are cold and sweet  it makes a nice replacement for ice cream accompanied with a cheesy chick-flick

Tags: celery, food, fruit, healthy, hummus, smoothie, snacks, treats, TV

Health First! The Black Woman’s Wellness Guide

In one of my first posts “The Lady Lumps Bible”  I recommended that every woman should have the the book Our Bodies, Ourselves.    I may also suggest that you add another book to your list, Health First! The Black Woman’s Wellness Guide by Eleanor Hinton Hyott who is the President and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative and Hilary Beard an award winning health journalist .  According to the authors this book will serve as a primary resource for women of color to take control of their overall health.   The following is a brief overview of the book:

“Today, as Black women face an unprecedented health crisis, denial and self-neglect are no longer viable options. This groundbreaking volume is rooted in the pioneering work of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, the nation’s only nonprofit organization devoted to advancing the health and wellness of Black women and girls. It offers a core health philosophy—too long denied Black women—based on putting your health first.

Health First explores Black women’s most critical health challenges, connecting the dots through honest discussions with experts and the uncensored stories of real women—from adolescence through adulthood. The focus is on prevention and awareness, across generations and circumstances—from candid conversations about reproductive health and HIV/AIDS to frank explorations of Black women’s Top 10 Health Risks, including heart disease, cancer, obesity, and violence.”

Personally, I am excited about this and can’t wait to get my hands on this book.  Right now the authors are having a book tour and next week they’ll be touring in NYC  holding discussions with the public and health experts woot woot! If you aren’t in NYC or cannot make these events check out the book’s website to learn more and see upcoming events.

Here are the NYC dates and locations:

February 29, 2012

Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Location:  Show map Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service

The Puck Building
295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012

March 1, 2012

Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Location:  Show map Hue-Man Bookstore – New York, NY
319 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (Between 124th and 125th Streets)
New York, NY 10027

Re-resolutionize

 

This post is dedicated to all of you that entered this new year on a mission. You had goals! Records to break! A mission to accomplish in 2012…. Your New Years resolution! And you rocked that resolution all through January and kudos to you.  However, even some of the most motivated and disciplined people fall victim to the lagging holidays that just set you up for a relapse. You know the holidays… some of us just celebrated them in some form. I’m talking about the Super Bowl weekend, Valentine’s day, and President’s day weekend.  Now these may not be considered real holidays to most people but the celebrations, chocolate, fun times and long weekend may throw you off that awesome routine you made.   Let’s be honest here, it even happened to me… You see when I last posted haha.  Regardless,  here are some ways that you can get back into your goal breaking routine:

1. Don’t feel guilty and don’t get discouraged if you feel you haven’t made much progress during the season of relapse.  My mother always tells me that falling out of your routine once in awhile isn’t what keeps you from reaching your goals, It’s falling off completely that does.  So if you feel that you have been dragging your feet and not progressing over the past few weeks I want to tell you that you can do it! Re-resolutionize (please don’t try using that word in public) and attack today, with same energy you did on New Years day.

2. Set goals and give yourself SMALL rewards yourself when you reach them.  Rewards are nice because it keeps you motivated.  Reaching your goal is step by step process. This is why I say make your rewards small because you do not want to be unrealistic and treat a small success like it is your actual goal.  Give yourself something to work for…

3.  Write and record.  Find a way to document your progress (or set backs) whether it be through a journal, charts, pictures or videos.  Take note of changes you made that worked or did not so you can find what really works to you as you try to reach your goals.  Doing this will help you commit, plan ahead and track your journey.

4.  Re-evaluate your resolution.  Maybe it’s not that you aren’t working hard but maybe you just made an unrealistic resolution.  If you told yourself that you will lose 50 lbs in 2 months, become a millionaire by March or go from couch potato to pro athlete in 3 months…depending on your situation maybe you need to re-evaluate your goals but still maintain those good habits you built.

5. Create a support system and let it be known that you have a goal. Tell people you are close to what you are trying to achieve to hold yourself accountable.  Also, make sure the people you tell are POSITIVE, no need to tell a debbie-downer about all the great things you are going to do.  Having a positive circle of people as you continue on this journey towards greatness will come in handy during those times when you are feeling down, un-energetic and beat.  Keep the positive energy around 24/7!

This is for those of you that needed a little pick me up… RE-RESOLUTIONIZE!  And keep pushing towards greatness

 

Tags: goals, motivation, planning, positive, reaching, relapse, resolution, tips

Valentine’s Day Funny

If you’ve never checked out The Oatmeal do it! This site brings a smile to my face all the time.  So here is a  Valentine’s day funny all thanks to The Oatmeal…

Have a great day people!

Tags: cartoon, funny, humor, valentine's day