Need a Scholarship

If you or someone you know are in need of a scholarship...check out the link below!

http://www.fastweb.com/content/refer-a-friend

Double Blogging :-)

I have been experimenting with diffrent blogging apps and just trying to improve the Butterfly30 brand as a whole. So I decided to try wordpress again...needless to say I really like it. So as I test out that site I will continue to blog here but please follow/subscribe to my wordpress page.

It's most appreciated,
I love my Bfliers

Wisdom Wednesday's: Tyra Banks

In honor of Black History Month I've decided to give you a brief write-up on some African Americans who are NOT recognized for their contributions to society. I am not taking away from the Sojourner Truths', Ralph Bunches' or Dr. Kings' but we have done some pretty decent things since then. This week I'd like to introduce you to the multi-talented Tyra Banks.



Born on December 4, 1973, Ms. Banks began her modeling career while a junior in high school. Breaking runway booking records was only the first thing to do on her "breaking barriers" list. Here are some firsts she helped African-Americans attain:

• booked for an unprecedented twenty-five shows as a newbie model in Paris


• first African-American on the cover of Gentlemen's Quarterly magazine aka GQ


• first African-American on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine


• first African-American on the cover of Victoria's Secrets catalog (I still cancelled my card/subscription and refuse to shop there because of the obvious discrimination -sn)
  

I am sure you remember her from John Singleton's "Higher Learning" or maybe it was the recurring role on Will Smith's "The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire" (a fav of mine growing up) either way this was just the beginning of her love affair with the television industry. Here are some of her credits, in no particular order:

• "Love and Basketball"
• "Coyote Ugly"- a cult classic
• "Hannah Montana: The Movie" - you know you saw this
• "Felicity"
• "Just Shoot Me"
• "Gossip Girl"

And how can we forget about her empowerment of women of all races, ethnicities and sizes via her "America's Next Top Model" series, which, is viewed in over 170 markets and in 17 countries! Hmmpphhh...who would've guessed.

We will skip past the failed singing career and move on to her appearances on Oprah that some say led to her own talk show "The Tyra Banks Show". I am not a fan of the show but it won an Emmy in 2008. Ms. Banks turned these ventures into lucrative deals by ensuring they were and are produced via her production company "Bankable Productions"...catchy. After catching (no pun intended) flack for gaining weight, Tyra came back fiercer and slimmer than ever and is re-signed with IMG models.

Oh...and let's not forget about her philanthropic efforts via her "TZONE Foundation". This foundation empowers girls to take control of their lives by engaging in several productive activities such as filmmaking, community activism, dance, sports, leadership, writing, and even entrepreneurship at an early age. It encourages girls to resist social pressures through a self-esteem building adventure and makes grants to grassroot organizations, and those that serve women and girls ages 13-35. (Need a grant anyone!!!)

Ms. Banks is not only an inspiration to African-Americans but to women everywhere! And she can take that to the bank...

Musician Monday's: Ginuwine

So Mr. Pony aka Ginuwine aka Elgin Lumpkin is set to release his sixth studio album entitled "Elgin" on February 15, 2011 (album cover...left)











The first release off the newly anticipated album (courtesy of Youtube.com)


Here is the playlist for the actual album:
1. Heaven
2. Break
3. What Could Have Been
4. Drink of Choice
5. Why We’re Fighting
6. Body
7. Batteries Ft. Trina
8. Kidnapped
9. How Does Your Heart Forget
10. First Time
11. Frozen
12. Busy
13. Batteries Remix
14. First Time Remix

Fashion Friday's: Mercedes Benz Fashion Week F/W 2011

A few of you may know that I am expecting another addition to my rapidly growing family and this has resulted in my energy being sapped. I have neglected a few things but I am hoping that my raging (and sometimes subdued) hormones allow me to fully embrace- and blog :-) about the Fall/Winter 2011 Fashion Week sponsored by Mercedes Benz. Although, my original plans were to attend I doubt if I will be in the mood to be around folks so I will blog from afar.

Here are some of the designers I am looking forward to seeing:

February 10th
BCBG/Maz Azria @ 10AM
Luca Luca @ 3PM
Tadashi @ 4PM
Christian Siriano @ 7PM


February 11th
Rebecca Taylor @ 2PM
Rebecca Minkoff @ 3PM
Tommy Hilfiger @ 5:30PM
Nicole Miller @ 6PM
Cynthia Rowley @ 7PM

February 12th
Vivienne Tam @ 3PM

February 13th (a busy day!!)
Derek Lam
Lela Rose @ 11AM
Max Azria @ 3PM
DVF @ 4PM
Cynthia Steffe @ 5PM
Y-3 @ 5PM
Carmen Marc Valvo @ 6PM
Custo Barcelona @ 7PM
Behnaz Sarafpour @ 7:30PM
Zang Toi @ 9PM

February 14th
Tracy Reese @ 1PM
Monique Lhullier @ 3PM
Betsey Johnson@ 6PM
Chado Ralph Rucci @ 6PM

February 15th
Badgley Mischka @ 10AM
Diesel Black Gold @ 1PM
Hervé Léger by Max Azria @ 2PM
J. Mendel @ 6PM
Tibi @ 7PM
Narciso Rodriguez @ 8PM
Mackage @ 9PM

February 16th
Nanette Lepore @ 11AM
Adrienne Vittadini @ 1:30PM
Milly by Michelle @ 3PM

February 17th
L.A.M.B. @ 8PM

Check back for photos, reviews and my two cents :-)


~Muah Bfliers

Things To Do Thursday's: Enjoy Restaurant Week

Restaurant week kicked off with a bang on Monday despite the weather. So here are a list of places I'd love to book a table for:

FRENCH
Brasserie 8 1/2
The Carlyle Restaurant
Chez Josephine
Plein Sud

ITALIAN
Cipriani Dolci

SEAFOOD
City Crab & Seafood Company

STEAKHOUSE
City Lobster and Steak
Michael Jordan's Steakhouse
Morton's The Steakhouse


If you have an Amex card and would like to pre-register or if you'd like to book a table feel free to do so via http://www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek/

Remember, the festivities end February 6th and it's POPULAR so make sure you hit the places you normally wouldn't. Or wait until next year :)

~Bon Apetite Bfliers

Tasty Tuesday's: "Chef" Tracey's Oxtails

After a much needed hiatus I am back with Tasty Tuesday's. I am excited to feature "Chef Tracey Williams" of Atlanta who I met on facebook and has been nothing but a source of motivation. Here's what you should know about this Southern Belle:

Although being self-taught by her deceased mother as a youngster and furthering her craft in the United States Army at twenty, "Chef" Tracey Williams has established herself as the go-to person for authentic southern cuisine. While stationed in Hawaii, Tracey enjoyed sampling diverse foods, especially Roy Yamaguchi's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine. Experimenting with various ingredients and refining them with lots of taste testings and recipe revisions, she has compiled a delightful menu of appetizers, main courses and desserts that her mother will be most proud of.

Featured below is "Chef" Tracey's Oxtails...try it out and tell us what you think.


"Chef" Tracey’s Oxtails & Rice

4 pounds oxtails
2 large Vidalia onions, chopped
3 scallions, chopped
4 Roma tomatoes, chopped
4 garlic cloves, smashed
3 tablespoons of flour for dredging
1 bunch fresh thyme
2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
4 teaspoons hot paprika
2 bay leaves
6 cups low-sodium beef broth
*Lawry’s Season Salt, garlic salt and Black pepper to taste

Directions:
*Trim the fat from the beef oxtails and wipe with damp paper towels.
*Season the oxtails with Lawry’s Season Salt, black pepper and garlic salt.
*Coat the oxtails well with flour.
*In hot oil in large kettle, over low heat, slowly brown the beef oxtails.
*Add onions, scallions, garlic, thyme, tomatoes, red pepper, paprika, bay leaf
*Add enough broth to just cover the oxtails and bring the mixture to a boil.
*Lower to a simmer, cover and cook 2 hours.
*Every 30 minutes for 2 hours add 2 cups of water or broth, alternating, as necessary, to keep
oxtails covered with liquid.
*Cook, stirring constantly, until gravy thickens.
*Remove from heat.
Serve over fluffy white rice.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Normally I like to post photos of the process and a final shot but thanks to a now defunct cell all of my photos are lost. However, the end result (even with my modifications) was delicious and one I would serve as an alternative to my oxtail recipe.

"Chef" Tracey Williams can be contacted via her website: http://www.blessednhighlyflavoredcatering.com/Menus.html

or you can enter her world via facebook (make sure you are logged in):
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1056185452

Ler her know Butterfly30 sent you~