Turkey Day

 Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love seeing the warm fall colored leaves while taking in the fresh cold winter air. When I think of Thanksgiving, the first thing that comes to mind is my family....and FOOD of course. Being that cooking is a BIG apart of Thanksgiving, I cook A LOT. Most of my family would go to my Grandmother's house for dinner. This beautiful, strong, and loving woman (my grandma) would have a house full of food and ALL types of deserts. There would be activities for the grandchildren and good conversation for the adults.The guys would watch whatever football game that crossed the TV. My grandmother cooked everything from scratch. Throughout the day, TONS of people would stop by and eat,talk, and laugh and somehow there was always enough food. I live for family moments like that. Seeing my family (even the irritating ones) brings this warm feeling inside me. You can lose your money, career, and all the material things but the three F's with always be there. FAMILY FRIENDS AND FOOD!!!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!
~Taylor Nicole~

Love Yourself

 Last week  in my Creative Writing class, a student at OEC (Oakland Early College) did a presentation to our class. Isiah Ingram talked to us about self-esteem. Our class was asked and had to answer several Yes or No questions. This presentation was a very eye opening experience for our whole class. My classmates and I were definitely shocked by the answers. The very people that you thought you had NOTHING in common with had some of the same answers as you. I honestly think that the presentation that was given should be given in all classes and schools. By hearing others struggles made me feel like I wasn't the only one who felt that way. Because this topic is a personal and sensitive one, I didn't think that my classmates would be so open and honest with their answers. "I wasn't expecting to pour out my soul" was an answer I got  after asking how one of my classmates  felt about the presentation. All of my classmates agreed that hurtful words can damage a person, no matter who is saying them. Loved ones can say things and don't even realize the damage words can do. No matter where you go words stick with you. I learned not to judge others because you never know what they could be going through. Speak positive words into the world; not negative. Low self-esteem isn't just with teenagers or girls. I have witnessed GROWN women and men with lower self-esteem than some teenagers. Low self-esteem is one of the core reasons why bullies become bullies. Some people talk down to others to boost their own self-esteem. But what they will find out is that it is hardly the answer. The key is to love EVERYONE and most importantly to love YOURSELF. DESPITE what others may say about you or to you. If you have SELF love nothing and no one else opinion will EVER  matter!!!!


This post is  for EVERYONE!!!!......LOVE YOURSELF!!!!!!

~Taylor Nicole~

Sweets Be Gone?

    Remember when it was your birthday at school and you might bring some sort of desserts to pass out to your classmates? Well, recently in some Michigan schools, there have been some changes. You are no longer allowed to pass out those sweet treats because food can't be apart of school celebrations. Instead of snacking on your favorite sweets, you and your classmates might have more gym time or another activity. I understand that schools are trying to be more healthy and active with the students but what is one cupcake going to do? What about what the schools are feeding them for lunch?
   I think the schools should start with the lunch menu first. Children might gain a 1 pound from eating a cupcake but go to lunch and eat some more sweets or a couple slices of pizza.   What about the nutritional contents there?!  The child could eat  carrots and celery then go home and eat chips and pop-tarts. So, the schools still wouldn't accomplish their goal. I say start in the school cafeteria and then talk to the parents and make them aware of what they are feeding their children. How about  just limit the amount of sweets each child can have?  Even though gym was my favorite in school, I also loved when my birthday was on a weekday. Classroom birthday parties were the best!  I could pass out snacks and socialize with my friends.
To my readers, do you think this a good idea or should they let children be children?

~Taylor Nicole~

~Writing~

   Since I've been in my Creative Writing class, I have grown as a writer.  With the necessity of daily writing, my literary skills have increased. Even though I have always thought of myself as good writer, there is always room for improvement. Furthermore, as a writer or even as a person, there is always room to grow and learn. Creative Writing has been my favorite subject for a long time. With prose, you can express yourself and not be restricted to just one topic. Mrs. Lashbrook, my teacher, has taught me to be more fun and creative with writing. Creative Writing is suppose to be exactly how it's said "creative writing." I'm learning how to have fun expressing myself with my writing.
Also, I'm learning how to talk to my readers and interact with them. Ask them questions and get them excited to read my posts. If your writing an informative paper, make it informational but not boring. Have fun with writing. I enjoy learning new ways to write. I hope to continue building my writing skills and keep my readers interested.
~Taylor Nicole~

Why Violence?

In this world today, we tend to deal with things with violence.  I don't even watch the local news anymore because it's just politics and violence.  Violence should never be an option (unless you are defending yourself). I don't see how people can easily take someone's life. I could not even sleep at night if I took someone's life. People don't realize what they are doing to someone's life. They could have been the only provider for their family. I have seen myself what the death of a son, father, and friend has done to a family or person. The different emotions that they went through. Death is a hard and terrible thing to deal with.  I do believe that if you break the rules then you should be punished. But some punishments are even worse then the crime committed. People go to jail for the smallest things nowadays. I think criminals should be punished but there should be another alternative for them instead of jail. For example, if a teenager spray paints a wall, instead of sending them to jail; send them to an Art program or something like that.
In addition, I strongly believe community service is an awesome alternative for prison. The legal system is so caught up in their prison rates that they don't think  about what they are doing to society or that persons life. My mother has always called me a "peace maker" because I hated confrontation and fighting. Am I the only person who feels this way about today's society or is this just my "peace maker" ways?  Before fighting or hurting someone, talk about it.   Teachers, counselors, principals, and parents are all  there for you. Violence is never the answer.

~Taylor Nicole~

"The Good Ole' Days"

 
  If you were born around 1995 then you SHOULD know what I'm reminiscing about. Have you guys ever worn those one- body  pajamas  with your feet in them. I remember wearing those pajamas with ponytails in my head waking up early to watch cartoons.  Oh, the times when there were no worries (besides trying to stomach those green vegetables on our dinner plates and maybe the occasional butt whooping). I remember how happy I was when my birthday came; not just because of gifts but I was one year older.
Now I wish is was younger. I find myself now, being a teenager, hanging out with friends and reminiscing with them about what we call "the good ole' days."  We talk about our favorite cartoon, TV shows, and funny childhood stories. When we think about the "good ole' days," we are amazed at how the times have changed. We have changed, are responsibilities have changed, and how are thinking has changed. Some my favorite shows were: Hey Arnold, Recess, Keneen and Kell, All That, The Amanda Show, Jimmy Neutron, Rugrats, Banana in Pajamas, Tom and Jerry, Power Puff Girls, Johnny Bravo, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Rocket Power just to name a few.
Comment and tell me what your favorite childhood memories were?!!!

~Taylor Nicole~

~Morals~

  When I look back over the years, I see people losing their morals more and more everyday. What happened to respect, love, self-respect and mannerism?! Manners are lacking in today's society. Some of the things that goes on today our parents are appalled by. Hard work and knowledge is now being traded for good looks or beauty. In our parents day, youth valued education and hard work more then we do now. Even with guys nowadays, most don't open doors for women, respect women, or let alone treat them with any respect. I hate to see guys being disrespectful, lazy and irresponsible. They are just not as respectful as the guys back in our parents time. I'm not just trying to come down on the guys because the girls these days aren't any better. I believe some girls these days have NO respect for themselves AT ALL. Most are either what I call "Mean Girls" or "Fast." Because of their lack of self esteem, girls let guys take advantage of them. I really wish my generation would bring back some of the great qualities as our parents' days. Where did we go wrong in our society that our morals are disappearing?

Comment and share your opinion please!!

~Taylor Nicole~

"America's Top Restaurants"

   Twenty Detroit-area restaurants have been named among "America's Top Restaurants" in the 2011 edition of the influential national Zagat guide. This guide,which rates 1,552 restaurants in 45 major cities, is in stores now. The rankings represent the opinions of ordinary diners who register on Zagat.com to comment about the food, decor, service and cost of restaurants selected by editors of Zagat, one of the best known but most mispronounced names in the world of restaurant ratings — zuh-GAT (rhymes with cat) is the way it's pronounced. As a person who loves cooking and a Detroit native, I think this a great oppertunity because to brings cooking and positive attention to Detroit. Also, this is a great chance for inspiring chefs ,like myself,to explore the twenty restaurants that made the list. I don't know about you but I will definitely be checking out some of these restaurants!! Here are the Detroit restaurants that made the list :

Zagat's Detroit top food rankings

The Lark:  6430 Farmington Road, West Bloomfield Township. (248) 661-4466. www.thelark.com  
Bacco Ristorante:  29410 Northwestern Highway, Southfield. (248) 356-6600. www.baccoristorante.com  
Common Grill:  112 S. Main St., Chelsea. (734) 475-0470. www.commongrill.com
Zingerman's Delicatessen:  422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor. (734) 663-3354. www.zingermansdeli.com
Cafe Cortina:  30715 W. 10 Mile, Farmington Hills. (248) 474-3033. www.cafecortina.com
Beverly Hills Grill:  31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills. (248) 642-2355. www.beverlyhillsgrill.com
Saltwater:  1777 Third St., Detroit. (313) 465-1646. www.mgmgranddetroit.com
West End Grill:   120 W. LibertySt., Ann Arbor. (734) 747-6260. www.westendgrillannarbor.com  
Streetside Seafood:  273 Pierce St., Birmingham. (248) 645-9123. www.streetsideseafood.com
Logan:  115 W. Washington St., Ann Arbor. (734) 327-2313. www.logan-restaurant.com

Other noteworthy places-

Assaggi Bistro:  330 W. Nine Mile, Ferndale. (248) 584-3499. www.assaggibistro.com
Atlas Global Bistro:  3111 Woodward Ave., Detroit. (313) 831-2241. www.atlasglobalbistro.com
Capital Grille:  2800 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy. (248) 649-5200. www.thecapitalgrille.com
The Earle:  121 W. Washington St., Ann Arbor. (734) 994-0211. www.theearle.com
Eve:  1415 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor. (734) 222-0711. www.evetherestaurant.com
Hong Hua:  27925 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills. (248) 489-2280. www.honghuafinedining.com
Rattlesnake Club:  300 River Place, Detroit. (313) 567-4400. www.rattlesnakeclub.com
Roast:  1128 Washington Blvd., Detroit. (313) 961-2500. www.roastdetroit.com Rugby Grill,100 Townsend St., Birmingham. (248) 642-5999. www.townsendhotel.com
The Whitney:  4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit. (313) 832-5700. www.thewhitney.com
(313) 222-1475
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20101027/ENT03/10270309/Diners-choose-20-Detroit-area-restaurants-for-2011-Zagat-guide#ixzz13xmPEC9N

Check them out and if you have been to one please comment and let me know your experience!!!!

~Taylor Nicole~