Happy early Christmas!

Last year we shared our best of the worst videos of 2008, and we enjoyed it so much, we decided to do it again! Only thing is, since hip-hop is shrinking like options on the infamous healthcare bill– keep trying Obama! — , we’ve decided to add R&B videos to the list too. Shall we begin with you Ms. Ciara? Yes…yes we shall… (more…)

This post was written by J.Bakes after realizing that Chinese message boards could be more racist than re-runs of the Glenn Beck show.

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 | by J. Baker

My name is Sheri, and I’m a career woman, wife and mother of two. Since the birth of my kids, I have struggled to maintain a comfortable, healthy and happy weight. I hit bottom last January and decided that I wasn’t going to keep buying larger clothes to compensate for my overeating. Historically, I would stick to my meal and exercise regiment for a few months and then fall off of the wagon around the holidays. So if you, or someone you know, has struggled in this area, this column may be for you.

“Happy holidays, happy holidays…” as the song goes, but for those who are trying to lose or at least maintain their weight it is easier sung than done.  Think about it, you work all spring and summer trying to be diligent. You work out a little bit, eat conservatively at bar-b-ques and summer parties, and for the most part you may do pretty good. I mean less face it, the summertime is when we all let it hang out. The short shorts and minis, the halter-tops and bikinis, but all too soon summer ends, fall goes by with a brisk breeze and before you know it, old man winter rears his ugly head.

This is the time of year, which can be more or less described as “hibernation season,” since all you really want to do is lie in a warm bed and snack throughout the day. When you wake up to get ready for work, if you work outside of your home, it’s dark and when you get off of work it’s dark. Naturally because of the colder temperatures, you dress warmer and as a result, you can cover up your snacking.  Instead of stuffing the turkey, you may have been slightly stuffing yourself.  It’s not surprising that most of us may have over-indulged and put on a pound or two, maybe three, from Thanksgiving. No biggie. You need the extra fat to fight off the cold right?

Then it happens the mother of all holidays comes, Christmas. You have Christmas cookies, sweet potato pie, cheese cake, pound cake, brownies, red velvet cake and that is just the sweets! (more…)

In Brazil, it’s now high summer. Many people have traveled to the beach with friends and family to celebrate the holiday season. There are lights everywhere in all of the cities, from Rio to my own city, São Paulo. The shops are packed with people looking for gifts and the traditional mall Santa Claus spends all day hearing kids wishes while their parents shop.
.
We Brazilians have a habit of leaving everything to the last minute. So during the days before Christmas, everyone rushes to the mall, which is extremely crowded, to get their gifts before it’s too late!
.
For some, Christmas has become just another day in Brazil. There are few people who still celebrate this day with religious force, however they’re mostly the older generation who keenly attend church, assemble the nativity crib and sing hymns. Unfortunately, many have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas, which is no longer celebrated only by Christians. Still, Christmas night is party time and everyone gathers to exchange gifts and eat.

There are giant Christmas trees in Ibirapuera Park, here in São Paulo, and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, that are a must-see. Tourists from everyewhere come to admire the light shows that accompany the trees, and Paulista Avenue (the main street of São Paulo) gets especially beautiful! All of the houses and businesses are decorated with the Christmas theme and the major Brazilian banks build real holiday displays, complete with artificial snow and even coral electronic dolls. (more…)