Ms Crooked Halo

What foods go straight to the booty

MsKatrina — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:43:45 +0000

Since Sir Mixalot starting rapping “Baby got back”, the world has come to know and understand that have a decent bum in the African American community is as critical as having a nice rack in the Caucasian American community.

Booty Call (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yet, alas, I have neither….

~sigh~

So, I decided to do some research on foods that can help me round out my down under.

After all, my friends with great kadunkadunks blame it on the pancakes.

Quite a disappoint, however, to read all the answers that say it depends on genetics.

Yeah, if that was so, I would have a dunk like to squirrels fighting because my mom sure got back and my lil’ sis ain’t too far behind her.

~double sigh~

And those exercises everyone is always harping on and on about…those of far the ladies who want to tighten there stuff up. If my stuff gets any tighter, I want be able to sit my ass down, literally.

The most information that I’ve gotten is too it plenty of breads, pasta, sodas, candy, chips, etc.

Which, hm, now that you mention it, does sound like the staples of my friends’ diets.

What a fool I have been eating all this yogurt and other healthy crap!

Are cell phone contracts worth the money? I did the money math.

MsKatrina — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 20:39:43 +0000

My friend and I were having a discussion on just how much it costs to buy a Samsung Galaxy S III on contract vs the cost of paying cash for the phone and using a prepaid service.

Samsung Galaxy S III (Photo credit: John Biehler)

Since even the major companies (with the exception of Sprint, who will refer you to Virgin Mobile or Boost), offer prepaid now, prepaid purchasers no longer have to suffer the iniquity of bad reception, dropped calls, or missing text messages that was the plague of days gone by.

Prepaid customers are also no longer limited to the dregs of yesteryears technology since most carriers will sell the phone and, if necessary, the SD card to activate the phone.

So, the only question left is, in the long run, is it cheaper to buy the phone outright and go prepaid or get the discounted phone and go with a contract.

To the math!

Let’s start with my own carrier, Tmobile.

If I had purchased the Samsung Galaxy S III from Tmobile last year with a contract, I would have paid $299.99. But, lo and behold, I took a looksy today, and the phone is now down to $99.99 if I order it online.

If I purchase it outright from Tmobile prepaid (I don’t. Ebay is my friend!), the phone would cost me $549.99, a significant difference, right.

So, let’s compare plans, shall we?

The contract plan that I would most likely chose is $89.99 per month. The comparable prepaid plan, 4G and all, is $70.00.

$89.99 x 24 months = $2159.76

Adding in the cost of the phone, $99.99, brings the total to $2259.75

On the prepaid side, $70 x 24 = $1680 plus the cost of the phone is $2229.99.

The difference is only $29.76 in favor of the prepaid and I am not obligated to Tmobile for two years even if the service goes downhill.

Also, the price of the phone is on “sale” for a limited time only. If it goes to comparable of what the other major retailers are asking, the difference will go up $100. If it goes up to the price that Tmobile was originally advertising, the difference will go up $200.

Now, my friend has a Sprint contract.

According to Sprint’s website, the cost of Unlimited Everything is now $109.99 (up from the $99.99 that made it so appealing just a few years ago).

The cost of a new Samsung Galaxy S III on Sprint is, and has always been as far as I know, $199.99.

So the cost of a two year contract is $2639.76 plus the cost of the phone brings the total to $2839.75.

The difference between a Sprint contract and Tmobile prepiad is $609.76.

That’s a huge difference.

And, without even doing the math, I can tell you that the Verizon’s and ATT plans are so not for me.

Shared data plans?!?!

No unlimited data plans?!?!

But for those who want to see that math, here you go…

Verizon and AT&T contract is $199.99 for the phone and $70 for the contract for a total of $1879.99.

Again, no unlimited data for those of us who that makes a difference.

If not, then Verizon or AT&T may be your best bet, money-wise.

Verizon’s prepaid does not offer the ability to buy the S3 directly from the site but the prepaid is still $70.

I would go prepaid so I wouldn’t be locked into a contract and get my phone from Ebay, Craigslist, or Amazon, but that’s just me.

You actually come out cheaper with a Verizon contract when you add in the cost of the phone.

AT&T’s Smartphone prepaid is $65.00 which is $5 lower than the contract.

AT&T also did not offer the ability to purchase the S3 with your prepaid account online.

So, for my money, I will be sticking with my Tmobile prepaid account.

Not only is it extremely cost efficient in the long run but I am able to change my monthly account type with no penalties or repercussions during those lean months.

So, did I get the math right?

Did I miss any facts that might make a contract phone more appealing?

I’ve been known to be wrong…occasionally.

Coats for Kids (Families)

MsKatrina — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 15:53:12 +0000

WAVY-TV 10′s Coats for Families

Distribution Locations

**Only one coat per person**

January 12, 2012

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Hampton YMCA
1322 LaSalle Avenue
Hampton, VA 23669

Newport News Family YMCA
7827 Warwick Boulevard
Newport News, VA 23607

YWCA Virginia Peninsula
2702 Orcutt Avenue
Newport News, VA 23607

YMCA South Hampton Roads
YMCA Community Services
Park Place
509 W. 35th Street
Norfolk, VA 23508

Greenbrier North YMCA Wellness & Racquetball Center
2100 Old Greenbrier Rd.
Chesapeake 23320

Indian River Family YMCA
5660 Indian River Rd
Virginia Beach 23464

Tidewater Bible Way Temple
510 High Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704
Marie Johnson
893-0796

WAVY-TV 10 would like to thank these local organizations that help make Coats for Families possible:

Langley Federal Credit Union – Partners on Your Side

Albano Cleaners

Boulevard Cleaners

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc

Coastal Riverine Group 2

RB-M Transition Team, USCG Training Center Yorktown

USN Fleet Weather Center-Norfolk

Explosive Ordinance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit 2

HOT 100.5

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast

Boy Scouts

EVMS

Please contact Toni Williams, Community Affairs Coordinator, for more information regarding Coats for Families – 757-396-6197 or Toni.Williams@WAVY.com.

How Black Hair Matters

MsKatrina — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:08:52 +0000

It is a well known fact in my household that I get excited whenever I see a black woman on television or in a movie and she is rocking her natural hair.

I can’t help but think of how the world has changed in just my lifetime.

I actually can remember when the only black woman on television were the maids.

Seriously, young folks…just the maids…or the chauffer if it was a fella.

And now we have black woman rockin’ their natural hair in name brand product commercials such as Pillsbury and Tropicana.

My how the world has changed…for the better…

Gossip Girl Series Finale: Gossip Girl Revealed!

MsKatrina — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:38:02 +0000

I must say that I have fallen woefully behind on my Upper East Side shenanigans

Gossip Girl Season 4 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But since subscribing to Netflix, I have been womanfully attempting to catch up.

Starting with Season 1, Episode 1, I am now up caught up to Blair’s engagement to the Prince of Monocco.

Since I never watch regaular television any more, I wasn’t even aware that this was to be the last season of Gossip Girl.

So, I was completely blindsided when my friend Jeanette let the beans spill that the series finale revealed that Gossip Girl is…

….wait for it…..

….total spoiler alert here…..

Dan Humphrey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

DAN HUMPHREY!!

Frankly, I knew it had to be one of the main characters of the show although I didn’t really rule out anyone.

I figured that when it was finally revealed, the writers would have to ignore any and all inconsistencies and plot holes.

What I didn’t like was that Lily and Rufus did not end up together.

And even worse, I hated that Lily ended up with William Van Der Woosen.

Yuck!

But I guess that I will have to get caught up to see what happened there.

Reading comments though, I giggled when one reader suggested that Rufus changes to suit the woman that he is with, which is totally true!

And Lily never really respected him as a man because, like her daughter and Blair, she is actually attracted to men who treat her just a wee bit bad…I mean, um, present a challenge to their strong personalities (yeah, right!).

Other (obvious) spoilers:

Blair and Chuck get married. It was very anticlimactic and I absolutely hated Blair’s dress (I hardly ever liked the clothes they wore on the show anyway.) They have a son but I guess I have to get caught up to find out what happened to Blair and Louie’s baby?!?!

BTW, those two park Blair/Chuck know-it-alls have a vital role in the marriage but where are Blair’s minions??

Georgina’s so-called scheme was lame and was just a rounding up of all of the usual suspects. Yawn.

Flash forward five years and we see Dan and Serena tying the knot (I hated her dress too.) but I would have loved to see how they finally made it to the alter.

Apparently Blair does get a career in fashion (I have no idea what Serena ends up doing).

Lil Jenny Humphry makes a brief appearance with a designer purse that reads J by Waldorf so…..

But she doesn’t get any lines. Lol.

Ivy writes a tell all about duping the rich for their money. I need to get caught up there. I just got to the point where she is being blackmailed by her ex for $500,000.

Let’s see…who’s left…

Cover of Veronica Mars

Oh, yeah, Nate…he ends up running a very successful magazine and they hint that he may be running for Mayor. No girl for him, apparently. They should have put him back with Vanessa…power couple to take on Chuck and Blair. Lol.

Oh, and why wasn’t Scott at the wedding?!?!

My favorite (really, the only part that moved me besides being angry at Lily) was the cameo “I thought is was Dorota” moments from real life celebrities. My fav being the voice of Gossip Girl herself, Veronica Mars alum: Kristen Bell.

No clue the significane of the Rachel chick but I actually squeeled to see Ronnie. Lol. And that wink…too cute….

And, of course, they had to send Gossp Girl to bed with a warning that since there will always be an outsider with a need to be “in”, there will always be a “Gossip Girl”.

XoXo

Dear Samsung, Size does matter

MsKatrina — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:11:15 +0000

When Samsung came out with the Samsung Galaxy Note, I rushed right out to see just how big the 5.3 inches actually is…and discovered that it felt way too big in my hands….pass!

Then Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy Note II which is purportedly thinner yet bigger at 5.5 inches.

Hm.

Not bad but still a little big for my tastes.

But, man, do I ever want those dual screens.

And that S-pen wouldn’t hurt anything either.

Yet, still, it is a little too big….

Now I am reading stories online that Samsung is coming out with the Samsung Note III as early as January/February of next year and, guess what…

Yeah, if you are like me, you’ll be disappointed to know that instead of going more compact, Samsung’s genius idea is to go even bigger.

6.3 inch bigger.

Boo!!!

Doesn’t Samsung realize that their is a whole market of folks who love the technology but hate the size of the Notes.

Are they deliberately ignoring us?

Don’t they realize that the competition is just waiting to develop a similar technology in a more manageable size phone so they can swoop us up.

Read the blog posts and video reviews, Samsung, and realize what your consumers are waiting for…because size does matter!

Ally McBeal Sex Appeal

MsKatrina — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:11:28 +0000

Yesterday, I was watching a Christmas episode of Ally McBeal on Netflix.

David E. Kelley (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In this particular episode, Ally was out to prove that she could do sexy so she dones a sexy Mrs. Clause outfit and sings the song Santa Baby.

Nothing unusaul in that…they are forever singing on this show…

However, I was struck by her type of sexy.

It was like a You Can Look but Don’t Touch type of sexy that really appeals to me…maybe because it is closer to my personal style.

I hate the grabby type of men.

As if just because their trouser worm is moving, they are then entitled to touch me.

Blech.

(Um, I think I covered that whole thing is a previous rant. Lol.)

Anyway, Ally’s Mrs. Clause both could burn and give you frost bite.

It always amazes me how many women strip practically naked to get a man’s attention when, frankly, you can get just as much attention (and treated with a lot more respect) with the Touch Me Not attitude.

Just sayin’….

Sometimes God yells NO!!!

MsKatrina — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:18:46 +0000

Sometimes God whispers.

And sometimes God yells NO! in no uncertain terms.

Last week, I was seriously comtemplating becoming a full time transcriptionist in lieu of being a professional blogger.

The very next day, I awoke with an ear ache that precluded me being able to hear and type.

So, I put off doing any work until I got better.

But apparently putting it off was not good enough.

The next day my son upgraded my computer to Windows 7.

But, guess what, the audio controls were gone.

That’s right….no sound….no even with headphones….

No sound = no transcription.

Alrighty then…

There are other options….ie, using one of the kids’ laptops while they are in school.

Uh huh…

Only, I awoke with the carpal tunnel in my left hand so, yeah, no typing…

And that was when I realized that maybe God is putting his foot down on the subject.

I am meant to be a blogger.

And if I want a more steady income, then I need to actually work harder at being a professional blogger.

End of discussion.

And how do I know that I am on the right path.

Because as soon as I made the decision….

….my ear stopped aching…

…my son fixed the computer…

…and my carpal tunnel is gone…

Case closed.

So instead of doing blogging part time and becoming a full time transcriptionist, I have reversed the plan and I am back to being a full time blogger and doing transcription part time.

For one thing, I would hate to see what God would do to me next if I continue to be such a block head. Lol.

God works wonders in one week

MsKatrina — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:04:28 +0000

I have a friend who has been struggling from homelessness for over two years.

Not the kind of homeliness that you are probably picturing…

Dirty with a shopping cart sleeping under a bridge.

No, this is the kind of homeliness that practically goes unnoticed in society.

One of a hard working mother who just cannot seem to save up enough to pay a deposit so she moves her and her kids from friend’s to friend’s house.

But on this faithful Sunday, our Pastor calls a prophecy.

He says that he doesn’t know who he is talking to but the person who has been struggling for two years and still has been faithful to God, that person’s season of hardship is over.

On that very Monday, she gets notice from her social worker that they can pay her first month’s rent and deposit.

That very day she calls landlords and finds one just down the street from me who is aware of and takes that type of payment.

By the evening, we have viewed the apartment and she has completed the application.

By that Tuesday evening, he has confirmed her income and approved her for the apartment.

By that Wednesday, social services has written a promissary note and she has keys!!!

For the first time in Years!!

But is God done?

Nope!

On Thursday, the water is on.

But there is a problem of an overdue electric bill.

And do you think that a $600 power bill can stop my God.

NOPE!

Because God put it on the heart of just one of the dozen of customer service workers at dom.com to turn on her power if she can pay just $200 of that bill.

And here’s the kicker…the power was on even before she made the payment.

Yep, on Thursday night, she and her three daughters spent their very first night in the comfort and security of their own home!!

On Saturday, with the help of an Explorer, Expedition, and a pickup truck, her furniture was moved in her new home and out of storage.

A new home in one week.

From one Sunday to the next, you went from homeless to being a tenant in good standing.

You can’t tell me there is no God and that my God ain’t good!!!

Where the weight lands

MsKatrina — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:37:22 +0000

I have put on a lot of weight this summer.

English: This is a side view of me at 190lbs to be used as the ‘after’ picture of weight gain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And I know why.

It was too hot to cook so I went the easy way by loading up the freezer with microwave meals.

That, and my sedentary summer life.

And now I am paying the price with a slightly more bulging belly.

It is not what the scale reads that bothers me as much as just where the weight applied itself.

And the fact that I couldn’t safely zip my jeans without taking out someone’s eye when the button flies across the room.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be in control of just where the weight lands.

I would definitely divide mine between my butt and my boobs.

Anywho, I have started doing situps to combat the weight gain.

Drinking water has not been an issue since it is so hot this summer.

However, on my next shopping trip, there will definitely be tons of fresh fruit and vegetables.

The sad thing is that the weight won’t come of my tummy first.

Nope, first place that I will notice loss in my ka-dunk-a-dunk.

Boo!! ~frown~

I sure wish that we could determine where the weight goes…~sigh~

Ms Crooked Halo

What foods go straight to the booty

Are cell phone contracts worth the money? I did the money math.

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