I completed a post about this for 2011 so I'll keep it going for this year, too. I started on Saturday night, Dec. 14, and finished at 3:51 a.m. on December 30.

ACTORS (ALSO HANDSOME MEN ~ "EYE CANDY" SOUNDS SEXIST)
1. Idris Elba
2. Ian Somerhalder
3. Michael Ealy
4. Denzel Washington
5. Ryan Gosling
6. Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def, equally excellent rapper and actor)
7. Hugh Laurie
8. Omar Epps
9. Rick Gonzalez
10. Richard Gere (I love those squinty eyes)
11. Brad Pitt (without the beard and the bizarre Chanel No. 5 commercial)
12. Robert Downey Jr. (I love everything he's in)
13. Don Cheadle
14. Lance Gross
15. Terrence Howard
16. Robert Pattinson
17. Columbus Short
18. Laurence Fishburne (Handsome guy in "Higher Learning" and "School Daze")
19. Mekhi Phifer
20. Taye Diggs
21. Michael B. Jordan (the actor, not the athlete)

ACTRESSES
1. Phylicia Rashad
2. Nia Long (I was so happy when she tweeted to me about my lucky day)
3. Sanaa Lathan
4. Erika Alexander
5. Meagan Good
6. Gabrielle Union
7. Taraji Henson
8. Dana Owens (aka Queen Latifah)
9. Regina King
10. Jasmine Guy
11. Zoe Saldana

ART
1. "Thursday Night Book Club" (based on original work "A Friend in Need" by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge [Literary Arts Society])

AUTHORS
1. Karen Siplin
2. Langston Hughes

BEAUTY
1. Blistex Lip Medex (the only chapstick I use)
2. Bonne Bell  lipLITES clear gloss
3. Cover Girl Professional natural lash mascara
4. Fashion Fair "Dark Brown" lip liner
5. Iman "Brass" lipstick
6. Posner Luxe Lids Eyeshadow Chocolate Collection 45001

BOOKS (OUTSIDE OF MINE)
1. "Wolves: Capturing the Natural Spirit of these Incredible Animals" by Shaun Ellis and Monty Sloan
2. "Hot Cripple" by Hogan Gorman
3. "I Got This" by Jennifer Hudson
4. "I Suck at Girls" by Justin Halpern
5. "Who's Afraid of Post-Blackness?: What It Means to Be Black Now" by Toure
6. "The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey" by Walter Mosley

CHICAGO
1. Loving Hut restaurant
2. The New 400 Theater

COMEDIAN
1. Kevin Hart
2. Chris Rock
3. Bernie Mac (R.I.P.)
4. Jamie Foxx
5. Whitney Cummings
6. Betty White ("Off Their Rockers" was gold because of her; talk show interviews are always funny, too)

FASHION
1. Jennifer Lopez purple dress (on homepage slideshow)
2. Daisy Fuentes green and blue dress (on homepage slideshow)
3. Camel 4" boots
4. Black sweater dress (My mother's old dress that I'm rocking the hell out of at the age she used to wear it)

FOOD
1. Runaway Potato at Loving Hut
2. Spicy BBQ at Loving Hut
3. Lemon Tofu at Loving Hut
4. California Rolls at Chi Tung
5. Thai Fried Rice with tofu at Chi Tung
6. Crab Rangoon at Chi Tung
7. Filet o' Fish at McDonald's (Yes, I realize this makes me a pescatarian)
8. Market Pantry russet boiled potatos
9. Archer Farms salt and vinegar chips
10. Archer Farms blue corn with flaxseed chips
11. Macaroni & Cheese (Mom's at Thanksgiving)
12. Dressing (Mom's at Thanksgiving)
13. Collard Greens (vegan version)
14. Sweet potato baked potatoes
15. Sweet potatoes (Mom's at Thanksgiving)
16. Market Pantry baked potatoes with margarine and imitation bacon bits
17. The reaction at work to my vegetarian chili (Cooking isn't my favorite thing to do but I totally enjoy it when people like what I make)
18. Pittman & Davis lemon squares
19. Vegetarian lasagna (I only eat lasagna at Christmas; it's a tradition)
20. Chocolate mint tea with soy milk and green or brown tea from Argo Tea
21. Garbanzo/chick pea salad from Argo Tea
22. Fresh croissants from Argo Tea
23. Quaker Snack Mix (Baked Cheddar Flavor)
24. Vegetarian platter from Boston Market (mashed potatoes, cornbread, vegetable stuffing, green beans sweet potato casserole)
25. Vegetarian bacon strips (MorningStar Farms)
26. Vegetarian Chik Patties Original (MorningStar Farms)
27. Vegetarian Original Sausage Patties (MorningStar Farms)
28. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae (Weight Watchers Smart Ones)

FRAGRANCES
1. Fergie's Outspoken
2. Victoria's Secret Heavenly
3. Glade's Clean Linen candle
4. Glade's Cool Serenity candle
5. Glade's Cashmere Woods candle
6. Glade's Moonlit Walk candle

HAIR
1. Hot 'N Gold Ionic Soft Jumbo Bonnet Dryer
2. Vitale relaxer
3. Vitale olive oil hair mayonnaise
4. Shea Moisture's Deep Treatment Masque
5. Sofn'free Milk, Protein & Olive Oil Strengthening Creme

HEALTH
1. Weight Watchers program (I lost 31 lbs. I love the Points Plus program. I'm not a member anymore, but once I mastered the nutrition and fitness guidelines I was set!)
2. Flirty Girl Fitness complimentary week of fitness classes
3. The exercise routine on "The Family Hustle" with T.I. in the health club
4. The exercise routine with Yolanda on "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"
5. The exercise routine with Shaun T on "Steve Harvey" (Eventually I'll buy "Insanity.")
6. "Diet and Exercise Diary" Hinkler journal from Barnes & Noble clearance rack
7. Shaun T's "Hip-Hop Abs" tapes (I still enjoy exercising with all of them)
8. "The Trainer's Edge: Killer Abs and Back" with Michael Olajide
9. GAIAM "Fit Body Yoga" featuring Gwen Lawrence ("Core Definition" is still the hardest one to do)
10. Weight Watchers Point Plus calculator
11. SuperTracker Food Tracker from USDA (I use it almost daily)

HISTORIC ICONS
1. President Barack Obama
2. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
3. Harriet Tubman
4. Malcolm X
5. Frederick Douglass
6. Rosa Parks
7. Nat Turner

HOME DECOR
1. My new brown couch
2. Glade electric warmer plug-ins
3. Mavea water filter

LIQUOR (OTHER DRINKS)
1. Chocolate martini at Olive Garden
2. Godiva chocolate martini at Chi Tung
3. Whiskey sour (My favorite go-to drink since college)
4. Captain Morgan's red wine
5. Arnold Palmer Half & Half iced tea
6. Lipton ice tea
7. Bigelow green tea
8. McDonald's iced coffee (medium, no liquid sugar)

MEMORIES (HAPPY ONES ONLY)
1. My mom and I going to the NBC studio to see "Steve Harvey Show" live
2. Flirty Girl Fitness spa manicure and waxing for my birthday
3. Drinking Captain Morgan's red wine with my grandfather in his backyard (the dogs next door hate me but they behaved as long as he was around)
4. Giving up my Loving Hut boycott and going two times over my birthday vacation (still can't believe I talked my meat-loving co-worker Darcel and cousin Hareder into going)
5. Olive Garden trips with Mom (always messed up my fitness journal record but any dinner date with my mother is a good time)
6. Manicure nights at Aunt Marguerite's apartment (R.I.P. September was hard)
7. Working late night shifts after moving to the fourth floor and a management change (I love the night shift and would never work a day shift in my life if I could help it. I was very cool with the management change and like my new floor better, too.)
8. Visiting the Black Ensemble Theatre for the first time to see "The Marvin Gaye Story: Don't Talk About My Father Because God Is My Friend" for my mother's birthday
9. Showing up to work to see a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my co-worker Jenniffer after my great great aunt passed; I was not expecting that at all.
10. Going to my brother's Halloween birthday party; I had a great time, saw a bunch of his in-laws that I hadn't seen in years and enjoyed terrorizing one of my cousins, too.
11. Cutting up all of my store and regular credit cards (The Frontline episode about how much credit card companies scam you really woke me up. I have been far more disciplined with my spending and am actually paying off cards instead of increasing balances.)
12. Being so loyal to walking Faith anytime I visit my parents' house that I went out with two-inch heels on while it was storming, grabbed my umbrella and a thick coat, and still walked that dog (who stopped at every single tree and pole) on Thanksgiving night
13. Getting the birthday card in the mail from my brother with us as kids that said, "I got your back" on the inside. I thought that was pretty cool and I wasn't expecting a card at all because he's not usually a card sender. He sent two. (In my defense, I swear it looked like a stuff monkey!)
14. My boss reenacting what it's like to walk a family member's dogs (She's funny regardless but she's even funnier when she tells a story.)
15. Reading "Keeping the Promise"; I miss Mr. Ellison. I've worked with a lot of PR reps but he was the most efficient, polite and fascinating to talk to about his own writing history. R.I.P. I'd read everything he ever wrote.
16. Making the November page in my mother's 2013 photo calendar. I made one side super silly photos of us and the other pretty photos, but the silly photos are the best ones (IMO). My favorites: Her puckering her lips out and me hiding in a box.
17. Surprise visit from my brother-from-another-mother Shuntal at Christmas. I haven't seen him in person in at least eight or nine years. It was very good to see him although he came for other circumstances.
18. Hanging out with my cousin Yolanda on Christmas Eve. I never see her on Christmas, only Thanksgiving, and I really had a good time catching up with her.
19. Catching up with my old girl scout leader Lela (won't include last name) is always fun. I was a girl scout from the age of 9-14 but I have made a point of staying in contact with her. She's hilarious and always a pleasure to be around.
20. My grandfather accusing me of biting my dog on a calendar photo. I told him Faith nuzzled up to my face. His response? "Well, somebody's got to initiate the kiss."
21. Surprising Aunt Marguerite with a visit from my grandfather for her second 100th birthday party (Doesn't a centenarian deserve two parties? I think so!) Click here to see the video of some friends and family singing to her.
22. Setting up my cousin Hareder's website for a pageant (I learned a lot more about her and enjoyed reading her responses to FAQs. It was educational and far more enjoyable to create than I expected.)
23. The look of shock when I saw the guy who came to pick up my old couch from a Craigslist posting. Man, he was cute. I never told him that, but I was equally impressed seeing him in a suit the second time around when he came to get the throw pillows that I didn't need.
24. The look of appreciation from the mother and daughter who picked up the Taylor Lautner umbrella and blanket I gave away on Craigslist.
25. Seeing Al Green live at Ravinia (I'd never been to that concert before; it was cool even on the lawn)
26. Christmas card from Georgia B. every year (I'll always enjoy hearing from the family, and it makes me think of grandmother every time)
27. Getting a call from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois as the first Go Red Fan of the Week winner for the "It's Heart Awareness Month" competition; It was for my photo with Faith (with me wearing a red sweater) and I won a gift card.

MOVIES
1. "Think Like a Man"
2. "Marley"
3. "Breaking Dawn (Part 2)"
4. "The Notebook"
5. "Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story"
6. "Crazy, Stupid, Love"
7. "Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned"
8. "Justin Timberlake: Futuresex/Loveshow"
9. "Friends With Benefits"
10. "Higher Learning" (my favorite movie for two decades)
11. "Love Jones" (timeless movie)
12. "Something New" (Made me a Sanaa Lathan fan for the first time)
13. "Iron Man"
14. "Iron Man 2"
15. "Losers"
16. "Lincoln"
17. "Flight" (Ecstatic to see John Goodman in a recent film)

MUSIC (singles and artists)
1. Afroflow "Call Us By Name"
2. Afroflow "Ethiopia (Everything Will Be All Right)"
3. Afroflow "It Makes You Feel Good"
4. Afroflow "My Element"
5. Afroflow "Warrior's Rhythm"
6. Akon "I Wanna Love You"
7. Akon "Mama Africa"
8. Akon feat. T-Pain "I Can't Wait"
9. Akon "Rain"
10. Al Green and Queen Latifah "Simply Beautiful"
11. Andre 3000's verse on T.I.'s "Sorry"
12. Beyonce "4" album
13. Bob Marley "Waiting in Vain"
14. Bob Marley "One Love"
15. Bob Marley "Three Little Birds"
16. Bob Marley "Redemption Song"
17. Bob Marley "Satisfy My Soul"
18. Bob Marley "Turn the Lights Down Low"
19. Bob Marley "Jammin'"
20. Brad Paisley "Alcohol"
21. Brad Paisley "Ticks"
22. Brad Paisley "Waitin' On a Woman"
23. Brad Paisley "Oh Yeah, You're Gone"
24. Brad Paisley "The Pants"
25. Brad Paisley "I'm Still a Guy"
26. Brandy "Two Eleven" album
27. Brandy "Afrodisiac" album
28. Brandy and Monica "It All Belongs to Me"
29. Bruno Mars "The Lazy Song"
30. Chris Brown "Fortune" album
31. Chris Brown "Marvin's Room" on "Boy in Detention"
32. Damian Marley "Move"
33. Damian Marley "Mr. Marley"
34. David Banner "Malcolm X (A Song to Me)"
35. David Banner "Swag Remix" from "Sex, Drugs & Video Games"
36. David Essex "Rock On"
37. Drake "Comeback Season"
38. Drake "Take Care" (the single)
39. Elle Varner's "Perfectly Imperfect" album
40. Finatticz "Don't Drop That Thun Thun"
41. Fugees "Killing Me Softly"
42. Frank Ocean "Thinking About You"
43. Game feat. Meek Mills "Scared Now" (Sometimes it's hard to shake a ratchet song.)
44. Herbie Hancock "Chameleon"
45. Herbie Hancock "St. Louis Blues"
46. Herbie Hancock "Watermelon Man"
47. Ice Cube's verse on "You Gotta Lotta That"
48. Ice Cube "Hood Mentality"
49. J. Cole "Can't Get Enough"
50. J. Cole and Drake "In the Morning"
51. Jay-Z "Dig a Hole"
52. John Legend "Green Light"
53. John Legend feat. Pusha T on "Tonight"
54. Jerrod Niemann "What Do You Want"
55. Justin Bieber feature on "Ladies Love Me" from Chris Brown's "Boy in Detention"
56. Luther Vandross "I'm Only Human"
57. Maino "That Could Be Us"
58. Marcus Canty "Won't Make a Fool Out of You"
59. Marvin Gaye -- anything by him
60. Mary J. Blige "Someone to Love Me"
61. Mary J. Blige "Just Fine"
62. Michael Jackson "Butterflies"
63. Michael Jackson "Stranger in Moscow"
64. Miguel "Adorn"
65. Nas "Life Is Good" (album)
66. RaVaughn "Same ol BS"
67. Rihanna "Unapologetic"
68. Sade "Love Is Stronger than Pride"
69. T-Pain "Five o' Clock"
70. T.I. feat. Cee lo "Hello"
71. T.I. "Wonderful Life"
72. T.I. "Hallelujah"
73. Timbaland feat. Drake "Say Something"
74. The Game "Scared Now" (Every blue moon I grow attached to a ratchet song.)
75. Usher "Looking 4 Myself" (album)
76. Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos) -- anything by him
77. Young Jeezy "I Do"

NEWS
1. "Adam Lanza, and others who committed mass shootings, were white males"
2. President Obama speaking up about gun control
3. Clarence Page's Page from the Tribune
4. "The Rachel Maddow Show"
5. "The Last Word" with Lawrence O'Donnell
6. Anderson Cooper and his "Ridiculist"
7. BET's "Don't Sleep" with T.J. Holmes

POEMS
1. "Harlem Sweeties" by Langston Hughes

POLITICS
1. Election night 2012 in the Tribune's newsroom
2. Pres. Obama crying while thanking his campaign team in Chicago
3. Chicago Tribune's Election Center updates on Election night
4. Chicago Tribune's Local Election updates on Election night
5. Bill Clinton's "brass" speech during Obama's campaign (I was too young to realize how fascinating and intelligent a speaker he was when he was president; I get it now)

QUOTES
1. "Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance." -Samuel Johnson
2. "Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is not." -Henry Van Dyke
3. "A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes." -Author Unknown
4. "Your eyes tell more than your mouth can maneuver." -Shamontiel (I made it up in college)
5. "Home is where the beach is." -Author Unknown
6. "Keep smiling. It makes everyone wonder what you have been up to." (Sign I took from my grandmother's home when she passed away)

RADIO SHOWS
1. Power 105's The Breakfast Club (interviews ONLY, DJ Envy is the only cool one)
2. Big Boy's Neighborhood
3. Herb Kent on V103
4. Boolu Master mixes

SKIN CARE
1. Up & Up cocoa butter lotion (deep conditioning)
2. Caress' Endless Kiss (Creamy Vanilla & Sandalwood) soap
3. Caress' Evenly Gorgeous soap
4. Caress' Sheer Twilight soap
5. Nadinola's cocoa butter cream
6. Tropic Sun Aloe Vera Gel
7. Suave Cocoa Butter with Shea lotion

TECHNOLOGY
1. Shopkick app (The Smartphone coupons really do work; just scan at checkout)
2. T-Mobile® myTouch® Q - Black
3. Instagram phone app

TELEVISION
1. "The Vampire Diaries" (only after Damon allegedly sired Elena and every scene with Klaus and Rebekah)
2. "Whitney"
3. "Love You Mean It"
4. "Joan & Melissa" (I cry laughing at the medical marijuana episode when they jumped in fully clothed.)
5. Luther on "Key & Peele"
6. Tyler Perry's "For Better or Worse"
7. "Luther"
8. "Sleeper Cell"
9. "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" (The other season extras are entertaining)
10. "Common Law"
11. "Boss"
12. "Frontline"
13. "Degrassi: The Next Generation" (favorite episode is Jimmy [Drake] on the roof with Hazel when he gave her the necklace)
14. "Friends" (The turkey "I love you" episode with Monica)
15. "Ally McBeal"
16. "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
17. "Daria"
18. "Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell" (I was ecstatic to see Yasiin Bey on the episode about Superstorm Sandy)
19. Jamie Foxx on "Ellen" with the horse/black woman impersonation and talking about black women holding back while dancing
20. "The Steve Harvey Show" (The microphone boy is my favorite episode!)
21. Gloria for calling out Bambi on a wolf ticket on "Basketball Wives LA" and for staying on her work hustle and out of the cattiness that is that show (I can't tolerate the Miami version at all even though Jennifer is cool)
22. "House" (I laugh every time House dances with that beatbox and his cane)
23. "Roseanne" (I tear up every time Darlene does that poem for her class)
24. "The Golden Girls" (Fav episode: Dorothy and the Secret Service agent with the jewelry thiefs)
25. "The Cosby Show" (I own all eight seasons)
26. "A Different World" (When will they release the other seasons?)

TURN-ONS (physical)
1. Men who wear their pants at a regular size (no extra sagging baggy jeans and absolutely no sagging skinny jeans)
2. Men who keep their haircut neat (Even if you're rocking dreadlocks, keep them neat)
3. Men who keep their facial hair neat (Still a big fan of short goatees)
4. Tall men (I wish I could shake this one because it's so superficial, but I've always been a magnet for tall guys. I don't know what's up with 5'11" to 6"5 men but that's who I end up dating at least 95% of the time.)
5. Men with smooth, full lips (I still laugh out loud remembering the time my godmother Sheila yelled out, "I can't take it! Give him some chapstick!" at the screen when Wood Harris was on "Not Easily Broken.")
6. Men who like to smell nice (body oil, cologne, whatever, just a nice fragrance)
7. Smooth skin (I don't have a complexion preference. I've dated guys who were Bizzy Bone's complexion and then went straight to Morris Chestnut's complexion, but a smooth shave is sexy.)
8. Men who enjoy smiling and have nice teeth (ex. Morris Chestnut, Idris Elba, Taye Diggs)

TURN-ONS (mental)
1. Men with full-time steady employment (I have no interest in grown-up dependents. I have been supporting me for a decade, but can you support yourself?)
2. Men who care about their health (If you think HIV/AIDS isn't real, have never been tested and randomly have unsafe sex, please keep your suicidal body away from me. When a guy doesn't care about his own health, there's 100% chance he couldn't care less about yours, ladies.)
3. Men who know there's a time and place (and a level) for PDA (If you're grabbing a woman's butt in public, stick to chickenheads.)
4. Men with positive role models in their lives (You can tell a lot about a man by how his father treats his mother [or stepmother] and how often his father was in his life. And just because a woman gave birth to you doesn't make her a great human being. Watch how he treats his mother and how she treats other men. You'll learn how he feels women should treat men from that, too.)
5. Men with their names on their leases (I'm too grown to deal with somebody's roommate and I haven't dated a guy who lives with his Mom since I was 20.)
6. Men who like to be active/eat healthy (I've never dated a vegetarian [although I am one] but because I'm so adamant about regular exercise and eating healthy, it's cool to meet guys with equal mindsets. Guys I've dated have always been either athletic or into health.)
7. Men who own their own cars (Men with no cars think everyone is their taxicab, love to tell you where to go and never pay for parking. I tried being open-minded about this with two guys who had suspended licenses. It got old very quickly. It still boggles my mind at the guys I meet with no cars who are offended by public transportation. Buy a CTA pass and stop freeloading on everybody else's gas.)
8. Men who understand and follow the motto that the words "woman" or "lady" are not synonymous with "bitch" or "ho." They're two different groups of people. Listen to Jay-Z's song "Bitches versus Women." I agree with it.
9. Men who spend wisely (If you want to splurge, that's your business but please do something else with your money besides budget for strippers, weed, jewelry and video games. Savings accounts, 401(k) and CDs help you create a future.)
10. Men who like to read for fun (Newspapers [besides the sports section], books, magazines [something other than just entertainment articles])
11. Men who respect individuality (I applaud the Drakes of the world who will look at an industry and still be themselves instead of the carbon copy of what they think other people want them to be. Just be you. Somebody will appreciate it sooner or later.)
12. Men who realize a date means going to a place where neither of us are looking at our own furniture, our own food or our own porch. You're a grown up. Leave the couch.
13. Men with manners ("Please," "thank you," "excuse me" and "after you" never hurt anyone.)
14. Men who believe in monogamy (I've never caught any guy I was dating cheating, but I've heard too many horror stories. If you plan on having sex with multiple women, save her the waste of time and energy. Date; don't be in a relationship. And don't even bother to ask me to date you if you have a girlfriend or wife. It'll never happen.)
15. Men who do not use the word "nigger" or "nigga" like it's a compliment. (It will never be and both men and women sound absolutely disrespectful every time they say it. The meaning has not changed. Expand your vocabulary. And I say this from the perspective of someone who used to argue about how it was okay to use it. NMU changed that.)
16. Men who can fix things, especially mechanics or appliance repair people (I swear blue collar jobs like this are so underrated. I totally respect white collar jobs, but men who can fix things are great people.)
17. Men who are laid-back (I'm not the most nonchalant person in the world so I tend to shy away from other people who are glued to drama. The best relationships I've been in were with guys who preferred peace over looking for beef, and we parted on good terms and occasionally stayed in touch over the years.)
18. Men who know who the hip-hop pioneers are and actually respect them
19. Men who can beatbox (Maybe it's because I'm a fan of old school but my eyes bug out every time I hear a guy start beatboxing.)
20. Men who like to dance (Whether you're a natural like Chris Brown, groove like 2 Chainz or just two-stepping like Jay-Z, as long as you can keep the rhythm, we're good to go. I like to see a guy let down his guard and just snap on the dance floor though.)
21. Men who aren't the jealous type (Protective does not mean paranoid, and "platonic friendship" actually does happen. Don't let negativity overpower you.)
22. Men who have a sense of humor (If you are funny, you will always be a step above any other guy I'm looking at. And if you make faces just to make me laugh, I will adore you even more.)

WEBSITES
1. SlicethePie.com
2. Twitter.com
3. Ada's Student Etsy store (also on my Mom's website)
4. GrooveShark.com
5. DatPiff.com
6. iHeart Comedy Radio
7. TIVO
8. AOL Listening Party
9. AOL Online Radio
10. Project Playlist
11. BarackObama.com
12. WhiteHouse.gov
13. Chicago Tribune's Health page (Yes, I update it therefore I am 100% biased)
14. Chicago Tribune's Travel page (Yes, I update it therefore I am 100% biased)
15. McDonald's Full Menu Food Tracker (Easier to eat healthy and know what you eat)
16. The Good Men Project
17. Shutterfly
18. DreamMoods.com

YOUTUBE (OTHER) VIDEOS
1. Drake's interview with Katie Couric
2. DMX sings "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
3. President Obama sheds a tear after being reelected
4. Brandy's "Put It Down" video with Chris Brown
5. Obama's Kiss Cam video
6. "The Unexpected" sorority step routine on "Awkward Black Girl" (start at 2:28)
7. "Think Like a Man" cast talks about battle with the sexes
8. "Think Like a Man" cast with Regina Hall acting a fool
9. Tijuana Jackson interviews "Think Like a Man" cast
10. Jamie Foxx on Saturday Night Live as a Ding Dong

Updated 11/24/12

Some women are uncomfortable about telling their age, but I'll shout it to Maui and back. Being a year older means I'm another year wiser, stronger and able to enjoy it. I learned some things in my 20s that make me a better person in my very early 30s, and my birthday (Veteran's Day, 11/11) weekend mixed with my 10-day vacation is turning out to be even better than I expected.

I usually add five things per week, but I'll just keep adding to this blog (for this week) to make it 20 (for the rest of November -- the end of this week, my vacation week, Thanksgiving week and the week after) so check back later if you're interested in the rest.

1. Birthday calls, cards, songs and messages on my 31st birthday: Some women are into diamonds and shoes. I'm much more into cards and quality time. Diamonds and shoes don't even come close to how much more appreciated I feel when I'm listening to someone sing (completely off key) "Happy Birthday" on my voicemail or I get a print card in the mail (Facebook messages and tweets are cool, but I hoard all of my letters and birthday/graduation/holiday cards). So thanks to all of the folks who remembered my birthday and called (bonus if you sang), FB messaged me, texted me, set up "birthday dates" on my birthday and for the rest of this week, and ultra thank you's to anyone who gave me a birthday card (and gifts).

2. Pink nail manicure: I never paint my fingernails. I buff them, file them and make sure they're clean, but I can't stand chipped polish so I just never paint them. I can't stand fake nails so that's out of the question. Funny because I am persistent about my toenails always being polished and neat, and that's even when I'm not wearing open-toed shoes. But I decided to go ahead and get my nails polished when I got a manicure this weekend at Flirty Girl Fitness. My nail technician Veronica (with a "k" when she feels like it) was really pleasant and I enjoyed talking to her about freelancing and writing before I got to the Trib. I wish her the best in her writing, too. She hooked my nails up so pretty that I keep staring at them. I didn't even want to wash dishes this weekend for fear I'd mess them up, but they're still cute.

I should've written this blog when I turned 30 instead of 31, but last year at this time I was sleeping in LAX airport and missed my flight to Maui. Then I spent five days in Hawaii so you already know I was preoccupied. This year, I was supposed to be in St. Louis sometime tonight but since those plans fell through, I'm in Chicago hanging out for my 31st birthday (on Sunday, Veteran's Day) so I have a bit of time on my hands. I started reflecting on my 20s and how they made me into the woman I am today. Here are the top five moments in my 20s that prepared me for my 30s.

The reason I liked doing the "Five things I'm digging right now" was because it forced me to find the "bright side" of something. I need to do that more often and thought that was a cool way of doing it (original idea courtesy of Andy Cohen). So in the same spirit of it and since I'm done with that for 2011, I'm going to do a list of 365 things I've been digging all year. They're not in order, just the first things that pop into my head that I liked the entire year. (I started today as of 2:30 p.m. I finished on 12/31/11 at 10:38 p.m., in between running errands. HAPPY (almost) NEW YEAR!)

BOOKS
1. "The John Carlos Story" by John Carlos
2. "Is Marriage for White People? How the African American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone" by Ralph Richard Banks
3. "The Vampire Diaries" (Stefan's Diaries only)
4. "There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in The Other America" by Alex Kotlowitz
5. "The Conversation" by Hill Harper
6. "Michelle Obama: The First Lady in Photographs" by Deborah Willis and Emily Bernard
7. "Change for a Twenty" (I genuinely enjoy my own books)
8. "Round Trip" (I've said repeatedly it's better than "Change for a Twenty")
9. "Love Your Life" by The Oprah Magazine

CHICAGO (SURROUNDING AREA)
1. Looking out the window on the #147 CTA bus at Lake Michigan
2. Walking the four-mile trail at Skokie Northshore Channel
3. Walking the two-mile trail at Lincolnwood Channel Runne Park
4. Quench! restaurant on 79th (Pretty inside with a seating area)
5. Chi Tung
6. Chicago Public Library
7. The New 400 Theater
8. RCN (cable)

EYE CANDY
1. Ian Somerhalder
2. Taylor Lautner (Facial hair compliments him; his athleticism makes him breathtaking)
3. Idris Elba (No matter how many times "Daddy's Little Girls" comes on, I watch it)
4. T.I.
5. Chris Brown (He's growing up to be really handsome)
6. Morris Chestnut
7. Justin Timberlake
8. Brad Paisley (Dated a guy who looked exactly like a light-skinned black version of him; started heavily listening to country music from November to December)
9. Paul Walker
10. Alex Meraz (very good-looking in person)
11. Ian Ziering (Didn't pay much attention to him on "90210" but when I saw him at Comic Con last year I was so surprised at how gorgeous he is. Age has done him well!)
12. Trey Songz (Super friendly and as attractive in person as he is on his videos)
13. Joseph Morgan (Klaus from "The Vampire Diaries")
14. The guy who lost his balance on the Red Line and fell on me (woke me RIGHT up, and his outfit was impeccable; I couldn't stop checking him out)
15. Drake
16. Richard Gere (He looks better with age, don't know how he does it)
17. Tone Kapone (Don't listen to the radio much but I saw him at the 2012 Real Men Cook and the Sprite StepOff a couple years ago. He's really cute and I never knew what he looked like before.)
18. Q-Tip
19. Evan Ross
20. Obie Trice (He's underrated in the hip-hop game and my gawd, THOSE LIPS! Every video I see with him in it, I look at his lips 75% of the time. He's kiss-worthy.)

FASHION
1. Multi-colored shell bracelet from Queen Ka'ahumanu Center in Maui
2. Ralph Lauren Polo Jeans Co. orange fleece
3. Light yellow zip-up sweater
4. Gray suede/sweater heel boots
5. Brown suede/sweater heel boots
6. Black sweater flat boots
7. Black cape with gray lining
8. Baby blue top with brown afro woman silhouette
9. Multi-brown shades wooden bracelet from Maui
10. Black hematite bracelet from The African Store (located in Ford City)
11. Kohl's shopping (When there's a coupon, I never leave empty handed.)
12. NY & CO shopping (Sale or not, I never leave empty handed.)

FOOD
1. Archer Farms salt and vinegar chips
2. Thai tofu fried rice from China Hut
3. Kona Hawaiian Blend Micro-Roasted Coffee (drank it every morning)
4. Gardein stuffed turk'y
5. Gardein Mandarin orange crispy chick'n
6. Chocolate martinis at Olive Garden
7. Salad dressing from Olive Garden
8. Mushroom ravioli from Olive Garden
9. Fresh bread from Olive Garden
10. Water with a splash of lemon juice
11. Avocado slices with tomato slices
12. Tortilla chips
13. Granola, fruit and yogurt plate from IHOP
14. Hot water cornbread
15. Black eyed peas (vegetarian)
16. Collard greens (vegetarian)
17. Macaroni and cheese (my mother's)
18. Dried apricots
19. Archer Farms dark chocolate cocoa mix
20. Open Nature's Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Heaven (granola mix)
21. Green tea
22. Brown tea with lemon juice and honey
23. Grapefruit juice
24. Grapefruits
25. Red apples
26. Strawberries
27. Bananas
28. Strawberry banana smoothies
29. McDonald's iced coffee (light ice, light sugar)
30. McDonald's Filet o' Fish (the only fish I can handle eating for Omega 3)
31. Starbucks hot chocolate
32. Argo Tea iced coffee
33. Corn on the cob
34. Mashed potatoes from Ruby Tuesday's
35. Simply Asia Spring Noodles bowl
36. Watermelon
37. Green grapes
38. Red grapes

FRAGRANCES
1. Fergie's "Outspoken"
2. Lady Speed Stick "Fresh Infusions"
3. Cool Water
4. Victoria's Secret "Heavenly" (original fragrance)

HAIR
1. Vitale Olive Oil relaxer
2. Parnevu leave-in conditioner
3. Silk wrap caps
4. Pantene shampoo for women of color
5. Pantene conditioner for women of color
6. Distinctly Basics by Rachel Rose black ponytail holders
7. My haircut from Donte's on 9/17/2011 (thanks Francine!)

HEALTH
1. Doing Beyonce's "Let's Move" routine for 30 days
2. Swimming laps in the Maui Seaside Hotel pool
3. Renewing my membership and working out at Bally Total Fitness (now L.A. Fitness)
4. The results from my yearly physical (everything is tip-top, minus weight)
5. Logging at least four workouts per week on TeamBeachBody
6. Julie's Health Club blogs
7. Chicago Tribune's Health page
8. LA Times Booster Shots
9. Updating @BlackHealthNews on Twitter
10. "Mistletoe may help kiss away some ills" article (fascinating because I only knot about it for kissing)
11. "Muscling past myths" (It forces me to get up more at work)

HOME APPLIANCES
1. Breville BEW600XL Hot Wok
2. Brother MFC-440CN multi-printer
3. Insignia 26" LCD TV 720P
4. Full-size bed
5. All 18 pillows on my bed
6. Labrador Retriever comforter with pillows on my bed

HOME DECOR
1. Looking at Halloween decorations
2. Black couple embracing and kissing (painting above my bed)
3. Ebony cover of Marvin Gaye about "black cool"
4. N'Digo cover of Pres. Barack Obama (Nov. 13-2008)
5. Mos Def photograph of him sticking out his tongue while in a car driver's seat
6. Wall photograph jewelry box

MEMORIES
1. Watching my 99-year-old Aunt Marguerite open her Christmas photo calendar
2. Solo travel to Maui to do what I wanted to do 100% of the time
3. Spa day in Maui (pedicure, manicure, head/back/shoulder/foot massage)
4. Going to Chi Tung with Grandad
5. Getting the surprise fruit basket on Christmas Eve delivered from my godfather
6. Having my mother home this Christmas, healthy and happy
7. Posing for photograph on the porch with Faith nuzzling my chin
8. Posing for photograph on the porch with Faith "smiling" and leaning by my face
9. Crying laughing about the health club story with Darcel
10. Kendell calling me up at work to invite me to his high school graduation
11. Watching Kendell walk across the stage for graduation (super proud of him)
12. Hanging with Mom, Dad and Grandad at Real Men Cook for Father's Day
13. Going to the midnight release of "Twilight: Breaking Dawn" with my mom
14. Walking Faith (I do it 99% of the time when I'm at my parents' house)
15. Cracking jokes and chatting about entertainment with Yonnie and Kendell
16. Seeing what's new and strange in the world of Crosley (sp?)
17. Chit-chatting with Mom in Olive Garden
18. Hanging with Mom at Ruby Tuesday's and checking out our forgetful waiter
19. Photograph of my mother and my godfather trying to look hip-hop (LMAO)
20. Close-up photograph of Grandad and I at Real Men Cook
21. Photograph of my mother and I on my 29th birthday with her leaning on me
22. Seeing my op/ed tattoo piece on page 2 of the Chicago Tribune
23. Posing for a bunch of family photos with my brother, mother, grandfather and father on Thanksgiving 2011
24. Getting a 365-day dog calendar from my mother, who knows I really want a dog
25. Mild flirting at the health club (may not amount to anything but it was inspiration to work out when I first joined)
26. Clearing snow away with a bucket because I don't own a shovel (my grandfather loves this story)
27. Working from home for two days after Feb. 2, 2011 snowstorm
28. My grandfather and father dancing in front of a crowd at Real Men Cook 2011
29. Fifth tattoo, fourth cover-up, love my roses (thanks Bobby Sax!)
30. Dragging Fernie around to take the holiday photo for the Chicago Tribune
31. Xephon adding me as a Facebook friend (very flattered by that)
32. Dad calling me up to tell me how he wouldn't participate in Earth Hour
33. Me taking Dad's call (#32) as an invitation to bumrush their house and unplug everything; he and I talked for an hour and a half in the dark
34. Going through my letter box, reading all the letters and cards I got from family and friends while I was in college

MOVIES
1. "Hachi"
2. "Eight Below"
3. "No Strings Attached"
4. "Friends With Benefits"
5. "Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned"
6. "Tongue Untied" Wanda Sykes comedy
7. "Higher Learning"
8. "Daddy's Little Girls"
9. "Something New"
10. "10 Things I Hate About You"
11. "New Moon"
12. "Twilight"
13: "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"
14. "Sleepers"
15. "The Client"
16. "Runaway Bride"
17. "Iron Man"
18. "Iron Man 2"
19. "Transformers"
20. "Jumping the Broom"
21. "Never Say Never" (The shoveling scene is my favorite; Justin Bieber is eye candy but I just felt too much like a cougar putting him there until he's legal)
22. "Happy New Year, Charlie Brown"
23. "Losers"
24. "Gran Torino"
25. "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest"

MUSIC (singles and artists)
1. "Prototype" by Andre 3000
2. "Cockiness" by Rihanna
3. Rihanna's "Loud" CD
4. "The Noose" by Tech N9Ne
5. The "99 Problems" remix in the movie "No Strings Attached"
6. Mos Def (everything)
7. "In the Morning" by Drake and J. Cole
8. "Can't Get Enough" by J. Cole
9. "5 o' clock" by T-Pain
10. "Nuthin'" by T-Pain
11. "Default Picture" by T-Pain
12. "Momma Told Me" by Crystal Waters
13. "Pretty Little Heart" by Robin Thicke
14. "Sexy and I Know It" by LMFAO
15. "Birthday Cake" by Rihanna
16. "Take Care" by Drake
17. "Stay" by Tyrese
18. "Syllables" by Eminem, Jay-Z, 50 Cent
19. Obie Trice (everything)
20. Crystal Waters (everything)
21. Chris Brown (everything)
22. Rihanna (everything)
23. "Love Calls" by Kem
24. "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Kem
25. "I Like It" by Debarge family
26. "Perfect Day" by Jim Jones
27. "Should've Kissed You" by Chris Brown
28. "Dancing in the Dark" by Dev
29. "Otis" by Jay-Z and Kanye West
30. "Marry You" by Bruno Mars
31. "Someone to Love Me" by Mary J. Blige, Diddy
32. "All This Love" by Debarge
33. "Love Me in a Special Way" by Debarge
34. "Say Something" by Timbaland
35. Drake (everything)
36. "Complicated" by Robin Thicke
37. "Lost Without You" by Robin Thicke
38. "Pretty Young Thing" by Michael Jackson
39. "Strangers in Moscow" by Michael Jackson
40. "I'm Only Human" by Luther Vandross
41. "Love Her Like She's Leavin'" by Brad Paisley
42. "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" by Kip Moore
43. Afroflow (everything)
44. "Woo" by Erykah Badu
45. "Bag Lady" by Erykah Badu (Dr. Dre remix)
46. Big Daddy Kane (everything)
47. "Got My Country On" by Chris Cagle
48. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin
49. "Like We Never Said Goodbye" by Clay Walker
50. "Better Than I Used to Be" by Tim McGraw
51. "Radio" by Musiq Soulchild
52. "Smack That" by Akon
53. "Back to Life" by Andrea Lewis
54. "Run the World" by Beyonce
55. "Motivation" by Kelly Rowland
56. "Deuces" by Chris Brown
57. "Look at Me Now" by Chris Brown
58. "Fallin' Down" by Chris Brown
59. "Cruisin'" by D'Angelo
60. "Sergeant Louise" by Donnell Jones
61. "Marvin's Room" by Drake
62. "Doing it Wrong" by Drake
63. "Show Me a Good Time" by Drake
64. "Find Your Love" by Drake
65. "Mahogany" by Eric B. and Rakim
66. "Head to Toe" by Eric Roberson
67. "Softest Lips" by Eric Roberson
68. "U R the One" by Mos Def
69. "The Panties" by Mos Def
70. "Kiss Me on My Neck" by Erykah Badu
71. "I Want You" by Erykah Badu
72. "Collard Greens and Cornbread" by Fantasia
73. "1, 2, 3" by Field Mob
74. "Best Night of My Life" by Jamie Foxx
75. "Yep Dat's Me" by Jamie Foxx
76. "She Got Her Own" by Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo
77. Andre 3000 (everything)
78. "Raindrops" by Jeremih
79. "Leavin'" by Jesse McCartney
80. "Ordinary People" by John Legend
81. "I Ain't Going Out" by Jon B.
82. "Pretty Girl" by Jon B.
83. "What Goes Around Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake
84. "Runaway" by Kanye West
85. "Where Would I Be" by Kindred Family
86. "Paris Tokyo" by Lupe Fiasco
87. "The Show Goes On" by Lupe Fiasco
88. "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson
89. "Butterflies" by Michael Jackson
90. "Smile" by Justin Bieber

NEWS
1. Reading Clarence Page's column "Page's Page"
2. Reading Jon Yates' "What's Your Problem?"

OBJECTS
1. My birthday card from Dad, who wrote his own entries on the inside about the truth and myths of being 30
2. Mumble stuffed penguin (from "Happy Feet 2")
3. Charlie Brown musical stuffed decoration
4. Elementary school graduation photos of Xakir (super handsome nephew!)

PEOPLE/MANNERISMS
1. People who hold doors for the people behind them
2. Women who think nothing of complimenting other women (no cattiness)
3. Men who know "hello/how are you?" go much further than pick-up lines
4. People who try to learn how to pronounce my name and don't give me unsolicited nicknames
5. People who say "let's go to lunch" and follow through with their plans to do so

POLITICS
1. The troops coming home from Iraq
2. First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign
3. The Obamas' new family photo

SKIN CARE
1. Aloe vera (everything from first-aid products to lotion)
2. Cocoa butter (everything from lotion to soap)
3. Vaseline cocoa butter lotion
4. Vaseline cocoa butter petroleum jelly
5. Suave cocoa butter with shea
6. Palmer's cocoa butter formula with Vitamin E

TECHNOLOGY
1. AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse
2. Smoke Silicone Skin case for my mp3 player
3. Insignia Pilot mp3 player
4. Kevin Hart's YouTube Channel
5. Following @OchoCinco on Twitter
6. TiVo
7. TiVo's website to record stuff when I'm not at home

TELEVISION
1. "Whitney"
2. "The Vampire Diaries"
3. Timbaland special on E! Entertainment
4. Kathy Griffin's reenactment of her dog eating a used condom (hilarious!)
5. BET Hip Hop performance with Heavy D doing "Nuttin' But Love"
6. Somaya and X.O. scenes on "Love & Hip-Hop"
7. Open mic night with Kyle doing scat music on "Living Single"
8. Rudy meeting Stanley on "The Cosby Show"
9. "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
10. The "you lost to a girl" scene in "The New Adventures of Old Christine"

TRAVEL
1. Maui Mall (walked over there every day for five days)
2. Maui Seaside Hotel
3. West Maui Mountains
4. Riding the Sugar Cane Train in Maui
5. Writing for Chicago Tribune's Taking Off blog
6. O'Hare Airport (never appreciated how great it is until I compared it to LAX)
7. Maroon blankets that American Airlines give you for flying to Hawaii
8. American Airlines for giving me an extra 2 days free of charge after late flight
9. Yotel's Times Square in-airport cabins for overnight sleeping (cool idea, haven't used them but would have that time I had to sleep overnight in LAX, click here for more)
10. Celebrity travel with Sinbad
11. Celebrity travel with Larenz Tate
12. Updating the Trib's Hawaii travel story gallery

TURN-ONS (physical)
1. Goatees
2. Caesar haircuts
3. Khakis/jeans that are loose but sit on the waist
4. Shades of smooth brown complexions (from buttercup to dark chocolate)
5. Clean fingernails
6. Direct eye contact
7. Carefree, white teeth smiles
8. Slim-to-medium muscular build
9. Tall in height (although I've dated guys between 5'8 and 5'11 who were just as attractive)
11. Holding a book

TURN-ONS (mental)
1. Bookworms
2. Voters (in all elections, not just presidential)
3. Direct requests for dates (no b.s.-ing around)
4. Making money only in a legal way
5. Paying bills on time
6. Having your own place, with your name on the lease/mortgage

WEBSITES:
1. SoulVegFolk.com
2. BlackMusicTube.com
3. TeamBeachBody.com
4. AOL's Listening Party
5. AOL Radio
6. Chicago Tribune
7. Luis Gomez's "About Last Night"
8. Twitter
9. Jaehakim.com

WORK
1. Meeting the MoD team (some of the Breaking News team are very entertaining to work with)
2. Working with Colin (He's one of the coolest bosses I've ever had; he means business but he "gets" my personality)
3. Keeping in touch with my old bosses Sonja and Ruth (two other bosses I have nothing but good things to say about and still touch bases with to this day)
4. Going to lunch with Darcel (great person to vent and laugh with)
5. Going to lunch with Fernie (she's always got jokes)
6. Argo Tea Iced Coffee from Charlie to thank me for training him (nice surprise)
7. Training Charlie and Lauren when they were new (MoD team members both really cool people)
8. Trading dog stories with Molly (both of us are hardcore dog lovers)
9. Working with Danielle G. (She's always helpful since the day I started)
10. Working with Mike Z. (If I need a photo, he's got it. One of my favorite folks at the Trib for being so easy to work with.)
11. Chatting with Pam (Easy to work with, even easier to chat about everything from family to why we hate pants with words on the butt)
12. Creating and updating the "Relationship & Sex News Gallery" (Interesting and educational topic that people need to be informed about, especially STIs/STDs)
13. Working with Gilda Squire of Gilda Squire Media Relations again. She is one of the most professional publicists I've met, and I've worked with quite a few publicists.

YOUTUBE VIDEOS
1. "Puppy Christmas"
2. The last two boys on "I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy"
3. Halloween light show to "Party Rock"
4. "Rethink Breast Cancer presents 'Your Man Reminder'"
5. Ian Somerhalder with Aisha Tyler on "The Late Late Show"
6. Tahj Mowry singing John Legend's "Ordinary People"
7. Tahj Mowry singing Michael Jackson's "Human Nature"