Little Dirty Pretty Thangs
twitter.com/thepbg:
MONROVIA, Calif. (May 24, 2012) - Break out the bubbly…juice, that is.IZZE® Beverage Company is celebrating ten years of delivering delicious, all-natural sparkling juice beverages to fans everywhere!
To mark the momentous occasion, IZZE is bringing back a fan-favorite flavor-Sparkling Lemon-just in time for the summer sun. The distinctive pairing of refreshing lemon flavor with sparkling water is sure to be a sweet one, with a little zip in every sip. Sparkling Lemon will be available exclusively at Whole Foods starting in May. But while the days are long, IZZE Sparkling Lemon will only be available for a limited time this summer, so you’ll want to be sure to pick up this refreshing goodness before it’s gone.
“IZZE was founded on the belief that pure, simple ingredients provide the ultimate refreshment and ten years later we continue to stay true to that mission,” said Joe Culella, director of marketing, IZZE Sparkling Juice. “Lemon was one of the original flavors when IZZE first came to market in 2002, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our ten years than to bring back a flavor our community loves.”
Let There Be Lemon
IZZE always stays ahead of the game with its flavor innovations. According to a U.S. Bell Flavors & Fragrances study, the No. 1 beverage flavor forecasted in the top ten flavors for the food and beverage industry in 2012 was lemonade. IZZE Sparkling Lemon provides a refreshing, uplifting taste without added sugar or artificial flavors to keep the summer months delicious and cool the natural way.
In addition to Sparkling Lemon, the full IZZE line up offers a variety of options and bold flavors to meet everyone’s desires for the summertime. Fruit juice brought to life with a splash of sparkling water, IZZE is a mouthwatering alternative to soda-free of caffeine, refined sugars and artificial flavors. Low-calorie IZZE esque, with only 50 calories per bottle, is the ideal guilt-free refreshment. For those looking to add a little more sparkle to their day, IZZE Fortified provides an extra boost of vitamins to keep you going. Whether you serve it over ice or mixed in cocktails, IZZE’s delicious flavors offer a refreshing alternative to the expected.
IZZE Lemon is available nationwide exclusively at Whole Foods Market for a limited time. Fans can pick up their other favorite IZZE flavors at retailers including SuperTarget, Wal-Mart, Kroger, Vons and Safeway as well as in select grocery stores, delis and casual and fine restaurants. To find IZZE near you, check out the Find IZZE retail locator on IZZE.com.
Join our community, like us on Facebook and follow @IZZE on Twitter to learn more about exciting IZZE news or use #GetBIZZE to join the conversation.
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About IZZE Beverage Company
IZZE Beverage Company was founded in 2002 by two friends who set out to create a distinctive natural beverage while contributing to a higher purpose and is based in Boulder, Colo. First introduced in four unique Sparkling
With flavors, IZZE has since expanded to include IZZE Fortified, low-calorie IZZE esque and IZZE Sparkling Natural Soda. It is sold nationally in Target, Starbucks and Whole Foods Market as well as in a variety of grocery stores, delis and restaurants across the country. IZZE’s philanthropic focus is to improve people’s lives through education and to encourage literacy by providing books and educational opportunities to those in need. IZZE brings this focus to life through a partnership with Global Education Fund. For more information, visit www.IZZE.com.
DPT Video Of The Day: “Bad Girl” by Donna Summer
“Toot-Toot, HAAAY, BEEP-BEEP!!”
I was in the middle of finishing up my In Memoriam post dedicated to Chuck Brown when I learned of the news of Donna Summer’s death today after a long battle against cancer. #FuckCancer
“Bad Girls” is the first song I remember hearing from Donna Summer as a small kid in the late 1970s during the waning days of Disco. I’ve always been a fan of her work. Her voice was incredible and she was an undeniable Black Beauty. Sisterhood of The Big Hair. The Queen of Disco.
I wish her a Peaceful Journey. She will forever be missed.
Chuck Brown (1936-2012)
Chuck Brown was the Greatest Black American Musician To Ever Live.
Yep. Indeed he was. And let me tell you why:
Chuck Brown, known far and wide as the Godfather of Go-Go, was the definitive pioneer of Go-Go music, a genre of Black music that is a delectable stew of funk, jazz, blues, early hip-hop in a big ol’ black African pot and unique to the D.C. area. Go-Go music is love, it’s sexy, it’s smart and it’s a party wherever you found it.
Chuck Brown is the Originator and he is the Greatest because he had the biggest hand in creating a genre of Black music that white folks have not been able to co-opt/hijack/bastardize or commodify. They couldn’t do to Go-Go music what they’ve managed to do to jazz, hip-hop/rap, R&B and rock n’ roll. That’s why Go-Go music has never gone mainstream. Because mainstream can’t take it, they don’t want it. That’s OK. We’ll keep it.
I Turned Down A Ticket To See Chaka Khan And I Am Still In Shock
This past weekend, a friend of mine sent me a text saying “I have an extra ticket to see Chaka Khan at the Howard Theatre. You wanna go?” And my face was like this:
For those of you who don’t know, Chaka Kahn is one of my FAVORITE singers of all time. Male or female. Black, white or other. She is every kind of amazing to me and has been so my entire life. In my mind, she is my Play Mama and I swear on all things holy (cinnamon bagels with no raisins, Black Sci-fi, and coconut oil) that I will be just as fabulous as she is now when I’m in my 50’s. Chaka Kahn is a Goddess.
Alas, I had to turn down the ticket. I had already made plans, with one of my closest friends with whom I don’t spend nearly enough time as it is. We weren’t doing anything special, just hanging out at a bar and doing “bar things”. But I hate to be the canceling, copping out, wishy-washy friend because I hate that more than anything from those I consider to be my friends. Besides, I had JUST been complaining about this friend doing too much canceling and copping out on me as late. I didn’t feel right leaving her high and dry after having said what about her.
I told her about it and she thinks I should have taken the opportunity to go see one my music idols at the newly reopened, historic Howard Theatre. But you know, sometimes you just gotta do the right thing. We had a great time out and I don’t regret the choice I made one bit.
~pbg
Kimberly Elise will star in my made-for-TV biopic entitled “To The Left, To The Left: For Black Girls Who Were Never Able To Center Themselves When Living On The Edge Wasn’t Enough”.
1) Realized today how thankful I am for my blonds, ‘cause I’ve got one little sister who’s giving me the business this year!
2) Hey, I like Dick Clark as much as the next person, but didn’t Barry Gordy discover the Supremes? and didn’t Ed Sullivan give the Jackson5 their first TV air time? Is America in it’s search for an icon giving dude credit where it’s not due?
3) Why is Congress talking about cutting food stamps, but not the subsidies to farmers? How ‘bout we actually pay them to GROW food so that’s PLENTIFUL so there won’t be a need to jack up the price?
4)Why has everyone gone quiet on the Trayvon Martin case? Do Black folks think it’s over just because jackass has been arrested?…….Somebody? Anybody?"
Amazing jazz playlist for your downloading pleasure.
- Herbie Hancock, Prelude in C Sharp Minor.
- Nat King Cole, An Affair to Remember.
- Miles Davis, Easy Living.
- Sarah Vaughan, April in Paris.
- Ella Fitzgerald, Isn’t It Romantic?
- Miles Davis, How Deep Is The Ocean.
- Nat King Cole, Tenderly.
- Billie Holiday, You Turn The Tables On Me.
- Lee Morgan, Since I Fell For You.
- Ray Charles, You Won’t Let Me Go.
- John Coltrane, Everytime We Say Goodbye.
- Dexter Gordon, Don’t Worry About Me.
- Aretha Franklin, Here Today & Gone Tomorrow.
- Sarah Vaughan, Glad To Be Unhappy.
- Miles Davis, Something I Dreamed Last Night.
- Ray Charles, Worried Mind.
- Billie Holiday, Say It Isn’t So.
- Thelonious Monk, Don’t Blame Me.
- Sarah Vaughan, Poor Butterfly.
- Dexter Gordon, I Should Care.
- Nina Simone, He Ain’t Coming Home No More.
- Herbie Hancock, Both Sides Now (Instrumental).
- Thelonious Monk, I Love You (Sweetest Of All My Dreams).
- Ella Fitzgerald, Blue Moon.
- Aretha Franklin, Only The Lonely.
(Source: chucklew)
Sometimes the only thing store-bought cosmetics have on their DIY counterparts is fancy packaging, with a price tag to match. The kitchen is a mostly untapped sources of prettying power at an affordable price. Plus, taking a pass on the drugstore’s unguents and ointments is an act of saying no to petroleum products. Why not stick it to the man, save valuable resources, and feel thrifty all at the same time by making these easy cosmetics out of what’s already in your fridge and kitchen cupboards?
OLIVE OIL SHAVING LOTION At Whole Foods, you can pay $6 for teeny-tiny bottles of shaving oil that work no better than a simple squirt of olive oil. Start your shave by thoroughly washing your face with warm water, then massage in the oil and shave as usual. No nicks, you end up with a nice soft face, and you don’t end up smelling like your dad’s aftershave. Works well on legs, too.
COCONUT MILK CONDITIONER Rich and emollient, coconut milk is a well known treatment for dry, damaged hair. For an intense (albeit drippy) treatment, apply up to an entire 13.66-ounce can of coconut milk to dry hair, wait one hour, then wash it out (or mix coconut milk with equal parts conditioner and use regularly). Bonus: You’ll smell like coconut.
GARLIC FOR STRONG NAILS TV’s Dr. Oz touted this home brew on his show: Finely mince one clove of garlic and add to a container of clear nail polish. Let it age for about a week, then strain and paint nails with polish. Your nails will be nearly as strong as acrylic ones. They’ll also smell like garlic.
AVOCADO FACE MASKS There’s hardly a smooth, creamy ingredient in the kitchen that can’t be turned into a mask that makes your skin glowing and soft. Avocado has the added advantage of vitamin E, the anti-aging antioxidant, and vitamin C, said to stimulate collagen production and minimize fine lines. Just mash a half cup of avocado and apply it to your face. Wait ten minutes, wash it off, and marvel.
OATMEAL LUXURY BATH Your grandmother knew that the cure for any kind of skin disturbance (dryness, chapping, eczema, rashes) called for a colloidal oatmeal bath. Even if your skin isn’t acting up, oatmeal’s moisturizing power will make your skin feel silkier. Blend 1 cup of oatmeal (any kind) in a food processor, coffee grinder, or blender to fine powder. You can then sprinkle it into a bath, or, to keep the tub tidy, put it in cheesecloth or a knotted sock to float in the water.
ROSEMARY CONDITIONER Rosemary has a great piney scent and makes a gentle conditioner that leaves hair soft and shiny. Steep 2 teaspoons of rosemary (fresh or dried) in 4 cups of water that you bring to the boil and take off the flame water for 10 minutes. Strain out the rosemary and apply the infusion to your hair (no need to rinse). You can also use this to keep your dog’s coat soft!
KOSHER SALT SCRUB Sugar is a well-known scrub in spas, but why get sticky when you can just get smooth? For oily skin, combine 2 tablespoons of semi-coarse sea or kosher salt with the juice of half a lemon; for dry skin, combine 2 tablespoons of sea salt with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Use as a scrub in the shower.
BAKING SODA FOR BLACKHEADS Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 2-3 teaspoons OF water (enough to make a thick paste). Apply this to your nose, chin, or other areas where blackheads tend to lurk. The baking soda is a mild exfoliant, helping unclog pores to prevent future blackheads and wash away the ones you already have. It also helps to balance your skin’s pH, making it look bright.
VINEGAR FOR SHINY HAIR Vinegar removes dulling conditioners and other products from your hair as well or better than any so-called clarifying shampoo you can buy. Apply half a cup of vinegar (any kind), work it through your hair, and rinse well. Your hair will be very clean and shiny, and smell faintly tangy.
BEETS FOR BRIGHT LIPS A freshly sliced raw beet, rubbed over your lips, gives them a vivid red-violet color that lasts for hours. For a lip gloss you can store in a jar, melt 1/4 cup of beeswax, remove it from the heat, and add 1/4 cup of castor oil, 2 tablespoons of sesame oil (not the toasted kind), and as much freshly squeezed beet juice as you like.
Want more tips on food-based cosmetics? Read this:
10 Cosmetic Uses for Everyday Foods
Photos by Christopher Rochelle / CHOW.com
That bamma Michael Baisden said “Men Cry In The Dark” but nawl…I know something else about those tears. Those tears attached to those powerful and overwhelming feelings. So many feelings.
If you wanna see a dude shamelessly cry out in broad daylight, just laugh at him.
Or better yet, challenge him on his bullshit.
You will see feelings spill forth like when the levees broke after Katrina.
And the real messed up part about that is…for a woman, it can be just as destructive when that happens. A woman who challenges a man risks her reputation, both professionally and personally, her relationships and even her life. Those hurt feelings could really mean death.
~pbg
So, I saw this dude tweet this the other day:
“Real women don’t mind being compared to things like rubies and diamonds because they know how valuable they are.”
But just a few days before, I saw this same dude comparing women to cars. CARS…the most immediately and rapidly depreciating items you could ever spend money on.
I swear…y’all can have these New Negroes. I have absolutely no use for ‘em.
