quick shot out

I want to quickly acknowledge my city and i know it is going through a tumultuous time right now BUT i have faith my city will once again be strong and rebuild itself out of the ashes like a MIGHTY PHOENIX

so instead of focusing on the negative ..let's do all we can to focus on the positives and all the great things the city DOES have to offer

Slows

Union Street

The Whitney

Marios

Pizza Papalis

Greektown

The Anthenium (sp)

Coneys

Faygo

Better Maid

Wayne State

PURE DETROIT

MADE IN DETROIT

just to name a few

but here is an article i came across with some things made in Detroit that maybe you didn't know about

Top 10 Made in Detroit Products

Not Including Music and Cars

Many people may not realize it, but Detroit has produced more than just great music and cool cars. There are tons of products that we use everyday that are made in or near Motown. Here is just a brief listing of them.

1. Better Made Snacks - Makers of chips and other snacks. They are located in the heart of Detroit right on Gratiot (and if you're not from Michigan, you 

 probably don't know how to pronounce it.. Gra-shit)

2. Carhartt - Anyone who works outside in the winter cold will recognize this name. They are most known for their brown coats and overall, but they are also available in many other colors. Carhartt also makes jeans, shirts, hats, and other pieces of clothing. This company is headquarter in Dearborn.

3. Faygo - This is a cheaper pop. They have the usually cola and lemon-lime flavors, but also a whole other range of flavors not available in other brands such as Rock and Rye and Red Pop. This company is located in Detroit. A 2 liter usually sells for 0.99 or less. They are celebrating their 100 year anniversary this year.

4. Jiffy Muffin Mix - We've all seen these small little blue and white boxes down the isle at the grocery stores. They sell the nation's best selling corn bread mix. This company calls Chelsea, MI home.

5. Kowalski - This company is most known for its sausage. They also make other meats, cheeses, baked goods and spreads. Kowalski is located in Hamtramck.

6. Saunders - Just the name is enough to make your mouth water if you are familiar with it. Saunders Chocolate topping is one of the best! The have various chocolate, caramel, and other toppings for ice cream.

7. Little Caesars Pizza - Owner Mike Illitch and family started this company in Detroitand it has become a national pizza chain. The first store opened in Garden City. 

8. Stroh's - Depending on how old you are, this name could bring 2 different products to mind, beer or ice cream. Both come from the same Detroit company. Other beer products Stroh's make include Schlitz, Lone Star, Red River, and Old Milwaukee.

9. Vernor's - This company makes ginger ale and was the nation's first soda pop which was invented by a pharmacist.

10. Kellogg's - Best know for cereals such as Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies. Battle Creek is the home town to this company. Kellogg's celebrated their 100 year anniversary in 2006.

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april janelle

confessions of a foodie

*I must preface this special edition blog with a statement that sometime in the near future (it should've been out already)-Josh and I are creating and will be co-writing a blog on our adventures in food land and epicurious delights...there is a hold up with development...that's what happens when you hire a certain TYPE of person*

Hi my name is Janelle you can call me Jane, and I AM an addict, my drug of choice -GOOD FOOD!

As much as I would like to blame my heightened passion and love and adoration for good food on my current state of being with child..I know that is not the case...my love for eating began when i was young and growing up in the family i did and the house i did..

having a dad who is well known for his cooking and culinary delights has only left me in a more privileged position as tester and recipient of MANY good meals..

In my earlier days, I must admit I had a rather LIMITED palate, but as I am aging, my taste buds have grown and now truly appreciate some of the finer delights...Even better as the spawn of an amazing cook...i too have been able to hone my skills in the kitchen and some might say I make a pretty respectable meal

The focus of this blog is to discuss good food, great culinary creations, and offer suggestions of where and how you might obtain it

I will start with three of my new FAVORITE websites...I discovered them while reading O magazine during a tiring 5 hour hair salon stint nevertheless here they are:

www.foodzie.com

www.zingermans.com

www.murrayscheese.com

All I can say is DO NOT PERUSE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH

another website I am digging right now and trying to figure out if they deliver..is VOODOO Donuts based out of Portland OR

take a gander and tell me you aren't drooling

http://voodoodoughnut.com/menu.php

So this is how this starts and all I can say is LET THE FUN BEGIN...hopefully my other half will soon check in and lend his opinion

til next time.....I am an ADDICT and Food is my drug 
april janelle

slightly broken promise

So I told Sabrina I would make my next blog light and funny or at least try to be funny, SO I am going to try to take this topic and keep it light and still get my point across..

 

 

This morning my Devon was telling me that Nate Dog had passed, after two strokes, and some bad health. The most shocking part is that #1 this is someone that I knew of, not that I grew up listening to him, but we ALL loved “REGULATE” with the homey Warren G!

 

The point I am trying to get to is that look  BLACK PEOPLE, WHITE PEOPLE WHO KNOW BLACK PEOPLE-check yourself…check your BMI (BODY MASS INDEX) Make sure it is within a healthy range and let me eliminate this myth- BLACK PEOPLE the BMI chart is geared for ALL people, let’s NOT use the excuse that BLACK PEOPLE are thicker or not supposed to be that thin…Those people toting that belief are the same ones in denial when they have diabetes or high blood pressure or all the other diseases that you CAN be predisposed to..

 

It does NOT have to be that way..some things are hereditary BUT some of those SAME things can be prevented, corrected, and eliminated with LIFESTYLE CHANGES and healthy eating

 

It is ok to indulge in stuff every ONCE in awhile..not once a week for some stuff..leave the fried food alone..you should not be eating yard bird more than once a month –REALLY!

 

Don’t keep hiding behind the lies and propaganda…make a choice..choose to live-choose to live healthy and medicine free…if something is not working..adjust your diet again, see a nutritionist..exercise more..Dying at the age of 41 is not okay in 2011..it is not…stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes are ALL preventable..and not a prerequisite of being in the black community

 

Chart your intake of food and sodium..put DOWN the salt shaker..learn to enjoy your food without SO much sodium…yes you want to flavor your food but use other spices that won’t kill you

 

BLACK WOMEN…get over the hair issue..if your hair is preventing you from working out..then just know you will be like Tyler Perry says..”casket ready” when you go…You may be cute when your triglycerides are through the roof..THEN WHAT!!!

 

Don’t wait til tomorrow..START today…at a minimum your heart needs 30 minutes of cardio each day..for weight loss you need to be pumping out 45 + of heart beating cardio..walking, running, swimming, etc…

 

Take your pick..find your nitch…get with it

 

It’s fine to want to look a certain way but if you aren’t healthy –CHECK YOUR SELF

 

Ladies you want curves..BUT be healthy about it

 

Guys may want a lady with meat but they don’t want a woman who can’t walk up a flight up stairs or who empties the buffet

 

And a real man, the one you really want to be with is going to be concerned about your health as you should be

 

part 2

DISREGARD THAT LAST BLOG..I WAS NOT FINISHED NOR STARTED YET USER ERROR SOMEHOW SENT IT OUT

I WAS GOING TO SAY I CAN NEVER PAST UP AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS RELATIONSHIPS....THIS IS AN IDEA AND A TOPIC THAT NEVER DIES, NEVER GETS OLD, AND IS NEVER RESOLVED

SO OFTEN I THINK WE ARE MOTIVATED TO STAY STUCK IN OUR OWN WAYS IN A RELATIONSHIP, WHETHER THAT IS FOR FEAR OF TRULY ALLOWING OURSELVES TO BE VULNERABLE, OR NOT WANTING TO "LOSE FACE" IN FRONT OF OUR PEERS

BUT THE ONLY ONE WHO SUFFERS WITH THIS FLAWED IDEOLOGY IS YOUR PARTNER

A RELATIONSHIP IS ABOUT COMING TOGETHER, LIKE MINDS, LIKE WAYS, LIKE DREAMS, AND LIKE WANTS

ITS NOT ABOUT LOSING ONESELF BUT BEING PAIRED WITH THAT "SPECIAL" PERSON WHO LOVES YOU WHEN NO ONE ELSE DOES, WHO SUPPORTS YOU WHEN NO ONE ELSE DOES, WHO MOTIVATES YOU WHEN NO ONE ELSE DOES, AND ALWAYS SEES YOUR POTENTIAL

RELATIONSHIPS ARE VOLUNTARY AND WHEN SOMETHING IS AN OPTION AND YOU OPT FOR IT THEN TREAT IT FOR WHAT IT IS A REWARD A LUXURY AND NOT LIKE MODERN DAY SLAVERY OR SOMETHING YOU WERE FORCED INTO

I DO NOT KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF ARRANGED RELATIONSHIPS AND MARRIAGES AND YET SOMEWHERE AFTER THAT FIRST YEAR OR FEW MONTHS IT BECOMES OBLIGATORY...THE THINGS THAT WERE ONCE GIVEN SO FREELY AND DONE WITH A SMILE ARE DONE TO "KEEP THE PEACE"

I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN BE SOMEWHERE OR WITH SOMEONE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE...AND IF YOU CAME INTO WITH NO FALSE PRETENSES (WHICH I WILL DISCUSS IN A MINUTE) THEN SHOW THAT PERSON EVERYDAY THAT YOU FEEL YOU MADE A RIGHT CHOSE AND YOU WOULD CHOOSE THEM AGAIN

NOW FOR FALSE PRETENSES....WE OFTEN SEND OUR BEST REP FORWARD..WE CURB BAD HABITS BODILY EXPULSIONS AND HAVE THE PATIENCE AND HEART OF MOTHER THERESA

THEN WHEN THINGS GET FURTHER ALONG..WE FEEL JUSTIFIED IN LASHING OUT WHEN WE ARE HURT AND SAYING WHAT WE WANT..GIVING THE SILENT TREATMENT AND OTHER CHILDISH ANTICS FEELING LIKE WE HAVE THE POWER OF MUMMAR GHADAFI

WRONG..THAT IS NOT HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE..ITS WRONG..ITS HURTFUL AND YOU CAN'T TAKE IT BACK EVER!!!!

SOMETIMES AND FOR SOMETHINGS THERE WILL NEVER  BE ENOUGH I'M SORRY'S

BUT WHY EVEN GO THERE

WHY TREAT THE PERSON WHO YOU ARE INTIMATE WITH ..WHO YOU LOVE...YOU LOVES YOU...WHY TREAT THEM LIKE THAT

YES WE OFTEN LAST OUT FROM HURT BUT JUST THINK THAT OTHER PERSON IS JUST AS SENSITIVE AS YOU

IT'S BASIC...TREAT OTHERS HOW YOU WANT TO BE TREATED...KARMA IS A MOTHER FATHER....LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE MAD OR GO TO BED ANGRY

MISERY DOESNT JUST LOVE COMPANY ..IT DEMANDS IT....I AM NOT ADVOCATING BEING A ANNOYINGLY HAPPY PERSON TO WHERE OTHERS WANT TO HIT YOU WITH A TRUCK AND A TRAIN  BUT JUST BE THE PERSON YOU WANT OTHERS TO BE TO YOU

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF DAY , WEEK, OR LIFE SOMEONE IS HAVING SO USE EMPATHY

EVERYONE'S WALK IS DIFFERENT

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

PATHS CROSS FOR A REASON..SOME TIMES THESE WILL BE REVEALED SOMETIMES NOT

FROM EVERY BAD EXPERIENCE WALK AWAY WITH A LESSON

FROM EVERY GOOD EXPERIENCE TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN, APPRECIATE, AND PAY IT FORWARD

FOR EVERY BAD DAY YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE IS HAVING IT TEN TIMES WORST

KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE

THOSE ARE MY PEARLS OR AS JOSH SAYS ...MY SOAPBOX

--
april janelle

relationship talk never gets old

During the honeymoon stage (or first three months), we often put on a façade. Not only do they never see us barefaced, but we tone down characteristics that would initially turn a man off. The woman that may be prone to fussing, acts as if she is habitually content; and, the brash woman is suddenly coy. We have been fine-tuned to do what is necessary to get what we want, even if it means playing down our authentic selves. For this reason the expectations for love are unrealistic, because they are based on diluted truths.

How much more genuine would our relationships be if we didn't hide behind the desire for reciprocation? How much easier would it be to make it past the honeymoon if we wore our true colors? So many of our relationships and marriages fail as a result of fairy tale expectations:

--
april janelle

been so long

Greetings all!

 

I hope you all managed to get out of bed this morning, despite the loving daylight savings bliss J

 

Once I went through my shenanigans and got up, I am surprisingly rested and positive.

 

Twas a wonderful weekend in the Crump household, we went Target-ing and to IHOP, and the hubby had football (co-ed)

Which let me digress for a second and say I can’t STAND the chicks on co-ed football teams..none of them..I’ve seen NYC football chicks and VA and they all make my skin crawl…

 

They are this breed of over enthusiastic extra peppy chicks, some of which do extra giggling or play the helpless , lost, confused role, or dress like they are playing powder puff with a bunch of other chicks

 

Now I am not a full time hater BUT I’m sure the Butch football chicks would agree with me, come to play and play seriously or stay on the side..

 

There is no need to be strutting around in tiny cheerleader shorts or your sports bra

 

And these are always the chicks who line is “I get along better with males than females”, “all my friends are guys”, “Females just don’t like me or get me”

 

My answer to that is GET OVER YOURSELF…they run that line on guys so they will be like oh she is that cool chick and under the remote chance that she is somehow hot she will appear dateable to the guys on the team..

 

Women need to quit believing that line and lie..women need women…you may not need a gang of chicks because yes that can become problematic BUT you need a few

 

And these chicks are just trouble walking

 

 

BUT back to task…we just spent a pleasant couples weekend around town and spending some good ole QT

 

Is there anything better

 

Peace and harmony are so much better than conflict ..conflict is so stressful and draining..so I am going with the song..what the world needs now is love sweet love…it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of

 

 

I agree..amen…shalom and anything else

 

Now like in Baptist church..hug your neighbor…LOL

 

 

not much to say that these pictures can't say for themselves

Josh and I-the self proclaimed food porn addicts spend much of our adult bonding time discussing yummy culinary treats!

As I was perusing the net for food related items I came upon THIS article!

Now there is no need for me to narrate and YES not all of it will appeal and some of you may die from a caloric overdose at the mere site BUT i say open your mind and just look at ALL of the 7 sandwiches



http://bites.today.com/_news/2011/03/01/6161502-breaded-bliss-7-crazy-sandwiches

--
april janelle

sunday RAIN

sitting here in my super comfy GAP sweats and a long sleeve tee ...fresh from the spa and since today is slightly rainy and dreary i am in the house...my classic fave movie ARMAGEDDON is on...so i am just kicked back...Bella has found her self in the bed with me....she WAS on her side but now is right on my feet at the bottom

so recently me and my bestie were having a discussion on HONESTY and being around honest people who have your best interest and your back

now we both agreed that as adults its not cool to nag something and we are not someone's Mom in this case

BUT i feel it is so important to have honest people around you...you need a few friends and family who will always be completely honest with you

the kind who will tell you when you are doing wrong or out of line and not sugar coat or condone bad behavior

you/we need to be surrounded by people who are more concerned with your best interest than telling you what you want to hear

i am so thankful for kelz...she has always been around to tell me when i am wrong or when i may want to rethink something

and its a true friend and in that love that you find comfortable being honest with the other person...i mean a relationship goes both ways

i can tell her what i think and i dont have to fear that she will think i am trying to be malicious or hurt her and that i am coming from a place of love...

we wondered as we talked about this last week...how many other people have friends of equal caliber 

do you have lots of YES friends or true blue friends

i think if more friends were honest about outfits or about choices maybe a small percent of people would rethink some of their decisions

hmmm just a thought

--
april janelle