"It was bound to happen. All this talk of good food, gorgeous men, sensual scents and all around skinny-pretty-Carib stuff, I wound up in the midst of a proposal."--- The Skinny Carib on a telephone call.
Pile of Chinese Tea Cups Stacked High: available on poster, laminate, wood mount and framed. Use this link: More Good Pics and enter item # 3290736
Not sure I could accept the title of "Housewife" even if it had been ugraded to "Homemaker", I made a counter-offer.
"How about I reserve wifery, makery and all around lifetime commitments to the bedroom only. If it's marriage we're talking about, I am willing to elope today if I can choose my own name?"Agreements and contracts were proferred, debated and accepted. And so I proudly announce that I am now, Monique Susanna Simon--"In a Relationship"; "Committed<-->Committed"; and "Engaged!" to become: The Pantry Wife.
Yes, I will at times focus more lovingly on different aspects of our relationship. Perhaps around the holidays, I will don a dress and flirt with former loves, BUT I will come home always to The Pantry, as it has made me the honest Skinny Carib that I am.
The Victoria's Secret V-Cut Stretch sizes 0 - 4 that have been my personally pruned pant garden from my first connections to the Pant-Tree are along for the ride! Sick in bed and unable to do more than read magazines, watch TV and eat well, I have had relations with a Size 4, and I admit, I cheated with a Size 2 when I started to feel more my sexy self, and now the journey begins again as I have toyed with my old lover, Mr. O, on the streets of Greenville, SC. Some observers (family, friends and strange folk) have claimed that my relationship with Mr. O is at best "a stretch".
Still, I prefer to listen to the other loving comments of my supporters who say that Mr. O and I fit so much better now that we are so snuggly and intertwined. Or as my Carib aunty and favourite chef says, "Eh, eh Mon-eeque, but you get fat! You look good." Only in the Caribbean folks is it a good thing to "get fat"--at least enough for your jeans to make use of the stretch :-). And just a few days ago, I got the news. My Aunt Alice is "going local" and coming to my kitchen to make me doukuna, saltfish, sorrell (she takes it spiked), and worse, she's bringing a friend from Charlotte, North Carolina. [Insert Prayer: "Lord, grant me the serenity to accept these offerings and trust that my size will not change...]
Two Beakers of Fruit Tea with Lemon Wedges, Sugar Sticks by Anita Oberhauser
Available for purchase on poster, laminate, wood or canvas mounted.
Just type in name or item # 3291186 after clicking this link: MORE GOOD PICS
To be sure, when you hear of the numbers of my men, Mr O, 2, and 4, you have some questions.
My own mother has asked them all and has learned to keep silent!
Yet this, I will say to you: Besides the fact that my disability means I have to be comfortable in a range of Carib sKins to accommodate weight variations, these Misters and their numbers are NOT impressive.
As a Carib sKin, with a mixture of multiple DNA-threads woven in for good measure, and thankfully the African one dominates (love the aging benefits!), I have what is called by Holistic Chiropractic & Massage Therapist types with several initials attached to their surnames--"clinically small bones". When I do the wrist measure for a BMI (Body Mass Index) test, I am under the chart at a whopping 15 centimeters or 5.5 inches total circumference. As a lovely side note, I have a clinically shorter right leg, which is only noticeable to an onlooker as a slight wiggle in my walk--adding more fuel to the gossip mill that I did in fact model for someone other than artists, and, much to my horror, causing cat calls on American streets that I am still too upset about to repeat. This anamoly in my walk bothers me from time to time--because my right, hip joint tends to smart after any trek that's longer than 2 miles. (That said, I'm sure you'll see me at the next 5K Trek for some Charity--what's a little post-trek healing balm rub down after raising real money and awareness.)
Further, I'm really not that tall. I'm around 5'6" but everyone assumes I'm 5'8" because my small frame creates an illusion. I hate high heels above 2.5 inches, so it really is my stature that creates the effect. I think it is very important to reveal all this at this point in the Skinny-Healthy-Carib journey. Too many of us try to achieve the ridiculous because we read The Secret or subscribe to the tomes of positive thinking gurus in our midst. Don't get me wrong, I read that book, saw the film, and discussed it in my spiritual studies group! I even intend to release a collection of my own "good thoughts & daily inspirations" as many of my friends and family have re-quoted me at the oddest times, and I've been interested in obtaining the name of the author of the quote!
But, like I have no plans to become a German blonde with blue eyes, I do not believe it makes sense to plan a reality that fundamentally devalues you at your core--and I'm talking DNA, core, "girl-dude-is-you-is-or-is-you-aint-CRAZY" for thinking that that is reasonable for you to do to yourself! If your own mamma or man or woman or sister or friend or brother or father had said to you the things you say to yourself in the mirror, you would be in a support group. Oh, wait... Well, maybe this one will have more recipes.
So get out of your own head and in-habit the full body with thoughts, actions, habits and the character of a self-valuing, food-loving, moving, living, loving being. Wouldn't it be Pretty-Skinny if that being were you?
"Egypt Sunraya" - Skinny Carib self-portrait & image mock-up for OIL_TCFP = Original Images Library of THE Caribbean Folklore Project 
For beautiful portraiture and paintings of Women of All Colors, use our affiliate link here: More Good Pics My latest favourite is We are Sisters, by Marta Godfried, shown above. I offered the image on our website to the women of Haiti Caraibe & Beautiful Haitian Girls because of their generous support of my FB Pages and other work: Item # 797154, Use our link here: More Good Pics
Yes, you will lose on average 48 pounds in 12 days -- if the days you count are every full moon (with grace set in for human being with Carib sKin at a dinner or holiday gathering) as "a day". Oh, I know that's not fast enough. That's why I suggest you date the pantry only; don't get involved; have a one-night stand; go full effect with a summer fling! Really, pant-tree pruning is only for serious gardeners. If you don't have that kind of sentiment, I don't have the link, but it's easy to find out there. Search term "Lose 30 pounds in 30 days!" Personally, I think 48 in 12 is faster ;-), more sustainable, cheaper, and easier to share with friends and family.
IF you are still reading ;-), then I have news.
You can decide at any point to give up that abusive relationship with your pant-health-destroying pantry. We will welcome you, me and Mr Pantry into our home and grace you like the Prodigal Child returned with our fruit-of-the-healthy-tree ingredients and suggested links.
Are you ready to be "In a Relationship" with your pantry, too? Then act now and change your Facebook Status! by LIKE-ing our Skinny Carib page.
Or if you are in New York, Paris, London, or a college dorm room--cities and "states-of-being"--where Pantry continues to be a foreign language--give everything that is currently under your bed to a charity! Get rolling bins, shoe boxes, charm boxes--fill with good food & healing spices. Now, that's right, store them in the place where you dream! (I confess to having a dresser drawer, prominently featured in my home, that contains an emergency-supplies-amount of some 5 varieties of teas!)
Paris, France, View of the Eiffel Tower, by Gall Use our link: More Good Pics, and enter Item #: 291253-81
Trust me, I understand this will be a tougher process for some; it was for me when I had a flare-up recently, but it led me to great online sources for healing foods. So rather than a full-on underbed, closet overhaul, try keeping an empty bin handy near where you keep your clothes [NYC - that's the back-of-the-door hook thing-y]. Keep a picture of a summer outfit you have in mind nearby this spot--now you have time to wait for the Clearance Sale markdowns. As time strolls forward, you can continually add, then eventually donate ALL the pants from the tree of the old poisoned fruit.
This is NOT sarcasm, this is a call to arms!
If your good love asks what's under the bed, or what's going on in your closet, try this: whisper sweet, soft and breezy: "Wanna Join In?"
That added to you dancing around the kitchen while online and on Skype with your Carib Kin will create such a spirit of healing jealousy that your good love will begin to bring home offerings of low-calorie, healthy sweet nothings for fear of losing YOU!
"Skinny Carib" is an attitude. (Get your reminder mounted on canvas! through our link: More Good Pics, item #: 6237309)
So "fix-up you face" like the Carib Kin say, no matter what Carib sKIN you are in. Attitudes of joy, confidence, mystery are all very sexy. Don't wait 'till you achieve a certain size to exude confidence. If that were the case, even I'd wait for my Skinny Jeans to feel free to strut my stuff. Then there'd be no Skinny Carib pages, blogs, websites, products, hints, suggestions, ingredients lists, smooches...shall I go on?!
Fortunately for me (and I hope you), being engaged with Mr. Pantry has been such a beautiful, healthy experience that I can't wait for agreements and contracts to move to the next level of signatures before I make the announcement. I know the outcome and I've already set the date as August 2012: when we will experience a very rare Blue Moon--the second full moon in one month. Or in French: "Quand la lune est plein...Quand la lune est plein." [A word from Mr. Pantry Himself: http://skinnycaribpantry.blogspot.com/]
For now, I seriously need to take in all this proposal/acceptance stuff over a cup of lemon-ginger-cinnamon soothing tea.
This image is another in our Skinny Carib Selects Prints. All of these images are available for purchase as posters, laminates, wood or canvas mounted, AND framed. Use the link here More Good Pics and enter Item # 6530381, Afternoon Delight II
Join me, hot or iced!
EASY RECIPE
My Belly Tea: A Skinny Carib Original
Makes 1 regular-sized cup of hot tea, Calories 0 - 4 as per sweetener choice
Ingredients1/8 of a lemon (or lime,I prefer), squeezed
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
(if using organic, pre-ground, sulfite-free stuff, use 1/8th --it is much stronger!)
1 cup of hot, clean water
sweeten with Whey Low or Ideal Brown sweetener to taste
More Information at the Skinny Carib(R) Pantry link, where we'll be storing our Ingredient & Health Benefits Information, along with recommended articles AND our own Holistic Health Coach, Grace Asagra-Stanley (with over 30 years as a health professional!)
Some Previews
Skinny Carib Pantry picks:
Like Sweet? Avoiding Calories?
#1) Whey Low, hands down is THE best pick for one-to-one ratio for substituting in recipes that call for sugar. A little pricier than all-natural sugar substitutes, but we post the latest coupon offers to our Facebook page.
#2) Xylitol (preferably fine ground), tasty, cooling, sweet flavor. Has some well-touted health benefits, especially for women.
[NOTE: Xylitol is DANGEROUS to animals because our feline and canine friends process some foods VERY differently from we do. If you have concerns, stick to Whey Low and similar types of healthy sweetener substitutes.]
#3) Coconut Sugar--delicious without the insulin spikes of refined cane sugar. Several varieties available on Amazon.com and at your local health food stores.
**A possible choice:
Though not without its controversy because a small amount of sucralose used as part of the mix, many people on a limited budget have opted for the Ideal Sweetener brand as an alternative to refined cane sugar, as their health needs demand they dramatically reduce their refined sugar intake. [As always, your physician, nutritionist, and you are the best judge of any choice you make for your total well-being.] Having a full awareness of the ingredients list in your grocery item of choice, however, is what will put you in a position to make an informed choice.
**Finally, overuse of xylitol and many sugar alcohols are likely to have unwanted gastrointestinal effects.
*SMIRK*
The other option, Toletta -- the paper dress for the tush: antibacterial, biodegradable, thicker, larger (and patented) seat cover by a company that donates to Childen in Poverty & the cure for Breast Cancer]. At leas this way you know your, uhm "choice to indulge" can also have positive outcomes...
[Updates to this page coming June/July 2014]
Sweet Water and the Palette:
If you visited this blogspot before the premiere, you've already heard of Sweet Water. It's my title for something I make that seems to eliminate my need to add sweetener to my hot or iced tea. Basically, organic cinnamon is a natural way to make water sweet. If you steep a whole cinnamon stick in water long enough it changes the flavor and also infuses the tea with the soothing, digestive aid and other wonderful properties of cinnamon. My personal palette is so "clean" from eating habits that I often find a LOT of my hot teas are delicious either without sugar (or sweetener) or with very minimal amount.
I love very sweet, cold teas however. And many Caribbean drinks are hypersweet to the palette of others. For this reason, I recommend a combination of Whey Low powdered and/or icecream sweetener--they both blend very easily in cold water if you plan to try our Skinny Carib drink-blends in the future. I promise to update you as I too discover a variety of low cal, healthy sweeteners. An early word: Pay attention to labels--many alternatives to table sugar are natural, organic, tasty, and cook well BUT are not necessarily low calorie. So figure out where you are in your need to manage calories as you enjoy this journey of health.
[Updates to this page coming June/July 2014]
