Happy Easter 2019

Adorable homemade chick buns made by
myself and my mother.

Easter is a holiday which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Following his crucifixion, this world-renowned Christian holiday commemorates the Passion of Christ. Eastertide embraces a tradition that has become quite the custom in Christian households around the world. 

Primarily family, friends and over loved ones get together to decorate eggs, which symbolize an empty tomb. And in case you are wondering what the empty tomb is, it is the tomb of Jesus Christ. After his body was placed inside the tomb, days later the body was not found. It was reported that several women witnessed his resurrection shortly after.

In addition to coloring eggs, family and friends have a wonderful dinner to celebrate Easter. They also enjoy candy, primarily chocolate Easter bunnies and Cadbury eggs to celebrate the day. Although I must admit, I am a huge fan of any candy from the Kinder brand including Ferrero Roche, as in my opinion, they are some of the best.

Today, I had a wonderful meal with family and friends. As a vegetarian, I was able to enjoy a homemade vegan roast (which I made myself with the help of my mother), as well as, the basic dishes you can enjoy during any Easter meal including mashed potatoes and corn. 

I haven't had the chance to eat any chocolate yet, but managed to enjoy some flavorful fruit salad and some lemon cream pie. 

Well, I better get offline. I keep looking at my phone relentlessly, contemplating whether or not I want to play PUBG. I think I may just wait though and eat more food. What do you think? 

From my home to your home-Happy Easter! 

Prince died three years ago today

Prince, one of the most decorated artists in the history of music passed away three years ago today on April 21, 2016. I was at the Body Shop Fitness Centers gym in Payette, Idaho working out when I first heard the news. The radio playing in the gym started to play nothing but Prince tunes, as the radio disc jockeys reminisced what he did for music. 

I have been a fan of Prince for pretty much my entire life. I remember listening to his music and finding myself looking forward to hearing more. The first song I ever heard of him was "U Got The Look" before hearing "Lets Go Crazy" and finding myself really loving his music. 

If you could fuse Freddie Mercury into James Brown with a hint of George Clinton, Elvis and Jimmi Hendrix, you would have Prince. He always added a little more funk and soul to make it rock and it roll. 

Some of my favorite songs include: Gold, Baby I'm A Star, P Control, Computer Blue, Purple Rain, U Got The Look, Delirious, When Doves Cry, Darling Nikki, Controversy, Pop Life, Get Off, Cream, Batdance and Raspberry Beret. 

To listen to my rendition of Purple Rain, simply watch/listen to the video above. If it doesn't play, just click here right now. To listen to this song with LaShonda (ChocolateRocker) click here. 

Gone, but never forgotten. Music never does, as the soul never does too.

Rest in Paradise Prince

Remembering the Oklahoma City bombing 14 years later

On April 19, 1995 one of the worst terrorist attacks happened in the United States of America-the Oklahoma City bombing. Killing at least 168 people and injuring more, this attack remains not only one of the worst in the United States, but the deadliest act of domestic terrorism.

The Oklahoma City bombing was created and perpetrated by former US Army veteran Timothy McVeigh and his accomplice Terry Nichols. As a huge supporter of the militia movement, McVeigh and Nichols detonated a rental truck full of explosives in front of the Albert P. Murrah Federal Building. Causing almost $700 million worth of damage, many laws were passed shortly after this tragedy occurred. What started as just hate for the United States government turned deadly 14 years ago-today.

I was a little girl when this happened, but remembered this story being all over the news the day it did happen. And although I was too young to understand why this event occurred, I found myself understanding more shortly after. 

The victims of this tragedy will forever remain in the hearts of many. Some only 3 months old like little Gabreon Bruce to others who have lived most of their lives like 73 year old Dr. Charles Erwin Hurlburt, this sad day will be remembered forever. My prayers and condolences go out to their family, friends and other loved ones who have suffered as a result of their deaths and those still suffering today. 

Although Timothy McVeigh was put to death via lethal injection on June 11, 2001, his accomplice Terry Nichols remains incarcerated at the ADX Florence Penitentiary in Fremont County, Colorado. 

A day that will be forever be remembered as the worst day in Oklahoma City's history. A day that will be remembered forever. 

Remembering my cat Murphy two years later

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of my dear cat Murphy's death. As many of you are already aware, Murphy died two years ago today on April 19, 2017, in my arms. After suffering from several problematic health issues, my cat left the world unexpectedly, leaving me devastated. You can read my original blog post here regarding what happened. 

She brought so much joy and happiness to my life as a cat companion. She and I traveled often. My life was never a dull moment with her, as she always made life exciting. Although some may say "she's just a cat" Murphy was much more. She was family.

Murphy was one of a kind. And as I will always remember her life, I will never forget the joy she brought into mine. She will be forever missed. 

Listen to my rendition of Memory in honor of her. Just click here now. Gone, but never forgotten. I will always love you, Murphy. 

Murphy Afshar (2003-2017)

Black Smoothie

After a long day at the office, I decided that I wanted some food bliss. I was craving a smoothie, especially something cold so I took the liberty of heading to my kitchen to make one of the most amazing smoothies I have ever consumed, the black smoothie. You are probably wondering "what on earth is a black smoothie?" as it is quite a rarity in the world of healthy drinks. A black smoothie is basically a mixture of only few fruits and ingredients, with the main ingredient being activated charcoal. 

So, I basically added fresh golden pineapple to my Cuisinart blender followed by golden mango and peaches. Then, I added some activated charcoal followed by some sea buckthorn berries, organic sugar cane juice, Vita Coco coconut water and some ice. 

This smoothie totally exceeds in my expectations, as it is extremely delicious. It is also modestly filling and gives me a much needed boost. The black smoothie is truly one I think I will make more often. 

Activated charcoal is not absorbed by the body, so it basically traps and eliminates all toxins in your body. This powerful antioxidant basically grabs the bad molecules in our bodies, traps them and eliminates them. 

Incredible right? 

Activated charcoal is extremely beneficial to health, as the benefits are endless. It is great for those of you with stomach and gut issues, including those of you with digestive and gas issues. It is amazing for those of you who suffer from kidney issues including those of you who suffer from kidney stones. It lowers cholesterol levels and is great if you have high cholesterol. It helps with those of you who suffer from potent and strong body odor. Another great use is insomnia, as this powerful holy grail can help you get more sleep at night. It helps those of you who suffer from any skin issues such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. And it also helps to whiten your teeth. 

Some people actually consume activated charcoal if they intend to get drunk, as most believe this cult-classic staple is great for hangover prevention. Personally, I've never tried this as I don't drink often. And as you may or may not already be aware, it is used in hospitals for people who have overdosed on drugs and/or poisons, as it works to attack and eliminate them in the body. Additionally, activated charcoal helps work as a natural water filter and works to remove fluoride and various forms of bacteria. 

Although I am not vegan (at least at the moment, I currently identify as vegetarian) I have been eating vegan for about three days and this smoothie is a great addition to virtually any vegan and/or raw vegan diet. It is also great for fruitarians also. 

Mango Spring Smoothie

I just got home from a long day and the first thing I started craving was a delicious mango. As the national fruit of India, mangoes are quite possibly one of the most cultivated fruits in the world today. I love them in an array of dishes, especially sweet, savory and fruitful dishes. 

Today, I wanted to make a simple smoothie with just mango, ice and Vita Coco coconut water, which is what I did. I didn't add any sugar to this nor any other ingredient. I added these ingredients to my Cuisinart blender. 

Mangoes are very nutritional. Often dubbed the "King of all fruits" in India, this cult-classic staple is one of the healthiest foods can ever put in your mouth. 

Why?

Mangoes contain a natural form of "zeaxanthin" which is a powerful antioxidant which corrects, protects and prepares your eyes from harmful UVA/UVB rays. It also works to protect your eyes from various environmental stressors and DNA damage. And because of their vitamin A amount, mangoes are great for overall eye health.

This powerful fruit is infused with a lot of Vitamin K which is extremely vital in bone health. Low Vitamin K intake is associated with poor circulation, blood clots (including disorders such as Anemia) and stress fractures. Lack of Vitamin K is associated with poor bone mass and strength. To prevent these problematic issues, mangoes are one thing you should eat everyday.

Collagen is extremely vital. Vitamin C essentially helps in assisting collagen to build itself in the body. Excluding the 16 types of collagen, the most popular and important are type I, II and III; with I and III being important for the hair, skin and nails. Eating mangoes can help aid in hair health, skin health and nail health. 

Amazing right?

Additionally, eating a mango also helps with heart disease, in both prevention and restoration. It also helps with those of you who suffer from type 2 diabetes. And it helps with boosting immunity. By consuming this fruit, you can also boost your mental health and well being, as it helps with eliminating depression. Eating mangoes also helps with those of you with digestive issues. 

I am going to drink my smoothie now. Have a wonderful evening.

Why I support Kim Kardashian and her dream of becoming a lawyer

Kim Kardashian West has made headlines lately, as she announced that she wants to become a lawyer. A lot of people are attacking her all over social media and I cannot understand why. Perhaps it is not my duty to understand those who I am nothing like nor is it my duty to celebrate their hateful comments. I cannot understand why no one is happy for this woman and her dream job. 

Kardashian wants to take the bar exam by 2022, as this has been a long term goal for the reality star. Her father was known as one of the greatest litigators ever in the state of California, so it is evident by her reasons for wanting to practice law stem from him as the source of inspiration. 

A lot of people are questioning how it is possible to become an attorney with barely any education let alone academic credentials, as most attorneys attend law school for years before ever practicing. Although the vast majority of status quo who want to become attorneys attend law school, there are quite a few who do not. Back in the 1700's, most lawyers started out as novitiates. 

So because this study still applies today, Kardashian would only be required to less than two years of college, but she would need to take the CLEP (or College Level Examinations Program) tests and score a 50 or higher. These tests are administered by the college board and have quite a few requirements. Additionally, Kim would have to take two additional exams that are related to one of the following subjects: Business, Composition and Literature, History and Social Science, Foreign Language, Mathematics and Science. She would have to pass these exams with a grade of 50 or higher to practice law. 

The state of California supports this type of studying. Additional states include: Virginia, Vermont and Washington. These four states are the only states which allow this. This level of study is a little out of the box and if I am being honest, a little unorthodox; however, it is effective and shouldn't hinder one from being successful in this field. 

Although Kim Kardashian West should have no issues getting clients, there will be many that object simply because they don't support this her credentials and want someone with more experience, etc. I believe; however, Kim will do just fine. She wants to step into her father's shoes and has every right to do so. 

I support anyone with a goal and I believe everyone has the right to achieve it, as I believe everyone deserves to be happy in whatever profession they choose. I think it would be fantastic to see her very successful with this, especially this field of study. 

2019: Happy National Beer Day

Today is officially National Beer Day. As you may or may not already be aware, beer day is held annually every year on April 7th. Primarily made up of hops, barley, yeast and water, beer is clearly the most popular alcoholic beverage in the world. They hold events all over the world including tap takeovers and beer tasting. 

I have to admit, though, I don't drink much, so when I drink a beer it is very rare. Although a nice cold brewsky can be good to enjoy sporadically. Especially with a double veggie burger, triple cheese pizza and vegan nachos. Can we say yum?

Surprisingly though, beer has an array of benefits. Can you believe it? At first, I couldn't, as anything with alcohol is never really good; however, beer in low amounts can actually work to help a variety of health issues including insomnia, stress, depression, dementia, gallstones, kidney stones, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and even hair loss. 

But, what does beer actually help? 

Beer works to protect, prevent and restore heart disease. It does this by creating "homocysteine" an amino acid present in the blood stream which helps regulate blood flow. Additionally, beer also helps with blood clots, poor circulation and even Anemia. 

It is also said that beer is known to help lower blood pressure. Because it is infused with the amino acid homocysteine and Vitamin B6, beer also works not only protect your heart, but helps aid in restoration. 

Who knew?

Additionally beer has a tremendous impact on your mental well being, as beer helps to eliminate stress, depression and even dementia. It also helps with insomnia and allows you to get a good nights rest. 

This does not mean consume a whole case of beer a day or even drink a full keg. These benefits are only found when consuming beer in moderation. So, the time is now to switch out that case of beer for just one a day, at the most. 

And before you stop reading, shockingly enough, beer has the same antioxidant level as wine with more protein and vitamin B than wine. Beer is actually healthier than wine. So you may consider switching your favorite glass of burgundy for a Budweiser. 

Happy National Beer Day! 

Cheti Chand 2019

Chetri Chandra is one of the most popular holidays in Rajasthan, India. Based on the lunar cycle of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, this two-day celebration marks the arrival of Spring and harvest. It also marks the birth of Uderolal, in the year 1007. Although Uderolal was known as a freedom fighter, he believed everyone of every faith deserved the same treatment. 

For Cheti Chand, Hindus celebrate by cooking huge dinners, attending parties, listening to music and visiting temples where their favorite ishta devta is located. Some Hindus (mainly Sindhi Hindus) traditionally go to nearest body of water (lake or river usually) and take gifts with them. 

These gifts include: 

Misiri - granulated or crystal sugar
Fota - cardamom
Fal - fruits
Jyot - oil lamp

Other gifts include a water jar (commonly known as a kalash) and some nariyal (or coconut) wrapped in a cloth and covered with flowers and leaves. 

Additionally, Cheti Chand promotes Chaliho Saheb, Baharana Sahib and Chet Chand wishes. And like most holidays including restricted holidays such as this one, most businesses are closed. 

I am just discovering the holidays of Hinduism, including this one. Although this holiday isn't one I follow presently, I can admit that I appreciate it. To all of you who celebrate today, happy Cheti Chand day.

PUBG: Secret Building in Los Leones

So, today while playing PUBG mobile I landed in a secret building in Los Leones. Los Leones is located in the Miramar map. It is quite possibly one of the most populated areas of this map, as there is currently several challenges involving this area. 

What is very odd about this particular building is the fact that there is no way out. My squad tried everything to get me out, even throwing various frag grenades relentlessly at the building in efforts to blow it up. A smoke grenade was able to find its way under the cracks of the walls, but I was pretty much stuck in this particular building or room for the entire match. 

Obviously I was unable to kill anyone and be killed by anyone, so I ended up dying in the play zone area of the game, outside of the circle. I was the third player to die, as Nukuler ended up being the last surviving member of the team. 

This secret building or room is very interesting to me because I could not find a way to escape. Has this ever happened to anyone? If so, I would love to hear your story regarding this. I would also love to know how to get out of this. Is this just a game glitch?

I think from now on, I will just avoid jumping here and stick to my regular strategy of jumping where no one else lands. 

Word of the Day: Sesquipedalian

April is national English month. Today's word is: Sesquipedalian. Sesquipedalian is pronounced as sess-kwip-pay-day-lee-ann. Sesquipedalian is a formal adjective derived from the Latin language. Often referred to as a polysyllabic, sesquipedalian basically means "loving of long words" or "loving of overusing long words." This can also be referred to as the love of using long syllables too. 

According the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word was first used in 1656 by English literary theorists and critics when describing the overuse of using long words. 

A sesquipedalist is a noun. This term is simply the person who uses sesquipedalian. A sesquipedalist is a person who loves to use long words or loves to overuse long words. 

Additionally sesquipedality is a noun which represents the quality of being sesquipedal or the quality of being sesquipedalian. 

Sentence example: "My best friend uses sesquipedalian quite often, so I always make it a priority to use big words when we communicate." 

Synonyms: Euphuistic, Lengthy, Long, Pleonastic, Polysyllabic, Polysyllable, Pretentious, Sententious

Antonyms: Brachysyllabic, Monosyllabic, Short, Unpretentious