Tawnee's Everything Corner

The Holidays are a Coming

2009-11-16T17:07:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that the holiday season is among us. With the year's major holidays quickly approaching, I feel like we consumers are being bombarded with deals here, deals there. Ten years ago, I never received advertisements for the holidays before Halloween. Then again, ten years ago I was still in high school--I had no money to contribute to frivolous holiday spending anyway. This year, I am concerned about the recession--aren't we still technically in one? The unemployed friends that I have are still unemployed--so what are people going to do about the holidays?

This year is yet another example of thrifty spending and meaningful gift ideas. What do I have in mind exactly? I could go with the traditional flower delivery; however, I know that I've done this so much in the past few months, people know me as the flower girl! I'm saying though, giving flowers is thoughtful and sweet.

On the other hand, a personalized gift basket s may do the trick this year. Each person likes something different, but assembling a gift basket is personal and meaningful as well. And besides, this may be one of the cheapest options for holiday gifts too. All in all, I am not anticipating spending a lot this year...although I've been getting some incredible steals and coupons in the mail. It's all a part of the grand scheme. Stimulate the economy, right? Ahhhh...the holidays are certainly here!

Ending the Hiatus

2009-08-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

Hello readers,

It has been a long time since I've blogged. It's not that I haven't wanted to blog, it's just that I've been overwhelmed by life and finding real, paying work (haha). Thus, I haven't had the chance to do what I do best--write! My extended break is now over, however. I am coming back stronger and better than ever people! I also have a new blog (on Yovia) that I will be using to track one specific thing (it's a surprise people. Come on...you didn't think it was that easy, did you?). I would appreciate it if I can have some fresh topics to write about. Therefore, if you have anything that you might find interesting, email me and I'll include them in my "to write" list. I'm interested in blogging about new (and healthy) recipes, fitness, popular culture, literature, and professional writing.

I look forward to writing more in the near future.

Happy reading,

TonyaT

Happy May Everyone

2009-05-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

Happy First Day of May!!! Not only is it the first day of an exciting month, it's FRIDAY!!! May has always been one of the busiest months of the year for me. There are birthdays, graduation celebrations, and baby showers galore. One of the most important celebrations this month has to offer is Mother's Day.

Although I am not a mother yet (someday I hope to be... and for all who keep asking it's definitely someday, not today), I admire all the mothers out there. They deserve the best that life has to offer, not only on their day, but everyday of the year. I love my mom and I plan on purchasing some great Mothers day flowers with my 1800flowers coupon. Yes, I am using a coupon (and proud to admit it in this economy), but they are certainly not going to be cheap flowers. I will get my mother the best flowers that they have to offer...just the thought will put a smile upon her face.

After Mother's Day, I have a special birthday to celebrate. My hubby's 28th birthday is shortly approaching and I can't wait to celebrate. We've known each other for ten years. I can't believe how time is flying! Additionally, my oldest brother's birthday and niece's birthday is also in May. I don't know how I'm going to remember all these May events in ten years. Thank goodness for my Blackberry.

FREE SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBINARS IN MAY

2009-05-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

I have some information on FREE social networking webinars in May. Want to maximize profit using social networking strategies? If you simply want to become a wiz in social networking applications like twitter, facebook, and myspace...then these workshops are a MUST-HAVE. See information below:

We are proud to introduce Yovia Academy, a series of classes aimed at bringing you or your employees up to speed on the latest in social networking, blogging, and e-marketing. For convenience, the classes are available in-person and online.

Learn from industry leaders first-hand how to harness the power of social media for yourself and your business:

Jalali Hartman - Inventor of "Social Velocity," Yovia Founder and CEO

Angela Dunn - Social Anthropologist, Twitter Guru, brand architect and power business 3.0 blogger. http://twitter.com/blogbrevity

Emily Paterson - Yale-educated content strategist, community development scientist and training coordinator.

UPCOMING EVENTS!

MAY 6 Free Webinar Using Social Media to Find a Job, Sponsored by FlexJobs Register at Yovia.com.

MAY 7 Lunch & Learn at Beaver St Enterprise Center, $15 includes lunch.
Intro to Social Media I: Twitter, Blogs & Building your Social Capital
To register: contact Selisa Grimes, sgrimes@bsecenter.net, or by phone (90....

MAY 8 First of Four FREE Social Media Classes: Get started with your Blog, Social Media and Analytics. A $300 value, free, includes 4 two-hour training sessions 9 am to 11 am, (over four Fridays.) First-come, first-served, limited space available. For more information or to register, email Emily Paterson, training coordinator, epaterson@yovia.com.

2593 Mayport Road #101 | Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233

Mother's Day Countdown

2009-04-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

Although I believe in celebrating every day, the next big day is Mother's Day. Mothers both near and far will be honored for their dedication and commitment to the world's hardest job: motherhood. What better way to honor our mothers, mother-in-laws, or other strong female figures in our lives than with Flowers for mothers day from 1800 Flowers. Nothing says I love you more than Flowers for mothers day. I don't know what it is about women and mothers, but they absolutely love flowers. Any color, kind, or shape--this gift always seems to put a smile on their faces.

Myself, I can't wait to show my mother how much I appreciate everything that she has done for me. Multiple hours of labor, years of haircare, and most importantly, unconditional love--I feel like my mother is the best mom in the world. She always knows the right words to say when I am feeling down. And best of all, she does a great job of encouraging me to follow all of my heart's desires.

Happy Mother's Day Mom--I LOVE YOU!!!!

--Tonya

These Tough Economic Times

2009-03-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

I've been pondering remedies for stress lately--stress that is all a result of these tough economic times. Our nation is under tremendous turmoil. People losing jobs and struggling to get by. Last year, I was an independent contractor--and it was pretty lucrative. This year, the competition is fierce, there are less opportunities...which means that my passion and career is taking a hard hit.

Upon visiting the Renew International website , I realized that spirituality is definitely something that will get me through this economic storm. In the past few weeks, I thought about this: now is a perfect time for faith restored. Renew International and their commitment to changing lives through religion and spirituality has made me realize (and hopefully other people will catch on as well) that we must now depend on our spiritual base and each other to get by--as opposed to material things. Although I am not claiming any religious denomination (Renew International is a Catholic based organization), I'm sure that many religious groups around the world are here to help ease our worries about these tough economic times.

Love is in the Air

2009-02-12T10:47:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh--love is in the air! Can't you just smell it? The aroma of fresh roses, chocolates, and homemade Valentine's Day cupcakes--I just love this holiday. Ten years ago, I was the bitter non-believer who hated Valentine's day. I did not see the point of getting all giddy over one day in the year. Granted, I was bitter at that time because I dated jerks who did not understand the meaning of this special day. Upon meeting the love of my life, that all changed however.

When my love surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of my favorite flowers, it was that very moment that I began to adore this day. Love is a beautiful thing--and no matter whether you are showered with gifts, flowers, or decedent chocolates--taking one day to celebrate the people that you love is simply priceless. This Valentine's Day, I want to give thanks for all the people that I love in my life--as well as the love of my life.

I've decorated the apartment with festive Valentine's Day decorations, some 1800 Flowers lilac flowers and I have a lovely pre-Valentine's day of baking planned for tomorrow. This day only comes once a year--so why not take the time to celebrate it. And yes...did I happen to mention that it's my anniversary as well? Oh boy! Two in one...I can't wait. Love is definitely in the air!

MLK Celebration Blog--Coming Soon

2009-01-19T16:27:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

I definitely want to post about MLK celebrations and this our embarking on a historic moment in the next 24 hours. Today, however, I am out serving on this National Day of Service. I will be posting a better late than never MLK commemoration blog tomorrow.

I hope everyone is serving someone or something today (for a good cause of course).

Be blessed,

Tonya

African Music

2009-01-19T16:24:00.000-08:00

As apart of my New Years resolution to be more aware of world food and culture, I recently did some heavy research on the culture of Kenya. Yeah—it’s great that I’ll be cooking Irio (hopefully I fix it as close to authentic as possible), but I certainly want to know more about African music. Now, I have my favorite artists (Benga being one of my favorite genres and Fela Kuti being one of my favorite Nigerian artists), but I wanted to explore more. My goal is to serve a traditional Kenyan meal with an evening of African music—in my mind, the ultimate cultural experience.

Joseph Odindo provides a short list of his favorite tunes. Odindo also discusses the distinct styles of East African music as opposed to other forms of African music. I was particularly interested in the Marimba. A Marimba is a set of wooden xylophones (played with drumsticks called “beaters”) that is accompanied with the piccolo and the baritone (both soprano and tenor).

I’ve never heard the Marimba ensemble, but I am anxious to search for African songs that contain this melodic sound. According to Joseph Odindo, Marimba’s popularity first grew in Zimbabwe, but is now popular in South Africa, North Africa, Australia, and Europe.

The Anti--vaccine Movement: If not vaccines, then what?

2009-01-19T16:19:00.000-08:00

Just recently, I read an article describing Paul Offit’s stance on vaccinations and their correlation between autism. As a former educator, I’ve been heavily immersed in a variety of social and learning differences that students bring to the classroom, including autism. For me, I have always refused to believe that diseases/illnesses just happen to spring up from nowhere. Autism is no different. With a somewhat recent court case, parents tried to convince the courts that their child’s autism was caused by the endless number of vaccinations that were given to him.

Paul Offit blames the anti-vaccine movement on greed and opportunism; also citing coal, mercury and forest fires as the primary contributors of Autism. Paul Offit also supports and continuously advocates for various Autism groups throughout the country (Offit blogs for a group of anti-vaccine advocates called Age of Autism).

I haven’t read Paul’s book, but I honestly think that autism may stem from a number of man made creations. I’m no doctor, nor am I an expert on autism—I just have good old-fashioned common sense. This is such an interesting topic (and point of contention for many), I think I may have to pick up this book in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for additional commentary…

Where, Oh Where are the Reasonably Priced Apartments?

2009-01-19T16:15:00.000-08:00

With current state of the housing market, my hopes of getting my dream home by age 25 have been put on hold—until the market changes (hey—I know what you’re thinking. I recently celebrated the second anniversary of my 25thJ). Not only is the housing market a wreck, I am beginning to be very sick of overpriced, undersized apartments. Especially in the Northeast, it just seems like apartments are smaller and more expensive than ever.

I’ve been looking at less than desirable markets lately (less desirable because I never considered moving to these places—ever). With the recent blast of artic weather and lack of quality housing, I’ve suddenly become interested in Dallas, Texas. Why Texas? Well…I’m not sure. I actually hate the Cowboys and I am not a fan of the state (for my own reasons that I care not to discuss in this blog). But, I visited the Power Properties website and found some extremely good deals on quality living arrangements.

Not only is Power Properties offering future residents a chance to win six months of free living, they offer spacious and trendy apartments in both loft-style apartments and historic-styled buildings. Can you believe it east coasters? I actually saw an apartment over 800 sq. feet for $685 per month. Shucks, I didn’t think apartments under $1,000/mth even existed anymore. Another thing I like about Power Properties is that there are no secrets on how the apartments look. There are ample pictures, floor plans, and testimonials right there on the website.

Never mind—on second thought, I wouldn’t want to move to Texas. But after visiting the Power Properties website, I sure thought about it long and hard.

The Happiness of Pets

2009-01-19T16:12:00.000-08:00

For some reason, when I was younger I always believed that happiness is pets. Although my parents didn’t allow them in the house, I continuously begged for a puppy year after year. I’d wake up every Christmas morning, hoping and wishing for a puppy under the tree. This “happiness is pets” attitude came from the first time I visited the pet store at White Marsh mall. My mother didn’t really want to go into the store, but she knew that I had a burning desire to hold a puppy for the first time.

I was only ten years old, but I could see the look of love and caring in the puppy’s eyes. That golden retriever wanted me to take him home. The relentless begging and whining did no good however. I was a straight A student with a ton of responsibility, but I was carefully warned, “When you turn 18 and get your own house, then you can get one—but for now…the answer is NO!”

A few months ago, I turned 25…no, 27 (goodness, I still forget that I am drifting closer towards my 30s). Anyways, my “happiness is pets” attitude is still very much apart of my life. My cousin gave me a Yorkie to keep. Unfortunately, the mother grew too attached to the puppy, so they took it right back. Nonetheless, I was so attached to my little friend. I had found happiness in that puppy. I also had one lesson reinforced. If you want happiness, you can never depend on someone else to give it to you. With that said, I’ll be going shopping for a new puppy of my own this summer.

Old Home versus New Home

2009-01-19T16:07:00.000-08:00

A friend’s situation had me really thinking about whether to look for older homes versus newer developments. I hope she doesn’t get mad at me for calling her out (for the sake of privacy, I won’t mention her name). A new home can be expensive—even with the market, they are still overcharging people for smaller lots of land (backyards are a thing of the past—they’ve been replaced with granite countertops and stainless appliances). On the flip side, a new home merely requires maintenance. Just like any other new purchase, under warranty, if anything goes wrong, it will be fixed almost immediately by the contractors.

An older home comes “as is.” It is less expensive, but a person could end up spending more money remodeling the home. My friend is constantly spending lots of money that she doesn't have on home repairs. I’ve done some home remodeling shopping and K-Designers offer various home remodeling deals. Patios, bathtubs, windows and other additions are just a few of the K-Designers service options. With K-Designer options, I could practically have a new home. I guess this is something I’ll have to re-visit when I am closer to purchasing my first home. As of now, it’s just good to weigh my options.

The Ugly Side of Divorce

2009-01-19T15:47:00.000-08:00

I’m not ashamed to admit that I watch cheesy WB sitcoms, but I certainly don’t classify The Game as one of these shows. Yes, it is a WB sitcom, but it is far from cheesy. It’s actually really funny. The characters have a comedic element, but they seem like people I’d actually like to hang out with. Melanie and Derwin actually remind me of myself and Tosin (without the baby mama drama of course).

One of the story plots revolves around Kelly and Jason’s divorce. Their divorce is just getting plain nasty. The unfortunate part about it is that they are forgetting that their innocent daughter is in the middle of their issues. Arlene Kock, a child family law specialist, hits the nail on the button with her insight on divorce. Arlene Kock specifically reports on the ugly side of divorce and how children can be affected from these battles. Although Kock discusses California spousal responsibilities, the information on her blog helped me to get a more critical view of Kelly and Jason’s divorce trials. My advice to Kelly and Jason: they better split amicably for the sake of Brit-Brat.

Money Matters

2009-01-19T15:43:00.000-08:00

There were times when I wished that money didn’t exist. I believe that money is the root of all evil. People get really twisted up over money. Families are torn apart, people are physically attacked, and people pretend to like you because of money (when they know they really don’t). There is definitely a separation of class in this society too. Some people have it, and some people don’t. And the ones that don’t have it may spend their whole lives searching for happiness in the almighty dollar; while the people that have it never find happiness because they know nothing else besides the dollar. What’s that cliché again…Mo’ money, mo’ problems.

Frank Hanna stated so eloquently that “money makes the economy run more efficiently.” This is true, Frank Hanna. Money is needed for the economy to work efficiently. People need money to live a content life. But where does the need for money spiral out of control? Frank Hanna continues, “…any unhealthy appetite can hurt us, including an unhealthy appetite for money.” Once again, another true statement, Frank.

It sickens me—the way people are attached to money. It’s just money. You can’t take it with you. Why not live off of happiness and self content? I am by no means financially rich. However, I am rich in humility and spirit. No one can take away the wealth of my spirit.

Investing During a Recession

2009-01-19T15:40:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh…the recession. We are living in tough times right now. People losing their jobs, stock market is doing ridiculously bad, housing in a downward spiral—what’s a young investor to do? During a down time like this, it is actually an optimal time to learn as much as you can about investing. Bad times don’t last forever, and as things slowly creep back up to normal (whether it’s three months or three years), we can equip ourselves with top knowledge that will allow us to make the best investments for our future.

Investopedia.com is a top educational finance site and one can seek expert advice from money gurus such as Susie Orman, David Ramsey, Robert Kiosaki and even from Norman Steisel, Deputy Mayor of NYC. In fact, Norman Steisel is the first Deputy Mayor of New York. Advice from this guy is valued because he oversaw the major overhaul in the city’s budget and has been instrumental in major financial decisions made for the city. Norman Steisel Deputy Mayor of New York is just one example of someone that may hold the key to financial knowledge. The underlying point is this: get expert advice, in combination with logical thinking and you can put yourself in a good place when it is time to invest. More to come on this topic…

Taxi Please

2009-01-19T15:36:00.000-08:00

I came across an interesting blurb on Amos Tamam, and innovator of the taxi service. Although my experience with cabs as a teenagers quickly prompted me to save my money and purchase a vehicle of my own (those meters go up fast!), I’ve always been interested in how someone can actually innovate taxi service.

Well, I discovered that Amos Tamam actually made it possible to pay for a taxi ride with a credit card. Whohooo to that! I was wondering what would happen if you happened to get stuck someone with no cash. That innovation was needed. Amos Tamam is also credited with helping to develop one of the world’s leading Taxometers (not quite sure what the dynamics of this are, but it sounds very innovative). Unfortunately, his innovations are limited to New York and Philadelphia cabs. I frequent these cities often, so maybe, just maybe, I’ll catch a ride in one of his cabs.

Jazzy Me

2009-01-19T15:33:00.001-08:00

My husband actually listens—I like that. Actually, I love that. He’s been hearing stories of my high school band days and my familiarity with music. Music is one of my absolute favorite hobbies. Listening to it, dancing to it, and playing it have been my favorite personal hobbies since I can remember. Many people don’t know this, but I can read music—I’m pretty good at it in fact. All those times I lugged my 20 pound French horn home on the bus in order to practice for school concerts and solos—I’d better know how to read some music. As Mohammed Babangida agrees, there is something about jazz and the way it makes a person feel

In the past ten years, I haven’t been practicing or playing anything—only listening. Just recently, I expressed a deep interest to start playing music again. I’ve had my fair share of practice with the French horn (and alto/bass clarinet). My desire was to master another instrument. So low and behold, my husband bought me a Yamaha keyboard for Christmas. I didn’t ask for it, he just listened to a conversation and presented it to me. What a joy! Needless to say, I haven’t taken my hands off it! Like Mohammed Babangida states, I’d like to find the correlation between jazz and traditional African music. I already know that jazz incorporates the same improvisation, polyrythyms, and bluesy notes as traditional African music. Mohammed Babangida credits contemporary genres with African roots (especially Afro-Cuban jazz, hip-hop, and R&B).

One of my favorite all time jazz artists is Thelonius Monk. He was a wizard on the piano. Maybe, just maybe if I practice hard enough—I can play an excerpt from one of his pieces, with some added Tonya improvisation of course.

All my 55 and Older Friends…Retirement is Right around the Corner

2009-01-19T15:29:00.000-08:00

Yes—to all my 55+ family and friends, retirement is right around the corner (and I know what all my twenty-something friends are thinking—I am cool with people of all ages). Even with news of the recession (heck—the depression—it is what it is), baby boomers nationwide are still looking forward to retirement in the next few years. Andy Barkate’s retirement planning firm in California specializes in assisting seniors with all issues regarding retirement.

If you are not sure about how the recession will affect your retirement, I suggest seeking council from firms like Andy Barkate’s. His firm deals with the following: tax advantaged investments; corporate pension and profit sharing, IRA rollovers, index annuities, estate planning, fixed annuities and 401(k), 412(i) and 457 deferred comp plans, employer/employee benefit plans, 419 welfare benefits plans, traditional and Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, Educational IRAs, 529 educational plans and structured settlements. Too bad Andy Barkate’s firm is located in California. For all non-residents of California, I’m sure that there are firms this too. Be careful though. Make sure that you are educated enough to make the executive decision. The firm should not make your decisions, but provide guidance.

Mexican Food—Caliente!

2009-01-19T15:24:00.000-08:00

Although I’ve am concentrating on African and Asian cuisine in the next few months, I was just recently reminded of my love of Mexican food. I scrolled over Hector Kabande’s blog and I must admit—this guy’s blog is growing on me. He’s a family man and a lover of international cuisine (qualities that my husband and I both share). Now, I am into living a healthier lifestyle, but I saw some recipes on Hector Kabande’s blog that are very appealing.

Hector Kabande loves Mexican food—and so do I! At first, I hated spicy foods. My parents never incorporated spicy foods into our meals and my tongue was not accustomed to spicy foods. That all changed when I met my husband—now, my tongue is more tolerant of spicy foods (which is a staple of many international dishes). On his blog, Hector has recipes for a Tortilla Casserole and Roasted Chili Peppers that I must try immediately. I think I’m going to have to change my course of plans and insert a Mexican cuisine day. Caliente!

Irio and My New Year's Resolution

2009-01-16T18:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all! I haven't written a blog entry in quite some time now. I was bogged down with holiday frenzies and new year planning. Nonetheless, I am back to pounding the blogging pavement--and I plan to make this year better than ever! Each day on January 1st, I try and make a tradition of creating at least 10 resolutions. I write them on a large poster board and hang them above my bed (so that they are the first thing I see when I wake up and the last thing that I see before going to bed). For the most part, I generally tend to meet my expectations--but some new year's resolutions always seem to go by the waste side.

This year, one resolution that I am working my hardest to keep is the following:

Everyone knows that I absolutely love traveling (and even the idea of traveling) and I love to learn about different cultures around the world. Sometimes people get so caught up in the stresses of their lives, that they forget that there is an entire world out there to see (or at least learn about). This year, one of my many resolutions is to eat a signature dish from each country in two major continents (the other continents will come next year). The first continents are Africa and Asia.

Now, I've tried many dishes from various West African countries--but in my 27 years, I have only tried Ethiopian cuisine; but what about other East African countries? My tongue is secretly craving for some of Kenya's or Burundi's signature dishes. In my search for East African cuisine, I came across Mwanga Wangethi's blog. Thanks to Mwanga Wangethi, I have am excited about making my very first Kenyan dish--Irio.

I must admit...when I came across these recipes, I wanted to learn more about Mwanga Wangethi and his connection to Kenya. As a project editor on international child and forced labor regulations, I was familiar with his name...but I couldn't quite put my finger on who he was. Turns out that he is an Editorial director for an East African multi media group. His name actually came up in a few of my reports. Small world--literally.

P.S. Can someone teach me how to make the lamb stew and Kachumbari that goes with it? Yummy!

Urgent: Holiday Hiatus

2008-12-23T18:12:00.000-08:00

Hello ALL! Happy Holidays! Within the next few weeks I will be busy with writing (major deadline due 12/31) and oh yeah...squeezing in a vacation too. Therefore, I am taking a brief hiatus from blogging. I am not posting from now until January 5, 2009 (and by then, I should have LOTS to post about). I may surprise myself by writing one or two blogs while on vacation--but that's only if I feel the utter need to write. In the meantime, twiddle your thumbs and wait for TonyaT blogs to return. HA--kidding. Enjoy the holiday season! May it be safe, blessed, and recession-friendly.

Tootles,

Hurry! Save the Princess!

2008-12-19T13:35:00.000-08:00

Last year marked the 20th anniversary of one of my favorite movies of all time, The Princess Bride. Well...I don't know about favorite of all time--in fact, I'm quite nervous to even mention how much I adored this movie (my inner machismo). Nonetheless, this is a classic tale of young romance, in which after being missing for many years, a young woman's childhood sweetheart and real knight-and-shining-armor rescues her from the arms of her future husband, the evil prince. With a side of humor and well-constructed story line, this tale won over the hearts of women (and men too) everywhere.

What's the natural progression of a great story? First, there's the written text; then the screen adaptation; and finally...a video game? Yes--that's right. Our lovable movie, The Princess Bride, is now a video game. Although I do not have children yet--I still have nieces, nephews and students that are very much into video games. Oh--and did I mention a husband who is still a child at heart? Thus, I decided to take a few hours to test the game out myself. Before making the purchase, find out the pros and cons of this video game adventure:

Pros

1. This is a great educational tool for children ages 6-10. Implicitly, children learn and extend upon knowledge skills such as counting, following directions and mixing colors.

2. Practice the art of multi-tasking. In this busy world that we live in , we are always doing more than one thing at a time. This game helps players to multi-task with various challenges.

3. Excellent backdrop of the original movie. The video game did a fairly decent job of capturing the original movie's key moments. I definitely see the logic behind creating an adventure game based on a man's mission to win back the love of his life.

4. Snazzy animation. The video game even has an intro/outro that displays clips of the movie--that way, if you didn't catch it, you'll know enough about it before you begin playing.

Cons

1. Graphics are mediocre. I guess they are okay for a PC game. The game would reach more people if they added more graphics and created this for one of the PC-Generation systems. I guess that's what beta testing is for, eh?

2. For all ages? Yeah right. I know that I am a 27 year old, Master's Degree educated individual--but it took me every bit of an hour to beat the entire game! The questions were way too easy. The creators should consider designating this game for ages 6-10 only.

There you have it. The Princess Bride video game synopsis. Would I buy this for myself? No. But, I would consider giving this game to my 7 year old niece.

She's Got... Great Customer Service!

2008-12-17T12:05:00.000-08:00

Gone are the days when businesses provide optimal customer service. Nine times out of ten, if you are having concerns with an item or service that you purchased, you end up taking many unnecessary steps in order to get things resolved. A good friend of mine recently complained about a major phone company (no names mentioned here--but I'm sure you all know who I'm talking about). This friend simply wanted spend his hard earned money to upgrade an existing service; however, he was given the major run-around and had to end up cancelling service with this company. I do understand that some of these companies have thousands of patrons to deal with each day, but what ever happened to quality customer service? You know the kind where the "customer is always right."

Yesterday, I happened to cross paths with one of those companies--and by golly, my faith in good customer service has been restored! As a shapely gal (yes--I am proud of my size 14/16), I do most of my shopping online. I like specialty stores that carry fashionable and trendy clothes for plus size women. I don't know about all my other plus size ladies, but the trendy+fashionable+plus size combination is a pretty difficult one to find. Although clothing for the normal size woman has gotten more fashionable, I'm not even going to get started on how difficult it is for me to find clothes.

Nonetheless, I was shopping online at one of my absolute favorite plus size retailers: Shes Got Curves. They have fashionable couture for plus size women--all at economy-friendly prices. As soon as I clicked on the home page, I saw this must-have dress--they call it Incognito. I pictured how many heads I'd turn walking into the room with this get up..."Oh...ahhh...Who's that girl in that fabulous dress?" My dreams were crushed when I went to order and noticed that it was pre-order only. How was I going to turn heads this New Year's Eve in Vegas if I didn't have the dress?

To make a long story short (being long-winded is the English major's curse), I emailed customer service and they responded immediately. The She's Got Curves customer service representative was sympathetic enough to request the dress from the designer so that I would receive it before leaving for my trip. Additionally, when the designer could not fulfill my request, She's Got Curves even offered to help "find me another piece" that looked like the one I couldn't have. Finally, to put the icing on the cake, the person on the opposite end of my email read my blogs and instantaneously became a TonyaT follower. I can't even get people that I've known for twenty years to follow and read my blogs!

What are the odds? She's Got Curves offers more than snazzy outfits--She's Got...GREAT customer service too!

Training Mode

2008-12-17T04:14:00.000-08:00

I must admit, the start of the holiday season played tricks on me. After almost four months of training for my first 10K, I was so burnt out--I literally took a one month sabbatical from training. I needed the break, but I clearly took a hit. Just a few weeks "off" and I'm back up a whole five pounds. Granted, I don't focus too much on the scale. I actually HATE the scale, but I was fully aware that I regressed when I went to the track and I could only get around there six times (for the race, I had to run 24 times around). I thought I could substitute running with a few cardio machines at the gym, but nothing works you out like running. And yes--I still gained 5 pounds although I've been going to the gym at least three times per week. Damn thyroid!

In six months, I will be participating in my first HALF MARATHON (that's double the 10K) and I need to get prepared--starting NOW. Despite the cold weather, I must get outside to run, run, run. Four times per week, I have to log my miles. I'm starting slow and only running 10 miles per week, but my goal is to get up to 25 miles per week again. In order to do that, I must go on a strict regimen. That means no eating out anywhere (not even for social reasons), two hours of exercise 6 days a week, proper sleep and minimal stress. The month of May AND the race will be here before you know it. I'll keep you posted on my progress...

In training mode,

My Sour Mood

2008-12-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

I'm in a sour mood today--I feel like the taste of squeezed lemons. First, my Ravens lost to a bogus call yesterday. That was NOT a touchdown Pittsburgh! How could they make that call in OUR home?!?! What a crock! Second, I lost my fantasy game because my vets didn't come through with necessary points. T.J. and Marvin Harrison didn't contribute ANYTHING. I should have known not to choose an oldie, but goodie for my starting squad. According to the projections, Marvin was supposed to be a sleeper? Yeah...he literately slept out the entire season. What a bum! Now...I have to fight for third place next. Granted, I did pretty darn well in my league--considering I am the ONLY female in the league. Goodness--you all don't understand the flack I had to go through in the gym, "Why are you in it? You aren't going to be able to pick the teams well because you're a woman." How sexist is that? Because this woman was a mere two games away from winning the championship game! Although third isn't as good as first, I guess I should be proud of myself. Maybe I can teach the other loser guys my strategy before draft time next year. HA!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2008-12-11T16:24:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is my favorite time of year. Not because of the materialism either—I honestly loathe people’s obsession with gift-giving. What I do love about the holidays is the sudden acquisition of good spirit. Additionally, I am a huge fan of spending quality time with family and friends.

Every year, I host Cookies with Kids—a holiday celebration where all the children in my family (nieces and nephews) come to my home to bake and decorate holiday cookies. The kids usually have a good time—although I end up doing most of the baking (they like to come in last minute to add their personal artwork to the cookies). I make sure to load the house with unique Christmas decorations in order to enhance the holiday spirit. First, there’s dinner—always an exotic food choice—I like to expose them to different types of foods. Next, they bake and decorate cookies. Finally, we cozy up to watch a holiday movie and share fun stories.

This year, I want to try something a tad bit different. I am a huge game guru—so incorporating Christmas party games is top priority this year. The kids will certainly enjoy the Christmas party games in addition to yummy cookies and holiday stories. Tis the season--can't wait for Cookies with Kids 2008!

Fantasia's Forclosure: Recession or Bad Habits?

2008-12-10T02:51:00.000-08:00

Word on the streets is that Fantasia Burrino has foreclosed on "one" of her homes (the million dollar one in North Carolina). Allegedly, the signs are up and the home will be auctioned off soon. I'm a little confused about something: how did she owe $58,000 of taxes with $1 Million home? I'm no financial expert, but why on earth would you purchase a large home with NO money and a crap load of debt?!?! Come on Fantasia! First, I'm mad about the cost of living crisis here. What happened to the good old days when you purchased a home with cash--and it was yours to keep (with no mortgage)? I do realize that there are numerous social and economic factors that have contributed to this housing foolishness--but people should be a tad bit smarter. Even when you buy a home--it's not YOURS if you are still paying on it. The bank owns it! So besides the extra space and the "tax breaks" that you get from owning--you are essentially renting it. Well--I guess it helps to build credit--the same credit that could potentially ruin your financial stability if you make one slip up. Nevertheless, I hope Fantasia learned a simple and valuable lesson: don't get what you can't afford. If you're not making over $1 million a year, why buy multiple homes for that price? Sounds like lack of knowledge, terrible financial advising and bad habits to me...

With the economy in a wreck, everyone seems to be taking a hit. People are losing jobs, homes, retirement funds and their patience. The good thing about a suffering economy is that it forces people to become humble and appreciate each others as opposed to material goods. How much of this are we to blame though? Really--we all had a part in this whole big mess (although everyone is quick to blame everyone else for their financial troubles). When it boils down to it, the only person responsible for your bank account is YOU. Granted, there is a class division--but I've always believed in "working with what you got." If you can only afford a trailer park home as opposed to a luxury mansion, enjoy the heck out of your trailer! Work towards that mansion...but appreciate what you have. Above all, live within your means.

P.S. I love Fantasia's music--and I really wish her well with her financial troubles. Like everything else that is cyclical, this soon shall pass and people will be on their feet again.

I GOT THE FEVER...

2008-12-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

I LOVE music! All kinds--from R&B to country to rock-n-roll to jazz. There is just something about music that makes me happy. Music plays a heavy role in many aspects of my life--exercising, stress relief, social dancing and I even incorporate music in my lesson plans. Quality music these days is "hard to come by." When I hear good, classic music I feel like I've taken on the view that my parents and their parents have expressed..."you just don't hear music like that anymore." It's true that there is a lot of musical crap being shoved in our ears. Commercialism has granted access to those who really have no musical talent, but a marketable look instead. Although this is the case, with each passing year, there is always someone who finds a way to innovate music and make it pleasurable to listen to.

Every now and then, it's good to reminisce about those classic tracks that make you say, "Good Lord! This is some good music..." I had the unexpected pleasure of saying this over the weekend. Brian McKnight..."Good Lord! This is some good music...now that's what you call SINGING!" Thanks to my friend Lori (who happens to be the world's biggest Brian McKnight fan--she calls him B-MAC for short), I was blessed with the soothing sounds of B-Mac the entire weekend. For both concerts in Atlantic City and Westbury, NY, B-Mac blessed the audience with some classics, holiday tunes, and my favorite--a sampling from his anticipated album. His two sons even performed that night (they were great--watch out world for them).

I'll be the first to admit it. I didn't understand Lori's obsession with Brian. I mean--I always thought he was a great singer, but I wasn't super enthusiastic about him. I heard many of his songs on the radio, but I never really heard him sing live. Additionally, Brian is 13 years my senior...so 10 years ago as a high schooler, I wasn't too impressed. Boy was I wrong!

BET-she-didn't-tell-you-bout-way-back-when-SHE-gives-me-love-love-love-love-crazy love-ONE-just-like-a-dream-come-true-CHESNUTS-roasting-on-an-open-fire...

Brian's melodic tunes have been in my head since Sunday. I can't stop humming his songs for some reason. Lori...I think I might be coming down with a fever--B-MAC FEVER!!

P.S. Anyone know when the next performance is...?

Battle of the Beltways: Baldimore Vs. The Deadskins

2008-12-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Battle of beltways tonight. I'm a little torn because I have close ties to both cities. While Baltimore is my hometown (that's right--not too scared to admit that I am Baltimore born and raised--City Forever!), I have been in love with the district for quite some time now. I love the diversity and social atmosphere of DC. Although the structure and street labeling nearly, along with morning traffic, nearly drive me BONKERS--the DC/Metro area is my second home. I went to College Park (home of the Terrapins), which is in close proximity to DC. I've had numerous gigs there--and most importantly, I've had some get-down boogie moments in some of hottest night clubs on the east coast.

For a while, there has been an annual tradition for both of our area's football teams to play each other--the battle of the beltways. Only 45 minutes and two major beltways lie between the Baltimore Ravens and the Washington Redskins. Am I a fan of both? Of course--I have players on both teams that I am counting on for my fantasy team. But in all honesty, I believe that all the hype for no reason. We ALL know who's going to win. Jason's Campbell's short passes will not work on the Raven's defense. Additionally, I believe the offense will come through and help to win the game for my hometown. My allegiance goes to my home town. Go Ravens!!

You KNOW you're from BMORE when (none of these apply to me--because I know longer rep Bmore--I'm getting a little too grown for reppin a city don't you think?):

1. You say "DUG" instead of "DOG."

2. People from New York say that you are a country bumpkin because you say "Two" funny.

3. You make room on your calendar for the annual City/Poly game rivalry.

4. You type Baldimore into your GPS instead of BALTIMORE.

5. You have a small urge (even if you haven't eaten it in a while) for a chicken box, extra pepper/extra salt--with a half and half on the side.

6. You're over 21 and you STILL go to the Paradox.

7. You own more than one CLUB CD (R.I.P. K Swift).

8. 92Q is programmed in your car.

9. You've had a crazy bee-hive hairdo at some point in your life.

10. In the late 80s, you can ate at Mama Lucia's before heading to a baseball game at Memorial stadium--before they tore it down that is...

Bye Bye Bratz

2008-12-05T03:47:00.001-08:00

Call me a big kid--but I actually love the Bratz dolls! They are a more trendier and diverse version of Mattel's Barbie doll collection. As a young tot, I liked Barbies--but I wasn't in love with them. Besides having little variety and choice, my brother would pop the heads off and fling them high across the room. When replacing the head on the Barbie dolls, they didn't look the same. However, I tested a Bratz doll a few years back--I removed the head and replaced it: miraculously, the doll looked the same when I replaced the head. Amazing. Nonetheless, in a recent court battle, Mattel has ordered the doll to be removed from shelves after Christmas. It was discovered that Bratz was created by a former Mattel employee. Come on!! Isn't this a capitalistic society? Mattel is jealous and outraged because the Bratz dolls are bringing in more revenue than Barbies? I don't see the problem with creating a trendier doll, but I guess nowadays, you can innovate something without being taken to the cleaners. Mattel isn't just pulling dolls off the shelves, they're taking away some one's livelihood--AND they are disappointing thousands of little girls worldwide. For goodness sakes--there was even a Bratz movie! Oh well--Bye Bye Bratz!

Thank You's Go a Long Way...

2008-12-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

"Tonya...I just wanted to say THANK YOU and I really appreciate your help..."

--A former student

I didn't realize how much those two words really mean. As a former teacher (and in some regard...although I am no longer in the classroom, I will always be an educator at heart), "pleases and thank you's" didn't come often. I'd pour my heart and soul into my lesson plans, only to have students laugh, struggle through the assignments or wonder "what the lesson exactly had to do with their life." I understood where they were coming from because my students didn't know this at the time, but when I first started teaching I was only 4-6 years older than most of them. Despite the lack of interest, respect or resources, I showed up each day with the same goal: to reach at least one student, but encourage them all to dream. The three years that I taught high school, I really thought that all of my hard work was in vein. Late nights grading papers when all of my other twentysomething counterparts were out partying the night away; placing all of my wants and worries to the side in order to help someone else; feeling guilty that I couldn't solve each and every one of my students' problems...most of all, no murmurs of "please" and "thank you" within reasonable reach.

I guess what they say is true: you never really see the rewards of your hard work until after you complete it. Years after teaching, I am fully gratified that I was in those particular places at those particular times--because I didn't know it then, but I was actually there to help other people. I don't have many adult friends and I try to keep a small circle of people around me--but I never thought that I would have hundreds of former students calling me, asking for advice, telling me that my help has made a difference in their life and saying, "Thank you."

Thank you really goes a long way--not long enough to get me back into the classroom, but far enough to make me realize one (and I say one because there are many) of my callings in life: to give people a reason to say, "Thank you."

Extra, Extra Read ALL About It: Shapely Girl News Here

2008-12-04T06:48:00.000-08:00

Greetings to all my fitness enthusiasts and plus size divas! Ever desire the perfect workout that caters to the needs of shapely women? Well--look no further! Let's Get Steppin! is available in approximately 24 hours. As a Shapely Girl Fitness model, I can tell you that the workout is invigorating--while at the same time it helps women to appreciate their natural curves. Debra and the team put lots of hard work into this video, so if you're interested in the workout (or just want to support the Shapely Girl mission), order a copy from the Shapely Girl website, Amazon.com, or Collage Videos.

Happy Health and Fitness!

Prevention Blog Temporarily Down

2008-12-02T12:22:00.000-08:00

Hello ALL!!

For the entire month of December, the Prevention.com blog will be temporarily out-of-order. No word as to when (and IF) it will be back in commission. However, you are still able to read the blogs that I posted there: http://buzz.prevention.com/community/category/tawnee. I want to thank everyone (Tose and Dad) who contributed REGULAR comments, which kept the blog going. Check back at the end of January to find out if it is back up and running...

Cheers!

Pop, Pop, Pop Me Some Popcorn

2008-12-01T09:15:00.000-08:00

In my attempts to put my wallet on a strict diet plan this holiday season, I realized that I have a deep desire to give more sentimental gifts (and cost efficient might I add). I don’t know about everyone else, but many of my friends and family have been skipping trips to the movie theatres. At $9.00 per ticket, more and more people are opting to rent DVDs and watch them in the comforts of their own homes. Other benefits of dodging the movie theatre include being able to escape the temptation of the snack counter and its buttery, salty popcorn.

Popcorn is one of my favorite Brain Foods, but movie theatre popcorn can be detrimental to your health with the loads of butter and salt that is added to the kernels. If you make your own popcorn at home, you can leave the unhealthiness behind by popping a light snack to watch with your favorite movie. Popcorn is low in fat and a great source of fiber. A single serving is a mere 90-100 calories with only 2 grams of fat. Believe it or not, popcorn also actually aids in the digestive process. Avoiding popcorn that has trans fat is imperative when choosing healthier versions of this treat. Healthy popcorn recipes include: Garlic Chili Popcorn and Barbecued Popcorn. For the holiday season, popcorn baskets and popcorn tins make the perfect gift for popcorn lovers otherwise known as your family and friends (you can purchase these items from specialty stores such as The Popcorn Factory).

A Great Holiday Gift Idea: Yummy Antioxidant Rich Cocoa

2008-12-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

I am a frequent consumer of 1800 Flowers products—brightening up someone’s day with flowers has been my specialty for years. Have a birthday coming? My philosophy: Get flowers. Is someone graduating from high school or college? Get flowers. Starting a new job? You got it—get flowers. This year, I want to do something different. Although I love flowers, I thought I’d surprise my friends and family with an even tastier gift—CHOCOLATE.

Now, some people think that “chocolate” is an evil word—especially when one is trying to live a healthy lifestyle. However, here’s a newsflash for you: chocolate can be healthy for you—that’s right, chocolate can be HEALTHY. According to Dark Chocolate can Pack a Big Antioxidant Wallop, small daily quantities of dark chocolate actually contain more antioxidants than red wine, fruits, white and green tea, and veggies. Approximately 1.5 ounces of dark, high cocoa chocolate is rich in B1, B2, D vitamins as well as magnesium and iron. Chocolate is also known to reduce stress and depression, for it stimulates good feelings through the increase of serotonin—the neurotransmitter that produces calm and relaxation. Finally, a few pieces of dark chocolate have as much caffeine as one cup of coffee.

With any other nutritious goody, there are benefits as well as disadvantages. Here are a few do’s and don’ts of incorporating chocolate into your healthy lifestyle:

Do eat small pieces of dark chocolate in order to get a quick bolt of energy—after all, the right dose of chocolate is equivalent to a cup of coffee.

Don’t overindulge. Too much chocolate is high in calories and fat. To be safe, try morsel eating—only eat a small morsel of dark chocolate per day.

Do couple dark chocolate with red wine. Together, these two treats are power-packed with polyphenols and antioxidants. These anti-aging components help to strengthen bones too.

Don’t forget to brush and floss. Although chocolate can be yummy, it can stain and get stuck in between your teeth. Too much chocolate can be a dental nightmare.

Do purchase chocolates as holiday gifts. What an inexpensive, edible and yummy gift idea.

Want to use chocolate in your next dessert recipe? Check out these chocolate recipes from Prevention.com: Dark Cherry Chocolate Sauce, Reduced Fat Chocolate Cake, and Mint Chocolate Chip Muffins.