Whether offering a continental breakfast, swimming pool, 24 hour room service, or free Wi-Fi, hotels are always competing for visitors. But, hotels are notorious for displaying bland artwork. Last weekend, my husband and I stayed at Hotel Max to celebrate Hubby’s birthday. We picked this hotel because of the rave reviews and we were not disappointed
Category Archives: culture
Starbucks Drops The “Starbucks Coffee” Logo
Photo captured at Hotel Max Lobby
Have you noticed that the word “Starbucks Coffee” is no longer being used on Starbucks cups and cup sleeves?! Many folks are questioning the rationale behind this logo change with some angry coffee drinkers voicing their protest on the Starbucks website. Starbucks, which doesn’t want to be known for selling just coffee anymore announced it was dropping the words “Starbucks Coffee” from
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God Could Not Be Everywhere, So He Created Mothers
Mothers are the most priceless blessing God has personally gift wrapped for each one of us. As the saying goes, God cannot be everywhere so he made mothers. No amount of words will ever be enough to thank them for all that they have done for us.
I found this poem and wanted to share it with all of you! Happy Mother’s day to all the beautiful moms out there!
Happy Cinco De Mayo!
In the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, a few items for your cultural education: Today is, in fact, not Mexican Independence day (it’s a celebration of the Mexican victory in the Battle of Puebla), Cinco de Mayo is not widely celebrated in Mexico (not nearly as much as in the U.S., anyway), and all tacos are not created equal. To celebrate you Cinco de Mayo, here is ~ The Best Cinco de Mayo Steak Tacos Recipe (from Mexico)
Ingredients
3 1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut against the grain into strips (a little smaller than your little finger)
20 flour tortillas (4 inch)
1/2 cup canola oil
1 large head Napa cabbage (also called Chinese), cleaned, cut into thin strips, and tossed with the juice of 2 limes
For spice mix:
2 tsp chipotle chile powder
2 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp cumin
3 tsp kosher or coarse salt
For salsa:
1 jalapeño pepper
1 red onion, sliced 1/4-inch thick
4 plum tomatoes
2 oz canola oil
1 tsp kosher or coarse salt
1/2 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
3 fresh limes, juiced
For guacamole:
6 ripe Haas avocados, halved, pits removed, flesh scooped out and placed in large bowl with the juice of 4 limes
4 plum tomatoes, small diced (about 2 cups)
1 red onion, minced, about 1 cup
1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
2 tsp kosher or coarse salt
For lime crema:
2 cups sour cream
2 fresh limes
Tip: The salsa, crema, and guacamole can be prepared up to 2 hours ahead of time, wrapped tightly, and refrigerated. When wrapping the guacamole, place a layer of plastic film directly on the surface (and/or keep avocado pits in the bowl) to avoid discoloration from oxidation.
Instructions
To make tacos: Combine spice-mixture ingredients and toss with steak to coat. Set aside. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Warm tortillas on cookie sheet in oven. Heat two large sauté pans to medium-high. When pans are hot, add oil to each pan followed by 1/2 the seasoned meat. Spread meat out evenly and cook without turning while you lay out warm tortillas on a clean work area to get ready for assembly. Cook meat for approximately 3 minutes, turn, and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to achieve even coloring. After 3 minutes, turn off heat and allow meat to sit in the pan, becoming just cool enough for you to handle.
To make salsa: Rub jalapeño, onion, and tomatoes lightly with oil and roast in large sauté pan on medium-high, turning frequently until lightly charred all over. Set aside to cool. When cooled, roughly chop and place in a food processor with salt, pulsing until almost smooth but still just a little chunky. Transfer to bowl, add cilantro and lime juice, cover, and refrigerate. (For a milder salsa, use only half the jalapeño.)
To make guacamole: Lightly crush avocados with fork until almost smooth but still a little chunky. Evenly mix in tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and salt; cover and refrigerate.
Tip: To halve an avocado, insert the tip of a knife along the side until you hit the pit. Cut around the avocado lengthwise, slicing all the way around. Then twist the two halves in opposite directions and the avocado will open perfectly. Scoop out the pit and the flesh with a spoon.
To make lime crema: Whisk 2 cups sour cream together with the juice of 2 fresh limes.
To serve: Spread 1/2 tbsp guacamole on each warmed tortilla, followed by a large pinch of cabbage. Distribute meat evenly and fold tortillas up end to end. Serve immediately on a large platter with the salsa, crema, guacamole, and a bag of your favorite tortilla chips.
Recipe from Kerry Simon~chef and owner of Simon Kitchen & Bar in Las Vegas and Simon LA in Los Angeles.
Today Is Earth Day~Celebrated on April 22 every year, for the past 40 years.
Earth Day 2010 is here. Do you know what you’re doing to celebrate? Whether lending a helping hand to Mother Nature or getting out to volunteer in your community, the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day this Thursday is your opportunity to get started in making your impact year-round.
This celebration aims to increase awareness about the environment and to contribute in saving the Planet.Green living and energy efficiency are very important to make this planet a better place in one way, and fight against Global warming and climate change. It’s never too late to make a conscious effort to help one another and heal the planet from years of abuse.
This Earth Day 2010 will also be the day of World People’s Conference on Climate Change to be held in Bolivia.
The Rise Of Glow In The Dark-Tattoos, Jeans, Tees, Shoes, Lingeries e.t.c !
That’s right. This glow in the dark phenomenon is growing.From glow in the dark tattoes,glow in the dark jeans and tees from Diesel, to glow in the dark lingeries from Lumino, it is getting pretty insane.
For the clubbing generation, Or the Twilight generation,both tend to live and learn more during the night. Halloween is long gone now and this adds up to this year’s Halloween must list, right next to that Chanel pumpkin (corner with the glow in the dark eyelashes).
The new glow in the dark jeans (and attire) from Diesel was treated with a special fluorescent coating making some things apparent only under UV lights.
Tip~Chopsticks Are A Really Good Dieting Trick
Watching others using chopsticks can make it look so easy, but when you try it, you end up asking for a fork. Here’s how to say goodbye to that fork for good and put those chopsticks to work! I have always wanted to eat with Chopsticks, but I was too lazy / scared / discouraged to learn because everytime I tried to use them, the result were really bad. So I gave up trying.One day I was reading an article about how Chopsticks can be a really good dieting trick,it continued on saying, with Chopstick you eat more slowly and are more engaged with concentrating on your food, versus just shoveling it in. After I was done reading that particular article, I decided its about time for me to try again. My friends at work, walked me through on how to position my fingers and chopsticks to make it work. Finally tonight, I had an opportunity to put my skills into use.. We had Sushi for dinner, and I tell you, I was so impressed with the results…( be gentle ..lol… I am still in the learning process .. but I can now hold chopsticks and be able to lift food without dropping..)
The easiest way to explain how to hold chopsticks is to hold almost like holding pencil… Well, it’s not quit the same, obviously because you are holding two sticks, rather than one pencil. But if you can use a pencil, you can learn to use chopsticks.
First, rest one of the chopstick on the bottom on the thumb, at about 1 inch from the end (thick side) of the chopstick, and rest the middle of the chopstick on the side of ring finger at about 1/2 inch from the tip of the finger. This stick will remain stationary. Then hold the other chopstick with three fingers, thumb, pointing finger and the middle finger. This is the stick that moves to pick up food. Make sure the tip of both sticks meet.
Chopstick Rules
~~Do not hold the chopsticks when you are not eating. Rest them on a chopstick rest or a plate closest and directly in front of you, with the tips facing your left. Only rest the tip of the chopstick on to of chopstick rest or a plate, and the thick end should be on the table. You will do the same when you are done with the meal.
~~Do not drag a plate or bowl with your chopsticks.
~~Do not point with chopsticks or talk animatedly with chopsticks in your hand. Do not walk or run with chopsticks. (You’ll be surprised to hear how many people are injured by chopsticks!)
~~Never leave chopsticks stuck vertically into your food, especially into a bowl of rice. (At funerals, Japanese present a bowl of rice with chopsticks standing in the middle at the altar.)
Celebrate Black History Month~ February 2010
In honor of Black History month, I bring to you the people who made the impossible, possible.Discover more on Black History with timelines, trivia, famous African American biographies, and more at Biography.com
Flaviana Matata Finally Hits The Runways Of NYC
Get To Know An African Soul-Jazz Vocalist ~ SOMI ~
I discovered Somi while surfing the internet today. So I started to take a sneek peek of her album Red Soil In My Eyes, listening to the song “Ingele” over at YouTube, the more I listened to her the more I was drawn to find out more about her music. If The Rain Come First is her latest album, and had previously released 2 albums before the electric soul-jazz of 2003’s Eternal Motive (SanaaHouse) and the acoustic, culture-merging elegance of 2007’s multilingual Red Soil in My Eyes (World Village/Harmonia Mundi).
This young songwriter was born in Illinois and did most of her growing up in America, but the singer who calls herself Somi — that’s short for L. Kabasomi Kakoma — is the daughter of Rwandan and Ugandan parents, also spent time living in Africa and, due in no small part to the extremes of that experience, has created a seamless merger of cultures, sounds and emotions with this richly textured recording.
Somi has been featured on CNN International, The Ananda Lewis Show, and BET, while performing at venues like Joe’s Pub, B.B.King’s in Times Square, The Blue Note in New York, the Atlanta Jazz Festival, and Chicago’s South Shore Jazz Fest.I just cant believe that I have never heard of her before, until today .The minute I heard the song, I was like “WOW”, what a powerful voice! If you like jazz sound of Sade, you are going to love Somi. Check out Somi’s “Red Soil In My Eyes”
I Love and I’m Proud Of My Accent – A Facebook Group
I just started a new Facebook group called “I Love and I’m Proud of My African Accent“. If you are like me, with deep roots in Africa, you probably have heard Americans say you have an accent.You might feel that having an accent is not a good thing. Many new immigrants in America are embarrassed about their foreign accents and struggle to learn to speak like Americans. I think all this is rather unfortunate.With apologies to no one, I speak English with my distinctive Tanzanian accent~ but I usually get this “I love your accent, it’s so beautiful”, that makes me feel proud of my individuality~
“An accent is an intrinsic aspect of spoken language. Nobody can say a word, let alone speak a language, without an accent. Basically, an accent is one’s distinctive way of speaking” For example, Texans, have their own accent, so do New Yorkers and Americans from other regions.We all should be proud of our accents, because that differentiate you from another person, it make you “Unique”
So if you have an accent and are proud of it, go ahead, join this group and invite all of your friends to join this group as well.A place where you can connect and share stories and feel like you are at home.Anyone can join this group~ After all we all do have accents. LOL!
Divorce Gift Registy By Yours Trully-Debenhams
Move over Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sears,Crate & Barrell and Pottery Barn for your wedding gift registry.A store in Britain has launched a gift list service for people getting divorced.Debenhams has launched what is thought to be the UK’s first ‘divorce gift list’ for couples who are splitting up.
The tendency for modern couples to live together before getting married means the wedding list – designed to stock the newlyweds’ first home with basic goods – has become somewhat obsolete.
Divorce, on the other hand, results in one partner leaving and then having the need to fit out an entire new house with cookware, linen and electric goods.
Peter Moore, Head of Retail Services at Debenhams, said: “Divorcing can be an expensive time and registering for a Divorce Gift List means that family and friends can help the newly separated begin their new life.” “Unlike a wedding list which tends to be full of luxury items, I think this is going to be more basic,People will get towels, bed linens, irons, toasters and kettles.” Attridge said.
The launch date was anything but random — Debenham’s chose the month of January because it’s the busiest month for divorce in the UK.
I wonder if they will also have or / include a -> How To : A complete guide to choosing the right divorce gift for you!..
Parents Are On Facebook~Is It Good or Bad~
You sit at your computer or browsing you cellphone for your daily log onto Facebook – aha! A friend request! Your hear beats with excitement as you click to see who is dying to befriend you now . . . and it’s your mom.
What do you do? Dont panic..This is what I did after receiving a friend request from my Mom this morning.
->Step 1
Don’t ignore them. They are only going to poke you or message you asking why have you not seen their Friend Request or add your friends asking them why you haven’t seen their Friend Request.
->Step 2
If necessary, add them on Limited Profile.. visit here->.answer.yahoo.com
->Step 3
Once you have added them, explain that they are limited to 10 quizzes and/or application requests per week. If necessary, imply that this is a Facebook rule imposed by the Facebook powers that be.
->Step 4
Demand that they cannot tag you in all 5 of the photo albums of you as a toddler, as a newborn, and most of all as a middle schooler.
->Step 5
Assert that the friend suggestions to add Aunt Sally/Aunt Patsy/Uncle Mo are starting to pile up.
->Step 6
Get over it. Know that no matter what you can’t escape the loving clutches that produced you.
->Step 7
Join a support group
http://myparentsjoinedfacebook.com
->Step 8
If my own parents are reading this, this does not apply to you, promise. I truly appreciate your Facebook Friendship
Happy New Year 2010!!
Where Will You Ring In Your New Year 2010? Here Is The List Of My Top NY’E Destinations
New Year’s Eve celebration happens to be the biggest common party across the globe when all nations and religions forget all the differences and come together to welcome the New Year. New Year’s Eve is one such occasion when everyone in everyplace around the world manages to recognize the New Year with some sort of celebration. As we are slowly approaching to the end of 2009, once again there is a restlessness in preparing the planner for the occasion.Here is a compilation of my top few popular destinations where you can celebrate the momentus occasion in the best possible way.Happy New Year to each and everyone of you.
Ally Rehmtulla’s 2025 Collection -An East African Designer On The Rise
Be Culturally Informed;KANGA -A Beautiful African Garment
Says Welcome Pres. Bush To Tanzania

It says Congratulation Barack Obama

Kanga has also been used to mobilize people in political rallies,public health campaigns as well as creating awareness to particular development projects. When words are difficult to articulate with a mouth, inscribe them on kanga and wait for the results. Although cheap in price, the power of kanga in the Swahili culture is unimaginable.
- Wema hauozi — Kindness is never wasted
- Kawia ufike — Better late than never
- Riziki Ya Mtu Hupangwa Na Mungu — One’s fortunes are planned by God
- Mimi Na Wangu Wewe Na Wako Chuki Ya Nini — I have mine and you have yours — why the fuss?
- Sisi Sote Abiria Dereva Ni Mungu — In this world we are all passengers, God is the driver.
- Fimbo La Mnyonge Halina Nguvu — Might is right.
- Liya Na Tabia Yako Usilaumu Wenzako — Do not blame others for problems you have created yourself.
- Naogopa Simba Na Meno Yake, Siogopi Mtu Kwa Maneno Yake — I fear the lion for its jaws, I do not fear man for his word….
Tanzanite- Tanzania’s Rarest Gem.The Germstone Of The 20th Century!!
Tanzanite is an exceptionally rare gem stone- estimated at a thousand times rarer than diamond.This extraordinary gemstone occurs in only one place worldwide. Its blue, surrounded by a fine hint of purple, is a wonderful colour.It is named after the East African state of Tanzania, the only place in the world where it has been found.
Africa? Does anyone think of gemstones when they hear that name? Well they should, because Africa is a continent which provides the world with a multitude of truly magnificent gemstones, like tanzanite for example. On its discovery in 1967, it was enthusiastically celebrated by the specialists as the ‘gemstone of the 20th century’. They held their breath in excitement as they caught sight of the first deep-blue crystals which had been found in the Merelani Hills near Arusha in the north of Tanzania.
Millions of years ago, metamorphic schists, gneisses and quartzites formed impressive, flat-topped inselbergs on a vast plain in the shadow of Kilimanjaro. The precious crystals grew in deposits on the inside of these unusual elevations. For a long, long time they were hidden from the eye of Man, until one day some passing Masai shepherds noticed some sparkling crystals lying in the sun and took them along with them.
The tanzanite trade is in the hands of many licensed merchants, mostly on a small scale, who have, over the decades, built up stable, trusting business relationships with gemstone companies in India, Germany, Israel and the USA. An estimated 90 per cent of all tanzanite merchants are official members of the International Colored Gemstone Association ICA, and are thus bound by the high ethical standards of that organisation. In this way, this exclusive gemstone is not subject to trade via dubious channels, but instead, in spite of its rarity, passed on along reputable trade routes to established cutting-centres and subsequently to major jewellers all round the world.
TANZANIA" The Cradle Of Mankind"–Celebrated Its 48th Independence!!
9 December 1961 – Tanzania Achieves Independence.The mainland of Tanzania became a German colony called Tanganyika in 1884 whilst the Sultanate of Zanzibar became a British Protectorate in 1890. Tanganyika became a British mandated territory in 1918 and achieved independence in 1961. In 1963 Zanzibar achieved independence, and a year later formed a union with Tanganyika under the new name of Tanzania.
Christmas Arrives at the Obama White House
The First Lady chooses traditional decorations for the family’s first Yuletide in Washington.
The 2009 White House Christmas tree is an 18.5-ft. Douglas fir. It was grown in Shepherdstown, W.Va
The tree is lit with environmentally friendly LED lights and decorated with more than 800 ornaments from previous White House Administrations.The theme of the decor is “Reflect, Rejoice and Renew.”






































































