live. laugh. do.

*Announcer over loudspeaker: She's been gone for a minute. But hey ya'll. She's back*

*Round of Appluase*

YAY! 'm back. Its my aim to be consistent this time around. I've had to learn the hard way that my life takes a dive when I don't write. I need it. Its in my veins. Its a release. Its an escape. Its my therapy. Its air.  --- I say this as I am riding the A train to work... There's no air in here. (Commercial: Shouldn't the train smell flowery and powdery? Aren't most of us on our way to the 9-5 slave shift coming from homes with running water and soap? *Deep Sigh*)

I want to thank the few who saw me @ church and asked me "What happened to your blog?". I love you. You never know who's reading you but I put my words and thoughts out there; maybe for you to relate or co-sign or disagree. Either way, its going to get really real in this space --- but not in a 'buckwild MTV Real World' kind of way.

Oh yeah, this blog is no longer going to be just fun and food. I'm pulling back the curtain so you can peek into me.  Its so funny running into people who have this idea of me. Right or wrong, there's so much more behind the smiles and laughs and crazy antics.

That said. I give you me. Take it or leave it. Love me or leave me. Its up to you.

*exits Stage left*

*Rousing Applause and cheers*

EA Loves the people!

I have a friend who constantly skips breakfast. It irks me… really… as a food lover, this hurts me. I hate to admit it but Momma was right.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I dream about food. In the mornings… I can't wait to realize the pancakes topped with fruit and whipped cream. I wasn't always this way. My Momma would get on me too about breakfast – until I tried it and saw the difference for myself. Point is – even if it's fruit, a bowl of cereal, chocolate covered ants – whatever floats your boat; just have breakfast!

Facts about Breakfast

• The word Breakfast came about because it means breaking the fast after one has not eaten (fasted) since the night before

• Breakfast tells your body to stop the fast and get your motor running. Breakfast gives you energy and gets your brain to functioning

• People who eat breakfast are less likely to over eat at Lunch time. Why? Because their body is not going through those stomach quivers that we get when we are hungary. Those quivers make us over eat.

• People who eat breakfast usually do better at work and at school. (That's why you were passed over for the promotion – smh @ you!)

• Desayuno is Spanish for breakfast - just drop that into this morning's conversation

• Breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince and dinner like a Pauper.

• If you don't eat breakfast, your body is like a computer with no power

• Cereal is the number one food bought in supermarkets today. The first breakfast cereal was created in 1863 in New York by a vegetarian. (Think about that the next time you munch on your Cheerios meat eaters!)


• "Eating breakfast of any kind prevent(s) many of the adverse effects of fasting," such as irritability and fatigue, according to Bonnie Spring, Ph.D. , University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School.

• "Breakfast can establish the tone for the next 16 hours (of each day after eating it). Why not treat yourself to a nice meal and a quality hour to collect yourself and focus on what's important?"

• 40% spend less than 10 minutes preparing and eating their breakfast during the week. (You mean to tell you can't get up 10 minutes earlier – gimme a cotton pickin' break!)

• Breakfast will kick start your metabolism which can assist weight control. Skipping meals sets up extreme hunger patterns later in the day, resulting in excess calorie intake.
My Momma always says – You don't lose weight by not eating – keep that in mind the next time you think skipping breakfast will help you keep the weight off – smh!

That's all for now

EA!

Not really a review or thing to do, but words of wisdom to live life...better :)

Things I've Learned .::My 25 @ 25::.

1. The laundry can wait.
2. Laugh at yourself!
3. Always choose to believe something good will happen!
4. When you are angry at someone, think about all the things you love about them before you speak.
5. Relax. This is only your current situation. It will change.
6. The past is the past—leave it there.
7. Do not have fear — being afraid only attracts it to you that much faster.
8. If you don’t wear it, use it, drive it, or read it for more than a year—get rid of it.
9. Make every day a special occasion, and make special occasions nothing short of spectacular!
10. Trust, but verify
11. If you don’t have anything nice to say—SHUT UP!
12. That no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back
13. That the whole "Independent Woman" thing (as most of us know it) is overrated. Listen to "Weary" by Amel Larrieux and tell me I'm not talkin' the truth. They all need hugs!
14. You shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do but to the best you can do.
15. It's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
16. It's a lot easier to react than it is to think
17. You can keep going long after you think you can.
18. We are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
19. There are people who love you dearly, but just don't know how to show it.
20. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have
21. Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated
22. No matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that
23. Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become
24. No matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves get further in life.
25. No matter how many friends you have, if you are their pillar you will feel lonely and lost at the times you need them most.

• 
  
  Service: Good but not great. It was a little bit of a turn off. Our server was around for the beginning and then she disappeared toward the middle and reappeared at the end. It was funny - another server noticed our neck motion (looking for our server) and came to our rescue.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Cost: Reasonable. I aim to get a taste of everything when I go out to eat (because I know I am going to write about it later). Thirty bucks at the end of the night for (3 appetizers, an entree and 2 specialty fruit juices) a full belly and a doggy bag is a pretty good deal for me.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Taste: Great! Right on point! Though, I don't know how they can make soy and tofu taste like chicken... the "meat" was succulent. I was happy to be at a table with friends who don't mind sampling each other's food. I'm usually not a fan - but I was curious. What does your "chicken parm" taste like? What does your "bourbon chicken" taste like? It was all very good. It made me think about going veggie... Vegetarian food, when prepared correctly, can do that to you.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Ambiance: This might be a place that you want to go to with friends you're close with... why? Because, you'll be close to them. LOL! If you're going here... do your best to get a roomy booth. The tables in the middle are close together; limited space. No one was bumping me but it's weird having a conversation and someone you don't know is less than an arms length away.
  There is an upstairs room that's available for private occasions. That particular night - the room was in use. Reggae and Old Skool jams filled the air. There was a lot of whisper singing and swaying in the room.
  
  
  

CHANCE RESTAURANT
Thai Cuisine
223 Smith St
(718) 242-1515

It would be just my luck that I syumbled across this place with a sista-friend of mine.

Would you just take a minute to look at this place? It's soo beautiful.
I was having a craving for some Thai food. My sisterfriend heard about a place her brother's always going to. I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did. 

• Service was excellent. It's such a nuisance when you have to flag down the waitstaff with your hands, then arms (like you're an air traffic controller or flight attendant) because they're just not paying attention to you. Even if the food at a restaurant was bad... excellent wait staff makes up for it. We never had to hail down anyone... they came to us before we even thought to make eye contact.
  
• Cost is very reasonable. Appetizers range from $5 - $9. Entrees range from $11 - $19.
  
• Taste is good! Very good! When ever I eat Thai, Chinese, Japanese - I get the fish. I know that a lot of fish is eaten in these parts of the world. So I know, they know fish! That's just my logic - I ordered the Seared Salmon. It came with a sweet sauce I won't ever forget! Oh man - just thinking about it makes me think it's time for another visit.
  
  For dessert I had the Banana Spring Roll with Caramel - Soooo tasty! My sistafriend had a Green Tea Ice Cream sampler. It was amazing. We were both highly satisfied with the food @ Chance.
  
• Ambiance = Amazing! I like places that make it easy for me to forget that I live in a city. Plus... just look at the pictures. Very classy! The time that we went could have something to do with it (we wen't late - it was after 10pm). They close at midnight - we were there past midnight but the staff never made a fuss. They were happy to keep the desserts coming.
  
  OVERALL: 4.0/5.0 - I think I'm going to make another visit this weekend.

For more information visit: http://www.chancecuisine.com/