Doing the right thing can sometimes be a bit inconvenient (yeah, I know how that sounds but bear with me)… You’ll see a charitable cause that truly resonates with you and for one reason or another, it’s just next to impossible for you to do your bit. Well, Do Good Jamaica has officially launched their Crayons Count campaign online. The whole aim of Crayons Count is to be able to provide EVERY early childhood education facility in Jamaica (approximately 2,700) with the tools children need for creative expression and growth. If you know anything about children, you’ll know that art and creative expression is one of the best ways to stimulate their minds and help them to grow!

By the way, Crayons Count is an Early Childhood Commission endorsed project!

So, here’s a look at the different items you can contribute to the Crayons Count campaign:

And, here’s the all-important information on how YOU can DONATE TODAY:

• Donate in-kind at drop off points:

1. Bookophilia - 92 Hope Road, Kingston 6
2. Jamaica Cosmetic Dental Services (JCDS) - Suite 14 1d-1e Braemar Avenue, Kingston 5
3. Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) - 1B Norwood Ave, Kingston 5
4. Mailpac – 109 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6
5. Spartan Health Club - 9 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 5

• Donate cash/funds needed to buy bulk/ wholsesale/ discount/ factory-direct: BNS Knutsford Boulevard - ACCOUNT NUMBER: J$ AC # 930228 US$ AC # 930287

Do Good Jamaica’s Deika Morrison has told me that there will be new drop-off points added daily, so be sure to check back often! Connect with Crayons Count online, they’re on Twitter, Facebook, and they’re blogging too! 

As a designer/artist/creative soul who enjoys giving back, Crayons Count is a campaign that truly resonates with me; I’m not sure what or where I’d be without some kind of art/creative exposure as an infant – it’s definitely made me into who I am!

Kudos, Do Good Jamaica! KUDOS!

Today I got the above broadcast message (once, thankfully – some people I know got it multiple times). It took me about 5 seconds (that I will never, ever get back) to read through the message, look at my contact’s display image, go back to the message and just STOP.

Seriously people, what’s wrong with us?! May I ask what on earth we hope to achieve by having millions of people with the same BlackBerry Messenger display picture if only FIVE of them (for argument’s sake) take action against whatever the avatar is supposed to be in support of? I can’t understand.

I’ve deleted ‘serial broadcasters’ from my BlackBerry with the exception of just one or two – don’t ask me why – but now I’m considering deleting the stragglers.

Listen.

It’s GREAT that you want to be vocal about the cessation of abuse against men/women/children/Mother Earth/animals/electronics, but being vocal is only a very small part of the entire equation. Be active. Do something.

Instead of PING!ing people to change their avatars, why not send them useful information on how they can make an impact on the issue/s at hand?

For today’s broadcast, I’d like to volunteer the following information:

You can also contact Food For The Poor, Mustard Seed Communities, Jamaicans For Justice and other local organizations to find out what you can do to help and protect victims of abuse.

I have never read/heard/seen any instance where someone’s avatar/BBM image impacted ANYthing. If you know of any such instances, please share them with me – I’m eager to know.

On another note, you serial broadcasters out there are making things very difficult for people who genuinely need to get information out (e.g. in the case of a robbery, kidnapping, request for assistance/aid). So before you “Select All” the next time you get a purple message, stop and THINK. I’m not saying never send another broadcast message, but stop abusing the medium.

I’m always hearing people complaining about eating healthy is BORING and that fresh fruits and vegetables just ‘don’t do it’ for them. Quite frankly, I’m always confused at why this complaint is so popular. All it takes is a little imagination to get your palate jumping (and your fibre count up!).

Today’s experiment was: Apple Chips.

To make Apple Chips:

1 Gala Apple
Cinnamon (to taste)
Sweetener (to taste) – I used Splenda, but you may want to use Stevia, Truvia, sugar, Agave nectar or…honey!

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
Cut the apple into thin slices
Lay apple slices out on baking tray
Pop the tray in and bake until golden brown

Then, enjoy!!!

Look at what I ran into online this week (click for larger version)… Any thoughts?

LOL, this pic of my 6-week old Shih-Tzu/Poodle mix is too cute. He’d just finished playing with his squeaky ball and plopped down promptly to either: a) attempt to move it through telekinesis or b) dare it to move on pain of death! (Doesn’t matter that it’s larger than his head!)

A traditional Saturday dinnertime fare is soup. In almost every single Jamaican household I’ve been to (yaad and foreign), on a Saturday you don’t have to second-guess what’s on the menu. There’s a wide range of soups locals enjoy: red peas, gungo peas, chicken foot and pumpkin soup are just a few. Last week Saturday, I got a hankering for soup a serious, honest-to-hungry-belly, gnawing in my tummy feeling for soup. The problem is, my helper (bless her heart) was preparing soup in her typical fashion (like many other Jamaicans) thickened with cornstarch/flour and made with high-sodium Cock Soup mix – not in my belly. I enjoy lentil soup with a passion and decided that it would be lunch and dinner on Saturday last.

So, without further ado here’s my Lentil Soup Recipe in 10 easy steps! (I apologize in advance if the recipe doesn’t quite read like what you’d find in a cookbook; I’m not a recipe writer nor am I a professional chef, lol )

Here’s what you need:

Main ingredients:

• 1 cup green lentils (I got mine from Natural Health in Orchid Village, Liguanea – however I’ve seen them in most supermarkets)
• ½ a pumpkin (purchased from the market ladies who hang out at the Scotiabank ATM in Barbican Centre then boiled it when I got home!)
• 1 onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 Scotch Bonnet pepper (or German pepper if you’re into that)
• 1 tbsp Coconut milk (or coconut milk powder)

Chicken Stock:

• 2 pieces of chicken breast (or leg/thigh/foot/neck – it’s entirely up to you)
• 5 cups of water

Optional:

• A blender or food processor
• Yam
• Potatoes
• Flour and salt for making dumplings
• Salt and ground black pepper (to taste)

Method:

Soaking my lentils!

1. A quick note here about lentils. If you’re familiar with cooking with peas, you’ll notice that if you don’t soak them for a few hours, they tend to take longer to cook! I soaked my lentils overnight – why? Because I like my lentils squishy – they break down nicely in the soup and add body and texture to your soup *winning*

2. In a large pot (lol, I’ve always wanted to type that!) bring the 5 cups of water to a boil.

Chicken breasts boiling to make chicken stock (I added garlic salt just to taste)

3. Add the two pieces of chicken once the water has started boiling and cook for approximately 1 hour. When the chicken is cooked, remove from the water and set the water aside – you’ve just made chicken stock!

4. Add your lentils to the chicken stock and cook on medium heat for approximately 15 minutes.

The pumpkin's a-boiling!

5. Boil the ½ a pumpkin in just enough water to cover it properly – I like to cut mine into big chunks so that the cook-time is shortened. Once the pumpkin is boiled, remove from the water and allow to cool. If you’re in a rush and your stomach is speaking in tongues, you can rinse the pumpkin off with cool water.

Scraping out the LAST bit of pureed pumpkin!

6. Add the cooled pumpkin to your blender/food processor with your onion and the clove of garlic (you may have to chop it, depending on how strong your blender/food processor is!). If you don’t have either appliance, grab a fork and mash that pumpkin until it resembles baby food!

7. Once your pumpkin, onion and garlic have been pureed, gradually add mixture and coconut milk to your pot of cooking lentils. A note here: if you want a HEARTY soup, ensure that your pumpkin-to-stock ratio is in favour of the pumpkin!

Yummy, nice and thick - without the help of flour!

8. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover pot, stirring occasionally.

9. After 10 minutes – or thereabout – you may add your Scotch Bonnet pepper (I stab mine with a fork and add it LAST because I tend to accidentally burst the pepper in my soup pots while stirring. You can add it earlier in the preparation process if you’re more skilled, lol)

10. After another 10 minutes, your soup is good to go! Enjoy!

Suggested sides:

• Roasted garlic Pita Bread
• Toast
• Crackers (Water or cream!)
• Melba Toast

A note here: I opted not to include yam, potatoes, dumplings or chicken in this recipe because – well, I didn’t feel like it J. But you CAN add your yam and potatoes to the pot in which you’re boiling your pumpkin. Just be sure to remove the yam and potatoes from the pot before you dump its contents into your blender/food processor.

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy the recipe. If you’ve tried it, or have more suggestions, let me know!

Image via confessionsofalovingwife.com

Sexting: 21^st C hybrid word of ‘Sex’ & ‘Texting’. Sexting is the act of sending a nude/pornographic style image of oneself via a mobile device.

There has been an outpouring of events in the media in recent times of nude pictures garnered via sexting, ending up in hands other than the intended party. Usually, and worst case scenario, the unintended party is the mass media and/or some social medium for the entire world to be privy to what was intended to be private. Many careers and family lives have been ruined as a result of this 21^st C craze, and still, there will probably be more to showcase & tarnish in the future.

As a result of such scandals, many have been quick to offer that the best solution for avoidance is to say no to sexting. If such a picture or video of you does not exist in the first place, then there is absolutely nothing to be exposed. Right? I agree to some extent.

Image via murraythenut.com

I have been sexting for as long as this craze was doable, hence since I’ve had a mobile phone than can send pictures. Yes, I; guilty as confessed! *looks around*My most significant relationship turned into a long distance one when I moved away for school. I was not about to be outdone or be out of sight. Nope. Sexting was only the beginning…but also the end for you because that’s the topic. LOL!

It’s easy for one to hastily banish sexting if they’ve never personally been a situation where it may have been warranted. Yes, I said warranted. For example: Are you in a long distance relationship? Does your mate work long, sometimes overnight shifts? Is your mate imprisoned? Do you work long, sometimes overnight shifts? Do you and your mate see each other on a tight schedule? If you’ve answered ‘Yes’ to any of the questions above, sexting may be just what it takes to savour the spice in your relationship. Oh, you thought those long or phone sex calls alone are doing it? *side eye*

It is 2011. I try to tell people each day that becoming a smarter you is as easy as clicking Search on Google and navigating some pages. What people still fail to recognize is that there is a smart way to do just about everything in this life. Where sexting is concerned, I’ll give you some pointers from A-Z. Of course there will not be 26 points, and this list is by no means the ‘be all end all’. But at least you may catch on to being a smarter you.

Prelude: your mate (usually the male) requests a naughty pic of his baby (yes, YOU). Or maybe he didn’t, but you’re about to have some phone sex so why not add some visual? Yes! And then there is always that ‘just because’ picture. Speaks volumes of…never mind! *bats lashes*. Tay Appention:

1. A. Is your man the talkative type? Like, in a general social setting with friends, is he the center of keeping the conversations going? Is your man generally vindictive, whether toward you or others? Is your man careless with his phone, whether he loses it often or leaves it lying around? Is your man technology deficient, like his Bluetooth is always on or he regularly tweets what should be DMs? If you’ve answered ‘Yes’ to any of the above, be keen to Parts B & D or DO NOT SEXT! Not all scandals start with the actual recipient. Someone in the know could just be that slick, and hates you that much!
2. B. Find the best lighting, angle, and pose to capture the hell out of whatever particular he requested to see. Yes honey. Your ‘fat ass’, ‘stiff breasts’, ‘fluffy kitty’, ‘freshly-shaved’, ‘juicy kitty’, or his favourite sex position shall be captured. WHATEVER he wants to see within Part D constraint, WIN! Girl, strut your best stuff for that man you love or are trying to trap. LOL!
3. C. I said LOL, but mind you if the intended party is a man not exclusively yours, ensure he has something to lose should he decide to leak that picture to the world. Decipher that last sentence on your own. Still stay within Part D boundary. WIN!
4. D. Your pic SHOULD NOT INCLUDE anything that would identify said body part in a line-up of 5 randomly chosen females of like skin color. Pretty much that’s means NO birth mark or personalised tattoos. Piercings are whatever…they all look the same, as do all fat asses, most kitties, & succulent breasts! Yes, that’s what I said. #letitmarinate
5. E. OF COURSE your face is not in these pictures right? But I didn’t have to type that. *side eye*
6. F. OF COURSE you’re NOT emailing them from your main account with your full Government name, right? *side eye*
7. G. OF COURSE if you’re sending via BBM or other instant messenger you are super careful when selecting the contact right? *side eye*

I hope you’re somewhat smarter on keeping up with the romance. Sexting is exciting & mentally stimulating! Have fun exploring the beauty of your body and sharing it with those you deem fit. One thing I will say in closing:

SAY NO TO SEX TAPES! DO NOT TAKE PART IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. SEX TAPES WILL VIOLATE PARTS D-G REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU MAY THINK!

Be Blessed

About the Author

Damali Henry is a driven, God-fearing lover of life, & a life-long student of the world of Arts & Entertainment. She recently authored her first novel “TAUNTED By Choice…” , available here. This “young, gifted, and black” unstoppable woman, introduces a different taste of island life with a pervasive message throughout: “Mankind lives by choice; coincidence is rare!”. You may see more about her via facebook.com/damalihenry or follow her on Twitter @damaliahenry

This morning I woke up to fog, overcast skies and LOTS of rain. Any combination of these factors is guaranteed to make me not feel like working! Looks like I’ll have to grab a cup of coffee to save myself. I hope the heavy rains don’t adversely affect too many communities.

Big ups due to Kevin(DJ POWA) for creating this masterpiece. This is WILD. Great job on the editing and the beat – love it! Check out what CBSNews.com had to say after the jump!

(CBS) – Heavy rains have battered Jamaica in recent days, ruining fields and washing away some roads. One particular bridge was swept away. A news team went out to the road and interviewed people on the scene, including one very spirited local.

As it always does in times likes these, the Internet responded to the event the only way it knows how: a hilarious remix.

The original news piece is right HERE. But, honestly, the story wasn’t complete until DJ Powa added that beat. Now I understand the seriousness of the situation. Also, it’s a pretty catchy song.

The good news is that the situation has improved, and hopefully a new bridge will be built in time. But for now, nobody canna cross it.

As seen on CBSNews.com

Bun, cheating, infidelity, bruk foot – whatever you want to call it, it’s been a part of relationships since the dawn of time. (Dawn of time? Don’t quote me on that, but I’m pretty sure). Over the past few months, the public has been bombarded by local and international media about which celebrities have been caught stepping out on their significant others, gag orders, injuctions, super-injunctions, love child(ren) etc. What gets me is the shock and awe these stories generate amongst readers.

Uh, hello! Cheating is not news. More importantly, the fact that you’ve been cheated on doesn’t have to mean the end of the world – or the end of your relationship.

Let’s start at the beginning, though. First things first – no matter what Redbook, Cosmo, Vanity Fair or Lifetime movies tell you, there is absolutely nothing you can say or do to prevent your significant other from cheating. If they’re going to stray, then they’re just going to. Seriously, unless you plan to tie them up and monitor their movements 24/7, there’s really nothing you can do to prevent it. Why? Not biology or psychology – free will. It’s impossible to interfere with someone’s free will and forcibly deter them from executing their plans.

Instead of getting dangerously close to giving yourself an aneurysm trying to concoct ways and means of making your relationship cheat-proof, accept the fact that though it’s not necessarily going to happen, anything is possible. Once you’ve made peace with that, you’re already in a better position to deal with it IF it happens to you.

I’ve been cheated on…What do I do?

It's OKAY to feel anger/fury towards your significant other. Image via SofaMonkez

DON’T berate yourself for any anger/fury that you’re experiencing. It’s normal – just make sure you find an outlet for it so that it doesn’t result in grievous bodily harm inflicted on your significant other or the third party.

DON’T go to a cynic or someone who has a very opinionated point of view about your relationship and/or infidelity – you ideally want someone who can be objective and logical, and someone who’s going to listen to YOU, not force you to listen to THEM.

DON’T blame yourself. Going back to the whole thing of free will, there’s nothing that you can or can’t do (for that matter) to directly affect someone’s free will.

Another DON’T; DO NOT attack ‘the other person’. Your beef is with your significant other. Unless they were raped or otherwise forcibly made to have intimate relations with the side-piece/matey, then you have no business with the third party in your relationship.

DON’T even try to make sense of what your significant other did – that’s a sure-fire recipe for disaster. If your relationship is not the ‘open’ kind, then straying is not OKAY.

If your significant other wants your relationship to work, i.e. for you to not give up on them, then you’d better know that the ball is in YOUR court and the game is now going to be played on YOUR terms – although the terms should be beneficial to you both, put your needs to the forefront when renegotiating the resumption/continuation of your relationship. Now would be a REALLY good time to redefine the boundaries of your relationship.

DON’T try to fit the round peg into the square hole. If you want your relationship to work after infidelity, it will take some work, and copious amounts of patience. If you’re unable to emotionally and mentally dedicate the energy, then it’s okay to be honest and say “This isn’t going to work.”

DON’T allow your significant other to make you feel crap-tastic for speaking about the infidelity with your close friend/family/support system. If s/he didn’t stray, there would be no need for such discussions in the first place.

In the event you choose to stay, DON’T feel ashamed, nor should you allow people to berate you for your decision. You should know what you want – and while objective/constructive criticism shouldn’t be ignored – don’t allow it to re-programme your mind without your own thoughts/feelings going into it.

Oh, and if you’re going to stay DON’T try not to throw your partner’s infidelity in his/her face. You’ll both need to sit down and discuss what’s happened and agree on a way forward. Whether you choose to do that alone or with a mediator is entirely up to you. You need to know, though, that this may be several conversations spanning the course of several weeks – or, it may be a single conversation spanning several hours or minutes. There is no ‘right’ way to go about it – everyone’s relationship is different. Also know that whatever feelings you’re experiencing have to be dealt with or else they’ll literally sit there, fester and become the most toxic form of resentment imaginable.

If a child (or children!) have been the product of your partner’s infidelity, DON’T blame the child, or harbour grudges towards them. Like all children, they didn’t ‘choose’ to be born, they just happened to find themselves in the situation they’re in. If anything, you and the child both have that in common – neither of you chose to be in the circumstances you’ve found yourselves in.

In all relationships – personal and otherwise – it’s important to make sure that you and the other person(s) involved are on the same page, of the same book, from the same library. Miscommunication is a bitch – it can cause a seemingly smooth relationship to become a tempestuous beast overnight.

How do you ensure you’re both on the same page? Check in every now and again. If you have a friendship with your significant other, checking in is relatively easy because speaking to them on a variety of topics shouldn’t cause you much discomfort.

Getting into a committed relationship can be scary as hell. In choosing to invest time, money, feelings etc in another person, there’s the fear of the unknown, the fear of being hurt and the fear of zero returns on investment. If you allow those fears to weigh on your mind on a daily basis, you won’t be able to enjoy your relationship, and you’ll probably become paranoid, causing your partner to want to add some distance between you two.

There’s life after infidelity.  Whether alone or with the person who cheated on you, life will go on.

What are your thoughts on life after cheating – or being cheated on?

Open invitation: Have a story about infidelity you’d like to share (anonymity is fine!), then send me an email: nicky[at]nickmack[dot]net!