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Image: Overstock Drugstore

This cold, dry winter weather has my skin hella dry. There’s only one thing that’s tried and true to alleviate dry, cracked, winter skin – regular old Vaseline. I don’t use it on my face, but it does wonders for my body.

I’ve used Vaseline for my dry skin for a number of years. It’s greasy at first, but your skin drinks in the petroleum jelly, it becomes soft and supple. Like butter baby! Vaseline is one of those things that can be used for any number of beauty purposes:

• Remove your eye makeup
• Use it as a substitute for eye shadow primer
• Heal chapped lips
• Moisturize dry, chapped skin
• Add moisture to dry cuticles

Best thing about Vaseline: you can buy it anywhere less than $5. Cheap, easy, and effective. So tell me. What do you use to treat dry skin? Vaseline isn’t the only way. Leave a comment and tell me what you do to stay soft and supple?

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Hope your day is filled with good food, family and joy.

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The holidays make me feel like such a cow. It starts at Thanksgiving, with office potlucks and family dinners. It goes on until Christmas, and by New Year’s Day I’ve gained five extra unwanted pounds because I can’t avoid the extra calories from holiday food. This year, I refuse to be a cow by New Years. Since I know I’m going to be eating extra, I came up with a plan to counteract excess poundage by compensating for it in other areas.

Are you with me on this? I think we can do it if we keep the following tips in mind.

1. Step up those workouts. Fall/winter means it gets dark earlier and in some climates its just cold as hell, so its not ideal to go for an evening run after work. But that’s no excuse skimp out on a workout. If you’re like me and used to exercising outdoors, bring your exercising routine indoors. Since most of us are hood rich (read: broke) these days, I don’t advocate joining a gym. Instead, use workout DVDs. My recent favorite is the afro-latin dance workout, it’s fun (even though I kicked over my end table doing a few moves) and burns lots of calories.

2. Eat as healthy between holiday meals. If you know you’re going to gorge at that lunch potluck at work, eat a healthy breakfast beforehand and a light dinner later on. Save your calorie count for the big stuff and eat lighter for your other meals.

3. Just say no…to that 2nd or 3rd helping.  I eat extra helpings just because they’re there. Food is meant to be eaten, but I don’t have to be the one doing the eating. And when your coworkers try to force feed you, stand your ground and tell them no thank you! Don’t let them sabotage your diet.

Nip those holidays pounds in the bud! Do you have any suggestions or ideas for preventing holiday weight gain? Leave a comment.

Image: About.com

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Dope sneakers are an absolute must for any b-girl. As a Cali girl I have an affinity for Chuck Taylors, these are the sneakers of my youth, growing up in Compton. Fly Girl is the mastermind behind these hand drawn floral chucks. This is a very innovative take on the classic Converse sneaker. High tops >>> low tops, imho. They’re available at Free People for a pretty penny…but hey, sometimes flyness comes at a price.

Image: Fly Girl

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It’s the real..hip hop, hip hop…

Enjoy your weekend!

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Martha Stewart is one of my idols. My goal in life is to be hip hop’s version of Martha Stewart (minus the prison sentence, god willing). So when I saw this quote from Martha Stewart on BV Buzz, my soul was touched.

“I like rap. We play rap. Oh yeah! When you come to the show you’ll see. Rap is fabulous! And it’s the liveliest thing for the audience. Rap is big.”

-Martha Stewart on rap music

Other reasons why Martha Stewart is hip hop? She’s been to prison. It’s a rite of passage for hip hop stars to go to jail. Ask Lil Wayne, TI, Foxy, Lil Kim, Remy Ma. Obviously Martha Stewart isn’t a rapper, but she’s been incarcerated, thus earning a ghetto pass. Technically, Martha Stewart is harder than the average everyday wannabe thug, who’s likely too scared to do time.

There’s also the beef factor. What’s more hip-hop than beef with the competition? When asked about Rachel Ray, Martha Stewart went in:

“She’s – more of an entertainer than she is, with her bubbly personality, than she is a teacher, like me. That’s not what she’s professing to be.”

-Martha Stewart on Rachel Ray

Martha’s basically saying, “this bitch ain’t on my level son!” I can imagine her playing 50 Cent “Many Men” in the background while baking cupcakes. Rachel Ray can’t bake, btw. She knows she can’t eff with Martha!

“Her skill set is far beyond mine. That’s simply the reality of it. That doesn’t mean that what I do isn’t important, too … I don’t consider it needling. I really just think she’s being honest,” Ray says. “She does have a better skill set than I do when it comes to producing a beautiful, perfect, high-quality meal. I’d rather eat Martha’s than mine, too.”

-Rachel Ray’s response to Martha’s comments

This is as good as any 50 Cent vs. Game/Rick Ross/Fat Joe/Jadakiss beef. Rachel and Martha need to battle it out, may the best domestic goddess win. Cook off!

*Wanna be starting something, wanna be starting something*

Source, Source, Source

Image: Rolling Stone

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This is my take on beef fried rice, inspired by my need to do something with leftover roast beef. I wouldn’t say this is the most authentic version of beef fried rice, it’s just one of those recipes where you take what you have in the fridge and create a masterpiece. Many of the meals we’ve come to enjoy in our respective cultures were born out of the need to clean out the fridge. Tweak this recipe to your liking.

Ingredients (Yields 2 servings):

1 healthy glass of wine for you to drink while cooking

1/2 cup leftover roast beef cut into small cubes

1/4 cup bell pepper (I used red bell peppers here, use whatever kind you have)

1/4 cup diced onion

Couple cloves of garlic

1 cup cooked rice

Few dashes worschestire sauce

Few dashes soy sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Heat vegetable or canola oil in non-stick skillet or wok until hot.

2. Add  onion and bell pepper, sautee  until almost translucent. Add garlic, continue cooking until the garlic becomes aromatic

4. Add roast beef to veggies, cooking until it starts to brown on the edges. You may want to start seasoning with a little salt and pepper here, to taste.

5. Add cooked rice to the meat and veggie mix. Turn your fire down a bit, and incorporate rice, meat, and veggies. Add soy sauce and worschestire sauce to taste. Add more salt and pepper to your liking. Serve hot.

This is my first time making this particular dish, I think it would also be great with a little egg, maybe some chopped celery, and red pepper flakes. I hope you try and enjoy!

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Dope new video(s) from Pac Div.

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Lately I’ve been in the mood for super cute flats. Don’t get me wrong, I still love sky high heels, and sneakers for that matter. But some days I don’t feel like either, and I want to vary things up and go for a casual, yet stylish flat.

Image, Image, Image

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I’m still on my Clipse ish, as you clearly see. “I’m back by popular demand…”

The fried chicken imagery bothers me just a touch, but who am I kidding. I fux with Popeye’s one Tuesday a month.

Spotted @ Nah Right

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