Celebrities Complaining About Being Isolated & Quarantined During COVID19

RANT from me:
Warning.
I am so pissed off right now!

Some celebrities are complaining that they are stuck in their homes during the COVID19 pandemic and some say that they are bored in their villas/mansions. Sorry but you are complaining about being stuck in your 6,000 to 20,000 sq feet or more mansions when you have swimming pools, hot tubs, ample space to move around to do things, movie theatres, workout rooms, game rooms, massive walk-in closets, pool tables, super expensive cars, super expensive clothing and so much more. I don’t feel for any of you at all. Try and be in people’s shoes right now and your complaining!

There are alone people in this world who are isolated, there are people who are suffering, there are homeless people out there, there are people who live paycheck to paycheck and some who are struggling to make ends meet, some people who have lost their jobs and got laid off due to this pandemic, there are people who can’t pay their bills, there are people who can’t be with their family and friends who are in hospital and YET celebrities have the audacity to complain while they are in the millions of dollars worth of mansions?

While front line workers, nurses, doctors that are pouring in their sweat, tears, exhaustion to help patients with COVID19 who are trying to save their lives, security guards, grocery workers, parents, fast food places, restaurant staff, delivery people, transit workers, pharmacists, truck drivers, post/mail servers, teachers and other essential workers out there who are busting their asses off working so hard to help YOU, who are working so hard to make sure you have food at home.

Kids who can’t go to school now, who were looking forward to seeing their friends, who were supposed to graduate, teens who are supposed to have their proms, graduation valedictorian speeches, and all these special pivotal moments, people who are supposed to have weddings, engagement parties, birthday parties, baby and bridal showers, milestone birthdays, holiday gatherings, travel plans, business trips, cruises, and all kinds of events that are canceled, and

yet Celebrities are complaining that they are bored and feel so isolated and cooped up in their HUGE ASS MANSIONS, GET OVER YOURSELVES!

Appreciate what you have, be grateful and be thankful. There are people who are dying every day from this pandemic and who are deeply suffering, there are other people who are dying from various diseases and illnesses around the world too. While you’re in your MANSIONS, there are people taking in their last breath. SO UNBELIEVABLE!

Rant Over.

NoGarlicNoOnions – Introducing Anthony Rahayel – Food, Travel Blogger

A couple of months ago, as I was going through YouTube to find some literature and information on Lebanon and Lebanese foods, I came across a video NoGarlicNoOnions, so I was intrigued and decided to click on the video that was close to an hour long, so I decided to watch the whole video, and a couple of minutes in, I became hooked, and then I watched another few following. So, these videos have been around for a few years now, and I just suddenly found this now, which is better late than never.

NoGarlicNoOnions was founded by Anthony Rahayel back in 2012. Anthony and his film crew began introducing us to Lebanese culture, food, taking us to villages, cities, and towns of Lebanon and amongst him visiting Armenia and Italy tasting all kinds of foods amongst other places he has traveled. He also travels and explores at the same time when he is tasting delicious food, that you just want to eat your screen.

Anthony’s contagious and positive approach and the way he explains how the food is made, the texture, quality is out of this world and so much fun to watch. He speaks Lebanese and also he says a few words of English as well. Thank goodness my mother and my neighbors who are my family now, translate words, phrases and sentences to me, so that I can understand what Anthony is saying and its incredible how many words and sentences I know now of Lebanese by just watching Anthony, NoGarlicNoOnions. Thanks to them all, I am more aware of what is going on when I watch.

His passion and drive toward the culinary world is extremely visible. His expression and enjoyment can be felt. He has over 2500 reviews on various topics from air travel, restaurants, gadgets, food and more.

He also goes out to search for restaurants, and small family owned eateries for them to gain exposure, so that tourists, Lebanese people who live in Lebanon and others can go to those places and support these vendors. These hidden eateries are discovered and explained so well.

NoGarlicNoOnions goes above and beyond when explaining. Thorough, detailed and never boring. When he went to Armenia especially really excited me even more about him. I am Armenian and I truly appreciate him going to visit, spending time with Armenians, tasting our food, embracing our culture and having his viewers know about Armenia and Armenians and the food. I truly appreciate him for taking the time to go there and to enjoy our Motherland. It means a lot. NoGarlicNoOnions has a special place in my heart.

You can now say that I am obsessed with Lebanon further and I have the desire to visit hearing all the stories and my desire for tasting the delicious food, desserts, ice cream, drinks, and everything. I have a lot of Facebook friends and I also have family in Lebanon as well. Anthony gave me the idea, and understanding on how Lebanon is and now I have a better picture in my mind of how it is.

Lebanon is such a beautiful country that is on my bucket list to travel to. Hopefully, in the next couple of years, my dream will come true. I hope that Anthony Rahayel will be there to give me a guided and professional tour around the beautiful country and take me to great places to eat and enjoy the ambiance of it all, to enjoy the nightlife as well.

My family and I are hooked on his videos and I have subscribed and followed all of his social media accounts online. Recently, I contacted him expressing my admiration toward him. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter and he has his own website called nogarlicnoonions.com – He also have photographs of his travel adventures, food, and so much more.

Anthony and his team have received travel, food, blogger, awards and more. Search for Anthony Rahayel and NoGarlicNoOnions and you will see what I am talking about. I am hoping that I will meet him in person. I am now a fan of him for life. Thank you, Anthony, for taking me up close and personal through videos. Hopefully, I will come and see the real deal and soon.

Following links for more information.

http://www.nogarlicnoonions.com/
https://www.facebook.com/nogarlicnoonions
http://instagram.com/nogarlicnoonions

Tweets by NoGarlicNoOnion

https://www.youtube.com/user/rahayel
https://www.zomato.com/nogarlicnoonions

Talin’s Meat Sauce for Chicken, Ribs and Pork Chops

I love sauce and dressings a lot and I love bathing my meats, salads and all that in with that. I have made my own sauces and dressings with different types of herbs, spices and people love it.

Here are one of my favourite signature sauces I made myself from scratch to pork chops/chicken/ribs and depending on how much you make. It can be a lot, but this recipe is for 4-5 people: (Bathing your meat with lots of sauce and marinating it is very important to make it tasty and tender)

Ingredients include:

2 1/2 tbsp – chicken seasoning powder
1 tsp – allspice
2 tbsp – onion powder
1 onion – red – very finely chopped into very small pieces
3 1/2 tbsp – brown sugar
3 cloves of garlic – finely chopped to very small pieces
1 tbsp – garlic powder
1 can of hot chicken sauce or poutine sauce gravy mix (you can use them for pork and ribs as well.
3 tbsp – soya sauce – light sodium

3 tbsp – mayonnaise
2 tbsp – Lemon juice
both Lemon and Mayonnaise will tenderize the meat.

Mix all ingredients together very well in a mixing bowl for about 5 minutes, making sure all ingredients are incorporated with one another. Let it sit for about 10 minutes so it can rest, and then add it to your meat and let your meat marinate for about an hour or 2. Make sure it is all covered. Put your meat in the fridge. Add all the sauce on it.

Enjoy 🙂

12 Easy Ways to Make Christmas Gatherings More Enjoyable

Christmas time is here and its coming up in a few days. I am sure by now you have finished your shopping and figuring out what to do. Here are ways to make your Christmas gatherings a fun and enjoyable one where you do not have to spend a lot of your time in the kitchen. Spend more time with your loved ones instead of being on your feet the whole time. You need to enjoy it too and not just do all the work. A helping hand does go a long way. When others ask to help you or takes the initiative, let them.

Here are the 12 Easy ways:

1. When you know you are having a big gathering at your home and invited people over, the most important thing is to do the baking and dessert’s a day or 2 before. Nothing will go wrong with it. If it needs to go in the fridge or freezer nothing will happen to it. Don’t leave to the day of.

2. The day before, set the table, cutlery, napkins, plates and add centrepieces to your table, but not too big so your food dishes can fit on the table.

3. Don’t go over crazy to cook so many different things. 4-5 different things for dinner is good enough. If you serve chicken, turkey, roast, pork chops, ham. Go with one or 2 of them from the meat list, and then choose salad and rice or whatever you want to make or whatever is part of your Christmas tradition. Plus if you want to make gravy. Cook all of this stuff except if you are making salad or rice. That can be cooked and prepared before the guests start arriving and then have all the other food cooked from the morning. It can be heated up after for 10 to 15 minutes, then you take to your table and voila. — Don’t go over the top. Chances are you will eat left overs for the next week or so. Don’t want that.

4. Putting chips, assortment of nuts(If no one is allergic), salsa, nachos, guacamole, dips, veggie platters, finger foods in the beginning will get your guests full. People will over indulge, so its not a good idea to put so many things out in the beginning. Don’t spend too much time with putting these before the hard work you went through cooking all that food for dinner. Take them out after dinner along with dessert.

5. When others bring something when it comes to food, dessert, a bottle of wine or something like a gift, It is customary and proper etiquette to open and serve them too. Unless, they advise you otherwise, then its ok to keep it for yourself to open privately, but again open whatever is brought to you and in front of the people who brought them. It makes them feel good to see your reaction.

6. have coffee/tea ready — before just add the water to the machines and measure extra water and coffee grinds on the side in case you need to make more and then just go back and press the button and then continue on entertaining your guests and spend time with them until it is done.

7. Clearing plates and everything for dinner is great, but end it there. Don’t start washing and sorting, drying and all that. It takes a lot of quality time away from your loved ones. If they want to help, that is fine. I am sure they won’t let you clear away the table all on your own. They will help with everything and bring it to the kitchen and everything else will be dealt with after.

8. When you have a lot of people, disposable cutlery and plates are the way to go. If you have more than 10 to 15 people or more, its a good idea. You don’t have to spend time washing dishes.

9. Plan the Christmas week.. Plan a day to do your grocery shopping, and then make sure you have all the ingredients needed to make it. Sometimes getting extra ingredients are better in case something goes wrong which it can in some cases. Never leave anything to the last day.

10. Be efficient and organized as well as making sure the house is clean, the kitchen and all that.

11. ***Always monitor how many drinks your guests have. Don’t let them drink and then drive later. Make sure to call taxis if need be or allow your guests that are impaired to sleep over and go home the next day or if they come with another person who has not had anything to drink, they should be the designated driver. It is your responsibility if they drink and drive because they are driving from your home. Be the elephant in the room and don’t permit them to go. Police have RIDE Spot checks out more during the holidays and don’t put yourself or others lives in danger on the roads because of a careless wrong doing***

12. breathe and don’t be stressed out. Christmas gatherings should be fun and enjoyable as it can be. Don’t panic if some things go wrong. It will be a memory you will laugh about as the years go by.

Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a blessed, happy and healthy New year of 2018!

All Inclusive Resort Guests & Their Terrible behaviour

In life after the stress of work, school and other life’s commitments in our daily lives, we look for a getaway to an All Inclusive vacation away from reality for a week or two or whatever duration. We get excited to pack up, fly to our destination and start our trip. It gets exciting up to the point where the resort guests start behaving badly, disrespecting the resort staff, showing bad manners, poor etiquette, not being courteous, littering, and showing people how unsanitary they can be.

Some people think, Oh I will never see these fellow guests again and they won’t see me so I can do what I want and act how I want. When it comes time for these people to eat and head toward their a la carte restaurants, snack bars, and the regular dining room buffet, some people start to lose their minds by cutting in front of people waiting to be served, or start touching food with their hands and handling them by putting it on their plates when they see there are utensils to pick them up with, or you see people eating food before sitting down.

You also see those people who fill their plates up to capacity and then don’t even eat more than half of it, then that food goes to the garbage. People get food more than they can handle it, and then waste it. Then people fill up drinks and only drink about a few sips and then the rest gets wasted too. Some of these guests are so wasteful and its just so unbelievable.

How about those guests who just tend to leave their cups and garbage all over the resort without putting it in proper garbage bins. Yes, I realize people are on vacation and they shouldn’t have to lift a finger, but really its disgusting having to see that from other guests who are pleasant and have manners and etiquette to proper dispose things in the right places.

These same very guests who behave badly and terribly, they are the ones then to write false reviews about the resort and how they felt very sick from the food they ate. Well, GEE, Duhhhh, when people are rooting around the food in the buffet with their germ full and bacteria full of hands and then their germs gets transmitted onto the food, then the next person touches that food and then boom a food borne illness because of another person’s thoughtless and manner less act another person has to suffer the consequences, and then who gets the blame? The All Inclusive Resort does, and then you see the travel reviews bad mouthing a great resort.

I mean come on! There is a common sense and being courteous to others. There are utensils on everything at the buffet, it is there for a reason for guests to use it. I think that all resorts need to have mandatory hand sanitizing stations at all entry and exit points of every restaurant, snack bars, and everywhere. You never know where people’s hands have been.

Then there are those guests whom dirty up the resort so much, it is unbelievable. some of these guests act like slobs. The cleaners of the resort cannot keep up. Give the staff some slack. It is a big resort with a lot of walking and cleaning up. I am sure you do not do this in your own house.

I feel like some of these guests at these resorts are getting worse. It is very disgusting how they act and I have seen it countless amounts of times. Especially in the last 3-4 years.

I always pick up after myself and I dispose my garbage in the proper places. I don’t just leave things and then walk away. That is not how I was raised. I believe that people need to really develop proper etiquette and then come to vacation to these places. It is not right to litter and destroy a resort’s reputation by the actions of guests who behave terribly.

I never believe in traveler reviews, and I never believe in what people tell me about a resort. I will go and judge it for myself. Everyone has their own opinions and the way they see things. I will not read and waste my time on resort review sites online. I know more then 95% of it is a lie, because I go to a lot of resorts and I see what people do and it is not the staff’s fault.

Resort staff work so hard and sweat. I see them running through to make sure things are great. I would like to see guests in their position to have to handle a huge resort and then after being disrespected and yelled at. If the roles were reversed, how would you be feeling after a long day or night?

I am really trying to put into words on why guests do these things? I don’t understand this at all. It is really ridiculous. I just hope that resort chains see this and really implement these changes and add security and health and safety staff especially around restaurants and other places that handle food and drinks. I am just thinking about the safety and security of all guests and I want people to enjoy and yet to think about other people too and not be selfish.

I just want guests to really think about what they do before they do it. I know you are there to relax, have fun, enjoy and all that, but there is a limit and there is a way to act. Just because you are not in a reality setting, it doesn’t mean that you can gallivant and act ridiculously. I just hope people realize that and change their attitudes and respect resort staff and other guests.

That is all for now, but if you would like an Honest opinion and someone who doesn’t lie about reviews, and want travel tips? Please contact me and I will help you. I am honest to everyone and I will not lie about a review that is for sure. What you see and what you read about my travel experiences is what you get.

 

Los Angeles Here I come for the 3rd Time!

In my whole life, I dreamt about going to Los Angeles and Hollywood, California. It was my first time in October 2012, and I must say I did choke up and was so teary. I Saw the Hollywood sign and I just lost it. I just couldn’t believe what I was looking at. Since I was a child looking at movies, television, ads in the paper, travel ads, magazines, entertainment stuff, and all I saw was LA, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and of course; the Hollywood sign. I knew where the celebrity central and the biggest entertainment capital of the world is.

As I was approaching the Hollywood sign above the Griffith Observatory, I cried up a storm. I was an emotional wreck. All my dreams of going to Los Angeles came true. I couldn’t believe I was close to all the stars, seeing the Hollywood Walk of Fame with all the artists, entertainers, then ending up right outside Jimmy Kimmel’s show studio set. Then seeing Capitol Records, and all these entertainment broadcasting corporation buildings. Then I saw the Iconic 405 Freeway everyone was talking about. They say that it was such terrible traffic and you are so right. So many lanes and still lots of traffic. Even the carpool lane didn’t make any difference.

In my mind, I was thinking of all the award shows, the red carpet, and I was keeping my eyes peeled and had my eyes everywhere with the hopes that I would meet a celebrity. That was highly unlikely, but It could happen and it has happened.

Anyway, my 2nd trip to Los Angeles was in May 2015, where we went through Santa Monica Beach where we hung out for a bit, then driving through Beverly hills. Seeing these huge houses where majority of them are covered in high bushes and trees, and a lot of the celebrities live there. You would see the home cleaners park their cars outside on the road, and them coming out with buckets, mops and other cleaning products, then you would see super expensive cars. This time, I did see Actor Hugh Jackman drive a black Porsche. It was definitely him. I can tell for sure. Then I looked online and it was true. We also traveled to Fresno, San Francisco, Drove on the Pacific Coast Highway, went to Newport Coast, Newport Beach.

My 3rd Los Angeles trip will be in about 3-4 months from now. I am excited to spend about 10-11 days there. I am definitely going to other parts of LA such as Pasadena, Glendale, Malibu, La Crescenta, and so many other places. I have a lot of time now to plan and I am going to be so organized. Gotta love LA. I cannot believe in just 3-4 years, I will have gone 3 times. I did not go all my life. I am really excited to be amongst the stars again.

I can’t wait to indulge into In-N-Out burger, and also the Famous Oscars Pizza Guy Edgars Pizza. Big Mamas and Papas, and amongst other great restaurants I have heard about.  I hope to see Ellen Degeneres, go to Warner Bros, CBS Studios, NBC Universal and more.

I just want to Meet Bradley Cooper, Jason Statham, Chris Hemsworth, and Channing Tatum. 🙂 Hopefully, will bump into them at LAX Airport or down a street walking or something. Now that would be awesome. I can hardly wait!

Eating Healthy is becoming Impossible

In the last little while, as I have been venturing off to the grocery store to do my weekly shopping for food and other necessities for the home, I have noticed that eating healthy is becoming impossible with the huge price hike of fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods. It has been absolutely crazy.

Doctors, dietitians, health pros keep telling us to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, but they should also realize that groceries are not cheap anymore. Many years ago, it was decent, you could go a long way to stretch your dollar, but now food, cost of living is increasing. People have to work harder to make a buck, and that is just ridiculous.

I do not care, food should never be expensive and on top of all that, people need to pay food tax too. Some people are buying less healthy foods in other aisles of what they can afford. I remember one time I was shopping at my local store, and I was in the canned food aisle with the high sodium soups and those ready made noodle ramen soups as well as pasta and rice and all that, also aisles with sugar based foods, I couldn’t help overhearing these 2 people talking to each other saying, “I have been trying to get healthy, but I cannot afford it, the prices for healthy food is insane, so to feed my family, I have to do anything and everything, so I got to do what I can”. It broke my heart. Life has become so difficult. It is unbelievable.

These governments and those who control the prices for our food, should think about all the people that need to dig into their pockets a lot more, but I do not think they care about people at all, as long as they make the money, who cares the health condition of people?

If all these professionals are promoting and expecting us to eating healthy, then they should back us up and offer us coupons, or better yet to work with the government and these food companies, farms that these veggies and fruit come from to come up with a plan that healthy eating is important and where obesity, overweight people can be motivated more when they see prices becoming more reasonable.

For cauliflower now, it is at a staggering $6.00, then for apples it is almost $4.00 for the bag, and there the total is now $10 just for 2 items. For a bag of onions is like $3.50, for red, orange, and yellow peppers is $2.97 a pound. So on and so forth. So with tax and everything it comes up to $20 or more for those things. fruits and veggies should not be more than 1 dollar or $1.50 at the most. They are fooling us.

No wonder why people are so stressed out. I am planning on setting up a petition online to decrease prices for food and to encourage people to eat healthier.

What do you think about it?

Talin’s Mouth-watering 2 Layer Penne Lasagna

I know you are probably thinking Penne Lasagna? I’ve made that possible. Who says that you always need to put Lasagna dough sheets to make Lasagna? Not to me. As long as you have Pasta Noodles of any kind that is large to mid size. I am not saying the Acini De Peppe, Orzo, and small noodles you use for soup and all that. I am saying Penne, Spaghetti, even Rotini. I have tried, tested and tasted. It is delicious! Well, let’s get started.

Depending on the number of people that you are serving in your family or your friends. It is in your preference.
This is for a family or friends of 4 or 5.

You will need:

– 900g of Penne Rigate Package (depends on your pan size as well and number of people)
– **Onions or Garlic are Optional. (It is your choice)**
– Oregano
– Basil
– Tomato Paste
– Tomato’s
– Mozzarella Cheese
– Parmesan Cheese
– Cottage Cheese
– Extra Lean Ground Beef
– Sea Salt – (Never use table salt) **To your added preference**
– Grinded Black cracked Pepper
– All Spice

To begin:

1) Mash the extra Lean Ground beef into small pieces, cook it well done in a pan. That is where you will add just the Tomato Paste and Sea Salt. add about 4tblsp full of tomato paste and 1 and a half tsp of sea salt. (Add water, but not too much) You do not want your Lasagna to be Soggy. Add just enough to mix the tomato paste with them together.

2) In a separate small mixing bowl add 1 tbsp Oregano, as well as Basil, and all spice – Mix them together

3) Wash and Slice 4 fresh tomato’s – use Tomato on a Vine or Roma Tomatoes. put them aside.

4) In a mixing bowl add the grated Mozzarella Cheese and Cottage cheese. Mix it together.

To make the Penne:

1) Make sure you put a little more than half a large pot of water

2) Boil the water and put Sea Salt and as soon as it boils, add the Penne. (Never put any kind of noodles in a non-boiled water, it will stick to the bottom of the pot and stick to the other noodles)

3) Immediately stir the Penne so that all the noodles will become tender evenly and keep mixing ever 2-3 minutes. Let it boil on medium heat for about 10 minutes. If it needs more time, then go to about 11-12 minutes. MAX. (Do not overcook and make it mushy. Take it out while it’s al dente)

4) Drain and set aside to make 2 equal parts of the Penne Rigate, but first Mix the ground beef/tomato paste mix with the penne before Parting them. Add the Oregano, Basil and All spice mix with them as well.
In a Medium to Large Pyrex Pan:

1) Add cooking oil spray to the whole pan.

2) Add the first layer of the Penne and even it out.

3) Add the cheese mix – then Put Parmesan Cheese

4) Add the layer of the Tomato’s

– **for the Last layer – Repeat Steps 2-4 but add #4 first, then #3– Add the Parmesan Cheese last.

—————————–

Oven Settings:

– Bring the Oven to Convection – to 375 degrees before you put the Lasagna in.

– Let it cook for 30 Minutes

and there you have it.
Penne Lasagna. Bon Appetit! Enjoy!

Black Friday Ridiculousness

There are several reasons why I do not encourage and support Black Friday, Boxing Day, and whatever shopping days there are and I think it is absolutely ridiculous. What I don’t understand is that after Thanksgiving or any other occasions like after Christmas as well some people go out the next day forgetting everything and take advantage of Black Friday sales. I think it is hypocritical because just the day before everyone sits around the table being thankful for family, friends, food, and everything around us and you see people writing twitter tweets and Facebook status messages saying that the important thing is family and friends to get together and they also say, it is not the things that matter in life and how we should be thankful every day, then you see the same people out the next day doing the complete opposite.

Are people so dependent on materialism? I think so and I know so. When it is evident that some people in the world do not have anything, that they are in absolute desperation, but still manage and continue to survive and when there are people that are just barely getting by.

Another part of all this Black Friday ridiculousness is that, people line up for hours and days in front of retail stores just so that they can get their hands on a stinking product first and so that they can brag on their social media news feeds and to their family and friends on saying “Hey I got this awesome big screen TV”, or this awesome new cell phone or whatever else. They will stand and freeze and do anything they can to get their hands on anything regardless of weather conditions and whatever else. I think that is absolutely absurd and sad on many levels.

I would rather go shopping when I absolutely need something. I don’t go shopping for the sake of going shopping and blow all my money on unnecessary things.

Some people’s actions are selfish and acting like children starting unnecessary fights in retail stores just for the sole purpose of buying something where you can get it another day. Some people will get injured, have cuts, and get arrested and thrown out of stores. People get tackled, pushed, shoved, bud in line, swear at people, throw punches at each other just so that they can have materialistic satisfaction no matter what cost. It is not only immature behavior but disgusting as well.

People have to stop this utter stupidity. All people are doing is making corporations richer and these corporations are attracting sales so people dig into their pockets further. These are business tactics so that people can rush to the stores and cause all this attention and ruckus. So ridiculous. Some people have become so spoiled, that they don’t even care. Be content and satisfied with what you have.

What is your opinion on all of this?
Have you witnessed it?

A Day In The Life in Cuba – The Reality

In life, one of the most incredible experiences is travel. I believe that when you travel to see the world, different lifestyles, realities, different people, places is something that is such a great thing. You become more aware, educated, informed and get in touch with your personal self to get a better understanding than what you hear in the media and pictures, also to change your perspective on things of the way your life is and in your own backyard to appreciate, count our blessings, and to be grateful for everything you have in life where others are less fortunate and do not have much. For example, in Cuba.

I have traveled to Cuba 13 times in my lifetime. I have traveled almost all over the island and have seen cities, and towns along the way. I have spent time with the locals, and met families, and have seen the way people live their day to day lives with the bare minimum. Some people make about $12.00 – $30.00 a month. Maximum 35 if they are lucky. Most people work in the resorts and touristic parts, some who are teachers, doctors, room makers, cleaners, bartenders and more.

A lot of people nowadays are so picky about what they want to eat, some people have a fridge full of food, pantries full, stomachs full, and they still are trying to figure out what to make. I admit, I am one of them, but It is really an eye-opener when you see the world. Not only in pictures, but when you see it with your own eyes. That is a whole new ball game. Well, some people in this world unfortunately do not have that option. Cuban people get a certain amount of food per month or every 2 weeks and that they need to space out how much food to eat during the day, some have to struggle to make their own food.

As I was going through towns from Cayo Santa Maria, back to Santa Clara where the airport is to come back home, I saw some of the most saddest things I had ever seen, there are run down buildings that look like they will collapse any minute, people walking around the streets with heavy bags, people cutting grass with machetes or some sort of cutter, some people going somewhere with horses, busted up cars, and it just made me tear up and think to myself, how can people live like this day in and day out? I teared up and so did the person who was sitting next to me and I overheard 2 ladies behind me saying that, we shouldn’t complain anymore and be choosy about everything we have. This really opened up my eyes one of the ladies said, and the friend of hers or whoever it was said, yes that’s true, you are right.

I have been through towns and cities in Cuba, and some of the conditions of the homes the Cuban people live are terribly sad. It breaks my heart. They don’t have proper windows, the roofs of some of the houses are coming apart, a lot of the houses are the size of a 14 to 17 foot place and some of the houses are even smaller than that. Can you imagine a family of 5 living there? Well, I met this family of 5 and they live in such a small house and they have to go outside of the home to use the toilet and to shower they have buckets inside the house and there is running water outside, so they have to go out to get running water then come back to wash up inside where there is just a drain.

In Cienfuegos, Cuba when I went. I had met an entertainer and then he invited my family and I over to his house, so the next day we took the taxi over to his place. We met his family and I remember how hospitable they were with us and so friendly. So, we took them a few items we do not need anymore and they were so happy. So the mother of the entertainer made us a whole table full of food, and started preparing the day before when the entertainer told them we are coming over. The dinner we had was so delicious and it was probably their months worth of food for us for that night. It was done without our knowledge or else we would have refused and if we did, they would get offended, so we ended up eating all of it as we were hungry. They then served us coffee and then we went back to the hotel.

They were so incredibly friendly and we got to see how they lived the whole day. They struggle so much with the deplorable conditions they live in. Some places though are really nice. It depends on the monthly salary as well. Again, I came to my resort and I just thank my lucky stars. I showed a few Cubans my pictures from my Camera, and they have never even seen an airplane in their lives, they have never even seen a camera, let alone the type of clothing I was wearing. It absolutely broke my heart to pieces.

I will continue to visit Cuba. I really like the people there and they are so friendly, witty and energetic, but for some people you can see the sadness and depression in their faces and you can tell some of them don’t have much, and some show they are happy, but they are not. The desperation can be seen. They love it when you give them shoes, clothing and anything else. For these people I will donate and give them the shirt off my back. Put yourself in their shoes and see what its like, but some people don’t realize.

I see them working so hard at the resorts, non-stop and they have to travel long ways to make a Buck which is a Peso there. There are people who come to these resorts who travel there, and I see how rude the guests can be to them and waste so much food on their plates, demand things from them. I mean at the end of the day, they are human beings just like us and deserve to be treated with respect and to have patience. Those Cubans see it and they said, I wish I had this much food at my home and I can see the frustration and sadness in their eyes. I am very observant when I travel. Some of these tourists don’t realize that, however I do and I am compassionate and patient with them. I put myself in their shoes and I go from there.

Moral of the story is that you should always be thankful for what you have. You never know what someone else is going through and people in this world do not have anything, so we must stop begging for more, being desperate for buying the next newest and latest smartphones, or super expensive things that really suit no purpose in life. Some people are so spoiled to the fullest extent. It is unbelievable. We should always count our lucky stars because people in this world aren’t so lucky.

Have you been to Cuba or anywhere else and have seen the way people live?

Do you travel to other destinations to see other peoples reality and what it is like?

Would love to hear from you.

Picky Food Eaters – This is an Eye-Opener

There is something that I need to address. Everyday it is a struggle to figure out what to cook, and there are those who ask, “What are you cooking today?” “We are eating that again?” “Why don’t you make this instead?” “I don’t like this, I don’t like that”, well some people do not know how hard it is, especially when it comes to picky eaters, those who waste so much food and those who don’t like to eat many things.

People have no right to complain, and also there are so many people in this world who go to bed hungry, who do not have sufficient amount of food to feed their families, malnutrition, and can barely get enough bread and butter on the table. Some people in impoverished countries and in our own backyards struggle with that and some people live off only a small quantity of food per month and even worse starve to death in this world.

I know due to certain health restrictions and non-permissible foods in someones diet or allergies or illnesses, irritants to someone which is understandable, but other than that people should not make a fuss over what to consume.

Because some people have resources and ample amount of choices of food and an array of ingredients to cook with and our fridge, freezers and tummies are always full and that is how picky eating comes to play. In life growing up if we did not eat the food our parents, grandparents made for us, and if we were fussy and picky, we would be sent to our rooms or somewhere without eating. People should not complain at all for food.

Just take a closer look to people who do not have that necessity or barely. What are they supposed to say? People should be fortunate and thankful that they do have that necessity, however some people take it for granted and are not thankful. This is really an eye-opener and our attitudes, pick and choosiness and other Things need to change in the world for the better.

Now to my readers,

Do you have picky eaters at home? would love to read what you have to think about all this.

It all starts with how we implement change in our society.

Not a Big Fan of Microwaves and the Recipes with it.

In my life, one of the many joys I have is cooking with pots, pans, wok’s, Pyrex and all those cookware products, and making things from scratch on a stove top or putting it right into the oven or toaster oven. I prepare food in healthy and great ways to ensure that my loved ones get the proper nutrition and everything. One thing that I am not a big fan of is Microwave recipes and things to heat up in there. I seldom heat up a hot beverage or something along the lines of that during the winter months, but other than that, I resort to other cooking methods as stated above.

I used to buy microwave popcorn a lot many years ago, but then I heard the harmful chemicals and ingredients used in the bag and the popcorn itself got my stomach churning and thinking, Oh my goodness I used to eat that and all those chemicals went into my body? After that, I refrained from purchasing them, and I invested into a popcorn making machine and now I make popping corn from scratch.

I know some people have no choice in using it because they either have to heat up food that you take to at your work’s cafeteria/lunch room, or when there is a child or children in you’re household to heat up their food instantly and feeding them, or when you have guests over or whatever the case maybe. It is okay, no problem.

The ample amounts of stories and articles I have read about microwaves make me think twice even three times when it comes time to use it. I have heard the radiation that gets onto the food or the unhealthy rays that come from it and then to consume it. I can really do without that appliance. Nothing beats a real home-cooked meal without having to use recipes of microwave use.

Do you use microwaves?
Or would you rather use natural pot/pan cooking and heating methods?
What do you feel about them?

Overpriced Concession’s At Movie Theater’s

In our life, some of us enjoy movies, entertainment, seeing the new films that are out, venturing out to the movie theater either alone, with someone, some people and groups. Now, as we go to the movies, we tend to make a stop at the concession stands where the workers serve popcorn, drinks, candy, nachos, hot dogs, poutine, and among other foods. I understand that they need to generate money to cover costs of the grounds, facilities and the theatres, however it is outrageous and so overpriced.

I am an avid movie goer and most of the time, I satisfy my cravings with going into my pocket to purchase concession’s, and it gets so expensive. For a popcorn combo with drink, and candy comes to over $16.00, $20.00, $28.00 or more if you do not have the points card or some discount card. It is outrageous to pay 5-6 dollars for drinks, 5-7 dollars for Popcorn, and about 5 bucks for candy, 10 dollars for nachos and drink. It is absolutely ridiculous to be spending that much money for those things where it should not be more than 5-6 bucks at the most for drink and popcorn together. Never mind the candy.

Yesterday, I had gone to the movies and satisfied my cravings yet again. I had bought popcorn, drink and candy combo, and as I was eating it in the movie theatre while watching the trailers, the movie, I kept thinking to myself, why I need to pay so much money for Popcorn? It is not expensive when you buy it from the grocery store. So, I got home everything was ok, in the early morning hours around 5:30am, I had woken up and I got so sick. I ended up vomiting.

The problem was that I think the Popcorn they gave me was sitting around for a while maybe and nobody was buying it. I saw a whole bunch of already prepared popcorn bags and I thought they had made it fresh as they were putting them in the popcorn stand, and so I made sure that my popcorn was fresh and they said that it was, so I believed them. I went ahead and bought it and went on my way into the theater. Anyway, this morning I was so sick and I also got Diarrhea from it and I was so awful. I decided that I will no longer be purchasing anything from the concession stand.

I also filed a complaint to the movie theatre, and I feel like there will be nothing done about it and I will not be getting compensated as they didn’t seem to care at all. All day I have been feeling weird since my morning incident, but I am a lot better than I was. I felt like I was almost going to go to the hospital, so as the hour went by, I felt better, so I did not need any medical attention and I drank water and took breath mints and I was good.

So as a movie goer, I will just be purchasing my movie ticket and then I will not go near the concession stand. I will not risk my health and get sick again. A word of advice, please make sure your popcorn is freshly popped right before your eyes and you witness it coming out freshly and right into your bag and make sure all other foods are freshly made and prepared. It is in your right to ask that as you will be consuming it.

I don’t have a problem with paying for the movie, but I have a problem paying a lot just to eat popcorn and all that. Well, no more. They lost me as a customer at the concessions.

Have you had a terrible experience in the aftermath of eating movie theater food?
Do you agree that concession movie theater food is so expensive?

Would love to hear from you.

Party or Function Table Etiquette

Have you been to parties and functions where appetizers, the main course and other foods are put on the table and you see some inconsiderate people who take a huge chunk out of the food on that plate that is put on the table and by the time the plate comes to you, you have nothing left or a small bit that barely goes down your throat?

I have been to numerous amounts of parties and functions especially weddings or something where I have witnessed that happen all too much. Not only observing on my table, but others around too. Some people do not think of the other people who are sitting on the same table as them and think they are the only ones with eating the food. I find that to be very selfish and a terrible trait. People paid to eat and have fun, and those who are hungry. It is not nice to hog the food.

The people who plan these functions make/order only enough food to last for each person. I know that it is good to carry extra supply of the food that is being provided in case people ask for more, but whatever is put on the tables, people should be mindful and think of others as well, but unfortunately that is not the case over 90% of the time. maybe more.

It has happened to me a lot. I am usually the one to pass around the plates as respect and thinking of others before I serve myself. As the plate began circling around and came back to me of 9 people and I am the 10th, It either had nothing left or a very small speck of it when the whole plate was so full. I was so mad and I felt weird asking the server for more of that food, where they had put enough to last the whole table. I try not to make a big fuss about it, but it is a big fuss. It is disrespectful, inconsiderate and absolutely terrible to do that. Some people’s eyes are bigger than their stomach.

I see peoples eyes jump at the food as soon as the host of the party or function says its okay to eat, or after a prayer or something. People jump at the food before its okay to do so. Some people look and act like they have never seen food or ate it before. They become so wild that they don’t even acknowledge others around them.

To learn proper etiquette is to take small portions of each item and allow others to have a chance to eat it. Some people may skip that certain type of food, but again its good to ask, “are you sure you do not want it”? if the response says, “yes I am sure I do not want it, you can have it”, then you take it, but other than that it is not fair for people who want them.

So, next time you go to a function or party, just watch and observe your table and the way people take their food and how much of it and you will see what I am talking about. People may not even pay attention to those details, but it is important to learn from mistakes and correct them. Etiquette is so important that some people do not take seriously and who do not respect it. Etiquette and manners are crucial and so imperative to have and possess.

Just look out and see.

The Importance of Water – Our Natural Resource

Water is so important in our lives and vital part of it, and where water is scarce, some people in the world do not have clean drinking water, who do not have access to showers on a daily basis, in other places water is limited and come from wells, and replenished by trucks.

When I was in California when we were driving through Visalia, Tulare, Bakersfield, Fresno, on Highway 99 and inland of California plus other places, I saw big signs saying “No, Water, No Jobs”, and the crops, vegetables, trees, grass, fruits that are shipped across North America are crying for water and are crying for rain. I can see how dry the land is, grass and some trees have turned blonde/yellow and desperately need rain to liven up the soil and crops. By the time the produce makes it to us, the flavour and freshness changes a lot. There is a lot of farm land in California and passed by hundreds and thousands probably.

We are very lucky to have our water resources, where other places are in desperate need. In areas of California they are so strict about watering lawns, taking long showers, continuously keeping the water on while washing dishes, washing cars, and driveways. I heard they authorities are fining people if caught. I have always heard the severity and the shortage in California, but actually witnessing it in person is absolutely terrible.

Keep showers short, turn off the water when brushing your teeth, Do not keep the water running in the sink when using the washroom (people do that and I have seen it in public restrooms), and do not use it to water your lawn much. If you know it rains in your areas, Let mother nature take its course.  Inform your family and friends and always remind them to use water wisely.

Use water responsibly and do not waste it. It is a very precious resource of our world. Water is life.