Long Distance Christmas

The holidays are always fun time of year, but for me there is no annual tradition or special way I spend them… I don’t always travel home to the Bay Area to see my family and often times they aren’t even there! It’s tough though because it is inevitable every year that people ask what I am doing for the holidays and then I have to explain why I’m not going home, etc…

First off, I HATE traveling (airports) when everyone else (novice travelers) are jamming up the lines..I just can’t deal! Second, it’s just the nature of the career/life I have chosen…I know all my TV and fellow news friends can relate…just because it’s a holiday and most people have the day off, we don’t! I’ve just become accustom to working on holidays and I don’t expect to be able to go home for them. Last, living across the country, I have learned to celebrate my family everyday, especially when I am face to face with them, so I don’t need one day to dictate “Christmas.” Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas and the holiday season, but that’s not the only time to celebrate, be thankful and enjoy being together… It should be an everyday thing!!

Anyway, this year we were scattered….around the corners of the globe!

My Dad (above, jamming on his guitar) was in Manila, Philippines with my baby brother who fell ill with some food poisoning…that happens when you go to a foreign country and get a little too excited eating everything in sight!

This year, I stayed in Miami, and cooked up a lil Christmas somethin’ somethin’ for Jae Millz and the fam visiting from Harlem…

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I baked a Chicken and Spinach Alfredo Lasagna and Green Bean Casserole, along with a not pictured Banana Pudding dessert.

Then, through the magic of techonology, my sisters and I got on a group chat with Alison in Southern California, Adrienne (and Mom) in the Bay and me in MIA.

It initially started with me and Adrienne chatting on G-Chat, then Alison wanted in, but you can’t 3-way on there and we weren’t sure we could on Skype, so we were going for the iChat, but Adrienne’s MacBook was acting up so we all downloaded “oovoo”..and finally when we were all up and running it was a party!! Actually very fun to have them all together at once!! We took Christmas photos and even had a toast to the holidays via internet!! πŸ™‚

Mele Kalikimaka

Merry Christmas, Mele Kalikimaka, Maligayang Pasko, Feliz Navidad! I wish a joyous day for all my friends, family and people near and far… Here’s a photo of me and my family Christmas 2009, since this year we are all scattered…

And – I thought I’d share a couple youtube’s of my favorite Christmas songs that bring back lots of fond memories!!!

First up, Bing Crosby – Mele Kalikimaka

Jose Feliciano – Feliz Navidad

New Edition – Give Love on Christmas Day

Leche Flan

It’s only every great once in a while that I make my Mom’s Leche Flan…and since it’s the Holidays and a few of my “Miami news friends” were doing a potluck, I decided to put on my baking apron!! πŸ™‚ Leche Flan is one of my all-time favorite desserts…growing up it was staple for every get together and family party!!

So, first you have to caramelize the sugar…

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This step requires patience and low heat…

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Next is the careful task of separating the yolk from the egg whites….must have SKILLS!! And I took this picture on timer >>> SKILLS!

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The recipe calls for all yolk, so it’s egg white omelets for me this week…

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Add some condensed milk and then some vanilla…

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Mix well and pop it in the oven to bake…

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…VOILA!! It’s ready…
*sidenote – I was watching Julie & Julia as I baked..since it’s a movie about cooking! ha

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And…here it is!! These are some of the BEST calories you will ever consume!! πŸ™‚

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BONUS: Here are a couple pix from the party….

Little Fockers

The Fockers are back for the Holidays…and this time they’ve got the “little ones!” I had a lot of fun at this movie….lots of laughs and careful designed, well written scripting lead you right into the punch line without being too cheesy or obvious! Ben Stiller, still nurse Focker and Robert DeNiro (obsessive, over protective/analytical Dad) continue their uncomfortable chemistry with the son-in-law/father-in-law dynamic. Owen Wilson maintains his out of this world (extravagant/idealistic) character, while Jessica Alba joins the cast to sex it up…as a vixen hot on Greg (Gaylord) Fockers heels. Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman also return to play Stiller’s outrageous parents…now Grandma and Grandpa “Focker.” I’m not going to say a lot about the plot and story, but again, it’s a fun movie with just enough scenes to keep the laughs coming, while still offering a relate-able, realistic storyline. See it in the theater (great date movie), it didn’t disappoint and I liked it!!

GREEN GOBBLIN [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

The Official music video for Jae Millz ft. Chris Brown is (finally) here!! One of the many hats I wear is as a manager to Young Money artist Jae Millz, so I shifted into PRODUCER mode to get this video done. It’s a really fun video, that I think is so refreshing in the music/rap/hIp hop game… The “Dead Presidents” (face-paint) theme is taken from thE movie and also Millz’ same name mixtape released over the summer where the Green Gobblin track first appeared. The song will now be the first single off his forth-coming debut album, “Nothing Is Promised,” slated to release next summer. Everything was pretty much shot on green screen with the exception of the opening (alley) scene. There are lots of fun visuals and it’s definitely a song you want to move to and this pairing works well with CB doing his dance thing and RAPPING, while Millz adds his Harlem-bred talent! Check it out, let me know what you think… Next stop is a red carpet awards show! πŸ˜‰ FOREVERMILLZ.COM

Directed by Antwan Smith of Vigorous Films
Edited by Lution Media
Produced by Sway Mendez, Aubrey Aquino and Remy Pierre
Make-up – Kimberly Keppard
Stylist – Abriel Bolton

***ALSO for you novice and aspiring video directors/editors/producers, we teamed up with MusicMatrix.com for a video editing contest and you can go in and remix the video with unused scenes, etc… AND THERE ARE PRIZES!!!***

It’s A…SURPRISE!!

My dear friend Dara is about a month away from having her first baby…and it’s a boy!! So in the spirit of having a girls night and doing something special for her in Miami, I got together with my small committee (and with her hubby’s full assistance) to throw her a surprise baby shower!!

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We had cupcakes from 2 Girls and a Cupcake…. See the cute giraffe’s, bears and zebra’s

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…and LOTS of adorable baby shower presents…

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Congratulations Dara and Donald..I can’t wait to meet the newest Shelton next month!!

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CNN 12.14.10

I had the GREAT opportunity to be on CNN Newsroom AM this morning with anchor, Tony Harris. They invited me on to talk sports and we discussed the HEAT and Brett Favre’s streak ending…

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If you missed it LIVE, of course I’ve got a clip.. πŸ™‚ Hopefully they invite me back!

RAIDERS in JAX

I trekked north on I-95 this past weekend to watch my Raiders take on the Jaguars and visit my friend Cat!

It was cold and after the first half, the game was UGLY for the RAIDER NATION….but good times with a good friend is PRICELESS!!

And I even got Cat to make me some home-cooked alfredo lasagna….